This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WESTPORT What a comeback. Down to just six Connecticut nests in 1972, the osprey is back in big numbers to the states shoreline, and Westport is no exception. Last month, the Aspetuck Land Trust installed osprey platforms in town at the Taylortown Salt Marsh preserve and at the Allen Salt Marsh preserve. We preserve local habitats, so this is something easy we can do on our salt marshes to provide a better habitat for the plants and the animals that happen to pass by, said David Brant, executive director of the Aspetuck Land Trust. The majestic fish hawks were almost put out of existence by the pesticide DDT. Ospreys would inadvertently consume DDT and transfer the chemical to their eggs, causing them to weaken and break, resulting in deaths, Brant said. In 1972, when DDT was banned, the number of osprey nests across the state were down to just six, according to Milan Bull, senior director of science and conservation at the Connecticut Audubon Society. Since 1972 the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has monitored the birds to ensure the species made a comeback. In 2013, Bull was tasked with keeping track of the birds and working to increase the population. Now there are 625 nests across the state, a number that continues to grow. More Information OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) Habitat: Seashore, coastal marshes, lakes and rivers Weight: Males, 2 to 3.5 pounds; females, 2.75 to 4.25 pounds Length: 21 to 25 inches; wingspan: 54 to 72 inches Food: Almost entirely fish See More Collapse The osprey nests are going up by 25 or 30 a year, Bull said. Bull developed the program Osprey Nation in 2014, a citizen-science monitoring program by the Connecticut Audubon Society and in conjunction with DEEP. Comprised of over 250 volunteers, Bulls program maps all the osprey nests in the state and actively monitors them. The program, Bull said, is the largest volunteer science project in the state. Residents can expect to see ospreys building their large and bulky nests at the newly installed Westport platforms. We know that by putting the platform there that it will be utilized and will provide some pretty neat viewing for the public, Brant said. The Aspetuck Land Trust plans to build more platforms at other locations. Osprey nests can be found along the entire coast of the state from Stonington to Greenwich, and along rivers such as the Connecticut River, where there is a large population of ospreys, and smaller bodies of water like the Saugatuck River. The birds presence is a harbinger of clean water. The reason why this is such a great project is because everyone seems to love ospreys. For us, they are really good indicators of water quality because they only eat live fish they catch themselves, and their population is totally dependent on the abundance and diversity of fish in the Long Island Sound, Bull said. @chrismmarquette; cmarquette@bcnnew.com Generational differences have historically created unwanted tension around the office. Seasoned veterans see the "new guys" as entitled and impatient, always looking for the fast track to the top. Millennials, however, see their older coworkers as stuck in their ways, afraid of the impending change they are about to bring to the organization. These preconceived ideas that generations have regarding one another makes collaboration and communication around the office increasingly difficult. As overseers of the entire organization, it is the responsibility of the CEO to break down these barriers and encourage togetherness throughout the generational melting pot. Unfortunately, todays CEOs are facing an extremely steep uphill battle. For the first time in history, CEOs face the challenge of managing up to five distinct generations under the same roof. With that said, studies reveal that the vast majority of CEOs represent either Baby Boomers or Generation X. Related: I'm a Gen Xer -- Here's Why You Should Stop Ignoring Me My company DATIS, an HR and payroll software from with a focus on health and human service organizations, recently released its CEO Insights Report, which found that just under 90 percent of CEOs hail from these two generations. As millennials continue to flood the labor force and take on increasingly important roles within their respective organizations, CEOs must be prepared to set aside their biases and create a work environment that caters to all generations. Eliminating the divide and encouraging engagement between generations can accelerate organizational growth. Without upper-level involvement, employees arent likely to go out of their way to collaborate with coworkers outside of their comfort zone. This has a lot to do with ego and pride. Long-term employees are unlikely to voluntarily seek help from the new employee fresh out of college. Similarly, young employees arent always eager to schedule meetings with employees with years of experience in search of advice, regardless of how valuable that advice may be. This is sad but true. Employees are missing out on valuable connections within their office due to something as simple as a difference in age. This communication barrier restricts an organization from reaching maximum efficiency and negatively impacts the organizations overall environment. Related: Employees From All Generations Want This One Thing From Employers To reverse this trend and change the way employees interact with one another, CEOs must be willing to take a stand and force these relationships. Fortunately, there are proven stems that CEOs can take to reduce the impact the generation gap has on their organization. Fortunately, there are proven steps that CEOs can take to strengthen cross-generational bonds. Create mentoring opportunities. Implementing a mentor system within an organization can be extremely beneficial. Dedicating small chunks of time throughout the work day for older and younger workers to communicate in an intimate, one-on-one setting can benefit everybody involved. Not only will the rookies gain great insight from the more tenured employees, but they will also be able to share some knowledge with their older coworkers regarding modern technology and the changing landscape of the working world. Outside of the generation gap, mentor opportunities are also great for career development. According to a 2016 Deloitte Millennial Survey, 63 percent of millennials believe that their leadership skills are not being fully developed. A simple weekly mentor meeting could help fine-tune these skills and create a brighter future. Related: 3 Ways Technology Both Wides and Bridges the Generational Divide at Work Form cross-generational teams. Cross-functional teams have been used by organizations for many years now. Bringing employees with different skillsets together to work on a common goal has proved to be highly rewarding. These teams bring employees together and build company morale. If cross-functional teams are so successful, why arent more CEOs creating cross-generational teams within their organizations? Cross-generational teams make sure that employees of all ages are interacting with one another and engaging in a positive manner. In addition to unique skillsets, these teams will also bring employees with different viewpoints together. This can help coworkers better understand their peers mindsets and points of view on various situations, projects, and tasks. Related: 5 Generations in the Workforce (and Why You Need Them All) Adopt a culture that works for everyone. Company culture has become a hot topic in todays working world, and has manifested into a priority for employers and employees all over the country. Another survey conducted by Deloitte found that 94 percent of executives and 88 percent of employees believe that workplace culture is important. These findings are leading companies to literally knock down their walls, making more open floor plans to encourage communication within their workforce. When the subject of culture comes up, CEOs must ask themselves, Does my culture include everyone in the office? Hosting company outings, catering lunch for the office and celebrating birthdays are easy ways for CEOs to bring their employees together in a relaxing, unintimidating environment. Not only that, but employees will appreciate their CEO for going the extra mile to make connections within their office. The generation gap is more important now than ever. CEOs must be aware of these generational differences if they plan to grow their organization and create a more pleasant and productive work environment. Mentor programs, cross-generational teams, and an inclusive company culture are just a few ways in which CEOs can approach the generation gap. Related: Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Grand Island police have determined who this months homicide victims were associating with before they were killed and are continuing to investigate those connections, says Police Chief Robert Falldorf. Christian Peterson, 59, died from a stabbing inflicted April 8 at his home at 1309 W. Seventh St. Abdulma Khamis, a 41-year-old homeless man, was assaulted April 14 near 504 W. Louise St. and died April 19. Police have got a pretty good idea of who both victims were associating with at the times of their murders, Falldorf said. But nailing down solid information is an arduous process. The department received quite a few leads in both of the cases. Still, working a homicide is very labor-intensive, he said. It just takes a lot of time to work those, Falldorf said. Since 2012, five homicides have been committed in Grand Island. In addition to the two this year, one of those homicides has not been cleared, which is police terminology for saying a crime is solved. In August 2016, a 16-month-old Grand Island baby died as a result of severe brain injuries. In January, an arrest warrant was issued for Ryan Rivera-Meister, the 20-year-old Grand Island man who was babysitting the boy. When he returns to Nebraska, he will be charged with committing child abuse intentionally, resulting in the death of the boy. The GIPD criminal investigation division has been extremely busy investigating this months homicides, Falldorf said. The department is not big enough to have a homicide division or other division devoted to specific types of crime, such as fraud. GIPD has six general investigators. The week after the April 8 murder, three investigators were essentially devoting all their time to that homicide, Falldorf said. After the second homicide, four or five of the investigators were busy just running down leads on the homicides, Falldorf said. Even though its several weeks later, the criminal division is really putting a lot of man hours into this still, he said. But the problem is you talk to one person and it leads to another person and then another person. After all the information is compiled, then you have to go back to the previous people you talked to and try to confirm things that have been told to you by the other people, he said. So thats where it takes a lot of time. Khamis, he said, visited Pioneer Park regularly. Theres a lot of people that come and go through that park, Falldorf said. Police are hoping they can develop some good witnesses as time goes on. If you dont have a solid witness that was actually at the scene when it happened, it can be challenging trying to track down witnesses who may have been with the victim earlier, he said. The goal is to get a chronological order of what victims did or who they were with that day. On Wednesday, the Grand Island Police Department added $1,000 to the existing $1,000 reward being offered by Crime Stoppers in the two cases. Anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer will receive $2,000. Physical evidence is another part of the investigation. An evidence officer and an evidence technician are sifting through the evidence, determining whats valuable enough to be sent to the Nebraska State Patrol crime lab and whats not. There is quite a bit of evidence from both scenes, Falldorf said. Fortunately, in the case of a homicide, a police department usually gets priority from the State Patrol crime lab because of the seriousness of the case, Falldorf said. GIPD hopes to receive some good information from the evidence thats been sent to the crime lab. There will be some DNA analysis done on some of the evidence, he said. The people at the Salvation Army knew Khamis well. He ate here regularly. He was a super-nice guy that battled a lot of issues, which is not uncommon with the population that comes through, said Deny Cacy, director of the Salvation Army mens shelter. Looking at Salvation Army records, Cacy figures Khamis had lived in Grand Island at least a year and a half, maybe two years. Hed been here a while before he ever came to see us. The news of Khamis death really set all of us back, he said, referring to people at the Salvation Army who worked with him on a regular basis. Cacy was not totally surprised that there was a disagreement and a scuffle, but the severity really kind of set me back because the guy had a heart of gold. Khamis had a tough-guy, I can do this on my own protective edge that he presented, But once you got past that persona, he was a great guy, Cacy said, adding that he had a great sense of humor. We knew that there had been some issues within the community, both within Grand Island and (within) his actual community, on various situations, Cacy said. But people at the Salvation Army never thought in a million years his life would end the way it did. Khamis was homeless when he died. But a local organization had helped him with rent at one point, Cacy said. Cacy really hopes police find out exactly what happened. The shelter staff really wishes that the Lord opens the hearts of those who know anything about his death, he said. Cacy isnt sure if Khamis was Somali or Sudanese. People in those communities are sometimes urged not to step forward. Cacy said he hopes and prays that the Lord lets them to do what needs to be done. Grand Island homicides in the last six years 2012, none reported 2013, one committed, which was cleared 2014, one committed, which was cleared 2015, none reported 2016, one reported, not cleared 2017, two reported, not cleared HASTINGS The 2017 Spring New Growth Experience is planned Monday in Hastings. The dinner and program will begin at 6:30 p.m. at St. Pauls Lutheran Church, 501 N. Burlington. A live auction will include several quilts. Dinner will be catered by Runcies Catering LLC. Tickets are $70 per person. Corporate tables of eight are $500. Tickets are available at Horizon Recovery & Counseling Center in Hastings. The event is sponsored by Revive Ministries, Horizon Recovery & Counseling and the Unity House. For more information, call (402) 462-2066. GriefShare beginning 13-week session Wednesday GriefShare, a support group for people experiencing grief, will begin a 13-week session Wednesday at Church of the Resurrection in Grand Island. The group will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays through July 26. This is an open group, so new members can join at any time. The sessions are designed to help participants journey through their grief with support from God and others. For more information, call Maureen Horne at (308) 850-5424 or Cindy Schneider at (308) 390-9138, or go online to www.griefshare.com. Mayors Prayer Breakfast coming up in Hastings HASTINGS National Day of Prayer will be observed with the Mayors Prayer Breakfast on Thursday in Hastings. The event will be from 6 to 7:30 a.m. at C3 Hotel & Convention Center, 2205 Osborne Drive E. Coffee and rolls will be served. Free will offerings will be collected. The breakfast is sponsored by Hastings Area Men of Promise. Blood drive set for May 5 Calvary Lutheran Church in Grand Island will host a Red Cross blood drive from noon to 6 p.m. May 5. Free Red Cross t-shirts will be given out while the supply lasts. For an appointment, call Ileane McCoy at (308) 384-1720 or go online to www.redcrossblood.org. Walk-ins are welcome. The church is located at 13th and Custer streets. Calvary Lutheran to host Spring Fling Calvary Lutheran Church will host its annual Spring Fling from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at 1304 N. Custer. The event will include rummage and bake sales, a food court, a silent auction and a raffle drawing for a 40-inch TV. What to do in Pennsylvania if you made an error on your mail-in ballot Ato, the Glen Carbon Police Department's K9 officer, received a special gift from a local business at the most recent meeting of the Glen Carbon Village Board. Police Chief Todd Link announced that Hawthorne Animal Hospital has committed to providing free veterinary service and free food for Ato during his time of service to the Glen Carbon community. We would not be able to do all we do without the generous support of the community and the businesses in Glen Carbon, Link said. Dr. Paul Myer and Dr. Phil McKinney have long-standing ties to the village of Glen Carbon and a commitment to safety. We know they will provide the very best service and we are grateful and appreciative. We know their standard of excellence will keep Ato in the best health and allow him to serve the residents of Glen Carbon for years to come. Hawthorne Marketing Director Scott Cates said the veterinary service is proud to support the community. Obviously there are not a lot of things we can do for the police, but in this case we are able to support the police in a way we are good at, he said. We look for this relationship to continue forever. Ato, a 2-year-old German Shepherd, is currently finishing his training with his handler Officer Louis Mitchelar. The K9 program was made possible through a $15,000 donation from Dr. Mark Eavenson. Ato will begin making regular patrols in late May. Link said the addition of the K9 to the department will help prevent crime, apprehend offenders and protect officers and citizens in the community. Hawthorne Animal Hospital has its main office in Glen Carbon, with four satellite locations throughout the Metro-East area. Hawthorne Animal Hospital is equipped with 24-hour emergency veterinary center, grooming, preventative, and wellness services. They provide medical, surgical, and dental care to the highest possible standards and have become a leading provider of vet services within the community. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mario Rustan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 During the conversation surrounding Indonesian comic book artist Ardian Syafs references to the 212 march and the Al-Maidah controversy in a Marvel publication, the comic community here pondered the different situations in Indonesia and the United States. Muslims in the United States are being discriminated against and stereotyped as terrorists, but American comics have stood up for them, from the aftermath of 9/11 to the current administration of President Donald Trump. On the other hand, Ardian expressed his support for the controversial march in a comic dealing with alienation and minorities. Worse, he was accused of supporting anti-Semitism after drawing Kitty Pryde, a Jewish-American character, standing with a Jewelry sign next to her in perspective. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 The first-ever national congress of women ulema, and the worlds first, organizers claim, was held from Tuesday to Thursday in Cirebon, a major area of Islamic heritage from which Islam spread to West Java. The host, in a province with one of the highest numbers of discriminatory bylaws in the country, was Nyai Masriyah Amva, leader of Kebon Jambu Al Islamy boarding school, which has about 1,000 male and female santri (students.) Amid the rise in political tension, news of the congress brings fervent hope, though the term ulema perempuan sounds strange people are more familiar with fiery female preachers, the ustadzah, female teachers of Islam, or the revered nyai, wives of the kyai or male pesantren leaders. Indonesias congress presented to a restless nation and the world the concept behind women ulema female, but also male, Muslims with a deep knowledge, fear of God (integrity), noble personalities, a developed sense of justice and [who] act to bring blessings upon the whole world. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Asmara Wreksono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 13:25 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb4efc1 1 Art & Culture arts-and-culture,Arti-Gidwani,Siobhan-King,painting,ceramics,exhibition Free The Arti and Siobhan: A Conversation Between a Potter and a Painter exhibition was held from April 20-22 at the Ciputra Artpreneur Gallery, leaving audiences mesmerized by the fluid communication between the two female expatriate artists, Arti Gidwani and Siobhan King. Starting off as friends, the two artists communicate via their artworks, Arti with her sculpture pieces, entitled Inadvertent Facelessness and Siobhan with her paintings entitled Chasing Dragons. According to exhibition curator Deborah Iskandar, the Inadvertent Facelessness sculptures convey the concept that facelessness is an unfortunate truth of humanity. Siobhan King's painting at the "Arti & Siobhan: A Conversation Between a Potter and a Painter" exhibition.(Rajbir Ahluwalia/Rajbir Ahluwalia) Arti explores the natural evolution of the human mind amid the information received from social media and the overload of images in modern peoples newsfeeds, which leads to an ever-expanding number of acquaintances, with which we have little to no interaction. My creative process usually starts with a thought that takes root in my brain, Arti said, I get my inspiration from the world around me. So to create my sculptures I work with the thoughts and translate them into pieces that are inspired by the people I see around me. It took Arti a year to prepare her work for this exhibition. Arti Gidwani's sculpture at the "Arti & Siobhan: A Conversation Between a Potter and a Painter" exhibition.(Rajbir Ahluwalia/Rajbir Ahluwalia) With a series of paintings entitled Chasing Dragons, Siobhan King charts a journey in Indonesia in search of the Komodo dragon and mans endless quest of more metaphorical dragons. Hence the series depicts a critique of mans greed and brutality in an uncertain world. Having traveled through Indonesias archipelago, which includes Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Flores, Java, Maluku, Lombok, Bali and much more, Siobhan also uses the Chasing Dragons series to immortalize her travels. She credited the journeys with influencing her creative process. Though each painting is from a particular region, they are impressions and memories of the landscape and the layering of oil colors, which allow the painting to evolve during this process, Siobhan said to The Jakarta Post via email. Read also: Finding solutions to social conflicts through art While Artis ceramic sculptures serve as a reminder of life in Jakarta and how facelessness is a recurring experience, Siobhans paintings observe the beauty of Indonesia from a visitors perspective, illustrating the natural landscapes and their near destruction, which many Indonesians may take for granted. We wanted our work to converse in a visual sense. I had been working on a series of paintings entitled Chasing Dragons during my two years in Indonesia, and Arti had been working on a theme of Inadvertent Facelessness, Siobhan said. Her ceramic pieces were all created for the exhibition, remaining within her theme, but she was aware that her figures populate my world of landscapes and my work, in turn, shows the impact of man on nature. Her ceramic figures playfully converse in a visual way with my paintings, under the skillful direction of our curator, Deborah Iskandar, she continued. Arti Gidwani's sculpture at "the Arti & Siobhan: A Conversation Between a Potter and a Painter" exhibition.(Rajbir Ahluwalia/Rajbir Ahluwalia) Arti agreed with Siobhan, Our work together created a wonderful exhibition that showed our individuality, our different themes, yet this exhibition was a clear example of how beautifully two different mediums can come together and compliment the theme, and create a conversation, she said. After a successful debut collaboration, the artists are looking forward to showcasing more exhibitions together. We both feel that while working with our thought processes, we can make a space for the other persons work. The paintings and pottery complement each other, Arti said. Meanwhile, Siobhan is convinced that the conversation must continue, It is my hope that we will work together again in the future and continue our creative conversation as a potter and a painter. It has certainly not ended as far as I am concerned. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Kyodo News) Tokyo Fri, April 28, 2017 19:02 2020 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb617c7 2 Books Haruki-Murakami,Book,Bookauthor,#books,author,#author Free Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami, an accomplished translator as well as author of works that have been translated for readers around the world to enjoy, said Thursday translation is "almost in the realm of a hobby" for him. "I just find myself doing more and more (translations)," Murakami said at an event celebrating the publication of his new nonfiction work in which he reflects on his experience doing translations. It is rare for Murakami, 68, to speak in public within Japan. But he seemed relaxed, clad in a T-shirt and jacket, as he gave a speech peppered with jokes to a crowd of around 460 people. Reflecting on his experience of both writing novels and translating foreign literature, Murakami said he feels like his "mental circulation has improved greatly by keeping a good balance (between the two)." Read also: Fans in Japan rush to get Murakami book with esoteric title He said translating the works of American writer Raymond Chandler has made him realize that he is "still developing" as a novelist. "For people who create things, getting oddly settled into a fixed system is what's frightening," Murakami said. "Translation is like a window opened onto the outside." Murakami got stuck into translation in 1981 and has continued the work while penning his bestselling novels. Around 70 of his translations have been published. His latest work touches on themes from American author F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose works are among Murakami's translations. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adam Popescu (Bloomberg) Fri, April 28, 2017 17:05 2020 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb5e888 2 Health Science,technology,3D-printer,health,medical-research,#health,#technology Free Medical researchers have been able to create certain kinds of living cells with 3D printers for more than a decade. Now a few companies are getting closer to mass production of higher-order tissues (bone, cartilage, organs) and other individually tailored items, including implants. This kind of precision medicine, treating patients based on their genes, environment, and lifestyle, could herald the end of long organ donor lists and solve other problems, too. Read also: Blood test offers hope for better lung cancer treatment Organovo has successfully transplanted human liver tissue into mice to cure chronic liver failure.(Organovo via Bloomberg/File) Organovo Holdings Inc. Based in San Diego; 120 employees What Organovo has successfully transplanted human liver tissue into mice to cure chronic liver failure. Pending the success of human trials, possible applications include the $3 billion market for inherited conditions such as hemophilia. Who Ten-year-old Organovo, co-founded by bioprinting pioneer Gabor Forgacs, a professor at the University of Missouri, has received more than $100 million in funding for its development of 3D-printed tissues. The company uses bioprinted tissue to test drug toxicity and effectiveness on behalf of Big Pharma companies including Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Merck & Co. Next Steps The company says it plans to begin human clinical trials by 2020. Its also developing printable bone tissue for skeletal disease research and co-developing 3D-printed skin with LOreal SA. Read also: Italian court finds link between cell phone use and tumor Aspect prints tissue cells to create structures that resemble parts of the human body, such as an airway or meniscus, to spur easier research on treatments for, say, asthma or muscle tears.(Lavigne Films via Bloomberg/File) Aspect Biosystems Ltd. Based in Vancouver; 15 employees What Aspect prints tissue cells to create structures that resemble parts of the human body, such as an airway or meniscus, to spur easier research on treatments for, say, asthma or muscle tears. By taking muscle cells from a lung, for example, the company built respiratory tissue that responded to common asthma inhalers as a persons body should. Who Engineering Ph.D. dropout Tamer Mohamed co-founded Aspect in 2013 with nanotechnology and biology experts. Theyve teamed with a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary to work on tissue development with their heavily customized printers. Next Steps The focus of the J&J partnership is a prototype artificial meniscus that could be implanted without the need for more invasive and expensive knee surgeries. The companies havent set a timetable for human trials, though Mohamed says hes hoping to get there in the next few years. Read also: Drinking too much soda may be linked to alzheimer's Materialise designs custom 3D-printable implants, surgical guides, and other medical devices. (Materialise via Bloomberg/File) Materialise NV Based in Leuven, Belgium; 1,400 employees What Materialise designs custom 3D-printable implants, surgical guides, and other medical devices. Its waiting on approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for implants designed to fuse bones. Its considering starting the approval process for tracheal splits meant to keep airways open. Who Chief Executive Officer Fried Vancraen founded the $440 million company in 1990 and has joined with companies including Siemens AG and UL LLC to develop or manufacture medical equipment. Sometimes the items are as simple as glasses or custom hearing aids; sometimes theyre individually tailored models of a persons organ designed to help surgeons spot potential trouble. Next Steps Materialise says a series of forthcoming research papers will strengthen its bone implant case with the FDA. The next hurdle will be persuading health insurers to cover its 3D-printed gear. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Michael Liedtke (Associated Press) San Francisco, United States Fri, April 28, 2017 11:37 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb4c5ad 2 Science & Tech YouTube,Google Free YouTube's inability to keep big-brand ads off unsavory videos is threatening to transform a rising star in Google's digital family into a problem child. It's not yet clear whether a recent ad boycott of YouTube will be short-lived or the start of a long-term shift away from the video service one that could undercut Google's growth and that of its corporate parent, Alphabet Inc. Alphabet's first-quarter results, released Thursday, provided few clues. Major advertisers didn't start pulling their money from YouTube until the three-month period was nearly over. The company's earnings rose 29 percent to $5.4 billion while revenue climbed 22 percent to $24.8 billion. Shares surged nearly 5 percent, to $933, in Thursday's extended trading. CLOUD OVER YOUTUBE But the fallout from the YouTube boycott is likely to be felt through the rest of this year. Skittish advertisers have curtailed their spending until they are convinced Google can prevent their brands from appearing next to extremist clips promoting hate and violence. "There is no entity in the world that is more risk averse than a senior marketing person," says Larry Chiagouris, a marketing professor at Pace University in New York. "They don't want to go with a media choice that presents problems for a brand, and they don't have to because they have many other choices." Google CEO Sundar Pichai told analysts during a Thursday review of the first quarter that the company has had "thousands and thousands" of conversations with advertisers as YouTube takes steps to protect their brands. "We are evolving overall to a better place," Pichai said. At another point, he assured analysts that YouTube is still experiencing "extraordinary" growth without providing specifics. Even if YouTube continues to lose advertisers, it won't leave a huge dent in Alphabet's earnings. That's because marketers are expected to keep feeding the company's golden goose Google's dominant search engine. Ads appearing alongside the billions of search results Google churns out each day still generate most of Alphabet's revenue even as it expands into other fields. But ad spending has been accelerating at a rapid pace on YouTube over the past two years as brands sought to connect with its audience of more than 1 billion people. Now it looks like things might taper off. This Wednesday, April 26, 2017, photo shows the Google mobile phone icon, in Philadelphia. Alphabet Inc., parent company of Google, reports financial results, Thursday, April 27, 2017. (AP/Matt Rourke) Read also: Apple to offer classes at stores TAKING THE GLOSS OFF Before the boycott began, YouTube's ad revenue after subtracting commissions was expected to rise 26 percent this year to $7 billion, based on estimates from the research firm eMarketer. Alphabet doesn't disclose YouTube's finances. Advertisers began to flee YouTube last month, after The Times in London and other media outlets turned up evidence that their brands were appearing alongside clips promoting terrorism and racism. The findings alerted advertisers that YouTube didn't have adequate technology or staffing to shield brands from some of the appalling material that gets posted on a site that receives 400 hours of video per minute. "This is an ostrich situation where the ostrich just pulled its head out of the sand," says Harry Kargman, CEO of Kargo, which helps manage ad campaigns on mobile devices. FLIGHT OF THE BRANDS At one point, about 250 advertisers were boycotting YouTube. (Some also stepped back from a related system that Google operates to place commercials next to videos on outside websites.) The list included big-spending marketers such as PepsiCo, Wal-Mart Stores, Starbucks, AT&T, Verizon, Johnson & Johnson, and Volkswagen. It's unclear how many, if any, of those have returned to YouTube since Google promised to hire more human reviewers and upgrade its technology to keep ads away from repugnant videos. Both Verizon and AT&T, two companies that are trying to expand their own digital ad networks to compete with Google, told The Associated Press that they are still boycotting YouTube. FX Networks confirmed that it isn't advertising on YouTube either. Several other boycotting marketers contacted by AP didn't respond. TEMPORARY HIT OR PERMANENT SCAR? Even if advertisers return, Kargman predicted they are unlikely to spend as much as they once did. "It's going to be a slow burn as brands quietly shift their spending away," he said. "There are now questions about the quality of video on YouTube in the long term." Investors, however, apparently aren't too worried so far. YouTube's financial contributions remain a fairly small part of a company expected to generate $87 billion in revenue this year, after subtracting ad commissions. RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark Mahaney estimates the reduced spending on YouTube and Google's ad network for video on third-party sites could reduce Alphabet's net revenue by $300 million, to $1.5 billion, this year. Some of that spending could shift to Facebook, Mahaney said, although the social network is facing its own challenges trying to block live videos of violence that appall viewers and advertisers alike. Topics : YouTube Google Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 13:22 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb4ee77 1 National AJI,AJI-Jakarta,media-moghul,Hary-Tanoesoedibjo,Press-Council,press-freedom Free The Jakarta chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) denounced United Indonesia Party (Perindo) chairman Hary Tanoesoedibjos decision to report online media tirto.id to the Jakarta Police over alleged slander. If Hary Tanoe felt tirto.ids news coverage had damaged his reputation, instead of reporting it to the police, he should have used the proper avenues as mandated [by the 1999 Press Law] to respond. He could either use his right to reply or report the media company to the Indonesian Press Council, AJI Jakarta chairman Ahmad Nurhasim said as quoted by tempo.co on Thursday. On Tuesday, Hary Tanoe reported tirto.id to the police for alleged slander over of an article it published titled, Ahok used as a pretext for attacks against the government. In it, the MNC Group chief was mentioned as the main instigator of anti-government attacks. The article, written by freelance American journalist Allan Nairn, was released on April 19, the same day as Jakartas gubernatorial runoff election. Hasim said Harys move to report tirto.id to the police could threaten press freedom in Indonesia. Indonesian business tycoons who control media companies do not understand the meaning of press freedom and journalistic principles as regulated by the 1999 Press Law, he added. Hasim said Hary should have provided a positive example in resolving media-related disputes. It was clearly stipulated in the law that if a media-related dispute could not be resolved with the right to issue a reply reply, it could be settled via mediation at the Press Council, he added. (dis/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marcel Thee (The Jakarta Post) Fri, April 28 2017 Billed as the 100th record by prolific American musician Robert Pollard, the double LP August by Cake is also his band Guided by Voices second post-post reunion album (yes, the influential American independent band broke up twice, for the first time in 2004, and again in 2014.) It is also one of the most instantaneously likeable records Pollard has released in a while, either under his own name, Guided by Voices or the myriad of other monikers he uses (Teenage Guitar, Circus Devils, ESP Ohio). to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 19:50 2020 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb63ca0 1 National hoax,#Hoax Free Journalists from major media outlets launched the Anti-Hoax Journalists Network on Friday, with top official endorsement. The network has put together a team that will sift through daily news items. It has also introduced an app to help editors determine whether particular news or information is legitimate. "We want national mainstream media to be clean and clear," said Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) chairman Margiono at the launch, which was attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Kalla and President Joko Widodo both sit on the advisory board along with several Cabinet ministers. The presidium is filled with top media executives. Media activist Agus Sudibyo heads the national executive board. The network has branches in all 34 provinces. In his remarks, Kalla said he had been a victim of a hoax on Friday morning, with news claiming that he had said money spent on flower boards for Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who lost his reelection bid, would be better spent on wheelchairs for the disabled. "I never made that remark," Kalla said. "The only bunga [flower] Im interested in is bunga bank [bank interest]," said Kalla, a businessman by background. (Read also: Police to stamp "Hoax" on unreliable news online) He said he did not follow the news closely, relying instead on his staff to alert him of news relevant to him, including Fridays hoax. "But President Jokowi follows the news closely, so watch what you report," he told the journalists present. Kalla also suggested the networks acronym, originally Jawah, standing for Jaringan Wartawan Anti Hoax, to Jawarah, which sounds like jawara, a term used to describe fearless men from Banten, West Java. An 11-year-old girl was raped years ago by her own grandfather, who also played the role of muezzin (caller to prayer) in his community. When the girl became pregnant, her grandmother approached a midwife for an abortion. The midwife refused, fearing she would commit a sin. The grandmother then sought the help of a local female cleric in Bondowoso, East Java, Ruqoyyah, who accompanied them on another visit to the midwife. An abortion was conducted after Ruqoyyah convinced the midwife that an abortion of a pregnancy caused by rape was not sinful; besides the girl could not marry her grandfather, as incest, being haram, is a sin. Ruqoyyah added that the girls future should be considered. Child marriage remains rampant in Bondowoso, second only to Madura in East Java, said Ruqoyyah who was forced to marry at the age of 14, and who also survived domestic violence in her second marriage. After educating the community through prayer groups and other functions, Alhamdullillah [Thank God], she said, child marriage had decreased and fewer parents were taking their daughters out of school to marry them off once they were considered physically mature. The first Indonesian Womens Ulema Congress ruled on Thursday that avoiding child marriage is mandatory, to cheers and applause at the Kebon Jambu Al Islamy Islamic boarding school in Babakan Ciwaringin, Cirebon. In the first of three rulings, read out by scholar Habib Djunaidi of Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, the congress urged the increase of girls legal marrying age from 16 to 18. As the Constitutional Court has thwarted a judicial review attempt to change the minimum marrying age for girls in the 1974 Marriage Law, citing fears of sin, among others, Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin told the audience he would immediately convey the recommendation to Womens Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohanna Yembise so the government could draft an amendment to the law. Habib read out the reasons for the ruling, First, religion obliges all people to avoid and fight every factor that can cause mudharat [harm] and child marriage contains many mudharat such as maternal death. Second, prevention [of child marriage] is the responsibility of parents, educators, society and the state, central and local government. Third, victims of child marriage must receive formal education and health care just like any other child, as well as protection from all kinds of violence and discrimination. Their parents are obliged to continue to take care of them. The ruling added that schools must continue to ensure victims of child marriage could continue their studies, including when a girl becomes pregnant. During Wednesdays discussion group on child marriage, researcher Mukti Ali raised the issue of using Islamic sources, including Quranic verses, to justify child marriage. This is implied in Surah Al Thalaq, despite Surah Al Rum mentioning Allahs creation of couples so that you can feel blissful toward him/her. The aim of blissful families cannot be achieved through child marriage, Ruqqoyah, said. The congress results were far too late for one deaf girl who was raped and forced to marry her rapist. This was the familys decision, a participant said, as her voice cracked. So I had to prepare her [dress and do her makeup], but I feel Ive sinned. The second congress ruling was also groundbreaking: that sexual violence is haram within and outside a marriage. The third was that development that caused damage to the environment was also haram. The congress rulings, while non-binding, are to serve as a reference for matters considered urgent by over 1,000 congress participants. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Kuta, Bali Fri, April 28 2017 A Bali communique on the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) was agreed to on Thursday. The communique calls for sustainable fishing practices all over the world in a bid to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The communique was agreed to by around 350 participants attending the second International Conference of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative held in Kuta, Bali. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 13:18 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb4eb49 1 Business Indika-Energy,Cirebon,project,financial-close Free Publicly listed coal mining company Indika Energy is in the process of securing US$2.1 million for its 1-gigawatt coal-fired power plant (PLTU) Cirebon CEP-2 in West Java. Financial closure for the project is expected to be achieved in the first half of 2017, Indika Energy president director Arsjad Rasjid said on Thursday. Bank loans are expected to cover 80 percent of the funds, while another 20 percent is prepared by a consortium led by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and ExportImport Bank of Korea, according to Arsjad. (Read also: Rising coal price puts Indika Energy back in the black) Meanwhile, work on the ground, like the preparation of land for the project, had already begun, said Arsjad, adding that construction was expected to start soon, as the company was actually required to finish the project in early 2020. The PLTU Cirebon CEP-2 project is part of the companys expansion to increase its production capacity. Indika Energy has also built the PLTU Cirebon CEP-1 plant with a capacity of 660 megawatts. We have 280 hectares of land, 80 hectares of which have been used for PLTU Cirebon CEP-1, the remaining 200 hectares are actually enough to construct three more power plants, including the one that we are going to establish soon with a capacity of 1 GW, Asrjad said. (yon) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Fri, April 28 2017 Earlier this month, Indonesias tourist industry reached a historic milestone with the docking of the Pacific Eden cruise ship at Balis Benoa Port, making it the first to do so at a local port. The achievement has provided a moral boost for the government, which is aiming to see the arrival of 20 million foreign tourists by 2019. On the sidelines of a ceremony to welcome the Pacific Edens arrival, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya spoke to a group of journalists invited on board the 219-meter vessel, including The Jakarta Posts Hasyim Widhiarto, during which he laid out the governments plans to tap opportunities in the marine tourist sector as well as the cruise business in particular. The following are excerpts from the interview: Question: What is our biggest problem when it comes to inviting cruise ship operators? to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 07:45 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb3d8a1 1 Business Economic-Census-2016,business,concentrate,Java-island Free Results of the Economic Census 2016 show that most businesses are still concentrated in Java Island, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) announced Thursday. About 60.74 percent of 26.71 million businesses are located in Java, 18.61 percent in Sumatra, 8.09 percent in Sulawesi, 5.68 percent in Bali and Nusa Tenggara, 5.16 percent in Kalimantan and 1.72 percent in Maluku and Papua. It is up to us to develop eastern Indonesia, BPS head Kecuk Suhariyanto said during his opening for the reading of the census. Conducted every decade, the Economic Census surveys businesses of all sizes, except those in the agriculture sector. The number of companies it covers has increased by 17.51 percent to 26.71 million in May 2016 from 22.73 million in 2006. Retail and wholesale trade, as well as car and motorcycle reparation and maintenance services dominated the census, with 46.17 percent, or roughly 12.3 million, of all business units surveyed. Accommodation and/or food and beverage providers made up 16.27 percent of the survey, and manufacturing took up 16.53 percent. The remaining 12 sectors consisted of businesses in construction, mining, water management, transportation and warehouses, information and communication, finance and insurance, real estate, corporate services, and health and social activities. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Klungkung, Bali Fri, April 28, 2017 22:33 2020 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb694d6 1 National elephant,Klungkung,Lampung,Lampung-elephant,#elephant,tourists,bali,elephant-tour-facility Free The owner of a company that provides elephant facility tours was killed by one of the elephants at his park. I Nyoman Levi Suwitha, 60, was attacked by a male Lampung elephant on Friday at Bakas Levi Rafting and Elephant Tours in Bakas village, Klungkung regency, about 30 kilometers from Denpasar, Bali. Klungkung Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Arendra Wahyudi told The Jakarta Post that Nyoman Levi came to the elephant cage at around 10:20 a.m. local time soon after he arrived from Denpasar. When he was feeding the elephant, the animal suddenly attacked him. During the incident, the elephant lifted up Nyoman Levi and slammed his body on the ground, leaving him unconscious. The victim was rushed to Klungkung Hospital immediately after the incident. However, a doctor at the hospital's emergency unit stated the victim had died when he arrived there, Arendra said. Arendra further said the police were still investigating the case. We have questioned several witnesses and will continue the investigation, he said. Citing a witness, the police chief said the elephant was leashed inside the cage when the incident occurred. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28 2017 A ferry carrying 19 passengers and three crewmen burst into flames on Thursday morning in the waters of Ayer, Thousand Islands regency. North Jakarta Firefighting and Rescue Agency head Satriadi Gunawan said the ferry, Zevolution 9 Princes Debble, burst into flames at 8.30 a.m. It had departed from Marina dock in Ancol and was bound for Ayer Island, Putri Island, Pelangi Island and Macan Island. On their way, a fire broke out in the engine room and quickly spread, Satriadi said on Thursday as quoted by beritajakarta.com. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Abdullah Al-Shihri and Aya Batrawy (Associated Press) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Fri, April 28, 2017 08:30 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb425f2 2 World Saudi-Arabia,Gulf-summit,Iran,Gulf-Cooperation-Council,#Iran Free Royals from Gulf Arab countries met on Thursday in Saudi Arabia to discuss regional security and try and formulate a unified voice on rival Iran. The meeting in Riyadh included the defense, interior and foreign ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, a tightly allied bloc led by Saudi Arabia that also includes the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. A joint statement after the meeting said the ministers discussed ways to enhance cooperation to combat terrorism, including efforts to build up a military alliance of Muslim-majority countries. The alliance of mostly Sunni countries was announced by Saudi Arabia in late 2015 and doesn't include Shiite-ruled Iran, or Syria and Iraq. In an apparent reference to Iran, the statement stressed the bloc countries' determination to prevent "external interference" in their internal affairs and "efforts to undermine national security and provoke sectarian strife." Despite presenting a united front in the meeting, the bloc's member-states differ when it comes to Iran. Bahrain's Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa accused Iran in his opening remarks of being behind attacks that have killed security forces in the island nation. "We continue to face grave threats emanating from the territories of Iran as well as Iraq, which back terrorist groups and criminal organizations," he said. Bahrain's Sunni-led monarchy has weathered years of protests by the country's majority Shiites and blames Iran for fueling the unrest, which has at times turned violent. The nation hosts the US Navy's 5th Fleet. Saudi Arabia last year broke off diplomatic relations with Iran and the kingdom and Tehran back opposing sides of the war in Syria. In Yemen, Saudi Arabia is at war with Shiite rebels aligned with Iran. Other GCC countries, however, have recently taken steps to improve ties with Iran. Qatar's ruler met with Iran's foreign minister in the capital, Doha, in March. Qatar and Iran share control of a giant underwater natural gas field. Also this year, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani met with the leaders of Oman and Kuwait in visits aimed at repairing ties. __ Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (**) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Ciputat, Banten Fri, April 28 2017 The governments efforts to encourage the development and construction of low-cost housing for blue collar workers may amount to nothing if the prices set for such accommodation remain out of reach for most workers. On Thursday, President Joko Jokowi Widodo kicked off the construction of a low-cost apartment building in Ciputat in South Tangerang, Banten, that is mainly designated for low-income workers in the neighboring industrial region. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Markus Makur (The Jakarta Post) Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara Fri, April 28 2017 Seven foreign and six Indonesian senior diplomats are visiting West Manggarai regency in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to partake in a seven-day program as part of their advanced education as diplomats. Foreign Affairs Ministrys director of School for Staff and Foreign Leaders (Sesparlu), Odo Manuhutu, said that during their stay in West Manggarai, they hoped to learn about local culture, visit tourist spots and promote the area through social media, including Facebook, Youtube and blogs. We visited Padar Island, Komodo National Park and the surrounding areas including Papagarang village in Liang Ndara subdistrict, Mbeliling district. We also talked with local youths, he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fachrul Sidiq (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 16:52 2020 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb5dd88 1 City health-insurance,JKN Free Jakarta residents who have yet to register for the National Health Insurance (JKN) program can now input their data at one of the 267 sub-district offices spread across the city following an agreement between the city administration and the Social Security Agency (BPJS) on Friday. The registration is free of charge. For now, its only open for individuals and non-wage recipients, BPJS Kesehatan membership and marketing director Andayani Budi Lestari said at City Hall, adding it was also open for residents who did not hold Jakarta IDs. Andayani revealed that around 7.9 million Jakartans, or more than 80 percent of the citys total population, were already covered by the JKN program. The newly signed agreement was part of the Central Governments target to achieve universal health coverage by 2019 under the JKN scheme. Meanwhile, Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama urged civil servants to ensure all their constituents were covered by the program. To all mayors and districts heads, since last year Jakarta has been committed to realizing the universal healthcare program. So please bear the responsibility as stipulated under the law, Ahok said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28 2017 The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is moving aggressively against tycoon Sjamsul Nursalim following its decision to name former Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) head Syafruddin Arsyad Temenggung a suspect in the Bank Indonesia liquidity support (BLBI) case. Syafruddin was named a suspect for his decision to free Sjamsul of his obligation to pay Rp 3.7 trillion in debt owed to the government, which was disbursed under the BLBI scheme. After announcing earlier this week that it would seize assets in companies owned or tied to Sjamsul, the KPK said it would question key individuals with information connected to the case, including the tycoon himself. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 21:00 2020 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb65502 1 National KPK,#KPK,Quran-procurement-graft,Fahd-El-Fouz,graft,graft-suspect,corruption Free The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) summoned Golkar Youth Generation (AMPG) chairman Fahd El Fouz on Friday for questioning as a suspect in a graft case related to Quran procurement at the Religious Affairs Ministry. Fahd was named a suspect on Thursday. The KPK also summoned several civil servants of the Religious Affairs Ministry and staff members at the House of Representatives Commission VIII, which oversees religious affairs, for questioning as witnesses. Fahd has been accused of collective corruption in the Quran procurement project at the Religious Affairs Ministrys Directorate General of Islamic Mass Organizations Management in 2011 to 2012 and a computer laboratory procurement project for madrasah tsanawiyah (Islamic senior high schools). Fahd is the third suspect to be named in the case, which was initially investigated in 2012. KPK spokesperson Febri Diansyah said as quoted by kompas.com Fahd was declared a suspect after new evidence was found. Fahd is suspected to have accepted Rp 3.4 billion from the two projects, which were worth a combined Rp 14.8 billion (US$1.11 million). Former Golkar Party politician Zulkarnaen Djabar and his son, Dendy Prasetia, have been tried in the same case. Zulkarnaen was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined Rp 300 million while his son was sentenced to eight years in prison and fined Rp 300 million. (dis/ebf) Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama still has another six months to lead the city before officially passing the baton to Anies Baswedan, who defeated the incumbent in the runoff election on April 19. Lately however, the hard-charging governor seems something akin to a lame-duck ruler, as some of his policies and plans are facing defiant rebellion from affected residents. The Penjaringan Police have reportedly questioned three residents who complained about the presence of thugs in the former red-light district area of Kalijodo in North Jakarta, which was transformed by Ahok into a childfriendly integrated public space (RPTRA). They [the thugs] are insolent, they think I cant act firmly toward them. They think Im no longer a governor while in fact I am the governor until Oct. 7, Ahok said at City Hall. Anies victory has also reinvigorated resident opposition toward Ahoks eviction policy, as illustrated by is happening at Pasar Ikan and Kampung Akuarium in North Jakarta. Back in April 2016, the governor evicted residents from Pasar Ikan and Kampung Akuarium, shipping hundreds of them to low-cost apartments and brushing aside their cries for fair compensation. While some residents agreed to move to nearby apartments, others stayed on the evicted land by relying on the help of some external parties, including the Gerindra Party, to sustain their living. Since Ahoks defeat, some of the evicted residents have begun moving back into the areas. Penjaringan district head Mohammad Andri said there were 90 semi-permanent dwellings flourishing in the area. Some residents have even started building permanent houses. We started working on Monday [to build a permanent house]. The owner of this house is an evictee who is now living in a rented house in Muara Baru, said Roman, 27, a home builder. Roman, who was also evicted, said he believed that Anies would not destroy the reconstructed houses because during the campaign period, the presumptive winner of the Jakarta election promised that he would not do so. Another evictee, Adi Riyanto, 57, who is renovating his 15 square meter house, said he was not afraid that Ahok would again demolish his house because the legal process regarding the eviction was still ongoing. In late 2016, the residents filed a class action with the Central Jakarta District Court against the administrations eviction plan. In the class action, the residents asked for compensation. Haratua Purba from the administrations legal bureau said the administration and the residents were still engaged in a mediation process before entering into the next legal proceeding. Meanwhile, Ahok said the administration would bulldoze the houses. The governor stressed that his cherished revitalization project would continue after the administration had finished studying the heritage aspects of the Pasar Ikan area. However, not all of the evictees are trying to overturn Ahoks eviction program. Residents of Bukit Duri in South Jakarta, for instance, do not plan to rebuild their houses upon the cleared land, the residents advocate, Sandyawan Sumardi, said. They will build a village of row houses on vacant land in Bukit Duri Tanjakan. Anies met with Bukit Duri residents during the campaign and promised that he would obey a ruling from the Jakarta State Administrative Court stating that their eviction was illegal. Sandyawan added that Anies had promised to pay compensation to the evictees even though Ahoks administration had filed an appeal against the decision. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28 2017 Indonesia has seen a slow expansion in pension fund coverage despite the relatively sharp increase in pension fund assets over the past year, prompting calls for the government to ease business regulations. According to data provided by the Financial Services Authority (OJK), the number of workers registered in the countrys pension fund management companies stood at 32.24 million as of 2016, representing around a third of the country's workforce of 110 million. The ratio of pension fund assets to GDP also remains low. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 06:47 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb3a34d 1 Business Cooperative-SME-ministry,cooperatives,closure Free Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Anak Agung Gede Ngurah Puspayoga has issued decrees to close 43,000 inactive cooperatives. We closed the cooperatives because they are not active anymore, the minister said when attending the Malang City Expo (MCE) in Malang, East Java, on Thursday. The ministry categorizes cooperatives into three groups, according to their performance: inactive cooperatives, unhealthy cooperatives and healthy cooperatives. From about 150,000 cooperatives, about 75,000 were deemed unhealthy, said the minister. "Among indications of a healthy cooperative is a growing number of members and holding annual membership meetings, said Minister Puspayoga. The government has long tried to develop cooperatives, which are expected to be the backbone of the national economy. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 15:10 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb582d6 1 National Miryam-S-Haryani,KPK,#KPK,graft,graft-suspect,Komnas-HAM,Komnas,DPO,e-ID,#e-ID Free The lawyer of perjury suspect Miryam S.Haryani, Aga Khan, is set to report the Corruption Eradication Commissions (KPK) decision to put the former House of Representatives member on its most-wanted list to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM). We will ask for assistance from Komnas HAM. We want the commission to give Bu Miryam protection as an Indonesian citizen, Aga told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. The lawyer deplored the KPKs decision to respond to a pretrial motion demanded by the Hanura Party politician by putting her on the DPO list. He said it was his clients legal right to submit such a request. (Read also: Lawyer protests KPKs decision to put Miryam on most wanted list) Aga further said that Miryam had been cooperative with the KPK. He said the lawyer team had also notified the commission in written form about the submission of her clients pretrial hearing request to challenge her naming as a suspect. The KPK sent a letter on the inclusion of Miryam on its DPO list to the National Police and the National Central Bureau (NCB) Interpol Indonesia on Thursday. Aga said the lawyer team also planned to explain its objection to its clients DPO status to the National Police. The police have a special regulation on pretrial motions, in which they can temporarily halt an investigation if a suspect files a pretrial hearing request, he said. Miryam, a House member for the 2009-2014 period, is accused of having given false statements in March when she testified as a witness in an e-ID case hearing for defendants Irman and Sugiharto, two former Home Ministry officials. (dis/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28 2017 Indonesia has climbed six notches from its previous place on the 2017 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Wednesday. The rise, however, is by no means a sign Indonesias press freedom is improving. The country has improved from 130th last year to 124th this year, but its score has slightly fallen from 41.72 last year to 39.93. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Syafiq Hasyim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28 2017 Ahead of the recently completed Jakarta gubernatorial run-off election, President Joko Jokowi Widodo appealed for politics and religion to be kept separate. His statement reinvigorated the classical discussion over whether religion and the state are inseparable. Many say separation is possible since Indonesias current polity is closer to following the concept of a secular state than a theocratic one. Yet many others forget that a national consensus chose Pancasila as the nations ideological foundation to avoid this country becoming a sharia-based state. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28 2017 State-owned electricity firm PLN is racing against the clock as work is piling up in eastern Indonesia that requires completion by 2019. PLN has set a target of 886.9 megawatts (MW) of electricity to be procured in the Maluku islands and Papua within the next two years. It is part of the President Joko Jokowi Widodo administrations commitment to develop the easternmost regions. Although the islands make up only 2.5 percent of the governments ambitious 35,000 MW electricity program, they are rife with challenges due to poor infrastructure and high transportation costs. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 12:33 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb4e75b 1 City Rizieq-Shihab,Firza-Husein,WhatsApp Free Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mochamad Iriawan has stated his opinion that smartphone chats containing pornographic material and believed to have taken place between Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab and Firza Husein, a treason suspect, are authentic. Police earlier this year summoned Firza for questioning after screenshots of what appears to be steamy WhatsApp chats between Rizieq and Firza were uploaded to the internet. Firza was a coordinator of the Solidaritas Sahabat Cendana foundation, which is connected to the family of former president Soeharto. The Jakarta Police summoned both Rizieq as well as his wife and Firza's friend, whose name was mentioned in the chats, on Tuesday. However, none of them showed up. "[If not from them], then who are these chats from?" Iriawan said on Thursday, adding there was no possibility that such chats had been fabricated. "If they had been, then Rizieq and Firza would certainly feel harmed and, therefore, would report the incident to the police. Well, just wait until they file [a report]," he said, alluding to the fact that neither Rizieq nor Firza have reported the matter. (dea) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 14:54 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb56c61 1 City presidential-security,stabbing,attack Free Police are hunting down suspects following the attack against two members of the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) in Gambir, Central Jakarta, earlier this week. "We already have the suspects' names and details. We just have to catch them," Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Suyudi said on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com. Suyudi added that several witnesses had been questioned regarding the case. Private First Class Rico Candra Pasaribu and Private Second Class Fatah Kudus were riding a motorcycle on Tuesday when Pasaribu reportedly got into a heated argument with another motorcycle rider on Jl. Kesehatan at around 6.45 p.m. Around 30 minutes later, their argument had descended into physical violence. Pasaribu was attacked by three people and badly injured with two stabs to his stomach. Fatah, who tried to help his colleague, was beaten and stabbed in the back five times. They were still being treated at the Gatot Subroto Army Central Hospital in Central Jakarta as of Friday. (kuk) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 07:15 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb3b093 1 Business land-acquisition,infrastructure-project,private-firms Free Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) chairman Hariyadi Sukamdani has called on the government to take care of the problem of land acquisition before inviting private companies to take part in the development of the countrys infrastructure. The problem is that the government itself is not ready to do its part. Private companies are reluctant if they have to acquire land, Hariyadi said as reported by kompas.com on Thursday. President Joko Jokowi Widodo plans to develop infrastructure worth Rp 4.7 quadrillion (US$353.14 billion) through to 2019. The government is demanding that private companies develop 42 percent of the total projects, worth some Rp 1.97 quadrillion, and state-owned companies develop 25 percent of the projects. The remaining 33 percent will be funded by the state budget. Hariyadi said the private sector was ready to contribute to infrastructure development as long as the government solved problems that might hinder the projects in the future. Land acquisition has long posed a problem in the development of infrastructure. Rampant land speculators often acquire land marked for certain infrastructure projects beforehand so that when the projects are announced, they can cash in on the land sales. Such speculation can occur because the speculators usually attain leaked information about the projects. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 10:06 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb48c41 1 Business MaybankIndonesia,net-profit,Q1 Free Private lender Maybank Indonesia, a part of Malaysia-based financial group Maybank, recorded Rp 490.1 billion (US$36.8 million) in net profit in this year's first quarter, a 10.4 percent increase from the same period last year. Its net interest income (NII) expanded by 8.1 percent year-on-year (yoy) to Rp 1.7 trillion as of March, while net interest margin increased to 4.7 percent from 4.3 percent recorded last year, according to an official statement. The lender disbursed Rp 114.2 trillion in loans as of March, a 5.7 percent yoy climb, which was mainly driven by growing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and commercial credits by 9 percent to Rp 50.5 trillion. (Read also: Maybank Indonesia plans to issue bonds and hold rights issue) The banks gross and net non-performing loan (NPL) stood at 3.7 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively. Maybank Indonesia collected Rp 117.7 trillion in third party funds (DPK) during this year's first quarter, a slight growth of 2.5 percent yoy. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Manila Fri, April 28 2017 An Indonesian delegation leader defended ASEANs current stance toward China in negotiating a framework for a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, which many pundits perceive as weak in the face of Beijings continued construction in the disputed waters. The Foreign Ministrys director general for ASEAN affairs, Jose AM Tavares, said the regional grouping was currently presented with an opportunity to productively engage with China on the elusive guidelines to avoid tensions in the vital trade route. ASEAN has constantly received criticism from Western media, most recently when a leaked draft of a summit statement reportedly failed to directly criticize China for its continued actions in the South China Sea. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 23:19 2020 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb6a1ff 1 National Hanura,Hanura-Party,Miryam-S-Haryani,graft,graft-suspect,KPK,#KPK,e-ID,#e-ID Free Dadang Rusdiana, the secretary of the Hanura Party faction at the House of Representatives, said on Friday the Houses plan to exercise its right to inquiry against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was not an attempt to weaken the anti-graft body but instead, aimed to keep it on the right track." It is expected the right of inquiry will remind the KPK to work in line with its main duties and functions and in accordance with the law, he went on. The inquiry will strengthen the KPK and it has nothing to do with any attempt to weaken the body. We have to guarantee that the KPK is on the right track, Dadang said at the House complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Friday. (Read also: House approves right of inquiry request against KPK) Hanura is the only faction that has firmly supported the Houses plan to exercise its inquiry right against the KPK from the very beginning. The proposal was submitted by the Houses Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, during a hearing on April 18-19. In the meeting, House members asked the KPK to open the investigation document of Miryam S. Haryani, former House member implicated in the e-ID graft case. In a plenary session on Friday, the majority of House factions approved the inquiry right proposal, they deemed it necessary to prove whether or not there was pressure on Miryam during the KPKs investigation into the case. (dis/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dylan Amirio (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28 2017 Southeast Asia is currently one of the largest digital markets in the world, with the rates of venture capital investment, startup growth and internet usage among the highest globally. With Indonesia a major center of the regions growth, the markets progress has seen it become considered one of the worlds most promising, despite its underlying obstacles, such as mismatches in valuation expectations. Regarding the mismatched valuations, [funding] deal values usually end up at lower levels than initially predicted. Investors [to the Indonesian market] therefore need to plan around the deals, consulting firm Bain & Company partner Usman Akhtar explained during the Asian Private Equity & Venture Forum in Jakarta on Thursday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Richard Lardner (Associated Press) Washington Fri, April 28, 2017 08:15 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb40eb8 2 World US,China,NuclearTest,Nuclear,Rex-Tillerson,North-Korea,#NorthKorea,#NorthKoreaNuclear,kim-jong-un Free US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Thursday that China has threatened to impose sanctions on North Korea if it conducts further nuclear tests. "We know that China is in communications with the regime in Pyongyang," Tillerson said on Fox News Channel. "They confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test." Tillerson said China also told the US that it had informed North Korea "that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own." Earlier Thursday, the senior US Navy officer overseeing military operations in the Pacific said the crisis with North Korea is at the worst point he's ever seen, but he declined to compare the situation to the Cuban missile crisis decades ago. "It's real," Adm. Harry Harris Jr., commander of US Pacific Command, said during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Harris said he has no doubt that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un intends to fulfill his pursuit of a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the United States. The admiral acknowledged there's uncertainty within US intelligence agencies over how far along North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are. But Harris said it's not a matter of if but when. "There is no doubt in my mind," Harris said. The Trump administration has declared that all options, including a targeted military strike, are on the table to block North Korea from carrying out threats against the United States and its allies in the region. But a pre-emptive attack isn't likely, US officials have said, and the administration is pursuing a strategy of putting pressure on Pyongyang with assistance from China, North Korea's main trading partner and the country's economic lifeline. With international support, the Trump administration said Thursday it wants to exert a "burst" of economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea that yields results within months to push the communist government to change course from developing nuclear weapons. Susan Thornton, the acting top US diplomat for East Asia, said there's debate about whether Pyongyang is willing to give up its weapons programs. She said the US wants "to test that hypothesis to the maximum extent we can" for a peaceful resolution. But signaling that military action remains possible, Thornton told an event hosted by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies the Washington think tank has advocated tougher US policies on Iran and North Korea that the administration treats North Korea as its primary security challenge and is serious that "all options are on the table." "We are not seeking regime change and our preference is to resolve this problem peacefully," Thornton said, "but we are not leaving anything off the table." Tillerson took a similar stand in the Fox News interview Thursday, saying: "We do not seek regime change in North Korea. ... What we are seeking is the same thing China has said they seek a full denuclearization of the Korean peninsula." In a separate interview with National Public Radio, Tillerson said the US remains open to holding direct negotiations with North Korea. "But North Korea has to decide they're ready to talk to us about the about the right agenda, and the right agenda is not simply stopping where they are for a few more months or a few more years and then resuming things," he said, according to excerpts of an interview that will air Friday morning. "That's been the agenda for the last 20 years." Multi-nation negotiations with North Korea on its nuclear program stalled in 2008. The Obama administration attempted to resurrect them in 2012, but a deal to provide food aid in exchange for a nuclear freeze soon collapsed. After weeks of unusually blunt military threats, President Donald Trump's national security team briefed lawmakers Wednesday on North Korea's advancing nuclear capabilities. A joint statement from agency heads made no specific mention of military options, though it said the US would defend itself and friends. Harris told the committee that the financial sanctions imposed against the North Korean regime by the US and other countries have done nothing to slow North Korea's quest for weapons of mass destruction. He also said he's been skeptical of China's willingness to exert its influence over Pyongyang. But Harris said he's become "cautiously optimistic" following recent talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "It's only been a month or so and it's too early to tell," Harris said. "I wouldn't bet my farm on it." In a show of military might, the US has sent a massive amount of American weaponry to the region. A group of American warships led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is in striking range of North Korea "if the president were to call on it," Harris told the committee. A US missile defense system called Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense is being installed in South Korea. Harris said he has adequate forces to "fight tonight" against North Korea if that were to become necessary. But the admiral also said he lacks all the attack submarines he needs and has no capable defense against the thousands of artillery pieces North Korea has assembled near the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea. There are about 28,500 US military personnel serving in South Korea. "We do not have those kinds of weapons that can counter those rockets once they're launched," Harris said in response to a question from the committee's Republican chairman, Sen. John McCain of Arizona. ___ Associated Press writer Matthew Pennington contributed to this report. ___ Contact Richard Lardner on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rplardner (**) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 19:09 2020 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb61e33 1 National child-marriage,EarlyMarriage,#EarlyMarriage,women-ulema,female-clerics,unicef,UNICEFIndonesia,#UNICEF Free UNICEF has welcomed a recommendation by the Indonesian Womens Ulema Congress to end child marriage and to raise the legal marriage age for girls from 16 to 18. The congress of respected female Islamic clerics urged for the amendment of the 1974 Marriage Law, which allows girls to marry at 16. The recommendation calls upon parents, educators, society and the government to share responsibility to end the practice of child marriage because it limits the education, health, income opportunities and safety of adolescent girls. Preventing girls from getting married before adulthood should therefore be mandatory. The Marriage Law sets a minimum age for marriage of 21 years but with the parents consent, girls can marry at 16. Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Sayfuddin said he would present the recommendation to the government. This is a landmark moment in the efforts to end child marriage in Indonesia, where on average more than 3,500 girls are married every day, UNICEF Indonesia representative Gunilla Olsson said in a statement. According to UNICEF, one in four marriages involves a child bride. According to Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data, 1,348,886 girls married before the age of 18 in 2012. (Read also: Female ulema issues fatwa obliging Muslims to fight early marriage) These occurrences were reinforced by the 1974 Marriage Law, which contradicts the 2002 Child Protection Law, which prohibits marriage under the age of 18. Support from religious leaders are fundamental to achieving the targets. UNICEF welcomes the invitation to follow-up discussion on the ruling, Olsson said. (dis) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Cirebon, West Java Fri, April 28, 2017 11:35 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb4b8d2 1 National fatwa,edict,female-clerics,women-ulema,natural-resources,Islam,Islamic-cleric Free Muslim clerics have issued a fatwa, declaring the destruction of nature for the sake of economic development as haram, or forbidden under Islamic law, because it can trigger social and economic imbalances. A result of Indonesias first National Congress of Women Ulema in Cirebon, West Java, on Thursday, the fatwa is based on the Quran, Al Hadist (words and deeds of Prophet Muhammad) and the 1945 Constitution. Commercial development is still possible as long as the use of natural resources doesn't cross the limit of what the [project] needs. Any development is not allowed to cause natural destruction, said a female cleric from Batam while reading out the fatwa. (Read also: Sexual violence between married couples haram, clerics say) The fatwa urged the state to remove any laws or regulations that use natural resources as a source of development, and called on the government to tighten its regulations on natural protection. The fatwa also called for an Ibu Bumi (Mother Nature) movement in which women play central roles in preserving nature. Nature is closer to women than men. So, it's important to put women as central actors in the protection of natures, said female cleric and congress organizer Neng Dara Affiah. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Pierre Marthinus (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, April 29 2017 A violent gut-wrenching twist ripped apart my stomach as the Jakarta election quick-count results were announced. My mouth immediately ran dry, filled with a powerful sour and salty aftertaste. The iron-like saltiness was clearly blood, probably generated by internal bleeding as my organs threatened to shut down in a coordinated wave of protest, demanding that I move them to a different city that is more civil, cultured and clean from corruption. For the last few days, paramedics and witchdoctors have been working around the clock treating this widespread physiological reaction affecting 40 percent of Jakartas voters, who are experiencing recurrent relapses into shock as pictures of Anies Baswedan are televised as the winner of the Jakarta election over Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Markus Makur (The Jakarta Post) Flores Sat, April 29 2017 The populations of yellow-crested cockatoo on several islands are in critical danger due to massive exploitation, researchers say. Anna Reuleaux from Manchester Metropolitan University said recently that she had been conducting research and compiling population data. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Manila Fri, April 28, 2017 13:52 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb52019 1 SE Asia bilateral-meeting,#bilateral,#Jokowi,Jokowi,Indonesia,#Indonesia,#Philippines,Philippines,#Duterte,duterte Free President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is set to arrive in Manila this Friday afternoon to pay a state visit to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. During their meeting, both leaders are expected to raise the issue of strengthening economic cooperation, which has seen positive growth even against the backdrop of a global economic downturn, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said. The minister cited the bilateral trade between the two countries, which enjoyed a year-on-year increase of more than 31 percent in 20152016. According to government trade figures, two-way trade rose from US$4.6 billion in 2015 to $6.1 billion in 2016. Besides trading in goods, the Philippines is also considered a bilateral production partner in Indonesia's strategic industries, she added. "The President's arrival will be used to fortify our ties and maintain the high level of economic cooperation," Retno told reporters ahead of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila, on Friday. In addition to economic ties, Jokowi is also expected to continue bilateral consultations on maritime security, which the foreign minister said was one issue that had been tabled since Duterte's visit to Jakarta last September. Maritime security is a high-priority issue in this state visit, Retno said, particularly in relation to the state visit's highlight: the launching of the Davao-General Santos-Bitung route for roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels. "If we are unable to secure the waters surrounding both of our nations' territories, then we can be sure that economic activities, trade and ongoing connectivity efforts will be negatively affected," she said. (ipa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Japan News/Asia News Network) Tokyo Fri, April 28, 2017 07:01 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb3a44e 2 News Japan,Tokyo,tourism,#tourism,ferry Free The Tokyo metropolitan government will begin offering ferry cruises on rivers, canals and in the bay area later this month, as a pilot program to promote Tokyos waterfront areas. The metropolitan government will run cruises on routes along tourist spots in Tokyo, in cooperation with a private ferry operator. A similar pilot program was carried out on three routes from September to December last year. This year, the metropolitan government has extended the operation period from April to December to observe customer trends throughout the four seasons. It will also increase the routes available to five, hoping to make ferries a more common means of transportation. The routes to be opened are the Tokyo Port loop line; Sumidagawa river line; Keihin Unga canal line; a round tour between Nihonbashi and Azumabashi; and another round tour in Odaiba. Read also: Tokyo's skyline set to see 45 new skyscrapers by 2020 Olympics Among them, the Tokyo Port loop line will begin services on Saturday and operate every Friday and Saturday. Last year, this ferry left and returned to Kachidoki via Hinode and Tennozu. This year, however, it will stop at Odaiba Marine Park and Ariake dock, making it easier for passengers to visit sightseeing spots. The fare is 500 per docking station visited. Stops and fares for the other routes are yet to be decided, with these services set to begin one after another in May or later. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike expressed hope for the pilot program at a regular press conference in mid-April: Wed like to further advance our waterfront projects, making Tokyo a more sophisticated place. For more details and reservations, in Japanese, visit www.suitown.jp. 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 By Mark Maxwell - "Angry voters aired their grievances at state politicians over the lack of a state budget Thursday night at a town hall event hosted by AARP and NPR Illinois. ... The state's backlog of unpaid bills is quickly careening toward the $12 billion dollar benchmark -- a number which seems unfathomable to most taxpayers. ... The overall state debt is actually much higher. A study published last month by Truth In Accounting shows a $210 billion budget shortfall at a cost of $50,400 per taxpayer. The median income in Illinois in 2015 was roughly $59,000. ..." More HERE Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ng Wei Kai (The Straits Times) Singapore Fri, April 28, 2017 09:31 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb446cd 2 News google-street-view,VR-goggles,Google,Singapore Free People who are looking for a new nature trail to stretch their legs can soon search for them on the Google Street View application. Google Singapore on Thursday (April 27) said they will be working with Singapore-based running platform JustRunLah! to visually map these trails. Equipped with the Google Street View trekker - which is previously used to map overseas locations such as the Grand Canyon - members of the running group will record 30 running and walking trails across the island. Paviter Singh Jahangir viewing a 360 degrees Google Street View with his phone attached to the cardboard piece, acting as VR goggles.(The Straits Times/Ong Wee Jin) Read also: Japan museums abandoning no-photos policy The Street View Trekker consists of 15 cameras mounted over a mobile computer, with the capability to capture 360-degree images. The device weighs 20kg and is mounted to a frame with straps to allow the runner to carry it easily. JustRunLah! hopes that mapping the trails on Street View will allow runners to visualise and better plan their trail routes. Google also announced that its Special Collections programme, which is found within the Street View mobile app or on a Web browser, has been updated with 30 indoor and outdoor attractions in Singapore. These include Coney Island Park and the National Gallery Singapore. The segment highlights interesting sites around the world. "Singapore is a top Asian destination for tourists worldwide and having the newly added Special Collections will give tourists a first glance at their trip planning," said Cynthia Wei, 34, Street View programme manager. Topics : This article appeared on The Straits Times newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Todd Pitman (Associated Press) Bagan, Myanmar Fri, April 28, 2017 07:30 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb3c980 2 Destinations Myanmar,Bagan,BuddhistTemple,Buddhism,Buddhist,traveling,travel,#traveling,#travel Free The moment of takeoff was silent, and mesmerizing. Within seconds, our hot air balloon was floating above the treetops, gliding toward what Marco Polo called "one of the finest sights in the world" when he saw it 700 years ago: the ancient Myanmar city of Bagan. Below us, the baked brick spires of hundreds of 11th and 12th century Buddhist temples poked skyward through the purple-red horizon of dawn, graceful and serene. When I spotted the giant golden dome of the Dhammayazika Pagoda, glittering like a jewel in the first rays of light, my heart skipped a beat. Read also: Illuminating Buddhism in a high-tech light In this Tuesday, March 14, 2017 photo, the golden dome of the Dhammayazika Pagoda is seen from a hot air balloon in the ancient Myanmar city of Bagan. Balloon flights are a popular tourist activity in the city, which is home to the largest concentration of Buddhist temples, stupas and monuments in the world.(AP Photo/Esther Htusan) I had just spent several days exploring these iconic monuments and pagodas, walking through their dark stone corridors, climbing their steep exterior steps. But peering at them from the edge of a moving basket in the sky was an entirely different experience, at once thrilling and existential. Our pilot, a Belgian named Bart D'hooge who has flown here for nine years, described Bagan as "stunning ... even if you see it just from the ground." "But once you take off in a balloon, you get a completely different perspective," he said. "It really gives you a bit of an idea of the size of the ancient kingdom" that flourished here a thousand years ago. The city is home to the largest concentration of Buddhist temples, stupas and monuments in the world. More than 2,200 are spread across a plain adjacent to rice fields and villages along the Irrawaddy River. Only from above can this vastness be fully appreciated. The temples were built by a series of Burmese kings who ruled the region for roughly 250 years, until city was abruptly abandoned in the late 13th century for reasons that are not entirely clear. Although time and the elements have eroded many of the structures' once ornate exteriors, the buildings themselves are still largely intact. On Aug. 24, 2016, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook central Myanmar, damaging at least 389 of them, according to the country's Department of Archaeology. Some have been closed to the public fully or partially. Others are in various states of repair, covered in elaborate arrays of bamboo and wood scaffolding. Overall though, the most iconic temples remain accessible to visitors. Local residents still flock here to pray before the colossal Buddha statues, many lit by bright beams of sunlight inside. And foreign tourists still arrive en masse, their numbers having grown steadily since the military, which ruled for half a century, began opening the Southeast Asian nation up to the rest of the world in 2011. Read also: JR East luxury sleeper train with Japanese touch nears May 1 debut In this Monday, March 13, 2017 photo, residents of Myanmar pay their respects to a Buddha statue inside the Ananda Temple in Bagan, Myanmar. The city is home to the largest concentration of Buddhist temples, stupas and monuments in the world, most of which were built in the 11th and 12th centuries.(AP Photo/Esther Htusan) Despite the influx, authorities have capped the number of balloons permitted in the skies here at 21, for safety reasons. With an average a passenger capacity of eight to 16 on each balloon, space is limited and seats can sell out. For that reason, it's best to plan your trip well in advance. Bagan's balloon flight season runs only from October to March, when winds are calmer and the weather is cooler and more predictable. Cancelled flights are rare, but balloons do get grounded several times a year. On what was supposed to be a clear day in March when I was scheduled to fly, a thick blanket of white fog unexpectedly enveloped the entire city, even shutting down the airport. Fortunately, I was able to get a spot the next day. Flights are not cheap, averaging $320 to $380 U.S. for a roughly 45-minute ride. But for those willing to pay, it's a once-in-lifetime experience. Asked if he ever gets tired of flying in Bagan, D'hooge who has flown everywhere from Kenya to New Zealand shook his head in the negative. "With the sunrise, sometimes when you get the light right, it's just stunning," said the pilot, who works for Balloons Over Bagan, which was the first company to pioneer flights here 17 years ago. "I don't think there are many places in the world that get to this point." ___ If You Go... BALLONING IN BAGAN: Balloons fly only October to March. Seats are limited and often sell out so reserve ahead. Three balloon companies operate in Bagan: http://www.balloonsoverbagan.com/ http://www.orientalballooning.com/ http://goldeneagleballooning.com/ Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 09:50 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb44fff 1 Activities Kemang-Timur,Kemang,Jakpost-guide-to,#JakpostGuideTo,travel,traveling,destination,tourism Free For some, the narrow road of Jl. Kemang Timur is known only for its dusty shops and cafes. Little do they know, this street has so much more to offer. As The Jakarta Post ventured out one day, we discovered many great things to do, see, buy and eat along Jl. Kemang Timur. Getting there Tucked behind Kemangs main road, Jl. Kemang Raya, Jl. Kemang Timur is relatively difficult to access by public transport. Instead, opt for a taxi or online-based transportation. A Go-Jek from Central Jakarta will cost you between Rp 15,000 (US$1.13) and Rp 20,000, while an Uber will likely put you back around Rp 45,000-50,000 from the same location. What to wear Jl. Kemang Timur does not have a sidewalk, so if youre planning on walking through the area, sturdy sneakers and comfortable, light clothes are advised, due to the uneven road and heat. Bring a small umbrella in case of rain. Read also: Jakpost guide to Pasar Baru What to see Those on the lookout for a yoga class can take one here, at Gudang-Gudang.(JP/Gianina Ivodie Gilardino) At the streets southernmost point sits Gudang-Gudang, an art gallery/yoga studio/communal space. With a focus on Vinyasa and Hatha yoga, there are multiple classes each day. In addition to yoga, the buildings rooftop and gazebo, located in the backyard, make ideal party spaces. While its exterior is unassuming, Gudang-Gudang is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the rest of Jakarta. COMO Park is home to Indonesian cafe, Lokal Deli.(JP/Gianina Ivodie Gilardino) Next door is COMO Park, a multi-storey, open air building offering yet another communal space. There are restaurants, stores and a green space that acts as a dog park. On the bottommost floor is clothing store Footurama, a Jakarta-based retailer. On the ground floor, there are small cafes and eateries, such as Indonesian cafe, Lokal Deli. Dog owners can drop their pets off at Vodka and Latte for a quick trim or for an all day daycare service.(JP/Gianina Ivodie Gilardino) The most unique combination we found on Jl. Kemang Timur was Vodka and Latte, a Japanese dog grooming salon with a pet store and the famous Oh La La cafe inside. Named after the owners white terrier and poodle, Vodka and Latte, respectively, the pet salon also provides a daycare service for your dogs, so you can drop them off at any time during the day. Read also: Jakpost guide to Kota Tua What to eat Opened in 2015, Goni Coffee specializes in drinks, but also has a breakfast and lunch menu.(JP/Gianina Ivodie Gilardino) In addition to the stops in COMO Park, theres Goni Coffee. Opened in 2015, the unassuming cafe boasts many coffee options and a small breakfast and lunch menu for those looking for something more substantial. The open, spread out cafe is a good place to hold a meeting, or perhaps just to do some work. The Bali-based Nalu Bowls has opened their first Jakarta branch in Kemang Timur.(JP/Gianina Ivodie Gilardino) Balis very own Nalu Bowls has come to Jakarta, and has opened their newest branch in Kemang Timur. With a small menu made exclusively of smoothie bowls, its a good place to stop for a healthy breakfast. All bowls are topped with homemade granola and there are a multitude of extra toppings for additional customization. Their smoothie bowls range from Rp 60,000 to 85,000 for their staple acai bowl, Mavericks. Read also: Jakpost guide to Jl. Sabang What to buy Klots Home Furnishing is the newest addition to Kemang Timurs collection of furniture and home decoration showrooms. Modern and classic designs are the main styles on offer, but they also boast practicality among their products. On top of that, most of their home decorations are hand-picked by the Klots team. The showroom has a homelike and elegant feel to it. The minimalist Cotton Ink display.(JP/Gianina Ivodie Gilardino) Cotton Ink is one of Indonesias biggest local brands, specializing in affordable yet chic wardrobe staples for women. With two stores in Jakarta, their Kemang Timur showroom adopts a less is more theme and features white decor. Their current collection includes printed Batik accents with flowy fabric, perfect for Jakarta weather. Designer Niluh Djalantik does not forget her roots with a Garuda display.(JP/Gianina Ivodie Gilardino) The Balinese shoe designer, Niluh Djelantik, also operates her one, and only, Jakarta showroom in Kemang Timur. Thou her shoe and bag collections are famous worldwide, Niluh has not forgotten her roots, illustrated by the Balinese shrine at the front of her store and the Garuda installation inside. There are a multitude of options for handmade pots at Galeri Pot.(JP/Gianina Ivodie Gilardino) Galeri Pot has been in Kemang Timur since 1996 and is considered a favorite among expats. The majority of their pots, lamps and vases are 100 percent handmade, yet are sold for very good deals. Galeri Pot exports their products to many different parts of the world, boasting designs from local Indonesian talent in a wide variety of designs and colors. (sul & vod/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Masajeng Rahmiasri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 13:40 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb5007c 1 News Qatar-Airways,Airlines,flight,#airlines,traveling,#traveling,travel,bali,Doha Free Qatar Airways is set to add an extra direct flight from Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar to Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali. The flight is scheduled to be available from from May 7, utilizing the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, configured for 22 business class and 232 economy class seats and will provide a full complimentary food and beverage service for its passengers. Read also: Qatar Airways sees 'manageable' decline in flights to US Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said the additional schedule will offer passengers even greater access to this popular leisure destination. In an official statement, the airline also expressed that it is certain the additional schedule will be popular among travelers from Europe, the Middle East and United States looking for flights to Bali with one stop at Hamad International Airport. Qatar opened its first Doha-Bali direct flight in 2014. It currently operates two Doha-Bali direct flights utilizing the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 aircrafts, respectively. (asw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 28, 2017 15:45 2020 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb5a8ea 1 News Lion-Air,Thailand,flight,surakarta,foreign-tourists,Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,tourism,#tourism,new-route,Airlines,#airlines,Thai-Lion-Air Free Tourism Ministry Arief Yahya said he has spoken with the managing director of Thai Lion Air Mentari Co Ltd, captain Darsito Hendroseputro, about the airline adding new flight routes from Thailand to secondary cities across Indonesia, such as Surakarta in Central Java. The two met at a World Travel and Tourism Council (WTCC) event in Bangkok that ran on April 25-27. There are still landing slots available for international flights [in Surakarta], Arief said. Darsito agreed to the request and said he would take care of the landing slots in both Don Mueang International Airport in Thailand, and Adisumarmo International Airport in Surakarta. Read also: Sacred Solo ceremony a must-see for culture enthusiasts Thailand itself welcomed 30 million foreign tourists; 10 million from China. Meanwhile, flights to Jakarta only take three hours and around four hours to Bali, so its very ideal, added Arief. Darsito said that there was a new trend among Chinese tourists to travel to more than one country or city. From the 10 million Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, he is confident that the company could convince at least 10 percent or 1 million of them to fly to Central Java. We have flights from 12 cities in China to Thailand [] We have been operating 26 aircraft for four years and going to add two more in 2017, so therell be 28 airplanes in total, he added. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (China Daily/Asia News Network) Fri, April 28, 2017 10:28 2021 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb48e9c 2 News China,Shanghai,tourism,traveling,travel,#tourism,#China,Beijing,#traveling Free Shanghai ranked as the "most attractive" city for foreign residents due to its international atmosphere and multicultural environment, according to an annual survey. Beijing remained second, thanks to its advantages in healthcare and educational resources, while Hangzhou also held onto third place. The rankings, released on April 15, are based on a survey of about 25,000 expatriates nationwide in December and January. The criteria ranged from living environment and local culture to administrative services and favorable policies for foreign residents. The China Society for Research on International Professional Personnel Exchange and Development launched the annual survey in partnership with International Talent magazine in 2010 as a way to promote the nation's cities. Let's take a look at the top 10 cities for foreigners. Read also: Indonesia lures tourists through sales events in China Shanghai Beijing Hangzhou Qingdao Tianjin Shenzhen Suzhou Guangzhou Nanjing Changchun Topics : This article appeared on the China Daily newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andrew M Harris and Michael Sasso (Bloomberg) Fri, April 28, 2017 15:37 2020 a291276806121264c0bd211cdeb5a67a 2 News United-Airlines,Airlines,travel Free United Airlines avoided a lawsuit by settling out of court with a passenger whose forcible removal from a plane was captured on video and circulated online by fellow travelers, sparking widespread condemnation of the carrier. Terms of David Daos settlement with Chicago-based United are confidential, according to a press release issued Thursday by Corboy & Demetrio, the law firm which represents him. United has taken full responsibility for what happened on Flight 3411 without attempting to blame others including the City of Chicago, attorney Thomas Demetrio said in the statement. For this acceptance of corporate accountability, United is to be applauded. Dao, who had boarded the Louisville, Kentucky-bound flight at Chicagos OHare International Airport, sustained a concussion, broken nose and lost two teeth during his forcible removal by police employed by the citys Department of Aviation, according to his lawyers. The ensuing viral video-fueled controversy was the start of a spate of bad publicity for the United Continental Holdings Inc. unit. It continued this week with the death of a giant rabbit. Amid the fallout from the April 9 Dao incident, the companys board canceled Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munozs expected 2018 elevation to chairman. Read also: United raising limit on payments to bumped flyers to $10,000 United and Dr. Dao have reached an amicable resolution of the unfortunate incident that occurred, United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said in an emailed statement. The carrier updated its policies for oversold flights, saying Thursday it will pay as much as $10,000 to passengers who voluntarily give up their seats. It was one of 10 policy changes the airline adopted to improve customer service after the Dao incident. Delta Air Lines Inc. also increased payouts to almost $10,000 for passengers who voluntarily give up their places on oversold flights following the public uproar over Daos removal. Southwest Airlines Co. said on Thursday that it will stop overbooking flights. The United incident began when four of the airlines crew members needed to get from Chicago to Louisville to work another flight the following morning. When no one volunteered to give up a seat in exchange for an $800 travel credit and accommodations for meals and hotels, the companys automated system selected Dao, his wife and two other passengers to be bumped. A Vietnam-born, Louisville-area physician, Dao insisted he needed to see patients the next day and refused to vacate his seat. Various United officials intervened in a futile attempt to persuade him, then contacted airport authorities for assistance with his removal. We look forward to implementing the improvements we have announced, which will put our customers at the center of everything we do, McCarthy said. Tenants were offered buyouts by East Village landlord Raphel Toledano. Now the over-extended property owner is in financial trouble and those tenants have been left in the lurch. [New York Times] Activists at the local advocacy organization, CAAAV, say the citys reluctant offer to entertain a rezoning of the Chinatown core is insufficient. They write, Our communities will not settle for just the rezoning of the Core. [City Limits] Olympic snowboarder Shaun White wants $2.8 million for his apartment at the A Building condo complex. The unit last sold for $2.9 million in 2014. The building was developed by Ben Shaoul and the Ascend Group, the firm behind the new project on the Bialystoker Nursing Home parcels. [The Real Deal] Holland Cotter suggests 10 galleries to visit on the Lower East Side right now. In summing up the neighborhoods transformation over several decades, he notes: The 1980s art scene lasted just long enough to get the gentrification ball rolling and significantly alter the landscape, not least its ethnic mix. But after a lull, galleries are back, farther south, and lots of them. And a few historical traces of the rich culture of Loisaida hang on. [New York Times] Those seeking a primer on how to start a gallery could look to Bridget Donahue. Having opened on the Bowery just two years ago, she is by any estimation going gangbusters. [New York Times] Katzs Deli is an all-day nearly all-through-the-night send-your-boy-a-salami pastrami tourist trap deluxe, but a tourist trap that is worth the hype. [Tasting Table] A former dispatch supervisor for the Chicago Police Department was sentenced Thursday to more than three years in prison for providing government information to her boyfriend in an effort to help smuggle contraband into Cook County Jail, the FBI reports. CHICAGO What does a sandwich, marijuana, tobacco and the Cook County Jail have in common? Only in Cook County, Illinois ... The guard, Stephanie Lewis, used her position in the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications to access law enforcement databases to locate the personal information of a corrections officer at the jail. Lewis provided the information to her boyfriend, an inmate in the jail who had schemed with the officer and others to sneak in the contraband to sell to other inmates. Lewis admitted in a plea agreement that she knew her boyfriend and the others used the information to threaten the officer with physical harm unless he continued with the scheme and smuggled additional contraband into the jail. Lewis, 43, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of conspiracy to commit extortion. U.S. District Judge Charles R. Norgle imposed the 41-month sentence in federal court in Chicago. Lewis is one of five defendants convicted in the case. The prior convictions include the corrections officer, Jason Marek, who admitted delivering contraband, including marijuana, tobacco and alcohol, to a jail inmate after tucking it into sandwiches and sneaking it past security. Marek was assigned to a maximum-security tier of the jail when he smuggled in the goods in May and June of 2013. Marek is awaiting sentencing. Two other defendants, including Lewis boyfriend, Prince Johnson, of Chicago, have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial. The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) today announced plans to build new mixed-income housing on a parking lot at the La Guardia Houses. According to a press release, the new building will include 50% market rate and 50% affordable rental units. The project is being proposed under NYCHAs Next Generation Neighborhoods initiative, which is intended to address the housing authoritys dire financial situation. Through this program, said NYCHA Chairperson Shola Olatoye, well generate revenue to invest in La Guardia Houses and throughout all of NYCHA and create new affordable housing. This means better roofs, stronger facades and badly needed bathroom and kitchen repairs. No NYCHA money will be used to build the project. The housing authority is pledging to reinvest 50% of the revenues from the new development at the La Guardia Houses for infrastructure repairs. The Lower East Side public housing project has $70 million in unmet capital needs. Back in 2013, NYCHA was forced to withdraw a controversial proposal for new market rate development on five Lower East Side parcels, including two sites at the La Guardia Houses. Todays press released emphasized, unprecedented community engagement as part of the development plans. The site identified this time around is on Madison Street, between Rutgers and Clinton streets. The news release did not indicate the size of the building that could be put on the parcel or the number of units envisioned. NYCHA previously estimated the lot could accommodate a 35 story tower . According to todays announcement, NYCHA (parking) permit holders will be relocated elsewhere at La Guardia Houses. The release included a statement of support from Jessica Thomas, La Guardia Houses tenant president. As the La Guardia Houses Resident Association Leader, I stand in partnership with NYCHA and the NextGen Neighborhoods Program. No one understands better than myself and my neighbors how the financial uncertainty and budget deficits impact residents This program is a real opportunity to make much needed repairs in our development and to improve quality of life. For the future of my residents and NYCHA, we need NextGen Neighborhoods. NYCHA will release a Request for Proposals (RFP) in the fall, and a developer will be chosen next year. The first public meeting regarding the project takes place May 18. When I was engaged to be married, I lost my mind. Im aware that sounds hyperbolic, but thats really how it felt: as if my mind had abandoned me, slipped through my ears when I wasnt looking, to be replaced with something that I didnt recognize or trust. I was so nervous all the time, my mind skipping from one terrible and scary thought to the next, that reading became almost impossible. Do you know how many stories there are about bad marriages? During this fraught time, I tried to read an Alice Munro story in the bath. What story, I have no idea (clearly, I blocked it out), but it was about a woman who kills her husband. I couldnt finish it because I began to fearto believe, actuallythat I was in danger of killing my own future husband. Oh, how my Intended laughed when I voiced these fears! He wasnt afraid of me and my murderous capabilities! He eventually talked me down from my nonsense ledge, and got me laughing along with him. But I was still too afraid to finish the story. That was five years ago. Ive since retrieved my mind, gotten and stayed married, and returned to reading. Thank goodness. Sometimes, I imagine all the great and beautiful books I must have missed during my engagement, and the loss sends a shiver of regret through me. Last fall, when I found out I was pregnant, I waited for the mind-losing anxiety to descend on me once more. It didnt. (Or, I should say, it hasnt yet. I do have five more weeks to lose my mind for old times sake!) Because I feel as normal as can be expected when youre growing a human being inside of you, Ive noticed that other people experience anxiety for me. They dont want me to carry anything, not even a carton of orange juice. They want me to sit down already! They want to give me more water, a glass of milk, a pint of ice cream. And they dont want me to read just anything. More than once Ive had a person recommend a book to me, and then say, Oh, but dont read it now. Not while youre pregnant! Apparently, peoples protective urges extend beyond the body of the mother-to-be, and into her reading life. If literature is clogged with unhappy marriages, its certainly also darkened with dead babies and the complex melancholy of mothers. So, as either a warning to other mothers-to-be, or as great Fuck you! to all the people who keep telling me to keep things light as I carry my child to term, heres a list of non-friendly pregnancy books. Read at your own risk Rosemarys Baby by Ira Levin: I admit, I havent read the novel, but I love the movie, starring the bewitching Mia Farrow. I have purposely kept my blonde hair very short these last 8 and a half months because I appreciate the cinematic allusion, though I have one friend in particular who urged me, early on, to grow out my locks. Its not funny! she said. What kind of message are you sending? How about this: Every pregnant woman wonders, at least once, if shes got the devils spawn growing inside of her. The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie OFarrell: This is the next novel Im going to read, despite my sister Heidis warnings that I should wait until after my babys born. OFarrells novel, which my sister could not put down, and which made her sob at its ending, follows two storiesone about a woman in post-war London, and one about contemporary parents in that same city. Theres apparently some childbirth trauma. Lots of blood, my sister said. She also told me to avoid Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks. The deathsdeaths, plural--in this novel still haunt her. An Exact Replica of a Figure of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken: Every morning I awake to the spine of this powerful and painful memoir, which I chose as one of my favorite books of 2008. It sits on the shelf by my bed, right next to Nox by Anne Carson and Skippy Dies by Paul Murray. (Thats a lot of death to wake up to, I realize). McCrackens story of raising a child after the stillbirth of her first is all the more terrifying and moving because its true, and because she speaks of trauma and grief in a distinct, unflinching, and sometimes even funny way. I keep wondering if this book might mean more to me on a second read, now that I am pregnant, now that I know firsthand what I could lose, what and whom I would mourn. Such a book reminds me not to take this time in my life lightly; it reminds me that Im already a mother. Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk: This novel is about one day (a la Mrs. Dalloway) in the posh lives of British mothers. The unhappiness of its characters is so delicately and expertly rendered that it, at times, grows oppressive. These are women who feel unconnected to their husbands, their kids, their lives. Such a book makes me fear the very phrase Sippy Cup. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver: Shrivers brilliant and dark novel is narrated by Eva, whose son Kevin is guilty of carrying out a Columbine-style high school killing. Its a grim but often very funny narrative of maternal ambivalence, and its certainly a mind-fuck for any mom-to-be. Eva articulates every single dark thought a pregnant woman would be wise to avoid (For instance: What if my child grows up to be a murderer? And, What if I dont love him?). Heres a taste of the sharp prose, most likely to be left out of the highly-anticipated film adaptation with Tilda Swinton, due out this fall: Meanwhile, I came to regard my body in a new light. For the first time I apprehended the little mounds on my chest as teats for the suckling of young, and their physical resemblance to udders on cows or the swinging distentions on lactating hounds was suddenly unavoidable. Funny how even women forget what breasts are for. The cleft between my legs transformed as well. It lost a certain outrageousness, an obscenity, or achieved an obscenity of a different sort. The flaps seemed to open not to a narrow, snug dead end, but to something yawning. The passageway itself became a route to somewhere else, a real place, and not merely to a darkness of my mind. The twist of flesh in front took on a devious aspect, its inclusion overtly ulterior, a tempter, a sweetener for doing the species heavy lifting, like the lollipops I once got at the dentist. We Need to Talk About Kevin is so far my favorite book of the year. I read it when I was about four months pregnant, and as I did so, I prayed I was having a girl (She might be anorexic, I thought, but she probably wont be a serial killer.) Turns out, Im having a boy. Ha! Shrivers novel is the most memorable book Ive read in a while. And also, um, the most frightening. What novels do you recommend a pregnant woman avoid? Tempt me Thomas Harriss original character Hannibal Lecter has been a staple of the horror franchise since his inception in 1981. Born into a written series, Harris soon set him loose into the world of film and then television, as well as one tangential moment in a spoof musical endearingly named Silence! after its most famous filmic counterpart, The Silence of the Lambs. After the recent passing of the director Jonathan Demme, its interesting to see how the character has developed over the years from the page to the screen and the actors that have taken on the mantle of the charismatic cannibal. Brian Cox: Manhunter (1986) Brian Coxs representation of Lecter, or rather as in Manhunter, Lecktor, is one of the lesser known deviations into the serial killers psyche. Basing his performance on Scottish murderer Peter Manuel, he has been lauded as the Hannibal that could live among us the realistic interpretation of the unrealistic horror. He captures the essence of the character in a less obviously frightening way, but rather builds his discomfort and apprehension in through relatability and normalcy. A terrifying prospect in itself. The starting point for a filmic adaptation of Harriss books, Coxs presentation of Lecter is the original fava-bean frightener; and an excellent one at that. Anthony Hopkins: The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Hannibal (2001), and Red Dragon (2002) Arguably most poignant in the saga of Hannibal is Demmes addition to the franchise. Catapulting the antagonist into the iconic status he inhabits now as well as making impeccable casting choices, 1991s The Silence of the Lambs rightly won five Oscars for its representation of Harriss creation. Anthony Hopkinss infamous portrayal of a measured, eloquent, and downright disturbingly charming mass-murderer is one of the most celebrated performances of cinematic villains out there. He takes on the role with equal emphasis on Hannibals dangerously endearing personality and his psychotic sadism, delivering an uneasy appreciation for a man who could easily cut you open and eat your insides. A world away from the expected crazed serial killer and a little too likable for comfort, Hopkins settled into fine-dining-with-stomach-lining with eerie ease. Less subtle than Cox but in the right places, he acts as a fair advancement in the creation of Hannibal, building on previous work brilliantly. Gaspard Ulliel: Hannibal Rising (2006) Delving into the recesses of Hannibals younger mind, Ulliel is a killer in the making an exploration of the effects that made the cannibal who we know him as today. A step backward in time but potentially in representation also, Ulliels performance is debated by critics and audiences alike. Some claim him to be not deft enough with the character, others think the writing gave him little to expand on but one thing is certain: taking away the mysterious back story of one of the most famed villains in both writing and film is a bad idea. Young Hannibal is an interesting idea in theory, but one that pans out to an unfortunate lack of nuance that can be found in previous films. Mads Mikkelsen: Hannibal (TV Series 2013-2015) Taking a break after the previous, less successful venture into the mindset of Lecter, Mads Mikkelsen reinvigorated the role in 2013 for a NBC television series. Utilising a sleek, sophisticated, and cultured guise for the antagonist, Mikkelsens interpretation of the character is the most interesting one to date. With the series shooting achingly beautiful shots of food preparation and middle-upper class living, the dark underbelly of murder in contrast with the sanitised and white world of psychiatry clashes more so than ever before. The Danish actor claimed to be channelling Lecter as not a serial killer, but the devil himself, bringing a whole new world of malicious torment and careful disguise to the role that had never been seen before. Mikkelsens Hannibal stands strong against the hard hitting names of Cox and Hopkins, transforming to suit a contemporary audience and shine new light on the character simultaneously. The evolution of Hannibal Lecter overall is a fascinating one to plot. Watching as he alters from the serial killer in plain sight in Cox to the more demonstrative and psychotic Hopkins works well for the directors involved, but its clear to see that with Hannibal Rising the subtle pushes forward on action over authenticity went a little too far. Coming back from a hiatus on the character was the best option for the next team to helm his representation; and Mads Mikkelsens deeply disturbed, yet sympathetic vision of a Lucifer Lecter is the perfect step in a franchise that needed a new avenue of exploration. From plain to plain wrong, Hannibals representation over the years demonstrates how much room the character has for interpretation. With talks on season four for the latest Hannibal-elect, it's comforting to know we havent seen the last of culinary cannibal just yet. Data gathered from the National Student Survey at the University of Bristol this year is expected to be invalid after the National Union of Students (NUS) called for a national boycott of the survey. weaponised The NUS urged final year students across the country to boycott the survey in an effort to prevent the data gathered from beingand used to justify tuition fee rises from September 2017 onwards. The latest figures sent to universities, seen by the NUS, suggest that the rate of response at Russell Group universities, including Bristol, is as low as 27.5%. For the figures to be valid and used to justify tuition fee raises at least 50% of final year undergraduates must have responded. Sorana Vieru, incumbent NUS Vice President for Higher Education, told University of Bristol student publication Epigram that the boycott showed just how strongly students felt about feedback being used to justify fee rises. She also urged Universities Minister Jo Johnson to act and halt the damaging reforms. The Higher Education and Research Bill, which will implement the fee increases, returns to the House of Commons for a final reading this week. 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In a turn of events frighteningly similar to last years American debacle, the French election has been trimmed down, the socialist hopes of Jean-Luc Melenchon and Benoit Hamon ousted by Marine Le Pens grotesque nationalism and Emmanuel Macrons disappointing allegiances to liberalism. While most pundits have claimed that Macron is safely ahead of Le Pen and have predicted the victory of the globalist cause and the EU, it is important to remember that the centrist media once had utmost confidence in the then faultless and indomitable Clinton campaign. While I would like to believe the lackluster promises of neoliberal credo still captivate Western voters, it would not surprise me if the French people mirrored their American counterparts and invited an abhorrent reactionary into office. Many pundits and liberal thinkers across political and news outfits and college campuses across the West have been utterly taken aback by the rise in national conservatism, especially within the EU. It was a grand project of liberal democracy, consolidating the (worthy) states of Europe into a bond of convenient travel and capitalism. And now, as seen in a dejected USA, this rosy, elite dream is seemingly coming to its nationalistic end. The mostly smooth post-WWII decades are transitioning into a new epoch in which the logic of neoliberal globalist capitalism is being challenged by more threatening forces. On one hand, the upcoming contest of Macron versus Le Pen is not totally unexpected. Increased influxes of migrants, particularly the Syrian refugee crisis, has exacerbated an Orientalist hatred ingrained into the ideological whiteness historically foundational to Europe. The EUs open borders, supposedly the Unions most beneficial and acceptable facet, is now Europes most contentious issue. The concept of an open border is an outwardly advantageous policy when compared to the troubling xenophobia of a closed border. While rigid national boundaries are the dividers of a flawed protectionist mythos, open borders are a more superficially welcoming ideology, one that allows the bourgeois classes to disavow strict national identities in favor of a more expansive, lucrative European relationship. Simply stated, while closed borders reinforce inflexible national sovereignties, open borders are more easily functionalized to reify an overarching identity of whiteness. As we have seen in France, Poland, Austria, the Netherlands and The United Kingdom, when this flimsy and loosely shared European character becomes endangered by the mass movement of non-Whites into their states, more old school nationalists are quick to exploit remaining prejudices and unresolved anxieties. Wealth inequalities continue to rise globally, and while liberals have tried their very hardest to hyper-normalize free trade and unregulated capitalism as the most ideal economic systems, the lower classes have become increasingly dissatisfied with the quo. Unfortunately, this unrest can be tapped into by duplicitous organizations that only seek to further their interests under the guise of economic populism. Brexit was a key example of the feeble sense of commonality the European Union tried to foster and how far right parties were able to benefit from reimagining a national identity as an England first mentality obviously removed from the tenets of the EU. Of course, like all right populists/white supremacists before them, UKIP was a party of crypto-fascists whose intent was to gain power and wealth from the lower classes who were duped into supporting them. Rest assured, a victory for Macron in 2017 will only ensure an emboldened Le Pen 2022. It remains clear that the objectives of neoliberalism will only give rise to nationalism. The vision of liberalism cannot supplant hard right populism. Only a more transformative, revolutionary and borderless politics founded in a socialist union among the working and marginalized can ensure peace and prosperity. By Steve Yang yangstev17@grinnell.edu Upon entering Faulconer Gallery on Thursday afternoon for a talk delivered by Robert Hodierne 69 titled, Young and Hungry: A Freelance Photographer in Vietnam, a soundtrack with deep personal meaning to Hodierne could be heard playing in the background. For Hodierne, who doesnt consider himself a journalist first and foremost, all of Americas wars came with soundtracks, and Vietnam was the first TV and rock-and-roll war. He described his talk as a personal memoir of his life experiences before a standing-room only crowd, which included- numerous Vietnam veterans. In 1966, Hodierne flew to Vietnam on a one-way ticket to Saigon, with a quick stopover in Hong Kong to purchase camera equipment. He was using money intended for a year at Grinnell, and became the youngest fully accredited foreign journalist to cover the war on his second day in the country for United Press International (UPI). In 1969, Hodierne returned to Vietnam as an enlisted infantryman, and worked for the Pacific Stars and Stripes. In the years since, he has provided coverage of wars in Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan, and currently teaches journalism at the University of Richmond. In terms of the wars and the soldiers he documented, he described his attitude as one of boundless respect for these young men, but disdain for the wars they fought in. I hate those wars, but I love those guys, Hodierne explained. Hodierne recalled how in the 60s, there was nothing cooler than being a photographer and described his experiences to fellow S&B editors of photographing the Selma riots, where they manufactured bogus Midwest News Agency press cards to bamboozle police down in Alabama. As he sat in front of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Dallas, Hodierne had the chance to meet the acclaimed photographer Flip Schulke, whose photo of the event would be on the next cover of Life Magazine. At one point in that encounter, Flip whisperedwords that have stayed with me to this day, Hodierne said with a smile. Kid, get your damn microphone out of my picture. After responding to a photographers ad, Hodierne took the money intended for his final year at Grinnell and bought a ticket to Saigon, noting how he was young and hungry, and wanted to be rich and famous as a photographer covering the Vietnam conflict. Having only had photos published in the Scarlet and Black, Hodierne lost his very thin portfolio but learned quickly by documenting the Buddhist riots in Saigon. Beyond photography, however, Hodierne learned that there are unique circumstances to war photography, like tear gas. Initially, I thought that you could overcome the effects of tear gas by force of will, Hodierne said. I had the opportunity to contemplate the folly of that as I sat on the curb barfing my guts out. He soon received an all-important press credential, which means that one can go anywhere you had the nerve to go. The press credential also meant that he had a courtesy rank of field-rank officer, which meant that the college dropout was being treated like a major. During this time, Hodierne wrote to his fellow editors at The S&B that, All my previous expectations about life here was wrong. Nothing I read prepared me for this place. People try to understand it in terms of US standards, which simply do not apply. Hodierne described travelling with medical evacuation helicopters and an especially embarrassing incident on a humvee convoy, where an improperly-secured artillery round on the side of his vehicle exploded, throwing him off and splattering shrapnel into his arm. My left arm and hand were peppered with shrapnel, the arm was just covered in blood. They called an emergency medevac for me and this helicopter comes screaming in, with guys jumping out with stretchers, Hodierne said. They were quite puzzled that I was walking, but they raced me back to the hospital. The entire hospital staff was lining the sidewalk. Apparently, the word was then that I was the critically-wounded head of the committee of armed services. Upon arrival at the hospital, the doctor treating Hodierne looked him up and down and said, What do you want me to do, kid, kiss it and make it well? However, Hodierne added that the hospital got their revenge by making me spend the nightthe guy in the bunk next to me died in the middle of the night. After recounting numerous other stories of his time in Vietnam, which included spending time with a highly-decorated sergeant, photographing one of the bloodiest battles of the war on Hill 881 and having a press colonel call his words treason, Hodierne explained that his fascination with his subjects arose when he fell in love with the grunts who had the same dark, cynical sense of humor that he did. After taking various questions from the crowd. Hodierne concluded that he is proud of how the modern progressive left can hate the war, but still support those who fight it, like many students at Grinnell have done. I hope they never have to experience what these young men experienced but I want them to think about it, Hodierne said. I stand by those words. By Carter Howe howethom@grinnell.edu This Saturday intrepid cyclists will depart from Grinnell at four in the morning for the thirteenth year of the more than 300-mile long, two-day bike race known as Trans Iowa. This race is no casual competition as fewer than one hundred cyclists are allowed to participate every year on a route that is kept secret until the start of the event. The loop is designed to be between 320 and 340 miles, approximately the distance it takes to cross Iowa from west to east. As if the distance alone was not sufficiently challenging, most of the race takes place on gravel roads, which make for rougher riding than paved paths. Since 2010, Trans Iowa has started and finished in Grinnell. Participants have 34 hours to complete the event, which averages to a 10 mile-per-hour speed. Additionally, the course is self-navigated and one wrong turn can cost a cyclist the race. Event organizer Mark Stephenson, better known by his nickname Guitar Ted, works at Europa Cycle and Ski in Cedar Falls, said on his blog that Trans Iowa started on a cold grey November day in 2004, when Stephenson and coworkers were discussing what it would be like to bike across Iowa in a day. Stephenson then wondered what it would be like to pull off the same feat on a mountain bike on gravel roads. In an email to The S&B, Stephenson highlighted the challenge of riding on gravel that is unpredictable. Gravel is most like riding on loose, irregularly shaped marbles which can shift and pitch your bike around, Stephenson wrote. Riders typically try to search out the path of least resistance (literally) and love it when the loose gravel gets pulverized and leaves a smooth-ish surface of compressed limestone dust and dirt. They hate it when the maintainers have just been out and the road is ditch to ditch loose gravel three inches deep. Stephenson acquired his nickname growing up with a love of rock musician Ted Nugent and the attention this attracted in his small Midwestern hometown. Well, anybody that had their head so far up into something back then in a small mid-western town was sure to stick out! Stephenson wrote on his blog. Stephenson noted on his blog Grinnells hospitality and the help from the Chamber of Commerce he has received are the reasons that he has kept the event in Grinnell. Working with local businesses that were Chamber of Commerce members we were happy to score a lodging deal, and a local restaurant, The Grinnell Steakhouse, we had a perfect Pre-Race Meat-Up spot, Stephenson wrote. Ultimately, Stephenson said on his blog that a race as audacious as Trans Iowa is not for everybody. There is a certain element of society that gets it, while the vast majority have no conceptual foundation for understanding Trans Iowa, Stephenson wrote. So, Ive accepted the fact that most folks cannot grasp the idea. Just like a trillion dollar budget is inconceivable, so is Trans Iowa. The Iowa Senate recently passed Senate File 471, which bans women from receiving abortions after a pregnancy reaches 20 weeks. This bill does not include exemptions even in cases of rape, incest or if the baby will not survive after birth, but does allow abortions in certain circumstances where it has been demonstrated the health of the mother is at risk. The bill also establishes a mandatory three-day waiting period for any woman seeking an abortion. All of the yes votes for this bill were cast by Republican senators and one Independent senator who was registered as a Republican until last summer. The no votes were all cast by senate Democrats. The bill passed 30-20. Once this bill is signed into effect by Governor Terry Branstad, the three-day waiting period will be one of the strictest measures in the nation. This waiting period will particularly impact women in rural areas, as they will now have to make at least two trips to the clinic to receive an abortion, often 30 minutes or an hour from their homes. The bill also requires that women receive an ultrasound before obtaining an abortion to ensure that the unborn child is within the 20-week limitation, a process many pro-choice activists consider emotional trauma for women receiving abortions. Many worry about how this bill negatively affects women and their choices regarding their bodies. According to the Des Moines Register, multiple groups voiced opposition against this bill, such as Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Family Planning Council of Iowa, the League of Women Voters of Iowa, the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund and the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault. The Grinnell League of Women Voters (GLWV) was one of these many groups in opposition to the bill. The local and state level LWVs do not take a stance on abortion, but they are advocates for womens access to healthcare. At the State level, this is one of our stated priorities for the 2016 Legislative session, wrote Terese Grant, Co-President at the Grinnell LWV, in an email to The S&B. According to Grant, the priority for the State level GLWV is to enact policies that guarantee access for all residents to comprehensive, uniform and affordable health services including a full range of reproductive services. At this moment, the GLWV does not have any steps planned in order to fight the bill, but there is the possibility for future action. This restrictive abortion bill is something that the League may take a serious look at in the near future, Grant wrote. This bill comes at an unfortunate time, as the Iowa Senate recently passed a budget bill that blocks state funding to Planned Parenthoods and other clinics that provide abortions. The passing of this abortion bill holds ominous questions for how women will be able to seek reproductive healthcare in a state that is quickly taking away their access. Unfortunately, Iowa is not the first state to pass restrictive legislation such as this, 17 other states have passed 20-week abortion bans. Despite the fact the Iowa Legislation is committed to making access to healthcare increasingly more difficult for women, organizations like the GLWV will not stop campaigning for womens rights to their own bodies. I do know that the League will continue to fight for womens health care rights, as this has always been a priority for the League at the local, state and national level, Grant wrote. Despite the multiple opponents to the bill, it was passed. Organizations like the LWV are now wondering what to do to fight this oppressive legislation. Options are rather limited as this point, as it is expected Governor Branstad will sign the bill and put it into effect soon after. But womens health groups and those committed to the right to bodily autonomy will not be silent to the injustices women are facing at the hands of Iowas legislators. By Michael Cummings cummings@grinnell.edu Proponents of sustainable agriculture in Iowa were dealt a heavy blow at the end of Iowas recently closed legislative session. Iowa State Universitys Leopold Center, which has spent the past three decades advocating for sustainable agriculture, fell victim to budget cuts in the Iowa Legislature this year. Mark Rasmussen, Director of the Leopold Center, expressed confusion over the rationale for the cut. There are many theories as to why the Leopold Center (with its relatively small amount of appropriations) was targeted specifically, but they are all speculation, Rasmussen wrote in an email to The S&B. Some legislators stated that the Centers work was completed and farmers know what they need to do to keep soil in place and reduce nitrogen and phosphorus entering Iowas water bodies. That runs counter to trends in Iowas water quality and data provided in the states Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Allies of the Leopold Center are coming out in force, including many here on campus. The repercussions will reach far beyond Iowa, said Professor Jon Andelson, Director of the Center for Prairie Studies. The Leopold Center is nationally recognized for sustainable agriculture. Their programs, their publications, all have been very important in advancing the cause of sustainable agriculture. With those programs and publications coming to an end, it will set back sustainable agriculture, I think seriously, particularly in Iowa, of course, but also nationally. This hits close to home for Andelson, as the Center for Prairie Studies has benefited greatly from help provided by the Leopold Center. Just a couple of years after the Center for Prairie Studies was established, which was in 1999, we received a grant from the Leopold Center to promote our exploration of creating a local food system in Grinnell, Andelson said. Professor Shannon Hinsa-Leasure, biology, is currently using a Leopold Center grant to do research. Without the support from organizations like this one, it would be challenging for labs like mine to afford to do the research necessary to successfully compete for larger NSF grants, wrote Hinsa-Leasure in an email to The S&B. The funding I have from the Leopold Center has paid for student assistants in my lab, materials necessary for research and sequencing , and supported my summer salary. The loss of this center will reduce the opportunities I have for students to conduct research in my laboratory. While it seems likely that the Leopold Center will be eliminated, its not yet a done deal. The legislature passed the bill cutting the program, but Governor Branstad has not yet signed it. Rasmussen expressed some optimism that the governor may choose to save the Center. Governor Branstad signed the 1987 Groundwater Protection Act that created the Leopold Center 30 years ago this year. We do not know what he plans to do regarding the Centers future. However, many Iowans have contacted his office and hold out hope that he will use his line-item veto power to keep the Leopold Center and its funding intact, wrote Rasmussen. Rasmussen is adamant that a line-item veto by Governor Branstad is in Iowans best interests. The agricultural industry in Iowa, especially the next generation of farmers, will lose a great deal [if the Center is closed]. The Center has always been ahead of its time supporting research for improvement in agricultural methods that save soil and protect water bodies, Rasmussen wrote. Ultimately, I believe that the closure would be an embarrassment to the citizens of Iowa, Rasmussen wrote. It sets a bad precedent for legislators, farmers and landowners to walk away from exploration and education about sustainability while the rest of the nation is embracing it. The Leopold Centers demise will be a loss to Iowa citizens, a loss for our soil and water, and a loss to our shared future. 8:17 a.m. My first alarm goes off. Kanye Wests Im in It plays. I once loved this song. April is the cruelest month. 8:35 a.m. Alarm #2: Im in It, again, but worse. 9:01 a.m. Im woke! Compulsively tussle my hair and cuff my jeans upwards of three timesgotta impress/intimidate the prospies today with that windswept academic look. 9:21 a.m. Gaze longingly at the eggs-to-order line. 9:22 Head to the cereal bar. Grind up some Magic Shapes and do a few lines before class. 9:32 a.m. Talk with Luke Jarzyna 18 about our plan to repopularize laugh tracks. 11:15 a.m. Run! Beat the lunchtime prospie rush in pursuit of Red Pepper Gouda Soup. 11:16 a.m. Learn that I misread the menu. 11:16 a.m. Listen to the Mountain Goats as I cry into my Tomato Pepper Bisque. Pro-tip for my fellow Grinnellians of color: tears make any dining hall food taste significantly more ethnic. 12:15 p.m. Watch Ru Paul Season 8 finale (for the first time) with Nolan Boggess 19 and Lucie Duffy 19. Collectively gag @violetchachki reunion look. 2:00 p.m. Its time to talk about eugenics with Professor Steve Andrews! Ive learned so much about how to improve the white race at the expense of the colored hordes this semester! Hmu if you want tips! 4:00 p.m. Find Lucie so we can complain about class over gummy worms. 5:36 p.m. Forsake D-hall due to lunchtime trauma. 8:04 p.m. Begin homework. 8:12 p.m. Begin writing poem about freshwater aquariums! 9:37 p.m. Cool beans! 10:48 p.m. Draw 3-inch tall portrait of SoundCloud rapper Lil Pump in French notes. 11:22 p.m. Give [duffyluc] a pre-bedtime high five. Monogamous relationships are sick, my dude! 11:39 p.m. Brush teeth while appreciating the Smell of the Day on Read 2nd. 11:50 p.m. Think really hard about Lil Pump in hopes that we can hang out in the dream. world. 11:59 p.m. Consider changing alarm clock sound to Elementary by Lil Pump 12:00 a.m. Fall asleep. #notwoke Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar in Delhi discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art.Focusing on the importance of performing arts in medieval and ancient India, a two-day seminar here discussed the relevance of Sanskrit musicological texts in the present times. "Sangita Ratnakra of Sarangadeva", the ancient book known for having definitive text for Hindustani and Carnatic music was the reference for the discussion that saw eminent scholars underlining the importance of the text in bridging the gap between the ancient and modern performing art forms. "The seminar focused on 'Sangita Ratnakara' because it is perhaps the only largest text which reveals the tradition and practice that existed in the medieval period. "Scholars felt that a revisit of these treatises through a collected effort of researchers, scholars, performers and connoisseurs, is required to understand the musical concepts in connection with the present scenario," the organisers said. During the discussion, eminent scholar and art historian Kapila Vatsyayan emphasised on the need to focus on such treaties. Vatsayan, who has worked in reviving the lost Indian traditions and serves as the chairperson of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), called for more such events in pursuit of promoting and preserving Indian art. Italy can be the ideal partner to support the 'Make in India' campaign, Italian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Ivan Scalfarotto said. Italy is the second highest manufacturing economy of the European Union. "We are actually committed and ready to contribute to it, sharing our expertise and know how in key areas such as green technologies, renewables, SMEs and infrastructure," Scalfarotto said. The Make in India initiative was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2014. It aimed at promoting India as an investment destination and a global hub for manufacturing, design and innovation. Being the second highest manufacturing economy of the EU after Germany and the fifth in the world "Italy is the ideal partner to support the Make in India campaign," he said here at a function today. He also said that huge potential exists to boost two-way trade and investments. Scalfarotto added that both the sides need to do more to further strengthen economic ties. Talking about collaboration in the automobile sector, he said Italian component manufacturers are ready to offer their knowledge and advanced technologies for hybrid, electric, fuel cell and hydrogen vehicles. About infrastructure development, the minister said some large Italian companies are keen to contribute in this sector. "I sincerely wish that joint projects and training activities in this very crucial field for further economic growth will soon become one of the pillars of the economic relationships between our two countries," he added. According to Indian commerce ministry, the two way trade between the countries stood at $8.28 billion in 2015-16. India has attracted $2.23 billion foreign direct investment from Italy during April 2000 and December 2016. The Congress was dealt a major blow in Manipur on Friday as four more MLAs joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Earlier, two Congress MLAs had joined the BJP. The four who joined the BJP on Friday are Y Surchandra, Ngamthang Haokip, O Lukhoi and S Bira and they were felicitated by Chief Minister N Biren Singh and state unit president K Bhabanada. T. Shyamkumar was the first Congress MLA to join the BJP after assembly elections. He was sworn in as a cabinet minister on March 15. Another MLA, Ginsuanhau Zou, followed him. In the March election, the ruling Congress bagged 28 seats in the 60-member house to finish as the single largest group. But the BJP, which secured 21 seats, joined hands with other parties to form a government. State Congress President T.N. Haokip said: "Things have changed after the election. Friends have become foes. There is nothing called principle or ideology. Those who crossed floor are not afraid of disqualification." Meanwhile, Speaker Y. Khemchand is examining two petitions seeking disqualification of Shyamkumar and Zou. (With inputs from agencies) The literal translation of Shunyota is emptiness, a feeling of a hollow vacuum inside one that defies description or analysis. This Bengali film is the first to take on demonetisation as the central plot point. Directed by Suvendu Ghosh, it portrays three good short stories that explore the consequences of demonetisation on three different families placed in three areas of life and geography. In response to what drove him to make a feature film on such a bold and controversial subject, the director said, I have directed five feature films till now. Of these, my fourth film Chetana, that tackled the value system, released in August last year, won the best director and best story award at the Dubai International Film Festival. In November, the Prime Minister announced the historic demonetisation decision with a deadline of only a few hours. This practically pushed me as a filmmaker, with a social conscience, to make a feature film on its impact. Ghosh picked three short stories, independent of each other but bonded with the single subject demonetisation that had an instantaneous shock effect among cross sections of people in West Bengal. These stories have been authored by Anirban Roychowdhury after demonetisation was announced by the Government of India on 8 November last year when the whole country experienced a fiscal tsunami. The first story deals with a widow who works in a coal field in Ranigunge. She fixes her daughter Basis marriage by selling her small piece of land for the dowry though Basi does not want to get married as that will rid them of the only piece of land they own. Lakshmi hands over the money to the father of the would-be groom to buy a pump. That very night, demonetisation turns the money handed over in devalued notes into mere wads of paper. The grooms father hands back the money and breaks off the alliance saying that the girl is unlucky. By the time Lakshmi goes to the local bank and gets her notes changed for legal tender, it is too late. On the other hand, a young Bengali couple from Sikkim arrive in Kolkata for the surgery of their two-and-a-half-year old son who is suffering from a rare heart disease in the second story. Television channels are agog with the news of demonetisation and the hospital refuses to accept the massive sum for the surgery in plastic money. The husband rushes off to get emergency funds through the good offices of a family friend and asks his wife to wait till he arranges the cash. But he finds himself trapped for no fault on his part while the little boy is taken to the operation room for the surgery. The third story is about a middle-aged man who runs a business of repairing fishing trawlers in his small village. He lives with his wife and marriageable daughter but is almost pathologically miserly and keeps his wife and daughter in constant penury. He is obsessed with the touch, smell and feeling of all the currency notes he has gathered in a huge trunk he hides under his bed and always keeps his room locked. What happens to this man and his huge bank of currency notes when demonetisation strikes makes this the most powerful celluloid statement among all the three. Why then, did the Central Board of Film Certification clamp down on the films release at the last minute and instruct the director to make cuts? In a letter to Ghosh on 31 March, the Kolkata regional office of the CBFC asked him to communicate within 15 days his acceptance or otherwise of he recommended cuts. The missive said that the cuts were decided as per the directives of the CBFC chairperson and recommendations of the examination committee. The recommended cuts included deletion of two sequences and muting of four sentences/parts of sentences/words with beeps. One of the recommended deletions was a ten-second sequence that talks of a large number of unacceptable death processions in the country revolving around demonetisation. Ghosh was also asked to mute a part of a sentence with a beep that says the government has committed the wrong, and while the big fish will survive, the small fish will be trapped. Earlier, the Kolkata regional office of the CBFC had referred the film to the boards chairman Pahlaj Nihalni for a decision on certification citing differences of opinion among members of the (examining) committee. Ghosh says, It (the film) has no political colour but had they (CBFC) suggested that I consider making cuts. I think the subject of the film was the reason why they could not take a decision They probably did not view short films as a threat. But a feature film with a commercial release is a different scenario. Finally, Ghosh agreed to the six cuts but the delay in the release of the film by around one month has been extremely painful for me as a director, he adds. I can only thank the media, which rose to the occasion and helped me by headlining the news across media outlets, spoke to me directly and allowed us to make our statement that ushered in the release finally. The producer Uday Singh, who is into real estate and agreed to produce my film because he believed in it and also because we are old friends, would have suffered financially had we taken our case to court. It would have been a big risk for me as director and for Singh as producer even though the film has been made on a shoestring budget of Rs 35 lakhs, incredible in these days where even an average film has a budget of Rs one crore. Ghosh cast a very good blend of veteran actors and new faces for the film. He says, I consider this an out-of-the-box film, so big stars would have detracted from my subject, which is hot and sensitive at the same time. And his cast has done him proud. Shunyota may not win an Oscar but it is a neat film with good performances by veteran actors and reasonable performances from the debutantes. There are twists and turns but very little melodrama and is stripped of cheap and soppy sentimentalism. The background score by Pinaki Bose has resurrected folk musical instruments of Bengal and this works beautifully in the film. Samar Haldars art direction is touched with the honesty of authenticity reflecting three different spaces the three stories cover. Happy at last that Shunyota has finally found an audience, Ghosh says, I think honesty always pays back. Entrepreneurship is all about ones readiness to take risks, create structure, and handle a business in a competitive world that is dynamic. It is believed that to establish a startup, one should stop sketching and start building. There is a huge advancement in technology and ease in finding source for finance, showing major interest towards the new startup ways that is in trend. Startups by offering a better way to everything are challenging companies that have stood for 100 years. They work in a transparent environment and aim at improving the way one serves the customers. Such companies hunt for new ideas and enhanced ways to come up with improved quality. There are numerous reasons that are boosting up this culture for the millennium generation. This is where startups play their role and gives the way to those who want to be their own boss. Also, one more thing that is attracting people towards this culture is that government offers a lot of benefits and is trying their best to build the desired ecosystem. One of the freshest trends is that educational organisations in India have started to play a crucial role in creating entrepreneurial and startup opportunities by comprising this subject as one of the main courses in business schools. From the past couple of years, college campuses have started encouraging the startup culture relating to different fields. Considering the example of one of the most famous social media site Facebook which was also born at a college campus, the education institutes have to be optimistic, because we never know where the next big entrepreneurial giant may take place. In colleges, strong teams can be built with fellow students where there is a constant flow of ideas because of the dynamics involved with the young generation. Colleges can develop entrepreneurship cells which should chanellise the flow of idea in order to achieve aim at growth. If students are provided with the specific training on how to control a business, they can achieve heights. Many well established colleges in India do promote this culture by establishing entrepreneurial ecosystem. If more colleges will promote this concept, we can have a bigger room full of ideas. Entrepreneurship is the latest activity that is creating an atmosphere of excitement in the world. However, to begin with the idea of a startup and working efficiently for it, one feels necessity for strong devotion, a firm decision, confidence and determination. One should stay motivated and create an atmosphere that will help others in the team. Hiring people for operations like marketing and sales is easy, but finding technical talent is quite a difficult task. Young people usually dont know what to expect. People often evaluate a company by its elegant office which actually should not be given much preference when joining an organisation. Working from home is cheaper, much satisfying and low pressured. But in India, many employees think that having a proper office means more success. People have become habitual of MNC or call centre kind of jobs, where they can get security, high pay with much lesser skills and work. One attribute that startups look for is the intelligence to do the role in terms of skill and experience. Some startups have assessment tests. A considered employee should be selfmotivated and should show team player abilities. Also, they need to have some complementary skills, knowledge of industry and network. One should have the knowledge of the industry in which he/she will enter and should be willing to learn fast. One has to be hard working, determinant and should be able to do multiple tasks. These are the some of the qualities that should be in an entrepreneur to achieve the desired goals. They need to differentiate between markets where they can explore their strength and potential. They should know about their potential consumers who are actually willing to buy their services. The budding entrepreneurs must have knowledge about their Unique Selling Preposition so that can attract consumers through their value added services. The writer is head of entrepreneurship and student welfare department, IMS Noida. 2008 Malegaon blast accused Lieutenant Colonel Shrikant Purohit on Friday approached the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court order rejecting his bail. The Bombay HC on 25 April had refused relief to Purohit but had granted bail to one of the prime accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, nearly nine years after her arrest. Purohit was arrested in November 2008 for allegedly conspiring in the Malegaon blast case and since 2008, he had applied for bail several times. In September 2016, a special NIA court had rejected his bail saying there was a prima facie evidence of audio and video recordings, call detail and witness statements to suggest that Purohit was involved in conspiring and executing the blasts. Six persons were killed in a series of blasts close to a mosque in Maharashtras Malegaon on September 29, 2008. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held bilateral talks with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and appreciated Cyprus's support for India's bid for the UN Security Council. "I deeply appreciate Cyprus's support for India's bid for the UN Security Council," Modi said after holding bilateral talks with Anastasiades. "We held detailed discussions on bilateral as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest," Modi said, adding, "We agreed there is urgent need for countries to act against those states that generate support, shelter factories of violence in our regions." India and Cyprus inked four pacts, including one for air services after talks between the prime minister and Cyprus president. Anastasiades, who is currently on a five-day visit to India, was given a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier in the day. He also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi whom he described as an 'inspiration' for Cyprus freedom struggle. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has prepared a road map for returning to power in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls on the basis of its assessment of weak and strong constituencies across states. The issue of good governance will continue to be the main fulcrum of the BJPs campaign strategy. To focus on its areas of strength ahead of the 2019 election, the party has put states in three categories and formulated separate game plans for each of them, sources told The Statesman. The main strategy is aimed at "retaining the seats won during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections". Accordingly, the party is firming up its preparations for Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan, accounting for major gains in 2014. Under the first category the states which returned the maximum number of MPs to Parliament in 2014 such as UP, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan have been included, sources said. The BJP has assessed Odisha and Bihar among states to be not so formidable from the point of view of the partys chances. West Bengal, North Eastern States, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been brought under the category of relatively weak states needing extra efforts. We will try to make sure how to retain the seats we won in the last elections. We have plans in place to improve on our performance in areas where we did not win at all. We are also striving to make a dent wherever the party is in a weak position, sources explained. The party has coined catchy terminology to add muscle to its campaign in the run up to 2019. These were also discussed during the recent Bhubaneswar national executive. Accordingly, P-2 will be used to suggest Pro-People and Pro-governance whileG-2 will indicate Good Governance, sources said. India on Thursday stuck to its position that Kulbhushan Jadhav had been awarded death sentence by a Pakistan military court on baseless charges while Islamabad claimed that the former Indian Navy officer had been tried for espionage in a transparent manner in accordance with the law of the land. Amid anxiety in India about the well-being and whereabouts of Jadhav, MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay hoped at a media briefing that Pakistan would grant visas to Jadhavs parents so that they could go to the neighbouring country and follow with the authorities the petition by his mother seeking the Pakistan Governments intervention for his release and the appeal to be filed to the appellate court to initiate the process to get his conviction overturned. The spokesperson said the visa applications of Jadhavs parents needed to be expedited so that they could take further steps to secure justice for him. In response to a question, he said India awaited Pakistans response on his parents request. The petition and the appeal on behalf of Jadhavs mother were handed over by Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale to Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in Islamabad on Wednesday since he has 40 days time to go in appeal as per the law of Pakistan. On Pakistans contention that Jadhavs trial was fair and transparent, the spokesperson said India had not been officially informed anything about it. India was not aware who defended him before the military court or if he was provided a lawyer at all. Jadhavs health was causing great concern to the entire country since he had been in the illegal custody of the Pakistani authorities for over a year now. India had also sought his medical certificate from the Pakistani authorities. The spokesperson said the government and Jadhavs family would explore every option available to secure justice for him. Meanwhile, in Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said the military court's ruling in Jadhavs case was based on specific evidence and the trial was conducted in a transparent manner. The 2017 United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR), Wastewater: the Untapped Resource was launched by Parameswaran Iyer, secretary department of water and sanitation, at an event organised by UNESCO and UNIC at UNESCO House in the Capital on Wednesday. The Statesman was the media partner for the event. The report launch was moderated by Derk Segaar, Director, United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan. Other speakers included UN Resident Coordinator Jaco Cilliers, Director of National Institute of Hydrology, IIT Roorkee R.D. Singh and Head of Science Sector, UNESCO New Delhi Cluster office Mitrasen Bhikajee. Prizes were presented to the winners of UNESCO New Delhis 2016 #Science4Sustainability Photo Competition. The launch ceremony was attended by over 100 people, including representatives from NGOs, the diplomatic community, academicians, students and experts working in the field of water. In his opening remarks, UNESCO New Delhi Director and UNESCO Representative Shigeru Aoyagi said, It is important not to forget that putting a stop to pollution at the source is just as important as developing ways to treat and utilise wastewater. If both problems are tackled, then we will be on the path to achieving the water-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While congratulating the UN family, particularly UNESCO, on bringing out this comprehensive report on wastewater, Iyer said Water is rapidly reaching crisis-like proportions not only in the world but also in India. Wastewater is traditionally viewed as a problem rather than an opportunity. If we can be more efficient in the way we handle our water and wastewater systems, we can not only immediately reduce the quantity, the amount that needs to be recycled, but it can also make water systems more efficient. The report focuses on the ways in which improved wastewater management can generate social, environmental and economic benefits essential for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday called on Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades who is on a five day visit to India. "Intensifying cooperation with Cyprus. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj calls on President Nicos Anastasiades, discusses areas of bilateral cooperation," ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted. Earlier, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Anastasiades who was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. The visiting guest was given a ceremonial guard of honour at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Anastasiades also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and described him as "spiritual leader of Cyprus and inspiration for its freedom struggle", Baglay said in a tweet. The Cyprus President will hold delegation-level talks with Modi. The two sides are also expected to sign some bilateral agreements. Anastasiades, who arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, will depart from New Delhi on Saturday. This is his first visit to India since he became the President in 2013. Cyprus, the eighth largest foreign investor in India, has cumulative Foreign Direct Investment of above $8.5 billion in areas of financial leasing, stock exchange, auto manufacture, manufacturing industries, real estate, cargo handling, construction, shipping and logistics. The Supreme Court was on Friday told that the Centre was ready to discuss with recognised political parties the issue of escalating violence in Jammu and Kashmir, but made it clear that it will not negotiate with separatists. The apex court said it will ask the government not to use pellet guns in Jammu and Kashmir if there was no violence, no stone throwing and students get back to classes. Asking leaders of the J-K Bar Association to come forward with positive suggestions to diffuse the situation, a bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, and Justices D Y Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul said in such a situation they would ask the government not to use pellet guns. 'If you suggest something within the framework of Constitution, we will assure you there will be a dialogue,' the Chief Justice said. Giving time to the Bar Association to come up with suggestions, the court said: 'You must first tell us what you will do. Then we will direct the government. If you keep throwing stones, how will it work?' Taking exception to the affidavit filed by the Bar Association, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said they were even doubting the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India. Apart from rubbishing the claims of the Jammu and Kashmir HC Bar Association that the Centre was not coming forward for further discussion on the issue, the Attorney General made it clear that the government would negotiate the issue only if recognised political parties partake in the discussion and not the separatists who have been responsible for harbouring tension in the region. The bench subsequently questioned the Jammu and Kashmir HC Bar to come up with suggestions to resolve the crisis, which included stone-pelting and violent agitation on the streets of the Valley. If you (in view of the Kashmir issue) throw stones, close schools, how will talks happen in Kashmir? the bench asked J&K SC Bar Association. Replying to a petition to stop the use of pellet guns in the Valley, the bench said it can direct the Centre against the use of pellet guns but, in return, would the petitioner be able to guarantee that there will be no stone-pelting in the region? How can discussion take place when roads are blocked and stones are pelted? it asked. It said there was need for a positive start and the bar body could play an important role by coming out with a game plan and a road map for restoring normalcy in the valley. Posting the matter for 9 May, the bench also made it clear to the Centre that the court would involve itself in the matter only if there was a view that it can play a role and there was no jurisdictional issue. "If you feel the court has no role and if you feel we have no jurisdiction, we will close the file at this moment," the bench told the AG who objected to some of the suggestions made by the bar body including that the separatists were being ignored. The Unicef on Wednesday ensured to work positively with India to end the immunity gaps in every corners of the country and help the children under-five living below poverty line to lead a healthy and carefree life ahead. The UNICEF is committed to working together with the Government of India and other development partners, to ensure that we close the immunity gaps in every state, in every district and in every community, so that all boys and girls are protected life-long from measles, rubella, and other vaccine preventable diseases, Louis-Georges Arsenault, UNICEF India Representative said. The under-five mortality rate in India stands at 1.11 million deaths per year. Pneumonia accounted for 13 per cent deaths, while diarrhea contributed to approximately 10 per cent deaths under five-year olds due to lack of proper vaccination. India is currently working with UNICEF to collectively help in addressing maternal and child health. The Government of India has demonstrated strong and effective leadership in mobilizing partners for collectively addressing maternal and child health," UNICEF said. Around 10 million children in India miss out full vaccinations every year. Due to the prevalence of weak health systems, poverty and social inequalities in India, large number of children under five are not able to receive life saving vaccines. Overcrowding, poverty, poor hygiene and sanitation as well as inadequate nutrition and health care increase the risk of diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea and measles in these communities; diseases that are easily preventable with vaccines, Dr Robin Nandy, Chief of Immunization at UNICEF headquarters in New York, said. The hand-wringers of the past five months who forlornly expected that wider Asia was poised to be cashed out by an America under President Donald Trump are probably breathing a bit easier lately. Although Washington timed it poorly US Vice-President Mike Pences visit to Jakarta coincided with the Indonesian capitals frenzied election to appoint a new governor it is noteworthy that Mr Pence pointedly drove to the Asean Secretariat to deliver a key message. The American President, he said, would travel to Asia to attend three important summits: the Apec meeting in Vietnam, as well as the Asean-US and East Asia summits in Manila, the Philippines. That the US was in a hurry to state this so early in the day the summits are only in November, after all sends a few reassuring signals, even as the news in some ways was overshadowed by the spectacular election loss of the Chinese-Christian governor of Jakarta. The first is that contrary to initial expectations, Mr Trump may not be that averse to multilateral diplomacy if it suits his purpose. Secondly, it holds a measure of reassurance of continued American strategic commitment to the South-east Asian region. A hundred days into his term, there is much that Asia would wish of Mr Trump when it comes to regional affairs. For instance, who doesnt pray that hed move faster on so many key administration posts that remain unfilled, particularly in the State Department. The American spoils system that gives presidents an opportunity to bestow plum posts also means that key slots in Asia, such as the ambassadorships to Singapore, Tokyo and New Delhi, remain unoccupied. Indeed, with the exception of China, we do not even have names yet for these positions, not to speak of the confirmation process that lies beyond. But that is the way the American system functions and we are stuck with it. Meanwhile, Asia perhaps can draw some relief that Mr Trump is showing signs that as he settles into office, the briefings that he shied away from in his initial days are having their impact. National interests, after all, are permanent. Like every new leader in office, he also probably realises that his predecessor wasnt as dumb or ill-advised as he had thought him to be. For now, Asean can take some comfort that after an uncertain start, there has been a flurry of activity vis-a-vis South-east Asia and wider Asia. As US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Patrick Murphy pointed out last week, his boss, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, has already hosted Asean ambassadors, and will be meeting Asean foreign ministers next Thursday. Indeed, this will be a second visit in quick time for Vietnams Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, also his nations Foreign Minister, who recently called on Mr Tillerson in the United States. Interestingly, on the very day that Mr Tillerson hosts Asean foreign ministers, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Mr Trump will have their first face-to-face meeting in New York City, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, when the US and Australia jointly staved off enemy forces. Australia is Americas oldest ally. Its Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has fervently pitched for America to recognise Asean centrality in Asian affairs, and its a good guess that Mr Turnbull will make the same point when he meets Mr Trump. In the first week of June, US Defence Secretary James Mattis is a confirmed speaker at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where Mr Turnbull will deliver the keynote speech. All in all, theres a gathering momentum that should, by present indication, go only one way in the months ahead. Clearly, the Japanese and Chinese ambassadors who arranged summits for their bosses are not the only Asian envoys making headway in Washington. Other Asian envoys have been active too. The task now is to make sure that Asian issues other than North Korea get Mr Trumps attention. We can very much expect that the South China Sea issue will be addressed and talked about very frankly so that we can all continue to pursue what we hope will be the inevitable outcome, and that is peaceful resolution to these disputes, and in the meantime, adherence to the rule-of-law, rulesbased principles that the United States and Asean have heretofore very much agreed on, said Mr Murphy, who is certain that the US will continue freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea. Sure, the Trump administration has dismissed the pivot or rebalance as the policy of the Obama administration. But clearly, Mr Trump, while working on his own doctrine, apparently sees no issue with continuing with some of the old. Certainly, he shows no intention of tearing up things the way he did with the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Mr Trump has met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe twice, and more recently, conferred with Chinese President Xi Jinping over two days. Next week, he meets Mr Turnbull. That leaves only one major part in the Asian jigsaw puzzle to patch: India. The senior-most Trump administration official to reach New Delhi so far has been National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster. The Indians currently are having trouble with both Mr Xi and Mr Trump, although their issues with the former are far more serious. While Mr Obama, and particularly his defence secretary Ashton Carter, coddled India, Mr Trump has proved vexatious for New Delhi. For now, while it is working on a Modi-Trump summit, New Delhi is not unaware that like Mr Obama and his Democratic predecessor Bill Clinton, many US leaders eventually come round to seeing its strategic value after starting out on a different path. Mr Abe, who is close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will no doubt use his access to Mr Trump to press for India and for the US to think more broadly of what can be accomplished in Asia. But, as long as Mr Trumps fixation is on North Korea, and that is entirely justifiable for the moment, anything else will have to wait. Beijing knows this, and will be happy to keep Washington focused on Pyongyang, one reason for it to both seem helpful and yet not do too much about the matter. For now, Chinas decision to adopt a mildly hunched profile before Mr Trump is working to its advantage. I like him, and I believe he likes me a lot, Mr Trump said of Mr Xi this week. If the Chinese continue to play ball on North Korea, and lie low on further militarisation of the South China Sea along with some apparent movement on a Code of Conduct with Asean, it can expect to have at least the US commander in chief off its back. The Pentagon though is a different matter and it will continue to keep a wary lookout. China should be aware that Mr Trumps warm glow towards it is mostly transactional and comes from a perception that he is getting his way with Beijing. Should he be thwarted, anger will follow. A US president confronted with repeated political setbacks at home can act like a wounded bear overseas. What it all adds up to is that unlike Mr Obamas nuanced and multi-pointed rebalance, Mr Trumps approach is likely to lean towards the muscular mould as matches a personality that is more club than rapier. Certainly, there is no denying his flip-flops on so many issues, starting with his recent embrace of Nato and his reeling back of early positions on issues such as labelling China a currency manipulator and the One China policy he had questioned. On the other hand, he has been consistent in his position that Asian and European nations should do more towards their own security and certainly pick up the tab for it. The Obama administrations rhetoric often projected a nobler purpose, for instance, of protecting the global commons. For Mr Trump, it is all about himself, or to be a bit more generous, US interests. As long as the interests of much of Asia converge with his, and there is no reason why they should not, there should be no issue sharing the ride. The writer is Associate Editor, The Straits Times. This is a series of columns on global affairs written by top editors and columnists from members of the Asia News Network and published in newspapers and websites across the region. President Ashraf Ghanis lament last Sunday that Afghanistan is in mourning was seemingly intended to mollify the general criticism of the countrys leadership in the aftermath of the deadliest attack by the Taliban on the army since 2001 ~ the year President Bush mobilised his forces to smoke out Osama bin Laden from the caves. The remarkably intrepid offensive on the military base at Mazar-i-Sharif was an attack on the increasingly fragile security establishment in a fractious land, most particularly after the pullout of the USled NATO forces three years ago. The striking feature of the outrage was the death of 140 soldiers, many of them unarmed. Small wonder that the Ghani regime has been accused by the people of fumbling in its response to the atrocity. One could argue that the elected civilian establishment has alienated the army no less. The Taliban offensive against a cantonment, with the perpetrators dressed in military fatigues, has jolted the system to its foundations. No less crucially, the army was targeted a week after the US had for the first time used its non-nuclear bomb to devastating effect against ISIS forces in Afghanistan. The tragedy reaffirms that it is the Taliban ~ and not ISIS ~ that is the fountainhead of Islamist terrorism in the country. President Ghanis call for a national day of mourning is merely of sentimental value; his visit to the Mazar-i-Sharif base was greeted with strident demands of the people to come up with answers, reassurances, and for government heads to roll. This is suggestive of the degree of popular disaffection. Suffice it to register that so catastrophic an attack on the army has somehow eluded the Intelligence network of the military and the civilian government in Kabul. Last Fridays attack was the second major intelligence failure in two months, after Islamic State gunmen stormed an army hospital in Kabul in March, killing dozens of injured soldiers and nurses. The location and nature of the two attacks illustrate how pervasive and brutal the war within has become. Urban areas such as Mazar-iSharif and Kabul had previously been considered relatively safe. The beleaguered country does deserve an answer from the presidential palace. The government is disrespecting the martyrs by not telling the truth, is the general refrain. Substantial is the fear that the militarys morale might suffer. The security forces are already struggling with a high attrition rate and recruitment problems. More than 6,700 soldiers and police were killed last year, a record high. Public anxiety and anger have also been directed at the former President, Hamid Karzai, who often called the Taliban his disgruntled brothers. As disgruntlement turns to devastation, Karzai has stopped short of condemning the Taliban by name after the latest outrage. The alliance remains intact, at least nominally. Mehbooba Mufti returned to Srinagar virtually empty-handed. After creating an impression that during her visit to the Capital she would be pressing the Centre to opt for a negotiated way out of the violence that has devastated life in the Valley, she was clearly unable to exert enough pressure on the Modi government to alter course and accept the line advocated by Kashmiri political forces that the current stress on a military solution had little chance of success. That the chief minister was left struggling to find something to prove her trip was not fruitless was evident when she made much of the Prime Minister having an intention of holding talks after the situation becomes normal, but she simultaneously echoed the New Delhi-line that an atmosphere needs to be created. Talks cannot happen amid stone-pelting and firing of bullets. She has actually put herself on the spot ~ the onus is now on her government (albeit in conjunction with the security forces over which she has only token control) to contain and reverse a situation which she already has proved too inept to tackle. Her alliance partner, the BJP, is doing little to assist, the comments from some of its ministers have exacerbated the stand-off. And if the BJP/RSS point-man Ram Madhav thought he was being articulate when using the term all is fair in love and war (when defending the Armys use of a human-shield), he actually fuelled the impression that the government was at war with the folk of the Valley. All that raises the critical pre-negotiations question: what is normal? Militancy has engulfed the Valley for over 29 years, and the cycle of violence has had highs and lows but has never been eradicated. Sure there have been good tourist seasons (a key index to the conditions that prevail), but some disastrous ones too. It could be argued that if a delegation of MPs (shepherded by the home minister) could visit Srinagar, and a team that included former cabinet minister Yashwant Sinha could move around the Valley even after the Burhan Wani fiasco, what prevents the launch of negotiations? They could also be conducted elsewhere. The counter-point would be the farcical byelection to the Lok Sabha from Srinagar, the deferment of the poll in Anantnag. The truth being that normality and a conducive atmosphere point to a state of mind rather than physical conditions The other relevant query is who comprise the stake-holders ~ Mehbooba would like them to include Hurriyat leaders, the Central government is silent on that. The really pertinent query is why New Delhi is hesitant about imposing Governors Rule when the administrative machinery has crumbled: is Mehbooba merely serving as a convenient buffer? Bihar completed one year of prohibition on April 1 this year, which significantly coincided with the centenary of Gandhis Champaran Satyagrah. No homage to Gandhiji would have been more eloquent that prohibition, a core Gandhian thought. On 9 July 2015 in the State level conference on Gram Varta, self-help groups and women participants expressed concern over growing alcoholism in the state and asked for prohibition. In the Gram Varta itself, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made known his intent to introduce prohibition in the state if he was returned to power in the Vidhan Sabha election. True to his pledge, on return of the Grand Alliance to power the CM announced the enforcement of prohibition in the state from 1 April 2016. The doubt-digit decadal economic growth of the state raised rural household incomes significantly and this led to increased consumption of alcohol. There was a rise in the number of apprentice bingers who graduated to alcoholics. Alcoholism wrought injury to physical health, nutrition, domestic harmony, dignity of women and deadened individuals. Alcohol cast its shadow on not only economically weaker sections but also on youth as revealed in the course of raids on student hostels. Women who run households suffered the most, both physical torture and financial crunch. Real time narratives pouring in through media reports, day in and day out, exposed the dark patches and viciousness of alcoholism. An inebriated father raped his daughter, another alcoholic father killed his son on his refusal to part with his tuition fees and a husband killed his wife for not parting with her savings from daily wage earnings to fetch liquor for her husband. The spectacle of alcohol horror simmering for some time erupted into widespread peoples outrage. Womens organisations became active and burnt liquor vends. Women refused to marry alcoholic men and deserted alcoholic husbands; a father got his son arrested for bootlegging and in some places alcoholics were fined and the amount went to noble causes. As a climax, an exceptional and unique human chain was formed on 21 January 2016 by millions of people including children, students and teachers, NGOs and civil society members to voice unstinted support to prohibition. Prohibition changed social, ethical, economic and domestic contours and brought cheer and smiles to the lips of afflicted families as money saved on liquor got ploughed into rural and urban households for a better living. This brought about a great improvement in rural life and improved quality of living. Crime and public order statistics showed improvement. According to the government, statistics have shown a downswing in various forms of crime such as murder, dacoity, robbery, kidnapping for ransom, serious rioting, womens harassment, road accidents, and domestic violence ranging from 20 to 35 per cent. The downswing was more pronounced in cases of domestic violence and kidnapping for ransom compared to the statistics of 2015-16. In parallel, there was sharp increase in seizures of liquor and drugs. Nevertheless, prohibition has many a handicap to overcome, mainly the augmentation of revenue loss to the tune of Rs. 50 billion. Some opposition leaders have voiced concern and stated that there has been a marked fall in collection of commercial taxes. On the other hand, the Chief Minister exuded confidence that total revenue generated in the financial year 2016-17 was almost the same as before and that the gap was expected to be bridged through fiscal discipline and prudence as well as new avenues of taxes. The government presented an enhanced budget for the current financial year and the trajectory of development programmes surged unhindered to show that the financial health of the state was not worrisome. All the same, the impact of the loss of revenue on account of prohibition must be watched in coming days. Twenty-two of Bihars 38 districts share porous borders with U.P., Jharkhand; many share an international border with Nepal. This offers a passage for smuggling liquor and drugs. Police and Excise agencies keep a vigil and conduct raids to stop sale and consumption. Government is committed to the enforcement of the Bihar Excise Act, a stringent law which the opposition has branded draconian. District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police have been entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing prohibition to ensure innocent persons are not harassed. Bihar has crafted a broad and synergetic eco-system of information dissemination and reached out to civil society, womens organisations, NGOs, teachers, self-help groups and ASHA workers to secure the flow of information related to violation of excise laws. Lot of information has poured in through those sources and has been put to use to enforce prohibition. Simultaneously, de-addiction centres have been set up at all district headquarters to provide medical care, medicines and counseling. Penal and punitive measures are not the only route as the Government has used the social awareness route to create awareness of and diffuse knowledge about its alcoholism and prohibition policy. The Chief Minister has toured extensively to make this point. The buzz that prohibition would crumble under the weight of revenue loss and adverse impact on hospitality industry and tourism is now silenced. The movement has grown robust and vibrant and distinctly its crescendo has reached across the country. With dexterity Nitish Kumar welded prohibition into a national movement and gave a fiilip to it. What distinguished the enforcement of prohibition in Bihar from prohibition-bound states of Gujarat, Nagaland, Manipur (partially) and Mizoram was that it was not a mere administrative facade devoid of missionary fervor. Bihar shaped prohibition into a vibrant mission and robust movement. To make a choice between prohibition and alcoholism was indeed a hard one. Yet Nitish Kumar went in for prohibition, sustained revenue loss and responded to the well-being and happiness of people, the essence of democracy. He did not compromise even though it was revenue earner. His resolution will ensure that he does not retreat on prohibition. The writer is ex-Governor, Chattisgarh and Tripura and former chairman, A. N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna. New Zealand and Australian troops in Iraq will train about 2,000 Iraqi security forces personnel in the next fortnight to fight Islamic State (IS) insurgents, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said in a statement on Friday. "A steady flow of capable personnel is crucial in sustaining the counter-offensive against the terrorist group," Major General Tim Gall, the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand said, Xinhua news agency reported. Many of the forces trained by the joint New Zealand-Australian Task Group Taji had joined the assault to reclaim the western part of Mosul, said Gall. Some formed part of stabilisation forces who were working to ensure the gains made against the IS in other parts of Iraq were sustained. "We've helped build a fighting force that's contributing to the current offensive against IS. But apart from force generation, we are also training the next generation of Iraqi military leaders who will be responsible for protecting their country in the future," he said. Task Group Taji, which comprised about 100 New Zealand troops and 300 Australian Defence Force personnel, had trained more than 21,000 Iraqi government forces since its training mission began in May 2015. Since last October, the NZDF had sent small groups of training and force protection teams to other secure training locations in Iraq. New Zealand soldiers had also been training stabilisation forces such as the Iraqi Border Guards in addition to the Iraqi Army. Originally set for two years, the NZDF contribution to the international Building Partner Capacity mission in Iraq was extended by the government to November 2018. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. 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 ... But the tribe has a long way to go Rujuta Damle, 26, first heard of breast milk donation in her teens. But it was only last year that she found herself empathising with the cause. During her pregnancy, Damle, a Pune resident, had enrolled for pre-natal classes at the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital. The last session of the course was a tour of the labour room, where Damle came across an infant who had a hole in his heart. The child was taken into the newborn care unit. We were told that he would have to wait for breast milk, crucial for his survival, since his mother was hospitalised in a different hospital. It was a disturbing experience... heartbreaking, says Damle, a chartered accountant. So when Damle had her daughter, she decided to donate the extra milk she had to a human milk bank at the hospital. Damle has been doing so for the past five monthsafter her daughter has had her fill, she pumps out the extra milk in 150ml bottles she receives from the hospital. Once the bottles are full, the hospital has them collected from her home. The nurses and the doctors explained every little thing that I need to take care of while storing the milk in the deep freezer, she says. Damle is one of the few mothers donating for the 30 milk banks across the country. Twenty-seven million babies are born in India every year and, of them, 13 per cent are born pre-term, and 28 per cent have low birth weight. Experts say human milk is high on the charts to save these children who are too weak to suckle and their mothers are unable to provide milkeither they are ill, or dead, among other reasons. Here, milk banks that collect and store human milk come in handy, say doctors. The ministry of health and family welfare is planning to scale up the milk bank model for the 661 newborn care units in the country by introducing new guidelines. It will encourage mothers to donate extra milk to a lactation management centre [that will have breastfeeding support activities, including milk bank], says Dr Ajay Khera, deputy commissioner, ministry of health and family welfare. Hospitals will be provided with equipment such as pumps for mothers to express milk. There will be quality control mechanisms to test the milk for pathogens, and pasteurisers and refrigerators for storage, says Khera. Human milk banks have been extremely successful in Brazilits network of human milk banks is the largest in the worldand have helped the country bring down its neo-natal deaths and infant mortality significantly. In India, the first and one of the most successful banks was started in 1989 at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital in Mumbai. The bank was started by Dr Armida Fernandez, who was driven by a desperate need to save sick babies at the hospital. It worked because mothers who had delivered at the hospital and those who came for a follow-up were encouraged to donate. Initially it was hard to convince the municipal corporation to fund the bank. But somehow we managed to do so. We were also able to convince mothers to donate, recalls Fernandez, former professor and head of neonatology at the hospital. The success of the bank, however, did not prompt others to follow suituntil 2005, when a few hospitals started their own milk banks. Today, there are milk banks in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune and Surat that follow different models of funding, collecting and storing donor milk. For instance, in the bank started by Fernandez, the milk was collected at the hospital, but in Amaara, the milk bank at Fortis La Femme in Delhi, and the one at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, the milk is collected from the donors home. After collection, the milk is tested, pasteurised to kill germs, stored and given out on doctors prescription only, says Dr Raghuram Mallaiah, director, neo-natology, Fortis La Femme. The details of the contentsfat, protein and number of caloriesand the donors are recorded and stored in a database to ensure quality. We are a public bank and supply to the newborn care units at other hospitals, too. We charge a nominal amount. So making the bank self-sustainable is a big challenge, says Mallaiah, who sourced funds from the Breast Milk Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded in 2015, to set up the milk bank last year. But human milk banks can be cost-effective, too. Back in the 80s, Fernandez says that the cost of setting up a milk bank02 lakhworked out to be less than that of installing a ventilator in the hospital. Today, a human milk bank costs 012 lakh, excluding staff costs, says Ruchika Sachdeva, who heads the nutrition department at PATH, a non-government organisation that is providing technical support for cost-effective indigenous pasteurisers available in India. In the US, human milk is often termed as liquid gold and mothers sell their milk to private banks. In India, however, the emphasis is on promoting it as an altruistic act. Commercialising breast milk could be dangerous because of quality issues involved, says Khera. The importance of human milk banking can hardly be overstated. Despite several studies on the benefits of human milk as opposed to formula feed, awareness on the issue is still low, and breastfeeding rates stand at 54.90 per cent only, according to National Family Health Survey for 2015-16. The rate of institutional deliveries is high, but the same cannot be said about breastfeeding. In ten years, early initiation [giving mothers milk within one hour of birth] has increased from 23.4 per cent to 41.6 per cent, reveal the survey data. But the rise is only about 1.5 per cent every year, says Dr Arun Gupta of Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India. Providing donor milk through human milk banks works only if it is part of the larger agenda of promoting breastfeeding, he says. Adhunika Prakash, founder of Breastfeeding Support for Indian Mothers, an online group that provides round-the-clock support to close to 40,000 members, says mothers are misinformed about breastfeeding. In my group, half the women have given formula to their kids at birth, she says. Breastfeeding can be a stressful experience, and women need support from doctors, lactation counsellors, hospital staff and family members. Elixir of life: A bottle of pasturised human milk | Sanjay Ahlawat That is why the upcoming guidelines, which are part of a breastfeeding promotion programme called MAA (Mothers Absolute Affection), show promise. Sachdeva insists that the lactation management centres will serve not just as providers of human milk through donors, but also as welcoming hubs for mothers. This integrated approach will provide breastfeeding support and encourage kangaroo mother care [skin to skin contact], too, she says, adding that increased access to donor milk would help 5 million vulnerable newborns in India. Bengaluru-based Charulatha Varadarajan, 36, can think of at least twoher twins, who are four now. Varadarajan's kids were born early and put on formula feed right after because she was unwell. After I started expressing milk, I often had extra. But the hospital didnt have a bank to store it, she says. If it did, the milk could have helped other pre-term kids. Banking norms * Human milk banks will be part of lactation management centres, where women would be given support for breastfeeding, kangaroo mother care and encouraged to donate milk. * Milk banks would be established in tertiary care hospitals, and smaller hospitals would serve as collection centres. * Standards of quality will be mentioned in detail. High focus on hygiene and handling of milk. * Hospital staff will be trained for hazard analysis and critical care points (HACCP) systems. Pasteurisation techniques and temperature for storage will also be mentioned. * Donor mothers will be screened for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. * The donors would not be paid for the milk, and milk would be given only on doctors prescription. Following the Naxal attack earlier this week that killed 25 CRPF jawans, the central police force and the state police have launched a massive joint operation in Sukma district of South Bastar in Chhattisgarh. More than 5,000 specially-trained jawans are combing the jungles with the help of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Special Foliage Penetrating Radar Drones from Israel that are being pressed into service for the first time. A series of joint meetings between the state Director General of Naxal operations D.M. Awasthi and CRPF additional Director General Kuldeep Singh took place at Sukma and Burkapal, the two places that are the epicentres of Naxal terror. Both the senior officers are jointly managing the offensive operation. According to police sources, a strict monitoring of all the movements in the area is being done. The recent incidents have called for a change in strategy of security forces. We are making necessary corrections and working in coordination of all the resources available, said Awasthi. There are more than one dozen batallions of para-military forces in Bastar spread in the entire Dandakaranya Liberation Zone of the Maoists. A senior CRPF official also had pressed for the need to change the strategy and quality of counter-insurgency operations, after visiting the Naxal-infested areas. However, the police does not want road construction to be stopped due to the attacks. Even as the state is preparing to mount an attack on the Maoists, the outlaws in a recorded audio message claimed that Monday's killing was to revenge last year's incident when 24 members of the CPI (Maoist) were killed in a joint-operation by Andhra Pradesh and Odisha police near Jantri in Malkangiri district of Odisha. The audio statement stated the attack was done to stop government from carrying out their Mission-17. It claimed that roads and railway lines in Bastar are not for the benefit of the adivasis, but for extracting natural resources. In a separate pamphlet-letter, Maoists in Antagarh of North Bastar announced that the police and CRPF jawans are their friends. They added they have no animosity against them, but the leaders sitting in Raipur. The Maoists even appealed to the jawans to pass on secret information such as details of troop movements, while promising to keep their identities anonymous. On the other, the operations in the area are proving to be difficult due to extreme summer. Yesterday, a helicopter carrying five CRPF jawans crashed when it caught fire while trying to land at Chintagufa. However, all the five passengers were saved in the incident. The area is still bereaving Monday's brutal attack, with the entire Dantewada district headquarters being closed yesterday in support of the security forces. This was the second major Naxal attack in two months. Twelve men were killed in the previous attack on March 11 in Bheji area. Meanwhile, Congress state secretary Malkeet Singh, a resident of Bastar, alleged that two BJP ministers from the region Mahesh Gagda and Kedar Kashyap are hand-in-glove with the Maoists. Why didn't the two ministers condemn the killing of 25 CRPF personnel? he asked, questioning the relation. A Pakistani national, claiming to be an operative of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and seeking asylum in India, is being questioned by intelligence agencies after he was detained at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in New Delhi. The suspect was held up in T3 on Friday morning, according to sources. Intelligence sources said he approached the information desk in the international retail area around 6.15am and expressed willingness in passing on information. The person has been identified as Muhammad Ahmad Sheikh Muhammad Rafiq, son of Sheikh Muhammad Rafiq. 39-year-old Rafiq (date of birth 9-07-1978) arrived from Dubai and was further bound for Kathmandu. During questioning, he is learnt to have revealed that he is connected to ISI but wants to defect to India. The intelligence officials have passed the information to the desk handling Pakistan issues. The latest development comes days after Pakistan once again rejected India's request seeking consular access to alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by the Pakistani military court. New Delhi has said that if Jadhav's execution is carried out, India will give a befitting reply. Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, who was implicated in the infamous 1994 espionage case, has been waiting for justice for the last 20 years. He will have to wait just a little longer. Narayanan had approached the Supreme Court, seeking action against police personnel who had allegedly tortured him. The petition has arraigned former Kerala ADGP Siby Mathews, K.K. Joshwa and S. Vijayan, both of whom had retired in senior positions in the police. Though a judgment was expected on Friday, the case was postponed to August. The SC has now asked the state government to file an affidavit in this regard, as Narayanan had sought compensation from the latter. The Kerala police had arrested him in 1994, alleging that Narayanan had passed on cryogenic rocket technology to Pakistan. The police had also worked in the angle of honeytrapinvolving two Maldives woman in the casemaking it all the more spicier. Narayanan was kept in police custody for nearly two months where he was allegedly subjected to third degree torture. The case had acquired such a huge proportion that it had a fallout on the state politics too. The then Congress CM K. Karunakaran had to resign and he was replaced by his bete noire A.K. Antony. Meanwhile, the CBI, which took over the case from state police, found that all the allegations against him were fabricated and the SC upheld the findings. But, by then , Narayanan had lost a lot in his life both professionally and personally. "All those years are lost...," Narayanan told the WEEK. Narayanan approached the court in 1997 to initiate criminal action against three former top police officers for allegedly fabricating the case against him. He cited the CBI report, which had clearly pointed out the lapses on the part of IB officials and Kerala police and recommended action. The court directed the government to take action in a just and legal manner. But successive governments sat on the file and later decided not to act against the erring Kerala police officials. Nambi approached the court against the government move and the SC gave directions to the state, following which a committee was formed to look into the matter. But the officials involved filed a writ appeal before a division bench of Kerala High Court, which set aside the judgment of the single judge. Narayanan again knocked the doors of SC against the order of the division bench. Challenging the legality of the High Court division bench order, Narayanan had argued that if allowed to perpetuate, would only encourage the unlawful action and mindset on the part of the Kerala police to harass innocent persons for extraneous considerations. The case has been pending since then. It was earlier slated for February. But then it got postponed to April. Now, again it has been postponed. But Narayanan is not complaining. "Such is our system. It takes its own time. Even a single person can delay the delivery of justice to any length," he told The WEEK. The unexpected twists and turns in life seems to have made him a spiritual man. "I have no vendetta against anyone. But I want justice," he said. Talking about the last twenty years, he said that the wait had been painful. According to him, it is his belief that truth will prevail that kept him going in the last twenty years. "I am still hopeful that justice will prevail. Truth is powerful. Nobody can wish it away," Narayanan said. CM's 'power gift' to honest consumers The UP government, which had announced 24x7 power supply for all from 2018, has come up with a novel plan. It has decided to offer 24x7 power supply to 'honest consumers feeders' from the next fortnight. 'Honest consumers feeders' are those that use electricity in accordance with stipulated load norms and where 90 per cent of electricity bills are being paid by consumers. Besides, loss of line should be minimum for the feeders. The UP Power Corporation Limited has directed officials concerned to identify at least two such feeders in their respective areas. Energy Minister Srikant Sharma has initiated this facility in Ghaziabad and Bulandshahr districts of western UP. The provision will soon be extended to other parts of the state. Gangster Act against Prajapati likely There seems to be no end to troubles faced by controversial former SP minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati. In a fresh move, the UP Police have initiated efforts to slap Gangster Act against the SP leader. According to Lucknow DIG Praveen Tripathi, steps are being taken to slap Gangster Act against the former minister as there are four criminal cases, including rape, registered against him. The cops, who have been preparing a list of major land mafias in the state, will also include the name of Prajapati to the list as his name figures in a land grabbing case in Raebareli. Sources in the police department said a list of illegal properties owned by the SP leader in Amethi has been prepared and these will be seized soon. Besides, cops who have been helping Prajapati and supporting his illegal deeds will also face action. Muslim Kar Sevaks do darshan of Ram Lalla A handful of Muslim Kar Sevaks did a darshan of Ram Lalla at the disputed Ramjanmabhoomi site of Ayodhya on Wednesday. After the formation of the BJP government in the state, this is the second time a Muslim delegation visited to disputed site. They had paid a visit to the site on on April 20, bringing along with them a truckload of bricks for the construction of Ram temple there. The Muslim delegation, led by Azam Khan, president of Sri Ram Mandir Nirman Muslim Kar Sevak Manch, also visited mausoleum of Mahant Ramchandra Paramhans Das, who was a prominent mahant of Ayodhya and a vocal supporter of the temple movement, on Wednesday. Khan said after the visit that the construction of temple at the disputed site was a matter of faith for 125 crore people of the country and added that this would also lead to the development of the sacred city of Ayodhya. Akhilesh Yadav dares BJP Former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has demanded a judicial probe into the recent attack on Saharanpur police chief Love Kumars house and dared Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take action against the BJP workers accused in the case. The former CM said the BJP workers attacked Kumar's house and forced his wife and children to take shelter in a cow shed. The attack was well planned and conspirator of the incident was the BJP MP from that region, he added. Akhilesh said the BJP workers were engaging in such unlawful activities in the western UP to further polarise votes. The BJP workers had also clashed with people who took out a procession, carrying the portrait of B.R.Ambedkar after the attack on the house of the police chief. Israel's Patriot anti-aircraft missile system shot down an aerial target over the Golan Heights on Thursday, the Israeli military said. Israeli media said residents in the northern Israeli town of Safed reported seeing two missiles being launched and of explosions occurring afterwards. It was initially unclear whether the target, which media said was an unmanned drone, was shot down over Syria or Israeli-controlled territory. The incident occurred hours after Syria accused Israel of striking a Lebanese Hezbollah guerrilla arms hub near Damascus airport, where supplies of weapons from Iran are sent regularly by air, a regional intelligence source said. Located in northern France close to the Belgian border, Lille is a typically laid-back French city. It hosts Europes biggest flea market, and the citys signature dish, tender beef slow-cooked in beer, is famous across the old continent. But on March 26, Lilles biggest attraction was Marine Le Pen, leader of the French far right party National Front, and its presidential candidate. Since early morning, convoys of vehicles full of riot police were seen everywhere; policemen on horseback were patrolling the streets leading to Zenith Arena, the 5,000-seat indoor stadium, where Le Pen was scheduled to address a campaign event. Inside, the atmosphere was electric. Supporters were waiting for Le Pen, waving flags, singing songs and shouting slogans. The stadium glittered with the red and blue blinking badges worn by them. Precisely at 3pm, Le Pen walked in and the frenzy was on a crescendo. Europes strength lies in its diversity, while that of France lies in its unity. Marine is our last hope to preserve both, before the Euromaniacs destroy everything, said Vincente Lievremont, a 36-year-old plumber, as Le Pen took a break from her speech. I have not been to church in the last 20 years. There are millions like me. But that doesnt mean our churches could be replaced by mosques. The soul of France is Christian. Let it remain so, he said. It is a refrain that is heard across Europe these days. This was one of the points stressed repeatedly by Le Pen in her speech. Grit and grace: A scene from Champs-Elysees, Paris. It was on this historic avenue that a terrorist attacked and killed a policeman on April 20, 2017. Her efforts to appeal to the insecurities of the French seem to have succeeded, at least in the first round of the French presidential elections. The elections held on April 23 saw the decimation of the traditional power centres of French politics. The Republicans and the Socialists, the two establishment parties, were eliminated in the first round. Le Pen, who finished second with 21.3 per cent votes, and Emmanuel Macron, a first-time candidate and political independent who topped the polls with 24 per cent votes, will now face each other in a runoff on May 7. Both traditional parties have already announced their support for Macron, and opinion polls say he has a comfortable 20 percentage lead over Le Pen. Yet, by polling an impressive 76,79,493 votes in the first round, Le Pen symbolised Europes growing fascination with far right populism. Political scientists believe that France, along with the rest of Europe, is witnessing a churn. The bourgeois right in Europe has lost its credibility, said Werner J. Patzelt, an expert on right-wing politics at Technical University, Dresden, Germany. So, for a traditional right wing voter, the far right seems to be the only option. Le Pens adviser Ludovic de Danne compared the rise of the far right in Europe with the BJPs return to power in 2014 under Narendra Modi. Modis victory was probably the moment when the world started shifting back to patriotic values. Then came Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. We are heading towards a more patriotic world, he said. In Hungary and Poland, far right groups are already in power. Austria nearly elected a far right president last December. In Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark and Sweden, their rise has been unmistakeable. A combination of social, political and economic reasons seems to be aiding the tilt to the right. In Budapest, we met Andriska Pal, a young businessman in his early thirties. A supporter of the ruling Fidez party, Pal said Europe went overboard with left liberal ideology, and the rise of the right was a reaction to that. Everything once considered to be taboo became normal. Abortion, gay marriage and what not? What is happening today is the fightback by the right. Such sentiments are not completely absent even in more liberal societies, such as Germany. On a rainy morning in Berlin, Jorg Meuthen, co-head of the German far right party Alternative for Deutschland, spoke to us over a cup of tea, growing increasingly agitated as he explained how German Chancellor Angela Merkel had moved to the left. Her positions changed so much over the years. She is no longer the conservative chancellor we elected. It is absurd. We want our country back. Strategic choice: Emeric Christiansen, strategic planning manager at Philip Morris in Paris, with his wife, Alix, and daughter Margaret. Emeric and Alix are voting for Macron to keep Le Pen out. What has, however, acted as an immediate trigger for the rising tide of far right sentiments in Europe is the refugee crisis that struck Europe in 2014. Germany alone received more than a million migrants as Merkel chose to open the borders for those fleeing war-ravaged countries in the Middle East and South Asia. While most Europeans remained largely gracious hosts, the sudden appearance of such a large number of foreigners, who looked different, spoke a different language and belonged to an alien civilisation, was a major cultural shock. Peter Saller (name changed), who works for an international organisation in Vienna, said drug peddling and gang wars had become more frequent in Austria. Sometimes, the Chechens and the Afghans fight each other. Or it could be the Turkish and Syrian gangs. Since they come from war zones, their threshold for violence is really low, said Saller. He said the criminal justice system in Europe was incapable of deterring the criminals among the refugees. Have you seen our jails? For these refugees, European prisons are like free hotels, he said. The right wing seems to be winning the cultural argument, too. Most Germans and Austrians are reserved by nature and they frown upon the boisterous refugees. Honestly, it is annoying. Perhaps, we are not used to it, said Stephanie Meyer, a fitness trainer in Berlin, who is no relation of the vampire novelist. They shout on the subway, dump waste in the backyard and treat women like servants. These strangers are unwilling to adapt to our way of life. We are witnessing a soft invasion, she said. Shining bright: Le Pen with her supporters after a campaign event in Lille. The culture question can crop up in the most unexpected places. Kerry McGregor, a kindergarten teacher in Vienna, spoke about how immigrant boys in her class refused to pick up waste that they dropped. At home, these kids are taught that cleaning up is not their job. Moreover, most of these children dont speak German, adding to the confusion. And, some parents even ask their children not to make friends with their Christian classmates, said McGregor. Matters became worse with a series of group sexual assaults allegedly perpetrated by migrants during the New Year celebrations of 2015/16 in several German cities, especially Cologne. Saller said women in Austria used to go out whenever they wanted and dress as they pleased. But, not anymore, he said. The Austrians were shocked when a 20-year-old refugee from Iraq raped a 10-year-old Austrian boy in a swimming pool in Vienna in December 2015. And, they exploded in rage after the Supreme Court overturned the guilty verdict against the perpetrator accepting the defence lawyers claim that his client thought it was a consensual act. Mainstream politicians completely mismanaged the situation. Instead of sensitising the people about the refugees, they started preaching. When people complained, they asked them to think about the war-ravaged Middle East. It alienated even the centrists, who moved to the right, said McGregor. It was one of the reasons why Austria nearly elected a right wing candidate as president last year. A series of terrorist attacks further added to the anti-refugee sentiment. France, Belgium and Germany witnessed major terrorist attacks, which alienated even liberals who were largely sympathetic to the migrants cause. In France, terrorist attacks have become routine with the latest one happening just three days before the elections. Le Pen demanded the closure of all Islamist mosques following the attacks. The shift to the right is nearly complete in Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who started his political career as a pro-western democrat opposed to the Soviet rule, runs the country like a one-party state. He now seems fascinated about illiberal democracy, a favourite theme of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the dock: The European Parliament complex in Brussels. Critics hold the EU responsible for the economic woes of Europe. As Merkel threw open the borders for refugees, it was Orban who turned the debate on its head, calling her action moral imperialism and putting up border walls to stop the flow of people. Orban framed the debate as liberalism versus nationalism, said Balazs Trencseny, professor of nationalism studies at Central European University, Budapest. Orban is telling the rest of Europe that, if not for him taking the risk and stopping the refugees, the entire Europe would be in peril. Since March, refugees entering Hungary are detained in shipping containers till their antecedents are verified. And, in most European states, the debate now is about curtailing the flow of refugees, not about letting more people in. Orban has also managed to paint the European Union as a neo-imperial power, whose sole aim is to promote globalisation. In his view, the growing economic woes of Europe are caused largely by globalisation, which benefits only the rich multinational corporations, and the EU frames regulations to ensure that this oligarchy is perpetuated. According to him, it is not the business of the EU regulators to tell a farmer about the size of the tomato that he could grow or the type of cheese he could produce. Such an argument resonates well with voters, who fear the EU is taking away their basic freedoms and choices. The supranational authority of the EU accentuates the democracy deficit experienced by ordinary Europeans, making it easy for the far right leaders to paint it as the reason behind all their problems, said Hartmut Elsenhans, emeritus professor of international relations at the University of Leipzig, Germany. Orban has reaped rich political dividends with this approach, making him the poster boy of right wing groups across Europe. Kerry McGregor, kindergarten teacher in Vienna Le Pens strategy seems to be straight out of Orbans playbook. In France, cities as well as villages, which were once immune to the charms of the far right, are now increasingly rooting for Le Pen. Roubaix, a city in northern France, was a citadel of the French communists for several years. The textile mills of the city, which gave Roubaix the nickname the city of a thousand chimneys, used to be the engine of French industrial growth. Yet, the collapse of the once thriving textile industry and the immigration of job seekers from Africa and east Europe have changed the economic and political profile of the city. More than half of its residents today are below the poverty threshold. The mills are all gone and some of them are converted into shopping malls that sell cheap Chinese goods. We have repeatedly voted for the socialists. Some of us were communist supporters. But look at us today, the jobs are gone and outsiders keep coming in, said Laurent Peltier, a security guard, who recently lost his job. I was replaced by a young Pole. This common border craziness is killing us. I hope Le Pen would change this, he said. Speaking at the campaign event in Lille, Le Pen seemed to be targeting such disgruntled voters. The time has come to defeat the EU and the globalists. The EU will die because people do not want it anymore. Globalisation and multiculturalism, too, will go with it, she said. Till a few years ago, such a speech would have been rejected as demagoguery and would have appealed only to the undereducated fringe. But today, the elites, too, listen and approve. Andriska Pal, businessman in Budapest While the far right leaders claim Modi as one of their own, the ascent of the right wing may not exactly be good news for India. The rise of the far right is hurting Indian immigrants in Europe, too. At Wilsdruff, a leafy suburb of Dresden, we met two Indian techiesone from Telangana and the other from Maharashtrawho seemed worried about the far right. The far right PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West), which was founded in Dresden, continues to hold rallies against immigrants. We are afraid that they judge us by our skin colour, not our educational qualifications or jobs. It is not an easy situation for us, they said. The foundation of the far rights economic principles lies in protectionismof domestic jobs, investments and technology. India is likely to suffer badly if Europe adopts such a policy. It could seriously hurt Indias attempts to reshape the global trading order into a multilateral system, said Joshy M. Paul, who teaches international politics at Christ University, Bengaluru. This view was supported by Raju K.D., an expert in trade law and intellectual property rights at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He said the EU was Indias second largest trading bloc and nearly 17 per cent of Indian exports went to the EU. Any impediment to this flow of goods will hurt our interests, he said. Veteran diplomat T.P. Sreenivasan, was, however, not so pessimistic. He said a right wing ascendancy in Europe was unlikely to affect Indias diplomatic relations with those countries. Whether the regimes in Europe are liberal or restrictive, it will have no impact on our ties with those countries. In the past, we had excellent ties with capitalist and communist regimes in Europe, he said. He, however, warned that we should closely monitor the fortunes of Europe if the far right came to power. If Europe prospers under them, it will be good for us. But if it plunges into a crisis, it will hurt India as well, said Sreenivasan. Hartmut Elsenhans, professor, University of Leipzig Meuthen was confident that the AfDs policy will ensure prosperity in Europe, create more jobs and curb unemployment. As he said, the far right parties are today run by professionals, who are trusted by the public. Le Pen is a lawyer. Meuthen and Frauke Petry, co-leaders of the AfD, have doctorates. Unlike in the past, right wing leaders are now seen as honourable members of society, said Carsten Koschmieder, an expert on populist politics at the Free University of Berlin. They are now invited to television debates; their profiles are featured in magazines. For the average voter, these parties are now like any other political party. Voting for them is no longer taboo, he said. So, the National Front polls consistently around a quarter of the votes in France and the AfD hovers around the 10 per cent mark in Germany. Similarly, the profile of the party sympathisers and members is changing. The National Front, for instance, is no longer a party of boorish old male chauvinists, homophobes, anti-Semites and skinheads. Two years ago, Le Pen kicked out her 89-year-old father, Jean Marie Le Pen, the founder of the party who had contested the runoff round in the 2002 presidential elections, for his inflammatory remarks about the Holocaust and for defending a wartime leader who had collaborated with the Nazis. She, in fact, does not even use the Le Pen surname, calling herself just Marine. Florian Philippot, the strategic adviser of her presidential campaign, is gay. On April 24, a day after she progressed to the final round, Le Pen announced that she was stepping down as president of the National Front, in a tactical move to widen her appeal among the moderates. Yet, when needed, she can be as feisty as her father. Last year, when the French police raided the National Front headquarters to investigate charges about Le Pen misusing EU funds to pay her party workers, she started filming the raid with her mobile phone. After repeated warning to stop the recording, the officers tried to confiscate the phone. Le Pen put the phone in her bra, and dared the police to come and get it. The young voters, on the other hand, are impressed by her discipline and professionalism. The far right works on the political mobilisation of the young population, focusing on creating a new language of emotions, said Andrea Peto, professor of gender studies at CEU, Budapest. They are reenchanting the disillusioned youth, offering them compelling emotional and material reasons to join them. So, the far right parties are now careful about using anti-Semitic and homophobic rhetoric and, in fact, take swift action against party members who commit such crimes. Peto, however, said the far right was using such issues not because they had a complete change of agenda, but because they replaced attacks on Jews with attacks on migrants and refugees, who came from patriarchal and homophobic societies. A trip across Europe will convey a sense that the continent is ripe for a right wing takeover. If it does happen, Europe as we see today is unlikely to exist for long. Le Pen has made it clear that she will push for a French exit from the EU, a return of the franc and a more isolationist Europe. The EU might recover from Brexit, but its foundations do not seem so robust to survive a subsequent Frexit. United we stand: Juge Wimmer runs a cafe in the town of Simbach am Inn in Germany along with her son, Carl. She says Europe has suffered enough because of the far right and will never again support it. Yet, the global far right project, which peaked with the election of Donald Trump, is facing a major pushback from all corners. The underwhelming performance of the maverick far right leader Geert Wilders, who was dubbed the European Trump, in the Dutch parliament elections held on March 13, is a case in point. The elections to the German state of Saarland, a bellwether of the German political mood, was another major disappointment for the far right parties. A week before the elections, Meuthen had told us that Saarland would offer a clue towards the far rights future. After an impressive run of five elections in 2016, including a second place finish ahead of the CDU in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state elections, the AfD scored its lowest election result in over a year in Saarland. The performance of the Trump administration has also been a major letdown. The chaos and confusion that continue to mark the US administration are hurting us. The educated middle class does not like what they see and they are rethinking their support to us, said a far right leader. Le Pen is not going to win, said Emeric Christiansen, who works as strategic planning manager at Philip Morris in Paris. Christiansen and his wife, Alix, are conservative voters, but this time they are voting strategically to keep Le Pen out. We will vote for Macron, although we are not very sure what his policies are, said Alix. The couple said their friends, too, were likely to vote like them. The far rights inability to attract such voters, especially the middle and upper middle class in the cities, could prove to be a major handicap. The resistance seems building up in the countryside as well. At Simbach am Inn, a German town on the border with Austria, lying next to Adolf Hitlers birthplace, we met Juge Wimmer, who ran possibly the towns best cafe, along with her son Carl. When we told her that we had come to look at the rise of the far right in Europe, the 82-year-olds first reaction was that they stood no chance. Le Pen is crazy. So is Petry, Strache, Wilders and the rest of the gang, she said. She then introduced us to her regular patrons, offered us the towns best ale, and explained to us why she and her friends hated the far right. It is an ideology that thrives on hate, an ideology of the past, she said, moving on to an antique piano, which occupied pride of place in the cafe. As she started playing Beethovens Fur Elise, the elderly couples in the cafe started swaying gently to the immortal tune. What the world needs is love, not hate, said Wimmer. Several decades ago, we voted for hatred and paid the price. Europe will not repeat the mistake. Indore, Apr 28 (IBNS): ICICI Bank inaugurated a new branch recently at Sanwer road in Indore, an official release stated. This is the 24th branch of the bank in Indore. The branch also houses an ATM at its premises, which is available 24X7. Om Prakash Dhoot, President, Association of Industries of Madhya Pradesh, inaugurated the branch. The branch will remain open from 9:30 am to 4.30 pm on Monday to Friday as well as on the first, third and fifth Saturday of the month. It will offer a comprehensive range of accounts, deposits and loans including savings and current accounts, term deposits, auto, home, gold, personal and business loans along with credit cards. The branch also offers forex services, locker facility and services for NRIs. Washington, Apr 28 (IBNS): Since the earliest days of our solar systemas history, asteroid impacts have shaped the planets and contributed to their evolution. New research funded by NASA shows that Mars experienced ten times fewer giant impacts than some previous estimates. The ancient surfaces of Mars, like those on the moon and Mercury, are covered with the scars of asteroid impacts. The largest and most ancient giant impact basin on Mars, called Borealis, is nearly 6,000 miles wide and encompasses most of the northern hemisphere of the Red Planet. A smaller giant basin called Hellas is 1,200 miles wide and five miles deep, read the NASA website. Scientists Bill Bottke from the Southwest Research Institute, or SwRI, and Jeff Andrews-Hanna from the University of Arizona have been investigating the early bombardment history of Mars and the timing of giant impacts. While past theories have suggested other reasons, the new findings indicate that the Borealis basin carved out the northern lowlands 4.5 billion years ago, followed by a lull of 400 million years during which no giant impacts occurred, culminating in a shower of impacts between 4.1 and 3.8 billion years ago during which four giant basins and countless smaller craters formed. For a recently published paper in Nature Geoscience about the topic, Bottke and Andrews-Hanna collected data and ran models to support their findings that the rim of Borealis was excavated by only one later giant basin, called Isidis. This sets strong statistical limits on the number of giant basins that could have formed on Mars after Borealis, said Bottke, principal investigator of the Institute for the Science of Exploring Targets, or ISET, team with NASAs Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute or SSERVI. The number and timing of such giant impacts on early Mars has been debated, with estimates ranging from four to 30 giant basins formed in the time since Borealis. Our work shows that the lower values are more likely. To fully understand the implications of this bombardment, the study also needed to constrain the timing of the impacts responsible for other giant basins, and compare their preservation state. The preservation state of the four youngest giant basins on Mars - Hellas, Isidis, Argyre, and the now-buried Utopia basins - are strikingly similar to the larger and older Borealis basin. The similar preservation of both Borealis and these younger basins indicates that any basins formed during this time interval should be similarly preserved. Previous studies used superposed smaller craters, resulting from the occurrence of impacts close enough together over time for newer craters to form atop older ones, to estimate that the ages of Hellas, Isidis, and Argyre were 3.8-4.1 billion years old. The ages of minerals found within Mars rocks that were blasted off the surface by impacts and came to Earth in the form of meteorites reveal the age of Borealis to be about 4.5 billion years old nearly as old as Mars itself. The timing of these impacts requires two separate populations of objects striking Mars one population that was part of the formation of the inner planets that died off early, and a second population striking the surface at a later time, said Bottke. We refer to the lull as the doldrums, which was then followed by a period of more intense bombardment commonly known as the Late Heavy Bombardment, said Andrews-Hanna. Bottke and Andrews-Hanna speculate that without giant impacts, release of gas from volcanoes may have built up a thicker atmosphere at this time, and the more stable surface conditions may have even been more hospitable to life. Although much remains unknown about the earliest history of Mars, the results of the new study open a window into Mars tumultuous past. The ISET is a research team managed by SSERVI. Located at NASAs Ames Research Center in Californias Silicon Valley, SSERVI is funded by the agencys Science Mission Directorate and Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, and manages national and international collaborative partnerships, designed to push the boundaries of science and exploration. Image Credits: University of Arizona/LPL/Southwest Research Institute North Korea test-fired a mid-range ballistic missile from the western part of its country Saturday, but the launch apparently failed, South Korea and the United States said Saturday. The test will be condemned by outsiders as yet another step in the Norths push for a nuclear-tipped missile that can strike the U.S. mainland. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the North fired the unidentified missile from around Pukchang, which is near the capital Pyongyang, but provided no other details. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said the missile was likely a medium-range KN-17 ballistic missile. It broke up a couple minutes after the launch and the pieces fell into the Sea of Japan. A South Korean military official also said without elaborating that the launch was believed to be a failure. He didnt want to be named, citing office rules. The official couldnt immediately confirm how far the missile flew or whether it had exploded shortly after launch. North Korea routinely test-fires a variety of ballistic missiles, despite United Nations prohibitions, as part of its weapons development. While shorter-range missiles are somewhat routine, there is strong outside worry about each longer-range North Korean ballistic test. Saturdays launch comes at a point of particularly high tension. U.S. President Donald Trump took an initial hard line with Pyongyang and sent a U.S. aircraft supercarrier to Korean waters. His diplomats are now taking a softer tone. On Friday, the United States and China offered starkly different strategies for addressing North Koreas escalating nuclear threat as Trumps top diplomat demanded full enforcement of economic sanctions on Pyongyang and urged new penalties. Stepping back from suggestions of U. S. military action, he even offered aid to North Korea if it ends its nuclear weapons program. The range of Secretary of State Rex Tillersons suggestions, which over a span of 24 hours also included restarting negotiations, reflected Americas failure to halt North Koreas nuclear advances despite decades of U.S.-led sanctions, military threats and stop-and-go rounds of diplomatic engagement. As the North approaches the capability to hit the U.S. mainland with a nuclear-tipped missile, the Trump administration feels it is running out of time. (AP) Today the New York City Police Department began the rollout of its police officer body-worn camera (BWC) pilot program in the 34 Precinct, covering the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. The Vievu cameras will initially be worn by each of the approximately 50 officers on patrol assigned to the 4 P.M. to midnight shift. The rollout will continue to additional precincts through the end of 2017, with a total of 5,000 cameras deployed through 2018, and approximately 22,000 by the end of 2019. The NYPD body-worn camera program is the culmination of exhaustive research that began in 2014 with a best-practices visit to the Los Angeles Police Department and review of roughly 50 other law enforcement agencies programs. Since then, the NYPD has sought the input of more than 30 key stakeholders and advocates, including: NYCs respective District Attorneys, New York City Council, Public Advocate, New York Civil Liberties Union, Civilian Complaint Review Board, Citizens Crime Commission, Police Executive Research Forum. The general public and members of the NYPD also answered 30,000 questionnaires about BWC, collectively. Feedback gained from this outreach is reflected in multiple aspects of the updated procedure guiding the BWC program, including: Location on the officers uniform where body-worn cameras should be worn Circumstances in which officers to give notice to individuals being recorded Retention period for untagged footage being (1) year Creation of a dedicated email address for FOIL requests related to BWC footage The NYPD has developed a policy that requires police officers to engage their BWC during the following circumstances: All uses of force All arrests and summonses All interactions with people suspected of criminality All searches of persons and property Any officer response to a crime in progress All interactions with emotionally disturbed people The NYPD has worked incredibly hard to build meaningful relationships between New York Citys communities and the officers who protect them, said Police Commissioner James P. ONeill. Not only will body-worn cameras enhance transparency and accountability, they will improve the trust that continues to grow between New Yorkers and the police. The NYPDs innovative neighborhood policing strategy has strengthened the relationship between police and communities. And as trust has grown, crime has declined, said Mayor de Blasio. Today is a historic day, as we deploy the first full tour of New York City police officers ever to formally wear body worn cameras. These cameras will guide a new day of policing in New York City that will further bolster the atmosphere of transparency and accountability that has grown in recent years, helping us continue to keep New York City the safest big city in the country. (YWN Headquarters NYC) New Delhi, Apr 28 (IBNS): President of the Republic of Cyprus, Anastasiades paid floral tributes at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi, at Rajghat, in Delhi on Friday. He was accompanied by the centre's Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel. President Nicos Anastasiades arrived in India on a State visit on April 25 at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee. This is the first visit of the President Anastasiades to India. Earlier on Friday, he was given a ceremonial guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan. His other engagements on Friday include a meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee, who will host a banquet in the honour of President Anastasiades. President Nicos Anastasiades will also hold a delegation-level with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His schedule also includes a meeting with Vice President Hamid Ansari and the External Affairs Minister. President Anastasiades will leave Delhi on Saturday. Images: PIB The Tourism Ministry is working with airlines in Russia to incentivize them to open new routes into Israel, using grants and marketing assistance, while at the same time working with tour operators and wholesalers. Most of the large and medium-size tour operators in Russia are already offering vacation packages to Israel. The Tourism Ministry in Russia recently launched the Two Cities One Break campaign, designed to encourage incoming tourism to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in particular. Half of the campaigns 3 million euro budget has been allocated to advertising on TV, radio, billboards and print media, with the other half to online marketing. The marketing program is concentrated on Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Samara. The Tourism Ministry Director-General Amir Halevi held a series of meetings about a month ago at the MITT tourism trade fair in Moscow with airline companies and tour operators, presenting the ministry incentive programs alongside the business potential of Israeli tourism. In addition to this weeks inaugural flight, Ural Airlines, Russias second largest airline, recently began operating a twice-weekly route between Sochi and Tel Aviv and this summer will also operate flights to Tel Aviv from Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg and Samara. In the last two years, in the shadow of the economic crisis in Russia and the geo-political crises in the Middle East, the Tourism Ministry in Russia and the CIS has successfully marketed Israel with campaigns costing millions of shekels. The office was recently awarded a prize for being the most active tourism office in Russia by the Russian Tour Operators Association and the head of the ministrys office in Moscow, Ksenia Kobyakov, was invited to give a presentation to government leaders in Moscow and the surrounding region about the success of positioning Eilat as a winter tourism destination for Russian visitors. Despite these crises, the numbers of incoming tourists from Russia has actually increased by 35% in the first quarter of 2017 on the same period in 2016. The hotels in Tel Aviv are also reporting tens of percent increase in overnight stays by Russian tourists compared to the same period last year. Thanks to the incentive of 45 euro per passenger flying into Eilat given to Ural Airlines by the Tourism Ministry, the company is operating three weekly flights into the resort this winter season through to May 28: two from Moscow and one from St. Petersburg. In the first quarter 2017, there was an increase of 130% in the number of Russian tourists staying in Eilat. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) According to a report appearing in dati leumi BaSheva weekly last week, IDF Chief Rabbi Eyal Karim and his predecessor Rabbi Rafi Peretz were both partners in the formulation of the plan to integrate combat units to permit women and men to serve side-by-side. The new plan has led to widespread condemnation among the overwhelming number of rabbonim including the dati leumi community. A number of prominent poskim in the dati leumi community have already announced religious soldiers may not serve in or command such units, even if they are compelled to resign their command and lose the source of their parnasa. In response, Rabbi Karim instructed a member of his staff to pen a letter, which was sent to military rabbis clarifying his position. The work of the IDF staff in relation to the Joint Service Ordinance began a few years ago (in the period of the previous chief of staff), and we are well aware of the claims that civilian elements with different trends influenced the formulation of the order, in which from our perspective, the military rabbinate had been integrated a few years ago. It is highlighted that prior to assuming his post as Chief Rabbi of the IDF, Rav Karim did comment on the plan but he was in no way involved in the formulation of the current plan, despite the fact many or most of his comments were accepted and incorporated into the plan. As is customary in such cases, there was a period in which a number of senior commanders signed off on the new regulation but Rabbi Karim insists his signature does not appear as BaSheva alleged. In conclusion, the letter states that as far as Rabbi Karim is concerned, a religious soldier/officer many not serve in such units. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) A driver who transports small children to daycare was questioned by Tel Aviv police on Wednesday, 30 Nissan, after forgetting a 4-year-old onboard. The driver told police Certainly I forgot him because he fell asleep. The childs mother, who lives in a community in the Gezer Council, is accustomed to receiving a notification from the kindergarten teacher regarding her son being picked up for the trip back home. She received such an alert last Friday, which happened to be accompanied by sharav heat-wave conditions. About 50 minutes after being notified her son is heading home, the mom phoned her mom to tell her that her son has yet to arrive. She told Channel 2 News I was nervous and immediately phoned the driver to ask where he is. According to mom, the driver said, I dropped him off at home, but this was not the case. The driver is quoted then saying, Most likely I forgot him because he fell asleep. A few minutes later the driver called back to tell mom your son is with me, with her adding he apologized. Mom adds her son was brought back home sweaty and somewhat incoherent. The mother later told authorities her son explained The driver saved me because he opened the door, after which she phoned the persons responsible for the transportation in the Gezer Council to inquire as to the details of the driver to file an official complaint with police. Mom adds a police patrol arrived at her home and she gave the details in her report. She learned the driver however beat her to it, filing a report before her, changing his story. He told police the mothers brother-in-law assaulted him. the brother-in-law was summoned for questioning by police and needless to say he and the mom are quite angry, explaining to the press this story could have ended in a cemetery and this driver is certainly not qualified to continue in his position. A manager of the bus company told Channel 2 News that they do everything possible to prevent such situations. The driver in question was briefed as are all drivers, instructed to conduct a sweep of the bus before parking. He told police he did not forget the child but was assaulted by a family member and required treatment in a hospital. He filed a complaint against the family member. It is further reported the driver was released to house arrest. The investigation continues. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) This past April 26th marked the 64th anniversary of the Israel Border Police. In the brief accompanying video, we learn there are 7,397 members of the force today, representing 24.5% of Israel Polices total manpower. There are 1,035 females on the force, including 745 in combat positions as well as 16 reserve duty companies and 7,550 volunteers. There are also 64 units which deal with crime and combating terror exclusively. Border police are divided into seven district, covering all of Israel. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Officials in Ramallah have officially informed the IDF Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) that it will no longer pay for electricity used by residents of Gaza. The announcement comes amid a growing power struggle dispute between Abu Mazen and the Hamas-controlled Gaza regime. Israel Electric Company supplies about 30% of Gazas electricity, costing about NIS 40 million monthly. The amount is deducted from tax revenue funds which Israel transfers to the PA (Palestinian Authority). In Gaza, officials retorted they will not be intimidated by Fatah officials in Ramallah, insisting they will not buckle under pressure. Tensions are mounting between the rival Fatah and Hamas factions, with each seeking ways to undermine and harm the other. The announcement from PA Chairmen Abu Mazen concerning electricity is just the latest PA move in the ongoing fight between Ramallah and Gaza. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Kolkata, Apr 28 (IBNS) : Amid the continuing political acrimony between the BJP and Trinamool Congress, the Enforcement Directorate on Friday registered a money laundering case in the Narada sting operation that involves several top notch leaders of the West Bengal's ruling party, reports said. ED's action comes after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) last week filed an FIR against 13 people, including senior TMC leaders who were purportedly seen taking money in the Narada sting footage. Twelve Trinamool Congress leaders, including Mukul Roy and Madan Mitra, have been booked by the CBI in the sensational sting operation. The tapes were broadcast on a portal Naradanews.com before the last Assembly elections and generated much heat prompting the BJP and other opposition parties to go for a full offensive against the Trinamool Congress and its supremo Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee, however, has described it fake and a "hideous" manoeuvre by the BJP. The ED move coincided the start of a fresh battle between the two parties as Mamata Banerjee on Thursday, "accepted the BJP challenge," saying she would go for capturing Delhi if the party in power at the Centre tried to dislodge her party in West Bengal. Her war cry came during BJP President Amit Shah's visit to the state and his campaign to push BJP as an alternative to the TMC. On the Narada sting issue, Shah, however, rejected on Wednesday TMC's charge that a conspiracy was hatched to frame its party leaders in corruption cases. Barclays has reported its first quarter profits have more than doubled compared with the same period last year. The lender said pre-tax profit reached 1.68billion in the three months to 31, up from 793million in the first quarter of 2016. However its bottom line has taken a big hit due to the bank having to write down the valuation of its Africa business. The bank wiped 884million from the book value of Barclays Africa Group due in large part to concern over how political instability and economic troubles in South Africa will affect that business. Barclays reported its first quarter profits more than doubled compared with the same period last year. The market has given the news a very cold reception, sending the bank's shares down over 4 per cent to 214pence in early trading. The bank also said it is now nearing completion of a major restructuring programme aimed at focusing the business on its core UK and US activities. Under chief executive Jes Staley, Barclays has been busy selling of various units, including the Africa operations, as it seeks to become a leaner, more profitable company. Staley said: 'This has been another quarter of strong progress towards the completion of the restructuring of Barclays. Group profit before tax more than doubled compared to Q1 of 2016, and our core businesses continued to perform very well.' Chief exec Jes Staley said the start of 2017 had been 'another quarter of strong progress.' He added: 'We are now just two months away from completing the restructuring of Barclays as a transatlantic consumer, corporate and investment bank, and there is further good reason in this quarter's performance to feel optimistic for our prospects.' Chief market analyst at Think Markets Naeem Aslam sees better times ahead for the bank. 'Barclays have smashed their revenue forecast by blowing all estimates. Barclays shares have not performed well so far this year, but if you look at the banks stock achievement since Brexit, then you cant deny how strong the performance has been.' 'The banks stock performance is much better among its peers such as Lloyds, UBS, Standard Charted and RBS over the last 10 month period. The bank wants to increase its European equities trading business and it is determined to expand its labour force in this sector,' he added. Pie king: Greggs Chairman Ian Durant has been offered the role at DFS MUSICAL CHAIRS Ian Durant, chairman of Greggs and Capital & Counties Properties, has been appointed to the same role at DFS, replacing Richard Baker, who announced his departure in December after nearly seven years at the furniture firm. MONEY MAN Business broadband provider Toople has signed up former TalkTalk Business finance director Geoffrey Wilson as its part-time chief financial officer. Wilson will hold the role until a permanent replacement is hired. PIZZA POST Newsagent operator McColl's has appointed Pizza Hut chief executive Jens Hofma as an independent non-executive director. Hofma, 50, will join McColl's audit, remuneration, and nomination committees. DIAMOND BACK Shareholders have overwhelmingly backed a 15.5million takeover of City stockbroker Panmure Gordon by disgraced ex-Barclays boss Bob Diamond, with 99.9 per cent of votes cast supporting it. The stock fell 0.6 per cent, or 0.56p, to 98p. DRIVEN HIGHER Car insurer Hastings has raised premiums following a legal change that forces it to give seriously injured crash victims more compensation. Its revenues hit 164.5million in the first three months of 2017, up 24 per cent on a year earlier. Shares climbed 1.7 per cent, or 5p, to 302.3p. BANK LIFT Swiss bank UBS made a 1.3billion profit in the first quarter, up 72 per cent on a year earlier thanks to the improving global economy. DRINK UP Sales of Brockmans gin hit an all-time high last year, with revenue jumping nearly 90 per cent during 2016 to 5.4million. The Lancashire distiller entered 11 new markets, including South Korea, Indonesia, Peru and Finland. 6.5m DEAL Business funding company Renaissance Asset Finance has been bought by Arbuthnot Banking Group for up to 6.5million, depending on its future profits. Arbuthnot shares fell 0.8 per cent, or 12.5p, to 1550p. Aizwal, Apr 28 (IBNS): Peace talks between the Mizoram government and Hmar People's Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) commenced at Aizwal on Friday, according to media reports. This the fourth round of peace talks between the two sides. The Mizoram government delegation will be led by Additional secretary (Home), Lalbiakzama while the HPC (D) delegation will be headed by Working President, L T Hmar, according to media reports. One of the key demands of the HPC (D) is the creation of a separate autonomous district council in Hmar dominated North Mizoram adjoining Manipur, media reports said. Image: Gin G/AIRPics Twitter Almost 2billion was wiped off Barclays shares as chief executive Jes Staley fought to keep his job over a whistleblower scandal. Shares dropped more than 5 per cent as Staley desperately tried to draw a line under the crisis in which he had sought to uncover the identity of a staff member who criticised him. The share plunge came as investors became jittery over disappointing profits that overshadowed a promise to create 2,000 jobs. Staley did little to calm nerves when he refused to say if the bank had an emergency plan in place should he be ousted. Whistleblower: Barclays's American boss Jes Staley tried to uncover the identity of a staff member who criticised him The 60-year-old American was incensed when anonymous letters criticised his hiring of senior banker Tim Main, who had suffered health problems when they worked together at JP Morgan. He ordered his security team to find out where the notes were from in a search supported by a US law enforcement agency. This broke rules protecting anonymous tipsters triggering an investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority. Staley faced public questions over the scandal for the first time yesterday as Barclays unveiled its financial results for the first quarter of 2017. He said: 'What I can say right now is limited. As I've said, I made a mistake. I was trying to protect a vulnerable colleague but I should have left the organisation to handle it.' The furore has cast doubt on Staley's future at Barclays after a strong start since he took the reins around 18 months ago. It has prompted calls for his resignation from campaigners, disquiet from shareholders and gossip across the City. If Staley is forced out he would be the third Barclays boss in a row to leave under a cloud. His predecessor Antony Jenkins was sacked by chairman John McFarlane over Barclays' performance, and before that Bob Diamond quit in disgrace over the Libor rate-rigging scandal. The bank is braced for a stormy annual meeting next month, when Staley will face re-election to the board by investors. He is likely to win the vote but some investors are expected to rebel. Consultancy ISS, which advises on ballots, has recommended abstention to shareholders. Yesterday, Staley said he had unanimous support from his board and had not offered his resignation. However, he declined to comment when asked if he had a message for shareholders and whether there were contingency plans to replace him if the FCA forced him to stand down. The case is the regulator's most high-profile probe ever into a bank chief, and it is likely to face accusations of collusion unless it takes a harsh line. Barclays profits rose to 1.7billion in the first three months of 2017, more than double the amount a year earlier. This excluded a one-off 884million hit to the value of the lender's African business, which it is selling. Staley also announced the bank was creating 2,000 technology jobs as it seeks to boost its IT operation. Shares fell 5.2 per cent, or 11.7p, to 212.25p. Ultra-long interest-free deals on credit cards pose a risk to the economy by encouraging consumers to binge on debt, top bankers said yesterday. Royal Bank of Scotland boss Ross McEwan and TSB chief executive Paul Pester spoke out against the deals amid concern Britain is facing a borrowing time bomb. Credit-card debt is now rising at its fastest rate for 11 years and experts believe interest-free offers are part of the problem, persuading consumers to rack up debt without thinking about the consequences. Royal Bank of Scotland boss Ross McEwan (left) and TSB chief executive Paul Pester (right) spoke out against the deals amid concern Britain is facing a borrowing time bomb At present, Halifax and the AA both offer 30 months at zero interest. For balance transfers, where customers move their debt from one card to another, some firms offer a 43-month grace period. Mr McEwan warned it led customers to delay paying back debt, the FT reported. He said: Call me old fashioned, but I want customers to pay us back. He also warned many cards came with hidden fees, meaning spenders had no idea what the true costs were. Credit-card debt is now rising at its fastest rate for 11 years and experts believe interest-free offers are part of the problem Mr Pester said: There are parts of the market were worried about, particularly these long low-interest balance transfer cards. They cant be healthy how can customers know in three or four years time if theyre able to afford them? Shoppers put 562million on credit cards in February 20million a day. New Delhi, Apr 28 (IBNS): EPF members will now only be required to submit a self-declaration for the advance in case of illness of members/ dependents after amendments in the Employeesa Provident Fund Scheme, 1952, come into effect, announced the Union Ministry of Labour & Employment on Friday. Differently abled members will also get advance on the basis of self-declaration. A member will no longer be required to submit any medical certificate or any other certificate or document or proforma whatsoever to avail advances under paragraph 68-J or under paragraph 68-N of EPF Scheme 1952. Ministry of Labour & Employment has amended Paragraph 68-J and Paragraph 68-N of Employees Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 and It will come into force from the date of its publication in the official Gazette. According to it, a member would only be required to submit a self-declaration, which has already been included in the composite claim form, to avail advance under the EPF Scheme in case of illness of members/ dependent and also in case of differently abled members. This is in continuation of initiatives taken by EPFO as part of next phase of its e-governance reforms with a view to make the services of EPFO available to its stakeholder in an efficient and transparent manner, the concerned ministry said in a release. An administrative order was issued on Feb 20 this year in the matter of Introduction of Composite Claim Forms (Aadhar and Non-Aadhar ) to replace existing Claim Forms No. 19, 10C and 31 and Forms No. 19 (UAN), 10C(UAN) and 31 (UAN). EPFO has since implemented Universal Account Number (UAN) for its subscribers. It is now possible for subscribers, who have seeded their UAN with Aadhar Number and Bank account details, to submit claim forms directly to EPFO without the attestation of employers, the Ministry said in its release. MBABANE He continues to break records by putting Swazi music ahead of even his South African competitors. Sands has once again made a huge impact in South Africa after having the most listened to song Tigi in all SA radio stations. Radio Monitor SA last week revealed on their Twitter page that the local superstars Tigi single was the most heard song across all South African radio stations with a whopping 34 million impacts. Despite not making the much anticipated South African Music Awards nomination as expected by fellow Swazis, Sands is breaking records many of his counterparts can only dream of. Well done on having the most heard song on South African radio this week (last week) with over 34 million impacts, the radio monitor page posted on Sandss Twitter page. Sands welcomed this news with grace and excitement, thanking his South African supporters for the honour. The Tigi hit maker has been touring South Africa and headlining shows in the neighbouring country. He has been invited to make appearances on popular television shows due to the success of his single. His local fans were also ecstatic about this latest achievement, adding how much it compensated for the SAMA nomination that the Swazi artist did not get, with most fans suspecting that due to the fact that he is not South African he may have not had eligibility. This again was mere speculation by his local fans as the selection criteria have not been confirmed to be based on citizenship. Previously in 2014 Tlale Makhene who is a Swazi artist won a SAMA award and hopes are still alive that perhaps next year Sands will make the cut for the nominations. LOBAMBA The passing of the Sectional Titles (Amendment) Bill, 2014 has been thrown into further confusion following an assertion that it was unconstitutional. The assertion was made by senators during a meeting for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Portfolio Committee yesterday. The argument by the senators was that the amendment on the Sectional Titles Act, 2003 could not be made until the Tinkhundla Bill became effective. This, they argued, was because the Sectional Titles was part of the Urban Government Act, which they argued was not in line with the Constitution as it focused only on towns and not the rest of the country. It was Senator Chief Kusa Dlamini who raised the issue while making his comments on the amendments that were proposed by the ministry regarding the Sectional Titles Act. The chief mentioned that the Constitution of Swaziland talked of a single government that would regulate towns in the country. I am wondering if what we are doing can survive a court order where someone will take us to court and test if it can be challenged. This, I say, because the Constitution is clear that all citizens of this country should benefit whether they are in towns or in the communities, Dlamini said. He mentioned that according to the Constitution, it was procedural to start with the finalisation of the Tinkhundla Bill before making the amendments of the Sectional Titles Act. Section 218 of the Constitution states, Parliament shall within five years of the commencement of this Constitution provide for the establishment of a single countrywide system of local government which is based on the Tinkhundla system of governance, hierarchically organised according to the volume or complexity of service rendered and integrated so as to avoid the urban/rural dichotomy. MBABANE Due to her religious beliefs, a staunch Christian is reluctant to divorce her husband of 37 years who is allegedly in an open adulterous relationship with another woman. Florence Bethusile Dlamini, born Gama (63) and her husband Solomon Dlamini (66) contracted a civil rites marriage in 1979. They are both pensioners, having retired from the civil service. After their marriage was contracted, they established their matrimonial home at Ngcoseni. Florence alleged that her husband, who is a businessman, got involved with another woman, Delsile Mngometulu, and they have three children together who are aged 16, 13 and 11. Florence, who is a member of Cana Alliance Church, alleged that her husband informed her on April 16, 2017 that he had set this weekend (April 28-30) to traditionally wed Mngometulu. Florence rushed to court where she sought an order stopping the wedding party (umtsimba) which was scheduled to take place at Jabulane in the Shiselweni region. Yesterday, Judge Ticheme Dlamini issued an interim order restraining Solomon from proceeding with the wedding ceremony this weekend or anytime afterwards. Florence said she approached the court to protect her matrimonial property and to interdict Mngometulu from physically and verbally abusing her. She narrated that sometime during the subsistence of their marriage, her husband allegedly informed her that he impregnated Mngometulu and the child was already six years old, having been born in 2001. MBABANE Police are investigating the death of the 15-month-old toddler who died after ingesting weevil tablets. Nkosingizwile Madolo died while being ferried to hospital last Thursday after she ingested the deadly weevil tablet powder from a container inside her grandmothers house at Sitseni. Sitani Dlamini, the grandmother to the minor, said when the police arrived at Hhukwini Clinic where they had rushed Nkosingizwile to, they asked them why they had fed the child the deadly pill, making it seem like they had forced it down her throat. Superintendent Khulani Mamba, the Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, confirmed that they were investigating the death of the toddler. The case is being handled by officers from Lobamba Police Station as they were the ones who went to the clinic. They also took the container which contained the weevil tablets. We are investigating what really transpired on the day. We recorded statements from the family and they will help with the investigation. The postmortem results will also be used. Nobody has been charged yet, Mamba said. Sitani said on the Wednesday Zwile (the toddler), as she was called by her mother Bongiwe Dlamini, was not well as her body temperature was high and she was vomiting. They then called her father on the same day who told them that he would send money through Mobile Money so she could be sent to hospital. On Thursday morning, they woke up and did their normal chores and Zwile would sometimes cry. MANZINI The army has started cleaning up the mess that happened during the recruitment exercise concluded recently as about 40 recruits were shown the exit door from the USDF Infantry School in Mbuluzi yesterday. A well-placed source said the process of expelling the recruits who had failed to prove that they used the legal route to be recruited into the military, forced the whole training process to stop at around 11am. The source said this was after the arrival of a team of soldiers at the camp, who included top brass officers. He said soon after their arrival, all the recruits were called to the assembly square where about 40 of them were called out to gather separately. In the meantime, there was an empty USDF bus which was parked nearby with its engine running as if it was ready to take them home anytime. The source said they were then addressed by some of the military top brass officials before being ordered to join the others but were ordered not to leave. Thereafter, they were all instructed to go to their tents while the senior officers held a meeting in one of the conference rooms at Mbuluzi Army Barracks. At around 3pm, the about 40 recruits who had been earlier called separately, were handed over to officers from the Military Police Department, who accompanied them to their tents where they were given orders to strip the army uniform, wear civilian clothes and pack their belongings, the source said. Nonetheless, Lieutenant Colonel Madoda Mkhatshwa, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the army, confirmed the latest developments. He said this was an ongoing exercise since the training started. He said the exercise started as a response to complaints which were lodged by Constituency Headmen at the army headquarters. Mkhatshwa said after a complaint was lodged by the rightful person to the lawful structure, which in this case was the army headquarters, they looked into it and if it was found that there were elements of wrongdoing, the situation would then be corrected. The recruits were warned against such prior to joining the army. New Delhi, Apr 28 (IBNS): President Nicos Anastasiades of the Republic of Cyprus, who is on his first State visit to India at the invitation of President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday. Prime Minister Modi welcomed President Nicos Anastasiades at the joint press conference saying that the President of Cyprus is a great friend and strong supporter of India. PM Modi said that Cyprus and India have influenced each other through the millennia and India's founding father have supported the the freedom struggel of Cyprus, according to media reports. The Prime Minister said India firmly supports the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Cyprus. Prime Minister Modi also commended the Cyprus President for leadng a new era of peace, development, and security. Cyprus has successfully overcome its recent financial and banking challenges, the PM said. Cyprus recorded one of the highest growth in Euro zone, the PM added. Referring to their discussions, PM Modi said, "The President and I agreed that India offers excellent investment opportunities for Cypriot entrepreneurs." The PM pointed out that Cyprus and India enjoy close economic ties; Cyprus is the 8th largest investor in India. He also said, "Beautiful landscape of Cyprus and wide horizons of Incredible India can be sources of tourism promotion in both countries." PM Modi appreciated Cyprus's support for Indias claim for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council, media reports said, The PM said, " We agreed on the need for all countries to decisively act against states that support, shelter and sustan violence factories in our regions." Earlier in the day, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of four agreements after delegation talks and working luncheon. The four agreements are Executive Programme on Culture, Education and Scientific Cooperation for 2017-2020; Work Plan under programme of Cooperation in Agriculture for 2017-2018; Merchant Shipping Agreement; and Air Aviation Agreement. Images: MEAIndia Twitter Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Mark Hallum Transportation advocates and enthusiasts met in Penn Station last Friday to celebrate the centennial of the 7 train and the role it has played in the development of Queens. But there was an honest undertone of apprehension about the declining state of the overburdened vein through the Worlds Borough as overcrowding and deteriorating infrastructure take its toll. Officials from Access Queens, the Transit Museum, and advocate Joe Raskin, from Riders Alliance, led the crowd in a news conference showing off photos of the elevated tracks under construction around 1917 when Queens was nothing but agricultural fields. The train line was started at a time when overcrowding in Manhattan was at frightening levels. Tenements reigned supreme in Lower Manhattan, with immigrants pouring in everyday. Queens County was open ground. It had a very strong and positive impact on the growth of northeast and western Queens, Raskin said. Everything thats in Queens now is there because of the 7. Nothing was there The whole point was to allow for development beyond the downtown areas of the city. The population needed to grow from that because the congestion was just too great. Raskin explained that the Flushing-Main Street area was a little village and the concept of the subway stretching into the outer boroughs was to get transportation ahead of growth. It was very a much a weapon for economic, residential and commercial development, Raskin said, explaining that concept is still alive today in the sense that the 7 line was expanded to meet the demands of newly developed Hudson Yards in recent years. But according to members of Access Queens, there is a dark side: over-utilization of the tracks. Executive Director Melissa Orlando founded Access Queens as ridership increased to levels unseen in her lifetime. With Mayor Bill de Blasios proposal to develop Sunnyside Yards, she fears for the future of the line with the potential for more residents. A study commissioned by the New York City Economic Development Corporation in February said the 180-acre active railway yard would be built over with as many as 24,000 residential units. Thirty percent of them will be affordable housing, costing between $16 billion and $19 billion. Just two days before the celebration on the Penn Station platform, a complete breakdown of the 7 lines century-old signal system caused the entire line to seize up. But Orlando is hopeful that the new Communications-Based Train Control system being installed will run more trains closer together. There really needs to be a way to create more capacity, and the CBTC work that is going on will add in a little more capacity along the line, Orlando said. We also need to think about alternate bus routes and other modes of transportation that can take some of the pressure of the train, as well as central Queens as a destination for business so that we redirect some of the traffic so theres not always this rush to get into Manhattan. Joseph Anastasio volunteers with Access Queens. While considering the effect the shutdown of the L train will have on the 7, he came to the conclusion that the next-best bet for Brooklyn commuters to get across the river will be to transfer from the G to the 7. A lot of these people arent going to have a choice, Anastasio said. I was crunching some numbers the other night. If they pump up the number of G trains theyre thinking of increasing the volume of because they want to run more trains and longer trains that could mean several thousand more people per hour coming to the 7, E and the N, and I dont know. Is there enough room? The news conference was followed by a ride on the Transit Museum Train of Many Colors, a throwback to an earlier time in New York Citys past, featuring antique train cars used during different eras of history. Commuters waiting on the platform stood in surprise as the peculiar sight made its way through the station and got an unexpected ride into the East River tunnel and back to Queens. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams There are miracles after all, and one just happened in Queens. Without fanfare, the citys first Girl Scout troop in a homeless shelter opened last month in Long Island City, welcoming 22 eager members who are making new friendships, building self-esteem and learning to dream. Girl Scout Troop 6000 the designation indicates the homeless girls can still belong even if they move to another borough is unlike traditional troops, which are based in each county. The ground-breaking troop meets at the Sleep Inn Hotel shelter, where 100 families live with 155 children under the age of 18. The new scouts, ranging in age from 5 to 14, are earning badges, studying math and developing skills that will last a lifetime. Girl Scout traditions are being followed under the watchful eye of Giselle Burgess, 32, who started the troop after she and her five children moved into the shelter when their rented home in Flushing was sold. Burgess, an engagement specialist for the Girl Scouts of Greater New York, had help launching the troop with a colleague from Sunnyside and Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer. In November, Van Bramer, who had been homeless as a child and lived in a shelter for six weeks, teamed up with the Girl Scouts to serve Thanksgiving dinner to homeless women. The idea for the troop was born at a shelter that day, but it was uncharted territory and the very-willing Department of Homeless Services had to be enlisted in the cause. Troop 6000 is truly just about the most right thing Ive ever been a part of, and Im committed to its expansion all across the city, Van Bramer says. As the young Scouts begin to feel empowered, new horizons are opening for the women in the shelter. Several of their mothers are preparing to be scout leaders. Too often, people who live in shelters are dismissed as unworthy, unfit and a drain on the city because fellow New Yorkers often do not understand their struggles to lead a normal life. But Scout Troop 6000 is now setting a high bar for the entire city with the support of homeless czar Steven Banks, who plans to expand the Girl Scout partnership to shelters in the other boroughs. The City Council, which is on board, just issued a ceremonial proclamation that honored the girls and celebrated the founding of Troop 6000. The foresight of Burgess, Van Bramer and the Girl Scouts is particularly striking at a time when the number of students living in shelters jumped to 33,000 in the 2015-2016 school year from 29,000 the prior year. Their compassion, determination and swift action marked a new Miracle on the Hudson, but this one is on land in Queens. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Gina Martinez After a recent string of attacks against cab drivers, state Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Flushing) is calling for stricter penalties against the perpetrators. Kim stood with assaulted cab drivers and community organizers Monday morning at Flushing Town Hall, where he revealed his plans to introduce an amendment to the Taxi Driver Protection Act, stiffening punishments for anyone who attacks on-the-job taxi drivers. Kim said the increasing number of attacks by passengers on taxi and for-hire drivers has brought greater attention to the dangers of the job. By changing the Penal Law, Kims amended legislation would raise the penalty for assaulting a taxi driver from a misdemeanor to a felony. The legislation would also add for-hire driving to a list of protected occupations, which currently includes public transportation workers. According to Kim, a second provision of the bill would require adding signs in taxis and for-hire cars that inform passengers of the legal consequences of assaulting drivers. While this law already exists in New York City, Kims amendment would extend it to the rest of the state. These assaults against drivers are completely unacceptable, Kim said. They are everyday New Yorkers just trying to make a living, working hard to put food on the table for their families. Right now hitting a bus driver or public transportation worker is a felony, but punching a taxi driver is only a misdemeanor. I am introducing this bill to raise the penalty for assaulting for-hire drivers while they are working, because I believe it is my responsibility as a state lawmaker to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers. At the press conference were recent victims of assault who talked about their experiences. A large percentage of for-hire drivers in New York are South Asian, and 55 percent of cab drivers in New York City are from Queens. The accounts of the victims ordeals suggested race or religion may have been a factor in the violence. SM Uddin and Anwar Syed both spoke about their attacks and the common connection was that the passengers asked them where they were from before they were assaulted. Sayed said he was attacked with a flashlight and his turban was ripped off. I was respectful to them, Syed said. But they were not respectful to me. We are all equals, there is no difference between us. We should all respect each other. Kim said the rise in attacks is due to national intolerance. In light of some national anti-immigrant sentiment, and an expansion of companies like Uber and Lyft in New York, its a perfect formula for more crimes to occur against drivers, Kim said. Its no secret that theres a trend of attacks against Southeast Asians, Sikh, Bangladeshi and Pakistani drivers for the last few months. National anti-immigrant sentiment has fueled the hatred that has emboldened people to act violently when they should be resolving conflicts, one-on-one. This is problematic. One thing we can do as a state is to send a strong signal that its not acceptable, we will not stand idly and let people attack drivers. A representative from the South Asian American Voice supported the amended legislation and said it sends a strong message to the rest of the country. Every time someone is attacked, were all attacked, she said. Its not asking too much that the great state of New York add these provisions to support drivers. We already protect transit workers. All forms of transportation workers should be protected. This sends a message to the entire United States that New York City and state takes initiative, and sends a message to everyone, especially the Trump administration. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Larry Penner Over the past 12 months, there appears to have been an increase in service disruptions on the Long Island Rail Road. This was noted in the April 21 editorial Rail Quite A Gamble. A majority of these disruptions have been directly related to more frequent signal, switch, power and track problems at both the East River Tunnels and Penn Station. Amtrak controls Penn Station, with both the LIRR and New Jersey Transit as tenants. Some believe the solution to many of these problems is for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to take over control of Penn Station from Amtrak. In the early 1990s, the MTA and LIRR conducted the East River Tunnels Life Safety Study. This report documented the need for investing a minimum of $600 million dollars (over $1 billion in 2017 dollars) to bring the East River Tunnels back up to a state of good repair. All four tunnels, built between 1904 and 1909, outlived their useful life long ago. They have been in desperate need for major upgrades for decades. Since that study, through 5-Year Capital Plans, the MTA and LIRR, along with Amtrak, programmed insufficient funding to perform these tasks. As a result, over time there has been an increase in the frequency of major service disruptions due to storm and signal problems in the East River Tunnels. These problems periodically also occur between the Tunnel Portals and Harold Interlockings west of the Woodside Station. The MTA and LIRR also failed to develop a specific implementation plan with Amtrak, which actually owns the tunnels, to complete this badly needed work. Continued delays in all of this work also impacts future LIRR Eastside Access into Grand Central Terminal. Amtrak force account employees are heavily committed to a number of other high-priority projects on the Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston. In future years, the new Gateway Tunnel project between New Jersey and Penn Station may become one of, if not the highest priority. As a result, Amtrak may not always have sufficient employees to work on key State of Good Repair projects for Penn Station, East River and Hudson River Tunnels. MTA and LIRR force account employees are also heavily committed to a number of high-priority projects, including East Side Access to Grand Central Terminal. Dont forget installation of Positive Train Control (which is already several years behind schedule and increasing in cost), along with system-wide annual State of Good Repair projects and programs. If Governor Cuomo has his way, the Main Line Third Track between Floral Park and Hicksville will also become an equal priority to East Side Access. As a result, the LIRR would probably not be able to assume a significant amount of new work in both Penn Station and East River Tunnels. There is no room to run additional trains into or out of Penn Station during either a.m. or p.m. rush hours via the East River tunnels with connections to Long Island. Three of four tunnels running inbound during a.m. and outbound during p.m. rush hours have very tight spacing between trains. One tunnel is shared by the LIRR, NJ Transit and Amtrak for reverse train movements with equally tight spacing during rush hours. There is no platform capacity at Penn Station to accommodate any additional trains during rush hour. Penn Station is currently operating at 100 percent capacity during both a.m. and p.m. rush hours. If one of the four tunnels is temporarily out of service, the result is numerous delays and cancellation of trains. There are a number of other competing new services looking for non-existent rush hour Penn Station platform, track and East River tunnel capacity in coming years. Metro North wants to begin service, at a cost of $700 million, from the East Bronx via The Hell Gate Bridge and Harold Interlocking in Sunnyside Queens on to Penn Station some time between 2021 and 2023. The LIRR has invested $450 million to complete double tracking on the Ronkonkoma branch. Once Main Line Third Track is completed, at a cost of at least $2 billion, the LIRR has plans to expand Ronkonkoma branch rush hour service to Penn Station. Governor Cuomo also has plans to provide new, frequent, direct LIRR service on the Port Washington branch between Penn Station and Mets Willets Point station. This is to support his $450 million LaGuardia Air Train. Many Rockaway Queens residents want restoration of LIRR service on the old Rockaway Beach branch, which suspended service in 1962. (Today NYC Transit runs the A subway along a significant portion of the old LIRR right of way.) Both Amtrak and New Jersey Transit have future plans to expand service in and out of Penn Station. At the end of the day, it may not make a difference if the MTA/LIRR rather than Amtrak controlled both Penn Station and East River Tunnels. Neither Amtrak or LIRR has sufficient force account employees to maintain both Penn Station and the East River Tunnels. Both may have insufficient certified signal and other specialized craft employees to manage their respective complex State of Good Repair and new capital system expansion projects. Larry Penner, of Great Neck, is a transportation historian and advocate who previously worked in 31 years for the US Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office. Srinagar, Apr 28 (IBNS): Security forces on Friday arrested a local militant along with arms, while his accomplice escaped, when the duo tried to snatch the service rifle of a paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper at a bank in south Kashmiras Anantnag district. Reports said that the two militants barged inside the Tehsil premises branch of J&K Bank in Lal Chowk Anantnag and attempted to snatch the rifle of a trooper. Weapon snatch bid was foiled by troopers who apprehended the militant while another managed to escape using a pistol to shoot at the troopers, police official said. Officials identified the arrested militant as Muneeb Ahmad Malla of Reshipora Behibagh Kulgam. Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Naeisha Rose More than 30 members of the Sikh community joined elected officials last Friday in a show of solidarity for taxi driver Harkirat Singh, 25, at the Gurdwara Sikh Temple Society in Richmond Hill where Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Hollis) held a news conference to address the assault on the driver. Singh recounted what happened to him as he was driving a block away from Penn Station and picked up drunken passengers, three men and a woman, at 5 a.m. on April 16. They asked to be driven to the Bronx. As he approached the destination, Singh said the four customers hurled slurs at him and became even more belligerent when they realized they had given him the wrong address. Singh requested payment on their $41.76 fare, and that they leave his cab. When they refused to pay, Singh called 911. The driver said the female gave him cash, but one of the men got back into the taxi to pull off his turban and tried to take his phone before they all ran off. Singh, who came to the United States from the Punjab three years ago, managed to get a snapshot of one of the four passengers during the ordeal, Weprin said. Weprin hopes that the attention generated by this incident will help get his long gestating Religious Garb Bill to the Senate floor. I have a bill that was passed four years in a row in the Assembly and it has not passed the Senate yet, Weprin said. It would outlaw discrimination in any employment in New York state, public or private, for people wearing religious garbs, such as turbans or people wearing facial hair, Weprin said. With hate crimes rising in 2017, it is more important than ever that we stand together with our fellow Americans of faith. Weprin called the theft of Singhs turban a hate crime and believes that, even though the taxi driver was not seriously harmed, the police should investigate it as such. Joining the assemblyman was Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Council member Barry Gordenchik, Franck Joseph II of the Commission on Human Right, new Sikh Society President Kudip Singh Dhillon and Councilman Rory Lancman. (D-Hillcrest). It is a courageous thing to come forward and speak, Katz told Singh, who lives in Ozone Park. It is not easy to have your faith insulted and go through a robbery like you did. Messages of hate will not be tolerated in the city of New York, especially in Queens. Singh later thanked the NYPD for putting all their efforts into the investigation and for responding within the five minutes of his 911 phone call during the attack. The investigation is currently being conducted by officers at One Police Plaza. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Bill Parry The head of Tom Cat Bakery maintains the company had no choice but to dismiss immigrant employees last Friday after a recent audit by the Department of Homeland Security. Keith Bleier, the companys president and CEO, said Tom Cat was compelled to release the workers after they were unable to produce proper documents by the April 21 deadline. While Tom Cat regrets losing valued members of our workforce, we must, of course, ensure that Tom Cat is in compliance with all applicable employment laws, including those pertaining to authorization to work in the United States, Bleier wrote to the remaining employees. Four supporters of the terminated workers at the Long Island City bakery were arrested and led away in handcuffs after they chained themselves to the underside of delivery trucks early Friday morning. The two men and two women were cheered by the immigrant workers who rallied outside the bakery, instead of working their final shifts, following their termination for not producing proper employment documentation. Following the DHS audit in December, Tom Cat management told 31 workers to produce adequate working documents by last Friday or face termination and possible deportation. Eleven workers were able to satisfy the government requirements for immigration papers, while 20 were dismissed with severance pay, according to Tom Cat Bakery attorney William Wachtel. The Trump administration may want us to quietly disappear, but were not going away silently, Tom Cat worker Henry Rivera said. Were on strike today to send a message that we help make America great and we cannot just be thrown away like day-old bread. Tom Cat employees describe their efforts as just the beginning of a sustained fight against the Trump administrations crackdown on immigrant workers, culminating in a General Strike May 1. The workers also rallied outside Trump Tower earlier this month, but Wachtel said their anger is misplaced. This audit began under the Obama administration, before Trump was president, Wachtel said. An organizer from nonprofit Brandworkers, which has been working with the Tom Cat Bakery employees since 2011, was not sure if any deportation proceedings have begun. We are not sure which administration initiated to original audit here at Tom Cat, but we know that DHS has been emboldened by Trumps racist rhetoric, Brandworkers Gabriel Morales said Friday. These are the first of many workers across the nation that will face action from ICE and DHS and have their families torn apart. This company was built on the backs of these workers and the way theyve treated their employees is like theyre throwing out the trash. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Mark Hallum City officials and Gov. Andrew Cuomo led a ribbon-cutting for the new Kosciuszko Bridge linking Queens to Brooklyn over Newtown Creek Thursday. Cuomo, a lover of classic cars, cruised into the celebration behind the wheel of a 32 Packard owned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who also served as governor of New York. The $55 million project will keep the regional economy going while making improvements to the crossing, such as an increased daily capacity to support the approximately 100,000 cars that use bridge everyday. The towers on the new bridge rival the Statue of Liberty at 180 feet. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz expressed gratitude to Cuomo, a native of Queens, by claiming that he was not one to overlook the borough in terms of its needs or when seeking input. Every step of the way, the community has been involved in this project and our concerns have been taken into account step-by-step, Katz said. Growing up in Queens, Cuomo became familiar with the old bridge, built in the 1950s, in a peculiar way. The governor said the first time he had ever heard his father, Mario, use expletives was when crossing the old bridge. I believe that Queens and Brooklyn deserve a beautiful bridge and a bridge that graces the Queens and Brooklyn skyline, and thats exactly what this bridge is going to do, Cuomo said. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) issued a statement praising the effort to replace old infrastructure and explaining how federal investment made it possible, taking explicit aim at the Trump administration for the recently blocked executive order to withhold funds to sanctuary cities. The bottom line is that the achievement we are touting today, one that will help keep our regional and national economy buzzing, is exactly the kind of critical construction project that would still be sitting on the shelf without federal investment, Schumer said. The Kosciuszko bridge is a prime example of what can be accomplished with direct and substantial federal investment in infrastructure, and the Senate Democrats infrastructure plan that we sent to the president over three months ago would energize thousands more projects like this to be built across the United States of America creating 15 million new jobs. The bridge was named for Polish American Revolutionary War hero Tadeusz Kosciuszko and in honor of the Polish community in nearby Greenpoint, Brooklyn. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Macedonian police fired stun grenades on Thursday evening to disperse protesters outside the parliament and clear the way for the evacuation of lawmakers still in the building. Protesters stormed into Macedonia\s parliament and assaulted the leader of the Social Democrats on Thursday after his party and ethnic Albanian allies voted to elect an Albanian as parliament speaker, witnesses said. Live television footage showed Social Democratic leader Zoran Zaev with blood trickling from one side of his forehead, not long after he announced that the majority coalition led by his party had elected Talat Xhaferi as parliament speaker. A Reuters witness saw nationalist protesters angered over Xhaferi\s election beating up another lawmaker in parliament. Broken glass littered the floor and traces of blood were seen in hallways. Some of the roughly 200 protesters inside the parliament were masked. Witnesses said that police entered parliament after the disturbances erupted but did not immediately seek to quell the protesters. EU\s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called for "calm and restraint" "The acts of violence in the Parliament are wholly unacceptable," Mogherini said in a statement. Police said eight people including an ethnic Albanian lawmaker were injured in Thursday\s violence. President Gjorge Ivanov invited leaders of all political parties for a meeting in his office on Friday. Ivanov refused to give mandate to Zaev who has forged the coalition with ethnic Albanian parties to form the government saying it threatened the sovereignty of Macedonia. Macedonia has been without a functioning government since 2015 when the country sank into political turmoil over a wiretapping scandal that brought down the ruling nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party bloc. Elections were held in December 2016 but no government has been formed yet. Zaev\s parliamentary alliance has triggered daily street protests by Macedonian nationalists in Skopje. Ethnic Albanians comprise a third of the country\s population. VMRO-DPMNE lawmakers challenged the legality of Thursday\s vote, saying it was not carried out electronically as is the usual case because the parliamentary session had formally ended. The current crisis is the worst since 2001 when Western diplomacy helped drag the country of 2.1 million people back from the brink of civil war during an ethnic Albanian insurgency, promising it a route to membership of the EU and NATO. But Macedonia has made little progress in that direction due to a name dispute with Greece. "I condemn the attacks on MPs in Skopje in the strongest terms. Violence has NO place in Parliament. Democracy must run its course," the EU commissioner in charge of enlargement, Johannes Hahn, said in a tweet. "This is the time for dialogue and not for violence," Mats Staffansson, Sweden\s ambassador to Skopje, told reporters on behalf of EU and U.S. legations in Macedonia. Shortly before protesters charged into parliament, Zaev told reporters, "With 67 votes we have elected a new parliament speaker. I want to congratulate Talat Xhaferi and good luck to all of us." Xhaferi became the first ethnic Albanian parliament speaker in Macedonia since the small Balkan country won independence from then-Yugoslavia in 1991. SOURCE: REUTERS Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday accused the other 27 EU countries of lining up to oppose Britain over Brexit after Germany\s Angela Merkel said the UK should have no "illusions" over the exit process. EU nation leaders have stressed a united stance as they plan to meet Saturday to set down the bloc\s "red lines" although the talks will not begin until June, after a snap British election called by May to strengthen her negotiating hand. Speaking to parliament ahead of the key summit, the German chancellor stressed that "a third-party state will not have the same rights or even superior rights to a member state". "This may sound self-evident, but I have to say this clearly because some in Britain seem to have illusions on this point," she said. "That would be a waste of time." Later in the day, May accused the 27 other EU member states of joining forces against Britain. "We can see how tough those negotiations are going to be at times," May told a campaign rally in Leeds, northern England. "Our opponents are already seeking to disrupt those negotiations - at the same time as 27 other European countries line up to oppose us. "That approach can only mean one thing - uncertainty and instability, bringing grave risk to our growing economy with higher taxes, fewer jobs, more waste and more debt." The British leader is hoping to shore up her mandate in the June 8 ballot ahead of two years of gruelling negotiations. "The negotiations will be very demanding, without a doubt," said Merkel, the leader of the biggest EU economy. The EU has toughened its strategy, making new demands over financial services, immigration and the bills Britain must settle before ending its 44-year-old membership of the bloc. Britain could be required to give EU citizens permanent residency after living there for five years, in a challenge for May\s Conservative government, which has vowed to limit immigration. The EU\s latest draft negotiating guidelines, agreed on Monday, seek to ensure Britain does not get a better deal outside the bloc than inside. According to the document seen by AFP, the other EU countries will seek to hold Britain liable for the bloc\s costs for at least a year after it leaves in 2019 longer than was previously proposed. Merkel said that talks from the very start must include Britain\s financial obligations, including after Brexit. She said these issues must be resolved first in a "satisfactory" way before negotiations turn to Britain\s future relations with the bloc a sequence Merkel called "irreversible". "Without progress on the many open questions regarding the exit, including the financial questions, it doesn\t make sense to hold parallel talks on the details of a future relationship," she said. May started the Article 50 process of leaving the EU last month. Polls suggest her Conservatives will return to power in June with an increased majority. A new survey, by YouGov for The Times newspaper, meanwhile for the first time signalled more people now believe the Brexit vote was a mistake. May hosted a working dinner on Wednesday with key EU Brexit negotiators, including European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. EU ministers met in Luxembourg on Thursday to prepare the ground work for Saturday\s meeting. "It seems that at the moment we are completely united on everything," said Maltese Vice Premier Louis Grech, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU. "Naturally we have to protect the EU\s interests." He said a prime objective was "to ensure that we will conduct the negotiations in a spirit of unity and trust between the 27". May has committed to pulling Britain out of Europe\s single market and end free movement of EU citizens into Britain. Earlier this week, a German senior finance official rejected this demand, in an interview with AFP. "What won\t work is having access to the internal market without freedom of movement" for EU citizens, said Jens Spahn, state secretary at the finance ministry. "Or access for UK financial institutions to the European financial market if at the same time there is rampant deregulation in London. "You can have either one thing, or the other. These things must be clarified." SOURCE: AFP It might take a few days to see unofficial results in Pa. Here's why politics Kolkata, Apr 28 (IBNS): Hanging body of a middle-aged woman was recovered in a posh apartment at Prince Anwar Shah Road area under Lake Police Station limits in south Kolkata on Friday, reports said. According to reports, the woman, Pinky Kumari, was found hanging from ceiling fan inside her room, on the 13th floor of the city highrise. The housewife was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was declared brought dead. A police official told IBNS that the woman was alone in her flat during the incident and her flat was locked from inside, which are indicating that she committed suicide. "We have started investigation into the case and her husband, who is claiming that he was in office during the incident, has been detained for interrogation," the official said. (Reporting by Deepayan Sinha) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 State Police Show More Show Less 2 of 3 State Police Show More Show Less 3 of 3 QUEENSBURY Two suspects in a shooting and robbery at a Warren County store were sent to jail on $1 million bail each after their arraignment Friday, State Police said. Vittorio W. Campano, 25, and Christine W. Tomko, 27, both of Thurman are charged with attempted second-degree murder and first-degree robbery after an investigation that followed a heist at the Hague Market Tuesday afternoon. They entered the market and shooting the clerk four times in an attempt to leave no witness, police said. Lawyers for David Dao, the Kentucky man who was violently removed from a flight for refusing to give up his seat earlier this month, said Thursday that they have reached a confidential settlement with United Airlines. "Dr. Dao has become the unintended champion for the adopting of changes which will certainly help improve the lives of literally millions of travelers," said Thomas Demetrio, one of Dao's two lawyers. "I sincerely hope that all other airlines make similar changes and follow United's lead in helping to improve the passenger flying experience with an emphasis on empathy, patience, respect and dignity." The agreement comes on the same day that United released the results of an internal investigation that found it had made multiple mistakes in its handling of the incident, and pledged to make immediate changes to improve the flying experience for customers. In the report, United Airlines admits several mistakes were made before, during and after Dao was dragged off the April 9 flight, including calling in law enforcement to resolve an incident that was neither a safety nor security issue. In the report, United says it had allowed internal policies to distract from the need to treat passengers with dignity and respect and it outlines what the company intends to do to prevent a repeat of the incident. Under the airline's new customer-first policy, travelers who voluntarily give up their seats will be eligible to receive up to $10,000 in travel certificates. United employees will be given new authority to find creative solutions to get bumped passengers to their final destinations even if it means booking them on another airline or sending them to another airport. "This is a turning point for all of us at United and it signals a culture shift toward becoming a better, more customer-focused airline," chief executive Oscar Munoz said in a statement that accompanied the release of the report on the April 9 incident at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. "Our customers should be at the center of everything we do and these changes are just the beginning of how we will earn back their trust." With the report, Munoz makes good on a public promise he made several days after Dao, 69, was dragged out of his seat, down the aisle and off the plane after he refused to give up his seat for off-duty crew. Other passengers captured the incident on their phones and shared video that has been viewed millions of times worldwide and sparked international outrage. Dao's lawyer, Thomas Demetrio, said United's actions are a good first step. "Both Dr. Dao and I applaud United for promptly addressing the many issues that have plagued passenger satisfaction in the arena of airline customer service," Demetrio said Thursday. "All of its policy changes announced today are passenger friendly and are simple, commonsense decisions on United's part to help minimize the stress involved in the flying experience. Dr. Dao is proud, despite his ordeal, to have played a role in spearheading these announced changes. And going forward, he hopes United takes the lead in inspiring the entire airline industry to supply passengers the dignity, respect and fairness we all deserve." Demetrio said Dao suffered a concussion, broken nose and two missing teeth, among other injuries. Four aviation security officers involved in the incident have been placed on leave while the investigation continues. In an interview with NBC's Lester Holt, Munoz called the incident "a system failure across the board." He said outdated policies and procedures, which focused more on operations and logistics than customers put all those involved in "impossible situations." When asked about the conduct of the officers involved in violent removal of Dao from the plane, Munoz said that yes, he thought it was wrong, but again took responsibility for the situation saying, "Did I believe what law enforcement folks did was wrong? Yeah. But once again, it was I and we who put them in that situation." "United Airlines takes full responsibility for what happened," reads the report's introduction. "The intention of this report is to communicate concrete and meaningful actions that will avoid putting our customers, employees and partners in impossible situations." The report lays out four ways in which United says it failed both its passengers and employees. In addition to unnecessarily summoning law enforcement, the airline should not have tried to find space on the flight for crew members at the last minute. It also should have offered more compensation or more transportation options to entice customers to give up their seats voluntarily, but it acknowledged that agents did not have the authority to make such decisions. Finally, the report said the airline has not provided regular training for employees on how to deal with "denied boarding situations." "Our review shows that many things went wrong that day, but the headline is clear: Our policies got in the way of our values and procedures interfered in doing what's right," Munoz said. In addition to increasing the compensation for passengers who voluntarily give up their seats, the airline will create an automated system to identify passengers willing to give up their seats and allow them to set the level of compensation they would be willing to accept. Starting in August, the airline also will offer additional training for front-line staff and later this year will roll out an app that will allow employees to immediately compensate customers when a service issue arises. It also will create a "customer solutions team" charged with finding ways to get displaced passengers where they need to go. Even though United officials say only a small percentage of passengers are involuntarily bumped from the airline's flights, they said they will reduce overbooking on those flights where volunteers are less likely to come forward. Overbooking is not illegal, but has drawn new scrutiny from members of Congress following the airline's treatment of Dao. United's offer of $10,000 in flight certificates brings it in line with Delta, which announced earlier this month that it was boosting the maximum amount of compensation it would offer passengers. Prior to this most recent change, United agents could offer up to $500 and supervisors could approve up to $1500 in travel certificates and $1,350 cash. It's unclear whether United's actions will be enough to satisfy lawmakers who are already demanding changes to the way airlines treat customers. Among the provisions of a bill introduced in the Senate on Wednesday is one that would require the Secretary of Transportation to re-examine airlines' practice of overbooking to determine whether limits should be placed on how many seats an airline can sell. United had already announced some new procedures and changes. Munoz said the airline will limit the use of law enforcement to "safety and security issues only." He also announced that the airline will no longer bump passengers once they have boarded their flight unless it involves a safety or security issue. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Berkeley, Calif. Far-right supporters planned rallies Thursday to denounce what they called an attempt to silence their conservative views after Ann Coulter said she was forced to cancel a speaking event at the University of California, Berkeley. Amid concerns violence might erupt, police erected barricades on the campus and dispatched officers in riot gear on motorcycles. The conservative social and political commentator said she still might "swing by to say hello" to her supporters as police and university officials braced for possible trouble whether she shows up or not, citing intelligence and online chatter by groups threatening to instigate violence. The tension illustrated how Berkeley has emerged as a flashpoint for extreme left and right forces amid the debate over free speech in a place where the 1960s U.S. free speech movement began before it spread to college campuses across the nation. As far-right groups and a leftist group prepared for their protests, university police set up bright orange barricades at the university's main plaza as a precaution for possible crowd control. An armored police vehicle was also seen patrolling one street on campus and city officers patrolled a park where two far-right groups said they would hold protests. KCBS reported that Gavin McInnes, founder of the pro-Trump "Proud Boys," said he will speak in the afternoon at Civic Center Park and encouraged other groups to help make a large showing at the gathering. The group on its Facebook page calls itself a fraternal organization aimed at "reinstating a spirit of Western chauvinism during an age of globalism and multiculturalism." It said it support minimal government and is also "anti-political correctness, anti-racial guilt, pro-gun rights, anti-Drug War, closed borders." Another group called the Orange County Alt Right Group planned a rally in the same place. The International Socialist Organization said it planned an "Alt Right Delete" rally about a mile from the right-wing protests and just outside the university campus to show support for free speech and to condemn the views of Coulter and her supporters. Coulter confirmed that her planned speech on illegal immigration, followed by a question-answer session, was canceled. But she remained coy about what she might do instead. "I'm not speaking. But I'm going to be near there, so I might swing by to say hello to my supporters who have flown in from all around the country," Coulter said in an email. "I thought I might stroll around the graveyard of the First Amendment." Officials at UC Berkeley said last week they feared renewed violence on campus if Coulter followed through with plans to speak. They cited "very specific intelligence" of threats that could endanger Coulter and students, as Berkeley becomes a platform for extremist protesters on both sides of the political spectrum. Efforts by the university to cancel or delay the Coulter event dealt a blow to Berkeley's image as a bastion of tolerance and free speech. Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks sent a letter to the campus Wednesday saying the university is committed to defending free speech but also to protecting its students. "This is a university, not a battlefield," Dirks said in the letter. "The university has two non-negotiable commitments, one to Free Speech the other to the safety of our campus community." Berkeley's reputation as one of the country's most liberal universities, in one of America's most liberal cities, has made it a flashpoint for the nation's political divisions in the era of Donald Trump. Earlier this month, a bloody brawl broke out in downtown Berkeley at a pro-Trump protest that featured speeches by members of the white nationalist right. They clashed with a group of Trump critics who called themselves anti-fascists. Similar violent clashes also erupted at the same site, a public park, on March 4. In February, violent protesters forced the cancellation of a speech by right-wing writer Milo Yiannopoulos, who like Coulter was invited by campus Republicans. The Berkeley College Republicans and the Young America's Foundation, a conservative group that had helped book Coulter's campus speaking events, both pulled their support Tuesday citing fears of violence. They blamed the university for failing to ensure protection of conservative speakers. New Delhi, Apr 28 (IBNS): Vice President of India M. Hamid Ansari has said that the solution to addressing the gaps and failings of democracy is indeed more democracy. He was delivering a lecture on 'Seven Decades of Indian Democracy' at the University of Warsaw, Poland, on Friday. The Minister of State for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Giriraj Singh, the Rector of the Warsaw University, Marcin Palsy and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. The Vice President said that the people of India are the best guarantee for our democratic future. As long as the ordinary Indian holds true the values of democracy and cultural practices of syncretism, as long as our people are resistant to usurpation of their rights and do not succumb to sectarian and communal thought, there remains great hope that our democracy will continue to thrive and inspire others, he added. Following is the text of Vice Presidents Lecture: "An Indian, with some awareness of the recent and not-so-recent past, comes to Warsaw with a deep sense of the vicissitudes of history. Having the misfortune of being located at geographic crossroads, Polands frontiers have waxed and waned over centuries, buffeted by the forces of regional history. In early and mid 16th century, Poland was a large and powerful state, only to be visited by interventions and partitions by neighbouring empires. The subsequent Polish struggles for freedom, and restoration of democracy, is therefore admirable and a visitor from the worlds largest democracy cannot but salute the indomitable Polish spirit reflected in a Republic that has dedicated itself for the common good of all its citizens and is desirous of guaranteeing their rights for all times. I am happy to be in this historic city and feel humbled by your invitation to address you. Given your own attachment to the concept, I propose to share with you some thoughts on our experiences with democracy and to shed light on its (a) principles, (b) mechanisms, and (c) challenges that have emerged from time to time. Some three decades ago an eminent sociologist called Indian democracy "a secular miracle of the modern world and a model for other developing countries". Seven decades after independence, the miracle of Indian democracy continues to shine like a beacon of hope for those who cherish freedom with its foundations in basic human values. India has long defied the propositionheld with near-canonical certitude by those who make their living studying comparative politicsthat predicts unstable democratic politics at low levels of economic development, high levels of inequality and high levels of social diversity. To those who know India well, however, it was hard to imagine that if Indias multicultural diversity was to be organized as an enduring single state, it could be organized as anything else but a democratic polity. It is a truism that each country and people shape their destiny in their own unique way, informed by their historical experience. In our case, it dates back to at least the fifth century BC. This long argumentative tradition and toleration of heterodoxy has provided a fertile ground for the flourishing of our democracy. In a contemporary sense, the democratic consciousness of independent India is a reflection of the legacy of our struggle for independence from colonial rule. Much of the gains of our National Movement are enshrined in our Constitution and continue to enlighten the political and judicial discourse in India. Our people have used this legacy as the yardstick to judge the subsequent performance of governments, political parties and institutions. Our Constitution provides the framework for a bicameral parliamentary democracy in a quasi-federal framework. Its objective is an equitable society to be achieved through a socio-economic transformation using constitutional institutions and the principle of Rule of Law. The Constitution granted Universal Adult Suffrage to all the citizens at a time when it was not even conceded in many older democracies. It proclaims a charter of rights and of duties. It enunciates certain directive principles for state policy to ensure social, economic and political justice for the people. It also delineates the legislative jurisdiction of the Union and State legislatures. Thus, it is through the Constitution that a diverse collection of individuals and groups became the people of a single book, one that reflects their commitment to protect their mutual rights and which articulates a collective identity. An eminent British political scientist of the last century put the Preamble of the Constitution of India on the first page of his last book published in August 1950 because, as he wrote, it stated in a brief and pithy form the argument of much of the book. The Constitutional mechanisms have upheld and maintained the democratic form. Periodic elections, an independent Election Commission and an independent judiciary having sweeping powers of judicial review, has helped foster a culture of democracy. The magnitude of the conduct of elections in India is a challenge to any institutional framework. The first general election was held in 1951 when the size of the electorate was 173 million. The 16th general election in 2014 saw a total electorate of 814.4 million, 66 per cent of whom cast their votes to elect 543 members to the Lower House of the Parliament from among 8251 candidates belonging to some 464 different political parties. The election was conducted through 930,000 voting centres and electronic voting machines. Over 6 million personnel were mobilized for various electoral duties. It has been rightly called the largest exercise in democracy ever. Given our federal structure, periodic elections are held for State legislative assemblies, who also elect, through a prescribed procedure, members of Council of States of the Union Parliament. Both in Parliament and in State Assemblies, special representation is given to the historically under-privileged segments of society. Mandatory representation was given to women in village councils and municipalities through Constitutional amendments in 1992. A similar step in State Assemblies, and in Union Parliament, is yet to be taken. Measured against universally accepted norms and practices, Indian democracy has been a success and the democratic consciousness has seeped into the psyche of our public. All democracies contain within them tensions between societal constraints and individual liberties, imperatives of state security and citizens freedom, as well as between the divergent political, social and economic approaches. In our case social justice, acceptance and implementation of diversity, and prevention and correctives to social discord, remain perennial challenges. India is a plural society of immense diversity with different social, religious, cultural and linguistic expressions. It has almost as many ethnic groups as the entire African continent. The Constitution recognises 22 languages and over a hundred dialects. The value of currency units is written in 17 different scripts. Adherents of all major religions of the world are present in our citizen body. Religious minorities constitute 19.4 percent of our people. Containment of social discord remains a recurring challenge. All segments of our society, regardless of faith, are stratified in socio-economic categories with deep roots in the past. In such diversity - regional, social, linguistic and religious - tensions are unavoidable, and at times they escalate into conflict. These are often local and transitory and the same allegedly democratic process that generates them also helps resolution in good measure. Public awareness, avoidance of extremist postures, and prompt corrective action by the administration assists the process; absence of these, for whatever reason, aggravates them and cause damage to the social fabric. Democracy in India has taken equality and social inclusion as one of its objectives. Institutions of democracy have served as a medium by which communities and peoples have come to assert their dignity and demand social and economic equality. Democracy has also been a harbinger of social empowerment. As a result of the system of institutionalized open political competition, the historically marginalized segments have been mobilized to challenge the societal status-quo. This mobilization has resulted in a substantive deepening of Indian democracy. There has also been a spatial expansion of democracy in India. A federal political structure process, both at independence and more recently in the passing of the Seventy-Third Constitutional Amendment, has helped ensure the accommodation of regional aspirations. After this Amendment, democratic institutions at grass-roots, or what we call the Panchayati Raj Institutions, have been energised. They have led to decentralised planning, and have created new arenas for the people to negotiate with the furniture of Government. Our democratic framework has provided the required space for associative activism, and in a benevolent cycle, the development of civil society has also contributed to Indias democratic deepening and invigorated a norm of vibrant civic engagement with the state. Two of the most liberal and empowering pieces of legislation that India has adopted in recent times - giving the citizens the Right to Information and the Right to free basic education - were both spearheaded by the civil society organizations in India. Operation of democracy also ensures that we have financial inclusion schemes, and are universalising education, social health and insurance programs. We are modernizing our agriculture, manufacturing and services and are trying to adopt digital transactions. Our human development index, modest as yet, is rising and in some more developed regions like Kerala, approximates those of developed nations. New economic policies, including the liberalization programme, were fostered in a democratic and deliberative environment. India is now getting used to its much higher rate of growth. It is noteworthy that Indias principal success has come not in traditional areas of exports but largely on newer industries, with a large component of high-tech, such as the information technology industry, which has rapidly grown to be a giant from a very modest beginning. Another such area is that of pharmaceuticals, where Indian ingenuity has brought huge reductionssometimes a cut of 80 per cent or so in the price for many essential drugs, like AIDS medicines. Such growth has allowed us to lift millions of Indians out of abject poverty and to offer them a better quality of life. Indias GDP now is almost US $ 2.4 trillion from just about $ 273 billion in 1991, an increase of almost nine times. Our per capita income, in the same period, increased almost 15 times in terms of current and 12 times in constant prices. The growing Indian middle class is now a market of global significance. Despite the general global slowdown, the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects 2017 Report projects that Indian economy will grow by 7.7 per cent in 2017 and 7.6 per cent in 2018, benefiting from strong private consumption, making it the fastest growing large economy in the world. While the net effect of economic growth has been an improvement in the quality of life of an average Indian citizen, these benefits have been unevenly distributed. And yet, it is a testament to the democratic deepening in India that the losers from market-led reforms have not challenged the democratic system itself. Well before India proceeded on its democratic journey, our founding fathers had understood that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. A democratic India, therefore, stood in solidarity with the people of Africa and other Asian countries who were struggling to take charge of their own destiny by overthrowing the chains of colonial power. India remained a strong partner as they sought independence and self-sufficiency. India sees democratic and peaceful means not only as means to resolve the differences within countries, but also supports the democratisation of international relations and global governance. The largest challenges that face humanity today, be it the impact of climate change or the rising tide of extremism and terrorism, require cooperation and collaboration between all nations of the world for their resolution. In India, the many discontents are manageable precisely because there is a democratic framework. For the last 70 years we have worked democracy to the best of our capacity, not yet to the best of our ability. It is a receding horizon. Operating a democracy is always work in progress. Despite the success of democracy in India there still remain a number of challenges to deepening and consolidation of democracy. Democracy is a self-correcting and self-improving mechanism. The solution to addressing the gaps and failings of democracy is indeed more democracy. It is when democracy stops working, when conflicts are not peacefully resolved that violent separatist movements and religious conflicts emerge. It is when the system is not inclusive and people do not have the chance to express their demands; when their rights are trampled and pluralism is suffocated, that they look for other alternatives for advancing their interests. A majority, no matter how overwhelming, does not invalidate opposition. The one crucial test of a true democracy is how it protects and respects the rights of minorities, be they religious, or political, especially in face of populist currents. A democracy only flourishes when divergent voices can be freely heard without fear of an official or populist backlash. Democracy, in the end, is about people. The people of India, the masses, are the best guarantee for our democratic future. As long as the ordinary Indian holds true the values of democracy and cultural practices of syncretism, as long as our people are resistant to usurpation of their rights and do not succumb to sectarian and communal thought, there remains great hope that our democracy will continue to thrive and inspire others. Thank You." A certain type of New Yorker has complaints about the beaches in Tulum, Mexico, Saint Barts, or Mykonos in Greece. "Why escape New York," they ask, ''just to be surrounded by New Yorkers?" Do not hang out with these people. But do heed their warning: If you want to go to a beach to get away from other humans, you'll have to try a lot harder than visiting those popular, luxurious, seaside spots. At the under-the-radar destinations listed here, you won't know a soul anywhere in a 100-mile radius, and the locals will make you feel like one of their own. Not just that: These untrammeled landscapes are postcard-perfect, free of photo-bombing tourists and full of secret coves just waiting for you to discover them. As icing on the cake, they're all within close proximity to places you already know and love. Time's ticking, though. These spots won't stay secret much longer. You've done Mykonos ... now try Zakynthos Tired of looking at Mykonos's beautiful windmills? Never. But maybe you're ready to swap out the thumping social scene for something more laid-back. Head to the Ionian island of Zakynthos, a little-explored paradise where secret, pearlescent coves are hidden by towering limestone bluffs. The western and northern sides of the island are the quietest and most beautiful and the latter is where you'll find the stone-walled Porto Zante Villas and Spa, which Greece expert Mina Agnos, president of Travelive, says offers an unsurpassed experience. "Each villa has panoramic views, a private, heated swimming pool, and access to a private section of beach," she said. Other island draws: the neon-blue Shipwreck Beach (named for a destroyed vessel that still sits on the sand), endangered Caretta Caretta (loggerhead) sea turtles, and plenty of yacht charters for a day of Ionian beach-hopping. You've done Saint Barts ... now try Sint Eustatius Not every place that Christopher Columbus discovered was put on the global map. Case in point: Sint Eustatius, one of the most under-the-radar islands in the resort-rich Caribbean, which the famed explorer first documented in 1493. Little has been said about it since then. Its sole city, Oranjestad, is known as the "smallest capital in the world," and the entire island has a population of just 3,183. But Statia, as it's known, is just a short puddle-hopper flight from Sint Maarten, and scuba diving expert Robert Becker, of ProTravel, considers it one of his all-time favorite places. "There's no mega-tourism, and most people don't even know it's there," he said. "It's got great hiking and lots of gorgeous tropical foliage, plus very welcoming people who have a genuine desire to know that you're enjoying your stay." Bunk up at the Dutch colonial-style Old Gin House, where Becker says you'll feel like you're staying with family friends, and pack goggles: The island is ringed by a national marine park, with impeccably protected coral reefs and tropical fish stocks. You've done Punta del Este, Uruguay ... now try Mancora, Peru "This beach is popular with locals, but few Western visitors have discovered it," said Ashish Sanghrajka, Latin America enthusiast and president of Big Five Tours. That's because most travelers to Peru head inland to the Sacred Valley, rather than up the coast. That's a big mistake. Not only does Sanghrajka say that the beach town of Mancora close to the border of Ecuador and a four-hour flight from Lima has "some of the best banana board surfing in Latin America." It's also home to a stunning nine-room resort, Kichic. Nearby, at Tucume, you can still accomplish some of that requisite Peruvian ruin-spotting; the adobe complex is nearly a thousand years old. And soon enough, the country's luxury resort standard setter, Inkaterra, will open a beach retreat in the vicinity, in a fishing town that inspired Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea." You've done the Maldives ... now try India's Andamans You'll see nobody else on the beaches of India's Andaman Islands, said Black Tomato co-founder Tom Marchant, except for the occasional elephant. That should be selling point enough. (Who doesn't love elephants?) But the Andamans have even more going for them: Some of the world's best scuba diving, easy access via suddenly trendy Calcutta, and its first-ever five-star stay, Jalakara . "Now is the time to see these pristine islands before more people get wind of them," Marchant told Bloomberg. "They're a haven of natural beauty, a contrast to the bustling mainland and a relaxed alternative to the Maldives and Mauritius." You've done Ibiza ... now try coastal Portugal Portugal's tourism mojo has skyrocketed in the last year, luring many to its romantic cities and dreamy wine valleys, but its rugged beaches have yet to experience the boom. According to Virginia Irurita, who specializes in custom trips to the Iberian peninsula, there "are no unexplored beaches left in Spain," but several spots along the Portuguese coast are still "wild, beautiful, and empty." Take Odeceixe (pronounced udd-sesh): It's set at the juncture of the Atlantic Ocean and the tightly-coiled Ceixe River, which separates the Algarve from Alentejo. There, you'll find pristine beaches between the river's curled banks as well as on the quartz-lined ocean coast so many of them that you can kayak from one to the next, looking for resident otters or places to avoid human contact. The crowds are thin, in part because there are no luxury hotels. One exception: Herdade do Touril, an affordable boutique bolthole with direct beach access. It's far more stylish and hospitable than its 100-euro-per-night price point would let on. You've done Zanzibar ... now try Likoma Island, Malawi Alex Malcolm, founder and managing director of Jacada Travel, says off-the-beaten-path Likoma Island on Lake Malawi "should be considered a 'world's-best beach," both for its "current-free, crystal-clear waters" and its vibrant cultural draws: The island is dotted with fishing villages along its shorelines. Stay at Kaya Mawa Resort, he told us, where "each room was individually designed in partnership with a local workshop set up to empower single mothers, and the whole staff comes from neighboring villages," for a mix of social consciousness, authenticity and intimacy. How to get there? Fly to Johannesburg first, then onto Lilongwe, Malawi, where a light aircraft can take you to Likoma Island. It's a hike-but worth the commitment. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany Known as a Breathalyzer for distracted drivers, emerging technology that can detect actions on a smartphone is being promoted by lawmakers. Supporters of the technology gathered at the state Capitol this week to demonstrate the new tools and promote a legislative proposal to allow police to field test the devices at accident scenes. "We are having more distracted driving accidents than drunk driving,'' said state Sen. Terrence Murphy, a Hudson Valley Republican. "This is the next step." "Distracted driving impairment is equal to the drinking impairment and needs to be dealt with,'' said Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, a Brooklyn Democrat. Ortiz and Murphy are sponsoring the bill. The technology is still in development. But the concept is a device that would use cutting-edge software to determine whether a person's smartphone was being used at the time of an accident. Supporters said police officers would be allowed without a search warrant to connect the device to a person's smartphone to scan it for recent activity. Drivers who refuse to turn over their phones would face penalties, according to the legislation. A similar measure came up last year in the Legislature, but the technology has improved since then, said Ben Lieberman, a Westchester resident whose 19-year-old son Evan was killed when a car in which he was a passenger and sleeping in the back seat crashed in 2011. "The landscape is a little different,'' Lieberman said, adding that the number of people injured in distracted driving crashes continues to grow. Still, critics say the technology, being developed by Cellebrite, a data-extraction company, isn't ready. The glitches include that the devices can't yet differentiate between whether someone was talking on a hand-held cellphone, which is illegal in New York, or using a wireless hands-free device such as a Bluetooth system, which is allowed. There are privacy concerns as well. "Enforcing this proposed law would violate people's privacy and could potentially impute guilt for innocent activities,'' according to a memo in opposition to the bill from the New York Civil Liberties Union, Electronic Frontier Foundation and others. Those groups also note that police can get records of texting or talking from cellphone carrier records using search warrants. Prosecutors, and parties in civil lawsuits, also could obtain the records with grand jury or court-authorized subpoenas. That's what Lieberman did after his son died. Police at the Orange County crash site never obtained the records and the driver's phone was left in the vehicle when it was towed away. Lieberman obtained a subpoena for the driver's phone and the records indicated the phone was used to send a text about 10 minutes prior to the crash. But the accident occurred where phone service was not available, according to earlier reports. Jody Wacker, vice president of marketing for Cellebrite, estimates they could have the devices ready within nine months if the legislation allowing their use is passed. It isn't yet clear how much the devices would cost. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 35,092 people died in crashes on U.S. roadways in 2015. Fatalities caused by distracted drivers rose 8.8 percent that year. New York state instituted tougher penalties in 2014, especially for young drivers who are caught texting. Distracted driving takes a motorist's attention off the road. It can include eating, rubbernecking in addition to fumbling with an electronic device such as a smartphone. Experts say the human brain can only concentrate on one task at a time and activities such as texting create a dangerous cognitive overload when someone is driving. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518-454-5758 @RickKarlinTU The Trump administration, busy demonizing undocumented immigrants, on Wednesday set up a new "VOICE" hotline for people who have been "impacted by crimes committed by removable criminal aliens." The result, however, is that administration critics are making fun by reporting encounters with space aliens. "Wouldn't it be a shame if millions of people called this hotline to report their encounters with aliens of the UFO-variety," Alexander McCoy, a New Yorker, tweeted just as Homeland Security Secretary Gen. John Kelly was launching the site. Unfortunately for the Dept. of Homeland Security, the site's launch took place on Alien Day, an annual promotional celebration set up to mark the anniversary of Ridley Scott's movie "Aliens." It takes place on April 26: The movie took place on a moon known as LV-426. The idea of reporting space aliens set off a tweet storm, as well as calls to 1-855-48-VOICE to report space aliens to Kelly's department. The Trump administration is not amused. "There are certainly more constructive ways to make one's opinions heard than to prevent legitimate victims of crime from receiving the information and resources they seek because the lines are tied up by hoax callers," a Homeland Security flack told Buzzfeed. As to the Tweets: --A wag named Jean Bonifacio announced: "I plan on calling every day to report how badly these green aliens from outer space are treating me: How about you?" --A man named Jordan shared a somewhat discredited picture of a Sasquatch, taken years ago in northern California, with the message: "Don't forget to call 1-855-48-VOICE & let them know if you've seen the illegal alien Sasquatch (aka Bigfoot) on the (U.S.-Canada flags) border." --One Je Keene tweeted: "Do not call the @ICEgov illegal alien hotline (1-855-48-VOICE) to report space alien, @FLOTUS or Phil Collins sightings" The FLOTUS is a reference to seldom seen first lady Melania Trump. --"Modrax" tweeted: "Somebody call1-855-48-VOICE, an orange colored toupee wearing alien in a bathrobe has been spotted at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." Alexander McCoy, a Marine Corps veteran and member of anti-Trump group Common Defense, told Buzzfeed that he did call the hotline, was put on hold for 20 minutes, and then asked if he was calling "to report a crime committed by an illegal alien." He told them he had been abducted by a UFO. Initially, they didn't get it. President Trump is reaping a reaction to his own demonizing of immigrants. In announcing for President, he accused Mexico of sending the United States its criminals and "rapists." He has spotlighted criminal activity by undocumented immigrants, ignoring the vast majority who live peacefully and pursue the American dream. Police officials in major America cities, and city officials from New York to Seattle, have argued that immigrants are less likely to commit serious crimes or be jailed. Seattle will experience a big march for immigrant rights on May Day. In contrast to anarchists trashing things later in the day, the immigration march is always peaceful and decidedly upbeat. Washington House Democrats threatened on Thursday to withhold their support for a stopgap spending bill if Republicans pressed forward with a swift vote on their legislation to repeal and replace the health care law. The threat by Democrats raised the possibility of a government shutdown this weekend, given that House Republicans have needed Democratic votes to pass spending measures in recent years. Lawmakers face a Friday night deadline to approve a spending measure to keep the federal government open. Late Wednesday, congressional Republicans introduced a short-term spending measure that would give them until May 5 to finalize a spending bill or pass another stopgap measure. The measure still needs to be approved by the House and Senate. Lawmakers are working to finish a spending package that would fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. But the talks to finish that work are occurring as Republicans are simultaneously trying to revive their legislation to repeal and replace the health care law. On Thursday, Rep. Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, a top-ranking Democrat, said if Republicans were to announce plans to bring their revised health bill to the floor on Friday or Saturday, he would advise Democrats to oppose the short-term measure. Criticizing the repeal legislation, Hoyer said Republicans were "trying to jam it through the House before their members can hear from the American people this weekend about their opposition to this horrible legislation." Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin said Republicans were "making very good progress" on the repeal legislation, but no decision had been made regarding a vote. He brushed off the threat from Democrats. "I would be shocked that they would want to see a government shutdown," Ryan said. The long-term spending deal is expected to provide more funding for the military and for border security, although President Donald Trump backed off his demand that lawmakers provide money to go toward the wall he wants to build along the border with Mexico. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said the short-term spending measure, known as a continuing resolution, would "continue to keep the government open and operating as normal for the next several days." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A former Hudson ISD kindergarten teacher arrested Saturday admits to having sex with four high school students - two at the same time - according to local reports. Heather Lee Robertson, 38, of Lufkin, is charged with four counts of improper relationship between educator and student, according to KTRE-TV. The site reports an arrest affidavit says that she admitted to having sex with the students. TEXAS ISSUE: Ex-Austin teacher accused of inappropriate relationship back in court The Lufkin Daily News reports the Hudson ISD police investigation started last Thursday when they received information Robertson had possibly been sexually active with several high school students. The Hudson ISD police received a list of possible students involved with Robertson and began questioning each of them. One student told police he and Robertson started "chatting and sexting" on Snapchat after spring break. Then Robertson asked the boy to come over to her apartment to have sex. The boy said he had a friend with him and asked if it was OK if he came over. She then welcomed both of the boys to her apartment. At the apartment, she told the boys to follow her to her bedroom, where she began taking off her clothes before having sex with both students at the same time, according to the Lufkin Daily News. The second student involved in the incident admitted to the encounter as well. CONTINUED LIST: Many in 2 North Texas districts arrested for improper teacher-student relationships Two different students said they would sneak out of their homes and Robertson would pick them up and take them back to her apartment to have sex. She would then take them back home afterward. She is currently in Angelina County Jail on a $200,000 bond, according to KTRE-TV. The TV station also reports Robertson's case marks the fourth one involving an inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a student in Angelina County in the past four years. Click through the gallery above to see the teacher-student inappropriate relationships that have been reported in this year alone. LOCAL ALLEGATIONS: HISD teacher charged with improper student relationship New Delhi, Apr 28 (IBNS): The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has entered into two Unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with Indian taxpayers, strengthening the Governmentas commitment to foster a non-adversarial tax regime. Both the agreements also have a aRollbacka provision in them. The 2 APAs signed yesterday pertain to Information Technology and Banking & Finance sectors of the economy. The international transactions covered in these agreements include Software Development services, IT enabled services and KPO services. With these, the total number of APAs entered into by the CBDT has reached 154, which includes 11 bilateral APAs and 143 unilateral APAs. The CBDT expects more APAs to be concluded and signed in the near future. The approach and functioning of the officers in the APA teams have been appreciated and acknowledged by the industry in India and abroad. The APA Scheme was introduced in the Income-tax Act in 2012 and the Rollback provisions were introduced in 2014. The scheme endeavours to provide certainty to taxpayers in the domain of transfer pricing by specifying the methods of pricing and determining the arms length price of international transactions in advance for the maximum of five future years. Further, the taxpayer has the option to rollback the APA for four preceding years. Since its inception, the APA scheme has attracted tremendous interest among Multi National Enterprises (MNEs) and that has resulted in more than 800 applications (both unilateral and bilateral) having been filed in just five years. Image:http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in Members of the THS Student United Way and Rotary Interact Club recently returned from a trip to Ecuador where they distributed essential items. [April 28, 2017] SAP Social Sabbatical Empowers Vietnam Organizations to Drive Sustainable Operating Models for Social Good Twelve of the company's top talents provide pro-bono consulting services to four Vietnam-based organizations as part of its global CSR program HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced that 12 employees have completed a month-long assignment where they worked with four Vietnam-based organizations in Ho Chi Minh City as part of the company's global Social Sabbatical program. During this period, the SAP employees acted as consultants to help two social enterprises, a non-profit organization and a registered charity address operational challenges and propose solutions that will help these organizations to sustain their mandate to deliver social good. This short-term assignment is part of the SAP Social Sabbatical, a unique program for top SAP talents across the world to contribute their time and expertise to assist in empowering organizations in the education or entrepreneurship sector in emerging markets, including assistance in strengthening their leadership competencies, cross industry sector know-how and intercultural sensitivity. The 12 SAP employees, representing different countries from the Americas, Europe and Asia, leveraged their expertise in areas such as strategy, marketing, IT, HR, finance, and consulting to help the four organizations understand their business goals and the operational challenges they face to achieve these. At the end of the program, the employees delivered a sustainable business plan to each organization that would help them improve their operating models as they continue their mission to improve the social landscape in Vietnam. Bridging the gap for access to education Amongst the four organizations that had been selected for the project in Vietnam this year is Saigon Children's Charity (SCC), a UK-registered charity which operates only in Vietnam. The organization aims to eliminate poverty through education which can be realized through helping children and young adults from a disadvantaged background to access education. As part of the scope of the project, three SAP employees acted as independent consultants to assist SCC in identifying key issues that the organization's leadership should address in its upcoming five-year strategic plan. The team conducted research and delivered a report as well as conducted a strategy workshop for SCC leaders to identify a framework that would help them achieve better efficiency./p> Teach for Vietnam (TFV), a non-profit organization under the umbrella of Teach for All and founded in October 2015 , was also another beneficiary of this program. Established with the aim of bringing equitable, relevant and excellent education to all children in Vietnam by inspiring leadership skills and mindset in both teachers and students, the organization benefited from a Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework developed by three SAP employees dedicated to the organization. The third organization that was part of this program is G.A.P Institute, a social enterprise founded by a group of recognized trainers who have over 10 years of experience in youth development. The organization was founded to bridge the gap between Vietnamese students and their global counterparts, and break the barriers between academics and the skills demand from the real world. With an operation model that relies heavily on part-time teachers who are professionals in various industries devoting 5 -10 hours per week to teach, the Institute was facing various challenges, including teacher coordinating, training, quality control, staff allocation and customer success tracking. By the end of the program, the SAP team dedicated to the organization delivered a business plan to help GAP Institute harness better operating processes to be more efficient. "As a company, SAP understands the value of education in supporting the advancement of society and we are constantly looking for opportunities to partner with organizations that has this mission at the core of its purpose. We hope that the mentorship that we have provided to these organizations have enabled them to sustain their operations as they continue to bridge the gap and provide youths in Vietnam with access to education," said Nadine Elsham, Customer Engagement Executive, SAP UK, one of the SAP employee participants to the Social Sabbatical program. Helping farmers and their ecosystem through digital transformation The final beneficiary to the SAP Global Social Sabbatical program in Vietnam is XanhShop, a social enterprise that helps farmers/producers develop eco-friendly products and encourages them to practice natural farming; to bring clean and chemical-free local products to every household to enhance their health and quality of life. Faced with the main challenge of managing a perishable food supply chain, including perishable foods can decay quickly, especially in warm, tropical weather in Saigon and highly fluctuated supplies due to season, weather, and miscommunication about the growing schedule, XanhShop looked at the SAP team to deliver recommendations on how they can better manage their limited resources to optimize their supply chain. "With agriculture being one of the key sectors driving the Vietnamese economy, there is a pressing need for the industry to transform and give farmers the means to access technology that can help manage their trade and harvests; and also predict in terms of products and income. XanhShop delivers an innovative business model for farmers to connect with their ecosystem, and with SAP solutions, the organization is better in improving its operations, processes and communication with the supplier farms to cope with the demands of the local market," said Maria Soledad Petracci, Finance Specialist, SAP Argentina. "SAP is committed to helping the world run better and improving peoples' lives by making strategic social investments that have a lasting and sustainable impact on society. We are pleased to see the organizations that we have collaborated in this program benefiting from the knowledge and insights shared by our top talents. With this program, SAP wants to help social entrepreneurs and expanding educational organisations unlock their potential to create sustainable economic growth and social impact," explains Liher Urbizu, Managing Director, SAP Indochina. He continued, "Through this SAP Social Sabbatical program, our aim is to empower our best talents in skills-based volunteering. SAP is a place where the next generation of leaders can apply their talents to make people's lives simpler and improve their future well-being. This is an important part of our social investment strategy, especially as we identify ASEAN as a growth frontier region. Giving back to our community to make this a better place to live, work and play is part of our SAP focus, here in Vietnam and around the world." For more information, visit the SAP News Center. Follow SAP on Twitter at @sapnews. About SAP As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device -- SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 345,000 business and public sector customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com . Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20170424/1832329-1LOGO [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 27, 2017] KPMG Opens "Ignition" in Atlanta ATLANTA, April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading audit, tax, and advisory firm KPMG LLP today showcased to clients as well as other community and business leaders its enhanced technology capabilities at the grand opening of KPMG Ignition in Atlanta, one of several innovation hubs recently established across the United States and a source of new jobs. "We're very proud that our firm chose Atlanta as home to its latest KPMG Ignition center," said Milford McGuirt, KPMG's Atlanta office managing partner. "Our business community can leverage this facility to address organizations' complex business challenges with real-time solutions." "Atlanta has an optimal mix of characteristics entrepreneurial spirit, an advanced technological ecosystem, and a progressive culture that help our clients drive business transformation across their enterprises," said McGuirt. Inside Ignition, KPMG professionals design and build technology-based mechanisms to improve key aspects our clients' businesses, such as cyber security, data and analytics, employee and customer experience, financial modeling, and complex tax issues. Spanning an entire floor of One Atlantic Center in Midtown, Ignition in Atlanta boasts 22,000 square feet of work space geared for advanced technologies, close collaboration, and enhanced flexibility. Ignition Atlanta also enhances collaboration with KPMG alliances, such as IBM, Appian, and Oracle. Other KPMG Ignition locations include Denver, Grand Rapids, and New York City, with San Francisco opening next month. "Our clients count on us to address their business issues with agility and without concern for organizational boundaries. At KPMG Ignition we're doing that," said Lou Trebino, principal at KPMG. "We bring together teams from across the firm in a collaborative, creative environment and deliver innovative solutions to our clients from ideation through implementation." Midtown employment boost80 new jobs by end of 2019 Some 80 people already staff Ignition Atlanta. Over the coming year, the firm plans to hire 20 additional people. "Beyond that, we expect to add another 60 jobs for a total of 160 or so by the end of 2019," said McGuirt. "Our team runs the gamut from automation engineers and mathematicians, to program developers, tax technicians and visual designers," he said. Ignition Atlanta will ultimately accommodate 200 professionals. Overall, KPMG employs 1,300 people in the Atlanta market. Junior Achievement partnership Also speaking at the grand opening was Junior Achievement of Georgia's CEO, Jack Harris. KPMG has long supported JA locally, regionally, and nationally. A recent breakthrough model for high school education, JA Academy, inspired KPMG to provide additional financial support to JA at the event. JA of Georgia launched the Academy at Fulton County's Banneker High School in August 2015. "Banneker is a JA proving ground to redefine high school education," said McGuirt. "A lot of what JA is working to accomplish there aligns with KPMG's values, including innovative thinking fueled by a disciplined approach." JA Academy uses a school-within-a-school model to fuel transformation from the inside out," said Harris. "JA Academy creates a vehicle for the business community to integrate its expertise and experience to help make student learning more relevant and authentically connected to life beyond the classroom walls." First-year results at Banneker included big gains in engagement and academic outcomes. Compared with their peers, JA Academy students cut chronic absenteeism by 75 percent and dramatically improved performance on 9th-grade Georgia Milestones Assessments. About KPMG KPMG LLP, the audit, tax, and advisory firm (www.kpmg.com/us), is the independent U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative. KPMG International's independent member firms have 189,000 professionals, including more than 9,000 partners, in 152 countries. Some or all of the services described herein may not be permissible for KPMG audit clients and their affiliates. Contact: Jeff Berger KPMG LLP (301) 401-6412 (mobile) [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kpmg-opens-ignition-in-atlanta-300447736.html SOURCE KPMG LLP [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 27, 2017] Top 6 Vendors in the Global Robotic Flexible Washer Market From 2017-2021: Technavio Technavio has announced the top six leading vendors in their recent global robotic flexible washer market report until 2021. This research report also lists 14 other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170427006797/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global robotic flexible washer market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) The research study by Technavio on the global robotic flexible washer market for 2017-2021 provides a detailed industry analysis based on product type (standalone and modular washers), end-users (auto component manufacturing machinery and metal working, and aerospace and defense), and geography (EMEA, APAC, and the Americas). "The global robotic flexible washer market is projected to grow to more than USD 1,045 million by 2021, at a CAGR of over 5% through the forecast period. The increasing adoption rate of robots in small and medium-sized enterprises is one of the key factors impacting the growth of the market," says Bharath Kanniappan, a lead analyst at Technavio for robotics research. Competitive vendor landscape The global robotic flexible washer market is characterized by the presence of manufacturers and system integrators offering customer-centric products for industrial applications. The presence of multiple system integrators in the market highlights the intensity of competition building up during the forecast period. Analysts at Technavio expect EMEA to emerge as the major market in terms of revenue generation, while APAC will display the highest growh in terms of automated technologies being adopted in industries for cleaning and washing purposes. To differentiate the products and solutions offered, vendors will look to incorporate user customization and expand their product portfolio. Looking for more information on this market? Request a free sample report Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Top six vendors in the global robotic flexible washer market ABB ABB specializes in manufacturing automation and industrial technology products and solutions for diverse industries like automotive, manufacturing, utilities, transport, and infrastructure. The company sells its products in over 100 countries worldwide. BvL Oberflachentechnik BvL Oberflachentechnik specializes in the manufacturing of industrial cleaning systems and offers its customers with a complete solution ranging from simple washing to filtration and automation solution for complex projects. Cleaning Technologies Group (CTG) CTG is a global supplier of industrial and precision cleaning technologies across industries. The company comprises three divisions: Blackstone-NEY Ultrasonics, Ransohoff, and CTG Asia. The prominent end-users served by the company include medical, semiconductor, and automotive industries. Durr Ecoclean Durr Ecoclean is one of the leading mechanical and plant engineering companies that specializes in designing, engineering, and manufacturing of products, and solutions in the automotive, aerospace, printing, wood, and other mechanical and electrical industries. Fives Fives specializes in the design and manufacturing of machines, process equipment, and production lines for industrial users. The company manufactures centrispray robotic washers that possess multiple cabins for surface cleaning and finishing, and generate clean finished part in industrial applications. Valiant Valiant specializes in designing, engineering, and manufacturing innovative products and solutions for manufacturing industries. Its area of operations includes advanced processing, project management, assembling, installation, and after-sales services. Browse Related Reports: Global Inspection Robots Market 2017-2021 Global Robotic Lawn Mower Market 2017-2021 Global SCARA Robots Market 2017-2021 Become a Technavio Insights member and access all three of these reports for a fraction of their original cost. As a Technavio Insights member, you will have immediate access to new reports as they're published in addition to all 6,000+ existing reports covering segments like automation. This subscription nets you thousands in savings, while staying connected to Technavio's constant transforming research library, helping you make informed business decisions more efficiently. About Technavio Technavio is leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies. Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, resellers, and end-users. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170427006797/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 27, 2017] LT Smart Energy Purchases Guangshuo New Energy for HK$130 million Striving to expand solar energy business, further shifting business focus and promoting the profitability of the Company HONG KONG, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LongiTech Smart Energy Holding Limited ("LT Smart Energy" or the "Company") (HKSE: 1281), a leading operator of smart energy cloud platforms in China, is pleased to announce that the Company has completed the acquisition of the entire equity interests in Gao Bei Dian City Guangshuo New Energy Co., Ltd. ("Guangshuo New Energy") at an aggregated consideration of HK$130 million on 27 April 2017. The acquisition will further solidify and expand the Company's business of solar energy power stations in the PRC. The consideration for the acquisition will be satisfied by the Company through the issuance of 44,820,000 consideration shares at the issue price HK$2.9 per share. Upon the completion of the acquisition, LT Smart Energy will own the entire equity interests in Guangshuo New Energy. Currently, Guangshuo New Energy owns and operates seven distributed photovoltaic power stations in the PRC which are Bai Yang Dian Mei Lu Zhuang Yuan, Gao Bei Dian Chest Hospital, Gao Cheng Xing An, Bai Gou Xin Cheng, Guang Dong Jiang Men Ling Zhi, Hong Ze Bao Li Jia and Hong Ze Yu Tan Gang Bo. The total installed capacity of the seven photovoltaic power stations is 23.51MW. Distributed photovoltaic power stations are an important constitution of the solar energy business of LT Smart Energy. Thus, the acquisition will increase the quantity of the distributed photovoltaic power stations of the Company in the PRC, further contributing stable earnings and cash flows to the Company and complementing the Company's solar energy business. Mr. Wei Qiang, the CEO of LT Smart Energy said, "The acquisition of Guangshuo New Energy is an important measure following the Company's announcement of developing the clean energy business where photovoltaic power stations play an important role in the solar energy segment of the Company. At present, the Company's solar energy business segment is focused on distributed photovoltaic power stations and home photovoltaic systems. The Company has three photovoltaic solar power stations with a total installed capacity of 30MW. The acquisition of Guangshuo New Energy will include the seven distributed photovoltaic power stations, diversifying the Company's focus from solar energy business to distributed power stations to better cope with market changes, increase the operating income of the Company and strengthen the overall business capabilities and investment value." About Gao Bei Dian City Guangshuo New Energy Co., Ltd. Gao Bei Dian City Guangshuo New Energy Co., Ltd. was established in 2014 and is principally engaged in the developing and operating of photovoltaic power stations. Guangshuo New Energy operates 7 distributed photovoltaic power stations in the PRC which are Bai Yang Dian Mei Lu Zhuang Yuan, Gao Bei Dian Chest Hospital, Gao Cheng Xing An, Bai Gou Xin Cheng, Guang Dong Jiang Men Ling Zhi, Hong Ze Bao Li Jia and Hong Ze Yu Tian Gang Bo, with a total installed capacity of 23.51MW. About LongiTech Smart Energy Holding Limited LongiTech Smart Energy Holding Limited is a leading operator of smart energy cloud platforms in China. Through the big energy data center of its smart energy cloud platform and the development model of a light asset business with data and knowledge at its core, LT Smart Energy provides energy consumers with all-round smart services, including distributed energy, power trade, smart operation, energy monitoring and maintenance and other value-added services. The Company is determined to become the leading smart energy integrated service provider in China. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 28, 2017] Smart City accelerator InnoCite MTL: seven startups for its fourth cohort MONTREAL, April 28 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - InnoCite MTL, Canada's first smart city accelerator, is proud to announce that seven startups will form its fourth cohort: Treater, Rebicycle, Sportwhere, Sharebee, Surveyor, Patterns et Valegoo. Two years after its launch and proud of the accomplishments of its previous cohorts, InnoCite MTL announces it's biggest cohort ever. The startups selected to be part of InnoCite MTL fourth cohort are: Treater TREATER a digital gifting mobile application that makes gift-cards more accessible to everyone. Discover and TREAT your friends to Montreal's best spots and dining experiences. - treater.co Rebicycle The bicycle is the keystone of urban transport, and Rebicycle is the tailor-made, ecologically responsible alternative to off-the-shelf bicycles.- http://rebicycle.lightspeedwebstore.com Sportwhere SportWhere is a web platform where the booking of sport facility is an effortless experience.- www.sportwhere.com Sharebee Sharebee.ca, the Airbnb of storage and parking, is the new web platform that connects people with unused space with people who need affordable, convenient and secure storage or parking solutions. - sharebee.ca Surveyor Because each energy initiative brings a better world. Affordable and multi-plateforme, Surveyor makes building energy optimization accssible to everyone. Patterns Using Artificial Intelligence, Patterns allows entrepreneurs to find their next location and growth opportunities for their existing and future shops with an easy to use web-application. patterns.la Valegoo Valegoo allows Montreal drivers to no longer worry about the hassle of parking regardless of the reason for the trip. valegoo.com The seven startups of InnoCite MTL's fourth cohort will participate in an intensive twelve-week program focusing on product market fit. This includes training and practical workshops, an access to a diverse ecosystem of mentors, prototyping and the development of a local and international commercialization strategy. InnoCite MTL selects startups at the go-to-market stage whose urban innovations improve citizen quality of life. Criteria for selection include the quality of the business plan, the potential for growth as well as the relevance of the proposed solutions to address urban challenges. InnoCite MTL leverages the power of its network of mentors and of public- and private-sector partners who have the potential to partner with these startups in order to accelerate the market readiness of their products and solutions. "We are really proud to unveil our biggest cohort to date, said Beatrice Couture, General Manager of InnoCite MTL. This year, the continuous support of our private and public partners will enable us to offer better programming in order to develop innovative and creative solutions for the citizens". "It is remarkable to see the work accomplished and the recognition InnoCite MTL has, said Harout Chitilian, vice president of the City of Montreal's executive committee, responsible for information technologies and the smart city. The number of start-up composing the fourth cohort, the most important since the program was created, proves it. I wish them the success and development the previous 14 had, as vectors for our city, of economic development and job creation. InnoCite MTL thus contributes to the emergence of a fertile soil in which Montreal, smart and digital, takes root". About InnoCite MTL www.innocitemtl.ca The first smart city startup accelerator in Canada created under the initiative of the City of Montreal, InnoCite MTL is a program that supports businesses to directly address the needs of public and private organizations. Starting in 2015, InnoCite MTL has been accelerating productive networking between cities, startups and the industry, fast-tracking urban innovations and product and services that have an impact on the quality of life of city residents. Proud partner of the City of Montreal and the City of Brossard, around twenty collaborators and investors are participating in the InnoCite MTL program, as well as three main partners and founders: TELUS, Desjardins and Yellow Pages. InnoCite MTL benefits from the support of the City of Montreal thanks to the financial aid provided by the Government of Quebec, granted within the framework of the Montreal 2025 Agreement, administered by the Secretariat for the metropolitan region. SOURCE InnoCite MTL [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Guwahati, Apr 28 (IBNS): Security forces have apprehended a hardcore NSCN (K) militant in Arunachal Pradeshas Longding district on Friday, officials said. Kohima based Defence PRO Colonel Chiranjeet Konwer said that, following intelligence input the Khonsa Battalion of Assam Rifles undertook an operation at Kunsa village in Longding district and apprehended a hardcore NSCN (K) militant identified as self styled Lance Corporal Manlak Pansa who was terrorizing people for extortion. Security personnel had recovered one point 22mm pistol with five live rounds in possession from him. Security forces has been carrying out aggressive operations in the South Arunachal Pradesh and this apprehension has struck a blow to the extortion activities being carried out by the underground cadres of the group in the area. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) [April 28, 2017] Celebrities - Including Emma Stone, Lena Dunham, Michael Phelps and Jesse Eisenberg - Join the Child Mind Institute's Month-Long #MyYoungerSelf Social Campaign to End the Stigma Associated with Mental Health and Learning Disorders NEW YORK, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Child Mind Institute (CMI) today announced its first-ever #MyYoungerSelf social media campaign, bringing together nearly three dozen actors, professional athletes, fashion designers, authors, politicians, advocates and other influencers who will share personal videos about growing up with a mental health or learning disorder and the advice they would give their younger selves about how to persevere. By speaking out, they will eradicate stigma and show children still struggling that there is a brighter future ahead. Every day in May, Mental Health Awareness Month, a new, homemade video and childhood photo of a celebrity, including Academy Award winner Emma Stone, Olympian Michael Phelps, actors Jesse Eisenberg, Lena Dunham and David Cross, director/producer Brian Grazer and fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, will be revealed on the Child Mind Institute's social media channels and web site (www.SpeakUpForKids.org). Everyone can get involved by liking and sharing the celebrity videos, accessing resources and sharing their own #MyYoungerSelf stories. Of the 74.5 million children in the United States, an estimated 17.1 million have or have had a mental health disorder more than the number of children with cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. In spite of the magnitude of the problem, lack of awareness and entrenched stigma keep the majority of these young people from getting help. Children and adolescents struggling with these disorders are at risk for academic failure, substance abuse and a clash with the juvenile justice system all of which come at tremendous cost to them, their families and communities. "We are grateful to have so many notable figures participating in #MyYoungerSelf and speaking up about such an important topic," said Dr. Harold Koplewicz, Founding President of the Child Mind Institute. "I know that their inspiring stories will help millions of families open up about their own mental health and learning disorders and seek out the help their children deserve." Other campaign participants include: Nancy Brinker, Rachel Bloom, Tracy Clayton, Paul Dalio, Wayne Brady, Todd Fisher, David Flink, Stephen Fry, Davis Guggenheim, Dan Harris, Hannah Hart, Colton Haynes, Jenny Jaffe, Kay Redfield Jamison, Naomi Judd, Patrick J. Kennedy, Jay Leno, Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Howie Mandell, Brandon Marshall, Daphne Merkin, Marti Noxon, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, Keke Palmer, Ty Pennington, Jane Rosenthal, Trudie Styler, Elizabeth Vargas, Ali Wentworth and Henry Winkler. In his video, David Cross who has struggled with depression offers this advice to his younger self: "Go get some help now. Don't wait as long as you did. Don't let it go on for years and years and years. The sooner you get help, the sooner you get over this idea that it means you're weak or you're less of a person or you've lost to it. You'll have better days ahead." Tommy Hilfiger, whose dyslexia was diagnosed later in life, tells his younger self and others struggling with the disorder -- not to keep concerns a secret. "I was embarrassed to talk to my teachers and my family about it. But if something is bothering you, if you think you have a challenge, reach out to an adult and allow them to help you." Speak Up for Kids The #MyYoungerSelf campaign is part of the Child Mind Institute's annual signature public education effort, Speak Up for Kids, held each May to promote children's mental health. In its seventh year, the Speak Up for Kids campaign celebrates people making change in children's mental health and provides accurate information to the media, families, educators and leaders that empowers them to speak up for kids. On May 9, the Child Mind Institute will host its annual Change Maker Awards at the Highline Ballroom, honoring the work of individuals and organizations working to improve children's lives and helping to transform the field of children's mental health. As part of the evening, the Child Mind Institute will host its first fundraising event on Facebook Live where people can donate directly on Facebook. Corporate Partners Bloomingdale's, the Child Mind Institute's founding corporate partner, will be a key supporter of the May campaigns. As part of the partnership, Bloomingdale's will allow shoppers the opportunity to participate in the campaign by offering online gift cards with 10% of their value (available in amounts between $10 and $1,000) benefitting the Child Mind Institute. In addition, Bloomingdale's will support the Child Mind Institute's efforts to increase visibility through an email campaign linking viewers back to SpeakUpForKids.org, information on Bloomingdales.com and a highly visible full page ad in the New York Times promoting the campaign running on Mental Health Awareness day, May 4th. Hunter has been a founding partner of the Speak Up for Kids campaign since its inception in 2010. As part of its support this year, Hunter will match all donations generated through email outreach during the month of May, doubling the impact of financial support for this public awareness campaign. Hunter will also support outreach efforts to increase visibility through email and social media channels. For press and media content downloads, please visit http://speakupforkids.org/press About the Child Mind Institute The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Our teams work every day to deliver the highest standards of care, advance the science of the developing brain, and empower parents, professionals and policymakers to support children when and where they need it most. Together with our supporters, we're helping children reach their full potential in school and in life. We share all of our resources freely and do not accept any funding from the pharmaceutical industry. Learn more at childmind.org. About Bloomingdale's Bloomingdale's is America's only nationwide, full-line, upscale department store and a division of Macy's, Inc. It was founded in 1872 and currently operates 38 Bloomingdale's stores and 17 Bloomingdale's, The Outlet Stores, in California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. In addition, Bloomingdale's has an international presence with a location in Dubai. Be sure to follow @bloomingdales on social media, become a Loyallist, and for more information, or to shop any time, visit www.bloomingdales.com. About Hunter Founded in 1856, Hunter is a progressive British heritage brand renowned for its iconic Original boot and holds two Royal Warrants of Appointment to HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The brand has a rich history of innovation and continues to be worn on the festival fields, the city streets, as well as challenging outdoor landscapes. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/celebrities--including-emma-stone-lena-dunham-michael-phelps-and-jesse-eisenberg--join-the-child-mind-institutes-month-long-myyoungerself-social-campaign-to-end-the-stigma-associated-with-mental-health-and-learning-disorders-300447977.html SOURCE Child Mind Institute [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 28, 2017] PaladinID Brings RFID Industry Leaders Together at the DMNE Show BOSTON, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PaladinID hosts unprecedented live RFID demonstrations and one-on-one conversations with Alien Technology's Patti Blessing (Director Business Development), Tim Daly (President, Cellotape Smart Products) and Dana Ritchie (PaladinID CEO). Learn about how RFID plays an important role in Biotech, Pharmaceutical/Biomedical, Medical Devices and the related Industrial Manufacturing segments at Booth #1033 at the Design & Manufacturing New England Show held at the Boston Convention Center. For Real-Time RFID #tracking and #authentication PaladinID invites show attendees to participate in The Great #12 Brady Jersey Hunt and enter for a chance to win a #12 Patriots Jersey! PaladinID develops and supports high-performance bar code labeling applications. We work with our clients to "Make Your Mark" by providing the expertise and tools necessary to create an entire product label printing solution. Alien Technology - Alien slves the Identification of Things (IoT) through the provision of UHF passive RFID transceiver chips, tags, inlays & labels, fixed & mobile readers and a full range of related professional services. These solutions are implemented in industries such as consumer packaged goods, retail apparel, manufacturing, transportation, airports and cargo logistics, government and defense, and more. Alien's facilities include corporate headquarters in San Jose, CA; the Alien RFID Solutions Center in the Dayton, OH region; and a sales office in Shanghai, China. Cellotape Smart Products - With over 60 years of expertise, and located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Cellotape Smart Products is the leader in creating products that integrate NFC and RFID - "RF technologies," allowing for frictionless two-way communications between the physical and digital worlds and access to the cloud. Links to PaladinID Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Media Contact: Catherine Barton, 646-207-7668, [email protected] General Inquiries: PaladinID, LLC Phone: 888.972.5234 Email: [email protected] Google+ This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paladinid-brings-rfid-industry-leaders-together-at-the-dmne-show-300448055.html SOURCE PaladinID [April 28, 2017] NANOBIOTIX : 2016 Annual Results Nanobiotix: 2016 Annual Results Paris, France and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, April 28, 2017 - NANOBIOTIX (Euronext: NANO - ISIN: FR0011341205), a late clinical-stage nanomedicine company pioneering new approaches to the treatment of cancer, today announces its audited consolidated results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016: Expansion of Nanobiotix clinical development program - six clinical trials running in seven indications-activities in relation to the market access of NBTX3, Nanobiotix' lead product, have impacted operating expenses as planned Increase of revenues with a $1M milestone payment from PharmaEngine Consolidation of the cash available at 21.1M strengthened by the completion of a private placement executed in March 2016 Income statement 2016 2015 Total revenue 5,421,613 4,015,229 Sales License Other sales Services Other revenue Subsidies Research Tax Credit Other 1,558,101 1,075,372 99,450 383,279 3,863,512 98,095 3,703,278 62,139 265,543 183,893 66,179 15,471 3,749,686 199,838 3,546,035 3,814 Cost of sales - - R&D costs (16,915,243) (13,901,898) Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) (Market Access, BD and other corporate costs) (8,370,208) (5,963,488) Costs associated with payments in shares (1,990,855) (1,291,491) Core operating loss (21,854,693) (17,141,647) Net Interest Income (*) 64,607 138,562 Core pre-tax loss (21,790,086) (17,003,084) Tax (90,425) - Net Profit & Loss (21,880,511) (17,003,084) * Interest Income minus Interest Expenses Financial Review Total Revenue in 2016 amounts to 5.4M vs. 4.0M in 2015 mainly due to: Sales revenue from PharmaEngine amount to 1,558K (vs. 265,5K in 2015), with (1) 184K coming from the upfront payment received in 2012 and linearized on an annual basis (2) 890K (US$ 1M) coming from a milestone payment triggered by the injection of the first patient in Nanobiotix' Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS) pivotal phase, and (3) 483K for re-invoicing of services and material; and Other revenue of 3,863.5K (vs. 3,749.7K in 2015) mainly generated by the Research Tax Credit (CIR) and evolving in correlation with the level of R&D activities. Total Operating expenses reach 27.3M in 2016 vs. 21.2M in 2015: R&D expenses at 16.9M (+3M) to support the acceleration of clinical programs (7.2M), the manufacturing activities (3.5M) and the preclinical research developments (3.9M) SG&A costs reached 8.4M (+2.4M) mainly due to the ongoing support in market access and launch readiness (2.5M), Business Development activities (1,3M) and other corporate costs, in accordance with the group development plan Cost associated with share based payment reached 2.0M in 2016 (vs. 1.3M in 2015) which proceeds to an accounting evaluation (non-cash expenses). Total consolidated Headcount reached 67 FTEs in 2016 vs. 60 FTEs in 2015 in line with the development of the company. Total loss after tax amounts to -21,9M (vs. -17,0M FYE 2015) in line with planned operations. FYE 2016 cash available amounts to 21.1M as per expectations. In April 2017 the Company has completed a private placement of 25.1M providing additional resources to support the group development. This operation has been the opportunity for Nanobiotix institutional shareholders to reinforce their position and to welcome new shareholders from US and EU. ------------------------------------- Post year-end events Recommendation to continue the Phase II/III study in Soft Tissue Sarcoma In March 2017, Nanobiotix announced that the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) recommended the continuation of the ongoing phase II/III trial of NBTXR3 in Soft Tissue Sarcoma (Act.in.sarc study), based on the safety and efficacy data The interim evaluation was based on an analysis of the results of two-thirds of the patients included in the Phase II/III study - 104 patients were analyzed out of a total of 156. The completion of recruitment is planned by the end of Q2 2017 and the full data is expected by the end of 2017. Presentation of NBTXR3 preclinical data Nanobiotix announced in March 2017, the presentation of NBTXR3 preclinical studies demonstrating 1) the antitumor efficacy of NBTXR3 in five different in vivo human cancer models and 2) the antitumor efficacy of NBTXR3 in combination with chemotherapy, in both in vitro and in vivo studies. These data have been presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2017 in Washington, D.C (April 1-5, 2017). Presentation of NBTXR3 clinical data Nanobiotix announced in April 2017 the presentation of the Phase I/II data of Nanobiotix's European head and neck trial with NBTXR3 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in June. The Company also announced the expansion of Nanobiotix's Immuno-Oncology program into patients focused on the objective of turning cold tumors into hot tumors and will present the first clinical data from this program mid-year. Completion of a private placement of 25,1M To reinforce its development, Nanobiotix completed a 25.1 million private placement in early April 2017, corresponding to 1,596,527 new shares, which have been placed with qualified institutional investors in the United States and Europe. The order book was well covered based on strong demand from new life sciences specialist and generalist investors as well as existing shareholders reinforcing their position. This private placement will be used for i) next clinical steps of the head and neck cancer program with NBTXR3, both in the U.S. and Europe, (ii) market preparations for NBTXR3's launch on the European market, (iii) expansion of Nanobiotix's Immuno-Oncology program into patients, and (iv) general corporate purposes. Governance Beginning of 2017, Nanobiotix appointed Alain Dostie, a senior executive from the pharmaceutical industry, as its Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee operations and product commercialization. -Ends- Next financial press release: revenue for Q1 2017 on May 15, 2017. About NANOBIOTIX: www.nanobiotix.com Nanobiotix (Euronext: NANO / ISIN: FR0011341205) is a late clinical-stage nanomedicine company pioneering novel approaches for the treatment of cancer. The Company's first-in-class, proprietary technology, NanoXray, enhances radiotherapy energy with a view to provide a new, more efficient treatment for cancer patients. NanoXray products are compatible with current radiotherapy treatments and are meant to treat potentially a wide variety of solid tumors including soft tissue sarcoma, head and neck cancers, liver cancers, prostate cancer, breast cancer, glioblastoma, etc., via multiple routes of administration. NBTXR3 is being evaluated in: soft tissue sarcoma (STS), head and neck cancers, prostate cancer, and liver cancers (primary and metastases). Additionally, head and neck cancer and rectal cancer trials led by Nanobiotix's Taiwanese partner, PharmaEngine, are underway in the Asia Pacific region. The Company has filed in August 2016 for market approval (CE Marking) in Europe for its lead product NBTXR3. The Company started in 2016 a new preclinical research program in Immuno-oncology with its lead product NBTXR3, which could have the potential to bring a new dimension to cancer immunotherapies. Nanobiotix is listed on the regulated market of Euronext in Paris (ISIN: FR0011341205, Euronext ticker: NANO, Bloomberg: NANO: FP). The Company Headquarter is based in Paris, France. Affiliate in Cambridge, United States. Contact Nanobiotix Sarah Gaubert Director, Communications & Public Affairs +33 (0)1 40 26 07 55 [email protected] / [email protected] Noel Kurdi Director, Investor Relations +1 (646) 241-4400 [email protected] / [email protected] Media relations France - Springbok Consultants Marina Rosoff +33 (0)6 71 58 00 34 [email protected] United States - RooneyPartners Marion Janic +1 (212) 223-4017 [email protected] Disclaimer This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Nanobiotix and its business. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Nanobiotix considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the estimates contained in such forward-looking statements will be verified, which estimates are subject to numerous risks including the risks set forth in the update of the reference document of Nanobiotix filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers) under number D.16-0732-A01 on December 27, 2016 (a copy of which is available on www.nanobiotix.com) and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Nanobiotix operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Nanobiotix or not currently considered material by Nanobiotix. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Nanobiotix to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. This press release and the information that it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe for, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for, Nanobiotix shares in any country. At the moment NBTXR3 does not bear a CE mark and is not permitted to be placed on the market or put into service until NBTXR3 has obtained a CE mark. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 28, 2017] Globalstar, Inc. Earnings Call Release Notice COVINGTON, La., April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Globalstar, Inc. (NYSE MKT:GSAT) will announce its first quarter 2017 financial results on Thursday, May 4, 2017 before the market opens. The Company will conduct a conference call that morning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss these financial results. Details are as follows: News Release: To be released on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 7:30 a.m. ET. The release will be available over Globe Newswire and from the Globalstar, Inc. website at www.globalstar.com. Earnings Call: 8:30 a.m. ET Investors and the media are encouraged to listen to the call through the Investor Relations section of the Companys website at www.globalstar.com/investors. Audio Replay: A replay of the earnings call will be available for a limited time and can be heard after 11:00 a.m. ET on May 4, 2017. Dial: 1 (888) 843-7419 (US and Canada), 1 (630) 652-3042 (International) and pass code 4467 5595#. About Globalstar, Inc. Globalstar is a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services. Customers around the world in industries such as government, emergency management, marine, logging, oil & gas and outdoor recreation rely on Globalstar to conduct business smarter and faster, maintain peace of mind and access emergency personnel. Globalstar data solutions are ideal for various asset and personal tracking, data monitoring, SCADA and IoT applications. The Company's products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, the innovative Sat-Fi satellite hotspot, Simplex and Duplex satellite data modems, tracking devices and flexible service packages. Note that all SPOT products described in this press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia. For more information, visit www.globalstar.com. For investor inquiries, email [email protected]. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Election results: Check out results from various races across the state Kolkata/Hooghly, Apr 28 (IBNS): With the recovery of eight more bodies on Friday, death count in the Hooghly river jetty collapse has raised to fourteen while at least 10 others are still untraceable, officials said. According to reports, rescue operators recovered six bodies in the morning and more two in the afternoon from Hooghly river (Ganges). Earlier on Wednesday noon, a temporary jetty reportedly submerged in Hooghly river (Ganges), after being hit by a high tide, at Telenipara area under Bhadreswar Police Station limits in West Bengal's Hooghly district. Nearly 70 persons, including women, children and seniors, were waiting for ferry on the jetty that time and over 60 of them fell into water after the bamboo-made jetty collapsed. Following the mishap, locals and police from nearby Telenipara police outpost had started rescue efforts primarily and hours later, Kolkata Police's Disaster Management Group (DMG) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) joined the operation. Rescue workers recovered three bodies from the water on Wednesday and three more on Thursday while seven other were rescued alive and sent to a nearby hospital. A local police official told IBNS that at least 10 persons are still missing and rescue efforts are underway to find them. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh for the kin of those killed in the accident and a compensation of Rs. 25,000 for the injured. Meanwhile, based on an FIR, lodged by a local resident Krishna Prasad Singh, police on Wednesday night arrested four lessees of the jetty- Sukamal Chakraborty, Dipankar Banerjee, Sujit Ganguly and Subhas Pal- in connection with the incident. To discuss the matter, the state administration on Friday held a high-level meeting at Nabanna in the presence of state's Chief Secretary and transport secretary. Following the meeting, Principal Secretary of state's transport department, Alapan Banerjee, told IBNS: "After discussing the accident in Hooghly river and the health of jetties in the state with our District Magistrates, we have taken few decisions today." "We will remove semi mechanized unregistered unsafe vutvutis (small diesel boats) slowly and our government is coming up with 'Jolodhara' scheme, where the state will give financial support to convert vutvutis into new safe registered boats," Alapan Banerjee added. "We have directed our district machineries to observe the health of permanent and temporary jetties in the state and to remove those bamboo-made temporary jetties, which are not indispensable. Those temporary jetties, which are crucial, will be modified slowly to permanent and safe jetties," the senior IPS officer further said. Chief Transport Secretary also said that like 'Safe Drive, Save Life', a river safety campaign will begin shortly. (Reporting by Deepayan Sinha) Image: twitter.com/KirenRijiju New Delhi, Apr 28 (IBNS): The Passing out Parade of 107th (Male) and 108th (Female) batches of Recruit Constables was held at Police Training College, Jharoda Kalan here on Friday. They took the oath in a colourful ceremonial parade after successfully completing their basic training. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju took the salute of the marching contingents. The parade was attended by Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and other senior officers of Delhi Police. These batches will augment the trained manpower of Delhi Police. 964 Constables including 202 Women showcase Indias unity in diversity as 433 Constables including 134 Women are from North East, besides 105 Constables of Daman and Diu Police. This inclusion should help Delhi Police in capturing benefits of workplace diversity. During long and hard training they acquired skills in Law, Police Science, Criminology, Computer Application, Cyber Crime and Human Rights with emphasis on professionalism, discipline and good behavior. For effective community policing they have been sensitized on gender issues, Crimes against Women, Children & Senior Citizens. With special emphasis on Safety and Security of Women, all the Women Constables have been trained in Unarmed Combat (UAC) & Commando. In outdoor training, they are trained in handling of weapons, vehicle driving, firing practice. They are trained to use the latest weapons. After witnessing their impressive march past, Chief Guest Rijiju gave away the All-Round Best trophy to W/Ct. Chiewelou Thele. In his address, Rijiju acknowledged the working challenges in the Delhi Police. He said that the pan-India composition of the team would now enable the force to appreciate and be sensitized towards the diverse population in the burgeoning metropolis. This, he said, can be enabled only through discipline. He hoped the tough training will help them turn into true professional police personnel and encouraged them to come forward and accept the huge challenges of policing the national capital in a better way. Rijiju was happy to know that these constables have been trained in counter-terrorism techniques, cybercrime, unarmed Combat etc. Stating that the Police and Security Forces are burdened with great responsibilities, Rijiju hoped that they will certainly meet with the expectations. He said the Delhi Police is amongst the best in the country, which should be maintained. He further advised the police officers to be sensitive to the security needs of women and protect the poor and weaker sections of society. Andhra Pradesh: Boat capsizes in Anantapur, 13 killed India Blooms News Service | | #AndhraPradesh, #AndhraPradeshTank, #TankMishap, #13KilledAndhraPradesh Anantapur , Apr 28 (IBNS): At least 13 people were drowned when the ferry, in which they were travelling, capsized in a water body in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district on Friday, media reports said. It's easier to con someone than to take whatever you want from them with brute force. That's why phishing scams, which rely on trickery instead of technical skill, can be so effective. Convincing someone at Google to pay you tens of millions of dollars is relatively easy compared to compromising the systems used to handle that money. And that's how someone managed to bilk roughly $100 million from Google and Facebook via email fraud. This scheme was first revealed in March when the Justice Department said that someone impersonating an "Asian-based manufacturer of computer hardware" managed to steal from a "multinational technology company, specializing in Internet-related services and products" and "a multinational corporation providing online social media and networking services" between 2013 and 2015. Quanta Computer, a Taiwanese manufacturer, said in March that it was the "Asian-based manufacturer of computer hardware" to which the Justice Department referred in its indictment. Fortune revealed today that Google and Facebook were the other companies affected by the scam. Google confirmed this finding in a statement to Tom's Hardware. "We detected this fraud against our vendor management team and promptly alerted the authorities," a spokesperson said. "We recouped the funds and we're pleased this matter is resolved." Facebook has not responded to a request for comment. The saga highlights a basic truth: Even some of the world's largest tech companies are vulnerable to phishing based on falsified emails, documents, and other materials. Here's how the scheme was described in the Justice Department's indictment: [Evaldas Rimasauskas] registered and incorporated a company in Latvia (Company-2) which bore the same name as an Asian-based computer hardware manufacturer (Company-1), and opened, maintained, and controlled various accounts at banks located in Latvia and Cyprus in the name of Company-2. Thereafter, fraudulent phishing emails were sent to employees and agents of the Victim Companies, which regularly conducted multimillion-dollar transactions with Company-1, directing that money the Victim Companies owed Company-1 for legitimate goods and services be sent to Company-2s bank accounts in Latvia and Cyprus, which were controlled by RIMASAUSKAS. These emails purported to be from employees and agents of Company-1, and were sent from email accounts that were designed to create the false appearance that they were sent by employees and agents of Company-1, but in truth and in fact, were neither sent nor authorized by Company-1. This scheme succeeded in deceiving the Victim Companies into complying with the fraudulent wiring instructions. The primary difference between this and other phishing efforts is the amount of money involved. Others have used similar methods--creating fake email addresses, impersonating someone else, etc.--to get what they want. Sometimes that's money, sometimes it's information, and sometimes it's to get closer to the attacker's real target. The motivation doesn't matter. What matters is that these types of attacks are often successful. Do you carefully scrutinize every email you receive from friends, family, or companies with which you're familiar to make sure they're legit? Most people don't, and one slip-up can have real consequences. Scammers might set up malicious websites masquerading as Netflix's site, for example, to collect personal information that could be used to commit identity theft. Or they might use compromised LinkedIn passwords to access your Skype account, and then use that access to gather information about the people you know. It's like knocking over dominoes: All you have to do is flick the first one and hope all the others fall in response, and if it doesn't work the first time, well, you can always try again. Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said in a press release about Rimasauskas' arrest: From half a world away, Evaldas Rimasauskas allegedly targeted multinational internet companies and tricked their agents and employees into wiring over $100 million to overseas bank accounts under his control. This case should serve as a wake-up call to all companies even the most sophisticated that they too can be victims of phishing attacks by cyber criminals. The same holds true for us. It's easy to swallow a phishing attempt hook, line, and sinker. The only way to avoid that fate is to remain vigilant by carefully examining questionable emails, making sure we know with whom we're sharing information, and having a backup plan for when things go wrong. A mother suffering from a tragic loss is getting some much-needed help. Students, a local business, and even the Jackson County Prosecutor are coming together to support the family of a young murder victim. Support from a county prosecutor is rare, but one murder case has stuck out in Jean Peters Bakers mind, and now she's asking the community to help support the family. EXPLODED THE LATEST STATEMENT FROM MIKE BURKE BLASTS OPPONENTS OF THE DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY CONVENTION HOTEL!!! Statement Regarding Challenge to Zoning Ordinance of Kansas City Convention Center Hotel Project The following statement is from Mike Burke, on behalf of KC Hotel Developers, LLC This is another example of an isolated group of individuals trying to block the tremendous momentum Kansas City is experiencing to move us forward to become a world-class city. They represent no one but themselves as they continually seek publicity for themselves regardless of the damage it does to the community. When attempts like this to impede on our momentum come forth, it is important to remember the facts: The ordinance approves the zoning plan for the hotel and was passed by an 11-0 vote of the City Council. No citizen spoke in opposition to the plan either at the Plan Commission or City Council. The project is close to finishing its construction pricing and financing goals and has fully performed under its agreements with the City. There will be no city guarantee of any project financing and no General Fund obligation. Taxpayers will not be responsible for any project cost overruns or revenue shortfalls. Public funds for the project will come from the already-existing convention and tourism tax those are out-of-town dollars as well as taxes generated by the new convention hotels operations. The balance of the project cost is financed by hotel operating revenues and private equity. The deliverable for the citys investment a $310 million convention headquarters hotel with 800 rooms will generate additional economic activity and jobs for neighboring properties downtown and for the entire metro area, further enhancing return on the citys investment. It is important to remember that there has been no new convention hotel built since 1985 32 years ago. The conventions slated to come to Kansas City once this hotel is built will bring in hundreds of millions of dollars for our city. And, this project will bring in hundreds of millions of dollars of private investment to our city. Those are powerful and meaningful numbers. It is estimated that the project will bring 350 full-time-equivalent jobs, plus additional employment in other Kansas City-area businesses serving the convention business. The project will require 1,500 construction workers, including 600 workers at peak construction and an average of 400 workers during the course of construction. And, its important to remember the needs we have as a city just to keep in step with our peer cities. This hotel will provide much needed convention and meeting space; retail, restaurant, bar and lounge space; recreational space; and approximately 450 parking spaces. The hotel will be a short walk from the Power & Light District, Sprint Center and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. A covered bridge will seamlessly connect the hotel lobby to Bartle Hall and the Convention Center. A convention headquarters hotel is the missing factor to restoring Kansas Citys convention competitiveness. Even the State of Missouri has shown its support of downtown Kansas City this week, with the state senates approval of financing a new UMKC Conservatory Downtown Arts Campus. The momentum is real, and this Conventional Hotel project is sound. This group in opposition of this imperative project has a track record of misrepresenting the publics interests. Whether it is gutting our police, fire and ambulance services, or opposing badly needed infrastructure improvements, this group is underestimating this citys trust in our Mayor, our City Council and city management to act in the best interests of the entire community and the future of our great city. A new downtown convention hotel is the lynch pin to complete the renaissance of downtown. ### The politics of Kansas City development and taxpayer subsidy have once againstinto a public war of words.To wit, TKC is here to report the most recent barrage. . .The behind the scenes on this is also noteworthy . . . Anybody who knows Mike Burke realizes that he's a very patient, calm and thoughtful businessman so a media blast like this one is not only rare but somewhat unprecedented.Much more to the point than the Visit KC guy and his shill work . . . Here's the wordfrom the source. Checkit:And so, the fight against the future continues amid a great deal of Kansas City money already invested and now part of an intense debate over the fate Downtown . . .Developing . . . 600 million euros in non-performing loans extended to Greek enterprises in the specific industry have been recently restructured, refinanced or otherwise renegotiated The head of a top tourism industry association on Thursday said some 600 million euros in non-performing loans extended to Greek enterprises in the specific industry have been recently restructured, refinanced or otherwise renegotiated. Andreas Andreadis, the well-known president of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), also said Greek banks appear positive in lending when presented with "viable investment proposals". Andreadis, who steps down next month as the president of the specific association, said the total value of NPLs affecting the entire Greek tourism sector reaches 3.6 billion euros. A 600-million-euro chunk of the total, as he said, will be sliced off the "bad loan" total after 12 months have passed since a refinancing scheme was agreed to by banks and borrowers. Asked why more funding isn't flowing into a sector considered as imperative to the country's economic recovery, Andreadis said that in a recent meeting between SETE's board with officials from the Hellenic Banks Association, the latter claimed a lack of financially sound loan requests by tourism-related businesses. In terms of the all-important 2017 tourism season, Andreadis said he believes a figure of 28 million tourism arrivals this year to Greece is a realistic goal. In reference to tourism revenues, which according to the Bank of Greece (BoG), at least, posted a decrease in 2016 over 2015 - despite an increase in tourism arrivals - year-on-year, Andreadis said pre-booked holiday packages for 2017 "appear" to be higher by 10 percent over 2016. 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 Nicholas A. Peppas and John E. Bournas, are among the first 10 into their categories of the 100 fantastic individuals involved in bettering the pharma industry Medicine Maker Journal published the 2017 Power List, where weve divided our Top 100 into four categories, each made up of 25 outstanding professionals and each with its own Top Ten. Two Greeks, Nicholas A. Peppas and John E. Bournas, are among the first 10 into their categories of the 100 fantastic individuals involved in bettering the pharma industry and bringing life-changing medicines to market. #5 Nicholas A. Peppas Professor and Director of the Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin. Passion What is my passion? First, developing new therapeutic systems based on proteins to treat patients suffering from diabetes, autoimmune diseases and gastrointestinal diseases. Second, developing new patented technologies for the treatment of disease through the identification of potential biomarkers. Pivotal moment The announcement of the first heart transplantation by Christiaan Barnard at the Groote Sure in Cape Town, South Africa, on December 5, 1967 was an important moment for me since it affected my career choice. And of course, the development of an intelligent polymer (hydrogel) carrier based on a response to external physiological conditions, in my lab in December 1976. Change I would like to see more support for early efforts to create new treatments, techniques and methods for diseases by spending seed funds for these new ideas. In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has become too conservative in funding new solutions. #7 John E. Bournas President and Chief Executive Officer, International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). John is in responsible for developing ISPEs global initiatives and business operations, including leveraging technology to extend the reach of ISPEs Membership, educational and training programs. He also leads the organizational efforts in solidifying working relationships with international regulators and spearheads important global initiatives, such as the Drug Shortages Prevention Plan. Previously, John was the CEO and Executive Director of the World Federation of Hemophilia. He was also a Senior Director of International Affairs at the American College of Cardiology, the largest global professional society for cardiologists. Read the list here: The list contains masters of the Bench scientists and researchers whose late-night lab work lays the foundations for new therapeutics. Industry influencers individuals who drive industry best practices and regulations, as well as new manufacturing techniques and technologies. Business Captains leaders and entrepreneurs who turn scientific ideas into marketable medicines. Champions of Change patrons of the industry who are striving to make the world a better place by getting medicines to those who need them the most. 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 Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis speaks at an event at the Republican Club in Manhattan on Wednesday, April 26. Photo: TNH/Costas Bej NEW YORK Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, represents parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn and has filed paperwork with the state and the city to run in the mayoral election. My intention is to run, unless my good friend John Catsimatidis jumps into the race, Malliotakis said, referring to the billionaire Republican who spent heavily in a failed bid in the 2013 election and has not declared his intentions this year, as reported in the New York Times. Malliotakis would be the only woman running and local officials believed she might be the first woman ever to run for mayor of New York City as a Republican. As far as I know, shes the first Republican woman to run, said Adele Malpass, the chairwoman of the Manhattan Republican Party. The Times reported that Diane McGrath ran on the Republican and Conservative lines for mayor in 1985 but she finished third to Ed Koch and Carol Bellamy. Malliotakis has challenged de Blasio on undocumented immigrants, saying the city has gone too far in protecting those accused of low-level crimes from deportation. She is one of two state lawmakers from Staten Island who filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the citys destruction of documents used to verify a persons identity in the obtaining of an IDNYC card, which is issued by the citys municipal identification program, the Times reported. I think there hasnt been much excitement in this race, she said. I feel that Mayor de Blasio is someone that many people across the political spectrum have expressed displeasure with. Malliotakis is proud of her heritage and noted that her father is a Greek immigrant and her mother is from Cuba. At an event at the Republican Club in Manhattan on Wednesday April 26, when the Republican candidates were asked the funding of their campaigns, Paul Massey stressed that his campaign would be self-financing and that he has so far collected more money from current mayor who is running for re-election. Malliotakis pointed out that in the seven years she has represented Brooklyn and Staten Island in Albany she has waged an unrelenting war on corruption. At the same time she noted that she enjoys the support of the prosperous and powerful Greek-American community in New York. All four Republican candidates described the situation in New York City, the homeless crisis, as well as the concerns of property owners, urban transport, the state of the infrastructure, and expressed their determination to fight together so that the mayor is not re-elected. Malpass asked about the path to victory and Malliotakis pointed out that she is well known and that her election and re-election for seven consecutive years to the state assembly proves her path is clear. At the same time, she observed that she speaks Spanish, being able to communicate with Hispanic women, she may receive votes even from women who are traditionally in members of the Democratic Party. 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 While the port town of Agios Nikolaos in Crete can be very much a resort town overflowing with tourists and cruise ships, there is plenty to see and do on the island besides swimming and sun. Here are a few things to check out on your trip to Agios Nikolaos. Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos Even though Agios Nikolaos didnt become a famous tourist destination until the 1970s, the town was built thousands of years back by a sect of the Ancient Greek known as the Dorians. With such a rich history of the town and surrounding areas, visitors will want to make a trip over to the Archaeological Museum. The Museum features a variety of Minoan artifacts and artworks. In fact the Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos ranks second behind Heraklions Archaeological Museum for its collection of Minoan artifacts. Like many museums, the Archaeological Museum has a piece de resistance. The Museums prized possession is a statue dating back to 2500 BC called the Goddess of Myrtos. The ceramic depicts a woman clutching a jug and was found down on the southeastern coast, on what was the Minoan settlement of Myrtos. Many visitors and critics alike have commented on the sculptures modern and contemporary styling, even though it is well over thousands of years old. Lake Voulismeni Lake Voulismeni or The Lake as it is commonly called is a small pool just inside the harbor of Agios Nikolaos that is connected to the Sea of Crete by a very narrow canal. The Lake is the focal point of the town and it a popular destination for tourists thanks to its natural beauty its central location in the city. Alongside the Lake visitors will find numerous cafes and coffee shops that overlook the body of water. Additionally the Lake features a small park with walking trail and an amphitheater. Visiting the Lake is a treat for the eyes as multicolored fishing boats are often docked in the Lake. Tourists can see the local flora and fauna including ducks, vibrant green foliage, and natural red rock that surround the lake. The Lake originally was a freshwater lake fed by an underground river but became mixed when the canal was built in the 20th century. Popular legends about the Lake include one that it is bottomless (though proven to be over 200 feet deep), it was connected to the island of Santorini, and that it was the bath of the Greek Goddess of Athena. Folk Museum of Agios Nikolaos Built in 1985 by the Cultural Association of Eastern Crete, the Folk Museum takes residence on the first floor of the Port Authority building. This building is one of the oldest buildings in Agios Nikolaos and is located adjacent to the lake. Inside youll find Cretan handcrafts including weavings, textiles, and embroidered pieces. Additionally there are artifacts that were discovered across Crete and a model of a traditional Cretan house. Visitors are able to view the house as well as all of the amenities of the time including Cretan household goods and cooking tools and utensils. Source: greekboston.com 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 Percentile Launches RiskMine Platform in US RegTech and Percentile announced the US launch of their modular RiskMine platform designed for trading institutions and investment Banks. RiskMine enables risk managers to have all of their market, credit, counterparty and liquidity risks in one place, allowing them to focus on effective risk management, rather than spending a large proportion of their time on data management and maintenance. This launch coincides with Percentile signing a major US bank as well as participation in the UKTIs RegTech mission to New York this week. The US bank deal represents a multi-region, multi-year agreement that followed a successful proof-of-concept showcasing Percentiles capabilities and expertise in delivering optimal risk and regulatory reporting solutions. Anthony Pereira, CEO of Percentile, commented: This is further acknowledgement that RiskMine offers banks a proven, cost-effective way to aggregate multiple sources of risk without disrupting existing infrastructure. We are delighted to launch our service in the US and having a major US bank sign-up to it is an excellent endorsement. Pereira added: Compliance is a major concern to all financial institutions and current and forthcoming regulations such as BCBS239 and FRTB are pushing risk teams in banks to improve their day-to-day processes and to report in a far more granular way than ever before. This means that banks need to focus on building a scalable, future-proof risk architecture. Every module in our RiskMine platform is designed to simplify that process for our clients. For more information on related topics, visit the following channels: You can opt out of certain types of cookies (e.g. those used in social media sharing) by choosing "I do not accept". The website will still largely function well, but with slightly less functionality in places. To manage your cookie preferences in future, visit the "Cookie Statement" link at the bottom of any page. Kabul, Apr 28 (IBNS): The Taliban on Friday morning announced the launch of its new spring offensive Mansoori, local Khaama Press reported. Mansoori has been named after slain Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, as the group claimed that it scaled new heights under his leadership. The militant group also said that Mansoori will comprise two sides- good governance for locals in areas under its rule and more coordinated explosion in government places. The Taliban has also ordered civilians to stay away from government buildings in order to protect themselves from attacks. Image: Screen Grab from YouTube "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" official trailer captures the voice of Luke Skywalker telling Rey to "breathe" and "just breathe." Luke might as well be talking about the breathtaking scenery in Ireland where the film shot its seventh and eighth installments. Ireland's Skellig Michael is the remote rock island where Luke Skywalker built a hideaway and a Jedi temple. The jugged monolith made its first appearance on "Star Wars" in "Star Wars - Episode VII: The Force Awakens" released in December 2015. As the trailer showed, viewers will be getting more than just a glimpse of the Skellig Michael in the upcoming "Star Wars" sequel slated Dec. 15. As evidenced by the ruins of medieval monasteries, Skellig Michael used to be home to Christian monks in the 6th to 12th centuries. It's a designated Unesco World Heritage Site, but the movie franchise "Star Wars" also did its part in drawing more tourists to the island. According to Lonely Planet, Tourism Island CEO Niall Gibbons said in a statement that they're "absolutely delighted that the Wild Atlantic Way features so heavily in the first peek of the next episode... Tourism Ireland will be taking every opportunity to capitalise on the huge publicity around the film, to whet peoples' appetites to come and visit the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland." "Star Wars" pumped a 17 percent increase in Ireland's tourism from 2015. The travelers come from all parts of the world - 24 percent from North America, 17 percent from the UK, 21 percent from Germany and 31 percent combined from Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. These travelers have more than just "Star Wars" as a reason to visit Ireland. Popular HBO series "Game of Thrones" also shot around Ireland. Gibbons welcomes the screen tourism on the small screen in "Game of Thrones" and the big screen in "Star Wars." "Star Wars will take us into another dimension, it's an absolutely colossal brand," he told Time. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Europe is an entire travel destination for most travelers, stretching an entire week or month to go to seven different countries of the Eurozone bloc. Belgium is one country that most travelers only pass through for a day, or in the case of short-term travelers, just a few hours. These five exciting travel destinations in Belgium would say travelers need to dedicated more than a day to truly enjoy Belgium. Travelers who love history, adding new knowledge or just interested in vintage musical instruments is in the right place should they visit Brussels. The Music Instrument Museum looks like an art form and an instrument made of brass itself from the outside. The building says it is the "Old England Department Store" but inside is a haven of almost every instrument that exists in the world. Free listening samples per instrument too! The First World War is often forgotten by younger generations as being brutal and as savage as the Second World War. Belgium remembers its wounds during the time. According to The Guardian, the In Flanders Field Museum in Ypres is a great destination because it tells everyone that war, in any era, is never a good thing. Perhaps one of the truly most interesting destinations in Belgium is the Bluebell Forest, a 1,370-acre forest where thousands upon thousands of purple Bluebell flowers create a carpet of purple underneath a sky of green. Located in Brussels, the "fairytale forest," as Hindustan Times refers to it, is a must-see destination just for its flowers. In Antwerp, an interesting and quirky hotel named CasAnus steals the show. Located in a green countryside near the urbanity of Antwerp, the CasAnus hotel costs $130 per stay because travelers can take a photograph of themselves against an interesting backdrop. The CasAnus Hotel is part of the artworks of the Verbeke Foundation, which specializes in expressive art sculptures and features its own park nearby. Also in Antwerp is Cafe De Kat, a brown bar that looks normal, but looks typical of many Hollywood hangouts for main characters. A piano out of tune stands in the corner and its old-style mahogany and moody decor complements it and sends visitors back in time as if the bar was truly a time machine. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 The United States is one of the world's largest travel industries alongside France and Italy. As most travelers remain fascinated with the destinations' thrilling and unique experiences, the world's biggest travel industries do not rely on their tourism to raise their gross domestic product. In fact, they do not need it, but these top five countries do. MarketWatch said, citing The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 data, Malta has about 15 percent of its gross domestic product up for tourism, making them the biggest dependents on international tourism. The Mediterranean countries exude much of the laid-back European beauty they are known for, and Americans, Europeans and international travelers, because of its relaxing urban setting, frequently visit Malta. In line with Malta is Croatia, which also has 15 percent GDP from tourism. Stunning forests and proximity near the Greek Islands, which are an hour away, make Croatia an amazing travel destination. Close to nature and the medieval, amazing beauty it is known for, travelers could not get enough of Croatia's beauty and offerings. Maldives had about $1.03 billion in profit from tourism in 2014, which makes up 41.5 percent of its economic growth during the time. The country remains reliant on tourism with more tourists coming in 2016. The country's tourism concessionaires are exchanging its luxury beaches in favor of budget-oriented accommodations and activities. Cambodia is another country that relied heavily on tourism in 2014, according to The Telegraph UK. Cambodia is Central Asia's flagship tourism country because it shows the temples where monks meditate and train themselves spiritually and physically. Visit the beautiful temple of Angkor Wat or relax on the beaches of Sihanoukville, both destinations and more appealing to visiting travelers immediately. Lastly, no one could ever forget about Iceland and its lovely cliffs, waterfalls and overall friendly and welcoming population. According to the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017, Iceland's tourism income had made up about 8.2 percent of its GDP. The small country's rich historical preserves of Viking sites and that "Game of Thrones" feeling makes it a famous destination for tourists worldwide. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Mexico, despite security concerns and unrelenting travel caution, still bagged the eighth spot in being the most visited destination in the world, beating Turkey with 6.7 million more visitors traveling in the country. The report was released by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The steady rise of Mexico's travel industry is welcomed greatly by the country's department of tourism, and tourism officials are hopeful it may soon take the place among the top five in UNWWTO rankings because according to their statistical data through Fox News, Mexico welcomed more than 50 percent of increase in the number of visitors since 2012. Right now, Mexico's Tourism Secretariat said that the whole country is working together to provide more experiences for its travelers and to keep up with the usual travel demand. Improving infrastructure, security, and opening new attractions also top the nation's priorities to entice travelers to stay longer in their country, according to Travel and Tour World. Last year, Mexico only placed ninth in the rankings but bumped up to Turkey's spot this year. The sought-after destination saw a 9 percent increase in foreign travelers last year, with its tourism revenue rounded up to $19.6 billion. Turkey, on the other hand, only welcomed 28.3 million visitors last year, and the sudden drop in numbers can be attributed to the country's political unrest. Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Maya, and Cancun are among the most visited destinations in Mexico. Its pristine beaches, friendly locals, and amazing food are also some of the reasons why visitors keep coming back. Several travel agents also attributed Mexico's tourism rise in the lessened fears of contracting Zika Virus, and even though unruly groups and hate crime still dominate some parts of the country, it didn't faze the tourists in making Mexico a top travel destination. Tourism officials are hopeful about Mexico's travel industry. And with the steady rise of tourism revenue, they are also confident that it may overtake the remittances overseas Mexican workers make in three years' time. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Two airline passengers on a Delta Airlines flight from the Dominican Republic to New York on April 19 got charged with the same crime when they were caught smuggling cocaine in the JFK, but according to reports, they weren't together. According to Travel Pulse, these two men were caught smuggling cocaine by wearing and taping them in their bodies. But despite being on the same flight, they denied working together. One of the passengers is U.S. citizen Ariel Garcia, who taped 11 pounds of cocaine to his legs that amounted to over $180,000. The other culprit is a native of Dominican Republic Elvin Montilla-Sosa, who has over $200,000 worth of cocaine powder wrapped around his body. Due to the suspicious bulges in these men's clothing, the US Customs immediately took them to a private search room in the JFK where they discovered the cause of these men's unease. Washington Post reported that Garcia tried to pass off the crime by wearing overly baggy clothes, but the unusual bulging of his calves gave him away. Montilla-Sosa, on the other hand, initially acted on a pretense that he was a lawyer to traveling to the US for an immigration law conference but suspicion on his person immediately aroused during patting inspection. Both men confessed that they were serving as drug mules from an unnamed entity back in the Dominican Republic to bring the drug to the U.S. Official charges have been filed against Garcia and Montilla-Sosa, and Leon Hayward, acting director of CBP's New York Field Operations, commended the officers who caught the drug smugglers in JFK. "This latest seizure demonstrates our CBP officers being ever vigilant in protecting the United States from the distribution of these illicit drugs," he said. JFK has long been a rendezvous point to smuggle drugs inside the US, and it's certainly not the first time the US Customs encountered "cocaine pants." The pioneer of this drug smuggling technique is Mayo-Banex Ruiz Gomez, who was also arrested on the same charges just last month. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Kabul, Apr 28 (IBNS): A key ISIS leader along with 44 militants have been killed in separate operations in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, local Khaama Press reported. While 36 militants were killed in ground and air strikes in Achin district, nine others were killed in an airstrike in Haska Mina district. The operation also led to the destruction of several ISIS hideouts, the agency quoted government officials as saying. The slain leader has been identified as Qari Nafiz and was one among the 36 militants killed in Achin district. Creta Maris opening for the 2017 summer season (TRAVPR.COM) GREECE - April 28th, 2017 - On Friday, 21st of April, Creta Maris Beach Resort had its traditional blessing and officially opened its doors and welcomed its guests for the 2017 tourism season. In the beginning of this very positive and promising for Greek tourism year, Creta Maris Beach Resort opened its doors and officially welcomed its guests, having a traditional blessing ceremony of the resorts areas, with the presence of resorts management team and Creta Maris CEO, Andreas Metaxas. The blessing ceremony was attended by the commander of the Hersonissos Police Department, Mr. Yiorgos Makroyiannakis, the head of the Hersonissos Fire Department, Mr. Manolis Koukakis; and the Hersonissos Deputy Mayor responsible for tourism issues, Mr. Themis Mountrakis. During the ceremony, the hotels manager Nikos Vlassiadis thanked guests and invited the Creta Maris team to continue the tradition of offering guests excellent service and authentic holiday experiences; a tradition that has been running for 42 years. About Creta Maris Beach Resort: Creta Maris Beach Resort belongs to Metaxas Group of Companies and has been operating since 1975. It has a capacity of 680 rooms, suites and bungalows, 6 restaurants, 7 bars, 7 swimming pools, gym, Hammam spa, Asterias Childrens Club, and a great space for outdoor and indoor activities. Please find pictures of the ceremony on high resolution on the below link: https://we.tl/Jly7ynMPnD Please find pictures of Creta Maris Beach Resort on high resolution on our site: http://www.maris.gr/media/image-library.aspx ### Wikepedia Toronto, April 27 (IBNS): Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa, tabled the 2017 Ontario Budget which is a balanced one after almost a decade, since 2008 amidst criticism from both NDP and Conservative Party. The Government brought in some significant investments in health care and education to make a stronger, healthier Ontario. Also, in the process the government relaxed certain austerity measures in their progressive budget before next years election. The budget allocated $ 7 billion as a booster shot, to day to day health care programme and an additional $ 9 billion over the decade for building new hospitals and health care facilities. The province also introduced free prescription drug coverage for anyone under 24 years age, along with reducing the wait times to access health care. Finance Minister Sousa in a press statement said, we are introducing universal pharma care or OHIP+ and providing free prescription medicine to our children and youths the first of its kind in Canada. This will cover more than 4000 prescription medicine, medical accessories starting January next year. The program fully covers the medical cost irrespective of family income and ensures that young adults 24 and under have access to this OHIP+ program regardless of their family income. This healthcare investment of the budget will improve access to care, expand mental health and addiction services, along with enhancing the experience and recovery of patients. The plan further allocates strict $1.3 billion to further reduce the wait times at the emergency units in the hospitals. The Province is also expanding home and community care programs, including home nursing, personal support and physiotherapy services, with an additional investment of $250 million this year. Family and friends caring for loved ones will be better supported through access to respite care, education and training, with a new Ontario Caregiver Tax Credit. With an additional investment of $6.4 billion over three years, the 2017 Budget reflects the government's commitment to help learners reach their full potential by supporting them from full-day kindergarten to postsecondary education and beyond. The Province continues to construct new schools and renew existing ones to create nurturing environments where children can learn and grow. The Province is providing almost $16 billion over 10 years to help build and improve schools. The government is rolling out the new Ontario Student Assistance Program(OSAP), which means free tuition for more than 210,000 students in postsecondary education starting this fall. The repayment of the loan will not start before the student earns $35000 a year salary. The Province is also helping 100,000 more children to get affordable, quality licensed child care. In 2017-18, Ontario will support child care for 24,000 more children up to four years old through new fee subsidy spaces and support for new licensed child care spaces in schools. Ontario's new Career Kick-Start Strategy will provide nearly $190 million over three years to create 40,000 new work-related opportunities for students and recent graduates to give them the experience they need to help land a good job. This years budget Ontario is also ensuring it remains at the forefront of research and development in transformative and cognitive technologies leading to tomorrow's growth into a smart city. Ontario's new investments in artificial intelligence, 5G wireless technology, advanced computing, autonomous vehicles and quantum technologies will make the province smarter, build stronger economy by creating more well-paying jobs. The Liberal government is also taking action to ensure housing becomes more affordable for homebuyers and renters with Ontario's Fair Housing Plan. This plan introduces a comprehensive package of measures to help more people find an affordable home, as well as increase the supply, protect buyers and renters, and bring stability to the real estate market. These proposed measures include a new non-resident speculation tax of 15 percent on the price of homes in the Greater Golden Horseshoe purchased by non-Canadian citizens, non-permanent residents and non-Canadian corporations buying properties that contain at least one and not more than six single-family residences. The plan also proposes to expand rent control to all private rental units, including those built after 1991. The move is in support to empower Toronto and potentially other municipalities to introduce a tax on vacant homes to encourage owners to sell or rent them. The opposition leaders reacted sharply against this balanced budget. NDP leader Andrea Horwath made a press statement saying, The Wynne budget shows the government does not get it. She does not see the family being squeezed and the people and services they count on are at the tipping point. She also added, to be blunt the budget does not come even closer to undoing the damage Kathleen Wynne and her Liberals government have done in 14 years. According to Patrick Brown the Provincial Conservative leader we are paying more for less, the Liberal numbers dont add up. This budget is a patchwork attempt by desperate government to fix the nasty created before the next election. Its a Hail Mary passed by the government that is running the province for years. Brown also accused Liberals for cooking the books. (Reporting by Suman Das) New Delhi, April 28 The Delhi High Court today rejected the RBIs intervention plea in the Tata-DoCoMo case while taking on record the terms of consent of the settlement between Japanese telecom major NTT DoCoMo and Tata Sons over the payment of $1.17 billion damages to the former. Justice S Muralidhar in his verdict rejected the RBIs intervention plea opposing the settlement as well as the damages awarded to DoCoMo by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). The court said it has given detailed directions in its judgment and disposed of the plea by DoCoMo seeking enforcement of the LCIA award. The court had reserved its verdict on March 15. DoCoMo and Tata had gone for arbitration as the Indian company was not able to find a buyer for the Japanese telecom majors 26.5% stake in their joint venture, Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL), when it exited from it. Under the shareholding agreement between them, on Docomos exit from the venture within five years, Tata was to find a buyer who would purchase the Japanese companys stake at minimum 50% of the acquisition price, which came to around Rs 58.45 per share. The other option was Tata purchasing the shares at the fair market value, which was Rs 23.44. However, this was not acceptable to Docomo and it had opted for arbitration. Thereafter, the LCIA in June 2016 awarded damages of $1.17 billion in favour of Docomo for Tatas inability to find a buyer as per the shareholding agreement. PTI Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 27 Teens can be called the harbingers of change. They can initiate the much-needed conversation in society to dispel myths and misconceptions and disseminate correct information to promote the noble cause of organ donation, stated Dr Vipin Koushal, Nodal Officer, Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO), PGI. He was delivering an awareness talk on organ donation as a part of the observance of NSS week, to the students of senior secondary classes of St. Johns High School, Sector 26, Chandigarh, on the school premises, today. Orienting the students about the life-style diseases and importance of preventive care by adopting a healthy and disciplined regimen, Dr. Koushal highlighted the need for public education to bridge the gap between patients who need organs and the availability of organs. Organ donation is a true gift of life as it enables one to give second lease of life to many critically ill patients in dire need of organ transplant, added Dr Koushal. Kavita C. Dass, Principal, St. Johns High School, herself a regular blood donor and a registered organ donor, said, Nothing can be more beautiful than giving life to others, lets not let our body go waste after death. God loves a cheerful giver and he is rich indeed who has enough to give. Encouraging students to donate blood and register as organ donor as they turn 18. It was the anti-corruption movement, also dubbed the 'janlokpal movement', of 2011 that perhaps turned the tide against the then UPA government. The allegedly apolitical 'rising' - many important proponents of which subsequently went on to occupy high political offices - gave rise to a national hope for a corruption-free India. The biggest beneficiary of the public angst was the BJP, which in 2014 was swept to office with an astonishing majority, giving it powers to make and amend laws as it wished. The irony is that it was the UPA that passed the law to institute the office of lokpal in the last months of its government, and the BJP government more than three years later is yet to make the appointment. The Supreme Court, at the end of many admonishments over the years, has finally made it clear to the government that there is no legal hurdle if it were to appoint the lokpal. There is the niggling issue of the absence of the Leader of the Opposition, required to be on the selection committee for the lokpal. But that, as has been made clear by the Supreme Court, cannot be seen as a debilitating impediment under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. What baffles most citizens is that any solution to the supposed hurdle is entirely in the hands of the government! There can be no resistance from the Congress if the government were to push through any law or precedent to declare the leader of the largest opposition party as the Leader of the Opposition. For the time being, the Supreme Court has relieved the government of any legal liability if it appoints a lokpal without the Leader of the Opposition. Morally, the government should be obliged to take the crucial step towards curbing corruption in high offices, of which it made something of a fetish. Above all, there can be no better opportunity than this to appoint a lokpal without the consent of the Opposition, and yet make huge political capital. If the government still does not do it, it would invite serious suspicions about its intention. Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 28 Union Minister Vankaiah Naidu on Friday said the Centre had accepted Haryanas request for including Gurugram in the Smart City project. But at the same time, he clarified that the state government had agreed to bear the cost and the Centre would provide only technical support for it. Naidu, who was in Chandigarh to review the implementation of projects of the Ministries of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) and Information and Broadcasting in Haryana, was unhappy with the tardy implementation of certain projects. Naidu said the BJP government at the Centre did not believe in discrimination with different states on political basis, but it believed in cooperation. Answering a question on the SYL, the minister said though such issues could not be resolved at press conferences, the Centre would definitely take into consideration Haryanas interests. Naidu hit out at the opposition parties for what he called their negativity on all issues and said they should sense the mood of people and support the governments development agenda. New Delhi, April 28 The Congress on Friday accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Haryana of "deliberately" leaking Justice SN Dhingra Commission's report to "damn" Congress president Sonia Gandhis son-in-law Robert Vadra out of vendetta, hours a news report claimed that he had made an unlawful gain of Rs 50 crore from a 2008 land deal with the previous Haryana government. The Congress said the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued injunction twice in November last year and earlier this week restraining release of the content of the report of the commission that probed alleged irregularities in grant of land licences to a firm owned by Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi alleged that the BJP-led governments were in the habit of deliberately leaking reports, as the party believed in the politics of vendetta. "Some very strange things are happening. Both the central and the state governments and the ruling party are steeped in vendetta and blinded by rage and are deliberately leaking the so-called Dhingra Commission report," he told reporters. Singhvi came out in the defence for Vadra a day after Priyanka Gandhi Vadra issued a statement, saying her finances had nothing to do with that of her husband Robert Vadra or his company Skylight Hospitality, which is under the scanner of the Haryana government over its land deals with realty major DLF. Singhvi also voiced his surprise at Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu's remark that their government did not leak the report, and said that it left either Justice Dhingra or Vadra himself. "Who are making these selective, opportunistic, planted and directed leaks for what is known as damnation by innuendo and insinuation," he said, adding that although law required notices to be issued to either Vadra or former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of the Congress, during whose tenure these land deals took place, before the contents of the report were made public. "Can you have a report to say Vadra did this and that or the other without a notice to him?" he asked. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar denied the Congresss allegations, but promised to take action when the report is made public. Once the report is made public and something comes out, it will be a matter of investigation," the chief minister said. Khattars government instituted the commission in 2015 to investigate irregularities in the previous state governments procedure to grant licences for development of colonies, housing societies and commercial complexes in four Guragon villages. Vadra's Skylight Hospitality is among being investigated. daily published a news report with details of the commissions findings on Friday. Citing people familiar with the commissions findings, the report said Robert Vadra made an "illegal profit" of over Rs 50 crore from a 2008 land deal without investing a penny and cited the sources as saying that "there was collusion aimed at benefiting Vadra's company". The report said the committee had probed transactions between Onkareshwar Properties and Vadra-owned Skylight Hospitality and subsequently between Skylight and developer DLF. The Dhingra Commission investigated over 20 properties said to have been purchased by Vadra and his companies, said the paper. PTI/IANS Palwal, April 28 Indias first smart and green highway Eastern Peripheral Expressway for decongesting Delhi would be completed in August, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said here today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation the 135-km access-controlled six-lane expressway (e-way). The Rs 11,000-crore project is replete with smart and intelligent Highway Traffic Management System (HTMS) and Video Incident Detection System (VIDS), besides a closed tolling system in which the collections will be made only on the distance travelled and not on the entire length. The project, most likely, will be completed in August. We have spent Rs 5,900 crore on land acquisition. Once complete, this will reduce traffic congestion in Delhi. It will have the best automatic traffic management system, landscaping and wayside amenities. We are planting at least 2.5 lakh trees. The expressway will be lit by solar panels, Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari said. The Eastern Peripheral Expressway would set a benchmark in highway construction by being environment-friendly with world-class safety features and smart infrastructure, he said. The project, which commenced on September 14, 2015, will consume million tonnes of fly ash from NTPCs several thermal plants to utilise waste and minimise pollution. The greenfield project, which hit several hurdles, will divert around 2 lakh vehicles passing through the national capital daily to this bypass, cutting down on pollution. Gadkari, who inspected the project sites in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, said the toll plazas would be equipped with the faster Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system offering an uninterrupted travel experience to commuters. The expressway passes through Sonepat, Bagpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Faridabad and Palwal in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. PTI On the sidelines Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service Dharamsala, April 28 The airfare from Delhi to Dharamsala has moderated much to the relief of tourism industry in the region. The airfare that touched Rs 19,000 for one-way trip from Delhi to Dharamsala in the recent past has moderated to Rs 4,000 per trip this month. According to Pradeep Tiwari, Director, Gaggal airport in Kangra district, the airfares to the region have moderated as now four flights are operating daily from Delhi to Dharamsala and vice versa. Earlier only two flights were operating daily on the route. Two flights of SpiceJet and two of Air India are now plying daily. This has increased the availability of seats for air tickets and moderated the prices, he said. When asked, Pradeep Tiwari said the Gaggal airport had not come under the Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme of the Government of India as was the case with the Shimla airport. The UDAN scheme under which the Government of India has subsidised the airfare to Rs 2,500 per hour is applicable to only those airports that had little or no air traffic. Since Gaggal airport in Kangra was already having two flights daily it has not come under the UDAN scheme. Sanjeev Gandhi, general secretary of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Upper Dharamsala, said the number of flights to Gaggal airport had increased to four only for peak tourist months of May and June. After that again the numbers of flights were likely to be reduced to two and airfares would go up. Since Gaggal airport was the only airport of Himachal that regularly receives flights the government should bring it under the UDAN Scheme. This would help provide boost to the tourism industry of Dharamsala region, he said. Anurag Thakur the BJP MP from Hamirpur said the Gaggal airport in Kangra district was the only airport that can be expanded. The union government had asked the state government to acquire land for the expansion of Gaggal airport. However, the state government had expressed its inability to acquire the land due to which the expansion of airport could not be carried out, he said. The airfares for Dharamsala remained high as bigger planes cannot land here. Besides the Gaggal airport in Kangra, there are two more domestic airports in Himachal at Shimla and Kullu. Sources here said that Airports Authority of India had demanded about 500-acre land in Shimla for expansion of the airstrip. However, such a huge chunk of land was not available. The present strip of Shimla airport can handle only 42-seater planes. Presently, besides Air India no other company was maintaining 42-seater planes. Companies do not maintain 42-seater plains as they were economically unviable. As the Kullu airport was located between two hills it was very difficult to expand it. The plan has to take a drop before landing at Kullu airport. Hence, landing for bigger planes was not possible, the sources here said. The Himachal Government had written to the Government of India that flights to Himachal should be subsidised as was being done in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeastern states. However, till date the demand has not been accepted. Four flights daily Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Panzgam (Kupwara), April 27 A Captain and two soldiers were killed and five others injured when militants carried out a fidayeen attack on an Army camp in Kupwara district today. Two of the militants were gunned down while one managed to escape from a well-fortified Army garrison during the early morning gunfight. Later in the day, the Army allegedly fired at protesters seeking bodies of the militants, killing one and injuring three others. The spacious artillery garrison on a perch surrounded by huge mountains at Panzgam, close to the Line of Control (LoC), was stormed by militants from the rear side of the camp by cutting the barbed wire. After storming the base at the crack of dawn, the militants attempted to enter the living area of the camp. As they sneaked in, they started running towards the living area of the units in the garrison. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The alert sentry fired at them and ensured they do not enter the living area. Taking advantage of the darkness, the militants started moving inwards where the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) fired from all directions, forcing them to withdraw and run towards the exit of the garrison, said Col Saurabh Joshi, Commanding Officer of 312 Artillery, at a press briefing hours after the attack. They were pushed out effectively and two of them were killed, he said, adding that the operation ended within 35 minutes. Col Joshi said the third militant was injured. He left his weapons and is on the run. Several teams are looking for him in the adjacent village, he said. He said three AK-47 rifles, nine magazines, 47 AK rounds, 50 pistol ammunition, one UBGH, three UBGL grenades, three hand grenades, two radio sets and some food items were recovered from them. The slain were identified as Captain Ayush Yadav, 26, from Jajmau in Kanpur (UP), Subedar Bhoop Singh Gujjar, 46, from Dausa, Rajasthan, and Naik Bhoota Venkata Ramana, 38, from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Col Joshi said the militants seemed to be foreigners, though their identity was being established. This is the first fidayeen attack on an Army base in J&K after the Nagrota attack in November last year. As the combing operation at the garrison was on, a group of youth and women from neighbouring villages gathered around 500 metres from the Army camp and demanded the militants bodies. The situation worsened around 3.30 pm when the youth hurled stones at Army vehicles. The Army opened fire on the protesters, killing a 70-year-old man and injuring three others. The civilian killing sparked fresh tension in Kupwara as clashes were reported from various places. 70-yr-old killed as Army opens fire on protesters Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 28 Amid increasing violence in Kashmir, the Narendra Modi Government on Friday told the Supreme Court that it would not hold talks with separatist leaders who wanted azadi from India. We will talk to only those persons who are legally permitted to hold talks on behalf of people of Kashmir, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi told a Bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Rohatgi said the government was willing to talk to only recognised political parties in the state. The Attorney-Generals categorical statement came during hearing of a petition filed by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (Srinagar) challenging the high courts verdict rejecting their demand to ban use of pellet guns against protestors in the Kashmir Valley. All those whom the law does not prevent, can meet and come out with suggestions, as the situation is not very palpable, the Bench said. The valley has descended into chaos due to violent protests that broke out after the killing of Hizbul Mujahedeen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016. Petitioner alleged that 50 people had died and 300 partially or totally blinded, besides injuries caused to a large number of protesters by pellet guns used by security personnel. According to the government, in 35 days between July 8 and August 11 last year, 3,777 policemen were injured and two of them died in mob violence. The number of attacks on the CRPF stood at 1,522 between July 8 and August 11, 2016. The Bar Association wanted talks to be held with Hurriyat leaders without the condition that it must be within the framework of the Indian Constitution. If you throw stones, close schools, how will talks happen in Kashmir?" asked the Bench, which had on April 10 posed some serious questions to the Bar Association and asked it to suggest measures to deal with violent agitators, who often attack security forces and damage public and private property. On Friday, it again requested the petitioner association to suggest a roadmap for dialogue and peace. The top court asked the Bar Association leaders to get names of people who can hold talks with the Centre for resolution of present situation in the Valley. Dialogues have to be initiated by political leaders, not in courts, Rohatgi told the Bench. Who is stopping them from having a dialogue? They can meet the Chief Minister or the Prime Minister, the Attorney-General said. The Bench said it would direct the Centre to hold talks only if there was a first step from the people whose cause the Bar Association espoused. The court said it could ask the CRPF and the state police not to use pellet guns for two weeks, if it was assured that there would be no stone-throwing protests. The Bench indicated that it could set the stage for talks between stakeholders from Kashmir and the Centre, but cautioned that nothing would work out if those representing the valley wanted secession. We can issue some directions if there is a reciprocal undertaking from your side, the Bench told the Bar Association leaders. If we direct them (government) to stop using pellet guns, will you undertake not to throw stones and indulge in agitations? the Bench asked the petitioner. But the association leaders were apparently reluctant to give any undertaking, saying they dont represent public at large. The top court posted the matter for May 9 after asking the Bar Association to talk to people and get back to it with suggestions. The Bench also made it clear to the Centre that it would involve itself in the matter only if there was a view that it could play a role and there was no jurisdictional issue. If you feel the court has no role and if you feel we have no jurisdiction, we will close the file at this moment, the Bench told the Attorney-General who objected to some of the suggestions made by the bar body, including that the separatists were being ignored. The Centre has been defending use of pellet guns as a penultimate measure before resorting to live bullets. Rohhatgi had earlier told the Bench that the situation could not be allowed to go out of control in the border state where a neighbouring country was aiding and abetting people who hoisted ISIS and Pakistani flags and attacked security forces on a regular basis. Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 28 The security forces are zeroing in on a newly infiltrated Lashkar-e-Toiba group for the fidayeen attack on the Panzgam artillery garrison in the frontier Kupwara district that left a Captain and two soldiers dead. While the Army on Friday intensified the combing operation to track down an injured militant involved in the attack, the investigation has revealed that three fidayeen who stormed the camp belonged to the Lashkar. Lashkar is behind the fidayeen attack, a senior defence official said. However, no militant group has so far owned responsibility for the attack. The officer said it was yet not clear whether the militants involved in the attack were fresh infiltrators or were active in or around the area for some time. The infiltration possibility is being checked, the officer said. However, sources said the three-member fidayeen group might have crossed the Line of Control during night earlier this week along the Doomari ridge in the Keran sector. The Army investigators were analysing the GPS sets and maps that were recovered from the two slain militants. The Army carried out a search operation around the Panzgam garrison and the thick forest area from where the militants are believed to have entered the highly fortified Army base after cutting the fence wire. Many Army units are combing various areas to nab the injured militant, a source said. All health centres across the district are being kept under watch as the injured militant might be brought for treatment. Meanwhile, the state government imposed restrictions in some parts of Kupwara on Friday to foil protests over the death of a civilian, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, in the alleged Army firing on protesters seeking the bodies of the two slain militants on Thursday. The situation was normal across Kupwara and there were no report of any violent incident, said Senior Superintendent of Police, Kupwara, Shamsher Hussain. Srinagar, April 28 Rich tributes were paid here today to three Army personnel, including Captain Ayush Yadav, who lost their lives in an encounter with militants at Panzgam village of Kupwara district on Thursday. Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen JS Sandhu laid wreaths on the bodies of Captian Yadav, Subedar Bhoop Singh Gurjar and Naik Botta Venkata Ramana at the Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar this morning and paid rich tributes to them. Officers from the civil administration and other security forces were also present at the wreath-laying ceremony. The Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved families and remains committed to their dignity and well-being, a defence spokesman said. The spokesman said Captian Yadav, hailing from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was survived by his parents. He said Subedar Bhoop Singh Gurjar of Rajasthan had joined the Army in 1992 and was remembered as a true patriot. He is survived by his wife and two children, he added. Naik Botta Venkata Ramana hailed from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and is survived by his wife and two children, the spokesman said. TNS Mumbai, April 28 The year was 1969. Amitabh Bachchan was looking for a break in Hindi films; Vinod Khanna had already bagged his first role. I was struggling to get a role, any role, anywhere, Bachchan, 74, wrote in an emotional blog on Friday. He was working in the Ajanta Arts film, Man Ka Meet, Bachchan wrote, recalling his first meeting with Khanna, his old screen partner who died on Thursday. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Their first meeting was in the office of actor Sunil Dutt, who also gave the two their first screen space together in Reshma Aur Shera in 1971. A most good looking handsome young man; a body in elegant frame; a swagger in his walk. And a gentle smile as he looked towards me, Bachchan wrote. It was 1969... He mourned the end of a 48-year-old friendship with Khanna, recalling his infectious charm and optimistic swagger. His confident charm was infectious. There was always an optimistic swagger about him, a smile, a laugh, a casualness, Bachchan wrote, punctuating his words with a string of ellipses to indicate his frame of mind. Nothing seemed to disturb him, one felt...the relaxed cool of todays times. Khanna, he believed, was one of a kind. No one walked the way he did...No one had the presence he had in a crowded room...No one could lighten up the surroundings he was in, like him...No one, Bachchan wrote. The mega star said soon after their first meeting, they got a chance to work together in Dutts production and became life-long friends. Spending time in each others make-up rooms, sharing our lunch, just biding time and talking of all kinds of talk...The late shoot pack-ups and the beyond midnight drives to Juhu Beach, to just sit with our directors--he to have a drink, and I mine (I used to in those days), Bachchan wrote. The actor toasted the amazing chemistry of the several historic films they did together, the association that was so loveable and considerate. Bachchan and Khanna worked in several memorable films such as Hera Pheri, Parvarish, Amar Akbar Anthony; and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar. PTI New Delhi, April 28 India and Cyprus on Friday signed four agreements, including on air services and merchant shipping, following delegation-level talks headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades here. Advancing a multifaceted partnership. The two leaders witness exchange of four agreements after delegation talks and working luncheon, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted. The two sides signed an executive programme on culture, education and scientific cooperation for the years 2017 to 2020. Both sides signed a work plan under a programme of cooperation in agriculture for the period 2017-2018. Another agreement was signed on cooperation in the area of merchant shipping. A fourth agreement was signed to boost air services between the two countries. Earlier in the day, the Cypriot President was given a ceremonial guard of honour in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Anastasiades also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and described him as a spiritual leader of Cyprus and inspiration for its freedom struggle. Following this, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the visiting dignitary. Ansastasiades will confer Cypruss highest civilian honour, the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III, on President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday evening when the latter will host a banquet in honour of the visiting delegation. Anastasiades, who arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, will depart from New Delhi on Saturday. This is his first visit to India since he became the President in 2013. Cyprus, the eighth largest foreign investor in India, has cumulative foreign direct investment of about $9 billion in areas of financial leasing, stock exchange, auto manufacture, manufacturing industries, real estate, cargo handling, construction, shipping and logistics. IANS Kanpur, April 28 The news of Captain Ayushs death in the terror attack on an Army camp in Kupwara on Thursday has left the family of 24-year-old officer devastated and bereft of all hope. He was among the three Army personnel killed in the attack on Thursday. Also read: Capt, 2 soldiers die in Kupwara attack Gunner Rishi single-handedly took on 2 ultras Trying to hold back tears while speaking to the media here, the slain officer's father recalled how he sensed something was not right when he saw the news about the attack on Thursday morning. I was watching the news and doubts started creeping in my mind when I heard that an officer was also killed and that he was a captain from the artillery. Then I got a call from an officer informing me about Ayush and that was that, he said. Appearing to be in visible pain, he went on to say that his son's time had come too soon, and that he was too young to die. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) He also recalled happy moments with his son, especially when they would talk about his marriage. I used to joke to him about his wedding and tell him that we should start looking for a girl for him. But he would push the matter away saying he was too young. Nevertheless I would push him saying I want to see him settle down before I retire from police, his added. Ayush was more close to his mother, his father said, adding that she had spoken to him the night before the attack, and that he did not pick up the phone when she again called him on Thursday. The government needs to do something about its policy or else our boys will keep dying like this. But honestly, I have nothing to say to the government, nor do I have any hope from them, he said dejectedly. Captain Ayush Yadav, Subedar Bhoop Singh Gujjar and Naik B Venkata Ramanna were killed in the attack on the Army camp on Thursday. Condemning the Kupwara attack, Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Nirmal Singh assured that India would give a befitting reply to 'desperate' Pakistan for trying to ruin the atmosphere in the Valley. "We condemn this strongly. We pay our tributes to the jawans. Pakistan is trying to mess up the situation, but that would not be possible. Our jawans are doing their best and will not let them be successful. Their actions will be answered," Singh told ANI. Dubbing it as a cowardly action, Singh said Pakistan is desperate to create problems in Kashmir and warned it of severe action. "Pakistan is going to suffer. We are going to reply in the same way. The Union government is well-prepared," he added. Two terrorists were also neutralised in the attack. ANI Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 28 Amid increasing violence in Kashmir, the Narendra Modi government today told the Supreme Court it will not hold talks with separatist leaders who want azadi from India. We will talk to only those persons who are legally permitted to hold talks on behalf of people of Kashmir, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told a Bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar. Rohatgi said the government was willing to talk to only recognised political parties in the state. The AGs categorical statement came during hearing of a petition filed by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (Srinagar) challenging the High Courts verdict rejecting their demand for a ban on use of pellet guns against protesters in the Valley. All those whom the law does not prevent can meet and come out with suggestions, as the situation is not very palpable, the Bench said. The Bar association wanted talks with Hurriyat leaders without the condition of these falling within the framework of the Indian Constitution. If you throw stones, close schools, how will talks happen in Kashmir? said the Bench, which had on April 10 posed some serious questions to the association while seeking steps to deal with violent agitators. On Friday, it again requested the association to suggest a roadmap for dialogue and peace. The court asked the Bar members to get names of people who could hold talks with the Centre. Dialogues have to be initiated by political leaders, not in courts, Rohatgi told the Bench. Who is stopping them from having a dialogue? They can meet the Chief Minister or the Prime Minister, the AG said. The Bench said it would direct the Centre to hold talks only if there was a first step from the people whose cause the Bar association espoused. The court said it could ask the CRPF and the state police not to use pellet guns for two weeks if it was assured that there would be no stone-pelting. The Bench indicated it could set the stage for talks between the stakeholders from the Valley and Centre, but cautioned nothing would work out if those representing the Valley wanted secession. We can issue some directions if there is a reciprocal undertaking from your side, the Bench told the Bar association. If we direct them (government) to stop using pellet guns, will you undertake not to throw stones and indulge in agitations? the Bench asked the petitioner. But the association leaders were apparently reluctant to give any undertaking, saying they didnt represent the public at large. The court posted the matter for May 9 after asking the Bar association to talk to people and get back to it with suggestions. The Bench also made it clear to the Centre that it would involve itself in the matter only if there was a view that it could play a role and there was no jurisdictional issue. If you feel the court has no role and if you feel we have no jurisdiction, we will close the file at this moment, the Bench told the Attorney General, who objected to some of the suggestions made by the Bar association, including that the separatists were being ignored. The Centre has been defending the use of pellet guns as a penultimate measure before resorting to bullets. Rohhatgi had earlier told the Bench the situation could not be allowed to go out of control in the border state where a neighbouring country was aiding and abetting people who hoisted Islamic State and Pakistani flags and attacked security forces on a regular basis. Simran Sodhi Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 28 India and Cyprus today signed four agreements, including one for air services, as Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is Anastasiades first visit to India since becoming President in 2013. Anastasiades visit comes right ahead of his foe Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans arrival here on Sunday. Erdogan will hold talks with Modi on Monday. Turkey does not recognise Cyprus and is also obstructing the reunification of Cyprus. Addressing mediapersons after the talks, Modi thanked Cyprus for lending support to India for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The PM did some straight talk on terrorism and said: Given its location, Cyprus appreciates the threat that terrorism poses to the global peace and stability. India itself has been battling cross-border terrorism for decades. We agreed that there is an urgent need for all countries to decisively act against states that generate, support, shelter and sustain these factories of violence in our regions. Modi said he and the Cypriot President discussed the need for creating a comprehensive global legal framework, particularly through early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. This is something that India has been pushing consistently at the international level. Cyprus has already expressed its support for Indias entry into the elite Nuclear Suppliers group. For India, the task is cut out for next week when it will try and convince Turkey to change its stance on admitting non Non-Proliferation Treaty members into the NSG. Turkey, like China, has said the NSG needs to come out with guidelines that would define how non-NPT states can get into the NSG. India and Cyprus also signed an executive programme on culture, education and scientific cooperation from 2017 to 2020. Both countries signed a work plan under a programme of cooperation in the agriculture sector for 2017-18. New Delhi, April 28 With India and Pakistan embroiled in a diplomatic row over Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Supreme Court on Friday said India has deported several foreign prisoners even in matters where no reciprocity has been shown by those nations. A Bench, comprising Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, while dealing with the issue of release of Pakistani nationals from Indian jails on completion of their prison terms, said no other consideration comes into its way for the release of foreign prisoners once they complete their punishment. We do it even when there is no reciprocity from the other country. We do it despite what is happening with our people in that country where they are in jail. We have read about Mr Jadhav, the Bench said, without naming Pakistan. Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death earlier this month by a Pakistani military court on the charge of espionage, evoking a sharp reaction in India which warned Pakistan of consequences and damage to bilateral ties if the pre-meditated murder was carried out. The apex court made the remarks while hearing a petition filed by senior advocate Bhim Singh relating to Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails. Singh referred to Article 21 (right to life) of the Constitution and argued that even the apex court had directed the Centre to deport those foreign prisoners who have completed their jail term here. We are proud of our Constitution, the Bench said. Singh, who heads a political party, Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, also made a mention of a number of such prisoners languishing in jails here. The Bench asked him to give a list containing details of such prisoners. We do not know whether they are political prisoners or they have committed an offence? We do not know about it. Unless we have the particulars of all these prisoners who have been sentenced for any offence and have undergone the sentence, the Bench said. Singh, however, argued that he was fighting for the rule of law and the world should know about Indian rule of law. Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told the Bench that the matter was pending for a long time and there was a mechanism by which the prisoners, who are from other countries and have served their sentences here, were sent back to their native nation. PTI Simran Sodhi Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 28 Amid the standoff with Pakistan on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, Indian industrialist Sajjan Jindal yesterday met Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, leading to speculation about a possible meeting between Sharif and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the near future. Jindal, the brother of former Congress lawmaker Naveen Jindal, is believed to have close ties with the Sharif family and also enjoys a good equation with Modi. This had enabled him to arrange Modis surprise visit to Lahore on the Christmas of 2015. There was no official word, but it is believed that Jindal acted as a conduit for the ice-breaker then. On Thursday, Jindal met Sharif in the hill town of Murree where the two held an hour-long conversation. Speculation has been rife that he possibly carried a message for Sharif from Modi. Both leaders are to travel to Astana in June this year for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting where India and Pakistan will be admitted as full members. A possible scheduled or a pull-aside meeting between the two leaders to defuse simmering tensions is what is being talked about. The Opposition parties in Pakistan are not too amused by Jindals visit. Pakistan's Tehreek-i-Insaaf's (PTI) chief whip Shireen Mazari has questioned the authorities as to how Jindal had visited Murree when he had a visa for only Lahore and Islamabad. Opposition leader Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid tabled a resolution in Pakistans Punjab Assembly in this regard. The people of Pakistan should be told as to why the premier kept his meeting with Jindal secret, the resolution read. Defending her father, Sharifs daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif claimed there was nothing secret about the meeting. She said Jindal was an old friend of the Prime Minister and that the meeting should not be blown out of proportion. Jaipur, April 28 Giving vent to your anger on Twitter is nothing new, but tagging the Prime Minister may not be such a good idea. A Jet Airways passenger learnt it the hard way after his tweet triggered a hijack scare here. @narendramodi sir we have been in jet airways flight for past 3 hrs, looks like hijacked, pl help 9W355, tweeted an annoyed Nitin Verma to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his Delhi-bound plane from Mumbai was diverted to Jaipur due to bad weather yesterday morning. Security agencies swung into action after they were promptly alerted about the tweet and Verma was offloaded here from the plane carrying 176 people on board, including eight crew members. Soon after the aircraft landed, security agencies carried out a thorough check of the aircraft. The aircraft took off for Delhi without the passenger who had sent the officials and the security agencies into a tizzy with his tweet. Verma was arrested after questioning late last night. He has been booked under IPC section 505 (statements conducing public mischief), said SHO, Sanganer, Shivratan Godara. Acting director of Jaipur airport MP Bansal said five Jet Airways flights and one of Oman Air which were to land in Delhi were diverted to Jaipur airport due to inclement weather. PTI Meerut (Uttar Pradesh), April 28 A school in Meerut has asked its students to get a haircut like that of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath triggering resentment among the students and their parents. The parents have alleged that Rishabh Academy School in Sadar area told students that they would not be allowed to sit in the class till they got the Yogi haircut. The students also alleged that the school management had banned non-vegetarian food during recess. The matter, however, came to light on Thursday when some students were not allowed to enter the school because they were without proper haircut. The management, however, denied the allegations. They said that the school secretary, Ranjeet Jain, had asked the students to dress up properly and sport a "decent" haircut while attending the school. I asked the students to get Yogi-like haircuts, when they were unable to understand what we wanted. We basically want very short haircuts, of the kind the Army gives. I had asked the students to maintain discipline and a get 'Fauji cut'. The students have also been strictly told not to keep beard, said Ranjeet Jain. Dozens of angry parents protested in front of the school, following which the police reached the spot and mediated between the parents and school authorities. ANI Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 28 The Punjab Government will seek the help of NRIs to extricate farmers from the vicious cycle of debt. It intends floating interest-free masala bonds that are issued outside India but denominated in Indian rupees. Unlike dollar bonds, where currency risk is that of the borrower, it is the investor who bears the risk in case of masala bonds. The proposed Kisan Sahayata Bonds, each with a minimum value of Rs 1 lakh, will have a seven-year tenure. The money thus raised will be used to pay off institutional debt availed by 30.23 lakh farmers. The total farm debt in Punjab stands at Rs 62,931 crore. The proposal was discussed at length at a meeting of experts, among them Dr T Haque, former chairman of the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices; Dr BS Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor of PAU; Suresh Kumar, Chief Principal Secretary to CM; and Satish Chandra, Additional Chief Secretary, Development. The government is also mulling raising loan from other institutions to clear farm loans taken from public sector banks, private banks, regional rural banks and cooperative banks (which are re-financed by Nabard). A corpus of Rs 15,000 crore could be thus created, which could be used to pay the interest on loans availed from these institutions. If the deal with the financial institutions comes through, Punjab will have to pay Rs 3,000 crore as loan interest annually. The extent of loan availed by marginal and small farmers, mostly from cooperative banks, was examined at the meeting, which also discussed the impact of the UPA governments flagship Agriculture Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme-2008, under which 3.52 lakh Punjab farmers were reported to have been provided relief. Talking to The Tribune, Dr Haque said consultations would be held with various kisan organisations and farmers cooperatives. We will be studying Uttar Pradeshs debt relief model, though Punjab has its own issues and concerns, and submit our recommendations within 60 days, he said. One of the experts, Dr Pramod K Joshi, Director (South Asia), International Food Policy Research Institute, could not make it. The expert group is expected to meet again by May 10. Balwant Garg Tribune News Service Faridkot, April 28 Hunting for ways to circumvent Supreme Courts order of banning the sale of liquor within 500 mt of national and state highways, liquor contractors in Faridkot have taken refuge on the banks of Rajasthan Feeder Canal by opening a vend. As about 4 km of Amritsar-Bathinda NH runs parallel to the canal and the land adjoining this road is the property of the Rajasthan government, the contractors have erected an unauthorised liquor vend on it putting up a flashy signboard beckoning all. These vend also provides the consumers a place to drink in an ahatta (open air kitchens serving eatables) along Amritsar-Bathinda road. While the Excise and Taxation Department feigned ignorance about the liquor vend operating in this belt, XEN Erinder Singh, Rajasthan Feeder Canal, said the land adjoining the canal is the property of Rajasthan government and using it for any other purpose without their permission was illegal. We will initiate legal action for the removal of the vend, he said. Harman Sidhu, the man behind the booze ban in clubs and pubs along the highways, said it was not only a violation of SC ruling but it is also encroachment on the land of another state. Sources said not only this liquor vend, many marriage palaces and private colonies have also encroached on such land. Some time ago, such marriage palaces and colonizers were issued notices by the Rajasthan government to pay between Rs 6lakh-7 lakh each as annual user charges and vacate the land. But no one paid up, the sources said. Rajasthan government is owner of over 2 lakh acres of land in Southern-West Punjab after this land was acquired for the construction of a canal in the 60s. Traversing through Ferozepur, Faridkot, Muktsar districts, the first 167 km of this canal lies in Punjab. A wide strip of this land that runs parallel the canal is lying unused, thus making it vulnerable to encroachment. IT is clear from Sir Robert Carlye's observations that the Government of India have in view a fuller and more profitable utilisation of the resources in raw materials which we posses in our forests. Except for a couple of experiments lately of turpentine, precious little has been done to employ economics products for the development of industries. It is interesting to compare our own activity in this direction with those of Mysore. In that State a sandalwood oil factory has been established under the direct official control and a tram line is proposed to be constructed to facilitate the transport of sandalwood from forests to the factory. Washington, April 28 US President Donald Trump said a major, major conflict with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while China said the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control. Trump, speaking to Reuters on Thursday, said he wanted to resolve the crisis peacefully, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option was not off the table. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea, Trump said in an interview at the Oval Office. Wed love to solve things diplomatically but its very difficult, he said, describing North Korea as his biggest global challenge. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was a danger that the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control, his ministry said. Wang made the comments in a meeting at the United Nations with a Russian diplomat on Thursday, the ministry said in a statement. China, the only major ally of North Korea, has been increasingly uncomfortable in recent months about its neighbours pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles in violation on UN resolutions. The United States has called on China to do more to rein in Pyongyang and Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for his efforts, calling him a good man. I believe he is trying very hard. I know he would like to be able to do something. Perhaps its possible that he cant. But I think hed like to be able to do something, Trump said. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that China had asked North Korea not to conduct any more nuclear tests. Beijing had warned Pyongyang it would impose unilateral sanctions if it went ahead, he added. Tillerson did not say when China made the threat. He is due to chair a meeting with UN Security Council foreign ministers, where he said he would stress the need for members to fully implement existing sanctions as well as possible next steps. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, asked about Tillersons remarks, would not say what actions China might take if there were a new nuclear test and would not comment directly on what Tillerson had said. We oppose any behaviour that goes against Security Council resolutions. I think this position is very clear. This is what we have told the United States. I think North Korea is also very clear about this position, Geng told reporters. China banned imports of North Korean coal in February, cutting off its most important export, and Chinese media this month raised the possibility of restricting oil shipments to the North if it unleashed more provocations. Reuters Washington doesnt rule out direct talks with Pyongyang The US is not ruling out direct dialogue with North Korea on its nuclear programme, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an interview with National Public Radio broadcast today. Obviously, that would be the way we would like to solve this, he said, when asked whether Washington seeks direct talks with Pyongyang. But North Korea has to decide theyre ready to talk to us about the right agenda -- and the right agenda is not simply stopping where they are for a few more months or a few more years and then resuming things.AFP S Korea should pay for THAAD, says Trump US President Donald Trump said in the interview he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the THAAD, which he estimated at $1 billion. South Korea said the US would have to bear the cost, pointing to possible friction ahead Trumps remarks came as South Korea heads into a presidential poll on May 9 that will likely elect liberal frontrunner Moon Jae-in, who has said the next administration in Seoul should have the final say on THAAD The US started the deployment of THAAD in March, despite opposition from China, which worries the systems powerful radar can be used to spy into its territory Show of force: Missile defence, carrier group Brussels: European leaders will discuss for the first time at a summit the battle to host two London-based EU agencies after Brexit, with a decision expected later this year. Over a dozen member states have already thrown their hats into the ring to host the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority, currently housed in London's Canary Wharf business district. EU President Donald Tusk will bring up the sensitive topic at the summit in Brussels where the 27 remaining EU leaders will adopt Brexit negotiating guidelines. PTI Preet Kaur Gill gets Labour party ticket London: Preet Kaur Gill, chosen as the Opposition Labour party candidate to contest in the June 8 general election, hopes to become the first British Sikh female MP in the House of Commons. Gill, a Labour Councillor in Sandwell was selected by the Labour National Executive Committees (NEC) interview panel to replace Gisela Stuart MP in Birmingham Edgbaston. Gill has served as a Board Member of the Sikh Network, which she believes has provided her with a unique platform and opportunity in the last two years to raise her political profile. PTI China to have own space station by 2020 Beijing: China on Friday said it plans to conduct several manned space flights from 2019 to 2022, during which a 60-tonne space station will be assembled and built. The space station programme has been progressing steadily with its key technologies and plans already completed and its relevant flight products being tested, said Wang Zhaoyao, director of Chinas manned space programme office. Chinese astronauts are preparing for the space station era. They are expected to stay in space for three to six months or even longer during future missions, he said. Pti Ankara, April 28 Irans foreign ministry has summoned Pakistans ambassador in Tehran to protest against the killing of nine Iranian border guards by Sunni militants attacking from neighbouring Pakistan, Irans state news agency IRNA reported on Friday. The Sunni Muslim militant group called Jaish al Adl, or the Army of Justice, has claimed responsibility for the attack on Wednesday in Irans Sistan-Baluchestan Province. Iran expects Pakistan to take serious and essential measures to arrest and punish those terrorists responsible for the killing of our nine guards, IRNA quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi as saying. The message was delivered to Ambassador Asif Ali Khan Durrani on Friday, he said. Irans southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, whose majority population is Sunni Muslim Baluch people like those across the border in Pakistans Baluchistan province, lies on a major transit route for drug smugglers. It has long been plagued by unrest both from them and from separatist militants. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also called on Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to prosecute the militants who had killed the Iranian border guards. Regrettably, a lack of appropriate measures and necessary prosecution on the part of the Pakistani government have caused great loss of lives and property for Iran, Rouhani said in a statement, quoted by the semi-official Mehr news agency. The Jaish al Adl group has in the past carried out several attacks against Iranian security forces, aimed at highlighting what they say is discrimination against Sunni Muslims and the ethnic Baluch in Shiite-dominated Iran. Iran denies the claim. The group killed eight border guards in 2015 and 14 border guards two years earlier. Reuters Skopje, April 28 Scores of people were injured as violence erupted in Macedonias parliament after nationalist protesters stormed the building in anger over a vote for a new speaker, the interior ministry said today. The chaos in Skopje broke out on Thursday evening, with dozens of demonstrators-including a group of masked men-breaking a police cordon and entering parliament waving Macedonian flags, shouting and singing the national anthem. Footage from the scene showed chairs being thrown as fistfights broke out in the parliamentary press room, while Zoran Zaev, leader of the opposition Social Democrats (SDSM), had blood running down his face and shirt. One female SDSM deputy is seen yanked by the hair while other women climb down from a balcony in a bid to escape. An interior ministry statement on Friday said 102 people had been treated at city hospitals, including MPs and police officers. Interior Minister Agim Nuhiu earlier told media that 10 MPs and an unspecified number of journalists were among those hurt in the violence, which was condemned by the United States and European Union. AFP Moscow, April 28 Russian prosecutors have called for a three-and-a-half year jail sentence for a blogger who hunted Pokemons in church, in a case that has drawn ire from rights activists. Ruslan Sokolovsky posted a YouTube video in August 2016 showing him playing Pokemon Go on his phone in a Russian Orthodox church in the central city of Yekaterinburg that was viewed more than 1.7 million times. The militant atheist dubbed a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International was detained and charged under controversial legislation for "inciting hatred" and "insulting the feelings of religious believers" before being put on trial. "There are no grounds to let the defendant go unpunished," Russian news agencies quoted a prosecutor as saying in court. "I ask for a punishment of three years and six months of imprisonment for all crimes." Sokolovsky's harsh treatment has drawn comparisons with the jailing of the Pussy Riot performance artists after they staged a punk performance in a Moscow cathedral in 2012. The case has once again highlighted the power of the Russian Orthodox Church under the conservative rule of President Vladimir Putin. The court said the verdict in Sokolovsky's case will be delivered on May 11, agencies reported. AFP Washington, April 28 US President Donald Trump on Thursday spurned the Taiwanese presidents suggestion that the two leaders hold another phone call, saying he did not want to create problems for Chinese President Xi Jinping when Beijing appears to be helping efforts to rein in North Korea. In a White House interview, Trump brushed aside the idea after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen told Reuters on Thursday she would not rule out talking directly again to the US President, an act certain to incense China. The status of self-ruled Taiwan is possibly the most sensitive issue between Washington and Beijing. Trumps dismissal of Tsais suggestion underscored the importance he is placing on enlisting Chinas help in defusing tension with North Korea, which has become his biggest national security challenge since taking office in January. On Friday, in response to Trumps remarks, Taiwans presidential office said it had no plans at this stage to hold a call, and that it understood the US had priorities in handling regional affairs. Reuters Earlier call had angered Beijing As president-elect in early December, Donald Trump took a congratulatory phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. It was the first contact between a leader of Taiwan and an incumbent or incoming US President in nearly four decades. The call angered Beijing because it fears contacts between Taiwan and leaders of other countries would confer sovereignty on the island. Democratic Taiwan, self-ruled since 1949, has no interest in being ruled by autocratic China Washinton, April 28 US President Donald Trump said a major, major conflict with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while China said the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control. Trump, speaking to Reuters on Thursday, said he wanted to resolve the crisis peacefully, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option was not off the table. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea, Trump said in an interview at the Oval Office. Wed love to solve things diplomatically but its very difficult, he said, describing North Korea as his biggest global challenge. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was a danger that the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control, his ministry said. Wang made the comments in a meeting at the United Nations with a Russian diplomat on Thursday, the ministry said in a statement. China, the only major ally of North Korea, has been increasingly uncomfortable in recent months about its neighbours pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles in violation on UN resolutions. The United States has called on China to do more to rein in Pyongyang and Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for his efforts, calling him a good man. I believe he is trying very hard. I know he would like to be able to do something. Perhaps its possible that he cant. But I think hed like to be able to do something, Trump said. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that China had asked North Korea not to conduct any more nuclear tests. Beijing had warned Pyongyang it would impose unilateral sanctions if it went ahead, he added. Tillerson did not say when China made the threat. He is due to chair a meeting with U.N Security Council foreign ministers on Friday, where he said he would stress the need for members to fully implement existing sanctions as well as possible next steps. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, asked about Tillersons remarks, would not say what actions China might take if there were a new nuclear test and would not comment directly on what Tillerson had said. We oppose any behaviour that goes against Security Council resolutions. I think this position is very clear. This is what we have told the United States. I think North Korea is also very clear about this position, Geng told reporters. China banned imports of North Korean coal in February, cutting off its most important export, and Chinese media this month raised the possibility of restricting oil shipments to the North if it unleashed more provocations. Geng said Fridays UN meeting should not fixate on new sanctions. If the meeting only focuses on increasing sanctions and pressure, I think this will not only lose a rare opportunity, it may also exacerbate the confrontation between all sides and may damage efforts to promote peace and talks, he said. Missile defence, carrier group In a show of force, the United States is sending the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula, where it will join the USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in South Korea on Tuesday. South Koreas navy has said it will hold drills with the U.S. strike group. Admiral Harry Harris, the top US commander in the Pacific, said on Wednesday the carrier was in the Philippine Sea, within two hours striking distance of North Korea if needs be. Harris also said a US missile defence system being deployed in South Korea to ward off any North Korean attack would be operational in coming days. China has been angered by the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), complaining that its radar can see deep into China and undermines its security. Trump said in the interview he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the THAAD, which he estimated at $1 billion. South Korea, one of Washingtons most crucial allies in the region, said the United States would have to bear the cost, pointing to possible friction ahead. Trumps remarks came as South Korea heads into a presidential poll on May 9 that will likely elect liberal frontrunner Moon Jae-in, who has said the next administration in Seoul should have the final say on THAAD. Trump has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile, a capability experts say Pyongyang could have some time after 2020. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests and numerous missile tests, including one this month, a day before a summit between Trump and Xi in Florida. North Korea, technically still at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, regularly threatens to destroy the United States and says it will pursue its nuclear and missile programmes to counter perceived US aggression. It is just the US which has pushed the situation on the peninsula to the brink of nuclear war by staging the largest-ever aggressive joint military drills against the DPRK for the past two months after bringing all sorts of nuclear strategic assets to south Korea, the Norths KCNA state news agency said in a commentary. DPRK stands for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. ...The nuclear force of the DPRK is a treasure sword of justice and reliable war deterrent to defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country and global peace from the nuclear war threat posed by the US. Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on North Korea and other countries on Thursday to avoid behaviour or rhetoric that could increase tension. Reuters Washington, April 28 The US should review its options for dealing with Pakistan, including taking unilateral actions against terrorist safe havens in the country, if it did not cease its support to the militant outfits attacking neighbours like India, eminent experts told American lawmakers. Seth G Jones, director, International Security and Defence Policy Centre RAND Corporation, in his testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Congress had reduced its military assistance to Pakistan in recent years and curtailed Pakistans access to foreign military financing. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) But even todays reduced amounts of US assistance could be cut further, he said, adding that targeted economic sanctions could be selectively applied against specific organisations and individuals. Washington could encourage other countries to consider similar steps. The United States should review its options for dealing with Pakistan. For example, the United States could take further steps to pressure Taliban sanctuaries within Pakistan, with or without the support of Islamabad, he said. Washington could sketch out a vision of an improved relationship with Pakistan if Islamabad cut its ties with militant groups attacking both Afghanistan and India, Jones said. This outcome would be highly desirable for broader American interests, given Pakistans central role in the stability of the entire region and its ability to upend that stability, he said. Vanda Felbab-Brown, senior fellow at the Centre for 21st Century Security and Intelligence in the Foreign Policy Programme at the Brookings Institution, said Pakistans unwillingness to cease its support for the Taliban also reflected its uncertainties and internal limitations. More than a decade after 9/11, Pakistans military intelligence establishment remains preoccupied with Indias ascendance at a time of Pakistans own stagnation and atrophy. Afghanistan has repeatedly been a prime theatre for Indian and Pakistani rivalries, Brown said. Fearing encirclement by India, Pakistan has been greatly reluctant to suppress Afghan militant groups using Pakistan for sanctuary, he said. Pakistans continuing support for these groups, despite pressure from the United States and NATO, reflects the persistent view of the Pakistani military-intelligence establishment that the jihadi groups are critical assets in preventing threats on Pakistans western flank from an India-friendly regime in Kabul and in securing access to Central Asias trade routes, the expert said. Bill Roggio, editor, Long War Journal, Foundation For Defence of Democracies, said Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is a dangerous jihadist group that is backed by Pakistans military and Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate. The LeT is known to operate training camps in Afghanistan and attacked the Indian Consulate in Herat in 2014...The US has also listed several senior LeT operatives, including Hafiz Saeed, the groups emir, as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, he said. Roggio said the Islamic State had established a small, but significant, foothold in the country. PTI After being escorted out of the hospital, the man got into his vehicle and rammed into a security vehicle. He then sped toward the security officers, attempting to hit them, and the officers "fired one shot each at the vehicle in self-defense," Saint Francis said in a press statement. Editor's note: This story has been edited since its original publication. A popular Netflix series that graphically depicts a teen suicide prompted at least two area school districts to equip counselors with additional resources and information for dealing with students who may be emotionally harmed by the show. Officials with Tulsa Public Schools and Jenks Public Schools have responded to 13 Reasons Why by sending counselors and other faculty guidelines for talking with students about suicide and suicidal thoughts. Anytime something like this comes up, if it becomes the talk You know, you hear kids talking in the hall and things like that, (or) at lunch we just want to make sure that our teachers are aware, our counselors are aware and that they have the right resources, Jenks spokeswoman Bonnie Rogers said. The show, adapted from a young adult novel of the same title, was released March 31 on the streaming website Netflix. It has since proliferated online. For mental health professionals, the show is problematic because it depicts a teenagers suicide, and research shows that exposure to suicide either in person or otherwise can prompt vulnerable youth to mimic that behavior, said Melanie Fry, with the TeenScreen program at Mental Health Association of Oklahoma. Such exposure can result in what experts call a contagion, or a series of suicides. It happened in Jenks Public Schools in 1997 and about a decade later at Tulsa Public Schools. The crux is that something happens to children when they are exposed to suicide, Fry said. It does weird things to them because its their first encounter with the mortality of somebody their own age, she said. Though it has been a while since Glenpool High School senior Mariah Gibson has actively struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts, she said watching the show especially the suicide scene awakened feelings of hopelessness. When those feelings came back up, it kind of surprised me, Gibson said. I didnt think it would happen to me. A 14-year-old student at a private Tulsa school said in an exchange on Facebook that she watched the show, even after giving it a lot of thought. She now regrets her decision. Just watching it caused her to vomit, she said. As she felt an anxiety attack coming on, she turned off the show and cried. It was way too much, way too raw and way too dangerous for anyone with a mental disorder, she said. Both girls agreed that while the show is an accurate portrayal of some aspects of high school and struggling with mental health such as the importance of showing someone kindness it could have been presented better. For instance, the 14-year-old said, the show incorrectly depicts people as reasons someone would kill himself or herself, or how the girl who eventually dies is judged when she seeks help from adults. The National Association of School Psychologists guidelines sent to counselors at TPS caution against vulnerable youth watching the show for a similar reason, said Stephanie Andrews, interim senior direct of student engagement. Among the methods for helping students cope with the show though experts agree some teens are capable of not being adversely affected by it is open and honest communication, both at home and at school. I dont believe in the coddling stuff or anything like that, Fry said, but parents should be dialoguing. Just paying attention. By Press Trust of India: Washington, Apr 28 (PTI) 2017 will be among the hottest years on record, say scientists who have developed a new method for predicting global mean temperature. Researchers at Yale University in the US found that weak El Nino activity from 1998 until 2013, rather than a pause in long-term global warming, was the root cause for slower rates of increased surface temperature. advertisement They also found that volcanic activity played only a minor role. "From a practical perspective, our method, when combined with El Nino prediction, allows us to predict next-year global mean temperature," said Alexey Fedorov, professor at Yale University. "Accordingly, 2017 will remain among the hottest years of the observational record, perhaps just a notch colder than 2016 or 2015," Fedorov said. El Nino events contribute to year-to-year variations in global mean temperature by modulating the heat that is released from tropical oceans into the atmosphere, researchers said. El Nino warms the atmosphere, while the cold phase of the phenomenon, La Nina, cools the atmosphere. The new model closely mirrors global mean surface temperature (GMST) changes since 1880, including the so-called global warming hiatus and the more recent temperature rise. "Our main conclusion is that global warming never went away, as one might imply from the term global warming hiatus," Fedorov said. "The warming can be masked by inter-annual and decadal natural climate variability, but then it comes back with a vengeance," said Fedorov. Multiple strong El Nino events occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. This was followed by much weaker El Nino activity, which lasted until 2014. "The recent rapid rise in global temperature mainly resulted from the prolonged 2014-2016 El Nino conditions in the tropics that reached an extreme magnitude in the winter of 2015," said Shineng Hu, first author of the study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. "The corresponding heat release into the atmosphere, together with the ongoing background global warming trend, made 2014, 2015, and 2016 the three consecutive warmest years of the instrumental record so far," Hu said. PTI SAR SAR --- ENDS --- Prosecutors charged two people on allegations one of the duo held up a convenience store at gunpoint for cash and cigarettes while the other drove the getaway vehicle. Tulsa police arrested Jesus Delano Mendoza, 33, and Brianna Renee Thomas, 20, on Thursday in connection to an April 22 robbery of Fastop-Shell Station, located at 1502 N. Yale Ave., according to court records. Mendoza allegedly brandished a pistol and forced the store clerk to the ground, taking his wallet and items from behind the counter, according to a probable cause affidavit. He then allegedly left the store and fled the area in a maroon Mercury Sable, according to the affidavit. After authorities released surveillance images, the owner of the Sable contacted police. The owner stated that Thomas allegedly took the vehicle without permission the night before the robbery. The vehicle owner also told police he met Mendoza with Thomas that night. Mendoza allegedly offered to sell the vehicle owner a .22-caliber revolver, which the man declined. Prosecutors charged Mendoza and Thomas on Thursday with robbery with a dangerous weapon. Prosecutors also charged Thomas with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Thomas is being held in Tulsa Jail in lieu of a $60,000 bond. Mendoza is being held in lieu of an $80,000 bond. When her partner got sick at the last minute, Lauryn Hansard was forced to pull out of the fifth-grade talent show. But she went anyway to support everyone else. And it still ranks as one of the Union High School seniors favorite memories from her days at Grove Elementary School. Seeing all of my friends in it was great, she said. It was so funny. On Friday, Hansard got to experience a little of the applause she missed out on, when she joined a number of graduating Union seniors for one last visit to their old elementary schools. Hansard was one of about 20 seniors who participated at Grove. With the schools students lining the halls, the seniors wearing their bright red graduation caps and gowns walked through to cheers, clapping and a few high-fives before attending a reception. Hansard, who will be starting college at Howard University in Washington, D.C., in the fall, said the return was very emotional. I miss my teachers, she said. Union Public Schools officials said its long been an informal tradition for elementary principals to invite graduating seniors back for a reception and some kind of recognition. This year, we decided to be intentional about it, district spokesman Chris Payne said. We want to send the young students a message: This is the future we envision for you. Having the seniors wear their caps and gowns helps reinforce the message, he added. The elementary students understand this is our tradition, and that graduating is expected of them, Payne said. Many children may have parents who did not graduate or go on to college, and this is an attempt to create new expectations and behaviors. At the same time, he said, the graduating seniors get to symbolically complete the circle, returning to where it all started for them. On Friday morning, most of the seniors boarded buses at the high school, then traveled to their respective former elementaries 13 schools in all. About 200 seniors participated, officials said. For seniors Evan Jones and Asa Carter, visiting Grove felt just like old times. We were best friends, Jones said. I started here in pre-K, then he moved here in the second. I was a little troublemaker, Carter said with laugh. Yes, he was, Jones agreed, also laughing. After graduation, Jones will attend Michigan State University to study biosystems engineering and compete in debate. He said he hoped the visit made an impression on the students: We just want them to know to keep going. Its easy to think its too hard. Weve all been there. But just keep going. Carter added, And we want to encourage them as they move on to sixth grade. Thats a big transition. Carters plans include attending Arkansas State University, where he will study mechanical engineering and play rugby. Laila Brown, a Grove fourth-grader, said she enjoyed having the seniors come over. Its inspiring, she said. Because one day I want to come back and do this. I just felt really happy for them, added fourth-grader Zachary OBrien. Unions commencement is set for 7:30 p.m. May 10 at the Mabee Center. The district says there are 1,193 seniors eligible this year to walk across the stage. 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. Update: Tulsa police on Friday morning identified the officer involved in Thursday's shooting as Jason Angel, 30, according to a news release. Angel has been a Tulsa police officer for about three years and seven months, according to the news release. Angel is on paid administrative leave while the Tulsa Police Department investigates the shooting, Tulsa Police Sgt. Dave Walker said in a Thursday news release. A man armed with a gun was shot and critically wounded by a police officer Thursday afternoon, authorities said. The officer stopped Charles Day, 36, who was riding his bicycle along Peoria Avenue near 62nd Street, around 3:30 p.m. after recognizing him as a suspect in a shooting that occurred about a month earlier. Day also was on a list of alleged violent offenders who had been sought by authorities during a recent large-scale sweep, police spokesman Leland Ashley said. On April 1, detectives listed him as a suspect who may be armed. Investigators on Thursday interviewed five independent witnesses who told them that during the encounter, Day became engaged in a debate with the officer and pushed away from him. The officer then deployed his Taser, which had no effect on Day, homicide Sgt. Dave Walker said. Day ran west across Peoria into a vacant lot, where police say he turned around with a firearm in his hand, prompting the officer to open fire. The witnesses also reported hearing the officer yell for the man to stop before shooting. Day, who was struck at least twice, was taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition. Walker said he will be booked into the Tulsa Jail after his release from the hospital on, at least, a complaint of possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. State records show Day has served multiple stints in prison since 1999 for convictions of drug possession and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The shooting took place about 50 feet from where the bicycle lay for several hours while investigators processed the scene. The officer who shot Day was placed on paid administrative leave, per the police departments policy. Dozens of onlookers gathered at the scene during the early stages of the investigation. Speculation spread through the group that the mans firearm actually was a BB gun, but police later verified that the gun, a 9mm semiautomatic, was real. Many in the crowd expressed their anger at the shooting and stated they believed the man was unjustly shot. Addressing the media, police spokesman Leland Ashley urged those in the area to let investigators do their jobs and wait for more information before making assumptions. You have to let the investigation run its course, he said. If you did see it, if you were a witness to it, approach an officer so you can give your statement. Thats what I would ask. But do not go by individuals saying this and this occurred without having all the facts. Moques Norman, 19, said he was at the nearby convenience store when he saw the officer chase the man and deploy his Taser and then shoot him. This was the first time for me to see police shoot somebody, Norman said. I dont even like to see this type of stuff. The police had no right to shoot him. He didnt fire no shots at all. He was just running. Tulsa police Officer Amley Popsey Floyd, the community resource officer recently assigned to the 61st Street and Peoria Avenue area, was one of the first officers to arrive at the shooting scene. Instead of heading to the actual crime scene, Floyd immersed himself in the crowd and spent the next hour talking to spectators. Many he already knew and developed relationships with after starting the position in mid-January. As the agencys first community resource officer, Floyd is responsible for building trust with a neighborhood that has a history of distrust in law enforcement. I just wanted to come out here and first of all just check on them, because anytime something like this happens, its a traumatic experience for everybody, Floyd said. So my first response was just making sure if anyone saw or heard anything, were here for them. I wasnt here to try to change their opinion on anything. Just make sure theyre OK. The position was paid for through the departments existing budget but on Wednesday was approved to be funded by the Byrne Innovation Program Grant, which was recently awarded to the city. AAP leader Kumar Vishwas has launched an offensive against party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Kumar Vishwas has called for radical measures in the AAP including a possible change in leadership. By Ashutosh Mishra: It is a civil war that has broken out in the Aam Aadmi Party. The ominous signs were there since the loss in the Delhi municipal elections. AAP leaders Alka Lamba, Kapil Mishra and a few others differed with the official spokesperson's line of blaming the electronic voting machines for the electoral defeat. Now, AAP PAC member Kumar Vishwas has launched an offensive against the top leadership of the party. Kumar Vishwas has hit out at Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal over a range of issues. advertisement Speaking to India Today, Kumar Vishwas questioned Arvind Kejriwal's defence of AAP's loss in Punjab, Rajouri Assembly by-poll in Delhi and the MCD elections. Kumar Vishwas said that the party needs 'radical reforms'. The question of change of leadership will also be discussed in the party, Vishwas told India Today. WHAT ELSE KUMAR VISHWAS SAID: THINGS TO KNOW Kumar Vishwas said, "We did not lose the elections because of EVMs. People did not vote for us in enough number. There is mistrust among the people for us." "Blaming EVMs is not good. That can be a factor but we failed to reach out to the voters and volunteers," Kumar Vishwas said. Kumar Vishwas said that Arvind Kejriwal's stand on surgical strike was wrong. He said that Kejriwal "should not have attacked the Prime Minister over surgical strike". Kumar Vishwas blamed the loss in Punjab Assembly election on the wrong decision made by the AAP. "Ticket distribution was wrong. People from the Congress and the Akali were given tickets. Many decisions were taken inside closed door," Kumar Vishwas said. He also said, "(AAP's Punjab in-charges) Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak resgined but that was too late." Commenting on the MCD electoral loss, Kumar Vishwas said, "This is our sixth defeat because we were disconnected with volunteers. EVMs should not be blamed solely. We lost because people did not vote for us." "Gopal Rai was given charge of Delhi by Arvind Kejriwal. Nothing was discussed. The decision was told in the PAC," Kumar Vishwas said. Kumar Vishwas said, "Party needs to change. Instead of blaming others, we must introspect the reasons for loss." On the question if there is need to change the leadership, Kumar Vishwas said, "We will discuss this in the party soon." "We didn't sit at Jantar Mantar to fight against Congress, Modi, BJP or EVM," Kumar Vishwas said while outlining the original objective of providing an alternative stream of politics in the country. ALSO READ| Kumar Vishwas video talks of Kashmir, attacks Arvind Kejriwal, Narendra Modi Watch the video here: 'This is AAP's sixth defeat and not because of EVM rigging' Kumar Vishwas slams Kejriwal --- ENDS --- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services has started turning around the problem of maltreatment of foster children, according to the latest progress report from an oversight panel, released Friday. Last fall, a report from the Pinnacle Plan, which is an improvement plan developed from a class-action lawsuit settlement, showed the agency struggling in some areas. Now, for the first time, DHS has made good faith efforts to reduce maltreatment in care. The report states DHS has made discernible progress though modest in some areas. The advancements made to date are fragile, and not yet fully rooted, particularly with respect to reasonable caseloads and an adequate array of homes for children, the report states. Despite the tremendous budget pressures DHS has confronted in recent years, DHS leadership, supported by the governor and the Legislature, has maintained its focus and investments on child welfare reform. These budget pressures continue to loom large presently, and threaten the pace and progress of the overall reform effort at a critical time. Any reversal in support could substantially compromise the still tenuous foundation upon which DHS has sought to build this reform, and undermine years of public investment from the Oklahoma Legislature. Overall, the agency was found to have been making good faith efforts in 24 of 31 areas. The monitors are reserving judgment in six areas. The one area in which DHS was found to have made no improvement was in finding permanent homes for older teens, those ages 16 to 18. The (monitors) continue to recognize and cite the progress we are making to improve our foster care system, said DHS Director Ed Lake. Although we would like to have attained good faith efforts across the board, we are still very close. We know what we need to do and have clear plans approved by the (monitors) for meeting those obligations. We continue to work on those plans and are confident we will achieve our goals. The Pinnacle Plan was an ambitious five-year plan approved in 2012 to improve the system for abused and neglected children taken into the states care. It included cutting down on placements, recruiting more foster families, lowering caseloads, eliminating shelter use, and raising worker salaries and foster family payments. The agreement is overseen by a three-member monitoring panel. Because DHS was not near some of the agreed-upon goals, an extension was granted last year. The oversight with regular progress reports will continue until the goals are met. Turning around a system so far behind takes time, said Marcia Robinson Lowry, attorney for the plaintiffs in the lawsuit and executive director of A Better Childhood, a national nonprofit. Oklahoma lost the first three years of the process because they really werent making a lot of progress, Lowry said. Its only the last three years that they have been making an effort to do it, and we are glad for the effort even in maltreatment in care. But the numbers are still the worst in the country, and that is really very concerning. The biggest improvements have been in caseworker visits, which have met the original goals set. DHS has also received high marks in eliminating shelter use for children 2 and younger and finding permanent homes for young children within four years. But Lowry is concerned about the setbacks she is seeing in the data regarding the number of regular foster homes. The agency has an ongoing problem attracting therapeutic homes, and the state has a lack of group home placements. A large number of regular foster homes have been lost. In the next period that could well be a big problem, as well, Lowry said. Most concerning to stakeholders is how the state budget will impact child welfare. DHS administers social programs such as adult protective services, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (commonly referred to as food stamps), disability services, child care licensing and the ADvantage Waiver program. The ongoing state budget failure has cut into those programs significantly, and social workers argue that those cuts affect families at risk of child abuse and neglect. Because of the Pinnacle Plan, the child welfare division has been largely spared while budgets of the other departments have been slashed. That changed with the announcement last month of a 14 percent cut for DHS. The child welfare division is expected to lose $7 million to $14 million. Lowry said the budget loss could bring setbacks in the strides made under the Pinnacle Plan, such as higher caseloads, and further stymie progress in recruiting foster families. The budget cuts have been quite draconian, and the agency could get worse, she said. A lot depends on what the Legislature will do in terms of funding. My friend, publicity shy but otherwise admirable, has an odd way of spending his free time. He flies to some of the worlds most Godforsaken places and tries to help some of the worlds most Godforsaken people. This is how he got to the Dadaab refugee camp on the Somalia-Kenya border, a moonscape of sun-blanched trees adorned with errant plastic bags, where young men, such as the ones my friend encountered, until recently dreamed of America. No longer though. We are not wanted anymore, one of the refugees said. America is not a friendly place. They said theyd prefer to go back to war-torn Somalia. My friend was disbelieving. Youd rather go back to a war zone than go to America? he asked. Yes, the young man said. Yes, his friends nodded in agreement. Their reason: Donald Trump. My friend was both shocked and appalled. He is no naif. He has lived all over the world, worked in India and Afghanistan, and dealt with refugees from drought and refugees from famine and refugees from war. The Dadaab camp residents are mostly the latter, goat and camel herders escaping Somalias persistent civil war. Dadaab has some 245,000 residents, the numbers fluctuating with conditions. Drought brings more. Rain bring less. The thought of America always brought hope. Donald Trump, though, has repurposed the Statue of Liberty. Her upstretched arm no longer beckons. It is the halt of a border cop. I am not the world traveler my friend is, but I know the exhilaration and pride of being an American in shambolic places where the sewers run free. My country is known yes for its power and sometimes for its alleged or actual crimes but also for its presumed goodness, its quality of justice, its huge welcome: a country with open arms. The America that lived in the minds of people around the globe was the great American empire, the one of aspiration, hope and decency, and the one that remained even as the physical one contracted. This is the one that mattered. It mattered to people overseas and to Americans themselves. We had a view of ourselves. We were good. We were generous. We were sometimes dumb and sometimes cruel, but these were uncharacteristic moments, like a flash fight in an otherwise good marriage. We were always ready to make up. Now we have shown an ugly face to the world. It is Trump the pugnacious and Trump the intolerant and Trump the dishonest and Trump the angry and Trump the malevolent and, finally, Trump the Ugliest of Americans. It is the Trump who has disheartened refugees and even discouraged tourism, which declined immediately after the late January travel ban. Never mind the loss of tourist dollars and never mind, too, lost tax revenue. What matters more is the loss of the image we used to have as a nation. I never knew what was meant by American exceptionalism but surely it applied to the aura of specialness that one could sense abroad. My grandmother, an immigrant from the Polish shtetl, used to refer to it all the time. Only in America, shed say over and over again. It was the immigrants common expression of wonder. What a place, America! What a people, Americans! The Dadaab camp was established by the United Nations 25 years ago. It has become a considerable city, with even a bookstore and other amenities. Its residents live on U.N. assistance and contributions from hard-pressed Kenya. Conditions are harsh; the war is unending, yet life insists on its routines. One-thousand children are born a month. Some young people have never known a different place. But even there, as if on the rising haze from the heat or the dust blowing in from the desert, the image of Trump comes rolling in like yet another plague. The American visitors take comfort from the indomitability of the refugees and, inescapably, the dumb luck of their own fortunate birth. They walk from group to group, inquiring, wondering, asking the usual questions and expecting the usual answers. But then they come to the group of young men whose views of America have changed. They no longer want to go there. It is not a friendly place, one of them said. My friend calls Dadaab a dead-end spot in the middle of nowhere. You can Google it. It is a parched place. The trees cling to life, but the great American Empire of Hope is already dead. The special Outsiders edition of Tulsa World Magazine comes out Saturday. The Outsiders, by Tulsan S.E. Hinton, was published 50 years ago, and a movie that launched the careers of several big stars was later filmed in Tulsa. The upcoming issue of Tulsa World Magazine features many behind-the-scenes stories from Hinton, actors in the film and Tulsans who played a role in the movie. The Outsiders 50th Anniversary Celebration & Fundraiser is set for May 6 at Cains Ballroom, and Tulsa World Magazine is giving away tickets. The event at Cains will help raise money to restore and preserve The Outsiders House Museum, where parts of the film were shot. There will be appearances by actors Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, Darren Dalton and more, with music by DJ Lethal and a silent auction. For a chance to win tickets to the sold-out event, like Tulsa World Scene on Facebook facebook.com/tulsaworldscene leave a comment on any Tulsa World Magazine post about the Outsiders anniversary event and share it. The issue also includes An interview with Life.Church Pastor Craig Groeschel. 5 festivals to plan for now. A look at how smart appliances make routine tasks easier. Look for Tulsa World Magazine in your home-delivered Tulsa World on Saturday. To subscribe to the Tulsa World, go to tulsaworld.com/subscribe or call 918-582-0921 or toll free at 800-444-6552. To pre-order a copy of this special Outsiders edition of Tulsa World Magazine, go to tulsaworld.com/theoutsiders. Copies can also be purchased for $3.95 at the Tulsa World, 315 S. Boulder Ave., at tulsaworldmagazine.com or by calling 918-581-8584. By India Today Web Desk: Taking a cue from what Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has done in Uttar Pradesh, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has decided to cancel public holidays marking the birth or death anniversaries of eminent personalities. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said he has issued instruction to the chief secretary to cancel holidays on birth or death anniversaries of eminent personalities. advertisement The AAP leader was all praise for the Yogi Adityanath government in UP for cancelling 15 public holidays on birth or death anniversaries of eminent personalities. "The Uttar Pradesh government has taken a good initiative in this matter. We should always be ready to learn from other states," he said. Earlier in the week, UP had cancelled 15 public holidays, most of which were declared by the previous Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) governments for vote bank politics. Also read: Uttar Pradesh won't enjoy these 15 holidays anymore to mark birth and death anniversaries MCD debacle: AAP leader Kumar Vishwas slams Arvind Kejriwal, says open to change in leadership Also watch: Arvind Kejriwal calls big Aam Aadmi Party meet after series of defeats --- ENDS --- About time we had a new sci-fi series, and The Aliens lands on ABC2 next week. This 6 part series is set 40 years after aliens land in the Irish Sea and are reluctantly integrated into British society in the fictional city of Troy. It stars Michael Socha, Michaela Coel, Ashley Walters. Jim Howick, Michael Smiley, Trystan Gravelle, Chanel Cresswell, Holli Dempsey, Shaun Parkes. Written by Fintan Ryan (In the Flesh) it was produced for E4 and aired in the UK a year ago. The aliens are here. And they look just like us. After they crash-landed in the UK forty years ago, attempts to integrate them into society failed. Now, these aliens or Morks as theyre known are penned into a bustling ghetto called Troy. Its a gangsters playground of full-on parties and brutal violence, run by some very bad people. In Troy, anything can happen. Lewis Garvey (Michael Socha) is a young border guard at the wall that separates humans from this rowdy favela. Here, aliens are tagged and allowed through to perform the most menial tasks as long as theyre back where they belong by curfew. Lewis is buttoned down and bullied at work, but at least hes got a job unlike the rest of his family. Most people, including Lewis, think Morks are scum. So when he finds out hes half-alien, his whole world is turned on its head. 9:10pm Wednesday on ABC2. New US comedy The President Show, in which Anthony Atamanuik plays Donald J. Trump in his own Tonight show, will air on the Comedy channel next week. Peter Grosz plays Vice President Mike Pence on the couch. This premieres in the US today. Continuing in Comedy Centrals grand tradition of producing ground-breaking late night television, a new weekly topical series The President Show with a Trump-ian spin is premiering on The Comedy Channel within days of the US broadcast. Creator Anthony Atamanuik plays Donald J. Trump and is host of The President Show a unique platform which bypasses the crooked media and lets Trump speak direct from the Oval Office. Speaking about the upcoming series Trump declared, Hosting my own late night show will be easy, but then everythings easy for me, like repealing Obama Care, banning Muslims and defeating Isis in 30 days that was so easy. Each week Trump will hold a White House press conference laying out his agenda and fielding questions from reporters. Trump will then sit at the Oval Office desk, with his sidekick Mike Pence (played by Peter Grosz) on the couch, to recap the weeks executive orders and highlights. Trump will also venture out of the White House, and welcome a weekly guest to spar with, before sharing his parting thoughts at the end of each episode. Wednesdays from May 3 at 8.30pm on The Comedy Channel. AIADMK (Amma) leader TTV Dinakaran's aide Sukesh Chandrasekar had struck a deal for Rs 50 crore to help the faction keep the two leaves symbol which was frozen by the Election Commission. TTV Dinakaran was arrested by the Delhi Police for trying to bribe EC officials. (File Photo) By Shivendra Srivastava: The Delhi Police today arrested a hawala operator and an another person in connection with the AIADMK symbol bribery case. The hawala operators accused of providing money to middleman Sukesh Chandrasekar, who offered huge sum of money to Election Commission officials to buy AIADMK's two leaves symbol, on behalf of TTV Dinakaran. According to reports, another person was apprehended from Delhi airport as soon as he arrived from Thailand. Both the persons have been taken into custody for further quizzing. advertisement AIADMK (Amma) leader Dinakaran was taken to Chennai by the Delhi police, two days after he was arrested by them in connection with case. Video: Probe widens A Delhi police team probing the Election Commission (EC) bribery case brought Dinakaran and his friend Mallikarjuna by flight from the national capital and to Tamil Nadu capital. Police will also be confronting the duo along with the arrested middleman, Sukesh Chandrasekar, to get the details of the money trail and the phone conversations between them. Dinakaran was arrested on Tuesday night following four days of questioning for allegedly attempting to bribe an unidentified EC official to get the undivided AIADMK's two leaves election symbol for his faction. Police had earlier said Chandrasekar had struck a deal for Rs 50 crore to help the AIADMK (Amma) faction keep the two leaves symbol. Chandrasekar had Rs 1.30 crore in cash in his possession when he was arrested from a five-star hotel in Delhi on April 16. Dinakaran was arrested for allegedly arranging the amount from undisclosed sources and getting it transferred from Chennai to Delhi through illegal channels. Mallikarjuna was arrested for allegedly helping Dinakaran transfer this money from Chennai to Delhi, police had said. Police are verifying whether Chandrasekar had approached any EC official for getting a favourable verdict for Dinakaran's faction. ALSO READ: The other side of TTV Dinakaran: All you didn't know about the AIADMK leader BJP using Delhi Police to take control of AIADMK, claim Tamil Nadu opposition parties AIADMK symbol row: Dinakaran taken to Chennai for further investigation Watch video: AIADMK symbol row: Delhi Police team arrests hawala operator who paid Dinakaran's aide --- ENDS --- Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it. I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends. More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it. The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity. About me: I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS. Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line). Age: 42 Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed. I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it). A vision of shared responsibility As mass displacement across the world continues to grow, it is usually low- and middle-income countries that shoulder much of the responsibility for refugees. Meanwhile, the worlds response to large-scale movements remains inadequate and underfunded leaving refugees with an uncertain future. The New York Declaration lays out a vision for a more predictable and more comprehensive response to these crises, known as the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, or CRRF. It calls for greater support to refugees and the countries that host them. Throughout 2017 and 2018, the CRRF was rolled out in diverse refugee situations across more than a dozen countries. Lessons drawn from the application of the CRRF helped to inform the Global Refugee Compact, which was affirmed by all UN Member States in December 2018. More information on the Global Compact on Refugees Why inclusion is key At the heart of the CRRF and the GCR is the idea that refugees should be included in the communities from the very beginning. When refugees gain access to education and labour markets, they can build their skills and become self-reliant, contributing to local economies and fuelling the development of the communities hosting them. Allowing refugees to benefit from national services and integrating them into national development plans is essential for both refugees and the communities hosting them, and is consistent with the pledge to leave no one behind in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the New York Declaration, Member States recognize that refugee camps should be the exception, and a temporary measure in cases of emergency. Instead, refugees should be allowed to live among host communities. By helping refugees thrive, not just survive, we can reduce the risk of protracted stays and lessen refugees dependence on humanitarian aid. How to deliver this vision To better support refugees and the communities hosting them the New York Declaration calls on UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to work with a wide range of partners. These include not just governments, NGOs, refugees and other UN agencies, but also the private sector, international financial institutions and civil society, including think tanks, academia and faith leaders. Together, we aim to: Ease pressure on countries that welcome and host refugees Build self-reliance of refugees Expand access to resettlement in third countries and other complementary pathways Foster conditions that enable refugees voluntarily to return to their home countries. The GCR envisions a world where refugees have access to countries where they are safe, where they are better included, where they are no longer living in camps, and are not dependent on humanitarian assistance only. Based on the New York Declaration, the Global compact on refugees recognizes that when refugees are given the chance, they can support themselves and their families, and make positive contributions to the communities hosting them. In this virtuous cycle, refugees and host communities mutually empower each other, socially and economically. Looking ahead For more information on arrangements for follow-up and review of the Global compact, including on the Global Refugee Forum, please visit the Global Refugee Forum page. Lambert Nizeyimana has come a long way from a troubled beginning in Rwanda, his country of origin. With the help of the DAFI Scholarship Programme he is now gainfully employed at the South African insurance company,MiWay.co.za. UNHCR/Pumla Rulashe Johannesburg, South Africa - Lambert Nizeyimana was only 12 years old when the 1994 genocide war in Rwanda forced him and his father, to flee to Bukavu, a town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A year later and now orphaned, Lambert sought refuge with a neighbouring family that was fleeing as far away from conflict as possible. He joined the family on their year long journey to South Africa, which took them through Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique. While the couple he had travelled with found menial jobs as car-guards, in Durban, one of South Africas coastal cities, 14 year old Lambert worked as their domestic help, looking after their one year old daughter, cooking and cleaning the cubicle they rented in an apartment sub-divided amongst other refugee families. I secretly longed to go to school but I didnt dare say anything, says Nizeyimana How could I? These people had taken me in and I had no way of repaying their kindness but to do as I was told. When the couple decided to leave South Africa for Zambia in 1999, Nizeyimana was left in the care of another Rwandan refugee who put him to work as a car-guard on Durbans South Beach, a popular tourist location. At 16 years of age, Nizeyimana finally found the courage to tell his new minder his hearts desire and was soon enrolled in primary school where after one year, was promoted to the first year of secondary school in 2001. Studious, determined, well-behaved and with a flair for mathematics Nizeyimana became an exemplary student at Centenary High School. After learning about his life as a refugee and the difficulties he was facing, teachers at the school took up a monthly collection to help Nizeyimana pay his rent while another found him a weekend job as a waiter. This was to ensure that he remained in school and focused on his studies. Nizeyimana didnt disappoint. In 2005, he graduated from high school with a distinction in Computer Sciences and an exemption - the overall academic percentage that guaranteed him entry into university - if he was able to pay the fees. In 2006 when Nizeyimana was accepted to the University of KwaZulu Natal to begin a degree in Computer Science and Information Technology, he did not have the means to pay for registration. During this time however, the universitys students had embarked on a strike against the payment of steep registration fees and academic exclusion. The matter was finally resolved when all first year students were registered after the registration fee was waived. That is how I received my student card which enabled me access into the university and its facilities, says Nizeyimana, but this didnt absolve me of paying tuition fees in the course of the year. When Nizeyimana finally met the universitys Financial Aid Manager a long process to verify his refugee status began. His secondary school results, refugee identity document and testimonials from his former school eventually helped secure him a loan which didnt guarantee support the following year. At the same time I was wracked with thoughts of how I would pay it back which wasnt helping me focus on my studies, says Nizeyimana. I needed something better. He had heard about UNHCR's DAFI Scholarship Programme but at the time, it was focusing on actively supporting female refugees who qualified for financial support. The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative Fund, commonly known by its German acronym DAFI, has provided scholarships for refugees at universities,colleges and polytechnic institutions since 1992. Funding for this programme is provided by the German government. Twenty-five years since the programme began, over 10,000 refugee students around the world have been assisted to earn degrees. I was too desperate not to apply, says Nizeyimana, To my surprise I received positive feedback. I had secured a DAFI scholarship for my undergraduate degree! I was so excited, so relieved! For the first time since my arrival in South Africa, I could go for hours without worrying about food, accommodation, paying school fees and buying books. It is a feeling of relief difficult to put into words. The DAFI Scholarship removed such a great weight from my shoulders which helped me to focus solely on my studies. With DAFI, I also would not have to pay back a loan. Nizeyimana completed his undergraduate degree in 2008 and is now working in Johannesburg, as a Senior Software Developer with a popular insurance company called MiWay.co.za. The DAFI Scholarship Programme honestly provided me the ability to pursue my desire for an education in spite of the circumstances that lead to my starting school late. Today I am a permanent resident of South Africa, a married man with a young family, working at a well-paid job with the financial means to live the life I want, adds Nizeyimana. I couldnt have achieved this without determination, drive and the DAFI Scholarship the three Ds. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) A symposium by AIIMS in collaboration with France will deliberate upon launching clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of dengue vaccine in India. The two-day symposium AIIMS-FAM Dengue, Zika and Chikunganya, which began here today, is being held in collaboration with The Fondation de l?AcadAmie de MAdecine (FAM-Medical Academy Foundation) of France. advertisement "The conference will also focus on areas like virology, epidemiology and expansion of diseases, scientific advance on diagnosis and care and prevention and control of diseases," AIIMS Director, Randeep Guleria said. Experts from Philippines and Brazil, countries where the vaccine has been launched, will participate in the symposium to share their success stories. "The symposium is being held at an appropriate time, especially when the risk of dengue and chikungunya is round the corner with the monsoon coming up. Therefore, we not only need to be prepared, but also see how we can move forward in areas of research, prevention and management of these diseases," Gularia said. He said India goes through the same cycle of dengue outbreak every year even as there is a surge in such cases. "And then we forget about it once the monsoon is over," he lamented. The AIIMS director stressed on the need for developing preventive strategy like identifying and treating high-risk individuals. "We have put in place a system so that these patients are admitted and treated without delay. Dengue has a very low mortality if it is diagnosed early. The disease is often reported late, leading to high mortality," Guleria said. The symposium will also see experts discuss the mosquito-borne Zika virus, transmitted by the bite of Aedes mosquito, which also causes dengue. "Zika is being reported in south-east Asia, and also in Thailand and Singapore. We have a lot of people going to these countries as tourists as well as for business. "We do not want to miss out on those who get infected and come back during the incubation period when the symptoms (of such diseases) are mild. They come back into the community and spread the vector-borne disease. So, the government is keen on having a programme for monitoring of Zika," the official said. Many Indian states have been battling the outbreak of dengue and Chikungunya since the past decade, with over 40,000 such cases reported last year. advertisement As many as 4,431 cases of dengue were reported in Delhi alone in 2016. Meanwhile, Sanofi Pasteur and Panacea Biotech have approached the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for grant of marketing permission to conduct the clinical trials of dengue vaccine in India. PTI PLB SRY --- ENDS --- By Shivani Chhabra: Akshay Trutiya, is supposed to be a holy day for Hindus and Jains. It is also known as Akti in Chhattisgarh and Akha Teej in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Considered as one of the four most important days for Hindus, Akshay Trutiya falls on the third Tithi (lunar day) of Bright Half (Shukla Paksha) of the pan-Indian month of Vaishakha. advertisement It is a popular belief that buying gold on this auspicious day brings wealth, because it is on this day that the God of wealth, Kuber, had received his riches by praying to Lord Shiva. Kuber is also known as the treasurer of all Hindu deities, the holy day marks his appointment for the position. Also Read: 7 life lessons we all can learn from the Mahabharata Akshay means endless in Sanskrit; celebrating this day by purchasing gold is believed to please Kuber. Also, on this day, Lord Parasurama was born, who was the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the husband of Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. So, it is a popular belief that buying gold today, and worshiping Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu, brings prosperity. Apart from buying gold, Hindus believe that it is an auspicious day to start new ventures, because it was on this day that Veda Vyas began to write Mahabharata, the great Hindu epic. Also Read: Why is Baisakhi such a big deal for Punjabis? Jains celebrate this day to commemorate Tirthankara Rushabhanatha's ending of their one-year fast. Another legend also has it that the devotees from Ayodhaya had celebrated the homecoming of their king Tirthankara Rushabhanatha, by buying gold for him. Thus, the Jains celebrate this divine day by purchasing gold to mark the return of their beloved king. The day holds great relevance in the Hindu and Jain mythology, and is celebrated across the country. --- ENDS --- Most people perceive moral judgments as something negative. However, because people give so much value to their moral reputation, it becomes a critical means to encourage good behavior in the society, a new study suggests. A research conducted by Stanford University sociologist Robb Willer and researchers at the University of South Carolina reveals that the way people value their moral reputation makes them behave well and cooperate with each other, Stanford Business reported. It also suggests that people are more likely to cooperate rather than risk being judged negatively for their actions. Willer, who is a Stanford Graduate School of Business professor of organizational behavior by courtesy, explained that what most people think is that moral judgments are always not good or negative, when in fact, they can be effective means so that people will feel compelled to practice good behavior in the society. The findings of the study also suggest that the groups who were given the chance to make both positive and negative judgments of each other became more trusting and generous towards each other. This idea about how moral judgments are important to social order has been existing from many years ago. In fact, it has been around since the late 19th century according to Ethical Psychology. However, very few studies have been conducted to observe how people's opinion such as liking or disapproval can impact the behavior of each person in groups. There was also no study done to examine how moral judgments compare with monetary sanctions, which also results in cooperation, according to Willer. So their study have shown the results that moral judgments are also a significant influence compared to monetary sanctions when it comes to achieving cooperation in groups. Although both can influence and encourage the same level of cooperation, using money to punish groups that have shown unwanted behavior only result in retaliation. According to a new report from the space agency, there is currently a shortage of NASA spacewalking suits. Despite the funding directed to new technology, the replacement suits remains years away. NASA's Office of Inspector General said there may not be enough spacesuits to make it through 2024, which is the year when the International Space Station is expected to end its operational life under NASA and the other international agencies. About $200 million has been redirected in technology and better results were expected. NASA may be running out of good quality spacesuits called extravehicular mobility units (EMUs), which are designed to keep astronauts safe during spacewalks. Mashable reported that NASA's OIG report said that only 11 out of the 18 original EMU Primary Life Support System units are still in use. This raises concerns that the inventory may not be adequate to last through the planned retirement of the ISS. The EMU Primary Life Support System unit is a backpack-like structure that performs a variety of functions required to keep an astronaut alive during a spacewalk. Analysts have expressed the need to establish a next-generation suit for spacewalking astronauts because of space trips that will be made in the future. Mars is the target planet for the moment as it showcases a great potential to support life. The PC-Tablet reported there has been a lack of formal plan that has affected the development of the suits. NASA is closely looking into the new design and its associated health risks that the different astronauts need to use. There are about 3,400 minor issues with the spacewalking suits both in orbit and ground testing since it was developed in the 1970s. According to NASA the next spacewalk is set on May 12. Speculations have arisen with regard to significant incidents with the suits that may cause alarm. In 2013, an Italian astronaut experienced near drowning when the water from his cooling system was rising up and flooded the helmet. Glove damage and stinging eyes are among other incidents suggesting better strategizing needs to be done to ensure safety of the spacemen. A total of eight Ivy League schools in the United States already sent acceptance letters to two brilliant high school students from Ann Arbor. Jadal and Taimor Williams, seniors at Huron, are now faced with one of the toughest decisions in their lives: Choose one among the world's elite universities. The Ivy League universities that sent Jadal his acceptance letters are Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Princeton, Columbia, Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, and Brown. Moreover, per MLive, Jadal also passed the exams at the University of Michigan (UM), Duke, Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), California Institute of Technology, and Harvey Mudd College. Well, he has until May 1 to decide. According to the same source, though Taimor did not pass all eight Ivy League exams, he passed a number of elite schools too. The UM, Dartmouth, Cornell, Duke, MIT, and Berkeley sent him acceptance letters. For the record, Jadal wants to take up mechanical or electrical engineering. Taimor, on the other hand, wants to get civil and environmental engineering. The genius twins have two more siblings, Chauncey Jr. and Shane. The former is the oldest while Shane is the youngest. Chauncey Jr., who inspired Jadal and Taimor, is currently a sophomore at the Kelley School of Business at the Indiana University. The youngest is in sixth grade at Tappan Middle School. For the record, the twins skipped first-grade math, while Jadal also skipped seventh-grade math. Chauncey and Tory, the parents, are really proud of their kids, not just the twins. Tory teaches her children every afternoon, requiring them to finish their assignments first before playing. Meanwhile, USA Today reported that eight Ivies had a total of 281, 060 applicants for the class of 2021. Out of those aspirants, less than 10 percent got admissions offers. Harvard had the lowest acceptance rate at just 5 percent. Below is a video from Howcast.com showing ways to make Ivies say yes. In the latest update of the hit augmented reality game, "Pokemon Go," it appears that players will soon enjoy more PokeStops as Niantic Labs will re-open their new portal request. The "Pokemon Go" project is dubbed as Operation Portal Recon, and it allows players of "Ingress" to present a brand new portal request in Korea and Brazil. Since the data of real-world location of "Ingress" resembles to the "Pokemon Go," it is expected that "Pokemon Go" will have the same changes as well. By the time these changes will be made, the new portal submissions allow "Pokemon Go" players catch more Pokemon creatures than ever before, Daily Star reported. Also, "Pokemon Go" players will now have higher chances in obtaining region-exclusive creature in both countries, which are Heracross and Ferfetch'd. The latest "Pokemon Go" update will also add up about 9000 new PokeStops, which makes refilling Pokeballs and buying healing potions a lot easier. Meanwhile, the video game company explains why Gen 2 Pokemons are proving hard to incorporate into the "Pokemon Go" mobile game. Smeargle and Delibird Gen 2 Pokemon creatures were conspicuous by their absence when the second wave of Pokemon was launched in full. Niantic CEO John Hanke made it known that Smeargle and Delibird were hard to coden for the reason of their unique movesets. Also, Hanke appears to be excited about the "Pokemon Go" PvP battles, which suggests that it would be released soon. Nevertheless, there is no more news on Shiny Pokemon, despite fans discovered fresh evidence that suggests the video game developer is working on a new Shiny event, Express reported. On the other hand, a new "Pokemon Go" update is causing some issues for some select Android devices. "Pokemon Go" players are unable to log into their accounts. The affected Android devices are from Redmi, ZTE, Alcatel, LG and Oneplus, Blorge reported. Watch The Video Here: We have to understand the results of the referendum through multiple readings. Because it does not tell us one thing only. It tells us many things. The most important thing it tells us is that the new Turkey has now received approval from the nation. The people have changed the almost 150-year-old parliamentary system with their own approval. The people determined their own destiny in relation to the system. The People's Party regime has been buried in the grave. The nation has defeated the Republican People's Party (CHP) regime. This century-long struggle has been ended with success. We need to feel this and continue our walk accordingly. This is the first time the people have been the main subject of a radical change in Turkey. The people's sovereignty theory has become a reality for the first time. Because in the century-old history, the people's existence was, on the contrary, rejected with this theory. It rejected the people's history, their geography understanding, their faith and their actors. In this aspect, the CHP is a rejectionist party. This rejectionist political subconscious has been defeated by the true children of the nation. The 1,000-year-old nation idea on this land has reclaimed the politics that was stolen from it. Sovereignty now unconditionally belongs to the nation. The CHP spirit does not accept this and is resisting. It runs to the court, resorts to slander and lies, run to its masters at the OSCE. After losing the hegemony they built with the support of their masters, they are once again turning to them. Yet, they lost the politics trusted to them a century ago by the Western world order. There is no turning back. Now, the Western order is going to speak to the owners of the nation and listen to them. It is going to be the one that listens rather than the one that commands. It is going to act like a neighbor, not a master. We are the last two-century-old politics that has fallen from world order ownership to balance, from balance to the slaves of the West. This two-century-old politics is takjng a new route. This is the meaning of the victory that resulted from the April 16 referendum. April 16 is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's victory. The regional initiatives/conquest attempts of Erdogan's politics was stopped through with intervention jn the Arab Spring. The Western world order that saw Erdogan did not surrender to this and hence, tried to overthrow him. This is the reason behind the Gezi Park events, the Dec. 17 and Dec. 25, 2013 junta bids and the July 15, 2016 coup attempts. The sabotage of the reconciliation process and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) being rearmed and activated, the Gulen Movement being turned into the Fetullahist Terror Organization (FETO), Daesh starting attacks in Turkey and the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front's (DHKP-C) increased activities point to this. With his new pursuits, new alliances and resistant leadership, Erdogan dis not bow down to this. He managed to stay standing under these difficult conditions and by switching to a new system, he destroyed the walls of the local alliance forces of the world order. The success on April 16 is the collapse of these barriers and walls. The world order is now going to accept the new regional alternative presented by the Erdogan leadership. What is this new Middle East alternative? It is the politics that runs development and justice together. There is going to be development, with the people reaching the level of prosperity, and there will also be justice. Oil money is not going to flow from the hands of certain groups and elites to the Western order, abandoning the people in the region to poverty and dictators. This post-Ottoman Empire order is going to change with the politics of the Erdogan leadership. The Erdogan leadership shows the unity of democracy and Islam and the possibility of reconciliation between them. Neither Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's dictatorship option, nor Iran's political Islam option. Neither of them bring prosperity and justice. Instead of these, the Muslim democracy option that has been experienced by Turkey's Islamists. Turkey is once again going to present historic presence of the "middle path" Islam to the understanding of the modern world through Erdogan's politics. This is an Islam that rises with the spirit of time. An Islam understanding far from violence, sectarianism and ethnic and racist politics. The referendum is a new beginning both for Turkey and the Middle East. It is Turks' taking to the history stage again as a nation. It is the existence of the elements of Islam, primarily the Kurds, through liberation. It is the rise of a new path outside al-Qaida, Daesh, the PKK, FETO and Wahhabism. It is the historical Ahl as-Sunnah conscious turning to represent the nation again through the middle path. Amit Shah called the Sukma attack a "reflection of the suppression of Maoists and Naxalism." "This is the best way of tackling them. It is a fight and both sides are fighting. The martyrdom will not be wasted. We have made a position strong enough to gain faith of people." By Rahul Kanwal: In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, BJP national president Amit Shah expressed grave concern over the brewing situation in Jammu and Kashmir, but did not divulge the strategy to deal with it. "Security forces are working very well," Shah said. Under fire for ostensibly going soft in the Valley, owing to compulsion of the coalition with PDP, Shah said, "It is not the right time to analyse the coming together with Mehbooba government. If people are attacking, the forces have to fight it out. There are talks and diplomatic channels for further progress." advertisement He also spoke on triple talaq, a vexed issue that has hogged the national limelight lately and for which the orthodox Muslim elements have accused the BJP of doing politics over. Shah said, "We want women to stop suffering. I believe women should get their deserved rights." Shah rejected all talks of EVMs having been tampered for orchestrating BJP's victories. "Election winning machine. It is easy to speak in an interview but it is the hard work on ground that is showing. There is no antiincumbency in the state. Opposition should also work instead of bayanbaazi. We are working in an expansion mode and it makes us believe we can win." 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS Talking about 2019 general elections, Shah exuded confidence in BJP victory. "We will win with a big mandate. We are working together with Modiji working tirelessly." He also clarified BJP's stand on gaurakshaks. "Not all are associated with BJP. There are all kind of elements in the party. There are many changes and messages in the party. We will take action. No one will be allowed to take law in his hands." Taking potshots at Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, Shah quipped: "Kejriwal had always said right to recall. It is time they realise." "The BJP is not trying to take any MLA from AAP," Shah said. Shah added that people in Bengal had decided that "BJP are the only Opposition in the state." "Lok Sabha seats will be won in highest numbers in Bengal," he added. On Naxalism, Shah, who recently made quite an impressive journey in the naxal heartland, said, "Naxalbari was selected as it was where violence began and thus could change the political scenario in the country." Shah called Sukma the "reflection of the suppression of Maoists and Naxalism." "This is the best way of tackling them. It is a fight and both sides are fighting. The martyrdom will not be wasted. We have made a position strong enough to gain faith of people." "When leaders are caught on camera taking money what will you explain? CBI was not sent by Modi government. It is and was done by the apex court and the Calcutta high court. advertisement "If the TMC leaders are caught on camera taking money then they are the ones taking money. How can she (WB CM Mamata Bannerjee) deny that? Saradha scam has been in news since two and a half years. We are here to highlight the corruption and problems. Controlling corruption is Mamata's responsibility as she is the CM and party chief too," he said on the Shardha scam. Also Read Day after Sukma, BJP chief Amit Shah begins Mission Bengal from Naxalbari Sukma attack: Why Naxals succeed attack after attack in Chhattisgarh Sukma attack: Former DGP KPS Gill says collective responsibility needed to tackle Naxal menace --- ENDS --- Published: April 27, 2017 Bonner Leaders Work to Serve Arielle Pollock 20 spends two days a week tutoring children, helping them with their homework, reports or just sitting and reading together. As a Bonner Leader, she has been working with the R.I.C.H. House, a safe haven for at-risk children, since day one as a first-year student, an opportunity she said has given her a quick connection to her new home. Within my first couple weeks in the program I was fully immersed in not only the University but the Tampa community. Already, I have made connections with countless nonprofits, conducted interviews with potential new (Bonner) members, served as chair on a committee, organized retreats and been elected to represent our program nationally, said Pollock, a biology major from Wilmington, NC. Bonner presents me with endless opportunities, and I'm excited to see where it takes me in the years to come. The UT Bonner Leader Program provides scholarships, leadership development and pairs students with a single nonprofit to work with until graduation. The students are required to work nine hours a week at their assigned nonprofit, and they spend two hours a week in small-group enrichment seminars on campus covering issues of professionalism and spanning the six tenants of the program: community building, civic engagement, diversity, international perspective, spiritual exploration and social justice. The goal is their overall development. From when they step in as a first-year to graduating in those four years, we hope theyve really developed, said Ian McGinnity, director of community engagement. We want them to be able to take the skills theyre gaining and apply them to life after UT. It was the longevity and ability to make a meaningful difference that attracted Talia Ashby 17, a Spanish and sociology double major, to the program. Ashby, of Tampa, interns with Metropolitan Ministries in the outreach program, directly serving the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless with food and clothing from the Metropolitan Ministries food pantry and emergency clothing store. When I read about the Bonner Leader Program, I was attracted to the idea of growing in my leadership skills while also gaining lots of experience and time in community service, Ashby said. I have met people from all around the world who come to Metro and need a helping hand. There is no greater feeling than being able to see an elderly couple receive food, a baby receive clothes and toys, or a single mother find a place to live through our efforts. Bonner Leaders started at UT five years ago, in August 2012. Its a national program with Florida roots at UT, Stetson University and Rollins College. UT has students placed at a range of nonprofits, from the United Way to the Tampa Downtown Partnership to the Glazer Childrens Museum. We emphasize leadership in the program, McGinnity said, and we hope that when they graduate theyll be a leader in their community. Getting accepted to the Bonner program was the deciding factor for Jamie Zale 18 to attend UT. It gave her the opportunity to continue with her passion for service while not having to take on another part-time job. She has served in several capacities with the program on campus, this year as co-chair of a project for Suicide Awareness Day, and managing the UT Bonner Instagram account as the marketing chair. She also created a mentoring program for new Bonners to make the transition to UT easier on first-year students. Bonner taught me how to use my resources throughout different parts of my life and has shaped my change of career goals, said Zale, a communication major from Campbell Hall, NY, who has decided to switch from a career in politics to one working with nonprofits. Bonner has been such a rewarding aspect of my college experience. It has given me the opportunity to grow as a leader. Have a story idea? Contact Jamie Pilarczyk, Web Writer Sign up for UT Web Alerts Page Content An upcoming joint concert of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Concert Band and Wind Ensemble will feature a guest conductor who mentored the university's director of bands. Held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, the concert will feature guest conductor Joseph Hermann, director of bands at Tennessee Technological University (TTU) in Cookeville, Tenn. Assistant Professor Michael Butler, who directs the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble at UW-Stevens Point, studied with Hermann at TTU. "He made a tremendous impact on my musicianship and teaching career," said Butler. The May 3 concert will also feature an apprentice conductor who studies with Butler. Nick Verheyen, a senior music education major from Pleasant Prairie, will conduct a piece by the Wind Ensemble. The Concert Band will perform pieces by Paul Basler, Jeremy Martin, Percy Grainger and Clifton Williams. The Wind Ensemble will perform works by Ryan George, John Barnes Chance and John Williams. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, $5 for UW-Stevens Point students, faculty and youth and free the day of the concert for students with a UW-Stevens Point I.D. if not sold out. Tickets are available at the University Information and Tickets Office in the Dreyfus University Center, by calling 715-346-4100 or 800-838-3378 or at http://tickets.uwsp.edu. Tickets also may be purchased at the door if available. Proceeds benefit student scholarships. Cheyenne Student Named UWs Top Graduating Man Anthony Farmer Excellence as a University of Wyoming honors student, service as a volunteer and key leadership roles have resulted in the selection of Anthony Farmer, of Cheyenne, for the 2017 Tobin Memorial Award as UW's outstanding graduating man. The annual award is based on academic excellence and achievement, service to the university, participation and leadership in the community and campus activities, and citizenship qualities. Sarah Maze, of Ranchester, is this years Rosemarie Martha Spitaleri Award recipient as UW's outstanding graduating woman. Farmer, the son of Rachel Martinez and Brian Farmer, will graduate May 13 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Bachelor of Science in economics, with a minor in the Honors Program. He will work toward his masters degree next fall. Farmer says his studies have always been an integral part of his life. While studying at the University of Wyoming, I have always pushed myself to strive for excellence and to direct all of my actions toward building a skill set I can use to make a positive impact on the world, he says. I hope to one day work in the public sector, crafting policy that will contribute to the elimination of institutional poverty. Throughout my college career, I have demonstrated my commitment to the core values of scholarship, leadership and service. One of his political science professors says Farmer is an intellectually gifted individual who is dedicated to his studies. He is, in fact, in the top five students that I have ever taught in my previous nine years of teaching. Anthony is one of the most intellectually gifted students that I have ever had the pleasure of teaching, demonstrating an understanding and mastery of the course material well above what would be expected of an undergraduate student, says Associate Professor Andrew Garner. He is, put simply, a natural academic who has the intelligence and work ethic to thrive in any endeavor he chooses. Farmer has been an active UW student with Multicultural Affairs; has been a member of Golden Key honorary and Phi Kappa Phi honorary; has served on the UW College of Arts and Sciences grade appeal board; received the Outstanding Honors Freshman Award; and served as a student senator. He also has been an active volunteer on campus and in his community. This past fall, he studied at the University of Glasgow at the Adam Smith Business School with an emphasis on macroeconomy, government debt and contemporary issues in inequality. Through this experience, he also explored the United Kingdom and Europe. His leadership skills are what has helped Farmer succeed, says another professor. His record demonstrates leadership on campus and the integration of public service into his daily life, says Teena Gabrielson, the Department of Political Science chair. Anthony does not volunteer in order to add another line to his resume. It is a critical part of how he understands himself and his relation to the world. As for his future, Farmer says he is always looking for ways to hone his leadership capabilities. It is my aspiration to one day run for public office, where the value of leadership must inform my every action. The University of Wyoming has allowed me to develop this skill in ways I could have never imagined, he adds. Looking back over my time at UW, I realize how tremendously fortunate I have been to attend such an amazing institution. I have had opportunities here that I would not have had anywhere else. Ranchester Student Named UWs Outstanding Graduating Woman Sarah Maze Sarah Maze, of Ranchester, is the recipient of the Rosemarie Martha Spitaleri Award as the University of Wyoming's outstanding graduating woman. The award, established in 1964, recognizes Maze for exhibiting the finest leadership, academic integrity and citizenship qualities. She will graduate May 12 with dual degrees in physiology and Spanish, with minors in neuroscience and the Honors Program. Anthony Farmer, of Cheyenne, received the Tobin Award, honoring the outstanding graduating man. Maze, the daughter of Meg and Tim Maze, graduated in 2013 as Tongue River High Schools valedictorian. She points out that her first class as a freshman at UW had 150 students, more than the entire population of her high school class. That first day, the professor looked right at me in the third row and recognized me from my campus visit. Sarah, he exclaimed, so glad you decided to come to UW, she says. From that moment, I have always felt like an integral part of the Cowboy family. This university has a spirit unlike any other, and I am honored to contribute to a legacy so storied and proud. Through her love of science, Mazes decision to study physiology at UW will lead into her becoming a physician. She has been accepted into UWs WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) medical program. Not only did Sarah earn this opportunity, she was accepted at every medical school she interviewed with, says Katie Watson, UW admissions assistant director. Maze says conducting experiments with food coloring and water in her fathers science lab, to synthesizing banana flavoring compound in UWs organic chemistry lab, to completing solo neurosurgery procedures on Bengalese finches as an undergraduate researcher deepened her passion for learning. I believe a truly comprehensive education must include some element of real-world experience, she adds. The University of Wyoming has offered opportunities to challenge my education both in the classroom and in the Buenos Aires metro area during a study-abroad experience. Along with her involvement in the Honors Program, Maze has delved into many disciplines throughout her undergraduate career. The liberal arts approach to her education has impacted not only Mazes development as a scholar, but as a human being, she adds. Since her freshman year, Maze has been involved with Associated Students of UW student organization; Alpha Epsilon Delta; Phi Beta Kappa; Freshman Senate; Iron Skull; Catholics on Campus; Sigma Delta Pi national Spanish honorary; and Mortar Board. Sarah also has received EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) and INBRE (IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence) funding for her research in UW Associate Professor Johnathan Prathers neuroscience research lab. Sarah is a truly delightful young woman. She is at ease with herself and brings that ease to every interaction that she has, says Meg Flanigan, UW Department of Zoology and Physiology senior lecturer. She is gentle, humorous, energetic and mature beyond her years. The combination of her academic excellence and her personality and temperament makes for a truly outstanding student. Maze says it has been an honor to give back to UW, a place that has given her so much. I am grateful for faculty, staff and community supporters who encourage scholarship and provide opportunities for personal growth for students throughout our educational experience at UW, she says. The University of Wyoming has inspired me, encouraged me, challenged me, empowered me, spurred me on and given me the tools to pursue my dreams. By India Today Web Desk: "No one walked the way he did .. no one had the presence he had in a crowded room .. no one could lighten up the surroundings he was in, like him .. no one." This is how Amitabh Bachchan remembers his good friend Vinod Khanna. They worked together in innumerable films. From Amar Akbar Anthony to Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, they went onto give massive hits in the 70s. But last afternoon, when the news of Vinod Khanna's sudden demise reached Amitabh Bachchan, a rather shocked Big B left a Sarkar 3 promotional event mid-way to pay his last respects to the late actor. advertisement For Big B, Vinod Khanna was more of a friend with whom he worked in many films. And his death has only left a void in his life. Remembering the late actor, Big B penned an emotional tribute to his friend Vinod Khanna on his personal blog. From recalling the first time he met him to working together in Reshma Aur Shera, he fondly remembered the film journey with his once-upon-a-time co-actor. "I first saw him entering the Ajanta Arts office in Bandra, of Sunil Dutt, where I was making my way to seek a job .. a most good looking handsome young man .. a body in elegant frame .. a swagger in his walk .. and a gentle smile as he looked towards me .. it was 1969 .. he was working in the Ajanta Arts film, 'Man ka Meet' .. I was struggling to get a role, any role, anywhere," he wrote. He added, "He a big star .. but always most humble with selfless concern for others .. the rides he would take me on, in his recently acquired Beetle VolksWagen, yellow in color .. his generosity in smuggling me into the only Disco Club in the city at the Taj, where he was a member, and I not even remotely in any state to become one .. his marriage to Geetanjali, whom he and we all fondly called Gitly .. the birth of his sons, Rahul and Akshay, whom he often brought on to the sets of AAA." Big B revealed that how the death of Vinod Khanna's dad brought them even closer as he stood by him through the difficult time. "The sudden passing of his Father soon after our work together in Reshma .. I being with him in his hour of grief .. and then .. the amazing chemistry of the several historic films that we did together .. an association that was so lovable and considerate .. spending time in each others make up rooms, sharing our lunch, just biding time and talking of all kinds of talk .. the late shoot pack ups and the beyond midnight drives to Juhu Beach, to just sit with our directors and he to have a drink, and I mine," added the 74-year-old actor. advertisement He fondly remembered the late actor for his infectious charm and swagger. "His confident charm was infectious .. there was always an optimistic swagger about him .. a smile .. a laugh .. a casualness .. nothing seemed to disturb him one felt .. the relaxed 'cool' of today's times," he added. But that association of 48 years ended yesterday for the two actors. "This man .. this body of enthused energy and giving .. this friend .. this colleague .. this ever smiling swagger infested individual, lay motionless," he concluded. "Motionless .. still .. eyes shut in perpetuity .. a form on wooden logs .. covered .. flames about .. and a life turned to ashes," he wrote. ALSO READ: Vinod Khanna dead at 70, veteran actor and BJP MP was suffering from cancer ALSO READ: Vinod Khanna-Sanjay Dutt's emotional father-son story will make you teary-eyed ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor slams new generations actors for missing from Vinod Khanna's funeral ALSO WATCH: Vinod Khanna passes away at 70 --- ENDS --- advertisement Two UW Research VP Finalists to Speak Next Week; Input Sought Two finalists for the position of vice president for research and economic development at the University of Wyoming are scheduled to visit campus next week. Joseph Heppert, associate vice chancellor for research at the University of Kansas, will give a public presentation Tuesday, May 2, from 2-3:15 p.m. in Room 129 of the Classroom Building. The session will be streamed live on the WyoCast system; the link is https://wyocast.uwyo.edu/WyoCast/Play/3b4647007a364a33b835a2349573ad411d. To learn more about him, go here. D. Marshall Porterfield, professor in Purdue Universitys Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and former director of Space Life and Physical Sciences Division in NASAs Human Exploration Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C., will speak from 2-3:15 p.m. Friday, May 5, in the Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center auditorium. The WyoCast link is https://wyocast.uwyo.edu/WyoCast/Play/3dfd82d900114bc2b3ae44fdfc47a1241d. To learn more about him, go here. The first finalist to visit, Kent Keyser, associate vice president for research at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, is scheduled to speak from 2-3:15 p.m. today (Friday) in the Berry Center auditorium. The WyoCast link is https://wyocast.uwyo.edu/WyoCast/Play/aa8aad25ae7e43e880a6735f625491f71d. To learn more about him, go here. The other finalist, Edmund Synakowski, associate director of science for fusion energy sciences with the U.S. Department of Energy, will speak from 2-3:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, in the Berry Center auditorium. The WyoCast link is https://wyocast.uwyo.edu/WyoCast/Play/f1f1fd328ce448689c13123a75f575421d.To learn more about him, go here. The search committee invites members of the campus community to provide feedback on each of the candidates. Here are the links to do so: -- Keyser -- www.surveymonkey.com/r/GD3NYT6. -- Heppert -- www.surveymonkey.com/r/GD5F8X9. -- Porterfield -- www.surveymonkey.com/r/GYYC3M8. -- Synakowski -- www.surveymonkey.com/r/GYRJRXC. The role of the vice president for research and economic development is to support and facilitate the research efforts of UW's faculty, staff and students; direct the university's research mission as a public research university; promote the university's research program with stakeholders; and direct technology transfer and commercialization efforts for UW intellectual property. UW WTBCs Sheridan Start-Up Challenge Hosts Public Pitch Day May 23 Five local entrepreneurs will pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges, with the top three teams receiving cash, legal counsel and a chance to apply for seed funding, during the Wyoming Technology Business Centers (WTBC) Pitch Day for the Sheridan Start-Up Challenge Tuesday, May 23, at 6 p.m. at the WYO Theater in Sheridan. The top three teams will receive a $5,000 award, pro bono legal counsel from the firm of Davis and Cannon, and an opportunity to apply to a $50,000 seed fund for working capital. The WTBC is a business development program of the University of Wyoming. Sponsored by the SEEDA Joint Powers Board, the Homer A. and Mildred S. Scott Foundation, First Interstate Bank, and Davis and Cannon, the Sheridan Start-Up Challenge is designed to encourage and stimulate more entrepreneurial activity in the Sheridan area. Registration for the Start-Up Challenge kicked off Feb. 13. The WTBC had received 68 submittals across 14 industries when registration closed March 8. It was an incredible response from Sheridan, says John Dick, Sheridan area director of the WTBC. It was more than double what we expected to receive, and it really is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of this community. Following the registration deadline, WTBC staff members narrowed the submittals to 10 semifinalists, who were each interviewed by a local judging panel to determine five finalists that will pitch May 23. All of the finalists have been working closely with WTBC staff to develop business models and the final pitch. The five finalists are: -- Ajayi Global Enterprises, Lekan Ajayi, a web-based platform that connects cancer patients with available drug trials. -- K-Driven, Justin Koltiska and Garrett Kron, a patented oil-field tool that significantly improves efficiency and safety in the field. -- Oatware, Anne Gunn and Mark Thoney, a portfolio of three software-as-service products focused on hyper-local markets. -- Old Army Records, Kevin O'Dell and Jim Powers, an ancestry software focused on military history. -- RS Water Drill, Rick Shelton and Doug Madison, a patented water drill technology for thawing frozen pipes. Each finalist will give a 15-minute presentation, followed by questions from the judges. The panel includes Tim Barnes, co-founder of Black Tooth Brewing Company; Laura Lehan, founder of Peak Consulting and chief development officer at Sheridan Memorial Hospital; Jesus Rios, chief operating officer of Ptolemy Data Systems; Jerad Stack, co-founder of Breakthrough 307; Travis Todd, co-founder of FullContact; P.J. Treide, founder of Surf Wyoming and Bighorn Design; and Jon Benson, CEO of the WTBC. Following the five pitches, the WTBC will host a reception at the WYO Theater, where the top three qualifying teams will be announced. When local businesses launch and then are able to grow, our entire community is strengthened, Dick says. I encourage everyone to come down and support these entrepreneurs and maybe get inspired as well. Administered by the UW Office of Research and Economic Development, the WTBC is a not-for-profit business incubator that provides entrepreneurs with the expertise, networks and tools necessary for success. The program has business incubators in Laramie, Casper and Sheridan that offer comprehensive business consulting as well as programs designed to stimulate new business activity. For more information on the Sheridan Start-Up Challenge or the WTBC, call Dick at (307) 675-1939 or email him at jdick4@uwyo.edu. Wyoming Business Tips for May 7-13 A weekly look at Wyoming business questions from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (WSBDC), part of WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming. By Greg Jordan, WSBDC associate state director How can my downtown business compete with the big-box stores? Jane, Laramie The WSBDC Network has had several speakers the last year who presented slightly different ideas about how a small-town business owner can compete. One of the common themes among them was to not compete directly on price. That is the market where the big-box stores live. They use their massive buying power to get great deals on wholesale items, and there is no way to compete on price in their market, consistently. It is possible to find some items for which a small store can beat prices but, over the long haul, it is not a great proposition. With that in mind, there is a definite shift in the way consumers buy that is helpful to the small community business. Meridith Powell, who was one of our speakers and is the author of the book, Winning in the Trust and Value Economy, says people are increasingly being drawn to relationship purchasing. They would rather buy from someone they trust and know than to get a slightly better price. The choices in electronics, for example, can be baffling, and the big-box clerks seldom understand why one item costs so much more than another. Tom Shay, owner of Profit Plus and a speaker for the WSBDC Network, frequently discusses the value of customer engagement in the retail industry. He says a customer wants to have a unique buying experience and frequently will develop a sense of loyalty to the store that provides it. If you think back to your own favorite buying experience, it will usually revolve around the excellent customer service you received. These are just two ideas among the many that a small business can use to truly compete with a big-box store: building relationships with your customers and giving them a fantastic buying experience. This is not something they are likely to find in a big-box store. For more help with these ideas, an adviser from the WSBDC Network can help identify a market and show small-business owners the resources to boost numbers. For more information, visit www.wyomingsbdc.org or call 1-800-348-5194. A blog version of this article and an opportunity to post comments are available at www.wyomingsbdc.org/blog1/. The WSBDC is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Wyoming Business Council and the University of Wyoming. To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, email wsbdc@uwyo.edu, or write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922, Laramie, WY, 82071-3922. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, who is on a goodwill visit to Bhutan, today met Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck. Rawat assured the Bhutan King that the Indian Army would continue with its "special relationship" with the Royal Bhutanese Army in terms of training and support in capability building, a statement by the Indian Army said. advertisement India and Bhutan share a strong military relationship. "The King acknowledged the historical and cultural relationship between the two nations, especially the special relationship shared between the Indian Army and the Royal Bhutan Army," the statement added. The Indian Army Chief is on a four-day trip to the Himalayan region from April 27 to April 30. PTI PR SRY --- ENDS --- As many as 13 people have drowned while 4 others are missing after a boat capsized in a stream in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. By Ashish Pandey: At least 13 people have drowned while four others are missing after their dinghy (small boat) capsized in a stream in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district today, the police said. The incident took place at Yerra Timmaraju lake near Guntakal when around 15 people boarded the dinghy for a fun ride in the stream after attending a function, according to reports. advertisement All victims belonged to one large family, a police officer said. Six children and five women were among those drowned, he added. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has condoled the loss of lives and directed the Anantapuramu district collector and the Superintendent of Police to conduct rescue operations at once. 10 BODIES PULLED OUT OF STREAM The divers managed to pull out over 10 bodies from the stream. The bodies were taken to the government hospital in Guntakal for post-mortem, Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas said. The overcrowding of the boat is believed to have caused the mishap, according to cops. Local fishermen, who normally operate the dinghies for fishing, were asked not to come along as this family wanted to go in a group together, the police said. Deputy Chief Minister (Home) N China Rajappa has also expressed shock over the incident and asked the DSP to get the victims' post-mortem conducted as soon as possible and hand over the victims' bodies to their relatives. (WITH INPUTS FROM PTI) Also read | 5 engineering students drown in reservoir in Telangana's Warangal while trying to click selfie Also read | 14 Pune students drown in Murud beach tragedy --- ENDS --- File photo on Sep 21, 2016, shows the Liman, a Russian naval spy ship, passing through the Bosphorus on its way to Syria. The Liman sank on Apr 27, 2017 in the Black Sea off Turkey's coast after hitting a Togo-flagged vessel carrying livestock. (ALPER BOLER/AFP) The Russian military said the Liman - a former research ship re-fitted as an intelligence vessel - had a hole ripped out of its hull in the collision with the Youzarsif H. The collision, whose precise circumstances remain to be explained, took place in fog outside the northwestern entrance to the Bosphorus Strait, one of the world's biggest shipping thoroughfares that passes through Istanbul into the Sea of Marmara. The Liman was struck at 11.53 local time (4.53pm Singapore time) with the ship sinking three hours later at 2.48pm (7.48pm Singapore time), Turkish and Russian sources said. The Turkish coastguard said in a statement that the Togo-flagged vessel Youzarsif H was carrying a cargo of livestock. It said that of 78 Russian personnel on board the ship, 63 were rescued by the Turkish coastguard and the other 15 by the Youzarsif H itself. They were then transferred to a Turkish military ship, it said, without giving further details. "All the personnel were evacuated," it said. 'SAD INCIDENT' Turkish media said the Youzarsif suffered minor damage and went on its way after the incident. The Russian defence ministry confirmed the ship had gone down and said the crew were safe and would be taken from a Turkish vessel back onto a Russian ship. Turkish news agency Dogan said the area where the ships collided was shrouded in thick fog at the time, suggesting that the incident was accidental. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim spoke to his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev by phone over the incident, describing it as an accident and expressing his sadness, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. It was not known where the Liman was sailing from or its destination. The ship was built as a hydrography research vessel in 1970 but turned into a spy ship in 1989 and armed with an Igla missile launcher, according to public records. 'RUSSIA WANTS IT BACK' Russian warships have travelled frequently through the Bosphorus Strait to and from the Syrian coast, where a navy presence has been deployed to bolster Russia's air campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad. In February, military sources told Russian media that Liman would be observing NATO's Sea Shield exercise in the Black Sea. Cem Devrim Yaylali, an Istanbul-based Turkish naval expert and editor of the Bosphorus Naval News website, said the Liman had previously been to the Syrian coast but it was not clear where it was headed on this occasion. "A collision is not something that happens very frequently," he told AFP. He said the incident was an embarrassment for the Russian authorities as the Liman was likely carrying sensitive surveillance equipment that Moscow would want returned. "I imagine there will be a salvage effort to raise the ship before anyone else sees it," he said. "If the ship cannot be salvaged then Russia surely will try to take away the sensitive equipment from on board by divers." 'SYRIA EXPRESS' Relations between Russia and Turkey hit their worst state since the Cold War in November 2015 when Turkish war planes shot down a Russian jet over the Syrian border. But there has since been a dramatic reconciliation, with Moscow and Ankara now engaged in a joint effort to bring peace to Syria despite standing on opposing sides of the conflict. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to hold his latest talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Russia on May 3. As a Black Sea littoral state, Russia is allowed to have its military ships pass through the Bosphorus under the 1936 Montreux Convention on the Straits. The intense traffic of Russian vessels to and from Syria - known as the Syrian Express - has caused immense curiosity in Istanbul where the warships pass through the heart of the city in full view of ship-spotters. "There have been collisions but I cannot recall once that a military ship has sunk afterwards," Russia's former navy chief of staff admiral Viktor Kravchenko told the Interfax news agency. "This is an event that is out of the ordinary," he said. BigPhones difficulties At the beginning of March 2017, MWG released information about its newest retail chain for mobile phones and digital devices, called BigPhone, in Phnom Penh (Cambodia). The BigPhone chain is considered MWGs pilot study to learn about doing business abroad. Tran Kinh Doanh, general director of MWG, told VIR that each BigPhone store will have an area of about 150-200 square metres and its signboard will be painted with the black and yellow colours of the Thegioididong chain. Nevertheless, the store has not been launched due to obstacles in administrative procedures, tax, and invoices. In addition, the Cambodian market also fails to meet the companys expectations, Doanh said. Previously, in September 2016, MWG had successfully registered with the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, and half a year later, in March 2017, publicised the first images of BigPhone.com. BigPhones goods will be sourced from an MWG subsidiary in Cambodia, not imported from Vietnam. It is expected that in 2017 MWG will open ten BigPhone stores in Phnom Penh and by the end of the year, it will have the final answer whether it should expand the chain or leave the Cambodian market. While admitting to difficulties in Cambodia, Doanh insisted, Compared to other mobile phone retailers, I am confident that BigPhone can score a ten out of ten, while the others may get a maximum of five. Is Bach hoa XANH really fast and cheap? Fast and cheap is the slogan of Bach hoa XANH, the chain of mini grocery stores selling fresh food and necessities. However, according to some of MWGs customers and shareholders, except for fresh vegetables sold at an attractive price, Bach hoa XANH sells dried food at a much higher price than traditional markets or supermarkets. For instance, powdered milk product GrowPlus+ 110ml are sold for VND9,000 ($0.4) at Bach hoa XANH, while at traditional markets or supermarkets it only costs VND7,000 ($0.3). Similarly, cooking oil products, fish sauce, cosmetics, and so on, have a higher price compared to other supermarkets. Besides, Bach hoa Xanh has no promotion or discount programmes for frequent customers. A representative of MWG said that the revenue form the chain of 48 Bach hoa XANH grocery stores was VND45 billion ($1.98 million) in January 2017, and dry food generated only three to five per cent of this revenue. While there are no figures as to the revenue generated by each product line, it looks like fresh vegetables are the main products bringing the lions share of the revenue. Bach hoa XANHs gross profit is low, about 12 per cent, but at the end of 2017, this can rise to 18 per cent. Regarding dry food, we have not found a source to buy at the lowest price, but we will return to this question next year, Doanh said. According to plans, MWG will figure out the key to success for Bach hoa XANH, with the aim of opening 300 new stores in Tan Phu and Binh Tan Districts (Ho Chi Minh City). Meanwhile, by 2019, this chain will become the companys main driver of growth, while at present, its revenue is largely negligible for MWG. Besides, to minimize transportation and selling expenses, the company will construct a VND6-billion ($263,000), 7,000-square metre distribution centre. Moreover, MWG will decrease the number of employees in each store, and provide an additional VND500 billion ($21.9 million) investment for the grocery store chain. In April 2017, we will apply some tools to compare the prices in Bach hoa XANH to other traditional markets or supermarket to be able to offer more reasonable prices for each product, Doanh said. French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen's far right National Front is accused of using European money to pay assistants for work outside the European Parliament. (Photo: AFP/Martin Bureau) The parliament accuses Le Pen's anti-EU National Front (FN) of using funds meant for parliamentary assistants to pay staff for party work in France between 2012 and 2017. The allegations, which Le Pen denies, have triggered an investigation in France. The parliament had initially estimated the amount of the contested salaries at 1.9 million but now believes the FN wrongfully expensed 4,978,122, the source said, quoting a note to French investigators from the parliament's legal team. Patrick Maisonneuve, a lawyer for the parliament, confirmed the amount to AFP. The parliament believes 17 FN lawmakers in the European Parliament, including Le Pen, used European money to pay assistants for work outside the assembly, the source said. French investigators have not said how many of the jobs are in question. Le Pen, who came second in the first round of the presidential election behind centrist Emmanuel Macron, has portrayed the allegations as part of a plot to stymie her political ambitions. She will go up against Macron in a run-off vote on May 7. In March, Le Pen invoked her MEP's immunity in refusing to submit to questioning by investigating magistrates. Her chief of staff Catherine Griset and another party official have been charged with concealment. The department will form cuisine streets to serve tourists, improve the cuisine sectors human resources and intensify participation in both domestic and foreign food-related events, he stated on April 26 at a seminar on cuisine value and tourism. The city has held a series of events annually and attracted many visitors, including the southern cuisine festival, a festival featuring dishes from countries throughout the world and the southern fruit festival. Trieu Thi Choi, a leading cuisine professional in Vietnam, said that to develop cuisine tourism, Vietnamese food must become an impressive trademark that is attractive to visitors. General Director of Vietravel company Nguyen Quoc Ky suggested planning food sites and night markets systematically and dividing food sites into groups, such as Chinese food, or traditional Vietnamese food of the northern, central or southern region. At the seminar, many participants emphasised the need for good food safety and hygiene, especially street food. o Trung Thoai (third left), chairman of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority, answers questions from delegates at the seminar on Mega Infrastructures Make Difference in the North in HCM City on Wednesday. - VNS Photo Hans Kerstens, international business development manager at Deep C Industrial Zones, said in the last five years the north has become the most popular investment destination for foreign companies. Almost US$60 billion has been invested there since 2011, outperforming the south by nearly $9 billion, he said. Availability of prime industrial land adjacent to the new infrastructure developments in combination with reliable power, water, wastewater treatment and, unconditionally, the best tax package available in Viet Nam are some of the reasons why many more investors have decided to come here, he said. Vu Duy Mat, deputy director of Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong, said the airport, upgraded last year, has been a success story in terms of both passengers and cargo. In the first quarter of this year passengers and cargo throughput increased by 47 per cent and 48 per cent year-on-year. The presence of a second airport (besides Noi Bai Airport in Ha Noi) capable of handling cargo via international routes is an imperative to comfort investors in the mobile phone and electronics business, he said. Pham Hai Manh of the Ministry of Transports Maritime Project Management Unit said a major game changer in the north has been the construction of the new Hai Phong International Gateway Port (also known as Lach Huyen Port). Until recently Hai Phong only had a port with a limited draft of seven metres. The new Lach Huyen Port, which will become operational next year, will allow vessels with a draft of 14 metres or 100,000DWT to berth in Hai Phong, eliminating the need to tranship from places like Singapore or Hong Kong and reducing the time to markets. Hai Phong in particular has received a lot of interest among foreign investors, o Trung Thoai, chairman of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority, said. It is home to 490 FDI projects worth almost $14 billion by some major players like LG, Bridgestone, Knauf, Regina Miracle, Nipro Pharma, and Flat Glass. The integrated infrastructure, especially the transport system, has been one of the biggest factors in this. Its investment environment too has greatly improved, especially in terms of administrative procedures, enabling businesses to get licences and customs and tax declarations faster, he said. He expected the investment wave in the city to strengthen further when large national transport infrastructure works are completed soon. He hailed the active support offered by local authorities to investors. The province has approved a list of projects requiring FDI investment in 2016-20, with a focus on environment-friendly ones, he said. Kerstens said investors in the Deep C Industrial Zones can enjoy the convenience of transportation by sea, road, rail, and air. They have so far attracted over $3 billion worth of investments from various countries in 70-odd projects. The zone supports customers by providing an integrated support package in an unconditional and transparent way to allow them to do business hassle-free, Kerstens said. Nearly 100 business people attended the seminar on Mega Infrastructures Make Difference in the North organised by Beluxcham together with various IP authorities, Deep C Industrial Zones, and KPMG. Vietnams new tourism ambassador, Jordan Charles Vogt-Roberts and director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Nguyen Van Tuan. Jordan told the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism about the project and hopes they will support the idea. At the meeting, the young director said that he was very glad to receive support from local authorities when shooting the Kong:Skull Island in Vietnam, especially now seeing Vietnamese audiences are enjoying his film. He also stressed how attractive Vietnams landscapes are. "I was right when trying to persuade the producers choose Vietnam not Thailand as the location," he said. Talking about his plans in Vietnam, the new tourism ambassador said that he would call for scholarships for Vietnamese students from the US and some other countries, organise some charity events, and assist local communities to develop tourism industry. Director of the VNAT, Nguyen Van Tuan, said he appreciated the impact the film had on international audiences and their interest in Vietnam. "You've helped sent beautiful images of Vietnam to people world-wide," Tuan said, adding that the VNAT would do its best support the director in his next projects. Tuan also said he wanted the ambassador to attend some tourism promotional events overseas to help attract more visitors. Thang was the former secretary of the Party Committee at Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and chairman of the board of members at PetroVietnam. On April 27, the committee issued a press release on the conclusions of its meeting during April 24-26. Accordingly, Thang, together with a group of other former PetroVietnam officials, has to hold responsibility for various acts of mismanagement. The committee highlighted four loss-making million-dollar projects by PetroVietnam ratified during 2009-2011, when Thang held the position of chairman, representing the states stake. The projects include Dinh Vu Polyester Fibre and Yarn project and three bio-ethanol production facilities . Of them, the Dinh Vu Polyester Fibre and Yarn project repeatedly incurred losses and has stopped operations, while the ethanol projects have not even officially started operation. Besides having to take responsibility for making these investment decisions, Thang also has to answer for signing Resolution 233/NQ-DU of the Party Committee at PetroVietnam, the contents of which do not comply with the law. This resolution allows the board of members, the board of directors, and member companies to assign bid packages to contractors of their choosing, instead of carrying out legal bidding procedures. Consequently, Thang has to take responsibility for the resolutions and decisions the board of members made to assign large bidding packages to specific contractors, oftentimes going against the governments decrees. He is also charged with the board of members issuance of Resolution No.4266/NQ-DKVN investing more than the allowed funds into OceanBank, violating the Law on Financial Institutions and causing damage to PetroVietnam. The four projects Dinh La Thang is held responsible for The Dinh Vu Polyester Fibre and Yarn project started implementation in 2008. According to inspection results by the Government Inspectorate, the project started incurring losses since its pilot run in 2012, when it lost VND21 billion ($923,000). In 2013, it lost VND366 billion ($16.1 million) and in 2014, when official operation started, it lost VND1.085 trillion ($47.7 million). As of March 31, 2015, the projects accumulated loss was VND1.73 trillion ($76 million). The initial investment was $325 million, which was later adjusted to $359 million. The plant had suspended operations temporarily many times before it officially closed at the end of 2015. The three bio-ethanol projects include Dung Quat bio-ethanol plant in Quang Ngai, Phu Tho bio-ethanol plant, and Binh Phuoc bio-ethanol plant. Each has an annual capacity of 100 million litres. The projects were financed with 30 per cent capital from shareholders and the rest borrowed from banks. According to the Government Inspectorate, all three have incurred losses and were teetering on the edge of not starting commercial operations. As of November 2014, the total investment in the three facilities was VND5.4 trillion ($237.4 million). Newswire vietnamnet.vn quoted a source as saying that the Phu Tho ethanol project may be allowed to go bankrupt in order to prevent further damage as the contractor PetroVietnam Construction JSC (PVC) is currently in trouble (a group of officials have recently been prosecuted for corruption and intentionally violating regulations on economic management, causing severe consequences). Also the market is not picking up yet and the cost of production is high. The Dung Quat project may soon receive aid from a foreign partner to resume production. The Binh Phuoc project currently has a foreign investor as the controlling shareholder so the government has to wait for this investors decision before taking matters to its hand. photo source: AP "A third-party state will not have the same rights or even superior rights to a member state," the German chancellor told parliament two days before the meeting in Brussels. "This may sound self-evident, but I have to say this clearly because some in Britain seem to have illusions on this point," she said. "That would be a waste of time." The leaders of the other 27 EU nations have stressed a united stance as they plan to meet Saturday to set down the bloc's "red lines" - although the talks will not begin until June, after Britain's election. "The negotiations will be very demanding, without a doubt," said Merkel, the leader of the biggest EU economy. British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman, in a brief reaction, said only that London was approaching the negotiations "in a constructive spirit and with enormous goodwill". FINANCE QUESTION The EU has toughened its strategy, making new demands over financial services, immigration and the bills Britain must settle before ending its 44-year-old membership of the bloc. Britain will also be required to give EU citizens permanent residency after living there for five years, in a challenge for May's Conservative government, which has vowed to limit immigration. The EU's latest draft negotiating guidelines, agreed on Monday, seek to ensure Britain does not get a better deal outside the bloc than inside. According to the document seen by AFP, the other EU countries will seek to hold Britain liable for the bloc's costs for at least a year after it leaves in 2019 - longer than was previously proposed. Merkel said that talks from the very start must include Britain's financial obligations, including after Brexit. She said these issues must be resolved first in a "satisfactory" way before negotiations turn to Britain's future relations with the bloc - a sequence Merkel called "irreversible". "Without progress on the many open questions regarding the exit, including the financial questions, it doesn't make sense to hold parallel talks on the details of a future relationship," she said. 'SPIRIT OF UNITY' May, after starting the Article 50 process of leaving the EU last month, is seeking to shore up her mandate for the Brexit talks in a snap election on Jun 8. Polls suggest her Conservatives will return with an increased majority. A new survey, by YouGov for The Times newspaper, meanwhile for the first time signalled more people now believe the Brexit vote was a mistake, by a 45-43 per cent margin. May hosted a working dinner on Wednesday with key EU Brexit negotiators, including European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. EU ministers were meanwhile meeting in Luxembourg to prepare the ground work for Saturday's meeting. "It seems that at the moment we are completely united on everything," said Maltese Vice Premier Louis Grech, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU. "Naturally we have to protect the EU's interests." He said a prime objective was "to ensure that we will conduct the negotiations in a spirit of unity and trust between the 27". May has committed to pulling Britain out of Europe's single market to end free movement of EU citizens into Britain. Earlier this week, a German senior finance official rejected this demand, in an interview with AFP. "What won't work is having access to the internal market without freedom of movement" for EU citizens, said Jens Spahn, state secretary at the finance ministry. "Or access for UK financial institutions to the European financial market if at the same time there is rampant deregulation in London. You can have either one thing, or the other. These things must be clarified." An RTI enquiry reveals most Modi Cabinet ministers remained missing from Cabinet meetings held during campaigns for elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Goa. By Sahil Joshi: Looks like the central government's work was stand still during the hectic campaign for the recently held assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Goa. RTI details reveal that most of Modi's Cabinet minister were absent in the four Cabinet meetings held during that time, claims Mumbai based RTI activist Anil Galgali on the basis of his RTI enquiry put forth to Central Cabinet Secretariat. advertisement The RTI application asked the PMO office about the attendance of all ministers for the Cabinet meetings held between January 30 and February 23 2017 -- the time when campaigning was at its peak. The application was forwarded to the Cabinet Secretariat. Uttar Pradesh elections were held in seven phases, from February 11 to March 8; Uttarakhand elections were held on February 15; Punjab and Goa elections were held on February 4 and Manipur elections were held on March 8. During this period, four Cabinet meetings were held. The first meeting happened on February 1 and had 98% attendance with 38 ministers. The next meeting, held on February 8 -- when Goa and Punjab elections were over and campaign for UP's first phase had geared up, the number dropped down to 20 ministers. Then, for the February 15 meeting, only 12 ministers were present. Finally, for the fourth meeting held on February 22, only 17 ministers were present. Apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi there are 25 Cabinet Minister's and 13 State Minister's with Independent Charge. The Cabinet Secretariat hasn't revealed names of the ministers absent in the meetings and the reason behind the absenteeism. RTI activist Galgali claims, it is clear most of the ministers were tasked by BJP president Amit Shah to travel across Uttar Pradesh to ensure a massive win for the Bhartiya Janata Party. --- ENDS --- Park Chulho, director general of Kotra Hanoi How has South Korean investment developed in Vietnam over the past years? Vietnams economic growth and industrialisation started in 1986 when the doi moi policy was adopted. After that, the US removal of sanctions on Vietnam brought large-scale FDI investment to the country, providing momentum for rapid economic growth and industrialisation. FDI in the 1990s came mostly from Asian countries, such as Japan and Korea, among others. The core focus at the time was the labour-intensive manufacturing and processing sector. After the turn of the millennium, investment sectors changed towards the more capital-intensive industries, such as machinery and electronics manufacturing, improving the investment structure and gradually concentrating on higher value-added business. The primary reason for FDI investors to enter Vietnam is the abundance of relative low-cost but skilled labour and political stability. Additionally, the countrys 100 million population provides Korean companies with an extremely large and receptive consumer market. Coupled with the effects of the Vietnam-Korea FTA that has come into force at the end of 2015, as well as the host of other bilateral and multilateral agreements that Vietnam signed or are under negotiation, such as the Vietnam-EU FTA and RCEP, and it is clear that Vietnam is about to become a business hub with easier access to neighbouring markets than any other Southeast Asian country. In addition to its geographical advantage, the strong determination of the Vietnamese government to attract FDI capital is also an important factor. Korean investments into Vietnam can be divided into three main stages that are easily separable both chronologically and by forms of investment. The first was the stage of approach, when big Korean construction enterprises like Posco and Daewoo appeared in Vietnam as the pioneers of Korean investment. In the second stage, the take off period, the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement and Vietnams participation in the WTO lured Korean investors to the textile, fabric, and sewing industries. The most recent stage is the expansion stage, which was hallmarked by the investments of Samsung Electronics Group. Since this foray, there has been an extraordinary surge in electric and electronic investments and Korean firms have been in a frenzy to diversify investments in Vietnam. Currently, Korea is the largest foreign investor in Vietnam, followed by Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan. Since the establishment of official diplomatic relations in 1992, the Korean-Vietnamese partnership has been developing dynamically in all areas. It has been developing not only in the private sphere, but has been more than fruitful in the fields of politics, economics, society and culture, science, and security, education, and labour. As is well known, the two countries relationship has been upgraded from the 21st century comprehensive cooperation partnership to a strategic cooperation partnership at the Korea-Vietnam Summit in 2009. As of 2016, Korea was the third largest trading partner (the fourth largest exporting and the second largest importing partner) to Vietnam. At the same time, Vietnam was the fourth largest trading partner (the fourth largest exporting and the eighth largest importing partner) to Korea. Obviously, we are one of the most important trading partners of one other. More than 5,000 Korean companies have invested in Vietnam and personal exchanges between the two countries have been actively pursued. With the increasing exchanges and socio-economic cooperation between the two countries in the years ahead, Korean companies are growing more interested in Vietnam than ever before. Therefore, I can forecast with great certainty that the trade between the two countries will continue to grow along with the entry of Korean companies to Vietnam. I will also make every effort to contribute to the development of the Vietnamese society and culture as well as its economy. What impacts did the Vietnam-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA) have on South Korean investment activities in Vietnam? How have these firms been operating since the agreement came into effect? VKFTA, compared to the Korea-ASEAN FTA or the Bilateral Investment Treaty between the two countries, provides a higher level of investment liberalisation and investor protection and includes consultation on institutional arrangements for resolving the difficulties of Korean companies investing in Vietnam. These advantages make Vietnam a more favourable investment environment for Korean companies. There is no doubt that the enhanced market access and the favourable trade and investment environment brought about by VKFTA have contributed to Korean investors confidence in Vietnam. This is also confirmed not only by the increased number of projects or amount invested, but also by the expanded variety of sectors. There is a marked tendency of Korean companies departing from the traditional manufacturing and processing industries and expanding to real estate, construction, and distribution It is clear that more and more Korean companies will come to Vietnam, which will, in turn, boost investments both in terms of quantity and quality. In Korea, there are many companies with abundant capital, high technical skills, and strong management abilities looking to explore new marketsand they are paying attention to ASEAN markets, especially Vietnam. Vietnam has great growth potential in various industries, such as materials, infrastructure, energy, finance, medicine, and IT, almost perfectly matching the profile of Korean companies. If it is verified that these promising industries will yield high returns and, above all, if the Vietnamese government continues to improve its business environment, I believe Korean investments in Vietnam will be more diverse and advanced in the future. What are the focuses of South Korean firms in Vietnam? As can be seen in the 2016 Korean investment trend in Vietnam, manufacturing and processing still make up the largest portion with 70 per cent of the accumulated Korean investments (from 1988) and 82 per cent of 2016 investments. Undeniably, besides the manufacturing and processing sector, various fields in the service industry, such as wholesale and retail, culture, and science and technology, are expanding at a significant pace. However, the service and distribution sectors have not managed to overtake the manufacturing and processing sector in terms of growth speed yet. Electric and electronic manufacturing account for the largest portion of the manufacturing and processing sector (65 per cent), followed by textile and fabric manufacturing (20 per cent). Currently, Korean enterprises are most keen on the material and parts industry, which directly support not only existing investment fields, but also the new fields of interest, such as the high-tech industries of automobile, medical device, and airplane manufacturing. Korean investors are still keen on the services and distribution sectors, even though they seem to be shifting from offline wholesale and retail to web-based distribution. Regarding education, investment was intense, as some new investment models in developing e-learning projects haves been created by cooperation with local start-up companies. What investment trends do you foresee in the future? As Korean investors have recognised Vietnam as an important manufacturing hub, most investment projects have focused on this sector. In recent years, despite the fact that the overall value of Korean investments in the Vietnamese manufacturing sector has seen a slight decrease, it still accounts for the largest portion at above 80 per cent of the total investment coming from Korea. The changes of the Chinese investment environment has led to an increasing number of Korean investors relocating to Vietnam. This trend has been predicted to carry on for a while. I am fairly certain that Korean firms will not focus solely on manufacturing, but will eventually expand to distribution, wholesale and retail, logistics, technology, science, and infrastructure. As Vietnams economy and industry are developing, investment in services related to these sectors will inevitably increase. Currently, existing export-oriented manufacturing companies are also interested in local distribution due to the growth of the domestic market. In addition, the newest global trend in recent years is Product Servitisation. Now it is impossible to make great added value by simply manufacturing a product, so it is expected that various service business fields related to manufacturing will be prioritised for investment. Environmental pollution is becoming a growing concern for the public, authorities, and experts alike, Photo: Le Toan The Light Industry Department, which helps the Ministry of Industry and Trade regulate paper, leather, garment, and other light industries, has just completed a document containing issues related to the project, and agreed with the opinions of scientists who think this project will do significant harm to the environment. In March 2016, the Tien Giang Management Board of Industrial Zones granted an investment certificate to Chang Yang Holding to develop a paper factory worth $220 million. The factory would produce duplex and kraft paper as well as products for household use, with a total capacity of 413,000 tonnes per year. The plants timetable calls for two construction phases - phase one with a capacity of 170,000 tonnes a year scheduled to be completed in August 2017, and phase two with a capacity of 238,000 tonnes a year. The facilitys products will be sold domestically and exported to Taiwan and other overseas markets. Half of the input material for the project would come from waste paper in Vietnam, and the other half would come from imported waste paper. If the waste paper supplies are not sufficient, the investor would use imported paper pulp. According to the department, after the project was granted an investment certificate, experts raised concerns about the environmental impact of the project. Specifically, the project could pollute the Tien River and its surrounding riverbanks. It would use 7,500 cubic metres of fresh water per hour, while simultaneously ejecting nearly 5,000 cubic metres of wastewater over the same period. Under pressure from the citizenry, the Tien Giang Peoples Committee recently held a meeting to gather opinions from scientists. The scientists said that paper is one of the most potentially polluting sectors. Many chemicals are needed to turn waste paper into the paper pulp that is needed for production. The wastewater, if untreated, would be very harmful to people, plants, and animals. The scientists asked the province to carefully evaluate the technology of this company and its wastewater treatment measures before allowing the project to begin. Scientists that Tien Giang authorities consulted with all said that Tien Giang should be careful or simply decline this project altogether to prevent a possible crisis, making sure to be consistent with the prime ministers determination to not trade off the environment for economic interests, the departments document stated, adding that they put a lot of weight in the scientists concerns. Recently, citing environmental concerns, the government halted a major steel project due to lingering apprehensions brought about by the infamous Formosa steel fiasco. Last week, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered the suspension of the $10.6 billion Ca Na steel project proposed by domestic steel maker Hoa Sen Group in the central province of Ninh Thuan in order to clarify some issues related to the environment and technology. The prime minister applauded Ninh Thuan for wanting to grow the province economically, but said preparations for the project have been proceeding too fast. In addition to a report on the domestic steel demand, the prime minister also asked the investor and government agencies to evaluate the environmental impact and review the technology to make sure the project is safe. In April 2016, fish were found dying en masse along the central coast of Vietnam. Subsequent inspections identified wastewater as the reason behind the deaths. Water released during the test run of the $10.5 billion steel and port complex in the central province of Ha Tinh invested by Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Co., Ltd. (HFS), a subsidiary of Taiwanese firm Formosa Plastics Corporation seriously damaged the ecology of the surrounding area. The incident harmed the livelihood of fishermen in the region , and negatively affected the budding tourism industry of the central region. Nguyen Dang Thao is seen in this photo posted on Euro Auto's website. Officers of the economic police unit under the Ministry of Public Security (C46) confirmed on April 27 that one of the arrestees is Nguyen Dang Thao, general director of Ho Chi Minh City-based Euro Auto, while keeping the names of the other two undisclosed. Some local media sources said Thao no longer keeps the executive post at Euro Auto BMWs official authorized importer in Vietnam providing renowned BMW products and services. However, the companys board section on Euro Autos website still lists Thao as the general director, according to a check on Thursday by Tuoi Tre News. The arrest came after the C46 launched a probe into Euro Auto importing and selling a suspicious batch of BMW cars late last year. In December 2016, the BWM dealer was found to have sold a shipment of imported cars while it was still pending clearance from the Ho Chi Minh City customs agency, in addition to violating multiple regulations, according to the finance ministry. Euro Auto was also unable to present certificates of origin (C/O) and other papers, documents, and receipts for its imports a sign of fraud and customer scamming. An inspection by the finance ministry found that Euro Auto had used fake documents, such as sales contracts and commercial receipts, to import the BMW cars in question. Also in December, the finance ministry requested that the Ho Chi Minh City customs department suspend all shipments imported by Euro Auto from clearing customs and call on the municipal procuracy to launch a probe into the import and business activities of the car dealership. The investigation was initiated shortly after, and the three individuals involved were arrested four months thereafter. Nguyen Dang Thao had been Euro Autos director of sales and marketing before being appointed general director in 2015. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Filmmaker SS Rajamouli's much-anticipated Baahubali: The Conclusion has opened to fantastic response from fans across the world. By India Today Web Desk: After having waited for two years, SS Rajamouli's magnum opus Baahubali: The Conclusion is finally in theaters and has opened to rave reception from critics and audience alike. Released in over 9000 screens worldwide, the Prabhas-starrer has received phenomenal response from the audience. As per early trade estimates, Baahubali 2 is expected to do a whopping business of Rs 100 crore on its opening day. advertisement Trade analyst Ramesh Bala took to Twitter to share the news. #Baahubali2 is heading towards a historic ?100 Cr NBOC in #India (All languages combined) on Day 1.. pic.twitter.com/z4AHRCQo9I- Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) April 28, 2017 Meanwhile, noted trade analyst Taran Adarsh said: And the typhoon strikes BO... East. West. North. South... It's #Baahubali2 mania... Will set new benchmarks... HISTORIC START!- taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) April 28, 2017 In India alone, Baahubali 2 is hitting the screens in over 6,500 screens. Earlier this week, the film had a terrific response in advance booking sales. The craze was so much that the ticking website BookMyShow issued a statement saying that they have sold out a million tickets for the sequel. According to trade pundits, Baahubali 2 is very likely to emerge as the highest grossing Indian films of all time, raking in at least Rs 1000 crore. Baahubali: The Beginning ended with Katappa revealing himself as the killer of Amarendra Baahubali. And The Conclusion takes the story forward from where its predecessor ended. Made on a budget of Rs 250 crore, the film has already fetched enough moolah for the producers and reportedly raked in Rs 500 crore through its satellite and distribution rights. Baahubali 2 is released in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi. Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, Sathyaraj and Ramya Krishnan star in pivotal roles in this instalment of Baahubali too. ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 Tamil Review ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 Hindi Review ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 live-streamed from Kuwait, people leaking clips from inside theatres WATCH: Everything you need to know about Baahubali --- ENDS --- Cambodian officials are continuing to investigate the murder of prominent political analyst Kem Ley last year despite the courts having convicted the apparent killer in March, according to police. But rights groups say without a thorough, independent investigation into the murder justice will be lacking. More than 60 international and local rights groups on March 23, the day Oeut Ang was sentenced to life for Leys murder, called on the government to broaden its investigation, pointing to alleged shortcomings in the official probe into the killing. Kirt Chantharith, spokesman for National Police Commissioner Neth Savoeun, told VOA Khmer that the police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of Leys death. We dont rush to close such a case. Our investigation is still ongoing as long as we have more leads, he said. However, he notes that no leads have been identified and as such the investigation may be dropped. Ang, who claims his name is Choub Samlap, which means Meet Kill in Khmer, confessed to the murder, which he said he carried out over an unpaid debt, a claim that many Cambodia watchers say is highly unlikely. Kingsley Abbott, a senior legal adviser to the International Commission of Jurists, says Angs version of events fails to credibly explain the circumstances surrounding Leys killing. Ley was gunned down at a Caltex gas station in central Phnom Penh on June 10. Ang claims that a man identified as Pou Lis introduced him to Ley, while another man he names as Chork sold him the murder weapon. An investigation by broadcaster Al Jazeera in the aftermath of the murder uncovered evidence that Ang had met with military officials in the weeks prior to the killing, while one of his friends claimed Ang had been hired by the military. Yung Phanith, Angs lawyer, said police had initially not attempted to locate the two alleged accomplices, Lis and Chork, believing this part of Angs story to be a fabrication. Now the court is to hear their case, after the prosecutor suggested further investigation on them is required, he added. Court analysts also say that video evidence presented at Angs trial was inconclusive as it did not establish a clear sequence of events before and after the shooting and that the published footage was incomplete. Bou Rachana, Leys widow, has repeatedly denied that Ley knew Ang or was in debt, while media reports have questioned how Ang, who was apparently virtually destitute, was able to lend thousands of dollars to a successful public figure. Sebastian Strangio, a journalist and author of Hun Sens Cambodia, agreed that there are many unanswered questions, adding that it appeared the government was trying to close the book on this case. He [Ley] had taken these principles and principles of accountability and related them to people in the rural idioms that was directly relevant to their life experience, said Strangio. I think that is something that made him a threat to the government. David Chandler, a scholar of Cambodian history, said with local elections just two months away the unanswered questions in this case paints a gloomy political landscape. He adds that for the sake of gaining more votes in the elections there might not be more political assassinations. I think Hun Sen just wants to make sure that CPP will win the election. That is the point, he added. The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party convened a second extraordinary party congress onTuesday after the government threatened legal action following a similar event in March. The party had met to elect a new leadership after its former president, Sam Rainsy, resigned his post. But the government said it could take the party to court because it had allegedly violated its internal rules and therefore Cambodian law. At the March congress, the CNRP elected former deputy leader Kem Sokha as president, along with three vice presidents: Mu Sochua, Eng Chhay Eang, and Pol Ham. At the party congress on Tuesday, the CNRP removed the article in dispute from its charter so that no one will complain anymore, Chhay Eang said. He added that the three vice presidents would remain in their positions until the party had received approval from the government. General Khieu Sopheak, interior spokesman, declined to comment. Meas Ny, a social development researcher, said the CNRP was right to hold another congress to amend their charter to avoid confrontation with the government, but that this move would not guarantee the issue would be resolved. So far I think everything has been done according to party rules, he said. A U.S. budget proposal could see aid to Cambodia cut drastically if approved as the Trump administration seeks to merge the State Department with its aid body, USAID, and more closely tie foreign development assistance to national security interests. A leaked copy of the proposal, published by Foreign Policy magazine on Monday, details plans to completely eliminate all development assistance to Cambodia in 2018, down from a 2016 spending level of $34.5 million, and drastically reduce health programs in the country. An $8 million fund to support business development in Cambodia would also be dissolved under the plans. President Donald Trumps planned cuts would follow a broad slashing of government budgets in March, however, the proposed foreign assistance budget has met stiff opposition and is still a long way from becoming a reality. A Cambodian government spokesman, Phay Siphan, said the cuts were not surprising given that the United States is dealing with a financial crisis, too. When our economy grows well, aid assistance becomes less important, so donors eventually stop funding. We can live on our own, he said, adding that the cuts, if they were approved, would affect NGOs more than government programs. Thida Khus, director of public policy NGO Silaka, said if the proposal was approved it would reflect a lack of care for countries in the region. She added that there were other sources of funding that the civil society sector could turn to if U.S. funding was stopped. Ou Virak, founder of the Future Forum, a think tank, said he was concerned by the possibility that such a move could push Cambodia further into the arms of its biggest backer, China. The imbalance in [Cambodias] international relations could risk Cambodia losing its trading partners, he said. Son Chhay, the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Partys chief whip, said the proposed budget would have a serious impact on the countrys poor. Perhaps it [the United States] will only help countries that have a good relationship with the United States, he said. Or perhaps its Cambodian policy that she doesnt need help from the U.S. Jay Raman, U.S. Embassy spokesman, said in an email that the full budget would be announced later this year. Beyond what is included in the budget blueprint, we do not have additional details on what programs will be reduced, he said. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Trump 100 Days US president Donald Trump hits the 100-days mark in office as health care, spending and taxes loom large on the White House agenda. VOA White House correspondent Pete Heinlein and VOA Congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson discuss US President Trumps start, his accomplishments, and coming agenda. How Taliban Managed to Attack a Major Fortification in Afghanistan A brazen Taliban raid on an Afghan army base results in the massacre of hundreds of soldiers, and the resignations of the country's top military officials. VOAs Ayaz Gul in Islamabad and VOA Afghan Service Special Projects Manager Ibrahim Nasar talk about the recent attacks by and against militants in Afghanistan. 1 Sergei Bobkov paints Siberian cedar nut oil onto a life-size sculpture of Pallas's Cat, which he made from Siberian cedar wood shavings using more than 700 thousand pieces over four years. Leaders from 10 Southeast Asian countries at this weeks Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in the Philippines have sidestepped criticizing China over its expansion in the contested South China Sea, a sign, some analysts say, of Beijings economic and diplomatic influence. ASEAN heads of state who conclude the four-day summit in Manila Saturday have, so far, issued no criticism of China. Analysts and media reports earlier in the week expected a mildly worded statement without naming any one country as a troublemaker. Nothing provocative Any slight against China, such as a reminder that it lost a world court arbitration ruling July 12 over the legal basis for its claim to 95 percent of the sea, would be unnecessarily provocative, said Collin Koh, maritime security research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Most of those statements related to such sensitive issues like the South China Sea tend to be very general and wouldnt go down to specifics, even including highlighting any particular country as singled out for some kind of reprimand in the statement, Koh said. Hesitation to criticize China shows the impact of Beijings aggressive negotiations with individual Southeast Asian countries and offers of economic benefits since the arbitration ruling. Chinas coast guard activity, land reclamation work and construction of military bases in the 3.5 million-square-kilometer area have previously caused alarm. Maybe theyll say something about self-restraint on the Korean Peninsula, but not much to say about the South China Sea, said Termsak Chalermpalanupap, a fellow with the ISEAS Yusof Ihsak Institute in Singapore who specializes in maritime security. The scene is quieter now. ASEANs statements seldom implicate other countries, and the bloc includes staunch China allies, such as Cambodia and Laos. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, this years ASEAN chairman, said this week the summit would avoid mentioning the world court arbitration ruling, which China has called a farce. Aid around the region Since July, China has opened talks with the Philippines, the country that filed for arbitration, and offered it $24 billion in economic aid. China has stepped up discussions on maritime cooperation with Vietnam, another vocal anti-China country before the court ruling. Malaysia already counts China as its top source of investment and trade, and Beijing was working with Brunei on a joint port venture and increased trade cooperation before the world court ruling. The South China Sea exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam all ASEAN members overlap Beijings claims. Taiwan also calls the sea its own. The waters are prized for abundant fisheries as well as undersea gas and oil reserves. U.S. President Donald Trump has not made it clear whether he will help Southeast Asia resist Chinas maritime expansion. The Trump administration really hasnt addressed the South China Sea, said Carl Thayer, emeritus professor of politics at The University of New South Wales in Australia. This is a time for China to push ahead with the diplomatic side, so it can consolidate its presence any time it wants. China will pick up the slack here, push the diplomacy. Over the past decade China has quickly expanded into the sea, landfilling more than 3,000 hectares to make reefs buildable. It is finishing naval, air, radar and other facilities on three islets in the seas Spratly archipelago, according to a program under the Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies. Southeast Asian countries will eventually face off with China over a maritime code of conduct, analysts believe. China has broken six years of resistance by agreeing to work with ASEAN on a framework maritime code by June. The aim of the code would be to prevent accidents at sea without touching on sovereignty disputes. Developing the framework into a full code would require sensitive talks on whether the code would apply to Chinese-controlled islets, whether Taiwan as a non-ASEAN member would follow it and to what extent the contents are legally binding. China and Southeast Asian might work on those details next year, analysts say. The framework is mainly just a skeleton of the document, Chalermpalanupap said. (China) wants to be seen as cooperating and thats why they promised a framework by June this year, but after that we still have to flesh out the skeleton. That will involve a lot of discussion. British counterterror police have shot a woman and arrested six people in raids in London and southeastern England. A senior officer said Friday the arrests disrupted an active terrorist plot. The woman in her 20s is in serious but stable condition in a hospital after the raid on a house in Willesden, northwest London, the Metropolitan Police said Friday. In footage shot by a witness, what sounds like several shots ring out as police surround the row house Thursday evening. Woman in hospital, not arrested Police said the injured woman was the subject of an ongoing investigation. She is under police guard but has not been arrested. A 20-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy were arrested at that address, as was a 20-year-old man nearby. A man and a woman both age 28 were arrested when they returned to the house later. A 43-year-old woman in Kent county, south of London, was also arrested. Police say the suspects are being held on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. A police statement says the raids were not related to Thursday's incident near Parliament in which a man was arrested while allegedly carrying large knives in a backpack. Police say threat contained Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said the Willesden raid disrupted an ongoing plot, but did not elaborate. Basu said that in both the Willesden and Parliament incidents, we have contained the threat that they posed. Britain's official threat level from international terrorism stands at the second-highest, severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. By Akshaya Nath: While the entire nation is gearing up to watch the first day, first show of SS Rajamouli's Baahubali 2, the fans of the franchise in Chennai will have to wait a little longer to watch the magnum opus on 70mm. The morning shows of Baahubali 2 were cancelled in Chennai due as the financial settlement between K Productions (distributors of Baahubali 2 in Tamil) and producers is yet to be settled. advertisement Reportedly, the producers did not give clearance to the distributors to screen the film before 11am. And therefore, no screening of Baahubali 2 will take place before 11 in the morning in Chennai. At 3am in the morning close to 100 people had gathered outside the Rohini theatre to get the answer for the biggest question of the year, "Why did Kattappa kill Bahubali?" But all of them were in for a shock when the first shows of the movie across the city was cancelled. "I am here outside Rohini theatre from 3am and it was so irresponsible of the theatre owners to sell tickets if the show rights were not there. There was a lathi charge and two people were taken into custody," said a fan outside the theatre. Around 4am when the police officials were trying to disperse the large crowd that was gathered outside Rohini theatre a lathi charge had begun, and two were taken into custody. But that did not stop the fans from coming again and again. Most of them who booked the early morning shows turned up at the theatres only to be informed that they won't be able to see a show, "Online booking was done by many of us, they could have sent a message about the cancellation. Such a waste of time and also I have not yet got the refund," said Ganga who had booked for the 8am show. At the Rohini theatre in Koyambedu, the theatre officials had put up a notice in Tamil that read, "Across the state of Tamil Nadu the release of the movie was not there and hence at 7:55, 8 and 8:15, the shows have been cancelled." The lack of a proper reason for why the shows were cancelled was also a cause of concern for many. "When we say the police and media presence we thought it was for security and did not imagine that the show could be cancelled. Why is it cancelled, anyway?" enquired Ananth who had come to the theatre with his family. With the morning shows cancelled, the fans who had already bought the tickets will have to wait for another few days to see the larger-than-life experience unfold before them as tickets are sold out till May 4 in Tamil Nadu. advertisement This piece of news has left Tamil fans disheartened as they will have to wait a little longer to know as to 'Why Katappa killed Baahubali'. Baahubali hits a new roadblock in TN: The release of Baahubali 2 is put on a hold, as a sub-distributor had failed to return the money to a theatre right holder in Tamil Nadu. While the talks are on to release the film at the earliest today, theatre assistants believe that the issue would be resolved by 11 am. Tickets booked for the morning shows stand cancelled and will be refunded. The theatrical right holder has agreed to screen Baahubali 2 for the day. But If the settlement is not done latest by tonight, the shows will be stopped from tomorrow. The screening of Baahubali 2 will start from 11 am. ALSO READ: Baahabali 2 first review out ALSO READ: Here's why Rajamouli's Baahubali 2 is set to break all records ALSO WATCH: Everything you want to know about India's most expensive film --- ENDS --- A car bomb at a police station in central Baghdad killed four people and wounded eight late Friday night, according to Iraqi police and hospital officials. Saad Mann, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry and Baghdad Operations Command, told the Associated Press the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber and that only three were killed in the blast. He said all those killed were policemen. He did not offer any information as to the number of injured. The differing accounts could not be immediately reconciled. The explosion targeted an entrance to the traffic police station in Baghdad's Karrada neighborhood. Moments after the attack, the burning shell of a car could be seen sending up a plume of thick black smoke as police fired into the air to disperse a small crowd. Hospital and police officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. The attack came as Iraqi forces struggled to push back Islamic State group militants in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the last pocket of significant urban territory the group holds in Iraq. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but IS has carried out similar attacks targeting Iraqi security forces in the past. Iraqi and coalition officials have warned that as IS loses ground in Iraq the group will increasingly return to its insurgent roots. Last July, a massive truck bombing in the same Baghdad neighborhood killed more than 300 people on a busy street lined with shopping malls. The attack was the deadliest single bombing in Baghdad since U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. Promoters of a planned exclusive music festival on a small island in the Bahamas cancelled the event at the last minute Friday after many attendees had already arrived and paid thousands of dollars for tickets. Due to circumstances out of our control, the physical infrastructure was not in place on time and we are unable to fulfill on that vision safely and enjoyably for our guests, said a statement announcing the events cancellation. Organizers of the Fyre Festival promoted it as a once-in-a-lifetime musical event on a remote island once owned by Pablo Escobar, the infamous Colombian drug lord. Revelers paid between $450 and $12,000 for tickets to the two-weekend festival and were expecting to arrive and find sun and luxury. When the first guests reached the island Thursday, though, they found a festival site in disarray and none of the things that were promised. Social media posts from people on the island showed the luxury accommodations they paid for were actually small tents, some of which were still in boxes. The gourmet catering promised by organizers turned out to be literally bread, cheese, and salad with dressing, one person wrote. In a statement released Friday, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism said it was extremely disappointed at the way organizers handled the event and said it had representatives at the festival site assisting people as they try and get home. The event organizers assured us that all measures were taken to ensure a safe and successful event but clearly they did not have the capacity to execute an event of this scale, the statement said. Organizers said they were trying to arrange charter flights to Miami for people that had already arrived on the island and officials in the Bahamas cancelled all inbound flights to the island. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. President Donald Trump's former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn faces a Pentagon inquiry, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Oversight Committee revealed Thursday. The new investigation follows bipartisan concerns about Flynn's contacts with foreign governments and the Trump administration's ties to Russia. VOA's Congressional reporter Katherine Gypson has more. Flooding in southwest Haiti has wiped out as much as 80 percent of the spring harvest in a beleaguered region that is nearly completely dependent on farming, officials said Friday. About five days of rain saturated swaths of the Caribbean region and triggered flooding across southwest Haiti, drowning crops and causing at least four deaths in the area that was overwhelmed by Hurricane Matthew last year. Enzo Di Taranto, the head of Haiti's U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said the destructive downpours that finally tapered off on Monday "certainly came at a very bad time.'' The rugged region's farmers were given seeds after Matthew hit in October so they could start reaping corn and beans now. But the rains that tapered off Monday have ruined the harvest or left gravel and other debris scattered on cultivated fields where planting was set to take place. "Nature isn't giving the people any slack,'' said Hervil Cherubin, country director for Heifer International, an international nonprofit working with farmers in Haiti. Following Matthew's destruction, Haitian and international agricultural officials said it could be a decade or more before the southwestern peninsula recovers economically. In the Grand-Anse department, nearly all crops and half the livestock were destroyed by Matthew, according to the World Food Program. When the hurricane hit, the southwest area was just starting to recover from a drought that had decreased crop production by half. Cherubin said Haiti needed to learn from countries such as Bangladesh that face heavy rains and flooding each year but mitigate the risks with watershed management, reforestation and other strategies. "We can't do emergency work every day,'' he said. The European Union says it is taking legal action against Hungary over a new law that could force the closure of a foreign-owned university. Budapest's Central European University was founded by billionaire George Soros after the fall of Communism. Henry Ridgwell reports Hungary's government wants to impose tough new conditions on its continued operation, prompting street protests in the capital. The emir of the Islamic State terror group in Afghanistan is likely dead, targeted in a U.S.-Afghan raid on a cave-and-tunnel complex that left two U.S. special operations forces soldiers dead. Pentagon officials said Friday that they suspected IS Khorasan province leader Abdul Hasib was killed in a brutal, three-hour firefight in the Mohmand Valley, in the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. Officials said another 35 IS fighters also had been killed, and that they were investigating the possibility the dead U.S. soldiers were victims of friendly fire. "This was a dangerous mission and we knew this going in," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told reporters. "We knew he [Hasib] was going to be well-protected and that they were going to fight very hard to prevent from being captured or killed. And that is indeed what happened." 'Intense fire' The operation to kill or capture Hasib began about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday local time, when 50 U.S. Army Rangers and 40 Afghan commandos arrived by helicopter at the heavily fortified IS complex. "Within minutes of the insertion, the combined force came under intense fire from multiple directions," Davis said. "It was during these initial moments of the raid that the two Rangers were mortally wounded." As the fighting raged on, the U.S. and Afghan forces called in air support, getting help from drones, AC-130 gunships, Apache attack helicopters and F-16 fighter jets. It was not until 3 a.m. local time that U.S. and Afghan forces were extracted from the area. A statement by U.S. Forces-Afghanistan praised the performance of the U.S. and Afghan forces as "exemplary," adding initial indications were that they had been able to avoid civilian casualties despite the presence of women and children in the IS cave complex. Earlier Friday, U.S. defense officials identified the Army Rangers killed during the operation as Sergeant Joshua Rodgers and Sergeant Cameron Thomas. In a statement, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the U.S. owed both soldiers an "irredeemable debt" for their bravery and sacrifice. But despite the apparent success of U.S. and Afghan forces in killing the leader of IS in Afghanistan, some questions remain. The location of the IS headquarters complex is just a couple of kilometers away from an extensive IS tunnel-and-cave complex targeted just two weeks ago with the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal, a GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb. 'Mother of all bombs' Officials said the ordnance, also known as "the mother of all bombs," killed 92 IS fighters, though as many as 800 may have been in the area. "This weapon was the right weapon against this target," General John Nicholson, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said at the time. "The enemy had created bunkers, tunnels and extensive minefields, and this weapon was used to reduce those obstacles so that we could continue our offensive." Yet despite those assertions, other officials said it was unclear whether the MOAB had made any significant impact on IS operations in the area. Defense officials Friday declined to say whether additional IS fighters might be lurking in other tunnels or caves in the area, though they said the compound targeted in the raid was "separate and apart" from the one targeted with the MOAB. The Pentagon's Davis also said U.S. and Afghan efforts were having a significant impact on IS operations, estimating the number of IS fighters in the country had most likely been cut in half, to fewer than 1,000 militants. Unlike in Iraq and Syria, where IS numbers were boosted by the influx of tens of thousands of foreign fighters, U.S. military and intelligence officials think the vast majority of IS Khorasan fighters come from Afghanistan and Pakistan. At its height, intelligence and military officials and analysts say, IS may have boasted as many as 2,000 to 3,000 fighters in Afghanistan, though other estimates have put the number in the hundreds. Saturday, April 29, will mark the 25th anniversary of the outbreak of riots in Los Angeles that were sparked by the acquittal in 1992 of four white police officers accused of beating a black motorist, Rodney King. The city has been reflecting on the lessons learned and the work that remains to be done. The beating was caught on videotape, and there was shock and disbelief that an all-white jury acquitted the officers. Among those calling for calm in 1992 was the citys first African American mayor, Tom Bradley, who also expressed shock and dismay at the verdict. Toll: 60 dead, 1,000 injured But as protesters took to the streets, violence erupted through the city that claimed the lives of more than 60 people. More than 1,000 were injured and the toll in property damage passed $1 billion. I felt betrayed, said Perry Crouch of the Watts Gang Task Force, a volunteer group of police, local leaders and residents. He had seen it all before, when the city exploded in the Watts Riots of 1965. The reason I felt betrayed, he said, is because in 65, it was the same thing, police abuse. And 27 years later, the same thing. He said the city was a powder keg, and the verdict was the spark. As the images of the beating were replayed on television, the destruction and looting spread. Deputy LAPD chief Phil Tingirides, at the time a police sergeant, led officers on the scene in 1992, where his squad car came under fire from a second story sniper. We went out and tried to stop some of the violence, he said, and what I found is that the department was completely unprepared. Radio communications were overwhelmed the first night, and police and firefighters moved from site to site in a futile effort to stop the fires and quell the violence. Federal officers were trying to help, and FBI special agent Carlos Narro was relaying information between local police and federal investigators. For me, it was just unbelievable, surreal, what I was watching, Narro said. It was sad. But it was not unforeseeable, Tingirides said. It really comes down to inequity and a lack of hope, he said. When somebody feels inequity, they feel powerless. When somebody feels a lack of hope, they just dont care. Building repaired, relations werent Most of the physical damage to buildings was repaired, but relations between police and African Americans remain tense in many places, from Baltimore to Los Angeles, where people are still dropping out of school, where the incarceration rates are still high, and people of color are still disproportionately represented in those institutions, said Charles Dorsey, executive director of the COR Community Development Corp. Unemployment and crime rates are high in many inner city neighborhoods, where our communities have seen generations of trauma, said Delonte Gholston, a youth pastor at New City Church. Lessons of the past In Los Angeles, police, local officials and the community are discussing shared concerns through community groups like the Watts Gang Task Force, and a meeting at City Hall co-sponsored by the city and the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California tackled the issue Tuesday. The mayor, police chief and dozens of community leaders attended. Could the riots happen again? Nothing of that magnitude, said FBI agent Narro, given improved communication among law enforcement agencies and better preparation. There also are more minority officers today, following 12 years of oversight by a federal judge, starting in 2001. And the makeup of the police force more closely mirrors the population. We have people that look like us and feel like us in a position of authority now, said Crouch of the Watts Gang Task Force. It wasnt like that back then. Inner cities remain a potential flash point, however, shown by national protests in recent years over police shootings in cities around the United States. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Saturday, April 29 will mark the anniversary of the outbreak of riots in Los Angeles, sparked by the acquittal of white police officers accused of beating a black motorist, Rodney King. Mike O'Sullivan spoke to police and community members about the state of race relations, 25 years later. Macedonias president called an emergency meeting of political leaders Friday, hours after demonstrators mostly supporters of the countrys dominant conservative party invaded parliament and assaulted opposition lawmakers. Police said 77 people, including opposition Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev, the head of a small ethnic Albanian opposition party and 22 police, were injured in the overnight riot when demonstrators stormed the legislature and attacked lawmakers to protest the election of a new speaker despite a months-old deadlock in efforts to form a new government. It was unclear whether opposition party leaders would heed President Gjorge Ivanovs call for a meeting to defuse the tension. The European Union condemned the violence, and said that the cornerstones of democracy should be respected. Clashes lasted for hours Thursday night, with police initially doing little to stop the invasion. Eventually, they used stun grenades to evacuate the building, and free lawmakers and journalists trapped inside. Macedonia has been gripped by a deep political crisis for more than two years, and repeated efforts, including international mediation, have failed to improve things. The country has been without a government since elections in December failed to give any party a governing majority. EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said Friday that violence is unacceptable, even more so when it happens in the house of democracy. Mogherini, attending a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Malta, called the incident a serious crisis that can be dangerous. Reporters Without Borders accuses him of engaging in hate speech against journalists. Freedom House questions whether he believes in the fundamental principles of press freedom. And the Committee to Protect Journalists, which last year labeled him an unprecedented threat to global media freedom, says things havent gotten any better since he took office. Thats just a sampling of the kind of blistering language leading media rights groups use to describe U.S. President Donald Trump in several reports published ahead of World Press Freedom Day, May 3. Taken together, the reports amount to a stunning rebuke of the U.S., which has long seen itself as a standard-bearer of free speech and a model for countries around the world. Watch: Global Press Freedom at Tipping Point,' Report Warns National political discourse The outrage stems from Trumps verbal attacks on the news media since entering the national political scene. Trump has referred to the press as the opposition party. Hes said theyre among the most dishonest human beings on Earth. He regularly accuses journalists and media outlets he doesnt like of spreading fake news. Hes even called the press the enemy of the people. This week, media rights groups returned the favor. No U.S. president in recent memory has shown greater contempt for the press than Trump has in his first months in office, warned Freedom House in its yearly report on global press freedom released Friday. Such comments suggest a hostility toward the fundamental principles and purposes of press freedom. In its World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Trumps actions compromise a long U.S. tradition of defending freedom of expression and are helping spark a worldwide decline in media rights. White House officials did not respond to VOAs request for comment, but in the past have insisted Trump respects freedom of speech and is only criticizing outlets that he thinks treat him unfairly. Democracies suffering Trump is far from the only world leader to make slamming the media a pastime. In fact, its part of a larger trend of eroding press freedom in democracies around the world. RSF specifically points to Canada, where anti-terrorism laws have raised concerns about government spying on journalists; Poland, where new laws give authorities greater control over media outlets; and Britain, where media bashing played a prominent part of the so-called Brexit campaign to leave the European Union. Even in the United States, many press freedom concerns predate Trump. Media rights groups also criticized former President Barack Obamas crackdown on federal officials who leak information to journalists, as well as his attempts to limit media access at the White House. Democracies began falling in the Index in preceding years and now, more than ever, nothing seems to be checking that fall, said RSF, which warned media rights have never been so threatened as they were during the past year. Over the past year, media rights deteriorated in nearly two-thirds of the countries measured by RSF. Global press freedom is at its lowest point in 13 years, according to Freedom Houses metric, which estimates that just 13 percent of the worlds population lives under a free press. US institutions still healthy The U.S. itself hasnt slipped very far in either groups metric. According to Reporters Without Borders, the U.S. fell two spots, to 43rd place, in 2017. Freedom House, which uses an aggregate score, calculates the U.S. dropped two points from 21/100 to 23/100. But despite Trumps verbal attacks on journalists, the overall state of press freedom in the U.S. remains strong, thanks in part to constitutional safeguards. We are very concerned by the kind of rhetoric weve seen Trump make as president in 2017, [but] we recognize the vibrancy of U.S. media and its strong institutions, Jennifer Dunham, research director at Freedom House, said. The overall environment hasnt suffered a huge amount. Worldwide impact? Perhaps of greater concern is the international impact of Trumps treatment of the media. Even before he won the election, the Committee to Protect Journalists warned Trump was an unprecedented threat to global press freedom. Those concerns were heightened after several authoritarian governments, including in China and Cambodia, borrowed Trumps language or explicitly referenced his actions as justification for mistreating their own media. The hate speech used by the new boss in the White House and his accusations of lying also helped to disinhibit attacks on the media almost everywhere in the world, RSFs Delphine Halgand warned. That amounts to a major role reversal for a country that has long portrayed itself as a beacon for free speech. And it shows that what happens in the U.S. carries a special weight, Freedom House warned. Further weakening of press freedom in the United States, it warned, would be a setback for democracy everywhere. By India Today Web Desk: While fans of lined up at 4 am, producers and distributors were trying to arm twist each other on unsettled finances before the mega release of Baahubali 2. The negotiations eventually broke down and the film's 5 am and 8 am shows were cancelled in Tamil Nadu. Fans who felt cheated went berserk at Rohini Theatre in Chennai before police arrives on the scene. And if that was not enough, piracy hit the much-awaited movie after parts of Baahubali 2 recorded in a theatre were leaked online and has already been circulated widely. advertisement "It's sad that piracy is happening after producers have invested so much money in the film," said actor Tamannaah Bhatia, who features in the movie. A video featuring Prabhas and Rana Daggubati from the much-anticipated Baahubali: The Conclusion, has apparently been leaked online. India Today has visuals of the climax scene that has gone viral. They have been blurred out in the video above. This scene was recorded in the theatre and leaked online. The clip has already been widely circulated on social media, especially WhatsApp.Two days ago, India Today had reported a possible online leak of scenes from the movie, which was rubbished by producer Shobu Yarlagadda. Read: Baahubali 2 scene leaked online? Producer Shobu Yarlagadda rubbishes rumours Source: Manorama Online However, producer Shobu Yarlagadda took to Twitter when the video went online and dismissed rumours regarding the leak. Except for screening to various "censor boards" in different countries, there have been no screenings of @BaahubaliMovie 2 till now anywhere- Shobu Yarlagadda (@Shobu_) April 26, 2017 The leaked scene shows a conversation between Katappa (played by Sathyaraj) and Sivagami (Ramya), followed by a scene in which Bhallal Dev (Rana Daggubati) appears. Watch: Baahubali: The Conclusion climax leaked online --- ENDS --- Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke Thursday about the NAFTA trade deal and agreed there was an opportunity to update the accord to the mutual benefit of all signatories, the Mexican government said. In a statement, Pena Nietos office said he and Trudeau spoke Thursday afternoon and were ready to begin the process of dialogue between Mexico, Canada and the United States, the members of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Finally, they agreed to remain in close contact to ensure the process of (NAFTA) modernization is successful for the benefit of both nations, Pena Nietos office said. U.S. President Donald Trump rattled Mexico and Canada on Wednesday when his administration said he had been considering an executive order to withdraw from NAFTA. On Thursday, Trump said that he aimed to renegotiate the deal with the two countries. Doctors Without Borders said it has evacuated international staff from two towns in South Sudan because of intense fighting between the army and rebel groups. The medical aid group, known by its French acronym MSF, said Thursday it removed foreign staff from the towns of Aburoc and Kodok, in the former Upper Nile state. MSF's country head of mission, Marcus Bachman, told VOA's South Sudan in Focus that domestic staff will maintain essential medical services in the area as long they remain safe. Renewed fighting broke out between opposition forces and the South Sudan Army in and around Kodok on Tuesday. Bachman said his team is treating gunshot victims as well as vulnerable women and children suffering from diarrheal waterborne diseases, pneumonia, and respiratory infections. Bachman said some 25,000 new South Sudanese families arrived at a displaced persons' camp in Aburoc this week, seeking shelter from the latest fighting. "The population we are serving is fleeing ... out of fear of being targeted in the conflict," he said. "This is what the population is telling us, the fear of being targeted. They also share with us accounts where either family members or neighbors have been targeted in the conflict." MSF said Aburoc can only be reached by air because of unpaved or poorly maintained roads. In February, aid agencies stepped up air drops of relief items to the area, but fighting has interrupted some of those deliveries. Colonel Santo Domic, deputy spokesman for the government's Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), said the army launched attacks on rebel bases around Kodok this week and accused the rebels of denying residents access to the Nile River. He said the army "liberated" Kodok and the town of Galacel on Wednesday. Brigadier General William Gathjiath, spokesman for the rebel SPLA-In-Opposition, said government forces captured one of their bases, but denied Kodok and Galacel are now under government control. "They have not even flushed our forces out of the town," he said. "So if they are claiming that they have already captured the town, that's not true." The head of the United Nations mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), David Shearer, said the conflict in South Sudan can only be resolved through peaceful means. He also said the decision by leaders from the East Africa region and South Africa to keep out rebel leader Riek Machar out of South Sudan could bring stability to South Sudan. "The feeling very much within the region is that his role, in terms of bringing him back, wouldn't necessarily be positive at this stage," said Shearer. "So that's the decision of regional governments and South Africa." At the same time, he said President Salva Kiir's national dialogue should include rebels loyal to Machar. The United States issued about 40 percent fewer temporary visas in March to citizens of seven countries covered by President Donald Trump's temporary travel bans than it did in an average month last year, according to a Reuters analysis of preliminary government data released on Thursday. At the same time, the data showed that the total of U.S. non-immigrant visas issued to people from all countries was up by nearly 5 percent in March compared to the 2016 monthly average. Citizens of the seven Muslim-majority nations under the bans - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - received about 3,200 non-immigrant visas in March 2017, compared to about 5,700 on average per month during the 2016 fiscal year and more than 6,000 on average per month in 2015 and 2014. Trump's travel bans were later blocked by the courts. The State Department released the data to comply with a directive from Trump asking it to publish monthly breakdowns of the number of visas issued around the world. The department did not release data on the total number of all types of visa applications, so it is unclear whether the lower number of temporary visas for citizens of the seven countries is because of a higher rate of rejections or other factors, such as fewer applicants or slower processing times. A State Department official noted that "visa demand is cyclical, not uniform throughout the year, and affected by various factors at the local and international level. Visa issuance numbers tend to increase during peak travel seasons, such as during the summer and the winter holidays." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. March is neither a busy nor slow time for temporary visa issuances to people from the seven countries, several immigration lawyers said. Therefore, the significant drops are notable, they said. The data is preliminary and numbers could be subject to minor revision, the State Department said. Previously, such data was only available in aggregate by fiscal year, and the department declined to break out March visa data from previous years. Nevertheless, some immigration attorneys said the numbers released on Thursday provide a glimpse into how Trump's policies are affecting visa decisions. "Either there are many fewer people applying because they believe they will be denied, or a much higher rate of denials is already happening even though the executive orders have been blocked," said William Stock, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Executive Orders Trump, who has said the travel bans were intended to make Americans safer from attacks by terrorists, signed an executive order on Jan. 27 barring people from the seven countries from entering the United States for 90 days. The order was blocked by federal courts and the Trump administration replaced it with a revised, narrower travel ban effective March 16 which dropped Iraq from the list. Courts have also halted parts of the second order. The number of non-immigrant visas issued to Iranians dropped to 1,572 in March from 2,450 per month on average in 2016 according to the data. Iraqis received 684 such visas in March, compared to nearly twice that number per month on average in 2016, the data showed. Iranians also received fewer immigrant visas, which are granted to family members of U.S. citizens or those with jobs in the United States, than the average in previous years - 393 received immigrant visas in March, compared to 644 on average per month in 2016 and nearly 600 on average per month in 2015 and 2014. Although visitor visas were down across the board for the seven targeted countries, two of them saw the number of immigrant visas issued tick up slightly. Forty-one Libyans received immigrant visas in March, compared to 32 per month on average in 2016. Somalians received 171 visas in March compared to 150 on average in 2016. Immigration lawyers said that although the travel bans have been halted by courts for now, the administration's vow to put stricter controls on immigration is likely to have changed how U.S. consulates evaluate visa applicants. Stephen Pattison, a former State Department consular official now working as an immigration attorney, said consulates "are going to probably err more on the side of denying some people that they'd be on the fence about." Anecdotally, several U.S.-based lawyers with Iranian clients say their visa applications are taking longer to process and are being rejected more often since Trump took office on Jan. 20. They cite shortages of interview appointments for Iranians, interviews cancelled at the last minute and longer "administrative processing" periods than they are accustomed to. "If you can't get an interview, you can't get a visa," said Babak Yousefzadeh, a San Francisco-based attorney and member of the board of directors of the Iranian American Bar Association. Some Iranians have decided that for now, it is not worth it to risk the expense and time of making U.S. visa applications, said Kiyanoush Razaghi, a Maryland-based immigration attorney. In addition to paying a standard $160 visa application fee, Iranians must typically travel to Turkey, Armenia or the United Arab Emirates for their interviews, since there is no U.S. diplomatic presence in Iran. "That's a fundamental change that I am seeing, at least in the community and among the clients that I have," Razaghi said. "They have a general feeling that now is not a good time to apply for a visa." Hes known in the U.S. Congress as Dr. Hero for his alleged role in finding al-Qaida mastermind Osama bin Laden. But in his native Pakistan, Dr. Shakil Afridi has been cast as a traitor, locked away for nearly six years in a slippery, tangled case that has strained bilateral relations. Its a tale that has played out as part spy novel, with Afridi involved in a CIA-linked plan to find bin Laden with a fake vaccination operation, and part political controversy in increasingly conservative Pakistan, where the physician is jailed in a tribal area that operates under an antiquated colonial legal system. Despite U.S. pressure for Afridi to be released, its unclear how much effort the national government is putting into the case, which is seen as a litmus test of Pakistans fight against militancy but could lead to a public backlash if Afridi were freed. "We believe Dr. Afridi has been unjustly imprisoned and have clearly communicated our position to Pakistan on Dr. Afridi's case, both in public and in private, a State Department said in a statement to VOA this week. We continue to raise this issue at the highest levels during discussions with Pakistan's leadership. Pakistan has assured us that Dr. Afridi is being treated humanely and is in good health." Representing Afridi is not just fraught with frustration, current counsel Qaram Nadeem has not seen his client in 34 months, its also dangerous. Nadeems predecessor, Samiullah Afridi, gave up the case and moved to Dubai after threats from al-Qaida affiliates. He was gunned down in March 2015 after returning, with Taliban splinter groups Jundullah and Jamaatul Ahrar claiming responsibility. The tribal tribunal has adjourned his case for 30 times so far, as the state prosecutor abstains from appearing before the court, Nadeem told VOA. The last hearing, scheduled for April 12, was called off with the prosecutor a no-show once again. Due to (the) high sensitivity of the case, we are proceeding with care and not over-pushing for hearing, he said, expressing his frustration while demonstrating understandable prudence. The hunt for bin Laden The widely circulated story is that Afridi ran a fake hepatitis vaccination in Abbottabad -- where the CIA had gotten intelligence that bin Laden was hiding out to get DNA samples to confirm his presence. The use of a fake campaign sparked criticism from aid groups who said it would cast suspicion on legitimate projects and put aid workers at risk. A raid by an elite SEAL team killed the terror leader and four others on May 2, 2011. Bin Laden was buried at sea almost immediately. Days later, Afridi was arrested at the Torkham border crossing, apparently trying to flee into Afghanistan. He was convicted in May 2012 of treason for allegedly providing financial support to a local militant group in tribal regions adjacent to Afghanistan. His appeal is pending at a tribal court, with rules that date back to 1901 and are different from Pakistans regular set of laws. Afridi was tried in a tribal court headed by a bureaucrat. The court sentenced him for 33 years, and only a tribal tribunal has the power to hear the appeal. Nadeem is not allowed to see Afridi despite a higher court order allowing them to meet. The United States has withheld $33 million in aid for Pakistan -- $1 million for each year of his sentence but Islamabad has resisted all pressure so far. President Donald Trumps election victory last November raised hopes among Afridis family and friends that things might change. Trump was critical of Pakistans treatment of the doctor during his campaign, telling Fox News that he would get Afridi released in two minutes. Pakistan bristled at the claim. Interior Minister Choudhry Nisar Ali Khan said nobody had the right to dictate to the country about how to handle Afridis case. For their part, Afridis family has avoided talking about the case since his arrest. His brother, Jamil Afridi, told VOA through his counsel that the entire family is frustrated with the legal proceedings. We the family want both the U.S. and Pakistan to find a diplomatic solution for his release as his children are suffering, Jamil Afridi said. We dont want to comment on the tribunal proceedings and dont want to create problems for Pakistan. A 15-member Pakistan parliamentary delegation will travel to Afghanistan on Saturday on a two-day official visit. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq of the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, will lead the delegation that will meet with their Afghan counterparts and the Afghan leadership, an official announcement said Friday. In the meetings, the matters related to enhance the cooperation between the two parliaments, besides resumption of dialogue to address the common issues between the two sides would be discussed, Speaker Sadiqs office said. The visit is expected to help Pakistan and Afghan governments to resolve issues straining bilateral relations through negotiation, according to the announcement. This is the first time such a broadly represented Pakistani parliamentary delegation is officially visiting Kabul. The initiative stems from a recent understanding between Islamabad and Kabul to enhance contacts at political and military levels to try to ease tensions and find ways to an improved relations, officials said. Two federal ministers, Abdul Qatar Baluch and Mir Hasil Bazijo are part of the delegation which consists of representatives of all parliamentary parties, including PPP and MQM. Other members, include Raja Muhammad Zafar-UlHaq, leader of the house in Senate, Akram Khan Durrani, Mehmood Khan Achkzai, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Syed Naveed Qamar, Shafqat Mehmood, Farooq Sattar, Haji Ghulam Ahmed Khan Bilour, Aftab Khan Sherpao, Sahibzada Tariqullah, G.G. Jamal and Mushahid Hussain Syed. A high-level Pakistan military delegation visited Kabul on Thursday where it held talks with the acting Afghan defense ministry and military leadership on bilateral issues. Allegations that security institutions in both countries covertly support and fund terrorist attacks against each other have lately deteriorated bilateral ties. Pope Francis is making a two-day visit to Egypt intended to strengthen inter-faith efforts in a region boiling with religious turmoil. Security was tight surrounding the visit Friday, but some locals say they are still nervous after Islamic State attacks on churches in recent weeks. VOAs Heather Murdock has more from Cairo. A coalition of rebels who coordinate with the U.S. is fighting Islamic State (IS) in southern Syria to link two areas they hold, rebel leaders and U.S. officials told VOA. Gaining the territory would enable rebels to box in IS fighters fleeing Raqqa and Mosul, take control of lucrative phosphate mines and potentially put pressure on Damascus in Syrias civil war. At stake is a strategic pocket in al-Qalmoun that is hemmed in by Syrian, IS and pro-Iranian forces. The rebels also hold the Syrian desert to the southeast that extends to the Jordanian border, so taking a chunk in between would help break a siege by IS. Opening a supply route Lieutenant Colonel Omar Semren, spokesman for a breakaway Syrian rebel battalion known as Forces of the Martyr Ahmed al-Abdo, told VOA that his forces, along with other Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups, would soon open a supply route that will link them with other U.S.-backed rebels. We will purify the area from IS, and break the siege that is applied on us by ISIS, [Syrian President Bashar al-]Assad and Iranian militia, he said, using an acronym for the militant group. IS is blocking a mountainous corridor that the rebels want, and it controls the biggest phosphate mines in the country to the north. Syrian analyst Youseph Sadaki told VOA from Washington that the areas lucrative natural resources are very important and that the Assad regime prefers IS to the rebels in that region. IS is protecting the phosphate mines, and the Syrian government signed an agreement with Russia and Iran to extract the phosphate, Sadaki said. The regime likes to see it in the hand of a weak organization like IS rather than moderate rebels that are accepted by the West. If the siege is going to be lifted, it will give a big boost to the anti-Assad, anti-IS trend in the area. Rebel groups Eastern Qalmoun has a population of 600,000, many of them refugees from the suburbs of Damascus. The biggest rebel groups in the area are the Forces of the Martyr Ahmed al-Abdo, Jaish al-Islam, Faylak al-Ruhman, Ahrar al-Sham, and al-Qaida affiliate al-Nusra Front, also known as Fatah al-Sham. Several of the groups receive assistance from a joint military center staffed by the U.S., Jordan and Saudi Arabia in Amman known as Military Operation Command, so the supply route would be able to get arms and food from Jordan to al-Qalmoun. Once we link the two regions, we will be in much better shape. Our fighters, along with other FSA groups, have cleared all the way to the Jordanian and Iraqi borders from IS, Semren said. We are building our safe zones with a limited support from our allies [the U.S-led coalition]." The Forces of al-Abdo is part of the coalition and operates on both sides of the IS-held territory. Aid from U.S. The U.S. confirmed to VOA that it is helping rebel groups to varying degrees. The Vetted Syrian Opposition forces in the south conduct unilateral operations without coalition advice, assistance or accompany support, said a statement from Operation Inherent Resolve. Theyre a capable fighting force who have shown the will, confidence and capacity to conduct unilateral operations in their pursuit of IS to liberate their home country. We support channels of communication between our partnered forces frequently to ensure smooth operations, the statement said. The more than 60 nations and international organizations contributing to the defeat of IS value communication to complete their various contributions to the fight. VOA national security correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. "I would like for you to have a pencil out on your desk," fifth-grade teacher Mary Fucella said to her reading class at Point Pleasant Elementary School in Glen Burnie, Maryland. A kilometer and a half away, in a pink bedroom, Cloe Gray pulled a pencil out, too, and listened. Cloe, 11, is at home, recuperating from leg surgery. For the first month after the operation, a home tutor visited her. But the precocious child grew withdrawn and didn't want to leave her bed. She missed routine. She missed her friends. She missed real school. "You could tell she wasn't happy," said Rob Gray, Cloe's dad. The Anne Arundel County school system in Maryland had a cure. Cloe now attends class virtually through a $3,000 robot. Hers, which she named Clo-Bot, was donated by the local Rotary Club. Since she began using it, the learning hasn't stopped. Clo-Bot is basically an iPad attached to a pole on wheels. Cloe uses the keyboard on her home computer to remotely control the device, rolling it into and out of the classroom. She speaks through a headset and is heard through the iPad. When the class breaks up into small groups, one classmate holds materials up to the iPad, and Cloe contributes to the project. Fucella said Cloe was a little shy at first about "raising" Clo-Bot's hand, "but now I feel like it's just like having the normal Cloe in the classroom." To answer a question, Cloe clicks on a slider, and the iPad raises to the teacher's eye level. Cloe said the robot had given her confidence to participate. "I'll try it and I'll get it right," she said. "Woo-hoo! Personal victory!" The Anne Arundel schools have six of the robots. Patrick Malone of the district's Office of Instructional Technology said he and his colleagues had been stunned at their effectiveness. "Every kid that uses this technology starts to smile again," Malone said. "They start to feel like a regular kid again, and I cannot put a price on that." Devices like Clo-Bot are the brainchild of Double Robotics, a privately held technology company in Burlingame, California. The telepresence robot can be used for business or education, anywhere people need a physical presence. Double Robotics co-founder and CEO David Cann said he understood the importance of school attendance, educationally and socially, and that it was humbling "to be able to provide a way for all students to attend school, no matter their situation." Double Robotics has 300 of its robots in the United States, with 25 others placed in education facilities in China, Japan, Australia and Canada. When it's lunchtime at Point Pleasant, Cloe's best friend, Kyla Jones, walks with Clo-Bot to the lunchroom. The sight of a fifth-grader walking with an iPad rolling beside her seems like a scene from a science fiction movie. "At first it was kind of weird because it was Cloe, but not really Cloe," Kyla said. But now, it's natural for the two to discuss, well, whatever fifth-graders discuss. On a recent day, the topic was flip-flops. Cloe uses the device's 150-degree wide-angle lens to look down as she maneuvers the robot beside the cafeteria table. Cloe's dad delivers her lunch to her desk at home, and classmates start joining Clo-Bot at the lunch table. Cloe said it's sometimes nerve-racking to enter the lunchroom. "Everyone's like, 'Hi, Cloe!' 'Bye, Cloe!' " she said. Clo-Bot waits until school is over to get its energy. Cloe maneuvers it to a charging station, where it sits until the bell rings the next morning. Then Cloe will happily drive her virtual self back to Ms. Fucella's class. A Russian opposition movement founded by exiled Kremlin critic and oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky says it plans to go ahead with protests against President Vladimir Putin in 32 cities this weekend, despite the fact that authorities have banned the movement and declared it illegal, and police have raided its Moscow offices. The Open Russia movements spokeswoman, Maria Galitskaya, said the action will be held as planned. We insist we do not breach the law since we do not conduct either a meeting, or a demonstration or a picket," she said. "We are carrying letters to the president's reception (office), since someone does not hear us when we do that individually. The protests planned for Saturday afternoon will involve submitting letters of complaint to President Vladimir Putin about the situation in Russia. It is difficult to forecast what will be going on at the action, said Galitskaya. We hope we shall submit the letters and quietly leave. We do not plan any law violations from our side. "Open Russia" closed? Russian authorities have not simply warned Open Russia not to conduct any activities, but have blacklisted the group. The Russian prosecutor generals office Wednesday declared Open Russia and two other groups founded by Khodorkovsky to be undesirable organizations. The three organizations are the U.K.-registered Open Russia, the U.S.-based Institute of Modern Russia, and the social movement Open Russia. The "undesirable" designation bans them from operating inside Russia, with any violation punishable by fines and jail time. Galitskaya spoke to VOA on Friday, just a day after police raided the groups Moscow office. One started breaking open the doors of the rooms and desk drawers, though there was nothing illegitimate in the office, she said. It is difficult to talk about the real reasons of the search but we connect that with tomorrow's action and think that this is an effort at intimidation. The ban is the latest in a longstanding crackdown on civil society, said Amnesty International Russia Director Sergei Nikitin. These arent the first organizations banned in Russia as undesirable, but its the first time the authorities ban a civil society group that was founded by Russians and operates only in Russia," he said. "Since its creation, Open Russia has done a lot to support victims of human rights violations in Russia and denounce Russias deplorable human rights record, and now itself has fallen victim to the system. Khodorkovsky was Russias wealthiest man and close to the Kremlin before his outspoken criticism of corruption raised tensions between him and President Putin. He was sentenced to a decade in prison on fraud charges that were widely seen as politically motivated and the state stripped his Yukos oil company assets over alleged tax evasion and embezzlement. Khodorkovsky was pardoned and released from prison in December 2013 and left Russia. In exile, he became even more critical of President Putin and supportive of Kremlin opponents through Open Russia. A Moscow court on Friday rejected Open Russias complaint against city authorities, who had offered an alternative location for its protest, citing public renovation work. The prosecutors office said the lack of agreement meant any protest would be unauthorized and anyone taking part could be arrested. Electioneering? Russian authorities have been tightening controls as the country heads toward 2018 presidential elections. The crackdown shows they plan to continue repressing political opposition to the Kremlin, says Andrei Kolesnikov, the Carnegie Moscow Centers head of domestic politics and institutions. The authorities have got two lines of behavior in regard to the opposition - propaganda efforts and repressions," he said. "And they provide this line step by step, expressing their readiness to continue this line. Russia enacted the law against undesirable organizations two years ago and has used it to ban seven international groups, including The National Endowment for Democracy, the Open Society Foundation, and the International Republican Institute. Russia has also tightened laws and regulations to discourage public protests in an effort to prevent displays of opposition to the Kremlin from getting out of control or attracting too much attention. Opposition leader attacked, again Also Thursday, Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny was attacked for a second time this year with a green antiseptic liquid known as zelyonka, which was thrown in his face outside his Moscow office. He was treated in hospital for damage to one eye. In mid-March, Navalny was attacked with the green chemical in a Siberian city by a man who pretended to want to shake his hand. Russian authorities are trying to shame and scare Navalny, says Kolesnikov. They all try to do something with him to detain him, etc.," he said. "I think he is in great danger." Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation organized Russias largest unauthorized mass protests in years on March 26. The demonstrations against alleged self-enrichment by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev were broken up by riot police, who arrested hundreds of protesters, many of them minors. Navalny, who in 2012 led the biggest anti-Kremlin protests since Putin came to power, plans to run for president in 2018. Russias politicized courts seem intent on stopping him. In February, he was convicted, on flimsy evidence, of embezzlement. That conviction will disqualify him from running for office if not overturned. Throwing the green-staining, noxious zelyonka at critics is an increasingly common tactic of Kremlin supporters. This week, unknown assailants threw the antiseptic on investigative journalist Galina Sidorova in the city of Yoshkar-Ola. A day earlier, Russian blogger Ilya Varlamov was attacked with zelyonka, eggs and flour at Stavropol airport. In late February, Putin critic and former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov was spattered with green paint at a memorial march for slain opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. Nemtsov was shot in the back and killed two years ago on a bridge just meters from the Kremlin and Red Square. On Friday, the Russian opposition political party Yabloko (Apple) said one of its campaigners, Natalia Fedorova, was almost blinded after a chemical substance was thrown in her eyes by unknown attackers. She was also hospitalized. Members of the Philippines' Commission on Human Rights, accompanied by journalists, have discovered a tiny, secret cell in a Manila police station that was stuffed with 12 men and women who had been detained for a week. Gilbert Boisner, Manila director of the rights commission, said no charges had been filed against anyone in the group who had been "picked up on the pretext of drugs." Human Rights Watch said the detainees were held "without notifying families or lawyers," were housed in "atrocious, grossly overcrowded conditions," and were tortured. The detainees said the police were trying to extort $800 to $4,000 from them in exchange for their freedom. Members of the group who made the surprise visit to the station told the French News Agency once inside the station they were led to the detainees late Thursday by cries of "here we are, here we are" that came from behind a wall. HRW said in a statement the discovery of the secret cell is "just the latest sign" of how police are exploiting President Rodrigo Duterte's "abusive anti-drug campaign for personal gain." Police said Friday the police chief of the station in the capital's Tondo district has been relieved of his duties and an investigation is under way. HRW says that since Duterte came into office in June 2016, police and unidentified gunmen have killed more than 7,000 suspected drug users and dealers. The number, however, does not include what the president calls "collateral damage" - children killed by stray bullets. Police said Friday the police chief of the station in the capital's Tondo district has been relieved of his duties and an investigation is under way. HRW says that since Duterte came into office in June 2016, police and unidentified gunmen have killed more than 7,000 suspected drug users and dealers. The number, however, does not include what the president calls "collateral damage" - children killed by stray bullets. Filmmaker SS Rajamouli will be watching the much-anticipated Baahubali: The Conclusion with fans in Hyderabad, say reports. By India Today Web Desk: The day has finally arrived! After having waited with bated breaths, Baahubali: The Conclusion is in theatres. The film has opened to phenomenal response from across the world and as per fan reviews, Baahubali 2 is perfect blend of fantasy and drama. Of course, the film will finally shed light on the most sought-after question: Why Katappa killed Baahubali? advertisement While fans are flocking to the theatres to witness Rajamouli's magic, the Eega director himself will be watching the film with fans. Speaking about the release, Rajamouli was quoted by DNA as saying, "I will be watching Baahubali: The Conclusion first-day-first-show with the audience in the theatre." Made on a budget of Rs 250 crore, the film has already fetched enough moolah for the producers and reportedly raked in Rs 500 crore through its satellite and distribution rights. According to trade pundits, Baahubali 2 is expected to do a business of Rs 90-100 crore on its first day. Directed by SS Rajamouli, Baahubali 2 takes the story forward from where Baahubali: The Beginning ended. Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, Sathyaraj and Ramya Krishnan star in pivotal roles in this instalment of Baahubali too. ALSO READ: Baahubali 2- Morning shows cancelled all across Tamil Nadu ALSO READ: Ram Gopal Varma- Baahubali 2 is a dinosaur film, other filmmaking dogs have gone into hiding ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 box-office collection- Rajamouli's film is set to break all records. Here's why WATCH: Everything you need to know about Baahubali --- ENDS --- A member of Somalia's parliament escaped unharmed Friday after a roadside explosion targeted his vehicle in Mogadishu, officials said. Abdifatah Omar Halane, a spokesman for Mogadishu's mayor, told VOA that the explosion targeted Mohamud Abukate, a member of the lower house of the parliament. Two soldiers who were riding with him and a civilian bystander were wounded in the explosion, he said. Security officials said the MP was on his way to the residence of another MP in the Taleh area of Hodan district in Mogadishu. Somali intelligence officials said this week that they had received information al-Shabab terrorists might be planning to attack high-profile targets, including installations and senior government officials. Al-Shabab has been carrying out a series of attacks against both government and civilian buildings in Mogadishu and other parts of the country. Meanwhile, Amnesty International is urging Somali authorities in Puntland to halt plans to execute two boys sentenced to death by a military tribunal in February for their alleged role in the assassination of senior regional officials. Amnesty said the boys, Muhamed Yasin Abdi, 17, and Daud Saied Sahal, 15, could be put to death "at any moment." The group said five other boys between the ages of 14 and 17 had been executed by Puntland earlier this month. "These five boys were executed following a fundamentally flawed process during which they were tortured to confess, denied access to a lawyer and additional protections accorded to juveniles, and tried in a military tribunal," said Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International's deputy regional director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes. Kagan added that the "lives of the remaining two boys must be spared." Amnesty said the death penalty is "cruel" and urged Puntland to halt the executions and retry the boys in a juvenile civilian court without turning to capital punishment. North Korea's crimes against humanity are the biggest challenge facing the international community, said a South Korean envoy who described the violations as tantamount to genocide. Speaking to VOA's Korean Service on Thursday in a phone interview, Lee Jung-hoon, the South Korean Foreign Ministry's ambassador for human rights in North Korea, said the first and foremost step in solving gross violations of human rights in the reclusive state is bringing the Kim Jong Un regime before the International Criminal Court (ICC). He urged the international community to ramp up efforts to bring Pyongyang to account. 2014 effort failed In 2014, the U.N. General Assembly voted to refer the Kim regime to the ICC for crimes against humanity, but the resolution stalled in the U.N. Security Council. Beijing and Moscow, the council's members that are North Korea's longstanding allies, reportedly vetoed the measure. "The international community should continue to pursue a referral of the situation in North Korea to the International Criminal Court by convincing China and Russia to bring forth the Security Council's full-on action to tackle the North Korean human rights issue," Lee said. "And when that referral takes place, I expect a tremendous progress." Describing ongoing human rights abuses as "the worst criminal acts" under international law, Lee equated atrocities taking place in the North torture, arbitrary detention, enslavement, forced labor and murder with the Holocaust, a genocide in which roughly 6 million Jews were systematically killed by Nazi Germany during the World War II. A damning 2014 U.N. Commission of Inquiry report detailing wide-ranging abuses in the North found that "The gravity, scale and nature of these violations reveal a state that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world." The ambassador also recommended the establishment of an ad hoc international tribunal, similar to those employed to investigate genocide in Cambodia and the former Yugoslavia. "In the case of the Cambodia Tribunal, the country's national judicial authority in conjunction with the United Nations set up a so-called hybrid court," Lee said of the institution used to try the Khmer Rouge for crimes perpetrated during the Cambodian genocide. "Such a court could also be installed as part of an effort to end the North Korean human rights crisis." North Korea Freedom Week The South Korean ambassador's comments came during North Korea Freedom Week in Washington, which has been held annually since 2004. The event brings together North Korea defectors who have resettled throughout Asia, Europe and the United States. As part of the week's program, South Korea's Foreign Ministry organized the World Congress for North Korean Defectors in Washington on Thursday, where Lee called on defectors or victims of Pyongyang's behavior to unite and come to the forefront to hold the abusive and repressive state accountable. The first World Congress for North Korean defectors was held in Brussels earlier this week, with 30 representatives in attendance, to discuss human rights violations in North Korea. Also on Thursday, North Korea agreed to a visit by the U.N. expert on the human rights of people with disabilities, the United Nations said. The agreement comes after years of criticism of Pyongyang's record from the U.N. Human Rights Council. Catalina Devandas-Aguilar will be the first independent expert designated by the council to visit North Korea, which has consistently denounced the council's resolutions as a conspiracy by the United States and other "hostile forces." She will visit North Korea from May 3-8. A woman in her 60s who was injured in the April 7 truck attack in Stockholm has died, Swedish authorities said Friday, raising the death toll to five. The Stockholm police said in a statement the woman, who has not been publicly identified, had been hospitalized in southern Sweden. Other victims of attack were an 11-year-old Swedish girl, a 31-year-old Belgian woman, a 69-year-old Swedish woman, and a 41-year-old Briton whom the British government identified as Chris Bevington. Fourteen others were injured in the attack. A 39-year-old Uzbek man, Rakhmat Akilov, has pleaded guilty to a terrorist crime for ramming the truck into a crowd on a main pedestrian shopping street in the Swedish capital. Police have not disclosed a motive for the attack and no extremist group has claimed responsibility for it. Akilov's Swedish residency application was rejected last year, but police said there was nothing to indicate he might plan an attack. After the rejection, Akilov had been been ordered to leave Sweden in December. Instead, he allegedly eluded authorities' attempts to track him down. Akilov was caught in a northern suburb of Stockholm, hours after he drove the stolen beer truck into the crowd of afternoon shoppers outside the Ahlens store. The attack shocked Sweden, known for its welcoming policy toward migrants and refugees. In 2015, a record 163,000 asylum-seekers arrived in the country, the highest per-capita rate in Europe. The government responded by tightening border controls and curtailing some immigrant rights. Thailand's military in the southern border provinces is on high alert on the 13th anniversary of a wave of insurgent attacks that included the deaths of 32 insurgents inside a mosque. The increased security comes as the Thai government is pressing on with informal peace talks with several militant groups amid a spike in violence in recent months. The 2004 bloodshed came just three months after a resurgent militancy started in the largely Muslim southern border provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Yala. Since then, 6,500 lives have been lost as efforts to end the insurgency against the Thai state has ebbed and flowed with local communities bearing the brunt of the violence. The April 2004 pre-dawn attack by dozens of insurgents was met by military force that left 107 insurgents dead. Thirty two militants fled to the sanctuary of the 16th century Krue Se Mosque, in Pattani before being surrounded by the Thai military and later killed by soldiers storming the mosque. Media images later showed the blood spattered walls of the inner rooms. Security increased Panitan Wattanayagorn, an analyst and advisor to Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, said security had been stepped up to coincide with the anniversary of the 2004 attacks. Moving into the important anniversaries some of the local events, the security forces are instructed to step up their measures to make sure that peace and stability are secured in the area, Panitan told VOA. But late Thursday, Thai media reported five army rangers had been ambushed and killed during a patrol in the Narathiwats Chanee district, raising fears of an escalation in violence. The years of violence have reaped a grim toll. Insurgent attacks and reprisals by the military have caused a constant spiral in the bloodshed. Militant attacks have focused on symbols of the Thai state, officials and school teachers. More than 150 teachers have died in the violence. But the toll has included Muslims, the beheading of Buddhists, and arson attacks on schools. Thailand is largely Buddhist but with a majority of Muslims in the Southern provinces. Analysts say tens of thousands of Buddhists from the region have been forced to migrate to Northern provinces to escape the violence. The Thai military government launched peace talks in 2015 with the negotiations centered on an umbrella organization, MARA Pattani, representing several insurgent groups, with the Malaysian government supporting the peace process. The latest milestones in the talks are an agreement on safe zones in largely urban areas. Mixed opinions on talks Panitan said the informal talks are making progress, with the government open to meeting with all insurgent groups. The peace talks are on schedule in the South and now moving into a more difficult period, after getting technical measures and building up trust, they are now able to sit down and work out the new mapping of the more secure areas, Panitan told VOA. But other analysts say the talks with the military representatives are failing to show significant gains. Outside the negotiations are militants under the National Revolutionary Front (BRN) and the main instigators of the increasing attacks in recent months. The BRN rejected the current negotiations saying it is standing by a demand of negotiating directly with the government in Bangkok. It has also called for an impartial mediator and international observers to the negotiations. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has rejected the BRNs calls for direct talks with the government. Matthew Wheeler, an analyst with the International Crisis Group (ICG), in emailed comments, said a recent spate of attacks across the region appeared to be a statement of opposition to the proposed framework agreement on safety zones. The militants continue to demonstrate that they have the capabilities to launch attacks across the region despite of the security measures by the Thai state, Wheeler said. Panitan said meetings are scheduled with representatives of the OIC in the coming days. In early April, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) at a summit in Turkey, lent its support to the Thai efforts in pressing on with dialogue with the MARA Pattani. But it also called for Muslim communities in the South to include all stakeholders and to work for the common good to ensure a peace process can be effectively realized in the South, the OIC said in an official statement. Pakorn Preeyakorn, president of the Islamic Center of Thailand, also called for a greater role of Thai civilian and academics in the negotiation process. You need to put some people who are very keen in dealing with this kind of conflicts. Sometimes when you use those from the army, for example, they are not very keen in dealing with the peace talks, Pakorn told VOA. So in this sense, we need to have some more people who know the real situation, he said. ICGs Wheeler said the long term solution to the conflict requires dialogue and negotiation. Crisis Group has long argued for greater political decentralization as a path out of the conflict, he said. But analysts say the Thai military opposes any calls by the insurgents for local autonomy, a major obstacle to ending to the violence. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday that Washington would not rule out a military response to future North Korean aggression and that it would seek to increase the rogue nations financial and international isolation. As we have said before, all options for responding to future provocation must remain on the table, Tillerson told a high-level meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the North Korean nuclear issue. Diplomatic and financial levers of power will be backed up by a willingness to counteract North Korean aggression with military action if necessary, he warned. We much prefer a negotiated solution to this problem, but we are committed to defending ourselves and our allies against North Korean aggression. WATCH: Tillerson on North Korean nuclear threat Tillerson said this new campaign of intensified pressure would be swiftly implemented and painful to North Korean interests, but he insisted that regime change is not a part of it. He added that talks would not happen before North Korea takes concrete steps to dismantle its illegal weapons programs. Tillerson laid out what Washington wants the international community to do to stop North Koreas pursuit of nuclear weapons, calling for increased diplomatic and economic pressure on Pyongyang to get it to change course, including new targeted sanctions. We must bring maximum economic pressure by severing trade relationships that indirectly fund the DPRKs nuclear and missile program, he said. I call on the international community to suspend the flow of North Korean guest workers and to impose bans on North Korean imports, and especially coal. WATCH: Tillerson on consequences of failing to act He singled out China, urging it to exert its powerful economic leverage over North Korea. He also asked states to downgrade their diplomatic relations with Pyongyang and to fully implement existing U.N. Security Council resolutions regarding North Korea. Those nations which have not fully enforced these resolutions fully discredit this body, Tillerson said. For years, North Korea has been dictating the terms of its dangerous course of action; it is time for us to retake control of the situation, Tillerson added. The United States called for Fridays meeting as part of its presidency this month of the Security Council. It was Tillersons first time at the world body and the Security Council chamber was packed, as nations are eager to have a clear indication from the Trump administration on where it is headed on the dangerous North Korea issue. China remains firm Several foreign ministers attended Fridays high-level session, including Chinas Wang Yi. He deflected President Donald Trumps recent calls on Beijing to solve the North Korean problem. China is not a focal point of the problem on the peninsula and the key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie on the Chinese side, Wang told the council. China has, over the years, made unremitting efforts and played a unique role in promoting a negotiated solution, he added. Chinas position remained consistent, with the minister calling for North Korea to stop its nuclear and ballistic missile activities and return to its international commitments. He also called on other parties to work constructively for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. We must stay committed to the path of dialogue and negotiations, Wang said. The use of force does not solve differences and will only lead to bigger disasters, he cautioned. Anxious neighbors We must act now, we are racing against time, said South Korean foreign minister Yun Byung-se, whose country is on the frontline of the crisis. Extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary responses, he urged. He called for tougher new international sanctions, saying they are necessary. Our goal is not to bring North Korea to knees, but to bring it back to the negotiation table for genuine denuclearization. Watch: US Will Not Rule Out Military Response to North Korea Japans foreign minister Fumio Kishida urged the international community to send a message to Pyongyang that provocation comes at a high price. No bright future awaits North Korea without denuclearization. Russia, which shares a short border with North Korea, also expressed concern about the growing tensions. The combative rhetoric coupled with reckless muscle-flexing has led to this situation where the whole world sits seriously now wondering whether theres going to be a war or not, Deputy Foreign Minister Genady Gatilov told the council. Love him or hate him, President Donald Trump engenders strong feelings, and with his presidency reaching the symbolic 100-day milestone at a moment of international tensions, battle lines are sharply drawn on the effectiveness of his still-developing foreign policy. As an understaffed White House team navigates through a spate of early tests, the outlines of a foreign policy framework are beginning to emerge. When asked by a reporter about a Trump Doctrine, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus explained, Setting some certain lines of where were not going to allow people like [Syrian President Bashar al-Assad] to go, but at the same time making it clear that were not interested in long-term ground wars in the Middle East. "Obviously, focusing in on ISIS and what were doing in the Middle East to protect us here in the United States, working with China on ongoing issues with North Korea that are very real and are serious issues, that takes cooperation within the region to handle appropriately," Priebus said, using an acronym for Islamic State. Watch: Trump Foreign Policy Draws Fire, Praise at 100 Day Mark 'Basic building blocks' Jim Carafano, vice president for foreign and defense policy at the Trump-friendly Heritage Foundation, said ensuring peace and stability in the Middle East and Asia are two of three basic building blocks of the presidents policy. The other is mitigating Russias destructive influence. The president gets that Carafano told VOA. Hes not soft on Russia. The administration has been very clear that Russian meddling has been unhelpful and destabilizing and were not going to stand for it. Carafano said Trump has compensated for his lack of foreign policy experience by assembling a team of seasoned professionals. When there are decisions to be made, the president turns to (Homeland Secretary chief John) Kelly, (Defense Secretary James) Mattis, (National Security Advisor) H.R. McMaster, (Secretary of State Rex) Tillerson and (Attorney General Jeff) Sessions. He listens to them and respects their input," Carafano said. The Trump inner circle has proven theyre pretty good on crisis management, he added. Theyve had two major crises with the Syrian chemical weapons attack and the flare-up with North Korea. By most accounts, they handled those pretty well. Administration critics, however, have not been impressed. No less a media star than New Yorker magazine editor David Remnick, a fierce Trump critic, wrote: His Presidency has become the demoralizing daily obsession of anyone concerned with global security... A pretty abysmal record, James Goldgeier, dean of the School of International Service at American University in Washington, told VOA. Missteps Goldgeier described as laughable" administration missteps such as announcing that a U.S. Navy battle group was speeding toward the Korean Peninsula when it was actually heading elsewhere. The best thing I can say is that he (Trump) has realized that positions he took during the campaign are not workable and that he needs to rethink the way he was going to approach countries like Russia and China, Goldgeier, who was a senior Clinton administration official, said. He starts from a low base, with very little knowledge of history or previous policy, and not a lot of people who can support him. A senior White House national security official, at a background briefing, cast the shifts in postion as a positive, arguing it shows Trumps policy is not doctrinaire. Its very pragmatic, said the official, who cannot be identified under briefing rules. The president weighs the risk of any action hes anticipating. But what hes also done in these first few weeks is weigh the risk of inaction, the official said. Whereas considering the risk only of action could have a tendency to paralyze a leader, what hes done is hes recognized there is a cost associated with inaction, and the obvious example of this is the response to the mass murder of civilians with chemical weapons in Syria. Contradictory statements Many in Washingtons foreign policy establishment, however, remain nervous about how the rest of the world sees Trumps apparent reversals of position and contradictory statements on sensitive issues. At a forum this week on U.S.-Asia relations under Trump at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, participants worried about the potential for a serious miscalculation by friend and foe alike. Our allies dont like unpredictability, said Richard Fontaine, who served as a foreign policy adviser to Sen. John McCain, a Republican from Arizona. When youre talking about deterrence, unpredictability tends not to be a good idea. Michael Swaine, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said, The most critical issue is North Korea. ... We see a not-very-clear policy as to how to deal with this problem within the administration, with signals sent out in various directions. Its not reassuring. Swaine summed up the concerns of many of the forums participants in one sentence, saying, Many of worst-case assumptions about what the Trump administration would do in Asia have not materialized. Then, after a long pause for effect he added, yet. U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely, Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office Saturday. Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple U.S. presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasizing by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. Wed love to solve things diplomatically but its very difficult, he said. Praise for Xi Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in North Korea. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month. I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps its possible that he cant, Trump said. Tillerson heads to UN Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed U.S. lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority. It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbor and ally, and remained open to negotiations. U.S. officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Risk of retaliation Any direct U.S. military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among U.S. forces in both countries. Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. Hes 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. Im not giving him credit or not giving him credit, Im just saying thats a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not hes rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope hes rational, he said. Trump, sipping a Coke delivered by an aide after the president ordered it by pressing a button on his desk, appeared to rebuff an overture from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who told Reuters a direct phone call with Trump could take place again after their first conversation in early December angered Beijing. China considers neighboring Taiwan to be a renegade province. My problem is that I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi, said Trump. I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him. So I would certainly want to speak to him first. Working to dismantle his predecessors environmental legacy, President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order Friday that could lead to the expansion of drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. With one day before he reaches his 100th day in office, Trump will order his interior secretary to review an Obama-era plan that dictates which locations are open to offshore drilling, with the goal of the new administration to expand operations. Its part of Trumps promise to unleash the nations energy reserves in an effort to reduce reliance on foreign oil and to spur jobs, regardless of fierce opposition from environmental activists, who say offshore drilling harms whales, walruses and other wildlife and exacerbates global warming. Zinke: Safeguards remain This order will cement our nations position as a global energy leader and foster energy security for the benefit of American people, without removing any of the stringent environmental safeguards that are currently in place, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told reporters at a White House briefing Thursday evening. Zinke said the order, combined with other steps Trump has taken during his first months in office, puts us on track for American energy independence. The executive order will reverse part of a December effort by President Barack Obama to deem the bulk of U.S.-owned waters in the Arctic Ocean and certain areas in the Atlantic as indefinitely off limits to oil and gas leasing. It will also direct Zinke to conduct a review of the locations available for offshore drilling under a five-year plan signed by Obama in November. The plan blocked new oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It also blocked the planned sale of new oil and gas drilling rights in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas north of Alaska, but allowed drilling to go forward in Alaskas Cook Inlet southwest of Anchorage. The order could open to oil and gas exploration areas off Virginia and North and South Carolina, where drilling has been blocked for decades. Zinke said that leases scheduled under the existing plan will remain in effect during the review, which he estimated will take several years. Monuments, sanctuaries under review The order will also direct Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to conduct a review of marine monuments and sanctuaries designated over the last 10 years. Citing his departments data, Zinke said the Interior Department oversees some 1.7 billion acres on the outer continental shelf, which contains an estimated 90 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and 327 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas. Under current restrictions, about 94 percent of that outer continental shelf is off-limits to drilling. Zinke, who will also be tasked with reviewing other drilling restrictions, acknowledged environmental concerns as valid, but he argued that the benefits of drilling outweigh concerns. Environmentalists protest Environmental activists, meanwhile, railed against the expected signing, which comes seven years after the devastating 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Diana Best of Greenpeace said that opening new areas to offshore oil and gas drilling would lock the U.S. into decades of harmful pollution, devastating spills like the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, and a fossil fuel economy with no future. Scientific consensus is that the vast majority of known fossil fuel reserves including the oil and gas off U.S. coasts must remain undeveloped if we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change, she said. Jacqueline Savitz of the ocean advocacy group Oceana warned the order would lead to corner-cutting and set us up for another havoc-wreaking environmental disaster in places like the Outer Banks or in remote Barrow, Alaska, where theres no proven way to remove oil from sea ice. We need smart, tough standards to ensure that energy companies are not operating out of control, she said, adding: In their absence, Americas future promises more oil spills and industrialized coastlines. President Donald Trump is re-opening for oil exploration areas that President Barack Obama had closed, a move that environmental groups have promised to fight. In an executive order Friday, the president reversed the Obama administration's decision to prohibit oil and gas drilling in the Arctic waters off Alaska. The order also instructs the Interior Department to review current restrictions on energy development in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. In addition, it bars the creation or expansion of marine sanctuaries and orders a review of all areas protected within the last 10 years. Trump cites advantages The White House says 90 billion barrels of oil and 327 trillion cubic feet of natural gas are buried off the U.S. coastline, but 94 percent of the area is off limits. Renewed offshore energy production will reduce the cost of energy, create countless new jobs and make America more secure and far more energy independent, Trump said at a signing ceremony at the White House. The action is the latest from the Trump administration aimed at boosting domestic energy production and loosening environmental regulations. In his first 100 days, Trump has relaxed coal mine pollution rules and ordered a review of vehicle efficiency standards and power plant greenhouse gas rules. His administration has stopped defending Obama-era pollution regulations challenged in court. The energy industry has cheered the moves. Environmental groups have promised strong opposition. Fragile ecosystems Conservationists have long opposed oil drilling in the Arctic. A spill would devastate the region's fragile ecosystems, they say, while extreme conditions raise the risks of a spill and make cleanup harder. Fishing and tourism on the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico would suffer from an accident, too, environmentalists note. By his actions today, President Trump has sent a clear message that he prioritizes the oil and gas industry over the needs of working Americans in our coastal communities who depend on healthy fishing and tourism economies for their livelihoods, Environmental Defense Fund Vice President Elizabeth Thompson said in a statement. Reviewing and rewriting the current offshore drilling plans are expected to take several years. Environmental groups plan legal challenges to the changes. U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters Thursday he will either renegotiate or terminate what he called a horrible free trade deal with South Korea and said Seoul should pay for a U.S. anti-missile system that he priced at $1 billion. In an interview with Reuters, Trump called the 5-year-old trade pact with South Korea unacceptable and said it would be targeted for renegotiation after his administration completes a revamp of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico. He blamed the U.S.-Korean trade deal, known as KORUS, on his 2016 Democratic presidential election opponent, Hillary Clinton, who as secretary of state promoted the final version of the trade pact before its approval by Congress in 2011. It is unacceptable, it is a horrible deal made by Hillary, the Republican Trump said. Its a horrible deal, and we are going to renegotiate that deal or terminate it. Asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the deal, Trump said: Very soon. Im announcing it now. South Korea stocks fall Trumps comments stunned South Korean financial markets, sending Seoul stocks and the won currency into reverse even as the countrys economic outlook has started to brighten. With global demand improving, exports of goods such as cars and electronics have been leading a recovery in South Korea and a number of other trade-reliant Asian economies such as Japan and Taiwan, boosting their manufacturing sectors. Talk and actual policy are different, a high-ranking official at South Koreas finance ministry, who declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media, told Reuters. They (the Trump administration) have not requested anything from us so well have to wait and see. KORUS was initially negotiated by the Republican administration of President George W. Bush in 2007, but that version was scrapped and renegotiated by President Barack Obamas Democratic administration three years later. The U.S. goods trade deficit with South Korea has more than doubled since KORUS took effect in March 2012, from $13.2 billion in 2011 to $27.7 billion in 2016, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. THAAD payment Trump said the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system now being deployed in South Korea to defend against a potential missile attack from North Korea would cost about $1 billion and questioned why the United States was paying for it. I informed South Korea it would be appropriate if they paid. Its a billion-dollar system, Trump said. Its phenomenal, shoots missiles right out of the sky. The U.S. military started the deployment of THAAD in early March, despite strong opposition from China, which worries the systems powerful radar can be used to spy into its territory. Lockheed Martin Corp is the prime contractor for the THAAD system. A former U.S. State Department official estimated the cost of the system at $1.2 billion but said the United States would not want to sell THAAD to Seoul. We want to retain THAAD in our arsenal, consistent with all other U.S. weapons systems deployed on the Korean peninsula. We own them. We retain them. We have the right to redeploy them, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The purpose of Shah's tour, which starts with his visit to J-K on Saturday, is to strategise on ways to help the BJP win 2019 Lok Sabha election. By Brijesh Pandey: BJP chief Amit Shah will kick-start his 95-day all-India tour with a visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. The purpose of the tour is to strategise on ways to help the BJP win 2019 Lok Sabha election, particularly finding the right formula to capture seats that the party lost in 2014. Shah's visit to J-K has sparked off speculation that it has been so timed in the wake of the prevailing unrest in the Kashmir Valley. HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW IN 10 POINTS Sources in the BJP have strongly denied that Amit Shah's visit to the state has anything to do with the situation in Kashmir. They added that Shah's visit to Jammu and Kashmir was pre-planned, one which he was undertaking to oversee the expansion of the party. BJP sources say that Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed such clashes and unrest even in the past, adding that it is a legal-political issue. They were, however, hopeful that the situation would soon return to normalcy. During his visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Amit Shah is expected to meet eminent personalities and intellectuals from the state. His visit to J-K comes 2 days after he returned from West Bengal. In his 95-day all-India tour, he is also likely to visit Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Lakshadweep and poll-bound Gujarat. The states that Shah will be visiting have been graded into A, B and C categories, in accordance with their electoral importance. He will accordingly spend three, two or one day there respectively. Throwing light on the outfit's future course of action, party sources said that 19 departments had been made to make the party functional from the district to the national level. "We are eyeing the 120 seats we lost in 2014 and working on ways to win them", a source said. Depending on the need to consolidate the BJP's position in a particular state, the party has appointed "vistaraks" who will visit their regions of choice for 6 months, one month and 15 days as may be required. BJP sources are of the view that with this kind of push at the grassroots, the party will be able to generate in cadres the momentum to work out a winning formula. advertisement Also read | Opposition should stop bayanbaazi, BJP will get a huge mandate in 2019: Amit Shah to India Today Also read | Mamata Banerjee hits back at Amit Shah's 'Ebar Bangla' claim, says BJP not being able to control Delhi WATCH VIDEO --- ENDS --- U.S. President Donald Trump fiercely defended the right to gun ownership on Friday, telling the National Rifle Association the eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end. An estimated 10,000 NRA delegates welcomed the president with thunderous applause in Atlanta, Georgia, where he became the first president to address the group since Ronald Reagan in 1983. The president told the attendees he wanted to assure them of the sacred right of self-defense for all of our citizens and vowed I will never, ever infringe on the right of the people to bear arms. Watch: Why Gun Sales Are Down Under Trump The gun rights issue has become highly polarizing in America, particularly after a string of gun-related massacres around the country, including at schools. Trump, who supported tougher gun restrictions before he entered the political arena, noted he was the only presidential candidate during last year's campaign to address the NRA. WATCH: President's Speech in Atlanta No guns allowed in arena Critics reacted swiftly to Trump's remarks before delegates who were not permitted to carry their guns into the arena. There were about as many facts in Trump's speech as there were guns in that room, said Brendan Kelly, the press secretary for the Brady Foundation Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. He offered shallow support for gun lobby policies that are actually both opposed by law enforcement officers and getting them killed, Kelly told VOA. Trump's real audience today was not the decent, law abiding members of the NRA. It was the leaders of the gun industry who gave him $30 million and their lapdog politicians. The Brady Foundation is named for former White House Press Secretary James Brady, who was shot in the head and severely wounded during an assassination attempt on Reagan in 1981. Trump has already signed a bill to roll back gun restrictions implemented by former President Barack Obama. Trump reversed an order that would have required the federal government to provide information about mentally ill people undergoing background checks for gun purchases. No longer will federal agencies be coming after law-abiding gun owners, Trump told the crowd. Demonstrators protest event The NRA is also pushing for a federal concealed-carry reciprocity law that would validate nationwide any state's concealed-carry permits. The gun lobby group also aims to eliminate gun-free zones at schools and relax state requirements for background checks. Gun control advocates maintain validating state permits throughout the U.S. would effectively turn the weakest state standards into national law. Demonstrators gathered in Atlanta to protest the gathering of the nation's most powerful gun lobby group. Two of the groups demonstrating were Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense of America, which was formed after the 2012 shooting deaths of 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in the northeastern town of Newtown, Connecticut. "Turn off cable. Don't Watch' During Trump's speech, a U.S. senator from the state of Connecticut, Democrat Chris Murphy, took to the Twitter social media platform (@ChrisMurphyCT) to tweet names and photos of people who have been killed by guns after stating Here's my advice. Turn off cable. Don't watch @realDonaldTrump's NRA speech. Instead, think about who we are fighting for. Moms Demand Action co-founder Shannon Watts said in a statement to VOA that a top priority for gun control groups is defeating the concealed-carry reciprocity initiative. That's why Moms Demand Action volunteers and gun violence survivors are in Atlanta this weekend, and it's why we'll continue to show up in D.C. (the District of Columbia) and in statehouses and boardrooms across the country until our nation's lawmakers put the safety of our families and communities above the profits of the gun lobby, she said. An American and a British man, allegedly members of the Islamic State group, were arrested in Turkey after crossing the border from Syria and handing themselves over to the authorities, officials said Friday. A Turkish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government protocol, said American Kary Paul Kleman and Briton Stefan Aristidou arrived at Oncupinar border crossing in Kilis province on April 20 and were arrested four days later. Kleman was traveling with his Syrian wife and four children. His family was put under administrative detention to be deported to the U.S. in order to keep them together, according to the official. A British Foreign Office official said British authorities are in contact with Turkish authorities "following the detention of a British man on the Turkey/Syria border." Aristidou's British wife and child would be deported to the U.K., according to the Turkish official. Turkey's official Anadolu news agency reported Friday that the men were detained and later arrested on suspicion that they are members of the extremist Islamic State group. Anadolu said two Egyptians and four more children were also traveling with the group and will be deported. United Airlines reached an out-of-court settlement Thursday with a doctor who was dragged off one of its flights after he refused to give up his seat. The airline and Dr. David Dao's lawyers agreed not to disclose the amount of money he will receive. United put out a brief statement saying it reached an amicable resolution of the unfortunate incident. United changes policy The airline said earlier Thursday that from now on, no passenger would be forced to give up his seat except in cases of safety and security. Those who volunteer to surrender their seats when a flight is overbooked would get up to $10,000 in compensation. Every customer deserves to be treated with the highest levels of service and the deepest sense of dignity and respect, United chief Oscar Munoz said. Two weeks ago, we failed to meet that standard and we profoundly apologize. Chicago aviation police dragged Dao up the aisle of the packed plane when United needed to make room for airline employees. Three other passengers volunteered to give up their seats, but Dao was picked out at random and refused to leave, saying he had to get home to treat patients. Congress gets involved His nose was broken, some teeth were knocked out, and he suffered a concussion. Cellphone video captured the scene. Dao, with blood streaming down his face, could be heard screaming with other shocked passengers. The incident prompted calls in Congress to bring back government airline regulation. Some lawmakers demanded outlawing the practice of overbooking flights, in which airlines sell more seats than are available to ensure a full plane. The U.S. Congress has averted a federal government shutdown with the passage of a stopgap bill that gives lawmakers another week to work out federal spending. President Donald Trump signed the bill late Friday. The Senate passed the measure Friday by voice vote without opposition after the House earlier approved the spending bill with large bipartisan support. The measure keeps federal spending at current levels and prevents a shutdown of many parts of the federal government on Saturday, Trump's 100th day in office. It gives lawmakers another week to agree on legislation that would keep the government funded for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends September 30. The appropriations bill was supposed to be funded by last Oct. 1, but has been delayed until now with Congress passing a succession of stopgap measures. Lawmakers say they are moving closer to a final bill, but say there are still several difficult issues to come to terms with, including defense spending. Trump is seeking a $30 billion increase in military spending, while Democrats are arguing that other domestic programs need more funds. Stopgap bill gives leaders extra time Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the stopgap bill "will carry us through next week so that a bipartisan agreement can be reached." Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who said there are still significant differences between Republicans and Democrats, said, "We're willing to extend things for a little bit more time in hopes that the same kind of progress can continue to be made." Negotiations between the two sides have already led to some compromises. Trump has backed off his earlier demand that the spending legislation include funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Trump administration also agreed to continue funding for a major component of the health care program of former President Barack Obama, known as Obamacare, despite Republicans efforts to overturn it. U.S. diplomats used a meeting with their Iranian counterparts to press the release of Americans being detained in Iran, the Trump administration said Thursday. It is the first public acknowledgment of direct U.S.-Iranian discussions since President Donald Trump took office. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the talks occurred on the sidelines of a meeting in Vienna this week that focused on implementation of the Iran nuclear deal. Trump has railed against the seven-nation accord that President Barack Obama's administration led to completion in 2015. But Trump's aides recently certified that Iran was upholding its commitment to not advance its nuclear program toward weapons capability. Although Trump and his top advisers have publicly criticized Iran for its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Yemeni rebels and militant groups throughout the Middle East, American officials haven't spoken about any continuation of U.S.-Iranian conversations that became routine under the Obama administration. At Tuesday's meeting in Austria, Toner said, "the U.S. delegation raised with the Iranian delegation its serious concerns regarding the cases of U.S. citizens detained and missing in Iran, and called on Iran to immediately release these U.S. citizens so they can be reunited with their families." Toner cited the detentions of Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father, Baquer Namazi, who are serving 10-year prison sentences for "cooperating with the hostile American government." The younger Namazi has been detained since October 2015 and his father was taken into custody in February 2016. Their supporters deny the charges and say the two are being held as leverage against the United States. Iran has detained dual nationals to use as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West, most notably in a controversial 2016 prisoner swap with the U.S. that coincided with American sanctions being removed as part of the nuclear deal and a $1.7 billion payment by Washington to settle a decades-old dispute with Tehran over a frozen Iranian account. Both Namazis appear to be ensnared by hard-liners within Iran's security services who oppose Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the nuclear deal he struck with world powers. Toner also noted it has been more than a decade since the disappearance of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, a CIA contractor in 2007 traveling on an unauthorized mission to collect intelligence. The only photos and video of Levinson emerged in 2010 and 2011. He appeared gaunt and bearded with long hair, and was wearing an orange jumpsuit similar to those worn by detainees at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay. "Iran committed to cooperating with the United States in bringing Bob home and we call on Iran to fulfill this commitment," Toner said, though Tehran has been providing such commitments previously. "The United States remains unwavering in its efforts to return Bob to his family." Toner made no mention of an Iranian-American who was recently released on bail from his long prison sentence in Iran for "collaboration with a hostile government." While Robin Shahini of San Diego was let go from prison, it was unclear if he would be permitted to leave Iran. Shahini traveled to Iran to see his mother, who has Alzheimer's disease, and was detained last July. In December, a human rights group reported that Iranian-American art gallery manager Karan Vafadari and his Iranian wife also were detained. Reporters Without Borders said Wednesday that globally media freedom has never been so threatened, as it released its annual press freedom index. The media rights group pointed in particular to democratic countries as places where press freedoms declined during the past year. In sickening statements, Draconian laws, conflicts of interest, and even the use of physical violence, democratic governments are trampling on a freedom that should, in principle, be one of their leading performance indicators. The report said the reductions in press freedoms are most pronounced in places where the authoritarian strongman model has triumphed, such as Poland, Hungary and Turkey. Watch: Global Press Freedom at Tipping Point, Report Warns The rate at which democracies are approaching the tipping point is alarming for all those who understand that, if media freedom is not secure, then none of the other freedoms can be guaranteed, RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said. Most countries show decline Overall, 62 percent of countries measured showed a decline in press freedom in the 2017 index. Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands ranked as the countries with the highest degree of freedom for journalists. North Korea ranked last, with Reporters Without Borders saying the country continues to keep its population in ignorance and terror.Also at the bottom of the list, just ahead of North Korea, were Eritrea, Turkmenistan, Syria and China. Those countries that most improved their scores since the 2016 index were Laos, Pakistan, Sweden, Burma and the Philippines.The biggest decliners were Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Maldives and Uzbekistan. Trump rhetoric criticized The report faulted U.S. President Donald Trump and the rhetoric he used since launching his campaign for office, which has frequently targeted media organizations and declaring their stories fake. The hate speech used by the new boss in the White House and his accusations of lying also helped to disinhibit attacks on the media almost everywhere in the world, including in democratic countries. The United States ranked 43rd on the index, down two spots from 2016.Britain, which decided in a referendum last year to leave the European Union, ranked 40th. Donald Trumps rise to power in the United States and the Brexit campaign in the United Kingdom were marked by high-profile media bashing, a highly toxic anti-media discourse that drove the world into a new era of post-truth, disinformation, and fake news. The report said the Middle East and North Africa region continues to be the most dangerous for journalists to work, with Eastern Europe and Central Asia close behind. The Science Committee of the House of Representatives has reopened an investigation into Hillary Clintons e-mails. This time an investigation is being made into the company that installed the personal server for the Secretary of State. During the presidential electoral campaign, Donald Trump challenged Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, for installing a personal server at her home and using it to exchange e-mails, covered by state secrecy. Clinton was unable to explain why she had asked the company, Platte River Networks (PRT), to set up a private server at her home which had been wiped clean before the FBI investigation commenced. Setting up a private server is the only way that allows you to exchange e-mails outside the Feds control, and then to delete them afterwards, with being bound by safeguards imposed on commercial servers. Donald Trump alleged that this server had been used to allow the Secretary of State to communicate with the Muslim Brotherhood on terrorist action. While lacking criminal power, it is notable that the Science Committee is in charge of the security of the Administrations communications. It therefore asked Platte River Networks (PRT) to hand over to it its file on the charges for installing Mrs Clintons private, secured server. After trying to buy some time, PRT pleaded the Fourth and Fifth Amendment to justify not responding to the injunction (on the grounds of there being no serious presumption and investigation, the company is refusing to hand over any internal documentation and to cooperate with the inquiry). Thus the Committee has just handed over the matter to the Attorney-General, Jeff Sessions [1]. Lachhu's wide eyes speak of his ordeal as he looks up, face creased with worry like his crumpled green shirt. He tucks his thumb under his fingers, uncertain of which aspect of his year-long ordeal with the Maoists he should talk about. The first response is fear. "We have already been uprooted from our homes," he stammers. "Don't ask me about the comrades. We don't want more trouble." That Lachhu now sits in Ranchi, nearly 200 km away from his abductors, is no solace. The 16-year-old was a student of Class 5 in Tutiket, in West Singhbhum, at the southern tip of Jharkhand, where he lived in his village home with three siblings and parents, who tilled a small plot. In June 2015, Maoists abducted him and several other village children and marched them into the jungles of Saranda. advertisement Lachhu found himself in a bizarre Maoist-controlled netherworld. Here, rifle-toting rebels in black told him and some 30 others that the world was in the grip of eternal class war-rich capitalists in the cities were exploiting poor workers in the villages. The only salvation, Lachhu was told, was a violent overthrow that the Maoists would bring at gunpoint. And for that revolution to happen, Lachhu and others would have to become Maoists. They would have to learn to use guns, plant bombs and kill without mercy. Child soldiers are a pressing concern worldwide. They have been used by several terrorist groups and actors in the African civil wars. Shaken by the use of child soldiers in the Rwandan genocide of 800,000 Tutsis in 1994, the UN Security Council passed a resolution in 1999, condemning the targeting of children in conflict, including the recruitment of child soldiers. 'Children and Armed Conflict', an April 2016 UN report, notes the abduction of children "as young as six years of age by armed groups, including Naxalites, in Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha and West Bengal". "Reports indicate that children were coerced to join children's units (bal dasta), where they were trained and used as couriers and informants, to plant improvised explosive devices and in frontline operations against national security forces," says the report. Maoist abductions are a particular scourge in Jharkand. Children from the state's western districts of Lohardaga, Gumla, Latehar and Simdega, bordering the Maoist strongholds in Chhattisgarh and Odisha, are easy prey. Police estimate that over a thousand children have been abducted over the past few years and deployed as foot soldiers, couriers and sentries around Maoist camps. Illustration By: Anirban Ghosh and Tanmoy Chakraborty Illustration By: Anirban Ghosh and Tanmoy Chakraborty In the past two years, the Maoists' conscription drive in Jharkhand has intensified in the face of a sustained police offensive-40 Maoists were killed against the loss of 10 policemen in 2016, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal. Fewer than 400 hardcore Maoists are thought to remain now, down from over 1,200 a decade ago. So children serve as swift replenishment for their fast-depleting ranks. The police estimate that Maoists have abducted hundreds of children from Gumla, Latehar and Lohardaga districts in the past two years. Over a hundred children, between 12 and 17, have escaped or been rescued since 2015. Many more remain in captivity. An unknown number of child soldiers are feared dead. "We are trying to do everything to rescue and rehabilitate such children. The Maoists are more desperate than ever because they are more marginalised today," says R.K. Mallick, additional DG (operations), Jharkhand police. advertisement The UN lists six grave violations against children in conflict-killing and maiming, recruitment and use of children, sexual violence, abductions, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access. Such violations are common in the Maoist-controlled areas. Parents refusing to hand over their children for recruitment have been shot dead. In Gumla, police had to shift over 200 children from Bishunpur and Jamati villages to the Ranchi and Gumla district headquarters in 2015 to save them from falling into the hands of Maoists. In some districts, Maoists ask for five children from every village. The villagers have no option but to give in. "The police can take hours, even days, to reach. The Maoists are around forever," says Manya, 16, from Katari village in Lohardaga. She spent two years as a child soldier before slipping out while her squad was engaged in a gun battle with a rival Maoist faction last year. advertisement The Maoists are ruthless with the abducted children. They are shifted to forests in other districts and told to abandon all hopes of returning. "They forbid keeping anything that would remind a child of home," says Lachhu. "Pictures of parents and siblings... nothing is allowed." Attempts to flee are met with harsh punishment, including caning in front of the entire unit. "The Maoists pick up children they believe have reached fighting age, which is anyone above 12," says S. Karthik, superintendent of police, Lohardaga. Across Jharkhand's outback, especially in the Maoist zones, parents have got children to leave home, as the rebels are known to burn down schools and abduct students. Recruits are initiated into violence through execution of brutal punishments pronounced in the Maoists' jan adalats (people's courts). Child soldiers are made to chop off a thief's ears or strip offenders naked and cane them. Murder is the most important rite of passage. A rescued child soldier in Gumla recalls, "The Maoists would say-if you don't want to kill, you are not one of us." The boy, now 18, admits firing at innocents. "But I never killed anyone," he adds hastily. advertisement Lachhu says a month-long training he went through included learning to crawl on one's belly, hefting rifles and using IEDs and landmines. Such training is not without hazards. In September 2013, Maoists sent back the body of Pardeshi Lohra, a 14-year-old soldier. An IED he was handling had exploded and killed him. After training, Lachhu was given a green uniform and a rifle nearly as big as him. He was inducted into a squad of over a hundred foot soldiers, what the Maoists call a 'company'. In 'peace time', the squad splits into groups of 10 during cooking. Each group has at least two children as support staff. During operations, typically 'area domination' exercises against the police and paramilitary, the squads had to keep moving. Lachhu escaped during one such operation in September last year. When his squad halted near his village, he made his way to his parents. The six-member family gathered their belongings and fled the village, fearing reprisal. Now, the parents work as casual labourers in Chaibasa town. Lachhu stays in a roadside hut taking care of his siblings. School is just a dream. The Maoists are under mounting pressure in Jharkhand. They have, for instance, failed to attack a police station in the past two years, the longest such hiatus since the creation of the state in 2000. While their diminishing operational control has given child soldiers opportunities to escape, the Maoists have resorted to intimidation and brainwashing to arrest the trend. The new stratagem is to feed the children with tales of police brutalities. Children who have witnessed police excesses are especially susceptible to such strategems. "We were repeatedly told how so and so was tortured and killed by the police," recalls 12-year-old Garima, a former child soldier from Jamati village in Gumla district. Besides the psychological scars, the child soldiers often end up in the line of fire. In June 2015, 12 armed Maoists were killed in a gunfight with the police in Bhalwahi village in Palamu district. Four of them turned out to be minors. Bimla, 16, is a lucky survivor of one such gun battle. In March 2015, she was rescued from a jungle in Latehar after she sustained a bullet injury in her leg. The Maoists abandoned her and fled. Bimla is yet to recover from her ordeal. She is extraordinarily quiet for her age, talks slowly, at times inaudibly, and narrates tales of abuse. On April 12 this year, Nakul Yadav, a sub-zonal Maoist commander, surrendered to the Jharkhand police. He confessed to having abducted 90 children and murdering three villagers in Bishunpur when they refused to hand over their children for recruitment. More than a fourth of the child recruits are girls. india today met a dozen-odd girls from Ranchi, Lohardaga and Gumla. They confirmed horrific sexual exploitation. While Maoist literature hails gender equality and women's liberation, things are different on the ground. Women-even in the armed squads-are primarily tasked with cooking, carrying foodgrain and entertaining comrades. Photo: Somnath Sen Lachhu, 16 Abducted from West Singhbhum in June 2015 Experience: Stayed with Maoists in forest camps in Saranda. Was trained in firearms Status: Escaped in September 2016. Fearing Maoist reprisal, his family left their village and settled in Chaibasa town. Photo: Somnath Sen Bablu, 13 Abducted from Gumla in June 2015 Experience: Worked as a porter, washed utensils and stood guard at night Rescued from: Kerar forests in Lohardaga on April 23, 2017 Status: Escaped on April 12 with five others after Maoist commander Nakul Yadav began handing over children of his squad to other Maoist groups before surrendering. Photo: Somnath Sen Sarita, 17 Abducted from Gumla in August 2015 Experience: Sexually abused by Maoists. Sent back to village Rescued from: Nakul Yadav on April 14, 2017 with a one-month-old child Child Soldier Commander Nakul Yadav, 42 From: Chatra Operated from: Lohardaga Photo: Somnath Sen Role: Zonal commander of CPI (Maoist) and member of its regional committee Cases: 41 (including murder of 20 policemen) Status: Surrendered to Jharkhand police on April 12, 2017. Plans to contest 2019 Jharkhand assembly polls. Confessed to kidnapping 90 children in the past two years In January 2016, 16-year-old Tara, who was preparing to join college in Lohardaga town, was waylaid by Maoists in Kerar village. "Someone told me my daughter was being taken away by Maoists," says her father. "I ran as fast as I could and fell at their feet. I said nothing but cried with folded hands." A marginal farmer, the Maoists told him they would transform his child into a fierce comrade. Eight months later, he was summoned to the Peshrar forest in Lohardaga. Tara was pregnant, the Maoists informed him. In front of him, Nakul Yadav got one of his squad members to marry her. They then ordered her father to take Tara home. She gave birth to a boy. Her 'husband' has not visited her even once. Tara hardly speaks, mostly staring blankly into the distance. Jitamani Devi, a widow in Lohardaga's Chainpur village, has not seen her daughter Sunaina since the Maoists abducted her last year. "I don't know if she is alive," Jitamani wails. Two of her sons moved to Uttar Pradesh, to work in a brick kiln and stay away from the Maoist dragnet. The youngest son, 9, has been shifted to Ranchi, where an NGO has admitted him into a government residential school. "I have asked my children not to return," says the mother. Without a dedicated rehabilitation programme, the lucky few who escape the clutches of Maoists find their prospects bleak. While Jharkhand's surrender policy offers compensation for the surrendering Maoists and free education for their children up to college, there is nothing specific for the child soldiers. "The government must formulate a policy for a systematic rehabilitation of children rescued from the Maoists," says Ganesh Reddy, social worker and former advisor to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. "These children must be treated with utmost care to bring them into the mainstream. Else, their scars will remain forever." The police, though, have taken some initiatives. Bimla is lucky to have been recruited as a child constable, drawing half the salary of a constable. The Lohardaga and Gumla police have got some of the rescued children admission in school. Many girls have been enrolled in the state's Kasturba Gandhi residential schools. But for scores of others, it's a stare at an uncertain future. (Names of all minors changed to protect identities). --- ENDS --- On 24 April, 2017 guess who supped with President Donald Trump? Senator John McCain, his wife Cindy and his colleague Lindsey Graham. It appears that they have come to some sort of agreement: the United States would continue to protect Europe and therefore, would abstain from reaching an alliance with Russia, but at the same time would pull out from the expanded Middle East. To seal this agreement, Washingtons policy in Europe would be entrusted to neo-conservatives. Tom Goffus, one of McCains assistants to the Senate Committee of Armed Forces, would be appointed the deputy assistant to the Defense Secretary in charge of Europe and Nato. Goffus is an officer of the US Air Force and has already held a similar office serving Hillary Clinton and the National Council of Security. Kurt Volker, the director of the McCain Institute (Arizona State University) would be appointed to a similar post but this time in the Department of State. Volker, a former military judge, had been the ambassador of President Bush Junior to Nato during the Georgian War (August 2008). Senator John McCain is the spokesperson for the US Deep State. Israel was represented at this dinner by Senator Lindsey Graham. I grew up in a small town called De Soto about an hour south of St. Louis. The place was quiet. We left our keys in the mailbox. Most of the kids I went to school with were white, and the median annual income was around $30,000. At least once a month, we'd drive to St. Louis to go shopping or eat out. But there were parts of the city that we never went to, that I only heard about on the news when I saw another young black face flash across the screen almost an afterthought. Another young man who'd lost his life to guns, to crime, to poverty. I didn't know that when I was driving the highway to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, I was driving over burnt mansions with missing roofs and lots littered with trash. I'd learn later about the legacy of white flight, abandonment and poverty that has led to concentrations of crime and, more specifically, gun homicide. Most don't remember Jamyla Bolden, the 9-year-old girl who was doing her homework when she was shot on her mother's bed in Ferguson in 2015. Nor do most remember the 21-year-old Courtney Williams, who was shot and killed a year earlier while he was driving down Kensington Avenue in North St. Louis on Christmas Eve. Missouri's legislature has made it easier to acquire, carry and use guns over the past decade, passing "stand your ground" and "permitless carry" provisions that went into effect in January. The representatives who voted for the recent changes represent districts that are on average 93 percent white and 43 percent rural, not the urban areas where most people are killed with guns. In the past few months, St. Louis representatives introduced bills to combat the changes. One bill required the reporting of a lost or stolen firearm; another authorized a tax deduction for the cost of gun safety and training courses. The state legislature hasn't passed those bills. In the meantime, the burden remains heavy on the state's poorest and most disadvantaged communities. But more St. Louis area residents are fighting to make that invisible problem visible. THE NEIGHBORHOOD APPROACH When I visited James Clark, he told me we come from two different worlds. Clark grew up in North St. Louis and returned in the late '80s after serving in the Army. A framed picture of Clark in uniform hangs on the wall in his office. He speaks in practiced, mobilizing phrases. "I believe in maps," Clark says as he unrolls one and slams his desk with his hand for emphasis. "Give me a map, and let's go take some territory." But Clark's not talking about going to war, he's talking about addressing gun violence in his community: "We've got to get surgical. We've got to look at the neighborhoods where crime and violence are more prevalent, and we've got to have a boots-on-the-ground approach, door-to-door, direct neighborhood engagement." Clark works as the vice president of community outreach at Better Family Life, a community nonprofit on Page Boulevard in North St. Louis. In 2005, the organization bought and renovated what used to be Emerson Elementary School, which closed because of population decline in the neighborhood. The 60,000-square-foot stone building and its manicured lawn provide one of the few reminders of a once-thriving community. Page Boulevard saw 15 homicides from 2008 to 2016, according to data from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. That's nearly two people killed per year on a single 4-mile stretch of road. Several of the old, brick buildings on Page have boarded-up windows, and it's hard to find a grocery store or a restaurant nearby. "The life's trajectory of a young boy or a young girl should not be established at birth based on the neighborhood that they were born into," Clark says. "We have volumes and volumes of publications in St. Louis that point to the same side of town, that point to the same zip codes and that point to the same blocks." After more than 25 years of attempts to persuade the city to adopt his approach to gun violence, Clark decided to take action. He says he felt like people weren't talking about gun violence the way they should be, not within his community or outside of it. So, in 2015, he started making signs. On them, the St. Louis Arch stretches across the white cardboard background, the gateway for a message in black lettering: "We must stop killing each other." The signs ended up in the yards of more than 14,000 homes in North St. Louis Then, Better Family Life opened a de-escalation phone line in December 2016, and, suddenly, people started calling. They knew someone who might get shot or who might shoot someone, but they didn't know where to turn for help. They didn't trust the police, and when they did, they saw no results. Better Family Life was contacted by a Pizza Hut employee who was afraid the brother of her manager and another co-worker were going to shoot each other. The organization also learned about a man who was ready to shoot someone at a bus stop for disrespecting his wife. These aren't your typical stories of gang involvement or drug disputes. They're conflicts among people that escalated because of factors like toxic stress and poverty. Before, the people who knew about the conflicts had no one to tell. But now, they have Clark. He and his outreach specialists approach every situation differently. They might call the mother of the potential shooter or go visit the potential victim at home. Clark opened a dedicated phone line and started getting as many as 10 calls a day. "When this phone rings, whatever I'm doing stops," he says. He also opened Tuesday evening de-escalation centers in four churches where people could talk to trained counselors about potential gun violence. By the end of the last year, 15 conflicts involving gun violence were resolved. This program is a fresh perspective on how Clark thinks the community members will solve gun homicide. Clark's program is an attempt at solving a problem so complex, so embedded in historical and structural context, that tackling it requires a multifaceted effort. He recognizes that the police, the courts and the legislature all have roles to play. Missouri's recent changes to gun laws might make Clark's job much harder, according to University of Missouri-St. Louis criminologist Richard Rosenfeld, because gun permits are no longer required by law. He says people who use guns in crimes usually get them through people they know and that eliminating permit requirements makes guns cheaper and more accessible. "My best guess is that (the laws) will worsen conditions in those communities," Rosenfeld says. "Guns do not fall out of the sky into the hands of criminals or law-abiding people." BUILDING BRIDGES One weekend, a 17-year-old boy was attending New Horizon Seventh Day Christian Church in North St. Louis County, just a few miles west of Page Boulevard. The next weekend, he was dead. The church's pastor, B.T. Rice, says he felt like every week or so he was presiding over another funeral of a young person who'd been shot and killed. He had to do something. So he founded the St. Louis Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence, or SIRV. When Rice first moved to St. Louis from Denver in 1979, he realized he had a lot of work to do. "I've reached the point where I can't straighten it all out because it ain't going to get straightened out just by me," he says as he sits with Matt Brummund and Steven Parish, who both work with SIRV, at his office at New Horizon Christian Church. He's talking about gun violence in his community, but he's also talking about all the other disparities that fuel violence. To the west of the church is Kinloch, a once-vibrant black community. It developed in the early 1900s as a haven for those who'd been excluded from other communities by racist covenants and discriminatory lending practices. Kinloch is now almost completely abandoned. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport started buying up nearby property in the 1980s to expand, and the population has plummeted since. In 2015, the estimated median household income was $13,542, according to the American Community Survey. Photo: Chris Felver/Getty Images Vito Acconci, who died this morning, was the art worlds man in black, our mysterious you-want-it-darker Vito di Milo a troll body from another time with the mind of a poet who made art of the American night. Always dressed in black, always smoking, rocking almost davening as he spoke in florid sexual-architectural-dream metaphors, Acconci is conceptual and performance arts anti-hero, Dylans creature void of form. Acconci once conceded to Richard Prince, who asked him if his voice might have helped him lure women, that it lulls you through a dark disturbed night promising intimacy, sincerity, integrity, maybe some deep, dark secret. In August of 2015, as I was preparing to write about art in public spaces and why Acconcis own fabulous, wild designs were never realized, in his shelf-filled, archive-like Brooklyn waterfront studio at 20 Jay Street, he read me his rejected divine proposal for a dream park for the Highline, a plan to include moving trees and fields, different vistas, a twisting sky and magic carpet, a space city of the future. And I cried in front of him, thinking of all the possible public futures lost to New York. Even though he stopped performing more than three decades ago, Acconci is best known for his ultraradical early performative work. Particularly Seedbed: Between January 15 and 29, 1972, Acconci lay beneath a tilted wooden floor built in the Sonnabend Gallery at 420 West Broadway. That was it, except for a little speaker in one corner. Over the course of three weeks he masturbated eight hours a day while murmuring into a microphone, reporting his thoughts and fantasies of those walking above him. Things like Youre pushing your cunt down on my mouth and Youre ramming your cock into my ass. He changed art with that piece just as surely as Duchamp once changed art with his Readymades, using his own body and id as his found objects. All the elements of Acconcis art are in that performance: the architectural intervention, changing everyday space into something you have to negotiate and think about and treat as another real, even uncanny element. The artist is both present and not present, trying as all artists do to behave in public the way he does in private while keeping both states off balance, contested. His projected fantasies of footsteps above and recitation of his behavior and inner thoughts below make the artist both producer and receiver of the art, and the viewer is voyeur and participant. This sexual-conceptual, seductive, strange feedback loop brought into almost perfect balance arts simultaneous ultra-awareness and its trance state. Sometimes Acconci was accused of sexism. And its true, he did a lot of strange things with women. He had a woman cover him with lipstick kisses and another take his penis in her mouth while he tried to get away; he tried to block a naked woman from being seen by an audience and tried to pry open another womans closed eyes. He always wanted to get inside other bodies and psyches. He also did a lot of equally intimate things to his own body. In 1971 he made Trappings, in which he carried on a conversation with his penis; Claim consisted of him sitting naked and blindfolded in a wrecked Soho basement swinging a lead pipe at any intruders while repeating threatening phrases. In Project for Pier 17 he stood in a ruined West Side pier at night, confessing to anyone who came to see him. In Following Piece, from 1969, he followed strangers until they went into private spaces. In other works he bites or rubs himself raw, tucks his penis between his legs or squeezes his breasts in an attempt to become a woman. All these works vividly replicate and reflect states of deep love, loss, obsession, control, loneliness, and anger. Among many other inner and outer things, Acconcis dark disturbed night conjures a New York state of avant-garde mind and ethos that doesnt exist anymore and of which he was the tattered, incessant, solitary, melancholy Dionysian god. Ja Rule. Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for City Harvest The Fyre Festival a luxury musical festival organized by Ja Rule and Billy McFarland, an entrepreneur born in 1991 was supposed to take place on the island of Exumas in the Bahamas this weekend. Instead, the earliest attendees arrived to a complete mess: disaster relief tents instead of the accommodations they were promised, low water supplies, and nothing but untoasted bread and cheese for meals. While its provided those of us at home a healthy bit of schadenfreude at the expense of people who can afford to shell out up to $250,000 for a weekend music festival, new reports indicate that the most famous guests were warned in advance not to attend. They called all the A-list names and the modeling agencies and told them not to come, a source told Page Six. (The festival was famously promoted by models like Emily Ratajkowski and Bella Hadid.) They were just like, oh come next weekend when all the kinks have been worked out. This was before the chaos even started. The people who were on yachts were also spared from the worst of it, which is an evergreen sentence and also the jist of this simply incredible paragraph: Those on yachts fared better, including Nigerian billionaire Kola Aluko, who was there on Galactica Star, his 65m $50 million yacht. We hear one of Jay Zs managers was there and that Alex von Furstenberg has rented Jerry Seinfelds 42m yacht Moka and is cruising around with pals. The people in yachts were fine, a source told us. The only thing that they had to deal with was instead of nice boats taking them between their boat and the island, they used lift rafts. The festival has since been postponed and Ja Rule posted an apology on Twitter that reads, I truly apologize as this is NOT MY FAULT. We open in New York City, where Justin is purchasing ice-cream sandwiches with his boyfriend, Austin. Austin is a cute guy who barely speaks and goes to college in Alabama. He asks what theyll be doing that weekend on Fire Island and Justin nonchalantly says, Well, were going to the Underwear Party, as if hes saying, Remind me to stop by CVS on the way home to pick up Clorox Wipes and tape. Austin bristles at the idea of said party, but only because he has no cute underwear left in his suitcase, leaving one to wonder just how uncute the underwear he does have might be. The scene ends and Ive already forgotten Austin was ever there to begin with. Meanwhile, Khasan and Jorge stand on a random sidewalk and discuss their return to Fire Island. Khasan is bringing his boyfriend Jason, but hes worried about juggling both him and Jorge at the same time. Let me quickly remind you that Jorge and Khasan are merely friends who sleep in the same bed and figure into every decision the other makes. Its so refreshing to see healthy relationships on television! Khasan says that Jorge will just have to understand that this weekend is time for him to be with Jason. I think its safe to assume Jorge is not going to understand. Meanwhile, Patrick and Bodhi (a.k.a. his dog) enjoy having the Fire Island house to themselves because Patrick never leaves. He tells us its been a quiet week on the island seeing as Brandon (his crush with the grilling skills and tattooed angel wings) has been away visiting family. Which we, the audience, know is a lie because Brandon told people in the last episode that he was going to Texas to visit another guy. Patrick and Bodhis silent tranquility ends when all the others return. Khasans dog Luka is there and even Bodhi thinks shes a nightmare. We watch as Patrick shaves Bodhis balls for no apparent reason, other than the fact that I guess the dog needed his balls shaved. Hey, nobody said Fire Island would be easy on any of us! Jorge is already being needy with Khasan. Also, for some reason Jorge is wearing the biggest platform shoes Ive ever seen and you have to wonder what kind of person packs a bag and is like, Whoops. Cant forget those! Khasans boyfriend Jason is in way over his head. He looks around the house with the silent panic of an unarmed person walking into a creepy motel room with walls covered in photos of JonBenet Ramsey. Jason and Khasan decide to stay in for the night while the others go to the aforementioned Underwear Party, then they have the audacity to cut to Patrick explaining what an underwear party is. (Spoiler: Its what those two nouns mean when you put them together.) Jorge is unhinged as he pretends to cry at the door because Khasan wont come along. Cheyenne and Brandon (a.k.a. the crazy little one, not the caterer with angel wings tattooed on his back) have another one of their heart-to-hearts on the beach, which I guess is going to be their thing and which I guess Im fine with. Cheyenne is conflicted about going to the Underwear Party because he just got back from seeing a boy in Boston and they decided to be official boyfriends. (These boys love a long-distance relationship.) Thats a big deal, Brandon tells him, The biggest deal, Cheyenne replies with sociopathic honesty. They go to the Underwear Party and its just as awful as youd imagine it to be: men wear nothing but their underwear, with the far too frequent addition of functioning rope lights. Add mariachi music and youve got my living nightmare. We hear a faceless creep of a doorman tell Cheyenne that he is required to wear only underwear at the party. Legitimately take a moment and imagine someone saying that to you upon arriving literally ANYWHERE, then come back and read the rest of this when youre done. Cheyenne is pissed when Patrick brings over a group of random guys, as Cheyenne sits in the corner of the Underwear Party just wanting to be left alone. (A tale as old as time, my friend.) The whole encounter leaves a bad taste in both of their mouths, which I can only imagine wouldve been the first of many varied tastes in many varied mouths at this particular shindig. The next day, they go on a yacht that belongs to some of Patricks friends. The yacht owners are a sweet older gay couple that resemble Barry Manilow and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, who, when you think about it, are basically the archetype of what all gay men end up looking like. The men talk about coming to the island since the 80s and its a genuinely special scene that reflects on how far queer culture has come and how important it is to honor our history. Back at the house, Justin is wearing an Angela Lansbury tank top, which makes this the second Angela Lansbury reference Ive made recapping this show, something I am in zero ways surprised by. Justin, Austin, Brandon, and some random dude he brought home from the party all quite literally miss the boat and spend the day letting Brandon take photos of them on the beach instead. These people are adults. Khasan gets dressed to go meet his boyfriend, Jason, and Jorge flips out. Hes giving us full Annie Wilkes with good arms. When he threatens to jump off a cliff while holding a glass of rose, however, he momentarily becomes my hero. Eventually, Khasan agrees to stay for a half-hour and they immediately begin wrestling on the bed like silly teenagers or professional gay porn actors. Things get dicey when an enormous group of Patricks friends arrive. Inside, the camera moves through the party, a veritable sea of sun-kissed, shirtless, Caucasian male skin. Cheyenne stands in the kitchen, huffing, puffing, and throwing stuff away. Hes pissed about the noisy crowd and Im right there with him minus the throwing stuff away, but thats something I need to work through on my own time. Brandon takes Patrick outside to say that Cheyenne is upset that he has once again brought so many strangers over to the house. Patrick is annoyed and then, uh-oh, Cheyenne appears with his suitcases. Girl, shes had ENOUGH and shes leaving. Patrick tells Cheyenne the beauty of Fire Island is the chance to meet new people. You can be at a party with Wall Street investors he says, as Cheyenne interrupts with or crack dealers, both of whom sound like pretty exhausting groups of people to me. Cheyenne doesnt let it go and he disappears into the dark Fire Island night. The next day, Justin has an art show at a local gallery. Cheyenne was supposed to help set up, but hes missing and Justin is pissed. Back at the house, Patrick is confronted by Jorge and Brandon about his inability to compromise regarding the not bringing strangers to the house thing. Patrick tells them theres no compromising on said issue. I cant help but point out that theres a soothing sense of validation that comes from watching ones ex-boyfriend be confronted about his issues with compromise on a reality show, but back to the story. Justins art show is packed and people are genuinely impressed with his work. The middle-aged gallery owner voices his passion of discovering new artists: Its like seeing a new musical, he proclaims, and for a fleeting moment, I look head-on into my future. Austin and Jason have to leave. Khasan tells Jason, Im so sad you have to leave, and he sounds about as convincing as Katherine Heigl claiming shes easy to work with. They all return to the house to find Cheyenne back and hes brought his boyfriend, Kyle. The gang confronts Cheyenne about skipping out on helping Justin. Cheyenne apologizes, but blames it all on his overwhelming need to be with his boyfriend of six minutes. Also, if this show has taught me anything, its that 75 percent of the gay community is named Brandon or Kyle. As Kyle and Cheyenne pack up, Patrick comes in to hash things out one more time. Brandon also comes in and they all argue over who started this feud. Of course, nothing really gets resolved. Cheyenne eventually tells us that just because hes on vacation with people doesnt mean hes going to let them crawl inside his butt. Quite frankly, I think thats the kind of advice Logo is here to teach us. Photo: Riccardo Ghilardi/Getty Images Jonathan Demme, one of the American cinemas finest, most insistently humanist directors, has died at the absurdly young age of 73, from complications of throat cancer and heart disease. Its hard to imagine New York or the world or the movies without Demme in the house. How do you eulogize someone whose overriding aspect is aliveness? I guess you start by simply naming some of his wonderful movies, in chronological order: Caged Heat, Handle With Care, Melvin and Howard, Swing Shift, Stop Making Sense, Something Wild, Married to the Mob, The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, Beloved, Rachel Getting Married, Neil Young: Heart of Gold, A Master Builder Those are my favorites, but many of the others are vital, too Swimming to Cambodia, Cousin Bobby, his Haitian documentaries, his brave and urgent remake of The Manchurian Candidate, his patchy but exuberant Ricki and the Flash In 2002, I wrote an article about Demme for the New York Times in connection with his loose remake of Charade, The Truth About Charlie a difficult piece because the movie was plainly a dud. It was, however, a generous and overflowing dud, and an excellent prism through which to view the man the Times headline writer called the Happy Hipster of Film. For one thing, Demmes camera was always swerving off the main actors to catch street performers or passersby or people he knew. There seem to be no extras, I wrote, only characters from movies yet to be made Mr. Demme tries to cram in the maximum amount of life per square inch of movie screen. (The Mr. thing is Times style and is reproduced accordingly.) Other faces that show up in Mr. Demmes films are from his vast circle of acquaintances, business associates and creative influences so that watching his movies is like looking through a scrapbook of his life. In The Truth About Charlie, Mr. Demme not only salutes Truffauts Shoot the Piano Player (1960) with an excerpt; he brings in its star, Charles Aznavour, to serenade the lovers. Shoot the Piano Player, he says, was one of the first movies he reviewed for the student newspaper at the University of Florida at Gainesville in 1965, after he flunked out of pre-veterinary chemistry classes. Rather than slink back to Long Island (he was born in Rockville Centre), he stayed in Florida and became a critic so that he could see movies free of charge. I remember the moment when a gangster tailing Aznavour tells a cop, If Im lying may my mother fall dead and Truffaut cuts to the old lady clutching her chest and collapsing on the floor and then goes back to the scene, Mr. Demme recalls. I mean, talk about movie magic! It was my introduction to a whole other dimension of movies. Two years later, while working as a publicist, Mr. Demme had the job of escorting Truffaut around New York while he was promoting his Hitchcockian thriller The Bride Wore Black (1967). At the end of the week Mr. Demme asked Mr. Truffaut to autograph his 1967 book of interviews with Alfred Hitchcock. Youve got to see this, says Mr. Demme. This is so unbelievable. He pulls the well-worn copy off a shelf in his library and opens to the inscription, which reads: Pour John Demme, before his first film, and with mes amities. Francois Truffaut. I said, Um, Francois, Im not interested in making my own movies, and he said, Oh yes you are. Oh, yes he was. After his publicist stint, Demme went to work for exploitation mogul Roger Corman, who let him make Caged Heat, one of the most entertaining films in the depraved women-in-prison subgenre and one of the few to challenge the male viewers voyeurism by making the villain, a prison guard, a voyeur. But his first real Demme film was the ensemble comedy Handle With Care (also called Citizens Band), from a witty script by Paul Brickman that centered on people using CB radios as a way to escape their loneliness and, in some cases, to assume personalities much different than their own. On display was Demmes enthusiasm for what could be snidely called kitsch but more fondly folk culture, and for the ways in which people sought and achieved transcendence through such disreputable (in some circles) means. Demme loved everyone, even the screw-ups and philanderers. It was a film with no real villains. Maybe thats why his stab at a Hitchcock movie, The Last Embrace, was almost as bad as Truffauts The Bride Wore Black. Hitchcocks peculiar brand of determinism which worked jolly well for Hitch hems in more humanistic directors. Demme quickly learned that he was better at exploring relationships than constructing flashy thriller set pieces. But Demme struck gold with Bo Goldmans script for Melvin and Howard, a sympathetic meditation on the American dream of getting rich quick. He found in Howard Hughes (Jason Robards) a grizzled, pathetic figure whose longing for true connection was worthy of myth, and in Melvin Dummar (Paul Le Mat, also in Handle With Care) a man worth believing whether or not what he told was the truth. It should have been the truth! Meanwhile, Mary Steenburgens spirited stripper nearly sashayed off with the movie. But actors running away with movies was what Demme wanted an unusual goal for an auteur. Were there to create the safest possible atmosphere, the most nurturing possible atmosphere, he once told me. You could have all the wonderful shots and cuts and music and what have you, but if it aint happening in the performance, it just aint happening. After spending a few days watching him rehearse his one and only theatrical production, a critically reviled revival of Beth Henleys Family Week (I loved it), I opened my New York article with what I meant as the highest praise: Jonathan Demme began his career in movies as a publicist, and one key to his greatness is that he has never entirely relinquished that role. Forty years later, he is the artist as promoter, the artist as apostle and entrepreneur. The writers he engages, actors he casts, musicians he spotlights, and political figures whose lives he documents, have voices he wants you to hear passionately. His job is to put them in their most brilliant light. He builds families of artists and lets them take center stage, his own art concealed. When unchecked, his teeming multi-culti humanism can seem overindulgent. But set his vision against a darker one and the alchemy begins. When I interviewed him onstage after a screening of A Master Builder, I was curious what he thought of that characterization. I know that if you remove my enthusiasm, he said, Im not sure I have a whole lot left to offer. I kick myself for letting that bit of self-effacement pass. I should have said, Bullshit. In 1984, Demme had his first big-star studio vehicle with Swing Shift, which I wish you could see in its original cut. I wish I could see it again. While writing a profile of Christine Lahti for this magazine in 1987, I was slipped a tape of Swing Shift as it stood before it was yanked from Demme and reshaped at the behest of its star, Goldie Hawn. (She was allegedly upset that she and Kurt Russell werent sufficiently likable and that Lahti was stealing the film. Demme told me he was overjoyed when Lahti was nominated for an Oscar.) In his cut, Swing Shift was a feminist epic that was delightfully light on its feet, one part homage to the Rosie the Riveter era in wartime pop culture, the other an intimate portrait of women reshaping that culture. No, I dont think Demmes cut will ever see the light of day. Maybe, as Donald Trump once said, the Russians could do something Swing Shift was a bad experience (it flopped), but the next project was as good as it gets. Stop Making Sense remains the best of all concert films, both stunningly immediate and gorgeously planned out. Before our eyes, one piece at a time, a band (the Talking Heads and guests) comes together, and the effect is to see it as both a unified (multicultural, utopian) entity and a collection of brilliant individuals. Buy the Blu-Ray and play it as loud as you can on the biggest screen you can find. Demme is so profoundly in tune with David Byrne and the other musicians that you could almost believe the film edited itself that the cuts to individual players are just going with the flow. (In a sense, they are, but to reach that flow is something else.) The movie itself is both a gentle mockery of the (white) American Dream and a celebration of transcendence. But theres beauty in that absurd dream and satire in that notion of transcendence. Stop Making Sense is a postmodern masterpiece. With Stop Making Sense, Demme had found his rhythm. His next fictional film was one of his biggest flops and also one of his best Id rank it, along with Melvin and Howard and Stop Making Sense, as one of the finest American movies of the 80s. Something Wild, from a witty script by E. Max Frye (where is he now?), is a kinky screwball comedy that grows progressively darker, as a New York yuppie (Jeff Daniels) becomes an amused tourist in Middle America and then, gradually, a participant in a grim story of domestic abuse. A few foolish critics complained that the movie became too dark, that it was better when set on the border between funny and creepy. I was one of those fools. Because the last section is perfect as it is. The death of the so-called bad guy is staged and acted in a way thats both a relief and breaks your heart. Maybe Demme listened too hard to us idiots because his next movie, Married to the Mob, stayed funny all the way through and is despite its many felicities a minor work. The big one the most atypical but by far the most famous was Silence of the Lambs. Think about this for a second: a humanist tackling one of the most grotesque serial killer narratives up to that time. But he shows no relish for the Grand Guignol. His tone is mournful he seems as frightened of Hannibal Lecter as his heroine, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster). This is really the story of a gravely damaged young woman who finds the strength to save other young women by whatever means necessary, including accepting a mentor who psychologically rapes her. The larger tension in Silence of the Lambs comes from a director whos trying to find meaning in gruesome material and not always succeeding. However you slice it, its a horror movie. Demme and the novelist Thomas Harris were bound to part ways. In Harriss sequel, Hannibal, Lecter was a co-hero, a vigilante who only killed the rude free-range rude. From my Times article: The Silence of the Lambs made his name in Hollywood, but it is a mark of his ambivalence about its brutality that he was unwilling to sign onto Hannibal (2001), the Grand Guignol circus that was its sequel He speaks of the young F.B.I. agent Clarice Starling (played in Silence by Jodie Foster) the way one might of a family member who has met with a terrible accident. If you can be in love with fictional characters, Im in love with Clarice Starling, he says. And I was really heartbroken to see what became of her during that passage of her life in Hannibal. I have a funny feeling that Tom Harris may feel like our culture has become so corrupt that someone with Clarices qualities is doomed to fall from grace. There was no way I could go along on that journey. Demme was also beginning to pull back from violence onscreen. That exchange of gunfire at the end [of Silence of the Lambs] between Jodie and the killer, Jame Gumb, is clumsy, and blunt, and brutal. It was presented in such a way to make absolutely sure that the audience wouldnt cheer because that gun went off and killed Jame Gumb. The little boy in me can still find pleasure in excitingly presented gunplay in movies, so Im not judging anybody elses use of guns, he says. But its tricky. If guns in our culture are a problem and I think they are is using them so much and making gunplay so entertaining part of that problem? Its certainly not part of the solution. When Demme accepted the Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs, he talked mainly about the crumbling of its studio, Orion Pictures a tremulous speech that was a tad fulsome but nonetheless showed who he was: a man in mourning for the death of a welcoming home for artists. There was another awkward bit of fallout from The Silence of the Lambs: angry gay protests over the transvestite psychopath. Demmes first thought was for the actor, Ted Levine, whose bravery he publicly defended. But he met with activists and took what they said to heart. The AIDS drama Philadelphia, with its explicit plea for tolerance, came after the documentary about Demmes social-activist cousin, Cousin Bobby, and won Tom Hanks his first Oscar. Next came the Toni Morrison adaptation Beloved, which is ripe for reevaluation. Demme believed that Disney pulled the film too quickly from theaters but conceded to me that it had too much of an element of, This is good for you, take your medicine We might have scared people off. After the flop of The Truth About Charlie, Demme took on a clearly thankless task: remaking really, updating John Frankenheimer and George Axelrods brilliant adaptation of Richard Condons The Manchurian Candidate. It was not a critical or commercial success but the film deserved better. It wasnt some meaningless retread. It was made at an especially bleak moment in the Iraq occupation and Manchuria became the Manchurian Corporation, loosely modeled on Halliburton. It was a cry of pain in the face of moral confusion and anger at being misled. It was vital. It was also an ordeal. As he told me: It was such a hassle, the studio and the producers and the oh God I said, enough with the fiction already. Im perfectly happy to do documentaries and performance films. But then he got Jenny Lumets script for Rachel Getting Married and decided to make it in a different way: I finally achieved a zero rehearsal mode! In this story of a young addict (Anne Hathaway) who comes home for her sisters wedding, Demme virtually threw his performers in front of the camera and told them to go for it, and the upshot was messy and alive, hectic but always emotionally focused. Some critics jeered at the films last sequence, a wedding concert that goes on and on. I knew why Demme wanted it, though. He needed the celebratory communal interlude to offset the central story, which was bleak and ragged and unfinished. Demme never stopped working, though some of his dream projects never got made. (I know he wanted a crack at the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and wish hed gotten it.) His theater production didnt work out too well, but he did a bang-up job stepping into the shoes of the late Louis Malle and bringing Andre Gregorys production of A Master Builder to the screen (quickly, for almost no money). His last fictional feature, Ricki and the Flash (from a script by Diablo Cody), didnt really work, but it had its charms. He told me he had a blast making it, with all that music in the studio. As I listened to him, I was reminded what cinematographer Tak Fujimoto told me about the atmosphere on Demmes sets. I asked him whether Demme a believer in the spirit world and in the notion of karma couldnt bear the thought of bad feelings infusing the celluloid. There wouldnt be bad feelings, he responded. It couldnt happen. He would stop shooting. In January, Demme was a guest at the annual New York Film Critics Circle awards dinner, where he presented the directing prize to Barry Jenkins for Moonlight. He fairly bounded onto the stage. He looked healthy. (He had recently finished his Justin Timberlake documentary, which I havent seen but hear is good.) Demme never seemed happier than when praising other directors. In fact, before presenting the award, he reeled off five or so movies that he wished the critics could have honored, too. Jonathan Demme was one of cinemas most contagious enthusiasts. I cant believe Ill never bump into him again in line for a movie and hear about some musician or filmmaker whose work I have to see or hear. I thought hed always be around or in Haiti, which he loved, or documenting a real-life hero or heroine, or traveling with a musician and trying to catch his or her essence on film. His loss is momentous. But Id like to take a page out of his book (and Star Wars) and hope that his benevolent spirit will watch over our movies, more powerful than ever, reminding us that where there is art, there is hope. Uneasy. Thats the feeling photographer Chris Buck used to describe his style, and as the title of a 384-page collection of his portraits that was published in February. Going back three decades, from Jimmy Fallon holding a naked baby, to Billy Bob Thornton urinating on a backdrop, to a listing Joaquin Phoenix on the cover, the books 338 images show celebrities in an unusual and diverse array of poses, something Buck says has developed from having them act out his weird. The title also speaks to the fact that its not easy, he says. Being a celebritys not easy. Doing these shoots is not easy. Being a human being is not easy. And I think that most people can relate to it. Buck has been photographing the famous since the 80s, and his work has been featured in publications like Esquire, GQ, Newsweek, and New York, among others. Hes wanted to put this collection together for ten years, but in 2006 publishers told him his collection had no obvious target audience and wouldnt succeed. Now, backed by a successful Kickstarter campaign, Buck has been able to publish it himself and reframe its narrative into two parts: a retrospective look at 30 years of culture and (in what he considers a fuck you to the publishers) a look at his career. In a way I went in both directions. By subtitling it 19862016, I made it clear that this wasnt just my story. It was about the story of where weve been in the last 30 years. But I made sure to make sure the edit was kind of esoteric and personal and included a lot of niche people that I thought were interesting. In a way, I made it personal and more about me, and I recognize that could actually be more interesting and more rich for the reader. Uneasy also includes a Stories section, featuring 129 short anecdotes corresponding to some of Bucks photos. We asked Buck to select a group of his favorite portraits from Uneasy and share the stories behind them; the details below come from both the book and a recent interview. Paul Giamatti, 2015 Photo: Chris Buck Paul just has that vibe of being a gracious and appreciative person and works to be as normal as possible or whatever But he doesnt particularly like being photographed, and he doesnt like props, Buck said. But in the midst of a GQ shoot where theyd moved from the studio to the streets of Greenwich Village, the magazines photo editor spotted a large balloon in front of a retail store that he thought Paul should pose with. We got the balloon, and we brought it over, and Paul just rolled his eyes like please, please no. So we get to the spot where theres this nice, textured architectural facade and I put down my Apple Box and Im like, Sit down, please. And we hand him the balloon, and hes just in existential pain while hes holding it. I think he literally held it for 10 to 12 seconds and just gave it to his publicist. I just got the shot. Hes such a sweet guy. I felt so bad, but I guess thats just why I do what I do. I felt for him, but I still made him do it. Lena Dunham, 2014 Photo: Chris Buck Lena Dunham arrived promptly for our Guardian Weekend shoot at a Brooklyn studio, and she announced that shed be needing some underwear, Buck writes, describing this photo in Uneasy. As we moved forward with the shots that we could do sans undergarment, there remained some unanswered questions: Would the underwear arrive? When would it arrive? And how might it alter the shoot? He continues by describing Dunham as a gracious person who doesnt match her self-involved reputation. Her genuine embrace of all that is odd and creative made working with her a photographers dream; playful, dirty, and weird everything I look for in a collaborator, he wrote. But did the underwear ever arrive? Nope. Once we got sort of into the thick of the shoot, I think that just stopped being a priority, Buck said. I mean, obviously being Lena Dunham, I think pretty much everyone on set had seen her naked anyways. So it wasnt really a big deal. Donald Trump, 2006 Photo: Chris Buck Although hed seemed distracted, he was cooperative and easy to deal with, Buck wrote, describing his first experience photographing the future POTUS. This, he said, came as a surprise hed always found Trump obnoxious on TV. But his second session with Trump, which produced this shot featured in Uneasy, was quite different. This time the story was a conceptual shot that required additional people in the picture, so I recruited friends of my wifes and mine to be our extras, he wrote. Now, with an audience, Trump came to life; he was charming and funny. Direct and a little bossy to be sure, but always in a relaxed and friendly way. In fact, it was the perfect dynamic he had an audience to play to, but they were my people, so both his and my quips would get laughs. And, if he were asked today, Buck would photograph Trump again. Of course, he said. If I only photographed people I agree with, there would be like ten people in this book. Gene Simmons, 2004 Photo: Chris Buck The first time that I met Gene, we spent the first 20 minutes arguing about what the shots might look like. I was frustrated initially but soon realized that he just enjoyed a good argument, Buck wrote in Uneasy. A KISS fan in his childhood, Buck found Simmons interesting and pitched him for Esquires What Ive Learned column. They loved the idea and suggested that I do the interview with him myself, Buck wrote. I was stunned, but thrilled I called Gene up to ask him if he was interested in the story, and he said, Only if its a cover. At that point, I laid it all on the line: I told him that this was a prestigious spot, and he could take it or leave it. I added that I thought that he was a very smart and interesting guy, so I expected him to give me straightforward, honest answers to my questions not just provocative contradictions, as was his default position. He was on board, and he mostly kept to that promise. William F. Buckley Jr., 2004 Photo: Chris Buck It was with both excitement and intimidation that I approached William F. Buckley Jr.s home in Stamford, Connecticut, Buck wrote in Uneasy. Buckley was welcoming and showed us to the TV/harpsichord room to set up (doesnt every home have one?), and even offered me a smoke after I inquired about the little trays of loose cigarettes around the living room. (My wife smokes, would you like one? he asked, leaning into me and delivering the line with equal amounts of hospitality and sarcasm.) As with any celebrity sitting, we talked while we shot, and as a politics buff, I asked him his take on the neoconservatives and the Iraq War, among other things. He answered my questions, albeit briefly, and after a few minutes he asked, Are we done with the photography then? It was only then that I realized that I was standing there with my camera in my hands and hadnt really been taking any pictures. I mumbled something like, Oh, no, sir, looked down into the viewfinder, and shot a few frames in quick succession. Ike Turner, 2001 Photo: Chris Buck When I shot with [Turner], we initially met by a little stream, Buck said. I was shooting him by the stream and I remember I took my shoes off and was wading through the stream. And he was like, Youre some crazy motherfucker. Im never gonna forget you. I think maybe something about our exchange at that point, he kind of loosened up and relaxed a little bit. And he was joking around, and he pretended he was going to pee in the stream And he just kind of made this gesture with his fist and his thumb like it was his genitals. I think I shot a frame of that, and we kind of laughed. And then we went inside and shot some portraits inside with a photo backdrop. I asked him to do that again, and theres something about taking that out of context that just moved it from being kind of funny and weird to being just weirder and more ambiguous. It just makes the picture intriguing in a way. By isolating it against that backdrop and making it very dark, it makes it curious in a way that I think it wouldnt have been outside. Malcolm Gladwell, 1999 Photo: Chris Buck Buck took this photo right before The Tipping Point was published, and he had no idea that this fellow Canadian would someday be a household name. He was an unknown entity, Buck said. I didnt know who he was. I was told he was a writer for The New Yorker, and that made sense. And that was cool. I just shot him in this frozen tundra of rural Ontario, nearby where he grew up. And we did a bunch of shooting in his childhood home, and then we did some shooting out in this plowed field of crops I loved how other-worldly it felt. Luckily, Malcolm was amenable. I think it was early enough in his public career that he didnt have the wherewithal to say, You know what, I dont want to do this. So he wandered out in the frozen tundra with me for probably 45 minutes until we both got too cold. Buck says this image was a runner-up for the cover of Uneasy. Chris Rock, 1997 Photo: Chris Buck When this photo was taken, Buck didnt think Chris Rock liked him very much. On set, its not that he was unfriendly, Buck said. He was professional and he was there, but he just was not engaged socially. I thought he just didnt like me. However, more than a decade later, he ran into Rock eating with his daughter at a jerk-chicken place in New Jersey. I introduced myself and reminded him that wed shot together three times, Buck wrote in Uneasy. I went back to the van and told the assistants that the food was supposed to be good and that Chris Rock was in there they found this hard to believe (mostly the Chris Rock part). We ended up chatting with Chris for about half an hour, mostly about politics (it was June of 2008). He was funny and relaxed and happy to just hang out with us hed always been standoffish during our photo shoots, but after spending time together at the jerk-chicken shop, Ive come to believe that he just doesnt like having his picture taken. George McGovern, 1996 Photo: Chris Buck This was literally how he looked when I met him, Buck wrote. He was walking off of the beach, and he shook the hands of my assistant and myself. We all went inside, and my assistant and I set up our gear while he showered, shaved, and got ready for the shoot, getting dressed in clothing appropriate for a photo session We did the more traditional session first, and then afterward I said, You looked really great when we first met with you would you be willing to get back into your bathing suit? And he said Oh no, no, no, no, and I said, Well, you know, I wouldnt be using it for the story for Newsweek Itd be more for my general portfolio. And he said, Well, okay, and stepped into the bedroom to put his bathing suit back on. We then set up the gray seamless in the living room of the cottage. It was a lot of fun, and in fact, his grandkids were all around a lot of the poses we got came from them throwing ideas at him. At one point one of them said, Do a Nixon pose! and he did the gesture with the victory sign. Do this, Grandpa! He had the good sense not to do that. But he was a great guy obviously very cool and he looked amazing. Spike Jonze, 1994 Photo: Chris Buck Buck thought it would be exciting to have Jonze write the introduction for Uneasy I thought, hes one of the most powerful, unique voices today, Buck said. Id just be so thrilled to have his name attached to this project. However, thats not what happened. In the stories section of the book, Buck explains what happened. I was thinking maybe a short essay as a preface would be fun, but here is what he sent along instead: Dont ever trust Chris Buck. I was 24, this was the first time I was shot by a professional for a professional magazine. He asked me to take my shirt off, and I didnt want to, but he said, If youre uncomfortable, we dont have to use it. We can try something else. So of course, I was uncomfortable, and we took about a hundred other shots, but this was the one he used. Chris Buck scarred me forever. Additionally, his assistant wrote to us: Spike said hes really OK with the photo being used with that caption if Chris doesnt think the caption is funny, or doesnt want to use it, wed prefer that the photo isnt included in his book. Even now, Buck isnt sure how to feel about the response he got. I read it, and I was kind of upset about it when I read it, he said. Even though I work hard to not really care what people think, Im still a human being and Id prefer they like it than not like it. And its a little upsetting when people really get angry or upset about the picture I take of them. But I dont know. On, like, the third reading of his note, it kind of seemed like hes being funny. I dont know. I feel like, in the end, I think he knows what hes writing is a little absurd and funny, but also hes still actually upset. Chris Farley, 1994 Photo: Chris Buck A couple of months after Chris Farley died, I found myself flipping through the contact sheets of my session with him, Buck writes. I found a setup that, at the time I shot it, I had read as being too serious. I had thought the pictures were unnecessarily dark and moody. Going over them later, I realized this interpretation had been me putting my style onto someone in a way that now felt inappropriate. However, looking at the photos three years after hed taken them, his perspective changed a bit. The narrative of how he spent his last months and days was so different than how he was perceived by me and by most people, Buck said. So that really drew me to go back and look [at the photos]. When I shot it, I just thought it was sort of pretentious and me putting my darkness on him. And thats why I never really did anything with it until he passed away. And learning about how much he struggled and how hard it was for him, that picture just made so much more sense. Starting with a simple portrait of a Mermaids-era Christina Ricci in 1991, Buck has contributed his photos to many issues of New York. Heres a look at the images from our magazine that made it into Uneasy. Archies mom whose name is Mary, but who is played by Molly Ringwald, and who I therefore cannot conceive of as anyone but Molly Ringwald is in town. Its perfect timing for a visit: The Riverdale High homecoming dance is approaching, and did I mention that this particular homecoming dance also happens to be a reunion for alumni of all ages, because sure, why not? Jughead is pleasantly surprised to discover that his dad has neatened up his trailer, which is looking markedly less like an active portal to hell than usual. He even shaved! But Alice Cooper, who is working at the school newspaper despite the fact that she should clearly be banned from Riverdale Highs grounds, isnt buying this Eliza Doolittle act. With Jason Blossoms murder on her mind (is Jason Blossoms murder ever not on everyones minds?), she wants Betty and Veronica, her two-gal Nancy Drew squad, to spy on him. Betty refuses to betray Jughead by investigating his dad. More pressing, shes apparently entirely responsible for planning the homecoming dance, so, catch you later. But Veronica wants to get to the bottom of F.P.s shadiness, to see how her own father who may be released from prison sooner rather than later and his various criminal enterprises fit in with this mess. Cheryl Blossom announces that shes bringing Polly Cooper as her date to the dance, and that the two will campaign to be co-queens of homecoming court as a tribute to Jason. (Has Polly just given up on school, or what? Can the Blossom fortune not cover a tutor for this young woman?) But Polly has other priorities: Shes determined to find out whats hidden in Clifford and Penelope Blossoms forbidden wing of their mansion. Polly cleverly suggests to Cheryl that they swipe some of Penelopes vintage bling from her mothers off-limits bedroom. There the girls stumble on Nana Blossoms ring, which Jason proposed to Polly with. How in the name of sweet, sweet maple syrup did it end up back at Thornhill? Penelope explains it to Polly like this: Just before his death, Jason had washed his hands of the family, then thrown the ring in his fathers face as an act of defiance. Okay! Then Penelope serves Polly a drug-laced milkshake and her would-have-been daughter-in-law passes out cold. Okay! (If Rosemarys Baby taught us anything, it is that pregnant women should not accept mysterious blended beverages from weirdos who are inordinately interested in their unborn children.) The Blossom parents are pleased to hear that Cheryl took it upon herself to flush the ring down the toilet, in case it might somehow connect the family to Jasons murder. But really, their daughter is lying. Shes holding onto that ring. Without consulting Betty, Alice invites Jughead and F.P. over for a pre-homecoming dinner her ulterior motive being that, with F.P. otherwise occupied, his trailer will be wide open for snooping. Archie, worried his best pal will get hurt by his father yet again, agrees to join his recent makeout partner Veronica in some light breaking and entering. Dinner is uncomfortable, with Alice interrogating F.P. about the Southside Serpents and his spotty work history. Well, its uncomfortable until Bettys dad (slash Alices estranged husband) shows up, at which point it becomes wildly uncomfortable. Alice and Hal were homecoming king and queen back in their heyday, we learn from F.P., who remembers hearing the couple have a terrible fight about something that night. Mrs. Cooper instructs him to shut up. Surely thats not another dark secret waiting to be revealed. Archie and Veronica dont find a single incriminating shred of evidence in F.P.s trailer, although they do find another opportunity to make out again. What I am pretty sure is a Big Mouth Billy Bass mounted on the wall goes uncommented upon. As his dad drops him off at the dance, Jughead tells F.P. that he wants to come back home and live with him. Well, good news: F.P. wants that too. He also wants his wife and daughter to be reunited with them in Toledo, where hes lined up work, and where teenagers are seemingly less likely to die under mysterious circumstances. But what about Betty? The homecoming theme is Blast From the Past, which, sadly, does not refer to the 1996 Brendan Fraser/Alicia Silverstone rom-com, though that movie would make an objectively great homecoming theme. Fred enters the dance hand-in-hand with both Hermione and Molly Mary Ringwald, who soon has a run-in with Alice in the ladies room. Mrs. Cooper spills the tea on Freds fling with Marys old frenemy, but the Character Played by an Actress Known As Molly Ringwald who really only came to homecoming to watch Archie perform doesnt seem to mind. Its unclear exactly where Archies moms head is at. Shes still separated from Fred, but she shares a sweet slow dance with him, then tells her son she wants him to live with her in Chicago. (Of course she lives in Chicago, have you never seen a John Hughes movie?) Over on the other side of the tracks, cops surround F.P.s trailer. Sheriff Keller has a search warrant. They tear the place up and come across something that eluded Veronica and Archie: a lockbox that contains a gun. As soon as Betty sees her mother conferring deviously with Archie and Veronica at the dance, she knows somethings up. She confronts her friends about colluding with her mom, then all three have to break the news of this espionage to Jughead, whos furious that theyd think even for a second that his dad could be a murderer. He blames Betty. To think I was going to pass on moving to Toledo with my family for you, he scolds her, a sentence that must sound pretty bizarrely specific to Betty, given that this seems to be the first time shes hearing anything about Toledo. But Jugheads night is about to get much, much worse: His dad has been arrested for the murder of Jason Blossom. Betty heads to Pops in search of her boyfriend, who tearfully fled the dance, but Archie and Veronica are there waiting. They have something big to tell her: Kevin told them that the gun, the very weapon that killed Jason Blossom, was discovered in a closet in the trailer. But #Varchie searched the same closet, and theyre positive there was nothing suspicious inside which means someone must have planted the lockbox after they left. Who framed F.P. Jones? And excuse me, but who won homecoming queen? Is it me? Its me, isnt it? If Luther is the angry black man that, according to a running sketch on Key & Peele, lives inside Barack Obama, Samantha Bee may be the mad-as-hell, Canadian-born white lady that resides within every left-leaning American regularly consuming news about the Trump administration. For that matter, the version of Samantha Bee who appears on TBSs Full Frontal might be the mad-as-hell, Canadian-born white lady who lives inside the actual, more mellow Samantha Bee. As host of the weekly comedy show/savage commentary on current events, Bee is usually fired-up and ready to sound a barbaric WTF about everything from Russian hacking to why Democrats are good at protesting but absolutely terrible at voting. But during an interview with Vulture Thursday morning, from her dressing room backstage at Constitution Hall, the actual Bee was pretty soft-spoken and relaxed. The relaxed part is impressive considering that, on Saturday, shell host the Not the White House Correspondents Dinner, a made-for-television event that, thanks to the diluted nature of this years actual White House Correspondents Dinner, being held that same evening, has become the most talked-about event of what is usually the buzziest weekend in D.C. That buzz is humming at a much lower frequency this year. Considerably fewer celebrities are rolling into town for the festivities, several media outlets have canceled the parties they normally host, and, for the first time in more than three decades, the president will not appear at the dinner. (President Trump announced in February that he would not attend the annual formal, glad-handy event; instead, he will hold a rally that evening in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.) Before Trump bailed, Bee says she and her Full Frontal team sensed there might be a void and started to figure out how they might fill it. On Saturday, they will do so by hosting the TV- and Twitter-ready alternate dinner at D.C.s Constitution Hall, where it will be recorded in the afternoon and air that night at ten on TBS. An uncensored version will stream on Twitter starting at 11 p.m., and proceeds generated will be donated to the Committee to Protect Journalists. As of Thursday morning, the auditorium at Constitution Hall, ordinarily a concert venue and frequent site for high-school graduations, had already been dressed up to look like a bizarro version of the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, where the actual dinner is held, complete with a dais and a floor filled with round tables where guests such as Rachel Bloom, Padma Lakshmi, and, yes, Keegan-Michael Key will sit. (Full disclosure: Vulture is co-hosting the Not the White House Correspondents Dinner after-party that will follow the event.) It may be a weird moment in Washington political history, but its a big moment for Bee, the former Daily Show correspondent who has seized on the higher profile afforded her by Full Frontal to host the biggest WHCD weekend bash of 2017 one she insists will not just be a roast of Donald Trump. Have you been to the actual White House Correspondents Dinner before? Ive only been once. When was that? It was I dont remember the year. Hold on, I can remember because I was pregnant. So let me just go back in time to when I was pregnant: 2008. So right before Obama. Right before Obama. It was Bush. It was Craig Ferguson [who performed that year]. What was your impression of the event? It was an interesting year to go because Im not really a part of that world. We exist in our own world at the show to some extent. It wasnt like I knew anybody. I knew who the correspondents were, the members of the White House press corps. But they didnt know me, we didnt know each other personally, it wasnt really that feeling of warmth and congeniality. It was just me alone, this pregnant lady at a table. So I really observed the whole thing at a complete distance. Also, I wasnt drinking. Everybody around me was sloshed. Everybody gets hammered. Because nobody ever gives journalists free drinks. It was a funny year because all of the work that was getting rewarded at that dinner, they were all pieces about what a terrible president George Bush was. They were about the Iraq War and WMDs, so the material was very challenging and well done. But then they all had to go onstage and take a photo with him. Everybodys smiling in the photos and holding a plaque for the piece that they wrote that just slaughtered him. So that was the first time I really familiarized myself with that, and it felt really awkward. But it was fun. It was very industry. It wasnt my type of event. I dont begrudge the White House Correspondents Dinner. I think people have a good time. They certainly raise money for a very worthy charity and thats great. When we set out to do our event, I think, mistakenly, everybody thought that we were intending to kill the original event. And our event has nothing to do with it, really. Were borrowing from it on some level, but we just thought that it wouldnt exist. We thought that it might not happen this year because of all the acrimony. That was a fair assumption to make right after the election. Yeah, we conceptualized this event going back to November, really, as just something that would bring us joy and happiness. We knew we wanted to have a great, big party. I think I 85 percent believed that the dinner would not happen. I just thought it would get canceled. So we thought we would definitely have a dinner. As it turns out the dinner is going on as planned, and thats fine. So you guys announced in January that you were going to do this. Yes, but we had been planning and thinking about it for months. Right, and that was before the president announced he wasnt coming to the actual dinner and a lot of the parties surrounding it started to get canceled. We originally thought of it because at the time, in November, Newt Gingrich was talking about the fact he was publicly stating that he thought the White House press corps was an anachronism and that Donald Trump would probably dissolve it, just get rid of it completely. And that really inspired us to do this. How much of this is going to be riffing on the dinner versus doing something totally different from the dinner? It will be different from the dinner. Were just nodding to it because obviously, we have to. But we will do something different with it. Of that I can assure you. Can you say what will be different? No, I cant. Not a word? No, because I love to just watch things that I dont know anything about. I dont want to spoil it. Youll be here. Youll see. I think a lot of people assume this is going to be an anti-Trump roast. Is that a fair way to characterize it? No, I actually dont think its a fair way to characterize it. Our show obviously takes a position. Anyone can see it from week to week, so that is out there for anyone to behold. But this really is, for us, a celebration of the journalism that makes our show possible. So we are just here to celebrate the freedom of the press, for as long as we have it. Hopefully well have it forever. [Laughs.] I am sure you consider yourself to be an entertainer first. But how much do you also consider yourself to be an informer and journalist? I dont consider myself to be a journalist. But we rely on the work of journalists. We have journalists working at our offices. We poached a lot of really great journalists to work in our midst. Really, without them we couldnt create satire. We couldnt do this show. We are absolutely reliant on them. We are vampires sucking the life force out of all of those great journalists. Are there a lot of journalists coming to this event? Do you have a sense of that? You know, some are. We invited a lot of journalists. Certainly, some people felt like they couldnt come to an event like this, which we completely understand. Our event is on television. That doesnt prevent anyone from watching it. But well talk about them and thank them whether theyre here or not. But if they come, thats great. Do you imagine this becoming a regular event? No. This is a one-and-done? I do feel that its one-and-done.You know, its devastating to your personal life to put on an event like this, but I think its fun to reinvent these big events from year to year. Id love to do something else thats big and splashy, just maybe not this exact thing again. Just because its so much work? And why do the same thing twice? Why not do something different next? I read the interview you did with Lena Dunham for The Hollywood Reporter, in which you said you had not looked at your Twitter mentions since Election Night. Ive looked at them. Very, very seldom. Its not healthy to do that. Its not good. So there was a huge distinction between what you were seeing in your mentions preelection versus after? To the moment that they called the election, the moment, my mentions changed completely. There was a shift its B.C. and A.D. Like, its just there. In the moment, it was just a tsunami of hatred from all of these different people. It was crazy. It was very affecting. It surprised me. Like at 10 p.m. it happened, and it was just a big shift. What kinds of things were people saying? You know, people say the worst things. Really, whatever you could imagine and more. Rubbing your face in it that Clinton had lost. Oh my God, but also just, like a photograph of me hanging from a tree. Anyone whos in the public eye Im sure youre accustomed to it, too. You just get the worst stuff humanly possible. The tone got more violent. The tone got more aggressive. But also the volume increased exponentially. Tzvia [Bees assistant] took away my password. Literally, it was so depressing for three days I could not stop looking at it. And then it was so noticeable that I was in such a dark place that everyone took away my password. I had to be treated like a toddler for two weeks, and then everythings fine now and I manage it myself and I dont dip into it. Occasionally, Ill go: Whats going on? And then Ill look and I get right off. Its sad, really, because people are trying to communicate with you who have something to say, and the vast majority are probably lovely people who just want to say hi. I really miss that direct connection. But you really have to protect yourself, mentally. I would think youd also have quite a few people saying, youre my life raft right now and I really appreciate what youre doing. Definitely. And I think thats why I occasionally turn it on, just to go: oh right, people watch the show. Im really not tuned into press about the show. I try to just completely stay out of it. So occasionally, I need to drop in just to see that people are receiving it. But for the most part its not a good thing. Do you worry that if you looked at it too much, it would start to affect your approach to the show? No, not at all. It wouldnt affect my approach to the show. It just affects me personally. I dont know that I need that kind of negativity seeping in because it can erode you. Its not that it erodes your confidence, but it just erodes your Morale. Which I dont who needs that? I dont need that. What has been the most surprising thing, to you, that has happened since Trumps presidency began? Can you even pick one thing? I cant even pick one thing, but I will say the speed at which things were happening for a long period of time. That was very surprising to me. That was very surprising to me. Im really just getting a sense right now that hes trying to figure out what are the toys at his disposal. Hes really figuring it out in real time. I dont think thats a good thing. So the degree to which he really had no idea what he was getting into was surprising. It doesnt surprise me that he had no idea what he was getting into. It surprised me that someone who had almost no knowledge of what the job required would endeavor to do things as quickly as he did. Its hard to focus on one thing that drives you the most crazy, but if I could, I would say the sense of, Look at whats happening. Why isnt someone stopping this? Obviously I get that theres a Republican-controlled Congress. But theres still a feeling of: When are Mom and Dad going to show up and stop whats happening? I know. I feel like what youre doing feeds into that feeling and that inner voice a lot of people hear when they look at the news. Yeah, Mom and Dad they left. Theyre on a world tour. Theyre with Richard Branson. Yeah. Theyre taking a hot-air balloon ride for the next four years, all around the world. Theyre not coming back. No ones going to save us. We have to save ourselves. Do you think we can save ourselves? I dont know! I hope so. Im looking to you for answers! [Laughing.] I dont have them. Im feeling all the same things you do. I really do. I wish I knew what was coming. Its funny, Obama, people knew they were going to miss him, but now Well, now you hear his voice and you think, Oh, remember when we had a president who knew things? When he spoke earlier this week It was so bittersweet. We had it on in our office. We had our TVs on and I felt, just for one brief moment, that he was still president. We all tried to believe it was true. You give yourself permission to think you have a regular president for ten minutes. How have you tried to keep perspective and keep your stress levels low while covering everything thats happening? None of us are really good at it, actually. It is something we talk about often at the office because when you are completely immersed in the infostream like this, as Im sure you are, too, its really draining. I mean, talk about low morale. Self-cares important. I have not mastered it. I try to turn my phone off sometimes but it doesnt really work. I dont know. Im not good at it. Are you good at it? What do you do? Ill take your suggestions. I dont have any. My husband will be like, stop looking at social media. Probably some of this is a rationalization but I say, But I have to for work. Its my job. Its Saturday at three in the afternoon. I kind of dont have to. I could probably go outside. Do you have concerns about things getting normalized too quickly? I do! Of course! Do you feel that thats already started to happen? I think just a little bit its starting to happen. I think its actually not great that the weathers getting nice. Fatigue can really seep in when the blossoms are on the trees and you just want to go and get an ice cream. Which I completely understand, but we are endeavoring to remain hysterical about as many things as we can. [Laughs.] Hopefully people will stay motivated. What was your reaction when Trump announced that hes having a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday night, at the same time as the Correspondents Dinner and the telecast of your show? Oh, its not surprising. I dont care. He can certainly do whatever he wants to do. I wish he was doing his job instead of having rallies. It really doesnt affect us at all. It doesnt affect the other dinner. It just is what it is. Nothing surprises me anymore. Ive lost my capacity to be shocked. That decision reminded me of something, and it took me a while to figure it out. Then I realized it was something Junie B. does in the Junie B. Jones books. I dont know if you ever read those to your kids? I did. I love those books. Okay. This boy, Jim, has a birthday party and doesnt invite Junie B., so she decides to throw her own party on the same day even though its not her birthday. Its what was the show on HBO? Yes! Its Big Little Lies! Taking everyone to see Frozen on Ice during someone elses birthday party. Its also that! Its not like our audience doesnt care if he has a rally. His audience doesnt care if we have a dinner. It really doesnt matter. Im sure hell have the biggest crowd that has ever existed in all of humanity, wherever he is in Pennsylvania. This interview has been edited and condensed. By Ananth Krishnan: A senior Chinese diplomat in Pakistan who adopted the name 'Muhammad' on his Twitter profile has appeared to drop the name days after authorities in China issued an order banning several Islamic names. Zhao Lijian, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, was widely known on social media for adopting the name "Muhammad" on his Twitter profile, which until recently showed his name as 'Muhammad Lijian Zhao'. On Friday, his profile merely read 'Lijian Zhao'. advertisement Zhao's account was this week verified by Twitter, which may have prompted the diplomat to use his legal name to acquire verification. Yet the timing of the move caught the attention of Pakistani social media users, who noticed the changed name just as Beijing outlined a new policy in its western Xinjiang region, banning 29 Islamic names that officials said was aimed at stopping the spread of extremism. It is a common practice for Chinese in foreign countries to adopt a local name as a sign of both localising and expressing solidarity. But in Zhao's case, his choice of name given its religious meaning particularly resonated among many Pakistanis, and the diplomat enjoys wide following on social media. He has more than 2 lakh Twitter followers and uses his account to often address concerns on Chinese investments in Pakistan, especially through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) plan. Picture: Twitter Picture: Twitter Earlier this month, authorities in China's western Xinjiang province were reported as banning 29 Islamic names, including 'Muhammad'. Other banned names were 'Islam', 'Jihad', 'Hajj', 'Azhar', 'Saddam' and 'Wahhab'. Local officials were quoted as saying names with a 'religious background' were banned. While many of these names have not historically common among Uighurs, an ethnic Turkic Muslim group native to Xinjiang, Chinese officials say they have seen an increasing influence of the practice of Sunni Islam as practised in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in Xinjiang. Uighurs have followed their own Turkish-influenced names. For example, Mehmet, a version of Muhammad, is widely popular, and will not likely be banned, reported the Associated Press. To curb what Chinese officials say is spreading 'extremist' thought, authorities have recently also carried out campaigns to ban veils in parts of southern Xinjiang. Also Read: Islam, Quran, Saddam, Jihad, Medina... China bans dozens of Muslim baby names China slams 'obstinate' India, says Dalai Lama's Arunachal visit will 'escalate' border tensions Also Watch: China shouldn't interfere in India's internal matters: Rijiju on Dalai Lama's Arunachal visit --- ENDS --- Emma Watson in The Circle. Photo: EuropaCorp Most of The Circle plays ridiculously, thank God: If in ten years we look back on it and think, Yep, they got it right, well really be screwed. Well probably still think the movie isnt very good, though. Its named for a powerful tech company Facebook with aspects of Apple and maybe Google. But think Facebook because its hook is community and its principal product a social interface app called TruYou. Emma Watson plays Mae, a young, ingenuous woman who lands a low-level but much-coveted job and gazes in wonder at the sunny, invasively social employees on its rolling grounds outside San Francisco. Theyre like chirpy little Stepford Techies with camera phones trained on everyone else. Dave Eggers adapted his novel along with the director, James Ponsoldt, who did a good job with The Spectacular Now. The tone of that was all of a piece, whereas The Circle is a tonal mess: part satire, part moralistic melodrama. Some of it is broadly acted, some of it subtle, much of it overheated. It has great moments, though. It hits its peak early on with the first appearance of Tom Hanks as Eamon Bailey, the Mark Zuckerberg/Steve Jobslike guru who walks out on a nearly bare stage and puts on a show that Mae watches with shining eyes. Really I wondered if the filmmakers put gel in them to make them shine so brightly. The theme of The Circle is transparency versus privacy. Onstage, Bailey explains that privacy is the enemy, that keeping tabs on everyone will mean dictators cant violate human rights and children will be protected from molesters. (The plan, we learn, is to embed sensors in kids bones.) He considers keeping secrets a form of lying. He says, Knowing is good, but knowing everything is better. His employees go wild. Which raises at least two questions, the first is whether thats a trade-off worth making most people would say no, even as they give away more and more information in exchange for convenience. The second is whether Bailey is philosophically sincere or another power-mad monopolist in social-reformers clothing. The best thing about Hankss performance is that he plays up the sincerity. And hes Tom Hanks, father of us all we want to trust him. If Bailey is acting, hes the best actor on earth. Of course, in the wings he has a somewhat stereotypical publicity-oriented partner, Tom Stenton, played by Patton Oswalt. But hey, even Mother Teresa needed PR. Maybe Stenton is a necessary evil. Maybe not. Does the company have to keeps tabs on everything Mae does her comings, goings, hobbies, even a social rating by peers? She has another watcher: John Boyega as Ty, the inventor of TruYou, who roams the buildings like the Phantom of the Circle dropping moral and ethical judgments and reminding Mae that the companys power is growing and remains unchecked. Poor Mae is swayed by him. Shes so torn she goes kayaking in San Francisco Bay in the middle of the damn night and, in a poorly staged scene (its pretty clear shes in a tank), nearly drowns. Shes rescued, wouldnt you know, with the help of the Circles new, omnipresent surveillance system, SeeChange. The rescue footage goes viral and Mae is a star. She also becomes a company spokesperson. Quickly too quickly, scenes must have been cut Mae becomes the Circles most flamboyant proselytizer, pushing for less privacy, more surveillance. So The Circle turns into a corruption story, with one nice character sacrificed in a sequence that makes the movie go off the rails literally and figuratively. The question hangs: Will Mae be uncorrupted? Eggerss book goes one way, the movie the exact opposite though the ending here is confusing and smacks of desperation, with Hankss last line a sop to the audience and a coda that seems to undo what came before. (Is it meant to be ironic? Probably. Who cares?) Watson, meanwhile, is giving her features quite the workout. Shes very likable (the camera adores her), but she acts so hard that she gets tiresome. The movie isnt as bad as some of the early reviews have suggested. (It was kept from critics until its opening at the Tribeca Film Festival, a madhouse with appearances by the director and stars.) Its in the honorable tradition of the Elia KazanBudd Schulberg morality play A Face in the Crowd. But it pales beside the terrifically scary (and depressing) British TV series Black Mirror, which finds more imaginative ways to portray our happy surrender to technology. On a sad note, the late Bill Paxton plays Maes father, who has MS, and it hurts to watch him so enfeebled, even if hes only acting. Were already reeling from another premature death this week: Jonathan Demme. Welcome to What a Shitty Year: The Sequel. As played by Anthony Atamanuik in Comedy Centrals new, satirical late-night show, The President Show, Donald Trump is mostly interested in listing whos nice and who isnt. Hes like Santa that way, except instead of delivering presents to small children, hes mostly interested in going after the German people for booing Ivanka. Expect Trump to weigh in on the parody on Twitter, furious that Atamanuik has listed his chowder preferences incorrectly. Laurie Metcalf and Condola Rashad in A Dolls House, Part 2. Photo: Brigitte Lacombe Naturally it begins with a knock on the door. How else could a play called A Dolls House, Part 2 start, when Part 1, the 1879 Ibsen classic, ended with that same door slamming? In the original, Nora Helmer, wife and mother and mischievous little squirrel, leaves her family (and shocks the world) in hopes of remaking herself as a coherent person outside the strangling orthodoxies of church, law, and men. In Lucas Hnaths thrilling imaginary sequel, opening tonight on Broadway, she has achieved just that. She returns to her home, 15 years after escaping it, a wealthy author whose books, written under a pseudonym, urge what we might now call free love, or at any rate the abolition of marriage. The only problem, as we soon learn, is that she herself remains married. The divorce that husband Torvald was supposed to procure was not, for some reason, procured. As such, all contracts and investments she has made in the interim are void; Norwegian law at the time did not allow a married woman to transact business. Unless she can get Torvald to do the right thing, she is now worse off than the doll she once was: Shes a nonentity. And possibly a criminal one. Ah, but what is the right thing? As directed by the inerrant Sam Gold, Hnaths play is at its core a public forum on questions of marriage that still bedevil us. Is wedlock ownership? May one love only once? How can people expect to stay together when they are always, individually, changing? Even as you are sucked into the pleasures of the drama that fleshes out these questions, the physical production locks you into a larger framework. Thus Miriam Buethers spare set, though it adequately sketches the hall of the Helmer home, functions largely as a kind of dais from which Nora especially but also Torvald, their daughter, Emmy, and Emmys old nanny Anne Marie expound one side or another of the debate. Sometimes they even come downstage onto a built-out thrust and declaim as if in a presidential town meeting. Projected titles between scenes act as bullet points, pulling you briefly out of the action and reminding you of the agenda. Not that the 90 intermissionless minutes pass didactically. Though he is deeply interested in argument his marvelous play The Christians was mostly a dispute about faith Hnath provides enough ingenious structure to allow A Dolls House, Part 2 to function quite smoothly as an often hilarious puzzle drama. Each move made by one of the characters boxes the others into a different corner, so while you are thinking about what marriage means today you are also thinking about how Nora (Laurie Metcalf) will get what she wants without ruining Torvald (Chris Cooper), alienating Anne Marie (Jayne Houdyshell), or crushing Emmy (Condola Rashad) as she plans her own marriage. Still, unlike other classic sequels, including the 1982 musical A Dolls Life, which also imagined Nora after the door slam, Hnaths play does not steal most of its energy from the original. For one thing, though the costumes (by David Zinn) are period, the language he assigns to the characters is contemporary, the anachronism being a major source of humor. (Oh well, shit, Nora, shit! cries Anne Marie.) Especially in the mouth of Emmy, herself Nora-like in her squirrely intelligence, the self-assured yet up-speak cadences demonstrate that the issues a smart, well-off 19-year-old girl faced then are closer to the ones she would still face today than we might like to think. Rashads witty performance drives that home; shed make a great Elle Woods, including the Harvard law degree. And if Cooper, whose role as the unwoke Conventional Man is naturally the hardest to theatricalize, does not quite shine until the end, he provides excellent support throughout (which is more than Torvald did). But its Metcalf and Houdyshell who are giving the master class here, never more so than in their tete-a-tete scenes of mutual passive-aggression. So many lines that in the script seem to barely convey information, or are indicated by nothing but three cryptic dots, play between them as full-throated drama; you may wonder whether they are making up a play on top of Hnaths. But no, its just extraordinarily detailed, in-the-moment acting. Houdyshells version is less varnished, as befits a character whose life choices were not even as varied as Noras; she gave up raising her only child when she was hired to nanny Nora herself. Metcalf is a wonder of swaggering alertness, alive not only to the actors around her but also to her own performance. You can actually see her hearing what shes saying, and adjusting as she goes along. This self-awareness is properly Noras, and Metcalfs skill allows a character who starts out as a brilliant playwriting notion to turn very deeply moving, as she finally begins, not for the first time, to see the consequences of her own failings, not just her husbands. I have suppressed the impulse to interrogate the logic of the story too carefully; though it makes an unusually strong case for the road it takes, surely there are potholes. But this is not the point. Hnath is not using the preexisting characters and their backstory (let alone the real woman a friend on whom Ibsen based the tale) as ways of avoiding having to create something original; rather, they are springboards to something very new indeed. The march of progress, halting as it is, has allowed a male playwright in 2017 to write a work that the inhabitants of A Dolls House (Part 1) in 1879 could never have imagined: a great feminist comedy. By that I mean a stand-alone work that glories in the self-interest and correctability of all women and all men. A Dolls House, Part 2 is at the Golden Theatre through July 23. * * * This is my last column as the theater critic for New York Magazine and Vulture. How nice that I get to end my tenure, after some 435 reviews, with exactly the kind of play I have most enjoyed seeing and writing about. Theater serves many functions (for those who can afford it): to educate, to uplift, to remind, to console. The occasional mindless distraction, short of Jekyll & Hyde, is also welcome. But the best works, though they may be divisive, unite, if not in opinion then in shared experience. I sometimes feel when I take my seat at the theater that I am strapping into the gondola of a sideshow loop-de-loop with a thousand, or a hundred, or just ten of my temporary earthly neighbors. We scream together, sometimes pant from laughing, occasionally cry in proximity. Thanks, neighbors, for sharing the ride. The following movies are showing at first-run theaters Regal Jewel 16 (RJ16), Starplex Galaxy 16 (SG16) and the Waco Hippodrome (WH). Letter grades for movies are from advance reviews; an NR means a movie was not reviewed. New in theaters NR THE CIRCLE Emma Watson finds unexpected complications when, at the urging of social media mogul Tom Hanks, she tries to live totally observed on the Internet. Rated PG-13. Brief strong profanity, a sexual situation, thematic elements including drug use. RJ16, SG16. NR HOW TO BE A LATIN LOVER A gigolo (Eugenio Derbez) forced to live with his sister and her young son tries to find a new patron. Rated PG-13. Crude humor, sexual references and gestures, brief nudity. 1 hour, 55 minutes. SG16. B+ THE LOST CITY OF Z Engrossing adventure about a British explorer (Charlie Hunnam) who becomes consumed with his quest to find a vanished civilization in the Amazon jungle. Rated PG-13. Brief strong profanity, some nudity, disturbing images, violence. 2 hours, 20 minutes. SG16. Also showing B BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Rich visuals and capable acting highlight an expanded, live-action version of the classic 1991 Disney animated feature. Rated PG. Frightening images, some action violence. 2 hours, 9 minutes. RJ16, SG16. B BORN IN CHINA Disneynature Chinese-based documentary. Rated G. Non-graphic scenes of animals fighting. 1 hour, 19 minutes. SG16. B THE BOSS BABY Credible sibling relationship/rivalry between a seven-year-old (Miles Bakshi) and a management baby (Alec Baldwin) sent from heaven proves the key in this family animation. Rated PG. Mild rude humor. 1 hour, 37 minutes. RJ16, SG16. C+ THE CASE FOR CHRIST Journalist Lee Strobel, now a Houston Baptist University professor, tells of how his investigation of Christianity turned him to personal belief. Rated PG.Thematic elements including a medical description of crucifixion, incidental smoking. 1 hour, 52 minutes. RJ16, SG16. C+ THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS Latest in the Fast and Furious series. 2 hours, 16 minutes. SG16, RJ16, WH. B GET OUT Jordan Peele (Key and Peele) shifts from comedy to horror with telling effect with a young black man finding something sinister in a weekend visit to his white girlfriends family. Rated R. Profanity including sexual references, bloody images, violence. 1 hour, 43 minutes. RJ16, SG16. C GIFTED Flat, disappointingly contrived drama about a custody fight between mother (Lindsay Duncan) and son (Chris Evans) over the brilliant niece (Mckenna Grace) that hes been raising. Rated PG-13. Profanity, some suggestive material, thematic elements. RJ16. C+ GOING IN STYLE Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin and Michael Caine make enjoyable watching in an otherwise routine tale of a senior trio attempting a bank robbery. Rated PG-13. Profanity, some suggestive material, drug reference. 1 hour, 36 minutes. SG16, RJ16. C+ KONG: SKULL ISLAND New King Kong installment moves action to 1973 with the Vietnam War as backdrop. 1 hour, 58 minutes. SG16. C LIFE Astronauts to Mars bring back mutating lethal life form in Alien-like story thats more tense than terrifying. Rated R. Profanity, some sexuality, nudity. 1 hour, 43 minutes. RJ16, SG16. NR PHOENIX FORGOTTEN Teens investigating mysterious lights over Phoenix, Arizona, disappear after going into the desert. Rated PG-13. Some profanity, terror and peril. 1 hour, 27 minutes. RJ16, SG16. C- POWER RANGERS Uneven film adaptation of the cheesy Japanese action series starring superpowered teens loses steam when it cant decide whether to go serious or campy and tries both. Rated PG-13. Profanity, some crude humor, sci-fi violence and action. 2 hours, 4 minutes. RJ16. C THE PROMISE A romantic triangle set amid the Armenian Genocide of the early 20th century draws attention to it, but fails to live up to its ambitious scale. Rated PG-13. Some sexuality, thematic material including war atrocities, disturbing images, violence. 2 hours, 14 minutes. SG16, RJ16. C- THE SHACK Adaptation of William Paul Youngs best-selling novel. 2 hours, 12 minutes. RJ16. D SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE Undiscriminating children will go for this brightly colored, forgettable story of Smurfettes search for identity. Rated PG. Rude humor, mild action. 1 hour, 30 minutes. SG16, RJ16. C UNFORGETTABLE Pretty forgettable drama with Katherine Heigl as a vengeful ex-wife out to drive her former husbands fiancee (Rosario Dawson) crazy. Rated R. Strong profanity, sexual situations, brief partial nudity, violence. 1 hour, 40 minutes. SG16, RJ16. Special screenings MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN Friday-Sunday. WH. THE OUTSIDERS 3:35 p.m. Saturday. WH. TED 2017 HIGHLIGHTS Recap of the weeklong TED Conference in Vancouver, B.C., created to stimulate ideas in technology, education and design. 3 p.m. Sunday. RJ16. JAWS Monday-Wednesday. WH. JONAH: ON STAGE! Lancaster, Pennsylvanias Sight & Sound Theatre production of the Biblical story of Jonah. 7 p.m. Tuesday. 1 hour, 50 minutes. RJ16. AMERICAN WRESTLER: THE WIZARD An outsider to a small town tries to earn acceptance through his schools wrestling team. 4 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. SG16. I AM HEATH LEDGER Documentary on the life of actor Heath Ledger with interviews with his family and friends. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. RJ16. TOY STORY Classic 1995 animated feature. Screened at dusk Thursday at the Magnolia Market at the Silos. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will address tribals in a rally in Dediapada village of Gujarat's Narmada district on May 1. The rally will be part of the party's ongoing 'Adivasi Adhikar Abhiyan'. By Supriya Bhardwaj: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will address tribals in a rally in Gujarat's Narmada district on May 1. He will visit the tribal village of Dediapada and address a rally there, according to sources. The rally will be part of the party's ongoing 'Adivasi Adhikar Abhiyan'. The other campaign that the party is running in Gujarat is the one backing fishermen. advertisement WOOING FISHERMEN, TRIBALS PART OF CONGRESS' CAMPAIGN According to sources, the two campaigns are expected to boost the party's chances of a good show in assembly polls. "Ashok Gehlot, general secretary in-charge of Gujarat, met Rahul Gandhi to discuss the election campaign plan. Rahul has now agreed to address the rally on May 1. He will discuss the issues being faced by the tribals there," said a senior party leader from Gujarat. Another reason why the Gujarat Congress unit wanted Rahul to address the rally on May 1 is because it is Gujarat Day too. Also read | Day after Rahul Gandhi's emergency northeast meet, four Congress MLAs join BJP in Manipur Also read | MCD election loss: Rahul Gandhi rejects Ajay Maken, PC Chacko's resignations, says 'they did a good job' --- ENDS --- The McLennan County Young Lawyers Association recently honored two participating attorneys who consistently demonstrate a commitment to performing pro bono legal service to the community with Outstanding Pro Bono Advocate Awards. One of the award recipients is selected from the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association membership, and the other recipient is selected from the membership of the Waco-McLennan County Young Lawyers Association. The 2016 Outstanding Pro Bono Advocate Award winner from the bar membership is Michael Bourland of Witt McGregor & Bourland PLLC. The 2016 Outstanding Pro Bono Advocate Award winner from the young lawyers is Marcy Winter Wilkins of Beard Kultgen Brophy Bostwick & Dickson LLP. The awards were presented by Josh Borderud, the immediate past president of the Waco-McLennan County Young Lawyers Association, at the associations luncheon in April. Two of Chip Gaines former partners in Magnolia Realty claim that the star of HGTVs wildly popular Fixer Upper show defrauded them by withholding information about his impending fame and forcing them to accept cheap buyouts to leave him sole owner of the company and Magnolia name. In a suit filed Thursday in Wacos 170th State District Court, Waco attorneys John L. Lewis and Richard L. Clark say they are seeking more than $1 million. The suit names as defendants Chip Gaines; Magnolia Realty; Scripps Networks, the company that owns HGTV; and High Noon Productions, the company that produces Fixer Upper. Attorney Jordan Mayfield, a Waco attorney who is representing Chip Gaines with attorney Robert Little, said the claims are meritless. We just received a copy of the petition and havent had a chance to study it in detail, Mayfield said. But we are generally aware of the story that Mr. Lewis and Mr. Clark are telling. We are confident that these claims will be found to be meritless, and it is disappointing to see people try to take advantage of the hard work and success of Chip and Joanna Gaines. The lawsuit asserts claims of conspiracy liability, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud by nondisclosure and statutory fraud, and accuses Gaines essentially of insider trading, or having knowledge and withholding information from his partners that affected the financial well-being of the business. In summary, at a time when only the defendants knew that Fixer Upper had been fast-tracked for a one-hour premiere on HGTV and was on the verge of radically changing their lives and business enterprises, Chip Gaines conspired to eliminate his business partners notwithstanding their longstanding friendship in order to ensure that he alone would profit from Magnolia Realtys association with Fixer Upper, according to the lawsuit, filed on behalf of Lewis and Clark by Waco attorney David Tekell. With this insider information in hand, Chip Gaines convinced plaintiffs to sell their membership interests in Magnolia Realty quickly to him before a public announcement that Fixer Upper was picked up by HGTV, the suit contends. Lewis and Gaines met in 1999 when Gaines was referred to Lewis for legal work by a Baylor University business professor. During the next few years, Lewis performed legal services for free for Gaines, who reciprocated by providing free repairs to Lewis home. They became friends, and their families became friends, the lawsuit states. They frequently ate lunch together and went on hunting trips. In 2006, they talked about the possibility of going into business together, discussing a venture that would provide property management services. That idea evolved into plans to form a real estate brokerage firm, and the pair brought in Clark, a friend of Lewis who also was a licensed real estate broker. After the trio started Magnolia Realty Co., Gaines and Clark also became friends, the suit states. The company never really took off and employed just one real estate agent. However, after that the Gaineses built the Magnolia name into an empire using Fixer Upper as a national catalyst, and Magnolia Realty is now a major real estate company, operating in Waco, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Temple, Belton and Killeen, with an army of over 93 real estate agents, the suit contends. Consolidating the business The lawsuit claims that Gaines and officials from Scripps and High Noon decided to fast-track the Fixer Upper show and sought to consolidate the Gaineses ownership of Magnolia-related businesses. After the meeting, Gaines contacted Lewis and Clark about buying out their two-thirds ownership interest in Magnolia Realty. On April 26, 2013, when Chip Gaines initiated the buyout discussion with John Lewis, Chip Gaines knew that Magnolia Realty was about to receive nationwide advertising through HGTVs airing of Fixer Upper, the suit alleges. Two days later, Gaines sent an email to Lewis that said, Id be scared to see how this would work if it (Magnolia Realty) was worth something. . . . The only thing I have to have is Magnolia when the dust clears. Doug Eastland, a Magnolia Realty employee, wrote to Clark on May 1, 2013, that the transfer of ownership had to be completed by May 6, 2013, the suit contends. Gaines paid Clark and Lewis $2,500 each for their collective share of the business, and two days later, Gaines publicly announced that his show was picked up to be broadcast across the nation on HGTV, according to the lawsuit. In an email, Gaines said the decision to air Fixer Upper had been made three weeks earlier, Lewis and Clark claim in the lawsuit. The suit alleges that the Gaineses had plans to build the Magnolia name into an empire, along the same lines as the Olsen twins, Martha Stewart and the Kardashians. While Chip fully intended to monetize the Magnolia Realty name, the thought of sharing with his business partners any benefits that flowed from Fixer Upper was apparently repulsive to him, the suit states. As has become clear, Chip regarded his business partners longstanding friends as an impediment because they owned two-thirds of Magnolia Realty. Simply put, Chip wanted the entire pie for himself. Sharing the Magnolia name with anyone else was unacceptable. As the negotiations for the buyout proceeded, Clark balked at the plan, and Gaines said if they refused to sell their interests to him, he would start a competing real estate company and take Eastland, their only employee, with him, the suit claims. Later, Gaines texted Lewis, You better tell Rick to be careful. I dont come from the nerdy prep school hes from. And when people talk to me that way they get their asses kicked. And if hes not ready to do that he better shut his mouth. Im not the toughest guy there is, but I can assure you that would not end well for Rick, according to the lawsuit. Tekell also represented the owner of a downtown vacant lot adjacent to the Gaineses Magnolia Market at the Silos who sued Chip Gaines last year after Gaines blocked off access to an alley between their properties. The owner was charging people to park on his lot, and the Gaineses didnt want their customers thinking they were charging people to park, Little said at the time. That suit has since been resolved, and the Gaineses have since bought that land from the owner. The lawsuit is in the process of being dismissed, Tekell said. Joyce Marie Coffee Oct. 31, 1935 - April 25, 2017 Joyce Marie Clem Coffee, 81, of Waco, passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Services will be 1 p.m., Saturday, April 29, at OakCrest Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Rosemound Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, at OakCrest. Joyce was born October 31, 1935 in Denver, Colorado, to Juanita Wiesman Clem and Marshall Adrian Clem. Joyce was the youngest of 13 children. She married Rev. Lloyd D. Coffee Sr. in 1952. They met when he was in the Air Force. The two were married 57 years. Joyce often said, "I felt l was in the military too." Her husband became a Baptist Minister after the military. She was a constant servant of the Lord. Her life's mission was to spread the word of the Lord to everyone she met. Joyce had a calm and gentle demeanor. Everyone she came in contact with always said she was the sweetest Christian they knew. She was preceded in death by all of her brothers and sisters; husband, Rev. Lloyd D. Coffee, Sr.; son, Lloyd D. Coffee, Jr.; daughter, Brenda Coffee Harwell; and grandson, Clinton Wiley Kennon. She is survived by daughter, Debbie Coffee Kennon of Waco; grandchildren, Nancy Coffey and husband, Robert, of Waco, Christopher Worthen and wife, Jenna, of Florida, Karl Kennon of Waco, Cody Kennon and wife, Amanda, of Lorena, Justin Coffee and wife, Amanda, of Waco; son-in-law, James Harwell of Waco; and six great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Providence Hospice or Mission Waco. Sign Guest Book at www.oakcrestwaco.com. Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades on Thursday asked India to tell Turkey that the status quo on the territorial dispute on his island is unacceptable. By Indo-Asian News Service: Ahead of the upcoming visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to India, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades on Thursday asked India to tell Turkey that the status quo on the territorial dispute on his island is unacceptable. "We look to friends and allies such as India to convey the message to Turkey that the status quo is unacceptable, and that it needs to engage constructively and actively in the efforts underway," he said while delivering a keynote address at India Trilateral Forum organised by Observer Research Foundation on the 'EU-India strategic partnership in the 21st century: a Cyprus perspective'. advertisement "India has been a long-standing, reliable ally in our efforts to reunify Cyprus and its people through a comprehensive settlement," he said. The northern part of the Mediterranean island country is under Turkish occupation in 1974. "Peace in Cyprus will send a strong message to our fragile region and beyond, and will be to the benefit not only of Cyprus and its people, but also to Turkey, the EU, and the region," he added. ERDOGAN'S INDIA VISIT Erdogan will arrive here on April 30 on a two-day state visit to India. Terming India and the EU "natural partners" and their strong economic links, Anastasiades said their relationship is well beyond its infancy and it is "now our task to see this relationship into full maturity." On the security challenges faced by both India and EU, he said: "Cyprus, and indeed the EU, stand with India as staunch supporters of a comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. "Like India, we are fully aware of the fact that terrorist networks are global and require a unified response," he said. "In places like Afghanistan, India and the EU can forge closer cooperation for the benefit of the people of Afghanistan and for the cause of peace and stability in the region." Supporting the Free Trade agreement between India and EU, Anastasiades said it "will provide the space for EU Member States to maximise their bilateral engagement with India, in all possible sectors of economic activity." "FTA will help Cyprus seize the opportunity to engage actively with India in sectors like renewable energy, most notably in solar energy and natural gas, in shipping and financial services," he said, welcoming Indian firms to explore business opportunities in Cyprus. Anastasiades is paying India a state visit from April 25 to 29. On April 28, he will be accorded ceremonial welcome and will participate in delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Also Read Turkey detains over 1,000 people for alleged link to failed coup Turkey coup attempt: Over 250 killed, 3000 rebel soldiers detained --- ENDS --- Hazel Price July 25, 1919 - April 26, 2017 Hazel Jane Price passed away April 26, 2017 in Mexia, at the age of 97. Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Sunday, April 30, in the Blair-Stubbs Chapel with Mr. Mike Clements officiating. Interment will follow in the Coolidge Cemetery with David Price, Timothy Driver, Shannon Driver, Wes McDonnel, Nathan Driver, Justin McDonnel, Kevin McDonnel and Zack Smith serving as pallbearers. Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday, at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home. Hazel was born in Kickapoo, Limestone County, Texas on July 25, 1919, to Thomas V. and Mary Mae Boyd Guthrie. She has been a resident of Mexia for over 63 years. She was a retired restaurant manager. Hazel married, the love of her life, Hubert David Price, on September 15, 1936 in Tehuacana, Texas; they were blessed with four children, Wayne, Vonnah, Ricky and Regina. She devoted her life to her family and serving God. Hazel loved nothing more than being surrounded by her family, especially during the holidays. She was a longtime active member of the Northcrest Church of Christ. During her leisure time, she was fascinated with red birds and thoroughly enjoyed watching them. Hazel was blessed with many wonderful, healthy and happy years, she will be truly missed by her family and all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 68 years, Hubert Price; son, Wayne D. Price; brothers, Henry, Eugene, and Lester Guthrie; and sister, Kate Carter. Hazel is survived by her loving children, Vonnah Hawkins and husband, James, of Clyde, Texas, Ricky Price and wife, Teresa, of Kapolei, Hawaii, and Regina Eckert and husband, Paul, of Lake Mexia; 12 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 17 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shriners Children's Hospital. Please visit www.blair-stubbs.com to sign the guest book or leave the family a message of condolence. Here we go again. Show over substance. GOP members of the U.S. House of Representatives are intent on resuscitating their failed American Health Care Act for two bad reasons bad for them and certainly bad for the country. The first is they want to help President Trump have something to show for his first 100 days in office other than the successful nomination of Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Going back to the American Health Care Act after its very public failure may seem like one way to do that, but theyre doing so without having learned anything from their constituents and the American people. It seems the only people they have really talked to are the members of the Freedom Caucus, who represent fewer and fewer of the growing percentage of the American electorate that want to keep the Affordable Care Act. The second reason seems to be to save face, i.e., the ACA must be repealed because they said and voted repeatedly that Obamacare must go. But now that President Obama has gone, it seems harder for a growing number of Americans to realize why the care part should follow suit. Especially given the alternatives. The new version of the AHCA is about as far from Repeal and Replace as one can be, especially considering Candidate Trump promised something better. On top of the huge cuts to Medicaid that were not part of all the original repeal votes, behind-the-scenes negotiations the past few weeks have come up with a bill that is even worse. Now theyre trying to sneak it through without any hearings, opportunity for public comment or even a revised impact statement by the Congressional Budget Office. And all to say they got it to the Senate where it will be dead on arrival. Why sneak it through? Because the two major changes cannot stand the light of day. The first change would eliminate the requirement that all insurance policies have a guaranteed number of basic benefits, including mental-health care and substance abuse. Thats a crushing blow to most of the states that voted for Trump in which the opioid and drug crisis is killing thousands of people and destroying families. It means insurance companies could sell policies that had very little coverage and what was covered would be hard to find out, since the language of most insurance policies is confusing and obtuse to begin with. Good luck finding out what your policy really says. The second change kicks out the most popular item in the Affordable Care Act the capacity to get an insurance policy despite pre-existing conditions. That means you better stay completely well. Otherwise, your premiums will just go up and up with every health crisis you face. You might say these changes are just all options for states under the revised bill, providing more flexibility and home rule. What will likely happen is that many of the states that rejected the expansion of Medicaid under the ACA Texas among them would also be the ones applying for the waivers. Most of those states ironically went for Trump, who promised his fans a cheaper and better health-care plan and with no changes to Medicaid. Result: a widening gap between states with relatively decent health-care insurance and services on one hand and states without adequate coverage on the other. If you think the latter group will be able to woo new business and attract their young people back home, think again. In the end, one wonders not only why the GOP is intent on being so indifferent or downright mean to millions of people but why they are so willing to engage in self-inflicting punishment. Those who lose the right to buy care or who cannot afford the increases that will come for a decent insurance policy will vote. But that will be in full daylight, not the dead of the night. Bill Gaventa is president of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. He lives in Woodway. LINCOLN Senior Airman Ryan Dalton, a Waverly native who now serves as an aircrew flight equipment technician with the Nebraska Air National Guards 155th Operations Support Squadron was recently named the United States Air Force Outstanding Aircrew Flight Equipment Award 2016 Air Reserve Component Airman of the Year at the 155th Air Refueling Wing, Lincoln. These awards add to a growing list accomplishments that include receiving the Outstanding Airman of the Year for the 155th Operations Group, the 2016 Air National Guard Aircrew Flight Equipment Airman of the Year along with completing Airman Leadership School and graduating from the University of Nebraska-Omaha with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation as a Cum Laude Honors Graduate recipient. Dalton was also recognized for spearheading the project to install nuclear flash blindness goggles into helmets, making his shop one of the first to have their helmets nuclear ready. Additionally, when an order came down to install a new piece of equipment into the 20-person life rafts on our jets, Dalton and his supervisor, Tech. Sgt. Michael Wellman, a noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the 155th Aircrew Flight Equipment, decided to test it after installing the new equipment. The test showed flaws in the new equipment, which was then recognized at national level. I don't want our aircrew members to ever have to use any of the life-saving equipment we maintain, that means something terrible has happened, Dalton said. But God forbid that situation takes place, the aircrew and passengers on board can trust that we have done our jobs to ensure that they return home safe. I take that responsibility very seriously and treat each piece of equipment as if it were my own, as if I might have to use it. I want that gear to be top of line, and function perfectly. Daltons hard work ethic and his attention to detail, show others around him what it means to go above and beyond the responsibilities of his job. You definitely have to be proactive in your own career, because its what you make of it, said Dalton. I make a list of tasks to do and keep myself focused on the next step, thats how I stay motivated. This June will mark Daltons fourth year in the Nebraska Air National Guard. Parents of the 10th standard student alleged that the school refused to promote the girl to class 11 if she attended school. By India Today Web Desk: The Delhi Commission for Women today issued a notice to a private school in Delhi, for barring a rape-survivor student from attending classes. Parents of the 10th standard student alleged that the school refused to promote the girl to class 11 if she attended school. DCW has asked the department of education to furnish a report within five days. advertisement Parents said that the school asked them to not send their ward as it would bring disrepute to the institution. Reportedly, the school told the girl's parents that they will promote her to standard 11 only if she stops attending classes. The parents accused the school of showing 'gross insensitivity' towards their daughter. The parents also added that the administration said they will not be responsible for the girl's safety. The minor was abducted and raped in a moving car and was later thrown out of the car. Parents alleged that the school has been harassing the girl and compelling to quit on her own. They said the school principal did not allow her friends to sit with her. DCW officials have confirmed the incident. According to the parents, the girl was not only harassed by the administration, but also barred her from using the bus service. Also read: Delhi school asks Class 10 rape victim not to attend classes as it will spoil institution's image Delhi: Girl, 15, kidnapped, raped and sold for Rs 70,000 Watch the video here: DCW issues notice to school that barred rape-survivor student from attending classes --- ENDS --- Google Australia has confirmed for the first time that it has been hit with an amended tax bill by the Australian Taxation Office following audits of its affairs, and said it "will lodge an objection". The company does not say how much the tax bill is worth in its accounts lodged on Friday, but states that it will, in accordance with usual practice, make a payment to the Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan. This doesn't change the company's stance and it "will continue to hold its positions against any and all such claims", the company stressed in its accounts. The financial accounts for the year ending December 31, 2016, show the technology giant still hasn't included all of its advertising revenue in its local numbers, with more than half of it still being counted in Singapore. In the short time he has been president, US President Donald Trump's weird dealings with world leaders have become one of his trademarks. He gripped Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's hand for an eye-watering 19 seconds, while seeming to ignore German Chancellor Angela Merkel's handshake invitation. And there was that huffy phone call with Malcolm Turnbull, where Mr Trump blew up about the "dumb" refugee deal Australia made with Barack Obama. So how should Mr Turnbull prepare for his first face-to-face meeting with his US counterpart in New York next week? Mike Green, a former US National Security Council staffer during George W Bush's presidency, says Mr Turnbull should start by watching the powerful right wing Fox News channel, to get a sense of "what's going into the President's head". And it's sexy too, like former French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld, but never obvious. It's all about effortlessness, see. And despite the amount of energy that is put into lumping all French women into one category , it's really awfully tricky to dress like a French woman. For one thing, well, not all French women dress the same. You know, it's the countless articles about how to wear battered ballet flats with a perfect V-neck cashmere sweater and look exactly right. It's an unbuttoned just-so shirt, and gently mussed hair. It's Jane Birkin in a white shirt and jeans, and Caroline de Maigret in a boyish blazer and Coco Chanel in her silk pyjamas. But mostly, because the minute you start trying you're the opposite of effortless, and the cruel thing is, it takes work to look like you haven't tried. The French women with the style that makes it look so easy are not pinning images of French girl style to secret Pinterest boards, or telling their hairdresser to make them look "French". They're just living their lives, stylishly or otherwise (and in the case of Jane Birkin, that meant spilling the contents of her straw basket and inspiring a man to create an iconic luxury handbag in her name). Brigitte with her husband Emmanual Macron. Credit:AP Which brings us to another French woman, one in the spotlight thanks to her much gossiped about marriage. Brigitte Trogneux, 63, who might end up being the next First Lady of France, is a French woman with style. Married to Emmanuel Macron, a man who is 24 years younger than her and was once a student in her high school drama class (cue the quelle horreur!), much has been made of both her marriage, and the way she dresses. Because she does not dress, as British Vogue pointed out, in the way that is expected (or at least projected) of a French woman. Or indeed, and most importantly, a woman of 63. Because lean in a little closer for what I have to write is shocking ... Trogneux wears mini-skirts! As in above the knee! And leather pants. And perilously high heels. Her hair is coiffed in the way that you know is both expensive and definitely not wash and go. Her limbs are lithe and tanned. Her teeth gleam. She has been dubbed the French Jane Fonda. She loves Louis Vuitton bags, and edgy perspex Gianvito Rossi heels and rock chick black ankle boots. The McGowan government is set to radically overhaul the public sector with the number of government departments slashed by almost half. Premier Mark McGowan said on Friday the number of state departments would reduce from 41 down to 25 by July 1 in the "biggest shakeup of the public sector in decades." Premier Mark McGowan has unveiled the details of its public sector shake-up. Credit:Bohdan Warchomij He said the government hadn't ruled out more departments getting abolished or merging down the track. The Premier refused to say how many jobs would be lost across the public sector, but took to Twitter before the press conference claiming there would be job losses. German Chancellor Angela Merkel laid down a tough line for Brexit talks with the UK and warned that London was harbouring "illusions" about getting preferential treatment Addressing the German parliament before the remaining 27 European Union leaders meet on Saturday to discuss Britain's exit, Mrs Merkel said the bloc will put its interests first and that talks on departure terms must precede the crafting of a new trade relationship. The EU is heading into the "very complex" negotiations with a strong sense of unity, she said. "You might think that these things are self-evident, but unfortunately I have to put it in such clear terms because I have the feeling that some in Britain still have illusions about this," Mrs Merkel said in Berlin on Thursday, drawing applause from lower-house lawmakers. "But that would be a waste of time." Theresa May pounced on Mrs Merke's remarks as she campaigned for British elections in June, saying such talk shows why she needs "the strongest possible hand" to go into battle with European Union negotiators. Deepika's outfit in Raabta's title track is stunning, and here's where you've spotted it before this. By India Today Web Desk: There aren't two ways about Deepika Padukone's gorgeousness. With every appearance and every role, the actress refuses to look anything but flawless each time--her latest tryst with Bollywood being no different. By now you must've already seen Deepika's stellar appearance in Sushant Singh Rajput-Kriti Sanon starrer, Raabta, right? Well if you haven't allow us to tell you that you're missing out something rather stunning. advertisement Also Read: Not sure if you've noticed, but Deepika's shoes are making our eyes pop Deepika's moves coupled with the sheer melody of the song are bound to set your hearts on fire, and as if that wasn't enough, the actress looks like art in motion. Dressed in a sensual black outfit by international designer, Philipp Plein, Deepika's beauty is something that'll fill you with awe. Now, are you wondering where you've spotted this outfit before Deepika donned it? Well, allow us to help. UFFFFFFFFF ???????? @anaitashroffadajania @homster @deepikapadukone can't wait too see this ???????? @raabtaofficial #smokinnnnnnnnnhot A post shared by Shaleena Nathani (@shaleenanathani) on Apr 26, 2017 at 9:24pm PDT WATCH: Deepika Padukone gives the Raabta title track a sensuous twist The high-slit outfit was a part of Philipp Plein's collection at the Milan Fashion Week, where supermodel, Bella Hadid, was seen dressed in it. While Bella looks stunning too, we can't help but swoon over the magic stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania has conjured upon Deepika. Picture courtesy: Twitter --- ENDS --- AIIMS to look out for the best possible vaccine for vector borne diseases within the Indian subcontinent. By Abhishek Anand: At the third international symposium on dengue, chikangunya and zika, the doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) emphasised on prevention at local level. At the symposium, organised with collaboration with Fondation de l Acadamie de Medecine (FAM) from The Paris Descartes University, doctors from different countries discussed the outbreak of vector borne disease. Professor Sanjeev Sinha of AIIMS said they are working on possibilities of a vaccine for dengue in India. advertisement "We are helping each other with our research. We are also working on possibilities of a dedicated vaccine for dengue for the Indian subcontinent. The WHO has issued vaccines for dengue for six countries, but for India, we don't have any such vaccine so far," said Sinha. Dr Yves Juillet, secretary general, FAM, said that apart from research on a vaccine, the doctors are also meeting for studies on expansion of the disease, prevention and control in India and other affected countries. "Dengue and chikangunya are old diseases while zika is a relatively new disease. We are working together to find an effective cure. We are working on long term immunisation and innovative vector control approach," said Dr Juillet. However, for now, the doctors said the only option against such diseases in India is prevention. "Fatalities are rare in dengue and chikangunya cases unless the patient is reporting too late or is suffering from any other ailment that can make it complicated. We suggest a local household level precaution to not let the mosquito breed," said Prof Sinha. He said the vector carrying such disease can not fly for long distances so not letting them breed near buildings can help. The symposium will end on April 29. --- ENDS --- Donald Trump will be completing 100 days in office today, but in an interview given just two days earlier, the President admitted that being President has not been as easy as he thought it would be. By Vishakha Saxena: US President Donald Trump, who is just about to complete his first 100 days in office, has finally admitted to what the world was telling him since he began his campaign -- he wasn't ready to become President. In an exclusive interview with Reuters on Thursday, Trump talked about how much he missed his old life and how he expected being President 'would be easier'. advertisement "I loved my previous life. I had so many things going. This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier," Trump told Reuters. It's not just the pressure of his duties and decision-making processes that face him as President, Trump is having a tough time adjusting to limelight as well. The wealthy New York businessman and former host of the celebrity reality show The Apprentice said, "he was accustomed to not having privacy in his 'old life,' (but) expressed surprise at how little he had now," read the Reuters report. The 24-hour Secret Service protection, and a constrained lifestyle haven't helped Trump either. "You're really into your own little cocoon, because you have such massive protection that you really can't go anywhere," he said. 'WORST FIRST 100 DAYS ON RECORD' Trump's statements, made just two days before he completed 100 days as the President of the United States, bring to mind the times he was warned that being President wasn't his cup of tea. The moment #Trump won. Realisation dawning,he has a job, tied down & can't believe that they fell for the hyperbole. Regret? No, play time. pic.twitter.com/3leos0ZeGN- Jolyon Rubinstein (@JolyonRubs) November 9, 2016 From former president Barack Obama, late night show hosts and Hollywood stars to Twitter users from around the world, everyone reminded the Donald that he didn't have enough experience to take up the role. Even Hillary Clinton, the Democrat candidate fighting Trump, argued that she had a lot more experience in politics and the workings of the government than he did. Trump's lack of preparation and seriousness towards the job were visible from his early campaign days, where he often argued about the size of his hands - and other body parts. The trend continued after he took over as President, and argued (and lied) about the size of the crowd which attended his inaugural ceremony and the size of his Electoral College victory (which is smaller than that of Barack Obama and Bill Clinton). advertisement Trump's naivety at the job has been visible many times over the last three months like when he refused to shake hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel or when he justified lying in a press conference saying, "I was given that information." .@PeterAlexander fact checks Donald Trump on Electoral College results from previous elections. pic.twitter.com/LrlfCoocYU- CSPAN (@cspan) February 16, 2017 Then there was the infamous interview with Fox News, after he launched 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airbase, in which Trump passionately talked about the chocolate cake he was eating when he green-lit the attack, and then proceeded to call Syria "Iraq". .@POTUS tells @MariaBartiromo he told President Xi about the Missile strikes over "the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake." pic.twitter.com/vPLu7ZhxbR- FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) April 12, 2017 But Trump's inexperience in politics became most apparent when Steve Bannon -- the man widely regarded as the mastermind behind his victory -- tricked him into signing an executive order that gave Bannon a national security role. Though Trump denied he was 'manipulated' by Bannon, he was quick to sideline his chief strategist. @realDonaldTrump Haha. Good joke Mr so called president from Queens. We all know who is really in charge ;-) pic.twitter.com/dUPT9T5iCl- Jack Schofield (@jackschofield) February 9, 2017 advertisement The extent of controversies around Trump's presidency have prompted The New York Times to declare his first 100 days as President as "the worst on record." His track record of lying and making misleading statements hasn't helped the President either. According to a database maintained by The Washington Post, Trump has made 452 false or misleading claims in 98 days as President of the United States. RESISTANCE FROM ALL CORNERS As if missing his comfortable, old life wasn't problem enough for the US President, various decisions taken by him have faced immense resistance from all corners. For example, in a setback for his plan to build a wall along Mexico, it was revealed that many companies are refusing to bid for the wall's construction as lawmakers in California could pass a bill killing their pension fund investments and state contracts. Then there was the Trumpcare disaster where his healthcare plan was so bad and so controversial that in a Congress -- controlled by his own party leaders -- Republican leaders withdrew the much publicised legislation to overhaul Obamacare. But perhaps the greatest failures Trump faced were in his attempts to implement a racist immigration ban on seven Muslim-majority countries. His first executive order was challenged by multiple states in court and repealed, as was an 'updated' order. advertisement THE JOKE'S ON THE DONALD Interestingly, the people most critical of Trump presidency have been American late night show hosts like Trevor Noah, Samantha Bee, John Oliver and Stephen Colbert, and literally every one of them have been brutal. Hosts have, by now, perfected their own impersonations of Trump, his speeches and news conferences. The President's aides, cabinet members and family members who have been roped into the government (Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner) haven't been spared either. "I think there's strong evidence that the president is always high," remarked Trevor Noah on his April 20 show. Noah even has a recurring segment called "Who Is the Real President of the United States This Week?" where he ranks the top three people running the United States -- instead of Donald Trump. The top names have so far included Steve Bannon, Fox News and most recently Jared Kushner. The most popular sketches on Trump have come from Saturday Night Live, in which Alec Baldwin manages to nail almost every Trump mannerism. There's nothing surprising about the ridicule being piled upon Trump, or the resistance he is facing, considering every day of his presidency has been controversial, and at times, shocking and confusing. It also isn't surprising, then, that the former businessman is now feeling the heat of presidency. Trump admitting to the pressure, however, is purely ironic since he spent the greater part of his presidential campaign denying that being President was going to be a tough affair. So, at this point all we can really say is, we told you so, Donald. We told you so. --- ENDS --- With sponsorship of Eurocustoms and cooperation of the Spanish Customs Administration, a WCO National Workshop on the modernization of the Customs Laboratory of Uzbekistan was held at the Central Customs Laboratory of Uzbekistan Customs, in Tashkent, from 25 to 28 April 2017. During the opening of the Workshop, the Chief of the Central Customs Laboratory, Mr. Bahtier Abduganiev, thanked the representatives from the Spanish Customs Administration and from the WCO Secretariat's Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate for facilitating the discussions on the modernization of Uzbekistans Customs Laboratory. In his remarks, he referred to the importance of a Customs Laboratory for the correct collection of Customs duties and for the uniform classification of commodities in the national Customs tariff. The Customs Laboratory of Uzbekistan is a well-equipped medium size laboratory that has been recently relocated to a new modern building. Several topics related to the WCO vision on the future of Customs Laboratories were addressed and the participants were also thoroughly informed about several databases and documentation specifically designed for the day to day routine in a Customs Laboratory, in particular, in the context of the analysis of sensitive commodities for Uzbekistans Customs such as pharmaceuticals, textiles and polymers. During the Workshop, a wide range of chemical analysis matters were addressed and the participants attending the Workshop were also thoroughly informed about the instruments and tools specifically produced by the WCO to facilitate the routine of the Customs Laboratories. Present at the closing ceremony, Mr. Jose Moreno Peceno, from the Customs Laboratory of Madrid (Spain), emphasized the importance of the cooperation and networking between the Customs Laboratories all over the world and referred to the possibilities offered by the WCO Regional Customs Laboratories initiative. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. By Reuters: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. advertisement Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple US presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasizing by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said. Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in North Korea. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month. "I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesn't want to see turmoil and death. He doesn't want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. "With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he can't," Trump said. Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed US lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. AN URGENT NATIONAL SECURITY The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority." It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbor and ally, and remained open to negotiations. US officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct US military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among U.S. forces in both countries. Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. "He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. advertisement "I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational," he said. Trump, sipping a Coke delivered by an aide after the president ordered it by pressing a button on his desk, appeared to rebuff an overture from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who told Reuters a direct phone call with Trump could take place again after their first conversation in early December angered Beijing. China considers neighboring Taiwan to be a renegade province. "My problem is that I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi," said Trump. "I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation. So I wouldn't want to be causing difficulty right now for him." "So I would certainly want to speak to him first." VOWS TO FIX OR SCRAP KOREA TRADE DEAL US President Donald Trump told Reuters on Thursday he will either renegotiate or terminate what he called a "horrible" free trade deal with South Korea and said Seoul should pay for a U.S. anti-missile system that he priced at USD1 billion. advertisement In an interview with Reuters, Trump called the five-year-old trade pact with South Korea "unacceptable" and said it would be targeted for renegotiation after his administration completes a revamp of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico. He blamed the US-Korean trade deal, known as KORUS, on his 2016 Democratic presidential election opponent, Hillary Clinton, who as secretary of state promoted the final version of the trade pact before its approval by Congress in 2011. "It is unacceptable, it is a horrible deal made by Hillary," the Republican Trump said. "It's a horrible deal, and we are going to renegotiate that deal or terminate it." KORUS was initially negotiated by the Republican administration of President George W. Bush in 2007, but that version was scrapped and renegotiated by President Barack Obama's Democratic administration three years later. US GOODS TRADE DEFICIT The US goods trade deficit with South Korea has more than doubled since KORUS took effect in March 2012, from USD 13.2 billion in 2011 to USD 27.7 billion in 2016, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. advertisement Trump said the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system now being deployed in South Korea to defend against a potential missile attack from North Korea would cost about USD 1 billion and questioned why the United States was paying for it. "I informed South Korea it would be appropriate if they paid. It's a billion dollar system," Trump said. "It's phenomenal, shoots missiles right out of the sky." Lockheed Martin Corp is the prime contractor for the THAAD system. Asked about the remarks, a former US State Department official estimated the cost of the system at about USD 1.2 billion but said the United States would not want to sell THAAD to Seoul. "We want to retain THAAD in our arsenal, consistent with all other US weapons systems deployed on the Korean peninsula. We own them. We retain them. We have the right to redeploy them," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Also read: Trump administration loses 1st trade battle with Mexico Donald Trump tax plan billed as 'largest tax reform' in US history Donald Trump tax plan billed as 'largest tax reform' in US history WATCH | Visa woes for techies: Donald Trump orders review of H-1B programme --- ENDS --- The Service you requested is not available at this time Regret the inconvenience caused. Try again after sometime. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit The incumbent and a Paducah attorney win their way to the bench By Press Trust of India: US asks Iran to immediately release its citizens From Lalit K Jha Washington, Apr 28 (PTI) The US has raised serious concerns over its citizens who are either detained or missing in Iran, asking the Middle East country to immediately release them so that they can reunite with their families. advertisement The development comes on sidelines of April 25 meeting of the Joint Commission overseeing implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in Vienna, where the US delegation raised serious concerns with the Iranian side regarding the cases of US citizens "detained and missing in Iran", said State Department Acting Spokesman Mark Toner. "The US delegation had called on Iran to immediately release these US citizens so they can be reunited with their families," he said. According to reports, US citizen Siamak Namazi has been unjustly detained in Iran since October 2015 and his 81- year-old father Baquer Namazi, also a US citizen, has been detained in Iran since February 2016, Toner said. Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and his father Baquer Namazi are serving 10-year prison sentences in Iran. Iran does not recognise dual nationality. Also, the Middle Eastern country rarely allows consular visits to dual nationals in its jails. "The United States is deeply concerned about reports of their declining health and well-being in detention. The United States urges Iran to immediately release Siamak and Baquer on humanitarian grounds," Toner said in a statement. He also expressed concern over Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran 10 years ago while on an unauthorised CIA mission. "It has also been more than a decade since Robert Levinson disappeared from Irans Kish Island. Iran is committed to cooperating with the United States in bringing Bob home and we call on Iran to fulfil this commitment. "The United States remains unwavering in its efforts to return Bob to his family," he said. PTI LKJ ARK --- ENDS --- By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 28, 2017 | 10:23 AM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY A local attorney has been arrested on multiple counts of theft, and police say more charges are possible. The McCracken County Sheriff's Office says deputies began investigating after they got information that 43-year-old James Grant King had failed to pay collected settlement money to his clients. Detectives said a couple who had been involved in an accident hired King in February of 2016. King was to negotiate a settlement agreement with Nationwide Insurance. Within six weeks of being hired, police say King had settled both claims, collecting a combined $93,000 without consulting with his clients to seek their approval on the amounts being settled. According to police, King failed to notify his clients that he had settled and collected with Nationwide. Police said the clients only found out after they began investigating why the case had not been settled. After being told by Nationwide that the case had been settled, King was confronted. He reportedly told his clients the paperwork must have been misplaced and the money was still sitting in escrow. The clients, not believing this, filed a criminal complaint with the sheriffs department. Through the investigation, detectives were able to view Kings escrow account statements, which showed he deposited the combined $93,000 in March and April of 2016. A few weeks later, police say all the money had been removed from the account. Police said transaction records showed approximately half the money went to King himself, with the rest being written for payroll, personal expenses, and what is believed to be other clients that he may have owed money. Detectives were unable to locate any records where the clients in this case received any money or where any medical bills associated from the accident had been paid. King was arrested Thursday on two counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property $10,000 or more. Detectives said another of King's former clients contacted them on Friday. The man told them he was involved in an accident in April 2015 and hired King to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company. After not hearing anything for over a year, the victim checked with the insurance company and was told the case had been settled last May for $17,500. The victim told police he hadnt received any payment to date from King. Detectives later learned King had deposited a settlement check of $17,500 made out to King Law and the victim on May 6. The victim did not get any of that money, and detectives were able to show that King had spent it. King was charged with another count of theft over $10,000. The Sheriffs Department says it is investigating several other complaints King, and more charges possible. King's arraignment is set for Monday. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 28, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 28, 2017 | 04:32 PM | PADUCAH, KY A Paducah man has been arrested after police say he called a black man a racial slur and made threats with a gun at a local gas station. The Paducah Police Department says the victim told officers he was pulling into a gas station on Lone Oak Road on April 11. He said he had music playing in his car, and a man next to him called him a racial slur and told him to "turn up his music so the rest of the [racial slur] can hear it. The victim said the man then followed him into the gas station and continued to harass him, pointing out that he had a gun on his hip. He called 911 after the man left and provided a description of the truck, including a partial license plate and the fact that there was a Confederate flag on to the vehicle. An officer reviewed surveillance video and recognized the man as 63-year-old Terry Rodgers. A vehicle registered to Rodgers matched the description of the one provided by the victim. Officers arrested Rodgers Wednesday morning on charges of second-degree disorderly conduct, menacing and harassment. He was booked into McCracken County Regional Jail. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By National Weather Service Apr. 27, 2017 | 10:02 PM | HICKMAN COUNTY, KY The National Weather Service in Paducah says damage surveys show that a brief tornado in Hickman County caused damage during storms Wednesday night.The tornado occurred at 7:12 pm and started north of Fulgham, then followed a twelve-mile path into Graves County where it dissipated by 7:30 pm. Peak winds were estimated at 95 miles per hour and rated as an EF-1 tornado. Its path was about 150 yards wide while it was on the ground.At least three dozen homes and buildings sustained minor to moderate damage consisting primarily of loss of shingles, siding and trim. One home lost about a third of its roof and another had the back porch blown off. A large chicken house lost approximately 1/4 of its roof structure. Several smaller outbuildings or garages were destroyed. Hundreds of trees and tree limbs were blown down. Four eyewitnesses reported seeing the tornado near Fulgham. Most of the damage was concentrated around and just north of Fulgham. the tornado weakened somewhat as it moved into Graves County and the damage track became more intermittent there. On the Net: By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 24, 2017 | 06:34 AM | MAYFIELD, KY Twenty restaurants in Mayfield and Graves County will offer samples of their tasty cuisine this Saturday at the 4th annual Empty Bowls Event. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. you can try out a smorgasbord of yummies at the big community gathering, which raises money for the Mayfield-Graves County Food Pantry. The eating extravaganza will be held at Trace Creek Baptist Churchs Family Life Center, 3357 State Route 131. For a $15 ticket each diner gets to pick from a mixture of a unique hand-painted bowls and specially selected bowls to gather samples of the goodies. After eating, participants take the bowls home as a reminder of hungry people around the world and in their own community. Participating restaurants this year are: Applebees, Carrs Steakhouse, Cracker Barrel, Dairy Queen, Dominos Pizza, Hardees, H&C Doughnut Shop, Happy House, Hills Famous Chili Dogs, Jimmy Johns, The Dinner Bell, Majestic Pizza & Steakhouse, Mayfield Creek Market, Ritas Cafe, Snappy Tomato, Southern Reds BBQ, Taco Johns, Wendys, Wilmas Country Kitchen, and Wings Etc. Tickets are available at Trace Creek Church office, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., M-F; The Good News Shoppe, 203 E. South St.; or for 20 or more tickets call at 270-705-6062. On Saturday, tickets will be available at the door as long as there are enough bowls to accommodate diners. About 1,000 persons are expected to attend. In addition to all the food tasting, there will be a silent auction and door prizes donated by local merchants and individuals. There will also be a surprise souvenir for diners. There are about 19 silent auction items including a quilt, paintings, jewelry, glass bowls, home decor and gift certificates. Local businesses and individuals donating auction and door prizes are: artists Rick Tedder and Pat Gibson, Panther Creek Pottery, Initial Outfitters, Kings Antiques & Florist, Stones Drugs, Tyea Hoffman, The Frosted Farmhouse, The Artisan Event, Applebees, Catfish Corner, Mayfield Meals, Little Caesars, Duncans Drugs, Katie Js, Food Giant and Broadway Florist. The first three years of the event raised a total of about $37,000 for the Food Pantry, which provides emergency food supplies for about 350 local needy families each month. I am grateful to each restaurant that is donating their time and delicious food to the event, said Claudia Heath, who started the local effort and has served as project coordinator each year. I would ask that everyone who attends to please remember to mention to each of them how much they appreciate their support of the event and their community. Each restaurant has the community interest at heart otherwise this event could not take place. They are vital to this effort. We are so thankful for this great fund-raiser that has provided needed money for the Food Pantry to keep assisting local residents for the past three years, said Food Pantry Director Jackie Herndon. We encourage everyone to come out and support this event and have a great time for a great cause, helping our neighbors in need. The Empty Bowls project is an international effort started some 20 years ago to help alleviate hunger and raise awareness of the issues of hunger around the world. By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 28, 2017 | 03:54 PM | SEDALIA, KY Two Graves County residents face drug and firearm charges. Graves County Sheriff Dewayne Redmon says deputies responded to 129 Franks Road, south of Sedalia, after receiving a tip about illegal drug activity taking place at the home of 47-year-old Brian Bugar and 47-year-old Lori Morris. Redmon said when deputies arrived, they found illegal drugs in plain view, along with several firearms. A search warrant was obtained and during a search of the property, deputies found five firearms, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Bugar was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, facilitation to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Morris was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both were lodged in the Graves County Jail. By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 28, 2017 | 10:38 AM | FULTON COUNTY, KY A local man already in jail on rape and sodomy charges now faces a new charge. The Fulton County Sheriff's Department served a Hickman County District Court arrest warrant on 47-year-old David Garrett Wednesday at the Fulton County Detention Center. The complaint warrant was taken by the Clinton Police Department for sex offender instant messenger/chat/social network use prohibited by a registered sex offender. According to the warrant, Garrett, of Hickman, contacted a juvenile on March 25 of this year through social media. Garrett's bond for this charge was set at $2500. He will be arraigned in Hickman County District Court on Monday. Garrett was arraigned in Fulton County District Court earlier this week, where he entered a plea of not guilty to three counts of 1st degree rape and sodomy. Warrants for Garrett's arrest last week indicated he committed the acts against a minor in 2015 and 2016. According to records, Garrett is a lifetime registered sexual offender who transferred from Illinois. His original conviction was for sexual battery in the state of Indiana. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 28, 2017 | BOWLING GREEN, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 28, 2017 | 12:58 PM | BOWLING GREEN, KY An automotive parts manufacturer has announced plans to expand its operation in Bowling Green. Gov. Matt Bevin today announced Friday that Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products LLC will expand for a seventh time in Bowling Green, investing more than $51 million and creating 129 full-time jobs. KAAP will add more than 108,000 square feet to accommodate new production lines and equipment, including a melting furnace, forging presses and heat-treatment, casting and machining lines. The additional capacity will allow the company to meet increased sales goals. Company leaders say they expect the project to take about a year, with the start of production targeted for fall 2018. The plant's previous expansions total $293 million and it currently employs 500 Kentucky residents full-time. KAAP manufactures lightweight aluminum parts, including upper and lower control arms and steering knuckles. Lighter parts help reduce overall vehicle weight, which contributes to greater fuel economy and lower emission levels. "This expansion by Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products is a shining example of growth among advanced manufacturers in Kentucky," Gov. Bevin said. "Since establishing its Bowling Green plant in 2004, KAAP has proven itself an excellent corporate partner in the Commonwealth's automotive industry. We are grateful for the company's dedication to the state and are excited to see this remarkable success continue." "This is our 12th year producing aluminum automobile suspension parts in Kentucky. Two years ago we decided to make our sixth investment, and due to the increasing necessity of lighter vehicles, we have decided to make another investment," said Toshihiro Katsura, KAAP president and CEO. "This will be our seventh additional investment, and we are truly grateful to the Commonwealth of Kentucky for all of the support and incentives we have received." KAAP, based in Kobe, Japan, is part of the Kobe Steel Group, known internationally as KOBELCO. By Press Trust of India: From Anisur Rahman Dhaka, Apr 28 (PTI) Four militants blew themselves up in Bangladesh after a 24-hour standoff with the security forces which raided their den, the latest such incident amid an intensified nationwide crackdown on Islamist militants, police said today. Police raided a house in northwestern Chapainawabganj on Wednesday night, triggering a standoff. advertisement "We found bodies of four militants as we entered the hideout," a police headquarters spokesman told reporters in Dhaka as elite Special Weapons And Tactics unit wrapped up the security clampdown codenamed Operation Eagle Hunt. An injured pregnant woman, who is the wife of one of the slain militants, and her six-year-old daughter were brought out from the house as siege ended at the den of Neo Jamaat- ul-Mujahideen, the spokesman said. "She suffered a bullet wound on her leg," he said. Last month Bangladeshi police conducted series of large- scale operations against militants, in which at least 17 suspected militants were killed. On March 31, eight militants blew themselves up with a grenade after the security forces raided their hideout north of the Bangladeshi capital. The official said the woman too was believed to be an operative of the banned outfit responsible for carrying out out the deadly July 1, 2016 terrorist attack on a Dhaka cafe in which 22 people, including an Indian, were killed. Bangladesh has been witnessing a spate of attacks on secular activists, foreigners and religious minorities since 2013. The country launched a massive crackdown on militants specially after the Dhaka cafe attack. The Islamic State has claimed several attacks in Bangladesh, but the government rejects the presence of foreign terrorist groups in the moderate Muslim-majority country, blaming home-grown groups such as the neo-JMB for terrorist attacks. PTI AR NSA AKJ NSA --- ENDS --- Once again proving that hes the pithiest pith-artist on Twitter, Robert Huth has levelled a wry dig at Alexis Sanchez in the aftermath of the blood-spattered battle between Arsenal and Leicester City on Wednesday night. As you may recall, Sanchez was rendered temporarily paraplegic when he was hit in the face at point blank range by a Christian Fuchs throw-in The Chilean suffered a cut lip and took to social media after the match to show off his (very minor) war wounds Feliz por la victoria pero termine con el labio hinchado happy for the victory but ended up with a swollen lip pic.twitter.com/0y301Ztnp9 Alexis Sanchez (@Alexis_Sanchez) April 26, 2017 However, Sanchez wasnt the only player to have their blood drawn during the grisly midweek slug-fest, with Huth revealing that he too suffered a gruesome flesh wound. Mercifully, it looks like the concrete-jawed German defender is going to be able to patch himself up in time for Saturdays trip to West Brom Just about recovered from the arsenal battle the other night #playon pic.twitter.com/YS2cxSjN3s robert huth (@robert_huth) April 28, 2017 A grazed knuckle and still he plays on. What steel. What fortitude. The mans a throwback to a bygone age. A UN report suggests that the richest one per cent own 53 per cent of India's wealth. Inequality in India seems to be increasingly insurmountable. By Indo-Asian News Service: Indicating that inequality in India is increasing, a UN report released here on Thursday said that the richest one per cent own 53 per cent of the country's wealth. It also said that unlike other countries, development in India is not moving across states. "In terms of wealth inequality, India is second only to Russia, where the richest 1 per cent own 53 per cent of the country's wealth," said the report 'The Better Business, Better World' released here in a two day event of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) focusing on how through bold innovation, businesses can create solutions and tap new opportunities found within the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). advertisement MARKET OPPORTUNITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS According to Lise Kingo, CEO and Executive Director of the UNGC, SDGs can open at least $1 trillion of market opportunity for the private sector in India. "This is out of a total global value of $12 trillion that could be unlocked by sustainable business models in four key areas, food and agriculture, energy, cities and health," she said. Kingo added that over 72 million new jobs could be created in India by 2030 by adapting a sustainable business model. DIFFERENT ECONOMICS MODEL About addressing the disparity, the report says that to reduce the inequality, India needs a 'different economic model' -- one that is not only low-carbon but also recognizes poverty, inequality and lack of financial access. "As the second largest food producer in the world, India needs a more focused approach to developing and managing its agricultural sector and agri-based industrialisation," it says. Stating that rising inequality leads to slower progress in reducing poverty, the report added that Oxfam has calculated that if India were to stop inequality from rising further, it could end extreme poverty for 90 million people as early as 2019. INDIA'S RURAL POPULATION The UNGC also called for better infrastructure to improve access to proper medical care for India's rural population. "On its current trajectory, India will continue to face enormous challenges in rural development, urban sustainability, national infrastructure, and improved quality of life of its citizens," the report says. Its suggestions included creation of low-income food markets, reducing food waste in supply chains, technological aid in smallholder farms, micro-irrigation programs, resource recovery, remote patient monitoring and preventing catastrophic healthcare costs for the poor. --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Mumbai, Apr 27 (PTI) Gulf Air today said it has partnered with VFS Global to facilitate visa issuance for passengers flying to Bahrain. The partnership with the visa service provider will support Gulf Airs efforts to promote the Arab country to a broad spectrum of travellers, the flag carrier of Bahrain said. "We are partnering with VFS Global to provide a much needed service to our passengers that will support our national carriers efforts to promote the Kingdom to a broad spectrum of travellers. advertisement "Soon, Gulf Air passengers will be able to easily obtain short-term visit visas to Bahrain via our website gulfair.com, allowing them to come to Bahrain and experience all that our Kingdom has to offer in terms of tourism, business opportunities and more," Gulf Air Chief Commercial Officer Ahmed Janahi said. PTI SM RSY RDS --- ENDS --- Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2017 (2021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. BRANDON A former CFB Shilo soldier who lured an underage girl for a sexual encounter got caught when the victims older sister turned vigilante. When her sister went to the mans home, the older sibling was nearby watching. It was basically a very ill-conceived sting operation at the older sisters request, Crown attorney Rich Lonstrup said in Brandon provincial court Thursday. Judge Donovan Dvorak sentenced the former soldier to five months in jail for invitation to sexual touching and three months time served for obstruction of justice. The ex-soldier cant be named because of a publication ban that prevents the reporting of any information that could identify the victim. Where he is originally from wasnt mentioned in court. At the time of the offence, he was 24 and stationed at CFB Shilo. The victim was 15. He was dating her adult sister when, on Sept. 7, 2013, he and the underage girl exchanged text messages in which he repeatedly sexually propositioned her. He encouraged her to come to his home on base to meet for sex and described what he wanted to do in graphic detail. Unsolicited by the girl, he also texted her a photo of his penis. The victim was emotionally vulnerable at the time and had been cutting herself, Lonstrup said. When he tried to talk her into sexual relations, he actually tried to suggest that it would make her feel more confident and less likely to cut herself, Lonstrup said. The teens texts indicate she was confused and scared, Lonstrup said. Nevertheless, the man convinced the young teen to come to his home. Her older sister found the texts before the meeting. The victim went to the home as planned. Shortly after, her sister entered the home and found the man in a bedroom with the girl. The sister forced her way into the bedroom as the man tried to hold the door shut. She and a friend then left with her younger sister. There was no sexual touching of the victim, but Lonstrup said she was left devastated and frightened by the mans attempt to manipulate her. Immediately after, the man texted the victim and asked her to stop her sister and the friend from reporting the matter to police. In spite of his request, they reported the incident to the police. Lonstrup said the accused persisted in trying to get his charges dropped. After his first court appearance, he texted the victims sister and threatened to have her charged for the break-in at his home if she didnt get her younger sibling to retract her statement to police. He told the single mother shed go to jail and lose her child. On Nov. 8, 2013, the woman went to Shilo military police to try to get the charges against the soldier dropped. Six days later, he went to military police to report the break-in, saying he was also assaulted. Both of the women who had entered his home were charged. The charges against the young victims sister were eventually dropped, while her friend received a one-year conditional discharge for assault. Lonstrup said the man deleted the incriminating conversation but police used software to recover the texts. The man remained with the Canadian Armed Forces after being charged but was transferred to British Columbia. When his new captain in B.C. found out about the charges, he was dishonourably discharged. He and a new partner have since moved back to western Manitoba. He was not attracted to children. This was part of a larger sort of sexting situation that was driven by poor coping skills, defence lawyer Lisa LaBossiere said in arguing for a sentence that would see her client spared from any more jail time. She proposed a combination of time served and house arrest. She said that before the offence, her client had struggled with his transfer to CFB Shilo and being away from family. He felt isolated and depressed and was using cocaine. The army rejected his request for a transfer home. In that state, LaBossiere said, he reached out to women for sex as a way to feel better. Tens of thousands of messages to other women were found by police and conversations with four women in particular were all of a sexual nature. The only conversation found that involved a minor was with the victim in this case, LaBossiere said. She added her client tried to commit suicide in 2015 out of shame over his crime and fear of jail. Lonstrup asked Dvorak to impose 18 months jail, less 90 days for some pre-sentence time the accused spent in jail before being released on bail. During the sentence, Dvorak concluded that house arrest was not appropriate. Brandon Sun By Press Trust of India: violence factories" New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades today strongly pitched for decisive action against states supporting, sheltering and sustaining "violence factories" in their regions. The two leaders held detailed discussion on bilateral as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern. These included ways to boost trade ties and UN Security Council reforms. advertisement Both sides also signed four pacts, including one for air services and another on cooperation in merchant shipping. At a joint media event with the Cypriot leader, Modi said India has always stood with Cyprus on crucial issues and firmly supports its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Anastasiades said he is sincerely appreciative of his "dearest friend" Modi and the Indian government for Indias equivocal support on the Cyprus issue. Modi said that while India has been battling cross-border terrorism for decades, Cyprus, due to its geographical location, understood the threat posed by terrorism. "We agreed that there is an urgent need for all countries to decisively act against those states which generate, support, shelter and sustain these factories of violence in ourregions," the prime minister said in a veiled reference to Pakistan. Emphasising the need for creating a comprehensive legal framework to fight terror, Modi advocated early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, proposed by India at the UN. The two sides also agreed on the need for early reforms in the UNSC as Modi expressed Indias appreciation for Cyprus support to Indias bid for inclusion in the world body as a permanent member. The Cypriot leader said his country wanted India to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Describing the Cypriot president as "great friend and strong supporter of India", Modi said he also discussed with him ways to strengthen the partnership in other "inter- governmental organisations and regimes". Issues like growing economic relations between India and Cyprus figured during the talks. The Mediterranean country is the eighth largest investor in India. Last year, the two countries had revised the double taxation avoidance agreement. The Cypriot president said his country is supportive of enhancement of the EU-India strategic partnership and back a EU-India free trade agreement. Anastasiades invited Indian companies to invest in Cyprus, which can help them gain an easy access to Europe, the Gulf region and North Africa. advertisement Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the Cypriot president, and discussed areas of bilateral cooperation. PTI PR/PYK SC --- ENDS --- Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2017 (2021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The announced development of a $95.4-million Innovation Centre at Red River Colleges Exchange District Campus is expected to add fuel to the catalytic impact the college has had on the neighbourhood since it opened 14 years ago. The 100,000-square-foot development on the north side of Elgin Avenue which will include the restoration of the five-storey Scott Fruit Company warehouse will bring another 1,200 students downtown to join the more than 2,000 already there when the project is completed by the end of 2019. Bryce Alston is one of the partners in a $12-million, 94-unit rental apartment project currently under construction nearby on Ross Avenue. Location of expansion relative to existing buildings (Supplied) He is one of many in the area who believe the project will add to the momentum that has seen hundreds of new residential units built in the West Exchange since 2000. It is a huge vote of confidence for the area, Alston said. It will have a big impact on residential demand downtown and in the Exchange District. The federal government is providing $40.6 million of the cost of the building through the post-secondary institutions strategic investment fund and the province is providing a loan guarantee up to $54.8 million. RRC is giving itself five years to raise that amount in a major new capital campaign that will launch next week. Paul Vogt, president of RRC, said the Innovation Centre is a bold move bringing students, faculty and businesses together that will enhance activities already underway in the nearby Innovation Alley. The new building will function as a collision centre where students can work with startups and larger businesses, ideally gaining a more rounded skill set more suitable to the changing nature of the workplace demands. Funding for the $90-million-plus building to be built on the north side of Elgin Avenue, immediately north of the Roblin Centre, has been lined up and the project is a go. (Supplied) We have been moving toward this incrementally with our business IT program, Vogt said. We have been at it for a couple of years and the demand has been enormous. Jeff Ryzner, CEO of North Forge Technology Exchange, is involved with many startups already working with RRC students. He believes the development will add scale and build a deeper foundation for the cluster of innovation activity downtown. This will be a huge thing for the entire ecosystem, he said. The news of the development comes in addition to other projects already in the works in the area, including the redevelopment of the Public Safety Building and parkade across the street. Ten or 20 years ago, it seemed like it was one project at a time. Now, its one after another, said Lorne Remillard, president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. Rendering of proposed Red River College expansion. (Supplied) We used to talk about turning the tide in the downtown. Now, it is about momentum and we are building on it as opposed to trying to fix the downtown. In the last 15 years of the 20th century, there was virtually no new residential development downtown. Since then, theres been 2,400 new residential units downtown, with another 2,100 in the works, said Angela Mathieson, CEO of CentreVenture, the citys property development agency. Mathieson said that doesnt mean the city should expect the pace of development will continue on its own the higher cost of downtown land and additional expenses of restoring heritage buildings can be deterrents. Also, a key downtown rental development grant program has now been fully registered and developers such as Alston are backing off committing to new projects. We are absolutely ecstatic about the Innovation Centre, Mathieson said. It is about layering residential, students, events, people working downtown We will not succeed unless we have all those thing working together. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources (left), speaks at the Thursday announcement of the $95.4-million Red River College building to be built on the north side of Elgin Avenue. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Elgin Avenue, just north of RRC's Princess Street campus, will be the site for the college's $90-milllion-plus Innovation Centre. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2017 (2021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Before its rejection in 1973 by the American Psychiatric Association, conversion therapy had gained notoriety within mainstream psychiatry. During counselling sessions, psychiatrists would attempt to suppress same-sex behaviour something they considered pathological by redirecting it toward the heterosexual norm. In other words, the dominant culture sought to impose itself on sexual expression deemed morally objectionable. Even the Canadian government supported such initiatives. Although the Liberal Party under Pierre Elliott Trudeau passed Bill C-150 in 1969 an act that decriminalized same-sex acts between consenting adults in private many Liberal and Conservative party members were strong supporters of conversion therapy, preferring to cure homosexual people rather than incarcerate them indefinitely. The latter solution was no longer a viable option for then-minister of Justice John Turner. He admitted that law and morals were considered two separate philosophical propositions. Decades later, however, private morality continues to fall under the purview of criminal law. For instance, the Canadian legal system still punishes heterosexual men who participate in prostitution. John school has now replaced conversion therapy as a form of state-sanctioned brainwashing that attempts to label purchased sex as a repugnant, unnatural vice. JONATHAN HAYWARD / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES An escort in a downtown Vancouver apartment. 'John' school attempts to label purchased sex as a repugnant, unnatural vice. True happiness, reformers claim, can be found only in healthy, monogamous relationships. Like reparative therapy, john school engages in psychological repression, a technique designed to deter men from seeking a preferred sexual outlet. Ottawa Citizen deputy editorial pages editor Tyler Dawson accurately refers to these therapy sessions as creepy re-education nights run by the Salvation Army. The indoctrination process works as follows: male audiences receive stern lectures concerning how prostitution is internally damaging to women; graphic slideshows then demonstrate how promiscuity leads to sexually transmitted diseases; and community members describe how their neighbourhoods are overrun with underage hookers, gang violence and contaminated needles. For anti-prostitution activists, its not enough that johns change their behaviour: they must also change their preferences. Men are told not only that their sexual choices are wrong, but that no normal adult would engage in this kind of depravity. The states morality test is passed once johns accept the fact that their own self-centred male ego is the narcissistic root cause of female exploitation. This kind of ideological propaganda only perpetuates degrading stereotypes about male clients as predatory misogynists who engage in paid rape. Like conversion therapy, john school instills a deep sense of self-loathing. Of course, what johns are not told is that jurisdictions that legalize sex work, such as Nevada, require sex workers to use condoms and get tested for sexually transmitted diseases. As well, johns are never informed about the differences in safety between indoor and outdoor sex work or how criminalization negatively impacts the health of sex workers. As with the victims of reparative therapy, johns eventually stop beating themselves up over their sexual desires. They come to the realization that their behaviour is perfectly natural to them a response to loneliness, the need for human connection and the desire not to be judged. Ultimately, they come to understand that their sexual behaviour should be shaped and directed by themselves, not by the paternalistic biases of the so-called professionals. Undeterred, advocates of john school continue to stigmatize paid sex between consenting heterosexual adults in private in the same way that the state once stigmatized sex between consenting homosexual adults in private. Since tracking johns, rehabilitating them and incarcerating repeat offenders is about as productive as enforcing archaic sodomy statutes, the demise of john school should be welcomed by those who truly believe there is no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation. Punishing sexual desire to fit perfectionist ideals of sexual expression failed in the case of conversion therapy. John school will fare no better. Unfortunately, its a lesson that moral crusaders have yet to learn. Stuart Chambers, Ph.D., is a professor in the faculties of arts and social sciences at the University of Ottawa. schamber@uottawa.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2017 (2021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. So, hes out. And nobody is in a state of shock. Kevin OLearys withdrawal from the federal Conservative partys leadership race is no more surprising than that time he and his fellow Dragons Den panellists offered a collective Im out to a couple of skateboarders looking for investors in an aerosol spray-on pants business. Chris Young / The Canadian Press Former Conservative leadership candidate Kevin OLeary It was ridiculous, destined to fail and one of many laughable moments in the popular CBC series that launched Mr. OLeary to television stardom in 2006 and afforded him the level of celebrity that made it possible to step into the Tory contest without ever having spent a day in politics. And like that poorly planned pitch to the TV Dragons, OLearys brief flirtation with becoming the Conservatives next prime ministerial hopeful can only be seen as having been doomed from the moment he stepped into the political den. Now that hes out, one is left wondering what in the name of John Diefenbakers ghost made him consider a foray into Canadian politics in the first place. From the outset of his candidacy, Mr. OLeary never seemed to be taking the leadership effort seriously. He skipped French-language debates, citing procedural irritations rather than owning up to his lack of aptitude in one of Canadas two official languages. He didnt attend a rally in Winnipeg, blaming a cancelled flight out of Toronto before being forced to admit that hed simply missed it. He just didnt seem to be in it to win it if, by win it, one means becoming party leader and then the leader of the nation. What Mr. OLeary did seem to be in it for was the opportunity to engage in frequent verbal sparring in a very public arena in an effort to reinforce and expand the bombastic reality-TV bad-boy brand he has worked so hard to cultivate. Mr. OLeary said his decision to withdraw was based on the realization that he might win the leadership but, absent the necessary support in Quebec, would likely lose the next federal election for his party. That may be, but it also isnt all that difficult to embrace the notion that this was simply an exercise in self-promotion that became too elaborate for its own good. Was an earnest desire to make Canada better driving his political ambitions, or was Mr. OLeary simply inspired by seeing a higher-level reality-TV villain parlay his unscripted celebrity and contrarian persona into an attention-grabbing and highly effective political ascent? If it could work in America, why not quaint little Canada? Mr. OLeary, who now resides mostly in the U.S., did refuse to move back to Canada during his leadership bid and had balked at the notion of leaving his beloved Boston even if he had managed to earn the Conservatives nod. On this count alone, Mr. OLeary would have been a public-relations disaster for the Tories, who during the 2011 federal election campaign made a full-contact sport out of slamming Liberal leader Michael Ignatieffs period of U.S. residency. So its probably best that Mr. OLeary has opted out, leaving things to more experienced and decidedly more committed Conservatives. Besides, what a drag it would have been to have to move out of a high-end Boston brownstone and into that musty old dump on Sussex Drive. It may be news to Donald Trump that the original One Hundred Days ended with Napoleons defeat at Waterloo. In fact, if Trump learned about Napoleon from Fox & Friends, he would probably snarl, I like my conquerors of Europe not to end up exiled to an island so remote you cant even build a world-class hotel on it. The news media may be reeling in an era of fake news, but nothing halts the journalistic passion for predictable rituals like toting up presidential accomplishments after 14 weeks and 2 days in office. Trump himself would admit that he is no Franklin Roosevelt. After all, the 45th president would have spurned marrying a woman like Eleanor Roosevelt who was never mistaken for an international fashion model when she was touring coal mines on behalf of FDR. One hundred days remains an unfair standard to assess any presidents accomplishments, especially since using that benchmark tends to reward easy victories and symbolic gestures. A far more fruitful approach would be to assess what we have learned about the new president, the Congress and the nation during the 100 days since Inauguration Day. Here, then, is an impressionistic early scorecard on the Chaos Theory Presidency: Trump is no autocrat-in-chief The opening months of the Trump administration have offered a crash course in the limitations of presidential power. The courts blocked two executive orders banning immigration from seven overwhelmingly Muslim countries. The national security establishment rebelled against the ethically challenged Michael Flynn, Trumps short-lived NSC adviser. And the House balked at passing Trumpcare. Wild improvisation is not a legislative strategy Unlike Barack Obama, Trump has been willing to deploy the traditional tools of presidential persuasion like phone calls and dinners. The problem instead rests with the presidents impatience, disdain for substance and complete lack of understanding of the folkways of Capitol Hill. This week offers a prime example. Trump, whose party controls both houses of Congress, has been nurturing the fantasy that only the Democrats will be blamed if there is a government shutdown over his insistence on funding his unpopular border wall. At the same time, offering some vague campaign-style promises about an unfunded tax cut is a far cry from passing complex legislation. Trumps contempt for ethical norms may have lasting consequences While no future president is likely to have his name emblazoned on a hotel within easy walking distance of the White House, it is easy to imagine Trumps successors balking at releasing their taxes or fully divesting their business dealings. Ivanka Trump and her husband Jarred Kushner appear to believe that working in the White House is just another branding opportunity. The alternative facts White House Nothing is more fatiguing than trying to keep up with the lies uttered by the president and aides like Sean Spicer who dance for Trumps approval. The danger is whatever the ultimate verdict on the Trump presidency we will have permanently poisoned fact-based political discussion. Congress cannot mount a credible non-political investigation of a president The Watergate model of a bipartisan group of senators working to ferret out the truth about a corrupt president now seems a weird 20th century artifact. The new congressional motto has become, If the president is from my party, I have no curiosity about what is going on behind closed doors in the Executive Branch. Congressional dithering goes well beyond the two sputtering Russia probes. There is a disturbing lack of interest on Capitol Hill about the legal justification for Trumps impulsive cruise-missile attack on Syria. And it seems almost impolite for any Republican to question the unseemly buckraking by the Trump family. Democrats may be heading for a nostalgic journey back to the 1980s That was the decade when the Democrats lost three landslide elections in a row. At a time when the out-of-power party should be uniting to battle a polarizing president with an approval rating of just above 40 percent, the Democrats instead are returning to their fractious ways. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer have adroitly held congressional Democrats together on issues ranging from health care to Neil Gorsuch. But away from Capitol Hill, the party keeps reenacting the Hillary Clinton versus Bernie Sanders battles from the 2016 primaries. One day it was Sanders sniffing that Jon Ossoff, who almost won Tom Prices seat in Georgias 6th District without a runoff, isnt a progressive. Then Sanders and new DNC Chair Tom Perez, in the midst of the Unity Tour, touched off a furor with NARAL and womens groups by endorsing an anti-abortion mayoral candidate in Omaha. Pretty soon, the derogatory phrase DINOs (Democrats in Name Only) may enter the political lexicon as the party decides that ideological purity is more vital than electoral majorities. Republicans risk long-term damage from their uncritical embrace of Trump While it is folly to predict the political climate on Election Day 2018, the early readings from polls, special elections and history suggest that GOP House members in competitive districts should not be buying real estate in Washington. As the GOP braces for a bumpy ride in 2018, it remains baffling why so few Republicans have distanced themselves from Trump. The Republican silence on Trump-era ethics, governmental chaos and bizarro tweets suggest that many in Congress are placing party loyalty over personal survival. It is worth asking: What has Trump done to earn such trust? The good news The nation endures without new terrorist attacks or economic crises. And maybe we can weather the next four years, despite that intemperate man in the White House. While most American voters werent paying attention, Republican lawmakers in Madison and Washington, D.C. were busy eliminating community rights and essential protections for average citizens and the environment. Republican President Donald Trump and his cowardly puppets in Congress, like Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Ron Johnson, are willing to cut numerous beneficial programs so we can afford to build a useless wall that the president claimed would be paid for by Mexico. Some of the programs on their chopping block include those that help the disabled, elderly, those with student loans and poor children. They also would drastically cut funding that supports important medical research and scientific studies meant to save the earth and its people from damage due to climate change. While Republicans claim they want to expand American jobs and stop American companies from moving jobs overseas, Johnson and the Republican-controlled Senate voted down a Democratic bill that would have taken away tax deductions that companies get for doing just that. Though the president has been telling us hell get tough on companies that dont buy American, he agreed to let Keystone Pipeline builder, TransCanada, buy the pipeline steel from overseas. That pipeline will transverse the entire length of this country, put our sources of clean water at risk if theres a leak, result in thousands of property owners losing the right to their own land and create only 35 permanent jobs. But it will make the Koch brothers, who fund Republican campaigns, even richer since they own many of the refineries that will process the crude oil carried by the pipeline. The billionaire Kochs and others are also the reason Trump and his henchmen are changing the laws that govern the burning of fossil fuels and exhaust emissions. They dont care that there are more job opportunities in alternative energy industries than those connected to fossil fuels. However, they do care about donations from big gas and oil interests. Trump must have forgotten about his attacks on Hillary Clinton for her Wall Street ties when he appointed former Goldman Sachs executive Steve Mnuchin as Treasury Secretary and Wilbur Ross, a billionaire investor, as Secretary of Commerce. Mnuchin made millions from the real estate collapse that put many homeowners into foreclosure. Trumps picks are the wealthiest cabinet members ever chosen by any United States president. What do they have in common? Big donations to the Republican Party. Its the same here in Wisconsin. Gov. Scott Walker has chosen department heads who financially supported him even though some had no experience in the areas they head. Many were chosen to be in charge of regulating the types of institutions they profited from in the past, ensuring that any rules governing those institutions benefit the institutions, not average citizens. At both the federal and state levels, departments charged with protecting our land, air and water have been forbidden to publish any documents having to do with the consequences of climate change. Websites have been scrubbed of scientific findings that show how fossil fuels are warming the earth and how that causes severe weather events, rising sea levels and the extinction of many species we depend on for our survival. Satellite photos and other solid evidence that prove the decrease in Arctic ice and melting of glaciers that are thousands of years old are no longer welcome. The Republican Party is attempting to silence a lot of voices that speak the truth. According to a Feb. 5 Mark Pitsch article in the Wisconsin State Journal, the Trump administration issued orders to employees of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture not to convey information to the media or public. Officials also imposed a news blackout at the Department of Transportation. Here in Wisconsin, if it werent for a loud media and public outcry, Republican lawmakers would have repealed the open records law that allows the public to know what legislators are doing and if theyre responding to voters. Now that Walker has decided to run for re-election, hes suddenly pretending to be concerned about transparency. Hes also pretending to be concerned about public school funding after he made the largest cuts to education the state has ever seen. Now he says hes increasing funding by historic amounts in his proposed budget. He neglects to mention he cut more than hes replacing. Voters are starting to pay attention. They realize that what Republican lawmakers say is completely different than what they do. Lets remember that on Election Day. Beaver Dam has been using the rating system called PASER to rate and organize more than 700 sections of city streets. The person responsible for rating each street in Beaver Dam is Ritchie Piltz, director of facilities and engineering. According to him, rating the streets is a straightforward process. The ratings are based on engineering judgment and experience, he said. The streets are rated from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best and 1 being the worst. Piltz said that any street section in Beaver Dam that has a 10 rating of which Beaver Dam has 42 sections is typically a section with brand new concrete or asphalt. It typically takes three weeks to review the entire city once a year. As of 2016, Beaver Dam has no street sections with a failing rating of one, but 22 sections have a two rating. Most street sections in Beaver Dam fall between five (fair) to seven (good). Piltz said Beaver Dams asphalt streets are average and the concrete streets are slightly above average. The streets are judged on criteria set by the PASER (Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating) rating system. He said the process is as straightforward as walking along each section of the street and noting flaws. Its designed that way to keep personal opinion out of the equation, he said. This way a street that has an average rating should be in the same anywhere in the state. There are two separate rating systems depending on the type of street concrete or asphalt. For example, a concrete street with a nine rating (excellent) would only see traffic wear in the wheel path and slight map cracking or pop-outs. A concrete street with a two rating (very poor) would have slab cracking, failing joints, poor patching and severe or extensive frost heaves. Ratings can change from year to year based on Mother Nature, he said. In addition, Piltz takes note of the pavement under the street, which also plays a role. He said, usually, the older a street gets the faster its quality will drop from year-to-year. He has seen that a street will keep a high rating for 15 years before it begins to decline. Beaver Dam is no different from most communities in Wisconsin. According to Piltz PASER ratings are used by most cities in the state. Having one system helps Piltz gather maintenance costs and construction costs from other areas in the state. It helps Piltz determine which streets need repairs and where they fall in the citys Capital Improvement Program plan. This forecasts Beaver Dams capital borrowing for major projects. Piltz said that every year he looks at the current PASER ratings, comes up with an estimated budget for the streets that could benefit the most from repairs and presents that information to the Beaver Dam Operations Committee. If the committee recommends the projects they go to the common council along with other projects in the CIP for a final vote. If the CIP is approved the projects slated for that year are put out for bids. Construction estimates are based on past projects in Beaver Dam. According to Piltz, concrete construction estimates fall around $400 a foot and it is around $100 per foot for mill (grinding) with asphalt overlay. Alderpersons and residents have no say in the rating process. Piltz said residents can petition the city council regarding street repairs, but he sets all street ratings using the objective criteria of PASER. Rating can change from year to year based on Mother Nature. Ritchie Piltz, director of facilities and engineering in Beaver Dam A Lake Delton canine is recovering from emergency surgery to remove several nails the dog unwittingly swallowed, and Village police are investigating the possibility of a crime. The nails reportedly were inserted in a section of hot dog found by the dog on the ground and ingested during a walk with its owner, outside Canyon Pointe Apartments in Lake Delton, confirmed Lake Delton Police Lt. William Laughlin. The dog underwent surgery to remove six nails from her stomach and her intestinal tract the next day at Hill-Dale Veterinary Hospital in Baraboo, according to a posting on the hospitals Facebook page. Photos of x-rays showing the location of the nails inside the dogs body also were posted on the page, at https://www.facebook.com/HillDaleVet/?hc_ref=SEARCH. The Lake Delton Police Department is investigating the incident as a possible intentional act to mistreat an animal, a violation of Wisconsin Statute 951, Laughlin said. The department was notified just after noon April 24 that someone found hot dogs laying in the yard around an apartment, and that nails were plugged into (the hot dogs), Laughlin said. The dogs ingestion of the nails was later reported to the department, he said. I think its horrible to hurt someone elses pet, and we are going to do the best job possible to identify the person responsible for doing this, Laughlin said. We have some detectives working on the case. The department posted a request on its Facebook page to please contact the Lake Delton Police Department with any additional information you may have regarding this (at) 608-254-7571. Callers may remain anonymous, the posting said. Hill-Dale Veterinarians Miichael Dobbert and Samantha Steinich performed the two-hour surgery, which they decided to pursue once x-rays revealed approximately a half-dozen nails traveling through the dogs digestive system, according to Dobbert. It could have been much, much worse were happy they caught it early, because the dog had so much of a better chance doing well if we caught it before (the nails) went through the intestines and the stomach, Dobbert told the Dells Events. The dog was transferred after the surgery to an emergency facility in Middleton for post-op observation, and she was discharged with a clean bill of health the next day, he said. Surgeries to remove foreign objects swallowed by canines are routine, Dobbert said, but the circumstances in this case were not. Ive taken some weird things out of stomachs, he said, but not something like this, with possible malicious intent. By Press Trust of India: From Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Apr 28 (PTI) Indias new envoy to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri has discussed the tense political situation in the Himalayan country with former Nepalese prime minister K P Sharma Oli, known for his anti-India stance. Puri, who was appointed the Indian ambassador to Nepal in March, called on Oli at his partys office on the outskirts of Kathmandu yesterday. advertisement Oli, the chairman of the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist?Leninist), and Puri discused matters relating to the deadlock between the government and some political parties over the local-level polls scheduled for May 14, according to party sources. Earlier this month, Oli had said that unnecessary issues should not be brought forth to obstruct the election process and the issue of Constitution amendment can be thought of only after the polls. Returning from Thailand after a medical-checkup, Oli had referred to the process of merger of some of the Madhes- centric parties as a positive signal. Oli, who became the prime minister in October 2015 following promulgation of the new Constitution, resigned from the post in August last year blaming India for his fall. He had alleged that India was behind the months-long agitation by the Madhesi people, who are of India-origin, demanding amendments to the Constitution. He had said that the blockade of key border points with India by Madhesis was more inhuman than a war and criticised New Delhi for raking up alleged rights abuse in Nepal at the UN Human Rights Council. PTI SBP ABH AKJ ABH --- ENDS --- In the age of the internet, censorship has acquired a new face Abandon the naive thought that, with the internet and free flow of information, governments are retreating from repression of the media. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) new report shows that governments, including democratic ones, have found other ways to try to control information. The CPJs World Press Freedom Report 2017, released ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3 and titled The New Face of Censorship, also shows that violence against journalists has spiked. Censorship is now complex and no longer the crude practices of the past when newspapers were banned and editors thrown in jail in the manner of October 19 1977, South Africas Black Wednesday. The latest CPJ report spells out how new information technologies, for example, the global, interconnected internet; social media platforms; and smartphones with cameras were supposed to make censorship obsolete. Instead, they have made it more complicated. Everyone is grappling with the same problems albeit in different contexts. The report breaks the myth that the internet is free and cant be controlled. Governments are using suppressing hate speech to suppress other information that shows them up. The new technologies that also allow criminal and militant groups to bypass the media and speak directly to the public have made the world exceptionally dangerous for journalists reporting from conflict zones, according to the editor of the report, Joel Simon, who is the executive director of the CPJ. In Simons book, The New Censorship: Inside the Global Battle for Media Freedom, the strategies to control and manage information fall into three broad categories: repression 2.0, masked political control and technology capture. In South Africa we are seeing technology capture at the SABC, with the battle for control over broadcasting. This is not a new story the National Party controlled it prior to democracy. But now we are seeing ownership being used to do this, with TV channel ANN7 dedicated to promoting President Jacob Zuma and his political faction. We are also experiencing increased electronic surveillance of cellphones and emails by the state security agency, journalists report. Beyond the new, old ways of censorship still persist. For example, The New Face of Censorship report says: Violence against journalists has increased, with 48 journalists killed in 2016 and eight killed so far this year. The worst country listed is Mexico, followed by Syria and Iraq. The deadliest countries for journalists in 2016 were Syria, Iraq and Yemen. The most dangerous beats were war, politics and crime. In Turkey, 19 journalists were jailed in President Recep Tayyip Erdogans crackdown. In Thailand, a TV channel was suspended. In Venezuela, the government recently suspended the broadcasting of CNN. In Brazil, the judiciary appears to be in cahoots with government: a judge ordered the removal from websites of a story about the Brazilian presidents wife. In China, journalists can and have been charged with, and jailed for, inciting separatism if they are caught talking to foreign media. All journalists work goes through the government ministry in charge of media. So censorship is part of life in China. And in the United States, nine media outlets were denied access to an informal White House press secretary briefing. Reporters in the US are harassed by online trolls, set by the precedent of the president, who regularly vilifies journalists. In South Africa, the high court in Pretoria ruled in December that criminal defamation is constitutional, which is a problem for freedom of expression. It was also noted that journalists are regularly attacked while covering protests. This is the depressing scenario in which journalists operate around the world, minus one or two northern European countries such as Finland, which topped the World Press Freedom Index in 2016 for the seventh year in a row. What is the best way to fight this, with a decreasing pool of professional journalists who are faced with fake news? Stick with fact-based journalism. Leave opinion to the opinionistas, and mark it clearly on the comment and analysis pages. Check facts, check contributors and have tight systems in place to avoid damage to brands by hackery and fakery. When in doubt, refer to the Press Code on conflict of interest, right to reply and hate speech although what the latter is appears to be up for grabs. Glenda Daniels is a senior lecturer in media studies at the University of the Witwatersrand This article was originally published on the Mail and Guardian website. Khandu Patel, father of two, worked as a housekeeper at America's Best Value Inn and Suites in Whitehaven. By Press Trust of India: A 56-year-old Indian man has been killed after getting caught in a crossfire outside a motel in the US state of Tennessee, becoming the fifth from the community to be killed in the country since February. Khandu Patel, father of two, worked as a housekeeper at America's Best Value Inn and Suites in Whitehaven, a report in Fox13Memphis said. advertisement The incident occurred on Monday when about 30 shots went off. Investigators say one of those bullets hit Patel. He was standing at the back of the motel when he was shot and later died at the Regional Medical Center. Khandu had worked at the inn for about eight months. His wife and children lived at the motel with him. "He finished his days' work and was out walking around the property. Next thing you know he hears some gunshots flying around and one caught him in the chest," Jay Patel, the victim's nephew, was quoted as saying by the report. "He didn't even make it to the hospital to be saved." He added that the family was ready to shift to another location for a new job. "He was ready to get out of there," said Jay Patel. "Just trying to put food on the table so he had to take what he had at the time." Investigators have put up flyers all over the motel asking for information about the killer, which notes there is a Crime Stoppers reward. The report added that Patel's nephew is asking anyone with information to come forward help the family get justice. INCIDENTS IN PAST On February 22, Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla was killed when a US Navy veteran opened fire at him and his friend before yelling "get out of my country" in Kansas. Harnish Patel, a 43-year-old Indian-origin store owner, was found dead of gunshot wounds in the front yard of his home in Lancaster, South Carolina, in early March. On March 23, Sasikala Narra (38) and her son Anish Narra (6) were found dead inside their apartment in New Jersey. ALSO WATCH: Female Indian techie, son murdered in US, alleges family ALSO READ: Female Indian techie, 7-year-old son found murdered in the US, says family Kansas City shooting: Wife of killed Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla asks 'do we belong here' --- ENDS --- Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc.. Read More Dril-Quip, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and services engineered drilling and production equipment for use in deepwater, harsh environment, and severe service applications worldwide. The company's principal products include subsea and surface wellheads, subsea and surface production trees, mudline hanger systems, specialty connectors and associated pipes, drilling and production riser systems, liner hangers, wellhead connectors, diverters, and safety valves, as well as downhole tools. It also provides technical advisory services, and rework and reconditioning services, as well as rental and purchase of running tools for use in the installation and retrieval of its products; and downhole tools comprise of liner hangers, production packers, safety valves, and specialty downhole tools that are used to hang-off and seal casing into a previously installed casing string in the well bore. The company's products are used to explore for oil and gas from offshore drilling rigs, such as floating rigs and jack-up rigs; and for drilling and production of oil and gas wells on offshore platforms, tension leg platforms, and Spars, as well as moored vessels, such as floating production, storage, and offloading monohull moored vessels. It sells its products directly through its sales personnel, independent sales agents, and representatives to integrated, independent, and foreign national oil and gas companies, as well as drilling contractors, and engineering and construction companies. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. The following companies are subsidiares of Roper Technologies: AC Analytical Controls B.V., AC Analytical Controls Holding B.V., AC Analytical Controls Services B.V., Abel Pump, Acton Research, Acumen PM LLC, Aderant Canada Company, Aderant Company, Aderant Holdings Inc., Aderant International Holdings LLC, Aderant Legal (UK) Limited, Aderant Legal Holdings (AUS) Pty Ltd, Aderant Legal Holdings (NZ) ULC, Aderant Legal Holdings Inc., Aderant North America Inc., Aderant Parent Holdings Inc., Advanced Sensors Limited, Advanced Sensors Ltd., AiCambridge Ltd., Alpha Holdings of Delaware I LLC, Alpha Holdings of Delaware II LLC, Alpha Technologies B.V., Alpha Technologies GmbH, Alpha Technologies Japan LLC, Alpha Technologies Services LLC, Alpha Technologies U.K., Alpha Technologies s.r.o., Alpha Trust Corporation, Alpha UK Holdings LLC, American LegalNet Inc, Amot Controls Corporation, Amot Controls GmbH, Amot/Metrix Investment Company Inc., Amphire Solutions Inc., Amtech Systems (Hong Kong) Limited, Amtech Systems LLC, Amtech World Corporation, Antek Instruments, Archisnapper BV, Ascension Technology Corporation, Assureweb Limited, Atlantic Health Partners Inc., Atlas Database Software Corp., Avitru, Bellefield Systems, BillBlast, C/S Solutions Inc., CBORD Holdings Corp., CBORD Holdings Corporation, CIVCO Holdings Inc., CIVCO Medical Solutions B.V., Centurion Research Solutions LLC, Chalwyn Limited, Civco Holding Inc., Civco Medical Instruments Co. Inc., Clackamas Pump LLC, CliniSys Group, CliniSys Group Limited, Clinisys Scotland Limited, Clinisys Solutions Limited, Cointec Ingenieros y Consultores S.L., Commerce Pump LLC, Compressor Controls (Beijing) Corporation Ltd., Compressor Controls Corporation B.V., Compressor Controls Corporation Middle East, Compressor Controls Corporation S.r.l., Compressor Controls LLC, Compressor Controls Mauritius Ltd., Compressor Controls Pty Ltd., Compressor Controls Saudi Arabia LLC, ComputerEase Software, ConceptShare, ConstructConnect, ConstructConnect Canada Inc., ConstructConnect Inc., Cornell Pump Company, DAT Solutions LLC, DATSolutions Private Limited, DCMH Group Holdings Inc., DCMH Group Holdings LLC, DCMH Holdings Inc., DI Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., DI Dutch Holdings LLC, DI Hong Kong Limited, Data Innovations, Data Innovations Canada Ltd., Data Innovations Cooperatief U.A., Data Innovations Europe S.A., Data Innovations LLC, Data Innovations Latin America Ltda, Dawning Technologies LLC, Deltek, Deltek Ajera Inc., Deltek Asia Pacific (HK) Limited, Deltek Australia Pty Ltd., Deltek Danmark A/S, Deltek France SAS, Deltek GB Limited, Deltek GmbH, Deltek Inc., Deltek Nederland B.V., Deltek Netherlands B.V., Deltek Norge AS, Deltek Sverige AB, Deltek Systems (Canada) Inc., Deltek Systems (Colorado) Inc., Deltek Systems (Philippines) Ltd., Deltek TNSCore Holdings LLC, Deltek WST LLC, Dominion I Inc., Duncan Technologies, Dynamco Inc., Dynamic Instruments Inc., Dynisco Enterprises GmbH, Dynisco Enterprises LLC, Dynisco Europe GmbH, Dynisco Holding GmbH, Dynisco Instruments LLC, Dynisco Instruments S.a.r.l., Dynisco LLC, Dynisco Parent Inc., Dynisco S.r.l., Dynisco Viatran LLC, Dynisco Viatran (M) Sdn Bhd, Dynisco-Viatran Instrument Sdn Bhd, EPSI, FMS Purchasing & Services Inc., FSI Holdings Inc., FTI Flow Technology Inc., Flow Technology, Fluid Metering, Fluid Metering Inc., Foodlink Holdings Inc., Foodlink Holdings Inc., Foodlink IT India Private Limited, Foundry, Foundry Visionmongers (Ireland) Limited, Freight Market Intelligence Consortium, Gatan, GeneInsight Inc., Getloaded Corporation, HRsmart Canada Inc., HRsmart France SAS, HRsmart Germany GmbH, HRsmart Inc., HRsmart International, HRsmart International Holdings LLC, HRsmart Mexico, HRsmart SA (Pty) Ltd., HRsmart Talent Management Solutions Europe Limited, HRsmart Ventures LLC, Handshake Software Inc., Handshake Software Inc., Hansco Automatisering B.V., Hansen Technologies, Hansen Technologies Corporation, Harbour Holding Corp., Hardy Process Solutions, Horizon Lab Systems LLC, Horizon Software International LLC, IDS, INPUT Inc., IPA Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., ISL Finance SAS, ISL Holding SAS, ISL Scientifique de Laboratorie - ISL S.A.S., Impact Financial Systems, Industrial Products Investment Company, Innovative Product Achievements LLC, Innovative Product Achievements LLC, Inovonics Corporation, Instill Corporation, IntelliTrans Limited, Intellitrans LLC, Intellitrans Sweden AB, JLT Mobile Computers Inc., Job Access LTDA, Laser App Inc., Link Logistics Holding LLC, Loadlink Technologies Corporation, Logitech, Logitech Limited, Lumenera Corporation, MASD, MED Professional Services LLC, MEDTEC Inc., MEDTEC LLC, MHA Long Term Care Network Inc., MHA Long Term Care Services Inc., MIPS Austria GesmbH, MIPS Deutschland GmbH, MIPS France Sarl, MIPS Nederland B.V., MIPS Schweiz AG, MIPS Software Iberica SL, MPR Readers Inc., Managed Health Care Associates Inc., Media Cybernetics L.P., Medical Information Professional Systems NV, Medina Acquisition LLC, Metrix Instrument Co. L.P., NDI Europe GmbH, NDI Holding Corp., Navigator Group Purchasing Inc., Neptune Technology Group (Canada) Co., Neptune Technology Group Holdings Inc., Neptune Technology Group Inc., Neptune Technology Group Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Neptune Technology Group Services Inc., Nippon Roper K.K., Northern Digital Inc., Omega Legal Systems Inc., On Center Software LLC, Onvia Inc., PAC (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PAC Denmark ApS, PAC GmbH, PAC Instruments (Thailand) Company Limited, PAC Instruments Asia PTE. Ltd., PB Bidco Limited, PB Holdco Limited, PB Midco Limited, PB Topco Limited, PGP UK Limited, PMC/Beta, Petroleum Analyzer, Petroleum Analyzer Company L.P., Petrotech, Phase Analyzer Company Ltd., Photometrics, PowerPlan, PowerPlan Canada ULC, PowerPlan Holdings Inc., PowerPlan Inc., PowerPlan Intermediate Holdings Inc., PowerPlan Operations ANZ Pty Ltd, PowerPlan Operations Ltd., Princeton Instruments, Project Aloha Merger Sub Inc., Project Diamond Intermediate Holdings Corporation, Project Torque Intermediate Holdings Inc., Project Viking Holdings Inc., Project Viking Intermediate LLC, QSC 1208 Limited, QSC 1209 Limited, Quantitative Imaging Corporation, RF IDeas, RF IDeas Inc., RI Marketing India Private Limited, RIL Holding Limited, RMT Inc., RT Merger Sub Inc., Rebate Tracking Group LLC, Redlake Imaging Corporation, Resonant Software Inc., Roda Deaco Valve Inc., Roper Acquisitions Holdings Inc., Roper Brasil Comercio E Promocao De Productos E Servicos LTDA, Roper Canada Holdings LP, Roper Canada UK Limited, Roper Denmark UK Limited, Roper EUR Pte. Ltd., Roper Engineering s.r.o., Roper Europe GmbH, Roper GM Denmark Holdings ApS, Roper Germany GmbH, Roper Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Roper Holdings Limited, Roper IH LLC, Roper Industrial Products Investment Company, Roper Industries Denmark ApS, Roper Industries Deutschland GmbH, Roper Industries Inc., Roper Industries Limited, Roper Industries Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Roper Industries Mauritius Ltd., Roper Industries UK Limited, Roper International Holding Inc., Roper International Holding Limited, Roper International Holding SCS, Roper LLC, Roper Luxembourg Finance S.a.r.l., Roper Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Roper Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Roper Middle East Ltd. FZCO, Roper NL1 UK Limited, Roper NL2 UK Limited, Roper Operations Company I LLC, Roper Operations Company II LLC, Roper Pte. Ltd., Roper Pump Company, Roper Scientific B.V., Roper Scientific SAS, Roper Scot LP, Roper Singapore Holding LLC, Roper Southeast Asia LLC, Roper Swiss Finance GmbH, Roper T1 LLC, Roper T1000 Corp., Roper T2 LLC, Roper Tech. Middle East Ltd. FZCO, Roper Technologies (Ireland) Limited, Roper Technologies (Scot) LP, Roper UK Investments Limited, Roper UK Ltd., Roper-Mex L.P., Ropintassco Holdings L.P., SHP Group Holdings Inc., SIRA LLC, Shanghai Roper Industries Trading Co. Ltd., Sinmed Holding International B.V., Societe de Distribution de Logiciels Medicaux, SoftWriters Inc., Softwriters Holdings, Softwriters Holdings Inc., Sohnar Pty Ltd, Star Purchasing Services LLC, Strata Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., Strata Decision Technologies LLC, Strata Decision Technology LLC, Strata Parallel II Inc., Strategic Healthcare Programs Blocker 2 Inc., Strategic Healthcare Programs Blocker LLC, Strategic Healthcare Programs Holdings LLC, Strategic Healthcare Programs Holdings LLC, Strategic Healthcare Programs L.L.C., Struers, Struers (Shanghai) International Trading Ltd., Struers A/S, Struers GmbH, Struers Inc., Struers K.K., Struers Limited, Struers SAS, Sunquest Europe Limited, Sunquest Holdings Inc., Sunquest Information Systems (Europe) Limited, Sunquest Information Systems (India) Private Limited, Sunquest Information Systems (International) Limited, Sunquest Information Systems Inc., Sunquest Information Systems Pty Ltd, TLP Holdings LLC, Team TSI Corporation, Technolog Group Limited, Technolog Holdings Limited, Technolog Holdings Ltd., Technolog Limited, Technolog SARL, The CBORD Group Inc., The Foundry Topco No.2 Limited, The Foundry USCo Inc., The Foundry Visionmongers Ltd., The Tidewater Healthcare Shared Services Group Inc., The Washington Management Group Inc., Torque Acquisition Holdco Inc., Transcore Atlantic Inc., Transcore CNUS Inc., Transcore Holdings Inc., Transcore ITS LLC, Transcore LP, Transcore Nova Scotia Corporation, Transcore Partners LLC, Trinity Integrated Systems Limited, Trinity Integrated Systems Ltd., UHF Purchasing Services LLC, Union Square Software (International) Limited, Union Square Software Inc., Union Square Software Limited, Union Square Software Pty, United Controls Group Inc., Uson L.P., Uson Limited, Utilitec Limited, Utilitec Services Limited, Utility Data Services Limited, Verathon Canada Holdings Inc., Verathon Holdings (Delaware) Inc., Verathon Inc., Verathon Inc., Verathon Medical (Australia) Pty Limited, Verathon Medical (Canada) ULC, Verathon Medical (Europe) B.V., Verathon Medical (France) SARL, Verathon Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Verathon Medical (Japan) K.K., Verathon Medical (UK) Ltd., Vertafore, Vertafore Canada Inc., Vertafore Inc., Vertafore India Private Limited, Viastar Services LP, Viatran Corporation, WELIS, Walter Herzog GmbH, WorkBook APAC Ltd., Workbook Software A/S, Zetec (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zetec Canada Ltd., Zetec France, Zetec Inc., Zetec Korea Inc., Zetec Services Inc., iPipeline, iPipeline (TCP) Limited, iPipeline Canada Inc, iPipeline Co. Ltd., iPipeline Holdings Inc, iPipeline Inc, iPipeline Limited, iSqFt Holdings Inc., iSqFt Parent Corporation, iSqFt Sub Inc., iTradeNetwork Inc., and mySBX Corporation. Read More By Press Trust of India: Mumbai, Apr 28 (PTI) To revive its ties, Italy is keen to support the Make in India drive and hopes to take bilateral trade to nearly 8.5 billion euros in 2018, visiting deputy minister for economic development Ivan Scalfarotto said here today. Scalfarotto is leading a high profile delegation of 60 Italian companies to the country to explore business and investment opportunities. advertisement "We have a long-standing relationship with India and we want to strengthen it further especially when it is growing at over 7 per cent. With this visit, we are hopeful that bilateral trade would reach to 8.5 billion euros by 2018," he told reporters on the sidelines an investment summit. He said Rome is committed to contribute to improve the ties, and share her expertise and know-how in key areas such as green technologies, renewables, food processing, textiles, SMEs and infrastructure. "India, with her emphasis on infrastructure, manufacturing, IT, and clean energy, among others, is a huge opportunity for our businesses. "There are already 600 Italian companies operating here and we want to further strengthen our ties," he said. The minister further said in the automobiles sector, Italian component manufacturers are ready to offer their knowledge and advanced technologies for hybrid, electric, fuel cell and hydrogen vehicles. Scalfarotto said Italy, which is the second largest manufacturing economy in the EU after Germany, has so far invested nearly 2.2 billion euros in India while the latters contribution in their FDI is around 110 million euros only. When asked whether there has been an improvement in ease of doing business here, he said, "though things have changed to some extent, there are some areas that still need to be addressed. Governments policy on single taxation under GST, emphasis on creating infrastructure, among others are positive signals." Addressing the investor forum, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis assured the delegation that his administration will provide all necessary assistance and infrastructure to facilitate Italian companies to set up businesses in the state. "Maharashtra is growing at more than the national growth rate. We are making huge investments in creating infrastructure. Along with this, we are trying to streamline our processes to ensure single-window clearances. We already have 130 Italian companies operating in the state and we expect more and more companies to come to the state," he said. PTI PSK BEN RMT BAS --- ENDS --- W&M faculty in the media this month Allison Orr Larsen is a professor of law at William & Mary. She was recently quoted in by The Washington Post regarding the public image of the federal appeals court in Richmond, Virginia. Photo by Stephen Salpukas John Strong is the CSX Professor of Business Administration and Economics & Finance Area Head at William & Mary's Mason School of Business. Strong was recently quoted by the The Atlantic regarding how airline companies can get away with bad customer service. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Lawrence B. Wilkerson is a distinguished adjunct professor of government and public policy at William & Mary and former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell. Wilkerson was recently quoted by the Seattle Times regarding former National Security Agency employee, Edward Snowden's ability to maintain relevancy through video conferencing with crowds at universities and technological companies. Photo courtesy of The Blaze Photo - of - Hide Caption Following are selected examples of William & Mary faculty and staff members in the national and international media. - Ed. Person who told the world about the United States' electronic monitoring capabilities keeps relevant via video teleconferencing In an April 18 Seattle Times article, Lawrence Wilkerson, a distinguished adjunct professor government and public policy at William & Mary, commented on the continuing relevance of former National Security Agency employee Edward Snowden. According to the article, Snowden divulged to the public the significant methods and technologies the NSA uses to monitor potential threats to the United States and its allies. [If Snowden] were to ask me, Should I come home? Id say, Absolutely not. Youll be hung said Wilkerson. The article also states that since his exile to the nation of Russia, Snowden has had numerous video chats with university students, privacy advocates and proponents of technological advancement. Snowden can make as much as $30,000 per talk Snowdens lawyer said that he could make a meaningful living doing these speeches, but Snowden chooses to appear for little or no money. As to returning to whether or not Russian leader Vladimir Putin was using Snowden for propaganda reasons, Wilkerson said that the need for debate about surveillance outweighed those concerns. I think this is an important debate in the long run even if Putin was orchestrating Snowden, he said. Why airlines can do what they want to customers and pretty much get away with it In an April 15 The Atlantic article, John Strong, the CSX Professor of Business Administration and Economics & Finance Area Head at William & Mary, discussed how airline companies can get away with bad customer service. According to the article, there is inequality in the way professionals within airline companies of the United States potentially treat customers. There are programs that help airlines gather data on their passengers, such as their preferences the fares they have paid and extra services they buy, according to Strong. While airlines have the information to create a more detailed pecking order, they dont go much beyond that in practice, Strong said. Giving priority to some isnt a practice unique to the airline industry, said Strong. More valuable customers at brokerage houses get dedicated access communications and cheaper trades; hotels offer free Wi-Fi and other complimentary benefits to their best customers, he said. Almost anyone who has a loyalty program differentiates benefits by the value of different groups of customers. Does the federal appeals court in Richmond need a different name? In a March 13 Washington Post article, Allison Orr Larsen, professor of law at William & Mary, discussed the public image of the federal appeals court in Richmond. According to the article, a portfolio of Southern cases, genteel courtroom traditions and years of forceful conservative rulings shape the enduring image of the Richmond federal appeals court. But the bench has shed its conservative label, undergoing a sea change in the past decade, and is poised to have an immediate impact on the Trump administration, the article states. Larsen said that the court may have lost its conservative label but no its sense of collegiality. Even for those difficult, politically charged cases, Im sure they will be thoughtfully deliberated by everyone regardless of the political affiliation, she said. The court, she added, puts a premium on collaboration. Illuminating royalty: W&M Libraries partner on Georgian Papers Programme Royal treatment W&M students Connor Fenton 17, Dan Delmonaco 16 and Emily Zinger 17 work on transcribing royal documents in Swems digital lab. Photo by Tami Back Royal treatment W&M students and librarians working on the GPP project had the opportunity to meet Royal Librarian Oliver Urquhart Irvine at a GPP event in Washington, D.C., in March. From left: Connor Fenton 17, Dan Delmonaco 16, Debbie Cornell of W&M Libraries, Irvine, Emily Zinger 17 and Lauren Hammett 18. Photo by Leah Kelso Royal treatment Debbie Cornell answers questions about the libraries role in the GPP at an event in Washington. Cornell is head of digital services for W&M Libraries and is leading the transcription team. Photo by Leah Kelso Royal treatment Stephen Hanson, W&Ms vice provost for international affairs, speaks to Patricia Methven, Georgian Papers Programme manager for Kings College, who visited the campus in March to meet with the U.S. partners and attend the campus GPP open house event. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption Sitting at a work station in Swem Librarys digital lab, Connor Fenton 17 combs through a digital copy of a 17th-century royal diary. Written by Queen Charlotte, the diary contains recordings of the baths her husband, King George III, has taken. I thought it was very interesting that she recorded these baths because she didnt just mention that he had a bath, she documented how many baths and what time of day each occurred. It seemed odd that she was so preoccupied with his hygiene, Fenton said. It wasnt until he saw the new BBC documentary, George III The Genius of the Mad King, that he learned that the baths were not strictly for cleanliness, but considered a form of therapy for King George IIIs mental issues. The documentary suggested that the baths were therapeutic, and thats definitely one of the possibilities that make the most sense. Im no expert on bathing culture, but it seems to be the implication she was going for, that the baths were for his health. Thats the beauty of history, that it is open to interpretation, said Fenton. These are the types of surprises that can be found in the treasure trove that is the Georgian Papers, royal documents from the Georgian monarchy held in the Royal Archives. In spring 2015, William & Mary and the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture partnered with the Royal Archives and King's College London on the Georgian Papers Programme (GPP). The GPP is a five-year project to make available online the historic manuscripts relating to the Georgian monarchy, by the year 2020. Most of these papers relate to George III, although papers from the reigns of George I, George II, George IV and William IV are also included. The partnership will work together to create an open, discoverable online archive of 350,000 digitized items. Approximately 85 percent of the items are unknown to scholars. The project provides a unique opportunity for librarians and students from William & Mary to work on an international digital project, growing our expertise and learning from our colleagues, said Carrie Cooper, dean of university libraries. Working with Kings College London and the Royal Archives is an honor and a privilege. Although separated by an ocean, 21st-century technology has enabled William & Mary Libraries to partner in ways that have never before been possible. While digitization is taking place at Windsor Castle, librarians and student assistants from William & Mary are working to transcribe materials and enhance descriptive metadata. The scanned documents digitally traverse the Atlantic Ocean to be processed in the digital lab at Swem Library, William & Marys main campus library. Our role is to support access to and exploration of the collection. Transcription and metadata are elements that will add context and make the collection ripe for scholarship and more useful for scholars, said Cooper. Its a very exciting project to be a part of. In January the GPP portal launched with 30,000 digitized documents accessible across the globe. To date, 1,600 pages have been transcribed. For the project, W&M Libraries is utilizing Transkribus, a handwritten text recognition tool, which eliminates having to manually transcribe each of the 350,000 documents. Instead student assistants transcribe small sets of documents that are used to inform or train the tool to decipher the handwriting and build a model. The model is used to analyze or read the handwriting of non-transcribed documents and produce a transcription. Its a relatively new tool, definitely new to us, said Debbie Cornell, head of digital services at W&M Libraries. We are learning a lot of techniques and troubleshooting problems. All of these lessons learned will help our work as we begin digitizing, transcribing and making our own unique materials accessible a priority in the year ahead. Although incredibly useful, Transkribus does have limitations. Documents containing poor handwriting, ink bleed-through or other marks diminish the tools ability to read the text, so traditional transcription is still necessary. This summer we plan to roll out an Omeka site that will help manage manual transcription, said Cornell. The transcription team, led by Cornell, currently consists of three students, Fenton, Emily Zinger 17 and Lauren Hammett 18, as well as recent graduate Dan Delmonaco 16 and a volunteer, Karen King. The student positions are funded by W&M Libraries, the Omohundro Institute and the Christopher Wren Association. Im thankful that a position like this exists for students, said Fenton. As a history major, I have really enjoyed the opportunity to work with primary sources, and its really exciting to be involved in helping to get these primary sources out to people. In the fall, there will be three empty spots on the team, as Fenton, Zinger and Delmonaco move on to begin their careers or attend graduate school. The project has had a profound impact on them all from providing important work experience to simply learning more about British history. Every day, in the middle of the stresses of midterms and quizzes, I have had the great luck to spend a few hours exploring the details of King George's personal papers, said Zinger. Beyond the day to day, however, this project has set the tone for how I am approaching my career. I have discovered a passion and an excitement for archiving and I have the GPP to thank for this realization. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Captain Ayush Yadav, 25, was among the three soldiers martyred in the suicide attack on an Army camp in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir. Parents of Captain Yadav have demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make tough decisions to prevent such attacks. By India Today Web Desk: Three soldiers, including a Captain, were martyred in a terror attack on an Army camp in Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday (April 27). Two terrorists were gunned down by security forces in the gun battle. Captain Ayush Yadav, JCO Bhoop Singh Gujjar Dussa and Naik Venkat Raman were among the three soldiers martyred in the fidayeen attack on the army camp based near the Line of Control (LoC). With his son making the supreme sacrifice for the country, mother of Captain Ayush Yadav has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against the perpetrators of the militant attack. advertisement "If Prime Minister Narendra Modi fails to take action, I will take revenge for my son's death," said the mother of the 25-year-old Army officer. Captain Yadav's father too demanded strong action and a firm policy to tackle terrorism. "How long will be see our children being killed like this," asked Arun Kant Yadav, Yadav also vented his ire at human rights activists, saying they do not speak out in such cases. His mother spoke to him the previous day,nxt day she kept calling him but then he never picked call:Capt Ayush Yadav's father #KupwaraAttack pic.twitter.com/mYuyNiXLv1- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 28, 2017 "When our soldiers retaliate, human rights' activists complain. This is nothing for them. You tie a person to a jeep and there is outrage, inquiry and actions. If we do not avoid this (outrage), how is this going to work?," he asked. Yadav said his niece and her husband are majors in the army. Had his son survived, he too would have been a major some day, he said. "You can see for yourself what is the environment in the country. Unless there is strong policy and action, it will continue. People will be martyred. Something must be done about it. It should not happen to anyone else's child," he added. WATCH: A look at the major attack that took place in the Kashmir Valley ALSO READ: Kupwara attack: Ghost of Uri haunts Army, urgent need to seal borders Major terror attacks on Indian Army, CRPF in Jammu and Kashmir: A timeline Kupwara: Meet the brave housekeeper who shot terrorists --- ENDS --- Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Suttell, center, speaks during the opening of a special session at Woonsocket High School, as, from left, justices Maureen McKenna Goldberg, Francis Flaherty and Gilbert Indeglia, listen Wednesday. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Workforce Management Can Lead to Increased Profits The process of Workforce Management can seem like a giant juggling act at times, trying to meet the demands of customers, employees, business partners and more. A successful workforce management solution will balance out those needs, align them with broader business goals and objectives, and manage the whole process efficiently. When implemented correctly, workforce management can lead to increased productivity, reduced costs and higher profits. Market growth is a sure testament to just how valuable workforce management can be to businesses of all sizes. MarketsandMarkets forecasts the overall market will reach $7.37 billion by 2021, driven by a focus on workforce optimization and mobility. Workforce analytics is an important part of market growth, and is expected to bring in the bulk of market share during the next few years. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will also help grow the market, spending significantly on workforce management offerings to increase profits and focus on core business objectives. Some of the many benefits of workforce management include helping businesses become better prepared for customer demands and unforeseen circumstances. It can also improve operational efficiency while also reducing time and money spent on management and administration by automating many processes. A comprehensive solution will help improve service levels and will also empower employees with better and more effective communication tools, ultimately reducing staff turnover. Workforce analytics are an important component, offering data on historical trends and patterns which can be mined to create actionable plans. Some of the key HR areas where this is particularly useful include worker turnover, and analytics can offer insights on where performance issues or training gaps may be impacting turnover. Analytics can also offer useful information when it comes to recruiting new talent based on a pre-defined skillset aligned with long-term company objectives. And they are invaluable when it comes to analyzing work performance to pinpoint areas that need improvement as well as to reward employees who are performing exceptionally well. A comprehensive workforce management solution may be one of the best investments a company can make. Not only can this important tool help better manage and automate everyday business functions, but it can help companies cut costs, improve productivity, operate more efficiently, better define and meet long-term business objectives and ultimately increase profits. Edited by Alicia Young KazAtomProm outlines move to trading 28 April 2017 Share KazAtomProm's newly created trading subsidiary TH Kazakatom will bring much needed liquidity to the uranium spot market, its chief commercial director Riaz Rizvi has told the World Nuclear Fuel Cycle (WNFC) conference in Toronto, Canada. Rizvi said that, as part of KazAtomProm's ongoing Transformation Program, it had established a trading office in Switzerland to buy and sell uranium on the spot market. Rizvi, who joined Kazakhstan's state-owned uranium producer earlier this month, said the team in Switzerland will have been hired by the third quarter of this year, at which time it will become active on the spot market. Prior to his appointment at KazAtomProm, Rizvi worked in energy trading and marketing commodities at AEP, Constellation Energy, Nufcor and NuCap. KazAtomProm's move into trading is a response to a lack of liquidity in the market, Rizvi said. "The problem is the fact that we are not buying and selling material. And by not buying and selling material, very small transactions have the ability to move the market significantly," he said, noting that only 200,000 lbs U3O8 were traded last week. The company, which hired about 40 external consultants for its Transformation Program, found that for the sales and marketing business, "we need to become much more customer centric. Long gone are the days when we could just sell it and people would buy it", Rizvi said. KazAtomProm, which produces around 30 million lbs U3O8 per year, can produce across almost the entire supply chain, yet it isn't using its position to help its customers when delays or other problems occur. In addition, Rizvi added: "Pricing flexibility is probably the one reason why we've been unsuccessful so far in really penetrating the European and US markets. Our pricing mechanism doesn't necessarily line up with the way that our customers want to buy." He added: "If we want to be in the spot market we need to be able to act fast and we need to be able to enter into contracts without a lot of bureaucracy, and that's how we're setting up this company." By basing TH Kazakatom in Switzerland, it is closer to the US time zone, as well as to the European and US markets which KazAtomProm wants to reach. On long-term contracting, Rizvi said: "It's really about being able to give the widest possible range of options to our customers in terms of the types of contracts that we sign with them." Traditionally, KazAtomProm has been a "very slow bureaucratic organisation", he said. "If we agree a contract it still takes us three or four weeks to finalise the documentation. That's as true for 100,000 lbs as it is for 5 million lbs, which is why we tend to focus on big deals." With the establishment of the new trading subsidiary, "Now we can do it in pretty much the same way as all other market participants do," he said. In 2000, primary market participants - utilities and producers - accounted for 95% of the spot market, he noted. That share decreased to two-thirds by 2005 and one-third by 2011. The rest comes from the financial community, namely traders and financiers. Ten years ago there was a "massive spread" between the long-term price and the spot price, which reflected security of supply. "In no other industry did we have anything like that," Rizvi said. "In every other industry, if you wanted to contract long term, you were basically looking at the spot price and then adding on the cost of carrying, and the cost of storing, cost of financing, and that was really the price in the future. And what the financial players have done is they've made our markets more efficient. "They've come in and they've said, this is the price in two years' time and this is the price today. And if they get out of whack, then what they'll do is they'll sell material in two years' time and they'll buy material on the spot market and by doing that over and over again, the futures market goes down and the spot market goes up and we're back into equilibrium. So actually they're making our markets more efficient," he said. Last week, 200,000 lbs U3O8 were traded, he noted. "So, the real problem is not those other participants that get in the market; the problem is us, the problem is the fact that we are not buying and selling material. And by not buying and selling material, very small transactions have the ability to move the market significantly." An answer to this problem is having standardised contracts, he said, and a lot of utilities are using them now. This allows market participants to transact very quickly in the market and buy and sell without a lot of paperwork and administration, he added. "Today, it's a buyer's market and so producers have to compete with each other. There's not much that can be done to the product - labelling the drums won't make them move off the shelves faster. The problem for KazAtomProm was how to penetrate markets like Europe and the USA, where it has a very small market share. "We have a portfolio of 30 million lbs per year. We have material in every single converter. We have the ability to produce across almost the entire supply chain. And we're not using that to fix other problems. Delays happen to deliveries, things go wrong, and very often in the market, financial players are helping to fix these problems. And for us it's an opportunity to basically know our customers better and to give them solutions using the vast resources that we have. "Pricing flexibility is probably the one reason why we've been unsuccessful so far in really penetrating the European and US markets. Our pricing mechanism doesn't necessarily line up with the way that our customers want to buy." KazAtomProm unveiled its "transformation" strategy in October 2015, saying it planned to follow the example of other major uranium mining companies and create a trading subsidiary. Umirzak Shukeyev, chairman of Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund, Samruk-Kazyna, said at the time that the key objectives of the strategy include "trebling the company's value" by 2025. Samruk-Kazyna, which is KazAtomProm's sole shareholder, was launched in 2008 to modernize Kazakhstan's economy and help attract foreign investors. WNFC is an annual event organised by the World Nuclear Association and the Nuclear Energy Institute. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Government Of Kyrgyzstan The government of Kyrgyzstan functions as a parliamentary representative democratic republic, which means that a group of elected individuals represents the interests of the electors. This is carried out through a parliamentary system that is managed by the President, as Head of State, and the Prime Minister, as Head of Government. Kyrgyzstan suffered significant political turmoil prior to 2010, with protests largely aimed at the authoritarian powers of the previous President. In 2010, protesters took control of the government buildings, causing the ex-President to leave the country. The opposing party took the presidential office and in June of that year, the country voted on a new Constitution to reduce presidential power and give more power to Parliament. Today, the government is divided into 3 branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. This article takes a closer look at each branch of government. Executive Branch Of The Government Of Kyrgyzstan The executive branch of government is led by both the President and the Prime Minister. The President of Kyrgyzstan is elected by popular vote to serve a 6-year term. The responsibilities of the President include: making recommendations for Supreme Court judges to Parliament, signing new legislation into law, administering foreign policies, and acting as Commander-in-Chief of the military. The person in this position also serves as a symbol of unity for the country. The Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan is appointed by the President, serving as acting Prime Minister until Parliament votes to confirm the appointment. It is the responsibility of the Prime Minister, as Head of Government, to select Ministers for the Cabinet. The Cabinet of Ministers oversees the administration of the executive branch and its ministries. These ministries include Healthcare, Natural Resources, Transportation, Defense, Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and National Security (to name a few). Legislative Branch Of The Government Of Kyrgyzstan The current legislative branch of government consists of a unicameral Supreme Council, which acts as Parliament. The term unicameral means that this parliamentary body consists of only one house or department. The Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan is made up of 120 members, who are elected by party-list proportional voting to serve 5-year terms. Party-list proportional representation is a voting system in which various political parties make lists of candidates. The public then casts their votes for a specific political party and seats are given to candidates based on voting percentages. Each party is limited to only 65 of the 120 seats in an attempt to evenly disperse political power. Judicial Branch Of The Government Of Kyrgyzstan The judicial branch of Kyrgyzstan is organized like that of many other countries. It consists of a number of courts in a hierarchical system, with the Supreme Court being the highest level. The Military Court is a separate and independent court that is used to decide all cases dealing with the military. Below the Supreme Court are Appeal Courts of 2nd Instance and Local Courts of 1st Instance. Issues of property, misdemeanor crimes, and family disputes are seen by traditional courts, which are made up of elders from the community. These cases are dealt with outside of the traditional and formal judicial branch with some oversight from the local prosecutors office. Turkmenistan has a presidential system of government where the president assumes the roles of the Head of State as well as the Head of Government. Turkmenistan was part of the Soviet Union for 69 years until the declaration of its independence occurred in 1991. The Peoples Council approved the implementation of a new constitution in September 2008 which led to the creation of different political parties. President Executive power in the country is vested in the president who is Turkmenistans highest official. The president retains the right to grant amnesties and pardons as well as confer honors. He or she determines the issues which qualify one to gain citizenship of Turkmenistan and also the factors for leaving it. Legislature The 2008 Constitution of Turkmenistan created a unicameral parliament known as the Mejlis. 125 members seat in the assembly for five-year terms representing constituencies. The assembly is the legal-making institution in Turkmenistan, and also enacts amendments and oversees implementation. It reviews the program activities presented by the Cabinet for approval and also considers questions arising in the adoption of the state budget. The Assembly considers whether or not to hold referendums. Judiciary The judicial system of Turkmenistan is made up of the Supreme Court and six provincial courts in addition to 61 district and city courts. Disputes between ministries and businesses are heard in the supreme economic court. Military courts in Turkmenistan were abolished in 1997, and civilian courts now give audience to disputes in the armed forces. The President has the power to appoint judges, and it is only the chairman of the Supreme Court who is confirmed by the legislature. Administration The nation is made up of five regions (welayatlar) namely Mary, Balkan, Lebap, Ahal, and Dashoguz. Under the provinces are 50 districts which are then divided into towns, villages, rural councils, and rural settlements. Turkmenistans capital city is Ashgabat which serves as both a territorial and administrative unit. The city is home to 6 districts and has province-wide powers. The capitals districts are Abadan, Bagtyyarlyk, Rukhabat, Archabil, Kopetdag, and Berkararlyk. Regional heads are appointed by the president. Housekeeper Rishi Kumar was the one who saw terrorists breach the fence and enter the Army camp in Panzgam, Kupwara. By Gaurav C Sawant: Gunner Rishi Kumar saw in absolute horror, terrorists breach the fence of their camp in Panzgam, Kupwara. He immediately alerted the perimeter patrol party. By then, the terrorists succeeded in breaching the two barbed wire fences and entered the camp firing indiscriminately. Two soldiers including Naik BV Ramanna, of the perimeter patrol party who engaged the terrorists collapsed injured in the first burst. Naik Ramanna later succumbed to his injuries. advertisement The terrorist then fired in the direction of Subedar Bhoop Singh, the JCO who challenged them. As young Captain Ayush Kumar came out to challenge the terrorists, they fired a grenade in his direction. Seeing his young Captain fall, gunner Rishi Kumar, a housekeeper by trade, whose main task is to ensure cleanliness at the camp, came charging out. "The terrorist fired in his direction. The bullet hit his bullet proof patka (headgear). Rishi Kumar fell down with the impact of the bullet but the Patka saved his life. He immediately picked up Subedar Bhoop Singh's rifle and shot one terrorist who was moving towards the soldiers barracks,'' army sources told Mail Today . Seeing one terrorist fall, the other terrorist opened fire at Rishi Kumar. The bullet hit him in the thigh. Even as he fell, Rishi Kumar emptied the entire magazine into the second terrorist killing him instantly. The third terrorist then opened fire at Rishi Kumar. Though out of ammunition, Rishi picked up the rifle of the fallen terrorist but by then, seeing the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) approach the terrorist apparently injured in the earlier firing, abandoned his weapon and fled. "We are still trying to ascertain the circumstances in which the third terrorist managed to enter and even escape from the camp. There was lot of firing and perhaps in the confusion he managed to give the QRT a slip. A court of inquiry has been ordered and the truth will emerge,'' sources added. As army orders a probe, mourns its losses and takes stock to remove chinks in its armour, soldiers are also quietly praising the soldier-Housekeeper Gunner Rishi Kumar who saved the day for the army. Also Read Kupwara: 1 civilian killed, 10 injured in Army firing amid protest for return of slain terrorists' bodies --- ENDS --- 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 The requirement of a robust perimeter protection for the bases was felt again on Thursday as terrorists barged into an Army administration base in Panzgam near Kupwara killing three troops and injuring seven. By Ajit Kumar Dubey: After the Uri attack in September last year, the Indian Army realised the need to strengthen the perimeter of its vulnerable bases including the use of modern fences but the process has been slow due to shortage of funds and a large number of bases required to be protected. The requirement of a robust perimeter protection for the bases was felt again on Thursday as terrorists barged into an Army administration base in Panzgam near Kupwara killing three troops and injuring seven. Like the Uri attack, the terrorists could breach the perimeter fence of the Chowkibal base after which the three terrorists launched their attack on the base where nine different units of the Army had their administrative support base, sources said. advertisement NEED FOR ROBUST PROTECTION "Around Rs 1,000 crore had been allocated and a number of bases have also been provided the modern fencing protection. However, more funds are required to upgrade the security system at a large number of bases of the force spread across Jammu and Kashmir and along the Line of Control," an Army source said. The proposal for strengthening the perimeter security of the bases of the three forces was felt after the Pathankot operations when the air base had come under attack on January 1 last year and a committee was formed under Lt Gen (retd) Philip Campose. The committee had given recommendations for strengthening the perimeter security of bases across the country after it had surveyed a large number of bases and found loopholes in their security. KUPWARA ATTACK Thursday's attack also showed that the bases continue to be vulnerable during the pre-dawn attacks as the three terrorists breached the security at around 4.40am to launch their offensive. After breaching the fence, the terrorists started firing under barrel grenade launchers at the sentries. In the fire-fight, two terrorists were killed while the third one managed to kill one officer Captain Aayush Yadav, one Junior Commissioned Officer Subedar Bhoop Singh and Naik Ramanna while injuring seven others. "The search for the third militant is still going on," sources said. Meanwhile, the terrorists and stone-pelters continued to work in tandem as an Army convoy was attacked by the protesters while it was heading towards the encounter site. As part of their strategy, terrorist groups are using students of schools to throw stones and those who fail in class 10 or 12th as their new recruits for armed jihad against India, sources in Army headquarters said. Also Read Kupwara: 1 civilian killed, 10 injured in Army firing amid protest for return of slain terrorists' bodies Major terror attacks on Indian Army, CRPF in Jammu and Kashmir: A timeline Kupwara: Meet the brave housekeeper who shot terrorists --- ENDS --- advertisement Elfyn Evans won Friday mornings opening two speed tests of YPF Rally Argentina to lead Kris Meeke by 8.7sec in his Ford Fiesta. Stage info: SS2 / SS3 SS2: San Agustin - Villa General Belgrano 1, 19.95km This test is new for many, as it hasnt been tackled since 2008. A tough new 3.20km section has been added at the start, featuring wide roads but with large chunks of bedrock breaking the surface. It becomes technical and twisty until 12km, at which point it opens out and becomes smoother with fast crests and flowing corners. It is one of the rallys most picturesque tests, with stunning views of the Calamuchita Valley. SS3: Amboy - Santa Monica 1, 20.44km This famous stage is one of the rallys highlights. It is blisteringly fast on mainly smooth and sandy roads. Even the tighter narrow sections are quick as they twist first one way and then the other as the road rises and falls on a bumpy surface. It ends with a spectacular flat-out blast via two sixth gear corners before jumping over the finish at a cattle grid. Evans headed Meeke by 4.6sec through the opening stage from San Agustin to Villa General Belgrano and pulled out a further 2.3sec in the following Amboy - Santa Monica test. There was some road cleaning in the first one and that helped us, said Evans. I tried to keep it tidy in the next one. Im struggling a little with the balance of the car but the tyres are working well. Meeke concurred with his fellow Briton. The first stage was the only one in the loop where well get the benefit of cleaning, there wasnt any in the next one. Ive only driven that stage once before so Im happy with my time, said the Citroen C3 pilot. Jari-Matti Latvala settled into third, a further 12.1sec behind, but the Finn did not have a clean run. His Toyota Yaris bottomed out several times in fast compressions and finished Amboy with the front splitter missing. Mads stberg scored top six times in both stages to claim fourth in his Ford Fiesta. The Norwegian was 3.2sec behind Latvala and 0.1sec ahead of an unhappy Sebastien Ogier. The Frenchman overshot a corner in the opener and slid into a ditch, damaging his Fiestas front right aero (pictured below). He was fourth in the next test despite struggling with the handling. Missing aero doesnt help but thats not all. We need to work on the suspension, he said. Thierry Neuville was sixth, despite a broken front right damper in his Hyundai i20 Coupe, and it was also a disappointing morning for team-mates Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo. A soft roll in the opener cost Paddon 2min 30sec, leaving the Kiwi with suspension problems and no engine cooling fan. Sordo was third in that test but stopped midway through Amboy to change a steering arm after clouting a stone. The Spaniard lost more than 11 minutes. Ott Tanak struggled with his Fiestas handling in the opener but the Estonian changed the settings between stages and was much happier. Juho Hanninen lost his Yaris front splitter and a lack of power cost the Finn almost 90sec. Head to WRC+ to see the latest onboard and video reports from YPF Rally Argentina. VIDEO More News Two New Railway Stations Planned For Wrexham as Part of Welsh Government Rail Infrastructure Improvements This article is old - Published: Friday, Apr 28th, 2017 Two new railway stations could be built in Wrexham as part of the Welsh Governments plans to improve rail infrastructure across Wales. The plans to improve the Welsh rail network were discussed in a letter sent to AMs by Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates, who noted that 46 potential sites for the new stations had been considered. 12 of these, including potential new stations for North Wrexham and South Wrexham, have been taken forward to the next stage for further consideration. Also included in the list of possible new stations are: Deeside Industrial Park/Northern Gateway Cardiff Ely Mill/Victoria Park Cardiff Newport Road/Rover Way Cardiff St Mellons Swansea Cockett Newport Llanwern Swansea Landore St Clears Bow Street Llangefni Ken Skates said: Im pleased to be making this announcement as it shows Welsh Government are committed to improving the railway infrastructure across Wales, particularly in North Wales. This is a major step forward in building the North East Wales Metro and offers a game changing boost to cross-border transport infrastructure. The stage two assessment will look in more detail at the strength of the financial and economic case for each railway station before budgets are allocated. By Press Trust of India: Kurnool, Apr 28 (PTI) The worlds largest solar power park -- the Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park -- with an installed capacity of 1000 MW will be ready by end of May near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. "Already, 900 MW capacity has been commissioned while the balance 100 MW will be commissioned by May end," AP principal secretary (energy and infrastructure) Ajay Jain told reporters during a field visit here today. advertisement "Right now, we are generating 1867.23 MW of solar power, which is the highest in the country. Rajasthan is second with 1812 MW capacity, followed by Telangana (1287 MW) and Gujarat (1250 MW). Our target is to produce 10,000 MW of solar power by the year 2022," Jain said. Prior to the commissioning of the Kurnool Solar Park, the Kamuthi plant in Tamil Nadu had the largest installed solar capacity of 648 MW and Topaz Solar Farm in California 550 MW. The Kurnool Park has come up on an area of 5,811 acres at total cost of one billion USD with Greenko (500 MW), Soft Bank Energy (350 MW), Azure Power (100 MW) and Prayatna Developers (Adani group) (50 MW) as the joint developers. The park will produce 2,600 million units of power per annum, according to Jain. The Government of India has granted Rs 200 crore for the project, he added. AP, the principal secretary said, now produced 6052 MW of power from non-conventional sources, including 3600 MW from wind. "We are ranked fifth in the country in wind power generation and plan to upgrade the capacity to 8000 MW by 2022. AP will be contributing 10 per cent of wind and solar energy out of the Centres target of 175 GW by 2022," Jain said. AP Solar Power Corporation, managing director, G Adiseshu, Southern Power Distribution Company Chairman H Y Dora and other top officials were present. PTI DBV RMT BAS --- ENDS --- Kenneth Dwayne Williams, 38, was put to death Thursday night at the Cummins Unit in the state prison in Grady, Arkansas. A witnesses to the execution, which began at 10:55 p.m. local time, said that Williams body lurched 15 times and he was coughing, convulsing, lurching, jerking after the first drug was injected. Williams death brought to a grisly end an 11-day drive by Arkansas state authorities to execute a group of death row inmates before their supply of midazolam, one of the drugs used in the states three-drug lethal injection protocol, expired at the end of the month. Williams was sentenced to death in 2000 for fatally shooting farmer and former deputy warden Cecil Boren. He had been serving a life sentence for killing college student Dominique Hurd. He was recaptured after a police chase that ended when he crashed the pick-up truck he had stolen from Boren, fatally injuring delivery driver Michael Greenwood. Williams execution was allowed to proceed after the US Supreme Court announced shortly before 10:15 p.m. that it had denied without comment or noted dissent the inmates final appeals for mercy. His attorneys had filed a petition Thursday with the high court seeking additional case review, arguing that he was intellectually disabled and categorically ineligible to be put to death. They cited examinations from three independent mental health professionals. In separate rulings earlier Thursday the US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals denied Williams request. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Mackie M. Pierce also did not halt the execution. The Arkansas Supreme Court had denied Williams motion for a stay of execution on Wednesday. While strapped to the gurney before his execution began, the inmate said, I have been transformed. Some things cant be undone. I seek forgiveness. Three minutes after his execution began, Williams body lurched 15 times against the gurneys leather restraints. He then lurched five more times at a slower rate, according to witness Kelly Kissel, state news editor for the Associated Press. Williams, who was breathing through his nose before the movement, began breathing through his mouth after the 20th lurch, Kissel said. He described the breathing as a clear attempt to draw oxygen and said the prisoner attempted to draw breath until 10:59 p.m. Kissel said the execution-room attendant assessed Williams consciousness by checking his eyes at 10:57 p.m. and touching his chest at 10:58 p.m. The inmate let out an audible moan at 10:59 p.m., he said. He was pronounced dead at 11:05 p.m., 13 minutes after the midazolam was administered. Williams was the fourth of eight inmates Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson ordered put to death over an eight-day period. Amnesty International denounced the unprecedented string of execution warrants as Arkansas conveyer belt of death. As with the other executions, Williams state killing was carried out with a three-drug protocol, beginning with midazolam, a sedative, followed by the paralytic vecuronium bromide and ending with potassium chloride to induce cardiac arrest. Williams attorneys released a statement calling the witness accounts horrifying and demanding an investigation into the problematic execution. Through his spokesman J.R. Davis, Governor Hutchinson said he did not believe the execution required a formal review. Davis said the four executions carried out over the eight-day period were flawless. The European Unions ambassador to the US, David OSullivan, had sent a letter to Hutchinson on behalf of the EU requesting that Williams be spared due to findings that he was intellectually disabled. The letter also said that justifying the unprecedented pace of executions on the basis of drug expiration dates was a concerning precedent. Before last nights lethal injection, three men had already met their deaths. Ledell Lee, 51, was executed on Thursday, April 20. On Monday, Arkansas carried out the nations first double-execution in 17 years, putting to death Jack Jones Jr., 52, and Marcell Williams, 46. (See: The double-execution horror in Arkansas.) Attorneys for Williams argued that Jones had been moving his lips and gulping for air after being administered midazolam, suggesting that he had not been rendered unconscious by the first drug in the lethal-injection protocol. A US district judge ruled against Williams, allowing his execution to proceed. A number of executions in recent years using midazolamin Alabama, Arizona, Ohio and Oklahomahave resulted in inmates suffering excruciating deaths, gasping for breath and writhing on the execution gurney, appearing not to have been adequately sedated by midazolam. But a 2015 ruling by the US Supreme Court held that the use of the sedative did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Four other men had been scheduled to die over the 11-day period in Arkansas, but received reprieves. Hutchinson and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge acknowledged that there was not enough time before the end of the month to seek new death warrants for any of these prisoners, but vowed to pursue them at a later date. Two men scheduled to die April 17 received last-minute stays. The US Supreme Court halted the execution of Don Davis without comment. Bruce Ward received a temporary stay from the Arkansas Supreme Court to consider his mental competency. A district judge ruled that Jason McGehee was entitled to a 30-day comment period after the Arkansas parole board told the governor that his clemency request had merit. His execution had originally been set for last night. The states high court also halted the execution of Stacey Johnson, scheduled for execution on April 20, ordering a new hearing in lower court for him to make his claims that DNA testing could prove his innocence. The eight condemned men include those with mental incompetence, serious mental illness, brain damage and years of abuse, both physical and sexual. The majority of them have never had their life histories of mental health investigated and presented to a judge and jury. They were the victims of prosecutorial misconduct and defense counsel incompetence. Kenneth Williams case was no different. His IQ score of 70 placed him squarely within the intellectual disability range, and he also has a history of severe learning disabilities and neuropsychological problems, according to the Fair Punishment Project (FPP). There is also evidence that he suffered brain damage from significant head injuries. According to the 2007 testimony of Williams psychologist, Dr. Mark Douglas Cunningham, his patient had memory problems, problems focusing attention, deficiencies of judgment and reasoning, problems with reading comprehension, problems with comprehending oral instructions and problems with mental flexibility, which is the ability to shift from one task to another. Williams also experienced extreme trauma and poverty, being shuttled between rat- and roach-infested foster homes where economic deprivation meant there was often not enough food to eat and utilities were shut off. Both of his parents were substance abusers. His father regularly beat his mother and once kidnapped her and held her at gunpoint for days. He also regularly beat Williams and his brothers, routinely whipping the boys... on their buttocks, legs, arms and hands, leaving welts and bruises. Williams was institutionalized in the juvenile correctional system at the age of nine after beginning to smoke marijuana at six and drink beer at nine. As opposed to the vengeance and retribution meted out against Williams and the other inmates put to death over the last eight days by Arkansas authorities, the family of one of Williams' victims called for a halt to his execution. Williams attorneys said the family of Michael Greenwood had called on Hutchinson to spare Williams life. The governor denied their plea hours before the execution. Greenwoods daughter, Kayla, told the Springfield [Missouri] News-Leader she recently learned that Williams had a 21-year-old daughter, Jasmine, whom he hadn't seen in 17 years, as well as a three-year-old granddaughter he had never met. Kayla Greenwood said her mother, Stacey Yaw, had purchased plane tickets for Williams daughter and granddaughter to fly from Washington state so he could see them the day before his executions. I told him we forgive him and where I stood on it, Greenwood said through a message to Williams attorneys. Yaw, Greenwood and other family members drove from Missouri to Little Rock so they could meet Jasmine and her daughter and drive them to the prison on Wednesday. A visit to Israel by the German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) ended Tuesday with a diplomatic scandal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a planned meeting with Gabriel after the latter had insisted on speaking with representatives of the organisations Breaking the Silence and B'Tselem, which are critical of Israels settlement and occupation policy. With a few exceptions Gabriel's conduct found broad support in the German media and from political parties. The CDU foreign policy expert, Roderich Kiesewetter, praised the foreign minister for acting entirely correctly by keeping to his program. Norbert Rottgen (CDU), chairman of the Bundestag's foreign affairs committee, underlined the importance of talks embracing the entire range of politics and society. Under the headline Gabriel has set the right tone in Israel, Die Welt commented that criticism is needed because Israel's right-wing government is preparing to give up the two-state solution without saying what should take its place." The paper continued: There are good reasons for representatives of Western democracies to be concerned about Israel's domestic policy development. The Suddeutsche Zeitung called the Israeli Prime Minister Vladimir Tayyip Netanyahu" and accused him of: Shaking up his country, undermining old values, endangering democracy just like Putin in Russia and Erdogan in Turkey. Netanyahus refusal to meet with Gabriel was a sensation, a scandal, a low point in German-Israeli relations. The paper then praised Gabriel for not backing down and demonstrating more courage than his predecessors. The taz commented that Germany has a special responsibility for Israel, but this does not mean bowing down to the Israeli government, as Germany has done too long in the case of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Gabriel had put an end to this policy. The Frankfurter Rundschau criticized Netanyahus affront and demanded: Germany should not be intimidated by this. The paper praised Gabriel for not kowtowing: An attitude which deserves respect. There are a number of reasons for Gabriel's behaviourbut opposition to Israels occupation policy and concern for Israeli democracy is clearly not one of them. Germany has been one of Israel's most important arms suppliers for decades and also works closely with Tel Aviv in the field of internal security. It has consistently supported Israel's wars against its Arab neighbours and the Palestinians, and has also tolerated its brutal occupation policy. If the German government is now changing its attitude and is looking for conflict with the Israeli government, and German newspapers are placing the Israeli regime on a par with the Russian and Turkish governments, then this is bound up, above all, with recent geopolitical changes and Germanys efforts to free its foreign policy from political dependence on the US in order to once again take to the world stage as a great power. Gabriel deliberately provoked the scandal with Netanyahu. Already in February, the German government canceled regular German-Israeli government consultations planned for May. It declared that problems finding a suitable time to meet were behind the move, but the cancellation was generally understood as a rebuff to the Israeli government. That same month, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel met with the two organisations, which have now met with Gabriel, drawing an angry response from the Israeli government. Gabriel had therefore been warned that a meeting with the NGOs critical of the Israeli government would trigger a negative reaction from Netanyahu. These organizations, according to the Suddeutsche Zeitung, receive considerable financing from the EU and also from the German foreign office. Germanys new tone against Israel is mainly due to the election of Donald Trump in the US. The Trump governments readiness to support the settlement policy of the Netanyahu government and depart from the so-called two-state solution collides with German interests in the region. The proposed two-state solution was never a viable option for the Palestinians, but helped Arab regimes with which the German government maintains close relations save face. The Middle East, which was under British and French influence after World War I, and under US influence after World War II, has long been a target for German interests. Unlike other countries, Germany does not import much oil and gas from the region, but it is of great importance as a market for German products and investments. A number of Gulf regimes have also invested heavily in German DAX companies. Despite the devastating wars in the region and low oil prices, Germany exported goods worth 47 billion euros to the countries of North Africa and the Near and Middle East (Mena) in 2016. This was just under 4 percent of German exports. Israel was Germanys main trading partner, followed by Saudi Arabia. Other countries, however, such as Iran and Iraq, with which Germany previously maintained close economic relations, have enormous growth potential, should Western sanctions and war ever end. Germany has been at loggerheads with the US and its ally Israel on earlier occasions, e.g. in 2003, when Berlin refused to support George W. Bush's war against Iraq. Trumps erratic Middle East policy, ranging from cooperation with Moscow and Damascus to air raids on Syria and threats of war against Iran, is undermining German interests in the region. Berlin is responding with an increasingly aggressive foreign policy. In 2014, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced at the Munich Security Conference that Germany must be prepared to intervene earlier, more decisively and substantially in foreign and security policy. He said Germany was too big and too important to restrict itself to commenting on world politics from the sidelines. This program has been systematically implemented since, also relying on the EU. The policy of the government of Netanyahu, which feels strengthened by Trumps presidency, is regarded as an obstacle by the German government. Berlin is taking advantage of the broad disgust with Netanyahu to mobilize former liberal layers behind its imperialist foreign policy. It is significant that more liberal newspapers such as taz, Frankfurter Rundschau and Suddeutsche Zeitung have been most forthright in their support for Gabriel. In the history of the federal republic, relations with Israel were always a special case due to the Holocaust. In 2008, German Chancellor Angela Merkel still declared in a speech to the Israeli parliament: Every federal government and every chancellor before me was committed to the special historic responsibility of Germany for the security of Israel. This historic responsibility on the part of Germany is integral to the country's raison d'Etat. In fact this is a myth. The German relationship with Israel was always guided by its own imperialist interests. After defeat in the Second World War, good relations with Israel served above all to improve Germanys damaged reputation. To this end, the German parliament passed a German-Israeli agreement in 1953 with votes from the Social Democrats, but with considerable resistance from the ruling conservatives camp. The agreement obligated Germany to make reparation payments to Israel and opened up trade relations between the two countries. The Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb), which is under the control of Interior Ministry, frankly states why the Federal Republic benefited from the agreement: After the barbarism of the Nazi era, the agreement sent a signal to the whole world of a new beginning paving the way for the rehabilitation of Germany. Nevertheless, the two countries only established diplomatic relations in 1965, 12 years later. The problem was not Tel Aviv, which had long pressed vainly for the normalization of relations, but rather the government in Bonn. The Adenauer government did not want to jeopardize its good relations with Arab states. The latter threatened to recognise East Germany diplomatically if the Federal Republic recognized Israel. West Germany would then have had to immediately break off relations with the Arab states due to its so-called Hallstein doctrine. Despite this, mutual armament supplies and military cooperation were undertaken by Germany and Israel as early as in 1957, only two years after the founding of the Bundeswehr. German Defense Minister Franz-Josef Strauss and the Israeli Secretary of State Simon Peres had agreed on it in secret negotiations. Tanks instead of diplomats was their unspoken slogan. Political interests and moral convictions seemed to have been balanced out for the next few years to the benefit of both states, the bpb cynically notes. Today, the relationship with Israel is once again a foreign policy bargaining chip as Germany strives for world power. To this end, the repugnant and reactionary policy of Netanyahu serves merely as a pretext. Europe Strike by rail staff in northern England Conductors employed by Arriva Rail North are set to hold a 24-hour strike today. The walkout by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) members is part of an ongoing fight by rail staff against the extension of driver only operated (DOO) trains by the company. DOO trains--being introduced by train companies all over the UK--are aimed at eliminating the role of train guards and would be a prelude to job cuts. The RMT had been in talks with Arriva Rail North but the talks broke up after the company rejected the RMTs proposal that the talks include the input of Conservative governments Department of Transport officials. Any possibility of a joint offensive by rail workers has been consistently sabotaged by the RMT. A 48-hour strike over DOO by conductors at Virgin East Coast Trains--which was due to have taken place today--was suspended by the RMT this week. The RMT cites progress in talks with the company as the reason for suspending the strike. Strike by Finnish metal workers Around 1,500 metal and industrial workers in the city of Tampere in southern Finland held a 24-hour strike April 20. The strike was against proposals attacking workers conditions. Under new legislation brought in last year with the agreement of the trade unions, workers have been subjected to a yearlong pay freeze, increased payments for pension and sickness benefits and a three-day extension to the working year. The strike affected 16 companies in the Tampere region. Italian airline staff reject deal brokered by union Staff at the Italian airline, Alitalia, have rejected a deal brokered by unions, including the Fit-Cisl union. Alitalia was privatized in 2009, and in 2014 Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways acquired a 49 percent share of the airline. It has continued to record losses. The latest plan rejected by workers would have meant a loss of 1,700 jobs and an eight percent pay cut. The cuts had been demanded by shareholders in return for pumping more money into the airline. Alitalia is demanding even deeper cuts although it has among the lowest labour costs of any European airline. The company is debating whether to go into administration, which would trigger intervention by the Italian government. Russian construction workers hunger strike Six construction workers in the Khakassia region in Siberia have been taking part in a hunger strike to demand the payment of two million rubles ($35,000) owed to them. The six are on hunger strike on behalf of the 60 workers, who have been employed to rebuild houses that were lost in a disastrous fire in April 2015 in the Khakassia. One of the six was admitted to hospital because of the hunger strike. Swiss scientific staff strike Around 130 staff employed at the Thermo Fisher Scientific facility in the Ecublens area of Lausanne have been striking to protest the companys plans to relocate part of its production facility to Brno in the Czech Republic. The relocation would mean the loss of around 100 jobs among the workers, who are members of the Unia union. The Ecublens facility manufactures X-Ray and optical emission spectrometers. The US-owned firm is refusing to recognize the right of Unia to represent the workforce. Strike by window makers in southwest England Workers employed by Sierra Windows in Paignton, Devon, began a 48-hour strike Wednesday. Plans for similar 48-hour strikes over the next four weeks are in place, pending a resolution of the dispute. The 150-member workforce, who are members of the Unite union, have rejected a 1.5 percent pay offer. Workers have not had a raise since 2015 and reject company plans to replace the current five-day/seven-hour shift pattern with a four-day/twelve-hour shift. Postal workers at Scottish depot in wildcat action Postal workers at Royal Mails depot in Kilmarnock, Scotland, walked out on unofficial action last week over allegations of bullying and harassment by management. The final straw, which sparked the walkout, was the sacking of a longtime worker at the depot over his sickness record. His colleagues said the sick leave was a result of injuries sustained at work. Attempting to break the strike, Royal Mail imported managers from across Scotland to deliver mail. The workers returned to work Tuesday following talks between management and the Communication Workers Union (CWU). London teachers strike to oppose budget cuts Teachers at Plumstead Manor School and at Corelli College in Greenwich in south London struck on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. This follows a strike on April 20. The action by the National Union of Teachers members is in opposition to planned cuts to budgets at the schools. Seventeen posts at Corelli College are at risk because of the proposed budget cut. UK Fujitsu staff hold further strikes IT workers at various Fujitsu sites across the UK, including London, Belfast, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester and Wakefield, began a 48-hour strike Thursday in an ongoing dispute. Further 48-hour strikes are scheduled by the members of the Unite union for May 4 and 11, with a 24-hour strike planned for May 8. The Japanese-based conglomerate is trying to push through 1,800 job cuts in the UK, as part of a European-wide restructuring operation. The strikers are also seeking a pay increase and oppose cuts to their pension scheme. Middle East Strike by Israeli public sector staff called off A strike by public sector workers, due to have taken place Tuesday, was called off after talks between the Finance Ministry and the Histadrut labour federation. The strike would have affected government departments, schools, hospitals and the rail network among others and was called over the Israeli governments restructuring of the national broadcasting body. Under the plan, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority (IBA) is to be replaced by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (IBC). As part of the restructuring, 170 IBA jobs were due to be lost. The workers to go were mainly those aged between 40 and 50. Under the agreement, around 100 former IBA staff will transfer to the IBC and those IBA workers aged 40 to 50 will either be transferred to the IBC or the civil service. Africa South African Airways cabin crew strike over meal allowances Flight cancellations are mounting as the South African Airways (SAA) cabin crews went on strike Wednesday demanding an increase in overseas meal and hotel allowances. Staff are complaining that allowances have not increased from R1, 712 (US $131) a day for six years, and they require an increase to R2, 222 (US $170) to afford increased expenses. Pilots get R1959 ($150). The allowances are not enough to cover hotel bills and meals. SAA have offered a R84 (US $6) increase but the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACC) demands R352 (US $26). South African Airways are appealing to the labour courts to have the strike deemed illegal. The SACC are opposing an SAA injunction claim saying the dispute is illegal. Over 30 flights were cancelled on the first day of the strike, one of which was an international flight. South Africas rail union avoids industrial action South Africas rail union, the United National Transport Union, is opposing industrial action following failed arbitration despite a strike authorization vote from workers. The union has agreed to enter further talks with management to avert a strike, saying a national walkout would not be in the best interest of the company, commuters or the population. The rail company officials claim they have a R1.4 billion (105 million) budget deficit although they could explain to parliament a loss of R14 billion (US $1.05 billion) in its accounts. Namibian miners in unofficial strike over victimisation Namibian miners went on a wildcat strike April 19 and 20 at the Rosh Pinhar Mining Corporation Zinc Mine after management repeatedly ignored miners complaints, including inhuman treatment by the engineering manager and industrial relations officer. Miners say they are being victimised over a previous strike, with the perpetrators using anti-labour regulation methods to remove them. Workers want the two individuals involved sacked. As the workers struck, the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) negotiated with management. It was reported that management had considered sacking the entire 320-member work force. The union came away with a proposal that workers should return to work immediately, with each accepting a final warning, and that management would deal with workers grievances through correct channels. The chairman of the MUN Rosh Pinhar said he would take the dispute to the Office of the Labour Commissioner. South African public service workers strike over pay South African public service workers in Bushbuckridge local council came out on strike last week. They are demanding a 2014 pay progression agreement be implemented. Under the agreement, local government workers should have received a pay increase after their first year of employment, but in most cases this has not happened. The South African Municipal Workers Union claims the council owes the workforce around R10 million ($750,000) going back to the beginning of 2014. It also complains that management continue to receive bloated wages, paid above their grade scale, and that those close to management are receiving their progression pay. A recent ruling by the Commission of Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration decided in favour of the public servants but the council chose to ignore the ruling. Nigerian polytechnic staff strike over back pay Nigerian academic staff at Lagos State Polytechnic have threatened to strike today. They are demanding management fund the CONTISS 15 migration wage structure out of funds provided by the Lagos state government. The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics claim the polytechnic owes staff 87-months worth of back payments. The union said if management did not pay up, there would be no full or part-time learning taking place today. President Trump issued an executive order Wednesday to review dozens of national monument designations, preparing the way for expanded drilling, mining and other development on large tracts of public land. The order directs the Department of Interior to assess two-dozen sites created since 1996, of more than 100,000 acres each, and potentially many other smaller sites. Wednesdays directive is part of a broad effort to dismantle public health and environment-related restrictions on oil and gas producers, mining companies and other resource intensive industry. It adds to a March 28 executive order, which in addition to unraveling Obamas climate change regulations, orders a far-reaching review of all existing regulations that burden energy producers. Trump has also proposed a budget that would effectively paralyze the Federal governments chief environmental regulator and enforcer, the Environmental Protection Agency. Through these orders and other antiregulatory initiatives underway by administration officials, Trump has sought in his first hundred days to rally support from a powerful section of the corporate elite, in this instance the energy industry. Removing regulatory impediments and geographical restrictions for drilling could greatly strengthen the profitability of the sector, which rapidly expanded during much of the Obama era. Despite recent cutbacks, production levels today remain well above those just a decade ago, nearly 80 and 50 percent higher than in 2005 for oil and natural gas respectively. However, as energy prices have fallen over the past few years, profits have suffered greatly. In the text of the executive order and during his remarks Wednesday, Trump singled out Bears Ears National Monument for special consideration, claiming that its designation should never have happened. The 2,000-square-mile site in Utah is a scenic natural formation of immense cultural significance to native tribes. It is also located in an area rich in natural resources, eyed for oil and gas development. The energy company EOG Resources has approval to drill nearby in the national monument. Reflecting the dominance of oil and gas interests in the state, the political establishment in Utah has remained bitterly opposed to the monument status for Bears Ears, which was designated by Obama in the waning days of his term. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, who penned an op-ed in the Washington Post earlier this week advocating the delisting of the site, along with his Senate colleague Mike Lee and governor Gary Herbert, all stood beside Trump at the signing ceremony. The executive order requires preliminary recommendations on Bears Ears after just 60 days, followed two months later by recommendations for the other national monuments. Trumps order reaches back to 1996 to include Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, but also includes the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Pacific Ocean northwest of Hawaii, designated by George W Bush and enlarged by Obama. No president has ever completely abolished national monument status once created, and only rarely has a designated area been scaled back. Since the Antiquities Act was passed in 1903, 13 presidents have used it to create new national monuments. Conservationists have questioned the legal ability of a president to overturn these designations of his predecessors. Nonetheless Trump vowed Wednesday to end the supposed land grab and return control to the people of federal lands. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke complained that the designations put the areas off limits to traditional uses including timber harvest, mining, oil and gas exploration. Notwithstanding this doublespeak, national parks and national monuments, which are afforded equal protection, are extremely popular across the country including in the West where the majority of the protected land is located. Visits to National Parks Service sites exceed 300 million annually. Recent polling indicates broad opposition to shrinking the amount of protected land, with just 9 percent of respondents indicating they favor such action. Thousands of high school students protested, blockaded their schools and marched in cities across France Thursday amid growing anger over a second round of the presidential election limited to two right-wing candidates, ex-banker Emmanuel Macron and National Front (FN) leader Marine Le Pen. Millions of working people understand that this election offers them only the choice of which president will oversee an authoritarian and militarist regime in France. Le Pen is a neo-fascist. As for Macron, youth widely despise him for his role as economy minister in the current Socialist Party (PS) government, which brutally repressed strikes and mass youth protests last year against the regressive PS labor law. Thousands of youth marched yesterday and several high schools were blockaded in Paris, Rennes, and Nantes. Slogans included a choice between plague and cholera and neither Marine nor Macron, neither fatherland nor boss. In Paris, 20 high schools were blockaded or hit by protests. An unauthorized demonstration by thousands of students broke out on Republic Square opposing both Le Pen and Macron under the slogan Neither fascism nor free-market capitalism, and clashes between police and students broke out at a protest on Bastille Square. Among those high school students old enough to vote, many said they planned to cast blank votes. Some students compared the present run-off with that of 2002, the only other time that the FN advanced to the second round. In 2002, this provoked spontaneous mass protests. Today, I am shocked that no one is protesting, said Elise. Everyone was expecting that Marine Le Pen would be on the second round, but thats just it: its horrible that everyone was expecting it! We decided we had to do something against the FN to defend our values. Even if we are not old enough to vote, it is our future. And we do not want a racist and xenophobic party in power. Student groups will hold another election protest today at 7 p.m. in front of Paris City Hall. In Rennes, thousands of protesters marched peacefully before clashing with police when security forces tried to block the march from proceeding to the center of town and fired tear gas. Clashes then spread across the downtown as youth chanted Macron, Le Pen, we dont want them. Referring to the FNs demagogic claim to be an anti-system party, youth also chanted: The real anti-system forces are us. Other protests took place in cities including Lyon, Toulouse and Dijon. Hundreds marched in Dijon to slogans including neither the banker nor the fascist. The youth protests are initial indications of deep social anger throughout the population over the presidential elections, which saw the elimination of the candidates of Frances two traditional parties of government, the ruling Socialist Party and The Republicans (LR). Voters repeatedly shifted in their preferences and expressed their frustration with a campaign dominated by corruption charges and law-and-order hysteria. Both Macron and Le Pen are widely hated. The eruption of youth protests underscores the timeliness of the call by the Parti de legalite socialiste (PES) for an active boycott of the second round, in order to mobilize political opposition among workers and youth to both candidates and prepare a political struggle of the working class against whichever reactionary candidate wins the election. After years of war, mass unemployment and a state of emergency suspending basic democratic rights under the PS government of President Francois Hollande, there is explosive social anger in the working class. A general strike erupted in the French overseas department of Guyana only a few weeks before the first round. The critical issue facing youth protesting the elections is to turn to the working class, in defiance of the reactionary pro-Macron propaganda of the media, to mobilize it in political struggle against the entire ruling class. To contain rising class anger and preserve Macrons fragile lead over Le Penpolls show her receiving an unprecedented 40 percent of the votethe press is unleashing a torrent of hypocritical propaganda, slandering those who oppose Macron from the left as allies of neo-fascism. The French daily Liberation published yesterday an open letter by journalist Johan Hufnagel. Addressed to my friends on the left who will not vote against Le Pen, it raised and dismissed the fate of Whirlpool workers in Amiens facing an imminent plant closure and the loss of their jobs. I look at it from all sides, to try to understand your unease about voting for a candidate supported by the right, big business, free-marketeers who would happily sacrifice Whirlpool workers to their big exciting plans. I cant believe you will not go to the ballot boxes, he wrote, adding; Emmanuel Macron appears to some of you to be an adversary, but he is not an enemy. It is Marine Le Pen who is the enemy of democracy, of the Republic, the ally of racists, anti-Semites, of Holocaust deniers, of ultra-violent and homophobic groups. These lines are a political fraud. They combine two distinctive features of the bankrupt, upper-middle-class left layers that have orbited around the PS since its foundation in 1971: disregard for democratic rights and contempt for the working class. Firstly, Macron too is an enemy of democracy. A top adviser to Hollande, he supported the PS as it imposed a perpetually extended state of emergency that allows for arbitrary detentions, police seizures and press censorship. As for the issue of racism and Republican principles, the same PS government in which Macron had a ministerial portfolio carried out a sinister policy of ethnic deportation of the Roma that flagrantly violates Republican principles of ethnic neutrality. Secondly, Hufnagels casual dismissal of the fate of Whirlpool workers itself exemplifies the class forces driving the dangerous rise of the FN. The domination over decades of what passed for left politics by affluent middle-class operatives, who are totally indifferent as to whether thousands of workers are thrown onto the unemployment lines, has allowed far-right populists to posture as the true defenders of working families. The fate of Whirlpool workers in Amiens, whose plant may soon be shipped to Poland, is a case in point. Macron had planned to meet with Whirlpool union officials in a cynical attempt to exploit the Whirlpool plant for publicity. He did not dare visit the plant, however, or speak to the workers, who bitterly denounced him to the press. One of them told a union delegate going to meet Macron: Dont shake his hand. Anyway, he wont want to touch your dirty workers hands. Sybille, a Whirlpool worker, told the WSWS: Well all be fired, for sure. Everything is against us. So we have no hopes in Macron. He just thinks were illiterates, that our IQ isnt high enough to vote for him. A friend of a retired Whirlpool worker added: We are working class, so we dont vote Macron. Le Pen took the opportunity to upstage Macron, exploiting the well known class divide between the workers and Frances state-funded union bureaucracies. She made a surprise visit to the Whirlpool plant to speak to the workers and denounce Macrons behavior. I thought it showed so much contempt for what the Whirlpool workers are going through that I decided to come see you, she said, mocking Macron for eating fancy cakes with the unions. Le Pens populist demagogy in Amiens is a warning: amid explosive anger in the working class, those who try to suppress opposition to Macron from the left only strengthen the FN. The PES will not compromise itself by any association with Macron whatsoever, but seek to mobilize opposition to both right-wing candidates on a socialist and internationalist program. Paint the Revolution: Mexican Modernism, 19101950 presented at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia October 25, 2016 to January 8, 2017 and currently at the Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City until May 7, 2017. The product of a major collaboration between the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMoA) and Mexicos Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts), Paint the Revolution was the first exhibit in nearly seven decades to present an extensive selection of 20th century Mexican art in the United States. Encompassing the start of the Mexican Revolution through to just after the end of World War II, the exhibition includes and prominently displays the works of the Mexican muralists Diego Rivera (18861957), Jose Clemente Orozco (18831949), and David Alfaro Siqueiros (18961977), along with Riveras wife and artistic collaborator, Frida Kahlo (19071954). It also features a number of lesser-known muralists and painters, as well as photographers Tina Modotti (18961942) and Manuel Alvarez Bravo (19022002). PMoAs aim in staging Paint the Revolution, it said, was to provide a deep look at the forces that shaped modern art in Mexico, the progress of which was closely watched around the world. The exhibit reveals the changes that occurred in Mexican artwork, in style and format but also content, during this period. Though primarily depicting the artistic impact of the Mexican Revolution (c. 19101921), other crucial historical eventsthe two World Wars, Great Depression, industrialization of Mexico and the Russian Revolutionare also considered. PMoA made great efforts to bring together a number of previously unseen and otherwise inaccessible artworks. One noteworthy element involved the use of large-screen panels and projectors to digitally render in high resolution some of the enormous frescoes by Rivera, Orozco and Siqueiros, which could not be moved physically from their current locations. Paint the Revolution is arranged in a chronological and categorical format with various pieces placed according to different themesthe Mexican Revolution, Urbanization, Mexican Culture, etc.and then presented sequentially by date of completion, allowing the audience to see the evolution of Mexican artwork over the time period in question. From the outset, the exhibit explains how a number of Mexican artists, at the turn of the 20th century, began to look to their own country for inspiration and strove to create a national aesthetic style, which they referred to as Mexicanidad. While many trained in Europe, these artists eschewed classical subject matter and increasingly took an interest in the culture and daily lives of peasants and workers. Initially taking the form of romantic portrayals of rural life and landscapes, artistic work became increasingly realistic, with an emphasis on urban life, industrialization and political struggle, under the impact of the politically charged climate during and after the Mexican Revolution. Taking place from 19101921, the revolution was a period of struggle and armed insurrection by the countrys peasantry and working class against the big landowners, represented by the anti-democratic regime of Porfirio Diaz. Suffering under brutally exploitative conditions, driven by the Mexican elites subservience to foreign investment from the United States and Europe, the impoverished and increasingly landless peasants formed great armies under the leadership of Francisco Pancho Villa, and Emiliano Zapata, while the workers launched massive general strikes that crippled Mexicos economy (for a full description see here). Despite overthrowing Diaz and the enormous levels of determination and self-sacrifice shown by the masses, the lack of revolutionary leadership resulted in defeat. The liberal bourgeoisie, initially allied with the Villa and Zapata, betrayed the masses, and led by Alvaro Obregon, brutally crushed the rebellions. The result was the murder of hundreds of thousands of workers and peasants and the preservation of bourgeois rule. For substantial layers of the Mexican intelligentsia the conflict served to heighten their political sensitivity and consciousness. Lacking much of the idyllic romanticism of the pre-revolutionary era, paintings like Hanged and Disembodied Men (1915), by Francisco Goitia, which depicts long-decayed corpses hung on trees, effectively conveyed the nature of war. In a simple but effective manner, Goitia, who became a cultural attache to Villas army and witnessed its eventual defeat, exposes the human toll of war and the indifference of such catastrophes to the fate of its victims, a true accounting of warfare. World War I and revolutionary aspirations generated by the 1917 Russian Revolution and establishment of the first workers state also contributed greatly to this artistic development. After Alvaro Obregon became Mexican president following the revolution, he announced a program of state-sponsored murals, providing a platform for the increasingly combative and politicized artistic community. Championed by Jose Vasconcelos, Obregons secretary for education, the internationally influential Mexican mural movement found its genesis in this program. The exhibition, however, does not refer to Vasconcelos, an active participant in the Mexican Revolution and one strongly affected by the concepts that inspired Mexicanidad. While intended mainly to foster a sense of national identity, murals were seen by many artists as an opportunity to communicate directly with the working class and raise their revolutionary consciousness, a goal undoubtedly inspired by the October Revolution and the development of art in the Soviet Union in the years immediately following its creation. Indeed, many Mexican artists would visit the USSR and become members of the Mexican Communist Party. Diego Rivera (the most advanced politically of the Mexican muralists), in particular, developed a close friendship and collaboration with Leon Trotsky, co-leader of the Bolshevik Party. Their political relationship is not alluded to in the exhibit. The radicalization of Mexican artists led to the creation of powerful and engaging works that expressed the faith of the artistic community in the revolution of the masses. One moving example is expressed in Riveras fresco Liberation of the Peon (1931) which depicts the freeing of a tortured and badly beaten indentured laborer (who were often indigenous peoples) on a plantation by revolutionary soldiers. An additional impact of the October Revolution was that it encouraged Mexican artists to adopt an international outlook. Unsurprisingly many directed a critical eye towards the imperialist oppressors of Mexico, particularly the United States. The museum presents the paintings of Rivera, Kahlo and Orozco, all of whom came away from their visits to the US with critical and insightful views of America in the Great Depression. Kahlo was scathing in her criticism of American society, an attitude seen in her work My Dress Hangs There which mocked the superficiality of American capitalism and its narrow obsession with possessions and self-promotion (demonstrated by the placing of the indoor toilet and a bronze trophy on equal pedestals). Orozcos The Epic of American Civilization, effectively condenses millennia of human settlement in the New World into one enormous 24-panel panoramic mural, which was presented digitally at the exhibit. Considering the broad subject at hand, this reviewer was struck both by the sweeping ambition of the project and the range of emotion and feeling embodied in each panel. Defiance, hope, and despair emanate from the piece, and the immense scope driving Mexican modernism expresses itself with a power rarely reached in artwork. It is impossible to miss the connection between political outlook and artistic criticism here. The presentation to American audiences of some of the great works of art created in early 20th century Mexico is a commendable undertaking. The PMoA exhibit emphasized the politically critical and in some cases anti-capitalist nature of the art works and artists themselves, drawing a connection between the content of the art and historical events of that era. Efforts were also made to highlight the contributions that Mexican artists made to artistic and cultural developments internationally. A number of tour guides commented that some of the works acted as a counter to the xenophobic campaign directed against Mexicans by the US government and media. Additionally, in listening to the conversations between various audience members, one could hear many discussing the oppositional nature of the artwork and the present situation in the United States, particularly in regards to the rise of Donald Trump. Others commented that the situation leading to the Mexican Revolution paralleled the enormous wealth inequalities and repression facing American workers today. While these sentiments reflect an important strength of Paint the Revolution which bring to wider attention a number of politically charged and relevant artworks, the show has its weaknesses. The exhibit attempts to reveal the relationship between historical events and the development of socially conscious artwork, but there is a lack of analysis of that very history. The political activities and trajectories of the artists, so crucial to understanding their work, are only given a cursory review. We are told that Mexico produced artists with an anti-capitalist outlook, but nothing further. The Mexican Revolution is described as a conflict by the impoverished masses against the rich but with little detail provided about the event itself or the class forces involved. While an artistic exhibit will necessarily be limited in how much history and politics it can present, these omissions weaken the context of the material presented. This limitation above all stems from a failure to discuss the fate of the Soviet Union in any detail, specifically the rise of Stalinism and its impact on Mexican artists and cultural life. The 1917 October Revolution under the leadership of Lenin and Trotsky was based on an internationalist and socialist perspective, but the failure of the German revolutions in 191819 and 1923 isolated the Soviet workers state andcombined with the terrible backwardness inherited from tsarist Russiaresulted in the emergence of a nationalist bureaucracy headed by Joseph Stalin that claimed socialism could be constructed solely within the USSR. While Trotsky and the Left Opposition conducted a determined struggle for internationalism and against the nationalist policies of the Soviet bureaucracy, the victory of Stalinism had a tragic impact on the political trajectory of millions of workers and intellectuals. Stalinism destroyed the Marxist leadership and culture that inspired the revolution in Russia, with disastrous consequences for the working class internationally. Many artists and intellectuals were disorientated by Stalinism, falsely believing that the Soviet bureaucracy represented the continuity of the revolution, and subordinated themselves to the regime, blindly following its orders. Mexico was not spared from this process, with its artistic community entangled in the struggle. A few principled artists like Rivera and Kahlo defended Trotsky. Rivera was centrally involved in securing Trotskys right to exile in Mexico, petitioning the Mexican government to offer him refuge from the Stalinist regime. David Siqueiros, on the other hand, became a virulent Stalinist and on the orders of the Stalinist secret police and the Mexican Communist Party led the first assassination attempt against Trotsky at Coyoacan, Mexico Citya machine-gun attackin May 1940. Siqueiros espoused the Stalinist perspective on art, perversely known as socialist realism. Designed to reduce the revolutionary consciousness of workers, it considered artwork legitimate only insofar as it glorified the viewpoints and actions of the Stalinist bureaucracy. Art that depicted topics unfavorable or inconvenient to the bureaucracy was labelled as elitist or bourgeois and so-called proletarian artwhich excluded the entire preceding cultural and artistic traditions of human societydemanded in its place. Rivera, an early member of the Communist Party, rejected these reactionary limitations. He came into conflict with this perspective during a visit to the Soviet Union in 1926 and was told to return to Mexico. Siqueiros and the Mexican CP later denounced Rivera as bourgeois and an agent of North American imperialism for accepting commissions for murals in the US, and then bitterly attacked him for supporting Trotsky. With the encouragement of the Mexican CP, socialist realist and nationalist tendencies became more pronounced in the artistic works of that country. The retrogression that resulted meant that Mexican modernist art was unable to truly break free of a nation-centric viewits Mexicanidad. Riveras trajectory perhaps best captures the impact of the October Revolution and its subsequent betrayal by Stalinism. At his best, Rivera was a truly revolutionary artist, whose paintings and enormous frescoes captured the life and struggles of the working class. Trotsky wrote highly of Rivera, describing him in an article as the greatest interpreter of the October Revolution in the field of painting. In 1938 Rivera would collaborate with Trotsky and French writer Andre Breton to write the Manifesto for an Independent Revolutionary Art, which stressed the connection between artwork and revolutionary consciousness. Nevertheless, Rivera, who while principled had not grasped the significance of the struggle against Stalinism, became politically disoriented following the assassination of Trotsky in Mexico on August 20, 1940 by the Stalinist agent Ramon Mercader. Rivera made several unsuccessful attempts to rejoin the Mexican CP during the 1940s and was eventually readmitted in 1954, three years before he died of cancer in 1957. This sort of confusion and demoralization characterized many in the Mexican artistic community during WWII and the post-war boom. These key historical details, which would have further enlightened audiences to the gravity of political conflicts of the 20th century and their connection with art, are sadly not to be found in the exhibit. These limitations, while significant, do not lessen the value of the exhibit, and should it spark a renewed interest in Mexican modernist art, Paint the Revolution will have provided an important service. The author also recommends: Frida Kahlo retrospective in BerlinPart 1: The Kahlo myth and the reality [10 September 2010] Eighty years of the Diego Rivera murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts [5 September 2013] More than legal complexities, the Lokpal has been a victim of politics of the two biggest parties in the country. By Prabhash K Dutta: The Supreme Court has rapped the Narendra Modi government for sitting over the appointment of Lokpal - the highest chair in the anti-graft constitutional set up. The country is yet to have a Lokpal even more than three years after the enabling Act was passed by Parliament. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was passed by Parliament in December 2013. It came close on the heels of the anti-graft movement launched by India Against Corruption, which attracted protesters from across the country. advertisement The law empowers Lokpal at national level and Lokayuktas in the states to prevent corruption in high offices. The Lokpal law came into force in January, 2014. According to the law, appointment of the Lokpal is a two-tier process. WHAT LAW SAYS ABOUT LOKPAL'S APPOINTMENT Under the existing law, the appointment of Lokpal begins with a selection panel that comprises of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the Speaker, the Chief Justice of India and a prominent jurist. The selection panel did meet during the Manmohan Singh government. It formed a search panel headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice KT Thomas. The other members of the search panel included noted jurist Fali Nariman, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi, former nominated member of the Rajya Sabha HK Dua, educationist Mrinal Miri, former chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh Kaki Madhava Rao and principal of Delhi's Lady Sri Ram College Meenakshi Gopinath. The search panel could not get to business as Fali Nariman refused to join the search panel citing procedural shortcomings. Justice Thomas too quit reiterating Nariman's argument that the search panel would not be able to appoint the most competent person as the Lokpal. Both Nariman and Justice Thomas objected to the list of the candidates given by the government. Under the existing procedure, the search panel is required to finalise a name forwarded to it by the selection panel. The selection panel had then prepared a list of 305 persons, from whom the search panel was to choose a name. The search panel would not have gone beyond looking for a suitable Lokpal candidate. 2014 AND MODI GOVERNMENT The Manmohan Singh government did not have enough time to form a new search panel as the elections were announced. The UPA was voted out and Narendra Modi government was sworn in after the 2014-general elections. The Narendra Modi government did not form the selection panel saying that it required an amendment in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act of 2013. As the law requires the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha to be member of the selection panel, the government introduced an Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha in 2016 - two years after coming into power. It has been passed by the Lok Sabha. advertisement Interestingly, corruption was one of the prominent issues in the parliamentary polls, in which the Congress, though emerged as the largest Opposition party it fell short of the numbers necessary for its leader in the Lok Sabha to be accorded the status of the Leader of Opposition in the House. There is no designated Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and hence, there is no question of holding a meeting of the selection panel. The government conveyed this to the Supreme Court a couple of times. Now, the Supreme Court does not seem to be impressed with the argument. THE LOKPAL AMENDMENT BILL The Lokpal Amendment Bill proposed changes in the Act providing for the leader of the largest Opposition party to be part of the selection panel. But, the amendment bill also proposed some other changes. The other significant change introduced by the amendment bill, the Opposition alleges, dilutes the anti-graft nature of the Lokpal Act. Under the Lokpal Act a public servant is required to declare assets and liabilities of the self, spouse and dependent children. Such declarations must be made to the competent authority within 30 days of entering office. advertisement The public servant is also required to file an annual return of assets by July 31 every year. The details of the assets are to be published on the relevant ministry's website by August 31. The amendment bill passed by the Lok Sabha removes the condition of form and manner of making the declaration by the public servant. Opposition is not ready to approve all the amendments in the Rajya Sabha while the government is not ready to drop the changes made with regard to the public servant's asset declaration. The Lokpal Amendment Bill is stuck in the tug-of-war between the government and the Opposition parties while Supreme Court expresses its anguish over delay in appointment of first Lokpal in the country. ALSO READ| Supreme Court pulls up Centre, says there is no justification for delaying appointment of Lokpal ALSO WATCH| --- ENDS --- Labours right wing is now openly campaigning for a defeat for the party in the June 8 snap general election. Yesterday, the old war criminal himself, Tony Blair, went on Rupert Murdochs Sky TV and refused to endorse Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, stating that Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May would win the election. The issue was not to run a conventional partisan election that relegated Britains exit from the European Union to one issue among many, he asserted. The task was to build a parliamentary opposition across party lines to a Brexit that takes membership of the single market and the customs union off the table. On this basis, Blair urged voters to consider also backing Liberal Democrats and anti-Brexit Tories. In the Labour Party and in the media, Blairs followers are taking up the theme of Labours un-electability under Corbyn with less reserve than even their political mentor. A striking feature of this offensive is how it centres on denunciations of any and all calls for social equality. On Wednesday, Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee asked, How can Labour survive this Tory tidal wave? She cited a Tuesday morning meeting at the Smith Institute where Labour MPs heard a presentation by Deborah Mattinson, of Britain Thinks, and Nick Pecorelli, of The Campaign Companyleading pollsters and focus groupers who have followed Labours fortunes over decades. These leading pollsters, Toynbee declared in apocalyptic tones, had explained that Labour was doomed because [t]he class and culture divide between Labour leaders and its putative voters yawns too wide to bridge. Mattinson and Pecorelli had explained [t]he thinking of working class voters now is that Labour doesnt like people like us, is neither one of us nor on our side. Whose side is it on? Its the party of posh metropolitans who defend only immigrants and people on benefits. She continues, The words the leadership uses have little meaning or resonance with erstwhile Labour voters. Austerity is empty verbiage to them, says Mattinson. Social justice, equality, fairnessthese have no traction; they are abstractions that, if understood, are viewed with suspicion: more money for immigrants and people on benefits. The meeting cited by Toynbee is properly understood as one hosted by a right-wing Labour Party think tank, featuring two right-wing Labourites advising right-wing Labour MPs on why a further shift to the right is the order of the day. Mattinson and Pecorelli, the apparently disinterested pollsters, told the Labour bureaucracy precisely the message it wants to hear because they are both political creatures spawned from out of the bowels of the party machine. And both have played their own role for decades in helping shift Labour to the right under Blair and his ally and successor, Gordon Brown. Campaign Company boasts that Pecorelli was an adviser to Brown and a Labour Party Assistant General Secretary covering Policy and Campaigns, economic consultancy and NHS management. Mattinson was Browns chief pollster when he was Blairs chancellor from 1997 to 2007 and remained in the role after Brown succeeded Blair as prime minister in 2007. She has written numerous articles for Progress, the main Blairite think tank. The Smith Institute, named after former Labour leader John Smith, is directed by Paul Hackett, previously Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott MP and other ministers at the Department of Communities and Local Government (1997-05). All of them traded on their political connections with the bureaucracy to go private, so they could be paid more handsomely for their so highly valuable insights. Mattinson began her career under political consultant and former advertising executive Philip Gould, the man enlisted by Blairs director of communications, Peter Mandelson, as a strategist and polling adviser to Labour in the general elections of 1987, 1992, 1997, 2001 and 2005. A New Statesman article in 2010 notes that she was in on the ground floor and assisted Gould in running something called the Shadow Communications Agency, which had been tasked with helping to make Labour electable again. Thus was born the focus group, a phenomenon familiar to advertising agencies, but hitherto unknown in the world of British politics. The article notes that, under Blair and Brown, there was scarcely a domestic policy announcement that had not first been road-tested on Middle England. Mattinsons previous work on behalf of Labour includes Emerging from the Darkness, an internal report commissioned by the partys then-interim leader, Harriet Harman, in 2015, following Labour's defeat in the 2015 general election under Ed Miliband. Based on interviews with 10 focus groups in Watford, Croydon, Nuneaton, Edinburgh and Glasgow, the report said that, under Miliband, the Labour Party was in thrall to the undeserving. It had to redefine and revitalise its brand, and be for middle class voters not just down and outs. The report was hailed by the Blairites as pointing the direction of travel for the party, before Corbyns landslide leadership contest victory on an anti-austerity, anti-war ticket temporarily cut across such moves. This heralded an 18-month campaign to get rid of Corbyn by any means necessary, leading to the present offensive meant to guarantee the partys defeat on June 8. The contempt for the undeserving and hostility to social justice, equality, fairness points to the real social layers represented by the Labour Party. To return to Mattinson, she was a co-founder of Opinion Leader Research Limited (OLR), which was owned by Chime Communications. By 2007, she owned about 2 million shares worth around 1 million in Chime Communications. OLRs accounts showed that its three directors, including Mattinson and co-founder Viki Cooke, took home in 2007 aggregate emoluments, excluding pension contributions, of 445,502. The highest paid of the three, who is not named, took home 223,000. After Brown was kicked out of office in 2010, Mattinson and Cooke left Chime to set up Britain Thinks later that year. While spewing out right-wing propaganda denouncing benefit claimants, it is the social layer epitomised by Mattinson and Pecorelli who have amassed enormous wealth via their parasitic relationship to the Labour and trade union bureaucracy, which they have now negotiated into a personal fortune. A 2007 investigation by the Sunday Telegraph found that in the previous two years, OLR won nearly 3 million worth of contracts across an astonishing array of government departments and agencies. These included the Treasury run by Brown and the Department of Constitutional Affairs when it was led by Labours deputy leader, Harriet Harman, a close friend of Miss Mattinson. Britain Thinks, whose latest work on the upcoming June election was described by Blair himself as required reading, boasts of its relationship with clients including McDonalds, E-Bay, British Gas, Centrica, Barratt Developments, Morrisons and Waitrose. Other clients listed are the UK governments Home Office and, lo and behold, the Guardian. Mattinson, Pecorelli, Cooke and Toynbee represent the political dregs of New Labour. The opinions they cite are those of focus groups that are used to reinforce a political message that serves a privileged social layer grown exceedingly wealthy as a result of the pro-business, privatisation agenda championed by Blair and Brown. They have far more in common with May than with her governments victims. Only such selfish and venal creatures could describe references to the austerity measures that have ruined the lives of millions as empty verbiage. The meeting referenced by Toynbee and the views expressed therein underscore that, regardless of Corbyns leadership, Labour remains the political vehicle of this grasping social layer, which is filled with fear and contempt for the working class. The author also recommends: Britain: Browns new politics a cynical cover for authoritarianism [10 September 2007] Various twists and turns notwithstanding, the Trump administration has signalled that it will pursue an aggressive economic nationalist stance in discussions with Canada and Mexico over a recasting of the near quarter century old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Late Wednesday evening, the White House issued a statement saying that the US would renegotiate the trade deal following media reports that an executive order had been drawn up initiating a six-month countdown to a US withdrawal from NAFTA. The statement said the administration had decided not to terminate NAFTA at this time after Trump had held productive phone conversations with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Yesterday Trump elaborated further saying the US could still end the agreement if it did not get a fair deal. The notification for withdrawal had been prepared by Peter Navarro, the head of Trumps National Trade Council and his chief strategist, Stephen Bannon, the two leading economic nationalist figures within the administration. Trump said he had been within two or three days of going ahead with it, but decided not to proceed after speaking with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts. Trump said they had pleaded with him to renegotiate the deal. I think we will be successful, he said, but added: If Im unable to make a fair deal for the United States I will terminate this. The decision not to immediately pull out, which Trump is reported to have been set to make on his 100th day in office, came after the Congressional Republican Party leadership and business circles expressed strong opposition to any NAFTA withdrawal. Trump began his administration with a repudiation of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), covering 12 nations in the Asia Pacific region, and then directed his fire against NAFTA saying. As recently as last week, he declared the trade deal had been very, very bad for our country and that were going to make some very big changes or we are going to get rid of NAFTA once and for all. But withdrawal from NAFTA would be a very different proposition to the scrapping of the TPP, which had not yet come into effect. Trump himself alluded to this yesterday. Terminating NAFTA ... would be a pretty big shock to the system, he said. Many US corporations, including the Detroit Three automakers, have developed their business operations in accordance with NAFTA provisions. Leading Republican John McCain said he would welcome some renegotiation of NAFTAs terms but that withdrawal would be disgraceful and a disaster. Senate Majority whip John Cornyn said the administration had to be careful about unintended consequences. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that trying to renegotiate made sense but withdrawing did not. The head of the US Chamber of Commerce Tom Donohue said that NAFTA should be amended, not ended, and that the $1.3 trillion in annual trade crossing the US, Mexican and Canadian borders should not be disrupted. According to reports, Donohue began a campaign lobbying anyone who would take a phone call to oppose any decision to pull out. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who Trump had previously put in charge of the NAFTA file, and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, are also reported to have pressed Trump to enter negotiations. They pointed to potential losses for agricultural interests in states where Trump drew support in the presidential election. The twists and turns of the Trump administration have produced consternation in Mexico and Canada. A former deputy Mexican foreign minister, Juan Rebolledo, said the events of Wednesday, when the proposed executive order to withdraw from NAFTA surfaced, had been completely mad. Part of the problem, he commented, was that the Trump administration did not know what it wanted. Trudeaus former chief foreign policy adviser, Roland Paris, said events had been disquieting. The Canadian government had taken solace from the fact that when Trudeau visited Washington in February, Trump said that when it came to Canada, NAFTA need only be tweaked. But since then, Trump and his officials have repeatedly indicated they want major changes and have denounced Canadian trade practices in strident terms. It all seems pretty chaotic from the perspective here in Ottawa, said Paris. But amid the immediate turbulence there is a clear line. The US is stepping up a trade war offensive in accordance with the view held by sections of the administration that present trading arrangements and agreements are inimical to the interests of American capitalism and have played a key role in undermining its global economic dominance. The turmoil over NAFTA followed the decision last week to order an investigation into steel imports into the US under the national security provisions of a piece of 1962 legislation. This could lead to the imposition of tariffs and other barriers on all steel products, with major consequences for the entire global steel market. There is an emerging global glut of steel with slowing growth in the major economies and the winding back of infrastructure and property developments in China, leading to more steel coming onto international markets. China last year exported 14 percent of its output, more than the total output of ArcelorMittal, the worlds largest steelmaker. This percentage could rise, with every 1 percent increase in Chinese exports nearly equivalent to the entire export market of American steel. While European steel output has fallen, the region has become a net exporter because of lower domestic demand. Yesterday, Trump signed a memorandum initiating an investigation into whether aluminium imports were endangering the countrys economic and national security, under the very same 1962 law that is being used to pave the way for steel tariffs. The aggressive approach the US will take in the NAFTA negotiations was exemplified by this weeks decision by the Trump administration to impose tariffs on imports of softwood lumber from Canada, accompanied by threats to take action against Canadian dairy imports. Claiming that Canadian governments subsidies were detrimental to the US, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced that the Trump administration will place countervailing duties on all Canadian softwood lumber exports. The average duty is set at just under 20 percent, with further charges under US anti-dumping provisions slated to be announced in June. The US action has rattled and angered the Canadian elite. British Columbia Premier Christy Clark, who is facing a difficult re-election battle, has called on Ottawa to retaliate by banning US coal exports from the Port of Vancouver. For his part, Trudeau said the US duties were punitive and founded on baseless allegations. He pledged to vigorously defend the Canadian industry, which depends on the US market for 75 percent of its $C8 billion in annual exports. In a further twist of the knife, Ross said the duties would be applied retroactively, with a starting point 90 days ago, because they were on notice that this was forthcoming and they didnt change the practice of dumping subsidised lumber. Trump has also attacked Canada over the trade in dairy products, saying that Canadian barriers to dairy imports had made business for our dairy farmers in Wisconsin and other border states very difficult and that Canada had been very rough on the United States. Asked in a television interview whether the moves by the Trump administration were the start of a trade war, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, replied: No, absolutely not. But despite her attempts to put the best face on an ever-worsening situation, that is exactly what is taking place. ABILENELeaders of the Big Country's three community colleges aren't in favor of legislation being discussed in Austin that would make it easier for their schools to offer bachelor degrees. Thad Anglin, president of Cisco College, and both Western Texas College's Barbara Beebe and Ranger College's William Campion expressed their lack of enthusiasm for the more than a dozen bills in various stages in Austin. "I am against it," Beebe said in an email last week. "I do not believe it supports the mission of community colleges to offer bachelor degrees. As we do not want the four-year colleges and universities to delve into dual credit offerings to the high schools we serve, we should not be offering bachelor degree programs to the students they serve." Beebe said Western Texas College, as a whole, doesn't have the money available to pursue these degree options even if the legislature should agree on some form of streamlining the application process community colleges must complete before offering these options. Currently, only four community colleges South Texas College, Midland College, Tyler Junior College and Brazosport College have received approval to offer four-year degrees. According to a report by the Texas Tribune in early April, there's more of an appetite for this change in the legislature than ever before. Bills were introduced in both the House and Senate higher education committees this past winter. Supporters say these bills would increase degreed workers in the state and help ease shortages in several fields like nursing and early childhood education, the Tribune reported. Anglin recognized these shortages, especially in the nursing field where Cisco has agreements with multiple four-year institutions in the Abilene area. Texas Tech University Health Science Center and Hardin-Simmons University nursing programs both benefit from Cisco students transferring into their programs after completing Cisco's courses. Nurses are aging out of the system with retirements, leaving holes, Anglin said, that need to be filled. His school is not the correct option to do this, he said. Instead, Anglin said he'll advocate developing and strengthening partnerships with the universities. "We're not moving in the (bachelor degree) direction at this time," he said. "It's something we'll carefully evaluate and will continue to evaluate, but we really see an opportunity to establish and grow our partnerships with our university partners. I believe the benefit of this is it brings everyone to the table." If Ranger College were to consider expanding its offerings, Campion said in an email the first one the school might consider would be early childhood education. But even then, he said, that would be long-term, not something that would happen after any legislation makes it easier for colleges to apply. "Ranger College is not planning to implement any of these programs just now," Campion's email said. "Texas enjoys a plethora of upper division opportunities for students completing very specialized two-year programs. Perhaps the first four-year program Ranger College would consider would be early childhood as the state has ample money for these programs and a distinct shortage of students completing four-year programs. While this might be a consideration down the line, Ranger College does not see any four-year programs in our immediate future." by Timothy Chipp, Abilene Reporter News Reprinted with permission from the Abilene Reporter News, Abilene, Texas. To view the original story click HERE. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A woman wanted in Texas was arrested in Tallahassee on Wednesday after she was involved in a hit-and-run crash that injured two people. According to a probable cause document, a Tallahassee Police officer was dispatched to Capital Circe NE and Eastgate way around 5 p.m. in response to a crash with injuries. When they arrived, they found a white Ford Crown Victoria in the middle of the northbound lanes with substantial damage to the front. There was also a gold Toyota Camry resting on a light pole at the northeast corner of the intersection. Both cars had their airbags deployed and were disabled due to the extent of the damage. The driver and passenger in the Camry were also complaining of injuries and were transported to a local hospital. When police spoke with the passenger in the Crown Victoria, they asked him where the driver was. The passenger told them that the driver, who was later identified as Brande Armstrong, had run away. The document said that the passenger told officers that Armstrong was trying to turn left onto Eastgate but had failed to put the car back into gear. When the car rolled into the intersection, Armstrong shifted the car back into drive, causing the car to lurch forward and hit the Toyota. After searching for her for about five minutes, Armstrong returned to the scene and told officers that she had not been driving the Ford. The probable cause document said that Armstrong gave officers a false name and wouldn't tell them her real name. When they eventually made a positive identification, they arrested Armstrong. Police were also able to find out that Armstrong was wanted in Texas for a misdemeanor and was on supervised release for an aggravated battery with a weapon charge. She was cited for leaving the scene of an accident with injury and property damage, having no valid driver's license, resisting an officer without violence, and violation of probation. When you can peep down a wooden deck at water which is richer in marine-life than your average aquarium, witness bone-white sand glimmer on a full moon night and gaze at emerald blue waters for as far as your eyes can see, chances are, you are in paradise. Or Maldives. The clutch of islands offers vagaries of a castaway holiday, without the hardship. Profoundly beautiful, the low-lying coral islands of Maldives in the Indian Ocean offer nothing short of an embodiment of paradise. Lying gracefully in the stunning embrace of shallow lagoons and reefs, these resorts are ideal for divers and snorkelers. Beach bums are also welcome. advertisement Four Seasons--Landaa Giraavaru Four Seasons Opt for the Four Seasons hospitality, for rubbing shoulders with jet setters in the Indian Ocean. Experience the upscale ambience and rawness of the natural beauty in this remote island hideaway. A private yatch experience along the untouched lagoons is one of a kind. If you manage to pick up your dropped jaw after seeing the property, another wow factor awaits at the leafy, over-water spa. Here, an idyllic piece of theatre unfolds with exotic body wraps and rubs that promise to rejuvenate. Reserve the evenings for the infinity pool, which gives bathers the illusion of swimming straight to the sea. In the evenings, one can only marvel at the expertise and detailing of cuisine from lands like Lebanon and Morocco, considering you're wedged in the middle of nowhere, with only ocean views rolling from where you stand. Olhuveli--Beach and Spa resort At Olhuveli, it's difficult to pick your most memorable experience. There is a tough rivalry between the unfettered sunset views from the infinity pool, beachfront havens with brightly coloured sun loungers and poolside cabanas. For many, nothing trumps the idea of watching marine life from the jacuzzi of your over-water villa. When not getting the ringside view of stingrays, baby sharks and a family of resident octopuses from the in-house restaurants, it's best to sign up for a day at sea with dolphins, turtles and manta rays. Even though it's tough to source fresh food in the Maldives, Olhuveli has an enviable reputation for the best vegetarian fare in the South Male atoll. This serene tropical oasis corroborates the claims of legendary service with aplomb. as it strikes a balance between comfort and unassuming hospitality. The fact that it has staff from over 15 countries working here is testimony to how much they love it. Naturally, you cannot help but fall in love. with the place too. Maalifushi by Como Maalifushi by Como Maalifushi by Como The last thing on your mind during your stay at Maalifushi would be travel. It's the kind of place you'll never want to leave. When the seaplane pulls up at the unspoilt Thaa Atoll in the far south, there is no choice but to be stunned into silence. The exceptionally luxurious resort is surrounded by soft-as-flour sand, ideal as a jump-off point for surf breaks and scuba diving. That's only if you can leave your overwater villa or the Shambala Retreat where Asian holistic healing offers nurturing massages and wellness treatments. Despite numerous dining options on the island, you'll find yourself being drawn to Madi, a restaurant that offers food anchored around the region's organic produce of tropical fruits and vegetables with ample fresh seafood. A private mid-island meal for a romantic candle-lit dinner tops the list of memorable moments on this fantastic island resort. advertisement The St. Regis, Vommuli Resort The St. Regis, Vommuli Resort Dhaalu Atoll's most premium address feels ironically wild and untouched when you get a chance to check out the pristine coral reefs around it. Here, dolphins race your boat, turtles swim close to the surface to catch some sun and the resident fish show off a million unseen colours. At other times, you can redefine laziness by being sprawled on the wooden deck of your private splash of water, or spend hours at the infinity pool overlooking the endless canvas of blue. Luxury family travel is ideal for parents who want some down time. At St. Regis you can let the 'Family Traditions' staff get the young guests involved in well-tailored and safe activities, while you make lounging at the beach, your agenda for the day. The underground wine cellar, Decanter, throws up a surprise for the lazy evenings. advertisement Jumeirah Dhevanafushi Jumeirah Dhevanafushi At Jumeirah, holidaymakers can hole up in pampered seclusion without moving an inch. It's the stuff that holiday dreams are made of. When you're done sighing at the beaches and the clear blue skies on your way over to Jumeirah, there is nothing other than being speechless the moment you set eyes on it. The property is ideal to play your biggest escapist fantasy, where you cannot see anything or anyone for miles from your beach or water villa. The honey coloured sand, swaying palms and the emerald waters of the lagoons in front, put all beach travel cliches to shame. Once you're indoors in the evenings, the seductive decor and spacious rooms can pall any fatigue from scuba diving or snorkeling. Else, there's always the state-of-the-art spa that is suspended over emerald waters. With a butler attached to each villa and some fitted with their own pools this is truly paradise. advertisement Getting there Air India and Spice Jet connect major Indian cities to the capital Male (ex-Delhi approximately Rs 25,000). From the airport, hop onto private boats organised by resorts or seaplanes to the particular atoll you are headed to. Far-flung atolls can take up to an hour-and-a-half on the boat, or 30 minutes of flying time. Foodie alert Opt for full board packages (inclusive of all meals and drinks) at the resort of your choice. The resorts have multiple dining options within the premises. In your bag 1. Beach accessories like Sunscreen, hat, dark glasses, loose cover-ups and flip-flops 2. Relatively conservative clothing of long sleeves and full length pants only if you're visiting Male, since Maldives is a Muslim country. 3.GoPro, waterproof camera equipment for dives and snorkeling. 4. Check seaplane allowances before you book a resort. --- ENDS --- Two ambushes a little over a month apart illustrate the perils of underestimating the Maoists. On April 24, a CRPF road-opening party comprising 76 troopers at Burkapal in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district was surrounded and overrun by two Maoist 'companies' numbering over 300 guerrillas. Twenty-five CRPF troopers lay dead as Maoists directed indiscriminate fire at them. It was their deadliest strike since the April 2010 ambush and massacre of 75 CRPF troopers in Chintalnar, Dantewada district, and followed the March 11 gunning down of 12 CRPF troopers in Bhejji, 20 km from district capital Sukma. Both ambushes occurred in the Maoist stronghold of Sukma in what the extremists call their annual Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC)-the period between March and June when they are in peak strength and constantly probe for any slackening of guard. In Burkapal, for instance, they struck just when the troopers broke for lunch. In Bhejji, they carefully watched the CRPF road-opening party follow a predictable routine before laying a deadly ambush. These 37 deaths in just six weeks were a setback for the government celebrating a stunning decline in Maoist-related violence in 2016. advertisement On March 17 this year, Union home minister Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha that the number of Leftwing Extremism (LWE)-affected districts had contracted from 106 to 68. The 35 'most affected' districts among them were in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Maharashtra. In the past four months, 158 persons-Maoists, civilians and security personnel-have been killed in six states. Horrific as they may be, these deaths are unlikely to significantly alter a tide that is slowly turning against LWE. A grave threat, which then prime minister Manmohan Singh warned, in April 2006, was the "single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country", now has its back to the wall. Maoists are capable of pulling off surprises, but they are slowly bleeding territory and foot soldiers in a battle of attrition with the Indian state. In Chhattisgarh, where they have the largest presence, Maoist-controlled territories have shrunk from 20,000 sq km a decade ago to a little over 5,000 sq km, mostly in the state's southern districts. From a high of 1,180 deaths in Naxal-related violence in 2010, high enough for it to be termed a high-intensity conflict and more than twice the number of Indian soldiers lost in the Kargil War of 1999, deaths in Naxal violence plunged to an all-time low of just 161 last year. This is the sharpest such decline in 15 years of LWE (see graphic: Confined Insurgency), but still years away from what security analysts say is a prerequisite to declaring mission accomplished-an entire year free of any LWE-related incident. PTI PTI The impenetrable hilly forests of Abujmarh, spread over nearly 4,000 sq km across Chhattisgarh's southernmost districts of Bijapur, Narayanpur and Dantewada, are core Maoist area. It has India's largest concentration of leftwing extremists who run their parallel government, the 'Janatana Sarkar', deep inside the forests. But it is Sukma, jutting into Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, and which a senior government official calls 'de facto capital of the Maoist state', that is most critical. Located at this tri-junction, Sukma offers a vital safe passage for Maoists and material to move into other states. The district borders two other LWE-affected districts-Odisha's Malkangiri and Telangana's Bhadradri-Kothagudem. This junction of contiguous areas of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, bordering Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, is the Maoists' jugular. It serves as a safe haven, partly because nearly all the ageing Maoist leaders are from the Telugu-speaking states. They enjoy a pervasive network of sympathisers on whom the militants rely for logistics and medical help. advertisement It is here in Sukma, their backyard, that the Maoists are waging a savage battle against their greatest enemy: roads. The March 11 attack was against troopers guarding the Benji-Injiram road and the April 24 attack was on troops guarding construction teams on the 56-km Dornapal-Jagargunda road. For several years, Maoists have dug up roads, planted landmines and blown up culverts on this 400-km network of roads being laid by the state government in Chhattisgarh's southern districts. "Roads bring in development, and speed up the deployment of security forces," says a senior home ministry official. "They constrain the space and time advantage that the Maoists enjoy in rugged territory." The completion of just these two roads will cut up Maoist territory, challenging their primary shield: inaccessibility. The conflict with the Maoists is at a critical juncture. This is where the Centre's lethargy is baffling. There has been no radical change in approach or any move to address strategic deficiencies in the fight against Maoists. The CRPF, the main force battling Maoists, remained without a full-time director general for two months since February. A new DG, Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar, was appointed 48 hours after the Burkapal massacre. It suffers from deficits in policy, equipment, manpower and training. This translated into the CRPF sending unprepared and ill-equipped troopers into one of the last Maoist strongholds in the country. advertisement Click here to Enlarge Photo by: Chandradeep Kumar The CRPF troopers who were ambushed had none of the equipment recommended as far back as in 2012 in a home ministry modernisation plan. Of the approximately Rs 83,000 crore allocation for the home ministry in the 2017 Union budget, Rs 17,868 crore went to its largest force, the 300,000-strong CRPF. The list of equipment approved but not procured-from Mine Protected Vehicles (MPVs) to drones, thermal imagers and ground penetrating radars-grows longer with each passing year (see graphic: Unprotected on the Ground). The troops in Sukma had none of the accoutrements-dog squads or MPVs-that would help detect or break the ambush. The CRPF has been authorised to buy 352 MPVs (costing over Rs 1 crore apiece), but it has only 120 such vehicles. The force does not have any workshops in the Maoist-affected regions, so at least 40 per cent of the vehicles are not operational at any given time. advertisement Of greater concern are manpower issues. In the past three years, nearly 7,000 CRPF personnel have quit, including 1,085 inspectors, sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspector rank officers who lead the companies, sections and platoons in counter-Maoist operations. These shortages have hollowed out the leadership on the ground. In the April 24 ambush, a lone inspector was in charge of two companies whereas the recommended officer strength for such a force would have been at least five officers-one deputy commandant, two inspectors and two deputy inspectors. The Sukma encounters have sowed the seeds for further danger. In just one ambush, Maoists made away with 22 weapons, including AK-47 and INSAS rifles, and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition-sufficient to mount another such ambush. A deadly armed peasant insurrection which started in Naxalbari in West Bengal 50 years ago on May 25, 1967, rode on the back of exploitation and lack of land reforms. By August 1971, the uprising had been violently suppressed by the police and Indian army. In 2004, embers of the Maoist movement, which flickered on in two Indian states, lit up to start a forest fire. The People's War Group (PWG) in Andhra Pradesh and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) of Bihar and Jharkhand merged to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist). It triggered a deadly war covering a continuous swathe of areas from South India to the Indo-Nepal border, affecting nine states and accounting for 27 per cent of the country's area and 39 per cent of the population. While the state slept, a hardcore cadre of violent extremists from Andhra Pradesh, led by the bespectacled and enigmatic supremo Muppalla Lakshmana Rao, alias 'Ganapathy', 67, spread their tentacles into regions of central India so inaccessible that they had been left unsurveyed from colonial times. The Maoists swiftly established their parallel government, running schools and courts, collecting taxes, deciding cropping patterns and expanding their tribal army, the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), thought to number 2,000 fighting cadre in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region. In the new war against Maoists, the military is being used only in a support role-six air force Mi-17V-5 transport helicopters based in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are used for ferrying casualties and transporting troops and equipment. The choppers have their cockpits reinforced by plates of armoured steel to protect them from Maoist fire (one helicopter was downed by Maoists in January 2013). The approach of the state has been the classic counter-insurgency strategy of 'Clear-Hold-Build'. Clear an area of insurgents, hold on to it by putting up security posts and then gradually expand the area under the control of the state by building up physical infrastructure, such as banks, mobile phone towers and roads. The inflection point came after the 2010 Chintalnar massacre. Then home minister P. Chidambaram began a two-pronged plan to equip and empower the state police forces, push more paramilitary forces into the LWE-affected districts and build up fortified police stations in remote areas. The other prong was to empower the district officials to build infrastructure, like schools, roads, toilets and drinking water facilities, in areas freed of Maoists. A unified command was set up in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal to closely coordinate the activities of the police, paramilitary and intelligence units. This strategy can to a large extent be credited for turning around the neglect of the early 2000s. The state is now moving back in, albeit slowly. The NDA's home ministry, under Rajnath Singh, has largely continued the UPA's clear-hold-build plan. In the 35 districts categorised as 'worst affected', the Centre has opened 358 new bank branches, 752 ATMs and 1,789 post offices in the past two years. In the first phase between January and December 2015, 932 mobile phone towers have been put up. Another 175 additional mobile towers are proposed to be constructed in the next phase to increase mobile connectivity in the LWE-affected areas. The road transport and highways ministry had constructed 3,904 km of roads until January 31, 2016, in the 34 worst LWE-affected districts in eight states. A total of 5,422 km of roads remain to be constructed. The government accelerated a counter-insurgency strategy of flooding Maoist areas, particularly in Chhattisgarh, with paramilitary forces. "Between 2010 and 2014, we have seen a surge in the number of paramilitary battalions from 30 to 100," says a senior home ministry official. Each battalion has 800 troopers. The Chhattisgarh government has completed building 70 out of a planned 75 fortified police stations in the Maoist-affected southern districts under a Rs 150 crore plan. These have permanent buildings which can station over 100 policemen. The police go out on multi-directional patrols. "We are slowly cutting their roots," says Brigadier Basant Kumar Ponwar (retired), who runs the Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College in Kanker, Chhattisgarh. "One day," he predicts, "this huge Maoist tree will just wither and fall." Jituram Savlam, 27, is a prized catch for the Chhattisgarh police. Last year, he and wife Pojje, both hardcore Maoist foot soldiers, turned their backs on the revolution. They slipped out of their Maoist camp in Dantewada, changed into civilian clothes, leaving their black uniforms and rifles, trekked through the jungles and gave themselves up. Now recruited into the police ranks, the disillusioned guerrilla is a valuable intelligence source for the police against his former comrades. Savlam is one of the hundreds who surrendered to the police last year. In 2016, the Maoists lost 134 fighters in encounters with the security forces and saw 250 weapons being recovered from them. "We have been applying relentless pressure on them," says Durgesh Madhav Awasthy, special director general (Naxal Operations and Special Intelligence Bureau), Chhattisgarh. "We have gone in for intelligence-based operations. Over the past 18 months, we have attacked two or three Maoist camps every week. They haven't attacked a single camp of ours." In the past seven years, 848 Maoists in the steeply hierarchical CPI (Maoist) have been killed, captured, or have surrendered. Those captured include two members of the CPI (Maoist) central committee-K. Muralidharan from Pune in 2015 and Anukul Chandra Naskar from Cachar in Assam in 2013. Home ministry figures show 1,442 leftwing extremists surrendered last year, more than three times the number in 2015; 397 Maoists surrendered in the first three months of this year. The Maoist leadership remains the primary cause for concern. Most members of the CPI (Maoist) central committee and politburo are believed to be hiding in major urban centres and towns bordering Chhattisgarh. Police assessments say the Maoists will cease to be a threat within five years. But for that, the civil administration and security forces will have to keep up the two- pronged pressure of development and security in LWE areas. In time, the decline in Maoist activity could be built up into permanent defeat of this movement. In recent years, the Maoists have suffered tremendous losses, including in the top leadership, leaving the movement in dire straits. "It is, however, premature to declare victory and let our guard down," says Ajai Sahni, executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management, Delhi. "The Maoists retain sufficient operational capacities to do significant harm, and have demonstrated these again and again over the past months and years. If the present incident is thought of as 'dying embers flickering brightly', we should prepare for much more such 'flickering'." The incidents in Sukma are a case in point. -with Amarnath K. Menon --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Here's something that's going to make every Delhi foodie's weekend really hot and happening--and we're not talking about the weather here, but the delectable food on offer at the Masalas of India food festival. The two-day long food fest will showcase Indian regional cuisines, with food from every part of the country. Eateries from across the nation are coming together for this food fiesta, and with restaurants as famed as Lucknow's Tunday Kababi offering their delicious kebabs, it's just the place you want to be. Godhino's Chicken Caldeen. advertisement You could satiate every craving, whether it's for Kashmiri cuisine by Ahad Sons Restaurant or the quintessential Bihari litti-chokha by Mr Littiwala. Maharashtrian street foods like dabeli, misal pav, and bhel puri will also be on offer, along with Mangalorean fare by Desee Dakshin. Also Read: Delhi's first food truck festival is all set to woo you this weekend Riding on the success of Horn OK Please, Delhi's first food truck festival, collaborators So Delhi and GoBuzzinga decided on the theme for this fest based on the idea that people in the Capital often crave more varieties of Indian food to break the monotony of Western cuisines. "There is so much rich diversity in terms of food and culture that our country possesses in spades that has been virtually untapped, and we thought we'd showcase that to all the foodies of Delhi', says Digant Sharma, founder of So Delhi. Udaipuri Daal Baati Choorma. Keeping that in mind, the event will witness the accumulation of all the Indian flavours we love. And since it's summer, guess what you can sip on while enjoying an Indian meal or two of your choice? Old Delhi's special Mohabbat Ka Sharbat, Charan Singh Kulfi, Kala Khatta, Shikanji, and other authentic Indian beverages! There will also be a special treat for Maggi lovers at the Masalas of India food fest: Maggi is launching new regional flavours for the first time in India. Also Read: Feasts cooked by Indian royal families to be a major attraction this year Kashmiri Tabak Maaz by Ahad Sons restaurant. And there's going to be more than just food at the event, especially with Indian artistes and regional bands regaling the guests with their musical performances. And with all this on offer, would you want to be anywhere but at the Masalas of India food fest this weekend? When: 29-30 April, 2017 Where: Ansal Plaza, Hudco Place, Khel Gaon Marg Timings: 4 PM-11 PM --- ENDS --- In an interview with Reuters, Trump confirmed his administration was in talks about possible visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel in the second half of May. He is due to make his first trip abroad as president for a May 25 NATO summit in Brussels and could add other stops. A visit to Israel would reciprocate a White House visit in February by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to meet Trump next Wednesday in Washington. "I want to see peace with Israel and the Palestinians," he said. "There is no reason there's not peace between Israel and the Palestiniansnone whatsoever." Trump brushed aside a question of whether he might use a possible trip to Israel to declare US recognition of the entire city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a reversal of longstanding US foreign policy likely to draw international condemnation. "Ask me in a month on that," he said, without elaborating. Transportation and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) suggested during his visit to the US that the Trump administration formulate a five-point US-Israeli memorandum of understanding (MOU) document to remove Iranian influence from Syria. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The document consisted of a series of key points designed to tighten the noose around Iran and its proxies in order to prevent its aggression in the region, particularly through the terror organization Hezbollah. One of the points in the MOU included American recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heightsan area captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. Other points included a general opposition to Iran's permanent military presence in Syria, the imposition of sanctions on Iran until it stops military and financial aid to Hezbollah and the terrorist organizations in the region, and the intensification of the sanctions against Hezbollah. Minister Katz and US ambassador to UN Nikki Haley The latter point carried an implicit threat of Israeli military action, as it noted that the further escalation of sanctions against Hezbollah were intended to weaken it, thereby preventing the need for a powerful Israeli response against Lebanon if the movement targeted Israels home front and infrastructure. In addition, the MOU raised the notion of American-Israeli action to prevent territorial contiguity from Iran, through Iraq and Syria to Lebanon in order to allay Israels security concerns that such a development could lead to the establishment of a northern front, forcing Israel to mobilize forces against a surprise Iranian attack. During his visit Katz met with special envoy Jason Greenblatt, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Richard Burr, and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff. Earlier, Katz also met with US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. Some of the meetings were attended by Israel's ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer. "We are working to build an American consensus to stop Iran and promote regional cooperation initiatives," Katz said. The minister also attempted to enlist the American administration to promote his "regional peace framework" of connecting the Arab and Palestinian states to the Mediterranean through Israel as a land bridge . Katz presented the Americans with maps and stressed that the initiative does not contradict existing agreements and is part of an overall effort to renew negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The official memorial hall on Mount Herzl was unveiled Thursday morning, which will be inaugurated on Sundaythe eve of Memorial Day for Israel's Fallen Soldiers. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The new memorial hall is a stone-made mountain, towering to a height of 18 meters, and comprises more than 23,000 bricks, each bearing the name of the fallen and the date of their death. Each brick is illuminated with a candle that automatically lights up on the anniversary of the person's death. Construction work on the hall lasted two years and cost approximately NIS 99 million. The new memorial hall in Jerusalem (: ) X Over the next two months, visits to the hall will be restricted to bereaved families only, who will be invited to attend organized visits by Yad Labaniman organization commemorating IDF fallen soldiers. Thereafter it will be made accessible to the general public. The hall contains the names of all security personnel who died in the line of duty, from the first soldier Aharon Hershler, who was attacked by Arabs in Jerusalem in 1873, to the most recently-fallen soldiers.The names of the soldiers are engraved on the bricks in the same font and size, irrespective of rank, in chronological order, in order to preserve the value of equality in perpetuating the fallen soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet, the police and the security forces. (Photo: Ofer Meir) At the entrance to the hall there will be a "Ner Tamid" (a lamp that burns perpetually) and a flag pole with the Israeli flag. The official memorial ceremonies will be held in the heart of the hall, and guests of the state will be invited to lay a wreath. Every morning a military cantor will hold a memorial service for soldiers who died in the line of duty on that day. In the center of the hall lies a huge bell made up of thousands of bricks produced by the manager of the Merkava tank and the Yarkam tank programs designed to reflect the spirit of the verse: "And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks." The personalized bricks (Photo: Ofer Meir) In addition, there will be artistic exhibits and interactive tools. A computerized system will enable the visitors to access information, pictures, and summarized biographies of the dead via touch screens. Towards the end of the journey through the hall, visitors will be invited to share feelings and experiences, and write a few words in their memory. They will also be invited to light a virtual candle that will be incorporated into a special three-dimensional display. Visits to the hall will be accompanied by music composed specifically for the site, and the entrance to the site will be adorned by a creation of the successful Israeli artist Michal Rovner, titled In Their Footsteps. "The State of Israel has many national symbols of commemoration, such as the siren and the lowering of the flag to half mast, but there has yet to be a site that focuses on the personal dimension of the fallen," Aryeh Moalem, deputy director of the families and commemoration department at the Defense Ministry, told Ynet. "Bereaved families wished to eternally commemorate their sons' memory and story In addition, when senior Israeli officials visit countries abroad, they usually commence their visits by placing a flag on the tombstone of the anonymous soldier in that country. In the State of Israel, it was decided that no such tombstone will exist, and thus, the hall may be utilized for (that purpose), to enable foreign VIPs, who arrive on official visits, to pay respects to Israel's fallen soldiers," he said. The director of the hall, Yair Ben-Shalom, added: "The hall provides an experience of connecting the person to himself, a tour of the history of a fallen battalion, the story of a town and its losses, the name of a fallen soldier he may have been familiar with and wanted to know more about. This is a hall of values and revival." (Translated and edited by N. Elias) US President Donald Trump said a major conflict with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, while China said the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Trump, speaking to Reuters on Thursday, said he wanted to peacefully resolve the crisis, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option was not off the table. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea," Trump said in an interview at the Oval Office. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said, describing North Korea as his biggest global challenge. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was a danger that the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control, according to China's foreign ministry. Wang made the comments in a meeting with a Russian diplomat on Thursday at the United Nations, the ministry said in a statement. China, the only major ally of North Korea, has been increasingly uncomfortable in recent months about its neighbor's pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles in violation on UN resolutions. Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for trying to rein in Pyongyang, calling him "a good man." "I believe he is trying very hard. I know he would like to be able to do something. Perhaps it's possible that he can't. But I think he'd like to be able to do something," Trump said. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that China has asked North Korea not to conduct any more nuclear tests. Beijing had warned Pyongyang it would impose unilateral sanctions if it went ahead, he added. "We were told by the Chinese that they informed the regime that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own," Tillerson said on Fox News, without specifying what sanctions he was referring to. Tillerson did not say when China made the threat and there was no immediate confirmation from Beijing. He is due to chair a meeting with UN Security Council foreign ministers on Friday, where he said he would stress the need for members to fully implement existing sanctions as well as possible next steps. China banned imports of North Korean coal in February, cutting off its most important export, and Chinese media this month raised the possibility of restricting oil shipments to the North if it unleashed more provocations. Missile defense, carrier group In a show of force, the United States is sending the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula, where it will join the USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in South Korea on Tuesday. South Korea's navy has said it will hold drills with the US strike group. Admiral Harry Harris, the top US commander in the Pacific, said on Wednesday the carrier was in the Philippine Sea, within two hours' striking distance of North Korea if need be. USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier (Photo: Reuters) Harris also said a US missile defense system being deployed in South Korea to ward off any possible North Korean attack would be operational in coming days. However, Beijing has been angered by the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, missile defense system, complaining that its radar can see deep into China and undermines its security. Trump said in the interview he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the THAAD, which he estimated at $1 billion. South Korea, one of Washington's most crucial allies in the region, said the United States would have to bear the cost, pointing to possible friction ahead. Trump has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile, a capability experts say Pyongyang could have some time after 2020. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests and numerous missile tests, including one this month, a day before a summit meeting between Trump and Xi in Florida. Any direct US military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among US forces in both countries. Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. "As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational," he said. In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on North Korea and other countries on Thursday to avoid behavior or rhetoric that could increase tensions around Pyongyang's nuclear program. A Lebanese citizen who was arrested Thursday in Kiryat Shmona had apparently entered the country in the area of Moshav Margaliot, near the border. He was caught unarmed. The incident is being investigated. The citizen was arrested Thursday at the central bus station in Kiryat Shmona, after reports of a suspicious looking man were received. At least six AAP MLAs approached the BJP's Delhi leadership immediately after the MCD poll results, but were turned away. By Baishali Adak, Rakesh Ranjan: After being rejected by Delhi voters in this month's municipal elections, the Aam Aadmi Party is battling to stay united and stay relevant. While buzz about a possible split is growing louder, the victorious Bharatiya Janata Party says it has shut its doors to defectors. Highly placed BJP sources told Mail Today on Thursday that at least six AAP MLAs approached the party's Delhi leadership immediately after the MCD poll results, but were turned away. advertisement The Arvind Kejriwal-led party stormed to power in Delhi two years ago as it buried the BJP and Congress under a landslide. But it stood a distant second in the civic elections with the Bharatiya Janata Party riding the Narendra Modi wave one more time to a thumping win. AAP MLAS KNOCK BJP'S DOORS? "Six AAP MLAs had approached the party leadership, seeking time to meet Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari," a BJP leader said. "They wanted to discuss the political developments in the wake of the civic poll results. They said they were also willing to join the BJP. But the party leadership has refused to meet them." City BJP leaders said the party was averse to take any AAP legislator to its fold primarily for two reasons. First, the BJP has gained immensely on the development plank of PM Narendra Modi and there was no need to rely on support from AAP defectors. Secondly, AAP has been extremely critical of the BJP and its top leaders including Modi and party president Amit Shah. "With the BJP riding high on a Modi wave, entry of AAP leaders in the BJP camp would dampen the spirit of the party cadre," BJP leaders said. "We cannot take leaders from a party which has been bitterly critical of our top leaders." "The BJP is firm on its stand. No defector will be allowed in the party after the election results lest we should be accused of hatching conspiracies or poaching," said the BJP leader. WAIT AND WATCH The party has decided to wait and watch the situation in the AAP. Meanwhile, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday called a meeting of all party MLAs and the newly-elected 48 MCD councilors, and congratulated them on their win. The developments emerged amid reports that embattled AAP convener Kejriwal told his partymen "not to lose heart" from the embarrassing loss and "get back to serving the people of Delhi the way they were doing." "Be vigilant, be honest, be brave. Also be sure to secretly record any offers made by the BJP to switch sides," he says in a video posted on YouTube. advertisement Kejriwal concludes his address by leading his audience in an oath which amounts to, "With God as my witness, I pledge never to ditch this pure party or betray the (anticorruption) movement." RIFT WITHIN AAP The rift within AAP is palpable after the election results. While there has been no vocal protest so far, a number of party leaders have been questioning Kejriwal's style of functioning. "AAP contested all elections with Kejriwal as its face. But responsibility has to be fixed for repeated electoral defeats. At the same time, the party organisation should be strengthened instead of creating a personality cult," said some leaders, requesting anonymity. Senior Punjab AAP leader Sanjay Singh resigned on Thursday along with his deputy Durgesh Pathak. "I have submitted my resignation as the party in-charge of Punjab to AAP's national convener Arvind Kejriwal. Durgesh (Pathak) has also submitted his resignation as co-incharge," Singh said in a tweet. Another senior leader in Delhi, Ashish Talwar, also resigned from his post. The party made transport minister Gopal Rai the Delhi convener on Thursday following Dilip Pandey resigning from the post immediately after the MCD poll debacle on Wednesday After the meeting at the CM's residence, AAP legislator Vishesh Ravi said, "It's been decided that the MLAs will go back to the people and try to find out where the communication gap between the legislators and them has occurred." advertisement Ravi, MLA from Karol Bagh, said that in the meeting, the EVM manipulation issue also came up for discussion. "AAP will soon decide its future course of action on this issue. At present, related evidence (pertaining to EVM manipulation) is being gathered," he said.Also Read MCD election results 2017 wrap-up: Delhi puts Arvind Kejriwal's AAP on notice MCD election result 2017: Can the Aam Aadmi Party be dismissed by the Centre? Nope. MCD election results 2017 wrap-up: Delhi puts Arvind Kejriwal's AAP on notice --- ENDS --- Reports of attacks in Syria attributed to Israel may indicateone could certainly assumea new stage in Israel's defense against Hezbollah and Iran. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter This self-defense has lasted for more than a decade, but now it seems that it focuses on one particular thing: defense against artillery; mainly, the missiles and rockets that Iran provides the Hezbollah to strike a critical blow against Israel's home front. Explosions in Damascus airfield Hezbollah and Iran's goal is to be able to threaten vital infrastructureswater, electricity, healthcare services, transport, airfields and emergency suppliesin a way that Israel will have a difficulty to recover from should a strike occur. The new stage in Israel's strategic defense may have not started today, but is now picking up pace as Israel has completed its multi-layer missile defense system David's Sling, which became operational several weeks agocompleting what may be the most important layer in Israel's defense system. This system, formerly known as Magic Wand, is designed to intercept enemy planes, drones, tactical ballistic missiles, medium- to long-range rockets and cruise missiles, fired at ranges from 40 km to 300 km, which essentially covers most of Israel's territories. The Iranians and Hezbollah understand that the IDF's missile defense system, which is the first and only of its kind, challenges them and their ability to threaten and deter Israel. Even if they are not interested in starting a war with Israel at the moment, they always seek to preserve their level of deterrence against it. David's Sling (Photo: Defense Ministry) For that reason, Iran has decided to change course and instead of arming Hezbollah with hundreds of thousands of imprecise missiles, they are now transitioning to an arsenal comprised mostly of precise missiles and rockets, some of which are even GPS-guided. The explanation for that is simple: The Iranians and Hezbollah understand that David's Sling is capable of intercepting more than 80% of their rockets, and so they intend to battle it using sheer volumemaking it so that the IDF's defense system has too many threats to defend against than it possibly could. The Iranians also want to make sure that at least some of the missiles that will manage to pierce through Israel's defense system will not just land in open fields, and so they are upgrading Hezbollah's massive artillerywhich is estimated to have more than 130 thousand missiles and rockets. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif (L) and Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah (Photo: Reuters) The aim is for the arsenal to be comprised of a larger percentage of guided and precise missiles and rockets, which even if only a few of them manage to avoid being shot down they will still inflict massive amount of damage. This strategy is obvious to the IDF and worries Israel's security operators a great deal. In fact, due to Iran's increasing potential of nuclear capabilities it is now considered to be the main and most dangerous threat to the State of Israel due to its potential for large devastation in Israel's home front. The important role of military Intelligence Israel is fully aware of these threats, and is therefore making efforts to gain intelligence on Iran's attempts to arm Hezbollah with precise artillery and prevent Israel from stopping those shipments, sent to Hezbollah forces through Syria. The attacks attributed to Israel on arms depots in Syria, if indeed carried out by it, show the increases efforts by both the Iranians to arm Hezbollah and by Israel to prevent it from taking place. Iran is sending these shipments byamong other methodscommercial flights of Iranian or Iranian-owned airlines out of the assumption that Israel won't know that a regular commercial flight from Tehran to Damascus will also carry missiles and rockets, most of which in pieces. Iranian airplanes (Photo: airplane pictures) It is not unthinkable that Israel's intelligence is working to learn of these attempts. The battle between Iran and Israel's intelligence systems is held behind a thick cover of secrecy. The Iranians don't want to admit that they are arming Hezbollah through Syria since it breaches rules made by the United Nations Security Council. On its end, Israel is not admitting or denying that it is sabotaging these shipments. And so, both sides are exploiting plausible deniability for their own interests, even if these "military installations" are hard to hide or ignore once they catch fire do to some "unknown missile strike." (Translated & edited by Lior Mor) Fifty years after Israel reunified Jerusalem, the city's mayor Nir Barkat says the upcoming anniversary is a time to celebrate, despite the deep rifts and occasional bursts of violence that disrupt daily life in the city. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter But like other prominent politicians of the Likud Party, Barkat says Jerusalem must remain united under Israeli control and insists the city's diverse array of inhabitants are "all my children." Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat "Jerusalem is the crown jewel. It will always stay the united, undivided capital of the Jewish people with respect to all religions," the 57-year-old Barkat said in an interview with The Associated Press this week at his office, which overlooks the Old City. "The prayer of all Jews, for thousands of years, is to return to the city of God, the holy city of Jerusalem." Barkat presides over perhaps the most complicated city in the world: deeply divided between Arab and Jew, religious and secular, rich and poorand claimed as a capital by both Israelis and Palestinians. On the other side of the Mideast conflict, the half-century mark of Israel's victory in the 1967 Six-Day War is being perceived quite differently. "They can call it 50 years of whatever they want. But for us, the Palestinians, it is 50 years of occupation and this occupation should end," said Adnan Husseini, the Palestinian minister for Jerusalem affairs. The Three Soldiers, 1967 (Photo: David Rubinger) Jerusalem's nearly 900,000 residents are split almost evenly three ways among secular and modern Orthodox Jewish residents, Muslim Palestinians and ultra-Orthodox Jews. All in all, it's one of Israel's poorest cities. Al-Aqsa Mosque (Photo: Shutterstock) "I admit we have a lot of catch-up to do," said Barkat, who became mayor in 2008 after a successful run as high-tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Since retiring from his business career, Barkat has worked for the city for a token salary of one shekel (27 cents) a year. "I'm committed and I'm accountable to close gaps for all neighborhoods, Muslim, Christian, Jewseveryone," he said. Israel captured eastern Jerusalem, home to key Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites, from Jordan after it attacked Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel annexed the area in a move that has not been recognized internationally. The fate of Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While past peace talks have discussed partition options, Israel's current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says that's out of the question. Barkat, who recently joined Israel's ruling Likud and considers himself a potential successor to Netanyahu, also flatly rejects the notion and claims a majority of the city's Arab residents would prefer to stay under Israeli rule even if a Palestinian state were to be established. Photo: EPA To that end, he says he expects the Trump administration to follow through on its promise to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalema scenario encouraged by Israel but bitterly opposed by the Palestinians. "What I understand is that President (Donald) Trump and his people very, very clearly understand the future of our city as a united city," he said. "I believe it will happen sooner rather than later." The Israeli government is responsible for peace talks with the Palestinians, and Jerusalem's mayor has no official say in the city's political future. But as chief executive he can affect the delicate balance between Arabs and Jews, especially in regards to daily life issues like building permits, construction and education. Barkat rejects accusations that Jews receive preferential treatment over Arabs in housing permits. He said east Jerusalem poses particular zoning challenges since a majority of the land there is not properly registered and ownership is often difficult to establish. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat (Photo: AP) Regardless, he said that he has consistently increased annual investment in Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem and most of the city's new schools have been built there. "The prioritization system of where we invest is not symmetrical. We invest more where there are gaps," he said. "The quality of life of the Arab residents of Jerusalem is far superior to anywhere else around us in the Middle East ... and they know that very, very well." Barkat insists that, even with a wave of Palestinian stabbings and other attacks over the past year and a half, the city is far safer than other major cities around the world. To keep it so, he said the massive Israeli security barrier that cuts off parts of the city and leaves some Jerusalem neighborhoods stranded on the other sideessentially dividing it from the West Bankis necessary. "If I have to weigh between the twolife and quality of lifeI choose life," Barkat said. "In the foreseeable future, at least now, it looks like we are still going to need that fence." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told German media Thursday that he chose to cancel a meeting that was scheduled to take place earlier this week with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, because he refuses to meet with diplomats who meet with organizations who slander Israeli soldiers. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "My rule is simple," Netanyahu said during an interview with the German tabloid Bild. "I will not meet with foreign diplomats who, when visiting Israel, meet with organizations that call our soldiers war criminals. That is the reason the meeting did not happen." (Photo: Marc Neiman/GPO, Alex Kolomoisky) Despite an ultimatium issued by Netanyahu, warning the German foreign minister not to meet with representatives of the left-wing group Breaking the Silencea group that publishes testimony, often anonymous and unverified, about alleged daily crimes and misconduct former soldiers say they witnessed being committed in the West BankGabriel insisted on doing so. He also met with representatives from the B'Tselem Israeli human rights center which documents alleged crimes and abuses committed by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank. Netanyahu went on to say, "I think it was a particularly insensitive time to seek a meeting like this. These are the days we mourn the murdered members of our people in the Holocaust and our fallen soldiers. The Israeli army is the one force that keeps our people safe today." He also claimed that he tried to telephone Germany's foreign minister to clear the air but that he refused to take the call; "The German-Israel relationship is very strong and will continue to be so," Netanyahu maintained. "I hope that the next time Gabriel visits Israel, he meets with me instead of a radical fringe group undermining Israeli security." Germany regards itself as one of Israel's closest allies and the cooperation and trade links are extensive. However, the legacy of the Nazi-era Holocaust, in which six million Jews were killed during World War II, means relations are highly charged. Gabriel, a Social Democrat who has spoken publicly about his rift with his late father, a convinced Nazi, visited the Middle East to press for a two-state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. In March, Germany cancelled an annual meeting of German and Israeli leaders planned for May amid rising frustration in Berlin with Netanyahu's West Bank policies. All 100 US senators signed a letter sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Thursday urging him to act against discrimination against Israel in the United Nations. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The letter, which was obtained by the Washington Post, contained a warning that the UN had better change its habitual discrimination against Israel, reminding Guterres that while the USA remains the main financial contributor to the organization, it is not afraid to act against it. UN General Assembly (Photo: AFP) The letter went on to say that the US expected to see a change in the world forum and its institutions vis-a-vis its treatment of Israel. Through words and actions, we urge you to ensure that Israel is treated neither better nor worse than any other UN member in good standing, the letter said. The letter reaffirmed the USs committment to international leadership and to advancing respect for human rights but unequivocally condemned what it described as the continued targeting of Israel by the UN Human Rights Council and other UN entities. The senators listed a number of specific agencies in the UN which they said had demonstrated clear bias against Israel. Pointing to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the letter acknowledged that it did carry out important work in the field of Holocaust education, but nevertheless highlighted measures that target Israel and deny the Jewish and Christian connection to Jerusalem, adding that such actions only serve to undermine the institutions credibility. UN Human Rights Council (Photo: AP) (UNESCO) is set to vote on Tuesday , Israel's Independence Day, on a resolution that comes out against Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem. Turning to the United Nations Reliefs and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the senators told Guterres that the body would have to pursue reforms, accusing it of downplaying its role in perpetuating troubling anti-Israel bias and activities. Furthermore, the signatories also delineated the troubling ways in which the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) devotes time to unwarranted attacks against Israel. Cataloguing some of the most flagrant human rights violators in the world today, to which it said the UNHRC should be dedicating its attention, the senators once again decried the imbalanced focus on Israel. Nikki Haley (Photo: MCT) The letter constitutes another step toward repairing the USs unflagging support for Israel since President Trump took office in January, and appointed Nikki Haley as his Envoy to the UN. Israel-US relations were frayed under the Obama administration when the US abstained from a contentious UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to settlement construction while simultaneously declaring them illegal. Since taking on her new role however, Haley has managed to earn the trust of many Israel supporters and build a reputation as one of Israels staunchest advocates on the international stage through a series of public speeches and declarations admonishing the UN for its bias treatment against the country. In a remote corner of the Indonesian archipelago, a modest synagogue stands in a tiny Jewish community that has found acceptance despite rising intolerance in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority country. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The red-roofed building on Sulawesi island is the only synagogue in the nation of 255 million people. Here, unlike other parts of the country, the Jewish community feels safe to practice their faith openly. Heaven's Gate synagogue in Sulawesi (Photo: AFP) We can wear the kippah in the mall or anywhere we want, its not a problem, Yobby Hattie Ensel, a Jewish leader from the nearby city of Manado told AFP. In Tondano, the Shaar Hasyamayim (Heaven's Gate) synagogue sits close to several churches and residents of different religions live, work, and worship alongside each other without incident. Indonesia has long been praised for its moderate, inclusive brand of Islamand this enclave of diversity is a testament to that. But across the archipelago, intolerance has risen in recent years as more conservative forms of Islam have become popular, driven by increasingly vocal hard-line groups. Photo: AFP Tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and the Palestinians, spill over here and deepen religious divides. Outside the safe haven on Sulawesi, those who refuse to hide their faith have faced hostility. Yaakov Baruch, an Orthodox Jew who runs the Tondano synagogue, revealed how he was threatened with death in a Jakarta busy mall as he walked along with his pregnant wife. From a few floors up, they shouted at me Crazy Jew, he told AFP, adding the group of men then ran towards him and demanded he remove his skullcap. They said to me: We dont want you to use your kippah in this country. If you continue to use it, well kill you'." Photo: AFP In 2013, the countrys only other synagogue in the city of Surabaya was demolished. It had been the site of anti-Israel protests for years, and was sealed off by hardliners in 2009 and left to decay. Secret worship Indonesian rabbi Benjamin Verbrugge concedes any flare-up of tensions in the Middle East provokes hostility towards the local faithful. Problems between Israelis and Palestinians are a liability for mewhen someone is stabbed there, it makes me uneasy here, he said. Faced with such open hostility, the Jews in the capital worship in secret. Last month Verbrugge, head of the United Indonesian Jewish Community (UIJC), held celebrations for the festival of Purim, traditionally one of the most joyous days in Judaisms calendar, hidden in a small hotel room with a handful of fellow worshipers. Rabbi Yaakov Baruch (Photo: AFP) The UIJC estimate there are around 200 practicing the faith in the country, believed to be the descendants of traders from Europe and Iraq who came to Asia to trade. The organization was set up to bring the nations Jews together. The Jewish population in Indonesia is believed to have peaked at around 3,000 in the years before World War II, according to Rotem Kowner, a professor from the University of Haifa in Israel. The fact that those remaining are scattered across the archipelago means Verbrugge has to defy rules that forbid Jews from using electrical gadgets on the Sabbath to lead group prayers online via the LINE messaging app. The small community also faces more practical challenges, such as the fact kosher food is not widely available in Indonesia, said Phinechas, a local convert to Judaism. Photo: AFP I try my best to be a good Jew but I cant manage it 100 percent, he added. Increasing intolerance Faith-based tension has been mounting in Indonesia, undermining its pluralist reputation. Christian churches and mosques where Muslim minorities pray have been closed due to pressure from hardliners. Shiites and Ahmadisregarded as heretics by some Sunnishave been forced from their homes in mob attacks and on occasion even killed. Successive governments have been criticized for failing to tackle the radicals for fear of being accused of attacking Islam. Due to their small number and the fact most live in the shadows, the nations Jews have not been a major focus of radical Islamic anger in Indonesia and have largely escaped the serious attacks directed at other minorities. But having a low profile also brings problems. Photo: AFP According to the law, freedom of worship is guaranteed for all religions, including Judaism, but in practice Jews cannot be honest about their faith. Authorities allow Indonesians to put six different religions on their all-important ID cardsIslam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism. ID cards are vital for accessing government services, and for doing things such as registering marriages and births, meaning most Jews lie and put Christianity on the documents. The religious affairs ministry said in 2013 people who do not follow one of the six authorized faiths can choose to put nothing on their cards, but Indonesian Jews AFP interviewed had all put Christian to avoid drawing attention to themselves. Despite the challenges, Indonesian Jews nevertheless insist they are an integral part of the nation. Baruch said: (The) Jewish community of Indonesia, we were in this country far before the country was born. It means we are part of this country as well. COPENHAGENA Danish prosecutor has charged six men with violating Danish terrorism laws by joining the Islamic State group from 2013 to 2016. Prosecutor Lise-Lotte Nilas says the case where based on a name list that Danish investigators had received a year ago from unidentified "international cooperation partners." Nilas said Friday the men, who were not identified, had joined ISIS as "fighters," adding they lived in different places in Denmark. She said they were either Danish citizens or foreigners living in Denmark. They face at least four years in prison. Israel intends to build 15,000 new homes in eastern Jerusalem, the Housing Ministry said on Friday despite US President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to Israel as part of a new push for Israeli-Palestinian peace Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Israel views all of Jerusalem as its "eternal and indivisible capital," but the Palestinians also want a capital there. Maon, south of Hebron (Photo: AFP) Housing Minister Yoav Galant told Israel Radio that his ministry and the Jerusalem Municipality had been working on the plan for two years, with proposals for 25,000 units, 15,000 of which would be in east Jerusalem. "We will build 10,000 units in Jerusalem and some 15,000 within the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem. It will happen," he said. Ma'ale Adumim (Photo: EPA) Saeb Erekat, the Palestinians' chief negotiator, said Israel's move was a systematic violation of international law and a "deliberate sabotage" of efforts to resume talks. "All settlements in occupied Palestine are illegal under international law," he said in a statement. "Palestine will continue to resort to international bodies to hold Israel, the occupation power, accountable for its grave violations of international law throughout occupied Palestine." Channel 2 news said an announcement on building could be made on "Jerusalem Day" which this year, according to the Hebrew calendar, falls on May 24. This year marks the 50th anniversary since Israel reunified the city during the Six-Day War, with a large number of celebrations planned. Trump's visit is expected to take place on, or shortly after, May 22. Amona (Photo: Topview) Speaking in an interview with Reuters, Trump said "I want to see peace with Israel and the Palestinians. There is no reason there's not peace between Israel and the Palestiniansnone whatsoever." The US leader met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington in February and is to see Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House on May 3. In January, two days after Trump took office, Netanyahu said he was lifting restrictions on settlement construction in east Jerusalem, just as the city's municipality approved building permits for hundreds of new homes. During Barack Obama's presidency, Netanyahu's government came under repeated censure for construction in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem, despite the fact that Israel long since declared sovereignty over it. Under Trump, Netanyahu expected more of a green light to ramp up settlement building, but it hasn't been straightforward. Ofra (Photo: Topview) While Trump has said he does not think settlements are necessarily an obstacle to peace, he did directly ask Netanyahu during a White House press conference in February to "hold back on settlements for a little bit." In 2010, Israel announced its intent to build homes in east Jerusalem during a visit by then-Vice President Joe Biden, who condemned the plan. It caused huge embarrassment to Netanyahu, who suspended the plan before reintroducing it in 2013. The east Jerusalem neighborhoods where building is planned are Givat Hamatos, East Talpiot, Ramot, Pisgat Zeev, Neve Yaakov, Ramot Shlomo, Gilo and Atarot. These areas extend in an arc from north to south around the eastern side of Jerusalem, forming something of a buffer with the West Bank. In an unusual move, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) prevented a Joint List MK from holding a conference in the Knesset to mark the 50th anniversary of the Israeli occupation. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter A few days ago, MK Aida Touma-Slimans office emailed the Knessets visitors centers reservation department and asked to reserve the Sprinzak Hall for a conference. This was ostensibly a routine procedure: Any Knesset member can reserve a hall for a conference theyre hosting. However, a crucial detail of this email brought the matter to the attention of the parliaments speaker: Touma-Slimans aide wrote, The meeting is to mark the 50th anniversary of the occupation of 67. The Knesset has plenty more rooms than just the plenum. (Photo: Reuters) When Edelstein learnt of the conferences purpose, he decided to intervene in the process and refuse Touma-Slimans request. It has come to my attention that you have requested that a conference be held in the Sprinzak Hall entitled Fifty Years since the Occupation of 67, Edelstein wrote in a letter to Touma-Sliman, a Christian Arab who lives in Acre. He continued, I was saddened by this defiant initiative, which brings unnecessary division and tension between parts of the nation, especially in this sensitive and special period in the Israeli calendar, the character of which you must know very well. MK Aida Touma-Sliman, a Christian Arab, sought to mark the 'occupation.' (Photo: Gil Yohanan) The speaker added a personal note, writing, The attempt to celebrate the occupation specifically within the Knesset is not only an insult to a broad public in Israel, but also a personal insult to me. Knesset Speaker Edelstein finds the request a personal slight, as well as a national insult (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) He concluded unequivocally: You may hold the meeting in your factions room or in your office, but not in an official Knesset hall. It is unusual for the Knessets speaker to intervene in MKs use of the parliaments various halls, even for events that are disapproved of by some of the parliamentarians. Two months ago, a day to mark LGBT rights was held, which is disapproved of by many of the religious MKs. Some of them asked Edelstein to intervene, but he refused. Yosef Sprinzak was the first speaker of the Knesset, and the hall is named in his memory. (Photo courtesy of the IDF archive in the Ministry of Defense) A month ago, MK Dr. Aliza Lavie held a conference on sperm donation in the Sprinzak Hall and aroused opposition. At the beginning of June, a major event is scheduled to be produced by the Land of Israel caucus in the Knesset to mark the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War Days and settlements in the West Bank. (Translated and edited by J. Herzog) CAIRO - Pope Francis is urging Egypt's leading imams to teach their students to reject violence in God's name and preach peace, dialogue and reconciliationnot instigation to conflict. Francis made the remarks on Friday during a landmark visit to Egypt's Al Azhar University, the revered, 1,000-year-old seat of learning in Sunni Islam that trains clerics and scholars from around the world. The official Lebanese news agency reported that the IDF had transferred the Lebanese citizen who entered yesterday into Israeli territory in the area of Moshav Margaliot near the border to the UNIFIL force at the Rosh Hanikra crossing. According to the report, UNIFIL transferred him to the Lebanese army, which began investigating the incident. The civilian arrived in Israel Thursday unarmed and was arrested at the central bus station in Kiryat Shmona following civilian reports of a suspicious person. Investigation of the security forces shows that he is apparently mentally unstable. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, who hails from Atarwalia was given the charge of Delhi state BJP president few months ahead of MCD polls, and he was instrumental is BJP's win in the MCD polls. By Rohit Kumar Singh: Even after two days that results of Municipal Corporation of Delhi was declared and BJP registered an emphatic win, a village in Bihar is still celebrating. Atarwalia, a sleepy and dusty village in Kaimur district, 200 kms from Patna, is jostling with activity with dhol being played, sweets being distributed and a mini Holi being played. Why should the village not celebrate? After all a son of this village, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has played a key role in BJP's big win in the MCD polls. advertisement BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, who hails from Atarwalia was given the charge of Delhi state BJP president few months ahead of MCD polls, and he was instrumental is BJP's win in the MCD polls. Back in Atarwalia, Manoj Tiwari's mother Lalitha Kunwar is proud of her son's feat. She is busy accepting congratulatory messages and wishes from locals and others who are thronging the village from neighbouring areas. "I am very happy for my son. Now I want my son to become Chief Minister of Delhi. I was always optimistic that BJP under my son will win MCD. My son will become CM, my blessing are with him," said Lalitha Kunwar, mother of Manoj Tiwari. Outside Manoj Tiwari's house in his village, songs sung by him fill the air. "Jiya ho Bihar ke lala, jaiya tu hazaara saala", Tiwari's popular number is on the lips of the youths after a stellar MCD win. Rahul Tiwari, nephew of Manoj, believes that his uncle has become a role model for the people of the village. "My uncle is doing great work and is making the country proud. We want to be like him. If my uncle becomes Delhi CM, it will be a good feeling," says Rahul Kumar. Also Read: After MCD sweep, BJP now plans to strengthen civic bodies by sidestepping AAP MCD election results 2017: Riding high on Modi wave, BJP delivers a crushing blow to Kejriwal's AAP --- ENDS --- Likud MKs harsh remarks about bereaved parents during a meeting of the State Control Committee continued to stir up a storm a week later, with Coalition Chairman MK David Bitan having received insults from a passer-by who identified himself as a Likud activist during a visit to the Ramla market on Friday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Bitan was touring the open-air market with the mayoral candidate Michael Vidal. Ive been a Likud man from the day I was born. Youre a disgrace to Likud! Youre a disgrace to the state, the protestor was heard saying in the video. Go to the military cemeteryits not far from hereand ask for forgiveness. Youre a disgrace to the country. Go home. Shame on you. Footage of the incident (Footage courtesy of Channel 2) X In the video, it seems that Bitan refrains from responding to the insults and is attempting to continue the tour. In a statement issued later, he commented, The shouting and the filming were planned; I had been informed ahead of time that this man was coming. Those who mock the bereaved and the memory of the fallen are all the cynics who are trying to exploit the sacred Memorial Day for political purposes. He added, I do not expect that youll see the support I received there, but dont distort the picture. This is one person who timed and planned the video, and you are simply helping this disgusting show. This is no Likud activist. Likud activists actually kept the provocateur away from me, but why should the truth interfere with good directing? Bitan (R) in a shouting match with a bereaved father last week (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) You are a disgrace to the country, one of them says to Bitan in the video of the event posted online. Go to the military cemetery and ask for forgiveness.Bitan said in response that the shouts were planned in advance, taking advantage of Memorial Day for political purposes. The Knesset State Control Committee discussion last week 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. (Translated and edited by J. Herzog) BERLIN German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday defended her foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel, whose meeting with a group critical of Israel's treatment of Palestinians prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel talks. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Netanyahu said in an interview with a German newspaper he had tried to telephone Gabriel to clear the air after cancelling the talks but the visiting German foreign minister would not take his call. Asked if Gabriel had her backing, Merkel told the RND newspaper group, "Yes, he has that. We were in close contact during his visit to Israel." Gabriel follows his chancellor, but Merkel's got his back. (File photo: AFP) Netanyahu cancelled talks with Gabriel on Tuesday after the minister met members of Breaking the Silence, an Israeli organization often criticized by the Israeli government over its collection of testimonies from Israeli veterans about the army's treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank. Merkel said she often meets civil society groups during her foreign travels, adding the dispute "changes nothing in our conviction that support for the State of Israel is part of our raison detat." The dispute threatens to widen a rift between Israel and Germany over Jewish settlement building in the West Bank by Netanyahu's right-wing government. Netanyahu, who is also Israel's foreign minister, said he had tried to patch things up with Gabriel, telling German mass-selling daily Bild on Friday, "I wanted to telephone Foreign Minister Gabriel to explain my position and to clear things up, but he would not take the call." "I hope Gabriel meets me on his next trip to Israel rather than a radical fringe group that undermines Israel's security," he said. Netanyahu and Merkel both confirm that their countries' relationship is still strong. (File photo: AFP) "It seems Mr. Netanyahu is under big pressure over what he has done," Gabriel said on Friday in Valletta. "This is why he is appearing in German newspapers." Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said Israeli officials had wanted Gabriel to meet representatives of Jewish West Bank settlers as a condition for the phone conversation, something the German side could not accept. "I do not welcome diplomats from other countries who visit Israel and meet organizations that call our soldiers war criminals. That is the reason why the meeting did not take place," Netanyahu told Bild. He added that relations between Israel and Germany were " extraordinarily strong " and that Israelis were thankful for Germany's help in maintaining Israel's security. Germany regards itself as one of Israel's closest allies and the cooperation and trade links are extensive. However, the legacy of the Nazi-era Holocaust, in which six million Jews were killed during World War Two, means relations are highly charged. In March, Germany cancelled an annual meeting of German and Israeli leaders planned for May amid rising frustration in Berlin with settlement activity in the West Bank. PARIS French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has paid homage to Nazi victims, urging voters not to repeat "the darkest page" of modern French history by forgetting the horrors of World War II. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Macron walked slowly through the site of the deadliest massacre in Nazi-occupied France, the village of Oradour-sur-Glane in western France. Emmanuel Macron and Robert Hebras at the municipal cemetery before the memorial to the inhabitants exterminated by the Waffen-SS (Photo: EPA) In 1944, an SS armored division herded villagers into barns and a church, blocked the doors, and set the village ablaze. A total of 642 people died, and only six survived. The town's ruins are preserved as a testimony to Nazi horrors. Emmanuel Macron (R) and Robert Hebras, one of the survivors of the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre, deposit a spray of flowers during a campaign visit of the ruins in the village. (Photo: AFP) The En Marche! candidate was accompanied by the towns mayor and 91-year-old Robert Hebras, who was one of the massacres six survivors and the only one still alive. Macron has promised that if elected, he will come back to a village for the June commemoration of the massacre. Emmanuel Macron (2nd L), flanked by Mayor of Oradour-sur-Glane Philippe Lacroix (L), listens to Robert Hebras (R), one of the survivors of the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre. (Photo: AFP) The town is today a phantom village, with burned-out cars and abandoned buildings left as testimony to its history. This Jan. 1, 1953 aerial file picture shows the destroyed Oradour-sur-Glane. (Photo: AP) Macron warned that "to forget is to take the risk of repeating history and these errors." Emmanuel Macron (3rd L), flanked by his wife Brigitte Trogneux (4th L) and Robert Hebras (L), one of the survivors of the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre, visits the ruins. (Photo: AFP) He is trying to distinguish himself from far-right rival Marine Le Pen, whose party's past is stained by anti-Semitism An Egged bus driver who initially refused a passengers request to leave the bus in a location where alighting is forbidden filmed the torrent of curses and verbal abuse that the elderly women rained upon him on Thursday in Jerusalem. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The video taken by Khaled Siyam, the tricenarian driver, shows the irate passenger insisting that she has a bus to catch at 5 and begging him to open the door. In Israel, drivers are forbidden from allowing passengers to enter or alight buses anywhere that is not a scheduled bus stop. The bus appears to be stuck in traffic during the video. X Siyam remains silent until the very end of the clip, but the passenger doesnt take a break from insulting him, calling him, inter alia, a dog, trash and a stinking Arab. She continued on to make vague threats and implying that she would somehow have him removed from the bus line, which Siyam said that he regularly works on. From the footage Ive encountered similar cases, but not at this level. Its a very serious thing. She hurt me; she cursed me and threatened me. He added, Im lucky to have a camera on the bus, so the curses were recorded. I wont be silent about something like this. I informed the companys management what happened, and I intend to file a police complaint against the woman. Khaled Siyam Egged issued a statement on the incident that condemned the passengers behavior. It added, The management backs the bus driver, who was careful to follow the traffic regulations and refused to give in to the pressure of the passenger to let her off somewhere that wasnt an authorized station. The driver showed remarkable restraint in the face of the passengers harsh and outrageous comments, and after the incident, management representatives contacted him, praised him for his actions and listened to his claims, they added. Opening a door in an unauthorized place could result in a fine of thousands of shekels for the driver, the statement said. (Translated and edited by J. Herzog) French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen says she "abhors" Holocaust doubters amid a scandal involving a senior official in her party. Le Pen has made the comment after allegations that a vice president of her National Front party expressed skepticism about Nazi gas chambers. Auschwitz-Birkenau survivor Bronia Brandman, 86, returned to Auschwitz-Birkenau Thursday for the first time since her liberation, accompanied by a delegation of Israel Defense Forces officers and 40 Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) supporters from across the United States. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Brandman was born in Jaworzno, Poland, and watched two of her sisters being sent to the gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Except for her older brother and cousin, who also reside in the United States, her entire family perished in the Holocaust. She has one daughter and two grandchildren who live in Israel. Credit: Filip Jurzyk/Servimedia for FIDF X Brandman, who now lives in Brooklyn and had vowed never to return to Poland, decided to come to Auschwitz as part of the FIDF From Holocaust to Independence delegation to Poland and Israel. It was her first time back since the Red Army liberated the camp in 1945. I came to Auschwitz in 1943 as a child of 12. My parents and four siblings were consigned to the gas chambers. The daily bestiality and dehumanization was beyond words, and the worlds silence was deafening, said Brandman. I never wished to return to that place of our degradation and annihilation, but to return in the presence of our noblest, the bravest of the braveour IDF soldiers, allows my spirit to soar with pride and hope. Auschwitz-Birkenau survivor Bronia Brandman at the death camp near Oswiecim, Poland (Photo: Shahar Azran) Friday, the entire delegation flew on an Israeli Air Force transport jet from Poland to Israel, where they are to visit IDF bases, commemorate the Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism, and celebrate Israels 69th Independence Day. LR: IAF Commander of Aerial Defense Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich; Auschwitz-Birkenau survivor Giselle Gita Cycowicz; FIDF National Vice President Robert Cohen; Auschwitz-Birkenau survivor Bronia Brandman; and FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (res.) Meir Klifi-Amir walking through the entrance to Auschwitz-Birkenau (Photo: Shahar Azran) This historic delegation is tracing the modern history of the Jewish people through the eyes of Holocaust survivors and IDF officers, said FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (res.) Meir Klifi-Amir. Its telling the story of our near-extinction in Europe, the creation of a Jewish homeland, and the new generation of Jewish defenders of the Jewish people who safeguard our legacy today. By marching together into the dreadful Auschwitz-Birkenau camps with IDF soldiers and the survivors who somehow endured that torture, we send a powerful message to the world that we remember, and that the Holocaust cannot and will not ever happen again. Never again is not a platitude; it is our peoples solemn promise. Auschwitz-Birkenau survivors Bronia Brandman (L) and Giselle Gita Cycowicz at a Birkenau hut in which both were forced to sleep during the Holocaust (Photo: Shahar Azran) This mission was one of the last opportunities for these survivors to return to Auschwitz and tell of its horrors, said FIDF National Vice President Robert Cohen. It has been a rollercoaster emotional experience for everyone involved. We passed through the gates of Hell, ignoring the false promise that Work sets you free, where countless Jews suffered from unimaginable cold, hunger, and despair. We were surrounded by those who survived within the camps walls, and also by those who make sure they are not forgottenthe brave soldiers who protect their legacy: the State of Israel and the Jewish Diaspora around the world. A Swiss court has rejected an appeal by Egyptian energy companies after a French court last year ordered them to pay $2 billion in compensation to state-owned Israel Electric Corp (IEC), the Israeli utility said. An IEC statement on Friday said that Egyptian Natural Gas (EGAS) and Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) were liable because they were unable to fulfil their commitment to provide it with natural gas for its power stations. The Egyptian petroleum ministry was not immediately available for comment. Miracles do happen. You do not run away from a rest area surrounded by corn fields and a busy interstate and end up in a residential neighborhood in east York without some divine intervention. But that is exactly what happened. Little Spirit was lost the Saturday before Easter when her owner was traveling from Colorado to Minnesota. They stopped for a break at the rest area west of York when Spirit slipped her collar and took off. The nightmare began. Despite the efforts of volunteers, she was not seen again. You lay awake nights wondering about her and one can only imagine what the owners must be feeling. Spirit is really only a puppy and had not yet experienced any type of survival experiences and probably was alone for the first time in her young life. But, we soon discovered that she is indeed, a survivor. One week to the day, Jacque Landers was outside at her home on East 9th street and she saw this little dog at her neighbors acreage. It came to her at the fence, which Jacque was able to lift up and let her into her yard. She fed her some dog biscuits to keep her close and to gain her trust. Jacques dog Molly happened to be out and the two dogs began to play together and soon ran to the door to be let in. Jacque said that Spirit was a perfect little lady in the house. Spirit was very hungry and thirsty so she fed her and then called the police and York Adopt a Pet. Officer Shawn Humphrey picked Spirit up and transported her to the shelter. Kennel manager, Kim Hart, said she about had a heart attack when she saw who he had in his arms. Spirit! That is the moment when you believe in miracles and the power of prayer that had been offered up for Spirit. The news spread quickly and the spirits of hundreds of people were lifted by a little dog so appropriately named. The owners had just picked up their vehicle in York that had broken down when they came a week ago and were on their way home to Minnesota. Kim managed to notify them when they were in Iowa. They immediately turned around and the reunion turned into a flow of tears for all who witnessed it. Pictured is Nikki giving Spirit a much needed hug. Also pictured is Nikki, her boyfriend, Officer Humphrey and Jacque Landers. I heard from Nikkis mother, who lives in Colorado. She had driven to Nebraska to aid in the search. She said it was the longest week of her life and she did a lot of praying. She wanted to send her thanks to everyone who helped in Spirits rescue and to let us know Spirit had her first birthday on the 23rd. What a birthday present for her to be reunited with her family again. Never give up. And I am hoping we will be able to have the same results with a golden-colored pit bull mix that is injured and has been sighted between York and McCool. We want to get this dog to safety and to a vet. You can contact me at 402 366-2818 if you see her. (Thursday update from Nordlund: The injured pit bull near McCool has been caught and is now safe at York Adopt a Pet. What a great week for lost dogs!) And dont forget our annual York Adopt a Pet garage sale is going to be held on Friday, May 5th. All the proceeds go 100 percent to the care of the animals. Life is good indeed! YORK The York Rotary Club is offering help in the purchase and installation of at least one picnic table area, maybe more, on the courthouse lawn. Stephen Postier, representing the Rotarians, spoke with the county commissioners this week just to see if they were interested in such a project. We have some money available for a community improvement project, Postier explained, offering some photos of wooden picnic table structures that could be set on top of cement pads. He also suggested the northeast corner of the courthouse lawn would probably be the best spot. He said a possible $3,000 grant could be available from the district level of the Rotarian organization. I just wanted to see if you were interested, he told the commissioners. Im not against it at all, but it would need to be on concrete and made of all-weather material, said Commissioner Randy Obermier. People could sit out there on their lunch breaks, they could be used during farmers markets and other events. We would have to think about how to accommodate mowing. I think the concrete base would make sense, so the person mowing the lawn wouldnt have to keep moving them, added Commissioner Jack Sikes. Postier said some local Rotarian members could also likely provide some of the labor, to help cut down on the cost. This is the only green space downtown and I think it would be a great idea to make it a little friendlier for folks to use, said Commissioner Kurt Bulgrin. I think you should put something together, with numbers, and come back, said Commissioner Bill Bamesberger. And maybe we could partner on a few tables, Postier added. We are a little short on funds right now, Bamesberger added. Yes, roofs pretty much take precedence, Bulgrin said. I think its a good idea, Obermier said. Just put a plan together. The other commissioners agreed. Postier said hed go back to his organization and bring back recommended plans at a later date. YORK -- Ken Ludwigs dark comedy Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery will be presented at York College Friday and Saturday, April 28 and 29, at 7:30 p.m. This show is the senior capstone project for Samatha Berry of Falls City, Nebraska. Berry has directed one-acts at York College in previous semesters. For her final project, she is presenting this full-length show, which she describes as suspenseful and hilarious. The show features five actors portraying 35 different characters. Much of the comedy comes from the over-the-top costumes, wigs and accents used to differentiate the characters, said Berry. The show features the acting talents of recent York College alumnus Jameson Trauger as Sherlock. His faithful companion, Watson, is played by Nathan Clark. Boone Berry, Brinna Horvath, and Ryan Harrison play the other 33 characters. This show is free and open to the public. It will be performed in Gurganus Hall (corner of 10th and Kiplinger Ave.) on the York College campus. No tickets or reservations are required. After graduation in May, Berry will travel to New York City for a learning trip hosted by the York College theatre department. Berry, a theatre communication major, plans to pursue a career in directing. She has her first directing job lined up, as she will return to Falls City in May to direct a years worth of productions for the Harkendorff Events Center, including childrens theatre, a murder mystery, a melodrama, and a Christmas show. Model Preeti Jain, who had accused Madhur Bhandarkar of sexually exploiting her, hired contract killers to murder the national award winning filmmaker. By India Today Web Desk: A Mumbai court today convicted model Preeti Jain and two others for plotting to kill filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar. Preeti Jain, who had accused Bhandarkar of sexually exploiting her, was arrested in September, 2005. The Mumbai civil and sessions court sentenced Preeti Jain to three years of jail holding her guilty of hiring contract killers to murder Bhandarkar in 2005. advertisement PREETI HIRED CONTRACT KILLERS Preeti Jain was arrested for giving 'supari' or contract for killing to underworld don-turned-politician Arun Gawli to eliminate Bhandarkar. She paid Rs 70,000 as part payment to one of Gawli's aide. The matter came to light when another Gawli aide, advocate Bagawe brought the matter to the notice of police Jain had earlier lodged a police complaint alleging that Bhandarkar had sexually exploited her on the pretext of giving her role in his films. She had stated that Bhandarkar had cheated her and demanded his arrest. Jain had alleged in the police complaint that Bhandarkar had sought sexual favours from her on the pretext of giving her role in his film but had not kept his promise. She also produced records of SMS messages sent by the filmmaker to her in this regard. ALSO READ: Supreme Court quashes rape case against filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar Madhur Bhandarkar relieved at court quashing of rape charge --- ENDS --- The New South Wales government recently handed down their response to the Inquiry into the Adequacy of Regulation for Short-Term Holiday Letting, largely supporting the recommendations. However, the government will release an options paper in May to further consult with the public and industry on how services like Airbnb should be regulated. Currently, regulations vary from council to council, with bans existing in some. Anthony Roberts, NSW Planning and Housing Minister, said the extra time would be worthwhile, as it would allow the public to provide their feedback. This is an opportunity for people that live in strata, for people that rent out their rooms to actually participate in policy, he said. I make no apologies for listening to the people of New South Wales in the development of policy. The state government gave qualified support to short-term rental accommodations, as well as eight of the 12 other recommendations handed down by the inquiry, with the three other recommendations given full support. Short-term property management specialist MadeComfy welcomed the governments announcement, saying their support provided much-needed direction for homeowners and property investors who list their properties on Airbnb. Of Sydneys nearly two million properties, only 1.2% have been listed on Airbnb at some stage, suggesting there is still room for growth. This support by the NSW Government will hopefully result in short-term rentals being a viable option for every homeowner without fear of legal or financial penalties, said Sabrina Bethunin, co-founder of MadeComfy. In addition to that, with the median property price in Sydney having reached over 1 million dollars, households are dedicating an average of 44 per cent of their income to service their mortgages, Bethunin said. It means Sydneysiders are considered under mortgage stress as they are devoting more than 30 per cent of their income to mortgage repayments." By either renting out a spare room or the whole property when its not utilised, Airbnb and similar platforms provide owner-occupiers with the means to obtain an income to help cover their mortgage repayments or afford their holidays. Related stories: Airbnb Hosts Can Earn More During Holidays And Major Events Should You Turn Your Property Into An Airbnb Rental? Why we collect what we do and how everything is an ode to memory, a battle against status quo of collection politics and a fight to preserve the ephemeral and the impermanent. By Chinki Sinha : "Any mountain is a mountain, the artist says As we gaze at the infinite landscape A map of desire and longing A memory of places we haven't left fully When the artist says me how she whispered to a plant That in this life we shall not meet again But are there final farewells? The past and the future are the complex maps advertisement Present is an exaggeration of everything An aberration, too I eat lilies when I am hungry I keep my record of being alone." When it first opened in 2012 in a 19th century house, there were 4,213 cigarette butts, old clocks, film clips, soda bottles and clothes as an ode to memory based on his 2008 novel Museum of Innocence. These cigarettes had been touched by the obsessive lover's beloved Fusun and melancholy in absentia. This is how you make museums. Pamuk's grand ode to memory and love where he says the true collector's home is his own museum is also saying we are all part of living museums that constantly evolve. "In poetically well built museums, formed from the heart's compulsions, we are consoled not by finding in them old objects that we love, but by losing all sense of time," he wrote. Technology has divested museums of their roles as explainers of history and providers of life lessons in a way when as children we'd go to look at the past, its costumes and its kings and queens frozen in time and space and society looked at from the lens of the present focused at the past. But a museum isn't a graveyard. And it could be said that museums have no political power, but they could influence the political process by questioning the archival process, which is a cultural necessity of our times to be led into the subconscious in the quest of who we are. A village could be a museum then. A village with all its going-ons where an artist almost urges to stop looking at the walls and instead look out of the windows to the sea, the fishing net, the homes and everything else that this village that has been called a living museum by Eric Miller, Director, World Storytelling Institute, is, a museum without walls. It is the dynamism of a museum with no walls where everything is on display - celebration, mourning, worshipping, etc. There are all kinds of museums as artists dig deeper into their personal archives and of spaces and start to explore the institutional structure of museum itself. advertisement For instance, the Museum of Unbelongings celebrates the artist as collector and there are dolls, hair clips, an album, a pair of feet, a man with a large dick in terracotta a sea horse with a curled tail, a pair of binoculars, a series of puppets, a stuffed liger and a leopard, a black rose, a white rose and the list is endless. In all of this, she has abandoned time. She is offering us the same if we believe in museums and their immortality as not mausoleums but living memories. She has rejected everything, questioned everything and her museums are again a rebellion of sorts against documented memories. This is a storyteller's museum. She is a poet who questions the politics of rejection. Long ago, when her parents were packing to leave yet another city as her father was in a transferable job, she had felt the pain in her being. When he checked if everything had been packed, she shouted no because the empty rooms held so much - the intangible. She had then run to a plant in the backyard and whispered to it and in this life, they shall never meet again. advertisement That's how unbelonged she had felt leaving empty rooms and living trees behind. The museum is her map, her world but also a collection that questions permanence. The Museum of Unbelongings by Mithu Sen, artist and performer Two dolls lay on the table. They are being inducted or adopted and the artist asks me to be the godmother, and name the puppets. I choose Shanzaya for the one who wears a blue sari. She asks me what is it when someone special gives a special name? Love, I write back. Mithu Sen's art is nomadic and adventurous. It breaks away from everything. It is also love and the quest for immortality. And this is why, we name the doll Shanzaya. To make love and its absence permanent. She is part of the Museum of Unbelongings where the artist, a poet at heart who is dismantling language itself to make a dream language that can only be felt or experienced, has numerous other "babies". They are part of her Museum of Unbelongings, a place where she explores transitory emotional spaces, memory as imagination and her own story is unnecessary for the viewer to collect experiences and hence she has done away with the research, the related information and the footnotes and bibliographies for her works. advertisement "Are you asking me for a bibilio?" she asks. "No, just asking for a story." Her first baby is Jack. He wears tattered clothing and was a shared doll between her and her sister Mou. "We had Jill, too but Jill died," she says. "My sister said not to give Jack to anybody." They followed the Hindu ritual of cremating the dead. Did Jill go to heaven? "No, Jill did not go to heaven. They don't have such places to go after death because there is no hell either," she says. In her museum, there are deities that are not historicised. There are men who are uncircumcised. In this amorphous museum, it is a carnival. It is an imagination of the world that does not exist. Her babies form their own histories unfettered by borders, ethnicities, sexuality and even form. A dog could be mating with a human. Her own heart, she says, is a museum of memories. Her next project is about fusing memories and creating yet another museum. For long, artists have toyed with the idea of museums. Orhan Pamuk, who created the Museum of Innocence after his book, says museums are places where time is transformed into space. Sen's museum is impermanent. She gives away her babies. She finds new ones. There is no forever. There is no finality. The babies have been named but there are no records. In her own ways, she is breaking away from the paths of bibliography for maps of the mind can't be pinned as location. In time, Shanzaya's identity will morph. The name was given by a man in Kashmir to a passerby he thought he loved then, the artist picked up the dolls at twilight in Bhaktapur, damaged and deranged by the earthquakes in 2015, and now they are in a high-rise in Faridabad among others from various places. An artist can't tolerate reality. That's what this museum is about. About unmaking. Sen's use of un as prefix to signify her battle and dismantling of language is manifest in all her works. All art plans border on illusion. This museum is an impermanent concept. There is a little Pinocchio that hangs from the ceiling. But that's his name in the books. She got him in Switzerland. She has another name for him. Or she can make up a name. We can't verify memory. She is in control of it. She can take us to her world. She has rejected documentation. In the Museum of Unbelongings, these babies have their lives. She plays with them. A doll from Saudi can run away with a man from Israel. She tells the story of Shanzaya and her lover. Last month, while she was in Nepal for the Beinnale, she had gone with the group of artists, poets and writers to Bhaktapur and towards dusk, she had lost her way as she lingered in a shop looking at the puppets. And then she saw him. He has no name. But he belonged to the group. He had stayed behind to watch out for her. That was reassuring and in that moment, there was a connect. Such things are ephemeral but in the heart, these encounters stay. In her Museum of Unbelongings, these are tributes to a childhood lost in transition, to her own identity that is forever renewing itself based on her medium which she calls "life". She is proposing a quasi-history but histories have been mixed and stories are created here. Nothing belongs here permanently. The Museum of Unbelongings, she says in her concept note, is a personal archive with no space in official history, abandoned, impermanent toys and unusual belongings, drawn together. She has personalised these objects by naming them and through these, the artist questions the nature of existence and explores the suppressed in what goes on in creating histories or cultural memories. And when it isn't abbreviated, it is her sister's name - Mou. They had shared a childhood playing with dolls, making houses and creating stories and in this museum, those dolls and stones and feathers still exist. The museum, of course, is eternal. Her collection is ongoing. In a way, she never stopped playing with her "unbelongings" that are untouched, unseen, unheard. "I am a collector - of images, words, emotions of a human kind, seemingly little, ephemeral things... Many of my children (calling them 'children', I experience the pleasures and burdens of attachment through these things, they come to constitute an archive of everyday life) in the Museum are erotic, hybrid and sexual by expression. They seem at times to convey purely private codes and to spring from a solipsistic sense of making yet they touch on public uses and operate on several levels of accessibility for everyone," she wrote in an interview with ArtReview magazine. It could very well be the museum of discomfort or as the artist would call "uncomfort" as she challenges museum etiquettes by not labelling the objects. "This unsettles most people's ideas of art and artefacts. Offering them and the museum hierarchy a level of discomfort, that discomfort is the moment of transformation and questioning the pre-codified system. It is an opportunity to impose a personal narrative upon it with the universal emotion by the viewer," she says. And as most visual artists, she won't tell the stories of personalised of each one. It is part of her existence. And in showcasing this museum, she wants the viewers to approach it with their collective memories and experiences. It is a seduction of the unknown or the subconscious. "My personal restlessness and unsettled psychological status. All these collective ideas and physical materials make my MOU sensitively political and socially aware," she says. This work is free of site. She is the surrogate mother of these children and in collecting them and bringing them to her home and studio, she is trying to blur the borders and boundaries of the human mind and its limitations. It is her idea of archiving, which is about sensations, and emotions that are collected but not manipulated by either culture or knowledge. They existed in that moment like Shanzaya, who brings the emotion of reassurance in an alien land in twilight hour and the comfort of a stranger. Her travels bring her the stories of people and memories and in rearranging, she is exploring endless compositions. Museum of Unbelongings celebrates the artist as collector and there are dolls, hair clips, an album, a pair of feet, a man with a large dick in terracotta a sea horse with a curled tail, a pair of binoculars, a series of puppets, a stuffed liger and a leopard, a black rose, a white rose and many other flowers and the list is endless. "We carry museums within us. Our heart is a museum of memories," Sen says. In all of this, she has abandoned time. She has rejected its ticking. She can travel through these objects. But those worlds are her own. She is offering us the same if we believe in museums and their immortality as not mausoleums but living memories. She has rejected everything, questioned everything and her museums are again a rebellion of sorts against documented memories. It is a state that all should be able to share, she says. The consolation is to be found in objects of the loved one we lose, as Pamuk writes, and that's what her museum is and this is where Shanzaya is destined to be - in the memory of a lost lover. But these are stories. This is a storyteller's museum. She is a poet who questions the politics of rejection. Her "children" are a result of her affairs with travelling. Sen is a psychologist to her surrogate children, who may look like replicas of humans or animals but are actually reminders of her childhood of impermanence. Sen's "unbelonged" objects are a cataloguing of emotions. And emotion, as Gaston Bachelard, author of The Poetics of Space, says, "... is perhaps nothing but an expression of a poetry that was lost". Dates, according to the French philosopher, are not important in the localisation of the spaces of intimacy. Sen has always seen herself as "near poets" than "near historians". In the Museum of Unbelongings, there are deities who are not historicised, men who are uncircumcised. Her babies make their own histories, unfettered by borders, ethnicities, sexuality,or form. A dog could be mating a human. For long, artists have toyed with the idea of museums. Sen's museum is a dare to permanence. It morphs, shifts and challenges the notion of museum as mausoleum. Instead it is a carnival, a celebration, an imaginary world.In here, there is no forever, no finality. She gives away her babies. And finds new ones. *** A LIVING MUSEUM In Poromboke, which mean land outside the purview of assessed land records, the Magsaysay Awardee sings "it is not for you, nor for me, it is for the community, it is for the earth." This sums up the choice of "unusual locations" like the fishing hamlet of Urur Olcott Kuppam where he started what he calls conversations in 2014 in a bid to democratise Carnatic music. Thodur Madabusi Krishna, who has been awarded the Ramon Magsaysay award for 2016, had wanted to take his music to those who had not heard it yet. He started singing in the mornings for the sake of the poor who could not afford the ticketed concerts. And then, he became part of this living museum that is an ode to the city by the sea. It is an ode to preservation of traditions, of songs, of conversations. He recalls two incidents over the phone from Israel where he was then performing. Parai Attam, a stigmaized art form of drumming, which people think is only for death. But in his case where is also an activist, he feels caste extends to rituals, practices, culture, food, games, music and thavil, parai and mridangam are not mere musical instruments but they represent the caste hierarchy of people. All these instruments are made of animal skin -thavil from buffalo skin on one side and goat skin on the other, mridangam from goat skin and parai from cow hide. And in the social order, mridangam (presumed as a divine instrument) is the instrument of the upper class, thavil of the intermediate castes and parai belongs to dalits, he says. "I first heard it at the festival. I was walking through the by lanes to call people to the performance space and then I heard it. It is made of skin. It is loud and passionate and you have to dance to it. There is no other way. One of the stories they tell you is that if a person does not dance or move his body to the beat of parai, you can take that person to be dead. There are these incredible little stories," Krishna says. He danced to it then. The, they went on to the stage and danced again. "The whole experience was about levelling," he says. "We have done parai attam in Chennai schools. Parai attam is part of the living tradition." The museum, he says, is going to be open for 2-3 days of the week. The museum is also the music of the fisher folk. "Old people sing songs about economics and problems of the village," he says. It is an experiment in bringing the museum to the people. In his words, the idea of classical and non-classical do not exist. Miller, who set up the World Storytelling Institute in Chennai, wrote that the city "began as a village beside the sea. Fishing was a primary occupation in this village." He further says that a 'living museum' is that in which the objects on display are still in everyday use, and the museum guides include members of the community. It is the dynamism of a museum with no walls where everything is on display - celebration, mourning, worshipping, etc. In a living museum, a visitor is led into an immersive state in a specific culture, which he experiences through sights, smells, tastes and sounds and members of the community, according to him. "I see it as a metaphor for possibility. We remain isolated. How can we listen and talk," Miller says. And now, in this living museum, Krishna is immortalising stories of people, their songs, their beliefs and in doing so, he is almost a revolutionary even questioning the elitism of museums. The boat and other things "Every artist has a museum," artist Subodh Gupta says. "I have a dream. I collect museums. I keep proofs of my work. I don't think about what I collect. I just collect." Like in Kochi when he bought a root or in a little antique store, a figurine. Random objects with no associations. There is no past, no future for the abstractionist. But then, isn;t the present fast dissolving into the past? Here, in his studio in Gurgaon which is an industrial place with sparks flying as he welds metal and universes, one loses all sense of time. There is a gold-potato, boats but no river and statues and figures from his native place Bihar and elsewhere. He won't indulge you with a narrative. The art must be abstract at all costs, he says. In Mumbai, the artist wanders around the streets talking about his life, experiences and a journey, which he figures nobody understands as of now. He is a man who came from somewhere carrying the baggage of the past, of losses and of an observation of times and objects that made him. His works emerge from successful struggle of a prolonged period. He had wanted to get away from Khagaul in Bihar where he grew up and yet when he speaks of the town, he remembers it fondly and alludes to the swimming pool and the cinema hall there in those days and how his mother took him to plays that were staged in a small town built as a railway colony by the British. His mother wasn't educated in the applied sense of the term but she engaged with her environment. He was the youngest of the six siblings. The plays were contemporary and the young boy first found means of expression through acting. The stories of personal struggle and emotional upheaval can't be recounted for purposes of privacy but he had never thought of becoming an artist then. He escaped finally. He built massive abstract structures in steel and brass, he played around with cow dung and he eventually incorporated in his art everything from his childhood. His abstraction is bent on drawing out the essentials, almost squeezing them to communicate the intangible and how can one even begin to form in language the acute sense of belonging and the necessity of running away. As we wandered the streets, he pointed out to the Salvation Army Red Shield Guesthouse in Colaba. In his days of a struggling artist, he had lived here. An artist is always struggling. There are references of such lived realities in his works. He is in communion with his universe that is a collection of objects soon to be lost to history. In his way, he is trying to preserve, to make it encompass more that it did or maybe it is an attempt to be understood. In his studio, there is a mixing bowl. It has a red and white chequered cloth, a gamcha, and kneaded dough. It is cast in stone and perhaps one of the finest works of the artist because it sums up the churning of the universe in a utensil, the turbulence, the thickness of identity, the malleability of form and shape, etc. And yet it is as simple as saying it is part of where we come from. That's what he says. "It is part of us. A memory. An ongoing thing of archiving which is so fleeting," he says. And yet, he stays from the dangers of storytelling. Memory has poetic license of movement. It goes back and forth, it edits and reconfigures. His museum then is a nostalgist's map. The associative powers of his work are what gives it the scale they have attained because even if he buys his utensils in wholesale markets, they have lost their particularity. There is rural and global and there is that tension that can only be captured if you have had that prolonged struggle with self and identity. There is industrialisation and there is nostalgia. "I find my plant on my plate," he says. "I started my work with whatever I had seen in my childhood. What does a river contain and what does a vessel contain?" But that plate contains stories of those who ate in them and he wonders with what emotions. Were there tears shed into it? "Who knows who we are," he says. "Our mind has so much power. We are holding everything within us. There was a time when he was lost. He could have been a painter and life would have been good. But he was a disruptor and three years later he made an artwork with his memories on the peedha (a kind of stool) where he worked in mixed medium and that paved the way for his own tryst with his memories. We are all processing what we have grown up with. We are the products of nostalgia." And that's why gives permanence to things like a steel pan, which is a memory and an anchor and an umbilical cord to that pushed us to scale new heights. We create from the pain of separation and when the cold nights aren't a reality and there is no fear of hunger, we miss the adversity because we have have come a long way from there. His museum is a liminal space. There is everything from the past that is getting transformed into the future. Like his recipe book where he is using memory of food to create recipes and drawing from memory. In this museum, he revels in his acute observation of details. The powers of association outweigh those of disassociation and Gupta knows this well. Even his cooking reflects his obsession with where he is from. As he works on a book of recipes with art at its core by painting in water colour the food of Bihar, he remembers how he learned to cook. It was innovation when the curry would get over and they would take mango pickle and mix it with garlic pods, add barbecued red chilli in it and eat with chapati. That flavour is of leftover, of not-enough kind of life. And from that dissatisfaction, his art takes form and shape. And even in writing this, I understand the limits of language in translation and transcribing. And from this point I also begin to understand the meaning of abstract. It is that which can be felt from an association with past - disturbing or otherwise - and the past is constantly being pushed in the black hole as we move ahead in constellation of stars and Gupta sees it all in a utensil. I see it in that mixing bowl. There is no term for it in English. We call it "kathauti". It is visual archiving. It is emotional archiving. And even if home is not a pleasant memory, it can't be denied. "You know what it is. It is our middle class life," he says. "Someone must have laughed while cooking in it. Someone must have cried. I don't know those stories but I know the vessel contains all. It contains me. It is the museum of everything then," Gupta says. The Mother of Museums by Dayanita Singh, photographer The artist sleeps inside her museums. Here, museums give birth to other museums. The museums of future have to be portable, Dayanita Singh says. And when she opens up one, there is a table and two stools. There is no back rest. It is because then you would lean in and listen to the other, she says. Her museums interact with other. Her museums are compact and foldable, but then, they open up into realms of memories of her stories captured on film. For Singh, people make for themselves personal museums. It is a photo architecture. "We have institutional museums," she says. "But large museums need to open doors to smaller ones." But if you are a poet or a dancer, the then it opens up incredible possibilities. It is about protecting things. It all came from her mother's drawers by her bedside where things had been stored. It was her personal museum. "I am making museums for as a form and architecture," she says. "My work is so much about the dissemination and opening and closing of structures, adding and removing objects, etc." She explores the question - can the museum itself be not just a venue, but a form in itself? Spaces within spaces. Museums within museums. Screens are arranged in clusters and Museum Bhavan is the mother museum, and it contains nine smaller "museums" or collections but she is quick to say that her museums aren't mating. This is not the birth of museums. Museum Bhawan has nine museums. From those, more might emerge. Museum of Chance has a wider edit, she says. It is her work of 30 years and editing took two years. These pictures are open-ended. One has to be ruthless in editing, she says. One museum leads to another. Some museums weren't sustainable. Like the museum of embraces. In her house, the museums act like screens. They open up and they close. they can be immersive spaces and they can be vast spaces of no particular focus. And depending on the connection, the viewer could take out a stool and sit in an enclosed space - an architectural intervention in these mobile museums - and be alone with the pictures. "I came to museum as a form. It was that instinct where I always wanted to remove pictures on empty walls and rearrange them. Space is being changed continuously. You want to activate people's experiences. It was long ago when the artist had been photographing file rooms as she was drawn to the world of records. That was when she created the museum of files. And in her museums, nothing is static. There are overlaps. One picture frame can belong to two or more. She stopped taking photos of people in the 1990s. She is interested in events unfolding outside the frame and how pictures can interact with each other forming part or whole of a narrative in the moment. She asks her help to rearrange frames and in that act, stories are formed. She doesn't believe in reducing the image by captioning it. She hadn't recognized her own archiving until Sunil Khilnani saw her 200 prints on a table about six years ago. There were 24 edits and Khilnani said "file room" and when she asked what is a file room, he had said "never mind." "I was opposed to fixedness," she says. "Me and Sunil - we just made it all up." It took her two-three to get the form right. She turned into a carpenter. It was a format. A bench in a museum doesn't encourage connections. Therefore, her conversation tables are part of her museums. There is even a fictional conversation between her and Pamuk about museums and that hangs in a corridor at her house in Vasant Vihar. "My house was full of albums," she says. "To me, you made a photograph to make something. The book was an obvious format. My mother would tell me that someday these photographs will be important. A photograph is when a lot is left unsaid." There is a photo of a staircase. "I have to make images to make you think. Mona is here in the Museum of Little Ladies and elsewhere too. There in inter-connectivity. There is time travel condensed," she says. "There are always new stories to create." Museum of Chance has 163 images and only 80 can be shown at one time. And 26 can be fit in boxes and each museum has two tables and two stools. "You can come and make your story," she says. "There are unending possibilities." As she continues with her exploration of museums, the next project is the pocket museum. There was already a suitcase museum. She is overtaking the creation of history with her fast-paced construction of museums and in doing so, the artist has made everything into a million stories and a million chances, including love. The Museum of Partition by Kishwar Desai, writer When she started asking people to share their stories of partition and give her one object that they brought from across the border, Kishwar Desai, a writer and an artist, was trying to archive the biggest migration in history for which there are written records and photographs but no objects. There has to be a museum to help people redeem themselves as they start to talk about what happened and what they carried when they left. There are letters, utensils, coats and books. There are stories of those things and that's what the museum of partition is all about. In Amritsar's Town Hall, the museum is a reminder of the grimness of the event and of human courage and of memory that is sacrosanct. Desai tells the story of phulkari and a coat. "As was the norm for arranged marriages , 30 year old Bhagwan Singh Maini and 22 year old Pritam Kaur had been introduced to each other, in 1947. He was from Mianwali and she from Gujranwala. But during the mayhem of Partition, their families lost contact. Three of Bhagwan Singh's brothers were killed while fleeing from West Punjab. Grief stricken, he reached the Amritsar refugee camp with his aged mother. Concerned about her safety, Pritam Kaur's family put her on a train to Amritsar. She was alone , with one small bag, and her two year old brother in her lap. After reaching the railway station, she too made her way to the closest refugee camp. It was in the long winding queue for food where hungry ,weary ,desolate refugees stood for hours, that Bhagwan Singh and Pritam Kaur met again. They exchanged notes about their respective tragedies, wondering if it was destiny that had brought them together once more. Pritam Kaur eventually moved to Sharif Lodge ,an evacuee property, after she managed to contact her sister. Bhagwan Singh's mother and Pritam Kaur's family decided to get the young couple married. The long pending ceremony finally took place in March 1948 .It was simple and bereft of festivity as both families had left their homes, livelihood and almost a lifetime behind in Pakistan. When Pritam Kaur crossed the border with a bag slung across her shoulder she had just this phulkari coat among her few precious possessions ---a small comfort in her traumatic sojourn, and a reminder of happier days. The leather briefcase had been brought across by Bhagwan Singh with his degrees and as well as his property claim papers. These are testimony to the life they lost, and found, together." There are many such stories. For her, who conceptualised and chairs the museum, her own grandfather had a story to recount. He had returned to his house after partition and had recognised the streets and told many stories. Everything was there but it didn't belong to him anymore. He had gone inside the house and had only asked for a few books to take with him. It is a lesson in letting go, she says. What is memory? Is it a sin to forget? Is memory a burden? In such a museum, such questions are important. But then, it is not just a re-telling of tales of sadness and separations and a showcasing of scars. It is also a story of courage and of memory. Partition in 1947 was a reality that was faced by millions as they began the exodus. But a museum of such scale demands that visitors must reconcile with history not with just facts and statistics and the history books but also with memories of those who crossed over as such stories are never moralistic. These people had carried the sky and the atmosphere with them. They had kept these things in silent awe never talking about the pain and the nostalgia. But stories are for connecting the past to the future, she says. "That's why this museum is there. It is meant to heal," she says. --- ENDS --- New York: US President Donald Trump has admitted that conflict with North Korea is presently the biggest concern on his plate. In a recent interview, the President stated that there is an absolute chance that the US could end up having a major conflict with North Korea. North Korea has conducted several tests ever since the new U.S. administration came to power and refused to halt its nuclear weapons development programs. In the most recent show of force, Pyongyang put its military might on display during a parade on April 15 marking the 105th birth anniversary of the country's founder Kim Il Sung, grandfather of present ruler Kim Jong Un. According to reports, North Korea displayed what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during the parade. The parade also featured the North's submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) for the first time. A day after it conducted a failed missile launch on its east coast following which U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has said that all options are still on table with North Korea, not ruling out military actions. Ever since, the two sides have been engaged in a spat of verbal warnings. Last week, a North Korean newspaper said Pyongyang was ready to take out a US aircraft carrier conducting drills with Japanese destroyers near the Philippines. With mounting Pyongyang's nuclear threats, Washington has also speeded the installation of its advanced missile defense system Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korea. Designed to shoot down missiles at a high altitude, a THAAD battery is made up of six truck-mounted launchers carrying some 50 interceptor missiles, and a fire control and communications unit, which are linked to the very long-range X-band radar system. The Trump administration has also said it will tighten economic sanctions against Pyongyang to halt Kim Jong-Un's nuclear weapons programme and ballistic missile tests. Washington: US President Donald Trump said a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while China said the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control. Trump, speaking to Reuters on Thursday, said he wanted to resolve the crisis peacefully, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option was not off the table. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea," Trump said in an interview at the Oval Office. "We`d love to solve things diplomatically but it`s very difficult," he said, describing North Korea as his biggest global challenge. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was a danger that the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control, his ministry said. Wang made the comments in a meeting with a Russian diplomat on Thursday at the United Nations, the ministry said in a statement. China, the only major ally of North Korea, has been increasingly uncomfortable in recent months about its neighbour`s pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles in violation on UN resolutions. The United States has called on China to do more to rein in Pyongyang and Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for his efforts, calling him "a good man". "I believe he is trying very hard. I know he would like to be able to do something. Perhaps it`s possible that he can`t. But I think he`d like to be able to do something," Trump said. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that China had asked North Korea not to conduct any more nuclear tests. Beijing had warned Pyongyang it would impose unilateral sanctions if it went ahead, he added. "We were told by the Chinese that they informed the regime that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own," Tillerson said on Fox News, without specifying what sanctions he was referring to. Tillerson did not say when China made the threat and there was no immediate confirmation from Beijing. He is due to chair a meeting with U.N Security Council foreign ministers on Friday, where he said he would stress the need for members to fully implement existing sanctions as well as possible next steps. China banned imports of North Korean coal in February, cutting off its most important export, and Chinese media this month raised the possibility of restricting oil shipments to the North if it unleashed more provocations. MISSILE DEFENCE, CARRIER GROUP In a show of force, the United States is sending the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula, where it will join the USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in South Korea on Tuesday. South Korea`s navy has said it will hold drills with the U.S. strike group. Admiral Harry Harris, the top U.S. commander in the Pacific, said on Wednesday the carrier was in the Philippine Sea, within two hours` striking distance of North Korea if needs be. Harris also said a U.S. missile defence system being deployed in South Korea to ward off any North Korean attack would be operational in coming days. China has been angered by the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), complaining that its radar can see deep into China and undermines its security. Trump said in the interview he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the THAAD, which he estimated at $1 billion. South Korea, one of Washington`s most crucial allies in the region, said the United States would have to bear the cost, pointing to possible friction ahead. Trump has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile, a capability experts say Pyongyang could have some time after 2020. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests and numerous missile tests, including one this month, a day before a summit between Trump and Xi in Florida. North Korea, technically still at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, regularly threatens to destroy the United States and says it will pursue its nuclear and missile programmes to counter perceived US aggression. "Trump is recklessly resorting to the hackneyed methods, being utterly ignorant of the DPRK," the North`s KCNA state news agency said on Friday, citing a commentary from the Rodong Sinmun newspaper and referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People`s Republic of Korea. "Unshakable is the faith and will of the army and people of the DPRK to build a socialist power ... and no force can check their advance." Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. "As to whether or not he`s rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he`s rational," he said. In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on North Korea and other countries on Thursday to avoid behaviour or rhetoric that could increase tension. Foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), meeting in the Philippines, called for the resumption of dialogue. "ASEAN strongly urges the DPRK to comply fully with its obligations arising from all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and international laws in the interest of maintaining international peace and security," they said in a statement. Islamabad: China will fully fund the USD 8 billion Karachi-Peshawar Railway Line in Pakistan to ensure the smooth completion of the key project, which was earlier to be partly funded by the ADB. "China strongly argued that two-sourced financing would create problems and the project would suffer," Pakistan Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal told reporters yesterday. The project was originally planned to be partly funded by the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Dawn reported. The minister said he would not comment whether the Ministry of Railways has resisted the Chinese request for fears of monopoly, but said the entire financing would now come from China. He said the ADB would be accommodated in some other projects, such as those under the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation programme Under the original plan, the ADB had to provide USD 3.5bn for the 1,700-kilometre-long line considered the backbone of the country's logistics connecting two major ports with the rest of the country for transporting goods and passengers. The minister said the Chinese government therefore wanted that the project financing should be kept single-sourced. Pakistan and China are expected to sign a formal agreement in this regard next month. Honda has made the world premiere of the India-bound fifth-generation CR-V's hybrid version at the 2017 Auto Shanghai. The new CR-V made its global debut in America last October. Honda has confirmed that the CR-V Hybrid will go on sale in China later this year. Though no affirmation from Honda has come as of now, it is reportedly a global model. Also, the Honda CR-V, for the first time, gets an electrified powertrain. The CR-V Hybrid looks identical to its regular version, except for the Hybrid badge on the front fenders. Honda has not revealed its specs as of now, but confirms that it is powered by Hondas Sport Hybrid i-MMD (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive) two-motor hybrid system. This powertrain made its debut with the ninth-generation Accord Hybrid facelift, which is also available in India. The petrol-electric powertrain (2.0-litre Atkinson cycle engine coupled with two electric motors) in the Accord puts out 215PS of max power and returns a certified fuel efficiency of 23.1kmpl. Will it be offered in India? Though we get the current Honda Accord Hybrid in the country, the CR-V Hybrid is unlikely to make its debut in the country. However, the regular CR-V is India bound, and it is expected to make its debut here at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo. It will be locally assembled in the country like the outgoing version. Nissan, on the other hand, has confirmed the launch of the X-Trail (a CR-V rival) hybrid in India. But it will be imported as CBU (completely build units) and is expected to be relatively pricey. The Honda Accord also has the same story, being a CBU import from Thailand. If Honda ever decides to launch the CR-V Hybrid here, it will be no different than the rest two mentioned here. Also, there will be a huge price difference between the regular and the hybrid version like what had happened between with the Civic and its hybrid version in India unless it is locally manufactured like the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Source: CarDekho.com The controversy erupted in West Bengal in March last year when Narada News portal uploaded a series of video footage showing a number of high-profile TMC leaders taking money in exchange of favours. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was slammed by the Supreme Court for filing an appeal against Narada scam probe. (File Photo/PTI) By India Today Web Desk: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today registered money laundering cased against 12 Trinamool Congress leaders in connection with the Narada scam. The ruling party leaders were caught on camera accepting bribes in a sting operation conducted by a Kolkata-based news website - Narada News. The ED's action comes days after the Supreme Court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the charges levelled against Trinamool leaders. The top court had also criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for filing an appeal in the court against a probe in the scam. advertisement On March 17, the Calcutta High Court ordered a CBI preliminary inquiry into the case and asked the central investigation agency to submit the report within 72 hours. The controversy erupted in West Bengal in March last year when Narada News portal uploaded a series of video footage purportedly showing a number of high-profile TMC leaders, including former and present ministers, MPs and state lawmakers, receiving money in exchange of favours to a fictitious company. ALSO READ: Mamata Banerjee hits back at Amit Shah's 'Ebar Bangla' claim, says BJP not being able to control Delhi Narada Sting: Congress slams CBI after FIR against 13 Trinamool leaders Don't sermonise us over development: Mamata's scathing rebuttal after Amit Shah's challenge --- ENDS --- New Delhi: US auto major General Motors (GM) on Friday stopped production at its first Indian plant in Halol, Gujarat, as part of consolidation of manufacturing operations in the country. The company's arm, General Motors India will now operate all of its manufacturing operations from its second plant at Talegaon in Maharashtra. GM India President and Managing Director Kaher Kazem said the company was mindful of the impact on employees at Halol. "We have committed to support them through this necessary transition with generous separation payments or the option of continuity of employment at Talegaon," he said in a statement. Kazem said a range of additional support measures had been put in place for employees who opted for "significantly enhanced" separation payments and those who would transfer, including tax and financial advice and pre-transfer visits to Talegaon. In 2015, the US auto major had announced that it would cease production at the plant, a move that affected around 1,100 employees. The Halol unit, which had a total annual manufacturing capacity of 1.1 lakh units annually, was originally planned to be shut by mid-2016. GM has been in talks with China's SAIC Motor Corporation to sell the plant. A term sheet was signed a few months back to evaluate a possible deal but the Chinese firm stated that a final takeover would be subject to government approvals, settlement of labour and all other pending issues by the American auto major. In 2015, GM had announced plans to invest $1 billion to enhance manufacturing operations and roll out 10 locally produced models in India. However, struggling to make a turnaround in India, the company has put on hold its investments on new models for the country as the US auto major undertakes a full review of its future product portfolio here. It hasn't put any timeline for lifting freeze on investments on the new products. New Delhi: A hawala operator from old Delhi was arrested here on Friday in connection with TTV Dhinakaran's bribery case, police said. Police said one more person associated with Chandni Chowk based hawala operator Naresh Jain was also detained at the airport here. He is being questioned about his role in illegal money transfer. Jain, who was arrested from his hideout on a tip off, helped Dhinakaran's middleman Sukesh Chandrashekhar in transferring money from Chennai to Delhi, police said. "Jain helped Chandrashekhar arrange Rs 10 crore in Delhi, which was part of Dhinakaran's deal," a senior police officer said. The arrest came after the Thursday operation at Dhinakaran's house and interrogation of his family members, including wife and employees, in Chennai. Dhinakaran had given a task to Chandrashekhar, seeking the 'two leaves' symbol of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) from the Election Commission (EC) with a Rs 50 crore bribe. The crime branch earlier recovered about Rs 1.3 crore and two luxury cars, a BMW and a Mercedes, from Chandrashekhar during a raid on a south Delhi hotel. Dhinakaran was cross examined along with his 'friend' Mallikarjuna and P.A. Janardhanan, police said. A team of crime branch is looking for all middlemen including Chennai based bureaucrats and officials of the Election Commission who were in touch with Chandrashekhar and Dhinakaran in this money transfer. A Delhi Court had sent Dhinakaran to five-day police custody. New Delhi: Maoists based in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh have claimed responsibility for the recent attack on CRPF jawans the worst in few years and warned the security forces not to come in way of their 'revolution'. A News18.com report claimed on Friday that the home-grown rebels have released an audio message in which they have claimed responsibility for the gruesome attack. Their attack on the CRPF jawan was in retaliation to Operation Green Hunt launched by the government against Naxals, they claimed. In the 16-minute long audio message clip, a spokesperson of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) also hailed the attack by the outfits military arm Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) on the CRPF personnel. The Maoists' spokesperson, who spoke in Hindi, said that their fight was not with the paramilitary personnel, but warned central forces against standing in the way of revolution. He also appealed to them and to the police personnel to leave the forces, which he said were targeting activists and journalists. In 2016, the government killed nine of our people in Chhattisgarh and 21 in Odisha. The ambush is a reaction to these killings and sexual violence against our women, Vikalp, the Maoists spokesperson reportedly said. He also alleged that the state police had gang-raped tribal women and killed villagers in fake encounters. However, the veracity of the purported audio clip, which has become viral on the social media, and the claims made by the Maoists could not be confirmed. Raipur: Chhattisgarh Police on Friday issued Wanted dead or alive posters and declared prize money for information on the deadly Sukma attack early this week in which 25 CRPF jawans were butchered. Besides the posters, a prize money was also announced by the Chhattisgarh Police to reward the informants, ANI reported. Last Monday, 25 CRPF jawans were killed when Naxals ambushed their convoy in Chhattisgarh's restive Sukma district. Also Read: Sukma attack: Maoists claim responsibility in audio message, warn security forces not to crush 'revolution' Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack and said the sacrifice of the martyrs would not go in vain. The attack took place at around 12 pm in Kalapathar area of the district. The Naxals have also looted their weapons after the attack. After paying homage to the slain security personnel the next day, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government will review its anti-Naxal strategy. Singh said that the Maoists were seeking to destabilise development in the state. New Delhi: Turning the tables on India Inc, NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya today said the industry is not discharging its responsibility of creating jobs. "What is industry doing for job creation? Government makes policies ... I don't see single industrialist starting a factory to produce apparel. "Why China exports USD 175 billion worth apparel we export only USD 17 billion worth of apparel. I think there is some responsibility on part of industrialists too," he said at when asked if the government has failed to create jobs. Panagariya also said the industry, if facing any problem, should approach the government for removal of policy barriers. "No industrialist came and told me that I want to invest in apparel industry and please remove barriers ... I understand you go for profit, naturally you will go for profit." he said, adding that the industry must contribute its bit in creating jobs. The NITI Aayog vice-chairman further said India needs to focus on domestic policies to step up its share in global trade to 4-5 percent from the current 1.7 percent and not get perturbed by what is happening in the US. "What matters more is what we do in India", he said. The global merchandise export is USD 16-17 trillion and there should be an effort to raise India's pie, irrespective of increase or decrease in global trade, he said. Panagariya said policy changes are happening at the level of Centre and states too should be pushed to bring reforms. He also noted that reform in food processing sector is very low. Panagariya also said most states still have not provided legal framework to APMC Act. He mentioned that the Cabinet has accepted the recommendation for privatisation of 20 PSUs sent by NITI Aayog and it is only a matter of time when the process of ownership change would start. "Already, the closure of sick PSUs have started happening based on the suggestion made by the Aayog," he said. Panagariya also observed that the strident attitude demonstrated by the US is showing signs of change and hopefully there would be a turnaround in the approach of advanced economies in favour of openness. He said that he was not in agreement with the view that greater use of robotics and artificial intelligence should be a source of worry for India. "Our labour force, employed in mass manufacturing industries such as clothing and leather sector, has the capability to do a much better job than robots. "With conducive policies and business environment, India would continue to be in the reckoning," Panagariya said. New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday announced that the government has decided to cancel holidays marking the birth or death anniversary of eminent personalities. Sisodia said the Delhi government's move was inspired by Uttar Pradesh. "The Delhi government will cancel holidays on birth or death anniversary of eminent personalities. I have issued instruction to the chief secretary in this regard," he tweeted. He also tweeted that one should always be ready to learn good things from other states. "The Uttar Pradesh government has taken a good initiative in this matter. We should always be ready to learn from other states," he said. The Uttar Pradesh government had on Tuesday cancelled 15 public holidays, most of them had been declared by the previous Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) governments, apparently to keep certain sections of the society in good humour, often with an eye on the vote bank. However, the state Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath decided to cancel 15 such public holidays in educational institutions. Adityanath had in his address on the occasion of Dr BR Ambedkar's 126th birth anniversary expressed concern over the shrinking academic session due to increased holidays. Here is what Sisodia tweeted: 1/3 Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) April 28, 2017 2/3 Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) April 28, 2017 New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Friday questioned at least four of the 30 JNU students who were asked to join a probe into a 2016 sedition case involving former student leader Kanhaiya Kumar. The JNU students who came to record their statements before the Special Cell officers included Shehla Rashid, Mohit Pandey, Chintu Kumari and Kaushik Raj. The statements were recorded at the administrative block of the Jawaharlal Nehru University. The probe by the Delhi Police Special Cell relates to the anti-India slogans raised on the JNU campus in February last year. "The students had been directed to be present at the administrative block from 12 p.m. onwards between April 28 and April 30," a senior police officer said. "These 30 students are being asked to join investigation after police scanned a video footage of February 9, 2016, on the JNU campus. Their statements will play a major role in police investigation to establish charges against (JNUSU President) Kanhaiya Kumar, Omar Khalid and Anirban Bhattachaya and others for sedition," a senior police officer told IANS. A copy of the notice was also sent to the JNU Vice Chancellor. Their statements were recorded as the Investigating Officer had been directed by the Delhi Police top brass to start the probe afresh after going through the draft chargesheet prepared by the Special Cell. The Legal Wing, which also got to study the draft, found that the issue needed to be probed more, the officer said. "The draft report said there is enough evidence to prosecute Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya for sedition. It also identified nine `outsiders` who raised anti-India slogans," the officer said. The case was transferred to the Special Cell in March 2016. Khalid, Anirban and Kanhaiya are accused of raising anti-India slogans on the campus at a meeting organised on February 9 last year in memory of 2001 Indian Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. New Delhi: Bidding for the second round of the regional connectivity scheme or UDAN, which seeks to make flying affordable on short domestic routes, is likely to conclude within the next three months, the government said today. "We are still deciding on when the bidding process will be open," Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said at a press conference. The minister also said that he has received requests for making more flight services available to north Bihar. "We need airlines to bid for these routes, only then can we work on airport availability and readiness," Sinha added. He also said, as part of the second phase of the regional connectivity scheme (RCS), the government will host an event where all interested airline operators as well as cities and states interested in having enhanced air connectivity, will be invited. Under the first round of RCS, 128 routes were awarded to five airlines last month. The first flight under the first round of the scheme took off yesterday with Alliance Air, the regional wing of Air India, operating a flight between Shimla and Delhi. Under the RCS, fares on selected short routes are capped at Rs 2,500 for one-hour flights. The Centre and states provide financial assistance to airlines operating on the UDAN routes to make flying affordable. Under the 'Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik' (UDAN) scheme, the government also aims to connect 45 unserved and under-served airports. On the contentious issue of Regional Connectivity Fund, Sinha said, "We are very close to resolution and we think we have been able to address the concerns". To provide funding for the flights operated under RCS the government had decided to impose a levy of Rs 7,500 to Rs 8,500 per flight on every departure on major air routes such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata. This has been challenged in court by the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which represents scheduled carriers like Indigo, Jet Airways, GoAir and SpiceJet. New Delhi: Students applying for government scholarships will need to produce Aadhaar cards to avail the same, according to new HRD rules. Students who do not have Aadhaar can also apply, but they need to provide the enrollment number to their respective colleges for obtaining scholarships. However, they need to produce the Aadhar card by June end. The new rules will applicable in all institutes under the University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). These rules will not be applicable in Assam, Jammu and Kashmir and Meghalaya. Those applying for Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), Emeritus fellowship, Post-Doctoral Fellowship for SC and ST, post graduate scholarship for university rank holder, post graduate scholarship for single girl child and other UGC scholarships will need to produce Aadhar. The use of Aadhaar as identity document for delivery of services or benefits or subsidies simplifies the government delivery processes, brings in transparency and efficiency, and enables beneficiaries to get their entitlements directly in a convenient and seamless manner and Aadhaar obviates the need for producing multiple documents to prove ones identity, HT quoted a government notification dated April 26 as saying. According to HT, the scholarship process will delay if students fail to provide their Aadhaar card numbers within the stipulated period of time. New Delhi: The third orphaned tiger cub who was battling for life at Madhya Pradesh`s Bandhavgarh National Park died today, three days after death of its two siblings. The cubs were kept in an enclosure in the field bungalow of the Forest Department after their mother was electrocuted by a poacher near the Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve in January. "The first two cubs died on April 23 and the third died on April 26," a Bandhavgarh forest official told IANS. More than 50 tigers have reportedly died in the past 20 months in Madhya Pradesh, a state known for its forests and tigers. Wildlife activists allege negligence, exposure to humans and absence of a wildlife veterinary cadre as the main reasons behind the deaths. Wildlife experts and activists said the tiger cubs, about five months old, died either due to `Parvovirus` or `Carbo virus`. Officials denied the allegation. "Treatment of any animal is on the basis of symptoms... When we started the treatment, viruses didn`t appear, though samples had been sent to IVRI and Jabalpur," Mridul Pathak, field director of Bandhavgarh National Park, told IANS. Asked about the exposure of cubs to humans, Pathak said the cubs were kept in isolation and humans do not carry viruses. The wildlife activists, however, say the cubs were exposed to several people, including Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on April 19 and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on April 21. (With IANS inputs) By Press Trust of India: From Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Apr 28 (PTI) Nepal government today got the approval from the president to deploy the army for the smooth conduct of local-level polls on May 14 amid a stiff resistance by the Madhes-centric parties. President Bidya Devi Bhandari has granted her approval to mobilise Nepal Army personnel during the elections under the Constitution, said a statement issued by her office. advertisement "Nepal Army personnel can be mobilised to conduct local level elections in a free, fair and fearless manner," it said. The National Security Council last month took a decision to deploy the Nepal Army during the polls in May. The decision was endorsed by Prime Minister Prachandas Cabinet recently. The presidents clearance for the armys deployment has come amid a threat by the Madhes-based parties, who claim to represent the interests of inhabitants of the southern Terai region who are mostly of Indian-origin, to boycott the polls. They demand that the Constitution promulgated in 2015 be amended to revise the provision of citizenship and the provincial boundaries be re-demarcated to allow the Madhesi people have adequate representation in the parliament. Prachanda last week said the Madhes-centric parties will pay a "terrible price" if they rejected the governments appeal to participate in the elections. His coalition government has said it was making efforts to bring them to the electoral process so as to implement the Constitution. PTI SBP ABH AKJ ABH --- ENDS --- Vienna: The far-right runner-up in Austria`s presidential election last year, Norbert Hofer, said there should be no dual-citizenship for Turks until Ankara discloses how many Turks in Austria still hold Turkish citizenship. The number of immigrants holding illegal dual-citizenship has come into focus in Austria since the Turkey held a referendum that approved sweeping new powers for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, putting pressure on Austria`s interior minister. Turks living in Austria voted overwhelmingly in favour of the constitutional changes, broadly in line with results from other European countries. "If I could decide I would no longer naturalise any Turks until we get all information there is from Ankara about dual citizenships," Hofer told Oe24 TV late on Thursday. Hofer`s anti-immigration and Freedom Party (FPO) has led opinion polls ahead of the ruling centrist parties for over a year, buoyed by rising concerns over immigration. He narrowly lost to an independent rival in presidential elections late last year. The FPO sits in the same bloc as France`s National Front and other nationalist parties in the European parliament, although, unlike some of its allies, it has rowed back from calls for a vote on Austria`s future within the European Union. A war of words between Turkey and the EU erupted last month after several countries stopped Turkish politicians holding rallies intended to drum up support for Erdogan. But diplomatic tensions between Austria and Turkey predate this escalation with other European countries after Austria led earlier calls to stop EU membership talks with Turkey. Berlin: Members of Germany`s lower house of Parliament have approved a law that partially bans the full-face Islamic veil or the burqa, the media reported on Friday. The bill will prevent civil servants, judges and soldiers from wearing burqas at work, the BBC reported. After the approval on Thursday, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the move to ban the burqa showed how far tolerance towards other cultures would go in Germany. The bill will now go to the upper house. Right-wing parties want Germany to emulate France where a total ban on wearing burqas in public places as has been in force since 2011. Last December, Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a ban on full-face veils wherever legally possible, saying they were not appropriate in her country. In February the state of Bavaria announced plans to ban the full-face veil in government workplaces, schools, universities and while driving, reports the BBC. More than a million migrants. including many Middle Eastern Muslims, have entered Germany over the last 18 months. The move follows several terror attacks, including one on a Berlin Christmas market that claimed 12 lives. France, Austria, Belgium and Turkey have all imposed a ban in certain public spaces. Legislation supporting a ban is in progress in the Netherlands, while local bans apply in other nations including Denmark, Russia, Spain and Switzerland. Valletta: Germany rejected on Friday demands to halt Turkey`s bid to join the European Union, even as some EU states said Ankara`s membership dream was dead after Turks voted to grant President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers. Increasingly worried with what the European Union sees as Erdogan`s growing authoritarianism, EU lawmakers called this week for a formal suspension of Turkey`s long-stalled EU bid, saying it does not meet democratic standards. But German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who will discuss the issue on Friday with his EU counterparts and with Turkey`s top diplomat Mevlut Cavusoglu, said such a step would be counterproductive. "The German government is strictly against cancelling the (accession) talks, that would be totally the wrong reaction," he told reporters as he arrived for the meeting in Malta. "Those who would like to win applause at home because they say `We do not talk to Turkey any more` will not change anything in Turkey," he said. Austria has led calls to abort the process, which was launched in 2005 and has been frozen by political obstacles over Cyprus and resistance in some EU states to let in the majority Muslim country, even before this month`s referendum. "It would be absolutely wrong to stick to the illusion of accession (to the EU)," Austria`s Sebastian Kurz said. Erdogan narrowly won a referendum to implement the biggest overhaul of Turkey`s political system since the modern state was established nearly a century ago. Supporters say it will give Turkey stability but EU officials and Turkey`s opposition say it is the beginning of one-man rule. Erdogan`s security crackdown following a failed coup last July, his `Nazi` jibes against EU states Germany and the Netherlands, and what the bloc sees as persecution of dissenting voices, have provoked a crisis in relations. London: The Oxford University on Friday apologised for saying that avoiding eye contact could be "everyday racism" after it was accused of discriminating against autistic people. The claim was included in a list of "racial micro- aggressions" in an equality and diversity unit newsletter. But the prestigious university was criticised for being "insensitive" to autistic people who can struggle to make eye contact. It said it had made a mistake and not taken disabilities into account, the BBC reported. The university originally said "racial micro-aggressions" might include: "Not making eye contact or speaking directly to people." It described the behaviours as "subtle, everyday racism" which can be alienating. But Twitter users criticised the newsletter and academics argued the guidance was "trivialising racism". David M. Davis tweeted: "This is just discrimination against autistic people. One sign of autism is avoiding eye contact. How dare Oxford be so insensitive." In a series of tweets, the university replied: "We made a mistake. Our newsletter was too brief to deal adequately and sensibly with the issue. "We are sorry that we took no account of other reasons for difference in eye contact and social interaction, including disability. "Oxford deeply values and works hard to support students and staff with disabilities, including those with autism or social anxiety disorder." Emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent, Prof Frank Furedi, said the newsletter's authors "need a reality check". New Delhi: Using some silhouette tricks, you can easily play around with different types of sleeves and hide the fuller arms, say experts. This summer is all about large bell sleeves, puffy ones or full lengths. Tanvi Malik, CEO and Co-Founder at FabAlley, Ritika Taneja, Director and Business Head for Fashion at ShopClues and Style expert at Limeroad, have listed different styles: * Cold shoulder sleeves feature a flash of skin just on the tops of the arms. Apart from being practical, the style is gorgeous and is a hot favourite among women looking for trendy ways to appear slim and stylish. * Puffy sleeves are named for the way the sleeves extend out in round puffs around the upper arms or at the shoulders. They draw attention to the shoulders and away from the bottom region and are perfect for pear-shaped women. * Bishop sleeve is a large sleeve which is fuller at the bottom than the top and gathered at the cuff. It gives a bohemian look to an outfit and is used for dramatic effect. It looks best on a flowy relaxed outfit like a shift dress. * Large bell sleeves: This 1990's trend is quite a hit these days, and are roomy too. While styling such kind of sleeves go full volume. Pair them with culottes or a ruffled skirt, or balance the proportions out by pairing it with skinny jeans or slim trousers. Go for solids while picking such kind of sleeves. * Full length sleeves: Contrary to our thoughts, these are the most useful sleeves when it comes to summers. They are the saviour of your hands from harmful rays of sun, especially for women who ride a 2-wheeler everyday, or for women with field jobs. Long sleeves dresses or tops are best paired with minimal accessories, so it's a great idea to go for prints when opting for them. You can accessorise them with bold cocktail ring, finishing your sleeve with a flourish. * Kaftan sleeves are a summer staple. Own loads of solid as well as printed kaftan tops and work them up with your classic denim shorts. * Roll-up sleeves have always been in trend. They are in fact a summer time classic. Go for urbane checked, striped or solid shirts with rolled up sleeves and combine them with your straight fit trousers and a pair of chic flat sandals. If you want to wear rolled-up shirts to work, switch to wedges for footwear. Don't forget to accessorize with a classy satchel bag and a pair of little studs. New Delhi: Union Minister of Urban Development and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Venkaiah Naidu will review the implementation and progress of various new urban development and housing missions launched by the central government in Haryana today at a high level meeting at Chandigarh. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, concerned ministers of the State Government, Secretaries of the two urban ministries, Chief Secretary of Haryana and National and state Level Mission Directors of new urban missions and other senior officials will attend the review meeting chaired by the Union Minister. The central government launched Swachh Bharat Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Smart City Mission and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to enable inclusive and sustainable urban development and to improve infrastructure in urban areas of the country. Swachh Bharat Mission is being implemented in all the 80 statutory cities and towns of Haryana and the Ministry of Urban Development. Under AMRUT, 20 cities and towns are included in the Mission. Hyderabad: The family of Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh and last Nizam of Hyderabad State, on Friday expressed their unhappiness over being ignored during the centenary celebrations of Osmania University. The Nizam`s grandson Nawab Najaf Ali Khan, who attended the inaugural ceremony of the centenary celebrations addressed by President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday, said the family members of Nizam should have been invited on the dais. "We regret to share our dissatisfaction and dissent that none of the posters of Nizam VII who founded of the University were put up during the celebrations," he said in a statement. He pointed out that even the name of Mir Osman Ali Khan was not pronounced correctly during the speeches at the inaugural ceremony. Najaf Ali Khan, who is president of Nizam Family Welfare Association, appealed to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who did not address the centenary celebrations, to release his speech copy highlighting numerous contributions made by Mir Osman Ali Khan for all-round development of Hyderabad. He also demanded that a statue of the Nizam VII be installed at a suitable place in the premises of Osmania University. Najaf Ali Khan, who attended the ceremony with his family member, had earlier stated that he felt proud and happy over being invited by university authorities. "It made me immensely happy that it is due to the effort of my grandfather that so many people in various walks of life have learned from this institute and achieved so much in their lives. Those people remembered my grandfather fondly," he had said. Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir criticised the state government for ignoring both Nizam and Urdu language during the celebrations. He said that the tributes should have been paid to Nizam by placing his portrait on the stage and by inviting members of his family on the dais. The university officials had said that they invited Mir Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah, Mir Karamath Ali Khan Muffakham Jah, Nawab Mir Azmet Ali Khan and Nawab Shahamat Jah, all grandchildren of Mir Osman Ali Khan, to the centenary celebrations. However, none of them turned up. New Delhi: Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim was reportedly rushed to a hospital in Karachi on Friday after he had suffered a massive heart attack. Citing sources, the CNN News18 reported that his condition is critical. However, his close aide Chota Shakeel has dismissed Dawood's latest health condition as rumours, saying that he was was perfectly fine, the report said. Reportedly, Dawood was last spotted on April 19 when he had attended a dinner party at his son-in-law's residence in Karachi, the report said citing intelligence agencies. The 61-year-old is wanted in India for organising the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts in which 257 were killed and 717 injured. Citing Indian intelligence sources, the report said Pakistan deliberately concealed his health condition because it wanted to keep his presence in the country a secret. They believe there would be no official announcement in case he, the report said. Dawood fled to Dubai in the 1980s after the Mumbai Police crackdown on the underworld. New Delhi: In a strange incident, a passenger approached the Indira Gandhi International Airport officials on Friday and alleged that he was an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agent. Muhammad Ahmad Sheikh Muhammad Rafiq, a Pakistani passport holder, deboarded an Air India flight from Dubai and approached a help desk at the Delhi airport and conveyed to a lady at the counter that he wanted to share information about Pakistan's spy agency, ISI. 'Hello, I am an ISI agent. But I don't wish to continue any further and want to remain in India,' the man told the lady. The lady, who was left confused and surprised, did not waste time in informing security officials who detained him immediately and apprised the central intelligence agencies of the same. 38-year-old Rafiq had arrived here by Air India's flight from Dubai and was further booked for Kathmandu. However, he did not take the next flight and decided to break the journey and walked up to the help-desk counter at the airport. During questioning, Rafiq said he was connected with the ISI but had decided to call it a day and remain in India, officials said. He was whisked away to an undisclosed destination where he was being questioned by sleuths from various central intelligence agencies, they said, adding his claims were being verified. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday welcomed Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades at the joint press conference asserting that the India has contributed personnel to the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus. "I am delighted to welcome you and I know that India has enjoyed a special place in the heart of every Cypriot President. Cyprus and India share rich legacies of ancient civilizations and, our civilizations have influenced each other through millennia. India has always stood by Cyprus on all crucial issues. India has contributed personnel to the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus. Three force commanders from India served in this capacity, and it is heartening for me to know that all of them are fondly remembered in Cyprus," said Prime Minister Modi. Prime Minister Modi also praised President Anastasiades for leading a new era of peace, development, and security. "Cyprus has successfully overcome its recent financial and banking challenges. Cyprus has also been recorded as one of the highest growth in Euro zone," said Prime Minister Modi. Further referring to their discussions, Prime Minister Modi said, "The President and I agreed that India will offer excellent investment opportunities for Cypriot entrepreneurs. The industry and business in our two economies can shape attractive partnerships through the flagship programmes launched by my Government. The beautiful landscapes of Cyprus and the wide horizons of `Incredible India` can be a source of tourism promotion in both our countries." Prime Minister Modi appreciated Cyprus`s support for India`s claim for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council stating that, "Both of us believe that a reformed Security Council, reflective of the world as it is, and not as it was, is necessary to address the range of complex challenges facing the world today. I deeply appreciate your support for India`s claim for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council. The President and I also discussed ways to strengthen our partnership in other inter-governmental organizations and regimes." Earlier in the day, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of four agreements after delegation talks and working luncheon.The four agreements are Executive Programme on Culture, Education and Scientific Cooperation for 2017-2020; Work Plan under programme of Cooperation in Agriculture for 2017-2018; Merchant Shipping Agreement; and Air Aviation Agreement. By Press Trust of India: From Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Apr 28 (PTI) Nepal is set to sign an agreement with China to be part of the One Belt One Road Conference, a pet initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, officials said today. Nepal is sending a high-level delegation to China to attend the One Belt One Road Conference (OBOR) which will be held on May 14. advertisement Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara will lead the delegation which includes Physical Infrastructure Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Communications Minister Surendra Karki. The One Belt One Road Conference (OBOR) will kick start on May 14, when Nepal conducts the first phase of its local elections. "The Nepalse side yesterday informed the Chinese authorities that Kathmandu is sending a high-level delegation to the conference," Risi Raj Adhikari, Foreign Relations adviser to Prime Minister Prachanda was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post. Though Prime Minister Prachanda had received an invitation to participate in the conference, the government has decided to send Mahara owing to to clash of local elections dates clash with the conference. Nepalese officials are making preparations to sign an agreement with China during the conference for Nepal to become a part of OBOR, a flagship foreign policy initiated by Chinese President Xi. During his recent visit to China, Prachanda had assured Chinese authorities that Nepal would be a signatory to the initiative. Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat and Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi are holding a series of meetings with Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong in order to narrow down the differences for allowing Nepal to sign in the OBOR at the conference. The OBOR initiative aims to link the economic circles in East Asia and Europe, connecting China - on land and over water - to partners in Asia, Europe and Africa. The initiative, known as the revival of the ancient Silk Road trading route, would link Asian markets with economic groups in Europe. PTI SBP AJR AKJ AJR --- ENDS --- New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on steps taken in the aftermath of the naxal attack on security forces in Sukma as well as the status of the Rs 80,000-crore development package for Jammu and Kashmir. In the half-an-hour meeting at the official residence of the prime minister at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, Singh gave details of the measures adopted after the dastardly attack on the CRPF men in the naxal hotbed of Sukma in Chhattisgarh wherein 25 security personnel were killed, official sources said. The Home Minister also briefed the prime minister on the status of the Rs 80,068 crore package for Jammu and Kashmir. The package was announced by Modi in November, 2015. So far, Rs 19,000 crore has been released to the state government by the Centre. "The successful implementation of the mega package is key to assuage the feeling of alienation in Jammu and Kashmir," officials said. Singh had yesterday reviewed the progress in the implementation of the development package in the valley, which has been witnessing unrest lately. New Delhi: Senior IPS officer Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar took charge as the new Director General (DG) of the CRPF on Friday, days after the paramilitary force lost 25 of its men in a deadly Naxal ambush in Chhattisgarh. The 1983-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer spelled out his priorities soon after taking charge and said it was important for the paramilitary force to strategise, plan and implement at "all levels". He told PTI that his immediate priority would be to review operational and logistical issues and challenges being faced by the force and find a solution to them. Bhatnagar, 57, reached the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters at Lodhi Road here in the morning and took charge after he was accorded the ceremonial guard of honour. The government had issued an order appointing Bhatnagar as the new full-time DG of the force on April 26. The post had been lying vacant for close to two months after K Durga Prasad retired on February 28. Acting DG Sudeep Lakhtakia handed over the baton to Bhatnagar, who returned to India last night after attending a conference in Jakarta. Bhatnagar was till now serving as the DG of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). He will have a 32-month-long stint as the head of the about three lakh personnel strong force as he is due to retire in December 2019. Soon after taking charge, he asked his officers to give him a briefing on the recent incidents in Chhattisgarh that claimed the lives of 37 troops. On March 11, twelve men were killed in a Naxal ambush in the Bheji area in Sukma. He also reviewed the CRPF operations in Jammu and Kashmir with a special focus on Kashmir Valley which has been witnessing incidents of terrorist attacks, stone-pelting and civilian protests. A senior officer said the new DG asked senior officers and commanders that operational lessons learnt in the field should be factored in while planning for training and amending standard operating procedures (SOPs). "There is a need for the force to become a learning organisation and we must improve as we go along. Grievance redressal and welfare of men, camaraderie and close interaction with them is essential for all officers. "There is a need to have an appropriate technology to support our operations," Bhatnagar told officers in his first meeting with them. An MBA from IIM-Ahmedabad, Bhatnagar has served in various capacities in his cadre state of Uttar Pradesh and is also an alumnus of the National Defence College. The CRPF is the country's largest paramilitary force and is deployed as the lead force for conducting anti-Naxal operations and to render a variety of roles in the internal security domain. Kanpur: 24-year-old Captain Ayush was among the three Army personnel killed in the deadly terror attack on an Army camp in Kupwara yesterday, and the news has left the young officer's family devastated and bereft of all hope. Trying to hold back tears while speaking to the media here, the slain officer's father recalled how he sensed something was not right when he saw the news about the attack on Thursday morning. "I was watching the news and doubts started creeping in my mind when I heard that an officer was also killed and that his rank was captain from the Artillery. Then I got a phone call from an officer informing me about Ayush and that was that," he said. Appearing to be in visible pain, he went on to say that his son's time had come too soon, and that he was too young to die. He also recalled happy moments with his son, especially when they would talk about his marriage. "I used to joke to him about his wedding and tell him that we should start looking for girls for him. But he would push the matter away saying he was too young. Nevertheless I would push him saying I want to see him settle before I retire from police force," his added. Ayush was more close to his mother, his father said, adding that she had spoken to him the night before the attack, and that he never picked up the phone again when she called on Thursday. "Government needs to do something about its policy or else our boys will keep dying like this. But honestly, I have nothing to say to the government nor do I have any hope from them," he added dejectedly. Captain Ayush Yadav, Subedar Bhoop Singh Gujjar and Naik B Venkata Ramanna were killed in the attack on the Army camp yesterday. Condemning the Kupwara attack, deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Nirmal Singh assured that India would give a befitting reply to 'desperate' Pakistan for trying to ruin the atmosphere in the Valley. "We condemn this strongly. We pay our tributes to the jawans. Pakistan is trying to mess the situation as much as possible, but that would not be possible. Our jawans are doing their best and will not let them be successful. Their actions will be answered," Singh said. Dubbing it as a coward action, Singh said that Pakistan is desperate to create problems in Kashmir and warned it of severe action. "Pakistan is going to suffer. We are going to reply in the same way. The Union government is well prepared," he added. Two terrorists were also neutralised in the attack. With ANI inputs New Delhi: The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that there would be no talks with separatist elements or those raising the issues of "accession or azadi" in the Kashmir Valley. A dialogue to restore normalcy was possible only with the legally recognised stakeholders, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the SC. The apex court also was in agreement with the view of Rohatgi and said that "all those whom the law does not prevent, can meet and come out with suggestions, as the situation is not very palpable". The court's observation came as Rohatgi said: "The government would come to the negotiation table only if the legally recognised stakeholders participate in the dialogue and not with the separatist elements who rake up the issue of accession or azadi in Kashmir." The Supreme Court said it will ask the government not to use pellet guns in Jammu and Kashmir if there was no violence, no stone throwing and students return to classes. Asking leaders of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Srinagar, to come forward with "positive suggestions" to diffuse the situation, Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said: "If you suggest something within the framework of the Constitution, we will assure you there will be a dialogue. Notably, leaders of the Bar Association wanted the government to hold talks with Hurriyat leaders - currently under house arrest - without conditions. Giving time to the Bar Association till May 9 to come up with "positive suggestions", the court said: "You must first tell us what you will do. Then we will direct the government. If you keep throwing stones, how will it work?" It told the bar, which has sought a ban on the use of pellet guns to quell the agitating mob, to take "first steps" of bringing all stakeholders to the table for workable suggestions to overcome the crisis. The apex court also took exception to the stand of the bar that it cannot vouch for all stakeholders and could only speak on behalf of lawyers by telling it that "you cannot take such a stand when you have come here". The lawyer's body was asked by the bench to give an undertaking that it will persuade them to keep away from such violent agitations. However, the bar expressed reluctance, saying it cannot vouch for everybody in the Valley. The submissions did not go down well with the bench, which said: "You make an undertaking that there will be no agitation for two weeks then we will direct them (Centre) to keep away the security forces from using pellet guns. "But first positive foot forward has to come from you. This is the last opportunity and you have to play an important role. You will have to come forward. If you take the first step, you will be remembered forever in history," the bench told the counsel appearing for the bar association. Justice Kaul told the counsel for the Bar Association that students have to get back to their colleges and universities. "Stop this violence. There is so much of unemployment."Kaul told the counsel for the Bar Association that students have to get back to their colleges and universities. "Stop this violence. There is so much of unemployment." Taking exception to the affidavit filed by the Bar Association, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said they were even doubting the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India. He said the Bar Association was accusing the security forces of following a strategy of catch and kill and describing all the elections held till date in the state as rigged. "We can't give any commitment about the talks. It's just a proxy war. At one hand he says he does not vouch for all others and on the other hand, he wants the withdrawal of security forces and goes to the extent of saying that all elections (in the state) are rigged. They say we catch and kill people. We are not attacking our people. You say I (bar body) am an interlocutor but also say you cannot vouch for everyone," Rohatgi said. Rohatgi described as "political" as the counsel for the Bar Association referred to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's reported decision of a unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir. "Don't have a political debate," the Attorney General told the counsel. Making it clear that it will not talk to separatists or those demanding 'azadi', the Centre said it will only talk to people who are legally permitted to speak on behalf of the people. He also made it clear that politics cannot be allowed as the talks to bring normalcy in the Valley was going on at the highest level between Prime Minister and J&K Chief Minister. "The Chief Minister is with the Prime Minister, what further dialogue is required? The Prime Minister has invited the Chief Minister. She (Mehbooba Mufti) is their CM," he said. The Attorney General moderated his strong stand only after Chief Justice Khehar, sensing the Centre's apparent discomfort with the role the court has taken upon itself, said: "We will close it at this moment if you say one line 'We don't have jurisdiction'." Also Read: Afshan Ashique, Kashmiri girl who pelted stones at police, wants to play football for India Pointing to the road map for the talks, the Attorney General said there must be rule of law in the state, where a separatist campaign raging since 1989 has left thousands dead. The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association against the High Court order seeking a stay on the use of pellet guns as a large number of people had been killed or injured due to their use. During the last hearing on April 10, the Centre had told the Supreme Court it was exploring a crowd control option that is akin to rubber bullets but not as lethal as pellet guns which were being used as a last resort to quell the violence. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court had on September 22 rejected the plea seeking a ban on the use of pellet guns on the ground that the Centre had already constituted a Committee of Experts through its memorandum of July 26, 2016, for exploring alternatives to pellet guns. New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said his government will build 20 lakh houses over the next two years for the urban and rural poor. Each house would be built with Rs 3 lakh in Centre-state subsidy and Rs 2 lakh in state-supported financing, Chouhan said at an event organised by CII here. He said the transformation of Madhya Pradesh from a BIMARU state to one with seven cities in the National Smart Cities Mission is a result of the state's policies and its implementation. BIMARU is an acronym for Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, which were considered to be financially sick ('Bimar' in Hindi) and backward states. Highlighting MP's achievement since he took over as chief minister 12 years ago, Chouhan said that the state has ensured power and road connectivity. It has also become an investment destination for renewable energy, a highlight being the solar power plant of 750 MW at Rewa, which created history with the lowest-ever tariff of Rs 2.90 for the first year of operation, he said. The state has witnessed significant increase in irrigated land from 7.5 lakh hectares in the early 2000s to 40 lakh hectares, and projects are now completed within 15 years, as against decades earlier, he claimed. An extensive river-linking project has ensured water availability even in the remotest areas, Chouhan said. He also highlighted the state's agricultural policies and said, "Agriculture needs to be a profitable business. A food processing policy has been formulated. These efforts have doubled the agricultural output of MP in the last five years". On infrastructure, Chouhan stated the state government is connecting every village to roads, power grid, Wi-Fi and drinking water systems. Indore: Police on Friday arrested three persons, who fired at a rival gang member in full public view, from the Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan border. Those arrested have been identified as Satyanaryan Lunia, Dinesh and Shankar, said a senior police official. "We have arrested the trio from Agar-Malwa district's Soyatkalan town near MP-Rajasthan border. They were carrying a reward of Rs 40,000 on their head," Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Amrendra Singh told reporters here. Lunia is a key member of Satish Bhau gang in the city. A pistol and a cartridge were recovered from his possession, he said. "Because of an old enmity, they fired at one Achal Awasthi belonging to a rival gang on January 17 in Indore's Manglia area. At the time of incident Awasthi was returning from Dewas after meeting his brother who was lodged in a jail there in connection with some case," the officer said. Though he was attacked with an intention to kill, he luckily escaped unhurt in the firing, said Singh. After the incident on January 17, the accused were hiding in MP, Rajasthan and Delhi, he added. Mumbai: Following Sadhvi Pragya Thakur's accusations of being a victim of Congress' conspiracy, the grand old party on Friday said it was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that helped the former in getting bail. Congress' Raju Waghmare quoted the government's counsel in the Malegaon Blast case, who alleged the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of putting pressure on her to go slow, saying that there was a scheme to let Pragya get bail. "The Congress Party has a history that it always deals fairly with any individual or any political party. The Congress has never resorted to revenge politics. Regarding Sadhvi Pragya case, the government lawyer Rohini Salian said that the NIA is putting pressure on her to go slow. If the government lawyer says this, it shows there is conspiracy to let Sadhvi Pragya get bail, and not to put charges against her," Waghmare told ANI. Congress' Surender Rajput resonated the same, saying that the BJP moulded some acts of the Constitution which helped Pragya in getting bail. "As per the Constitution, the security agencies have put charges against her, and not the Congress. The court must have found her guilty and that is she why she was in jail for so long. However, the BJP moulded some acts of the Constitution which helped her in getting bail. The court is yet to give its verdict regarding the same. Sadhvi Pragya should remain patience. She is a criminal and she will be given stringent punishment by the court," Rajput told ANI. Days after getting bail from the Bombay High Court, Sadhvi Pragya yesterday alleged that she was a victim of the Congress government's conspiracy. "I am a victim of Congress government's conspiracy, I suffered nine years of injustice," Thakur said. Thakur criticised Congress leader P Chidambaram for linking saffron to terrorism. "For misbeliever, saffron is always linked to terrorism, because they are afraid of it. For the demon, saffron is the strongest weapon," she added. Thakur said she would undergo treatment and blamed the Mumbai Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) for her ailment. "In 2008, I was illegally taken by the ATS Mumbai and for 13 days I was held captive. I was tortured. I used to be physically fit, but I am not fit now and the ATS is responsible for that," she said. On Tuesday, Thakur was granted bail. She was directed to submit her passport to the National Investigative Agency (NIA) court and appear on the dates mentioned before the trial court. The NIA had informed the court that it had no objection to the court granting bail to Thakur. The blast took place on September 29, 2008 opposite the Shakil Goods Transport Company in Malegaon. It was caused by an explosive device fitted to a motorcycle. In 2009, the ATS chargesheeted 12 alleged 'Hindu extremists', including Col. Purohit and Thakur for the crime. The ATS chargesheet stated that Thakur 's scooter was used for the blast by prime accused Ram Kalsangra (absconding). Using best available technology and practices, Odisha wants to have a sustainable management of forest and bio-diversity at an outlay of Rs 1,000 crore. By India Today Web Desk: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched Banayana project on Thursday. The Banayana is an Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDP) project for sustainable management of forest and bio-diversity in the state. THE BANAYANA PROJECT IN ODISHA The new Banayana project would be implemented in 14 Forest and Wildlife Divisions of the state, covering 10 districts, with the active participation of 12,000 Vana Surakshya Samitis (VSSs) at an outlay of Rs 1,000 crore for a period of 10 years, said the chief minister. advertisement "This JICA supported project is the first 3rd generation forestry sector project in India. It envisages sustainable management of forest and bio-diversity along with adoption of best available technology and practices," said Patnaik. He said the most important aspect of this project would be active community engagement to transform them from resource users to resource managers. JAPAN ASSISTED ODISHA FORESTRY SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT The Japan International Co-operation Agency-assisted OFSDP was first implemented in Odisha in 2006 with active community participation in 2,426 villages. The goal was restoration of degraded forest and improvement in livelihood of communities living in the forest fringe villages. AMA JUNGLE YOJANA With the lessons learnt from the successful implementation of OFSDP, the Odisha government launched a flagship programme Ama Jungle Yojana to keep the momentum and Patnaik said this is being successfully implemented in 24 forest divisions with a target to cover 7,000 Vana Surakhya Samitis. "Considering the unique biological diversity of Odisha, I am glad to know that ecosystem based management will be introduced in Bhitarkanika under this plan. Similarly, SATOYAMA initiative would be piloted in Badrama Wild Life Sanctuary of Bamra wildlife division," he added. ODISHA'S FOREST MANAGEMENT He said that the project would bring in a paradigm shift in forest management by acknowledging crucial role of women in sustainable management of forest. As many as 3,600 women Self Help Groups would be supported under this project to facilitate them to pursue viable income generation activities, he said. --- ENDS --- Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today stressed the need to focus on group farming and creating water storage structures like farm ponds to increase the productivity of crops. "Our target this year is to increase the productivity of crops. Each district must take this mission and plan accordingly," Fadnavis told a meeting held here to discuss kharif season. The meeting was attended by state ministers, district collectors, and divisional commissioners. "We need to focus more on group farming, cluster-based approach and also on creating water storage structures in the next two months," the CM said. He directed all ministers to organise a 'loan mela' in each district of the state and asked collectors to plan details for the 'loan melas' minutely. "We have constituted a committee under ACS, Finance, to bring back farmers, left out of credit system, into the institutional credit system," the CM said. Fadnavis congratulated departments of Agriculture, Marketing, and Cooperative for doing a proper planning last year, which, he said has resulted into the state achieving a double-digit growth rate in agriculture. "Agriculture Universities and other departments can come together for the purpose of studying, planning crop pattern and guiding farmers from time to time," he said, adding that the work for building farm ponds under 'Jalyukt Shivar scheme' would be completed on a mission mode and funds will be made available. Fadnavis said that every farmer should be brought under the crop insurance cover. "We are praying for good monsoon, but at the same time we have to be prepared and ready with a mitigation plan anticipating any kind of situation," he said. Fadnavis said new benchmarks should be set to "consolidate our positive agriculture growth from 12.5 per cent upward by focusing on intensive cropping pattern, by better water building and management, and by enhancing production". He said a sub-committee is formed under ACS (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance, comprising secretaries of departments of Agriculture, Cooperative, Water Conservation, Nabard chief regional officer, and representatives of the RBI. "The sub-committee has been asked to prepare a model to optimise available network so as to bring every farmer under the institutional credit," the CM said. He said around 10-12 district cooperative banks are currently reeling under financial distress and need strengthening of resources. "However, overall district cooperative banks have better infrastructure in place in rural areas. "Commercial and national banks with higher capital adequacy can collaborate with the district cooperative banks having better rural infrastructure, to strengthen their network to bring farmers under institutional credit," he said. Citing India Meteorological Department's (IMD's) prediction for good monsoon this year, the CM appealed to guardian ministers of various districts to "maximise the infrastructure work to optimise the storage of rain water". Stressing the need to shift from macro to micro planning, the CM said that our focus should be to make farmers adaptable to changes in crop pattern. "Through a team work, our next target should be to take up the challenge of doubling the farm production and ensuring higher renumeration to farmers. Simultaneously, we are working towards drip irrigation and (shifting to) intensive cropping pattern to maximise agri yield," he said. New Delhi: Veteran star Vinod Khanna breathed his last on April 27, 2017, and the entire nation became a part of the mourning. The legendary star has an impressive filmography to his credit and has delivered several blockbusters. From film people to political leaders, everyone extended their condolences to the family. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan attended the last rites of Khanna at Worli and was accompanied by son Abhishek. Other industry stars spotted were Rishi Kapoor, Danny Denzongpa, Randeep Hooda, Dia Mirza, Ranjeet to name a few. After sharing a beautiful poem by Prasoon Joshi on Twitter, Big B penned a heartfelt blog which explains in detail the kind of relationship he shared with Vinod Khanna. Both featured in several films together and were seen as tough competition to each other during the 70s and 80s. Here are the excerpts from Amitabh Bachchan's blog: Motionless .. still .. eyes shut in perpetuity .. a form on wooden logs .. covered .. flames about .. and a life turned to ashes .. I first saw him entering the Ajanta Arts office in Bandra, of Sunil Dutt, where I was making my way to seek a job .. a most good looking handsome young man .. a body in elegant frame .. a swagger in his walk .. and a gentle smile as he looked towards me .. it was 1969 .. he was working in the Ajanta Arts film, Man ka Meet .. I was struggling to get a role, any role, anywhere .. In time we met again within the same precincts .. he and I were working in the same film of Dutt Saheb, Reshma aur Shera .. look trials in the office of the film .. travel and sittings on the story .. Thapa saheb, Ali Raza, Sukhdev and those all night meets, most novel for me .. my first brush with the way the film industry functioned .. the time for the shoot and the excitement of travel on a location in Jaisalmer .. the months we spent together and after .. driving in the scorching heat of the deserts of Rajasthan to the location, Pochina, in the sands of nowhere near civilisation .. living under one tent - Vinod, Ranjit, Thapa Saheb, Ali Raza saheb about seven of us in the same tent .. then similar number at a make shift residence in the city of Jaisalmer - Amrish Puri joining us in that room filled with all of us, living laughing, working .. carefree days .. the rigors of that location and its environs .. On return from the location his continued connect with me .. he a big star .. but always most humble with selfless concern for others .. the rides he would take me on, in his recently acquired Beetle VolksWagen, yellow in color .. his generosity in smuggling me into the only Disco Club in the city at the Taj, where he was a member, and I not even remotely in any state to become one .. his marriage to Geetanjali, whom he and we all fondly called Gitly .. the birth of his sons, Rahul and Akshay, whom he often brought on to the sets of AAA .. That incident at a restaurant in SoBo, where someone made a snide remark, and he took him on, getting knifed in the arm during the scuffle, but being victorious .. The sudden passing of his Father soon after our work together in Reshma .. I being with him in his hour of grief .. and then .. the amazing chemistry of the several historic films that we did together .. an association that was so loveable and considerate .. spending time in each others make up rooms, sharing our lunch, just biding time and talking of all kinds of talk .. the late shoot pack ups and the beyond midnight drives to Juhu Beach, to just sit with our directors and he to have a drink, and I mine ( I used to in those days ) .. That guilt ridden incident when I had to fling a glass in a scene towards him and it accidentally hitting his chin, cutting him open right through to his teeth .. the remorse regret and guilt within me to date for that unforgiving accident .. rushing him to his doctor, late at night, getting stitched up, driving with him to his house to settle him in and to just keep apologising for this horrific accidental slip .. The sudden brush with him as he ran up the stairs in Breach Candy Hospital, where I had gone to visit a friend, and his anger and grave faced expression - he learning of the accident of his close relative on a motorbike, and him wanting to be with her as she struggled for her life .. His friendly gesture of appearing in a film of mine Zameer .. the times we spent on it at various locations .. the most rigorous being action sequences shot in the interiors of Udaipur, well into the night and dawn, with that most respected Action Coordinator Khanna Saheb .. after the sequence was filmed, Khanna Saheb sitting with us in the early hours of the morning and emotionally expressing his great joy in working with the two of us ..give me these two artists in an action drama and I shall extract the best ever seen .. he would commend us .. The Hotel in Udaipur and our rooms distanced .. me away in one lonely corner and he in another .. I call him in the middle of the night and express the loneliness .. he inviting me over and saying to stay with him in his room .. for a newcomer you cannot imagine what this meant to me to be treated like this by a star .. His confident charm was infectious .. there was always an optimistic swagger about him .. a smile .. a laugh .. a casualness .. nothing seemed to disturb him one felt .. the relaxed cool of todays times .. The jigs we would invent on set .. impromptu songs .. when 5 Librans working together in the same film at the same scene would break into - Shammi Kapoor ji, Amjad, Kader Khan, Vinod and I - our little ditty, on the sets of ManMohan Desais Parvarish .. We are crazy Librans .. **%#@!! up this film .. !!! And the uproarious laughter that followed each shot that we gave together .. And then one day his sudden decision to the following of Rajneesh .. his passion and the strength of his belief .. his sincerity in his following, right to California where Rajneesh had shifted .. I met him in Los Angeles during this period on a stray visit, and he spent hours at a common friends place explaining to me what the movement meant not just to him, but to the World in general .. And this afternoon that association of 48 years came to an end .. This man .. this body of enthused energy and giving .. this friend .. this colleague .. this ever smiling swagger infested individual, lay motionless .. No one walked the way he did .. no one had the presence he had in a crowded room .. no one could lighten up the surroundings he was in, like him .. no one .. Mumbai: Actresses Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are set to walk the red carpet at the 70th Cannes Film Festival next month. While, Aishwarya and Sonam started their Cannes journey in 2002 and 2011, respectively, this will be Deepika's debut appearance at the star-studded movie carnival. They will showcase the transformational power of make-up and a kaleidoscope of styles as they represent the cosmetic brand L'Oreal Paris. The three alongside Hollywood celebrities Julianne Moore and Eva Longoria will also sport the latest trends and colours from the brand's collection. "We're happy to announce that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor will be representing L'Oreal Paris and India at the Cannes Film Festival this year. This year is very special to us as L'Oreal Paris celebrates two decades of being the official makeup partner for Cannes," Raagjeet Garg, General Manager, L'Oreal Paris said in a statement. The Cannes Film Festival will run from May 17 to 28. Mumbai: Rishi Kapoor is visibly upset, angry and mighty peeved with the current generation actors of Bollywood. The veteran took to Twitter to slam generation next actors for not attending Vinod Khannas funeral that was held at the Banganga cremation ground in Worli here, last night. Kapoor, who had shared screen space with the late actor-politician, said that todays generation must learn to respect. He tweeted: Shameful. Not ONE actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect. Why this? Including mine and thereafter. When I die, I must be prepared.None will shoulder me. Very very angry with today's so called stars. Yes it has been expressed earlier on social media my wife and Ranbir are out of the country. Would never had been reason not to be there. Angry. Met so many chamcha people last night at Priyanka Chopra's do last night. Few at Vinod's. So fuckn transparent. So angry with them. (sic). Shameful. Not ONE actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) 27 April 2017 Why this? Including mine and thereafter.When I die, I must be prepared.None will shoulder me. Very very angry with today's so called stars. 27 April 2017 Yes it has been expressed earlier on social media my wife and Ranbir are out of the country. Would never had been reason not to be there Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) 27 April 2017 Angry. Met so many chamcha people last night at Priyanka Chopra's do last night. Few at Vinod's. So fuckn transparent. So angry with them. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) 27 April 2017 Among the prominent ones seen at the funeral rites were Amitabh Bachchan, his son Abhishek, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Kabir Bedi, Danny Denzongpa, Arjun Rampal, Jackie Shroff, Jeetendra, Dia Mirza, Puneet Issar, writer-poet Gulzar, directors Ramesh Sippy, Ramesh Taurani, Subhash Ghai, NCP leader Praful Patel, and BJP MP Kirit Somaiya among many more. A large number of fans and admirers of the late actor waited on both sides of the streets to catch a last glimpse of their favourite actor as the funeral procession wended its way from Malabar Hill to the crematorium. Khanna, a former union minister, breathed his last Thursday morning at the Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital where he was under treatment since nearly a month. He was suffering from bladder cancer. He was 70. He is survived by former sons Rahul and Akshaye (from his first marriage to Gitanjali), Sakshi, wife Kavita and daughter Shraddha. New Delhi: The Lavasa Committee has suggested modifications in some allowances applicable universally to all employees and also for those in specific categories, including railways and defence, after examining the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. The Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa-led Committee on Allowances, which was constituted by the government to examine the Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommendations on allowances, had submitted its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday. "Modifications have been suggested in some allowances which are applicable universally to all employees as well as certain other allowances which apply to specific employee categories such as railwaymen, postal employees, scientists, defence forces personnel, doctors, nurses etc," the finance ministry said in a statement today. There are about 47 lakh central government employees. The report is being currently examined by the Department of Expenditure. It will be placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) set up to screen the 7th CPC recommendations and to firm up the proposal for approval of the Cabinet. While recommendations of the CPC on pay and pension were implemented with the approval of the Cabinet, allowances continued to be paid at old rates. The Committee was set up in view of significant changes recommended by the CPC in the allowances structure and a large number of representations received in this regard from various staff associations as well as the apprehensions conveyed by various ministries and departments. The CPC had recommended that of a total of 196 allowances, 52 be abolished altogether and 36 be abolished as separate identities by subsuming them in another allowance. The pay panel had recommended abolition of or subsuming of allowances like acting, assisting cashier, cycle, condiment, flying squad, haircutting, rajbhasha, rajdhani, robe, shoe, shorthand, soap, spectacle, uniform, vigilance and washing. The committee, the ministry said, held extensive stakeholder consultations and detailed examination of the recommendations so as to address the concerns of the stakeholders. If the Pay Commission recommendations on allowances are implemented fully, then as per estimates the cost to the exchequer will be Rs 29,300 crore. Jaipur: A marriage invitation card has gone viral on social media for using the famous slogans of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in the place of verses. The wedding is due to take place at Jhalawar district in Rajasthan on April 29. The idea is allegedly of bridegroom's uncle, who is a Panchayat official. With the slogans on wedding card, Ramvilas Meena aimed at inspiring citizens to construct toilets at their homes. Earlier this month, a Bengaluru-based boy had tweeted the marriage card of his sister with Swachh Bharat logo on it to PM Narendra Modi. Taking everyone by surprise, PM Modi not only retweeted Akash Jain's post but also followed him on Twitter. Palwal: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will soon raise Rs 5,000 crore through green masala bonds to be listed on London Stock Exchange, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday. "I am going to London on May 12 to finalise things for the masala bonds," the Road, Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister told PTI during the inspection of under-construction Rs 11,000-crore Eastern Peripheral Expressway here. The minister said that there is huge potential in the NHAI projects and they can easily monetise their resources to invest in other projects. There is huge appetite for the rupee-denominated bonds and the proceeds can be utilised for highways building, he said. Gadkari this week launched roadshows in Singapore to woo international investors for the NHPC's masala bond issue. The roadshows, to be held at Hong Kong too, will conclude in London in the second week of May. Axis Bank, Nomura, SBI Capital and Standard Chartered, which have been hired to manage the masala bond issuance, are conducting the roadshows. The rupee-denominated offshore bonds, popularly known as masala bonds, got a tax benefit in the budget for 2017-18. The instrument has been exempted from taxation for transfer among non-residents, while a low rate of 5 percent would be applicable for investors till 2020. The decision to levy lower tax deducted at source (TDS) of 5 percent with respect to masala bonds would be retrospectively effective from April 1, 2016. New Delhi: Space agencies around the world are an ambitious lot and one of the primary goals for all of them is to conquer Mars with a manned mission to the planet. Space agencies like NASA and SpaceX are already preparing for their respective missions. In early January this year, scientists at NASA revealed their plans of creating inflatable igloo-like domes covered in ice for astronauts to live and work in on the Red Planet, which will ensure them the requisite protection from extreme temperatures and high-energy radiation. Now, however, scientists have revealed their latest creation that they say could help astronauts with their housing during their stay on Mars. On Thursday, scientists said that they have manufactured tiny bricks out of artificial Martian soil anticipating the day when humans may construct colonies on the Red Planet. Remarkably, the technique requires only that the red-hued building blocks be compressed in a precise way no additives or baking required. "The people who will go to Mars will be incredibly brave, they will be pioneers and I would be honoured to be their brick maker," said Yu Qiao, a professor at the University of California San Diego and lead author of a study in Scientific Reports. Structural engineers used a dirt mixture concocted by NASA that mimics Martian soil to make hundreds of 3 millimetre-thick (0.1 inch), disc-shaped bric By accident, they had discovered that high-pressure compression hardened the artificial soil into rock-solid structures stronger than steel-reinforced concrete. Once the stuff of science fiction, human habitation of Mars has captured the collective imagination, and inspired governments and billionaires to explore the feasibility of making the Red Planet a home away from home. In March, the US Congress passed a bill signed by President Donald Trump directing NASA to send a manned mission to Mars in 2033. Qiao believes real Martian soil could be compacted layer by layer to form a wall or shaped into larger bricks. Previous ideas for how to make construction materials on Mars involved building nuclear plants to fire bricks, or hauling large quantities of polymer a kind of glue from Earth. Professor Qiao's proposed masonry, on the other hand, would be 100 percent made-in-Mars and require minimal resources. "All the previous methods involved energy intensive heating or pretty significant space transportation from Earth for additives," the researcher told AFP. Iron oxide the component that gives Mars its reddish hue is thought to be the "cementing agent" that makes the soil so malleable. Whether real Martian soil would react in the same way is still uncertain, Qiao concedes only on site tests would tell for sure. But he hopes his approach will be given a hearing. Qiao initially set out to use lunar soil to make cement. When he applied the same technique to Martian-like soil, he discovered its exceptional properties. NASA's Curiosity rover collected samples of Martian dust and sand for the first time in 2012, analysing its composition in a laboratory inside the mobile robot. The soil was found to contain a complex chemistry of water, sulphur, and chlorine substances but no traces of organic carbon compounds that could indicate signs of life. (With AFP inputs) The victims were allegedly dragged out of their homes at around 12 am. By India Today Web Desk: Two villagers were killed by Maoists suspecting them to be police informers in Odisha's Malkangiri district today. The deceased have been identified as Bisu Kirsani and Rama Padiami. Sources from the police said that the deceased were shot dead at Sudhakanda village under Kalimela block in Malkangiri district. About 20 Maoists barged into the village at around 12 am and dragged the two out of their homes before killing them. advertisement Also read: Amit Shah to India Today: Sukma attack a reflection of the suppression of Maoists and Naxalism What happened to Centre's claim that demonetisation has broken morale of Maoists: Congress on Sukma attack --- ENDS --- New Delhi: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured a beautiful image of a galaxy named NGC 7250. According to the US space agency, the galaxy has bright bursts of star formation and recorded supernova explosions, it blends into the background somewhat thanks to the gloriously bright star hogging the limelight next to it. And the bright object seen in the image is a single and little-studied star named TYC 3203-450-1, located in the constellation of Lacerta (The Lizard). The star is much closer than the much more distant galaxy. Astronomers studying distant objects call these stars foreground stars and they are often not very happy about them, as their bright light is contaminating the faint light from the more distant and interesting objects they actually want to study. In this case, TYC 3203-450-1 is million times closer than NGC 7250, which lies more than 45 million light-years away from us, as reported. It is said that if the star were the same distance from us as NGC 7250, it would hardly be visible in the image. New Delhi: Scientists have revealed that the ancient surfaces of Mars, like those on the moon and Mercury, are covered with the scars of asteroid impacts. Now, a new study funded by NASA suggests that Mars experienced ten times fewer giant impacts than some previous estimates. Scientists Bill Bottke from the Southwest Research Institute, or SwRI, and Jeff Andrews-Hanna from the University of Arizona have been investigating the early bombardment history of Mars and the timing of giant impacts. Mars bears the scars of five giant impacts, including the ancient giant Borealis basin (top of globe), Hellas (bottom right), and Argyre (bottom left). A NASA-funded team at SwRI discovered that Mars experienced a 400-million-year lull in impacts between the formation of Borealis and the younger basins. Credits: University of Arizona/LPL/Southwest Research Institute The new findings indicate that the Borealis basin carved out the northern lowlands 4.5 billion years ago, followed by a lull of 400 million years during which no giant impacts occurred, culminating in a shower of impacts between 4.1 and 3.8 billion years ago during which four giant basins and countless smaller craters formed, says a release by NASA. Borealis is the largest and most ancient giant impact basin on Mars and is nearly 6,000 miles wide, encompassing most of the northern hemisphere of the Red Planet. A smaller giant basin called Hellas is 1,200 miles wide and five miles deep. Bottke and Andrews-Hanna collected data and ran models to support their findings that the rim of Borealis was excavated by only one later giant basin, called Isidis. This sets strong statistical limits on the number of giant basins that could have formed on Mars after Borealis, said Bottke, principal investigator of the Institute for the Science of Exploring Targets, or ISET, team with NASAs Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute or SSERVI. The number and timing of such giant impacts on early Mars has been debated, with estimates ranging from four to 30 giant basins formed in the time since Borealis. Our work shows that the lower values are more likely. To fully understand the implications of this bombardment, they analysed the timing of the impacts responsible for other giant basins, and compare their preservation state. They found that the preservation state of the four youngest giant basins on Mars - Hellas, Isidis, Argyre, and the now-buried Utopia basins - are strikingly similar to the larger and older Borealis basin. The similar preservation of both Borealis and these younger basins indicates that any basins formed during this time interval should be similarly preserved. The research has been published in Nature Geoscience. Chennai: An alleged hawala operator was arrested here today in connetion with the Election Commission bribery case in which three persons, including AIADMK (Amma) leader TTV Dhinakaran, were in police custody. Naresh was apprehended at the Delhi Airport for his alleged involvement in "illegal transfer" of money to arrested middleman Sukesh Chandrasekhar by Dhinakaran, said a senior police officer. Praveer Ranjan, joint commissioner of police (crime), confirmed the arrest but did not elaborate. Yesterday, Dhinakaran was taken to Chennai and searches were conducted at his residence in the city as part of the probe. Delhi Crime Branch police personnel led by Assistant Commissioner Sanjay Sherawat searched the residences of Dhinakaran and that of his associate Mallikarjuna, who has also been arrested. Police had secured warrants from a Delhi court to conduct the searches as part of efforts to gather "further evidence" in the alleged attempt by Dhinakaran to bribe EC officials. However, it is not known whether any seizures were made. Besides the two, others connected to them were also questioned over "illegal channels" and "conduits" used for sending money to Delhi from here. Dhinakaran was arrested on April 25 night here following four days of questioning for allegedly attempting to bribe an unidentified EC official to get the undivided AIADMK's 'two leaves' election symbol for his faction. Police had earlier said Sukesh Chandrasekar, who was the first to be arrested, had struck a deal for Rs 50 crore to help the AIADMK (Amma)faction keep the two leaves symbol. They had seized Rs 1.30 crore from Chandrasekar when he was arrested from a five-star hotel in Delhi on April 16. Dhinakaran has been accused of allegedly arranging the amount from undisclosed sources and getting it transferred from Chennai to Delhi through illegal channels. Mallikarjuna was arrested for allegedly helping Dhinakaran transfer this money from Chennai to Delhi, police had said. Police are also verifying whether Chandrasekar had approached any EC official for getting a favourable verdict for Dhinakaran's faction. Dhinakaran, who was appointed deputy general secretary by jailed AIADMK chief V K Sasikala, is facing a revolt by an influential section of state ministers who have decided to keep the two out of party affairs. Sivaganga: Union Minister Mahesh Sharma on Friday denied there were plans to stop excavation at Keezhadi in this district, saying there has been "rewarding results" from the site, dating back to 2nd Century BC. Referring to opposition from some sections to the transfer of an official overseeing the excavation process, Sharma, Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, said it was a routine exercise. "I just want to put end to all queries and confusion by saying that this excavation is important to our ministry, Archaeological Survey of India and the government of India," he said. Sharma was speaking after a visit to the site at Keezhadi, a hamlet where the excavation work has revealed the existence of an urban civilisation in the 2nd Century BC. Addressing reporters along with his colleague Nirmala Sitharaman and state BJP chief Tamilisai Sounderrajan, Sharma said the excavation had been planned for five years and that two years had already passed. "There has been very rewarding results of this excavation. We have got reports that there was civilisation and culture over here, in these areas, even in 2nd century BC. So thats a matter of pride for all of us," he said. The Ministers' visit to the site comes in the backdrop of reports that the excavation had been stalled. DMK Working President M K Stalin had alleged the Central Advisory Board of Archaeology had reportedly stalled the excavation at the site. He had written to Sharma in January this year, seeking continuation of excavation and necessary funds for it. Sharma said the excavation had to be done in a time-bound manner and pointed out that the transfer of an official overseeing the process was a routine exercise. Another official, hailing from Tamil Nadu, had been appointed in his place and he "definitely" will be completing the work, the Minister added. He said Centre has released Rs 40 lakh to ensure that the excavation work "did not face any problem." He assured the people of Tamil Nadu and officials that there will be no shortage of funds to complete the excavation. "It is not a matter of individuals, it is a matter of institution. I am the minister today and I may not be the minister tomorrow. But that does not mean that government or ministry work will stop," he said. The work completed in the last two years has been compiled in a book, Sharma said. The excavation showed there is "evidence-based culture" in that area, he added. Sharma and Sitharaman said the 'antique' items unearthed during the excavation will be exhibited in the state. Sitharaman said herself, her cabinet colleague and MP from Tamil Nadu, Pon Radhakrishnan, and the BJP's state unit had taken up the matter with Sharma long back and wanted him to visit the site. Earlier, some pro-Tamil activists protested against the transfer of the earlier official overseeing the excavation, and engaged in heated arguments with with local BJP supporters during the Ministers' visit. The activists were detained, Police said. Lucknow: Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday visited the family of Captain Aayush Yadav in Kanpur and blamed the Centre`s "faulty defence policies" for the killings of Army men. Captain Yadav was killed in a militant attack in Kupwara in Kashmir on Thursday. The Samajwadi Party (SP) national President met the bereaved family at their Chakeri house and said it was sad that while militants were killing Army and paramilitary forces` personnel, the Narendra Modi government was doing nothing to stop this. "The central government will have to think over the reasons for the attack on armed forces and killing of personnel both in and outside the country," the SP leader said. "Though their loss is irreplaceable, I have come here to stand in solidarity with the bereaved family in this hour of grief," he added. Lucknow: Don't spare those who create nuisance irrespective of their political leanings as law and order is the top priority, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has told police officials. Adityanath has also told senior cops to hear public grievances daily from 9 to 11 am and address the problems faced by the people. The chief minister has also issued directives that electricity-related problems in all villages being provided power between 7 am to 5 pm be fixed. The chief minister has stressed that law and order is the top priority of the and the police have been clearly told that no nuisance, irrespective of who is creating it, will be tolerated, UP Power Minister Shrikant Sharma told a press conference today. Police have been instructed to deal with trouble-makers sternly, he added. The UP government's assertion comes in the backdrop of an incident in Agra where right-wing activists thrashed some policemen. There have been some other incidents also over which the opposition parties in the state have raised questions. The chief minister, a tough taskmaster, has also asked all officials, including District Magistrates and Police Superintendents, to regularly sit in their offices from 9 am to 11 am for listening to and resolving the problems of the common people. He has also instructed officials to remain in their in the evening, Sharma said. He added that the government has also fixed the duty of a minister to hold similar hold a meeting to hear public grievances at the state BJP office every day from 11 am to 1 pm. On the public hearing at the CM's residence, Sharma said it will be held every day and the officials of the districts from where there are most complaints would be pulled up. "Besides their respective ministries, all the ministers have been asked to monitor the districts of which they have been made in-charge and in their assembly constituencies," he said. He said that issues like law and order, power, road, drinking water and farmers-related matters were the priority of the government and said ministers, as well as officials, would regularly inspect these areas to monitor the situation. Seeking to make water conservation a peoples' movement like the drive for cleanliness, the state government has asked all the districts to ensure people's participation. Ministers have also been asked to monitor health services and exercise zero tolerance on corruption, he said. Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) Thursday night raided seven petrol pumps in Lucknow to check petrol and diesel theft. During the raid, the STF officials found electronic chip at a few pumps, which were used for fuel theft. It was found that if a customer asked for five litres of fuel, he/she was getting half litre less fuel than the demand. And all this was possible with the chips inserted in the fuel vending machines. The officials sealed the seven petrol pumps. Meerut: A school in Meerut affiliated to the CBSE Board has issued bizarre orders asking its students to sport hair like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and banned non-vegetarian food in its canteen completely. News agency ANI reported on Friday that nearly 2,800 students, from Class I to XII, are currently enrolled in this school and its management wants all of them to get hairstyles on the line of CM Yogi Adityanath. Its management has also banned beards, claiming that the school was "not a madrassa where people offer namaz". Besides, the school management has also ordered a blanket prohibition on non-vegetarian food and forced gender segregation to "prevent love jihad". The matter came to light when some students were denied entry to Rishabh Academy Co-Educational English Medium School since they did not have proper haircuts. Students of a Meerut school allege they were asked to get 'Yogi haircut' and not get non-veg food, else would not be allowed to enter school pic.twitter.com/cZclzpfJQs April 28, 2017 Justifying the order, Ranjeet Jain, secretary, management committee, clarified that since the school was run by a Jain trust, non-vegetarian food, including eggs, is prohibited in tiffin brought by students. I had asked the students to remain in discipline, and get 'Fauji cut': Ranjeet Jain, Secretary Rishabh Academy pic.twitter.com/yCQhYiycR0 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 28, 2017 The school also conducts surprise checks to see whether a student is flouting food rules. As if this is not enough, the school has also enforced gender segregation, making boys and girls study in separate classrooms to prevent 'love jihad'. Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Power Minister Shrikant Sharma on Friday announced that the Yogi Adityanath government will release its report card to the people after completing 100 days in office. Addressing the press, Sharma said the government has decided that every day, a BJP minister would visit the party office and address people's concerns. Announcing slew of directives, the UP Minister said the Adityanath government has asked all the district in-charges to ensure that the projects initiated by MLA/MP are being taken forward in the best possible way. Zero tolerance approach towards corruption is the agenda of the state government and punishment will be ensured if anyone found indulged in graft, Sharma asserted. UP CM Yogi Adityanath has ordered that movements be launched across the state against the use of plastic bags, the state Power Minister said. The officials should ensure that the villages get uninterrupted power supply from 7 pm 5 am, the UP Minister said. The government officials should meet people in their offices on a daily basis from 9 am - 11 am, he added. Pakistan's assertion came a day after India handed over an appeal by Jadhav's mother Avanti Sudhir Jadhav against the death sentence given to her son. By India Today Web Desk: After denying India's request for the 16th time on Wednesday, Pakistan on Thursday said that it will decide 'on merit' the request made by India for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav who was awarded death sentence by the Field General Court Martial earlier this month. Pakistan's assertion came a day after India handed over an appeal by Jadhav's mother Avanti Sudhir Jadhav against the death sentence given to her son. The appeal has been filed under section 133 (B) of the Pakistan Army act. advertisement Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that India has sought consular access to 46-year-old Jadhav. "We have made it clear time and again that Pakistan and India have signed an agreement on consular access in 2008, and according to clause VI of that agreement, decision to grant consular access in cases where detentions and arrests relate to political or security matters, the request of consular access will be decided on merits of the case,? he said. NAFEES ZAKARIA'S STATEMENT Referring to Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale's demand for consular access to Jadhav during a meeting with Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua on Wednesday, the spokesman said that the Indian diplomat had submitted a request for an appeal 'which will be examined by experts.' Zakaria's statement differs from that of army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor who had said last week that Jadhav was a spy and consular access cannot be given to spies. Similarly, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua was quoted by local media as saying yesterday that consular access agreement was related to prisoners and not spies. Zakaria alleged that Jadhav was a serving commander of Indian Navy, working for Indian intelligence agency RAW and was caught red-handed. India acknowledges that Jadhav had served with the navy but denies that he has any connection with the government. Jadhav made confessions, and was tried for espionage activities, Zakaria said, adding that his trial was conducted according to the law of the land in a transparent manner. PAKISTAN'S CLAIMS Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy." The Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. However, India denied Pakistans contention and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistans agencies. "Pakistan has always highlighted to the International Community that India uses Afghan soil against Pakistan and it has been repeatedly stated by those in India in position of authority and responsibility that their effort is to squeeze Pakistan from the eastern and western borders," he alleged. advertisement He urged the international community to take note of "Indian state sponsorship of activities of subversion, terrorism and financing of terrorists against Pakistan." (With inputs from PTI) Also Read: Pakistan denies India's request for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav for 16th time India wants Kulbhushan Jadhav's health certificate from Pakistan Also Watch: India demands consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav --- ENDS --- New Delhi: With the Uttarakhand High Court directing the judicial magistrate to seize the EVMs used during the assembly polls, the Congress has called on the poll panel to `come clear` and convince the nation of no tampering and manipulation with the voting machines. Congress leader Pradeep Tamta told ANI that if the High Court has taken the matter into consideration then the issue is serious."Now the Election Commission needs to satisfy the people that there was no tampering and manipulation with the EVMs," he added. Toeing similar views, party leader P C Chacko said that as long as the `doubt` remains the question will also persist that there was tampering with the machines. "It shows that the Election Commission is failing in its duty to tell the people this cannot be tampered with. Normally a court doesn`t intervene in such matters because the election commission decision is always accepted. But they failed to provide that there was no suspicion and tempering. It is for them to come clear on this and people should be told that it cannot be tampered with that is the assurance the people wants today," Chacko added. The High Court ordered that the EVMs pertaining to Vikasnagar be "preserved" and kept in a sealed room."The process of sealing shall be carried out in the presence of the Judicial Magistrate, Vikasnagar," the order stated. Former Cabinet Minister and Congress leader Navprabhat had approached the High Court over alleged tampering of EVMs in the Vikasnagar constituency, from where Navprabhat had contested as the Congress candidate. On March 11 - the day of counting of votes -Navprabhat lost to the BJP candidate Munna Singh Chauhan by over 6,418 votes. On Thursday, Justice S K Gupta ordered that notices must be served to the State government, the Centre, the EC, among others, over the alleged tampering of EVMs. According to the order, the respondents would need to file their response within six weeks. Algeria: Algeria`s government has rejected accusations from rights groups that it persecuted the Ahmadiyah religious sect during a recent spate of arrests, saying those detained were targeted for breaking the law not for their beliefs. International rights groups have expressed concern in Algeria about crackdowns and religious persecution of Ahmadiyah, a Muslim sect also found in Pakistan and Indonesia as well as in communities in Europe but who some Sunnis accuse of apostasy. The Ahmadiyah identify as Muslims, but believe another prophet followed the Prophet Mohammed, who founded Islam. That view runs counter to the Muslim religion`s central belief and is considered problematic by most mainstream Islamic organizations. Algeria`s Minister of Religious Affairs Mohamed Aissa told diplomats and reporters this week that any arrests in Algeria`s Ahmadiyah community were for individual crimes and not a crackdown on their religious community. His comments came after some Algerian political leaders had said there was no place for the Ahmadiyah in Algeria, where most people are Sunni Muslims. In the past, officials have suggested the community was involved in illegal proselytizing. "All those Ahmadiyah individuals` activities in our country were illegal, we are not targeting the Ahmadiyah, but rather individuals," Aissa said at a conference this week. PAST CIVIL WAR Those arrested have been investigated for offences including unauthorized fundraising and the illicit use of private homes to conduct unauthorised secret meetings. He said 123 Ahmadiyah were under investigation and 21 had been arrested. The minister said some of the community had sympathies with Islamic State and ties to former Algerian militant groups or were non-Muslims. But Fareed Ahmad, the group`s national secretary for external affairs based in London, told Reuters they were deeply concerned about a "vilification campaign" against Ahmadiyah in Algeria. "We are a peace-loving Muslim community and have consistently campaigned against extremism around the world. We urge the authorities to release the 26 Ahmadi Muslim who have been unjustly imprisoned in the past six months," he said. "They are loyal Algerian citizens who are committed to the peace and prosperity of Algeria." The High Islamic Council, the highest religious authority in Algeria considers the Ahmadiyah a non-muslim group. More than 90 percent of Algeria`s 40 million people are Sunni Muslims The question of Islamic activism outside mainstream, state-sanctioned Sunni Islam is sensitive following a 1990s civil war with armed, ultra-conservative Islamists that killed more than 200,000 people. Sofia: Two Bulgarian men were jailed on Friday for 10 years and a woman for six years for trafficking two pregnant women to sell their babies in neighbouring Greece. The sentences issued by a court in the Black Sea city of Burgas were among the heaviest for a crime that has become common in the region over recent years but has been tough to prove and punish, prosecutors said. The practice consists of recruiting poor pregnant women, usually from the Roma minority, and transferring them to Greece to give birth and sell their baby to couples there, who are ready to pay up to 15,000 euros ($16,300) for a baby boy. Any payment is considered illegal, but the Greek legal system does not help solving the problem as it allows the mother to simply sign her child away in front of a notary, investigators say. The mothers usually get a fraction of the money with the bigger chunk pocketed by the traffickers. Two men, aged 47 and 50, from the small town of Kameno near Burgas were jailed for 10 years for recruiting two pregnant women from a nearby village and accommodating them in flats in Greece with a view to selling their babies when they were born. The wife of one of the men was also jailed for six years and another accomplice received a three-year suspended sentence. The crimes occurred in the years between 2008 to 2010. During a visit to the region of Burgas and Kameno in 2016, AFP collected testimony from local officials and ordinary people about a shady trade that feeds on endemic poverty of the local Roma. Some of the mothers were said to have sold more than one baby. Beijing: China sentenced a prominent human rights lawyer to a three-year suspended sentence Friday following a secret trial, raising concerns the country is moving to further reduce transparency in high-profile, politically sensitive cases. Li Heping, best known for defending blind lawyer Chen Guangcheng, was found guilty of "subverting state power," the Tianjin Second Intermediate Court said in a post on its verified microblog. Li stood trial on Tuesday in the port city of Tianjin, close to the nation`s capital, where he said he would "obey the judgement and not appeal," the statement said. "Because the case involved state secrets, our court had a trial not open to the public...the court fully protects the rights of litigation of Li Heping," it added. The Beijing Global Law Firm partner was detained by police during the so-called "709 crackdown" in the summer of 2015, when authorities rounded up some 200 legal staff and activists. A suspended sentence means Li will be released from detention, but will continue to be closely monitored by police, likely at his home. Last August, Chinese courts tried six members of the "709" group in quick succession, finding them guilty of serious crimes including "subverting state power" and "endangering national security". The courts gave prior notice of the hearings -- even if just a few hours in some cases. According to Chinese law, in most cases a defendant`s family members or lawyers must be informed at least three days before a trial. But the announcement of Li`s judgement, after almost two years with little information about his case, took supporters by surprise. "The secret trial shows that allegations against Li Heping are groundless and weak," Amnesty International`s China researcher Patrick Poon told AFP. "Otherwise, why didn`t the court inform his family properly before trial and only announce its verdict online?" Li has not had access to a lawyer of his own choosing since he was detained, according to his former attorneys. His wife could not be reached for comment. Chinese President Xi Jinping has overseen a tightening of controls on civil society since assuming power in 2012, closing avenues for legal activism that had opened up in recent years. While the government initially targeted political activists and human rights campaigners, it has increasingly turned its attention to the legal professionals who represent them. Last week, a Chinese court indefinitely postponed the trial of Xie Yang, another prominent lawyer arrested in the 2015 sweep. The status of a third remaining human rights lawyer awaiting trial, Wang Quanzhang, is also unknown. Amnesty`s Poon said that Li`s trial may bode ill for the other detained lawyers: "it could become a pattern where authorities are handling the cases in relation to the crackdown in a secretive manner." Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple US presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasizing by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. "We`d love to solve things diplomatically but it`s very difficult," he said. In other highlights of the 42-minute interview, Trump was cool to speaking again with Taiwan`s president after an earlier telephone call with her angered China. He also said he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the US THAAD anti-missile defense system, which he estimated at $1 billion, and intends to renegotiate or terminate a US free trade pact with South Korea because of a deep trade deficit with Seoul. Asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the pact, Trump said: Very soon. Im announcing it now. Trump also said he was considering adding stops to Israel and Saudi Arabia to a Europe trip next month, emphasizing that he wanted to see an Israeli-Palestinian peace. He complained that Saudi Arabia was not paying its fair share for US defense. Asked about the fight against Islamic State, Trump said the militant group had to be defeated. "I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation," he said, when asked about what the endgame was for defeating Islamist violent extremism. Xi trying very hard Trump said North Korea was his biggest global challenge. He lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in Pyongyang. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month. "I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. "With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it`s possible that he cant," Trump said. Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed US lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority." It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbour and ally, and remained open to negotiations. US officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct US military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among US forces in both countries. Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. "He`s 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. "I`m not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I`m just saying that`s a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he`s rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he`s rational," he said. Trump, sipping a Coke delivered by an aide after the president ordered it by pressing a button on his desk, rebuffed an overture from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who told Reuters a direct phone call with Trump could take place again after their first conversation in early December angered Beijing. China considers neighbouring Taiwan to be a renegade province. "My problem is that I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi," said Trump. "I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him. "So I would certainly want to speak to him first." Trump also said he hoped to avoid a potential government shutdown amid a dispute between congressional Republicans and Democrats over a spending deal with a Saturday deadline looming. But he said if a shutdown takes place, it will be the Democrats` fault for trying to add money to the legislation to "bail out Puerto Rico" and other items. He also defended the one-page tax plan he unveiled on Wednesday from criticism that it would increase the U.S. deficit, saying better trade deals and economic growth would offset the costs. "We will do trade deals that are going to make up for a tremendous amount of the deficit. We are going to be doing trade deals that are going to be much better trade deals," Trump said. Brussels: European leaders will discuss for the first time at a summit on Saturday the battle to host two London-based EU agencies after Brexit, with a decision expected later this year, officials said. Over a dozen member states have already thrown their hats into the ring to host the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA), currently housed in London`s Canary Wharf business district. EU President Donald Tusk and European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker will bring up the sensitive topic at the summit in Brussels where the 27 remaining EU leaders will adopt Brexit negotiating guidelines, European officials said. They will tell the leaders on Saturday that the process to find new homes for the agencies begins in June with the announcement of a set of criteria for the relocations, a senior EU official said on condition of anonymity. EU leaders will then vote on a list of contenders later in the year, with Tusk intending to name the new hosts at a summit in either October or December, another senior EU diplomat said. At least initially, the EU will push Britain to pay all relocation costs, the diplomat said, amid reports that owed rent in London could reach hundreds of millions of euros. "The whole issue is a direct consequence of the Brexit decision," the diplomat said. It is a major acceleration of the process of moving the agencies ahead of Britain`s exit from the EU in March 2019. Luxembourg in March fired an opening shot, claiming that it had a legal right to win the EBA based on a statute from the 1960s that gives the small duchy first dibs on any EU agency involving the economy. The EBA is perhaps best known for its regular stress tests on the EU`s financial sector, which have become a vital focus for investors and regulators in the wake of the global financial crisis. Up for grabs also is the EMA and its London staff of 900, including pharmaceutical experts, biologists and doctors from every corner of Europe. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Thursday wrote EU officials to defend Barcelona as a host of the EMA. Paris: More than 30 French media outlets have signed a petition protesting against what they termed restricted access to far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen offered by her National Front party, organisers said on Friday. The petition comes after a series of instances in which journalists were excluded from covering campaign events or the anti-EU, anti-immigrant candidate herself, who faces centrist Emmanuel Macron in the May 7 runoff. "For second-round campaigning, the National Front has decided to choose which media are authorised to follow Marine Le Pen," the petition says. "Several outlets have had their representatives excluded from any information or any possibility to follow the National Front candidate," it adds. The petition was signed by Agence France-Presse and other major French media outlets including Le Monde and Le Figaro dailies, TF1 and BFM television channels as well as France Info radio. "We protest in the strongest way against this hindrance to carrying out our duty to inform," the petition says. "It is not up to political structures, whatever they may be, to decide on which outlets are allowed to exercise their democratic role in society." Reporters Without Borders warned Wednesday that press freedom has never been as threatened as it is now, in the "new post-truth era of fake news" after the election of US President Donald Trump. The group`s annual World Press Freedom Index warned of the "highly toxic" media-bashing of Trump`s election campaign and Britain`s Brexit referendum. Paris: Marine Le Pen`s bid to defy the odds and win the French presidency risked a setback on Friday when the man named interim head of her National Front party stood down to defend himself against charges that he shares the views of Holocaust deniers. Days ahead of a May 7 run-off pitting the far-right leader against centrist ex-banker Emmanuel Macron, the abrupt exit of Jean-Francois Jalkh raised ghosts of the FN`s past and revived a furore sparked by Le Pen`s father when he called the Nazi gas chambers a "detail" of history. The renewed controversy threatens moves by Le Pen, who expelled her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, from the party two years ago, to cleanse the FN`s image of xenophobic and anti-semitic associations and make it more palatable to a broader electorate. "With all we know of the revisionist views the Le Pen family has voiced in the past, there comes a time when the women and men of France must open their eyes to where the National Front comes from," Macron`s campaign director Richard Ferrand said. The presidential contest has blown apart traditional party loyalties and presented voters with a stark choice between a resurgent far right, once a pariah in French politics, and a man whose political movement is less than a year old and who has never held elected office. It sets Macron`s enthusiasm for the European Union and call for pro-business reforms to boost growth against Le Pen`s desire for France to close its borders to immigrants, unwind EU institutions and restrict imports to protect jobs. Most opinion polls show him winning next Sunday, with 60 percent or more of the vote, but Le Pen has in the past few days narrowed the gap, scoring public relations points with well-timed appearances and comments. Jalkh, a long-time ally of Le Pen senior who founded the National Front, was one of 35 FN members elected to parliament in the mid-1980s. He had been due to take over as interim party chief, a post Marine Le Pen has vacated to focus on the presidential race. "He (Jalkh) wants to defend himself and he will be filing a legal complaint... I can tell you he firmly and formally contests what he is accused of," FN member Louis Aliot, Marine Le Pen`s partner in private life, said on BFM TV. Steeve Briois, another of the party`s four vice presidents, would take Jalkh`s place, Aliot said. At issue are comments attributed to Jalkh in a conversation with a researcher in 2005 about the work of Robert Faurisson, a professor convicted more than once for questioning the scale of Jewish extermination in Nazi gas chambers during World War Two. Jalkh was a little-known figure until his name emerged as interim party leader this week. Newspaper articles relayed the Holocaust-related comments he is purported to have made. Also unearthed was a newspaper report from 1991 that said Jalkh had attended an anniversary rally held by supporters of Marshal Philippe Petain, French wartime leader and Nazi collaborator, in July of that year. Le Pen`s father has been convicted of inciting racial hatred for his remarks on the Holocaust, and referred to them as recently as 2015. He has refused to be silent as his daughter bids for power. Last week, after the first round of voting, the 88-year-old said she should have campaigned more aggressively and more like U.S. President Donald Trump. GAY MARRIAGE JIBE He courted controversy again on Friday, saying a remembrance ceremony for a policeman killed last week by an attacker in Paris "exalted" the concept of gay marriage when the policeman`s male partner was given the stage to speak in his memory. Marine Le Pen attended the state ceremony with other political figures including Macron, and distanced herself from her father`s comment on Friday. "I felt it was a very dignified ceremony and I was very moved by the speech of his partner," she said. As Le Pen and her party grappled with the latest turn of events, Macron arrived on a campaign visit at a village preserved as it was when World War Two SS soldiers killed nearly all of its inhabitants in 1944. Oradour-sur-Glane, near Limoges in central France, is now a "frozen in time" memorial to the 642 men, women and children killed there in the space of a few hours in June 1944. A new Opinionway poll on Friday showed Macron beating Le Pen in the final ballot with 60 percent of the total vote against her 40. An Odoxa poll put the margin between them at 59 to 41, the second survey this week to put Macron on a score of less than 60 percent. Taipei: Taiwan`s fears that it will become a bargaining chip between China and the United States worsened Friday after a snub by President Donald Trump, who said he would not do anything to upset Beijing. Trump rattled China in December after taking a congratulatory call from the self-ruling island`s new Beijing-sceptic president Tsai Ing-wen after his election, smashing decades of diplomatic precedent. But after Tsai suggested another call could take place in an interview with Reuters Thursday, Trump said he did not want to risk his newfound "personal relationship" with China`s president Xi Jinping. "I think he`s doing an amazing job as a leader and I wouldn`t want to do anything that comes in the way of that. So I would certainly want to speak to him first," Trump told Reuters in a separate interview. Ties between Trump and Xi seem to have warmed recently after they met at Trump`s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida earlier this month. Since then, Trump has praised China for helping pressure North Korea over its nuclear and missile programmes. Taiwan`s presidential office stepped back from the idea of a call after Trump`s comments. "We understand the priority of the US side in handling regional issues and have no current planning (for another call) at this stage," it said in a statement Friday. Opposition lawmaker Chiang Wan-an called Trump`s reaction an "embarrassment" for Taiwan. "Trump and Xi appear to have established very good relations. Taiwan needs to tread very carefully and be alert," he told AFP. The comments were a "serious slap in the face" for Tsai, added political analyst Edward Chen of Tamkang University. "Tsai is throwing the ball into Washington`s court and Washington is saying no," he said. However, lawmaker Chao Tien-lin of Tsai`s Democratic Progressive Party said he thought Trump`s response was reasonable. "Washington needs Beijing in handling the North Korea issue," he said. Concerns that Taiwan would become a bargaining chip were raised soon after Trump`s election, when he suggested he may abandon the "One China" policy that underpins US-China relations, unless he could strike better deals with Beijing. He later went on to say he would honour the policy, which acknowledges that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of it. Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy but China sees it as part of its territory to be reunified, by force if necessary. The US is the island`s most powerful ally and arms supplier, despite having no official relations with Taipei after switching recognition to Beijing in 1979. Relations between Taipei and Beijing have rapidly deteriorated since Tsai took the reins almost a year ago, ending an eight-year cross-strait rapprochement. Beijing has cut all official communication with Taipei. The female boarders in a certain Islamabad hostel have been asked to maintain a distance of "at least 2 feet" between their beds. By India Today Web Desk: Every now and then, educational institutions surprise the world with rules that are beyond the realms of logic. From dress codes to hostel timings, these rules become even more creative when women are involved--the latest testament being a circular that is believed to be issued by the International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan. A picture of the said circular has created quite a stir on social media with its content confusing and amusing people in equal parts. advertisement "All hostel boarders informed that bed sharing is strictly prohibited in girls hostel," the notice states before delving into the technicalities of the rule. Also Read: 4 outfits Indian women should wear to prevent PCOD, eve-teasing and rapes The order instructs students to "keep proper/reasonable distance between their beds (at least 2 feet)" and warns them of a heavy fine in case they're "found sharing bed with her friends/sisters (sitting in one blanket/bed spread). While the clear trigger behind the rule remains as unclear as the rule itself, many smell homophobia as the stimulus behind this strange response. Karachi-based stand up comic, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh, shared the picture of the order and wrote, "Bed sharing karnay say sexuality change hojati toh Pakistan ka har ghareeb aur middle class insan gay aur lesbian hota (If sharing beds could alter a person's sexual orientation, every poor and middle class person in Pakistan would have been gay or lesbian). How Will they even monitor this? Break into girls hostel rooms in the middle of the night with a ruler to measure the distance between girls?" The points raised by Shaikh are important at several levels. Does a rule like this not undo the emancipation educational institutions are supposed to guarantee? How much will this rule compromise upon the privacy of the female boarders? And why exactly do we need rules like these in the first place. --- ENDS --- Phuket: A relative of the Thai baby whose murder was shown on Facebook Live earlier this week said he was too distraught and intent on getting the police to the crime scene to worry about getting the horrific videos taken down. The gruesome incident this week highlights how those most affected by offensive content are usually too distracted to report it to the authorities. It also exposes the challenges that live streaming content poses to both governments monitoring for offensive material on the internet and the companies that host online content. On Monday, in an abandoned building in the Thai seaside resort of Phuket, 20-year-old Wuttisan Wongtalay turned on Facebook Live from his mobile phone. Then he picked up his 11-month-old daughter in her pink dress, tied a rope around her neck and hanged her. A second short video briefly shows her lifeless body. After that, he turned off the camera and killed himself. For the family of little Natalie Triratana, removing the videos was the last thing on their minds when they first popped up on Wuttisan`s Facebook feed at around 4.50 pm on Monday. Her mother`s cousin, Suksan Buachanit, said he called Thailand`s 191 police hotline to ask for help locating the building. By the time police and relatives found it, it was too late. "A local reporter told me to report it (to Facebook) but we were all occupied at the scene," Suksan told Reuters in Phuket. It took more than a day - and 370,000 views - before Facebook removed those few minutes of video. CLEVELAND SHOOTING Others that Reuters spoke to in Phuket who had seen the videos, including friends and relatives of the dead girl`s parents, said they were too preoccupied by the tragedy to report the incident to Facebook. For the social media company, with nearly 2 billion users, it was yet another case that exposed the challenges of quickly spotting and removing offensive content. The killing of the baby in Thailand followed the live broadcast shooting of an elderly man in Cleveland, Ohio. In that incident, it took two hours to remove the video, bringing intense criticism on the social media giant and prompting it to promise "ways that new technologies can help us make sure Facebook is a safe environment". It was unclear how many viewers alerted Facebook to the killing of the baby. Facebook did not respond to questions. But by the morning the baby`s murder had been reported in local media and was one of the most talked about stories in Thailand. Several local and international journalists told Reuters they had reported the videos to Facebook and asked the company for comment. The head of Thailand`s police`s Technology Crime Suppression Division, Supachet Chokchai, said he was alerted to the baby murder videos by police in Phuket but he declined to say when that was. The division monitors online content ranging from anti-monarchy content to fraudulent websites. It also has a hotline for the public to call in tip-offs about offensive content. Nor would Supachet say when police then asked the digital ministry to get in touch with Facebook. The ministry said by the time police reported the videos on Tuesday afternoon it had already heard about them from an anonymous tip-off and had told Facebook. The ministry contacted Facebook through a "direct channel" at noon on Tuesday, according to Somsak Khaosuwan, the ministry`s deputy permanent secretary. He did not elaborate on what the direct channel was or say whom the ministry contacted at Facebook. It was only just after 5.00 p.m. - about five hours later and more than a full day after the videos were first streamed - that Facebook took them down. ILLEGAL AND HARMFUL CONTENT A Facebook statement called the incident "appalling" and said there was "absolutely no place for content of this kind" on the network. It did not respond to Reuters questions as to why it took so long to remove the videos. Thai police said they would review ways to take down online content after the killing. Police blamed the delay partly on the time difference between the United States, where Facebook is headquartered, and Thailand. They did not explain at exactly which stage the time difference had proved problematic, however. A spokesman for the police also said the force was tight on staffing. Thailand, along with other authoritarian governments in Asia, is more geared up to monitor politically sensitive content online. Censorship has been ramped up since a 2014 coup and hundreds of websites have been blocked or shut down for content deemed inappropriate or offensive. Thailand is further tightening controls on internet users. This week, Thailand`s national telecoms regulator ordered all internet service providers to block web content deemed illegal by the courts within a week or face having their licenses revoked. Thailand is also working on a cyber security bill that would allow the state to conduct large-scale surveillance in the name of national security by wiretapping telephones and computers without the need for court approval. New Delhi: The United States must stop its military support to Pakistan if it doesn't act against terror groups, a leading global think-tank said on Friday. Washington's role will be crucial in pressurizing Islamabad to act against the Taliban factions in Pakistan, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said. Taliban's Quetta Shura and the Haqqani Network factions said to have an extensive support base in Pakistan. In its 'Watch List 2017', the ICG has observed that Washington is best placed to pressure Pakistan to stop its support to Taliban, TOI reported. "Islamabad remains unwilling to facilitate talks between the Taliban and Kabul, and continues supporting its Afghan proxies, allowing them to recruit, fundraise, as well as conduct operations from safe havens inside Pakistan. Worse, closer ties between Kabul and New Delhi, are viewed as provocative by Islamabad, TOI quoted the ICG's report titled Afghanistan: Growing Challenges" as saying. Hence it's up to the US to pressure Pakistan to abandon its support to terror. "The US role will be central, including by conditioning continued military support to Islamabad on Pakistan working with Kabul to bring the insurgents to the negotiating table. And rethinking its support to the Taliban's Quetta Shura and the Haqqani Network, now fully integrated into the insurgency's command structure," the think-tank noted. Pakistan is the third-largest recipient of US foreign assistance. In 2016, it totalled nearly $1 billion, down from a peak of over $3.5 billion in 2011, the report said, citing US government data. United Nations: China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned at the United Nations on Friday against military action to respond to the threat from North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes. "The use of force does not solve differences and will only lead to bigger disasters," Wang told the Security Council. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told the United Nations today that "all options" to respond to any future North Korean missile or nuclear tests "must remain on the table." "The threat of a North Korean nuclear attack on Seoul or Tokyo is real, and it is likely only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the US mainland," Tillerson told a Security Council meeting on the threat from North Korea. Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe raised their concern over the deteriorating situation on the Korean Peninsula, saying, it is necessary to restart six-party negotiations on the same. "We are urging all the states involved in regional affairs to refrain from military rhetoric and seek a calm and constructive dialogue," TASS reported quoting Putin. As per reports, Abe said that both Tokyo and Moscow want North Korea to comply with the United Nations Security Council's resolutions, which will ban it from developing nuclear weapons. "President Putin and I have agreed that Japan and Russia will cooperate and call on North Korea to fully comply with the United Nations Security Council's resolutions and refrain from further provocations," Abe said. There has been a considerable increase of tension on the Korean Peninsula, which began in early 2016, when North Korea conducted a nuclear test and launched a ballistic missile carrying a satellite. In September 2016, Pyongyang carried out another nuclear test, while more than 20 missiles were test-fired during the year. In 2017, Pyongyang has been continuing missile tests. The UN Security Council's resolutions ban the Pyongyang from any activities related to the development of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery. In April, the United Nations Security Council condemned a new missile launch, which had ended in a failure as the missile exploded almost immediately. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Artsakhs Ministry of Defense told Armenpress the Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire regime more than 35 times across the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. The Ministrys statement reads: On April 27 and overnight April 28 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime more than 35 times by firing over 440 shots from various caliber small arms at the Armenian positions in the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. The Defense Army forces of Artsakh mainly refrained from taking countermeasures and continued conducting the reliable protection of military posts. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Her Royal Highness Princess of Jordan Dina Mired is impressed with Armenias beautiful places. While in Armenia at the invitation of the Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU), Dina Mired visited Garni and Geghard. Accompanied by YSMU Rector Armen Muradyan, HRH Princess of Jordan firstly visited Geghard monastery, then the temple of Garni, tasted Armenian lavash and cheese, listened to Armenian music. At the end of the day, she said it is indescribable how she is impressed from this visit. Dina Mired is also the newly appointed Chairwoman of the Union of International Cancer Control. Although she positively assesses the level of fight against cancer in Armenia, but stated that works still need to be done. I must say that there is a really well educated medical staff, the facilities, but we are here to assist Armenia to move forward in the field, and here that base exists. We will, of course, continue our cooperation, however, there is a question over which I and the YSMU Rector agree: Armenia must fight against cigarettes. The tobacco industry that receives money at the expense of peoples health, develops many bad ways through which it increases the number of consumers as much as possible. They target youth, make them as lifelong tobacco users. Our country as well still has to carry out works on this path, otherwise, no any healthcare ministry will be able to fight against the diseases caused by cigarettes in the future, Dina Mired told Armenpress, proposing to develop tobacco preventive measures. Dina Mired is also a mother of a child who overcame cancer: her son fought against this disease. By visiting hospitals, centers for cancer prevention in Armenia, meeting with parents and supporting them, the Princess of Jordan said the most important thing is the right attitude on the situation. Of course, it s very difficult, especially in the first 6 months, however, the most important thing is to understand and perceive that this is not the end. Relatives, friends, public in general play a key role in understanding this. New types of treatment are yet to come, it is just necessary to resist and remember that there is always a light at the end of a tunnel, she said. Talking about Armenia-Jordan relations, Dina Mired said the Armenians of Jordan are a part of the countrys culture, she is proud and happy that there is such an Armenian community in her country. Armenia and Jordan are friendly countries. We have a wonderful Armenian community that already lives there for over 100 years, and I have Armenian friends, there is an Armenian restaurant in Jordan that serves fantastic Armenian dishes, we also have experienced Armenian jewelers. I just could not miss this chance to visit Armenia, Dina Mired said. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The US Colorado State Legislature adopted a resolution whereby it declared April 26th as Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. Members of both the House of Representatives and Senate voted unanimously to adopt the resolution. This year marks the 102nd anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian genocide, when 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, the resolution says. We, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, hereby acknowledge April 26, 2017, and April 26 of each year thereafter, as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide and we express support for efforts toward constructive and durable relations between the country of Armenia, the homeland for the Armenian people, and its neighbors, based upon acknowledgment of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The transition to solar energy in one of Armenias villages has been fully completed in March. Hayk Harutyunyan, deputy minister of energy infrastructures and natural resources told a press conference Armenia already has a solar village. A special project was implemented in Armavirs Lernamerdz community, whereby solar heating devices have been introduced for the villages household water heating. Solar boilers have been installed on the rooftops of 80 homes of the village, and in addition solar batteries have been installed on the rooftops of 25 homes. At the same time the locals have been provided with energy saving LED bulbs. I.E. the village has become energy-saving. Around 40 million AMD was invested in total. The village head demanded gasification, calculations showed 1.5 million drams was required per resident in order for gas to be supplied to the homes. We calculated the alternative and saw that less than 500 thousand is needed per resident. In addition, from now on solar energy is free of charge for them. Initially the villagers didnt believe, they even joked where are you trying to deceive us, but then we saw the response is rather positive, he said. Harutyunyan said the locals have been proposed to create a revolving fund, in order for this kind of programs to be continuous. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan on April 28 hosted Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Argentina to Armenia Gonzalo Urriolabeitia, press service of the Government told Armenpress. The PM said the two countries have firm friendly relations thanks to the vibrant Armenian community of Argentina, and Armenia is ready to expand the cooperation agenda in the fields of bilateral mutual interests. PM Karapetyan attached importance to the development of trade-economic ties, stating that although Argentina has a great share in terms of foreign investment volumes in Armenia, the trade turnover figures are not satisfactory, and still many works need to be done for fully utilizing the existing potential. The PM proposed to consider the issue on holding a business forum for the Argentine business in Armenia or organizing open days aimed at getting acquainted with the investment opportunities of markets of Armenia and the third countries. The PM considered also the holding of Argentine Wine Week in Armenia as successful. In his turn Ambassador Gonzalo Urriolabeitia said Argentina always attached importance to the development of relations with friendly Armenia which today are at a high level and it is necessary to work so that this approach is equally reflected in the field of economic partnership. He stated that the Embassy is actively working with Armenias respective state agencies on mutually beneficial investment programs and presented details on their implementation process. The sides agreed that the agriculture sector is strictly important for the bilateral economic cooperation. They exchanged views on organization of agribusiness, acquiring of agricultural machinery and techniques, holding consultations. Both officials highlighted the necessity to take steps aimed at boosting tourism. Pakistans ISI like Taliban and al-Qaeda is supporting terrorist organisations inside the country, US lawmakers were told by a newly formed Muhajir group. By Press Trust of India: Pakistans ISI is supporting terrorist organisations inside the country, US lawmakers were told by a newly formed Muhajir (refugee) group which alleged terror outfits like Taliban and al-Qaeda are trying to take control of the port city of Karachi. "Nowadays Pakistan has become a safe haven for extremist groups with full support of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI," World Muhajir Congress said in a letter to members of The House Foreign Affairs Committee during a Congressional hearing on Afghanistan here yesterday. advertisement Representatives of the World Muhajir Congress met members of The House Foreign Affairs Committee and briefed them on alleged strong connection between the ISI and the terrorist groups. TALIBAN, AL-QAEDA TO CAPTURE CONTROL OF KARACHI "We are afraid as Jihadi outfits are getting stronger with the support of ISI, important port city of Karachi which is the supply line of US and NATO could fall into the hands of these terror groups," the letter said. "We fear for the safety of Karachi, Muhajir Nation and especially children, as these jihadi outfits are kidnapping/abducting young poor children and after brainwashing turning them suicide bombers, jihadis, and religious fanatics," it said. With Karachi being one of the most vital seaports of Pakistan, the letter said, "the Taliban/ISIS/AlQaeda, and like minded groups" are persistently making every endeavour to "capture the control" of this city. "Such control can open new resources for manpower and finance for their agenda," it said. Alleging that pro-Taliban and Islamic extremist elements are ever increasing in Pakistan especially in Armed forces and ISI, and are heavily supported financially, physically and armoured by ISI, the World Muhajir Congress urged lawmakers to help them in fighting this menace in the port city of Karachi. Also Read: Pak channel barred from airing ex-Taliban militants interview Pakistan releases Taliban ex-spokesman's video alleging India's role in terror funding --- ENDS --- YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Amid an ongoing investigation of a physical violence case, law enforcement agencies revealed that two citizens of Armavir have assaulted police officers, which resulted in injuries. On January 5, 2017, Harutyun Khachatryan and Vahe Hovhannisyan caused disturbances in a nightclub on Alek Manukyan Street. The two were intoxicated and repeatedly verbally abused the staff of the club. Two police officers from the protection service, who were on duty in the club, ordered the patrons to maintain order and keep calm. The two intoxicated individuals, however, refused and continued disturbing public order and even went on to damaging property. The two heavily intoxicated individuals began an altercation with the officers which quickly escalated. They attacked the two police officers outside the club. Harutyun Khachatryan and Vahe Hovhannisyan have been charged for assaulting on duty police officers. Notice Suspect is innocent until proven guilty by the Court of Law. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The first session of the newly elected Parliament of Armenia will be held on May 18, Tigran Mukuchyan, Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission, told reporters on April 28, reports Armenpress. We will provide additional information about this. At the same time, we will inform about a set timeframe so that the representatives of parties who want to submit applications on laying down their mandates as MPs, can submit them according to a set procedure. Thereafter, we will prepare a protocol of those citizens who received MP mandates. After that the Central Electoral Commission will release the date of the first session of the Parliament, Mukuchyan said. He said till now no MP has submitted application for mandate resignation. According to him, this was related with the Constitutional Courts final decision on examining the Congress-PPA blocs appeal to annul the April 2 election results. The Constitutional Court of Armenia rejected Congress-PPAs appeal on disputing the April 2 parliamentary election results and upheld the April 9 Central Electoral Commissions official results. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The Constitutional Courts examination of the Congress-PPA blocs appeal to annul the April 2 parliamentary election results completely showed the appeals lack of legal grounds and factual basis, Tigran Mukuchyan, Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), told reporters, reports Armenpress. I have already had a chance to say that this was the first case in the history of Armenia when the Constitutional Court was discussing an issue which lacked both legal grounds and evidence base, Mukuchyan said, adding that the Courts decision could not be a surprise for those who followed the appeals examination process. The CEC Chairman said the Courts decision reflects the huge work that was done during the elections, the work that contributed to ensuring trust towards the electoral processes and increasing the quality of elections. On April 28 the Constitutional Court rejected the Congress-PPA blocs appeal to annual the April 2 parliamentary election results. The Court upheld the CEC protocol on election results. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. On April 28, Speaker of the Parliament Galust Sahakyan received the newly-appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ecuador to Armenia Julio Cesar Prado Espinosa (residence in Moscow), press service of the Parliament told Armenpress. Welcoming the Ambassador in the Parliament, Galust Sahakyan congratulated him on his appointment and wished him success during his activities. Highlighting Armenias relations with Latin American countries, the Speaker recorded with satisfaction the considerable progress of cooperation with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile. Touching upon the development of the inter-parliamentary relations, Galust Sahakyan expressed hope that in future friendship groups will be formed in two parliaments, which promote the establishment of active cooperation between the parliaments. Talking about the economic relations between Armenia and Ecuador, Speaker Sahakyan stated: We should make joint efforts for reaching tangible results in this sphere. In this respect, I think that the organization of business forums can be beneficial in Armenia and Ecuador. In his turn Ambassador Julio Cesar Prado Espinosa conveyed the Speaker the greetings of Ecuadors President and the Speaker of the Parliament. The newly appointed Ambassador has noted that he is ready to boost the enlivening of relations of two countries and the development of multilateral cooperation. Julio Cesar Prado Espinosa indicated the main directions of Armenian-Ecuadorian cooperation, emphasizing the role of both the parliamentarians and businessmen in the implementation of the initiatives. At the end of the meeting the Ambassador talked about the current internal political situation in Ecuador. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on April 27 conducted a monitoring of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, near Kayan village of Armenias Tavish province, the Defense Ministry of Armenia told Armenpress. From the Armenian side the monitoring was carried out by field assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Gennady Petrica and Martin Schuster. During the monitoring no ceasefire violations were registered. Before the monitoring, the OSCE representatives in the Tavush Governorate were briefed on the current situation in the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border, the statistics on Azerbaijani ceasefire violations, by drawing their attention on the fact that the Azerbaijani forces regularly fire shots towards the bordering villages and roads. The OSCE officials thanked the Armenian side for the presented data, stating that these will be included in their reports. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan hosted Michel Pharaon, Lebanons State Minister for Planning Affairs. The PM expressed hope that Michel Pharaons visit to Armenia will boost the deeply rooted Armenian-Lebanese relations, development of business ties and increase of commercial turnover. The PM mentioned that currently 211 companies with Lebanese capital operate in Armenia and expresses conviction that a great potential of economic partnership exists, Armenia can be interesting for Lebanon from the perspective of not only its market, but also entry to the EEU and the Iranian markets. From this point of view, the PM touched upon the advantages of the EEU market and the opportunities of the FEZ on the Iranian border. According to Karen Karapetyan, the cooperation branches of Armenia and Lebanon can be numerous healthcare, pharmaceuticals, mining, renewable energy, infrastructures etc. The PM highlighted the active operation of the Armenian-Lebanese intergovernmental committee in terms of diversifying and enhancing bilateral cooperation. The PM also asked to convey his warm regards to Lebanons PM Saad Hariri. Michel Pharaon also highlighted boosting of economic ties between the two countries and said he is impressed with the improvement of Armenias business environment and the governments steps on providing favorable conditions for foreign investors. Michel Pharaon emphasized he will present the abovementioned to Lebanons business sector, which is interested in entering the EEU and Iran markets through Armenia. He said the issue of implementing two investment projects in Armenia with Lebanese capital is already under discussion with Armenian partners, which are aimed at the healthcare sector and founding of a household items production plant. The PM said the government is not only interested in Lebanese capital, but also in the entry of business culture to Armenia. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan is trying to fill the absence of any valid word in the negotiations process by speaking in the language of provocations, foreign ministry spokesman Tigran Balayan said in response to an inquiry of ARMENPRESS. - How would you comment Bakus escalation of the situation in the line of contact, which resulted in the death of an Artsakh Defense Army soldier, ahead of the meeting of Armenias, Russias and Azerbaijans foreign ministers in Moscow? - Azerbaijan is trying to fill the absence of any substantial word in the negotiations process by speaking in the language of provocations. Once again Baku is showing that it doesnt attach importance to the negotiations process, otherwise it wouldnt endanger it by making another flagrant ceasefire breach on the day of the foreign ministers meeting. Making this type of a provocation when everyone is expecting the results of the Moscow meeting, Baku is also clearly demonstrating that it really isnt interested in it, and regardless of what level meeting is proceeding, it continues to stick to its policy of provocations which it adopted for many years. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on April 28 held a meeting with Lebanons State Minister for Planning Affairs Michel Pharaon, press service of the Presidents Office told Armenpress. The President welcomed the guest and his delegation in Armenia. He considered the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Lebanon as another good opportunity to value and appreciate the traditional warm relations and friendly ties between the two countries. He warmly recalled his official visit to Lebanon in 2012 and asked the State Minister to convey his warm greetings to Lebanese President Michel Aoun and the invitation to visit Armenia. Serzh Sargsyan expressed hope the Lebanese State Ministers visit and his meetings and discussions in Armenia will give a new impetus to the bilateral relations, the continuous strengthening of which is in the interests of two peoples. At the meeting the President awarded Michel Pharaon with Order of Friendship for the significant contribution in developing the Armenian-Lebanese economic ties, as well as strengthening the friendship between the two peoples. In his turn the Lebanese State Minister thanked the President for the award and talked with satisfaction about his meetings and discussions held in Armenia. Michel Pharaon said during his visit he had a chance to get acquainted with Armenias economic opportunities, to examine the investment environment which impressed him, and he believes that Armenia has quite good conditions for attracting investments. Both sides attached importance to the role of the Armenian community of Lebanon in terms of strengthening the inter-state ties and the friendship between the two peoples. At the meeting, in addition to other issues, the Armenian-Lebanese cooperation at multilateral format was also discussed. 5 Causes of Nursing Home Resident Anxiety Unfortunately, for many reasons anxiety happens more often by long-term care residents than by those who live in During questioning, Rafiq said he was connected with the ISI but had decided to call it a day and remain in India, officials said. By India Today Web Desk: After getting off an Air India flight from Dubai at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, a Pakistani man left everyone baffled when he went to the helpdesk and said he is an ISI agent. Muhammad Ahmad Sheikh Muhammad Rafiq, a Pakistani passport holder, approached the helpdesk at the airport and conveyed to a lady at the counter that he wanted to share information about Pakistan's snooping agency ISI. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE AIRPORT: "Hello, I am an ISI agent. But I don't wish to continue any further and want to remain in India," said the passenger. Taken aback by his statement, the lady quickly informed security officials who detained him immediately and informed central intelligence agencies. 38-year-old Rafiq had arrived here by Air India's flight from Dubai and was further booked for Kathmandu. However, he did not take the next flight and decided to break journey and walked up to the help-desk counter at the airport. During questioning, Rafiq said he was connected with the ISI but had decided to call it a day and remain in India, officials said. He was whisked away to an undisclosed destination where he was being questioned by sleuths from various central intelligence agencies, they said adding his claims were being verified. advertisement Also read: Did PM Modi have a special message hand delivered to Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif? Pakistan supporting ISI terrorist groups like Taliban, al-Qaeda: US Also watch: When will India have a policy to deal with Pakistan sponsored terror? --- ENDS --- Many U.S. presidents are measured by their oratorical eloquence, but Donald Trump's first 100 days in the Oval Office (he hits the mark on Saturday) might be better judged by his Twitter output. His tweets have moved markets, advanced conspiracy theories, attacked his own party and ultimately helped define his fledgling presidency. - Day 6 | The Sean Spicer show marks 100 days on the air The U.S. president actually uses two accounts, but his activity via @realDonaldTrump outpaces the official @POTUS account, which he tends to use for more diplomatic pronouncements. Here's a look at some of his most memorable and consequential tweets as president so far. Day 1 Trump marked the morning of his inauguration with a tweet referencing "the movement" that helped him ride a populist wave to the presidency. Day 4 A few days after the inauguration, Trump proudly tweeted a framed photo of the inauguration crowd. Sharp-eyed Twitter users, however, noticed that the caption under the picture said "Jan. 21." (The inauguration was Jan. 20.) The error came amid the White House claiming Trump's inauguration drew the "largest audience," both in person and around the world, of any U.S. inauguration. The claim was disproved with aerial photos and statistics, but it led Kellyanne Conway, counsellor to the president, to coin a new euphemism "alternative facts" to defend the administration's claims. Day 5 On his fifth day in office, Trump announced he would order a probe of supposed massive voter fraud, a claim that even Republicans on Capitol Hill have said is not backed by evidence. Although Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the election by winning the Electoral College 304 to 227, Clinton won the national popular vote by nearly three million more votes a fact Trump dismissed by making the unsubstantiated allegation that millions of votes were fraudulent. His repeated allegation that up to five million illegal immigrants voted has been widely rejected. Story continues Day 6 One week into office, Trump was already embroiled in a foreign-policy spat. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto did indeed cancel his meeting with Trump after the U.S. leader tweeted the above ultimatum and signed an executive order to move forward on constructing a border wall with Mexico, a key campaign pledge. Mexico has refused to foot the bill on the wall. Trump later said cancelling the meeting was a mutual decision. By late April, Trump had backed down on demands for immediate funding for the border wall in order to pass a budget measure. He continued to insist, however, that the wall will eventually be built. Day 12 Trump's executive order on Jan. 27 suspended travel for refugees and citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia. But the order was reportedly never properly reviewed by Justice Department officials; Homeland Security was also given little forewarning or guidance. The result was chaos and confusion at airports and immigration checkpoints. A federal appeals court would go on to stop the ban from being enforced. Day 16 On Feb. 3, James Robart, a federal judge in Washington state, ruled that the executive order on travel be suspended temporarily "on a nationwide basis." Trump lashed out at Robart, warning the U.S. should "blame" the Seattle judge for his ruling if it put the country in "peril." It brought to mind a Trump attack last June on another judge with whom he disagreed: Gonzalo Curiel, a U.S.-born citizen of Mexican heritage. Trump called him a "Mexican" judge and questioned Curiel's impartiality while presiding over the Trump University fraud case. Lawsuits alleged that real estate seminars offered through the now-defunct school cheated people out of thousands of dollars. In April, Curiel approved a $25-million agreement to settle the fraud claims. Day 19 Nordstrom announced on Feb. 2 that it was dropping the Ivanka Trump clothing brand from its stores, citing dwindling sales for the president's daughter's fashion line. The move came amidst a social media campaign (#GrabYourWallet) to boycott Trump-related products to express outrage with the new government. Presidential counsellor Kellyanne Conway later gave the clothing line a free plug, exhorting Fox News viewers: "Go buy Ivanka's stuff." Conway was reprimanded, but the endorsement apparently worked the Associated Press reported a 771 per cent hike in sales for the label on the e-commerce platform Lyst in February compared to the previous year. Day 25 The night before this tweet, Trump fired his former national security adviser Michael Flynn after reports he misled Vice-President Mike Pence about making contact with Russia's ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak, prior to Trump taking office. Trump directed his anger at the leaks seeping out of his administration, which exposed Flynn's talk with Kislyak and led to his downfall. Day 28 Escalating his attacks on the press, Trump branded the mainstream media the "enemy of the American People." The New Yorker noted that Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin used similar terminology to stigmatize opponents of the Bolshevik revolution. In an interview with NBC'sMeet the Press, Republican Senator John McCain criticized Trump's anti-media attack, saying: "That's how dictators get started." Day 43 Citing no proof (and misspelling "tap"), Trump made a stunning early-morning claim about his predecessor, Barack Obama, saying the 44th president had ordered phone lines at Trump Tower in New York City to be bugged during the election campaign. Trump later revealed to Tucker Carlson of Fox News that he based his unsubstantiated claim on news reports, although it is unclear which report ever alleged Obama ordered a wiretap. At a House intelligence committee hearing into Trump-Russia ties on March 20, FBI director James Comey attempted to put the matter to rest. "We have no information that supports those tweets," Comey testified. Just over an hour after accusing Obama of wiretapping, Trump took aim at another familiar target: actor-turned-California-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Trump was responding to news that Schwarzenegger would not return to host another season of The Celebrity Apprentice, citing "baggage" left by Trump, whom he replaced. Trump, who despite becoming president remained executive producer of the program, had slagged Schwarzenegger in January for his poor ratings. Day 50 As reports swirled about the inability of House Republicans to unite on a repeal and replacement bill for the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, Trump attempted to tamp down anxieties. Repealing Obamacare without a replacement would have increased the number of uninsured Americans by 18 million within the first year, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. In the end, Trump's conservative replacement, the American Health Care Act, failed to garner enough support to appease both hardline conservatives and more moderate Republicans. Trump ultimately pulled the bill from a vote on the House floor on March 24. Day 59 Hours before the first day of a public hearing by the House intelligence committee investigating Russian meddling in the U.S. election, Trump posted early-morning tweets dismissing the Russia story. Although former director of national intelligence James Clapper has said there was no direct evidence of collusion with Russian officials, House Democrats maintain there is enough circumstantial evidence to warrant the investigation. Day 69 Venting his frustration with the fractious nature of the current Republican party, Trump went after members of the House Freedom Caucus, threatening to thwart their re-elections in the 2018 mid-terms as retribution for their role in sinking his health-care replacement plan. In doing so, he risked alienating the more than 30 ultra-conservative members of the Republican bloc, whose votes he'll need in order to pass any upcoming legislation. Congressional experts said Freedom Caucus members likely brushed Trump's threats off as empty threats, saying their seats appear safe in 2018. Day 78 On April 6, the U.S. fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian government airfield. The reason for the order? Trump said he had been moved by images of children killed by suspected chemical weapons widely believed to have been unleashed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Although the attack was praised by members of both parties, it marked a turnaround from the administration's previous line that unseating Assad was not a priority. The action drew a backlash from Trump's alt-right supporters, which was concerned the isolationist "America First" presidency was veering towards the kind of elite, "globalist" mindset that the far right abhors. Day 80 The confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant after the death of Antonin Scalia was celebrated as one of Trump's biggest achievements in his first 100 days. The road was rocky, though, as Democratic senators vowed to filibuster the vote on Gorsuch's nomination. The Republicans subsequently invoked the "nuclear option," a change in precedent that for the first time blew up the delay tactic by requiring only a simple majority of 51 votes to advance the nomination. It marked a significant shift in the character of the Senate as a chamber with a strong minority. Day 81 On April 6, the president met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Trump said he reiterated that he wanted China to crack down on North Korea's hostilities as the rogue state continued to test-fire missiles. If China would not help, Trump said the U.S. would "go it alone" to eliminate the North Korean nuclear threat. The U.S. president later told the Wall Street Journal that during their meeting, his Chinese counterpart gave him an impromptu seminar on the complexities of the North Korean-Chinese relationship and that "after listening for 10 minutes, I realized it's not so easy" to resolve the nuclear crisis. Day 95 Canada's dairy sector rose like cream to the top of Trump's trade hit list following his "Buy American, Hire American" announcement in Wisconsin. The president said Wisconsin and New York state dairy producers were being squeezed out by what critics described as the Canadian dairy industry's protectionist rules for supply management. Wisconsin dairy farmers, for their part, told CBC News they don't blame Canada for the hard times, saying the real problem is overproduction and a global glut of milk. Day 97 Trump spent months slamming the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as a "disaster," but backed off from a threat to pull the U.S. out of the deal after talking to the leaders of Canada and Mexico. Only hours before this tweet, Trump officials had told reporters the president was preparing to draft an executive order to initiate the process of exiting NAFTA. Trump said he is now willing to renegotiate, but left open the possibility of withdrawing at a future date if he decides his condition for "a fair deal for all" is not met. COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark's public prosecutor's office said on Friday it had charged six men with allowing themselves to be recruited by Islamic State and fighting for the militant group in Syria. Across Europe, from Sweden to Britain, governments are locked in a struggle to tame a threat from Islamist militants that has thrown into sharp focus their difficulties integrating Muslim minorities. In two other separate cases, Denmark has stripped two men of their citizenship and sentenced them to prison after inciting terrorism and fighting for Islamic State in Syria. State attorney Lise-Lotte Nilas said the charges included permitting themselves to be recruited by a terror organization. "We have six men in Denmark, against whom I believe there are grounds to lay charges of violating terror provisions in the penal code," Nilas said. The six men, who are currently held on remand, were either Danish citizens or foreigners resident in Denmark, the prosecutor said. The charges could carry prison sentences of more than four years. (Reporting by Nikolaj Skydsgaard; editing by Richard Lough) By Alexandra Ulmer CARACAS (Reuters) - The son of Venezuela's pro-government human rights ombudsman has surprised the country amid major protests against the leftist administration by publicly urging his father to "end the injustice." The opposition has accused ombudsman Tarek Saab, whose title is "defender of the people," of turning a blind eye to rights abuses and a lurch into dictatorship by unpopular President Nicolas Maduro. Some 29 people have died during this month's unrest. In many of the vast street protests in Caracas in recent days, marchers aimed to converge on his office, but security forces firing tear gas and water cannons blocked them. So Venezuelans were shocked to see Saab's son, a law student, breaking ranks with his powerful father and saying he himself had been a victim of what he called government repression against marchers. "Dad, in this moment you have the power to end the injustice that has sunk this country," said Yibram Saab in a YouTube video late on Wednesday, sitting outside and reading from a paper. "I ask you as your son, and in the name of Venezuela that you represent, that you reflect and do what you must do," added the younger Saab. His father's support would be key to allowing lawmakers to open a case to remove the magistrates of the pro-government Supreme Court, who have overridden the opposition-led National Assembly. In the video, Saab's son said he suffered "brutal repression" from security forces on Wednesday, when a 20-year-old demonstrator was killed by a tear gas canister that hit him in the chest. "It could have been me," said Yibram Saab. The ombudsman, a former student leader who became a poet, lawyer, and Socialist Party governor, responded in a radio interview later on Thursday, saying he respected his son's right of opinion and loved him just the same. "I love him, I adore him, whatever he might have said," he told La Romantica station, adding that he always defended rights and condemned violence no matter which side it came on. Maduro's son called on Saab's son to reconsider. The president's son echoed the government stance that demonstrators are terrorists trying to instigate a coup amid the biggest protests since 2014. "Your three minutes of fame could have been different. I think you could have picked up the phone and spoken with your father, expressing to him your love and concern and listening to him," wrote Nicolas Maduro Guerra. The government has long accused the opposition of attempting to stage a coup, citing a short-lived attempt in 2002 against former President Hugo Chavez. Saab, a staunch Chavez ally, was himself detained for a few hours during that coup, according to rights groups. OPPOSITION BOOST Opposition leaders said the video was evidence of fissures within "Chavismo," a movement founded by the charismatic Chavez that has taken a hit under Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader whose presidency has been marked by a stark recession. The opposition hoped Saab's video would spur protesters to keep up street action despite fatigue, injuries, arrests and no sign of concessions from Maduro. "The majority of us want a change, and that includes the families of those who today prop up this regime," tweeted opposition lawmaker Juan Andres Mejia. Maduro's opponents are demanding a general election, the release of jailed activists, humanitarian aid to help offset shortages of food and medicine, and autonomy for the legislature. They have been galvanized by international condemnation of Maduro's government and Caracas' increasing diplomatic isolation. In what might have been a pre-emptive move to avoid expulsion, Venezuela has said it will withdraw from the Organization of American States, the first nation to do so in the bloc's more than century-old history. The head of the regional body had said Venezuela could be expelled, accusing Maduro of eroding the country's democracy by delaying elections and refusing to respect the legislature. "Today, Venezuela woke up freer than yesterday," Maduro said in a speech to a women's meeting on Thursday. "OAS, go to hell!" Communist ally Cuba, which has not returned to the OAS after being suspended from 1962-2009, backed Venezuela "in this new chapter of resistance and dignity." But the United States said it would like Venezuela to remain in the OAS, so long as it complies with requirements. Separately, President Donald Trump, a strong critic of Maduro, said the situation in Venezuela is "very sad." European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini condemned the violence in Venezuela, sent condolences over the dead, and urged the government to both protect peaceful protesters and set "a clear electoral calendar" (Additional reporting by Girish Gupta and Andrew Cawthorne in Caracas, Lesley Wroughton in Washington D.C. and Nelson Acosta in Havana; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, and Andrew Hay) MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he was willing to face the music for his war on drugs and a complaint filed with the International Criminal Court would not stop him pursuing his bloody campaign. The former prosecutor said he was man who was true to his word, including wiping out drugs, so he would accept the consequences, even if it meant prison, or death. "I will continue my campaign ... I just stood by with my promise, all other politicians they pay lip service to the problem," he told reporters. "You want to try to do everything to put me in prison, please go ahead ... if it is my destiny to go to jail then I will go to jail, if somebody will kill me for killing the idiot drug people, so be it, I die." Thousands of Filipinos have been killed since Duterte unleashed his ferocious campaign nearly 10 months ago. Police say they have killed only in self-defense, and the deaths of other drug dealers and users was down to vigilantes or narcotics gangs silencing potential witnesses. Human rights groups say official accounts are implausible and accuse Duterte of supporting a campaign of systematic extrajudicial killings by police. The government denies that. A Philippine lawyer filed a complaint at the ICC on Monday against Duterte and senior officials of mass murder. The 77-page filing said Duterte "repeatedly, unchangingly and continuously" committed crimes against humanity. The complaint is the first publicly known communication to the ICC against the president and is based on the testimony of two self-confessed hit men who said they had worked under Duterte when he was a mayor, statements from rights groups and media reports, including a Reuters series on the killings. (http://reut.rs/2jPSgSn) Duterte stood by police, and said he had never given an order to commit murder, but to defend themselves if their lives were at risk. He dismissed questions about police carrying out extrajudicial killings and appeared to blame criminals for thousands of deaths at the hands of mystery gunmen. "Of course, who else?" he said. Duterte also dismissed an editorial in the New York Times on Tuesday that said the ICC should promptly open an investigation into the drugs war. It described Duterte as "a man who must be stopped." Duterte said it was the newspaper that should be stopped. "New York Times, assholes, they are assholes," he said. (Reporting by Martin Petty; Editing by Nick Macfie) Non-traditional Learning New Platform Melds Course Content With College Credit Exam The Center for Educational Measurement at Excelsior College and Cengage have come up with a new way for adult learners to earn college credit. The institution and ed tech provider partnered to launch CourXam (pronounced korzam), a personalized mobile platform that combines course content with a college credit exam. "CourXam ... is an innovative educational product developed by Excelsior College and Cengage that addresses the critical concerns of today's higher education students: portability, convenience and affordability," explained Nurit Sonnenschein, general manager of Excelsior's Center for Educational Measurement, in a statement. "A CourXam is a college option where a student can learn when they want and how they want on their laptop, their tablet and even their phone." The product is launching with five CourXams focused on criminal justice, with MBA CourXams planned for 2018. Each criminal justice CourXam costs $450, which includes learning materials, an e-book, a full-length practice exam and the college credit exam. All learning materials lessons, activities, readings, videos and graphics are "built to the exacting specifications of a team of criminal justice professors from several colleges, including Excelsior College," according to a news release. Students have up to six months to complete the CourXam; those who earn a grade of C or better on the college credit exam get three credits that can be used toward earning a degree in criminal justice at Excelsior College. Features of the platform include: A "Learning Path" that welcomes and guides students through each CourXam; "Show What You Know" quizzes that help students focus only on material they need to learn; Pacing guides to help students make the most of their time; "Check Your Knowledge" quizzes for showing which learning objectives need further study; "Dig In!" sections that provide a deeper dive into each lesson's content; Module quizzes for assessing mastery of all lessons in module; and Proctoring options that allow students to choose their own proctoring solution (for an additional fee, paid directly to the proctor company). For more information, visit the CourXam site. THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- When a woman chooses to stop smoking during her pregnancy, the potential effects to her baby are probably on her mind. But a new British study hints that smoking in pregnancy could even affect the health of a woman's grandchildren -- specifically, their risk for autism. "We already know that protecting a baby from tobacco smoke is one of the best things a woman can do to give her child a healthy start in life," said study co-author Jean Golding of the University of Bristol. "Now we've found that not smoking during pregnancy could also give their future grandchildren a better start, too." The study can't prove cause-and-effect, but one U.S. autism expert who reviewed the findings said the researchers' conclusion is not farfetched. While the finding is new, "the mechanism by which it might be occurring has been a focus of study for half a decade," noted Alycia Halladay. She's chief science officer for the Autism Science Foundation. Halladay believes that when a woman smokes in her pregnancy, this could affect the developing eggs of a female fetus in the womb. And that, in turn, might affect the odds that her daughter's children are at higher autism risk, she suggested. In the new study, researchers analyzed data from more than 14,500 children born in the United Kingdom during the 1990s. The study found that people with a maternal grandmother who smoked during her pregnancy had a 53 percent increased risk of developing autism. The findings also showed that girls whose maternal grandmother smoked during pregnancy were 67 percent more likely to have autism-linked traits -- symptoms such as poor social communication skills and repetitive behaviors. The researchers agreed with Halladay: Exposure to cigarette smoke while in the womb could affect a female's developing eggs, causing changes that may eventually affect the development of her own children. Still, the study authors stressed that further investigation is needed to determine what those molecular changes might be, and to find out if the same associations occur in other groups of people. Another U.S. autism expert said the findings were intriguing. "There are innumerable reasons why people should not smoke," said Dr. Andrew Adesman. "This study provides more reason: women who smoke during pregnancy put their granddaughters at increased risk of an autism spectrum disorder." But "the overall increase in risk related to smoking is somewhat modest," added Adesman. He is chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cohen Children's Medical Center, in New Hyde Park, N.Y. "Although a woman's exposure to cigarette smoke prenatally appears to be linked decades later to autism spectrum disorder in her own offspring, women who smoke or who were themselves exposed to cigarette smoke prenatally should take some comfort in knowing that their risk of having a child with an autism spectrum disorder is still very low," Adesman said. For her part, Halladay said it's typically been tough for scientists to assess how behaviors affect multiple generations of offspring, and so most of the research in this area "has been done in animal models." But the U.K. database used in the new study "has the data to assess grandparental exposures," she believes. Because the database the researchers drew on was so detailed, the researchers said they were able to rule out possible other factors that might account for the link. Autism spectrum disorder affects about one in 68 children in the United States, with boys affected far more often than girls. The study was published April 27 in the journal Scientific Reports. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on autism. THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- After having one baby and tending to the infant's dirty diapers and middle-of-the night wails, you'd think that most teens would want to wait awhile before having a second baby. But, a new U.S. government report finds that's not always the case. Instead, tens of thousands of American teens are getting pregnant for a second time. Most teens do seem to be trying not to have another child. Still, about 17 percent of teen moms aren't using any form of birth control, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "These data suggest that most teen mothers are taking steps to prevent another pregnancy, but one in three is using either a least-effective method or no contraception at all," said lead researcher Deborah Dee, an epidemiologist in CDC's division of reproductive health. The CDC study defined the least-effective forms of birth control as: condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, contraceptive sponges, rhythm method/natural family planning, the "morning-after pill," and withdrawal. The most-effective contraceptives are those that do not depend on having to remember to use them, said Dr. Jennifer Wu, an ob-gyn at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. These include intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants, which are always at work. Wu said that today's IUDs are safer and more effective than those of decades ago. IUDs or implants can be put in place before the patient leaves the hospital after having a baby, she said. The least-effective methods of birth control are those that someone has to make a conscious effort to use, Wu said. The good news is that overall teen pregnancy rates have dropped by nearly two-thirds in the past 25 years in the United States, the study authors said. And fewer teens are having second babies. In 2015, one in six births to teens aged 15 to 19 was a repeat birth, a significant decline from 2004, when one in five births was a second birth, the researchers found. In 2015, more than 38,000 teen moms had a second child. Second babies of teen moms are more likely than the first child to be born preterm and underweight, the authors noted. "I'm happy to see that repeat births among teens have gone down significantly, but it's still way too high," Wu said. These second pregnancies can be attributed to teens not using effective birth control after their first baby, she added. In 2013, about 25 percent of teen mothers used one of the most-effective methods of contraception (one with a failure rate of less than 1 percent), which was about five times higher than in 2004, the findings showed. The percentage of teen moms who reported using a most-effective method of birth control ranged from 11 percent in New York City to 52 percent in Colorado. And the percentage of those not using any method ranged from 5 percent in Vermont to 34 percent in New Jersey. For a teenager, having a second child compounds the problems of having a first infant, Wu said. "Teenagers are not financially, emotionally, sometimes not even physically able to take care of babies," she said. "When a teenager has two babies, they can really derail themselves in terms of education and job choices." From 2004 to 2015, the researchers found that 35 states experienced a significant decline in the percentage of teen births that were repeat births. Among the 35 states, a dozen had declines of more than 20 percent. None had a significant increase. The largest declines in repeat teen births were among blacks (22 percent), followed by Hispanics (17 percent), and whites (14 percent), according to the report. Dr. Jane Swedler is chief of adolescent medicine at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. "It is extremely encouraging that over the last 10 years there has been a rapid decline in teen births [by nearly 54 percent]," she said. "To further reduce teen birth, as well as repeat teen births, it is imperative to institute comprehensive, adolescent-friendly services that promote health education and offer accessible, affordable and effective contraception options to teens," Swedler said. The report was published in the April 28 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. More information For more about teen pregnancy, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram New York, April 28, 2017Iranian authorities should immediately drop all charges against freelance journalist Issa Saharkhiz, who was sentenced yesterday to one year in prison, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The sentence was handed down the day after Saharkhiz was released from jail on a separate charge, according to the journalists son and his lawyer. Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei, the journalists attorney, told the Tasnim news agency that a court found Saharkhiz guilty of insulting former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the head of Irans judiciary, Sadeq Larijani, and sentenced him to one year in prison. Saharkhiz is also due to face trial on May 10 in a third case, on charges of insulting officials, according to his attorney and the journalists son, Mehdi Saharkhiz. The two latest charges and the sentence Saharkhiz just served relate to his 2015 arrest. Iran has been steadily turning up the heat on journalists ahead of the election next month, CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney said. But to sentence Issa Saharkhiz to another prison term a day after his release is just cruel. The authorities should stop harassing him and his conviction should be overturned on appeal. Tabatabaei told the Tasnim news agency that Saharkhiz is not in custody and that he has appealed the sentence. The sentencing of Saharkhiz came one day after he was released from jail, where he was serving a sentence of insulting the supreme leader, his son, Mehdi Saharkhiz told CPJ. Saharkhiz was arrested in a pre-election crackdown in November 2015, the same day that three reformist journalistsSaman Sarfarzaee, Afarin Chitsaz, and Ehsan Mazandaraniwere arrested, according to reports. The journalist spent much of his sentence at the Tehran Heart Center due to health complications that followed his hunger strike in Evin prison, his son, Mehdi Saharkhiz, told CPJ last year. Last month, guards assaulted Saharkhiz while he was in hospital, Mehdi Saharkhiz told CPJ. Authorities in Iran, which is scheduled to hold presidential elections on May 19, have cracked down on independent or critical journalists ahead of past elections, CPJ has found. Last December, Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a ban on full-face veils wherever legally possible, saying they were not appropriate in her country. Civil servants, judges and soldiers will be prevented from wearing burqa at work. By India Today Web Desk: A law has been approved by the members of Germany's lower house of parliament that partially bans the burqa or the full-face Islamic veil, the media reported on Friday. According to reports, civil servants, judges and soldiers will be prevented from wearing burqa at work through this bill which will now go to the upper house. advertisement Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said that how far the tolerance towards other cultures would go in Germany is what the burqa ban shows. Right-wing parties want Germany to emulate France where a total ban on wearing burqas in public places as has been in force since 2011. Last December, Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a ban on full-face veils wherever legally possible, saying they were not appropriate in her country. In February, the state of Bavaria announced plans to ban the full-face veil in government workplaces, schools, universities and while driving, reports the BBC. More than a million migrants including many Middle Eastern Muslims, have entered Germany over the last 18 months. The move follows several terror attacks, including one on a Berlin Christmas market that claimed 12 lives. France, Austria, Belgium and Turkey have all imposed a ban in certain public spaces. Legislation supporting a ban is in progress in the Netherlands, while local bans apply in other nations including Denmark, Russia, Spain and Switzerland. (With inputs from IANS) Also Read: Woman ACP wearing burqa conducts raid on gambling den in AhmedabadPakistan: Man accused of committing blasphemy a decade ago shot dead by 3 sisters in Sialkot Also Watch: Pakistan: Shocking video of a student accused of blasphemy, beaten to death on campus --- ENDS --- Kenneth Williams State puts 4th inmate to death in 8 days Witnesses describe execution; inmate was 'striving for breath,' AP editor says 3 minutes after his lethal injection began, Arkansas inmate Kenneth Williams began coughing, convulsing and lurching with sound that was audible even with a microphone turned off, media witnesses to his execution said. State news editor Kelly Kissel said that Williams' body lurched forward at 10:55 p.m., 3 minutes after the midazolam was administered. He described the movement as "when you're on a bumpy road and you hit a bump." Williams lurched forward 15 times in a period of 10 to 15 seconds, Kissel said. He then lurched forward more slowly 5 times and began "striving for breath," according to witnesses. The "labored breathing" continued until 10:59 p.m., Kissel said. An attendant performed a consciousness check at 10:57 p.m., checking Williams' pupils. Williams was pronounced dead at 11:05 p.m. Kissel, who has witnessed 10 executions including 2 in which midazolam has been used said this is the most he's seen an inmate move. A family member of Cecil Boren, who Williams killed after escaping prison in October 1999, said Williams showed "no change in his facial expression" to show any pain. Jodie Efird added that Any amount of movement he had was far less than any of his victims. Williams becomes the 4th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Arkansas and the 31st overall since the state resumed capital punishment in 1990. Williams becomes the 10th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA and the 1452nd overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977. Arkansas execution delayed as U.S. Supreme Court hears appeals A plan by Arkansas to execute an inmate was delayed on Thursday as the U.S. Supreme Court heard last-minute appeals from the man convicted of murdering a cheerleader, who then escaped from prison and killed 2 other people before being captured again. The state, which had not held an execution in 12 years until this month, has already put three inmates to death since April 20. It had planned to execute Kenneth Williams, 38, by lethal injection at 7 p.m. CDT at its Cummins Unit prison. Arkansas had initially planned to execute eight inmates in 11 days in April, the most of any state in as short a period since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Four of those executions were halted by various courts. The unprecedented schedule, set because a drug in the state's execution mix expires at the end of April, prompted criticism that Arkansas was acting recklessly. It also set off legal filings that raised questions about U.S. death chamber protocols, troubled prosecutions and difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs. Hours before Thursday's planned execution, however, lawyers for Williams filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to halt the proceedings on grounds including that Arkansas failed "to provide Mr. Williams a forum to litigate his claim that he is intellectually disabled." A U.S. District Court and courts in Arkansas have already rejected other motions seeking to halt the execution. Williams, sentenced to life without parole for the 1998 murder of 19-year-old college cheerleader Dominique Hurd, broke out of a maximum-security prison in 1999. He murdered Cecil Boren, 57 at his farmhouse, shooting him multiple times. Williams then stole Boren's pickup truck and fled to Missouri, where he slammed his vehicle into one driven by delivery man Michael Greenwood, 24, killing him. "We've been waiting a long, long time for this," Genie Boren, the widow of Cecil Boren, was quoted as saying by local TV broadcaster Fox 16. But Greenwood's daughter, Kayla Greenwood, sent Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson a letter on Thursday asking him to spare Williams. "His execution will not bring my father back or return to us what has been taken, but it will cause additional suffering," the letter said. In 2005, Williams sent a letter to a local Arkansas paper where he confessed to killing Jerrell Jenkins on the same day as the cheerleader. After Arkansas Execution, Questions Are Raised About Drugs Effectiveness VARNER, Ark. The State of Arkansas, which had rebuffed fears about its use of a controversial lethal injection drug, faced scrutiny early Friday about how well the medicine had worked during the states fourth execution in seven days. Kenneth D. Williams, a convicted murderer, died at 11:05 p.m. on Thursday at the Cummins Unit, a state prison in southeast Arkansas. A news media witness reported that Mr. Williams briefly experienced coughing, convulsing, lurching, jerking after the state began to administer midazolam, the first of its three lethal injection drugs. This is my 10th execution, said the witness, Kelly P. Kissel of The Associated Press. This is the first time Ive seen that. Mr. Kissel said Mr. Williams lurched forward 20 times 15 of them in rapid succession and emitted sounds that could be heard in an adjacent room. By then, a microphone in the execution chamber had been switched off. The execution was not unusually long. Although Mr. Kissel and other witnesses depicted Mr. Williamss last moments as unsettling, state officials appeared unbothered. A spokesman for Gov. Asa Hutchinson, J. R. Davis, said the authorities believed Mr. Williamss movements amounted to involuntary muscular reaction. Mr. Davis, who did not witness the execution, added, There was no testimony that he was in pain. The competing, immediate narratives about Thursdays execution were certain to fuel debate about midazolams role as an execution drug in the United States. The medicine, a sedative, is intended to render prisoners unconscious before injections of other, more painful drugs that stop a persons breathing and heart. The United States Supreme Court has upheld its use in executions, despite arguments that the drug is not powerful enough to mask the pain of some lethal injections. In a statement early Friday, a lawyer for Mr. Williams, Shawn Nolan, requested a formal inquiry that Mr. Davis had already signaled was unlikely to be forthcoming. Whats important right now is that all the information about tonights execution must be meticulously documented and preserved so that we can discover exactly what happened in that execution chamber, Mr. Nolan said. Mr. Williams, 38, was expected to be the last Arkansas prisoner put to death for some time, chiefly because the states midazolam supply will expire within days. Jodie Efird, a daughter of one of Mr. Williamss victims, said she believed the state had flawlessly carried out the execution. Any kind of movement he had was far less than his victims, she said after Mr. Williams was pronounced dead. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Sources: Arkansas Online & Rick Halperin, April 28, 2017Source: Reuters, April 27, 2017 Arkansas: Victim's family asks for state to spare murderer's life , April 26, 2017 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 27, 2017 / Alexandria Minerals Corporation (AZX.V) (ALXDF) (FSE:A9D) ("AZX" or the "Company") is pleased to report on the assay results from 3 recent drill holes at Orenada Zone 4 which enlarge the size of the shallow gold vein sets, with assay results up to 22.40 g/t over 1.25 meters. Highlights One b elow- p it depth expansion hole on the west deepens the vein sets by 50 meters at shallow depth s : 2.04 g/t Au over 25.55 meters, including , including 14.40 g/t gold over 1.00 meter , and separately 5.22 g/t gold over 5.98 meters, including 8. 41 g/t gold over 1.30 meters ; Two Eastern step-out holes intersect high grades also at shallow depths adding 100 meters of strike length to the vein sets: 3.56 g/t gold over 11.40 meters including 1 4.83 g/t gold over 2.00 meters, and separately 16.00 g/t gold over 1.00 meter ; The results extend the high-grade vein sets along strike to 7 00 meters in length as defined by ass ays; A total of 35 holes have been drilled this winter at Zone 4, over a strike length of 1,100 meters, for a total of 9,100 meters; assays are pending for 24 holes. Eric Owens, President and CEO of Alexandria, stated, "These results are important as they continue to expand the vein sets and affirm the continuity of gold mineralization within the veins that we have seen in our drill holes over a 1,100 meter strike length. We are anticipating a regular stream of assay results in the coming weeks as they become available." Figure 1. Drill hole location map, Zone 4, superimposed on geology To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: http://www.accesswire.com/uploads/26421_a1493308213880_28.jpg Figure 2. Longitudinal section showing recently drilled holes; purple arrows represent completed holes with pending assays To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: http://www.accesswire.com/uploads/26421_a1493308214223_50.jpg Diamond Drill Hole OAX-17-98 was completed below the open pit, some 300 meters west of hole 92. Hole 98 intersected 4 high-grade veins in the target horizon, which the hole crossed between 100-200 meters depth. High grade intersections include: 3.92 g/t gold over 7.55 meters, including 14.40 g/t gold over 1 meter, and 5.22 g/t gold over 5.80 meters, including 8.41 g/t gold over 1.30 meters. Assays are pending for a further 9 holes completed under the pit, including one hole, DDH OAX-17-101, on the same section as hole 98. Story continues Hole 98 deepens the vein sets beneath the pit by at least 50 meters, and further to the west by 100 meters, relative to previously identified drill hole intersections. Based on assays, such vein sets have been identified over 500 meters along strike in the upper 250 meters depth, to over 700 meters long when deeper zones are included. Visual examination of drill holes with assays still to come suggests the veins continue beyond the holes reported here. Diamond Drill Holes ("DDH") OAX-17-92 and 94 were drilled roughly 200 meters east of the open pit at Zone 4. They were step-out holes and indicate 100 meters of expansion of the veins to the east into untested areas at shallow levels (less than 250 m deep). Virgin, untested area continues east for another 600 meters to Zone 2, where similar high-grade veins occur. Hole 92 intersected 8 vein sets between 70 meters depth and 236 meters depth (see Figure 3 below), with several high grade gold assays such as: 14.83 g/t gold over 2.0 meters, 16.00 g/t gold over 1.0 meter, and 3.25 g/t gold over 5.0 meters, including 6.96 g/t over 1.1 meter. Assays are pending from a second hole on this section, OAX-17-93. DDH OAX-17-94 was drilled 60 meters east of hole 92, and likewise intersected 8 vein sets between 70 meters depth and 280 meters depth. The results from this hole are 5.8 g/t gold over 0.8 meter; 3.3 g/t gold over 1.5 meters; and 2.9 g/t gold over 1.5 meters. Assays are pending for three other shallow holes on this section, OAX-17-95, 96 and 97. Figure 3. Cross Section for DDH OAX-17-98. Assays are pending for DDH OAX-17-101 To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: http://www.accesswire.com/uploads/26421_a1493308214520_35.jpg Figure 4. Cross Section for DDH OAX-17-92. Assays are pending for holes OAX-17-95, 96, and 97 To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit: http://www.accesswire.com/uploads/26421_a1493308215083_47.jpg Table 1. Selected Assay Results at Zone 4, Diamond Drill Holes, OAX-17-092, OAX-17-094, OAX-17-098 DDH From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) OAX-17-092 72.40 83.80 11.40 3.56 OAX-17-092 77.70 78.75 1.05 5.24 OAX-17-092 81.80 83.80 2.00 14.83 Including 82.55 83.80 1.25 22.40 OAX-17-092 112.80 113.60 0.80 6.06 OAX-17-092 114.50 115.50 1.00 1.69 OAX-17-092 141.00 142.00 1.00 16.00 OAX-17-092 170.00 171.20 1.20 4.45 OAX-17-092 217.00 218.00 1.00 2.54 OAX-17-092 231.00 240.00 9.00 2.23 Including 234.90 236.00 1.10 6.96 OAX-17-094 272.00 277.10 5.1 2.60 Including 274.00 274.80 0.80 5.82 and 275.60 277.10 1.50 3.31 OAX-17-094 283.50 284.95 1.45 2.88 OAX-17-098 145.95 171.50 25.55 2.04 145.95 153.50 7.55 3.92 Including 152.50 153.50 1.00 14.40 and 156.50 158.00 1.50 3.04 and 159.50 161.00 1.50 2.43 and 165.85 166.90 1.05 5.04 OAX-17-098 180.00 189.65 9.65 3.45 Including 180.00 185.80 5.80 5.22 Including 184.50 185.80 1.30 8.41 Intercepts are reported as drill intercepts but are considered to be close to true widths. No top capping is applied. Further information about the Company is available on the Company's website, www.azx.ca, or our social media sites listed below: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandriaMinerals Twitter: https://twitter.com/azxmineralscorp YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AlexandriaMinerals Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/alexandriaminerals/ Program design, management, and Quality Control/Quality Assurance are conducted by Alexandria's exploration group of which Phillippe Berthelot, P.Geo, is the Company's Qualified Person. Mr. Berthelot has reviewed the results in this press release. The QA/QC program is consistent with National Instrument ("NI") 43-101 and industry best practices and has been previously addressed in NI 43-101 reports found on the Company's website or on www.sedar.com. About Alexandria Minerals Corporation Alexandria Minerals Corporation is a Toronto-based junior gold exploration and development company with strategic properties located in the world-class mining districts of Val d'Or, Quebec, Red Lake, Ontario and Snow Lake-Flin Flon, Manitoba. Alexandria's focus is on its flagship property, the large Cadillac Break Property package in Val d'Or, which hosts important, near-surface, gold resources along the prolific, gold-producing Cadillac Break, all of which have significant growth potential. WARNING: This News Release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of up-coming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Alexandria Minerals Corporation relies upon litigation protection for forward-looking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. PLEASE CONTACT www.azx.ca info@azx.ca Mary Vorvis, Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations (416) 305-4999 Eric Owens, President/CEO (416) 363-9372 SOURCE: Alexandria Minerals Corporation (Adds details) LUANDA, April 26 (Reuters) - Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has signed a decree setting August 23 as the date for general elections, state radio reported on Wednesday. Dos Santos, 74, is to step down after 38 years at the helm of a country that has become Africa's No. 2 crude producer and third largest economy, but will retain sweeping powers as president of the ruling MPLA party after the poll. The decree confirmed the date tentatively set on Monday by Angola's Council of the Republic, a presidential group that consults on national decisions. The MPLA, in power since independence in 1975, chose Defence Minister Joao Lourenco, 63, as its presidential candidate in December. Dos Santos is a communist-trained oil engineer and veteran of the guerrilla war against Portuguese rule. Under his tight control, Angola has seen an oil-backed economic boom and the reconstruction of infrastructure devastated by a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002. Despite its oil wealth, most of Angola's 22 million people live in grinding poverty and have become increasingly frustrated in recent years as low crude prices hammered growth. (Reporting by Herculano Coroado; Writing by Ed Stoddard; Editing by James Macharia and Andrew Roche) FILE PHOTO: The logo of Chevron (CVX) is seen in Los Angeles, California, United States, April 12, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo By Ernest Scheyder HOUSTON (Reuters) - Oil producer Chevron Corp (CVX.N) posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Friday due to cost cuts, asset sales and rising crude prices (CLc1). Like many of its peers, Chevron has benefited from a jump in oil prices after a two-year price downturn that rocked the industry. The company's breadwinner oil and gas division swung to a profit and earnings jumped in the refining division. Divestitures, though, also boosted results, with sales in Indonesia and elsewhere producing a one-time gain. Chevron posted net income of $2.68 billion, or $1.41 per share, compared to a loss of $725 million, or 39 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding one-time items, Chevron earned $1.23 per share during the quarter. By that measure, analysts expected earnings of 86 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Production rose 0.4 percent to 2.67 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, partly to increases in the Permian Basin of West Texas. Chief Executive John Watson told Reuters earlier this month the Permian was vital to Chevron's growth. Shares of California-based Chevron rose 2.2 percent to $107.80 in premarket trading. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Bernard Or) trump debate Near the end of Wednesday night's second Republican presidential debate, CNN moderator Jake Tapper started a discussion among candidates over their views on vaccines. Tapper asked candidate Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, if he would say anything to the front-running Donald Trump, who has repeatedly linked vaccines to autism. Carson skirted the issue. "Vaccines are very important certain ones, the ones that would prevent death or crippling," Carson said. But he added, "There are a multitude of vaccines that probably don't fit in that category, and there should be some discretion in those cases." Study after study has found that vaccines are safe and do not cause autism. And CNN earned criticism from some observers, who said that by bringing it up in the debate, CNN turned vaccines into a partisan issue, rather than a practice solidly backed by science. "CNN now giving Trump a platform to spread misinformation about vaccines can have real human costs. Ugh ugh ugh," wrote Brendan Nyhan, a political science professor at Dartmouth College. Indeed, Trump responded by perpetuating what doctors have long warned is misinformation about vaccines. "Autism has become an epidemic," Trump said, going on to tell the story of an employee's two-year-old child who he claims was vaccinated, developed a high fever, and subsequently developed autism. Trump went on to contradict himself, saying, "I am totally in favor of vaccines, but I want smaller doses over a longer period of time." Carson agreed with Trump, saying, "We are probably giving way too many in too short a period of time." Tapper then pivoted to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), an ophthalmologist. "I'm all for vaccines, but I'm also all for freedom," Paul said, suggesting ensuring public health should be a matter of personal choice. "Even if the science doesn't say bunching them up's a problem, I ought to have the right to spread my vaccines out, at the very least." Story continues carson and trump Why spacing out vaccines is a bad idea The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians do not recommend spacing out vaccines. "Administering all needed vaccines at the recommended ages, even if it means giving multiple doses during the same visit, is important because it increases the likelihood that children will be fully immunized as recommended," the CDC says. "Studies have shown that vaccines are as effective when administered simultaneously as they are individually and carry no greater risk for adverse side effects." Dr. Paul Offit, Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, has said the recommended vaccine schedule is well-tested, and that giving them on a different schedule may not be as safe or effective. In addition, delaying vaccinations places a child at greater risk of getting infected, Offit wrote in an article published in the journal Pediatrics in 2009. Dr. James Cherry, a professor of pediatrics at UCLA's medical school, said in a statement that spaced-out vaccines are not as effective."The measles outbreak in California earlier this year demonstrated that when vaccine schedules were spaced out, some children got severe measles." He added, "Altering the schedule can lead to infections with vaccine-preventable diseases early in life when they may be particularly severe." NOW WATCH: Here are the best quotes from the GOP debate More From Business Insider As employers search for ways to lower their health care costs, they're encouraging employees to sign up for a high-deductible health insurance policy paired with a health savings account. An HSA gives you a triple tax break: Your contributions are sheltered from income taxes, the money grows tax-deferred, and the funds can be withdrawn tax-free for medical expenses. It's like a supercharged flexible spending account that never expires, and it can even serve as an extra retirement-savings fund. Most employers also add a few hundred dollars to the accounts each year as a bonus. Below we answer your questions about how HSAs work and how to make the most of them. SEE ALSO: 50 Ways to Cut Your Health Care Costs How do I know if I can make HSA contributions? If your policy has a deductible of at least $1,300 for individual coverage and $2,600 for family coverage in 2016 and 2017, you may be eligible to contribute to an HSA. But not all high-deductible policies are HSA-eligible. The policy must also make everything subject to the same deductible (other than preventive care, which must be covered by all health plans without any deductible or cost-sharing). Some plans, for example, aren't eligible because they have a separate deductible for prescription drugs. Ask your insurer or employer if the plan is HSA-eligible; plans aren't always clearly marked, especially on the state exchanges. How much can I contribute to an HSA? You can contribute up to $3,350 if you have self-only coverage in 2016, and $6,750 for family coverage. For 2017, you can contribute up to $3,400 for self-only coverage and $6,750 for family coverage. In both years, you can also make a $1,000 catch-up contribution if you're 55 or older anytime during the year. Your contributions are pretax if made through your employer or tax-deductible if you're on your own, and you can use the money tax-free for medical expenses in any year. You still have until April 18, 2017, to make HSA contributions for 2016. If you had an HSA-eligible policy for the full year, then you can contribute up to $3,350 for individual coverage or $6,750 for family coverage (plus $1,000 if you were 55 or older in 2016). If you had an HSA-eligible policy for only the first few months of the year, your contribution limit is based on the number of months you had the policy. But if you had the policy on December 1, 2016, you can make the full year's contribution even if you didn't have the policy for the full year. However, in that situation, you must keep an HSA-eligible policy for all of 2017 in order to avoid a penalty. Story continues Where can I open a health savings account? What should I look for in an HSA administrator? Many banks and brokerage firms offer health savings accounts, and you can open an account anywhere as long as you have an HSA-eligible health insurance policy. Most employers and insurers have relationships with specific HSA administrators, but you aren't required to use their plan. However, there are benefits to sticking with the plan they offer--it may streamline the claims-paying process, and it could be the only way to get an employer contribution. For example, employers offering Fidelity HSAs contribute an average of $860 a year to employees' accounts; you could get even more if you participate in a wellness program. You can search for HSA administrators using the HSASearch.com tool from consulting firm Devenir. Look for a plan with low fees and investment choices that match the way you plan to use the HSA. If you expect to use the money for current medical expenses, look for an HSA with a low-cost savings account and a debit card that makes it easy to tap the money. But you'll get the biggest tax benefit if you keep the money growing in the HSA for the long term and use other cash for current bills. In that case, look for an account that offers mutual funds or other long-term investment options. HSA Bank, for example, lets you invest in mutual funds, stocks, exchange-traded funds and other investments through a TD Ameritrade brokerage account. Health Savings Administrators offers 22 Vanguard funds, and several fund choices from TIAA, T. Rowe Price, Dimensional and MFS. Compare fees, and see if you can avoid any changes by maintaining a minimum balance. If you choose to switch to a different HSA administrator, you can transfer the money; it's similar to an IRA rollover. What can I pay for with HSA money? Is there a time limit for using it? You can use the money tax-free for out-of-pocket medical expenses, such as your deductible, co-payments for medical care and prescription drugs, or bills not covered by insurance, such as vision and dental care. There's no time limit for using the money, and you can even use it tax-free for many medical expenses in retirement. You can reimburse yourself for the money that Social Security withholds from your benefits to pay Medicare Part B, and you can also make tax-free HSA withdrawals to pay Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage premiums (but not medigap premiums). You may also make tax-free withdrawals to cover a portion of long-term-care premiums based on your age ($4,090 per year if age 61 to 70, and $5,110 if older than 70 in 2017). Can I contribute to an HSA after age 65? You can withdraw the HSA money tax-free for medical expenses at any age, but you can no longer contribute to an HSA after you sign up for Medicare. You may be able to delay signing up for Medicare Part A and Part B if you're still working at age 65, which makes sense for some people if their employer contributes to their HSA. However, you may not be able to delay Medicare enrollment if you work for an employer with fewer than 20 employees or if you sign up for Social Security and are automatically enrolled in Medicare. What happens if I want to use the money for non-medical expenses? If you use the money for non-medical expenses before age 65, you'll have to pay a 20% penalty plus taxes on the withdrawals. The penalty goes away after age 65, but you'll still have to pay taxes if the withdrawals aren't for eligible medical expenses. It's much better to use the money for health care and avoid the taxes. Fidelity estimates that a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2016 will need $260,000 for health care costs in retirement, in addition to expenses covered by Medicare. The HSA can be a great source of tax-free money to pay those bills. SEE ALSO: The Most-Overlooked Tax Deductions There's no deadline for making eligible withdrawals. If you used cash for medical bills after opening the account and let the money grow in your HSA, you can withdraw money tax-free for those bills at any time as long as you've kept the receipts. Many insurers make it easy to keep records of past expenses. For example, Cigna's expense tracker lets you upload your medical receipts and mark whether you paid the bill from your HSA or other sources. Terry Gou, chairman of Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known as Foxconn, attends the Cancer Moonshot news conference in Taipei, Taiwan September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronic manufacturer and a major Apple Inc (AAPL.O) supplier, is planning an investment in the United States but has not finalized its plans, said Chairman Terry Gou as he exited the White House on Friday. Formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (2317.TW), Foxconn operates large manufacturing facilities in China, which is a base for its assembly of Apple's iPhones. (Reporting by Ginger Gibson and Ayesha Rascoe; Additional report by Gui Qing Koh in New York; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh) In this undated photo provided by The Land Institute of Salina, Kan., technician John Mai checks wheat crosses in the institute's greenhouse. On Tuesday, March 7, 2017, General Mills announced partnerships with The Land Institute and the University of Minnesota to help commercialize Kernza, a wild relative of wheat, and to incorporate the grain into cereals and snacks under its Cascadian Farm organic brand. (The Land Institute via AP) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A sweet, nutty-tasting new grain called Kernza is getting a big boost from food giant General Mills, which is intrigued by the potentially big environmental benefits of the drought-resistant crop with long roots that doesn't need to be replanted every year. General Mills on Tuesday announced partnerships with The Land Institute and the University of Minnesota to help commercialize Kernza, a wild relative of wheat, and to incorporate the grain into cereals and snacks under its Cascadian Farm organic brand. The company hopes to put those products on grocery store shelves early next year. It's also urging other food companies to help create a market for Kernza. "It's rare that you find something like this that, if you work at it, has so many environmental benefits associated with it. So that's one of the reasons we're excited about this," Jerry Lynch, chief sustainability officer for Golden Valley-based General Mills, told The Associated Press ahead of the announcement. Kernza is the trademark for the grain, which comes from the perennial intermediate wheatgrass plant. Its dense roots extend over 10 feet twice as deep as conventional annual wheat. Unlike conventional wheat, farmers who grow it don't need to till the soil and replant it every year. The long roots benefit the soil by helping store nutrients and water, while preventing erosion and reducing the leaching of nitrogen into ground and surface waters. Kernza's developers also think it could reduce greenhouse gases from food production by trapping significant amounts of carbon in the soil. It even provides good habitat for pollinators. General Mills said it plans to buy a significant amount of Kernza via The Land Institute, though it doesn't want to specify how much for competitive reasons. It will also donate $500,000 to the University of Minnesota's Forever Green Initiative to support advanced research into breeding to increase yields and into how best to grow, mill and market the grain so that it succeeds in the long term, Lynch said. Story continues Kernza was domesticated at the Land Institute, based in Salina, Kansas, which has been working for decades to develop a more natural, sustainable agricultural system. Intermediate wheatgrass, which had been used as cattle feed, was one of the first perennials to show promise for feeding humans, said Lee DeHaan, a lead scientist there. The institute has been collaborating for several years with the University of Minnesota, where agronomy professor Donald Wyse also tackles the challenges of developing perennials into food crops. "All grain production in the world is produced by annual plants that are only on the landscape for a short time," Wyse said. "Intermediate wheatgrass Kernza represents a big breakthrough in the design of new agricultural systems for the future." Researchers have been experimenting with intermediate wheatgrass since the 1980s. It has taken time to domesticate it into a crop and breed varieties that are productive enough for commercial use. Because it has been grown only on test plots until recently, there still isn't much of it to go around. And there are challenges that the researchers and General Mills are still addressing. Yields are still much lower than conventional wheat, though improving. The grains are tiny, more like grass seeds than conventional wheat, which makes milling more complicated. But it has some advantages in addition to its environmental benefits, including higher protein levels. The nutty flavor comes from its high bran content. DeHaan and Wyse agreed that General Mills is making a huge contribution to their work by creating a market for the new grain so farmers will grow it, and by supporting the development of crops that provide ecological benefits while feeding people on a large scale. "We're looking at a company that has the capacity to produce products on a larger scale and market them on a large scale," DeHaan said. "That's where we see these perennial crops having to go, not just low-volume specialty producers but large-scale production that is going to be producing change in agriculture." This represents the second but largest major move so far to commercialize Kernza, though some artisanal bakeries and restaurants have experimented with it. Patagonia Provisions last fall teamed up with Hopworks Urban Brewery of Portland, Oregon, to roll out Long Root Ale, which is sold primarily at Whole Foods stores in California, Oregon and Washington state. The Kernza in the beer is grown in Minnesota. ___ Online: The Land Institute: http://www.landinstitute.org ___ Follow Steve Karnowski on Twitter at https://twitter.com/skarnowski. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/steve-karnowski PRAGUE/FRANKFURT, April 27 (Reuters) - Romanian robotic form-scanning software company UiPath has raised $30 million in venture funding, marking one of the largest early-stage tech investments to date in Central Europe Global venture capital firm Accel led the so-called Series A round, which included participation from previous investors Earlybird Venture Capital, Credo Ventures and Seedcamp. Earlybird and Credo have funds focused on Central Europe. UiPath, which makes software that digitises mundane office processes such as insurance claims handling and lost credit card cancellations, increased revenue by six times during 2016, it said on Thursday without providing figures. After just two years in the market, the company has signed up 200 customers, three-quarters of which have revenues over $10 billion and are some of the world's biggest companies in financial services and other sectors, it said in a statement. Its customers include German airline Lufthansa, Italian insurer Generali and Norwegian telecoms company Telenor . "The market is interesting and the customer interest is there," Accel partner Luciana Lixandru said in a telephone interview. "This is a nascent market many people think is set for rapid growth." UiPath is expanding globally in a market that could be worth an estimated $9 billion over the next seven years, Accel said. The investment also marks a significant early stage commitment in central and southeastern Europe where a tech-savvy workforce has helped spark a start-up scene that is starting to pique more interest from Western venture capital. In UiPath's case, its founder and CEO, Daniel Dines, spent five years working at Microsoft Corp headquarters in Redmond, Washington, before returning to Romania to develop the product and build his own company, Lixandru said. The company, founded in 2012, now has 150 employees. (Reporting by Michael Kahn and Eric Auchard; editing by David Clarke) FILE PHOTO: A Google search page is seen through a magnifying glass in this photo illustration taken in Berlin on August 11, 2015. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski/File Photo By Supantha Mukherjee and Julia Love (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's non-advertising business, which houses its cloud unit, Pixel smartphones and the Play store, has long been sandwiched between Google's advertising juggernaut and its moonshot ventures that have captured popular imagination. Not any more. The business, categorized as "Other Revenue" in its earnings report, posted a 49.4 percent jump in revenue to $3.10 billion on Thursday a sum already bigger than Twitter Inc's annual revenue. The business now represents about 13 percent of Alphabet's total revenue, compared with 10 percent a year earlier. That may not be a big jump but definitely shines a light on Google's efforts to cut down its dependence on revenue from advertising, where it competes with Facebook Inc. "(Google) is doing a good job, a much better job in diversifying revenue than Facebook is," said analyst James Wang of ARK Investment Management. "We think that is quite an impressive achievement." Alphabet does not break out revenue contribution within the "Other Revenue" segment. But analysts have said that cloud is the most prominent among the category's clutch of businesses. To be sure, Google's cloud venture is still much smaller than market leader Amazon.com Inc's Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Corp's Azure. But Google is investing heavily. "In Q1, our largest growth in headcount and capital expenditure was in cloud," Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said on a call with analysts on Thursday. Amazon's cloud business grew 43 percent to $3.66 billion in the first quarter. Microsoft's cloud unit grew 93 percent. "We believe Google will continue to gain traction in the cloud market, and when combined with Google Play and sales of Google's hardware products, we see Google's 'other' revenue growing 38 percent to nearly $14 billion in 2017," Morningstar analyst Ali Mogharabi wrote in a client note. The company's hardware business also started gaining traction after Google released a pair of high-profile hardware products last year - the Pixel phone and the Google Home, a smart speaker like Amazon's Echo. Story continues "People are hankering for a really awesome Android phone that basically gives them the iPhone experience," Wang said, adding that the growth in Google's "other revenue" bucket this quarter "shows sustained momentum for the Pixel." Still, the lion's share of Alphabet's revenue comes from ads and that's not going to change any time soon. Total advertising revenue increased 18.8 percent to $21.1 billion in the first quarter, the company reported on Thursday. Profit also rose 29 percent to $5.43 billion, beating Wall Street estimates. At least 10 brokerages raised their price targets on the stock after the earnings report. Alphabet's drive for diversification also includes its "Other Bets" business, considered the company's loss-making arm. The business, home to the Waymo self-driving car, Google Fiber and thermostat-maker Nest, posted a first-quarter loss of $855 million. Google's shares were up 4.6 percent at a record high of $932.73 on Friday morning. They have gained 12.5 percent this year up to Thursday's close. (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru and Julia Love in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Geetha Panchaksharam; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty) FILE PHOTO: Toshiba's used-memory chips are seen at an electronics shop in Tokyo November 9, 2010. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo By Jennifer Ablan and Stephen Nellis NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Growing tensions with North Korea should worry global electronics firms such as Apple Inc as they source key parts from South Korea, but investors are brushing off such concerns and snapping up shares in key exporters, heartened by robust earnings and big investment plans. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday in an interview with Reuters that a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, though he would prefer a diplomatic resolution. South Korea, a U.S. ally and home to major electronics parts makers such as Samsung Electronics, LG Display and SK Hynix, would be particularly vulnerable to any military attack from its northern neighbor. Any interruptions to operations could significantly disrupt global manufacturing of smartphones, televisions, computers and tablets. South Korea supplies more than half of components such as memory chips and flat screens. Despite escalating tensions, investors are pouring money into South Korea's financial market, and companies are flocking to the stock market to raise billions of dollars. "This is mainly just chest-thumping behavior on the part of North Korea and President Trump, but I don't think it will be anything more than that," said Geoff Pazzanese, a senior portfolio manager at Federated Investors in New York. Pazzanese, who owns large positions in Samsung and chipmaker Hynix, said he would be a buyer if the market sold off as a result of a North Korean nuclear test, partly because the Trump administration has reaffirmed its military support for South Korea. For a graphic on South Korean firms' key domestic manufacturing sites, click http://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/rngs/NORTHKOREA-SOUTHKOREA-SUPPLYCHAIN/010040SN1QM/NORTHKOREA-SOUTHKOREA-SUPPLYCHAIN.jpg Seoul's stock market has climbed 9 percent so far this year to near record highs, helped by strong earnings by major exporters including Samsung Electronics, which rose 3 percent to a life-time high on Friday after reporting its highest profit in more than three years. Story continues Earlier this week, Hynix and LG Display, both Apple suppliers, reported record quarterly profits and sounded upbeat for the remainder of the year. "The tension might mean some sentimental risk more than fundamental risk," said John Teng, an equity analyst at Janus Capital Group in Singapore. "It might potentially push their customers to restocking earlier, in terms of component inventory. Memory suppliers, they are very disciplined in terms of capacity expansion." Mohamed A. El-Erian, chief economic advisor at the Allianz Group, told the Reuters Global Markets Forum on Friday that investors should take a more critical look at their exposure, but had been conditioned to set aside such risks. "And they have been rewarded well by markets for doing so." he added. South Koreans have grown used to the threat of conflict with the North after decades of bellicose rhetoric from Pyongyang, and the companies remained unruffled on Friday. "We think talk of conflict is speculative, and we do not have any plans to react to the current situation," LG Electronics said in a statement. Hyundai Motor, the country's top automaker, said it had detailed contingency plans to ensure business carried on under various situations but couldn't disclose them. RATIONING Any military conflict on the Korean peninsula could have a dramatic effect on the memory chip market in particular, as Samsung's and Hynix's main operations are clustered in South Korea. The pair control nearly 50 percent of the flash memory market, and almost two thirds of DRAM chips, widely used in computers, making it almost impossible for customers to find alternative supplies quickly. As supply of those chips are already tight, any interruptions to their manufacturing operations might cause large customers such as Apple and Lenovo to trigger a contractual term known as an "allocation" to get more of their suppliers' limited supply, according to industry executives. Those fights often get ugly, with corporate giants throwing their weight around with suppliers, said Trevor Schick, a former supply chain executive at H-P Enterprise and Motorola Mobility. "In the memory world, the minute things go into allocation, everyone is in a fight for who gets into the allocation. Scale plays a big role in that," Schick said. "Most contracts have a formula for how the allocation happens. But when it does, everyone from the big companies gets on planes to Asia to get in front of those CEOs and lay out their case as to why they should get the memory." Samsung, Hynix and LG Display declined to comment. Apple declined to comment. The ultimate beneficiaries of supply interruptions in South Korea would likely be Japan's Toshiba Corp, and U.S. firms Micron Technology Inc and Western Digital Corp. Toshibas production is mostly in Japan, while Microns is clustered in the United States and Singapore. But the geopolitical wild card could be China, Schick said. "If something did happen in Korea, the massive impact would be in China. Most of that memory goes from Korea into China to be made into tablets, phones and computers, Schick said. The vast majority of Apple's iPhones, for example, are manufactured in China by its partner Foxconn. (Reporting by Jennifer Ablan, David Randall in NEW YORK, Stephen Nellis in SAN FRANCISCO, Joyce Lee and Hyunjoo Jin in SEOUL; Writing by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Will Waterman) * Cocoa futures hit multi-year lows * Ivory Coast is world's top cocoa exporter * Budget squeeze worsened by army mutinies, social unrest * Ivory Coast has been Africa's stand-out economy (Adds quotes, details) By Loucoumane Coulibaly and Joe Bavier ABIDJAN, April 20 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast has slashed its 2017 budget due to plummeting cocoa prices, its president said on Thursday, shoring up state coffers also depleted by wage demands from civil servants and discontented soldiers. Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa exporter, has emerged as one of the fastest growing developing economies in the aftermath of a 2011 civil war, drawing the interest of international investors. But President Alassane Ouattara said the sharp drop in cocoa prices, which is also the West African country's main export, meant spending plans for next year would have to be scaled back by a tenth, according to comments reported by national newspapers Le Patriote. A wave of defaults by Ivory Coast cocoa exporters and higher than expected production has left a glut. Those that remain are now rejecting large volumes of beans because of poor quality as farmers seek to blend leftover main-crop cocoa into new mid-crop arrivals, exporters and merchants said on Thursday. Ouattara, in a speech at the presidency, said the decision to cut spending was taken during an International Monetary Fund (IMF) visit this month, according to excerpts published by daily Le Patriote. "Excluding salaries, we were obliged to reduce spending by 10 percent. All the ministries will tell you their budgets have been reduced by 5 to 10 percent," Ouattara said, adding that infrastructure would also be hit. Two other national newspapers, Le Nouveau Reveil and Fraternite Matin, carried similar comments from the president. Cocoa futures have plummeted since last year on the back of bumper crops around the world and stagnant demand. They continued their slide on Thursday, a day after New York cocoa slumped to a 9-1/2-year low, while the London market dropped to its lowest since 2013. Story continues KEEPING THE IMF SWEET On top of the fiscal impact of the drop in cocoa prices, government employees went on strike for weeks earlier this year to protest pension reforms, demanding back wages they said they were owed. A wave of army mutinies, meanwhile, engulfed military camps across the country, forcing the government to agree to pay bonuses of 12 million CFA francs each to some 8,400 former rebel fighters - a deal with a total price tag of around $160 million. Ouattara said the investment budget was included in the 2017 cuts and would be reduced by 10 percent, or about 200 billion CFA francs ($320 million). "When we feel obliged to ... reduce essential spending in this way, it is not pleasant," Le Patriote quoted him as saying. "These are schools, health centres, dispensaries, cultural centres, roads, drinking wells in some villages that will not be built." Despite the cuts, the government is still expected to seek an increase in lending under its programme with the IMF, currently worth $659 million over three years. It is also weighing the option of tapping the international debt market. "(Ivory Coast) needs to keep the IMF on board at a time when army mutinies have pressured the budget," said Charles Robertson, Global Chief Economist for Renaissance Capital. "The reality is that benefits of investment take time. And the budget is under pressure today." (Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Edward McAllister and John Stonestreet) By Balkrishna: While seven petrol pumps in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow were sealed for cheating unsuspecting customers, questions are being raised on the fraudulent practices employed by several fuel stations. Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force rounded up several persons and raided petrol pumps after it received a tip off regarding the activity. Incidentally, one of the petrol pump under scrutiny is owned by Uttar Pradesh Petroleum Dealers Association president, B N Shukla. advertisement Sources from the STF said that the petrol pumps were using a chip-based device that filled less fuel. The accused used the remote controlled device that also masks the metre readings. It was found that nearly 50 ml petrol from a litre was being stolen by the staff who used the special electronic chip to deceive the customers. EXPERT ADVICE The oldest known technique is to tweak the petrol pump metre. According to petroleum expert Naresh Taneja, these tweaked metres show false reading and often render less fuel. Taneja said that most of the petrol pumps use old technology, making them susceptible to such fraudulent practices. "A petrol pump owner is legally bound to consult a mechanic from the oil company. However, in most of the cases they hire local mechanics who make it easy for them to tamper it. The only solution is to fill fuel from different stations and keep the vehicle's mileage under check," said Taneja. Taneja also asked customers to practice caution while filling fuel in their vehicles, as it is at this time the staff from petrol stations attempts to distract them."They usually begin by asking about the payment mode and the moment one diverts attention from the metre, they get the job done." he said. He said that staff at petrol stations fill up fuel for an amount that is not quoted and when they are corrected they feign ignorance and go on to fill additional fuel. "When a customer asks the staff to fill petrol for Rs 1,000, they fill for Rs 200 at first. When asked to add more, he might distract you and fill for another Rs 600 without resetting the original value. The customer ends up paying Rs 1,000 and gets only fuel worth Rs 800," said Taneja. LONG PIPES LESS FUEL Taneja said that some petrol pumps save petrol by using long pipes. They distract customers by offering them less than the quoted amount by quickly manipulating the nozzle. It is advised that one should station their vehicles at a short a distance from the machine, in order to let the pipe suspend evenly to ensure better flow. advertisement While filling fuel, ensure that the quoted amount is not a round figure i.e. Rs 500, Rs 1,000 or Rs 2,000. "There is a fair chance that the fuel stations would tweak the machines according to such figures. Buying fuel for Rs 575 or Rs 1575 makes it difficult for the staffers to cheat customers. Payments made using cards can prevent is also helpful," said Taneja. Taneja said that petrol pump staffers should be asked to not press the nozzle button while the petrol is being filled as this can slow down the flow of the fuel. "After the fuel flow is stopped, the staffers usually recommend filling more fuel to make it a round figure. Always refrain from such suggestions," he said. According to Taneja, customers should approach the fuel station manager if they suspect any fraud. "If the staff refuses to hand over the complaint book, call the customer care number of the respective oil company and intimate them about your experience," Taneja added. Also read: This is how they steal your petrol: UP special task force seals 7 petrol pumps in Lucknow Fuelbandi: Petrol pumps may remain shut on Sundays from May 14, to operate from 9 am to 6 pm on other days advertisement WATCH | UP: 7 petrol pumps in Lucknow found using electronic chip that reduces output by 5 per cent --- ENDS --- Uber drivers' cars are parked outside the Ministry of Transportation building during a protest in Taipei, Taiwan February 26, 2017. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu By Heather Somerville and Dan Levine (Reuters) - The head of Uber Technologies Inc's self-driving vehicles unit, Anthony Levandowski, will step aside from some of his duties until a lawsuit against Uber in which he is accused of stealing trade secrets is resolved, Uber said on Thursday. Levandowski said he was not leaving Uber but would not participate in any of Uber's work on Lidar, according to an internal email to his employees first reported by Business Insider, which posted a copy of the email on its website. Uber confirmed the contents of the email to Reuters but declined to comment further. Lidar is a technology critical to autonomous vehicles and at the heart of the lawsuit filed by Alphabet Inc's Waymo against Uber. Waymo is Levandowski's former employer. According to the email, he will continue working on other parts of the self-driving car program such as software and operations. Waymo in February sued Uber, alleging theft of its proprietary information on Lidar, which uses light pulses reflected off objects to gauge their position. Waymo's lawsuit accuses Levandowski of stealing more than 14,000 confidential documents with information on Lidar designs before leaving the company to join Uber. Levandowski has not been named a defendant in the lawsuit. Uber has denied the charges, and Levandowski in a recent deposition declined to answer most questions on the advice of his attorney. The email did not give a reason for Levandowski stepping aside, but the decision came after a hearing in the case earlier this month in which U.S. District Judge William Alsup warned Uber that the evidence in the case could lead to an injunction barring Levandowski from working on Uber's self-driving car project. Another hearing is scheduled for May 3 at which Waymo's request for an injunction on Uber's self-driving program is due to be considered. Uber named Eric Meyhofer to replace Levandowski as head of its Advanced Technologies Group. Meyhofer, a roboticist, joined Uber in January 2015 from Carnegie Mellon University. He was part of a group of 40 faculty, researchers and technicians who Uber hired away from the school to help launch its self-driving program in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Reporting by Heather Somerville and Dan Levine in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Gayathree Ganesan and Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar and Lisa Shumaker) French English Press release Paris, April 27, 2017 Ingenico Group expands its footprint in Ukraine with SST acquisition Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346 - ING), the global leader in seamless payment, announced today the acquisition of the payment activities of its Ukrainian partner BKC (BANCOMZVJAZOK JSC). BKC, through its "SST" (Systems of Secure Transactions) business unit, has been a partner and distributor of Ingenico Group in Ukraine since 1997. BKC's shareholders and Ingenico Group have reached an agreement for the sale of the business unit to Ingenico Group, through the acquisition of 100% of the shares of a newly created legal entity. With 40 employees, SST is Ingenico's portal to Ukraine, through its extensive knowledge of the local market and its strong relationships with leading Ukrainian banks. SST also provides software development services to various entities within Ingenico Group, most specifically in Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Africa. SST will be integrated within the Banks & Acquirers business unit. With an installed base of more than 200,000 terminals, the Ukrainian payment terminals market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. The Ukrainian government has taken several initiatives to promote digital transactions and gradually decrease the use of cash in the economy. Luciano Cavazzana, SVP EMEA (Banks and Acquirers business unit), declared "We are delighted to welcome the SST team as part of Ingenico Group. Their knowledge of the local market will be key to unlock the Group's growth in Ukraine, and their expertise in software development will be a valuable asset for the Banks and Acquirers business unit". Oleg Zhukov, Director of SST, said "We have been working hand-in-hand with Ingenico Group for years. Becoming part of the Group will increase our ability to serve Ukrainian banks and retailers with a complete payment offering, leveraging on Ingenico Group's cutting-edge portfolio of products and solutions". About Ingenico Group Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346 - ING) is the global leader in seamless payment, providing smart, trusted and secure solutions to empower commerce across all channels, in-store, online and mobile. With the world's largest payment acceptance network, we deliver secure payment solutions with a local, national and international scope. We are the trusted world-class partner for financial institutions and retailers, from small merchants to several of the world's best known global brands. Our solutions enable merchants to simplify payment and deliver their brand promise. Learn more at www.ingenico.com twitter.com/ingenico Contacts / Ingenico Group Lithuanian English Vilnius, Lithuania, 2017-04-28 08:40 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Equity of INVL Technology as of 31 March 2017 was EUR 19.26 million or EUR 1.58 per share. Investments of the Company amounted to EUR 17.9 million at the end of March 2017, which comprised of the bonds with value of EUR 1.57 million as of 31 March 2017 and investments into managed companies with amount of EUR 16.33 million. During three months the Company invested EUR 1.55 million into the short term bonds issued by BAIP UAB. Decrease in fair value of investments amounted to EUR 0.37 million. The cash and cash equivalents of the Company decreased from EUR 3.1 million to EUR 1.4 million during the 1st quarter of 2017. Net loss of the Company for the first quarter of 2017 was EUR 468 thousand. Additional information: The equity capital of INVL Technology, a company that invests in IT businesses, was EUR 19.26 million, or EUR 1.58 per share, at the end of the first quarter of this year. The latter figure decreased 2.4 per cent from the start of the year. The companys investments totalled EUR 17.9 million at the end of March 2017: the value of investments in business holdings was EUR 16.33 million, while the value of the short-term bonds from BAIP UAB in which INVL Technology invested to ensure the participation of INVL Technology group companies in a foreign tender, including accumulated interest, was EUR 1.57 million. The value of the companys investments fell EUR 0.37 million in the first quarter of this year. INVL Technologys cash balance decreased from EUR 3.1 million to EUR 1.4 million during the quarter on account of the investments in the BAIP bonds. The companys net loss for the same period was EUR 468 000. INVL Technology, which plans to complete its phase of active acquisitions this year, continued looking for new opportunities to expand its business holdings portfolio. In the first quarter we concluded the companies active geographic expansion creating access to Asian and African markets, which will enable the further globalisation of the operations of INVL Technologys businesses. The companies owned are actively working in the areas of sales and marketing NRD Companies, NRD CS and Andmevara AS introduced renewed brands. The companies actively participated in local and international tenders. We think likely recovery of demand in Lithuanias public sector in the second half of the year and the groundwork laid in countries of Asia will positively influence the companies results, said Kazimieras Tonkunas, Managing Partner for UTIB INVL Technology at INVL Asset Management. With the establishment last year in Rwanda of Norway Registers Development Rwanda Ltd and the start of activities in Bangladesh this February of NRD Bangladesh, INVL Technologies businesses have offices in total in nine countries: that includes Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Norway, Moldova, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Bangladesh. The new company NRD Bangladesh is representing the services of NRD Companies and other businesses owned by INVL Technology and is helping to implement projects of NRD Companies in the regions of South and Southeast Asia. To date INVL Technology has invested in the Norwegian company Norway Registers Development AS with subsidiaries NRD UAB and Etronika UAB in Lithuania, Norway Registers Development East Africa Ltd in Tanzania, Norway Registers Development Rwanda Ltd in Rwanda, NRD Bangladesh Ltd in Bangladesh, and the associated company Infobank Uganda Ltd in Uganda. It has also invested in BAIP UAB with its subsidiary Acena UAB as well as NRD CS UAB and Algoritmu Sistemos UAB, all in Lithuania, and Estonias Andmevara AS with its subsidiary Andmevara SRL in Moldova. On its receipt of a closed-end investment company (UTIB) license in July 2016, INVL Technologys management was assumed by INVL Asset Management a part of Invalda INVL, one of the leading asset management groups in the Baltics. UTIB INVL Technology will operate until 14 July 2026. Lithuanian English AB "Rokiskio suris", Pramones str.3, Rokiskis, Lithuania, 2017-04-28 13:01 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The approved resolutions of the 28 April 2017 General Meeting of Shareholders: 1. Auditors findings regarding the consolidated financial reports and annual report. Debriefed. 2. The Audit Committee report. Resolution: To endorse the report of the Audit Committee. (attached). 3. The Companys consolidated annual report for the year 2016. Debriefed with the consolidated annual report for the year 2016 of Rokiskio suris. 4. Approval of the consolidated and companys financial accounting for the year 2016. Resolution: To approve the audited consolidated and companys financial statements for the year 2016 (attached). 5. Allocation of the profit (loss) of the Company of 2016. Resolution: To approve the following profit (loss) distribution of the year 2016: Title kEUR 1. Non-distributable profit (loss) at beginning of year 52,078 2. Approved by shareholders dividends related to the year 2015 (2,342) 3. Transfers from other reserves 2,297 4. Non-distributable profit (loss) at beginning of year after dividend payout and transfer to reserves 52,033 5. Net profit (loss) of the Company of fiscal year 12,551 6. Distributable profit (loss) of the Company 64584 7. Profit share for mandatory reserve - 8. Profit share for other reserves - 9. Profit share for dividend payout * (3,228) 10. Profit share for annual payments (tantiemes) to the Board of Directors, employee bonuses and other as accounted by Profit (loss) statement 1,076 11. Non-distributable profit (loss) at end of year transferred to the next fiscal year 61,356 *it will be allocated 0.10 eur per ordinary registered share. In total to the dividends payout EUR 3,228,117.30. Persons entitled to receive dividends are those who are actual shareholders of the Company at the end of the tenth day after approval of the resolution for dividend pay-out by the general meeting of shareholders (shareholders proprietary right accounting day), i. e. May 15, 2017. Pursuing the Laws of the Republic of Lithuania, dividends paid to physical bodies resided in the Republic of Lithuania as well as in foreign countries are subject to 15 per cent of residential income tax; Dividends paid to juridical bodies of the Republic of Lithuania as well as foreign countries are subject to 15 per cent of profit tax, unless it is stated differently the law. 6. Election of the Companys Audit Committee. Resolution: For the subsequent 4 year term of office at the Audit Committee the following persons shall be elected: Kestutis Kirejevas, Director Baltijos Enzimai, UAB (independent member), Kestutis Gataveckas, Director Perlo paslaugos, UAB (independent member) and Rasa Zukauskaite (Finance department employee of Rokiskio suris, AB). Remuneration for the independent members of the Audit Committee shall be identified by the Board of Directors. The Companys manager is authorized to sign an agreement with the independent members of the Audit Committee. 7. Election of the Companys auditor and establishment of payment conditions. Resolution: To appoint an audit company PriceWaterhouseCoopers, UAB to perform the audit of annual consolidated financial statements of the Group of Rokiskio suris, AB and the mother Company as well as evaluation of the consolidated annual report for the year 2017. The Board of Directors is authorized to establish reimbursement for the completed work of audit company. The Companys Chief Executive Officer shall sign a contract with the audit company. STEP 1 - HAVE GOALS. STEP 2 - REFINE YOUR SHORT-TERM GOAL TO MAKE SURE IT CAN BE ACHIEVED. YOU (and what you have done so far) + MBA (at this school) = ST GOAL. STEP 3 - SELL YOUR ABILITY TO ACHIEVE THE SHORT-TERM GOAL First, explain the connection. He had to say everything we just wrote above, about continuing to acquire experiences and skills so that he will be in the best position to achieve his eventual goals. Second, highlight the transferable skills that make him a desirable candidate. We wrote an entire blog post about this once (http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/blog/2012/04/16/the-art-of-transferability), but one of the most common mistakes we see among applicants is that they don't fill in the missing link and explain the skill set that will allow them to 1) get the job, and 2) thrive once they get it. You can't assume the reader will know what someone in your exact job does and see the connection between projects within your trade and being a consultant or a brand manager. You have to identify the skills critical to the ST job and then show that you have them. It's very simple, yet we would wager to guess that 75% of applicants don't do this. They never say "here is what I will need to be a good brand manager and here is how and when I developed those skills in my current job, through examples A, B, and C." You MUST do this, whether you are young or old, American or International, a banker or a beekeeper. You can't assume that the reader will do this extracting and matching for you. STEP 4 - PUT "YOU" INTO YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS STEP 5 - OWN THE GOALS Let's talk about Career Goals for a minute.This is always a good topic, honestly, because whatever time of year it is and whatever stage of the application process we are all encountering, the narrative of a candidate's career goals will always be paramount. Therefore, in order to create something we can one day send to our own clients with a simple link, as well as something that will help those of you who do not become our clients, we want to present a crystal clear five-step process for how to handle the Career Goals aspect of your MBA pursuit.Who knew? Call us naive, but we assumed that everyone applying to a top 10 business school would actually have, you know, goals for the process. Apparently not. The sheer number of people who have come to us this year with no idea what they want to do post-MBA has been staggering. Remember, this is not a degree designed for 22-year old applicants, nor does it punt away the responsibility of asking the question (yes, Law School, we are talking to you). The MBA is a career-focused degree and in almost every instance, the schools ask you what your goals are. To embark on such a life-altering process (to say nothing of expensive and time-consuming) without possessing goals is bizarre. Now, maybe your goals need some refining - particularly in presentation - but if you can't at least decide for yourself what you want to do with your life and why you want to spend $150,000 and two years to get there, you should not be applying to top 10 MBA programs.Okay, now we are talking to the 95% of you who at least know you need to have goals to start the process. We know that just as important as setting goals is the idea of setting realistic goals. If you want to get in shape and you set a goal of running a marathon, great, you are on your way. However, if you set the goal of winning Olympic gold in the marathon, you are probably setting yourself up for failure. Therefore, it's not a good goal. This is especially true when someone else shares in the responsibility for whether you achieve it. Schools share the responsibility for helping you achieve your short-term goal. Nobody bears any responsibility for the achievement of a long-term goal. Nobody is tracking, measuring, or even checking. Too much life is going to happen between now and 10-20 years from now. So when you hear about making goals realistic or having them "make sense," it's almost always about the short-term goal, because that is what shows up on an employment report, what impacts career services, and generally has enough immediacy that everyone feels responsible for outcomes.Some ways to check your short-term goal:[*]Look at the employment reports of the school to see if they place people into the role and firm of your choice[/*]Consider whether your previous experiences put you in position - with an added MBA - to impress recruiters for this job[/*][*]Contact someone in career services (usually at your alma mater) to quickly check your path[/*]Ask your admissions consulting to give you a reality check on your goals (important point: don't try to "brainstorm" your goals and certainly never ask your consultant to "give you" goals - you should have goals in place that this person can look at and either approve or poke holes in)[/*][/list]The main thing is you want to be sure that the following equation checks out:If it does not, you will get dinged basically every time.Normally we talk next about long-term goals, but we are going to stick with short-term goals for a minute. Just because you figure out a short-term goal that can work does not mean your job is done.Here is a quick case study of a client who received an interview at a top 10 school despite aiming for a difficult transition. He was a task-oriented professional with little outside experience and little by way of management responsibilities (this describes a lot of people, so we are not worried about "outing" this person). This presents a limited platform from which to work, but that doesn't mean his only short-term goal had to be something connected to his trade. Indeed, if he were to pick a short-term goal in that area, he might fail the "why do you even need an MBA?" part of this whole test. Remember, it's not just whether the MBA is enough to get you to your goal, it's also whether the goal is enough to warrant investing in an MBA (rather than just walking down the street for an interview). For this individual, his long-term goals were entrepreneurial, so in the short term, he needed more exposure to business practices and frameworks. He needed to take his upcoming MBA experience and expand on it, in order to continue broadening out and to see what works and what does not in new situations. To gain those 360 degree skills that would enable him to be a successful large-scale entrepreneur down the road, two paths made the most sense: management consulting and brand management. The former would expose him to lots and lots of scenarios in different industries, different geographies, and on different scales. The latter would give him experience with all aspects of bringing something to market. Either would allow him to broaden out the MBA experience of expanding frameworks, widening knowledge basis, and building up his network and pedigree. All good things, to quote the old Martha Stewart Saturday Night Live sketches. So, his work was done, right? Of course not! Just because he thought this was a good idea (or that we think it's a good idea), does not mean a recruiter or - by proxy - an admissions officer will see it the same way.He had to:Unlike with short-term goals, the challenge with long-term goals is not to map out a perfect plan that everyone can achieve collectively. Here, you want to dream big and put as much of you - your passions, your inspirations, and what you care about - into the answer as possible. Think about goals the way Stanford GSB used to ask applicants to think about them: "What do you REALLY want to do?" If you say that your short-term goal is consulting, you are creating the foundation for just about any long-term goal. You might think it wise to say "I want to then climb the ranks to become a managing partner" and feel like that is a smart, safe play. Well, it's boring. Worse, it is impersonal. Literally anyone on earth could write that. What do you want to do? Really? If the real answer is to rise through the ranks and become a managing partner, well, why is that? There must be some greater good you want to serve or some burning desire that drives that aim, right? If it is just financial security, is there something in your past that makes that paramount, above all else? There is always a way to make your long-term goals about you and that is what you have to do. You do not have to make your long-term goals 100% achievable. You do not have to make your long-term goals about connecting back to previous areas of expertise. You just have to pick goals that are personal and that require this MBA path you are on, at least on some level. There is an incredible amount of freedom in shaping your long-term goals, so be yourself, be interesting, and pick a path that you can truly own.This is the part where perhaps we have come to assume too much over the years and where our case study client seemed to run into trouble. Once he had a path that made sense, ensured that he had achievable short-term goals (complete with highlighted transferable skill sets), had a long-term goal that was interesting and personal, and all of that was wrapped up with a bow in his essays, the mission had been accomplished. When he received an interview invite at a top 10 school, we prepped him for the interview and showed him how to bring that goal narrative through to the interview setting. However, here is where it fell apart. How and why? As best we can tell, he got unlucky with his alumni interviewer. Instead of hosting a friendly interview, this person demeaned the applicant and tried to poke holes in his resume and aspirations. This is a tough break, for sure, but something that future applicants can deal with. First, if this happens, call the school and ask for another interview. The schools know that there is some risk inherent with a heavy reliance on alumni interviewers, so they won't be surprised nor will they likely refuse your request. Second though, you have to ditch that experience and approach the new opportunity with the same level of confidence you had before. This is where our case study client failed. He got rattled by the first interview and lost confidence in his whole narrative. Now, this is partly because he had bad luck but in equal part because he never truly owned his own goals. He was too reliant on his consultant to formulate a plan and he was never strong in what he wanted from an MBA and his life. When you don't own your story (the first piece of advice we give for interview prep, by the way), you can too easily be bowled over by the first raised eyebrow or harsh word. And if you start scrambling to explain yourself or start getting wishy-washy with your goals, it is game over. After all, if you can't sit there proud and strong and say "this is what I want" with conviction, what can you stand strong for? So this is Step 5 and one we never realized we needed to hammer home: own your goals. It's your story, not the interviewer's. It's your life, not anyone else's. If you can't get comfortable with the goals in the essay, rethink your goals until you do.If you follow the above five steps, you will never fall victim to the pitfalls that have taken down thousands before you. You won't be rejected for asking too much (or not enough) of the school in the short term, you won't lose the reader's interest with impersonal long-term goals, and you won't blow your interview by losing conviction in your own path. Remember that if everything makes sense and follows these steps, nobody can tell you what to think about your life and path.For an overview of our MBA admissions consulting services, visit http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/mba_admissions_consulting_services/ If you are interested in the MBA Admissions Consulting services offered by , please contact us at mba@amerasiaconsulting.com or to set up a free consultation.Source: http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/blog/2013/7/1/owning-your-mba-career-goals-in-5-easy-steps Model Preeti Jain was convicted by the sessions court of plotting to murder Bollywood producer Madhur Bhandarkar and got bail on Rs 15,000 cash bond. By Mustafa Shaikh: Model Preeti Jain got bail on Rs 15,000 cash bond on Friday after she was convicted of plotting the murder of Bollywood producer Madhur Bhandarkar. The sessions court gave her four weeks time to appeal in the High Court. Jain didn't look disturbed after the conviction and said her lawyers will file an appeal in the High Court. "I respect judiciary. I am happy after the verdict. I will file an appeal in the High Court against the verdict. I have faith in the judiciary. This is a false case against me put to deter me in the rape case," said Jain. advertisement Denying that she had plotted Bhandarkar's murder after she got a setback in the rape case, she said, "The rape case was quashed in the Supreme Court with my consent. There was no setback in rape case. I got justice in rape case." Jain was convicted along with her two associates, Naresh Pardeshi and his aide Shivram Das, for three years of imprisonment. The prosecution said in court that Preeti Jain paid Rs 75,000 to the gangster but when he didn't do the job, she asked for her money back. Word reached Arun Gawli and he alerted the police. After enquiry Mumbai Police registered a case against Jain for paying gangster Arun Gawli's aide Naresh Pardeshi to kill Bhandarkar, almost a year after she filed a rape case against the filmmaker. During the trial, the court examined 51 witnesses including Bhandarkar. Bhandarkar said in a tweet, "Some things are better left unsaid! Some things are better left as they are. Life moves on, so have I." It all started in 2012 when Jain filed a rape case against the filmmaker which was quashed in the Supreme Court. Also Read: Model Preeti Jain convicted for plotting to murder filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar --- ENDS --- - A young man identified as Deacon Dolapo on Twitter has shared with the world a shocking tale - He revealed how a best student of University of Ibadan got placed under a royal curse - He shared the story in order to make people sit up and be more careful Deacon Dolapo, a Twitter user has shared the story of how a best graduating student in University of Ibadan inherited royal curse. The young man said the student graduated top of his class and struggled to get a job; things were so bad it was difficult getting a job as a cleaner. READ ALSO: Nigerian twins recreate a picture they took 21 years ago (photo) Legit.ng gathered that the graduate had to go see a prophet who told him he was carrying a royal curse. This left him confused as he did not have any affiliation with royalty. During the course of the divination, it was discovered that his former girlfriend laid with a yahoo boy and the curse was gotten through a runs girl the yahoo boy had slept with before. It was there that it was discovered that the runs girl had an affair with a Yoruba king and she must have tapped into some weird powers then. According to the poster, the girls who sleep with the king leave with one thing or the other. See some of the tweets made by the poster: The king on the other hand uses these girls; thus, it was established that whoever sleeps with the girls bear the curse too. And the curse keeps spreading with as many people that sleep with them. READ ALSO: 23-year-old woman becomes one of the YOUNGEST women in Africa to attain PhD (photos) Legit.ng got to know that the poster was obviously disturbed with the situation as he kept wondering where the different battles people fight daily come from. Other Twitter users joined the conversation as they asked all sorts of questions. It was established that a lot of things get transmitted during love making as destinies could be entwined or exchanged in the process. The Legit.ng video below shows the reactions of many Nigerians when asked if they could marry people older or younger than them: Source: Legit.ng - An adorable couple who has been married for 69 years die minutes apart - The couple died holding hands A 91 year-old man identified as Isaac Vatkin and his 89-year-old wife, Teresa Vatkin died minutes apart while holding hands. The couple had been married for sixty-nine years. Teresa, who had been suffering from Alzheimers disease, died 12:10am while her husband gave up the ghost minutes after that too. Their hands were entwined. Legit.ng gathered that both Teresa and Isaac were at Highland Park Hospital in Skokie in Illinois. The latter had watched Teresa die. It was until their entwined hands were separated before they discovered Isaac had passed on too. Isaac and Teresa Vatkins. READ ALSO: Thieves caught stealing generators in Port Harcourt The adorable couple met in their native Argentina; they got married and moved to Skokie where they raised their three children. A joint funeral was arranged for the couple on Monday, April 24. One of the children of the deceased said her parents love for each other was so strong they simply could not live without each other. The adorable couple spent 69 years together married. Leonardo Vatkin, the couples son said his father did not want to do anything without his wife. Their grandson, William Vatkin, also had a beautiful testimony to share about the loving grandparents. READ ALSO: Here's how a University of Ibadan best graduating student inherited a royal curse "You didnt want to see them go, but you couldnt ask for anything more." Isaac and Teresa when they got married. It is truly beautiful seeing people who have married for so long holding on to love in their last days. Watch the Legit.ng video below to see how distraught this old woman was after hearing her house would be demolished: Source: Legit.ng - Residents of Ukpata community in Enugu have commended the police for arresting a man who killed his 83-year-old uncle over land dispute. - The resident also went ahead to reveal some shocking details about the secondary school mathematics teacher. Legit.ng had earlier reported that a teacher, Ezemezie Daniel, had been arrested for the murder of his 83-year-old uncle, Patrick Odoh, who had a dispute with him over a land. Residents of Ukpata community in Uzouwani local government area in Enugu state have commended the police for arresting Daniel who they claimed had been a lot of trouble for the community. They expressed joy and happiness over his arrest, adding that he had been a torn on the flesh of the community. Enugu residents reveal HORRIBLE details about teacher who killed his uncle over land READ ALSO: Married woman accuses Christ Embassy pastor of trying to sleep with her According to the residents, Daniel used to block the road on market day to extort money from those coming into the community. If you challenge him, you will be visited with negative action. He collects lands from people without reference to their owners as he cannot be challenged hence we are thanking the police for their urgent action, the residents said. READ ALSO: First Lady Aisha Buhari presents gifts to parents of quintuplets in Abuja (photos) Legit.ng, however, gathered that the teacher has been cooperating with the police in regards to all the nefarious activities he committed. Frustrated man says mass burial should be planned for all Nigerian leaders Source: Legit.ng A student of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Auwal Shehu, has been found dead in front of one of the schools hostel. The Punch reports that students woke up to the death of 21-year-old Shehu who was a National Diploma II student of the Civil Engineering department of the school. A student who spoke on anonymity said: We were confused to find the students dead body in front of the hostel. We did not know what killed him, but we reported the incident to the management. No one exactly knows what happened to him but there are insinuations that Shehu fell off the second floor of the hostel while reading at night. Some also think he might have slumped and died while returning to the hostel from one of the lecture rooms. READ ALSO: 200 Covenant University students suspended for not attending church Confirming the saa incident, the deputy rector of the institution, Sanusi Gumau, said preliminary investigation showed no sign that the deceased fell off a high-rise building. I got a call from one of the school cadets at about 5.30am on Tuesday informing me that a student was found dead in front of the boys hostel. Our medical unit did a physical check on the student and confirmed that he had indeed died. There is no truth in the report that the student slumped and died while returning from class in the night. He also did not fall off any high-rise building. Physical check showed no sign of injury; nothing, he said. Gumau said the chief security officer of the school reported the incident at the Yelwa Police Division. READ ALSO: JSS2 student falls off mango tree, dies in Imo (photo) The police took the corpse away to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, for an autopsy, he added. The deputy rector also said the family of the deceased had been contacted. He added that the deceased was to sit for two papers in the ongoing exams on Tuesday before his untimely demise. The Dean, Student Affairs, Clement Ezeaku, said: His roommates said he only told them that he was going out that (Monday) night. They said he didnt tell them exactly where he was going to. Because of the exams going on in the school, students can move around anytime of the day. He said the cause of the death was not known because the parents of the deceased insisted that the corpse be released to them for burial. Source: Legit.ng A beautiful Nigerian lady, Fateemah Garba, has started a successful hijab making business known as, Pinkdust Hijabs. In an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, Garba expressed that her passion for the hijab business came from her love for modest fashion. She told Legit.ng that making people happy also drives her to make her hijabs perfect for customers who patronize her. Meet beautiful 18-year-old who makes and sells her own hijab The 18-year-old lady who is in her second year, studying English language at Alhikmah University Ilorin, expressed that she ventured into the business in 2016 with just N30,000 as capital. READ ALSO: First Lady Aisha Buhari presents gifts to parents of quintuplets in Abuja (photos) Garba expressed that she was determined to start the hijab business after she saw businesses like Basma K collections and Hijab Loft thrive. Colourful samples of hijabs made by Fateemah Garba She added that she was also inspired by her mother and sister who are also business women. READ ALSO: Married woman accuses Christ Embassy pastor of trying to sleep with her The Muslim lady, who advertises her business through social media, expressed that her Instagram account @shoppinkdust has helped her business thrive so far. Beautiful ladies slaying in Pink Dust hijabs Read Legit.ng's interview with the CEO of Pinkdust Hijabs below: 1) Give us a brief description of yourself ? My name is Fatima Garba, I was born on the 19th of May, I come from a nuclear family of 3 sisters and 2 parents. I was born and raised in Abuja. I attended Air Force Girls' Comprehensive school Jos, Presently at Alhikmah University Ilorin studying English Language in my 2nd year. 2) What inspired you to start making your hijabs? Passion came from the fact that I'm in love with modest fashion and also the idea of making people happy when they wear what I make. 3) How do you feel when you see people wearing your designs? Honestly the feeling is overwhelming seeing people wear what I make, really makes me happy. Beautiful ladies rocking Pink Dust hijabs 4) How have you been able to stay creative with your ideas? It takes a creative person to get into this business knowing how to pick the right colours and patterns and I have been able to do so. 5) Did it start has a business idea or was it just something that came up in the moment? No, I had it in mind for a while and seeing successful hijab stores around the world like Basma K and Hijab loft excel made me go through with it. Some colourful hijabs sold by Pink Dust hijabs 6) How did you start Pinkdust Hijabs? I started the business with N30,000 in 2016 and I learned how to make the hijabs by watching videos on YouTube. 7) How has your business thrived in Nigeria? Would you like to export your brand out of the country? Of course I love to branch out of Nigeria with time. Selling hijabs is not a big business in this country because it is not a necessity for people to wear hijabs. 8) How do you feel when a customer gives you a good feedback? I feel really happy, it's one of the best feelings in the world. 9) Do Christian ladies patronise you? Yes they do. Not only Muslims patronize, I get Christian customers too. 10) How do you feel about what you do? I love it so much sometimes I regret why I didn't start earlier. I love it. She advised other youth who plan on having their own business to commit to it because starting a business involves a lot of sacrifice. Garba further expressed that she finds it hard to joggle her student life with her life has a business woman. Watch Legit.ng's interview with female Nigerian taxi driver Source: Legit.ng - Farmers in a Malaysian village killed a python after it swallowed one of their goats - They found it in a wooden hut - They said they killed it in fear for their lives A video has surfaced online showing farmers in a northern Malaysian village battering a huge 4.5-meter python to death. The python had reportedly eaten one of their goats. The incident is said to have occurred earlier this month. The villagers found the python lying on the floor of a wooden hut with its belly bulging. The python with its stomach bulging The villagers said in an interview that they killed the python because they feared for their own safety as well as that of their goats. One of the farmers, Ahmad Riduanz, said: "The snake was killed for fear it would eat the goats again and because of its giant size, the security of the villagers was also threatened." READ ALSO: Suspected thief beaten up for stealing car stereo in Delta State The huge python broke into a wooden enclosure and ate a goat Ahmad added: "The snake did not die easily. It had to be hit many times. It's a common problem so people have no patience. We have to kill them to stay safe.'' READ ALSO: Meet beautiful 18-year-old Nigerian entrepreneur who creates and sells hijabs for a living (photos) Malaysia and Indonesia have some of the largest pythons in the world. In 2016, the longest ever captured python measuring 7.9 meters died in Malaysia. Watch the video below. Watch the video below about Lagos school surrounded by snakes: Source: Legit.ng - A US mother has given birth to healthy conjoined twins - Doctors had advised them to terminate the pregnancy but they opted to carry it to full term - Doctors say the twins do not need to have separation surgery A 22-year-old mother in Idaho, US, gave birth to healthy conjoined twins in January after defying doctors' advice to terminate her pregnancy. Scans early in Chelsea Torres' pregnancy revealed that she was carrying conjoined twins. Doctors feared that they might not make it past 11 weeks. They therefore advised her and her husband Nick, 22, to consider terminating the pregnancy, something they opted against. Conjoined twins Callie and Carter Torres Doctors have now assured the proud parents that the twin girls, Callie and Carter, are healthy and do not need immediate separation surgery. They do not share vital organs. Callie and Carter are omphalo-ischiopagus twins, a rare case. It means they share two legs and one pelvis while having two separate torsos that face each other. READ ALSO: Adorable! Photos Of 7 Nigerian siblings from the same parents Callie and Carter share two legs and one pelvis, but do not share vital organs In an interview, Chelsea expressed relief that the pregnancy went well and her twins defied doctors' predictions. READ ALSO: Man told his daughter not to dig through trash, but that's made her a local hero She said: "I'm so happy I didn't terminate Callie and Carter, they are amazing. I knew termination would not happen and I'm glad that little speck of thought I did have, I pushed away. My husband and I are very excited." Nick, Chelsea, their son Jaysin and their twins The couple, who already have a three-year-old son named Jaysin, have had to adjust to a new parenting experience. Chelsea said: "Their clothing and car seats are completely different. We have to sew their clothing together and the car seat is custom made." READ ALSO: She molded me into the woman I am today - Young lady celebrates grandma (photos) The parents have had to adjust to a new parenting experience However, they do not regret their decision and are happy happy that doctors now assure them of the twins' health. Watch more about their story in the video below. Watch the video with the mother of Chibok girl laments: Source: Legit.ng Ram Gopal Varma went on a Twitter rampage and proclaimed that Baahubali 2 is a dinosaur film and that other filmmaking dogs are jealous of its hype. By India Today Web Desk: Ram Gopal Varma again tweeted something and as well all know, RGV's tweets are as provocative as they are headline-grabbing. This time, the topic is the film Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is the sequel to the 2015 mega-blockbuster Baahubali: The Beginning. The first Baahubali film became a nationwide phenomenon and was appreciated by one and all for its story, high-end graphics and epic scale. advertisement Now, all eyes are on its sequel which released today. Longer and more expensive than the first film, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is expected to cross the box-office collections of Baahubali: The Beginning. Ram Gopal Varma meanwhile took to Twitter and shared his two cents on the Baahubali craze. #Baahubali2 converted all multiplexes into single screen theatres bcos all screens in all multiplexes in entire india are only playing BB2- Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) April 26, 2017 He wrote, "Only thing bigger than #Baahubali2 is its mountainous jealousy building ..All film people unable to digest it's hype gone into hibernation. (sic)" Only thing bigger than #Baahubali2 is its mountainous jealousy building ..All film people unable to digest it's hype gone into hibernation- Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) April 26, 2017 RGV added, "I just heard all film makers in Hindi,Tamil and Telugu have plugged their ears with cotton to escape the thunderous roar of BB2. (sic)" I just heard all film makers in Hindi,Tamil and Telugu have plugged their ears with cotton to escape the thunderous roar of BB2- Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) April 27, 2017 And finally, "When a elephant like film comes,other film making dogs bark ..But #Baahubali2 being a Dinosaur ,dogs,tigers nd lions also gone into hiding. (sic)" When a elephant like film comes,other film making dogs bark ..But #Baahubali2 being a Dinosaur ,dogs,tigers nd lions also gone into hiding- Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) April 27, 2017 Of course, this too: "Is it not true that I did not hear that fans of all other heroes went deep into underground jealous to see the glory of Prabhas's fans? (sic)" Is it not true that I did not hear that fans of all other heroes went deep into underground jealous to see the glory of Prabhas's fans?- Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) April 27, 2017 On the work front, Ram Gopal Varma's new film, Sarkar 3, starring Amitabh Bachchan will release soon in theatres. ALSO READ: Early reviews call Baahubali 2 dramatic and brilliant, people reportedly crying in theatres ALSO READ: Prabhas and I are like Rama and Raavan, says Rana Daggubati WATCH: Everything you need to know about Baahubali --- ENDS --- As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ By India Today Web Desk: Vinod Khanna's death may have prompted several Bollywood celebrities to express their shock and sadness on Twitter, but not many attended his funeral. Rishi Kapoor, who was the actor's Amar Akbar Anthony co-star, is deeply upset with this. He slammed actors of "this generation" for not attending Vinod Khanna's last rites in a series of tweets. advertisement Rishi wrote, "Shameful. Not ONE actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect." He added, "Why this? Including mine and thereafter.When I die, I must be prepared.None will shoulder me. Very very angry with today's so called stars (sic)." Shameful. Not ONE actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect.- Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Why this? Including mine and thereafter.When I die, I must be prepared.None will shoulder me. Very very angry with today's so called stars.- Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Twitteratti began pointing out that Rishi's son Ranbir Kapoor was not present at Vinod Khanna's funeral either. Rishi clarified in another tweet, "Yes it has been expressed earlier on social media my wife and Ranbir are out of the country. Would never had been reason not to be there (sic)." Yes it has been expressed earlier on social media my wife and Ranbir are out of the country. Would never had been reason not to be there- Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 He also hit out at the B-Towners who attended Priyanka Chopra's bash on Wednesday night, but failed to turn up at the funeral on Thursday evening. "Angry. Met so many chamcha people last night at Priyanka Chopra's do last night. Few at Vinod's. So fu*kn transparent. So angry with them (sic)," he wrote. Angry. Met so many chamcha people last night at Priyanka Chopra's do last night. Few at Vinod's. So fuckn transparent. So angry with them.- Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 PHOTOS: Priyanka Chopra parties in her city, Kangana Ranaut to Rekha bring the house down PHOTOS: Vinod Khanna's funeral attended by Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor ALSO WATCH: Vinod Khanna, veteran actor and politician, passes away at 70 --- ENDS --- Justice Dhingra while speaking to India Today refused to comment on the leaks which claimed Vadra made Rs 50.5 crores out of the deal. By Anand Patel: Selective leaks of the Justice (Retired) SN Dhingra Commission report into the media has sparked off fresh round of blame game between the Congress and BJP. One man Dhingra Commission was constituted by the BJP government in May 2015 to look into the alleged irregularities committed by the previous Hooda regime in allotment of commercial licenses to builders in prime sectors of Gurugram but the focus of the enquiry commission remained on the deal between Robert Vadra's firm Skylight Hospitality and real estate giant DLF for a 2.7 acre land in sector 83 in 2008. advertisement Justice Dhingra while speaking to India Today refused to comment on the leaks which claimed Vadra made Rs 50.5 crores out of the deal. "I cannot comment on the contents of the report published by a section of media, I have submitted the report to the Haryana government and it is up to them to act on the recommendations made," he said. The report was submitted by Justice Dhingra on August 31 last year, a good 15 months after it was constituted. The Dhingra Commission didn't summon Vadra for questioning neither did it call IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who cancelled the mutation of the land deal citing irregularities. Justic Dhingra also tried to clear the air on Priyanka Gandhi's land purchase in Faridabad. "The terms of reference of my commission restricted scope of enquiry to land deals in Gurugram only and did not include Faridabad," he told India Today. On Thursday, Priyanka Gandhi had issued a press release to quash allegations that she had acquired properties with illegally acquired funds. Meanwhile, the leak of a part of the report into the media has left the Congress party red faced. Its spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told media that the Haryana government and Center are indulging in selective leaks. "No notice was served on Mr Vadra, how can a report be prepared without it, it's a well thought act of vendetta politics," he said. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said that if the Congress party feels it is a contempt of court, it is free to approach the court. "We have no such intention to leak the report to defame any person," he added. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that his government has a sealed copy of the report and another sealed copy has been submitted in the Supreme Court. "But still if we get to know that contents of the report have been leaked to the media then we will get it investigated," he stated. Watch Video: Robert Vadra evasive on corruption charges, refuses to comment on Dhingra commission report Also Read: Robert Vadra made Rs 50.5 crore without spending a single paisa: Dhingra Panel --- ENDS --- advertisement Credit: Karolinska Institutet The cessation of breathing during sleep caused by enlarged tonsils is common in preschool-age children and can cause serious complications, but the methods normally used to diagnose the condition are subjective and unreliable. The finding is reported in a thesis from Karolinska Institutet by Anna Borgstrom, who has also evaluated different surgical treatments. Obstructive sleep apnoea affects 5 to 6 per cent of all children of preschool age, causing the repeated cessation of breathing during sleep. If the condition remains untreated, it can interfere with brain development and cause complications such as learning difficulties and behavioural disorders with ADHD-like symptoms. In extreme cases it can even lead to heart failure. The diagnostic method currently seen as the best for obstructive sleep apnoea in children is polysomnography, but it is a resource-heavy examination that has to be carried out in a sleep laboratory. Because of this, doctors have often relied on the combination of clinical examination and questionnaire (OSA-18) to make their diagnoses. However, as Dr Borgstrom ear, nose and throat specialist and researcher at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology demonstrates in her thesis, the questionnaire has no diagnostic value. Symptoms are easily missed "What we need are better and cheaper diagnostic methods," she says. "Since the symptoms are unspecific and breathing often stops late at night, the diagnosis is probably often missed." Childhood obstructive sleep apnoea is usually caused by enlarged tonsils, in which case an operation is the conventional answer. Tonsil surgery is one of the most common forms of surgery performed on children, with thousands of operations every year in Sweden alone. Dr Borgstrom's thesis shows that the number of such operations has risen over the past few decades and that ever younger children are having them. Two main surgical methods compared There are two main methods used: tonsillectomy and tonsillotomy, which involve, respectively, the complete and partial removal of the tonsils. Despite the lack of randomised studies comparing the two, the latter method has begun to dominate. One such study is included in Dr Borgstrom's thesis and has recently been published in the esteemed periodical Pediatrics. It shows that the methods give similar outcomes for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea in preschool children, but also that tonsillotomy carries a risk of tonsil regrowth and the consequent need for renewed surgery. "I want my thesis to show that obstructive sleep apnoea and enlarged tonsils are common conditions that can have serious ramifications," says Dr Borgstrom. "What I hope is that my research will mean better treatment for preschool children suffering from such problems." More information: "Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea evaluation of questionnaire and surgical treatment." Journal information: Pediatrics "Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea evaluation of questionnaire and surgical treatment." openarchive.ki.se/xmlui/handle/10616/45527 Neurons (red) and muscle cells (green) produced from NMPs in the laboratory. Credit: James Briscoe, Francis Crick Institute A study from scientists at the Francis Crick Institute, the Max-Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin and the University of Edinburgh sheds new light on the cells that form spinal cord, muscle and bone tissue in mammalian embryos. This discovery paves the way for generating these tissues from stem cells in the laboratory and could lead to new ways of studying degenerative conditions such as motor neuron disease and muscular dystrophy. In embryos, the spinal cord, muscle and skeleton are produced from a group of cells called NMPs (neuro-mesodermal progenitors). These cells are few in number and exist only for a short time in embryos, despite giving rise to many tissues in the body. Their scarcity and inaccessibility has made studying NMPs challenging. Now, by using the latest molecular techniques, the research team has for the first time deciphered gene activity in NMPs. They used an advanced technique called single-cell transcriptional profiling, which analyses individual cells to provide a detailed picture of gene activity in every cell. The technique allowed the team to establish a molecular signature of NMPs and to show that NMPs produced from stem cells in petri dishes in the laboratory closely resemble those found in embryos. This enabled the team to use lab-grown NMPs to learn more about these cells and how they make spinal cord, muscle and bone tissue. By manipulating the cells in petri dishes and testing the function of specific genes, the researchers re-constructed the regulatory mechanism and formulated a mathematical model that explains how NMPs produce the appropriate amounts of spinal cord and musculoskeletal cells. Dr James Briscoe, who led the research from the Francis Crick Institute said: "For embryonic development to progress smoothly, NMPs must make the right types of cells, in the right numbers at the right time. Understanding how cells such as NMPs make decisions is therefore central to understanding embryonic development. Single cell profiling techniques, including the ones we used in this study, are giving us unprecedented insight into this problem and offering a new and fascinating view of how embryos produce the different tissues that make up adults." First author of the study Dr Mina Gouti, from the Max-Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin said: "Improving our understanding of NMPs doesn't only answer an important developmental biology question but also holds great promise for regenerative medicine. It takes us a step closer to being able to use tissue from patients with diseases that affect muscles and motor neurons in order to study the causes and progress of these diseases. Being able to grow cells in the laboratory that faithfully resemble those found in the body is crucial for this." The paper, A gene regulatory network balances neural and mesoderm specification during vertebrate trunk development, is published in Developmental Cell. More information: Mina Gouti et al. A Gene Regulatory Network Balances Neural and Mesoderm Specification during Vertebrate Trunk Development, Developmental Cell (2017). Journal information: Developmental Cell Mina Gouti et al. A Gene Regulatory Network Balances Neural and Mesoderm Specification during Vertebrate Trunk Development,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2017.04.002 (HealthDay)Medical marijuana laws are associated with a decline in the number of prescriptions filled for Medicaid enrollees, according to a study published in the April issue of Health Affairs. Ashley C. Bradford and W. David Bradford, Ph.D., both from the University of Georgia in Athens, analyzed quarterly data on all fee-for-service Medicaid prescriptions from 2007 to 2014 to assess the association between medical marijuana laws and the average number of prescriptions filled by Medicaid beneficiaries. The researchers found that the use of prescription drugs in fee-for-service Medicaid was lower in states with medical marijuana laws than in states without such laws in five of the nine broad clinical areas examined. They estimated that if all states had had a medical marijuana law in 2014, fee-for-service Medicaid could have saved $1.01 billion. These results are similar to those from a previous study examining the effects of medical marijuana laws on the number of prescriptions filled in the Medicare population. "Our findings on Medicaid prescribing behavior and estimated savings associated with medical marijuana laws, along with our previous results for Medicare enrollees, suggest that patients and physicians in the community are reacting to the availability of medical marijuana as if it were medicine," conclude the authors. Copyright 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Not everyone believes the program is ready for the citys streets. In an op-ed article published by The New York Times on Thursday, two lawyers for the plaintiffs in the lawsuit that led to the court order predicted that the citys guidelines would give police officers and their supervisors too much discretion as to when to turn the cameras on and would make it easy for them to tailor their statements and reports to match videos. Last week, the lawyers asked the judge overseeing the litigation to order changes to the policy. She dismissed the request as premature. Nancy Hoppock, the assistant deputy commissioner in charge of the Police Departments Risk Management Bureau, said that a test run on Wednesday had allayed concerns over whether crucial moments might be lost when low-level encounters escalated rapidly. Based on the video that I saw last night, Im not worried at all because these officers are doing exactly what they are trained to do, which is, when in doubt, you turn it on, she said of the cameras. Officers trained for two days on how to use the cameras at the Police Academy in Queens, sitting through lectures, watching video of common situations and practicing with the devices, said Benjamin Tucker, the first deputy police commissioner. The classroom training, which officials are still refining, will be followed by 90 days of field training in the precinct, which stretches north into Inwood. Fifty-eight officers from the 34th Precinct are part of the pilot program, which will include 1,200 officers in 20 precincts by the end of the year. After a year, officers equipped with cameras will be measured against an equal number of officers at 20 precincts that do not have cameras in areas such as job performance, citizen complaints and arrests. The pilot program is designed to allow officials to determine with a high degree of certainty that any differences they observe can be attribute to the cameras and not to other factors, such as leadership changes. Still, questions persist about how the mayor and the Police Department will handle challenges that may arise from requests for footage from episodes that range from routine to headline-grabbing. The University of Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance has partnered with Visa to publish the first Global Cryptocurrency Benchmarking Study. The study collected data from companies and individuals to provide detailed information regarding cryptocurrency usage. All cryptocurrencies were included in the study, including Ethereum, Dash, Monero, Ripple, and LiteCoin. The study examined a number of factors, including cryptocurrency payments, wallets, security, and mining distribution. Luno, one of the biggest Bitcoin exchanges for South Africa, contributed to the global study. Worldwide Distribution While many South Africans use Bitcoin exchanges and own cryptocurrency, the majority of cryptocurrency companies are distributed throughout North America, Europe, and China. The study found that the Asia-Pacific region and North America contain 80% of the worldwide cryptocurrency market. South Africas contribution to the global cryptocurrency market is negligible. A map detailing the distribution of study participants across global regions is shown below (click to enlarge). They study showed that only 4% of overall cryptocurrency users were based in the Middle East and Africa region. A significant portion of cryptocurrency users are from North America, while the majority are based in either Europe or the Asia-Pacific region as shown in the graphic below. The study also found that a large portion of cryptocurrency miners were based in the Asia-Pacific region. Payments and Currency According to the data, only 6% of global transactions are cryptocurrency-to-cryptocurrency exchanges, with the majority (67%) of transactions consisted of national currency to cryptocurrency transactions. Cryptocurrency payment companies said the biggest obstacle they faced was the difficulty of obtaining banking and money transfer operator (MTO) relationships, along with the high cost of regulatory compliance. The study looked at which national currencies were supported throughout the world, providing an idea of local demand for services provided by cryptocurrency payment companies. The South African rand falls below the Kenyan shilling and the Nigerian naira in terms of payment service support for African countries. The full list of national currencies supported by the surveyed payment companies is below (Click to enlarge). AMD recently released its new line-up of Ryzen desktop processors, which compete against Intels 7th-generation Kaby Lake chips. Ryzen and Intel 7th-gen processors are priced at similar levels, while they have different strengths. AMDs Ryzen processors boast an increased number of cores and superior multi-threaded performance, but fall short of Intels quad-core processors in terms of IPC and single-thread performance. Due to their similar pricing and specifications, consumers can confidently decide to purchase either a Ryzen or Kaby Lake chip, depending on their individual use cases and choice of chipset. With Ryzen CPUs in the local market for a few weeks now, MyBroadband spoke to South African hardware retailer Wootware about the popularity of AMDs new processors in South Africa. Ryzens popularity Wootwares Rory Magee said AMDs Ryzen 7 1700 octa-core processor is the most popular Ryzen desktop processor among local consumers. Of the Ryzen 7 CPUs, the Ryzen 7 1700 has been the most popular by a fair margin, and this also seems to be the case internationally, said Magee. Magee said the six-core Ryzen 5 1600 could quickly overtake the Ryzen 7 1700 in South Africa, though, due to its attractive value. The Ryzen 5 1600 looks like a strong contender to become AMDs new most-popular CPU, given that it represents a compelling price-to-performance ratio, features six physical cores, and includes AMDs Wraith Cooler, he said. Magee added that the popularity of AMDs Ryzen processors has been steadily increasing in South Africa, chipping away at the market share of Intels 6th and 7th-gen processors. Theres been a significant uptake of AMDs Ryzen platform and processors, and thats just accounting for the Ryzen 7 range without taking the newly-released Ryzen 5 range into account, said Magee. It seems likely that AMD will be taking a significant double-digit percentage share of new desktop CPU sales. This article first appeared on MyBroadband and is republished with permission. U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced a bipartisan resolution in the Senate to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide. The resolution was cosponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.). Today, on Armenian Remembrance Day, 102 years after this tragedy took place under the Ottomans, we must call it for what it is: genocide. I believe our continued failure to do so leaves space for barbarism in our present world and I call on my Senate colleagues to correct this shameful oversight, said Senator Menendez. This resolution reaffirms in the strongest terms possible that we will always honor the memory of innocent Armenian men, women, and children who were killed or expelled from their homeland, and will always remember this tragedy as a lesson to always stand together against all crimes against humanity. Over the course of eight years, the Ottoman Empire deported nearly 2,000,000 Armenians from their homeland, where they had existed for 2,500 years. Of that population, 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed. In 1915, England, France and Russia jointly condemned this "crime against humanity," the first ever such charge against another government. We want to thank Senator Menendez and his Senate colleagues for introducing legislation calling for an end to U.S. complicity in Turkey's denials," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). "It's evident, as the authors of this bipartisan resolution clearly articulate, that any meaningful improvement in Armenian-Turkish relations will require that the Turkish government first acknowledge the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide and then accept a just and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity. We deeply appreciate Senator Menendezs commitment to affirming Americas proud chapter in helping to save the Armenian people during the first genocide of the twentieth century, stated Armenian Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. As we remember the Armenian Genocide today, I am reminded that Christians and other minorities in the Middle East and elsewhere remain at risk. Their plight obligates us to redouble our efforts to prevent further atrocities and restore respect for human rights everywhere. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) Making a case for supportive exchange rate policy, Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian today said the rupee should not be allowed to become too strong as it hurts exports and economy in general. "All the evidence is that in order to be more open, one supporting policy with experience shows is that you have to have a supportive currency. If the currency becomes too strong, it is not easy to keep open markets because a lot of goods come in and industry feels the pressure," he said. advertisement India needs to have supportive exchange rate policies, he said, adding that the rupee should not become too strong. "For those who say we will do other things to make the economy competitive, my response is use all the instruments available and dont rule out exchange rate as an instrument," he said at the CII event here. He wondered as to why the industry is not coming out in support of exchange rate policies that will be conducive to India being more open, able to be more competitive and to export a lot. Exchange rate is a very important instrument for maintaining competitiveness and for boosting growth, he emphasised. Terming it as a mistake and misguided view that strong currency is a sign of national or economic strength, he said, "That is a mistake that we should not make and that is something we should be careful about. If you look at the last two years, our country has lost competitiveness from exchange rate by 10-15 per cent and that is a huge loss in competitiveness that is effecting our exports." Clothing, pharma and leather sectors have been impacted due to this, he said. To a query on what should be done, Subramanian said: "The reason we are experiencing this is because a lot of capital is flowing into India, people are rightly bullish about the Indian economy... We are not intervening and we are allowing the rupee to appreciate." On a question whether we are making a mistake by allowing the rupee to appreciate, he said "that is a question that you know another city in India will answer and not New Delhi". Subramanian dismissed the argument that the era of globalisation is over. "While hyper globalisation is dead, globalisation is alive. We may not get rapid increase in trade in the world, but we are not going to get rapid declines either. So, its not a bleak scenario," he said. He emphasised that India has interest in keeping world markets open. "Therefore, we need to take leadership and that leadership means we should also be willing to open our markets in return for others opening their markets. Thats why features like the European Union, free trade agreements are worth thinking about," he said. PTI DP CS ARD --- ENDS --- advertisement Eleving Group member Mogo applies the best practices in Armenia Iran MFA. Azerbaijan president's reaction is incomprehensible Pashinyan: Armenia-Cambodia warm relations have great prospects for development Javier Colomina: NATO supports normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations Karabakh FM: Azerbaijan has become more aggressive, brazen with Turkeys support MOD: Artsakh army units did not open fire towards Azerbaijan positions Armenia Security Council chief briefs Poland Senate vice-speaker on regional developments Azerbaijan fires at Armenia positions Newspaper: Armenia law enforcement agencies operative intelligence teams to enter several officials houses US midterm elections virtually over, counting of votes underway US State Department: Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs agreed to continue meetings, direct dialogue Global South needs $2 trillion year to fight climate crisis The Telegraph: Rishi Sunak to announce major natural gas deal with US after COP27 summit U.S. officials secretly ask major banks to continue doing business with some Russian firms Borussia Dortmund lose to Wolfsburg (video) 19fortyfive: Is America tired of the war in Ukraine? Napoli win and 9 points ahead of runner-up AC Milan (video) EU replaces pipeline Russian gas with imported Russian LNG Kommersant: China split the 'unity' of the West Foods that increase risk of premature death named Expert estimates level of Azerbaijan's information attack on Armenia in September, comparing it to 44-day war FIFA 23 predicts Argentina's victory at World Cup 2022 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 De Ligt says two strongest clubs in Europe will meet 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 Gerard Pique and Shakira's sons will live with their mother in Miami Army Commander-in-Chief: Even those who claim to be superpowers do not dare to attack Iran Iran and Russia to build joint pipeline Armenian Robin the Robot appeared in National Geographic: What kind of robot is it and where is it used? Rafael Leao demands record salary from Milan India to continue buying Russian oil Watching violent TV shows leads to mental health problems in children Businessman Zhong Shanshan becomes richest man in China Armenia and Poland emphasize OSCE role in promoting stability in South Caucasus Chelsea and Tottenham want to buy Iranian Mehdi Taremi US demands to ban TikTok in country: This social network censors videos about elections? Banks are searched in Germany in case of money laundering by Russian businessman Rebel Wilson becomes mother for first time Armenian President reacts to Aliyev's speech at League of Arab States summit Armenia increases trade with EEU member states by $1.2 bln Thomas Muller is confident that Bayern can overcome PSG ban 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 'Black Adam' grosses $300 million worldwide 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 Study: Brain puts time codes on sounds for word recognition 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 Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool look forward to facing Real Madrid Aliyev switches from threatening Armenia to insulting foreign leaders Netflix releases official trailer for 'Get Knives: Glass Bulb' 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 Hadid sisters categorically refuse to participate in Rihanna's lingerie show Messengers, which are considered safe, can reveal location of users Berezovsky invites 25 players to Armenian national team 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 Spice Girls reunite at Geri Halliwell's anniversary celebration 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 Backstreet Boys lead singer Nick Carter tears up at concert over brother Aaron's death IIIF150 Air1 Ultra: The thinnest smartphone has night vision camera and powerful battery Champions League playoff favorites are known Irina Shayk and Bradley Cooper together again UK tests lab-grown red blood cells 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 New Mass Effect in development phase: What BioWare shows us in teaser? Turkey voices its full and unconditional support for Azerbaijan Eminem reveals he almost died of overdose Ombudsperson attends Armenia-EU Human Rights Dialogue session, presents facts recorded in her ad hoc reports Israeli embassy congratulates Azerbaijan on 'Victory Day' Supplements that supposedly lower bad cholesterol are actually useless YEREVAN. The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) oversees the legislative and executive authorities in the country. Attorney Vahe Grigoryan on Friday stated about the aforesaid in his concluding remarks at the Constitutional Court hearing on the petition by the opposition Congress-PPA (Armenian National Congress (ANC) and Peoples Party of Armenia) Bloc. The bloc demands from the Constitutional Court to invalidate the results of the parliamentary election that was conducted in the country on April 2. In Grigoryans words, the RPA also controls the institution of the President with extensive powers, and the judicial branch of power. We are dealing with a [political] party that oversees all three branches of power [in Armenia], he stressed. As per the attorney, the current unconstitutional situation in the country has deep roots. And if this court continues in the same spirit, then it will not be able to meet at least the minimum requirements of justice, added Vahe Grigoryan. YEREVAN. The Prime Minister of Armenia, Karen Karapetyan, on Friday received Argentine Ambassador Gonzalo Urriolabeitia. Noting that the two countries have strong ties of friendship due to the vibrant Armenian community in Argentina, the Prime Minister said Armenia was ready to expand cooperation, the press office of the government informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. Prioritizing the developing trade and economic relations, Karapetyan pointed out, however, that although Argentina had a significant share in the foreign investments to Armenia, the volume of bilateral trade was unsatisfactory and that there was still much to be done to tap to its full potential. The Premier suggested organizing a business forum, or Argentina open days, in Armenia, and raising awareness of investment opportunities in the country. In this context, Karapetyan noted the success of Argentina Wine Week in Armenia. Ambassador Urriolabeitia, for his part, said Argentina had always attached importance to development of bilateral relations with Armenia, and stressed that efforts have to be made to ensure this approach was equally reflected in economy. He noted that the Embassy of Argentina was actively working with the Armenian government, so as to develop mutually beneficial investment projects, and he gave details on their progress. The interlocutors concurred that agriculture was of particular importance for Armenian-Argentinean economic cooperation. In this connection, they exchanged views on agribusiness management, supply of agricultural machinery, and coordination of consultancy. Also, both sides stressed the need to take steps toward promoting tourism. By India Today Web Desk: Vinod Khanna, 70, passed away yesterday morning after suffering from a serious case of bladder cancer for years. The death of one of Indian cinema's most prominent actors sent shockwaves through the country. One of the actors who was pretty close to Vinod Khanna was Sanjay Dutt. Both actors have appeared together in five films. Recently, Sandeep Singh, who is producing Sanjay Dutt's comeback film Bhoomi, shared an interesting anecdote about the bond Sanju baba and Vinod Khanna shared. advertisement According to a report in DNA, Sandeep Singh recalled Sanjay Dutt wanting to meet Vinod Khanna while they were filming in South Mumbai. "We were shooting in South Mumbai, Sanju Sir told me before we started the shoot, 'I want to first go and see my father (Vinod Khanna). I have learned to be a man because of him as he taught me a lot of things'," said Sandeep Singh. At the hospital, Akshaye Khanna, Vinod Khanna's son, received Sanjay Dutt and his producer. The hospital had the entire Khanna family waiting inside. "The entire family was there from his wife Kavitaji, son Saakshi, his brother Pramodji and his sister Shraddha. Akshaye hugged us and asked us to wait while they were asking the doctor for permission to meet Vinod Sir," Sandeep said. When Sanjay Dutt asked Akshaye Khanna why he did not take his father to the US where both Sanjay's mother and first wife Richa were treated for cancer, Akshaye said that Mumbai's best doctors were looking after his father. "Doctors were not allowing him to meet anybody, but when Akshaye told him Sanju Sir had come. Vinod Sir said, 'I want to meet my son.' After meeting him for a few minutes, Baba was very quiet. He must have revisited his past again as he had gone through the same with Richa and Nargisji. He hates hospitals and it was traumatic for him to see Vinod Sir so unwell," Sandeep said. On that note, it was in fact Sanjay Dutt's father Sunil Dutt who spotted Vinod Khanna in a Delhi disco and then told the latter's father that Vinod should be acting in films. ALSO SEE: Vinod Khanna's funeral attended by Amitabh-Abhishek, Rishi Kapoor ALSO SEE: 10 best performances of Vinod Khanna WATCH: Feeling of freedom yet to sink in, says Sanjay Dutt --- ENDS --- The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in Strasbourg today, resolved that it has no confidence in Pedro Agramunt as President of the Assembly. It further resolved that Mr Agramunt is not authorised to undertake any official visits, attend any meetings or make any public statements on behalf of the Assembly in his capacity as President. The President chose not to attend the Bureau today, and has not presented a letter of resignation. As a result, and in the context of the current Rules of Procedure under which the President cannot be compelled to resign, the Bureau felt it necessary to take these steps, said Sir Roger Gale (United Kingdom, EC), Senior Vice-President of the Assembly, after chairing the Bureau meeting. The standards and principles of the Parliamentary Assembly are more important than any individual member, and the integrity of our Assembly must be upheld, he added. YEREVAN. Pedro Agramunt chose the option of humiliating himself to the end, not attending the Bureau meeting today, and not presenting a letter of resignation, Armenia's delegate to PACE Samvel Farmanyan noted on his Facebook page on Friday. According to him, the Bureau of PACE had to make a humiliating and unprecedented decision to impose a de facto impeachment. Farmanyan released the Bureau's decision and added: PS 1. The Bureau's decision was supported by 27 MPs, three members from Spain and Azerbaijan abstained. PS 2. As a legal solution to the embarrassing situation, PACE Rules of Procedure will be changed on the first day of the June session and a special provision will be set for de jure removing Pedro Agramunt as PACE president, if, of course, he stubbornly continues refusing to resign. Meanwhile, an extraordinary session of the PACE EPP faction will be held in May to discuss this embarrassing and unprecedented situation. And the EPP will convene a special meeting in Brussels to discuss Pedro Agramunt's shameful behavior, Farmanyan noted. It was noted earlier that the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) had no confidence in Pedro Agramunt as President of the Assembly. In addition Agramunt was not authorized to undertake any official visits, attend any meetings or make any public statements on behalf of the Assembly in his capacity as President. The President chose not to attend the Bureau today, and has not presented a letter of resignation. As a result, and in the context of the current Rules of Procedure under which the President cannot be compelled to resign, the Bureau felt it necessary to take these steps, said Sir Roger Gale (United Kingdom, EC), Senior Vice-President of the Assembly, after chairing the Bureau meeting. The standards and principles of the Parliamentary Assembly are more important than any individual member, and the integrity of our Assembly must be upheld, he added. Shah Rukh Khan gave a speech at the 2017 TED conference on Thursday and he reportedly turned out to be the funniest speaker at the event. By India Today Web Desk: Shah Rukh Khan spoke at the 2017 TED conference on Thursday and well, his speech simply blew away the audiences' minds at the venue in Vancouver, Canada. SRK spoke on a lot of topics ranging from his persona of the 'King of Romance' to how the world has changed following the arrival of the internet. Shah Rukh Khan did not stick to just one topic and according to a report in Business Insider, he was apparently the funniest speaker at TED 2017 up until now. advertisement On humanity, Shah Rukh Khan said, "Humanity is a lot like me. It's an aging movie star, grappling with all the newness, wondering whether she got it right." About the internet, SRK said, "We had expected an expansion of ideas and dreams; we had not bargained for the enclosure of judgement." Another choice Shah Rukh Khan quote from his TED talk went as follows, "You can use your energy to spread the darkness of destruction or you can use it to spread the joy of light to millions." While Shah Rukh Khan's fans on Twitter began a hashtag #SRKLiveAtTedTalks and got it to trend, his Canadian fans thronged outside the venue. Later this year, Shah Rukh Khan will be hosting a Hindi version of the TED talks on Star Plus, titled Nayi Soch. ALSO READ: Shah Rukh Khan joins Elon Musk, Serena Williams at Ted Talk 2017 WATCH: No one understands me, says Shah Rukh Khan --- ENDS --- People are under a heavy pressure and in a situation where many of them choose to leave the border villages, Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Herbert Salber, said in an interview with Radio Liberty after visiting the border villages of Armenia and meeting with the residents thereof for the first time within the framework of his regional visit. Asked what the purpose of his visit to the border villages of Armenia was, Salber noted that he aimed to see with his own eyes how people live there in that tense situation, being targeted by salvo from the opposite side. He thanked for the opportunity of receiving information from the Red Cross representatives about the situation. Salber also noted that he managed to meet with young girls and boys, as well as elderly people on the square of one of the villages. The Special Representative expressed concern about the figures, according to which the population of the country has reduced in the recent years, people having more opportunities in other places, including Yerevan. Although this wasnt unexpected for the official, he was positively surprised by the fact that people say they are tired of this situation. They want peace and a situation, which would enable them to normally communicate with the other side like this was done decades ago, he stressed, adding that people want this division to end. Salber noted that the elderly people sincerely said that they want all this to end, hoping that the responsible political figures will be able to achieve peace. Referring to the process of conflict resolution, the Special Representative expressed hope that the situation will change. In his words, during the last months they witnessed stagnation of efforts, but now this stage will end and the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan along with their Russian counterpart will speak about these issues. Moreover, he expressed hope that that meeting will contribute to the negotiation process, which, according to the official, is utterly important. YEREVAN. - The Cassation Court of Armenia has rejected the claim related to the murder of the Avetisyan family in Gyumri in January 2015. Attorney of the aggrieved party, Artur Sakunts, told Armenian News NEWS.am that the judgment of the Cassation Court was announced on Friday The court considered the claim unsubstantiated, Sakunts said, adding that the domestic remedies of Armenia are thereby exhausted and they are going to apply to the European Court of Human Rights. The Court of Cassation of Armenia received two appealsby attonerys Artur Sakunts and Aramazd Kiviryan to the case into the murder of Avetisyan family in Gyumri. The second claim shared the same destiny. Attorney Aramazd Kiviryan, who represents the interests of some of the victims successors, told Armenian News-NEWS.am that they were going to appeal to the Cassation Court and ECHR. On December 19, 2016, the Court of Appeal had upheld the lower court decision on this case. The legal successors of the murdered Avetisyan family are appealing the court decision. One appeal is about compensation for the damages caused. The other appeal is the re-examination of the case, and based on the theory that Valery Permyakov, a serviceman of the 102nd Russian Military Base in Gyumri and who has been found guilty of committing the murder, could not have acted alone. The murder took place on January 12, 2015. According to the indictment, Permyakov entered the Avetisyan family home on that day, and he killed home residents Aida Avetisyan, Hasmik Avetisyan, Seryozha Avetisyan, Armen Avetisyan, Araksya Poghosyan, and little girl Hasmik Avetisyan. Subsequently, he stabbed 6-month-old Seryozha Avetisyan five times. The baby boy died in the hospital one week later. Permyakov was apprehended by the Russian border guards near the Armenian-Turkish borderand nearby Bayandur villageon the same night, he was arrested on January 14, and held in custody at the Russian military base. Armenia and Russia instituted criminal cases on charges of murder and military desertion, respectively. On August 12, 2015, the Russian court sentenced Permyakov to ten years in prison. And on October 16 of the same year, Armenia formally brought criminal charges against the Russian soldier. And on August 23, 2016, the Shirak District Court of First Instance found Valery Permyakov guilty of all chargesmurder, robbery, and attempt to cross the Armenian state borderthat were brought against him, and he was sentenced to life in prison. Chief Executive Officer of the board had received letters on the letter head of a union minister bearing his signatures recommending that priorities be granted for helicopter tickets and darshan. By Ashwini Kumar: The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has lodged an FIR against unknown persons, who allegedly sent fake letters from a union minister recommending preferential treatment in the issuing of helicopter tickets and darshan at the shrine. Chief Executive Officer of the board had received letters on the letter head of a union minister bearing his signatures recommending that priorities be granted for helicopter tickets and darshan. Because of the frequency of letters from the same source, the CEO lodged a complaint at the police station in Katra, which has registered an FIR for fraud and cheating. advertisement It is pertinent to mention that the protocol wing of the board received letters on the letter head of a union minister, showing the signature of the minister and recommending that priorities be granted for helicopter tickets and darshans. CEO found that these letters were mailed to the board's office from private email IDs and not from the official ID of the Ministry, and approached the concerned department for verification, who confirmed that no such letters had been issued by their Ministry. In view of the above, a prima facie case of forgery and cheating has been filed at the Katra police station for taking urgent action. --- ENDS --- It is impossible to solve the absolute majority of the currently existing conflicts by means of weapons, Defense Minister of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan said on Friday, speaking at the 6th Moscow Conference on International Security. According to the Minister, the collaboration of defense agencies is exactly the mechanism by means of which the suppression of escalations and provocations should be carried out when the heads of political agencies and states are holding talks looking for mutual concessions on the essence of key issues. Of course, escalations can contribute to the negotiation processes but the consequences of such incentives are either hard or overall impossible to predict. Military actions in any case end with peaceful talks, mutual concessions and ceasefire agreements,Sargsyan noted. The use of force cannot be a way of conflict settlement: the cost is too big, and too big resources will thereafter be required for restoration; too many human fates appear in the captivity of history. Moreover, the form of conducting military actions per se, their influence on the peaceful population and ordinary citizens is in deep contradiction to the international humanitarian law and social development. In the 21st century the main emphasis should be placed on ruling out the use of force or the threat thereof. The efforts of the international community should be concentrated in this direction. Unfortunately, war is starting to be more often considered by the Clausewitz formula as one of the political tools, its natural continuation. I think the servicemen, who understand and know the war, its consequences and cost should return the realization that a war cannot be the logical continuation of anything. History is given to the humanity for creating, developing and not for wars and contradictions. Referring to the classification of regions, the Defense Minister noted that the truth is very simple: security depends on the fully-fledged perception of regionalization trends and consideration of local peculiarities of the surveillance system. According to him, in the 21st century regionalization is regionalization based on the existing issues and ways of solving them That is, one and the same country can at the same time be in different and in certain cases in seemingly incompatible regions, depending on the proposed issues, he noted. In this context, Vigen Sargsyan underscored the importance of collaboration between the official agencies, noting that this requires more information exchange, existence of direct communication lines, ability to keep promises for mutual confidence building, mutual understanding level, strict observance of international humanitarian norms and rules, and most importantly, respect towards partners. The realization that we are cooperating not for current but long-term prospects is the basis of bases for productive international dialogue, whereas the existing challenges and threats only dictate this, he noted. NSC Survey: 58 Percent of Construction Workers Say Safety Takes Back Seat to Productivity The council reminds workers to put an emphasis on safety during Workers' Memorial Day. According to a National Safety Council survey, 58 percent of construction workers in America feel that safety takes a back seat to productivity and completing job tasks. Supporting this finding is the sobering fact that the construction industry has the most workplace fatalities each year in the United States. The results of the survey have been released in conjunction with Workers' Memorial Day on April 28. (The day is marked by OSHA and many organizations around the world; April 28 is the date OSHA was established in 1971.) Other findings include: 51 percent say management does only the minimum required by law to keep employees safe, 47 percent say employees are afraid to report safety issues, and 36 percent of employees feel their employers prioritize productivity over safety. "On Workers' Memorial Day, we pause to remember those that have been lost in completely preventable incidents," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "Sadly, the results of our survey indicate that many workers still worry about whether they will make it home safely tonight. We call on all employers to renew their commitment to keep everyone safe, on every job, each and every day." On 6 May Rock Salt, the signature beachside restaurant at THE NAI HARN Phuket will celebrate its first birthday with an evening of fine wines and culinary delights. The beachside eatery has built a strong reputation for its global offerings with varied lunch and dinner selections, which include indulgent oyster platters, perfectly grilled meats and seafood from the charcoal BBQ, authentic wood-fired pizzas, traditional tandoor dishes, Thai favourites and Greek classics. While top flight DJs mix mellow beats as the sun sets, complimentary cocktail-hour canapes will be served to tempt guests taste buds. To fuel the evening celebrations, guest will enjoy two for one drinks, including chilled glasses of Whispering Angel Rose, a delectable summer tipple from Chateau dEsclans that was selected as the Gold Award winner for the Best Rose of Thailand by world-famous wine expert James Suckling at launch party for Rock Salt in 2016. We launched Rock Salt a year ago as a new destination dining venue, not only for our discerning guests at the hotel, but also for outside visitors and diners from the diverse island community who welcome a fresh approach to top quality dining, says Frank Grassmann, General Manager, THE NAI HARN PHUKET. The casual, breezy ambiance complements the enticing, innovative dishes from across the world and the breathtaking setting celebrates the beauty of island, he adds. Rock Salt overlooks the soft sands and lapping waves of Nai Harn beach, which was voted as the Best Beach in Thailand in the tripadvisor Travelers Choice Awards 2017. Plenty of reasons to celebrate. To reserve a table or book a stay at THE NAI HARN for a Rock Salt birthday weekend Call: +66 7638 0200-10 Email: info@thenaiharn.com Facebook: Rock Salt 1 Year Anniversary, Nai Harn Beach Instagram: thenaiharnphuket Credit: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland An international project led by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed a new augmented reality (AR) tool for the ESA. In the future, it is envisaged that astronauts will be able to use this tool to perform maintenance tasks and real-time equipment monitoring in the demanding conditions of space. The first practical tests carried out at ESA's European Astronaut Centre produced excellent results. The two-year EdcAR project (Engineering data in cross platform AR) led by VTT developed a solution to the challenges involved in maintenance and the provision of work instructions, which have been an issue for more than a decade. Since maintenance and other work tasks in space are critical, they must be carried out without errors and at the right time. Preparing for these requires in-depth practice, which involves coordinating the activities of various experts. Since astronauts' time is extremely valuable, their tasks and maintenance instructions must be unambiguous. The EdcAR project developed a new AR system intended to improve the performance of manual tasks in space. The system is expected to reduce mistakes, speed up the tasks and improve the clarity of instructions via AR technology. The major benefit is the real-time location of the point requiring maintenance. This information is transmitted to the astronaut's AR glasses at the right time by using text, graphics, video, sound etc. The system displays detailed visual instructions on the astronauts' AR glasses, guiding them step by step to perform the necessary procedures in the right order, such as "now press this button," "then turn the lever (B)." The new system also makes the invisible visible by enabling the visualization of telemetry data from equipment and other systems on board the space station, such as fault diagnostics, the latest maintenance data, life cycle, radiation, pressure or temperatureboth in space and on the ground. All of this information can be displayed on the AR glasses. "The AR system that we developed runs on the Microsoft HoloLens platform. It supports the astronauts' work in a completely new way by displaying key telemetry data through an IoT (Internet-of-Things) interface," explains Project Manager Kaj Helin of VTT. "This is very impressive. We are exploring possibilities for an EdcAR follow on," says David Martinez Oliveira, Technical Officer, ESA. The first practical tests of the new AR systems have been performed in the ISS-Columbus training mock-up located in the ESA's on-ground European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. The test team included an experienced astronaut. Credit: CC0 Public Domain (Phys.org)A team of researchers from Poland, Spain and Austria has discovered that brown bears living in Poland have glands in their paws that produce chemicals that the bears use to communicate with other bears. In their paper published in Scientific Reports, the team describes their study of multiple bears in the wild and what they observed. As the researchers note, many animals both on land and in the sea use chemical signaling as a way to communicate with one another. Such chemicals when dispersed into the environment can be used by others of the same species to learn about the animal that left them by simply sniffing them. Prior research has shown that brown bears are typically loners who establish large territories. Such a lifestyle would seem to suggest the need for long range communicationsto let other bears know of territory borders, occupant age, gender, etc. Also, there would be a need for females to signal males when they are ready for mating. To learn more about possible chemical signaling in brown bears, the researchers began by examining skin samples from two bearsone in the wild and one from a zoo. They found that the bears had glands in their feet that secreted chemicals that could be released when the feet were twisted on the ground. Upon examining the secreted chemicals, the researchers found 20 compounds suitable for use in communicating information such as gender, readiness for mating, etc. To better understand how the bears might use chemical signaling, the researchers watched and filmed wild bears living in the mountains of southern Poland from 2014 to 2016. They also filmed bears living in the mountains in Spain over the course of a three-year period. In looking at the film the researchers report that they observed bears intentionally twisting their feet on the ground as they walked in certain instancesa move that would likely release the secreted chemicals to the ground. They also found that many of the bears would retrace steps they had taken before, carefully placing their feet into the prints they had left behindperhaps updating their profile. In some cases, multiple twistings over time had led to bare patches of ground that presumably would serve as listening posts for other bears who happened upon them. They also report that males appeared to engage in feet twisting more than females. More information: Agnieszka Sergiel et al. Histological, chemical and behavioural evidence of pedal communication in brown bears, Scientific Reports (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01136-1 Abstract Most mammals rely upon scent for intraspecific communication. As most bear species have large home ranges and are non-territorial, scent deposit while walking could be an effective way to communicate with conspecifics. Here, we investigate the existence of pedal glands in brown bears and their role in chemical communication from a histological, biochemical and behavioural perspective. We found eccrine glands in footpads, and prominent apocrine and sebaceous glands in the interdigital, metacarpal and metatarsal skin sections. Pedal scent contained 26 compounds including carboxylic acids, important constituents of mammalian secretions. Six of these compounds were exclusive for males. Finally, we describe a specific marking gait recorded in the field, mostly performed by males. Our study supports the existence of chemical communication through pedal marking in brown bears and suggests sex-coding potential of pedal scent. Journal information: Scientific Reports 2017 Phys.org A cassava farm in Nigeria, which is the worlds largest producer of the crop. Credit: Cornell University For breeders of cassava, a staple food for hundreds of millions in the tropics, producing improved varieties has been getting harder over time. A team at Cornell used genomic analysis of cassava varieties and wild relatives to make a diagnosis: Mutations have corroded the genome, producing many dysfunctional versions of genes and putting at risk a crop crucial to the survival of one-tenth of the world's population. "The analysis was cleanly able to show that cassava is genetically decaying," said Ed Buckler, a research geneticist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service and adjunct professor of plant breeding and genetics at the Institute for Genomic Diversity (IGD) in Cornell's Institute of Biotechnology. "It's getting worse through time as it picks up more and more mutations, so when breeders do make crosses they're having to put more and more effort into finding the few offspring that contain at least one functional version of each gene." Cassava's challenging position described by Buckler as "pointed in the direction of extinction" is likely due to a reduction in diversity during domestication as well as the fact that cassava is spread through cuttings rather than seeds. Without sexual reproduction and the concomitant purging of mutations through recombination, approximately 30 new mutations per generation are accumulating. The research, published April 17 in Nature Genetics, was a test of whether genomewide mutations could be identified computationally. It's a question the group initially set out to answer in maize through a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, but it was fast-tracked in cassava after a request from the foundation. The data provide a way forward for breeders to bring greater food security to the tropics by shoring up a key crop that feeds an estimated 800 million people primarily smallholder farmers in areas with marginal soils and unpredictable rainfall. Punna Ramu and Fei Lu, research associates with IGD, used a combination of deep sequencing collecting enough data to sequence 241 cassava types 30 times and predictive tools based on evolution to identify which mutations were likely to interfere with a gene's function. While the frequency of harmful mutations was high at 26 percent, they also uncovered widespread genetic evidence that breeders have been successfully compensating for the dysfunctional alleles in their pursuit of higher productivity and yield. Nearly two-thirds of mutations occurred only in the presence of a second, functional version of the gene. "Most deleterious mutations are recessive, meaning they are only a problem if the plant has two copies of the mutated gene at the same place," Lu said. "The high heterozygosity in cassava was really the most interesting thing we found that breeding efforts had successfully masked the deleterious mutations with functional versions." The findings are already being incorporated into the breeding models of the Cornell-based NextGeneration Cassava Breeding project, also funded by the Gates Foundation. The NextGen project managed by Chiedozie Egesi in International Programs at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, who collaborated on the research is developing strategies to selectively breed materials to eliminate the mutations, but that's just the start of the ways that the technology could be used. "In the long run, using genome editing, we could provide the equivalent of personalized medicine to breeding lines," Buckler said. "Essentially these mutations are like disease mutations in humans. And we're getting to the point where we can identify those deleterious mutations and correct them." More information: Punna Ramu et al. Cassava haplotype map highlights fixation of deleterious mutations during clonal propagation, Nature Genetics (2017). DOI: 10.1038/ng.3845 Journal information: Nature Genetics Credit: Tohoku University Using hollow-core optical fibre as a sensitive gas cell, researchers in Japan have devised a relatively simple and affordable sensor for monitoring biomarkers in human breath at low concentrations. Trace amounts of gases exhaled through the nose and mouth offer clues to respiratory conditions such as asthma, as well as other easy-to-administer health screening opportunities. Tohoku University scientists explained how their device works in the journal Sensors, using isoprene as an example. Isoprene is a known indicator of cholesterol synthesis and could offer valuable insights into a patient's metabolism. Breath measurements taken from volunteers throughout the day allowed researchers to track changes in isoprene levels following activities such as exercise or eating. Breath analysis has attracted much attention because it is non-invasive and has the potential to inform users on a range of health topics. However, detecting biomarkers present at low-concentrations often requires bulky and expensive laboratory systems. The Japanese scientists believe their sensor paves the way for a more portable and affordable solution. Key to the success of the group's apparatus is a 3-meter-long, hollow-core optical fibre, which is coated on the inside with a reflective film. Participants breathe into a connecting tube that guides the exhaled gases into the fibre's core, where the contents are exposed to laser-driven ultraviolet light. A detector placed at the end of the optical path highlights any portions of the light signal that are absorbed as the ultraviolet emission passes through the gas sample. And this series of so-called 'absorption peaks' forms a chemical signature that reveal which molecules are present. The combination of a long beam-path and high-intensity emission enhances the measurement, so even chemicals present at parts-per-billion levels can be detected. Optical setup for gas analysis. Credit: Tohoku University More information: Takuro Iwata et al. Real-Time Analysis of Isoprene in Breath by Using Ultraviolet-Absorption Spectroscopy with a Hollow Optical Fiber Gas Cell, Sensors (2016). DOI: 10.3390/s16122058 In a five-hour-long operation, Army personnel rescued 520 tourists stranded and pulled out 75 vehicles stuck due to a massive hailstorm that struck the hilly region of east Sikkim on April 27 Army personnel helping pull out a vehicle stuck in the hailstorm in Sikkim. By Manjeet Negi: Army personnel have rescued 520 tourists stranded and pulled out 75 vehicles stuck due to a massive hailstorm that struck the hilly region of east Sikkim. The five-hour-long operation took place on the evening of April 27. All kinds of assistance including medical aid, food, water, warm clothes and lodging at the nearest Army Transit facility was provided to stranded tourists. advertisement TIMELY ACTION BY ARMY SAVED LIVES It was only due to the prompt action by Army personnel that these people could be rescued considering that sun sets in Sikkim around 5 pm and visitors find it very difficult to withstand the biting cold weather conditions here. With all lines of communication currently non-operational, this is all the information available since reports last came in. Also read | Jammu and Kashmir: Avalanche hits Army post in Kargil; 3 jawans missing Also read | Srinagar: Soldiers shun guns to help locals during floods --- ENDS --- This panchromatic-sharpened, natural-color image of Boston was generated from data collected during an April 23, 2001 scan by the Earth-Observing-1's Advanced Land Imager. Credit: NASA After more than 16 years of operation, NASA's Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) spacecraft was decommissioned on March 30. The EO-1 satellite was a component of NASA's New Millennium Program to validate new technologies that could reduce costs and improve capabilities for future space missions. Aboard EO-1 was the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) instrument developed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory as an alternative to the land-imaging sensor that was used by the Landsat Earth-observing program. "From its inception, ALI was intended to demonstrate new technologies that would carry on Landsat's more than 30-year legacy of continuous land monitoring while providing substantial size, weight, power, and cost reductions," says Jeffrey Mendenhall, current leader of Lincoln Laboratory's Advanced Imager Technology Group and a member of the ALI development team. "Thirty international Earth science teams evaluated a variety of ALI datafor example, data for agriculture, forestry, urban development, climate, volcanology, glaciology, geology, water managementcollected over the first year of operation to assess the instrument's performance relative to Landsat program expectations. The ultimate conclusion was that ALI met, or in many instances, exceeded the Landsat 7 instrument's performance." ALI not only achieved higher image resolution and quality, it also exhibited greater sensitivity and dynamic range, and realized higher radiometric accuracy. Moreover, compared to the Landsat imager, ALI was only about three-quarters as heavy, occupied two-thirds as much space, consumed one-fifth as much power, and cost significantly less to build. The EO-1 satellite was launched on November 21, 2000 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on a planned one-year mission to collect 2,000 images of Earth. The spacecraft was designed to operate for another year and carried fuel adequate for another five years. However, EO-1 proved to be a workhorse. NASA, in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey, National Reconnaissance Office, Naval Research Laboratory, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, operated EO-1 for more than 15 years beyond its intended mission life. ALI has collected more than 90,000 images, many of which were groundbreaking, such as the first mapping of a lava flow from space and the first tracking of regrowth of an Amazon forest as seen from space. During its lifetime, ALI captured many dramatic scenesdepictions of the ash deposits left by the 2001 World Trade Center attacks, flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the December 2015 eruption of Momotombo volcano in Nicaragua, to name a few. In this portion of a July 21, 2002 scan of New Orleans, the image has been color-processed to reflect data collected from multiple bands, including infrared, which shows up as the bright red. Credit: NASA Lincoln Laboratory's role Lincoln Laboratory's involvement in the EO-1 mission began in January 1994. NASA asked the laboratory to conduct a study to investigate the rapid development of an inexpensive land-imaging mission that could fill the gap in data collection created when the Landsat 6 spacecraft failed to launch. The recommendations of this investigation were not implemented immediately, but the study's findings did inform the later EO-1 sensor design and mission concept. In spring 1994, Lincoln Laboratory began work with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center to conceive a follow-on to the Landsat Earth-imaging mission. Further collaboration in 1995 with the New Millennium Program and SSG, Inc. led to the design for ALI. The ALI development was a rigorous, time-intensive program of development, fabrication, system calibration, and preflight testing. "A most significant Lincoln Lab effort was the optomechanical redesign of the telescope structure using three pieces of Invar. The initial intent of an outside vendor was to use an all-silicon carbide design that we found could not be implemented. In a very short period, so as not to compromise a very demanding schedule, Vin Cerrati and Keith Doyle of the [then] Optical Systems Engineering Group redesigned and analyzed the structure to efficiently support the optics and focal plane," recalls Steven Forman of the laboratory's Engineering Division, which provided fabrication support to the lead R&D team from the Aerospace Division. Lincoln Laboratory delivered ALI to NASA in 1999, and the system was integrated on the EO-1 satellite at Swales Aerospace. Five days after EO-1's 2000 launch, ALI captured its first images of land. Those images showed remarkable detail of Sutton, Alaska, a small town wedged in a dark valley. Later that day, Nov. 25, ALI collected imagery of east Antarctica, the Marshallese island of Roi-Namur, and north-central Australia. ALI's impact One of the objectives of the ALI demonstration was to evaluate its imagery against that of the Landsat 7 instrument. Thus, EO-1 was maneuvered into orbit to trail Landsat 7 by one minute as it completed 14 orbits each day and repeated the collections every 16 days. Comparison of the ALI and Landsat performances on imaging the same regions at virtually the same times confirmed that the new imager could image Earth at the same level of detail (30 meters per pixel) as the Landsat sensor; however, ALI's set of sensors enabled sharper, photo-like images once the data were processed at the ground station. The panchromatic-band image of the town of Sutton, Alaska, was one of the first images made from ALI data during its inaugural scan on November 25, 2000. Credit: NASA ALI's combination of design choices resulted in an innovative system. "The Advanced Land Imager employed a new architecture that eliminated the Landsat scan mirror and implemented new technologies, such as large, modular focal plane arrays and wide-field-of-view optics," says William Brown, head of the Aerospace Division at the time of ALI's development. To reduce the optical diameter of the sensor, and thus its weight, the laboratory's researchers increased the number of detectors in the focal plane array. This choice allowed a "push-broom" approach to scanning a wide swath of Earth each day. The Landsat system had employed a sensor that collected data in a "whisk broom" mode, i.e., using a single camera that focuses on narrow section of a scene. Such a whisk broom sensor is heavy and expensive, requiring large moving parts that are difficult to stabilize. "By building a focal plane that could be used as a 'push broom' to collect the data as the satellite flies along the ground track, the ALI team demonstrated that the necessary data could be acquired with an instrument that had no moving parts This was a groundbreaking technology advance," says Grant Stokes, head of the laboratory's Space Systems and Technology Division. In addition, ALI used detectors fabricated from different materials to enable the use of several spectral bands for comprehensive imaging of objects and topography, and the ground data system was automated to permit one operator to quickly acquire and process ALI data. "The lab's unique understanding of sensor technology and the mission needs enabled a revolutionary technology to be developed for the Landsat program. EO-1 demonstrated technology on orbit that was transferred to industry to enable Landsat 8," Stokes says. The Landsat 8 instrument, the Operational Land Imager, is based on the ALI design and has been in orbit since 2013, collecting valuable data about Earth's surfaces in the visible, near-infrared, and short-wave infrared bands. Farewell When, on March 30, EO-1's operation ended, NASA had shut down the satellite by depleting its fuel, stopping all moving parts, discharging the battery, and turning off the transmitter. EO-1's orbit will slowly degrade and, in approximately 39 years, EO-1 will reenter Earth's atmosphere, where it is expected to fragment and then burn up. EO-1 has had a great run. It changed the way spectral measurements are made and used by the scientific community, according to Betsy Middleton, EO-1's project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. EO-1 has also validated new concepts and systems for science missions, and has offered us intriguing, spectacular views of Earth. More information: A Gallery of Images from the Advanced Land Imager: www.ll.mit.edu/publications/jo ol15_no2/15_2-07.pdf This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching. Paul Fuoss, the new head of experimental design at SLAC's Linac Coherent Light Source X-ray laser. Credit: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Big leaps in technology require big leaps in design entirely new approaches that can take full advantage of everything the technology has to offer. That's the thinking behind a new initiative at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. To make sure experimenters can get the most out of a major X-ray laser upgrade that will produce beams that are 10,000 times brighter and pulses up to a million times per second, the lab has created a new position head of experimental design at the Linac Coherent Light Source and hired a world-renowned X-ray scientist to fill it. Paul Fuoss (pronounced "foos") will look at LCLS and the LCLS-II upgrade from a fresh perspective and work with scientists and engineers across the lab to design instruments, user-friendly control systems and experimental flows that take full advantage of this technological leap. Although the upgrade won't be finished until the early 2020s, there's really no time to lose, said LCLS Director Mike Dunne. "We're on the verge of a transformation of our science capabilities that is simply unattainable today. When you take these big leaps you have to fundamentally rethink how you approach the science and the design of experiments," Dunne said. "You can't just do it the way you did before but a bit better. You have to approach it from a completely new thought process: What is the scientific knowledge you're trying to get out, and what is the scientific data that might illuminate that new understanding, and how does that translate back into how you obtain that data, and how does that influence how you design the facility?" Taming Complexity to Make Science More Productive For Fuoss, the broader goal is to increase productivity and improve the experiences of scientists at X-ray light sources everywhere. "Experiments have gotten a lot more complex over the past 20 years, not just at LCLS but at synchrotron light sources, too," he said. "We've gone from controlling experiments with a single computer and detecting a single pixel of data at a time to using multiple computers and detecting more like a million pixels at once. Our ability to integrate different tools and computers and visualize the data has often not kept up with the technology. And at LCLS, that complexity is going to increase dramatically in a few years when the LCLS-II upgrade becomes operational." One way to make working with LCLS more streamlined and intuitive is to incorporate user-friendly features into the instruments that come on board as part of LCLS-II. "A lot of that will be working with the scientists and engineers who are designing those instruments to get the building blocks for user compatibility in there," Fuoss said. "It's not part of the core training of scientists and engineers, so we expect we will need to reach out to people who have that expertise and get them to help us." Another way, he said, is to create tools that let scientists visualize their data as it's being collected, so they can understand what is going on in real time. "There are a lot of different pieces that need to be coordinated," Fuoss said. "All of them are currently being done, but we need to bring a unified focus and make sure there are no unnecessary barriers. Ultimately, you want to integrate this kind of thing into everyone's day-to-day development activities." X-Rays, Inventions and Human Interfaces Fuoss has deep roots at SLAC. Originally from South Dakota, where he grew up on a ranch, he earned a degree in physics at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and came to Stanford University in 1975 for graduate school. He wound up doing his graduate research at SLAC, using X-rays from what later became the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) to investigate materials. After earning a PhD, Fuoss went on to do research at Bell Laboratories, AT&T Laboratories and Argonne National Laboratory. He's been an active user of SSRL and other light sources and has developed a number of new techniques for exploring materials with X-rays, many of which are now standard at light sources around the world; in 2015 he received SLAC's Farrel W. Lytle Award for this work. Fuoss also played a role in designing LCLS. In the mid-1990s, while a researcher at AT&T Laboratories, Fuoss took a six-year detour into the world of human interface design and human factors research the study of how people interact with technology, from airplane cockpits to your office copier. Back then, he focused on making telecommunications systems and web interfaces more user friendly. This experience can also be applied to LCLS experimental design. "Paul has an incredible background," Dunne said. "He brings that deep understanding of the nature of X-ray science, an understanding of all the instruments and the technical pieces, and then an understanding of what we're trying to achieve scientifically." Getting the Most out of Beam Time Unlike synchrotron light sources, which may have dozens of X-ray beamlines and many experiments going on simultaneously, the current version of LCLS has just one powerful beam, a billion times brighter than any available before, whose pulses arrive up to 120 times per second. In theory this limits the facility to doing one experiment at a time. But in the seven years since it opened, scientists and engineers have come up with a number of ways to get around that limitation, such as splitting the beam so it can be delivered to two or more experiments at once. At the same time, they reduced the down time between experiments by scheduling similar experiments back to back, so they don't have to change out equipment as often. These and other measures increased the number of experiments run per year by 72 percent from 2014 to 2016, and LCLS recently passed the milestone of hosting more than 1,000 users per year. LCLS-II will add a second X-ray laser beam, further increasing the facility's capacity. By continuing to find ways to squeeze in more experiments while making the way people interact with LCLS more straightforward, Fuoss said, "We can improve productivity and allow the scientific users to have a more hands-on role in the actual data collection. That will both reduce the load on the LCLS staff and lead to a better experience for the scientists who are coming here to use it." German airlines will no longer require two people to be in the cockpit at all times, an industry group said Friday, abandoning a rule introduced after a deadly crash in 2015. "An evaluation has shown that the two-person rule does not increase security, rather other risks to air security arise," the statement from the German Aviation Association (BDL) said. The requirement to have two people in the cockpit at all times was introduced after Germanwings copilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately flew a passenger plane into a French mountainside, killing 144 passengers and six crew in March 2015. Black box recordings showed that Lubitz, who had been treated for mental health problems in the months before the disaster, locked himself into the cockpit alone. The BDL's decision follows an easing of the two-person rule at the EU level by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in August last year. Instead of a blanket requirement, the EASA recommended using the measure only on a case-by-case basis. The BDL argued that allowing more people access to the cockpit and opening the door more often and more obviously would raise the risk of terrorists or criminals forcing their way in. "Security dangers resulting from an outside attack... must continue to be judged much more elevated than the danger from a so-called homicide/suicide case," the group said. It cited a historical survey showing that while there have been 1,074 hijacking cases between 1931 and today, only four cases of pilot suicide have been recorded. Keeping cabin crew in the cockpit whenever one pilot was absent would also leave them unable to help passengers in case of an emergency, the statement said. To minimise the risk of a repeat tragedy, the airlines said they would step up mental health checks on pilots and offer aircrew access to psychological support. 2017 AFP A new CU Boulder study indicates tropical forests may surprisingly accelerate their growth in warmer and wetter conditions -- good news because they may take up more CO2 from the atmosphere under such conditions. Credit: University of Colorado Tropical rainforests are often described as the "lungs of the earth," able to inhale carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and exhale oxygen in return. The faster they grow, the more they mitigate climate change by absorbing CO2. This role has made them a hot research topic, as scientists question what will happen to this vital carbon sink long-term as temperatures rise and rainfall increases. Conventional wisdom has held that forest growth will dramatically slow with high levels of rainfall. But University of Colorado Boulder researchers this month turned that assumption on its head with an unprecedented review of data from 150 forests that concluded just the opposite. "Our data suggest that as large-scale climate patterns shift in the tropics, and some places get wetter and warmer, forests will accelerate their growth, which is good for taking carbon out of the atmosphere," said Philip Taylor, a research associate with the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR). "In some ways, this is a good-news story, because we can expect greater CO2 uptake in tropical regions where rainfall is expected to increase. But there are a lot of caveats." Ecologists have long thought that forest growth follows a hump-shaped curve when it comes to precipitation: To a point, more rainfall leads to more growth. But after about 8 feet per year, it was assumed too much water can waterlog the ecosystem and slow the growth rate of forests. While working in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, Taylor, who got his doctoral degree in ecology and evolutionary biology at CU Boulder, began to question this assumption. "Here we were in a place that got 16 feet of rain per year, and it was one of the most productive and carbon-rich forests on Earth. It clearly broke from the traditional line of thinking," he said. Intrigued, Taylor spent four years synthesizing data on temperature, rainfall, tree growth and soil composition from rainforests in 42 countries, compiling what he believes is the largest pan-tropical database to date. The study, published April 17 in the journal Ecology Letters, found that cooler forests (below 68 degrees F on average), which make up only about 5 percent of the tropical forest biome, seemed to follow the expected hump-shaped curve. But warmer forests, which are in the majority, did not. "The old model was formed with a lack of data from warm tropical forests," said Taylor. "It turns out that in the big tropical forests that do the vast majority of the 'breathing' the situation is flipped. Instead of water slowing growth down, it accelerates it." Taylor cautioned this does not mean climate change won't negatively impact tropical forests at all. In the short term, research has shown, droughts in the Amazon Basin have already led to widespread plant death and a 30 percent decrease in carbon accumulation in the past decade. "A lot of climate change is happening at a pace far quicker than what our study speaks to," he says. "Our study speaks to what we can expect forests to do over hundreds of years." Because the carbon cycle is complex, with forests also releasing carbon into the atmosphere as plants die, it's still impossible to say what the net impact of a wetter climate might be on the forest's ability to sequester carbon, said senior author Alan Townsend, a professor of environmental studies. "The implications of the change still need to be worked out, but what we can say is that the forest responds to changes in rainfall quite differently than what has been a common assumption for a long time," said Townsend. Going forward, the authors hope the findings will set the record straight for educators and scientists. "Our findings fundamentally change a view of the tropical forest carbon cycle that has been published in textbooks and incorporated into models of future climate change for years," said Taylor. "Given how much these forests matter to the climate, these new relationships need to be a part of future climate assessments." Daviesia devito (R) a smaller and weaker plant, while Daviesia schwarzenegger is a bigger and more robust plant. Credit: Stuart Hay, ANU. Biologists from The Australian National University (ANU) have named an unlikely pair of plants after Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, the stars of the 1988 movie Twins. Lead researcher Emeritus Professor Mike Crisp said one of the species of Daviesia, a genus of Australian pea flowers, was much more robust than the other, calling to mind the movie about Julius and his twin brother Vincent, the products of a genetic project. "We discover early on in the movie that the embryo split in two, but it didn't split equallyall the purity and strength went into Schwarzenegger's character Julius, while the dregs went into Vincent, DeVito's character," said Professor Crisp from the ANU Research School of Biology. Daviesia schwarzenegger and devito are among 131 different sub-species that Professor Crisp and his ANU colleagues have identified within the genus Daviesia, which are known as 'egg and bacon peas' due to the colours of their flowers. Professor Crisp said Daviesia devito was a smaller and weaker plant, while Daviesia schwarzenegger was a bigger and more robust plant. "We also wish to honour Arnold Schwarzenegger's leadership as Governor of California in pioneering the reduction of carbon emissions, and for advising the Australian Government to do the same," he said. The unexpected twin species are found in South Eastern Australia in the Mallee region, through South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Emeritus Professor Mike Crisp. Credit: Stuart Hay, ANU. "Both species are at risk of extinction, because they appear to be confined to tiny remnant patches of bushland in a region that is largely cleared for wheat farming," Professor Crisp said. "These plants are ecologically important members of the communities of plants in which they grow. They're nitrogen fixers, playing an important role in the Mallee region where the top soil is very denuded and the nutrients are depleted. It's essential to have nitrogen fixers to replace those nutrients." Professor Crisp said the team's monograph, which was published in Phytotaxa and took 40 years to produce, contributed to the huge ongoing task of documenting biodiversity globally. Davesia schwarzenegger 'egg and bacon pea' flowers. Credit: Mike Crisp, ANU A scanning electron microscope micrograph depicting a mass of Yersinia pestis bacteria in the foregut of an infected flea. Credit: Wikipedia Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes bubonic plague, can survive within the ubiquitous soil protozoan, the amoeba, by producing proteins that protect against the latter microbe's digestion. The research is published April 28th in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The research is important because plague is a re-emerging disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with 95 percent of cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Modern antibiotics are effective, but without prompt treatment, plague can cause serious illness, or death. Y. pestis spreads from rodent to rodent, and sometimes to human, often via fleas It uses the protective niche of the amoeba to abide when conditions are unfavorable to its spread, that is, when rodents are scarce, said Viveka Vadyvaloo, PhD, Assistant Professor, Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman. Amoebae are similar to certain human immune cells, the macrophages, in their ability to engulf bacteria, or other nourishing items of similar size.These are taken up within special compartments called vacuoles, which in both amoebae and humans are capable of digestion. (image: scanning electron micrograph of a mass of Yersinia pestis.) "With this in mind, graduate student Javier Benavides-Montano separately cultured three distinct Y. pestis strains that have been associated with human epidemics, with a common laboratory strain of the free-living soil amoeba, Acanthamoeba castellanii, in a medium that supports the latter's growth," said Vadyvaloo. Benavides-Montano then tested Y. pestis' ability to enter and survive within the amoeba. To do so, he killed any bacteria that were outside of the amoebae, and then gently lysed the latter, and then placed the lysed content on a medium that encourages Y. pestis to grow. They were able to culture Y. pestis only after the amoebae had been lysed. The investigators also used electron microscopy to peer inside intact amoebae, and found Y. pestis within the vacuoles. "To understand more about how Y. pestis might be surviving within amoebae we considered how Y. pestis survive in human macrophages," said Vadyvaloo. "Macrophages usually engulf bacterial pathogens and destroy them, but some bacterial pathogens are able to avoid being killed therein by producing proteins that block the digestion." Indeed, that is the key strategy for a number of human pathogens. Some such proteins are known. So the investigators used mutant Y. pestis that doesn't produce one of these proteins. Those mutants failed to survive within the amoebae. Vadyvaloo said that amoebae's longstanding reputation as Trojan horses for human pathogens led her to investigate the possibility that plague bacteria could abide within their vacuoles. The best known example of this phenomenon had been Legionnaires' Disease, a respiratory disease that was discovered in 1976 after an outbreak among attendees at a convention of the American Legion in Philadelphia. "This study serves as a proof of principle that amoebae can support prolonged survival of Y. pestis in the environment," said Vadyvaloo. It may encourage a search for this interaction within areas of Colorado and New Mexico where plague is endemic. And that, she said, could enable prediction of potential disease re-emergence, thereby reducing spread to humans. Cornelius Senn and his new reflector. Credit: ETH Zurich / Peter Ruegg Cornelius Senn, a measurement engineer in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (D-BAUG), and his post-doctoral colleague Silvan Leinss have developed a new reflector for radar measurements. The underlying mechanism, however, has many possible applications and could revolutionise furniture construction, for example. "This mechanism is so clever it should be patented," Cornelius Senn thought to himself on numerous occasions. The measurement and electrical engineer in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (D-BAUG) is a frequent inventor and builder of devices that make life easier for researchers in the department. And this time it's probably not just idle chatter. He has filed a patent application for a mechanism that enables the stable connection of panels made of metal or Plexiglass, for example without screws, but instead held together by angled blades, a type of gearing. It is difficult to describe, but is much easier to understand with a visual aid (see video). We would like to help, but sorry It all started with a "No". Senn declined when he was approached by a doctoral student asking for help with the development of a reflector for radar measurements. These types of reflectors are placed in snow and ice, for example, to generate elevation models. In locations with known coordinates, they serve as reference points. They are also required to adjust the focus of radar. The radar images can then be used to determine the flow velocity of glaciers and landslides in the millimetre range. Cornelius Senn demonstrates the patented mechanism using a reflector model. Credit: ETH Zurich "When I saw the reflectors, which were made of different materials and were also loose and heavy, I said: 'I won't build this; it won't work'," Senn recalls. And he immediately set out to develop an alternative. So the question arose as to whether he could drill through the reflector in order to screw it to the support, or whether this would interfere with the measurements. Maybe, or maybe not no one really knew for sure. That is until Silvan Leinss, a post-doctoral student in the group led by Irena Hajnsek, Professor of Earth Observation and Remote Sensing, came along. As a physicist, the answer was clear to Leinss: "Our radar uses a wavelength of several centimetres. Anything smaller will not affect the measurement." Two inventors meet and inspire each other However, like Senn, Leinss wanted to know for sure. He had previously carried out field trials with the existing reflectors and climbed hundreds of metres up mountains while carrying a 40-kg pack. In Greenland, he had even sawn off the corners of a reflector to fit it on the plane knowing full well that the reflection of the waves at the corners would be lost anyway. Do the reflectors really have to be so heavy and unwieldy? Is there a way to assemble them on-site, even in sub-zero temperatures? What would be the ideal shape? The two inventors set out to find the answers to these questions, throwing ideas back and forth. Leinss carried out tests with screws and applied aluminium foil to sheet metal. The results: single screws do not affect the measurements, nor do the reflectors have to be particularly thick, but thinner reflectors require more and shorter screws. "Once you've put together this kind of reflector, you won't take it apart again and you certainly won't assemble it in the sub-zero temperatures you find in places like Greenland," says Senn from experience. He eventually abandoned the idea of using a "piano hinge" a metal strip with numerous small screws: "If dirt gets in, it ruins it." In addition, it is made of a different material than the metal sheeting, which could lead to electrolytic corrosion. The reflector out in the field. Credit: ETH Zurich A simple solution, but hard to describe So Senn thought about a better solution and developed his interlocking system, which he illustrates with his hands. "When I put the idea down on paper, I suddenly began to doubt whether it would truly work," he recalls. So he headed to the workshop, where he built a model and found that it did indeed work. And now he hears the inventor's maxim for patents more often: Leinss was delighted, as was his boss, Hajnsek, who then began the search for funding for a prototype. The patent issue, however, was made tangible by the company that built the prototype, when the company owner inquired about it. "We're working on it," replied Senn, who then contacted ETH transfer, the technology transfer centre at ETH, where the idea was also met with excitement by Stefan Lux. On the move with a 40-kg pack. Credit: ETH Zurich Enthusiasm notwithstanding, nearly everyone who saw the mechanism said they had seen it somewhere else already. But where exactly? What exactly? Even the patent office was certain that this kind of mechanism was already registered. The officials spent a day searching, but they were unable to find anything quite like it after all. The next task was to draft the patent document, which was not easy, since it was not simply a matter of patenting the reflector but rather the mechanism used to join the panels. And this idea is so simple that it is extremely difficult to describe. Big potential A whole host of possible applications. In addition to reflectors, it might be possible to build bookshelves, cabinets and other furniture this way. The mechanism might also be suitable for roof structures. Senn has many ideas and he's already built models for some. "But it takes time to develop them and find an actual application," he explains. This is why he welcomes new sparring partners at ETH, with whom he can work to develop further products that incorporate the mechanism into their design. Of course, hopes are high that companies outside ETH will show interest in the application. Because of these lashs one can put the reflector parts easily and stable together. Credit: ETH Zurich / P. Ruegg The bulk electron spectrum in a Weyl semimetal is described by a set of an even number of Weyl cones (aka valleys) centered at special points in the momentum space. These conical points, which are sometimes called "diabolical," conceal nontrivial topology. Credit: MIPT Researchers at MIPT have examined the behavior of Weyl particles trapped on the surface of Weyl semimetals. Their study was published in the prestigious Rapid Communications section of Physical Review B. The Weyl particleor the Weyl fermion, to use a more precise termwas predicted in the early 20th century by Hermann Weyl, a German physicist. Despite his early prediction and tremendous efforts directed toward the search for the illusive Weyl particle, it was only experimentally discovered in 2015. Contrary to expectations, the Weyl was not observed in a giant collider, but in tiny crystals, which came to be known as Weyl semimetals. These materials have since attracted a lot of attention, making this research area one of the hottest in modern physics. Weyl semimetals can be considered a 3-D equivalent of graphene, the 2-D crystal with unique properties discovered by MIPT graduates Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, who were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics in 2010. Electrons in graphene and Weyl semimetals behave as massless particles akin to photons. However, unlike photons, these particles have an electric charge, making them promising for applications in electronics. As it turns out, the bizarre properties of electrons in these kinds of materials can be described in terms of topological field theory. The 2016 Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to scientists that introduced topological concepts into condensed state physics. In a theoretical study supervised by MIPT's Prof. Vladimir Volkov, Zhanna Devizorova, a Ph.D. student at MIPT, looked into surface states of Weyl fermions, i.e., how electrons behave near the surface of a Weyl semimetal crystal. The special states of electrons near the surface of a crystal, known as electronic surface states, were predicted in the 1930s by future Nobel Prize winners Igor Tamm (USSR) and William Shockley (USA), who proposed and studied the first theoretical models of these states. However, it was not until recently that surface states gained the attention of researchers. The practical significance of this field of research is evidenced by the fact that modern microelectronics using silicon are universally based on near-surface conducting channels. However, silicon itself is not a topological material. The behavior of any particle under an external field is determined by the dispersion law that relates the particle's energy to its momentum. According to the dispersion law, the energy spectrum of electrons in a crystal defines such electronic properties as conductivity. The bulk energy spectrum of electrons in a Weyl semimetal is described by a set consisting of an even number of Weyl cones, or valleys, centered at special points in the momentum space. The surface of such a crystal has remarkable properties. Weyl semimetals are distinguished by the trademark energy spectrum of particles populating their surface states. In these exotic spectra, the curves that represent states with equal energy are non-closed and appear as arcs on two-dimensional momentum space. These so-called Fermi arcs connect points of the electron spectrum that belong to different Weyl cones. Unlike Weyl fermions, ordinary electrons are characterized by closed Fermi curves in the form of a circle. Until now, all theoretical descriptions of Fermi arcs have relied on complicated and obscure computer calculations based on first principles. The MIPT-based scientists took advantage of the fact that Weyl fermions located away from the surface of the crystal obey Weyl's differential equations to derive the boundary conditions that successfully account for intervalley interactions on semimetal surface. They solved the system of Weyl's equations for two valleys "by hand," taking into account the derived boundary conditions, thus analytically finding the shape of Fermi arcs. In effect, they offered a quantitative as well as qualitative description of experimental data, and proved that Fermi arc formation is mainly driven by strong intervalley interaction under Weyl fermion scattering on crystal surface. It is conceivable that Weyl semimetals could enable ultrafast electronics. Theoretical researchers are currently looking into principles that lay the foundation for next-generation electronic devices based on Weyl semimetals. This analytical approach is a relatively easy way of accounting for the influence of electric and magnetic fields on Weyl fermions. The heuristic potential of this approach could greatly facilitate progress toward faster and more efficient electronics. More information: Zh. A. Devizorova et al, Fermi arcs formation in Weyl semimetals: The key role of intervalley interaction, Physical Review B (2017). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.95.081302 Journal information: Physical Review B Uber has demoted an executive heading its self-driving car operations who has been at the center of a lawsuit filed by Alphabet's Waymo accusing the ride-sharing giant of theft. An Uber spokesman on Thursday confirmed media reports that Anthony Levandowski would step down from his role. According to an email cited in media reports, Levandowski indicated he would "be recused" from work on autonomous driving "through the remainder of the Waymo litigation" but would keep other responsibilities at Uber. Alphabet contends that Levandowski, who had been a manager at its autonomous car subsidiary Waymo, took technical data with him when he left to launch a competing venture that went on to become Otto, Uber's self-driving vehicle unit. Levandowski was an engineer for the unit known at the time as Google Car, working on LiDAR, the remote sensing technology that is critical for autonomous vehicles. In his email, Levandowski stated, "We should all be proud that our self-driving technology has been built independently, from the ground up." But he said his move could help "keep the team focused on achieving the vision that brought us all here." Waymo's lawsuit contends that Levandowski downloaded more than 14,000 proprietary files from a highly confidential design server to a laptop in December 2015. If Alphabet prevails in the lawsuit, it could deal a blow to Uber, which has been rocked by a series of embarrassing disclosures about a culture of sexism, cut-throat workplace tactics and covert use of law enforcement-evading software for its ridesharing operations. 2017 AFP By Press Trust of India: From Yoshita Singh United Nations, Apr 28 (PTI) Yusra Mardini, a Syrian woman who helped save a boat carrying fellow refugees, has been appointed by the UN agency for refugees as its new Goodwill Ambassador. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said Mardinis actions saved the lives of 20 refugees who were fleeingthe Syrian capital, Damascus. advertisement Mardini, 19, was also one of the 10 athletes who made up the historic Olympic Refugee Team and participated at the Rio Olympic Games last year. She has been a very powerful voice for the forcibly displaced across the world and an example of their resilience and determination to rebuild lives and positively contribute to host communities. "The UN refugee agency does the most important and incredible work for refugees under extremely challenging circumstances, and I am proud to use my voice to support UNHCR," Mardini said, accepting her new role. She said through UNHCR, she is eager to continue spreading the message that "refugees are just normal people living through traumatic and devastating circumstances, who are capable of extraordinary things if only given a chance". When Mardini?s boat broke down between Turkey and the coast of On the last stretch of their long journey to escape war- torn Damascus, Mardini and her sister jumped into the sea to pull the boat to safety. Mardini is currently a full time student in Germany and continues to train in the hope of competing at the next Olympic Games in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, in 2020. Since her participation at the Rio Olympics, Mardini has worked closely with the UN agency, drawing global attention to the plight of refugees, speaking at forums including the 2016 UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants and the 2017 World Economic Forum in Davos. She has also advocated for the refugee cause during meetings with the Pope, world leaders, influential business figures and other world leaders. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said Mardini is a ?deeply inspiring? young woman who has, through her powerful personal story, represented the hopes, fears and incredible potential of the more than ten million young refugees around the globe. Welcoming the announcement, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said he hopes that through her role as UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Mardini will continue to inspire refugees, "reminding us that anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and strength of the human spirit." advertisement Goodwill Ambassadors are some of the most recognisable public faces of the UN agency. They help take its work to every corner of the world through their influence, dedication and hard work. PTI YAS NSA --- ENDS --- Fierce clashes between jihadists and Islamist rebels near Damascus left at least 40 dead and 70 wounded on Friday, a monitoring group said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes pitted the Saudi-backed rebel faction Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) against Fateh al-Sham, Al-Qaeda's former branch in Syria, and Faylaq al-Rahman, which is backed by Qatar and Turkey. "There were at least 15 dead among the ranks of Jaish al-Islam and 23 among its adversaries" as well as two civilians, the Britain-based Observatory said. Another 70 were wounded. Jaish al-Islam said its opponents had provoked the clashes by harassing reinforcements headed for Qabun, east of the Syrian capital, a front with regime forces. Faylaq al-Rahman denied the allegation. In May 2016, more than 300 people were killed in a battle between the two sides. A controversial meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad led Europe's foremost human rights group to say it had no confidence Friday in its Spanish president as he had tarnished his office. Pedro Agramunt, president of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly, visited Damascus last month. The 65-year-old Spanish senator has now been forbidden to travel or speak on behalf of the Council's assembly after its members "resolved that it has no confidence" in him, said a statement. The decision came after Agramunt refused to resign. However, the assembly does not have the power to dismiss him. The Council of Europe, comprised of more than 300 members of national parliaments across the continent, meets four times a year for one week in Strasbourg to discuss the defence of human rights, promotion of the rule of law and efforts to fight corruption. "Standards and principles of the parliamentary assembly are more important than any individual member, and the integrity of our assembly must be upheld," said Britain's Sir Roger Gale, its senior vice-president, after chairing the meeting that censured Agramunt. The motion of no confidence follows the Spanish politician's visit last month to the Syrian capital, arranged by Russia's government, in which he met and was pictured with Assad. "It is sickening to see that the president of this assembly has been photographed with someone who has gassed his own population," said Ukraine's Oleksil Goncharenko, an assembly member, alluding to allegations of chemical weapons attacks on civilians attributed to Assad's regime. Agramunt, who recently apologised for being in Damascus, did not attend Friday's hearing and was not immediately available for comment. He was also accused of inaction over a corruption scandal dating back to 2013 dubbed "Caviargate", in which assembly members are accused of being "bought" by Azerbaijan's government. They are said to have received gifts including carpets, caviar and luxury hotel accommodation in Baku in exchange for not approving a report criticising the situation of political prisoners in Azerbaijan. An Italian lawmaker, Luca Volonte, no longer a member of the assembly, is suspected of having accepted nearly 2.4 million euros ($2.61-million) from Baku, resulting in legal proceedings in Italy. The Council's assembly this week approved the nomination of three independent experts to investigate the Caviargate scandal. Agramunt, who has visited Baku on numerous occasions as an election observer, was frequently said to have blocked such a probe. A dozen people have been found stuffed inside a closet-sized cell hidden behind a book shelf in a Philippine police station, triggering further alarm about abuse under President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on drugs. Members of the government's human rights commission, accompanied by journalists, found the men and women in an unannounced visit to the station in the heart of Manila's slum area on Thursday evening. Cries of "here we are, here we are" were heard from behind a wall, according to the rights workers and journalists. The rights workers then found a hidden door behind a bookshelf, leading to the cell. Stunned detainees came stumbling out of the room, some begging for water while others, in tears, pleaded with the rights workers not to abandon them. The detainees said they had been held for about a week after being arrested on allegations of drug use or trafficking and that police had demanded hefty payments in exchange for their freedom. "They were picked up on the pretext of drugs but they had not filed any charges against them," Gilbert Boisner, Manila director for the rights commission who led the inspection, told AFP on Friday. Human Rights Watch said the incident was another example of widespread rights abuse under Duterte's war on drugs, which has seen thousands of drug suspects killed either by policemen or mysterious vigilantes. "The discovery of the secret jail is just the latest sign of how police are exploiting Dutertes abusive anti-drug campaign for personal gain," the group said in a statement. Duterte briefly suspended all police from the crackdown in January after an official investigation found drug officers kidnapped a South Korean businessman and murdered him as part of an extortion scam. - 'Corrupt to the core' - Duterte described the police force then as "corrupt to the core" and vowed it would not be allowed to prosecute the drug war until its ranks had been "cleansed". But he redeployed police onto the drug war about a month later, without major reforms. Rights groups have questioned his sincerity in wanting to cleanse the police force, citing his promise to pardon officers if they are found guilty of murder for killing in his drug war. Police have reported killing 2,724 people as part of Duterte's anti-drug campaign, although authorities insist the shootings have been in self defence. Many thousands of others have been killed by shadowy vigilantes, according to rights groups. A Philippine lawyer on Monday filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court accusing Duterte of mass murder, alleging his war on drugs had led to about 8,000 deaths. - Rights disdain - Global rights monitor Amnesty International released a report in February warning that the killings in the drug war may amount to a crime against humanity. It accused police of shooting defenceless people, fabricating evidence, paying assassins to murder drug addicts and stealing from those they killed. Senator de Lima, one of Duterte's fiercest critics who has been detained on what she says are false charges in an effort to silence her, said the "secret cell" was an expected consequence of the drug war. "Because we let him kill our poor countrymen like animals, we can only expect more animal and inhuman treatment from his policemen," she said in a statement. The station chief in charge of the "secret cell" was suspended on Friday as police vowed an investigation but conceded that improper detentions were widespread. "We must recognise that this problem is not just in one police station but almost in all our stations region-wide," the head of the capital's police force, Director Oscar Albayalde, said in a statement. The incident occurred as Duterte began welcoming Southeast Asian leaders for a summit in Manila. Speaking to reporters after meeting Brunei's Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, on Thursday Duterte used typically defiant language as he defended his drug war and repeated his disdain for human rights. "You know human rights (campaigners), I am not a worker for human rights," Duterte said, after branding The New York Times newspaper an "asshole" for criticising his drug war tactics. These exhibitors are showcasing their best products and services at Echelon Thailand Exhibitors at conferences, while doing hard work, enjoy a lot of advantages; exhibiting at conferences is a great way to showcase your products and services, it gives you the chance to engage with your target market and the community, and it provides you with an avenue to establish a network of potential partners. Wed like to introduce these 6 startups who are on Echelon Thailands digital platform, and who will be exhibiting at the conference this May 15-16 at Bangkok: 1. Appay A comprehensive mobile commerce enabler company with merchant-end wallet app system, loyalty rewards system, and full-blown app-based O2O commerce facilities. 2. Aptoide An Android app store with 700K apps and 120 million app downloads per month. They partnered with over 100 telecoms around the world to power their branded app stores 3. Arcadier Marketplace-as-a-Service company, powering over 2,000 marketplaces in 45 countries. Arcadier allows anyone with no technical background to build their own marketplace within minutes simple to use, with no coding knowledge required. Their fully-hosted platform supports various forms of multi-vendor ecommerce models, where users can easily choose from an array or modern website layouts. 4. Dew Touch Innovations A web solutions company that launched Fleetnetics, an automative management platform and productivity service, that develops data analytics capabilities for motor workshops, develop and test machine learning models, and automate model building and integration of predictive capability into their ERP system. 5. Sawasdee Shop Telecom provider with a wide-variety spectrum of voice technology services to cater to entire end-to-end solutions for customers and manage over 2 billion minutes a year. They promote cost-effective communication solution and services for startups. 6. Style Up A high traffic fashion magazine and reservation platform for consumers and stylists. Story continues Want to join these startups exhibiting to the tech community at Echelon Thailand 2017? Contact engage@e27.co for exhibition opportunities. Echelon Thailand 2017 is a tech conference (May 15-16, Bangkok) and year-long digital platform attracting international speakers, founders, investors and professionals. Register for your Echelon Thailand access pass now. New in 2017 is Echelon Thailands digital platform. Get immediate access to exclusive insights, participate in discussions and engage with the speakers and fellow attendees directly on Echelons digital platform, the moment you register (accessible from the Ecosystem page). Whats more, the digital platform will be accessible all-year even after the conference, so kickstart your Echelon experience today and embark on a year-long journey of discovery. Feature image credit: casanowe / 123RF Stock Photo The post These exhibitors represent a thriving global digital community; find them at Echelon Thailand 2017 appeared first on e27. By Sarah White PARIS (Reuters) - French centrist Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday France would push for European Union sanctions against Poland if he is elected president, signalling he wanted to take the lead in defending the bloc's democratic values. Macron, a pro-EU candidate who topped the first round of voting in France's two-part presidential election, is tipped to win a run-off against eurosceptic far-right leader Marine Le Pen on May 7. He told several regional newspapers in an interview that he would pursue a tougher line with Poland and other countries which he believed were infringing EU principles. "When the rights and values of the European Union are not respected, I want sanctions to be taken," he said. Poland's nationalist-minded government has been embroiled in a dispute with the EU for over a year after a series of reforms which according to Brussels weaken the independence of the judiciary and risk undermining democratic checks and balances. The European Commission has so far stopped short of any further action, and is seeking the views of member states. "In the three months after I'm elected, there will be a decision on Poland," Macron was quoted as saying in an interview with several regional newspapers, including Ouest-France and the Voix du Nord. "You cannot have a European Union which argues over every single decimal place on the issue of budgets with each country, and which, when you have an EU member which acts like Poland or Hungary on issues linked to universities and learning, or refugees, or fundamental values, decides to do nothing." Poland has come under fire for instance for refusing to host refugees under an EU-wide plan to alleviate the pressure on countries like Greece and Italy who have borne the brunt of arrivals. Hungary has been strongly criticised over bills drafted by the right-wing government to tighten rules on non-governmental organisations and foreign universities. Macron's criticism of Warsaw comes a day after a row over plans to close a Whirlpool tumble-dryer factory in France as production shifts to Poland took centre-stage in the presidential campaign, with both candidates visiting the factory. Macron alluded to the problem of social dumping - a hot-button issue in France, which refers to companies employing cheaper labour from other EU countries or moving production to lower-wage countries - though he added that he could not bring sanctions in that area. "You cannot have a country that plays on the fiscal and social gaps in the European Union and which is infringing European principles," Macron said. France's place in Europe has turned into one of the central themes of the presidential campaign. Le Pen, who is far behind Macron in opinion polls, says she would try to negotiate a radical overhaul of France's EU membership during the first six months of her presidency and then hold a referendum on whether to quit the EU. Macron, meanwhile, has sought to reinforce his credentials as a leader who would have a strong voice within Europe, as a defender of human rights for instance. "It's an issue that's close to his heart," Clement Beaune, Macron's adviser on European affairs, told Reuters. "He's saying: you cannot ask for there to be budget rules and very precise sanctions on that and then not do anything on more important issues like values." Beaune added that Macron was seeking to send a message of "strength and credibility" on European values to Russia, the United States and the rest of Europe. (Reporting by Sarah White, Michel Rose and Emmanuel Jarry; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) Jakarta, Indonesia The ASEAN region has become a popular venue for hosting car expositions. One of these is the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS). Watch the Day 1 Video Coverage of the IIMS here: The annual automotive event, which is held at JIExpo, Kemayoran in Jakarta, showcases the latest in cars, motorcycles, and aftermarket products of the region. This years theme, The Essence of Motor Show, provides a different ambiance for gearheads and car enthusiasts as they come together and experience the new concept of mobility in the region. The opening of the IIMS was graced by the Indonesian Vice President, Jusuf Kalla. Of course, all these cars are destined for the Indonesian market; but we might soon see these on Philippine shores, starting with the all-new Kia Rio, the Audi A5, and all-new Honda CR-V Turbo. We are also hoping that Mazda would bring its 8-seater MPVMazda Bianteto the PH market. Enjoy watching! The post Indonesia International Motor Show 2017 Day 1 Highlights appeared first on Carmudi Philippines Journal. It is targeting false information that might threaten national security The Malaysian government is mulling plans to clamp down on the epidemic of fake news. Malaysian national daily Berita Harian has reported that administrators of WhatsApp groups could face legal action if they spread false information especially those that may jeopardise national security. The perpetuators would face punishment under the existing law under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, according Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Johari Gilani. Under this act, punishable offences include spreading false news, defamation, incitement, fraud and disclosure of communications prohibited under the Official Secrets Act, according to a report by Channel NewsAsia. The administrator would be called in for questioning. If they are found guilty of intentionally spreading false information, they would be charged. Johari urged WhatsApp admins to act as gatekeepers to filter news before sharing on WhatsApp or social media. Malaysian Consumers Association, Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman told Berita Harian that this new rule should be implemented immediately as fake news would not only cause disruption to the community, but also threaten national security. However, he also said that sanctions should not be too heavy and that first-time offenders could be let off with a warning. Rahman also added that other approaches could be taken to monitor the spread of false information, including the Sedition Act 1948, Defamation Act 1957 and the Computer Crimes Act 1957 and the Penal Code. Also Read: DHL launches next-day delivery, cross-border shipping solutions for e-commerce firms in Malaysia Malaysias neighbour Singapore is also considering plans to curb the spread of fake news. Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam told parliament in April that government is reviewing measures to address fake news. Other countries are targeting the social networks themselves to stem the flow of false information. In Germany, the government has put forth a draft law that could see social networks get fined up to 50 million (US$54.3 million) for failing to remove fake news or hate speech. Story continues Register for your Echelon Asia Summit access pass now! Enjoy +10% off Echelon Asia Summit Startup, Investor and Corporate passes just for being our favourite e27 reader. The post Malaysian govt mulling plans to punish WhatsApp admins who spread fake news appeared first on e27. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war is part of a worrying assault on human rights and democracy across Southeast Asia, activists said as regional leaders gathered in Manila on Friday. Duterte has been condemned in the West for the crackdown, which has claimed thousands of lives since he took power last year, but he is expected to enjoy the support of most of his guests as he hosts the heads of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This is partly because the leaders of most other countries in the region have few democratic credentials themselves, or have human rights clouds hanging over them, according to Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division. "Human rights is in a precipitous downward spiral in every ASEAN country except perhaps Myanmar, and thats only because military rule in that country was so horrible for so long," Robertson told AFP. "By just about every measure -- freedom of expression and peaceful protest, religious tolerance, non-interference in civil society, respect for democratic principles, fair treatment of refugees and migrants -- the region is falling deeper into dictatorship, repression, and rights abuse." Amnesty International called on the ASEAN leaders to consider whether the drug war killings were a "serious breach" of the provision in the group's charter to protect human rights. Here are the leaders of ASEAN nations and issues surrounding their rule: - Brunei - Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 70, is one of the world's richest men thanks to his 49-year absolute rule over tiny, oil-rich Brunei. He caused controversy in 2014 when he introduced sharia law, which on paper includes severing of limbs and death by stoning. - Cambodia - A former Khmer Rouge soldier who defected from the brutal regime, Hun Sen, 64, has been in power for more than three decades. The shrewd politician claims to have brought stability to an impoverished nation ravaged by war. But he is also regarded as a strongman who has leveraged control over the country's security forces, judiciary and economy to block any challenges to his rule, while allowing corruption and rights abuses to flourish. - Indonesia Joko Widodo, 55, is the first elected leader from outside the political and military elites. His 2014 presidential victory was seen as a sign that Indonesia's democratic institutions were in good health, after emerging from three decades of iron-fisted rule under dictator Suharto in 1998. But he has struggled to push through reforms in a country still dominated by figures from the Suharto era and analysts say old establishment forces may be moving to retake power. - Laos - Thongloun Sisoulith, 71, rose to the premiership last year after serving as the communist state's top diplomat. He has trumpeted an anti-graft campaign in the impoverished nation. But scrutiny of his opaque administration remains all but impossible under a regime that bars international media and brooks no dissent. - Malaysia - Najib Razak, 63, has since 2009 been leader of Malaysia's ruling coalition, which in nearly six-decades in power has overseen rapid economic growth. But its policies favour the Malay majority and it has long been accused of repressing dissent. With elections due next year, Najib has cracked down on his opponents and sacked critics within his party. - Myanmar - Aung San Suu Kyi's reputation as a democracy icon and human rights defender has been tarnished by her first year in office. The 71-year-old has alienated many of her international backers for not speaking out against a bloody army crackdown on Rohingya Muslims. At home, poor progress on legal and economic reforms, a stalling peace process and a surge in online defamation cases have left many disillusioned with Myanmar's first civilian government in generations. - Philippines - A crackdown on drugs that has claimed thousands of lives has been the defining theme of Duterte's first year in office. Human rights groups warn he may be orchestrating a crime against humanity. But the 72-year-old lawyer insists he is "happy to slaughter" millions of addicts to end the drug menace, and that he does not care about the criticism. - Singapore - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 65, the elder son of late founding father Lee Kuan Yew, has led the affluent city-state since 2004. His Peoples Action Party was in 2015 returned to power in a landslide election win, extending the partys uninterrupted rule spanning nearly six decades. But rights groups have criticised the government for clamping down on political freedoms. - Thailand - Prayut Chan-O-Cha, a 63-year-old career soldier who toppled an elected government while army chief in 2014, heads a junta that has clamped down on dissent and stripped Thais of political rights. The ultra-royalist has promised an eventual return to democracy, but the dates for polls keep slipping and critics say the new junta-drafted charter will solidify the army's role in government. - Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, elected last year by the rubber-stamp parliament, is seen as a competent technocrat and a sturdy apparatchik in the conservative communist leadership. The party has little tolerance for internal dissent and routinely jails critics. The Tamil Nadu government filed a reply in the Supreme Court today stating that no farmer had committed suicide in the state , and clarified that those who have, took the extreme step due to personal reasons. By Indo-Asian News Service: In a development that is bound to annoy the protesting Tamil Nadu farmers in the national capital, their state government on Friday conveyed to the Supreme Court that drought was not the reason behind their committing suicides in the state. The Tamil Nadu government filed a reply in the Supreme Court, stating that no farmer had committed suicide in the state and that those who had, took the extreme step due to personal reasons. advertisement This comes after the Supreme Court on April 13 ordered the Tamil Nadu government to file a detailed reply on the farmers' suicide issue in two weeks' time. Expressing displeasure on the inaction of farmers' suicide issue, the apex court lashed out at the government for not taking enough measures to prevent them from taking the extreme step. An apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said, "It is very painful to hear that farmers are committing suicide and the state government is not taking enough steps." NGO MOVED APEX COURT An NGO had moved the apex court in this regard, pointing at the increasing cases of farmer suicides. Earlier, the Madras High Court had directed the Tamil Nadu government to waive off loans of all drought-hit farmers and restrained cooperative societies and banks from recovering their dues. The high court noted that the state's financial situation was grim and it was single-handedly shouldering the debt burden in a drought year in which farmers were committing suicide. The court also suggested that the Centre come forward to extend financial help to Tamil Nadu during this difficult situation. A division bench comprising Justices S Nagamuthu and M V Muralidaran issued the order of waiving the loans while allowing a petition by the National South Indian River Interlinking Agriculturists Association. Also Read: Tamil Nadu farmers get heroic welcome, vow to continue fight After 41 days, Tamil Nadu farmers suspend their agitation in Delhi till May 25 WATCH VIDEO: Tamil Nadu farmers suspend 41-day Jantar Mantar protest till May 25 --- ENDS --- Usefulness Content Freshness Unlike the brands of the past, the brands of the future are more flexible and driven by disruptive technology. Because of this shift, big-name businesses are scrambling to stay afloat while small businesses are able to nimbly adapt."The Rise Of The Craft Brand: Why Small is Going to Be Huge" explores what happens when branding meets tthe technology and experience of a craft brand. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. Brands arent what they used to be. In the past, brands were a physical symbol that represented value. When you bought a Coca-Cola, the red logo assured that you were getting a good soda. Nowadays, brands have become more complicated. They still represent a physical product, but they can mean a lot more than that. In The Rise Of The Craft Brand: Why Small is Going to Be Huge, author Ben Zifkin explains how this changing definition of branding can be leveraged to help a small business compete with a large-sized competitor. What is The Rise of the Craft Brand About? The central message of The Rise Of The Craft Brand is about technologys disruption of the relationship between branding, distribution and commerce. Just a few years ago, the only way to get a Ralph Lauren shirt was to find a retailer, like Macys or Sears, that sold that product. With the rise of technology like the internet, you dont even need to leave your chair to purchase that Ralph Lauren shirt from Amazon, the Ralph Lauren site, or any number of online stores and auctions. This disruption between branding, distribution and commerce has resulted in the emergence of craft branding. Craft branding, unlike other types of branding, doesnt depend on going big. The goal isnt to reach every customer in the world. The goal of craft branding is to produce specialty. Craft branding is the strategic marriage of a small business brand and technology. When these two get together, big-name retailers are in trouble. Why should big-name retailers be frightened by craft branding? There are a couple of reasons. First, many big-name retailers (although this is slightly changing) rely on mass-produced brands that dont have the flexibility of a craft brand. The old-school brand of the past was a physical symbol focused on getting a transaction from mass-produced items (like a Coca-Cola bottle). Craft brands are different. They can afford to charge higher prices and produce on a smaller scale because they can leverage technology and a deeper relationship with an audience that wants a distinctive experience. The Rise of the Craft Brand explores how small brands, like Under Armour were able to leverage their resources to become disruptive competitors to established businesses like Nike. Zifkin is a former software engineer and consultant, founder and CEO of Hubba, a B2B network that connects retailers and brands. An avid supporter of technology is on the board of directors for Ladies Learning to Code and Hacker You. What Was Best About The Rise of the Craft Brand? Rise of the Craft Brand approaches the topic of a branding from a different (and much-needed) perspective. The trend in business books has been to discuss branding as a concrete thing that a person or business does. Rise of the Craft Brand expands that concept of branding and demonstrates how commerce will be affected by it. The brands profiled in this book provide a glimpse of how current businesses are adapting now for that upcoming future. What Could Have Been Done Differently? Rise of the Craft Brand celebrates the empowering potential of small businesses to make a big impact but it could use more detail to flesh out the concept of a craft brand. First, the book identifies a few characteristics of craft brands but fails to show how craft brands differ from other types of brand. Second, the book fails to outline a specific strategy for craft brands. The author shares his own personal experience with Hubba along with other businesses but there isnt enough detail for a full-fledged strategy. Having this kind of strategy might help struggling small business owners. Why Read The Rise of the Craft Brand? For any business leader interested in the future of commerce, Rise of the Craft Brand offers a glimpse into the technology that is disrupting big-name retailers. This disruption is changing the ways that brands are created and developed, leaving room for small businesses to make a big marketing impact without a large-scale budget. For those who want a sneak peek of what this disruption looks like in the present, Rise of the Craft Brand profiles small businesses that were able to benefit from this disruption and launch into a powerful brand while following their own path to success. Get discounts and special offers on new and classic business books with an Audible Premium Plus membership. Learn more and sign up for an account today. The tradition of the biggest Slovak fashion fair is reviving. Font size: A - | A + In 1939, Jan Nehera from the Czech town of Prostejov sewed the first clothes in his workshop in Trencin, on the street that today bears the name Palackeho. He was hardly aware that he was laying the groundwork for the city to be dubbed the city of fashion in the future. With the revival of the local fashion fair this year, Trencin will once again aspire for that label. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Trencin Mesto Mody, which means Trencin the City of Fashion, one of the best-known fairs in the former Czechoslovakia, is returning this September, after a break since 2008. Furthermore, it is due to the fashion fair that Trencin got its name, the city of fashion. The history of the fair dates back to 1963 when it was organised under the name Exhibition of Trencin, featuring products of the textile and clothing industry. At that time, only two companies put their products on display at the fair, the Merina Trencin and the Odevne Zavody Trencin (Trencin Clothing Plant). They followed in the footsteps of Neheras company which thrived during the war. In 1940, Nehera bought estates Za mostami (Behind the Bridges) on the right bank of Vah where he built production halls and started producing clothes with the help of about 200 employees. The factory was the predecessor of the state-run clothing giant Odeva, which emerged in 1948. The fair After 1963, the popularity of the Trencin fashion fair gradually grew, as did the numbers of visitors and exhibitors. It had survived the regime change, but in 2008 it shut down due to low interest among exhibitors, as well as visitors. Big companies fall apart into to small ones, they produce less or have disappeared from the market. Thats why they dont want to exhibit, said Emil Dobias, the then-managing director of EXPO exhibition ground for Pravda in 2008. Yet he did not exclude the possibility of restoring the exhibition in the future. The idea of reviving the fair came from Jana Jankovicova, the current director of the fair who is from Trencin and has been connected with the fair since early childhood. When I was a schoolgirl, I looked forward to seeing what beautiful products were being made in Slovakia, and if we were lucky enough the next year the shop assistant might keep those things under the counter for us, Jankovicova recalls. She later worked at the fair as a model and in 1994 started directing a model agency, organising fashion shows. Local garners attention Yet the efforts to revive the fair are not merely about nostalgia or bringing back the forgotten fame of the fair. The new hunger of Slovaks for locally produced goods is what motivates Jankovicova as well. People want to go back to their traditions, she says. After years when the price determined about purchasing a product, and our trade was filled with not-always-quality products from Asia, people started to pay attention to the credibility of the brand and prefer home producers, opines Jankovicova who will renew the fair with Daniela Lelkes, the main coordinator. In Slovakia and the Czech Republic there are many quality young companies, hand-made producers and fashion designers who deserve decent platform where they can represent their products to customers at least once a year, said Lelkes. A lure for exhibitors is also the fact that in todays impersonal online shopping, direct contact between producer and customer is missing, organisers believe. Producers can show their uniqueness, present their products and spread new fashion trends, but also learn about their competition and find new business contacts, Jankovicova enumerated the benefits. Golden Fatima Trencin, the city of fashion, also remembers the Golden Fatima award which would be granted to fashion designers or talents in the fashion industry. Slovaks perceived the Golden Fatima as the Oscar, it was so prestigious, Lelkes says. This year the Golden Fatima will be granted again in several categories: the best product of the year, the hand-made producer of the year and the best clothing company of the year. We want to give space to young people so we invite students of high schools from Slovakia and the Czech Republic. A new generation of fashion creators will have a chance to shine, said Jankovicova. Organisers are also preparing an additional programme to the fair, featuring fashion shows, a wedding exhibition, workshops and concerts. Emphasis will also be placed on exhibitions of historical folk costumes from different Slovak regions. The exhibition will be connected with a presentation of folk crafts and lectures about fashion history. We trust we will start the tradition of the fair anew, summed up Jankovicova. Using the basic principles of dancing may be helpful when dealing with conflict situations, says Dana Caspersen, a year-long performer of William Forsythes choreography, who now specialises in dealing with conflicts. Font size: A - | A + Interactive dialogue on violence The Exchange The participative project in which attendants can reflect on the individual and global mechanisms of violence. Starts: Apr 29, 17:00, Clarissine Church, Klariska. Admission: free. When working with people, she often mixes up the tools used in both verbal and non-verbal communication, creating situations that allow people to enter conflict in a way that later helps them to deal with it. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Caspersen will hold a workshop in Bratislava, organised in cooperation with the Goethe Institute and the [fjuzn] festival, aimed at finding out what different people think about violence. The Slovak Spectator spoke with her about the workshop but also about the methods that make them unique. The Slovak Spectator (TSS): Originally, you were a dancer. How and why did you become a mentor trying to help the others deal with conflict? Dana Caspersen (DC): Maybe about 10 years ago, I had a lot of different kinds of conflicts in different areas in my life and I got sick of my own inability to handle them well. I wondered if there was another way for life to be. So I started studying, to see how it could be different. The more I studied, the more I got excited about the way the situations change and relationships blossom when we find different ways to deal with conflict. For me, its not about getting rid of the conflict, but how do we step into a conflict in a way that makes it help us. TSS: Was it hard to switch your mind-set from dancing to mediation? DC: No, it was super-exciting. It was like a new room opened up in my brain. TSS: Do you use some of the principles of dance in your work as a mentor for these conflict situations? DC: Yes. When dancers work, they look at where they are, they imagine what else might be possible and then they try to figure out how to get there. Its the same in conflicts: where we are now, whats the situation, and what would it look like if we went to another place, what would need to change for us to get there. The curiosity that artists practice is also useful in conflicts. For events like the one Im doing this weekend, Im using choreographic ideas. To choreograph means to organise the ideas physically. Im creating physical situations where new kinds of conversations can happen. TSS: What are the principles that make your method unique? DC: Im creating physical methods that anyone can use and can step into to have a different kind of experience. Im taking the idea of a performance, which is a kind of a ritual, a container. I understand how its power holds and allows a new thing to happen. So Im creating a situation thats only happening because of what we do with our bodies and creating a way for people to come into dialogue. Im creating physical situations where new kinds of conversations can happen. Dana Caspersen TSS: So they can experience the situation on their own? DC: Yes. Its a place they can gain experience through their body, without being embarrassed. Its not trying to dance. Were using bodies as a way to make it easier to connect. You mix this verbal and non-verbal communication. TSS: The main focus of the workshop in Bratislava is violence. Why did you choose this topic? DC: Im very interested in how individuals can affect big systems, like racism, sexism or violence. I found out that the way we think about each other and talk about each other can be violent in tiny ways and Im curious about how we practice it. I want to understand with this project, why violence is so persistent and what power do we, as single people, have to create change by the way we think and act. Its research that I do with people into the question of how we, as individuals, affect the level of violence in the world. video //www.youtube.com/embed/CXOkigogn2M TSS: Will you somehow use the results of this workshop? DC: Its research in the sense of how were all thinking together about this question. What people then decide to do with it is up to them. TSS: What will the workshop look like? What are people supposed to do? DC: They will be in different groups. There are three different things that happen, and the groups will move through all these things at the same time. Theres a section where you speak, just as one person, and everybodys talking at once about whats your definition of violence and what did you learn about these things. Theres also a section where youre listening to short stories. And theres a section where youre answering questions with your body. So youre like moving in and out and answer questions, while the other people are talking and the other people are listening. TSS: What would be the result? Does it give them instructions about how to deal with violence in the future? DC: No, its research about what we believe and why. Its also a way to see what other people think. Because we havent really asked ourselves questions like what is violence, what do I think is okay, why do I think thats okay, what does my society or my culture think, how are we being affected by the violence. Its not teaching, its a reflection of how we think and also a kind of exchange of other peoples thoughts. TSS: How do people respond to the workshops you are doing and the methods you are using? DC: People are excited and have the desire to connect with other people around these topics. Those conversations dont happen very often, so people have a hunger to have conversations and connect. People are nervous about coming because they dont understand it and its hard to describe. But when they get there, they say: Oh, this is great, if I had known it would be like this I would have brought my friends. The government adopted a concept to support the business service centres in July 2016, introducing 21 specific measures in three main areas. Font size: A - | A + The government wants to persuade companies to move their activities linked to the business services sector to Slovakia. The government adopted a concept to support the business service centres (BSCs) in July 2016, introducing 21 specific measures in three main areas, said Rastislav Chovanec, state secretary of the Economy Ministry, at the conference organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bratislava in late November 2016. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The aim of the concept is to help the BSCs grow in Slovakia. They currently employ more than 40,000 people with mostly university education, he added, as reported by the TASR newswire. We want to focus on attracting new companies from this sphere, but we also see a big potential in the development of already established investors in industrial production so they bring other activities to Slovakia concerning BSCs, Chovanec told TASR. This means that the companies will not only produce in Slovakia, but also offer services for their subsidiaries that reside in other countries. This will help us stabilise the foreign investors in Slovakia more, Chovanec added. Yet he sees a problem in the fact that most investors are interested in Bratislava or Kosice. To increase the attractiveness of regions, the Economy Ministry plans to cooperate with universities in the individual regions. If the BSCs were established there, it would certainly boost employment and also development of the regions, Chovanec said. Another task is to secure sufficient labour force for BSCs. The state plans to look for appropriate people among school graduates and also the temporarily unemployed. There are various models for us to secure that the companies directly participate in educating future employees, Chovanec said, as quoted by TASR. This includes the expansion of the dual education scheme to the service sector, or various innovative forms of requalification of jobless people so they will be able to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for a certain type of job, the state secretary added. Moreover, the legislative changes should help develop the BSCs. The amendment to the law on investment aid, for example, should enable companies from this sector to also receive stimuli from the government. Changes to employment of foreigners coming from the countries outside the European Union should also help the BSCs, particularly those that want to use experts from other subsidiaries of their parent company to train employees, Chovanec claimed, as reported by TASR. Low flexibility is one of the biggest problems the companies associated in the Business Service Centres Forum currently perceive. The time horizons that are currently set by the laws are slightly limiting for us and, unfortunately, our parent companies then choose localities other than Slovakia to launch new projects and activities, its head Gabriel Galgoci said, as quoted by TASR. Having a bachelor degree in Slovakia is still considered as an unfinished education. Font size: A - | A + A glossary of words as well as exercise related to this article are also published online. When young Slovaks decide to study at university, they almost never think about doing just the first degree, a bachelor degree, because in Slovakia it is not considered as finishing university. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement In our culture, the bachelor degree is not established enough. We were used to a university education lasting four or five years, said Emil Visnovsky, co-author of current school reform Learning Slovakia (Uciace sa Slovensko) for The Slovak Spectator. He added that bachelor degrees could be prolonged to take four years. When a student thinks about continuing studies to the second degree of university education, master degree, he or she should decide what they want to become in their professional life, Visnovsky advises. For an academic career, a second degree is necessary, even insufficient, and the third degree is also required. But when thinking about practice, in some fields a bachelors degree could be enough, explained Visnovsky, adding that its hard to specify in which fields its not necessary to continue onto the second degree. Bachelors? No, thank you Practice shows that encouraging a bachelors is not that easy. Stereotypical perception of a bachelor degree as an unfinished university education with an unclear professional profile still persists. Those choosing job candidates in companies or institutions are also influenced by the common perception. Such is the summary of the evaluation Employer Research from 2015, made by the Centre of Scientific-Technical Information of Slovakia, specifically the Department of Methodology and Creation of Information Education. The research also found that of those employers who accepted university educated people in the last two years, the majority of graduates did not have only bachelor degrees. From 2,411 respondents, only 11 percent confirmed that they accepted a graduate with a bachelor degree. From the 3,187 accepted graduates from university, only 534 (16.8 percent) were graduates with a bachelor degree. On average, in the last two years, organizations and companies employed 0.83 graduates with a bachelor degree. Most of the graduates with bachelor degrees employed in last two years were in the field of banking, insurance industry and financial mediation (on average 2.79 employees), followed by the field of health care and social help (1.49 employees), hotels, restaurants, real-estate, rent and services (1.07). The lowest chance to be employed as a bachelor degree graduate is in education (0.33) and warehouse organizers, the post office and telecommunication (0.35). When talking about the size of a company, the biggest chance for a graduate of bachelor degree is in large companies (average 3.07 employees), followed by middle ones (0.88) and the lowest chance is in small companies (0.50 employees). Currently, we have 7,500 job vacancies suitable for graduates of first degree and 9,000 suitable for graduate of second degree, informed PR manager of job vacancies database Profesia, Martin Mensik, adding that these numbers are not exact because many employers state all possible degrees of education in their ad. However, employers prefer a second level degree, agrees Mensik. It started in Bologna University education was divided into three degrees based on the Bologna Declaration, signed in 1999 by 29 education ministers. It emerged from a process to ensure comparability in standards and quality of higher-education qualifications not only in European Union countries, but also in Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Armenia and Ukraine. The unified educational system should make it easier to apply for a job in another country, because the employer will recognise the education level of the applicant. The basic framework is three cycles of higher-education qualifications: the BA studies, the MA studies and PhD studies. In describing the cycles, the framework uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), which are credits students get for each subject. The number of credits depends on how much time and effort a student puts into their studies. In most cases, it takes three to four years to earn a bachelor's degree and another one or two years for a master's degree. One academic year corresponds to 60 ECTS credits, equivalent to 1,5001,800 hours of study. Reform saves the bachelors? Learning Slovakia, the school reform which is currently at the preparation stage, also mentioned in several points the problem of underestimating the bachelors degree. The Education Ministry wants to broaden professional oriented study programmes, mainly at the bachelor level of study. Universities should allows more flexibility in the content of their education and employers should be motivated to provide education in the work environment. At the same time, students should have enough information about the needs of the labour market and schools should be prepared to meet them. The ministry also plans to create conditions for realizing the bachelor degree according to the liberal studies model. This model should ensure the possibility for students to specialize in the second half of their studies, with a thesis in their chosen field or the combination of two fields (choosing a major and minor). Visnovsky would like to see the combination of both. If we are successful with the reform, it will also help the employment rate of graduates with bachelor degrees, summed up Visnovsky. The Spectator College is a programme designed to support the study and teaching of English in Slovakia, as well as to inspire interest in important public issues among young people. The project was created by The Slovak Spectator in cooperation with their exclusive partner the Leaf Academy. Making an online certificate a good reason to stay on the internet. Font size: A - | A + A glossary of words as well as exercise related to this article are also published online. Parents often say, Get off the computer, you are doing nothing on the internet! Instead of a long explanation of why it is extremely important to be online right now, show them a certificate from Google Digital Garage. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The project of the Digital Garage is nothing new; in Slovakia it has been functioning for more than one year but still is not as popular as it could be. Digital Garage is an opportunity for everyone to get a certificate from the fields of advertising, marketing or web design. The whole educational plan is for free, the only required investment is time. Moreover, language is also not a barrier because all the videos needed for education are either in Slovak, with Slovak subtitles or translated. Many successful companies started in the garage and that was the inspiration for us when creating the name, said Michal Zachar, the marketing manager of Google for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as quoted by Androidportal. We will be glad if our Digital Garage will help to start businesses or careers and be successful. After logging in, there is the possibility to choose one of 23 topics or to go through one by one. The lectures progress from basic, such as browsing the internet and using e-mail to campaign, to advertising, social media or creating an online shop. Digital Garage is part of the initiative Pomahame Slovensku rast (We help Slovakia grow). The aim of the project is to strengthen digital skills to the form as they are required in todays labour market. A successful graduate of the whole course gains a certificate recognized by IAB Europe (Interactive Advertising Bureau) which confirms advanced skills in the field of online marketing and helps (not only) students when searching for a job. The Spectator College is a programme designed to support the study and teaching of English in Slovakia, as well as to inspire interest in important public issues among young people. The project was created by The Slovak Spectator in cooperation with their exclusive partner the Leaf Academy. The Kosice-based steelworks complain that judges who issued the right of lien on their premises are biased. Font size: A - | A + USSK, the Kosice-based steelworks, claims that the information about the court ruling ordering a right of lien on its premises leaked from the court before it was officially published. The courts have placed restrictions on the sale of USSK's property shortly before the factory is expected to change hands in a forthcoming deal with the Chinese owned Hesteel Group. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The Kosice Regional Court issued a right of lien in relation to two thirds of the land owned by U.S. Steel Kosice (USSK) in favour of an American shell company, Adams & Co. The Sme daily broke the news earlier in April. Read also: Read also: Problems for U.S. Steel Kosice going into sale. A shell company is making a grab for its premises Read more The steelmaker's lawyers now claim that information about the issue of the right of lien leaked from the court before the senate issued its ruling. They wrote in their complaint that three judges of the senate, Vladimir Hrib, Janka Kocisova, and Slavka Maruscakova, who issued the ruling, were biased. The company alleges that the judges were the ones to leak the information, the Sme daily wrote on April 28. "The information about the ruling before its actual issue can only have come from the judges," USSK wrote as quoted by the daily, adding that Slovak law does not allow court rulings to be leaked in advance. "It is absolutely unacceptable, nobody must know in advance how a court is going to decide," lawyer Andrej Leontiev of the Taylor-Wessing law firm told Sme. Neither USSK nor its attorney, Roman Kvasnica, commented on the case. The company has lodged an appeal against the right of lien with the Supreme Court. Read also: The Promise by Terry George is already shown in theatres of Yerevan. Besides the tragic story of Armenian Genocide and the Hollywood stars involved in the project, the movie is interesting for the people also due to the beautiful love triangle represented in it. Hollywood known actor Roman Mitichyan, who has embodied fedayi Van in the movie, was also impressed by the plot of the film. The films about Armenian Genocide are all great- Mayrig, The Cut, Ararat, 1915, many others, but The Promise was big budget so there was no challenge for financing anything Terry wanted to shoot. It was there, so he did his best job. Telling love story shows the world how powerful is LOVE... All you need is LOVE to move forward,-said the actor in his interview with NEWS.am STYLE. I heard about the Armenian Genocide project from my agency, then Hollywood producer friend of mine, Stefan Martirosyan knew the director Terry George. He worked with him, so he made the interdiction and I auditioned for Terry George and I got the part. During our interview Roman also revealed some details about the difficulties while embodying his character Van. I play Van, character in Musa Dagh scenes as fedayi right next to Stepan, character true out the film saving Armenian life's from ottoman Turks in 1915. We shoot lot of footage which has been edited. It's called Hollywood magic:) I grew up in Vanadzor, Armenia and I was present in 1988 earthquake and 1991 war in Artsakh. I was still a boy but I've seen and heard so many stories about Monte Melkonyan and others, so for me to become fedayi it was fully commitment living those memories. After one week in to the shoot I went through major depression, which never happened to me all this years working in Hollywood in major films or TV. Seen the horror what Armenian people went through 102 years ago, that really did it for me, there's lot more to say. We spoke also about the famous celebrities involved in the project. It was a pleasure working with Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale, Jean Reno, but this is just one of the stories has been told. We have a lot to tell and hope to make number of films about this topic. We need to be united and make it happen just like Kirk Kerkorian did and amazing job by dear friend Eric Esrailian. The Promise is full of many touching episodes representing the tragedy of Armenian people. You can hardly see any Armenian who did not cry after watching it. We found out which was the most touching part of the movie according to Roman. It was the dialogue between Oscar Isaac and Charlot Le Bon, when he says. The whole family is gone, they killed them all, and she says. Our revenge to be survive. That was very powerful for me,-says the actor adding. This is a human rights message to the world, it's educational. Hope the world will open their eyes on forgotten Genocide. Syune Arakelyan Photos from Roman Mitichyan's Facebook page Follow us on our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram BUM NOTE, shouted the Sun yesterday. Surf Europe slammed for offering female customers a free holiday if they send in pictures of their bottoms. They were referring, presumably, to a video posted on the SE Facebook almost a month ago, accompanied by the caption: Good story, your favourite Russian surf camp in Sri Lanka, is running a comp to win a free trip there, by uploading your backside. Good luck. In fact, Surf Europe itself made no offer to anybody and the phrase your favourite Russian surf camp in Sri Lanka may provide a hint as to the ironic spirit in which the video was shared but lets not split bum hairs. A number of people have voiced their concerns about the advert on Facebook, continues the article. After quoting a number of angry Facebook comments, it proceeds to pontificate about a painting hung in the coffee shops of a high-street chain, which customers had accused of celebrating cat-calling. Meanwhile a naked Lily James looks out from the sidebar (Lily James strips off NAKED for raunchy sex scenes in new WWII drama), beneath an almost naked Myleene Klass (Myleene Klass strips off to nothing but an Arsenal scarf before quickly deleting the sexy snap) and a bikini-clad Kim Kardashian whose bum is apparently no longer up to standard (GONE TO BOT? Kim Kardashian fans lash out at reality star on social media as they feel misled by her pictures). Bum note? This was a cackophony. Commenters were less than impressed by the Suns cheap stunt. Wow, wrote Rosey, theres ATROSITIES happening all over the world and the Sun puts in this story of stupid females flashing their arses classy EH sun. Sun slammed by own readers! And hows the view from up there? The best thing, of course, about sitting on such a high horse is that you can see right down the tops of the passing totty. A few days before our offer, and a month before the Suns resultant outrage, the Sun launched its annual cleavage contest, Bust in Britain, which offers female customers 1000 if they send in pictures of their breasts. In the continued absence of anything new, the story then appeared, practically unchanged, on the Mirror another bastion of probity though they at least they had the decency to contact us for a quote, even if they didnt publish it. No such courtesy from the Sun. Will they admit to their error? Make a clean breast of it? Wed settle for a link to the Surf Europe website, preferably to this article, but we shant hold our breath. Theres nothing new under the sun and theres certainly no news in it. By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha Washington, Apr 28 (PTI) The Trump administration favours export of oil and natural gas to allies and friends like India, a top cabinet official has said. US Interior Secretary Ryan Zinkes comments came as US President Donald Trump prepared to take steps towards removing the shackles on offshore energy exploration. advertisement "We would like to export (oil and natural gas) to other countries," Zinke told reporters at a White House news conference yesterday. "Part of our national security is to not only be able to provide ourselves with energy independence, but also to provide our allies with energy, certainly liquid natural gas in Europe," he said, adding that export of oil and natural gas requires infrastructure, which is not the case now. "We are working our ways to make sure we can reverse that. A lot of it is the infrastructure. And we are quite frankly behind in the infrastructure," he said. Zeke was responding questions on possibility of export of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to India and other countries. Providing US allies with affordable, reliable and abundant energy is something the US is looking into, Zeke said. "I am a supporter of export," he said. Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had visited the US in March and discussed with energy secretary Rick Perry the export of LNG to India from early 2018. Indian investments in LNG and Shale sector in the US ?by both the government and the private sector ? were also discussed. Zinke said on Friday Trump would sign an executive order to direct a review of the locations available for offshore oil and gas exploration and of certain regulations governing offshore oil and gas exploration. The Department of Interior, he said, would reopen the Obama administration?s five-year drilling plan, finalised in November, that restricts lease sales for new drilling to only the Gulf of Mexico and waters off south-central Alaska. "This order will cement our nations position as a global energy leader and foster energy security for the benefit of American people, without removing any of the stringent environmental safeguards that are currently in place," Zinke said. PTI LKJ NSA --- ENDS --- After 3 days trekking through mountains, villages and rice fields for over 60km, sleeping on the floors of bamboo houses and showering in a bucket in what turned out to be one of the most rewarding and intense experiences of our lives we welcomed the stunning comfort of Myanmar Treasure Resort Inle! After having learnt so much about the diverse and fascinating culture of the Shan region of Myanmar as well as seeing the characteristic stilt houses of the lake we were thrilled to find the hotel continues to celebrate these styles and traditions in a relaxing and charming environment that allows you to spend your time at Inle truly on the lake. A stunning location right on the lakeside Inle lake is one of the most majestic and breath taking sights in Myanmar and indeed the world. This long and narrow lake is a life source for all those who call it home, heading out on the small canoes fishermen with their traditional leg rowing technique and typical conical nets call this their office space. Villages and communities float above the water in their ramshackle stilt houses much like those we saw in Cambodia. Boats buzz up and down the lake to and from the markets, in and out of the villages and to and from the floating farms. To stay on the lake itself is to really get to know life here rather than in the busy and rather soulless main town of Nyaung Shwe and Myanmar Treasure Resort Inle is the perfect spot! Not only does Myanmar Treasure Resort Inle give you access to 24 hour culture but of course it also provides the most picturesque setting from which to dine, relax and wake up to. Rather than the beeping horns of the dusty road, here you can fall asleep in the cooling breeze of the lake and the soothing tones of the birds and creatures that call this place home too. A collection of stilt houses in a tastefully cultural style Another benefit of being on the lake is the style in which you can stay. The local houses, workshops and even shops and post offices are all on the lake, appearing to float above the lily pad covered water on their miraculous stilts. We have been lucky enough to visit a villagers house on the Tonle Sap in Cambodia and its simple style is one that works so well in this region. Here you can experience the ups and downs of the water and live above the lake as the locals do. The wooden huts use locally sources materials to create a resort that is in keeping with local styles and traditional whilst also managing to blend this with effortless luxury. A perfect location from which to explore the wonderful lake From here you are in the perfect location to head straight out to explore the lake. The hotel can easily organise one of their own boats to give you a personalised guided tour of the lake, stopping off at all of the main areas on the lake, slowing down as you pass the fishermen so you can get that perfect photo and dropping you right back off on your door step. This way you know firstly that you wont be getting ripped off in town on some rushed tour by someone wanting to get commission from every stop. But instead you can enjoy a relaxing cruise on your own traditional long boat to all corners of this amazing span of water allowing you to take in all the culture, scenery and people that exist here as you weave in and out of the waterways of these floating villages. An unforgettable place to relax and watch sunset One of the best things about being on the lake itself is how relaxing it is, just escaping the noise, crowds and dust of the city nearby is a break. But sitting back and tucking into some fine dining, sipping cocktails or just sitting on your balcony over the gently lapping lake is therapeutic for the soul! Mentioning therapy, you can also treat yourself to some amazing spa treatments here too, after walking for 3 days and carrying around our backpacks for 6 months I was over due a good massage! Add to that the huge windows at the bottom of your kingsized bed and you can fall asleep with the glow of the moon shimmering across the still surface of the lake, after youve watched the sunsetting a burning red, dipping below the mountains beyond as the local fishermen take out their conical nets for one last catch of the day. Get to know the culture of the Shan state from here Many of the employees of the hotel are local villagers who come from all over the different regions of the Shan state. The hotel gives them a great opportunity to work for a company who genuinely treats them well and gives them great chances to progress, most of the management told us how they started here as porters or even washing pots! They also get involved in community initiatives to improve the lives of the people in this developing nation from donating to orphanages to opening up many thousands of job opportunities across Myanmar. However one of the great elements especially to Myanmar Treasure Resort Inle is how they celebrate their culture. Each member of staff wears a uniform tailored to reflect their own tribe or village traditions including their head dress. Each night there are several performances that change throughout the year to reflect various cultural events such as the Water festival. Dances are performed by members of staff from all departments who are proud to teach their guests about their rich cultural heritage. We were even allowed to try on some of the unique tribal dress from the different areas of the state and told of the unique customs each tribe celebrates. More about Myanmar Treasure Resort Inle www.myanmartreasureresorts.com/Inle Twitter / Instagram Tripadvisor See more from this country: See more from our backpacking adventures: Check out our other hotel and hostel reviews here: Pin for later: Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Myanmar Treasure Resort- Inle. As always, all opinions are our own! Shuaa Capital, a premier financial services firm in the UAE, said it has been selected as lead manager and underwriter for the proposed rights issue of leading Islamic insurance company Dar Al Takaful. The Dubai Financial Market-listed Islamic insurer recently announced plans to raise Dh50 million ($13.6 million) through the rights issue. Proceeds will be used to maintain Dar Al Takafuls capital requirements, strengthen its balance sheet and support its growth plans, it stated. Dar Al Takaful will issue 50 million new shares at a price of Dh1.02, reflecting the nominal value of Dh1 per share. The issue, which opened on April 20, has National Bank of Abu Dhabi acting as the receiving bank. Chairman Abdul Aziz Al Bannai said: "With the enhanced capitalbase and meticulously planned expansion strategies, Dar Al Takaful aims to become the most successful insurance company working according to Shariah tenets in the UAE." Jassim Alseddiqi, the chairman of Shuaa Capital, said: "We are pleased to underwrite the full rights issue of Dar Al Takaful. Dar Al Takafuls choice of Shuaa Capital to handle this mandate affirms our companys strong start to 2017. These truly are exciting times as we experience the return of the Shuaa legacy." "We look forward to utilising our expertise to manage this important transaction for Dar Al Takaful," he noted. Saleh Al Hashimi, the vice chairman and managing director of Dar Al Takaful, said: "Dar Al Takaful provides a comprehensive range of fully Sharia compliant Islamic insurance products and services and specialized solutions as well." "When it comes to customer service, we benchmark ourselves with the best in the industry and the increasing number of customer accounts retained year after year is a testimony to the insurer's customer focused approach," he 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. 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. The UAE economy will receive significant benefits as a result of putting up a national pavilion at Hannover Messe, according to Emirati industry leaders and economy officials. The 70th edition of the Hannover Messe, which opened yesterday (April 24) will run till April 28. Ali Al Ahmed, UAE Ambassador to Germany, said: "The UAEs participation in Hannover Messe, the largest industrial exhibition in the world, is a reflection of the strong historical strategic and trade relations with Germany. The UAE is Germanys largest trading partner in the Middle East and North Africa region, with bilateral trade that amounted to 15.52 billion in 2015, equivalent to 30 per cent of the total regional trade with Germany. Al Ahmed continued: Today, Germany is a leading country when it comes to the industrial sector, and Hannover Messe will serve as the best venue to learn about the recent developments in this sector from Germany and around the world. It will also showcase the booming progress being made in the UAEs industrial sector, in line the UAE Vision 2021." Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, spoke of the importance of advancing bilateral and mutually beneficial trade agreements in pursuit of global socio-economic growth. Hannover Messe provides a premier platform for promoting partnerships and new business models for the industrial sector of the future. The United Arab Emirates looks forward to the wealth of knowledge, advanced technologies and best industry practices awaiting its participants. We are also eager to strengthen existing affiliations with the industrial trade and form new ones that complement our growth strategy, he said. The UAE cabinet recently announced a six-pillar plan to advance and lead the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. The plan includes close collaboration with the World Economic Forum in efforts to produce an advisory council solely committed to advancing revolutionary technologies on a world-wide scale. Ali Majed Al Mansouri, chairman of the Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi, said: Hannover Messe is the worlds largest annual event for industrial technology and manufacturing, which represents a significant amount of national economic development as we move towards a diverse post-oil economy. The manufacturing sector accounts for roughly 13 per cent of our non-oil GDP, and is a rapidly growing field that will help boost our efforts to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Our presence here this week will help cement the UAEs role in these exciting developments. With some 6,500 exhibitors and 250,000 visitors, Hannover Messe is a unique platform raising awareness about some of the most cutting-edge industry manufacturers and business services in the UAE, including leading free zones. The UAE Pavilion at Hannover Messe is organised and hosted by the UAE Ministry of Economy and the Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi, and representation this year consists of 15 organisations, from industry specific manufacturers to major economic and government entities. Government entities exhibiting at the UAE Pavilion this year include the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Other exhibitors include Strata, Abu Dhabi Ports, Emirates Global Aluminium, ZonesCorp, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, as well as Dubai Airport Freezone, the Industrial Development Bureau and Abu Dhabi Business Centre. The countrys up-and-coming SMEs are represented by Control Contracting & Trading Company, EEKMASEC and Excellent Fire & Safety. -TradeArabia News Service 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 SNC-Lavalin, a global leading engineering and construction group, has won a contract by Saudi Aramco to process a potential increased output of Arabian Light crude from the Berri Field on the east coast of the kingdom. The engineering and project management facilities are proposed at Saudi Aramco's existing plants at Abu Ali and Khursaniyah. SNC-Lavalin's scope of work includes front-end engineering design for a new 250,000 BCD (barrels of oil per calendar day) gas oil separation plant at the existing Abu Ali Gas Plant, as well as additional facilities at the Khursaniyah Gas Plant that will process 40 MBCD (thousand barrels per calendar day) of hydrocarbon condensate, all associated with the Berri Crude Increment. Under the contract, Saudi Aramco may also utilize SNC-Lavalin to provide technical support services for the construction phase. The front end engineering design project is due to begin this month and the pre-EPC construction stage services are expected to be completed by August 2018. "To be selected by Saudi Aramco for this important project, demonstrates our client's continued confidence in our ability to provide a highly qualified, multi-disciplinary, design team combined with world-class project management credentials and local constructability expertise," said Martin Adler, president, Oil & Gas, SNC-Lavalin. "SNC-Lavalin has worked with Saudi Aramco for nearly 40 years and has maintained an impressive track record of safely and successfully delivering projects. This contract award shows the depth of our commitment to customer relations in Saudi Arabia and the region as a whole." TradeArabia News Service Tens of thousands of protestors gather on the National Mall for the March for Science in Washington, DC, on April 22. Organizers of the march sought to call attention to climate change, and President Trump's budget cuts to organizations that aid scientific research. The DC march is one of dozens around the US. Hundreds of thousands of people in more than 400 locations across the globe are also taking part in the March for Science to recognise scientific progress, raise awareness of scientific discovery, and defend scientific integrity. EPA/Jim Lo Scalzo The UAE continues to be an increasingly important destination for travellers from both China and India, according to InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the worlds leading global hotel companies. IHGs data trends show that, the hotel market in the Emirates can expect to see an increase in inbound business from these two powerful markets throughout the year. IHGs data reporting shows that its business from Chinese travellers to the Middle East has jumped by 13.31 per cent from 2015 to 2016, followed by an increase of over 24 per cent year-over-year (Feb year-to-date). Dubai saw an increase of 3.3 per cent points jump from last year while the Dead Sea, Jordan has gone up by 5 per cent points. The traffic IHGs hotels have received from India also points to a growth in the UAEs room nights, which has gone up by 24 per cent year-over-year (Feb year-to-date). While there has been a drop in room nights in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have continued to grow, with 22 per cent and 3 per cent jumps respectively. James Britchford, vice president of sales and marketing, India, Middle East, Africa, IHG said: We have seen some headwinds in the Middle East in the last year, however the region remains dynamic and fundamentals for the hotel industry here are strong, particularly in the UAE. From a mid- and long-term perspective, the major cities of the Middle East will continue to grow as business hubs and tourist destinations. We remain strong in our outlook towards the Middle East in general, while the UAE remains a key market for us. On the specific topic of Chinese and Indian travel trends, Britchford explained: Ultimately, China and India represent the largest source of tourism markets in the world. We have seen an increase in Mice travel from China, particularly to the UAE, which has bolstered the need for growth across several of our brands. We are also seeing Chinese travellers engage in more long-haul travel, as well increased engagement with luxury hospitality. These trends are similar for Indian travellers as well. IHG also continues to nurture its existing brands in the region that cater to demand from both China and India, growing its luxury offering with InterContinental Hotels and Resorts and its business brand Crowne Plaza while expanding its mid-scale properties under the Holiday Inn brand family, in order to meet the growing demand from business travellers and tourists alike. Visit IHG at the Arabian Travel Market in Sheikh Saeed Hall, stand number HC0550, taking place from April 24-27 at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre. IHG executives are also attending the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, from April 25-27. IHG currently operates over 280 hotels across five brands in Asia, Middle East & Africa (AMEA), including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Hotel Indigo with a further 149 in the development pipeline due to open within the next three to five years. - TradeArabia News Service Thrifty Car Rental, a market leader in car rental and leasing, is aggressively promoting its wide network and extensive fleet to attract more in-bound travellers at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the regions largest travel and trade exhibition, being held in Dubai. The ATM is taking place from April 24 to 27, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. A regular exhibitor at ATM, the team of Thrifty Car Rental in Dubai headed by Karunesh Arya, general manager, Dubai and Northern Emirates, will focus on strengthening its relationships with companies who are offering short and long term car rental solutions to business and leisure travellers visiting the UAE. There is a high level of interest in Dubai as one of the most preferred international holiday destinations and we anticipate a large influx of tourists from Europe and Americas as business travel and holiday season picks up. Also with the decision of the leadership of the UAE to offer visa-on-arrival to Chinese and Russian guests, we expect increased demand from these markets. We are now seeing the good effect of these decision so during ATM we will meet with partners promoting Dubai especially to these markets and present our wide network and huge fleet of vehicles, said Arya. Tourists arriving in Dubai surged by 12 percent in the first two months of 2017, which is nearly four times the growth seen in the same period last year. According to reports from Dubais Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, China and Russia in particular drove the volumes and set the stage for a strong first quarter result. We also anticipate increased traffic from families as more and more family driven destinations such as Dubai Parks & Resorts and IMG Worlds of Adventure have opened in Dubai during the past six months giving a variety of attractions for parents and children. While there has been a shift in the demand for smaller vehicles, we have re-aligned our fleet mix accordingly to cater to the changing demands of our customers. We have a lot of things to highlight this ATM and we are excited to meet with our partners and potential clients to share all these developments with them, added Arya. During ATM, Thrifty will also promote Thrifty Lounge, a new car renting experience wherein customers can experience comfort, convenience and personalised service in a lounge-kind environment while transacting business. The first Thrifty Lounge opened at Burjuman Mall in Dubai and customers and travel partners welcomed the concept. TradeArabia News Service By Press Trust of India: (Eds: Repeating with additional information) New Delhi, Apr 27 (PTI) Strategic issues, including Indias NSG membership bid and ways to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and trade are expected to be discussed during the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans from April 30. The overnight visit comes barely days after a referendum in Turkey on April 16 on whether to change the country from a parliamentary democracy to an executive structure led by the president. advertisement The Turkish president will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 1 on key bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. With Turkey being a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the issue of Indias membership bid of the elite group is likely to figure during the talks between the two leaders. When asked whether the issue of NSG will figure during the talks, Ruchi Ghanashyam, Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry did not give a direct answer and said, "We remain engaged with Turkey." Turkey is not opposed to Indias NSG membership but has been maintaining that the powerful bloc should come out with a system to consider entry of the countries which are not signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), diplomatic sources said. China has been opposing Indias membership of the NSG on the ground that it is not a signatory to the NPT. Asked about Turkeys statements on Jammu and Kashmir and its support to Pakistan, Ghanashyam said India is aware that Turkey has very close relationship with Pakistan and it is their bilateral matter. "We have always emphasized that India-Turkey relations stand on their own footing and, we believe, the Turkish side reciprocates our sentiment," she added. However, she did not respond when asked if India will raise the issue. About projects by Turkey in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including participation in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, she said Indias position on the state of Jammu and Kashmir is very well known that it is an integral part of the country. Enhancing anti-terror cooperation will be among the focus areas during the Erdogen-Modi talks. Ghanashyam said both countries have been victims of terrorism and are battling it. After a failed coup in July last year to topple Erdogan, Turkey had blamed Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation (FETO) for it and said the outfit has "infiltrated" India. Turkey had also asked India to take action against the organisation. Asked about the action taken by India so far, she said Turkey had raised it with the government, which has noted their concern. advertisement Calling the FETO is "secretive transnational criminal network" with presence around the world, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, during a visit here last year, had said, "Unfortunately, the FETO has also infiltrated India through associations and schools." Asked if the timing of the Turkish presidents visit, which immediately comes after the ongoing trip of the Cyprus president, was part of Indias balancing act, MEA Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the timings were based on the convenience of the leaders. Issues relating to regional security, situation in the Middle East, particularly Syria, are likely to figure during talks between Modi and Erdogan. PTI PYK ZMN AAR --- ENDS --- A Boeing 737 MAX sits outside the hangar during a media tour of the Boeing 737 MAX at the Boeing plant in Renton, Washington December 8, 2015. REUTERS/Matt Mills McKnight By David Lawder and Alwyn Scott WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) on Thursday asked the U.S. Commerce Department to investigate alleged subsidies and unfair pricing for Canadian planemaker Bombardier's (BBDb.TO) new CSeries airplane, adding to growing trade tensions between the United States and Canada. The petition against Canada's new competitor to the Boeing 737 aircraft came just days after the Commerce Department imposed duties averaging 20 percent on Canadian softwood lumber, saying that its origin from public land amounted to an unfair government subsidy. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto that he intended to begin renegotiating the 23-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement, after White House officials said Trump had been considering an order to withdraw from the pact. Boeing said in its petition that Bombardier, determined to win a key order from Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N) after losing a competition at United Airlines (UAL.N), had offered its planes to the airline at an "absurdly low" $19.6 million each, well below what it described as the aircrafts production cost of $33.2 million. "Propelled by massive, supply creating and illegal government subsidies, Bombardier Inc has embarked on an aggressive campaign to dump its CSeries aircraft in the United States," Boeing said in its petition. Boeing's similarly sized 737-700 model has a list price of $83.4 million, with the new 737-MAX 7 priced at $92.2 million. Sales discounts from list prices are typically 40 percent to 50 percent in the industry. In April 2016, Bombardier won the Delta order, its biggest yet, for 75 CS100 jets, worth an estimated $5.6 billion based on the list price of about $71.8 million. In its complaint against Bombardier, Boeing argued that the CSeries program would not exist without hundreds of millions of dollars in launch aid from the governments of Canada, Quebec and Britain, nor a $2.5 billion equity infusion from Quebec in 2015. Story continues Boeing also took a shot at European rival Airbus, which it accuses of benefiting from similar "unfair" government subsidies in a long-running dispute before the World Trade Organization. Bombardier is taking a page out of the Airbus strategy book by trying to muscle into the U.S. market with cut-rate pricing, Boeing charged. A Commerce Department spokesman said the petition would be given "a thorough review" and further comment was premature. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has taken swift action in recent weeks to protect the U.S. steel and aluminum industries from foreign competition, launching national security investigations that could lead to import restrictions. An investigation could lead to duties on the aircraft to offset any below-cost pricing or any subsidies deemed unfair. In a statement, Canada's government objected to Boeing's allegations and noted that the CSeries has many U.S. suppliers, including for engines, and supports thousands of U.S. jobs. "The Government of Canada will mount a vigorous defense against these allegations and stand up for aerospace jobs on both sides of the border," it said in the statement. Bombardiers chief executive conceded the company had been aggressive on pricing in order to win, and sources familiar with the deal pegged the discount closer to two-thirds off the nominal list price. Bombardier said in a statement that it was reviewing the petition and structures its dealings to ensure compliance with all relevant laws. The request for anti-dumping measures was also addressed to the U.S. International Trade Commission, an independent U.S. trade body that will review any decisions by the Commerce Department. (Additional reporting by Tim Hepher in Paris, David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Allison Lampert in Montreal; writing by David Lawder; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Bill Rigby) (Repeats to additional subscribers) By Claire Milhench LONDON, April 28 (Reuters) - Libya's $67 billion sovereign wealth fund will go head-to-head with Societe Generale (Swiss: 519928.SW - news) in London's High Court on Tuesday over claims the French investment bank paid $58.5 million in bribes to secure business from the fund. The Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) is pursuing SocGen (Paris: FR0000130809 - news) in relation to five trades totalling $2.1 billion, executed between 2007 and 2009, before Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was ousted as Libyan leader. The LIA claims the trades were secured as part of a "fraudulent and corrupt scheme" involving the payment of $58.5 million by SocGen to a Panamanian-registered company called Lenaida, controlled at the time by Libyan businessman Walid Giahmi. Lenaida was dissolved in 2010. In its latest annual report SocGen said that it "firmly refutes such allegations and any claim calling into question the lawfulness of these investments". Giahmi, who is also named as a defendant in the suit, maintains that he is a legitimate businessman and there was never a fraudulent and corrupt scheme. According to the LIA, Giahmi was in a position to act as a middleman because of his connections with what the fund calls 'Gaddafi Associates', in particular Saif Gaddafi, one of the leader's sons. In a pre-trial hearing last May, the judge ruled in favour of the LIA's requests for further disclosure by Giahmi of phone and banking records to shed light on the nature of the alleged relationship. Libya set up the LIA in 2006 with the aim of investing the large reserves accumulated from its oil revenues and integrating its economy into the international financial system after years of sanctions. It quickly became a magnet for foreign banks and fund managers. The leadership of the LIA remains contested, in a dispute that mirrors the fragmented nature of the country since the fall of Gaddafi in 2011. Last summer the fund lost a high-profile case against Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS-PB - news) in which it tried to claw back $1.2 billion from the Wall Street firm in relation to nine equity derivatives investments carried out in 2008. Story continues In that trial, the LIA argued that Goldman exercised "undue influence" and "unconscionable bargaining" to get it to enter the trades, and that it was too unsophisticated to understand what it was buying. However, the judge ruled in favour of Goldman, saying key decision-makers at the fund had understood the trades and the risks. The LIA sought permission to appeal but is still waiting to hear the outcome of this. The case against SocGen and Giahmi is more complex and involves allegations by the LIA that the payments to Lenaida were made with the aim of directly or indirectly influencing the LIA to enter into the disputed trades. The trial is expected to run until July 31. Some witnesses appearing for SocGen will give evidence in private to avoid self-incrimination, as the French bank is also being investigated by U.S. authorities in connection with deals involving Libya. In April 2014 the U.S. Department of Justice served Societe Generale with a subpoena requesting documents relating to transactions with Libyan entities and individuals, including the LIA. In October 2016 the Securities and Exchange Commission served SocGen with a subpoena for the same purpose. Societe Generale said in its last annual report that it was cooperating with U.S. authorities. (Reporting by Claire Milhench; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) By Claire Milhench LONDON (Reuters) - Libya's $67 billion sovereign wealth fund will go head-to-head with Societe Generale in London's High Court on Tuesday over claims the French investment bank paid $58.5 million (45.65 million pounds) in bribes to secure business from the fund. The Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) is pursuing SocGen in relation to five trades totalling $2.1 billion, executed between 2007 and 2009, before Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was ousted as Libyan leader. The LIA claims the trades were secured as part of a "fraudulent and corrupt scheme" involving the payment of $58.5 million by SocGen to a Panamanian-registered company called Lenaida, controlled at the time by Libyan businessman Walid Giahmi. Lenaida was dissolved in 2010. In its latest annual report SocGen said that it "firmly refutes such allegations and any claim calling into question the lawfulness of these investments". Giahmi, who is also named as a defendant in the suit, maintains that he is a legitimate businessman and there was never a fraudulent and corrupt scheme. According to the LIA, Giahmi was in a position to act as a middleman because of his connections with what the fund calls 'Gaddafi Associates', in particular Saif Gaddafi, one of the leader's sons. In a pre-trial hearing last May, the judge ruled in favour of the LIA's requests for further disclosure by Giahmi of phone and banking records to shed light on the nature of the alleged relationship. Libya set up the LIA in 2006 with the aim of investing the large reserves accumulated from its oil revenues and integrating its economy into the international financial system after years of sanctions. It quickly became a magnet for foreign banks and fund managers. The leadership of the LIA remains contested, in a dispute that mirrors the fragmented nature of the country since the fall of Gaddafi in 2011. Last summer the fund lost a high-profile case against Goldman Sachs in which it tried to claw back $1.2 billion from the Wall Street firm in relation to nine equity derivatives investments carried out in 2008. In that trial, the LIA argued that Goldman exercised "undue influence" and "unconscionable bargaining" to get it to enter the trades, and that it was too unsophisticated to understand what it was buying. However, the judge ruled in favour of Goldman, saying key decision-makers at the fund had understood the trades and the risks. The LIA sought permission to appeal but is still waiting to hear the outcome of this. The case against SocGen and Giahmi is more complex and involves allegations by the LIA that the payments to Lenaida were made with the aim of directly or indirectly influencing the LIA to enter into the disputed trades. The trial is expected to run until July 31. Some witnesses appearing for SocGen will give evidence in private to avoid self-incrimination, as the French bank is also being investigated by U.S. authorities in connection with deals involving Libya. In April 2014 the U.S. Department of Justice served Societe Generale with a subpoena requesting documents relating to transactions with Libyan entities and individuals, including the LIA. In October 2016 the Securities and Exchange Commission served SocGen with a subpoena for the same purpose. Societe Generale said in its last annual report that it was cooperating with U.S. authorities. (Reporting by Claire Milhench; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) By Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi ZURICH (Reuters) - The head of UBS , one of Europe's leading financial groups, has criticised the British government for failing to encourage banks to stay in London after Brexit, predicting that many would soon trigger plans to shift operations elsewhere. "The UK is not really helping this process by trying to help the industry to stay in London or to do things in London," UBS Chief Executive Sergio Ermotti told journalists on Friday. "I do see the danger of people being forced to trigger contingency plans," added the CEO of Switzerland's largest bank. Ermotti's remarks underline the potential impact of Britain's departure from the European Union on one of the mainstays of its economy. Brexit could prevent groups based in London from selling financial services freely across the bloc and trigger an exodus. An executive at Deutsche Bank said this week that it was considering whether to move thousands of its staff from London. Ermotti, whose bank employs around 5,000 staff in London, said UBS would decide whether and where to relocate staff in the coming months. "Our timeframe for making decisions (on Brexit) is still ... probably going to be towards the end of the summer, beginning of fall, so that we can start to take concrete steps to prepare ourselves," he said. Ermotti said he was looking at alternative locations around Europe, including Frankfurt and Spain, where the bank already had a base. UBS has its headquarters in Zurich, outside of the European Union. UBS has recently moved its London base to new offices in the main financial district. As well as managing the wealth of the rich, the group, with 2.2 trillion Swiss francs (1.71 trillion pounds) in assets, has an investment bank. In January, UBS Chairman Axel Weber said around 1,000 of the bank's London employees could be hit by Britain's exit from the European Union, while Ermotti had previously placed the figure higher - at 20 percent to 30 percent of total jobs there. Last month, Prime Minister Theresa May formally declared Britain's intention to leave the EU, opening a two-year period for both side to negotiate the divorce. Talks were expected to begin in earnest in June, although May's surprise decision to call a snap election on June 8 has added to the uncertainty. "Our goal would be to (keep) as many people in the UK as possible and only selectively have people in the continent, but it's up to the UK government to come up with pragmatic ways to do that," said Ermotti. (Writing By John O'Donnell; Editing by Keith Weir) Cuba Capitolio Business Insider/Sam Shead BERLIN Less than a week ago I found myself waiting in several long lines in Cuba to buy a card for anywhere between 3 and 5 (Cuban's can get it for more like 1) that would provide me with a username and a password that I could use to get online for an hour at a time. Each time I purchased one of these internet cards issued by Cuba's state-run telecoms company, ETESCA I had to then find a public square or a high-end hotel in order to access the internet. For someone that is used to being connected 24/7, this was something of a shock. But for Cubans, a lack of connectivity is something they've always had to live with. The Caribbean island has the lowest level of internet connectivity in the western hemisphere. But this week we got a big sign that Cuba is slowly starting to embrace the internet. Google, arguably the world's biggest internet company and a portal to almost everything online, started turning on servers in Cuba. The activity was reportedly spotted first by internet monitoring firm Dyn on Wednesday, and Google confirmed it had set servers live in Cuba in an email to The Verge. In turning on the servers, Google became the first foreign internet company to host content within the long-isolated country. It means that Cubans will now be able to access Google products like YouTube and Google Search through a local Google server in their country. ETESCA will use the servers to locally deliver some of Google's most popular and high-bandwidth content, such as YouTube videos. That should make streaming video content and using Google Apps faster and more efficient for Cubans. But it won't probably won't change the slow speeds that Cubans get when they visit non-Google sites, such as Facebook. Previously, Cubans had to access Google's products through a submarine cable, which currently connects Cuba to the internet via Venezuela, according to BuzzFeed. The difference should be noticeable for Cubans almost immediately, according to Dyn. Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at the company, told CNBC: "I think this will be very noticeable for Cubans. The internet in Cuba will still be a painfully slow process. This is just another somewhat rare step forward. For Google services, which will be hosted in country, it will be a milestone." Story continues The partnership between Google and Cuba was announced in December in a blog post on Google's website. "Google and the national telecommunications company of Cuba ETECSA have signed an agreement to offer the Google Global Cache service, contributing to improve the online experience for Cubans who use Google products," wrote Marian Croak, VP of access strategy and emerging markets, and Brett Perlmutter, manager of strategy and operations for Cuba, in a joint post Google on Google's Latin American blog. "This agreement allows ETECSA to use our technology to reduce latency by locally delivering some of our most popular and high bandwidth content, such as YouTube videos. This means that Cubans who already have access to the internet and want to use our services will see an improvement in terms of the quality of the same and a reduction in latency for the contents in cache." Google did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. cuba cuban government building Sam Shead/BIFor many people in Cuba, where the average monthly salary is around 20, the 1 an hour pay-as-you-go internet cards are something of a luxury. That's particularly true for people living in rural areas, where the country's tourist currency, known as the Convertible Peso and worth about 25x more than the normal Cuban Peso, is harder to come by. Several Cuban citizens that I spoke to last week wanted Cuban leader Raul Castro and his communist government to make the internet cheaper and more widespread to allow them to take full advantage of what it has to offer from both personal and business perspectives. Two Airbnb hosts that I stayed with said that having an internet connection in their home would make their lives significantly easier, adding that most of their income comes from letting out rooms on the platform. But, one added, the government "likes to be in control" and that restricting internet access has helped with this. However, Johannes Werner, editor of www.cubastandard.com, told Business Insider that Cuba's biggest obstacle when it comes to making the internet more widespread in Cuba is a lack of resources, not censorship. "European and Asian bankers are still wetting their pants in fear of Uncle Sam's big stick if they touch Cuba," he said. "Some are doubting the wisdom of investing hundreds of millions into fiberoptic hardware that may be obsolete soon; but waiting for the wireless revolution wouldn't go down well with Cuban users," said Werner. "All these limitations aside, I think it's important to clarify that the days of censorship and information-flow control in Cuba are over, and millions of Cubans strongly hope, for good." He added that ETECSA is expanding an at-home pilot project from Old Havana that started late last year to the rest of the city, including 30,000-plus residences, with plans to go nationwide. NOW WATCH: A former iPhone factory worker explains how they keep the new iPhones a secret See Also: NLR/Endless Runway Building a new runway is often a tight squeeze. For example, part of the opposition to a new runway in London, which has provoked national debate, comes from the hundreds of families whose homes will be demolished to make way for the airport expansion. But a team of Dutch scientists have now come up with an airport design that would allow large numbers of aircraft to take off in a much smaller space than currently possible by using a circular runway. The researchers behind the Endless Runway project from the Netherlands Aerospace Centre argue that it would allow aircraft to land and take off in any direction. This would reduce fuel costs and turbulence and sometimes even allow flights to take off when they would otherwise be delayed because they are waiting for a space on the runway. It could also help lower ticket prices and spread out noise pollution so its not concentrated over one narrow area. As a retired airline captain, I admire the idea. It is a fantastic and thought-provoking notion. To the general public, it probably sounds too good to be true. And sadly, it is. Even if its designers were to solve all its problems and find a backer, it probably couldnt come to fruition for decades. NLR This idea was actually first proposed nearly a century ago, in 1919, and was further tested by the US Navy in the mid 1960s. These trials were carried out at the General Motors circular and banked test track in Arizona and worked very well. But they were all completed on a smaller scale with much smaller aircraft, by pilots who were mostly accustomed to landing on an aircraft carrier. They were flown in perfect weather conditions without the need for the inherent safety protections of the computer technology used in todays aircraft landing systems. Crucially, the landings were done one at a time under test conditions, not every two minutes, day and night, from different directions, as a fully operating circular airport would require. Story continues The bigger picture reveals there would be a succession of impediments to the success of this idea, particularly from the viewpoint of airport operators, air traffic control teams and pilots. NLR Every runway has precise instructions for the approach and landing phase of a flight, which pilots must be able to follow on their instruments when in cloud or low visibility. Similarly, when taking off, pilots have to follow precise routes, partly to minimise noise pollution but mainly to keep them in a safe corridor, clear of any high ground. If aircraft could come from any direction and land as it suited them, there would be chaos. Whats more, sometimes aircraft have to land or abandon their landing in an emergency. Aborting a circular landing could mean the aircraft flying off in potentially any direction, perhaps into oncoming traffic on another part of the circle, or even into a mountain. What you need is a singular safe option, just as we have now. Todays technology only allows for a selected number of arrival routes using the autopilot-assisted instrument landing system that transmits guidance signals from the runway to the aircraft. This automatically flies the aircraft down an unseen conveyor belt onto the start of the runway for manual landing, and will even automatically land the aircraft in thick fog. NLR These systems are currently fixed in one position and cant simply change the guidance for the aircraft to land in a different place. New guidance systems, known as Adaptive Runway Aiming Points, that could make it possible to reposition the landing point are being developed. They are first small step towards the technological realisation of the circular runway. However, it is not just a question of waiting for technology to catch up.Traditional runways at airports are full of symbols and lights to aid safety. A circular airport could have aircraft landing in many different places, and indicating where one aircrafts section of runway ended and anothers began would be impossible on a continuous runway. Changing conditions As the Dutch researchers note, take-offs and landings on regular runways can be made difficult by strong (but consistent) crosswinds. An aircraft could lift off from a circular runway in a direction where these crosswinds wouldnt affect it, but there would only be two points on the circle where this was the case. On any long circular take-off or landing roll, there would be increasing and decreasing amounts of crosswind as the aircraft turns the corner. Whats worse, the wind might change from one side of the aircraft to the other. The headwind component, which is used to calculate speeds for take-off, would also vary considerably as you moved round the circle. You would need a way to account for all these fluctuating circumstances. NLP Finally, in order to land without scraping the wings or engines on a curving, banked runway, the pilot would have to be highly trained to transition from a stable, level approach to a curving, banked movement. Alternatively, the autopilot could, possibly, be redesigned to cope. The challenge of developing a successful circular runway proposal would at least give aircraft manufacturers the advantage of time to implement new autopilot capabilities. They could further use this time to take up another of the Dutch researchers suggestions: a completely new fatter and wider aircraft design with the engines safely on top of the wings that would better suit the new runway design. At the moment, such a design does not exist at all. A circular runway fits nicely with the kind of artists impressions of the future that show a space age 21st century full of self-driving hovercars and holidays on the Moon. And, in fairness, prototypes of these other technologies are already being developed. But until we overcome the inertia of the aircraft industry, find improbable investment and unimaginable political will, circular runways will sadly remain just a vision. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. The Conversation Lindsay Cole does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above. Another unconfirmed report suggested that Dawood had suffered a paralytic attack following which he was hospitalised. By India Today Web Desk: India's most wanted man and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who has been hiding in Pakistan for a long time, is reportedly in a critical condition at a Karachi hospital after a heart stroke. According to unverified reports, Dawood is reportedly unwell and admitted to a Karachi hospital following heart stroke. His condition is said to be critical. advertisement Talking to India Today, Chhota Shakeel said, "Dawood Ibrahim is absolutely hale and hearty. All news reports about his being unwell are completely false." Another unconfirmed report suggested that Dawood had suffered a paralytic attack following which he was hospitalised. The report suggested that the mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai blasts is on ventilator after a surgery to remove a brain tumour failed. The report suggested that at the time Dawood suffered the attack, he was at his posh Clifton area residence in Karachi. The report also said that the right side of his body was completely paralysed. The report also suggested that Indian intelligence agencies have been keeping a close watch on Dawood's condition. However, family sources rubbished the reports saying that Dawood was fit and fine and that all such rumours were nothing but hoaxes. The family source even said that Dawood had called to check on the well being of his wife Mehjabeen's uncle Salim who is currently hospitalised. The fugitive mafia boss is wanted for orchestrating the 1993 Mumbai blasts that killed over 250 people and has been running his underworld empire from Pakistan since his escape from India 23 years ago. He has been on the United Nations Security Council's sanctions list since 2003. Pakistan has always denied that Dawood is in the country. Dawood is the son of a Mumbai police constable who got involved with gang members of Haji Mastan. He was first arrested for a robbery case in the 1980's. Also read: Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim has gangrene, legs may be amputated: Reports It's official! UN confirms Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan Also watch: When will India have a policy to deal with Pakistan sponsored terror? --- ENDS --- ANKARA (Reuters) - Iran's foreign ministry has summoned Pakistan's ambassador in Tehran to protest against the killing of nine Iranian border guards by Sunni militants attacking from neighbouring Pakistan, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported on Friday. The Sunni Muslim militant group called Jaish al Adl, or the Army of Justice, has claimed responsibility for the attack on Wednesday in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan Province. "Iran expects Pakistan to take serious and essential measures to arrest and punish those terrorists responsible for the killing of our nine guards," IRNA quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi as saying. "The message was delivered to Ambassador Asif Ali Khan Durrani on Friday," he said. Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, whose majority population is Sunni Muslim Baluch people like those across the border in Pakistan's Baluchistan province, lies on a major transit route for drug smugglers. It has long been plagued by unrest both from them and from separatist militants. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also called on Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to prosecute the militants who had killed the Iranian border guards. "Regrettably, a lack of appropriate measures and necessary prosecution on the part of the Pakistani government have caused great loss of lives and property for Iran," Rouhani said in a statement, quoted by the semi-official Mehr news agency. The Jaish al Adl group has in the past carried out several attacks against Iranian security forces, aimed at highlighting what they say is discrimination against Sunni Muslims and the ethnic Baluch in Shi'ite-dominated Iran. Iran denies the claim. The group killed eight border guards in 2015 and 14 border guards two years earlier. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Tom Heneghan) By Teis Jensen and Alastair Macdonald COPENHAGEN/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - For its neighbours and closest friends in Europe, Britain's impending departure from the EU has prompted a flurry of networking in the hope of defending free trade and lean budgets in Brussels. Britain has been the hub of an informal club known as the Northern Lights, that includes the EU's Nordic members, Irish and Dutch; it offered collective muscle in wrangling against more protectionist and dirigiste traditions in France and Germany or eastern and southern states hungry for EU subsidies. Now, the constellation of smaller, wealthy states is working to prevent a post-Brexit EU from tilting against their interests. It is looking further afield for allies, such as the free-trading Baltic states and Czechs, or Austria, which is mounting hawkish opposition to paying more to Brussels to make up for the big hole Britain will leave in the EU subsidy budget. "The British voice in the debate will be missed, especially in areas such as trade," Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen told Reuters. "Therefore, Denmark is looking to tighten our relations with our normal like-minded group of countries but at the same time reach out to other member states that we traditionally haven't coordinated with." Samuelson has been on what he calls an "alliance" tour that has taken in Austria, the Czech Republic and Portugal, looking to bolster ties on various parts of Denmark's agenda. His boss, Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, took part in a summit with Irish premier Enda Kenny hosted by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague last week at which all three spoke of common interests. Those are both on Brexit, which will hit trade especially for Britain's near neighbours as well as raise issues like fishing rights, but also on wider EU affairs. KEEPING IT INFORMAL Kenny was keen to stress that the idea was not to formalise a union within the Union, in the way that the Benelux trio coordinates EU policy or the Visegrad four of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary: "We are not talking about the birth of a new subsidiary of the European Council," he said. The core group includes countries both in and outside the euro zone and current governments that are variously somewhat right or left of centre, though broadly committed by national tradition to free trade and keeping Brussels on a tight leash. Free trade, already under pressure since the election of the more protectionist-minded U.S. President Donald Trump and the rise of anti-globalisation forces in Europe, is a cause on which the likes of the Baltics and Czechs are very supportive. "It's very much based on the old British club, the Northern Lights, but without the UK," a senior Nordic government official told Reuters. "So we need to seek new partners." "The North and East feel now is not the moment to have protectionist tendencies. It is time to fight for free trade." Opposition to EU efforts to sign more free trade pacts has stumbled. Nationalist and leftist movements in Germany, France and elsewhere oppose long-running talks with Washington. They nearly derailed a deal with Canada that was finally signed last year after 11th-hour drama in Belgium's French-speaking south. With 21 percent of the EU population and 26 percent of GDP, a British-led northern six was a major force. The Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, Finland and Sweden will account for less than 10 percent of people and 15 percent of the shrunken EU economy. Denmark's Samuelsen, however, has been encouraged by the responses he's had from potential new allies he has visited. "So far," he said, "Ive been received very positively." (Additional reporting by Stephanie van den Berg in The Hague; Writing by Alastair Macdonald; editing by Ralph Boulton) US leader Donald Trump has warned of major, major conflict with North Korea (Rex) US President Donald Trump has paid North Korean leader a Kim Jong-un a strange, back-handed compliment while at the same time warned the two countries are on the verge of a major, major conflict. In an interview, the US leader admitted some grudging respect for Kim, referring to when the North Korean became leader of his secretive country in 2011. Hes 27 years old, said Trump. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age, he said. Im not giving him credit or not giving him credit, Im just saying thats a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not hes rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope hes rational, he said. MORE: North Korean soldiers carried fake weapons during military parade MORE: One-in-four Donald Trump tweets contain dubious facts But that was as far as the praise went. North Koreas Kim Jong-un (Rex) In a chilling warning that the world could be on the verge of a catastrophic war, Trump added: There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely. Wed love to solve things diplomatically but its very difficult, he said. His warning came after the US in recent days pushed for North Korea not to carry out major new weapons tests. The US has said it will talk directly with Kim to ensure North Korea got rid of any nuclear weapons. He added that China, North Koreas chief ally, was trying to put pressure on Pyongyang to step back from war. North Korean troops take part in a military parade earlier this month (Rex) I believe he [the Chinese president, Xi Jinping] is trying very hard, said Trump, in an interview with Reuters. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. North Korea has vowed to counter any American action and In an increasing sign of tension, Australian prime minister has warned Pyongyang could launch a nuclear attack on neighbouring countries. By Phil Stewart and Yara Bayoumy WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis greeted Saudi Arabia's foreign minister at the Pentagon last month, the first thing he did was joke about the time "the Iranians tried to murder you." Mattis' reference to a foiled 2011 plot, denied by Iran, was a telling sign of how much more aligned President Donald Trump's administration is with Gulf allies about what they perceive to be the Iranian threat, a shift that seems to be setting the stage for greater U.S. involvement in Yemen, in particular. After long seeking to distance itself from Yemen's brutal civil war, the United States under Trump now appears increasingly to see the conflict through the Gulf's prism of Iranian meddling, even as Washington prioritises a parallel fight against al Qaeda. Detailed discussions are under way within the Trump administration that would offer greater aid to Gulf allies fighting Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. Officials say that could included expanded sharing of U.S. intelligence. In Saudi Arabia last week, Mattis compared Tehran's backing for the Houthis to its support for Shi'ite ally Lebanese Hezbollah, a view long espoused by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states who see links between the two groups. "Everywhere you look, if there is trouble in the region, you find Iran," Mattis told reporters in Riyadh. Iran rejects Saudi accusations that it is giving financial and military support to the Houthis in the struggle for Yemen. Cooperation between the United States and the Gulf is already on the rise in the fight against America's top priority there: al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. U.S. officials see that broader civil war as an obstacle to a sustained military campaign against the militants, as well as a threat to the Bab al-Mandab strait, a strategic waterway. IRAN MUSCLES INTO YEMEN For many U.S. and Gulf observers, the role of Iran is clear in the increasing sophistication of Houthi forces. The United States launched cruise missiles at Houthi targets last year after a U.S. warship came under fire off Yemen, and a remote-controlled boat laden with explosives rammed a Saudi frigate on Jan. 30, the first known strike by a "drone" vessel. "These weapons didn't exist ... before the war. There was no explosive boat that existed in the Yemeni inventory," Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan told Reuters in an interview. Donegan, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, also said ballistic missiles fired into Saudi Arabia had several times the range of missiles the Yemenis had before the conflict. "When you have a non-nation-state with nation-state-like weapons that can reach into the maritime (area), it has my attention," Donegan said. A senior UAE official also compared the Houthis to Hezbollah, and said growing Iranian support had helped shield them from pressure to enter political talks. "We are seeing UAVs, anti-tank and anti-ship missiles, as well as land and sea mines," the official told Reuters. Mattis has publicly backed a political solution to the conflict. But U.S. officials have also acknowledged that Saudi-led coalition military pressure could help create the conditions for that negotiated solution. Still, the Yemeni government and the Gulf-led coalition have been preparing for a possible assault on Hodeidah port, the entry point for nearly 80 percent of Yemen's food imports, because they say the Houthis use it to smuggle weapons and ammunition. The Yemeni government has proposed to the United Nations that it monitor Hodeidah. Trump administration officials have not ruled out U.S. assistance should the coalition move ahead, but U.S. officials said Washington is not considering strikes on Houthi targets or deploying ground forces. Eric Pelofsky, who helped craft Yemen policy for Obama, warned an assault risks tipping Yemen into a terrible famine and has proposed that coalition forces perhaps instead strengthen their offensive near Kitaf to increase pressure on the Houthis. AQAP FIGHT The United States has carried out more air strikes this year in Yemen than in all of 2016, in a clear sign of growing U.S. concern and focus on AQAP and deepening involvement in Yemen. Largely unseen, however, is the partnership with the United Arab Emirates that is helping guide that increased activity. UAE-backed forces have captured al Qaeda operatives, and while a January raid in Yemen was Trump's first and so far only one since he took office, UAE-trained local Yemeni forces have carried out more than 250 raids in and around Aden, a senior coalition military commander told Reuters. The port of Mukallah was similarly retaken last year with 10,000 troops, largely Yemenis trained by the coalition. "We are encouraged by U.S. support and the change from a drone policy to greater engagement. We can't really defeat and dislodge al Qaeda with a drone policy," the senior UAE official said. Intelligence gleaned from UAE-backed operations has been shared with the United States, which is rebuilding its knowledge about the group since the war forced the pullout of its personnel in 2015. "In terms of the U.S. supporting us or the coalition supporting the U.S., its really mutual," the senior coalition military commander said, adding that the coalition has strong human intelligence, complemented by Washington's strong intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance abilities. Still, U.S. officials acknowledge there is a lot they don't know. Even the presumption about AQAP's size, seen in the low thousands, is a very low-confidence estimate. Beyond things like increasing intelligence sharing, U.S. officials are moving closer to approving a sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia blocked under Obama. A recent meeting between Trump and Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman was dubbed a turning point in relations which had been frosty under Barack Obama, but some cautioned against too cozy a relationship. Anne Patterson, former deputy assistant secretary of state for near east affairs under Obama, and who advocated selling the munitions, said the United States should also help Riyadh improve its targeting. But some have expressed caution. "It makes the U.S. complicit again in Saudi actions that are causing great suffering over which we have insufficient control," said Tom Malinowski, the state department's top human rights official during the Obama administration. (Additional reporting by Idrees Ali, Editing by James Dalgleish) The incident came to light on Thursday after few students alleged that they were not allowed to enter the campus of Rishabh Academy Co-Educational English Medium School because they did not have proper haircuts. By India Today Web Desk: Ever since taking over as the chief minister of the country's most populated state, CM Yogi Adityanath has been on a revamp spree. From shutting down of illegal abattoirs to enforcing anti-romeo squad to keep a check on eve-teasers across the state - Uttar Pradesh seems to be gripped in an array of changes. advertisement However what caught the attention of the people, is a recent unusual diktat from a CBSE affiliated school in Meerut. According to a Times of India report , students of this school were asked to get haircut like CM Yogi Adityanath with strict no on beards and a blanket prohibition on non-vegetarian food and forced gender segregation to prevent love 'jihad'. Incidentally, the reason cited for not allowing beards was because the school was 'not a madarssa where people offer namaz', said the report. The incident came to light on Thursday after few students alleged that they were not allowed to enter the campus of Rishabh Academy Co-Educational English Medium School because they did not have proper haircuts. Students of a Meerut school allege they were asked to get 'Yogi haircut' and not get non-veg food, else would not be allowed to enter school pic.twitter.com/cZclzpfJQs- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 28, 2017 "I asked the students to get Yogi-like haircuts, when they were unable to understand what we wanted. We basically want very short haircuts, of the kind the Army gives. Also, the students have been told strictly to not keep beards as this is not a madarssa or a place where they come to offer namaz," Ranjeet Jain secretary of managing committee told Time of India. I had asked the students to remain in discipline, and get 'Fauji cut': Ranjeet Jain, Secretary Rishabh Academy pic.twitter.com/yCQhYiycR0- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 28, 2017 The management reportedly said that the school was run by Jain trust, non-vegetarian food even eggs were prohibited. The report also stated that the school practiced enforced gender segregation. "This is being done for the safety of girls and to prevent love jihad. Muslim boys take on names similar to Hindus, befriend girls, tie 'kalavas' on their wrists and try to woo girls. I cannot tolerate this in school premises. Moreover, these days nobody likes if a boy from one community touches a girl from another community," Jain said. Also read: Yogi Raj: UP ministers conduct surprise checks, Keshav Prasad Maurya finds PWD office in disarray Yogi Adityanath government sets up anti-land mafia task force in Uttar Pradesh advertisement Uttar Pradesh won't enjoy these 15 holidays anymore to mark birth and death anniversaries WATCH : Will UP CM Yogi Adityanath fulfill PM Modi's long list of promises? --- ENDS --- An unidentified flying object has made its way into Route 66 Casino Hotels gambling floor. The area, now known as Area 66, features a number of brand-spankin-new slot games. The area was inspired by Area 51, the top-secret military base that has spawned stories of UFO landings and alien folklore. Area 66 was created to increase awareness and anticipation for some of the newest slot machines in the country, according to a Route 66 news release. A giant flying saucer stands more than 20 feet tall. The bottom of the UFO contains an extraterrestrial language. The out of this world experience has lights that are beamed up into the ceiling dome that features images of aliens. The rotating flying saucer display was created by Electrick Gizmos and Display Systems, which worked closely with Route 66 casino management to have the idea come to fruition. Route 66 aims to keep its gambling floor fresh with new slot machines. Area 66 slot machines will be replaced regularly with new, exclusive machines to make Route 66 the first to market with 18 new games every 90 days. The evolution of the gambling floor will continue throughout 2017, according to the news release. For Route 66 promotions and other information, call 352-7866 or visit rt66casino.com. SAN FELIPE CASINO: Get in on the end of Aprils hot seat drawings from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 29. Make plans to have a fun Cinco de Mayo with Al Hurricane and Al Hurricane Jr., as well as special guest Tanya Griego, on May 5. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the Players Club or online at holdmyticket.com. This is a 21 and older event. Also in May, enjoy Hot Seat Loyalty Play from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, May 16 and May 30 and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 8 and May 22. The Hot Seat Cash promotion will be held Fridays in May from 7 to 10 p.m. There also will be a Cinco de Mayo drawing between 4 and 7 p.m. on May 5. For more information on San Felipe Casino, call 867-6700 or visit sanfelipecasino.com. SANTA ANA STAR CASINO: The brand-new Cantina Rio at Santa Ana Star Casino will celebrate its grand opening beginning at 11 a.m. on May 5. The party will feature specials, half-off appetizers, giveaways, prizes and live music by AReviva! and mariachis. The restaurant, which has already had its soft opening, serves American classics, New Mexican favorites and desserts. Hand-crafted cocktails, beer and wine also are available. Cantina Rio is open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. Cantina Rio will have live music from 9 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays, with The DCN Project performing tonight and Saturday. For more information on Cantina Rio, call 867-0000 or visit santaanastar.com/restaurants/cantina-rio. Jedd and Todd Wider have been making films together for 17 years. With their latest documentary, God Knows Where I Am, the brothers are tackling a serious issue mental health. The film is slated to open May 12 at High Ridge in Albuquerque. We were looking for a topic, and Todd had an incident with a homeless person who broke into his place in New York City, Jedd Wider says. Because it was winter, the person was looking for warmth and didnt want to steal anything. Then the pair read an article in The New Yorker about Linda Bishop, who was found dead in a New Hampshire farmhouse in 2008. God Knows Where I Am tells Bishops story, through the words left in a diary that documents a journey of starvation and the loss of sanity, but told with poignance, beauty, humor and spirituality. For nearly four months, Bishop, a prisoner of her own mind, survived on apples and rainwater, waiting for God to save her, during one of the coldest winters on record. As her story unfolds from different perspectives, including her own, the audience learns about the nations systemic failure to protect those who cannot protect themselves. We reached out to Lindas sister and daughter, and the more time we spent with Lindas journals, the more we really wanted to make it from Lindas perspective, Todd Wider says. The response has been very positive, and I think its an important film. It puts you in the mind of someone who is quite ill, and it brings empathy. The filmmakers worked on the documentary for four years, and it took two years to edit. The documentary has been in upwards of 20 film festivals and is now screening across the world. Jedd Wider says we often turn our heads when we see homeless people. These brothers and sisters and these mothers and fathers, they have hopes, Jedd Wider says. We need to do better as a society, and we wanted to do a film on the homeless and mentally ill. In fact, the documentary was screened for Congress with the help of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. The film is embraced by many psychiatrists, Jedd Wider says. Were working with the National Alliance on Mental Illness on some more projects. SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART. Modest and majestic at once, the films of James Gray patiently burrow their way into the souls of their characters and, maybe, into you. Gray is painterly and exacting some might say to a fault. But his movies revelations are complex and contradictory full of lifes messiness and their formal textures break open with moments of transcendence. So, yeah, I like them particularly his last one, The Immigrant, and his new one, The Lost City of Z. Both are period films with a pulse and a now-ness the genre often lacks. Each plunges us into the passages of early 20th century strivers and leaves us with a shattering final image of departure. Like the tide, they overwhelm and then recede. Hes been rather unfortunate in his choice of ancestors, is how one character explains Percy Fawcetts predicament early in The Lost City of Z, based on David Granns nonfiction book. Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam) is a British officer, but decoration has eluded him, and his deceased, disgraced father has soiled his name. Though craving action, hes assigned in 1906 on a map-making mission to the blank spaces of Bolivia, where the British are meant to act as referees in a territory dispute with Brazil. The expedition into the Amazon jungles soon fills him with a romantic sense of exploration (his wife, Nina, played by Sienna Miller, reads him Kiplings The Explorer), and he travels across the Atlantic in search of glory and redemption. Success, hes told, would change his lot considerably. On the boat to South America, Fawcett meets his aide-de-camp, Henry Costin (an excellent, heavily bearded Robert Pattinson), who initially eyes his leader warily. You might be a little too English for this jungle, he says as they step through flies and snakes. They and their small team travel up a river, and it immediately feels as though The Lost City of Z has swum into the currents of Werner Herzogs Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo and Francis Ford Coppolas Apocalypse Now. The ominous notes are many: a glassy-eyed rubber baron (Franco Nero) whose business the British are there to protect; a native guide who warns that the river is always danger; the onset of hunger among the thinning crew. But while Fawcetts journey is grueling and frightful, he finds not madness in the jungle but wonder. His grandiose notions arent humbled in the Amazon; theyre elevated. Grays camera, too, stays composed, and he leads his epic in a more sprawling direction. Fawcett believed that he found deep in the Amazon evidence of an ancient civilization. Upon his return to London, hes hailed as a hero. (Made a celebrity by his exploits, the Stetson-wearing Fawcett was a forerunner to Indiana Jones.) But his claim of a lost city and a civilization older than Englands is mocked. Hes urged not to raise the stature of the savage. The jungle becomes Fawcetts compulsion, and, to the detriment of all else, he swells with ambition. Its a huge step up for the magnetic Hunnam, who nevertheless struggles to find much but wide-eyed idealism behind Fawcetts adventuring. More trips follow, as does World War I, but the tension that moves to the fore in The Lost City of Z is over the sacrifices necessitated by his dreams. With every journey taking years, hes a stranger to his children. (Future Spider-man Tom Holland pivotally plays the eldest son, Jack). It isnt just Fawcetts sacrifices, either. Nina might have the appearance and size of a traditional secondary spouse role, but shes beautifully performed by Miller as a proudly independent woman left to raise their children alone. Her own aspirations are obliterated. Colonialism is embedded in Fawcetts story, but Gray has keenly sought out its quieter, unsung tragedies. The Lost City of Z may, like early films by Gray, leave some thirsting for more swashbuckling adventure. But if you let the ebb and flow of the Fawcetts lives drift over you, the movie is a wellspring. Theres the Anti-Conjuror. And The Trickster. Dont forget about The Inventor, The Deductionist, The Escapologist and The Manipulator. A word to the wise: Never cross The Weapon Master. When all seven are brought together, its a night of magic. And its brought to you by the men known as The Illusionists. The Broadway show is making its way to the Duke City for a six-show stint at Popejoy Hall. The Illusionists is a touring magic production that features a rotating cast of magicians who specialize in specific branches of magic, from stage illusions to mind reading to escapology and comedic magic. Jeff Hobson is known at The Trickster, and hes the epitome of glamour and showmanship. Hes also one of the original members of the stage show. People shouldnt be fooled by my innocent appearance, he says in a recent interview from Boston. Weve been doing this show for five years now. In fact, in 2014, the production was one of the highest-grossing on Broadway. And the next year, it was the sixth-highest grossing show on Broadway. During its run in London in 2016, the production pulled in more than $1 million in one week. Hobson says theres a core number of illusionists who have been around for every version of the show. And with every show, they try to bring someone local, but havent decided who will join them in Albuquerque. When we were performing in Canada, we brought in a local illusionist, he says. It does change somewhat for each show, but we try to return to the core just to get on the same page again. Hobson carved out a career for himself on the Las Vegas Strip before heading to Broadway with The Illusionists. In 1993, Hobson joined the cast of Spellbound at Harrahs Casino for over four years. He went on to produce and star in the critically acclaimed magic production Carnival of Wonders. He then went back home to become the Host of Las Vegas and since has starred in his own, one-man show, Money and Madness. Hobson is regularly the master of ceremonies for countless special events and production shows, including the Worlds Greatest Magic Show and V The Ultimate Variety Show. It wasnt until a couple of nights into the show that I realized how big of a deal this production is, he says. The great thing for me with each show is that Im the most in touch with people in the audience. I walk around the audience and steal stuff from people and bring my brand of comedy. My part of the production is that Im a thief and you never know how people are going to react. So Ive got to gauge the crowd beforehand and get a feel of the amount of humor I can bring with each item I steal. The Academy of Magical Arts The Magic Castle in Hollywood, Calif. honored Hobson with its Stage Magician of the Year award, and he received the Best Comedy Magic award from the International Magic Awards Association. This is a dream that Ive had since I was 7 years old and saw magic for the first time, he says. Ive spent my life trying to learn more and add more to my performance. This show allows me to get up close and personal with the audience, and Im excited about each night. The Illusionists Live From Broadway Meet the Illusionists WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 4; 8 p.m. May 5; 2 and 8 p.m. May 6; 1 and 6:30 p.m. May 7 WHERE: Popejoy Hall, University of New Mexico campus HOW MUCH: $35-$80 plus fees at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 4; 8 p.m. May 5; 2 and 8 p.m. May 6; 1 and 6:30 p.m. May 7Popejoy Hall, University of New Mexico campus$35-$80 plus fees at unmtickets.com , UNM Bookstore ticket office, UNM ticket office at the Pit, by phone at 925-5858 or 877-664-8661 or at various Albertsons locations The Anti-Conjuror Dan Sperry Described as Marilyn Manson meets David Copperfield, he combines the art of magic with the macabre. The Trickster Jeff Hobson The epitome of glamour and showmanship. Dont be fooled by his innocent appearance. The Inventor Kevin James Known for innovative illusions, he is an inventor, comedian and collector of the strange and unusual. The Escapologist Andrew Basso Italys star escape artist, he considers Houdini his hero and is fast becoming one of the worlds most popular illusionists. The Deductionist Colin Cloud One of the greatest thought readers of all time is a psychic savant known as a real-life Sherlock Holmes. The Weapon Master Ben Blaque Has established himself as Americas foremost master of the crossbow after appearing four times on Americas Got Talent. Frank Iero knows that his days of touring will end one day. When that happens, he will be able to be with his wife and children more. Yet when hes off tour, he spends as much time as he can with them. The older they get, the more they understand what Dad does, he says. I miss things when Im out on tour. Skype and Facetime are cool, but its not the same as being home. Ieros latest tour has him his band, the Patience, stopping at Meow Wolf on May 5. He is touring in support of his latest album, Parachutes. The My Chemical Romance alum is grateful to be on tour again after healing from an auto accident in Sydney last year. Thats also why he cherishes the time he has with his family. And its why he recorded his albums in his basement at home. They would ask my wife, Why does Dad go into the basement and scream? he says with a laugh. Ive been able to get to the point where I do music the way I want to. Its a balance, and Im fortunate to be blessed with my family. To read more about Iero, visit online at abqjournal.com/venue. This weeks cover story is on Broadways The Illusionists, which begins its run on Thursday, May 4, at Popejoy Hall. Hear ye, hear ye! Its time for the Albuquerque Renaissance Faire. Staff writer Rozanna M. Martinez has the details on the event this weekend. Shes also got the latest on the Santa Fe Beer & Food Festival at the Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino. This weekend also features the Gathering of Nations at Expo New Mexico. And the National Hispanic Cultural Center hosts the Rezilience Indigenous Art Experience. The two-day event features music, art and food. Check out these reviews on the indie films Colossal and The Lost City of Z. As always, check out abqjournal.com/venue to read more about coming events. In the three days since a former student at Rio Grande High School reported that he had an ongoing sexual relationship with a male educational assistant, five more possible victims have come forward, according to a spokeswoman for the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office. Our detectives are still interviewing them all, said Deputy Felicia Romero. She said that all six are male and were in high school at the time of the alleged assaults, but she doesnt know how old they are. On Monday, a student reported that when he was 17, he had sex multiple times with 36-year-old Luis Chavez, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Its unclear from the complaint exactly when the relationship occurred. The student said he wanted to end the relationship but did not know how to do that, so he quit his extracurricular activities and left the school, according to the complaint. The student said on Monday he told school officials because he was worried other students may have been targeted by Chavez. When deputies interviewed Chavez, he reportedly said his relationship with the student began on a school trip when they stayed at Chavezs friends house and the student was allowed to drink several beers, according to the complaint. He said that on another trip they again drank alcohol together. They eventually did have sexual intercourse while intoxicated on that trip, the detective wrote in the complaint. Chavez said he and the student had sex about 10 to 12 times, including a couple of times at the high school, and exchanged naked photos, according to the complaint. He told deputies that he knew it was stupid and that the student was a minor, but he considered him a consenting adult, according to the complaint. Monica Armenta, a spokeswoman for Albuquerque Public Schools, said the district is not aware of the specifics of the travel arrangements or approval process for trips in this case. She said they have started due process to fire Chavez, who had been employed as an educational assistant since January 2013. Chavez is charged with criminal sexual penetration of a minor by a school employee, criminal sexual contact of a minor, and causing or permitting a child to engage in sexual exploitation. He was released from jail on his own recognizance Tuesday. Two Albuquerque city councilors plan to introduce a charter amendment that, if approved, would require the city to increase the number of sworn officers it currently has by about 375. Councilors Don Harris, a Republican, and Ken Sanchez, a Democrat, announced their charter amendment proposal during a news conference Wednesday. People in Albuquerque today do not feel safe, Sanchez said. I am very concerned. I go to community meetings and thats the No 1 concern safety. They dont feel safe in their homes. Specifically, the proposed amendment would require the city to have 25 sworn police officers for every 11,500 residents, in effect mandating a police force of about 1,215. As of Monday, the Albuquerque Police Department had 839 sworn officers, according to the Mayors Office. APD is actually budgeted for 1,000 officers, but the department has had difficulty filling those positions. Harris said the proposed staffing requirement would put Albuquerque in line with cities like Denver, Nashville and Louisville, Ky. Sanchez and Harris plan to introduce the charter amendment during Mondays council meeting, although a vote on it is likely weeks, if not months, away. At least six of the citys nine councilors would need to vote for the amendment in order to get it on the Oct. 3 ballot. If the amendment were to be approved by voters, it would go into effect on July 1, 2019. Harris estimated that boosting APD staffing to the levels called for in the measure would cost the city an additional $16 million, or 3 percent of the citys general fund budget. He said the amendment would force the administration and City Council to prioritize recruitment and retention of officers. Harris said the city would have to figure out how to come up with the additional $16 million. But he said a decrease in crime would lead to an increase in economic development and that would result in increased tax revenues for the city. The proposal received a lukewarm response from the Mayors Office. This past year, APD has worked very hard to recruit high-quality individuals, resulting in the most graduating cadets the city has seen in 10 years, said Rhiannon Samuel, Mayor Richard Berrys spokeswoman. The prospect of going to (a) population-based model versus a workload model for police department staffing is certainly an interesting option to put to Albuquerque voters, she added. In the meantime, we will continue to grow our department with exceptional officers as we work to address our repeat offender problem. Sanchez acknowledged that achieving the staffing level that is proposed would be a challenge. He said the city could hire more public safety aides, because several of them move on to become officers. Sanchez said the city also needs to ramp up its recruitment efforts and provide competitive pay for officers. Harris said APD salaries are competitive for officers with up to five years of experience. But he said salaries for officers with more experience are not competitive. Sanchez and Harris, both of whom are seeking re-election, said they plan to introduce an amendment to the mayors proposed budget that would increase the number of budgeted officer positions and provide significant raises to APD officers with more than five years of experience. Genius is at work on several levels at The Ranch House on Santa Fes far southern fringe. First and foremost, in a region not noted as a barbecue destination, it serves some of the best smoked meat weve ever tasted. Second, its nice enough for very special occasions, but still relaxing. No tie or heels required, but perfect nonetheless for an anniversary, a milestone birthday, or special guests. The service is superb and friendly, and the only problem weve ever encountered here has been the standing-room-only crowd in the lobby on Friday or Saturday night. Make reservations! A recent Saturday lunch at The Ranch House reminded us just how great a place it really is. We were promptly seated in one of the comfortable booths. After some study of the menus, we started in with a cup of the days soup ($3.95), a vegetable and green chile stew studded with bits of prime rib. (Prime rib is a dinner special on Friday and Saturday nights.) The soup was very good, but was quickly eclipsed by our main courses. One of my guests was clearly in a chile mood and took advantage of the days special, prime rib enchiladas ($10.95). They were excellent, with plenty of diced meat and a very spicy green chile sauce. The sides included calabacitas, which were perfectly cooked, and refried beans, again better than average. My other guest ordered The Ranch Houses buffalo green chile cheeseburger ($11.95), which also came with a cup of refried beans topped with melted cheese. It too was excellent: satisfyingly thick, perfectly cooked to her specified medium, with plenty of chopped green chile and a slice of cheddar. That left the barbecue choice to me, so I opted for the brisket plate ($13.50) with sides of potato salad and green chile cornbread. The generous serving of brisket was super: fall-apart tender, nicely smoky and accompanied by my choice of Ranch House signature sauces. I chose the less spicy of the two and loved the sweet, but tangy, flavor. The potato salad was home-made, with large chunks of skin-on boiled red potatoes laced with scallions and celery, and swathed in a creamy dressing that I judged to be nicely free of mustard and just tangy enough to complement the meat. The Ranch House cornbread is house-made, too, and served in extra-large portions. Its a little too sweet for my taste, but that went well with the meat and plenty of green chile had been stirred into the batter. At this point in the meal, we knew better than to order more than one dessert, so we split a dish of apple crisp a la mode. House-made, too, it was excellent: not too sweet, plenty of well-chopped apples and a dusting of crunchy topping. Warm, it nicely softened the scoop of vanilla ice cream atop. By the time wed finished, The Ranch House dining room was nearly filled. But it wasnt noisy among the myriad perfections here is the spacing of the tables. Theyre nicely uncrowded, making conversation both easy and fairly private. The restaurant space itself is stunningly designed: the ceilings high, the windows huge, the fireplace whimsically ornamented. The decor has just enough of the Southwest about it (a beamed ceiling, white walls, etc.) to ground The Ranch House in Santa Fe. The Ranch House LOCATION: 2571 Cristos Road, 505-424-8900/theranchhousesantafe.com HOURS: Open Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri., Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. FOOD: Smoked meat and New Mexico favorites ATMOSPHERE: Relaxingly contemporary SERVICE: Excellent Full bar 4 stars If youve got a trapeze, aerialists, clowns and dancers, stilt-walkers and gymnasts a human circus, as it were why not examine the current disruption caused by political divisiveness? The creative minds at Wise Fool a revered nonprofit circus company and educational program in Santa Fe are taking on the political climate. Their third annual event for student performers and pre-professionals, called CircAspire, involves an allegorical plot called The Ups and Downs: A Circus Recipe for Stardust Soup. The story developed over several months, said Amy Christian, co-director along with Sarah Jane Moody. The soundtracks were created by Ginger Dunnill, known as DJ Ginger, and visuals were created by Lorie Corbus. Its a very fluid process in every way, but we wanted to bring in whats been happening in the country. We know not everyone is on the same page, Christian said during a recent rehearsal. CircAspire also involves more experienced performers who work with less seasoned ones. The performances are Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Wise Fools performance space, 1131-B Siler Road in Santa Fe. The show features 29 performers, a group that also includes dancers from Capital High School, and will feature several dramatic turns, followed by a warm twist, to illustrate the ways humans become embroiled in disagreements. In a community dependent on stardust soup for its sustenance, there are those who gather, called the Ups, and those who make the soup, called the Downs. Heres a few clues, without spoilers, about the story: First clue: Were often ignorant of the other persons experience or contributions, even when were dependent on them. Second clue: There are agitators who love to stir the pot. In this family-friendly story, there are plenty of lessons to be learned. Learning is an important aspect of Wise Fool, said Christian, who is the artistic director, core artist and administrator for the organization. Wise Fool began in the late 1990s and has several outreach programs. The programs include camps for women, young students and other folks with different types of challenges, like homelessness. Wise Fool has a special connection to the dance classes at Capital High School and dancers from the school have created a special lame blame dance for the shows agitators, Christian said. The bonds forged at the circus are as simple as the acts are complex. The circus means helping people show up for each other, helping people embrace their potential, and creating a brave space for themselves and for each other, Christian said. People of all ages, many with so-called non-conforming bodies, are welcome to explore what Wise Fool offers, she said. We want to make it accessible to every kind of body, so they can step into those spaces and challenge their fears, she said. Tina Sanchez, 39, catapulted into Wise Fool via a camp for women several months ago and stayed to give herself a special 40th birthday gift. I want to feel what its like to be in my body. I was living here, she said, pointing to her forehead. I wasnt living in my body. Now she feels strong and, with three roles in the show, shes also enthusiastic, she said. For Sophia Dillard, 24, a new resident in Santa Fe, finding a physical opportunity like Wise Fool was essential to moving here, she said. Terrified of heights, Dillard now is on the trapeze as one of the Ups. Her work with another Up artist, Jacks McNamara, has helped her conquer her fear, she said. I love doing it. Its beautiful, Dillard said. Facing the likelihood of state funding cuts for higher education, Northern New Mexico College is raising tuition 4.5 percent for most students. NNMCs Board of Regents voted 3-1 this week to raise tuition rather than impose program and staff cuts. The announcement comes after Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed the states higher education budget this month. She is expected to call lawmakers back to Santa Fe for a special session to finalize a budget that includes funding for colleges and universities. The tuition increase is solely based on the state budget challenges. No other issue was driving that decision, College President Rick Bailey said in a news release. Not all students are affected, according to the college. About 40 percent of students are protected from the increase by the colleges Tuition Promise Program, which locks in what full-time students pay in tuition and fees from the time they enroll. NNMC, with campuses in Espanola and El Rito, has struggled with its finances over the years. The colleges books are under investigation by the state Auditors Office, which is questioning 744 hours of potential non-approved leave time by the former college president that may have cost the college $87,000, not including taxes and benefits. The audit also turned up problems involving no-bid contracts, housing and legal services totaling another $300,000. The Auditors Office previously announced an alleged theft of $200,000 in cash and checks by its financial service director, who then resigned. We acknowledge that the college has its work cut out for it in terms of our fiscal processes and ongoing investigation, Bailey said. But make no mistake. The sole reason for the Boards decision to raise tuition is the massive cut the college and higher education has endured from the state. NNMC raised tuition 8.9 percent two years ago and by 14 percent in 2013, while also cutting programs. It was found that nearly 50 ml petrol from a litre was being stolen by the staff who used the special electronic chip to deceive the customers. By India Today Web Desk: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) conducted raids on seven petrol pumps in Lucknow to check for petrol theft. The raids were conducted on Thursday night. The STF also recovered electronic chips at few petrol pumps. The STF detained several persons from the petrol pump near King George Medical University in Lucknow. Sources from STF said that the staff at the petrol pump were sifting petrol using a chip-based device. advertisement Following the raids, it was found that nearly 50 ml petrol from a litre was being stolen by the staff who used the special electronic chip to deceive the customers. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED KNOW: STF has found that several petrol pumps were reaping in profits using a chip which costs about Rs 3,000. The police have busted a racket of petrol pump owners who used this chip in the dispensing machines to dupe customers. The STF men had identified nearly eight petrol pumps in Lucknow that were engaged in fraudulent practices. The police rounded up the culprits after they received a tip off regarding the practice. Sources from the police said that a man identified as Ravinder had developed the chip which was installed in the petrol dispensers to cheat customers. Police said that the chip reduced the output of the petrol dispensing machines by nearly six per cent. The chip is attached with a wire and is controlled using a remote. Ravinder has sold nearly 1,000 chips to petrol pumps across the state. When asked about how he acquired the skills to develop the chip, Ravinder said that he learned it from an engineer. Police have confirmed that they have recovered chips from petrol pumps located at Sitapur road, Chinhat, Samta Mulak and KGMU. Remote controllers were also recovered from the managers of these petrol pumps. Police said that if a customer purchased 1 litre petrol, the machine with the chipset would only dispense 940 ml of fuel. STF sleuths estimated that with the help of the chip set the petrol pump owners were earning profits to the tune of Rs 14 lakh each month. Police have registered an FIR against the petrol pump owners. Also read: Fuelbandi: Petrol pumps may remain shut on Sundays from May 14, to operate from 9 am to 6 pm on other days Petrol pumps in 8 states to remain closed on Sundays from May 14 Watch video here: UP: 7 petrol pumps in Lucknow found using electronic chip that reduces output by 5 per cent --- ENDS --- A New Mexico Court of Appeals ruling from late last year says defendants must be informed with specificity how a guilty plea can affect their immigration status. The ruling came after an undocumented immigrant wanted a motion filed to withdraw his plea because he claims he was not told by his attorney that his conviction would legally bar him from ever re-entering the U.S. even though the defendant acknowledged he was told he would be deported. The December ruling specifies that its on the defense attorney, as part of the duty to provide a constitutionally adequate defense, to dig into a defendants immigration status and make sure a non-citizen defendant is fully aware of how a possible plea deal can impact his or her status in the country. Santa Fe District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said she recently met with prosecutors and defense lawyers to discuss the ruling. She said that defense attorneys should now be fully aware of what theyre obligated to do if a client who is not a U.S. citizen is considering a plea deal. Its on the defense council to meet all the requirements on the case, she said That puts the burden on them to have done their job. Morgan Wood, chief of Santa Fes public defender office, said defense attorneys have to look into each clients immigration situation and see how federal law applies, even though the defendant is pleading to a state crime. Its more than This can affect you, or Hey, you can be deported, she said. You have to get into the minutiae and the federal statutes. We cant put it on the defendant to get their own outside (immigration) attorney. Wood said her office can request to contact an immigration attorney to discuss a clients case. Most of us partially know all the different permutations and how this plea can affect this person, Wood said. The more complex the case, the more you might need to meet with an immigration attorney. In the case ruled on by the appeals court, Manuel Gallegos-Delgado, an undocumented immigrant, had pleaded guilty to drug possession and driving under the influence of alcohol in May 2013. He received a conditional discharge for the drug possession count, meaning the charge would be dropped for state purposes if he completed his supervised probation. But a conditional discharge is the same as a conviction under federal immigration law. A controlled substance conviction results in permanent removal from the U.S. Gallegos-Delgado then violated his probation terms in November 2013. He was taken into custody by the Department of Homeland Security and deportation proceedings against him began. He filed a motion in Albuquerque District Court to withdraw his guilty plea, saying that he was not advised that he could be deported and that he would not have entered a guilty plea if he had known that. But at the motion hearing in state District Court, he told a slightly different story he said that his lawyer did in fact tell him he would be deported for pleading guilty, but that he wasnt informed that he would be forbidden from ever applying to return to the U.S., according to the appeals court ruling by Judge Linda Vanzi. District Judge Stan Whitaker of Albuquerque denied the motion to withdraw the guilty plea, finding that Gallegos-Delgado had in fact been advised of the consequences of the guilty plea, even though his lawyer acknowledged she didnt know he would never be allowed to apply for re-entry into the U.S., and because there was no evidence that the defendant ever wanted to go to trial or was even leaning toward a trial instead of a plea. The appeals court reversed Whitakers decision, finding that Gallegos-Delgados lawyer didnt provide adequate representation, because the defendant would not have taken the plea deal if hed known the full scope of the immigration consequences he was facing. It is not sufficient to advise a client that he or she will be deported, but rather, the criminal defense attorney must inform the client with specificity what the immigration consequences might be, Vanzis opinion states. The ruling states defense lawyers must conduct an individualized analysis of the apparent immigration consequences for a defendant. Vanzis opinion says Gallegos-Delgado said he came to the U.S. as a child in 1998, and has a wife and young child here. The campaign against a proposed soda tax in Santa Fe is working to capitalize on what has been billed as the citys multi-million-dollar surplus, using Mayor Javier Gonzales words against him. Gonzales, who proposed the 2-cents-per-ounce tax on the distributors of sugary drinks that is expected to raise $7.7 million per year to help fund early education programs, suggested during his State of the City address in February that a projected revenue surplus of $4.5 million could be used to give city employees a 5 percent raise. Weeks later, the mayor tweeted good news, announcing on the first day of hearings on the 2017-18 budget that the city was looking at a $15.5 million surplus headed into the new fiscal year, a statement that turned out to be based on faulty information. Newspaper headlines also highlighted the big surplus. Better Way for Santa Fe & Pre-K, the political committee opposing the tax, jumped on it. Part of its message to voters ever since is that the city can fund pre-K without the so-called soda tax by using its multi-million surplus. Others opposed to the tax have also used that argument. On Thursday, former New Mexico Gov. Jerry Apodaca put in his two cents, saying priority issues like funding pre-K should be built into the budget. As a policy maker you put your money where your mouth is and you find the funds in your budget, he said in a statement. What you never do is go back to hard working taxpayers when you have a surplus. That is irresponsible. Is there really a multi-million-dollar surplus? Mayor Gonzales and city government officials say yes and no. City Finance Director Adam Johnson says that the $399 million operational budget approved by the City Council on Wednesday was indeed built on an $8.6 million surplus. But he said its not the kind of surplus that can be counted on year after year to fund an ongoing program like the proposed pre-K effort. Only $1.2 million of the surplus was in the general fund. The general fund sustains core operations, Johnson said. All other funds are specific to accounting compliance requirements or other state and city laws. A big part of the surplus, $3.8 million, is within enterprise funds, which include the water utility and solid waste operations. Johnson says those operations should be run like private corporations, where the revenues generated are intended to be used solely for the purpose of running the enterprise. Water funds used in past The city hasnt always run things that way. At the end of the recession, when money was tight and the city was reluctant to lay off people, the city dipped into its flush water fund to pay other expenses. Amid criticism that the city was using the water fund as a bank, the City Council passed an ordinance that restricted that practice. But couldnt the city still dip into the water fund, which has been fueled by rate increases intended to encourage water conservation, for other purposes if it really wanted to? The council could take action to use fee revenues from the water fund, but theyd have to change the ordinance to do that, Johnson said. And its not something the finance director would recommend. Certainly, it would not be a best practice, nor would it be advisable to use the utility to pay for something else, he said. About $800,000 of the surplus is in special revenue funds. Special revenue funds are used in places where you receive a lot of grants specific to a purpose, or some type of tax for a legally specific purpose, he said. For example, revenues from lodgers taxes on hotels and other short-term rentals can be used only to promote tourism and pay off debt for the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. Funds in the Law Enforcement Protection Grant fund can be used only by the police department. The same goes for the $2 million surplus in capital funds. It can be used only for capital projects or to pay off debt for such projects, said Johnson. The budget approved by the council on Wednesday set aside the $1.2 million surplus in the general fund for possible use to pay off debt on the property now being leased to the Santa Fe University of Art and Design, which recently announced it would close next year and is expected to stop paying $2.2 million annually to lease the city-owned campus. City officials have said a surplus is not a reliable source for a pre-K program that is projected to cost more than $7 million per year. I have been troubled to read that the PAC funded by the soda industry is trying to confuse voters by suggesting that any kind of a one-time surplus at the city level could be used to fund pre-K, a recurring program, City Councilor Carmichael Dominguez said in a news release this week. As chair of the citys Finance Committee, I can say definitively that the city cannot use a one-time surplus to fund a recurring program. It is foolish to even suggest so and calls into question the motive of the opposition. We cannot use the surplus to fund pre-K, said Councilor Renee Villarreal, who is a member of the Finance Committee. Its not an option. David Huynh of Better Way for Santa Fe & Pre-K isnt buying it. For months now, the city has been touting this multi-million-dollar surplus, until people started saying, Hey, why dont we use that to fund pre-K? Then, all of a sudden, the city says we dont have a surplus anymore, he said. He added that two weeks ago Mayor Gonzales brought forward a resolution to give the New Mexico School for the Arts charter school $5 million to help pay for its relocation to the former Sanbusco Market Center in the Railyard district. The idea that these funds are restricted in a way that cant be used for pre-K is mind-boggling, said Huynh. Santa Fes special election to decide whether to impose a 2-cents-per-ounce tax on distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages to help fund early childhood education programs is bubbling over. Not only has it already set records for money raised and spent campaign finance statements filed this week show about $2.8 million has been invested so far but voters are turning out in record numbers for a municipal election. The extravagant spending so far amounts to about $53 per registered Santa Fe voter, as of spending reports filed on Tuesday. And as of Thursday afternoon, City Clerk Yolanda Vigil reported that 7,001 people had already voted in advance of Tuesdays election 393 absentee and another 6,608 casting early votes at either the Genoveva Chavez Community Center or City Hall. By comparison, 1,003 people voted in advance of the last special election in Santa Fe in 2009, on a tax on high-end home sales to fund affordable housing programs. Including election day, 8,404 people cast ballots on whether a 1 percent excise tax should be imposed on buyers of homes purchased for more than $750,000, with 54 percent of them saying no. Todays final early vote total will also be well more than double the 3,134 absentee and early votes cast in the hotly contested three-way mayoral race in 2014, when four City Council positions were also on the ballot. The mayoral race that year won by Javier Gonzales, who brought the soda tax proposal forward drew 17,022 voters, a turnout of 29.4 percent of registered voters. How many voters ultimately will fill in the bubbles on the ballot either for or against the soda tax, which would be expected to raise more than $7 million a year for early childhood education programs, is anyones guess. What we know about campaigns is that mobilization matters, said Lonna Atkeson, director of the Institute of Social Research at the University of New Mexico. Given the mobilization going on, there could be a higher turnout than what wed see in a mayoral race. Sugar buzz Sandra Wechsler, a political consultant who has been involved in Santa Fe elections for about 20 years, including helping Gonzales in the mayors race, thinks a turnout of greater than 30 percent is possible. Wechsler is heading the pro-tax Pre-K for Santa Fe political committee and says she hasnt seen another election like this one. There is more intensity, she said. People are seeing a lot of information in a short period of time. Thats because this election came with less than 60 days advance notice, and people are being peppered with television, radio, newspaper and internet advertisements, mailers, home visits and telephone calls from both sides. The money being spent more than $1 million worth of support from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in support of the tax and about the same amount provided by a soda industry association is driving the early turnout, she said. Not one person weve talk to hasnt heard about the tax, said Wechsler, who has people canvassing neighborhoods across the city. Wechlsers counterpart at Better Way for Santa Fe & Pre-K, the political committee mostly supported by the American Beverage Association, also feels the fervor. Voters in Santa Fe are really energized by this election, David Huynh said when asked to comment about the early turnout. Better Way for Santa Fe has spent this election educating voters, and they are coming out. We feel very good about what the early vote indicates. Huynh wouldnt say if his group has any polling data. Staying on message, he said the early voting numbers indicate that Santa Fe voters dont want to see a tax that would hurt families and local businesses with increased prices at the grocery store checkout, driving business out of town and putting jobs at risk. The pro-tax side says that in addition to the health benefits of reducing sugar intake, the tax would create 200 jobs in early childhood education and expand pre-K programs to allow about 1,000 3- and 4-year-olds the opportunity to get a jump on their early development, have a better chance at long-term academic success and make them less likely to end up in jail. Southside battleground One of the arguments in the campaign debate is that a tax on sugary drinks is regressive in that it that would hurt lower income families the most because they are more likely to buy sugary drinks, and any consumer tax takes out a bigger chunk of their incomes. But they also stand to benefit the most. Revenue from the tax would go to expanding local pre-K programs to help families who cant get their children in programs because of full enrollments or because they cant afford the $900 to $1,400 monthly tuition. In Santa Fe, much of the lower income population is concentrated City Council District 3 on the south side, so theres a disproportional need for making pre-K affordable on that side of town. But data show that people who live in District 3 are less likely to vote, making it a key battleground in this election. The city underwent redistricting after 4,400 southside acres were annexed from the county in 2014, increasing the citys population by more than 13,000. Though redistricting left the city with four districts with relatively equal overall populations, District 3 lags far behind the others in the percentage of registered voters and voter turnout. Currently, District 3 has only 7,291 registered voters, less than half the number registered in the more affluent north- and east-side districts 1 (17,138) and 2 (15,270). Mid-city District 4 has 13,358 registered voters. Whats more, those who are registered to vote in District 3 are less likely to turn out. The 2014 mayoral election, which also included a three-way race for city councilor in District 3, drew just 21 percent of registered voters in the district. The other three districts attracted more than 30 percent of eligible voters. Thats important in this election, because whether someone voted in the last municipal election is the best indicator that they will vote again in the next election. Wechsler says that Pre-K for Santa Fe is focusing on bringing out voters citywide, but the group has scheduled some information sessions and events at the Southside Library and Zona del Sol, also on the south side. She said the demographics of the area also make it a target for the soda industry. Its worth noting that the reason soda consumption is higher in communities of color is because of relentless, targeted advertising by the soda industry to the tune of billions of dollars, she said, referring to District 3s Hispanic make-up. Weve known from the beginning that were in a fight against big corporations and industries out to protect their profits. Huynh says his group isnt doing anything special to get District 3 voters out to the polls. Were targeting all districts, he said. Were finding overwhelming support in district 1, 2, 3 and especially 4. He credits District 4 City Councilor Ron Trujillo for that. Trujillo cast the lone no vote against holding a special election on the sugary drinks tax when the decision came before the City Council last month, saying it wasnt the citys job to regulate commerce or get involved in pre-K education, and that it should focus its attention fixing roads, improving parks and providing public safety services. Notably, Trujillo is so far the only person to have announced his intention to run for mayor next year, setting up a potential run against Gonzales, who is also considering a run for governor. The outcome on Tuesday could have an impact on how both mens political fortunes turn out next year. Close finish expected Wechsler and Huynh dont agree on much though even the anti-tax faction has generally voiced support for the idea of expanding pre-K services but they do agree it should be a close vote come Tuesday night. When it comes down to it, this vote will be close and every vote will matter, Wechsler said. Everyone who cares about the future of Santa Fe and pre-K should come out and vote. We believe it will be a very close vote, Huynh said, but we believe our voters are coming out because they see the increased cost and loss of jobs, and how this could hurt the economy in Santa Fe. They also agree this is less of a partisan election than others with candidates representing political parties. Its a political truism that Republicans generally oppose tax increases and Democrats are more inclined to support them. Santa Fe is decidedly Democratic, with 68 percent of Santa Fe voters registered Democrats. Just 12 percent of eligible voters in the city are Republican. Three percent are with the Green, Libertarian or Better for America parties, while 17 percent declined to state their party affiliation. So who will turn out to decide this election is difficult to predict. Will the older and more affluent voters in the east-side districts with a huge edge in voter registration, always the most reliable voters in municipal elections, less impacted by an increase in price and less likely to have pre-K-age children in the house be motivated to vote by the progressive messages of pre-K for all and taking down Big Soda and its sugary products? Will the southside and mid-town voters, who would pay a larger portion of their incomes on a consumer tax, but stand to gain more from expanded pre-K programs, show up? What about people who fully support pre-K, but dont like the idea of city government influencing what they buy and what they consume? UNMs Atkeson suggests it comes down to who can best mobilize their voters. I expect the usual suspects who participate in normal elections will vote, she said. Then, you have the mobilization effort, which could bring out people who are stimulated by the topic or who might be compelled to vote due to the taxation issue . The point is, they are thinking about it. More people are probably thinking about this election than any city council or mayoral election. Sugary drinks tax election Today is the last day of early voting. Polls open today at 8 a.m. at City Hall, 200 Lincoln Ave., and 9 a.m. at Genoveva Chavez Community Center, 3221 Rodeo Rd. They close at 5 p.m. at both locations. For election day, Tuesday, May 2, all voting precincts have been consolidated into eight Voting Convenience Centers. Any qualified city of Santa Fe voter can cast a ballot at any of the centers from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. The voting centers are: Montezuma Lodge, 431 Paseo de Peralta St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 1301 Osage Ave. St. Johns United Methodist Church, 1200 Old Pecos Trail Christian Life Church, 121 Siringo Road Sweeney Elementary School, 4100 S. Meadows Rd. Southside Library, 6599 Jaguar Dr. Kearny Elementary School, 901 Avenida de las Campanas Genoveva Chavez Community Center, 3221 Rodeo Rd. For the past several years, AARP has made finding ways to lighten the responsibilities of our family caregivers a top priority. Here in New Mexico, we worked with the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department in establishing the New Mexico State Plan for Family Caregivers and in 2015 got the CARE Act passed, which allows a family caregiver to be formally included in the process when their loved one is admitted into the hospital. We saw this years Caregiver Leave Act, House Bill 86, as a continuation of this work and are deeply disappointed in Gov. Susana Martinezs decision to veto this legislation. The act would have allowed employees who already earn sick leave to use that leave for caregiving duties. It would not add to an employees leave, just allow them to use it beyond themselves. Spearheading this effort, however, did accomplish an important thing raising the conversation about the challenges our working family caregivers face. AARP New Mexico will continue to highlight this issue and hopes to continue the discussion with our local business community. While the governor said in her veto message that the bill would hamper business efficiency and would place an undue burden on businesses, there is little to support that. AARP New Mexico has learned in talking to family caregivers that they often struggle between doing a good job and being there for their families. Allowing them some flexibility can help alleviate this guilt and make them more productive employees. A recent survey of New Mexico voters showed that more than half, 58 percent of family caregivers, work either full or part time. Seventy-four percent said their caregiving duties caused them to occasionally go into work late or leave early to provide their loved one care. But what was really astounding is that 23 percent of New Mexico family caregivers left the workplace entirely, more than double the national average of 10 percent. While people leaving the workforce has a lasting impact on our families, and causes issues both financially and emotionally, there is also an impact on our businesses. Any business person knows that recruiting and training new employees is an expensive proposition. Finding ways to retain existing employees, who are good at their job, is far better and more cost-effective something I know extensively from my days working in human resources. We felt the Caregiver Leave Act was a simple step to add support to our working family caregivers without putting that undue burden on business and would help keep those employees in the workforce. It is obvious that more needs to be done to support our working caregivers. AARP New Mexico will continue this effort, and hopes to continue this discussion with our business leaders and, more importantly, our family caregivers. We would like to thank Rep. Deborah Armstrong and Sen. Michael Padilla, both D-Albuquerque, for getting this bill through the Legislature, and everyone who took time to contact the Governors Office in support of this bill. WASHINGTON In the outpouring of commentary on President Trumps first 100 days in office, his greatest single achievement is almost never mentioned, which is itself a sign of what a major triumph it is: We are not talking much about whether Russia colluded with Trumps campaign to help elect him. Our distraction was not inevitable. Recall that just a little over a month ago, FBI Director James Comey told the House Intelligence Committee that the bureau was investigating possible cooperation between Trumps team and Russias hacking and disinformation campaign to undercut Hillary Clinton. As The New York Times wrote, Comeys testimony created a treacherous political moment for Mr. Trump. Yet the president slipped by. In mid-February, the administration should have come under sustained inquiry when Michael Flynn, Trumps first national security adviser, was forced to resign because he misled White House officials about the nature of his contacts with Russias ambassador to the U.S. Flynn, who had led the Republican National Convention in Lock her up! chants against Clinton, turned out to have received $65,000 from companies linked to Russia, and $600,000 to lobby for the Turkish government, even as he was advising Trump. And, as Politico reported, the man who paid Flynn to work for Turkey had business ties to Russia. The episode raised a slew of questions, not the least being what Vice President Mike Pence, whom we presume was vetting administration appointees, knew about Flynns activities. As for Trump, he believes in extreme vetting for immigrants, but apparently not for members of his administration unless he was fully aware of what Flynn was up to. The Flynn story is obviously heating up again, but lets pause to ponder how Trumps genius at evasion, diversion and prevarication helped him to keep the Russia story at bay. It should disturb us more than it seems to that the 100th day of Trumps presidency on April 29 will also mark the beginning of the ninth week since Trump sent out his March 4 tweet Obama had my wires tapped. There was no evidence then for that accusation and none now because the evidence doesnt exist. Thoughtful souls, conservatives as well as liberals, saw something terribly off about Trump swinging so wildly and with such indifference to verifiable fact. This is what happens when the White House prioritizes winning the daily news cycle above all else, wrote Jim Geraghty in National Review. an amazingly shortsighted approach to governing. I couldnt agree more, but guess what? Trumps gambit worked. First, Trumps lieutenants got Rep. Devin Nunes, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, involved in a Keystone Kops routine at the White House in which Nunes kind of, sort of suggested he had information giving support to Trumps claim, which he didnt. Nunes eventually had to recuse himself from the committees investigation of Russian interference, but the whole episode may have fatally wounded and certainly delayed its inquiry. And there is this core Trump principle: A lie is as good as the truth as long as you can get your base to believe it. And sure enough, the new Washington Post/ABC News poll conducted last week found that by a margin of 52 percent to 32 percent, Republicans believe that the Obama administration intentionally spied on Trump and members of his campaign during the 2016 election campaign. Fortunately, as John Adams taught us, facts are stubborn things, and the Russia story cannot be suppressed forever. Indeed, there was progress on Tuesday when in a display of bipartisanship that is truly astounding at this moment Reps. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and Elijah Cummings, D-Md., of the House Oversight Committee jointly asserted Flynn may have violated the law by not fully disclosing his Russian business dealings when seeking a security clearance. At least as significant, both also expressed alarm at the White Houses refusal to turn over any documents on Flynns hiring and firing. There may be limits to Trumps sorcery. But its still pretty impressive. Because conservative speakers Ben Shapiro and Christina Hoff Sommers havent yet agreed to speak at the University of New Mexico, it might be a bit premature to applaud acting UNM president Chaouki Abdallah for, once again, making a stand for free speech. But were going to exercise our right to free speech and do it anyway. A student group at UNM, Students for Socialism, protested outside the administration building Monday after Abdallah declined the groups request that he ban planned speeches by Shapiro, a former Breitbart News editor-at-large, and Sommers, resident scholar at the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute who has argued that some campus sexual assault studies exaggerate the problem. The UNM College Republicans are planning to invite Shapiro to speak, and the Young Americans for Freedom are planning to have Sommers speak. The organizations had requested and received $5,000 each from the Associated Students of UNM, the universitys student government group, to host the speakers, though neither had been booked as of the day of the protest. Students for Socialism co-president Karina Rodgers says that in a meeting prior to the protest, Abdallah refused to ban the speakers and suggested Rodgers and her comrades seek some accommodation with the groups sponsoring the speakers. This was not, as Rodgers claims, Abdallahs shirking of his responsibilities as acting president. Quite the contrary: It is his job to uphold UNMs policy on free speech, and to foster cooperation and tolerance among the universitys diverse student population. Abdallah upheld free speech in January when he suspended a $3,400 security fee charged to UNM College Republicans, which sponsored a speech by alt-right firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos, a provocateur and former conservative tech writer for Breitbart News. Though various groups had urged Abdallah to ban Yiannopolous citing not only his vitriolic speeches, but also the violent protests that erupted at some of his appearances he allowed the speech to take place amid heightened security. Hundreds of listeners and protesters showed up, but no major incidents were reported by police. Its disconcerting that some at UNM where the open exchange of ideas should be honored rather than discouraged fail to grasp the importance of the First Amendment, which protects speech, as well as a free press. By seeking to ban speech they dont agree with or even abhor they effectively surrender their own right to free speech. Similarly, banning free speech that might lead to violence allows those willing to be violent to decide who gets to talk and who doesnt. Shapiro and Sommers, like Yiannoplous, should be allowed to speak at UNM, regardless of who likes, or dislikes, what they have to say. This anti-free speech movement, which unfortunately seems to be in vogue especially in academia brings to mind a quote we all need to hear, or re-hear: I do not agree with what you have to say, but Ill defend to the death your right to say it. That was English author Evelyn Beatrice Hall, in 1906. Thats how democracy, and free speech, work in America and how they are working at UNM, despite some misguided efforts to undermine both. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. The district judge who threatened jail for anyone who reported or repeated certain financial testimony given during a public trial was properly balancing the publics right to know with privacy interests. Thats according to the assistant attorney general representing District Judge Alan Malott. Assistant Attorney General Susan Sullivans response to a petition filed with the state Supreme Court by the Albuquerque Journal and an open government group said that the trial remained open and the public (including the news media) could observe even if subject to limited restrictions involving limited confidential information. The Journal and the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government have asked the Supreme Court to vacate Malotts order as an unconstitutional prior restraint on matters that take place in open court. Neither the Journal nor FOG had challenged earlier orders by Malott putting discovery material off-limits to the public. But they objected when Malott began the public trial by saying that anyone in court would see the inside of a jail cell if he or she repeated certain information outside the courtroom. Malotts verbal order, which he refused to reconsider, came at the opening of a trial involving financial disputes over a trust among members of the well-known Abruzzo family. The initial order wasnt clear on what the ban covered. Malott attempted to clarify that later in the day and solicited the parties for additional suggestions on what should be included. The Abruzzos were ballooning pioneers and holders of considerable real estate interests, including the Sandia Peak Tram, the Santa Fe ski area and properties in Colorado. Lawyers for the Abruzzos and ARCO, a realty company whose shares make up the bulk of the trust at the center of the lawsuit, also filed briefs in the Supreme Court supporting Malotts order. ARCO, in its response, said the confidential information was not a matter of public concern and pointed out that the Journal wrote in an editorial that it did not intend to publish the information. It is difficult to imagine how the public could have any legitimate interest in such information, the response said. And (the Journal and Foundation for Open Government) do not argue otherw ise. FOG and the Journal argued that courts have long held that prior restraints of the medias right to publish information obtained in court bear a heavy presumption of unconstitutionality. The perceived privacy interest of the parties in the case, they said, comes nowhere near overcoming the medias First Amendment rights to public information presented in court. The U.S. Supreme Court has likened proceedings in a public trial to public property. The Abruzzo family argued in its response that the privacy rights of two children involved in the lawsuit are paramount over the publics right to know. The family said that its privacy interests had been continually violated by another party in the case, and that Malotts order was designed to prevent further violation of his prior confidentiality orders. Malott, through Assistant Attorney General Sullivan, refers to a case in which a Washington trial court worried that people might forgo the pursuit of their just claims rather than expose themselves to unwanted publicity. He said that people could become reluctant or unwilling to use the justice system, and that the presumption of public access doesnt override a valid protective order. (Malott) carefully balanced public disclosure against the privacy interest of the litigants weighing in this particular case in favor of privacy, his response said. The Abruzzo family writes that Malotts order was narrowly tailored to protect sensitive information. The family argues that the release of the information serves no public interest and poses substantial risk to the trusts. Because the trusts consist almost entirely of ARCO shares, if ARCO is harmed, or its value hurt by the release of the confidential information, the family argued, the trust and beneficiaries will also suffer. The U.S. Attorneys Office on Thursday honored 111 law enforcement officers, agents and investigators for their outstanding work on dozens of cases that led to the convictions of murderers, sexual predators, drug dealers, fraudster, and other criminals during an awards ceremony in Albuquerque. In addition, 15 individuals and policymakers were recognized for exceptional contributions to public safety initiatives addressing the opioid epidemic, youth prevention and education programs, officer safety, and national security. The ceremony was held at the Vincent E. Griego Council Chambers of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Center. This ceremony is a way to express our appreciation to the officers and agents on the front lines of justice, as well as the private citizens and policymakers who work tirelessly to make New Mexico stronger, safer, and more just, acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney said in a news release. Former U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez also was honored during the ceremony for his service as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico from May 2014 to March 2017. The individuals recognized included: County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, Dr. William Wiese, City Councilor Diane Gibson, Dr. Joanna Katzman, Dr. Snehal R. Bhatt, chief medical investigator Kurt Nolte, medical investigator Hannah Kastenbaum and forensic pathologist Karen Cline-Parhamovich of the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, executive director Jennifer Weiss-Burke and prevention specialist Lou Duran of Healing Addiction in Our Community, and Brittany Haggard, chairwoman of Generation Rx. Copyright 2017 Albuquerque Journal Chloe Bloxham, 21, received her new birth certificate Thursday, about two hours and 20 minutes after she arrived at the New Mexico Department of Healths vital records office in Albuquerque. Business is booming at vital records offices across the state this year as New Mexicans scramble to gather the records they need to obtain Real ID-compliant drivers licenses. Bloxham arrived at the Midtown Public Health Office, 2400 Wellesley NE, at 11:27 a.m., took a number and sat in a crowded waiting room until 1:37 p.m., when her name was called. She emerged seven minutes later with her new birth certificate. Bloxham took the wait in stride. Im so glad it was easy, said Bloxham, who needed the birth certificate to apply to be an Albuquerque Police Department officer. Bloxham is one of an estimated 300,000 New Mexicans expected to seek birth certificates this year, said Mark Kassouf, head of the Health Departments Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. Thats more than double the 135,000 birth certificates DOH issued last year, Kassouf said. The brisk business has resulted in longer wait times, particularly in Albuquerque, Farmington and Las Cruces. With an increase like weve been seeing, some of our offices have seen lines, Kassouf said. The stricter rules to obtain a Real ID-compliant license have also been felt at state District Court, where the number of petitions for name changes has nearly tripled from last year. The new rules require four documents: one proof of ID number, such as a Social Security card; a proof of identity such as a birth certificate, and two documents showing proof of residency. Another visitor to the Midtown Public Health Office in Albuquerque on Thursday was Mary Ann Maestas, who needed her birth certificate to obtain a Real ID-compliant drivers license. When she arrived at 11:30 a.m., the room was packed, she said. A DOH employee called her name at 1:22 p.m. Maestas had a common problem. At birth, she was named Mariana, but nuns at her school changed her name in school records to Mary Ann. But Kassouf said people can change the names on their birth certificates in some instances without seeking a legal name change in court. For example, people given Spanish names at birth can change the names on their birth certificates by presenting two pieces of acceptable documentary evidence showing their Anglo names, he said. They include baptismal, school, medical, insurance or military records, or a marriage application. People who use their middle names also can change the name on their birth certificates by presenting two pieces of documentary evidence, he said. The Department of Health has responded to the heavy demand for birth certificates by expanding staff in Albuquerque, where two temporary workers were added to the two-person staff, Kassouf said. The department also recently opened new vital records offices at public health offices in Las Vegas, Gallup and Socorro, he said. Other vital records offices are in Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Clayton, Clovis, Deming, Farmington, Hobbs, Las Cruces, Lovington, Portales, Raton, Roswell, Santa Rosa, Silver City and Tucumcari. But people dont need to visit a public health office to obtain a birth certificate. The Health Department issues birth certificates by mail using an application found on the agencys website, nmhealth.org. People also can obtain birth certificates online from a private vendor that accepts major credit cards. LOS ANGELES In less than a week, writers rooms across Hollywood will go dark if the Writers Guild of America goes on strike. For showrunners on some of TVs most talked-about series, the focus is on crafting stories while they can. Were just keeping our heads down and working until they tell us we cant, said Gloria Calderon Kellett, co-showrunner of Netflixs One Day at a Time. Writers for the series recently started work on Season 2. Kellett was part of a Los Angeles Times showrunner roundtable, alongside Bruce Miller (The Handmaids Tale), Peter Gould (Better Call Saul), Aziz Ansari (Master of None) and David Mandel (Veep). Miller, who opened up The Handmaids Tale room earlier this week to begin work on Season 2, said theres no mad dash to churn out copy before Tuesday, when a strike would begin. It doesnt change what youre doing in terms of figuring out the story, Miller said. We go as quickly as we can anyway. You dont want to (work) too quickly, because then you just write crappy stuff. It really doesnt change anything. They just hope the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers can reach an agreement. I voted yes, Mandel said, referring to the recent strike authorization vote, but boy, I really dont want there to be a strike. Gould added: Its not really up to us. Its up to the companies to do whats right. Theres not a lot more to say than that. The last writers strike in 2007-08 lasted 100 days. And while it wasnt what they wanted then, either, many writers enjoyed the opportunity to meet and talk with their peers in the process. At the time, Gould was working on Breaking Bad, whose season was cut short because of the strike. He left Albuquerque, N.M., just as an episode he had written was in the prepping stages. I was on the picket line and people would say, What show are you on?' Gould recalled. And Id be like, its this thing called Breaking Bad. Theyre shooting my episode right now.' But I also remember being on the picket line and being very entertained by Dana Gould (of The Simpsons), who is no relation but is one of the funniest people around. Dana kept a whole group of us on Lankershim (Boulevard) entertained for days on end. All I could say is, I hope, if it comes to that, that I am stationed wherever he is cause hes a lot of fun. Millers silver lining while marching outside of Universals lot involved the TV series Battlestar Galactica. I hadnt watched Battlestar Galactica, and it turned out the people on Battlestar were (picketing where I was). I would go home at night, watch one episode, and then Id find the writer and get like DVD commentary all day long, Miller said. Every writer, if you walk up to them on a picket line and say, Hey could we talk about your episode for 4 hours, they were in heaven. And it was great. It was so much fun, for me, because you could just ask them a million questions. It made the time go by. Sergio Perez keeps in close contact with Mallya, who attended only the British Grand Prix at Silverstone last year after his Indian diplomatic passport was revoked. By Reuters: Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya is upbeat about the future despite facing potential extradition from Britain to India after his arrest last week, the Formula One team's Mexican driver Sergio Perez said on Thursday. "I think Vijay himself is happy that finally action has been taken because then the decision will be quite soon and he is very optimistic that he will be OK," Perez told Reuters at the Russian Grand Prix. advertisement "So we look forward to having him back at the track," he added. Perez keeps in close contact with Mallya, who attended only the British Grand Prix at Silverstone last year after his Indian diplomatic passport was revoked with a judge in Mumbai issuing a non-bailable warrant for his arrest. Pursued by Indian authorities over unpaid loans tied to his defunct Kingfisher Airlines, Mallya was arrested in London last week and appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court for an extradition hearing before being granted bail. A source close to Mallya told Reuters at the time that the 61-year-old had attended a police station voluntarily in an arranged visit and the arrest was a technical procedure. India has asked Britain to extradite Mallya to face trial after the liquor and aviation tycoon fled there in March last year. Banks are seeking to recover about $1.4 billion that the Indian authorities say Kingfisher owes. Mallya has repeatedly dismissed the charges against him and defended himself in messages on Twitter and rare interviews. Mallya has a base in London and a lavish country home bought from Anthony Hamilton, the father of triple Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton. The Indian has installed a control centre in the country house, allowing him to keep in close touch with the Silverstone-based team in real time during races and have access to data feeds. Deputy principal Bob Fernley and chief operating office Otmar Szafnauer run the team, which finished a best-ever fourth overall last year, day-to-day at the circuit in Mallya's absence. "I think the team is in a good position," said Perez. "Nothing changes." --- ENDS --- Joseph Apodaca was sentenced to 36 years in prison for the rape and brutal beating of a young woman he left for dead in Valencia County in 2014, the state Attorney Generals Office announced Friday. The victim almost died and will suffer medical issues for the rest of her life due, the AGs Office said in a news release. In November, Apodaca was convicted on two counts of criminal sexual penetration in the first degree, and one count of tampering with evidence following a two week trial. I am thankful for the courage and perseverance of the young woman who suffered this horrific rape, and I hope she has some semblance of closure and justice now that we are sending Joseph Apodaca to prison for 36 years, said Attorney General Balderas in a statement. Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Gilbert prosecuted the matter on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General and Second Judicial District Judge Alisa Hadfield presided over the case. DENVER Colorado prison officials have been transferring inmates to other states without informing victims or their families. An investigation launched by KUSA-TV has found prison officials are refusing to tell victims where inmates are despite the U.S. Crime Victims Rights Law and a state law both designed to guarantee that information, the station (http://on9news.tv/2ppvHFu ) reported. The investigation found more than 100 inmates, some of whom are convicted killers and rapists, are being held in a secret prison system. I do not understand how a bureaucratic decision can override a victims constitutional rights, said Jeanne Faatz, a longtime Republican legislator who was the prime sponsor of the victims rights law. Prison officials have said they do not need to disclose the inmates locations because the transfers are temporary. But 23 inmates have been held out of state for more than a decade, the investigation found. One killer has been in another state since the 1980s. Another reason Colorado cant release the whereabouts of prisoners in the Interstate Corrections Compact is because its not allowed by the agreement with other states, Gov. John Hickenlooper said. But other states in the program tell the inmates whereabouts, the investigation found. The Aurora theater shooter James Holmes is among the inmates transferred. Victims of the theater shooting have not been told where Holmes is being held. Theyre just lying, the Department of Corrections is lying, said Rich Orman, one of the prosecutors of the Aurora theater shooter. In fact, according to their definition of any prisoner being held anywhere in DOC for any placement, its always temporary. If they were right, they would never have to notify of any movement anywhere for any purpose. Both Hickenlooper and Department of Corrections Director Rick Raemisch have declined the stations requests for on-camera interviews explaining their interpretation of the victims rights law, but the governor has been interviewed in other settings. Were not doing this because its fun, Hickenlooper said. These are peoples lives. Our prison guards, theyve got families and wives and we take it very seriously to keep them safe. ___ Information from: KUSA-TV, http://www.9news.com Raytheon Company has signed a lease for 72,000 square feet of space at the Sandia Science & Technology Park as it expands its Albuquerque operations. The Massachusetts-headquartered company will fill the entire building, moving some of its employees from its current location in the Sandia Research Park at 1300 Eubank SE, according to Scott Throckmorton, owner and president of Argus Investment Realty, who represented the landlord in the deal. The Class A office building was built in 2007 and was formerly occupied by Air Products, said Throckmorton, who said the landlord agreed to terminate the lease when the company transferred the Albuquerque division to Tempe, Ariz. Air Products specializes in delivering gases and chemicals to industrial, energy, technology and health care markets. Previously known as Poly-Flow, the company had at one point employed 100 at the facility at the Sandia Science & Technology Park. The good news is that it opened up the building in its entirety for Raytheon, said Throckmorton. They cant shoehorn employees into any other nooks and crannies at 1300 Eubank, he said. The building is located in the 300-acre flex-industrial park, which is home to some of the states fastest-growing companies. Throckmorton said Raytheon will begin with tenant improvements in a few weeks at the two-story building at 10800 Gibson SE. Dan Newman and Debbie Dupes of CBRE represented Raytheon in securing the lease. In a bid to magnify the overall output for the sequel of one of the greatest Indian Motion Picture and Mr. SS Rajamoulis dream Project - BAAHUBALI 2 THE CONCLUSION, team Brand Street India and Why? Stay! Calm! have brought aboard two internationally viable brands HIKE MESSENGER and KUYUKO CAMLIN. This partnership is to build the Franchisee Baahubali and take it to the next level where the audience will be attached with some intriguing and interactive content and not just a vanilla campaign. With a user base of over 100 Million, Hike Messenger is an ideal preference to engage younger audiences not just on their online platform but social media as well. Team Hike has come up with a unique strategy of extending the Baahubali Franchise to the next level. The Brand has come up with various animated stickers based on the sequences from the movie. Some cute Chibi stickers that will gain popularity in the coming days as the characters from the movie Katappa, Devasena, Bhallaldeva and Baahubali become popular. All these stickers are live now on the Hike App. Along with this, one can also suit themselves to the movies royal looks by applying face-filters of the characters. (Link: https://www.facebook.com/hikeapp/, http://hike.in/bahubali/) Further, Kuyuko Camlin, one of the renowned stationary brands with a diverse customer base across the nation, is organising a painting competition at Kidzania Mumbai. The selected 20 kids are going to get a chance to meet the star cast of the movie at an exclusive event where these kids will be showcasing their piece of art to the stars of the movie. The brand also plans to engage the kids during summer camps as an extended promotional activity. A social media campaign on the lines of creating a trailer by using ones own creativity has already been executed on their page. Camlin is also promoted on Baahubali Social media pages every Friday as "Camlin Friday Fan Art" where Baahubali fans share their piece of artwork and paintings on Baahubali pages. Saumitra Prasad, Chief Marketing Officer, Kokuyo Camlin commented, Kokuyo Camlin is proud to associate with Baahubali 2. Camlin has always promoted art in India as we believe that creativity is more important than knowledge. We are very confident that people will get to experience the magnificent world of art & imagination in Indian cinema with the release of Baahubali 2 Speaking about the integration, Kanika Mohan Saxena, Managing Partner, Why? Stay! Calm! Said, Baahubali is the Biggest Franchise in Indian Cinema which cuts across all age groups and both Hike Messenger and Kuyuko Camlin are the best suited brands to interact with youngsters in their own unique style and tone. It will be interesting to see how these brands with a similar yet spread out target audience comes together to promote the movie both in a traditional, as well as the online way through interactive campaigns. Nirav Khandhadia, Head Branded Content & Alliances, WSC commented, The task at hand were to seamlessly merge the core-values of the Baahubali franchise with the brands. We have crafted innovative campaign ideas with both our brands, which will give the Baahubali franchise reach beyond the movie release. This approach will instigate high customer engagement along with building a deeper connect and reliance with our client. Surendra Singh, National Head, Brand Street India expressed, The huge popularity of Baahubali surely helps both these brands to reach out to their target audiences in a clutter-free way. Both these brand campaigns with Baahubali are driven by fresh ideas and a wide reception from all stakeholders. This association has been creatively implemented by Why? Stay! Calm! Who are strategic partners to Brand Street India in the domain of Film Integration & Content Production. They have recently been instrumental in the association of Lotus Herbals' with Jolly LLB 2, Uber's with Phillauri and Voltas AC's with BadrinathkiDulhaniya. BMW Group has entered into an international alliance with the Aditya Birla Group for preferred mobility solutions. The agreement spans globally across several countries such as India, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, France and UK. The association comprises of a wide variety of privileges on the extensive product portfolio of the BMW Group such as preferential pricing, customized financial services and the state-of-the-art aftersales support. Mr. Rene Gerhard, Director- Sales, BMW Group India said, The BMW Group has been a pioneer in automotive excellence and has successfully created outstanding premium mobility solutions for its discerning customers. Our alliance with Aditya Birla Group is yet another step to bring the immersive BMW experience closer to our exclusive clientele. With the fascinating choice of products at attractive prices, customized financial solutions and unparalleled service offerings, Aditya Birla Group employees across the world will now be able to experience the Sheer Driving Pleasure in its greatest form. Mr. Subrato Sarkaar, Joint President - Corporate Administration, Aditya Birla Group said, Aditya Birla Group is happy to be associated with an innovative, aspirational brand like BMW. This initiative is a first of its kind and will give our employees an enhanced user experience & service benefits, globally. It is an excellent reflection of our collaboration and partnership with BMW Group internationally. Venkatesh Kini, who has been serving as President - India and Southwest Asia Business Unit at the Coca-Cola Company, has put in his papers after a stint of 19 years with the company. He will be returning to the United States to pursue other opportunities outside the Coca-Cola system. Kini will remain with the company until the end of July to ensure a smooth transition with his successor. Commenting on the development, John Murphy, President of the Asia Pacific Group, The Coca-Cola Company, said, Over the past four years, Venkatesh has had a significant impact on the growth and success of our business in this very important market, and laid the foundation for a winning team that will enable us to continue capturing the great opportunities that remain ahead. Taking over from Kini as President of the Companys India and South West Asia Business Unit will be T KK Krishnakumar, who currently serves as CEO and South West Asia Regional Director of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages. On Krishnakumars elevation, Murphy said, KK is uniquely qualified for this role, having successfully led Coca-Cola Company and its Bottling Investments Groups (BIG) operations in India and South West Asia since 2009. He is a strategic, well-rounded leader, and has been a catalyst for expanding our portfolio and driving growth in every position he has previously held. Krishnakumar had joined the Coca-Cola system in 2004, and has advanced through a series of leadership roles, including Region Manager and Regional Vice President. Vamsi Mohan, who currently serves as BIGs Regional Director for Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia, will in turn replace Krishnakumar as South West Asia Regional Director for Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages. BIGs President, Irial Finan, said, Vamsi joined the Coca-Cola system in 1998 and has held various senior leadership roles in Operations, Market Execution, General Management and also served as Vice President Sales for Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages. Were fortunate and very glad to have him back in this market. Christina Ruggiero, currently Chief Procurement Officer for the Coca-Cola System in North America, and President and CEO for Bottlers Sales & Services, LLC, will be reporting to Vamsi Mohan as the new CEO of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages. Christinas extensive experience aggregating and optimising supplier and customer-related activities for the US bottling franchise network will be instrumental in leading this next chapter for our bottling operations in India, added Finan. Prior to joining Coca-Cola, Ruggiero was Vice President, Procurement, for Diageo Plc, where she led procurement and supply chain teams globally, including teams in the United States, Africa, Europe, and Russia. As outlined by our President and Chief Operating Officer James Quincey a few weeks ago, The Coca-Cola Company is designing a new Operating Model to support the next stage of our transformation into a growth-oriented, consumer-centered, total beverage company, said John Murphy, Key components of this new Operating Model are a revitalised organisational capability and better system alignment to ensure that optimum execution multiplies our marketing plans and investment. Irial Finan added here, India is the 6th largest market for The Coca-Cola Company in terms of volume. The Coca-Cola system operates approximately 60 factories, directly employs 25,000 people and sells our products through over 2.6 million retailers. Still, the Indian market has tremendous growth potential, and we believe the revitalised system leadership structure that we have announced will enable us to continue consolidating India as one of the most important growth engines for The Coca-Cola Company globally. We can help you make sense of the agribusiness industry, extending from chemicals and fertilizers used as inputs into agriculture, to the commodities, food and by-products that are an output to farming, with policy and regulation applied at every step of the value chain. Vodafone UK just announced that the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are available. This UK-based carrier is now offering both of Samsungs flagships, and as per usual, you can choose between a number of tariffs offered by the company. As many of you know, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus were introduced at the end of last month, and the two devices have been available for purchase in some regions for a short period of time. Well, if youre in the UK and are looking to get a phone from Vodafone UK, this might be your chance to grab the Galaxy S8 or the Galaxy S8 Plus, read on. As already mentioned, the company is offering a number of tariffs for the two devices, but theyre emphasizing one plan in particular. You can get the Galaxy S8 for 50 per month (30 upfront) on a Red Extra 4GB plan the company is offering. As part of this plan, youll get unlimited texts, unlimited minutes and 4GB of data. If youre looking to get the Galaxy S8 Plus instead, you can get it for 54 per month (50 upfront) on that very same plan, youll get unlimited texts, unlimited minutes and 4GB of data here as well. Now, if you opt to purchase one of the two devices, youll also get Vodafone UKs Vodafone on Pay monthly plan, which is the companys roaming solution, and a very good one actually. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are available in Midnight Black and Orchid Gray color variants from Vodafone UK, and the Vodafone UK is also offering the Galaxy S8 accessories bundle for 45. If youd like to know more about what the company is offering, along with a more detailed list of offered tariffs, follow the source link down below. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are basically identical in terms of the design, both are made out of metal and glass, though the Galaxy S8 Plus is a considerably larger phone. Despite the fact these two phones sport 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch displays, respectively, theyre quite narrow thanks to really thin bezels and an 18.5:9 display aspect ratio. The two phones are fueled by the Exynos 8895 64-bit octa-core SoC in the UK, and they ship with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable internal storage. Android Nougat comes pre-installed on Samsungs flagships, and on top of it, youll get the companys custom UI. If youd like to know more about the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus, check out our full review of these two phones. Some models of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus are reportedly suffering from severe bugs that cause them to completely freeze and reboot at random. According to several members of the XDA Developers boards, some models are apparently showing graphical glitches for a few seconds along the bottom of the screen and then rebooting, while others are freezing up entirely and becoming completely unresponsive and unable to be woken up in any way. Most users reporting issues like these are coming to the conclusion that they have something to do with the biometric sensors of their devices, with some users even claiming that having multiple modes of biometric authentication turned on at once make crashes more likely. The phones handling of MicroSD cards is also being pointed out as a potential culprit behind the issues. For now, users that contact Samsung about the issue are being told to return their units to their retailers. Some users are reporting as many as seven reboots in ten hours of using the device, and many others are claiming that the issue is persisting across replacement units. Samsung has yet to make any sort of statement on the matter, leaving users to seek help on Samsungs forums. Owners of the new devices there are claiming theyre experiencing multiple reboots on a daily basis. Some people are speculating that the clock and weather widgets are causing the defect, and even the popular Lookout anti-malware app has been highlighted as the potential cause of the problem. Other possible fixes, according to users on XDA Developers boards, include doing a hard reset of the handset out of the box before setting it up properly and wiping the phones data through the recovery menu. The bug outlined above is not the only one that the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus buyers have recently complained about. Some owners of the new flagships are talking about issues like the biometric authentication feature not working and the phone becoming sporadically unresponsive or overheating for no apparent reason. Thus far, Samsung has issued a fix for an issue that made some devices unusable due to a looping force close message and helped users whose screens displayed an overly reddish hue. By now, youve likely heard about the lawsuit going on between Alphabets self-driving company Waymo and Uber. Essentially a former Waymo employee downloaded confidential documents and took them over to his new job at Uber. The two are in court right now battling it out, but what does this mean for the future of the auto industry? Here you have two companies in court battling over self-driving car tech, but neither company is an auto maker, technically. Depending on the ruling from this case, it could really affect the self-driving car industry in the coming years. The skinny of the lawsuit is that Anthony Lewandowski, who was over at Waymo before leaving in January, downloaded thousands of confidential files, which he said he needed so that he could work from home. However, he took those files over to his new job at Uber, where he was in charge of their self-driving division. Waymo found out about it because a supplier that was working with both companies, accidentally attached a copy of Ubers LiDAR system to an email, which was the exact same as what Waymo had been using. Which caused this entire lawsuit to get started. Uber has claimed that they cant find the files on their servers, because they never came to their servers. Although the judge seems to think otherwise. Advertisement Now, while the judge has yet to make a decision in the case, he does appear to be leaning towards Waymos way, especially with the amount of evidence Waymo has against Uber and Lewandowski in this case. Its likely that the judge could grant Waymo an injunction which could mean two things. One, and this is the better option for Uber, that Lewandowski can now longer work on the project. Two, Uber may have to stop all work on their self-driving cars. Which would be a big deal, since they have been working on them for a couple of years, and do have them on the streets of Pittsburgh picking people up, as well as being tested in Arizona (although, they apparently arent doing too well in Phoenix). This case is pretty serious, this is worse than just infringing on a patent. Uber basically is infringing on an entire LiDAR design that Waymo has created. Normally that wouldnt be a big deal, since both companies get their LiDAR from the same source. But Waymo recently started making their LiDAR setup in-house with their own design, which means that Uber is basically using their in-house setup, but without paying royalties to Waymo, which is typically how these things work. Now the future of the self-driving car industry is at stake here. If Uber isnt able to continue working on self-driving technology, it could stifle competition in the space, and competition is needed to get something like self-driving cars on the market. Advertisement While its still unclear what the future of self-driving tech will be with this case, especially since the case is still ongoing, it could become a big deal for the future. It shows that Waymo isnt afraid to go after other companies that are seemingly taking their work. Which they shouldnt be. Not because they are owned by Alphabet and have the means to do so, but its just not fair for another company to take your work and use it on their own products without acknowledging the creator or working to pay royalties to that creator. Well have to await the judges decision which should be coming in the next couple of weeks, to see how this will really affect the industry, though. By Press Trust of India: Thimphu, Apr 28 (PTI) Bhutan has announced that it would not be able to ratify the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal motor vehicles agreement for the time being and asked the other stakeholders to go ahead with the plan without it. "While the other three countries have already ratified the agreement, the Royal Government of Bhutan is in the process of completing its internal procedures for ratification, to address the concerns raised by the domestic stakeholders," a Foreign Ministry statement said yesterday. advertisement To facilitate the early implementation of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement (BBIN MVA), the Bhutan government has decided to give its consent for the entry into force of the agreement among the three member states without any obligation to it, the statement said. "The agreement will enter into force for Bhutan after its ratification process is completed," it said. The government here said it views the BBIN as a platform, encompassing key areas such as energy, trade, information, communication and technology. "Strengthening regional cooperation is especially significant for a landlocked country like Bhutan and the Royal Government remains fully committed to the BBIN process including the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement," it added. Recognising the importance of connectivity for expansion of economic cooperation, the Transport Ministers of the four countries signed the agreement for regulation of passenger, personal and cargo vehicular traffic on June 15, 2015. Right from the time the BBIN MVA was tabled for ratification, the draft legislation faced opposition in Bhutan. There have been fears of vehicular pollution and environmental degradation if trucks from neighbouring countries are given access to Bhutan. To boost trade relations, India had proposed a regional cooperation pact in 2014 which entailed building a freight corridor connecting the south Asian nations with each other. The MVA was proposed to reduce transport costs drastically and and foster development of multi-modal transport facilities for a better connectivity between the four countries. PTI NSA --- ENDS --- YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. Her Royal Highness Princess of Jordan Dina Mired, as a mother of a child who overcome cancer, has encouraged the mothers of children who are being treated in the Yolyan Hematology Center of Armenia. During her April 27 visit to the Hematology Center, the Princess opened up about her story. When my son was diagnosed in 1997, Jordan didnt have good methods for cancer treatment and we were forced to seek treatment abroad. It was difficult for me, even though I was a Princess. After my sons recovery, I joined the struggle against cancer, trying to help that all children have equal opportunities for cancer treatment. Me and many others worked very hard from zero. And today our cancer center is one of the few regional licensed centers which saves thousands of lives, Dina Mired said. According to the Princess, by using her social status she now wants to help mothers and fathers also. She is convinced Armenias and Jordans cooperation in cancer treatment will continue. The most important purpose of my visit was seeing new achievements of cancer treatment in Armenia. I am impressed with the Hematology Center. But it needs some new technologies and treatment methods. And the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) is the best structure which can share experience and skills, the Princess said and mentioned that the UICC, where she is the president, is comprised from around 1000 organizations of 150 countries, the main mission of which is mutual help and exchange of experience. According to her, there are numerous wonderful programs currently. UICCs new initiative is called City Cancer Challenge. And in the event of any problem of cancer, the entire city comes together to fight against it. And I believe Armenia will be a wonderful candidate for this. It will really bring rapid progress. We are also a small country and our resources are few. It is easier to be compared to a similar country, than for instance with a European or any other developed country, she said. The Medical University today has initiated joining this union, which enables to share international experience and introduce technologies. I am very happy that the Princess herself leads the Union. She encouraged the patients of the center. As a mother of a child who has overcome cancer, she said they will experience emotional difficulties. She expressed her conviction that everyone will definitely get treated, since such centers exist in Armenia. The Princess expressed her readiness to assist the Hematology Centers international accreditation, YSMU Rector Armen Muradyan said, expressing hope cooperation with the structure will have wide circles. At the invitation of the Yerevan State Medical University, Her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired of Jordan arrived in Armenia to participate in the April 28 Cancer Survivor Congress. The Congress is organized by the Yerevan State Medical University and the Armenian Association of Hematology and Oncology. The Princess of Jordan was recently elected as president of the Union of International Cancer Control. She is as well the President of Harvard University Global Task Force for Expanded Access to Cancer Control and Care in the Developing World. The Princess began her visits to Armenias medical institutions from an early morning visit to the Muratsan Hospital Complex. The Princess reviewed the institutions chemotherapy clinic and the possibilities and equipment of other units. She talked to the patients and the medical personnel. Her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired also visited the Yolyan Hematology Center where she toured the units of the institution. The Princess also participated in a tree-planting in Heratsi High School, as well as the ceremony of donating a modern laser device to the Izmirlyan Medical Centers Department of Urology. The Princess will deliver a report on Cancer is not contagious, love is contagious during the April 28 Congress. EV Usually, concept cars get turned into a production vehicle, but this model was too small for human use. Instead, the concept was something that was supposed to be employed on the moon.Instead of taking plans further to send this vehicle on the Earths natural satellite, Audi has developed a power unit and the associated components that make this concept work. The German brand has not done it to prove a point, but to send the lunar rover on its first assignment.Before sending the rover to the Moon, Audi borrowed it to the team behind Ridley Scotts blockbuster, Alian: Covenant. The sci-fi will premiere worldwide this May, and the photo gallery shows a few frames from the movie. There are no spoilers over there, so you can take a look without a care in the world. Audi worked with Twentieth Century Fox to make this production happen with its concept vehicle. Evidently, this is an excellent promotion opportunity for the German brand, which happened to be on par with what the filmmakers wanted.We also have a trailer for the movie, and the clip is focused on the presence of this exhibit in the motion picture. It takes place on one of the biggest sets employed in the film, the Terraforming Bay.The four-ringed brand still wants to send its rover to the moon, and the companys experts are working with specialists from a start-up named Part-Time Scientists to develop it and think of how the four-wheeledcould be used on our planets satellite.Who knows, maybe its presence will be able to convince the landing truthers that humanity did reach that place back in 1969, which would make the entire effort worthwhile. In a not too distant future, maybe we will stop having anti-vaxxers and other fans of dumb conspiracies disclaiming real things. SUV HP MQB Those who are familiar with the range of the Czech brand have already figured this out , but we will explain for everyone else. The Karoq is the replacement for the Yeti , the contemporary C-Segmentin the companys portfolio.It follows the styling language and naming scheme of its bigger brother, the Kodiaq , and it will be available on the market in the second half of this year.The 2018 Karoq is 4.38 meters (14.37 feet) long, 1.84 meters (six feet) wide, and 1.60 meters (5.24 feet) high. Its wheelbase is 2,638 millimeters (103.85 inches) in the extended version, while the all-wheel-drive model only has 2,630 mm (103.54 inches) between its axles.Skodas latest compact SUV prides itself with a trunk that has a capacity of 521 liters (18.3 cuFt), which can go as high as 1,630 liters (57.5 cuFt) with the rear seats folded.The winged arrow brand says that this is its first model with a fully digital instrument panel available as an option. Its engine line-up offers five options that go between 115and 190 HP, and these come with manual or dual-clutch transmissions.Some versions are available with all-wheel-drive, but front-wheel-drive models will be standard for most of the engines.Volkswagens Czech division benefits from the latest technological improvements of the German conglomerate, which include a multimedia unit with an LTE/4G connection, a WLAN hotspot, a capacitive touchscreen display, and safety features like an Emergency Call button, services for client assistance, and much more.Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Mirror Link connectivity come optional even for the basic infotainment system.Safety equipment includes elements like a trailer assistant, a traffic-jam assistant, and a front crash mitigation system with a pedestrian detection function. Skoda says that the Karoq can tow trailers that weigh as much as two metric tons. Full LED headlights are available as optional equipment.The platform employed for the model , anfrom the VW Group, offers many benefits, which include the possibility of selecting between driving profiles, and theres even an Off-road mode that helps the driver on rough terrain.The Czechs have also introduced the 1.5-liter TSI engine, which features cylinder deactivation to reduce fuel consumption.Customers who order the VarioFlex rear seat, which allows moving the three rear seats independently, will benefit from a variable trunk space that goes between 479 and 588 liters (16.9-20.7 cuFt) for more practicality, along with the option of additional rear passenger comfort. If the client decides to remove the rear seats temporarily, the loading area reaches a maximum of 1,810 liters (63.9 cubic feet). It is still unclear if those threats were related to the incident that we are reporting in this story, but some might believe that there is a close link between them.According to reports from Germany , Mr. Klaus Grohmann, the man who founded Ghormann Engineering, was ousted from Tesla after disagreements in business strategy with Elon Musk As Automotive News informs, the clash allegedly happened because Musk asked the executive to focus on Tesla to the detriment of legacy clients from Grohmann Engineering.The supplier was bought by Tesla last November, but the business was already working with BMW and Mercedes-Benz, who are currently rivals of the American carmaker.When asked by reporters about the rumors surrounding his departure, Mr. Grohmann told them that confidentiality clauses do not allow him to comment on the matter. He did mention that his departure did not happen because he had lost interest in working.The spokesperson from Tesla who was contacted to comment on the situation praised Mr. Grohmann for building an incredible company, and told reporters that he had decided to prepare for retirement. Tesla s representative stated that it was a mutual decision with him to get a new generation of people to lead the company that was acquired by the American conglomerate.Under cover of anonymity, sources from withing Tesla Grohmann Automation revealed that workers feel insecure about the fact that they will build parts for a single client.The presented situation is a risky move in business, and many suppliers try to get several clients on their billing lists to be sure that the company will stay afloat if one of its customers decides to choose a rival brand.Situations like the one described above have occurred in other industries, but the automotive world makes no exception from these unwritten rules. Senators Bernie Sanders, Jeff Merkley, and Ed Markey introduced their "100 by 50 Act" designed to completely transition the United States to clean and renewable energy by 2050 during a rally this morning in D.C. Their biggest thing: The senators believe that the United States' position as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases gives it a moral responsibility to take the lead. "If we expect other countries around the world to listen to us, we cannot preach temperance from a barstool," Markey said. The probe launched by the Justice Department into Fox News has expanded to include the United States Postal Inspection Service, which handles mail and wire fraud investigations, according to CNNMoney. Questions are circling around whether Fox News should have told shareholders about settlement payments related to sexual harassment allegations against Roger Ailes, according to the report. The Justice Department investigation was first revealed in February. Two new questions: investigators have reportedly been asking two key questions; one about possible misconduct by Fox News personnel and the overall environment at the network, as well as questions about "mysterious confidants" of former Fox News CEO and Chairman Roger Ailes known as "friends of Roger." Per CNN: "Ailes, through Fox News, employed a number of longtime friends as consultants, for purposes that remain unknown. One of the consultants earned $10,000 a month by submitting a monthly invoice to Fox." President Trump said the U.S. could be headed for a "major, major conflict" with North Korea in an interview Thursday with Reuters. The key quotes: "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult."On Kim Jong-un: "He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age.... As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational."On the role of China's Xi Jinping: "I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesn't want to see turmoil and death.... I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he can't."Trump "appeared to rebuff" a second phone call with Taiwan's president, Reuters reported. The first call caused a diplomatic incident with China, and Trump said he doesn't "want to be causing difficulty" for Xi. President Trump told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that he thought being president would be easier than his old life as a businessman: "I loved my previous life. I had so many things going. This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier." Two things he misses are privacy and driving: "You're really into your own little cocoon, because you have such massive protection that you really can't go anywhere... I like to drive. I can't drive any more." 28 April 2017 13:58 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Armenia continues to carry out armed provocations aiming to escalate the situation in the frontline, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported on April 28. The ministry reported that on Thursday evening, the air defense units of Armenia launched a guided rocket from the Osa surface-to-air missile system in Khojavend-Fizuli direction of the front. Without hitting any targets, the rocket fell onto an empty section in the territory controlled by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the ministry noted. During the inspection of the territory, there was revealed the cap and other remains of the 9M33 rocket. The preliminary investigation concluded that the rockets that the Armenian armed forces have in use are outdated and unfit for use. Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan by laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 17:16 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov A co-rapporteur of the PACE Monitoring Committee, Stefan Schennach, will study materials about the destruction of Azerbaijan's cultural heritage. Schennach, addressing the PACE spring session on April 28, said that the Azerbaijani side provided him with a lot of documentation on this topic. The co-rapporteur expressed his desire to examine all the materials if the PACE won't mind. The PACE spring session is taking place in Strasbourg from April 24 to 28. Estimations by Azerbaijan's working group on the assessment of damage in the occupied territories showed that the total damage inflicted to Azerbaijan by the Armenian occupation accounted to $819.15 billion. As many as $177 billion of this amount accounted for the damage caused to historical and cultural monuments of Azerbaijan. Overall, since the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and occupation of Azerbaijani territories, the Armenian aggressors destroyed 1,200 historical and architectural monuments, looted 27 museums, over 100,000 items were exported to Armenia. In addition, the Armenian occupiers destroyed 152 religious monuments and 62 mosques, 4.6 million books in 927 libraries, including the Holy Quran and rare Islamic manuscripts. The destruction and damage of historical and cultural monuments by the Armenian invaders in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan contradict many international conventions on the preservation of cultural and natural heritages, including the Hague, European and UNESCO conventions. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 11:42 (UTC+04:00) By Sara Israfilbayova Azerbaijans National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support (NFES) is planning to finance the construction of a health complex in Gobustan district. The complex will be financed through preferential loans issued by the Fund in the framework of a business forum. In total, the Fund allocated 1.5 million manats to entrepreneurs from this region. These funds will be used to develop livestock farming, aviculture and other areas. Executive Director of NFES Shirzad Abdullayev informed that preferential loans the Fund issued since the beginning of the year amount to 25 million manats, which allows to create 700 new jobs. Abdullayev added that in general entrepreneurs of the Mountainous-Shirvan economic region, which includes Gobustan district, received 69 million manats for the implementation of almost 2 ,000 investment projects. About 150 million manats will be issued for granting preferential loans to entrepreneurs in 2017. The Fund, established in 1992, issues loans to entrepreneurs through authorized banks and non-bank lenders. Allocation of funds by NFES is aimed at the mitigating of the impact of global economic crisis to the national economy and minimization of its dependence on the oil sector. The country takes steps in its bid to diversify the national economy and provide for the development of entrepreneurship in the country. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 10:55 (UTC+04:00) By Gunay Camal Azerbaijan's sovereign wealth fund SOFAZ has considered investment opportunities in France. The issues was among the topics of a meeting between SOFAZ Executive Director Shahmar Movsumov and Florence Mangin, the Director of the Department of Continental Europe at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development in Baku. Movsumov briefed the French delegation on the Funds activities, management of its assets, South Gas Corridor project, Azerbaijans activities on transparency in extractive industries and work to be implemented by the Commission on Transparency in Extractive Industries established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, ongoing economic reforms and measures for maintaining macroeconomic stability and fiscal sustainability, Strategic Roadmaps approved by the President, and answered questions. Being a special purpose state organization, the primary objectives of SOFAZ are to help maintain macroeconomic stability in the country and to generate wealth for present and future generations. SOFAZ earlier announced that it will continue to invest in real estate within its investment strategy on real estate. The share of SOFAZ investments that can be made in real estate is 10 percent of the total investment portfolio. The practice of investing in real estate abroad has already allowed the Fund to acquire Gallery Actor, a mixed-use office and retail complex located on Pushkin Square in Moscow for $133 million, an office complex in London's West End for 177.35 million, a property in Paris for 135 million, Pine Avenue Tower worth $447 million in Seoul and Palazzo Turati office building in Italy, Milan. Earlier during her Baku visit, Mangin met with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. At the meeting shre stressed that two French banks are interested to participate in financing of TAP and major railway projects initiated by Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 11:35 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic have discussed ways of developing cooperation as a delegation of Azerbaijani parliamentarians visited Prague. The delegation, led by MP Eldar Ibrahimov, included Mahir Aslanov, Igbal Mammadov and Elchin Guliyev, Azertac reported. During the meetings with Vice Chairmen of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Radek Vondracek and Vojtech Filip, the Azerbaijani delegation discussed the Azerbaijani-Czech bilateral relations, prospects for developing interparliamentary cooperation, as well as economic cooperation between the two countries. The meetings with Czech Deputy Minister for Agricultural commodities, foreign relations and organic farming section Jiri Sir, Chairman of the Senate Committee for Economy, Agriculture, and Transport, agriculture expert Jan Hajda, and Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture of the Czech Parliament Ladislav Velebny featured discussions on the reforms carried out in both countries' agricultural sectors. The Azerbaijani delegation also met with Vice-Director of Czech State Agricultural Intervention Fund (SZIF) Milos Irovski to discuss the establishment of cooperation between the Fund and relevant Azerbaijani authorities. The diplomatic relations between the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan were established in 1993. The two countries actively cooperate in the fields of economy, tourism, culture and education. The Czech Republic ranks the 12th in the list of main importers of Azerbaijani goods. The share of the Czech Republic in the total export from Azerbaijan totaled 2.58 percent in January-November 2016. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic amounted to $316 million in January-November 2016, and $214.4 million of which accounted for the export of Azerbaijani goods to the Czech Republic, according to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 16:48 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Azerbaijans agricultural sector has entered a new stage of development thanks to the care and attention President Ilham Aliyev pays to the development of the non-oil sector, said Heydar Asadov, the Agriculture Minister. The minister made the remark while addressing the first Turkey-Africa Business Forum in Antalya, Turkey on February 28. Asadov was invited as an honorary guest by Turkeys Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Faruk Celik. Asadov went on to say that thanks to the successful reforms carried out in the agro sector Azerbaijan has managed to completely ensure domestic demand in some strategic goods through local production, decrease its dependence on the foreign countries in the food security and develop its regions through increasing the volume of production of export-oriented goods. The issuance of various state subsidies for farmers, who are engaged in agriculture, led to the significant improvements in this sector, according to Asadov. The minister further said that Azerbaijan has close diplomatic relations with a number of African countries, while with 26 countries of African Union it cooperates within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The minister stressed that it is important to establish international bilateral and multilateral cooperation at the highest level for the development of agriculture and ensuring food security. Asadov underlined that Azerbaijan in 2016 imported agricultural products worth $8.6 million from African countries, while exports to Africa amounted to $251,000. In general, Azerbaijan has established export-import relations on agricultural products with such African countries as South Africa, Algeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Madagascar, and others. Recalling a favorable investment climate, good potential in the agrarian sector of Azerbaijan, national legislation protecting investors rights as well as stability prevailing in the country, the minister called on entrepreneurs to invest in the agricultural sector. In the first quarter of 2017, the non-oil sector of Azerbaijans economy grew by 2.4 percent. The trade turnover increased by 15 percent, exports saw a nearly 50 percent growth and imports fell by 17 percent. The exports of agricultural products increased by 44 percent. Development of the non-oil sector is a priority area in Azerbaijan. The government efforts to stimulate non-oil exports, in particular through its Made in Azerbaijan promotion, are expected to catalyze growth in agriculture. The country currently ranks the 57th among 113 countries of the world according to the Global Food Security Index 2016, while the highest scores are recorded on such indicators as the presence of food safety net programs, low level of food loss, food safety, access to financing for farmers. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 16:05 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov A trilateral meeting of Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian Foreign Ministers, Elmar Mammadyarov, Sergey Lavrov and Edward Nalbandian was held in Moscow on April 28. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution was the key topic of the working meeting held on the initiative of the Russian side. In Moscow, the ministers continued discussions on prospects for the progress of the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and stressed the need to implement the agreements reached at the summits in Vienna and St. Petersburg in 2016, a diplomatic source told Trend. The Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers expressed gratitude to Russia for its efforts in promoting peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. FMs Mammadyarov, Lavrov and Nalbandian agreed to continue contacts on all the issues discussed. Following the tripartite talks, the foreign ministers met with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and exchanged views on the state of affairs regarding the settlement of the conflict. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys Spokesman Hikmat Hajiyev, commenting on the Moscow meeting, told Trend that the foreign ministers will report on the results of the tripartite negotiations to the heads of the three states involved in this process. "The foreign ministers discussed in detail the substantive talks held earlier at the level of presidents in Vienna and St. Petersburg," Hajiyev said. Meanwhile, Armenia once again carried out armed provocation aiming to escalate the situation in the frontline. Thus, the air defense units of Armenia launched a guided rocket from the Osa surface-to-air missile system in Khojavend-Fizuli direction of the front. Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan by laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 10:41 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Members of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Strasbourg have staged a rally outside the PACE building to protest the assembly's decision to reopen monitoring on Turkey. The protestors described the decision of the PACE as the triumph of Islamophobic tendencies within the organization and as a sign of a new wave of double standard policy towards Muslim countries. "The assembly's monitoring serves the interests of various circles which aim to exert pressure on independent states and harm their national interests. A number of issues, including so-called 'political prisoners' game, Christoph Strasser's monitoring on Azerbaijan, and the discussions held in PACE in this regard is a clear evidence that the assembly has become a tool for political pressure." "What has Azerbaijan, which joined the Council of Europe in 2001, achieved over 16 years of membership? What should we expect from the CoE which has not taken any effective step towards ensuring international law and preventing Armenia's aggressive policy," the protestors said. The protestors stated that the Azerbaijani society will never accept the European institutions' unfair position against itself and brotherly Turkey, as well as the Western Islamophobic circles' attempts to target Muslim countries. The PACE voted in favor of restarting its monitoring of Turkey's respect for fundamental freedoms, which concluded in 2004, with 113 of the assembly's lawmakers voting in favor, 45 against and 12 abstained. The report called on Ankara to lift its state of emergency and release those arrested in the wake of the failed coup in July 2016 under its anti-terrorism laws. Ankara immediately reacted to the decision, announcing that "such a decision leaves no choice to Turkey but to reconsider its relations with this institution." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 12:12 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan`s Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with a delegation led by Commander of the Turkish Gendarmerie Forces, Army General Yasar Guler in Baku on April 27. Hasanov stressed that the military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey, built on strategic partnership and fraternal relations, is constantly developing, and these ties are stable, Azertac reported. Touching upon the military and political situation in the region, Hasanov noted that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a serious threat to regional stability and requires an early decision within the norms and principles of international law. Expressing his satisfaction with the visit to Azerbaijan, Guler noted that the relations of the two countries have historical roots and are based on good friendly traditions, adding that Turkey is an important partner of Azerbaijan. The sides also discussed prospects for the development of relations between the military structures of Azerbaijan and Turkey, areas of cooperation in the military, military-technical sphere and in the field of military education, preparation of joint plans, conducting joint exercises and organization of reciprocal visits. During his Baku visit, Guler also met with Chief of the State Border Service Elchin Guliyev. They praised development of relations between the two countries in various fields. The parties discussed a range of issues including border security between the border services of both countries, as well as managing the migration processes. The sides also exchanged views on holding the exchange of information for strengthening the border security between the two countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 10:35 (UTC+04:00) A new print edition of the AZERNEWS online newspaper was released on April 28. The new edition includes articles about: More travelers choose Land of Fire, National economy jumps by 3.5 times over decade, Azerbaijan, Lithuania aim to boost trade, economic cooperation, Incredible lake in Land of Fire etc. AZERNEWS is an associate member of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). The online newspaper is available at www.azernews.az. 28 April 2017 11:49 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova The Azerbaijani and Croatian foreign ministries have conducted political consultations. The deputy foreign minister, Khalaf Khalafov, and the assistant minister for European Affairs, Gordan Bakota, led the Azerbaijani and Croatian delegations at the negotiations, Azertac reported. Khalafov stressed speedy development of political dialogue between the two countries, hailing the role of visits and meetings of the heads of state in this process. He noted that Azerbaijan is interested in expanding and deepening cooperation with Croatia in all spheres. Khalafov expressed his confidence that the inter-governmental economic commission will contribute to the development of economic and trade relations. Bakota, in turn, emphasized the importance of continuing joint efforts towards developing economic ties. He stressed the role of President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovics visit to Azerbaijan in raising the bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership. President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic visited Azerbaijan in October 2016. During her visit, the Croatian president had bilateral meetings with the countrys leadership and discussed the prospects of cooperation in political, economic and humanitarian spheres. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 13:02 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli A forum marking the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two strategic partners- Azerbaijan and Italy was held in Baku on April 27. Titled Dialogue Forum Italy Azerbaijan, the event brought together officials, ambassadors of foreign countries accredited in Baku, scientific figures and the businessmen. Vice-Rector of ADA University Fariz Ismayilzade addressing the event named Italy an important partner for Azerbaijan. Ismayilzade highlighted the importance of the Forum, describing the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Italy as a remarkable occasion. Italian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Giampaolo Cutillo, in his turn, recalled President Ilham Aliyev`s visit to Italy, saying that these visits further strengthened cooperation between the two countries in political, economic, cultural fields. Italy and Azerbaijan are strategic partners, he added. Head of Italy-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Working Group Azer Karimli, addressing the event, said Italy has a particular importance for Azerbaijan in the country`s relationship with Europe. Italy was among the first countries that recognized Azerbaijan`s independence. Azerbaijani-Italian relations cover various fields. Italy is one of main investors of Southern Gas Corridor project, he added. Former Chair of the Senate`s Foreign Affairs Committee Fiorello Provera highlighted similarities between the two countries. Inter-parliamentary Friendship Groups operating in the Parliaments of both countries serve to development of bilateral ties, Provera added. Cutillo in an exclusive interview with Trend said that relations between Italy and Azerbaijan are based on mutual understanding. Within 25 years we have done a great job, he said. The envoy noted that Azerbaijan is a very good partner of Europe. The ambassador said Italians are in a very particular geographical and historical situation, in the middle of the Mediterranean, and Azerbaijanis are in the middle of the Caucasus, adding this has been crucial for the countries past and reality. There is strong and consistent support from the Italian government for the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) project, Cutillo said. There were some legal problems with the SGC, but it has been cleared by the Italian court, the envoy reminded. As far as I know, work [on the SGC] remains on schedule and there is very complex work which needs to be done on the ground, Cutillo said. TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union. The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries. TAP will connect to the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italys south. TAP will be 878 kilometers in length (Greece 550 kilometers, Albania 215 kilometers, Adriatic Sea 105 kilometers, and Italy 8 kilometers). Its highest point will be 1,800 meters in Albanias mountains, with lowest point at 820 meters beneath the sea. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 14:12 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Russia has recently delivered a batch of ammunition and modern military equipment for various purposes to Azerbaijan in accordance with an agreement on military-technical cooperation signed between the two countries. Arzu Nagiyev, political expert, deputy director general of Trend Agency, believes that the fact that Moscow supplies Baku with the newest types of its weapons, strengthening Azerbaijani defense, is an important moment in the military-technical cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is in a state of martial law, so we are fulfilling a bilateral agreement on the purchase of Russian weapons. Of course, today Russian weapons play a very important role in the defense of Azerbaijan. As the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict continues, we really need these weapons, he noted in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza. The expert added that the fact that Russia is supplying Azerbaijan with its latest weapons can also be considered a positive development. I think these weapons will play a big role in the rearmament and defense of the Azerbaijani army, Nagiyev said. Military expert, Lieutenant-Colonel of the reserve Mirshamil Khadiev, in turn, told Trend that this new batch of modern military equipment is only a small portion of weapons the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry is acquiring. He noted that the weapons and equipment were purchased not to display them at a parade or ceremonial review. They were purchased specifically for use in battle, destruction of the enemy and liberation of our occupied territories. I am sure that the purchased military equipment and weapons will be used during the fulfillment of this sacred duty, the expert said. Khadiev added that this military equipment and weaponry will soon be examined by specialists and sent to Azerbaijani units located in the combat zone, which will further increase the combat capabilities of the personnel during active clashes. Phased modernization and use of weapons and equipment of new generation will contribute to the solution of the tasks set before our Armed Forces, he noted. The expert also said that Azerbaijani army continues to hold its place among the strongest armies of the world in terms of technical support and combat readiness and it is able to solve any military task. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 12:47 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The Hungarian government has made a 100,000-euro donation to the Partnership for Peace Trust Fund Project for the clearance of unexploded ordnance in Azerbaijans Jeyranchel. The donation was accredited on the account of NATO Support and Procurement Agency on April 20, 2017, the Hungarian embassy told Trend on April 28. During the meeting of the Partnership and Cooperative Security Committee in the NATO Headquarters, Turkey as the leading country in the 3rd phase of the Jeyranchel Project and Azerbaijan as the beneficiary country expressed their gratitude to the Hungarian government. The Hungarian Embassy in Baku is implementing the functions of a NATO Liaison Office starting from January 2017. A military ground of the former Soviet army exits on the territory of Jeyranchel, located near the state border between Azerbaijan and Georgia. There are a large number of mines and unexploded ordnance on the territory. Currently, the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) conducts the clearance operation on the territory. ANAMA was established in 1998 for planning and coordination, management and monitoring of mine action related activities all over the country. The problem of unexploded ordnance in the country can be divided into the areas of Azerbaijan that are still under the occupation of Armenian forces and other areas of the country. ANAMA cleared more than 400 million square meters of Azerbaijans territory, discovering and defusing over 750,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance since the beginning of its activity. Most of the unexploded ordnance is the result of Armenian aggression. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 14:52 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova A conference entitled Multiculturalism and Inter-Religious Tolerance: The Experience of Azerbaijan and its Significance for Europe opened in Finland. Organized by the Azerbaijani embassy in this country together with the Caucasian Muslim Boards and the Aleksanteri Institute of the University of Helsinki, the conference saw a delegation of high-ranking dignitaries from Azerbaijan discussing their experience of multiculturalism and inter-religious tolerance in the country. The delegation led by State Adviser on Inter-ethnic, Multicultural and Religious Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Kamal Abdullayev, included Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli, Chairman of the Caucasian Muslim Boards Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Archbishop of the Baku and Azerbaijan Eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church Alexander Ishein, Ordinary of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Roman Catholic Church in Azerbaijan Vladimir Fekete, Leader of the Mountain Jews Religious Community Milix Yevdayev, Member of Azerbaijani Parliament Javanshir Pashazade and the executive director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center Azad Mammadov, Azertac reported. The speakers noted that in the complicated geopolitical situation and escalating sectarian conflicts, Azerbaijan stands as a rather unique case as it witnesses a great consensus on the idea of a civic nation, which is shared by the political leadership, religious representatives, and civil society at large. The delegation representatives shared their experience of multiculturalism and inter-religious tolerance in the country. They highlighted the governments efforts in establishing a nurturing environment conducive to tolerance, mutual understanding, and dialogue between cultures, and they shared their personal experiences on solidarity and friendship among all religious confessions in Azerbaijan. The panelists also praised the role of President Ilham Aliyev, who implemented multiculturalism as a state policy as well as a way of life, thus ensuring that all ethnic and religious groups feel at home in Azerbaijan. During the visit to Finland, the Azerbaijani delegation also met Zabrina Holmstrom, Counsellor for Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Culture and Secretary-General of the Finnish National Commission for UNESCO Zabrina Holmstrom. Holmstrom expressed hope that this meeting will be fruitful for both countries. The Counsellor also shared her views about policy of Finland in the field of culture. Kamal Abdulla, in turn, highlighted what the Azerbaijani government has been doing to preserve and promote multiculturalism globally. He said that Azerbaijan`s model of multiculturalism is now studied by a number of countries. Mubariz Gurbanli, for his part, informed about the State Committee`s activity and said that Azerbaijan has developed an exemplary model of multiculturalism, adding the country pays special attention to preservation and further development of historical and cultural heritage. Allahshukur Pashazade highlighted living in peace and stability of representatives of various confessions in the country, adding various peoples of the region have historically enjoyed good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation based on the robust tolerance traditions, mutual respect and trust. Muslims, Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Jews and members of other religious communities co-exist in unique friendship, brotherhood conditions in Azerbaijan and enjoy state care and attention. This is a rare example of religious harmony. He hailed the declaration of 2016 as a year of multiculturalism and 2017 as a year of Islamic solidarity in Azerbaijan, saying that all these initiatives are increasing Azerbaijan`s international image. Holmstrom was presented various books highlighting Azerbaijan`s multicultural and tolerant culture. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 13:35 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova The Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) has awarded recipients of Nizami Ganjavi Gold Medal of the Republic of Azerbaijan at its general meeting on April 28. Corresponding member of ANAS, professor Nargiz Pashayeva was awarded Nizami Ganjavi Gold Medal of the Republic of Azerbaijan for her exceptional role in establishing Oxford Nizami Ganjavi Centre for the Study of Azerbaijan and the Caucasus, which is a remarkable project implemented in Azerbaijan`s science and education area in the years of independence, and ensuring the centre`s effective activity. Professor Nargiz Pashayeva, addressing the ceremony, thanked for the award, and highlighted the activity and accomplishments of Oxford Nizami Ganjavi Centre for the Study of Azerbaijan and the Caucasus. The centres co-chair on behalf of the UK, professor Robert Hoyland also received Nizami Ganjavi Gold Medal of the Republic of Azerbaijan for his contribution to the study of Azerbaijan`s culture and history on a global scale. Professor Robert Hoyland said he was happy to be awarded the medal, and thanked ANAS Presidium for recognizing his activity. The Oxford Nizami Ganjavi Centre become the first Azerbaijani research center to study the history and culture of Azerbaijan and the Caucasus region, established at the Oxford University in the UK. The center implements long-term research projects on the historical heritage and culture of Azerbaijan and conducts a variety of scientific, cultural and social events, lectures and discussions. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 15:56 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli The National Center for Ophthalmology named after academician Zarifa Aliyeva held a scientific conference on "Actual problems of ophthalmology" on April 28 dedicated to the 94th anniversary of the outstanding Azerbaijani ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva. Speaking at the conference, Head of the National Center Elmar Gasimov stressed that Zarifa Aliyeva's scientific activity is very rich and multifaceted. Gasimov said that todays development of national ophthalmology is closely connected with the name of Zarifa Aliyeva. He especially noted the great merits of the outstanding ophthalmologist in the eradication of trachoma in Azerbaijan, which was widespread in the country during the period of the scientist's activity. Gasimov added that about 200 scientific articles were published by Zarifa Aliyeva. "Zarifa Aliyeva's activity is an example for modern ophthalmologists, and her memory will remain forever in our hearts," Gasimov said. Deputy Director of the Center Hijran Namazova, speaking at the conference, informed about the scientific and pedagogical activity of Zarifa Aliyeva. Namazova noted that due to the activities and merits of the outstanding scientist, the world recognized achievements of the Azerbaijani ophthalmology, which is closely associated with her name today. Zarifa Aliyeva was also an excellent teacher. Her legacy still lives today, being an example for ophthalmologists, Namazova said. Zarifa Aliyeva, an honorary scientist of the Republic of Azerbaijan, doctor of medical sciences and academician of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, was born on April 28, 1923 in the village of Shahtakhty, Sharur region. Aliyeva graduated from the Treatment and Prophylaxis Faculty of the Azerbaijan State Medical Institute in 1947. Then she acquired the major in ophthalmology in Moscow after successfully completing a two-year advanced training course at the All-Union Central Doctors Improvement Institute. Zarifa Aliyeva graduated from post-graduate courses in the Institute in 1953. In 1977 she was granted the academic degree of a doctor of medical sciences. Zarifa Aliyeva dedicated her research to treatment of trachoma, more exactly, to studying more effective means in curing, and aggravation of trachoma, use of synthomycin, an antibiotic that was new at the time, which had an antichlamydial activity except wide antibacterial spectrums. She is the author of a number of valuable research papers, 12 monographs, textbooks and manuals, about 150 scientific works, one invention and 12 rationalization proposals. Mrs. Aliyeva is also one of the authors of unique scientific works like 'Therapeutic ophthalmology' and 'Fundamentals of iridodiagnostics'. In 1981, Aliyeva was awarded the highest prize in the field of ophthalmology - the Prize named after Academician M.I.Averbakh of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR for her great contribution to the development of ophthalmology -- the researches she had conducted in the field of professional pathology of vision. Professor Zarifa Aliyeva was the first woman to have received that prize. She was awarded orders and medals, and the title of Honorary Figure of Science of Azerbaijan. Aliyeva passed away on April 15, 1985 in Moscow. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 11:28 (UTC+04:00) By Trend The gas delivery from Iran to Georgia is theoretically possible, and there is necessary infrastructure for this, but such contracts were not concluded between state companies, Georgias Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Mariam Valishvili told Trend on April 24. "The Iranian side expresses its readiness to supply gas to the Georgian market. However, we prefer Azerbaijani gas, since it is the most optimal supplier [of gas] to our market," noted Valishvili. She further added that in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, such contracts can also be concluded by private companies if they decide that the Iranian supplies are acceptable from an economic point of view. "There are no restrictions on such supplies," she said. In July 2016, Managing Director of National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) Alireza Kameli said that Iran signed an agreement with the Georgian private company, Georgian International Energy Corporation to pump 40 million cubic meters of gas to Georgia. Valishvili went on to day that Georgias pipeline system is in possession of the state, and private companies must present similar contracts to the government in order to obtain services for the transportation of purchased gas through the country. There is information that one of commercial entities of Georgia has signed a contract for the supply of Iranian gas in 2016, but this contract hasnt yet been presented to the Georgian government, she added. The deputy energy minister said that it is theoretically possible to supply Iranian gas to Georgia through Azerbaijan there are pipelines from Iran to Azerbaijan and from Azerbaijan to Georgia. "It is also possible to swap supplies, that is, the contract is signed with Iran, but real gas will be supplied to Georgia from Russia, and Iran will, in return, supply gas to Armenia in line with mutual settlements with Russia," noted Valishvili adding that however, for the implementation of such supplies an agreement is necessary among all four countries. "Such negotiations arent conducted. When we receive the contract, we will consider it and make a decision," added the Georgian minister. Following the visit to Tbilisi, Head of General Department of CIS and Caucasus Countries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran Gholamreza Bagheri Moghaddam has recently said that Georgia plans to realize gas purchase deal with Iran in a month. Commenting on the issue, Valishvili said that even if the contract on purchase of Iranian gas will be presented to the Georgian government in the coming days, it is unlikely that it will be possible to resolve all issues within a month to ensure its transportation. Azerbaijan has been the main exporter of gas to Georgia for many years. Moreover, in previous years, Georgia received from Russia 10 percent of Russian gas supplies to Armenia as a payment for its transit. Since April 2017, Georgia has decided to abandon Russian gas and fully switch to purchasing Azerbaijani gas. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 April 2017 11:32 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Uzbekistan signed the Paris agreement regulating measures of reducing carbon dioxide emission to atmosphere. The Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported that the document was signed by Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the U.S. Bakhtiyor Gulyamov. The signing ceremony, held in the UN headquarters, was also attended by Santiago Villalpando, chief of the Treaty Section in the UN Office of Legal Affairs. During the ceremony, the UN official noted that climate change always remains the focus of the organization and international community, and realization of the Paris agreement is essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. The sides also expressed hope that the Paris agreement will be a roadmap for the UN members, helping reduce emissions and strengthen resilience to climate change. To address climate change, countries adopted the Paris Agreement at the COP21 in Paris on 12 December 2015. The Agreement entered into force less than a year later. In the agreement, all countries agreed to work to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and given the grave risks, to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius. Implementation of the Paris Agreement is essential for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and provides a roadmap for climate actions that will reduce emissions and build climate resilience. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 12:12 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva The leading banks of France refuse to cooperate with Iran due to concerns over the U.S. sanctions, Iranian envoy said. Irans Ambassador to Paris Ali Ahani has urged the French companies to ignore the sanctions threats and grab the chance for cooperation with Iran, Fars news agency reported. Addressing an economic conference in Paris discussing investment opportunities in Iran, the envoy criticized the French banks cautious behavior about doing business with Iran. French and other European companies have returned to Iran since the partial lifting of international sanctions in January 2016, when a landmark nuclear deal with world powers came into force. However, international banks have not re-established financial circuits with Iran, fearing reprisals from Washington which has maintained some economic sanctions against the country. In addition, U.S. President Donald Trump has long been known as a main critic of Irans policy and nuclear deal. Nevertheless, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, earlier announced that Iran-EU trade witnessed a considerable surge over the last year as the figure rose by 78 percent to post 13.7 billion euros in 2016. French Economy Minister Michel Sapin earlier promised that France will do everything to ensure the trust of international banks in the issue of cooperation with Iran as developing economic ties requires the normalization of banking relations as well. Iran, five permanent UN Security Council members, Germany and the European Union signed the JCPOA in July 2015 to ensure the peaceful nature of Irans nuclear program. Then, the Islamic republic pledged to refrain from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of sanctions imposed against Iran. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 13:40 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Russia and Japan will sign 28 agreements following the Moscow visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Hiroshige Seko said. The minister especially emphasized an agreement on changing the regime of bilateral taxation, agreement between Russian R-Pharm and Japanese Mitsui, agreement on the construction of an international airport in Khabarovsk and agreement to lift the ban on the export of processed chicken meat from Russia to Japan. "I will continue to strive for good results of the Japanese-Russian cooperation so that the implementation of our plans would have created a favorable cycle in the development of our relations both in the economy and in the political sphere," Seko said. The new convention should replace the current "Convention on the avoidance of double taxation", which was signed by the USSR and Japan in 1986. This new Convention reinforces or introduces provisions for the purposes of clarifying the scope of taxation in the two countries, eliminating international double taxation and preventing tax evasion and avoidance, according to Japanese Foreign Ministry. The Ministry noted that the convention will be signed after passing the necessary procedure, and will come into force after ratification by the parliaments of both countries. Russia and Japan have been holding consultations since the mid-20th century in order to clinch a peace treaty as a follow-up to World War II. The Kuril Islands issue remains the sticking point since after WWII the islands were handed over to the Soviet Union while Japan has laid claims to the four southern islands. In 1956, the two countries signed a common declaration on ending the state of war and restoring diplomatic and all other relations, but the islands issue was not solved. At the same time, the Soviet Union expressed readiness to hand the Shikotan and Habomai islands over to Japan as a gesture of goodwill but the plan was never implemented. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 April 2017 17:55 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva The government of Tajikistan approved on April 27 drafts of two documents aimed at developing cooperation with Uzbekistan. The documents were approved following the meeting of the government, which was chaired by President Emomali Rahmon, the press service of the Tajik president reported. The draft protocol between the Customs Service of Tajikistan and the State Customs Committee of Uzbekistan on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters presupposes information exchange, simplification of customs procedures and exchange of experience, as well as investigation and prevention of customs offenses. The draft of another protocol of interaction between the customs authorities of the two countries is aimed at the exchange of customs statistics between countries, correct definition of the real state of bilateral external trade turnover, prevention of smuggling of goods and vehicles, analysis of the state of real economic development, balance of payments, compliance with tax and customs legislation. The documents are expected to be signed in the near future. Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan were established on October 22, 1992. The legal base of bilateral Tajik-Uzbek relations includes 111 contracts and agreements signed at the interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental levels in the period from 1992 to the present. The approved documents between two countries cover all the key areas of cooperation between two countries and provide a solid legal basis for the further strengthening of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the political, economic, trade and other areas. Regarding the economy, the trade turnover between the two countries grew 5.7 times to $69.2 million in 2016, according to the Tajik statistics. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Bajaj is going to make its foray in the Malaysian market in May 2017. The company has signed a deal with Malaysia two-wheeler manufacturer, Modenas, with the intention of launching the Dominar, Pulsar and V range in the country. The deal between Modenas and Bajaj includes launching the latters motorcycles in the Malaysian market as well as exchange of technology between the two companies. Modenas already has a tie-up with Taiwanese scooter manufacturer, Kymco, and the venture with Bajaj will allow the company to launch motorcycles in Malaysia. The motorcycles will be exported from India through completely knocked down (CKD) route, and the final assembly will be done at Modenas production facility in Kedah. Bajaj is the biggest exporter of two-wheelers in India. The company recently started handling the distribution network for KTM motorcycles in Indonesia. The initial response has been positive and the company is expecting to export 10,000 motorcycles every month over the next few months. Malaysia is not the only country in Bajajs radar, and the company will also be looking at building its brand in other ASEAN countries through a similar approach. First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain. Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that. And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details. If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell OConnor will attend the official opening of the Dingle Creativity and Innovation Hub (The Dingle Hub) today. The Hub plans to support the creation of over 100 full time jobs in five years. The new facility provides state-of-the-art services for start-up companies to establish, expand and collaborate with other businesses, not just in Dingle but across Ireland and internationally. The Dingle Hub is a community enterprise initiative supported by a range of significant partners including eir, Dingle Business Chamber, Udaras na Gaeltachta, Kerry County Council and Net Feasa. Focusing on three key areas - Music/Film-making, Animation and Internet of Things (IoT), the Hub will place a significant emphasis on creativity and the role it can play in supporting and developing businesses. eir is providing an extensive and scalable communications infrastructure which includes a 1 Gigabit dedicated fibre connection, hosted voice services and Wi-Fi. eir believes that having access to high-speed internet connectivity in a remote rural setting will be a gamechanger for Dingle. They claim that the community can retain local skills, knowledge and talent, compete on a level playing field with national and international organisations and attract new enterprises providing job creation and stimulus to the local economy. Working closely with Udaras na Gaeltacta and Kerry County Council, the Hub will also provide a comprehensive support and mentoring mechanism for entrepreneurs, SMEs and start ups. The Hub will have two Test and Trial Networks one for Wifi and one for Internet of Things. These will enable businesses based in the Hub to test their products and services in real world situations and to bring customers to view the systems operating in such environments. While Dingle has a resident population of approximately 1,700 people, it has over 1 million visitors per annum, so there are opportunities for testing and trialling products and services at scale. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell OConnor says, "I would like to congratulate everyone involved in bringing this initiative to fruition. There is no disputing the significant economic and social benefits that such facilities bring to rural communities across Ireland. Dingle is a place of beauty and has a strong international reputation, not only for its entrepreneurial spirit but also its creative acumen." She added, "It is reassuring to see eir play such a pivotal role in rural regeneration. The 1GB connectivity will give users of the Hub access to a best in class network that will allow them to confidently conduct business on a local, national and global scale." Source: www.businessworld.ie Can Pope Francis do anything to help Egypt's Christians? As war-like tremors emanate from the Korean Peninsula and the United States, a man of peace is taking a quite different message to an equally troubled nation. And despite the apparently insurmountable difficulties facing Christians in the Middle East, there are hopes he might be able to make a difference during his visit to Egypt which begins today. Pope Francis has taken the name of a saint famous for his association with a particular prayer: 'Make me a channel of your peace.' Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God, says Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's gospel. This is the message Pope Francis will take to Egypt. It is still only weeks since 45 people were slaughtered by Islamic State in the Palm Sunday bombings in Cairo and Alexandria on Palm Sunday. The latter was at St Mark's Cathedral, where the Coptic Pope Tawadros II was celebrating Mass at the time and is thought to have been a target of the bomber. As throughout most of the Middle East, Christians are under real threat in Egypt, a cradle of the faith, where the Alexandria Patriarchate is believed to have been founded by Saint Mark in AD 33. It is at number 21 on the Open Doors World Watch List of countries where persecution of Christians is most severe. Islamist hardliners are targeting Christians for attack. There are severe restrictions on church building. Converts from Islam and increasingly, the large Coptic minority of around 10 million more than one tenth of the population are being overtly and covertly attacked and discriminated against. During 27 hours in Cairo, Pope Francis will meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, and Pope Tawadros. And he will speak at a conference on religious dialogue at Al-Azhar in an attempt to rebuild bridges. Relations were cut in 2011 by al-Azhar, a world-leading centre of Islamic learning for over a millennium, after controversial comments by Pope Benedict about Islam. In a video message to Egypt ahead of his visit, which begins with the Arabic greeting, As-salamu alaykum Peace be with you Pope Francis regrets the 'blind violence' which has been seen in Egypt recently a reference to the Palm Sunday bombings. He says he is coming as a friend, a messenger of peace, and a pilgrim to the country that, more than two thousand years ago, gave refuge and hospitality to the Holy Family as they fled the threats of King Herod. He wants his visit to be 'a witness of my affection, comfort and encouragement for all the Christians of the Middle East'. It is intended as 'a message of brotherhood and reconciliation with all the children of Abraham, particularly the Muslim world, in which Egypt holds so important a place.' He says: 'Our world needs peace, love and mercy. It needs peacemakers, people who are free and who set others free, men and women of courage who can learn from the past in order to build the future, free of every form of prejudice.' As the Pope says, Egypt is the land where patriarchs and prophets lived. It is the land where God made his voice heard. The tone of everything he is saying, and has said, is in contrast to the tone of comments around the situation on the Korean peninsula. In Egypt, the feel is of slow, painstaking attempts to move towards peace, not war. It is always possible, perhaps even likely, that the Pope's visit will do little or nothing to stem the anti-Christian tide that is taking the historic faith close to extinction in the countries of its birth. For Egyptians and Muslims, the Roman Catholic Pope doesn't have the same status as he does in the West. They're more impressed by the Ecumemical Patriarch, Bartholomew, and fear encroachment by another branch of the faith in historically Orthodox territory. They've been living with the problems of the region for decades. Yet another risky visit by the Pope, to the Central African Republic in 2015, did contribute to change. Asked to reflect on life a few months afterwards, the Archbishop Nzapalainga of Bangui said: 'Right now in my country, everyone will tell you the same thing. Be they Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, everyone! They will say the same thing: Pope Francis brought a new breath of fresh air to our country and individual lives. Before he came, we were divided into our little camps, chained to our hatreds; isolated and busy meting out the most barbaric punishment against those we considered our enemies. From the moment Pope Francis set foot on CAR, right up to today, I really can tell you that there is a different atmosphere in our land.' Even if in the end they might be reluctant to give him the credit for any success, people of all faiths in Egypt will certainly be praying he can do the same for them. Five inspiring TED talks you should watch this weekend It's only been online for a couple of days and Pope Francis' TED talk already has nearly a million views. The Holy Father's address ranged from the importance of good relationships to the dangers of power-grabbing politicians. If you haven't seen it yet, enjoy the talk here: But the Pope isn't the only one issuing inspiring messages via TED. Here are a few more, beloved of the Christian Today team. Megan Phelps-Roper What's it like to grow up within a group of people who exult in demonising everyone else? Megan Phelps-Roper shares details of life inside America's most controversial church and describes how conversations on Twitter were key to her decision to leave it. In this extraordinary talk, she shares her personal experience of extreme polarisation, along with some sharp ways we can learn to successfully engage across ideological lines. Alastair Campbell Alastair Campbell considers the effect of adversity upon achievement and reveals that it was his own experience of depression and breakdown that taught him most about the true meaning of success. Alastair Campbell is a writer, communicator and strategist best known for his role as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman, press secretary and director of communications and strategy. In recent years he has become increasingly involved with mental health charities and causes and in 2009 he received the Mind Champion of the Year award in recognition of his work to break down the stigma around mental illness. Sally Kohn It's time for liberals and conservatives to transcend their political differences and really listen to each other, says political pundit Sally Kohn. In this optimistic talk, Kohn shares what she learned as a progressive lesbian talking head on Fox News. It's not about political correctness, she says, but rather, emotional correctness. (Contains profanity.) Father Gregory Boyle Father Gregory Boyle, founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries, is an acknowledged expert on gangs, intervention and re-entry and today serves on the US Attorney General's Defending Childhood Task Force. Homeboy Industries, now located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, is recognised as a national and international model for youth seeking to move beyond gangs and achieve a life of hope. JR Street artist JR made a wish in 2011: Join me in a worldwide photo project to show the world its true face. One year after making his TED Prize wish, he shows how giant posters of human faces, pasted in public, are connecting communities, making change, and turning the world inside out. Franklin Graham hits out at anti conversion therapy bill, calls homosexuality an 'abomination' Franklin Graham has hit back at a legislative bill that pledges to ban 'conversion therapy', the controversial practice claiming to change someone's sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. US Democrats introduced the Theraputic Fraud Prevention Act of 2017 this week, legislation which if passed would render 'gay cure' therapies, advocated by some Christian conservatives, as illegal. Representative Ted Lieu, who introduced the bill, told the Washington Post: 'The bill is very simple. It says it is fraud if you treat someone for a condition that doesn't exist and there's no medical condition known as being gay. 'LGBTQ people were born perfect; there is nothing to treat them for. And by calling this what it should be, which is fraud, it would effectively shut down most of the organisations.' In a Facebook post responding to the news today, evangelist and Samaritan's Purse president Graham said: 'Now Democrats are proposing a bill to ban conversion therapy in the United States, saying that LGBTQ people were born perfect. Actually, they are very misled. We were all born imperfect, with sinful natures yet loved by God who offers us forgiveness and wholeness through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. 'Homosexuality is defined by God as sin, an abomination to Him. There's one "conversion therapy" that works for all sin, and that is asking Jesus Christ to come into our hearts. He can transform and heal our lives, making us new. The Bible tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Cor. 5:17).' Although homosexuality was technically defined as a mental disorder among US medical professionals until 1973, the practice of 'conversion therapy' is now widely decried by medical, psychological and equality groups as harmful and abusive. It was alleged that Vice President Mike Pence had been an advocate of conversion therapy, a claim his press secretary has denied. Although the practice is aligned with strand of socially conservative Christianity, many conservatives, like Southern Baptist Al Mohler, have still condemned it. Former 'ex-gay cure' advocates have also opposed it, describing the 'terrible' damage it can do to individuals. Franklin Graham on Christian persecution: 'If we don't wake up, it will be too late' Hundreds of Christians and victims of persecution from around the world will meet next month in Washington for a World Summit in defence of persecuted Christians, organised by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The aim is to join hands with people of other churches and denominations of the Christian faith, 'to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ and to hear firsthand reports of the suffering taking place around the world,' says BGEA. The association argues it has never been more dangerous in modern times to be a Christian. 'We as Christians need to wake up. If we don't do it now, it will be too late,' warns Franklin Graham. 'The violent persecution of Christians is on the rise. Christ followers in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere are being tortured, killed and forced from their homes simply for following Jesus,' In a graphic video chronicling the sufferings of more than 125,000 Christians forced from their homes, many systematically beheaded by Islamic State in Iraq, along with the relentless persecution of Christians in North Korea and elsewhere, Graham suggests responses to the rise of Christian persecution around the world. 'It motivates me to help my brothers and sisters around the world that are suffering incredible persecution,' says Graham. 'It's barbaric, it's evil and it's time for us to get up and do something.' From boyhood, when he travelled with his parents, he has made more than 60 visits to the Middle East. He has seen Christians attacked, slaughtered, day after day. 'Christians are under attack, not just in the Middle East but around the world,' he says. Iraq, where entire Christian villages have been wiped out, is a good example of what is happening to Christians. 'This is a part of the world where to be a Christian and take a stand for Christ can cost you your life.' On his Facebook page he writes: 'The world we live in is slipping farther and farther away from God. Jesus said, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold" and we're witnessing that all around us. 'Even people I talk to who aren't Christians recognise it, and say the changes they see in the world are not good and are very concerning.' Just in the last week, he writes, China put its bombers on high alert. North Korea says they will continue to develop long range missiles and test nuclear weapons. Russian war planes were spotted off the coast of Alaska four times in just four days. 'Radical Islam is gaining ground throughout much of the world. Many of our politicians seem more concerned about getting their own way and advancing their own agendas than doing what is right for the people. We're becoming dysfunctional. 'God's Word speaks of the nations of the earth being in "anguish and perplexity". There's only One who has the answers, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. As individuals and as nations, we need to look to Him for wisdom and help. He is the Answer, for now and for all eternity.' Islam 'does not equal terrorism' says Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at Egypt peace summit The role of religion in helping to bring peace to the world is vital, according to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Patriarch was speaking at the Al-Azhar International Peace Conference in Cairo the same conference that will be addressed by Pope Francis on his two-day visit to Egypt . 'During the last two decades, humanity has experienced continuous terrorist attacks, which are the cause of death and hurt of thousands of people, and which are becoming the greatest threat and source of fear for contemporary societies,' said Bartholomew. 'Since then, religions have been often suspected or openly accused for inspiring terrorism and violence.' He admitted religion can, of course, divide by causing intolerance and violence. 'But this is rather its failure, not its essence.' The conference is organised by Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders. The Pope is there to build bridges with Muslims and other Christian denominations. Pope Francis has already signed a new baptism agreement with the leader of the Coptic Church, Pope Tawadros II, meaning that for the first time, Catholics who convert to Coptic Orthodoxy will not need to be baptised again. Bartholomew delivered the first of several keynote addresses from the many senior religious leaders, Muslim and Christian, at the event. 'Our everyday life has become filled with horrible news about terrorist attacks in the name of religion,' he said. 'At the same time, we notice the willingness and capacity in our world to promote dialogue instead of conflict. This is true, not only for political leaders and secular organisations, but also for religious leaders and institutions that have shown their readiness to engage into a dialogue of peace on a local and on an international level, in order to insure a pacific coexistence and collaboration between people.' He asked why there had recently been an increase of violence, instead of in peace making. He referenced the terrorist acts of Paris, Brussels, Istanbul, Saint Petersburg and Stockholm. 'How could we explain the ongoing wars, armed conflicts and bloodshed in the Middle East? How can we accept the attacks in the Coptic churches of Tanta and Alexandria about two weeks ago?' Contrary to modern myth, society is not actually in a post-religious age but is actually entering a 'post-secular' age of 'religious explosion'. He said: 'Religion appears as a central dimension of human life, both at the personal and the social levels. It claims a public role, and it participates in all central contemporary discourses.' For centuries in the Mediterranean, there had been peaceful cohabitation of Jews, Christians and Muslims. 'This experience demonstrates that people from different religions can live together, finding the most fundamental message for humanity which unites, instead of being a source of division. It shows that religions can serve as bridges between people, as instruments of peace and of mutual comprehension, tolerance between human beings and of inter-religious dialogue.' He insisted: 'Islam does not equal terrorism, because terrorism is a stranger to any religion. This is why inter-religious dialogue can chase away fear and suspicion. It is central for peace, but only in a spirit of mutual confidence and respect.' It's tempting to bulldoze a few cathedrals, but it's a bad idea After a lot of speculation over its future, the news came through this week that Guildford Cathedral may not be closed. After a number of months in which it looked like the newest Anglican cathedral in England would have to be shut down over money worries, a possible reprieve is good news for the congregation But others are still convinced the cathedral should be closed. The costliness of maintaining it has made it a target. Guildford, with its modernist style, unloved by architectural buffs and some locals, was an easy target, especially when a huge project to remove asbestos was needed. Yet many more cathedrals are facing serious financial difficulties. Earlier this month, it was reported that up to half of the Church of England's 42 cathedral churches may be in serious money trouble, with some even facing closure. Those reports were described as 'erroneous' by one senior figure in the Church, but what is clear is that there are significant difficulties facing some of our most historic and important Church buildings. At this point there are three types of people who say, 'let them go'. One group are those who dislike the aesthetics of a certain cathedral Guildford being a particular example. The second group are those who think the money spent keeping cathedrals running is too much and it should be put into other missional efforts instead (how many cafe churches could be set up for the 1.17 million it costs to run Guildford per year?) A third group is made up of those who never had any time for monumental churches in the first place. Content to meet God in much humbler surroundings, they don't see the point in throwing money into supporting cathedrals on such a vast scale. I think all three groups have good points. I also think, ultimately, they're wrong. There are three reasons we should be fighting to keep cathedrals open and thriving. 1. Symbolism Even though the aesthetics of Guildford are debated, there's no doubting its prominence. On a hill and visible from miles around, it typifies the beacon-like prominence of many of our cathedrals. They often sit proudly at the heart of the city which contains them a very concrete (stone?) example of the Church being at the heart of the community. Some cathedrals are in small places (Southwell Minster, Ely, Wells) but the majority are in the heart of teaming urban centres. What would we be saying as a Church if we were to abandon these prominent locations? By surrendering these spaces, we'd essentially be indicating that the Church is in full-on retreat and that we Christians were heading for the hills. 2. Practicality In a related point, the location of cathedrals is vital to the service they provide. Over the last few months, I've spoken at events at Norwich, Sheffield and Lichfield Cathedrals and been impressed with the welcome provided. In each case, the cathedral is in the city centre with its doors open, ready to welcome tourists and local people alike. With such excellent locations for worship and service to the local community, we would have to think seriously about the wisdom of giving up these historic inheritances. 3. Faith The church has to be sensible about finances. There is no sense in pouring money down the drain. But this is a chance for us to show faith. When I step off the train in my home town of Bolton a large church is the first thing I see when exiting the station. It's been closed since the mid '80s and it's a sad site to see it turned into flats. Similarly when I walk my local high street in east London, the closed churches turned into apartments speak of decisions made in a time of decline. Though we must be careful with our money, what better way to show faith than to keep these buildings open and plan for the future? None of this is to say that these decisions are easy. The Church is ultimately about the people and not the building. If the building has to go, then it has to go. We need to be as wise as serpents when deciding what to do about the funding problems cathedrals are experiencing. But before writing off cathedrals around the country, we should have exhausted every option for creative use. Partnerships with businesses, entrepreneurs, creative industries and artists will be part of the answer. These vast monuments to the glory of God have been central to our cities for generations. Today in 1220 the cathedral in Salisbury was begun. That's a lot of history. Let's not throw it away. There are few experiences to match the sights and sounds of a cathedral in full flow. Walk into the magnificent Liverpool Cathedral, the grandeur of St Pauls or the more humble beauty of Carlisle and you may well have your breath taken away. Let's hope many future generations can say the same. Follow Andy Walton on Twitter @waltonandy Pope Francis in Egypt: 'Let us say "No" to violence in God's name' Pope Francis, starting a two-day visit to Egypt, urged Muslim leaders on Friday to unite in renouncing religious extremism at a time when Islamist militants are targeting ancient Christian communities across the Middle East. Francis's trip, aimed at improving Christian-Muslim ties, comes just three weeks after Islamic State suicide bombers killed at least 45 people in two Egyptian churches. 'Let us say once more a firm and clear "No!" to every form of violence, vengeance and hatred carried out in the name of religion or in the name of God,' the Pope told a peace conference at Egypt's highest Islamic authority, Al-Azhar. Francis is meeting an array of religious and political leaders in his brief stay, telling reporters travelling on his plane that he was carrying a message of peace and unity. Eschewing the armoured motorcades normally reserved for visiting heads of state, the 80-year-old pontiff instead clambered into a simple Fiat car on his arrival, and, with his window wound down, drove off into the heavily guarded capital. 'Pope of Peace in Egypt of Peace,' read posters plastered along the largely deserted road leading from the airport. He is the second Pope to visit Egypt, the most populous Arab nation, following John Paul II, who came in 2000, a year before the September 11 attacks on the United States that convulsed Western relations with the Muslim world. While Egypt has escaped the sort of violence that has engulfed Syria and Iraq, its Christian community has felt the full force of Islamist militants over the past six months, with bomb attacks in several churches 'It is our duty to unmask the peddlers of illusions about the afterlife, those who preach hatred in order to rob simple people of their present life,' the pontiff said in his second speech of the day, to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. 'Egypt is on the front lines of the confrontation against terrorism, which our nation is bearing with steadfastness and sacrifice ... determined to defeat it and end it and to hold on to our unity and not let it divide us,' Sisi said. Sisi's attempts to bring security to Egypt have been rattled by attacks on Christians, but a successful papal visit will help bolster his country's international image. The Egyptian president seized power in 2013, ousting the Muslim Brotherhood and its Islamist supporters from office in a bloody crackdown. The Pope appeared on Friday to criticise the notion of political Islam, saying: 'Religion risks being absorbed into the administration of temporal affairs and tempted by the allure of worldly powers that in fact exploit it.' 'Hatred and violence' The pontiff has repeatedly said that Christian-Muslim dialogue is the only way to confront Islamist fundamentalism, but his message carried special resonance inside Al-Azhar, where he was a guest of its Grand Imam, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, widely considered among the most moderate clerics in Egypt. In his own speech, Tayeb said militants had 'carelessly' and 'ignorantly' misinterpreted religious texts. 'Islam is not a religion of terrorism,' he said. Francis stressed the importance of good education. 'To counter effectively the barbarity of those who foment hatred and violence, we need to accompany young people,' he said. Tayeb visited the Vatican last year, restoring relations with the Roman Catholic Church after they had been cut in 2011 in protest at what Egyptian Muslim leaders said were insults directed at Islam by Francis's predecessor, Pope Benedict. The Pope has been applauded by moderate Muslims for his efforts to improve relations. He has washed the feet of Muslims during Holy Week ceremonies and last year brought Syrian Muslim refugees back to Italy with him from a Greek migrant centre. His visit to Cairo is also aimed at bolstering sometimes frosty relations with Coptic churches, and he met Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, who narrowly escaped a church bombing in Alexandria this month. He went to Cairo's largest Coptic cathedral to pray for the 28 people killed in a Christmas season blast last year and lay flowers in their memory. Copts represent about 10 percent of Egypt's 92 million population. Christians complain that they are ostracised by the state and do not enjoy the same rights as the Muslim majority. 'It's in the state's interests to protect its nationals and the Copts are not an independent people, they are part and parcel of the nation itself,' said Father Boulos Halim, spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Jean-Francois Xavier, of the French Catholic Church's office for Christian-Muslim relations, said Egypt's Christians felt sadness and fear but the Pope's visit 'gives us new hope because we have to believe that a human being is able to build peace for the world'. Pope Francis: Lust for power is 'like drinking gin on an empty stomach' It was only a matter of time for one of the most high profile figures in the world, a great communicator and a man whose embrace of new technology has helped him reach many outside of the traditional boundaries of his ancient institution. Yes, Pope Francis has done a TED Talk. The TED phenomenon, which has been growing ever wider for the last decade or so, sees experts in a certain field present their ideas in short-format videos which can then be easily shared across social media. As part of a TED event called 'The Future You' the Pontiff addressed the audience on a variety of themes. Among them was plenty of the simple and profound wisdom we've become used to from the former Cardinal Bergoglio. Talking about the need for 'equality and social inclusion' as science and technology advances, the Pope appealed for solidarity among individuals, peoples and countries. He stressed the profound Christian insight that relationships are vital, that humans deeply affect each other's lives and that no person is an island. Drawing on his interactions with migrants and the sick and elderly, the Pope spoke plainly and said, 'we all need each other.' Amen to that! Channelling the Good Samaritan, he talked about Christian hope and light overcoming darkness. Yet, the most prescient part of his talk was about power. Having identified and highlighted so many of the problems in the world, the Pope warned politicians about the dangers of power. 'The more powerful you are, the more your actions will have an impact on people, the more responsible you are to act humbly,' he said. It was almost as if he'd been watching the beginning stages of the UK general election. 'If you don't, your power will ruin you and you will ruin the other,' he continued. The Pope wasn't finished, though. He went on to draw on his heritage, 'There is a saying in Argentina: "Power is like drinking gin on an empty stomach". You feel dizzy, you get drunk, you lose your balance and you will end up hurting yourself and those around you.' The Pope's rebuke to power-hungry politicians is nothing that hasn't been said before in Catholic Social Teaching but it does point a way forward to us in the midst of a deeply divisive election campaign in the UK and the continued acrimony of the last presidential campaign in the US. 'Through humility and concrete love, on the other hand, power...becomes a service, a force for good,' said the Pope before receiving a standing ovation for his address. Here, the Pope is recognising one of the central insights of political life. If you want something to change, then you're going to need to have power. Christians can be nervous about this. Power is often seen as a dirty word, or even something evil, too worldly. Yet this is a misunderstanding of power. Power comes in two kinds power with people and power over people. Christians will rightly oppose the politician who wants to achieve power over others. But we mustn't be scared of taking power alongside others, for the common good. The Pope's example is a good one. The Good Samaritan was only able to look after the injured man because he had the means to do something about it. In that situation he used his power to assist someone else. Power itself is not the problem. Where the power lies is the problem. As the theologian Luke Bretherton has written, 'States concentrate power in hands of bureaucrats, while markets concentrate power in the hand of plutocrats, while both concentrate resources in the hands of technocrats, thereby de-skilling us and stripping us of the agency through which we can solve our own problems.' The answer is not simple. But it lies not in eschewing power, but in acquiring it, sharing it and using it well. Former Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple said: 'It has to be recognised that society is made up of competing centres of power, and that the separate existence of contending vitalities, and not only human sinfulness, make the elimination of power impossible. What has to be aimed at is such a distribution and balance of power that a measure of justice may be achieved.' So what now, as we face deep political division and the prospect of people grasping for power? 'The future is, most of all, in the hands of those people who recognise the other as "you" and themselves as part of an "us", says the Pope. That's a good place to start on the journey to getting power in its right place. President Trump's first 100 days: What has he achieved so far? Donald Trump is approaching the 100-day marker which has been used to judge presidents' effectiveness for generations. Ever since Franklin Roosevelt unleashed a whirlwind of legislation in his first 100 days in office in 1933, incumbents have been assessed on or around the 100-day point. Donald J Trump took office on January 20. What has he done so far? The Supreme Court Filling the empty Supreme Court seat was one of the reasons evangelical voters gave for sticking with Trump despite all his indiscretions. That 81 per cent of white evangelicals voted for him is thought in part to be down to his promise to appoint a conservative justice. Now, three quarters think he's doing a good job, which may well be down to the appointment of Neil Gorsuch. After a filibuster, the conservative justice was appointed, confirmed 54-45 by the Senate. The reason conservative Christians were so keen for an appointment they approved of was because of the influence the court is likely to have on abortion law in the coming years. In addition, religious liberty is seen as being under threat another reason the Supreme Court was seen as vital to Trump's endoresement by senior evangelical figures such as theologian Wayne Grudem and author Eric Metaxas. Abortion The so-called Mexico City policy was reinstated by Trump on his first day in office. This policy, also known as the global gag rule, means that US foreign aid won't be given to organisations which offer abortions. It has been the subject of attempts at repeal and reinstatement before. Foreign affairs Trump's approach to foreign policy was an almost complete unknown as he entered office. With the carnage in Syria showing no sign of abating, the first few weeks of his presidency were dogged by allegations of inappropriate links between the administration and Russia. When National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was forced to step back, it was a major blow to Trump as Flynn had been one of his most trusted advisors. As the allegations of links with Russia continued, Trump surprised many with a retaliatory airstrike on a Syrian air base, in retaliation for the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons, including on children. This actually dismayed many of Trump's isolationist supporters but drew support from beyond his usual base. His ongoing confrontation with North Korea has been a source of febrile speculation. The erratic North Korean regime promises it will continue nuclear tests. Trump dispatched his Vice President Mike Pence to engage in diplomacy, but there has been no resolution to the crisis yet. Immigration Immigration is the ultimate hot-button issue for Trump supporters and detractors. His first attempt at a travel ban for people from various Muslim majority countries caused chaos at airports with reports that staff were unprepared. Once courts had struck down part of the ban, it was removed and an altered version later imposed. That too was resisted by judges and the administration is now appealing. The true implications aren't yet clear will a temporary ban be made permanent? What affect will it have on terrorism, and on relations with countries whose citizens have been prevented from entering the US? President Trump has promised to prioritise Christian refugees from Syria. His plans to build a wall along the US-Mexico border have also hit problems and Trump's difficulties here may be insurmountable. Obamacare President Trump repeatedly promised while on the campaign trail that he would repeal Obamacare, the comprehensive insurance scheme which was seen as one of President Obama's domestic achievements. Trump offered little detail about what it would be replaced with. When the issue arose during his first 100 days, it became clear Trump and Congressional Republicans had work to do. Obamacare has not yet been repealed. Church and State Trump promised on the campaign trail that he would repeal the Johnson amendment which prevents pastors from making political pronouncements from the pulpit. Trump made a promise to 'totally destroy' the Johnson amendment while he was speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast. However, no such change has yet been announced. Meanwhile Republicans in Congress are pushing President Trump to sign an executive order on religious freedom. Fifty-one members of the House wrote to the President to ask him to reverse protections for LGBT people which were enacted by President Obama. Trump is yet to act on the issue and is thought to be considering trying to find a midpoint between the competing demands of conservative Christians and LGBT activists. Death Penalty The death penalty isn't an issue which was discussed much during the campaign. Unlike abortion, it doesn't galvanize large groups of voters in one direction or another. Even so, the issue has been rising up the news agenda in recent days with a controversial series of executions taking place in the South. Arkansas has already executed several men including its first double execution in a generation. Georgia is also in the spotlight. Although the death penalty is, in the first instance, an issue for the states to decide, a number of Christian campaigners, both evangelical and Catholic, are determined to put it on the national agenda. So far Trump hasn't made any major intervention. Russian who caught Pokemon in church faces long jail term A Russian state prosecutor asked a court to jail a blogger who played Pokemon Go inside a church for three-and-a-half years on Friday, saying he was guilty of inciting religious hatred. Ruslan Sokolovsky, 22, a popular blogger, last August posted a video online of himself playing Pokemon on his mobile phone inside a church in Yekaterinburg built on the spot where the last Russian tsar and his family were killed in 1918. In the video, which contains strong language mocking Christianity, Sokolovsky likens Jesus Christ to a Pokemon character and says he had decided to play the popular game inside the church because he had seen a news report saying people who did so could be fined or jailed. Soon after the video appeared, state prosecutors accused Sokolovsky of inciting religious hatred, the same charge used to successfully prosecute the Pussy Riot punk band in 2012 when they staged a cathedral protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'I believe that there is no reason to exempt the defendant from liability,' the prosecutor told the court on Friday, the TASS news agency reported. 'There is also no reason to sentence him to a fine ... I request that the court sentence him to 3.5 years in a penal colony.' A suspended sentence would create a dangerous impression of impunity, the prosecutor added. Sokolovsky, who was previously confined to a pre-trial detention center, is currently under house arrest. 'I'm in shock,' Sokolovsky told the court after listening to the prosecutor, video footage of the proceedings showed. 'I have been in jail, I was there for three months, and it is the doorway to hell.' He said: 'I do not consider myself an extremist, maybe I'm an idiot, but not in any way an extremist.' Sokolovsky's case has drawn international attention and condemnation from human rights campaigners. Amnesty International has described his detention as 'a farcical attack' on freedom of expression. Its spokesmanJohn Dalhuisen said: 'The absurdity of the case of the Russian blogger jailed for playing Pokemon Go in a church highlights what happens when authorities hold the freedom of expression in such low regard. Even if Sokolovsky's behaviour may have been regarded as disrespectful by some, states should not be jailing people simply for offending religious sensibilities.' Russian Orthodox church leaders believe his actions were offensive but asked for him to be released from prison. The local Russian Orthodox Archbishop, Metropolitan Kyrill of Yekaterinburg, said: 'We do not crave blood' but wanted to ensure 'such actions do not spread'. The Orthodox faith has enjoyed a renaissance under the regime of President Vladimir Putin and is increasingly prominent in public life. Controversy erupted recently over the return to Church ownership of St Isaac's Cathedral in St Petersburg, formerly a museum. Minority faiths including Protestants and Jehovah's Witnesses face severe restrictions, with the latter having been banned. Russia has been listed as a country of particular concern by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. The court is expected to issue a verdict on May 11. Additional reporting by Reuters. Trump says 'major, major' conflict with North Korea possible, but seeks diplomatic solution US President Donald Trump said on Thursday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programmes, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute. 'There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely,' Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple US presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasising by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. 'We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult,' he said. In other highlights of the 42-minute interview, Trump was cool about speaking again with Taiwan's president after an earlier telephone call with her angered China. He also said he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the US THAAD anti-missile defence system, which he estimated at $1 billion, and intends to renegotiate or terminate a US free trade pact with South Korea because of a deep trade deficit with Seoul. Asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the pact, Trump said: 'Very soon. I'm announcing it now.' Trump also said he was considering adding stops to Israel and Saudi Arabia to a Europe trip next month, emphasising that he wanted to see an Israeli-Palestinian peace. He complained that Saudi Arabia was not paying its fair share for US defence. Asked about the fight against Islamic State, Trump said the militant group had to be defeated. 'I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation,' he said, when asked about what the endgame was for defeating Islamist violent extremism. Trump said North Korea was his biggest global challenge. He lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in Pyongyang. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month. 'I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesn't want to see turmoil and death. He doesn't want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. 'With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he can't,' Trump said. Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed US lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programmes. The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea 'an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority'. It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbour and ally, and remained open to negotiations. US officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct US military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among US forces in both countries. 'I hope he's rational' Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. 'He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. 'I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational,' he said. Trump rebuffed an overture from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who told Reuters a direct phone call with Trump could take place again after their first conversation in early December angered Beijing. China considers neighboring Taiwan to be a renegade province. 'My problem is that I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi,' said Trump. 'I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation. So I wouldn't want to be causing difficulty right now for him. 'So I would certainly want to speak to him first.' Trump also said he hoped to avoid a potential government shutdown amid a dispute between congressional Republicans and Democrats over a spending deal with a Saturday deadline looming. But he said if a shutdown takes place, it will be the Democrats' fault for trying to add money to the legislation to 'bail out Puerto Rico' and other items. He also defended the one-page tax plan he unveiled on Wednesday from criticism that it would increase the US deficit, saying better trade deals and economic growth would offset the costs. 'We will do trade deals that are going to make up for a tremendous amount of the deficit. We are going to be doing trade deals that are going to be much better trade deals,' Trump said. TV anchor astonished by Egyptian Christian's forgiveness for husband's killers The forgiveness shown by a Coptic Christian woman to her husband's killers has rendered an Egyptian TV host speechless. Samira Fahmi's husband Naseem was one of the victims of the Palm Sunday bombings which targeted St Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria. Appearing on Egypt's ONTV she said during an interview: 'I ask the Lord to forgive them and let them try to think...May God forgive you and we also forgive you. Believe me, I forgive you.' The response left the news anchor Amr Adeeb temporarily stunned. When he regained his composure, he said, 'Egyptian Christians are made of steel... Egyptian Christians for hundreds of years are bearing many atrocities and disasters. The Egyptian Christian deeply loves his country ... how great is this amount of forgiveness you have?' The attack on St Mark's Cathedral killed 17 people and responsibility was claimed by ISIS. It is the latest in a long line of vicious attacks on the ancient Coptic Christian community, which makes up around 10 per cent of the population of Egypt. Pope Tawadros, the spiritual leader of the Copts, was in the cathedral at the time, marking Palm Sunday. It is thought Naseem Fahmi may have been one of his security officers. Copts are one of the most ancient Christian communities in the world, tracing their history back to St Mark, believed to have founded the cathedral at Alexandria 20 years after the resurrection of Jesus. You can watch the video here: What is the Coptic Orthodox Church? 6 things you should know Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church has made frequent appearance in the news of late. The Christian community has suffered several major terrorist attacks in Egypt since December, and Pope Francis is currently visiting the country in a show of unity and solidarity. This ancient community stems from the earliest origins of the Christian Church and has played a decisive role in its life. Here are six things you should know about the Coptic Orthodox Church. 1. It starts with Mark If the Catholic Church's founding saint is St Peter, then the Coptic Church's is St Mark. The community, according to tradition, originated with the disciple and evangelist who visited Alexandria, Egypt in AD 42. Within half a century of the apostle's visit, Christianity had spread throughout the region. The Coptic Pope, the head of the denomination, is also known as the Patriarch of Alexandria of the Holy See of Saint Mark. The seat of the Coptic Pope is St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, which also contains alleged relics of St Mark. 2. Back to Egypt The Coptic Church makes its home in Egypt, though the denomination has spread far across the world with around 18 million adherents globally. Egypt has great resonance in Christian theology the Israelites made their Exodus from Egypt, while in the New Testament, the Holy Family fled the threat of King Herod and resided in Eqypt, fulfilling the prophecy that said, 'Out of Egypt I called my son' (Hosea 11:1). A prophecy in Isaiah 19:19 describes Egypt as a land blessed by God, saying 'In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the Lord at its border.' The Egyptian Coptic Church may be seen as a fulfilment of this prophecy. 3. Ancient schools The denomination also formed the Catechetical School of Alexandria, the oldest theological school in the world, also founded by St Mark. Its teachers were some of the defining thinkers of early Christianity, such as Athenagoras, Clement, Didymus and Origen. In 1893 the Orthodox Copts reestablished the school as the Coptic Theological Seminary, a contemporary training hub for Coptic prelates, whose graduates include the previous Coptic Pope, Shenouda III. 4. Desert fathers Another legacy of the Coptic Church is the monastic movement of Egypt's Desert Fathers. These 3rd-century Christian sojourners sought the ascetic life in Egypt's deserts. They advocated the selling of possessions, giving to the poor, withdrawal from society and the seeking of contemplative solitude in the wilderness. The most famous of the fathers is Anthony the Great. This hermit community was a significant influence on Eastern Christian spirituality and the Western Church, inspiring movements like the Benedictines. 5. Credal crisis The Coptic Church played a defining role in shaping the Church's foundational creeds. The heretic Arius, who denied that Jesus and the Father were both equally pre-existent, and Athanasius, who opposed him, were both from Alexandria. That controversy was settled at the Council of Nicea in AD 325. Pope Timothy I of Alexandria presided over the Council of Constantinople, which affirmed the divinity of the Holy Spirit, and Pope Cyril I of Alexandria led the Council of Ephesus, confirming that Mary, Jesus' Mother was Theotokos ('the Mother of God'). The heretic Nestorius had taught that Jesus could be divided into two persons, the man Jesus and God the Word, who was not joined with Christ, but only dwelt in him. The Oriental Orthodox Church (which includes the Coptic Church among others) divided from the rest of the Church however at the AD 541 Council of Chalcedon, in a complex debate about how to define Christ's human and divine nature. 6. Intense persecution Another legacy of the Coptic community is the intense persecution it has faced over its long history. While it once dominated Egypt, following the Muslim invasion of Egypt in AD 639, Coptic Christians eventually became a minority (around 10 per cent of the population) in a majority-Muslim country. The Coptic community has been subject to intense attacks in recent years, particularly from Islamist fundamentalist groups. In 2015 21 young Coptic Christians were beheaded by ISIS in Libya, with footage of the killings released online. In December, the jihadists claimed responsibility for a Cairo Coptic church bombing that killed 27. This year ISIS vocally incited violence against the community, forcing hundreds to flee their homes in northern Egypt in February. Palm Sunday bombings on two Egyptian churches, including the seat of the Coptic Pope, killed at least 45 and injured over 100. Despite this, the community has remained bold and resilient, choosing forgiveness instead of hatred, and hope instead of fear. As one Coptic bishop recently remarked: 'When you are not afraid, you are able to love, to forgive and to show strength. 'Carrying the suffering doesn't mean carrying hatred. And expressing pain and suffering doesn't mean that I'm afraid.' A fire which broke out on Wednesday in Cancer Research UKs Manchester Institute has been declared a major incident. The fire broke out in the Cancer Research UK institute in Manchesters Christie Hospital at 10.36am on Wednesday 26 April. Over 100 firefighters and 16 fire engines attended the scene, where part of the fire still remains alight. In an update at 8.15am this morning, the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said that three fire engines and one aerial platform remained at the site, 45 hours after the fire service first arrived. Firefighters will remain on site for the rest of the day. The fire was declared a major incident by the fire service. Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at CRUK, said: The fire crew has been fantastic. Shortly after the fire was extinguished, we were allowed access to salvage some very important sample collections that have taken 25 years to collect. We know some equipment has been damaged in the fire but until were allowed back in to the building we dont know the extent of it or the final cost. Were continuing to assist the emergency services with their work to establish the cause of the blaze. Our priority now is to get our life-saving research back up and running as soon as possible. A fundraising page set up in partnership with the Manchester Evening News has now raised almost 20,000 for CRUK. Civil Society Media is hosting its annual Charity Property Conference on 4 July 2017 which includes a session on dealing with disaster. For more information, and to book, click here Two hundred and twenty-two stories. One hundred and one headlines. Thirty-five pictures. Thats what Donald Trump has meant to The New York Timess front page in the first 100 days of his presidency. Much has been made of Trumps ability to drive the news cycle, but how does coverage of the 45th president compare to that given to the two men who held the office before him? A study of Times front pages from the first hundred days of the Bush, Obama, and Trump presidencies shows that the number of stories about Trump far exceeds those devoted to his immediate predecessors. Number of times front-page stories were published about Bush, Obama, and Trump during their first 100 days in office Times Deputy Managing Editor Matt Purdy says the combination of Trumps unique personality, contentious policies, and public interest in his administration have contributed to the increased number of stories deemed worthy of A1. Were living through one of the most extraordinary news environments since 9/11, Purdy says. The firehose of news has not shut off for a moment. That deluge of news is reflected in a recent piece on the Timess website that gives context through headlines to the news Trump, Obama, and Bush woke up to on each of their first 100 days in office. RELATED: 11 images that show how the Trump administration is failing at photography A note on CJRs methodology: While some stories clearly focused on the respective chief executives, the criteria that led to us to define a story as about one of the presidents were somewhat subjective. For example, we counted a piece about the Bush administrations tone in negotiations with China over a spy plane incident in April 2001 as a story about the 43rd president. Likewise, stories about Obamas war plans or Trumps travel ban that mentioned each president several times were included in the tally, while pieces that mentioned the president but largely focused on other topics werent. Sign up for CJR 's daily email The 100 days trope dates to the near-depth of the Great Depression, when a newly inaugurated Franklin D. Roosevelt used his first 100 days to dramatically reshape the American economy. The 13 presidents since have tried, with varying degrees of futility, to live up to Roosevelts standard. The Obama White House referred to the 100-day milestone as a Hallmark Holiday, and Trump himself called it an artificial barrier. While both those arguments have merit, news organizations and the current administration love nothing more than an opportunity to draw eyeballs to their work. To that end, you can watch CNNs mini-documentary 100 Days that Changed America, peruse NBC Newss 14-story package on Trumps First 100 Days, take a deep dive into The Washington Posts look at the period In his words and ours, or even join the man himself for a BIG rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Its not just within Times articles that Trump has outpaced Bush and Obama. His name has appeared in headlines significantly more often than either of the previous presidents, and he has been pictured on A1 nearly twice as often. Number of times the past three presidents names were used in front-page headlines during their first 100 days in office Number of times the past three presidents were pictured on the front-page during their first 100 days in office RELATED: Donald Trump killed the news cycle Trump is also an outlier in the way the Times has presented stories about his most contentious actions. The travel ban, the firing of acting attorney general Sally Yates, and the failed attempt to repeal Obamacare have all resulted in full-page headlinesone way the paper signals an especially notable event. All three presidents rated six-column headlines for their inauguration, but Bush didnt see another one during his first 100 days. Obama, meanwhile, got the full-spread treatment for his budget proposal and a five-column header for his first address to congress. With Trump, the Times has been far more liberal with the bold type, giving him five full-page headlines as well as three additional five-column spreads. Purdy pushes back against the idea that the increase in blaring headers represents alarmism. These [headlines] are simply driven by significant news events, he tells CJR. The paper of record has also given prime real estate to figures surrounding President Trump. The appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court and the controversy surrounding former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn accounted for some of the bump in the number of stories about Trumps advisors, but Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and Special Advisor Kellyanne Conway also got the A1 treatment. Aides and advisors to previous presidents received far less attention. Number of times the past three presidents aides and cabinet members were written about on the front page during the administrations first 100 days in office Overall, stories about Trump, his aides, advisors, and cabinet picks dominated the most valuable real estate in print media far more than previous 21st-century presidents. Essentially half of the Timess A1 stories have been devoted to coverage of Trump and the circle of people surrounding him. With the official end of his first 100 days coming on Saturday, this weekends front pages will undoubtedly bring more of the same. Percentage of total front-page stories Disclosure: Kate Kelly, one of the New York Times reporters whose work is included in these graphics, is married to CJR Editor in Chief and Publisher Kyle Pope. TRENDING: Stop killing your social stories with bad headlines and images Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Pete Vernon is a former CJR staff writer. Follow him on Twitter @ByPeteVernon. A military court in Cameroon on April 21 sentenced journalist Ahmed Abba to 10 years in prison and ordered him to pay court costs totaling nearly a hundred thousand dollars, an impossible sum in the impoverished Central African nation. Abba, the correspondent for Radio France Internationales Hausa service, has already spent nearly two years in detention in reprisal for his reporting on security and human-rights issues in the countrys north, where Boko Haram maintains an active presence. He was convicted on the nonsensical charge of non-denunciation of terrorism. As terrible as this was, it could have been worse. Abba was facing the death penalty. Still, with the conviction, the government of President Paul Biya sent a clear message, a message reinforced by the jailing of at least seven other Cameroonian reporters; the shuttering of dozens of newspapers and broadcasters; the shutdown of the Internet for three months following protests in the English-speaking area of the country; and restrictrictions on access to the international media. Cameroon does not want witnesses. International observers also have been blocked. The Committee to Protect Journalists received assurances earlier this year from the Information Ministry that it would be given access to the country to investigative press-freedom conditions. But visas have not been granted. These government actions have created a deeply chilling environment for the media in Cameroon that has stifled reporting on the countrys ongoing political crisis. Tensions have been steadily building between those regions formerly governed by the French, and the anglophone territories in the nations northwest and southwest that were once part of a British colony. Alleging a history of discrimination and repression, many leaders in English-speaking regions of Cameroon are calling on Biyas administration to grant increased autonomy. Some want total separation. Demands and demonstrations led by anglophone communities have been met with violence and intimidation, arrests, and attacks on the press. At a time when the worlds attention is focused on global hot spots like Syria and North Korea, the situation in Cameroon can appear as an afterthought. But with neighbors like the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo, a political crisis in Cameroon could further destabilize an already volatile region ravaged by decades of war. The Cameroonian media is the worlds eyes and ears; without their reporting, the world is blind to the risks. A new study published in February that examined killings of journalists around the world over the last few decades found that the murder of even a single journalist in a country without a history of media violence is a precursor to increased political instability and repression. The circumstances in Cameroon are differentjournalists are being jailed, not killed (although an investigative reporter, Denis Nkwebo, was nearly blown up in a 2014 car bombing). However, the same logic applies. No media attention translates into little global awareness and a free hand for the countrys increasingly authoritarian leader. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Cameroon should be an important global story, but thats not happening because local reporters are stifled. Aside from Abbaa critical voice covering the countrys restive north for a global audienceother international reporters in Cameroon have also been harassed and detained, including the BBC correspondent Randy Joe Saah. The government has also railed against social media, which is critical for creating global awareness. Last November, the government-run daily newspaper The Cameroon Tribune described social media as fast becoming a threat to peace and a secret instrument of manipulation. Aside from the concerted efforts of the Biya government, a number of critical factors are conspiring to keep Cameroon off the international agenda. The first is simply the lack of media resources on the continent. Outside of the wires, the US media has only a few full-time correspondents in all of West and Central Africa. The second is the dysfunction in the US State Department, which aside from the inevitable challenges of a political transition has seen a huge turnover in experienced diplomatic personnel; a failure to acknowledge a link between human rights and national security; and focus on security and fighting terrorism at the expense of nearly all other interests. Given this information vacuum, international media organizations have an obligation to ensure robust coverage of the Cameroonian crisis. This will not be easy, given the governments efforts to shut down critical media in the country. But with Cameroonian journalists facing jail and repression, international journalists need to find a way to tell the countrys story. If media repression is the harbinger of broader human rights violations and political instability, then Cameroon is on the brink. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Joel Simon is a fellow at Tow Center for Digital Journalism. His next book is The Infodemic: How Censorship Made the World Sicker and Less Free co-authored with Robert Mahoney. AAA Western and Central New York has named David Hodge as VP of insurance. In that role, Hodge will be responsible for the strategic direction of the organizations insurance sales representatives, with an emphasis on growing AAAs insurance presence throughout the greater Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse areas, according to AAAs new release. Hodge has an extensive background in insurance, including claims, marketing, and performance management. He comes to AAA from PURE Insurance and has also held multiple positions at GEICO. Im a true fan of the renaissance of Western and Central New York, Hodge said. Im really looking forward to growing our insurance team and contributing even more to the community. Hodge will be responsible for developing and expanding AAA Insurance services across the region. We can grow the insurance line and hire the best and the brightest, he said. Hodge holds a bachelors degree in international business and marketing from Hofstra University. His community involvement includes a seat on the board of the Buffalo Museum of Science, and the news release says he is passionate about STEM educational programs for todays youth. STEM is short for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Hodge has two children and resides in Williamsville, AAA said. Contact the Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram New York, April 27, 2017Russian authorities should thoroughly investigate two attacks against journalists yesterday and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. An unknown assailant threw a green antisepticzelyonka, which contains a dye that can take more than a month to removeat investigative journalist Galina Sidorova, who was in the city of Yoshkar-Ola, roughly 770 kilometers (480 miles) east of Moscow, to train local reporters on behalf of the Russian School of Investigative Journalism. A few hours later, the window of the building where she and her colleagues were planning to hold the training was smashed, and a dead rat was left on the floor, media reported. Sidorova reported the incident to local police, the reports said. In a separate incident yesterday, unknown assailants also threw zelyonka, eggs, and flour at Ilya Varlamov, a well-known blogger and contributor to the independent radio station Ekho Moskvy, as he arrived at the airport of the North Caucasian city of Stavropol. When he stepped out of a car in central Stavropol, a group of men again threw zelyonka at him, Varlamov wrote. Varlamov writes about cities and infrastructure, and often criticizes local authorities for alleged negligence and corruption. Varlamov wrote on his blog that he had also filed a report with local police. The green tinge of dye may last for weeks, but the intimidating effect on Russias independent journalists could last far longer, CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said. Russian authorities should swiftly and efficiently investigate the attacks against Galina Sidorova and Ilya Varlamov and bring those responsible to justice. According to the Russian service of the U.S.-government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which has broadcast Sidorovas freelance contributions in the past, the School of Investigative Journalisms workshops have been obstructed before. Most recently, in November 2016, police ordered participants in a workshop in Syktyvkar, roughly 1300 kilometers (800 miles) northeast of Moscow, to vacate the building because of a bomb threat. No bomb was discovered. Following the incident involving Sidorova, Grigory Pasko, a veteran investigative journalist and the head of the School of Investigative Journalism, a nonprofit, wrote on his Facebook page that the organization was under the threat of closure again because of the regular attacks on its workshops. In September 2016, Pasko himself was severely beaten and threatened in Barnaul, the capital of Russias southern Siberian republic of Altai, where he planned to organize another journalism training, CPJ reported at the time. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram New York, April 28, 2017The Azerbaijani government should immediately stop trying to permanently block access to five independent media outlets websites and should instead lift a decree that has rendered them currently inaccessible, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. A district court in the capital Baku yesterday began hearing a government lawsuit that seeks to compel internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to the sites, adjourning until May 1, according to media reports. The lawsuit, filed by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Transport, Communications, and High Technology, asks the court to order ISPs to make permanent the censorship of the websites of the independent newspaper Azadliq, the Berlin-based, online news agency Meydan TV, the Azerbaijani service of the U.S.-government-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and online video channels Azerbaycan Saati and Turan TV, according to media reports. Elchin Sadygov, a lawyer for Meydan TV, told CPJ that Azerbaijani ISPs have blocked access to the five websites since March 27 by decree of Minister of Transport, Communications, and High Technology Ramin Quluzade. The ministrys lawsuit seeks to make that censorship permanent on the grounds that the websites threaten the national security of Azerbaijan, Sadygov said. If five news websites can threaten Azerbaijans national security, as the government claims, Azerbaijanis and the rest of the world should be deeply concerned by the countrys fragility, CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said. The Azerbaijani government should immediately stop censoring these important sources of news and analysis, and should instead lift all restrictions on news in Azerbaijan. Sadygov told CPJ that a court ruling in favor of the government would set a very dangerous precedent. If the court rules in favor of the governments demandand that is very likelyit will allow the government to prosecute all independent journalists, saying they pose a threat to national security. RFE/RL President Thomas Kent called the ministrys lawsuit an attempt at blatant censorship. According to the broadcaster, moves to block RFE/RLs Azerbaijani website come after it published investigative reports about financial activities linked to members of President Ilham Aliyevs family and inner circle. The broadcasters Baku bureau was forced to close in May 2015 following a December 2014 police raid. One of Azerbaijans leading investigative journalists, Khadija Ismayilova, who was also the stations Baku bureau chief, was jailed from December 2014 through May 2016 for her critical reporting. Norwegian Cruise Line has taken delivery of the Norwegian Joy from Meyer Werft during an onboard ceremony in Bremerhaven. At 167,725 gross tons and accommodating 3,883 guests, the Joy is the second ship in the lines Breakaway-Plus class and will be deployed out of China, designed for Chinese guests. The Joy signifies our companys official entry into the Chinese market, said Andy Stuart, CEO and president, in a prepared statement. With this ship we have taken Norwegians signature onboard experience and expanded and customized it with features, services and amenities that combine the best of the East and the West, commented David Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings China. Following her delivery, the Joy will begin her journey to China, where she will be showcased through an inaugural port tour featuring one-day events in Singapore, Qingdao, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong, as well as VIP partner cruises from the Joys home-ports of Shanghai and Tianjin. The ship will be christened on June 27, led by her Godfather, the King of Chinese Pop, Wang Leehom. The Norwegian Joy offers a variety of activities including a first-at-sea two-level go kart track, an open-air laser tag course, simulator rides, Oculus virtual reality technology and interactive video walls at the Galaxy Pavilion, and two multi-story waterslides. In addition, the ship features a tranquil open space park as well as the lines largest upscale shopping district, complete with everything from exceptional duty-free shops to world-renowned global luxury brands. P&O Cruises Australias Pacific Dawn is now back in service after a multi-million pounds refurbishment which was completed last month. With a team of over 100 trades people, marine interior specialist Trimline spent 12 days aboard in drydock in Singapore transforming many of the ships public areas, including The Dome, The Orient Bar, Pool Cafe, Charlies Bar, Reception, Spa, Ocean Bar, Techno Store, Decks 5, 6 and 7 Atriums and Deck 7 Promenade Bar. According to Trimline, the ship now celebrates modern Australia and not only features the new look and feel which has been popular on P&Os latest ships, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden, she also provides a taste of whats to come on P&Os next ship Pacific Explorer, which Trimline will start transforming in May. Michael Oliver, Trimlines co chairman remarked: Communication was key to the success of this project. We ensured the client was aware of progress at every stage and the Trimline team called on their previous experiences throughout the project to ensure we met the schedule. We now look forward to working with P&O Australia again in May when we transform Pacific Explorer also in Singapore. As the representative for Indigenous students on the Dalhousie Student Union council, Aaron Prosper goes above and beyond to ensure the Indigenous student community has a voice on campus. In my community, you are taught that you are Mi'kmaq first, says Aaron, a member of the Eskasoni First Nation and a third-year Medical Sciences student. When you leave the community, you have a responsibility to your people to ensure that they are represented and have a voice. At this years Student IMPACT Awards, Aaron was recognized as Dalhousies Student Councillor of the Year. The award celebrates a student who has demonstrated a commitment to collaborative problem solving, active representation of their constituency and initiative in the pursuit of innovation. Awareness and education Aaron, who is also co-president of the Dalhousie Indigenous Student Collective, dedicates much of his time to providing cultural and educational workshops to members of the Dalhousie and greater community. He was recently selected as the top presenter at the 2017 Dal Lead Conference (for the second year in a row), where he spoke about Truth and Reconciliation. It is important to have open dialogue about the calls to action that came out of the Truth and Reconciliation commission, says Aaron. If they are not addressed properly, the Indigenous community could experience more hurt and trauma. It is important to provide proper education so that the 96 calls to action do not simply become a box to be checked by institutions. Aaron says that the Truth and Reconciliation process has brought to light the trauma the residential schooling system caused Indigenous people. People are listening so its important that the whole story about the system is told, the time to be vocal is now. Prior to coming to Dalhousie, Aaron performed many ceremonial duties in his community, including traditional Mi'kmaq blessings and ceremonies. At Dalhousie, he has been part of the committees responsible for the permanent installation of the Mi'kmaq Grand Council flag on campus and the establishment of a dedicated space in the universitys Indigenous Student Centre at which Mi'kmaq students can smudge at any point throughout the day. He has also played a prominent role in the universitys most recent Induction ceremonies, which welcome new students to Dalhousie. Aaron led the procession of students into the ceremonies and performed the Mi'kmaq Treaty Song as acknowledgement of the events being held on traditional Mi'kmaq territory. He also performed at the Dalhousie IMPACT Awards in Halifax. Finding the beat A member of the Eastern Eagle Drumming group, Aaron says the drum plays an important role in his life and in his teachings as it instills a sense of hope for him and his people that others are listening. Drumming brings me a sense of peace as it represents the heartbeat of my nation, says Aaron, who just returned from a Childrens Pow Wow in Quebec where he performed with his group. Aaron has two years of his undergraduate degree to complete before he graduates. Following graduation, he plans to pursue a medical degree, working to ensure that Indigenous peoples are better represented within the Canadian health-care system. Owner, developer and asset manager of branded three and four-star hotels in the Middle East and Australia Action Hotels announced on Friday that H.E. Sheikh Mubarak Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, founder and chairman of the company, had been awarded the prestigious Industry Pioneer Award at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2017. The AIM-traded firm said the award recognised the achievements of individuals who had made a significant contribution to the Middle East hospitality industry. It said the award was nominated and voted for by the AHIC Advisory Board, a panel of more than 40 hotel owners, investors, operators and consultants with extensive knowledge and experience of the Middle East hotel industry. Sheikh Mubarak founded Action Hotels in 2005, the board explained, after identifying a gap in the underserved three and four star branded hotel market across the Middle East. The company now had 12 operational hotels with 2,181 rooms in aggregate across the Middle East and Australia, and a further six hotels in the pipeline. It said the expansion of Action's hotel portfolio across the Gulf Cooperation Council had been driven by increasing demand for quality, affordable hotel accommodation in the region, particularly from intra-regional travellers, and the material undersupply in the economy and midscale hotel sectors. This year's acclaimed winners are pioneers in the regional mid-market travel and tourism industry, said AHIC co-founder Jonathan Worsley. They are responsible for enabling and encouraging more visitors to come to the Middle East and stay in the wonderful destinations this region offers. The underserved mid-market segment is finally getting the attention it deserves and as an industry we are inspired by and grateful to our winners for paving the way. Commenting on the award, Sheikh Mubarak said it was a privilege for him to accept the Industry Pioneer Award. The award is testament to the team at Action Hotels. We have delivered organic growth and established the company as a leading owner, developer and asset manager spearheading the development of economy and mid-market hotels in the Middle East and Australia. Sheikh Mubarak said the company was passionate about what it does and that was the reason why it continued to commit time, energy, resources and investment to further growth. This Industry Pioneer Award is recognition of our successful strategy and acknowledges our team at Action Hotels, who have worked tirelessly to grow the business and deliver returns for all our stakeholders. Beowulf Mining has provided further comments to Sweden's Mining Inspectorate regarding the possible effects of a mining operation at Kallak on Laponia. It had responded to concerns from Sweden's National Heritage Board (Riksantikvarieambetet, or RAA) and the country's Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvardsverket, or NV). Chief executive Kurt Budge said Beowulf had further demonstrated that it had done what was required to be awarded an Exploitation Concession for Kallak North. Beowulf is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the Kallak magnetite iron ore project and the Atvidaberg polymetallic exploration licence in Sweden, and its graphite portfolio in Finland. At 12:19 BST, shares in AIM-quoted Beowulf Mining were down 1.39% to 8.88p each. Shares in Berkeley Energia are down more than 3% as it said developmentof the Salamanca uranium mine in Spain was progressing well with strong European Union backing. It said all infrastructure work was on track for completion as planned. The land acquisition process was almost complete, following the acquisition of a further 100 ha this quarter. Berkeley Energia added that major equipment had now been ordered and was being fabricated by industry experts, Sandvik in Finland and Vibramech in South Africa. "The Company has entered into a preliminary agreement with Asturiana de Zinc SAU, a Glencore company, to supply locally sourced reagent from 2018 to 2021 at a cost substantially below the one estimated in the DFS," it said in a statement. EURATOM was supportive of the Salamanca project as it provides security of uranium supply to the European Community, the company said. At 13:57 BST, shares in AIM-traded Berkeley Energia were down 3.45% to 42p each. Concha issued a statement to the market on Thursday, after a number of media reports emerged on Wednesday about Ve Interactive. The AIM-traded companys primary investment looked to be rescued from administration through a management buyout. Ve Interactive, an advertising and marketing technology company was forced into administration earlier in the week after a creditor demand. On Wednesday, it confirmed it had been bought out by a consortium of existing investors, including chief executive Morten Tonnesen, to ensure the long-term security of the business. Concha said on Thursday that it was in active dialogue with Ve Interactive. [We] will provide a comprehensive update once it fully understands the implications of the events and circumstances which have occurred over the course of the last few days, its board confirmed in its statement. Falcon Oil & Gas has returned a full-year pre-tax loss of $3.7m, from a much smaller loss of $90,000 a year previously. The comparative period was boosted by other income of $3.6m, against nil in the just-ended 12 months. Processing of Falcon's exploration license application in South Africa's Karoo Basin continued to progress and the South African Department of Mineral Resources was expected to issue licences in 2017. Chief executive Philip O'Quigley said 2016 was a landmark year for Falcon, with the first extended production test in the Beetaloo basin and the announcement of a material gas resource. "Our 2017 drilling program is delayed pending the outcome of the independent scientific inquiry on hydraulic fracturing, however we are hopeful of a favourable outcome and the resumption of drilling in the not too distant future." The company was in a strong financial position, being debt free with cash of $10.1m at 31 December 2016. At 14:47 BST, shares in AIM-traded Falcon were up 4.97% to 23.75p each. US President Donald Trump has warned that the country is prepared for a "major conflict" with North Korea as tensions between the two states rise another notch over the latters nuclear and missile programs. Trump said that he would prefer a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Kim Jong-un's regime, and has received assurances from its ally China that it is pressuring Pyongyang to cease its nuclear activity. The President told Reuters on Wednesday that it was a difficult situation to resolve. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump said. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but its very difficult," the President added. Trump said that he would prefer a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Kim Jong-un's regime Chinese president Xi Jinping received noteworthy praise from the US leader, who described him as a very good man. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson has said that China is willing to place sanctions on its ally if it continues to experiment with the use of nuclear weapons. During Trumps first 100 days in the Oval Office, Pyongyang has stepped up its missile tests, while the US and South Korea have responded by increasing their military presence close to the de-militarised zone between the two neighbours. He added that he empathises with the situation of Kim, who took over as leader of the isolated state at just 22 years of age. "He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age." A takeover bid for Imperial Tobbaco from its Japanese rival, Japan Tobacco was unlikely, analysts at Citi said. The chief reason is that Japanese laws require the government to maintain a one-third stake in JT. To circumvent antgi-trust legislation JT might buy 60% of Imperial, but that would push its leverage, in terms of net debt to EBITDA to near 5%, far exceeding the levels compatible with an 'investment grade' rating on its long-term debt. To circumvent that, JT could issue equity but that would force Tokyo to subscribe the capital increase. That, analysts Adam Spielman, Nobuyoshi Miura, Jemima Benstead and Ravi Sharma said seemed "extremely unlikely". As well, an acquisition of Imperial does not sit well with JT's global strategy; it would dilute the Asian firm's growth even if it would give it a beachhead in some new markets. Furthermore, "JT would also end up with awkwardly split assets in Europe because of the anti-trust issues." Neither would it help JT in its running battle with iQos directly and in the short-term it might in fact worsen the prices wars in the UK and Russia, the analysts said. Citi reiterated a 'Neutral' recommendation on Imperial Tobacco's shares with a target price of 3,700p. European stocks were seeing some buying interest after data showing inflows into euro area stocks were at their strongest since December 2015 and following the release of several stronger than expected reports on the Eurozone economy, including on money supply dynamics and consumer prices. As of 11:46 GMT the benchmark Stoxx 600 is still off, slipping 0.18% lower to 387.10, while the German Dax is edging higher by 0.06% to 12,450.06 and the Cac-40 is up 0.15% at 5,279.36. According to strategists at Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, capital flows into euro area shares this week were at their highest since December 2015. "2017 total returns for both [global] stocks & bonds impressive in face of Trump disappointment, EU politics, peak PMI narrativebest explanation = $1tn YTD central bank liquidity supernovabull market unlikely to end until bullish macro makes CB's tighten not yet there," the strategists said. Equity inflows hit $3.4bn, double the previous week's result, Jefferies said referencing data from EPFR, with flows to France and Germany running at 21-year highs. In parallel, euro/dollar is ahead by 0.52% to 1.0929 and the yield on the 10-year German bund by five basis points at 0.34%. Consumer prices in the euro area accelerated from a 1.5% year-on-year clip in March to 1.9% for April, alongside an increase in 'core' prices from 0.7% to 1.2% (consensus: 1.0%), Eurostat said. Just the day before, European Central Bank president Mario Draghi said the outlook for only "gradual" price pressures at the core level in the medium-term justifies maintaining a 'dovish' policy stance. Nevertheless, economists say the implications of today's data are fleeting given, among other things, the likely distortions around Easter. Also worth noting, the flow of credit to the euro area's private sector accelerated from an annualised pace of 2.6% in February to 3.2% for March, ECB data revealed. Over that same time span, the three-month moving average for the Eurozone's M3 money supply rose from 4.7% to 4.9%. Acting as a backdrop, US president Donald Trump warned that a "major, major" conflict with North Korea was possible although he preferred a diplomatic solution. Still on the economic calendar for Friday are US first quarter gross domestic product figures at 13:30 GMT, followed by the release of the Chicago PMI at 14:45 GMT and the University of Michigan's consumer confidence gauge at 15:00 GMT. Later in the evening, at 19:00 GNT Baker Hughes will release its weekly tally of US oil rigs. Shares in UBS are flat despite posting an 80% jump in first quarter earnings thanks to robust profits at its wealth management and investment banking arms. German's Thyssen Krupp is looking to sell submarines to Indonesia via a joint-venture with a Turkish partner, according to Handelsblatt. Italy's Atlantia will sell 10% of its motorway unit to a group of investors including Allianz for 1.48bn. French drugmaker Sanofi posted better-than-expected first quarter profits. French construction group Vinci's revenues jumped 5.1% over the first three months of the year. Northern Ireland could be allowed fast-track access to EU membership in the event of its reunification with the rest of the island, as European leaders prepare to thrash out their negotiating stance for upcoming Brexit talks with the UK government. The Irish government had pushed for the introduction of a clause stipulating that NI could rejoin the EU post-Brexit if it voted for a united Ireland, much the same as East Germany was incorporated following the fall of the Berlin Wall. A draft of the summit minutes was seen by the Guardian, stating the European Councils belief that "in accordance with international law, the entire territory of such a united Ireland would thus be part of the European Union [in the event of Irish unification]." The stance would likely face opposition from the Conservative government, which has been unwilling to consider any potential break-up of the Union. PEOPLE, MONEY AND IRELAND European Council president Donald Tusk sent a letter to fellow members of the body ahead of the weekend summit, highlighting Ireland as one of the key priorities for the upcoming talks. "In order to protect the peace and reconciliation process described by the Good Friday Agreement, we should aim to avoid a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland," Tusk wrote. Tusk placed an emphasis on securing clarity on issues relating to citizens' rights and the terms of the UK's exit deal. The 1998 peace agreement provides for a referendum on a united Ireland if there is sufficient evidence to suggest that there is a majority in favour of it. Theresa May and her cabinet will also have the issue of Scottish independence in their thoughts ahead of the negotiations, with first minister Nicola Sturgeon having called for a referendum following Britains departure from the bloc. BEIJING - There is further evidence this week to suggest that Chinese authorities are cracking down on polluting enterprises in the textile sector. China's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) has announced that Chinese enterprises were fined 264 million yuan (US$38.3 million) for polluting the environment in the first quarter of this year; many of these enterprises were operating in China's textile sector. In one case highlighted by the MEP, a textile and dyeing plant in Zhejiang Province was found to have forged water quality monitoring data after discharging untreated wastewater. Eight people responsible for the case have been placed under 'coercive measures', which may include summons by force, bail, residential surveillance, detention and arrest. Celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary in 2017, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) announced that it will honor more than 15 leading researchers, clinicians, educators, and emerging health professionals who have made outstanding contributions to high-quality, person-centered care for older adults. Awards will be presented at the AGS 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting, May 18-20, 2017 (pre-conference program on May 17), at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. Choosing Wisely Champion Award Eric Anthony Lee, MD Clinician of the Year Award Fatima Sheikh, MD, CMD, MPH Clinical Student Research Award Laura Hatchman Jessica Rizzuto David H. Solomon Memorial Public Service Award Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, AGSF Dennis W. Jahnigen Memorial Award Maura Brennan, MD, AGSF, FACP, FAAHPM, HMDC Edward Henderson Award Richard M. Allman, MD Edward Henderson Student Award Thom Ringer, JD, MPhil Jeffrey H. Silverstein Memorial Award for Emerging Investigators in the Surgical and Related Medical Specialties Anne M. Suskind, MD, MS New Investigator Award Andrew Cohen, MD, DPhil Lorena Gonzalez, MD Benjamin Han, MD, MPH Supakanya Wongrakpanich, MD Outstanding Junior Clinician Educator of the Year Award Kristen Thornton, MD, FAAFP, CWSP, AGSF Outstanding Junior Investigator of the Year Award Dae Kim, MD, MPH, ScD Outstanding Junior Research Manuscript Award Halima Amjad, MD, MPH Outstanding Mid-Career Clinician Educator of the Year Award Lisa Walke, MD, AGSF Scientist-in-Training Research Award Andrea E. Daddato, MS Thomas and Catherine Yoshikawa Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement in Clinical Investigation Sei Lee, MD, MAS ### About the American Geriatrics Society Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals that has--for 75 years--worked to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of older people. Its nearly 6,000 members include geriatricians, geriatric nurses, social workers, family practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and internists. The Society provides leadership to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy. For more information, visit AmericanGeriatrics.org. About the David H. Solomon Memorial Public Service Award The AGS created the David H. Solomon Memorial Public Service Award in 2002 to honor David H. Solomon, MD, AGSF, for his commitment to community service and the advancement of knowledge in caring for older adults. Dr. Solomon was the founding Director of the Center on Aging at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He will forever be remembered for his excellence in research, teaching, patient care, and administration. About the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting The AGS Annual Scientific Meeting is the premier educational event in geriatrics, providing the latest information on clinical care, research on aging, and innovative models of care delivery. More than 2,500 nurses, pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants, social workers, long-term care and managed care providers, healthcare administrators, and others will convene May 18-20, 2017 (pre-conference program on May 17), at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, to advance geriatrics knowledge and skills through state-of-the-art educational sessions and research presentations. For more information, visit AmericanGeriatrics.org. Washington, DC - April 28, 2017 - Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes bubonic plague, can survive within the ubiquitous soil protozoan, the amoeba, by producing proteins that protect against the latter microbe's digestion. The research is published April 28th in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The research is important because plague is a re-emerging disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with 95 percent of cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Modern antibiotics are effective, but without prompt treatment, plague can cause serious illness, or death. Y. pestis spreads from rodent to rodent, and sometimes to human, often via fleas It uses the protective niche of the amoeba to abide when conditions are unfavorable to its spread, that is, when rodents are scarce, said Viveka Vadyvaloo, PhD, Assistant Professor, Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman. Amoebae are similar to certain human immune cells, the macrophages, in their ability to engulf bacteria, or other nourishing items of similar size.These are taken up within special compartments called vacuoles, which in both amoebae and humans are capable of digestion. (image: scanning electron micrograph of a mass of Yersinia pestis.) "With this in mind, graduate student Javier Benavides-Montano separately cultured three distinct Y. pestis strains that have been associated with human epidemics, with a common laboratory strain of the free-living soil amoeba, Acanthamoeba castellanii, in a medium that supports the latter's growth," said Vadyvaloo. Benavides-Montano then tested Y. pestis' ability to enter and survive within the amoeba. To do so, he killed any bacteria that were outside of the amoebae, and then gently lysed the latter, and then placed the lysed content on a medium that encourages Y. pestis to grow. They were able to culture Y. pestis only after the amoebae had been lysed. The investigators also used electron microscopy to peer inside intact amoebae, and found Y. pestis within the vacuoles. "To understand more about how Y. pestis might be surviving within amoebae we considered how Y. pestis survive in human macrophages," said Vadyvaloo. "Macrophages usually engulf bacterial pathogens and destroy them, but some bacterial pathogens are able to avoid being killed therein by producing proteins that block the digestion." Indeed, that is the key strategy for a number of human pathogens. Some such proteins are known. So the investigators used mutant Y. pestis that doesn't produce one of these proteins. Those mutants failed to survive within the amoebae. Vadyvaloo said that amoebae's longstanding reputation as Trojan horses for human pathogens led her to investigate the possibility that plague bacteria could abide within their vacuoles. The best known example of this phenomenon had been Legionnaires' Disease, a respiratory disease that was discovered in 1976 after an outbreak among attendees at a convention of the American Legion in Philadelphia. "This study serves as a proof of principle that amoebae can support prolonged survival of Y. pestis in the environment," said Vadyvaloo. It may encourage a search for this interaction within areas of Colorado and New Mexico where plague is endemic. And that, she said, could enable prediction of potential disease re-emergence, thereby reducing spread to humans. ### The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, composed of over 48,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM's mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences. ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications and educational opportunities. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources. It provides a network for scientists in academia, industry and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to diverse audiences. Tempe, AZ, April 27 -- Arizona State University has earned 14 National Science Foundation early career faculty awards, ranking second among all university recipients of the prestigious awards for 2017 and setting a new ASU record. The awards total $7 million in funding for the ASU researchers over five years. ASU's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering earned 10 awards, placing it alongside the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Georgia Institute of Technology as the top three engineering schools to receive the awards. This year's award total ranks ASU above top engineering schools including Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, California Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley. The NSF's Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program identifies the nation's most promising junior faculty members and provides them with funding to pursue outstanding research, excellence in teaching and the integration of education and research. To date , Illinois has garnered 17 overall CAREER awards for 2017, the University of Michigan 12, and Georgia Tech, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Pennsylvania State University each hold 11 awards. The award process will continue through June. Ten awards for the Fulton Schools is a record for the nation's largest engineering school, says Dean Kyle Squires. "I'm proud that ASU attracts faculty and students whose powerful ideas can result in transformational breakthroughs," he says. "These awards exemplify our faculty's commitment to impactful research with the CAREER awards enabling novel integration of their research into education and outreach activities, and in ways that impact an enormous array of applications in engineering and computer science. Junior faculty success in the NSF and similar programs with other federal funding agencies indicates the strength and potential growth of our faculty." ASU projects funded by this year's awards include automated detection of computer network vulnerabilities, understanding heart attacks, keeping power grids functioning during disasters and predicting earthquakes and volcanoes. This year's ASU NSF CAREER award recipients include: Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering: Mehdi Nikkhah, assistant professor, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering: Myocardial infarction (heart attack) is a leading cause of death, but the underlying biological mechanisms that lead to damage to the heart during a heart attack are not well understood. This study seeks to uncover those mechanisms to improve our fundamental understanding of heart disease and its causes. Adam Doupe, assistant professor, School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering: Sensitive data breaches are often caused by overlooked vulnerabilities in web applications, and current solutions to identifying them--hiring white-hat human hackers, for example--are not cost-effective. This project advances the state-of-the-art in automated black-box vulnerability analysis tools. By using open-sourced tools and techniques, this approach can find unknown vulnerabilities in any web application cost-effectively. Hanghang Tong, assistant professor, School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering: Improving the ability of a network to function during a disturbance (e.g. a power grid during a hurricane or when under attack) is an ongoing challenge. Existing work on network robustness is essentially observational. Through better theories and algorithms that are effective, scalable, applicable and adaptable, this project seeks to design strategies for intervening and improving network robustness, and to validate the proposed techniques in the context of real-world applications such as intelligent transportation systems and online social collaboration networks. Fengbo Ren, assistant professor, School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering: Long-term monitoring of the Internet-of-Things (IoT) is constrained by sensor energy efficiency. This project will develop a data-driven, hardware-friendly IoT framework to fill unmet energy efficiency needs, especially for wearable applications. Applications include monitoring air quality, radiation, water quality, hazardous chemicals and other environmental indicators. Carole-Jean Wu, assistant professor, School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering: A smartphone's user satisfaction is a balance between computation performance and battery performance; energy efficiency, in turn, is tightly coupled to computation performance and surface temperature management. This research tackles the problem of handheld device design from the perspective of user satisfaction driven by the co-optimization of performance, temperature management, and energy efficiency. Umit Ogras, assistant professor, School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering: Flexible electronics technologies have the potential to transform computing by enabling bendable and stretchable systems at a low cost, including wearable electronics, medical sensing and rolling displays. However, the performance and capabilities of purely flexible electronics are currently much more limited than for silicon technology. Flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) integrates rigid silicon chips and printed electronics to bridge the gap between today's complex systems and flexible electronics. This project provides a systematic approach to designing wearable systems and arbitrarily shaped objects, such as electronic patches that can examine movement disorders outside of clinical environments. Jae-sun Seo, assistant professor, School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering: This project address major hardware and software design challenges inherent in building computers that can perform cognitive tasks (e.g., learning, recognition) as well as humans, taking a major step toward building brain-inspired intelligent computing systems that are ultra-energy-efficient for cognitive tasks in computer vision, speech, robotics and biomedical applications. Jay Oswald, assistant professor, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy: This project supports fundamental research on how material structure at the molecular scale affects macroscopic physical properties of semi-crystalline plastics. Its goal is to foster innovation in plastics manufacturing and shorten todays typical 10- to 20-year development cycle for materials development. Robert Wang, assistant professor,School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy: Materials that enable advanced control over the transmission of electricity and light are known as electronic and photonic materials, respectively. These materials have made possible numerous modern technologies such as laptops, cellular phones, fiber optics, lasers and microscopes. In contrast, technological control over sound and heat has lagged far behind. This project focuses on creating phononic materials that consist of organized nanoparticle-molecule assemblies that possess vibrational characteristics that do not arise in naturally occurring materials. These novel assemblies will then be used to create filters, mirrors and one-way valves that manipulate the transmission of sound and heat. Yueming (Lucy) Qiu, assistant professor, The Polytechnic School: Using a dataset from the Phoenix metropolitan area, this project creates a platform for accurate and scalable analysis of home energy efficiency projects, taking into consideration such factors as the interplay of technologies and occupant behaviors, that will translate into statistical evidence of realized energy savings. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Christy Till, assistant professor, School of Earth and Space Exploration: Monitoring the composition of volcanic gas emissions, local ground surface deformation and the size and location of volcanism-related earthquakes provides a wealth of information about magma storage and movement beneath active volcanoes. Despite the volume of information collected about volcanism-related earthquakes, there is a lack of sufficient context to interpret those data in ways that enable the prediction of coming eruptions. This project will reconstruct detailed histories of magma bodies in the days and years leading to past eruptions at three different explosive volcanoes, which will then be used to develop models for eruption forecasting and volcano hazard assessments. Ryan Trovitch, assistant professor, School of Molecular Sciences: Long-chain polymer molecules are used in agriculture, food, healthy and safety and food industries. For more than half a century, for example, silicone polymers have been used in consumer products such as contact lenses, flexible tubing and medical implants. This project seeks ways to overcome the significant challenges of making catalysts to prepare polymers from abundant metals, such as manganese, rather than costly precious metals like platinum, iridium and silver. The development of manganese-based catalysts for silicone preparation would represent a significant advance in sustainable chemistry. Gary Moore, assistant professor, School of Molecular Sciences: Catalysts are chemical substances that provide alternative pathways for chemical reactions, and some are difficult to recover when the process is completed. Attaching these catalysts to a solid surface improves their recoverability and provides additional pathways for use. This project is developing innovative ways to create and assemble polymeric surface coatings that attach molecular catalysts to solids in ways that are useful for solar energy capture and storage. The catalyst-polymer construct stabilizes the component materials and enhances their utility for generating fuels and other value-added chemical products, with minimal environmental impact. Steve Presse, associate professor, School of Molecular Sciences: The living cell is an active environment where large biological molecules (such as proteins or DNA) move, collide and react. Current experiments observe these processes indirectly in living systems and, as a result, interpreting these data to understand and mathematically describe what happens inside cells is challenging. This project seeks to contribute to the development of quantitative biology by considering how data-driven models can be inferred from currently available experimental data. This modeling will produce theoretical frameworks that capture how the diffusion of biomolecules and their fluctuating shapes ultimately sustain life. ### About ASU Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that The government needs to take urgent steps to protect press freedom in the UK, the Society of Editors has warned. Speaking after the UK dropped two places in the World Press Freedom Index this week, the Society warned that creeping legislation and increased surveillance powers is leading to a general erosion of press freedom in the UK. Ian Murray, Deputy Executive Director of the Society of Editors said: It is deeply troubling that yet again the UK has fallen in the rankings of the World Press Freedom Index and the government urgently needs to take steps to guarantee press and broadcasting freedom and the publics right to know. The World Press Freedom Index is published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and measures the overall level of media freedom constraints and violations in countries worldwide. In publishing the Index, RSF cited the passage of the Investigatory Powers Act, proposals to jail journalists under a new Espionage Act and increased surveillance powers as the reasoning behind the UKs fall. In the wake of the report, Ian Murray called for the government to reiterate the importance of press freedom in a democratic society and reverse a recent trend in creeping controls on journalists under the banner of protecting national security. He said: In the past five years we have witnessed a country that was once judged as a bastion of free speech slip 12 places and this is a direct result of creeping legislation and attempts by governments to tighten their control on the flow of information. It is a worrying state of affairs when journalists in the UK are judged on an international scale as less free to report in the public interest than their counterparts in Ghana, South Africa and Chile. From attempts to restrict freedom of information to increased surveillance powers in the Investigatory Powers Act and proposals currently under consultation for a new espionage act, the value and importance of press freedom in the UK is gradually being eroded. Ahead of the upcoming General Election, it is essential that the current government and all political parties guarantee the role of the media in a democratic society and put forward clear and concise steps as to how they intend to reverse this worrying trend. New knowledge on milk composition and quality is of essential importance to consumers as well as the industry. There are therefore considerable research efforts in milk worldwide. One of the major topics concerns milk's content of different proteins and their importance to human health. Basically, milk consists of two protein types - whey and casein. Casein can be further divided into four categories. One of these, beta casein, attracts particular attention. Several beta casein types exist and A1 and A2 are the most common. It has been suggested that A2-protein milk is a healthier alternative to A1-protein milk, as the latter is claimed to metabolize into potentially detrimental peptides in the intestine. One specific peptide formed during digestion is further claimed to have unfavourable effects on the consumers drinking it. However, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) dismissed these claims in 2009 as undocumented. It is currently debated whether some of the discomfort reported by some milk consumers regarding impact on the gastrointestinal system may be caused by discomfort originating from these detrimental peptides. A2-milk has been labelled a more "original" milk and is closer to breast milk. Foreign companies have succeeded in establishing specialized industries that sell milk that only contains A2-type beta casein. In December 2016, the Danish dairy Thise introduced a Danish variant. Need for fact-based argumentation This particular area still requires additional research and there is no scientific evidence to substantiate that one protein type is superior compared to the other, states Professor Lotte Bach Larsen, Department of Food Science at Aarhus University: - I acknowledge that further research and examination is required within this particular area in order to base the debate on solid, fact-based argumentation. We cannot rule out that some consumers, who feel discomfort when consuming milk, might benefit from drinking solely A2-milk. In a recently finished investigation, Lotte Bach Larsen and her colleagues from the Department of Food Science cooperated with Norwegian scientists to examine if the two different protein types give rise to different metabolization patterns and thus the formation of potentially bioactive protein fragments. In their examination the scientists used gastric and intestinal juices from humans to study how enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract break down the proteins. The experiment was accomplished in a laboratory model system and using protein types that were purified from milk from cows whose milk contained either solely A1 or A2 variants of the protein. - The examination demonstrates - quite as expected - that a number of different peptides is formed from both protein types, when the milk is metabolized. But, it also turns out that the peptide in question is actually present when both A1 and A2 milk is digested. However, the content of this specific peptide formed from A1 beta casein protein variant by the human digestion enzymes was approx. three times higher than liberated from the A2 beta casein variant. As this study was carried out with purified beta casein variants, there is a need to examine whether there is a difference in content of this specific peptide, if digestion is going on using milk and not simply isolated beta casein proteins. In addition, it would be beneficial to carry out a proper human intervention study on eventual the effects when consuming the two different types of milk, and also examine if the peptide can be measured in the blood, says Lotte Bach Larsen. A2-milk is the most frequent type Another interesting aspect when discussing the difference between A1 and A2 milk is the fact that milk containing the A2-type beta casein is actually the most frequent type in Danish dairy cattle. Scientists from the Department of Food Science were able to conclude this fact when they - in connection with a major research project - carried out a screening of the protein composition of Danish milk. Actually, the frequency of the A2 protein was almost the same in both Danish Jersey cattle and Danish Holstein cattle. - It is rather interesting if consumers consider A2 milk to be something unique and special. We should point out that even though most of the Danish milk is mixed, dairy milk will normally contain both types, but with levels of the A2 type over the A1 type, as it seems that A2 is present in highest frequency over the A1 vatiant. If you choose a milk type that specifically contains the A2 protein of the beta casein, you should know that this milk comes from cows that have been screened for the variants and selected for this production, says Lotte Bach Larsen. She hopes that the future will bring an increased focus on studies in the metabolism of milk proteins in human studies. ### FACTS Basically, milk consists of two protein types - whey and casein. Casein can be further divided into four categories, and one of these, beta casein, attracts particular attention. Several beta casein types exist and A1 and A2 are the most common. The difference between the two types consists of two changed amino acids. After five years of hard work, China has completed the world's largest kinase-based whole-cell screening library for high-throughput drug assay. The cell library is located in Hefei, capital of Anhui Province, and includes over 150 cell lines. The library covers more than 70 different kinases and mutations that are involved in human tumorigenesis and have been targeted through clinical treatment. Targeted Therapy The kinase-specific screening library, which is the first of its type for drug screening in China, will provide enormous support for anti-cancer drug development in the country, due to the nature of many types of cancer. Specifically, many cancers are induced by mutations that activate aberrant cell proliferation, resulting in uncontrolled cell growth. Many of these mutations involve kinases and can be inhibited through well-designed small molecule inhibitors. Targeted therapy against these kinases has an advantage over traditional treatment methods since it is highly specific for oncogenic targets and cells. As a result, it spares normal cells, thus causing fewer side effects and toxicity. After more than a decade of effort, targeted therapy has made significant progress with more than 30 drugs in clinical use. However, these drugs cover less than 10 cancer subtypes and are not available for most cancers. Even worse, the rapid appearance of drug resistance has dramatically increased the difficulty of new drug development. "Patients in Test Tubes" To address these problems, Dr. LIU Qingsong's research team at the High Magnetic Field Laboratory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CHMFL) set up the library, which was built "from scratch" using genetic engineering and a mouse prototype cell line. Since the library's cell lines depend on a single active kinase mutation, they are extremely sensitive to compounds targeting these specific kinases and ideal for high-throughput drug screening. Dr. WANG Wenchao, a leading researcher on the project and CHMFL scientist, likened the cell library to "patients in test tubes" since the cell lines can "mimic clinical patients in drug sensitivity evaluation at the cellular level." To further improve the efficiency of cells in drug screening, LIU's team also set up a state-of-the-art high-throughput platform with automatic sample handling and data processing capabilities in 2013. With the platform now in place, the team can finish over 10,000 drug assays in just one day and has already served more than 100 industrial and academic groups involved in drug research. ### In new research published today by King's College London - Institute of Cancer Policy and the Conflict & Health Research Group in the journal ecancermedicalscience, the difficulties of prioritising preventable disease and long term health issues in post conflict zones are explored. The paper particularly focuses on tobacco control. Globally, one in ten deaths is caused by smoking but in post-conflict zones tobacco usage rates are higher than global averages. This increase coupled with opportunistic industry activity and blackmarket trade poses long-term risks for public health. The paper lays out effective tactics learnt from successes and failures in tobacco control and health policy from Vietnam, Iran and Croatia that can be used to limit the health threats to citizens in Iraq. Prof Richard Sullivan, from the Institute of Cancer Policy and the Conflict & Health Research Group, London, UK and one of the authors of the review states "[Tobacco control] is essential but we recognise that this requires strong governance which is often missing. What is also clear is that what countries self declare to WHO around their tobacco control measures (and other NCD risk factor control measures) often does not hold up under practical scrutiny." Taxation is reported by many institutions, including the WHO, as the most effective means of reducing demand, but between low import duties, open corruption, and recorded collusion between smuggling rings and tobacco firms, success has been limited in post conflict settings. As for the longer-term prospects of disease development in the region, Prof Sullivan cautions "We know very little about the long-term effects; we can surmise that these are poor as more children and young adults take up smoking but to date there have been very few long-term studies. What we have seen already is an increase in tobacco smuggling, higher tobacco usage in women and dramatically lower quit rates." While overall global smoking prevalence has decreased over the last 25 years (29.4% to 15.3%), population growth has meant that the overall number of smokers has increased by almost 60 million people. Those rates are even higher in post conflict settings such as Iraq, an established importer/exporter of cigarettes, with a large smoking population (31% of men and 4% of women). "This work was part of the KCL Conflict & Health Research Group thematic research into NCD control in conflict." says Prof Sullivan, "We know countries in conflict undergo radical changes in their exposure to pro NCD risk factors, yet there is little country specific analysis; working with collaborators from Iraq we were able to conduct this country specific research which provides a more practical, focused example of the issues and threat that tobacco plays in the conflict and post-conflict environments." ### Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Peking University have found a new use for the ubiquitous PowerPoint slide: Producing self-folding three-dimensional origami structures from photocurable liquid polymers. The technique involves projecting a grayscale pattern of light and dark shapes onto a thin layer of liquid acrylate polymer placed in a plate or between two glass slides. A photoinitiator material mixed into the polymer initiates a crosslinking reaction when struck by light from an ordinary LED projector, causing a solid film to form. A light-absorbing dye in the polymer serves as a regulator for the light. Due to the complicated interaction between the evolution of the polymer network and volume shrinkage during photo curing, areas of the polymer that receive less light exhibit more apparent bending behavior. When the newly-created polymer film is removed from the liquid polymer, the stress created in the film by the differential shrinkage causes the folding to begin. To make the most complex origami structures, the researchers shine light onto both sides of the structures. Origami structures produced so far include tiny tables, capsules, flowers, birds and the traditional miura-ori fold -- all about a half-inch in size. The origami structures could have applications in soft robots, microelectronics, soft actuators, mechanical metamaterials and biomedical devices. "The basic idea of our method is to utilize the volume shrinkage phenomenon during photo-polymerization," said Jerry Qi, a professor in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech. "During a specific type of photopolymerization, frontal photopolymerization, the liquid resin is cured continuously from the side under light irradiation toward the inner side. This creates a non-uniform stress field that drives the film to bend along the direction of light path." Details of the work are scheduled to be published April 28 in the journal Science Advances. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Chinese Scholarship Council. It is believed to be the first application to create self-folding origami structures through the control of volume shrinkage during patterned photopolymerization. The process that creates the shrinkage phenomenon is considered harmful in other uses of the polymer. "Volume shrinkage of polymer was always assumed to be detrimental in the fabrication of composites and in the conventional 3-D printing technology," said Daining Fang, a co-author of the paper and a professor at Peking University when the research was done. "Our work shows that with a change of perspective, this phenomenon can become quite useful." Fang is now at Beijing Institute of Technology. To make the most complex shapes with bending in both directions, the researchers can flip the patterned film over to create crosslinking on the other side. "We have developed two types of fabrication processes," said Zeang Zhao, a Ph.D. student at Georgia Tech and Peking University. "In the first one, you can just shine the light pattern towards a layer of liquid resin, and then you will get the origami structure. In the second one, you may need to flip the layer and shine a second pattern. This second process gives you much wider design freedom." Light is shined onto the film for five to ten seconds, which produces a film about 200 microns thick. "The areas that receive light become solid; the other parts of the pattern remain liquid, and the structure can then be removed from the liquid polymer," said Qi. "The technique is very simple." Frontal photopolymerization is a process in which a polymer film is continuously cured from one side in a thick layer of liquid resin. In the presence of strong light attenuation, the solidification front initiates at the surface upon illumination and propagates toward the liquid side as the irradiation time increases. The process can be delicately tuned by controlling the illumination time and the light intensity, and the method has been used to fabricate microfluidic devices and synthesize microparticles. The researchers used poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate in this demonstration, but the technique should work with a broad range of photocurable polymers. An orange dye was used in the demonstration, but other dyes could produce structures in a range of different colors. For the proof-of-principle, Zhao created a PowerPoint pattern by hand. To scale the process up, the system could be connected to a computer-aided design (CAD) tool for generating more precise grayscale patterns. Qi believes the technique could be used to produce structures as much as an inch in size. "The self-folding requires relatively thin films which might not be possible in larger structures," he said. Added Qi, "We have developed a simple approach to fold a thin sheet of polymer into complicated three-dimensional origami structures. Our approach is not limited by specific materials, and the patterning is so simple that anybody with PowerPoint and a projector could do it." ### This research was supported by NSF awards CMMI-1462894, CMMI-1462895, and EFRI-1435452; and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research grant 15RT0885. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsoring organizations. CITATION: Zeang Zhao, Jiangtao Wu, Xiaoming Mu, Haosen Chen, H. Jerry Qi, and Daining Fang, "Origami by frontal photopolymerization," (Science Advances, 2017). In an analysis of Medicare billing data submitted by more than 2,300 United States physicians, researchers have calculated the average number of surgical slices, or cuts, made during Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), a procedure that progressively removes thin layers of cancerous skin tissue in a way that minimizes damage to healthy skin and the risks of leaving cancerous tissue behind. The study, the researchers say, serves as a first step towards identifying best practices for MMS, as well as identifying and informing physicians who may need re-training because their practice patterns deviate far from their peers. A report of the study, published in the journal JAMA Dermatology April 28, suggests that identifying and informing high outlier physicians of their extreme practice patterns can enable targeted re-training, potentially sparing patients from substandard care. The analysis is part of a medical quality improvement project called "Improving Wisely," funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and based at The Johns Hopkins University. The initiative focuses on developing and using individual physician-level measures to collect data and improve performance. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provided broad access to their records for the study. "The project aims to work by consensus, encouraging outliers to seek educational and re-training tools offered by their professional society," says Martin Makary, M.D., M.P.H., professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the paper's co-senior author. "That's the spirit of medicine's heritage of learning from the experience of other physicians." He estimates that the initiative could result in Medicare savings of millions of dollars. Ideally, says Makary, those who perform MMS make as few cuts or slices as possible to preserve as much normal tissue as possible while ensuring complete removal of cancers. As each layer of skin is removed, it is examined under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells. However, there can be wide variation in the average number of cuts made by a physician. Measuring a surgeon's average number of cuts was recently endorsed by the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) as a clinical quality metric used to assess its members. "Outlier practice patterns in health care, and specifically Mohs surgery, can represent a burden on patients and the medical system," says John Albertini, M.D., immediate past president of the American College of Mohs Surgery and the paper's other senior author. "By studying the issue of variation in practice patterns, the Mohs College hopes to improve the quality and value of care we provide our patients." Taking their cue from that support, Makary and his research team analyzed Medicare Part B claims data from January 2012 to December 2014 for all physicians who received Medicare payments for MMS procedures on the head, neck, genitalia, hands and feet. These regions of the body account for more than 85 percent of all MMS procedures reimbursed by Medicare during those years. A total of 2,305 physicians who performed MMS were included in the analysis. The researchers also gathered the following data for each physician: sex, years in practice, whether the physician worked in a solo or group practice, whether the physician was a member of ACMS, whether the physician practiced at an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education site for MMS, volume of MMS operations, and whether the physician practiced in an urban or rural setting. Physicians had to perform at least 10 MMS procedures each year to be included in the analysis. The researchers found that the average number of cuts among all physicians was 1.74. The median was 1.69 and the range was 1.09 to 4.11 average cuts per case. Of the 2,305 physicians who performed MMS during each of the three years studied, 137 were considered extremely high outliers during at least one of those years. An extremely high outlier was defined as having a personal average of greater than two standard deviations, or 2.41 cuts per case, above all physicians in the study. Forty-nine physicians were persistently high outliers during all three years. Physicians in solo practice were 2.35 times more likely to be a persistent high outlier than those in a group practice; 4.5 percent of solo practitioners were persistent high outliers compared to 2.1 percent of high outlier physicians who performed MMS in a group practice. Volume of cases per year, practice experience and geographic location were not associated with being a high outlier. Low extreme outliers, defined as having an average per case in the bottom 2.5 percent of the group distribution, also were identified. Of all physicians in the study, 92 were low outliers in at least one year and 20 were persistently low during all three years. Potential explanations for high outliers include financial incentive, because the current payment model for MMS pays physicians who do more cuts more money, Makary says. These charges are ultimately passed on to Medicare Part B patients, who are expected to pay 20 percent of their health care bill. Low outliers may be explained by incorrect coding, overly aggressive initial cuts, or choice of tumors for which MMS is not necessary, he says. Although the study was limited by lack of information about each patient's medical history, or the diameter or depth of each cut, Makary says it's a meaningful step toward identifying and mitigating physician outliers. "Developing standards based on physicians' actual experience and practices is the home-grown approach needed now to improve health care and lower costs of care," says Makary. ### Other authors on this paper include Aravind Krishnan, Tim Xu, Susan Hutfless and Angela Park of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Thomas Stasko of the University of Oklahoma; Allison T. Vidimos of the Cleveland Clinic; Barry Leshin of The Skin Surgery Center; Brett M. Coldiron of the University of Cincinnati Hospital; Richard G. Bennett of Bennett Surgery Center in Santa Monica, California; and Victor J. Marks and Rebecca Brandt of the American College of Mohs Surgery. Funding for this study was provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (grant No. 73417) and the American College of Mohs Surgery. While there are numerous prehistoric sites in Europe and Asia that contain tools and other human-made artefacts, skeletal remains of ancient humans are scarce. Researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, have therefore looked into new ways to get hold of ancient human DNA. From sediment samples collected at seven archaeological sites, the researchers "fished out" tiny DNA fragments that had once belonged to a variety of mammals, including our extinct human relatives. They retrieved DNA from Neandertals in cave sediments of four archaeological sites, also in layers where no hominin skeletal remains have been discovered. In addition, they found Denisovan DNA in sediments from Denisova Cave in Russia. These new developments now enable researchers to uncover the genetic affiliations of the former inhabitants of many archaeological sites which do not yield human remains. By looking into the genetic composition of our extinct relatives, the Neandertals, and their cousins from Asia, the Denisovans, researchers can shed light on our own evolutionary history. However, fossils of ancient humans are rare, and they are not always available or suitable for genetic analyses. "We know that several components of sediments can bind DNA", says Matthias Meyer of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. "We therefore decided to investigate whether hominin DNA may survive in sediments at archaeological sites known to have been occupied by ancient hominins." To this aim Meyer and his team collaborated with a large network of researchers excavating at seven archaeological sites in Belgium, Croatia, France, Russia and Spain. Overall, they collected sediment samples covering a time span from 14,000 to over 550,000 years ago. Using tiny amounts of material the researchers recovered and analyzed fragments of mitochondrial DNA - genetic material from the mitochondria, the "energy factories" of the cell - and identified them as belonging to twelve different mammalian families that include extinct species such as the woolly mammoth, the woolly rhinoceros, the cave bear and the cave hyena. The researchers then looked specifically for ancient hominin DNA in the samples. "From the preliminary results, we suspected that in most of our samples, DNA from other mammals was too abundant to detect small traces of human DNA", says Viviane Slon, Ph.D. student at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig and first author of the study. "We then switched strategies and started targeting specifically DNA fragments of human origin." Nine samples from four archaeological sites contained enough ancient hominin DNA for further analyses: Eight sediment samples contained Neandertal mitochondrial DNA from either one or multiple individuals, while one sample contained Denisovan DNA. Most of these samples originated from archaeological layers or sites where no Neandertal bones or teeth were previously found. A new tool for archaeology "By retrieving hominin DNA from sediments, we can detect the presence of hominin groups at sites and in areas where this cannot be achieved with other methods", says Svante Paabo, director of the Evolutionary Genetics department at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and co-author of the study. "This shows that DNA analyses of sediments are a very useful archaeological procedure, which may become routine in the future". Even sediment samples that were stored at room temperature for years still yielded DNA. Analyses of these and of freshly-excavated sediment samples recovered from archaeological sites where no human remains are found will shed light on these sites' former occupants and our joint genetic history. ### Original publication Viviane Slon, Charlotte Hopfe, Clemens L. Wei, Fabrizio Mafessoni, Marco de la Rasilla, Carles Lalueza-Fox, Antonio Rosas, Marie Soressi, Monika V. Knul, Rebecca Miller, John R. Stewart, Anatoly P. Derevianko, Zenobia Jacobs, Bo Li, Richard G. Roberts, Michael V. Shunkov, Henry de Lumley, Christian Perrenoud, Ivan Gusi?, ?eljko Ku?an, Pavao Rudan, Ayinuer Aximu-Petri, Elena Essel, Sarah Nagel, Birgit Nickel, Anna Schmidt, Kay Prufer, Janet Kelso, Hernan A. Burbano, Svante Paabo, Matthias Meyer Neandertal and Denisovan DNA from Pleistocene sediments. Science; 27 April, 2017 S. R. Nandakumar, a graduate student in electrical engineering, has won a coveted IBM Ph.D. fellowship to support his work on computer systems that mimic the architecture of the human brain. The international fellowship program, which is intensely competitive, awards exceptional graduate students in diverse fields who are tackling technical problems fundamental to innovation. Nandakumar is developing systems that learn to perform intelligent tasks, from recognizing words and images to executing higher cognitive functions such as speech recognition and language translation. By mimicking the key features of the brain's network - its neurons, synapses, and mechanisms that change the connections in the network over time - he hopes to raise the level of computers' learning and inference capabilities while lowering the amount of energy required for their operation. "The brain is a fascinating information-processing system and we are trying to mimic its behavior to build the next generation of intelligent computing platforms," Nandakumar says. "We will be implementing new brain-inspired algorithms using IBM's nanoscale hardware technologies." Nandakumar joined NJIT in 2016 to work on this project with Bipin Rajendran, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and expert in nanoscale electronic devices and system design. "The goal of our research is to build novel computing systems that are inspired by the architecture of the brain," Rajendran noted. "Compared to the machine-learning algorithms that are popular today, we are developing algorithms for spiking neural networks that mimic the brain's ability to encode information in the electrical spikes signaled by neurons. We hope that these algorithms, when implemented using nanoscale devices, will one day lead to learning systems that approach the efficiency of the brain." The neurons in the brain fire at a very slow rate to communicate with each other compared to the signaling speeds in modern computers. However, each neuron's spike is transmitted to thousands of other neurons. It is believed that this parallel information-processing paradigm allows the brain to operate with very high efficiency: a mere 20 watts is sufficient to control all of a person's actions, thoughts, and emotions. Rajendran added, "We are very fortunate that IBM Research, which is the leading research center in the world in the field of cognitive computing, is collaborating with us on this exciting project. IBM's support of Nandakumar will enable us to jointly explore several new promising algorithms on IBM's nanoscale hardware platforms for brain-inspired computing." The new algorithms will be implemented on hardware platforms that use nanoscale devices made of chalcogenide materials used for making phase change memories, a novel solid-state memory technology. These devices, unlike the transistors in today's computers, can store information in an analog fashion, significantly improving overall learning efficiency. "Spiking neural networks are considered to have significant potential for realizing highly energy-efficient neuromorphic hardware. IBM and NJIT are jointly investigating algorithms and non-von Neumann computing platforms to address the challenging problem of learning in spiking networks," said Evangelos Eleftheriou, Ph.D., IBM Fellow, who leads the research group at IBM Research-Zurich. Nandakumar will spend three months this summer in Zurich working closely with the IBM team. Von Neumann architecture, named for the computing pioneer John von Neumann, separates the two functions of data processing and storage in computing systems today. "But that's not how the brain works," Rajendran noted. "IBM's new hardware platforms, for example, would enable devices to seamlessly merge information processing and storage using substantially less power than today's computers." But several challenges remain before computers achieve the efficiency of the human brain. "We are currently studying how the systems perform, especially in light of reliability constraints that are inherent to nanoscale devices," Rajendran says. "The initial results of our research appear promising." Nandakumar will present the team's findings at the upcoming 2017 Device Research Conference, to be held in June at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. ### About NJIT One of the nation's leading public technological universities, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is a top-tier research university that prepares students to become leaders in the technology-dependent economy of the 21st century. NJIT's multidisciplinary curriculum and computing-intensive approach to education provide technological proficiency, business acumen and leadership skills. With an enrollment of 11,400 graduate and undergraduate students, NJIT offers small-campus intimacy with the resources of a major public research university. NJIT is a global leader in such fields as solar research, nanotechnology, resilient design, tissue engineering, and cybersecurity, in addition to others. NJIT is among the top U.S. polytechnic public universities in research expenditures, exceeding $130 million, and is among the top 1 percent of public colleges and universities in return on educational investment, according to PayScale.com. NJIT has a $1.74 billion annual economic impact on the State of New Jersey. Differences in undergraduate tuition rates by a student's degree program or year of study have become increasingly prevalent over the past 25 years, finds a study by New York University's Steinhardt School, Arizona State University, and the University of Louisville. "Variations in tuition add to the complexity surrounding college costs, leading the costs students face once enrolled to differ from publicly available tuition averages and therefore masking the real cost of attendance," said Gregory C. Wolniak, director of the Center for Research on Higher Education Outcomes at NYU Steinhardt and one of the study's authors. Wolniak and his coauthors, Arizona State University's Glen R. Nelson and University of Louisville's Casey E. George, presented their findings on April 28th at the American Educational Research Association's annual meeting in San Antonio. College affordability is a major concern in the United States. For higher education institutions, particularly public colleges and universities, declining state funding has exacerbated the affordability problem, leading many institutions to seek new revenue streams. One such stream is differential tuition, or variations in undergraduate tuition rates by a student's program of study or year of enrollment. For instance, an undergraduate student studying science or engineering may pay more in tuition than a student in a liberal arts program, or vice versa, or a junior may pay more in tuition than a freshman. In the current study, the researchers sought to better understand the prevalence of differential tuition practices and explore the institutional characteristics associated with adopting these practices. They focused on all 143 public four-year universities, comparing tuition practices from the 1991-1992, 1999-2000, and 2007-2008 academic years, and gathering new data on the 2015-2016 academic year. In order to gather the new data, the research team reviewed the information available online for each institution to locate the 2015-2016 tuition rates, associated fees, and other costs. They captured whether tuition varied by program of study, class standing, or both, and assessed how difficult it was to find the information on an institution's web site. The researchers found that 86 of the 143 public institutions (or 60.1 percent) had differential tuition policies. The number of institutions that have adopted these policies has steadily increased over time, up from nine institutions (6.3 percent) in 1991-1992 and 30 (20.9 percent) in 1999-2000. They also determined that the ease of locating tuition data, though seemingly straightforward, was actually inconsistent and varied across individuals on the research team who were tasked with determining how simple it was to find the information. This suggests that the public, particularly prospective students and families without familiarity with college and university practices, will experience even greater difficulty arriving at accurate cost information. One source of this lack of transparency was the varying labels and terminology used to communicate tuition policies. For example, what one institution may call a "differential tuition," others may call "program fees," "major fees," "additional fees," or "enrichment fees." The researchers also found differences in tuition policies based on institutional characteristics, including region, land-grant status, and tuition; differences were not found based on the size of the institution. The Plains, Rocky Mountains, and Great Lakes were home to larger shares of institutions with differential tuition policies, unlike the Southeast and West, which had greater shares of institutions without these policies. In terms of tuition, compared to colleges and universities with relatively low out-of-state tuition, those with medium to high out-of-state tuition had greater likelihoods of using differential tuition policies. "Our findings strengthen the recommendation that institutions with differential tuition policies should work toward increased transparency and ease of accessibility to communicate those costs to individuals," Wolniak said. "In addition, differential tuition may be a mechanism for inequality. Access to clear and accurate information about educational costs is essential for student decision-making, especially low-income and first-generation students who may not have the resources to navigate the complexities of the college application process," Wolniak added. ### The present study is part of a larger project that will extend to examining the effects of differential tuition practices on student enrollments. This research was supported in part by the Spencer Foundation (Grant #201600165). The United States is considering a $1 trillion budget proposal to update infrastructure, including its crumbling bridges. An obstacle to spending the money wisely is that the current means of assessing bridges may underestimate their vulnerability, according to a new study published in the Journal of Infrastructure Systems. Case in point is a bridge along California's iconic Big Sur coast, which collapsed in March, isolating communities and costing local businesses millions of dollars. Although California's recent unprecedented rains were likely to damage infrastructure, standard risk assessments made it hard to identify which bridges were most vulnerable. "This winter in California has highlighted the vulnerabilities of our nation's infrastructure," said Noah Diffenbaugh, a professor of Earth system science at Stanford and the Kimmelman Family Senior Fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. "Updating our infrastructure will require both making up for deferred maintenance, and preparing for the increasing risk of extreme events that comes along with global warming." More frequent flooding Big Sur's damaged Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge - out until at least September - is a harbinger of things to come. As climate and land-use change drive more frequent and intense flooding, collapses among the nation's more than 500,000 water-spanning bridges will likely increase, the authors state. Complicated natural factors make accurate damage estimates hard to come by, but regional and national bridge studies have predicted up to $250 billion in direct climate impacts costs - numbers that serve only as indicators of the true magnitude of costs related to climate change impacts on bridges, including lost business and ability to commute to work. U.S. risk assessments generally assume that bridges may collapse when a 100-year flood - a streamflow with 1 percent probability of being exceeded in any given year, or 63 percent over the course of a century - occurs. This assumption underestimates risk, the paper's authors find, because it fails to capture the full range of stream flow conditions that can cause bridge collapse. A new model In their analysis, the researchers considered the full variability of floods that could cause collapse, as opposed to the 100-year approach taken previously. As a result, their findings identified a greater sensitivity to changes in the underlying frequency of flooding. This result appears to support the idea that analyses considering a range of flood scenarios, as opposed to a single 100-year threshold, could be more robust and accurate. Indeed, of the 35 bridges analyzed, 23 were estimated to have collapsed during a water flow of lesser intensity than a 100-year flood level. The authors note that a primary reason for these lower flow collapses is the fact that most of those collapsed bridges were built before modern design standards. Because most U.S. bridges, along with most U.S. infrastructure, pre-date the modern design standards, the results highlight a more general risk that extreme climate events pose to U.S. infrastructure. The American Society for Civil Engineering gives U.S. bridges a C+, estimating that $123 billion is needed to clear the maintenance backlog. An additional $140-$250 billion over the 21st century may be required to address the increasing risks posed by climate change, according to past research. "To balance funding between the backlog and climate adaptation, bridge managers will need robust data on collapse risk," said lead author Madeleine M. Flint, an assistant professor of civil & environmental engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. "Our study is a step in that direction." ### Noah Diffenbaugh is a professor at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences. Coauthors of "Historical Analysis of Hydraulic Bridge Collapses in the Continental United States" also include Sarah L. Billington, professor of civil and environmental engineering; and Oliver Fringer and David Freyberg, both associate professors of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford. The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment supported this research through the Environmental Venture Projects seed grant program. There is an age-related decline in children's physical activity levels as they progress through primary school, according to a British Heart Foundation-funded study. Researchers at the University of Bristol found that children spent less time doing physical activity and spent more time sedentary from Year 1 (aged 5-6) to Year 4 (aged 8-9). Additionally, by the time they got to Year 4, around a third of boys and two thirds of girls aged eight to nine years old in the study were failing to meet Chief Medical Officer's (CMO) recommended physical activity guidelines of an hour of physical activity per day. Previous research has shown that low levels of physical activity in childhood can track into adulthood, suggesting that we should be doing more to ensure children keep active throughout their younger lives. In the study, published today in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, the researchers tracked the physical activity levels of 1,300 children in Year 1, aged 5-6, over a week. To track the children, the team used an accelerometer, a smart device which gives an accurate measurement of movement. They then tracked the same children three years later, when they were in Year 4 (aged 8-9), and compared the results. The levels of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity dropped by four per cent in boys, and eleven per cent in girls, but even more worryingly the sedentary time increased by 20 per cent in boys and 23 per cent in girls. Further examination of the data showed that 62.3 per cent of boys and 35 per cent of girls met the CMO's recommendation of an hour per day in Year 4, compared with 72.5 per cent and 53.7 per cent respectively in Year 1. Professor Russ Jago, Professor of Paediatric Physical Activity and Public Health at the University of Bristol, who led the study, said: "The results show a clear need to find ways to help children to be active throughout the primary school years. We need to get children active and then keep them active as they move through primary school. "To help us to do this we need to find the activities that children enjoy and foster as many opportunities within and outside of school to take part in activity across the day." ### RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Worry - it does a body good. And, the mind as well. A new paper by Kate Sweeny, psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside, argues there's an upside to worrying. "Despite its negative reputation, not all worry is destructive or even futile," Sweeny said. "It has motivational benefits, and it acts as an emotional buffer." In her latest article, "The Surprising Upsides of Worry," published in Social and Personality Psychology Compass, Sweeny breaks down the role of worry in motivating preventive and protective behavior, and how it leads people to avoid unpleasant events. Sweeny finds worry is associated with recovery from traumatic events, adaptive preparation and planning, recovery from depression, and partaking in activities that promote health, and prevent illness. Furthermore, people who report greater worry may perform better -- in school or at the workplace -- seek more information in response to stressful events, and engage in more successful problem solving. Worry as a Motivator The motivational power of worry has been studied and linked to preventive health behavior, like seatbelt use. In a nationally representative sample of Americans, feelings of worry about skin cancer predicted sunscreen use. And participants who reported higher levels of cancer-related worries also conducted breast self-examinations, underwent regular mammograms, and sought clinical breast examinations. "Interestingly enough, there are examples of a more nuanced relationship between worry and preventive behavior as well," Sweeny said. "Women who reported moderate amounts of worry, compared to women reporting relatively low or high levels of worry, are more likely to get screened for cancer. It seems that both too much and too little worry can interfere with motivation, but the right amount of worry can motivate without paralyzing." In the paper, Sweeny noted three explanations for worry's motivating effects. 1. Worry serves as a cue that the situation is serious and requires action. People use their emotions as a source of information when making judgements and decisions. 2. Worrying about a stressor keeps the stressor at the front of one's mind and prompts people toward action. 3. The unpleasant feeling of worry motivates people to find ways to reduce their worry. "Even in circumstances when efforts to prevent undesirable outcomes are futile, worry can motivate proactive efforts to assemble a ready-made set of responses in the case of bad news," Sweeny said. "In this instance, worrying pays off because one is actively thinking of a 'plan B.'" Worry as a Buffer Worry can also benefit one's emotional state by serving as an emotional bench-mark. Compared to the state of worry, any other feeling is pleasurable by contrast. In other words, the pleasure that comes from a good experience is heightened if preceded by a bad experience. "If people's feelings of worry over a future outcome are sufficiently intense and unpleasant, their emotional response to the outcome they ultimately experience will seem more pleasurable in comparison to their previous, worried state," Sweeny said. Research on bracing for the worst provides indirect evidence for the role of worry as an emotional buffer, according to Sweeny. As people brace for the worst, they embrace a pessimistic outlook to mitigate potential disappointment, boosting excitement if the news is good. Therefore, both bracing and worrying have an emotional payoff following the moment of truth. "Extreme levels of worry are harmful to one's health. I do not intend to advocate for excessive worrying. Instead, I hope to provide reassurance to the helpless worrier - planning and preventive action is not a bad thing," Sweeny said. "Worrying the right amount is far better than not worrying at all." ### The two-year project will help the recovery of threatened coral species and enhance coastal resilience MIAMI--The University of Miami's (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science announced today a two-year award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support cutting-edge research in coral conservation. The grant will support coral propagation and restoration efforts necessary to help with the recovery of threatened coral species and increased resilience of coastal communities in Florida's Miami-Dade County. This project is a collaboration between UM coral biologists Diego Lirman and Andrew Baker, NOAA's Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency Program, Miami Science Barge, and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. Healthy reefs shape coastlines and provide the first line of defense against weather hazards such as hurricanes. Coral reefs can reduce wave energy by up to 97 percent, thereby protecting low-lying coastlines from erosion and flooding, and by trapping sediments and limiting the need for costly beach renourishment projects. "The need to enhance resilience through management action is crucial in urban-influenced ecosystems where human and natural stressors interact," said UM Rosenstiel School Associate Professor Diego Lirman, co-lead investigator of the project. "South Florida has been identified as a global hotspot for coastal urbanization, and the synergistic man-made stressors of habitat fragmentation, overfishing, and pollution, make it an ideal setting for this project." Rebuilding healthy and physically complex coral reefs has been shown to be a cost-efficient, natural way to enhance fisheries habitat, promote recreational diving, and buffer the threats of coastal hazards. Coral reef restoration as a natural restoration solution is considered to be two to five times cheaper than using artificial structures. "Restored reefs, unlike artificial structures, are self-building and self-repairing," said UM Associate Professor Andrew Baker, co-lead investigator of the project for UM. "They are able to continue to accrete and grow after deployment, catch up to projected sea-level rise, and build long-term resilience to storms." During the project, the researchers will outplant nursery-raised staghorn corals onto nearshore reef habitats within Miami-Dade County, identify resilient coral genotypes able to survive the impacts of extreme temperature changes, and develop an outreach and education program to engage the public and coral reef conservation and restoration. The research and restoration activities will be showcased through interactive public displays as part of the Frost Science Museum's Inventor-in-Residence program, where the Baker lab will be running experiments in the museum's Knight Learning Center to increase coral thermal tolerance. The public can get directly involved in restoration through the UM Rescue a Reef program, where citizen scientists will be able to plant nursery-grown corals onto depleted reefs alongside scientists. ### Funding for the project consists of a NOAA grant #NA17NMF4630010, totaling $591,920 and non-federal funds of $264,700. About the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School The University of Miami is one of the largest private research institutions in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, visit: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu. Five-year study finds mechanism responsible for repairing damage to mitochondrial DNA Discovery could pave the way for new treatments for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases Research may also have important implications for clinical advances in so called 'three-parent baby' mitochondrial donation New research has unravelled the mystery of how mitochondria -- the energy generators within cells -- can withstand attacks on their DNA from rogue molecules. The findings could pave the way for new treatments to tackle neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. The research could also have important implications for clinical advances in 'mitochondrial donation' -- known as the 'three-parent baby' -- used to correct defects in faulty mitochondria. The five-year study led by scientists at the University of Sheffield, published today (28 April 2017) in Science Advances, reveals how the enzyme TDP1 - which is already known to have a role in repairing damaged DNA in the cell's nucleus - is also responsible for repairing damage to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells, they generate the energy required for all cellular activity and have their own DNA -- the genetic material which they rely upon to produce important proteins for their function. During the process of energy production and making proteins, a large amount of rogue reactive oxygen species are produced which constantly attack the DNA in the mitochondria. These attacks break their DNA, however the new findings show mitochondria have their very own repair toolkits which are constantly active to maintain their own DNA integrity. Lead author of the study, Professor Sherif El-Khamisy, a Wellcome Trust Investigator and Chair of Molecular Medicine at the University of Sheffield, said: "Each mitochondria repair toolkit has unique components -- enzymes -- which can cut, hammer and seal the breaks. The presence of these enzymes is important for energy production. "Defects in repairing DNA breaks in the mitochondria affect vital organs that rely heavily on energy such as the brain. It also has implications on mitochondria replacement therapies recently approved in the UK and known as 'three parent babies'." Although much research has focused on how free radicals damage the DNA in the cell's nucleus, their effect on mitochondrial DNA is less well understood despite this damage to mtDNA being responsible for many different types of disease such as neurological disorders. Having healthy mitochondria is also essential for tissue regeneration, making it particularly important for successful organ transplants. The team further identified a mechanism through which mtDNA can be damaged and then fixed, via a protein called TOP1, which is responsible for untangling coils of mtDNA. When the long strands become tangled, TOP1 breaks and quickly repairs the strands to unravel the knots. If free radicals are also attacking the mitochondrial DNA, then TOP1 proteins can become trapped on the mitochondrial DNA strands, making repair even more difficult. Professor El-Khamisy believes the findings could pave the way for the development of new therapies for mitochondrial disease that boost their DNA repair capacity, or for cancer treatments which could use TDP1 inhibitors to prevent mtDNA repair selectively in cancer cells. "Cancer relies on cells dividing very quickly. That means they need a lot of energy, so will have really healthy mitochondria," said Professor El-Khamisy. "If we can find a way to selectively damage the mitochondria in the cancer cells, by preventing or slowing its repair mechanism, this could be really promising." The findings could also be important for new clinical advances such as the decision by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to allow 'mitochondrial donation' -- also known as 'three-parent babies' -- where mtDNA from a female donor is introduced to an embryo to correct mitochondrial defects. "This research suggests that clinicians should assess the function of TDP1 and mitochondrial TOP1 before mitochondrial donation takes place, to ensure the success of this procedure," added Professor El-Khamisy. "Even if the new embryo has healthy mitochondrial DNA from the donor, it could still have defective TDP1 or mitochondrial TOP1 from the recipient, since they are both produced by the DNA in the cell's nucleus, so mitochondrial DNA damage could still take place over time, and cause disease." Professor Allan Pacey, a fertility expert at the University of Sheffield's Department of Oncology and Metabolism, said "Given that the first UK licence to perform mitochondrial donation procedures was awarded by the HFEA last month, the publication of this study is very timely. "It is important that we know as much as possible about how to identify healthy and defective mitochondria, in order to help those people with debilitating mitochondrial disease." ### The research was funded by a Wellcome Trust Investigator Award and a Lister Institute of Preventative Medicine Fellowship and was led by the University of Sheffield in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, the University of Sussex, RAFT, Zewail City of Science and Technology in Egypt, and St Jude Children's Research Hospital in the US. The University of Sheffield With almost 27,000 of the brightest students from over 140 countries, learning alongside over 1,200 of the best academics from across the globe, the University of Sheffield is one of the world's leading universities. A member of the UK's prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led institutions, Sheffield offers world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines. Unified by the power of discovery and understanding, staff and students at the university are committed to finding new ways to transform the world we live in. Sheffield is the only university to feature in The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to Work For 2017 and was voted number one university in the UK for Student Satisfaction by Times Higher Education in 2014. In the last decade it has won four Queen's Anniversary Prizes in recognition of the outstanding contribution to the United Kingdom's intellectual, economic, cultural and social life. Sheffield has six Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and its alumni go on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields. Global research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, AstraZeneca, Glaxo SmithKline, Siemens and Airbus, as well as many UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations. For further information, please visit: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk For further information, please visit http://www.sheffield.ac.uk For further information please contact: Amy Pullan, Media Relations Officer, University of Sheffield, 0114 222 9859, a.l.pullan@sheffield.ac.uk To read other news releases about the University of Sheffield, visit http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news UTA senior Frederick Tran won the 2017 Regents' Outstanding Arts and Humanities Award in Creative Writing, Short Fiction. The winning selection, "Airstrikes," is a short fiction piece about a doctor serving with Medecins Sans Frontieres in Yemen, who suffered a terrible loss. MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, is an international humanitarian organization best recognized for its projects in war-torn regions. News stories about bombings of MSF hospitals in Yemen were Tran's inspiration for his short story. Tran typically prefers to write non-fiction pieces, and noted that when he heard about events in Yemen "I felt this sense of outrage." Tran is majoring in Critical Languages focusing on Russian language, and minoring in English with a specialization in Creative Writing. The University of Texas System Board of Regents established the annual Regents' Outstanding Arts and Humanities Awards in February 2012. The honor was created to foster excellence in student performance, reward outstanding students, stimulate the arts and humanities and promote continuous quality in education, according to the University of Texas System's Office of Academic Affairs. The focus of the award rotates each year among fields in the fine arts and humanities. Tran is the third UTA undergraduate student to be honored in this annual competition. This year, Tran is only one of two students recognized by the selection committee, comprised of experts in creative writing from outside the UT System. In each of the two creative writing categories, Poetry and Short Fiction, up to three submissions from each of the 14 Institutions in the UT System were considered based on a command of language, structure and originality. Tran emphasized that he would not have submitted "Airstrikes" to the Regents' competition if Professor Laura Kopchick, a senior lecturer in the English Department and Creative Writing Coordinator, had not encouraged him. "I wrote the story for her Introduction to Creative Writing class and I was not in love with it then," Tran admits. He labored through a dozen drafts before he finalized the short story. He recalled how Kopchick helped him through that process, especially with the story's ending. "I had written this convenient ending that I was not thrilled about," Tran said. "She told me that a story doesn't need a neat bow to wrap itself up, and that somehow clicked in my brain." Kopchick said, "What is wonderful about Frederick is that not only is he a talented writer, he's also willing to put in the difficult hours of revision necessary in creating a polished short story." Tran believes that his selection for this honor reflects well on UTA's College of Liberal Arts. "I couldn't have written this story without the knowledge I gained here--whether that be the writing styles I studied in Russian literature, the techniques we learned in creative writing or the French I was fortunate to pick up through the language courses," Tran said of the honor. "It's a testament to the outstanding faculty we have in the College of Liberal Arts here at UTA." Elisabeth Cawthon, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts, noted that the college boasts award-winning professors who delight in mentoring students. "Professor Kopchick and the entire Department of English assist students in finding their voices through writing," Cawthon said. "These talented faculty members instill in students the confidence to submit their creative efforts for publication and recognition." The Board of Regents will present Tran with his award May 10 in Austin. A $1,500 award also will be presented to the English Department in Tran's name. After his graduation from UTA in December 2017, Tran plans to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing. ### About The University of Texas at Arlington The University of Texas at Arlington is a Carnegie Research-1 "highest research activity" institution. With a projected global enrollment of close to 57,000, UTA is one of the largest institutions in the state of Texas. Guided by its Strategic Plan 2020 Bold Solutions|Global Impact, UTA fosters interdisciplinary research and education within four broad themes: health and the human condition, sustainable urban communities, global environmental impact, and data-driven discovery. UTA was recently cited by U.S. News & World Report as having the second lowest average student debt among U.S. universities. U.S. News & World Report lists UTA as having the fifth highest undergraduate diversity index among national universities. The University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is ranked as the top four-year college in Texas for veterans on Military Times' 2017 Best for Vets list. A new citizen science project in Abisko in northern Sweden aims to teach the public how we do climate change science while collecting valuable data. CIRC researcher Keith Larson will receive nearly SEK 500,000 for an outreach project centred on the establishment of a research trail. This Formas grant is the first of its kind for a communication project at Umea University. "This is a great opportunity to involve and enlighten the public. The goal is to reach out to visitors in the Abisko area, make them feel a part of a climate research project and teach them about how to conduct climate research," says Keith Larson, the leader of the project. He is a researcher and project manager at the Climate Impacts Research Centre, CIRC, at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences. One hundred years ago, Swedish botanist Thore C. E. Fries conducted a study of snowmelt dates and plant phenology in the relatively new Abisko National Park (established in 1909). His study took place along a transect from the bottom to the summit of Mt. Nuolja. As he hiked up and down the mountain some 150 times during the three years of the study, he probably could not imagine how important his study would be a hundred years later. Keith Larson, researcher and project coordinator at the Climate Impacts Research Centre, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, recently received a grant from the Swedish Research Council, Formas, to set up a citizen science project related to his efforts to repeat Fries' original study. "The opportunity to replicate a study a hundred years later in a region with obvious signs of global warming is tremendously exciting. Abisko (and the Arctic in general) has seen almost a 1.5 C increase in annual temperatures in the last century with most of the change taking place in the last 30 years compared to the global average increase of approximately 1 C since 1880. Furthermore, temperature increases in Abisko have resulted in significant thawing of permafrost and treelines shifting up in elevation by as much as 30-40 metres," says Keith Larson. CIRC researchers, in collaboration with the Abisko Scientific Research Station, Swedish Phenology Network, and Naturum Abisko, will re-establish the transect in 2017 and replicate the study over the next three years. The study will be modernised with climate stations established at the summit and treeline to supplement the long-term climate data collected at the research station since 1913. To increase the impact of the study, the Formas grant will allow the researchers to establish a citizen science programme where the public joins in the field data collecting on approximately 20 key plant species. They can also help by taking photographs to document the phenology changes. Phenology is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events influenced by seasonal and inter-annual variations in climate, as well as habitat factors, such as elevation. This plant phenology study will follow plants from the moment the snow melts, through green-up, flowering and death in the autumn as winter sets in with cold temperatures. Aided by a new smart phone app being developed by the Swedish Phenology Network, the public will be able to hike the transect and collect data. Along the way, they will be presented with the knowledge and tools to understand how we conduct our research and be able to compare the results immediately with the original study in 1917-1919. "The trail (transect) will be opened around 21 June. It's possible to walk only part of the trail or alternatively take the chairlift up and walk down." ### Interested in doing science a favour? Interested members of the public are welcome to contact researchers at AbiskoCitizenScience@gmail.com About CIRC: The Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC) conducts research, education, and outreach with focus on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in Arctic and alpine environments. The aim is to integrate new knowledge in ecology and biogeochemistry to get a better understanding of current conditions and making projections for the future. The operations are based in the Abisko Scientific Research Station, 200 km north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden (68.35 N, 18.82 E). http://www.emg.umu.se/forskning/circ/ April 28, 2017 - Dermal fillers have become a popular alternative to surgery for patients who want a younger facial appearance. Learning about some key "danger zones" can help plastic surgeons to enhance the safety and effectiveness of facial filler procedures, according to an expert update in the May issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The article is written by Rod J. Rohrich, MD, and colleagues from the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute. Rohrich also serves as editor-in-chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The article is accompanied by a set of online videos illustrating anatomically-based techniques to minimize risk and maximize safety when using dermal fillers in specific areas of the face. "Given current trends, it becomes even more important that plastic surgeons, dermatologists, oculoplastic surgeons and facial plastic surgeons learn safe, predictable techniques to achieve optimal results with facial filler injections," said Dr. Rohrich. Videos Illustrate 'Danger Zones' in Facial Filler Injection Injection of soft tissue dermal fillers can reduce facial lines and wrinkles and restore a fuller, younger-looking facial appearance. Providing immediate results with a short recovery time, dermal filler injection has become the second-most popular nonsurgical cosmetic procedure (behind botulinum toxin injection). According to ASPS statistics, more than 2.6 million dermal filler procedures were performed in 2016. When performed by a board certified or experienced practitioner facial filler injection is a safe procedure. Complications are uncommon and generally mild. However, rare but serious complications have been reported, occurring especially with inadvertent injection blood vessel damage or injection of the filler material into the blood vessels. Dr. Rohrich outlines his approach to specific principles for safe filler injection, including the use of hyaluronic acid fillers when possible. The major advantage of these products is that their effects can be rapidly reversed by rescue injection with the enzyme hyaluronidase. Of the 2.6 million dermal filler procedures performed last year, 2 million were completed using hyaluronic acid fillers. Other principles for safe filler injection include the use of continuous motion and gentle injection techniques. "Most importantly, practitioners should be able to recognize complications and address them immediately," Dr. Rohrich said. "They should pay particular attention to the six danger zones from the forehead to the chin, areas commonly addressed by facial filler injection." In the online videos, Dr. Rohrich demonstrates and narrates his approach to dermal filler injection in each area. He explains the steps to protect the underlying blood vessels, while discussing the filler products and injection techniques to achieving the best results in each area. The videos also include cadaver dissections demonstrating the course of the underlying blood vessels in each danger zone, as well as before-and-after views showing the facial rejuvenation results. ### Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is published by Wolters Kluwer. Click here to read "Facial Danger Zones: Techniques to Maximize Safety during Soft-Tissue Filler Injections." Article: "Facial Danger Zones: Techniques to Maximize Safety during Soft-Tissue Filler Injections" (doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000003309) About Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery For more than 70 years, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (http://www.prsjournal.com/) has been the one consistently excellent reference for every specialist who uses plastic surgery techniques or works in conjunction with a plastic surgeon. The official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery brings subscribers up-to-the-minute reports on the latest techniques and follow-up for all areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery, including breast reconstruction, experimental studies, maxillofacial reconstruction, hand and microsurgery, burn repair, and cosmetic surgery, as well as news on medico-legal issues About ASPS The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 7,000 physician members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer N.V. (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2016 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide. Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY). For more information about our solutions and organization, visit http://www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Thursday, April 27, 2017 Attention residents of Manchester, New Hampshire: Gail Rubin is coming to your town to speak! Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium is pleased and proud to host The Doyenne of Death, Gail Rubin, CT, for TWO end-of-life and funeral pre-planning seminars in May. Shes presenting Kicking the Bucket List: Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die. These events promise to be a lighthearted and educational way to help you learn about the many aspects of end-of-life planning, including how to downsize and organize things before you die. These FREE seminars will also feature Buddy Phaneuf, CFSP, Funeral Director, who will augment Gails presentation with information on preplanning and how preplanning can be a precious gift to your family, providing your loved ones with your final wishes. All attendees will be entered in a drawing to win Gails 4-DVD set of the TV interview series, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Dont Plan to Die. RSVP to attend through the online form at this page on Phaneufs website. Manchester: 2 p.m. on May 23 Phaneuf Funeral Home Reception Center 243 Hanover Street Manchester, NH Boscawen: 6 p.m. on May 23 Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium 172 King Street Boscawen, NH Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium has been serving New Hampshire families in their time of need for more than 110 years. Learn more at www.Phaneuf.net. Share this: British farm groups have said the value of government pledges on EU farm payments made last year are 'diminishing every day' as they meet for roundtable discussions. A roundtable meeting on Brexit, chaired by National Farmers' Union (NFU) deputy president Minette Batters, has been set up to share concerns and to promote collective action before the nation goes to the polls. The Farming Brexit Roundtable consists of the NFU, CLA, British Poultry Council, National Beef Association, National Pig Association, Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, the Soil Association and the Tenant Farmers' Association. Meeting for the first time last week, the organisations urged political parties to recognise the importance of agriculture to the economy and said it was a 'uniquely important time' for the industry. Long term plans "Our organisations welcome the commitment to honour EU payments until 2020, but farming is a long term business," they said in a joint statement. "Frankly, the value of the assurance, given in August 2016, diminishes with each passing day." Chancellor Philip Hammond pledged to guarantee billions of pounds for regeneration projects at risk because of Brexit, including agricultural schemes. "Farm businesses need to know the long term plans of our political parties over the next decade, not just the next two years. "So we urge all parties to make their plans clear in their respective manifestos to give farmers the stability required to instill confidence for the future. Priorities The roundtable said they considered the trading relationship in which farming will find itself post-Brexit. They said 'it's clear' that there is a pressing need to secure continuing access to the European Union marketplace as a priority. "The vast majority of food exports are to the EU, lamb and cereals being good examples. "So every sector needs there to be free and frictionless trade with the EU to thrive long term, or face economic calamity of over-supplied domestic markets. Whatever the final outcome of the General Election, the next Government must secure a phased transition to the new trading agreements." High-profile vegan advertisement campaigns are having the reverse effect they desired, with the public shunning them and instead supporting British farming, according to a new YouGov poll. The survey, of 2023 UK adults, found that of the 83% of UK adults surveyed who had not seen the pro-vegan campaigns before, 54% said they were less likely to become vegan after being exposed to two of the adverts. And only 7% of those surveyed on 12 April said the anti-farming campaigns meant they might consider turning vegan. NFU president Meurig Raymond said that survey work demonstrates that the public support British farming. He said: While we accept that 1% of the population choose to be vegan, what these survey results show is that these extreme views arent shared with the wider public who continue to show their support for British farming. Our own survey work demonstrates that public support for British farming is growing. This latest survey demonstrates that the public do not like the anti-farming rhetoric and scaremongering coming out of some organisations. Mr Raymond concluded: Like many other farmers, I am proud to work in a safe, traceable and independently audited food chain under assurance schemes like the Red Tractor. NFU's Dairy Board has called on the industry to treat recent vegan campaigns as a wakeup call. Recent campaigns, including those by Go Vegan World, have left some dairy farmers fearing for their future. Farmers have said they are disappointed with Tesco's decision to stock Argentinian beef in some of its Welsh stores on a limited trial basis. NFU Cymru said that retailers need to strengthen their commitment Welsh and British produce. NFU Cymru Deputy President, John Davies said: NFU Cymru welcomes the moves by certain retailers to strengthen their commitment to Welsh and British produce, with some even committing to 100% sourcing of British meat. These commitments are in tune with public sentiment, as we know that 73% of the public want to support the British farming industry by buying British food. Welsh and British farmers adhere to the highest animal welfare standards and produce world-class products, therefore consumers know that when they buy British theyre getting a quality product. With this week being Great British Beef Week, it was the perfect opportunity for supermarkets to be celebrating the great products we have, therefore it is disappointing that Tesco has taken the decision to stock a branded line of Argentinian beef, albeit on a limited trial basis. NFU Cymru continues to work with all retailers to encourage them to support Welsh livestock farmers. Great British Beef Week, which runs from 23 April to 1 May, is now in its seventh year and aims to encourage everyone to celebrate the quality and versatility of British beef, and the farmers who bring it to plates across the UK. After a series of events around the world, the World Wrap Masters will conclude at FESPA 2017, and excitement is high ahead of the final. Those familiar with the global competition will be aware of the quality that this popular event attracts. The FESPA World Wrap Masters not only has the ability to showcase some of the best talent in the market, but also offer other members of the industry the opportunity to learn about the art of vehicle wrapping. Although the various events around the world have been serving as platforms for wrappers to show off their skills, it is the much-anticipated final at FESPA 2017 that looks set to generate the most interest, with many exhibitors expected to drop in on the event at the show. The FESPA World Wrap Masters final will be taking place in the corner of Hall B4 in the digital area of the exhibition. In addition to seeing competitions in action, those in attendance will be able to find out more about best practice in wrapping at the dedicated FESPA Wrap Demo Area, where specialists will talk visitors through the processes that can help ensure their wrap job meets the expectations of customers. The final will comprise the six regional winners from qualifiers staged over the past months. Jose Ramirez Avila won the event in Mexico, Ivan Tenchev from Bulgaria emerged victorious at the Eurasia contest, while Scott Humble of the US won in Asia. In addition, Simbarashe Mapholisa was declared winner of the regional qualifier in Africa, while Pablo Rivas de Castro from Brazil won the event at FESPA Brasil 2016 and Raphael Bacoccini was victorious at FESPA Brasil 2017. Away from the World Wrap Masters, visitors looking to gain further insight into process apart from the actual application of wraps may find a number of sessions in this years conference programme of use. For example, Graeme Richardson Locke, sales and operations director at Vektor, will focus on colour management in his session at 12:30 on May 11. During this presentation, visitors will be able to learn more about the key stages; from colour vision testing and software set up, through to equipment calibration, profiling and quality control. Colour is important in all printed work, but when it comes to vehicle graphics, especially when a brand is involved, colour accuracy is critical. Vehicle graphics are widely regarded not only as one of the key growth areas in the global industry at present, but also one of the most creative. Designers and wrappers alike attempt to push the boundaries of this sector each year, and due to ongoing development of materials and technologies, often succeed. You can see examples of this in the FESPAs Top 20 vehicle graphics applications of 2016, and of course find out exactly how these are achieved by visiting FESPA 2017 next month. World Wrap Master competition powers up in Hamburg The FESPA World Wrap Masters Series is a collection of global events that have been designed to not only encourage, recognise and promote excellence in the vehicle wrapping community, but also allow specialist in this field of work to improve their skills within a live, competitive environment. If you are interested in taking part, there is still time to join this years World Wrap Masters Series and possibly qualify for the World Wrap Masters Finals at FESPA 2017 in May, with a number of qualifying events scheduled over the next few months. The European Wrap Masters will take place on the opening day of FESPA 2017, prior to the World Wrap Masters Finals on May 11. Visitors can save 70 entry fee to the exhibition by registering via the website and quoting reference code: FESG702. Watch below the best shots from the 2016 World Wrap Masters competition that took place in Amsterdam during FESPA Digital 2016. For more information on the FESPA World Wrap Masters Series and to register, please visit: www.wrapmasters.fespa.com. About 1,000 acres of farmland is being offered on four five-year farm business tenancies in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. New entrants and farmers looking for the next step may be interested in three units being let by Buckinghamshire County Council, which range in size from 36 to 306 acres. An hour west, in Oxfordshire, the owner of an equipped 556-acre prime arable farm is searching for an established farmer who wants to expand their operation. See also: Two Cumbrian tenancies up for grabs Ed Smith, who is handling all four lets at Carter Jonas in Oxford, says they represent a great opportunity to achieve security of tenure while maintaining flexibility as the UK charts its course out of the European Union. Were entering an interesting time for farming with all thats happening with Brexit so it will be a good test of the market. Weve already had a number of enquiries so there will a lot of interest. The deadline for tenders on all four farms is 1 June 2017. Blagrove Farm A prime arable unit of 556 acres at Wootton near Abingdon in South Oxfordshire, Blagrove has been contract farmed in recent years. Winter wheat has averaged 3.3t/acre with winter barley yielding 2.7t/acre over the past five years, grown in rotation with oilseed rape and beans. Grade 3 soils are a slowly permeable loam and clay with fields undulating around the small village of Sunningwell. A central grain store has 1,800t of capacity with under-floor ventilation and a Matthews & Yates 81kW dryer. There is also a fertiliser store. A five-bedroom farmhouse is available to let by separate negotiation should the incoming tenant want to create a satellite unit. Ultimately the landlord is searching for a good commercial farmer, Mr Smith said. The expectation would be someone expanding their existing operation with a proven track record. BPS entitlements will be transferred to the successful applicant at the start of the tenancy in September. Mansfield Farm Mansfield Farm is a 306-acre mixed unit near Iver, Buckinghamshire, comprising about 145 acres of arable-capable ground with the balance under permanent pasture. It is available as a whole, or in three lots. Fields are stock-proof and bordered by mature trees and hedgerows. Buildings include a range of modern and traditional agricultural and equestrian constructions including a listed barn, stables and two clear-span general-purpose barns. A five-bedroom farmhouse is included. Isle of Wight Farm About two miles from Gerrards Cross, Isle of Wight has about 105 acres of level permanent pasture and arable ground lying to the east and west of the M25. The incumbents have put the farm to equestrian use, running a horse feed business from the site. It has a range of traditional and modern farm buildings and a range of stables set around a courtyard. A farmhouse is included. Moorcroft Farm Moorcroft has 37 acres of ring-fenced permanent pasture divided in to seven fields near Uxbridge, just 18 miles from London. No house is included in the letting, but there is an enclosed yard with a brick building and tack room, plus a Dutch barn and further storage buildings. Haiti - DR : First official bilateral meeting of the two Chancellors Foreign ministers Antonio Rodrigue (Haiti) and Miguel Vargas (Dominican Republic) will meet this Thursday (April 27th) at the Dominican Chancellery in Santo Domingo to discuss key issues such as immigration, trade and Bilateral cooperation between the two Governments. This is the first official bilateral meeting between the two Chancellors after their meeting last month on the sidelines of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) in Kingston, Jamaica. The two Chancelleries stress the importance of this meeting for the consolidation and expansion of relations between the two countries, which could generate initiatives that would benefit the development of the border by increasing the chances of attracting investment, infrastructure development and the formalization of trade, with significant job creation and improvement of the quality of life of people living in the area on both sides of the border. SL/ HaitiLibre Robert Menard, mayor of Beziers in southern France, took note of Muslim children flooding classrooms on the first day of school last September, tweeting that he was watching the great replacement happen before his eyes. BBC News characterized the term as divisive and used to describe the alleged eviction of Frances white Christian population by migrants. Menard didnt stop there, though. A few days later during a television appearance, he said that in a class in the city center of my town, 91% of the children are Muslims. Obviously, this is a problem. There are limits to tolerance, BBC News reported. The network said French law prohibits data based on peoples religious beliefs or ethnicity. Menard, 63, apparently didnt see what the big deal was. I just described the situation in my town. It is not a value judgment, its a fact, he said, according to BBC News. Its what I can see. Seems that wasnt a sufficient defense, as Menard described by the network as far-right and an ally of the anti-immigrant National Front party was fined 2,000 euros for inciting hatred over his words. (Thats about $2,200.) The public prosecutor had asked for a fine of 1,800 euros, saying Menard pointed the finger at kids, whom he describes as a weight on the national community, BBC News reported. Apart from the fine, the Paris court awarded 1,000 euros in court costs to anti-racist groups that had brought the case, the network said, adding that Menard insisted hell appeal the ruling. Source : The Blaze AIDA "kissing lips" It is permissible to reproduce, disseminate and publicly reproduce works, which are permanently on public paths, streets or squares, by means of painting or graphics, by means of photographs or by film. Art on a truck. The freedom of panorama - an exception to copyright protection that permits depicting buildings and sometimes sculptures and other art works which are permanently located in a public place without the copyright's owner's permission - is an area of law in Europe that is so far not harmonized, and while some countries recognize the freedom of panorama, others don't . The draft Directive on Copyright in the Single Digital Market does not provide for a compulsory freedom of panorama exception, despite a public consultation on the issue.Germany is a member state that recognizes freedom of panorama in its national law. 59(1) German Copyright Act reads (in an unofficial translation): Feliks Buttner is the designer of the "kissing lips" painted on the bow of every cruise ship by the operator AIDA. He assigned the exclusive rights of use to AIDA. AIDA sued an operator of a website that offered excursions in connection with cruises and depicted an AIDA cruise ship with the kissing lips design. The website operator tried to avail itself of the freedom of panorama. AIDA argued that the "kissing lips" were not permanently on display in a public place, as the cruise ships moved about. In any case, the art work was not on display on a path, street or square, but rather on water...The BGH sided with the defendant. 59(1) was to be interpreted such that a work was display "on a public street" if it was visible from any place under the open sky accessible to the general public. This includes a harbor, although "harbour" was not specifically mentioned in the wording of the article. A work was "permanently" present in a public place even if it moved about, as long as it was destined to be in some public place for a prolonged period of time ("langere Zeit". Why this has to be assessed through the eyes of the general public, as the BGH indicates, and is not an objective standard eludes me).The freedom of panorama therefore includes art on cruise ships, but more importantly, also art on cars, trucks, lorries, busses, street cars and other means of transportation. Therein lies the importance of this decision, since in a modern urban environment, it is almost impossible to take a picture without depicting some copyright protected work affixed to some form of transportation. Decision of 27 April 2017 - I ZR 247/15 - AIDA Kussmund (only the media release has been published so far) Controversial televangelist Zakir Naik , who is wanted by Indian security agencies for making inflammatory speeches and for the money dealings of his Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation, was spotted in Malaysia last week. He was apparently presented an award by Malaysian group Perkasa for his contributions to the cause of Islam. The group put up photographs and videos online of the function. The local media has quoted government officials to say Naik was given permanent resident status in Malaysia five years ago. Indian security experts, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they suspected that Naik was now holed up in Malaysia. The Mumbai enforcement directorate, which recently got a non-bailable warrant against Naik, said the visit was under the scanner. We are looking into it, said a high-ranking Enforcement Directorate officer. India has signed MLAT (mutual legal assistance treaty) with 38 other countries, including Malaysia. The authorities said they are exploring the options under the treaty. Efforts to bring him back will continue, said an officer. The treaty, however, does not cover execution of arrest warrants. Malaysian officials have already hinted they would cooperate with India on the investigations. The treaty defines assistance as taking evidence or statements of people, making arrangements for people to give evidence or to assist in criminal investigation, including the transfer of people in custody, executing searches and seizures, examining objects and sites, providing relevant documents and records, including bank, financial, corporate or business records, providing objects, among others. A special national investigation agency (NIA) court and a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court has issued two separate non-bailable warrants against Naik. After the ban of Islamic Research foundation (IRF), in November 2016, the NIA registered a case against Naik and others for allegedly radicalising youth. The ED then registered a case against IRF and others for money laundering. Source : Hindustan Times Home Instead Senior Care Nominates Outstanding Professional Caregivers as CAREGiver of the Year Finalists Posted by Press Releases on Friday, 04-28-2017 1:05 am Currently 1.0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5 1.0 from 1 votes Eight extraordinary people with a passion to serve others are being honored this month at the Home Instead Senior Care annual convention. Hailing from the organizations eight regions, these individuals were selected from a pool of more than 65,000 Home Instead professional caregivers in North America to receive the CAREGiver of the Year award. Each was nominated for their compassionate service and exceptional commitment to bettering the lives of seniors and their families.Home Instead caregivers, known as CAREGiversSM, provide seniors with companionship and services (e.g., meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, incidental transportation, errands and shopping) to help them remain independent at home or in care communities. CAREGivers also have the opportunity to participate in specialized training programs to meet the unique care needs of those living with Alzheimers disease.While only one person will be named CAREGiver of the Year, we are proud to honor these ei... Close Forgot Your Password? Enter in your email address and we will send it to you. Send Email An HR.com member profile provides you with access to a multitude of information and education along with the opportunity to network with the largest HR community on the web. 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You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile Vi Earns Recognition as a 2017 Top Learning and Development Organization by Chief Learning Officer Magazine Posted by Press Releases on Friday, 04-28-2017 7:21 am Currently 2.0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5 2.0 from 1 votes For the seventh consecutive year, Vi is honored with the LearningElite Award.CHICAGO, IL (PRWEB) APRIL 27, 2017When companies provide exceptional learning and development resources for employees, the employees will often notice and respond positively. Chief Learning Officer magazine also takes note, and has included Vi among the winners of its LearningElite Award for the seventh consecutive time.Operating ten continuing care retirement communities nationwide, Vi has built a strong reputation for providing an exceptional array of opportunities for learning, growth and success among its employees, most of whom specialize in resident services, nursing, and professional areas.Vi was ranked number four out of 64 total winners for 2017. Human Capital Media, the publisher of Chief Learning Officer magazine, announced the awards on Sunday, April 23, at the organizations LearningElite Gala in Bonita Springs, Florida.This accolade honors organizations that invest in the best resources for learn... Close Forgot Your Password? Enter in your email address and we will send it to you. Send Email An HR.com member profile provides you with access to a multitude of information and education along with the opportunity to network with the largest HR community on the web. If you need any help, call .877.472.6648 and ask for our Member Experience Co-ordinator. Hi Please check your email for an activation link. If you do not receive your activation email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or call our Help Desk at 1.877.472.6648 For faster assistance, dial extension 4. Thank you! Continue Hi Verification error - Please enter the correct code above. Verified Wow! You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile New developments on the equal pay front The EEOC and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) have joined forces and are sharing information with each other, making private and government lawsuits an increasing possibility. The OFCCP can audit your pay practices and give you a passing grade or not and employees can still sue you and possibly win. You can settle a private lawsuit with your employees and the OFCCP can still audit your pay practices. Whats going on here and whats an employer to do? If youre looking for at least some clarity, read on Lets start with one piece of possible good news. Suppose some of your employees or ex-employees sue you, alleging pay discrimination. Suppose you settle the case. Now suppose you are also a federal contractor, and the OFCCP selects your company for an audit and focuses on your pay practices. Can you settle the OFCCP case? Well, sure. However, can you tie that settlement with the one you reached recently in connection with the private lawsuit? The answer for a long time was assumed to be no, but now, the answer might be at least a may be. It just happened this week, in Pan v Qualcomm Inc . S.D. Cal., No. 16-01885. Lets take a closer look. Between 2013 and 2014, the OFCCP conducted audits of two of Qualcomms functional units. The OFCCP found statistically significant pay disparities between male and female engineers beginning in May 2011. According to the OFCCP, men were paid at significantly greater rate than women, who were equally or more qualified, and issued a notice of violation this past February. Often, during an OFCCP audit involving employee interviews about pay, those employees who believe that they are paid less based on sex or race will hire a lawyer and file a private lawsuit, which is what happened here. This past July, 3,300 current and former female Qualcomm employees filed a class action lawsuit alleging pay discrimination. One day later, the parties reached and filed with the court a $19.5 million settlement. The judge granted preliminary approval of the settlement in December, and a motion for final approval was filed in February. Last month, the OFCCP and Qualcomm entered into a Conciliation Agreement (settlement), which incorporates relief expected to be provided in Pan . Currently this result is unusual. Why might the OFCCP have been willing to accept such a result? The OFCCP said that the Pan settlement would provide an effective remedy for the female engineers identified by the OFCCP. (Reading between the lines, Im thinking that the significant dollar amount helped things along considerably.) Also, tying these two cases together now ensures that both the OFCCP and the plaintiffs counsel will be monitoring compliance with the settlement(s), which would certainly be attractive to both the OFCCP and the plaintiffs counsel. From Qualcomms perspective, its a way of more neatly resolving two separate cases at the same time. That might be about as close to a win-win as one can hope for under these circumstances. While an employer might be able to use a private settlement to resolve an OFCCP audit, the reverse may not be true, however. In other words, if you are a government contractor, and the results of an audit of your pay practices are good, you may not be able to use those results as evidence in a private lawsuit. An Iowa furniture maker just learned that the hard way, in D indinger v. Allsteel, Inc. , 2017 BL 107720, 8th Cir., No. 16-1305, 4/3/17. The case went to trial, and ended in a judgment of $204,000 to three female managers, who alleged pay discrimination, and another $270,000 award in attorneys fees. The OFCCP had conducted an audit of Allsteels pay practices in 2012, and issued a notice of compliance. The court would not admit these findings into evidence, because it reasoned that the results would have been unfairly prejudicial at trial. (Then again, is anything ever fairly prejudicial just sayin). The court also reasoned that OFCCP findings would add little or nothing to the case, since it allowed Allsteel to offer evidence about the audit process in general, the type of data collected and analyzed and company officials conclusions based on that data. The court also rejected Allsteels attempt to use economic conditions to defend the pay differences. Even assuming that economic conditions could defend pay discrepancies between men and women, the court noted that Allsteel offered no evidence that the last recession, resulting in layoffs and pay freezes caused female managers to be paid less than male managers. OK, how do we tie everything together? If you reach a settlement in a pay discrimination case that seems to address substantially all the same issues in a pending OFCCP audit you may be able to resolve both matters simultaneously. If you do well in an OFCCP audit, thats great, but it may not help you dismiss or settle a lawsuit. So whats the bottom line for employers looking to avoid pay discrimination suits or OFCCP findings of violations? It gets back to monitoring your compliance with affirmative action requirements (if youre a federal contractor) along with the Equal Pay Act, Title VII and any applicable state laws. That, of course, means you need to know those laws or hire or retain someone who does. FYI, to learn some basics, you can catch my live webinars on pay equity laws , or on affirmative action compliance . Of course, you should also make sure to consult with your trusty employment counsel! HRIS&PAYROLL Contents of this post are for educational/informational purposes only, are not legal advice, and do not create an attorney-client relationship. Consult with competent employment counsel in the state(s) in which you employ people with your specific questions. This article originally appeared here . Author Bio Janette Levey Frisch is an Employment/HR Attorney and the Founder of The EmpLAWyerologist Firm. Visit www.theemplawyerologist.com Connect Janette Levey Frisch Follow @JLeveyFrisch --> What does your CEO, CFO or other executive team members expect from their core HR, payroll and benefits experience? Two objectives come to mind: peace of mind and business value. Lets take a closer look at each. Executives dont want to think about core HR processes What your executive team wants is peace of mind that processes like payroll, benefits and compliance are being managed accurately, effectively and in a timely manner. They dont want a call in the middle of the night saying, theres been an error with payroll and the entire company is standing in your front yard demanding their paycheck. They dont want to receive a notice from the Department of Justice citing I-9 violations that will cost the company thousands of dollars. Having clear, streamlined procedures in place for administrative tasks such as payroll along with an integrated HR system that automates these processes can help improve data integrity and simplify reporting both of which reduce a companys compliance risk. Todays cloud-based solutions offer the additional benefit of adapting more quickly to constantly changing regulatory requirements. Together, solid procedures and the right technology can help your company avoid the unpleasant experience when things go wrong with these key business processes, which is what executives want. The Executive Experience Focuses on driving business value According to ... The function of Human Resources assuming it exists - in any size company is best positioned to help mitigate the insider threats of a cyber attack. HR must take a collaborative role with the companys IT and/or security governance bodies to develop policies and to educate the entire workforce in best practices and action steps to help reduce the threat level of future attacks that might be initiated/facilitated by workforce behaviors and poor HR data security. Clearly, cybersecurity is on the worlds stage, especially here in America. Made more visible to the general public through the concerns over the hacking of the democratic national committee and Russias alleged influence over our presidential election, the threat of cyber attacks has gotten great publicity. Even before our election, the hacking of records maintained by TARGET, BEST BUY and YAHOO with almost 1.5 billion records stolen (to name just a few) have created great concerns and interest. However, a bit less publicity has been given to and about the threats and executed attacks within any corporation (of any size) stemming from their own employees or from former employees. It has been often stated that the greatest point of vulnerability to an organizations data files is as a result of the behavior and lack of mindfulness of the employees themselves. A recent VERIZON data breach investigations report (2015) stated, an organiz... This time of year is exciting. Trees are blossoming, flowers are blooming and the weather is warming up. And then, just when youre caught up in the beauty of nature coming back to life, another part of life smacks you right across the face: tax season. Its here, and your tax forms have to be mailed out whether you like it or not. In HR, we anticipate it and prepare for it all year long but were expecting a change since the Affordable Care Act went into effect. However, employees arent well informed. Employees dont understand how it relates to their taxes. Our recent ACA study found that 3 out of 4 employees dont know how ACA will affect their filings. And even those who think they understand dont know everything. In 2016, employees will need to file a form (1095-C) to show they have ACA-compliant healthcare coverage. You probably know this, but 95 percent of your people dont. Taxes seem to be a particularly perplexing part of ACA, as only 16 percent of respondents who felt they understood ACA well or very well actually knew the correct form. Wouldnt it be nice if we could send employees the information and required forms and then categorize everything else dealing with taxes (and understanding them) as not HRs job? Honestly, some of us may do this simply because educating employees doesnt seem mission critical. But it can be the wrong approach. Consider this: Nine out of ten employees who blame their employer for increased insurance costs say they dont understand how ACA affects their taxes very well or at all. However, of all employees who say they understand ACA well or very well, only one out of 10 say they blame their employer. We tend to be harder on those closest to us. So, when employees dont know much about health care, most of them are going to blame the company for increased costs (because thats easier than learning to understand ACA and taxes). But when you educate your employees about ACA, those who blame the company drops to only 11 percent. If you could do something to earn 80 percent higher levels of trust from your employees, wouldnt you do it? Especially if it were only a matter of educating them on something you are (likely by now) an expert on? HR is the employee ally. Were their advocates and want to help them. We navigate laws and research benefits to make sure we provide whats best for our people. Lets alleviate a major pain-point employees have and though it may also be self-serving increase their satisfaction, trust and loyalty to the company. Educating employees is extremely impactful. And it really doesnt have to take much time to do. Organize a company meeting to discuss these things. Do a lunch-and-learn event where employees can ask questions about ACA and taxes. If you can, bring in a CPA for employees to consult with. Even if all you can muster is compiling content that will help employees understand how ACA affects their taxes (and really, affects them in general), do it. Find relevant materials and upload them to a place where everyone can access them like an HRIS. You will reap benefits from your strategic efforts. Take a minute to consider the impact you can have, and then start today. HRIS&PAYROLL This article first appeared here . Author Bio Kelsie Davis is a Brand Journalist for BambooHR. An advocate for high-impact HR professionals, Kelsie researches, analyzes and writes to encourage HR to get the most out their initiatives. Visit www.bamboohr.com Connect Kelsie Davis Follow @bamboohr --> We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector UANI, United Against Nuclear Iran, has asked the companies to sign a declaration confirming that they will not carry out any business dealings with Iran until it stops calling for the destruction of Israel and until it stops denying the Holocaust. So far, not one of the companies has signed the declaration. The leaders of Iran say that the Holocaust is a myth and have welcomed an international Holocaust denial cartoon contest. In a letter to the companies in question, UANI wrote: The Iranian government has institutionalized a culture of anti-Semitism, which is built upon three intertwined tenets: (1) The demonization of Zionists and Jews, (2) advocacy for the destruction of the State of Israel, and (3) Holocaust denial. Holocaust denial, in particular, is a core fountainhead of Irans modern anti-Semitism that is domestically endorsed and internationally exported. UANI recognizes that your company does not condone the practice of Holocaust denial. However, we do believe that doing business in Iran offers important financial succour to the Iranian regime and helps to perpetuate its ongoing practices of Holocaust denial, revisionism and trivialization. The companies include big names like Volkswagen, Allianz and Siemens. The President of UANI, David Ibsen, said that it is a great concern that none of the companies have signed the declaration. He said that these companies have voluntarily signed up for a German initiative acknowledging complicity of German industry in the Holocaust. And yet they are apparently ignoring an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to defend the memory of the millions of lives destroyed by the Third Reich. He added: Rather they are reportedly pursuing business with a state that inscribes its missiles with Death to Israel, arms terror proxies dedicated to Israels destruction and supports an annual cartoon contest dedicated to mocking, trivializing and denying that historical tragedy. Given the complicity of German industry in the Holocaust and its subsequent commendable effort to make amends, any decision to engage with a regime that denies the Holocaust and chants Death to Israel appears contradictory and also carries considerable reputational and moral risk. Features Chin States Unsuccessful Campaign to Ban Liquor A notice at Thantlang Baptist Church prohibiting liquor, cigarettes and betel nut in the church. / Me Tint For eight years, prohibition was in effect in Chin States Thantlang Township. Today, it is water under the bridge. Liquor is once again legal in the town and there is no longer a need for villagers to travel to nearby Hakha to imbibe. After a vigorous but unsuccessful eight-year campaign to ban liquor, campaigners abandoned their efforts in 2015, according to campaigner and pastor of the Thantlang Township Baptist Church Lawng Benk. Following an increase in the number of bars, local ethnic Chin people had asked the government in 2006 to ban the sale of liquor to prevent the demoralization of the younger generation as well as to reduce crime. Chin State is one of the least developed areas in Burma, and struggles with a lack of educational institutions and general infrastructure. Although alcohol is legal throughout Burma, the government did not sell or renew licenses in Thantlang Township in 2006 and 2007 following the request made by locals. In 2008, Christian churches and community elders contributed moneyat least 2 million kyats annuallyto buy the annual allotment of licenses in order to prevent distribution. In 2010, the Baptist Church announced that it would expel those who distributed liquor, bootleggers, and their families from the church, and that it would not cover funeral services for concerned parties. Campaigners also carried out programs to raise awareness among the youth regarding the health risks of drinking. Farming is a major source of livelihood for locals, and many have said liquor helps them fight weariness and harsh weather. Despite campaigners efforts, liquor was brought in from bordering townships and sold illegally. Pastors tried unsuccessfully to control the black market by stopping cars and motorbikes that came into town and destroying any liquor they found. Pastors checked town entrances at night, but the more people we caught, the more who carried it in, said Lawng Benk. There was eventually a standoff between locals and pastors. Pastors filed complaints against smugglers in court, but they were met with nominal fines, which did not mitigate the smuggling. Police and soldiers sold liquor illegally, Lawng Benk said, and pastors took to impersonating buyers in order to find unsanctioned sellers. As campaigners were unable to arrest the sellers and fines had little effect, more than 2,000 Chin locals staged a protest, calling on the government to impose an official ban and introduce necessary regulations and punishments. More than 1,300 locals signed a petition to this effect. But nothing happened, said Lawng Benk. At the same time, some Thantlang locals asked the state government to allow bars in line with nationwide laws and regulations. The Chin State government, perhaps prompted by the steady smuggling and high price of liquor on the black market for locals, allowed bars to reopen. Campaigners eventually gave up on their efforts. It was like the more we prohibited liquor, the worse the situation became, said Lawng Benk. Currently, there are three licensed bars in Thantlang Township, which has a population of some 50,000 people. Burma Breaking: Nationalist Mob Closes Two Islamic Schools in Rangoon Security forces on guard in front of the Madrasa at Anawmar 12 street in Thaketa Township after the religious school was sealed off by nationalists on Friday evening. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy RANGOON Two madrasas near downtown Rangoon were sealed off by an alleged Buddhist nationalist group on Friday evening, making the accusation that the Islamic schools were operating as mosques, without official permission. Residents in the area, which includes Anawmar 11 and 12 streets in Thaketa Township, said the religious buildings were shut down without any official decree. They claimed that police and city officials were also present on-site when the madrasas were locked down by a mob of nearly 50 nationalists. Crowds gathered in the area on late Friday afternoon, leading to a public brawl as the buildings were locked. A videographer working for the Associated PressKo Min Kyi Theinwas reportedly attacked by the nationalists while filming the incident. At the time of reporting, the police did not allow representatives of the media within the vicinity of the buildings as they were being sealed off, stating that they intended to prevent further conflict. However, others appeared to be let in. Streets leading to the madrasas were blocked with barricades manned by security forcesmore than 100 police were deployed to the scene. Dr. Wai Phyo Aung, the National League for Democracy lawmaker who represents the township, was present at the site of the incident. He appeared reluctant to comment on the situation, only stating that an official announcement would be made soon, but not clarifying when this might occur. The area is home to one large mosque and three madrasas, including the two sealed off on Friday. Muslims in the neighborhood said they were worried that the remaining madrasa and the mosque would also soon be locked down by nationalists. The Irrawaddy reporter on the ground was threatened when he tried to get comments from the nationalists, and was forced to leave the area. Maung Hla Win, a local Muslim, said, there are Buddhists who stayed on our street. We accepted them, and they accepted us. We did not have a problem. But the men who came here [today] just did as they liked, he added. Another Muslim, Ko Ye Kyaw, said that the group of nationalists arrived at around 2 p.m. We did not act violent toward them, because we knew if we did, we would face violence, he explained. The Irrawaddy was told that Muslims in the area were informed beforehand to close the religious schools right after the Thingyan water festival in mid-April, but the claim could not be independently verified. Burma Burma Turns Down Chinese Assistance in Addressing Refugee Crisis in Bangladesh Rohingya refugees lie on the floor of a mosque at Balukhali Makeshift Refugee Camp in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, April 12, 2017. / Mohammad Ponir Hossain / Reuters NAYPYIDAW The Burmese government will not accept Chinas offer to help mediate affairs in restive Arakan State, but will collaborate with Bangladesh, according to the Presidents Office spokesperson U Zaw Htay. According to Bangladeshi foreign ministry officials, China has offered to help tackle a diplomatic row between the two countries over the plight of tens of thousands of Muslim minority Rohingya who fled violence in Arakan State and sought refuge in Bangladesh since late 2016. U Zaw Htay told reporters during a press conference on the National League for Democracy governments first-year performance on Friday that the NLD administration understands Chinas concerns. He noted Chinas development project in Kyaukphyu, a special economic zone in Arakan State, but said that the government would opt to take a more standard path in obtaining assistance in dealing with conflict in the region. Chinese Special Envoy of Asian Affairs Sun Guoxiang was quoted as saying during his four-day trip to Bangladesh this week that they were ready to help if necessary. China has also been offering its assistance in conflicts in northeastern Burma, where fighting has been ongoing between government troops and ethnic armed groups. Burma Ethnic Party Accuses KIA of Killing Lisu People Lisu people take part in a ceremony. / Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy RANGOON The Lisu National Development Party (LNDP) has released a statement dated April 21 accusing the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) of killing Lisu people living in Kachin State and demanding the return of their bodies. LNDP chairman U Shwe Min accused the KIA, the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), of abducting and killing six Lisu people in the townships of Waingmaw and Myitkyina, capital of Kachin State, and burying their bodies in 2016 and 2017. U Shwe Min stated that KIA troops were responsible because they were at the crime scenes and some even confessed, according to him. The KIA killed local Lisu farmers for no reason and buried them, U Shwe Min told The Irrawaddy. Six were killed in a year. We want to know why they did that, and we want to get the bodies back. The statement said 36-year-old Zaw Lay of Khaxi village in Waingmaw Township was kidnapped and killed by the KIA on April 12 this year. The LNDP asked the KIA for the body, but KIA soldiers had already buried it, according to the statement, which also accused the KIA of planting landmines to kill Lisu people. Over the past two years, five other Lisu people have been killed and buried by the KIA, said U Shwe Min: one in Kapiketi sub-township last January, three in Sadone sub-township last March, and one in March this year. The Irrawaddy was unable to contact the KIA/KIO for comment. The KIA accidentally shot the Lisu people while trying to prevent them from burning the bush to make space for farming and is not targeting the ethnic groups, surmised Lamai Guang Jia of the Kachin Peace-talk Creation Group (PCG). We questioned them about the deaths in 2016 and they said they tried to stop them from bush burning, he said. But they didnt listen, so they made warning shots and accidentally hit them. [The KIA troops] said they were not aware if the victims were Lisu, Kachin or Bamar. They didnt do it out of racial hatred. In fact, the commander of the outpost [near where the Lisu victims were killed] is also a Lisu man. Lamai Guang Jia was saddened that the LNDP statement focused on racial antagonism, and said the allegation that the KIA was planting landmines to kill Lisu people was wrong, adding that they triggered the mines when bush burning. The PCG has urged civil society organizations (CSOs) to intervene and for the LNDP to hold direct talks with the KIA/KIO, he said. We have asked CSOs to mediate, but the statement that was issued recently includes harsh words, he added. There are about 400,000 Lisu people, the majority of whom live in Kachin State as well as Shan and Karenni states and Mandalay and Sagaing divisions, said U Shwe Min. Burma Free Clinic for Political Prisoners Closes Temporarily The third anniversary of the death of U Win Tin commemorated at his tomb in Yaway Cemetery. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy RANGOON The Hanthawaddy U Win Tin Foundation clinic, which provides free medical services to former political prisoners, has closed temporarily due to financial constraints, said foundation chairman U Kyaw Aung. The Hanthawaddy U Win Tin Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by the late prominent journalist U Win Tin in early 2012 with the aim of supporting current and former political prisoners and their family members with access to healthcare, education and rehabilitation. We plan to reopen next month but were short on medicine. This is the only free clinic for political prisoners, and I dont want to see it permanently shutdown, U Kyaw Aung told The Irrawaddy. In its early days, the foundation funded political prisoners and their families to receive healthcare at Green Cross Hospital in Rangoon. But after the death of U Win Tin in April 2014, the number of donors declined and the financial situation forced the foundation to open its own free clinic in October of the same year. Since its establishment, the free clinic has provided care to thousands of political prisoners and their families. It receives some 300 patients monthly, and is open six days a week. We plan to stay open until September. It will be difficult for us to provide free medicine if there are no donors, said U Kyaw Aung. U Win Tin was imprisoned by the military regime for 19 years from 1989 to 2008 for his writings, which were critical of the junta, and his role in the NLD, which he co-founded after the 1988 pro-democracy uprising. On his release, he wore his blue prison shirt and pledged to wear blue shirts everyday until all political prisoners were released. He continued to do so until his death. In 2001, U Win Tin was awarded the UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize for his efforts to defend and promote the right to freedom of expression. This article was translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Burma Lawyer in U Ko Ni Murder Calls for Naypyidaw Arrest Warrant in Search for Fugitive Four detained suspects accused of involvement in the assassination of lawyer U Ko Ni appeared at Rangoons Northern District Court in Insein on March 24. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy RANGOON The lawyer representing the family of the National League for Democracys (NLD) assassinated legal adviser U Ko Ni presented a criminal revision petition to the Rangoon Division High Court on Friday, requesting that the judge issue an arrest warrant in Naypyidaw for fugitive Aung Win Khaing. The man is suspected of involvement in the case but remains at large: Naypyidaw is where he was last seen. Prominent lawyer U Ko Ni was shot by gunman Kyi Lin outside Rangoon International Airport on the afternoon of Jan. 29. Police have put forward four suspects: Kyi Lin, and alleged co-conspirators Zeya Phyo, Aung Win Zaw and Aung Win Tun. Lawyer U Nay La initially requested that the northern district court issue the warrant in Naypyidaw in March, but it ruled against the move. He also claimed that the district court has been handling the case carelessly and is weak in examining the case surrounding the fugitive in accordance with designated procedures. On Fridays plea at the High Court, U Nay La explained the purpose of his filing: the police order dated Feb. 15 calling for the arrest of Aung Win Khaing was sent to only six of the forces stationsin Dawbon, Tharketa, Bahan, Mingalardon, Gyobinkaut and Meikhtila townships. The first warrant issued by the district court on Mar. 3before the trialonly covered Aung Win Khaings home address in Rangoons Dawbon Township. An arrest warrant that only allows for a fugitive to be apprehended at his permanent address is unfitting for the situation, U Nay La said at the High Court. According to police reports, there is no record that Aung Win Khaing has passed through the countrys border gates since the assassination, U Nay La said, and therefore it is assumed that he is still in the country. The lawyer then emphasized the need to issue an arrest warrant in Naypyidaw. In early April, police chief Maj-Gen Zaw Win told reporters at a press conference in Naypyidaw that the police had combed through all eight townships and villages in the administrative capital for the fugitive, promising that they would go to the ends of the earth to find him. U Nay La told The Irrawaddy on Friday that police announcements describing their search efforts are separate from the court proceedings and will not be considered until the police make statements on the matter in court. The court has to do its job, no matter what the police are doing, he said. He also said he would withdraw his plea for a criminal revision of the case if there is a law restricting the issuance of a second warrant with a new address. U Nay La said it was possible that issuing another warrant could delay the trial, but noted that a delay leading to a thorough examination would be better than rushing the case and glossing over important details. Examining the case without trying to bring all suspects to the court is not beneficial for anyone, he said, highlighting how U Ko Nis murder is a high-profile case being closely monitored by the local and international community. The Rangoon Division High Court did not provide a date by which a decision would be made regarding U Nay Las proposal. Shooter Kyi Lin and three alleged co-perpetratorsAung Win Zaw, Aung Win Khaing and Zeya Phyoare being charged under Article 302 of Burmas Penal Code for murder. Zeya Phyo, a former military intelligence officer, is also charged under Article 67 of the Telecommunications Law for the possession of restricted telecommunications equipment and Article 468 of the Penal Code for the forgery of national identity cards. Two of the suspectsgunman Kyi Lin and alleged co-conspirator Aung Win Zaware being charged under Article 19(d) and (f) of the countrys 1878 Arms Act for illegal arms possession and transportation, in addition to the murder charge. Burma Rangoon Regional Minister Reveals Ambassadors Role in Bus Purchases from China Passengers crowd to get on YBS Bus 61 in Rangoon. / Chan Son / The Irrawaddy RANGOON In Fridays divisional parliament session, Rangoons regional minister of planning and finance U Myint Thaung told the legislature that the Yangon Public Bus Company had purchased 1,000 new buses from China at a total cost of US$56 million. The purchase was made with the help of the Chinese ambassador, from Chinese automotive companies Yutong and Ankai, he said, providing the information in response to a question posed by lawmaker Daw Sandar Min about the new vehicles. The divisional government has requested 70 billion kyats in the 2016-2017 fiscal years re-budgeting process, mentioning to the regional parliament a large sum to be spent on public transportation services in the commercial capital. Lawmakers have complained that they lack details of the divisional governments plans to invest the money. Some of the confusion among lawmakers stems from the practice of importing second-hand buses from border areas, and then installing GPS devices on them so that they can be used for city routes. Daw Sandar Min asked minister U Myint Thaung whether the government would replace the old model vehicles that have been operating for decades with new buses. While not mentioning a removal of older buses, U Myint Thaung highlighted how, with the assistance of the Chinese ambassador, the regional government signed off on MOUs with Anhui Province-based Ankai and Yutong automotive companies last month. The ambassador guarantees the quality of products and the price of vehicles are reasonable, he said. Yangon Region Transport Authority secretary Dr. Maung Aung told The Irrawaddy that they would do away with outdated city buses and reinforce the Yangon Bus System YBS with brand new vehicles, scheduled to arrive in Rangoon from China at the end of May. About 3,700 city busesmost of them outdatedare tasked with carrying 2.5 million commuters in Rangoon daily. Dr. Maung Aung estimates that that city needs at least 4,500 city buses to meet its transportation needs. Some businesspeople criticized the large purchase of buses from China, saying that the amount would have been better spent on vehicles from Japan. Myanmar Motor Vehicle Producers and Distributor Associations chairman Dr. Soe Tun said that is difficult to judge whether the prices quoted to the government were reasonable without knowing the specifications of the buses. Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. Burma UN Criticizes Plan to Resettle Arakan State Displaced Persons in Camp-like Villages A boy carries fishes at the beach in Arakan State, Sittwe. / Soe Zayar Tun / Reuters RANGOON The United Nations refugee agency has criticized a Burma government plan to resettle Rohingya Muslims displaced by recent violence in camp-like villages, saying it risks stoking tensions, according to a document seen by Reuters. The planconfirmed by a senior state-level officialhas sparked fear among residents that they would end up penned into de facto refugee camps, the document produced by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Burma said. Attacks on border guard posts in northwestern Burma in October last year by a Rohingya insurgent group ignited the biggest crisis of national leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyis year in power. Security forces stand accused of mass killings and gang rapes during the counterinsurgency operation that followed. About 75,000 Rohingya fled across the border to Bangladesh to escape the violence, during which at least 1,500 houses across several villages were burned, while thousands more hid in forests and fields. Some of those who fled have now returned and built temporary shelters, but the authorities have barred them from rebuilding their homes permanently citing security restrictions, according to residents who spoke to Reuters and the UN document. Instead, authorities have devised a plan to relocate some 1,152 households from 13 scattered hamlets into larger, more manageable model villages. In a three-page advocacy note dated April 25 and circulated among humanitarian agencies on Wednesday, the UNHCR warned the plan could create further tensions in villages recently scarred by the violence. Based on the information available on the model villages and concerns brought to our attention by affected villagers, UNHCR stressed the importance to allow displaced communities to return to their place of origin and have access to their previous source of livelihoods, UNHCR Burma spokesman Andrew Dusek said by email when reached for comment on the document. More than 1 million Rohingya live in apartheid-like conditions in Burmas Arakan State, where many in the Buddhist majority consider them interlopers from Bangladesh. While Dusek said the UNHCR understood the plan was still at draft stage and may not have been finalised, Arakan State government secretary Tin Maung Swe said the local administration had already started implementing it. Tin Maung Swe said relocation was in the residents interests as the model villages would be closer to government services. Rohingya villages in rural northern Arakan were arranged randomly at present, he said. If these villages are not systematic, they will not develop and it will be hard to build hospitals, schools and police stations, said Tin Maung Swe. Also we will have difficulties to take care of security in the region. Model Villages According to the UNHCR document and residents, the government has begun clearing land for the model villages, in which households would each get a 220-square-metre (2,400 sq ft) plot and about $150 to build a home. Residents told UN staff they feared losing access to their farmland and fishing grounds, and becoming stuck in what would become like IDP camps, the UNHCR document said. A forced relocation to the model villages would not progress stabilization in these areas, the UNHCR document said. About 120,000 Rohingya have lived in internally displaced persons camps in Arakan State, dependent of international aid, since communal violence in 2012. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has pledged to begin closing the camps, following recommendations from a commission led by former UN chief Kofi Annan. Five people whose homes were destroyed in November told Reuters by telephone about the living conditions since the violence subsided, expressing their worries about the governments plans. The village here has completely changed because all of the houses were burned down, said a 32-year-old in Yae Khat Chaung Gwa Son village, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Reuters has previously interviewed dozens of refugees, residents and Burma security officials about the military operation in Arakan State. Witnesses said troops raped Rohingya women, killed civilians, and burned homes in a sweep through several villages in November. Satellite imagery analyzed by New York-based Human Rights Watch showed massive fires that destroyed hundreds of homes. Officials have denied most of the allegations and blamed insurgents and villagers themselves for the fires. Burma has blocked independent media and observers from the area. Residents said that, while the area is now relatively peaceful, checkpoints and a 9 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew remain in place and soldiers regularly patrol near villages, making it hard for them to reach their fields and shrimp farms or the areas basic health clinics. Villagers also told Reuters they feared the plots in the new settlements would be too small for many households, which often comprise extended family groups of 30 people or more. The government told us their plan is for all of the villagers to huddle in one place, in one village near the main road, said a school teacher in Dar Gyi Zar village, who also spoke anonymously. We want to live in our original place as before. Specials Left Behind: Karen Refugees at Mae La Camp 80-year-old Karen refugee Naw Pe on her bed in her bamboo hut in Mae La. / Saw Yan Naing / The Irrawaddy MAE LA, Thailand Eighty-year-old Karen refugee Naw Pe lies near the cooking area in her bamboo hut, surrounded by pans, pots, baskets, and rotting foods. She has a fever, coupled with the stifling midday heat, and her hands shake as she moves out of her mosquito net. Im supposed to feed the pigs, she whispers, pausing for breath. But I cant stand up. Im too sick. Naw Pe lives alone in Mae La, the largest refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border, home to more than 30,000 people, according to estimates. Her family have stopped visiting her and she refuses to seek help at the camps clinic. I dont want to go, she says. They only give me Paracetamol. Humanitarian assistance including food and health is dwindling at the camp, as international governments and donors cut their funding to reflect gradual movement in Burmas peace process. For Mae Les refugees, it means a tougher existence. Some have moved to other countries with a UN resettlement program, others find their own way to safer nations. But returning to Burma seems pointlessperhaps dangerousfor many as they no longer have property or relatives in their homeland, and fear for their safety despite ongoing peace talks between the Burma Army and ethnic Karen armed organizations. I wont go back there, no matter what, says Naw Pe, shaking her head. I have no reason to return. I left nothing. Military offensives in eastern Burmas Karen State from the 1970s to the 1990s forced Karen civilians and other ethnicities from their home. Many fled into neighboring Thailand and have been living there for decades. Since the launch of Burmas peace programs in 2011, many international donors and NGOs supporting nine refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border have shifted their focus from humanitarian assistance to repatriating the refugees with the help of the Thai and Burmese governments. Ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) such as the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) have signed ceasefires and the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the Burmese government. Most of the refugees are moving to third countries, says Saw Honesty, the chairman of Mae La camp. Some went to visit their hometowns but we do not know how many because they dont all inform us. Some refugees only want to check the situation in Burma, and so dont contact the camps volunteer repatriation centers, which help those who want to return home. I dont know if other people trust the ceasefire and peace process, but I dont, says Pleh Gaw, 30, a slight man sitting in his hut. Several armed groups have split from the KNU since 1994, including the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), the Border Guard Force (BGF) and a smaller group called the KNU/KNLA Peace Council. With support from the Burma Army, the DKBA launched an offensive against the KNU that displaced thousands of civilians. Even after the ceasefire, sporadic battles between the Karen armed groups have been reported. I dont know which group I should trust, frets Pleh Gaw, cradling his son. We even heard there was fighting recently, added his mother, Mu Kyu Lar, 59, in reference to a clash in KNU-controlled territory between the KNU and Burma Army troops in Tenasserim Division on April 22. When we fled, Pleh Gaw was seven years old, too young to know anything. I had to carry him all the way, says the mother-of-four, drawing on her hand-rolled cheroot. It was a very hard time. We had to hide in the jungle and some nights we couldnt sleep. Mu Kyu Lar and her family, who come from KNUs Brigade 7 territory, have been living in Mae La for more than 20 years. I have no plans to go home, says Pleh Gaw, who is waiting for his resettlement in the United States. I have no land, house, or relatives there. NGOs estimate that more than 80,000 refugeesmostly ethnic Karenfled the civil war. The population of the nine refugee camps has been steadily decliningreduced from more than 140,000 in 2011 to about 98,000 now, according to The Border Consortium (TBC), a group comprising nine NGOs that supports refugees who have fled conflict in Burma. TBC is reducing its staff and lowering their salaries because of funding shortages. Its annual staff budget is about US$1.7 million but funding for the coming years has not been secured, says TBC executive director Sally Thompson. Inevitably there will be difficulties, but this is the reality we have to face as funding support for camps continues to decline, she said. About 10,000 community workers in the nine refugee camps on Thai-Burma border will be affected by the cuts. We are also feeling the pressure, said Saw Tu Tu, a head of the Karen Refugee Committee (KRC). Refugees in Mae La say local authorities, such as the Thai security guards and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), restrict their movements. Community leaders are asked not to speak to media due to pressure from the authorities. The population in Mae La has been decreasing yearlysometimes by several hundred, says Saw Tu Tu. We have had over 40,000 in the past. Now, there are 38,000 people in our camp, he adds. Home is not the United States or even Burma for some long-term refugees like Naw Pe, the sick, elderly woman. Mae La is my home, she says. I will be here until I die. Pre-Med Students Gain Experience in Cadaver Lab IWU pre-med students Fabian Jano '18 and Brooke Koebele '19 examine a heart following cadaver dissection. (Photo by pre-med student Tana Smithsakol '17) April 28, 2017 BLOOMINGTON, Ill. Vishnu Velupula 18 was in high school when she made her first cut into a cadaver. As an Illinois Wesleyan biology major in the pre-med program, Velupula returned to the same cadaver lab where she made that first cut, but this time as a content expert. The lab is the Cadaver Academy, an initiative of the McLean County Medical Society, local physician and attorney Dr. Tom Pliura, and the LeRoy Public Schools. Organizers believe the lab is the first ongoing cadaver dissection lab in the United States for high school students. The lab opened in 2014 as a learning opportunity for advanced-level high school students interested in the medical field. This semester Illinois Wesleyan pre-med students became involved, thanks to the Hart Career Center. Velupula and more than 30 other IWU students interested in careers in medicine volunteered in the lab by answering the high school students questions, quizzing the high schoolers on anatomy, serving as assistants to the local physicians and high school science teachers who proctor the lab, and helping maintain an efficient lab environment. The Illinois Wesleyan students participate in the dissections as well. With the exception of Velupula, none of the IWU students had ever participated in a dissection prior to their experiences at the academy. When the volunteer experience became available, Tana Smithsakol 17 signed up immediately. Its a really rare and valuable opportunity, said Smithsakol, a native of Bangkok, Thailand. His most memorable lab experience occurred on his first day with newly acquired cadavers, which are obtained from the Anatomical Gift Association. I was honored to be able to make the first cut and to help in guiding the high school students through the dissection, said Smithsakol. The lab experience gives Illinois Wesleyan pre-med students a chance to develop their leadership skills and medical knowledge, and to network with health care professionals, according to Abby Reel, assistant director of career development and pre-med liaison to Illinois Wesleyans Department of Biology. Today's students are expected to demonstrate a diversity of health care experiences on their medical school applications to be considered competitive candidates, said Reel. The chance to volunteer in the cadaver lab is one of many unique and educational experiences that prepares IWU students for the profession. The experience also helps students high school and college affirm career plans. Participating in the lab experience is a great opportunity to confirm, or change, the decision to go into medicine, said Velupula, a native of Bloomington, Ill. Sometimes, when students see a cadaver in front of them, they decide that the health care field is not for them, she said. This decision is important to be made as an undergraduate rather than in medical school where it would be more difficult for someone to change a path he or she has worked so hard to be on. Brock Taylor 18 (Mattoon, Ill.) said the exposure to the cadaver lab has confirmed his decision to pursue a career in medicine. In addition, any experience that allows you to integrate information and explain it to others is something that helps you learn, he said. Taylor said, however, his most important takeway from the experience was emotional rather than intellectual. Even though students are engrossed in learning the specific veins, arteries, muscles and bones of the cadaver, one should not forget that this was a living person, said Taylor. Working with the human body requires the utmost respect, attention and care qualities that physicians should posses to a high degree. Illinois Wesleyan pre-med students will continue to have the opportunity to volunteer at Cadaver Academy. The experience complements the rigorous science preparation IWU students receive challenging coursework in the liberal arts, personal instruction from a well-qualified faculty, and hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment. More than 80 percent of Illinois Wesleyans pre-med graduates are admitted to medical school on the first try, compared to just 50 percent nationally. MORE: Read a related story in the Bloomington Pantagraph. Reddit 15 Email 75 Shares Maan News Agency | BETHLEHEM (Maan) A general strike was held across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem on Thursday, as thousands of Palestinians shut down their shops and businesses in solidarity with some 1,500 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike as part of the Freedom and Dignity strike, organized by imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi. Graffiti reading "Salt and Water," in reference to the only nutrition consumed by imprisoned Palestinian hunger strikers. The strike was held on the 11th day of the mass hunger strike, and precedes the Fatah movements calls for a Day of Rage on April 28, during which Palestinians are expected to clash with Israeli forces in order to show their solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners movement. The usually bustling streets of cities, towns, villages, and refugee camps across the West Bank were nearly empty on Thursday, in a scene that several local Palestinians told Maan were reminiscent of the First Intifada, which started in 1987, when Palestinians held general strikes as part of a civil disobedience campaign against Israeli forces. Shops, institutions, banks, and schools all closed in support of the hunger strikers. Hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel have been participating in the hunger strike since April 17 to protest the torture, ill treatment, and medical neglect of prisoners at the hands of Israeli authorities, as well as Israels widespread use of administrative detention internment without trial or charges. On Tuesday , the National Committee to Support Hunger-Striking Prisoners called on Palestinians to boycott Israeli products in solidarity with the hundreds of detainees currently forgoing food. The committee, which is affiliated with the Palestinian Committee of Prisoners Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society ( PPS), called on Palestinian merchants to stop selling Israeli products and to empty their stocks of all goods manufactured in Israel. As the Freedom and Dignity battle continues, the (Israeli) occupation escalates its discourse and oppressive measures against our children and our heroes who are fighting this saga, the support committee said in a statement. To help them remain firm, it has been decided to completely boycott Israeli goods in Palestinian markets. Meanwhile, solidarity demonstrations for the hunger-striking prisoners have continued to be organized daily amid calls to escalate solidarity events across the Palestinian territory. Head of the Palestinian Committee for Prisoners Affairs Issa Qaraqe released a statement on Wednesday saying that IPS forces had continued to escalate punitive measures against prisoners, which started on the first day of the strike, with IPS forces transferring prisoners and leaders of the strike to solitary confinement, and preventing lawyers from visiting prisoners, particularly sick prisoners. According to Qaraqe, IPS officials have continued preventing prisoners many of whom are refusing all forms of nutrition except salt and water from accessing commissaries to purchase salt, provided prisoners with dirty sheets and covers, and carried out provocative search raids of prisoners rooms, and arbitrary transfers of prisoners. A number of Palestinian hunger strikers also announced that they would begin refusing water. Bethlehem district In the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, several entrances were blocked off with rocks and tires, while masked Palestinian men traveled throughout the city speaking with locals of the importance of committing to the strike. Ramallah district In the Ramallah district, a group of Palestinian youths closed all roads leading to the cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh by placing rocks and burning tires in the streets, preventing Palestinians from entering the cities. Nablus district Tulkarem district Hebron district East Jerusalem The occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina: In the city of Jerusalem: Via Maan News Agency Reddit Email 45 Shares Anders Aslund. | (Project Syndicate) | WASHINGTON, DC Vladimir Putins Russia is looking more and more like the sclerotic and stagnant Soviet Union of the Leonid Brezhnev era. But in one area, Putins regime remains an innovator: corruption. Indeed, in this, the 18th year of Putins rule, a new form of crony capitalism has been taking hold. Over the last decade, Putin has overseen a major renationalization of the Russian economy. The state sector expanded from 35% of GDP in 2005 to 70% in 2015. It would seem that, in Lenins words, the state had regained control of the commanding heights of the economy. And yet it would also seem that state-owned firms like the energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft operate like modern businesses. After all, they have corporate-governance rules and policies, supervisory and management boards, and annual shareholders meetings. They undergo independent international audits, publish annual reports, and maintain boards with independent directors. But appearances can deceive. Major state-owned companies rules and policies are mere formalities. They are not even really run by the state. Instead, they are controlled by a small group of cronies former KGB officers, ministers, and senior officials in the presidents administration who act as Putins personal representatives. The system carries the hallmarks of the ancient feudal model described by Harvards Richard Pipes in his classic Russia under the Old Regime: it affords a maximum of freedom to the ruler, who delegates tasks to the feudal lords. In effect, Russias state-owned companies have transformed public property into a new model of czarist ownership. International investors have caught on. They buy Russian stocks, but only for the sizeable dividend yields not for shareholder influence. No surprise, then, that Gazproms market capitalization has collapsed from a peak of $369 billion in May 2008 to some $55 billion today. The operations of the so-called state corporations are particularly problematic. Legally, these firms, which include Vnesheconombank (VEB) and Russian Technologies (Rostec), are independent nongovernmental organizations. But they are established through the donation of state funds or property: when six such corporations were created in 2007, some $80 billion of assets and $36 billion of fresh state funds were transferred to them. This puts them under Putins direct control. State capitalism is usually associated with publicly directed strategies for investment and technological development. And, indeed, Russias state corporations are supposedly focused on advancing the public interest or creating public goods. In reality, managers do whatever they want, such as favoring friends through discretionary procurement or selling assets at submarket prices. Loyal chief executives of Russias big state companies enjoy long tenures, regardless of whether they meet ordinary standards of efficiency, profit, or innovation. No CEO has destroyed more value than Gazproms Alexei Miller, yet he has been at the companys helm for 16 years and counting. In 2013, Millers official salary totaled $25 million. Today, there is no telling what he earns, as state executives remuneration is no longer published. In exchange for their outsize paychecks and ritzy fiefdoms, Putins lords must advance his interests particularly when geopolitical issues emerge that threaten the regimes survival. For example, Gazprom has obediently cut off gas flows to recalcitrant neighbors whom the Kremlin wants to punish, at major commercial cost, while supplying all of Russia, regardless of whether it gets paid. Rosneft has loaned billions to Venezuelas state oil company with the Venezuelan-owned US refiner Citgo as collateral in a clear bid to exploit the countrys dire economic situation to gain access to its oil fields. Of course, Russias economy is not at its strongest, either. Yet Putins system seems equipped to survive even the disappearance of oil rents. Putin has allowed the systemic liberals in his administration to impose hard budget constraints even on the large state companies. Rosneft, for example, has been forced to abandon its most value-destroying investments, such as petrochemicals. As a result, financial stability is likely to be maintained. In any case, if the oil price remains at around $50 per barrel, Russian oil rents will remain substantial. Nonetheless, new challenges to this system are emerging beginning with nepotism. Russias crony capitalism has bred a small class of incredibly wealthy individuals, whose children are given top state positions by the time they turn 30. Unsurprisingly, this breeds resentment among the young, able, and ambitious. For example, Petr Fradkov, the son of former Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, became first deputy chairman of VEB at the age of 29. Sergei Ivanov, the son of Putins former chief of staff of the same name, became first vice president of Gazprombank at 25 (and president of Alrosa, Russias state diamond company, at 36). Rosneft CEO Igor Sechins son Ivan became deputy director of a Rosneft department at 25. Anders Aslund is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington. He is the author of Ukraine: What Went Wrong and How to Fix It and, most recently, Europes Growth Challenge (with Simeon Djankov). Licensed from Project Syndicate - Related video added by Juan Cole: CGTN America: Charles Ortel on the current state of Russian Economy TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 27, 2017) - Detour Gold Corporation (TSX:DGC) ("Detour Gold" or the "Company") reports its operational and financial results for the first quarter of 2017. This release should be read in conjunction with the Company's first quarter 2017 Financial Statements and MD&A on the Company's website or on SEDAR. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. In this news release, the Company uses the following non-IFRS measures: total cash costs, all-in sustaining costs ("AISC"), realized gold price, average realized margin, adjusted net earnings (loss), and adjusted basic net earnings (loss) per share. Refer to the Company's MD&A and at the end of this news release for an explanation and discussion of these non-IFRS measures. Q1 2017 Highlights Gold production of 131,418 ounces Average mill throughput of 58,114 tpd and mining rate of 242,000 tpd Total cash costs of $788 per ounce sold and AISC of $1,118 per ounce sold Revenues of $163.7 million on gold sales of 134,213 ounces at an average realized price of $1,216 per ounce Earnings from mine operations of $22.2 million Repurchased $20.0 million (face value) of convertible notes Net earnings of $6.0 million ($0.03 per share) and adjusted net earnings of $10.5 million ($0.06 per share) Cash and short-term investments balance of $133.0 million at March 31, 2017 Updated life of mine plan for the Detour Lake operation issued on March 22, 2017 "We have achieved our operational targets for the first quarter and reduced our debt a further $20 million from cash flow," said Paul Martin, President and CEO. "We are looking forward to the remainder of the year with gradual operational improvements expected from an expanded mining fleet and success from performance initiatives being implemented at the mine operation." Q1 2017 Summary Operational Results Gold production totaled 131,418 ounces, in line with projections for the first quarter. Mill throughput in the first quarter was 5.2 million tonnes (Mt), inclusive of a planned shutdown in January to replace SAG and ball mill liners on both lines. Head grade for the quarter was 0.88 grams per tonne (g/t) and mill recoveries averaged 89%, both in line with budget. A total of 21.8 Mt (ore and waste) was mined in the first quarter (equivalent to mining rates of 242,000 tpd). The Company's new CAT6060 shovel was commissioned in late March. Mining around the Campbell pit area is on track. Detour Lake Mine Statistics Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Q3 2016 Q2 2016 Q1 2016 Ore mined (Mt) 4.8 5.8 5.0 5.5 5.8 Waste mined (Mt) 17.0 15.0 18.5 16.4 15.2 Total mined (Mt) 21.8 20.9 23.5 21.9 21.0 Strip ratio (waste:ore) 3.6 2.6 3.7 3.0 2.6 Mining rate (tpd) 242,000 227,000 256,000 241,000 231,000 Ore milled (Mt) 5.2 5.5 5.2 5.3 4.7 Head grade (g/t Au) 0.88 0.90 0.88 0.92 0.91 Recovery (%) 89 90 87 89 91 Mill throughput (tpd) 58,114 60,052 56,453 58,466 52,165 Mill operating time (%) 85 86 84 87 88 Ounces produced (oz) 131,418 143,512 127,758 139,359 127,136 Ounces sold (oz) 134,213 144,668 113,845 131,606 137,608 Average realized price ($/oz) $1,216 $1,210 $1,281 $1,230 $1,172 Total cash costs ($/oz sold) $788 $855 $802 $691 $637 AISC ($/oz sold) $1,118 $1,132 $1,042 $1,030 $824 Mining (Cdn$/t mined) $2.92 $3.25 $2.66 $2.75 $2.94 Milling (Cdn$/t milled) $10.26 $8.74 $11.74 $9.55 $9.08 G&A (Cdn$/t milled) $3.46 $3.46 $3.46 $3.03 $3.51 Note: Totals may not add up due to rounding. G&A includes costs related to agreements with Aboriginal communities. Total cash costs were $788 per ounce sold in the first quarter, in line with plan. Costs included a scheduled plant shutdown and were impacted by higher consumption rates of certain consumables (mill reagents), higher price for diesel fuel, partially offset by a stronger U.S. dollar than plan. AISC were $1,118 per ounce sold in the first quarter, reflecting sustaining capital expenditures of $35.4 million and deferred stripping costs of $3.4 million. Sustaining expenditures included $28.7 million for mining (mainly relating to mining equipment, including the new CAT6060 shovel, and significant components to the mobile fleet), $3.9 million for the construction of the tailings facility, $1.5 million for processing, and $1.3 million for site infrastructure, G&A and other. Q1 2017 Financial Review Revenues for the first quarter were $163.7 million. The Company sold 134,213 ounces of gold at an average realized price of $1,216 per ounce. Cost of sales for the first quarter totaled $141.5 million, including $35.1 million of depreciation (or $262 per ounce sold). Earnings from mine operations for the first quarter totaled $22.2 million. Net earnings for the first quarter were $6.0 million ($0.03 per share). Adjusted net earnings in the first quarter amounted to $10.5 million ($0.06 per share). Liquidity and Capital Resources Cash and short term investments totaled $133.0 million at March 31, 2017, following the repurchase of $20.0 million of convertible notes in March. Summary Financial Data (in $ millions unless specified) Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Q3 2016 Q2 2016 Q1 2016 Metal sales 163.7 176.6 152.0 166.7 163.0 Production costs 106.4 123.9 91.3 93.4 89.4 Depreciation 35.1 47.8 35.5 39.2 42.8 Cost of sales 141.5 171.7 126.8 132.6 132.2 Earnings from mine operations 22.2 4.8 25.2 34.0 30.8 Net income (loss) 6.0 (13.5 ) 9.7 (30.7 ) 27.6 Net income (loss) per share 0.03 (0.08 ) 0.06 (0.18 ) 0.16 Adjusted net earnings (loss) 10.5 (6.0 ) 1.3 3.9 11.3 Adjusted net earnings (loss) per share 0.06 (0.03 ) 0.01 0.02 0.07 Note: Totals may not add up due to rounding. Financial Risk Management As at March 31, 2017, the Company had $149.0 million of zero-cost collars to hedge its Canadian dollar costs whereby it can sell U.S. dollars at an average rate of 1.30 and can participate up to an average rate of 1.39. As at March 31, 2017, the Company had 90,000 ounces of zero-cost collars to protect its gold sales from April to December 2017. The collars have a range of $1,200 to $1,330 per ounce. As at March 31, 2017, the Company had a total of 21 million litres of outstanding diesel contracts at an average rate of $0.41 per litre, which will settle on a net basis. Exploration Update The winter drilling program at Zone 58N is completed with approximately 21,805 metres in 58 holes. The drilling program focused between vertical depths of 250 and 450 metres at a 35 metre spacing. Assay results are expected prior to end of the second quarter and will be incorporated in the model and conceptual design in preparation for an advanced underground exploration program. Drilling program expected to continue this summer at Zone 58N. An Induced Polarization (IP) geophysical survey of 85 line kilometres was completed in the area east of the current tailings facility, along the Sunday Lake Deformation Zone. 2017 Outlook Detour Gold's guidance for 2017 is between 550,000 and 600,000 ounces of gold at total cash costs of $690 to $750 per ounce sold. All-in sustaining costs are expected to be between $1,025 and $1,125 per ounce sold. Mining rates are expected to commence trending higher starting in the second quarter with the addition of a CAT6060 shovel and four haul trucks, bringing the available fleet to six shovels and 32 trucks and supported by the addition of a ROM fleet. Both head grade and gold recovery are expected to improve during the second half of the year. The installation of a lead nitrate and oxygen control system to assist with improving recoveries is expected to be completed in the second quarter and commissioned in the third quarter. Projected capital expenditures for 2017 remain as previously stated at approximately $160 to $180 million, including $14 million of capitalized stripping and $5 million of non-sustaining expenditures for the development of West Detour. The Company is in the process of arranging up to $500 million in bank debt which will be used to repay the outstanding convertible notes (currently $338 million) and replace the Company's senior secured credit facility of Cdn$135 million. The Company has received indicative term sheets from the members of its banking syndicate and anticipates, subject to final negotiations, closing the facility by the end of the second quarter of 2017. Technical Information The scientific and technical content of this news release was reviewed, verified and approved by Drew Anwyll, P.Eng., Senior Vice President, Technical Services, a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects." Conference Call The Company will host a conference call on Friday, April 28, 2017 at 10:00 AM E.T. where senior management will discuss the first quarter operational and financial results. Access the conference call as follows: Via webcast, go to www.detourgold.com and click on the "Q1 2017 Results Conference Call and Webcast" link on home page By phone toll free in Canada and the United States 1-800-319-4610 By phone internationally 416-915-3239 A playback will be available until May 28, 2017 by dialing 604-674-8052 or 1-855-669-9658 within Canada and the United States, using pass code 1349. The webcast and presentation slides will be archived on the Company's website. Annual General Meeting of Shareholders Detour Gold's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be held on May 4, 2017 at 2:00 PM in the St. Andrew's Hall (27th Floor) of the St. Andrew's Club & Conference Centre at 150 King Street West in Toronto. About Detour Gold Detour Gold is an intermediate gold producer in Canada that holds a 100% interest in the Detour Lake mine, a long life large-scale open pit operation. Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures The Company has included certain non-IFRS measures in this news release. The Company believes that these measures, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The non-IFRS measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers. The non-IFRS measures are defined below and are reconciled with the reported IFRS measures. Refer to the Company's First Quarter 2017 MD&A for full details. For other periods, refer to the corresponding MD&A for details. The tables below are in thousands of dollars, except where noted. Total cash costs Detour Gold reports total cash costs on a sales basis. Total cash costs include production costs such as mining, processing, refining and site administration, agreements with Aboriginal communities, less non-cash share-based compensation and net of silver sales divided by gold ounces sold to arrive at total cash costs per gold ounce sold. The measure also includes other mine related costs incurred such as mine standby costs and current inventory write downs. Production costs are exclusive of depreciation. Production costs include the costs associated with providing the royalty in kind ounces. All-in sustaining costs The Company believes this measure more fully defines the total costs associated with producing gold. The Company calculates all-in sustaining costs as the sum of total cash costs (as described above), share-based compensation, corporate general and administrative expense, exploration and evaluation expenses that are sustaining in nature, reclamation cost accretion, sustaining capital including deferred stripping, and realized gains and losses on hedges due to operating and capital costs, all divided by the total gold ounces sold to arrive at a per ounce figure. Other companies may calculate these measures differently as a result of differences in underlying principles and policies applied. Differences may also arise to a different definition of sustaining versus non-sustaining capital. Three months ended March 31 In thousands of dollars, except where noted 2017 2016 Gold ounces sold 134,213 137,608 Total Cash Costs Reconciliation Production costs $ 106,435 $ 89,384 Less: Share-based compensation (203 ) (1,358 ) Less: Silver sales (473 ) (400 ) Total cash costs $ 105,759 $ 87,626 Total cash costs per ounce sold $ 788 $ 637 All-in Sustaining Costs Reconciliation Total cash costs $ 105,759 $ 87,626 Sustaining capital expenditures1 38,822 14,836 Accretion on decommissioning and restoration provision 47 51 Site share-based compensation 203 1,358 Realized losses on operating hedges2 511 1,383 Corporate administration expense3 4,002 7,330 Sustaining exploration expenditures4 662 843 Total all-in sustaining costs $ 150,006 $ 113,427 All-in sustaining costs per ounce sold $ 1,118 $ 824 1 Based on property, plant and equipment additions per the cash flow statement, which includes deferred stripping. Non-sustaining capital expenditures included in the cash flow statement have been excluded. Sustaining capital expenditures includes the value of fully commissioned assets with deferred payment terms. Non-sustaining capital expenditures primarily relate to West Detour. 2 Includes realized gains and losses on derivative instruments related to operating hedges (foreign exchange and diesel hedges only) as disclosed in the "Derivative instruments" section of this document. These balances are included in the statement of comprehensive earnings, within caption "net finance income and costs". 3 Includes the sum of corporate administration expense, which includes share-based compensation, per the statement of comprehensive earnings, excluding depreciation within those figures. 4 Includes the sum of sustaining exploration and evaluation expense, which includes share-based compensation, per the statement of comprehensive earnings, excluding depreciation within those figures. Non-sustaining exploration and evaluation expense, primarily relates to costs associated with Zone 58N, regional exploration, and Burntbush property. Average realized price and Average realized margin Average realized price is calculated as metal sales per the statement of comprehensive loss and includes realized gains and losses on gold forwards, less silver sales. Average realized margin represents average realized price per gold ounce sold less total cash costs per ounce sold. Three months ended March 31 In thousands of dollars, except where noted 2017 2016 Metal sales $ 163,712 $ 163,014 Realized gain (loss) on gold contracts 6 (1,292 ) Silver sales (473 ) (400 ) Revenues from gold sales $ 163,245 $ 161,322 Gold ounces sold 134,213 137,608 Average realized price $ 1,216 $ 1,172 Less: Total cash costs per gold ounce sold (788 ) (637 ) Average realized margin per gold ounce sold $ 428 $ 535 Adjusted net earnings and Adjusted basic net earnings per share Adjusted net earnings and adjusted basic earnings per share are used by management and investors to measure the underlying operating performance of the Company. Presenting these measures from period to period helps management and investors evaluate earnings trends more readily in comparison with results from prior periods. Adjusted net earnings is defined as net earnings adjusted to exclude specific items that are significant, but not reflective of the underlying operations of the Company, including: fair value change of the convertible notes, the impact of foreign exchange gains and losses, including the foreign exchange on deferred income and mining taxes, non-cash unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments, accretion on convertible notes, unwinding of discount on decommissioning and restoration provisions, impairment provisions and reversals thereof, and other non-recurring items. Adjusted basic net earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares outstanding under the basic method of loss per share as determined under IFRS. Three months ended March 31 In thousands of dollars, except where noted 2017 2016 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 174,580,056 171,852,803 Adjusted net earnings and Adjusted basic net earnings per share reconciliation Net income $ 6,010 $ 27,620 Adjusted for: Fair value (gain) loss of the convertible notes1 (798 ) 8,601 Accretion on convertible notes1 7,849 8,035 Accretion on decommissioning and restoration provision1 47 51 Non-cash unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments2 319 5,726 Foreign exchange (gain) loss1 (696 ) (773 ) Foreign exchange on deferred income taxes (2,212 ) (37,974 ) Adjusted net earnings $ 10,519 $ 11,286 Adjusted basic net earnings per share $ 0.06 $ 0.07 1 Balance included in the statement of comprehensive earnings caption "Net finance income and costs". The related financial statements include a detailed breakdown of "Net finance income and costs". 2 Includes unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments as disclosed in the "Derivative Instruments" note in the related financial statements. The balance is grouped with "Net finance income and costs" on the statement of comprehensive earnings. The Company has included the additional IFRS measures: Earnings (loss) from mine operations Earnings (loss) from mine operations provides useful information to investors as an indication of the Company's principal business activities before consideration of how those activities are financed, sustaining capital expenditures, corporate administration expense, exploration and evaluation expenses, loss on disposal of assets, finance income and costs, and taxation. Vancouver, British Columbia / TheNewswire / April 27, 2017 - Telson Resources Inc. ("Telson" or the "Company") (TSX Venture - TSN.V) is pleased to announce that is has entered into a definitive Share Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") with Nyrstar Mining Ltd. and Nyrstar Mexico Resources Corp. (collectively "Nyrstar") to purchase all of the shares of Nyrstar's Mexican subsidiary companies that make up and own 100% of the Campo Morado mine, located in Guerrero State, Mexico (the "Campo Morado Mine"). Under the terms of the Agreement Telson has agreed to pay total purchase price of US$20 million plus any Variable Purchase Price, as described below, to Nyrstar under the following schedule,: US $800,000 at signing of the Agreement; US $2.7 million on or before June 12, 2017; US $16.5 million on the one year anniversary following the closing date of the transaction. Nyrstar shall also retain the right to receive a Variable Purchase Price on future zinc production on the first 10 million tons of ore processed by Telson at the Campo Morado Mine when the price of zinc is at or above US $2,100 per tonne. Telson shall pay Nyrstar the greater of either of (a) or (b) below: US$20 per tonne of zinc sold if the zinc price received is over US$2,100 per tonne; or a percentage of the Net Smelter Revenue received from zinc from the Campo Morado Mine based upon the following: if the zinc price received is greater than US$2,100 per tonne and less than or equal to US$2,200 per tonne, then 0.5% of the Net Smelter Revenue; if the zinc price received is greater than US$2,200 per tonne and less than or equal to US$2,300 per tonne, then 1.5% of the Net Smelter Revenue; if the zinc price received is greater than US$2,300 per tonne and less than or equal to US$2,400 per tonne, then 2.5% of the Net Smelter Revenue; if the zinc price received is greater than US$2,400 per tonne and less than or equal to US$2,500 per tonne, then 3.5% of the Net Smelter Revenue; and if the zinc price received is greater than US$2,500 per tonne, then 4.25% of the Net Smelter Revenue. Telson maintains the right under the Agreement to purchase 100% of the Variable Purchase Price at any time for US $4 million. Nyrstar shall also have a right of first refusal, on the same commercial terms and conditions offered by an arm's length third party to enter into an offtake agreement (the "Offtake Agreement") for the purchase of zinc concentrates. The closing of the Agreement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval. The Campo Morado Mine is an underground multi-metal mine located in Guerrero State, Mexico, with infrastructure, installations and equipment capable of processing 2,500 metric tonnes of ore per day. The property area comprises approximately 12,045 hectares in six mining concessions that are some 160 kilometers south- southwest of Mexico City. There are 767 exploration diamond drill holes in place (252.802.8m) and six mineralized bodies that have been delineated as JORC compliant resources (Reforma, El Largo, El Rey and Naranjo where all historic resources remain in place and two other zones, the G9 and G9 Del Oro that have seen significant production and are largely depleted). Mineral resources as publicly disclosed by Nyrstar on April 29, 2015 are presented in the table below. Telson is not treating these resources as its own current resources, but as historical resources. Telson believes them to be relevant and reliable based on the processes and practices that it understands Nyrstar followed. Please note the mineral resources described below were calculated in accordance with JORC. A Qualified Person for Telson has not conducted sufficient work to classify the historical resources as current mineral resources and Telson is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. Telson will review the historical work and undertake to make any reconciliations required between JORC categories and National Instrument 43-101 categories of mineral resources. A prior technical report dated March 31, 2010 produced for Farallon Mining Inc. is available, and includes mineral resource disclosure. This table presents depleted resources and does not include the mined out areas of the G9 and G9 Del Oro zones. The Campo Morado Mine was commissioned and commenced operations in 2009. Production was suspended in January 2015 and the mine was placed on care and maintenance due to deteriorating industry conditions. During 2014, the mine processed 657,000 tons of ore with an average grade of 1.2g/t Au, 115.7 g/t Ag, 4.6% Zn, 1.2% Cu and 0.9% Pb. The concentrates produced in the same year were 48,000 tons of Zn concentrate at 47% Zn and 29,000 tons of Cu concentrate at 13%, including 6 koz of Au and 0.9mm of Ag. In order to fund the initial closing payments under the Agreement, the Company arranged two financings from two corporate entities, each controlled by Estrategica Corporativa en Finanzas, a related party of the Company. The related party is a significant shareholder with a control position in the Company, for which the Company previously received shareholder consent in late 2015, in accordance with TSXV policy. The initial funding was structured as a convertible debt in the face amount of USD $800,000 (CAD$1,069,120), convertible into common shares at a price of $0.31 per common share, at any time before the maturity date of the debt which was set at three years from the date of closing. The debt was to bear interest at a rate of 8% per annum (simple interest), with no interest accruing during the 3-month period commencing from the Closing Date. These funds were deposited in trust to be held and used to either: i) pay the initial payment to Nyrstar on signing the Agreement; or ii) be returned to the investor with no penalty to the Company in the event the parties were unable to complete the Agreement. The funds have now been paid to Nyrstar and consequently the investor has agreed to convert the loan into an equity private placement based on the original conversion terms of the convertible loan. Accordingly the Company will, subject to TSXV acceptance, issue the investor 3,448,774 common shares in the capital of the Company. The Company will rely on the "part and parcel pricing exemption" as defined in TSXV Policy 4.1 in respect of this financing, as it was integral to entry into of the Agreement. The second portion of the private placement financing will consist of USD$2,700,000 consisting of shares only, at CDN$0.55 per common share. When combined together the average cost of the two placements is CDN$0.50 per share, being a 45% premium to the closing market price of the Company's shares as of April 26, 2017. All securities issued under the private placements will be subject to a four month hold period under applicable securities laws. The proposed issuance of private placement securities to a non-arms' length party also constitutes a related-party transaction under MI 61-101. Because the Company's shares trade only on the TSXV, the issuance of securities is exempt from the formal valuation requirements of Section 5.4 of MI 61-101 pursuant to Subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 and exempt from the minority approval requirements of Section 5.6 of MI 61-101. Qualified Person This press release was prepared under the supervision and review of Ralph Shearing, P.Geol., President and Director of Telson Resources Inc., a Professional Geologist registered in Alberta as a member of the professional organization APEGA, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - April 28, 2017) - Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX VENTURE:CXB) (the "Company" or "Calibre") announces results on the Company's 100% owned Monte Carmelo Gold Project (the "Project") located within the 876 km2 Borosi Concessions, Northeast Nicaragua. Highlights The maiden drilling program on the 100% owned Monte Carmelo Gold Skarn Project consisted of 8 holes for 2100 metres and is now completed. All holes intersected skarn mineralization with variable anomalous in gold, silver, copper, and iron. Results include; 29.5 m grading 0.58 g/t Au, 4.9 g/t Ag and 0.22 % Cu from surface including 10.5 metres grading 1.43 g/t Au and 7.5 g/t Ag and 0.32 % Cu (0 - 10.5m). Additionally, the maiden drilling program on the 100% owned Santa Maria low sulphidation epithermal gold-silver project will commence in the near term. President and CEO Greg Smith stated: "Calibre continues to aggressively advance the Company's 100% owned gold projects in the Borosi District. The Phase 1 drilling at Monte Carmelo tested one of several targets within the Project which hosts additional potential for high grade gold skarn mineralization. This initial eight hole drill program intersected the targeted gold-silver-copper-iron skarn mineralization but we have yet to find the source for the high grade gold samples from the surface and auger drilling work. The Monte Carmelo diamond drill rig has now been moved to the 100% owned Santa Maria gold-silver project to initiate a minimum 2,500 m drill program." 100% Owned Monte Carmelo Gold Skarn The maiden drilling program at the 100% owned Monte Carmelo Gold Skarn Project consisting of eight diamond drill holes totalling 2100 metres has been completed and all assay results have been received. The drilling targeting high-grade gold skarn mineralization exposed on surface and tested by an extensive program of auger drilling. All drill holes intersected skarn mineralization consisting of garnet and magnetite skarn developed in calcareous sediments, limestone, and intrusives. Mineralization consist of massive and veined zones with anomalous levels of gold and silver with variable copper associated with iron and lesser amounts of zinc, lead, and arsenic. Drill hole MD17-006 intersected a broad iron rich zone from surface with 29.5 m grading 0.58 g/t Au, 4.9 g/t Ag and 0.22 % Cu from surface including 10.5 metres grading 1.43 g/t Au and 7.5 g/t Ag and 0.32 % Cu (0 - 10.5m). Drill hole MD17-007 intersected a highly mineralized iron rich zone consisting of magnetite skarn averaging 0.28 g/t Au, 6.34 g/t Ag, 0.33 % Cu, and 0.20 % Zn over 14.5 metres (83.8 - 98.3 m). Additionally the hole intersected 0.36 g/t Au, 65.8 g/t Ag, and 3.51% Cu over 1.53 m (74.72 - 76.25m) and a third intercept from surface of 7.0m grading 0.45 g/t Au, 1.9 g/t Ag, and 0.11% Cu. Diamond drill hole MD17-001 intersected 2.1 metres grading 0.36 g/t Au (36.6 - 38.7m) and a second intercept of 1.1m grading 0.16 g/t Au and 3.62 % Zn (127 - 128.1m). Drill hole MD17-002 intersected 2.0 metres grading 0.10 g/t Au and 0.48 % Cu (120.25 - 122.25m). MD17-003 intersected a narrow zone of weakly to moderately anomalous mineralization which included 331 ppm Mo (molybdenum) over 3.71 metres (110.66 - 114.37m). Drill hole MD17-004 intersected a near surface, broad mineralized zone with low grade gold and silver values grading 0.22 % Cu and 0.51 % Zn over 47.28 metres (7.62 - 54.9m). MD17-005 contains a narrow zone grading 1.19 g/t Au over 1.15 metres (50-45 - 51.6m). Drill hole MD17-008 intersected a near surface zone of 9.4 metres grading 0.15 g/t Au (0.0 - 9.4m) and a second intercept of 4.95m grading 0.14 g/t Au (63.05 - 68.0m). Overall the intercepts define a variably mineralized flatly dipping zone consisting of broad anomalous zones with irregular higher grade structures related to the contact of two intrusive phases (granite and granodiorite) and the calcareous sediment and limestone host rocks. 100% Owned Santa Maria Gold-Silver Project The maiden drilling program, consisting of a minimum of 2500 metres of diamond drilling, is expected to commence in the near term. Calibre is committed to best practice standards for all exploration, sampling and drilling activities. Drilling is being completed by independent firm Kluane Drilling Ltd. Analytical quality assurance and quality control procedures include the systematic insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates into the sample strings. Samples are placed in sealed bags and shipped directly to Acme Labs (a Bureau Veritas Group Company) in Managua, Nicaragua for sample preparation and then to Acme Labs in Vancouver, Canada for 50 gram gold fire assay and ICP-MS multi element analyses. The technical content in this news release was read and approved by Gregory Smith, P.Geo, President and CEO of the Company who is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. About Calibre Mining Corp. Calibre owns a 100% interest in over 413 km2 of mineral concessions in the Mining Triangle of Northeast Nicaragua including the Primavera Gold-Copper Project and Monte Carmelo Gold Project. Additionally the Company has optioned to IAMGOLD (176 km2) and Centerra Gold (253 km2) concessions covering an aggregate area of 429 km2 and is party to a joint venture on the 33.6 km2 Rosita D gold-copper-silver project with Rosita Mining Corporation. Major shareholders of Calibre include gold producer B2Gold Corp, Pierre Lassonde and management. VANCOUVER, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - Nevsun Resources Ltd. (TSX:NSU)(NYSE MKT:NSU) (Nevsun or the Company) is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Unless otherwise noted, with the exception of earnings per share and realized price and cost per pound figures, all financial results are in millions of US dollars. First quarter 2017 highlights Sold 66.5 million pounds of contained zinc in concentrate at C1 cash costs (1) of $0.89 per payable pound sold of per payable pound sold Produced 3.3 million pounds of copper in concentrate and 51.9 million pounds of zinc in concentrate Zinc recovery improved to 71.0% during Q1 2017 from 63.6% during Q4 2016 Announced a significant increase in resources at the Bisha Mine Completed the geophysics survey at Bisha, generating promising new targets Completed the planned infill drilling program for the Timok Upper Zone Approved a new exploration program targeting additional high-grade mineralization at Timok Ended period with working capital of $190 million , including $167 million of cash and cash equivalents , including of cash and cash equivalents Declared quarterly dividend of $0.01 per share Timok Project Review Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Q3 2016 Q1 2016 Spending Upper Zone $ 7,668 $ 5,924 $ 2,785 $ - Spending Lower Zone 2,914 2,022 1,013 - "Timok remains the Company's number one priority to add shareholder value. We continue to achieve our key milestones including completion of infill drilling and progressing technical studies in support of the Timok project pre-feasibility study. We are on-track to commence decline development during 2017 and remain on-track to deliver the pre-feasibility study," stated Chief Executive Officer, Cliff Davis. "We are making continued improvements at Bisha which is translating into improvements to our operating income quarter over quarter," stated Cliff Davis, "With copper sales expected during Q2 2017 and less bulk concentrate, we expect even further improvements for the remainder of 2017. We are also pleased with higher than planned quarterly zinc and copper production, which means the Company is on track to meet annual production guidance. We continue to make incremental progress on all key performance indicators." Financial Review Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Q3 2016 Q1 2016 Revenue (millions) $ 71.6 $ 36.2 $ 22.9 $ 92.4 Operating income (loss) (millions) 11.7 (4.9) 17.5 32.9 Net income (loss) (millions) 2.9 (8.5) 6.0 15.6 Working capital (millions) 190.3 201.1 206.9 483.3 Copper price realized, per payable pound sold $ - $ - $ 2.10 $ 2.20 Zinc price realized, per payable pound sold 1.28 1.17 - C1 cash cost per payable copper pound sold(1) - - 0.72 1.12 C1 cash cost per payable zinc pound sold(1) 0.89 1.06 - (1)C1 cash cost per payable pound sold is a non-GAAP measure see page 14 of the Q1 2017 MD&A for a discussion of non-GAAP measure. Operations Review Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Q3 2016 Q1 2016 Mining Ore mined, tonnes(1) 651,000 670,000 672,000 1,337,000 Waste mined, tonnes 3,114,000 2,445,000 2,446,000 2,028,000 Strip ratio, (using tonnes) 4.8 3.6 3.6 1.5 Processing Primary Ore Ore Milled, tonnes 599,000 579,000 510,000 - Zinc feed grade, % 5.5 5.7 5.8 - Copper feed grade, % 0.9 0.8 1.0 - Recovery, % of zinc(2) 71.0 63.6 59.1 - Recovery, % of copper(3)(4) 26.8 - - - Zinc concentrate grade, %(5) 39.4 38.8 41.3 - Copper concentrate grade, %(4) 21.6 - - - Zinc in concentrate produced, millions of pounds 51.9 46.5 38.6 - Zinc in concentrate produced, tonnes 23,500 21,000 17,500 - Copper in concentrate produced, millions of pounds(4) 3.3 - - - Copper in concentrate produced, tonnes(4) 1,500 - - - Payable zinc in concentrate sold, millions of pounds 52.9 35.2 21.2 - Payable zinc in concentrate sold, tonnes 24,000 16,000 9,600 - Processing Supergene Ore(6) Ore Milled, tonnes - - - 584,000 Copper feed grade, % - - - 3.1 Recovery, % of copper - - - 87.0 Copper concentrate grade, % - - - 23.0 Copper in concentrate produced, millions of pounds - - - 34.2 Copper in concentrate produced, tonnes - - - 15,500 Payable copper in concentrate sold, millions of pounds - - 0.8 34.9 Payable copper in concentrate sold, tonnes - - 300 15,900 (1) Ore tonnes mined for the three months ended March 31, 2017 included 594,000 tonnes of primary ore (Q1 2016 605,000) and 57,000 tonnes of supergene ore (Q1 2016 732,000). (2) This represents the overall combined zinc recovery from both the copper and zinc flotation circuits. (3) This represents the copper recovery from the copper flotation circuit only, and excludes copper recovered to bulk concentrate. (4) Operating statistics related to recovery as a percentage of copper, copper concentrate grade, and copper in concentrate produced, were not meaningful during Q4 2016. (5) Represents combined concentrate grade for both zinc and bulk concentrates. (6) The supergene phase of the Bisha mine ceased on June 2, 2016. Conference call details The Company will hold a conference call on Friday, April 28, 2017, at 8AM Vancouver / 11AM Toronto, New York / 4PM London, to discuss the Q1 2017 results. Please call in at least five minutes prior to the conference call start time to ensure prompt access to the conference. Dial in details are as follows: North America: 1 888-390-0546 / +1 416-764-8688 / +1 778-383-7413 UK: 0800 652 2435 (toll free) Other International: +1 416-764-8688 / +1 778-383-7413 The conference call will be available for replay until May 5, 2017, by calling 1 888-390-0541 / +1 416-764-8677 and entering passcode 866548 #. About Nevsun Resources Ltd. Nevsun Resources Ltd. is the 100% owner of the high-grade copper-gold Timok Upper Zone in Serbia and 60% owner of the high-grade copper-zinc Bisha Mine in Eritrea. Nevsun is well positioned with a strong debt-free balance sheet to grow shareholder value through advancing the Timok project to production. Page 3 of 5 [Part 2] The role of leadership Black Flag writes: The repetitive argument that the working class needs leaders do not differ from any RIGHT WING speech which states that equality is impossible because some must rule and others obey. Our anarchist friend speaks of the working class in a very abstract way, but completely ignores the concrete reality. The working class is not one homogeneous mass but is composed of different layers. Some workers are more backward, others more advanced and class conscious. Some are religious and under the influence of the church, while others have broken away from religious prejudices. Some organise unions, others do not. The reality of the class struggle something which is clearly a closed book to our anarchist critic demonstrates the complete falsity of the way he poses the question of leadership. In every factory there is always a group of workers a minority under normal circumstances that maintain trade union organisation and stand up to the bosses. These are the natural leaders of the working class. Even in a strike of half an hour, we will find leadership. And this leadership is not improvised on the spur of the moment but prepared over a whole period of work and struggle. These advanced workers may be Marxists, anarchists, reformists or people of no fixed political views (although this is rarely the case in practice). But invariably they will be people who have earned the right to lead. We see this in every strike. The question as to whether to strike or not is debated democratically in a mass meeting. Some workers are in favour of strike action and others against. And it frequently occurs that a single intervention by a militant worker can decide the issue. What is this but leadership? The next step is that somebody has to go and put the workers case to management. When the time comes to decide who walks through the managers door, who do the workers choose? They do not toss a coin to decide, nor do they elect the most backward elements to defend their interests. They will look to the most determined and class conscious elements able to represent them and yes, also to lead them. It is one-sided to portray leadership as only hindering or pacifying the rank-and-file. Good leaders, who do exist, can also inspire the rank-and-file into taking action. All this is really ABC for any worker with even the slightest experience of the class struggle. Only people completely ignorant of the workers movement or blinded by anarchist prejudices can have the slightest doubt about the importance of leadership at the shop floor level. How the working class draws revolutionary conclusions The working class does not automatically and en masse arrive at revolutionary conclusions. If that were so, the task of party-building would be redundant. The task of transforming society would be a simple one, if the movement of the working class took place in a straight line. But this is not the case. Over a long historical period, the working class comes to understand the need for organisation. Through the establishment of organisations, both of a trade union and, on a higher level, of a political character, the working class begins to express itself as a class, with an independent identity. In the language of Marx, it passes from a class in itself to a class for itself. This development takes place over a long historical period through all kinds of struggles, involving the participation, not just of the minority of more or less conscious activists, but of the politically untutored masses, who, in general, are awakened to active participation in political (or even trade union) life only on the basis of great events. As we have seen, the working class in general learns from experience, especially the experience of the class struggle. Many workers have passed through the experience of strikes: they have known victories and defeats and have drawn certain lessons from their experience. Consequently, experienced worker militants possess the necessary knowledge to organise and lead a strike. They do not require advice from revolutionaries whether Marxists or anarchists in order to perform this function. However, when it comes to revolutionary situations, the question is posed differently. How many workers have gone through the experience of an all-out general strike? Not very many. But the general strike is not the same as an ordinary strike. It challenges the rule of capital in a direct manner. Who runs society: the bosses or the workers? In other words it poses the question of power. A general strike cannot therefore be approached in the same way as a normal strike. As a rule it either ends in the working class taking power or in a decisive defeat. The French general strike of May 1968 In the past the anarcho-syndicalists thought that a general strike in and of itself would be sufficient to carry out a revolution. But this idea is profoundly mistaken. The capitalists can wait as long as it takes to defeat a general strike, but the ability of the workers to survive without payment, without food for their families, has definite limits. If the strike goes on for too long without resolution, the mood of the workers will begin to decline and the strike will be defeated. Even the stormiest strike in itself cannot solve the question of power. We saw this clearly in France in May 1968, where the greatest general strike in history ended in defeat. And this was precisely a problem of the nature of the leadership. It is one thing to strike against a system, and in doing so to temporarily cripple it, it is quite another to organise the complex and detailed task of disbanding the old government, agreeing how it is to be replaced and then organising the systematic defence of this new social regime. Without a distinct political organisation, visible to the working class and proposing such concrete measures, revolutionary general strikes fizzle out and the old regime recovers its control. The causes of bureaucracy Despite, or indeed because of, anarchisms blanket rejection of authority and hierarchy, anarchist theory ironically lacks any coherent theory of leadership, authority, or power. This is because anarchists treat such phenomena abstractly and uniformly, when in fact there is no such thing as power as such. Marxists, as historical materialists, recognise that power emerges from accumulated material inequality and the resulting social contradictions. It is a tool that is created for its wielder the ruling economic class - and is determined by their ends, which in the final analysis are material ones. The authority that slaves impose onto their owner as they fight for their freedom is not only different from, but diametrically opposite to, the authority of a slave owner oppressing his slaves. State power has arisen as economic development has created class divisions, and it serves those divisions. It is inseparable from social antagonisms, and will exist so long as these antagonisms remain. Rather than explaining this, anarchists concentrate on denouncing the power of the ruling class as illegitimate and a lie, as if all history were a giant trick miraculously imposed onto the masses by a sinister magician. In doing so, they mystify the very thing they despise. Whilst proudly proclaiming platitudes such as No gods, no masters, or we are ungovernable, they remain doomed to being governed because they do not understand the basis of their oppression. How do we explain the phenomenon of bureaucracy in the workers organizations? Our critic turns for help to the nebulous realms of psychology: Several researches in the fields of psychology and pedagogy show, however, that the authority and hierarchy, far from favouring, hinder. The Stanford Experiment is a good example of how the concentration of power in one individual can cause problems. The Stanford Experiment was carried out at Stanford University in August 1971. It divided a group of student volunteers into prison guards and prisoners to see how they would react. Some of the guards began abusing the prisoners. Many have criticised the validity of the experiment, inasmuch as the organiser of the experiment, professor Philip Zimbardo, actively participated in pushing the participants to behave in a certain manner, i.e. he was far from objective in his approach. It was also found that the initial character traits of those involved influenced their behaviour rather than the conditions of the experiment influencing them. There were attempts to replicate the experiment which produced different results. Has our learned anarchist critic thrown in this passing reference to the Stanford Experiment to give himself an aura of being a knowledgeable person in such matters? Unfortunately, he has chosen poorly, for such an experiment has nothing whatsoever to do with the leadership of workers organisations. The workers who join mass organisations are not prisoners and the leaders are not omnipotent prison guards. Our anarchist critic continues: The main complaint in this field is that anarchists opposed the bureaucratic manipulation of the Union by an allegedly revolutionary party. Why, let's just look at what happens when parties bureaucratically use the Union to realize that the result is always the same: stagnation, corruption, class treason and often sectarianism and authoritarianism. The CUT here in Brazil is the biggest example of this - the Central is connected to the PT, of which until yesterday the Marxist Left was a part of, remember. [My emphasis] The implication of our anarchist friend is that all organisations end up as a bureaucratic hierarchy. It is true that organisations like the trade unions that are formed under capitalism, and inevitably come under the pressures of capitalism, can degenerate. The leaders can become corrupted, lose contact with the rank and file and sell out. That has happened many times, including in the case of the Brazilian CUT. However, it is entirely false to treat things in this blanket fashion, as if the history of our movement is nothing but one of bureaucracy and class treason. It is false to present the relationship between the working class and its leaders in terms of hierarchy and blind obedience (some must rule and others obey.). The workers movement is generally democratic. The decision to strike or not is decided in a democratic mass meeting. The strike leaders are democratically elected. If they do not act according to the wishes of the workers, they can be recalled and replaced by others. Rule and obey does not enter into it. Instead of merely denouncing this degeneration, we should also strive to understand it. Why do workers organisations degenerate? Is it because of the bad character of the workers leaders? Is it because they are hungry for power, as our anarchist critic seems to believe with his references to individual psychology? Is it the case that degeneration is the inevitable result of setting up a political party and fighting for political power, and that all workers parties, always, betray? If that is the case, then the outlook for the working class would be grim indeed. Our anarchist friend does not provide any serious explanation for the phenomenon which he deplores so much. To find the reasons for this degeneration it is necessary to look, not in the misty realms of psychoanalysis, nor in the formal structures of parties, but in the actual functioning of class society. The workers organisations do not exist in a vacuum. They exist in the framework of capitalism, and come under the pressures of capitalism. Under certain conditions even the best organisation can degenerate under these pressures, which exercise their most powerful effect on the leading strata. The formation of a bureaucratic crust is a reflection of that pressure. It is not a product of leadership in itself, but leadership corrupted by the capitalists. Over a long period of time the ruling class has developed highly effective and sophisticated mechanisms for bribing and controlling the workers leaders. Every organisation anarchist organisations included always contains the possibility of degeneration. As long as we are compelled to work within capitalist society, we cannot escape from the pressures of capitalism. There is of course no absolute guarantee against the degeneration of any organisation. Life in general, and the class struggle in particular, offers us no guarantees. The working class has ways of combatting the pernicious influence of the bourgeoisie inside the labour movement. It is necessary to actively participate in the struggle against bureaucracy, to purge the movement of careerists and traitors and to bring the trade unions under the control of the working class. By standing aside from this struggle, one does not help the cause of the socialist revolution but objectively serves the interests of the bourgeoisie and its agents within the workers movement, for this leaves the mass organisations in the hands of bureaucrats who, lacking pressure from below, will have no trouble capitulating to bourgeois pressure from above. Men and Women organise in the streets of St Petersburg during the first days of the 1917 February Revolution Therefore, rather than abstaining from the struggle, we must conduct a systematic struggle within the Labour movement against bureaucracy, and demand that our representatives must be brought under the control of the rank and file. We must demand that every trade union official, local councillor or Member of Parliament should be elected at regular intervals and subject to recall at all times. No workers representative should receive a higher wage than that of a skilled worker, and all expenses should be open to the inspection of the rank and file. These basic principles will serve to purge the workers organisations of bureaucrats and careerists and ensure that our representatives genuinely reflect the interests and aspirations of the class, and not their own personal interests and ambitions. Marxists and the mass organizations In order to cover his bare backside, our anarchist critic adds insult to injury. He has the audacity to claim that the betrayal of the Spanish CNT leaders during the Spanish Civil war was, closer to that of Marxists, as we have seen in the Trotskyist participation of the IMT within the bourgeois regimes of the PT and Syriza. Regarding our participation in the mass organisations of the working class, our friend thinks he is on to a winner. Like a little boy walking around showing everybody his new shoes, he repeats this fact as though it were a damning condemnation of Marxists in general and the IMT in particular. In resorting to this tactic, he merely parades his ignorance of the working class and its organisations, and his own sectarian arrogance. Like a repeating groove on a gramophone record, he reiterates the same monotonous tune: Alan Woods tries to blame the reformist and bureaucratic wings for the discrediting of the leaderships. It is to be noted that the Marxist Left [Esquerda Marxista], today in the PSOL, until early 2015 was a component part of the Workers Party (PT). These Trotskyists saw no problems in asking for votes for Lula and Dilma even considering what the party had become. The IMT section in Greece also gave full support to the election of Tsipras, of Syriza, who refused to respond to the popular appeal and resist the austerity demanded by the Troika. In fact, about bureaucrats and careerists, Alan Woods knows a lot. This is a complete distortion of reality. Firstly, no member of the IMT has ever joined any bourgeois regime, either of the PT, Syriza or any other government. What is true that at different times the Marxists have participated in mass parties of the working class in different countries, struggling side by side with the rank and file workers in these organisations to fight against the bureaucracy and advance the programme of revolutionary socialism. In exactly the same way, the Friends of Durruti fought side-by-side with the rank and file anarchist workers of the CNT against the treacherous policy of the anarchist leaders. The CNT leaders, on the other hand, joined a bourgeois government as ministers. The participation of the Marxists in the mass organisations of the proletariat, far from being a weakness, represents, together with our theoretical clarity and revolutionary intransigence, our main strength. Our participation in these organisations, far from representing participation in the regime, is based on an implacable struggle against the bureaucracy in order to win over the workers and youth. You can only help liberate the masses from the influence of reformism by going through with them, step by step, the living struggle in these reformist organisations, pointing out at each step that the reformists cannot solve their problems. The refusal of the anarchists to dirty their hands with the mass organisations of the workers they claim to represent is merely a confession of impotence: sterile abstentionism disguised under a thin layer of pseudo-revolutionary demagogy. The masses must test the parties and leaders in practice, for there is no other way. The mass of the working class learns from this experience. They do not learn from books, not because they lack the intelligence, as middle class snobs imagine, but because they lack the time, the access to culture and the habit of reading that is not something automatic, but is acquired. This process of successive approximation is both wasteful and time-consuming, but it is the only one possible. In every revolutionnot only Russia in 1917, but also France in the 18th century and England in the 17th centurywe see a similar process, in which, through experience, the revolutionary masses, by a process of successive approximations, find their way towards the most consistently revolutionary wing. The history of every revolution is thus characterised by the rise and fall of political parties and leaders, a process in which the more extreme tendencies always replace the more moderate, until the movement has run its course. But they can only test out the political parties and tendencies that actually exist in a sizeable form, therefore if revolutionaries are to gain the leadership of the working class in the heat of revolutionary events, there is no other way than through building such an organisation as a part of this living struggle, which is nothing if not political. by Tobi Elkin @tobielkin, April 28, 2017 Google's parent company Alphabet beat Wall Streets earnings expectations for the first quarter, racking up $24.75 billion in revenue versus the Street's forecast of $24.17 billion -- up 22% from the same period a year ago. It reported net income of $5.4 billion -- or $7.73 per share -- up from $4.2 billion, or $6.02 per share, from the year-ago period. Advertising revenues contributed $21.4 billion, up from $18 billion a year ago. Google appeared unmarred, financially, from the fallout around ads on YouTube appearing next to offensive and hate-filled content. The controversy surfaced after a Times of London investigation in February caused many global advertisers to suspend ad campaigns on the user-generated video portal. Despite the ongoing controversy and moves to put brand safety measures into place on YouTube, ad revenues grew in the first quarter in all locales: the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas. And Alphabet shares are up more than 23.5% over the past year, and nearly 12.5% so far this year. advertisement advertisement Advertiser suspensions on YouTube may not have a material impact until the second quarter, according to Henry Kargman, CEO and founder of Kargo, a moble ad-tech firm. Its also the case that YouTube, where the trouble is, represents only a portion of Google's $21.4 billion in digital ad revenue. YouTube is only one part of Alphabets revenues, search is still very strong and a big part of the ad revenues and not affected by the ad boycott, Kargman said. The bigger question is, is there a tarnish on the Google advertising brand that will get advertisers to say we will run on Google and YouTube but we want to look for alternatives in the market because we cant have a big concentration of dollars on YouTube? Kargman said. I do think all of the brands that suspended advertising will return to Google. The question is, will they ever return at the same scale and desire to invest a big percentage of their ad budgets? Kargman pointed out that 80% of digital advertising growth in the market is consumed by revenues going to Google and Facebook. Brands may start to ask what the proper allocation of their digital ad spend should be. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, April 27, 2017 Google's properties' share of revenue grew much more than its partner sites during the first quarter of 2017. Parent company Alphabet reported Thursday that Google's own sales from services now contribute more than 80% of the ad revenue generating $17.4 billion in the quarter -- up from $14.3 billion in the year-ago quarter. Revenue from advertising also climbed to $21.4 billion, up from $18 billion. The increase in Google's revenue from its sites "reflects healthy growth in mobile search," Alphabet CFO Ruth Porat said on an analyst and investor call. In aggregate, the cost per click in the quarter fell 21%, compared with the first quarter of 2016. CPCs on Google properties fell 21%, and network members by 17%. Crealytics CEO Andreas Reiffen isn't surprised to see a continued decline in CPCs, but "whats interesting is that even as click value decreases, Google continues to show growth in its overall advertising revenue." Reiffen believes the decline is likely due to a rapid increase in mobile searches, the growing number of available ad units on the results page, and the move toward visual product listings, where the image of the product is presented rather than the traditional three lines of text. advertisement advertisement Alphabet reported in the first-quarter earnings report that it refined Google's method for paid clicks and cost-per-click to include additional categories of TrueView engagement ads and exclude non-engagement-based trial ad formats. The change resulted in a modest increase in paid clicks and a modest decrease in cost-per-click, according to the earnings report. Along with earnings, Google/Alphabet co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin released the 2016 Founders Annual Letter to shareholders. "Sergey and I are having a good time looking for new opportunities and managing and scaling our existing efforts," Page wrote in the letter. "I still see amazing opportunities that just arent quite fully developed yet and helping making them real is what I get excited about." Page paced through updates to Alphabet's projects and companies, admitting that oversights have been easier with the change to Alphabet from Google nearly two years ago. "I also think we have learned a lot about how to set up new companies with a structure for success," he wrote. " "Were not going to invest if we dont see great opportunities and we feel like our track record for picking some important efforts long before others is pretty good. Machine learning and all the efforts around Google Brain and DeepMind are good examples." by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 28, 2017 A federal judge has authorized Facebook to immediately appeal a decision requiring the company to face allegations that it illegally sent people messages about their friends' birthdays. U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderson in San Francisco said in a ruling issued Thursday that the case presented unsettled legal questions that could be answered by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and that referring the matter to that court could lead to a speedier termination of the matter. The dispute dates to 2016, when Florida resident Colin Brickman alleged in a class-action complaint that Facebook's birthday texts violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits companies from robo-texting people without their permission. Brickman alleged that he gave Facebook his cell phone number, but told the company he didn't want to receive text messages. He said in his complaint that he nonetheless received a text from Facebook informing him about a friend's birthday, and inviting him to either post a message on his friend's timeline, or to press "1" on his keypad to post "Happy Birthday!" advertisement advertisement Facebook unsuccessfully asked Henderson to dismiss the case for several reasons, including that it has a free speech right to send the texts. Henderson rejected that argument, ruling that the Telephone Consumer Protection Act is constitutional because it serves a "compelling government interest in promoting residential privacy," and is neither too broad or too narrow to accomplish that goal. The social networking service also unsuccessfully argued that Brickman's complaint didn't contain enough facts to show that the company used an automated dialer to send the texts. Henderson sided against Facebook, ruling that Brickman's complaint "alleged exactly how Facebooks software determines who to text, how it gathers the contact information needed to send out texts, how it creates text messages, and how it sends them out, all without human intervention." Facebook then asked Henderson to authorize an immediate appeal to the 9th Circuit. The judges on that court have discretion to decide whether to accept the appeal. That court is already slated to consider whether Facebook may have violated the robo-texting law in a different matter. In that case, Montana resident Noah Duguid has asked the court to revive his lawsuit against the company. Duguid alleged in a 2015 class-action complaint that Facebook repeatedly sent him text messages, even though he had never used the social networking service. Duguid, who apparently had been assigned a recycled phone number by his carrier, alleged that Facebook repeatedly notified him via SMS that his account had been accessed. A trial judge dismissed Duguid's lawsuit, prompting his appeal to the 9th Circuit. Henderson said in his ruling Thursday that if the 9th Circuit refuses to hear Facebook's appeal, he will stay the matter until another appellate court -- the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals -- issues a decision in a separate dispute over robotexting regulations. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 28, 2017 New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has scored a preliminary victory in his lawsuit accusing Charter of duping consumers by delivering slower-than-advertised Web service. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen McMahon on Thursday rejected Charter's argument that federal laws effectively bar state officials from prosecuting broadband providers for their ad claims. The judge also sent the case back to New York County Supreme Court, where Schneiderman originally brought the lawsuit. Schneiderman alleged in a complaint filed in February that Time Warner -- purchased by Charter last year and subsequently renamed Spectrum -- "conducted a systematic scheme to defraud and mislead subscribers to its Internet service by promising to deliver Internet service that it knew it could not and would not deliver." The complaint alleged that Time Warner "fraudulently induced at least 640,000 subscribers in New York State to sign up for high-speed plans that it knew it could not provide." advertisement advertisement Charter's lawyers transferred the matter to federal court, where they argued that it should be dismissed. Among other arguments, Charter said that the Federal Communications Commission is the only agency capable of policing broadband-related matters. The company specifically argued that the FCC's 2015 net neutrality order prohibits states from imposing inconsistent regulations. Charter also argued that the Federal Communications Act protects the company from prosecution for allegedly violating state advertising laws. McMahon rejected both of those arguments. The judge wrote that Congress "did not intend for the federal statute to be the exclusive remedy for redressing false advertising and consumer protection claims." A Charter spokesperson said Friday that the company "will mount a strong defense against the lawsuits allegations" involving Time Warner's practices. Were excited to announce that metalbulletin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving metals market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. TOTAL SE operates as an integrated oil and gas company worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Exploration & Production; Integrated Gas, Renewables & Power; Refining & Chemicals; and Marketing & Services. The company's Exploration & Production segment is involved in oil and natural gas exploration and production activities in approximately 50 countries. Its Integrated Gas, Renewables & Power segment engages in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, shipping, trading, and regasification activities; trading of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petcoke and sulfur, natural gas, and electricity; transportation of natural gas; electricity production from natural gas, wind, solar, hydroelectric, and biogas sources; energy storage activities; and development and operation of biomethane production units, as well as provides energy efficiency services. The company's Refining & Chemicals segment is involved in refining petrochemicals, including olefins and aromatics; and polymer derivatives, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and hydrocarbon resins, as well as biomass conversion and elastomer processing. This segment also engages in trading and shipping crude oil and petroleum products. Its Marketing & Services segment produces and sells lubricants; supplies and markets petroleum products, including bulk fuel, aviation and marine fuel, special fluids, compressed natural gas, LPG, and bitumen; and provides fuel payment solutions. It operates approximately 15,500 service stations. As of December 31, 2020, the company had 12,328 Mboe of combined proved reserves of oil and gas. TOTAL SE has a strategic partnership with PureCycle Technologies in the area of plastic recycling. The company was incorporated in 1924 and is headquartered in Paris, France. 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. Genpact Limited provides business process outsourcing and information technology (IT) services in India, rest of Asia, North and Latin America, and Europe. It operates through three segments: Banking, Capital Markets and Insurance; Consumer Goods, Retail, Life Sciences and Healthcare; and High Tech, Manufacturing and Services. The company offers CFO advisory services; and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) services, such as data management, carbon accounting, human rights assessment, sustainability diligence, and ESG reporting. It also provides finance and accounting services, which include accounts payable, such as document management, invoice processing, approval and resolution management, and travel and expense processing; invoice-to-cash services, including customer master data management, credit and contract management, fulfillment, billing, collections, and dispute management services; record to report services comprising accounting, treasury, tax, product cost accounting, and closing and reporting services; financial planning and analysis consisting of budgeting, forecasting, and business performance reporting; and enterprise risk and compliance services, including operational risks and controls. In addition, the company provides supply chain advisory services, and after-sales services; sourcing and procurement services comprising direct and indirect strategic sourcing, category management, spend analytics, procurement operation, and master data management; and sales and commercial services, including campaign, order, and dispute management, lead generation, pricing, and promotion optimization. Further, it offers IT services, which comprise end-user computing support, infrastructure management, application production support, and database management services; and transformation services that include digital solutions, consulting services, and analytics services and solutions. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda. The following companies are subsidiares of Nokia Oyj: AO Nokia Solutions and Networks, ATG Germany GmbH, Aircom International, Alcatel - Lucent, Alcatel Centroamerica S.A., Alcatel IP Networks Limited, Alcatel Lucent, Alcatel Lucent Middle East North Africa DMCC, Alcatel Lucent Teletas Telekomunikasyon A.S., Alcatel SEL Unterstutzungs GmbH, Alcatel Submarine Networks, Alcatel Submarine Networks Brazil Ltda., Alcatel Submarine Networks Denmark ApS, Alcatel Submarine Networks Hong Kong Limited, Alcatel Submarine Networks Marine, Alcatel Submarine Networks Norway AS, Alcatel Submarine Networks UK Ltd, Alcatel Submarine Networks USA Inc., Alcatel de Venezuela C.A., Alcatel-Lucent Angola Limitada, Alcatel-Lucent Benin SA, Alcatel-Lucent Centro Caribbean Holding Limited, Alcatel-Lucent East Africa Limited, Alcatel-Lucent India Limited, Alcatel-Lucent International, Alcatel-Lucent International Holdings Inc., Alcatel-Lucent Managed Solutions India Private Limited, Alcatel-Lucent Nigeria Limited, Alcatel-Lucent Pakistan Limited, Alcatel-Lucent Participations, Alcatel-Lucent Participations Chine, Alcatel-Lucent Portugal S.A., Alcatel-Lucent RT International B.V., Alcatel-Lucent Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., Alcatel-Lucent Services International B.V., Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell Information Products Co. Ltd., Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks (Cabo Verde) Lda, Alcatel-Lucent Trade International AG, Alcatel-Lucent UK Limited, Alcatel-Lucent Ukraine SC, Alcatel-Lucent Vietnam Limited, Amber Networks Inc., Antelec, Apertio Ltd., Avvenu, Bell Laboratories Inc., C-Dot Alcatel-Lucent Research Centre Private Limited, Camilec, Comptel, Comptel Communications EOOD, Comptel Communications Holdings Limited, Comptel Communications India Private Limited, Comptel Communications Limited, Comptel Communications Oy, Comptel Communications Sdn Bhd, Comptel Oy, Comptel Palvelut Philippines Inc., DeepField, Diamond Lane Communications, Digiskin UK, DiscoveryCom Inc., Dopplr, ETA Devices Inc., Eizel Technologies, Elenion Technologies, Elenion Technologies LLC, Enpocket, Epistrophe Limited, Europe*Star Limited, Evolium, F5 Networks Inc., Hunan Huanuo Technology Co. Ltd., IRIS Service Delivery UK Ltd, IRIS Telecommunication Austria GmbH, IRIS Telecommunication France, IRIS Telecommunication GmbH, IRIS Telecommunication Poland sp. z o.o., IRIS Telekomunikasyon Muhendislik Hizmetleri A.S., InTalk Corporation, Intellisync Corporation, Intellisync LLC, Ipsilon Networks Inc., LCC International's U.S., LLC "Nokia Solutions and Networks Ukraine", Loudeye Corp., Lucent Technologies GRL LLC, Lucent Technologies Investment Co. Ltd., Lucent Technologies Nanjing Telecommunications Co. Ltd., Lucent Technologies Networks (Thailand) Limited, Lucent Technologies Nicaragua S.A., Lucent Technologies Philippines Inc., Lucent Technologies Qingdao Telecommunications Enterprises Co. Ltd., Lucent Technologies Qingdao Telecommunications Systems Ltd., MRAC Inc., Matra Nortel Communications, Mesaplexx Limited, MetaCarta Inc., Metrowerks Corporation, Mformation Software Technologies India Pvt Ltd, Motally, NE-Products Oy, NGI Industrial (NGI), Nakina Systems, Nassau Metals Corporation, Navteq, Network Alchemy Inc., Nokatus Insurance Company Designated Activity Company (DAC), Nokia (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Co. Ltd., Nokia (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Nokia Apps Distribution LLC, Nokia Arabia Limited 100.0, Nokia Asset Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Nokia Bell NV, Nokia Canada Inc., Nokia Costa Rica S.A., Nokia Denmark A/S, Nokia Display Technics GmbH i.L., Nokia Dominican Republic S.A.S., Nokia Egypt S.A.E., Nokia El Salvador S.A. de C.V., Nokia Electronics Bochum GmbH i.L., Nokia Federal Solutions LLC, Nokia Hong Kong Limited, Nokia India Private Limited, Nokia Innovations Japan G.K., Nokia Innovations Oy, Nokia Innovations US LLC, Nokia Investment Management Corporation, Nokia Investments Oy, Nokia Ireland Limited, Nokia Jamaica Limited, Nokia Kunststofftechnik GmbH i.L., Nokia Networks (Chengdu) Co. Ltd., Nokia Networks S.R.L., Nokia New Zealand Limited, Nokia Operations de Guatemala S.A., Nokia Operations de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Nokia Paraguay S.A., Nokia Puerto Rico Inc., Nokia Services Pty Limited, Nokia Services and Networks Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Nokia Shanghai Bell (Hong Kong) Limited, Nokia Shanghai Bell Co. Ltd., Nokia Shanghai Bell Lao Sole Co. Ltd., Nokia Shanghai Bell Philippines Inc., Nokia Shanghai Bell Software Co. Ltd., Nokia Siemens Networks Afghanistan LLC, Nokia Siemens Networks Algerie SARL, Nokia Slovakia A.S., Nokia Solutions Networks Iletisim A.S., Nokia Solutions and Networks (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks (Suzhou) Supply Chain Service Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks AB, Nokia Solutions and Networks Argentina S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Asset Management Oy, Nokia Solutions and Networks Australia Pty Ltd, Nokia Solutions and Networks B.V., Nokia Solutions and Networks Baku LLC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Bangladesh Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Bolivia S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Branch Operations Oy, Nokia Solutions and Networks CCC, Nokia Solutions and Networks CJSC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Chile Ltda., Nokia Solutions and Networks Colombia Ltda., Nokia Solutions and Networks Czech Republic s.r.o., Nokia Solutions and Networks EOOD, Nokia Solutions and Networks Ecuador S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Ethernet Services Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH & Co. KG, Nokia Solutions and Networks Hellas Single Member S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Holding Osterreich GmbH, Nokia Solutions and Networks Honduras S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks India Private Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks International Holding GmbH, Nokia Solutions and Networks Investment (China) Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Israel Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Italia S.p.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Japan G.K., Nokia Solutions and Networks Kazakhstan LLP, Nokia Solutions and Networks Kft., Nokia Solutions and Networks Korea Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Kuwait Company W.L.L, Nokia Solutions and Networks LLC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Lanka (Private) Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks MEA FZ-LLC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Management GmbH, Nokia Solutions and Networks Morocco SARL, Nokia Solutions and Networks Myanmar Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Nederland B.V., Nokia Solutions and Networks Nicaragua S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Nigeria Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Norge AS, Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy, Nokia Solutions and Networks OU, Nokia Solutions and Networks Pakistan (Private) Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Peru S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks Philippines Inc., Nokia Solutions and Networks Portugal S.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks S.R.L., Nokia Solutions and Networks S.p.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks SIA, Nokia Solutions and Networks Schweiz AG, Nokia Solutions and Networks Serbia d.o.o. Beograd, Nokia Solutions and Networks Singapore Pte. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks South Africa Pty. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Sp. z.o.o, Nokia Solutions and Networks System Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Taiwan Co. Ltd., Nokia Solutions and Networks Tanzania Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Tashkent LLC, Nokia Solutions and Networks Technical Services Vietnam Company Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks TraffiCOM Kft., Nokia Solutions and Networks Tunisia SA, Nokia Solutions and Networks UK Limited, Nokia Solutions and Networks Venezuela C.A., Nokia Solutions and Networks d.o.o., Nokia Solutions and Networks d.o.o. Banja Luka, Nokia Solutions and Networks d.o.o. Sarajevo, Nokia Solutions and Networks do Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda., Nokia Solutions and Networks telekomunikacijske resitve d.o.o., Nokia Solutions and Networks Osterreich GmbH, Nokia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Nokia Spain S.A., Nokia Technologies (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Nokia Technologies (UK) Limited, Nokia Technologies Oy, Nokia Technology Center Philippines Inc., Nokia Technology GmbH, Nokia Teknologia Oy, Nokia Training Center Russian Federation, Nokia Transformation Engineering & Consulting Services Spain S.L.U., Nokia UK Limited, Nokia US Holdings Inc., Nokia Unterstutzungsgesellschaft GmbH, Nokia Uruguay S.A., Nokia West and Central Africa SA, Nokia of America Corporation, Novarra Inc., OOO Nokia Solutions and Networks, OOO RTK Network Technologies, OZ Communications, OZ Communications HK Limited, P.T. Lucent Technologies Network Systems Indonesia, PT Nokia Solutions and Networks Indonesia, Pishahang Communications Networks Development Company (Private Joint Stock), Plazes, Plum, R.F.S. (UK) Limited, RFS Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, RFS Holding GmbH, RFS India Telecom Private Limited, RFS Italia SRL, RFS Radio Frequency Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., RFS Radio Frequency Systems (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Radio Frequency Systems (Africa) Pty Ltd, Radio Frequency Systems (S) Pte Ltd, Radio Frequency Systems France, Radio Frequency Systems GmbH, Radio Frequency Systems Inc., Radio Frequency Systems Pty Limited, Radio Frequency Systems de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Ramp Networks Inc., Redback Networks Inc., Rooftop Communications Corporation, SAC AE Design Group Inc., SAC Wireless, SAC Wireless LLC, SAC Wireless of CA Inc., SRA Computer C.V., STC, Sega.com Inc., Smarterphone, Societe de Telecommunication Camerounaise Sotelcam, Space Time Insight, Symbian Limited, Symbian Ltd, Tahoe Networks, Taiwan International Standard Electronics Limited, Technophone Ltd, Telekol Group, Trolltech (Qt Development Frameworks), Twango, UAB Nokia Solutions and Networks, Unium, User Interface Design, Vertu Holdings Oy, Vienna Systems Corporation, Western Electric Company Incorporated, Western Electric International Incorporated, Withings, Zyzyx Inc., bit-side GmbH, cellity AG, earthmine, and gate5 AG. Read More State Street Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of financial products and services to institutional investors worldwide. The company offers investment servicing products and services, including custody; product accounting; daily pricing and administration; master trust and master custody; depotbank services; record-keeping; cash management; foreign exchange, brokerage and other trading services; securities finance and enhanced custody products; deposit and short-term investment facilities; loans and lease financing; investment manager and alternative investment manager operations outsourcing; performance, risk, and compliance analytics; and financial data management to support institutional investors. It also engages in the provision of portfolio management and risk analytics, as well as trading and post-trade settlement services with integrated compliance and managed data. In addition, the company offers investment management strategies and products, such as core and enhanced indexing, multi-asset strategies, active quantitative and fundamental active capabilities, and alternative investment strategies. Further, it provides services and solutions, including environmental, social, and governance investing; defined benefit and defined contribution; and global fiduciary solutions, as well as exchange-traded fund under the SPDR ETF brand. The company provides its products and services to mutual funds, collective investment funds and other investment pools, corporate and public retirement plans, insurance companies, foundations, endowments, and investment managers. State Street Corporation was founded in 1792 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. operates as bank holding company for the Prosperity Bank that provides financial products and services to businesses and consumers. It accepts various deposit products, such as demand, savings, money market, and time accounts, as well as and certificates of deposit. The company also offers 1-4 family residential mortgage, commercial real estate and multifamily residential, commercial and industrial, agricultural, and non-real estate agricultural loans, as well as construction, land development, and other land loans; consumer loans, including automobile, recreational vehicle, boat, home improvement, personal, and deposit account collateralized loans; and consumer durables and home equity loans, as well as loans for working capital, business expansion, and purchase of equipment and machinery. In addition, it provides internet banking, mobile banking, trust and wealth management, retail brokerage, mortgage services, and treasury management, as well as debit and credit cards. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated 273 full-service banking locations comprising 65 in the Houston area, including The Woodlands; 30 in the South Texas area including Corpus Christi and Victoria; 63 in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area; 22 in the East Texas area; 29 in the Central Texas area, including Austin and San Antonio; 34 in the West Texas area, including Lubbock, Midland-Odessa and Abilene; 16 in the Bryan/College Station area; 6 in the Central Oklahoma area; and 8 in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area doing business as LegacyTexas Bank. Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is based in Houston, Texas. The following companies are subsidiares of Thermo Fisher Scientific: 236 Perinton Parkway LLC, 27 Forge Parkway LLC, ABR--Affinity BioReagents, ACI Holdings Inc., ARG Services LLC, ASPEX Corporation, Abgene Inc., Abgene Limited, Acoustic Cytometry Systems Inc., AcroMetrix LLC, Acros Organics B.V.B.A., Advanced Biotechnologies Limited, Advanced Scientifics (ASI), Advanced Scientifics Inc., Advanced Scientifics International Inc., Affymetrix Biotech Participacoes Ltda., Affymetrix Biotech Shanghai Ltd, Affymetrix Inc, Affymetrix Japan K.K., Affymetrix Pte Ltd, Affymetrix UK Ltd, Afora S.A.U., Ahura Scientific, Alchematrix Inc., Alchematrix LLC, Alfa Aesar, Alfa Aesar (China) Chemical Co. Ltd., Alfa Aesar (Hong Kong) Limited, Allergon AB, Alphine Mountain Limited, Ambion Inc., Apogent Denmark ApS, Apogent Finance Company, Apogent Holding Company, Apogent Technologies Inc., Apogent Transition Corp., Apogent U.K. Limited, App-Tek International Pty Ltd, Applied Biosystems B.V., Applied Biosystems Finance B.V., Applied Biosystems International Inc., Applied Biosystems LLC, Applied Biosystems Taiwan LLC, Applied Biosystems Trading (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Applied Biosystems de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Applied Scientific Corporation, Avances Cientificos de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Avocado Research Chemicals Limited, B.R.A.H.M.S. Biotech GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. UK Ltd, BAC BV, BAC IP BV, Barnstead Thermolyne LLC, Beijing Phadia Diagnostics Co Ltd, Bender MedSystems GmbH, BioTrove Corporation, BioTrove International Inc., Bioanalysis Labsystems S.A., Biochemical Sciences LLC, Biolab, BmT GmbH Laborprodukte, Bonsai Tecnologies - Sistemas para Biotecnologia e Industria Unipessoal Lda, Brammer Bio, Bumi-Sans Sendirian Berhad, CAC Limited, CB Diagnostics AB, CB Diagnostics Holding AB, CEPH International Corporation, CHK Holdings Inc., CRS Robotics, CTPS LLC, Capitol Scientific Products Inc., Capitol Vial Inc., Cellomics Inc., CellzDirect Inc., Cenduit GmbH, Cenduit LLC, Cezanne S.A.S., Chase Scientific Glass Inc., Chromacol Limited, Clintrak, Clintrak Clinical Labeling Services LLC, Clintrak Pharmaceutical Services LLC, Cohesive Technologies (UK) Limited, Cohesive Technologies Inc., Columbia Diagnostics Inc., Compendia Bioscience Inc., Comtest Limited, Consolidated Technologies Inc., Consultores Fisher Scientific Chile Ltd, Core Informatics, Core Informatics LLC, Core Informatics UK Ltd., D-finitive Technologies Inc., DCG Systems B.V., DCG Systems C.V., DCG Systems G.K., DCG Systems GmbH, DCG Systems Korea Ltd., DCG Systems LLC, DPI Newco LLC, DSM Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Dharmacon, Diagnostix Ltd., Dionex (China) Analytical Ltd, Dionex (Switzerland) AG, Dionex (UK) Limited, Dionex Austria GmbH, Dionex Benelux B.V., Dionex Brasil Instrumentos Cientificos Ltda, Dionex Canada Ltd., Dionex China Limited, Dionex Corporation, Dionex Denmark A/S, Dionex Holding GmbH, Dionex I LLC, Dionex Pty Ltd., Dionex S.A., Dionex S.p.A., Dionex Singapore Pte Ltd., Dionex Softron GmbH, Dionex Sweden AB, Distribution Solutions International Inc., Doe & Ingalls Investors Inc., Doe & Ingalls Limited, Doe & Ingalls Management LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties II LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties LLC, Doe & Ingalls of California Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Florida Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Maryland Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Massachusetts Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of North Carolina Operating LLC, Doublecape Holding Limited, Doublecape Limited, Drakeside Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Duke Scientific Corporation, Dynal Biotech Beijing Limited, EGS Gauging Ltd., EGS Gauging Technical Services Company, EP Scientific Products LLC, Ecochem N.V., EnviroEquip Pty Ltd, Epsom Glass Industries Limited, Equibio Limited, Erie Electroverre S.A., Erie Finance Limited, Erie LP Holding LLC, Erie Scientific Company of Puerto Rico, Erie Scientific Hungary Kft, Erie Scientific LLC, Erie U.K. Limited, Erie UK 1 Limited, Erie UK 2 Limited, Erie UK Holding Company, Erie UK Senior Holding Limited, European Laboratory Holdings Limited, Eutech Instruments Europe B.V., Eutech Instruments Pte Ltd., Eutech Instruments Sdn Bhd, Ever Ready Thermometer Co. Inc., FEI Asia Pacific Co. Ltd., FEI Australia Pty Ltd, FEI CPD B.V., FEI Company, FEI Company Japan Ltd., FEI Company of USA (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd., FEI Czech Republic s.r.o., FEI Deutschland GmbH, FEI EFA Inc., FEI EFA International Pte. Ltd., FEI Electron Optics B.V., FEI Electron Optics International B.V., FEI Europe B.V., FEI France SAS, FEI Global Holdings C.V., FEI Hong Kong Company Limited, FEI Houston Inc., FEI Italia Srl, FEI Korea Ltd., FEI Melbourne Pty Ltd., FEI Microscopy Solutions Ltd, FEI Munich GmbH, FEI Norway Holding AS, FEI SAS, FEI Saudi Arabia LLC, FEI Servicos de Nanotecnologia Ltda., FEI Technologies Inc., FEI Technology de Mexico S.A. de C.V., FEI Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FEI Trondheim AS, FEI UK Ltd., FHP LLC, FRC Holding Inc. V, FS (Barbados) Capital Holdings Ltd., FS Casa Rocas Holdings LLC, FS Mexicana Holdings LLC, FSI Receivables Company LLC, FSII Sweden Holdings AB, FSII Sweden Holdings I AB, FSIR Holdings (UK) Limited, FSIR Holdings (US) Inc., FSUK Holdings Limited, FSWH Company LLC, FSWH II C.V., FSWH International Holdings LLC, Fermentas China Co. Ltd, Fermentas Inc., Fermentas International, Fermentas Sweden AB, Fermentas UK Limited, Fiberlite Centrifuge LLC, Finesse Scientific Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Finesse Solutions AG, Finesse Solutions Inc., Finnzymes Oy, Fisher Alder S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Asia Manufacturing Ventures Inc., Fisher Bermuda Holdings Limited, Fisher BioImage ApS, Fisher BioPharma Services (India) Private Limited, Fisher BioSciences Japan G.K., Fisher BioServices Inc., Fisher Bioblock Holding II SNC, Fisher CLP Holding Limited Partnership, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 1, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 2, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 3, Fisher Canada Limited Partnership, Fisher Chimica BVBA, Fisher Clinical Logistics LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services (Bristol) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Colombia) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Korea) Co. Ltd, Fisher Clinical Services (Mexico) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Peru) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services Colombia S.A.S., Fisher Clinical Services GmbH, Fisher Clinical Services Inc., Fisher Clinical Services Japan K.K., Fisher Clinical Services Latin America S.R.L., Fisher Clinical Services Limited Liability Company, Fisher Clinical Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Clinical Services Peru S.R.L, Fisher Clinical Services Pte Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services U.K. Limited, Fisher Emergo B.V., Fisher Germany Holdings GmbH, Fisher Hamilton China Inc., Fisher Hamilton Mexico LLC, Fisher Holdings ApS, Fisher Internet Minority Holdings L.L.C., Fisher Laboratory Products Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Fisher Luxembourg Danish Holdings SARL, Fisher Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Maybridge Holdings Limited, Fisher Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific (Austria) GmbH, Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Fisher Scientific (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific (SEA) Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific A/S, Fisher Scientific AG, Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Limited, Fisher Scientific Biotech Line ApS, Fisher Scientific Brazil Inc., Fisher Scientific Central America Inc., Fisher Scientific Chile Inc., Fisher Scientific Colombia Inc., Fisher Scientific Company, Fisher Scientific Company L.L.C., Fisher Scientific Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Fisher Scientific Europe Holdings B.V., Fisher Scientific GTF AB, Fisher Scientific Germany Beteiligungs GmbH, Fisher Scientific GmbH, Fisher Scientific Holding Company LLC, Fisher Scientific Holding HK Limited, Fisher Scientific Holding U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific Holdings (S) Pte Ltd, Fisher Scientific International LLC, Fisher Scientific Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Fisher Scientific Ireland Investments Unlimited, Fisher Scientific Ireland Limited, Fisher Scientific Japan Ltd., Fisher Scientific Jersey Island Limited, Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd, Fisher Scientific Latin America Inc., Fisher Scientific Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Fisher Scientific Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific Mexico Inc., Fisher Scientific Middle East and Africa Inc., Fisher Scientific Norway AS, Fisher Scientific Operating Company, Fisher Scientific Oxoid Holdings Ltd., Fisher Scientific Oy, Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific S.A.S., Fisher Scientific S.L., Fisher Scientific SPRL, Fisher Scientific The Hague I B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague II B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague III B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague IV B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague V B.V., Fisher Scientific U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company 2, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company Limited, Fisher Scientific Unipessoal Lda., Fisher Scientific Venezuela Inc., Fisher Scientific Worldwide (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Holdings I C.V., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Inc., Fisher Scientific de Mexico S.A., Fisher Scientific of the Netherlands B.V., Fisher Scientific spol. S.r.o, Fisher Servicios Clinicos (Chile) LLC, Fisher Servicios Clinicos Chile Ltda, Fisher WWD Holding L.L.C., Fisher Worldwide Distribution SPV, Fisher Worldwide Gene Distribution SPV, Flux Instruments, Fuji Partnership, G & M Procter Limited, G V Instruments Limited, GV Instruments Canada Ltd., GV Instruments Inc, Gatan Inc, General Scientific Company Sdn Bhd (M), Genomed molekularbiologische und diagnostische Produkte GmbH, Gerhard Menzel B.V. & Co. KG, Gold Cattle Standard Testing Labs Inc., Golden West Indemnity Company Limited, Goring Kerr Detection Limited, Greenville Service Company Inc., HENO GmbH i.L., Hangar 215 Inc., Helmet Securities Limited, Henogen, HighChem, HyClone International Trade (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Hybaid Limited, I.Q. (BIO) Limited, IDnostics AG, ILS Laboratories Scandinavia AB, Inel Inc., Inel SAS, InnaPhase Inc., InnaPhase Limited, IntegenX, Intrinsic BioProbes Inc., Intrinsic Bioprobes Inc., Invitrogen (Shanghai) Investment Co. Ltd., Invitrogen Argentina SA, Invitrogen BioServices India Private Limited, Invitrogen Europe Limited, Invitrogen Finance Corp., Invitrogen Holdings LLC, Invitrogen Holdings Ltd., Invitrogen Hong Kong Limited, Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc., Invitrogen Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ion Torrent Systems Inc., Ionalytics Corporation, JSC Thermo Fisher Scientific, Jouan LLC, Jouan Limited, Jouan SA, Kendro Containment & Services Limited, Kendro Laboratory Products Ltd, Kettlebrook Insurance Co. ltd., Keystone Scientific, KonTEM GmbH, Kyle Jordan Investments LLC, LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, LTC Tech South Africa PTY Ltd., La-Pha-Pack GmbH, Lab Vision (UK) Limited, Lab Vision Corporation, Lab-Chrom-Pack LLC, Lab-Line Instruments Inc., Labomex MBP S. de R. L. De C.V., Laboratoire Service International - L.S.I, Laboratory Management Systems Inc., Laboratory Specialties Proprietary Ltd., LambTrack Limited, Laser Analytical Systems Inc., Liberty Lane Investment LLC, Liberty Lane Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Life Sciences International (Poland) SP z O.O, Life Sciences International Holdings BV, Life Sciences International LLC, Life Sciences International Limited, Life Technologies AS, Life Technologies Australia PTY Ltd., Life Technologies BPD AB, Life Technologies BPD UK Limited, Life Technologies Brasil Comercio e Industria de Produtos para Biotecnologia Ltda, Life Technologies Chile SpA, Life Technologies Clinical Services Lab Inc., Life Technologies Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Czech Republic s.r.o., Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostic (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Europe B.V., Life Technologies Finance Ltd., Life Technologies Finland Oy, Life Technologies GmbH, Life Technologies Holdings PTE Ltd., Life Technologies Inc., Life Technologies International B.V., Life Technologies Japan Ltd., Life Technologies Korea LLC, Life Technologies Limited, Life Technologies Magyarorszag Kft, Life Technologies New Zealand Ltd., Life Technologies Norway Investments US LLC, Life Technologies Polska Sp z.o.o., Life Technologies SA, Life Technologies SAS, Life Technologies s.r.o, Linkage Biosciences Inc., Linkage Biosciences S.a.r.l., Loftus Furnace Company, Lomb Scientific, Lomb Scientific (Aust) Pty Limited, MTI-GlobalStem, Marketbase International Limited, Matrix MicroScience Inc., Matrix MicroScience Ltd., Matrix Technologies Corporation Limited, Matrix Technologies LLC, Maybridge Chemical Company Limited, Maybridge Chemical Holdings Limited, Maybridge Limited, Medical Analysis Systems Inc., Medical Analysis Systems International Inc., Medical Diagnostics Systems Inc., Metavac LLC, Microgenics Corporation, Microgenics Diagnostics Pty Limited, Microgenics GmbH, Microm International GmbH, Microm Laborgerate S.L.U, Molecular BioProducts Inc., Molecular Probes Inc., Molecular Transfer Inc., NAPCO Inc., NERL Diagnostics LLC, NOVODIRECT GmbH Labor- und Industrie- Megerate, Nalge (Europe) Limited, Nalge Nunc International (Monterrey) LLC, Nalge Nunc International Corporation, Nanjing WeiKangLe Trading Industrial Co Ltd, NanoDrop Technologies LLC, National Scientific Company, Navaho Acquisition Corp., Neomarkers Inc., New FS Holdings Inc., NewcoGen PE LLC, Nihon Dynal K.K., Niton Asia Limited, NovaWave Technologies Inc., Nunc A/S, ONIX Systems Inc., OXOID CZ s.r.o., Odyssey Holdings Corporation, Odyssey Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 1 S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 2 S.a r.l., Odyssey Venture Corporation, Omega Data Systems, One Lambda Inc, Onix Holdings Limited, Orme Scientific Limited, Owl Separation Systems LLC, Oxoid (ELY) Limited, Oxoid 2000 Limited, Oxoid AS, Oxoid Australia Pty. Limited, Oxoid Company, Oxoid Deutschland GmbH, Oxoid Holding SAS, Oxoid Holdings Limited, Oxoid Inc., Oxoid International Limited, Oxoid Investments GmbH, Oxoid Limited, Oxoid N.V., Oxoid New Zealand Limited, Oxoid Pension Trustees Limited, Oxoid Senior Holdings Limited, Oxoid UKH LLC, PAX - DSI Acquisition LLC, PE AG, Pacific Rim Far East Industries LLC, Pacific Rim Investment LLC, Panomics L.L.C., Panomics S.R.L., Patheon, Patheon API Inc., Patheon API Manufacturing Inc., Patheon API Services Inc., Patheon Austria GmbH & Co KG, Patheon B.V., Patheon Banner U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon Biologics (NJ) LLC, Patheon Biologics Australia Pty Ltd, Patheon Biologics B.V., Patheon Biologics LLC, Patheon Calculus Merger LLC, Patheon Cooperatief U.A., Patheon Development Services Inc., Patheon Finance LLC, Patheon France SAS, Patheon Holdings B.V., Patheon Holdings I B.V., Patheon Holdings II B.V., Patheon Holdings SAS, Patheon I B.V., Patheon I Holding GmbH, Patheon Inc., Patheon International AG, Patheon Italia S.p.A., Patheon KK, Patheon Life Science Products International GmbH, Patheon Manufacturing Services LLC, Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Patheon Pharmaceuticals Services Inc., Patheon Puerto Rico Acquisitions Corporation, Patheon Puerto Rico Inc., Patheon Regensburg GmbH, Patheon Softgels B.V., Patheon Softgels Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings LLC, Patheon UK Limited, Patheon UK Pension Trustees Limited, Pelican Acquisition Corporation, Perbio Science (Canada) Company, Perbio Science AB, Perbio Science BVBA, Perbio Science France SAS, Perbio Science Inc., Perbio Science International Netherlands B.V., Perbio Science Invest AB, Perbio Science Nederland B.V., Perbio Science Projekt AB, Perbio Science Sweden Holdings AB, Perbio Science Switzerland SA, Perbio Science UK Limited, Phadia AB, Phadia Diagnosticos Ltda, Phadia GmbH, Phadia Holding AB, Phadia International Holdings C.V., Phadia Korea Co. Ltd, Phadia Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Phadia Malta Holdings Limited, Phadia Oy, Phadia Real Property AB, Phadia Sweden AB, Phadia Taiwan Inc., Phadia US Inc., Phadia s.r.o., Pharmacaps Mexicana SA de CV, Phenom-World B.V., Phenom-World Holding B.V, Phenom-World Innovations B.V., Phinotex, Pierce Biotechnology Inc., Pierce Milwaukee Holding Corp., Pierce Milwaukee Inc., Polychromix, Power Sweden Holdings I AB, Power Sweden Holdings II AB, Power Sweden Holdings III Aktiebolag, Princeton Gamma-Tech Instruments LLC, Princeton Security Technologies, Prionics AG, Prionics Asia Ltd., Prionics Deutschland GmbH, Prionics France SAS, Prionics Italia S.r.l., Prionics Lelystad B.V., Prionics USA Inc., Priority Air Express LLC, Priority Air Express Pte. Ltd., Priority Air Express UK Limited, Priority Air Holdings Corp, Priority Solutions International, Promedica Pty Limited, Proxeon, Proxeon Biosystems ApS, Qiagen, REP GBP I-B Blocker Inc., Raymond A Lamb Limited, Remel Europe Limited, Remel Inc., Richard-Allan Scientific Company, Robbins Scientific LLC, Robocon Labor- und Industrieroboter Gesellschaft m.b.H, Rupprecht and Patashnick, Rupprecht and Patashnick (R&P), Russell pH Limited, S.C.I. du 10 rue Dugay Trouin, SCI Inno 92, STC Bio Manufacturing Inc., Samco Scientific (Monterrey) LLC, Samco Scientific LLC, Saroph Sweden AB, Schantz Road LLC, Seradyn Inc., Shanghai Life Technologies Biotechnology Co. Limited, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (C-I) Trading Co. Ltd, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (S) Trading Co. Ltd, Southern Trials (Pty) Ltd., Specialty (SMI) Inc., Spectra-Physics AB, Spectra-Physics Holdings Limited, Spectra-Physics Holdings USA LLC, Spectronex, Staten Island Cogeneration Corporation, Sterilin Limited, Stokes Bio Ltd., Sweden DIA (Sweden) AB, SwissAnalytic Group GmbH, Systems Manufacturing Corporation, TFLP LLC, TFS Breda B.V., TFS LLC, TFS Singapore HK Limited, TFSL Financing GP LLC, TFSL Senior GP Holdings 2 LLC, TK Partnership, TKA Wasseraufbereitungssysteme, TMOI Inc., TPI Real Estate Holdings LLC, TSP Holdings I LLC, TWX LLC, Technology Design Solutions Pty Ltd, Thermedics Detection de Argentina S.R.L, Thermo Allen Coding Limited, Thermo Asset Management Services Inc., Thermo BioAnalysis LLC, Thermo BioAnalysis Limited, Thermo BioSciences Holdings LLC, Thermo CIDTEC, Thermo CRS Holdings Ltd., Thermo CRS Ltd., Thermo Cambridge Limited, Thermo Cayman Holdings Ltd., Thermo Corporation, Thermo DMA Inc., Thermo Detection de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Dutch Holdings Limited Partnership, Thermo EGS Gauging LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings I LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings II LLC, Thermo Eberline LLC, Thermo Electron (Calgary) Limited, Thermo Electron (Chile) S.p.A., Thermo Electron (Karlsruhe) GmbH, Thermo Electron (Management Services) Limited, Thermo Electron (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Electron A/S, Thermo Electron Australia Pty Limited, Thermo Electron Export Inc., Thermo Electron Holdings SAS, Thermo Electron Industries, Thermo Electron LED GmbH, Thermo Electron LED S.A.S., Thermo Electron Limited, Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited, Thermo Electron Metallurgical Services Inc., Thermo Electron North America LLC, Thermo Electron Pension Trust GmbH, Thermo Electron Puerto Rico Inc., Thermo Electron SAS, Thermo Electron Scientific Instruments LLC, Thermo Electron Sweden AB, Thermo Electron Sweden Forvaltning AB, Thermo Electron Weighing & Inspection Limited, Thermo Elemental Limited, Thermo Environmental Instruments LLC, Thermo Fast U.K. Limited, Thermo Finland Holdings LLC, Thermo Finland Holdings MT1 B.V., Thermo Finland Holdings MT2 B.V., Thermo Finnigan LLC, Thermo Finnigan Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Malta Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN-I) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (CN-II) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings I Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings II Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings 2) LLC, Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) II Limited, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Heysham) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Kandel) GmbH, Thermo Fisher CHK Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust II, Thermo Fisher Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Thermo Fisher Cyprus Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Detection Mexico LLC, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics (Ireland) Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AB, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AG, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Aps, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Austria GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics B.V., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics K.K., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics NV, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.L.U., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.p.A. , Thermo Fisher Diagnostics SAS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Thermo Fisher Eurobonds Ltd., Thermo Fisher Financial Services Inc., Thermo Fisher GP LLC, Thermo Fisher German Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Germany B.V., Thermo Fisher India Divestco Private Limited, Thermo Fisher India Holding B.V., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Thermo Fisher Israel Ltd., Thermo Fisher Production et Services SAS, Thermo Fisher Project Cyprus LLC, Thermo Fisher Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Australia) C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Barbados) Holdings Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Breda) Holding BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (CN) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China-HK) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (DE) Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Ecublens) SARL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance II) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Fuji) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Holding II) B.V. & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Johannesburg) (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mexico City) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Milwaukee) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mississauga) Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Monterrey) S. De R.L. De C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (NK) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) Austria Holding GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-I) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-II) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN1) UK Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) Dutch LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Praha) s.r.o., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) GmbH & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Schweiz) AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Instruments Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Suzhou) Instruments Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific AL-1 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific AU II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Aquasensors LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V.B.A., Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (I) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (II) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics UAB, Thermo Fisher Scientific Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Biosciences Corp., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brahms LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Instrumentos de Processo Ltda., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Servicos de Logistica Ltda, Thermo Fisher Scientific C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cayman Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chemicals Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific China (C-I) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China (S) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings IV B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings Aps, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus IV C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus V C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Denmark Senior Holdings ApS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie 1 Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Europe GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC Finance C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSUKHCO Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Falcon Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Finance Company BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific GENEART GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Germany BV & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific HR Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) I, Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) II , Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings Europe Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific IT Services GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Pvt Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Malta) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments Malta (Sweden Financing) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Invitrogen Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific K.K., Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific LSI Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments III S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments IV S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life NL Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Netherlands Holding C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Switzerland Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Tech Korea Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Enterprise Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investments Holding LP, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Luxembourg Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Enterprise Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg German Holdings S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Life Technologies UK Holding S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings I S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings II S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malta Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Messtechnik GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Mexico City S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Middle East Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Milano Srl, Thermo Fisher Scientific NHK Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Holdings, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway Holdings AS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway US Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Operating Company LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 C.V, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Panama I Cayman Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Peru S.R.L., Thermo Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific SL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Financing LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Holdings Australia LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific South Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific SpA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg I S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Investments Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Switzerland Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific TR Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Taiwan Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific West Palm Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Worldwide Investments (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific eCommerce Solutions LLC , Thermo Fisher Senior Canada Holdings LLC, Thermo Foundation Inc., Thermo Gamma-Metrics Holdings Pty Ltd., Thermo Gamma-Metrics LLC, Thermo Gamma-Metrics Pty Ltd, Thermo Holding European Operations LLC, Thermo Hypersil Ltd, Thermo Hypersil-Keystone LLC, Thermo Informatics Asia Pacific Pty Ltd., Thermo Instrument Controls de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Thermo Kevex X-Ray LLC, Thermo Keytek LLC, Thermo LabSystems Inc., Thermo LabSystems S.A., Thermo Life Science International Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Thermo Life Sciences AB, Thermo Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo MF Physics LLC, Thermo Measurement Ltd, Thermo Measuretech Canada Inc., Thermo Neslab LLC, Thermo Nicolet Limited, Thermo Onix Limited, Thermo Optek (Australia) Pty Ltd., Thermo Optek Limited, Thermo Optek S.A., Thermo Orion Inc., Thermo Portable Holdings LLC, Thermo Power Corporation, Thermo Process Instruments GP LLC, Thermo Process Instruments L.P., Thermo Projects Limited, Thermo Quest S.A., Thermo Radiometrie Limited, Thermo Ramsey Italia S.r.l., Thermo Ramsey LLC, Thermo Ramsey S.A., Thermo Re Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Pte Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Sdn Bhd, Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc., Thermo Scientific Services Inc., Thermo Securities Corporation, Thermo Sentron Canada Inc., Thermo Sentron Limited, Thermo Shandon Inc., Thermo Shandon Limited, Thermo Suomi Holding B.V., Thermo TLH (UK) Limited, Thermo TLH L.P., Thermo Trace Pty Ltd., Thermo-Fisher Biochemical Product (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC. Read More The Travelers Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United states and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. The Business Insurance segment offers workers' compensation, commercial automobile and property, general liability, commercial multi-peril, employers' liability, public and product liability, professional indemnity, marine, aviation, onshore and offshore energy, construction, terrorism, personal accident, and kidnap and ransom insurance products. This segment operates through select accounts, which serve small businesses; commercial accounts that serve mid-sized businesses; national accounts, which serve large companies; and national property and other that serve large and mid-sized customers, commercial trucking industry, and agricultural businesses, as well as markets and distributes its products through brokers, wholesale agents, and program managers. The Bond & Specialty Insurance segment provides surety, fidelity, management and professional liability, and other property and casualty coverages and related risk management services through independent agencies and brokers. The Personal Insurance segment offers property and casualty insurance covering personal risks, primarily automobile and homeowners insurance to individuals through independent agencies and brokers. The Travelers Companies, Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in New York, New York. VMware, Inc. provides software solutions in the areas of modern applications, cloud management and infrastructure, networking, security, and digital workspaces in the United States and internationally. It offers VMware multi-cloud solutions, including VMware vSphere, a data center infrastructure that provides the fundamental compute layer; vSAN and VxRail, which offers holistic data storage and protection options to applications running on vSphere; and vRealize Cloud Management solutions that manages hybrid and multi-cloud environments running in virtual machines and containers, as well as VMware Cloud Foundation, a cloud platform that combines its vSphere, vSAN, and NSX with vRealize Cloud Management into an integrated stack and delivers enterprise-ready cloud infrastructure for private and public clouds. The company also provides networking solutions, such as VMware NSX, NSX Distributed and Gateway Firewalls, NSX Network Detection and Response Engine, NSX Advanced Load Balancer, Tanzu Service Mesh, and VMware SASE; security solutions consisting of VMware Carbon Black Endpoint, Workload, and Container; and digital workspace solutions comprising Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management, Access, Intelligent Hub, and Horizon. In addition, it offers application modernization solutions, such as Tanzu Application and Operations Platform, Tanzu Application Service Platform, Tanzu Observability, Tanzu Community Edition, and Tanzu Labs; and cloud management solutions, including vRealize Cloud Management, vCloud Suite, and CloudHealth by VMware Suite. The company sells its products through distributors, resellers, system vendors, and systems integrators. VMware, Inc. has a strategic alliance with Amazon Web Services to build and deliver an integrated hybrid solution. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Beyonce is offering four US college scholarships to mark the one year anniversary of 'Lemonade'. The 'Run The World (Girls)' hitmaker has launched Formation Scholars, which will award scholarships to female students to encourage and support [those] who are unafraid to think outside the box. A statement posted on her website reads: To add to the celebration of the one-year anniversary of Lemonade, Beyonce Knowles-Carter announces the establishment of Formation Scholar awards for the 2017-2018 academic year, to encourage and support young women who are unafraid to think outside the box and are bold, creative, conscious and confident. The scholarships will be handed to four women pursuing studies in creative arts, music, literature or African-American studies in attendance at four selected colleges. The statement adds: Four scholarships will be awarded, one per college, to female incoming, current or graduate students pursuing studies in creative arts, music, literature or African-American studies. The schools selected for participation are Berklee College of Music, Howard University, Parsons School of Design and Spelman College. And Beyonce is not the only celebrity to offer scholarships to students, Rihanna also set up a program for Caribbean students who are studying in the United States. Speaking about how, as a child, she dreamed of becoming rich enough to save children all over the world, Rihanna said: When I was 5 or 6 years old, I remember watching TV and I would see these commercials and I was watching other children suffer in other parts of the world. You know? The commercials where you could give 25 cents and save a child's life. I would think to myself I wonder how many 25 cents I could save up to save all of the kids in Africa and I would say to myself, 'When I grow up and get rich, I'm going to save kids all over the world.' I just didn't know I'd be in the position to do that when I was a teenager. Chairman of Ghana Fashion Review Panel for Red Carpet in Ghana, Oscar Yao Doe, has praised Charterhouse for putting up the most vibrant and well-organised event this year despite the technical challenges they encountered. Oscar Yao Doe, who is also the President & Executive Chairman of Eurostar Global Limousine Group, said the Ghana Fashion Review Panel members were impressed by this years creative appearances at the VGMA. According to him, the appearances of the celebrities at the event are in conformity with the international standard for music awards, including the Grammys. Ghanaians, especially those in showbiz industry must take fashion and appearances seriously because image is everything in show business, he advised. Speaking on appearances, the chairman explained that showbiz players, especially musicians on stage and their movie counterparts are leading the way. Oscar Yao Doe made these known at a ceremony organised by the Eurostar Ghana Fashion Review Panel in Accra to announce the best dressed celebrities at the 2017 VGMA. He was happy that this year's VGMA witnessed some very interesting sense of fashion on the red carpet, especially by the female celebrities. Eurostar Global Limousines Group which was established in early 2012 and provides luxury chauffeur-driven limousine rental has, for the past five years, supported the creative industry, especially the music industry with various sponsorship packages. Apart from its sponsorship packages for the industry, it has also instituted awards scheme to reward well-dressed celebrities at various events organised in the country. Some of the celebrities who have benefited from Eurostar's Ghana Fashion Review Panel for Red Carpet in Ghana initiative include Amanda Jissih, Nana Ama McBrown, Bibi Bright, Zynnell Zuh, Feli Nuna, Benedicta Gafah, Gloria Osei Sarfo, Berla Mundi, Selly Galley and Edem Fairre. Following todays Extraordinary African Chambers appeal judgment in Senegal upholding the conviction of the former Chadian President Hissene Habre for war crimes, crimes against humanity and torture, and the sentence of life imprisonment, but acquitting him of rape, Amnesty Internationals Erica Bussey said: Todays judgment marks another significant milestone in the long and determined quest for justice by former President Hissene Habres victims. This will inspire victims of serious human rights violations elsewhere to overcome the many obstacles on the path to justice. But we hope the judgement will also pave the way for other African countries to use universal jurisdiction to prosecute crimes under international law or for the establishment of similar hybrid courts, such as in the Central African Republic and South Sudan. The African Union must ensure that the mandated Trust Fund implements the reparation order of the court effectively and fairly and works with international donors and the government of Chad to ensure that the fund has sufficient resources. Efforts should also be made to trace, freeze and seize Habres assets for reparation. The conviction of President Hissene Habre does not bring to an end the quest for justice in Chad. Todays victory should serve as a reminder to the government of Chad that the victims of other serious human rights violations, including mass killings and sexual violence committed between 1982 and 1990 still demand justice and accountability. Background In todays judgment, the appeals chamber affirmed Habres conviction for war crimes, crimes against humanity and torture but acquitted him of rape. In response to the appeal by the civil parties, the court affirmed the trial chambers rejection of collective reparations and confirmed the total amount of reparations at 82 billion francs CFA (125,008,194 euro). The appeal chamber also ordered the Trust Fund to facilitate the execution of the reparation order. The judgement marks the final stage of proceedings in this landmark case. The Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC) was created in 2012 by an agreement between the African Union and the Government of Senegal. Thetrial against Hissene Habre opened on 20 July 2015, and 69 victims, 23 witnesses and 10 expert witnesses testified during the proceedings. A former Amnesty International staff member testified during the trial as an expert witness. On 30 May 2016, the EAC sentenced Habre to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture committed between 1982 and 1990 in Chad. On 29 July 2016, the EAC granted civil party victims of rape and sexual violence in the case each USD $33,880, victims of arbitrary detention, torture, prisoners of war and survivors in the case each $25,410 and the indirect victims each $16,935. Appeal hearings took place from 9 to 12 January 2017. Habres defence lawyers as well as the lawyers for the civil parties appealed different aspects of the trial chambers judgment. Habre will serve his sentence in Senegal or in another member state of the African Union. Ghana is like second home to Nigerians, just like Nigeria is same to Ghanaians. Both countries and its citizens share some common affinities. If youre planning to travel from Nigeria to Ghana or you havent decided which African country to visit, you should try shooting your best shot at Ghana. There are lots of exciting places to visit in this country such as its castles, and forts used during the slave trade. There is also the less travelled Volta region. JumiaTravel, the leading online travel agencyshares 5 exciting places to visit when in Ghana. Elmina & St. Georges Castle If youre enthusiastic about fishing or knowing the story of slave trade in the country, this castle is a good place for fishing and learning about their history. It is synonymous to Nigerias slave trade in Badagry. The castle is not too far from Cape Coast. According to history, the castle was built by the Portugese in 1842 but was later taken over by the Dutch some 150 years later. There are tour guides at the castle and a small museum. Kumasi Kumasi is located at the southern-central Ghana and its the second largest city. The Ashantis who are famous artisans domicile mostly in Kumasi . They are famous for making gold jewelry and trinkets around the world. Surprisingly, the king of Ashanti is always enthusiastic to meet visitors every 42 days. When you are in Kumasi, make effort to visit the Kejetia market where they make Kente clothings. Busua Beach This is one of the best beaches in Ghana . It is a large and modern hotel with dining facilities, pool and chalets. There are lots of low and high budget hotels located along the beach. The bar and restaurant of the hotels serve excellent French foods. It is a great place to relax, paddle around in the Atlantic and enjoy some lobsters. Volta Lake If you enjoy visiting a lake, doing boat rides and all, Volta Lake is your best choice. Its the largest man-made lake in the entire world. The entire length of the lake takes about 24 hours to complete. Although, there are smaller ferry services on the lake. Bookings can be made through the Volta Lake Transport Company. When on the boat, you will have some livestock and vegetables to share the ride with. 28.04.2017 LISTEN But to educate you have to teach and you cannot be a good teacher until the pupil has learned (Prof. Molefi Kete Asante, p. 14). The title of this review is the title of Dr. Molefi Kete Asantes newest book, Revolutionary Pedagogy: Primer for Teachers of Black Children, now one of his eighty-two (82) books. Revolutionary Pedagogy defines a bold new paradigm for educating black children. Yet, while this radically new paradigmatic definition of pedagogy focuses primarily on black children, it tacitly yet confidently speaks for children of all races and ethnicities, for instance in a multi-ethnic, multi-racial geopolitical context such as the United States. Consider this statement (p. 82): I [Molefi Kete Asante] believe that revolutionary pedagogy provides all Americans an opportunity to accept and promote a more equitable understanding of nation (emphasis added) Dr. Asante advances this argument of revolutionary pedagogy on several fronts in a dispassionate and discursive manner, an argument he executes from the point of view of his vastly rich experience as a widely respected educator in the US and across the world, as one of the leading authorities on teacher and curriculum development, and as an African-centered or Afrocentric trainer of administrators and teachers and community leaders. In the main, the epistemology of Afrocentricity constitutes the foundational architecture upon which the general character of the book is built. And here, we should point out that Dr. Asantes African-centered approach to pedagogy fundamentally shares a very useful framology of mutual interface with Boaventura de Sousa Santos abyssal thinking and Paulo Freires critical pedagogy. Santos writes: Modern Western thinking is an abyssal thinking. It consists of a system of visible and invisible distinctions, the invisible ones being the foundation of the visible ones. The invisible distinctions are established through radical lines that divide social reality into realms, the realm of this side of the line and the realm of the other side of the line. Santos is in effect positing a world of bifurcation in which the West, visible or this side of the line, stands in sharp contradistinction to the rest of the world, invisible or the other side of the line. In this relationship of unequal dichotomy this other side of the line is conceptually presumed to be non-existentso to speakand yet shrouded in a dramatic mystery of otherism according to the questionable assumptions of Eurocentrism. Eurocentrism is the Beaventura line. The late Edward Saids critique of this paradigm of false universalism eventually resulted in the book Orientalism. Granted, Eurocentrism assumes a fulcrum of confident centrality, of hegemonic universalism, in the space of cultural globalization. This fundamental truth about life points to the fact that this imposed hegemonic universalism denies agency to those it has forcibly pushed to the periphery of cultural globalization, through the active channels of slavery, imperialism, colonialism, racism, and neo-colonialism. Listen to Bob Marleys Crazy Baldhead which laments the corruption of education to inferiorize blacks and sustain white supremacy, while this system of white supremacy belittles or ignores Africas contributions to Western civilization: I'n'I build a cabin; I'n'I plant the corn; Didn't my people before me Slave for this country? Now you look me with that scorn, Then you eat up all my corn Build your penitentiary, we build your schools, Brainwash education to make us the fools. Hate is your reward for our love Telling us of your God above On the track Talking Blues, he sang: Building church and university Deceiving the people continually Me say them graduating thieves and murderers These two songs capture the narrative essence of what Dr. Asante is saying. But then again this denial of agency, of individual and collective self-determination, namely, seems to have built up a sense of false consciousness in the collective psychology of those banished to the periphery of cultural globalization. As a matter of course, cultural dislocation and double consciousness and racial inferiority and dysconscious racism are just four natural corollaries of this forced banishment. On the other hand, in so far as we are concerned double consciousness is a matter of conscious, rationaland even deliberatechoice, the kind of choice not rooted in the existential biology or genetics of our ontological realities. This is exactly where the work of Dr. Asante, an activist intellectual and the polymathic scholar Cornel West once deferentially referred to as a living legend, comes into play. The methodology and epistemology of African-centeredness therefore seeks to overthrow this imposed hegemony of universalism, cultural and racial superiority, and scientific racism and most indispensably, to chart the course out for a new established order in which parity of esteem, cultural justice, respect for human dignity and diversity, and social justice assume a defining character of race relations and cultural globalization. Besides, there is good and bad in every culture. Here is Dr. Asante on the role of the revolutionary pedagogist in transforming minds: However, the purpose of education for the revolutionary pedagogist is to prepare students to live in an interconnected global world with personal dignity and respect for all other people as human beings with the same privileges that one seeks for oneself while preserving the earth or those who will come afterwards (p. 9). We should add that those afore-referenced internecine contradictions do not exist in a vacuum. In fact, the classroom is the precise lab location where the unfolding drama of psychological warfare is taking place, subject to the dictates of political ideology. Furthermore, the idea that education and teaching are political acts gains on the defining moment of truth than we are willing to accept. In fact, writes Dr. Asante, teaching is a political actTherefore the revolutionary pedagogist sees teaching as both a political and cultural actKnowing consciously what we are doing when we are teaching moves this act from political to cultural (p. 15). This stance of moving beyond teaching and education as political acts, and making room for cultural justice as a critical focus of pedagogy, constitutes a radical departure from the critical pedagogy of Paolo Freire, although this unique typology of Freirean philosophy of education informs Dr. Asantes own theoretical and intellectual development, of what he appropriately calls revolutionary pedagogy. Other substantial differences also exist between critical pedagogy and revolutionary pedagogy nonethelss (p. 17-10). It is our understanding that Dr. Asante believes those who teach children must have more than a passing familiarity of the cultures of those children they teach in order to shift the paradigm from the purely political to the cultural. What is more, he did not spare teachers in his surgical indictment of the system (regents, superintendents, state administrators, politicians, governing school boards), placing an enormous burden of responsibility on them to explore the benefits of self-knowledge, arguably the best form of knowledge, in order to make up for what the system does not impart to them and in order to adequately prepare their students for the larger world of globalization and cosmopolitanism. This is all because he strongly believes that all children, black children particularly, are capable of intellectual sophistication, absorption and readiness if we set the standards high and if we teach them well and give them the right information. Revolutionary pedagogy therefore places a lot of emphasis on discipline and character development among others, as opposed to official overemphasis on testing, in other others which he aptly characterizes as bringing "hardware solutions" to "software problems." He writes: If you set the bar high the students will leap over it! Yet why he calls the classroom interconnected global world appears to be undermined by the particularistic exceptionalism of educational philosophy advanced by John Dewey, an influential American educational reformer and psychologist. Dewey would write: The general purpose of school is to transfer knowledge and prepare young people to participate in Americas democratic society (p. 8). Deweys views hold sway over the content and general character of American education to this day. Unfortunately education is more complicated than that, more specifically the question of knowledge transfer. On the other hand tailoring the general purpose of education to Americas democratic needs shortchanges students in the arena of intellectual globalization, putting the cosmopolitan needs of students beyond their reach. This may be why Dr. Asantes pedagogic formula incorporates a critical assessment of relationships, ethics, values, literacy, and reasoning, which he also describes as the five aspects of revolutionary pedagogy (p. 9-10) (Readers should consult Dr. Asantes paper The Asante Principles for the Afrocentric Curriculum for other dimensions of his revolutionary pedagogy). At this point we should mention the five basic central theses around which the concept of revolutionary pedagogy revolves (p. 19-20): There is no universal history with Europe at the center of it. In the United States, specific educational responses to the transmission of knowledge represent cultural inheritances often complicated by issues of racism, class, and gender. A revolutionary pedagogy begins with a proper corrective at the level of chronology as a feature of place. Education is the arena of ideological struggle between the status quo and the progressive forces for transformation. A revolutionary pedagogy must necessarily critique and reconstruct the infrastructure of contemporary education. And here are the main features of revolutionary pedagogy (p. 18): Uses agency as the central concept for analysis and actions. Suggests the importance of cultural justice as a way to force thinking beyond social justice so that art, music, language, robotics and all symbol creating activities can add to the promotion of equality. Reaches for a robust content formula for discipline in the classroom and school building because students are awed by what they do not know but what is within their reach. Aims to insure the transmission of humanizing values based on historical and social narratives that empower the students. From the foregoing discussion, Dr. Asante proceeds to advance a comprehensive description of revolutionary pedagogy (p. 12): The practice of revolutionary pedagogy is a fundamental tool in the creation of a new perspective on educationRevolutionary pedagogy is an incremental process intended to announce the complete overhaul of the educational systemA revolutionary pedagogy is an intellectual and emotional commitment from the school boards and commissions to the superintendents and principals. However a more precise definition of the concept assumes the following descriptive structure (p.17): Is a philosophy of education that seeks to overturn ordinary thinking, methods, and practice of creating and delivering knowledge to children by employing Africological, Kemetological, and rhetorical techniques to reset the instructional focus for children. Africological refers to the study of African and African American history, cultures, and phenomenon from the standpoint of African people as subjects This second definition captures the technical synthesis embodied in the corpus of rigorous scholarship handed down to us from the intellectual libraries of Ama Mazama, Cheikh Anta Diop, Maulana Karenga, Kwame Nkrumah, Theophile Obenga, Yosef Ben-Jochannan, Carter Woodson, Kofi Kissi Dompereto name a few. Still, what these profound scholars have in common is the central idea that European or Western culture is merely one of many cultures and that these cultures must co-exist in a creative ambience of interacting parity. Respect for cultural and ethno-racial diversity and Afrocentric approach to the study of multiculturalism take center stage in the development of curriculum content. In other words, revolutionary pedagogy derives its strength of theoretical and practical substance from an unquestioned respect for our common humanity and for the fact that each ethnic and racial group has contributed to human knowledge and civilization. This statement reinforces the idea that there exists no particular typology of knowledge that the African genius has not contributed to. Kwame Nkrumah described African genius this way: When I speak of African Genius, I mean something different from Negritude, something not apologetic, but dynamicI do not mean a vague brotherhood based on a criterion of color, or on the idea that Africans have no reasoning, but only a sensitivity. By the African Genius, I mean something positivethe efficiency and validity of our traditional statecraft, our highly developed code of morals, our hospitality and our purposeful energy. An excellent example of African Genius consists of the work and legacy of African-American scientist Ernest Just,arguably one of the most influential modern cell theory pioneers. This reviewer has studied general biology, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology yet he never once came across this great African-American cell biologist whose research and publications exerted enormous impact on developmental biology and modern evolution. Dr. Asante briefly discussed him in this book, using the Just example to explain why we need to appreciate and acknowledge the contributions each ethnic and racial group has made to human civilization. This is just one of the many empowering ideas Afrocentricity brings to the table of ethno-racial and cultural diversity. Perhaps most significantly, we cannot deny the fact that white scholars from Howard Zinn to Martin Bernal to James Loewen have all been influenced, one way or the other, by the rigorous approach of the Afrocentric methodology to historiography, in spite of Mary Lefkowitzs uninformed hostility to the epistemology of African-centeredness in general and Afrocentric education in particular. The idea that the West or Europe will absolutely control or have exclusive access to the production and dissemination of knowledge is as remote and foreign to the revolutionary pedagogist as is what is beyond the great beyond. This notion is premised on the fact that when we know the truth about ourselves we are more likely bound to respect each other and not to subject the other to the curse of inferiorization. This is why attempts to de-colonize universities and educational systems around the world are such an excellent idea. The works of Ngugi wa Thiongo and Ana Monteiro-Ferreira and Chandra Kant Raju, the world-famous Indian polymath, mathematician and statistician, educator, computer scientist, historian and physicist, are commendable. Dr. Asantes revolutionary pedagogy is a major contribution to these noble efforts of de-colonizing education. In a related context, the concept of Ellisonian invisibility captures this rich rhythm of revolutionary pedagogy. Of course, invisible man knows he exists in his own immanent ambience but in the oversight context of someone elses reality and social-political consciousness, yet this external reality and social-political consciousness denies him the luxury of self-existence. It turns out that that someone elses reality and social-political consciousness have succeeded in usurping and de-activating his agency of location. Afrocentricity therefore detaches him from the gripping periphery of that external reality and social-political consciousness and places him at the center of his own familiar reality and social-political consciousness, historical or not. This may have been what Dr. Asante meant when he wrote: The reason this is important is because the transmission of common values should be at the center of education. This can only happen if we see that the African person, since the beginning of the nation, has moved from the periphery of the narrative to a place where we all share in the center. Yet, Dr. Asante strongly cautions us against needlessly dwelling on the past and rather advises us to appropriate the best from the past and use that as a guide into the future. Neither does he push the idea that the past was better than the futurethat studying the past allows us to choose what was good and to avoid what was bad in the past (p. 117). This is extremely important particularly for those uninformed critics who mistakenly think he either romanticizes the past or is obsessed with the past, or both. Finally, for those who are not clear about the glaring contrasts between Eurocentricity and Afrocentricity, here is Dr. Asantes take (p. 21-22, 81-82): Afrocentricity is not a counterpart to Eurocentricity as it is seen in the United States and EuropeWhile Eurocentricity tends to operate as an ethnocentric concept assuming that European ways are universal and therefore superior this is unthinkable in Afrocentricity. Indeed rather than a counterpart to this type of thinking, Afrocentricity is a definite counterpoint. On the other hand, Afrocentricity is not the opposite of Eurocentricity. In fact, Afrocentricity does not valorize itself while degrading other perspectives. Eurocentricity imposes its view as universal, making a particular historical reality the sum total, in the Europeans view, of the human experience It is based on white supremacist notions which endeavor to protect white advantage in education, economics, and politics by teaching that what is white is universal, even human, on the other hand, Eurocentric instruction often de-valorizes what is blackAfrocentricity seeks to place the African in the center of events and situations that involve African people. The resisters say that Afrocentricity is anti-white. If Afrocentricity as a theory is against anything it is against racism, ignorance, and white hegemony in the curriculum. This is not anti-white; it is pro-human... Afrocentric education is not against history; it is for history, correct, accurate history. If is against anything, it is against marginalizing African American children, Latino children, Asian children, Native American childrena true revolutionary pedagogy will be different from a racist education, that is, a white supremacist education Others have written that it brings about tribalization of America but America already has red state and blue state divisions with a large clan of whites who voted for Donald Trump for example because they saw in him a leader of a tribe that felt threatened and under severe stress because of the increasing multicultural nature of the society. Dr. Asante also celebrates all the trailblazers in the field of education and curriculum development, while elsewhere he painstakingly explores the benefits of revolutionary pedagogy to the study of science, mathematics, engineering, technology and other forms of human knowledge. Ghanaian and African policy makers, educators, activists, educational philosophers, professors and lecturers and teachers, researchers from think tanks, school administrators, and ruling classes have a lot to learn from Revolutionary Pedagogy: Primer For Teachers Of Black Children, bearing in mind that radical education reform is at the root of revolutionary pedagogy, a liberating force for cultural justice, social justice, educational justice, equity and fairness, racial justice and above all, a clamor for equal representation in the accommodating space of mans intellectual civilization, historical and contemporary. And no human being living today is more qualified to speak to these pressing matters passionately than the multifaceted genius of our time himself, Dr. Molefi Kete Asante. For our largely colonial educational systems demand that we listen closely to Drs. Molefi Kete Asante and George Sefa Dei, of the University of Toronto, a scholar whose theory of transgressive pedagogy informs the formers theory of revolutionary pedagogy. The latter also strongly encourages a healthy dialogue between teacher-centered and student/learner-centered paradigms in intellectualizing the experience of students, unlike the traditional education formula. This latest book by Dr. Asante will certainly be as influential as Paulo Freires Pedagogy of the Oppressed. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has faulted the Ministry of Health for the sale of 25 state vehicles, and over 140 motor cycles in 2014 in a manner that breaches the Financial Administration Regulations. Earlier, the Director General of the Service, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare raised concerns over some of the conclusions in the 2015 Auditor General's report in a strongly worded letter. But after the committee probed further, he succumbed and agreed that it was wrong for the vehicles to have been sold to staff members, some for as low as 350 cedis without contacting the Auditor General. If you look at the paragraphs, what we were trying to do is to tell that the information was available which was not captured, but if the tone is harsh , I take it back and say we should have written it in another way or sentence so I am a bit sorry about that. I should have called the Auditor General to discuss this amicably. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Committee, James Klutse Avedzi, hailed the payment of 61,000 cedis from the Health Service. We have been saying that many Ghanaians do not know that this is one of the success stories. We want to bring this to the attention of Ghanaians. The cars were auctioned as far back 2014, and the monies were paid by these auctioneers to the Ghana Health Service and they were keeping the money in their account and they were using the money so when we invited them to appear before the committee, they quickly mobilized the money and went and pay the money. Auctioning issues at MoFA The Public Accounts Committee previously grilled officials of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) after an auctioneer to the ministry was said to have contravened auction laws by auctioning 24 vehicles to staff of the ministry at ridiculously low prices. The auctioneer, Alex Adjei, side-stepped all the laws governing the proper disposal of government vehicles and disposed off the vehicles, mostly double-cabin pickups, to the staff of the ministry and pocketed GHc33,203 as his 7% commission on the sale of the vehicles. By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @EfeAnsah There is uneasy calm in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region following the nomination of Ella Boateng as District Chief Executive for the area. The party members who are rejecting the President's nominee say they suspect due process was not followed in her appointment since she is not loyal to the party. According to the youth, the nominee was seen openly campaigning for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate, whos now the MP, ahead of the 2016 general elections. Here is someone who has been known as an executive member of the opposition NDC, a voted women organizer at some point, and bears no records in the NPP local domain. She had never been recorded or seen in any executive or general meetings; neither was she a defector of any sort or acted in any measure or sense for the course of our party. Our opponents from the NDC are currently jubilating at her residence with the point that their prayer has been answered because their own has been chosen finally even though they are opposition. How then does a person of her caliber become a reliable appointee to execute our political agenda locally, when her political allegiance is for some other political party? they queried. The Constituency Communications Officer of the party, Daniel Doduo, also alleged that the Regional Communications Officer, Efo Filipo Nyaho-Dati, was engaged in an amorous relationship with the nominee hence that influenced her nomination for the top job. The closest or remotest Ella Boateng ever got to our ranks was her buoyant romantic relationship with our Regional Communications Director, Efo Filipo Dati who should now be smiling all the way to the bank at the news of Ellas appointment. For whatever reason, your guess is as good as mine. The angry members have thus issued a 24-hour ultimatum to President Nana Addo to revoke the nomination of Madam Ella Boateng and replace her with a different person. We therefore give the Presidency 24 hour ultimatum to change the name of Ella Boateng and replace her with Mr. Ernest Patrick Marllet Meanwhile, Efo Filipo, has downplayed claims by the group that he has an amorous relationship with the nominee. He argued that even if they were lovers, he had but little influence to have her appointed. He however stressed that, he believes the nominee was named for the position based on merit. Meanwhile, the nominee, Ella Boateng, has stated that she is a card-bearing member of the NPP contrary to claims by her accusers. By: King Nobert Akpabli/citifmonline.com/Ghana Officials of the Ghana Health Service on Thursday argued in favor of giving their staff the first option in the auctioning of their state vehicles. During the sitting of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on Thursday, the officials initially disputed the findings of the Auditor General with regards to the auctioning of nine state vehicles in 2012, as captured in the 2015 Auditor Generals report. It is alleged that, the service sold nine unserviceable vehicles to some staff without advertising for the public. The committee noted that, the service had expressed its wish to have some staff participate in the purchase of some of the vehicles and urged the auctioneers to this effect. The Director General of the Service, Dr. Anthony Nsiah, however, insisted that, there were advert placements for the auction, but noted that he saw nothing wrong with selling the vehicles to their staff, despite the delays in receiving payment for the vehicles. If somebody works in an establishment for 30 years and there is a vehicle or motorcycle which is about 25 years old, I would have wished that if you want to dispose off such a vehicle, as motivation to the staff, they should have been given the first option. If you are auctioning vehicles which are unserviceable and a staff has been working for over 30 years, if he is given the option to buy it, I think it is a very good thing to do, Dr. Nsiah said. But upon further probing, the Ghana Health Service accepted wrongdoing, and noted that the Director-General has been instructed to withdraw a strongly worded letter that damned the findings of the Auditor General against the service. As indicated somewhere in the letter, after the performance audit when the Ghana Health Service was advised on what should take place, we have actually been complying with the recommendations of the audit service, Dr. Nsiah stated. Auctioneering issues at MoFA The issues with auctioning follow the Public Accounts Committees grilled officials of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) after an auctioneer to the ministry was said to have contravened auction laws by auctioning 24 vehicles to staff of the ministry at ridiculously low prices. The auctioneer, Alex Agyei The auctioneer, Alex Adjei, side-stepped all the laws governing the proper disposal of government vehicles and disposed off the vehicles, mostly double-cabin pickups, to the staff of the ministry and pocketed GHc33,203 as his 7% commission on the sale of the vehicles. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana Liverpool have unveiled their new kit for next season when they will celebrate their 125th anniversary. Four Liverpool supporters, each with their own unique story, were surprised by a visit from one of their heroes and were the first to receive the new home kit. The kit pays homage to the Reds' 125th anniversary, revealing the commemorative crest for the first time The liver bird emblem flanked with '1892' and '2017' is embroidered onto the breast of the shirt, a unique feature for the 2017/18 season. Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said: There is a huge sense of pride that comes with wearing an LFC shirt and it is always an honour, but this kit is special. Our 125th anniversary is a great moment for us all to celebrate our heritage and this kit really reflects that, especially as it features the anniversary crest we'll wear it with pride. The design itself is rooted in the history and takes inspiration from previous kits, such as the famous 'Rome' 1984 home shirt. Returning to a darker 'Shankly red', the shirt incorporates tonal pinstripes which acknowledge the Liverpool teams of the early 1980s. To commemorate the tragic events of Hillsborough, the 96 emblem, encased by the eternal flames, sits at the nape of the neck. Kinshasa (AFP) - "I haven't once spoken my mother tongue Kilokele in the 62 years I've lived in Kinshasa. None of my nine children speak it," says Charles Tongohala. Tongohala's native tongue is one of 450 spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a sprawling nation of 71 million people whose lingos -- almost all of them spoken, not written -- account for nine percent of the world's 5,000 languages. He was a boy when he moved to DR Congo's capital from a northeastern village home to the Lokele fisher people, who live along the banks of the giant Congo river and speak Kilokele. Now retired, Tongohala worked for Congo's river transport company. Daniel Mukebayi, another Kinshasa resident, speaks Tshiluba, the language of the Luba people of central DR Congo, mainly the Kasai region. Mukebayi and his wife taught their 10 children Tshiluba, and he recalls that in 1974 his son Michel spoke it perfectly though he was only four. "But now that he's married and has his own family he never speaks his own language and his children only know how to speak French and Lingala," the language commonly spoken in Kinshasa, a teeming city of 10 million. When the former Belgian colony became independent in 1960, authorities chose French as the official language, though even today not all of the population understands it. Later on, during an official "return to authenticity", the authorities promoted the use of four "national" languages for primary schooling -- Lingala (a language used by the army and in Kinshasa and the northwest), Kikongo (west), Tshiluba (centre) and Swahili (east). Those languages are also used in regional courts and cohabit with French in some media. Many Congolese parents find their children do not speak their mother tongues But Lingala and Swahili, which are also spoken in neighbouring countries, are far more widely used today than the other two. In 2000 French linguist Claude Hagege warned in a book that pushing regional languages, such as Swahili, over lesser-known tongues could wind up killing minor indigeneous languages. Take the wife of Mukebayi's son Michel, Cocotte Kolo. She was also born a Luba but can't speak Tshiluba; she is fluent in Swahili, Kinyarwanda (spoken in Rwanda and eastern DR Congo), Lingala and French. "Sometimes I'm ashamed, sometimes I'm afraid because I feel as if I've lost my markers," she says. The rich stick to French While some people like her speak several local languages, the upwardly mobile will often teach their children only French -- or French and English. The death of a language "is due to the rural exodus and the demographic, economic and cultural weight" of its speakers, said linguist Kadima Nzuji of Brazzaville's Marien Ngouabi university. So while there are relatively few speakers of Kinande and Kitetela, both have a good chance of survival because they are spoken by a dynamic trading community, he said. Kambayi Bwatshia, who lectures in history at Kinshasa's UPN university, said "old people speak in the language of the village to survive" while young people, "especially in big urban centres, adapt to their environment." Hailing the work of the Christian missionaries who chronicled local languages from the 19th century on, both academics said the documents they penned would soon be all that remained of dying minority tongues. Years of war and poverty too have contributed to the disappearance of some of Congo's least spoken languages -- the backdrop to John le Carre's 2006 spy novel "The Mission Song", which centres on an interpreter of the country's dying tongues. "When you could travel home to the village on the boats I'd be able to speal Kilokele with people from my generation," said Tongohala. But that was more than a quarter-century ago. A high-level convening of West African alumni of Australian-funded mining courses have opened a two day forum to share knowledge and understanding of current challenges and opportunities in the region in order to attract mining investment for sustainable development in the West African region. Alumni representing Governments, Civil Society, academia and industry players from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo share country experiences on mining investment to achieve sustainable development. Speaking at the opening ceremony in Accra, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Barbara Oteng Gyasi said Government has developed a five year multilateral mining project to deal with illegal activities in the mining sector. She noted that components of the project will deal with law enforcement as well as provide livelihood projects for workers involved in illegal mining activities into the area of agriculture in order to end galamsey permanently. The Deputy Minister added that Government is considering step to re-categorize the mining sector into a medium scale mining where investments will be attracted to drive growth in the sector. The Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency John Barnes said one of the challenges in the sector is the low financial capacity of the local firms coupled with little technical knowhow that are required to drive the development we all desire. He noted that West Africans and host nations should seek foreign investments together with local participation of the indigenous sector to develop the mining sector for sustainable economic growth. Head of Mining and Metals at Oman Oil Company, Henry Antwi noted that West African nation must focus on resource based industrialization based on the principles of the African Mining vision. According to him, corruption and lack of transparency, institutional capacity and the political will are the major challenges that need to be tackled head-on with clear cut policies. Mr. Antwi added that West African countries must increase focus on regional value addition where countries that are enormously endowed with natural resources can become more competitive on the global window. He emphasized on the strategies to unlock value in mineral resources development and key policy initiatives that will ensure sustainable small scale mining in West Africa. Mr. Antwi indicated that equity participation of the local industry has fallen short and therefore, West African states must adopt creative modules to increase private sector participation in the mining sector. The forum was organized by a team of West African alumni and hosted by Australias Mineral and Energy for Development Alliance (MEfDA, a partnership of the University of Western Australia and University of Queensland) with support by the Australian Government. The alumni forum was a significant opportunity to develop and strengthen the partnership between Australia and West Africa in this important sector. The discussions focused on themes of investment promotion, regulatory frameworks and incentives, political risks, social license to operate, local content and transparency of information. 28.04.2017 LISTEN Following the appointment of Hon. M. S. Bamba as the MCE for Ejura Sekyedumasi, we wish to express our sincere gratitude to H. E Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo the president of our republic for such a forward looking decision. We recognize your appointment as the wish and call of the citizenry which otherwise may be against your own preference haven served as a Member of Parliament in the 6th parliament of the fourth republic. But as a humble servant you responded to the call of the grassroot. Mindful that, that's where your service is urgently needed at least for now. Thank you! The youth wing consider your nomination as a second coming to continue your unparalleled developmental initiatives in private life and as a legislator. We wish to seize the opportunity commend others who showed interest in occupying the position to serve the municipality and mother Ghana. we say better luck next time. Tomorrow could be your time. Let us all join hands to build a better Ejura Sekyedumase for the current generation and that yet unborn. Finally we humbly call on all Assembly members of the municipality to unanimously endorse the presidents nominee in other to allow for smooth operation of the Assembly and accelerated development. Thank you Mr. President. Long live NPP youth wing Long live Ejura Sekyedumase Long live Ghana Long live H. E the president and the NPP .signed. Youth Organiser[Buoyar Solomon] 0541296729 HON.ADAMS ALHASSAN [SPECIAL AID TO YOUTH WING] ABDUL RAHMAN HUDU [K.K.K CHAIRMAN] 0541203325 OSMAN GAFURU YOUTH WING CORDINATOR [0247047702] SAALIM MANSURU YOUTH WING ADVISER [0244585306] If the United Kingdom's Foreign Minister, Boris Johnson, can describe the Leader of the Opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, as a "mutton-headed old mugwump" and an "Islington herbivore" how on earth should we describe our very own President Muhammadu Buhari in Nigeria? As each day passes he looks more and more like the colourful creature called Golum in J.R. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' and behaves more and more like the goblyns and orcs in that same book. This is a man who came back from the United Kingdom as an ailing and fading ghost and who, despite all entreties and pleas from men and women of goodwill, has refused to resign. Since he came back he has not been seen in any public function, apart from the usual friday mosque prayers, and he has not presided over or been able to attend any of the weekly National Executive Council meetings in the last three weeks. Worse still when his high profile and once very powerful Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir "the Grasscutter" Lawal was asked what his reaction was to the fact that he had just been suspended and stripped of his job by the Presidency, he asked, in a contemptous and condescending manner, "who is the Presidency?" I worked in the Villa as spokesman to President Olusegun Obasanjo 13 years ago for three good years before I was appointed as a Minister and joined his cabinet and I recognise the import of that loaded question. Simply put the SGF was asking the journaliat that put the question to him who exactly had suspended him in the Presidency because, as far as he was concerned, the President was no longer in control and other individuals are now making unauthorised decisions in his name and on his behalf without his knowledge. That is how badly things have degenerated in Buhari's government as different forces and factions are attempting to grab the space and fill the widening power vacuum. Again three curious events took place in the last few days which all confirm this dangerous state of affairs. Firstly a Punch Newspaper reporter was marched out of the Villa by the President's Chief Security Officer, without any reference to the President's media team or aides, simply because he wrote a story suggesting that the President's ailment was getting worse. Secondly as many as 20 Ministers and the President's Chief of Staff refused to attend the last Federal Executive Council meeting which was presided over by Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President. This begs the following questions: was this a well-orchestrated protest and boycott or was it just holiday-time for all those Ministers that were absent? Thirdly the lying Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, happily told Nigerians that the President "needed to rest" and would henceforth "not atted NEC meetings" but would instead be "working from home". He also said that from now on all files that needed to be treated should be sent to the Presidents sitting room! Do we need to hear anything else before we can safely come to the conclusion that our President is no longer himself and is indeed on his way out? Whilst all this was going on and the confusion continued to brew another complicated and dangerous mess was silently unfolding in the background. This is of course the deadly, venomous and utterly shameful snake fight of double-speak, treachery and betrayal that is going on between Ibrahim Magu and his EFCC on the one hand and Ayo Oke and his NIA on the other with the National Security Advisor, Babagana Mongunu, dancing somewhere in between. With accusations and counter-accusations from all sides they are all dancing naked in the streets like madmen and bringing shame and opprobium to the institutions that they lead and to our nation and people. This is indeed bedlam in its fullest and most pristine form. It is worse than the cacaphony of the loud, strange and divided tongues that bellowed and screeched from the biblical Tower of Babel. A situation where the intelligence and security agencies are merrily "Tarkaring" and "Daboing" themselves before the entire world and exposing one anothers dirty little secrets all in a squalid attempt to gain the upper hand in an unfolding internal struggle for power and supremacy, is not good for the country and is even worse for the government that they all claim to serve. The bottom line is that the Presidency is in utter disarray and confusion and the health of the President, despite all pretentions, is obviously getting far worse and is degenerating by the day. Last week one rather bold commentator went as far as to describe him as looking like a "bag of skin and bones" and described him as a "walking ghost". Many, including some of those around him, are wondering why he does not just resign, hand over the reigns of power to his Vice President and go back to Daura to take care of his health. Does he find it so difficult to let go? Has his desire to hold on to power at all costs become as obsessive, compelling and all-consumming as Golum's "precious ring?" Does our country not deserve to have a president that is physically and mentally fit and that is hale and hearty? The fact of the matter is that for those of us that are not in the corridors of power but that are in the know, all this is very disturbing. The truth is that the consequeces of such confusion and turbulence for a nation that is not only suffering the worst economic recession in its history but that is also going through the greatest pain, trauma, division, strife, butchery, hardship and suffering since its civil war, are dangerous and unimaginable. Yet sadly it gets even worse. The most troubling assertion that is making the rounds is that the President has lost it to such a degree and that he is so incapacitated by his health challenges that he is hardly ever lucid. We are told that consequently the country is now being run by a small band of unelected, dark and evil men and an obsessive, paranoid, unstable, dangerous, volatile, ruthless, power-obsessed, ethnic and religious ultra-conservative cabal who have simply refused to let him resign in peace and who are covertly making all the decisions and are actually running the country. When one marries this explsive cocktail to the fact that many are fully aware of what will happen in our country if Buhari dies whilst on the throne it is enough to give us all sleepless nights about the future. That fear is compounded by the utterly chilling and callous public comments made by one Inusa Saidu Biu who claims to be an officer in the Nigerian Police Force. A few days ago he said that Buhari had been "poisoned by his enemies" (meaning southerners and Christians) and that if the President dies he would personally "shoot 200 people dead". His assertion and threat, made openly and publicly on his Facebook page, in full police uniform whilst carrying weapons and hardware, says a lot and invokes deep concern. The truth is that Biu's words betray the mindset and reflects the thinking of millions of people from Buhari's core northern constituency, who think like him, who do not give a damn about anything or anyone other than Buhari, who see the President as their god and who are ready to kill for him at the drop of a hat. There are literally millions of murderous and genocidal maniacs like Biu crawling all over the landscape and under the woodwork of the core north and who are waiting to vent their spleen and anger and shed oceans of innocent blood in the event of anything untoward happening to the President. Does anyone remember what sparked off the genocide that took place in Rwanda in the 1990's? It all started when the Hutu President was killed in a plane crash and the Hutus were told that the plane had been shot down by tge Tutsis. The result was that in the space of one month close to one million Tutsis were jacked to death and butchered in their homes by Hutu mobs who were motivated by nothing but hate and a desire to effect revenge. The rhetoric of people like Biu points in this direction. Only they will kill far more than one million if goven half a chance. The truth is that we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder in this country and I sincerely hope and pray that the Presidents health improves and some measure of order, predictability, sanity and stability is restored. If this happens we will have the opportunity to organise ourselves and vote the APC out in a peaceful election in 2019 but if it does not and Buhari dies before the end of his tenure, no-one in his right mind should expect a smooth transition of power to the Vice President. This is because the cabal and Buhari's hard-line supporters and footsoldiers simply despise him and will not allow it. If the President dies whilst on the throne there will he chaos, carnage and destruction on an unprecedented and massive scale in our country because his core northern support base will unleash mayhem on Nigeria and particulary on southerners and Christians that reside in the north. What they fail to appreciate is that if that were to happen there will be an equally massive and unprecedented retaliation from the south and from the people of the Middle Belt and Nigeria will not survive it. It is unfortunate that things have come to this but let no-one make any mistake: the will of the south must not be tested. We are ready for the very worse and whether anyone likes it or not southern unity and solidarity is on the rise. Gone are the days that our people will be butchered at will in the morbid quest for northern Muslim power and in an attempt to perpetuate Hausa Fulani hegemony without a robust and equally devatating response. We pray for our President: that God will forgive him of his many sins, grant him good health and spare his life but we also warn those that are planning to harm our people to sheath their swords before they set off a chain of events that will cause an unprecedented, historic and massive conflagration on the African continent, the likes of which have never been seen before. May God help us all. 28.04.2017 LISTEN Dating to a thousand years before Christ in the building of Solomons Temple, Hiram Abiff, the Masonic legend, is believed to be the master builder of the temple. It is believed that God had spoken to Solomon directly and Hiram Abiff knew the secret word to becoming an expert in masonry. Three apprentices wanted this knowledge and when they couldnt get it, plotted and killed him. Whiles dying he said the words Who would help the widows son? This phrase becomes the universal code for help among Masons. His ability of not giving up the secret knowledge to the undeserving makes him the greatest of Freemason heroes. Freemasonry emanates from the ancient Jewish culture about death and resurrection. It is a society filled with allegory and symbolism. During initiation, each member is killed and then resurrected. Part of their many rituals include the pouring of libations of corn, oil, and wine which stands for prosperity, peace and happiness respectively. There are various conspiracy theories which suggest that the Freemasons are part of a devilish and a cultic group but this makes interesting reading. According to history, in ancient times, 9 Knights Templar from France went to the Holy land to protect Christians who were being persecuted. However, one must hasten to add that, they discovered scrolls in the Temple which others say may have contributed how their practice evolved. Over the years, their numbers grew and became what others argue to be the worlds first corporate organisation. For some strange reason they were only to meet at night. This of cause raised many suspicions. In the 1300s, as the years went by, the Knights Templar (later to adopt the name Freemasons) grew strong, the Church, headed by Pope Clement V and an army with orders from King Philip of France, besieged one of the night meetings of the Knights Templar. The Church considered them as a threat and others were concerned about their actions. They were captured, tortured and burnt. This act occurred on Friday the 13, 1307, which some people believe is from where Friday the 13, being a bad day originated. The Knights Templar (Freemasons) were later condemned by the Church. This action caused the other thousands of Knights Templar to flee to other corners of the world with some finding haven with the medieval Stonemasons. (The stonemasons have always being a part of the Freemasonry ever since the time of Hiram Abiff during the building of Solomons Temple). The Stonemasons due to they being granted free travel across borders offered them a haven to survive and thrive. The Stonemasons were builders at the time, call them construction workers. Also, the Stonemasons had three forms of greetings (handshake) which are adopted by the Freemasons. The handshake reveals your rank and what job you can do and must be done anytime a new stonemason arrives at a location where he is new t the people. He must first shake the hand of the master using one of the three handshakes to inform him of his rank and capability. Parts of the most cherished symbols of Freemasonry are the callipers, the builders square and the letter G. It makes interesting knowing that these are also part of the most important tools of the stonemasons at the time. The callipers informs the Mason to set boundaries to his action, the square informs him to have morality and the letter G is his belief that there is a Supreme Being watching over all of us. In January 1717 the first Grand Lodge was founded in England. Part of their first laws was that it must include and be open to people of all religions including those without one. They believe in a Supreme Being, whom they refer to as the Great Architect Of The Universe (G.A.O.T.U). It is believed to be the first organisation that elected its leaders democratically, something that will be adopted in the formation of America. The Freemason has been a repository of scientific knowledge, and knowledge from all spheres by people from all religious background, mainly because most of its people were knowledgeable and inquisitive at a time when knowledge was opposed by the Church. Masons being referred to as devilish cult, some believe, emanates from a paragraph in the 1861 page book entitle Morals and Dogma by Albert Pike which mentioned Lucifer in one of its lines. Others say the Lucifer mentioned refers to the devil whereas Masons believe it is not. Indeed, some of the information and rituals carried out by Freemasonry may not be known, but as to what the society actually is still remains a mystery for many people and may forever remain a conspiracy to many. Listing people will make this piece endless let alone to talk about the role of the Freemasonry in the founding of America. May be another time, I will write on that. Freemason means the free builder and it is believed to be originated from the time of the stonemasons. The three people that struck Hiram Abiff to death to the Freemason symbolises ignorance, fanaticism and tyranny. Perhaps these are still what is confronted by the Freemasons today. Remember that the affection, indeed, distorts the perception and depending where you have heard a theory about Freemasonry, you are likely to believe what you believe. Disclaimer: The Writer is a free minded person with a curious mind and this script was written having read documents and watched documentaries on Freemasonry. This piece merely is to offer knowledge. The Writers name is Kotey . Author: Edwin Kotey Email: [email protected] 28.04.2017 LISTEN With Africa regards as the young and economic continent, there is, therefore, the need for the youth to network learn to lead and impact. With Africa leaders both in public and private sector facing leadership challenges, it is, therefore, necessary for the youth to come together and gather ideas on leadership for Ghana development. Young Africa Leaders Network (YALN) was founded on 6/01/2015, with members across the country; it is one of the youth empowerment groups that are making very good use of social network in the day to day activities. We moving together as a team and Africa should watch out for YALN next transformational leaders, as they say, if you want to go fast go alone but if you want to go far go with a team that is why YALN is moving with a team of young leaders who are doing amazing things in all sphere of life. Just to mention a few of the members who are networking in YALN. Emmanuel Osei who is the Greater Accra regional president of YALN is a wonderful lad, inspirational leader with strong negation skills that have put YALN on a platform of collaboration with other youth organizations, his effort saw YALN partnering with Dels foundation to organized peace march during the election period, he is a staff of UNFAO Ghana. Laud Anthony Basing who is the national president of YALN and also of one of the builders of YALN, he has managed and run the YALN with passion and credibility, He is a lecturer at KNUST and young entrepreneur (INCAS). With his busy schedule, he still finds time to lecture on our weekly discussions and mobilises resources outside the group just to keep us on track. Nana Yaw Koffo, an app developer with a passion for youth empowerment, he is also one of the builders of YALN from the initial stage. Nana is the founder of Travel to Ghana app. Joshua Gyasi is also one of the builders of YALN and is very passionate about self-development and volunteerism; he is the business development manager at Travel to Ghana. Ajene Abongo Mashood is also one of the builders of YALN and youth empowerment advocate; he is an adventure of entrepreneurship but currently on investors adventure outside the country and very soon will be coming with investors into the FINTECH sector. Nana Adwoa is also a young entrepreneur with a passion for agriculture for women empowerment, she is a member of Nation Executive Committee of YALN, and she is the founder of GuZakuZa. Foster Agobobadah, who is the eastern regional president of YALN and social entrepreneur, he is currently building a community training centre in his region. Appiah Jorge, I call him the IT niZer he is the co-founder of Kumasi Hive. Paulina Adjei an economist and a member of NEC team We also have Kofi Arko the poet, Eric Abugre who championing YALN at Tarkwa, as well as the founder of UG Consult, the founder of Youtherfest and many others whose names will be mention in my next article. I ask you to watch out for these names in the coming years. Just as we pay collection on Sundays at churches and daily at mosques hoping that GOD and Allah will bless us, but in reality, the money stay on earth here. YALN members also contribute a token to help execute our projects as well as helping the needy but bright students. We have been able to provide textbooks and other learning materials to a basic school in a rural area in the Eastern Region, we have also helped a needy student to the training college, and very soon our flagship project will be executed, Youth in entrepreneurship. If you are a leader and you can not network with others it will impossible for you to succeed, start networking now is the only success for human development and this will enable you to meet your potential. TO ALL YALN MEMBERS YOU HAVE DONE A LOT FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND TO PROMOTE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. We are inviting all young leaders to come and join us on our 3RD YALN ANNUAL MEETING IN ACCRA. Contact number 0245247296 , you can also get in touch with us on Facebook Johannesburg (AFP) - South Africa's former finance minister Pravin Gordhan, who was dramatically fired by President Jacob Zuma, has warned that the ruling ANC party could lose power in the next election. Gordhan -- widely seen as a bulwark against government corruption in South Africa -- also appeared to back deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa to succeed Zuma. "I think there are many of us who are extremely worried that if we continue as we are in the African National Congress (ANC), we are likely to lose the 2019 elections," Gordhan told CNN late Thursday. "If we, like any business organisation or political organisation, fail to muster the right leadership, stick by the right kind of values and do the right thing... then of course we will, as an organisation, fail." The party slipped to 55 percent of the vote in last year's local elections -- its worst-ever result. The ANC will hold a conference in December to pick a new party leader who will be its candidate for the 2019 elections -- and Gordhan gave his clearest indication yet that he will back Ramaphosa to succeed Zuma. "Mr Ramaphosa has been extremely brave. He has spoken truth to power at difficult times," said Gordhan. "He has demonstrated that he is a leader of great mettle that would serve South Africa well into the future." Zuma, 75, is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, and as president ahead of the 2019 general election. Among many corruption scandals, he has been accused of being in the sway of the wealthy Gupta business family, allegedly granting them influence over government appointments and contracts. His midnight cabinet reshuffle last month unleashed a rebellion within the ANC with senior party figures, including Ramaphosa, speaking out against Gordhan's sacking. The cabinet overhaul cleared out many of Zuma's critics and placed loyalists in key positions. "We have had a report... last year which mapped out some of the kind of corruption between certain families and certain state institutions it would appear is taking place," said Gordhan. 28.04.2017 LISTEN An overwhelming majority of people think of the possession of power as sweet. The sweetness of this power comes in diverse forms, shades and taste. I respect every opinion including the opinions of those who think that the possession of power is all about sweetness even though I disagree with it. Power, just like money, cannot be said to be the panacea to all problems. Once your power increases, so too does your problems. I can bet that there is no sweetness in the powers of the Local Government Minister. It is all about work, work and work. Diligent and workaholic as Hon. Hajia Alima is, she hardly has time for other important issues except those dealing with her ministry. Her powers as a minister has taken away the time she used to spend with her grandchildren and attend to other personal issues. She has now become a state property and not even the loyal constituents of Nalerigu-Gambaga can claim sole ownership of her. She prioritizes national issues over personal issues now. It is in this regard that I think it is erroneous for us to always think of power as sweet. Power can be stressful as well. It is. As the much awaited nomination of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives ( MMDCEs) was put to rest on Wednesday through the sector minister, expectations of many people were met whilst that of a lot others were shattered. Prior to the announcement, almost everyone legitimately had expectations. Some people were so much engrossed in their expectations that they lost sight of the fact that only one person could be appointed as DCE at a time; and that since in all cases more than one person were contesting, there was a greater possibility of their expectations not being met. The president through the minister of Local Government and Rural Development had to take a lot of factors into consideration before arriving at a decision as to who should get the nod to become a DCE or not. Left unto me, I will say that the most difficult task of a Ghanaian president is the appointment of MMDCEs and the most burdensome ministry being that of the Local Government ministry. This is because the president through the minister has to take cognizance of traditional interest, political interest, religious, gender, geographical and ethnic interests among others and marry them with his vision and the competences of the aspirants involved before arriving at a nominee. From the above, it cannot be gainsaid that one has to be a magician in the caliber of Houdini or the fictional Merlin to be able to reconcile these varied and sometimes diametrically opposed interests without irking some people. The realities had to be dealt with however uncomfortable it will be to some people. Much as the President acting through the minister would love to have granted the wishes of all the aspirants and other stakeholders, that looked more utopian than could be achieved in reality. The absolute trust a leader enjoys from his or her followers is a necessary condition for success. Knowing very well that the New Patriotic Party (N.P.P) thrives on loyalty and obedience to the rule of law, and coming from undulated political fortunes, the president took courage from his own political history and set about nominating his representatives at the various district assemblies without fear, favour or ill-will. Ones failure in life to achieve a set target should never weigh him or her down but rather strengthen him or her to re-strategise and launch a better attempt. The DCEs were selected after a very comprehensive consultation with key stakeholders and investigations into the backgrounds of the aspirants. Someway, somehow, a decision had to be made as to who gets what, when and how. Definitely, not all the aspirants could get their wishes fulfilled. Some, with time and comportment will be elevated to statuses similar to, or above DCEs. Others too with luck on their side might still be appointed DCEs as time goes on. It is possible, and indeed it is the fact that perusing through the curriculum vitae that were presented by the DCE aspirants, the president and his ministers came to realized that the qualifications and experiences of some aspirants will be better suited in other critical areas of his government to accelerate his vision and developmental agenda than in being appointed as DCEs. As a people, we must be willing to make sacrifices in order to propel our development. These sacrifices could be tough but necessary decisions we must make, or accept when made on our behalf by legitimate institutions of state. The president must be supported in his quest to bring development to our doorsteps through the district assemblies led by the DCEs. As human beings, the president or his representative acting on his behalf can make mistakes. However, as two wrongs never made a right, we must adopt legitimate and constitutional processes to express our disagreement with the president and not resort to violence, threats, name-calling etc. There is a ventilation avenue constitutionally provided. It is our prerogative to exercise it bearing in mind the greater good of our various districts and not just our parochial interests. The President and the sector minister will never take a decision for any district without weighing the pros and cons of that decision. That applies to the appointment of the DCEs. The greater good of the districts concern was paramount in arriving at who became their chief executives. The four Metropolitan Assemblies, i.e. Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Sekondi-Takoradi have shown the way already by earlier on overwhelmingly and in some cases unanimously approving the Presidents nominee to hasten up development and implement policies to ameliorate the sufferings of their people. It is the wish of the President and the Honorable Hajia Alima Mahama that the remaining 212 districts will follow suit and endorse the Presidents nominees to their assemblies. The President has been reiterating the fact that there is no time for his government to waste and therefore all of us must be in similar hastes to see the full complement of his government for us to begin or continue enjoying the benefits of his government through the district assemblies and the District Chief Executives. Finally, Hon.Hajia Alima Mahama, the minister of Local Government and Rural Development and her deputies will like to express their gratitude to all those who filed for consideration to be considered as DCEs of their various assemblies. Their cooperation has made the process one of the smoothest and transparent so far in the Fourth Republic. The ministry will continue to engage not only them, but also the entire citizenry in order to ensure that the ministry delivers on its mandate creditably. The minister will like to equally appeal to the nominees to as a matter of necessity begin to mend fences with their co-aspirants, interests groups and all other stakeholders in order to make governance at the local level all-embracing and devoid of discrimination. Similarly, all unsuccessful aspirants should assist the nominees with not only ideas, but first of all help, to ascertain the number of votes they need to garner in order to cross the constitutional hurdle. There must be collaboration after competition so that there will be no winners and losers. GHANA HAS WON Author: Suayam Simon The writer is the Personal Assistant to the Minister, and also a Senior Policy Analyst at the Inter Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) on Decentralisation. The writer 28.04.2017 LISTEN In January 2017, Ghana Police Service held a Press Conference to brief the media and by extension the nation about actions taken by the Police Service in respect of foot soldiers lawlessness after Nana Addo took over power from Mahama At the Press Conference, the police listed a number of people, mostly NPP sympathisers arrested for seizing some businesses and properties perceived to be manned by supporters of the NDC and owned by the state To be honest, at the Press Conference, every single reporter doubted whether the police service will follow the issue to the logical conclusion or chicken out like they mostly do when the identity of the offender is Kweku NPP or Kofi NDC. After the Press Conference, one Senior Police Officer (name withheld) approached me and said Isaac, not that we cannot fight these foot soldiers or bring the politicians to order: the truth is that we are not given the room to operate as professionally as wed want to operate. He added: any police officer who tries to enforce the law to the letter risks getting punished in many ways. He stated transfers and promotions as areas used to punish or reward police officers. According to him, all they needed was total independence from the government so that in the execution of their duty, they dont harbour the fear of getting punished for doing the right thing because the one at the wrong end is a politicians or connected to a powerful one This is clearly a frustrated senior police officer who is forced to close his eyes over wrongs because we operate a system that puts the destiny of the law enforcer in the hand of the potential law breaker When Obama paid his historic visits to Ghana in 2009, he made a profound statement that has become a sound bite to ward off the gun man from jumping to political leadership through coup de tat. Africa Doesnt Need Strong Men, It Needs Strong Institutions We lost sight of the most important thing he said which to me isnt what has become our sound bite but what I have captured below: Democracy is more than holding election; its also about what happens between elections. Nations with strong institutions that respect independent judiciaries, police forces and press are key to democracy, because that is what matters in peoples everyday lives, We paid little attention to this because all we know about Democracy in this country is keeping a Civilian government in power. It doesnt matter if the democratically elected government rises above the laws of the land and get state institutions to protect them. January 4th to 6th remains one of the most chaotic days of my 9 years of practice as a journalist. During the accreditation for the handing over ceremony, NPP supporters invaded the National Accreditation Centre to be given special accreditation to participate at the January 7th Handing Over Ceremony. This is a public event that was opened to every Ghanaian and yet party loyalist felt they needed special accreditation to go to the Independence Square. Strangely, Information Service Department and National Security could not tell these supporters that they were not part of the process. In the end, it was a scramble for accreditation between journalist, dignitaries and party foot soldiers Party supporters hijacking national events is not new and what happened prior to the 7th January event is unlikely to be the last, but I am looking for a Ghana where laws work and institutions dont bend the rules because the offenders ride on an elephant or carry an umbrella even at dawn when it is not raining At the accreditation centre, one police officer likely to be in his early thirties tried to ensure some orderliness by insisting on getting journalists first attended to before any improvisation. One foot-soldier took his name and threatened that the very next day he was going to lose his job. I knew it was an empty threat but guess what? In less than 5 minutes, the police officer had blown cold like frozen sobolo. He laid back and watched on for matters to worsen because his job was now on the line and given the fact that his colleagues had abandoned their duty, it wasnt worth the sacrifice Last week, we woke up to the news that Ibrahim Mahama received an invitation to answer questions at EOCO on some alleged 44 dud cheques he issued to Ghana Revenue Authority If the allegation and facts of the matter are not distorted to fit into the widely held view that the brother of our ex-President indeed abused the power held by his brother, then it is a big deal and must be dealt with according to the law My issue is EOCO and how they suddenly realized their powers and usurped the effort of Ghana Revenue Authority who were using their internal mechanisms to deal with the matter. This Ibrahim Mahama and GRA issue has been dragging on since 2015: since when did EOCO realise that the brother of the former President had issued dud cheques to Ghana Revenue Authority? GRA deserve a mention too. How many Ghanaians, with no political connection would have been given this leeway? Why did they wait until December 2016 when the NPP won elections before entering repayment agreement with Ibrahim Mahama. Its a shame that we live in a country that institutions forget their core mandate when it comes to dealing with politicians. Many Ghanaians including top businesses have gotten their items confiscated for refusal to pay their duties on time but not the brother of our President. Power has shifted and it is time to redirect the privileges. After pampering him for two years and embarking on fruitless journey to the bank on countless times, GRA can now sanction Ibrahim Mahama for defaulting in payment and give him deadlines. It is also true that in the event people refuse to pay or default in their payment, Ghana Revenue Authority use internal mechanisms to deal with the issue. Ibrahim Mahama is not the first to do this and wont be the last to do it but one law must apply to whoever does wrong. How many times have EOCO investigated people for defaulting in their payments to GRA. For the record, Ibrahim Mahama is not the first to issue dud cheques to the revenue authority but each instance; they have found ways internally to deal it. In cases beyond them, they have used the police successfully. Ibrahim Mahama got a special treat from GRA because his brother was in power and is getting raw deal from EOCO because he no longer where the shots are called, This is what happens when State Institutions operate at the whims and caprices of politicians. Three days after Hon Kennedy Agyapong put his life on the line, EOCO moved to deal with Ibraham Mahama without even consulting Ghana Revenue Authority who had reached a repayment agreement with him, imposed a penalty on him and given him a deadline to pay. This wasnt the first time Hon Kenedy Agyapong raised an alarm on this issue. When he did it in the past, he was ignored because his government was in opposition and the culprit was in power. Today, his government is in power so EOCO felt obliged to deal with the issue even though it was not in their jurisdiction What happened to the whistle blowers act signed in 2006 to deal corruption even from speculation and whispering? At best, the police should have dealt with the matter. This is how dud cheques are dealt with. Interestingly, GRA has not been able to respond to the number of cheques issued. They are afraid to contradict government sources with the fact only they can have access to. The spokesperson of GRA has declined giving the exact number of cheques on every single platform he has been on to set the record straight. EOCO on the other hand bypassed all the dud cheques that have been issued to GRA to pick the one that suit their new political alignment. Bank of Ghana issues dud cheques on regular basis, businessmen do it all the time, state in institutions do it all the time. Does it make this one right? Of cause not! But when theres selectivity in application of the law, it undermines the integrity of State Institution and makes it difficult to rule out the political influence in their decision As long as State Institutions cannot operate with absolute independence, lawlessness will thrive and the fight against corruption will forever remain a mirage. So far, the whistle blowers act is the most useless law passed in Ghanas parliament. This is why I am not even enthused about the Right to Information Bill. Regardless of how many laws we make in this country, (For the record, we have some of the best in the World) without the political will and genuine desire of State Actors to see thing done right, we wont make much progress in the fight against corruption. Why should the President Appoint the IGP? Why should he appoint the Commissioner of CHRAJ? Why should he appoint the head of EOCO? Why should the president of the day have a hand in the appointment of the EC chair? Who bites the finger that feeds him? Whatever the objective of the framers of our constitutions were, from where I stand as a layman in legal matters, a lot doesnt add up or to be diplomatic, most of them have outlived their usefulness. In this country, it is clear that intelligent people deliberately make bad laws or undermine good ones to propagate their selfish and negative agenda. However, the time is ripe to right some wrongs and save this nation in the future. This party supporters chaos that largely goes unpunished stands in the way of peaceful elections in this country. We are sitting on time bomb. It isnt every day that supporters of opposition parties will chicken out in the face of abuse because their party lost the elections. In the year 2000, NPP Members attacked NDC Member without a single arrest from Ghana Police. In 2008 NDC Members did same to NPP members and got away with it. It repeated itself this year. One day, the abused will react and things will get out of hand. This countrys long term security and stability can be sustained only if we allow State Institutions to operate without any political interference. There is no difference between Civilian Governments that prevent State Institutions from operating independently and a Military Government. Both are affront to democracy. Credible elections are not enough: Credible institution is the way to go. God save this country Isaac Kyei Andoh [email protected] 28.04.2017 LISTEN The explanation by the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Asunafo South, George Boakye regarding the visa fraud claim by the UK Embassy in Ghana shows some Members of Parliament (MPs) are criminals, Akwasi Agyemang Ofori Boadi has said. We have just allowed people and criminals who are not fit to hold positions of trust to just get there. Every now and then they keep bringing embarrassment to the legislature, the former Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive of Obuasi said on Kumasi-based Ultimate FM We have a legislature having s name being brought into disrepute like the one that is happening. It casts a slur on the countrys integrity when that is supposed to be the body to check the executive. The legislature is portrayed as harbouring criminals and how can criminals check executives who will want to do things untoward. He asked The 2016 National Democratic Congress (NDC) failed parliamentary candidate stated that the usage of visa fraud to describe the activities of the MPs was too harsh a word by the UK Ambassador. But listened to interviews, the guy [George Boakye] is really telling me he is indeed a criminal. How can you travel with your daughter abroad who has never traveled; who has not been in that particular domain and does not know her way in and out go and see an uncle you yourself do not know. and then you are unable to trace your daughter and bring to your house where she is supposed to be domiciled and you dont report to any security in the UK then you come to Ghana to tell us this cock and bull story, he wondered. George Boakye, in response to allegations of Visa Fraud said that his 37-year-old daughter tricked him into taking her to London under the pretext of going to see her uncle, but disappeared on their arrival in the UK. According to him, although he knew he was being irresponsible by not reporting his daughters disappearance once he couldnt find her and feared a report to security officials would have her incarcerated. The list of nominees for the various Municipal and District Assemblies in the Upper East Region, which was released by the Ministry of Local Government on Wednesday, has been greeted with mixed reactions. While some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) expressed dissatisfaction with the nominations, others also jubilated across the 13 assemblies in the region. Many aspirants that were highly tipped for positions in the various assemblies were ignored. In the Bolgatanga Municipality, some NPP supporters labeled the list as shocker. Just a few people tipped Ameyure Joseph Atura for the post of Bolgatanga MCE. Some people said the contest was between Rex Asanga and Alima Musah, both failed parliamentary candidate in 2016 and 2012 respectively. In Bawku West, many NPP supporters and youth tipped Patrick Ayaaba for the position, but Madam Victoria Ayamga was nominated. The youth went on rampage and destroyed items belonging to the Bawku West District Assembly, NPP Zebilla Constituency Office and Member of Parliament (MP) for Zebilla, Frank Adongo Fuseini upon hearing the news. They threatened to cause more commotion in the area if the President does not revoke the nomination of Ms Ayamga. In Talensi, many NPP members and supporters rooted for Thomas Duanab, who helped the party to capture the Talensi seat for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2016. The nominees include Ayinga Bagre Yakubu for the Binduri District; Ameyure Joseph Atura, Bolgatanga Municipality; Ayimbisa Peter Ayamga, Bongo District; David Afoko, the Builsa North District, Gariba Daniel Kwame, the Builsa South District. The rest are Asare Emmanuel Avoka, Garu-Tempane District, Williams A. Aduum, Kassena-Nankana Municipality; Clement Kuyianyim Dandori, Kassena-Nankana West District; Agnes Anamoo, Nabdam District; Zubeiru Abdulai, Pusiga District; Christopher Boabil Somiteyen, Talensi District; Victoria Ayamga for Bawku West District. Meanwhile, one of the aspirants who was contesting for the position of the Bolgatanga MCE, Rex Asanga, has called on the youth of the party and his supporters to unite behind the President's nominee and shun violent acts. In as much as I would have loved to be the MCE, the President and the Committee responsible for the vetting know best and for that reason, I will not challenge the decision neither will I hide behind any group of people to fight against the nominee, Mr Ameyure Atura disclosed. Most of you expected to see me as the MCE for Bolgatanga and thus were understandably shocked when this did not happen. This is especially so when most people picked up positive signals regarding the appointment. Now that this is over, I would like to use this opportunity to thank all friends, supporters and well-wishers, especially the many gallant youth, who worked so tirelessly during the 2016 Campaign and have remained very loyal and committed to the party. I urge all of you not to let these temporary setbacks discourage you or shake your love and commitment to the NPP, he said in a congratulatory message. From Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Bolgatanga A principal tool for the management of national mineral resources is a system of allocating rights to mining companies and persons to carry out minerals exploration and mining operations in return for the performance of explicit and enforceable obligations. Mining in the history of nations predate modern organized societies and governance. People of the stone-age through the medieval eras were engaged in various forms of mining for their survival. They mined quarry and other metals for their existence. Over time, modern societies made rules and regulations which crystalized into laws for the purposes of regulating mining activities for societal benefits without harming nature and the existence of the human race. In some developed nations, laws have been made to prevent mining activities in specified areas for the sole purpose of protecting living organisms and keeping the natural state of those areas intact. That is why countries like the U.S.A have over the years prevented the drilling of oil for example in Alaska and other such areas even though they were the single largest importers of crude oil in the world. Ghana had its colonial name, 'Gold Coast' not because the first group of white people on our land discovered gold, they came to meet 'Sika Kokoo' on our land. Our ancestors were mining gold on their lands for largely decorative purposes and show of wealth. Ghana is very rich in gold, diamonds, bauxite, manganese, salt, iron ore, limestone and kaolin. Others are lesser known minerals like mica, columbite-tantalite, feldspar, silica sand, quartz, dimension stones and others. However, gold mining accounts for about 90 percent of all mineral revenues generated annually spanning 25 years or more in recent times. Nobody goes fighting over the raw bauxite or manganese, the fight has always been on gold and diamonds even in their raw states. Laws have been made and revised over time to ensure that precious minerals of gold and diamond are mined in more responsible ways that will not negatively affect the environment. The constitution of the land entrusts the minerals of the land in the care of the President of the Republic for our collective benefit as a people. Since gold mining, and illegal mining for that matter, has become a justifiably national issue, it is important for us as citizens to know what the law says in that area. The prevailing legislation of Act 703, 2006 (1) with its amended portions of Act 2015, states that 'Every mineral in its natural state in, under or upon land in Ghana, rivers, streams, water courses throughout the country, the exclusive economic zone and an area covered by the territorial continental shelf is the property of the Republic and is vested in the President in trust for the people of Ghana'. My understanding of the above is that if I own a piece of land in my village, and there is any form of mineral so properly defined 'in its natural state, in, under or upon land', I have no right to mine the mineral or give it away to anybody else to mine because that mineral is the property of the Republic and is vested in the President. To attempt to mine it or offer the piece of land to anybody to mine will be illegal and therefore a breach of the law. Indeed, section (2) of the Act states that 'where land is required to secure the development or utilization of a mineral resource, the President may acquire the land or authorize its occupation and use under an applicable enactment for the time being in force'. That is to say that the President has the power to compulsorily acquire the land in the interest of the public with its attendant compensations, relocations, resettlement etc. as long as it has minerals embedded 'in, under or upon' it. The obvious question therefore is that, with all these powers entrusted in the hands of the President, why did we sit down for individuals, Chiefs and other such people to illegally give out lands to miners without the state doing anything about it? It is a simple question from a simple mind. Now Section (4) of the Act Section 4 (1) of the Act states: 'The Minister may, by Executive Instrument declare land, not being the subject of a mineral right, to be observed from, (a) becoming the subject of an application for a mineral right for a mineral, or (b) becoming the subject of an application for a mineral right in respect of specified minerals or of all minerals except specified minerals. (2) An Executive Instrument issued shall be by the authority of the President. Again my understanding of the above is that the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources is the official empowered by law to act on the authority of the President on matters of mining. Now once again, the areas that are 'prohibited from mining', which have become bones of controversy and public angst, did the Minister declare them as such, and if the Minister did, whose responsibility it was or still is, to ensure that people who have broken the laws by invading on land 'not being the subject of a mineral right' to deal with the culprits? Why did the Minister and his officials sit down all these while for people, no matter their nationality, to invade areas that are not subjects of mineral rights to devastate the area in their crudest forms before making efforts at redeeming the situation? Complicity, incompetence, sheer indifference or negligence in official functions? In this case, I am talking about the position of the Ministers who have been there and not this particular Minister. Section 5 (1) of the Act 703 which confers the power to grant mineral rights states ' Subject to subsections (4) and (5), the Minister on behalf of the President and on the recommendation of the Commission may negotiate, grant, revoke, suspend or renew mineral rights in accordance with this Act'. Subsection (2) says 'Where the Minister grants a mineral right, the Minister shall determine the land subject to the grant. Subsection (3) also states 'Where the Minister determines not to grant an application or determines to grant an application over a part of land applied for, the Minister shall give the applicant written reasons'. In such areas where mining operators have occupied, the question once again is that did the Minister exercise his functions in subsection (3) subject to subsections (4) and (5) of section 5? If yes, why are we now complaining about the illegality of the actions of those who have ripped bare our forests and farmlands in broad day light? If no, was the Minister aware of the activities of the 'criminals' or not? The following is the most interesting of the Act. Subsection (4) of section 5 of the Act states 'A transaction contract or undertaking involving the grant of a right or concession by or on behalf of a person or body of persons, for the exploitation of a mineral in Ghana shall be subject to ratification by Parliament. Subsection (5) goes on to say 'Parliament may, by resolution supported by votes of not less than two- thirds of all the members of Parliament, exempt from the provisions of subsection (4) of this section a particular class of transactions, contracts or undertakings'. Now, my patriotic compatriots against illegal mining in Ghana and its concomitant destructions of our lands and water bodies, with the powers conferred on the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Parliament, did the Minister, on the recommendations of the Minerals Commission, present any of such applications for mining rights to Parliament for ratification? How many of such recommended applications were sent to Parliament by the Minister for ratification over the last 10 or more years? How many of such applications did Parliament ratify and how many of them were given exemptions by Parliament per the provisions of subsection (4) of section (5) of the Act by resolutions of two thirds of the members of Parliament? The law makes no classification of categories of mining operators. Daavi, just three tots of the bitters. Will be back Former President John Dramani Mahama is seething with anger over media reports suggesting that he is working behind the scenes to scuttle President Akufo-Addo's free Senior High School (SHS) education policy. Mr. Mahama wondered how he could sabotage the free SHS policy expected to begin in September when he is not in control of the finances of the state. How is it possible, for a person who does not control government's kitty to make it impossible for the government to implement its policy initiative? A statement issued by his outfit queried. Speculations are rife that the immediate-past president and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) were scheming with some officials of the Ghana Education Service, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and some faceless South Africans to make it impossible for the NPP's popular Free Education policy to kick off. But the statement from the office of Mr. Mahama described the rumours as a government-sponsored attacklaunched on HE John Dramani Mahama, former President of the Republic of Ghana, based on a deliberately concocted lie that the former president is working to scuttle the government's free secondary education policy. However, the identities of the South African nationals, allegedly brought into the country to sabotage the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government's free education policy, have been exposed. They are reportedly touring the Central and the Volta Regions, allegedly gathering key data which they would use to prevent the NPP administration from successfully introducing the social intervention programme. These South Africans, who are said to be Information and Communication Technology (ICT) gurus, are moving round with sophisticated gadgets, which they use to gather information, according to credible reports. It is believed that they have clandestinely visited other parts of the country to gather information already, using NDC agents in the national security set-up. Reports suggest that they have been in the country for some time now, under the sponsorship of the NDC. Joyce Bawa Hot The revelation of the identities of these foreign agents seemed to have discredited Joyce Bawa Mogtari, spokesperson for Mr. Mahama, who has vehemently debunked media reports about the presence of the South Africans. She is also on record to have rubbished reports that ex-President Mahama is the one who has brought these foreign nationals into the country to sabotage free SHS programme. Questions To NDC With the former president's denial, questions are being asked about the presence of the NDC foreign agents in the country and at whose instance and whether they have any links with the main opposition party. Why are they in Ghana collating data through contacts at the local level as they were spotted recently in the Central and the Volta Regions? A concerned citizen queried. Immigration He charged, The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) also must help the country by publishing the status of these foreigners working for the NDC and the person who sponsored their travel into the country. Their presence poses a great threat to the country so they need to be checked. A section of the media earlier this week, had published a detailed story about how the NDC had sponsored some South Africans into the country ostensibly to sabotage the free education policy. The report claimed that Mr. Mahama is hankering to lead the NDC to recapture political power in 2020 so he had brought the foreigners to help his agenda. The report alleged that Mr. Mahama is aware that the free education policy would benefit every household in the country and so it would destroy the NDC's chances of winning the 2020 polls. FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi Northern Regional Minister Salifu Saeed with NPP council of leaders in Tamale The Northern Regional Minister Salifu Saeed has appealed to chiefs and supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the region to accept the president's Metropolitan, Municipal and District Executives (MMDCEs) nominees. According to him, the council of leaders of the party and regional executives would listen to the concerns of chiefs and aggrieved supporters to find solutions. Some angry supporters of the NPP vandalized the party's billboards and structures in some districts in the region over the nomination of MMDCEs, especially in Tolon, Savelugu. They set fire to lorry tyres, billboards, party paraphernalia and other materials in the middle of the streets. Angry supporters of the NPP vandalized the party's billboards and structures in the Savelugu Municipality over the nomination Hajia Ayishetu. Party supporters, numbering over 200, took to the streets of Savelugu to express their displeasure about the president's nomination on Wednesday. The aggrieved supporters claimed some of the nominees never took part in any campaign of the party and that people who fought so hard to ensure victory for the party had been sidelined. The Minister indicated that the nominees would go through various processes before they are confirmed to represent their various districts and so members should remain calm. He appealed to the youth not to take the law into their own hands, adding that the president was unhappy about the chaos in the region. President Nana Addo is a very peaceful person and wants to see a peaceful Ghana and Northern Region as well to run this country. Mr Saeed disclosed that the government would implement good policies and programmes to effectively develop the region. He assured persons, who were not nominated by the President to remain calm and support the nominees since they would get other opportunities. There are other posts like district coordinators of various programmes at the district, regional and national levels. From Eric Kombat, Tamale 28.04.2017 LISTEN New Patriotic Party (NPP) firebrand and Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central in the Central region Kennedy Ohene Agyepong is claiming that civil servants lead the chart when it comes to corruption in the country. He believes the civil servants are more corrupt than politicians even though there is the growing the perception that politicians are more corrupt. Go to most of the prominent settlements and estates in Ghana, most of the houses you see there are for these civil servants yet the politicians are accused of being corrupt, he alleged. According to him, the leakages in the system through corruption are the factors affecting the development of the country which the first president never envisaged. It is not only NPP or NDCKwame Nkrumah did not expect this magnitude of corruption in the country we are witnessing today. We must all work towards cleansing the system, he advised. The outspoken politician believes that civil servants in connivance with some politicians are ripping off the nation diverting state funds into personal accounts which must be stopped if the grow yearns to grow. To this end he declared his resolve to serve the country and promised to expose persons including members of his party who will engage in fishy deals. I am going to serve my country and those who think they can come and blow cash, I will crash them. The NPP is not perfect and cannot deliver the promises in one year. There will be mistakes in the NPP but we will correct those mistakes, he emphasized. Abidjan, Cote dIvoire, April 28, 2017 President Akinwumi Adesina of the African Development Bank Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Hassatou Diop NSele, as Acting Vice-President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer. She is currently the Treasurer of the African Development Bank Group and will hold the position jointly with her current responsibility as the Treasurer of the Bank Group, until a substantive new Vice-President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer is appointed. Ms. NSele takes over from Mr. Charles Boamah who has been appointed as Senior Vice-President for the Bank. Ms. Hassatou Diop NSele is a seasoned professional with 25 years of banking and finance experience. She has led the expansion of the African Development Banks capital markets activities across the globe, setting an effective funding strategy for the institution. She oversees investments of the Bank Groups USD 20 billion liquidity in multicurrency portfolios and its hedging activities. She leads discussions with rating agencies on treasury activities and provides strategic support to discussions with member countries on capital increases, replenishments of the African Development Fund (ADF), and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative. Ms. NSele joined the Bank in 1999 as a Senior Treasury Officer and successively held the positions of Principal Treasury Officer, Chief Treasury Officer and Manager of the Capital Markets and Financial Operations Division. Ms. NSele holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. Berlin, Germany, April 28, 2017 The President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has called for urgent action to end rural poverty in Africa at a conference on the future of the rural world in Berlin. We must pay particular attention to three factors: extreme rural poverty, high rates of unemployment among the youths and climate and environmental degradation what I refer to as the disaster triangle, Adesina told participants during a keynote speech delivered Thursday at the One World, No Hunger: Future of the Rural World conference hosted by the German Development Ministry (BMZ). Noting that conflicts and terrorism easily take root where these three factors exist, Adesina stressed the imperative of investing heavily in Africa's rural areas and reversing endemic misery to prosperity. We must create jobs for the youths and disrupt terrorists recruitments that are taking root in these rural areas . We must connect economic security, food security and climate security, he said. The AfDB President shared the Banks efforts in rural economies including the investment of US $24 billion in agriculture in the next 10 years and in several other domains through its ambitious multi-billion High 5 priorities Light up and power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa. He reiterated the Banks strong support for Germanys Compact with Africa and its focus on food security, energy, jobs, infrastructure, peace and security, which are very much in line with the High 5s. For his part, German Development Minister Gerd Muller noted that Only strong rural areas will be able to prevent hunger crises in the future and offer truly good prospects to young people. He welcomed 150 young people from Germany, Africa and various G20 countries, who were invited to speak at the conference noting that the future of humankind will be decided in the world's rural areas!" Germany is using its current Presidency of the G20 to work towards the adoption of concrete agreements on fostering youth employment in rural areas. Participants will endorse the Berlin Charter on Creating Opportunities for the Young Generation in the Rural World at the end of the conference. Key participants at the forum include Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus; Sudanese-British entrepreneur/philanthropist Mo Ibrahim; Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist Tony Elumelu; the Head of German Federal Chancellery, Peter Altmaier; and Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt. Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu constituency in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa has reacted to the ongoing debate on the three current MPs and one former MP who are accused of perpetrating visa fraud. The three MPs, together with a former lawmaker, have been cited in separate alleged visa offences by the UK government and a 10-year visa ban placed on them. A statement forwarded to the Speaker of Parliament by the UK government through the UK High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Jon Benjamin, said: The British High Commission (BHC) would like, in confidence, to bring the following matters to your attention, regarding the apparent involvement of three serving MPs and one former MP in visa fraud directly affecting the United Kingdom. The confidential letter said the MPs in question - violated UK visa regulations on different occasions by either providing false information for their visa applications or facilitating the visas of some relatives who overstayed their visas in the UK. They include: Richard Acheampong, MP for Bia East in the Western Region; Joseph Benhazin Dahah, MP for Asutifi North (Ntotroso) in the Brong Ahafo Region; Johnson Kwaku Adu, MP for Ahafo Ano South West in the Ashanti Region; and George Boakye, former MP for Asunafo South in the Brong Ahafo Region. The BHC further added that "We are continuing to investigate whether any other current or former MPs have engaged in similar behaviour and will inform you, if we discover any further such cases. Furthermore, the British High Commission has information that points strongly to some of the aforementioned Honourable members having used the same unofficial visa agent (also known as aGoro boy) in their applications, specifically a gentleman called Appiah. We are sure that Mr Speaker shares our view that an institution as respected and vitally important as the Ghanaian Parliament should not be a location where unregistered visa agents approach Honourable Members and act as a conduit for them to participate in visa fraud." But in a statement copied to peacefmonline.com, Hon Ablakwa, who is also the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament said "reading through Jon Benjamin's letter however, one cannot help but notice a rather regrettable colonial mindset". "Quite clearly, to Mr. Jon Benjamin, issuing visas to Ghanaian MPs is such a great favour and a reward for good group behaviour. Therefore, because three sitting MPs may have misconducted themselves, all 275 MPs must now face the Head Master's (if not the colonial Governor's) wrath and sanctions. Such utter disrespect for our Parliament and our country regardless is most unacceptable. If this is Mr. Benjamin's mindset even in dealing with the people's representatives, then one can begin to wonder how he treats the applications of the people of Ghana". Read full statement below I have followed media discussions of British High Commissioner Jon Benjamin's letter to the Speaker of Ghana's Parliament with much interest as the Ranking Member of Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs. In contrast to those who have questioned why the said confidential letter was leaked to the media, I take a different view. I am elated this letter is now available to the media and the general public for open and frank discussions in the true spirit of transparency and good governance. This must be good for our country. In any case, before this leak, this was the most poorly kept secret by the British High Commission as many of us including journalists have known about this for a considerable period of time perhaps even before the said 20th January, 2017 letter was written and dispatched to the Right Honourable Speaker. The other poorly kept secret is the claim that there are some MPs holding dual citizenship in violation of Article 94 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Ghana. Again, I will contend that it's better to see some swift concrete action on this particular issue instead of it being used by some people for smear and blackmail within diplomatic circles. This definitely raises larger issues of how Parliamentary Candidates are vetted within our political parties and the collaborative role of the Electoral Commission, National Security and Diplomatic Missions; a discussion we will have to return to at a later date. It must be understood very clearly, that if confirmed, what the three sitting Members of Parliament (MP) and a former MP are alleged to have done cannot be endorsed and must deserve strong condemnation and possible sanctions if need be. It is therefore commendable that Mr. Speaker has taken a serious view of this matter and has instituted the needed investigations. This is what is expected of working democracies just as the US Congress is currently doing in the case of General Michael Flynn. Reading through Jon Benjamin's letter however, one cannot help but notice a rather regrettable colonial mindset. He writes: "Given what has transpired, the British High Commission would request the Ghanaian Parliament to be aware of the following: a) we will henceforth only entertain and prioritise requests for visas from MPs, if they are made through the parliamentary protocol office who should verify that there is an official, parliamentary reason for the proposed visit; b) however, MPs wishing to make private visits to the UK or to be accompanied on official visits by non-official relatives must apply online and through our Visa Application Centre at the Movenpick Hotel like any other applicant; c) could you kindly confirm whether and why it is legitimate for ex-MPs to continue to possess and use diplomatic passports, in some cases for many years after they have ceased to be parliamentarians? In that regard, we would humbly like to ask, Mr Speaker, what procedures are in place to ensure that diplomatic passports are removed forthwith from all those 133 former Members who have just ceased to be MPs? d) the net effect of such visa fraud by a very few Honourable MPs as outlined in this letter is to raise the bar of suspicion against all such applicants, which is of course regrettably to the huge disadvantage of those very many MPs who do act honourably at all times." Quite clearly, to Mr. Jon Benjamin, issuing visas to Ghanaian MPs is such a great favour and a reward for good group behaviour. Therefore, because three sitting MPs may have misconducted themselves, all 275 MPs must now face the Head Master's (if not the colonial Governor's) wrath and sanctions. Such utter disrespect for our Parliament and our country regardless is most unacceptable. If this is Mr. Benjamin's mindset even in dealing with the people's representatives, then one can begin to wonder how he treats the applications of the people of Ghana. Never mind that visa application processes are not free and that the high fees most Ghanaians complain about are not refundable to applicants. Never mind that Ghanaians including thousands of fee paying students who travel to Britain do so with our own money which must be of some use to the British economy, Never mind that the UK Parliamentary Expenses Scandal of 2009 involved more than 300 MPs, (NOT 3 as in Ghana's case), with at least 6 of these UK MPs going to jail and yet no bar of suspicion has been raised by any Ghanaian "Head Master" in extending diplomatic courtesies to UK MPs but I guess that is the world we live in. Mr. Jon Benjamin amazingly had no diplomatic difficulties whatsoever in over stepping boundaries and lecturing our Speaker, our President through his Secretary, our Chief of Staff and our Foreign Minister on how diplomatic passports ought to be used and retrieved. Absolutely unbelievable! And by the way, Mr. Benjamin cannot be right when he asserts that MPs continue to use diplomatic passports "MANY YEARS" after they cease to be MPs when he knows that these diplomatic passports are valid for only five years while admittedly an MPs term is four years. The exaggeration was totally uncalled-for. He also knows that by practice these diplomatic passports are withdrawn upon ceasing to hold public office even if the retrieval is fraught with some challenges as all human institutions encounter. Even though many of us have had concern about the modus operandi and non-diplomatic tendencies of the top-most British diplomat in Accra, I will not advocate hostility or reciprocal action on British MPs who will require visa services to visit Ghana as some have suggested because it is entirely possible that Mr. Benjamin's conduct and social media pontifications may not represent official British Government position. Fortunately, we have some good recent experience as a country in containing interesting High Commissioners since the days of Craig John Murray and more significantly, we should never forget that their postings to Ghana are not the least permanent. What is permanent and which we must all continue to cherish is the unique bond of history and friendship that exists between our two countries which must constantly remind us that in the final analysis only mutual respect and equal rights triumph. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP) Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament The Nsawam Government Hospital in the Eastern Region has taken delivery of a new Isolette C2000 model infant incubator to facilitate medical care at the hospital's neonatal ward. The installation of the incubator worth $10,000 was done by the Kokrokoo Charities Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, under its 'Project 100' programme and officials of Beige Foundation, one of the financial partners of the foundation. Kokrokoo Charities, founded by Kwami Sefa Kayi, host of the Kokrokoo Morning Show on Peace FM, a private radio station based in Accra, is targeting the installation of 100 incubators to hospitals all over the country. It is not the first time the foundation is undertaking such huge humanitarian projects. Dennis Adutwum, Programmes Manager of Kokrokoo Charities, stated that the incubator is the fourth to be installed after three others had been installed at the La General Hospital, Prestea Government Hospital and the Police Hospital. He explained that the foundation was set up two years ago to help solve the many societal issues that Kwami Sefa Kayi, popularly referred to as Chairman, discusses on his radio programme daily. Mr Adutwum said the issue of lack of incubators in most hospitals to save the lives of pre-mature (preterm) babies became so topical some time back, and thus Kwami Sefa Kayi decided to intervene and raise funds to acquire incubators for the hospitals. He mentioned Unilever Ghana Limited and Capital Bank as some of the sponsors helping the foundation to purchase the incubators, adding that the next installation will be done at the Tamale Government Hospital soon, while 10 more will also be distributed later. The programmes manager of the organisation explained that a climaxing fund raising events will be organised in the month of June which will also coincide with Kwami Sefa Kayi's birthday to mobilise more funds to purchase the rest of the incubators for the project. Mr Adutwum assured authorities of the Nsawam Hospital that the team will be visiting the facility from time to time to assess the needs and help provide equipment as needed. Dr Kofi Ablorh, medical superintendent of the hospital, together with Stella Lena Woana, head of nursing, on behalf of the hospital received the incubator and expressed their joy over the critical role the equipment was coming to offer in caring for babies. He said many pregnant women also patronise the facility and that between January and March this year, out of the 1,400 deliveries, 39 preterm deliveries were recorded, of which six babies died at the hospital. Dr Ablorh said the hospital, however, had only one functioning incubator although it had space for 10 incubators, adding that the donation will assist in saving the lives of more babies. By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri Fourteen female journalists from nine African countries have taken part in the 2017 edition of the Populations Reference Bureau (PRB) Women's Edition Africa Programme in Kampala, Uganda. The five-day event brought together experienced female journalists in the health sector (editors, journalists and producers) to learn and share knowledge and experiences on issues of reproductive health and population in developing countries, particularly Africa. The women, selected from Ghana, Benin, Malawi, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania after a rigorous process were taken through very pertinent topics on reproductive health, including anatomy of reproduction, family planning and its implications and how that affects the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They were also introduced to projects that are making modern family planning methods accessible, especially to rural women through field visits and experience sharing with the project implementers. The issue of gender-based violence (GBV) was also highlighted in the training, with participants equipped with new information and what organisations are doing through faith-based institutions to address the issue of GBV. Participants also have the unique opportunity to be part of an international network of leading women journalists interested in women's health and development after this edition. Women's Edition-Africa is funded by the Population Reference Bureau, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation based in Washington that provides information about population, health and the environment around the world. From Jamila Akweley Okertchiri, Kampala, Uganda The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has donated 10 fully-insured Suziki TF125 motorbikes and helmets worth GH160, 000 to the Ministry of Health (MoH). The donation is in fulfillment of a pledge made by the Director General of WAHO, Xavier Crespin, during a five-day visit to Ghana to meet President Nana Akufo-Addo and officials of the Ministry of Health (MoH). The motorbikes were donated to the Mental Health Authority (MHA) and the Traditional Medicine Authority through the MoH. A Deputy Minister of Health, Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu, received the motorbikes on behalf of Nana Akufo-Addo, Kwaku Agyemang- Manu, Minister of Health and the MoH. Mr Aboagye expressed a heartfelt gratitude to WAHO and its mother organisation, ECOWAS, for the deed done and expressed hope that the kind gesture continues. We hope and pray that this will only be the beginning and not the end and as you know, Oliver asks for more. We are praying that in the next few months or years we will be receiving bigger things from your end, he stated. Mr Aboagye commended WAHO for the sectors the donation was being made to, adding that the Mental Health Authority requires the attention of all because of the risks people with mental illness pose to society. The deputy minister took the opportunity to appeal to civil societies, donors, private sector organisations and individuals to come on board to support the Mental Health Authority. He urged the Director General of the MHA, Dr Kwasi Osei, to consider setting up a foundation where people who want to support the authority can make their donations. Dr Osei expressed his appreciation to Xavier Crespin, adding that the donation was a timely deed. He said that the motorbikes had come at a time where the MHA has started experiencing transportation challenges in their community mental health coordination. As part of the new paradigm of the MHA, we are going into communities to help promote people's mental health before mental illness sets in and these motorbikes are going to facilitate this worthy task, he pointed out. By Abigail Owiredu-Boateng Hon. Ambrose Dery inspecting a quarter guard of honour with Comptroller-General, Kwame Asuah Takyi, during the visit The Minister for the Interior, Hon. Ambrose Dery, has assured the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) that the Ministry would work hand in hand with the Service in achieving its objectives of effectively managing the borders of the country and managing migration for national development. He stated that the Ministry is aware of the numerous challenges the service is facing especially in the area of capacity building, IT equipment, weapons, and the need for robust vehicles amongst others which would enable the Service deal with terrorism which is gradually gaining grounds in the sub-region. He made these statements when he paid a day working visit to the National Headquarters of the GIS to interact with the members of the National Immigration Management Committee. Mr Dery urged the management not to hesitate in letting the Ministry know of any of the Service's other needs and challenges so that the Ministry could assist. He affirmed that the Interior Ministry would work with the Service in implementing provisions in the new Immigration Service Act, 2016 (Act 908). He pointed out that the government respects and appreciates the Service's role in securing the country's frontiers in spite of logistical challenges the Service is confronted with. On his part, the Comptroller-General of GIS, Kwame Asuah Takyi briefed the Minster on the implementation status of the new Immigration Service Act, 2016 (Act 908) which gives the Service the legal backing to wield weapons in the discharge of its duties, the elevation of the rank of the Head of the GIS, the ranking structure as well as the change of Board of the Service to Council. He called for the review of the Immigration Act, 2000 [Act 573] which is the operational law of the Service. To that effect, he disclosed that a committee had been set up to take care of it. The Minister was accompanied by his Deputy, Mr. Henry Quartey, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mrs. Adelaide Annor Kumi and some officials of the Ministry. Nalongo Muzaala Bana (the twin mother that produces quadruples) is what Mariam Nabatanzi Babirye goes by and she is popular because at 37, she has 38 biological children. The oldest is 23 years old, while the youngest four months. She was married off at 12 years of age. Married off Nabatanzi breaks down when she recalls what she went through upon getting married. In 1993, she was married off to a 40-year-old man. I did not know I was being married off. People came home and brought things for my father. When the time came for them to leave, I thought I was escorting my aunt but when I got there, she gave me away to the man. Being only a young girl, she found marriage a difficult task in the new family. My husband was polygamous with many children from his past relationships who I had to take care of because their mothers were scattered all over. He was also violent and would beat me at any opportunity he got even when I suggested an idea that he didn't like, she recounts. Starting a family Her father-in-law gave them a piece of land to start their family, a family for which she planned to have six children. In 1994, when she was 13, Nabatanzi gave birth to twins. Two years later, she gave birth to triplets and a year and seven months after that added a set of quadruplets. This, she says, was nothing strange to her because she had seen it before in her lineage. My father gave birth to 45 children with different women and these all came in quintuplets, quadruples, twins and triplets, she says. Indeed, Dr Charles Kiggundu, a gynaecologist at Mulago Hospital and president of gynaecologists and obstetricians, says it is very possible for Nabatanzi to have taken after her father. Her case is genetic predisposition to hyper-ovulate (releasing multiple eggs in one cycle), which significantly increases the chance of having multiples; it is always genetic, he explains. By her sixth delivery, Nabatanzi had had 18 children and wanted to stop, so she went to see a doctor at the Namaliili Hospital. The problem The doctor told Nabatanzi that she could not be stopped then because she had a high ovary count which would eventually kill her if she stopped. Having these unfertilised eggs accumulate poses not only a threat to destroy the reproductive system but can also make the woman lose their lives, Dr Ahmed Kikomeko from Kawempe General Hospital explains. I was advised to keep producing since putting this on hold would mean death. I tried using the inter-uterine device (IUD) but I got sick and vomited a lot, to the point of near death. I went into a coma for a month, she explains. At the age of 23 with now 25 children, she went back to hospital to try and stop. I was checked in at Mulago Hospital and advised to continue producing since the ovary count was still high. Hurdles in marriage Nabatanzi's 25 years in marriage have been characterised by humiliation and torture. I have been tortured countless times by my husband; he beats to the pulp when I try to reason with him over any issue, especially when he gets home drunk. He does not provide for basic needs and welfare of the family; the children hardly know who he is since he is an absent father who gives his children names over the phone and not physically, she says. Charles Musisi, 23, her eldest son, says their father disappeared and they have grown up only with their mother's love. I can comfortably tell you that our siblings do not know how our father looks like. I last saw him when I was 13 years old and only briefly in the night because he rushed off again, he says. Nabatanzi says her husband spends close to a year without coming home and when he does, he just sneaks into the house late in the night and leaves very early in the morning. I carry these humiliations because my aunt advised me to always endure in marriage and have my children as the centre of focus. She advised me not to produce children from different men. The education challenge Nabatanzi is optimistic about seeing her children through school, something her father could not do for her. Despite being a Primary Two dropout, she has managed to educate her children. One of her first born twins has a certificate in nursing and the other in building although they have not found jobs yet. Two of her other children are in Senior Six, three in Senior Five, four in Primary Seven, and four in Senior One. The rest are between baby class and Primary Six. I am hopeful that my children will go to school because they all have big ambitions of being doctors, teachers and lawyers; I want them to realise these dreams, something I was not able to do, she narrated. Nabatanzi has to buy food to feed her children and this is her biggest expense. David Kazimba, who fetches her water, says he gets her 15 jerry cans of water a day. She is a social person I have known for the last eight years. She is a hard working and caring woman. At times, people mock her because of her many children but she just ignores them, he says. To meet her expenses, Nabatanzi administers local herbs for various illnesses which she says she has done since she was a young girl- and doing casual work such as plaiting hair, decorating at events and styling brides. I do not despise any job as long as it brings in some money. Feeling sorry for myself is something I dropped because I know these children are a gift from God that I have to treasure, so I try my level best to fend for them. Home care The older children help with their siblings and the general home administration. I enjoy taking care of my children myself though. My children are my joy and I pride caring for them. I cook, wash and bathe them with ease. Children grow better under a mother's love and care, she says. Health Nabatanzi says she delivers her children naturally and she has always felt fine after each delivery until her recent C-section birth after which she started to develop backache after doing some home chores. My daughter who studied nursing used to take care of me during pregnancy. Eventually, I learnt how to do this, so I have not had any difficulties or complications with my pregnancies, she explains. Expert view Gynaecologist Dr Charles Kiggundu refers to Nabantanzi's ability to conceive so many multiples as genetic predisposition to hyper ovulation. He explains, It is an increased likelihood of having children in multiples (twins, triplets, quadruplets) based on a person's genetic make-up. It results from specific genetic variations that are often inherited from a parent. In some cases, women ovulate more than one time consecutively, but in other cases they release more than one egg at the same time, leaving room for the fertilisation of released eggs. When that happens, each one develops within its own sac in the womb; hyper-ovulation naturally is hereditary. Advice to women Nabatanzi says a woman is respected by the way she handles her family and having to settle in her marriage despite all the challenges is her pride. There are no easy marriages; women should be patient because even our great grandmothers did not have a smooth one. They should be patient as there is always a lot to deal with in marriage and it is the patience that heals time, mine is to take care of my children which I am doing happily, she says. Advice to men Do not forget your responsibility because marriage is a joint responsibility to raise these children. I cry deeply in my heart wondering whether I produced these children on my own. She further urges men to stop marrying off their children for quick money and gains, as this does not only affect them but also their children. -Daily Monitor, Uganda Accra, April 27, GNA - Inesfly Africa Limited says the menace of bedbug infestations in educational institutions had called for an urgent response to curtail the situation before it escalated into a national disaster. The company had, therefore, launched a campaign strategy to rid all educational institutions across the country of bedbugs. The campaign is in line with its general strategy of eradicating insect-vectors in multi-sectors including public health, hospitality and veterinary health. A statement from the company said it would undertake a series of corporate social responsibility activities in selected educational institutions, ranging from basic to tertiary institutions. 'Many schools have benefited from this initiative in the past, yet the company is determined to extend support to as many schools as possible,' it said. Explaining the rationale behind the current strategy, Chief Commercial Officer at Inesfly Africa, Mr. David Afugani, said the plight of students had always been an integral part of Inesfly's vision to ensure that students are free from insect-pests in order to carry on with their learning activities. 'Students need a very conducive learning environment to rid of the fear of insect bites and vector transmitted diseases. Sadly, this is not the case, and very soon, the situation will get out of hand if nothing is done,' he said. Inesfly Africa has the one-stop solution to fighting bedbugs and other insect-pests, and we believe that while liaising with the relevant stakeholders to deliver our promise, we can, in the meantime, meet students half-way in addressing the crisis,' he added. Two weeks ago, Inesfly Africa painted ten CHPS compounds in ten districts in the Greater Accra Region adding to the number of district, regional and private hospitals treated by the company. The company is also in collaboration with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to ensure that public toilets were rid of insect-vectors. With the current campaign to reach out to students with the 500ml bedbug solution, Inesfly Africa is certain that would significantly curb the spread of bedbugs in schools and reduce the risk of onward transfer to our homes, the statement added. GNA Nsuta (Ash), April 28, GNA - The Nsuta Circuit Court has sentenced the proprietor of the Grace Bible Preparatory School at Nsuta, in the Sekyere Central District, to 20 years imprisonment over child sex. Pastor Michael Oppong was additionally ordered to pay cash of GH5,000.00 as compensation to the mother of a three-year old girl in the school, he had defiled. He pleaded not guilty to the offence, but the court, presided over by Ms. Lydia Osei Marfo, ruled otherwise at the end of the trial. The incident happened on September 22, 2015. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Francis Asante told the court that the mother of the victim, detected a change in her gaiety on her return from school that day and took her to the Asante-Mampong District Hospital for medical examination. It was there that the doctors detected that the little girl had been defiled. The prosecution said upon prodding, she mentioned the convict, who is also the Head Pastor of the Grace Bible Church, as the offender. A formal report was made to the police, he was arrested and arraigned after investigations. GNA By C. M. Boaten, GNA A Ghanaian non-governmental organization has carried out a medical screening for 100 people at kotobaabi in Accra. The exercise undertaken by highly qualified medical officers was meant to detect ailments currently rearing their ugly heads and spreading fast in Ghana and the third world nations. These include hypertension, diabetes, malaria and other tropical diseases. The appropriate drugs were dispensed to those who were screened. The organization, Islamic Council for Development and Humanitarian Services (ICODEHS) did the screening after organizing a lecture to a larger audience on how to stay clear from diseases and what to do when they contract diseases. According to Sheikh Mustapha Ibrahim Chairman of ICODEHS over 40 of those screened would be assisted to acquire insurance cover to be able to go through medical care cheaply in future. Sheikh Ibrahim explained that the free medical screening and care is a program began many years ago and funded by ICODEHS as its social responsibility for the less privileged in the country adding that we are ready to repeat the program Periodically not only in Accra but in other parts of the country. Apart from the medical screening which occurred a few days after eye screening and medication was organized by ICODEHS, some women were provided with deep freezers and sewing machines to help prop them up in their small scale businesses. A number of Wheel chairs were also provided by ICODEHS to some handicapped persons while school uniforms were provided some needy children. ICODEHS which operates in many areas also provided modern mosques to some communities such as Mampawie in the Upper West and Bomsu Zongo in the Western Region and funded by a Saudi charity organization. The family of the murdered MP for Abuakwa North constituency JB Danquah Adu has served notice it will resort to an international body such as the International Criminal Court in seeking justice. The Bretuo and Acheampong families are unhappy with the delay in prosecuting the case and have given the prosecution a three-month ultimatum to come to the conclusion of the matter. Meanwhile, the family is gathering about two million signatures to facilitate its intention to petition the ICC. Addressing the media at the Family house of the late MP at Akyem Old Tafo in the Eastern region Friday, Bretuohene Baffuor Odiatua Acheampong II, said they are unhappy with the slow pace at which the case is being heard in court. The family last Tuesday, April 25, 2017 had the opportunity to present a petition to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Flagstaff House, Accra and it was received by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Abu Jinapo at his office. In the said petition, the family is requesting the president to consider to reopen a fresh investigations into the circumstances leading to the untimely death of Hon. J. B. Danquah-Adu. May his gentle soul forever rest in peace. Besides the first petition sent to the President, we the family members are opening a petition book to take signatory of Members of Parliament, Ministers of State, Chiefs, Political Members as well as any person(s) who want the president to open fresh investigations into the gruesome murder of our beloved son and former MP for Abuakwa North, late Hon. J. B. Danquah-Adu, the family head said. They said they will go all out to demand justice for their late son. -Starrfmonline The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) constituency executives joined hundreds of the party youth in Savelugu Township today (Friday) and demonstrated against the President's nominee for the Savelugu/Nantong municipality, Hajia Ayishetu Seidu. Clad in red T-shirts and armbands, they held placards with inscriptions such as The woman is alien in Savelugu, We don't want her and Nana Addo do the right thing. The Savelugu constituency women's Organizer, Kande Amadu told Citi News that the MCE nominee, Hajia Ayishetu Seidu is not a registered voter in the constituency. She claimed Hajia Ayishetu Seidu never participated in any party activities ahead of the 2016 polls. Kande Amadu warned that any attempt to impose the MCE nominee on the people will be fiercely resisted. She advised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to rescind his decision and nominate an indigen from the area. An official statement issued in support of the demonstration endorsed the MCE nominee's rejection. A part of the statement read, Hajia Ayishetu is undeserving and unfit both legally and morally for her nomination as the MCE for Savelugu/Nantong municipal assembly and we are therefore demanding that Hajia Ayishetu Seidu's nomination be revoked and replaced. Haji Ayishetu Seidu is not an electorate in either the Savelugu or Nantong constituency. We are therefore alarmingly intrigued as to how come she has been nominated for the municipality. Our party elders, founding fathers and former MCE in the two constituencies were not consulted. The Savelugu/Nantong district police commander, ASP Peter Tawiah led his men to avert any untoward situation during the demonstration. By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana The President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, has paid a working visit to President Akufo-Addo Friday, April 28 at the seat of government, the Flagstaff House, in Accra. Meant to deepen the ties between Ghana and The Gambia, the visit afforded Mr. Barrow the opportunity to congratulate the Ghanaian for the role he played in peacefully resolving the electoral dispute in The Gambia. Mr. Akufo-Addo during their interaction assured Mr. Barrow of Ghana's support in deepening the economic ties between the two countries. Mr Barrow won the last elections in The Gambia, beating veteran Yahaya Jammeh who had ruled the country for 22 years. Mr Jammeh refused to give up the seat after losing the polls. However, with the intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other international bodies, he gave up the seat, paving the way for Barrow to govern the country. -Starrfmonline President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stressed the critical importance the regional market of ECOWAS represents to the development of West Africa, stating that it has to be a very fundamental objective of all of our peoples and governments in the region. According to President Akufo-Addo, with West Africa's population set to hit 500 million people by 2035, the region represents a genuine market with immense opportunities for trade, enterprise and ingenuity. He has, thus, highlighted Ghana's commitment towards facilitating efforts at regional integration and unity. With ECOWAS having been established some 42 years ago, and trade liberalization agreements being in existence for nearly 40 years, West Africa is yet to reap the benefits if intra-regional trade because, in the view of the President, the political will to make ECOWAS a functioning reality is not there. Statistics indicate that intra-regional trade between members of the European Union (EU) and ASEAN amount to some 60% to 70% of GDP, whereas intra-regional trade in West Africa and the African continent amount to a paltry 10% to 11% Despite the difficulties the EU is having, there is no doubt the EU has been a major benefit to the growth and development of the economies in Europe. Overall, the picture of Europe now is radically different from what we used to know in our youth, he said. President Akufo-Addo made this known on Friday, April 28, 2017, when the head of the Task Force for the implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), Lt. Gen. Salou Djibo, who is also the former President of Niger, paid a courtesy call on him at the Presidency. In his remarks, Lt. Gen. Salou Djibo explained that the ETLS, which was established some 39 years ago, is the main ECOWAS operational tool for promoting the West Africa region as a Free Trade Area. With low volumes of intra-trade being recorded amongst West African countries, the head of the ETLS noted that charity must begin at home. We cannot be trading with others, whilst abandoning our own. It is for this reason that ECOWAS, in March 2014, endorsed a taskforce to move around the region to identify the hurdles and challenges stifling free trade, so we can create wealth for our people. Gen. Salou Djibo revealed that the Task Force has so far visited Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Liberia, Burkina Faso, and was encouraged with the progress made so far in ensuring the realization of the Free Trade Area in West Africa. We have come to thank you for your vision. We know that you are one of those who has spoken about the integration of West Africa. During your election campaigns, you spoke about the reasons why people must come together beyond the boundaries, and bring West Africa to a solid foundation that recognizes the black man and enterprise in creating wealth, he said. He urged President Akufo-Addo to support the mandate and agenda of ETLS, and serve as an advocate for the Task Force in ensuring that his colleague Heads of State adhere to the implementation and realization of the Free Trade Area. On his part, President Akufo-Addo applauded the initiative of the setting up of the ETLS Task Force to monitor the compliance of ECOWAS member countries. Ultimately, the concept of large trading blocs has to be the way of the future, and, we, in West Africa, will not be able to escape the pressures of history. We will have to find ourselves within it, he said. With Ghana being the second largest contributor to ECOWAS, President Akufo-Addo maintained that Ghana's commitment to ECOWAS is unambiguous. From the first day till today, we have been a firm supporter of ECOWAS' initiatves, whether it is in the area of security, Ghanaian troops and diplomacy, have been very much at disposal of ECOWAS in resolving security issues Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone across the length and breadth of the region. In the Gambia, which is the latest one, Ghanaian troops, again, were present, he said. He pledged his and the support of Ghana towards the Free Trade Area, and was unequivocal that the Task Force, headed by Gen. Salou Djibo, would succeed in their efforts. -Starrfmonline William Nyarko, Executive Director of The Africa Center for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), has urged media training institutions in the country to mainstream investigative journalism into their training curricula. While speaking to level 200 BA Communication Studies students of the Ghana Institute of Journalism in Accra on April 24, 25 & 26, Nyarko, a two-time winner of the Ghana Journalists Association investigative Journalist of Year award and alumnus of GIJ argued that training and mentoring a critical mass of investigative journalists is a sure way of help promote and sustain accountable governance in the country. The theme for the program was, The Theory and Practice of Investigative Journalism: Mainstreaming Investigative Journalism for Accountable Governance in Ghana. Nyarko, who has also served as former editor of the Ghanaian Chronicle, emphasised among other things that investigative journalism is the most challenging and difficult path to take in journalism, but it is also the area that a journalist can use to hold duty bearers accountable, provide evidence-based information to the public, cause change, and be recognised for one's work; No pain, no gain, he added . He argued that because of the absence of adequate well trained and committed investigative journalists, so much remains hidden from the public. The program was organised by the Print Journalism Department of GIJ and coordinated by Peter Agbeko, an adjunct lecturer at the Institute. He explained that the program is designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the practice of journalism, and will provide a platform for counselling, mentoring and networking. The lecture format adopted over the three day period was designed to allow Nyarko to deliver an opening lecture of up to an hour to begin each session, after which his team members took turns sharing case studies and other relevant information. In all, five respected investigative journalists participated in the three-day program, namely, Kwetey Nartey (Multimedia), Selase Kove-Seyram (Freelance international investigative journalist), Gabriel Obodai Torgbor-Ashong, (broadcast investigative journalist at Metro TV), Isaac Yeboah (Online Editor, Graphic Communications Group Ltd) and Eyram Bashan, Group Managing News Editor at EIB Network). On Monday, Gabriel Obodai Torgbor-Ashong, an award-winning Broadcast Journalist at Metro TV set the ball rolling with an insightful lecture supported by a number of captivating case studies. On Tuesday morning, Mr. Kwetey Nartey, a multiple award-winning investigative journalist at Multimedia shared relevant case studies with a focus on enhancing learning and a fundamental understanding of the subject. In the afternoon of the same day, Graphic Communications Group Ltd.s Online Editor, Mr. Isaac Yeboah, presented more case studies. On Wednesday, Selase Kove-Seyram, an alumnus of GIJ and a freelance international investigative journalist shared [A1] some case studies. Mrs. Eyram Bashan, Group Managing News Editor at EIB Network interacted with the students on Wednesday afternoon. She stated that there is an urgent need for media training institutions to be responsive to the needs of the society, noting that the frontiers of information dissemination and management have been greatly expanded with the emergence of new media delivery platforms . She encouraged the students to start practising their skills right from their time in the classroom, but cautioned them to be measured in the risks they take. there is no need for fool hardiness, please make sure you stay alive to tell the story, she added. After each session, the guest lecturers fielded questions from the students. The program coordinator thanked ACILA and all the guest lecturers who participated in the program. Several other alumni, including Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, Chairman, National Communication Authority and Ms. Kate Addo, Ag. Director of Public Affairs at Ghana's Parliament, are scheduled to interact with the students in the coming months. ACILA is incorporated under US law as a 501(c) (3) research and education, non-partisan, and non-profit think tank and under Ghana law as a non-governmental organisation. Its focus areas are democratic governance, rule of law, international criminal justice, international human rights law, and monitoring African states compliance with regional and international instruments. By Jerry Azanduna, GNA, Zebilla (U/E), April 28, GNA - Mr Rockson Ayine Bukari, Upper East Regional Minister, has called on youth activists to desist from using violence to highlight their concerns. Mr Bukari said vandalism is unconstitutional and it is unlawful for people to take the laws into their own hands. He said this when he met some youth and party activists of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Zebilla Constituency who allegedly vandalized the district assembly and the party office in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region. They did this to protest against Madam Victoria Ayamba, the President's nominee for the position of District Chief Executive. Similar unprovoked attacks and demonstration occurred in the Builsa North District where the NPP party office was allegedly vandalized in protest against the nomination of Mr David Afoko for the position of District Chief Executive. Mr Bukari, who later inspected the affected departments of the Assembly, said the act would not bring about development and would only disturb the peace in the area. He called on the youth to remain calm and be law abiding as government would not condone any unlawful acts. The Minister, who is also the Chairman of the Regional Security Council (RESEC), charged the security apparatus in the area to arrest and prosecute all those who participated in the said acts. The youth attacked the District Assembly and destroyed some of the decentralized departments including the departments of Social Welfare, Non Formal Education unit, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the National Youth Employment Agency (NYEA) and the Assembly's canteen, and made away with some office equipment including laptops, desktop computers and office furniture. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Huno Broni in charge of the Bawku West District Police Command, said investigations have already started to fish out the perpetrators of the acts and in due course they would be put before the law courts. GNA 28.04.2017 LISTEN Lawra, April 28, GNA - Naa Puowele Karbo, Paramount Chief of the Lawra Traditional Council said on Thursday that the one district, one factory and one village, one dam policy of government were his preferred projects. He said the implementation of those projects would enable districts and communities to mobilise and harness resources available for industrial development. The Lawra -Naa therefore appealed to government not to abandon the execution of those projects because others were on the queue awaiting to take away the policy should government fail to carry them out. Naa Karbo said this when Mr Sulemana Alhassan, Upper West Regional Minister paid a working visit to the Lawra Traditional Council to introduce himself to traditional rulers and heads of government departments and agencies, and also solicit their support and counselling to effectively administer the affairs of the region. He said Ghanaians must change from the campaign mood and brace up for the implementation of development projects which the government was rolling out. He said government must collaborate effectively with traditional rulers to strengthen and ensure good governance at the grassroots level. On illegal mining, the Lawra-Naa pledged the unflinching support of the Lawra Traditional Council to government to address the menace of the activities of illegal miners on the environment, especially the water bodies. 'There is no logic to allow illegal mining to take place in the entire country simultaneously', he said, while expressing disappointment that chiefs in some communities along the Black Volta River never reported to him about the activities of illegal miners on the river, which provided the livelihoods of the people in the district. He urged them to be vigilant and report the activities of the miners and any other pollution on the river to the traditional council for action to be taken against them. He commended government for appointing a son and a daughter from the region in the persons of Ambrose Dery and Dr Nurah Gyeile as Interior Minister and Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture respectively and also, appointing Mr. Anthony Karbo as a Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways. Mr Alhassan appealed to traditional rulers to provide him with the best counselling and guidance to enable them to implement the policies and programmes of the government to enhance development. He said government depended on traditional rulers for good governance at the local level and gave the assurance that his administration would derive its strength from the wise counselling and support of the traditional rulers to ensure peace in the region for development. On government 'Planting for food and jobs', he said the project was not limited to farmers alone and urged workers to take advantage of the project to increase food production to make Ghana food sufficient. He appealed to the people in the region to develop interest in the cultivation of grass and sell to livestock owners as fodder to feed their animals in neighbouring countries as an alternative ways of improving livelihoods and incomes. GNA By Bajin D. Pobia, GNA 28.04.2017 LISTEN Sunyani, April 28, GNA - Mr Paul Kusi, the Sunyani West District Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has warned against the politicization of the health insurance scheme, as government worked to improve its operations. He said the scheme was a national asset and the country would lose dearly if it collapsed, hence the need to revamp it. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Kusi said the operations of the NHIS ought to be seen like a utility service- Electricity Company of Ghana and the Ghana Water Company Limited, which provides services to all clients. He said issues on health care were essential to the nation, and it would be suicidal if the general public continued to politicize the operations of the scheme. Mr Kusi called on the government to pump enough resources into the scheme and advised those who have still not registered to do so. 'We the workers of the scheme become worried and feel embarrassed when we hear false statements about the scheme on political campaign platforms mounted by our politicians' he said. Mr Kusi said although the NHIS was an ideology and initiative of one political party, it has become a national asset, and there is the need for everybody to support and ensure its growth. He said the NHIS has gained recognition as one of the best and reliable data based system in the country. The Scheme Manager said his outfit had intensified its membership mobilization drive as well as renewal of identification cards in local communities to relieve clients of the stress they sometimes undergo during renewals. GNA By Christopher Tetteh / Daniel A Ashietey, GNA Garu (U/E), April 28, GNA - The BESSFA Rural Bank has engaged its stakeholders as part of its effort to ensure that policies formulated addressed their concerns. Among the issues discussed were the net asset of the bank, microfinance projects, loans recovery, international money transfers and the E-zwich services amongst others. The 23rd Annual General Meeting of the Bank brought together all stakeholders and the general public to Garu in the Garu-Tempane District to deliberate on the affairs of the bank. Mr Solomon Atigah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank, said in this era of democracy there is the need to get every stakeholder involved in planning for the development of the Bank hence the meeting. He said it is the intension of the Bank to support its stakeholders by rolling out policies such as giving out flexible loans to farmers, women groups and other institutions in of need financial support. Mr Atigah said the Bank in collaboration with the APEX Association of Rural Banks (ARB) in Ghana was instituting an insurance policy for customers that would help protect them in their businesses. He called on all stakeholders to invest in the Bank by buying and encouraging others to buy shares as the Central Bank of Ghana was expecting the Bank to pull a minimum capital of GH600,000 as its annual capital. Mr Gaaga Azitariga, Vice Chairman for the Upper East Regional chapter of the APEX ARB, commended the Bank for its role in the micro insurance sector and the fight to reduce poverty in the area. He urged Bank of Ghana to continue partnering the rural banking sector by responding to the financial needs of rural banks and help promote sustainable and inclusive growth. GNA By Jerry Azanduna, GNA 28.04.2017 LISTEN Accra, April 28, GNA - Mr Ambrose Dery, the Minister for the Interior, has stated that government remained obliged to ensure the complete elimination of human trafficking in the country. He said although over the past few years Ghana had not performed creditable in the fight against human trafficking, government would ensure that through collaborative effort with stakeholders the issue would be curbed. He made the observation during a visit, to the Madina Social Welfare together with the Minister of Gender to inspect the state of the facility, as well as inspect the reconstruction work of a portion of the fence wall, which was destroyed by the rains. Mr Dery said for the past three years, the United States has put Ghana on the tier three watch list, indicating that Ghana had not performed creditable on human trafficking based on the indicators they used, and could be sanctioned if the trend was not reversed in three years. He said as part of efforts to tackle human trafficking, the Ministry together with the Gender Ministry and SG-SSB Bank had been able to reconstruct the fence well and provided a poly tank for storage of water. He, however, noted that, the American Embassy had also promised to renovate the two dormitory blocks, expressing the hope that once they had been able to complete the wall and provided the water tank storage tank, they would come and do their part. 'The welfare of our people especially children is very much important to us, and government is working hard to ensure that the basic things that needs to be done are done and at the right time.' Madam Otiko Djaba, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said for the past two years there were no children at the home, because one of the major problems was the broken wall and water supply, but now both issues had been resolved. 'The mandate of this place is to ensure human trafficking victims are housed, but we have observed that some street children ranging from the ages of 10 and 16 who were rescued by the police from the streets are being housed here'. This, she said, was a very worrying trend and her Ministry would ensure to engage the social welfare to make sure to put measures in place to tackle the issue of street children. 'We will organise a data base to find out the total number of children on the street, find out where their parents are, and send them back home.' Madam Djaba appealed to parents to understand the need to love their children and take proper care of them to accept the conditions in which they found themselves at home, since the home would always be home. 'Poverty is no excuse for abuse of yourself as a child or an adult', she noted. GNA By Hafsa Obeng, GNA 28.04.2017 LISTEN Cape Coast, April 28, GNA - More than seventy-eight high tension and forty-nine low tension electricity poles were destroyed by bush fires in the Central Region in 2016. Mr William Coleman, Regional Maintenance Engineer, who disclosed this an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), put the cost of replacing the poles at GH94,671.24. The figure, he said, did not include the cost of labour and transport. Mr Coleman said the most affected areas were Saltpond, Cape Coast, Assin Fosu and the Kasoa North districts. He said the situation has led to removal of hundreds of customers from the national grid to allow for the replacement of burnt poles. Apart from the company losing revenue during the outage period, the circumstance was also dangerous to human lives as in most cases the burnt poles fell with live ECG conductors, he said. 'The activities of farmers and other people who set fires which are not monitored and close to ECG poles have resulted in the loss of revenue which could have been channelled to improving the quality and reliability of the distribution network', he said. He called for a change of habit among farmers adding that 'unless there was a change of mentality, no amount of education would curb the situation'. Mr Isaac Nurris Ainooson, the Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO), said the company would not look on but take the needed measures to clamp down on such activities. 'Anybody found to have set fire which eventually destroyed an ECG pole will be made to pay for the cost of the replacement', he said. Mr Ainooson urged the media and other stakeholders to support the company to educate the general public on the menace. GNA By Afedzi Abdullah, GNA Ho, April 28, GNA - Professor Stephen Adei, Dean of Arts and Sciences, Ashesi University College, has cautioned government against taking the Internally Generated Funds (IGF) from public universities. He said the IGFs have become the backbone for many universities and 'government must be interested in what the IGF is used for and [does not need to take it away] from the universities.' Prof Adei said this at the 9th Biennial Congress of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Alumni at Ho. The event was held under the theme: 'Re-engineering funding of tertiary education in Ghana; The role of the Alumni.' Prof Adei said quality higher education was expensive and for government to ensure that no child was denied tertiary education, it must increase the student loan to cater for the accommodation and feeding for students. He said government also ought to stop blanket scholarships for students and target students offering particular courses. Prof Adei urged the universities to be entrepreneurial because government could not fund tertiary education alone. He said it is important for them to court their alumni associations because they were the best ambassadors for universities and constituted a bigger source of funding than government. 'In developing economies, universities draw support from alumni associations for mentoring, funding, and this is what we should be doing,' Prof Adei said. Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, said there are situations where brilliant students dropped out of universities due to financial challenges and called on alumni associations to help address such situations saying 'just as a ship is known by its boats and a tree by its fruits, an institution is also known by its illustrious alumni.' Prof Kwasi Obiri-Danso, Vice Chancellor, KNUST, in a speech read on his behalf, said the University has developed a new strategic corporate vision anchored on being the premier science and technology university in Ghana and among the top 10 in Africa. He said in view of recent socio-academic challenges facing students, the University has strengthened its counselling units and reviewed the academic calendar to reduce stress among students. Prof Obiri-Danso said the main challenge facing the University was funding and pleaded with government to allow the University to use its IGF to improve infrastructure. Madam Eunice Akosua Ofosua Amoako, Global President, KNUST Alumni, said the theme for the congress was to throw focus on the responsibility of 'Teknokrats' and all alumni associations to proactively seek to position themselves to lead the drive to re-engineer funding to tertiary education in the country. GNA By A.B. Kafui Kanyi, GNA Accra, April 28, GNA - The 98-year groups of Adisadel Old Boys Association, Santa 98 has registered 263 children in Anfoega in the North Dayi District of the Volta Region. The registration, which took place at the Anfoega Catholic Hospital forms part of the Santa 98 annual charity projects. Mr Ahmed Adjei, the President of the Group in an interview with the GNA, said in the past they had donated to orphanages and supported medical expenses of needy people. This year's project was inspired by a member of the Group, Dr Samuel Lartey, the Medical Superintendent of Anfoega Catholic Hospital. He said the objective was to assist children in the North Dayi District to assess basic healthcare through the year with the help from health officers in the hospital to spread the word. He said the total of registered children included first time card holders and for those who had to renew their cards. The President of the group thanked the management of the hospital and NHIS officers for their support and urged the parents to report to the hospital with their children for healthcare now that they had the cards. Dr Lartey, a Secretary to the Group, expressed excitement that the project had brought relief to the children in the district. GNA By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA Accra April 28, GNA - An Accra High Court has directed two alleged killers of the late J. B. Danquah Adu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa North, to inform their lawyer of the new dimension in the matter so that he could appear in court. It further asked the case investigator to assist the accused persons to get in touch with their relations. Appearing for the first time before the High Court presided over by Justice Lawrence L. Mensah a court of appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, he said the trial could not begin because the State attorney assigned to the court had officially written to it indicating that state attorneys were undergoing a training programmes as such could not be in court. According to the court the state attorney by name Sefakor Batsa was praying the court to adjourn the matter to May 5. The court obliged prosecution's request and adjourned the matter to May 5. However, when the court asked the accused persons about their concerns, Asiedu told the court that they have not heard from their lawyer Mr Augustine Obuor and they could also not get access to him. According to Asiedu the last time they heard from him was before the committal proceedings at the District Court, adding that he could not access his relations either. In the case of Vincent Bosso, he still stood by the assertion that he was innocent and was only picked up by the police. The court told Bosso that he would be given the opportunity to speak when the time comes. On March 15, this year an Accra Central District Court committed Daniel Asiedu aka sexy Dondon and Vincent Bosso aka Junior Agogo to stand trial at the High Court. This was after they were served with the bill of indictment and summary of evidence. Asiedu has been charged with Murder, conspiracy to rob and Robbery. His accomplice Bosso is being held on a charge of Conspiracy to rob. Their counsel Mr. Augustines Obuor did not turn up during the committal proceedings At the District Court, Asiedu who had given seven different statements on different dates to Police denied killing the late MP. At the District Court Asiedu gave different account on how he was picked up by the Police at Agbogboloshie. He admitted that he deals in the sale of mobile phones at Agbogboloshie and he sometimes engaged in swapping of mobile phones at Kwame Nkrumah Circle. He was unable to answer on an alibi put up by him at the court. According to the court based on the inconsistencies in the statement of Aseidu, it was committing him to stand trial. Asiedu's accomplice, Bosso who intermittently wiped off tears, however admitted that he and Asiedu decided to embark on a robbery spree on February 8, 2016. Based on that, Bosso told the court that, they all travelled to East Legon however the two parted ways over a disagreement over which house they were to rob. According to Bosso, Asiedu therefore took away from him implements such as the cutter, knife among others from him and he (Bosso) boarded a car and left the vicinity. Mrs. Yvonne Attakorah Obuobisa, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who read the facts out told the District Court presided over by Mr. Stephen Owusu that Aseidu reside at Agbogboloshie and Bosso was his friend. Mrs. Obuobisa said the deceased Joseph Boakye Danqauh Adu was the MP for Abuakwa North constituency in the Eastern Region. According to the DPP, Aseidu had been talking to Bosso to plan some robbery expedition and on February 8, last year, at about 11:30 pm Aseidu and Bosso armed themselves with various implements such as a screw driver, a cutter, and knife and left Agbogboloshie to East Legon on a robbery spree. The accused persons, the DPP said walked around to see which house they were going to rob and eventually pointed at the house of the deceased as a potential house they were going to rob. Mrs. Obuobisa said Bosso did not agree to that and this resulted in a misunderstanding between the two. The misunderstanding was so sharp that Aseidu asked him (Bosso) to hand over all the tools and they parted ways. According to the DPP, Aseidu entered the house of the deceased and noticed that there was light in the MP's bedroom upstairs and he could not enter the room through the window easily. The DPP said Aseidu looked round for a ladder and with the aid of it he climbed onto the porch and entered through the window. Meanwhile, around that time 11:40 pm, the deceased arrived in his house and went to bed. Asiedu on seeing lights on the deceased room entered and began to search the room. In the process, the MP woke up and attempted to stop Aseidu. The DPP said Asiedu who had a knife stabbed the deceased several times in the neck and chest. The MP bled and collapsed. Mrs. Obuobisa explained that while Aseidu was stabbing the MP, he (Asiedu) also sustained various cuts in his palm and chest. Asiedu found in the room three mobile phones and he escaped through the adjourning house and fled in the area. The DPP said a security man in the deceased house later found that the ladder was on the wall to the deceased room. The security man raised an alarm and he and other occupants in the house entered the MP's room and saw the deceased in a pool of blood. According to the DPP, autopsy report indicated that the MP died of excessive bleeding. When Asiedu returned to Agbogbloshie, he requested for some warm water to dress his wounds and took the deceased phones for unlocking. Whiles unlocking, the DPP said a witness saw blood stains and he got alarmed. The witness waited until he heard the news about the death of the MP and saw that the pictures on the deceased phone matched those that had been displayed in the media. The DPP said blood samples were taken at the crime scene, finger prints were also lifted. She said the finger prints lifted at the crime scene were identical to Asiedu and DNA analysis conducted also marched with Asiedu and the deceased. In the case of Bosso he allegedly conspired with Aseidu to embark on a robbery spree. Prosecution has tendered Post mortem report of the MP, Forensic DNA Report, Blood stained T-shirt of Asiedu, a Knife used by Aseidu, the three I phones of the deceased. Asiedu's pair of slippers which he left at the crime scene, his prison records, and radiology report determining his age, his medical report had also been tendered. The Court has ordered that the accused persons be remanded into prison custody. GNA By Joyce Danso, GNA Tamale, April 28, GNA - President Nana Akufo-Addo has called on the University for Development Studies (UDS) to establish a Peace and Security Centre as part of efforts to ensure peace in the Northern Region. President Nana Akufo-Addo said the Peace and Security Centre should undertake conflict management training to amongst others let people understand early warning signals to help forestall conflicts in the region. Mr Salifu Saeed, Northern Regional Minister, who read a speech on behalf of President Nana Akufo-Addo at a special congregation of UDS in Tamale on Friday, said pockets of conflicts in the region continue to hamper efforts to bring development to the region. The special congregation, which climaxed the fifth edition of the Africa Leadership Lectures, saw UDS confer a Doctor of Letters Degree on Mr Benjamin William Mkapa, former President of Tanzania for his commitment to fighting corruption and dedication to serving his people. A total of 222 graduate students including six PhD students who read various courses at UDS also graduated during the event. The fifth edition of the Africa Leadership Lectures, delivered by Mr Mkapa, was instituted by the UDS in 2013 to contribute to a national and transnational discourse on productive leadership culture that will support and enhance African development. President Nana Akufo-Addo said sustainable peace would go a long way to consolidate the development gains hence the need to ensure peace in the region. The Northern Region continues to experience pockets of conflicts as a result of chieftaincy and land disputes, a situation which takes a toll on public expenditure as a lot of resources are mostly sunk into maintaining peace instead of undertaking development projects. President Akufo-Addo also urged UDS to continue to roll out disciplines that would help to address the developmental needs of the north and the country as a whole. Professor Gabriel Teye, Vice-Chancellor of UDS, appealed to government to give clearance to the University to recruit qualified staff to strengthen its faculties as many staff members have gone on retirement. Professor Teye said the inadequate number of staff at most faculties of the UDS was affecting its operations. He also appealed to government to help improve on the infrastructural facilities of the University. Professor Teye complained about acts of indiscipline that had crept into society and called on government to launch a plan on indiscipline to arrest the canker. Mr Mkapa, in his acceptance speech, commended Ghanaians for their peaceful coexistence saying the recent peaceful general election in the country was inspirational making her (Ghana) the star of democracy on the continent. He also commended UDS for instituting the Africa Leadership Lectures, which was helping to shape constructive leadership on the continent. GNA By Albert Futukpor, GNA Accra, April 28, GNA - The Methodist Church, Ghana, has urged the Government to muster the political will to fight the illegal mining menace, popularly referred to as galamsey. The church urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ensure that water bodies polluted and land degraded in the country were restored within his tenure, as part of his legacies. The Very Reverend John Hammond, Superintendent Minister of Madina Circuit, said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Friday. He said: 'As a country we have danced around the illegal mining menace for far too long and the consequence is what we are witnessing today.' Very Rev. Hammond expressed regret that some traditional leaders and politicians were alleged to be involved in the practice instead of preserving the nation's resources and environment for the future generations. He recalled the days when River Birim in the Eastern Region was potable, while other rivers like Tano, Pra and Ankobra were tourist sites as a pride of the nation. 'Today these rivers have become a sea of dark brown water harbouring dangerous chemicals,' he said, adding that communities along the banks had been deprived of water for farming and domestic use. Very Rev. Hammond commended the Media Coalition Against Galamsey and the Christian Council of Ghana for their efforts in the fight against illegal mining and called on all religious bodies and non-governmental organisations to join the fight. GNA MIAMI (AP) The organizers of a much-hyped music festival in the Bahamas have been forced to cancel the weekend event at the last minute. Fyre Festival organizers announced the cancellation of the "once-in-a-lifetime" concert on Twitter and their website after many fans had already arrived. People complained of spending thousands of dollars on tickets and travel to the Exuma islands in the Bahamas for what were supposed to be performances by Blink-182 and others. Event organizers blamed "unforeseen and extenuating circumstances" in a Twitter post Friday. They said they were working to arrange flights to Miami for those who had already arrived in Exuma and said inbound flights had been canceled. Fyre Festival had promised "culinary delights and luxury" over two weekends. Attendees complained about disorganization and accommodations in social media posts. Some highlights from those sharing their experiences on social media: New and returning events are planned for this weekend. The Calaveras High School Performing Arts is presenting the musical, Hello, Dolly! this weekend only at the Calaveras Performing Arts Center in San Andreas. Details are here. The Mother Lode Queen Horsemanship Contest is this Saturday at 10 am at the Sheriff Posse Grounds. Saturday from 10 am while supplies last, ATCAA Head Start is doing a FUN Drive-Thru Kid-Friendly Event for ages 0 to 5 in their parking lot. Other agencies at the event will be Infant Child Enrichment Services (ICES), Tuolumne County Public Library, Tuolumne County Public Health, and the Center for a Non-Violent Community (CVNC). Details are in their community event listing here. Also at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds everyone is invited to the Meet the First Responders event. Tuolumne County Sheriffs Community Service Unit is promoting and honoring Tuolumne County First Responders at this free family-friendly event. Participating agencies are Sonora Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Tuolumne County Sheriffs Department, Tuolumne County Fire Department, California Division of Forestry (CALFIRE), Tuolumne County Search and Rescue, Sonora Fire Department, PHI Air Medical Sonora and more with exhibitions, fun, music, and raffles. The fairgrounds this Saturday is also the location for the Tuolumne County Prescription Drug take-back day. Unused or expired prescription medications that are not properly disposed of are a public safety issue. Bring those drugs to the Mother Lode Fairgrounds from 10 AM through 4 PM. In Sonora on Saturday at 10 am is the Vets Ruck March by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. To be in the running for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes a 22lb backpack is required, participants are encouraged to bring a backpack in memory of those that have fallen to suicide. Please consider filling your backpack with items to donate to our Homeless Veterans Program after finishing the March. The entire march route will be roughly three miles on paved and dirt roads, friendly for all ages. The details are listed in our events calendar here. In Murphys on Saturday at 10 am is the Mutt March by the Murphys Community Club. Algiers Street and Six Mile Road will be impacted by the event. (See below for Sundays Tuolumne Dachshund Derby) Saturday at 11 am is the 3rd Annual Ragin Cajun Festival in San Andreas featuring authentic Louisiana Crawfish Boil. There will be live music, vendors and more food booths lining Main Street in San Andreas. Proceeds will benefit the Hospice of Amador and Calaveras. Free parking at Calaveras High School. Ticket information is in their event listing here. Note that Main Street, San Andreas, from W. St. Charles Street (HWY 49) to Court Street, will be closed to all traffic from 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM on Saturday The first of several Free Green Waste Drop Off events for Tuolumne County residents will happen this Saturday at two sites. Get all the event details here. On Saturday Calvary Chapel is hosting an EPIC Rummage Sale Fundraiser for their Youth Groups summer mission trip to Casa Esperanza, Mexico. The annual Whiskerino Dinner Dance will be held at 5 pm at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds. Live music will be provided by Gunpowder and Lace, as well as a silent auction. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Calaveras County Fair and the Junior Livestock Committee. Ticket information is in their event listing here. In the town of Tuolumne on Sunday May 1st is the Tuolumne Dachshund Derby at the West Side Memorial Park. As detailed here, Greg Lipanovich, the originator, and co-founder Sandi Romena were both Wednesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day and the event is a fundraiser for Friends of the Animal Community. Sunday is also the monthly Pancake Breakfast at the Veterans Hall in Sonora. The Tuolumne County Girl Scouts will host their Pancake Breakfast Sunday at the Sheriffs Posse Grounds. The Connections Academy Summerville Hight School Spring Showcase will be open Sunday from 1pm to 5pm at the Summerville High School Theater. Sacramento, CA A bill that would have implemented recommendations of the non-partisan Legislative Analysts Office failed to gain enough support in the Assembly Transportation Committee. AB 66, proposed by Republican Jim Patterson, would have required the Rail Authority to provide more detailed information about the cost, scope and schedule of each project segment. It would have also mandated that business plans include financing costs associated with the planned system and construction of the various segments. Patterson says, This vote is a slap in the face to Californians who are demanding answers about a project that is clearly in free-fall. They are over budget, behind schedule and are shedding project managers left and right. The bill was killed with a 7-4 vote. Also this week, a Superior Court Judge ruled that the project can proceed while a lawsuit is being reviewed regarding whether the state is keeping its promises to voters about the project. The initial bonds for the $64-billion project were approved by voters in 2008. Construction is starting in the Central Valley but it is eventually expected to connect Los Angeles with San Francisco. President Trump Signs Executive Order On Energy View Photos Sacramento, CA California Governor Jerry Brown is upset over an executive order signed this morning by President Donald Trump aimed at expanding oil and gas drilling off the coastlines. The Presidents action, entitled, Implementing An America First Offshore Energy Strategy, calls for undoing some of the environmental actions put in place during the final year of the Obama Administration. It also calls for a full review of any issues preventing additional offshore drilling. President Trumps executive order reads, America must put the energy needs of American families and businesses first and continue implementing a plan that ensures energy security and economic vitality for decades to come. The energy and minerals produced from lands and waters under Federal management are important to a vibrant economy and to our national security. Governor Jerry Browns office has released a statement signed by him, as well as Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Oregon Governor Kate Brown, all Democrats, reading, Todays unilateral action is short-sighted. For good reason there has been no federal expansion of oil and gas drilling along our shared coastline for more than 30 years. We still remember what happened in Santa Barbara in 1969, Port Angeles in 1985, Grays Harbor in 1988 and Coos Bay in 1999. We remember the oil soaked beaches and wildlife and the devastating economic impacts to local communities and the fishing industry. Now is not the time to turn back the clock. We cannot return to the days where the federal government put the interests of big oil above our communities and treasured coastline. It is the latest issue putting Californias Democratic leaders at odds with the White House. This afternoon, state Democratic Senator Beth Hannah announced that she will write and introduce legislation in response to the order, calling for a statewide ban on new oil and gas infrastructure pipelines in state waters and along the coast. You can find President Trumps full executive action by clicking here. MATTOON -- Beth Glanzer, a human resource generalist, was awarded a certificate of completion at the 17th annual Human Resource Management School presented by the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Human Resource Management School provides the foundation for new or veteran human resource professionals to tie together issues in human resource management with an understanding of the banking business. Glanzer joined First Mid in 2008 as a Relationship Manager in the Treasury Management department before moving into Human Resources in 2014. She acquired a bachelors degree in agriculture education from Kansas State University; a masters degree in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University, and earned a masters degree in training and development from Eastern Illinois University. The Graduate School of Banking is sponsored by the Central States Conference of Bankers Associations and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It was established in 1945 to provide bankers an opportunity for advanced study and research in banking, economics and leadership. First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. is the parent company of First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, N.A. (First Mid Bank), Mid-Illinois Data Services, Inc., and First Mid Insurance Group. The leader of the Indegeneous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has been granted bail in the sum of N300million with three sureties in like sum by an Abuja Federal High Court. Recall that Legit.ng had earlier reported that the leader of the separatist group had been granted bail with stringent conditions. After Kanu was granted bail by Justice Binta Nyako, Biafra, supporters took to the streets in various parts of Nigerian to celebrate. Nnamdi Kanu's lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor said the bail was granted based on their application for bail Now that the IPOB leader has been granted bail, Legit.ng brings you some things that may likely happen. 1. Agitation for Republic of Biafra continues Do not be surprised if Biafra supporters take their agitation to a whole new level following the bail granted to their leader. They are already seeing the courts verdict as a victory. The Biafra supporters have refused to give up their agitation for the sovereign state of the Republic of Biafra despite efforts by the federal government to curb their activities. READ ALSO: Unusual traffic in Abuja over Nnamdi Kanu's bail (photos, video) 2. He may be rearrested after meeting bail conditions Recall that the former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki was rearrested in 2015 after he was released on bail. His rearrest took place shortly after his release from the Kuje Prison in Abuja. If he meets his bail conditions, Kanu may also suffer same fate. 3. He may likely flout his bail conditions Kanu is one man is committed to the struggle for a Biafra Republic and he may just flout his bail conditions which are very strict. He cannot grant any press interview, he will not be in a gathering of more than 10 persons and if he flouts these orders, his bail will be revoked. READ ALSO: Fayose, Fani-Kayode defy DSS, enter court room to witness Nnamdi Kanus trial 4. Biafra supporters may protest against his bail conditions Some are already condemning the bail conditions set by the judge, saying it is unacceptable. His supporters may just decide to take to the streets to show their grievances against the bail conditions. Report has it that Kanu has rejected the bail granted to him today and has vowed to remain in Kuje prisons with his co-accused persons. Meanwhile, a magistrate court sitting in the Bayelsa state capital, Yenagoa, has set free about forty-four members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) from police detention. The Legit.ng video below, shows Kanu in court today and the reactions that trailed the bail condition granted to him. Source: Legit.ng It is hard to imagine the modern world without the English language. It is in the top three of the most spoken languages in the world. English has become the lingua franca of travel, business, and international communications. In fact, Nigeria is ranked 4th among countries with the highest population of English speakers. But how important is English for us? The importance of English for students Nigeria is a country where different cultures and ethnic groups are mixed. There is a variety of tribes and each of them have their native languages. So how can people understand each other if the languages are so different? Here is where English comes in. It became the language of corporate environments such as Airports, School, Post Offices, etc. English has become a way to connect with each other even when you are from different ethnicity. But what is the importance of English language for students? Here are the most important points: - For communication READ ALSO: Private Secondary Schools in Ibadan First of all, as it has been mentioned before, English is essential for communication. It will help you a lot when you have to communicate with foreigners when traveling to an English-speaking country. Even knowing the basics can be crucial sometimes. And dont be afraid to make mistakes! Usually, people are very kind to those who are learning their language. - For finding a job Knowing more than one or two languages is a significant benefit when it comes to seeking employment. Today there are a lot of companies that will require that you understand English in an expert level. - For self-improvement There is a big amount of useful information on the Internet. The only thing you need to do is to be able to search for it through the depths of the Web. But the problem is that most of it is in English. Sure, you can try and translate it using apps or online services, but there are always some issues with that. You may lose something that cant be translated, or the translation wont make any sense. Knowing English will give you the opportunity to explore anything you are interested in learning and in the exact way it was written. - For understanding the culture of others Its crucial to know what people are talking about if you want to understand the culture. Different references and cultural subtleties can be easily lost without a good knowing of the local language. - For books, films, games, etc. Isnt it great to watch a movie with the original voices? Or read a book and understand that you havent lost anything due to translation. Good language skills will help you with that! All in all, knowing English comes with great benefits. To be honest, knowing any foreign language is a plus for you! It is important to consider learning a language from a young age (the younger - the better!). It is proven that people who have started learning languages in kindergarten or primary school, are better at multitasking and remembering. They are also good at learning languages in older age. So go, grab a book, look for information on the internet and start learning and improving your knowledge right now! READ ALSO: History of Western Education in Nigeria Source: Legit.ng Sometimes finding a trustworthy travel agency can be challenging. We have compiled a list of the best travel agencies in Nigeria, their services, locations, and contacts for your convenience. Reach out to them and compare their offers to find an affordable one. A passenger plane flying above a hill covered by trees. Photo: pexels.com, @Oleksandr Pidvalnyi Source: UGC Sometimes, it is easier to take an overseas trip with the help of a travel agency. The main role of any travel agency is to help you to make your travel plan as easy and as comfortable as possible. They will save you time and give you the necessary information about your trip. List of travel agencies in Nigeria Some of the services offered by travel agencies in Nigeria include organizing tours to different parts of the world, visa processing, cheap flight booking, holiday packages, hotel reservations, car rentals, online services and so on. Below is the list of travel agencies in Nigeria. 1. Mayfair Travel Nigeria Limited The beach. Photo: pexels.com, @Fabian Wiktor Source: UGC PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! Head office location: B1 LSDPC Flats, 24 Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria B1 LSDPC Flats, 24 Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria Phone numbers: + 234 1 774 7777, + 234 1 775 2277, + 234 1 776 9900, + 234 1 776 4688 + 234 1 774 7777, + 234 1 775 2277, + 234 1 776 9900, + 234 1 776 4688 Email: info@mayfairtravel.net info@mayfairtravel.net Website: mayfairtravel.net The agency offers customers the incredible services and partners with almost all airlines in Nigeria and abroad. Mayfair Travel Nigeria Limited works with Afriqiyah Airways, Air France, Bellview Airlines Ltd, British Airways, Delta Airlines, Egypt Air, Emirates, Kenya Airways, KLM, Lufthansa German Airlines, Qatar Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, South African Airways, and more. Mayfair Travel Nigeria's services include: Business travel planning Facilitation of ticket refunds Travel consultation Airlines sales promotions Itinerary planning Assigning seat numbers on most airlines worldwide Prepaid ticket advice Effecting changes to reservations on all bookings made via the system Frequent flyer programmes (i.e. Management of Mileage on various Airlines for customers) Recommendation on most airlines booked on the global distribution system Reservations on most IATA airlines worldwide Special requests, e.g. special meals and wheelchairs on airlines worldwide. Information on airlines policies 2. Zenith Travels and Tours Limited A person feeding a giraffe. Photo: pexels.com, @Git Stephen Gitau Source: UGC Head office location: 4th Floor, Shobo House, 5 Simpson Street, Lagos Island, Nigeria 4th Floor, Shobo House, 5 Simpson Street, Lagos Island, Nigeria Phone numbers: +2348022235119, +23418880225, +2348055469754 +2348022235119, +23418880225, +2348055469754 Email: info@zenithtravelgroup.com info@zenithtravelgroup.com Website: zenithtravelgroup.com Zenith Travels and Tours Limited is one of the best travel tour companies in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. It was established in Lagos, Nigeria, in1998. You will love the expertise of Zenith Travels and Tours Limited's highly skilled, resourceful and innovative staff. Below is a list of Zenith Travels' services: Ticketing and reservation Event management Travel tour services Entertainment promotion Hotel reservation Conference & fairs Airport transfers Management retreat Travel and health insurance Bus and car hire service Cargo and shipping service Boat cruise service Immigration services Rent-a-car service Visa counselling Medical-health tourism Charter aircraft services School transportation service Air ambulance service Second-country citizenship through investment 3. Jolie Global Travels and Tours Limited A man and a tortoise under the water. Photo: pexels.com, @John Cahil Rom Source: UGC Head office location: AREA 11, 7 Agatu Cl, Garki 900001, Abuja, Nigeria AREA 11, 7 Agatu Cl, Garki 900001, Abuja, Nigeria Telephone / WhatsApp number: 08033412707 08033412707 Email: travels@joliewaka.com travels@joliewaka.com Website: joliewaka.com The agency makes it easy for you to compare hotels, resorts, property owners, and other service providers. Please note that Jolie Global Travels and Tours Ltd does not issue visas as that is the exclusive preserve of the embassies and consulates. Below is a list of Jolie Global's services: Visa and immigration services Event planning Hotel and resorts booking Foreign education programs Flight tickets Travel shop Documentation services COVID-19 PCR test Travel insurance services Jolie Jets club Training programs Jolie gift cards 4. Gadeshire Travels and Tours Limited A view of a mountain peak. Photo: unspalsh.com, @Sergey Pesterev Source: UGC Head office location: 28 Covina Crescent, Sun City Estate, Galadimawa District, Abuja, Nigeria 28 Covina Crescent, Sun City Estate, Galadimawa District, Abuja, Nigeria Phone numbers: +234 (0) 8033734944, +234 (0)8053756464 +234 (0) 8033734944, +234 (0)8053756464 Email: info@gadeshire.com info@gadeshire.com Website: gadeshire.com This is a successful and highly professional African travel agency. Gadeshire Travels and Tours Limited markets tour destinations worldwide and manages some. The agency consolidates and purchases grounds, hotels, tour attractions, and airfares to create exciting holiday and vacation packages that appeal to travellers. Gadeshire's services include: Sports services Events services Sports management consultancy services Event creation Sports marketing and sport sponsorship sales Management and sponsorship sale Sports conferences Conventions Conventions and summit solution Conferences Business development Venue transformation and beautification Athletes and coaches representation Product launch and promotion Sports equipment distribution and sales Multi-media solution Sports floors and leisure infrastructures Mega screen and displays Venue management Sound system and power Talent search and management Shows and carnival management Sports project management Social mobilization Sports events creation Project management Management and sponsorship sale Client representation and brand management Contract negotiation Exhibitions and trade fairs Client representation and brand management Congress solutions Congress solutions Logistic/fleet management Sports facility marketing Security escort services 5. Touchdown Travels Limited A woman climbing a rock near a waterfall. Photo: pexels.com, @Min An Source: UGC Head office location: 2 Obokun St, off Coker Rd, Ilupeju 100253, Lagos, Nigeria 2 Obokun St, off Coker Rd, Ilupeju 100253, Lagos, Nigeria Phone number: +234 808 471 6218 +234 808 471 6218 Email: bookings@touchdowntravels.net, bookings@touchdowntravels.net, Website: touchdowntravels.net Touchdown Travels Ltd has offices in Lagos, Abuja, Ikeja, and Port Harcourt. It is also one of the most recommended travel and pay later agencies in Nigeria. Touchdown Travels' Easy Pay (EP) travel payment plan is flexible. It allows customers to grab great travel deals instantly and pay over a maximum of 6 instalments. Touchdown's services are: Booking flights to Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe. Visa application, screening associated documents, and securing appointment dates. Insurance covers cancellation due to illness, accident or injury, personal accident and liability, loss of or damage to baggage and sports equipment, etc. Other travel planning and management services. 6. Aeroport Travels and Tours Limited A person paragliding over a forest. Photo: pexels.com, @Quang Nguyen Vinh Source: UGC Head office location: 3rd Floor, 41 Osolo Way by 7&8 B/Stop, Airport Road, Ajao Estate Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos, Nigeria 3rd Floor, 41 Osolo Way by 7&8 B/Stop, Airport Road, Ajao Estate Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos, Nigeria Phone numbers: (+234) 9026856583, 08065754076, 07082299989 (+234) 9026856583, 08065754076, 07082299989 Emails: info@aeroporttravels.com, reservations@aeroporttravels.com, feedback@aeroporttravels.com info@aeroporttravels.com, reservations@aeroporttravels.com, feedback@aeroporttravels.com Website: aeroporttravels.com This is a full-fledged travel management company located in Lagos, Nigeria. Aeroport Travels and Tours Ltd has years of vast experiences and is committed to offering travel service of the highest quality. Some of its tour packages are to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Miami and Austin (USA), Nairobi (Kenya), and Zanzibar (Tanzania). Aeroport Travels and Tours' services include: Flight bookings Visa support/advisory Hotel bookings Corporate/business travels Airport protocol (pre-check-in, baggage handling, custom and immigration formalities) Educational tour/ excursion 7. Travelstart A wooden bridge in the forest. Photo: pexels.com, @Markus Spiske Source: UGC Head office location: 47 Allen Avenue, Studio 24 building, Allen, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria 47 Allen Avenue, Studio 24 building, Allen, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria Phone numbers: 08139842222, 08091270058. 08139842222, 08091270058. Email: info@travelstart.com.ng, help@travelstart.com.ng info@travelstart.com.ng, help@travelstart.com.ng Website: m.travelstart.com Stephan Ekbergh established Travelstart Nordic in Sweden in 1999. It began operating in South Africa in 2006b and European Travel Interactive AB(eTRAVELi), a company whose headquarters moved to Cape Town, bought it in 2010. This African online travel booking website operates in Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Egypt, Turkey, Bahrain, Botswana, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Morocco, Kenya, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Travelstart's services include: Travel air tickets Car rental services Hotel booking services Vacation packages Other travel services 8. Wakanow Nigeria Limited A hot air balloon over a herd of zebras. Photo: unspalsh.com, @sutirta budiman Source: UGC Head office location: Plot 8, Elegusi Beach Road, off Ikate Roundabout, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. Plot 8, Elegusi Beach Road, off Ikate Roundabout, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. Phone numbers: 07030095727, 07028413705. 07030095727, 07028413705. Email: info@wakanow.com info@wakanow.com Website: wakanow.com This is also one of the best travel and pay later agencies in Nigeria. Wakanow Nigeria Limited offers easy and affordable travel services. They have a broad range of top travel deals and help you research, plan, and book domestic and international travel tickets from the comfort of wherever you are.Wakanow Nigeria's services include: Affordable domestic and international flights Search and booking hotels Check domestic and international flight status Domestic and international Airport transfers Affordable holiday packages Visa assistance Prepaid travel card and sim Loyalty program Pay small small service 9. Airgate Travels and Tours Limited A hotel. Photo: pexels.com, @Pixabay Source: UGC Head office location: Suit 21 Ikosi Road Shopping Mall Ketu, C M D Rd Magodo Lagos, Nigeria Suit 21 Ikosi Road Shopping Mall Ketu, C M D Rd Magodo Lagos, Nigeria Phone numbers: +2347032338729 +2347032338729 Email: info@airgatetravels.com info@airgatetravels.com Website: airgatetravels.com Airgate Travel and Tours Limited was registered in 2016 in Gbagada, Nigeria. It is one of the best travel agencies in Nigeria, Lagos. The agency simplifies the time-consuming and complicated trip-planning process for its clients. Airgate Travel and Tours specializes in leisure travel, business trips, and location-specific journeys to Europe, Africa, or Asia. Airgate's services include: Guidelines for reservation and ticketing Guidelines for reservation and ticketing Maintenance of registered frequent fliers Track and capture international requests via email or direct contact E-ticket and electronic itinerary submission for expediency Customer support for foreign nationals coming into Nigeria Enroll travellers in frequent flier programs for first-time flier on an airline Prompt for questions such as destinations date and a class of travel Provide all bookings, including hotel and car rental where necessary Cost-effective or cost savings options presented to the customer 10. Dip Tour Limited An aerial photo of palm trees. Photo: pexels.com, @Leonardo Rossatti Source: UGC Head office location: Suite 7 Block 1 Bar Beach Towers, Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Suite 7 Block 1 Bar Beach Towers, Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Phone/WhatsApp numbers: +234 7046226590, +234 7016633550,+234 8170592433 +234 7046226590, +234 7016633550,+234 8170592433 Emails: info@diptourltd.com, flight@diptourltd.com, visa@diptourltd.com, tour@diptourltd.co info@diptourltd.com, flight@diptourltd.com, visa@diptourltd.com, tour@diptourltd.co Website: diptourltd.com Dip Tour Limited is also one of the many travel and pay later agencies in Nigeria. The agency allows clients to apply for credit. Dip Tour Limited operates in over 195 countries and has connections to more than 600,000 hotels, apartments, and villas worldwide.Dip Tour Limited's services include: Inbound domestic tourism (visa on arrival/extension, meet and greet protocols, tour attractions, and more.) Flights (book local and international with seamless ticket upgrades, changes, and promotional deals at the best price.) Travel sim card & voucher (travel the world with your own international mobile numbers & recharge anytime.) Travel insurance (your travel insurance covers COVID-19 challenges, overstay, emergency medical expenses, delays, evacuation, loss of possession, and more.) Travel packages to more than 195 countries Educational, medical, and sport tourism Book hotels Book cruises Local tour guide services Car rental services 11. Rewards Travels and Tours Limited A river. Photo: pexels.com, @Baskin Creative Studios Source: UGC Head office location: 4 Bashiru Oweh St, Ikeja 101233, Ikeja, Nigeria 4 Bashiru Oweh St, Ikeja 101233, Ikeja, Nigeria Phone numbers: 08057098293, 08057098294 08057098293, 08057098294 Emails: info@rewardstravels.com, salessupport@rewardstravels.com info@rewardstravels.com, salessupport@rewardstravels.com Website: rewardstravels.com Rewards Travels and Tours Ltd was established on 26th July 1999, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) accredited it in 2000. Rewards Travels' head office is in Ikeja, and the company has several established partners in the global market. Some of its latest tour packages are to Istanbul, Dubai, Paris, Accra, UK, and East Europe.Rewards Travels and Tours Limited's services are: Roundtrip flight services One-way flight services Transfer ad hotel services 12. Quantum Travels Limited A man surfing on the beach. Photo: pexels.com, @Pixabay Source: UGC Head office location: 35 Corporation Drive, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos 35 Corporation Drive, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos Phone numbers: 0700QUANTUM (0700 782 6886), 0704 809 8646 0700QUANTUM (0700 782 6886), 0704 809 8646 Emails: info@quantumtravelsng.com info@quantumtravelsng.com Website: quantumtravelsng.com Quantum Travels Ltd provides competitive fares worldwide. The travel consultants have 35 years of experience. Quantum Travels organize unique travel packages throughout the Philippines and other Asian countries. Quantum Travels Limited's services are: Corporate travel consultations Transfers and local tours Vacation travel consultations Meetings and incentives Airline tickets Car and retail rentals Hotel reservations What are the top 10 travel agencies? Quantum Travels Limited Mayfair Travel Nigeria Limited Rewards Travels and Tours Limited Airgate Travel and Tours Limited Aeroport Travels and Tours Limited Wakanow Nigeria Limited Dip Tour Limited Zenith Travels and Tours Limited Travelstart Touchdown Travels Limited Who is the best travel agent in Nigeria? Mayfair Travel Nigeria Limited, Jolie Global Travels and Tours Limited, and Gadeshire Travels and Tours Limited are among the best travel agents in Nigeria. Is it cheaper to travel with agency? Many travel agents do charge their customers any fees because they make money from commissions the hotels and outfitters pay them. Travel agents who charge fees help customers travel in groups and share the costs. Before you book a trip with a travel agent, inquire whether or not they charge fees. People often fall into the hands of fake and incompetent travel agencies. Know genuine travel agencies in Nigeria by doing a background check on any agency you do not trust. The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies is a reliable place to seek information about travel agencies in Nigeria. READ ALSO: What kind of insurance do I need to apply for a visit visa to Canada? Legit.ng also shared insightful details about the insurance you need to apply for a visa to Canada. Visitors entering that country must have at least $100,000 in health insurance coverage. Your health insurance must be issued by a Canadian insurance company, and it should cover you the entire time you are in Canada. Find out details to stay informed. Source: Legit.ng Fathia Balogun is a famous Nigerian actress. She started her illustrious acting career in the early 90s, and she has mostly featured in Yoruba movies. Other than acting, she is also a producer and director. The actress posing for a picture. Photo: @faithiawilliams Source: Instagram As an actress who has graced the screen with impressive acting skills, she has won many people's hearts within and outside Nigeria. The ten facts here will help you understand Fathia Balogun biography. 10 interesting facts you didn't know about Fathia Balogun The Nigerian actress has been active in the entertainment scene since 1978. To put the biography of Fathia Balogun in a nutshell, here are some of the most important facts you need to know. 1. She was born on February 5th, 1969 As the hot Nigerian actress' popularity keeps growing, so does the appetite for more information regarding her life. Questions like what is Fathia Balogun real name, age, descent, and much more keep popping up. How old is Fathia Balogun? Fathia Balogun age has attracted many people's attention, considering that some sources claim she was born on December 5th, 1969. However, this not true. The celebrated actress was born on February 5th, 1969, in Ukwara, Water Side Local Government in Delta State. Therefore, Fathia Balogun real age is 52 years as of 2021. 2. Her birth name is Fathia Akorede Adunni Williams What is Fathia Balogun real name? The Nigerian actress adopted the name Balogun from her ex-husband. Her birth name is Fathia Akorede Adunni Williams, and she is the daughter of Talayo Abeni Teniola (mother) and Mr. Williams. Her siblings are Charles, Ken, Anderson, Stella, and Arike Josephine. 3. Fathia Balogun has a degree in Economics The veteran actress has made a name for herself, thanks to her impressive acting skills. She is also a hardworking woman, and this is clear from her educational background. Actress Fathia Balogun touching a framed picture on the wall. Photo: @Fathia Balogun Source: Facebook Having been brought up alongside her siblings in Ikeja, she got a lot of her early education there. She began school at Olufunmila Nursery School and later joined Maryland Primary School in Maryland. Fathia then attended Maryland Comprehensive High School, and upon obtaining the West African School Certificate, she joined Kwara State Polytechnic. She did her Bachelors degree in Economics from Lagos State University. 4. She is an award-winning Nollywood actress, producer, and director Fathia's face is not new in the Nollywood industry. She has acted in, produced, and directed several movies. Her determination and fantastic skills have paid off, as she has won multiple awards and nominations. The Nollywood actress disclosed that acting was never part of her dream, saying she wanted to be a broadcaster, even though her father wanted her to be an accountant. She began acting in the early 1990s and has been featured in several Yoruba speaking movies. In 2015, she appeared in Awawu alongside actors Muyiwa Ademola. Sade Olona produced the top-selling movie. Here is the list of the films she has featured in. Farayola in 2009 in 2009 Aje meta (1 and 2) in 2008 in 2008 Teni Teka in 2015 in 2015 Omo Ale in 2015 in 2015 Agbelebu Mi in 2016 in 2016 Basira Badia in 2016 in 2016 Adakeja in 2016 in 2016 Eku Eda in 2016 in 2016 My Woman in 2018 Throughout her illustrious career, she has managed to bag the following awards. In 2008, she won two awards: the Most Outstanding Actress Indigenous and Best Indigenous Film Of The Year at the Africa Movie Academy Award . and at the . In 2014, she was awarded the Best Actress Of The Year during the Africa Movie Academy Award . during the . In 2015, she won the Best Indigenous Language: Yoruba award during the Africa-Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA). 5. She was married to Saheed Balogun Is Fathia Balogun married? She is currently not married. However, she was married to her Nollywood counterpart Saheed Balogun. The actress and her ex-husband, Saheed. Photo: @Fathia Balogun Nollywood Source: Facebook Saheed is a veteran Nigerian actor, film-maker, director, and producer. He is popularly known for his impressive roles in Yoruba films such as Modupe Temi, Gbogbo Ere, and Ofin mose. He has been active in showbiz since 1978. The couple got married on September 7th, 2000. Saheed and Fathia Balogun wedding took place at the Ikorodu Marriage Registry in Lagos. They divorced in 2014, and in November 2017, she reverted to her maiden name, Williams, after their divorce was finalized. 6. Fathia Balogun and her ex-husband are good friends Even though they had a strained relationship during their marriage, they have settled their differences and are good friends. They even featured together in the 2019 Yoruba film Aje Oja, one of the most popular Yoruba films. The other big names in the film include Taiwo Ogogo Hassan, Peggy Ovire, Muyiwa Ademola, Jaiye Kuti, Mr. Latin, Eniola Badmus, and Nkechi Blessing. 7. She is a mother of two The Nigerian actress is a proud mother of two. Her marriage to Saheed brought forth these two kids. Fathia Balogun children are Khalid Balogun and Aaliyah Balogun. Khalid is a replica of his mother, while Aliya looks so much like her father. The actress is known to keep her private life and children from the public eye. Therefore, not much about them is available on the internet. The actress addressing an audience. Photo: @Fathia Balogun Source: Facebook How old is Fathia Balogun first child? Aaliyah is the actress's first child with Saheed. She was born on April 6th, 2001. As of 2021, Fathia Balogun daughter is 19 years. Who is Fathia Balogun new husband? Unlike her ex-husband, the actress has remained single since her divorce in 2014. Her ex-husband moved on and married Funke Elegushi. 8. Fathia Balogun net worth is $400 000 What is Fathia Balogun net worth? The Nigerian actress has made a significant amount of money from her acting career. She is one of the richest Yoruba actresses in Nigeria. Besides acting, she is a producer and director. As a result of her popularity, she has landed endorsement deals from leading brands in Nigerian. This stream has contributed to her overall net worth. She was also a general receptionist at Chips Bit & Bit, a Computer Company on Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos back then, and she was earning N5,000 per month. 9. She is a private woman Unlike most celebrities, Fathia is a private woman. She has maintained a high degree of privacy regarding some aspects of her life. She has not disclosed enough information about her parents. Equally, a little about her children is available. As to whether she is active on social media. She is on various social media platforms. There are numerous accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram baring her name. Some of them have an incredible following. However, since they are not verified, you cannot conclude that they belong to her. She is available on Instagram (@faithiawilliams) with 2.2 million followers. 10. She is the proud owner of a beauty and wine shop named House of Faiteer Away from the entertainment scene, the Nigerian actress is an entrepreneur and a philanthropist. Her business is located in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The business has varieties of human hair, hair extensions, wines, spirits, and others. She is also involved in charity works through her NGO dubbed Faithia$ I. She founded this NGO, whose goal is to support underprivileged children financially and morally. Fathia Balogun is a popular actress who has played roles in many top Nollywood films. Her hardwork has gotten her to where she is now, and there is no telling how much she is yet to achieve. READ ALSO: Biodun Okeowo biography: age, husband, daughter, net worth, house Legit.ng recently published an article on the biography of Biodun Okeowo. Biodun is a popular Nigerian actress. She came into the limelight for her impressive roles in Yoruba films such as Okanjua and Alapo Aje. Since then, she has become an established actress and has landed numerous acting roles. The actress has graced our screens for a while now and has attracted the attention of numerous fans across Africa and beyond. However, away from the screens, most people do not know her. Here is her biography to give an insight into who she is. Source: Legit.ng - Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said he had no political disagreement with the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi - Jonathan rather claimed that Amaechi had a running battle with his wife - He said he tried to resolve the issue but to no avail Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said he had no political disagreement with the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. Jonathan rather claimed that Amaechi had a running battle with his wife, which he said he tried to resolve the issue but to no avail. This was contained in a book titled, Against the Run of Play, written by the Chairman, Editorial Board of ThisDay, Olusegun Adeniyi. Jonathan told me that Amaechis problem was not with him but rather with his wife and that, at a point, he tried to reconcile them, Adeniyi wrote in the book. Former President Goodluck Jonathan said he never had any political disagreement with Amaechi READ ALSO: Jonathans kinsmen call on ex-president to make more revelations Reacting to Jonathan's claims, Amaechi admitted that he was at loggerheads with the former president's wife, but added that he Jonathan was not saying the whole truth. He said there were also disagreements between him and Jonathan, during the latters era as the President. The former governor of Rivers state attributed the cause of his disagreement with Jonathan to illegal and excess deduction from the federation account by the former president. His words: I could not surrender my mandate to a woman (Patience) in Abuja, even if such a person was the wife of the presidentthat basically was my sin with Dame Patience Jonathan. If in one year, you took about N300bn from the federation account to pay for subsidy and the next year, you are taking almost N2tn for the same thing when fundamentals had not changed, then serious questions should be asked. And as NGF (Nigerian Governors Forum) chairman, it was my responsibility to ask those questions and Jonathan took them personal. Jonathan and Amaechi never called each out during the tenure of the former president READ ALSO: Senate Leader speaks on closed-door meeting with President Buhari at Aso Rock Meanwhile, Amaechi recently claimed that Jonathan admitted he failed the people of Niger Delta after six years in power. The minister stated that he believes dialogue with President Muhammadu Buharis administration will be the best way to address the unfairness dished out to the region over the years. Speaking in an interview on Channels TV, Amaechi wondered why ex-president Jonathan did nothing for Niger Delta in his two years as vice president and six years as president. Watch the Legit.ng video below where a Nigerian hailed Jonathan for his performance in office Source: Legit.ng One of the goals of the Mattoon Chamber of Commerce is to keep our members informed of legislative issues that affect their business operations. As Executive Director, I spent Wednesday in Springfield at a conference entitled "Employer Action Day", sponsored by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. The Mattoon Chamber partners with the Illinois Chamber when we need to support our members with legislation that has a detrimental or beneficial effect on their businesses. Employer Action Day gives chamber members the opportunity to meet and talk with our state's legislative leaders. Katrina Butler, the President of the Board of Directors, our legislative volunteer, and I attended this year's event where Governor Bruce Rauner was the keynote speaker. We also had a few other Mattoon Chamber members in the audience who wanted the opportunity to hear directly from the leaders of our state government and other Illinois agencies. Rauner discussed how he is trying to change our state to become more business friendly. He used General Electric as an example of a multi-billion dollar company who decided not to relocate its corporate headquarters to Illinois because he was unable to promise no new business tax hikes in our State. Rauner also cited some interesting statistics that he hopes to change in the rest of his time in office. He said Illinois has the same number of jobs as we did 17 years ago. He further stated that even though we have had zero job growth in 17 years, government spending in Illinois has increased 66 percent in the same time frame. He also mentioned that Illinois has nearly twice the number of regulations on businesses than many of the other states. He emphasized that things have to change at the state government level if we ever want to improve the Illinois economy, keep existing businesses and attract new businesses to Illinois. We also heard presentations from Barbara Flynn Currie, Illinois House of Representatives Majority Leader, and Dr. Beth Purvis, Illinois Secretary of Education. They are working hard to improve education funding and programs that directly relates to gainful employment. They are working on other state models that give students the opportunity to focus their education in the most desired fields of study that will help them become better prepared for employment. The Illinois Chamber also discussed many proposed Illinois House bills that they determined would be job crushers. One example of a proposed legislative bill would increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour statewide. They believe this would create a huge burden for retail and other service employers who would either have to raise prices for their goods and services or cut back on important entry level positions for younger individuals seeking their first employment experience. The Mattoon Chamber continually provides legislative updates that affect member businesses. Our members will receive more details from this and other information coming out of Springfield and Washington D.C. to help them succeed and stay informed. - The Nigeria Police accuse Senator Danjuma Goje of ignoring its invitation - The police warn that Goje would be arrested should he continue to shun police invitation on the grounds that nobody is above arrest - The police have returned the documents it seized from the home of Senator Goje The Nigerian Police has told the lawmaker representing Gombe-central senatorial district, Senator Danjuma Goje, to honour its invitation or risk arrest. READ ALSO: I did not snub Ooni of Ife - Oba Akiolu FINALLY reveals what truly happened The police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, issued the warning on Thursday, April 27, during a breakfast television show titled, Sunrise Daily on Channels TV. He said: On the day the house was searched, a call was put through to him (Goje) by Ango Usman, who is the housekeeper, confirming to him the presence of the police team. He (Goje) said he was coming on that day but he switched off his phone afterwards. The Nigeria Police say Goje would be arrested should he continue to shun police invitation. Source: Depositphotos The following day, which was a Friday, one Nura got in touch with the police investigator and said they were coming on Friday with their lawyers to the police headquarters to meet with the investigators but they never did. Later, they called that they would come on Monday but they never did. So, I am using this opportunity to equally call on him to appear before the investigation panel because the investigation is still ongoing into all the recovery that was made in his house and it is important that nobody be allowed to cast aspersion on the investigation of police to pervert the course of justice. READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: Friend exposes dirty secrets about Stephanie Otobo in Canada - Why Apostle Suleman 'paid' her (video) Moshood noted that Goje would be arrested should he continue to shun police invitation on the grounds that nobody is above arrest. "We will definitely do so and it is important for him to know that on time and appear before the police investigation team handling the matter. Meanwhile, the Legit.ng reports that the Nigeria Police Force has returned the documents that it seized from the home of Senator Danjuma Goje. Legit.ng recalls that police stormed Goje's home around 5:00 p.m and ransacked the compound the for hours Reports said that at least 12 vehicles, including about eight police vans were stationed outside the building and at least 25 mobile police officers were sighted outside the building, located on Haile Selassie Street, Asoroko. The Punch says Police returned the documents on Thursday, April 27, after the National Assembly directed the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris to return them. Earlier, the police released a full list of all the things that it confiscated from Senator Goje's residence. Police spokesperson Jimoh Moshood, who signed the statement, also said that the force did not take any 2017 budget proposal documents as claimed by the senator. In the video below, Legit.ng asks some Nigerians if they support the "death penalty" as a punishment for looters who are found guilty. Watch. Source: Legit.ng - The lawyer to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu has said that the federal government is not ready for trial - Ifeanyi Ejiofor said the federal government has not concrete case against his client - Ejiofor made the said this after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja granted Kanu bail The lawyer to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu has said that the federal government is not ready to try his client. Speaking to Legit.ng, Ifeanyi Ejiofor said all evidence before the court shows that the Nigerian government has nothing concrete against Kanu. Ejiofor said: "Of all the charges left against Nnamdi Kanu, there is no substantive evidence before the court on them." He said the charge are all watery and the federal government are not ready for the trial. READ ALSO: You won't believe this 37-year-old woman gave birth to 38 children (photos) Recall that the IPOB leader was granted bail by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Nyako in her ruling ordered Kanu to make available three sureties with a bail bond of N100 million each. The IPOB leader is also expected not to grant any press interview or appear in a gathering of more that 10 people when he is released. Kanu's lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor said the federal government has not concrete case against his client READ ALSO: I'll remove my suit and beat you up - Nnamdi Kanu's lawyer fights a policeman in court (Video) Meanwhile, many Nigerians including the IPOB and the senior lawyers have condemned the conditions listed by the court. They argued that the conditions are stringent and goes contrary to the purpose of granting an accused person bail as provided by the Constitution. Watch this Legit.ng video of Nnamdi Kanu in court below: Source: Legit.ng CHAMPAIGN -- Jason Metzelaars of Mattoon graduated from the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) Basic Firefighter Academy. Metzelaars will serve on the Mattoon Fire Department. He participated in a ceremony conducted April 14 at the Institutes Champaign campus. There were 33 participants from fire departments across Illinois who successfully completed the training. Metzelaars is the fourth generation in a family of firefighters and police officers. His grandfather, Lawrence, served as Mattoons fire chief. The Basic Firefighter / NFPA Firefighter 1 Academy is a six-week training course. The course is designed to prepare firefighters to develop skills and knowledge necessary for entry-level personnel to become functioning members of a fire company. The course teaches firefighters basic firefighting skills for single-family dwellings and commercial buildings, as well as rescue techniques. This program uses realistic live-fire evolutions to encourage students to master basic skills, work safely, and efficiently on the fireground. Students participate in live fire evolutions, train in real-life scenarios, and learn proper use of fire fighting and rescue equipment. They are also introduced to size-up, search techniques and the responsibilities of engine and truck companies. Basic Firefighter Academy is offered by IFSI to assist fire departments in meeting the requirements of the Division of Personnel Standards and Education, Office of the State Fire Marshal. The Basic Firefighter Operations course is also available online through IFSI. The Illinois Fire Service Institute is the statutory fire academy for the state of Illinois. In addition to training provided at the Champaign campus, the Institute offers online classes and conducts training throughout the state at Regional Training Centers and local fire stations. The mission of the Illinois Fire Service Institute is to help firefighters do their work through training, education, information and research. For more information about the institute, call 217-333-3800. - Former President Goodluck Jonathan said the media is not abiding by the ethics of reporting as it did not question President Muhammadu Buharis failure to declare his asset - Special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina however argued that the administration of President Buhari is not fighting against Goodluck Jonathan. Former President Jonathan has come out openly to lambast some Nigerians that accused him of corruption. Jonathan said its unfortunate that those who are judging other people failed to examine themselves first. Jonathan noted that those who leveled allegation of corruption against other people must be tested before they could be trusted. Nigerian Tribune reports that Jonathans failure to declare his asset was allegedly the reason why he was accused of corruption. Presidency through Femi Adesina reacts to the Goodluck Jonathan's statement READ ALSO: This was why you were defeated in 2015 - US replies Goodluck Jonathan I remember I told the late President Yar Adua that it was wrong to declare our assets publicly and I explained why. I told him that the drafters of the law knew what they were doing when they wrote the provisions the way they did, such that assets of public officials have to include that of their spouses. Imagine a businessman whose wife was invited into government and she has to declare (hers and husbands) assets publicly. I told him that what the law required was to declare and those who have questions can then apply the same law to find out, Jonathan was quoted to have said. He said the media is not abiding by the ethics of reporting. He added that he did not see any reason why it should not question President Muhammadu Buharis failure to declare his asset as he had promised before he became a president. By the virtue of being President of Nigeria, I have come to know so many things about so many people. Some of the most corrupt Nigerians are the ones who speak most loudly about corruption. Once you have access to the media in Nigeria, you have the liberty to accuse others of corruption regardless of what you are doing, he said. This was revealed in a book titled Against the Run of Play. READ ALSO: Senator Girei blasts Goodluck Jonathan Meanwhile, the presidency has reacted to former president Goodluck Jonathan's allegations that the administration of President Buhari is after him and his family. The presidency made this reaction through the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, in Abuja, on Wednesday, April 26. Adesina said this current administration does not have any agenda against anybody. The statement read: The Presidency is constrained to respond to the banner headline story in a national newspaper of Wednesday, April 26, entitled: Buharis govt harassing my family, says Jonathan. The former president also reportedly disagreed with the style being used by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in fighting corruption. We make bold to state unequivocally that President Buhari harasses nobody; he merely allows the law to take its course. For the umpteenth time, we say that anybody without the skeleton in his or her cupboard has nothing to fear about the fangs of the anti-corruption initiative. Fear belongs only to those who have abused trust while in office. Anybody who feels aggrieved is free to approach the courts to seek redress or justice. President Buhari believes in the rule of law and that is why his campaign against corruption is anchored on that plank. With regard to President Buharis anti-graft style, which the former president deprecates, given the scale of revelations and recoveries so far by the anti-corruption agencies, it is obvious that corruption had an uninhibited course during our recent past." Recall that Legit.ng reported that Professor Attahiru Jega responded to Goodluck Jonathans statement that the 2015 general election was flawed due to the different votes recorded in the election. Jonathan had said that he was disappointed in Professor Jega who was the then chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the way the election went. Watch this Legit.ng TV video of a Nigerian on the street saying categorically that ex-president Goodluck Jonathan was never a bad choice for Nigeria. Source: Legit.ng - A Jewish Rabbi, Chief Immanuel Shalum Okabemadu, has arrived Abuja alongside other sureties to perfect Nnamdi Kanus bail condition - A source within the Kanu's family say the Jewish religious leader was flown into Abuja from Port Harcourt on Wednesday, April 26 A Jewish Rabbi has been flown in from Port Harcourt to perfect the bail condition of the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu. Legit.ng learnt that the Rabbi whose name is Chief Immanuel Shalum Okabemadu, came along with his secretary, Chief (Mrs) Victoria Nnaji. READ ALSO: IPOB lawyer fights with a police man in court Speaking to Legit.ng, a source within the Kanu's family said the Jewish religious leader was flown into Abuja from Port Harcourt on Wednesday, April 26. The Jewish Rabbi in red hat, among other sureties who came to perfect Nnamdi Kanus bail condition. The Rabbi alongside other sureties as ordered by the court are working towards perfecting the bail condition slammed on the IPOB leader. The source said: "The Rabbi is already here, all other conditions have been met, everything will be concluded shortly and by the help of God Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be out." When Legit.ng asked the Jewish leader why he decided to stand in for the IPOB leader as surety, he said: "No comment for now." READ ALSO: Jonathan denies having any political disagreement with Amaechi It was also confirmed that Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) on Friday, April 28, signed the 100m bail bond of Nnamdi Kanu, while another Nigerian businessman was also standing by with his bail bond requirement. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe signing the 100m bail bond of Nnamdi Kanu. Legit.ng recalls that Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered that Kanu provide among many others three surties - a serving Senator, a Jewish religious leader and traditional leader from the South-East. The sureties, the court said will also make available N100 million bail bond each and a landed property in Abuja. As part of his bail conditions, Kanu was also ordered never to grant any press interview pending the outcome of his trial. The court also ordered that he will not be in a gathering of more than 10 persons. The judge on presiding over the matter, Justice Binta Nyako, said Kanu's bail will be revoked if any of the orders are flouted. In the Legit.ng video below, watch reactions that trailed the bail condition granted to Nnamdi Kanu in court on April 25. Source: Legit.ng - China has banned Islamic names - Muhammad, Jihad and Islam are among at least 29 names now banned - If a parent chooses one of the barred names, the child will be denied government benefits Authorities in western China are prohibiting parents from naming their children Islamic names in the latest effort to dilute the influence of religion on life in the ethnic Uighur minority heartland. Muhammad, Jihad and Islam are among at least 29 names now banned in the heavily Muslim region, according to a list distributed by overseas Uighur activists. If a parent chooses one of the barred names, the child will be denied government benefits, Fox reports. If a parent chooses one of the barred names, the child will be denied government benefits READ ALSO: Exclusive: Jewish Rabi arrives for Nnamdi Kanu's bail The names listed on the government document disseminated by Uighur groups include several related to historic religious or political figures and some place names. Imam, Hajj, Turknaz, Azhar and Wahhab are on the list, as are Saddam, Arafat, Medina and Cairo.Judgment calls about which names are deemed to be overly religious will be made by local government officials, according to Radio Free Asia, the U.S.-funded radio service which first reported the naming directive. An official at a county-level public security office said some names were banned because they had a religious background. It is unclear how widespread the ban is or whether it is tightly enforced. The official refused to identify herself, as is common with Chinese officials. The naming restrictions are part of a broader government effort to secularize Xinjiang, which is home to roughly 10 million Uighurs, a Turkic people who mostly follow Sunni Islam. Top officials including Xinjiangs Communist Party chief have publicly said that radical Islamic thought has infiltrated the region from Central Asia, protracting a bloody, years long insurgency that has claimed hundreds of lives. Government-linked scholars and high-ranking officials, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, have urged local governments to better assimilate their Muslim minorities into the majority Han Chinese culture, and many ethnic policy hard-liners have decried a trend of so-called Arabization affecting Chinas 21 million Muslims. READ ALSO: I did not snub Ooni of Ife - Oba Akiolu FINALLY reveals what truly happened Aside from the prohibition on Islamic names, local Xinjiang officials have, at times, strongly discouraged or prohibited Islamic veils, while government-linked commentators have called for bans of mosques with domes or other Middle Eastern architectural styles. Uighur activists and human rights groups say that radical thought had never gained widespread traction, but restrictions on religious expression are fueling a cycle of radicalization and violence. For instance, Mehmet, the widely seen Turkic version of Muhammad, is considered mainstream in Xinjiang and would likely be permitted, RFA reported. Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the overseas World Uighur Congress activist group, called the naming directive a policy bearing a hostile attitude toward Uighurs. Han parents choosing Western names are considered trendy but Uighurs have to accept Chinese regulations or else be accused of being separatists or terrorists, Raxit said. In the video below, Legit.ng highlights the plights of Albinos in Nigeria. Watch the video: Source: Legit.ng Editors note: Onyokoko Nyore Samuel, the Legit.ng partner blogger, explains 8 ways banks can provide watertight security against armed robberies. Samuel is a security consultant, an entrepreneur, a blogger, a poet and a freelance writer. He writes articles on security matters. He can be contacted via email: onyokokosamuel@yahoo.com. More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest bloggers If there is any institution that is prone to attacks on a daily basis is on other than the banking institutions. They deal with money and these monies get to move around frequently. Thankfully, with the cashless economy, the movement of cash has become less frequent. Again, this has not deterred men of the underworld from attacking banking halls and escaping with large sums of monies. Majorities of their branches are located in remote and volatile areas where attacks are inevitable but manageable. In fact, headquarters do not get feedback in time to forestall further attacks which happens again and again. The banks are there to provide a safe haven for peoples monies and ensure proper documentations. When armed robbers keep attacking these banks, customers confident begin to dwindle. This phenomenon is not good for the banking sector. These are salient questions one need to ask and these questions relate to the issues facing the banking institution. Security Agency READ ALSO: Obasanjo confesses, says - I was not aware of Yaradua's illness before making him president How can banks provide effective security networks to deter armed robbers from invading their premises? What are loopholes banks need to fix to alleviate insider collaborations? What are alternative measures put in place to stop robbery attacks where there are security breaches? Why are some banks not making use of security consultants to provide effective and efficient security services to their problems? Are banks doing enough in the area of security monitoring and control? Who are those saddles with the responsibilities of providing proper management of the banks security networks? Are they up and doing? Are the banks utilizing the technological aspect of their security networks? Are the banks engaging the services of the Nigeria police and other paramilitary arms in strengthening their security apparatus? What measures are the banks putting in place to tighten security around their branches in remote areas? These are simple but germane questions that can help banks strengthen their security arms and protect staff and assets. The banking sector needs to come up with blueprints. These blueprints can effectively tackle this societal menace. They need to pump financial resources in their security networks to stand any chance of fighting incessant attacks from desperate criminal elements. Below are tips to provide effective measures against armed robberies. 1. Plant a mole inside the bank The first thing banks need to do if they are serious about fighting incessant attacks in their bank branches is to put somebody as a mole to monitor activities. He may disguise as a staff, a cleaner, or a messenger. It must be someone who can move around and monitor staff activities. The staffers might not suspect a worker of the lowest cadre. The more humble the mole is the better. Staff tends to like and trust a humble staff they can push around. He should report to a security supervisor who is not part of the branch setup. The security supervisor will in turn report to the headquarters. There is no way they will not spot an informant or somebody trying to sabotage the banks effort in profit maximization. This strategy will involve a lot of human and financial resources. The mole will monitor phone calls, official conversations, and grapevines. 2. Do monthly rotations of staffers Do not hesitate to do continuous staffers rotation. Do not allow a staff to spend more than a month in a branch, maximum, two months. This strategy will disrupt any fraudulent plans they might be cooking. Do take them unaware. When staff spend more time in their place of work, they become comfortable and familiar with the banking environment. They become greedy and start hatching sinister plans to either defraud the bank or connive with outsiders to rob the bank. Many times, when a staff is found culpable in fraudulent activities, be aware that he has spent many months or years in that branch. 3. Ban all phone calls during working hours This strategy might seem harsh but if put into use, it will minimize the use of phone calls to commit crimes. When a staff cannot communicate with his collaborators, their plans will be fruitless. At the initial stage, staff might resist the move. They will fall into plans as time goes on. This is one of the effective ways to disrupt insider-outsider collaborators. After a robbery attack occurs, it is certain that a staff member could have made contact with the robbers. The bank staff could have informed them how vulnerable and porous the banking security apparatus was. He could have told them how many mobile police officers are on ground, how many banks security guards are in the premises and the number of CCTV cameras install within and outside the banking hall. Bank robbers depend on informants to feed them with up-to-date security details and loopholes. Their successes can go smoothly or awry depending on the accuracy of the informant. 4. Brief staff on simple security tips The banking staff needs to know some simple security tips to alert management on suspicious activities in and outside the banking hall. I believe some banks are imbibing these attitudes in their staffers. Nevertheless, the banks need to do more in the area of security sensitization. One of such security briefing is what the staff should do when there is an infiltration of armed robbers into the banking hall. Another is to stay alert at all times to spot suspicious activities around the hall. CCTV camera All should imbibe security and safety. Not only the security managers or supervisors should know about security awareness. Security is about collaboration. Security is about teamwork. Those saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the movement of customers and visitors alike should make effective use of CCTVs installed in and outside the banking hall. 5. Build a safety hub in the bank There are times when there is a breach in security. Where do customers and staff members run to hide? Banks should deemphasize a little less on making money and put more resources in the area of securing their staff and asset from attack. I am sure many banks do not have a secure hub or room where people can run to when they come face-to-face with danger. It should be bulletproof resistance to withstand powerful firearms. 6. Work with security agencies to protect your assets Many banks are collaborating with security agencies to secure their banking halls and premises. However, others do not bother to engage their services. The banks security guards do not have the wherewithal to engage these hoodlums in gun battle. Mobile police officers have gone through tough training to defend the populace and banks should engage their services. The amount you pay so that they can protect your bank branches are not more than what you will lose in the end. I think some banks are too money conscious to invest in their capital and human resources. 7. Banks should invest in drones This may come as a surprise to some. Drones are the main thing right now. It can provide aerial view of human and vehicular movements in and outside the banking premises. If the likes of Google, amazon, and the likes are using drones to make their business activities easier, it means the banking sector must purchase and make use of these devices. READ ALSO: Lagos to partner northern state governments to check influx of beggars Drones can take pictures, scan, do life videos, and record. CCTVs are effective but people are moving into other innovative areas. My job as a security consultant is to give banks innovative ways to protect and secure their assets from criminal elements including insider informants. 8. The banks security supervisors should meet every quarterly This is to enable them map out plans to secure their assets from compromise. I do not think banks have this strategy on ground. Base on the slow but ascending rate of suicide attempts in the country, I decided it is best I write something to encourage people going through rough and tough times. I am relieved as I pen down this article. I hope it does the same to you too. Dont forget to like this article on my blog. CHEERS! The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily represent the editorial policy of Legit.ng. Legit.ng welcomes writers, bloggers, photographers and all sorts of noise makers to become a part of our Bloggers network. If you are a seasoned writer or a complete newbie apply and become Nigerias next star blogger. Send us some info about your career, interests and expertise and why youd like to contribute to the Blogger Network at blogger@corp.legit.ng Also, please send us the link to your blog and three examples of your work. More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest bloggers. Watch this Legit.ng video in which the Nigerian Air operation gives an update on operations against Boko Haram in 2017: Source: Legit.ng The revelations in the book titled Against the Run of Play, written by the chairman of Thisday newspapers editorial board, Olusegun Adeniyi are overwhelming. It looks like most of the prominent politicians were just looking for an opportunity to speak their mind about what really happened before, during and after the 2015 elections. Some prominent politicians identified in the book are ex-presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo, national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress Bola Tinubu, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, among others. Speaking at the launch of the book on Friday, April 28, in Victoria Island, Lagos, Adeniyi who was a former presidential spokesperson said he never betrayed the confidence of all the people interviewed in his book. READ ALSO: Igbo elders exchange words over issue of Biafra The book is already generating heated debates due to the controversial statements from the parties interviewed. Most of the statements were about the 2015 general elections. Legit.ng has gathered some of the quotes that are quite revealing. 1. Jonathan claimed that Boko Haram attacks have reduced because because Nigeria is currently being ruled by a president with a Muslim background. I did my best and so did the military, though I can understand if there is greater commitment to the fight now than in the past. In my time, Boko Haram said they were fighting an infidel government. That naturally has to change since they cannot also call Buhari an infidel. There is a feeling of our man is there now that you cannot discountenance. It was the same feeling with me with the Niger Delta militants at the initial stage in 2007." 2. He also claimed that claims he lost the 2015 presidential elections, because of a conspiracy between the USA, Britain and France. President Barack Obama and his officials made it very clear to me by their actions that they wanted a change of government in Nigeria and were ready to do anything to achieve that purpose. They even brought some naval ships into the Gulf of Guinea in the days preceding the election. I got on well with Prime Minister David Cameron but at some point, I noticed that the Americans were putting pressure on him and he had to join them against me. But I didnt realise how far President Obama was prepared to go to remove me until France caved in to the pressure from America." 3. Jonathan accused former PDP national chairman of working against him Take, for instance, the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu. I believe he joined in the conspiracy against me. For reasons best known to him, he helped to sabotage the election in favour of the opposition." 4. Three of Jonathan's aides knelt in front of him and persuaded him to concede defeat to Buhari in 2015 The drama unfolding at the Villa on March 21, 2015, four days after the presidential election, would have profound implications for President Jonathan and the nation he led. Kneeling in front of Jonathan were his Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke; Aviation Minister, Mr Osita Chidoka and the Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Affairs, Mr WarpamoOwei Dudafa. The mission of the three officials was to persuade Jonathan to call and congratulate his opponent, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), even as the final results were still being collated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)." 5. Obasanjo accused Jonathan of using the Boko Haram insurgency to turn Nigeria to his ATM Jonathan and his people turned Boko Haram into an industry for making money. Rather than seek for solution, Boko Haram became an ATM machine for taking money out of the treasury. Take the issue of the Chibok tragedy. If he had acted within the first 48 hours, they would have found most of the girls. The CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) Chairman of the local chapter in Chibok was here to see me and he explained how they were helpless with no reaction from the authorities for several days. 6. Former Rivers state governor and minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi revealed why he fell out with Jonathan. It was as if I was talking the governor of Bayelsa state rather than the president of Nigeria. He made it clear to me that protecting whatever he considered to be in the interest of Bayelsa was more important to him than doing the right thing for all the states in Nigeria including Rivers where he spent most of his life. At that point, I knew there was no way we could work together. 7. On his disagreement with Patience Jonathan he said: His words: I could not surrender my mandate to a woman (Patience) in Abuja, even if such a person was the wife of the presidentthat basically was my sin with Dame Patience Jonathan." READ ALSO: Northern states highly favoured in new SSS recruitment (Full List) 8. The governor of Sokoto state and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, accused Patience of harassing him Venting her anger against him, she said: "You this Hausa boy... you want to bring down the government of my husband; you want to disgrace him out of power? Una no fit! God no go allow you." 9. APC leader Tinubu revealed that Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Senate president, Bukola Saraki, worked against his emergence as vice president. What they (Saraki and others from the PDP) did behind my back was wrong. We always do things as a group. By the time they joined, we were already too far ahead in our processes but we accommodated them. But they went behind to instigate Buhari and some other people in the party against me on the pretext of religion. That was not right. They were canvassing arguments that the Christians in the North would not vote for a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Nasir el-Rufai was also selling the same argument within the CPC (the defunct Congress for Progressive Change) because at that point, he still wanted to have Pastor Bakare brought in as Buharis running mate. 10. A former governor of Niger state and former chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Babangida Aliyu, said Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election because he was not clever. He said: If Jonathan had been clever enough to say he would not run and had stuck with the PDP zoning formula by supporting a young northern candidate, I am most certain Buhari would have shelved his ambition to contest in 2015, knowing there was no way he would win. 11. Former Senate President, David Mark blames Jonathan for losing the 2015 presidential elections, saying he failed to see he was being deceived until it was too late. I could see the conspiracy and the gang-up building up in the north against the aspiration of Jonathan but my voice was drowned out by those who took it for granted that a sitting president, and one from PDP, could not lose. Some people were deceiving the president with the kind of false scenarios they were painting for him. ''The VP could see the conspiracy but I dont know how much influence he had on the campaign. Why Jonathan couldnt see it until it was too late is what I find difficult to understand." 12. Governor Kahim Shettima of Borno state revealed that Jonathan wasn't committed to ending insurgency in the North East. There was a belief around President Jonathan that the whole Boko Haram crisis was orchestrated to undermine him and his administration and because of that, there was no interest in resolving the problem. The man in the Legit.ng video below said Jonathan was never a bad president. Source: Legit.ng - Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima has revealed that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan wasn't committed to ending insurgency in the North East - Shettima lamented that Jonathan was not committed to the efforts to fight Boko Haram - He said Jonathan only initiated one meeting with him concerning the issue Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima has revealed that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan wasn't committed to ending insurgency in the North East. Shettima lamented that Jonathan was not committed to the efforts to fight Boko Haram, adding that the former president only initiated one meeting out of 13 meetings with him concerning the issue Shettima made the revelation in a book titled, Against the Run of Play, written by the chairman, editorial board of Thisday newspapers, Olusegun Adeniyi. Jonathan with Governor Shettima and the Shehu of Borno, during one of his visits to Borno state READ ALSO: REVEALED! The true killer of APC gubernatorial candidate, Abubakar Audu in Kogi state His words: All the others were at my seeking appointments to see him and on some occasions, it took several weeks for such requests to be granted. There was a belief around President Jonathan that the whole Boko Haram crisis was orchestrated to undermine him and his administration and because of that, there was no interest in resolving the problem. The governor alleged that Jonathan marked him for pushing for the meetings and allegedly planned to remove him and the two other governors in the North-East. Shettima said: He particularly wanted to remove me.I heard that his Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, said there was nowhere in the constitution where the president had the power to remove a governor. In fact, I was told that President Jonathan reportedly interjected by asking, How come President Obasanjo removed Governor Joshua Dariye? to which he was reminded that the Dariye aberration had been declared illegal by the Supreme Court. READ ALSO: China bans Allah, Muhammad, other Islamic names File photo of Boko Haram insurgents attacking a community in Borno state Meanwhile, earlier today, April 28, Boko Haram terrorists launched a surprise attack on military officers killing five of them and leaving 40 others injured. AFP reports that the terrorist were believed to be loyal to Abu Musab Al-Barnawi and they attacked a military convoy on clearance operation between Yobe and Borno states. Source: Legit.ng SPRINGFIELD -- The Old State Capitol examines the devastating results that the introduction of innovative weapons had on Civil War soldiers in the latest of its Civil War Saturday events. On April 29, a variety of muskets, pistols and edged weapons will be on display at the historic site from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Perhaps the deadliest development of the Civil War was the combination of the rifled musket and the Minie ball. The rifle was far more accurate than smooth-bore muskets, and the new ammunition was both easy to load and devastating when it hit flesh and bone. Wounds caused by the Minie ball (technically pronounced min-yay but known to most soldiers as minn-ee) are estimated to have taken 100,000 lives during the war. The Old State Capitol served as the seat of Illinois government from 1839 to 1876. Abraham Lincoln served as a legislator there, launched his 1858 Senate campaign there with his famous House Divided speech, and used it as his unofficial transition headquarters after being elected president. The Old State Capitol is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The site is operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. IHPA protects the states historic resources, which contribute to education, culture, and the economy. IHPA sites include ancient burial mounds, forts, buildings erected by settlers, and homes connected to famous Illinoisans. Learn more about IHPA at www.IllinoisHistory.gov, on Twitter, and on Facebook. - Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has declared that Nigeria will boil if President Muhammadu Buhari dies in office - Fani-Kayode said that northerners will unleash mayhem on Nigeria, which will result into heavy bloodbaths - He said if Buhari dies before the end of his tenure there wont be smooth transition of power to the Vice President Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has averred that there will be chaos in the country if President Muhammadu Buhari dies in Aso Rock. According to him, northerners will unleash mayhem on Nigeria, which will result into heavy bloodbaths. READ ALSO: Jonathan denies having any political disagreement with Amaechi Legit.ng gathered that the PDP chieftain was reacting to a recent statement by Minister of Information, Lai Mohammade that the president will now attend to issues from home. Fani, in an article entitled, The ailing president and looming conflagration in Nigeria, called on Nigerians to pray for Buaris health." Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode He wrote: The truth is that we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder in this country and I sincerely hope and pray that the Presidents health improves and some measure of order, predictability, sanity, peace and stability is restored. If this happens we will have the historic opportunity to organise ourselves and vote the APC out in a peaceful election in 2019 but if it does not and Buhari dies before the end of his tenure, no-one in his right mind should expect a smooth transition of power to the Vice President. This is because the cabal and Buharis hard-line supporters and foot soldiers simply despise him and will not allow it to happen. READ ALSO: Check out the list of most indebted states in Nigeria - Number one will surprise you If the President dies whilst on the throne there will be chaos, carnage and destruction on an unprecedented and massive scale in our country because his core northern support- base will unleash mayhem on Nigeria and particularly on southerners and Christians that reside in the north. In the video below, Legit.ng asks Nigerians if they believe the president has taken Nigeria out of recession. Here are their responses, watch it: Source: Legit.ng Nigeria's deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, has joined the Port Harcourt Jewish Rabbi to perfect the bail condition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. Alongside Ekweremadu is Senator Enyainnaya Abaraibe. Legit.ng learnt the senators had followed the process of perfecting Kanu's bail from the onset. READ ALSO: Jonathan denies having any political disagreement with Amaechi The court had earlier ordered that three sureties, including a serving senator and a Jewish religious leader, will provide N100 million and a landed property in Abuja. The sureties Legit.ng also gathered first certified some papers at the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) before heading to the court. With the ongoing process, a source said it is certain the IPOB leader will be released from Kuje Prison today, April 28. Legit.ng recalls that as part of his bail conditions, Kanu was also ordered never to grant any press interview pending the outcome of his trial. READ ALSO: Don't blame the south for lack of development in your zones Atiku to Northerners The court also ordered that he will not be in a gathering of more than 10 persons. The judge on presiding over the matter, Justice Binta Nyako, said Kanu's bail will be revoked if any of the orders are flouted. The sureties, the court said will also make available N100 million bail bond each and a landed property in Abuja. In the Legit.ng video below, watch the jubilation that trailed the bail granted to Nnamdi Kanu in court on April 25. Source: Legit.ng - Four police officers have been detained for their involvement in the death of a top politician in Delta state - The politician, Lucky Ayomanor, was whisked to the police station in Sapele at 9pm on Wednesday - Autopsy and investigation are both ongoing to unravel the mystery concerning the death of the politician Following the death of the Sapele politician who was allegedly murdered by police officers, four mobile police officers have been arrested and detained pending investigation to prove their culpability in the death of the politician, Chief Lucky Ayomanor. Ayomanor was arrested on Wednesday night by police in Sapele when he was discovered to have hidden a revolver in his Volvo jeep and was whisked to the police station where police said he slumped and was rushed to the hospital and died on Wednesday night. Emerging facts from sources within Sapele community indicate that tension is brewing in the area as youths are sharpening their teeth to take vengeance on the police for allegedly killing a prominent politician in the ancient city. The source within the Sapele told Legit.ng that all Okpe people are holding meeting now over the matter as the late politician was a great man in the area. Four police officers detained for allegedly killing politician in Delta Legit.ng learnt that following the discovery that the deceased was a prominent son of the soil, the Divisional Police Officer in Sapele had to arrest the four officers who are allegedly involved in the death of Ayomanor and drove them to the state police command in Asaba, the Delta state capital. READ ALSO: Tension in Delta as man slumps in police custody and dies in hospital The source said: Immediately the DPO discovered that the man is a prominent man and seeing the circumstances surrounding the death he had to arrest them and sent them to Asaba. There is tension right now in Sapele. Community leaders are holding meeting over the matter. But we are hearing that the police that killed the man are not the regular police in Sapele but mobile police on special duty to the area. The issue is very dicey as there are underground reasons behind the murder of the politician in Sapele. The state police public relations officer, Andrew Ani Amaka, confirmed the arrest and detention of the four mobile police officers but added that the detention was not a confirmation that they were found guilty by the police authorities. According to him: Like In told you yesterday, Ayomanor was accosted on the way and it was found on him that he was carrying a revolver loaded with cartridges. Of course, the need arose to take him to the station. READ ALSO: Jonathan denies having any political disagreement with Amaechi He was driving himself, it was discovered that he wasnt okay. Right then, it was found that life was ebbing out of him and he needed to be taken to the hospital. So, that that is the situation. That there was arrest, yes, but that is not to say they have been found guilty. They were arrested because there is need to keep them. You know autopsy is being conducted and we do not want to prejudge matters. Meanwhile in this Legit.ng video, Nigerian are reacting on what should be done to looters. Watch the video Source: Legit.ng - Three sureties, including a Jewish Rabbi and Senator Enyinnaya Abaraibe, vouch to stand-in and ensure the IPOB appears for trial at all times - Members of Nnamdi Kanu's family, his lawyers and sureties are currently heading to Kuje Prison to pick him up after all the conditions given to the IPOB leader for his bail was met A Federal High Court judge has signed the bail papers for the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. Legit.ng learnt that Justice Nyako signed the papers on Friday afternoon, April 28, after all the conditions given to the IPOB leader for his bail was met. READ ALSO: IPOB lawyer fights with a police man in court Three sureties including a Jewish Rabbi and Senator Enyinnaya Abaraibe, vouched to stand in and ensure the IPOB appears for trial at all times. Members of Nnamdi Kanu's family, his lawyers and sureties are currently heading to Kuje Prison to pick him up. The group in a convoy of over 10 cars, left the Federal High Court in Abuja after the bail conditions were perfected. READ ALSO: I did not snub Ooni of Ife - Oba Akiolu FINALLY reveals what truly happened Legit.ng had earlier reported that a Jewish Rabbi had been flown in from Port Harcourt to perfect the bail condition of the IPOB leader. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) also signed the 100m bail bond of Nnamdi Kanu, while another Nigerian businessman was also standing by with his bail bond requirement. The deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, was also involved in the process of perfecting Kanu's bail. The Legit.ng video below captures the jubilation that trailed Kanu's bail: Source: Legit.ng Rummage and bake sale scheduled EFFINGHAM -- The First Presbyterian Church, 600 W. Temple, plans a Rummage/Bake Sale from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. today, and from 8-11 a.m. Saturday. For more information, visit www.effinghampresbyterian.com/ or call 217-342-6272. Evening of worship music, ice cream social, scheduled MATTOON -- The Spring to Life: Worship Music and Ice Cream Social will be held from 6-8 tonight at Grace Fellowship Church, 2220 Western Ave. Join them for a night of worship music performed by Grace Fellowship's praise band, In His Grace. They will be having an ice cream social as well; all are welcome. For more information, contact gracefellowshipmattoon@gmail.com or 217-234-6064. Holy Hands ministry to perform DEER CREEK -- Holy Hands Puppet and Drama Ministry will perform a Faight and Fun Circus show starting at 11 a.m. Sunday at Deer Creek Baptist Church in Deer Creek. Holy Hands performs puppet shows throughout Central Illinois to support missions. For more information or to book a show, call 217-348-5827. Women Who Lead discussion to be held SULLIVAN -- "Propel: Women Who Lead," will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Vineyard Church, 1805 S. Hamilton. The focus is building new friendships and discussing hot topics working women face creating healthy home/work environments. For more details, call 217-728-4574 or email carolyn.yoder@thevineyardchurch.us Christians Praying For Charleston event set CHARLESTON -- The 66th Annual National Observance of the National Day of Prayer will be at noon Tuesday at the northwest corner of courthouse square, around the flagpole to pray for America, government, city, state and local law enforcement at all levels, schools from pre-School through EIU -- public, private, Christian and home schooling, Illinois National Guard, all branches of Federal Military, and churches that stand for God's principles. First Southern Baptist to hold financial classes MATTOON -- The First Southern Baptist Church will host nine weeks of classes on Dave Ramseys Financial Peace University on film. The classes will begin at 7 p.m. May 8 and run for eight consecutive weeks. Ramsey is an American businessman, author, radio host, television personality, and motivational speaker. His syndicated radio program, The Dave Ramsey Show, is heard on more than 500 radio stations throughout the United States and Canada Ramsey and his teaching team will walk viewers through the basics of budgeting, dumping debt, planning for the future and much more. Through his teaching, millions of Americans have learned how to become debt free and how to remain debt free. - Nnamdi Kanu's sister expressed joy over the imminent release of her brother - She said she can't wait to hug and back him - He was granted bail of justice Binta Nyako on medical grounds Following the recent bail granted the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, expectations and hope have risen among his family members, friends and associates. One of the sisters of the IPOB leader who spoke exclusively to Legit.ng Tonia Kanu said she is full of joy over her brothers homecoming. READ ALSO: Four police officers detained for allegedly killing politician in Delta Tonia said: He, all us have suffered for the past one year plus, he was arrested and locked up. I cant wait to hug him, kiss him, back him on my back, Tonia said. Another relative who spoke to Legit.ng Chika Ohams said today is a special day for him. Ohams who is popularly addressed as Kanus ' personal person said: Its a special day and a dream come true for all of us, its a day that evil never be forgotten by all and sundry. He however, said he does not want to believe that the Federal Government will make any attempt to flout this particular order if the court over Kanus release. He said: No, I dont think that is possible anymore, I want to believe we have passed that era. Kanu was granted bail by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, April 25. READ ALSO: Nigerian prophetess calls Apostle Suleman a fake pastor (Video) Nyako ordered that Kanu produce the sureties among whom must be a serving senator, a religious leader of the Jewish religion and a traditional ruler from the South-East region of Nigeria. His bail was finally signed a few minutes ago after all conditions were met by the IPOB leader. Legit.ng reported that a Jewish Rabbi was flown in from Port Harcourt as part of the bail condition. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) also signed the 100m bail bond of Nnamdi Kanu, while another Nigerian businessman was also standing by with his bail bond requirement. Source: Legit.ng - The Defence Headquarters has reassured Nigerians that there is no resurgence of insurgency in the North East - Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, the Director Defence Information, gave the reassurance in spite of pockets of attacks and suicide bombings in Borno state - Enenche said that the military had re-strategised to deal with those attacks The Defence Headquarters has reassured Nigerians that there is no resurgence of insurgency in the North East, particularly in Borno in spite of pockets of attacks and bombings in the state. Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, the Director Defence Information, gave the assurance on Friday at the monthly update on security situation nationwide. Enenche said that the military, particularly the Nigerian army had re-strategised to deal with those attacks. READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu perfects bail conditions The general public has a feeling which I have been made to understand that there seems to be like there is resurgence of the Boko haram activities in the North East, particularly in Borno State. I stand here this morning to tell you categorically that it is not true. Let me also remind you that the Boko Haram groups, I called them groups because it is not one. They vary in their characteristics and behaviour. They are not professional, they do not know what we armed forces of Nigeria, know, he said. According to Enenche, the new tactics being adopted by the military is to enable the troops to clear remnants of the insurgents. It is not that we have become docile or dormant, no. The apprehension from the public is becoming much from the dossier I get, but I am assuring them that the new tactics adopted by the military in eliminating the terrorists is working, he said. The defence spokesman said some of the terrorists were willingly giving up themselves, but vowed that the die-hard among them would sooner than later meet their waterloo. From those, who are surrendering, we are having a good level of cooperation from them. A good number of them are surrendering; they are interested in the `Operation Safe Corridor, the measure put in place by the Defence Headquarters for those who are ready to repent, he added. Enenche said that repentant terrorists, who took advantage of that window would be demobilised, disarmed and re-integrated into the society through targeted operated training. He said that while the Nigerian Air Force had injected new platforms to enhance their capability in night operation, the Navy was on top of the situation in the Lake Chad region. According to him, threats in that region have been drastically reduced. He said that the other various operations being conducted by the military across the country in checking criminality were yielding desired results. The operations include `Harbin Kunama II in the North West, Safe Haven in North Central, Delta Safe in the Niger Delta and Awase in the South West. On removal of mines from the North East, Enenche said following the call by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the United Nations had indicated willingness to assist the country. And the promise from the body is very encouraging for the whole of that area to be demined. Of course, from other sectors of those involved in this initiative, you will discover that the area has been seriously mined. So, it is not easy for the people, IDPs to return to their homes and farms, but that effort is on. The Nigerian army engineers are there within the available resources to do their best. But the moment we get the required support from the international community, I tell you the exercise is going to be accelerated, he said. READ ALSO: Pound gains as Naira stays firm against Dollar at black market Buratai had told newsmen in Maiduguri that the army was only doing a limited demining of the area and that large scale removal of mines would require the assistance of the UN and other relevant bodies. Watch this emotional Legit.ng TV video of child survivors of Boko Haram attacks telling their stories. Source: Legit.ng Legit.ng can authoritatively report that there were unusual tension and security presence at Kuje prison as Nnamdi Kanu was released today after almost two years in detention. This follows Legit.ng's earlier report that three sureties, including a Jewish Rabbi and Senator Enyinnaya Abaraibe, vouch to stand-in and ensure the IPOB appears for trial at all times There was an unusual security presence at the Kuje Prison during the release of the leader of the IPOB Nnamdi Kanu. Several security operatives from the military, prison and some on plain clothes were seen littered around the prison facility. Nnamdi Kanu leaving the prison today Friday, April 28 READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu perfects bail conditions The operatives who are armed to the teeth were seen condoning visitors at the entrance of the prison under heavy rain. Meanwhile, only Kanu's brother and his lawyer were allowed into the main facility to present papers to the prison's in charge for his release. Recall that Legit.ng earlier reported a Federal High Court judge has signed the bail papers for the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. Legit.ng also learnt that Justice Nyako signed the papers on Friday afternoon, April 28, after all the conditions given to the IPOB leader for his bail was met. READ ALSO: BREAKING: President Buhari absent at Juma'at prayer in Aso Villa Three sureties including a Jewish Rabbi and Senator Enyinnaya Abaraibe, vouched to stand in and ensure the IPOB appears for trial at all times. Members of Nnamdi Kanu's family, his lawyers and sureties are currently heading to Kuje Prison to pick him up. The group in a convoy of over 10 cars, left the Federal High Court in Abuja after the bail conditions were perfected. The Legit.ng video below captures the jubilation that trailed Kanu's bail: Source: Legit.ng - Kanu was freed after meeting his bail conditions which IPOB and family members said was too stringent - Senators Ekweremadu and Abaribe played a major role in perfecting Kanu's bail conditions - Kanu also got help from a Jewish Rabbi from Port Harcourt, Rivers state - For more reports on pro-Biafra agitation and Nnamdi Kanu's bail, please visit: https://www.legit.ng/tag/1420-biafra.html Pro-Biafra agitator and leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has been freed from Kuje prison after meeting his bail conditions on Friday, April 28. He was driven out of the detention facility by former aviation minister Osita Chidoka. Former minister Osita Chidoka driving Nnamdi Kanu out of Kuje Prison. Legit.ng had earlier reported that a Federal High Court judge had signed the bail papers for the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. Legit.ng learnt that Justice Nyako signed the papers on Friday afternoon, April 28, after all the conditions given to the IPOB leader for his bail was met. READ ALSO: President Buhari absent at Juma'at prayer in Aso VillaPresident Buhari absent at Juma'at prayer in Aso Villa Three sureties including a Jewish Rabbi and Senator Enyinnaya Abaraibe, vouched to stand in and ensure the IPOB appears for trial at all times. There were unusual tension and security presence at Kuje prison as Nnamdi Kanu was released today after almost two years in detention. There was heavy security presence as Kuje prisons prepared for Kanu's release on Friday, April 28 Several security operatives from the military, prison and some on plain clothes were seen littered around the prison facility. Deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu earlier today joined the Port Harcourt Jewish Rabbi to perfect the bail condition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. READ ALSO: See the two new people declared wanted by EFCC Alongside Ekweremadu was Senator Enyinnaya Abaraibe. Legit.ng learnt the senators had followed the process of perfecting Kanu's bail from the onset. The court had earlier ordered that three sureties, including a serving senator and a Jewish religious leader, will provide N100 million and a landed property in Abuja. Watch this Legit.ng video of Nnamdi Kanu being released from Kuje prison after meeting his bail conditions on Friday, April 28 Source: Legit.ng - A judiciary staff in Delta state has been sentenced to death by hanging - He was found guilty of stabbing his neighbour's wife to death in Ughelli - A high court judge found him guilty and made the pronouncement against him For stabbing his neighbours wife to death in Ughelli, Delta state, a former councilor and staff of the Delta state judiciary, Stephen Narebor Donbrapade, has been sentenced to death by hanging. He was accused of using a kitchen knife to stab his flatmates wife and the woman was said to have bled to death. His death sentence was passed at the Delta state high court sitting at Ughelli The court presided over by Justice F. O. Ohwo in suit number UHC/21c/13 in state Vs Narebor Stephen Donbrapade, found the accused guilty of a one count charge of murder proffered against him by the State Attorney-General through the Director of Public Prosecutions. Court sentences a judiciary staff to death by hanging in Delta The accused, a 49-year-old administrative staff of the Delta state judiciary from Esama town in Bomadi local government area, on or about the 31st day of January, 2013 at Otobor Street, within the Ughelli judicial division, murdered one Stella Avwenayerhe by stabbing her on the chest. READ ALSO: IPOB lists 8 mysterious things about Nnamdi Kanu The offence is said to be punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Delta State, 2006. Donbrapade, popularly known as Honourable, shares a room in a three bedroom flat with the husband of the deceased located at No 15 Otobo Street Ughelli with a separate entrance to his room. On the fateful day, the accused and the victim were said to have had a minor altercation after he walked through the rug in the sitting room without removing his shoes. The altercation, Legit.ng learnt, occurred after being reprimanded by the deceased. To teach his flat mate's wife a lesson for having the audacity to challenge him, the accused was reported to have dashed into his room only to appear with a knife and immediately stabbed Stella Avwenayerhe on the chest. She was confirmed dead on arrival by doctors at the Ughelli central hospital where she was rushed to by neighbors who came to her rescue. In his defense, the accused who pleaded not guilty to the one count charge alleged that the victim was stabbed to death by some unidentified hoodlums in the area. READ ALSO: BREAKING: Former minister Osita Chidoka drives Nnamdi Kanu out of Kuje Prison (Photos, Video) While delivering the death verdict, Justice F.O. Ohwo of the Ughelli High Court ruled that he disbelieved the accused whom he described as not a witness of truth and believed the evidences of the four prosecution witnesses called by an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Justice including the husband of the deceased, Mr. Lucky Okorodudu. He further ruled that prosecution proved beyond all reasonable doubt the essential ingredients of the offence of murder against the accused person. He then said: I hereby sentence you to death by hanging on the neck until you be dead, may God have mercy on your soul. In this Legit.ng video, former minister of aviation Osita Chidoka, is driving Nnamdi Kanu of Kuje prison Source: Legit.ng The world faces the prospect of more tension with China over trade, security and human rights after Xi Jinping awarded himself another five-year term as leader of the ruling Communist Party and called for self-reliance in technology, a stronger military and protection of core interests abroad. At a party congress, Xi gave no sign of plans to change the "zero-COVID strategy that has frustrated Chinas public and disrupted business and trade. He called for faster military development and announced no change in policies that strain relations with Washington and Asian neighbors. Xi is tightening control at home and trying to use Chinas economic heft to increase its influence abroad. - A whistle blower, Dennis Ukpabi, and blogger, Fejiro Oliver, have been arrested by the police - They were arraigned in court for cyber-bulling and were remanded in IIkoyi prison A self acclaimed whistle blower Dennis Ukpabi, who wrote a book titled 'The Whistle blower' have been arrested and remanded in jail for exposing alleged fraud. Legit.ng learnt that Ukpabi, a former staff of Sterling Bank Nigeria, was allegedly arrested for publishing the book where accused some employees of the bank Adekanla Desalu, Eguru Nyenke, Janet Akpan and Kojusola Ajao of fraud in his book. Punch reports that Ukpabio alleged that a colleague whom he accused of fraud was promoted after the accusation because she was dating an executive director of the bank. Ukpabio and Oliver were arraigned on Friday, April 28, and charged with 5 counts charges bordering on cyber-bullying. READ ALSO: Angry youths attack Bauchi lawmaker, damage his car and house The charges against them read: That you Dennis Ukpabi and Tega Oghenero between 1st 13th February, 2017 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of Federal High Court conspired together to commit felonies, namely knowingly and intentional sending intimidated, hatred, insulting and needless anxiety messages and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 27 (1) (b) of Cybercrime (prohibition, prevention etc Act 2015)." That you, Tega Oghenero and Dennis Ukpabi knowingly and intentionally sent gross offensive, indecent, sexual relationship obsence, intimidated, annoyed, hatred and insultive, needless anxiety messages to Adekanla Desalu, Busola Awosile, Eguru Nyenke and Adeyemi Odubiyi, respectively, which are said to be punishable under section 24 (1) (b) of Cybercrime (prohibition, prevention etc Act 2015. The human rights lawyer defending the accused, Inibehe Effiong, however told the court that the police arrested the accused illegally. He said: My lord, the defendants were deliberately ambushed by the prosecution in other to deny them the opportunity of bringing a formal application for their bail. This information was filed on April 6, 2017, and contrary to the provisions of Section 390 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which makes it mandatory for the defendants to be served with the notice of trail not less than seven days before their arraignment, the defendants were just served the information this morning. READ ALSO: Soyinka raises alarm over Fulani herdsmen threat Justice Mohammed Idris remanded them in Ikoyi prison but encouraged the defendant lawyer to bring a formal application for bail. Meanwhile, the acting chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, on Thursday, April 27, 2017 disclosed that the introduction of the whistle-blower policy by the federal government has led to the recovery of about N17billion by the Commission. Legit.ng learnt that Magu gave this hint while presenting a paper titled Before Corruption Kills Nigeria, at the 62nd award night of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, held at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotels, Abuja. In this Legit.ng video, Nigerians talked about the punishment they deemed fit for looters: Source: Legit.ng - Wike said the gunboats were Rivers state's investment in the safety of the lives of its people - Chief of Defence Staff General Abayomi Olonishakin commended the governor for thinking seriously about the safety of his people - The governor directed the Nigerian Navy to ensure that they stop sea-pirates from operating in the State Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has donated eight gunboats to the Nigerian Navy in the oil-rich state's effort to boost the security on its waterways. The gunboats were commissioned by Chief of Defence Staff General Abayomi Olonishakin. READ ALSO: Former minister Osita Chidoka drives Nnamdi Kanu out of Kuje Prison (Photos, Video) A statement by Simeon Nwakaudu, a special assistant to the Governor on electronic media said the donations were made on Friday, April 28 and was done to protect lives of people in the state. The gunboats Governor Wike donated It read: "In furtherance of the state's investment in the security of lives on her waterways, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Friday donated eight security Gunboats to the Nigerian Navy. "Governor Wike also announced the further acquisition of 13 Special Boats to be distributed to the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police for enhanced maritime security. "The security gunboats donated to the the Nigerian Navy are fitted with special security features, 200 horse power engine, 12.7mm guns, autonomatic grenade launchers and communication facilities to navigate Rivers Waterways and creeks. The gunboats have about 200 horsepower and have guns and grenade launchers "Launching the security gunboats at the Federal Lighter Terminal, Onne, Governor Wike said that his administration remains committed to the promotion of security of lives and property across the state." READ ALSO: Abuja court sacks Code of Conduct Bureau chairman and board members The statement also quoted the ggovernor as saying: "These boats are for the security of lives and property in Rivers State. They should not be taken to the neighbouring states on any account. Any state that wants to secure her waterways should purchase her own gunboats. Governor Wike Wike addressing the audience at the launching of the gunboats "The truth is that security is paramount. There is no governance without security. That is why this administration is investing in security. We are doing everything humanly possible to support the security agencies to carry out their responbilities". The governor directed the Nigerian Navy to ensure that they stop sea-pirates from operating in the State. Close up photo of one of the gunboats Governor Wike however warned the Navy against using the gunboats for the rigging of elections. The governor assured that he will always promote the unity of the country through such acts as the donation. Close up photo of another gunboat showing its front and stern gun-mounts. Earlier Legit.ng reported how militant groups in the Niger Delta region threatened to resume bombing of oil installations in the region. The development follows the alleged insincerity of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in resolving the crisis in the Niger Delta. The militant groups, under the aegis of the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, in a statement on Sunday, April 23, called on the government to act now or face resumed attacks on oil installations Watch this Legit.ng TV video of the Nigerian Airforce in action against Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast . Source: Legit.ng Editor's note: In this fresh piece, Okanga Agila from Benue state writes on the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Agila also gives reasons the former president must keep quiet over his loss in the last election and the activities of the present government led by President Muhammadu Buhari. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues - Holy Bible, Proverbs 17:28 NIV In the months that followed his loss of the 2015 Presidential Election, former President Goodluck Jonathan maintained a silence that has now been proven to be golden. His measured silence in the aftermath of his loss was interpreted by some as a confirmation that he is not as clueless as he was reputed to be in the years he was Nigeria's number one citizen. For the period of time he kept sealed lips about his disastrous presidency, he gained something akin to a cult following with several calls for him to be honored internationally. A new book that chronicled Goodluck Jonathan's epic loss of election as a sitting president, Against The Run of Play, authored by the Chairman of This Day editorial board, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, has however removed every iota of doubt that the former president is not only clueless but will end his days on earth with his persistent diminished mental capacity. READ ALSO: I see Biafra as a new beginning - Nnamdi Kanu's wife He could have left the narration of what went down to boot him out of office to another key player in his government and the world would have continued to worship him as opposed to the demystified simpleton he has confirmed himself to be. The revelations Jonathan made in the book are far from being explosive being that the enlightened population of the country were already in the know of what he is now passing off as the equivalent of a memoir, only that he possess not the capacity to undertake such tasking engagement to save even his own life. By his own admission, the Jonathan Presidency was toxic to the point of threatening global stability and world peace. Even those without inside knowledge of the government could have successfully hazarded guesses as to the series of bungles that was the Jonathan Presidency. Even at that, it was a chance for the former President to acknowledge his failure and tacitly apologize to Nigerians in the hope that they will forgive his celebrated shortcomings. He instead engaged in his usual ego trip and blame game in which everyone else except himself was responsible for what went wrong. Nothing confirmed his cluelessness more than this singular attitude, a man who was never and is still not willing to take responsibility when the buck stops at his desk. By his own admission, the Jonathan Presidency was toxic to the point of threatening global stability and world peace. It is the only plausible reason for former US President Barack Obama, ex-British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande would have backed President Muhammadu Buhari to win the election against a man who had amply demonstrated that he thinks in narrow terms that are restricted to his ethnicity and religious sect. READ ALSO: How Nnamdi Kanus sister gushed about hugging, kissing him after his release Nigerians must not give up on curing the delusion that made Jonathan conclude that the anti-corruption efforts equal an harassment of his family, friends and associates. We have been traumatized sufficiently in the recent months with the mind boggling amounts in foreign currencies being uncovered at different locations across the country or being recovered from individuals that turn out to be related to Jonathan in one capacity or the other, which makes almost all the cases of mind boggling corruption reported in recent times to have the imprint of Jonathan - all over them. If this shameful outing, like the failed bid to revive a comatose PDP, is another of the re-branding efforts towards 2019 then it has failed woefully on a scale that should make the former President ask his spin-doctors for a refund. He should similarly ask for refund from the spiritualists who are deceiving him with vision of a 2019 return to Aso Rock since he is more likely to end up in jail for the thefts that took place under his watch than to again bear the title of "Mr President". READ ALSO: Investigate ASUU over JAMB's website NOW! Group tells police Jonathan's temerity in brazenly attempting to rewrite history and exonerating himself of wrongdoings is possible because of the false convention of allowing the immunity granted Presidents to subsist, even after they leave office. The former president had counted on this when he allowed the monumental perfidy that was the legacy of his administration. With the favour he has done in clarifying the extent of his intellectual prowess, albeit using third party to get the job done, the free counsel to him is to return to maintain the code of silence. If he ever has to pen a literary work again, it should be; "How Not to Govern a Great Nation". The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Legit.ng Your own opinion articles are welcome at info@corp.legit.ng drop an email telling us what you want to write about and why. More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest contributors. Were ready to trade your news for our money: submit news and photo reports from your area using our Citizen Journalism App. Contact us if you have any feedback, suggestions, complaints or compliments. We are also available on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to Legit.ng Opinion page! Watch this Legit.ng video of Nigerian saying mass burial is needed for leaders in the country below: Source: Legit.ng UPDATE: Authorities say they are investigating the case as a "suspicious death," pending the results of an autopsy. Read the latest updates here. A 16-month-old girl who went missing from her home in a southwest suburb of Chicago was found dead early Thursday morning. After 30 hours of searching, the body of Semaj Crosby was discovered by local authorities and FBI agents around 12 a.m. inside a home in the 300 block of Louis Road in Joliet Township, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office. An evidence van could be seen parked outside the home she was found in and yellow crime tape surrounded the area early Thursday. The house is in the center of what had been a massive search area scoured by more than 100 officers, multiple teams of bloodhounds, divers and volunteers ever since the toddler was reported missing by her mother, Sheri Gordon, on Tuesday evening. Gordon told authorities her daughter had been playing outside with other children before she wandered away. Semaj was last seen in the yard of the familys Preston Heights neighborhood home with her cousins that afternoon, around 4 p.m., her mother said. Early the next morning, Gordon came out of her home to speak to NBC 5's Lauren Petty and described what she said happened during a live interview: [[420584293, C]] I just want her home with mommy. I just want her home with me, Gordon said. Just 40 minutes before Semaj's family said she was playing outside, investigators with the Department of Child and Family Services say they saw the little girl safe at the home. A spokesperson said the agency had visited the family that day and were investigating Gordon for an allegation of neglect. DCFS investigators checked on the home at about 3:20 p.m., officials said, and all three of the Gordons children were there including Semaj. About three hours later, at about 6:30 p.m., the family reported her missing. "We have had prior contact with this family including four unfounded investigations for neglect and two prior pending investigation[s] for neglect opened in March 2017," said Veronica Resa, deputy director of communications for DCFS. There were no obvious hazards or safety concerns at that time. DCFS has been working with the family, offering services since September 2016. NBC 5 learned Wednesday that Gordon had hired an attorney as authorities searched fields from helicopters in the air, divers submerged themselves into multiple nearby ponds, and dozens of local residents and volunteers held prayer circles in hopes of finding Semaj safe. As the search efforts marched past the first full day and Semaj was still nowhere to be found, a tearful Gordon said she was still remaining hopeful for her return. Thats my baby girl, thats my only girl, she said. The Will County Sheriff's Office said it was Gordon's attorney that helped authorities get consent to search the home on Louis Road around 11 p.m. Wednesday, before investigators found the body of the girl an hour later. The discovery of the girl's body prompted more questions for neighbors reacting to the news of her death early Thursday morning, wondering how the girl could have been found in the same area she was reported missing.[[420616263, C]] One man who helped with the search, Adrian Smith, told NBC 5 that he was not surprised she was so close all along. I didnt think she would have gotten too far for 16 months [old]? Smith said. She wouldnt have gotten too far anyway, unless somebody came and picked her up. She was only 16 months old. On Wednesday, Semajs aunt told NBC 5 the toddler had only learned to walk a few weeks prior and was still wobbly on her feet. She just learned to walk, so she cant get that far, said Semajs aunt Lakershia Crosby. Shes bow-legged, so every five steps she takes shes tripping over her feet. Authorities have not confirmed that Semaj was found in her own home, but Gordon and other family members were seen walking in and out of the residence during the daylong search on Wednesday. An autopsy has been scheduled for Thursday to determine the girls cause of death. A luxury music festival that promised to fly guests from Miami to the Bahamas for a "once-in-a-lifetime musical experience" had to be canceled after it turned into a disorganized debacle. The Fyre Music Festival was supposed to be a two-weekend event starting Friday, held on a private island in the Exumas and offering the "best in music, cuisine, design and hospitality," according to the Fyre Festival Facebook page. The festival, co-organized by Ja Rule, had steep ticket prices that included a roundtrip flight from Miami, a treasure hunt and performances by Blink-182, Major Lazer, Skepta and Disclosure. It advertised and targeted millennials with a luxury time with yachts and models, with some reportedly paying as much as $12,000 for their tickets. A luxury music festival that promised to fly guests from Miami to the Bahamas for a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience had to be canceled after it turned into a disorganized debacle. But festival-goers who arrived Thursday found conditions less than luxurious, and took to social media to voice their displeasure. So Fyre Fest is a complete disaster. Mass chaos. No organization. No one knows where to go. There are no villas, just a disaster tent city. pic.twitter.com/1lSWtnk7cA William Needham Finley IV(Its real. I made it up) (@WNFIV) April 27, 2017 There were complaints of issues getting to the island and amid reports that the island was overcapacity. One festival-goer, 21-year-old Tom Knight, of New Jersey, said his flight out of Miami was delayed for four hours and when he landed in the Bahamas there were no buses to escort people to the island. Once they got there, Knight said their luggage didn't arrive for several hours and the accommodations were tents. "Were living in tents, the mattresses are soaking wet and there is just a pillow case, no pillow, no sheets. Some people are actually sleeping on the floor of their tents because there arent enough beds to go around," Knight said. "Its literally one strip of road and the house, and thats it, and all of the tents. Its like, literally looks like a concentration camp." Then, on Thursday night, Blink-182 announced they had canceled their appearance at the festival. "Due to circumstances out of our control, the physical infrastructure was not in place on time and we are unable to fulfill on that vision safely and enjoyably for our guests," a message on FyreFestival.com read. "At this time, we are working tirelessly to get flights scheduled and get everyone off of Great Exuma and home safely as quickly as we can." Festival organizers said they were working to put people on complimentary charter flights back to Miami. "The festival is being postponed until we can further assess if and when we are able to create the high-quality experience we envisioned," the website read. Ja Rule said he was "heartbroken" in a tweet Friday, saying it wasn't his fault but he takes full responsibility. [[420756533, C]] The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism released a statement Friday apologizing to people who came to the event. "We are extremely disappointed in the way the events unfolded yesterday with the Fyre Festival," the statement read. "Hundreds of visitors to Exuma were met with total disorganization and chaos." The Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus has arrived in Connecticut for the last time and it will be here through Sunday. The final curtain is coming down on the Greatest Show on Earth after a 146-year-run due to declining attendance, increased operating costs and controversial battles with animal rights groups. Its the end to an era, said Emma Conover, of West Hartford. Its sad but I think its time has come, said Bob Meditz of Wethersfield. The circus has deep ties to Connecticut. P.T. Barnum, who made Bridgeport his home, will always be remembered as the 19th century businessman, showman and entrepreneur who brought to life The Greatest Show on Earth. Bridgeport is also home to the Barnum Museum. There were darker moments as well. On July 6, 1944 at least 167 people died and more than 700 people were hurt in a fire during a Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus performance in Hartford. The show will be at the XL Center in Hartford from today through Sunday. These are the show times: Thursday, April 27: 7 p.m. Friday, Apr 28: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 29: 11 a.m. Saturday, April 29: 3 p.m. Saturday, April 29: 7 p.m. Sunday, April 30: 1 p.m. Sunday, April 30: 5 p.m. The last stop of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus XTREME show will be in Providence, Rhode Island from May 4 through 7. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Out Of This World ends its tour at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. It will be there from May 12 to 21. The Kentucky doctor dragged off an airplane in Chicago, in a startling incident captured in a viral video that sparked global headlines, has settled with United Airlines for an undisclosed amount. According to a statement from his attorney, Dr. David Dao "has reached an amicable settlement" with the airline "for the injuries he received in his April 9th ordeal." "Dr. Dao has become the unintended champion for the adoption of changes which will certainly help improve the lives of literally millions of travelers," said attorney Thomas Demetrio. News of the settlement follows an earlier announcement from United Airlines saying it planned to raise the limit to $10,000 on payments to customers who give up seats on oversold flights. The company also said it will increase training for employees as it deals with fallout from the incident. United is also vowing to reduce, but not eliminate, overbooking the selling of more tickets than there are seats on the plane. "Mr. Munoz said he was going to do the right thing, and he has," Demetrio said in a statement. "In addition, United has taken full responsibility for what happened on Flight 3411, without attempting to blame others, including the city of Chicago. For this acceptance of corporate accountability, United is to be applauded." Munoz told NBC News' Lester Holt the situation "was a system failure," explaining that he has made changes at the company because the incident with Dao "should have never happened." Later Thursday, United released a statement saying it was pleased there had been an "amicable resolution" to the incident. "We look forward to implementing the improvements we have announced, which will put our customers at the center of everything we do," the statement said. The saga surrounding United Express Flight 3411 continued to unfold through this week as new video and audio recordings were released by authorities showing what happened in the moments before and after Dao was dragged off the aircraft earlier this month. Dao, a physician, was bloodied and dragged off the United Express plane by Chicago airport officers who were summoned by United employees when Dao wouldn't give up his seat. The three officers involved have been suspended. Dao's lawyer had said in an interview with "Today" Monday morning that he planned to file a lawsuit in the case. Demetrio said the 69-year-old suffered a "significant concussion," a broken nose and lost two front teeth. Theres other video that does show that hes calmly in his seat," Demetrio told "Today." "His ticket was accepted, scanned, he boarded, he was seat belted and all the video shows him quietly saying, 'I want to go home. Im not getting off.' And interestingly, you cant do that. After someone is in their seat thats not the time to say, 'Were overbooked or we need to get an employee from point A to point B.' Munoz said last week no one would be fired over the incident including himself. He added that he takes full responsibility "for making this right." United has been pummeled on social media #BoycottUnited is a popular hashtag and late-night television. Munoz and other executives have vowed to treat customers with dignity, and said that what happened to Dao will never happen again. Munoz's early statements on the incident were widely criticized. He initially supported employees and blamed Dao, calling him "disruptive and belligerent." On Tuesday, he was asked if the company ever considered firing anyone, including management. "I'm sure there was lots of conjecture about me personally," said Munoz. He noted that the board of United Continental Holdings Inc. has supported him. "It was a system failure across various areas," Munoz continued. "There was never a consideration for firing an employee." United announced two rule changes last week, including saying that it will no longer call police to remove passengers from overbooked planes. It is not clear whether United oversold Flight 3411, but the flight became overbooked when four Republic Airline employees showed up after passengers had boarded and demanded seats so they could commute to their next assignment, a United Express flight the next morning. Some politicians and consumer advocates have called for a ban on overselling flights. Munoz declined to address that or other possible changes until the airline finishes a review by April 30. CHARLESTON -- During his just more than two decades on the Charleston school board, Ron Miller dealt with issues ranging from firing and hiring superintendents to deciding which schools students attend. It was long enough that it's not surprising that he feels "it's time for me to step aside." But he also said there's part of it that's become a "struggle." "I'm tired of the state and fighting for money," Miller said. "That's the part that's so aggravating." Budget cuts were a major part of what Miller and the rest of the board had to deal with over the last few years. He readily admitted it was part of the reason why he decided not to run for re-election this year. Still, overall, Miller praised the board and other district officials for their work and for being responsive. "I think we've listened to the community and tried to serve their wants and needs," he said. Miller spent much of this time on the board as its president, including when his last term ended this week. His other terms as president also covered when he first left the board 12 years ago, which ended up being only a two-year absence. In 2005, he didn't run again after serving three terms, then accepted an appointment to a vacant seat two years later. He then ran for another full, four-year term in 2009 and was also re-elected in 2013. Miller said Kevin Oakley, who was the board's president in 2007, asked him if he'd be willing to return and he replied he would "if you need me." It was a time when the district had to hire a new superintendent and assistant superintendent, a process with which Miller had dealt before. It was also a year after he retired from the Eastern Illinois University police department and he "felt better that I had the time to dedicate," he said. He recalled times during his first stint on the board that he had to use paid leave from work to be able to attend all the needed meetings and other commitments. "Kudos to my family," he said. Early during Miller's tenure, the board dealt with firing the district's superintendent and changing how elementary students are assigned to the schools they attend. Miller called the 1997 dismissal of then-Superintendent Terry Weir for unauthorized changes to his contract and other issues "the most trying times" for the board. "It really brought all those board members together," he added nonetheless. In 1996, the board voted to assign in-town elementary students to schools by their grades instead of where in town they lived. Miller opposed the change, saying he understood the cost savings but felt it wasn't best for education. But difficult decisions were balanced by what Miller said were enjoyable aspects of being a school board member. The "most rewarding thing," he said, were his regular visits to the district's schools, seeing first-hand what happens between students and teachers. School staff welcomed it, which showed they're proud of what they're doing, he said. "I owe it to the community to know what's going on in the schools," Miller said. He also said he's grateful that county voters last year approved a school facilities sales tax that will bring in money for building projects, safety work and similar needs. "There are so many needs," he said. "There are so many things we can use that for." Miller left the board at a time when three new members joined the group. He said he knows they'll "make some positive impacts" and he urged them "understand how the schools work" by spending time with district staff. "Get involved," he said. "Ask a lot of questions." PACE GALLERY If, like many of us, you are mad for Alexander Calders 1943 Wooden Bottle With Hairs and its Mr. Peanut shape, in the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art, this exhibition should be bliss. It brings together 36 of Calders Constellation sculptures, stabiles and mobiles, which he made mostly in 1943 when wartime metal shortages in the United States forced him to turn to wood, generating one of the greatest phases of his career. The formula was basic: to carve wood into small, semiabstract forms resembling spoons, chess pieces, African sculptures (and works by Brancusi and Giacometti), bones, bobbins, balls, melon slices, sand dollars and toy boats. Maybe paint some, or just or let their natural wood tones shine forth. Then arrange them in floating constellations, with lengths of wire or string, resulting in arachnoid stabiles that climb walls or delicate hanging mobiles. Calders celebrated genius may never have been more delightfully apparent. ACQUAVELLA GALLERIES Bliss may also accrue at Acquavella, which has teamed up with Pace and mounted its own jaw-dropping Constellations exhibition featuring another modern genius in top form. On view are 23 of the 24 exquisite gouaches that Joan Miro, working on the other side of the Atlantic from his friend Calder, made from January 1940 to September 1941. They hang chronologically in a single gallery that, like the Pace show, almost levitates. Although separated by the war, the two artists seem to have been working on the same astral plane. Both devised networks of wiry lines and eccentric shapes, although Miros suspended in cloudlike washes of color are more elaborate in their formal intricacy and narrative innuendo. Pace and Acquavella have jointly published a three-volume catalog: one for him, one for him, and one chronicling their friendship. In any given week, the art galleries of New York and there are hundreds are brimful of exhibitions showcasing works old and new, conventional and avant-garde, by the established and by the just discovered. This seems especially true right now, with the international art crowd set to jet into town for Frieze New York next weekend. Current shows feature repurposed pornography, depictions of the surveillance state, glass marijuana pipes, scrap metal, interpretations of a range of African-American experiences, prints from the land of Bjork and a homage to the Duchamp urinal. There is magic, a little humor and no small amount of protest art. How do you navigate it all? Five art critics for The Times have fanned out across the city, each focusing on one constellation of galleries and reviewing their favorites. Interested in only painting? We have those shows. Looking for sound installations? We have those too. Art reflecting the fraught politics of our time? Of course. Pick the flavor of art that suits you: If Youre Feeling Politically Minded Ivan Karps gallery OK Harris, which he opened in 1969, lasted on lower West Broadway until 2014, but by the end it was a stranger in a strange land, surrounded by fashion boutiques, watering holes and cigar stores. Pearl Paint, the beloved budget art supply depot, is gone, too. But now, thanks to the unpredictable hyperactivity of New York real estate, these neighborhoods of beautiful cast-iron buildings and discreet foreign oligarchs are being quietly recolonized by the people who put them on the map. Alexander and Bonin, which spent nearly two decades in Chelsea, moved down to Walker Street last year, two blocks north of Postmasters, which moved in 2013. New galleries are opening, too, like Lubov, a tiny second-floor space in an office building on Broadway. There are also those places that, despite the boutiques and the tourists, never left, like the Dia Foundation, with its long-term installation of Walter De Marias Broken Kilometer, in SoHo since 1979, and Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, which has been holding down the bottom of Mercer Street for 35 years. When her grandparents Long Island home was sold and demolished, the artist Becky Suss ended up with much of its contents in her Philadelphia studio: sculptures, paintings, pillows, vases. So she started painting rooms filled with them. The resulting body of work large-scale flattened images of domestic interiors was exhibited at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia in 2015 and featured at the Independent Art Fair in New York last year. The Manhattan dealer Jack Shainman is now giving Ms. Suss her own show at his West 20th Street gallery. Theyre just exquisite works the compositions, the colors, the light, he said. Though the paintings lack of perspective create a childlike charm, Mr. Shainman described them as very sophisticated. Those seeking a primer on how to start a gallery could look to Bridget Donahue. Having opened on the Bowery just two years ago, she is by any estimation going gangbusters. Two of her artists are in the current Whitney Biennial: Jessi Reaves, who makes furniture sculptures (functional chairs, tables and sofas) out of foam, plywood, sawdust, plexiglass and auto parts, as well as Susan Cianciolo, a former fashion designer who for the biennial created a pop-up Japanese-inspired tearoom, serving lunch to the installations visitors for a few days at the Whitneys restaurant Untitled. But Ms. Donahue can go on at length about any one of the seven artists she represents how Mark Van Yetter recently had a show at Kunsthall Stavanger in Norway, for example, or how she is traveling to Cologne, Germany, with Monique Mouton, who is having a solo show there. My little exploding stars, Ms. Donahue said. Im so proud of them. Ms. Donahue didnt always want to be in the art world; she considered becoming a journalist, then an anthropologist, since she was studying textiles and economics. Work with textiles led her to the art of Rosemarie Trockel, which in turn led Ms. Donahue to answer a want ad for a job at the Gladstone Gallery, which represents that artist. Swirling tensions at Fox News burst into public view on Thursday as one of its stars, Sean Hannity, spoke out in defense of an embattled executive at the center of an expanding culture clash inside the network. In an extraordinary series of Twitter posts, Mr. Hannity seemed to yoke himself to the fate of the executive, Bill Shine, a behind-the-scenes fixer who rose to become the networks co-president after its former chairman, Roger Ailes, was ousted last summer. Somebody HIGH UP AND INSIDE F.N.C. is trying to get an innocent person fired, Mr. Hannity wrote, referring to a report in New York magazine that Mr. Shines support from the Murdoch family, which controls Fox News Channel, was wavering. If Mr. Shine were removed, Mr. Hannity wrote to his 2.3 million followers, Thats the total end of the F.N.C. as we know it. Done. No one wants office space they want industrial spaces that have been turned into office, Mr. Jaber said. Theres a huge appetite for this kind of aesthetic. They market these things by harkening back, the Bindery, the Zipper Factory. Theyre all pushing this old industrial past and, meanwhile, getting rid of industry. In theory, most of the debt on the No. 7 extension was supposed to be paid by the increased property values on the Far West Side of Manhattan. That has not worked out so far. The city has put up $359 million to pay the interest, said George Sweeting, deputy director of the New York City Independent Budget Office. Once Hudson Yards starts paying its share of the subway construction, the rest of the city will pay to provide services to the development like schools, sanitation, police and fire. Kris Schrey owns BklynBooks, and had his warehouse for 250,000 used books and close to one million CDs in the Blanchard Building. He is moving to Paterson, N.J. Over the years, I had 500 employees, many of them college students, Mr. Schrey said, but noted that many workers in the building did not have college educations. The jobs, like upholstery, destroyed through the conversion of the building are for people in Maspeth or Jackson Heights without an Ivy League education. Mr. De Angelis said two of his 31 employees had quit because of the move to Long Island, and he hopes to hold on to the rest. Where is the base of having different sorts of work? he asked. It cant all be just real estate, hotels and banking. SEATTLE The moneymaking machines at the core of Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet, the parent company of Google, are notably different. But the respective kings of online retailing, software and internet search should all credit a relatively new line of business for lifting their financial results. In their quarterly earnings reports on Thursday, the three said cloud computing through which they rent computing services and online access to software hosted in their data centers was growing faster than their larger, older businesses. The impact of cloud computing was particularly noticeable at Amazon, far and away the leader in this still-young business. The profit Amazon can make on cloud-computing services is significantly bigger than in its retail sales, and that has helped turn the Seattle company from a consistent money-loser to a respectable moneymaker. Anthony Levandowski, the Uber executive accused of stealing trade secrets from Google, is stepping aside from leading some of the companys work on self-driving vehicles, amid a bare-knuckled legal fight between the two technology giants. Mr. Levandowski, one of the self-driving-car industrys more experienced engineers, has recused himself from working on Ubers lidar technology short for light detection and ranging, a key hardware component in the operation of any autonomous vehicle. Mr. Levandowski disclosed the change on Thursday in an internal memo that was obtained by Business Insider, adding that he will no longer attend meetings or make decisions about lidar efforts while legal proceedings continue. We should all be proud that our self-driving technology has been built independently, from the ground up, Mr. Levandowski said in his email, which was addressed to his Uber employees. With this move, I hope to keep the team focused on achieving the vision that brought us all here. Uber confirmed the email and declined to comment further. The move punctuates an increasingly nasty legal battle between Uber and Waymo, the self-driving-vehicle company that was spun off from Googles parent company. In February, Waymo sued Uber, alleging that the ride-hailing company was using intellectual property, including downloaded documents, stolen by Mr. Levandowski when he was an executive at Google. Waymo is asking a federal court to issue an injunction that would halt Uber's work on self-driving cars, which the judge in the case is expected to decide on next week. If the decision goes in Waymos favor, it could seriously impede Ubers progress in autonomous vehicle research. A door that was once slammed so hard that the noise could be heard around the world is now being knocked upon, most insistently. In the opening moments of Lucas Hnaths smart, funny and utterly engrossing new play, which opened Thursday night at the Golden Theater, audience members laugh at the sound of the demanding tattoo being beaten upon that door. Thats because they have probably guessed whos on the other side. Welcome back, Mrs. Helmer, if thats the name you still go by. And just what do you have to say for yourself after all these years? Quite a lot, it turns out, and they are words to hang on. Mr. Hnaths Broadway debut, which is directed by Sam Gold and features a magnificent Laurie Metcalf leading one of the best casts in town, is audaciously titled A Dolls House, Part 2. Yes, it dares to be a sequel to Henrik Ibsens revolutionary 1879 portrait of marriage as a womens prison. That drama, you may recall, ended with Nora Helmer having realized, through an unfortunate series of events, that her marriage to her husband, Torvald, was an existential fraud walked out on him and their three young children, slamming the door behind her. A Dolls House, Part 2 flashes forward 15 years, and my, how things have and havent changed. Martha Lavey, who took over as artistic director of the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago in 1995 and over the next 20 years made it a showcase for acclaimed productions and an incubator for new plays and young playwrights, died on Tuesday in Chicago. She was 60. The cause was complications of a stroke, her brother Jim said. Ms. Lavey was an actress by training. She appeared in more than 30 productions at Steppenwolf, where she became a member of the ensemble in 1993 and later succeeded Randall Arney as artistic director. It was a period of painful transition. The brilliant talents who established the theaters reputation in the 1970s John Malkovich, Gary Sinise and Laurie Metcalf among them had gone on to careers in film and television. Steppenwolf seemed increasingly directionless, riven by internal dissent and tarnished by a series of lackluster productions. Ms. Lavey got off to a flying start. One of the first productions on her watch, a revival of Sam Shepards Buried Child, later opened on Broadway. Soon after, she lured Mr. Malkovich back to the theater to take the leading role in the Stephen Jeffreys play The Libertine. WASHINGTON From an office high above Manhattan, the billionaire Peter G. Peterson has warned for years that the federal government is borrowing too much money. So have other Republican grandees, like former Senator Alan K. Simpson, who made dire predictions about the federal debt in a 2010 report. Republicans in Congress have been eager to sing from the same hymnal so long as a Democrat was in the White House. But when Republicans take charge, their fiscal rectitude sometimes starts to waver. The broad Republican support this week for President Trumps plan to sharply reduce taxes suggests that those who hang on to austere concerns about debt will now be facing former allies who want to chase economic growth. Some Republicans are rallying around the idea that less taxation is more important than less debt, just as they did during the Republican presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. That shift is a break with the die-hard hawks of the anti-deficit industrial complex, who have long warned of calamitous consequences to the American economy. This is about math, not mystery and magic, said Mr. Simpson, who was a chairman of President Barack Obamas bipartisan commission on the federal debt in 2010. Its madness to think that you can have a tax cut without some reduction in spending or some increase in revenue. WASHINGTON President Trumps proposal to slash individual and business taxes and erase a surtax that funds the Affordable Care Act would amount to a multitrillion-dollar shift from federal coffers to Americas richest families and their heirs, setting up a politically fraught battle over how best to use the governments already strained resources. The outline that Mr. Trump offered on Wednesday less a tax overhaul plan than a list of costly cuts with no price tags attached, rushed out by a president staring down his 100-day mark in office calls for tax reductions for individuals of every income level as well as businesses large and small. But the vast majority of benefits would accrue to the highest earners and largest holders of wealth, according to economists and analysts, accounting for a lopsided portion of the proposals costs. The only Americans who are very clear winners under the new system are the wealthiest, said Edward D. Kleinbard, a law professor at the University of Southern California and former chief of staff of Congresss Joint Committee on Taxation, which estimates the revenue effects of tax proposals. In interviews with The New York Times this year, several people who have worked with Mr. Acosta expressed mixed feelings of him as a colleague. Some said he was a passive leader, even using inaction to serve his interests. But others, including professors at Florida International Universitys law school, said Mr. Acosta was unbiased and did not let his political views color his professional decisions. Facing the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in March, Mr. Acosta defended himself against Democrats who voiced concerns that he might allow conservative political ideologues to shape the department. He assured them that he would put the interest of workers first. As a former prosecutor, I will always be on the side of the law and not any particular constituency, he told senators. Senator Lamar Alexander, Republican of Tennessee and the committees chairman, said that Mr. Acosta understands how a good-paying job is critical to helping workers realize the American dream for themselves and for their families. HONG KONG President Trump warned Thursday of the possibility of a major, major conflict with North Korea, in an interview in which he said he was seeking a diplomatic solution to concerns that Pyongyang was preparing to conduct another nuclear test. In the interview with Reuters, Mr. Trump praised President Xi Jinping of China for his efforts to resolve the dispute over North Koreas missile and nuclear weapons programs, but he cautioned that diplomatic efforts might fail. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea, he said. Absolutely. Mr. Trumps remarks came amid signs that North Korea might soon conduct another underground detonation at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site despite Mr. Trumps warning not to do so. China has played a mediating role in the crisis, as Mr. Trump has urged Mr. Xi to use Beijings leverage with North Korea, a longtime ally, to persuade it not to conduct a test. BERLIN Germanys lower house of Parliament on Thursday agreed on draft legislation that aims to prevent civil servants, judges and soldiers in Germany from wearing full-face veils at work. In December, Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a ban on full-face Muslim veils wherever legally possible. With five months to go before a federal election, Ms. Merkels party, the Christian Democratic Union, has lost some support to an anti-immigrant party, Alternative for Germany, as Germany struggles to deal with a migrant crisis. More than a million migrants, many of them Muslims from the Middle East, have arrived in Germany over the past two years, and concerns about integration are widespread. Integration also means that we should make clear and impart our values and where the boundaries of our tolerance toward other cultures lie, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said. The draft law we have agreed on makes an important contribution to that. A long-simmering political crisis in Macedonia erupted late on Thursday when a mob of angry nationalists attacked lawmakers inside Parliament, bloodying Zoran Zaev, leader of the Social Democrats, and injuring at least three others. The demonstrators were protesting the election of a new speaker supported by the Social Democrats and parties representing the countrys ethnic Albanian minority, about one-quarter of the population. Protesters threw chairs and punches and shouted traitors at the lawmakers during the clash, according to The Associated Press, with video showing one member of the Social Democrats, Radmila Sekerinska, being grabbed by her hair and tossed backward. Journalists working inside the building were also attacked by the protesters. I didnt feel playful anymore, he said, emphasizing that the idea is bigger than the new president. There was something urgent that I needed to talk about. The title G.O.A.T., again is referencing the small-minded concept of history that youre the Greatest of All Time. Whats universal, he said, is the notion of a savior, the notion of a charlatan, the abuse of power and manipulation. Splayed across the center of the park is a 40-foot-long hobbyhorse with a colossal faux-stone goats head. Titled Scapegoat, a term that goes back to the Bible, the sculpture is like a caricature of a political monument or the abandoned plaything of a deity. Mr. Ward imagines the outsize animal as part of a play where the main character is killed. Whether Scapegoat is meant to be worshiped, ostracized or mourned is left ambiguous. Its up the viewer to figure out their role in that, said Mr. Ward, who likes to keep his imagery open-ended enough to invite multiple readings. The goats become the ambassadors for the conversation, he added. Indeed, Mr. Ward seems to be courting public opinion in the park with a giant glowing sign that spells Apollo, like the Harlem theater. But in Mr. Wards version, the first and last letters blink to flip the message to poll, a word linked to the 2016 election. Its the linchpin of the show, said Mr. Ward, connecting the theaters Amateur Night, where the crowd cheers contestants or boos them off the stage, with the protests, rallies and social media eruptions across the American landscape. A great American president, a mythic Rastafarian musician, a white dog named Duncan and a demonic being with the date of the day after the recent presidential election carved into its chest in scarlet these are among the personages that combine and recombine throughout Jason Foxs cycle of 23 raw portrait paintings at Canada. This excellent show is called Square Cave, which suggests that while we now live in rooms with corners, the Stone Age is not so far behind us, and could come again. As we move around the gallery, clockwise, Barack Obama and Bob Marley (complete with a giant spliff) merge and separate and the dog appears. A head brings to mind Picassos Les Demoiselles dAvignon, next Velazquez is seen in Las Meninas, at his easel. His canvas has nearly trompe loeil textures and tacks, in contrast to the quiet mayhem of Mr. Foxs paint handling in general. His shingled planes form a compressed Cubism with occasional eruptions of Expressionism. His preference for letting one strong color dominate red, green, brown or black ropes in modernisms monochromes. George Harrison makes appearances, especially in the outstanding Ambassador to England or France all brown with touches of rabid red and a canine visage. The skull-like head and pink shoulders of a figure lying on a slab is titled Soft Entry, and evokes both President John F. Kennedy in Dallas and the Dead Presidents, a band. The themes Mr. Fox is continually worrying about include recent American history and its violence; drugs and rock n roll; paintings past, and his own artistic ambition; and the corrupting power of power. In one painting Mr. Obama is a wise man; in the next hes a suave red devil. We are reminded that 11/9 is 9/11 backward: A circle has closed but nothing has ceased. Yet these shifting presences and thoughts may all be one long drug-induced dream: In the final canvas, Duncan, the artists dog, is curled up asleep in his bed. Vito Acconci, a father of performance and video art and a shamanistic, poetic, deeply influential force on the New York art scene for decades, died on Thursday in Manhattan. He was 77. Maria Acconci, his wife and only immediate survivor, confirmed the death. She said it came after a short illness but gave no cause. Starting in the late 1960s, in love with literature but realizing he was too restless by nature to be a traditional poet, Mr. Acconci began creating documented performances in the street or for tiny audiences, his radar finely tuned to an existential unease that pervaded American society. Some performances might have gotten him arrested, though Mr. Acconci also seemed to possess the instincts of a cat burglar. In one of his most famous early works, Following Piece, from 1969, he spent each day for almost a month following a person picked at random on the streets of Manhattan, sometimes taking a friend along to photograph the action. The rules were only that Mr. Acconci had to keep following the person until he or she entered a private place where he couldnt go in. Despite a challenge by Bill Cosbys lawyers, prosecutors in his criminal trial will be able to present evidence that he obtained quaaludes to help him in his pursuit of sex with women, a judge ruled Friday. Prosecutors in Pennsylvania have maintained that the evidence about quaaludes bolsters their case against Mr. Cosby, who is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a Temple University staff member, in his home north of Philadelphia in 2004. Mr. Cosby, 79, has said he used quaaludes only as a recreational party drug and that any drug-taking or sex with women was consensual. But Judge Steven T. ONeill of the Court of Common Pleas in Montgomery County, Pa., denied prosecution efforts to include references to Spanish fly, a supposed aphrodisiac that Mr. Cosby had once bragged about giving to girls when he was young. AUBURN, Ala. He ended up as the eulogist at Harper Lees funeral last year, but the Alabama historian and author Wayne Flynt did not exactly get along with the novelist when they first met in 1983 in the small lake town of Eufaula, Ala. He asked her to sign his copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. She said, No, I only sign for children, Mr. Flynt said, laughing, in an interview here. I thought, you are really discourteous. Essentially, youre just like all the stuff Ive read about you. But over the next 25 years, Mr. Flynt, 76, a professor emeritus of history at Auburn University, said he became close with the famously reclusive Ms. Lee, who would have turned 91 on Friday. His new book, Mockingbird Songs: My Friendship With Harper Lee, is based on their relationship, on his takeaways from visits to the nursing home where she lived in her last years and from letters she sent that give a full sense of a personality that was one of the great literary enigmas of the last half-century. In one, from March 2006, she declared Truman Capote her childhood friend and literary rival a liar. Since leaving South Africa in the early 1960s to escape apartheid and pursue an international career, the jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim has made music with a sense of tenuous suspension. You could say his is a gospel of near-deliverance. Mr. Ibrahims stark pianism and gently rapturous compositions are steeped in the bright harmonies and bouncing rhythms of his native Cape Town, and they seem to suggest that escape or transcendence could almost be possible. But then theres the inevitable longing for home, for harmony, for rest. He lives in that balance. The Jazz Epistles, the group Mr. Ibrahim joined in 1959 along with the trumpeter Hugh Masekela, were thinking about something different: more period-specific, another kind of fantasy. South Africas first known bebop band of black musicians, the Epistles became a flash sensation partly because they posited a connection between Africas struggle for freedom and the urbane futurism of American jazz. (Equally important, they helped open the door to other, more fluidly integrated forms of South African jazz, played by artists like Eric Nomvete and Louis Moholo.) Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. What do you think of it? What else are you interested in? Let us know: thearts@nytimes.com. Live From the Oval Office Comedy Central unveiled The President Show on Thursday, with the impersonator Anthony Atamanuik taking not-so-subtle jabs at President Trump from various angles. Physically, the resemblance was uncanniest when Mr. Atamanuik was strolling around New York City, waving to crowds and shoveling down food. Hee broke character just once, in an interview with Keith Olbermann, slipping into a potent analysis of horse-race politics and the enabling role of the media, before quickly switching back. Im just imitating you, he told Mr. Olbermann. Catastrophe returns for a third season in the delightfully smutty marriage between the alter egos of Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney. And Dear White People brings Justin Simiens film about race relations in academia to television and survives. Whats Streaming CATASTROPHE on Amazon. Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney pick up exactly where they left off with a receipt for a Plan B pill and a guilty conscience in Season 3 of this deliriously filthy comedy about conscious coupling, to which secret drinking, employment malaise and a burst housing bubble have been added. We wanted to make their life hard, not just for the fun of watching people having to deal with that but also because that feels, like, reflective of whats happening in the world at the moment, Ms. Horgan said in a New York Times interview. Things are getting tougher, and people are having to dig deep. The series also brings back Carrie Fisher, who died in December, for a last dance as Robs mommy dearest. God, she knew how to deliver a line, Ms. Horgan added. Nine months after the deaths of Anna Brown and Charles Whitehorn, a champion Osage steer roper named William Stepson died of an apparent poisoning. Two more Osage died in the ensuing months, both of suspected poisonings. A couple was blown up by a nitroglycerin bomb while they slept in their bed. The killing continued, with more than two dozen people not just Osage Indians but also white investigators sent to look into the crimes killed between 1920 and 1924. It became known as the Osage Reign of Terror. The second part of Granns subtitle nods to the fitful investigation into the killings and their role in shaping the modern F.B.I. In the 1920s, law enforcement was typically conducted by a patchwork of sheriffs, private detectives and vigilantes. The sheriff of Osage County at the time was Harve M. Freas, 58, who weighed 300 pounds and was rumored to cavort with bootleggers and gamblers. He had done nothing to determine who was killing the Osage Indians, so the tribe asked Barney McBride, a white oilman they trusted, to go to Washington, D.C., to insist the federal government intervene. A day after he arrived, McBrides body was found in a Maryland culvert. He was naked and had been stabbed over 20 times. Conspiracy Believed to Kill Rich Indians, The Washington Posts headline read. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was created by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, to fill in gaps in jurisdiction and assist where local enforcement was overmatched. By the 1920s, though, it was still relatively small, with only a few hundred agents and a handful of offices around the country. Most important, the bureaus agents were not trusted. Known for bending laws and getting cozy with criminals, the Department of Justice, Grann writes, had become known as the Department of Easy Virtue. That changed in 1924, when J. Edgar Hoover was appointed the director of the F.B.I. He was not a likely choice. He had been deputy director under Burns, but was only 29 and had never been a detective. He was diminutive, struggled with a stutter and a fear of germs, and lived with his mother. But he was zealous and organized, and had a vision for the bureau. He insisted that all agents have some background in law or accounting; that they wear dark suits and ties; that they abstain from alcohol and be models of personal propriety; and that they use new, scientific methods of sleuthing, including fingerprint identification, ballistics, handwriting analysis and phone-tapping. The Osage murders would be Hoovers first significant test of the new F.B.I.s abilities. Given that so many investigators had already failed or had been murdered in pursuit of the killers, Hoover needed the sturdiest and most incorruptible of agents to head up the investigation. He chose Tom White, a Texan myth of a man. Whites father was the local sheriff in Austin, so Tom grew up in a home attached to the county jail. He and two brothers eventually became Texas Rangers. Looking for a more stable life, White became an F.B.I. agent. White was empowered to put his own team together, most of whom would insinuate themselves into Osage undercover. One older agent entered town as an elderly cattle rancher. Another agent, a former insurance salesman, set up a real insurance office in town. And John Wren, part Ute Indian one of the F.B.I.s few Native Americans arrived as an Indian medicine man hoping to find his relatives. If this all sounds like the plot of a detective novel, you have fallen under the spell of David Granns brilliance. In his previous two books, The Lost City of Z, about the search for the golden Amazonian city of El Dorado, and The Devil and Sherlock Holmes, a varied collection of journalism, Grann has proved himself a master of spinning delicious, many-layered mysteries that also happen to be true. As a reporter he is dogged and exacting, with a singular ability to uncover and incorporate obscure journals, depositions and ledgers without ever letting the plot sag. As a writer he is generous of spirit, willing to give even the most scurrilous of characters the benefit of the doubt. Thus, when Tom White and his men solve the crime, and the mastermind behind the murders is revealed, you will not see it coming. You will feel that familiar thrill at having been successfully misdirected, but then there are about 70 pages left in the book. And in these last pages, Grann takes what was already a fascinating and disciplined recording of a forgotten chapter in American history, and with the help of contemporary Osage tribe members, he illuminates a sickening conspiracy that goes far deeper than those four years of horror. It will sear your soul. Among the towering thefts and crimes visited upon the native peoples of the continent, what was done to the Osage must rank among the most depraved and ignoble. This land is saturated with blood, says Mary Jo Webb, an Osage Indian alive today and still trying to understand the crimes of the past. History, Grann writes in this shattering book, is a merciless judge. Luiselli reminds the reader that the general arc and the often brutal details of these childrens narratives have been reported before. The havoc wreaked across Central America by gangs like Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18; the brutal treatment of migrants by coyotes, police officers and cartels; the physical terror and exhaustion of riding on top of la Bestia all of this dominated the news in 2014, when more than 68,000 children surrendered themselves at the border. Weve known this story for years now, and if there is anything that Luiselli wants to dismantle, its our veneer of understanding. While driving through the Southwest border states with her husband and children, where they spot fleeting herds of Border Patrol cars like ominous white stallions racing toward the horizon, Luiselli wonders how the militant anti-immigration protesters maintain such fierce hostility in the face of these childrens suffering. The answer, she notes, lies partially in our language of immigration; we see legal and illegal residents, aliens instead of children. In her responses to the questionnaire, Luiselli takes the opposite approach. She expands and connects the fates of these children to the United States militarys involvement in Central America in the 1980s, and to United States immigration policies in the 1990s. Its a far richer story in her hands, and it expands out of necessity to include Americas evolving relationship with Mexico, and Mexicos evolving relationship with its neighboring countries. The account that emerges has no fixed origin, and the crisis, as Luiselli wisely points out, belongs not to any specific country or countries but to all of us living in this corner of the world. Happily, Luiselli does not write with the journalists attempt at objectivity. This is an intimate narrative, but its not a memoir. The portrait of migration she offers is intended to complicate, rather than resolve or clarify. As a result, its hard not to want more information, more scrutiny and engagement with the connecting strands of history woven into the narrative, particularly with the legacy of the Reagan-era politics that shaped United States immigration policy, and by extension, our foreign policy priorities in Central America. That said, Luiselli wisely invests most of the books energy establishing the moral and emotional foundation of her approach to the work she does as a volunteer, and as an author. That foundation is built early on, in the pages devoted to the family road trip that begins after she and her husband have applied for green cards. Luiselli, who like her husband was born in Mexico, relates her encounters with border police and activists. She recalls the Southwests blood-soaked history, when it was still Mexico. She also notes, as they drive past ghost towns into the mass-migrant graveyard of the Arizona desert, that this journey across the United States has been a family expedition, and that means the two kids sitting in the back seat are, as she reminds us over and over, our children. That sounded fine, until he scrutinized the deal. To receive the money from Radian, he had to sign a document stating that he had not filed a complaint against the company with any local, state or federal agencies. Another stipulation: Accepting the severance would bar him from receiving any monetary damages or any other form of personal relief in connection with an investigation or proceeding involving the company. In other words, he could not receive a whistle-blower award. Because Mr. Lutz and some colleagues had reported their concerns about Radian to the S.E.C., he did not sign the severance agreement. So he accepted the new position the company had offered. He soon found himself essentially reporting to a low-level employee at an outside vendor. When he asked to go back to financial auditing at Radian, a superior told him that hed never be allowed to conduct those tasks. He decided to leave Radian. Luckily, he found employment elsewhere in the field. Still, Mr. Lutz wonders why the S.E.C. has not pursued the whistle-blower complaint he filed against Radian, which outlined its retaliation against him. A big reason why people dont report these things is what happened to me in this instance, Mr. Lutz said. Thats a big deterrent to people. Every time issues like mine are not enforced, it reinforces the notion that these pieces of legislation are paper tigers and nothing is going to come of it anyway. Its not as if the facts of the retaliation are in doubt. Last fall, the Labor Department sided with Mr. Lutz in an identical matter he had filed against Radian with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. After examining the material produced by Mr. Lutz and Radian, the Labor Department agreed that the company had punished him for speaking up; it required Radian to pay him $20,000 in damages. Then there is the matter of the restrictive severance agreement Radian offered. Its terms are similar to those that have drawn fire from the S.E.C. at other companies recently. In January, for example, BlackRock, the huge asset manager, settled with the S.E.C. for offering exit agreements that prevented former employees from reaping the financial benefits of whistle-blowing. Without admitting or denying the findings, BlackRock paid $340,000 to settle the matter. The agreement Radian offered to Mr. Lutz was equally problematic, said Stuart Meissner, a lawyer in New York City who represents him. He didnt get severance solely because he participated in the S.E.C.s whistle-blower program, Mr. Meissner said. This needs to be addressed. LONDON The practice of office workers pitching in to buy a gift for a departing colleague especially one with decades of service is an old tradition. But when staff members at the Tate Modern and Tate Britain art galleries in London were asked this week to contribute to buy a gift for the Tate groups departing director, many raised eyebrows over the present: a sailboat. The timing was awkward. The call for contributions came as the Tate group, which operates four museums and art galleries across the country, was in pay negotiations with staff. The situation highlighted concerns over widening inequality in Britain before a general election in June. As in other Western countries, questions have been raised over the concentration of the benefits of economic growth with the elite, as employee rights have eroded and wages have flatlined. When Uber pulled out of China last summer, it appeared to be the end of two years of frenzied competition with the local rival Didi Chuxing. Yet with a new funding round that has brought in $5.5 billion, it seems the Chinese firm wants to take the rivalry global. The investment, which Didi Chuxing announced in a statement on Friday, values the company at about $50 billion, according to someone who was familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak publicly about the details. That valuation makes it the second most valuable start-up in the world, behind Uber. The new financing could bring Didi Chuxing back into competition with Uber: Analysts expect the Chinese company to use the funds to push into new markets and to develop autonomous driving technologies. But he can at least point to the biggest stock market rise of any president since the 1980s. In Mr. Trumps first 100 days, the Standard & Poors 500-stock index has risen about 5 percent, in what supporters have called a Trump bump. MICHAEL J. DE LA MERCED Synchrony Financial, Hidden Force in Consumer Lending, Down Sharply Many American consumers may not have heard of Synchrony Financial, but there is a good chance they have one of the companys credit cards. Synchrony issues credit cards in partnership with giant retailers like Walmart and JCPenny, which consumer use to purchase goods typically in return for discounts or other rewards. And on Friday, Synchronys share price was getting hammered down more than 14 percent in midmorning training. Synchrony, which was spun out of GE Capital in 2014, reported a smaller profit 61 cents a share compared with the 74 cents that many Wall Street analysts had expected. Donald J. Trump repeatedly voiced concerns for ordinary working men and women during his election campaign. But the presidents tax proposal will lead to a multitrillion-dollar shift from federal coffers to Americas richest families and their heirs, economists and analysts say. The estate tax, for example, would affect about 5,300 fortunes a year, and cost an estimated $174.2 billion over a decade, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. Wealthier Americans would also benefit from reductions to the rates on capital gains, noncorporate business taxes and taxes on the highest earners. These are all afflictions of the affluent, said Edward D. Kleinbard, a law professor at the University of Southern California and former chief of staff of Congresss Joint Committee on Taxation, which estimates the revenue effects of tax proposals. Americans say they feel more optimistic about the economy since President Trump was elected. But they certainly are not acting that way, and that is shaping up to be a challenge for his administration. Consumers pulled back sharply on spending in early 2017, the Commerce Department said on Friday, reducing the economys quarterly growth to its lowest level in three years. In fact, the 0.7 percent annual growth rate for the period is far below the 2.5 percent pace in President Barack Obamas final three months in office, let alone Mr. Trumps 4 percent target. The caution among consumers was particularly notable on big purchases like automobiles. Other indicators were stronger businesses invested at a healthy pace but that was not enough to offset the headwinds from feeble retail sales and falling inventories. Marilyn Lancelot, 86, of Sun City, Ariz., for example, said that after being a compulsive gambler for seven years, she was arrested at age 61 for embezzling $350,000 from her job and served nearly a year in prison. I really thought Id win the big one deep down in my heart, she said in an interview. Every gambler says that. Ms. Lancelot has described her experiences in the book Gripped by Gambling. Many experts say that men are often action gamblers, who favor blackjack and poker, while women tend to be escape gamblers, drawn to games based on luck, like slot machines and lottery tickets. Women often begin gambling later in life than men, sometimes after a major life event, like the death of a spouse or when they become empty nesters. Women are less likely to develop gambling problems than men, Mr. Whyte said, but telescoping, the rapid development of problems, is especially pronounced in senior women. It may seem surprising to some people that women have severe gambling problems, he said. Grandma is not seen as someone who embezzles money and is taken off to jail, he said, yet it happens. Many women lose significant amounts of money and jeopardize their futures. Once they tap into retirement savings, its incredibly hard if they are ever able to rebuild those savings, Mr. Whyte said. Stephanie Iacopino, 63, of Toms River, N.J., who works part time in retail sales, said that during years of compulsive gambling, she stole money from family members, friends and clients in a travel business, and ultimately went to prison in 2010 for embezzling about $18,000 from her church. She said she served nearly four months at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women near Clinton, N.J., followed by 22 months in New Jerseys Intensive Supervision Program, which, the state says, is more onerous than traditional probation. We dont have a nest egg, said Ms. Iacopino, who is married. We live paycheck to paycheck. But she said that while she is struggling financially, she is happy to be recovering from her addiction. Rail cars containing coal in Williamson, W.Va., last year. An appeals court granted a request from the Trump administration to defer a decision on litigation over a contested Environmental Protection Agency regulation known as the Clean Power Plan. Credit... Ty Wright for The New York Times In Vietnam, the breakfast choice for many is a steaming bowl of brothy pho, purchased from early-morning vendors who dispense the beloved spicy noodle soup until their supply is sold out, then close up shop for the day. For lunch, it may well be noodles again, prepared in a different way. A bowl of room-temperature rice vermicelli, called bun, may be served with various cooked-to-order toppings and bright add-ons for a satisfying, simple meal. Festooned with lemongrass-scented shrimp, beef, pork or chicken, the noodles are flavored with nuoc cham (the classic sweet-and-spicy dipping sauce), pickled vegetables and crushed peanuts. Honey, doesnt this look just like a Gray Malin photograph? The photographer Gray Malin says he heard an American woman loudly exclaim this to her husband last summer at La Fontelina, a sun-dappled, umbrella-studded beach club in Capri, Italy. Mr. Malin, 31, was understandably thrilled and introduced himself. They were on their honeymoon, we took a photo and it was so cute, he said. But really, I was just as surprised as she was. Then, using a Canon camera, he went back to shooting La Fontelina, the type of place where everyone looks as if they just stepped off a yacht. It is a staple of La Dolce Vita, his continuing series chronicling the glamour of the Italian Riviera. Over the past decade, Tinsley Mortimer has done a lot. For starters, she divorced her high school sweetheart, Topper Mortimer, wrote a novel titled Southern Charm, starred in a much-maligned reality show called High Society, started a clothing line and inspired a Christian Dior lip gloss called Tinsley Pink. She has also relinquished her position on top of the New York social heap for a (relatively) quieter life in Palm Beach, Fla., where, last year, she was accused by the police of trespassing on her on-again, off-again boyfriends property. Through it all, one thing has remained consistent. Her hair color. This is thanks to Kyle White, a stylist at the Oscar Blandi Salon in Midtown Manhattan whom she has visited regularly about every six weeks even during her sojourn in South Florida. I had been doing my color with some other guy, and it was patchy and splotchy, Ms. Mortimer said the other afternoon while in Mr. Whites chair. It was an optical illusion, Mr. White said of her former hair. I was trying to figure it out like it was a Rubiks Cube. Article: Circling Back to Voters, 100 Days Into Trump Era Before Reading Watch the short video above, giving highlights of President Trumps first 100 days. What did the video show that you had forgotten about? Was there anything that was completely new to you? What are your impressions of the presidents 100 first days in office, and why do you think the way you do? Questions for Comprehension and Analysis 1. What was the purpose of this New York Times article? What does it say in the article about who The Times interviewed, and why? 2. What is the general feeling among Mr. Trumps biggest backers, in assessing his first 100 days? What about people who opposed him before the election how do they generally feel now? Have you ever donated money to a cause? How did you decide if it was something you wanted to give money to? What motivates you to donate, even a small amount, to a person or a charity organization, and why? In Crowdfunding a Well-Deserved Break, Tejal Rao writes: I had hoped readers would enjoy following a food vendor around on the streets of Manhattan for a day, but I hadnt expected the story I wrote about Kabir Ahmed to take on a life of its own. Mr. Ahmed, 46, immigrated from Bangladesh 23 years ago and now works five or six days a week selling chicken biryani and other hot dishes out of a halal food cart in the Financial District. The job is difficult and unglamorous, like many jobs in the food industry. It does not pay well. Mr. Ahmeds wife had mentioned to him, in passing, the idea of saving up for a family cruise in the Caribbean. It was a luxury that Mr. Ahmed knew they could not afford for their family of six, but for some reason it had stuck with him. Have you been on a cruise? hed asked me on the day I spent reporting with him. What is it like? At the end of my article (which ran in the Food section on April 19), I wrote about Mr. Ahmeds longing to go on vacation. Not long after my piece was published, readers sent emails asking how they could be helpful. I suggested they buy lunch at food carts, and tip well, especially on rainy days when business slows down. I also proposed learning more about the Street Vending Modernization Act, the New York legislation introduced last fall that would lift the cap on food vending permits, which Mr. Ahmed strongly supports. Then one reader, Jennifer Nelson, started a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for Mr. Ahmed and his family and their dream vacation. Ms. Nelson, a general manager at Buttermilk Channel, a restaurant in Brooklyn, read the article on Wednesday and posted it to Facebook. I wrote a comment about how I wish I had money to buy this family a vacation, she said. Immediately, people started commenting that they wished they did too. Try not to blink, says the performance artist Marina Abramovic. The more you blink, the more you think. In the spring of 2010, Abramovic spent over 700 hours looking into the eyes of more than 1,500 visitors to the Museum of Modern Art. Many wept openly. Sometimes Abramovic cried, too. To really experience the power of eye contact, she suggests a minimum of one hour of sustained gaze. Place two chairs three and a half feet apart, and sit facing someone. Do not talk or touch. Focus your eyes between that persons brows, so that you can see both pupils simultaneously. Dont look away. Eye contact elicits avoidance behavior in many species, but humans are exquisitely attuned to it. Even newborns will look longer at people staring straight at them than they will at those with averted eyes. Neuroimaging studies show that direct gaze changes how human brains develop and function, particularly the cortical and subcortical regions that scientists call the social brain, which underlies the ability to empathize. To really see and feel connected to someone, you need to be still in mind and body. Start by slowing your breath until it is almost unnoticeable, Abramovic says. Youll undergo all manner of discomfort during your encounter, including sore muscles, dry eyes and niggling thoughts. Dont dwell on them. Abramovic thinks a scarcity of eye contact is crippling modern culture. While we need to look at our loved ones more, she says that gazing into the eyes of strangers is potentially more transformative, what she calls one of the most powerful experiences you can have. Still, dont go wandering around the streets staring at people. It can be dangerous, says Abramovic, who would like to see eye-gazing stations built into hotel lobbies and malls. Until that happens, she suggests organizing group meet-ups through social media. On a recent afternoon a team of gravediggers chucked the final shovelfuls of dirt out of a grave dug into a hilltop at Green-Wood Cemetery. The team then winched a marble gravestone weighing 500 pounds up the hillside, preparing an unusual grave. There will be no funeral, no mourners in fact, no body will be inside the plot. Dug deep into a hill in Brooklyn will be a grave of secrets. Here lie the secrets of the visitors of Green-Wood Cemetery is etched into the cream marble of the obelisk marking the grave. At its base is a thin slot a letter opening where slips of paper bearing secrets are to be slid into an underground chamber and taken, quite literally, to the grave. The grave is the work of Sophie Calle, a French conceptual artist, and was commissioned by Creative Time and co-presented with the cemetery. Creative Time is a public arts organization known for putting on less furtive works, like Duke Rileys Fly by Night, last year, in which pigeons outfitted with LED lights took to the night sky over the Brooklyn Navy Yard like flocks of stars, and a recent, politicized haunted house called Doomocracy at the Brooklyn Army Terminal. CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. The attorney general of the United States, Jeff Sessions, came on Friday to this Long Island area besieged by the transnational gang known as MS-13, and in a 20-minute speech to local police commissioners and sheriffs vowed to eradicate the gang by cracking down on illegal immigration. Mr. Sessions said the gang, which is linked to El Salvador, carries a threat similar to the Colombian cartels and the mafia. He said it smuggled gang members across the United States border and recruited young immigrants. His message was familiar, and it bore the wishes of President Trump, who Mr. Sessions said was particularly alert to the violence affecting Suffolk County, where the bodies of four young men who had been brutally killed were found near a park on April 13. The authorities contend the killings had the markings of MS-13, which would bring the gangs body count to 15 in Suffolk County since the beginning of 2016, the most violent stretch since MS-13 took hold on Long Island in the late 1990s. New Yorkers gazed out at the towering new Kosciuszko Bridge as they prepared to drive across the shiny span for the first time on Friday morning. Then they cursed the traffic stretching endlessly before them. It was a rare sight in New York the first major new bridge built in the city since the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in 1964. And drivers were happy to say goodbye to the unsightly and creaky 78-year-old bridge it is replacing. But despite excitement over the new bridge, drivers still found themselves sitting in clogged traffic on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the highway carried by the bridge. Some said the congestion seemed worse as drivers adapted to new traffic patterns on a bridge that 180,000 drivers use each day. Rich Kenney and Walter Schmidt left their office on Long Island at 6 a.m., hoping to avoid traffic. Instead, because of slowdowns approaching the Kosciuszko, they took two hours to get to Greenpoint in Brooklyn. SUSTENANCE SG: After that, we go for brunch. CP: A lot of times we go to Lovely Day, and I always get the same thing. I like a glass of wine after the gym, because it really carries you. SG: Chris gets the salmon and I get the strawberry pancakes, sometimes with wine, sometimes without. If we dont go to Lovely Day, then well go to Dimes. Dimes is kind of like our go-to place every day. We go to Dimes grocery almost seven days a week for whatever. CP: Food is superimportant. I probably like food about as much as I like clothes. SG: And food is something that we have never skimped on. Whatever happens, we are always eating well, just for general morale. CULTURE VULTURES SG: By around 3, if were not at home spacing out on the sofa, we go to a museum. MoMA is my favorite: I love the architecture; I love the courtyard; I love being up a couple levels and looking over that central space on the second floor. Then we high-tail it back down to our neighborhood, on the F train. To the Editor: Mayor Endorses Entrance Fee for the Metropolitan Museum (news article, April 27) discusses the political and economic issues involved in setting admission prices at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The posted admission prices whether they are called suggested or recommended are a real barrier. Put yourself in the shoes of a poor family. Would you have the courage to request free admission? I am aware of the economic exigencies of running a museum. But the city and the museum directors should do everything possible to lower those admission barriers. In the long term, the cultivation of a museum-attending public would benefit everyone. I grew up in Brooklyn in a family without strong cultural traditions, but my parents did take me to museums, and now, as an adult, I love going to museums. My children do as well. ALICE L. GIVAN, BRENTWOOD, N.H. To the Editor: The bulletin flashing on my cellphone that the Metropolitan Museum was considering charging full admission for out-of-towners made my heart sink not as an artist and museum professional for my own frequent visits to the museum, but for my art students, who are citizens of New Jersey. This is Bret Stephenss first column. When someone is honestly 55 percent right, thats very good and theres no use wrangling. And if someone is 60 percent right, its wonderful, its great luck, and let him thank God. But whats to be said about 75 percent right? Wise people say this is suspicious. Well, and what about 100 percent right? Whoever says hes 100 percent right is a fanatic, a thug, and the worst kind of rascal. An old Jew of Galicia In the final stretch of last years presidential race, Hillary Clinton and her team thought they were, if not 100 percent right, then very close. Right on the merits. Confident in their methods. Sure of their chances. When Bill Clinton suggested to his wifes advisers that, considering Brexit, they might be underestimating the strength of the populist tide, the campaign manager, Robby Mook, had a bulletproof answer: The data run counter to your anecdotes. That detail comes from Shattered, Jonathan Allen and Amie Parness compulsively readable account of Clintons 2016 train wreck. Mook belonged to a new breed of political technologists with little time for retail campaigning and limitless faith in the power of models and algorithms to minimize uncertainty and all but predict the future. Mook and his Moneyball approach to politics rankled the old order of political operatives and consultants because it made some of their work obsolete, Allen and Parnes write about the campaigns final days. The memo that one Hillary adviser had sent months earlier warning that they should add three or four points to Trumps poll position was a distant memory. Saturday marks President Trumps 100th day in office. We asked readers on Facebook how his presidency has changed them and received more than 900 comments on the Opinion Facebook page, and more than 800 replies on the main Times account. Here are some of the responses. Activism Juanita Swan Johnson I go out of my way to say hello to all people. I have a welcome immigrants sign on my front lawn. I have my congressmen and senators in my phone contacts because I call often now. Adele Silz 50 years after the Vietnam War I have become an activist again. Victor J Heintz I was inspired at age 65 to participate in my first rally ever and joined the March for Science in DC last weekend. Emily Rose I plan to run for office. Nicole Gevirtz Im now much more involved in feminist activities. I got a second job in which I work at a call center that helps provide abortion care and Im a volunteer escort at a clinic near where I live. I shouldve been doing this years ago. Under Obama we felt safer. The refusal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to receive the German foreign minister because of a meeting the German held with a veterans peace group is not in itself a major incident in Israeli-German relations. Germanys history alone ensures it will remain Israels staunch supporter. What is troubling, rather, is Mr. Netanyahus increasingly illiberal pattern of treating critics of Israels occupation of Palestinian lands domestic and foreign as enemies. The flash point in this case was a meeting Germanys foreign minister, Sigmar Gabriel, held with some nongovernmental groups while on a visit to Israel. One of these groups, called Breaking the Silence, is particularly reviled among right-wing Israelis because it gathers anonymous testimonies from Israeli soldiers about their service in occupied territories, often highlighting hardships imposed on the Palestinians. So Mr. Netanyahu canceled his meeting with Mr. Gabriel, proclaiming that he would not welcome diplomats who met with organizations that, he said, slander Israeli soldiers. It is understandable that Breaking the Silence would rankle some Israelis, because it raises questions about one of the most respected institutions in Israel the army. And there can be a debate about whether Mr. Gabriel was unnecessarily provocative. But Breaking the Silence has support from former high-ranking Israeli military officers and has generated debate about what kind of society Israel wants to be. More broadly, the occupation, now approaching 50 years, has been consistently criticized by the United States and much of the rest of the world, and has been a source of fiery debate within Israel. Unfortunately, we know the answer. Every report from inside the White House conveys the impression that Trump is like a temperamental child, bored by details and easily frustrated when things dont go his way; being an effective staffer seems to involve finding ways to make him feel good and take his mind off news that he feels makes him look bad. If he says he wants something, no matter how ridiculous, you say, Yes, Mr. President!; at most, you try to minimize the damage. Right now, by all accounts, the child-man in chief is in a snit over the prospect of news stories that review his first 100 days and conclude that he hasnt achieved much if anything (because he hasnt). So last week he announced the imminent release of something he could call a tax plan. According to The Times, this left Treasury staff who were nowhere near having a plan ready to go speechless. But nobody dared tell him it couldnt be done. Instead, they released something, with nobody sure what it means. And the absence of a real tax plan isnt the only thing the inner circle apparently doesnt dare tell him. Obviously, nobody has yet dared to tell Trump that he did something both ludicrous and vile by accusing President Barack Obama of wiretapping his campaign; instead, administration officials spent weeks trying to come up with something, anything, that would lend substance to the charge. Or consider health care. The attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare failed ignominiously, for very good reasons: After all that huffing and puffing, Republicans couldnt come up with a better idea. On the contrary, all their proposals would lead to mass loss of coverage and soaring costs for the most vulnerable. WASHINGTON President Trumps decision to skip the White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday is one of the few good turns he has done for the Washington press corps since he arrived. Mr. Trump says hell spend his 100th day as president at a campaign rally in Harrisburg, Pa., rather than with journalists he has accused of mistreating him. Its the first time a president hasnt attended the annual event since 1981, when Ronald Reagan was recovering from an assassination attempt. Sean Spicer, Mr. Trumps press secretary, said White House staff members wont attend, either, in solidarity, applying Gdansk Shipyard imagery to his refusal to eat free food in a celebrity mosh pit. White House reporters rare as unicorns in the V.I.P.-heavy crowd of 3,000 should be grateful. Without Mr. Trumps oxygen-sucking presence, the dinner stands the best chance in years of returning to its roots as a fund-raiser for journalism education and a salute to superior reporting. Already, one Woodward, one Bernstein and zero Kardashians have R.S.V.P.d. We have a broad understanding that work is valuable for men, that it feeds their sense of importance as providers and meets some existential need related to identity and sense of self. This force is potent enough to be one factor that may have swung the 2016 elections: Working-class white men, out of work and watching blue-collar jobs dry up, lost their mooring as providers, and cast their ballots for a man who promised to take them back in time. Historically, women werent supposed to need their individual identity to be formed through work, because women werent supposed to have individual identities at all: They melded into their husbands identity when they married. Womens identities have long been relational daughter, wife, mother rather than individual. Which is perhaps why today, women finding individual identities tied to their work makes so many people uncomfortable why people are so quick to assert that we cant have it all, why the American government and workplaces are so slow to implement policies that would enable us to at least have something a little better. The Leave It to Beaver era during which Dana Mazurek raised her children was a historical aberration, but one many Americans continue to idolize. While the majority of Americans today nearly 80 percent do not think women should return to traditional wife-and-homemaker roles, something shifts when you replace woman with mother: Just over half of Americans believe children are better off with a mother who is at home full time and does not hold a job. Only 8 percent say the same thing about fathers. Perhaps the defining characteristic of the 1950s was womens turn to the domestic, the first time in recorded American history where women got married sooner and had more babies than their mothers. The prevailing sensibility was that life as a suburban housewife was supposed to bring ultimate happiness. But the pursuit of personal fulfillment was less about what actually made women happy and more about money and men being able to make it without competing with women. Mens wages rose steadily through the 1950s and 60s, while womens stagnated. Although women had earned more than 63 percent of what men did in the early 1950s, by the mid-1960s they made less than 58 percent. By the mid-1960s, the cultural blip of the hyperdomestic 50s was showing signs of decline. Mary, Danas youngest daughter, turned 10 the same year Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique, the book that prompted mostly white, middle-class, stay-at-home mothers to ask themselves, Is this all? A few years later, as Mary prepared for high school, both Dana and Ed expected her to attend Jones Commercial, a secretarial training school, instead of a traditional school. Im not surprised. Both parties but not the average American voter have been moving in a globalist direction for years. In his 2013 Inaugural Address, President Obama championed the qualities of innovation and mobility that will allow our nation to thrive in this world without boundaries. He was not proposing to eliminate passports, but he was expressing a sentiment that regards borders, limits and boundaries as necessary but regrettable, while openness and diversity are inherent goods. This way of thinking is everywhere, which makes it seem like common sense, rather than a political choice. Woodrow Wilson formulated Princetons informal motto: Princeton in the nations service. In 1996 it was extended to include and in the service of all nations, and then recently revised to read Princeton in the nations service and the service of humanity. Undoubtedly, administrators thought they were adapting to new global realities, rather than taking a controversial stance. The same goes for Stanfords president, John Hennessy, who raised $750 million to fund a new program to gather the worlds brightest minds who can work toward solving global challenges. Isnt this an admirable, sensible and responsible adaptation to the direction things are going? In contrast, Mr. Trump does not presume that the world must become flat. His Inaugural Address contrasted sharply with Mr. Obamas 2013 speech. He spoke of renewing borders and solidarity, and called for national reconsolidation. This does not mean putting a stop to global trade or shutting down immigration, any more than Mr. Obama meant to bargain away American sovereignty or destroy America, as some conservative pundits insisted during his administration. But these two speeches, only four years apart, reflect a stark difference in emphasis. What Mr. Obama presented as a happy evolution Mr. Trump frames as something to be resisted. As he said in his recent address to the joint session of Congress: My job is not to represent the world. My job is to represent the United States of America. Mr. Trumps shocking success at the polls has done our country a service. Scholars may tut-tut about the historical connotations of America First, but the basic sentiment needs to be endorsed. Our country has dissolved to a far greater degree than those cloistered on the coasts allow themselves to realize. The once vast and unifying middle class has eroded over the last generation. Today we are increasingly divided into winners and losers. This division involves more than divergent economic prospects and income inequality. Globalism is an ideology of winners who stand astride our society as it is being remade by dramatic economic, demographic and cultural changes. Mitt Romney wrote off nearly half the American population as takers. Hillary Clinton made her notorious remarks about deplorables. These sentiments, widely shared by elites on the right and left, have become toxic. Caterpillar recently announced it is moving its corporate headquarters from Peoria, Ill., to Chicago. The unspoken reason? C-suite level talent bridles at relocating to flyover country. In todays America, the rich, well-educated and globalized people on top, whether Republicans or Democrats, do not want to live among those who populate our country. The leaders increasingly hold them in disdain. After World War II, Mr. Buckley adopted an exaggerated approach to postwar American liberalism (which was hardly inclined toward socialism) because he thought the stakes were high. We face different dangers. In 2017, a growing economic divide and continuing cultural fragmentation, and even animosity, are grave threats that now define our politics. The Cold War is now domestic. Easy talk about the world becoming flat or global trade lifting all boats disguises, explains away and exacerbates the damage being done to the body politic. Mr. Trumps stark juxtaposition of globalism and Americanism is crude and hyperbolic, but necessarily so. Netflix and Amazon have been nominated for hundreds of Emmys and Golden Globe awards in recent years, and that is a testament to both the quality of those companies and the transformation of television. But some of the credit is also due to net neutrality, the legal regime that nurtured and protected the open internet and streaming TV in the first place. Streaming, after all, is a cheaper and better form of television. For that reason, it is something the cable industry would not have allowed to thrive had it been left to its own devices. Fortunately, net neutrality rules prevented cable companies from killing or interfering with streaming television during its infancy. You might think it unwise, therefore, to question a policy that has yielded both lower prices and good television. But President Trumps chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, on Wednesday announced plans to eliminate net neutrality (technically, make it voluntary) despite its popularity, record of success and acceptance by most of the industry. His proposal is of dubious legality. But should it succeed, the only real winners will be the cable and phone industries, which will gain yet another way to raise prices for everyone. The proposal is the epitome of senseless government action and sharply out of step with Mr. Trumps populist mandate. Did Trump voters really vote for higher cable bills? There was never any question of Bob stepping down, and so he worked and edited almost to the last. Retirement was for sissies; better to step up to the plate. No eye for imprecise thought was ever more discerning; no edit a sharper yet gentler distillation than his. He had his quirks. He hated the word stance. He was a stickler for accuracy. The pencil in his hand went to the heart of the matter. To edit, for Bob, was to make a writer better and get out of the way. That may sound simple. Its not and its rare. I learned of Bobs passing while I was in France, where hed worked for the Paris Review in the 1950s. I was a friend, not a close one, but Id written one piece a year or so for him since 2008, and he would take me to lunch at En, a Japanese brasserie near his downtown office. He was gallant, droll and courtly (another description of his accent, reported by Thomas Meaney in The Times Literary Supplement, captured it as Mineola via the Grand Tour). He was also challenging, indignant about all injustice, and a quiet saboteur of every jejune idea. When we talked about Iran, where Id witnessed the postelection tumult in 2009, he broached human rights, the Iran nuclear threat and the movies of Abbas Kiarostami with effortless authority. What did Iran want? How could its people be brought closer to the world? How might their yearning for liberty be satisfied? Bob probed. He was always ready to learn, even if he always seemed to know more than you. He was the generalist rebuking the specialist. He prodded me, most recently, to write and then rewrite a review of Elena Ferrantes work. He liked writers in new territory. At a memorial service for him this week at the New York Public Library, the immensity of Bobs loss was palpable. Justice Stephen Breyer sent a note, read by the Reviews publisher, Rea Hederman. It extolled the importance of Bobs forum for distinguishing sense from nonsense. Ian Buruma captured Bobs particularly Jewish identification with the oppressed and his decency that word dear to Camus, who observed in his novel The Plague that, It may seem a ridiculous idea, but the only way to fight the plague is with decency. Mark Danner evoked the love of Bobs life, Grace Dudley, and his sense of not knowing who I am after her death late last year. Still, Bob kept working. There were always things to do. Yes, it is time to fight with decency the indecency seeping from high office; to reject nonsense; to resist contempt for the persecuted and the refugee; to uphold love lived to its limit; to honor industry over ostentation. Bob was the greatest editor of our time. Editors cut; showmen splurge. And one day the showman is unmasked. This week a federal judge in San Francisco halted nationwide enforcement of President Trumps executive order that threatened to withhold federal funds to sanctuary cities. As a conservative who teaches and practices constitutional law, I applaud the decision as a victory for the Constitutions separation of powers. In our federalist system, federal and state governments possess their own spheres of power. Consequently, in cases such as New York v. United States and Printz v. United States, the Supreme Court has made clear that states cannot be conscripted to carry out federal law. If the federal government wants to enforce federal immigration law, it must do so itself. The constitutional deficiency of President Trumps executive order was not federalism, however, but the division of power between the president and Congress. Specifically, at issue is the presidents authority to impose punishment for noncompliance with a federal statute, Section 1373 of Title VIII of the United States Code, which declares that states and municipalities may not prohibit their employees from sharing a persons immigration status with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (I.N.S.). Section 1373, in other words, proclaims that jurisdictions may not prohibit their officials for instance, police officers from informing I.N.S. that they have detained an undocumented immigrant. President Trumps executive order accordingly declared that any jurisdiction willfully failing to comply with Section 1373 is not eligible to receive federal grants. The prohibition against state conscription does not prevent Congress from passing information-sharing statutes such as Section 1373. In Reno v. Condon, the Supreme Court upheld a federal law, the Drivers Privacy Protection Act, which requires states to share with the federal government certain information regarding drivers license holders. The court concluded that merely sharing existing information with the federal government was not tantamount to making states enforce federal law. Indeed, Congress has passed several information-sharing statutes, including the National Child Search Assistance Act, which requires state and local law enforcement to share information with the federal government about missing and abducted children. House Republicans have revised their proposal to destroy the Affordable Care Act in an effort to win the support of far-right legislators who opposed the first version. In so doing they have made it much worse. The original Trumpcare bill, whose spectacular failure embarrassed the White House, had a public approval rating of just 17 percent because it would have taken health insurance away from 24 million Americans, many of them poor, sick and elderly. The new version would further tighten the screws on vulnerable Americans by letting insurance companies charge older people and people with pre-existing conditions much higher premiums than they charge younger and healthier people. It would also give insurers the freedom not to cover essential health services like maternity care and cancer treatment. The lawmaker who proposed these changes is Representative Tom MacArthur of New Jersey, who says he wants to reduce premiums. The nasty new twist in his version is a provision that, in effect, frees states from having to provide many of the protections now guaranteed by the A.C.A, or Obamacare. States will be permitted to ask the federal government to waive these requirements, and there is a real danger that many lawmakers will cave to pressures from insurance companies that see a way to save money by providing fewer protections. He has stayed, for example, in an atmospheric old longshoremans house in Red Hook, a former coffin factory in Bushwick and the master bedroom of a Sea Gate mansion that was later destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, in Brooklyn; his friend, who was renting the house, preferred to sleep on the couch. That was a great camp, Mr. McGill said fondly, describing how he fell asleep at night to the sound of waves crashing on the beach. But he has also slept in many a basement, a hammock in a heated Staten Island garage and, for several months in the mid-aughts, on top of a nonworking elevator shaft. For a few weeks in 2015, he slept on a Murphy bed in the home of a family living on Pioneer Street in Red Hook, while he taught their 7-year-old son how to dig holes for pylons to support a new back deck. They found bottles of mineral water from the 19th century, marbles from the 1920s and a Mercury dime, which they organized into an informal archaeological museum. Not infrequently, Mr. McGill also stays in a Hells Kitchen walk-up where his ex-wife lives, when he is renovating the apartment downstairs that one of the couples two daughters inherited from the ex-wifes brother. Im allowed to stay there if Im working on something. And when I stay there, I can count on a comfortable night with TV and blankets and Pantene hair spray, he said with a theatrical flourish about his head. Even before adopting his current way of life, Mr. McGill said, he has never liked to stay in one place for long. He moved to New York from Dublin in 1982. He came as a student, researching environmental construction practices, but he had to pay the rent his apartment on Avenue B cost $285 a month so he started working. Click on the slide show to see this weeks featured properties in the New York region: In Wall Township, N.J., a 1934 house, with four bedrooms and three and a half baths, that was rebuilt in 1984 has a Manasquan address, an au pair suite and a three-car attached garage, on 0.56 acre. In Katonah, N.Y., a 1992 house with four bedrooms and three baths on 1.5 acres of landscaped/woodland property in the Wood Lot section, with hardwood flooring and wood details throughout, a finished basement, a swimming pool and a two-tier wooden deck. After a burst of construction, the luxury real estate market is awash with million- and multimillion-dollar homes for sale. Buyers are taking their time before signing on the dotted line, and sales agents and brokers have had to get more creative in drawing attention to their listings. Weve seen buyers come see an apartment four or five times and theyre still on the fence, said Steven Rutter, director of Stribling Marketing Associates, a division of Stribling & Associates. Theres no sense of urgency. Luxury, of course, is a relative term when it comes to New York City, where the average price of a condominium keeps rising and is currently $3.2 million, according to the latest report from CityRealty.com. The definition of which home can be referred to as luxury changes, and is now determined to be about $4.5 million and above, or the top 10 percent of the market, said Jonathan J. Miller, president of the appraisal firm Miller Samuel. StreetEasys data show more than 2,500 homes priced at or above $3 million as of last week, with more than half of those listings at or above $5 million. The tale of the lease buyout is almost mythical in New York. It goes something like this: A tenant with the good fortune of a rent-regulated apartment in a hot neighborhood negotiates a six- or even seven-figure payout in exchange for the keys. On the surface, a buyout may look like a sweetheart deal for a tenant. But tenant advocates say the reality is often dark, with landlords preying on vulnerable tenants and bullying people into leaving their homes for paltry sums. Even under the darkest circumstances, though, plenty of landlords still cut the checks. But what happens if they dont? On Jan. 31 of this year, Machiveni Tigrai moved out of his rent-regulated, $1,720-a-month one-bedroom apartment in the East Village, expecting to receive a $260,000 buyout. He piled his belongings into a U-Haul and handed in the keys. But his landlord did not give him the money. Instead, when he called, he just got voice mail and silence. So Mr. Tigrai, 37, who works in technology, slept in his U-Haul in the middle of winter, afraid to leave his belongings unattended. As the days wore on, he became increasingly anxious. He did not want to sign a lease on a new apartment until he had the check in hand, and he did not want to pay for storage. So he stayed with the truck, some nights sleeping on friends couches. Youre always kind of anxious with a deal of this magnitude, he said. For the proper practice of psychotherapy, a patient has to open his mind as completely as humanly possible, Dr. Lifschutz told The New York Times after his weekend in jail. He must have absolute assurance that what he says will have total confidentiality. In 1996, Dr. Lifschutz sat through the oral arguments before the Supreme Court in a subsequent doctor-patient privilege case, Jaffee v. Redmond. In that case, the court ruled that federal judges must allow mental health professionals to refuse to disclose patient records in civil and criminal proceedings. Their ruling cited the Lifschutz case. Was it harder for the U.S. Supreme Court justices to dismiss the importance of confidentiality in psychotherapy while in the presence of someone who had gone to jail for it? Bram Fridhandler, a California psychologist, wrote in 2005 in The San Francisco Psychologist. We can only speculate. But we know that their decision has become the single most influential legal statement of the need for confidentiality to support effective psychotherapy, which they describe as a transcendent value for society. Joseph Emanuel Lifschutz was born in Brooklyn on April 30, 1924, to Oscar Lifschutz, who ran a grocery in the Williamsburg neighborhood, and the former Miriam Schor, both of them immigrants from Europe. A graduate of Boys High School, he attended City College, Brooklyn College and the University of Oregon before serving in the Army in World War II. He completed his college studies after his military service, graduating with a bachelors degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1945. He then earned a medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. During the Korean War, as an Army medical corps captain, he began seeing psychiatric patients at Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma, Wash. His marriages to Barbara Welch and Ellen St. Sure ended in divorce. He is survived by his longtime companion, Jean Neihaus; three children from his first marriage, Yolanda Gamble and Nathan and Thomas Lifschutz; a sister, Rita Wroblewski; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Another son from his first marriage, Mark, died. Not all Twitter bots are trying to spam, hack or peddle you fake news. Some are works of creativity, programmed to tweet diagrams of imaginary bird migrations or haikus composed of words scavenged from surveys of marine mammals. I follow Twitter bots for serendipitous notes that take me out of my day, if just fleetingly. Theres comfort in witnessing a narrative take form outside the direct control of humans and oblivious to the breakneck clip of the internet. Science-themed Twitter bots come in various forms, doling out humor, factual information and galactic perspective. Theres @shark_girls, which casts two geotracked great white sharks as travel writers, quoting from the writings of Virginia Woolf and the poet Hilda Doolittle. Theres @the_ephemerides, which juxtaposes raw images taken by outer planet probes like the Cassini spacecraft with computer-generated poems. There are many more. Below are some of my favorites. You can blame it all on Percocet. I was three days post-hysterectomy and a little loopy on painkillers. After five years of weekly testosterone injections, the canal (I cant stand calling it a vagina, much less referring to it as my) had atrophied to near nonexistence. This made surgery difficult; I tore. The pain was bad enough. The fact that it was in an area of my body I had tried to ignore made me feel even worse. I had been treating the ache with Percocet, at the cost of my lucidity. In a minor delirium, I developed a sudden need to tell a charismatic acquaintance a girl from India in my physics class just how beautiful and funny she was. It was winter break, and I was at home in Wisconsin, while she had remained in San Antonio, where we went to school. So I decided to send her a quick message. I ended up writing her a rambling letter. Hey, I began, you have cow eyes. I know that sounds like a bad thing but have you ever looked into a cows eyes? They are so deep and brown and beautiful. Ive looked into a lot a cow eyes because Im from Wisconsin. Black Isnt Just a Color Its an Entire Palette In the 1980s, the color black quickly became synonymous with Kawakubos aesthetic. When Comme des Garcons made its Paris Fashion Week debut in 1981, the clothes drew attention in their absolute absence of color an impression that was underlined by interviews with Kawakubo, herself invariably dressed in blacks. Note the plural: Kawakubo used so much, it was possible to see shades and nuances of black in her collections. She wasnt the first to design in black, of course Chanel transformed it from a color of mourning into a color of fashion in the 1920s, with her little black dresses, and designers had used it ever since. But by the 1980s, it had fallen out of favor with the rising preference for flashier colors the brilliant pinks and greens of Claude Montana and Thierry Mugler and the greiges and navies of Giorgio Armani. Black had never been used with Kawakubos severity and insistence shes used the word strength to describe the color. But in 1988, Kawakubo seemed to abruptly change course: She showed a fall collection dominated by rich scarlet. The thought process behind the decision? Red is black, she said at the time. Kawakubos challenge to color and perhaps, as the French theorist Jean Baudrillard reasoned, to the idea of women sporting loud hues being transformed into objects is one of the most important fashion statements of the late 20th century. It transformed black into a color of fashion, intellectualism and rebellion women who wore her clothes were dubbed the crows. And when the Harvard School of Design gave Kawakubo an Excellence in Design Award in 2000, they stated that she invented black. Maybe not but she did reinvent it. It made me feel competitive Rachel Neasham, travel agent Ms. Neasham, one of 20 (human) agents at the Boston-based travel booking app Lola, knew that the companys artificial intelligence computer system its name is Harrison would eventually take over parts of her job. Still, there was soul-searching when it was decided that Harrison would actually start recommending and booking hotels. At an employee meeting late last year, the agents debated what it meant to be human, and what a human travel agent could do that a machine couldnt. While Harrison could comb through dozens of hotel options in a blink, it couldnt match the expertise of, for example, a human agent with years of experience booking family vacations to Disney World. The human can be more nimble knowing, for instance, to advise a family that hopes to score an unobstructed photo with the children in front of the Cinderella Castle that they should book a breakfast reservation inside the park, before the gates open. Ms. Neasham, 30, saw it as a race: Can human agents find new ways to be valuable as quickly as the A.I. improves at handling parts of their job? It made me feel competitive, that I need to keep up and stay ahead of the A.I., Ms. Neasham said. On the other hand, she said, using Harrison to do some things frees me up to do something creative. Ms. Neasham is no ordinary travel agent. When she left the Army after serving as a captain in Iraq and Afghanistan, she wanted to work at a start-up. She joined Lola as one of its first travel agents. Knowing that part of her job was to be a role model, basically, for Harrison, she felt a responsibility for Harrison to become a useful tool. Founded in 2015 by Paul English, who also started the travel-search site Kayak, Lola was conceived as part automated chat service and part recommendation engine. Underlying it all was a type of artificial intelligence technology called machine learning. If your iMac passes muster for Boot Camp, make sure you have 55 gigabytes of free space on your start-up drive and an empty USB flash drive with a capacity of at least 16 gigabytes. You also need a copy of the 64-bit version of Windows 10, which you can buy as a download or on a USB drive from Microsoft. Before you start installing Windows 10, make sure your Macs software is fully up-to-date and back up your computer just in case something goes awry. If you have not created a partition on the Mac before nor installed Windows on it, go to the Macs Applications folder and to the Utilities folder and open the Boot Camp Assistant program to get started. If you already have a Boot Camp partition with Windows 7, you can update it to Windows 10 as you would on a PC. If you want the very latest edition of Windows 10, the Creators Update released this month, Microsoft says to install the Windows 10 Anniversary Update first and then update the system to the Creators Update. Fasten your seatbelts: Cate Blanchett will star in a staging of All About Eve, adapted and directed by the internationally acclaimed Ivo van Hove. Sonia Friedman Productions (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) and Fox Stage Productions plan to bring the adaptation to Londons West End in spring 2018, though details about specific dates or a theater have not been finalized. While many theater productions are driven by showy visuals, loud bangs and huge plot twists, Lincoln Centers new Big Umbrella Festival is striving to deliver the exact opposite. The monthlong festival, coming in April 2018, is designed to cater to children on the autism spectrum. The festivals organizers hope to educate and inspire, and to make theater a safe space for those who may have previously found it less than inviting. We believe the arts can be transformational and that every child should have access to a quality arts education, Russell Granet, executive vice president of Lincoln Center Education, said in a statement. The festival will include the return of Up and Away, a production by the Trusty Sidekick Theater Company that had a sold-out run at Lincoln Center in 2015. Set in hot air balloons, the show allowed its young audience to both interact directly with the cast and step outside if they felt overwhelmed. In her review for The New York Times, Laura Collins-Hughes praised the show as small-batch, immersive theater at its most thoughtful and deliberate. Other upcoming productions include Light Show, from the Britain-based theater group Oily Cart, and Oddysea, an underwater story from Australias Sensorium Theater. The festival will also hold a symposium with the aim of educating companies on how to better serve autistic people. Going on a vacation to learn a skill you have long wanted to pick up sounds like an ideal getaway, but proceed with caution, said John Spence, the president of Scott Dunn USA, a travel company in Solana Beach, Calif., that specializes in customized tours. If you dont pick the right skill for you, or go in with unrealistic expectations, your precious time off wont be enjoyable, he said. Here, he shares his advice on planning a learning vacation that you wont regret taking: FOLLOW YOUR PASSION The options for what you can learn on your vacation are limitless, and include cooking, photography, art history, farming or a sport such as diving or horseback riding. To get the most out of the trip, Mr. Spence advises choosing something youre passionate about; also, if youre traveling with others, dont be unduly influenced by their interests. Ive had instances with clients where friends piggyback on each others learning trips and dont have the best time because theyre not particularly keen on that skill, he said. A LITTLE, OR A LOT? With whatever skill you intend to learn, figure out whether you want an immersion or only to occupy a portion of your trip. Its possible to learn cooking basics, for example, by taking a weeklong course at Ballymaloe Cookery School in County Cork, Ireland. Another option is to enroll in several half-day classes at the school and have more free time to explore the destination itself. Spending your entire break devoted to learning something new can be overwhelming, so make sure that its what you really want, Mr. Spence said. CONSIDER YOUR BUDGET No matter the skill, you can learn it by taking a vacation in a wide range of price ranges, and having a clear idea of your budget will help you home in on the right trip. If you want to learn scuba diving, for example, heading to the Maldives will cost several thousand dollars per person, while a scuba diving trip to the Florida Keys is a more wallet-friendly proposition. Another example: Mr. Spence recently planned a learning trip for a group of friends where he hired a private photographer to teach them photography in Chobe National Park in Botswana. That trip cost $12,000 a person, but he said some group photography courses in the United States cost just a few hundred dollars. In many autobiographies, for example, even fortunate people, born to rich, loving families, look back on life and remember all the things that stood in their way. Not only do we play the starring role in our own life stories, but those stories often revolve around struggle. I see this tendency in myself. When it comes to education, I have won not just one but several birth lotteries: Many children born next to me in rural India struggled to obtain anything beyond simple primary education and maybe a decent high school. Yet I had some of the best educational resources placed right in front of me all the way through my doctorate at Harvard. I would be foolish if I did not remind myself of these advantages every day. Yet it is telling that I do need to remind myself. My spontaneous thoughts are of the challenges I faced, not the advantages I had. This cognitive bias, I think, sheds light on persistent disagreements over inequality and opportunity that affect many of us in American society. When we see our own past in terms of the headwinds we managed to overcome, it is easy to attribute the failure of others to a lack of perseverance. When poor children drop out of high school, someone who complains that these children dont have an adequate work ethic may be remembering educational hurdles that she managed to surmount early in her own life. We often disagree over the source of our success: Those who emphasize the existence of birth lotteries point to the easy ride the well-off have had. Yet relatively privileged people may look at their own lives and feel, Ive struggled too. Arguing about these perceptions doesnt seem to be productive. We may try a different approach. Poverty, after all, is not only caused by strong headwinds; it is also characterized by a lack of tailwinds. If we work on creating more tailwinds by giving poor children more advantages we can solve many otherwise intractable problems. There are more subtle approaches that limit the types of firms that can take advantage of the low rate, though those involve complex rules and the I.R.S.s taking a more invasive role in trying to enforce them. I for one do not want an I.R.S. agent asking a bunch of nosy questions to try to figure out if Irwin Scribblings is a real company or a gimmick to lower my taxes. Eric Toder of the Tax Policy Center has an intriguing idea in which pass-through entities would distinguish between standard returns that business owners receive on capital they directly put into that business, which would be taxed at the low rate, and returns above that level. The latter returns would be taxed like labor, on the assumption that when a business achieves some extraordinary return, it suggests the business owner is really just paying for his or her own labor in a different way. That, though, would penalize entrepreneurs whose ventures have hit it big. Whichever approach Congress might take to rein in some of the opportunities for exploitation that a 15 percent pass-through rate creates, there is a more fundamental issue at stake. Simply put: The bigger the gap between the ordinary income tax rate and the tax on pass-through businesses, the more incentive that people especially high-earning people will have to find a way to game the system. If the pass-through tax rate were set at 25 percent, the 28-percent-tax-bracket people wouldnt have much incentive to try to play these games. (Farewell, Irwin Scribblings.) But the highest earners, who face a top income tax rate of 39.6 percent on millions of dollars, most certainly would. As long as you have differential rates, there will always be incentives to try to classify income in ways that take advantage of whichever rate is lower, said Scott Greenberg, an analyst at the Tax Foundation. Moreover, people with that much money at stake will have more ability and incentive than merely upper-middle-income people to hire good accountants and lawyers to ensure they comply with the letter of the tax code and I.R.S. regulations, if not necessarily the spirit. Its not worth paying lawyers a few thousand dollars to save a few thousand dollars. It is worth paying lawyers a few thousand dollars to save a few million. It was perhaps reflective of that modesty that when she died on Dec. 8 at 101 in an Ithaca nursing home, the news did not travel widely. Newspapers in central New York carried a brief obituary, but her death went unreported virtually everywhere else. It was only after the announcement by the Coast Guard on Thursday that she would be buried with full military honors on Saturday at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Cayuga Heights, N.Y., that word of her death spread nationwide. Indeed, the almost five-month delay in her memorial owed something to Mrs. Finchs solicitous nature. Near death, she had made it clear that she did not want her funeral to disrupt her relatives Christmas holidays or to make mourners travel during a dark and icy Southern Tier winter. (Besides, she relished the annual resurgence wrought by spring.) So it was put off. The funeral is to be held in Ithaca, with the military honors coming afterward, a ceremony befitting this Philippine-born daughter of an American father and Filipino mother one who, in 1947, received the Medal of Freedom (the forerunner of todays Presidential Medal of Freedom), the nations highest award to a civilian. When the Japanese occupied the Philippines from 1942 to 1945, Mrs. Finch posed as a Filipino, but she became a United States citizen after the war. Because she was over 18, she could have chosen to be American or Filipino, Ms. Murphy said. When the Japanese landed, she chose to be mum, but in her heart she had chosen to be an American. LOS ANGELES After a mostly-white jury acquitted four white police officers in the beating of Rodney King, it was only minutes before Henry Keith Watson joined hundreds of others here at the corner of Florence and Normandie in South Los Angeles. They were filled with fury and disbelief, and eager to show it to the rest of the world. Mr. Watson was one of the four men convicted in the beating of Reginald Denny, a white truck driver who tried to pass through the intersection before he was pulled from his vehicle. With news helicopters hovering above, the intersection became the flash point in the 1992 riots that rocked this city. Mr. Watson, who held Mr. Dennys neck down with his foot, was later convicted of assault for his role in the beating. He later apologized to Mr. Denny on a nationally televised talk show. WASHINGTON Owners of ancient water vessels are likely to be quite pleased with the Senate, which voted overwhelmingly this month to generally exempt them from a fire-retardant materials requirement. But that is about the extent of bipartisan legislation to emerge from Congress during the first 100 days of unified Republican governance. A divisive election, the growing use of arcane rules that disenfranchise the minority party and a chaotic White House have combined to create one of the least productive opening acts by Congress in recent memory. In the Senate, legislators have appeared to stop trying. Important cabinet appointments, a Supreme Court confirmation and a vast array of deregulation measures have all been passed without the 60-vote requirement that was once customary. Driven at once by haste and partisanship, Congress has been hampered from moving forward on the tax code, infrastructure and the health care law. In the House, not even a healthy Republican majority has proved enough. On Thursday, House Republican leaders again failed to round up enough votes among their own members, leaving some in the party politically exposed in the process. A beloved House tax proposal appears to have been jettisoned by the Trump administration before it could even get going. WASHINGTON Averting a political embarrassment ahead of President Trumps 100th day in office, Congress on Friday approved a one-week spending measure that avoids a government shutdown, providing lawmakers with extra time to finish negotiations on a long-term spending package. But House Republicans left the Capitol with their goal of voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act still eluding them and eluding Mr. Trump, who will conclude his first 100 days on Saturday without a marquee legislative achievement. Instead, Republicans had to be satisfied on Friday with simply keeping the lights on. The approval of the short-term spending measure, which occurred during daylight and without drama, was more a display of basic competence than a proud legislative accomplishment. With unified control in Washington, Republicans could not afford to fail at the fundamental task of keeping the government funded. At the same time, the spending talks showed one way that Democrats can still exert influence even while in the minority. ATLANTA President Trump received a thunderous welcome from thousands of gun lovers as he appeared here on Friday at the National Rifle Associations annual convention to thank the group for its unwavering support of his presidential campaign. A supporter of restrictions on guns before he entered politics, Mr. Trump became a fierce champion of gun rights during his bid for the White House, earning early backing and $30 million in campaign support from the powerful lobbying group. Only one candidate in the general election came to speak to you, and that candidate is now the president of the United States, standing before you, Mr. Trump said. You came through for me, and I am going to come through for you. The president was received as a hero, in part for successfully installing a conservative Supreme Court justice, Neil M. Gorsuch, who is seen as a likely protector of the Second Amendment. Mr. Trump in turn treated the gun convention like a political rally, joyfully recalling his election victory and mocking the journalists and Democrats who were confident that he would lose. WASHINGTON The Heritage Foundation, a powerful conservative think tank that played a significant role in shaping President Trumps cabinet and tilting it far to the right, is expected to replace its leader, the former South Carolina senator and Tea Party leader Jim DeMint. The anticipated shake-up, which was confirmed by two people with knowledge of the fraught internal dynamics, comes at an inopportune time for the group, with several major pieces of conservative legislation on the agenda in Congress. The budget, a tax overhaul and health care are all issues that Heritage has tried to influence, with varying degrees of success. A spokesman for the foundation did not return a request for comment. Mr. DeMints abrupt ouster, described by people as a coup against him, was the result of a larger debate among conservative donors who fund the group. One of its board members is Rebekah Mercer, a reclusive donor who has helped propel the White House chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, in his effort to dismantle aspects of the political establishment. Ms. Mercer was described by people with knowledge of the events as helping drive the effort toward a shake-up. Another person close to the discussions, who asked not to be identified, said that Mr. DeMint was not seen as sufficiently pro-Trump by some members of the board. The premiere of The Handmaids Tale on Hulu prompted many critics to note the timely resonance of Margaret Atwoods 1985 dystopian novel. Megan McArdle finds this ridiculous. Having reread the book to look for Trumpian intimations, Ms. McArdle takes no issue with its politics or realism. Instead, she contends that the country is nowhere near the misogynistic theocracy described in the book, and she warns readers against reacting hysterically to a reality found in fiction. Read more _____ Peter Van Buren in The American Conservative: While public institutions do have an obligation to public safety, that obligation must be balanced against the publics greater right to engage with free speech. Peter Van Buren charts a history of free speech cases that involve the Hecklers Veto, a term in First Amendment law for government suppression of speech in anticipation of violence. Mr. Van Buren points out that courts have routinely rejected the so-called veto and advised that it is the governments responsibility to curb potential violent actors rather than sacrifice the free speech of those they are protesting. Recent actions by the University of California, Berkeley, and New York University, he argues, betray this legal precept. Read more _____ Matt Welch in Reason: Taxcut-and-spend is back, baby, and with it any last claim that the Republican Party is serious about confronting the national debt. Matt Welch, an editor at large at the libertarian magazine Reason, likes the tax cuts proposed by the Trump administration this week. Hed like them better, however, if they were paired with cuts to government spending. Read more As he closes in on completing his first 100 days in office, Donald J. Trump reflected on how his life has changed since he became president and the challenges he faces. In an interview on Thursday with Reuters, the president offered these assessments: On the difficulties of the job I loved my previous life, Mr. Trump told Reuters. I had so many things going. This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier. On a confrontation with North Korea There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely. On Chinas role in holding off North Korea Referring to President Xi Jinping of China, Mr. Trump said: He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. Hes a good man. Hes a very good man and I got to know him very well ... On North Korea Leader Kim Jong-un As to whether or not hes rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope hes rational. On breaking away from Nafta I get a call from Mexico yesterday, We hear youre going to terminate Nafta. I said thats right. They said, Is there any way we can do something without you without termination? I said, What do you want to do? He said, Well, wed like to negotiate. I said well think about it. Then I get a call, and they call me, I get a call from Justin Trudeau and he said, Wed like to see if we can work something out, and I said thats fine. Because Ive always Ive been very consistent. Its much less disruptive if we can make a fair trade deal than if we terminate. WASHINGTON Just days after the seventh anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, one of the worst environmental disasters in the nations history, President Trump on Friday directed the Interior Department to reconsider several safety regulations on offshore drilling put in place after the spill. Fridays executive order was aimed at rolling back the Obama administrations attempts to ban oil drilling off the southeastern Atlantic and Alaskan coasts. It would erase or narrow the boundaries of some federally protected marine sanctuaries, opening them up to commercial fishing and oil drilling. But Mr. Trump also took aim at regulations on oil-rig safety. In the final years of the Obama administration, the Interior Department instituted several new rules aimed at improving the safety of specific pieces of offshore drilling equipment that had failed during the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and that were found to have been responsible for the BP oil rig explosion. The rulers of the social media and search worlds have run their high-powered analytics to give us incisive new insight into President Trumps first 100 days in office. And the results, are well, basically what youd expect. We now have data to support the claim that, yes, our commander in chief posts often on Twitter about the media and making America great; we also now know that people spent his first few months in office searching mostly for information about immigration and other related topics. But lets start with Mr. Trump himself. In a report released on Friday, Twitter examined how Mr. Trump leveraged his favorite social media platform during this early stage. They said Mr. Trump had posted a total of 486 times as of 1 p.m. on Day 98. (The New York Times has published an interactive feature cataloging posts from the start of his presidency.) A less rigorous analysis by yours truly found that, by comparison, former President Barack Obama sent out a dozen messages on Twitter over that span; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, however, sent a ton; Beyonce did not send any. RIO DE JANEIRO A general strike disrupted cities around Brazil on Friday as unions marshaled resistance to austerity measures proposed by the scandal-ridden government of President Michel Temer, reflecting his struggle to persuade voters that his proposals to overhaul pension systems and labor laws are necessary. Tensions flared in Rio de Janeiro, with schools warning parents to keep students at home, security forces using tear gas on protesters at ferry terminals near Guanabara Bay and clashes erupting in Santos Dumont Airport. In Sao Paulo, Brazils largest city, protesters blocked highways, halted much of the public transit network and shut down access to an array of public buildings. The strike also hit cities elsewhere in Brazil, including Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte and the capital, Brasilia, though many businesses in the country were still able to open on Friday, at least partly, or operate at a slower pace than usual. The strike is completely justified, but Id be fired if I didnt go to work, said Marco Basaglia, 48, a bank employee in Sao Paulo who walked to work Friday instead of taking public transportation. Temer hates working people. This is the worst government Brazil has ever had. BEIJING Is an alien mollusk species choking your shoreline? Dont despair. Chinas ravenous, inventive internet users have an answer to unwelcome shellfish. Theyre ready to devour them. The Danish Embassy in Beijing has been absorbing that lesson since it shared a report online this week about a plague of Pacific oysters, a stubborn, gray intruder that has spread explosively along parts of the Scandinavian coast. Fresh oysters are cramming the shore, but Danes arent the least bit happy, the embassy explained on Monday in a message on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media service like Twitter. Visit the Danish coast to eat fresh oysters, is it a date? it added. The reaction was more than the embassy anticipated. By Friday the message had attracted around 15,000 quips and comments, and the Pacific oyster invasion was reported by many Chinese newspapers and news websites. HONG KONG One of Chinas most prominent human rights lawyers was given a suspended three-year prison sentence on Friday after being convicted of subversion charges. The lawyer, Li Heping, who has been in detention since 2015, received a four-year reprieve, a court in the port city of Tianjin said in a statement. That means he will not have to serve the sentence if he stays out of legal trouble during that time. The sentence means Mr. Li will be released, but it effectively prevents him from practicing law in the near future, rights groups said. UNITED NATIONS Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said on Friday that the United States was keeping all options on the table if diplomacy failed to persuade North Korea to halt its nuclear weapons program. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council, Mr. Tillerson called for stiffer international sanctions against North Korea and threatened to impose sanctions on third parties that continued to cooperate with the country. He also demanded that the North dismantle its nuclear weapons program before talks could begin. The more we bide our time, the sooner we will run out of it, he said. All options for reacting to future provocations must remain on the table. He added, North Korea must take concrete steps to reduce the threat that its illegal weapons programs pose to the United States and our allies before we can consider talks. SEOUL, South Korea President Trumps comment that he wants South Korea to pay for a missile defense system being set up in the country jolted its presidential race on Friday and surprised the government, leaving it scrambling to figure out the intentions of a close ally. In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Mr. Trump said that he wanted South Korea to pay for the system, known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad, whose cost he estimated at $1 billion. He also said that he wanted to renegotiate or terminate what he called a horrible trade agreement with South Korea because of a deep trade deficit. Very soon, he said when asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the pact. Im announcing it now. In South Korea, Mr. Trumps comments shook the race to choose a successor to Park Geun-hye, the former president who was formally ousted last month after being impeached by Parliament in December. The election is on May 9. PARIS The campaign of the French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Friday that it had denied the pro-Kremlin media outlets Sputnik and Russia Today accreditations to cover the rest of his campaign. On Sunday, after it became clear that Mr. Macron and Marine Le Pen would face each other in the election runoff on May 7, the news media descended on Macron headquarters. But journalists from RT, Sputnik and Ruptly, a Russian video news agency, were denied access. Other Russian media outlets were accredited for the event, according to a spokeswoman for the campaign, who said RT and Sputnik were considered alternative media that produce propaganda. In a weekly briefing in Moscow on Thursday, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria V. Zakharova, described the decision as outrageous. She said the prohibitive measures were purposeful and blatant discrimination of the Russian media by a candidate to the presidency of a state that historically stood up for freedom of speech. PARIS The interim leader that Marine Le Pen chose to run her far-right party while she ran for the presidency has been forced to step down because he praised a Holocaust denier and expressed doubt that the Nazis used poison gas to murder Jews. Jean-Francois Jalkh, who had been temporarily at the helm of her National Front, said in a 2000 interview that Zyklon B, the gas used to kill millions of Jews during the Holocaust, would have been impossible to use in mass exterminations. Ms. Le Pen called the outrage directed at Mr. Jalkh a defamation on Friday morning. The negative news, however, was somewhat offset by days end, when Ms. Le Pen got an endorsement from a defeated right-wing presidential candidate, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, who won less than 5 percent of the vote nationwide. Marine Le Pen is not on the far right to me, he said. Ms. Le Pen is one of two candidates to advance to the second round of the presidential race, and announced on Monday that she would temporarily step down as National Front leader to focus on defeating the independent centrist Emmanuel Macron, considered to be the favorite in the election on May 7. MALMO, Sweden A family whose members say they fled Albania to escape a blood feud was rejected for asylum by Swedish officials, who months later asked them to leave. But so far, only one has been deported. Sentila Kernaja, who turned 21 this week, three siblings and their disabled mother each collect 1,800 Swedish kronor, about $200, a month from the government. The government covers round-the-clock care for the mother, who is 42 and paralyzed from the waist down. The siblings attend a public high school, free of charge. Ms. Kernaja cleans houses off the books, while inhabiting a legal limbo. Its ridiculous, she said in an interview here in Malmo, Swedens third-largest city. I told them to keep the money and give me a work permit. The family is among an estimated 18,000 people who live in Sweden even though their claims for asylum have been turned down. Their status has come under scrutiny after Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old failed asylum seeker from Uzbekistan, drove a truck into a pedestrian shopping street in Stockholm on April 7 in the countrys worst terrorism attack in decades. (The toll from that attack rose to five on Friday, when a 66-year-old teacher died from her injuries.) A young Korean girl is searching for her lost doll. Picking it up and clutching it to her chest, shes startled by lightning crackling through the sky, then a giant monster appears above her, stomping on buildings before disappearing. Fast forward a quarter century to New York where a party girl comes stumbling into her boyfriends place, claiming shes been sleeping at a friend's. He gives her the boot, stunning her. But not enough that she doesnt open the apartment door and let in her friends who keep the party going. So opens Colossal, a weird, transfixing picture thats a monster movie wrapped in romantic revenge, complete with a psycho killer of sorts, that jumps between continents via a wild storyline that links the monster and the party girl. The picture comes from Spanish filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo, who wrote and directed, injecting the film with some humor, plenty of tension and creating some memorable characters -- and not just the monsters. The party girl is Anne Hathaway, whos become a fine indie film player, and is in great form here as the drunken, then terrified, then determined Gloria. Unemployed and homeless after getting kicked out by Tim (Dan Stevens), Gloria returns to Mainland, her hometown, moving into the empty house left by her late parents. Walking back from a store carrying an air mattress in a plastic bag, she sees a childhood friend driving by in his pickup. Oscar (Jason Sudeikis) doesnt just give her a ride back to the house. He takes her to the bar he took over from his parents, gets her drunk and offers her a job as a waitress. She says yes -- but shes a blackout drunk and doesnt remember. Nor does she know about the news that the monster has returned to Seoul, terrifying the people and dominating the media -- mainstream and social -- around the world. Compelled to follow the monster on TV and on the internet, Gloria begins to believe that shes got a connection to the creature destroying the city on the other side of the globe. Thats all the specifics Im going to give about the story, which gets stranger and ever more dangerous, rolls in romantic rivalries, jealousy and resentment and is capped by a perfect ending. Credit that, and the pictures innovative combination of indie film and monster movie, to Vigalondo, who takes the story of the flawed, troubled woman finding her true self and gives it the Godzilla twist. In doing so, he moves it from familiar to captivating -- and, importantly, gives the monster just the right amount of screen time to be effective. And credit indie film king Sudeikis with one of his best performances, making Oscar both sympathetic and repulsive, creating the same feelings toward him in the audience that Gloria has for him on screen. Colossal isnt likely to be a huge hit, taking in hundreds of millions of dollars. Its too arty for the monster movie set and might be too much of a monster movie for some of the art house crowd. And it requires some serious suspension of disbelief. But those who buy into Vigalondos tale will be rewarded with an innovative, entertaining, twisting and turning ride -- just what you want from a monster movie. CAIRO To hear the Coptic Catholic priest tell it, building a church in Cairo requires far more than bricks and mortar. He listed the other requirements: the patience of Job, the wiles of a fox and the quiet determination to pole-vault Egypts discriminatory regulations. Not easy, said the priest, Youhanna Saad, with a wry smile as he bounced his 5-year-old daughter on his knee. The regulations were not fair. It made us cheat. For the past decade, his small Coptic Catholic congregation in a gritty north Cairo suburb has been trying to build a new church in the teeth of official resistance a common tale in Egypt, where the law panders to old prejudices. But Father Saad, a former teacher, is almost there. The deafening rattle of an electric saw often fills the church, which is hidden down a lane and sandwiched between two apartment buildings. Weekly Masses have already started, using plastic office chairs in place of wooden pews in a still-undecorated hall. But beyond the sometimes saccharine tributes, the thorny challenges of religious harmony in Egypt were felt. At a carpet store across the street, an older woman held court after Francis had driven off. Egyptians welcomed him, as they would any foreign visitors, she said. But we wish they would love us back, she added, launching into a stream of gripes against former President Barack Obama and other foreigners who, she said, were against Egypt. The woman declined to give her name, citing her suspicions of the American news media. The pope prods Sisi on human rights. In an address to Mr. Sisi and a collection of political and civil authorities, Francis gently sought to encourage the authoritarian governments progress in protecting Egypts religious minorities while at the same time making subtle, diplomatic but nevertheless clear allusions to the leaders crackdown on human rights. Some minutes ago you told me that God is the God of liberty, Pope Francis said, turning to look at Mr. Sisi, who sat on stage next to the pontiff. And this is true. After remarks by Mr. Sisi in front of the Egyptian and Vatican flags at Al Masah Hotel, the pope, speaking only minutes after a long address at Al Azhars conference, congratulated the Egyptian government on its efforts toward economic and social development. He recognized Mr. Sisi for having spoken often and with a clarity against a religious extremism that crushes diversity. But then he pointedly argued that history does not forgive those who preach justice, but then practice injustice; history does not forgive those who talk about equality, but then discard those who are different. Francis also called for the ensuring of unconditional respect for inalienable human rights such as equality among all citizens, religious freedom and freedom of expression, without any distinction. He argued that Egypt had a unique role to play as a bulwark against spreading violence in the region, even as it is assaulted on its own soil by senseless acts of violence. Francis mourns martyrs at Coptic cathedral. After riding in a car along seemingly empty streets, Francis went to the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral festooned in banners hailing his arrival. There, the pope, wearing white, met with his counterpart, Tawadros, dressed in black, and said their ever closer bond was sustained, in mysterious and quite relevant way, by a genuine ecumenism of blood. CAIRO Pope Francis delivered his most blunt and powerful message to the Muslim world on Friday when he began a papal mission to Egypt by warning against wrapping violence and terror in the language of religion. As religious leaders, we are called, therefore, to unmask the violence that masquerades as purported sanctity, the pope said at a peace conference organized by Al Azhar mosque and university, one of the most influential centers of Sunni Islamic learning. He added: We have an obligation to denounce violations of human dignity and human rights, to expose attempts to justify every form of hatred in the name of religion, and to condemn these attempts as idolatrous caricatures of God. The papal visit came at a critical time for Egypt, a country caught up in intensifying terrorist attacks, particularly against Christians, and a deepening crackdown by an authoritarian government. On Friday, Pope Francis seemed to put on different hats during the days three stops, reflecting his interreligious, ecumenical and political roles. There is another, very particular group of families that suffer at this time of year, too people near and dear to my heart (and those of my colleagues). They are New York Times subscribers, people with median household incomes of $99,000 (digital) and $167,000 (print), and others like them. Nobody sympathizes with them much, and they do not ask for you to do so. But hear them out as I do in ever larger numbers each year around this time. All week long, I spoke to them: at midnight as they worried aloud about the aid offers yet again; and at sunrise when I emailed them with thoughts and suggestions. A word cloud of their emotions about the system of paying for college would include large-font renderings of terms like disillusioned and bewildered and disbelief. Their own parents had sacrificed and sent them to the best colleges they could get into. Or, they had worked their way through school mostly on their own. But as this month winds to a close, they and their children still found themselves haggling for more aid based on their income, assets or academic accomplishments. Many of the teenagers are disappointed: Yes, they got in often by putting in the biggest efforts of their young lives but no, they may not be able to afford to go to their dream schools after all. And as the deadline to make a choice nears, many families find themselves asking complex questions about whether they should pay five figures more per year and six figures more over four years to reach for a first-choice college that simply will not discount any further. One of the most memorable interviews in the 30-odd years Ive been writing about music took place upstairs at the Zoo Bar on a night in the late '80s or maybe 1990 -- the precise date is lost in the archives. It was with Buddy Guy, for about 30 minutes before he was to take the stage directly below where we sat and talked. One of his sons, he told me, didnt think all that much of his dad being a blues guitar player, the blues were old fashioned, out of date. The boy had picked up a book or magazine -- I dont recall which -- about Jimi Hendrix and saw a picture of Jimi sitting on the floor next to a stage, staring up at a guitarist -- Buddy Guy. Then I was cool, he said. We talked a lot about Guys place in the blues -- he's now the greatest living Chicago bluesman and the last of the notable Chess Records artists standing -- and his desire to pass the music on, the latter driven home as he gave some "how-to" advice to a young guitarist who had just joined Guy's band, literally getting off a farm tractor to learn from the master. Then Guy went downstairs and went to work, playing what was either his last or penultimate show at the blues institution where he and, most often, his harmonica-playing partner Junior Wells played often during some lean years in the '70s and 80s. A year or two after that show, Guy was rediscovered. Or in most cases, found for the first time. Via high visibility gigs with the likes of Eric Clapton, Guy landed a record deal, made Damn Right, Ive Got the Blues, his first studio album in nearly a decade and won the first of his six Grammy Awards, ensuring hed never play the small room on 14th Street again. On Thursday, he'll play the 2,000-seat Lied Center for Performing Arts. The Grammys, for best contemporary blues album in 1991, 1993, 1994, 2004, 2011 and for last years excellent Born to Play Guitar, are physical indicators of the esteem in which Guy is held in the music industry. So are the 24 W.C. Handy/Blues Music Awards hes won over the years. And, in 2005, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Hes worked with Muddy Waters, Little Walter and Howlin Wolf on one hand, and Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and the Rolling Stones on the other, reads Guys entry on the rock halls website. There are few notable blues figures that Guy hasnt brushed up against. He was even an influence on Jimi Hendrix. The genres most electrifying guitarist, Guy has remained a vital and current musician, moving blues forward without losing sight of its roots. Hes renowned for his raw, blistering vocals and high-voltage guitar playing. He plays a Fender Stratocaster, employing feedback, distortion and extreme string-bending. The hall entry then goes on to sketch out Guys biography. Short version -- George Buddy Guy moved from the farm in Louisiana to Chicago in 1958, looking to make it in the blues. A hit on the club scene with his fiery playing and befriended by Magic Sam and Muddy Waters, Guy wound up on Chess, putting out singles in the early 60s and playing on records by Waters, Howlin Wolf, Koko Taylor and more. Chess, however, wasnt interested in putting out an album featuring Guys too-wild-for-them guitar. But a couple albums on Vanguard did capture Guys style in the late 60s/early 70s -- by which time hed influenced a whos who of English guitarists -- Jeff Beck, Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page -- and later the likes of Vaughan and John Mayer. Now 80, Guy is going strong, still running Legends, the Chicago blues club hes owned since 1989, and playing upwards of 100 shows a year, in keeping with a tradition thats as old as the blues. B.B. King dedicated his life to the blues until he couldnt go no more, Guy told Rolling Stone in Nov. 2015. Muddy, Wolf, all of them did it. Because they loved it as much as I do. And now Im gonna do it myself. I think I owe that to them. It's time to see the legend in Lincoln one more time. School aid change The Legislature gave second-stage approval to a bill (LB409) that revises the state school aid formula for two years to help meet state budget challenges. Estimated savings total $122 million. Student reading skills The Legislature will consider an increasingly rare motion to pull a bill out of committee when senators return Tuesday. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn is asking senators to bring to the floor from the Education Committee her priority bill (LB651) that would require schools to track and address the reading needs of every student. Would you be interested in hearing about a way of understanding our humanity, and the story of our species on this planet, that " Explains much about the overall trajectory of human history; and, in particular, " Provides a basic insight into why our history has been as tormented and destructive as it has been; " Presents a useful and highly plausible way of comprehending the nature, source, and modus operandi of what has traditionally been called "evil"; " Shows persuasively that human history should not be seen as human nature writ large, that the ugliness we see in history is not evidence of an ugliness inherent in humanity; and thus, with the case it makes, that we are likely far better creatures than most of us believe, " Enables us to envision much brighter possibilities for the human future than are current in most contemporary thinking; " (And most immediately, explains how a destructive force has gained great power in recent times in the American political system, leading to the election of a man whose rise to the presidency would previously have been unthinkable); --a way of understanding that does these things in a secular framework that builds logically upon some of the best available knowledge: what evolution tells us about the development of life on earth, what history and anthropology tell us about human societies, and what psychology tells us about how human beings get shaped by their experience? If your answer to that question is yes, then you are one of the people for whom I am writing this series. For my aim in this series, which begins with this piece, is to deliver to you that "way of understanding," that theory, that human story. ********************** If you are interested in that kind of Big Picture way of understanding, you are also, I believe, in a minority in the climate of thought of our times. Consider: what kind of "story" do we as a culture today tell about ourselves? What sense do we make of the forces or processes that over long stretches of time have borne us forth to be what we are and where we are -- as a society, as a civilization, as a species -- today? For most people in contemporary society -- at least in its secular components--there's no real story at all. Just "one damned thing after another." It is not just the large component of less educated or less intellectually motivated people that is characterized by this absence of a sense-making story of our kind. Even among the more intellectually inclined, the interest in Big Picture insights is much reduced from where it was, say, a half century ago. Back in the 1960s -- the decade of my own main intellectual formation -- the explanatory systems of Freud and Marx provided frameworks through which many thinkers perceived the human story. These frameworks have since lost much of their prestige and authority. But my point here is not to discuss those ideas, but rather to observe these two striking aspects of the intellectual environment of our times: " While those Big Picture ideas have receded, nothing much comparable has arisen to take their place. We have accounts that make connections (specific links, like how the Versailles Treaty at the end of World War I planted the seeds of World War II), and some that delineate larger patterns (like the rise of the city states, or the Industrial Revolution). And we have the essential idea of biological evolution, and the basic perspective of evolutionary psychology that derives from it. But in the contemporary intellectual world, there has arisen no account that can illuminate the meaning of the overall shape of the human story. " Even though the absence of any overarching ideas to make sense of the human story leaves an important void in our understanding, people lacking such a story are nonetheless not looking for something to fill that void. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from www.truthdig.com ELIZABETH, N.J.--Edison, 50, an undocumented man from Uruguay, wraps his knuckles against the basement wall of the row house as if it is a front door. "Who is it?" a 44-year-old Salvadoran immigrant named Antonio asks in Spanish. "La migra," Edison says, using the Spanish slang for the Border Patrol and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "Is Antonio inside?" Advertisement Square, Site wide "We want to speak with you," says Edison, who like everyone else in the basement asked me not to use his or her last name. "Open the door." "Did I commit a crime?" Antonio asks. "We have a warrant for your arrest," Edison says. "Slide it under the door," Antonio says. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Iceberg in Newfoundland Canada (Image by natalielucier) Details DMCA One need not support Clinton to understand that many Trump associates, at the highest levels, had ties with Russian or pro-Russian links, during the campaign and several received hefty payments which they then lied about. Nor that Trump himself lied about having "no ties" to Russia. When people lie, they are covering up the truth. What is the truth? Those who have argued, all too many on the progressive side even after Trump said of the hacking, after intelligence showed him the evidence, "I think the Russians did it." Those proposing we keep an open mind and look at the facts, and wait for the evidence, have been vindicated by the fact that Trump has had to fire both his NSA chief and his chief campaign manager, not due to unwarranted accusations by the left, but by evidence of lying about their ties, including financial to Russian and pro-Russian parties. Was here a financial bias for Trump's friendly gestures to Russia. According to his son a few years back, a good part of the Trump inventory is based on assets and financial backing from Russia. Trump openly asked for Russia to help him defeat Clinton Wikileaks, which Assange in his interview with Megyn Kelly on Fox News admitted had material on both Trump and Clinton, released the damaging material on Clinton but is keeping what it has on Trump secret. That is bizarre behavior for an organization committed to exposing secrets, in this case about the President of the United States. And now Flynn appears to have broken the law and have kept secret his payments from Russia. The investigation into what he was covering up may be just the tip of the iceberg of clandestine relations between the Trump organization and Russian parties. It has now been proven that Mantafort lies about receiving money from the pro-Russian Ukraine government to provide propaganda in the US and favorable political connections. "Manafort, who worked as a political strategist for Yanukovych, was Trump's campaign manager until August. He resigned after Kiev investigators accused him of accepting $12.7 million in secret payments. Manafort's name appeared in what is known as the "black ledger," a record of payments from an illegal slush fund Yanukovych's Kremlin-friendly party, the Party of Regions, operated out of several offshore bank accounts. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, a government law enforcement agency, released the ledger in August as part of an ongoing investigation into corruption charges against Yanukovych." LATimes/March 21 The information that exposed Mantafort as lying about the payments, ironically (given that Wikileaks exposed Clinton material to help Trump) from hackers: "The text messages were part of a large cache released by a hacker group in February that reportedly came from the iPhone of Paul Manafort's daughter, Andrea." The Washington Post reported on March 21, "The latest documents were released just hours after the House Intelligence Committee questioned FBI Director James B. Comey about possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Moscow." Then Salon reported on April 12: "In August, Manafort denied ever receiving payments from the Russian or Ukranian government, and said that the suggestion he had accepted cash payments was "unfounded, silly and nonsensical." Now, the AP has obtained financial records that show that at least $1.2 million in payments that were listed in the ledger next to Manafort's name were indeed received by his consulting firm in the United States. The payments came in 2007 and 2009 and provide the first evidence that support the credibility of the black ledger." That which is "unfounded, silly, and nonsensical" has now been found to be true. Flynn, briefly in charge of our National Security, has now been found to have lied about payments from Russia. Fox news (how satisfying to use this mouthpiece of the right as a source) reported: "Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, did not reveal payments he received from three Russia-connected entities on a financial disclosure form he filed upon joining the Trump administration. Flynn ultimately filed two financial disclosure forms, one Feb. 11 and one on Friday. On the first form, filed days before Trump asked Flynn to resign as national security adviser for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about a conversation Flynn had with the Russian ambassador to the U.S., the retired Army lieutenant general omitted payments he received for three speeches to Russian companies. One of the companies was RT, a media outlet funded by the Russian government . Documents released by a congressional committee show that Flynn was paid $45,000 for that appearance. The other two companies were the Volga-Dnepr Group, a Russian air-cargo company; and Kaspersky Government Security Solutions, a U.S. subsidiary of a leading Russian cybersecurity firm. win immunity from congressional probers in exchange for his cooperation with official inquiries into contacts between Russia and Trump's campaign in 2016. The disclosures detail Flynn's business and financial activities dating back to 2014. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). President Trump is proposing a 15% tax rate for corporations across the board, with the individual tax rate up to 35%. Why should a corporation pay a lower rate of income tax than its employees? The corporate tax rate is now 35% and the maximum individual tax rate is 39%. The Supreme Court has ruled that corporations are people and entitled to the same constitutional rights as people. So shouldn't people be entitled to the same rights as corporations? President Trump's tax proposal will bury the federal government in red ink by lowering corporate taxes across the board. My proposal is revenue neutral and targets tax incentives aimed directly at manufacturing corporations that we want to keep in the United States or bring back to the U.S. Mr. Trump claims that the U.S. has the highest corporate tax rate in the world. This is not quite accurate since that although the nominal corporate rate is 35% the actual, real world corporate tax rate is closer to 15%. According to Americans for Tax Fairness, General Electric, Boeing, Verizon and 23 other profitable Fortune 500 firms paid no federal income taxes from 2008 to 2012. The organization also found that 288 big and profitable Fortune 500 corporations paid an average effective federal tax rate of just and that profitable corporations paid U.S. income taxes amounting to just 12.6% of worldwide income in 2010. Concerning corporate taxes, I propose the elimination of loopholes and a corporate tax rate of 28% with a zero tax rate for manufacturing companies. I also propose a 14% tax rate for income earned overseas to bring home $2.6 trillion of profits sitting in corporate accounts offshore. I would also cap personal taxes at 28% as well, with no deductions, except the personal deduction. Loopholes Many corporations use every tax loophole to avoid paying taxes. As a part of tax reform all of these loopholes should be closed. All income should be treated the same, with one exception. The exception is income from manufacturing. Manufacturing is the industry that has moved offshore, for cheap labor and for low tax rates. Your local restaurant, dry cleaner and retail store cannot move offshore and does not need special lower tax rates: they cannot move offshore. The President's industry, real estate investment, is built on loopholes, including depreciation. Real property does not depreciate; Depreciation is a myth. Improvements and repairs to real estate should be deductible, but depreciation should not be deductible from income. Tax Amnesty for Reshoring Profits There are also more than $2.6 trillion stashed overseas by major American corporations, including Microsoft, Apple and Google. We should allow these dollars to be repatriated at a reduced rate. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Donald Trump - Caricature (Image by DonkeyHotey) Details DMCA Reprinted from robertreich.org One way dictators take over democracies is by threatening the independence of a nation's courts. Donald Trump is doing just this. Connect the following dots: 1. In January, Trump blasted a federal judge for staying his travel ban. "The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!" he tweeted. 2. In February, after the judge made the stay permanent, Trump issued a veiled threat: "Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad!" 3. Last week, after another federal judge issued a nationwide injunction blocking Trump's travel ban, Trump's Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, said "I really am amazed that a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific can issue an order that stops the president of the United States from what appears to be clearly his statutory and constitutional power." 4. On Tuesday, after another federal judge blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a threat to take away funds from sanctuary cities, the White House issued a statement condemning the judge as "unelected." The statement charged "this San Francisco judge's erroneous ruling is a gift to the criminal gang and cartel element in our country, empowering the worst kind of human trafficking and sex trafficking, and putting thousands of innocent lives at risk. This case is yet one more example of egregious overreach by a single, unelected district judge." 5. On Wednesday, Trump said he was considering breaking up the court of appeals for the 9th Circuit, in which these three federal judges hear and decide cases. "There are many people who want to break up the 9th Circuit," he said. "It's outrageous." The 9th Circuit Court covers Arizona, California, Alaska, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington and Hawaii, as well as Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Eighteen of the court's 25 judges were appointed by Democratic presidents. It is the job of the Justice Department to provide a reasoned case for overruling a federal judge's decision. In condemning individual judges and threatening to break up the court of appeals instead, Trump is attacking the foundations of the separation of powers in the Constitution. This assault on the federal judiciary is an abuse of Trump's constitutional authority -- yet another ground for impeachment. In my early eighties, our current political discourse is making me feel like the little boy who knew and proclaimed that the Emperor was indeed naked. What is so patently obvious in our sabre rattling posture toward North Korea today? To ask the question is to find the answer. The question is this. What does Kim Jong-un, North Korea's Supreme Commander, want? Kim Jong-un - Caricature Posterized (Image by DonkeyHotey) Details DMCA By extension, What do North Koreans want? The immediate answer is that they want to become a nuclear nation. But, wait a moment. Are they not already a nuclear nation? Should not this reality defuse the sense of urgency under whose cloak the discussion is held these days? Let the United States Congress ask President Trump to stop the "armada" right where it is. Let the US Congress exercise its constitutional obligations toward the choice between war and peace. The urgency of stopping North Korea from carrying out the next nuclear test does not exist. What is the difference between an arsenal of 21 and 22 nuclear bombs? It is estimated that North Korea already has 21 nuclear bombs in its arsenal. Let us again ask the question, What does Kim Jong-un, North Korea's Supreme Commander, want? What do the people of North Korea want? The answer is that they want respect. They want to be treated with respect on the international scene. They want to be treated with respect by the international media. Then the question becomes, Why not? One fear we have is that North Korea will attack us and/or our allies, first. A deeper fear is that North Korea will arm terrorists with nuclear devices. This is a real threat, which can be properly faced, not in the context of North Korea, but in the context of solutions to the international terrorist movement. The solution to international terrorism, undoubtedly the most serious question on the international scene today, resides within the United States. The solution to international terrorism does not lie in bombing the hell out of them. It does not lie in taking their oil. The solution lies in removing the threat that the United States, by its very existence, presents to terrorists. The solution lies in demonstrating in facts, not words, that we are indeed a peace-loving nation. The solution lies in a three-step approach: First, we need the United States Congress to pass a resolution that American foreign policy doctrine is, and forever will be: Defense, not Offense. This Doctrine means to be expressed as a solemn promise to the world that the United States of America will never--ever--carry out a first strike. We must refuse to keep "all options" on the table. We must impose self-restraint on ourselves. This is the way we will gain the respect of the world. The second step in our international posture will have to be the gradual implementation of Representative Dennis Kucinich's proposal to build a Department of Peace. As I have pointed out elsewhere, "The most important element in the chain of needs is that the Department of Peace, without resources, would be a mockery. But where do we find the resources, especially at a time of substantial deficits and budget cuts? Well, the first candidate is a voluntary--free and willing--transfer of, say, ten percent of resources from the current budget of the Department of Defense. The experts in this department will candidly tell you that it is impossible--with their means--to stop terrorism. What the voter has to see is that, given the proper means, it is possible to stop terrorism. We cannot give in to pessimism and despair. We must indeed stop terrorism." In addition to the binary issues of war and peace, there is a third solution to the horrible condition of the terrorist threat today. Again, we have to ask, What is that terrorists want? The answer is simple, but it leads to a long conversation. Terrorists want to be treated with the respect that any human being deserves; above all, they want a fair share of the wealth to which they are entitled by their very existence as human beings. The United States of America should implement such policy within its own borders, first; and then it should help all people of the world--all potential terrorists--to have such policies implemented in each and every nation of the world. Yes, Pope Pius VI was absolutely right: "If you want peace, work for justice." Economic justice, I have forever specified, not social justice. The kernel of social justice is composed of two corrosive practices: First, it allows bullies to take full advantage of the weak; then it suggests to rob Peter to pay Paul. Through the Doctrine of Social Justice, we instruct our representatives to be robbers. Any wonder that some weak constitutions fall to the demands of their own needs, first, and the needs on friends and relatives, thereafter? The solution to today's sorry condition of the world is economic justice; it is the implementation of four economic rights and responsibilities. These ERs&ERs arise, not out of whim, but out of the needs of the economic process: To create real wealth, we need access to natural resources, labor, financial capital, and physical capital in the form of machinery, equipment, organization, and innovation. Legal tools to acquire access to these resources are mostly already in place within the spirit of our public institutions. Mostly, this spirit needs only to be made manifest. Its specification might be slightly different from place to place; but the needs are universal, and the spirit is universal. The natural resources of the world belong to all people of the world. This is a discussion that needs to be carried out within the United States as well as abroad. As I have recently pointed out, all nations of the world should not "sell" their natural resources: they should "own" and develop them to the benefit of all the people. In this regard, I have just received information about the vision of Self-Sustaining Family Farms, a compelling vision of a hopeful reality that ought to catch fire and spread throughout the world in no time. How to acquire natural resources? The entrepreneur needs to buy them, and needs to buy them at the lowest cost possible. There is only one means through which the government can help keep the price of land and natural resources as low as possible: We need to raise taxes on land and natural resources: Classical economists knew this truth; 8 Nobel Laureates in economics (mirabile dictu; an exceptional declaration of unanimity) agreed to that much. The reason is simple: Land value taxes discourage hoarding of land and natural resources. Hence, their market supply is increased; hence, their price is lowered. Before proceeding, an important observation: Taxes on land and natural resources are the only just taxes. All other taxes should gradually be reduced to zero. This, obviously, is a long-term goal. It is inextricably related to the need for gradual shrinkage of the operation of the government to its natural function of providing the rules within which the market must operate and then getting out of the market. Labor ought to be rewarded fairly, not be exploited. To achieve this goal, workers have to be transformed into owners. Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) are fabulous legal instruments to achieve this transformation--this revolution really--in an ordered and peaceful way. Where can entrepreneurs get financial capital? At the source, of course. All central banks have the power to create money. They ought to issue: 1. Loans for the creation of real, not financial, wealth; 2. Loans at cost, not at variable interest rates: and 3. Loans to benefit everyone. Hence, ESOPs are so important. Loans ought to be issued to individual entrepreneurs and to cooperatives and to corporations with ESOPs. Incorporating the principle that "public works ought to be funded with public money," all entities with taxing power that are involved in the creation of public infrastructure also ought to have access to national credit. Student loans, the pillars of our intellectual infrastructure, also ought to be issued at cost. Consumer Stock Ownership Plans (CSOPs) are even more fabulous legal tools to distribute money among people who do not want or cannot work for a living. CSOPs recognize that consumers make the corporation viable all year long. And then we need to resolve the issue of inordinate accumulations of power in a few hands. Levying taxes on land and natural resources will do much in this field; ESOPs will be powerful instruments for the fair distribution of wealth as it is created; loans from central banks only for the creation of real wealth will contribute much to the prevention of inequality. But sooner, rather than later, we need to face this issue head-on. As I have advocated for many years now, we simply need to prevent--voluntary or involuntary--mergers and acquisitions. Corporations are creations of the state; the state wants healthy organizations, not monsters. And when the behemoths of industry and finance fall, governments ought to let them fall. They ought not to be rescued through infusion of taxpayer's money, or, worse, through expropriation of bank deposits. And the behemoth can be allowed to fall without much disruption in the economic life of the country, if central banks are ready to issue loans as pointed out above. The natural resources of the world belong to all people of the world--all the local people of the world. And it is the people themselves, not any external entity, that ought to determine the sizes and the shapes along which they want to organize themselves. As Elinor Ostrom taught us, tribal organizations solve their own problems; it is patently evident that, beyond the glitter of "culture" for the few, megalopolises mostly foster addictions, homelessness, and loneliness. There is a natural symbiosis between the people and the land. That is why emigration is such an unnatural and painful solution for economic and social problems. Local problems must be solved locally. Economics is not a "pure" science. Economics is an integration of many things: natural resources, social institutions, legal institutions, and, above all, morality--all directed to the betterment of mankind. Economics is a moral science; otherwise, to state the obvious, it is an immoral practice. The international policy of the United States is, not only that corruption of government officials is prohibited, but even doing business--unknowingly--with corrupt people is punishable to the full extent of the law. It is through the promulgation and implementation of policies such as these that the United States gains the respect of the world. It is through the promulgation and implementation of policies such as these that the United States becomes the guarantor of peace in the world. Without peace, we have nothing. Carmine Gorga, PhD, is president of The Somist Institute. Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob Kall's book, Bottom-Up, offers valuable ways of seeing and powerful tools for enabling new power and connectivity to work to change the hope and promise for the future." Jeremy Heimans, CEO & Co-founder of Purpose and coauthor of New Power Gov. Pete Ricketts on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have allowed ex-felons to bypass a two-year waiting period and vote as soon as they complete a prison sentence or probation. Former felons and others who supported the bill had testified that people who have completed their sentences are expected to rejoin society by being good citizens and paying taxes. Without the right to vote, some lose their energy and enthusiasm to participate in society. In his veto letter, Ricketts said that while the rehabilitation of criminals is an important goal, the immediate restoration of voting rights is not the answer. About 30 percent of felons commit another crime within a few years after release from prison, he said. While supporters of the bill contend being able to vote increases civic engagement and helps to reduce the risk of committing more crimes, studies have failed to demonstrate a link between restoring voting rights and reduced recidivism, he said. Nebraska's recidivism rate is 31.3 percent, defined as people who were discharged from prison in fiscal year 2013 and returned to prison in the next three fiscal years. "Requiring convicted felons to wait before allowing them to vote provides an incentive to maintain a clean record and avoid subsequent convictions," Ricketts said in his veto letter to the Legislature. Ricketts also has concerns that restoring the right to vote contradicts the process set out in Nebraska's constitution. The sole power of restoring civil rights to felons rests with the Board of Pardons, he said. And the Legislature may not circumvent the constitution. "LB75 is attempting to create the equivalent of a legislative pardon," he said. "This is not permissible under the constitution." Wayne could not be immediately reached to comment on the veto. On the three votes on the bill, Wayne had 27 to 32 votes of support. The final reading vote was 27-13, with 7 senators present not voting. Shakur Abdullah of Omaha, who served a sentence for two felonies he was convicted of at age 16, has been waiting for his chance to vote since he was released from a Nebraska prison about a year ago. He said Thursday he plans to try to muster support to get enough votes to override the veto, if Wayne decides to do that. The argument Ricketts uses that a two-year waiting period gives ex-felons an incentive to maintain a clean record is nonsensical, Abdullah said. It also smacks of increasing a penalty for an infraction after it has been committed, and double jeopardy. When released, a person has fully satisfied the sentence he or she was given, Abdullah said. The governor is saying that doesn't mean anything, that the state is going to tack on another sentence without the benefit of a judge or jury. Former Lincoln Sen. DiAnna Schimek has argued that the unnecessary delay laid out in current law means Nebraskans arent getting the opportunity to participate in their democracy. Low-income people and people of color are more likely to end up behind bars in Nebraska, she said. Each year, approximately 2,000 Nebraskans complete their felony sentences and return to their communities. "Once someone has served the time, he or she is once again our neighbor and should be able to have a voice in conversations about property taxes, schools and elected officials," she said. Quicklink Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their quicklinks after publishing them. To see if the quicklink was renamed or re-published, please click here. "What's happening to Berkeley? Are you safe?" our friends ask. National headlines scream: "Riots in Berkeley!" "The Death of Free Speech!" Yes, something is happening in Berkeley. We've been trolled by the hard right. And our "leaders" haven't responded effectively. Now it's time for the true defenders of free speech to step forward. The so-called "riot" unfolded in three acts. ACT ONE: Berkeley Young Republicans invited Breitbart bigot Milo Yiannopoulous to speak on campus (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/us/uc-berkeley-milo-yiannopoulos-protest.html). On February 1st a crowd formed before the speech (estimated size 1000). Suddenly it was invaded by the East Bay anarchists, who call themselves "AntiFa." They threw cherry bombs, started fights, and generally riled things up. Campus police cancelled the speech. Milo's speech, and subsequent (cancelled) speeches by David Horowitz and Ann Coulter, were funded by the Young America's Foundation, one of whose donors is the notorious Rebekah Mercer -- daughter of Oligarch (and Trump supporter) Robert Mercer.(hline.huffingtonpost.com/articles/en/mercers/ ) [Young America's Foundation has sued the University of California over the cancellation of the Coulter speech.] ACT TWO: Subsequent to the cancellation of Milo's speech, a pro-Trump group scheduled a protest in a downtown Berkeley park; part of the nation "March 4 Trump" demonstrations -- which drew a laughable 160 to the National Mall. A few Trump supporters showed up in Berkeley and were met by many more Anarchists, resulting in fist fights and 10 arrests. On April 15th there were national tax day marches. Once again, in the same downtown Berkeley park, the pro-Trump forces staged a rally. Predictably they were met by the anarchists, resulting in a several hours of sporadic fistfights and 23 arrests. And national news headlines: "Riots in Berkeley!" It's informative to consider who was at the April 15th rally. Prominent was Identity Evropa a White Nationalist group founded by Nathan Damigo (http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/military/sd-me-nathan-damigo-20170417-story.html). Their office is in Oakdale, California, the central valley. The source of their funding is unclear but Damigo is affiliated with Richard Spencer, of the National Policy Institute (http://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2017/white-nationalists-work-make-inroads-us-colleges). The National Policy Institute was founded by far-right donor William Regnery; some of its board members are connected to Rebekah Mercer. Another group at the rally was the Oath Keepers. Formed in 2009, this is among the largest US extremist groups claiming 30,000 members many of whom are former members of the military or law enforcement. It's founder, L. Stewart Rhodes, was present on April 15. Again their funding is unclear. Rhodes lives in Montana. Also present were The Proud Boys, who called for the April 15 Alt-right rally. They were represented by Rich Black. Once again, it's not clear how they raise funds. (Although Black has solicited donations for his organization, "Liberty Revival Alliance" on the notorious Alt-right site Wesearchr.) The Proud Boys' offices are in New York City. What these three Alt-right groups have in common is their mysterious funding and that they are headquartered outside the Bay Area, On the other hand, the Antifa group is local. Antifa, short for anti-fascism, is a collection of anarchists, including the Berkeley chapter of "By Any Means Necessary." Its most prominent member is Yvette Felarca. On April 27th, the hard right staged another Berkeley protest because of the cancellation of Ann Coulter's speech. At the downtown Berkeley segment, there were a couple of dozen identified Alt-right individuals. Oathkeeper L. Stewart Rhodes said he was there to defend free speech. (Antifa didn't show; Yvette Felarca reportedly boasted, "We don't need to come to the park. We won. We caused the cancellation of Coulter's speech.") ACT Three: In hindsight, the Milo Yiannopoulous event was mishandled by the UC authorities. The hard right has seized upon this as an excuse to troll Berkeley; they're likely to keep doing this until Berkeley citizens take charge. Milo Yiannopoulous should have been allowed to speak, as should other conservatives no matter how inflammatory their views. Antifa is wrong to block the exercise of free speech. Berkeley must remain the home of free speech. History indicates that if there is a massive outpouring of nonviolent-free-speech support this will check the violence from the Alt-right and from Antifa. Therefore, the Berkeley nonviolent community has to mount a concerted effort to mobilize several thousand free-speech advocates to show up whenever there is a far-right speech or the Alt-right schedules a rally. This is our challenge, Berkeley. We must defend free speech by standing up to political violence. President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office were a frightening experience for the seven-million strong Muslim American community. According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest American Muslim civil advocacy group, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) profiling of Muslims accounted for 23 percent of cases in the first three months of 2017. This represents a 1,035 percent increase in CBP bias cases reported so far this year over the same period in 2016. The CAIR released a report this week which also found that: * Of the 193 CBP cases recorded from January-March 2017, 181 were reported after the January 27 signing of the Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States Executive Order, also known as the Trump administration "Muslim Ban." * The 181 cases that occurred after the Muslim Ban was signed exceeded the combined total of 136 CBP profiling cases CAIR documented in the previous three years. The CAIR said the first 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency witnessed initial efforts to translate his anti-Islam campaign rhetoric into official U.S. policy. These efforts included populating his administration with a number of officials who have a history of problematic and misleading statements about Islam and Muslims. It also included an evolving effort to fulfill his campaign promise of a ban on Muslim entry into the U.S. There were also reports of substantive movement toward an executive order directing the Secretary of State to determine whether to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organization, which experts say is just a "witch hunt" rooted in conspiracy theories peddled by the U.S. Islamophobia network and intended to eviscerate American Muslim civil society. It may be recalled that on January 9 U.S. Representative Mario Diaz Balart (R-FL), introduced a bill to ask the Secretary of State to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization. The following day, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced an identical bill in the Senate titled the The Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act. While invasive questioning about an individual's personal religiosity at U.S. ports of entry is not a new phenomenon, reports of the abusive practice have escalated under President Trump. In January, CAIR chapters in Florida, California and New York filed complaints with the CBP, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over reports of systematic questioning of American Muslim citizens about their religious and political views by CBP. In one high-profile incident, Muhammad Ali Jr., son of the iconic American boxer, reported that government officials, "asked me, where was I born and what my religion was, where did I get the name from." Citizens of staunch U.S. allies were also targeted. Canadian Fadwa Alaoui reported that border officials asked her, "'Do you practice? Which mosque do you go to? What is the name of the imam? How often do you go to the mosque? What kind of discussions do you hear in the mosque? Does the imam talk to you directly?'" She was also asked about "her views on Trump." CAIR has documented a number of invasive questions asked of travelers including: 1. Are you a devout Muslim? 2. Are you Sunni or Shia? Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source. Syria's President, Bashar al-Assad, is not a brutal dictator. He is a soft-spoken, trilingual, ophthalmologist, elected by the Syrian people. The West's sectarian terrorists are brutal dictators. When they occupy Syrian towns, they impose Sharia law, and force compliance on residents. Those who openly support the government, or belong to minority groups are often murdered. Women are subjugated, dissent is not allowed, and manifold coercive strategies including starvation and torture are commonplace. Dr. Bashar al-Assad is not a tyrant. Prior to NATO's government-change/dirty war on Syria, Syria was a "post-colonial" success story. Syrians, regardless of their age, or sex, or ethnic, or religious affiliations, had free education and healthcare in the context of a pluralist society led by a secular government. Churches and mosques stood, and still stand, side by side, and Syrians self-identified first and foremost as Syrians, and not by religious or ethnic identities. NATO sponsored terrorists, and their NATO leaders, are tyrants. Their proxies impose a barbaric ideology on Syrians as they loot, plunder, destroy, and conquer. The Western imperialists seek to destroy the Syrian civilization and its secular identity. The Mother of All Blowback: How Washington Created ISIS (Image by KAZVorpal) Details DMCA President al-Assad does not gas his own people. The 2013 chemical weapons attacks were perpetrated by NATO terrorists with a view to providing a false pretext for an expansion of NATO war aggression on Syria. More recently, the alleged chemical attack at Khan Shaykhun has also proven to be a false flag incident. Dr. Theodore Postol recently noted in "Important Correction: The Nerve Agent Attack that did Not Occur, Khan Sheikhoun, Syria" that (t)he facts are now very clear -- there is very substantial evidence that the President and his staff took decisions without any intelligence, or far more likely ignored intelligence from the professional community that they were given, to execute an attack in the Middle East that had the danger of creating an inadvertent military confrontation with Russia. Professor Tim Anderson explains details of the false flag attack in the following graph: The Syrian government does not willfully kill its own people. The "Caesar" torture/death pictures -- purporting to be evidence that Assad tortures and kills his own people -- have long-since been proven fraudulent, one of the first of a long line of staged events, used to create false pretexts for illegal warfare based on "humanitarian" grounds. In fact, the Syria government provides amnesty to indigenous terrorists --knowing full well that some were coerced into joining the ranks of terrorists -- and it provides "humanitarian corridors" out of occupied areas, all with a view to limiting the number of casualties. NATO terrorists willfully murder innocent Syria civilians as part of their modus operandi. The entire pre-planned military operation against Syria is designed to kill Syrians. Illegal sanctions kill with intent, as do terrorist proxies. Gas canister bombs filled with explosives and nails etc. are repeatedly launched into civilian areas, and the terrorists are kept well-armed by their NATO et al. benefactors. The false narratives fed every day to mainstream media consumers is in fact tightly-controlled, criminal propaganda, which serves as an appendage of anti-democratic dark state agendas globally. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). YPG (Image by Kurdishstruggle) Details DMCA [First published at Inside Syria Media Center] Deputy Spokesperson of the U.S. Department of State, Mark Toner, during a regular briefing on April 25 said that the U.S. expresses serious concern over Turkey's aggression in Syria and Iraq: "Turkey conducted airstrikes earlier today in northern Syria, as well as northern Iraq, without proper coordination either with the United States or the broader global coalition to defeat ISIS...." It should be mentioned that in the morning, April 25 the Turkish Air Force struck the positions of Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in the Karachok mountain region in north-eastern Syria. They also attacked the positions of the Kurdish militia near the town of Sinjar. Turkish warplanes killed more than 20 fighters of Kurdish Peshmerga. Eight more soldiers were wounded. The targets hit by the Turkish Air Force in Syria also include local television and a YPG broadcasting media station. On April 27, the Turkish army continued its massacre of Kurds on the ground in the province of Aleppo. 1 (Image by insidesyriamcen) Details DMCA Turkey which is well-known for its inconsistent policy carried out air strikes in northern Syria and Iraq once again without proper coordination with the U.S. and NATO. Moreover they acted without any approval of the U.S.-led coalition. Under these circumstances, concerns of the United States and other NATO member countries are understandable. The U.S. leadership has been playing the Kurdish card for a long time. The U.S. wish to use Kurdish units in their own interests is not surprising. Americans provide these groups with weapons, ammo and even air support, to say nothing of special task forces involvement. At the moment YPG continues to advance the strategically important city of Al-Tabqa 35 miles to the south-west of Raqqa. It is considered the fourth phase of the Wrath of Euphrates operation carried out under the U.S.-led coalition command. However, Ankara's latest stab in the back may force the Kurdish headquarters to stop their offensive towards ISIS because of the need to repulse Turkish and Syrian Free Army's attacks in the north of the Aleppo province. Kurds reacted immediately. According to France Press News Agency they called on the international coalition to stop Turkey's air strikes against them. It seems that the U.S.-led coalition will be forced to respond as it is Kurd's key partner in their fight against ISIS. Turkey has repeatedly irritated NATO with such actions. Instead of becoming a pillar of international security in fighting terrorism Turkey , judging by its actions, is trying to prevent the Kurds from liberating Raqqa. Erdogan obliterates and bombs Kurds who are the only combat unit capable to resist terrorism. Military sources also reports of dozens of victims on the eve of Turkish attack on Firfik settlement. American military instructors who are often engaged in the training process of military units in Syria and Iraq might have died as well because of such irresponsible actions. The Turkish president strongly contributes to ISIS strengthening, he contradicts the NATO basic principles of fight against terrorism and does not coordinate his actions with the leadership of NATO. Turkey's attacks on Kurds in Iraq and Syria are inherently criminal as they violate the international law. It seems that Turkey's attempts to occupy some Syrian territories and to change the alignment of forces in the Middle East do not please the USA and other key stakeholders in the region. Apparently there is no point to keep Turkey in NATO whereas the leadership of the country is absolutely unpredictable. In a situation when the war against terrorism in Iraq and Syria is far from being over such aggressive actions definitely do not contribute to the consolidation of anti-terrorist efforts but intensify the already tense situation. As we witness the Trump presidency continue to rapidly accelerate down the wrong road, here's a message to send out all across America: Never, ever, make this same kind of monumental mistake again; allowing someone like the current totally incompetent, irrational occupant of the White House to assume this degree of power. Those many Trump loyalists, the main reason why he was elected as president, need to be the first ones to wake up and realize the grave mistake they made. Perhaps they had the best intentions and desperately wanted meaningful change. However, the reality of the situation is that they were extremely naive and were easily duped into believing in someone who never intended to follow through on his promises. While it's still early in his presidency there are no signs of any kind that he intends to actually "drain the Washington swamp" or that he will take steps to create millions of new jobs; that he has any viable plan to replace Obamacare with a more effective healthcare system or one for repairing this nation's deteriorating national infrastructure. A really competent leader would have, upon taking office, created a list of no more than five key priorities that he and his advisers would immediately start working on such as those referred to above. A leader who would be right in the middle of the action, holding intensive meetings, bringing in experts on key issues, motivating participants, monitoring progress, all intended to address solve this country's many festering problems. Well, he hasn't even come close to that. He, quite obviously, has totally different objectives. He has completely failed to get the members of his own party to quickly repeal Obamacare because he, instead of using leadership and political diplomacy, attempted to try to ram the legislation through Congress. It was a colossal failure. Instead of speaking directly to the American people on key issues, he sends out a continuous stream of controversial tweets full of insults and putdowns of others, outright lies, distortions and misinformation. He uses his Twitter account as his version of what is called the "Bully Pulpit", a means of communication by which presidents in the past spoke directly to the people to keep them informed on objectives and progress. And boy did he go in the exact wrong direction? It didn't take him long to order that missile attack on a Syrian government military facility followed by the launching of that massive "Mother of all bombs" on "suspected" enemies in Afghanistan. Next he ordered a U.S. naval "armada" into the Korean Peninsula to threaten the slightly deranged leader of North Korea with some kind of pre-emptive military attack if he continued to launch missile tests. He strongly supports the combined US/Saudi Arabia attacks on the tiny nation of Yemen that is bringing great destruction upon that country and is causing the deaths of a great many of its people. By the way those attacks are not only illegal but are immoral. He is threatening to cancel the critically important agreement that was negotiated by the U.S. and its allies to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. From all indications this agreement is working as intended but Trump, for some totally nonsensical reason, seems hell bent on destroying it. That is irresponsibility of the highest degree. The American people, unfortunately, continue to watch as he and his minions take many destructive actions such as doing away with emission controls. He has absolutely no intention to do anything about the threat of climate change; he still wants to build that ridiculous wall on the Mexican border. Well, his continued often bizarre and reckless behavior, together with associated actions, have not gone unnoticed by a rapidly increasing number of high level psychiatrists who are now sounding the alarms about his mental state. These professionals are fully aware of what is called the Goldwater Rule, a psychiatrists' code of ethics which states that it is unethical for psychiatrists to give a professional opinion about public figures they have not examined in person. Ordinarily they follow that code to a T but in this case they have clearly stated that when they feel that the safety and security of the nation and, possibly the world, is at stake, they cannot and will not remain silent. Here's what some of the top psychiatrists in that profession are saying about his mental condition: *Here's an article reporting on the recent Yale medical school conference on Trump's mental state.*Also check out this article from Business Insider entitled, "37 mental health experts sign a letter warning of Trump's 'grave emotional instability." Their general conclusion: " We believe that the grave emotional instability indicated by Mr. Trump's speech and actions makes him incapable of serving safely as president. Mr. Trump's speech and actions demonstrate an inability to tolerate views different from his own, leading to rage reactions. His words and behavior suggest a profound inability to empathize. Individuals with these traits distort reality to suit their psychological state, attacking facts and those who convey them (journalists, scientists). Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). i hate ann coulter! (Image by cdrummbks) Details DMCA UC Berkeley's successful attempt to shut down an appearance by Ann Coulter this week is just the latest example of college campuses - and liberals as a whole - attempting to stifle free speech by acting as society's morality police. As an antiwar activist, I am typically lumped-in with other so-called leftists, so when progressives act in an oppressive, hateful, racist, fear-mongering, violent or unappealing manner, it reflects poorly on the cause in which I associate. I have been privately challenging some of my colleagues to reflect on their apparently hypocritical behavior, but doing so publicly, in this forum, is risky. And in trying to make sense of this ironic phenomenon, more questions than answers arise. Questions: -Why is the so-called left trying to shut down debates instead of trying to win them? Is it because the left is basing its arguments on imagery and emotion rather than fact? -Were the students at Berkeley aware that Ann Coulter was one of the few people speaking out against the Trump administration's bombing of Syria in response to the alleged chemical gas attack? Did they know she said the photos shown to Trump that made him act were probably "faked"? Were the students afraid Coulter would talk about this in public? -How can liberals claim to celebrate diversity when they don't allow diversity of thought or speech? Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Dabka (dir. Bryan Buckley) Most of you, most movies tend to guess, have probably gone to college and if you're reading a movie review, maybe you have a liberal arts degree. Stereotypes, I know. If you have gone to college and acquired the aforementioned degree in old books, you might, like me, have had some trouble getting a job. Maybe you live in your parent's basement. But you know what has never occurred to me, despite my unemployment, depression, and slowly disintegrating state of affairs? Heading to Somalia and lording over the locals. I know, I just lack the ambition of Jay Bahadur, played by Evan Peters of American Horror Story fame in Bryan Buckley's latest effort. But Bahadur doesn't begin Dabka as the ultimate liberal arts badass: he is sad, living in his parent's basement and very sad that some woman we don't care about is about to get married. In the midst of telling us how sad he is, he runs into a fictitious journalist named Seymour Tolbin, who is played by an Al Pacino in one of his least elegant roles since Righteous Kill. He has all the grace and conviction of a walking and coughing sock puppet. Earlier, we came to understand that Bahadur has vague ambitions to be a journalist and want to go to grad school to educate himself. Pacino corrects him: "journalism isn't taught," "fuck Harvard," and "fuck more girls." For one of these reasons, Bahadur immediately packs up and head off to Somalia, currently at the height of media attention because of a number of high-profile spots of piracy. Landing in Somalia, or more particularly, the semi-autonomous state of Puntland that broke away from Somalia in 1998, not that details like that matter very much in Dabka, Bahadur is greeted by the son of the local President (Armaan Haggio). Its worth noting that the 'real life' Bahadur is actually half-Indian but, in casting Peters, the story is left with the uncomfortable image of a pasty-ass American Horror Story actor being served hand and foot the moment he lands in the African continent. Whatever. Bahadur is, somewhat absurdly, tasked with telling Western journalists, none of whom know who he is, the truth about Puntland or Somalia or whatnot. The movie's tone attempts to hit on Cameron Crowe's plucky Almost Famous so hard that Buckley even gives him the wife of a feared pirate to have a crush on. Of course, this is also a cliche of the white boy African adventure story, evoking something like Kevin Macdonald's Last King of Scotland, a movie also about a bored white boy who heads off to an African nation in the midst of civil war because he is bored. But where Macdonald's film presses this as a fable of postcolonial politics--the important person's wife is brutally killed after Macdonald's protagonist sleeps with her--Buckley is uninterested in anything like this. Emphatic, instead, throughout Dabka is that journalists of all stripe are too cowardly to report in Somalia, hence making Bahadur some kind of badass. Peter plays Bahadur as an Apatow bromantic hero: clumsy, cute and with a shit-eating grin that makes me want to drink twice my weight in bleach. He's better Ryan Murphy-evil and with the occasional fake British accent. "This is my country," Peter proclaims after buying khat leaves (a local narcotic) and chilling it out with Somalian privateers who are conveniently blasting "Juicy." Yet, for some reason, he does not strike me as the first white dude to stroll into an African nation as if he owned the place. The central conceit to Dabka is that it is real and, aside from Pacino, all this nonsense actually happened. Buckley, who has directed a lot of Super Bowl commercials, plays it like a Super Bowl commercial: can you believe we pulled it off? The colors buzz like a fizzy late-Wes Anderson movie and there are so many shots of semi-automatic rifles that you would think the entire nation of Somalia was some kind of gun show. Can you believe some dude just flew to Somalia and winged serious journalism? Yet, for some reason, he does not strike me as the first white dude to stroll into an African nation as if he owned the place. The politics of a privileged, but down on his luck, Canadian college grad demanding inclusion into the world of Somalian gangs in order for him to have material to write a book hangs limply in the air of Dabka, barely able to breath in a torrential rain of unfunny jokes about how awkward and down-on-his-luck its protagonist is. The only performance worth a damn in Dabka is the criminally underused Barkhad Abdi, who got an Academy Award nod for Captain Phillips and was in an episode of "Hawaii Five-0" last year. Abdi, as Bahadur's main tour guide puts up with a script full of uneasy jokes like a champ: he tells Bahadur that he will stand by him because Bahadur is his "bro" and, for five seconds, I believed him. What Bahadur, at least in Dabka, learns from his adventures is that Somalian pirates, big surprise, don't view themselves as evil thieves. In fact, the only real revelation in Dabka is that Somalians, from pirates to women who flirt with, are people. I'm not quite sure why you need a movie to tell you that. Dabka is currently playing this weekend at the Tribeca Film Festival: get tickets here Andrew Karpan mostly keeps to himself. Follow him on Twitter. More exciting Film/TV coverage: 'Flower' is a fun southwestern teen sex comedy Shoshanna dons overalls, falls in love in "The Boy Downstairs" The Tribeca Film Festival opens to bloody aplomb PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 09:25:02 Axalta Promotes Sustainable Innovation in Coatings Technology at Universitas Indonesia Campus Talk Axalta Coating Systems Inggrid Franciska, +6221 7587 3780 Inggrid-franciska.schipper@axaltacs.com axaltacoatingsystems.com Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, recently presented a campus talk at Universitas Indonesia, one of the leading universities in Indonesia. University speaking platforms provide a way for Axaltas executives to share industry expertise with students and faculty in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines. Ms. Dewi Djanuwati, Managing Director of Axalta Coating Systems in Indonesia, discussed the importance of sustainability and how it has shaped the development of Axaltas high-performance coating solutions. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201704280052 Ms Djanuwati discussed the importance of sustainability and how it has shaped the development of Axaltas high performance coating solutions at Universitas Indonesia campus talk. (Photo: Business Wire) Attended by a group of enthusiastic students and faculty members from the Department of Metallurgy & Materials Engineering, the event was designed to build awareness about sustainability goals in the coatings industry, with a special emphasis on the reduction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions which has been linked to improved air quality. Sustainability is central to Axaltas business and an important consideration in the on-going growth of our markets such as Indonesia. As a responsible corporate citizen, we are committed to promoting awareness about sustainability, especially to students who will become our industrys stakeholders in the future, said Ms. Djanuwati. Ms. Djanuwati spoke about Axaltas commitment to the development of environmentally responsible coatings that are designed to serve the sustainability goals of its customers. Axaltas high performance coatings not only help customers products to last longer, but they also enable customer operations to run more efficiently, providing ways to save energy, reduce waste, and be more productive. Axalta has also formulated customized low VOC liquid and virtually zero VOC powder coating products to meet specific customer needs for durability, weathering, abrasion, chemical or corrosion resistance, and excellent finish in a wide range of colors and textures. We encourage our students to learn from practitioners to enrich their understanding, and to build the connection between what they learn in the classroom and the reality of the industry. Todays presentation enlightens us about the latest technology in the coating industry and how Axalta contributes to sustainable coating solutions, said Dr. Mochamad Chalid, M.Sc.Eng, Polymer (Product) Technology - Department of Metallurgy & Materials Engineering, Universitas Indonesia. About Axalta Coating Systems Axalta is a leading global company focused solely on coatings and providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable solutions. From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable the materials we coat to last longer. With more than 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, the approximately 13,000 people of Axalta continue to find ways to serve our more than 100,000 customers in 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information, visit axalta.com and follow us @Axalta on Twitter and on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201704280052 Baobab Powder Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027 Research Report By Future Market Insights Baobab Powder Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 06:47:17 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com press@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 639 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Baobab is also known as the Queen of Superfruits and its powder is obtained from the extraction of dried baobab fruit pulp by freeze drying method. Baobab powder contains various essential vitamins such as vitamin B and C and minerals such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and others. Baobab fruit is primarily found in Africa and some parts of Australia and India. Baobab powder helps in managing blood sugar level. Baobab powder is rich in antioxidants which help in eliminating the free radicals which contribute to diseases such as aging, cancer, and cardio-vascular disease. Baobab powder is a gluten free powder that can be consumed by gluten intolerant consumers. Baobab powder sales have been increased rapidly in the last few years as a result of increasing usage of baobab powder in various supplements. Many manufacturers are using baobab powder in a variety of beverages which is seen as a great opportunity for the manufacturers to expand their product portfolio. Baobab powder has a light and subtly tangy flavor which blends perfectly with other fruit flavors which can be used in the preparation of flavored waters, smoothies, sparkling beverages, and juices.Global Baobab Powder: Market SegmentationThe global baobab powder market is segmented on the basis of distribution channel, application and region. The baobab powder market is segmented on the basis of distribution channel such as online stores, supermarket/hypermarket, retail stores, and others. The global baobab powder market is segmented on the basis of application in which baobab powder is used in application such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and beverage, and others. Baobab powder is used as an ingredient in various products such as supplement powder, smoothies, juices, flavored waters, meal replacement drinks, and cold-pressed juices. Hence, the global baobab Powder market is expected to significantly increase the revenue contribution over the forecast period.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3333 Global Baobab Powder Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the global baobab powder industry can be divided by major regions which include North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East & Africa. Globally, among all regions, Middle East & Africa has developed as the dominant region in global baobab powder market followed by Asia Pacific. Increasing demand for baobab powder in various beverages, has strengthened the growth of global baobab powder market and hence is projected to significantly expand the revenue contribution of the market over the forecast period.Global Baobab Powder Market: Growth DriversThe global baobab powder market driving factors are increasing demand for baobab powder in various food products and as a specialty ingredient in various beverages worldwide. Increasing opportunities in bakery and cosmetics industries is also another factor in driving the global baobab powder market. Manufacturers are offering various flavored baobab drink mixes in many varieties such as pineapple-mint baobab, blueberry-baobab, and etc. which is responsible for increasing demand for baobab powder globally. Baobab Powder helps consumers in managing their blood sugar levels, which is another major factor for driving the baobab powder seed market worldwide. Growing population of gluten intolerance consumers is also a major factor which is driving the global baobab powder market. Hence, the global Baobab Powder market is expected to observe robust growth over the forecast period.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3333 Global Baobab Powder Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified across the value chain of the global baobab powder market include Baobab Fruit Company Senegal, Baobab Foods, Organic Herb Trading, Eco Products, TheHealthyTree Company, BI Nutraceuticals, BioessenceTrade, Organic Africa, Rawsome Foods, B'Ayoba, Simpli Ingredients are among others. The companies are expected to expand their business by enhancing their product portfolio in global baobab Powder market. The companies are projected to frame certain strategies in future in order to gain the competitive advantage in global baobab powder market till 2027. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Key Opinion Leader Management Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Biopharmaceutical Oral Drug Delivery Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 05:41:51 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 682 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Biopharmaceuticals are the drugs produced by using biotechnology. Biopharmaceutical products are normally protein (antibodies), nucleic acids (DNA, RNA or oligonucleotides). They are used for therapeutic and in-vivo diagnostic purpose. Biopharmaceutical substances are derived from the life forms. It is fastest growing segment of the pharmaceutical market. At the moment, biopharmaceuticals are generally delivered by intravenous or subcutaneous injection. This way of administration is effective but not desired by patients especially in the case of chronic disease. Oral drug delivery is the most preferred route of drug administration. Oral drug delivery route is convenient and easy to use. Even though oral drug delivery of biopharmaceutical bring as many advantages as challenges since it shows several barriers like, pH variations, enzymes, tights junctions, electrolytes, water and food effect which limit the absorption of biopharmaceuticals.Biopharmaceutical Oral Drug Delivery Market: Drivers and RestraintsSafety and efficacy associated with the biopharmaceutical products are the factors driving the growth of this market. Biopharmaceutical can also treat diseases which were previously untreatable due to targeted delivery. Biopharmaceutical oral drug delivery market will be driven by patient compliance of these products. But there remain challenges of bioavailability of these products if given orally. If biopharmaceutical drugs are given orally, they will be degraded by enzymes and acidic environment in stomach and GI. These products cannot cross epithelial barrier of small intestine due to the large size of their molecules. Due to these factors bioavailability of orally induced biopharmaceuticals decreases. The high cost associated with the biopharmaceutical substances is also a restraint for the growth of biopharmaceutical oral drug delivery market.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3360 Biopharmaceutical Oral Drug Delivery Market: SegmentationBiopharmaceutical oral drug delivery market can be segmented on the basis of distribution channel and region.On the basis of distribution channel biopharmaceutical oral drug delivery market can be segmented into:Hospital PharmacyRetail PharmacySpecialty PharmacyBiopharmaceutical Oral Drug Delivery Market: OverviewBiopharmaceutical oral drug delivery market is expected to show significant growth. Patients preference for less invasive route of administration is expected to drive the growth of biopharmaceutical oral drug delivery market. Development of various technology such as Gastrointestinal Permeation Enhancement Technology, Eligen, Oral Antibody Platform and others, facilitating the oral drug delivery and increasing bioavailability will be factors for the growth of this market. Safety & efficacy and capability of these agents to target specific disease will boost the growth of biopharmaceutical market. The focus of pharmaceutical companies towards biotechnology, development of biopharmaceutical products is expected to drive the growth of biopharmaceutical oral drug delivery market. Biopharmaceutical market is expected to be benefited by entry of the new players with innovative technology.Biopharmaceutical Oral Drug Delivery Market: Region Wise OutlookGeographically biopharmaceutical oral drug delivery market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and the Middle East and Africa. North America and Europe are expected to be the biggest market for biopharmaceutical oral drug delivery segment. Availability of key players, better research & development facilities and better reimbursement policies are the factors driving the growth of this market. Increasing prevalence of life-style diseases are also expected to drive the growth of biopharmaceutical market in this region. Asia Pacific market is expected to be fastest growing segment especially India due to the presence of major market players and increasing need for personalized medicines. Increasing focus of companies on biopharmaceuticals products is fueling the growth of biopharmaceutical oral drug delivery market.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3360 Biopharmaceutical Oral Drug Delivery Market: Key PlayersSome of the market participants in the global biopharmaceutical oral drug delivery market are AbbVie, Inc., Amgen, Inc., Catalent Inc, Kemwell Bipharma., Pfizer, Inc., Novartis AG, Biocon, Sanofi, F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd., and Novo Nordisk A/S. These companies are focusing on the development of technology which will improve the bioavailability of orally induced biopharmaceutical products. They are also focusing on research and development for the targeted drug delivery. Key players are using merger & acquisition and collaboration strategies to increase their presence in the biopharmaceutical market. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Walnut Milk Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027 report to their offering. Walnut Milk Market Trends PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 09:00:17 Press Information Fututre Market Insights Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States 3479183531 email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 644 Words Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States3479183531Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 A walnut is technically a seed of a drupaceous fruit, hence it is not a botanical nut. Walnut comes from a tree which belongs to family jugladaceae. The walnut is a rich source of protein and as well as essential fatty acids. Commercially walnut milk are available in various flavors but neutral flavor is much loved by the consumers. Walnut milk can be prepared at home very easily, only need to combine few walnuts along with water into a mixer, then one can add flavors according to his preference. It is suggested to soak walnut before blending as it makes easier to blend the walnut and improve digestion. Walnut milk is a delicious alternative to traditional dairy which contains lactose, which may cause allergy to the lactose intolerant people.Market Segmentation:Red wineextract is segment on the basis of flavor, distribution channel and region. On the basis of flavor the market is segmented into chocolate, vanilla, unsweetened, original and others. Among all these segment original flavor is expected to grow enormously in the coming future as this flavor is loved by the consumers. The flavor which is second most popular among the consumers is the vanilla flavor. The demand for walnut milk is more as it is lactose free and does not cause any allergy, it is also in demand because of the health benefits it offers. On the basis of distribution channel the market is segmented into supermarkets/hypermarkets, convenience stores and online stores. Supermarkets/hypermarkets stores is expected to hold a relatively higher share in the walnut milk market. Walnut milk is also a rich source of serotonin, which is necessary for the proper development of the enteric nervous system (ENS). On the basis of region the walnut milk market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA and Japan.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3337 Market Regional Outlook:Regional segment for the market of Red wineextractis divided into seven different regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA and Japan. Among these segment North America is expected to have the major market share globally, as it is the largest consumer of walnut milk. In Asia Pacific region the countries like China and India are generating the major revenue as these countries are one of the largest producers of walnut. In terms of revenue Asia pacific is the second prominent contributor in thewalnut milkmarket.Market Drivers:Walnut milkis a rich source of omega 3and it also has some special properties such as it acts as a helping tool to lose weight, it induces sleep as it contains a chemical called melatonin, walnut milk is considers as a good supplement to prevent hair loss as it contains vitamin B7, walnut milk prevent heart diseases as it is a rich source of antioxidant,prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and reduces the risk of diabetes. It also helps in reducing obesity and slowing down the rate of aging. Walnut milk is suggested by the doctors as well, as it helps to improve the sperm quality in male and helps to make your skin feel rejuvenated. Research has found that walnut milk helps to cure pancreatic as well as breast cancer. Walnut milk and oil helps to fight stress as well, these versatile properties of walnut milk will defiantly drive the walnut milk market to a greater extent.The rise in demand for wrinkle free cream is expected to drive the growth of global walnut milkmarket. Moreover, the market is also driven by the increasing awareness among the consumers about the health benefits associated with walnut milk.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3337 Market Key Players:Some of the key players in Walnut Milk market areYili Group, China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited, Sanyuan group limited and Elmhurst Harvest. PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 08:08:01 Tikkurila Oyj Stock Exchange Release April 28, 2017 at 9:05 a.m. (CET+1) Changes in Tikkurila Management Board Tikkurila Management Board will consist of the following persons and responsibility areas: Meri Vainikka (born 1971, M.Sc., Econ.) will be appointed as Senior Vice President, Offering, and as a member of the Management Board. Vainikka will be responsible for Research, Development and Innovations, product portfolio and marketing. Vainikka joined Tikkurila in January 2017, assuming responsibility for marketing and communications in BU Finland. She transferred to Tikkurila from Hartwall, where she had held various marketing positions since 2012, most recently as Marketing Director for Non-Alcohol drinks. Vainikka has also held marketing positions at L'Oreal and Mars. Melisa Barholm (born 1967, M.Sc., Psychology) will be appointed as Senior Vice President, Human Resources, and as a member of the Management Board. Barholm joined Tikkurila in January 2017, assuming responsibility for HR in BU Finland. Barholm's previous positions include HR Director at Suunto and Rovio. Janno Paju (born 1971, Degree in Economics) will continue as a member of the Management Board. As Senior Vice President, Sales, he will be responsible for sales, Tikkurila Group's key accounts and sales support. Paju joined Tikkurila in 1993 and has been a member of the Management Board since 2000. He was previously the Chief Commercial Officer of Tikkurila Group. Petri Miettinen (born 1968, M.Sc., Econ.) will continue as a member of the Management Board responsible for operations (Senior Vice President, Operations). Operations include product care, procurement, production, logistics and HSE (Health, Safety, Environment). Miettinen has worked at Tikkurila and been a member of the Management Board since 2007. Previously, he was responsible for the Supply Chain Management and HSEQ. Jukka Havia (born 1968, M.Sc., Econ.) will continue as a member of the Management Board responsible for finance and administration (Chief Financial Officer). Administration includes legal, ICT, communications and corporate responsibility. Havia has worked at Tikkurila and been a member of the Management Board since 2010. The above mentioned persons report to Erkki Jarvinen, President and CEO and the Chairman of the Management Board. The appointments will take effect as of May 1, 2017. The purpose of reorganizing Tikkurila Group's operations is to improve our cost competitiveness by clarifying decision-making and responsibilities, and by eliminating overlapping operations. "Our future organization model will provide crucial support for harmonizing our operations, increasing our operational efficiency and actively seeking new growth opportunities. I would like to welcome all new members of the Management Board to building an even stronger Tikkurila," said Erkki Jarvinen, President and CEO. Photos and CVs of the new Management Board members Meri Vainikka and Melisa Barholm are available on Tikkurila website: Link to photos Link to CVs Tikkurila Oyj Erkki Jarvinen, President and CEO For further information, please contact: Erkki Jarvinen, President and CEO, mobile +358 400 455 913, erkki.jarvinen@tikkurila.com Tikkurila is the leading paints and coatings professional in the Nordic region and Russia. With our roots in Finland, we now operate in 14 countries. Our high-quality products and extensive services ensure the best possible user experience in the market. Sustainable beauty since 1862. www.tikkurilagroup.com This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Tikkurila Oyj via Globenewswire Caraway Seeds Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027 Research Report By Future Market Insights Caraway Seeds Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 06:48:00 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com press@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 616 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Caraway is also known as meridian fennel and Persian cumin which is a native plant to Western Asia and Europe, and North Africa. Caraway seeds are one of the dominant spices which is used in several savory dishes worldwide. Caraway seeds are split halves of the dried fruits of a plant which are used as a spice ingredient in various dishes globally. Caraway seeds are highly aromatic which have a distinctive earthy anise seed flavor. Caraway seeds are one of the most popular spices which are produced on a large-scale in European countries, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Caraway seeds are used for producing edible oils that are used in various food products. Caraway seeds are best remedy for curing colds and congestion. Caraway seeds are used widely in medicinal formulations for the treatment of disorders such as eye infection, toothaches and rheumatism. Caraway seed oil is also used for treatment of fungus infections and the candida infections. Caraway seeds are used for treating digestive problems such as loss of appetite, bloating and mild spasms of intestines and stomach.Global Caraway Seeds: Market SegmentationThe global caraway seeds market is segmented on the basis of form, application and region. The caraway seeds market is segmented on the basis of forms such as whole seed and powder. The global caraway seeds market is segmented on the basis of application in which caraway seeds is used in application such as pharmaceuticals as a flavoring agent in mouthwash, in savory dishes such as soups, sauerkraut, pickles and salads. Caraway seeds are widely used to flavor biscuits, cakes, rye breads, meat dishes. Caraway seeds are used as a condiment in various savory dishes. Hence, the global caraway seeds market is expected to significantly increase the revenue contribution over the forecast period.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3334 Global Caraway Seeds Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the global caraway seeds industry can be divided by major regions which include North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East and Africa. Globally, among all regions, Europe has developed as the dominant region in global caraway seeds market followed by Asia Pacific. Increasing demand for spices and condiments in various food products, has strengthened the growth of global caraway seeds market and hence is projected to significantly expand the revenue contribution of the market over the forecast period.Global Caraway Seeds Market: Growth DriversThe global caraway seeds market driving factors are increasing demand for ready-to-eat snack foods coupled with the convenience of foods. Increasing opportunities in bakery industry is also another factor in driving the caraway seeds market along with rising in production of caraway seeds as a result of improved seed varieties. Manufacturers are focusing on providing healthier product offerings. Caraway seed oil helps in improving digestion problems, which is another major factor for driving the caraway seed market worldwide. Caraway seeds is also used as a flavoring agent in toothpaste and mouthwash. Hence, the global caraway seeds market is expected to observe robust growth over the forecast period.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3334 Global Caraway Seeds Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified across the value chain of the global caraway seeds market include SLEAFORD QUALITY FOODS LTD., Bishnoi trading corporation, Great American Spice Company, Lionel Hitchen Essential Oils, SMJ EXPORTS PVT. LTD., McCormick & Company, Inc., GIZA SEEDS & HERBS and Canadian Exotic Grains Ltd. The companies are expected to expand their business by enhancing their product portfolio in global caraway seeds market. The companies are projected to frame certain strategies in future in order to gain the competitive advantage in global caraway seeds market till 2027. In a last-minute attempt to slow momentum of Lincoln City Council candidate Tom Nesbitt, the Nebraska Democratic Party sent out negative information about Nesbitt through a mailer and a website. Nesbitt came in third in the primary. However, Bennie Shobe, a Democrat, came in fourth, about 900 votes behind. And Democrats would like to see him beat out Nesbitt. Three of the six candidates will be elected to the City Council at-large seats, meaning they represent the entire city, in Tuesdays election. The mailer says Nesbitt mismanaged the Nebraska State Patrol as its colonel, using a 2005 Lincoln Journal Star story as its source. In the story, the newly appointed State Patrol colonel, Bryan Tuma, acknowledged command and management 'issues' during Nesbitt's tenure. Tuma was appointed colonel by Dave Heineman when he became governor. Nesbitt had served as the head of the patrol for the six years while Gov. Mike Johanns was in office. The mailer also implies that Heineman asked Nesbitt to resign because of management issues. However, new governors often appoint new agency heads, not necessarily out of concern, but because they may think another person will do a better job. Newspaper stories about that transition acknowledge that Heineman and Nesbitt disagreed over what group should be in charge of updating aging police radio systems around the state before Heineman became governor. The mailer also points out that Nesbitt sued the state pension system over his pension, when the state did not pay him for three months after he left the patrol. Nesbitt, who was a trooper for more than 25 years and was eligible for a State Patrol pension, successfully sued for that three months of pension payments. The mailer, paid for by the Nebraska Democratic Party, describes Nesbitt's trooper pension as a golden parachute. The website and mailer, which arrived at residences Thursday, five days before the election, are the first negative advertising in the general election. Except for some negative advertising in the primary from the Republican Party, pointing to Leirion Gaylor Bairds support of the property tax increase, the rest of the City Council campaign advertising has been candidates promoting themselves, parties supporting their candidates and special-interest groups supporting specific candidates. PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 11:35:02 138 projects from 43 countries competed to find innovative solutions to the problem of water scarcity in the world Greece Bags Second Prize in Global Water Award Dubai Electricity and Water Authority Ribal Dayekh or Iman Saeed +971-4-307-2006 or +971-4-515-0512 ribal.dayekh@dewa.gov.ae, iman.saeed@dewa.gov.ae or Hattlan Media Nabil Khoury or Eman Hussein +971-56-114-1177 or +971-50-736-6990 nabil@hattlan.com, eman@hattlan.com Temak S.A in Greece was awarded the second prize in a global award that tackles the issue of water scarcity through finding innovative solutions. The award, overseen by The UAE Water Aid Foundation [..], includes three main categories: Innovative Projects Award (Small and Large projects), Innovative Research and Development Award (National and International institutions), and the Innovative Youth Award. Temak S.A came second in the first category. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201704280051 CATEGORY INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AWARD - SMALL PROJECTS 2ND PLACE TEMAK S.A., GREECE (Photo: ME NewsWire) Valued at $1m, the award was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to encourage sustainable and innovative solutions to address water scarcity using solar power. The UAE Water Aid Foundation [..] oversees the award under the umbrella of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI). The Greece based company participated in the award with a solar powered Reverse Osmosis plant to produce drinking water, a self-sustained project with an energy recovery device with 42% energy savings. Its efforts were recognised with an award for a second place. Irodis G. Mitsopoulos, President of TEMAK S.A., commented: I would like to congratulate the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) for this commendable initiative which encourages, promotes and rewards solutions and technologies that contribute to the welfare of human life. Our mission for over 40 years has been to develop and apply technologies for low cost production of fresh, potable water from sea or high salinity ground water, accessible for all people. This award makes us proud and creates a strong commitment for us to keep on working with greater passion and enthusiasm, in order to offer the precious fresh potable water to even more people with the lowest possible cost. The Mohammed bin Rashid Global Water Award is based on a rigorous assessment process in accordance with the highest international standards and best practices. All of which are held to measure the feasibility of projects submitted to achieve Suqia's objectives. *Source: ME NewsWire View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201704280051 A 25-year-old Nebraska prison inmate is looking at up to 20 years more time at his sentencing in June for assaulting a prison staffer a year ago at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. Brendan C. Horner pleaded no contest Thursday to second-degree assault. Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jim Rocke said on March 26, 2016, a corrections officer at the State Penitentiary was looking for another inmate when he smelled marijuana coming from a cell with Horner and another inmate inside. The other inmate threw the drugs in the toilet, then pushed the officer into Horner, who wrapped the guard up in his arms, then threw him to the floor and punched him several times before the prison's emergency response team responded, Rocke said. He said the officer required surgery on his shoulder. Horner, serving a sentence of 30-45 years for shooting a man in the neck in a road rage incident in Lincoln in June 2012, is now at the Tecumseh Correctional Institution. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Key Opinion Leader Management Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Hematology Analyzer And Reagents Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 05:40:43 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 828 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Hematology word comes from Greek haima and logos meaning blood and discourse respectively. Hematology encompasses the science or study of blood cells and coagulation. Blood being the only fluid that flows throughout the human body, analysis of blood sample is essential for detection of common physiological indications such as anaemia, infections, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and cancer. Blood analysis or testing also exposes genetic information, viruses, organ deficiencies, etc. Hematology analyzers commercially available for analysis of blood and blood related disorders can take form of simple handheld photo-optical devices, sophisticated diagnostic point-of-care instruments and highly automated or complex laboratory analyzer. Complexity of the instrument varies with type of test, level of automation and requirement of computer connectivity. Hematology analyzers basically differ from each other in sample throughput rate as well as in total number of blood parameters analysed or measured. Hematology analyzers is used to carry out common blood tests such as complete blood count (CBC), blood chemistry tests, blood enzyme tests and other tests that measure cholesterol and triglycerides to aid in assessment of presence or risk of heart disease. The most common test amongst all is complete blood count (CBC) wherein, various components of blood are counted such as, red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets, haemoglobin and haematocrit.Hematology analyzers work on coulter principle, VCS (Volume, Conductivity and Scatter) technology as well as hydrodynamic focussing. Currently available hematology sensors use combination of light absorption, light scatter, fluorescence, electrical impedance and conductivity. Hematology analyzers contains basic mechanical parts namely, pumps, syringes, tubing and motors who work in conjunction with reagents, optics and software to provide appropriate results of tests to clinicians. Reagents used in the Hematology analyzers are solutions that are used either in dilution of the blood being tested or to differentiate and mark various blood components that further enables electrical and optical analysis.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3359 Hematology Analyzer and Reagents Market: Drivers and RestraintAutomated analyzers, point-of-care diagnostic analyzers and handheld photo-optic devices have become complex and high-tech along with user-friendly and easy in operation, driving the market for hematology analyzer and reagent market. Laboratories select hematology analyzers and reagents on basis of patient population, reliability, service, precision, accuracy budgetary constraints, current and anticipated scope of laboratory services, etc. Manufacturers has overseen and researched these requirements in order to target specific analyzers to varied number of laboratories and has thus brought prosperity to hematology analyzers and reagents market. For example, traditional bench top optical hematology analyzers measured up to 50-60 centimetres in length and 10 centimetres in diameter and was too expensive while today due to drive towards miniaturization the same analyzers is 10-15 centimetres long and 3 centimetres in diameter. Blood testing required for large number of blood and blood-related disorders is also a major driver in hematology analyzers and reagents market.One of the restraint in hematology analyzers and reagents market is high cost of the instrument and low adoption of advanced hematology analyzers and reagents in emerging and under developed countries. While other restraints include product recall and fierce competition amongst the manufacturers posing pressure for cost reductionHematology Analyzer and Reagents Market: SegmentationThe global hematology analyzer and reagents market is classified on the basis of product type, distribution channel and geography.Based on product type, the global hematology analyzer and reagents market is segmented into the following:Handheld Photo-Optic DevicesPoint-Of-Care Diagnostic AnalyzerAutomated Blood AnalyzerConsumablesReagentsStainsCalibrators and ControlsBased on end users, the global hematology analyzer and reagents market is segmented into the following:HospitalsSpecialized Diagnostic CentersSpecialized Research InstitutesOthersHematology Analyzer and Reagents Market: OverviewDevelopment of precise, flexible and user-friendly technologies that are cost-effective has been a trend in hematology analyzers and reagent.Advancement in research has led to more professional demands and capabilities in units of testing. Speed-to-market and competitive cost have been one of the primary drivers in the development of hematology analyzers and reagents market.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3359h Hematology Analyzer and Reagents Market: Regional OverviewThe Hematology Analyzer and Reagents market is classified on basis of regions into, North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, APEJ, Japan and MEA. North America is the largest market for Hematology Analyzer and Reagents due to easy adoption of highly advanced laboratory analyzers. While hematology analyzers and reagent market has seen a steady increase and has potential to prosper in countries like Japan, China, India, etc. Development in healthcare facilities, increasing prevalence in blood and blood related disorders such as cancer, growing health awareness among population, increase in number of highly advanced diagnostic clinics and many such factors contribute to increase in hematology analyzer and reagents market in emerging nations.Hematology Analyzer and Reagents Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in Hematology Analyzer and Reagents market include Abbott, Siemens AG, Beckman Coulter Inc, HORIBA, Ltd, Sysmex Corporation, Abaxis, Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and others. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027 Research Report By Future Market Insights Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 06:41:56 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com press@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 612 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide and hence offers a lot of unmet research areas yet to be targeted. The field of oncology is wide comprising a varied type of application area. The focus of researchers is gradually shifting towards the immunotherapies. The immunotherapy makes the use of bodys own components to fight cancer. Immune checkpoints are molecules that stimulate or inhibit the immune cells. Yervoy was the first drug launched in the immune checkpoint inhibitors domain. This anit-CTLA-4 drug was followed by many other drugs such as Keytruda and Opdivo. Besides these molecules there are several others under clinical development. There is an ongoing competition between the immune checkpoint inhibitors market contributors to emerge as a leader.Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe immune checkpoint inhibitors market is driven by the number of research developments undertaken by industry contributors as well as academic institutes. The immune checkpoint inhibitors market is experiencing a lot of collaborations wherein companies are combining their core competencies to fasten their research programs. For instance, Merck known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada along with Dynavax Technologies Corporation are investigating the potential synergistic effects by combining Dynavax's SD-101 with two of Mercks immunotherapies Keytruda and MK-1966.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3326 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Market: SegmentationImmune checkpoint inhibitors market is classified on the basis of drug targets, application and region.Based on drug targets the immune checkpoint inhibitors market is segmented into the following:PD-1 inhibitorsPD-L1 inhibitorsCTLA-4Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T)OthersMonoclonal antibodies that target either PD-L1 or PD-1 can block its binding to the cells and boost immune response against cancer cells. There are many clinical trials in pipeline where in drugs that targets either PD-1 inhibitors or PD-L1 inhibitors are tested alone or in combination with other drugs.Based on application the immune checkpoint inhibitors market is segmented into the following:Lung cancerRenal cancerBlood cancerBladder cancerHodgkin lymphomaMelanomaOthersImmune Checkpoint Inhibitors Market: OverviewThe immune checkpoint inhibitor market is driven by the need to address the rising rate of cancer prevalence thereby affecting the country healthcare cost. In UK, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death. The survival rate past five years has only being 9% after the person is diagnosed with lung cancer. The new form of immunotherapy based on the inhibition of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptors has shown hope as a therapy option for lung cancer.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3326 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Market: Region-wise OutlookIn terms of geography, immune checkpoint inhibitors market has been divided into five regions including North- America, Asia- Pacific and Middle-East & Africa, Latin America and Europe. The number of clinical trials and research funding is relatively high in North America, making it the dominant region in terms of revenue in the immune checkpoint inhibitors market. In September 2014, Merck received accelerated FDA approval for its Keytruda molecule to treat patient with advanced melanoma. The company is forming global alliances with other companies to co-developimmnuo-oncology research and expand its oncology business.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region in the immune checkpoint inhibitors market as there are number of research collaborations of international players with companies from this region. For instance, Bristol-Myers Squibb received Japanese approval for Opdivo in 2014, through partnership with Ono Pharmaceuticals.Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Market: Key Market ParticipantsSome of the market contributors to the immune checkpoint inhibitors market are Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck & Co., Inc., Roche, AstraZeneca, Merck KGaA, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Novartis International AG, Juno Therapeutics and Kite Pharma. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Key Opinion Leader Management Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Neuromodulation Devices Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 05:43:10 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 627 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Neuromodulation is technology that is used for the alteration or modulation of the nerve activity by using chemical agents or electrical stimulation to the specific neurological sites in the body. Most of the neuromodulation devices work through electrical stimulation.Neuromodulation devices are used by the application of electrodes to the brain, peripheral nerves or the spinal cord. The electrode leads in neuromodulation devices are connected through an extension cable to a power source and pulse generator, which generates required electrical impulses. A low-voltage electrical signal passes from the impulse generator to the nerves, and work by either stimulating the neural impulses where they were not present previously or inhibiting the pain signals. Neuromodulation devices are used to treat or enhance the quality of life of people suffering from the conditions such as, chronic pain, urinary and fecal incontinence, essential tremor, epilepsy, Parkinsons disease, dystonia and psychological disorders. The conditions which are being treated with neuromodulation devices are mostly permanent in nature so it requires a long term use of neuromodulation devices.Neuromodulation Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe global market for neuromodulation devices is primarily driven by the increase in geriatric population in developed countries such as, the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Increasing incidence of neurological disorders is another factor responsible for the growth of neuromodulation devices market. Other growth factors for neuromodulation devices market are miniaturization of devices, new neuromodulation devices approval by regulatory bodies and increasing awareness among people.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3361 Neuromodulation Devices Market: SegmentationThe global neuromodulation market has been segmented on the basis of product type, end users and geography.Based on product type, the global neuromodulation devices market is divided into:Internal NeuromodulationDeep brain stimulationSacral nerve stimulationVagus nerve stimulationSpinal cord stimulationGastric Electrical StimulationExternal NeuromodulationTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulationRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulationBased on end users, the global neuromodulation devices market is segmented as:HospitalsClinicsHome healthcareNeuromodulation Devices Market: OverviewNeuromodulation devices market is expected to witness significant growth due to the technological advancement of neuromodulation devices. Spinal cord stimulation is the largest segment of the neuromodulation devices market as this therapy is mostly used for the treatment of chronic pain. Deep brain stimulation is expected to be the fastest growing segment of neuromodulation devices market due to increasing prevalence of neurological disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinsons disease & dystonia and also due to lack of existing treatments. In case of the end users home healthcare is expected to be fastest growing due to miniaturization of neuromodulation devices and ease of use.Neuromodulation Devices Market: Region-wise OutlookNeuromodulation devices market is segmented into seven regions, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America is the most attractive market due to increase in the end use of devices, awareness among people and high prevalence of disease conditions such as Parkinsons disease, chronic pain, epilepsy. Followed by which is Western Europe. Asia-Pacific region is expected to be fastest growing due to increasing population, change in lifestyle, and government initiative to aware the people regarding the neurological disorders and their treatments. Japan is also an attractive market for neuromodulation devices due to ageing population and increase in the approval rate of neuromodulation devices by Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3361 Neuromodulation Devices Market: Key Market ParticipantsSome of the market participants in the global neuromodulation devices market are Medtronic, Accellent, BioControl Medical, Boston Scientific Corporation, DynaMD, Nevro Corp, NeuroSigma, Inc., NeuroPace, Inc., St. Jude Medical, Inc. Soterix Medical, Inc. and Synapse Biomedical, Inc.,. These companies are focusing on miniaturizationof the neuromodulation devices and advancement of the technology. A Lincoln judge has ruled in favor of an exotic dancer who sued the Waverly club where she performed for two years saying she qualifies as an employee and was owed thousands in back pay. Courts in other states, including Nevada, previously have found exotic dancers to be employees, under the law, akin to waiters or bartenders. Not contractors. But, until the decision this week, Nebraska lacked cases on point, according to Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong's order in Elizabeth Mays' case against Shakers. In it, Strong found that Shakers owes Mays $7,586.78, plus attorney fees and costs. From March 2012 to February 2014, Mays lived in Wisconsin and traveled to strip clubs, including the one near Waverly, performing as an exotic dancer. Mays entered into a lease with Shakers, paying a flat fee to use the stage and dressing room. She kept the tips. Bob Creager, the attorney for the juice bar, argued Mays was neither an independent contractor nor an employee of Shakers and shouldn't now be able to get hourly pay because she benefited by the lease agreement. Mays' records, offered as evidence at a trial in January, show she made an average of $44 per hour during that time. But the business also had no less than 50 "house rules" beyond the lease with which the dancers had to comply. "The rules controlled the dancers' movement, their dress, their dancing, their cleaning duties, their schedule, their contact with customers, the rates they charged, the lotion they used, the music they danced to, their use of cellphones, their movement within the club, the method of customer payment, and their attendance at mandatory meetings," Strong wrote. Mays' attorney, Kathleen Neary, asserted the house rules transformed Mays into an employee under state law. Strong said she was persuaded to agree by the case law Neary cited and her analysis. Shakers depends upon dancers like Mays to bring in customers for its profit, "thus the dancers are an integral part of defendants' business," the judge wrote. And, she said, Creager's argument -- that Mays shouldn't be able to argue she was an employee because she profited under the lease -- is flawed because the tips she got were paid by the customers, not Shakers. Shakers paid her nothing. "To the contrary, plaintiff paid defendants to 'lease' space to perform," Strong said. She found that Shakers owed Mays $7.25 per hour, minimum wage at the time, for the hours she worked, plus overtime. In an email Wednesday, Neary said she was honored to represent Mays "in this very important case." "Ms. Mays stood up for what she knew was right and just," she said. Neary said the court's order has the potential to impact the rights of many workers who have been mischaracterized as independent contractors. Carob Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027 Research Report By Future Market Insights Carob Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 06:48:51 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com press@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 629 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) is a native plant to the eastern Mediterranean especially to the Middle East countries. Carob is also called as locust bean and is primarily cultivated for its edible pods in majorly Mediterranean region which includes Southern Europe, Northern Africa and the Canary Islands. Carob powder is also used as a substitute for cocoa powder in various bakery products. Carob based bars is consumed as an alternative to chocolate based bars worldwide. Carob do not contain caffeine and theobromine (which is intolerant to some animals) and therefore is widely used in chocolate flavored pet food for dogs and other animals. Carob pod meal is widely used as a rich source of energy for livestock, particularly for ruminants. Carob in food industry is used as a thickening agent, gelling agent, stabilizing agent or as a substitute for low-calorie food products. Carob is fat-free, rich in pectin and contains high amount of proteins. Carob is primarily used in the production of confectionery and bakery products and variety of beverages. Carob is also used for making flour, molasses and is a substitute for coffee.Global Carob: Market SegmentationThe global carob market is segmented on the basis of form, distribution channel, application and region. The carob market is segmented on the basis of form such as solid and liquid. The carob market is segmented on the basis of distribution channel which includes fitness stores, health stores, online and others. The carob market is segmented on the basis of application such as bakery products which includes cakes, cookies, pancakes, bread. Carob is also used in snack bars, cocoa based food products and beverages, cereals, dairy products and others. Carob pod meal is widely used for livestock. Carob syrup is used as a natural sweetener and is considered as a rich source of calcium. Hence, the global carob market is expected to significantly increase the revenue contribution over the forecast period.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3335 Global Carob Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the global carob industry can be divided by major regions which include North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East and Africa. Globally, among all regions, Europe has developed as the dominant region in global carob market followed by Asia Pacific. Increasing demand for carob powder in various bakery products and confectionery, has strengthened the growth of global carob market and hence is projected to significantly expand the revenue contribution of the market over the forecast period.Global Carob Market: Growth DriversThe global carob market driving factors are increasing demand for bakery products coupled with the convenience of foods. Increasing opportunities in bakery and confectionery industry is also another factor in driving the carob market along with rise in production of carob. Carob is also used for treating diarrhea, cancer, helps in reducing cholesterol level, and are some of the factors driving the global carob market. Carob powder is widely used as an alternative for cocoa powder due to its health benefits which is a major driving factor for the global carob market. Hence, the global carob market is expected to observe robust growth over the forecast period.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3335 Global Carob Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified across the value chain of the global carob market include Australian Carobs Pty Ltd., CAROB S.A., EURODUNA AMERICAS INC., CyberColloids Ltd., The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Savvy Foods Ltd., Carobs Australia Inc., Creta Carob, Lewis Confectionery Pty Ltd and MADANARGAN. The companies are expected to expand their business by enhancing their product portfolio in global carob market. The companies are projected to frame certain strategies in future in order to gain the competitive advantage in global carob market till 2027. This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: SAG GEST - SOLUCOES AUTOMOVEL GLOBAIS, SGPS, SA via Globenewswire Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this press release please contact the company added in the press release. Please do not contact pr-inside. We will not be able to assist you. PR-inside disclaims the content included in this release. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Sarcoidosis Therapeutics Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027report to their offering. Sarcoidosis Therapeutics Market Growth PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 09:03:19 Press Information Fututre Market Insights Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States 3479183531 email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 654 Words Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States3479183531Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Sarcoidosis also known as Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann disease is an inflammatory disease characterized by formation of garnulomas. The autoagressive systemic disease affects the organs throughout the body where the nodules contains collection of inflammatory cells. In majority of the cases sarcoidosis is cured within a year or two and only 30% of the sarcoidosis develop chronic disease.The market for sarcoidosis therapeutics is expected to boom due to the number of research undertaking and funding to control the rising prevalence of this disease. NIH granted USD 8.3 million to the University of Pittsburgh to explore the relationship between lung bacteria, the gene activation process and sarcoidosis disease progression. For the sarcoidosis study the Genomics and Informatics Center would collect patient clinical data from seven clinical center and use advanced microbiome and genome profiling techniques to identify biomarkers. These biomarkers would help identify the current state of lung disease and further predict its progression. Such integration of microbiome, genome and clinical information for sarcoidosis disease would dramatically change its management.Sarcoidosis therapeutics market has been segmented on the basis of diagnosis, treatment and region.Based on the diagnosis, sarcoidosis therapeutics market is segmented into the following:X-rayCT ScanBiopsyLung function testsOthersThere is no blood test for diagnosis sarcoidosis. In order to negate some other infections, doctors always tests skin or lung sample during biopsy. In case where the patient chest x-ray is abnormal, bronchoscopy is performed. Small pieces of lung tissues are collected for testing.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3340 Based on the therapy, sarcoidosis therapeutics market is segmented into the following:CorticosteroidsImmunosuppressant DrugsTumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (Tnf-) BlockersOthersTreatment of sarcoidosis starts by limiting the initiation of granuloma formation by inhibiting antigen processing, preventing fibrosing processe, limiting inflammatory lesions causing organ interference, severe chronic fatigue, inhibiting constitutional manifestations like cough and exertional dyspnea.The number of clinical trials undertaken for sarcoidosis has increased past some years. The disease is highly undiscovered and hence offers a potential for industry players to mark their market presence. Some companies such as Auven Therapeutics have obtained rights from research universities to further carry out clinical trials on a new molecule. Auven Therapeutics obtained rights to futher develop KIACTA from the Icahn School of Medicine. The research is now carried as a collaborative effort between Auven Therapeutics and BELLUS Health. The companies are evaluating the potential use of KIACTA for the treatment of patients suffering from pulmonary sarcoidosis. They have developed a Phase2/3 protocol to evaluate the efficacy and safety of KIACTA in sarcoidosis.Geographically, sarcoidosis therapeutics market is segmented into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East and Africa. North America region is projected to dominate the sarcoidosis therapeutics marketover the forecast period. The amount of research undertaken by various companies, industry academia partnership and funding to encourage more research are some of the factors contributing to North Americas lion share. Europe is the second largest region in terms of revenue share as it also has number of clinical trials ongoing.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3340 Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region for the sarcoidosistherapeutics market. The region is expected to boom owing to the prevalence rate and grants received from various international associations. A professor from National Jewish Health, received USD 40,000 per for two years from the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) grant /American Thoracic Society. The Foundation for Saroidosis Research (FSR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to find a cure or improve care for sarcoidosis. The foundation has awarded USD 1 million for research and additional USD 1.2 million for funding to investigators.Key PlayersSome of the key players in sarcoidosis therapeutics market include Bellus Helath, FirstString Research Inc., Relief Therapeutics, Araim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis AG, PharmaIN Corporation, Adaptimmune Therapeutics Plc, EpiZyme, Inc. and Advenchen Laboratories, LLC. Squash (Drink) Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027 Research Report By Future Market Insights Squash (Drink) Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 06:44:43 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com press@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 624 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Squash is a concentrated syrup which is made up of fruit. Squash is generally non-alcoholic in nature as it is not fermented. Generally while manufacturing squash sugar is added, but now a days few company offers sugar free squash. In modern squash, food coloring and additional flavors are also added. In traditional squash some sort of herbal extract such as ginger extract and elderflower extract are also added to enhance the quality of the squash. Squash are also known as cordial. Squash are also used mixed with alcoholic drinks in order to make cocktails. Orange and lime base are the most commonly used squash in any social event. Squash has a large market share in the global market of fruit juices. Squash is very popular in Denmark, India, United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Argentina, Pakistan, Ireland,Indonesia, Israel, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, Cyprus, Kenya, Australia, Chinaand New Zealand.Market Segmentation:Squash marketis segment on the basis of type, distribution channel and region. On the basis of type the squash market is segmented into orange squash, lemon squash, blueberry squash and mixed fruit. Among all these application, orange squash segment accounts for significant share of total squash market. The demand for Squash is also more as it is very refreshing and is loved by children. On the basis of distribution channel the squash market is segmented into hyper/supermarket stores, departmental stores, grocery/retailers and online retailers. Hyper/supermarket is expected to hold a relatively higher share in the squash market, followed by grocery/retailers segment. As we all know online stores offers great discounts and easy delivery of the product at the doorstep, thus this segment is anticipated to grow enormously in the forecast period. On the basis of region the squash market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and MEA.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3331 Market Regional Outlook:Regional segment for the market of Squash is divided into seven different regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and MEA. Among these segment Asia Pacific is expected to be the leader of squash market share globally, and is expected to be dominant in the forecaster period. In Asia Pacific region the countries like India, Bangladesh and China are the key market for squash. In terms of revenue Europe is the expected to be the second leading contributor in theSquash market, followed by North America.Market Drivers:The rising demand for non-alcoholic products among consumers is the major driver for the growth of squash market globally. The increasing adoption of natural fruit juices as an alternative to aerated drinks by health conscious consumers is anticipated to drive the growth of global squash market. The increasing growth of natural sweeteners market is expected to bolster the growth of global squash market. In order to carter to the rising demand of healthy drink , manufacturers are manufacturing squash that are sugar free and has no artificial color. The Squash market is also driven by the love for refreshing juice by the children. Children prefer chilled tasty drinks after doing any sort of physical activity and squash is a perfect answer to their demands. Squash which contains herbal ingredients are generally a rich source of vitamins which is another reason for the growth of squash market in the forecast period globally. However, the amount of fructose present in the squash which may cause some health issue can be a restrain to this growing market of squash.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3331 Market Key Players:Some of the major players in squash market includes Robinsons, Kissan, Britvic, Hamdard, Coca Cola, Rasna, Assis, Prigat, Primor, Suntory, Nichols and Sunquick among others. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Key Opinion Leader Management Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Transcranial Doppler Devices Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 05:39:38 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 791 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Transcranial Doppler is an examination technique uses to measure brains blood flow velocity from the basal intracerebral vessels by measuring echoes produced from ultrasound waves which are moving transcranially.A low-frequency transducer nearly of 2 MHz is used to enable sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves through the skull. Transcranial Doppler has an excellent diagnosis accuracies.Transcranial Doppler is relatively quick and detects arteriovenous malformations, ischemic cerebrovascular disease, sickle cell and cerebral circulatory arrest. Its non-invasive nature and high temporal resolution make it supreme for the study of cerebral hemodynamics. The developed Transcranial Doppler system is an exclusive combination of the certified medical device and research equipment. Technical advancement has led the quick development of portable devices , due to chip integrated circuits containing fast, integrated and low power systems. The impact of such improvements in reforming the global healthcare sector is also recognized as a fundamental factor driving the demand for Transcranial Doppler systems.Transcranial Doppler Market: Drivers and RestraintsVariability in age, hematocrit, gender, increase in blood pressure and mental or motor activity disorders, rising awareness of neurodegenerative diseases among a population and has therapeutic potential are the primary drivers for Transcranial Doppler market. Its unique design allows the implementation of the advanced signal processing while keeping the costs low. Transcranial Doppler also used in combination with CT scan, MRI, MRA and carotid duplex ultrasound. Transcranial Doppler technology allows help clinician to gain knowledge about concerned flow characteristics within the insonated vessel and helps in rapid decision making. Poor reimbursement policies and lack of trained professionals are the main challenges for transcranial Doppler market.Systems only built for adults because of the design in which head size is fixed to a narrow range of circumferences excluding to perform check on infants and small children due to their small head size.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3358 ABC Market: SegmentationThe global market for Transcranial Doppler systems is segmented by product type, display mode, and end usersBy Display ModeM-mode displayB-mode displayBy ModalityPortableStandaloneBy End-users[G28]HospitalsSpecialty clinicsSurgical centersB-mode Transcranial color-coded duplex (TCCD) combines pulsed wave Doppler ultrasound identifies the arteries abo ut various anatomic locations with a cross-sectional view of the area of insonation. M-mode display, more advanced technology provides multi-gate flow information and recently Transcranial Doppler market is based on this new technology.Transcranial Doppler market segmentation on end users including hospitals, clinics, and surgical centers use it for diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke, intracranial steno-occlusive disease, collateral flow, sickle cell disease, micro- emboli detection and some cerebrovascular diseases.Transcranial Doppler Market: OverviewStrategic collaborations between manufacturers, suppliers and end users and is expected to boost revenue growth of the transcranial Doppler devices market over the forecast period. Transcranial Doppler is aninvaan invasiveique which is the most preferred tool across the majority of clinical uses and the assumptions made about vessel diameter on Transcranial Doppler. According to WHO report, approximately 6.8 million people die every year because of neurological disorder. In the U.S each year more than 1 million athlete experience concussion, according to an AAN press release. Transcranial Doppler is an advanced form of ultrasound may provide a more accurate diagnosis of concussion.Transcranial Doppler Market: Region-wise OutlookNorth America market of Transcranial Doppler dominates the market of other regions. Geography and application classify North America transcranial Doppler market. The primary application of North AmericaTranscranial Doppler market is the diagnosis of sickle cell anemia, emboli detection, and intracranial stenosis.European and North America region comprises of a vast number of aging population which increases the risk of mental or brain disorders are the primary drivers for the increase in transcranial Doppler market. As per WHO report the economic cost of the neurological disorder in Europe was estimated at 139 million euros, in 2004. In Asia, because of diverse environmental conditions as well as changing lifestyle have led to brain diseases among adults as well as geriatric population. This has created high demand for brain monitoring devices for rapid diagnosis increasing the TCD market. In addition to these factors, government and nongovernment players are investing the huge amount in health care sector.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3358 Transcranial Doppler Market: Key Market ParticipantsSome of the major companies that have contributed towards this market are Cadwell Laboratories , Inc., Natus Medical, Inc., Life Sciences, Spiegelberg GmbH & Co. KG, Covidien, Elekta, Rimed Ltd., andAtys Medical.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, application, and industry. The 13,000 renters in the Near South and Everett neighborhoods are surrounded by other renters -- renters next door, renters upstairs, renters below. But it can be tough for them to feel like they're part of a bigger community. They might not know their neighbors. They might not know what services are available nearby. They're often identified as more transient, or not as connected, said Chelsea Egenberger. We know in Lincoln there's not a whole lot of resources targeted at renters. So Egenberger and others are hosting an event May 6 to try to gather those living in the two neighborhoods -- and anybody else who wants to come -- a little closer together. They hope free food, information tables, music and mingling will show renters and other residents they're all in this together. We're in a vulnerable time. People are finding it harder and harder to connect to their neighbors, or to find common ground. We all share the same space, a geographical space, but we also share a lot of the same values and concerns, she said. The more we know where people come from and what our common interests are, the stronger our neighborhoods can be. The Residents Together Resource Fair started to take shape in October, when Egenberger and five other neighborhood organizers from Lincoln were selected to attend NeighborWorks America's annual training in Columbus, Ohio, where they went through community leadership exercises and met other organizers from across the country. There was a lot of really great discussion and really great brainstorming and connecting, she said. They returned with a $2,000 budget and an assignment -- organize a community project. Last year, Lincolns participants launched Neighbor Powered Networks and hosted a block party; past groups came home and started the University Place Community Market and the Lincoln Biketacular. Egenberger's group decided to focus on building connections in the Near South and Everett areas, where more than 90 percent of residents are renters. They enlisted the help of NeighborWorks Lincoln, South of Downtown Community Development Organization and We Are Vital LNK to stage the four-hour event at the F Street Recreation Center. They want those in the neighborhoods to get to know each other, and they want them to see the help and activities that are available. They also want it to be accessible. Free, family-friendly, open to everyone. If they just want to come and enjoy the music, great, Egenberger said. If they want to come and talk to the people at the resource tables, great. They use the term resource broadly. It means learning more about the services provided by the Gathering Place or Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach, or meeting the woman down the street who keeps an eye on the neighborhood, or getting the phone number for Community Action Partnership, which can answer questions about landlord-tenant rights and responsibilities. "Were hoping that this will be a launching pad for more people to become aware of what exists in the community. People think of the Near South and Everett, and they think it's a high-crime area. We are so much more than that. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Key Opinion Leader Management Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. Veterinary Ultrasound Scanner Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 05:37:00 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 670 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 The veterinary ultrasound scanner is used In Health & Care.The veterinary ultrasound scanner mainly works by Pulse echo method and Doppler Effect. These two different methods are widely used in diagnostic. Analytic imaging is necessary for determination and administration of numerous fundamental issues in veterinary medicine, veterinary ultrasound scanner gave quick outcomes and was not so much costly but rather more adequate and instructively significant to the general population. Veterinary ultrasound scanner system is non-intrusive fast system likewise gave important clinical data. This framework additionally helps patient to discover their issues in early stages for treatment of various infections and additionally determination of pre-birth. Mechanical advances in the course of recent years have made veterinary ultrasound scanner gear very convenient.Veterinary ultrasound scanner market: Drivers and RestraintThe worldwide market of veterinary ultrasound scanner framework is relied upon to be driven by headway in PC programming that takes into consideration enhanced imaging in a littler bundle and shortening exam times by lessening the quantity of steps required. Ultrasound framework can be effortlessly transported and require less space can likewise be key variables which will build its request in the market. Veterinary ultrasound scan system has less availability of trained and experienced operators can restrain the market of the veterinary ultrasound scanner. Unawareness of these technologies in rural areas can also consider as speed breaker for veterinary ultrasound scanner marketRequest For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3356 Veterinary ultrasound scanner market: SegmentationThe global market forVeterinary ultrasound scanner segmented by product type, modality, end user, and geography:Segmentation by Product TypeErgonomicsPortableHand-heldExplorationMulti-purposeophthalmicSegmentation by modalitySpecial reduction imagingSpatial compound imagingHarmonic imagingMulti-beam formation technologySegmented by End UserVeterinary HospitalsVeterinary Center for ResearchAnimal husbandrySegmented by geographyNorth AmericaLatin AmericaWestern EuropeEastern EuropeAsia Pacific excluding JapanJapanThe Middle East and AfricaVeterinary ultrasound scanner Market: Overviewveterinary ultrasound scanner showcase makes incredible chance to grow their wings. Makers constant created veterinary ultrasound scanner strategies and they likewise present the assortment of veterinary ultrasound scanner reliably in the market. Income of the veterinary ultrasound scanner advertises increment step by step with great qualities.By product type global market can be categorized into two parts such as ergonomicsand exploration, then further these parts divided into various subdivision by their characteristics and functionalityBy product modality,Veterinary ultrasound scanner devices are functionally based on different type of technology such as harmonic imaging, spatial compound imaging, etc. which are used in diagnosis.By end users, the Veterinary ultrasound scanner market is segmented into the veterinary hospital, veterinary center for research, and animal husbandry.Veterinary ultrasound scanner Market: Region-wise OutlookTopographically, North America rules the worldwide market for veterinary ultrasound scanners because of expanding the interest of indicative test for creatures. Additionally, developing mindfulness among individuals about veterinary ultrasound scanners for pet animals will likewise complement the market in the North American locale. Europe speaks to the second position in the worldwide market because of mechanical progression and expanding mindfulness among individuals. Asia-Pacific is considered as a developing business sector in the global veterinary ultrasound scanners showcase because of vast number of creatures (dairy animals, wild ox, goat) are experiencing different maladies. Also, the market for veterinary ultrasound scanners is at an introductory stage in Asian nations. It is normal that Asia Pacific will contribute a critical piece of the overall industry amid the estimate time frame because of expanding social insurance foundation. Rest of the World (Line) is considered as an undiscovered market in the worldwide veterinary ultrasound scanners showcase because of weak medicinal services framework in African nationsVisit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3356 Veterinary ultrasound scanner Market: Key Market ParticipantsSome of the major players stand in global Veterinary ultrasound scanner marketsuch are Accutome, BCF Technology, Biocare, Biomet, BMV Technology, DRAMINSKI, DRE Veterinary, etc. Companies are involved in collaboration agreements for R&D to exploit maximum revenue potential in global cosmetic lasers market. Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Acoustic Neurinoma Treatment Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027" report to their offering. PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-28 07:30:04 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Press: press@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 620 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Acoustic Neurinoma is a noncancerous growth that develops on the cranial nerve. Acoustic Neurinoma also known as develops on the vestibulocochlear nerve or the eight cranial nerve which connects the inner ear with the brain. The vestibulocochlear nerve has two parts, one helps in sending balance information and other involved in transmitting sound from ear to the brain. Acoustic Neurinoma also known by the name neurolemmomas or vestibular schwannomas. Although acoustic neurinoma do not invade the brain, they may push on it as they grow. But they may be deadly, if they become large enough to press on the cerebellum or stem.Acoustic Neurinoma Treatment Market: Drivers and RestraintsAcoustic neurinoma is expected to witness growth with the increasing number of government funding and also the introduction of new technologies. The UK government announced US$ 5.58 million funding to study the risk of brain tumor in relation to use of mobiles. As acoustic neurinoma is a rare disease, it has few market players, market expansion is the strategy used by the market players. For instance, Accuray Inc. signed an agreement with Christie InnoMed Inc. to market its CyberKnife and TomoTherapy System product portfolios in Canada.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3315 Acoustic Neurinoma Treatment Market: SegmentationAcoustic neurinoma treatment market is classified on the basis of treatment, end-users and region.Based on treatment the acoustic neurinoma treatment market is segmented into the following:Surgical removalTranslabyrinthineRetrosigmoid/sub-occipitalMiddle fossaRadiation therapyMulti-session fractionated stereotactic radiotherapySingle fraction stereotactic radiosurgeryEndoscopic resectionWith the growing preference towards minimally invasive surgeries, acoustic neuromas can now be removed by using total endoscopic resection. This procedure is offered at renowned medical centers.Based on end-users the acoustic neurinoma treatment market is segmented into the following:HospitalsClinicsAmbulatory surgery centersVisit for TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3315 Acoustic Neurinoma Treatment Market: OverviewAcoustic neurinoma occurs in two forms, one is associated to a syndrome known by the name neurofibromatosis type II and other a sporadic form. Neurofibromatosis type II is characterized by the noncancerous growth in the nerve system. As this type is an inherited rare disease majority of the acoustic neurinoma occurs in the sporadic form. One of the reason of acoustic neurinoma is high exposure to radiation doses to the head and neck region. Acoustic neurinoma has three main courses of treatment: observation, surgical removal or radiation therapy.As acoustic neurinoma is non-cancerous growth, some doctors monitor the tumor with the periodic MRI scans and suggests other treatments if it grows a lot and may cause serious problem. Translabyrinthine, retrosigmoid/sub-occipital and middle fossa are the three main surgical approaches for removing acoustic neurinoma. In case of radiation therapy, one of the two ways can be used: multi-session fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy and single fraction stereotactic radiosurgery.Acoustic Neurinoma Treatment Market: Region-wise OutlookThe report covers market scenario for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and MEA. As the market is niche there are very few players in the market giving opportunities for emerging players for market entry. As North America is strong in terms of international company presence and also strong research and development investments, the market is highest in this region. With the increasing number of approvals for robotic radiosurgery therapies, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region. Accuray received Japanese approval to market its CyberKnife M6 System.Acoustic Neurinoma Treatment Market: Key Market ParticipantsAccuray, Inc., Huiheng Medical, Inc., Elekta and Varian Medical Systems. The market is competitive in nature leading companies to focus on various new strategies such as, merger & acquisitions, new product development and expanding their operation in the new countries for maintaining their foothold in the market. 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. Alcohol sales in Whiteclay are headed for a historic halt. Lawyers for the state played a trump card against the village's four embattled beer stores Thursday, a dramatic turn that effectively forces them to close this weekend with no promise of reopening. The store owners' attorney, Andrew Snyder of Scottsbluff, said he advised them not to sell any alcohol after their licenses expire at midnight Sunday. "That's about all I can tell them right now," he said. It was a complete reversal of fortune following a judge's decision hours earlier that the stores should be allowed to stay open. The Nebraska Attorney General's Office quickly challenged the judge's ruling, citing a section of law that puts decisions by lower courts on hold for up to six months whenever a state agency appeals to the Nebraska Supreme Court or Court of Appeals. That allowed the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission to revert to last week's unprecedented decision to deny renewal of the beer stores' licenses. "It's definitely a roller-coaster ride," said John Maisch, a former Oklahoma liquor regulator and documentarian who has fought to end Whiteclay beer sales. Millions of cans of beer and malt liquor are sold each year in the tiny, unincorporated village in northwest Nebraska, home to about eight permanent residents. Much of that beer ends up on the nearby Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where alcohol is banned. Now, for the first time in decades, that river will run dry. The sudden change of fortune appeared to leave the beer stores out of options leading into the long weekend. Most courts and state government offices are closed Friday in observance of Arbor Day, and Snyder said the soonest he could respond to the appeal is Monday. The state's appeal superseded Lancaster County District Court Judge Andrew Jacobsen's decision from earlier Thursday morning, in which he ruled that the Liquor Commission overstepped its legal authority by denying the stores' liquor licenses. Snyder had asked Jacobsen to simply delay the commission's unanimous April 19 decision and allow the beer stores to stay in business while a full appeal could be considered. The judge went a step further, calling the commission's action "void on its face" and ordering regulators to let the beer stores automatically renew their liquor licenses. That ruling was immediately hailed by the stores, while activists responded with fury. Frank LaMere of Winnebago, who has fought against Whiteclay beer sales for almost two decades, accused the judge of throwing "grease on the fire." Hours later, the state's appeal doused Whiteclay in cold water. Activists were reluctant to celebrate the twist, for fear that the stores could somehow stay open. Maisch said their priority is to make sure help is available to people in Whiteclay as soon as it's necessary. "If the stores close this Monday, there's going to be somebody who was sleeping under a tree or behind a building in Whiteclay, and they're going to go to a beer store to get beer because their mind tells them they need beer ... and they're not going to have it," Maisch said. Even if Jacobsen's ruling is temporarily blocked, lawyers for the state must still respond to his legal reasoning in their appeal. His order didn't offer a sweeping endorsement of Whiteclay beer sales. Instead, the judge took issue with the Liquor Commission's legal grounds for refusing to renew the licenses of Arrowhead Inn, State Line Liquor, D&S Pioneer Service and Jumping Eagle Inn. The three liquor commissioners cited a lengthy list of concerns about Whiteclay including its connection to rampant alcoholism and fetal alcohol syndrome on Pine Ridge but their decision was based on what they called a lack of adequate law enforcement in the village itself. Jacobsen said that standard may only be applied to new licenses, not existing ones. He cited a 1996 case in which the Nebraska Supreme Court sided with the Grand Island Latin Club after its license renewal was denied by the Liquor Commission. In that case, the Supreme Court said renewal of a license is a constitutionally protected interest that can only be denied if license holders themselves are caught breaking the law. Asked Thursday if he agreed with Jacobsen's order, Gov. Pete Ricketts declined to weigh in. "Everybody is entitled to their due process, and this is part of that process," he said. Ricketts and Liquor Commission officials have denied repeated claims by Snyder that the actions taken against the beer stores are politically motivated. The stores also face allegations from the Attorney General's Office that they sold alcohol to bootleggers and violated other state liquor laws. A hearing on those citations is expected to take place in coming months. Separately Thursday, Ricketts signed into law a measure forming a task force to examine public health issues in Whiteclay. The task force plans to hold its first meeting May 19-20. State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, who is expected to be named the group's co-chairwoman, said its members hope to make an immediate visual difference in Whiteclay through steps such as adding public restrooms and fixing up old buildings. In the longer term, the task force will work with public health experts and economic development officials on setting broader goals for the area. "The sky's the limit," Pansing Brooks said. "We're trying to think outside the box, and trying to bring some hope and healing to Whiteclay." By: Doobert.com Contact Alyssa Grunfelder ***@doobert.com Alyssa Grunfelder End -- A local rescue and dedicated volunteers transport two dogs over 1,400 miles from Danvers, Massachusetts to Minneapolis, Minnesota.Thelma and Ben came from the streets of Serbia where many dogs are poisoned, abused, tortured andoften treated as vermin. The rescue they were put into takes dogs off the streets and pays for them to be boarded in a kennel. They make sure the dogs get vaccinated, spayed and neutered. Both Goran and Dragana adopt out their dogs to other countries such as the U.S., Germany and the UK.Two people were willing to bring Thelma and Ben with them on their way back to the United States. They flew into the Boston-Logan airport in Massachusetts where two volunteers were willing to pick up the dogs at the airport and hold them for transport.This past weekend they were transported to their foster homes. These two have quite the story and journey, from dogs on the street in danger of being killed, to much loved members of a family! Thelma and Ben traveled over 1,400 miles from Danvers, Massachusetts to Minneapolis, Minnesota.Volunteers use the custom-built software on Doobert.com to save animals by volunteering, fostering, and/or transporting animals. This software helps solve the most difficult aspect of coordinating animal rescues: transportation. With Doobert.com, animal lovers around the country come together to bring animals to their forever homes.Volunteers and organizations can sign up for free to rescue more animals at http://www.Doobert.com Merger aims to increase production and availability of Montana Sapphires. By: Columbia Gem House & Sapphires of Montana Colors of Rock Creek Montana Sapphires Contact Lisa Brooks-Pike Sales & Marketing Director ***@columbiagemhouse.com Lisa Brooks-PikeSales & Marketing Director End -- Representatives from Columbia Gem House and Sapphires of Montana announced today that the two companies have united resulting in "Sapphires of Montana by Columbia Gem House".Columbia Gem House is the industry leader in Fair Trade and responsibly sourced gemstones with mine to market traceability, and is the largest supplier of gemstones mined in America. As a vertically integrated company, CGH also provides heating, cutting and US jewelry manufacturing to customers world-wide. Sapphires of Montana's expertise lies in the branding, marketing and sale of Rock Creek Montana Sapphires. The merger has come about to increase the production and availability of Montana Sapphires under the successful brand, "Sapphires of Montana".Columbia Gem House, a family business, was founded by Eric Braunwart 40 years ago and is known as the largest supplier of brand name gemstones. For the past 15 years, the company has focused on producing Fair Trade gems with a transparent supply chain from mine to market. Of the merger Eric said, "It's a natural fit to bring in additional strength in sapphires of a Montana origin in a market that is growing almost faster than we can keep up."Sapphires of Montana, owned and operated by women, was founded by Lisa Brooks-Pike and Margo Bedman in 2012. After a successful sell-out show on QVC the company expanded its focus to supporting a clientele of young up-and-coming millennial and established independent designers. "Since Sapphires of Montana was modeled on the Fair Trade, mine to market principals of Columbia Gem House, uniting the brands is a positive next step," says Lisa. "Our business ethics and ideals are in alignment," says Margo, adding, "Merging the Sapphires of Montana brand with Columbia Gem House allows us to provide a sustainable supply of Montana sapphires to the industry."In conjunction with the merger, Lisa Brooks-Pike, co-owner and VP of Sales and Marketing for Sapphires of Montana will continue with Columbia Gem House as Marketing Director. Clients are assured the same high level of customer service along with a larger selection and long term consistent supply of Montana Sapphires. Dave Cox, Middleton Idaho DUI Analyst and Consultant, recently concluded multiple DUI Seminars in Texas, helping DUI attorneys win more DUI cases. Contact Dave Cox ***@yourduipro.com Dave Cox End --Your DUI Pro, recently traveled to Texas to present his well-received "Winning DUI Cases" Seminar. Dave visited Fort Worth, Tyler, and Dallas; Texas to deliver the seminar to some of Texas' best DUI attorneys. Dave Cox taught these Attorneys how to win DUI cases using NHTSA Manuals and advanced cross-examination techniques.The attorneys who attended Dave Cox's DUI Seminar, "Winning DUI Cases", had great things to say about their experience. Here are some testimonials from some of Texas' best DUI attorneys:"Outstandingly useful information."Lynn Ingalsbe - Abilene, Texas"One of the most informative and practical CLEs I've ever attended."Jaime Resendez - Dallas, Texas"Very helpful."Jamie Gonzales - Denton, Texas"Very useful information. I've never heard of the cop cheats used in court. Will definitely use that in the next trial."Bryan Wilson - Fort Worth, Texas"Great course and worth 10x the price paid."Ryan Branch - Dallas, TexasDave Cox, DUI Analyst and Consultant, has personally trained thousands of attorneys across the United States. Dave is a former police officer and, during his career, he was recognized as one of the top DUI officers in the country. As an officer, Dave Cox was certified as a Drug Recognition Expert, the highest level of training available to DUI enforcement officers. Dave now specializes in training attorneys how to easily and effectively use the officer, the officer's training, and the officer's NHTSA Manuals to win DUI Cases.In the upcoming weeks, Dave Cox will be presenting his DUI Seminar to attorneys in Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Mississippi. Dave will be visiting the following cities:Jonesboro, Fayetteville, and Little Rock; ArkansasSpringfield, Jefferson City, and St Louis; MissouriSalina, Wichita, and Overland Park; KansasTupelo, Gulfport, and Jackson; MississippiTo register for upcoming seminars, please visit http://www.YourDUIPro.com/ seminars To learn more about Dave Cox and Your DUI Pro, please visit http://www.YourDUIPro.com Welch Florist of Lynn, MA is celebrating 70 years in business and continues to serve multiple generations of families. By: Welch Florist Contact Keith Saunders ***@verizon.net Keith Saunders End -- In 1947 Tom & Margaret Welch started a floral business located on Union Street across from St. Joseph's Church in downtown Lynn, then moved to Essex Street in 1977 to take advantage of a retail space with a corner location and plenty of parking. David Daley & Keith Saunders bought the business in November 1987 because they wanted an established florist shop to which they could build upon and the city of Lynn was their f first choice because David had a connection to Lynn. "Dave's father worked in Lynn his whole life and he spent many days with his mother and grandmother as a child shopping in Lynn," Keith shared and added, "The Welch family had a great reputation and each sibling owned and operated their own businesses. When we saw the business for sale we were very interested."Prior to purchasing the business Daley was a floral designer and Saunders was as a manager in a large supermarket chain so they combined their creative and business skills.A lot has changed in the flower business since 1987 and Daley and Saunders will credit their continued success to technology, quality products and excellent customer service, "Our customers are from the North Shore area and with today's growing technology more people are using our website to order online." Social media and their reputation are also key. Saunders stated, "having the highest quality flowers, excellent customer service and being hands on owners to ensure consistency sets us above our competitors."Collaboration and commitment to the community is also key; they have great working relationships with Local funeral homes, Nursing homes, Venues and Schools. Every year they participate in fundraising activities with all the Lynn High Schools and Middle Schools selling flowers and gifts with a percentage of the sales going back to the schools.Having a business that's been around for 70 years afforded them opportunities to work with multiple generations of families such as the flowers they provided for a wedding and then 25 years they provided flowers for when the couple renewed their vows. They have sent many flower orders to welcome newborns to then the proms of those children and then even their wedding flowers. In regards to sympathy arrangements, they have helped families with beautiful flowers to remember parents and Grandparents.When many brick and mortar retail shops are closing, Daley and Saunders are optimistic about their continued success, "People today want higher end flowers, more unique designs and are willing to pay for that service."To learn more about Welch Florist go to http://www.WelchFlowers.com Experts at Aroma Bravo Coffee and Tea are pleased that drinking four cups of coffee a day poses no health risks. Contact Charles C Harmon Co LLC ***@gmail.com 888-582-6650 Charles C Harmon Co LLC888-582-6650 End -- A comprehensive scientific study on caffeine consumption has recently confirmed that having 4 cups of coffee per day (around 400mg) is safe for healthy adults. The announcement pleased millions of coffee lovers all around the world, including the coffee experts at Aroma Bravo Coffee and Tea."This is definitely good news for coffee lovers like me. Avid coffee drinkers often worry about their caffeine consumption, so I'm glad that the study has finally shed light on the subject. Even though I only drink 2-3 cups a day, it's still nice to know that I can enjoy up to 4 cups of coffee without worrying about the health risks," says one Aroma Bravo coffee expert.The scientific study, headed by Esther Myers, was revealed to be the most thorough review on caffeine ingestion to date. After going through 700 studies on caffeine consumption at different dosages, the team has concluded that 400mg or 4 cups of coffee are not harmful to adults, while pregnant women should only consume a maximum of 300mg or 3 cups."Setting the right limit is very helpful for those who drink lots of coffee daily," says another resident expert at Aroma Bravo. "While coffee offers several health benefits, it should only be consumed at an ideal amount. Too much caffeine is not good, but no one really knew how much is too much until the results were released. I hope the study will encourage more people to drink the right amount of coffee. I, for one, will start minding my own coffee intake," she remarked.While on the topic of healthy coffee consumption, the Aroma Bravo experts have also suggested to drink organic coffee as much as possible."Organic coffee beans are grown through sustainable means, so you can be sure of the safety and quality of the coffee. In our opinion, drinking organic coffee while following the 4-cup daily limit is the healthiest way to consume coffee," one of the experts added.Health-conscious coffee lovers can get their organic coffee beans at https://www.amazon.com/ Coffee-NonGMO- Organic-Pleasant- Aro... Aroma Bravo offers the best coffee beans from Honduras. The smooth aroma and mellow chocolatey flavor of the coffee has earned positive customer reviews on Amazon.com. Media Contact Pelican Publishers Ltd. ***@pelicanpublishers.com 8769788377 Pelican Publishers Ltd.8769788377 End -- We are officially celebrating the one year anniversary of the Caribbean's youngest author, Shaun Brown.His compelling work of fiction titled,was published when Shaun was only 10 years old, by Pelican Publishers Ltd.The book is filled with loveable characters that will hold your attention from start to finish. There is no doubt that this adventurous children's book will become an all-time favorite for kids around the world.The now,11-year old is hugely imaginative and he enjoys creating stories for children. He enjoys reading, swimming, surfing the internet and watching tv. He is also actively involved in his Sunday school and enjoys religious pursuits. He also aspires to be a scientist.Shaun, who is affectionately known as 'Mr Awesome' is already a philanthropist;and intends to donate part proceeds from each book sale to Pediatric Cancer Patients. He also has an organization called Shaunation! He is undoubtedly an inspiration to kids all over the world; you are never too young to achieve your dream.Support this budding young author by purchasing your copy:Smashbooks: https://www.smashwords.com/ books/view/720481 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ ww/en/ebook/ the-candle-and- the-bear-... Intelsat is partnering with Encompass Digital Media to make NASA TV linear Ultra HD channel available for Latin American cable operators. NASA TV provides coverage of NASA missions, launches, news conferences and special events. The network, which uses Galaxy 13 for North America distribution, is the latest addition to Intelsats Latin America cable distribution neighbourhood, being hosted on Intelsat 14 located at 315 East.Our DVB-S2 MCPC broadcast platform on Intelsat 14 is an optimum solution for customers who want to introduce UHD and 4K programming into the region, said Carmen Gonzalez-Sanfeliu, Intelsats regional VP, Latin America & the Caribbean. NASA TVs presence on Intelsat 14 demonstrates Intelsats position as the leader in bringing innovations in media distribution.We are pleased to see the expansion of NASA viewers into Latin America and to be delivering the channel in 4K is especially exciting, stated Vince Matherne, chief commercial officer at Encompass . It is an honour to continue to support NASAs missions, and Intelsats fleet of global satellites provides the ideal distribution footprint for not only increasing NASAs reach but also advanced transmission solutions. US cable giant Comcast has turned in another good quarter, adding 42,000 pay-TV subscribers in Q1 2017, matching analyst expectations. Thats an acceleration from the 32,000 it added in the same period last year and the media giant said that cable communications revenue increased, up 5.8% to $12.9 billion. Pay-TV revenue was up 4.3% to $5.8 billion. Revenue per cable customer also increased by 2.6% for Comcast in the first quarter.GAAP net income in the first quarter of 2017 came in at $2,566 million or 53 cents per share compared with $2,134 million or 43 cents in the prior-year quarter. Quarterly earnings per share of 53 cents outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 44 cents.The next-gen X1 video platform now has 52% penetration in the US, up from 35% in the first quarter of 2016 and Comcast said that it should have X1 deployed in the low 60% range by the end of the year. The U.S.-based democracy monitor Freedom House says only 13 percent of the worlds population live in countries with a free press. In its annual report released on April 28, the nongovernmental group says global press freedom declined in 2016 to its lowest point in more than a decade due to continued crackdowns on independent media in authoritarian states and unprecedented threats to journalists and media outlets in major democracies. The report -- titled Freedom of the Press 2017: Press Freedom's Dark Horizon -- assesses the degree of media freedom in 199 countries and territories to classify each as either "free," "partly free," or "not free." Freedom House says a free press is a media environment where coverage of political news is robust, state intrusion in media affairs in minimal, the safety of journalists is guaranteed, and the press is not subject to legal and economic pressures. It says 42 percent of the worlds population has a "partly free" press, while 45 percent live in countries where the media environment is not free. The report says that while authoritarian regimes continued or extended their crackdowns on media, politicians in some democratic states launched or escalated efforts to shape news coverage by delegitimizing media outlets, exerting political influence over public broadcasters, and raising the profiles of friendly private outlets. It says U.S. President Donald Trump has disparaged the press both as a candidate and now as president of the United States, rejecting the news medias role in holding government officials accountable for their words and actions. The report says Trump has repeatedly ridiculed reporters as dishonest purveyors of "fake news" and corrupt betrayers of U.S. national interests, while his senior White House adviser described journalists as the opposition party. Freedom House warns that when media are lambasted by political leaders in the United States -- a cornerstone of global democracy -- it encourages their authorities abroad to do the same. The democracy monitor points out that the protection of press freedom in the United States remains vital to the defense and expansion of press freedom worldwide. It says that in 2016 Eurasia continued to be the worst-performing region in the world for press freedom. Not a single country was ranked "free" there. According to Freedom House, 77 percent of Eurasia's population lives in countries where the press is "not free." All five former Soviet republics in Central Asia -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan -- are ranked "not free," along with the Caucasus former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Elen Aghekyan, a research analyst at Freedom House, says that even in the more democratic states of Eurasia, officials' attitudes toward the media remain alarming. Security forces in Armenia brutally assaulted several reporters covering mass antigovernment protests, Aghekyan adds. Russia is also ranked "not free." One of Russia's last independent media groups, RBC, came under pressure after reporting on apparent corruption involving the family and associates of President Vladimir Putin, the report says. Three RBC editors were replaced by recruits from the state-owned TASS news agency -- a clear reminder of the pitfalls on reporting about Russia's ruling elite, Freedom House notes. Meanwhile, faced with Moscow-controlled outlets that disseminate disinformation and undermine the legitimacy of Ukrainian institutions, the government in Kyiv continued to limit access to numerous Russian outlets and deny entry to dozens of Russian journalists. Freedom House ranks Ukraine as "partly free," while Ukraine's Russian-occupied Crimea region is ranked "not free." Belarus, notorious for government crackdowns on dissent, is also ranked "not free." But Freedom House notes some small improvements in the countrys media environment, netting Belarus a gain of eight points in the group's table of the Biggest Press Freedom Gains And Declines in 2016. "Belarus, undoubtedly, in 2016 remained one of the most repressive and restrictive environments for journalists in the world," Aghekyan says, adding that in authoritarian states like Belarus "very small improvements, or even the lack of violence in a given year in comparison to a history of stronger repression can sometimes register small [increases]" in their score. "For Belarus, in particular, the improvement in 2016 was due to the fact that journalists were able to cover the 2016 [parliamentary] election with significantly less interference, and especially, not the kind of the violence that we have seen in the past election years," Aghekyan says. Most Balkan countries are ranked "partly free." The only exception, Macedonia, is ranked "not free." In Serbia, Freedom House notes a "sharp decline" in the media environment in 2016. According to the report, in order to discredit unfriendly media outlets, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic outsourced much of his presidential election campaign to the pro-government tabloid Informer, which published unfounded accusations against critical journalists. Freedom House welcomes "positive developments" in Afghanistan, where the government moved to improve the media environment. Afghanistan is ranked "partly free," an improvement Aghekyan says is due to recent legal changes that illustrate the governments more favorable stance on media independence, as well as long-term growth in the diversity of private media. However, she points out that the security situation has continued to deteriorate, further restricting journalists' ability to operate safely throughout the country. A Taliban attack that killed seven Tolo TV employees in early 2016 marked the deadliest single assault on journalists in Afghanistan during the past decade. The ongoing violence has forced hundreds of Afghan journalists to leave the country, an exodus that Freedom House warns could deal a heavy blow to the survival of democracy in Afghanistan. Similar concerns about increasing threats against media and journalists across the world have been raised this week by the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders in annual reports released ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3. A French appeals court has rejected Belgrade's request to extradite former Kosovar Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to Serbia for prosecution on suspicion of war crimes, ordering his release instead. The move sparked outrage in Belgrade, where Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic called the April 27 ruling "a great victory for criminals." Vucic told a news conference his government "considers that the decision of the court is shameful, scandalous, contrary to the law, and deeply unjust -- and that it is, above all, political." He said Serbia's ambassador to France would be recalled for consultations and Belgrade would complain to the United Nations. Vucic said he also discussed the issue with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an April 27 telephone call after the ruling. A Russian Foreign Ministry statement said Lavrov called the French court ruling "political" and that "Russia shares Serbia's concern" over the decision to turn down Serbia's extradition request. The statement said: "All Kosovo politicians involved in military crimes must receive the punishment they deserve notwithstanding the posts they currently occupy." The Russian Foreign Ministry also accused France of employing "double standards, which shows a policy of connivance" in the face of what Moscow claims are aspirations in Pristina for Kosovo to become part of a "Greater Albania project." The "Greater Albania" charge refers to allegations that some ethnic Albanian politicians want to bring Kosovo and Albanian together into a single unified country. Moscow said such aspirations threaten to "destroy fragile stability and revive the bloody conflict in the Balkans." Haradinaj, upon his release following the ruling, said the procedure is now closed and Serbias extradition request has been turned down. "I am as of this moment a free man, and I hope I will be able to go back to Kosovo today," Haradinaj told reporters outside the court in the northeastern French city of Colmar. Haradinaj arrived late on April 27 in Kosovos capital, Pristina, where his family and crowds of supporters greeted him at the airport and continued to the city center to hear him speak at Zahir Pajaziti Square. At the square, Haradinaj told a cheering crowd that justice had won with his release, although he said his detention had been unjust. The speech was followed by a fireworks display. Before the April 27 decision, Haradinaj had been released on bail but told he could not leave France while he awaited the ruling. Haradinaj is wanted in Serbia on suspicion of committing war crimes, including kidnappings and torture, when he was a guerrilla commander during Kosovos 1998-99 independence war. The public prosecutor in Colmar has five days to launch an appeal. Predominantly ethnic Albanian Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. It is recognized by 114 nations. Unlike France and most other European countries, Serbia does not recognize the independence of its former province. Kosovar President Hashim Thaci said on Facebook that the ruling on Haradinaj was "good news." He said the French court's decision was proof that the "slanders" of Serbia's intelligence services against the Kosovar fighters were "not valid and not taken into consideration by the democratic world." The Kosovar government said in a statement that the French judge's ruling confirmed that Serbian arrest warrants against Haradinaj and other KLA fighters "are political and have low intentions." Haradinaj's lawyer, Rachel Lindon, said on April 27 that the French court ruled against the extradition because he would not have had a fair and balanced trial if sent to Serbia. "He lost 3 1/2 months" of his life waiting for this decision, Lindon told the media, "but happily it's over." She said it is unclear whether he will stay in France. Haradinaj was detained by French authorities on January 4, and the Colmar court the next day ordered him to remain in custody. His arrest had triggered outrage in Kosovo, where the government called the Serbian charges "illegal, unfair, and tendentious." Haradinaj, 48, has been tried twice and acquitted of war crimes at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague. He was elected prime minister of Kosovo in 2004 but resigned after 100 days in order to surrender himself for trial in The Hague. In June 2015, he was arrested in Slovenia on a Serbian warrant but was released two days later under diplomatic pressure. The standoff over Haradinaj's detention in France has prompted calls from some officials and politicians in Kosovo to halt EU-mediated normalization talks with Serbia. Normalized bilateral relations are considered a precondition for Serbia and Kosovo to gain EU membership, which both countries seek. But the EU-brokered deal between Belgrade and Pristina to improve and regulate ties between the two states has only been moderately successful. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Scores of nationalist protesters in Macedonia broke through a police cordon and stormed parliament in Skopje after an alliance of Social Democrats and ethnic Albanian parties approved an ethnic Albanian politician as the speaker of parliament. Protesters severely beat Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev, the head of a proposed governing coalition that includes ethnic Albanian parties, while others were also attacked in the building on April 27. (RFE/RL's Balkan Service) The European Union, the United States, NATO, and several Balkan countries have condemned the violent storming of Macedonia's parliament by nationalist demonstrators who assaulted several lawmakers and journalists. Zoran Zaev, the head of an alliance of Macedonian lawmakers, left the legislature in the midst of the April 27 violence with blood pouring down his face. He refused on April 28 to meet with President Gjorge Ivanov, who called for emergency talks aimed at defusing tensions amid a two-year political stalemate in the country. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called the violence, which has deepened a two-year political stalemate in the EU candidate state, "particularly worrying and very sad." "We consider violence always unacceptable, even more so when it happens in the house of democracy, in parliament," Mogherini told reporters in Malta on April 28 ahead of an EU meeting. "We believe that all in Skopje should follow the constitutional principles, democracy and try to bring the country out of this serious crisis that can be dangerous," she said. WATCH: EU Foreign-Policy Chief Condemns Macedonia Violence Demonstrators, some wearing black masks, rampaged through parliament on April 27 after an alliance of Social Democrats and ethnic Albanian parties approved Talat Xhaferi, an ethnic Albanian, as speaker of parliament. Zoran Zaev, the head of a newly formed coalition that said it was trying to assert its right to govern by electing the new parliament speaker, left the building with blood streaming from his head. Three lawmakers from ethnic Albanian parties were also injured, including Ziadin Sela, leader of the Albanian Alliance, who was taken to the emergency room of a Skopje clinic. Correspondents from RFE/RL also came under attack inside the parliament building, along with other journalists there. RFE/RL President Thomas Kent condemned the violence and called for a thorough investigation "to ensure that violence against journalists is not perpetrated with impunity, and that all members of the press are able to do their jobs in safety." In all, 102 people were injured, including 25 police officers, as clashes between police and protesters spilled onto the streets outside the building, authorities said. Agim Nuhin, the caretaker governments interior minister, offered to step down amid claims the police failed to do enough to stop the incident. His resignation would have to be approved by the head of the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration party. The U.S. Embassy in Skopje also condemned the violence "in the strongest terms," saying in a message on its Twitter account that it was "not consistent with democracy and is not an acceptable way to resolve differences." The Russian Foreign Ministry suggested that the United States and the European Union were to blame, asserting in a statement that the main cause of the political crisis in Macedonia was "blatant interference" in its internal affairs. It gave no concrete evidence to support the claim. Long-simmering tensions have come to a boil in the nation of 2.1 million, with an ethnic Macedonian majority and a large ethnic Albanian minority, amid protests over the inclusion of ethnic Albanian partners in a proposed governing coalition led by the Social Democrats. After December elections failed to show a clear-cut victor, Zaev agreed to form a coalition with some ethnic Albanian parties in exchange for accepting their demands for greater rights and the establishment of Albanian as a second official language in certain areas of the country. But Ivanov has refused to give Zaev the official mandate to move ahead with the plan, arguing that the language issue was an attempt to destroy Macedonia's independence. He has also accused Albania of interference in its domestic affairs. Often troubled relations between Slavic groups and ethnic Albanians, who number about 8 million across the Balkans, are a cause of tension in the region. Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic called on April 28 for emergency security consultations over the political turmoil and unrest in Skopje. Turkey expressed "deep concern" about the violence and urged the creation of a new government within democratic principles. "Macedonia holds key significance to establish lasting peace in the Balkans," a statement from the Turkish presidents office said. Macedonia fell into its current political crisis two years ago amid claims that the governing conservative party, VMRO-DPMNE, led by former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, was responsible for the illegal surveillance of some 20,000 people including journalists, politicians, and religious leaders. Gruevski told reporters at his party headquarters on April 28 that he condemned the violence, but that the Social Democrats bear some responsibility, asserting that what he called their "greed for power at any cost" was its "direct cause." Zaev on April 28 accused the VMRO-DPMNE of not wanting to give up power. With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak in Brussels, AP, and Reuters Two opponents of a massive demolition plan by Moscow city authorities were the subject of separate attacks in the Russian capital. An activist from Russia's opposition Yabloko party, Natalya Fyodorova, has temporarily lost her sight after an assailant splashed an unknown liquid on her face. The leader of Yabloko party's Moscow branch, Sergei Mitrokhin, wrote on Twitter that the attack by the unknown assailant took place in Moscow on April 28. According to Mitrokhin, Fyodorova was being treated in a hospital where doctors said they were confident she would regain her vision. Yabloko wrote on its website that the attack may be linked to Fyodorova's opposition to the plan by Moscow city authorities to demolish 8,000 five-story Soviet-era apartment buildings in the Russian capital. The plan has sparked protests among many Moscow residents. President Vladimir Putin in February publicly backed the plan to demolish the buildings, which house about 1.6 million people. But Putin said on April 26 that he would not sign the law if it violated citizens' rights. Russian State Duma Deputy Sergei Shargunov, a member of the Communist Party, said on April 28 that his apartment had been targeted in an arson attack on April 21, a day after he voted against legislation on the demolition of the apartment buildings. Shargunov wrote on Facebook on April 28 that he believes arsonists sparked the fire on April 21 by throwing an incendiary object onto his balcony. He said that one room was totally destroyed and that his father, who was in the apartment at the time, escaped unharmed. Shargunov was one of four Communist lawmakers who voted against the bill on April 20, in the first of three required readings in the lower house. With reporting by rbc.ru and Meduza The ability of some Western conifer forests to recover after severe fire may become increasingly limited as the climate continues to warm, scientists from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) and Harvard Forest found in a new study published in Global Change Biology. Although most of these cone-bearing evergreen trees are well adapted to fire, the study examines whether two likely facets of climate change -- hotter, drier conditions and larger, more frequent and severe wildfires -- could potentially transform landscapes from forested to shrub-dominated systems. As part of the study, which was funded by the National Science Foundation, scientists examined conifer forests in the richly diverse Klamath region of northern California and southwestern Oregon. The Cregion is a botanical hotspot, home to 29 species of conifers and a suite of plant species that exist nowhere else on earth. The researchers sampled sites that burned severely in wildfires between 1987 and 2008. They found that, after fire, hardwood trees and shrubs quickly established by either re-sprouting from surviving root systems or growing rapidly from seeds that persisted in the soil. These plants dominated the vegetation for at least the first few decades after fire. Most conifers, on the other hand, were slow to compete, relying on establishment of new seedlings borne by trees in less severely burned patches or from outside the fire perimeter. As a result, conifers had only a few years to establish before the regenerating hardwoods and shrubs grew dense enough to suppress them. "If they miss that window there's much less chance of successful establishment and their growth will be slower," says study author Kristina Anderson-Teixeira, a forest ecologist at SCBI and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. In fact, the study found that the longer the interval between the fire and the conifer's establishment, the slower the tree's growth. "The Klamath ecosystem is an important transition zone separating the shrubs of the California chaparral from the Pacific Northwest's temperate rainforest," says Jonathan Thompson, a Senior Ecologist at Harvard Forest and co-author on the study. "Our work suggests climate change will push the chaparral north at the expense of the Klamath's existing conifer forests." Because most conifers depend on seed dispersal from surviving trees, larger patches of high-severity fire could put a growing portion of the landscape at risk of poor post-fire conifer regeneration. The study suggests this trend could be even more pronounced because under drier conditions more abundant seed sources are needed to support conifer seedlings at densities sufficient for forest recovery. In addition, previous research by Thompson and others suggests the young, shrub-dominated vegetation that develops after severe fire tends to burn more severely in subsequent fires than older conifer forests, meaning that once severe fire converts a conifer forest to a shrub-dominated system, the non-forested vegetation could be perpetuated almost indefinitely through a cycle of repeated burning. "We see climate change affecting the system from two directions," says Thompson. "First, it is slowing conifer growth, keeping them low to the ground and more vulnerable to future fires for a longer period of time. Second, climate change is making fire more frequent. This phenomenon, which researchers call the 'interval squeeze,' threatens to transform this and other arid, fire-prone forests worldwide." Still, portions of the landscape may be relatively resilient. For example, conifers were able to regenerate in wetter sites, even amid relatively large high-severity patches with few surviving trees. "The Klamath region has supported conifers for thousands of years," says Thompson. "Some patches will surely survive no matter what climate throws at them." The researchers hope these findings could help provide information needed to prioritize management efforts. "Our study helps to identify the places that are at greatest risk of forest loss, where managers could either target management to promote post-fire forest recovery, or accept that we're going to see some degree of landscape transformation in the coming decades and learn to meet ecological objectives under the new climate and disturbance regimes," says Alan Tepley, a forest ecologist with SCBI and the study's lead author. These findings could also be applied in a broader context to other forest ecosystems. "There are concerns for much of the western U.S. and other similar landscapes that under climate change, forests may be less likely to regenerate," says Anderson-Teixeira. "And that can then reduce forest cover on the landscape and result in big losses of carbon storage." According to Anderson-Teixeira, the fate of the Klamath region depends in part on societal carbon emissions, where increased emissions lead to more warming, which ultimately could result in more forest loss. Reading supportive comments, "likes" and private messages from social media friends prior to taking a test may help college students who have high levels of test-anxiety significantly reduce their nervousness and improve their scores, a new study suggests. Undergraduate students with high levels of test anxiety who sought social support from their online friends and read the messages prior to a simulated exam reduced their anxiety levels by 21 percent, researchers at the University of Illinois found. These students, and peers who performed a seven-minute expressive-writing exercise, were able to perform as well on a set of computer programming exercises as students who had low levels of test anxiety, said lead author Robert Deloatch, a graduate student in computer science at the university. Up to 41 percent of students are estimated to suffer from test anxiety, which is a combination of physiological and emotional responses that occur while preparing for and taking tests. Test anxiety is associated with lower test scores and grade-point averages, as well as poorer performance on memory and problem-solving tasks. Test anxiety can be particularly acute when students face exams involving open-ended problems, such as those commonly used on computer science exams that require students to write and run code, the researchers wrote. When students' test anxiety is reduced, their test scores, GPAs and task performance improve accordingly, researchers have found. advertisement Students with high test anxiety strongly fear negative evaluation, have lower self-esteem and tend to experience increased numbers of distracting and irrelevant thoughts in testing situations, according to the study. For the simulated exam in the current study, students had to solve two programming problems by writing and running code. Most of the participants were computer science majors or computer engineering students who passed a pretest that ensured they had basic programming knowledge. The researchers measured participants' levels of test anxiety using the Cognitive Test Anxiety scale, which assesses the cognitive problems associated with test-taking such as task-irrelevant thinking and attention lapses. Participants also completed two other questionnaires that measured their levels of state anxiety -- or "state-of-the-moment" unease -- and their trait anxiety, which is anxiety that is considered to be a longstanding characteristic or personality trait. The day before the experiment, students in the social support group posted messages on their personal social media pages requesting encouragement -- in the form of likes, comments or private messages -- about an upcoming computer programming challenge they planned to participate in. advertisement For seven minutes immediately prior to taking the simulated test, students in the social support group read the responses associated with their online request, while students in the expressive-writing group wrote about their thoughts and feelings, and students in the control group crammed for the exam by reading information on computer programming data structures and answering questions about the text. Prior to taking the exam, participants completed a questionnaire to assess their levels of state anxiety. Students were then given 40 minutes to solve two programming problems that had many viable solutions. "We found that only the students who received supportive messages from their Facebook network showed a significant decrease in anxiety and an increase in their performance on our simulated exam," Deloatch said. While prior researchers have found expressive writing to be helpful to some students with test anxiety, Deloatch and his co-authors were surprised to find that the expressive-writing exercise increased the pretest jitters of low test-anxious students by 61 percent, instead. "We hypothesized that might have occurred because focusing on their anxiety as they wrote caused their apprehensiveness to increase rather than decrease," Deloatch said. Using social support to alleviate state-of-the-moment anxiety may have implications beyond education, such as helping job applicants quell their nervousness prior to interviews with potential employers, Deloatch said. While the students who sought social support online felt that reading the supportive messages was helpful, "all of them were uncomfortable with soliciting support from their online friends, perceiving such posts as 'attention seeking' and 'out of place,'" Deloatch said. "As the majority of the participants in our study were computer science students, the competitive environment of the curriculum may have led to concerns about how others would perceive them. They may have felt that such statuses could harm their relations in group project settings." The study is being published in the Proceedings of CHI 2017, the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, held May 6-11 in Denver. Men over 50 have a higher risk than the general population of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, so they need to keep a sharp eye out for signs of the disease. Many women in this age group, however, would attest that they're more likely than their male partners to notice suspicious spots on the skin -- which means women could help save their male partners' lives by helping them spot skin cancer. Research has shown that women are nine times more likely than men to notice melanoma on others,1 and that men assisted by women during skin exams are less likely to miss skin lesions than women assisted by men.2 In conjunction with Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month in May and Melanoma Monday, observed on May 1 this year, the American Academy of Dermatology is encouraging women to check both their partners and themselves for signs of skin cancer. According to an AAD survey of 1,250 married women age 40-64, most women don't currently assist their male partners with skin cancer detection, even though many of them believe they're more observant than the men in their lives: Forty-five percent of respondents reported that they would be more likely than their husband to notice a suspicious spot on his skin, and 35 percent reported that they actually had noticed a suspicious spot on their husband's skin before he did. Two-thirds of respondents (67 percent) said they examine their own skin for signs of skin cancer at least once a year, while only 44 percent help their husband do the same. Just 37 percent of respondents reported that their husband examines his own skin at least once a year, and another 29 percent weren't sure if their husband conducts annual skin self-exams. "Because men over 50 have an increased risk of melanoma, it's important for them to conduct regular skin self-exams to detect the disease in its earliest stages, when it's most treatable," says board-certified dermatologist Henry W. Lim, MD, FAAD, president of the AAD. "Since it can be difficult to examine some parts of your body on your own, it's best to ask a partner for help." The AAD encourages women to help their male partners examine their skin for signs of skin cancer in a new video, "Check Him Out." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnLXqIgv8yA) The humorous piece demonstrates three common scenarios in which a wife is more observant than her husband before reminding women to regularly check their male partner's skin for new or suspicious spots. "While women help their male partners in so many ways, the AAD's recent survey shows that less than half of married women age 40-64 help the men in their lives look for signs of skin cancer," Dr. Lim says. "We hope this video encourages women to check their partners and check themselves. If you notice any suspicious spots on your skin or your partner's, or anything changing, itching or bleeding, see a board-certified dermatologist." This page may have been moved, deleted, or is otherwise unavailable. To help you find what you are looking for: Enter Search Term(s): Still cant find what youre looking for? Send us a message using our contact us form. To report a broken link or other problems with the website, please include the URL. Thank you for visiting state.gov. Lincoln Community Playhouse will host two opportunities for audiences to learn more about "Ragtime" and the issues raised by the show. A talkback will occur after the Sunday, May 7 performance and a pre-show presentation will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 13. "Ragtime" is a masterwork musical about America in 1906 that speaks to todays headlines. Set in the volatile melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York, three distinctly American tales are woven together that of a daring young Harlem musician, a stifled upper-class wife and a determined Jewish immigrant united by their courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future. Together they confront history's timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live in America. Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe On April 5th the U.S. Navy grounded all its T-45C jet trainers for three days to interview pilots and instructors about oxygen problems. It turned out the problem was real and the trainers remained grounded until April 17 th . But the aircraft resumed flying only after some changes were made to the pilot oxygen system to bypass the OBOG (OnBoard Oxygen Generating). This limited how high the aircraft could fly. The T-45s will fly at lower altitudes until the navy can determine what was wrong with the OBOG or something else in the pilot air supply system. This restriction will prevent the T-45s from performing about a quarter of the training they normally provide but it averted a threatened pilot strike over the issue. The T-45 is a nine ton, single engine two seat aircraft used to train pilots who will eventually fly jet fighters. The Hawk can also be armed and used for ground attack. In this mode they can carry up to three tons of weapons, including a pod with a 30mm autocannon. The OBOG problems are not new, nor are problems in general with pilot oxygen systems. The U.S. Navy had a similar problem with its F-18s. There were 64 incidents in 2002-9, resulting in two dead pilots. The navy found that the problem was carbon monoxide getting sucked into the aircraft air system. The navy modified the oxygen system, eliminating the problem. Similar failures continued with the major difficulty finding out exactly what was going on so it could be fixed. After 2009 the air force looked into the navy experience, to see if there is anything similar going on with the newly introduced F-22s. The air force has looked into a lot of potential causes, without a lot of success. In 2012 the air force admitted that its rate of "pilot air supply" incidents for its 187 F-22 fighters has reached the rate of 26 per 100,000 flight hours. For most other aircraft, the rate is closer to 2-3 incidents per 100,000 hours. Yes, all aircraft have occasional problems with their air supply but nothing like what the F-22 was going through. The air force woes began when it appeared that the F-22 might be having a problem with its OBOG system. OBOGs have been around for over half a century. It's only in the last two decades that OBOGs have become compact, cheap, and reliable enough to replace the older compressed gases or LOX (liquid oxygen) as a source of breathable air for high flying aircrew. Each aircraft, especially the F-22 and F-35, gets an OBOG tweaked for space, weight, or other conditions specific to that warplane design. It's this custom design that was also closely studied, to find out how the toxins got in. One problem is that aircraft have been staying in the air longer (because of in-flight refueling) and carrying enough compressed oxygen has become untenable, requiring OBOGs to solve the problem. Since the 1990s, most American military aircraft have replaced older oxygen systems with OBOGs. Most Western nations, and Russia, have followed, at least with their latest model aircraft. Most OBOG systems work by using a chemical reaction to remove carbon dioxide from the air taken in to the OBOG and then sending out air with the proper amount of oxygen to the aircrew. The F-22 was designed to fly long distances and spend long periods of time in the air. Thus an OBOG is mandatory. But OBOGs proved to be the culprit only part of the time and it has become quite a puzzle to unscramble these air supply problems that keep showing up. Boeing B-17G-50-VE (S/N 44-8167) of the 15th Air Force, 2nd Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Squadron, during an in-flight bomb drop. (U.S. Air Force photo) X 0 20 Help Keep Us Soaring We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month. Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways: While on paper ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) seems doomed in Syria this is not the case. No, what is keeping ISIL alive are growing disagreements among the many nations and factions mobilized to crush ISIL in Syria. This is a sad situation but also so typical of the region. At its peak in mid-2014 ISIL controlled about 40 percent of Iraq, including Mosul and several smaller cities. Now ISIL holds less than seven percent and that is mostly thinly populated rural areas. While ISIL has lost a lot of territory in Syria it still controls about 25 percent of the country. The final battle against ISIL in Syria and Iraq is mainly about driving the Islamic terrorists out of the major river valleys that contain most of the people and wealth. The two main rivers are the Euphrates and Tigris and that is where most of the fighting has been taking place. Well, at least in Iraq. In Syria ISIL has become a bystander as their many opponents go after each other. The Euphrates River Valley stretches from the Persian Gulf to Turkey. Along the way this river valley passes next to or through Baghdad, Fallujah, Ramadi and the ISIL capital of Raqqa in eastern Syria. Only 60 kilometers west of Baghdad, Fallujah is the gateway between the desert-like region to the west and the densely populated Tigris-Euphrates river valley to the east. The larger (by water volume) and faster flowing Tigris River Valley also starts in Turkey and ends near the Persian Gulf where it merges with the Euphrates at Basra. Unlike the Euphrates the Tigris only passes through 44 kilometers of Syria and most of it is in Iraq. The Tigris passes next to the three largest cities in Iraq (Baghdad, Mosul and Basra) as well as other major population centers like Tikrit, Samarra and Baiji. ISIL grabbed Mosul in 2014 and went after Tikrit, Samarra and Baiji but only took Samarra briefly and never controlled all of Baiji. On maps showing areas ISIL controls you can see that they still are active in lots of territory but most of it is in the sparsely populated semi-desert areas outside the river valleys. Thats why taking the major cities is so important as they are all next to these two rivers and ISIL only holds onto parts of Mosul and all of the much smaller city (a tenth the size of Mosul) Syrian city of Raqqa. In Syria most of the attacking around Raqqa has been by the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) rebels, an organization composed of Syrian Kurds and their Moslem and Christian allies. Some 70 percent of SDF forces advancing on Raqqa are Arab, the rest are from various Kurd factions (including the YPG). At the moment the only ones concentrating on Raqqa are the SDF, with support by Western and Arab air power and some commandos. SDF has been moving towards Raqqa since early 2016 and insists it now has sufficient ground forces to surround and take Raqqa, but only if the Turks leave them alone and they get some more ground forces to share the fighting inside the city. On the plus side the airstrikes from the Western and Arab coalition continue doing major damage to ISIL logistics and finances. ISIL is broke largely because of these airstrikes and in the last few weeks aerial reconnaissance revealed a new ISIL oil storage and refining center 150 kilometers southwest of Raqqa in Deir Ezzor province. Tanker trucks, storage tanks, refining equipment and the few remaining oil wells ISIL controls were destroyed. SDF began another (often delayed) push towards Raqqa on the 13th and since then have killed over 300 ISIL gunmen and lost about three dozen of their own. This SDF effort is supported by American ground troops, artillery and airstrikes. Some SDF forces are within 40 kilometers of Raqqa but are still concentrating on surrounding Raqqa and its several hundred thousand civilians and at least 4,000 ISIL fighters. SDF also has to push ISIL forces away from the several key dams. At the end of 2016 SDF was closing in on the Baath Dam which supplies electric power to Raqqa and surrounding areas. The dam also regulates the water flow to farmers along the Euphrates River and ISIL has threatened to damage or destroy the dam to punish the disloyal farmers. Thus the rebels, if they want to maintain the support of most of the Syrians in the area, have to capture the dam largely intact. That would put the advance within 22 kilometers of Raqqa. Several other Euphrates River dams, especially the nearby Tabqa dam, have to be freed from ISIL control first. Once cut off Raqqa can be attacked, like Mosul in Iraq has been since late 2016. SDF expects some reinforcements for the final assault and so far no one is making any promises. SDF did not initially plan to take Raqqa by itself and concentrated on surrounding the city. SDF had hoped the Turks and the Assads (or even the Iraqis) would join the effort to clear the city of ISIL forces. Iraqi participation less likely because the Iraq government has been saying publicly and more frequently that they will keep the Iraqi Shia militias out of Syria. The Assads are busy defeating the rebels elsewhere in Syria. Now the Turks are deliberately attacking Kurdish forces including SDF and its non-Kurd allies. That is mainly because Turkey is trying to prevent the Syrian Kurds from establishing an autonomous region in northern Syria. The Turks are the only member of the anti-ISIL coalition that wants to keep the Kurds out of the final offensive to crush ISIL in Syria. The Turks are also opposed to the growing Iranian presence in Syria and Iranian plans to make that presence (and control of the Syrian government) permanent. Israel also opposes the Iranian presence but is neutral about the Kurds and has the support of Russia and the United States for that. Russia and the United States are trying to prevent the offensive against ISIL from being disrupted because of growing hostility between the Turks and the SDF but are not having much success. The Turks are now accused of crippling operations against ISIL, especially the capture of Raqqa, because they believe the PKK and their allies (like the YPG) are hiding out among rebel forces and civilians in northern Syria and using that cover to continue planning and carrying out attacks inside Turkey. No one else in the region believes this is more important than destroying ISIL but the Turks insist that they will do what they feel they must no matter what anyone else thinks. This is more about Turkish domestic politics, with the pro-Islam Turkish leader trying to create external enemies to mobilize more popular support for his increasingly unpopular (to Turks) government. Russian Miseries Russia seems to have nothing but problems in Syria. Russia is accused of ignoring the Assad government cheating on the 2013 deal to get rid of their chemical weapons. This became obvious after the April 4th Syrian air force chemical bomb attack on a rebel village. This killed 89 people, most of them civilians, including 20 children. The victims showed symptoms of nerve gas being used and subsequent chemical analysis (by experts in several nations) confirmed this. The Syrian government accused the rebels of making the attack or having stored chemical weapons in one the buildings the bombs hit. Russia went along with this. But the U.S., NATO and Israel soon confirmed that it was the Assad forces who delivered the nerve gas. Russia continued to back the Syrian government but several major intelligence agencies worldwide agreed that the evidence against the Assads was pretty compelling. Even the Chinese agreed and refused to go along with a Russian effort to block a UN condemning the Assads. There was more to this than was reported. For several years Israeli intelligence analysts have quietly urged their Western counterparts to take a close look at who still had chemical weapons in Syria because there was general agreement that they were still being used. Everyone blamed the Islamic terrorists but the Israelis pointed out that a growing number of those incidents appear to have been the work of the Assad forces and the Israelis were getting information indicating that the 2013 Russian brokered (and guaranteed) deal to get the Assads to surrender all their chemical weapons was not being observed or enforced. Israel now says it has proof that the Assads maintained a post-2013 secret stockpile containing up to three tons of chemical weapons. It is still unclear how much the Russians know but Western intel agencies were paying more attention to who was saying what to whom about chemical weapons in Syria before the April 4th attack. After that priority was placed on analyzing a lot of the collected, but not thoroughly analyzed, data (mainly communications intercepts) the U.S. had. There has long been a problem with more data being collected than could be thoroughly analyzed but nothing is thrown away. Now that there was a definite use of nerve gas the deep dive into the intel data was ordered and it did indeed find evidence of the Assads retaining stocks of chemical weapons, including nerve gas, and apparently using it in the belief that they could get away with blaming the rebels. That gambit fell apart under close examination and now Russia (and to a lesser extent Iran) find themselves in an embarrassing situation. Russia supplied support for the Assads to find targets and the Assads used that to find the target for the nerve gas attack. Iran is one of the few nations to use nerve gas in combat (during the 1980s war with Iraq) and has experts in that subject who may have been advising the Assads. After all, Iran has openly discussed using nerve gas against Israel, which is why Israeli intel continued to monitor the nerve gas situation after 2013. Russia also has problems at home because of the April 7 American cruise missile attack on a Syrian air base. This was in retaliation for the Syrian nerve gas attack but the Russian Internet lit up with embarrassing discussions about that happened to Russian boasts in late 2016 that the Russian air defense system in Syria was operational. Using these very current and high-tech air defense weapons (Tor 2, S-400 and so on) Russia controlled who could use Syrian air space. Thus the American use of 59 cruise missiles to hit that Syrian air base, destroy about 20 percent of the Syrian air force and not touch the Russian aircraft and troops there, was either done with Russian permission or these expensive new air defense systems were vulnerable to American countermeasures. That was a common source of humiliation during the Cold War when, time and time again the West, usually the Americans, came up with some unexpected tech to neutralize Russian systems, especially air defense and aircraft electronics. The government was forced to note these embarrassing comments on Russian language Internet message boards and announced that Russian policy was not to use the air defense system against external air threats in Syria, or at least not the ones that were no threat to Russian troops. Other government officials commented that the Russian air defense systems could detect low-flying cruise missiles but not everywhere as these cruise missiles could be programmed to deliberately take advantage of terrain (hills) and also detect and avoid Russian radars. Older Russians then recalled hearing the same excuses during the Cold War. The people running Russia remember it as well and that seemed to account for the public displays (in the UN and to the international media) of anger at the Americans. It wasnt just what the Americans did but how they did it. Russia has more to dislike about what the U.S. is doing in Syria. For example there are the bases the Americans are building in northern (Kurd controlled) Syria. Turkey and the Assads oppose these American bases but the bases remain because the Americans, and most of the world, no longer consider the Assads legitimate rulers of Syria. The Assads and their allies Iran and Russia disagree. As long as the American bases were there to support the fight against ISIL Iran and Russia did not make an issue of these bases or the thousand or so U.S. troops in Syria. But now that the U.S. has, for the first time, carried out a major military attack on the Assad forces and may continue to do so, a suitable response is necessary. There is not much the Assads can do. They have not been able to prevent regular Israeli air attacks (to prevent Iranian advanced weapons from being moved to Lebanon) and it is no secret that the U.S. and Israel are close allies. The Russians have already made it clear that they will side with the Israelis if forced to decide between the Assads and Israel. This has put Iran in a difficult position and the latest American move makes that worse. All foreign forces operating in Syria are supposed to be there to deal with ISIL but Iran and Russia only pretended and were often criticized because most of the military activity in Syria was to weaken rebels (mainly non-ISIL) fighting to overthrow the Assads. While Russia is officially in Syria to defeat ISIL and keep the Assads in power they (semi-officially) also want to maintain good relations with Israel and Sunni Arab countries while doing it. This annoys Iran. Israel has made it clear that there can never be peace in Syria if Iran tries to establish a permanent presence there. The Iranians say they are in Syria to stay and the Russians (so far) have said they oppose that. Iran wants to stay in Syria as part of its decades old effort to destroy Israel and a centuries old effort to make the Shia form of Islam dominant in the Islamic world (that is over 80 percent non-Shia). Meanwhile Israel says it can live with the Assads as long as Iran is not maintaining a military presence in Syria. Many Turks agree with Israel on that point and newly elected U.S. government has come out strongly against any permanent Iranian presence in Syria. The Americans still want the Assads gone but despite that the U.S., Israel and Turkey agree on some key goals. The Russian intervention appears to be permanent (as far as the Russians are concerned) and the Assads are OK with that. Turkey and Iran are not so sure and Iran is openly opposed to Turkish troops being in Syria at all. At the same time Iran is demanding the right to establish a naval base in Syria. This is not a new idea. In 2011 Iran pledged to pay for the construction of a naval base on the Syrian Mediterranean coast. That proposal was put aside as the rebellion against the Assads grew but now Iran wants some payback for playing a key role in maintaining the Assads in power. All these overlapping and often contradictory goals and alliances may seem odd to an outsider but this is the Middle East, where such complex arrangements are the old normal. To make their Syria intervention work Russia had had to resort to Russian private security companies. About half these private security firms are believed to have organized combat units that are reliable enough to be used in place of scarce army special operations troops. By monitoring Russian language social media activity (which anyone can do) it has been noted that recent military veterans working for several of these private security companies have been in Syria and Ukraine. Casualties were suffered in both places although the duties of the contractors were different. In Syria the security contractors mainly guarded Russian bases but were also used in combat when they provided security for Russian artillery units supporting Syrian Army troops. In a few cases the contractors were sent in to assist Syrian troops who got themselves in trouble. Russia described these men as special operations troops, because outside Russia the security contractors often wear Russian military uniforms. But social media revealed that many of these dead Russians in Syria (about 30 so far) were actually contractors. In Ukraine at least one private security company has been used as enforcers to punish troublesome pro-Russian Ukrainian rebels. Often this just meant arranging an accidental death for a disobedient rebel leader but in a few cases a larger number of rebels had to disappear. The Russian supported rebels came to call these contractors cleaners and were justifiably terrorized and impressed. Border Signs The Turkish border has become a lot more difficult to sneak across since Turkish troops entered Syria in late 2016. One consequence of that is more of the foreign ISIL members fleeing the area are being caught and interrogated. Many of those arrested are European and some dont bother (or cannot afford) a smuggler and simply present themselves (and their passport) at the border and offer to cooperate. It is estimated that 30,000 foreigners went to Syria to join ISIL. Most came from Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey and Jordan. But about 20 percent were Moslems from Western Europe. It is unclear how many of these foreign ISIL members have died since 2014 and how many are trying to return home. All the nations that supplied these ISIL members are cooperating to one degree or another to identify and classify these ISIL returnees. That means arresting as many as possible and questioning them. Many have committed crimes and some are intent on doing more of the same back home. April 27, 2017: Israeli missiles, apparently fired from inside Israel, hit Iranian warehouses near the Mazzeh Air Base outside Damascus. This was a night attack a cell phone videos showed that these buildings apparently contained weapons because there were numerous secondary explosions as in a missile setting off ammunition or missiles stored there. The Israeli missiles also hit a fuel storage site, causing large secondary explosions and fires. This attack went after munitions and fuel used by Iran mercenaries in Syria in addition to missiles and other weapons meant to be smuggled into Lebanon. Some Iranian and Hezbollah personnel were killed. Later in the day Russia condemned the attack as a violation of Syrian sovereignty. Despite this public demonstration of anger Russia understands that Israel has a legitimate need to protect itself from Iranian attack via Hezbollah or similar Assad forces. This angers Iran but so far the Iranians have kept their criticisms quiet. Before the end of the day Israel confirmed that it had fired one of its Patriot missiles at an aircraft (apparently an Iranian made UAV) flying from Syrian into Israel. Turkey apologized to the Kurdish government of northern Iraq for a recent air attack that mistakenly killed some Kurdish soldiers. The air attacks were against PKK forces, which Iraqi governments (national and northern Kurd) long tolerated. The Iraq parliament is considering ordering PKK out of Iraq, which would put the pressure on the autonomous Kurds of northern Iraq to attack fellow Kurds of the PKK. The Iraqis Kurds tolerate the PKK presence but have been reluctant to use force to get them out. April 26, 2017: The SDF called on foreign nations to try and restrain Turkey from attacking SDF forces. Iraq also complained. SDF also quietly called on its Western allies to try and do something about the lack of unity among Kurds in Syria and Iraq. Even the Kurds try to keep this out of the news but it is real and a growing problem. April 25, 2017: In the northeast (Hasakah province) near the Iraq border Turkish artillery and airstrikes hit Kurdish forces in both countries killing about fifty people, most of the armed Kurds. Most of the dead appeared to be on the Iraq side of the border. In the north Kurdish YPG units that had been bombed the day before by Turkish warplanes opened fire at Turkish troops across the border. This fighting continues. April 24, 2017: In the north, near the Turkish border, Turkish jets and two UAVs attacked Kurds and secular rebels. These attacks killed at least 30 of the rebels and many more wounded. The Turks warned the U.S. and Russia an hour beforehand and there were no U.S. troops with the rebels attacked. The Americans and Russians tried to persuade the Turks to back off on attacking rebel forces that have not fought the Turks and concentrated on overthrowing the Assad government. Turkey believes the Kurds are a permanent threat. Yet the Turks were careful to make sure the United States did not have any troops with the targets bombed. It turned out that the closest American troops were about ten kilometers away. April 21, 2017: In the south, on the Israeli border, three mortar shells were fired from Syria into Israel but caused no damage. Israel fired back at the area where the mortars were operating. April 19, 2017: In the north, outside Aleppo a roadside bomb killed six civilians and wounded many more. It is unclear who was responsible for this attack, which appeared to be deliberate. April 18, 2017: Another Russian soldier was killed in Syria while working with Syrian soldiers fighting rebels and ISIL. That makes 30 Russians killed in Syria since mid-2016. Another Russian apparently died in the same incident but he seems to have been a contractor. It appears that Russia does not give much publicity to contractor deaths which are believed to be at least equal to military casualties, if not two or three times higher. April 17, 2017: Iraqi intelligence has evidence that ISIL leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi is in Syria and has been there for several months. Russia and the United States have agreed to meet with UN officials in Switzerland by the 25th to discuss what to do in Syria. April 16, 2017: In Iraq (Mosul) Iraqi troops again encountered ISIL mortar shells and rockets that had chemical warheads. About six troops fell sick after inhaling the noxious substance. Nearby U.S. and Australian commandos noted that some of the shells contained noxious substances and helped collect samples for laboratory analysis. This is not the first time for this. ISIL was again using the crude mustard gas that has been showing up a lot more since 2015. In 2016 Russia revealed that its chemical warfare experts collected mustard gas samples from a dud shell fired in September 2016 by ISIL forces in Aleppo. The Russians also found evidence of ISIL shells filled with chlorine. ISIL is believed to have used chlorine and mustard gas bombs and shells at least 60 times in Iraq and Syria since 2014. April 15, 2017: In the north (outside Aleppo) an ISIL suicide car bomb attacked pro-rebel civilians assembled to board busses in a UN monitored population transfer (as rebels and the government exchange territory). The bomb killed over 120 people, about half of them children. April 13, 2017: The SDF rebels began another offensive towards Raqqa. April 11, 2017: SDF forces reached the main highway connecting Raqqa with Damascus. An American airstrike outside Raqqa hit SDF rebels in error, instead of nearby ISIL forces. At least 18 SDF rebels died and many more were wounded. Russia suggested that the Americans were behind the recent use of nerve gas in Syria and that it was part of an American effort to justify going to war with Syria (or at least the Assad government Russia backs). The Russian accusations were not backed by any evidence and soon faded from the news. In Syria two more Russian soldiers died (from mortar fire) and another was wounded. Since mid-2015 29 Russian soldiers have died in Syria. April 10, 2017: Russia announced that its forces in Syria would not attempt to intercept American missiles (cruise or otherwise) if they are used again in Syria to attack Syrian military forces. The government reminded everyone that Russian forces were in Syria to fight Islamic terrorists. Turkey announced that it had completed its 556 kilometer long border wall along the most threatened portions of its 911 kilometer long Syrian border. April 8, 2017: The Syrian government, Russia, Iran and Iraq condemned an American cruise missile attack on a Syrian airbase yesterday. These critics supported the Syrian Assad government denials that they had anything to do with the use of nerve gas during an airstrike on a rebel held village last week. But the rest of the world either openly supported the American retaliation or were undecided. Most Western nations openly supported the cruise missile barrage as did Middle Eastern nations Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE (United Arab Emirates). This American action was a big deal in Israel which had hoped the newly elected American government would be more supportive of Israeli efforts to deal with Islamic terrorism (both Sunni and Shia) in the region. Israel and its new Sunni Arab allies are particularly concerned about the growing threat from Iran, which the previous U.S. government did not take as seriously as the Middle Eastern nations (particularly Israel) that Iran openly threatened. Even normally staunch Assad allies turned on the Syrian government for this. In Iraq prominent Shia clergy long known for their pro-Iran attitudes, condemned the Assads. Iran wishes this would all go away but it wont. In Syria Russia canceled the deconfliction agreement they with the United States regarding each others warplanes operating over Syria. This agreement avoids accidental clashes and the U.S. observed the agreement by informing Russia shortly before the American cruise missiles were launched yesterday. April 7, 2017: The United States retaliated for the recent Syrian use of nerve gas by launching 59 cruise missiles at the Syrian Shayrat air base in Homs province. Most of the Syrian air strikes in northern Syria are flown out of Shayat. When Tammy Thies heard that 11 animals were euthanized at Lion's Gate Sanctuary in Agate, Colorado - all on the same day - she went into shock. "When we saw the headlines yesterday, we were in disbelief," Thies, founder and director of The Wildcat Sanctuary, told The Dodo on Thursday. Zuri, one of the lions who lived at Lion's Gate Sanctuary | Lion's Gate Sanctuary Thies started dealing with Lion's Gate Sanctuary in 2006. Back then, it was called Prairie Wind Animal Refuge, and it was owned by a different person - Michael Jurich. When Jurich got sick, he reached out the Wildcat Sanctuary, asking if he could rehome some of the big cats with them. Diablo Guapo, one of the animals the Wildcat Sanctuary rescued from Prairie Wind Animal Refuge | The Wildcat Sanctuary "He [Jurich] called us, and we went and picked up a bunch of the animals there, and offered that, over time, we could pick up more and work with other sanctuaries," Thies said. "At that time, his illness was getting bad, and he ended up selling it." In 2007, Joan Loab and Peter Winney bought the refuge and renamed it Lion's Gate Sanctuary. Over the next 10 years, they would care for over 40 animals at the sanctuary, Loab told The Dodo. Many of them died from old age, she said. Dodo Shows Soulmates Pig Loves To Launch Himself Onto His Dad's Lap George and Kajeeka, two bobcats the Wildcat Sanctuary rescued from Prairie Wind Animal Refuge | The Wildcat Sanctuary However, the sanctuary started running into trouble when the property flooded on several occasions, according to Loab They put in various applications to move their facility - and their resident animals - to another location, but local officials denied these applications on the basis that the plan "was not adequately resourced." What Lion's Gate Sanctuary did next has stirred controversy - on April 20, they euthanized all 11 of their remaining animals, which included 3 lions, 3 tigers and 5 bears. To Thies, this decision was impossible to fathom. One of the bears who once lived at Lion's Gate Sanctuary | Lion's Gate Sanctuary "Being in the industry, usually when you're in an emergency situation with cats, you're going to reach out to the sanctuary community to get their animals help," Thies said. "And everybody we spoke to in the sanctuary community never received a phone call for help - to come help with these animals, move them, whatever they need." The Wildcat Sanctuary would have gladly taken some of the animals into their care, Thies explained, but they were never notified of the situation. Mina and Chaska, two tigers who once lived at Lion's Gate Sanctuary | Lion's Gate Sanctuary Another Colorado refuge, the Wild Animal Sanctuary (WAS), expressed similar sentiments. "Nobody knew - they just euthanized them, and then everybody found out," Pat Craig, executive director of WAS, told The Dodo. "We would have taken them easily if we were [notified]." Loeb placed blame for the decision on the Elbert County Commissioners, who declined the relocation permit. But the county said in a statement that they were just as baffled by Loeb's decision to euthanize the animals, calling it a "total surprise." "Only two weeks earlier, the operators of the facility assured the County in a public forum that if the application was denied, they would continue to operate at their current location as they had for the previous 10 years," officials said. Johnny, one of the bears who once lived at Lion's Gate Sanctuary | Lion's Gate Sanctuary Yet the people behind Lion's Gate Sanctuary still insist that they did everything they could for their animals - and that the decision to euthanize them was in the animals' best interests. "People have criticized us for not trying to place our animals," Loab said in a statement emailed to The Dodo. "Our animals could not be placed in another sanctuary. There are many reasons why. We were a small facility and all our animals had one-on-one attention. We were not open to the public. Our animals were used to solitude and only having two people around for a period of 10 years." Loab also claimed that the animals were also too "old" and "disabled," and had too many "special needs" to be rehomed. Kenya, one of the One of the lions who once lived at Lion's Gate Sanctuary | Lion's Gate Sanctuary "Since these animals have not been around people, to think at this age they would adjust to another facility is ludicrous," the spokesperson for Lion's Gate Sanctuary said. "To put that level of stress on senior and disabled animals several things would have occurred. They likely would have become depressed, hide in their den houses or develop symptoms of stress like pacing back and forth constantly and rubbing themselves right down to the bone. In most cases the stress would have killed them." But Thies sees things differently. Atlas, one of the lions who once lived at Lion's Gate Sanctuary | Lion's Gate Sanctuary "What we do on a daily basis is rescue cats - whether they're geriatric, whether they're sick or whatever," Thies said. "They can still live happy, healthy lives, so we're a little hesitant that 11 animals were so sick that they had to be put down the same day." Thies also points out that the owners of Lion's Gate Sanctuary would have gladly moved the animals to a different location if they'd been granted the permit to do so. Mina, one of the tigers who once lived at Lion's Gate Sanctuary | Lion's Gate Sanctuary "If these owners had got approval to move, they felt the animals were healthy enough to pick up and move them in the county," Thies said. "But they're not healthy enough to do a couple more hours' drive to another facility?" "We have to give these animals more credit," Thies added. "They are resilient. When we're putting our feelings on them, saying that they can't live without us, I don't that's making a decision in the best interest of the animal. That's making a decision in the best interest of the person." One of the tigers who once lived at Lion's Gate Sanctuary | Lion's Gate Sanctuary If there's one takeaway from the situation, the Wildcat Sanctuary wants people who work with animals at sanctuaries and other facilities to know that there are always options. "Having just absorbed over 100 exotic animals from a failed facility in Colorado, the network of accredited and reputable sanctuaries in the U.S. has shown that there are always other options," a spokesperson for the Wildcat Sanctuary said in a statement. "If it was safe to relocate them to another county, it was certainly an option to relocate them to other sanctuaries." One of the lions who once lived at Lion's Gate Sanctuary | Lion's Gate Sanctuary "These were senseless deaths of animals that deserved so much more compassion," the group wrote. While nothing can be done to help these 11 animals now, Thies hopes that this kind of thing never happens again - and that the incident raises awareness about captive animals who need help across the country. Zuri, one of the lions who once lived at Lion's Gate Sanctuary | Lion's Gate Sanctuary When a group of vervet monkeys came across a farm in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they started taking some of the crops for their meals. But the local farmers saw the monkeys as pests who were stealing the crops from the farm - and violence broke out. It's believed that a few of the monkeys of the group were killed. The locals took captive two of the youngest monkeys in the group, now named Makobola and Fizi. Makobola is estimated to be 2 or 3 years old, but Fizi was so young when he was captured that his teeth hadn't even come in yet. "We think the Fizi's mum was killed, because there is no way you can take a baby like that from his mum," Itsaso Velez del Burgo Guinea, technical director of the Centre de Rehabilitation des Primates de Lwiro (CRPL), told The Dodo. Orphaned baby monkey holds onto his friend | CRPL Luckily, a policeman saw the local people with the two young monkeys, and bought their freedom. He took Makobola and Fizi to his house initially - he even considered keeping them as pets, until he saw an educational campaign about how keeping wild animals captive was actually against the law. "The policeman kept them in his house for a while, until ICCN [Institut Congolais pour le Conservation de la Nature] did a awareness campaign in the area about the law and how it is forbidden to kept wild animals in houses as 'pets,'" Itsaso said. "The policeman handed over the monkeys to the wildlife authorities, and they brought the two monkeys to our center." Dodo Shows Little But Fierce Pocket-Sized Kitten Grows Up To Be A Wild Woman CRPL Makobola and Fizi's plight is characteristic of the nuances of human-wildlife conflict, which has existed literally since the beginning of civilization, as human beings started settling down and planting their own crops. Often, people don't even realize what is right or wrong when it comes to handling wild animals, even when they have the best intentions. CRPL When Makobola and Fizi arrived at CRPL earlier this month, rescuers rushed to give the scared little monkeys the appropriate kinds of milk and food so they could grow up strong. Fizi should still be getting nursed and comforted by his mom, but Makobola has stepped in to comfort him. CRPL Cute, floppy ears are one of a lab puppy's most adorable attributes. So when a dog named Remi developed a weird growth in one of his ears, his foster mom, Carlie Childres, was a bit alarmed. Carlie Childres "I didn't know what it was," Childres told The Dodo. Carlie Childres Childres is fostering Remi, and his brother, Cooper, for Lucky Lab Rescue and Adoption. The pair is part of a litter of seven puppies the organization saved from a shelter in Liberty County, Texas. Dodo Shows Comeback Kids Family Stops At Nothing To Help Their Great Dane Run Carlie Childres When the first lump popped up in Remi's ear, Childres called Lucky Lab right away and said, "I think we have a problem." Volunteers with the rescue asked her to send pictures of the lump. Then Childres found more bumps on his other ear. Turns out they were hematomas. "They seemed to show up overnight," Childres said. The rescue consulted with its veterinarian in Austin, Lynanne Mockler, who recommended the lumps be surgically removed. Carlie Childres Not all hematomas need to be removed, but Remi needed help, stat, according to Mockler. "If it's a full hematoma, full surgery is recommended because you get cauliflower ear and it becomes wrinkled and scarred," Mockler told The Dodo. "That means down the road you can't clean it efficiently and you could end up with a dog with an infection that won't heal properly." "If they shake their heads really, really hard they can burst a small vessel. It's basically a blood bubble in their ear," Mockler said. "I don't usually see them in a dog this young, and certainly not in both ears. The shaking is what caused it. The most important thing is to get the itch taken care of." A surgery date was scheduled, but Childres worried about Remi, especially how she was going to keep a lab puppy calm post-op. Carlie Childres Remi, the bigger of the two rescue pups, is energetic and loves company. "He just wants to be right next to you, chewing on a bone sitting on a couch with you," said Childres. "He's got that puppy energy, but likes to sleep on the couch next to you." Carlie Childres "His brother Cooper is more of a wild man," Childres said. "Lots of energy and spunk." Cooper's temptation to play would certainly be a challenge after his surgery. Carlie Childres When the day arrived, Childres dropped off Remi for the operation with Mockler. But when she came to pick him up after, Childres got quite a surprise - Remi had a new look. Dr. Lynanne Mockler Mockler didn't want to leave Remi without his finest qualities, so she made him temporary ears. Dr. Lynanne Mockler "He was cute! I was happy the vet took time to do something like that," Childres said. "[Mockler] really cared and tried to make him as happy as possible." Mockler has seen all sorts of tragic situations as part of her job, from going into her office in the middle of the night to help dogs with broken legs, to making house calls on weekends to help struggling puppies. So, when she got a chance for a little humor, she took it. "Remi didn't seem to mind," she said. Carlie Childres "The staff was looking at me like I was nuts," she said. "The ears were made from the cardboard that canned dog food comes in. That's how I traced the circles. I told everyone, 'Trust me, you'll love it when I'm done.'" Carlie Childres Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Home >Police Enforcement > Drunk Driving Laws > Virginia Supreme Court Says A Private Parking Lot Is Not A Highway Boeing Co. accused Bombardier Inc. of selling CSeries passenger jets in the U.S. at absurdly low prices, adding a new salvo to an increasingly tense trade relationship between the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. planemaker is asking the International Trade Commission to find that it has suffered injury to its business at the hands of Bombardier and to recommend that the Commerce Department impose duties on the Montreal-based jet builder. Bombardier fell in Toronto trading. Propelled by massive, supply-creating and illegal government subsidies, Bombardier Inc. has embarked on an aggressive campaign to dump its CSeries aircraft in the United States, Boeing said Thursday in its ITC complaint. The allegations open a new front in trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada, which have intensified since President Donald Trump took office vowing to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and put America First. The U.S. recently imposed duties on Canadian lumber, reigniting a longstanding dispute, and Trump has complained about Canadian protections for dairy farmers. Bombardier said it was closely reviewing the filing. In a statement, the company said it structures its commercial dealings to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Boeing said a 2016 sale of Bombardier jets to Delta Air Lines Inc. set a new, low price ceiling thats depressing its U.S. jetliner prices. The Atlanta-based carrier agreed to purchase the cutting-edge Bombardier jets for $19.6 million (U.S.) apiece, less than the $33.2 million cost of manufacturing the airplanes, Boeing said. The Chicago-based company urged the Trump administration to act before deliveries of the Canadian jet begin next year to Delta. JetBlue Airways Corp. is among the potential U.S. customers of the jet, Boeing said. The emerging tussle echoes longstanding U.S.-Europe disputes stemming from the rivalry between Boeing and Airbus SE. Evidently taking a page out of the Airbus strategy book, Bombardier has blatantly and intentionally demonstrated its goal of muscling its way into the U.S. aviation market by offering its heavily subsidized planes at cut-rate pricing, the U.S. company said. The CSeries jets come in two configurations. A 100-seater lists for $76.5 million while a 150-seat variant goes for $85.7 million. Discounts from catalog prices are customary in the industry. The government of Canada will mount a vigorous defence against these allegations and stand up for aerospace jobs on both sides of the border, the office of Canadian Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains said Thursday in a statement. The ministry also said the North American aerospace industry is highly integrated, with companies on both sides of the border benefiting from the CSeries program. More than 50 per cent of the jets components come from the U.S., Bainss office said. The Commerce Department gives all petitions a thorough review and will do so in this case, said spokesman James Rockas. Further comment would be premature, he said. The Canadian government earlier this year pledged $372.5 million to Bombardier to finance two jet programs including the CSeries. Last year, Quebecs provincial government invested $1 billion in the jetliner. Our government will continue to defend with firmness and strength all of Quebecs aerospace industry, including the commercial partnership we concluded with Bombardier, Quebec Economy Minister Dominique Anglade said in a statement. The U.S. and Quebec share a trade relationship that benefits workers on both sides of the border. Brazil, home to Embraer SA, has also complained about government aid to Bombardier. In February, the Brazilian government formally sought consultations with Canada in front of the World Trade Organization with the blessing of Embraer, part of a simmering battle that predated the Ottawa governments aid package to Bombardier. Read more about: SHARE: The U.S. has begun a trade war with Canada. Canadian officials and the news media, rather than risk inflaming the situation, insist on calling the Trump administrations attacks this week on our dairy and softwood-lumber industries a mere spat. But we do ourselves no favours in soft-pedalling whats really going on here. Previous trade disputes with the U.S. have indeed been spats. But this latest flexing of U.S. power is very different. It is highly politicized. Timed for Trumps 100th day in office, it is a bid by the new U.S. president to show he can get things done, after getting practically nothing done in his first 100 days. Its also a sop to Paul Ryan, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and key to Trumps ability to score legislative victories. Ryan represents dairy state Wisconsins 1st district in Congress. Theres more, and worse. This weeks attacks on Canadian farmers and sawmill workers are opening salvos in a determined U.S. bid to rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) a backbone of Canadian prosperity so that it aligns with Trumps America First doctrine. What have we learned from this weeks episode? Donald Trumps word is good for nothing. As recently as February, the new U.S. president described Canada-U.S. relations as very outstanding. He encouraged the widespread belief that his angst over trade was directed mostly at China and Mexico. Instead, this week Trump attacked one of Americas best friends and most reliable allies. The U.S. is jeopardizing the livelihood of Canadian dairy farmers, concentrated in Central Canada; and the 60,000 Canadian forest-products workers in B.C. alone. The steep duties Trump is imposing on Canadian exports run as high as 24 per cent. Why has the U.S. turned on Canada? Because it can. America regards Canada as weak and unwilling to fight for its interests. Judging from Ottawas non-response response this week, youd have to conclude the Americans are right. Theyve identified Canada as a soft target before taking on superpower China. The U.S. is, in respect to trade policy, an outlaw nation. Its new duties imposed on Canadian dairy and forest products are almost certainly a violation of World Trade Organization (WTO) principles. And they are indisputably a violation of Americas NAFTA treaty obligations. Recall that every time the impartial dispute-resolution process built into NAFTA has adjudicated U.S. complaints about supposedly unfair trade practices by Canada, that panel has found no substance to them. And on each of those several occasions, the U.S. has simply rejected the anti-U.S. finding. Weve learned that, whatever one might say about Canadas controversial supply-management system in dairy products which artificially forces up the cost of eggs, milk and butter for Canadian consumers at least it discourages over-production. The crisis with which American dairy farmers are undeniably coping is due to U.S. and global over-production, not denied access to the small Canadian market. A recent U.S. government report has stated as much. And why wouldnt there be a U.S. glut of dairy products, when U.S. dairy farmers receive about $4 billion (U.S.) a year in subsidies from Uncle Sam? Canada does not engage in that practice, which likely would be a violation of WTO rules. It appears not to matter to the U.S. that it actually runs a $400-million surplus with Canada in dairy-products trade. And that overall, Canada runs a tiny trade surplus with the U.S. compared with Americas other trading partners. Thats because, in 2015, Canadians bought a staggering $289-billion worth of goods from the U.S. Yet in describing Canadian trade practices as a disgrace, Trump lumps Canada in with countries whose huge trade surpluses against the U.S. really are a significant issue for America. Ottawas softly softly approach to Trumps anti-trade belligerence isnt working. It also appears that the feds didnt see these entirely predictable U.S. actions coming. Pretty much all that Jim Carr, the natural resources minister, could say this week is that Trumps abuse of Americas supposed fraternity with Canada is going to result in some tough times for some operators [farmers] across the country. Well, yes. Thomas Mulcair, interim leader of the NDP, was understandably slack-jawed that Ottawa has no evident strategy for dealing with this attack on the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Canadians. We dont seem to have a plan, he said. Not so Christy Clark, who this week promptly announced a convincing five-point plan to fight back. Among other actions, the B.C. premier will lobby U.S. homebuilders and lumber retailers who rely on reasonably priced, high-quality Canadian softwood lumber. Trumps duties will, of course, raise the cost of homes for U.S. buyers, which in turn will reduce employment in the U.S. construction sector. We pay a heavy price for lacking a national industrial strategy worthy of the name. Clark and her Alberta peer, Rachel Notley, have each developed multi-faceted programs for an industrial renaissance in their jurisdictions. Their strategies are each based on reducing economic reliance on the U.S. market (B.C.s softwood-lumber exports to China alone have soared by about 2,000 per cent); on diversifying away from exports of raw, unfinished resources; and on bulking up each provinces high-tech prowess. In Quebec, the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and Hydro-Quebec, starting in the 1960s, nurtured the first of several generations of Quebecois engineers and entrepreneurs. Today, Corporate Quebec, owned and run mostly by francophones, is far more in charge of its destiny than the branch-plant-dominated rest of Canada. (ROC in Quebec parlance.) Among the beauties of a federation like ours is that provinces and territories can experiment with promising approaches like the above. It remains only for Ottawa, as with Saskatchewans Medicare, to take these winning practices nationwide. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union (EU), signed last October, is an impressive start in diversifying our export markets. Meanwhile at home, we need to build on our many strengths. These include aviation and aerospace, including satellite mapping and flight simulators; agricultural methods that use less water and chemicals; transportation, communications and energy technologies, including alternative energy; the artificial intelligence (AI), automation, robotics and machine learning (machines that teach themselves what to do) that will largely define the 21st century; and the burgeoning high-tech clusters in Toronto and Vancouver. Having invented insulin, stem-cell research and the smartphone, we have no excuse in letting our intellectual and entrepreneurial wealth slip away to other places. Because of the countrys high standard of livability, Canada already is attracting top talent from around the world, and some of the estimated 250,000 Canadians working in Silicon Valley are coming home to launch or join businesses here. We can take control of our current and future prosperity. Or we can remain hostage to the whims of an erratic head of state of another country that exerts inordinate influence over our economy. Its really as simple as that. Read more about: SHARE: Shes nothing short of fabulous, une femme dun certain age, always dressed to thrill, with an allure rock, as British Vogue recently enthused, that includes a deep tan, a peroxide-to-honey blonde hairdo, an expensive designer handbag and car-to-carpet heels. I will figure out what car-to-carpet heels means shortly. In the meantime, meet Brigitte Macron, 63, the much talked-about wife of Emmanuel Macron, who at 39, is poised much of the world hopes to defeat far right leader Marine Le Pen in the May 7 election run off and become the youngest president in Frances history. Read more: The politician, his wife and their 24-year age difference Frances next president: centrist Macron or far-right Le Pen The woman behind Frances front-runner Make that the youngest president with the oldest wife 24 years older to be exact and a scandalous love story to boot. Their story, chronicled in tabloids, upscale magazines and even a book, is indeed eye-popping. Macron was 15 when he met Brigitte, who was then his literature and drama teacher at a private Jesuit school in the northern France town of Amiens. Her daughter Laurence was his classmate, and his confused parents thought maybe their precocious son was in love with the daughter. But no. Quelle histoire. He was in love with his then-married teacher, a mother of three (and now grandmother of seven), and while his parents separated them and sent their son to Paris to finish his education, love prevailed. After a divorce and presumably a cooling-off period, Emmanuel and Brigitte have been together since he turned 18. As the 17th century French author Blaise Pascal famously wrote: The heart has its reasons. The couple married in 2007, and while they have no children together, they have embraced the concept of having a large, non-traditional family. Emmanuel has said, There is no less love in our family. His stepson is in fact older than he is. In France, cue the . . . ennui. No one really cares, said one observer, who rightly thinks the country is more concerned with far more urgent political matters. Not so much in the U.K., where one tabloid newspaper, the Sun, ran the screaming headline: French Kiss: How French election front-runner Emmanuel Macron, 39, seduced gran, 64, who he fell for at FIFTEEN. More serious outlets have published think pieces on whether this unconventional relationship should be awarded the feminist imprimatur given its power imbalance beginnings. (If a male teacher had done this. . .) Much has been made of the fact that the age difference between U.S. President Donald Trump, 70, and his hardly ever there wife, Melania, 47, is about the same as the one between the Macrons, and of course no one seems to think its scandalous. Trump having a much younger third wife is just business as usual. Unlike Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron has touchingly and very publicly declared his love for his wife, saying after his first victory last week that without her, I wouldnt be who I am. Brigitte Macron, born Trogneux, from a prominent Amiens family that owns a renowned chocolate factory, appears to be opinionated, extremely comfortable in her own skin and having the time of her life, whether its at a fashion show or a backroom political meeting with her husband. She is by all accounts very involved in his political decisions. Would such an age imbalance be accepted in Canada, where we tend, like the U.S. but not quite so vehemently, to be more prurient about such matters? It would be like Justin Trudeau married to Kim Campbell! one friend said gleefully. Well, no it wouldnt unless she had been his mentor at 15. The far more interesting question, if you want to probe both our sexual hypocrisy and our sometimes only skin deep love of gender equality, is whether say British Prime Minister Theresa May could get away with having a romantic partner 24 years her junior. In other words, if the woman was the leader and the much younger man was on her arm. Surely some trashy headlines would be screaming cougar and boy toy although mainly, those words have thankfully faded from our social lexicon as being old-fashioned and insulting to both genders. Is it too much to think were becoming more sophisticated? Not so fast. In another little contretemps, Macron has had to deny rumours hes gay, joking at one rally that his hologram must have escaped to have a secret life. I have some personal views on this. When I was a young woman, my newly divorced mother, whom I worshipped, told me a secret she had kept from me in the 26 years of my parents marriage. She was in fact 13 years older than my father. In those days, she rightly reckoned people would have been taken aback. My response was to wholeheartedly support her. Who cares? I said. Besides, you look great. Ive since thought that it was a shame she had to deny key aspects of herself her age, when she graduated from college just to blur the age line between my parents. Although women in those days like my mother seldom divulged how old they were: Im as old as my tongue and a little older than my teeth, was her answer when I asked. That gap was only 13 years. Theres a whole generation between Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron. As a woman of a certain age myself, I did fret that, given her fashion forward style and the fact that if her husband becomes president the camera will always be on her, Brigittemay feel intense pressure to look a certain way for years to come. When she is 80, he will only be 56. Think of the energy shell need. But then I remembered political leadership ages men, in particular, very fast. It will work out fine. Judith Timson writes weekly about cultural, social and political issues. You can reach her at judith.timson@sympatico.ca and follow her on Twitter @judithtimson. SHARE: The Ontario Liberals have rejected Mayor John Torys calls to match federal transit funding in their 2017 budget, despite his warnings that if Queens Park doesnt come up with the cash, the city cant hope to pay for its priority lines. In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Tory charged that the province appears to have missed an opportunity to partner in the historic investments made by the federal government in much needed future transit expansion. The clarity that Toronto requires for its pressing . . . transit needs has not been delivered today, the mayor lamented. More on the 2017 Ontario budget In the weeks leading up to Thursdays provincial budget announcement, Tory made a series of public appearances in which he pressured Ontario to come up with billions of dollars for the citys priority projects, which include the relief line subway and Eglinton East LRT. Tory had called on the province to match Ottawas commitment to fund up to 40 per cent of the cost of new projects, which would leave the city responsible for 20 per cent of the price of the new lines. The city expects to receive $4.5 billion to $5 billion from Ottawa over the next decade through a new federal transit infrastructure fund. The mayors appeals for more provincial funding appear to have fallen on deaf ears. While Finance Minister Charles Sousas budget reaffirmed the provinces pledge to double the amount of gas tax proceeds the city can use to pay for transit to $340 million, and to continue funding transit projects already underway, there was no money dedicated to new lines. In a statement of his own, Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca responded, No government in the history of this province has invested more in Toronto transit. He pointed to the $6.4 billion the province is spending to build the Eglinton Crosstown and Finch West LRTs, as well as the $3.7 billion its investing to expand GO Transit service within the city. The GO expansion is crucial to Torys SmartTrack plan. Del Duca didnt rule out spending more money on new projects in the future, saying the province would continue to work with the federal government . . . including collaboration on additional new projects. The minister made no commitment to match Ottawas 40-per-cent contribution, however, and a section of Thursdays budget states that cost-sharing agreements with Ottawa should remain flexible to avoid unexpected fiscal costs for the provinces. Read more: Ontario Liberals unveil balanced budget that features free youth pharmacare plan Highlights from the 2017 Ontario budget Winners and losers from the 2017 Ontario budget No tax relief for business in Ontario budget A pre-pre-election budget to bolster Liberal fortunes: Cohn City council has designated four priority transit projects to receive federal funding, and these are estimated to cost a combined $13.6 billion: SmartTrack, estimated at $3.7 billion; the relief subway line ($6.8 billion); Waterfront transit ($1.5 billion), and Eglinton East LRT (about $1.6 billion.) The city has allocated about $2 billion to SmartTrack, but the other three priority projects remain mostly unfunded. These include the Eglinton East LRT, a key part of a planned Scarborough transit network that includes the controversial one-stop subway extension. Taking into account the federal funding, $660 million of which was previously allocated to the subway extension, the city is still roughly $7 billion short on its priority lines. TTC Chair Josh Colle told reporters Thursday that the provinces decision not to match the federal funding was a disappointment. Asked how Toronto can hope to complete the projects, he said its possible that the city and federal government could increase their contributions to make up the difference, but based on the scale of our projects . . . its probably not . . . feasible. SHARE: Finance Minister Charles Sousa has prescribed a remedy for the Liberal governments political ailments an election-ready balanced budget with free pharmacare for everyone 24 and under. Sousa on Thursday tabled the first Ontario budget without a deficit since 2008 thanks to a growing economy that has led to a massive jump in tax revenue. Its a record $141.1-billion spending plan that increases funding for health care by $7 billion over the next three years, including a signature $465- million children and youth pharmacare program that will pay for 4,400 different medications as of January 2018. More on the 2017 Ontario budget The Liberal plan comes just five days after NDP Leader Andrea Horwath promised a $475-million a year universal pharmacare plan to cover 125 commonly prescribed drugs if she wins the June 7, 2018 election and replaces Premier Kathleen Wynne. Four years ago, our government promised to balance the budget and today I am proud to announce that we did it, said Sousa, promising to keep things in the black again in 2018-19 and the year after that if the Liberals are re-elected. The last time there was no shortfall in the provincial treasury was 2008 just before the global financial crisis that led to the biggest recession since the Great Depression almost 90 years ago. But the cost of running deficits for nearly a decade has been an Ontario debt that has ballooned from $169.6 billion in 2008 to a projected $311.9 billion this year, making the province the worlds largest subnational borrower. The road to balance has not been easy. We had critical choices to make, said Sousa. We could do what some suggested: cut expenses, cut vital programs and services that people depended on to eliminate the deficit or take a more principled and thoughtful approach to make strategic investments and stimulate economic growth, he said. With the shortfall eliminated and a hotly contested election 13 months away, Sousa has loosened the purse strings and acknowledged that many Ontarians are feeling the pinch. We recognize that families are struggling with the increased cost of living so were doing more to help with everyday costs, he said. Read more: Highlights from the 2017 budget Winners and losers from the 2017 Ontario budget Ontario budget to pump millions into child care subsidies A pre-pre-election budget to bolster Liberal fortunes: Cohn One-handed applause for youth pharmacare plan: Walkom As first announced last month, residential electricity rates will be cut by an average 17 per cent starting in June atop the 8-per cent reduction in the harmonized sales tax that kicked in on Jan. 1. Overall, hydro relief measures will cost the treasury $1.4 billion in 2017-18. The new spending is fuelled by tax revenue that has outpaced last years forecast by more than $3.4 billion, including $1.3 billion in additional corporate taxes, $717 million in extra personal income taxes, $714 million more in sales taxes and a windfall of $637 million in increased land transfer taxes due to skyrocketing house prices. To slow southern Ontarios rapidly rising real estate market, theres the recently announced 15 per cent non-resident speculation tax on foreign buyers. It is expected to be revenue neutral because it should be offset by lower land transfer tax proceeds. Its not fair for some speculators with deep pockets to drive up the cost of a family home at the expense of working families trying to save enough to realize their own dreams of a place to raise their kids and call their own, he said. That levy on offshore speculators is the only tax increase in the budget aside from a $2-a-carton hike on tobacco effective as of midnight Thursday. (There is no mention in the budget about anticipated revenues from legalized recreational marijuana, which Ottawa will allow as of July 1, 2018, because the province has not yet determined where and how it will be sold or taxed.) Municipalities, however, will be empowered to impose lodging taxes on hotels and Airbnb rentals if they choose. Sousa boasted that the province is outpacing most of the developed world with gross domestic product growth of 2.7 per cent last year. Thats almost twice the rate of growth of all of Canada its better than Germanys 1.9 per cent; its better than the United States at 1.6 per cent; its better than all G7 countries, said the treasurer. But Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown, who enjoys a double-digit lead over Wynne in public-opinion polls, insisted the budget was not balanced, claiming there is a $5 billion operational deficit due to one-time infusions of cash such as government land sales and the majority sell-off of the Hydro One transmission utility. Its a scam. The numbers do not add up. The Liberals have no plan to get debt under control, said Brown, who declined to say what services he would cut if elected next year though he stressed his opposition to municipal hotel taxes. The NDPs Horwath, whose pharmacare proposal would not take effect until 2020, said this budget doesnt even come close to undoing the damage Kathleen Wynne and her Liberals have done over the last 14 years. Ontarians are desperate for change, she said, blasting Wynne for falling short on universal pharmacare. We didnt get the pharmacare plan that the people of this province deserve. Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWAFrom badass to beating a retreat. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan is offering some clarification around his claim that he was the architect of the biggest Canadian military offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Sajjan came into the defence post in 2015 boasting impeccable credentials: time in the military and tours of duty in Afghanistan, all reinforced by a photo showing him in uniform, sporting sleek sunglasses, that earned him the moniker badass. But now Sajjan seems to have overreached in a war story, telling an audience in New Delhi, India, earlier this week that he was the architect of Operation Medusa, the Canadian offensive in 2006 to push out Taliban fighters from the districts around Kandahar. On my first deployment to Kandahar in 2006, I was kind of thrown in an unforeseen situation and became the architect of an operation called Operation Medusa, where we removed about 1,500 fighters, Taliban fighters, off the battlefield, Sajjan said in his speech. Read more: Sajjans battles wage on social media I was very proud to be on the main assault of the force, he said in the speech, which can be found on YouTube. It doesnt appear that the comments were a slip of the tongue. The reference to being the architect of Operation Medusa was contained in the prepared text. The two-week operation in September 2006 claimed Canadian lives, but is credited with reducing the Talibans hold around Kandahar. Yet Sajjans version of events, first reported by the National Post, stirred anger in military circles from those who thought the former soldier had overstated his role. One military officer told the Post it was a bald-faced lie. That forced a statement from the defence minister, who is now anxious to share the credit for Operation Medusa with Canadian, American and Afghan soldiers. Every military operation our Forces undertook in Afghanistan, including Operation Medusa, relied on the courage and dedication of many individuals across the Canadian Forces. My comments were in no way intended to diminish the role that my fellow soldiers and my superiors played in Operation Medusa, Sajjan said in a statement provided by his office. What I should have said was that our military successes are the result of the leadership, service and sacrifice of the many dedicated women and men in the Canadian Forces. I regret that I didnt say this then, but I want to do so now, he said. The statement did not offer any detail on Sajjans involvement in planning the offensive. His office said that Sajjan, who was a major at the time, did indeed participate in the offensive, but declined to spell out his exact role on the battlefield. Military historian Jack Granatstein said that Sajjan was a good intelligence officer in Afghanistan who probably provided important information, but added, Thats probably all you can say. He certainly wouldnt have been the chief planner, Granatstein said in a phone interview. That he would say such a thing in a public address is bizarre. Granatstein said the faux pas shouldnt force Sajjan to resign, but argued it doesnt help the cause of a minister he said has been weak in his post. Its not going to help him with the military, Granatstein said. Hes not a very strong minister thus far. He hasnt delivered anything thus far for the (Canadian Forces). This is going to make people think hes a little bit deluded. Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of defence staff, who himself served several tours commanding troops in Afghanistan, was in no mood to talk about the issue Friday when he appeared at a news conference to address misbehaviour in the military ranks. Im not really aware of this case, and, quite frankly, Id like us to keep our eye on the ball about sexual misconduct, Vance said, pointedly refusing to take a followup question from the reporter. Sajjans remarks are a serious misstep for a defence minister whose record of military service has given him impressive credentials to interact on defence and security issues on the world stage. Its a puzzling misstep, too, since Sajjans service in Afghanistan had already given him plenty to boast about without stretching tales. Sajjan served three tours in Afghanistan, including one attached to U.S. forces. He received a mention in dispatches that credited his understanding of counterinsurgency tactics for helping the planning and execution of an operation in September 2006 it doesnt specify which one to secure key terrain. Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, the now retired Canadian officer who was commander of NATO forces in southern Afghanistan, sang Sajjans praises in 2006, saying his intelligence work in the field drove several large-scale theatre-resourced efforts, including Medusa. He was the best single Canadian intelligence asset in theatre, and his hard work, personal bravery and dogged determination undoubtedly saved a multitude of Coalition lives, Fraser wrote in a letter addressed to Vancouver police, Sajjans employer at the time. Read more about: SHARE: MONTREALLino Zambito blew the lid off of a massive corruption scheme in Quebec several years ago with tales of duplicitous companies, greedy Liberal Party fundraisers and the Italian mafia pulling the strings. For his part, the former construction boss was charged and pled guilty, avoiding prison only because he helped bring one of the darkest periods of the provinces political history to light. But leaks and revelations from the investigative vault of the provinces anti-corruption unit this week are a reminder to people here that the main players and beneficiaries of an alleged scheme that traded political donations for government contractsare still walking free. For how much longer is the question. The population of Quebec deserves results, Zambito said in an interview Friday. Either we say that, yes, there are charges, or that the case has been examined, theres not enough evidence or there was nothing criminal that occurred and we move on. Quebeckers got neither of those options this week. Instead, they faced another wallop of corruption news when the TVA network broadcast a report based on confidential files from the Unite Permanente Anti-Corruption (UPAC). The investigative team was created by the government of former Quebec Liberal leader Jean Charest in response to widespread reports of bid rigging on government contracts, mafia infiltration and illegal political financing. But TVA reported Monday that the force investigated Charest himself as recently as last year, in addition to one of the Quebec Liberal Partys most prolific and notorious former fundraisers, Marc Bibeau. Bibeau was a recurring character at Quebecs Charbonneau corruption inquiry. He was the businessman with the biggest Rolodex in the province, who transformed the finances of the Liberal Party by hitting up companies for massive financial contributions as the party prepared to take power in 2003. His alleged technique was simple, effective and corrosive, according to an engineering-company president who met Bibeau in October 2002. He explained that he took care of the financing from businesses, that soon the Liberal Party would be taking power and that he would be in a position to influence the awarding of contracts, Georges Dick testified at the Charbonneau inquiry. I was surprised also that he said he was an advisor to Mr. Charest and that he would speak of influence peddling. Charests alleged involvement in any wrongdoing is not at all clear. The police sought an itinerary of his out-of-country travels from 2003 to 2016, according to TVA. The La Presse newspaper reported that police executed search warrants at the end of 2016 seeking information on permits for renovations that Charest had obtained for his $1.6-million Westmount residence. Charest issued a statement refusing to comment on the reports and asserting he has committed no crimes. While the head of UPAC, Robert Lafreniere, confirmed the existence of an investigation and the authenticity of various police documents concerning Bibeau and Charest, he warned that the leakers presumed desire for justice or frustration about delays may only put unnecessary pressure on investigators and put the suspects on notice, if they werent already. None of the developments of this week answer the more pressing mystery behind the delay, which has given rise to all sorts of conspiracies. For a while now weve been asking about Liberal immunity in our justice system. Does it exist? Is there influence? Is there pressure? Parti Quebecois leader Jean-Francois Lisee asked this week. Is there a system in place to ensure that the largest corruption investigation in Quebecs political history will never make it to the head of the network? But Zambito, who said he has been interviewed by investigators for the probe involving Bibeau and Charest, said it is starting to look as though officials have no qualms about charging entrepreneurs and bureaucrats with bribery and corruption, but grow suddenly skittish when the trail leads to a Liberal. What I see is that the closer we get to powerto the highest ranks of the Liberal Partythe more they are fearful of drawing conclusions, he said. Without conclusions from police and then decisions from crown prosecutors about the strength of the evidence, it simply continuesthe allegations, the whispers, the suspicions, the aspersions. And with neither charges nor closure, the political climate grows more toxic in a province that keeps hoping the worst is in the past. The population is sick and tired. UPAC has to show some results. Many of the current Liberal ministers werent there during the Charest era so these are new people who are there for the right reasons. Those people are also tired of being associated with these bandits, Zambito said. At some point, either they lay charges if there are charges to be laid, or they close the file once and for all. Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWAHeritage Minister Melanie Joly called for a true redefinition of the Canadian media industry Friday, as the Liberal government continues to study ways to support the beleaguered news business in the digital age. A range of options remains on the table, from tax changes to the creation of a fund for media projects, but Joly said its too early to say what Ottawa will do to help Canadian news outlets, which have seen huge drops in profits and also job cuts in recent years. She said that government action must include players in the media industry as well as corporate titans such as Google and Facebook, which gobble up huge portions of digital ad spending, according to a prominent report published in January on the withering media sector. Joly said she expects to present some of the governments proposals for Canadian media later this year. Its hard to imagine what our democracy would look like without the vigilance of journalists, Joly told an audience at the annual Canadian Association of Journalists conference Friday. What the disruptions require is a true redefinition of our business practices, said Joly, who added that the role of government is to be a catalyst for change. A Parliamentary committee, has explored these questions for several months. The body will make recommendations on how to respond to changes in the media landscape. The changes include the ascendancy of digital platforms such as Google and Facebook, which aggregate and publish news for millions of users, and the collapse of newspapers and private broadcasters in smaller markets. In late January, the Ottawa-based Public Policy Forum released a report on the ailing industry. In almost a decade, ad revenues for community and daily newspapers in Canada dropped from $3.8 billion to $2.3 billion, while private broadcasters also saw declines, the report said. It recommended several ways the government could support robust Canadian journalism. These included the application of sales tax to the sales of digital subscriptions of foreign media outlets, such as the New York Times website, and the establishment of an arms-length fund that would support digital news innovation, civic journalism, local news and indigenous reporting. The fund would start with $100 million from Ottawa and then run on $400 million per year, money that the report suggests could come from the digital subscription tax revenue. It could also be funded by a suggested 10-per-cent levy on advertisements purchased from digital platforms that dont spend enough money on news reporting in Canada. Joly said Friday that the reports recommendations are being considered but would not say which ones, if any, the government may act on. She did emphasize, however, that its important the media maintain independence from the government and that any solutions dont just address the current downturn in profits, but set the stage for a successful industry in the years to come. Read more about: SHARE: In a forceful rebuke to Canadas practice of indefinite immigration detention, an Ontario court has ordered the release of Kashif Ali, a West African man who spent more than seven years in a maximum-security jail because Canada was unable to deport him. Superior Court Justice Ian Nordheimer called the lengthy detention unacceptable and said that it violated Alis charter rights. One thing is clear, and that is that Canada cannot purport to hold someone in detention forever, Nordheimer said, reading from his decision. Mr. Ali has not been convicted of a criminal offence, and yet he has been held for over seven years in detention facilities, facilities that, if he had been convicted of a criminal offence, would have entitled him to a credit of more than 10-and-a-half years against any sentence that might be imposed. Ali, 51, was the longest-serving immigration detainee still being held. He was one of two detainees profiled in Caged by Canada, a recent Star investigation. Wearing a white dress shirt and dark slacks rather than the orange prison jumpsuit he had previously worn to court Ali hugged his tearful 26-year-old daughter as soon as he was released from police custody. I dont know what to say right now, Ali said outside court on Friday, standing next to his daughter, Sakina Millington. It was very, very tough to be in there seven years without knowing when youre coming out. I went through a lot, man. As part of his court testimony, Ali described the often brutal conditions of his detention, which included beatings from guards and fellow inmates, near-daily lockdowns and one period during which he was placed in solitary confinement for 103 consecutive days. Alis lawyer Jared Will, who is also in the midst of a Federal Court challenge to the entire immigration detention system, said he was pleased with Nordheimers decision. Whats clearest is that it was an emphatic rejection of indefinite detention for removal even if the detainee could be found to not have been co-operating, Will said. Thats significant, and thats something that we think is a positive development. Ali says he was born in Ghana to a Ghanaian father and Nigerian mother, but his birth was never registered. As a child he moved with his mother to Nigeria and later Germany and the U.S. before entering Canada with a fake passport in 1986. He says he has never had legitimate identity documents. The former taxi driver has a long record of mostly petty crimes, which he attributes to drug addiction. Because of his criminal record, Canada has been trying to deport him for more than 20 years. Ali has always insisted he is willing to be deported, but he cant prove his citizenship in either Ghana or Nigeria, so neither country will take him back. Government lawyers were seeking Alis continued detention, alleging that he is intentionally thwarting his removal by withholding information that would help Canada deport him. Nordheimer disagreed. He said the government can point to nothing more than skepticism and speculation to support that allegation and there was no reasonable prospect that Alis situation would change if he continued to be detained. Even if an immigration detainee was being unco-operative, Nordheimer said, to allow a government to detain someone indefinitely would still be fundamentally inconsistent with the well-established principles underlying sections 7 and 9 of the Charter, which protect the right to life, liberty and security of the person as well as the right not to be arbitrarily detained. It would also be contrary to Canadas human rights obligations, he added. Canada detains thousands of people every year for immigration purposes if they have been deemed a danger to the public or unlikely to appear for their deportation. Most spend only a few weeks in detention, but some cases, like Alis, can drag on for months or years. Unlike some other countries, Canada does not have a maximum length of immigration detention an issue on which Nordheimer grilled government lawyers in a previous hearing. Earlier this month, the federal government announced it was exploring policy changes to reduce the length of immigration detention and limit the use of jails. Nordheimer released Ali with a number of conditions, including a nightly curfew and a requirement to report to immigration authorities on a monthly basis. He will reside with his daughters grandmother and must seek treatment and counselling for his drug addiction. Alis lawyers had asked that he also be granted a work permit and health coverage by the federal government, but Nordheimer offered only a strong recommendation that government officials consider whether that would be appropriate. With his new-found freedom still sinking in, Ali said he didnt have any big plans for the weekend. He hadnt even decided what to have for dinner. Im just going to go home and relax, he said. I hope Ill feel like Im not in the jail no more. I know itll take a bit, but finally Im out. With Alis release, the next longest-serving immigration detainee is Ebrahim Toure, who was also profiled recently by the Star. A failed refugee claimant, Toure likewise has no identity documents and the government has been unable to deport him. Unlike Ali, Toure has no criminal record in Canada, but he has spent more than four years behind bars in maximum security. Toures detention was continued for another 30 days last week, but he too could soon be fighting his case in court. Read more: Immigrants like Ebrahim Toure languish indefinitely in jails across the country Kashif Ali has been detained in a maximum-security jail for seven years waiting to be deported Detention reviews in Ontario result in release less than half as often compared with the rest of Canada SHARE: With the Conservative crown slipping from his grasp, Kevin OLeary settled on becoming kingmaker earlier this week. But will the decision to throw his support to Maxime Bernier do the trick? On that the evidence is mixed. There is not a Canadian political junkie who does not remember the high drama that attended Stephane Dions upset Liberal leadership victory in 2006. Over the course of four ballots he climbed from fourth to first place. Had former Ontario minister Gerard Kennedy not dropped out after the second ballot and thrown his support to Dion, that would not have happened. As Liberals lined up to vote for the third time that afternoon the two former rivals stood shoulder to shoulder to shake hands with the delegates. Kennedys supporters overwhelmingly followed his lead and that sealed the outcome of the convention. Under a similar scenario, Bernier would win early and easily next month. But the Kennedy/Dion alliance was struck on the floor of a convention, a venue where peer pressure is exacerbated by political passions. The delegates who took part in that Liberal vote were for the most part party activists who had history with the leadership contenders. Many Kennedy supporters were looking for a winning alternative to Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff, the two front-runners. The context of a mail-in ballot could not be more different. Casting a vote to determine Stephen Harpers successor is an isolated act, more often than not performed in the privacy of ones home. One needs a horde for the herding instinct to kick in. Or at least that is what the experience of the Canadian Alliances 2000 leadership contest suggests. That year, Reform party founder Preston Manning faced two challengers: then-Alberta treasurer Stockwell Day and Ontario backroom strategist Tom Long. There was no convention floor action as the winner was elected under a one-member-one-vote formula. Long came third on the first ballot and immediately threw his support to Manning. The two of them spent the week between the two ballots working hard to reverse the pro-Day tide. But when the votes were counted, Long turned out to have mostly been speaking for himself. Almost to a man and a woman, those of his followers who voted on the second ballot switched their allegiance to Day. That is not to say that Bernier should not be thankful for OLearys move. The latters support was often strongest in areas where the Beauce MP is weakest. On that score, urban Ontario comes to mind. But most of OLearys supporters expected him to be one of the last two candidates left standing next month. Many did not give their second or third choices a lot of thought. They still have the potential to throw this race wide open. On his way to embrace Bernier, OLeary flirted with the notion of supporting Andrew Scheer. The former House of Commons speaker has been trying hard to cast himself as the candidate most likely to beat Bernier. OLearys flirt shored up that message. If an anybody-but-Bernier movement is to coalesce behind any of his rivals, it is more likely to happen from the ground up than as the result of an orchestrated strategy. For all of the talk of deal making in the final weeks of this campaign, it is far from certain that any of the candidates has the capacity to steer supporters scattered across the country to a given rival. For instance, while most Quebec MPs do not support Bernier and indeed often oppose him strenuously, internal polls suggest that he as a native son candidate still has the best chances of picking up more support from his province as other contenders are dropped from the vote count. It is on the basis of Berniers edge in Quebec that OLeary is contending that he is best placed to beat Justin Trudeau in 2019. That is not necessarily borne out by polls. Both OLearys contention and the contrary polling data should be taken with a big grain of salt or, preferably, dismissed altogether. There were no polls that showed Harper beating Paul Martin, let alone winning seats in Quebec at the time of his 2004 Conservative leadership campaign. Two years later, he had won one in four votes in Quebec and was prime minister. Less than a decade before Trudeau became the first Liberal leader to win a majority of Quebec seats since his father retired, he was considered such a liability in his home-province that Dion would not have him run as a byelection candidate in Outremont. Chantal Hebert is a national affairs writer. Her column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday SHARE: OTTAWADefence Minister Harjit Sajjans climb down after taking credit for planning a major offensive more than a decade ago in Afghanistan stirs social media mocking. Here are some highlights from Twitter: Minister Sajjan, your planning of Operation Overlord & the D-Day landings was inspiring. @ErinOTooleMP. The attack on the Death Star would not have been possible without retrieval of the stations blueprints by Minister Sajjan. @tedlaking. Thank heaven for #SajjanBattles. Without his leadership and planning, the Germans would still own Vimy Ridge. @Deannormanjones. At the Battle of Thermopylae, Harjit Sajjan led 300 Spartans against the Persians. @EttoreFiorani. New remastered movie to correct errors in the first movie: Who Really Saved Private Ryan: Epic Battle Plan of @HarjitSajjan. @WarAgainstElite. Thanks to @HarjitSajjans foresight and musket skills Canada was able to defend against the Americans in the war of 1812. @BenJSilverman6. Read more about: SHARE: MONTREALThree men convicted in connection with the theft of $18 million worth of maple syrup in Quebec were sentenced on Friday to between two and eight years. Superior Court Justice Raymond Pronovost sentenced Richard Vallieres to eight years in prison, confiscated $606,500 from him and fined him another $9.4 million. Vallieres, who was convicted of theft, fraud and receiving stolen goods, will have to pay back the money over a 10-year period or risk having his sentence increased by six years. Read more: Men convicted in Quebec maple syrup theft should face stiff penalties, Crown says Maple syrup heist: Quebec police arrest three over massive warehouse theft The other two men, Raymond Vallieres and Etienne St-Pierre, were each sentenced to jail terms of two years minus one day, to be served in the community, as well as three years probation. Raymond Vallieres will be required to pay $9,840 within one year, or go to jail for six months, while St-Pierre must pay $1.3 million over 15 years or be imprisoned for five years. A fourth man charged in the case, Jean Lord, was acquitted. The sentencing proceedings took place in a courtroom in Trois-Rivieres, Que., 140 kilometres northeast of Montreal. Jurors found the three men guilty last November in connection with the theft of 2,700 tons of syrup worth $18 million from a warehouse in Quebec between August 2011 and July 2012. The case made international headlines after the sweet stuff was reported missing following a routine inventory check at a warehouse in Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, Que. An investigation was launched after the barrels of syrup were found to have been drained and replaced with water. Officers from the RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement helped Quebec police in the investigation. Read more about: SHARE: Mayor John Tory has accused Premier Kathleen Wynnes government of turning its back on Toronto following a budget announcement that provided no new money for social housing repairs and failed to match federal commitments for transit. The most crucial needs of the people of the city of Toronto were not met by this budget, Tory told reporters a day after the province released a balanced budget that was touted for new drug coverage and increases to child care. Premier Kathleen Wynne and her government had a chance to stand up for Toronto on transit and on housing. Instead, at least on the pages of this budget, they turned their backs. Read more: Ontario Liberals reject Mayor John Torys calls to match federal transit funding Tory flatly admitted that without provincial funding, the transit projects that council has designated as its top priorities wont be completed. The recent federal budget committed what city officials estimate will be between $4.5 billion and $5 billion to pay up to 40 per cent of the cost of new transit projects. The mayor had called on Queens Park to match the federal funding, but his hopes were dashed with Thursdays budget announcement. Lets be clear, without matching dollars from the province, the relief line cannot be built, Tory said. Waterfront transit will not be built. The Eglinton East LRT cannot be built. The province is already investing billions of dollars in Toronto transit, including the Eglinton Crosstown and Finch West LRTs, and an expansion of GO Transit service that supports the mayors SmartTrack plan. Tory acknowledged these previous commitments but asserted that decades of inaction on transit means that continuous investment from Queens Park is required. I dont think theres a single person you would find in the city of Toronto who would say we should just stop building transit now with the list of projects that we have and not bother going forward, he said. Tory also said the province had failed to come forward with desperately needed cash for social housing repairs that he expected the government to speak clearly and with conviction about the needs of those vulnerable residents. He was disappointed. Yes, the Government of Ontario has taken steps to cool our housing market and make things more affordable for those who can afford to buy, he said. But the province also owes something to those who rely on social housing for a roof over their heads a roof that past provincial governments built, failed to maintain, and then handed off to cities, especially Toronto. By the end of next year, Toronto Community Housing is planning to have closed 1,000 units if more funds arent secured. The budget for repairs in 2018 is currently $350 million short on cash, not including new federal funding committed, of which the details are still unknown. Many of the buildings were previously downloaded by the province with a decades-long repairs backlog and no money in reserves to make amends. I just dont think that people thought that, as the federal government finally came through the door to say were here to be part of transit and housing, that they expected to see the province on the way out the same door, kind of saying, Well, for the future, we dont really have any plans, Tory said. The mayor said he trusted Wynne understood Torontos needs, stopping short on Friday of blasting the premier for that inaction on the transit and housing files, after he had for months repeated that it would be a grave mistake for the province to do nothing in the wake of a reversal on allowing the city to toll its own expressways. Speaking later in the day to reporters at Thorncliffe Park, Wynne said she was disappointed in Torys analysis that the budget is shortchanging Toronto. When I look at the billions of dollars that we are investing in Torontowe have made a significant, significant investment, she said, citing LRT lines on Finch and Sheppard Aves., the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, the Scarborough subway extension, upgrades to Union Station, and plans to give the city an additional $170 million in annual gas tax revenue. I know that Mayor Tory is talking about well, what comes next. These are multi-year projects, she said. Wynne said her government is also very committed to both affordable and social housing, noting $130 million that can be used towards green energy retrofits, including for social housing. She did not address the ongoing request the province contribute a one-third share or $864 million for needed repairs to prevent the buildings from crumbling. Council has designated four transit projects as its top priorities: the relief line subway, Waterfront LRT lines, the Eglinton East LRT, and Torys SmartTrack plan. Together they will cost an estimated $13.6 billion. Although the city has agreed to pay for SmartTrack without a direct provincial contribution, the other projects are mostly unfunded and the lack of money for them in Thursdays budget leaves them in limbo. The shortfall for the $1.6-billion Eglinton East LRT in particular could prove politically problematic for Tory as it threatens to throw a wrench into the highly charged debate over Scarborough transit. Tory pitched the LRT, which would be an extension of the Crosstown to the University of Torontos Scarborough campus, as part of a package of Scarborough transit that includes the controversial one-stop subway extension to the Scarborough Town Centre. The mayor originally said that both lines could be paid for using a $3.56 billion in funding previously secured from all three levels of government. However, since he first floated the plan in January 2016, the cost of the subway extension has ballooned by over $1 billion to $3.35 billion, leaving no money for the LRT. Tory refused to concede that Scarborough could end up with just a single subway stop out of the plan, however, saying he would pressure Toronto Liberal MPPs to change the premiers mind. Im not going to go to the place that says, well its not going to get done any one of these, he said. Im determined to see it built because it is part of the plan for Scarborough. With files from Robert Benzie Read more about: SHARE: The TTC has temporarily taken all of its bendy buses off the road due to issues with unexpected acceleration. The elongated, accordion-like vehicles account for only 153 of the TTCs 1,900-bus fleet, and are used on just six routes: 7 Bathurst, 29 Dufferin, 36 Finch West, 85 Sheppard East, 53 Steeles Express and 41 Keele. But TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said all bus passengers should be prepared for their Friday morning commute to take longer than usual, as buses are pulled from other routes to shore up the gaps. We might be two or three buses short on a route, Ross told the Star. Were going to try to spread the pain out as much as possible so its minimal across the city. In a press release Thursday evening, Ross said the decision to ground their fleet of 18-metre buses was made after one of the vehicles experienced a full throttle during routine maintenance. Another bendy bus also called articulated buses went into unexpected acceleration while being driven back to the garage, Ross said. No passengers were on board at the time. The manufacturer of the buses, a Canadian subsidiary of Volvo Buses called Nova, was been notified and has come up with a solution to the problem, Ross said in the release. The fix, however, takes approximately 20 minutes to implement on each bus and, as such, the fleet will not be back to full capacity until at least Friday afternoon, Ross added. SHARE: RACINE A Racine man is facing charges after he allegedly caused the death of a 3-month-old infant earlier this month. According to the criminal complaint: Josue Santiago-Vazquez, 30, of the 1000 block of Park Avenue, is facing a felony charge of first- degree reckless homicide. At about 5:37 p.m. on April 11, police and rescue personnel responded to the 1000 block of Park Avenue for an infant who was reported to be not breathing. The infants father, later identified as Santiago-Vazquez, stated the infant had fallen and stopped breathing. The infant was initially transported to Ascension All Saints Hospital, where it was originally believed that the childs condition was due to natural causes. The next day, the infant was transported to Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa for more care. There, investigators spoke with a doctor who believed the infants condition was suspicious in nature. The doctor stated that the child had a severe subdural hematoma and retinal hemorrhaging, which is usually consistent with violent shaking or rapid and acceleration and deceleration, such as a childs head being slammed against a soft surface. The infant died from his injuries on April 16. After reviewing photos of the infant taken at about 2:29 p.m. April 11, the doctor determined the injury occurred between 2:29 p.m. and the time in which Santiago-Vazquez called 911. During that time period, Santiago-Vazquez was reportedly the primary caregiver of the child. When questioned at the Racine Police Department, Santiago-Vazquez asked to speak with his girlfriend, asking what he should do, to which his girlfriend allegedly replied that he should stick with his story, which officers reportedly found concerning because she did not tell him to tell the truth. Santiago-Vazquez remained in custody as of Friday afternoon at the County Jail, court records showed. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. Thursday at the county Law Enforcement Center. Moments come and moments go. Canada had a moment in 1967. The centennial year was a legendary time when we built grand buildings and infrastructure across the country, such as the Ontario Science Centre, though it ultimately opened in 1969. Likely one of those places you last went on a school trip, its worth a return visit. The building has had some unfortunate additions inside and out over the decades, but much of its brutalist concrete grace can still be felt. Designed by famed Toronto architect Raymond Moriyama, the Science Centre leaps over a ravine then crawls down into the Don Valley. For many visitors, it was likely the first experience of Torontos hidden topography, and Moriyamas design celebrates the contours of the valley itself. Read more: Torontos sci-fi love for the Gardiner: Micallef Subway relief the entire city can get behind: Micallef Jameson Ave. the kind of street we dont have enough of: Micallef It was fitting, then, that the Science Centre played host to a symposium last weekend put on by the Architectural Conservancy of Ontarios Toronto chapter that, in part, looked at the centennial legacy of Expo 67 and other building projects from that period. Back then, Ontario and Canada were thinking big and investing in all manner of modern projects that were seen as province and nation building efforts. In hindsight, not all were successful and some bulldozed parts of cities that shouldnt have been, but that spirit of creating new things seems intoxicating in retrospect. The 150th birthday of both Ontario and Canada this year has a much different sense to it: more of an introspective time for the country as it figures out what it means to be Canadian, coupled with an overdue reckoning with its colonial legacy. Yet Ontario is at a historic, once-in-a-lifetime moment again in terms of building things: theres money on the table for a number of massive transportation infrastructure projects, yet the opportunity is being squandered in some places. Certainly Cicero or Plato have a passage somewhere where they predict that Light Rail Transit (LRT) will be the final undoing of the social contract, ripping apart civil society. At least they would if they visited Hamilton recently. The provincial government has promised that city $1 billion to build an LRT from McMaster University, east through the downtown, connecting with the Hamilton GO centre and ending on the citys east side. Hamiltons got one of Canadas great and solid downtowns thats seeing a slow, hard-fought renaissance after decades of decline, and the city has been absorbing people moving from Toronto and elsewhere while new businesses are opening up. Its an exciting place, and the kind of place where an LRT line seems natural. Instead, its become one of the most divisive political issues in recent years. The Hamilton Spectator even shut down comments on an LRT story because they were more vicious than the usual viciousness of newspaper comment sections, and one Hamilton city councillor even said if the city rejected the $1 billion it would be a kick in the groin. After endless debates, this week city council voted to move ahead with the LRT, though theres still a chance it could be cancelled next year. Is it because we have so much space in Ontario that transportation issues are so politicized? Is it holding onto the dream of the car, even though an LRT wont prevent driving? Resistance to change? Perhaps its all three. Much has been made of younger people opting for generally car-free lives, preferring to live in walkable, dense communities rather than the suburbs. A poll commissioned by some Hamilton councillors this month showed LRT support is highest among younger people and drops lower as age increases. Much like Brexit in the UK, its easy to interpret the young looking towards the future with older folks searching for some past glory. The glory, though, is downtown Hamilton. LRT, as a higher order of transit, is a statement that what civil society invested in over the last decades or even centuries is worthy of reinvestment. LRT has brought prosperity and life back to places that need a kick-start, and the laying down of permanent tracks is a message of long-term commitment to a place. Its deeply ironic that Hamiltons public bus agency is still called the Hamilton Street Railway, as it ran streetcars from the Victorian era until the 1950s. Much of solid, downtown Hamilton is a legacy of those rails. Some parts of Ontario have embraced this kind of re-investment. Kitchener-Waterloo opted to connect its two downtowns and beyond with an LRT set to open next year, and Ottawa is expanding its O-Train with a new line. Mississauga is also forging ahead with an LRT project along Hurontario St. too. However, Brampton city council rejected a plan that would have connected its own downtown to Mississaugas with an LRT line on Main St., losing out on provincial cash just as Hamilton will if it ultimately rejects the LRT plan and instead rerouting the line into an industrial area where few people live, missing out on all the spin off benefits LRT brings. Even Bramptonian Bill Davis, Ontarios premier from 1971-1985, came out against the Main St. plan, helping kill it. That was a surprise, considering Davis was part of the think big era of Ontario and a respected elder statesperson today. Yet at age 87, his forward thinking days seem over, out of tune with the younger generation he once championed and the spirit of the era he came to power in. Theres a real sadness to debates like Hamiltons. Transit connects people, physically and socially, and though not branded as such could be a worthwhile Canada 150 project that reinvests in what weve already spent considerable effort building: our cities. Alas, Ontario seems to have lost the forward thinking ambition it had in 1967. Shawn Micallef writes every Saturday about where and how we live in the GTA. Wander the streets with him on Twitter @shawnmicallef SHARE: Fyre Festival, a luxurious music festival in the Bahamas, has been fully postponed after festival-goers reported a disorganized and chaotic event that left many guests stranded at the music site. After assessing the situation this morning and looking at best options for our guests, we cannot move forward as we hoped we could, festival organizers tweeted Friday morning. The Instagram-worthy event was organized by rapper Ja Rule and was due to feature headlining performances by Blink-182, Skepta and Rae Sremmurd. With entry fees costing between $4,000 to $12,000, the festival was advertised on social media by models, including Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski, as a glamorous party where guests would be flown to an island purportedly once owned by infamous drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, and provided with luxurious meals and accommodation. However, to the disappointment of the ticket holders, the festival turned out to be everything but glamorous. When they arrived at the festival site in Exuma, guests said they found a dire, unfinished campsite. They described their luxury accommodations as disaster relief tents, many still un-built. Baggage arrived in a shipping container. For dinner, they were served bread, cold cuts, cheese slices, and a side salad in a styrofoam box. Some also took to social media to express their frustrations, including a reported lack of beer. Marquee names such as Pusha T, Major Lazer, Disclosure, and Migos were scheduled to play. However, in the weeks leading up to the festival date, organizers allegedly missed payment deadlines to artists and were scrambling to pay the acts in full, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.After hearing reports of the lack of organization, Blink-182 cancelled their performance on Thursday. Were not confident that we would have what we need to give you the quality of performances we always give our fans, the band stated in a tweet. The event, which was supposed to last two weekends, was eventually cancelled by organizers on Friday. Those in attendance had reported delayed flights leaving, among other complaints. We are extremely disappointed in the way the events unfolded yesterday with the Fyre Festival, the Bahamian government tweeted. Festival organizers are currently in the process of flying their guests back home. At this time, we are working tirelessly to get flights scheduled and get all travelers home safely, they said. It is still unclear whether or not tickets for the event will be refunded. The festival promised the culture experience of the decade in a tropical wonderland of yachts, villas, and gourmet cuisine. Ticket prices went into five-figures for special VIP treatment, though general admission packages were available starting from $1,200. Blink-182 cancelled just before the event, citing concerns the band wouldnt have what we need to give a quality performance. The event was organized by rapper Ja Rule and entrepreneur Billy McFarland, who is also the founder and chief executive of Magnises, a social club for elite millennials. According to a report by Business Insider, some members of that enterprise claimed last-minute trip cancellations, scheduling failures, and unwanted charges on their cards. The festivals namesake is Fyre Media, a talent-booking startup founded by the Ja Rule and McFarland in 2015. After hours of silence, the rapper responded to the festivals failure on Friday on Twitter, stating: We are working right now on getting everyone [off] the island SAFE that is my immediate concern, he wrote. I will make a statement soon. Im heartbroken at this moment, my partners and I wanted this to be an amazing event. It was NOT A SCAM as everyone is reporting. I dont know how everything went so left but Im working to make it right by making sure everyone is refunded I truly apologize as this is NOT MY FAULT but Im taking responsibility. Im deeply sorry to everyone who was inconvenienced by this. According to Dylan Caccamesi, who paid about $1,200 to attend, organizers asked those seeking refunds to write their names, email addresses, and phone numbers on pieces of computer paper. He signed the paper in the hope that it would help guarantee a refund. Im not sure what the intent was, the 22-year-old from New Jersey said in a phone interview from the Bahamas. We still have to get a hold of them. Caccamesi said an email was also sent by the festival promising a refund, citing unforeseen circumstances, but detailed information has yet to be provided. I havent been on a vacation in a while. I was like, Ill be living luxurious! It was supposed to be good for like, high class youth. A higher expectations festival, he said. If he doesnt receive a refund, Caccamesi doesnt anticipate hell go the legal route. Instead, he plans to lobby his banking provider to issue a chargeback. However, he added that among the well-heeled festival attendees, there has been talk of a class action. In the meantime Caccamesi is trying to make the best of a bad situation. We have no idea whats going on, he said. Were just sitting on the beach getting wasted. With files from Bloomberg SHARE: Two days, two Nobel peace laureates. Only one got the press, although the other matter was pressing. One day after Malala Yousafzai addressed Parliament as an honorary Canadian, Nobel peace laureate Leymah Gbowee from Liberia and Canadian-Iraqi peace activist Yanar Mohammed met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. They were petitioning him for a small amount of money $5 million on behalf of two NGOs that launched Canadian Feminist Action Lab, a pilot project attempting to change how foreign aid is delivered to support women who are driving change. Was Trudeau positive, polite and respectful? Yes, said Mohammed. He listened to me to the end and said he was honoured to be in our presence. Thats a start. Did he commit anything? No. Or, not yet, if you are the hopeful sort. Their need was urgent because the NGOs in question The Match International Womens Fund and Nobel Womens Initiative say that out of $562 million gender-based funding provided by Canada, grassroots womens organizations received only $1.7 million, or less than half a percentage point. This matters because when bombs fall, large aid agencies the ones that get the bulk of the money are not on the scene, leaving grassroots NGOs the ones getting very little to tackle the injured, the orphaned, the impoverished, the violated. This matters also because those dropping the bombs or supporting it are often us or our allies, but when it comes time to take in those who seek refuge from the violence, many of us and our allies rush to shut our doors. Helping grassroots organizations would help contain the flow of refugees. Women have become the invisible victims (of war), says Mohammed. ISIS has brought Iraqi women to modern-day sex enslavement. Women, already second-class citizens under extremist governments and extremist religious oppositions, are victimized multiple times in war. If a woman is made destitute because her family has been killed, or if she has been raped and manages to return home, she becomes disreputable and risks being re-victimized by honour killing. The Iraqi government does not have an agenda for them, Mohammed says. It lacks the humane and feminist agenda. We know for sure women and children are escaping (Daesh) on foot and in order to they have to cross a mountain Having walked on minefields, they come in terrible conditions. Mohammed began to help women after the war on Iraq in 2003, she says. All she could offer then were a couple of rooms as shelter. Dividing her time between Toronto and Iraq, she went on to found the Organisation of Womens Freedom in Iraq (OWFI). With help from Dutch and Norwegian governments, she now has 10 shelters for women fleeing violence. Her organization has helped some 500 women, she estimates. Obviously, thats not sufficient. This is where the Canadian Feminist Action Lab would step in. Large development agencies typically liaise with governments, which typically dismiss women-led local agencies like Mohammeds. The pilot project would identify 150 grassroots organizations around the world and give them modest grants. (150 to honour Canadas 150th anniversary.) Womens rights groups innovate, hold governments accountable and build peace, the two NGOs involved with the lab project say. They remain underfunded most womens organizations in the world have budgets of less than $25,000. Women human rights defenders are often at odds with their governments because they are demanding rights, said Liz Bernstein of the Nobel Womens Initiative. We want to give them the support to lead their own initiatives and issues that are important to them in the spirit of partnership rather than seeing them as beneficiaries or rather than seeing them as a charity. Not using money to impose a Western, outsider agenda on local issues is a progressive, non-imperialistic approach with the potential to be most effective. It doesnt involve a whole new bureaucracy, Bernstein says, and given the lower overhead costs, the majority of the funds will directly provide aid. Its encouraging to have a prime minister who says he is not shy about being a feminist. Trudeaus 10-second Snapchat tutorial to men on how to be better feminists (dont interrupt women) is also on point and highly shareable. But to be more than Mr. Feminism Clickbait, he needs to make specific commitments. To be a global leader who stands for more than photo-op feminism, he needs to articulate and back up a feminist foreign agenda, one that would steer away from military intervention, facilitate the participation of women in peace missions and peace talks and empower women in disaster zones. For Mohammed, the meeting with Trudeau came as a validation after her struggle for official acknowledgement as a messenger of peace. I was happy to be Canadian when Jean Chretien said No to joining the (Iraq) war (in 2003), she says. I will be happy again if Trudeau decides to dedicate funds to women around the world. Oxfams 2017 Feminist Scorecard View document on Scribd ShreeParadkar tackles issues of race and gender. You can follow her @shreeparadkar SHARE: You can hear the bass from the sidewalk, but its not until you walk up Central Technical Schools front steps, through the small lobby and into the auditorium that the EDM beats really hit you. The scenery matches the sound: a crowd consisting mainly of mid-20 to early 30-somethings is filtering in as lighting rigs project ever-moving, abstract designs onto the ceiling. Theres also a huge screen in the middle of the stage playing a countdown superimposed on what looks like slow-motion concert footage an out-of-focus stage, people waving their hands in the air, a laser show That is, until the reel switches to a shot of a woman with her arms crossed across her chest being dunked backwards into a giant metal tub of water, looking positively euphoric as she resurfaces from the waters. And as the timer runs down, the EDM (electronic dance music) fades out, replaced with a live nine-piece Christian pop-rock band that kicks off the Sunday morning church service with a 20-minute-long set. Welcome to the Toronto branch of the Christian City Church, better known as C3 - church led by, and made for, the young, progressive downtown resident in 2017. I think that, without sounding judgmental sometimes the presentation of religion can be tailored more towards irrelevance, C3 pastor Sam Picken, 32, told the Star in an interview. I think it seems like (Jesus is) un-relatable because we picture him in his surroundings, in his context from back in the day, but if he was alive today, I would think that he would have an Instagram account, I think he would wear similar clothes to what we wear, I think he would hang out at Trinity-Bellwoods and hed probably drink coffee from many of the cafes that we go to today What we try and do at C3 is talk about the Bible and talk about Jesus and make the (services) relatable and real. C3 identifies itself as a movement that, according to its website has more than 450 churches in 64 countries. It was founded by couple Phil and Chris Pringle back in 1980, who were living in a hippie commune in New Zealand when they happened upon a small Pentecostal church where they were radically saved and set free. From there, they moved to the Northern Beaches area of Sydney where they established what would eventually become C3. C3s dressed-down approach to Sunday services Picken delivers his sermons wearing skinny jeans and t-shirts and its active presence on social media appears to have struck a chord: in the five years since it set up in Toronto, its congregation, made mostly of millennials, has grown from eight to a steady 800 (it has to hold two Sunday services at Central Tech to accommodate everyone), and 1,100 people attended its 2017 Easter Sunday service. Kwesi Thomas, 21, is one of the newer members of the congregation. He began attending Sunday services about four months ago, and, on the Sunday the Star visited, was among the dozen or so people baptized on stage wearing black t-shirts with #AllIn emblazoned across the chest. I think theres a lot of cool young people here, so that just being the case, you attract people that you like, he said. Its like a social club, but theres some substance to it, its not just a party. Theres something significant (and) interesting young people can do together, so its cool. Churches using technology to stay relevant isnt new, said Joel Thiessen, professor of sociology at Calgarys Ambrose University and director of its Flourishing Congregations Institute. You can go back to the early and mid 20th century and (see churches) using the radio, for example, to engage listeners and the audience, and then when television came into existence, you see this proliferation of televangelists on TV, Thiessen said, adding that evangelical traditions, in particular, have always been innovative, creative, entrepreneurial. But even with the growth seen by churches like C3, it probably isnt enough to reverse the overall decline on the number of people who identify as Christians, Thiessen said. I think the overarching narrative is, we will continue to see fewer and fewer Canadians who identify, who believe, who belong or behave in ways that align with Christianity moving forward, and all these other things, where there are signs of life and vitality, are just that, Thiessen said. They are pockets overall, I think the trends are moving in that secular direction. Statistics back him up: about 67 per cent of Canadians self-identified as Christians in the 2011 National Household Survey, the most recent year for which statistics are available, compared to 77 per cent of the population in the 2001 Census. But Pastor Picken said the numbers dont worry him. I think what were seeing is evidence that people are passionate about their faith and about Christianity and hopefully, were going to see those trends change, he said. Theres also more to C3 than its flashy, modern surface, said Desirae Cronsberry, 25. Cronsberry, who found out about C3 on Instagram and was also baptized on April 23, said it was the community that keeps her coming back. In C3, they take you as you are but they love you enough that theyre not going to keep you like that, Cronsberry, who was raised Christian, said after the service. Theyre going to encourage you to go out and change in a way that Ive never experienced in another church. So you walk into C3 and you can meet five to 10 people on any given Sunday and they genuinely care about your life and what youre going through and celebrating with you. Colin Weidelich, 33, a C3 regular for two years now, agreed. Its full of people that would be labeled by society as cool, but its also filled with people that would be outcasts, Weidelich said. I think that this is a place where everybody is welcome whether youre wearing ripped jeans or not. Youre welcome here on a Sunday. SHARE: PARISOnce again, allegations of Holocaust denial have landed on the doorstep of Frances far-right National Front. When Marine Le Pen stepped down on Tuesday as the head of Frances far-right extremist party in what analysts described as a calculated move to broaden her appeal before the final round of Frances presidential election she ultimately left the party under the control of Jean-Francois Jalkh, now serving as its interim president. But Jalkh has something of a past. In a string of on-the-record remarks he made in 2000, he was recorded on tape saying that it was impossible that the Nazis used Zyklon B, the infamous poison gas selected to murder millions of Jews and others in concentration camps during World War II. Me, I consider that from a technical point of view its impossible, I say impossible to use it in . . . mass exterminations, he said in the interview, a transcript of which was first unearthed by a journalist with Frances La Croix newspaper on Wednesday. Why? Jalkh asked. Because it takes several days before decontaminating a room . . . where Zyklon B was used. Read more: French presidential candidate Le Pen steps down as head of National Front party According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), the Nazis judged Zyklon B pellets which became lethal when exposed to air as the fastest and most efficient means of mass murder. At Auschwitz, for instance, the substance was used to gas as many as 6,000 Jews each day. Jalkh made these remarks in April 2000, during an interview he granted to Magali Boumaza, a political scientist who wrote a thesis on the history of the National Front and who is now a professor at a university in Istanbul. On Thursday, however, Jalkh denied making the comments. Its the first time Ive heard that kind of [b-------], I have no memory of it, he told Le Monde newspaper. Maybe I gave an interview, but these are not my favourite subjects. Its possible that I saw these people on April 14, 2000, he said, but the students who come to talk about Zyklon B I see them coming. Boumaza did not respond to a request for comment. But she confirmed to BuzzFeed France on Thursday that she had recorded the meeting, which lasted three hours. This revisionist digression, she told BuzzFeed, lasted two or three minutes at the most. The words were translated as they were. The National Front did not respond to request for comment on Thursday. Despite Le Pens painstaking attempt to de-demonize the party her father helped found, the National Front continues to struggle fighting off an association with anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial, the largest skeleton in a considerably cavernous closet. It was the infamous remark of Jean-Marie Le Pen, 88 that the Nazi gas chambers were a detail of history that landed the National Front in the political wilderness for decades. Despite being convicted by a German court in 1999 for denying the Holocaust, the senior Le Pen continued to make controversial and anti-Semitic statements. But after he proceeded to repeat the detail remark, Marine Le Pen expelled her father from the party in 2015, as the party tried to regain legitimacy. But early last month, another local party official in the south of France was caught on camera speaking even more explicitly. There werent 6 million, he said, referring to the estimated number of Jews murdered in the Holocaust. There werent mass murders as its been said. Read more: Marine Le Pen criticized for denying Frances role in Holocaust Later in the month, Marine Le Pen herself who has made an attempt to reach out to Jewish groups in recent years to burnish the partys image declared on national television that Frances wartime complicity with Nazi Germany was somehow not the fault of the French. For Le Pen, the Paris roundup of 13,000 Jews in July 1942 carried out by French police was not France. I think that in general, more generally, if there were those responsible, it was those who were in power at the time, she said. Le Pen will face off against the independent candidate Emmanuel Macron in the final round of the French presidential election on May 7. Read more about: SHARE: NEW YORKIn a park amid skyscrapers, a gem has emerged: a posh public bathroom that cost nearly $300,000, complete with freshly delivered flowers, imported tiles, classical music and artwork. The free-of-charge, air-conditioned splendour, inspired by visits to the city's priciest hotels, is open to everyone. More than 1 million people a year are expected to use the facility, park officials said. On Thursday, two bathroom attendants held toilet tissue that a park official cut as the inaugural ribbon for the high-tech facility housed in a landmarked Beaux Arts building behind the New York Public Library in Manhattan. The toilets, in 310 square feet divided between the women's and men's sides, are reopening after a three-month renovation. The eye-popping, LED-illuminated elegance is unusual in a city where public toilets are scarce and generally grungy. "It's very clean, and the flowers are alive," said Irena Marentic, a tourist from Slovenia, as she left the space, whose walls and floors are lined with tiles from Spain and Italy and adorned with art created by Bryant Park's painters-in-residence. The women's side has three toilet stalls, while the men's side has two stalls and three urinals, the same number as before the renovation. The facility can't be expanded because the space surrounding it is considered a scenic landmark. The public luxury was funded privately by the Bryant Park Corp., a not-for-profit that manages the city-owned park and works to improve business in the neighbourhood, which includes Fifth Avenue. "We strive for perfection and only settle for excellence," declared Dan Biederman, the executive director of the Bryant Park Corp. The team behind the new posh public bathroom visited the Waldorf Astoria and other luxury hotels for inspiration. A few out-of-town companies provided donations not included in the facility's $280,000 cost. The Japanese luxury brand Toto contributed self-flushing, energy-saving toilets and hands-free faucets and wash basins. Brill Hygienic Products Inc., of Delray Beach, Florida, supplied sanitary, electronic seat covers that rotate with each use. Attendants with mops keep everything clean from 7 a.m. until midnight during the warm months and until 10 p.m. the rest of the year. By park rules, no tips are allowed. The bathroom is most often used by visitors to the leafy, grassy refuge of Bryant Park, which draws them with its seasonal attractions including a skating rink in winter, holiday shops, outdoor movies on summer nights and tables and chairs. The park went through a makeover some years ago after decades of urban decay and crime that spilled into the bathroom, which was closed for years and reopened only in the 1990s. With the improvement of the park, the number of visitors has increased. So, too, has the daily use of the toilets, from an average of 1,800 in 2013 to 3,300 last year, or 1.2 million a year, park officials said. On the women's side, the wait could be as long as 20 minutes. On Thursday, with the line growing, park workers directed people to the massive library building and more public toilets, though not quite as fancy. SHARE: LITTLE ROCK, ARK.Arkansas' governor said Friday that he sees no reason for anything beyond a routine review of the state's execution procedures after a condemned inmate lurched and convulsed 20 times during a lethal injection that involved a controversial sedative. Attorneys for Kenneth Williams called for a full investigation after Williams became the fourth convicted killer executed in Arkansas in eight days as the state sought to carry out as many lethal injections as possible before its supply of midazolam expires. "I think it's totally unjustified," Gov. Asa Hutchinson told reporters when asked about the possibility of an independent probe. "You don't call for an independent investigation unless there's some reason for it. Last night, one of the goals was there not be any indications of pain by the inmate, and that's what I believe is the case." A federal judge on Friday granted a request from Williams' attorneys to preserve evidence from the dead inmate's body, ordering the state to collect blood and tissue samples as well as request an autopsy from the state medical examiner. Hutchinson said Williams' execution will be reviewed by the Department of Correction, which is typical any time an inmate is put to death. He said a written report would not be issued. The governor said he does not think Arkansas needs to change its execution protocol, citing court rulings that have upheld the use of midazolam, which has also been used in flawed executions in other states. But he has not ordered prison officials to find a replacement for Arkansas' supply of the drug, which expires Sunday. An Associated Press reporter who witnessed the execution said that about three minutes in, Williams' body jerked 15 times in quick succession, lurching violently against the leather restraint across his chest. Then the rate slowed for a final five movements. Read more: Arkansas awaits word from Supreme Court on latest planned execution Arkansas carries out first execution in nearly 12 years despite legal challenges Two men executed in Arkansas on same gurney, hours apart Hutchinson said Arkansas Department of Correction Director Wendy Kelley described Williams' movement as "coughing without noise," though media witnesses described hearing sounds from the inmate. Arkansas executed its fourth inmate in eight days, ending an unprecedented lethal injection schedule set by the governor who called for the back-to-back executions because a drug used in the lethal injections is set to expire at the end of April. Williams' attorneys released a statement calling the witness accounts "horrifying." The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas also called for an investigation, arguing that the state may have violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. In a statement Friday, the organization's executive director, Rita Sklar, said the governor had "ignored the dangers ... all to beat the expiration date on a failed drug." Arkansas had planned eight executions over an 11-day period, the most ambitious schedule since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. But courts issued stays for four of the inmates. The four lethal injections that were carried out included Monday's first double execution in the U.S. since 2000. Williams read a prepared final statement and also spoke in tongues, the unintelligible speech used in some religions. But his prayer faded off as the midazolam took effect. The inmate breathed heavily through his nose until just after three minutes into his execution, when his chest leaped forward in a series of what seemed like involuntary movements. His right hand never clenched, and his face remained what one media witness called "serene." After the jerking, Williams breathed through his mouth and moaned or groaned once during a consciousness check until falling still seven minutes after the lethal injection. In a log of Williams' final hours that the state filed in federal court Friday, prison officials said it took 17 minutes to connect the inmate's IV lines. The log said Williams' hands remained relaxed and he did not grimace or show distress on his face during the movement. The state's court filing also included affidavits from two witnesses who said they did not see any signs of pain or suffering. "I saw an efficient, effective execution process," state Sen. Trent Garner said. Williams was sentenced to death for killing a former deputy warden, Cecil Boren, after he escaped from prison in 1999. At the time of his escape in a 500-gallon barrel of hog slop, Williams was less than three weeks into a life term for the death of a college cheerleader. A doctor who has been described by inmates' attorneys as an expert on the potential dangers of midazolam said Williams' movements raised concerns. "It was either a seizure that was predictable based upon Mr. Williams' coexisting medical conditions or partial paralysis in an execution where the protocol itself was not followed," said Dr. Joel Zivot, an associate professor of anesthesiology and surgery at Emory University. "Or, more to the point, even if the protocol was followed, the protocol was fundamentally flawed." Williams' lawyers had said he had sickle-cell trait, lupus and brain damage, and argued that the combined maladies could subject him to an exceptionally painful execution in violation of the Constitution. The state argued in a court filing Friday that there's no proof that Williams suffered. Arkansas becomes the first U.S. state in 17 years to execute two people in the same day on Monday, as death row inmates Jack Jones and Marcel Williams are given the lethal injection. "The drugs worked as intended and planned," the court filing said. Some concerns had been raised about Monday's execution of Jack Jones, whose mouth moved after attorneys said he should have been unconscious, though a federal judge determined it did not appear to be "torturous and inhumane." All of the Arkansas inmates including Williams died within 20 minutes, a contrast from troubled midazolam-related executions in other states that took from 43 minutes to two hours. Witnesses to those lengthier executions also described hearing inmates breathe heavily, snore or snort or seeing them struggle against their restraints. SHARE: WASHINGTONEven though he named Michael Flynn to be his top national security aide, President Donald Trump on Friday laid the blame for any flaws in Flynn's vetting at the feet of his predecessor. In an interview airing Friday evening on Fox News Channel's The First 100 Days, Trump tried to deflect recent criticism of his decision to appoint Flynn as national security adviser despite Flynn's past lobbying on behalf of Turkish government interests and his acceptance of tens of thousands of dollars from a Russian state-sponsored television network. "When they say we didn't vet, well Obama I guess didn't vet, because he was approved at the highest level of security by the Obama administration," Trump said, referring to the previous administration's approval of Flynn's security clearance. Read the latest on U.S. President Donald Trump "So when he came into our administration, for a short period of time, he came in, he was already approved by the Obama administration and he had years left on that approval," Trump added. President Barack Obama fired Flynn from his post as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014, but Flynn maintained a security clearance that was reissued in January 2016. Trump appointed Flynn as national security adviser in January. He forced him to step down in February, saying Flynn had misled senior administration officials, including the vice-president, about his contacts with Russian officials. Trump's comments echoed the defence advanced by his press secretary Sean Spicer on Thursday, as the Pentagon's watchdog confirmed it was investigating Flynn, a retired U.S. army lieutenant-general, over whether he failed to get U.S. government approval to receive foreign payments. Among those payments was more than $33,000 from the RT television network, which U.S. intelligence officials have branded as propaganda front for Russia's government. The network paid Flynn for attending a gala in Moscow. At the event, Flynn was seated next to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Read more: Trumps former national security adviser was warned not to accept foreign government money. He did it anyway Earlier this week, the top Republican and Democrat on a House oversight committee said they believe Flynn broke federal law by failing to get permission to accept foreign payments and failing to disclose the payments after he received them. Flynns attorney Robert Kelner has defended his client by saying that Flynn did disclose the Moscow trip itself in briefings with the DIA, which is a component of the Defence Department. Kelner said those briefings occurred before Flynn left on the trip and after he returned, citing them as evidence that Flynn was forthcoming. Even though he may have disclosed the trip, both the House committee and the U.S. army have said they have found no evidence that he disclosed the payments or receive permission to accept them. In addition to the committee, the Defence Department's inspector general and the Army are scrutinizing the Russia-linked payments as well as Flynn's share of more than $530,000 worth of foreign agent work he did for a Turkish businessman. Flynn acknowledged in a filing with the Justice Department last month that his work investigating a Turkish cleric could have principally benefited Turkey's government. On Friday, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform faulted the Trump administration for blaming Obama. "The White House had its own responsibility to fully vet General Flynn since new information became public during the transition well after General Flynn's last background check about his lobbying on behalf of foreign interests," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. "The White House needs to stop making excuses to protect General Flynn." In addition to the scrutiny of his foreign payments, Flynn's foreign contacts are being examined as part of the wider inquiries into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign. He has been interviewed by the FBI, which is investigating Trump associates' contacts with Russia, and he is being probed by the House and Senate intelligence committees. Read more about: SHARE: LONDONBritish police said Friday they had disrupted an active terror plot with raids in London and southeastern England. One woman was shot and seriously wounded as heavily armed counterterrorism officers stormed a house in a residential London street. Six suspects were arrested on terrorism-related charges, police said. The injured woman, who is in her 20s, was in serious but stable condition in a hospital. The woman, whose name hasnt been released, was under police guard but had not been arrested because of her condition, police said. Armed officers fired CS gas into the house in the Willesden area of northwest London, which had been under observation as part of an anti-terrorism investigation, Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said. He didnt give details of how the woman was shot. In footage shot by a witness, what sounds like several shots ring out as police surround the house. Neighbour Maxine McKenzie said she saw a lot of frenetic police activity and a woman being taken out of the house on a stretcher. She was sitting upright and had oxygen on I couldnt tell if she was conscious or unconscious, McKenzie said. Read more: U.K. police arrest man with knives near Parliament on suspicion of terrorism Car and knife rampage at U.K. Parliament kills 5, injures 40 Before U.K. Parliament violence, a timeline of other attacks on Britain Police said the raids werent connected to an arrest by counterterrorism police near Parliament on Thursday afternoon. A man was detained near the Houses Parliament and the prime ministers office in Downing Street while allegedly carrying large knives in a backpack. Police said the 27-year-old had been under surveillance. A security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to speak about the investigation, named him as Khalid Mohamed Omar Ali. British media said he grew up in London. He was arrested yards from where an attacker drove an SUV into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge on March 22, killing four, before fatally stabbing a police officer inside Parliaments gates. Basu said the Willesden raid disrupted an ongoing plot, but did not elaborate. In both the Willesden and Parliament incidents, we have contained the threat that they posed, Basu said. Britains official threat from international terrorism stands at the second-highest level, severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. Counterterrorism police say 13 potential attacks have been foiled in the last four years. Police and security services say they face a challenge monitoring hundreds of people of interest, including Britons who went to join Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, militants in Iraq and Syria and have returned. Basu, Britains senior co-ordinator for counterterrorism policing, said there had been increased activity to combat terrorism over the last two years, with police making arrests on a near-daily basis. In 2016, British police arrested 260 people on suspicion of terrorism offences, 96 of whom were charged In Thursdays raids, a 20-year old woman and a 16-year-old boy were arrested at the address where the woman was shot, as was a 20-year-old man nearby. A man and a woman, both aged 28, were arrested when they returned to the house later. A 43-year-old woman in Kent county, southeast of London, was also arrested. Police said the suspects were being held on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. They were being questioned but had not been charged. Ryan ODonnell, who saw the Willesden raid, said it was a bit shocking to see police wearing big gas masks and holding guns and stuff. Things are pretty much always going on around northwest London, something criminal, so I didnt think it was terrorism at the time, he said. I thought maybe it is guns or something, or drugs or something. But (it) makes sense why they needed such a force. SHARE: WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trump was set to announce Saturday, on the 100th day of his presidency, that he was withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Agreement the sort of disruptive proclamation that would upend both global and domestic politics and signal to his base that he was keeping his campaign promise to terminate what he once called a total disaster and one of the worst deals ever. I was all set to terminate, Trump said in an Oval Office interview Thursday night. I looked forward to terminating. I was going to do it. There was just one problem: Trumps team like on so many issues was deeply divided. Heres everything important thats happened in Trumps first 100 days As news of the presidents plan reached Ottawa and Mexico City in the middle of the week and rattled the markets and Congress, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and others huddled in meetings with Trump, urging him not to sign a document triggering a U.S. withdrawal from NAFTA. Perdue even brought along a prop to the Oval Office: A map of the United States that illustrated the areas that would be hardest hit, particularly from agriculture and manufacturing losses, and highlighting that many of those states and counties were Trump country communities that had voted for the president in November. It shows that I do have a very big farmer base, which is good, Trump recalled. They like Trump, but I like them, and Im going to help them. By Wednesday night, Trump who spent nearly two years as a candidate railing against the trade agreement had backed down, saying that conversations with advisers and phone calls with the leaders of Canada and Mexico had persuaded him to reconsider. Recalling his late Wednesday conversation with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Trump said, He said to me, I would really appreciate if we could negotiate instead of you terminating, because terminating sets a lot of things in motion that could be pretty devastating for a lot of people. Trumps declaration to withdraw from NAFTA, followed by his abrupt turnabout, was the latest in a series of abrupt policy shifts and outright reversals in the frenzied lead-up to his 100th day in office, reflecting a president desperate to notch tangible victories and to offer the impression of forward momentum. It was also another example of the inherent tension between the fiery populist, who ran on a promise to upend Washington, and the pragmatic businessman, who is eager to score wins and is easily influenced by a cadre of chief executive friends and top advisers, many with Wall Street pedigrees. Trump announced that he was not labelling China a currency manipulator, after months of promising to do so on Day One of his presidency. And he declared NATO no longer obsolete, after months of saying it was. He threatened to shut down the government over the border wall, only to retreat on funding for an actual brick-and-mortar structure. And he tasked his team with drafting a complex overhaul of the nations tax code only to suddenly announce, surprising even his own aides and advisers, that he expected a proposal to be rolled out within days. In some ways, as Trump nears the 100-day mark of his presidency, he is arguably beginning to find his footing, concentrating on core issues that have always animated him (trade) and others that captivate his business side (taxes). By refocusing on questions of trade and the economy, Trump has returned to more familiar and comfortable territory the nationalistic populism that has defined him since the 1980s. The president has put himself in a perfect position on NAFTA because folks know hes inclined (to be) negative on NAFTA, yet hes open to negotiating, said Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. Its a good spot to be. The leverage is all with the president. Unlike his first failed attempt at passing a Republican replacement for President Barack Obamas health-care law, Trump and his team are directing as much activity as possible from within the West Wing, relying on executive orders rather than the more unwieldy but durable process of legislation. But the approach has worried and alienated many of his closest allies, on Capitol Hill, on K Street and abroad. And it has showcased a president who often seems more interested in short-term accomplishments and positive cable news headlines than longer-term policy goals guided by ideology, and who can be swayed by unfolding events or compelling arguments from whomever he talks to last. I think theyre just going to act whenever they can on executive action, said Chris Ruddy, the chief executive of Newsmax, a conservative media company, and a longtime friend of Trumps. The problem is its very temporary, but he wants to get things done, and trade has always been one of his big issues. Trump, Ruddy added, is a business guy. He thinks that America gets a bad part of these deals, and he wants to renegotiate them. Trumps 100-day regrets With Saturdays 100-day marker fast approaching, and eager for a win, the president turned his attention to taxes. Trump had privately groused that he wished he had tackled taxes before trying to push through health care, a view magnified by some outside friends and confidants. Even something more modest than the full overhaul for which he hoped, such as cutting corporate tax rates, they said, would provide the president and his base with an energizing triumph. But it was an April 19 op-ed in the New York Times, titled Why Are Republicans Making Tax Reform So Hard? and penned by Steve Forbes, Larry Kudlow, Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore, that helped propel Trump to act. The op-ed, written by conservatives who have strong influence within the White House, said an overhaul of the tax code would give Trump a much-needed legislative victory and complained that the White House seems to be all over the map on the subject. It called on the administration to move quickly on a tax proposal, not to overthink it and to push forward with some degree of urgency. Trump saw the op-ed right as he was becoming restless with the success of his economic agenda. The White House rushed to engage the op-eds authors and reassure the economic conservatives who have privately complained about Trumps nationalistic streak on trade and the lack of action of taxes. When Kudlow and Moore gathered a group of conservatives Tuesday evening at Cafe Berlin, a white-tablecloth German restaurant on Capitol Hill, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stopped by, even though he was not scheduled to attend. We texted him and said, Come by if youd like, Kudlow said. Well, he did, and he spoke for two or three minutes and took questions. Everyone looked around and said, This is the Steve we knew during the campaign, Kudlow added, referring to Mnuchins enthusiasm for sweeping tax cuts. The White House unveils U.S. President Donald Trump's tax plan on Apr. 26, 2017, which would slash the U.S. tax rate on business profits to 15 per cent, while also offering tax cuts to average Americans. (The Associated Press) On April 21, two days after the op-ed ran, Trump announced in an interview with the Associated Press that his advisers would be releasing a tax plan by the following Wednesday, or shortly thereafter. The 19 strangest things Donald Trump said in his surreal interview with the Associated Press Some aides working on the plan were stunned, caught unaware of the expedited timeline. Still, they reasoned, maybe shortly thereafter meant they could unveil the plan a week or two later. But hours after the AP interview, during an appearance at the Treasury Department, Trump stood beside Mnuchin and told reporters that the tax plan would come out Wednesday. The proposal unveiled that day offered some specifics cutting the corporate tax rate to 15 per cent and collapsing seven tax brackets down into three but was vague in other areas, including just how the government would pay for it. Critics seized on the one-page printout the White House distributed Wednesday with details of the tax plan as the flimsy embodiment of its lack of depth. It was a restatement of bullet points that Larry Kudlow and Stephen Moore drafted on the back of a cocktail napkin at the 21 Club, quipped one longtime Washington Republican in contact with the White House. But the tax proposal unveiled with great fanfare in a midday briefing with reporters achieved several of Trumps key objectives, garnering him a day of largely positive headlines; laying at least a baseline marker for a top policy goal; and reassuring Americans, many of whom voted for the promise of a businessman commander in chief, that pocketbook relief would be arriving by next tax season. The president was being ill-advised that he had to repeal Obamacare before passing taxes, said Sam Nunberg, a former Trump adviser. The two are mutually exclusive. Kudlow spent Wednesday at the White House, chatting with top officials following the rollout of a plan that many credited him with helping to spur. If we helped, Im very pleased, Kudlow said. I think the president has set a terrific tax reform, economic growth marker. Still, he dismissed the suggestion that he was the impetus for Trumps swift action on taxes. The president, Kudlow said, just wants to move. Hes been tied in knots on health care, and he had an impulse to get it together on taxes. Shock waves in Canada and Mexico Canada and Mexico were blindsided Wednesday as news of Trumps planned NAFTA withdrawal spread north and south of the border. Arturo Sarukhan, a former Mexican ambassador to the United States, described the news as a my way or the highway ambush from the White House, especially coming amid what has been weeks of steady and amicable discussions among the three countries about revamping the trade agreement. But Mexico which was already on edge following Trumps brief flirtation with attaching border-wall funding to a must-pass, short-term spending bill quickly leapt to action. Two cabinet-level officials in Mexico reached out to their U.S. counterparts to deliver a blunt message: If Trump officially announced the U.S. intention to withdraw from NAFTA, Mexico would not return to the negotiating table. Mexico would not, the officials warned, negotiate with a gun to its head. Mexico is suddenly a lot less worried about Trump, the bluffer across the poker table The president, meanwhile, was hearing a similar message from some of his own senior advisers. Ross, the commerce secretary, and Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law, scrambled to persuade Trump to back down. The United States can only trigger the six-month clock to withdraw from NAFTA once, they said. They told the president that he had strong leverage to renegotiate the trade deal but that once he publicly signalled his intent to leave, the situation would become so politically fraught for Canada and Mexico that they would not be able to return to negotiations, even if they wanted to. In the Oval Office interview, however, Trump repeatedly insisted that he was ready to pull out of NAFTA. At one point, he turned to Kushner, who was standing near his desk, and asked, Was I ready to terminate NAFTA? Yeah, Kushner said, before explaining the case he made to the president: I said, Look, theres plusses and minuses to doing it, and either way he would have ended up in a good place. Perdue, the agriculture secretary, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also cautioned Trump against moving ahead, while two of the White Houses populists, trade adviser Peter Navarro and chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, urged him to stay the course, announcing his intention to withdraw in a splashy prime-time rally Saturday night in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The administration also received pressure from hundreds of business executives from around the country, many of whom called the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, asking what was going to happen, before calling the White House directly, urging Trump not to sign the order. Tom Donohue, the chambers chief executive, also relayed the message to senior White House officials. The complaints pouring in from agriculture groups were even more apoplectic, warning White House officials that withdrawing from NAFTA could devastate the U.S. agriculture industry, allowing Mexico to reinstate high tariffs against U.S. exports. The Mexican government, meanwhile, had several contacts with its Canadian counterparts throughout the day Wednesday to share reactions and map out a joint strategy, including separate phone calls between their countries leaders and Trump that evening. We had the same position, said Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray on Thursday in an interview on Mexican television. The prime minister is pledging to respectfully fight for Canada?s interests, after protectionist comments by U.S. President Donald Trump. Justin Trudeau said Apr. 21 that he would ?continue to defend? supply management in Canadian agriculture. Trump publicly claimed Thursday that his phone calls with Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau persuaded him to give negotiations a chance. But a senior administration official said Trump had already decided to hold off on signing the NAFTA termination letter before his phone calls with Mexico and Canada. In the interview, Trump recounted his internal deliberations: In one way, I like the termination. In the other way, I like them a lot, both of them. We have a very good relationship. And its very hard when you have a relationship, its very much something that would not be a nice act. It would not be exactly a friendly act. But, the president added, he reserves the right to change his mind. I can always terminate, Trump said. They called me up, they said, Could we try negotiating? I said, Absolutely, yes. If we cant come to a satisfactory conclusion, well terminate NAFTA. The chart in Bannons war room A few doors from the Oval Office, Bannon works out of what he calls the war room, a West Wing hideaway adjoining the chief of staffs spacious suite, from which Karl Rove and David Axelrod once worked. Upon moving in, Bannon cleared out most of the furniture, save for a standing desk and chairs, and plastered the walls with lists of Trumps campaign promises scores, even hundreds of them, with green check marks or giant red Xs over those that have been met. A list of 10 major pieces of legislation that Trump promised in his Contract with Voters hangs from near the ceiling down to the floor. None is crossed out yet. On Wednesday evening, around the time Trump was talking with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts, one whiteboard contained an ominous marking: NAFTA and April 29. It underscored Bannons hope that on Saturday night, Trump would sign the paperwork initiating the withdrawal from NAFTA. Indeed, that same whiteboard contained other trade-specific actions, many boasting already checked-off promises. Withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership? Check. Action on the aluminum and steel industries? Check and check. One of the few unfulfilled, so far, was NAFTA. Read more about: SHARE: The United States and China offered starkly different strategies Friday for addressing North Koreas escalating nuclear threat as President Donald Trumps top diplomat demanded full enforcement of economic sanctions on Pyongyang and urged new penalties. Stepping back from suggestions of U.S. military action, he even offered aid to North Korea if it ends its nuclear weapons program. The range of Secretary of State Rex Tillersons suggestions, which over a span of 24 hours also included restarting negotiations, reflected Americas failure to halt North Koreas nuclear advances despite decades of U.S.-led sanctions, military threats and stop-and-go rounds of diplomatic engagement. As the North approaches the capability to hit the U.S. mainland with a nuclear-tipped missile, the Trump administration feels it is running out of time. Read more: We could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea, Trump warns North Korean propaganda video shows simulated attack on White House Trump is probably not looking to start a war with North Korea. Probably: Analysis Chairing a ministerial meeting of the U.N. Security Council Friday, Tillerson declared that "failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences." Tillerson said all options "must remain the table," while emphasizing the need for diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea. His ideas included a ban on North Korean coal imports and preventing its overseas guest labourers, a critical source of government revenue, from sending money home. And he warned of unilateral U.S. moves against international firms conducting banned businesses with Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, which could ensnare banks in China, the North's primary trade partner. "We must have full and complete compliance by every country," Tillerson said. Yet, illustrating the international gulf over how best to tackle North Korea, several foreign ministers on the 15-member council expressed fears of a conflict on the Korean Peninsula, which has been divided between the American-backed South and communist North since the 1950-53 Korean War. The conflict ended with no formal peace treaty. And while danger always has lurked, tensions have escalated dramatically as the North's young leader, Kim Jong Un, has expanded a nuclear arsenal his government says is needed to avert a U.S. invasion. No voice at Friday's session was more important than that of China, a conduit for 90 per cent of North Korea's commerce and a country Trump is pinning hopes on for a peaceful resolution to the nuclear crisis. Trump recently hosted President Xi Jinping for a Florida summit and has sometimes praised the Chinese leader for a newfound co-operation to crack down on North Korea and sometimes threatened a go-it-alone U.S. approach if Xi fails to deliver. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China would adhere to past U.N. resolutions and wants a denuclearized peninsula, but spelled out no further punitive steps his government might consider, despite Tillerson's assertions in an interview hours ahead of the council meeting that Beijing would impose sanctions of its own if North Korea conducts another nuclear test. "The key to resolving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side," Wang said, stressing the need for negotiations. Instead, Wang put forward a familiar Chinese idea to ease tensions: North Korea suspending its nuclear and missile activities, if the U.S. and South Korea stop military exercises in the region. Washington and Seoul reject the idea. Wang's sentiment was echoed by the deputy foreign minister of Russia, another regional player that has been as much concerned by America's nearby military buildup as the North's nuclear actions. "Combative rhetoric coupled with reckless muscle-flexing" on North Korea has led to serious fears of war, Gennady Gatilov said. Amid signs of a possible North Korean nuclear test, the U.S. recently sent a group of warships led by an aircraft carrier to waters off of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea this week conducted large-scale, live-fire exercises on its eastern coast. The U.S. and South Korea also started installing a missile defence system that is supposed to be partially operational within days. Gatilov of Russia, which typically follows China's lead on North Korea, backed Beijing's suspension-for-suspension proposal. He said resolving the nuclear issue through "sanctions and pressure alone on Pyongyang is not possible." China and Russia wield vetoes as permanent members of the council, meaning any new set of economic restrictions on North Korea will need at least their acquiescence. Tillerson said the U.S. does not seek regime change in North Korea, and he signalled American openness to holding direct negotiations with Pyongyang. The U.S. also could resume aid to North Korea once it "begins to dismantle its nuclear weapons and missile technology programs," he said. Since 1995, he added, Washington has provided more than $1.3 billion to the impoverished country. But the prospects for any more U.S. money going there appeared bleak. Even negotiations don't seem likely. Tillerson said the North must take "concrete steps" to reduce its weapons threat before talks could occur. Six-nation nuclear negotiations with North Korea stalled in 2008. The Obama administration sought to resurrect them in 2012, but a deal to provide food aid in exchange for a nuclear freeze soon collapsed. "In a nutshell, (North Korea) has already declared not to attend any type of talks which would discuss its nuclear abandonment, nuclear disbandment," Kim In Ryong, North Korea's deputy U.N ambassador, told The Associated Press. His government declined to attend Friday's council meeting. Read more about: SHARE: BEIRUTU.S. armoured vehicles are deploying in areas in northern Syria along the tense border with Turkey, a few days after a Turkish airstrike that killed 20 U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters, a Syrian war monitor and Kurdish activists said Friday. Footage posted by Syrian activists online showed a convoy of U.S. armoured vehicles driving on a rural road in the village of Darbasiyah, a few hundred meters from the Turkish border. Clashes in the area were reported between Turkish and Kurdish forces Wednesday a day after the Turkish airstrike which also destroyed a Kurdish command headquarters. The Turkish airstrikes, which also wounded 18 members of the U.S.-backed Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, in Syria were criticized by both the U.S. and Russia. The YPG is a close U.S. ally in the fight against Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, but is seen by Ankara as a terrorist group because of its ties to Turkeys Kurdish rebels. Read more: Turkey gave 20 minutes notice before airstrikes in Syria, U.S. officials say Turkish warplanes strike Kurdish areas in northern Iraq, Syria Without offering evidence, Assad says videos of dead children in Syria chemical attack are fake Further clashes between Turkish and Kurdish forces in Syria could potentially undermine the U.S.-led war on Daesh. A senior Kurdish official, Ilham Ahmad told The Associated Press that American forces began carrying out patrols along the border Thursday along with reconnaissance flights in the area. She said the deployment was in principle temporary, but may become more permanent. A Kurdish activist in the area, Mustafa Bali, said the deployment began Friday afternoon and is ongoing. He said deployment stretches from the Iraqi border to areas past Darbasiyah in the largely Kurdish part of eastern Syria. The U.S. role has now become more like a buffer force between us and the Turks on all front lines, he said. He said U.S. forces will also deploy as a separation force in areas where the Turkish-backed Syrian fighting forces and the Kurdish forces meet. It is a message of reassurance for the Kurds and almost a warning message to the Turks, he said. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, did not dispute that U.S. troops are operating with elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) along the Turkish border, but he would not get into specifics. The SDF is a Kurdish-dominated alliance fighting Daesh that includes Arab fighters. We have U.S. forces that are there throughout the entirety of northern Syria that operate with our Syrian Democratic Force partners, Davis said. The border is among the areas where they operate. He said the U.S. wants the SDF to focus on liberating the Daesh-held town of Tabqa and the extremist groups de facto capital, Raqqa, and not be drawn into conflicts elsewhere. Rami Abdurrahman, director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the deployment seems limited and is aimed to prevent fighting between the two sides. The U.S. has recently shifted from working quietly behind the scenes in Syrias conflict toward overt displays of U.S. force in an attempt to shape the fight. Last month, about 200 Marines rolled into northern Syria backed with howitzers, significantly widening Americas footprint in a highly toxic battlefield. The Marines deployment came days after another intervention, when dozens of army troops drove outside the town of Manbij, riding Stryker armoured vehicles, following an earlier conflagration of fighting between Syrian Kurdish troops and Turkish troops. The U.S. deployment in Manbij intentionally put Americans in the middle of that rivalry, hoping to cool it down. The SDF retook Manbij from Daesh control, and Turkey with its troops nearby said it wont allow the town to be under Kurdish control, threatening to move on it. The American presence appears intended to reassure Ankara the Kurds dont hold the town. But the new deployment puts U.S. troops directly along the border with Turkey, another flashpoint, and immerses Washington into that increasingly hot fight. Separately, the chief of the international chemical weapons watchdog said on Friday that he has a team of experts ready and willing to travel to the site of this months deadly nerve gas incident in Syria if their safety can be assured. We are willing to go to Khan Sheikhoun and we have undertaken some actions, Ahmet Uzumcu of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons told a small group of reporters in The Hague. Syrian ally Russia has called for an international investigation into the April 4 attack that killed nearly 90 people. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov this week expressed regret that the OPCW turned down the Syrian governments offers to visit the site of the attack and investigate. Russia has rejected Western accusations that Syrian President Bashar Assads government was behind the attack. Uzumcu said that the area of the town of Khan Sheikhoun where the incident happened is controlled by opposition rebels, adding that the watchdog experts will need to strike some deals with them, such as a temporary ceasefire, to assure the teams safety before it can deploy. The OPCW has been extremely cautious about sending investigators to Syria since a team of its experts came under attack there in 2014. Uzumcu said the organization is in daily contact with U.N. authorities over the security situation in Syria. The Syrian president has categorically rejected accusations that his forces were behind the attack. Uzumcu is not yet calling the April 4 incident a chemical weapons attack, but he has said that tests by his organization have established beyond doubt that sarin or a similar toxin was used. Other nations, however, have already labelled it an attack and blamed the Syrian government. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said earlier this week that the attack bears the signature of Assads government and shows it was responsible. Uzumcu said his organization is not yet in a position to confirm the French findings. The OPCWs team is already gathering evidence from victims and survivors and testing samples outside Syria. Uzumcu said he expects an initial report to be issued in about 10 days. The initial OPCW investigation will not apportion blame that is left to a separate investigative mechanism made up of OPCW and U.N. experts. Read more about: SHARE: U.S. President Donald Trump warned Thursday of the possibility of a major, major conflict with North Korea in an interview in which he said he was seeking a diplomatic solution to concerns that Pyongyang was preparing to conduct another nuclear test. In the interview with Reuters, Trump praised President Xi Jinping of China for efforts to resolve the dispute over North Koreas missile and nuclear weapons programs but cautioned that diplomatic efforts might fail. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea, he said. Absolutely. Heres everything important thats happened in Trumps first 100 days Trumps remarks came amid signs that North Korea might soon conduct another underground detonation at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site despite Trumps warning not to do so. China has played a mediating role in the crisis as Trump has urged Xi to use Beijings leverage with North Korea, a longtime ally, to persuade it not to conduct a test. I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it, Trump said of Xi. He is a good man. He is a very good man, and I got to know him very well. In the interview, Trump actually offered some grudging praise for North Koreas leader, Kim Jong Un. Hes 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime, he said. So say what you want, but that is not easy, especially at that age. I hope hes rational, Trump added of Kim. The United States has been pressing the United Nations to impose more sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs. The diplomatic efforts have coincided with military manoeuvres by the United States and South Korea in Pocheon, northeast of Seoul, where the allies have demonstrated some of their latest weapons. In addition, the Michigan, a submarine armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles, has arrived in the South Korean port city of Busan. And a U.S. navy strike group led by the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson has been sent to the Sea of Japan, which borders the Korean Peninsula. Earlier this month, as tensions with North Korea were flaring, the Carl Vinson was said to be sailing north, toward the peninsula, when it was actually heading south, toward the Indian Ocean. To protect against a North Korean attack, the United States is on the verge of making a new anti-missile system operational in South Korea. Trump said he would seek to have South Korea pay for the system, known as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, putting its cost at about $1 billion. Under its arrangement with Washington, South Korea was to provide land and build a base for the THAAD system, while the United States would pay for it and cover its operational costs. Trump also said that because of the United States sizable trade deficit with South Korea, he intended to renegotiate or end a trade pact with the country. That free trade agreement, called Korus, went into effect in 2012. It contains a framework for trade in both goods and services, and covers environmental issues as well. Like all free trade deals, it is designed to remove barriers to commerce. South Korea is the United States sixth-largest trading partner in goods, with $112.2 billion worth of commerce between the two in 2016, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. South Korea has a $10.7 billion trade deficit in services with the United States but a $27.7 billion trade surplus in goods. In the Reuters interview, Trump also rejected an overture from Taiwans president, Tsai Ing-wen, for further discussions. His telephone call with her in December alarmed China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province. My problem is that I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi, Trump said. I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him. On Thursday, Tsai had raised the possibility of talking with Trump again. We have the opportunity to communicate more directly with the U.S. government, she said in an interview. We dont exclude the opportunity to call President Trump himself, but it depends on the needs of the situation and the U.S. governments consideration of regional affairs. Reports have suggested that efforts to penalize North Korea economically for its weapons programs are bearing fruit. The Associated Press, which employs one of the few Western reporters based in Pyongyang, said that a kilogram of gas, which had cost 70 to 80 cents, was now selling for $1.40 at one station and that there were rumours that China was behind the apparent shortage. Read more about: SHARE: To hydro and housing, add healthcare. The Ontario governments budget for the coming year makes clear where Premier Kathleen Wynnes Liberals believe their narrow path to re-election lies. The most dramatic and welcome new element is a plan to more than double at a stroke the number of Ontarians eligible for free prescription drugs. The so-called OHIP+ plan will make prescriptions free for children and young people anyone whos 24 or younger beginning next Jan. 1. This is a big step in the right direction. Its a push towards universal pharmacare, the most glaring gap in Canadas medicare system. Far too many Canadians arent covered by drug plans and cant afford to fill their prescriptions. The Ontario plan will go further than any other in Canada towards extending drug coverage to all. Something like it is long overdue. Its also a wily political move, especially coming right on the heels of the Ontario NDPs bold proposal to bring in partial but universal drug coverage by 2020. The NDPs plan, unveiled just over the weekend by party leader Andrea Horwath, would include all Ontarians but would start by covering only 125 of the most commonly prescribed medications. It has a lot of appeal. The Liberals are taking a different approach by focusing on children and youth, which has the big advantage of extending coverage to a lot of people at relatively small cost. The reality is that people under 25 are mostly pretty healthy so they generally arent big consumers of prescription drugs. And if their parents are fortunate enough to have a decent private drug plan (something increasingly rare these days), theyre likely to be covered already. Thats why the government estimates the cost of covering drugs for 4 million young people at just $465 million a year, a fraction of 1 per cent of Ontarios overall budget. By comparison, the provinces existing drug benefit (which covers 3.9 million seniors and people on social assistance) costs way more, about $4 billion a year. So the new plan comes with a lot of political bang for not a lot of budget bucks. Its far from clear which approach is better the Liberals or the New Democrats. Both are partial steps: the Liberals would leave many people still uncovered, but the NDPs plan would include only some drugs. Horwath believes Wynne is cutting her grass on this issue, as Liberals often do with attractive NDP ideas. But the fact is both leaders deserve major credit for putting Ontarios considerable weight behind the cause of pharmacare. As we wrote earlier this week, a national plan would be cheaper and more efficient than province-by-province solutions. But if Ottawa wont take the lead, its good to see Ontario stepping up. Too many politicians have been making concerned noises on this issue, but have failed to act while the need for proper drug coverage becomes more and more pressing. Finance Minister Charles Sousa made it clear that Ontario intends its program to be a model for Ottawa and the other provinces. If the Wynne government can get this plan off the ground successfully, it can and should serve as a starting point for more ambitious national action. Theres a lot more in this budget for health care $7 billion more over three years, including additional money for hospitals struggling with over-crowded wards. The province has squeezed the health sector hard over the past few years and its past time to inject substantial new money into the system. All this comes as Sousa has managed to fulfill his promise to balance Ontarios budget for the first time in a decade, since the global financial crisis blew a hole in the governments finances. With the monkey of the deficit off their back and Ontarios economy expanding at a robust pace, the Liberals have rediscovered their inner progressive. Theyre earmarking extra money for a range of needs from making post-secondary education more accessible, to a break on transit costs for seniors, to much-needed funding for thousands more childcare spaces. Add all that to their plan to reduce electricity bills by 25 per cent and a set of measures to calm the Toronto regions overheated housing market, and the elements of the Liberals case for re-election 13 and a half a months from now come into focus. Judging by the polls at this point, it still looks like a long shot. After 14 years in power the Liberals own everything thats gone wrong in the province both the things they deserve and the ones they dont. But even with all that, their rivals will have to step up their game. Thats especially true of the Progressive Conservatives, whose reaction to Sousas effort was both confused and confusing. They argue the Liberals are cooking the books and the government is really running an operational deficit of $5 billion yet the PCs wont say what they plan to cut to fix that if they get into power. Instead, party leader Patrick Brown fell back on old bromides about rooting out waste and mismanagement in government. At the same time, Brown both appeared to support some kind of pharmacare program while complaining that the Liberal plan would let millionaires kids get free drugs. By that logic Brown should oppose letting wealthy people use the public medicare system. What part of universal coverage doesnt he understand? Judging by this budget, the campaign leading up to Ontarios 2018 election is already well underway. That gives voters just over a year to pass judgment on the Liberals long record and to compare them with the real-life alternatives. This plan to kick-start a national debate on pharmacare shows that even after a decade and a half the Liberals still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Read more about: SHARE: As journalist Mohamed Fahmy predicted accurately in the Star this week, the World Press Freedom Index ranking of our country did indeed drop this year. Canada is now ranked No. 22 in the world for press freedom, a drop of four places from the 2016 rankings when we fell 10 places. Thats a distressing 14-place plunge in two years, and more significantly, means Canada is no longer in the Top 20 in the world for press freedom. Previous to last year, Canada, had long distinguished itself as being in the Top 10 best countries for press freedom. That was something to be proud of. How disappointing it is to see this years ranking drop at a time when we are governed by a prime minister who promised to make freedom of information a priority. After last years dismal showing, I had hoped we had no where to go but up on this critical ranking of world press freedom. Reporters Without Borders, the global press freedom watchdog that compiles the annual index, placed the blame for Canadas dramatically lower ranking last year squarely on the shoulders of Trudeaus predecessor, Stephen Harper, labelling his administration a dark age for press freedom. The organization did not let Prime Minister Justin Trudeau off the hook this year. Prime Minister Trudeau has strongly advocated for a free media but the past year has shown this to be dead letter, its report states. While Canada guarantees freedom of the press under its 1982 constitution, circumstances faced by journalists say otherwise. The press freedom index report cites a number of specific press freedom violations in Canada that sound shamefully undemocratic when described within a global context to the world at large. It draws attention to the police surveillance of several journalists in Quebec, and details the case of Vice Media reporter Ben Makuch, who is fighting a court order to hand over communications from his sources to the RCMP. As well, it refers to the civil and criminal charges against a reporter covering the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project protests in Labrador last year for The Independent. In all these cases, the aim was to identify sources, which journalists have a duty to protect, the report said. The obsession with surveillance and violations of the right to the confidentiality of sources have contributed to the continuing decline of many countries previously regarded as virtuous. There is some recent cause for celebration on this front in Canada. Earlier this month our Senate unanimously passed Bill S-231, the Journalistic Source Protection Act. That bill, which amends the Canada Evidence Act to protect the confidentiality of journalistic sources, must be passed by the House of Commons before it becomes law. Let us hope it passes easily so some measure of Canadas virtue on the essential press freedom front is redeemed. And, that those federal election promises regarding free expression become closer to reality before next years index is compiled. Indeed, as a statement issued by Canadian Journalists for Free Expression in response to the decline in Canadas rankings so aptly stated: When journalism is under attack, our democracy is under attack. As Canadas leading press freedom organization, CJFE labels the decline in press freedom, a drop in our democratic credit rating. It is calling on Canadian governments to take steps to end press freedom violations that get in the way of journalists doing their jobs. With World Press Freedom Day coming on Wednesday, it is worth considering the state of press freedom globally and reminding ourselves that freedom of expression and freedom of information are our most fundamental human rights. This years index provides strong evidence that vigilance is needed throughout the world to ensure this universal right. It found that 62 per cent of countries saw declines in their rankings, including the United States (ranked 43rd in the world) and Britain (down two places to 40). The top ranked country was Norway; the bottom, North Korea. This years index reflects a world in which attacks on the media have become commonplace and strongmen are on the rise, the report states. Not surprisingly, the report calls out the media bashing of United States President Donald Trump as contributing to the drop in press freedom in America. Discrediting the media is the preferred weapon of those who are anti-system. Trump made great use of it and so did Nigel Farage, the xenophobic UKIP partys former leader in the United Kingdom, it states. Overall, this report makes clear this is no time for apathy on the press freedom front especially in democracies such as Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. We have reached the age of post-truth, propaganda, and suppression of freedoms especially in democracies, it states. Indeed, vigilance is demanded from all who value this vital freedom and human right. Clarification May 3, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that referred to the arrest of a reporter for The Independent. In fact, following publication of the column, the reporter informed the star that while other media had reported that he had been arrested, in fact, he complied with a court injunction that compelled authorities to arrest him if he did not leave and seize reporting from the occupied Muskrat Falls site. SHARE: Airbus (EADSY) - Get Free Report shares edged higher Thursday as CEO Tom Enders issued a stern rebuttal to authorities in Austria investigating the group for fraud linked to a 2003 fighter jet deal. Enders called the probe, unveiled Wednesday and first reported by Reuters, "a politically-motivated abuse of the legal system" and said the accusations were "unfounded and unsubstantiated"." Shares in Airbus were marked 0.62% higher in Paris, after falling as much as 3% earlier in the session after the planmaker posted weaker-than-expected first quarter earnings thanks in part to rising costs. It also missed delivery targets for passenger planes due to ongoing problems with some engines. The stock was last seen changing hands at 74.50 against a 0.21% decline for the broader Stoxx Europe 600 benchmark. The world's No.2 aircraft maker, behind Boeing (BA) - Get Free Report , posted adjusted operating profit of 240 million ($262 million), missing analyst expectations of about 344 million, despite increasing revenues by about 7% to 12.9 billion. Enders went on the offensive Thursday after Austrian investigators confirmed they were looking into the roles of individuals, including Enders' role, relating to a $2 billion deal for Eurofighter planes. Vienna-based prosecutors opened a criminal invesitgation into the deal in February, following allegations by the Austrian defense ministry that it had been misled about the cost, equipment and deliverability of the planes. Enders was head of Airbus's defence division when the contract was signed. The German CEO was less ruffled by his company's quarterly performance, commenting that the results didn't "offer any big surprises," and insisted his company was on track to meet both its earnings and free cash flow targets for 2017. Hitting those targets will require Airbus to accelerate output over the coming three quarters after it fell behind on plans to deliver more than 700 jets this year due to problems with the engines in its single-aisle A320neo jets. Airbus is due to ship 200 of the new A320neo planes this year, but saw only 26 roll off the line in the first quarter after engine provider Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies, was forced to replace faulty engines on some delivered aircraft, leaving Airbus short of engines for new planes. "Customers are experiencing a number of in-service issues which need to be resolved, in particular with the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine," Airbus said in a statement. The Toulouse, France-based plane maker said it expected to make up the output shortfall in the second half. Commercial aircraft core earnings fell 31% over the first quarter to 281 million despite a 13% increase in sales to 9.83 billion. Airbus said the earnings dip was due an increase in sales of its new A350 model. New airplanes tend to be sold at a deeper discount to encourage adoption, while costs are often front-loaded as the cost of transforming production lines is absorbed. Airbus's helicopter unit lost 2 million over the quarter, down from a 33 million profit last year, partly due to increased demand for less profitable models and the ongoing grounding of its H225 Super Puma helicopter in the UK and Norway following a crash last year. On Wednesday, Boeing reported a 19% increase in first-quarter profit due to cost cutting that offset a 7.3% decline in revenues. President Donald Trump is putting his friendship with Taiwan on hold while China helps the U.S. negotiate with North Korea, rebuffing the Taiwanese president's suggestion that the two leaders have a phone call, Reuters reported. "Look, my problem is I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi. I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation," Trump told Reuters. (What will move markets this quarter and how should investors position themselves ahead of time? Jim Cramer sat down with four of TheStreet's top columnists recently to get their views.Click here to listen to his latest Trading Strategies roundtable with them and read their advice for stocks, bonds, forex and gold.) President Donald Trump told Reuters that he would either renegotiate or terminate a free trade agreement with South Korea that he called "horrible" while also saying that the country should pay for a missile defense system that Trump estimates costs $1 billion. Trump blamed the deal, known as KORUS, on Hillary Clinton, who was Secretary of State when the deal was finalized in 2011. "It is unacceptable, it is a horrible deal made by Hillary. It's a horrible deal, and we are going to renegotiate that deal or terminate it," Trump told Reuters. (What will move markets this quarter and how should investors position themselves ahead of time? Jim Cramer sat down with four of TheStreet's top columnists recently to get their views.Click here to listen to his latest Trading Strategies roundtable with them and read their advice for stocks, bonds, forex and gold.) President Trump called out Saudi Arabia today for not fairly treating the U.S., adding that Washington continues to lose a "tremendous amount of money" defending the country, the president told Reuters. "Frankly, Saudi Arabia has not treated us fairly, because we are losing a tremendous amount of money in defending Saudi Arabia," Trump said. Trump confirmed to the publication that officials in his administration are in talks to visit Saudi Arabia in the latter part of May. The U.S is the primary supplier for most Saudi military needs, while the U.S. is the top consumer of Saudi oil. (What will move markets this quarter and how should investors position themselves ahead of time? Jim Cramer sat down with four of TheStreet's top columnists recently to get their views. Click hereto listen to his latest Trading Strategies roundtable with them and read their advice for stocks, bonds, forex and gold.) If there was any question that Alphabet (GOOGL) - Get Free Report intends to own the mobile advertising market, the internet giant silenced any doubters in its fiscal first-quarter results reported after Thursday's closing bell. Paid clicks surged 44% during the quarter, while paid ad clicks on Google-owned sites rose an impressive 53%. The Google parent company also beat on its top and bottom line for the period, posting adjusted earnings of $7.73 per share on revenue of $24.75 billion. That eclipsed analysts' expectations of $7.38 per share and $24.22 billion in revenue. Shares of Alphabet closed Friday at $924.52, up from its open of $929 per share. Shares were higher premarket Monday. Alphabet is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells GOOGL? Learn more now. Other highlights included a surge in Google's "Other" segment, which saw its revenue jump 49% year-over-year during the quarter to $3.1 billion. The company doesn't break out its cloud revenues, instead lumping them in with hardware and Google Play in the "Other" segment. Executives have said that Google's cloud business could become so large that it soon eclipses the company's behemoth of an advertising business. Ahead of earnings, Wall Street had been wary of any potential fallout from the YouTube advertising controversy that erupted late last month. Several analysts estimated that the brand safety issues could result in a $750 million dent to Alphabet's revenues in early 2017. But that didn't seem to be the case this quarter, as Alphabet said YouTube revenues continued to grow at a "significant" rate with video advertising being a strong catalyst. When asked by an analyst if YouTube has found a permanent solution to mitigating last month's controversy, Pichai said the company is taking it "pretty seriously" and has taken significant steps to reduce the issue, such as deploying new machine learning technologies to flag offensive content. "It is super important to us that this ecosystem works well," Pichai said on the call. "...I would say advertisers have clearly noticed all the improvements we have made. Our conversations with them are very, very positive, and so I'm pretty optimistic about how we'll continue to make progress here." These and other comments seemed to reassure investors, too, as Wall Street remained bullish on Alphabet shares following the results. Here's what they had to say about the quarter: James Cakmak, Monness Crespi Hardt (Buy, PT raised to $1,050 from $900) "For awhile there, Alphabet was facing a lot of heat given issues advertisers and agencies had around YouTube...In any case, we believe those concerns are alleviated at this point, with clear focus and interest evident that addressing content issues is a top priority." Jason Helfstein, Oppenheimer (Outperform, PT raised to $1,050 from $1,000) "GOOG appears to be firing on all cylinders: 1) Websites gross revenue growth accelerated from 4Q16 to 1Q17; 2) YouTube brand safety issue taken care of; 3) YouTube user engagement increasing (1B hours of video watched/day as of 1Q17); 4) YouTube TV now launched in five cities; and 5) Other bets thriving, with stable to declining losses." Brian Wieser, Pivotal Research (Hold, Price Target raised to $990 from $950) "Alphabet reported another quarter featuring better-than-expected metrics on revenue growth, expense management and capital expenditures. In total, profit margins rose for the seventh consecutive quarter on both gross revenues (to 26.5%) and against revenue ex-traffic-acquisition costs (to 32.6%)." Scott Devitt, Stifel (Buy, PT raised to $1,075 from $1,050) "Despite approaching a $100 billion revenue run-rate, the company shows no signs of slowing down and the Alphabet's advertising profits are funding a number of compelling short, medium and longer-term investments that could develop into multi-billion dollar businesses themselves someday." Anthony DiClemente, Nomura (Buy, PT raised to $985 from $925) "GOOGL results delivered a clean beat across the board in 1Q17. While our earnings preview highlighted multiple robust checks pointing to strong growth , even these proved conservative, as Properties growth accelerated, driven once again by robust trends in mobile search, YouTube, and Google Play." Lloyd Walmsley, Deutsche Bank (Buy, $1,250 PT) "Again, the commentary around YouTube was strong and the company continues to invest aggressively in content. Google also called out hardware as a "substantial growth" driver of other revenue this quarter and 4q16, which suggests that products are selling well." Stephen Ju, Credit Suisse (Outperform, PT raised to $1,150 from $1,100) "GOOGL shares despite the run so far this year still exhibit in our view the best risk/return among the large cap Internet stocks as set up by our grey sky blue sky analysis, and we maintain our Outperform rating." Kip Paulson, Cantor Fitzgerald (Overweight, PT raised to $1,070 from $1,040) "Similar to the last few quarters, mobile search was the primary driver, assisted by ongoing strength from YouTube and programmatic. Substantial growth was also noted in Play, hardware and Google Cloud Platform." Daniel Salmon, BMO Capital Markets (Market Perform, PT raised to $970 from $900) "We continue to believe YouTube protests will have limited near-term financial impact, though we believe it will slightly weaken negotiating leverage for upfront commitments. YouTube TV is now available in five major U.S. markets and we think its strong technical backbone and user experience will help it differentiate." Ross Sandler, Barclays (Overweight, $1,065 PT) "Stepping back from the results, Google is in a really good spot right now given its shareholder friendly buybacks, strong pace of innovation, and a lower multiple than its large cap peers." John Blackledge, Cowen (Outperform, PT raised to $1,075 from $1,050) "While mgmt. provided little add'l context on [paid click] pricing / volume trends, we can assume from the comments on Mobile strength that it was a driving factor. Mgmt. highlighted YouTube, which has seen tremendous growth and the Ad tech biz also driving growth." Trending Stories on TheStreet: RACINE COUNTY Racine County Circuit Court judges have voted against making changes to the way intake workers determine which young defendants should be detained while they wait to see a judge. The judges had been considering moving from the current policy, which mandates detention for youths charged with certain crimes, to a scoring tool that would allow some defendants referred to the county Juvenile Detention Center to go home with a parent or guardian before appearing in court. The Wisconsin Department of Justice, along with juvenile court intake workers in Racine, Manitowoc, Rock, Waukesha, La Crosse and Milwaukee counties, have been studying the tool dubbed the Detention Risk Assessment Instrument or DRAI over the past few years. Rock, Waukesha and Milwaukee counties have formally adopted it. Racine County had been studying the tool for the better part of two years, finding it would not result in youths charged with serious crimes being released, but on Tuesday, five of nine Racine County Circuit Judges voted against a proposal put forth by judges Emily Mueller, Wynne Laufenberg and Mark Nielsen that called for using the assessment tool under a temporary, pilot project basis. The proposal called for using the tool for six months only, and ordered that any changes to the assessment tool itself be approved by the countys circuit judges. In the end, judges Eugene Gasiorkiewicz, Mike Piontek, David Paulson, Faye Flancher and Allan Pat Torhorst voted against pursuing the pilot. Judges Laufenberg, Mueller, Nielsen and Tim Boyle voted for pursuing the pilot. Judge Charles Constantine was not present for the vote. What is at stake here is a little bit more than a policy. It is a philosophy to an extent, if you can call it that, over juvenile crime, Piontek said. I think our system works fine. Low-risk kids Under Racine Countys current intake policy, which was established in 1996, juveniles charged with certain crimes must be detained at the countys Racine County Detention Center, 1717 Taylor Ave., while their cases are processed. Those crimes range from homicide and first-degree sexual assault to bomb scares and possession with intent to deliver any controlled substance. Under the proposal considered by the judges on Tuesday, juvenile offenders would still have been detained regardless of their DRAI score if charged with a gun related crime, use of a facsimile weapon, making a bomb or school threat or sexual assault. Gasiorkiewicz, who recently attended a conference held by Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, which has pushed for the use of assessment tools in juvenile detention, said the only concrete thing he learned was that the tool resulted in fewer juvenile detentions. He added that as far as he has seen the countys current intake policy already keeps low-risk offenders, who have a safe place to go, out of detention. Kerry Milkie, manager of the youth and family division of the countys Human Services Department, has argued that using the assessment tool would provide a more thorough assessment of kids whose alleged crime and risk factors fall in a middle area and would introduce objectivity in initial decisions about detainment and release so similarly situated youths are treated the same regardless of which intake worker is on duty. In 2016, the assessment tool and the countys current policy matched up 97 percent of the time, meaning that in all but 15 cases the assessment tool recommended the same kids be detained as the current policy. Fears Discussing his concerns regarding the assessment tool on Tuesday, and in March, Piontek expressed his fear that relying on the tool might result in juvenile defendants not placed in detention re-offending before they see a judge. He added that he was afraid that implementing the tool might lead to Racine seeing juvenile crime akin to what takes place in Milwaukee. But Mark Mertens, administrator for the delinquency and court services division at Milwaukee County, which has been using the DRAI for more than a year, has said that he had seen no evidence whatsoever connecting the use of the assessment tool with an increase in crime. Juvenile referrals have gone down overall for several years, Mertens added. The judges could reconsider whether to use the DRAI or pursue a pilot project. After the Tuesday meeting, District Court Administrator Louis Moore, who oversees operations of the district courts in Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties, said the judges could opt to vote on the issue again. President Trump's executive order to expand offshore drilling isn't a near-term solution for a beaten down industry, though it may be a long-term positive. The president on Friday signed an executive order that aims to expand offshore drilling for oil and gas. It directs Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review a five-year plan issued in the final days of the Obama administration banning drilling in parts of the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. "This order will cement our nation's position as a global energy leader and foster energy security for the benefit of American people, without removing any of the stringent environmental safeguards that are currently in place," Zinke said in a call with reporters on Thursday evening. He said the order and other steps Trump has taken in his first months in office puts the U.S. "on track for American energy independence." "Our country is blessed with incredible natural resources including abundant offshore oil and natural gas reserves," Trump said while signing the executive order in the Oval Office. "Today we're unleashing American energy and clearing the way for thousands and thousand of high paying American energy jobs." The announcement was welcomed by the oil and gas industry, though most agree it's no panacea, especially not in the short term. American Petroleum Institute president and CEO Jack Gerard in a statement said the association is "pleased" with the administration's efforts. "Developing our abundant offshore energy resources is a critical part of a robust, forward-looking energy policy that will secure our nation's energy future and strengthen the U.S. energy renaissance," he said. He emphasized a particular interest in developing domestic sources of oil and gas in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. When pressed by reporters Thursday on whether the Trump administration has the legal authority to withdraw the Obama plan, Zinke said no decisions have been made yet and his first task will be to complete a review. "I'm sure whatever recommendation I make I believe we'll have the legal authority to complete it," he said. "How big a difference [the order] makes on future production is going to be determined by market forces and prices, not only by reopening these areas to leasing," said Jason Bordoff, director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and a former Obama energy and environment adviser. "The biggest impact is not that lots more oil production is going to happen in the Arctic any time soon. The biggest impact will be that firms will have the option of going in and developing in those areas if and when it makes sense to do so." The review could take two years to complete, and expected lawsuits could add more time into the equation. If and when action is taken, investors should not expect the order to save the day for offshore drillers such as Transocean (RIG) - Get Free Report , Diamond Offshore (DO) - Get Free Report , Seadrill (SDRL) - Get Free Report and Atwood Oceanics (ATW) . Industry followers don't anticipate a near-term uplift for contract drillers as a result of Trump's executive order, as much of these waters would require extensive seismic and geological testing before drilling was even initiated. And at current commodity prices, it may not be economic to even begin such testing -- at least not while more cost-effective and profitable oil reserves are widely available in U.S. shale basins. If anyone is to benefit from the repercussions of the order, it will be diversified oilfield services providers who have invested in subsea, or offshore, seismic testing technologies through the years, such as Schlumberger (SLB) - Get Free Report , Baker Hughes (BHI) , and, to a lesser extent, Halliburton (HAL) - Get Free Report . Dedicated subsea engineering and technology firms including Oceaneering International (OII) - Get Free Report could also stand to benefit from improving sentiment surround offshore U.S. development. "Still a tad early to get bulled up on later cycle offshore rig and infrastructure driven businesses," RBC Capital Markets analyst Kurt Hallead said in a note on Thursday. "When the offshore spending cycle shifts gears, OII is undoubtedly well positioned to maximize its market share position in ROVs and Subsea Products." In a general sense, companies that provide services focusing on the early stages of exploration, including seismic testing, would logically be the first to feel the positive effects of such an executive order. But it is not the oilfield services providers that would be bidding on leases auctioned off by the U.S. government. Rather, it would likely be both U.S. and international oil and natural gas companies including Exxon (XOM) - Get Free Report , Chevron (CVX) - Get Free Report and BP (BP) - Get Free Report . And whether or not these oil majors will be motivated to partake in such auctions is up for debate, since greenfield offshore projects really don't begin to look good on a grand scale until oil bubbles back up to $70 a barrel. Many analysts don't see the commodity anywhere near that mark until late 2018 at the earliest. Today, it's priced at about $49. Zinke said on Thursday that revenues for offshore leasing had declined by $15 billion under the Obama administration. "Some of that, of course, is for the price of oil, but not all of it," he said. The following companies are subsidiares of Rite Aid: 1515 West State Street Boise Idaho LLC, 1740 Associates LLC, 4042 Warrensville Center RoadWarrensville Ohio Inc., 5277 Associates Inc., 5600 Superior Properties Inc., Advance Benefits LLC, Apex Drug Stores Inc., Ascend Health Technology LLC, Bartell Drugs, Broadview and WallingsBroadview Heights Ohio Inc., Design Rx Holdings LLC, Design Rx LLC, Design Rxclusives LLC, Drug Palace Inc., EDC Drug Stores Inc., Eckerd Corporation, Edgehill Drugs, Elixir Holdings LLC, Elixir Insurance Company, Elixir Pharmacy LLC, Elixir Puerto Rico Inc., Elixir Rx Options LLC, Elixir Rx Solutions LLC, Elixir Rx Solutions LLC, Elixir Rx Solutions of Nevada LLC, Elixir Savings LLC, Envision Pharmaceutical, First Florida Insurers of Tampa LLC, GDF Inc., Genovese Drug Stores Inc., Gettysburg and Hoover-Dayton Ohio LLC, Grand River & Fenkell LLC, Harco, Harco Inc., Health Dialog, Health Dialog Services Corporation, Hunter Lane LLC, ILG 90 B Avenue Lake Oswego LLC, JCG Holdings USA Inc., JCG PJC USA LLC, K&B Alabama Corporation, K&B Incorporated, K&B Industries, K&B Louisiana Corporation, K&B Mississippi Corporation, K&B Services Incorporated, K&B Tennessee Corporation, K&B Texas Corporation, LMW 90B Avenue Lake Oswego Inc., Lakehurst and Broadway Corporation, Laker Software LLC, Maxi Drug Inc., Maxi Drug North Inc., Maxi Drug South L.P., Maxi Green Inc., Munson & Andrews LLC, Name Rite LLC, P.J.C. Distribution Inc., P.J.C. Realty Co. Inc., PCS Health Systems, PDS-1 Michigan Inc., PJC Lease Holdings Inc., PJC Manchester Realty LLC, PJC Peterborough Realty LLC, PJC Realty MA Inc., PJC Revere Realty LLC, PJC Special Realty Holdings Inc., PJC of Massachusetts Inc., PJC of Rhode Island Inc., PJC of Vermont Inc., Perry Distributors Inc., Perry Drug Stores Inc., RCMH LLC, RDS Detroit Inc., READs Inc., RediClinic, RediClinic Associates Inc., RediClinic LLC, RediClinic US LLC, RediClinic of DC LLC, RediClinic of DE LLC, RediClinic of Dallas Forth-Worth LLC, RediClinic of MD LLC, RediClinic of PA LLC, RediClinic of VA LLC, Richfield Road Flint Michigan LLC, Rite Aid Drug Palace Inc., Rite Aid Hdqtrs. Corp., Rite Aid Hdqtrs. Funding Inc., Rite Aid Lease Management Company, Rite Aid Online Store Inc., Rite Aid Payroll Management Inc., Rite Aid Realty Corp., Rite Aid Rome Distribution Center Inc., Rite Aid Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Rite Aid Transport Inc., Rite Aid of Connecticut Inc., Rite Aid of Delaware Inc., Rite Aid of Georgia Inc., Rite Aid of Indiana Inc., Rite Aid of Kentucky Inc., Rite Aid of Maine Inc., Rite Aid of Maryland Inc., Rite Aid of Michigan Inc., Rite Aid of New Hampshire Inc., Rite Aid of New Jersey Inc., Rite Aid of New York Inc., Rite Aid of North Carolina Inc., Rite Aid of Ohio Inc., Rite Aid of Pennsylvania LLC, Rite Aid of South Carolina Inc., Rite Aid of Tennessee Inc., Rite Aid of Vermont Inc., Rite Aid of Virginia Inc., Rite Aid of Washington D.C. Inc., Rite Aid of West Virginia Inc., Rite Investments Corp., Rite Investments Corp. LLC, Rx Choice Inc., Rx Initiatives LLC, Rx USA Inc., The Bartell Drug Company, The Jean Coutu Group PJC USA Inc., The Lane Drug Company, Thrift Drug Inc., Thrifty Corporation, Thrifty PayLess Inc., and Tonic Procurement Solutions LLC. Read More In great news for manatees, researchers predict that the gentle 'sea cows' will endure for at least another 100 years as long as threats continue to be managed. Its a strange world we live in when we celebrate the idea that a species might actually survive through the next century. Its all become so fragile that small victories can feel like big wins but regardless, a new study predicting that Floridas iconic manatees can survive another 100 years is cause for cheer. Today the Florida manatees' numbers are high. Adult manatees' longevity is good, and the state has available habitat to support a population that is continuing to grow," said US Geological Survey (USGS) research ecologist Michael C. Runge, lead author of the report. "Still, new threats could emerge, or existing threats could interact in unexpected ways," Runge said. "Managers need to remain vigilant to keep manatee populations viable over the long haul." Tracy Colson/USFWS Endangered Species/CC BY 2.0 A subspecies of the West Indian manatee, the Florida manatee has the gloomy distinction of being one of the first animals to be listed as endangered when the federal Endangered Species Act went into effect in 1973. At the time, only 1,000 of them were left. But after 40 years of manatee-protecting measures like boat speed limits and habitat protection, there are now more than 6,600 of them. The manatee experts involved in the study predict that the population will double over the next 50 years and then plateau, with very little chance of the numbers dipping to below 500, as long as conservation efforts are maintained. The main threats they face will continue to be collisions with watercraft and the loss of warm-water habitats where they are protected from cold water in the winter. Red tides could also become a serious threat if they increase in intensity and frequency. "If the rate of mortality from watercraft collisions were to double, the population's resilience would be compromised," says Runge. If that were allowed to happen, the chance that the population would drop to under 500, the crucial number, would be around 4 percent. "We looked at all the other pressures people have mentioned, and we did not find any combination of threats that raised the risk of a decline to fewer than 500 animals on either coast above nine percent." David Hinkel/USFWS Endangered Species/CC BY 2.0 Of interest is that the populations will likely shift around the state thanks to regional environmental changes. According to a summary of the report: For example, some southeast Florida power plants are expected to shut down over the next 40-50 years, and if they do, manatees will lose the warm water refuges created in the plants' discharge canals. Manatees in southwest Florida are likely to be increasingly affected by red tide and may also lose some warm water refuges. So southeast and southwest Florida may see their manatee populations decline. Those losses will be balanced by increased manatee numbers in northeast and northwest Florida, where warm natural springs are capable of hosting more manatees. "Manatee populations will continue to face threats," Runge says. "But if these threats continue to be managed effectively, manatees will be an integral and iconic part of Florida's coastal ecosystems through the coming century." When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. WATERFORD The Waterford Fire Department is testing a new tool some departments call the bomb for tackling a fire before fire engines can get on scene. The X-Tinguish FST or Fire Suppression Tool is a handheld device that when electronically activated sprays an aerosol that helps suppress the fire. Waterford Fire Chief Rick Mueller explained how easy it is to use. You pull the pin and throw it in, Mueller said. The spray coming out of the device doesnt completely put out the fire, but does stabilize conditions so firefighters can finish the job. Mueller said potentially the device could reduce the heat in the room in which a fire is burning from 1,000 to 1,700 degrees down to as low as 200 degrees in as few as 30 seconds. It will suppress fire in a 5,000 cubic feet (space). It works best in an enclosed area. If I can open the door, throw it in and close the door, it works better than if the windows are out. Mueller ordered 10 units and a training unit and put his firefighters through the training last week. If a volunteer firefighter looks out his window and sees fire coming from the Village Hall, he could throw this in the window before the engine gets there and reset the fire for us, Mueller said. Success in Hartland In Waukesha County, Hartland Fire Chief Dave Dean said hes sold on the device and recommends it to any department. Its a tool in our tool box that really makes a lot of sense, Dean said. He said he used it on two house fires that significantly reduced the fire damage to the property and the damage that would have resulted from all the water it would normally take to put out the fire. We believe so firmly in them we have one on each of our fire trucks and have one in each of our police cars. They (police officers) have all gone through a class on proper use, Dean said. Dean said even though the devices cost $600 each, insurance companies like them so much they pick up the tab when his department uses them. Mueller has applied for a grant to get 20 more units for Waterford and aims to put them in police patrol cars and public works vehicles as well as in the community with fire volunteers. This is completely safe and non-toxic for someone to deploy as well as anyone who could be in the structure fire, Mueller said. In a small community, this expands our reach to get there faster. Today in the fire service, it is about speed. In emergency services, if its not fast it is not emergency services. Dean said its so safe hes even held talks in Hartland about the possibility of stationing them in subdivisions for residents to use in case of a house fire. All the neighbors would know where it is and they could run to this, like an old time (alarm) pull box, and they should become as popular as heart defibrillators, in my opinion, Dean said. Militants launched 52 attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in ATO area in Donbas over the past day. This is reported by the ATO press center. In Mariupol direction, militants used 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms to shell Ukrainian marines near Vodiane (16km north-west of Donetsk). The enemy also used grenade launchers and heavy machine guns to fire at Ukrainian positions outside Pavlopol (30 km northeast of Mariupol) and Krasnohorivka (29 km west of Donetsk). In Donetsk direction, terrorists fired at Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk), using 122mm artillery, 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of different systems and heavy machine guns. Ukrainian servicemen outside Zaitseve (67km north-north-east of Donetsk) and Kamyanka (62km south of Donetsk) came under 82mm mortar, heavy machine gun and small arms fire. In Luhansk direction, Russian-backed militants used 120mm mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms to launch attacks on ATO troops near Krymske (42.5km north-west of Luhansk). Ukrainian strongholds outside Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) came under 82mm mortar and grenade launcher fire. ol Since 2010 the IFC has invested $900 million in the development of the Ukrainian agricultural sector and plans to continue paying special attention to investments in this sector. Head of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Ukraine Olena Voloshyna said this during the IV International Forum of Agrarian Investments "Agro Invest Forum 2017" on April 27, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "The International Finance Corporation is the largest investor for the agricultural and business sectors. We have invested about $900 million over the past six years in the industry," Voloshyna said. She has added that IFC plans to invest in the Ukrainian agrarian sector in the future. ish Members of the European Parliament's Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee plan to visit the controlled territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but this possibility depends on the permission of the president of the EU legislative body. Dariusz Rosati, the Chairman of the European Parliament's Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee, said this on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. "The next meeting of the Parliamentary Committee of the EU-Ukraine Association will be held in Ukraine in September. We would like the members of the European Parliament to have an opportunity to visit Donetsk and Luhansk regions in order to assess first-hand the situation. We hope that it will happen, but this issue should be approved by the President of the European Parliament, taking into account the security situation," the Polish MEP said. At the same time, Rosati has stressed that his colleagues will be ready to visit Donbas at any other time, when this will be possible. ish First Deputy Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Iryna Gerashchenko met with Director-General for Foreign Policy Department of the Foreign Ministry of Portugal, Francisco Antonio Duarte Lopez. "I thanked Portugal for its consistent support in providing us with a visa-free regime," Gerashchenko wrote on Facebook. According to her, Francisco Lopez, in turn, spoke about Ukrainians, who now do a lot for the Portuguese economy. "Nevertheless, the key topic of the meeting was the political and humanitarian situation in Donbas, the work of the Minsk groups. All of us are concerned about the growing violence against the OSCE mission in the occupied Donbas. We demand to conduct a thorough investigation into the OSCE patrol car blast," Gerashchenko said. She also stressed that Ukraine rested full responsibility for the deaths and injuries of monitors upon Russian-backed militants. "I also told my Portuguese colleague about our efforts to release the hostages in the occupied territories, whose total number is 127 people. I called for stepping up pressure on the Russian Federation in the matter of release of political prisoners and extending and strengthening sanctions until the Minsk Agreements and de-occupation of Crimea are fully implemented," Gerashchenko added. ol AMMAN, 27 April 2017 Ishmael Beah, author, former child soldier and UNICEF Advocate for Children Affected by War, wrapped up a three-day visit to Jordan today to help amplify the voices of vulnerable young people affected by the conflict in Syria. Beah, who is internationally renowned for his books, A Long Way Gone, A Memoir of a Child Solider, and Radiance of Tomorrow, A Novel, was in Jordan to develop the advocacy skills of nearly 50 young people from Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Many of them have seen their lives upended by the six year-long war in Syria. While in Jordan, Beah visited children in the Zaatari refugee camp near the Syrian border, and a UNICEF supported-Makani centre in Amman where children and young people can come to learn and get psychosocial support. After more than six years of war and heavy violence, more than 2.5 million children from Syria are now living as refugees in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq. Young people who survive war have an amazing ability to persevere and become the champions for peace that are so needed, despite the horrors they have been through, said Beah, who attended a UNICEF-supported workshop on youth engagement. I know from experience that all that pain, that unimaginable suffering, and that sense of loss of humanity, can all be refocussed towards something positive, said Beah. Especially when you have someone who believes in you, supports you and extends a helping hand. With support from UNICEF, partners and donors including the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (MADAD), 120 young people who are refugees or vulnerable host communities have been trained as researchers as part of an innovative Participatory Action Research initiative where young people can open up to each other about their lives and aspirations. The researchers interview other marginalized young people to find their biggest challenges. Many of them have dropped out of school and started working to help their families make ends meet. The research is meant to contribute to better access to education and vocational training. The training also equips vulnerable young people with skills to address issues like early marriage, protection against violence and hazardous types of labour. Children and young people are not the problem they are a fundamental part of the solution, said Veera Mendonca, UNICEFs Regional Advisor for Adolescent Development. If we invest in them they will become the doctors, lawyers, nurses, thinkers, entrepreneurs and the change makers for childrens rights. For Israa, 20, a Syrian refugee in Jordan, and a young researcher, the training has made a difference. The training taught me how to identify peoples problems and ways that can help make our voices be heard, she said, noting that she has applied some of her learning to talk families out of getting girls married early. These young people have been teaching me a lot in return, said Beah, who as a child was made to fight in the civil war in Sierra Leone, before attending a UNICEF-supported rehabilitation centre. He lost his family in the war and eventually had to flee the country. These young people dont want to be pitied, they want to have their rights respected and be empowered so that they can grow to their full potential. ### Note to Editors: This was Ishmael Beahs first visit to the region for UNICEF. He became a UNICEF Advocate for Children affected by war in November 2007, and has travelled extensively to advocate for the rights of children. Beah currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children. He is completing his third book The Lively Skeletons of Every Season, A Novel to be published by Riverhead. Makani Arabic for My Space is an innovative approach developed by UNICEF and funded in part through the EUs Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis to address the needs of Syrian refugee children and youth as well as vulnerable host communities. With more than 200 centres throughout Jordan, its a one-stop location that provides learning opportunities, psychosocial support and better integration for children and youth. Its in line with the No Lost Generation initiative to address the needs of millions of children impacted by the crises in Syria and Iraq. U.S. President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, took more than $500,000 from Turkey and tens of thousands of dollars from Russian interests after being warned in 2014, when he retired as an Army lieutenant general, not to accept payments from foreign governments, new documents show. "We have no evidence, zilch, that he obtained permission from the secretary of the Army and the secretary of state to accept any foreign government payments as required by law," Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Thursday as he released the documents about Flynn. Watch: Department of Defense Investigating Former National Security Adviser One document showed the U.S. Defense Department's inspector general's office had opened its own investigation into whether Flynn sought permission to accept the payments from the foreign governments. That investigation is separate from the congressional probe. These documents raise grave questions about why General Flynn concealed the payments he received from foreign sources after he was warned explicitly by the Pentagon, Cummings said. WATCH: Cummings on Mike Flynn White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the Defense Department probe of Flynn was "appropriate if they think there is wrongdoing." But Spicer said the Trump administration did not review Flynn's security clearance before he was named national security adviser, relying instead on a 2016 renewal of the clearance during the administration of Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, which occurred after Flynn's 2015 trip to Russia. Among other payments, Flynn was paid $45,000 in 2015 to attend the 10th anniversary of the Kremlin-controlled Russia Today television network, sitting next to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a gala dinner. Spicer said Trump "made the right decision at the right time and he continues to stand by it," regarding his firing of Flynn in February after just 24 days on the job. Trump ousted Flynn after it was learned he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence and others about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to Washington in the weeks before Trump assumed power. The retired three-star general was a vocal Trump political supporter during last year's presidential election campaign before Trump named him to the high-level White House job. Flynn's Russian connections are a key component of investigations by the House and Senate intelligence committees and the top U.S. law enforcement agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, into details of the U.S. intelligence community conclusion that Russia meddled in the U.S. election to boost Trump's chances of winning. Congressional requests denied Cummings said the White House had refused congressional requests to turn over its records related to Flynn's hiring at the White House, which could shed light on whether Trump and other officials knew of the Russian and Turkish payments to Flynn when he was named to the key security position. Earlier this week, Spicer said it had turned over Flynn-related documents to congressional investigators. But Cummings disputed that, saying, "I don't understand why the White House is covering up for Michael Flynn after the president fired him. I don't get it." Cummings said Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of the House panel, had not followed up and insisted that the White House release more documents, nor had he called Flynn to testify. On Tuesday, however, Cummings and Chaffetz held a joint news conference in which they said Flynn might have broken the law by not disclosing the payments when he filed paperwork last year to renew his security clearance. "As a former military officer, you simply cannot take money from Russia, Turkey or anybody else and it appears as if he did take that money," Chaffetz said. Flynn was director of the Defense Intelligence Agency under Obama but was forced out because of his chaotic management style. Later, he started advising Trump on foreign affairs and national security. When people from across the globe gather on May 3 to recognize World Press Freedom Day in Jakarta, Indonesia, the recipient of the top prize wont be there. He will be spending his 16th year in a secret prison in Eritrea. The awardee, Dawit Isaak, is an Eritrean-born Swedish journalist and author who worked at Setit, one of Eritreas now-defunct independent newspapers. He was arrested during a government crackdown in September 2001 that shut down newspapers and jailed journalists. Isaak has not been seen or heard from for at least a decade, despite repeated requests from his family and the Swedish government. I am happy that he is nominated for this award, but I also feel sad because it would be good if he received this award himself, said his daughter Betlehem Isaak, who will be accepting the prize on his behalf. His brother, Esayas Isaak, will accompany her to accept the award. He said that their aim is to make sure that Dawit Isaak is given the award himself sometime soon. Esayas says he and his niece worry about Dawit's condition. We are concerned that we are not aware of his whereabouts and his situation, he said, speaking to VOA Tigrigna Service. Isaak was selected unanimously by an international jury of media professionals to receive the 2017 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. The award is named for a Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of his offices in 1986. The award includes a prize of $25,000. He [Isaak] represents determination, courage. He is also a figure of democracy and freedom of expression and I think he is really someone who has given his life for his values, universal values, that are freedom of expression and democracy, said Sylvie Coudray of UNESCO. Isaak and other arrested journalists have never been formally tried or charged. Eritrean President Isayas Afwerki has been asked about Isaaks status multiple times and has referred to him obliquely as an agent of foreign powers and the CIA. Never tried or released In a 2009 interview he claimed not to know where Isaak was being held, but said the journalist will never be tried or released. Despite the lack of information, friends and advocates hold out hope that Isaak remains alive. In 2016, Eritrean Foreign Affairs Minister Osman Saleh said he was still living, and a prisoner released about a year ago said he had seen Isaak during his 13 years in various Eritrean jails, although he added, "We didnt see much of him since 2007." Martin Schibbye, a Swedish journalist who was imprisoned in Ethiopia, was allowed to visit Eritrea with a press visa last year. He tried unsuccessfully to get information about Isaaks location and health. I think until we are presented with a body, we have to assume that he's alive, he said. There are examples of people who spend decades in prison, and when you're in prison and you know why you are there, that gives you a certain strength and energy to survive even the most terrible difficult conditions. Aaron Berhane, a former colleague of Isaak who now resides in Canada, said the award sends a message to the Eritrean government that Isaak and other imprisoned journalists will not be forgotten. It is a slap in the face to the regime in Eritrea because the regime thinks that it has stifled freedom of the press by imprisoning the journalists physically. But this is a reminder that their spirit and influence is spreading globally and for that I am extremely happy and proud, he told VOAs Tigrigna Service. A new crossing point intended to encourage Cyprus' hoped-for reunification is nearing completion two years after the delay-plagued project was announced, Greek and Turkish Cypriot officials were told Thursday. The Deryneia crossing, located near the east coast of Cyprus, was hailed as another important milestone in helping to build trust between the ethnically divided island's breakaway Turkish Cypriots in the north and Greek Cypriots living in the internationally recognized south. Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci announced the crossing in May 2015, when they launched a new round of negotiations aimed at reunifying Cyprus as a federation. But there have been delays, and work on the new passageway remains unfinished while troubled reunification talks trudge on. Slovakia's ambassador to Cyprus, Oksana Tomova, organized a tour of the crossing point on Thursday, calling the link "one of the most important confidence-building measures agreed by the leaders of the two communities." Deryneia would be the eighth such crossing since 2003, when the first cut was made through a U.N.-controlled buffer zone nearly three decades after Cyprus' was divided. The island's split came in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of uniting Cyprus with Greece. Most of the road work has been finished. But barbed wire, metal obstacles, acacias and other unchecked vegetation still crowd the 150-yard stretch across the no-man's land that a nearby U.N. guard post oversees. Deryneia Mayor Andros Karagiannis said the crossing's opening would be an economic boon for his community by increasing tourist traffic and easing commerce between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Turkish Cypriot Halil Onashi said it would only take "a couple of minutes" to cross southwards from his home instead of having to take a longer, circuitous route through another crossing point. No one on the tour could explain the reasons behind the delays. But an official with knowledge of the project's details who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the project said all that remains is for funding to be allocated. "We want to believe that it'll open the soonest," said Averof Neophytou, president of the largest Greek Cypriot political party, the right-wing Democratic Rally. "But it's not enough to open crossing points after 43 years. ... What we want is to reunify our divided country." In August 1996, the area where the new crossing will be located was the site of the worst outbreak of violence since the invasion. A Greek Cypriot man taking part in a protest against the island's division was killed after being attacked by Turkish Cypriots. His cousin was fatally shot trying to take down a Turkish flag at a guard post a couple days later. Somalia's ambassador to the U.S., Ahmed Isse Awad, says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has informed his embassy the agency will no longer arrest illegal Somali immigrants in their homes or at their workplaces. However, federal authorities have not confirmed that there has been any shift in policy. Awad said the agency reached the decision after his embassy expressed concern to immigration authorities regarding the recent arrests of 11 Somalis in Virginia, Minnesota and Georgia. Once we found out that 11 Somalis were arrested from their homes for removal, we thought the arrests looked [like] profiling and targeting Somalis. Then we submitted our concern to ICE and asked clarification, Awad told VOA's Somali service. Fortunately, they came back to us tell us that they would no longer arrest Somalis from their homes or at their workplaces. No response from ICE Authorities at ICE did not respond directly to questions about the claimed policy change for Somalis. However officials have previously said that ICE does not have specific exemptions in place for certain groups of people. The agency policy currently directs that anyone in violation of immigration laws may be subject to arrest, detention and removal from the United States. Authorities say the agency's policy directs personnel to avoid conducting enforcement activists at sensitive places such as schools, places of worship and hospitals, unless they have prior approval from a supervisor. The U.S. government said almost 5,000 Somali nationals in the United States face deportation orders. As of April 1, 2017, there were 4,801 Somali nationals with final orders of removal, ICE spokesman Brendan Raedy said last week. As of that same date, 237 Somali nationals have been removed to Somalia in fiscal year 2017. Earlier rulings will stand One of those arrested at home, Awad said, was a Somali father whose four children and wife are all U.S. citizens. Awad said, He is not criminal, but a court ordered his removal in 2000. A 50-year-old Somali man who identified himself as second in command of Somalia's National Security Service was also among those arrested. He had previously been deported to Somalia in 1996. Awad said the decision does not mean a halt in the deportation of individuals whose removal cases have already been decided by an immigration judge. The U.S. law that ordered the enforcement of the removal of the individuals with aggravated criminal records is still in place, but I think what the ICE decision means is that they will not target Somalis and arrest them from their homes and workplaces. Awad said. They can continue their normal life. Requests for asylum denied Most of the Somalis facing final orders of removal are not in detention centers and are unlikely to be removed in the near term because their cases are making their way through the system. Since Somalia's embassy in Washington reopened in November 2015, the ambassador said, about 170 Somali immigrants who either ran afoul of U.S. law or had their asylum applications rejected have been deported to Mogadishu, the Somali capital. Most of those previously deported had applied for, but been denied, political asylum in the United States, he added. Another group of Somali applicants whose requests for asylum have been denied are now in detention centers or prisons, awaiting deportation. Fewer than 300 face return Fewer than 300 Somalis are scheduled to be moved out in the next couple of months, Awad told VOA, adding that his embassy was awaiting information from U.S. authorities on who the deportees were and when they would depart. ICE agents recently arrested 82 people from 26 nations during a five-day operation in and around the U.S. capital. According to a statement from ICE, 68 of those detained March 26-30 had previous criminal convictions for crimes including armed robbery, larceny and drug offenses. All but three were arrested in Virginia. U.S. immigration officials said eight of those arrested during that roundup had no known criminal records; they either had overstayed visitor visas or ignored final orders to leave the country. A different, dangerous country Some of the Somali nationals who have been sent back to their homeland have told VOA and media outlets in Somalia they found a different and dangerous country awaiting them in East Africa. Because Somalia lacked a strong central government for more than a quarter-century, many Western nations have refrained from forcibly returning Somali immigrants to their home country because of safety concerns. U.S. immigration policies have been tightened considerably under President Donald Trump, and such a clemency policy for Somali nationals is no longer being observed. Trump's travel order banned the issuance of visas to citizens of Somalia and five other countries. The order has been put on hold by two courts pending a review of its constitutionality. VOA's Jeff Seldin contributed to this report Pope Francis arrived Saturday at a stadium in an eastern Cairo suburb to lead Mass on his second day of a historic visit to Egypt. The Catholic pontiff arrived in a simple blue Fiat, with his window rolled down, a contrast to the tight security in place for his two-day visit. Organizers say 25,000 Egyptian Catholics are attending the Mass. Many of them held yellow balloons. Others waved the yellow-and-white Vatican flags as he rode in an open-roofed golf cart around the stadium after his arrival. Pope is safe Friday evening, as the sun came down around the Vatican Embassy in Cairo, police lined the streets, and soldiers waited in army trucks behind roadblocks. Despite the heavy security presence, there was a sense of relief as many eyes turned to their television screens to watch the day's events unfold. On his first day of his first visit to Egypt, Pope Francis was safe. "This visit will strengthen relations between Christians in Egypt and the Catholic Church," said Rizk Rashad, looking away from the cafe TV screen where the pope and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi were speaking. "Perhaps next our president will visit the Vatican." On the television, Francis delivered a speech warning of the dangers of rigid, narrow-minded belief structures. "For all our need of the Absolute, it is essential that we reject any 'absolutizing' that would justify violence," the pope said. "For violence is the negation of every authentic religious expression." The visit comes amid difficult times for Egyptian Coptic Christians, one of the largest and oldest minority groups in the Middle East. Earlier this month, more than 40 people were killed in three church attacks claimed by Islamic State militants. Earlier Friday, as Francis visited two of Egypt's most famous cathedrals and mosques, security forces appeared noticeably nervous, lining the streets and rapidly inspecting cars in advance of the pontiff's arrival. A heartening sign The Vatican refused to cancel the papal visit after the attacks, as well as the offer of an armored car. And while some locals feared for the pope's safety, others saw the fact that the visit was proceeding as a sign of better times to come. "We were hoping the visit would be in a better situation," Saber Ghebrial Ayoub said. "But we respect that he did not cancel. He knows that his message of peace and love will speak directly to Egyptian people." WATCH: Heather Murdock reports on Egypt's Coptic Christians Tough times There are roughly 10 million Coptic Christians in Egypt, a nation of 92 million people, but the Christian population in the Middle East is in decline. In Syria and Iraq, IS militants have driven out vast numbers of Christians in recent years. But in Egypt, Christians say discrimination usually comes in the form of economic and political disadvantages. "Many of our rights seem lost to us," said merchant Maged Taqawy Fakhry, 36. "We do not fill important positions in Egypt, and we face discrimination from authorities. We face so many obstacles and so much harassment." One of the pope's stated missions in Egypt is to strengthen interfaith efforts between Christians and Muslims. And some analysts say that at a time when extremist groups are intentionally creating division, interfaith dialogue is key to maintaining Egypt's relative stability. "From Muslims who know God, there is no challenge toward Christians," said Edward Bohnin, an Egyptian political analyst and journalist who specializes in Coptic issues. "But there is the other team, which are the terrorists. They want to divide us to control us by planting the seed of sectarian strife." Mass at Cairo Stadium The pope's visit will include meetings with Egypt's leading Christian and Muslim clerics as well as political leaders. After celebrating Mass Saturday, Francis will dine with Egyptian priests and returning to the Vatican. In his remarks, the pontiff said the path toward peace is not just the rejection of extremism, but the embrace of religion, without speaking specifically about Catholicism. During Friday's visit, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam at al-Azhar in Cairo, one of the Muslim world's leading religious institutions, met with Francis and echoed some of his sentiments. "With all these accomplishments [of the 21st century], how come peace has become a lost paradise?" he said. "The answer, I assume, is that modern civilization has ignored religion." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Tensions between Russia and the West over security in Europe, the Middle East and Asia have surfaced at an annual defense conference in Moscow. Major flashpoints include the situation in Syria and NATO expansion. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gave a stark warning about the expanding threat of terrorism and conflict across the globe at the opening Wednesday of the two-day Moscow Conference on International Security. "The situation in the world is not becoming more stable or predictable, rather the opposite," he said. "In front of our eyes we see that tension on both global and regional levels is on the rise. Further erosion of international law is obvious, so are attempts to use force to promote personal interests, to strengthen own security at the expense of others' security, to contain by all means the process of a formation of a polycentric world order." Watch: Russia-West, Syria Tensions Exposed at Moscow Security Conference Middle East As if to underscore the point, Israeli missiles hit a suspected Iranian arms depot in Damascus just hours after Lavrov and Israel's Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman met on the sidelines of the security conference. Those airstrikes also symbolize the complicated nature of Russia's relationship with Israeli and Iran, says analyst Alexey Malashenko via Skype. "Russia is playing a very difficult game between Israel and Iran," he said. "It creates some problems. I think similar situation will continue. So, Russia will keep the normal relations with both countries." Russia says it wants a global alliance against terrorists and is fighting them in Syria just like a U.S.-led Western alliance has been doing. But Western and Arab states say Russia is defending Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and they accuse him of responsibility for a chemical attack on civilians this month that Moscow and Damascus blame on Syrian rebels. The Western alliance wants Assad out of power, but the Kremlin fears losing its ally in Damascus would mean losing regional influence. "Maybe the problem of Bashar al-Assad, his presidency, is most painful problem for Kremlin because indeed, it has to be replaced, and Putin and in Kremlin they understand it. That's no doubt," Malashenko said. "But, anyway, by whom it's possible to replace him, who will come instead of him? This is a problem." NATO Another problem, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, is the gradual expansion of the NATO Western military alliance into eastern Europe. "NATO is a military and political bloc and not a group of stamp collectors. It follows a course of projecting its power and bringing more and more states into its orbit," Shoigu said at the conference opening. "The recent decision to make Montenegro an alliance member is the latest proof of that. Podgorica's military potential is close to zero, but its geographic location allows [the alliance] to strengthen control over the Balkans." Montenegro's opposition held protests Tuesday against joining NATO. Many fear joining the Western alliance could upset relations with Russia, or even lead to a military clash. Also this week, U.S. fighter jets arrived in Estonia, and British typhoon jets went to Romania, as NATO reassures members concerned about Russian aggression. Trust is almost completely eroded between NATO and the Kremlin, says the Carnegie Moscow Center's Petr Topychkanov via Skype. "It all started from Yugoslavia in 1990s, but then Georgia war, NATO extension, missile defense programs United States and NATO and, of course, the most recent and the most important thing was the Crimea annexation by Russia." On East Asia, Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed North Korea's nuclear program. Russia agrees to pressure Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions, but only through the U.N. Security Council. The Senate on Thursday confirmed Alex Acosta as secretary of labor, filling out President Donald Trump's Cabinet as he approaches his 100th day in office. The vote was 60-38. Once sworn as the nation's 27th secretary of labor, the son of Cuban immigrants will lead an a sprawling agency that enforces more than 180 federal laws covering about 10 million employers and 125 million workers. Acosta has been a federal prosecutor, a civil rights chief at the Justice Department and a member of the National Labor Relations Board. He wasn't Trump's first choice for the job. Former fast-food CEO Andrew Puzder withdrew from consideration last month, on the eve of his confirmation vote, after becoming a political headache for the new administration. Puzder acknowledged having hired a housekeeper not authorized to work in the U.S. and paying the related taxes years later after Trump nominated him and came under fire from Democrats for other issues related to his company and his private life. From the beginning, Acosta's was a quiet march to confirmation that stood out because it didn't attract the deep partisan battles faced by some of Trump's other nominees, including Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Justice Neil Gorsuch's nomination provoked such a fight that majority Senate Republicans used the "nuclear option" to remove the 60-vote filibuster barrier for Supreme Court picks. Muted response Democrats and most labor groups were mostly muted in their response to Acosta's nomination. At his confirmation hearing, Democratic Senators Patty Murray of Washington and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts hammered Acosta for answers on a selection of issues important to labor and whether Acosta would cave to political pressure from Trump. Acosta refused to answer the policy questions until he was confirmed but vowed to be an independent and fair voice for workers. Tellingly, even as Acosta's nomination wound through the Senate, Democrats and their allies tried to move on to other, labor-related issues namely, a minimum wage hike to $15 an hour, which Trump opposes. Meanwhile, the Labor Department's landing page bears a glimpse of Acosta's policy priorities: "Buy American, Hire American." That's the title of Trump's executive order this week directing the secretaries of labor and other agencies to issue guidance within 60 days on policies that would "ensure that, to the extent permitted by law,'' federal aid "maximize the use of materials produced in the United States, including manufactured products; components of manufactured products; and materials such as steel, iron, aluminum, and cement.'' The Taliban has unleashed its annual so-called spring offensive in Afghanistan, saying it will mainly target U.S.-led foreign occupation troops to force them to quit the country. In a formal announcement released Friday, the Islamist insurgency claimed Operation Mansouri went into action early Friday morning across all 34 Afghan provinces. It explained the offensive has been named after Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour, who was killed by an American drone last year. These operations will involve conventional attacks, guerrilla warfare, complex martyrdom (suicide) attacks, insider attacks, and use of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) to achieve their objectives, said the statement by the Talibans so-called leadership war council. Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh dismissed the insurgent announcement as just another name terrorists are using for propaganda purposes and attacks against innocent civilians. He told VOA that Afghan forces are fully prepared and, as they did in the previous year, will defeat the Talibans so-called new Operation Mansouri. No letup in attacks While there has been no letup in insurgent attacks in Afghanistan over the past several years, the onset of springtime militants to ramp up their activities because melting snows on mountain peaks allows insurgents to launch major battlefield attacks. Fridays announcement came a week after the Taliban staged its deadliest raid on a major Afghan military base in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. The assault reportedly killed more than 250 Afghan soldiers and wounded many others. The casualty toll was much more than the losses Afghan forces suffered in the battlefield in the past several weeks, prompting the defense minister and the military chief to step down. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, during last weeks trip to Kabul, warned that 2017 will be a tough fighting year for Afghan security forces. Analysts have warned that increasing contacts in recent months between Russia and the Taliban could complicate U.S.-led efforts to stabilize Afghanistan. Commander of U.S. and foreign forces in the country, General John Nicholson, while speaking alongside Mattis, reiterated concerns over Russias involvement in the Afghan conflict and expressed Washingtons concern that Moscow is apparently sending weapons to the Taliban. We continue to get reports of this assistance, and, of course, we had the overt legitimacy lent to the Taliban by the Russians. That really occurred starting late last year, beginning through this process theyve been undertaking, asserted Nicholson. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, while responding to the allegations earlier this week, dismissed them as unprofessional and groundless assertions, saying, nobody has presented a shred of evidence to back them up. Lavrov reiterated that Moscows contacts with the Taliban are meant only to encourage insurgents to join peace and reconciliation talks with the Afghan government. Civilians pay higher price The Taliban has extended its territorial control in Afghanistan since the withdrawal of international combat troops in 2014 and inflicted heavy casualties on Afghan forces. Officials estimated that close to 7,000 Afghan security personnel were killed in 2016. The intensification of fighting continues to also inflict high numbers of casualties on civilians, according to United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA. The mission said Thursday 715 Afghan civilians died during the first quarter of 2017 while many more were wounded or maimed. UNAMA documented a 54 percent increase in conflict-related deaths of women and a 17 percent rise in child fatalities compared to the same period last year. With the so-called fighting season imminent, I appeal to all parties to take every measure possible to prevent unnecessary and unacceptable harm to Afghan civilians, said UNAMA chief, Tadamichi Yamamoto. With U.S. President Donald Trump facing challenges overseas in Syria and North Korea, as well as growing tensions with Russia, the public face of his his administration remains largely unknown, with hundreds of top U.S. diplomatic positions still unfilled. So far, only two new U.S. ambassadors have been confirmed to Israel and the United Nations. More than three months into his presidency, Trump has nominated others for China, New Zealand, Japan, Congo and Senegal. He has not yet nominated anyone for 181 out of a total of 188 U.S. ambassadorships. In the first four months of his presidency, Barack Obama had nominated eight ambassadors (including country and ambassador designations such as the United Nations), George W. Bush had nominated three, Bill Clinton 15 and George H.W. Bush 14, according to the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Presidential Transition. Tuesday, the nominee to be the next U.S. ambassador to China, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, will appear in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his first nomination hearing. But as tensions on the Korean Peninsula rise, Trump has not yet nominated a U.S. ambassador to South Korea or an assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Ambassadors are normally political appointees and are traditionally replaced under each new administration. The Brookings Institution's Thomas Wright calls this level of unfilled senior positions unprecedented and worrisome. "If you take, for instance, the recent summit with President Xi Jinping of China, there were very few Asia experts appointed to senior positions," Wright said. "Those people normally would be crucial in guiding that summit along. And so this, I think, is having a damaging effect on an ongoing basis." Acting State Department spokesman Mark Toner sought to quell concerns at a recent briefing. "I can assure everyone in this room and everyone in the United States and around the world that these are not vacancies, that there are senior State Department officials serving in acting capacities, but these folks are seasoned veterans of the Foreign Service and seasoned diplomats," Toner said when questioned by VOA. The acting spokesman and career diplomat said appointing new ambassadors and assistant secretaries of state always takes time under every new administration. But why is this administration having more problems filling top positions than previous ones? Retired U.S. Ambassador Ron Neumann told VOA it may have something to do with Trump's vetting team. "There is a very small group in the White House that is controlling a lot of things, and there are some tensions within that group," Neumann said. "But in addition to that, it [the group] is just small. So it's perfectly possible that a large part of the delay is simply that those making the decisions are totally overloaded." Neumann, now president of the American Academy of Diplomacy, noted that when it comes to top foreign policy positions within the State Department, there may be other considerations. "I think there's an additional feature, which is that Secretary [of State Rex] Tillerson wants to finish his review of how to restructure the State Department before he fills a lot of jobs, some of which might be eliminated. And there's a certain logic to that, but the price may be too high if it goes on too long," the former ambassador noted. In an unusual interview with The New York Times released Thursday, Tillerson's spokesman, R.C. Hammond, confirmed this, saying there was no sense nominating candidates for jobs that may eventually be cut. "The first step was to find out where the Titanic was, and then it was to map out where everything else is," Hammond told the newspaper. The Trump administration has proposed cutting the State Department's budget by close to 30 percent. Congressional leaders from both major political parties have said they will not approve such cuts. Political factors Wright says he believes there are also political factors behind the lack of nominations. "Particularly, some people around Trump are intent on vengeance against people who opposed him in the campaign. And so they've ruled out any Republicans who criticized or opposed Trump during the election," the Brookings Institution fellow said. "But they have virtually nobody who is qualified for senior Senate-confirmable positions, or very few people who actually supported him and so we have a bit of a standoff." Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass said the most "natural pool of talent on the Republican side" has been precluded from consideration because many signed open letters criticizing then-candidate Trump during the campaign. "And my own recommendation and I made this point publicly and privately is these individuals ought to receive the equivalent of a pardon. That the president, if he wants to succeed, needs to be able to a call upon the best and the brightest, the most talented Americans," Haass said. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make his United Nations debut Friday, chairing a high-level Security Council session on the threat posed by North Korea's quest to build a nuclear bomb. No immediate council action is expected, but Tillerson is expected to push for other members to join the U.S. in ratcheting up the pressure on Pyongyang. The top U.S. diplomat for East Asia on Wednesday called it the start of a "last best way to see if we can get a peaceful resolution." The problem has become a lot more urgent, acting Assistant Secretary of State Susan Thornton told an audience in Washington, adding that the focus will be on economic sanctions. It's very necessary for the international community to come together and share information and go after some of these companies that are providing either products or equipment that contribute to the weapons program, she said. We are definitely looking at China and expecting them to really step up and do a lot more than they've done in the past. Trump administration officials have expressed hope in recent weeks that Beijing is willing to do more. Later Thursday, Tillerson said on Fox News that China had threatened sanctions if North Korea were to conduct another nuclear test. He said China is in communication with Pyongyang, and "they confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test." He added that despite major ceremonies this week, there had been no nuclear or missile tests. The secretary of state, however, did not say when China made the threat and there was no immediate confirmation from Beijing, according to Reuters. Time may be running out Most recently, the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific told lawmakers he is reasonably optimistic about China's efforts, although he cautioned that time may be running out. The crisis on the Korean Peninsula is real as the worst I've seen, Admiral Harry Harris told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, adding there is no doubt North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is intent on building the capacity to threaten the U.S. with nuclear weapons. The Security Council meeting will come two days after U.S. President Donald Trump gathered lawmakers for extraordinary classified briefings on the threat from Pyongyang and on his administration's plans to try to defuse the rising tensions. Meeting a critical opportunity Friday's meeting, which will include China's foreign minister as well as his counterparts from Japan and South Korea, will be a critical opportunity for the U.S. secretary of state to lay out Washington's game plan for countries that are on the front line of the North Korean nuclear threat. Tillerson's appearance before the Security Council is going to be, I imagine, a call for greater focus, greater urgency and greater strength by the Security Council, said David Pressman, former deputy U.N. ambassador from the United States and a partner with Boies Schiller Flexner in New York. He said it also would be a call to China to use its influence on North Korea to have it change course. Last year, North Korea conducted two nuclear tests and 24 ballistic missile launches. Already this year it has carried out ballistic missile tests in February, March and April, and experts believe another nuclear test could be imminent. Strengthening sanctions On Monday, during a lunch meeting with Security Council ambassadors at the White House, Trump said the council must be prepared to impose additional and stronger sanctions on North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Since 2006, the Security Council has imposed five rounds of sanctions on the regime, in an effort to stop it from advancing its nuclear program. Pressman led the U.S. negotiations for the Obama administration on the last and most robust round of targeted sanctions, which the council unanimously approved last November. He says Beijing has demonstrated a willingness to respond strongly to Pyongyang's provocations, but so far, China's engagement has not yielded the necessary results. Is there more that China can do? There is, absolutely. Are they prepared to do it? I certainly hope so, Pressman said. Because should they not be willing to do so, then the options for diplomacy to resolve this situation are becoming increasingly limited, and that is obviously extremely concerning when you are dealing with nuclear weapons. Speaking earlier this week in Athens, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China is neither the focus of current conflicts nor the holder of the key to solving the Korean Peninsula issue, according to his ministry's website, and he called for a peaceful and rational voice on the matter. TECHNOLOGY Mobile ads boost Alphabet earnings After struggling for years to wring profit from the mobile boom, Google is benefiting from a surge in clicks on its smartphone ads. Capitalizing on consumers shift away from laptops, Google crammed more ads into mobile search results, including new lucrative shopping spots, while running more promotions on its Maps app. The result: Parent Alphabet beat analysts sales projections in the first quarter, ending a four-year streak of missing Wall Street estimates. Revenue in the most recent quarter, minus payouts to partners, was $20.12 billion, above forecasts of $19.76 billion. Net income was $7.73 a share. Analysts expected $7.42, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Company shares rose 4.2 percent, to $929.00, in extended trading after closing on a record high. Major marketers paused spending recently on Googles YouTube over concern about ads running beside offensive videos, but this probably had little effect on the first quarter because it began less than two weeks before the period ended. And the boycott didnt include search ads, the bulk of Googles business. Bloomberg News AIRLINEs American hikes pay of pilots, flight attendants American Airlines sent industry stocks reeling after unexpectedly granting pay raises to pilots and flight attendants a move that weakened the case that carriers are poised to generate steady profits. The pay bumps will add $930 million in costs through 2019, American said. Chief executive Doug Parker reversed his earlier opposition to such mid-contract increases after months of pressure from employees who argued they were falling behind counterparts at rival carriers. Its a move that might surprise or even dismay some of you because it adds costs to the airline, but we couldnt be more convicted about doing it, Parker told investors and analysts on a conference call after announcing earnings. American stock tumbled more than 5 percent Thursday, closing at $43.98 a share. Revenue for each seat flown a mile, a proxy for pricing power, will rise 3 percent to 5 percent in the current quarter, American said. The airline reported first-quarter adjusted earnings of 61 cents a share, topping the 57-cent average of analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Sales were $9.62 billion, in line with estimates. Bloomberg News Also in Business Toyota is recalling about 250,000 small trucks mainly in North America because the rear wheels have the potential to lock up, causing drivers to lose control. The recall covers certain Tacoma trucks from the 2016 and 2017 model years. The company would not say if the problem has caused any crashes or injuries. Amazon.com posted a 41.1 percent jump in first-quarter profit on Thursday, driven by sustained growth in online retail sales and its profitable cloud business. The worlds biggest online retailer said net income rose to $724 million, or $1.48 per share, from $513 million, or $1.07 per share, a year earlier. This marks the eighth straight quarter Amazon has posted a net profit. Net sales rose 22.6 percent, to $35.71 billion, in the quarter ended March 31 from $29.13 billion. (Amazon chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post.) Fewer U.S. consumers signed contracts to buy homes last month. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that its pending-home sales index slipped 0.8 percent to 111.4 in March, from 112.3 in February. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the Realtors, said that even with the dearth of inventory, activity was still the third best in the past year. Sellers are in the drivers seat this spring as the intense competition for the few homes for sale is forcing many buyers to be aggressive in their offers, Yun said. Recalls and lower sales took a bite out of Ford first-quarter profit. The automakers net income fell 35 percent, to $1.6 billion, or 40 cents per share, in the first quarter, the company reported Thursday. Without one-time items, including a gain from canceling a planned plant in Mexico, Ford earned 39 cents per share. Sales dropped slightly in the first quarter to 1.7 million vehicles. Revenue climbed 4 percent, to $39 billion. From news reports Coming today 8:30 a.m.: Commerce Department releases first-quarter gross domestic product. 8:30 a.m.: Labor Department releases the first-quarter employment cost index. Earnings: Exxon, General Motors. PUERTO RICO Board may consider bankruptcy filing Puerto Ricos federal overseers took a first step Friday toward considering the use of bankruptcy-like proceedings to allow the island to escape $70 billion of debt. The U.S. territorys oversight board, which was created to help resolve the fiscal crisis, also approved a plan that calls for extracting concessions from owners of water agency bonds. The board unanimously approved a measure to hold executive sessions to consider petitioning a court to cut Puerto Ricos obligations. That process, known as Title III, was created under a rescue law enacted last year. The vote also allowed the board to consider a negotiated settlement with creditors should one be reached. Were trying to do our best and trying to do the right thing by all the stakeholders and the people of Puerto Rico, Jose Carrion, chairman of the board, told reporters after the meeting. The decision comes just days before the expiration of a legal stay that sheltered the island from lawsuits by bondholders after a series of defaults. Bloomberg AUTO INDUSTRY GM drew record income in first quarter People are buying more SUVs and trucks, and paying General Motors handsomely for them, pushing the companys first-quarter net income up 34 percent to a record $2.6 billion. U.S. sales of large SUVs such as the Chevrolet Tahoe rose nearly 15 percent for the quarter to almost 54,000. Pickup truck and van sales were up 1 percent to 238,000, and sales of smaller SUVs rose 16 percent to nearly 219,000, GM reported Friday. Analysts say GM makes $10,000 or more on each big SUV and pickup as people load them out with options. That helped drive up GMs average vehicle sale price to over $34,000, beating the industry average by $3,000, the company said. All of our facilities, full-size SUVs and the three truck plants, are running full-on, three shifts, to meet demand, chief financial officer Chuck Stevens said. GMs earnings of $1.70 per share shattered the $1.47 predicted by analysts polled by FactSet. Revenue was up 11 percent to $41.2 billion, topping estimates of $40.6 billion. GM made $3.4 billion before taxes in North America, up almost 50 percent, or $1.1 billion, from a year ago. U.S. sales rose just under 1 percent in the quarter while the whole industry was down 1.5 percent. Associated Press Also in Business Exxon Mobil beat first-quarter profit expectations as losses on U.S. oil and natural gas wells were more than offset by overseas barrels commanding higher prices. New chief executive Darren Woods is focusing on diverse drilling prospects to replenish reserves that last year took the deepest cut in Exxons modern history. The companys crude output from U.S. wells climbed 2.6 percent during the quarter as oil production dropped in every other region of the world, Exxon said Friday. First-quarter net income rose to $4.01 billion, or 95 cents a share, from $1.81 billion, or 43 cents, a year earlier. Anthem has lost its bid to overturn a court ruling that blocked its planned takeover of rival Cigna, capping a nearly two-year battle to complete a merger of two of the biggest U.S. health insurers. The federal appeals court in Washington upheld a lower-court ruling by a 2-1 vote, according to an order issued Friday. The court rejected Anthems key argument that the medical savings that would result from combining the two companies were enough to offset any anticompetitive effects. Time Inc. magazine publisher said Friday that it has decided not to sell itself after months of discussions with potential buyers. Meredith Corp. and a group including Pamplona Capital Management and Jahm Najafi had been in the running to buy Times entire business, alongside at least two other suitors, Bloomberg reported in March. At that time, Time was moving closer to a sale that would have valued the company at more than $20 a share. Some West Virginia residents and small businesses could receive thousands of dollars under a proposed settlement with the companies sued for a chemical spill and resulting water crisis three years ago. If the federal court approves, the settlement filing shows West Virginia American Water would pay up to $126 million and Eastman Chemical $25 million. Thousands of gallons of a coal-cleaning agent leaked from a storage tank into the Elk River in January 2014, leaving about 300,000 people without water for up to nine days. From news reports Before deciding how to save for our daughters college education, we calculated how much we needed to invest on a monthly basis. Its like retirement planning. You have to know your endgame how much you need so that you know how to start. (iStock/iStock) By May 1, high school students nationwide will decide where to go to college and, for many, with that decision will come debt. In the classes we teach, my husband and I try to encourage parents, if they can, to start saving for their childrens college education as early as possible. Recently, I wrote about our daughter Olivias upcoming graduation. Because we started saving early enough, she will graduate without any loans. And we didnt have to borrow. Our lack of education debt drew lots of questions. Lorraine, a reader from Sarasota, Fla., wanted to know: How was [Olivia] able to achieve this accomplishment? Did she work part time or full time while attending college? Did she save money earned from babysitting or other jobs while she was in high school? Did she live at home? . . . Where did the money come from to pay her tuition and books? [The college graduate with a double major and no debt] Ill tell you. By the time my husband and I had our first child, we were in our early 30s. We owned a home, and the mortgage took up less than 30 percent of our net monthly income. If you keep your housing payment typically a familys largest expense at a manageable level, you can usually free up money to save. We had been saving for retirement since our early 20s and have kept doing so, even while saving for college. When we started saving for our childrens education, we were making good but not super-fat salaries. We bought used cars that we kept long enough that we didnt have car payments for a decade or more. If you dont have auto payments, thats money that can be put into a college savings plan. Before deciding how to save, we calculated how much we needed to invest on a monthly basis. Its like retirement planning. You have to know your endgame how much you need so that you know how to start. We tried a few calculators but settled on Vanguards College savings planner (vanguard.wealthmsi.com/csp.php). Along with a little we had already saved, it estimated that we needed to invest about $210 a month to have enough for Olivia to go to a state school. We decided to save using a tax-deferred 529 plan. We opened her account when she was 6. My husband and I chose the age-based investment option, which means that the younger the child, the more aggressive the investment strategy. As Olivia got closer to going to college, the money was automatically moved to more conservative positions. We elected to invest in the 529 plan offered by Maryland, where we live. It has low fees. And because we are residents, we get a $2,500 state tax deduction every year for each of our three childrens accounts. [Yes, all debt is bad debt] Because of our contributions over the years, the low fees and the earnings growth, Olivia ended up with savings worth about $66,000. My husband and I made a few lump-sum payments whenever we got extra money. We started even earlier for our other two children, so we havent had to make any extra contributions. Depending on their school choice, they, too, will have enough to graduate debt-free. Olivia took Advanced Placement courses in high school and scored high enough on the exams to earn college credit. She started at the University of Marylands College Park campus with a semesters worth of credits, which reduced costs. She received $21,500 in merit-based scholarships, which covered about a fourth of the total cost of her attendance. Olivia did have to buy her own textbooks. To afford them, she began working during the summer following her junior year in high school. She is a super saver. She put away about 80 percent of her earnings to pay for books and personal expenses. We did not allow Olivia to work during her freshman year of college, to ease her transition. But by her sophomore year, she got a part-time job at an on-campus day-care center. She has had paid internships throughout college. I should add that we had told our daughter when she was in middle school that she could apply to any college she wanted with just one caveat: There would be no loans. We managed her expectations throughout the college-selection process. She would have lived at home or started at our local community college if our savings came up short. Maryland wasnt her first school choice. But she ended up loving it and all the more because, when she walks across the stage next month to get her diploma, she wont have the weight of debt on her shoulders. And neither will we. Write Singletary at The Washington Post, 1301 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071 or singletarym@washpost.com. To read more, go to wapo.st/michelle-singletary. Read more: Do you have what it takes to be a millionaire? The alarming consequence of co-signing your childs student loans Corporate executives and their employees were among the thousands who marched April 22 to support science. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post) As soon as he heard about the March for Science, James Casey Lippmeier knew he wanted to participate. But he was uneasy about how his employer and others might react. He neednt have worried. It turned out DSM, the global life and materials sciences giant where Lippmeier is a principal scientist, was wholeheartedly endorsing the event. The company even created T-shirts for the hundreds of employees who marched, including North American president Hugh Welsh, who flew to Washington to participate. There has been a widespread attack on science, which of course we find very unsettling, Welsh said, adding that the companys participation was not politically motivated. As soon as I heard they were going to have a March for Science, I said, In some way, shape or form, we as a company have to get engaged. Around the world, corporate executives and their employees were among the thousands who marched April 22 to support science in an unprecedented political act that many say was aimed at the anti-science policies championed by the Trump administration. Among other things, President Trump has called climate change a hoax, spoken out against vaccines and proposed sweeping budget cuts to the National Institutes of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency. Nearly all 46 key science and technology posts in the Trump administration remain unfilled. 1 of 35 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad The scene at the March for Science in D.C. View Photos Thousands of people gathered on the grounds of the Washington Monument for a rally that culminated in a march to the foot of Capitol Hill. Organizers of the march sought to call attention to climate change and President Trumps budget cuts to organizations that aid scientific research. Caption Thousands of people gathered on the grounds of the Washington Monument for a rally that culminated in a march to the foot of Capitol Hill. Organizers of the march sought to call attention to climate change and President Trumps budget cuts to organizations that aid scientific research. April 22, 2017 A crowd of people gathers in the rain at the March for Science on the Mall in Washington. Astrid Riecken/for The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. [Scientists are conspicuously missing from Trumps government] Executives at Aveda, the hair and skin care company owned by Estee Lauder, were among the first to pledge their support for the march. Its employees, the company said in a blog post, would walk out of the lab and into the streets, and encouraged customers to do the same. Avedas Pinterest board, meanwhile, offered more than a dozen ideas for protest signs such as Protect forests, Stand up for clean water and Good hair days start with science. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer took to social media with its message: Imagine a world without #science, it said in a tweet containing six emoji. This #EarthDay, were proud to stand behind our scientists & the #ScienceMarch. These public displays of support for the March for Science billed by organizers as a nonpolitical event became a way for companies to express their displeasure at the administration without coming across as overtly political, said Peter Cappelli, a management professor at the Wharton School. If you think about it, supporting science is not the most radical idea in the world, Cappelli said. You combine that with the fact that these companies have a huge stake in government funding of the sciences, and it becomes an obvious move. The marchs branding also helped win over corporate support, he said. Organizers who included an anthropologist, physiologist and public health researcher insisted it was a nonpartisan affair, even as its website warned that an American government that ignores science to pursue ideological agendas endangers the world. Plus, Cappelli said, they held the event on Earth Day and, well, whos going to say, I dont like our planet? (The Peoples Climate March on Saturday, by comparison, attracted significantly less corporate support.) If this had been pitched as an anti-global-warming march, it would have been a totally different story, Cappelli added. But marching for science? That didnt really force any companies into a difficult position. (Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post) [Why people are marching for science: There is no Planet B] But it did put many out of their comfort zone. Pharmaceutical and biotech companies, for example, depend on government agencies for regulatory approval and oversight. Countless other science-related interest groups and associations spend millions of dollars lobbying Congress. This is an industry that tries to stay as neutral as possible, said Brian Skorney, an analyst for Baird. There is concern you dont want to overstep your bounds and anger the powers that be. At the American Society of Plant Biologists, chief executive Crispin Taylor said he was hesitant to get involved. The Rockville, Md.-based association spends $120,000 a year lobbying lawmakers on behalf of its 3,500 members. As an advocacy organization, we did not want to jeopardize our standing by doing something overtly political, Taylor said. But eventually he changed his mind. He was reassured, he said, when other companies and associations began announcing their support. Taylor assembled a group of about 150 members, 30 of them in Washington, for the march. They wore matching T-shirts and held signs that said Science is real and Ask for evidence! The truth is, we recognized that we as scientists need to do a better job of standing up for ourselves, Taylor said. And we liked the positive messaging: It was a march for science, not a march against anyone or anything. Welsh, of DSM, says the current attack on science dates back years. When he was growing up, scientists were revered. They put a man on the moon and were the inspiration for superheroes such as Iron Man. But somewhere along the way, the narrative changed and scientists began to be portrayed as the enemy, as folks who couldnt be trusted, he said. Its hard to not be distracted by politics, but this is not about Democrats or Republicans. Its about facts. Its about evidence. [Photos: The scene at the March for Science in D.C.] On the day of the march, Welsh wore a company T-shirt and carried an umbrella. Fifteen area employees and their families marched alongside him as they walked along Constitution Avenue. (Hundreds of others took part in sister marches around the world.) Look, if were going to do this, were going to do it visibly and loudly, Welsh said. Around him, other marchers held signs that said Fund research, Save NIH and There is no Planet B. The crowd chanted: Science makes America great. Science, not hate. Six hours in, Welsh was soaked from the rain. Drenched to the bone, he said, but nothing but smiles. Hopefully, he added, this is the beginning of the end of this unfortunate anti-science campaign. All were saying is: Lets be fact-based; lets be evidence-based. Thats what we do in business. Why shouldnt we do the same in life? Read more: Historians say the March for Science is pretty unprecedented The March for Science was a moment made for Bill Nye The newest Silicon Valley perk? Paid time off to protest Trump. The canon of veteran literature from the forever wars has expanded beyond the swell of male memoir and Americentric combat fiction. Its been more than a decade since Brian Van Reet rolled into Baghdad as a tank crewman for the second invasion of Iraq, and hes had time to think about it. Spoils, his debut novel, speaks in tongues, all foreign to the setting, each character a volunteer about to be betrayed by soldiering. Its a book of inescapable vows and unintended consequences. The story, though mostly based in Iraq, is nearly absent of Iraqis. The players have all come from the outside. We alternate between three narrators and pivot on a single ambush near Baghdad early in the war. Time leaps between moments leading to this attack or to events resulting from it, everyone scarred or doomed by involvement. We begin with Cassandra. She is the most dangerous thing around. The best soldiers are like her, just on the far side of childhood. Their exact reasons for fighting dont matter much. Shes a machine-gunner in a Humvee with Sgt. McGinnis, a cautious professional, and Crump, a stereotypical punk. Despite her bravery, shes wounded, and theyre all captured. Though this is fiction, we have the spectral memory of Pfc. Jessica Lynch to base their plight in possibility. Cassandra is the only character written in the third person, though we see the most through her eyes. Abu Al-Hool is next, an older Egyptian mujahideen who follows campaigns against Soviets and Americans in Afghanistan, Russians in Chechnya and finally the Americans in Iraq. His motivations are the least sensible, and hes not a particularly compelling character, though he drives the largest acts of the novel. His inconsistency may be by design. As his own zeal fades, he loses leadership of a migratory band of fighters to a true zealot, Dr. Walid. He begins to worry that the new radicals are too maniacal and the cause he joined has been twisted. It is a vexing paradox that the coarsest and most sinful among us often become the most pious: itinerants, nomads, wanderers; young men banished from their homelands, lost to their parents; and older men like myself, strangers to our own families we were all lost, in the worlds eyes and yet, at the same time, possessed of a deceptive resiliency, like the new spring wood best suited for fashioning into arrows. The third voice is Sleed, a tank crewman who represents the reluctant participant. He finally bonds with his crew by looting an abandoned palace, and their dereliction delays the rescue of Cassandras unit. His tank continues in the hunt for the POWs theyve caused, driving deeper into tragedy. This feels like a book written after Iraq and Afghanistan have been studied, the lunacy sorted out and the sensibilities of all sides given consideration. It lets slip some wisdoms of retrospect. Weve met these people in Generation Kill, The Good Lieutenant, Green on Blue and countless other desert war writing about the American at arms but rarely has actual captivity been explored. This is where Spoils moves into fresh territory. [Review: The Good Lieutenant, by Whitney Terrell] The sensory depth and description of place is perfect throughout, as Van Reet draws on his experience to paint the sunburned barrens and the hot claustrophobic interiors of trucks, tanks and concrete rooms. The sentences feel weighed with living under these conditions. The dust has grit, the heat bears down, and he gets the military tedium right, the sense of constant boredom, toil and impatience. Spoils is about waiting for action, and, as in combat, it comes fast when most are least prepared for it. Author Brian Van Reet (Peter Tsai) He also gets at the essential dynamic of each nuclear tribe, the crew of one gun truck, the crew of one tank, a cell of Islamist militants all of them foreigners to the war they find themselves in, the one they wanted. And yet its here that theyll be defined and transformed by choice, mistake and circumstance. Only the self-obsessed Dr. Walid and adolescent Crump remain unchanged, their points of view incorruptible, their similarity a comment on both. This is a raw study in the ruin of men. Its unapologetic and confessional, showing the flaws in humanity just below the skin. The story is built to allow the lone woman time to plan her escape, play captors to her advantage as the tension mounts. Shes the only one who earns our hope. Every character fears failure, isolation and powerlessness, the American occupation creating a kind of universal captivity. Van Reet shows that no one wins a war like this, and, at some point, everyone fighting in it knows. Benjamin Busch is the author of Dust to Dust. Blair Murphys Footprint aka the Lansburghs Notebook, a map showing downtown D.C.s vanishing arts scene, on view through May 6 at Flashpoint Gallery. (Tony Hitchcock Photography) Theres no art on the walls at Flashpoint Gallery at the moment, but maybe thats the point. Blair Murphys Footprint aka the Lansburghs Notebook is a map of the de-arting of downtown. A photo taken in 1979 of organizers and potential tenants outside the former Lansburghs department store, which was considered for a humanities and arts center. (Karen Ruckman) Murphy is the managing director of the D.C. Arts Center, which was never based downtown but germinated from that scene. Shes too young to have experienced the era when galleries, artists studios and other arts uses were common in a neighborhood awaiting the transformation engineered by Metro, the citys Redevelopment Land Agency and the federal Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation. But Murphy has researched the subject well, relying in part on the archives of a group that hoped to convert several floors of the former Lansburghs department store into a humanities and arts center. (That didnt happen, although the building did end up with the Shakespeare Theatre Company.) Murphys digging yielded 33 locations in an area that stretches from Pennsylvania Avenue to O Street, and from Third Street to 14th Street. The map spotlights a few arts venues that survived, many that relocated and some that simply vanished as the precinct was remade. There are a few omissions, but Murphy promises to update the project with future editions. Todays downtown arts district is actually livelier than the map suggests. Murphy intentionally excluded well-established institutions with large budgets mostly theaters as well as several office-lobby galleries that resulted from the citys zoning or historic-preservation requirements. Yet the peak period has clearly passed, and arts spaces continue to depart. The shows punchline is this bit of information about the venue where the map is now on display: Flashpoint Gallery and Mead Theater Lab, 2004-2017. Blair Murphy: Footprint aka the Lansburghs Notebook On view through May 6 at Flashpoint Gallery, 916 G St. NW. 202-315-1305. culturaldc.org/visual-arts/flashpoint-gallery. Detail from Transformers Meridian's Lab, with newspaper clippings and artifacts from D.C.s alt-arts scene. (Olivia Obineme Photo) Meridians Lab Also in a retrospective mood, Transformer is presenting Meridians Lab, an interactive account of D.C.s alt-arts scene from 1997 to the present. The concept, credited to Jess Solomon + Co., emphasizes emergence, feminine economy and radical imagination. On one of the venues two longer walls, newspaper clippings and historical artifacts are supplemented by remarks and recollections from gallery visitors. There are many laments for Footnotes subject: bygone arts spaces. Some longtime Washingtonians might argue that 1997 to 2017 is not the most stimulating moment in the citys artistic history. Perhaps thats why the opposite wall looks to the future. As of a recent visit, most of the posted comments were, unsurprisingly, about gentrification. A tomorrow in which most artists cant afford to live and work in the District seems likely. Visions of the future are usually recastings of the past, so punsters twist a name that was famous yesterday: The citys first white mayor will be Mary Anne Barry, or its first Asian one will be Mei Ri Ahn Barry. Can D.C. culture in 2037 be more than a wisecrack? Thats up to artists and patrons. On May 6 from 5 to 8 p.m., theyre invited to help us build out a collective vision for the next 20 years. Meridians Lab: Experiments, Change and Praxis On view through May 6 at Transformer, 1404 P St. NW. 202-483-1102. transformerdc.org. Artomatic 2017 Like the arts organizations based in downtown buildings slated for redevelopment during the 1970s and 80s, Artomatic inhabits structures that will be remade for more conventional mercantile purposes. The difference is that Artomatic moves in, not for years, but for just a few weeks. That can bring spontaneity and serendipity to unlikely spots, such as the empty Crystal City office block that has briefly ceded seven floors to art. Still, after 18 years of the uncurated, unjuried fairs, certain elements are predictable. Paul G. Cunninghams Orange Crush, on view at Artomatic. (Paul G. Cunningham) Many of the 600 contributors offer imagery derived from, or suitable for, the commercial-art multiverse of fantasy, cheesecake, sci-fi, cute animals and travel photography. A lot of this stuff is very well done but doesnt really need the exposure. Some if it, in fact, can be found on websites such as Etsy. As usual, Artomatics temporary home is mostly divided into small former offices. That makes it harder to survey, but the contained spaces do lend themselves to immersive installations. Among the darkened-room highlights are pulsing light pieces by Evie Altman and Barry Schnetter (whose work also emits music) and Bardia Saeedi. Also striking is Justine Lights large tree stump, dead and yet alive, because its embellished with shells and pine cones embedded in moss. Some of the most engaging pieces are 3-D. Trish Kent fashions fancy dresses out of glass, Bart Hawe makes giant metal cookie cutters, and Paul G. Cunningham crafts curving, brightly hued geometric forms that appear rubbery but are actually mesh and pigment. They twist and pop at the same time. Joan Konkel, who shows at Zenith Gallery, has long made paintings that incorporate metallic mesh. Here she is showing a two-panel work that, uncharacteristically, features a white backdrop. The result is appealingly spacious, and seems to activate new terrain for her work. Konkel could have introduced this innovation somewhere else, but it seems apt she chose wide-open Artomatic. Artomatic 2017 On view through May 6 at 1800 S. Bell St., Arlington. artomatic.org. Eric Johnsons Salton Sea and Mountains, on view at Multiple Exposures Gallery through May 7. (Eric Johnson) Eric Johnson Californias Salton Sea has suffered two major losses: first water, then tourists. Eric Johnson documents the effects of both departures in Mono Lake/Salton Sea, his show of black-and-white photographs at Multiple Exposures Gallery. The D.C. artist portrays landscapes of salt outcroppings, limestone towers and abandoned buildings, set off by water and sky that share rich gray tones. He shoots wide and in close-up, vertical and horizontal, to encompass the many ways a visitor might soak up the scenery. Neither the mountain-nestled Mono nor the below-sea-level Salton has outflows; water escapes only through evaporation, so the remaining liquid is brackish and mineral rich. Diversion of water for agriculture and Los Angeless aqueducts increased the salinity, and eventually destroyed the Salton Seas recreational economy. Johnson devotes one of the gallerys three walls to decaying, mostly abandoned structures; these include a pair of Sunken Trailers, little more than metallic skeletons awaiting an archaeologist. Conservation efforts have started to heal Mono Lake, but the Salton Seas human presence continues to wither. Mono Lake/Salton Sea: Photography by Eric Johnson On view through May 7 at Multiple Exposures Gallery, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. 703-683-2205. multipleexposuresgallery.com. National building code: 94pc of houses in Kathmandu unsafe Ninety-four percent of the houses in earthquake-prone Kathmandu Valley do not meet the National Building Code and are vulnerable to seismic impact, a study conducted by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) revealed. Dear White People was met with critical acclaim when it hit theaters in 2014. Director and writer Justin Simiens satire, which followed a group of black students at a predominantly white Ivy League university, rejected the notion that we live in a post-racial society. Three years later, the idea of a post-racial society isnt one that needs to be disproved. Weve gotten the message through the incessant churn of social media, our 24-hour news cycle and the efforts of activists calling on a generation to wake up (or in more current parlance, stay woke). Enter Dear White People, the 10-episode Netflix series, which begins streaming Friday and elevates its source material into a deeply poignant exploration of where we are now. Like its predecessor, which first arrived in the form of a concept trailer back in 2012, the series is a timely and hilarious sendup. Simien adapted it for television and is the writer-director behind several episodes. But he taps several other directors including Moonlights Barry Jenkins to helm installments, all of which feature characters subtly breaking the fourth wall, usually with pointed stares. The shows tagline, Bet you think this show is about you, is a pithy nod to anyone who (still!) thinks the provocative title is racist. (If youre in that camp, its safe to say this isnt the show for you.) Dear White People returns to fictional Winchester University, where a blackface-themed party hosted by the white editors of the campus humor magazine, Pastiche, has sent long-simmering racial tensions to new heights. Sam (Logan Browning), a film major who hosts the popular but controversial Dear White People radio show, takes to the airwaves to address her fellow students. Marque Richardson plays Reggie in Dear White People. (Adam Rose/Netflix) Dear white people, she says, scornfully. Heres a list of acceptable Halloween costumes: a pirate, slutty nurse, any of our first 43 presidents. Top of the list of unacceptable costumes? Me. The party was the tipping point in the film, but in the series, its only the beginning. The movie (which isnt a prerequisite for viewing the show) was told largely from Sams perspective. But the series smartly expands its focus to follow the aftermath of the party and the events that led to it through the eyes of five other Winchester students, with Giancarlo Esposito chiming in intermittently as our irreverent narrator. Simiens well-paced adaptation adds depth to his characters and the ways their stories intersect. Theres Lionel (DeRon Horton), a shy, nerdy sophomore who not-so-secretly pines for the affections of his straight, playboy roommate Troy (Brandon Bell, reprising his role from the film). Troy struggles to live up to the expectations of his demanding father, a Winchester dean, who doesnt agree with Sams approach of calling out the white privilege of her classmates. Her rhetoric makes this campus look like a powder keg of racial unrest like a state school, he says. Coco (Antoinette Robertson), a driven, aspiring lawyer, also disagrees with Sams outspoken delivery. Their differences and the backstory behind them are better explained in the series than the film and offer a counterpoint to Sams belief in fighting the system. Sam becomes the center of gossip when an Instagram post reveals that shes been hooking up with Gabe (John Patrick Amedori), a white graduate student. Her BFF Joelle (Ashley Blaine Featherson) is conflicted about the interracial relationship despite the fact that Sam is half white. Featherson, a Washington native who had a minor role in the film version, is a scene-stealer. When Sam reminds Joelle that shes biracial, Joelle shoots back: Yeah, but youre not Rashida Jones biracial, youre Tracee Ellis Ross biracial. People think of you as black! Sams secret relationship also causes issues with Reggie (Marque Richardson), who shares her penchant for activism and has had a crush on her since their freshman year. Richardson played Reggie in the film, but he gets more screen time here and the show is better for it. At one point, Reggie gets into a fight with one of his white friends who casually drops the n-word while singing along to a song at a party. The skirmish escalates quickly and Reggie faces a terrifying situation that goes far beyond microaggressions and cultural appropriation. The scene accounts for one of the shows heavier moments. But Dear White People is so well-punctuated with humor that, for viewers, an ugly cry can easily turn into a belly laugh. One recurring joke revolves around Defamation, a thinly veiled Scandal spoof that black Winchester students gather to watch on a weekly basis. Simiens film coincided with a number of campaigns by black students at predominantly white universities. Through groups such as I, Too, Am Harvard and Being Black at Georgetown, black students shared stories of other classmates accusing them of being unqualified for admission or being asked to show identification while walking to class. But our collective conversations about race have expanded in the age of the Black Lives Matter movement and increasing attention is paid to the deaths of unarmed black men and women. Dear White People doesnt just acknowledge this reality, but digs deeper. What does it feel like to regularly have to process such tragedy? To know that it could have been you? At a certain point, protest taking action becomes necessary. But it can also be exhausting, even soul-crushing. The show explores this, too. Joelle, whose wit isnt limited to hilarious one-liners, puts it well: Sometimes being carefree and black is an act of revolution. Dear White People (10 episodes) begins streaming Friday on Netflix. Jim Davidson snapped this pitcutre as proof the pair reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest point on the African continent. (Jim Davidson) Our readers share tales of their ramblings around the world. Who: Jim Davidson (the author) of Annandale, Va., and his son, Stewart Davidson, of Falls Church, Va. Where, when, why: From mid-February through early March, we traveled to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. As a hiker, the trip had always been on my bucket list. Although it is the worlds highest free-standing mountain, it isnt a technical climb and I thought it would be doable. My son, who shares a similar spirit of adventure and joie de vivre, joined me. Jim Davidson and Stewart Davidson (L-R) pose on day six of their eight-day trek. (Courtesy of Jim Davidson) Highlights and high points: During a free day before our climb, we took a walking tour of Arusha at the base of Mount Meru. We saw the clock tower (ostensibly the halfway point between Capetown and Cairo), haggled at the Maasai Market (a warren of shops that carry local handicrafts) and explored the main market, where common foods and tourist souvenirs can be purchased. Of course, the summit was the real highlight. During the trek, we passed through cultivated land, rain forest, heath, moorland and alpine desert before an arctic summit. The temperature ranged from the 90s in Arusha to well below freezing at the summit. We got sunburn at one point and slogged through rain, sleet and snow at others. I had climbed Californias Mount Whitney (14,505 feet), but Uhuru Peak, at 19,341 feet, is nearly a mile higher. Our guide allowed us to stay at the top, in the rarefied air, only long enough to snap a few pictures. Cultural connection or disconnect: In the heat at the market, lamb and goat carcasses were hanging on hooks and fresh fish were placed in metal tubs without ice. My eyes bugged when I was told that the hotels and trekking companies buy their supplies at the market, but luckily we suffered no ill effects during our trip. Biggest laugh or cry: I had created a cheat sheet of a few Swahili words and phrases, like Asante (thank you) and Hakuna matata (No worries). Using these phrases came naturally to Stewart, which surprised me. When I asked him about it, he just grinned and replied, The Lion King. How unexpected: Although I had read about it ahead of time, experiencing five climate zones in a single trek was amazing. Favorite memento or memory: I will never forget the unfailing good spirit and politeness of our Tanzanian support team. Besides a principal guide, assistant guide and cook, we were supported by porters who carried everything we needed to set up the series of camps that would be necessary over the eight-day trek. After we left camp each morning, the team would break camp, pack everything up and haul it to the next camp site. After about an hour on the trail, the porters would begin to pass us carrying large back packs as well as loads balanced on their heads. As they passed, they would kindly encourage those of us who were hiking far slower with far lighter loads. To tell us about your own trip, go to washingtonpost.com/travel and fill out the What a Trip form with your fondest memories, finest moments and favorite photos. More from Travel: Enchantment under the sea with whales in Tahiti Family history comes alive in Finland Honeymooning in Middle Earth: Leaving current events behind to explore New Zealand President Trump and first lady Melania Trump and the media on Thursday during a visit by Argentine President Mauricio Macri to the White House. (Evan Vucci/AP) Eons ago yes, way back before Jan. 20 I urged the American press to scrutinize, not normalize the actions of the new administration. Given the unusual background of President Trump, and his campaign pledges to tear down government as we know it, that seemed a necessity. Now, as the presidents first 100 days are being evaluated, its fair to ask: What about the news medias first 100 days? Granted, its a ridiculous question in some ways, because the media is hard to define or generalize about. (Are we talking about BuzzFeed or Breitbart News? The New York Times or Fox News or the Arizona Republic?) But because the answer matters, Ill take a shot at it here, with the help of some expert media observers. We considered the mainstream media: the cable and broadcast TV networks, national newspapers, and some significant digital outlets, and to a smaller extent, local news organizations. (Erin Patrick O'Connor/The Washington Post) Overall, the coverage since Jan. 20 has been better than what we saw before Nov. 8. (While lifted by some excellent work, that pre-election coverage was indelibly marred by Acela Corridor insularity, hideous gobs of false equivalency and a fatal addiction to hype over substance.) On election night, I called the news medias performance an epic fail on grounds of cluelessness alone. And last fall, when asked by the Poynter Institute to grade campaign coverage, I handed out a D for early coverage and a C as the election neared. I wont offer a grade this time but maybe a handwritten note: Shows improvement. Weve scrutinized and normalized in almost equal proportion. For every great scoop, theres been an embarrassing moment of declaring the president statesmanlike for giving a speech without a history-making gaffe. The best of it Despite the presidents enemy of the people labeling, with its autocratic overtones, and chief strategist Stephen K. Bannons insistence that the press is the opposition party, most reporters have simply dug in and done their jobs. To a large degree, the press has responded to the aggressive, combative and sometimes abusive tone of the president with more resolve than weve seen in years probably since [President Richard] Nixons second term, said Tom Rosenstiel, executive director of the American Press Institute. If the tone of the reporting seems alarmed, he said, thats probably less about the reporters and more about the sources who are leaking to them the Washington establishment, many of whom are Republicans. On background and off the record, these people are in something of a state of panic, he said. They are frightened and alarmed by what they perceive to be real questions of competence in the Trump administration and to a lesser extent ideological extremism. And these sources are leaking to reporters at a volume I have never seen and with a candor that is striking even to the reporters. Russian meddling in the election and Russian connections to Trump associates are prevailing media topics. A Washington Post article on national security adviser Michael Flynns talks with the Russian ambassador about lifting sanctions led to his dismissal in February, and The Post, with others, has continued to unearth the Russian connections. The New York Times, collaborating with investigative nonprofit ProPublica, provided an in-depth look at hundreds of appointments across the federal bureaucracy, noting that the list is striking for how many former lobbyists it contains. HuffPosts crowdsourced project revealed an error-ridden donor report by Trumps inaugural committee to the Federal Election Commission. Fact-checking also has thrived, said George Washington Universitys Nikki Usher. Institutional media and CNN in particular is doing a really good job making it obvious when Trump lies, often with the use of chyrons, she said. (The Post Fact Checker has a 100 Days compilation of Trumps false and misleading statements.) Countering the deserved rap that journalism was out of touch with the heartland, news organizations have made some adjustments staffing up bureaus, forming new desks and sending reporters out to do stories in places they undercovered before. Usher again: Theres been a fairly genuine attempt to figure out the blind spots that missed the rise of Trump. BuzzFeed (whose publication of the dirty dossier on Trump remains a defining post-election media moment) has broken ground since on the rise of a left-wing conspiracy media. And the Times had a standout report from Lebanon on the United States increasing footprint in the Middle East under Trump, noting the lack of any clear endgame. Local newspapers such as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch did a good job of bringing home to readers the likely negative impact of the Republican health-care proposal. And USA Todays network illuminated pocketbook issues, as in its report on how a new Trump tax plan would affect households. The worst of it President Trumps missile strike on Syria after a horrible chemical weapons attack was roundly seen as a sign of American strength especially on cable TV but the fulsome pundit praise was cringeworthy. Similar televised effusiveness without in-depth follow-up about broader foreign-policy implications came after the dropping of the Mother of All Bombs in Afghanistan. By contrast, a Trump-ordered drone strike in Yemen that killed civilians got relatively little scrutiny. Rave responses (this was the moment Donald Trump became president) also followed Trumps first speech to Congress. The heralded feel-good moment was immediately swept away by Trumps unfounded claim that President Obama had wiretapped him. TV news analyst Andrew Tyndall says that this dominated coverage for weeks; on the domestic front, it ranked second only to Trumps only legislative initiative: the failed health-care proposal. And speaking of normalizing, Tyndall told me that very little broadcast time was devoted to explaining Trumps through-the-looking-glass Cabinet appointments, men and women who aim to dismantle the very agencies they run. Broadcast coverage of Trump often lacks substance, Tyndall said maybe because he really hasnt done much. Whats being covered is the shock to the system, which gives a misleading impression of action, he said. No doubt, the news media has been highly distractible, falling victim to shiny-object syndrome, especially by over-responding to Trumps every tweet. As Usher puts it: In the quest for 24-7 news, whats novel is more important than what matters. Context and nuance are lost. While strong on breaking news, the ever-paradoxical CNN still disappoints regularly by giving airtime to paid partisans such as Jeffrey Lord and continuing to use its ossified panel format. MSNBC had a scoop, of sorts, with David Cay Johnstons look at a leaked Trump tax return, though Rachel Maddow presented it badly. And Fox News? With a few exceptions most notably, the tough-minded Chris Wallace it has become even more of a partisan cheering section, very close to being Trumps house organ. Searching for a bright spot there, Im glad that Sean Hannity doesnt call himself a journalist. Dan Gillmor of Arizona State University offers a dim view of press coverage overall, though he admits that there has been some astoundingly good reporting since the election much more than before Nov. 8. But, he adds, there has been a lot of normalizing, too. Its human nature to want some sense of normality, and journalists especially crave a sense of balance, but these arent normal times. For more by Margaret Sullivan visit wapo.st/sullivan Dear Heloise: Im helping my parents downsize so they can move to a condo. They have spent 38 years here, and the collections and clutter are just overwhelming. How do I help them get started? Ruth J., Augusta, Ga. Ruth J.: You are not alone! With the large demographics of the United States, its almost the thing thats going on everywhere. Here are some hints for you and others to get started: First, take it room by room, or by category, such as all books, bathrooms (towels, etc.), maybe even closets. Look at winter coats, old clothes, shoes and luggage. Let friends and family know that they can come and take useful items that they want. Items in good shape can be sold in a garage sale, or online. Clothing can go to a consignment shop. Do they really need a full service of china or crystal? How many figurines do they want to dust? Take your time! Plan several days, maybe only one or two a week, for a month. Charities, homeless shelters, theater groups and religious organizations may welcome furniture or appliances. Good luck! P.S. Do not rent a storage unit! You will never get back to it to clean it out. Dear Readers: Here is a little more about moving, downsizing or trying to clear the crud that seems to fill our lives. Where does it all come from? Being a military brat (Air Force) and proud of it, we moved often when I was growing up. The good news: You have to clean out closets, drawers, pots and pans, etc. Its kind of nice to start fresh and put furniture in different arrangements. So, here is a hint from Heloise: Take a look around, move the furniture, change the drapes or lampshades, paint a wall or hang new paintings or photos. It does not take much money, or a lot of time. Try it trust me and you will see that its true. P.S. If you live near a college, call and see if there are groups (service organizations, clubs, etc.) that want to earn some money. They can help with lifting, and just may take some items away to use! Dear Heloise: When summertime arrives, my nieces and nephews come to visit at the lake. Sometimes we have a houseful! Here are a few rules for the cabin: A. If you open it, move it or make a mess, close it, put it back or clean it up! B. Everyone is responsible for cleaning up after themselves in the kitchen and the bathroom. C. If the toilet-paper roll is empty, put a new one on! They are under the sink. D. If you leave, write down on the pad in the kitchen where, when and what time you will be back. Auntie and Uncle in Wisconsin Dear Heloise: When I have a hard time opening the pop-top cans, I use the end of a vegetable peeler to pry it up. Jeanette in California Heloises column appears six days a week at washingtonpost.com/advice. Send a hint to Heloise , P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Tex. 78279-5000, or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com. THE DISTRICT 14-year sentence for robbery of couple A D.C. Superior Court judge sentenced a District man to 14 years in prison Friday in the May 2016 robbery of an elderly couple in Northwest. Milton Hood, 52, was found guilty in January of robbery and assault. Prosecutors said Hood attacked a man, 81, and his wife, 75, as they walked on 23rd Street NW between P and Q streets. Hood knocked the man to the ground and took his wallet, according to prosecutors. The woman, fearing for her husbands life, hit the assailant on the head and neck with her cane. Hood knocked her to the ground and tried to take her purse, but she held it, prosecutors said. When drivers came to the couples aid, the assailant ran. After Hood was found, a DNA swab from the victims cane matched his DNA. In addition to his prison term, Judge Kimberley S. Knowles ordered that Hood undergo three years of supervised release, officials said. Dana Hegdpeth Shooting on Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown A shooting was reported Friday night on Wisconsin Avenue NW in Georgetown, D.C. police said. They said a male suffered a wound that did not appear life-threatening. He was shot about 8:30 p.m. in the 1400 block of the avenue and walked to a hospital, said Officer Hugh Carew, a police spokesman. Clarence Williams MARYLAND Navy member dies in car crash A member of the Navy died Friday when his car crashed in Upper Marlboro, officials said. Jonathan Javoria Griffin, 34, was driving on Route 301 near Village Drive when he crashed, state police said. They said he was assigned to the National Security Agency at Fort Meade. Dana Hedgpeth Five days later, College Park fire extinguished Officials on Friday officially declared the massive fire that consumed a College Park apartment building extinguished. The five-alarm fire broke out Monday at the building under construction in the 4700 block of Berwyn House Road. [200 firefighters battle five-alarm blaze at College Park construction site] Firefighters had been monitoring the rubble for flare-ups daily since the initial blaze, said Prince Georges County Fire Department spokesman Mark Brady. The fire caused nearly $40 million in damage. Investigators ruled it accidental but are still trying to find the cause and origin, Brady said. Lynh Bui Manhunt for inmate who fled psychiatric hospital A man whom guards were removing Friday from a prison van in the parking lot of Marylands maximum-security psychiatric hospital fled into woods after having earlier maneuvered his way out of handcuffs and a waist chain, police said. Authorities used police dogs, helicopters and teams of law enforcement officers in the hunt for David M. Watson, 28. Watson is charged with attempted murder involving police officers in Wicomico County and was on his way to Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center near Jessup for an evaluation in his case, said Sherry Llewellyn, a spokeswoman for Howard County Police, which is leading the search. Online court records in Maryland show Watson was found incompetent to stand trial in 2014. After the van arrived in the lot about 9:40 a.m., a guard opened the vehicle door and Watson pushed the guard to the ground, Llewellyn said. Watson then ran into woods, where investigators found some items of clothing he may have discarded, Llewellyn said. Watson was serving a 100-year sentence for attempted murder in Delaware, where Wicomico County deputies had picked him up for transport to Perkins, Llewellyn said. Lynh Bui Kaya Henderson resigned last year after nearly She left the post in September. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post) The D.C. inspector general has found that former schools chancellor Kaya Henderson gave preferential treatment to certain city officials and some members of the public by improperly allowing their children to enroll in schools outside their neighborhood attendance boundaries, according to an internal memo. The memo from Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas cited the results of an investigation into Hendersons use of a regulation that authorizes the schools chief to grant a discretionary transfer when the Chancellor determines that the transfer would be in the best interests of the student, and that the transfer would promote the overall interests of the school system. But according to the investigation, Henderson failed to act impartially in using that authority in 2015, enabling certain families to bypass the school lottery that every District family must use if they want their children to attend an out-of-boundary school. For thousands of D.C. parents seeking better choices for their children, the lottery is a perennial source of angst and heartache. Henderson stood by her actions, saying she had exercised the transfer authority in a very limited number of cases when extraodinary circumstances applied. The one-page memo from Lucas to the D.C. Council, dated April 12, gave few other details and did not specify who asked Henderson for discretionary transfers and how many she issued. WRC-TV (Channel 4) reported the memo Friday. Henderson resigned last year after nearly six years at the helm of D.C. Public Schools, a tenure that earned her national praise for leading the long-troubled urban system to significant improvements in student achievement. She had served in the school system administration since 2007, starting as a deputy to schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee under then-Mayor Adrian Fenty (D). In 2009, Rhee came under scrutiny when she used the same regulation to place Fentys twin children in a high-performing school outside his neighborhood boundary. [Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson to step down, leaving legacy of progress] A DCPS spokeswoman said the investigation played no role in Hendersons decision to leave the school system last fall. Lucas referred the investigations results to Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) on Feb. 10 for action deemed appropriate. The memo said the deputy mayor for education has advised schools Chancellor Antwan Wilson, Hendersons successor, that the transfer authority is very limited and must be used in an impartial manner, taking care not to show favoritism. Bowser offered no public criticism of Henderson. The law explicitly gives the chancellor authority to place students, Kevin Harris, a mayoral spokesman, said in an email. Our current chancellor is committed to using his authority without any partiality other than what is in the best interests of students and the school system overall. Protocols are in place to focus the use of this authority for instances such as when a childs safety demands it or for military families moving into the District. [D.C. Schools Chief: No Rules Broken in Fenty Twins Out-of-Boundary Enrollment] In a written statement to The Washington Post, Henderson said she did nothing wrong. As the IG report notes, in my capacity as Chancellor, I made a very limited number of discretionary placements for students when extraordinary circumstances applied. I stand by those actions, Henderson said. The IG does not provide evidence that placements were made improperly, only that they were discretionary. If leaders in DC do not believe that there are situations when the chancellor should exercise discretion in determining student placements, they should eliminate that provision of the statute. If leaders believe that, on rare occasions, there are unusual circumstances that require the judgment of the [school] district leader, they should accept that discretionary placements will depend on judgment. I am deeply disappointed by these continual attacks on my integrity in an attempt to besmirch my personal and professional reputation. Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) said he was trying to find out more about the results of the investigation which was disclosed to the council Thursday night but that interference in lottery placements by a schools chancellor certainly seems to run counter to the whole idea of a school lottery. The whole point of the lottery is that nobody has their thumb on the scale, he said. Matt Nocella, a spokesman for D. C. Council member David Grosso (I-At Large), chairman of the Education Committee, said in a statement that Grosso is concerned about the report and making sure the same mistakes are not repeated in the future. He will be requesting a briefing from the Office of the Inspector General. All-party meet commences at Baluwatar An all-party meeting convened to seek the ways to end the current political deadlock has commenced at Prime Ministers official residence in Baluwatar on Friday. Then-Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) during last years Democratic primary campaign for U.S. Senate. Activists want to draft her to run for Prince Georges county executive. (Astrid Riecken/For The Washington Post) Grass-roots activists in Prince Georges County are trying to draft former Rep. Donna F. Edwards to run for county executive, a chance for the progressive populist to return to public life after a bitter defeat in the U.S. Senate primary last spring. Edwards, who drew the backing of national womens groups in her unsuccessful bid to become the first black woman in the Senate from Maryland, declined to comment on her plans for 2018. But county activists say she has been meeting with political operatives and gauging public support since returning in mid-April from a months-long road trip across the country. Edwardss supporters plan to launch the draft effort next week. Organizers pointed to what they said is a growing dissatisfaction with the current political leadership in the heavily Democratic county, including outgoing County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, who is term-limited and is weighing a run for governor. Theres definitely a strong feeling that there is a prevailing establishment power structure that has a grip on Prince Georges that impedes progressive policy that can really help working people in this county and make their lives better, said Larry Stafford, executive director of Progressive Maryland, a coalition of civic organizations. Most of the political power brokers in Prince Georges are tentatively backing States Attorney Angela Alsobrooks for the Democratic nomination to be county executive, which in Prince Georges is tantamount to winning the election. States attorney Angela Alsobrooks, speaking at a news conference in 2016, is widely expected to run for Prince Georges County executive next year. (Mark Gail/For The Washington Post) Longtime state Sen. C. Anthony Muse, who is close to Edwards and has his own deep base of political support, has also been considering a run one factor that could dissuade Edwards from getting into the race. But the opportunity to compete against Alsobrooks and challenge the political status quo would likely be appealing to Edwards, a maverick who made it to Congress by ousting a longtime incumbent she said had grown out of touch with his constituents. At the same time, it is not clear whether Edwards would want the local governing responsibilities inherent in the county executives job a huge change from her role during four terms in Congress. Todd Eberly, an associate professor of political science at St. Marys College, said the former congresswoman might consider it wonderful revenge against party leaders who embraced then-Rep. Chris Van Hollen instead of her during the Senate primary. In Prince Georges, youve got one of the largest counties in the state, an incredibly influential county, so I cant really think of a reason why this wouldnt be of interest, Eberly said. If she has interest in being a governor, thats the route you take. Although Muse has been in Annapolis since 2007, he is known for his independence from the Democratic leadership there and would also likely try to claim the outsider label. Muse is the only one who has built his career on standing up to the establishment, said Wayne Clarke, a veteran political operative who is close to the senator. Edwards has a national profile based on her leadership roles on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, backing from progressive groups including Emilys List and frequent bookings on cable news shows. She won nearly twice as many Prince Georges County votes in the Senate primary as Van Hollen, who nevertheless won the nomination and went on to capture the Senate seat. Stung by the Democrats loss of the White House last year, progressives nationwide are vying for greater influence within a party they argue is out of touch with working people and corrupted by the influence of money in political campaigns. The same dynamics are playing out on the local level, said Suchitra Balachandran, a leader in the Prince Georges chapter of Our Revolution. She and others supporting the effort to draft Edwards say developers, not residents, have too much sway over county politics. Our elected officials are often not accountable to the people, said Balachandran, pointing to a successful developer-backed effort last fall to add two at-large seats to the County Council. Balachandran opposed the measure, as did Edwards. Donna Edwards is an activist at heart, and she addresses fundamental issues that are good for the people, Balachandran said. Alsobrooks, who backed the proposal for two more council seats, is popular with party leaders as well as voters, who elected her to two terms. She has more than $500,000 in her campaign account, compared with Edwards, who has $300 in a federal account. Edwards does not have a campaign finance entity listed on the state database. Community activist Zeno St. Cyr disagreed with Edwards backers who are trying to label Alsobrooks as part of the establishment. She has demonstrated that she is her own person who will be guided by her own principles and integrity, he said. Just look at her record and judge her on the merits. Alsobrooks was the only states attorney in Maryland to publicly oppose a bill sponsored by Muse to revive the states cash-bail program. The legislation was denounced by progressives who had worked for years to eliminate bail for poor defendants. It passed in the Senate but died in the House. A D.C. Superior Court judge sentenced a 52-year-old District man to 14 years in prison Friday for a 2015 robbery of a senior couple in Northwest Washington. Milton Hood was found guilty in January of robbery and assault. Prosecutors said Hood attacked the victims, an 81-year-old man and his 75-year-old wife on the morning of May 29, 2015, as they were walking along 23rd Street NW between P and Q streets. Hood knocked the man to the ground and took his wallet. The woman, fearing for her husbands life, hit the assailant on the head and neck with her cane. Hood turned and hit her, knocking her head to the ground, prosecutors said. He then tried to steal her purse, but she held on to it. When drivers stopped to help the couple, the assailant ran away. Hood was found two hours later, and a DNA swab from the victims cane matched his. In addition to his prison term, Judge Kimberley S. Knowles is requiring Hood be placed on three years of supervised release, officials said. Correction: An earlier version of this story said the robbery occured in 2016. Bullets struck a D.C. police patrol car Thursday night in Southeast Washington, police officials reported. No officers were injured during the shooting. The incident happened as the cruiser was in the 2900 block of Pomeroy Road about 9:15 p.m., said Officer Sean Hickman, a spokesman. Police were searching for a green Mazda with a Washington Redskins sticker in the mirror. A firefighter heads to help others from several jurisdictions battle a five-alarm blaze at the Fuse 47 apartment and commercial building, which was under construction at the time, on April 24 in College Park, Md. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post) Officials on Friday officially declared the massive fire that consumed a College Park, Md., apartment building extinguished. The pronouncement from the Prince Georges County Fire Department came five days after the five-alarm blaze broke out at the building, which was under construction. It required more than 200 firefighters to extinguish. The fire started Monday morning in the 4700 block of Berwyn House Road. It was mostly under control by Monday afternoon, but left a thick cloud of smoke over the area and required the evacuation of a nearby apartment building. [200 firefighters battle five-alarm blaze at College Park construction site] Firefighters had been monitoring the smoldering rubble 24 hours a day since Monday to watch for flare-ups, said Prince Georges fire department spokesman Mark Brady. Firefighters will still check the building every few hours, Brady said, but the property has been turned over to the owner. With the amount of fire that we had on Monday and the fact that it burned so long and so hot, a lot of the areas of concern became very deep-seeded, Brady said. We typically would send a team of firefighters to disperse the hot embers and extinguish them, but we couldnt do that for fear of possible collapse. The fire was particularly challenging because the building was in a vulnerable phase of construction, Brady said. Items that typically help control flames, such as sprinklers and fire doors, were not yet operating or installed, he said. The fire caused nearly $40 million in damage, the most the fire department has recorded in its history. Investigators have initially ruled the fire accidental but are still working to determine its cause and origin, Brady said. The department is asking anyone with photos or videos of the early stages of the fire to contact or email images to pgfdpio@co.pg.md.us. Howard County authorities on Saturday called off the ground search for a prisoner who escaped Friday outside Marylands maximum-security psychiatric hospital in Jessup after saying they had found nothing to indicate he was still in the area. Police said the investigation into the whereabouts of David M. Watson, 28, remains active as authorities follow up on leads, including in Wicomico County and Delaware, where Watson has ties. Watson was being unloaded from a van at the hospital about 9:40 a.m. Friday, when he pushed a guard to the ground and ran into woods near Dorsey Run Road. Police said he had somehow gotten out of handcuffs and a waist chain, which were found near the van. Officers searched the area around the hospital through Friday night and into Saturday morning, but no sightings had been reported as of late Saturday afternoon, police said. A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered in his capture, police said. Watson is serving a prison sentence of more than 100 years in Delaware for attempted murder, police said. He also has been charged with attempted murder of police officers in Wicomico County and was on his way to Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center for an evaluation in that case, said Howard police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn. Police said they had confirmed that Watson did not get either guards handgun, as they had been found in the vans lock boxes. Watson was the only prisoner in the van, which had two guards when he escaped, police said. There is no indication at this time whether this was something that was planned in advance or an impulsive act in the moment, Llewellyn said. Guards chased Watson for a short period before he disappeared into the woods, she said. Police said Watson was wearing an all white outfit with no emblems or markings, and officers found two pieces of his clothing in the woods. Howard police are being assisted by Maryland State Police, Anne Arundel County Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The ground search included dogs, helicopters with heat-seeking technology, and uniform and plainclothes officers. Watson was convicted in 2013 in connection with firing a rifle into the home of a Delaware police officer, according to the Delaware News Journal. The report states that the allegations in the Wicomico case are similar. Online court records in Maryland show he was found incompetent to stand trial in 2014. Police released images of Watson showing tattoos between his eyes and under his right eye, as well as numerous tattoos on his arms and torso. A tattoo on the back of his neck says evil. He also has been known to wear glasses, police said. He is 5-feet-8 and 140 pounds. Llewellyn said its unclear if hes still in Howard County or if hes left the immediate area. Howard County police said anyone who sees Watson should call 911. We just want everyone to be aware and on the lookout, Llewellyn said. D.C. prosecutors have filed additional charges against more than 200 protesters arrested during President Trumps inauguration, continuing to drill down on suspects they believe smashed restaurant windows, set a limousine on fire and attacked the cars driver. While most of the protesters were initially charged with one count of felony rioting, a grand jury on Thursday returned a superseding indictment that added new charges: inciting or urging to riot, conspiracy to riot and counts of destruction of property. On Friday in D.C. Superior Court, prosecutors also obtained their first felony conviction in the Jan. 20 riots. Dane Powell, 31, of Tampa, pleaded guilty to rioting and assault on a police officer, admitting he threw a large piece of concrete at the officer. Powell is set to be sentenced in July and faces up to three years in prison for each charge. His attorney could not immediately be reached for comment. Meanwhile, it seems the first of the trials for alleged rioters wont be until March 2018. During a separate Friday hearing before Judge Lynn Leibovitz, several defense attorneys said trials this year would not be feasible because they need time to pore over the 650 hours of video from police officer body cameras, cellphones and helicopter cameras. Leibovitz said she wanted to begin the trials as early as the fall and was concerned about waiting. These will be dragged out until everyone here are grandparents. Unless that is the goal, she said. Police fire pepper spray as protesters clash with police on K Street during the President Trumps inauguration on January 20. (Photo by Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post) Also at issue for lawyers is what information from the 188 cellphones confiscated from the protesters will be used by the government and what information will be shared with co-defendants. Defense attorneys have said they were concerned prosecutors could misuse information such as personal photos and videos that may not have anything to do with the riots. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kerkhoff said her office planned to identify each video, text message and email obtained that they believe directly links each defendant to the riots, as well as where each video was shot. Kerkhoff told the judge her office remained in plea discussions with the defendants and their attorneys. In addition to Powell, prosecutors said two other defendants have pleaded guilty. Those cases involved misdemeanor charges. Prosecutors also said they had dismissed charges against three additional defendants. Only about 20 of the 200 or so co-defendants had their arraignment on the new charges Friday because the full group is too large to fit in one courtroom. The remainder, broken up into groups of about 20 to 30, will have their arraignments in the coming weeks. [Inauguration Days mass arrests are challenging for prosecutors] Prosecutors allege that the protesters employed black bloc tactics, most commonly linked to anarchists. The rioters, wearing all black, armed themselves with hammers, crowbars, metal poles, wooden sticks and other items, prosecutors said. They said the protesters wore masks and goggles to hide their faces. The indictment includes a nearly minute-by-minute timeline of the movements of the group on Jan. 20. For instance, prosecutors allege that at 10:30 a.m., two defendants broke out the windows of a limousine parked on K Street Northwest and assaulted its driver. Five minutes later, according to the indictment, four other defendants broke the windows of a Bank of America branch located in the 1200 block of I Street NW. The rioting, prosecutors said, lasted about 30 minutes and occurred within 16 city blocks. Six officers were injured. In the new indictment, prosecutors charged three people for the first time in the case. One of them, Dylan Petrohilos, a 28-year-old graphic designer, was charged with rioting, conspiracy and multiple counts of destruction of property. In an interview with The Washington Post this month, Petrohilos said officers broke through the door of his Petworth home early April 3. Police were led to the house after an undercover police officer secretly attended protest-planning meetings in the weeks before the Jan. 20 inauguration, court documents show. Petrohilos declined to comment on the charges. He referred calls to the District activist group, Dead City Legal Posse. Sam Menefee-Libey, an activist with the organization called the charges outrageous and said the charges were the criminalization of dissent. [D.C. police infiltrated inauguration protest] One defense attorney involved in the case argued that prosecutors are unfairly targeting the demonstrators. The superseding indictment is sheer government abuse of power, Jason Flores-Williams said. They are prosecuting people not based on evidence, but for who they know and who they associate with. Its unconstitutional and repressive. The additional charges were based on evidence gathered during an ongoing investigation by prosecutors and D.C. police. Perry Stein contributed to this report. About 30 protesters temporarily blocked the escalators leading to the Metro at Union Station on Friday morning. (Maria Sacchetti/The Washington Post) Immigrants and their advocates will demonstrate in Washington and across the country on Monday to demand an end to President Trumps push to deport millions of immigrants and build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Up to 150 businesses in the District, Maryland and Virginia are expected to close, according to CASA executive director Gustavo Torres, as immigrants stay home from work and people gather in Dupont Circle and Malcolm X Park for separate marches that will converge in front of the White House. May 1 marches are held annually to mark International Workers Day and to support immigrant rights. This year marks the first under Trump, who assailed illegal immigration during the campaign and swiftly ramped up enforcement after he took office in January. This years march is called Rise Up, and labor, faith and immigrant-rights organizations said they will call on the GOP-controlled Congress to block funding for Trumps deportation machinery, including the border wall and the deportations of the 11 million immigrants in the United States illegally. Organizers said shops and businesses will shutter and marchers will flood the streets in dozens of cities nationwide, including New York and Los Angeles. The permit application that leaders of the D.C. effort submitted to the National Park Service said up to 5,000 people could gather at Lafayette Square, across from the White House. Protesters urged Metro commuters to join them in the demonstrations on Monday. (Maria Sacchetti/The Washington Post) On Friday, about 30 protesters accompanied by a mariachi troupe temporarily blocked the escalators leading to the Metro at Union Station and urged commuters to join them in the demonstrations on Monday. Some commuters grew angry and pushed through, but others hugged protesters in support. We want to be able to disrupt the way that D.C. has been disrupting immigrant families, not only for the last three months, but for the last 15 years, said Maria Fernanda Cabello, a 26-year-old immigrant from Mexico and spokeswoman for Cosecha, the grass roots organization that led Fridays protest. We know that at the end of the day, the only way we will win is if the people all organize together. Besides street marches, plans for Monday also include teach-ins to show immigrants their rights if they are arrested and work stoppages on farms and at colleges and universities, said Kica Matos, a spokeswoman for the Fair Immigration Reform Movement, the largest network of immigrant-rights organizations in the United States and a lead organizer of the events. Facebook, Google and the City of Seattle have all told employees they are free to take the day off to protest. All told, Matos said, they plan 149 events in 125 cities and 35 states, and one overseas in Vienna. Activists held a Day Without Immigrants strike in February, after Trump took office and issued a battery of executive orders that directed the government to arrest undocumented immigrants, punish sanctuary cities that shield immigrants from deportation and bar travelers from certain Muslim-majority nations. Some key aspects of those orders have been temporarily blocked. Trumps supporters worry that he is backing down from a pledge to build a wall on the southern border, which the president denies. On Thursday, a handful of people, led by a Fairfax County teenager, held signs in front of the White House to urge the president to keep his promise. Build the wall, the teenager, who declined to give his name, shouted as the president departed an event at the Veterans Affairs office near Lafayette Square. Your supporters need a wall. Erik Gutshall, left, is one of four Democrats seeking the partys nomination for an open seat on the Arlington County Board. (Patricia Sullivan/The Washington Post) The likely winner of an Arlington County Board race would normally be the candidate who raises the most money and collects the most recognizable endorsements. Arlington politics, however, has been unusual for the past few years. The strongly Democratic electorate twice chose a Republican turned independent for the board in 2014, even though he came up short on cash and endorsements in his first election. Just last year, incumbent Libby Garvey, who had plenty of cash but had lost the support of the party establishment, held off a primary challenger, Erik Gutshall, who had captured the endorsements Garvey had lost. Democrats next week will choose from among four candidates including Gutshall for a nominee to fill an open seat on the board, a decision that is likely to determine the outcome of the general election in the deep-blue county. Gutshall is the clear leader in fundraising and getting backing from names that voters know. But those accomplishments may no longer be enough. Arlington is sort of unique; looking at how much money a candidate has raised in the last few years has not been particularly helpful, said Frank Shafroth, director of George Mason Universitys Center for State and Local Leadership. The community tends to be very involved, and their decisions are made at the last minute. Kim Klingler is one of four Democrats running in the May caucuses for the party's nomination to the Arlington County Board. (Patricia Sullivan/The Washington Post) In addition to Gutshall, owner of a home improvement business, the candidates include tax accountant Peter Fallon, nonprofit official Kim Klingler and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Patil. They are competing in an unusual three-day party caucus in which voters will be asked to rank their choices as part of an instant-runoff feature. If one candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes during the first round of counting, that candidate wins. If not, the candidate with the fewest number of first-choice votes is eliminated and each of his or her ballots is redistributed to the candidate listed as the second choice on that ballot. The process continues until one candidate reaches the majority. Each hopeful has enough support that party insiders expect the second-choice votes to be decisive. Voters will caucus May 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Key Elementary School; May 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Drew Model School; and May 13 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Washington Lee High School. The last major candidate forum is Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the NRECA building, 4301 Wilson Blvd. Three School Board candidates vying for one seat will also appear. No Republicans have announced an intention to seek the County Board seat in November; a perennial candidate, Audrey Clement, will run as an independent. The four Democrats identify as progressive politicians eager to uphold Arlingtons culture of smart growth, strong schools and welcoming diversity. They also say they will focus on improving the climate for businesses and boosting the struggling commercial real estate market. Gutshall, 47, raised $22,512 in the first quarter of 2017. He lists multiple current and former elected officials as supporters, including incumbent Jay Fisette, who is stepping down after nearly 20 years. Against Garvey last spring, he emphasized the need for homes that will fit the budgets of young families and working people priced out of Arlingtons expensive market but too affluent to qualify for subsidized affordable housing. Hes the current chairman of the county planning commission, a former member of the transportation commission and a past civic association president, experience that he says will help him connect the dots, because all those other things schools, housing and transportation are possible only when we have the commercial tax base to pay for them. Peter Fallon, left, a Democratic candidate for the Arlington County Board. (Patricia Sullivan/The Washington Post) Fallon, 53, who raised $10,129 in the first quarter, came in a close third in a six-way race for two open board seats in 2015, and ran twice before that. A former transportation commissioner, civic association president and planning commission chairman, he has called for more transparency in decision-making and said the current board is too passive in its response to school overcrowding, Metros financing needs and housing affordability. Fallon broke with other Democrats to say he would consider voting for independent John Vihstadt for board chairman, a heresy for some activists. Mr. Vihstadt is one of the most conscientious, responsive and dedicated board members, Fallon said. We should not be hyperpartisan. Klingler, 35, a former volunteer emergency medical technician, a current civic association president and advisory commission chairman, raised $5,065 in the first quarter. She came in fourth in a 2012 party caucus won by Garvey and said she was motivated to get back into electoral politics after the 2016 presidential election and the Womens March in January. Her campaign has focused on improving public safety and emergency response times, boosting government efficiency and increasing spending on public safety. There are a lot of areas in the county where we could do better, said Klingler, a former management consultant. Vivek Patil is one of four Democrats seeking his party's 2017 nomination to an open Arlington County Board seat. (Patricia Sullivan/The Washington Post) Patil, 41, a first-time candidate who raised $20,320 in the first quarter, says he has big ideas to create green and clean jobs in the county, which would include positions for highly educated tech innovators as well as those who work in manufacturing. An engineer who came to the United States from India 18 years ago and has started two businesses, he has called for more creative thinking to improve housing affordability, transportation alternatives and school capacity shortages. When it comes to our values about the environment, about womens rights, about equal pay, let us stand up and be known for something, he told a gathering of Arlington Young Democrats in April. We may be slapped on the wrist, but I am willing to stand up. Former Congressman Tom Perriello is running to be Virginias next governor as a Democrat. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (Steve Helber/AP) Virginia gubernatorial candidate Tom Perriello, a former Democratic congressman, is calling for a tax increase on the wealthy to fund a platform that includes universal pre-kindergarten and free community college. Perriello on Friday said he wants to increase taxes on income over $500,000, as well tax services such as lobbying and private jet travel and make it harder for corporations to minimize their tax burden. Hes also proposing a $500 child care tax credit and to allow the working poor to get tax refunds through the states earned income tax credit. A Perriello spokesman says the campaign estimates the various proposals would generate $1 billion in additional state revenues each year. Virginia currently taxes all annual income above $17,001 at 5.75 percent. If Perriellos proposal becomes law, Virginia would tax income between $500,000 to $1 million at 6.75 percent, and income above $1 million at 7.25 percent. [Shades of blue in examining Perriello, Northams policy ideas] In his proposal, Perriello identifies several areas of the state budget where he would make modest cuts, including a reduction inthe state lotterys advertising budget, reducing management costs of the public employee pension system and ending the practice of elected officials spiking their pensions by taking higher-paying public jobs at the end of their careers. [Read Perriellos full tax plan] Hes also calling for changes to the state corporate tax code to establish minimum taxation and require companies to report income across different subsidiaries to prevent them from paying no taxes even in flush times. Perriellos opponent in the June Democratic primary, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, has called for a tax credit to enable employers to provide eight weeks of paid leave and a change in the states 1.5 percent grocery tax, which he has called regressive. Northams campaign said it would release guiding principles this week for a commission on tax reform. Perriello and Northam are meeting in Fairfax Saturday for their first debate. [Gillespie proposes modest income tax cuts] Any tax increase from a Democratic governor is likely to face resistance in a GOP-controlled General Assembly. Legislative leaders have endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespies call for an across-the-board reduction in income tax rates, contingent on future economic growth to off-set annual revenue losses of more than $1.3 billion. Gillespies proposal defers key details to the legislature, including cuts to unspecified wasteful spending and closing unspecified special interest tax preferences. Corey A. Stewart, the chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors who is also seeking the GOP nomination for governor, has called for phasing out the income tax entirely and drastically cutting state spending. And the third Republican in the race, State Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach), has blasted his rivals calls for tax cuts as as reckless and wants to boost tax revenue for road and transportation projects. Virginia last increased taxes for transportation in 2013, with the backing of Republican Gov. Robert F. McDonnell and bipartisan support in the legislature. Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced Thursday that he had broken the record for restoring voting rights to convicted felons, calling it his proudest achievement as governor. McAuliffe (D) said he had individually restored rights to 156,221 Virginians, surpassing the previous record-holder by a nose. As governor of Florida from 2007 to 2011, Charlie Crist restored voting rights to 155,315 felons, according to figures that McAuliffes office obtained from Florida. Today Crist, who has evolved from Republican to Independent to Democrat, is a freshman member of Congress. His spokeswoman, Erin Moffet, said Crist would not mind seeing his record fall. I know my boss would congratulate Governor McAuliffe on the work hes doing in his state, as well, she said. Expanding democracy in Virginia has been my proudest achievement during my time as Governor, McAuliffe said in a written statement. Over the course of the last year, I have had the privilege to meet with many of the men and women affected by this order, and their stories inspired us as we continued this fight against the hostile opponents of progress. McAuliffes road to that milestone has been long and complicated. A year ago this month, he announced that he had restored voting rights to more than 200,000 felons who had completed their sentences. [McAuliffe aims to restore rights to 200k felons] Virginia is one of just a handful of states that automatically bans felons from voting and requires individual exemptions to restore that right. Civil rights groups hailed his action as a way of removing a last vestige of Virginias Jim Crow era because the restriction affected African Americans disproportionately. Republicans, incensed that McAuliffe restored rights to violent and nonviolent offenders alike, said the move was really a bid to add Democratic-friendly voters to the rolls ahead of Novembers presidential elections, when the governors close friend and political ally, Hillary Clinton, was on the ballot. [Court invalidates McAuliffes order on restoration of rights] Republicans also found that the McAuliffe administration had mistakenly restored rights to 132 sex offenders in custody and to several convicted killers on probation in other states. They sued and won, convincing the state Supreme Court that McAuliffe had overstepped his clemency powers. It found that the governor can only restore voting rights on a case-by-case basis, not en masse. Undeterred, McAuliffe moved ahead with a more individualized approach that withstood a subsequent court challenge. [McAuliffe not in contempt, highest court says] President Trump holds up a signed executive order to expand offshore drilling for oil and gas, a move welcomed by the oil and gas industry and greeted with alarm by environmental groups. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg) The Virginia congressional delegation is generally split along party lines over whether the federal government should allow oil and gas drilling off the states coast. The issue reemerged last week when President Trump signed an executive order that aimed to reverse an Obama administration moratorium on extracting fuel from the ocean floor. Proponents say offshore drilling would create jobs and drive economic development, while opponents say the environmental and national security risks outweigh the potential benefits. The states Democratic members of Congress Reps. Robert C. Bobby Scott, Gerald E. Connolly, Don Beyer and Donald A. McEachin oppose drilling. Sen. Tim Kaine (D) once supported drilling but started to reconsider last March after hearing concerns from the Department of Defense and constituents in Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach and elsewhere. By the time he joined Hillary Clintons presidential ticket last summer, Kaine was opposed. Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and Sen. Mark R. Warner (D) say they support drilling on the condition that current law is changed to give Virginia a share of the revenue. Republican members say they favor drilling except for Rep. Scott W. Taylor, who is undecided. Reps. Barbara Comstock and Dave Brat have introduced bills that, if passed, would make it easier to drill. About a month ago, Comstock introduced a bill that would require three lease sales in an area off the coast of Virginia in an initial five-year period and two additional sales in every five-year-period after that. Her bill would suspend environmental reviews until 2022, although drilling would remain subject to several federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Gulf states currently have an agreement with the federal government that requires 37.5 percent of the revenue from drilling off their coasts to be turned over to the states. The rest goes to the U.S. Treasury. Under Comstocks bill, the federal government would enter into a similar deal. Virginia Reps. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) and Morgan H. Griffith (R-Va.) have signed on as co-sponsors. This will inevitably help keep the tax burden lower for Northern Virginia while paying for transportation projects and investing in continued research in renewable energy resources through the Virginia Costal Energy Research Consortium, Comstocks spokesman, Jeff Marschner, said in a statement. The bill may appear to be an odd choice for Comstock, who represents a landlocked Northern Virginia district and who does not serve on the House Natural Resources Committee. But as a state delegate in 2010, Comstock voted for legislation to allow exploration and drilling off the coast, with the bulk of the states proceeds directed to transportation projects. Marschner, her spokesman, wrote in an email that Comstock believes in an all of the above approach to energy policy. I think shes trying to do as much as she can do to burnish her bona fides as a market Republican, said Quentin Kidd, director of the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University. Four Democrats have lined up to compete for the party nomination to challenge her in 2018. Given the interest her seat is already generating, he said, her choices will be driven by the fact that shes going to be in the fight of her life for reelection. Kidds center conducted the latest public opinion poll on offshore drilling and found a stark partisan divide. About three-quarters of Republicans were supportive, while 68 percent of Democrats were opposed. Brat, a Freedom Caucus member who represents suburban Richmond, introduced a bill Wednesday that would allow drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, reversing Obamas ban. Wittman, who worked in environmental health before joining Congress and sits on the House Natural Resources Committee, said problems that led to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion could be avoided today. He is a co-sponsor of Brats bill. Being able to use our offshore energy resources, I think, is critical, including natural gas and oil thats there in the ocean floor off the coast of Virginia, he said. But Scott said the potential damage to the multibillion- dollar industries of tourism, fisheries and recreation is not worth the risk posed by drilling. Its hard to imagine why anybody in Virginia would support offshore drilling after the experience in New Orleans, he said, referring to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, which took place in the Gulf of Mexico and caused the largest marine spill in U.S. history. People talk about creating jobs, but all you need is one big explosion and you create a lot of cleanup jobs. More than 120 municipalities, including Accomack and Northampton counties, oppose offshore drilling, citing threats to marine life, coastal communities and local economies, according to the advocacy group Oceana. The Virginia Beach restaurant and hotel associations also are opposed. Beyer and Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo (R-N.J.) on Thursday introduced a bill that would block permits on the Atlantic seaboard for seismic blasting used by petroleum companies in surveying. The lawmakers say the practice hurts marine species on which many coastal communities depend. Beyer, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee who represents a liberal swath of Northern Virginia, said he worried about Trumps executive actions. It could be a different environment in a number of weeks, he said. Connolly, another Northern Virginia Democrat, added that the Navy, which operates its largest base in Norfolk, said offshore drilling would interfere with most of its training exercises. Between the militarys concerns and the potential environmental risk, drilling would be a tragic mistake, he said. If the worst happened, it would mean catastrophic and immeasurable damage. Taylor, a former Navy SEAL and first-term Republican representing Virginia Beach, said he leans in favor of drilling, but there are too many unanswered questions for him to take a definitive position. Its a big decision for our community and for Virginia, he said. Scott Clement contributed to this report, which has been updated. Burgon Sealy Jr., as seen in 2010, was shot and killed by Delaware police after a standoff in which the 26-year-old was accused of fatally shooting a state trooper. ((Delaware State Police/ via Associated Press)) CALIFORNIA Employers can pay women less, court says A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that employers can legally pay women less than men for the same work based on differences in the employees previous salaries. The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit overturned a lower-court ruling saying pay differences based exclusively on prior salaries were discriminatory. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Seng had said the pay differences were almost certainly the result of gender bias. The 9th Circuit panel cited a 1982 ruling by the court saying employers could use previous salary information as long as they applied it reasonably and had a business policy that justified it. The ruling came in a lawsuit by a California school employee. Associated Press DELAWARE Police kill gunman accused of slaying A man suspected of fatally shooting a Delaware state trooper was shot and killed by officers after a 20-hour standoff at his home, state police said Thursday. Burgon Sealy Jr., 26, walked out of the home about 9:15 a.m. He had been holed up there since the fatal shooting of Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard a day earlier. Sealy was shot after he engaged officers and died at the scene, police said. Ballard, 32, was shot around noon Wednesday just after he approached a vehicle in the parking lot of a Wawa convenience store near Bear. State police superintendent Col. Nathaniel McQueen said the vehicle had two suspicious people inside. One man got out of the car and shot Ballard several times before running away, McQueen said Wednesday. The other man was arrested at the scene. Police tracked the suspected gunman to his home in a subdivision of two-story houses near Middletown, about 15 miles south of where Ballard was shot. The gunman, alone in the house, refused to leave and fired several shots at officers surrounding the home, police said. No other officers were injured. Associated Press FLORIDA Senate apologizes to Groveland Four The Florida Senate formally apologized on Thursday to the families of four black men accused of raping a white teenager nearly seven decades ago in a case now seen as a racial injustice. The Senate also is asking Gov. Rick Scott (R) and the Cabinet to posthumously pardon the men known as the Groveland Four. The Florida House issued the same apology last week. Both votes were unanimous. The four mens ordeal began in Lake County in 1949, when a 17-year-old said she had been raped. Three of the men were arrested and severely beaten; a fourth, Ernest Thomas, fled. A posse of about 1,000 men was formed to hunt down Thomas. He was shot 400 times when they found him sleeping under a tree. White residents also formed a mob and went to a black neighborhood, burning houses and firing guns into homes in a disturbance that took days to quell. Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin and Samuel Shepherd were convicted despite dubious evidence. Other evidence that could have exonerated them such as a doctors conclusion that the teen probably wasnt raped was withheld at their trial. Greenlee was sentenced to life, and Irvin and Shepherd to death. Thurgood Marshall, later the first African American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, took up Irvin and Shepherds appeals for the NAACP, and in 1951 the high court ordered new trials. Just before those trials began, Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall shot Irvin and Shepherd, claiming the handcuffed men tried to escape as he transferred him from prison to a jail. Shepherd died. Irvin was shot in the neck and survived. He was again convicted. Irvin was paroled in 1968 and found dead in his car while returning to Lake County for a funeral a year later. Greenlee was paroled in 1960 and died in 2012. Associated Press ENVIRONMENT Court holds litigation on air pollution rule A U.S. appeals court on Thursday granted a request from the Trump administration to put litigation on hold in which states and industry groups are challenging an Obama administration pollution control rule for mercury and other toxic emissions from power plants. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit canceled oral arguments that were due to take place on May 18. The Environmental Protection Agency has said it wants to review the rule. The rule, known as the MATS rule, has been in place for years and utilities have already complied by upgrading or shutting older coal-fired power plants. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, the former attorney general for Oklahoma, was one of 15 state prosecutors to sue the previous administration to block the MATS rule, as well as its Clean Power Plan and Waters of the United States rule. Reuters Man sentenced in officers killing: A man who pleaded guilty to fatally shooting an Indianapolis police officer was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Thursday. A Marion County judge sentenced Major Davis II for Officer Perry Renns July 2014 killing. Davis, 27, pleaded guilty last week to murder, sparing himself the death penalty. Renn, 51, and another officer were responding to reports of gunfire when they came across Davis in an alley and exchanged shots with him. Investigators said Davis had fired shots during a backyard Fourth of July weekend cookout his relatives were hosting. Associated Press Brewery, 23 homes destroyed by fire A beer factory and 23 houses were destroyed in separate incidents of fire in Rupandehi, Sunsari, Khotang and Saptari in the past 24 hours. Charmaine Yoest testifies on Capitol Hill in July 2010. The White House says President Donald Trump is appointing Yoest, the former president of a leading antiabortion organization to a senior position at the Health and Human Services Department. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) President Trump announced Friday that he will appoint Charmaine Yoest, one of the nations most prominent antiabortion activists, to a high-level post in the Department of Health and Human Services. Yoest, a former Reagan administration official who until last year was president of Americans United for Life, will serve as assistant secretary of public affairs. In that position, she will help develop a communications strategy for the sprawling agency that includes Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act and family planning programs. During her nearly eight years at the helm of AUL, the organization was pivotal in pushing Republican-led states to enact restrictions on abortion in the name of womens safety. The organization developed model legislation to require women to undergo ultrasounds before obtaining the procedure and to cut off government funding to Planned Parenthood, among other actions. Yoest was one of Trumps most outspoken supporters during the 2016 presidential campaign, helping to shore up his reputation with social conservatives. She serves as a senior fellow at American Values, a conservative nonprofit that opposes abortion rights and supports traditional marriage. The appointment was greeted with cheers from antiabortion groups, which praised the choice as evidence that Trump was making good on his promise to promote antiabortion causes, despite previously supporting abortion rights. In a statement, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, called Yoest one of the movements most powerful communicators and lauded her groundbreaking efforts to advance pro-life, pro-woman legislation at the state level. This is a new era for the pro-life movement and our fight to protect unborn children and their mothers from the horror of abortion, Dannenfelser said. Abortion rights groups expressed concern in equal measure. Charmaine Yoest has spoken at length about her desire to ban abortion in this country and has spent her career working to abolish womens most basic constitutional right to bodily autonomy, Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said in a statement. Yoest, a breast cancer survivor and mother of five who lives in Virginia, holds a PhD in government from the University of Virginia. She has been an outspoken proponent of the view that abortion is harmful to women and that regulations on abortion clinics are necessary to protect womens safety. Abortion rights groups have accused Yoest of using those points to conceal her ultimate agenda: to undermine womens access to abortion. Based on AULs model bills, states have imposed such strict regulations that abortion clinics in Texas and elsewhere have closed. The organization also has championed laws requiring that aborted fetuses be buried or cremated rather than disposed of like medical waste. In an interview with The Washington Post last year, Yoest said her belief that abortion is wrong does not preclude her from also caring about women. Those who accuse her of feigning support for women are trying to muzzle her movement, she said. Why could we not care about how women are being hurt in abortion clinics and still be pro-life? she asked. Its designed to shut our voices down. Sea change. An enormous one. Thats the only way to understand President Trumps first 100 days as a breaking from and often a breaking of the Obama presidency, one every bit as turbulent as whats encountered by a sailing ship going from calm seas into a hurricane. Trumps first 50 days were a jumble of ups and downs, mostly downs. But beginning with the flawless testimony of Neil M. Gorsuch to the Senate Judiciary Committee and his subsequent confirmation under rules that will speed the way for future Supreme Court nominees, the Trump turnaround began and gained an almost uninterrupted momentum. The presidents directive to strike Syria after it apparently rained sarin poison on babies and toddlers was a defining moment, reinforced by using the mother of all bombs in Afghanistan and dispatching an armada of weaponry toward North Korea (no matter how indirect a route the ships took to arrive there). All along, a legislative legacy was passing beneath the noses of Manhattan-Beltway media elites who could not be bothered to learn the wide-ranging implications of the bakers dozen of Congressional Review Act measures that passed the House and Senate by simple majorities and were signed into law by Easter. This is a legislative outpouring not exceeded in substantive impact by any modern president except Franklin Roosevelt, though others have seen more statutes passed. Yet because regulatory rollback bores or confounds journalists, these new laws were discounted or simply dismissed. In fact, a law passed under the little-used Congressional Review Act not only repeals an existing regulation but also bars the affected agency from acting in the same area without explicit legislative approval. These measures will therefore reverberate for decades, whether by hamstringing public funding of abortion at the state level; narrowing the reach of environmental regulators over waters of the United States ; or slapping down the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on hunting in Alaska. Trumps Cabinet appointees, meanwhile, represent the most conservative collection of the modern era, and his national security team 2.0 (with H.R. McMaster taking the place of Michael Flynn as national security adviser) is at least the equal of any that has served since the end of the Cold War. Trumps sometimes loose campaign rhetoric on national security has been realigned with governing realities, underscored by assessments of how badly damaged the past eight years left the country. President Barack Obamas legacy is easily summarized in eight words: leading from behind, red line, JV , Aleppo and Libya. Sure, there have been big fumbles and stumbles, especially at the start: the first executive order on immigration; the use of so-called in referring to a federal judge (never appropriate or prudent); branding journalists, no matter how biased, the enemy of the American people. Of continuing concern are the administrations refusal to release White House visitor logs, West Wing staff intrigues and the glacial pace of appointments, particularly the absence of Republicans at the Pentagon and the failure to move swiftly on filling appellate court vacancies. All these are unforced errors that have combined to deny Trump the accolades that would have been forthcoming had his accomplishments not been so interlaced with pratfalls. Trumps most significant setback the collapse of the repeal and replacement of Obamacare is not yet a conclusive defeat. And a spate of executive orders has set the stage for regulatory relief across the federal government. Could Trump have done better? Of course. But what he has done is without question of historic and lasting impact. On the political front, there is the slight but ongoing shuffle to the center a very good thing so long as the judicial picks remain originalists and the military rebuilding robust. In office, Obama moved left, left and then more to the left. Trump has begun his presidency by casting off his moorings to the hard right while keeping true believers such as Attorney General Jeff Sessions in the forefront and the rhetoric of jobs, jobs, jobs constantly resounding. This a politically potent combination, and the drop-off in protest marchers between the Jan. 21 and April 15 rallies and the disappointments to Democrats in the Kansas and so far Georgia special elections Jon Ossoffs best shot at actually winning Georgias 6th Congressional District seems to have come and gone telegraph that it is working. Progressives complaints are increasing both in number and decibels, and their energy veering wildly leftward, much to the delight of Republicans who worry about the downside potential of November 2018. Trump has been adapting and learning in his own, always unique and often far-too-unnecessarily-divisive way. Just imagine what the next three and two-thirds years can bring if he minimizes the errors of the first 100 days and repeats the parts that have been greeted with broad-based conservative applause. Scott W. Bergs books include 38 Nooses: Lincoln, Little Crow, and the Beginning of the Frontiers End. He teaches nonfiction writing and literature at George Mason University. The arc of David Granns career reminds one of a software whiz-kid or a latest-thing talk-show host certainly not an investigative reporter, even if he is one of the best in the business. The newly released movie of his first book, The Lost City of Z, is generating all kinds of Oscar talk, and now comes the release of his second book, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, the film rights to which have already been sold for $5 million in what one industry journal called the biggest and wildest book rights auction in memory. Grann deserves the attention. Hes canny about the stories he chases, hes willing to go anywhere to chase them, and hes a maestro in his ability to parcel out information at just the right clip: a hint here, a shading of meaning there, a smartly paced buildup of multiple possibilities followed by an inevitable reversal of readerly expectations or, in some cases, by a thrilling and dislocating pull of the entire narrative rug. "Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI," by David Grann (Doubleday) [How Native Americans battled a brutal land grab by an expanding America] All of these strengths are on display in Killers of the Flower Moon. Around the turn of the 20th century, oil was discovered underneath Osage lands in the Oklahoma Territory, lands that were soon to become part of the state of Oklahoma. Through foresight and legal maneuvering, the Osage found a way to permanently attach that oil to themselves and shield it from the prying hands of white interlopers; this mechanism was known as headrights, which forbade the outright sale of oil rights and granted each full member of the tribe and, supposedly, no one else a share in the proceeds from any lease arrangement. For a while, the fail-safes did their job, and the Osage got rich diamond-ring and chauffeured-car and imported-French-fashion rich following which quite a large group of white men started to work like devils to separate the Osage from their money. And soon enough, and predictably enough, this work involved murder. Here in Jazz Age Americas most isolated of locales, dozens or even hundreds of Osage in possession of great fortunes and of the potential for even greater fortunes in the future were dispatched by poison, by gunshot and by dynamite. Determining who committed these crimes makes up the ostensible plot of the book, its core mystery. But anyone with more than a rudimentary grounding in the history of white incursions into Native America will find themselves less than shocked at the revelations of Granns whodunit. To his credit, Grann knows this, which is why the first third of the book, if youre reading closely, hedges enough in all of the right places to allow him to paint every white person, the obviously good and the obviously bad, as a possible suspect. When the final unmaskings come, midway through the book, I was disgusted but I wasnt surprised. In any case, Grann is less interested in the solution to the Osage murders than he is in the truth-seekers themselves. If theres a single way to describe his authorial persona, its that he sees himself and often writes himself into the story as a bloodhound on the trail of the bloodhounds. The protagonist of a Grann story is almost always the one who knows or who guesses right: the detective, the police officer, the lawyer, the friend harboring a set of unshakable suspicions. In Killers of the Flower Moon, that figure is Tom White, former Texas Ranger, son of a county sheriff, an impossibly handsome field man with the sinewy limbs and the eerie composure of a gunslinger serving under an impossibly young J. Edgar Hoover in the infancy of the FBI. White comes to Osage territory after several failed investigations by local and federal authorities and cracks the case with almost absurd dispatch, in two short chapters I wish had been four long ones. Grann praises Whites ability to discern underlying patterns and turn a scattering of facts into a taut narrative, and if that wasnt quite on the nose, he later describes the older federal files on the murders, the ones White used, as bits of data vacuumed up without any chronology or narrative, like a novel whose pages were out of order. The books third section, after The Marked Woman and The Evidence Man, is titled The Reporter. Grann might as well have called it Yours Truly. The section begins as the author arrives at the scene of the crime(s) himself, all these years later, to begin his own digging. Such a moment might in fact be termed Grannian, because its so central to all of his work: the author turned intrepid investigator, stepping into the frame, hiking into the jungle, questioning the prisoner through the pane of glass, interviewing a highly placed government official or, so often, sitting at a desk as he pores over an old newspaper, handles a sheaf of brittle letters, digs through forgotten boxes in a forgotten basement. [The hero of The Lost City of Z was no hero] At times the device, to my eye, can seem forced, but most often its as dramatic as any other element in Granns stories, and in Killers of the Flower Moon its crucial. As he unspools the story of the murders, Grann comes to realize, as do all outsiders who delve into Native American history, that to the Osage the past perpetually touches the present, creating a closed circle of history that never recedes into the distance. In no other area of American history, perhaps, is the collective amnesia of the larger culture greater than when it confronts its indigenous population. (If under similar circumstances this many white men and women of recently acquired wealth had died in, say, New York City in the years between the world wars, the story would have eclipsed every other murder tale in the nations history, and yet Im embarrassed to say Id barely heard of it.) For the present-day Osage communities that Grann visits in the final quarter of the book, the events related in Killers of the Flower Moon are not last centurys news but yesterdays. Many members of the tribe still wonder what exactly happened to grandparents, to great-aunts and uncles. Grann dives into old paperwork, looking to extend the work of White, and in the final pages he discovers the solutions to several ice-cold cases that had lain in archive after archive, close at hand but never before grasped. History can be deep and dark and disorienting and enthralling. But inside the wildly entertaining plot strands of Killers of the Flower Moon sits an untidy and deadly serious story. To his credit, Grann seems to understand this, and when he appears, its not as a hero, like White, but simply as a messenger, albeit one with a Hollywood-size megaphone. Heres hoping he continues to use it so well. France sees itself as playing a unique role in the world as a beacon for humanity, as former president Jacques Chirac put it. Yet, that role is not always one it finds easy to fulfill. Frances past and present reveal a complex saga of aspirations and disappointed hopes, from the revolution of 1789 to the present morosite (a despairing, very French species of gloom) gripping the land that gave the world la joie de vivre. These contradictions may help explain the persistent myths surrounding the nation and people of France, among them these five. Myth No. 1 France is succumbing to far-right nationalism. Before this years presidential election, Vox warned that Emmanuel Macron, a liberal centrist candidate, is Frances best hope against a far-right takeover, and the Los Angeles Times wondered whether France would be the next domino to fall in the far right populist movement. The Nation likewise worried that Brexit would empower Frances far-right National Front. Most of these concerns were based on the alarming popularity of National Front presidential candidate Marine Le Pen. Those worries now look overblown, though Le Pens rise has undoubtedly changed the political landscape. In the first round of voting, on April 23, Le Pen won 21 percent of the vote, well down from her opinion poll standing of 28 percent at the start of the year. Now, Le Pen seems bound to be defeated by Macron in the second round of balloting. Meanwhile, her party has only two of the 577 seats in the National Assembly, and it failed to gain control of any of the regional councils in elections in 2015. Le Pen has made the National Front a major player in French politics, but thus far that does not mean the country of the revolution of 1789 is being swept away by right-wing nationalism. Rather, it simply suggests that a lot of French citizens are unhappy and looking for standard-bearers for radical change. Myth No. 2 French unions are extremely powerful. In a Washington Post column about the rise of Macron in the French presidential polls, commentator Fareed Zakaria noted Macrons success in a country often defined by its strong labor unions. Indeed, France is commonly conceived of this way: In 2014, the Economist endeavored to explain why French trade unions are so strong, a perception perhaps related to the frequent demonstrations carried out by unions in the nations streets. French unions are certainly noisy: Their protests are famous for shutting down cities and even, on occasion, winning concessions from politicians. But despite their penchant for public displays, French unions are rather weak and show no signs of growth. In France, less than 8 percent of workers are unionized a lower rate than in the United States, Britain or Germany . In addition, French unions are divided into three main competing factions, and the political parties associated with them the Communists and the Socialists are in decline, with Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon earning only 6.4 percent of the vote in the recent election. While French unions once had quite a bit of pull thanks to membership numbers and affiliations with strong political parties, both of those sources of power are on the downslide. Myth No. 3 The French tend to surrender in conflicts. Since World War II, Britains Daily Mail tabloid proclaimed in 2009, France and its army have been seen by many as standard-bearers for surrender, cowardice and military ineptitude. In 2015, the Spectators Toby Young chastised the French for their alleged reliance on British and American men to protect them from murderous fascists. And The Simpsons famously labeled them cheese-eating surrender monkeys. But while the French may choose their battles carefully, theyre no cowards: Recently, for example, French forces have been deeply involved in fighting extremists in Africa and the Middle East. In 2012, French troops went into Mali to hold back an Islamist advance there, followed by operations in Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad. France has also been the Western nation most involved in combating the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. It has intervened to try to bring stability in the Central African Republic and took a leading role in the intervention in Libya, where its special forces are still fighting terrorism. Likewise, the French Foreign Legion renowned for its strength and bravery is still active globally. France began air strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq in 2014, followed by missions in Syria. In fact, President Francois Hollande was ready to launch strikes against Bashar al-Assads regime in Syria after its use of chemical weapons in 2013 but was held back by the refusal of the Obama administration to do so. Myth No. 4 The French arenot obese. All across the Web, articles promise the secret to French slenderness. One guide discloses how French women eat rich and stay slim; an article on WebMD offers the down-low on how the French stay slim; another, on a beauty and fashion site, explains how French women stay slim without even trying. The French are ranked by the World Health Organization as the 122nd fattest nation in the world. But they are getting heavier. The latest statistics show that 25 percent of French adults have a body mass index of 30 or greater, more than in Germany and Italy (20 and 21 percent respectively) but behind the United States and Britain (34 and 28 percent). The same data showed that the incidence of obesity in French women in 2014 was 24 percent and almost as much among men. How to explain expanding French waistlines? Nutritionists blame fast food and the spread of sedentary office work. More and more, food is prepared in factories or industrial kitchens rather than being carefully made at home. Snacks with fattening ingredients are increasingly common, and the tradition of the leisurely lunch, with time to digest and perhaps a walk afterward, has given way to sandwiches at the desk for many office workers. In 2013, fast-food purchases accounted for 54 percent of all restaurant sales in France, overtaking traditional restaurant sales for the first time. The government has claimed some success in a campaign against obesity in children, which researchers have linked to poverty and inequality. Myth No. 5 The French drink a lot of alcohol. France can lay claim to some of the finest wines in the world and equally to a reputation for copious imbibing. The French tradition, as author Herbert Fingarette described it, is drinking frequently throughout the day, always remaining somewhat under the influence but rarely becoming visibly drunk. The same notion appears to have made Food & Wines wine editor, Lettie Teague, imagine that her habit of drinking between two glasses and a half-bottle of wine per night would make her a lightweight compared with the French. Yet in recent decades, young French people have been switching to soft drinks instead of wine and spirits. Wine consumption has plummeted in the past 40 years. In 1980, more than half of French adults were consuming wine on a near-daily basis. By the beginning of this decade, that figure had fallen to 17 percent, while 38 percent did not drink wine at all. The acreage of vineyards is now greater in China than in France, though France remains ahead in actual production. It ranks 18th in the world in alcohol consumption per inhabitant pretty modest, compared to its reputation. outlook@washpost.com Five myths is a weekly feature challenging everything you think you know. You can check out previous myths, read more from Outlook or follow our updates on Facebook and Twitter. I was one very lucky kid, wrote retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn in a 2016 memoir about his bumpy childhood in a working-class Rhode Island family. I was one of those nasty tough kids, hell-bent on breaking rules for the adrenaline rush and hardwired just enough to not care about the consequences, he wrote. Flynn described how he was arrested but given probation after some serious and unlawful activity. But he added: I would always retain my strong impulse to challenge authority and to think and act on my own whenever possible. Flynns luck has run out in recent months. He was fired as national security adviser for misleading colleagues about his questionable discussions last December with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Now hes under investigation by the Pentagons inspector general for failing to get approval for payments he received from Russian and Turkish sources, despite a clear warning in 2014 that such approval was required. The puzzle is why Flynn, who had a reputation as a meticulous tactical intelligence officer during his Army career, was so careless when he left the military. The story is a personal tragedy for Flynn, but it illustrates a larger problem in the national-security community. When intelligence officers such as Flynn move from compartmented boxes to a wider world, they often make mistakes. Theyve been living inside super-secret units that resemble a closed family circle. They dont understand the rules of public behavior. Theyre not good at being normal. And they often pay a severe price. There are numerous examples of this transition problem. James J. Angleton, the CIAs legendary counterintelligence chief, was secretive to the point of paranoia when he was at the agency. But when he left in the 1970s, he couldnt stop talking to journalists and others about his conspiracy theories. Some other former CIA officers are similar: They work the press or lobbying clients the way they used to work their agency assets. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, one of Flynns mentors, got fired as commander in Afghanistan after he and his staff made inappropriate comments to a Rolling Stone journalist. Gen. John Allen, a much-admired commander in Afghanistan, got involved in an email correspondence with a would-be Florida socialite that led to a Pentagon investigation, which derailed his appointment as NATO commander. Gen. David Petraeus, perhaps the most celebrated commander of his generation, pleaded guilty to improperly sharing classified information with his biographer, with whom he was romantically involved. Each of these people served the country in remarkable ways. But looking at the difficulties they encountered, one senses a pattern. Senior command is a world unto itself. The tribal culture that envelops all our military and intelligence personnel is especially tight for our most secret warriors. They sometimes miss the signals that life outside will be different. Flynn certainly got a clear warning when he left the military after serving as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency. On Thursday, the Pentagon released a letter he received Oct. 8, 2014, about the ethics restrictions that apply to you after your retirement. The instructions listed eight areas of post-employment restrictions, including an obligation to get approval for any foreign compensation. Flynn apparently cruised through that red light when he accepted $45,000 for speaking to the Russian governments television-propaganda channel in 2015, and when he received more than $500,000 in 2016 from a firm with close ties to the Turkish government. Flynn retroactively registered as a foreign-government representative for work on behalf of Turkey that occurred on the eve of Donald Trumps election and Flynns selection as national security adviser. Its unclear whether Flynn disclosed these foreign-government payments and other foreign contacts, as required, in renewing his security clearances at the White House, where he oversaw the nations most sensitive, compartmented programs. Failure to reveal such information can sometimes violate Section 1001 of the U.S. criminal code, known as the false statements provision. When military and intelligence promotion panels review candidates for top positions, its said they pay special attention to whether officers have the judgment to manage the subtle, unpredictable problems that arise for commanders. Can they communicate to their subordinates, colleagues at other agencies, members of Congress and, when appropriate, the public? The military and intelligence agencies promote some spectacularly talented people, but something in this process is misfiring. Military commanders need to know how to communicate in a wide-open world. But a word of caution: The sunlight can be blinding. Good people can do dumb things. They get so used to living by their own code that they sometimes dont register what the law says. Read more from David Ignatiuss archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. Regarding the April 26 Economy & Business article Fear of trade war with Canada grows: Americans dont seem to understand President Trumps trade offensive against Canada. Let me tell you: What Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross are saying is true. In the meat business, American consumers wanted a country-of-origin labeling provision so they could tell where the meat was coming from. Canada objected and appealed to the World Trade Organization, forcing Congress to back down on the labeling. In the lumber business, Canadian government subsidies lowered the price of Canadian lumber to the point that sawmills in the Northwest were forced to shut down. Note how the proposed tariffs on Canadian lumber were welcomed publicly by Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken of Minnesota. The dairy industrys nostrils flare when Canada is mentioned. Ultra-filtered milk from Ontario seems to be the issue. Witness the praise for the administrations harder line on dairy coming from Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.). I was in the electronics business for decades, and I saw Canadas thinly veiled subsidies of the Smart Board destroy several American manufacturers, including at least one in my native Pennsylvania. C. Arnold McClure, Shirleysburg, Pa. The writer owns McClure Mills Farms. DIG Silwal forged performance report: Govt forensic study report A government forensic study report has found that Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nawaraj Silwal forged his performance evaluation form presented to the Supreme Court as a proof to show that he was senior than incumbent Inspector General of Nepal Police Prakash Aryal in the performance while serving as DIG for four years. Yesterdays conventional wisdom: A wave of insurgent populism is sweeping the West, threatening its foundational institutions the European Union, the Western alliance, even liberal democracy itself. Todays conventional wisdom (post-first-round French presidential election): The populist wave has crested, soon to abate. Chances are that both verdicts are wrong. The anti-establishment sentiment that gave us Brexit, then Donald Trump, then seemed poised to give us Marine Le Pen, has indeed plateaued. But although she will likely be defeated in the second round, victory by the leading centrist, Emmanuel Macron, would hardly constitute an establishment triumph. Macron barely edged out a Cro-Magnon communist (Jean-Luc Melenchon), a blood-and-soil nationalist (Le Pen) and a center-right candidate brought low by charges of nepotism and corruption (Francois Fillon). And the candidate for the ruling Socialist Party came in fifth, garnering a pathetic 6 percent of the vote. On the other hand, the populists can hardly be encouraged by what has followed Brexit and Trump: Dutch elections, where the nationalist Geert Wilders faded toward the end and came nowhere near power; Austrian elections, where another nationalist challenge was turned back; and upcoming German elections, where polls indicate that the far-right nationalists are at barely 10 percent and slipping . And, of course, France. (The Washington Post) In retrospect, the populist panic may have been overblown. Regarding Brexit, for example, the shock exaggerated its meaning. Because it was so unexpected, it became a sensation. But in the longer view, Britain has always been deeply ambivalent about Europe, going back at least to Henry VIII and his break with Rome. In the intervening 500 years, Britain has generally seen itself as less a part of Europe than an offshore island. The true historical anomaly was Britains E.U. membership with all the attendant transfer of sovereignty from Westminster to Brussels. Brexit was a rather brutal return to the extra-European norm, but the norm it is. The other notable populist victory, the triumph of Trump, has also turned out to be less than meets the eye. He certainly ran as a populist and won as a populist but, a mere 100 days in, he is governing as a traditionalist. The Obamacare replacement proposals are traditional small-government fixes. His tax reform is a follow-on to Reagans from 1986. His Supreme Court pick is a straight-laced, constitutional conservative out of central casting. And his more notable executive orders read as a wish list of traditional business-oriented conservatism from regulatory reform to the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. I happen to support all of these moves, but they dont qualify as insurrectionist populism. The one exception may be trade policy. As of now, however, it remains ad hoc and idiosyncratic. Trump has made gestures and threats to those cunning Mexicans, Chinese and now Canadians. But its not yet clear if he is serious about, say, withdrawing from NAFTA or just engaging in a series of opening negotiating gambits. The softwood-timber dispute with Canada is hardly new. It dates back 35 years. Every intervening administration has contested the terms of trade in various forums. A full-scale trade war with our leading trading partner would indeed break new ground. Anything short of that, however, is the art of the deal. The normalization of Trump is one indicator that there may be less to the populist insurrection than imagined. The key, however, is Europe, where the stakes are infinitely higher. There the issue is the future of the nation-state itself, as centuries of sovereignty dissolve within an expanding superstate. It influences every aspect of daily life from the ethnic makeup of neighborhoods to the currency that changes hands at the grocery. The news from France, where Macron is openly, indeed ostentatiously, pro-European (his campaign headquarters flies the E.U. flag ) is that France is not quite prepared to give up on the great experiment. But the Europeanist elites had better not imagine this to be an enduring verdict. The populist revolt was a reaction to their reckless and anti-democratic push for even greater integration. The task today is to address the sources of Europes economic stagnation and social alienation rather than blindly pursue the very drive that led to this precarious moment. If the populist threat turns out to have frightened the existing powers out of their arrogant complacency, it should be deemed a success. But make no mistake: The French election wasnt a victory for the status quo. It was a reprieve. For now, the populist wave is not in retreat. Its on pause. Read more from Charles Krauthammers archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. ARTICLE 28 of the Russian Federation Constitution declares: Everyone shall be guaranteed the freedom of conscience, the freedom of religion, including the right to profess individually or together with other any religion or to profess no religion at all, to freely choose, possess and disseminate religious and other views and act according to them. Adopted in 1993 under Boris Yeltsin, this constitution looks increasingly tattered as President Vladimir Putin tramples the rights it guarantees. Now, the Russian authorities have taken another regressive step, muffling religious freedom. On April 20, the Russian Supreme Court declared Jehovahs Witnesses, a Christian denomination that rejects violence, an extremist group and banned it from operating on Russian territory, throwing the status of 170,000 members in 395 branches in doubt. The Witnesses will appeal, but if the order enters into force, those who continue to practice their faith could be subject to fines and imprisonment and the organizations property confiscated. The Russian Justice Ministry earlier called the group a threat to the rights of citizens, public order and public security in Russia and put the Witnesses on a list of extremists, including al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, based on a 2002 law that the Kremlin has often used to bludgeon critics. Mr. Putins style of authoritarianism is personal and intolerant, and insists on loyalty. The Witnesses believe in the superiority of their religion and eschew subservience to the state. They refuse military service, do not vote and view God as the only true leader. This may be one reason they are in the Kremlins sights. Their independence also worries the Russian Orthodox Church, an ally of Mr. Putins rule. In the Soviet Union, the Witnesses suffered decades of persecution, described by author Emily B. Baran in her book Dissent on the Margins. When Soviet authorities prohibited religious literature from crossing its borders, she recalled recently, Witnesses set up underground bunkers to print illegal magazines, and when barred from holding services, they gathered in small groups in their apartments, often in the middle of the night. Sometimes they snuck away to nearby woods or out onto the vast steppe, where they could meet with less scrutiny. The 1990s brought a promise of more religious freedoms under Yeltsin, but Ms. Baran notes that the unjust stigma attached to the faith in Soviet times was never wiped away, and Witnesses have suffered suspicion and mistrust in Russian society in recent years, as well as repression by the state, including a clampdown in Moscow. By limiting religious freedom in this way, Russia turns its back on international norms and agreements. It also makes a mockery of the 1993 constitution, and not for the first time the constitution also guaranteed a free press that no longer exists. In the aftermath of the Charleston, S.C., church massacre in 2015, there is heightened interest in how we should remember Confederate leaders and symbols. Robert E. Lee has been the most prominent leader facing a reconsideration of his role in American history. In March, a federal court granted permission to New Orleans to remove a Robert E. Lee monument. Charlottesville recently decided to move a Lee statue from the citys central square. An especially thoughtful consideration of Lees memory has occurred in the District in recent months. The Washington National Cathedral has been holding public discussions about what should be done with a stained-glass window honoring Robert E. Lee. The window was installed in 1953 with funding from the United Daughters of the Confederacy and features key scenes from the generals life. According to a task force report, the Lee window will remain in place as the cathedral conducts discussions about the window and attendant issues of racism, slavery and racial reconciliation. Ultimately, the decision on whether to remove the Lee window along with one commemorating Thomas Stonewall Jackson will be made by the cathedrals governing body. When the Lee window was installed in 1953, before the enactment of the historic civil rights legislation of the 1960s, many Americans may have viewed Lee as a hero. The windows design emphasized Lees postwar efforts to heal the breach between North and South and honors his example as a Christian gentleman. It made sense to celebrate Lee as a model Christian. Lee had reconfirmed his faith, engaging to continue as Christs faithful servant and soldier unto his lifes end. By all accounts, he fulfilled that vow. Lees leading biographer, Douglas Southall Freeman, noted, There was but one question ever: What was his duty as a Christian and a gentleman? The desire of the United Daughters of the Confederacy to honor Lee for attempting to reconcile the North and South was also commendable. Lees decision to apply for a pardon in 1865 was a difficult one. He sincerely believed he had done nothing wrong yet made the application anyway, knowing many Americans would view his application as an admission of guilt. He went forward with it because he believed his example would serve as encouragement for his fellow Southerners who needed to move past the war and rebuild their lives. One aspect of Lees life that was not represented in the window was his connection to slavery. The United Daughters of the Confederacy insisted the window reflect the Souths defense of constitutional government and not be about any attempt to save the institution of Negro slavery. Yet, an understanding of Lees personal experience with the institution he owned or managed slaves for more than 30 years is essential for an accurate understanding of the man. Before and during the Civil War, there is evidence Lee disliked slavery in theory and supported gradual emancipation. He also believed, however, that slavery was necessary for the improvement of African Americans and any attempt to end it prematurely would be contrary to Gods wishes. In a letter just months before the end of the war, Lee wrote that he considered the relation of master and slave, controlled by humane laws and influenced by Christianity and an enlightened public sentiment, as the best that can exist between the white and black races while intermingled as at present in this country. After the war, Lee advised friends and family not to hire freedmen and worked to attract European immigrant labor to Virginia. At a congressional hearing in 1866, he said it would be better for Virginia if she could get rid of the freed slaves. In 1868, Lee shared his views on the freedmen with his youngest son: I wish them no evil in the world . . . but our material, social and political interests are naturally with the whites. When Yale Universitys president and board of trustees decided to rename Calhoun College, they considered whether John C. Calhouns legacy fundamentally conflicted with Yales mission. In the case of Robert E. Lee and the Washington National Cathedral, we must ask if Lees principal legacy defending a Confederacy founded upon chattel slavery is compatible with a house of worship serving all Americans. Its clear to me that Lees legacy is irreconcilable with the mission of the Washington National Cathedral. The Lee window should be removed. Credit where credit is due: President Trumps tax plan is only one page long and yet contains volumes worth of dumb ideas. And theres fierce competition for which part is dumbest. Maybe its White House economic adviser Gary Cohns peculiar claim that reducing the number of tax brackets is how you simplify the tax code. The complicated part of doing your taxes is figuring out what counts as income and whats deductible, not looking up the tax rate afterward in a table. Maybe its the bullet point that promises to eliminate targeted tax breaks that mainly benefit the wealthiest taxpayers, immediately followed by three bullet points pledging tax breaks that would almost exclusively benefit the wealthiest taxpayers. Maybe its Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchins declaration that the plan will pay for itself, even though similar versions of Trumps tax plan were projected to cost trillions of dollars. Maybe its the suggestion that we need a multitrillion-dollar, deficit-financed tax cut a.k.a. stimulus when unemployment is 4.5 percent. But probably the dumbest part of this entire presentation was the proposal to more than halve the tax rate on pass-through income. This is the loopholiest of loopholes. It would further enrich the rich, unleash a major tax-sheltering bonanza, and impoverish Medicare and Social Security. It also is unlikely to do anything to kick-start economic growth, as Kansas learned the hard way. For those unfamiliar, pass-through income refers to business income that gets paid at individual income tax rates rather than corporate ones. Income earned by partnerships, sole proprietorships and S-corporations the vast majority of all companies falls into this category. Lots of people, including White House officials, associate pass-through entities with small businesses. But plenty of ginormous companies get taxed this way, including hedge funds, big law firms, publicly traded partnerships and even coincidentally? the Trump Organization. In fact, according to the Treasury Department, more than 80 cents of every dollar earned by pass-throughs come from big firms (defined as companies with more than $10 million in income). Because taxes on pass-through income are paid at the individual level at individual rates, the top rate for such income today is generally 39.6 percent. Trumps plan would lower the rate for all pass-through income to 15 percent. This would be a huge giveaway to the rich, despite Mnuchins earlier promises that the rich wouldnt get a tax cut. Two-thirds of pass-through income is earned by the top 1 percent of Americans, according to researchers at the Treasury Department, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Chicago. 1 of 83 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad A look at President Trumps first 100 days View Photos The beginning of the presidents term has featured controversial executive orders and frequent conflicts with the media. Caption The beginning of the presidents term has featured controversial executive orders and frequent conflicts with the media. March 17, 2017 President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron, walk to Marine One at the White House en route to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Among those many rich beneficiaries, by the way, are people who use the carried interest loophole, a preferential tax rate associated with Wall Streeters that Trump loves to say hes closing. The income these private equity and hedge-fund partners receive, after all, is pass-through income; Trump would let them trade one juicy tax break for an even juicier one. More important, if income from pass-through entities is taxed at less than half the top rate for personal income, thats a huge incentive for millions of people who are currently employees to start calling themselves companies for example, to become a sole-proprietor consultancy. A Tax Policy Center analysis of an earlier version of Trumps plan assumed that about half of high-wage workers would eventually become pass-through entities. And self-incorporating (or self-LLC-ing) would allow people to reduce not just their income taxes. It would also let them shave down their payroll tax obligations, which fund Medicare and Social Security. Thats because once they turn themselves into a personal holding company, they could shift more of their pay from wage and salary income to corporate profits. That sound you hear is the nations tax attorneys licking their lips. Maybe you dont care about all the rich people who stand to benefit from this, because you believe cutting taxes on pass-through income will spur job creation and economic growth. Trump officials have argued as much. Kansas already tested this hypothesis, though, and is paying dearly for it. In 2012, the state undertook a huge suite of tax cuts, including eliminating taxes on pass-through income. That overhaul, too, was supposed to pay for itself. Instead, many more people took advantage of the loophole than expected, the state economy and tax receipts slowed to a crawl, and a gaping budget hole forced legislators to close schools early. The states credit rating has been downgraded multiple times. Our laboratories of democracy have already proven what a daft, damaging idea this pass-through proposal is. Yet the White House pushes it still. The only question is whether its being kept alive by ideologues or incompetents. There are so many unusual, unprecedented aspects of President Trumps first 100 days in office that its hard to know where to begin. By his own yardstick, the number of promises unfulfilled is staggering. During the campaign, Trump said he would ask for a bill repealing Obamacare my first day in office. He said he would deport 11 million undocumented immigrants, starting with 2 million criminal aliens within his first hour in office. The liberal blog ThinkProgress counted 36 policies that Trump promised to roll out on Day One. He did just two on his first day. But more striking than the policies unfulfilled some of which might still be proposed or implemented have been those reversed entirely. Never in the annals of the presidency have there been so many flip-flops so quickly, and with so little explanation. Trump had called NAFTA the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere, but certainly ever signed in this country. He promised to label China the greatest abuser in the history of this country a currency manipulator on, yes, Day One. He described NATO as obsolete, suggested that he might eliminate the Export-Import Bank and implied that he might support Syrias Bashar al-Assad. Within days of becoming president, Trumps flip-flops began. He said that he had discovered, perhaps through secret intelligence briefings, that China was not actually manipulating its currency, that NATO was engaged in lots of crucial operations, that the Ex-Im Bank helped lots of small U.S. businesses and that Assad had been committing war crimes. He announced these reversals cavalierly, as if he surely could not have been expected to know these facts previously, when he was running for president. As he said in February, Nobody knew health care could be so complicated. I suspect that his next education will be in tax policy. Trumps proposals, outlined this week, are breathtakingly irresponsible. They would add trillions of dollars to the debt and are not even designed for maximum stimulative impact. (Abolishing the estate tax, which is paid by 0.002 percent of Americans each year, would not cause a rush to the stores, but would cost $20 billion a year.) Tax negotiations will be an interesting test for Republicans. A party that claims it has deep concerns over the national debt is considering enacting what might be the biggest expansion of debt in U.S. history (in absolute dollars). The larger education of Trump and, one would hope, his supporters, is surely that government isnt easy. His appeal for so many was that he was an outsider, a businessman who would bring his commercial skills and management acumen to the White House and get things done. Washingtons corrupt politicians and feckless bureaucrats would see how a successful man from the real world cuts through the fog. Instead, we have watched the sheer incompetence of Trumps first 100 days orders that cant get through courts, bills that collapse in Congress, agencies that remain understaffed, ceaseless infighting within the White House and the constant flip-flops. It turns out that running a family-owned real estate franchising operation is not really the same as presiding over the executive branch of the U.S. government. It turns out that government is hard, complicated stuff. While there are plenty of problems with Washington, the real reason so little gets done there is that the American people have wildly contradictory desires. They want unlimited amounts of health care, dont want to be denied such care because they are sick (have preexisting conditions) and yet expect that costs should plummet. They want government out of their lives but revolt at the prospect of any slight cuts to its largest programs (Medicare, Social Security) or the removal of tax benefits for health care and home mortgages. This condition has been building for years. In a 1995 book, Michael Kinsley explained what he saw as the roots of the then-raging populist anger at Washington that Newt Gingrich had exploited with his Contract with America. Kinsley wrote, [American voters] make flagrantly incompatible demands cut my taxes, preserve my benefits, balance the budget then explode in self-righteous outrage when the politicians fail to deliver. He titled the book Big Babies in honor of the American people, and he opened it by quoting Alexis de Tocqueville: The French under the old monarchy held it for a maxim that the king could do no wrong; and if he did do wrong, the blame was imputed to his advisers. . . . The Americans entertain the same opinion with respect to the majority. Lets hope that the greatest education of the Trump presidency will be that Americans come to realize that Washington is dysfunctional not because of the venality of the politicians but rather because of the appetites of the people they represent. Read more from Fareed Zakarias archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. You would think that the Trump administration, with so many emigres from the business world, could at least perform simple arithmetic. Judging by the presidents looney-tunes tax plan, you would be wrong. As usual for President Trump, he has offered few details. But the outlines of his proposal, released Wednesday, are nothing short of hallucinatory. Next door to the White House, in the Treasury Department, there are actual economists who take seriously the responsibility of safeguarding the worlds biggest national economy. They must be deeply embarrassed at now having to pretend that two plus two equals seven. In his desperate quest to do something yooge, Trump proposes massive tax cuts for businesses and individuals, especially the wealthy. The impact, according to experts, would be to make federal budget deficits soar, adding as much as $4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. Ive never thought of myself as a deficit hawk, but this kind of profligacy is ridiculous. You will recall that Trump also wants to spend $1 trillion on upgrading our sagging infrastructure, which is a good idea; and he wants to vastly boost defense spending, which is a bad idea. Meanwhile, he has pledged not to touch entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare. Although his promises typically dont seem to mean much, all this would add up to fiscal insanity. Trumps plan is based on the idea that tax cuts stimulate the economy to grow, not a little but a lot almost like a magic beanstalk that rises into the clouds, where we find a goose that lays golden eggs, allowing us to live happily ever after. I agree with the economists who find this scenario unlikely. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, right, and National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press) The plan will pay for itself with growth, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. His rosy projection is that increased growth would produce $2 trillion in new revenue over 10 years. But the Tax Policy Center, a joint venture of the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, estimates that a version of the tax cuts would cost $6.2 trillion in revenue during that same period, leaving a $4 trillion gap even with Mnuchins projected growth. Even the conservative Tax Foundation, which has rarely seen a tax cut it didnt like, foresees at least a $2 trillion gap. Surely, leaving more money in the hands of middle-class and working-class consumers does stimulate the economy, because the money is quickly spent. But thats not what Trumps plan does. Instead, it gives massive tax relief to I hope youre sitting down corporations and the rich. The nominal corporate tax rate would be lowered from 35 percent to 15 percent. I say nominal because many, if not most, businesses find loopholes that allow them to pay less. Still, there is bipartisan agreement in Congress that the 35 percent rate is too high. If House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) cared less about ideology and more about results, a bill cutting the rate to, say, 25 percent could be on Trumps desk for signature within a week. But 15 percent is too low, and fiscal conservatives are already balking. Individual income taxes, meanwhile, would be simplified. Instead of the current seven tax brackets, there would be only three 10 percent, 25 percent and 35 percent. It is hard to gauge the precise impact, because Trump did not specify the income levels that define the three brackets. But it is clear that he and other wealthy individuals would get a huge tax cut, because he proposes to eliminate the alternative minimum tax a provision basically meant to ensure that rich people with lots of deductions pay at least something in taxes. The plan would also allow many wealthy individuals who own businesses to pay income tax not at the 35 percent individual rate but at the new 15 percent corporate rate. As I read the proposal, this would surely apply to the Trump Organization and its proprietor. What a coincidence. Trump would keep the popular deductions for mortgage interest and charitable giving but eliminate many others, including the deduction for state and local taxes. The standard deduction, for those who do not itemize, would be doubled. Depending how the brackets are structured, it looks to me as if many middle-class taxpayers might pay a little less while some pay a little more. I dont know whether this is the most cynical tax plan Ive ever heard or the most ignorant. I guess those distinctions are not mutually exclusive. Anyone who supports this mess automatically forfeits the right to be a deficit scold ever again. Read more from Eugene Robinsons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. You can also join him Tuesdays at 1 p.m. for a live Q&A. ONE HUNDRED days into the Donald Trump presidency, we have neither achieved the nirvana he promised nor entered the dystopia critics, including us, feared. Since nirvana was never likely, it may be more productive to examine why we have, so far, avoided the worst. Preliminary thanks are owed to Congress, judges, the Congressional Budget Office, the American citizenry, and voters in the Netherlands and France. And, to a highly limited extent, to the president. He did not, on Day One, tear up the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Iran nuclear treaty or the Paris climate change accord. He has not abandoned NATO or embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has appointed sober-minded advisers to important positions, notably defense secretary and (on his second try) national security adviser. When Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons against defenseless civilians, Mr. Trump responded with appropriate force. On the other hand, Mr. Trumps early record also offers cause for alarm. His inexperience and ideological drift have been evident in his administrations slow and lurching start. Though a consistent foreign policy has yet to emerge, there is reason to fear that he will diminish U.S. economic, political and moral leadership in the world: his early withdrawal from a pan-Pacific trade agreement, for example, and the chilling moral equivalence in his response to Bill OReillys question about Russias killing of dissidents and journalists. There are a lot of killers, Mr. Trump replied. You think our countrys so innocent? His bombing of Syria has not been followed by any discernible strategy to address that nations horrific civil war. Mr. Trump has reversed a generation-old trend toward openness, becoming the first president in modern times to conceal his tax returns and scrapping an Obama-era policy of publishing a list of White House visitors. He and his spokesmen frequently ignore facts and embrace misinformation. If he gets his way on policy, the nation will plunge more deeply into debt, global warming will accelerate and millions of vulnerable Americans will lose access to health care while the wealthy are further enriched. But some of these policies are meeting resistance. When the nonpartisan CBO estimated that 24 million Americans would lose health coverage under Mr. Trumps plan, even Republicans in Congress balked. Opposition bloomed at town hall meetings across the country. There have been womens marches and scientists marches and some politicians have listened. Federal judges have slowed Mr. Trumps efforts to go after immigrants and immigration, efforts that at least in their early versions were closer to demonization than serious policy. Meanwhile, voters in Europe, perhaps sobered by what they see in the United States, have been choosing centrist internationalism and rejecting the kind of ethno-nationalist politics that animated the most dangerous of Mr. Trumps supporters. President Trump. (Jim Lo Scalzo/Associated Press) No conclusions can be drawn from any of this. Will Mr. Trump allow his team to shape a more traditional foreign policy, with a dose of trade belligerence, or will he undermine long-standing alliances or will he jump from one stance to another day by day? We dont know. How will the White House respond when tested by a crisis, as it surely will be? Will Congress and the FBI seriously investigate Mr. Trumps connections to Russia and that nations interference in the 2016 election? Until that last question is answered, it is surely too soon to say the system has worked. But the system is at work, and designed by the Founding Fathers, shaped and tested over time, pushed and pulled by millions of engaged Americans it remains an impressive piece of machinery. Daniel Grossman is director of Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health at the University of California at San Francisco. Gail Deady is the ACLU of Virginias The Secular Society Womens Rights Legal Fellow. A new adaptation of Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale, a riveting dystopian story in which politicians have robbed women of their autonomy and women who make their own reproductive decisions are severely punished, debuted Wednesday. This frightening fiction is too close for comfort to our current reality, because women are already being punished for abortion. At least 17 women across the country have been arrested for self-administered abortion. In Virginia, a woman is facing a felony charge of producing an abortion or miscarriage in the third trimester of her pregnancy. This is another example of overreach and targeting of a pregnant woman. The law she is accused of breaking was intended to protect pregnant women from the actions of others not to punish them for circumstances that may be beyond their control. What are the implications, for our health, for civil rights and human rights, and for the status of women in our society, when a woman is arrested because a pregnancy ended? While little is known about self-administered abortion in the United States, available evidence indicates that it is not common but does happen. A national study of abortion patients found that 1.2 percent reported having ever used misoprostol (a pill used to induce abortion) and 1.4 percent reported using something else to end a pregnancy on their own. A survey of women in Texas ages 18 to 49 found that at least 1.7 percent had attempted to self-induce an abortion at some point in their lifetime. A womans reasons for ending her own pregnancy vary. In a 2014-2015 study by the Texas Policy Evaluation Project, women who had attempted self-administered abortion cited among their main motivations obstacles to accessing abortion in a clinic. The number of state and federal restrictions on abortion care has grown dramatically in recent years. Since 2010, state lawmakers have passed more than 300 restrictions imposing unnecessary barriers on womens ability to get safe and affordable abortion care. Ironically, when antiabortion forces pass restrictive laws that limit access, they claim that they never want to punish women, yet there is a deafening silence when women are arrested or thrown in jail. Financial, logistical and other barriers to abortion disproportionately affect young people, low-income women, women of color, immigrants and those whose insurance does not cover abortion care. While women in the Texas study were diverse in many ways, a common thread was that being poor layered upon one or more additional obstacles left them feeling that they had no other option. This phenomenon is not limited to marginalized communities, however. We have heard from women of all backgrounds ending their own pregnancies, and we need more research to understand the complete picture. It is dangerous, however, to create an environment in which women who seek to end their pregnancies are criminalized. No one should be subjected to a bedside police interrogation after a pregnancy ends. Its cruel and inappropriate, and it will have a detrimental effect on public health. By threatening women with jail for ending a pregnancy or for seeking medical care after doing so, we may frighten women away from getting important medical care. Whether a woman has lost her pregnancy or ended it on her own, she should never delay medical care because shes afraid of being arrested at the hospital. A 2016 report by the ACLU of Virginia shows that prosecutors in Virginia as in many other states have unparalleled power to stretch the law to achieve their own ends and to pick and choose who will be prosecuted for breaking laws. We certainly dont need prosecutors such as those in Virginia arresting women for violating laws that were never intended to be used against women with complications of pregnancy or whove ended or lost a pregnancy. These prosecutions create a slippery slope toward increased surveillance of pregnant women and criminalization of birth outcomes, which is bad for public health and deeply concerning from a constitutional standpoint. At the end of the day, women need access to accurate information and safe options for abortion. They need providers who will care for them, not call the police. Abortion remains legal in this country, and women shouldnt be shamed, punished or arrested for their decisions about their own pregnancies or when they have complications of pregnancy that are beyond their control. People hold a candlelight vigil for missing children outside the African American Civil War Memorial in the District on March. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post) There was an uproar last month when an attempt by the Metropolitan Police Department to raise awareness about missing D.C. children was misunderstood. People thought the children were newly missing. They werent but they were missing. This spurred talk about why girls of color get less attention when they disappear than white girls. Thats a good question because generally we are not focusing on girls of color. And thats a problem. Soon after D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) announced the $20 million Empowering Males of Color initiative, which includes a new high school, some questioned whether it was legal to exclude girls from the initiative. One councilwoman filed a request asking for a legal review to see if it complied with federal Title IX laws that require equal public investments in girls and boys. The law is not my expertise, but this is the right question to ask. If we continue to neglect the issues facing girls, the boys of color initiative is doomed to fail. Peaceoholics, the antiviolence organization I co-founded, never could have squashed more than 40 major violent beefs in the District in its six-year run without the leadership of young women. I fear that we are making a mistake in our fight for racial justice and equality if we exclude girls. Those of us who do grass-roots activism can tell you that the challenges facing girls of color are just as serious as those facing boys of color. Only 12 percent of poor children live in two-parent households. That means the majority of our children in poverty-stricken urban areas such as Southeast are being raised by single mothers. If we neglect girls needs and overlook their leadership potential, My Brothers Keeper will not get anywhere those boys are being raised by women. We need to make sure those women are empowered, and we cant wait until theyre grown. Girls of color face their own challenges: Forty percent of sex-trafficking victims are black. The majority of women and girls in correctional settings have been victims of violence domestic violence, rape, sexual assaults and child abuse. Black Girls Matter, a new report by the African American Policy Forum and Columbia Law Schools Center for Intersectionality and Social Policy Studies, highlighted the troubles facing black girls in school. They are often left out of efforts to end the school-to-prison pipeline. In Boston, for example, they have as many as 11 times the number of disciplinary actions compared with their white peers. They are the fastest-growing population in D.C.s juvenile justice system. In 2004, we started taking groups of D.C. youths to Alabama to study with civil rights veterans and learn the best antiviolence strategies to apply in the District. The boys and girls met Amelia Boynton, Annie Lee Cooper, Gwen Cook Webb, James Bevel and James Orange. We learned that women were key to the victory in Selma, Ala. We learned that young ladies such as Webb made a difference. She was among the young women who persuaded the males not to retaliate when the police whipped, hosed and sicced dogs on protesters. This history shows the power of women in the community. We used a similar technique to bring about truces among rival gangs such as Lynch Mob and Choppa City. We started with the young women and they were no joke. Several were former gang leaders themselves and had experienced violence on a regular basis. However, the young women were willing to listen to us. After we got them to join forces, the guys soon followed just as they did in the 1960s. Spending time down South with civil rights legends was a life-changing experience for all of us. I have been so proud of countless once-troubled D.C. girls who are now successful women. Monica Watts recently graduated from Benedict College in South Carolina and is now an ANC commissioner in Ward 8. She used to be in Lynch Mob. Davina Callahan, formerly of Choppa City, earned her masters degree at age 22 from the prestigious Smith College. These women show that if we wrap our arms around boys and girls of color, we will be marching in the right direction. The writer is a D.C.-based anti-violence activist. As we cross the finish line of President Trumps first 100 days, no leader in recent memory has benefited more from low expectations. A more typical president who tumbled from an approval rating in the high 60s to one in the low 40s would be in a political crisis. Trumps current performance is only a slight dip from his divisive norm. A president with pretensions of rhetorical coherence would be embarrassed by gaffes and mediocre speeches. For Trump, gaffes and inarticulateness are part of the package. A president with high standards of integrity would be mortified by a brewing scandal that seems to involve smarmy aides and a foreign government. For Trump, well, what would you expect? The president is particularly proud of the consequential elevation of Neil M. Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. But this action invites a comparison. Trumps one unquestioned achievement consists of appointing another man who actually has thoughtful convictions. Much of Trumps 100-days defense could have been employed by the pharaoh who ruled after the one in the book of Exodus. The cattle havent all died. Weve seen less fiery hail. And pestilence has been kept to an acceptable minimum. There is, however, one area in which Trump dramatically raised national expectations. He might be unknowledgeable. He might be immature. But at least, in polling language, he is a strong and decisive leader. This is a conceit that becomes harder and harder to maintain. Consider Trumps interaction with China. On the campaign trail, the Chinese were currency manipulators who were too weak on North Korean nukes. In his first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the American president got his first glimpse of the Chinese perspective and was transformed. On North Korea: After listening for 10 minutes, I realized its not so easy. On the currency issue: Theyre not currency manipulators. It seems the case that one of Americas main strategic rivals was, quite literally, schooling the American president on economics and foreign policy. A similar picture has emerged in Trumps dealings with Congress. When the Freedom Caucus defied him on health care, the administrations blustery threats against the dissenters came to nothing. House Republicans ignored his tantrum and continued their work. Now the president will likely be forced to endorse whatever they produce. The same, no doubt, will be true of the construction of a physical barrier across the North American continent. Mexico has not been made to pay (and should not be). Trump has conceded that he will sign an omnibus spending bill that doesnt include wall funding. In the long-term contest between Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and the border wall, Schumer armed with the Senates rules is the safer bet. And the absence of that wall will be a lasting monument to Trumps political impotence. This is not a problem that can be solved by the big bang of the MOAB (nicknamed the Mother of All Bombs). In a number of cases, Trump has not been cunning but credulous; not an authoritarian but a pushover. During his campaign, Trump looked down on the weak; now, it turns out, he is weak. Ultimately, Trump is failing because he has little knowledge of the world and no guiding star of moral principle. The best of our leaders think Abraham Lincoln have been sure about the truth and uncertain about themselves. Trump is the opposite. His mind is uncluttered by creeds. He knows what he wants at any given moment, but it can bear little relation to the moment following. Who really believes that he would be sleepless if the wall were not built or if NAFTA ultimately survived? Who believes he would not be sleepless because of a nasty joke at his expense during a dinner party? Without deep and thoughtful beliefs, persuasion is impossible. It is public reasoning that allows others to follow a leaders footsteps in the snow. What has Trump done to rationally and respectfully persuade his critics? Without deep and thoughtful beliefs, the prevailing advice is often the latest advice. For a rootless leader, in Oscar Wildes phrase, passions are quotations. Trump clearly wants to be judged by a frenetic level of activity. But the issue at hand is direction, not momentum. It is useful to undo some past liberal excesses, as Trump has done. But negation cant be confused with inspiration. There can be no measure of political progress without a measuring stick of political conviction. Instead, we are treated to hysterical self-praise. Appalling but, hey, what did we expect? 1 of 83 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad See what President Trump has been doing since taking office View Photos The new president is expected to make his mark on an aggressive legislative agenda. Caption The beginning of the presidents term has featured controversial executive orders and frequent conflicts with the media. March 17, 2017 President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron, walk to Marine One at the White House en route to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Read more from Michael Gersons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook . Anil Giri is a reporter covering diplomacy, international relations and national politics for The Kathmandu Post. Giri has been working as a journalist for a decade-and-a-half, contributing to numerous national and international media outlets. On the eve of his 100th day in office, President Trump made a triumphant return before members of the National Rifle Association, promising a group that was one of his earliest and most enthusiastic supporters that he will never infringe on the right of the people to bear arms. Freedom is not a gift from government, freedom is a gift from God, Trump said. Trump, the first sitting president to address the NRA since Ronald Reagan, delivered a fiery speech in which he recounted his election victory and early actions from his administration that are friendly to the gun rights group, and he promised there would be more to come. You came through big for me, and I am going to come through for you, he told thousands of members attending the NRAs annual convention. The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end. With his appearance here, Trump marked the coming 100-day milestone in much the same way he has governed in the early stages of his presidency: by appealing to his base. While his job approval numbers are historically low for this point in a presidency, Trumps most enthusiastic supporters are standing by him, polls show. (The Washington Post) The NRA claims 5 million members, including many white rural voters, a demographic that helped tip the electoral college in Trumps favor over Democrat Hillary Clinton. The association played a powerful role in Trumps election, providing critical support in battleground states. It spent more on behalf of Trump than any outside group and began its advertising and other efforts earlier than in any other presidential cycle. Many of its members were visibly elated by Trumps speech Friday. [Trump returns to the NRA, which backed him early and often in 2016] In remarks before Trump spoke, Chris W. Cox, the NRAs chief lobbyist, recalled the groups endorsement at its convention last year and said Trump was the most proudly Second Amendment nominee in American history. On Election Day, NRA members and gun owners stormed to the polls in an act of sheer defiance of the elites, Cox said. In his address, Trump hailed his first Supreme Court pick, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, who was embraced by the NRA, as well as several of his Cabinet selections. He called Jeff Sessions a pro-Second Amendment, tough-on-crime attorney general and touted a decision by his interior secretary, Ryan Zinke, to overturn a federal ban on hunting with lead ammunition in national parks and wildlife refuges. While making general promises to stand with the NRA moving forward, Trump made no mention of two of the groups leading priorities in Congress. In the months ahead, the NRA will be looking for Trump to put the weight of his office behind a bill that would make concealed-carry permits valid across state lines. Trump endorsed the concept during the campaign, likening it to the portability of drivers licenses. Also high on the NRAs agenda is the Hearing Protection Act, which would remove federal registration and identification requirements for those seeking gun silencers. That measure has been touted by the presidents son, Donald Trump Jr., an avid hunter, who also attended Fridays conference. Also left unmentioned Friday was an NRA victory early in the Trump administration: the presidents signing of legislation that repealed an Obama-era regulation designed to prevent certain mentally ill people from purchasing firearms. In addition to speaking about gun rights, Trump laced his speech with familiar rhetoric and promises from the campaign trail. He warned of the dangers of radical Islamic terrorists, called for putting American first and pledged to continue a crackdown on illegal immigration. Trump also played up his promise to build a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico, an initiative that was dealt a setback in recent budget negotiations over keeping the government open. We will build the wall, Trump said. You need that wall to stop the human trafficking, to stop the drugs, to stop the wrong people. Trumps speech brought a rebuke from Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.), a former Democratic congresswoman who survived a 2012 assassination attempt and has become an outspoken advocate of gun control. We need a president who is serious about finding solutions that will save lives and address the gun violence crisis thats plaguing our nation, she said Friday. Unfortunately, thats not the president we saw on stage this afternoon in Atlanta. Trumps appearance Friday at the gun groups massive national convention recalled the moment a year earlier when the NRA endorsed him sooner than it had any other candidate in a U.S. presidential election. He had run on a pro-gun rights agenda, telling the audience at the 2016 NRA convention, held in Louisville, that crooked Hillary is the most anti-gun, anti-Second Amendment candidate ever to run for office. This years convention drew thousands of Trump voters and NRA members, largely from the South and Midwest. Members of the crowd almost exclusively white and mostly male voiced strong support for the president and his agenda, even as they acknowledged some of his efforts remain in limbo. Gun owners urged the president to push for their agenda with Congress. We know that theyve got those bigger issues going on right now, said Jon Spears, 37, of Somerset, Ky. We understand that. Were not unreasonable. I just want to hear that they are going to support us down the road. Like many attendees, Ed Valentine, 67, a resident of the Atlanta suburbs, celebrated the pick of Gorsuch for the Supreme Court. I hope [hes good], said Valentine, president of a small environmental engineering firm in the Atlanta suburbs. You dont know until they get in there. He also praised Trumps performance in office so far. Though he could refine his style a little bit! Valentine said, laughing. Trump got mostly glowing reviews from conference attendees after his speech. Im hoarse! said Cathy Boswell of Acworth, Ga. Her husband, Mike, laughed, saying his hands were sore from clapping. He always delivers, Cathy said. He doesnt hold anything back, and thats why we love Donald Trump, Mike agreed. I thought it was amazing, said Jody Looper, 46, a stay-at-home mom from Mount Juliet, Tenn. Its so nice to have a constitutional president again. A large anti-NRA protest featuring Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) is scheduled Saturday in Atlanta. On Friday, dozens of protesters gathered at Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta, chanting and holding signs that read Tiny Bloody Hands. At one point, the group laid down in the grass to represent people killed by gun violence every year, a demonstration they called a die-in. Another group gathered outside Atlantas private Capital City Club, where Trump arrived after his speech to hold a fundraiser for Republican congressional candidate Karen Handel. As Trumps motorcade pulled up, the crowd booed, chanted and beat drums. Handel finished second in the April 18 special election to Democrat Jon Ossoff; the two will face each other in a runoff on June 20. The race, to replace Republican Tom Price, now Trumps health and human services secretary, is being closely watched nationally as a test of how Trump is affecting down-ballot races. During his remarks to the NRA, Trump plugged Handels candidacy, telling convention goers: Shes totally for the NRA, and shes totally for the Second Amendment, so get out and vote. President Trump was set to announce Saturday, on the 100th day of his presidency, that he was withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Agreement the sort of disruptive proclamation that would upend both global and domestic politics and signal to his base that he was keeping his campaign promise to terminate what he once called a total disaster and one of the worst deals ever. I was all set to terminate, Trump said in an Oval Office interview Thursday night. I looked forward to terminating. I was going to do it. There was just one problem: Trumps team like on so many issues was deeply divided. As news of the presidents plan reached Ottawa and Mexico City in the middle of the week and rattled the markets and Congress, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and others huddled in meetings with Trump, urging him not to sign a document triggering a U.S. withdrawal from NAFTA. Perdue even brought along a prop to the Oval Office: A map of the United States that illustrated the areas that would be hardest hit, particularly from agriculture and manufacturing losses, and highlighting that many of those states and counties were Trump country communities that had voted for the president in November. It shows that I do have a very big farmer base, which is good, Trump recalled. They like Trump, but I like them, and Im going to help them. By Wednesday night, Trump who spent nearly two years as a candidate railing against the trade agreement had backed down, saying that conversations with advisers and phone calls with the leaders of Canada and Mexico had persuaded him to reconsider. Recalling his late Wednesday conversation with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Trump said, He said to me, I would really appreciate if we could negotiate instead of you terminating, because terminating sets a lot of things in motion that could be pretty devastating for a lot of people. Trumps declaration to withdraw from NAFTA, followed by his abrupt turnabout, was the latest in a series of sudden policy shifts and outright reversals in the frenzied lead-up to his 100th day in office, reflecting a president desperate to notch tangible victories and to offer the impression of forward momentum. It was also another example of the inherent tension between the fiery populist, who ran on a promise to upend Washington, and the pragmatic businessman, who is eager to score wins and is easily influenced by a cadre of chief executive friends and top advisers, many with Wall Street pedigrees. Trump announced that he was not labeling China a currency manipulator, after months of promising to do so on Day One of his presidency. And he declared NATO no longer obsolete, after months of saying it was. He threatened to shut down the government over the border wall, only to retreat on funding for an actual brick-and-mortar structure. And he tasked his team with drafting a complex overhaul of the nations tax code only to suddenly announce, surprising even his own aides and advisers, that he expected a proposal to be rolled out within days. In some ways, as Trump nears the 100-day mark of his presidency, he is arguably beginning to find his footing, concentrating on core issues that have always animated him (trade) and others that captivate his business side (taxes). By refocusing on questions of trade and the economy, Trump has returned to more familiar and comfortable territory the nationalistic populism that has defined him since the 1980s. (Daron Taylor/The Washington Post) The president has put himself in a perfect position on NAFTA because folks know hes inclined [to be] negative on NAFTA, yet hes open to negotiating, said Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. Its a good spot to be. The leverage is all with the president. Unlike his first failed attempt at passing a Republican replacement for President Barack Obamas health-care law, Trump and his team are directing as much activity as possible from within the West Wing, relying on executive orders rather than the more unwieldy but durable process of legislation. But the approach has worried and alienated many of his closest allies, on Capitol Hill, on K Street and abroad. And it has showcased a president who often seems more interested in short-term accomplishments and positive cable news headlines than longer-term policy goals guided by ideology, and who can be swayed by unfolding events or compelling arguments from whomever he talks to last. I think theyre just going to act whenever they can on executive action, said Chris Ruddy, the chief executive of Newsmax, a conservative media company, and a longtime friend of Trumps. The problem is its very temporary, but he wants to get things done, and trade has always been one of his big issues. Trump, Ruddy added, is a business guy. He thinks that America gets a bad part of these deals, and he wants to renegotiate them. All over the map With Saturdays 100-day marker fast approaching, and eager for a win, the president turned his attention to taxes. Trump had privately groused that he wished he had tackled taxes before trying to push through health care, a view magnified by some outside friends and confidants. Even something more modest than the full overhaul for which he hoped, such as cutting corporate tax rates, they said, would provide the president and his base with an energizing triumph. But it was an April 19 op-ed in the New York Times, titled Why Are Republicans Making Tax Reform So Hard? and penned by Steve Forbes, Larry Kudlow, Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore, that helped propel Trump to act. The op-ed, written by conservatives who have strong influence within the White House, said an overhaul of the tax code would give Trump a much-needed legislative victory and complained that the White House seems to be all over the map on the subject. It called on the administration to move quickly on a tax proposal, not to overthink it and to push forward with some degree of urgency. Trump saw the op-ed right as he was becoming restless with the success of his economic agenda. The White House rushed to engage the op-eds authors and reassure the economic conservatives who have privately complained about Trumps nationalistic streak on trade and the lack of action of taxes. When Kudlow and Moore gathered a group of conservatives Tuesday evening at Cafe Berlin, a white-tablecloth German restaurant on Capitol Hill, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stopped by, even though he was not scheduled to attend. We texted him and said, Come by if youd like, Kudlow said. Well, he did, and he spoke for two or three minutes and took questions. Everyone looked around and said, This is the Steve we knew during the campaign, Kudlow added, referring to Mnuchins enthusiasm for sweeping tax cuts. On April 21, two days after the op-ed ran, Trump announced in an interview with the Associated Press that his advisers would be releasing a tax plan by the following Wednesday, or shortly thereafter. Some aides working on the plan were stunned, caught unaware of the expedited timeline. Still, they reasoned, maybe shortly thereafter meant they could unveil the plan a week or two later. But hours after the AP interview, during an appearance at the Treasury Department, Trump stood beside Mnuchin and told reporters that the tax plan would come out Wednesday. The proposal unveiled that day offered some specifics cutting the corporate tax rate to 15 percent and collapsing seven tax brackets down into three but was vague in other areas, including just how the government would pay for it. Critics seized on the one-page printout the White House distributed Wednesday with details of the tax plan as the flimsy embodiment of its lack of depth. It was a restatement of bullet points that Larry Kudlow and Stephen Moore drafted on the back of a cocktail napkin at the 21 Club, quipped one longtime Washington Republican in contact with the White House. But the tax proposal unveiled with great fanfare in a midday briefing with reporters achieved several of Trumps key objectives, garnering him a day of largely positive headlines; laying at least a baseline marker for a top policy goal; and reassuring Americans, many of whom voted for the promise of a businessman commander in chief, that pocketbook relief would be arriving by next tax season. The president was being ill-advised that he had to repeal Obamacare before passing taxes, said Sam Nunberg, a former Trump adviser. The two are mutually exclusive. Kudlow spent Wednesday at the White House, chatting with top officials following the rollout of a plan that many credited him with helping to spur. If we helped, Im very pleased, Kudlow said. I think the president has set a terrific tax reform, economic growth marker. Still, he dismissed the suggestion that he was the impetus for Trumps swift action on taxes. The president, Kudlow said, just wants to move. Hes been tied in knots on health care, and he had an impulse to get it together on taxes. Ambush Canada and Mexico were blindsided Wednesday as news of Trumps planned NAFTA withdrawal spread north and south of the border. Arturo Sarukhan, a former Mexican ambassador to the United States, described the news as a my way or the highway ambush from the White House, especially coming amid what has been weeks of steady and amicable discussions among the three countries about revamping the trade agreement. But Mexico which was already on edge following Trumps brief flirtation with attaching border-wall funding to a must-pass, short-term spending bill quickly leapt to action. Two cabinet-level officials in Mexico reached out to their U.S. counterparts to deliver a blunt message: If Trump officially announced the U.S. intention to withdraw from NAFTA, Mexico would not return to the negotiating table. Mexico would not, the officials warned, negotiate with a gun to its head. The president, meanwhile, was hearing a similar message from some of his own senior advisers. Ross, the commerce secretary, and Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law, scrambled to persuade Trump to back down. The United States can only trigger the six-month clock to withdraw from NAFTA once, they said. They told the president that he had strong leverage to renegotiate the trade deal but that once he publicly signaled his intent to leave, the situation would become so politically fraught for Canada and Mexico that they would not be able to return to negotiations, even if they wanted to. In the Oval Office interview, however, Trump repeatedly insisted that he was ready to pull out of NAFTA. At one point, he turned to Kushner, who was standing near his desk, and asked, Was I ready to terminate NAFTA? Yeah, Kushner said, before explaining the case he made to the president: I said, Look, theres plusses and minuses to doing it, and either way he would have ended up in a good place. Perdue, the agriculture secretary, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also cautioned Trump against moving ahead, while two of the White Houses populists, trade adviser Peter Navarro and chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, urged him to stay the course, announcing his intention to withdraw in a splashy prime-time rally Saturday night in Harrisburg, Pa. The administration also received pressure from hundreds of business executives from around the country, many of whom called the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, asking what was going to happen, before calling the White House directly, urging Trump not to sign the order. Tom Donohue, the chambers chief executive, also relayed the message to senior White House officials. The complaints pouring in from agriculture groups were even more apoplectic, warning White House officials that withdrawing from NAFTA could devastate the U.S. agriculture industry, allowing Mexico to reinstate high tariffs against U.S. exports. The Mexican government, meanwhile, had several contacts with its Canadian counterparts throughout the day Wednesday to share reactions and map out a joint strategy, including separate phone calls between their countries leaders and Trump that evening. We had the same position, said Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray on Thursday in an interview on Mexican television. Trump publicly claimed Thursday that his phone calls with Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau persuaded him to give negotiations a chance. But a senior administration official said Trump had already decided to hold off on signing the NAFTA termination letter before his phone calls with Mexico and Canada. In the interview, Trump recounted his internal deliberations: In one way, I like the termination. In the other way, I like them a lot, both of them. We have a very good relationship. And its very hard when you have a relationship, its very much something that would not be a nice act. It would not be exactly a friendly act. But, the president added, he reserves the right to change his mind. I can always terminate, Trump said. They called me up, they said, Could we try negotiating? I said, Absolutely, yes. If we cant come to a satisfactory conclusion, well terminate NAFTA. Promises unfulfilled A few doors from the Oval Office, Bannon works out of what he calls the war room, a West Wing hideaway adjoining the chief of staffs spacious suite, from which Karl Rove and David Axelrod once worked. Upon moving in, Bannon cleared out most of the furniture, save for a standing desk and chairs, and plastered the walls with lists of Trumps campaign promises scores, even hundreds of them, with green check marks or giant red Xs over those that have been met. A list of 10 major pieces of legislation that Trump promised in his Contract with Voters hangs from near the ceiling down to the floor. None is crossed out yet. On Wednesday evening, around the time Trump was talking with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts, one whiteboard contained an ominous marking: NAFTA and April 29. It underscored Bannons hope that on Saturday night, Trump would sign the paperwork initiating the withdrawal from NAFTA. Indeed, that same whiteboard contained other trade-specific actions, many boasting already checked-off promises. Withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership? Check. Action on the aluminum and steel industries? Check and check. One of the few unfulfilled, so far, was NAFTA. Robert Costa and Karen Tumulty contributed to this report. President Trump speaks before signing a Memorandum on Aluminum Imports and Threats to National Security in the Oval Office of the White House on April 27. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) President Trump threatened to terminate the U.S. trade agreement with South Korea in an interview Thursday night, declaring that the five-year-old accord with a key ally was a horrible deal that has left America destroyed. During an Oval Office interview about trade policy in North America, Trump served notice that he is looking to disrupt an important partnership in the tumultuous Asia-Pacific region as well even with Seoul on edge because of North Koreas escalating military provocations. Trump sharply criticized the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, known as Korus, which was negotiated and signed during the George W. Bush administration. The latest version was ratified by Congress in 2011 and took effect in March 2012 during the Obama administration. Its a horrible deal. It was a Hillary Clinton disaster, a deal that shouldve never been made, Trump said, referring to the then-secretary of state who became the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee. Its a one-way street. South Korea is the United States sixth-largest goods trading partner, and the U.S. goods trade deficit with the country was $27.7 billion last year, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. President Trump clasps his hands while sitting at the Resolute Desk of the Oval Office at the White House before a signing ceremony on April 27. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) [Mystification in South Korea over Trumps comments] Next week marks an anniversary for Korus and triggers a review period to potentially renegotiate or ratify a new version of the agreement. Weve told them that well either terminate or negotiate, Trump said. We may terminate. The president said that the process of termination of Korus is simpler than with the North American Free Trade Agreement. With NAFTA, we terminate tomorrow; if we did, it ends in six months, he said. With the Korean deal, we terminate and its over. Trump added: I will do that unless we make a fair deal. Were getting destroyed in Korea. South Koreas Trade Ministry said Friday that it has no plans to renegotiate the agreement, the Associated Press reported. The countrys vice trade minister said South Korea was not notified of any trade renegotiation. On his trip to Asia last week, Vice President Pence said to an audience of business leaders in Seoul that the United States was looking to reform the Korus agreement because U.S. businesses face too many barriers to entry, which tilts the playing field against American workers and American growth. Trumps threat to South Korea comes after he withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact. The Trump administration also is pushing to renegotiate trade relationships with Japan, another important ally. During a visit last week to Tokyo to open an economic dialogue with the Japanese, Pence said: We seek trade that is free. We seek trade that is fair. When President Trump unveiled the 28th executive order of his presidency with great fanfare at a White House ceremony this week, he pledged that the days of the Education Department overstepping its legal authority were over. The time has come to empower parents and teachers to make the decisions that help their students achieve success, Trump declared Wednesday afternoon. Yet the text of the order itself is far more modest. It directs Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to conduct a review of regulations and modify them as she sees fit, a power that the administration acknowledges the secretary already had. And the entire process is slated to take a whopping 300 days ending in the second year of Trumps term. In the week ahead of Trumps 100-day benchmark on Saturday, the White House has rushed to put more than half a dozen executive orders on the presidents desk, with the aim of bringing the total to 32. (Adriana Usero,Julio Negron,Osman Malik/The Washington Post) Contrary to the administrations assertions, that number is not a significant milestone for new presidents. Whats more, more than half of the 29 orders issued as of Thursday have merely called for reviews, have commissioned reports or established panels to issue recommendations. The documents lay out a dizzying schedule of 90-, 120- and 180-day increments for federal agencies to evaluate the feasibility of White House policy goals and report to the president. They hardly represent the immediate action the president and his aides had heralded they would bring to Washington. But Trump has reveled in the symbolic speed and decisiveness they represent, even if his policy aims may not be realized for quite some time. Its politics and symbolism, said Doug Holtz-Eakin, a Republican economist and president of the American Action Forum, a conservative think tank. If were going to do something in November, could we take credit for it now? It gives them two bites of the apple, he added. Warnings from conservatives during the Obama era about an imperial presidency have faded as Trump has taken the mantle of executive orders and made the sheer number he has signed a trademark of his first days in office. Among many aspects of the government that have been new to Trump, the executive order as a tool of unilateral governance has a familiar feel, allowing him to act almost in the way a business executive would. The drama of the signing ceremonies has been particularly appealing to the White House at a time when Congress has been unable to move forward with significant legislation on health care, tax reform and other issues. It seems hes frustrated, and hes probably saying, What can I do? and his advisers are saying, You can issue executive orders, said Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian at New York University. Hes trying to keep his base happy without giving them the action he promised. Hes showing executive activity without getting executive results. President Trump makes remarks as Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke (left) and Vice President Mike Pence (right) listen prior to signing an Antiquities Executive Order at the Interior Department on Thursday. (Mike Theiler / Pool/EPA) Even then there are real limits, of course. The courts have halted several of Trumps orders, including his temporary ban on entry to the United States by citizens of six majority-Muslim countries and his directive to punish sanctuary cities for refusing to cooperate with immigration enforcement measures. Several of the executive orders instruct federal agencies to enforce all Federal laws pertaining to a slew of issues, including enhancement of the safety of law enforcement officers, managing visas for high-skilled foreigners, and addressing drug and human trafficking. In many cases, the orders serve as a means for Trump to communicate with his own government about his priorities. Given that the Senate hasnt moved forward with many of his nominations and he hasnt put forward as many as the agencies would like, its an efficient way to communicate to the agencies if you dont have anyone working there, said Tom Fitton, president of the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch. Some senior White House officials have acknowledged that the executive orders are intended in part to signal Trumps priorities to his supporters. The purposes of the orders are to make clear what the presidents and the administrations priorities are and to signify the importance of these issues to the American people, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last week as he rolled out the executive order on reducing the burden of tax regulations. White House aides say that many of Trumps orders are designed to rein in executive power, rather than expand it. But even orders that eventually might result in the unwinding of regulations and other actions taken by previous administrations must first go through a process of review before anything is done. Appearing at the Interior Department on Wednesday, Trump accused the Obama administration of an egregious use of power by using a national monuments designation to protect larger swaths of land than was justified. This is a big one, Trump said. But Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke noted at the event that the order itself does not remove any monuments. Still, several of Trumps orders have produced tangible results. The Internal Revenue Service effectively ended its enforcement of the Affordable Care Acts individual mandate after Trumps first executive order directed the executive branch to do everything in its power to ease the regulatory burden of the law. Conservatives also say that Trumps executive order mandating the removal of two regulations for every one put in place has had a demonstrable effect. And while the economic impact of some of Trumps executive orders may not be direct, the White House and its allies say it has sent a message of confidence to businesses. We keep track of regulatory cost on a regular basis. Theres about a $7 billion difference between the total regulatory cost imposed in this administration and the previous two, Holtz-Eakin said. The business sector is going to notice that. Trump aides have also highlighted Trumps use of the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress a limited window to repeal regulations put in place by the executive branch. Trump and GOP lawmakers have worked together to repeal more than a dozen such regulations issued in the waning days of the Obama administration. By contrast, Trump aides said, the law was used only once before by other presidents. Typically, presidents resort to governance by executive order in response to divided government. With Trump, issuing executive orders became a strategy from the beginning even though the Republican Party holds the House, the Senate and the White House. Political scientists would probably have predicted that Trump would need to rely less on executive orders because he has full control of government, said Daniel Gitterman, a professor of public policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He doesnt really have a working coalition in Congress. On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order creating an office at the Department of Veterans Affairs designed to clear a fast path to disciplining or firing poor performers or employees who are accused of misconduct, taking over an effort that had stalled in the Senate. But the new office could duplicate similar efforts underway at the agency, and VA Secretary David Shulkin acknowledged that he needs legislative help to move quickly against wrongdoers, who right now have appeal rights and other due-process rights under civil service law. The legislative process is clearly taking much longer to pass key issues like health-care and tax reform, so promoting some executive orders that especially reverses Obamas policies as a way to show supporters they are fulfilling some of Trumps campaign promises makes sense, said Ron Bonjean, a Republican strategist. However, voters will want to see more results, and the pressure is clearly on Capitol Hill Republicans and the White House to get bills to the presidents desk for signature. After years of accusing then-President Barack Obama of executive overreach through executive orders and presidential memorandums, conservatives are less alarmed by what Trump has done. But Fitton warned that Trump, like every president who governs by executive fiat, faces the possibility that his actions might be invalidated or reversed by the courts or his successor. If you want real policy change that goes beyond an administration, the best strategy is to go through the constitutional powers of the Congress, Fitton said. Lisa Rein and Amy Goldstein contributed to this report. As Republicans reach the end of their first hundred days of controlling all the levers of power in Washington, the euphoria that accompanied Donald Trumps unexpected presidential victory is giving way to realism about the limits of how much they can get done and how quickly. They now acknowledge that having a president of their own party even one who declared at last years GOP convention that I alone can fix it is not the answer to everything for Republicans. To the contrary, being put in charge of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue has brought to the surface the long-standing divisions within the party and tensions between the two houses of Congress. Thus far, Republicans have failed to deliver on Trumps most conspicuous promises of sweeping, swift change as evidenced Thursday night by their second failure to even bring a health-care-law repeal to a vote in the House. And they have come perilously close to that hallmark of congressional dysfunction, a government shutdown. [Congress passes spending deal to keep government open another week] President Trump, accompanied by Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, right, and veterans, signs an executive order on "Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protection" at the Department of Veterans Affairs on April 27. (Andrew Harnik/AP) The difficulty involved in accomplishing something so basic as keeping the governments lights on has raised concerns about whether the party is equipped to handle bigger challenges ahead. While lawmakers continued squabbling for a plan to fund the government for the remainder of this fiscal year, many worried that there is little work being done to prepare for the next one, which begins in October. Heres what would be embarrassing: If the Republican House, the Republican Senate and a Republican president couldnt pass a budget. Thats the biggest risk of all, warned Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.). Then there is the issue that motivates the GOPs base like no other: repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. It is something Trump had promised would be so easy to get done immediately. Fast. Quick. Instead, the House stumbled Thursday in its second attempt to get a bill passed. Dismantling social programs, even controversial ones, has proved harder than it looked to Trump and his fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill. Indeed, the proposal under discussion this week would leave much of President Barack Obamas signature law in place. People underestimated how difficult that would be to achieve, even with a GOP majority, said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.). Although being in power is preferable to the alternative, Cole added, everybody sees the upside. Nobody sees the downside. Scrambling for elusive legislative achievements, Trump continues to add to the Republicans already overloaded legislative agenda. In the past week alone he has demanded that his sharply divided party in Congress not only step up the pace on a second health-care proposal but also push ahead on the first comprehensive tax overhaul in more than 30 years. Every day it seems there is another serious and substantial push coming out of the White House to be moving on initiatives, whether its taxes this week, trade or whatever. No one is sitting still, said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who heads the Senate Energy Committee. Meanwhile, Murkowski noted, there is much basic business that remains to be done, with the administration yet to even nominate people for many key positions. Were still trying to get the presidents team filled out and help them with that, she said. Yet we dont have any names. The difficulty is compounded by Trumps ad hoc management style. He routinely changes course with the speed of a tweet, and sometimes he flat-out confuses his foot soldiers on Capitol Hill. That was the case Wednesday, when many congressional Republicans were startled and angered by reports that Trump was considering an executive action to withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement. By late evening, Trump had changed course, leaving it unclear whether the whole thing had been a real plan or a head fake. [I was all set to terminate: Inside Trumps sudden shift on NAFTA] In many respects, all of this reflects the fact that Trump as president is exactly what he promised he would be as a candidate. He was serious in his declarations that he intended to blow up the old ways of doing things in Washington; the question for his second hundred days and beyond is whether the Big Bang that is underway in the nations capital will produce an enduring new order of the universe or simply more chaos. Republicans have not been without their victories. Senate Republicans steered the surprisingly smooth and error-free confirmation of Neil M. Gorsuch to the Supreme Court and joined with the House to pass 13 bills undoing Obama-era regulations touching areas including gun policy, the coal industry and funding for Planned Parenthood. But the days when Republicans could be rallied by their outrage against a Democratic president are gone. A governing party must produce and can be easily undercut by its own factions. For the initial effort to come up with a replacement for the Affordable Care Act, Trump outsourced the job to House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.). What the speaker came up with turned out to be something he could not sell to his own members. When the process resumed this week, the White House took to negotiating directly on the issue with conservative and centrist factions of the House GOP conference. The bill picked up needed support from conservatives in the Houses Freedom Caucus, but it failed to pick up the necessary votes from House moderates. Similarly, the new White House tax plan snubbed key elements of proposals introduced by congressional Republicans most notably, the border adjustment tax on imports that Ryan and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Tex.) had put forward as a centerpiece of their vision for overhauling the tax code. Weve got all these deals that are being cut with individuals and small groups in smoky rooms, and folks like me dont know whats happening, said Rep. Bill Flores (R-Tex.) I think we have to get back where we have some transparency. A growing concern among Republicans in Congress is Trumps tendency to lay down unrealistic deadlines, making demands for action within days on complicated policy questions that would take months to work through in anything close to a normal fashion. And their majorities in Congress do not give Republicans complete command in Washington. Conservatives in the House have grown frustrated with the Senate, where Republicans control a slim 52-to-48 majority and must turn to Democrats to pass most legislation. If the Senate blows it up, its their fault, not our fault, said Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.). We have to do our work diligently, and if the Senate screws it up, its on them. But South Carolinas Graham argues that the Senate operates under the realities of arithmetic. You dont really have total control, and I want our base to understand that, he said. Democrats have a say. They cant be dealt out. Weve got to get enough of them to get 60 votes on big stuff. Republicans are indeed slowed by Democrats, who in the Senate have repeatedly made sure that debates over even noncontroversial Cabinet nominees drag out for as long as four days. But it was Republicans who told the White House that money for a new wall on the U.S.-Mexico border would upend attempts to keep the government open after Friday forcing Trump to abandon his demand, at least for now. Still to be fought out is a touchier issue whether the Trumps tax cuts should be allowed to add to the deficit. The big question is how much of this tax reform will be paid for totally, partially or not at all, said Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), a leader of the centrist faction in the House. Republicans in and out of Congress have also criticized Trump for failing to understand the pace and challenges of passing legislation in Congress. The White House has not yet learned to provide air coverage for Republicans to do the hard things on health care, said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, the former head of the Congressional Budget Office and now president of the conservative American Action Forum. Senior Republican aides acknowledged the challenges of the first few months of GOP rules, but the same was true for the Democrats when they had much bigger majorities on Capitol Hill than Republicans do now, said Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). With the exception of repealing and replacing Obamacare, everything else that weve set out to do, weve done, Stewart said. Having total control of Washington doesnt mean they wont bump heads, added Grover Norquist, head of Americans for Tax Reform. But even at the outset of their drive to rewrite the tax code, he said, Republicans have already achieved a broad consensus on some goals including abolishing the alternative minimum tax, making drastic cuts to corporate rates and eliminating the inheritance tax. Theres no principled objection to what they want, Norquist said. Im overwhelmed with how much everybody can agree on. The fights over particular things are not interesting to me. Perry, the Pennsylvania congressman, said hes not happy with the outcomes of Republican control so far. But, he acknowledged, Im much more happy about it than what the first 100 days of a Hillary Clinton presidency would have meant. Read more at PowerPost People gather in Nairobi at a rally where it was announced that Raila Odinga would be the candidate of an opposition alliance in Augusts presidential election. (Khalil Senosi/Associated Press) A coalition of opposition parties announced Thursday that Raila Odinga, a three-time presidential candidate and former prime minister, would be its standard-bearer in elections in August. The announcement sets up a rematch between Odinga and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who narrowly won the last election in 2013. Odinga contested the results of that race, alleging irregularities in the counting of votes. But Kenyas Supreme Court rejected the challenge and declared Kenyatta the victor. Odinga is now 72, and this is seen as his final chance to win the presidency. He was also a leading candidate in 2007 elections, winning widespread support as he faced off against President Mwai Kibaki. But Kibaki was declared the victor. That announcement triggered ethnically related violence that resulted in more than 1,000 deaths. Kibaki is a member of the Kikuyu tribe, as is Kenyatta, the son of the nations founding father, Jomo Kenyatta. Odinga is from the Luo tribe. Politics in Kenya is strongly influenced by tribal affiliation. In 2010, Kenyatta and his running mate, William Ruto, were charged by the International Criminal Court with instigating mobs that went on a killing spree in Nairobi slums and in parts of the countryside after the 2007 elections. The men insisted they were innocent. Prosecutors later dropped the charges, saying key witnesses had been intimidated. Odinga became prime minister in 2008 as part of a power-sharing agreement with Kibaki. Last year, Odinga led protests against Kenyas electoral commission, alleging that it favored the government and could not be trusted to oversee the 2017 elections. Following the demonstrations, the members of the commission stepped down, paving the way for new ones to be named. Odinga is running on the ticket of the National Super Alliance (NASA), which was formed in January and comprises four key opposition parties: the Orange Democratic Movement, the Wiper Democratic Movement, the Amani National Congress and FORD-Kenya. Odinga is the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement. His nomination was announced at a rally held Thursday at Nairobis Uhuru Park, which was attended by thousands of opposition supporters. Read more Trumps refugee ban is a matter of life and death for some, including a 1-year-old with cancer Ivory is worthless unless it is on our elephants: Kenya hosts worlds largest ivory burn Can two men once charged with war crimes tame ethnic violence in Kenya? Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news End the conflict Political parties have been debating amnesty while making no effort to strengthen the existing justice system In a week, Marine Le Pen could become the first woman to win the French presidency. But she sells herself that way only some of the time. When Le Pen took to the stage to claim her victory in the first round of the vote, there was no talk of the proverbial glass ceiling or any mention of women, girls or gender. But gender has played a significant, if subtle, role in Marine Le Pens astonishingly successful 2017 campaign to bring her extremist party from Europes political fringe into the halls of political power, analysts say. In her writings and speeches this year, it has operated quietly and constantly, and mostly with one particular purpose: stigmatizing Muslims. Shes used the gender card for her own benefit, said Cecile Alduy, the author of a well-known book on Le Pens rhetoric and a professor of French politics at Stanford University. But always, and only, to denigrate Islam. She hardly ever speaks of the feminine condition except to target Islam and immigrants. In fact, in the public eye, Le Pen, the female leader of a party that has opposed womens rights throughout its 55-year history, has a complicated relationship with gender. On the one hand, she is ultimately the only female candidate seeking power in a political system still dominated by men. On the other, in her capacity as a deputy in the European Parliament, she has repeatedly voted against resolutions that advocates say would have improved womens health and safety. Le Pen greets supporters as she leaves after an excursion on a fishing boat during a campaign visit to the port in Grau-du-Roi, France, April 27. (Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters) [Marine Le Pen goes from fringe right-winger to major contender] On Wednesday, Le Pens campaign unveiled its new slogan for the final round of the vote: Choose France, written across a portrait of the candidate. Given that the French Republic has long represented itself with a female avatar Marianne, the goddess of liberty, whose face adorns nearly every town hall and administrative building across the country the choice was not without significance. In a bitterly contested presidential race whose focus is ultimately Frances national identity, the message, for some critics, was clear enough: Marianne is Marine, and Marine is white and blonde. When she ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 2012, she never emphasized her gender during her campaign and made no attempt to target female voters. This was probably a political calculation, experts say, based on the outcome of the previous French election in 2007, when Segolene Royal, a Socialist who qualified for the final round of the vote, made appealing to women a major campaign objective. In the end, Royal was unsuccessful: Despite her pitch, most French women backed her opponent, the conservative Nicolas Sarkozy. But this year, Le Pen, who has often panned identity politics as a communitarianism hostile to universal equality, appears to have changed her tactic. In scenarios once difficult to imagine, she has been citing prominent feminist thinkers such as Simone de Beauvoir and Elisabeth Badinter on the campaign trail. She talks about herself as a mother, a Frenchwoman. And she frequently appeals to the fights of our grandmothers when she speaks. In France, the question of national identity has manifested itself most recently in debates about the female body specifically whether certain types of face- or body-covering garments that some Muslim women wear violate the creed of a nominally secular society. In 2004, the French government banned the headscarf in public schools, and in 2010, the face-covering burqa. A major controversy of 2016 was over the burkini, a bathing suit that allowed certain Muslim women to enjoy the beach while respecting traditional codes of modesty. Le Pen has been quick to capitalize on these long-brewing culture wars. In February, for instance, she refused to wear a headscarf to a meeting in Lebanon with a prominent Muslim leader. Then she told reporters that her objection stemmed from her commitment to female emancipation. [Growing anti-Muslim rhetoric permeates French presidential election campaign] They wanted to impose this on me, to present me with a fait accompli, she said then. Well, no one presents me with a fait accompli. In Notebooks of Hope, the blog she maintains on her campaign website, Le Pen published a post on March 8, International Womens Day, titled With Me, French Women Will Stay Free. In a significant break with her standard line, she wrote that she was speaking as a woman to the women of her country. But the major issue she emphasized was not, for instance, the salary discrepancy between women and men, around 17 percent in France. Instead, more than half of the essay focused on what she called a much more profound threat to the condition of women in our country today, which she identified as the rise of Islamist fundamentalism in our neighborhoods and in our cities. French feminist groups a significant number of which have publicly rejected Le Pen frequently say that her use of Muslim immigrants exposes a deep hypocrisy in her beliefs. After reports from German authorities that North African or Arabic migrants assaulted women in Cologne on New Years Eve in 2015, Le Pen published an op-ed in which she wrote that the migrant crisis signals the beginning of the end of womens rights. But Claire Serre-Combe, a spokeswoman and activist for the prominent organization Osez le feminisme! (Dare to Be Feminist!), said that Le Pen has remained comparatively silent when reports of domestic violence perpetrated by white men have similarly captivated the public eye. [Marion Marechal-Le Pen: Weve won the battle of ideas] According to Alduy, Le Pen does not make too much of womens issues. She is very smart about not saying too much about womens rights: Contrary to her father, she does not propose to abolish abortion rights, but she let her niece, Marion, promise to cut funding to Frances version of Planned Parenthood. In an interview at her Paris office earlier this month, Marion Marechal-Le Pen, now 27 and an elected member of Frances National Assembly from Vaucluse, said that she hated the word gender. You mean sex? she asked. Because Im against gender theory. Marechal-Le Pen, like her aunt, a divorced single mother, has been a sharp critic of French abortion rights in recent years. But in the interview she disputed the allegation, saying only that she opposed the unlimited reimbursement of abortion. Asked about her experience as a woman in politics, Marechal-Le Pen said she found it mostly an asset. I can catch peoples attention and I have a stronger voice to connect with audiences, because of my youth and the way I express myself, she said. Marine Le Pen, whose aides declined an interview, has carefully honed her own mode of expression. In the essay she wrote for International Womens Day, she concluded: With me, in the country of Brigitte Bardot, women will stay free! Bardot a white, blonde French actress from the 1960s and a well-known fan of Le Pen was prosecuted in 2008 for inciting racial hatred after she wrote that Muslims were destroying our country by imposing their ways. Read more Frances terrorism problem divided the country. The election could make it worse. It will be a total disaster if Marine Le Pen wins the French election, says Frances U.S. envoy Charles de Gaulle would roll over in his grave over what has become of French politics Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Moon Jae-in, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, attends a televised presidential debate in Seoul on April 28. (Seongjoon Cho/Bloomberg News) The South Korean government reeled Friday over President Trumps sudden insistence that he expects Seoul to pay $1 billion for a missile defense system that many here do not want, the latest in a series of slights against one of the United States leading allies in Asia. Trumps remarks come at a particularly sensitive time on the Korean Peninsula: Not only have tensions with North Korea risen to their highest level in years, but South Koreans are heading to the polls next month and could elect a president whose ideas about how to deal with North Korea are very different from Trumps. [Tillerson calls for painful measures to punish North Korea] So far the reaction in South Korea to all these things that Mr. Trump has said has been surprisingly restrained, but I think thats because South Koreans are still trying to figure out what kind of character he is, said David Straub, a former U.S. diplomat dealing with the Koreas and author of the book Anti-Americanism in Democratizing South Korea. They know hes an unusual president and theyre discounting a lot of what he says, but eventually remarks like these will have a serious effect, Straub said. (Jason Aldag/The Washington Post) Trump on Thursday revived in a particularly blunt way his campaign-trail complaints that South Korea was not paying enough for its defense and was getting the better of a trade deal. This followed his assertion that Korea was once part of China which angered many South Koreans and his phone calls to Beijing and Tokyo over the North Korean problem but not to Seoul. South Korea is between presidents after the impeachment of Park Geun-hye last month, but many people here took offense that Trump did not call their acting president on an issue involving the Korean Peninsula. In the latest twist, Trump said he wants the government in Seoul to pay for the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system that the U.S. military installed in South Korea this week and that is expected to become operational in the next few days. [ U.S. starts swiftly installing controversial antimissile battery in South Korea ] I informed South Korea it would be appropriate if they paid. Its a billion-dollar system, Trump said in an interview with the Reuters news agency. Its phenomenal, shoots missiles right out of the sky. The South Korean government had been reluctant to deploy the system, aimed at guarding against the North Korean threat, because it would anger China, its biggest trading partner. South Koreans demonstrate on April 28 against the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system called Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. (Lee Jin-man/AP) The U.S. military urged Seoul to deploy the system, and the government agreed to it in July. Under the accord, the United States would pay for the system while South Korea would supply the land for it. But it has remained controversial. Fierce opposition mounted when the U.S. military moved key pieces of THAAD equipment onto the deployment site in the middle of the night this week. Pressure to make South Korea pay for THAAD is likely to boost support for liberal presidential candidate Moon Jae-in, who has vowed to review the previous governments decision to host the system. Moon already has a strong lead in polls ahead of the May 9 election. Among his policy proposals, he wants to resume engagement with North Korea, pursuing a starkly different course from Trumps maximum pressure approach. When progressives were elected president before Kim Dae-jung in 1997 and Roh Moo-hyun in 2002 anti-American sentiment rose sharply on both occasions, Straub said. Moons team seized on Trumps statement. It has become obvious that the deployment decision process was seriously flawed from the start, Youn Kwan-suk, a spokesman for the Moon campaign, told reporters in Seoul. [Twenty-five million reasons the U.S. hasnt struck North Korea] As the THAAD system will have a big impact on our security and impose huge economic costs, its essential that we seek approval for it from the National Assembly, Youn said, reiterating Moons intention to review the plan. Centrist Ahn Cheol-soo, who has pledged to abide by the previous governments deal with the United States, said that the agreement must be honored and that any changes would need National Assembly approval. Even conservative parties that support the THAAD deployment said the issue was a matter of trust between the allies. In another slight, Trump said the U.S. trade agreement with South Korea forged during the George W. Bush administration and implemented in 2012 was a horrible deal and threatened to terminate it. It was a Hillary Clinton disaster, a deal that shouldve never been made, he said in an interview Thursday night with The Washington Post. During a visit to South Korea earlier this month, Vice President Pence said the administration wants to overhaul the deal to make it fairer to the United States. South Korean authorities said Friday that they had not been informed of either proposal. Our basic position remains unchanged, South Korea's Defense Ministry said in a statement. The THAAD agreement reached last year remains in force, it said. A Trade Ministry official said Seoul has not received a request to renegotiate the trade deal or a notice scrapping it. We are trying to understand what President Trump said exactly and the context of his remark, a ministry official told local media. Read more: N. Korea puts out video showing White House in crosshairs, carriers exploding Here are the missiles North Korea just showed off, one by one N. Koreas Special Operations forces are numerous, mysterious and formidable Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Macedonias night of violence that saw protesters storm parliament and attack lawmakers elicited diametrically opposed reactions from world powers Friday, with Russia blaming the West for meddling in the Balkan nations internal affairs, and the European Union and United States saying the events were inconsistent with democracy. The simmering tensions in Macedonia and the opposing views of powerful nations have led to concerns that the former Yugoslav republic, which narrowly escaped civil war in 2001, could become another flash point for increasingly frosty relations between Russia and the West. Political tension has been building in Macedonia for the past two years, and the country has been under a caretaker government since inconclusive elections in early December. The hostility boiled over Thursday night over disagreements about the election of a new speaker of parliament, leaving more than 100 people injured. By Friday, the previous nights chaotic scenes had become a war of words between rival politicians, despite calls for calm from abroad. In the evening, about 2,000 people held a protest outside the E.U. mission headquarters in downtown Skopje, calling for new elections. Zoran Zaev, head of the opposition Social Democrats, wore a white bandage over a gash on his forehead as he accused his attackers of attempted murder with the parliament invasion. Former prime minister Nikola Gruevski, whose supporters were among the mob that burst into the building Thursday, said he deplored the violence but accused his political rivals of instigating it with an attempted power grab. Greed to seize power at any cost is the direct cause which led to this adverse situation, and they bear responsibility for it, Gruevski said, accusing the Social Democrats of violating the Constitution by electing the new speaker despite the months-old deadlock in forming a new government. The European Union and United States were swift to condemn the violence and to recognize the new speaker, Talat Xhaferi, a former military officer and defense minister. The U.S. Embassy in Skopje condemned the violence in the strongest terms and said it would work with Xhaferi to support democracy and to advance the interests of Macedonia. Russia, however, had an entirely different take on events. The opposition, which lost the parliamentary elections, actually tried to seize power in the country by force, having deliberately elected the chairman of the parliament with a flagrant violation of the established procedures, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It noted the speed at which E.U. and U.S. representatives had recognized Xhaferis legitimacy as speaker and pointed out his past as a rebel commander during a 2001 armed uprising by ethnic Albanian rebels seeking greater rights in Macedonia. Pope Francis is greeted by Muslim clerics during a visit to the prestigious Sunni institution al-Azhar in Cairo on April 28. (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images) Pope Francis urged Muslim leaders Friday to reject extremist violence in Gods name and preach messages of tolerance, delivering a powerful call for action at a time when Islamist militants are persecuting Christians across the region. He arrived on his two-day visit, intended to show solidarity with embattled Christians as well as improve ties with Muslim leaders, amid acute fear and uncertainty among Egypts minority Christian community. Since December, Islamic State militants have bombed churches, staged assassinations and driven hundreds of Christian families from their homes. Less than three weeks ago, suicide bombings at two churches in the cities of Alexandria and Tanta killed more than 40 people and injured scores during Palm Sunday services. We have an obligation to denounce violations of human dignity and human rights, to expose attempts to justify every form of hatred in the name of religion, and to condemn these attempts as idolatrous caricatures of God, Francis told a gathering of religious leaders at a peace conference hosted by the grand imam of al-Azhar, Egypts highest Islamic authority. Let us say once more a firm and clear No! to every form of violence, vengeance and hatred carried out in the name of religion or in the name of God. [Bombs rock Egyptian churches on Palm Sunday] Only the second pope to visit Egypt, the most populous nation in the Arab world, the 80-year-old pontiff arrived on Friday afternoon amid heavy security concerns. In both church attacks this month, the suicide bombers managed to penetrate sites that were guarded by security forces. Security was visibly tight Friday. Police officers and soldiers in armored personnel carriers secured streets and sites the pope was to visit, including the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral and the Vatican Embassy. Police in riverboats patrolled the Nile around the island of Zamalek, where the embassy is housed. Nevertheless, Francis declined to ride in an armored car, preferring instead a blue Fiat car with its windows down. But security forces prevented crowds from gathering to see the pontiff as he drove through the streets of Cairo. Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypts population of 95 million. The vast majority are Orthodox Coptic Christians; Catholics make up less than 1 percent of the communitys population. After being greeted at Cairos international airport by religious and political leaders, Francis traveled to the presidential palace in the upscale neighborhood of Heliopolis to meet with President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi. In a speech in front of Sissi and diplomats, Francis expressed support for Egypts efforts to suppress the Islamic States Egyptian affiliate, based in the northern Sinai Peninsula. The country today has an important regional role to play in vanquishing all violence and terrorism, he said. Sissis effort to tackle religious extremism, the pontiff said, merits attention and appreciation. Pope Francis boards a plane to Egypt at Fiumicino airport near Rome on April 28, 2017. (Telenews/EPA) [After church bombings, Israel closes Sinai border] Sissi, in turn, told the pontiff that Egypt was determined to defeat terrorism and to hold onto our unity and not let it divide us. Bringing security to Egypt is a key promise of Sissi, but the recent assaults on Christians have posed serious challenges to his abilities to fulfill it. Most Christians backed Sissis rise to power, as well as his brutal crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, a moderate Islamist party. In 2013, Sissi led a military coup that ousted elected Islamist President Mohamed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood supporters from office. Since then, attacks on Christians have risen dramatically, especially in rural areas, according to data compiled by activists. The violence added to Christians sense of feeling under siege, even as they coexist with Muslims. For decades, Christians have faced discrimination by successive governments that have restricted them from freely practicing their beliefs. But the community now faces greater harm from the Islamic State, which in February declared that killing Christians was a focus of its campaign to destabilize Egypt. In December, the group asserted responsibility for a bombing at the Coptic Cathedral complex, killing more than two dozen worshipers, most of them women and children. On Friday, Francis visited the now heavily guarded site in part to pray for those who died. In February, hundreds of Christians fled the Sinai Peninsula following assassinations by Islamic State militants. After this months church bombings, Sissi declared a state of emergency. Yet last week, the Islamic State attacked security forces near St. Catherines Monastery, one of the worlds oldest, killing a police officer and injuring three others. [Christians under chronic threat across Middle East] The central focus of the popes visit Friday was the peace conference and meeting his host, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of al-Azhar, a 1,000-year-old mosque and university revered by Sunni Muslims. Before a crowd of Muslim and other religious leaders, scholars and students, Francis said a serious commitment was needed to educate youth and prevent them from being enticed by religious extremists. As religious leaders, we are called to unmask violence that masquerades as purported sanctity, Francis, dressed in his white papal frock and cap, told the crowd. To counter effectively the barbarity of those who foment hatred with violence, we need to accompany young people, helping them on the path to maturity and teaching them to respond to the incendiary logic of evil by patiently working for the growth of goodness. In 2011, relations soured between the Roman Catholic Church and Muslim clerics here after then-Pope Benedict XVI denounced a church bombing in Alexandria and urged Egypts leaders to do more to protect Christians. Francis has tried to improve relationships since becoming pope and last year hosted Tayeb at the Vatican. In his address, Tayeb praised Francis for disassociating terrorism from Islam. Islam is not a religion of terrorism because a minority from among its followers hijacked some of its texts, he said. Both he and Francis called for cutting off the militants funding and weapons. After their speeches, both men hugged and kissed each others cheeks. For Mustafa Mohammed, a religious student at al-Azhar who was in the audience, the symbolism was clear. It is a message to the extremists that Muslims and Christians will never be torn apart, he said. Heba Mahfouz contributed to this report. Read more Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news United Nations U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley address the Security Council after a vote on a resolution condemning Syria's use of chemical weapons failed on April 12. (Bebeto Matthews/AP) All 100 U.S. senators signed a letter released Friday asking U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres to address what the lawmakers call entrenched bias against Israel at the world body. The unanimous message notes that the United States is the largest contributor to the United Nations but does not threaten the withholding of U.S. dues. Still, it uses strong language to insist that the United Nations rectify what the senators said is unequal treatment of Israel on human rights and other grounds. Through words and actions, we urge you to ensure that Israel is treated neither better nor worse than any other U.N. member in good standing, the letter said. The letter was obtained Thursday by The Washington Post. As both the U.N.s principal founding member and its largest contributor, the United States should insist on reform, the letter read. We are deeply committed to international leadership and to advancing respect for human rights. But continued targeting of Israel by the U.N. Human Rights Council and other U.N. entities is unacceptable. The senators asked Guterres, who assumed leadership of the world body in January, to seek such institutional changes as the removal of a standing agenda item for the U.N. Human Rights Commission sessions that has been used as a forum to denounce Israel. The senators also want a change to the rules for membership on the human rights panel to broaden participation beyond what U.S. officials have said is often a narrow and self-interested group of countries. The unusual unanimity expands on the fierce denunciation of U.N. treatment of Israel mounted by Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, this year. The letter praises Haley for that effort, which she has said is intended to show that the United States will not put up with the bashing of its close ally. The United States has long been Israels chief defender at the United Nations, including regularly vetoing measures at the Security Council that were critical of Israel. In December, the lame duck Obama administration chose to abstain on such a resolution, allowing it to pass. The measure addressed Jewish home building in the occupied West Bank, and the U.S. action was a sign of President Barack Obamas deep frustration with what he saw as Israeli action that threatened an eventual peace deal. The Trump administration opposes the measure and has been highly critical of the previous administrations action. It cannot be quickly reversed, however. Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon thanked the senators Friday. Once again, America has stood strongly by Israel, and stood up for truth and justice. It is time to finally put an end to the UNs biased approach toward Israel, Danon said through a spokesman. The Senate letter reflects what the letters authors, Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.), said are encouraging signs that Guterres may be willing to change some U.N. procedures that Israel and the United States say amount to discrimination. Guterres yanked and disavowed a U.N. report last month likening Israels treatment of Palestinians to apartheid. His spokesman said the report had been published without Guterress permission. If you continue to build on your recent action, we stand ready to work with you to eliminate the organizations anti-Israel bias, and to fight anti-Semitism in all its forms, the senators wrote. On Sunday, Guterres told a pro-Israel audience that he cannot police all anti-Israel bias at the United Nations, but he said Israel should not be singled out for special scrutiny. A modern form of anti-Semitism is the denial of the right of the state of Israel to exist, the news service JTA quoted Guterres as saying at a meeting of the World Jewish Congress. As secretary general of the United Nations, I can say that the state of Israel needs to be treated as any other state, with exactly the same rules. Were glad every single senator decided to sign onto this letter, Rubio spokesman Matt Wolking said. That doesnt happen often. The letter comes ahead of the first meeting between President Trump and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who will visit the White House next week. Since it is rare for all 100 senators to agree on an issue, this letter sends a powerful bipartisan message to the U.N. that its anti-Israel bias must end, said Marshall Wittmann, spokesman for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis with deputy national security adviser Dina Powell, right, during a meeting with Saudi officials in Riyadh on Wednesday. (Jonathan Ernst/AP) When Defense Secretary Jim Mattis sat down with leaders in Saudi Arabia last week, a top White House official traveling with him offered up a new label for the Pentagon chief, who is well known as a combat-hardened former general: favorite of the president. The depiction from deputy national security adviser Dina Powell, however lighthearted, sheds light on the substantial role that Mattis has assumed since taking charge at the Pentagon three months ago, as one of President Trumps most influential advisers and a commanding voice on foreign policy issues. Mattiss strong standing in Trumps Cabinet makes the top Pentagon position more powerful than it has been in recent years, helping to steer the administration toward more traditional foreign policy positions while allocating greater authority and resources to the military at a time of complex and myriad global threats. Youre seeing the effects of his influence because he does have a worldview that is defined and also because of the structural differences in this administration, which has moved decision-making power away from the White House to agencies like the Pentagon, said Richard Fontaine, president of the Center for a New American Security. [Pentagon leader assumes new role: Turning down the temperature on Trump] Trumps esteem for Mattis reflects the presidents admiration for uniformed leaders and his affinity for using military action to demonstrate American power overseas. Already, Trump has granted the Pentagon authority to expand its counterterrorism fight in Yemen, and his missile assault on a Syrian air base this month marked a political high-water mark for his turbulent presidency. On Wednesday, Mattis helped lead an unusual White House briefing for senators on the dangers posed by North Koreas nuclear program. Some lawmakers and security experts have raised concerns about the presidents reliance on Mattis and other current and former military leaders, including H.R. McMaster, an active-duty three-star general who serves as Trumps national security adviser, suggesting it could militarize American interaction with the world and diminish the diversity of viewpoints represented in policy deliberations. Jim Mattis and H.R. McMaster given their experience understand that the military tool is not the answer for everything, said Melissa Dalton, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. At the same time, whether they intend to or not, they are shaped by their experience. James Carafano, a Heritage Foundation scholar who was a member of the Trump transition team, said Trump had rapidly developed a rapport with Mattis since the two men first met after Trumps November victory. How could that be that the people [Trump] really trusts when it comes to national security are totally different than his closest advisers a year ago? Carafano asked. It says everything about Trump, because he is someone who really respects expertise. The retired Marine general brings decades of military and government experience to a national security team that largely comprises Washington outsiders. As a combat leader in Afghanistan and the 1991 Persian Gulf War, Mattis worked closely with foreign militaries. As head of U.S. Central Command (Centcom) under President Barack Obama, he brandished his diplomatic credentials in his dealings with Middle Eastern leaders. While Mattiss hawkish proposals for pushing back against Iran eventually led to disagreements with the Obama White House and his early departure from Centcom, he now appears as an advocate for stability and restraint. His soft-spoken advocacy of continuity on a range of issues, from NATO to the alliances with Japan and South Korea, has reassured foreign leaders unnerved by the presidents impulsive statements. Dwuan June/The Washington Post Were in another context now where Mattis is the avatar of steadiness, said one former senior official who has worked with Mattis. In February, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared to voice the relief that many foreign officials have privately expressed at Mattiss appointment. I was very encouraged to see someone like you could have such . . . experience both in the military as well as security, defense and the diplomacy taking this office, he said during a visit by Mattis to Tokyo. [Trump delights in watching the U.S. military display its strength] In a sign of the presidents favor, a White House official said that Trump considers his defense secretary this generations preeminent warrior and calls him a modern-day Patton, referring to World War II Gen. George S. Patton Jr. The president also enjoys telling people that Mattis, whom Trump has gleefully referred to by the combat moniker Mad Dog, is undefeated on the battlefield, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss White House matters. Trumps enthusiasm for all things military, although he never served in uniform himself thanks to multiple Vietnam War-era deferments, has also been visible in his characterization of this months Syria strike or the recent decision to drop a massive bomb on Islamic State militants in Afghanistan. Mattis has emerged as a key adviser to Trump not just on traditional military issues, but also on a range of foreign affairs. Officials said that Mattis briefs the president before each of his meetings with visiting heads of state and is considered inside the West Wing to be the unquestioned authority on the lay of the land. Mattis, who officials said has forged a close partnership with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, has at times pushed back gently against Trumps views, managing to put forward alternate positions without explicitly challenging his boss. Although its impossible to know the extent to which Mattis has shaped Trumps evolving views on Russia, NATO and other issues, the president has spoken repeatedly of his trust in the Pentagon chief and, even before he took office, voiced his willingness to defer to Mattiss rejection of torture in the interrogation of terrorism suspects. I dont know what happened in Trumps head, but so far it looks like its been resolved in the direction of the ideas that Mattis has laid out, Fontaine said. Dwuan June/The Washington Post Officials said that Mattiss succinct communication style has contributed to his traction with a commander in chief known to prefer short, visual briefings. Hes someone who really, really understands a topic and can boil it down, said the White House official. Mattis gets the way the president operates, the way he likes to consume information. [Defense nominee warns of Kremlin attempts to break NATO] Mattis regularly joins Trump for dinner in the White House residence, sometimes more than one evening a week, officials said, at times accompanied by other senior officials such as Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, or Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, who like Mattis is a retired general. The regular after-hours gatherings, focused on the discussion of pressing national security matters, are a contrast to Obamas more distant ties with his uniformed leaders. They are also an indication of the free-flowing style that has characterized the administrations deliberations on national security. That approach has sometimes generated confusion, as it did after one such dinner in late January in which Trump approved new military actions in Yemen. The decision made outside the National Security Council process, including a tiny cohort of top officials and leaving only a light paper trail, produced weeks of uncertainty among military officials. While Trumps break with the Obama administrations tight control of military issues has delighted defense officials, the shift could prove to be risky for Mattis if something serious goes wrong. Already, a series of incidents have exposed an apparent disconnect between the Pentagon leadership and senior commanders. In one recent example, confusion arose over whether an aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, was heading toward the Korean Peninsula. On April 11, Mattis said the Carl Vinson was on her way up there, but Navy photos showed the carrier heading in the opposite direction days later. So far at least, Trump does not appear to have been bothered by those incidents. Unlike the last administration, when Obama overruled recommendations from Cabinet members to launch military action in places including Syria, in this case you may have a secretary of defense whos inclined to use force and also a president whos inclined to listen, the former official said. For Mattis, the accolades could carry their own risk. Trump has shown himself willing to push back against aides who are publicly depicted as exerting significant influence over him, as he did against adviser Stephen K. Bannon. Perhaps aware of that dynamic, Mattiss brow furrowed noticeably when Powell made her remark in Riyadh last week. Ashley Parker contributed to this report. Read more: U.S. defense chief arrives in Kabul as his Afghan counterpart resigns in disgrace As a general, Mattis urged action against Iran. As a defense secretary, he may be a voice of caution. Retired generals cite past comments from Mattis while opposing Trumps proposed foreign aid cuts Fee hike protest will continue The students unions protesting against the recent tuition hike in private schools have decided to continue their stir, claiming that government did not take any initiative to make the Private and Boarding Schools Organization Nepal (Pabson) and the Nepal Pabson roll back their decision. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called Friday for new economic sanctions on North Korea and other painful measures over its nuclear weapons program, as the Trump administration warned that it would take military action if diplomacy failed. Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences, Tillerson said during an unusual high-level session of the U.N. Security Council called to review what the Trump administration calls its most dire national security concern. The more we bide our time, the sooner we will run out of it. Tillersons push at a special session of the Security Council came as the Trump administration said it is willing to bargain directly with North Korea over ending its nuclear weapons program, but under strict conditions that make talks unlikely anytime soon. Ahead of the diplomatic effort at the United Nations, President Trump said direct conflict is possible. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely, Trump told Reuters in an interview this week. Wed love to solve things diplomatically, but its very difficult. Hours after the U.N. meeting, North Korea fired another missile early Saturday local time, but it exploded within seconds of being launched, American and South Korean defense officials said. The missile did not leave North Korean territory, U.S. Pacific Command spokesman Cmdr. Dave Benham said in a statement. The launch underscored North Koreas determination to show its defiance of international pressure. Trump took to Twitter to reiterate his expectation that Chinese President Xi Jinping will use his leverage to make North Korea stop its weapons activities. North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad! Trump tweeted. In the most-detailed explanation to date of the Trump administrations emerging policy for dealing with North Korea, Tillerson told the Security Council on Friday that U.S. urgency is driven by the current nuclear threat to allies South Korea and Japan as well as the likelihood that North Korea will soon be able to strike the United States. All options for responding to future provocation must remain on the table. Diplomatic and financial levers of power will be backed up by a willingness to counteract North Korean aggression with military action if necessary, Tillerson said. We much prefer a negotiated solution to this problem, he added. But we are committed to defending ourselves and our allies against North Korean aggression. The effect of both Trumps and Tillersons remarks is to present a willingness to negotiate with North Korea that surprised and pleased diplomats the United States needs for any new joint effort at the United Nations or elsewhere. At the same time, the administration reiterated that it would act alone if necessary. At issue is North Koreas simultaneous effort to perfect a nuclear warhead that could be delivered far from its shores and to develop missiles with a range long enough to be a threat to the United States. Analysts think North Korea, if undeterred, could have that capability within a few years likely during Trumps first term in office. North Korea already possesses missiles able to threaten U.S. allies South Korea and Japan, as well as other Asian neighbors. (Arirangmeari.com) The top U.S. diplomat said new economic penalties should come on top of scrupulous enforcement of existing sanctions, and he was bluntly critical of nations that look the other way as North Korea tries to evade the heavy yoke of sanctions the Security Council has already applied. He asked for a halt to imports from North Korea, especially shipments of coal, and an end to a guest-worker program that provides cheap labor for other countries and earns hard currency for Pyongyang. Tillerson also asked other countries to suspend or downgrade diplomatic relations with the communist state, alleging that the regime of Kim Jong Un abuses diplomatic privileges to support illicit missile and nuclear programs. In blunt terms, Tillerson said North Korea is unlikely to give up its weapons or change its bellicose behavior under current sanctions and diplomatic condemnations. He said new economic penalties are necessary, as well as more vigorous enforcement of existing sanctions that he said North Korea has found ways to evade. I urge this council to act before North Korea does, Tillerson said. We must work together to adopt a new approach and impose increased diplomatic and economic pressure on the North Korean regime. In a clear warning to North Korean ally China, Tillerson said nations that help North Korea evade sanctions discredit this body. [South Korea struggles to understand Trumps remarks on trade and defense] Tillerson noted that China accounts for 90 percent of North Koreas foreign trade, giving it unique economic leverage. He said the United States and China have had productive discussions about North Korea, and the new U.S. willingness to negotiate with North Korea is partly in deference to Chinas long insistence that the only way to lessen tension is through direct talks. The United States also would much prefer countries and people in question own up to their lapses and correct their behavior themselves, but we will not hesitate to sanction third-country entities and individuals that help North Korea go around sanctions, Tillerson said. Although the council did not vote on new sanctions or other measures Friday, the Trump administration hoped for a show of force, with the full council, including China, Russia and the United States, uniting to air concerns about North Koreas behavior. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the council that diplomacy is not hopeless, and he said China cannot be expected to rein in North Korea on its own. The state of affairs on the Korean Peninsula is not caused by any single party, nor is it reasonable to ask any party to take sole responsibility, Wang said via an interpreter. We call upon all parties, especially those directly concerned DPRK and the U.S. to demonstrate sincerity for dialogue and restart dialogue, Wang said, using the abbreviation for the Norths formal name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. China will be open to all useful proposals from the parties. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who joined Tillerson and foreign ministers from countries that sit on the decision-making council, condemned what he called North Koreas repeated violations of the bodys resolutions over nuclear and missile testing and development. I am alarmed by the risk of a military escalation in the region, including by miscalculation or misunderstanding, Guterres said. The U.N. Security Council session Friday comes at a particularly tense time in relations between North Korea and the United States, with the Trump administration sending warships to the region in a show of force against Kims regime. This week, North Korea conducted large-scale artillery drills, showing off conventional weaponry that can easily reach South Koreas capital, Seoul, the center of a metropolitan region of about 25 million people. A North Korean propaganda outlet released a video clip Thursday showing a simulated attack on the White House and declaring that the ability to destroy the United States is in our sights. [What comes next on North Korea?] North Korea must understand that respect will never follow recklessness, Tillerson said Friday. North Korea must take concrete steps to reduce the threat that its illegal weapons programs pose to the United States and our allies before we can consider talks. The last round of direct talks, initiated in 2003 and involving the United States, China and other nations, produced no rollback of the North Korean program. Last month, during his first trip to South Korea, Japan and China as secretary, Tillerson declared that the era of strategic patience that included those talks was over and that all options were on the table. Trump has been urging China to pressure North Korea and has warned that his administration will act if Beijing does not. [Trump assumed China could rein in North Korea. Its not that easy.] China supports talks and has long argued that although it also wants to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons, it cannot persuade the country to give them up without direct assurances from the United States. Tillerson offered some Friday, telling the council that the United States is not seeking regime change to topple the Kim dynasty. Anna Fifield in Tokyo contributed to this report. President Trumps long history of stretching the truth and speaking hyperbolically has hurt his credibility with the American public. But in court, hes had the opposite problem. Judges are taking him at his word. In temporarily striking down Trumps order threatening to strip funding from sanctuary cities, a federal judge this week in San Francisco used the presidents own comments against him. That in itself was not unusual since judges had done the same thing in blocking Trumps travel ban. What was curious was the Justice Departments argument: Trumps statements and the order itself should be taken as mere use of the bully pulpit rather than specific policies that should be acted upon. This case is fascinating and, in some ways hilarious, in a weird, Catch-22 kind of way, said Rick Su, law professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law specializing in immigration and local government. If you take the Department of Justice at their word, then there should be no need for the executive order. . . . Youre essentially saying that the president signed a document which is meant to do nothing. [Trump and his advisers cant keep quiet and its becoming a real problem] Trump advisers have in the past cautioned against reading too much into the presidents spontaneous remarks. Adviser Anthony Scaramucci remarked to MSNBC last year, Dont take him literally, take him symbolically. Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), commenting on the presidents evidence-free claim that President Barack Obama had ordered a wiretap on Trump Tower, noted that Trump is a neophyte to politics and urged caution in interpreting his tweets literally. At issue in the sanctuary cities case is whether the president had gone too far in issuing an executive order threatening to strip federal funds from jurisdictions that did not cooperate with immigration authorities. The order was vague, but some cities interpreted its consequences as dire. They feared that if they did not hold illegal immigrants in their jails upon federal request, that would jeopardize the millions of dollars they received from the federal government. San Francisco and the County of Santa Clara in California sued to have the directive stopped, arguing that even the threat was having serious repercussions on their budgetary decisions. The fear on the part of local jurisdictions across the country and also in California, by the way, was palpable, said Santa Clara County Counsel James Williams. People absolutely viewed it as a serious threat. Entities were busy trying to figure out what funding might be at risk. In Miami Dade County in Florida, officials reversed a policy not to hold suspected illegal immigrants on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement fearing a loss of federal funds. In Lansing, Mich., officials who had previously declared themselves a sanctuary city undid that move. In court, the Justice Department said that the threat did not go as far as some feared it would. Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad Readler argued that, at most, the order threatened only a few, particular federal grants not all federal financial support that cities receive. He noted that the order referenced a particular federal law about communication with immigration authorities, and the previous administration had actually identified jurisdictions possibly out of compliance with that law. Readler said the federal government had acknowledged repeatedly requests of local jails to hold suspected illegal immigrants were not mandatory. Pressed by U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick on what, then, was the purpose of the executive order, Readler said it was to highlight the issue to the country. Executives do this all the time to highlight issues they care about, he said. He added later, Other than this very heated and joined political dispute about what proper immigration policy should be, theres no actual enforcement action on the table or thats even been even been formally threatened to the city. Readler did offer that enforcement actions may well come in the future. In blocking the order, Orrick essentially said he didnt believe what the Justice Department was arguing, and that Trump should be taken at his word. The president, Orrick wrote, had declared on Fox News that he could use defunding of sanctuary cities as a weapon, and his order was so vague about who might be targeted that cities do not know whether they should start slashing essential programs or continue to spend millions of dollars and risk a financial crisis in the near future. Orrick also referenced comments Attorney General Jeff Sessions made at a White House news briefing. There, Sessions said the Justice Department would take all lawful steps to claw back any funds awarded to a jurisdiction that willfully violates one, particular federal law. [Fact Checker: The White Houses claim that sanctuary cities are violating the law] Orrick curiously said Sessions could still enforce that law which bars places from blocking communication with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and it could hold back grant money that came with immigration-related strings attached. Williams said even with those caveats Orricks order was significant because what the executive order itself was threatening was to withhold all of our federal funding. Thats actually the threat that the president himself was making, Williams said. The reality is when the president of the United States makes threats, people cannot afford to not take that seriously. The words do have meaning. In an interview on CBS Friday morning, Sessions said he felt using the presidents comments particularly those made during the campaign was inappropriate. Judges just dont get to say, Well, you said in the campaign nine months ago, so I dont like this order, he said. So, the question is: Is the order itself improper, does it in any way improperly discriminate or does it advance the safety of America? For its part, the White House lambasted Orricks decision in a statement as an egregious overreach by a single, unelected district judge and cast the dispute as a fight between sovereignty and open borders, between the rule of law and lawlessness, and between hardworking Americans and those who would undermine their safety and freedom. And, somewhat contrary to what the Justice Department had argued, they seemed to confirm that San Francisco was firmly in the crosshairs to lose money. Sanctuary cities, like San Francisco, block their jails from turning over criminal aliens to Federal authorities for deportation, the White House statement said. These cities are engaged in the dangerous and unlawful nullification of Federal law in an attempt to erase our borders. The National Security Agency said that it will no longer collect certain communications moving over the Internet for simply mentioning a foreign-intelligence target, in a move applauded by privacy advocates. (Patrick Semansky/AP) The National Security Agency has ended a controversial surveillance practice of collecting email traffic merely because it contains the email address or phone number of a foreign target, a procedure that greatly increased the chances that purely domestic communications would be gathered. The agency agreed to end the about the target collection to win approval from a federal court to continue a major surveillance program known colloquially as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Thats a reference to part of a statute the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 that allows the NSA to gather from U.S. telecommunications and Internet providers the emails, phone calls, text messages and other electronic communications that could contain foreign intelligence. The about collection was first reported by the New York Times amid a series of disclosures, beginning in 2013, by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. Those revelations sparked months of national and international debate about the proper scope of government surveillance. The about surveillance was the most problematic part of the upstream collection portion of Section 702, in which the agency gathers emails and text messages from telecom companies that own the infrastructure making up the backbone of the Internet. Upstream collection is a comparatively small part of overall 702 collection. One estimate by the surveillance court in 2011 put it at about 9 percent. Even so, it could result in a large overall number of purely domestic communications, a privacy oversight board concluded in 2014. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in 2011 found that the way the agency was conducting its upstream program violated the Constitution. The NSA proposed changes, which the court approved, allowing the about collection to continue. But the NSA discovered last year that some analysts were querying the upstream data in violation of the rules. It reported the incidents to Congress and the surveillance court. The court issued two extensions as the NSA worked to fix the problems. Then on Wednesday, the court approved the agencys proposed new rules to address the issue. After considerable evaluation of the program and available technology, NSA has decided that its Section 702 foreign intelligence surveillance activities will no longer include any upstream Internet communications that are solely about a foreign intelligence target, the agency said in a statement Friday. Instead, the NSA said, it will limit its collection to communications that are sent directly to or from a foreign target. Even though NSA does not have the ability at this time to stop collecting about information without losing some other important data, the agency will stop the practice to reduce the chance that it would acquire communications of U.S. persons or others who are not in direct contact with a foreign intelligence target, the agency said in a separate news release. The New York Times first reported the NSAs decision. This was always the biggest stretch for Section 702 because it required the court to interpret the word target in a way that was not what any normal person would expect, said Timothy Edgar, a former privacy officer with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, who is a senior fellow at Brown Universitys Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. In debating the law in 2008, Congress never contemplated collection of messages that werent to or from a particular target, he said. Section 702 is one of the most important tools for collecting foreign intelligence, on everything from terrorist plots and cyber threats to nuclear proliferation and plans and intentions of foreign officials. Besides upstream collection, the agency gathers emails and other electronic communications from Internet providers in a downstream program previously known as PRISM. A 2013 NSA document leaked by Snowden described PRISM as the most prolific contributor to the presidents daily intelligence brief. Section 702 is slated to expire at the end of this year and Congress must renew it or the authority to collect will disappear. Section 702 authorizes the collection of foreign intelligence on U.S. soil without individualized warrants, but rather with an annual court certification. That lack of a traditional probable-cause warrant has raised privacy concerns that will loom large in this years debate over renewal of the law. A submarine-launched ballistic missile is displayed during a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea, to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un, on Saturday, April 15, 2017. (Wong Maye-E/AP) North Korea fired another ballistic missile early Saturday morning, but it exploded within seconds of being launched, American and South Korean defense officials said. Coinciding with renewed diplomatic and military pressure on North Korea from the Trump administration, this latest launch underscores both Kim Jong Uns determination to make technical progress on his weapons programs and his defiance amid international pressure. President Trump, who was briefed on the launch soon afterward, took to Twitter to reiterate his expectation that Chinese President Xi Jinping use his leverage to make Kim stop. North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad! he tweeted. Trump has repeatedly called on China, North Koreas neighbor and largest trading partner, to punish the regime in Pyongyang, and he has warned Xi that if he doesnt act, the United States will. But Ralph A. Cossa, president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Pacific Forum, said that the Trump administration appeared to be struggling to figure out how to deal with North Korea. When it comes to foreign policy, and Korea policy in particular, the Trump administration has had a pretty steep learning curve, and it has been a lot more curves than learning, Cossa said. [ U.S. wants more U.N. sanctions over North Koreas nuclear arms, warns time is short ] Saturdays launch marked the 75th missile test since Kim Jong Un became leader of North Korea at the end of 2011, according to a Nuclear Threat Initiative database. American and South Korean defense officials said that the unidentified missile appears to have exploded soon after being launched at about 5 a.m. North Korea time. The missile did not leave North Korean territory, U.S. Pacific Command spokesman Dave Benham said in a statement. North Koreas previous missile launch was on April 16, the day after a huge military parade in Pyongyang to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of founder Kim Il Sung, and it also blew up almost immediately. (The Washington Post) But analysts said not to be consoled. This test may have failed, but Kim Jong Uns overall missile test record is 58 successful flight tests and 17 failures, said Shea Cotton of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation, who compiled the Nuclear Threat Initiative database. North Korea is clearly making progress and has the political will, if not the technology just yet, to improve its missile technology. At this months military parade, North Korea presented two of its newest model missiles, including the submarine-launched ballistic type it successfully fired last year and the land-based version it launched last month. Kim has repeatedly said that he wants an intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach the mainland United States, and although there are still plenty technical hurdles to be overcome, many analysts believe North Korea will eventually get there. [Worried about North Korea? Spare a thought for Otto Warmbiers family.] The latest launch comes amid heightened tensions in the region. A U.S. Navy strike group, led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, will be in the waters around the Korean Peninsula this weekend, and one of the Navys largest submarines has been in port in South Korea this week. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday called for new economic sanctions on North Korea and other painful measures over its nuclear weapons program. Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences, Tillerson said during a special session of the U.N. Security Council. The more we bide our time, the sooner we will run out of it. In its latest challenge to the United States, a North Korean propaganda outlet released a video clip this week showing simulated attacks on the United States and declaring that the enemy to be destroyed is in our sights. Missy Ryan in Washington contributed to this report. Read more North Korea puts out video showing the White House in crosshairs and carriers exploding U.S. wants more U.N. sanctions over North Koreas nuclear arms, warns time is short To counter North Korea, admiral says the U.S. should consider adding ballistic missile interceptors in Hawaii Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news (Dalton Bennett/The Washington Post) Much of the world is in a quandary, still unsure what to expect from the administration of President Trump. The Chinese are unexpectedly hopeful. Europeans, less so. And Mexico remains wary, if less frightened than when Trump took power on Jan. 20. We cant keep assuming there is now an established order, says Sergio Aguayo, a Mexican political analyst. There will likely be more turbulence to come. In capitals around the world, foreign leaders are trying to figure out exactly what the administrations foreign policy positions are and how to best engage with a president who has embraced being unpredictable. Here are reports on the perspective in four key regions around the globe as Trump marks his 100th day in office. President Trump receives a briefing on the Syria military strike from his national security team in this image provided by the White House. (Shealah Craighead via AP/AP) Trump vowed to stay out of Syria. Then he dropped a bombshell. Of the many things President Trump was expected to do in his first 100 days, launching an attack on Syrias military certainly wasnt one of them. Throughout his campaign, Trump praised Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for killing ISIS, a common acronym for the Islamic State, but also vowed to keep the United States out of the Syrian civil war. So when Trump ordered missile strikes at a Syrian air base on April 7 in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack by the Syrian government just days earlier, he took many in the region, and the world, by surprise. Some of Assads regional rivals, including leaders in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, welcomed the U.S. assault as long overdue. Others, such as Iran, were unsurprisingly critical. And Egypt, a U.S. ally, urged all sides to show restraint. Although the strike appears to have been an isolated incident a swift answer to a single attack, divorced from broader strategy in Syria it was also a reminder that Trumps approach to the region remains unpredictable. The shifts have left some befuddled over how the president crafts Middle East policy. The ongoing turmoil will challenge the already chaotic decision-making process of the Trump administration, said Ayham Kamel, Middle East and North Africa director at Eurasia Group, a political risk firm. And among the regions leaders, there is certainly concern over process, he said. Middle East governments want to understand how Trump moved so quickly from one position to the other on Syria. And even among those who welcome the tougher policies, there are whispers regarding what the U.S. president might demand [from them] in the future, Kamel said. Trump, for instance, cozied up to Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi, inviting him to the White House and keeping quiet about his governments human rights abuses. But privately, he pressed Sissi to release an Egyptian American aid worker, Aya Hegazy, after she had spent nearly three years in jail. In Turkey, the government initially welcomed the Trump presidency, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly expressed faith that his nations relationship, which frayed under President Barack Obama, would improve. But Trump has shown little interest in ending the U.S. militarys cooperation with Kurdish militias in Syria, where both are battling the Islamic State. That policy has angered Turkey, which sees the Kurdish militants as a threat, and the tensions are once again boiling over. This week, Turkey carried out airstrikes on U.S.-allied Kurdish militias in Syria. Theres a feeling in Washington that Turkey is an important ally that needs to be accommodated, Kamel said. But I dont think that this administration is willing or will be willing to change its alliance with Kurdish forces. Erin Cunningham, in Istanbul The Rio Grande flows under an international crossing between the United States and Mexico, top, on March 16 in Hidalgo, Tex. (John Moore/Getty Images) Mexico braced for a coming storm. Now it is exhaling a bit. Donald Trumps presidential victory pushed Mexicos panic button. The value of the peso tumbled. Analysts warned of recession, unrest, a populist anti-American tidal wave that would sweep the nation. For the first weeks of Trumps presidency, Mexico was in the crosshairs as much as any country in the world. Fearing that Trump would tear up NAFTA, deport millions, and start breaking ground on the border wall all campaign promises Mexicans swapped out top diplomats and began preparing for calamity. The temperature has lowered since those frantic first weeks, when President Enrique Pena Nieto canceled a visit to Washington after Trump tweeted that Mexico should pay for the wall. Since then, the value of the peso has recovered, the stock market has risen, and cautious optimism is creeping back into the public debate. The North American Free Trade Agreement remains the key issue for Mexico. The United States receives the bulk of Mexicos exports, and the Pena Nieto administration is a strong believer in free trade. A draft Trump administration proposal on NAFTA revisions that surfaced in March gave Mexico hope that the changes might be relatively modest. Then this week, Trump threatened to withdraw from the trade agreement before quickly reversing himself after speaking with Pena Nieto and the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, saying he will now instead push hard to renegotiate the deal. In other ways, Trump has backed off, refraining from attacking Mexico on Twitter. Top Mexican officials have repeatedly met with their American counterparts. Mexico has also tried to make new friends. The government has had talks with Argentina, Brazil and others to increase trade ties in an effort to become less reliant on the United States. The Mexican government has adapted to the Trump storm, said Raul Benitez Manaut, a professor who specializes in security issues at Mexicos National Autonomous University. Trump was very aggressive with Mexico in the beginning, but the level of violence has lowered now that NAFTA is in the hands of negotiators. A Trump administration that appeared like an out-of-control freight train a few months ago now seems to be moving at the speed of a hand-trolley. The vast budgetary and logistical hurdles involved in building a border wall reassure Mexican officials that this project is still a long way from reality. Ramping up deportations has also been slowed down by the capacity of the immigration court system and the number of customs and Border Patrol officials. Mexico right now is much calmer, the elites are calmer, said Sergio Aguayo, a political analyst and professor at the College of Mexico. Trumps team is becoming aware of the enormous complexity involved with building a wall, imposing tariffs, deporting millions, and the one who in reality has changed is Trump. Joshua Partlow, in Mexico City Ads for a magazine show cover stories, including one featuring Trump, at a newsstand in Shangihai. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images) China feels as if it has declawed a tough-talking new president As far as China is concerned, President Trump is quite simply the best American leader since Richard Nixon. Thats the verdict of Shen Dingli, one of Chinas leading foreign policy experts. The first 100 days of the Trump administration have been a testing time for China but ultimately a successful one. Threats to impose steep trade tariffs and declare China a currency manipulator have come and gone, a flirtation with Taiwan was worrying but short-lived. These days, the new chemistry, the new bromance, is with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The weather vane has twisted from daggers drawn to hands grasped in friendship, according to a cartoon in China Daily. Demonstrating his love again, China has never seen an American president so clingy, the nationalist Global Times newspaper wrote, its tone simultaneously appreciative and mocking. Trump says China is cooperating with American efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear program, but there are clearly limits to the pressure Beijing will bring to bear on Pyongyang. Trump campaigned on the idea that China was a threat and that Americas allies in Asia were not paying their way. As president, he has done an about-face, adopting an approach not dissimilar to that of his predecessor support for Japan and South Korea, and engagement with China albeit with one crucial difference. There is no more talk of norms, ideals and values, experts say, words that China hates and is very happy not to be hearing. Ideology moves to the back burner, pragmatism to the front, crowed the Peoples Daily, the Communist Party newspaper. That means a few things. One is that the United States wont be making as much fuss about human rights although it wont have escaped Beijings notice that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson didnt attend the launch of the State Departments annual human rights report or that the embassy in Beijing didnt sign a joint protest by 11 nations about the torture of lawyers. It also means that American commitment to international law in the South China Sea and its support for allies that share its values appear shakier, more liable to be bargained away by a president who sees foreign policy in transactional terms, as a series of deals. A billionaire with an ego, advised by a small coterie of confidants and family members: China deals with that kind of leader all over the world, and it knows how to do it. There is prevailing confidence among the Chinese that they have declawed Trump, said Yanmei Xie, a China policy analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics. They feel certain theyve concocted a winning formula, which includes currying symbolic favors to sate his ego, buttering up members of his family, and letting professionals in the U.S. foreign policy and business establishment school him on the paramount importance of stable U.S.-China relations. Simon Denyer, with Luna Lin, in Beijing A European Union flag flies near Big Ben as an anti-Trump protest gets underway in London on Feb. 20. (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) Europe copes with an unusual chill from across the Atlantic E.U. officials held crisis meetings. They studied their legal options. And they decided they could reject President Trumps pick to become U.S. ambassador to the European Union if that still-unnamed person wants to break up their struggling 28-nation bloc. A hundred days into the Trump presidency, E.U. leaders in Brussels are struggling to accommodate a new U.S. leader who has few of the pro-European inclinations of his post-World War II predecessors. In this leafy capital beset by anxiety over Brexit which Trump supported and populist insurgents elsewhere in Europe, cocktail chatter quickly turns to Trumps latest proclamation-by-tweet. Betting on whether Trump makes it to the end of his first term is a popular parlor game. People are calmer than they were in January, when European Council President Donald Tusk lumped Trump with radical Islam, the Kremlin and China as one of the main threats facing Europe. Trump seems to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy, Tusk wrote then. Since then, officials have welcomed visits from Vice President Pence, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. But many here are still struggling to square those officials mostly soothing messages with Trumps more belligerent ones. Pence and Mattis were both offering reassurance at the Munich Security Conference in February when Trump called the news media the enemy of the people, a phrase with Stalinist resonance that undid much of their efforts. Leaders shook their heads when Trump recently called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to congratulate him on a referendum victory that critics say turns him into a dictator. (European leaders, by contrast, condemned Erdogans crackdown against his critics ahead of the vote.) Europeans hope to get a direct read when Trump makes his first foreign trip to Brussels at the end of May to meet with the leaders of other NATO nations. That summit has been compressed into a single dinner, plus a ribbon-cutting at the glassy new NATO headquarters, to appeal to Trumps short attention span and love for real estate. Michael Birnbaum, in Brussels Then-national security adviser Michael Flynn, center left, and K.T. McFarland, deputy national security adviser, center, listen to White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Feb. 1. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Put on notice by White House, Iran treads with greater caution Since reaching a nuclear deal with six world powers in 2015, Iran is believed to have conducted more than a dozen ballistic missile tests. Only one came after President Trump took office, and none after his then-national security adviser Michael Flynn put Iran on notice. Early this month, Iran released on bail a dual-national U.S. citizen convicted of aiding the enemy, namely the United States. And Irans foreign minister reacted to a tongue-lashing from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with a relatively mild admonition that the United States must meet its commitments under the nuclear deal. None of this means Tehran has reined in behavior that Washington considers provocative and threatening, including support for the Syrian government and Houthi rebels in Yemen. But it suggests Iran is taking a cautious approach to the new president, who campaigned vowing to scrap the nuclear deal. While the White House weighs its policy options, it has acknowledged that Iran is keeping its promises under the nuclear deal in which Iran pledged never to build nuclear weapons. But Trump and Tillerson have expressed alarm at Irans growing influence in the region and support for terrorism in backing Hamas and Hezbollah. Its clear Tehran understands that the Obama era of wary cooperation on one issue, its nuclear program, is at a crossroads. For now, it is waiting and watching. Tehrans assessment of the Trump administration is that it doesnt have a solid strategy, said Seyed Hossein Mousavian, who was a member of Irans negotiating team that agreed in 2003 to suspend uranium enrichment and is now a scholar at Princeton. So Iran will be patient to see what the strategy will be. Beyond Tehrans uncertainty about U.S. policy, Tehran may also be perplexed by Trump himself. Like everyone else, they have no idea who this guy is, said Mark Dubowitz, head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a critic of the nuclear deal. Could he be capable of ignoring them for four years, or walking away from the deal, or sinking an Iranian attack boat in the Gulf? Because of their uncertainty, theyre a little more cautious in their behavior. The lull may not last. On May 19, Iran holds presidential elections that will reflect to some extent whether Iranians think they have benefited from the nuclear deals sanctions relief. And Congress is considering legislation to impose more non-nuclear sanctions on Iran, which Tehran has said it would consider a violation of the agreement. Carol Morello, in Washington Read more: Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news President Trump said Thursday that he would not speak directly with Taiwans president without first checking with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a striking reversal sure to rile Taipei and please Beijing. Trumps comments, made in an interview with Reuters, came a day after Taiwans president, Tsai Ing-wen, told the same news agency that she would be open to a second call with Trump, depending on the needs of the situation and the U.S. governments consideration of regional affairs. In his interview, however, Trump spoke warmly about the Chinese president and acknowledged the need not to make things difficult for him. Look, my problem is I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi. I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation, he said. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him. I think hes doing an amazing job as a leader, and I wouldnt want to do anything that comes in the way of that. So I would certainly want to speak to him first, he said. In December, the U.S. president-elect shocked many by taking a call from Tsai and then tweeting about it repeatedly, raising questions about whether the new U.S. administration would take a tougher line on China and bolster its ties to Taiwan. In the months since, however, Trump has moved in the opposite direction, reassuring China, inviting Xi to tea at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and, on Thursday, directly praising the Chinese presidents leadership all in the name of getting Chinas help on North Korea. As is often the case with the U.S. president, it is not clear whether Thursdays comments amount to a change in policy or are just another off-the-cuff remark. Either way, it will not play well in Taipei. Although the U.S. media initially cast the Trump-Tsai call as a gaffe, much of Taiwan saw it as a deft diplomatic maneuver. As a thriving democracy on an island that Beijing claims as part of China, Taiwan often sees its international efforts blocked by the authoritarian power across the strait. When the United States opened diplomatic relations with China in 1979, it broke off formal ties with Taiwan. Under what is known as the one-China policy, Washington acknowledges Chinas contention that there is only one Chinese government but does not endorse that stance, and maintains robust unofficial relations with the island. Under Trumps and Tsais predecessors, Presidents Barack Obama and Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan-U.S. ties were not a particular focus. Ma ran on a promise to pursue closer economic and trade links with China, and the Obama administration for the most part took a hands-off approach. Many in Taipei and Washington worried that the United States was not doing enough for Taiwan. So when Trump won the election, Tsais government worked with allies in Washington to set up a congratulatory call. Tsais government saw the call as a good way to get on Trumps agenda and to show strategic clout. Many felt it did just that that is, until the U.S. president changed course. Trumps latest retreat in foreign policy stating that he would want to consult with Xi Jinping before again speaking to Tsai Ing-wen is a clear disappointment to those who hoped Trumps policy toward Taiwan would demonstrate a new flexibility, said William A. Stanton, who served as de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan from 2009 to 2012 and now heads the Center for Asia Policy at Taiwans National Tsing Hua University. Bonnie S. Glaser, a senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the timing of Tsais interview and comments were far from ideal and could hinder progress in U.S.-Taiwan economic and military ties. Trump is seeking Chinas help on North Korea at this moment and is therefore willing to avoid challenging Chinese interests in other areas, she added. This may make it difficult for Tsai to make near-term progress in negotiating a free-trade agreement with the U.S. or buying F-35s. All this is good news for Beijing, which will count the comments about Taiwan and Xi as a coup. Wu Xinbo, a professor at the Center for American Studies at Shanghais Fudan University, said Trump had learned his lesson and would not provoke China again. Trump will not sacrifice cooperation with China for Taiwan, especially now that there is such positive momentum after the meetings between the two leaders, Wu said, referring to Xis visit to Mar-a-Lago. He wouldnt be so foolish to accept Tsai Ing-wens phone call now. Other experts stressed that the balance between the United States, China and Taiwan is apt to tilt yet again as the new U.S. president tries his hand at foreign policy. It may of course be that like so many of his policy pronouncements, this romance with Xi will not last, Stanton said. Trump was first willing to trade the continuance of the U.S. one-China policy for a trade deal with China, then willing to trade bilateral trade issues with China for help with North Korea, and now seems ready to sell improved relations with Taiwan for his imagined friendship with Chinas leader, he said. Shen Dingli, deputy director of the Institute for International Studies at Fudan, said Trumps approach does not necessarily mean that he always will side with China. He is evaluating what China can offer him and what Taiwan can give him, he said. If China does not help him, then the momentum will change, Shen said. If Taiwan will help him, he will pick up the phone again. Congcong Zhang and Luna Lin in Beijing contributed to this report. Read more: Backing away from a fight, Trump to honor one-China policy With Chinas Xi at Mar-a-Lago, will Trump forget Taiwan? Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Belfast holidaymakers offered 8 new flight routes Jet2 has announced eight new routes from Belfast Holidaymakers will be able to jet off to eight new destinations from Belfast next summer, following the expansion of a budget airline. Jet2 is poised to create 50 new jobs at Belfast International Airport, after adding the flights to its summer 2018 schedule. It means that the airline will ultimately serve 22 holiday destinations from the Northern Irish capital from next summer. The new routes will serve Antalya, Madeira, Crete, Costa de Almeria, Naples, Paphos, Rhodes and Malta. As a result of the latest expansion, Jet2 said it will base a fourth aircraft in Belfast - a Boeing 737-800 plane. Some 30 new jobs will be created directly by the expansion plans, including the likes of flight deck and cabin crew roles, while another 20 posts in the airport itself will be on offer to job-hunters. Travel insurance benefits Wherever people fly to on their summer holidays, they shouldn't lose sight of the value of good-quality travel insurance. Travel insurance policies can cover everything from lost luggage and medical expenses through to flight disruptions and even legal expenses. Large-scale investment Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said Belfast has benefited from significant investment, giving holidaymakers the chance to fly to more foreign destinations. He said: "This will be our biggest ever summer programme from Belfast International, with eight brand new destinations, 400,000 seats and more hotels than ever before with our award-winning airline and package holiday operator." The latest Jet2 expansion plans have also been welcomed by Graham Keddie, the managing director of Belfast International Airport. He said: "This 39% increase in capacity not only brings the total number of routes served by Jet2.com to 22 but will also mean a jobs boost for the local economy with the addition of a fourth based aircraft." Two US special operations troops were killed Wednesday night in a firefight with elements of the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) in the Achin district of Afghanistans eastern Nangarhar province. A third American soldier was wounded. The site of the battle was the same valley where the US dropped the GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, the so-called mother of all bombs, on April 13. The huge conventional weapon is the most destructive bomb dropped anywhere since the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Afghanistan government sources claimed that 40 ISKP militants were killed in the battle and another 13 captured. The ISKP itself issued a statement that claimed that its fighters had thwarted an attempted US airdrop of Special Forces units into the area. It added that the American operation was accompanied by intensive air strikes and artillery bombardment, which it said killed around 100 civilians, most of them women and children. Whatever the truth of either sides account of the battle, the fact that such intense combat resulting in US losses was conducted in the same area where the Pentagon dropped its largest nonnuclear bomb raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the weapon and the real purpose pursued with its deployment. Independent observers have been prevented from reaching the area of the bomb blast by US forces, and the real number of casualties it inflicted, both among the Islamic State militants and civilians, remains unknown. It is apparent, however, that the dropping of the bomb was meant to serve as a message directed not merely to the rather small group of Islamist militants on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, but rather to other targets of US military escalation, including North Korea, Iran, Russia and China. The timing of the bombing, one day before Russia hosted a conference in Moscow to discuss an Afghanistan peace settlementattended by all of the countries of the region, but boycotted by Washingtonappears more than coincidental. The Pentagon, meanwhile, has issued a steady drumbeat of charges that Russia is providing assistance and arms to the Taliban insurgency. US Defense Secretary James Mattis and the top US commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Nicholson, echoed these charges during Mattiss emergency trip to Kabul on Monday. Russia has strongly denied providing the Taliban with such aid. Nonetheless, Moscow clearly sees the growth of ISIS, which in Syria includes significant numbers of Islamist volunteers from the Caucasus, as a greater threat in Afghanistan than the Taliban. The two groups have fought each other in eastern Afghanistan. Mattiss visit to Kabul followed the bloodiest attack by the Taliban against the Afghan National Army since the US invasion in 2001. Taliban fighters, including sympathizers in the military, inflicted massive casualties on Afghan soldiers at a base in the northern provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif. TOLOnews, Afghanistans largest television broadcaster, has reported that the number of fatalities has topped 250, while accusing the government of hiding the truth about the death toll. The latest US casualties bring the US death toll in Afghanistan to 2,217, with another 20,000 American troops wounded during nearly 16 years of war. The cost of the war has been estimated at over $1 trillion. The war has cost an estimated 200,000 Afghan lives, while turning millions more into refugees. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) issued its latest casualty report on Thursday, listing 715 civilians killed and another 1,500 wounded during the first three months of this year. While the overall death toll was very slightly lower than during the same period last year, the figures recorded the deaths of 273 women, a 24 percent increase, and 210 children, a three percent increase. The main rise in the cause of civilian casualties was from US airstrikes, with 72 dead and 76 wounded. This compares to 29 casualtieseight dead and 21 woundedin the first quarter of 2016. Undoubtedly, the UNAMA figures underestimate the real toll of the war. There is every indication that the Pentagon is preparing another major escalation of the Afghanistan war, which under the Obama administration saw a surge that brought US troop levels to over 100,000, with no lasting impact in terms of consolidating the rule of the corrupt US puppet regime in Kabul. Currently there are close to 9,000 US troops deployed in the country, together with several thousand other troops from NATO members, Australia and other countries. Gen. Nicholson, the US Afghanistan commander, indicated in Congressional testimony in February that he needed a few thousand more troops to combat the Taliban and other insurgents. He expressed confidence that he would get them. President Donald Trump has turned over the management of US military operationsand indeed much of US foreign policyto the cabal of recently retired and active duty generals who hold all the key security posts in the administration, together with the area commanders. The Pentagon issued a statement Thursday reporting that The president has delegated authority to the secretary of defense to determine force management levels (FML) for Iraq and Syria. The US military has already substantially increased the number of troops deployed in Iraq beyond the official limit of 5,000, using so-called temporary deployments to bring the real number to over 7,000. And, while troop levels in Syria had been capped at 500 special operations soldiers, the Pentagon sent several hundred Marines into northeastern Syria to set up an artillery firebase and dispatched a unit of Army Rangers equipped with Stryker combat vehicles to the area of Manbij in a bid to quell combat between the Turkish military and Kurdish militia fighters who serve as Washingtons main proxy ground troops in combat with ISIS in Syria. In addition, some 2,500 troops from the 82nd Airborne have been sent to Kuwait to serve as a reserve force that can be called into either country. The Pentagon statement made no mention of Afghanistan, but it is highly probable that the Trump administration will grant the generals similar leeway in terms of escalating the longest war in US history. Today the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) are holding a picket and a public meeting in Jaffna, Sri Lanka as part of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) campaign to demand the release of the framed-up Maruti Suzuki workers in India. The picket will be held at 3:30 p.m. in front of Jaffna central bus terminal and the meeting will start at 5 p.m. at Weerasingham Hall. Jaffna on the northern tip of the island of Sri Lanka, just across the narrow Palk Strait from India, was devastated during the governments brutal war against the Tamil population that ended in 2009. SEP and IYSSE supporters in Jaffna have campaigned among workers, students and oppressed masses to build support for the picket and meeting. Campaigners distributed thousands of copies of the ICFI statement defending the victimised workers. They spoke to students in Jaffna University, workers from the Jaffna district secretariat, education department and other workplaces and also unemployed graduates who were carrying out a sit-down protest demanding jobs. Jaffna University students enthusiastically supported the ICFI campaign and asked about the history of Maruti Suzuki workers struggle. During the campaign Jaffna University Student Union leader Anujan and two union members tried to interfere and disrupt the campaign. SEP and IYSSE campaigners insisted on the urgent need to defend Indian workers and as well their own right to discuss the issue with students. Expressing their hostility to democratic rights and their prostration before university authorities, the student union leaders said, We cant allow any political campaign inside our university without permission of the administration. When the student union leaders attempts to block the SEP/IYSSE failed to get any support from students, they called security guards to order the campaigners off the campus. The anti-democratic move by the Jaffna University Student Union leaders is bound up with their political collaboration with the Tamil bourgeois parties, mainly Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which openly supports the pro-US Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government. Student Union leader Anujan played a particularly despicable role by blocking the students struggle against the police killing of two students last year. Despite the disruption, most students expressed their support for the Indian autoworkers. A female third-year art student said, It is very important to fight for the release of the Maruti Suzuki workers in India. The media and none of the political parties have informed us about this case. Weve only learned about it through your campaign. I agree that capitalists are attacking workers all over the world. We are very interested in holding discussions among students on this type of question. But the student union says every discussion must be organised through them. That is the problem. We will sign the online petition to demand the release of the Maruti Suzuki workers. A group of students from the Management Faculty said, We support your campaign. The punishment on Maruti Suzuki workers is an injustice. We condemn this attack on workers. Workers and students all over the world must intervene and stop it. We agree, as you said, that the imperialists are preparing a third world war that would kill millions if it starts. We already have severe hardship and damage from the racist war by the Sri Lankan government. The deployment of US warships to the Korean Peninsula is very dangerous but there is no discussion or seminar on that issue in our university. One unemployed graduate who was participating in the unemployment protest said, We have got a lot of experience through our struggles. We can understand the Maruti Suzuki workers struggle and we have to support them, and they should also support us. We met Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, Northern Province Chief Minister Vickneswaran and the Northern Province Governors Secretary Ilankovan to discuss our employment problem. We also sent a letter to the president but nobody cares about our problems. When we met the prime minister, he said he would look for vacancies in several departments and solve our problem in three weeks. But it has been over five weeks and we have received no reply. The protesters said they were treated similarly by Chief Minister Vickneswaran. He has no interest helping us and avoids us by claiming he is too busy. When we met the governors secretary Ilankovan, he said, The government has no money. The IMF [International Monetary Fund], he said, has ordered the government to reduce the number of government employees. So, there is no possibility for employment in the government service. We are frustrated with all political leaders and with the government. They have all cheated us and we are very frustrated. We support the campaign to release the Maruti Suzuki workers. We agree workers must unite all over the world to win their rights. Through our struggle of more than 50 days we understand all about the political parties treachery. This has led us to the conclusion that we have to fight against capitalism. Another unemployed graduate condemned the Jaffna university student union leaders effort to stop the campaign to free the Indian autoworkers. Your work is very important. You support our struggle and the Maruti Suzuki workers and fight to unite workers all over the world. But I dont know why this student leader cant understand your campaign. V. Moorthy from the education department said, These life sentences for the Maruti Suzuki workers are crude. We cant accept this injustice. All workers must unite and fight to release them. If anybody is working honestly and fighting for his rights, he will be victimised by the government and bureaucrats. I know this through my own experiences. When working as a school principal in Mullaitivu district, I was victimised under the [former] Rajapaksa government because I was working honestly and not for their political needs. I was transferred to Jaffnas islands. I opposed that transfer and because of that they put me in the Jaffna education department. Workers who fight for their rights are victimised all over the world. So, all over the world, workers must unite to defeat this attack Sarvanatha, a journalist, said, I know about the Maruti Suzuki workers struggle because I saw the film The Factory, which featured it. But many people dont know about that struggle. I think your campaign is very important in informing people. Govt proposes to link Kerung-Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini with OBOR The government has proposed Kerung-Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini railway to be a part of ' One Belt One Road' project initiated by China. US President Donald Trump last night warned there was absolutely the chance of a major, major conflict with North Korea, while claiming that he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to Washingtons demand for North Korea to shut down its nuclear and missile programs. Wed love to solve things diplomatically, but its very difficult, Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. Trump said he believed Chinese President Xi Jinping was trying very hard to rein in North Korea because he certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. Trump is seeking to prepare public opinion for a potentially catastrophic military confrontation, portraying the US as doing all it can to avoid war. At the same time, he is intensifying his demands on China, whose alleged failure to contain North Korea could provide a pretext for US military action. In reality, through a combination of aggressive military exercises and crippling economic sanctions, Washington is deliberately ratcheting up the pressure on the unstable North Korean regime. According to reports, former US President Jimmy Carter has effectively been instructed by the White House and Pentagon not to try and open up channels of communication with North Korea, as he has in the past. The Financial Times reported today: The plea to Mr Carter signalled concern that the former president could complicate US policy towards Pyongyang; he has forced previous administrations to change tack, including in 1994 when Bill Clinton had been considering launching a military strike against North Korea. Contrary to corporate media claims that the threat of imminent war has receded, following this weeks unprecedented summoning of the Senate to the White House for a military-intelligence briefing on the Korean crisis, the risks created by the Trump administrations provocative actions are mounting. Numerous US warships, joined by South Korean and Japanese vessels, are carrying out large-scale exercises in waters near the Korean Peninsula. Recently released images showed US and South Korean forces conducting massive live-fire drills close to the demilitarised zone between the North and South. Targets painted on a hillside were obliterated with fighter jets, tanks and attack helicopters. Officials in Washington and Seoul insist their war games are defensive in nature, but such exercises are now based on an aggressive operational plan, OPLAN 5015, agreed to between the US and South Korea in late 2015. It includes pre-emptive strikes on North Korea in the event of a war, as well as decapitation raids to assassinate its top leaders. Pyongyang has denounced the current exercises as rehearsals for invasion. Clearly, there is an acute possibility that the war games could spark military clashes, even by mistake or miscalculation, that could start a potential nuclear war on the doorstep of China and Russia, both of which have borders with North Korea. Evidently fearing attack, North Korea yesterday released a propaganda video depicting simulated assaults on the United States, showing the White House as a target, followed by an aircraft carrier exploding into flames. The accompanying caption translates into English to read: When the enemy takes the first step toward provocation and invasion. This propaganda is both ludicrous and reactionary. Kim Jung-uns regime lacks any capacity to mount such attacksits missiles and nuclear weapons remain primitiveand it would be annihilated by US forces if it attempted to launch any kind of attack. Such videos only play into the hands of Washington, giving it a pretext to conduct a supposed preemptive war, while dividing North Korean workers from their fellow workers in America and internationally. To intensify the pressure on Pyongyang, South Koreas interim government yesterday said it had agreed with Washington on swift punitive measures against North Korea in the event of further North Korean nuclear or missile tests. The measures, including a new UN Security Council resolution, would be unbearable for the North, the Souths presidential office said after its national security adviser, Kim Kwan-jin, held a phone call with his US counterpart, Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster. On Friday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will chair a special UN Security Council meeting. Tillerson will be very vocal about nations enforcing new sanctions on North Korea, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. The measures will seek to starve North Korea of any remaining foreign income, adding to the damaging impact of the existing sanctions being enforced by the US and its allies. Among the measures being proposed are bans on North Koreas trade of fishing rights and on North Korean workers being employed overseas. Washington has also threatened new sanctions against Chinese finance houses allegedly doing business in North Korea. This is despite evidence that Chinas own measures against Pyongyang, including the suspension of coal purchasesthe Norths previous biggest revenue earnerare already having a severe effect. North Korean exports to China, its main market, fell 35 percent month-on-month in March, down to just $US114.56 million, according to Chinese customs data. The Trump administrations focus on China, accompanied by demands that Beijing take action to stop North Koreas missile and nuclear programs, aims to destabilise not just North Korea but China as well. Washington has continued to insist that China must do more, despite the Beijing leadership protesting that it has little control over Pyongyang and appealing for a partnership with the US to resolve the crisis via dialogue. For all Beijings efforts to appease Washington, the Pentagon this week installed a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile battery in South Korea, defying protests by both China and Russia. Far from being a defensive weapon, the THAAD facility can conduct surveillance deep into China and Russia. Its purpose is to prevent any retaliation in the event of a US first-strike nuclear attack. Facing intense public opposition in South Korea to the THAAD deployment, the US brought forward the installation to preempt the outcome of the May 9 presidential election to replace the impeached Park Geun-hye. The Pentagons belligerence was underscored when Admiral Harry Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command, told a US Congressional hearing this week that the THAAD system would be operational within days. Harris declared the battery would destroy any missile aimed at US forces. If it flies, it will die, Harris said. Chinas Foreign Ministry expressed grave concern. It said the THAAD deployment broke the strategic balance in the region and ratcheted up the tension on the Korean Peninsula. China urged the US and South Korea to withdraw the equipment, and warned that China would take necessary actions to safeguard its own interests. Yesterday, China announced it would conduct live-fire drills and test new weapons to counter the THAAD system. A military spokesperson said the exercises would simulate counter-attack scenarios, including launching preemptive strikes to knock out the THAAD using anti-radiation, surface-to-surface or cruise missiles. In Moscow, China and Russia conducted their third joint anti-missile press conference, saying the THAAD deployment aimed to weaken their strategic capability and the two countries would take further action to safeguard their security interests. Unilaterally strengthening an anti-missile system is a move to achieve absolute military advantage, which would escalate tensions, trigger regional confrontation or even spark an arms race, Chinas Central Military Commission spokesman Cai Jun said. Further fuelling the escalating tensions and uncertainty, the Rand Corporation, a Pentagon-linked think tank, this week released a report pointing to likely North Korean regime-change operations by the US. Citing senior officials who have defected, the report asserted that wealthy North Korean elites increasingly regarded Kim Jong-un as weak and ineffective. The report advocated steps to reach out to these elites in order to facilitate the unification of Korea along capitalist lines. Such a regime-change intervention would seek to establish a pro-US state on Chinas border, as Washington sought to do during the 195053 Korean War, as part of a wider drive to assert unchallenged US hegemony over the Asia-Pacific region. On Tuesday, Judge William H. Orrick, a United States District Court Judge in San Francisco, temporarily blocked an executive order that would strip so-called sanctuary cities of federal funding. Although Santa Clara County and the City of San Francisco filed the complaint, Judge Orricks injunction applies to the entire nation. In his decision, Judge Orrick wrote that Trump had overstepped his executive authority by threatening to withhold billions of dollars in federal funding from municipalities and counties should they refuse to enforce immigration law in tandem with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Orrick noted that federal spending is the purview of Congress, not the executive branch; as such, the executive order represented an overreach by the president. San Francisco estimated a loss of more than $1 billion in federal funding should the executive order be enforced. Santa Clara County estimated that it would lose about a third of its revenueabout $1.7 billion. Justice Department attorneys scoffed at these claims, stating that the only funds that would be withheld would be those specifically mentioned in the executive order, grants from the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, not every federal department. In his decision, however, Judge Orrick noted several public statements made by Trump and his administration that intimated more sweeping cuts. He alluded to Trumps statements to Fox News in February, in which he characterized sanctuary cities as criminal hotbeds, and specifically mentioned San Francisco and the state of California: If we have to, well defund. We give tremendous amounts of money to CaliforniaCalifornia in many ways is out of control, as you know. Trump and key members of his administration have since made similar threats in the press. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly toured southwestern border states just last week, doubling down on Trumps characterization of sanctuary cities and on threats of defunding. Orrick wrote in his decision that the Justice Departments approach was schizophrenic, stating that the administrations own public statements had led the counties to reasonably fear enforcement of the order. If there was doubt about the scope of the order, the president and attorney general have erased it with their public comments, he wrote. This is not the first time that Trumps public statements have figured into the courts decisions about the scope of an executive order. In February, Judge Leonie Brinkema, a US District Court Judge in Alexandria, Virginia, cited Trumps statements from his campaign and press interviews to issue an injunction against the enforcement of his executive order banning travel from six Muslim countries. The president himself acknowledged the conceptual link between a Muslim ban and the EO (executive order), Brinkema wrote in her decision, responding to the Justice Departments claims that the order was religiously neutral. The executive order, she claimed, was a gross overstep of executive power. Not only did the order arrogate the legislative branchs power, Brinkema wrote; it also violated First and Fifth Amendment guarantees of religious freedom and due process. At their core, the judges ruling hinged, not upon the literal interpretation of the executive order itself, but upon the presidents own statements. Federal Judge Derrick Watson in Hawaii likewise cited Trumps own language in his decision to issue an injunction against the second version of the so-called Muslim ban. He wrote, "A reasonable, objective observerenlightened by the specific historical context, contemporaneous public statements, and specific sequence of events leading to its issuance would conclude that the Executive Order was issued with a purpose to disfavor a particular religion. In his decision, Judge Orrick invoked the Tenth Amendment, citing National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, a case in which the Supreme Court ruled that the government could not withhold Medicaid funding to induce states to expand Medicaid coverage under Obamas Affordable Care Act. The judge, a Democrat appointed by Obama, thus turned the argument that states should not be compelled to enforce federal statutes against a Republican president. There is no agreed-upon definition of a sanctuary city. The vagueness in this designation gives the Trump administration wide latitude to arbitrarily enforce the order in retaliation against opposition to its anti-immigrant dragnet. For Santa Clara County and the city of San Francisco, of particular concern were demands that local police question people about their immigration status. In addition, Trump and his administration have demanded, repeatedly, that localities detain unauthorized immigrants after courts have released them from detentionsuch as when theyve completed their sentence or have been acquitteduntil ICE could take them into custody. The city of San Francisco claimed that this violated the Constitution by commandeering the municipalitys resources to enforce federal law. This forced cooperation, city attorneys argued, would endanger public safety by making unauthorized immigrants reticent to report violent crimes and serve as witnesses in criminal cases. San Francisco was the first city to sue the administration over the executive order; several cities, including Richmond, California and Seattle, Washington have followed suit. Predictably, Trump met the news of Orricks injunction with disdain for the judicial system. He accused political opponents of judge shopping, although the court in question was the appropriate court for San Francisco and Santa Clara County. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus referred to the decision as another instance of the 9th Circuit going bananas, although Judge Orrick does not sit on the 9th Circuit but on a lower court within that circuit. The Justice Department responded that it would continue its vendetta against sanctuary cities, saying in a press release, the Department will continue to enforce existing grant conditions and will continue to enforce the executive order. While the injunction represents a setback for the Trump administrations immigration agenda, the US legal system as a whole is stacked against immigrants and against democratic rights. Appeals of court rulings against Trumps executive orders will wend their way through the courts, culminating in action by the US Supreme Court, where the administration is likely to find a more sympathetic hearing for its authoritarian views. No section of the American ruling elite, Democrat or Republican, can be relied on to defend democratic rights. That task falls to the working class, which must oppose divisive, chauvinist attacks on foreign-born workers, emanating from both parties and all the institutions of the capitalist state. The marriage of Donald J. Trump and the Republican Party was always in need of counseling. The billionaire New Yorker was never a natural fit for the GOP, apart from his hatred of Barack Obama. And much of the party recoiled at the populism and anti-Establishment rhetoric that drove hundreds of thousands to Trumps rallies. The forced attempts at post-campaign reconciliation were hardly convincing; the pairing made little sense outside the lens of mutual benefit and exploitation. It was like watching a reality show where its obvious no one much cares for the fellow cast mates. As Trumps approaches his 100th day in power, both the President and the party are plenty frustrated with one another. Members of Congress have watched with horror as Trump thrashed about in Washington with little predictability, guided by top aides with little experience in the trenches of government. Staffers with decades of Hill experience find themselves sidelined by political neophytes who think barking orders can get Congress to act. More than once, White House officials have told Paul Ryan that his role as Speaker may be in jeopardy if he does not do more to help Trump. Its Jekyll and Hyde with this guy, one Ryan adviser says of the President. But were talking about him, so that must mean hes winning. Indeed, even as a government shutdown loomed this week, Trump was still demanding that House Republicans take up the repeal of Obamacare. There are no indications that the GOP has the votes to get it done, and House leadership has tried to steer Trump away from calling for an immediate vote. Trump hasnt quite come to understand the limits of his power. (Consider: he wants to dissolve the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals because its judges have delivered Trump legal setbacks.) As the President flounders, few Republicans on Capitol Hill are rushing to help him. The entire House faces re-election in 2018, and a third of the Senate is in re-election mode. Theres no predicting how Trumps anemic poll numbers may drag down specific lawmakers, and Democrats are already laying the groundwork to make Trump the face of the Republican Party-even against sober lawmakers such as Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee or Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona. Linking arms too closely with Trump could drag them down. No matter how much individual lawmakers may have an affinity for Trump, the first rule of politics is to self-preservation. Story continues I cannot imagine a scenario where President Trump flying into your state is helpful if youre in swing state or a tight race, one Republican strategist says. And in true red states-think Texas-he has toxic relationships with the Senators. He accused Ted Cruzs dad of killing Kennedy. How does he help there? That leaves the GOP without a popular figure to rally the faithful in an election cycle when the Democratic base is energized. Many of Trumps voters are new to politics, and theres no guarantee they will show up to back generic Republicans who lack Trumps showmanship in a year when he isnt on the ballot. The Vice President, Mike Pence, can help out, of course, but he lacks the name recognition or pizzazz of his boss. Plus, Pence has been busy working behind the scenes as conservatives link to the White House. And no one is clamoring for the return of George W. Bush or Mitt Romney to the campaign circuit. Which leaves Trump at the head of a party that doesnt much care for him. Ask rank-and-file Republicans who they see as the partys leaders, and they often point at Ryan, the affable Wisconsinite who has tried to guide Trump away from his more novel notions. Senate Leader Mitch McConnell has been more pointed in his counsel, often publicly urging the President to close his Twitter app and pick up a policy briefing. Aides to both men are exasperated at Trumps tactics and have been urging their bosses to take tougher stands against the White House. Its all about the show down there at the White House, a second Ryan adviser says. They want the trailer and were trying to make the Ken Burns documentary. The White House, meanwhile, is doing little to build relationships. Administration officials have invited Hill aides to bowling evenings, and some White House aides have joined Capitol staffers for take-out lunches in conference rooms. But there are few close rapports. We cant make people vote, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters this week when pushed on the seemingly scant progress. For his part, Trump has threatened members of his own party with retribution if they didnt give him what he wanted, when he wanted it. The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they dont get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!, he tweeted in March. The White Houses frenetic push to deliver on his agenda may be enough to keep Trumps supporters happy: a Washington Post-ABC News poll released this week found that 84% of voters who backed the President is keeping most of his campaign promises. Trump wasnt entirely wrong when, during the campaign, he bragged that he could shoot someone in the face and not lose any votes. What he failed to comprehend, then and now, is that the brazen moves arent winning him any votes, either-including among fellow Washington Republicans. This article was originally published on TIME.com As a former U.S. ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), perhaps I should not complain. The Trump administration is doing an able job of handling that relationship. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with the 10 ASEAN ambassadors in Washington, and Vice President Mike Pence visited the associations headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia last week. Of great significance to ASEAN members and U.S. allies in Asia was the fact that Pence on his visit announced that President Donald Trump would attend the annual U.S.-ASEAN and East Asia Summit in the Philippines on November 14. To win over Asia, Trump will need a strategic economic initiative to replace the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement that he summarily rejected but so far, so good on an important Asia relationship. Yet, as an American and a foreign policy professional, I am quite worried. While it is gratifying to see the work of my former mission continue, I fear the victories will be pyrrhic unless the administration fixes two larger problems. My broad concerns are, first, that because of process deficiencies, the United States will accidentally or purposefully take actions that cause or worsen a major crisis, and next, that American global leadership is falling off a cliff. These are interrelated. Process problems The White House is process challenged, to put it mildly. As most readers will know well, the United States has many entities involved in national security, including the State and Defense Departments, the intelligence community, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the U.S. mission to the United Nations, and sometimes Commerce, Homeland Security, Treasury, and others. The National Security Councils role is to bring every agency with equities together for meetings at the working, deputies, and then principals levels. A simplified version of the process goes something like this: Once the working-level interagency has done the initial analysis and discussion, first the deputies and later the heads of their various agencies come to the Situation Room in the White House to hash out differences and sign off on policy recommendations for the president. The national security advisor then presents the president with the recommendations of the principals, the president makes a decision, and the agencies each do what was agreed, with everyone on the same page and everyone understanding the various roles. Story continues Recent incidents have shown that there is something very wrong with the foreign policy process in this White House. We witnessed the U.N. ambassador, the national security advisor, and the secretary of state saying remarkably different things about the ultimate goal of U.S. Syria policy in the days following the U.S. missile strike on April 7. Then Trump boasted that the Carl Vinson carrier strike group, which he called an armada, was barreling toward the Korean peninsula when it was headed in the other direction. And rather than learning Asian history from his own team, he needed to learn it from Chinese President Xi Jinping. As a friend in government remarked to me, Their decision-making reminds me of Kazakhstan. By all accounts, National Security Advisor General McMaster is very capable, as are many on his staff. But he got off to a slow start, coming in to replace General Michael Flynn, who was fired for lying about his Russia connections. Moreover, McMaster does not have authority over White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, or Trumps daughter and son-in-law, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who go straight to the president with their views. Those end runs, the astonishing lack of appointees at many national security agencies, and the stress generated by the administrations misguided attempts to thwart the investigation into its Russia ties all put big strains on coherent policymaking. If the administration can overcome these hurdles, the question remains whether the president will be able to accept a disciplined system to assist him. The United States can muddle through for now, though the missteps are damaging U.S. credibility and the confidence of U.S. allies. But it is imperative that the administration irons out its process soon, before a real crisis hits. When the U.S. government has to react quickly, if there is no clear national security process in place, and if the players are not comfortable with their counterparts and their roles, it will be much harder to avoid mistakes that cost lives. Losing leadership The other troubling aspect of a future crisis is that it is hard to imagine the Trump White House leading a concerted, regional or global response, which is usually what major crises demand think Ebola pandemic, Syrian refugees, South Sudan, disputes in the South China Sea, North Korea, and unaccompanied children at the U.S. border, to name a few. Trump is a boss, not a leader. He knows how to tell people what to do. But he has not shown he has the tendency or skills to persuade those over whom he does not have direct authority. In that category falls every other country. That is why the America first fantasy is so appealing its an excuse not to deal with other countries that the White House cannot compel. But we need them, as the Trump administration will learn. Every foreign-policy issue consequential to the wellbeing of Americans, and every foreign policy crisis, requires a multilateral solution. The forces that can kill Americans at home terror attacks, virulent viruses like bird flu, severe weather events caused by climate change all require international coalitions to fight. America, and only America, has the capacity and credibility to lead those. The country has done so because if it did not, the world would have been less safe for Americans as well as others. I worry that it will be too late by the time Trump realizes these truths. The Trump administrations disrespect, dishonesty, lack of principles, stinginess, and transactional worldview will have caused other countries to reject U.S. leadership. When I was an ambassador, my mission was able to rally countries around a cause because of four qualities. First, I could explain to my fellow diplomats that the U.S. goal or strategy was backed up by solid logic and clear principle. Second, I could explain how the goal the U.S. sought would be beneficial for the country in question, and the region, not just the United States. Third, I could tell the other country what actions, usually significant, that the United States was itself taking to solve the problem. Finally, I was honest. It helped that the United States was widely admired for its tolerance, openness, individual freedoms, justice, and opportunity. Today, it is unclear what U.S. policy or strategy is, even on the most pressing issues like global climate change, Middle East peace, Syria, Iran, and North Koreas nuclear programs. To the extent the U.S. has policies, it is unclear whether principles undergird them. The administration has vowed to reduce American contributions to global problem solving. And other countries, like America, cannot count on the truth from the White House. Meanwhile, the administrations immigration ban, retreat from climate change, maligning of the press, and copious self-dealing are tarnishing Americas reputation. As a patriot, I want to be wrong about all of this. But I fear that four years hence, we will have a very deep hole to dig ourselves out of. The question is how deep it will be. We still have time to avoid the worst. Photo credit: OLIVIER DOULIERY/Pool/Getty Images It's almost impossible to remember a time when Ellen DeGeneres the inoffensive pastel-palette comedian beloved by Pantsuit Nation moms and Holiday Inn lounges everywhere was actually something of a radical. On April 30, The Ellen DeGeneres Show will commemorate the 20th anniversary of "The Puppy Episode," the comedian's landmark two-part coming out episode from her television series Ellen. At the time, anticipatory anxiety about the episode, which ultimately attracted 42 million viewers, reached such an intensity that the network decided to slap a spectacularly patronizing "parental advisory" warning on it. Regardless of what you think about the actual quality of the episode itself (it's phenomenal), you can't deny its force. SEE ALSO: The best swimwear if you want to throw gender norms in the trash For network executives, soon-to-be-queer teens and anxious parents, Ellen showed us that a woman could come out as gay and life would go on even better than before. She didn't just transform television, she changed American culture for good. Never has a puppy episode caused so much hysteria Image: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images "The Puppy Episode" is delightfully milquetoast (watch it here): The star lesbian character falls for a mid-level manager in a white pantsuit, played by Laura Dern. The most raunchy part of the episode consists of two women briefly hold hands at early bird hour in a lesbian coffeehouse (perhaps my favorite lesbian stereotype of all time). It took months for ABC and its parent company, Disney, to even get that far. In Season 3 of the show, Ellen the character struggled to form meaningful relationships with men, but in lieu of letting Ellen come out, one producer suggested she get a puppy instead (frankly, a phenomenal trade-off). After months of negotiations, the network finally consented to let Ellen come out on the show, making it one of the first series in television history to feature a lesbian coming out story (L.A. Law and Roseanne had their moments a few years earlier). Story continues Queer heartthrobs, including k.d. lang and Melissa Etheridge, and prominent allies, like Oprah and Laura Dern, enthusiastically agreed to appear. But despite their star power, multiple advertisers pulled ads from the episode. Wendy's chose to withdraw from the series altogether. Religious right crusader Jerry Falwell dubbed Ellen DeGeneres "Ellen Degenerate," continuing the longstanding conservative tradition of trying really hard to be funny and failing. Image: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images LGBTQ groups like GLAAD and HRC fought back by planning "Coming out with Ellen" house parties across the nation. Their efforts were rewarded: over 42 million people tuned into watch "The Puppy Episode," the highest in the series' history. The episode later won an Emmy Award and a Peabody award, and you know the rest: Ellen went on to dance with both President and Mrs. Obama. That doesn't mean there weren't consequences for those involved. Dern later said she wasn't able to get a job for the next year and a half because of the role. The show, which became even more explicitly gay over time, floundered in its following season. Still, something about the episode resonated with people and twenty years later, the story still works. A coming out story that doesn't make you want to vom Image: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images What's remarkable about the Puppy Episode is how little it embarrasses me twenty years later. Television coming out narratives involve a painful assortment of tropes: a rejecting parent, a sympathetic teacher, a withholding gay crush, and some spiral notebook poetry too earnest for me to quote without hurling. "The Puppy Episode" touches on a few of these conventions, but with considerably more grace. The storyline is predictable: Ellen goes on a date with a former male college friend, then realizes she has a crush on his hot female producer, played by Dern (who wouldn't?), a lesbian who finally "sees the gay" in Ellen. When Ellen finally gathers the strength say the word "gay," she leans over and accidentally blurts it into an airport P.A. system, loud enough for hundreds of passengers to hear. Any anxiety viewers might have watching the scene is immediately drowned out by a deafening laugh track. Image: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images It's the kind of comedy Ellen has mastered: moments of danger, followed by a self-assured self-deprecating joke. There aren't even bad guys in Ellen's world: mostly just well-intentioned characters who get it wrong. Critics call her "safe," which she is, yet it's exactly this kind of safety that made the episode so comforting for its queer audience as well as straight viewers. Ellen came out and, ultimately, came out O.K. Ellen didn't have to leave her friends behind when she came out instead, she just made new ones who looked like hot Hampshire College dropouts. She didn't have to buy some fair trade muumuu just because she was a lesbian. Her therapist didn't reject her because her therapist was motherf*cking Oprah. The episode doesn't even gloss over details that might not make sense to viewers outside the queer community. At one point, Ellen makes the first known historical reference to "lesbian keys," one of the most "enduring sartorial symbols of lesbian culture." Sure, Ellen's coming out story is a fantasy, out of reach to members of the queer community who lack her privilege. Still, it's a deeply human fantasy so many queer teens needed, particularly in the mid-nineties when people were busy debating whether or not people like her should even be considered human. I was 13 when the episode came out and no idea what a lesbian was or that I'd be one one day. Ellen was the first woman I remember learning about who was queer and not a man. "The Puppy Episode" was one of the first times I heard the word gay unattached to the word AIDS. My family and I watched it on the kitchen TV over a pot of spaghetti with tomato sauce. We never talked about it afterward. It's part of the reason I remembered it. It's impossible to quantify the impact "The Puppy Episode" had on closeted kids of that generation. I imagine it left an indelible unconscious imprint, though, of a hilarious queer woman who wore comfortable pants and who everyone still loved, regardless of her sexuality. Even more importantly, it ushered in a whole new era of gay-ish television, more influential than any piece of legislation in helping America to accept queer sexuality. American culture becomes gayer than ever before Image: NBC via Getty Images After the success of "The Puppy Episode," network executives took note and welcomed more queer characters to the fold. Will and Grace, which safely introduced America to gay men and which became one of the most popular series in NBC's history, premiered just a few months later. Much like Ellen, Will wasn't a particularly challenging character. Both Ellen and Will were white, cis, hilarious and affluent. You couldn't imagine a more palatable representation of otherness. They lived to make you like them and, by extension, their community. Image: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images Still, they existed as gay characters and that mattered. Queer as Folk premiered in 2000. In 2007, HBO introduced the L word, a love-hate series about queer women in Los Angeles. Ugly Betty premiered that same year and Glee was just two years later. In 2016, GLAAD found that 43 out of 895 series regular characters were LGBTQ, the highest in television history. Millennials are the most openly gay generation in history. Of course, there's plenty to whine about: television has a long way to go, particularly when it comes to representation of people of color, especially women of color and the transgender community. Lesbians and bisexual women just keep dying on television. Gay men are doing better, but Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is returning, which feels like a step backward. But at least we're having the conversation. And whatever you think of her, it's a seismic cultural shift we can partially attribute to Ellen. It couldn't have been easy. By every account, it was painful. She was the one who turned down a puppy so she could tell a story that mattered to an audience half of the country didn't want to exist but was taught over the 20 years that followed to love. WATCH: This typewriter-inspired keyboard will have you kickin' it old school Beirut (AFP) - Fierce clashes between jihadists and Islamist rebels near Damascus left at least 40 dead and 70 wounded on Friday, a monitoring group said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes pitted the Saudi-backed rebel faction Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) against Fateh al-Sham, Al-Qaeda's former branch in Syria, and Faylaq al-Rahman, which is backed by Qatar and Turkey. "There were at least 15 dead among the ranks of Jaish al-Islam and 23 among its adversaries" as well as two civilians, the Britain-based Observatory said. Another 70 were wounded. Jaish al-Islam said its opponents had provoked the clashes by harassing reinforcements headed for Qabun, east of the Syrian capital, a front with regime forces. Faylaq al-Rahman denied the allegation. In May 2016, more than 300 people were killed in a battle between the two sides. Decades after the military murdered thousands, Mothers of Plaza de Mayo warn that the current era of alternative facts poses a new threat The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo march against the military commanders who had planned the systematic murder of thousands. Photograph: Eitan Abramovich/AFP/Getty Images Haydee Gastelu was among the first to arrive. We were absolutely terrified, she recalls. On the afternoon of 30 April 1977, 14 courageous women set aside fear and their families warnings and left their homes to confront the dictatorship that had stolen their children. That day marked the first weekly march by the mothers of Argentinas disappeared against the military commanders who had planned the systematic murder of thousands. Four decades on and 2,037 marches later, the mothers are still marching, though some of them must now use wheelchairs. The mothers white headscarves became a symbol of courage and the relentless battle for justice and they have largely succeeded in their original aims: as of 2016, more than 1,000 of the dictatorships torturers and killers had been tried and 700 sentenced. But the mothers most of them now in their late 80s warn that the current era of alternative facts and revisionist history poses a new kind of threat for the country. Argentinas new government wants to erase the memory of those terrible years and is putting the brakes on the continuation of trials, says Taty Almeida, 86, whose 20-year-old son, Alejandro, disappeared in 1975. Four decades on and 2,037 marches later, the mothers are still marching. Photograph: Eitan Abramovich/AFP/Getty Images This struggle began when we were in our 40s. Now, 40 years later, we have to start all over again. This struggle began when we were in our 40s. Now, 40 years later, we have to start all over again Taty Almeida These days, the mothers are hailed as human rights champions around the world and feted by the likes of Pope Francis and the former United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon. Forty years ago, however, they couldnt even get their neighbours to hear their plight. The mainstream press was silent, and a large segment of the country sympathized with the dictatorship. People were scared, recalls Gastelu, now 88. If I talked about my kidnapped son at the hairdresser or supermarket they would run away. Even listening was dangerous. Story continues But I couldnt keep quiet. We needed everyone to know, even if nobody believed us. Thats probably why they called us the Mad Mothers at first, she says. Of course we were mad, Almeida says. Mad with grief, with impotence. They took a womans most precious gift, her child. At the time, the women couldnt gather in groups of more than three or four if they wished to avoid arrest. Instead, they marched two by two, around the Plaza de Mayo in front of the presidential palace every Thursday at 3.30pm. Like thousands of other young people who were forcibly disappeared during the dictatorship, Gastelus son Horacio a biology student was not actively involved in politics when he was seized by a group of armed men in August 1976 and disappeared without trace. It took another 24 years before forensic anthropologists confirmed that he was one of 30 youths murdered by the army in revenge for the assassination of a general by leftwing guerrillas. But I couldnt keep quiet. We needed everyone to know, even if nobody believed us. Photograph: Eduardo Di Baia/Associated Press After staging a coup in 1976, the military rapidly put into action a plan to crush any potential opposition, eventually murdering some 30,000 people almost all of them unarmed non-combatants. But in recent months the historical consensus over the 1976-1983 dictatorship has been challenged under Argentinas current centre-right president, Mauricio Macri. His government suggests that the number of victims may have only been around 9,000, citing a provisional figure drawn up by a special commission after the return of democracy in 1983. But the military themselves reported killing 22,000 people in a 1978 communication to Chilean intelligence. The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo aware that their watch is drawing to a close are deeply concerned by efforts to whitewash history in Argentina and around the world. Among us there are mothers who escaped from the Nazi Holocaust, only to lose their Argentinian-born children to another dictatorship so we know for a fact that these tragedies can repeat themselves, Gastelu says. There are mothers who escaped the Nazi Holocaust only to lose their Argentinian-born children to another dictatorship The Argentine military took lessons from the Nazis, says Sara Rus, a 90-year-old Auschwitz survivor who settled in Argentina after the second world war and whose son, Daniel, was killed by the military in 1977. I dont even have his bones to bury, says Rus, originally a Polish Jew from Lodz who still speaks Spanish with an accent. And the mothers are painfully aware of the risk that can face those who speak out against tyranny. In December 1977, three of the groups leaders along with two French nuns and seven young helpers were abducted in a series of coordinated raids. All 12 were drugged and loaded on to aircraft then thrown unconscious but still alive into the freezing waters of the South Atlantic. Robbed of their original leaders, the mothers fell under the sway of Hebe de Bonafini, an energetic and highly politicized woman who had lost two sons to the dictatorship and who prioritized political aims over the search for truth and justice. The mothers eventually split into two groups. Bonafinis group, while still active and important today, became embroiled in a corruption scandal during the government of former president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner that discredited her cause in the eyes of many. Despite the split, the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo can look back with some satisfaction at the work accomplished. A sister group the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo grew up alongside the Mothers, and have also had success tracking down the children of women who were abducted by the dictatorship while pregnant. The young women were murdered shortly after giving birth and their babies handed over to military couples to raise as their own. On Tuesday the Grandmothers announced that DNA had confirmed the identity of another victim the 40-year-old son of two desaparecidos Enrique Bustamante and Iris Nelida Garcia Soler bringing the number of recovered grandchildren to 122. We know that because of our age we will probably not live to see every single culprit condemned, says Taty Almeida. But though we may need wheelchairs and walking canes today, for the time being the Mad Mothers are still around. Kabul (AFP) - The Afghan Taliban launched their "spring offensive" Friday, heralding fresh fighting in the drawn-out conflict as embattled security forces struggle to recover from a devastating attack on a military base one week ago. Operation Mansouri -- named after the group's former leader, killed in a US drone strike in 2016 -- will target foreign forces with "conventional attacks, guerrilla warfare, complex martyrdom attacks, insider attacks", an insurgent statement said. "The enemy will be targeted, harassed, killed or captured until they abandon their last posts," it continued. The annual spring offensive normally marks the start of the "fighting season", though this winter the Taliban continued to battle government forces, most successfully in last week's attack on the military base outside the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. The massacre last Friday saw insurgents armed with guns and suicide bombs slaughter at least 135 young recruits, according to the official toll, though multiple sources have claimed it is much higher. The assault is believed to be the deadliest by the Taliban on an Afghan military target since they were driven from power in 2001, and fuelled fears of insider attacks -- when Afghan soldiers and police turn their guns on colleagues or on international troops. The attackers carried valid passes to the base, security sources said, and were dressed in Afghan army uniforms. The defence minister and army chief have resigned, and at least 35 soldiers have been arrested over the incident. Already beset by killings, desertions, and struggles over leadership and morale, Afghan forces have been straining to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014. They faced soaring casualties in 2016, up by 35 percent with 6,800 soldiers and police killed, according to a US watchdog. With more than one third of Afghanistan outside of government control, civilians also continue to bear a heavy brunt, with thousands killed and wounded each year with children paying an increasingly disproportionate price, according to UN figures. Story continues Afghanistan's Interior Ministry shrugged off the Taliban threats Friday, saying the offensive was "not something new". "We will target, kill, defeat and suppress the Taliban... all across the country," acting ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP. The Taliban statement said they would focus on state-building and "establishing mechanisms for social justice and development" in the areas under their control. Afghan and international officials have repeatedly called on the Taliban to disarm and join the political process, a call they have so far refused. Kabul-based analyst Ahmad Saeedi said the insurgents -- "emboldened" by government failures -- would instead seek more territory this year. "I believe this will be a difficult year for Afghan security forces, as they will be facing the resilient Taliban's complex and sophisticated attacks countrywide," he told AFP. - 'Another tough year' - The Taliban announcement comes days after Pentagon chief Jim Mattis visited Kabul as the Trump administration seeks to craft a new strategy in Afghanistan. Mattis also warned that 2017 would be "another tough year" for Afghan security forces, but would not be drawn on recent calls by NATO commander in Afghanistan General John Nicholson for "a few thousand" more troops. The Afghan conflict is the longest in US history -- US-led NATO troops have been at war there since 2001, after the ousting of the Taliban regime for refusing to hand over Osama bin Laden following the 9/11 attacks in the United States. The US has around 8,400 troops in the country with about another 5,000 from NATO allies. Earlier this month, the American military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on Islamic State group hideouts in eastern Afghanistan, killing nearly a hundred militants, according to unverified figures from Afghan officials. The bombing triggered global shockwaves, but was criticised by observers who questioned its use against a group that is not considered as big a threat as the Taliban. Some analysts even argued the strike could boost the Taliban, who had been fighting a turf war with IS in Nangarhar province near the border with Pakistan, where the bomb was dropped. Two US troops were killed Wednesday while fighting IS militants near the blast-site, the Pentagon has said, highlighting the price of its continuing role in the conflict. Intl community urges accommodation of all The Kathmandu-based international community has urged the political parties to forge an agreement to broaden support for the upcoming local level elections for a wider participation of the population. The following material contains graphic images that may be disturbing. Parents are advised that these images may not be suitable for young children. Almost 2 million people underwent plastic surgery last year in the U.S. but reportedly almost 20 percent of them may not be happy with the results. Angie visited The Doctors last year because she was devastated by the results of her surgery to remove excess skin. Now shes back to share how shes doing today. Watch: Scarred: Mom's Arms Disfigured After Botched Skin-Removal Surgery Angie weighed around 400 pounds throughout most of her adult life. She spent three years eating well and exercising and lost nearly 300 pounds. But she was left with excess skin on her arms and when she had it removed, the surgeon took too much skin. Angie suffered from chronic pain, scarring, and nerve damage. She couldnt even lift her arms to wash her hair. I felt like a new person. Now I feel like nothing, she says. About a year ago, The Doctors sent Angie to Plastic Surgeon Dr. Matthew Smith, who performed surgery to lessen her scarring and pain. The initial intervention went well, but Angie needed follow-up massage and physical therapy, and Dr. Smith hoped to perform a second corrective surgery. Watch: Scarred: Can Woman's Disfigured Arms Be Corrected? Now Angie is back! She reveals that not only does she look and feel better -- shes beaten a dependency on pain pills she developed after the botched surgery. I feel amazing! she says. Without this show and everybody included here, I would not be here today. Her husband, Joel, echoes her thanks. Im glad to have my wife back! Dr. Smith explains that the second surgery allowed him to remove the original skin graft and diminish Angies scarring. To show off her arms and enjoy the summer weather, Angie is receiving a surprise a new summer wardrobe from Adrianna Papell! And shell have somewhere to wear those glamorous new clothes, because The Buccaneer in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, is providing an all-inclusive weeklong honeymoon so Angie and Joel can celebrate their nine-year anniversary in style. By Jacob Greaves and Kylie MacLellan LONDON (Reuters) - The election campaign launch of Britain's euroskeptic UK Independence Party got off to a troubled start on Friday, when protesters accused its leader Paul Nuttall of promoting racist propaganda after he promised to ban full face veils. UKIP, whose former leader Nigel Farage helped drive support for Brexit before last year's referendum, was once seen as a threat to the ruling Conservative Party. But since Britain voted to leave the European Union, its poll ratings have almost halved from the 12.6 percent votes it won at the 2015 election. Earlier this week, the party came under fire, including from several of its own senior members and former major donor Arron Banks, over a plan to ban full face veils as part of its pitch to voters ahead of the June 8 election. Television footage showed a man shouting that the party was putting forward "racist propaganda", while another man was shown being ushered out by security as he accused UKIP of ejecting a woman in a hijab from the event in central London. A Reuters witness said there were a handful of protesters at the event, which eventually went ahead with the protesters shut outside. After the delay, Nuttall promised "a bold and radical manifesto", repeating the pledge to ban face coverings, alongside other policies including reducing immigration and cutting the foreign aid budget. One of the protestors, Weyman Bennett, called Nuttall "a famous liar". "One of the problems we have to deal with is to make sure that those lies do not impact on British society in terms of leading to division, we want unity, we don't want division," Bennett told reporters. Asked if the protesters were right that the party was racist, Nuttall said: "No they are not right." "It is disappointing that certain people in politics don't want to debate, what they want to do is to shout people down in an almost aggressive fashion and we're above that," he said, adding that UKIP members and candidates would not act in such "an undemocratic and abhorrent fashion". Britain has seen a spike in hate crimes since last June's Brexit vote, before which concerns about the level of immigration were a key part of the campaign. A YouGov poll carried out after the UKIP pledge this week found 48 percent of voters would support a ban on wearing a full body and face veil, while 42 percent said people should be able to decide for themselves what to wear. (Reporting by Jacob Greaves and Kylie MacLellan, editing by Pritha Sarkar) A newborn humpback whale learns early in life to use its "indoor voice" to avoid attracting the attention of nearby killer whales, researchers have discovered. Using temporary tags that recorded audio from humpback mothers and calves, scientists found that the calves communicated with their mothers very quietly in muted squeaks compared to the bellows of adult males perhaps to lower the risk of being overheard and pursued by killer whales, according to a new study. These recordings show aspects of early life behavior in humpbacks for the first time, the researchers said. The findings offer a rare glimpse into the development of young humpbacks and hint at the complex interactions the young whales share with their mothers in order to survive during long migrations in the open ocean when they are still young and vulnerable, the study authors wrote. [Humpback Calves are Close Talkers | Video] Newborn whales face challenges unique to ocean-dwelling mammals: They must learn to nurse under their own power and coordinate that with swimming and holding their breath, the researchers said. And these young whales have only a few months of growth before the herd begins its seasonal migration from breeding grounds to feeding grounds, traveling as far as 5,000 miles (over 8,000 kilometers), the researchers explained in the study. A humpback mother and calf, photographed in Exmouth Gulf in northwest Australia. Fredrik Christiansen To better understand calves' behavior during migrations, researchers attached multisensor suction tags to eight humpback calves and two mothers in Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia, a known breeding and resting ground for humpbacks on their way to feeding areas in southern latitudes. The researchers placed the tags between the blowhole and dorsal fin on each whale, and programmed the tags to release automatically after 22 hours. Speak low Data gathered by the tags told scientists when the mothers and calves were diving and how they were moving during the dives, indicating when the calves might be nursing. Audio communications "grunting" and "tonal sounds" were also captured. Story continues The scientists found that most of the vocalizations took place during dives, rather than when the calf and mother were resting close to the surface. And the sounds the calves made were extremely quiet, the researchers said, about 40 decibels lower than calls produced by singing whales, and up to 70 decibels lower than other social sounds from adults. A humpback whale calf wearing a tag, in Exmouth Gulf. Line Hermannsen Visibility in Exmouth Gulf waters is poor, which could explain why mothers and calves called to each other more frequently while diving, to keep from being separated, the study said. But the calls didn't seem to be nursing cues; nursing appeared to follow physical contact, possibly head bumps in the mother's mammary area, the researchers wrote in the study. It's more likely that calves and mothers use their voices to maintain contact, and the quiet calls kept them from being "overheard" by opportunistic predators or interested male humpbacks, said the study's lead author, Simone Videsen, a researcher with the Department of Bioscience at the Aarhus University in Denmark. "By calling softly to its mother, the calf is less likely to be heard by killer whales, and [can] avoid attracting male humpbacks who want to mate with the nursing females," Videsen said in a statement. "This migration is very demanding for young calves," Videsen added. "Knowing more about their suckling will help us understand what could disrupt this critical behavior, so we can target conservation efforts more effectively." The findings were published online April 25 in the journal Functional Ecology. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations By Steve Barnes GRADY, Ark. (Reuters) - Arkansas on Thursday executed its fourth inmate in eight days, administering a lethal injection to a man who killed two people after escaping from a prison where he had been serving a life sentence for murdering a cheerleader. Kenneth Williams, 38, was pronounced dead at 11:05 p.m. at the state's Cummins Unit prison. The state, which had not held an execution in 12 years until this month, had already put three other inmates to death since April 20. Pool media reports show that after the lethal injection process began, Williams was shaking and appeared to be gasping for air. "There was no indication on his face of any pain, the lurching appeared to be involuntary," according to a pool report from three media witnesses. Arkansas had initially planned to execute eight inmates in 11 days in April, the most of any state in so short a period since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Four of those executions were halted by various courts. The unprecedented schedule was set by Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson because a drug in the state's execution mix, the sedative midazolam, expires at the end of April. The quick pace prompted criticism that Arkansas was acting recklessly. "I am not the person that I was but I have been transformed when I gave my life to Christ," Williams said in his last statement. "I cant undo ... I only seek your forgiveness". The Arkansas execution flurry also set off legal filings that raised questions about U.S. death chamber protocols, troubled prosecutions and difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs. Arkansas does not have a schedule to execute any more inmates. "Arkansans should have renewed faith in our system," J.R. Davis, a spokesman for Hutchinson, told reporters at the prison. Midazolam has been used in troubled executions in Oklahoma and Arizona, where witnesses said inmates appeared to twist in pain on death row gurneys. Critics say the valium-like drug is not suitable to render a person unconscious for surgery and should not be used in executions, which use drugs to stop breathing and the heart. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected motions to halt the executions on grounds such as the failure of Arkansas "to provide Mr. Williams a forum to litigate his claim that he is intellectually disabled." Williams, sentenced to life without parole for the 1998 murder of 19-year-old college cheerleader Dominique Hurd, broke out of a maximum-security prison in 1999 after serving less than a month behind bars. He murdered Cecil Boren, 57 at his farmhouse, shooting him numerous times, before stealing Boren's pickup truck to flee to Missouri, where he slammed his vehicle into one driven by delivery man Michael Greenwood, 24, killing him. He was sentenced to death for Boren's murder. "Its not closure, we just dont have to endure this anymore," Boren's daughter, Jodie Efrid, told reporters. But Greenwood's daughter, Kayla Greenwood, urged Hutchinson to spare Williams, in a letter sent on Thursday. "His execution will not bring my father back or return to us what has been taken, but it will cause additional suffering," she said. (Reporting by Steve Barnes in Grady and Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Clarence Fernandez) By Ben Blanchard and Philip Wen BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's warm words for Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as a "good man" will reassure Beijing that he finally understands the importance of good ties, but risks leaving America's regional allies puzzling over where they fit into the new order. The budding relationship between the two leaders appeared highly unlikely when Trump was lambasting China on the campaign trail for stealing U.S. jobs with unfair trade polices. In December, after winning office, he upended protocol by taking a call from the president of self-ruled Taiwan, which China regards as its own territory. A few months on, after meeting Xi at his Florida residence earlier in April, Trump appears to have done a complete volte-face, praising Xi for trying hard to rein in nuclear-armed North Korea and rebuffing Taiwan's president's suggestion of another call. But the big question is whether the rapprochement will last. Trump also expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2016 presidential campaign, but that relationship has since chilled. Chinese officials will no doubt be pleased by Trump's overtures, said Jia Qingguo, a leading academic who has advised the government on foreign policy. "People will say that the only thing we know for sure about Donald Trump's administration is uncertainty and unpredictability," said Jia, dean of the School of International Studies at the elite Peking University. "But judging from what he has been saying and doing, it's quite reassuring as far as China is concerned. Certainly I think people have developed more positive views about the Donald Trump administration here and we have a lot of expectations that we can work together constructively." For China's neighbors, it is a little more complicated. On one level, a healthy relationship between the world's two biggest economies suits everyone. "It's hugely positive that there's been a reasonably constructive start to the bilateral dialogue between those two countries," Tom Lembong, Indonesia's investment chief and close aide to President Joko Widodo, told Reuters. But long-time allies may also be wondering just how far Washington still has their back. Shashank Joshi, senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said countries such as Japan and South Korea could lose influence if Trump's focus on enlisting Xi's help over North Korea creates a "sort of U.S.-China G2". "There are competing instincts within Trump pushing him in opposite directions," said Joshi. "His nationalism pushes him towards competition with China, but his deal-making instinct, his openness to personal influence, and his affinity for strongmen pushes him towards Xi, especially if he can show results on North Korea." But Trump, who has long touted his deal-making ability as a real estate developer, has also made clear his approach to China is transactional. He is so focused on securing cooperation against North Korea, his top national security priority, that he has even publicly promised to go easier on Beijing over critical trade issues in return. Some of Trump's aides doubt, however, that China will do enough to restrain North Korea's nuclear and missile programmers. Some experts believe the thaw between the economic rivals could be fleeting if Xi fails to come through on the North Korean issue. SOUTH CHINA SEA Singapore-based security expert Ian Store said he believed Trump's remarks would be closely scrutinized by Southeast Asian leaders looking for signs of an emerging Asia strategy. "Most would welcome a calm, co-operative relationship between China and the U.S., but they will be deeply concerned at anything that looks like Trump will give Xi a free hand over the South China Sea dispute, or elsewhere," said Storey, who is based at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute. The administration has so far sent out mixed rhetorical signals over the hotly disputed South China Sea. China's extensive claims to the vital global trade route are challenged by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan. The U.S. has increased naval deployments in the South China Sea in recent years amid roiling tensions and extensive island-building by China but, under Trump, its warships have yet to challenge China with a so-called freedom of navigation patrol close to disputed islets and reefs. A Trump administration official has told Reuters the United States wants to avoid antagonizing China on sensitive issues like the South China Sea for now while waiting to see how far Beijing will go tightening the screws on North Korea. But the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said this did not mean abandoning efforts to counter China's growing military and economic might in the Asia-Pacific region. Admiral Harry Harris, the chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, told the U.S. Congress this week that he expected to be carrying out such patrols in the South China Sea soon, and repeated earlier concerns at China's continued militarization of the area. "Given Trump's newfound friendship with Xi Jinping, it might make it significantly harder for the Pacific Command to get its plans approved for the next freedom of navigation patrols," Storey said. UNPREDICTABLE In Japan, often at odds with China over what Beijing views as Tokyo's failure to properly atone for World War Two, a Japanese government source sought to downplay any impact the burgeoning Trump-Xi friendship might have on Japan-U.S. ties. "Trump's softened approach to Xi may seem to be some kind of shift in the balance of power but security cooperation between Japan and the United States is extremely stable and has been confirmed in the face of the current crisis situation in North Korea," the source told Reuters. The tricky issue of Taiwan has not gone away either, and is one of several that could upset relations. Democratic Taiwan has many friends in Washington who will not want to allow autocratic China to get its way with the island, and the United States is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. Wang Dong, associate professor of international studies at Peking University, said China would remain on alert for another change of direction by Trump. "There are reasons for optimism, but we are still being realistic. There are still issues out there, from Taiwan to the South China Sea," he said. One Beijing-based Western diplomat told Reuters that, while China might be pleased to see Trump hang ally South Korea out to dry with his criticism of their free trade deal and demand Seoul pay $1 billion to host a U.S. anti-missile system China has strongly opposed, China should not have any illusions. "He's so unpredictable who knows what he'll say next week or next month?" said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. "His mood turns on a pin." (Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Beijing; Linda Sieg in Toyko; Kanupriya Kapoor and Karen Lema in Manila; Sanjeev Miglani in New Delhi; Greg Torode in Hong Kong; Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Alex Richardson and Frances Kerry) BEIJING (Reuters) - Baidu Inc on Friday forecast second-quarter revenue largely below estimates as the Chinese internet company continues to grapple with Beijing's restrictions on its lucrative medical advertisements segment, sending its shares down six percent in extended trading. Baidu forecast second-quarter revenue between 20.47 billion and 20.98 billion yuan ($2.97 billion-$3.04 billion), largely below analysts' estimate of 20.84 billion yuan. Baidu started restructuring its business last year after Beijing rolled out new requirements for medical advertisers, denting the firm's lucrative healthcare advertising business which accounted for about 20-30 percent of its total search revenue. Net income attributable to Baidu fell to 1.78 billion yuan in the quarter ended March 31, a 10.4 percent drop from 1.99 billion yuan a year earlier, the company said. Detailing the company's ongoing plans to strip or consolidate loss-making ventures and refocus resources, the management said in an earnings call on Friday that it will focus on artificial intelligence. "Our focus is two-fold: to enhance and expand our existing core platform and to lead the commercialization of AI technology," Baidu COO Lu Qi said on the call. The company will fold its transaction services, including maps, delivery and financial services, into core search business, and will no longer report those metrics separately. Baidu's chief financial officer Jennifer Li will step aside and take over as the chief executive of Baidu Capital, the company's 20 billion yuan ($2.90 billion) investment fund established last year. The fund, which will focus on mid-to-late stage deals, is a core vehicle in the firm's effort to kick-start its new technology initiatives. Baidu will continue to scale back spending on group-buying platform Nuomi, moving from a transaction-based model to an advertising model, Li said. Baidu pledged to invest 3.2 billion in Nuomi in 2015, but the embattled business has been buffeted by competitors. Last month, the head of the loss-making unit was fired over kickbacks. All incremental research and development costs this year will go towards artificial intelligence with a focus on personnel, Li added. Baidu's first-quarter revenue rose to 16.9 billion yuan ($2.45 billion) from 15.82 billion yuan a year earlier, marginally above the 6.4 percent growth that 13 analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected. Baidu in February forecast first-quarter revenue of 16.48 billion-17.03 billion yuan. ($1 = 6.8958 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Aishwarya Venugopal in Bengaluru and Cate Cadell in Beijing; Editing by Martina D'Couto and Vyas Mohan) Binod Ghimire covers parliamentary affairs and human rights for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2010, he has reported primarily on social issues, focusing on education and transitional justice. Four suspected Islamist fighters blew themselves up at a hideout in Bangladesh, ending a 24-hour standoff, police said Friday. Police raided the house in the northern town of Shibganj late Wednesday on a tip-off that extremists were hiding out there, triggering a tense standoff that ended with explosions and gunfire late Thursday. "The four militants from JMB blew themselves up with a bomb explosion," local police chief Mujahidul Islam told AFP, referring to the banned Islamist group Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh. "We asked them to surrender multiple times but there was no response." Islam said police had arrested the wife of one of the men, who was in custody with her six-year-old daughter. The Bangladesh government blames the JMB for a wave of deadly attacks against religious minorities and foreigners in the Muslim-majority country. These include a major attack on a Dhaka cafe last year in which 22 people were killed, most of them foreigners. The Islamic State group claimed that attack and several others, but Dhaka insists they were the work of homegrown Islamist groups. A toddler born with three legs -- because body parts of a twin had grown inside her -- was returning home to Bangladesh Friday after complex and rare surgery in Australia enabled her to walk and run, her doctor said. Three-year-old Choity Khatun was given little prospect of survival until she was brought to Melbourne last year by Australian charity Children First Foundation. A team of surgeons spent several months mapping out a procedure to reconstruct her anatomy. "A twin had grown out of her pelvis but the twin was only part of a twin... The problem is there's no rulebook for this because she's a very unique individual so you have to try and work out what was where," Chris Kimber, the paediatric surgery head at Monash Children's Hospital, told AFP. "When Choity arrived in Australia, she was very malnourished, she couldn't walk properly at all," said Kimber. Working in consultation with experts from Europe and the United States, the surgeons planned a procedure that involved removing the remains of the third leg -- part of which was earlier cut off in Bangladesh -- as well as taking out, disconnecting and reconnecting other organs. Choity's condition meant that body parts from a twin developed in her perineum -- the area between the anus and the vulva. Surgeons spent countless hours examining her under anaesthetic and found she had two rectums, anuses, vaginas and uteruses. She was also incontinent. - 'She's pretty good' - The surgery, which Kimber said was "extremely rare", was finally carried out in November and involved eight doctors who specialise in genital and pelvic reconstructions working on the girl for eight hours. "We spent three or four months thinking about it, presenting it to other doctors, getting ideas from around the world, and then based on lots of world opinion, we were able to come up with something that clearly works," he added. A key triumph for the surgeons, including Kimber, was that they were able to help her become continent, which Kimber said was "extraordinary". Story continues "She's pretty good," he added. The little girl is also partially blind, but an ophthalmologist's examination at the hospital found her sight could not be improved. But she has sufficient sight to now walk and run like other children, to the delight of her 22-year-old mother. "Everything is good now... she can play like every baby," Shima Khatun told broadcaster Channel Nine on Thursday, adding that she was looking forward to returning to her village outside Dhaka with her daughter and being reunited with her husband. Barack Obama has drawn criticism for accepting an invitation to speak at a Wall Street conference for almost half a million dollars. The former President will receive $400,000, equal to his annual pay as President, for a speech at Cantor Fitzgerald's healthcare conference as a keynote speaker in September. Mr Obama's fee is nearly twice as much as Hillary Clinton has charged private companies for similar events. The former President, who called bank CEOs fat cats in the opening weeks of his administration, has come under fire for the Wall Street speech since reports first emerged earlier in the week. Bernie Sanders has said he thinks it is unfortunate Mr Obama opted to receive the fee and argued the decision signifies the profound influence big business has on the political system. I think it just speaks to the power of Wall Street and the influence of big money in the political process, the Democrat Vermont senator told Bloomberg. I think its unfortunate. President Obama is now a private citizen and he can do anything he wants to but I think its unfortunate. You have the former president of Goldman Sachs is now the chief financial advisor for President Trump, and then you have this, so I think its unfortunate. Senator Elizabeth Warren has also expressed her reservations, saying she was troubled by the speaking fee. I was troubled by that, Warren said on SiriusXM's Alter Family Politics during an appearance to promote her new book. One of the things I talk about in the book is the influence of money. I describe it as a snake that slithers through Washington. And that it shows up in so many different ways here in Washington. Meghan McCain, a Fox News host, went a step further and called Mr Obama a dirty capitalist for agreeing to speak at the investment firm. The great irony is that Saint Obama, who is supposed to representing everything that is good and utopian on the left, is actually a dirty capitalist like the rest of us, McCain, who is the daughter of Republican Senator John McCain, said. Story continues While Mr Obama is said to have signed a contract for the event, the company is reported to be waiting to finalise arrangements with the Chicago native before making a formal announcement. Read more Man arrested after reportedly stalking and proposing to Malia Obama Eric Schultz, senior advisor to President Obama, defended the President in a statement sent earlier in the week and challenged the notion hefty speaking fees compromise the former Presidents principles. As we announced months ago, President Obama will deliver speeches from time to time, he told The Independent. Some of those speeches will be paid, some will be unpaid, and regardless of venue or sponsor, President Obama will be true to his values, his vision, and his record. He recently accepted an invitation to speak at a health care conference in September, because, as a President who successfully passed health insurance reform, its an issue of great importance to him. With regard to this or any speech involving Wall Street sponsors, Id just point out that in 2008, Barack Obama raised more money from Wall Street than any candidate in history and still went on to successfully pass and implement the toughest reforms on Wall Street since FDR. And while hell continue to give speeches from time to time, hell spend most of his time writing his book and, as he said in Chicago this week, focusing his post-presidency work on training and elevating a new generation of political leaders in America. Mr Obama, who left the White House almost 100 days ago, took to the stage in Chicago for his first public appearance since Donald Trumps inauguration on Monday. Returning to the city he launched his political career in, he revealed his first post-White House project would focus on urging the next generation to become more politicised and civically engaged. Former President Barack Obama is making the most of his first 100 days out of office and is already set to make at least $800,000 from just two speeches this year. Mr Obama met up with presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin on Thursday at the A&E Networks advertising upfront at the Pierre Hotel and was rewarded $400,000 for a 90-minute interview with her in front of advertisers for the cable network. That marks the second known speech for that amount since leaving the White House alongside one planned for September sponsored by a Wall Street bank that sparked criticism earlier this week. When asked by Ms Goodwin how he handled frustrations in the Oval Office, Mr Obama took the chance to joke about his successor, saying, for starters, by not having a Twitter, according to the New York Post. Mr Obama also gave some insight into the banal learning curve hes encountered in his new life as a private citizen, including figuring out how use the coffee machine at his new home in Washington, DC. He still hasnt driven a car on his own, he said, but thats pretty normal for ex-commanders-in-chief. The former president was criticised earlier this week by several people when it was discovered that he had signed on for the upcoming Wall Street speech. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has focused on Wall Street reform and banking regulations in the Senate and was assigned by Mr Obama to help run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, said that she was troubled by the $400,000 revelation. Aside from stacking bills for speeches, Mr Obama has also pledged to help develop the next generation of American leadership by encouraging young people to engage politically. He also had holidays in the British Virgin Islands, Palm Springs, and Hawaii. Barack Obamas former photographer has signed a book deal after gaining a large Instagram following for posts trolling Donald Trump. Pete Souza famously took two million photos during Mr Obama's eight years in the White House, following the President and his family around the world. Publisher Little, Brown, and Company said the book, titled Obama: An Intimate Portrait, would be a collection of 300 photographs with narratives of Mr Souzas memories for context. Read more Obama's official photographer mocks Kellyanne Conway microwave theory Mr Souza told The New York Times in an email that there are pictures that certainly show him stressing in the Situation Room over major decisions, but also pictures of him interacting in fun moments with his girls". He has also built a social media presence - with over a million followers on Instagram - for his criticism of Mr Trump through his medium of choice: photographs. His commentary comes in the form of posts like the one below, which refers to the day the White House announced it would not make visitor logs public, as the Obama administration had. Hmm. Bet he was noted in the visitor logs. A post shared by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Apr 14, 2017 at 4:36pm PDT Following Mr Trumps travel ban on those from seven Muslim-majority countries entering the US, Mr Souza posted a photo to Instagram of Mr Obama smiling and talking to a young Muslim refugee. Talking with a young refugee at a Dignity for Children Foundation classroom in 2015. A post shared by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Jan 29, 2017 at 5:16am PST Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska and the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate, made headlines when she went to dinner at the White House and posted a picture to her Facebook account posing in front of a painting of former First Lady Hillary Clinton. Ms Palin was standing with musicians Kid Rock and Ted Nugent, who once called for the death of Mr Obama and Ms Clinton. Story continues In response, Mr Souza posted an image of Mr Obama and Chief of Staff Bill Daley sitting in front of Republican President Ronald Reagans portrait with the simple caption: Being respectful. Bernie Sanders slammed President Donald Trumps tax plan Wednesday after officials released an outline of the revamped plan in a press briefing. The Vermont senator took to Twitter to denounce what the Trump administration called the "biggest tax cut" in U.S. history. We have a rigged economy designed to benefit the wealthiest Americans and large corporations. Trumps tax plan would make that system worse, Sanders wrote. Read: Bernie Sanders Busy Fighting Trump, Revamping Democratic Party White House chief economic adviser Gary Cohn and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin appeared in a press briefing Wednesday to reveal an outline of the presidents tax plan. The plan included a reduction in the number of income tax brackets from seven to three, cutting the corporate tax rate from 25 percent to 15 percent and instituting a one-time tax on corporations overseas interests. Republicans have a lot to say about tax breaks for billionaires. But they dont have much to say about raising wages for our workers, Sanders tweeted Wednesday. Sanders frequently denounces the presidents policies on social media and in speeches, repeating many of the principles he ran on as a Democratic candidate during the 2016 presidential election. He has repeatedly railed against the interests of the wealthy, calling for a higher minimum wage and a renewed commitment to the middle class. While on a recent cross-country tour aiming to bring change to the Democratic Party, Sanders spoke out against some of Trumps plans like increasing military spending while cutting other budgets. Our job is to take on the moneyed interests, he said during a speech in Kentucky last week. Sanders was not the only liberal lawmaker to denounce Trumps tax plan. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released a statement Wednesday in which she called the outline a wish list for billionaires. Story continues Instead of focusing on hard-working families as he promised, President Trumps tax outline is a wish list for billionaires, Pelosis statement said. What few details are here overwhelmingly cut taxes for the richest and do little for middle-class Americans and those trying to get there. Related Articles I know many Iranians! They are mostly from Iraq. That was how an interview for a medical school spot started for an Iranian-American friend of mine. The interviewer old, white, and well-meaning missed the complete irony in his statement that casually blended different countries and cultures like ingredients of a stereotyped recipe. My friend, like many minority applicants, had not prepared for something like this. Should he point out the error? Should he ignore it and move on with the interview, in the hopes that what truly matters the strengths of his application is the focus of the conversation? My friends experience isnt unique. I interviewed for a bioinformatics fellowship during my gap year between college and medical school. I carefully reviewed statistics about US health disparities in advance of my interview the research topic I had discussed in my application so I could confidently respond to questions pertinent to my interest in the fellowship. I did not, however, prepare for the question that shaped the entire interview: What are the major problems in Irans health care sector? While I had indicated in my application that I was born in Iran, nothing in my resume suggested any affiliation with the country: I did not list Farsi as a language I spoke; I had not been involved in any Iranian student organizations; and I had not taken any coursework related to Iran. Needless to say, I was unable to answer my interviewers questions, which repeatedly returned to the subject of Iran despite my attempts to steer the interview back to my interests in US health disparities. I did not get the fellowship. I kept mum about that awkward experience. But as I began exchanging interview stories with friends a year later when I was applying to medical school, and again four years later as a candidate for residency programs, it became clear to me that the interview process for minority candidates was different than for others. Story continues Read more: Diversify or else: This Missouri medical schools urgent plan to save its accreditation What I learned from shared stories is that when the interviewees shared similar backgrounds with their often white and male interviewers, the interview focused on their common bond. For interviewees without that shared background, interviewers often relied on assumptions about their gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, or religion. For example, a white colleague shared this with me about her interviewer: It turned out our grandparents went to the same high school. Compare that with a Latina friend interested in basic science research who was asked by an interviewer why she did not want to help out her community instead. My friends ethnic background and the interviewers assumptions about how she should help Latino communities seemed to dictate what should be her career trajectory, rather than her demonstrated research experience and interest. An Asian-American friend of mine, who plays the cello, had an interviewer tell him how nice it was to see an Asian who didnt play the piano or violin. An Iraqi friend was asked whether he was Christian or Muslim. A Palestinian friend was asked whether she would get along with Jewish students at the school. A Muslim-American applicants interview was dominated by questions about Sharia law. A female applicant, when expressing her interest in pursuing fellowships in either allergy and immunology or gastroenterology was told, I think allergy would be a better fit for you as a woman. While these individuals tried to deal with their interviewers questions with poise and composure, the questions werent relevant to the interview, detracted from their ability to discuss their actual qualifications, and reflected potential biases that could have influenced the interviewers decision. When juxtaposed against the experiences of peers whose interviews were focused on the strengths highlighted in their resumes, and whose personal backgrounds allowed for a close connection with the interviewer, its clear that interviewers unconscious biases can negatively influence an already stressful interview process. University of Toronto researchers compiled the results of 2,926 medical school interviews between 2004 and 2009. They found that applicants interviewed on rainy days were rated lower than those interviewed on sunny days. Interviewers probably did not wake up with the conscious thought, Its raining today so Ill give these students lower scores. More likely, what happened was that the unconscious impact of weather on their moods influenced their perceptions of students. Similarly, unconscious biases related to a persons gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, and other axes of difference can invisibly influence our thoughts and behaviors about individuals we meet, including those we are interviewing and those we are interviewed by. Just as it is absurd to think that the decision about whether to admit a student would partly hinge on something as random and out of the students control as the weather, it should be equally absurd to have it affected by the students background. This is particularly true in a profession that hopes to reflect the diversity of the patients it serves. What can we do? Accept the reality of unconscious bias in interviews. In my experience of talking about biases in the medical profession, physicians often have a knee-jerk reaction of denial that they arent biased. It is unsettling to our egos and beliefs that we are not always impartial and objective. Yet the reality is that medical professionals arent immune to the effects of pervasive racism that permeates American society, including harmful stereotypes of minority populations and patriarchal perceptions of competence and leadership. The first step in attempting to address these biases is acknowledging that they exist in the first place. This acceptance entails having honest conversations with applicants from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds before and during medical training, and preparing them to effectively handle these unexpected and surprising questions. We are told by those in academic medicine leadership roles that these questions should not arise, but they do. Until we have created institutional cultures that truly embrace inclusion and diversity in word and action, we need to provide adequate preparation for all applicants. Standardize the interview process. In the business world, unstructured interviews get the highest ratings for perceived effectiveness, but are among the worst predictors of actual on-the-job performance. Managers are often overconfident in their expertise and dislike deferring to more structured approaches. Yet structuring the interview process to minimize variability allows for better comparisons and minimizes subjectivity. A review of 34 studies about the predictive value of residency interviews for positive performance in residency programs had inconclusive results. The traditional approach to interviews is not, in fact, producing the results we want: the most qualified applicants with a broad variety of backgrounds and experiences. New interview formats such as the medical school Multiple Mini-Interview have emerged as part of efforts to reduce this interview bias. Diversify interviewer pools. In medical school and residency interviews, as in the larger world, interviewers often select candidates that fulfill the 3 Ms: mini male mes. Medical school and residency programs often pay lip service to diversity and inclusion agenda without making the necessary commitments to implementing them. This includes creating gender and racial diversity targets among faculty interviewers, and promoting a culture that encourages raising concerns without fear of consequences or uncertainty about concrete outcomes. Diversity enriches the educational experience and promotes innovation by bringing together people from a variety of beliefs, perspectives, and backgrounds. Read more: Medical schools must play a role in addressing racial disparities Document and respond to negative interview experiences. A hidden curriculum exists in medical school and residency programs that promotes silence and acquiescence. Having a clear and explicit mechanism for interviewees to provide feedback about interviews can help identify patterns, especially if particular interviewers are repeat offenders. Responding to the feedback demonstrates institutions commitment to transforming systems beyond a lip service to promoting diversity in medical programs. Continue the conversation. Achieving diversity in medical schools and the health care work force is not an endpoint but a continuous process that requires us to reflect and reassess strategies, particularly when they involve experiences that happen behind closed doors, like interviews. Establishing ways to reduce bias in the interview process needs to be an iterative process that learns from its successes and failures. The medical school and residency interview season marked by hoards of students in crisp black or navy-blue suits and orthodontic smiles serves as a yearly reminder of how the medical profession can do better to combat bias. Increasing the recruitment of students and practitioners from diverse backgrounds would play an important role to ensure all those interviewed feel welcome to thrive within the profession. Racial and ethnic minorities currently make up more than a quarter of the total population of the United States, yet less than 10 percent of the physician workforce. In 2014, there were fewer black men in medical school than there were in 1978. Addressing gender and racial disparities in medicine will require a variety of approaches at various levels of training. Eliminating bias in the interview process would be a strong step in the right direction. Altaf Saadi, MD, is the chief resident in the Partners Neurology residency program at Massachusetts General and Brigham and Womens hospitals. By Kole Casule SKOPJE (Reuters) - A day after protesters stormed Macedonia's parliament and left him with blood running down his face, Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev said on Friday he was confident of forming a government despite vehement opposition from nationalists. More that 100 people were injured on Thursday night in clashes inside and outside parliament over the election of an ethnic Albanian as speaker of the assembly. One lawmaker was taken to hospital, and police used stun grenades to disperse protesters and evacuate MPs. NATO and the European Union condemned the violence, which deepened the worst crisis in the Balkan country since it narrowly averted an ethnic civil war in 2001. Germany blamed the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party and said any repeat could doom Macedonia's hopes of joining the EU. "What the former governing party in Macedonia and their supporters did last night is not only unacceptable but it is also the same as shutting the door to the EU if it happens again," German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: "Acts of violence like those we saw yesterday must not be allowed to happen again." After elections in the former Yugoslav republic in December, Zaev put together a coalition agreement with two parties representing ethnic Albanians, who make up a third of the population. The deal envisages a law allowing wider use of the Albanian language, and this has triggered daily street protests by nationalists. Despite strong opposition, Zaev and his coalition partners elected ethnic Albanian Talat Xhaferi as speaker on Thursday. Protesters responded by bursting into the parliament building and assaulting Zaev and others. Zaev told reporters on Friday he expected the speaker to assume his duties and send a letter to notify the president of the new majority. "After that I expect to receive the mandate to form the government," he said, sporting a band-aid on his forehead. Two other MPs standing behind him had bandages on their heads. President Gjorge Ivanov has so far refused to award a mandate to Zaev, saying the proposed coalition threatened the sovereignty of Macedonia. Macedonia has been without a functioning government since 2015, when it sank into political turmoil over a wiretapping scandal that brought down the ruling nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party bloc. Efforts to move towards membership of the EU and NATO have made little headway because of a dispute with Greece over Macedonia's name, which it shares with a northern Greek province. The EU has been increasingly alarmed in recent months about growing instability in the Balkans. The bloc's top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, said the violence in Macedonia was "particularly worrying" and the crisis "dangerous". Heading to meet EU ministers in Malta, Macedonia's interim Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki said: "I don't think that less integration of Macedonia into the European Union is the right answer. I would claim quite the opposite." (Additional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska and Tom Koerkemeier in VALETTA; Writing by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) The Daily Beast Fox NewsAs Democrats currently seem to be outperforming expectations in their House election races, Fox News pundits reflected on the absolute disaster that saw voters fail to usher in a red wave, as some on the right had predicted.A passionate Marc Thiessen slammed the Republican party for failing to make the red wave and urged it to do a really deep, introspective look in the mirror right now because this is an absolute disaster, while claiming the party needed to turn back. We have London (AFP) - A British soldier jailed for killing an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan was freed on Friday after his sentence was reduced from murder to manslaughter, his lawyer said. Former Royal Marine Alexander Blackman was jailed for life in 2013 for shooting the fighter at close range in Helmand Province on September 15, 2011, after the man was injured by helicopter fire. The sentence was later reduced to eight years but a judge in March reduced this further to seven years, quashing the murder conviction and replacing it with one of manslaughter by diminished responsibility. Blackman's lawyer Jonathan Goldberg told AFP that he was released overnight, while a statement from his campaign Facebook page said he was now in a "safe/private location with Claire", his wife. In footage captured by a camera on another soldier's helmet, Blackman was heard to tell the injured Afghan fighter: "There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil" -- paraphrasing Shakespeare. "Obviously this doesn't go anywhere, fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention," he told his fellow marines, a reference to international laws governing the treatment of prisoners of war. His wife led a campaign to free him, saying he was suffering from combat stress disorder at the time, although the case has divided the country and the military. Speaking to the Daily Mail newspaper while waiting for his release, Claire Blackman said: "I haven't slept all week. I feel like a child waiting for Christmas. "We have had so many setbacks over the years that I almost cannot believe it is really going to happen this time. I can't wait to see him and spend some quality time together." Madame scientist We need to increase the participation of women and girls in science and technology South Korean band BTS, or the Bangtan Boys, is putting K-pop (Korean pop) on the global map and the bands latest achievement is retaining the top spot on Billboards Social 50 chart for the May 6 tally. Its 22nd week at the first position in the chart places the band in third place for the most number of weeks on top of the Social 50, a position it initially held with international sensations Miley Cyrus and Rihanna. Read: BTS At BBMA 2017? K-Pop Group Makes History With Billboard Music Awards Nomination After the release of the latest chart, only two other artists are ahead of the Bangtan Boys Taylor Swift with 28 weeks and Justin Bieber with 161 weeks Billboard reported Thursday. When it comes to groups, BTS beat all others to the record with its closest competition in the category, One Direction, registering only eight weeks. The wide margin commanded by the K-pop band is significant as it stressed the wide sphere of influence that BTS has in the world. Since it hit the Social 50 chart on Oct. 29, 2016, BTS has not left the top two spots even once. It also made history by becoming the first K-pop group to be nominated in the top social artist category at the Billboard Music Awards this year. The show is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas on May 21. The Social 50 was launched in 2010, Billboard reported, and uses data maintained by music analytics company Next Big Sound, ranking the popularity of musicians on various social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Wikipedia, Instagram and Tumblr. The methodology used by Billboard puts together the artists user engagement and page views, along with the friends/fans/followers added by them over the week, to provide them with a global ranking. The seven-member group made up of Jin, Suga, Rap Monster, J-Hope, Jungkook, Jimin and V proved that its social media game was one of the best in the world and won an award for social media influence during the ninth Shorty Awards held in New York last weekend. Story continues bts Photo: Getty Images We want to share this honor with fans all around the world, the band members said in their acceptance video for the award, which was given in the field of music. BTS beat names like Ariana Grande, Drake and Britney Spears to win the honor. Besides their catchy tunes and boyish good looks, BTS has got a strong Instagram presence with their concept photo sessions, the Shortys website said. But their Twitter game is even stronger, being named by Forbes as the most retweeted artist on the platform. The band embarked on a world tour, titled 2017 BTS Live Trilogy Episode III: The Wings Tour earlier this year with the first performance at Seouls Gocheok Sky Dome. BTS then moved on to performances in Chile and Brazil, along with an appearance at the KCON Mexico. After packed performances at three venues in the U.S. Newark, New Jersey; Anaheim, California; and Chicago the band is currently in the midst of its Asia leg, with performances in Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Hong Kong, followed by stops in Australia and Japan. Related Articles BEIJING (Reuters) - China will begin construction of a permanent manned space station in 2019 after carrying out a successful in-orbit refuelling from its Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft, officials leading the project said on Friday. The Tianzhou-1, China's first cargo spacecraft, launched on April 20 and completed the first of three planned docking attempts with the orbiting Tiangong-2 spacelab two days later, state media reported. The successful five-day refuelling, directed from technicians on Earth and completed on Thursday, is a key milestone toward China's plans to begin sending crews to a permanent space station by 2022. "This again announces the ambition and aspiration of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people, and our resolute confidence in becoming a major space power," the space station project's supervisor Wang Zhaoyao told a news briefing in Beijing. "After completing experimental stage spaceflight missions, we will enter the development and construction phase. According to our plans we will carry out the assembly and construction of China's manned space station between 2019 and 2022." President Xi Jinping has prioritised advancing China's space program to strengthen national security. The Central Military Commission, chaired by Xi, sent a letter congratulating staff of the Tianzhou-1 mission for "realising our unremitting space dream", according to the official Xinhua news agency. The U.S. Defense Department has highlighted China's increasing space capabilities, saying it was pursuing activities aimed at preventing other nations from using space-based assets in a crisis. China insists it has only peaceful ambitions in space, but has tested anti-satellite missiles. (Reporting by Philip Wen; Editing by SImon Cameron-Moore) China on Friday praised US president Donald Trump's snub of Taiwan, noting that observers had called his decision not to take a second call from the island's president a "slap in the face". Trump rattled China in December after taking a congratulatory call from the self-ruling island's new Beijing-sceptic president Tsai Ing-wen after his election, smashing decades of diplomatic precedent. But after Tsai suggested another call could take place in an interview with Reuters Thursday, Trump said he did not want to risk his newfound "personal relationship" with China's president Xi Jinping. "I think he's doing an amazing job as a leader and I wouldn't want to do anything that comes in the way of that. So I would certainly want to speak to him first," Trump told Reuters in a separate interview. China "has noted the US reaction," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters during a regular press briefing, adding that online commenters "believe it's a slap in the face for Tsai Ing-wen". "China always opposes that those with whom weve established diplomatic relations develop any formal or official exchanges with the Taiwanese side," he added. Ties between Trump and Xi seem to have warmed recently after they met at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida earlier this month. Since then, Trump has praised China for helping pressure North Korea over its nuclear and missile programmes. The two leaders have been "in constant touch" Geng told reporters. Taiwan's presidential office stepped back from the idea of a call after Trump's comments. "We understand the priority of the US side in handling regional issues and have no current planning (for another call) at this stage," it said in a statement Friday. The comments were a "serious slap in the face" for Tsai, added political analyst Edward Chen of Tamkang University. Story continues "Tsai is throwing the ball into Washington's court and Washington is saying no," he said. However, lawmaker Chao Tien-lin of Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party said he thought Trump's response was reasonable. "Washington needs Beijing in handling the North Korea issue," he said. Concerns that Taiwan would become a bargaining chip were raised soon after Trump's election, when he suggested he may abandon the "One China" policy that underpins US-China relations, unless he could strike better deals with Beijing. He later went on to say he would honour the policy, which acknowledges that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of it. Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy but China sees it as part of its territory to be reunified, by force if necessary. The US is the island's most powerful ally and arms supplier, despite having no official relations with Taipei after switching recognition to Beijing in 1979. Relations between Taipei and Beijing have rapidly deteriorated since Tsai took the reins almost a year ago, ending an eight-year cross-strait rapprochement. Beijing has cut all official communication with Taipei. BEIJING (Reuters) - A court in China on Friday jailed a former chairman of Baoshan Iron and Steel, who went on to become vice mayor of Shanghai, to 17 years for bribery and graft, a state broadcaster reported. President Xi Jinping has waged war on graft for more than four years, vowing that all corrupt officials, from powerful "tigers" to lowly "flies", will be weeded out, and warning that a failure to do so could threaten the ruling Communist Party. Ai Baojun had used his positions to amass more than 40 million yuan ($5.8 million) in assets from 2000 to 2014, a court in the southern city of Zhangzhou ruled, according to China Central Television (CCTV) Ai is the most senior official from China's financial hub to be sentenced in the corruption campaign. He could not be reached for comment. The court also ruled that 5.8 million yuan of Ai's personal assets be confiscated and returned to Baosteel and to Shanghai city, CCTV said. Ai was given a lenient sentence due to actively providing details of his crimes, which he accepted and apologized for, the court said, adding that many of the bribes were accepted by relatives without his knowledge. China's top anti-graft watchdog stripped Ai of his party and state positions in January 2016 after an investigation found him guilty of breaking party discipline rules, as well as the crimes he was sentenced for. According to his official biography, Ai ran Shanghai-based Baoshan Iron and Steel from 1998 to 2007 before taking up a Shanghai vice mayor post until 2013. He then became head administrator for Shanghai's free-trade zone, the first such zone on the Chinese mainland. Dai Haibo, a deputy secretary of the Shanghai government and former deputy head of the free trade zone, was stripped of his post in May 2015, following an investigation by the anti-corruption watchdog. Cui Jian, vice president of the Baosteel Group, the parent of Baoshan Iron and Steel, was placed under investigation in March 2015 on suspicion of "serious disciplinary violations," a euphemism for graft. Baoshan Iron and Steel declined to comment. (Reporting by Christian Shepherd; Editing by Robert Birsel) BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese court announced on Friday it had sentenced a prominent human rights lawyer to a three year suspended jail sentence for subverting state power, after a closed-door trial. President Xi Jinping has tightened the state's grip on independent civil society since 2012, citing threats to national security and stability. Li Heping, a civil rights lawyer who has previously defended practitioners of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement, was detained along with dozens of activists and lawyers in mid-2015 during a crackdown on dissent. As his trial touched upon state secrets, it was held behind closed doors on April 25 in the Tianjin City Number Two Intermediate People's Court, according to a post on the court's Weibo social media account. The court handed down a three-year jail sentence, suspended for four years, it said, adding that Li would be stripped of his political privileges. Patrick Poon, a Hong Kong-based China researcher for the rights group Amnesty International, said the decision to hold a closed trial raised the suspicion the allegations against him were "groundless". The sentence meant Li would be "silenced for another four years", Poon told Reuters. Li could not be reached for comment and telephone calls to the court were not answered. Earlier on Friday, Li's wife, Wang Qiaoling, sent rights activists videos via instant messaging platforms of men who she said had identified themselves as police and surrounded her near her home in Beijing as she was walking her dog. They asked her to go with them to Tianjin to see Li, but she refused as they did not provide identification papers, she told Reuters. One of them men told her he was Li's lawyer and that Li had been convicted, which Wang said made her angry as she had not heard about the trial. "This secret trial, no one knew it was happening, even the lawyer was provided by the state, works with the state," she said. "After the sentencing, he should immediately have the freedom to return home, but now they are holding him in Tianjin ... They are just using the conviction to continue to secretly lock him up," she said. In its ruling, the court said that since 2008, Li had used the internet and foreign media to smear and attack state organs and the legal system. Li had also accepted foreign funds, "hyped" cases and intentionally provoked dissatisfaction with society among "some people who don't know the fact of the matter", the court said. He also colluded with a small group of lawyers, "individuals engaged in illegal religious activities" and "professional petitioners" to attack the constitutionally based system, the court said in its ruling. The court said in its statement that Li would not appeal and had thanked the court after proceedings concluded, expressing regret and saying his behavior had broken criminal law. The court ruled that Li's "relatively small" number of crimes and his expression of regret meant he was given the suspended sentence. (Reporting by Christian Shepherd; Editing by Robert Birsel) Shanghai (AFP) - China's ride-hailing leader Didi Chuxing said Friday it had raised more than $5.5 billion in new financing amid reports that the fund injection makes it the most valuable start-up in Asia with a worth over $50 billion. Beijing based-Didi, which claims nearly 90 percent of China's ride-hailing market after buying rival Uber's assets in the country last year, said it would use the money to "support its global strategy and continued investments in AI-based technologies." Didi's valuation makes it tops in Asia and number two in the world after Uber's $68 billion, according to rankings by The Wall Street Journal. The fresh funding moves Didi past Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, which was at $46 billion. The Wall Street Journal's rankings were based on companies "that are privately held, have raised money in the past four years and have at least one venture-capital firm as an investor." Didi's statement did not give details on who provided the fresh funds, but Bloomberg News, quoting people familiar with the situation, said the investors include Japan's SoftBank Group, China Merchants Bank, and an arm of China's Bank of Communications. Didi already lists among its investors Apple and Chinese internet titans Alibaba and Tencent. China legalised ride-hailing services in July last year and is the world's largest market, fuelled by hundreds of millions of mobile-savvy Chinese millennials. But Didi, which has operations in over 400 Chinese cities, has hit obstacles including driving restrictions and licensing requirements in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai that have crimped its outlook. It is hoping that driverless technology can help overcome such hurdles, and last month opened an artificial intelligence lab in Silicon Valley. "Didi is working towards systemic breakthroughs in intelligent driving technologies and smart transportation architecture," the company said. "With this new investment, DiDi will continue to work with communities and partners around the world to provide more innovative mobility services, and to expand smart urban transportation programs as part of its efforts to build an efficient and sustainable global mobility ecosystem." Didi, which completes 20 million rides daily, has sought to expand overseas with an investment into Southeast Asian taxi-booking app Grab last year, following closely on the heels of a tie-up with Uber's US rival Lyft. Silwad (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Palestinians clashed with Israeli soldiers across the occupied West Bank on Friday in support of hundreds of Palestinians on hunger strike in Israeli prisons. Clashes took place near Israeli settlements and army checkpoints close to several villages in the Ramallah area, as well as by Hebron in the southern West Bank and many other locations further north. In the village of Silwad Palestinian protesters threw stones at Israeli troops manning a military tower, and soldiers retaliated by firing stun grenades and tear gas at them. The Palestinian Red Crescent said eight Palestinian were wounded in clashes across the West Bank. A spokeswoman for the Israeli army said that around 2,000 Palestinians took part in what she called "violent riots" across the West Bank and had been "dispersed". She gave no other details. The clashes -- on a day usually dedicated to anti-Israeli protests -- came as a hunger strike by hundreds of prisoners in Israeli jails was on its 12th day Friday. Palestinian officials says some 1,500 Palestinian prisoners were ingesting only water and salt. Israeli authorities have put the number of the hunger strikers at 1,200. The International Committee of the Red Cross -- the only organisation that can access Palestinian inmates in Israeli prisons -- said Friday ICRC delegates were able to visit hundreds of hunger strikers. The ICRC had been denied visiting rights for nine days, a spokesman said, adding that the group hoped to be able to visit all the prisoners in the next days. The hunger strike began on April 17 and is being led by Marwan Barhouti, a prominent Palestinian leader and prisoner who is serving five life sentences for murder over his role in the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, of 2000 to 2005. Barghouti, of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party, is popular among Palestinians, with polls suggesting he could win the Palestinian presidency. Story continues Khaled Meshaal, chief of the rival Palestinian faction Hamas -- the Islamist movement that rules the Gaza Strip -- spoke on Friday about "the imperative to unite behind the cause of the prisoners". The prisoners have issued demands ranging from better medical care to phone access. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club warned early this week that Barghouti's health has seriously declined and that he was refusing medical treatment. Some 6,500 Palestinians are currently detained by Israel for a range of offences and alleged crimes. Around 500 are being held under Israel's system of administrative detention, which allows for imprisonment without charge. Palestinian prisoners have mounted repeated hunger strikes, but rarely on such a scale. Maoist Centre picks PMs daughter for Bharatpur mayoral race The CPN (Maoist Centre) has picked Renu Dahal, the daughter of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, for the mayoral candidate from Bharatpur Metropolitan City in Chitwan. Sarajevo (AFP) - Nicotine addicts in Bosnia are warned three times on their cigarette packets that "Pusenje ubija" ("Smoking kills") -- but this isn't an attempt to hammer home the health message. The warning is printed in each of Bosnia's three official languages, Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian, even though the words are the same in each case, albeit one written using a different but widely known alphabet. But the linguistic distinction is seen by many as artificial and driven by a wish to stir up nationalism. A group of intellectuals from Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia drew up a declaration in late March claiming they speak a "common language" in the four ex-Yugoslav republics. "It's as clear as day," said Fedja Isovic, a Bosnian playwright behind a popular regional sitcom, in which he says more than 300 Balkan actors "all speak their mother tongue" without any difficulty of comprehension between dialects. "Only linguistic-nationalist hordes think differently," he told AFP. From Zagreb to Podgorica through Sarajevo and Belgrade, around 15 million people speak the language that was standardised in the 19th and 20th centuries and was widely known as Serbo-Croatian during the communist Yugoslav era, written in either the Latin or Cyrillic alphabet. But after the bloody break-up of the Yugoslav federation in the 1990s, nationalist elites tried to widen the linguistic gap between the newly-born countries. - New words, new letters - Croatia introduced words such as "zracna luka" instead of "aerodrom" for airport, while a spokesman is a now a "glasnogovornik" (literally "loudspeaker") instead of "portparol". Montenegro, after declaring independence from Serbia in 2006, created two new letters in its alphabet. In impoverished Bosnia, still deeply ethnically divided more than 20 years after the war that left 100,000 people dead, authorities circulate documents in three, often identical versions -- a significant cost for the country of 3.5 million people. Story continues Meanwhile, in Serbia's southwestern Muslim-majority region of Sandzak, a local court had to hire Bosnian translators in 2015 due to defendants' claims that they didn't understand Serbian. But not all attempts at changing the language have succeeded -- the Croatian effort to replace "televizija", the word for television, with "dalekovidnica" (distant vision), was given up long ago. Attempts to subtitle Serbian films in Croatia were also abandoned after being publicly criticised and ridiculed. The people behind the new declaration, which was unveiled in Sarajevo, say they were prompted by "political manipulations" of the language. The manifesto calls for an end to linguistic purism and its consequences, such as the segregation of schoolchildren by ethnicity, particularly in Bosnia, on the pretext that they do not speak the same language. While the terms BCS or BCMS are sometimes used administratively to describe the regional tongue, using initials of the relevant countries, the declaration did not propose a name for the common language, saying it is up to each speaker. According to Croatian writer Slavenka Drakulic, who lives in Croatia and Sweden, people from the region living abroad often refer to it simply as "nas jezik" ("our language"). - 'Died with Yugoslavia' - The declaration has sparked debate and criticism across the Balkans, where political tensions have risen in recent months and not everyone wants to emphasise linguistic similarities. "That common language was a political project which died along with the former Yugoslavia," said Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. But Croatian satirist and writer Ante Tomic drily noted that the president had little difficulty communicating in the language with regional politicians. Although the concept of a common language seems to be better accepted in Serbia, Milos Kovacic of the Serbian Literary Association argued it had not been named "since everyone knows well that it is the Serbian language". Snjezana Kordic, a Croatian linguist and initiator of the declaration, described it as a "typical example of a polycentric standard language, spoken by several peoples, containing differences from which one can recognise where a speaker comes from". She compared it with variants of English, French or German. Although the declaration has won support from 8,000 people so far, critics have slammed them as traitors of their respective countries. Croatian writer Davor Velnic described the signatories as "Yugo-intellectuals" and "parasites" who "never accepted the fact that there is an internationally-recognised sovereign Croatian state". By Richard Cowan and Amanda Becker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress is set to debate legislation that would extend until May 5 the deadline for a deal on federal spending through September and head off a feared government shutdown at midnight on Friday. The House Rules Committee, in a late-night meeting, voted 8-2 to send the legislation to the full House of Representatives for debate and votes on passage on Friday, just hours before expiry of a deadline for funding many federal agencies. If the measure passes the House, as expected, the Senate would be prepared to promptly take up the bill, in the hope of also passing it and sending it to President Donald Trump to be signed into law. The measure would give Republican and Democratic lawmakers an additional week to work out differences on about $1 trillion in funding for the government through Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year. Without the extension or a longer-term funding bill, federal agencies will run out of money by midnight Friday, likely triggering abrupt layoffs of hundreds of thousands of federal government workers until funding resumes. The last government shutdown, in 2013, lasted for 17 days, and many lawmakers were nervous about the prospect of another. "I'm confident we will be able to pass a short-term extension" of funding for programs for the fiscal year that began nearly seven months ago, House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters early on Thursday. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi warned that the purpose of the stopgap measure was to tie up loose ends of a deal to provide around $1 trillion in money for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 and not for "kicking the can down the road to have this same back-and-forth" over funding disputes. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen expressed optimism in a statement that a final funding package will be completed soon. In the midst of the delicate negotiations, Trump took to social network Twitter to blast Democrats. Story continues "As families prepare for summer vacations in our National Parks - Democrats threaten to close them and shut down the government. Terrible!" Trump tweeted in a series of tweets. Negotiators were racing against the clock to resolve remaining disputes in the massive spending bill amid talks that have already handed Democrats at least two major victories, despite Republican control of Congress. Trump, a Republican, gave in to Democratic demands that the spending bill not include money to start building the wall he wants to erect on the U.S.-Mexico border. His administration also agreed to continue funding for a major component of Obamacare, formally known as the Affordable Care Act, despite vows to end the program. It remained unclear whether Republicans would prevail in their effort to sharply hike defense spending without similar increases for other domestic programs. Trump has proposed a $30-billion spending boost for the Pentagon for the rest of this fiscal year. Such funding disputes could resurface later in spending bills for the next fiscal year. Disagreements remaining to be ironed out include funding to make a healthcare program for coal miners permanent and to plug a gap in Puerto Rico's Medicaid program, the government health insurance program for the poor. (Reporting by Richard Cowan and Amanda Becker; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Jonathan Oatis) By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican-led Congress averted a U.S. government shutdown on Friday and gave lawmakers another week to work out federal spending through Sept. 30, with tricky issues like defense spending still unresolved. The Senate passed a stopgap spending bill by voice vote without opposition after the House earlier approved it by a tally of 382-30. President Donald Trump later signed the legislation, preventing a shutdown of many parts of the federal government on Saturday, his 100th day in office. The bill provides federal funding through May 5, allowing lawmakers to hammer out legislation in the coming days to keep the government funded for the rest of the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. Congress for months has been tied in knots trying to untangle $1 trillion in spending priorities. Lawmakers were supposed to have taken care of the current fiscal year appropriations bills by last Oct. 1. Democrats backed the stopgap bill a day after House Republican leaders again put off a vote on major healthcare legislation sought by Trump and opposed by Democrats to dismantle the 2010 Affordable Care Act, dubbed Obamacare, after Republican moderates balked at provisions added to entice hard-line conservatives. Republicans, already facing accusations from the opposition Democrats that they are unable to govern even though they control Congress and the White House, are motivated to avert the first government shutdown since 2013, but contentious matters remain on a spending bill covering the final five months of the fiscal year. With Trump seeking $30 billion in new defense spending in the measure and Democrats arguing that other domestic programs also need more money, congressional negotiators are moving toward a compromise. Republican and Democratic negotiators have discussed a possible $15 billion defense spending hike, half of Trump's request, according to two congressional aides familiar with the matter. It was unclear whether Democrats will continue to insist other domestic programs get a similar funding increase. Such equal treatment was at the core of some previous funding deals. Story continues Unlike the simmering fights in Congress over healthcare and taxes, in which Republicans are pursuing purely partisan legislation, major spending bills generally need bipartisan support for passage, lending some optimism that the negotiations will end next week without a federal shutdown. House and Senate appropriators were expected to work through this weekend, but there were no guarantees they would be able to find common ground that would prevent parts of the government from shutting down on May 6. Congressional negotiators also have been struggling over funding to make a healthcare program for coal miners permanent and whether to plug a gap in Puerto Rico's Medicaid program, the government health insurance program for the poor. 'BIT MORE TIME' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the stopgap bill, which kept funding at current levels, "will carry us through next week so that a bipartisan agreement can be reached." McConnell said he expected the House by the middle of next week to approve and send to the Senate the spending bill for the remaining five months of the fiscal year. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said there were still significant differences with Republicans over elements of the looming longer-term spending bill but "we're willing to extend things for a little bit more time" in hope more progress can be made. The No. 2 House Democrat, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, said he would oppose any more temporary spending bills for this year. During debate in the House, lawmakers expressed frustration at the inability of Congress to take care of the basic functions of government in a timely manner. "We are seven months into the fiscal year," said Representative Nita Lowey of New York, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. "Federal departments and agencies have been operating on outdated funding levels and policies for more than half of the year. This is unacceptable and it cannot continue." Lowey noted that this was the third stopgap spending measure passed since the fiscal year began last October. White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters aboard Air Force One the White House feels "very good" about getting the funding extension next week through the end of the fiscal year. Trump earlier bowed to Democratic demands that the spending legislation for the rest of the fiscal year not include money to start building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border he said is needed to fight illegal immigration and stop drug smugglers. The Trump administration also agreed to continue funding for a major component of Obamacare despite Republican vows to end the program. (Reporting by Rick Cowan; Additional reporting by Steve Holland aboard Air Force One and Patricia Zengerle, Amanda Becker and Susan Cornwell in Washington; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Bill Trott) Two ex-Georgia police officers charged with punching and kicking a motorist during a traffic stop have turned themselves in to authorities, officials said. Sgt. Michael Bongiovanni, 42, and Master Officer Robert McDonald, 25, of the Gwinnett County Police Department, made their $15,000 bonds Thursday after being charged the previous day with misdemeanor battery and violating their oath of office, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The latter charge is a felony that carries a minimum sentence of one year in prison. The disgraced officers were allegedly caught on camera April 12 beating 21-year-old Demetrius Hollins, who had been pulled over for not having a license plate and changing multiple lanes without signaling, authorities said. Read: Tearful Girl Who Pleaded With Politicians After Charlotte Shooting Gets to Be Policewoman In the video, Hollins can be seen emerging from his vehicle with his hands up before being handcuffed, hit, Tased and then kicked in the head, the The AJC reported. No one would have believed that I did nothing to provoke an assault I suffered [at] the hands of these Gwinnet County police officers, a bruised Hollins later told reporters. Gwinnett Police Chief Butch Ayers fired both men, saying there was no excuse for behavior like this. Read: New Police Training To De-Escalate Tense Situations Before Using Deadly Force The suspect was lying down, he was clearly handcuffed, he was clearly not resisting, Ayers said at a press conference. He wasnt a threat to anyone. Any further application of use of force was unnecessary and excessive. Danny Porter, Gwinnett Countys District Attorney, said more charges could follow, telling The AJC: Theres a lot more going on in Bongiovannis case. Bongiovannis attorney, Mike Puglise, told the newspaper that his client maintains his innocence and vigorously stands by his conduct in the April 12 arrest. Story continues Watch: Whoopi Goldberg on Police Shootings of Black Men: I Feel Like We're Being Hunted Related Articles: By Julie Zhu and Cate Cadell HONG KONG/BEIJING (Reuters) - Didi Chuxing, China's top ride-hailing firm, is set to become the country's second-most valuable privately owned company, with a valuation of more than $50 billion, through a fund raising round of up to $6 billion, sources said on Thursday. The valuation represents a jump from Didi's $34 billion price tag in August, when it agreed to acquire Uber Technology Inc's China business, and also puts it closer to the U.S. firm's $68 billion. It also propels Didi well above Xiaomi Inc, which held the title of China's most valuable startup after a 2014 funding round valued the smartphone maker at $46 billion. Ant Financial, China's most valuable private internet finance firm and an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, is valued upwards of $60 billion. The funding round has drawn investors including Japan's Softbank Group Corp, private equity firm Silver Lake, China Merchants Bank and Bank of Communications, two people familiar with the matter said. They declined to be identified because they are not authorised to speak publicly. Didi Chuxing, Silver Lake and Softbank declined to comment, while China Merchants Bank and Bank of Communications did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The people said that part of the latest capital investment in Didi would be used for international expansion. Didi has sealed several overseas partnerships, focusing on intelligent driving, such as making use of artificial intelligence, as well as similar ride-hailing services. The firm is ramping up overseas activity as regulatory changes are set to take a toll on their local service. Draft rules released in October would slash the number of eligible drivers and double fares for users in major cities, the company has said. Since Uber exited the Chinese market last year following a drawn-out rivalry with Didi, the Chinese firm has sought to expand in Latin America, leading a $100 million investment in Brazilian ride-hailing service 99 in January. Last month it officially opened a lab researching artificial intelligence-related driving technologies in Silicon Valley in the United States. The company has previously entered a range of strategic agreements with U.S. tech firms including Lyft, TripAdvisor Inc and Udacity. (Reporting by Julie Zhu and Cate Cadell; writing by Kim Miyoung; editing by Stephen Coates and Neil Fullick) Bill Cosby's decades-old jokes about using an aphrodisiac to seduce girls when he was a teenager cannot be used as evidence in his sex-assault trial, a Montgomery County judge ruled Friday. Prosecutors can, however, use testimony from a 2005 deposition in which Cosby described obtaining Quaaludes to give to women he wanted to seduce, Judge Steven T. O'Neill decided. The ruling represented a partial win for the entertainer as prosecutors and defense lawyers try to shape the trial, scheduled to begin June 5 in Norristown. In his one-page order, O'Neill rejected Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele's request to show jurors excerpts from one of Cosby's books, in which he said he secretly sprinkled the aphrodisiac known as "Spanish Fly" on girls' cookies as a teenager. "They're never in the mood for us. ... They need chemicals," Cosby told his friends, he wrote in the 1991 book, Childhood. Prosecutors also wanted to include an interview on The Larry King Show in which Cosby joked with the talk show host about Spanish Fly. Cosby's lawyers had objected, saying the reference was a joke about a mythical drug to teen boys, not evidence of a pattern of drugging women for sexual purposes. O'Neill provided no reasoning in his ruling. Cosby, 79, is charged with aggravated indecent assault for allegedly drugging and molesting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his Cheltenham home in 2004. The entertainer has maintained his innocence, insisting that the interaction was consensual. His spokesman declined to comment on Friday's order, as did the prosecutor's office. Constand sued Cosby in 2005, and his deposition testimony in that case included an admission that he had used Quaaludes to try to seduce women. He said he obtained seven prescriptions for Quaaludes in the 1970s. Story continues "When you got the Quaaludes, was it in your mind that you were going to use these Quaaludes for young women that you wanted to have sex with?" asked Constand's lawyer, Dolores Troiani. "Yes," Cosby responded. Prosecutors have cited that testimony, made public in 2015, as the reason they reopened the criminal investigation against him. O'Neill also ruled Friday that no evidence can be presented at trial about the settlement of Constand's civil lawsuit against Cosby. The rulings resolved some of the last outstanding issues before the trial. Jury selection begins in Pittsburgh on May 22. Most Popular on Philly.com Massive fire breaks out at Banke village A massive fire broke out at Chitayepuruwa in Daduwa Village Council-1 of Banke district on Friday. While many of us have memories of being scolded about food waste as a child, many businesses throw out unsold food on the regular, as well as products with an often arbitrary sell-by date. France set an example by making it illegal for supermarkets to throw out or destroy unsold food in 2015. Now there's a few supermarkets across Europe filled with food that has either been donated, or would otherwise go to waste. The OzHarvest Market in Sydney, Australia, is the latest incarnation of the "rescued food" supermarket, and a first for the country. Shoppers there are allowed to "pick their price." SEE ALSO: This mobile game lets you 'clean up' plastic pollution from the ocean "The OzHarvest Market is our latest innovation to tackle food waste and eliminate hunger. It supports OzHarvest's purpose to nourish our country, by making sure good food does not go to waste and is available to everyone," CEO and Founder Ronni Kahn said in a statement. Image: Livia Giacomini The store operates on an honesty system of "take what you need, give what you can" when it comes to payment. "If times are tough and you're in need of food or other goods, you can take what you need, if you can give something, then please do, it could even be your time or skills," Kahn added. The money from the supermarket will go to OzHarvest, an organisation which rescues food and delivers it to vulnerable people in cities and towns around Australia. Image: Livia Giacomini All of the food has been given to OzHarvest Market for free via a network of donors, while the store is staffed by volunteers. Even the retail space has been donated by developer TOGA, who also lent a former hotel next door for use as a youth homeless shelter as the site awaits development approval. "We would love to see more OzHarvest Markets pop up as those in the industry are inspired by TOGA's initiative," Kahn said. Who could say no to reducing food waste? WATCH: This NYU student went undercover as a worker in a Chinese iPhone factory Zagreb (AFP) - Croatia's ruling coalition collapsed Friday after only six months in power, leaving the premier faced with finding the support of a new parliamentary majority or calling a fresh election. The European Union member's politics are notoriously shaky, with two general elections in the past 18 months. In a surprise move on Thursday, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic of the conservative HDZ party sacked three ministers from his junior coalition partner, the Most party, following a dispute over his finance minister. On Friday he fired the only remaining minister from Most in his cabinet. "We are no longer part of this government," Most's leader and parliamentary speaker Bozo Petrov told reporters Friday. The split stems from huge troubles engulfing retail giant Agrokor, the country's largest employer, which is saddled with six billion dollars of debt. The credibility of Plenkovic's Finance Minister Zdravko Maric has come under scrutiny as he was formerly a top manager at Agrokor, and the opposition is calling for his head. The Most ministers refused to support Maric, prompting their dismissal. Petrov accused Plenkovic and Maric of protecting the "crime which is ongoing at Agrokor". Plenkovic, 47, who came to power after an early general election in September, said Thursday he was ready for fresh polls if necessary. The previous barely-functioning coalition government, also involving the HDZ and Most, collapsed last June over a conflict of interest scandal after just five months in power. The HDZ has 58 deputies in the 151-seat assembly but Plenkovic said he believed he could form a new ruling coalition without Most (whose name means "Bridge" in Croatian). The parliament is set to discuss the finance minister's fate next week. Washington (AFP) - Cuba's state news agency Prensa Latina officially restarted journalism operations in the US capital of Washington on Friday, unfreezing 50 years of inactivity and marking another step in the rapprochement between America and the Communist island. "The agency had a functioning office in Washington from 1959 to 1967," even after the US cut diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961, one of the Cuban journalists in the bureau, Diony Sanabria, told AFP. Its reopening was made possible under a 2014 thaw in relations agreed by then-US president Barack Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro, which has already seen the return of each country's embassy operations in the other two years ago. Prensa Latina's chief, Luis Enrique Gonzalez, was participating in the agency's reopening ceremony Friday. Although the Obama-Castro deal has relaxed tensions dating back to the Cold War and restored ties, the easing of many American sanctions on Cuba is dependent on the US Congress. With the arrival of President Donald Trump in the White House and the dominance of his Republican party in both houses of the legislature, the future of the bilateral thaw is seen to be under a cloud of uncertainty. Nicosia (AFP) - A Greek Cypriot court on Friday remanded four men in custody over the kidnapping of a four-year-old girl believed to have been whisked away to breakaway northern Cyprus, police said. Three Greek Cypriots and a Syrian were remanded in police custody for three days in connection with Thursday's kidnapping of the Cypriot-Norwegian child from outside a nursery school in the capital Nicosia. One of the men is believed to have organised the kidnapping, while the suspected vehicle used for the abduction was found in possession of the 33-year-old Syrian national, said police. Police also told a Nicosia district court that the Norwegian father had emailed the mother to say the girl was with him somewhere in Cyprus, safe and in good health. The girl would stay one week with him, then he would instruct his lawyers to arrange custody of the child. Police said they had indications the girl had been taken across the island's UN-patrolled ceasefire line to the Turkish-controlled north via an unofficial crossing point from the south. The Turkish Cypriot side had also been alerted to try to locate the missing girl. Cypriot authorities have issued a European arrest warrant for the child's father who is separated from the Greek Cypriot mother with whom he has been engaged in a bitter custody battle. Two masked men forcibly took the girl from her mother as she was being dropped off at the nursery, then sped off with a getaway driver, police said. Policing in Cyprus is complicated by the island's decades-old division. A breakaway Turkish Cypriot administration in the north is recognised only by Turkey and has no extradition agreement with any other country. There are multiple crossing points between the two sides, including in the heart of the divided capital. The passenger forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight April 9 officially reached a settlement with the company, his lawyers reported Thursday. David Daos attorneys, of Chicago-based Corboy & Demetrio, called the agreement amicable." Mr. Munoz said he was going to do the right thing, and he has, one of Daos lawyers, Thomas Demetrio, said in a statement released Thursday. In addition, United has taken full responsibility for what happened on Flight 3411, without attempting to blame others, including the City of Chicago. For this acceptance of corporate accountability, United is to be applauded. The settlement was for an undisclosed amount, but it's likely Dao received a hefty sum. Dr. Dao will likely get millions here, James Goodnow, an attorney with the Lamber-Goodnow Injury Law Team at Fennemore Craig, who is licensed in Chicago, told International Business Times in an interview earlier in April. The only question is how many zeros will follow the first number. Dao and United Airlines captured the publics attention after video emerged of the 69-year-old being forcibly removed, bloody and screaming, from an overbooked flight April 9. United Airlines said it randomly selected Dao, along with three other passengers, to vacate the plane after no volunteers opted to give up their seats for four airline employees who needed to board the flight. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said the company was reviewing its policies to ensure no other passengers would be subjected to such situations, he told the Senate Commerce Science, and Transportation Committee in a letter Wednesday. Dr. Dao has become the unintended champion for the adoption of changes which will certainly help improve the lives of literally millions of travelers, Demetrio said. I sincerely hope that all other airlines make similar changes and follow Uniteds lead in helping to improve the passenger flying experience with an emphasis on empathy, patience, respect and dignity. Related Articles Kima Hamilton, 39, a resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was removed from Delta Airlines flight 2035 from Atlanta to Milwaukee on April 18 because he needed to use the restroom urgently, reports said Wednesday. Hamilton had made his quick run at the bathroom after waiting for almost two hours. He asked for permission once but was denied access to the lavatory. After 30 minutes had passed, he made a run for it. Once he came back he was escorted off the plane along with other passenger following which he was grounded. The flight left with the other passengers and arrived more than an hour and a half late at Milwaukee. Fellow passenger Krista Rosolino recorded Hamiltons ordeal. In the videos Hamilton is heard apologizing repeatedly explaining that he was only trying to avoid an unpleasant incident. Im not really clear on why Im being asked to leave this plane. I purchased this ticket. I had an emergency. I had to pee, Hamilton is heard saying in the clip. I tried to hold it the first time and you said I absolutely couldnt and Im being kicked off the plane? he added. I need to talk to you outside, replied the crew member. The pilot came on and said, Ladies and gentlemen, Im sorry for the inconvenience but we have to return to the gate and remove a passenger.' It escalated to that point that fast, Hamilton told Milwaukees Journal Sentinel. Another Delta employee came in and asked Hamilton to leave. On stepping off the plane he met FBI officials who were waiting for him. Hamilton recalled, [An agent] said he came to arrest me, but realized after our conversation that some of the language that was associated with my name wasnt accurate. Hamilton had to buy a Southwest flight ticket, three times the price, to get to his hometown. Rosolino said that Hamilton was refunded a part of his fare. She could not confirm whether he would press charges against the company. Rosolino wrote an open letter to Delta Airlines about the incident and promised to never fly with the airlines again. Story continues Delta sent a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Wednesday , saying, Our flight crews are extensively trained to ensure the safety and security of all customers. It is imperative that passengers comply with crew instructions during all phases of flight, especially at the critical points of takeoff and landing . This is not a secluded incident. Harassment aboard an airplane, it seems, is quite common now. A doctor was dragged off an United airline flight on April 9 as he refused to give up his seat to a company official on a crowded flight. The video went viral. A flight attendant sparked off a conflict on an American Airlines flight on Friday, when he snatched off a stroller from a woman and her baby. Related Articles A dozen people have been found stuffed inside a closet-sized cell hidden behind a book shelf in a Philippine police station, triggering further alarm about abuse under President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on drugs. Members of the government's human rights commission, accompanied by journalists, found the men and women in an unannounced visit to the station in the heart of Manila's slum area on Thursday evening. Cries of "here we are, here we are" were heard from behind a wall, according to the rights workers and journalists. The rights workers then found a hidden door behind a bookshelf, leading to the cell. Stunned detainees came stumbling out of the room, some begging for water while others, in tears, pleaded with the rights workers not to abandon them. The detainees said they had been held for about a week after being arrested on allegations of drug use or trafficking and that police had demanded hefty payments in exchange for their freedom. "They were picked up on the pretext of drugs but they had not filed any charges against them," Gilbert Boisner, Manila director for the rights commission who led the inspection, told AFP on Friday. Human Rights Watch said the incident was another example of widespread rights abuse under Duterte's war on drugs, which has seen thousands of drug suspects killed either by policemen or mysterious vigilantes. "The discovery of the secret jail is just the latest sign of how police are exploiting Dutertes abusive anti-drug campaign for personal gain," the group said in a statement. Duterte briefly suspended all police from the crackdown in January after an official investigation found drug officers kidnapped a South Korean businessman and murdered him as part of an extortion scam. - 'Corrupt to the core' - Duterte described the police force then as "corrupt to the core" and vowed it would not be allowed to prosecute the drug war until its ranks had been "cleansed". Story continues But he redeployed police onto the drug war about a month later, without major reforms. Rights groups have questioned his sincerity in wanting to cleanse the police force, citing his promise to pardon officers if they are found guilty of murder for killing in his drug war. Police have reported killing 2,724 people as part of Duterte's anti-drug campaign, although authorities insist the shootings have been in self defence. Many thousands of others have been killed by shadowy vigilantes, according to rights groups. A Philippine lawyer on Monday filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court accusing Duterte of mass murder, alleging his war on drugs had led to about 8,000 deaths. - Rights disdain - Global rights monitor Amnesty International released a report in February warning that the killings in the drug war may amount to a crime against humanity. It accused police of shooting defenceless people, fabricating evidence, paying assassins to murder drug addicts and stealing from those they killed. Senator de Lima, one of Duterte's fiercest critics who has been detained on what she says are false charges in an effort to silence her, said the "secret cell" was an expected consequence of the drug war. "Because we let him kill our poor countrymen like animals, we can only expect more animal and inhuman treatment from his policemen," she said in a statement. The station chief in charge of the "secret cell" was suspended on Friday as police vowed an investigation but conceded that improper detentions were widespread. "We must recognise that this problem is not just in one police station but almost in all our stations region-wide," the head of the capital's police force, Director Oscar Albayalde, said in a statement. The incident occurred as Duterte began welcoming Southeast Asian leaders for a summit in Manila. Speaking to reporters after meeting Brunei's Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, on Thursday Duterte used typically defiant language as he defended his drug war and repeated his disdain for human rights. "You know human rights (campaigners), I am not a worker for human rights," Duterte said, after branding The New York Times newspaper an "asshole" for criticising his drug war tactics. By Matthias Inverardi BOCHUM, Germany (Reuters) - Deutsche Post DHL won a contract to deliver groceries for Amazon's AmazonFresh service in Germany, which could help ease concerns that the U.S. retailer's own delivery services are an increasing threat to the German logistics group. "We want to be the service provider for online grocery sales," Deutsche Post Chief Executive Frank Appel told shareholders at the group's annual general meeting on Friday. Amazon declined to comment. People close to the matter told Reuters last month about the deal with Deutsche Post, which already delivers packages for Amazon in Germany. Deliveries of packages from goods bought online via websites such as Amazon and Zalando has been booming in Germany, helping to boost profits at Deutsche Post, even as Amazon has been developing its own logistics capabilities in other countries. In Germany, Amazon's second-biggest market, grocery e-commerce has been slow to take off because the country has a high density of food stores and the dominant discounters Aldi and Lidl have been slow to go online. But REWE, the country's second-biggest supermarket chain, has been investing heavily in e-commerce in anticipation of Amazon's move into food. Amazon launched fresh food delivery services in Seattle in 2007 and has since expanded to a handful of other U.S. cities. Last year it started the service in London. Deutsche Post also has its own online supermarket, Allyouneed Fresh, which Appel said on Friday the group planned to continue operating. Management consulting firm A.T. Kearney expects e-commerce will account for 3 percent of Germany's grocery market by 2020, up from just 1 percent now. (Reporting by Matthias Inverardi; Writing by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Harro ten Wolde and Susan Thomas) A day after the mother of a 16-month old girl reported her daughter missing, the toddler was found stuffed inside a couch in the home they shared with squatters in Joliet Township, located in Will County, Illinois. Semaj Crosby, was found after her mother, Sheri Gordon, reluctantly allowed detectives inside her house to search, authorities said Thursday. Will County Sheriff's Department Deputy Chief Rick Ackerson said during a news conference that Crosby's death was "suspicious," but an autopsy is not yet complete. Ackerson said up to 15 people lived in the house at any given time. He referred to them as "squatters" who were Gordon's friends or relatives, staying for sometime and then moving out. Read: Facebook Live Shows Toddler Killed During Drive-By Shooting In Chicagos Gang-Ridden West Side Following an initial autopsy, Will County coroner's office said Thursday the cause of death is "pending further studies." The office said it will be determined based on police investigation reports and final toxicology results, which could take several weeks, Chicago Tribune reported. According to the Will County Sheriff's press release Wednesday, Crosby was reported missing Tuesday evening by family members. She was in the care of and last seen by her mother in front of their residence wearing a gray long sleeve shirt with a cat face on the front, dark blue jeans, had multiple pony tails in her hair with white beads, and was barefoot. After 30 hours of frantic search by the Will County Sheriff's Office and FBI agents, Crosby's body was discovered around 8 p.m. EDT inside a home in the 300 block of Louis Road in Joliet Township, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office. Story continues One of the neighbors, David Stocking, said he saw the little girl out in her front yard around two hours before she was reported missing Tuesday evening. "They ran up to the car. They just plain little kids, just out in the front. Everybody was outside," Stocking said. "It's just sad because I feel like I was one of the last persons to see her alive. It just hurts me because this shouldn't have happened." Neighbors said Crosby could barely walk, reports said. Gordon had already been investigated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for neglecting her baby. DCFS officers visited the home just hours before Crosby was reported missing, but said they found no immediate threat to the girl's safety. "We have had prior contact with this family including four unfounded investigations for neglect and two prior pending investigation[s] for neglect opened in March 2017," said Veronica Resa, deputy director of communications for DCFS. There were no obvious hazards or safety concerns at that time. DCFS has been working with the family, offering services since September 2016," according to NBC Chicago. Will County sheriff's spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said DCFS had visited the family 16 times last year, according to reports. Related Articles President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago on April 7, after the U.S. fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria in retaliation for the previous weeks gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians. (Photo: Alex Brandon/AP) When Donald Trump speaks, he sounds unabashedly, unmistakably like Donald Trump. But does he sound like a president? And does sounding like a president even matter anymore? Now that Trumps 100th day in the White House is upon us, its worth pausing to consider the concept of a presidential voice mainly because, as with so many of the traditions and trappings that have come to define the highest office in the land over the last 228 years, Trump seems to have dispensed with it entirely. Some presidents strive for loftiness. (Think John F. Kennedy). Others speak more colloquially. (Harry Truman comes to mind.) But prior to Trump, you could pretty much put all of them on the same spectrum. They all tried, in their own way, to sound like presidents. Theres a transition that happens when someone is elected president, says Jeff Shesol, a former speechwriter in the Clinton White House who founded West Wing Writers in 2001. Usually it starts to happen right away, on election night. Partly its how we hear them: Theres a gravity to their words that wasnt there 24 hours earlier. But its also that they hear themselves differently. They pivot out of campaign mode into a new role. Trump is the exception. Unlike his predecessors, he doesnt seem interested in developing a signature presidential register; neither Trump nor his team has tried to transpose his own personal voice into a more presidential key. For the most part, hes still speaking like candidate Trump who still spoke like reality TV Trump who still spoke like developer Trump and so on. The examples are endless. Im a person that very strongly believes in academics, Trump told CIA employees shortly after his inauguration. In fact, every time I say I had an uncle who was a great professor at MIT for 35 years, who did a fantastic job in so many different ways, academically was an academic genius and then they say, is Donald Trump an intellectual? Trust me, Im like a smart persona. Story continues President Trump speaks at the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, Va., on January 21. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP) Slideshow: From inauguration to 100th day: President Trumps rocky ride in pictures >>> I can tell you, everybody in this massive this is a massive hanger, Trump said during his Feb. 18 rally in Melbourne, Fla. For the big planes. And by the way, do you think that one media group back there, one network will show this crowd? Not one. Not one. They wont show the crowd. One of the best chemistries I had was with Merkel, Trump said last week when the Associated Press asked about his contentious March 17 meeting with Angela Merkel, the German chancellor. We had unbelievable chemistry. And people have given me credit for having great chemistry with all of the leaders. Last March, I taxonomized Trumps particular patois Trumpese, I called it and argued that it was serving him well on the campaign trail. It isnt just consistent, I wrote, noting Trumps incessant use of non sequitur, repetition, reversal, slang, intensifiers, the second person and the imperative mood. Its perfectly calibrated and calibrated may not be too strong a word to serve Trumps political needs. But a candidates needs mobilizing his base; securing just enough votes to win the Electoral College are not the same as a presidents needs. Trump won 46.1 percent of the vote on Nov. 8; today, his approval rating averages 42.1 percent, according to Five Thirty Eight. This is the lowest 100-day number on record, and it makes Trump the only elected president in the history of public opinion polling to finish his first 100 days with less support than he had on Election Day. Language isnt everything. But by ignoring one of the most time-honored tools in the presidential toolkit, Trump is almost certainly making his job harder than it has to be. *** Two things to point out before we proceed. First, Trumps fans like the way he talks. For them its a feature, not a bug. As the Associated Press recently put it, the rambling, aside-filled bursts of simple but definitive words, laden with self-congratulatory bravado and claims that have fact-checkers working overtime, all dispatched from mind to lips in such record time it seemingly bypasses any internal filter all of this only proves that Trump isnt a typical politician, which, of course, is the last thing Trump supporters want. They would argue the era of presidents sounding presidential focus-grouped, cautious, inauthentic is over. And good riddance. President Trump speaks during a rally in March at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. (Photo: John Minchillo/AP) Second, saying that Trump hasnt tried to develop a presidential voice isnt the same thing as saying he hasnt tried to deliver a presidential speech. His Feb. 28 address to a joint session of Congress and his remarks this week at the Holocaust Memorial Museum were both speeches that other presidents could have delivered. The problem, though, is that they were both speeches that other presidents could have delivered. They didnt sound anything like Trump. In fact, because Trumps personal voice is so familiar by now imprinted on our collective cerebrum by four decades of fame, 11 years on The Apprentice, and the first stream-of-consciousness presidential campaign in American history and because he impulsively reverts back to it, either in the midst his prepared remarks or immediately afterwards, generic presidential rhetoric rings even more hollow coming from him than it would coming from a more generic president. The hallmark of a successful presidential voice is a kind of internal consistency, says forensic linguist Allan Metcalf, the author of Presidential Voices: Speaking Styles from George Washington to George W. Bush. The only hallmark of Trumps presidential voice, so far, is its inconsistency. Trump isnt the first president who has struggled to find his voice, and the reasons are partly practical, says Adam Frankel, one of three campaign speechwriters who followed Barack Obama to the West Wing in 2009. For one thing, the substance is different; now youre talking about legislation, Frankel explains. But its also about setting. As a candidate, youre basically just doing rallies. As president, you suddenly have all these different settings: a speech in the East Room, a televised address to the nation. Different settings mean different kinds of speeches yet you still have to sound like yourself. Bill Clinton initially leaned a little too hard on John F. Kennedys elevated rhetorical style, with its clipped cadence and elegant constructions. The voice Clinton heard in his head was JFK, Shesol says. He didnt know what Bill Clinton sounded like at the presidential podium. But eventually he found a Clinton idiom that worked in the presidency that was still himself but not quite what he had been before. Before the 2000 Democratic National Convention, Clinton gave his speechwriters some instructions. Look, I dont want to deliver a speech, he said. I want to talk to people. Shesol and his colleagues immediately understood what the president meant. He obviously didnt mean depart with the piece of paper, Shesol says. But there was an immediacy he was after an unforced, relaxed, unscripted quality. Clinton wasnt interested in applying layers of rhetoric between himself and his audience. He wasnt looking to ascend to some plane that would put him above and apart from people. The final lines of that speech were classic Clinton. Fifty-four years ago this week, I was born in a summer storm to a young widow in a small southern town, the president said. America gave me the chance to live my dreams. I have tried to give you a better chance to live yours. Now, with hair grayer and wrinkles deeper, but with the same optimism and hope I brought to the work I love eight years ago, my heart is filled with gratitude. Early on, George W. Bush had a similar obsession with another president You know, Dick, Im more like Ronald Reagan than my dad, he told then-House Majority Leader Dick Armey but he eventually settled on a snappy, plainspoken style that suited both his presidency and his personality. And even Obama, the most polished campaign orator in recent times, endured a few rhetorical growing pains after relocating to the White House. His first inaugural address, for example, is more formal than later speeches as if his writers were trying to make him sound like a president. President Trump speaks on Capitol Hill on April 25, during the United States Holocaust Memorial Museums National Days of Remembrance ceremony. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP) The difference with Trump is that he doesnt seem to care; he clearly thinks his own voice is good enough. After all, it won him the election. Why change now? And so he continues to call reporters out of the blue and invite them into the Oval Office without warning, confident that his riffing can reshape the narrative. He continues to deliver prepared remarks from the American carnage of his near-apocalyptic Inaugural Address to the sudden sobriety of the Holocaust Museum speech that represent the rhetorical equivalent of a multiple-personality disorder in which none of the personalities seem to belong to Donald Trump. (The fact that his staff has been consumed by ideological in-fighting doesnt help.) And he continues to undercut any semblance of consistency by digressing, contradicting himself, and tweeting whenever the mood strikes him. *** And yet, if Trump wants to be more effective in his next 100 days than he was in his first, he might consider adopting a presidential voice and attempting, at least, to stick to it. There are reasons that presidents think about the words theyre uttering, Frankel says. Its not just that people just love presidential rhetoric; its not just about writing a good speech for the sake of it. Its about the effect your words can have in the real world. You tailor your speeches to achieve outcomes: to pass legislation; to make an argument to different members of Congress; to target different kinds of voters who can then pressure their members; to make a case to the country. A presidents words matter. Shesol, for one, thinks Trump could still find his presidential voice if he cared to do it. There is a Trump presidential idiom to be developed, Shesol insists. It would have to be pretty close to the guy we know, or it wouldnt fly at all. Youd have to take the brashness and toughness and swagger and you would have to work with them and render them assets. You cant reinvent someone. You cant start writing speeches for Trump that sound like they should have been written for Reagan. But you could make him a better version of himself. In theory. Youd have to find a voice that wouldnt alienate him from his base, but at the same time wouldnt be so needlessly alienating to rest of the country. That last point is key. Trumps dilemma, ultimately, is that the campaign allowed him to keep doing what hes been doing his entire adult life: selling himself. The presidency is different: It requires you to sell your policies. By refusing to leave the campaign behind, Trump is missing an opportunity to appeal to the rest of the country the 73 percent of eligible American adults who didnt vote for him and rally at least some of those citizens around his agenda. For the last two centuries, presidents have addressed the American people not just their bases a certain way. Its a language that everybody shares and understands. We lose something important when we dont have a presidential voice, says Metcalf. We lose the sense that our president is speaking to us and for us all of us. Related video: _____ Read more from Yahoo News coverage of Trumps first 100 days: Mayoral missions Aspiring Kathmandu mayors need to be serious about risks from earthquakes and climate change Donald Trump has said he thinks his 2020 presidential opponent will be liberal Senator Elizabeth Warren, during a speech made to the NRA in Atlanta. The president made the prediction at a speech to the National Rifle Association, referring to the senator by a nickname he gave her last year that some say is racially insensitive. It may be Pocahontas, Mr Trump said before noting that Ms Warren isnt a big fan of the NRA. Read more Trump appoints anti-abortion activist to role in health department Ms Warren has been discussed as a potential 2020 candidate before and was considered to be one of the most effective foils for Mr Trump in the 2016 campaign. Before Hillary Clinton even won the Democratic nomination last year, Ms Warren had stood up to make a name for herself as a tough opponent to Mr Trump. For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. The senator from Massachusetts hasnt warmed to the man who has become her president since. The former Harvard professor who has positioned herself largely as an anti-Wall Street and pro-banking regulations senator frequently characterizes Mr Trump as a billionaire false populist who is taking advantage of working class voters. When asked, Ms Warren has generally ducked questions of a potential 2020 run, which has fueled some speculation that she may have plans to announce a bid after her reelection. She also recently published a new book. That book, titled This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save Americas Middle Class, has led some to wonder if she intends on using it as a launch pad for a White House bid. Mr Trump, who is well known for coming up with nicknames for his political foes on the campaign trail, started calling Ms Warren Pocahontas after he learned that she has some Native American heritage. While her heritage has been disputed since then, Ms Warren contends that she has never furthered her career by using that heritage to her advantage in any way. Donald Trump has warned about a "major, major conflict" between the US and North Korea, saying a catastrophic confrontation with the isolated state was "absolutely" possible. In an interview ahead of his 100th day in office, the President said he was committed to resolving the diplomatic crisis peacefully. But he added: There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely. Read more North Korean youth vow to hit US with 'five million nuclear bombs' Speaking to the Reuters news agency, Mr Trump said the actions by Pyongyang were his biggest global worry. He also lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in North Korea, saying he was a very good man who he had got to know very well. "I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it, Mr Trump said. Asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to be rational, the Republican billionaire said: "He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. "I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational. On Wednesday, the Trump administration declared North Korea "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority". It said it was focusing on sanctions and diplomatic pressure but that military strikes remained an option. However, any direct US military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and US forces in both countries. Additional reporting Reuters Photo credit: Getty From Redbook I first saw the advertisements about egg donation around my college campus and in the campus newspaper. Full-page flyers wallpapered the area near the dorms, with taglines like "Make up to $10,000 by helping a family achieve their dreams." They were always there, and they mostly just faded into the background. I thought it sounded like a cool thing to do - helping out a family - but never made any steps towards donating. At least, not until my friend decided to do it. Watching her go through the donation process really made me want to do it, too. She got to meet the person she was donating to (a single woman trying to conceive) and walked away feeling like she made such a difference in that woman's life. I've always had a soft spot for women dealing with infertility. My mom wasn't really a part of my life, and it seemed like this incredibly cruel twist of fate that there were so many women in the world who wanted to have kids and couldn't, while there were other women who had kids they didn't want. The idea of helping women achieve the dream of parenthood felt good. Some people get hung up about the idea of having kids out there with their genes, but that wasn't really a deal-breaker to me - some of the people who have hurt me most were people I was related to, and some of the most important people in my life aren't people I'm related to genetically. Genes don't really play a huge part in what defines "family" for me. The idea of helping women achieve the dream of parenthood felt good. The financial compensation was a motivator, too. I've lived on my own since I was 18, and I supported myself through college. I wasn't hurting for money in a desperate way - I was working at a popular bar making a good wage in tips, I only had about $16,000 in student loans, and I didn't have any other debt. But I was about to graduate from college and move 3,000 miles away to Alaska. I had visited my friend and her family there a few times, and every time I did I loved it more - I decided it would be my next big adventure. I figured the money from egg donation would provide me a little extra cushion. Story continues I used the same agency that my friend had. I didn't really have any reservations because she had a good experience, and, well, because I was so naive. The staff was incredibly friendly. They even set me up with a photoshoot. They said they wanted to highlight what a pretty girl I was - in most of the photos I sent them, I was casual and only wearing a little makeup. I felt like a model. No one had ever pampered me like that. Photo credit: Getty I donated for the first time in July of 2007. I went to the same clinics that fertility patients would go, so they were nice and felt like a professional medical setting. Here's how the process went: Two shots of hormones in the abdomen - sometimes three - every night for weeks. Bruises on my stomach. One more difficult shot in the thigh. Then the egg extraction. No eating or drinking 12 hours before the procedure. IVs, anesthesia, hospital gowns. After everything was done, I felt bloated, a bit of fatigued, and experienced some mood swings, but was back to my normal self within 24 hours of the extraction. In fact, everything went so smoothly that, when the agency reached out to me in January of 2008, I agreed to donate again. My grandma went with me for that one, and we were out sightseeing not long after I was done. Easy. All together, I donated 28 eggs - 14 eggs each time. The agency told me that two of them resulted in babies being born (it's rare, but there is such thing as open donations, although the egg donation agency typically controls communication between the parties). It was during this second donation that I had an interaction that stood out to me because it was the first time I heard someone bring up a concern. The doctor asked me why I was donating my eggs again, and I told him it was so simple the first time, it seemed like a no-brainer. I remember him telling me that it was great what I was doing, but that it should be my last time donating because there wasn't enough information about the process to know the effects of donating on egg donors in the long run. I remember thinking, I wonder how many donors he's seen that have experienced issues down the line? What did he know that caused him to raise those concerns? He was the first, and only, person to express any worries about what the consequences of donating could be for me. I ended up brushing it off. I was young, and the concept of health as a fragile thing didn't register with me - I felt invincible. A few months after my second donation, my period stopped. I panicked. I had never missed my period before. I was in a new relationship at the time and thought I might be pregnant. I took a bunch of at-home pregnancy tests. All negative. My doctor blamed it on stress since I had gone through with my big move to Alaska and was still settling in. Over three months later, my period finally did start, and it was horrific. I started vomiting, had a fever, and was doubled over in a pain so excruciating I couldn't walk. I finally got an ultrasound to figure out what was wrong, and the doctor said my ovaries looked like hell - those were the exact words. They were covered in solid cysts. My doctor thought I had ovarian cancer and wanted to do an emergency hysterectomy. I was devastated. After getting a second opinion, I ended up having exploratory surgery to figure out what was going on. If it was cancer, my doctor would have to perform a hysterectomy. I woke up to the news that it was not cancer - it was stage four endometriosis. My doctor told me I had one of the most aggressive forms of endometriosis she had ever seen. She said I must have had a mild form of endometriosis before donating, and that the hormones involved in the donation caused it to become extreme. It's nothing anyone could have predicted ahead of time, but that's one of the problems with donating: No one who donates can be sure she won't have complications. Endometriosis was never listed as a risk of donating. Potential problems I was told about were ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) or infection from surgery. Infertility was also listed as a potential risk. But I was told that I really didn't have anything to worry about. I was young. I was healthy. Photo credit: Getty My case was so extreme, and I was so sick, that I would eventually end up having four more surgeries. I was put on a drug for my endometriosis that caused my hair to fall out, and it constantly made me nauseous. I puked. I was achy. But even before all of that happened, I put my body through two rounds of IVF to attempt to have my own biological children - my doctor told me this was the only window I had. Both failed. I contacted the donation agency after my diagnosis so they could let the families who received my eggs know of my condition - I knew they had a daughter and I wanted them to be aware of my medical history in case she experienced symptoms in her teen years. When I called back later to see if they had contacted the family, they didn't even have a record that I had been diagnosed with endometriosis. After that, I couldn't even get a response regarding a request for my medical history. By the time the IVF failed, the agency had stopped returning my calls and emails. I fell apart. I was on the edge of quitting work. I tried to start dating, but I awkwardly overshared way too soon, talking about sperm donors over appetizers. I was sick all the time, which wasn't attractive. My confidence had taken a huge blow, and I hated my body for betraying me. I decided to take a step back and put my life back together. I focused on me. I trained for a triathlon, fell in love with pilates, and traveled everywhere from Seattle to Texas to visit friends. After that year, I felt whole, and at peace. Today, I'm mostly healthy. I still have painful days from the endometriosis, but they don't keep me from living my life. I'm still infertile. But despite going through all of this, I still really wanted to be a mom, so I ended up adopting my beautiful daughter. Photo credit: Courtesy of Leah Campbell I do feel good about giving a family the dream of parenting - I've never regretted that - but I have become increasingly bothered by an industry that seemed to profit off of my donations and then shut me out when I was no longer a commodity they could sell. I also struggled a bit more with the anonymity of my donations. I guess I'm more curious now because there are two children out there who look like the children I could have had if not for donating my eggs. There are a lot of things I want to see changed about the egg donation process. I think there need to be long-term studies on the actual risks for the donor, and I think there needs to be a cap on how much compensation can be offered, since that money can be used to entice women to donate who might otherwise not have. I'm all about choice when it comes to what women do with their bodies, but I would advise women to think long and hard about egg donation. Doctors will tell donors that I'm the outlier - that my case is extremely rare. But the doctors told me that, too. Follow Redbook on Facebook. You Might Also Like Kinshasa (AFP) - "I haven't once spoken my mother tongue Kilokele in the 62 years I've lived in Kinshasa. None of my nine children speak it," says Charles Tongohala. Tongohala's native tongue is one of 450 spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a sprawling nation of 71 million people whose lingos -- almost all of them spoken, not written -- account for nine percent of the world's 5,000 languages. He was a boy when he moved to DR Congo's capital from a northeastern village home to the Lokele fisher people, who live along the banks of the giant Congo river and speak Kilokele. Now retired, Tongohala worked for Congo's river transport company. Daniel Mukebayi, another Kinshasa resident, speaks Tshiluba, the language of the Luba people of central DR Congo, mainly the Kasai region. Mukebayi and his wife taught their 10 children Tshiluba, and he recalls that in 1974 his son Michel spoke it perfectly though he was only four. "But now that he's married and has his own family he never speaks his own language and his children only know how to speak French and Lingala," the language commonly spoken in Kinshasa, a teeming city of 10 million. When the former Belgian colony became independent in 1960, authorities chose French as the official language, though even today not all of the population understands it. Later on, during an official "return to authenticity", the authorities promoted the use of four "national" languages for primary schooling -- Lingala (a language used by the army and in Kinshasa and the northwest), Kikongo (west), Tshiluba (centre) and Swahili (east). Those languages are also used in regional courts and cohabit with French in some media. But Lingala and Swahili, which are also spoken in neighbouring countries, are far more widely used today than the other two. In 2000 French linguist Claude Hagege warned in a book that pushing regional languages, such as Swahili, over lesser-known tongues could wind up killing minor indigeneous languages. Story continues Take the wife of Mukebayi's son Michel, Cocotte Kolo. She was also born a Luba but can't speak Tshiluba; she is fluent in Swahili, Kinyarwanda (spoken in Rwanda and eastern DR Congo), Lingala and French. "Sometimes I'm ashamed, sometimes I'm afraid because I feel as if I've lost my markers," she says. - The rich stick to French - While some people like her speak several local languages, the upwardly mobile will often teach their children only French -- or French and English. The death of a language "is due to the rural exodus and the demographic, economic and cultural weight" of its speakers, said linguist Kadima Nzuji of Brazzaville's Marien Ngouabi university. So while there are relatively few speakers of Kinande and Kitetela, both have a good chance of survival because they are spoken by a dynamic trading community, he said. Kambayi Bwatshia, who lectures in history at Kinshasa's UPN university, said "old people speak in the language of the village to survive" while young people, "especially in big urban centres, adapt to their environment." Hailing the work of the Christian missionaries who chronicled local languages from the 19th century on, both academics said the documents they penned would soon be all that remained of dying minority tongues. Years of war and poverty too have contributed to the disappearance of some of Congo's least spoken languages -- the backdrop to John le Carre's 2006 spy novel "The Mission Song", which centres on an interpreter of the country's dying tongues. "When you could travel home to the village on the boats I'd be able to speal Kilokele with people from my generation," said Tongohala. But that was more than a quarter-century ago. A police chase through Mount Healthy and North College Hill ended with a crash and a man in handcuffs. Police say they witnessed a driver failing to maintain lanes on the Ronald Reagan Cross-County Highway. The driver did not stop when police tried to pull him over; instead he exited the highway at Hamilton Avenue and struck a black SUV near the ramp. However, that crash didn't stop the suspected drunken driver. Police say he continued about two miles south on Hamilton Avenue before losing control on Carrey Avenue and striking a parked white Toyota that careened into another car. President signed an executive order to review areas potentially rich in fossil fuels that were put out of reach of drilling by the Obama administration Review will scrutinize plots that the Obama administration said would not be made available for drilling until at least 2022. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Communities along the east coast are steeling themselves for a fresh round of angst and protest over offshore drilling, with Donald Trump set to throw open vast swaths of the Atlantic seaboard to oil and gas companies. On Friday, the president signed an executive order that asks the interior department to review offshore areas potentially rich in fossil fuels that were put out of reach of drilling by Barack Obamas administration. At the signing of the order, Trump said: Its a great day for America workers, unleashing American energy and clearing the way for thousands and thousands of high-paying American energy jobs. Our country is blessed with incredible natural resources, including abundant offshore oil and natural gas reserves. Asked about his first 100 days in office, which Trump has admitted has been harder than he expected, the president said: Were moving awfully well. Were getting a lot of things done. We are, I dont think theres ever been anything like this. Its a false standard, 100 days, but I have to tell you, I dont think anybody has done what weve been able to do in 100 days, so were very happy. In a briefing with journalists, Ryan Zinke, the US secretary of the interior, said: This order will cement our nations position as a global energy leader and foster energy security for the benefit of American people, without removing any of the stringent environmental safeguards that are currently in place. The review will scrutinize plots in the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific that the Obama administration said would not be made available for drilling until at least 2022. In the final weeks of his presidency, Obama announced what he called a permanent ban on drilling along much of Alaskas coast as well as the ocean floor from Virginia to Maine. Trump is now taking the first steps to undo this, setting up a confrontation with environmentalists and residents concerned about the impact upon wildlife and the potentially ruinous economic consequences of a Deepwater Horizon-level oil spill. Story continues Environmental groups immediately pledged to fight any repeal of protections for the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Trumps shortsighted order reverses climate progress and imperils coastal communities, irreplaceable wildlife, and our shared future, said Trip Van Noppen, president of Earthjustice. It is also against the law. We will go to court to enforce the law and ensure President Obamas protections remain in place. The movement against this drilling never died, it just went into a lower gear, said Phil Odom, a commissioner for Liberty County on Georgias coast. A former commercial fisherman, Odom said the geological marvel of Georgias coastline it has 15 barrier islands and large expanses of untouched marshlands would be in severe danger from any oil spill. The movement against this drilling never died, it just went into a lower gear Phil Odom Most of the people in the coastal region do not see the necessity of it, they see whats happened to the coastlines of Louisiana and Texas. We dont want that. There are a whole lot of fishermen, hoteliers and others who will be speaking up like they did against the last administration. I have no idea if this administration will listen, but we will have to try. Unlike the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific coastline, there has never been commercial oil or gas drilling off the Atlantic coast. More than 120 coastal municipalities registered their horror when the Obama administration toyed with the idea of leasing out nearly 104m acres of the Atlantic, stretching from Maryland to Georgia, only to reverse course in the face of the public uproar and concern from the Pentagon over potential disturbance to military operations. Trump, who has promised to unleash American energy, has already reopened the door to coalmining on federal land and pushed to speed up environmental approvals for large fossil fuel projects such as the Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines. Those along the Atlantic coast fear their relatively untouched vistas will be next. Larry Cahoon, an oceanographer at the University of North Carolina, recalled the panic that the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon spill would result in oil seeping around Florida and up the mid-Atlantic coast. We had people canceling vacation reservations in North Carolina because they saw a video on the news that showed the oil reaching that far, he said. Of course that never actually happened, the winds were all wrong, but it put people in a panic. So if we actually had a spill off this coast, it would be catastrophic for the economy here. Weve benefited from the misfortunes in other states because people think our beaches are pristine, which they are. That would be severely damaged by any spill. The current federal offshore drilling plan rules out any drilling within 50 miles of the coast, despite the lobbying of some states to allow activity closer to shore. Cahoon said if the Trump administration relaxed the 50-mile limit it would be a virtual certainty that oil from a spill would stain North Carolinas beaches. If they blow past that limit, there will be a firestorm of opposition, he said. If people start seeing oil rigs from the beach there will be severe blowback. The potential consequences for wildlife could be severe. North Carolinas Cape Hattaras has an area where the the Gulf Stream current crashes into the mid-Atlantic current, a mix that supports an abundance of biodiversity dozens of types of seabird, 20 species of marine mammals and a population of bluefin tuna, the latter being highly prized by fishermen. This location is also considered one of the most promising areas for natural gas and even testing the area for deposits has raised concern over the impact upon marine creatures. Whales, including the endangered North Atlantic right whale, traverse along the coast to feed and breed and they, along with dolphins and fish, rely heavily upon sound to navigate. Seismic airgun blasting, where pulses of sound are fired at the seabed to ascertain if caches of fossil fuels lie beneath, has the potential to severely disrupt the echolocation used by these animals, scientists say. The Obama administration denied all seismic airgun permits along the Atlantic but this situation, too, may change under the new presidency. Any new drilling is unlikely in the short term, at least. Revising the Bureau of Ocean Energy Managements five-year plan would involve a lengthy, bitterly opposed process. And even if leases are made available in the Atlantic, any permit for drilling would require a separate environmental study before any approval is granted. The economics of opening up a new frontier for oil is currently unfavorable, with a barrel of crude currently trading for under $50. The strong currents and crashing waves of the Atlantic provide a further logistical hurdle. Compared to the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico is a lake, said Cahoon. Yes, you can engineer your way around that but the question would be is it worth it? However, the petroleum industry would still like the option to drill. Market conditions could become more favorable over the course of a lease period and an untapped oil-rich area would be highly prized. Were not going to sit here and say that companies are going to want to go out and drill tomorrow in the Pacific and the Atlantic, Erik Milito, policy director at the American Petroleum Institute, told Bloomberg News. It is important to keep options open for the long term, so companies can start planning for and determining where the best prospects are and then make those investments the global economy will require over time. Should this come to pass, environmentalists should be ready. Green groups have already begun lobbying of members of Congress as both sides of the issue start to relitigate arguments over jobs, safety and environmental protection. Weve fought this before and we will fight it again, said Nancy Pyne, a campaigner at marine conservation group Oceana. We dont want to industrialize our coasts and risk oil spills. I fully expect if Trump goes after the Atlantic, those same people living along the coast will go after him. Nepali worker found dead in South Korea A Nepali migrant worker apparently died in his sleep here in South Korea, Nepali Embassy in Seoul confirmed. Istanbul (AFP) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced confidence Friday that he and Donald Trump can open a "new page" in troubled Turkey-US ties when they meet next month, after discord over Syria and last year's failed coup. The May summit between Erdogan and Trump, their first face-to-face encounter as heads of state, is a chance to mend a relationship between two key NATO allies that was strained by a series of disputes under former president Barack Obama. "I believe that we will open a new page with Mr Trump in Turkey-US relations," Erdogan told the Atlantic Council Istanbul summit ahead of the May 16 meeting in the United States. Erdogan made clear he expected a turnaround from Trump on the use of the Syrian Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) as the chief US ally on the ground in Syria in the battle against Islamic State (IS) jihadists. Turkey says the YPG is merely the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) separatists inside Turkey, who have waged an insurgency since 1984 that has left tens of thousands dead. "We expect our American friends to better understand the threats our country is facing and to show the solidarity that we need," said Erdogan. - 'Working with terror group' - Of the US alliance with the YPG in Syria he said: "We can never accept cooperation with a terror organisation that is aiming at the lives of our people on the pretext of fighting against Daesh (IS)." He said that "concrete support" given to the YPG by the United States in Syria was "harming the spirit of alliance and partnership". His comments came after Turkey angered the United States this week by bombing YPG positions in Syria. There have also been successive clashes between the Turkish army and the YPG over the border in the last days. Erdogan warned the YPG that Turkey would fire back against any assault and thwart the creation of any Kurdish state in northern Syria. Story continues "Are we going to leave them unanswered? We are doing what is necessary. We will take this kind of measure as long as the threats continue." Blasting "fools" who he said were trying to form a Kurdish state in norther Syria, he said: "We will not allow the formation of such a state." - 'Late but welcome' - The spat over the YPG has so far held up any plan for Turkey and the United States to work together in Syria to prise the jihadist de-facto capital of Raqa out of the hands of IS. Erdogan said 2,500-5,000 IS fighters were believed to still be in Raqa. A joint operation with the United States but excluding the YPG to take Raqa "would be nothing difficult for us. We can do this together," said Erdogan. But Erdogan praised Trump for showing a "more determined" approach than Obama against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad after the air strikes this month that followed a suspected chemical attack. "It was late coming but something that we welcomed," he said of the US air strikes. "The Assad regime has seen for the first time in six years that there will be no silence to the massacre of innocents." - 'Bodes well' - Along with the Syrian Kurds, the second main thorn in the side of Turkey-US relations is the future of Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara blamed for the failed July 15 coup and resides in a secluded Pennsylvania compound. Ankara has pressed for the extradition of Gulen -- who denies the charges -- to face trial and was disappointed by the slack progress under Obama. Erdogan said Turkey was "seriously concerned that the terrorist chief can easily go about his business," referring to Gulen. He said that the arrest of Gulen by the United States was a "basic expectation" of Turkey. James Jones, chairman of the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security at the Atlantic Council and former US national security advisor, said in Istanbul that he believed the relationship between the two men would be a good one. "I am optimistic that the personal relationship on a presidential level is off to a good start. It bodes very well," he said. ISTANBUL (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday Turkey's southern border region with Syria had come under serious mortar fire over the last two days and Turkish forces were retaliating as necessary. Erdogan also told a conference in Istanbul that United States support for Kurdish militia fighters inside Syria was damaging solidarity between Washington and Ankara, but that relations could turn a page under President Donald Trump. "We will continue to take any measures as long as the threats persist... We will not allow efforts to form a terror corridor at our southern border," Erdogan said. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by Tuvan Gumrukcu) By Gabriela Baczynska VALLETTA (Reuters) - The European Union will seek to renew economic sanctions against Russia when they expire at the end of July, encouraged by U.S. President Donald Trump's unexpectedly frosty relations with Moscow, EU diplomats and officials said. The bloc imposed sanctions on Russia after Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and then backed separatist rebels in the east, helping drag relations between President Vladimir Putin and the West to a post-Cold War low. While EU leaders have so far backed the sanctions, not all have done so with the same zeal. After Trump's campaign promises of warmer ties with Moscow the EU's resolve to remain united on the issue was seen being tested. But with the U.S. leader's perceived shift in stance toward Russia, those pressures have eased, for now. A more imminent risk to the EU's united front, officials say, would be a surprise win for the far-right Marine Le Pen in France's presidential election on May 7. "It seems a roll-over will be much less problematic than anyone expected," said one EU diplomat from a member state keen to maintain the sanctions. Among the strongest supporters of renewing the sanctions are Sweden, the Baltic states and Poland, whose voice has been weakened by Britain's decision to leave the EU. Those less convinced include Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary, Spain and Bulgaria, who argue that three years of sanctions have failed to sway Moscow, and would like to restore business ties. "We don't like the sanctions," said a Brussels-based diplomat from one of these countries. "It's a huge business loss for us. But we will be with the majority," the diplomat added, acknowledging that a renewal of the sanctions regime looked likely. The EU last month extended until September a blacklist of Russian individuals and entities for their role in the turmoil in Ukraine. And it is all but certain to extend separate restrictions on doing business in Crimea before the current ban expires in late June. The renewal of sanctions requires unanimous support. An EU official dealing with the issue said this looked on track. "First, we extend the Crimea ones. The economic ones should come after the June EU leaders' summit. There are two things that can affect this: the French elections and Trump," the official said. Le Pen opposes Russia sanctions and wants them lifted. If she wins the presidency, France could block an extension. EU SEES WASHINGTON "TURNING OUR WAY" The simmering conflict in eastern Ukraine has killed more than 10,000 people. Germany and France, the EU's two leading powers which brokered peace agreements between Kiev and the Russia-backed rebels in 2014 and 2015, play a leading role in sanction decision-making through their debriefings to other EU states. While the United States has no direct involvement, it is a strong influencer. Under Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, the G7 group of industrialized economies used to seek a joint stance on Russia which the European members took back to other EU states. This may happen again when G7 leaders meet on May 26-27, a month ahead of the EU leaders' meeting in Brussels. It will be the first such summit with Trump and will also include Germany, France, Italy and Britain. A third EU diplomat said that after concerns at the start of the Trump presidency, there was now a growing sense the White House would not be at odds with the EU stance. "People didn't ask before for fear of getting the wrong answer," said a senior EU diplomat. "And it may prove the right strategy, the Americans seem to be turning around our way." A fourth EU diplomat said the United States appeared largely absent from the Russia sanctions discussion. EU officials, though, do not rule out a thawing of Washington-Moscow relations at some point. "A roll-over of sanctions is not in doubt now, but who knows further down the line, without U.S. support," the diplomat said. (Additional reporting by Robin Emmott; Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Richard Lough) By Alastair Macdonald BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders at a Brexit summit on Saturday will give a formal undertaking to embrace the British province of Northern Ireland in the EU if a referendum unites the island, diplomats said on Friday. Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has asked fellow members of the bloc to acknowledge that Northern Ireland would, like East Germany in 1990, automatically enter the EU in the event of unification with existing member state, the Irish Republic. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement to end violence in the north foresees the holding of referendums on both sides of the Irish border on uniting the island if London and Dublin see public support for such a change. EU leaders, who will be meeting in Brussels to endorse a negotiating plan for Britain's withdrawal, will give a political endorsement to what Irish and EU legal experts say is the position in international law of such territorial changes. A draft text of the declaration, seen by Reuters, read: "The European Council acknowledges that the Good Friday Agreement expressly provides for an agreed mechanism whereby a united Ireland may be brought about through peaceful and democratic means; and, in this regard, the European Council acknowledges that, in accordance with international law, the entire territory of such a united Ireland would thus be part of the European Union." One EU source said the text, to be entered into the formal minutes of the meeting, was a statement of "the obvious" and, along with Irish officials, he stressed the summit was not taking a view on unification or launching any talks on unity. "Irish unity is not part of the Brexit negotiations but given the importance of the Good Friday Agreement it will be suitable for that to be acknowledged by the European Council," a senior Irish official in Brussels said. "This is not about starting a process but it is important that there be clear acknowledgment that this is the case." EU and Irish officials also stressed that Britain, whose prime minister Theresa May will be absent, has itself taken the same view on EU membership for Northern Ireland. Brexit minister David Davis acknowledged last month that, if it united with the Republic, it would be entitled to be absorbed into the EU. UNIFICATION NOT IMMINENT Calls for a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom have picked up since Northern Ireland, like Scotland, voted to remain in the EU, while the United Kingdom's two other nations, England and Wales, chose to leave in last year's Brexit vote. Elections in Northern Ireland in March denied pro-British unionists a majority in the province for the first time since Ireland was partitioned in 1921, further emboldening Irish nationalists and their main political representatives Sinn Fein. But Kenny has consistently said that now is not the right time for a vote and demographics suggest it could take a generation before Catholics, who tend to back Irish nationalist parties, become a majority among Northern Ireland's population. Northern Ireland's future is part of broader uncertainty for territories of what was once the world's biggest empire. Britain's right-wing press fulminated last month against EU plans to spell out that Spain, which claims sovereignty over Gibraltar, should have a veto over applying any future EU-UK free trade deal to the tiny British enclave. Last week, Argentina said it thought it might gain EU backing after Brexit for its claim to the Falkland Islands, 35 years after losing a brief war there to Britain. Closer to home, Brexit has fueled calls to break away not only in Northern Ireland but also in Scotland. (Additional reporting by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Catherine Evans) Tokyo (AFP) - A group of sacked Olympus executives has been ordered to pay more than half a billion dollars in damages for a massive accounting fraud that badly damaged Japan's corporate governance image. The Tokyo District Court ruled on Thursday that ex-company president Tsuyoshi Kikukawa and five others must pay the company a total of some 58.8 billion yen ($529 million), the camera and medical equipment maker said. The men were key figures in a complicated fraud to hide about $1.7 billion in losses using outsized consulting fees and buying unrelated companies. While one of the six has since died, his family could still be on the hook for his share of the damages, according to the company. The cover-up was later exposed by Olympus's then chief executive Michael Woodford in late 2011, turning its first foreign CEO into a high-profile whistleblower. Two years later, Kikukawa and two others -- ex-vice president Hisashi Mori and auditor Hideo Yamada -- were criminally charged and received suspended sentences of up to three-years. They did not go to jail. Olympus and its shareholders launched the civil case against a total of 16 executives, but the court on Thursday found only six of them liable for damages. The court found Kikukawa, Mori and Yamada the most culpable in the fraud, but it was not immediately clear how much each defendant would end up paying. "We can't comment more now as they could appeal the case to a higher court," a company spokesman said. Woodford was abruptly sacked after he raised concerns about the firm's accounting. The company initially denied wrongdoing. It later admitted to the fraud and sacked Kikukawa and other executives as Japanese, British and US authorities launched probes into the affair. By Stephen J. Adler, Jeff Mason and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump complained on Thursday that U.S. ally Saudi Arabia was not treating the United States fairly and Washington was losing a tremendous amount of money defending the kingdom. In an interview with Reuters, Trump confirmed his administration was in talks about possible visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel in the second half of May. He is due to make his first trip abroad as president for a May 25 NATO summit in Brussels and could add other stops. "Frankly, Saudi Arabia has not treated us fairly, because we are losing a tremendous amount of money in defending Saudi Arabia, he said. Trumps criticism of Riyadh was a return to his 2016 election campaign rhetoric when he accused the kingdom of not pulling its weight in paying for the U.S. security umbrella. "Nobodys going to mess with Saudi Arabia because were watching them," Trump told a campaign rally in Wisconsin a year ago. Theyre not paying us a fair price. Were losing our shirt. The United States is the main supplier for most Saudi military needs, from F-15 fighters to control and command systems worth tens of billions of dollars in recent years, while American contractors win major energy deals. The world's top oil exporter and its biggest consumer have enjoyed close economic ties for decades, with U.S. firms building much of the infrastructure of the modern Saudi state after its oil boom in the 1970s. Saudi officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Trump's latest comments. But Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir rejected similar comments from Trump during his election campaign, telling CNN during a visit to Washington last July that the Islamic kingdom "carries its own weight" as an ally. Saudi Arabias powerful deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Trump last month in a meeting that was hailed by a senior Saudi adviser as a historical turning point in relations. The talks appeared to signal a meeting of minds on many issues, including their shared view that Iran posed a regional security threat. Riyadh and other Gulf allies see in Trump a strong president who will shore up Washingtons role as their main strategic partner and help contain Riyadh's adversary Iran in a region central to U.S. security and energy interests, regional analysts said. ISLAMIC STATE "HUMILIATION" Asked about the fight against Islamic State, which Saudi Arabia and other U.S. allies are confronting as a coalition, Trump said the militant group had to be defeated. "I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation," Trump said, when asked about what the endgame was for defeating Islamist violent extremism. "There is an end. Otherwise it's really tough. But there is an end," without detailing a strategy. A visit to Israel would reciprocate a White House visit in February by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to meet Trump next Wednesday in Washington. Trump has set a more positive tone with Israel than his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, who often clashed with the right-wing Israeli leader, and has raised concerns among Palestinians that their leaders may not get equal treatment. Trump has also asked Israel to put unspecified limits on its building of Jewish settlements on land the Palestinians want for a state, and has promised to seek a Middle East peace deal that eluded his predecessors. However, he has offered no new diplomatic prescriptions. I want to see peace with Israel and the Palestinians, he said. There is no reason there's not peace between Israel and the Palestinians - none whatsoever. Trump brushed aside a question of whether he might use a possible trip to Israel to declare U.S. recognition of the entire city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a reversal of longstanding U.S. foreign policy likely to draw international condemnation. "Ask me in a month on that," he said, without elaborating. If Trump ties an Israel visit to next month's Brussels trip, it would be around the time Israelis are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, when Israel captured Arab East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. Successive U.S. administrations as well as the international community have not recognized Israel's annexation of the eastern part of the city, and the future status of Jerusalem remains one of the thorniest issues in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Israel claims all of Jerusalem, which contains sites sacred to the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths, as its capital. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state of their own. (Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom; Writing by Yara Bayoumy and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Howard Goller) By Stephen J. Adler, Steve Holland and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple U.S. presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasizing by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said. In other highlights of the 42-minute interview, Trump was cool to speaking again with Taiwan's president after an earlier telephone call with her angered China. He also said he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the U.S. THAAD anti-missile defense system, which he estimated at $1 billion, and intends to renegotiate or terminate a U.S. free trade pact with South Korea because of a deep trade deficit with Seoul. Asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the pact, Trump said: Very soon. Im announcing it now. Trump also said he was considering adding stops to Israel and Saudi Arabia to a Europe trip next month, emphasizing that he wanted to see an Israeli-Palestinian peace. He complained that Saudi Arabia was not paying its fair share for U.S. defense. Asked about the fight against Islamic State, Trump said the militant group had to be defeated. "I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation," he said, when asked about what the endgame was for defeating Islamist violent extremism. XI 'TRYING VERY HARD' Trump said North Korea was his biggest global challenge. He lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in Pyongyang. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month. "I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. "With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he cant," Trump said. Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed U.S. lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority." It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbor and ally, and remained open to negotiations. U.S. officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct U.S. military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among U.S. forces in both countries. 'I HOPE HE'S RATIONAL' Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. "He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. "I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational," he said. Trump, sipping a Coke delivered by an aide after the president ordered it by pressing a button on his desk, rebuffed an overture from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who told Reuters a direct phone call with Trump could take place again after their first conversation in early December angered Beijing. China considers neighboring Taiwan to be a renegade province. "My problem is that I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi," said Trump. "I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him. "So I would certainly want to speak to him first." Trump also said he hoped to avoid a potential government shutdown amid a dispute between congressional Republicans and Democrats over a spending deal with a Saturday deadline looming. But he said if a shutdown takes place, it will be the Democrats' fault for trying to add money to the legislation to "bail out Puerto Rico" and other items. He also defended the one-page tax plan he unveiled on Wednesday from criticism that it would increase the U.S. deficit, saying better trade deals and economic growth would offset the costs. "We will do trade deals that are going to make up for a tremendous amount of the deficit. We are going to be doing trade deals that are going to be much better trade deals," Trump said. (Editing by Ross Colvin) Oppn parties to foil charter amendments An alliance of opposition parties led by the CPN-UML has decided to stand against the constitution amendment bill tabled by the government in Parliament. By Jeff Mason, Stephen J. Adler and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday spurned the Taiwanese presidents suggestion that the two leaders hold another phone call, saying he did not want to create problems for Chinese President Xi Jinping when Beijing appears to be helping efforts to rein in North Korea. In a White House interview, Trump brushed aside the idea after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen told Reuters on Thursday she would not rule out talking directly again to the U.S. president, an act certain to incense China. The status of self-ruled Taiwan is possibly the most sensitive issue between Washington and Beijing. Look, my problem is I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi. I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation, Trump told Reuters, referring to signs that China may be working to head off any new missile or nuclear test by Pyongyang, Beijings neighbor and ally. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him, Trump added. I think hes doing an amazing job as a leader and I wouldnt want to do anything that comes in the way of that. So I would certainly want to speak to him first. As president-elect in early December, Trump took a congratulatory phone call from Tsai. It was the first contact between a leader of Taiwan and an incumbent or incoming U.S. president in nearly four decades, and Trump cast doubt on Washington's longstanding policy of acknowledging Beijing's "one China" policy, which asserts that Taiwan is a part of China. The call angered Beijing because it fears contacts between Taiwan and leaders of other countries would confer sovereignty on the island. Democratic Taiwan, self-ruled since 1949, has no interest in being ruled by autocratic China. Trump agreed to honor the "one China" policy in February and then hosted Xi at his Florida resort earlier this month. Trumps dismissal of Tsai's suggestion underscored the importance he is placing on enlisting China's help in defusing tension with North Korea, which has become his biggest national security challenge since taking office in January, 100 days ago come Saturday. On Friday, in response to Trump's remarks, Taiwan's presidential office said it had no plans "at this stage" to hold a call, and that it understood the United States had priorities in handling regional affairs. In a statement, Tsai's spokesman, Alex Huang, said the government would not "overly limit" itself, but would pursue the island's best interest. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang urged Taiwan to pay attention to the United States' reaction. "We consistently oppose countries which have diplomatic relations with China having any form of official exchanges with Taiwan," Geng told a daily news briefing on Friday. "This position is very clear and very firm." F-35 REQUEST Tsai told Reuters on Thursday Taiwan's ties with the United States have been improving. She said Taiwan may need to buy from its sole arms supplier the F-35 fighter jet, the most advanced stealth warplane in the U.S. arsenal. We have the opportunity to communicate more directly with the U.S. government," Tsai said. We don't exclude the opportunity to call President Trump himself, but it depends on the needs of the situation and the U.S. government's consideration of regional affairs." Tsai said, We don't rule out any items that would be meaningful to our defense and our defense strategy and the F-35 is one such item. But when told Taiwans president had said the island might want to buy F-35 aircraft, Trump said: Oh, I havent been informed. Id have to think about that. Id have to speak to my people about that. They (the Taiwanese government) do buy a lot of equipment from us. China's Defence Ministry said on Thursday it was resolutely opposed to any country selling arms to Taiwan. U.S. officials told Reuters last month that the Trump administration was crafting a big arms package for Taiwan that could include advanced rocket systems and anti-ship missiles to defend against China, a deal sure to anger Beijing. But one of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at the time the administration was not considering selling the F-35 to Taiwan. The package is expected to be significantly larger than one that was shelved at the end of the Obama administration valued at around $1 billion but completion of a new deal could take months and possibly into next year, the official said. The Global Times, an influential Chinese Communist Party-backed tabloid, called Tsai's government "a naughty child" in an editorial on Friday and said it would "strongly counter" any move to sell Taiwan advanced fighter jets. Each time the Tsai Ing-wen authorities step out of line they will pay the price, like a naughty child in class getting a stern reprimand for shouting out or smashing the glass at school, it said. (Additional reporting by Jean Yoon and J.R. Wu in Taipei; Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Howard Goller and Clarence Fernandez) A few hundred thousand years after the Big Bang, when the universe underwent recombination the name to describe the event when the first electrons and protons came together to form hydrogen one of the effects was the production of the cosmic microwave background, a faint omnipresent radiation left over from the time that we can observe and measure even today. As the universe expanded, the CMB began cooling from its initial temperature of about 3,000 Kelvin (almost 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit) to its present-day coolness of 2.73 Kelvin (-454.75 degrees Fahrenheit). However, even though most irregularities were smoothed out by the universes ongoing expansion, some odd patches still remain. One such anomaly is the Cold Spot in the CMB, which causes problems in the standard model of cosmology. First discovered by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe spacecraft in 2002, and confirmed in 2013 by the Planck satellite, the Cold Spot is a large area in the region of the sky that has the Eridanus constellation. CMBColdSpot Photo: ESA and Durham University The Cold Spot is colder than its surroundings by only a fraction of a Kelvin (0.00015 Kelvin) but even that small deviation has a probability for occurrence of less than 2 percent, given the size of the area. Conventional explanations, such as a large void billions of light-years across but containing relatively few galaxies, has been disproved by new research. Postgraduate student Ruari Mackenzie and Professor Tom Shanks of Durham University in the United Kingdom led a team of researchers who analyzed a dataset of 7,000 galaxies, collected using a spectrograph on the Anglo-Australian Telescope in Australia. The team found the Cold Spot is not one giant void, but instead, is split into smaller voids, each of which are surrounded by clusters of galaxies with the same density as other places in the universe. Story continues CMBColdSpotSurvey Photo: Durham University In a statement Tuesday, Mackenzie said: The voids we have detected cannot explain the Cold Spot under standard cosmology. There is the possibility that some non-standard model could be proposed to link the two in the future but our data place powerful constraints on any attempt to do that. While the standard model could still explain the Cold Spot as an unlikely fluctuation the chance of that is just about 1 in 50, according to the statement by the researchers. So what then explains this cosmic anomaly? Exotic origins, Shanks said, while offering some possibilities. Perhaps the most exciting of these is that the Cold Spot was caused by a collision between our universe and another bubble universe. If further, more detailed, analysis of CMB data proves this to be the case then the Cold Spot might be taken as the first evidence for the multiverse and billions of other universes may exist like our own, he said. The researchers published a paper, titled Evidence against a supervoid causing the CMB Cold Spot, that appeared in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Related Articles Manila (AFP) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte hosts Southeast Asian leaders this week, and there is much interest in how the popular politician who boasts about not being a statesman will handle the event. Many Filipinos love Duterte, 72, for his man-of-the people habits, such as eating food with his hands, wearing casual clothes even in formal situations and lacing his language with street-level curses. After meeting on Thursday with Brunei's Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, he showed he would not hold back when he told reporters that The New York Times newspaper was an "asshole" for criticising his deadly drug war. Ahead of his meetings on Saturday with nine other Southeast Asian leaders, here are five of Duterte's most unstatesmanlike moments since assuming the presidency last year: - Obama slur - Duterte sparked a diplomatic firestorm when, just before flying to last year's Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Laos, he launched an unprecedented verbal assault on then US president Barack Obama. "You must be respectful. Do not just throw away questions and statements. Son of a whore, I will curse you in that forum," Duterte said, warning Obama not to raise human rights issues with him. Obama joined a long list of international figures and organisations Duterte had cursed, including Pope Francis, former United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon and the European Union. - Fiery tirade - During the Laos summit, Duterte surprised diplomats by veering off his prepared speech and launching a tirade against US military killings in the Philippines when it was an American colony from 1898 to 1946. "They invaded this country and made us their subjugated people. Everybody has a terrible record of extrajudicial killings," Duterte said as he sought to fend off US criticism of his deadly drug war. One delegate said those in the audience were "quiet and shocked" while another described it as "normal Duterte". Story continues - Sockless host - Duterte was relaxed hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in his southern city of Davao in January, wearing casual pants, shoes, a checkered shirt but no socks. Duterte also decided to take Abe to his home for breakfast where he took his guest into his bedroom to show him his "old and favourite mosquito net". - Chewing gum - Duterte's casual demeanour and attire while on overseas trips have made international headlines. While in Beijing last year, Duterte chewed gum and walked with hands in his pockets during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. A photo of his meeting with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni last year showing him with rolled-up sleeves and an open collar also prompted social media comments that he was rude and a "culture shock", according to Cambodian press. - 'Happy to slaughter' - Duterte caused a global furore last year for drawing parallels between his drug war and the Holocaust, drawing condemnation from Jewish groups. "Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now there are three million drug addicts (in the Philippines). I'd be happy to slaughter them," Duterte said. Duterte later apologised to the Jewish community but said he was "emphatic" about being to happy to kill drug addicts. (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20 with a long list of promises for his first 100 days. His record has been mixed. Here are the main issues he has confronted and what he has achieved ahead of Saturday's 100th day. HEALTHCARE A pledge to repeal and replace the 2010 Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama's signature domestic policy, was among Trump's central 2016 election campaign promises. It is also one of the biggest failures of his first 100 days. A bill in the House of Representatives was withdrawn in late March when Republicans could not muster enough votes for passage even though they control the chamber. A reworked plan this week has drawn support from the House Freedom Caucus, the conservative bloc that helped sink the original bill. That improves the chances of a deal in the House though it is unclear if it can win enough support from moderate Republicans, and it would face tougher challenges in the Senate. TAX CUTS Trump repeatedly promised the biggest tax reform since the 1980s. This week he proposed legislation to slash the corporate tax rate to 15 percent from 35 percent, cut the top personal income tax rate to 35 percent, repeal the inheritance tax, and temporarily slash the rate on overseas profits repatriated to the United States. The plan, however, is vague and even senior Republican lawmakers described it as offering only "guideposts" for legislative changes. FOREIGN POLICY Trump's foreign policy has been marked by major shifts. Russia: Trump spoke admiringly of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the campaign and indicated he wanted a rapprochement with Moscow. But the administration has not been able to fend off a controversy that has led to a congressional investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, including possible links between Trumps campaign and Moscow. Trump has cooled considerably toward Putin. Putin condemned Trump's decision in early April to launch cruise missile strikes on Syria in punishment for a chemical weapons attack by the Syrian government, and Trump said the relationship with Russia "may be at an all-time low." Story continues North Korea: A growing nuclear and missile threat from North Korea is perhaps Trump's most serious security challenge. He has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile, a capability experts say Pyongyang could have some time after 2020. Trump's administration aims to push North Korea into dismantling its nuclear and missile programs through tougher international sanctions and diplomatic pressure. He has pressed China, North Koreas biggest trading partner, to do more to curb Pyongyangs nuclear program. NATO: Trump alarmed U.S. allies during the election campaign by calling NATO "obsolete." In mid-April he lavished praise on NATO and said it is not obsolete. Syria: Trump had vowed to avoid entanglements in Middle East conflicts and, in his first days in office, said he did not want the United States dragged deeper into the Syrian conflict. But he responded to the chemical weapons attack, which killed dozens of people, by ordering strikes on a Syrian air base. That won praise from allies in Europe and from U.S. lawmakers. IMMIGRATION AND A WALL Trump promised a crackdown on illegal immigrants entering the United States and the deportation of illegal immigrants living in the country, especially those with criminal records. He also pledged to build a wall along the border and to get Mexico to pay for it. The approach and strong rhetoric have had an effect with the number of migrants caught trying to enter the country illegally hitting a 17-year low in March. The number of children traveling with a guardian and apprehended at the southern U.S. border plunged by more than 90 percent in March from December. Trump insists he will build the border wall, but in order to lift the threat of a government shutdown, he gave way on his demand this week that Congress include full funding for it in a spending bill. Trump campaigned on a promise to bar the entry of Muslims into the United States, casting it as part of the fight against the Islamic State militant group. On Jan. 27, he ordered a temporary ban on the entry of nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Syria. He also indefinitely banned refugees from Syria and temporarily banned refugees from all other countries. A federal judge temporarily halted the ban, and a federal appeals court upheld that ruling. Trump issued a revised travel ban in early March, only to see it again blocked in federal court. Similarly, a federal judge this week blocked his order to withhold federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities, which offer safe harbor to illegal immigrants. SUPREME COURT This is one of Trump's clearest wins. His promise to select a like-minded successor to Justice Antonin Scalia, who died early last year, was kept with the nomination of Neil Gorsuch. The Senate confirmed Gorsuch despite Democratic opposition, restoring a conservative majority on the court. TRADE Trump withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal just days after his inauguration, keeping a campaign promise. Trump had both threatened to withdraw from or renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), blaming it for an exodus of U.S. jobs to Mexico. The threats of withdrawal had jolted financial markets at various times. On Thursday, Trump extended an olive branch, saying he would not terminate NAFTA after the leaders of Mexico and Canada asked him to work on a new trade deal. Trump also ordered a review of the causes of U.S. trade deficits, such as dumping of products below cost; unfair subsidies; "misaligned" currencies; and "non-reciprocal" trade practices. Trump had vowed to name China a currency manipulator, meaning the United States could then impose tariffs on Chinese goods. But in mid-April he changed course and said that China was not a currency manipulator. REGULATION Trump has acted aggressively on his promise to eliminate regulations that he said were hurting the U.S. economy. He issued a permit for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. He also rescinded Obama-era climate change regulations, including the Clean Power Plan; a ban on coal leasing on federal lands; and rules to curb methane emissions from oil and gas production. As part of a push to open up more federal lands to drilling, mining and other development, Trump ordered a review to identify national monuments that can be rescinded or resized. Legal challenges are expected. His administration has approved a dozen measures rolling back regulations passed in the final months of the Obama administration on the environment, energy, education and financial services. BUY AMERICAN, HIRE AMERICAN Trump has pledged to keep U.S. companies from shipping jobs overseas. Before taking office, Trump used the muscle of his election victory to threaten companies about moving jobs abroad. He claimed victories with the Carrier unit of United Technologies Corp and with Ford Motor Co , though Carrier still cut hundreds of jobs in Indiana and Ford said it scrapped plans for a Mexican factory because of declining demand for small cars in North America. The jury is still out on how successful he can be in keeping jobs from going overseas. Trump ordered a review of the H-1B visa program, which brings highly skilled foreign workers into the United States. He says he wants to modify or replace the current lottery system with a merit-based system for highly skilled workers. 'DRAIN THE SWAMP' This was one of Trump's rallying cries during the campaign, saying he would change Washington by cracking down on the influence of special interests and political elites. He criticized Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton for her paid speeches to Wall Street bank Goldman Sachs but has named several former Goldman executives to his inner circle. He did ban appointees of any executive agency from lobbying for five years after leaving government employment and permanently banned future former appointees from activity on behalf of any government or political party abroad. (Reporting by Leslie Adler; Editing by Kieran Murray and Howard Goller) Chon Buri (Thailand) (AFP) - Hipsters in flowing skirts and crop tops sway to the Thai band's hypnotic groove at an exclusive music festival in Thailand, while a clutch of cleaning staff quietly look on from the fringes. "I had no idea foreigners like molam," says 55-year-old Saengyan Promduang, referring to the folk tunes unique to her rural home region that are captivating the well-heeled crowd outside Bangkok. Alternately sunny and haunting, the molam sound was once sneered at by wealthy Thais as 'poor people music' from the rice-farming northeast, a region with closer cultural links to Laos. But fresh takes on the centuries-old musical tradition have started winning over Bangkok's hipster elite and are making waves in the world music scene. It is a stark turnaround from decades of cultural condescension towards the region known as Isaan -- home to rice farmers and the millions of migrants who fill Bangkok's working class. Like many from their region, the cleaners left their fields for better pay working for affluent Thais and ex-pats in the capital. In February their work took them to 'Wonderfruit', an upscale art and music festival held in a field several hours south of Bangkok. "I'm not surprised they like molam, but I am proud," said Komkang Thaptham, 43, letting her garbage bag rest on the ground as she watched homegrown rockers from All-Thidsa band put on a show for a mix of urban Thais, tourists and expats. In its simplest form molam features witty -- and often bawdy -- lyrics about rural life warbled over the rhythmic swells of the kaen, a bamboo reed organ played by mouth. But the genre has changed its tune with the times, going electric in the 1960s and filtering in the sounds of psychedelic rock and funk played by American soldiers deployed in the region. - 60s revival - Molam's rising global profile today has much to do with two vinyl-obsessed DJs who started digging up 60s-era Thai folk records a decade ago and spinning the vintage beats in Bangkok. Story continues "Most of the people I met in Bangkok during that time would ask me, 'why do you play and collect molam records? It's poor people music, it's music for taxi drivers'," recalled Nattapon Siangsukon, a Thai DJ better known by his stage name Maft Sai. But the Isaan club nights started pulling crowds, inspiring Maft Sai and fellow DJ Chris Menist to invite a colourful collection of molam veterans -- some on the brink of retirement -- to the capital for live shows. In 2012 they minted the Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band, a six-piece ensemble that has five European tours under its belt, including stops at the UKs hallowed Glastonbury festival. The group has dropped molam's trademark vocals but captures its mesmeric feel with two Isaan legends driving foot-tapping grooves on the kaen and phin, a pear-shaped lute native to the northeast. The band still draws bigger crowds abroad than on home soil. But Thais are increasingly catching on, with Bangkok hipsters giving the two molam masters Kammao Perdtanon and Sawai Kaewsombat -- who are twice the age of the youngest band member -- a rock star welcome when they strode onto the stage at a recent show. - 21st century twist - "At the end of the day when music is good it speaks for itself," Maft Sai told AFP as the band members trickled into their Bangkok studio space for a rehearsal. "It is quite honest music, and people can feel that." The group's new record, 'Planet Lam', has woven more modern layers into the traditional sounds, playing with dub and electronica elements. Experimentation has also held the key to success for Rasmee Wayrana, an Isaan native who has melded sultry molam vocals with a jazzy back-up band and is building a growing fanbase at home and abroad. For Khun Narin's Electric Phin Band, another molam group on the European festival circuit, fame came through a very 21st century stroke of fortune. The motley crew of musicians were used to playing rural wedding gigs in northern Thailand. But they were propelled to international fame after an American producer stumbled across clips of their raucous village parties on YouTube. Entranced by the electric phin riffs booming out of their homemade PA system, he flew out to Thailand to track the group down and record their first album in 2014. The band has been busy since releasing a second record with the US label, touring Europe twice and keeping day jobs as rice farmers, students, janitors and factory workers when back home. While some traditionalists lament modern molam's departure from its acoustic roots, others see its evolution as the next chapter in an art form that has always been about change. "It refreshes itself all the time," said Arthit Mulsarn, the curator of a roving exhibit, known as the 'Molam Bus Project', that chronicles the history of the genre. "I don't think molam is better or worse now, I think it just changes as time changes." A female caretaker has been charged with raping a 16-year-old schoolboy. After reportedly harassing and pursuing the boy in person and via Facebook, 29-year-old Jessica Galyon allegedly led him into a classroom and took his virginity. She was arrested in February by Tennessee police, and charged with sexual battery by an authority figure, aggravated statutory rape and statutory rape by an authority figure, according to The Knoxville News. The Roane County Schools district and contractor which employed her now face paying out $4.5m (3.4m) in damages. The lawsuit brought by the boy's parents cites "unsolicited, unwanted and unwelcome" sexual advances dating back to August last year, when they first met at Midway High School. After insisting he add her on Facebook and give her his phone number, Ms Galyon allegedly plied the teen with "flirtatious and sexual messages". Though the boy asked her to stop, according to the lawsuit, in September Ms Galyon invited him to visit her in a hotel room so they could sleep together. She then allegedly took him into a classroom and subjected him to what the lawsuit describes as "the first ever sexual encounter of any kind that [the boy] had ever had in his life." Video not available for syndication Students Walk Out, Protestors Slam High School Over Bullying of Rape Victims Ms Galyon reportedly attempted to cover up the crime of which she stands accused, telling her unnamed accuser that she would lose her job, husband and children if he told anyone. The boy then withdrew from school, began home schooling and took up counselling, with the lawsuit suggesting faculty members and classmates teased him about his relationship with Ms Galyon. One male staff member reportedly told the boy he was "jealous" as "he wanted to have sex with Ms Galyon" himself. The lawsuit accuses Roane County Schools and cleaning contractors Compass One of acting "intentionally, willfully, wantonly and/or with gross negligence in failing to recognize and/or stop the sexual misconduct of Galyon." PAC issues Ncell directive to MoF The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Legislature Parliament has directed the Ministry of Finance to notify it about progress made in determining capital gains tax regarding the Ncell buyout deal within five days. By Cristobal Bellolio In a dramatic change of heart, former Chilean president Ricardo Lagos, who played a central role in the country's return to democracy in the 1980s, has withdrawn from the upcoming presidential race. It seems Lagos' lengthy career in public service has finally reached its end. The decision came after the Socialist Party, historically an ally of his Party for Democracy, publicly backed a different candidate -- the independent senator Alejandro Guillier -- for this year's election. It is the end of an era in Chile. As the 79-year-old Lagos withdraws, an entire generation of aging leaders is also being symbolically retired. The mood in the nation's political establishment is funereal. Most of Chilean people, however, have already moved on. A fruitful trajectory Ricardo Lagos Escobar has been a towering figure in Chilean politics for over three decades. He became a political celebrity in the 1980s after pointing his finger at the Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet on live national television, an act of bravery that catapulted him into the front lines of the opposition against the authoritarian regime. When democracy was restored in 1990, he served Chile's first democratically elected president, Patricio Aylwin (1990-1994), as secretary of education and then his successor, Eduardo Frei (1994-2000), as secretary of public works. In 2000 Lagos, long thought to be a presidential front-runner, finally became the third president of modern Chile. During his six-year term, he enacted numerous progressive reforms, including having crucial authoritarian clauses removed from the constitution, ending military influence over key institutions, establishing universal health care, launching anti-poverty programs, overhauling Chile's infrastructure, legalizing divorce, abolishing the death penalty and instituting a modern civil service. Lagos even refused U.S. president George W. Bush's plea in 2003 to join the Iraq War. Story continues When he left office in 2006, Lagos had an approval rating of over 60 percent. This was symbolically important: he was the first socialist to take office since Salvador Allende, and his generally well-regarded administration dispelled the widespread but unfounded notion that a leftist president would only lead the country to economic mismanagement and political chaos. A different country But things have changed since then, and Lagos' 2017 campaign was dogged by crucial policies of the time that have now come under severe scrutiny. A full-scale transformation of public transit in Santiago he orchestrated, for example, turned out to be disastrous. Train lines were inaugurated but never run, and public service concessions granted to private companies have since been questioned. Lagos's legacy among young Chilean leftists was also damaged by his decision as president to invite Chile's big banks to fund tuition fees as a way of increasing access to higher education. While this policy did indeed extend the system's coverage, thousands of families became indebted. The discomfort of the middle class exploded in the massive 2011 student protests, which irrevocably changed Chile's political landscape. The generation that followed Lagos never questioned him, but the generation after them -- citizens his grandchildrens' age -- weren't so easily won over. Born into democracy, they were not enticed by Lagos's finger-to-Pinochet tale. For them, Lagos was the status quo. In this year's presidential race, young leftists have argued that some of Lagos' fundamental achievements as president may have looked good at the time but sorely need upgrading today. Case in point: Chile's debate over writing a new constitution. While Lagos was proud of amendments he orchestrated to make the nation's constitution more democratic, protesters on the street said that these amendments did too little and were too few. They wanted a brand new constitution for Chile. Lagos, unmoved, announced in September 2016 that he would run for president again as a candidate of the ruling Concertacion coalition. The energetic near-octogenarian organized town hall meetings across Chile and convened policy groups to furnish a robust center-left government program. He insisted on the need to discuss substantive ideas. The public was less enthusiastic. Polls consistently showed Lagos with 5 percent support. He was trying to hold a national conversation, but Chile had already checked out. Treason or renewal? In March, President Michelle Bachelet's Socialist Party, currently the strongest wing of the ruling coalition, declined to back Lagos, putting its money instead on Alejandro Guillier, an independent Senator and former TV news anchorman whose polling was in the 20 percent range. Pundits said it was an act of radical pragmatism. Elected Socialist officials are, after all, naturally interested in retaining their posts. And Guillier likely represents the best chance to beat the front-runner, the right-wing former president Sebastian Pinera. But for others, this pragmatism reeked of betrayal: Lagos was being humiliated by his own people, who opted for a character of unknown doctrinal inclinations and little political experience. Some likened Lagos's defeat to the assassination of Julius Caesar by his disciples. Editorials and opinion pieces, particularly from right-wing sources, have bid farewell to Lagos in an obituary mood, singing his virtues and remembering his good deeds. Lagos ha sido protagonista de una historia que solo puede avergonzar a quienes no la vivieron. -- Patricio Fernandez (@PatoFdez) April 9, 2017 The establishment was eager for an electoral battle between Pinera and Lagos, two former presidents with proven credentials. With Guillier, they fear a populist in the making. But other interpretations hold that what the Socialist Party did was to put an end to an era that needed to be over. Lagos' generation has been one of the most politically fertile in Chilean history. They suffered under (or encouraged) the military coup in 1973, and then fought (or supported) Pinochet's dictatorship for 17 years. And for two decades after his defeat, they lead a never-ending transition to democracy. They changed the face of Chile in many substantial ways, most of them positive. But they refused to retire. According to this thesis, the Socialists probably did the right thing in bringing in some new blood. The two best-rated politicians in Chile are former student leaders Gabriel Boric, 31, and Giorgio Jackson, 30. And the Socialist Party's new leader, Alvaro Elizalde, is 47 years old. The right is seeing a similarly long-awaited generational renewal: congressman Felipe Kast, 39, has challenged Pinera in the primaries. Lagos' fall cannot be isolated from these events. "My friends", said Lagos in announcing his withdrawal from the race, "life goes on..." It would only be fair to add that in his case, "...but, for us, political life does not." This article was written by Cristobal Bellolio, adjunct professor at the Universidad Adolfo Ibanez , for The Conversation on April 28, 2017. It is republished with permission. The Conversation is a nonprofit news organization bringing knowledge from academia to the wider public. Articles are written by scholars who are experts on issues of public interest, assisted by editors who help unlock the knowledge. The Conversation was founded in 2011 and has newsrooms in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, and France. On the heels of veteran Fox News host Bill OReilly's dismissal amid sexual harassment allegations, Fox News is battling a barrage of racial discrimination allegations. Multiple current and former employees came forward in recent days to file lawsuits against the company for discriminatory actions. Mar. 28, 2017: Tichaona Brown and Tabrese Wright filed a lawsuit in Bronx Supreme Court in New York, alleging that dark-skinned employees suffered years-long racial animus from former senior vice president and company controller at Fox News, Judith Slater. Read: Timeline And Everything To Know About Fox News Sexual Harassment Allegations Apr. 4, 2017: Monica Douglas joined the lawsuit filed by Brown and Wright, amending the suit to include three people. RTS14180 Photo: Reuters Apr. 10, 2017: New York City Public Advocate Letitia James called for an investigation into racial discrimination as well as sexual harassment alleged to have taken place at Fox News. No one should have to go to work fearful of sexual harassment or racism, James said in a letter to the New York City Commission on Human Rights. Fox News has created a perverse culture that has proven again and again to be unsafe for women and people of color. We must investigate the actions and inactions of Fox News on every level to ensure that the news agency is held accountable and this doesnt continue. Apr. 18, 2017: Lawyer Lisa Bloom announced in a tweet that she would be representing a new woman in a sexual and racial harassment case against OReilly. Apr. 25, 2017: Eleven people, all current or former Fox News employees, filed a class action lawsuit in which they claimed to have been demeaned, humiliated, passed over for promotions and paid less than white co-workers. Story continues Apr. 25, 2017: In a separate lawsuit the same day, former Fox News accounts payable specialist Adasa Blanco filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming that her complaints about racial discrimination at the company were ignored and ultimately led to her quitting. Related Articles Nice (France) (AFP) - France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen faces the biggest test yet of her six-year drive to improve the image of her party as she seeks to entice new voters needed to make her president. Her task was underlined on Friday when her National Front (FN) party removed its interim leader Jean-Francois Jalkh after reported comments about a Holocaust denier. To stand a chance of winning, Le Pen will need to convince people like pensioner Jacques Villain and student Marina Campana ahead of the final round of the presidential election on May 7. Both of them backed defeated candidates in the first round last weekend and now face a choice between Le Pen and pro-European centrist Emmanuel Macron in the run-off. Villain, a retired pensioner in Nice, supported defeated conservative Francois Fillon while Campana, a 19-year-old who attends university in the southern city, voted for far-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon. But both ruled out a vote for Le Pen, saying the main reason was her association with racism which she attempted to erase when she took over FN in 2011. - 'Bad memories' - Villain, out for a walk on the famed waterfront promenade in Nice that was the scene of a deadly Islamist-inspired truck rampage last July, said he would vote for Macron out of duty, not conviction. "The National Front is not a normal party," he said. "It brings back bad memories" of France's past. Campana told AFP ahead of a campaign rally by Le Pen in Nice on Thursday: "There are things she says on immigration and security and I just don't agree." Their views are far from universal -- some voters encountered in the traditionally right-wing city said they would switch to Le Pen -- but there remains wariness among a large part of the electorate. This explains in part why polls show Le Pen would lose the second round by a large margin, 40 percent to 60 percent for Macron, if it were held today. Story continues One in four Fillon supporters and fewer than one in five Melenchon voters currently plan to vote for her, according to an Ifop poll released Thursday. - Tricky balancing act - This dynamic gives the 48-year-old Le Pen a tricky balancing act ahead of the runoff: keeping her core far-right supporters happy, while appealing to a wider electorate who need to be reassured. She gave a hint of this on Thursday evening as she addressed the rally in Nice that mixed attacks on Macron -- the candidate of the banks and "oligarchs" -- with messages to moderate voters. The tone was markedly different from her speeches of the last fortnight which dwelt extensively on immigration, the threat from radical Islam and the perceived loss of French identity. She quoted Jean Jaures -- a famed former Socialist leader beloved on the left -- and namechecked Charles de Gaulle, the founder of the French republic and hero on the right. "I don't look at your origins, your religion, your sexual orientation, or the colour of your skin. That doesn't interest me. What interests me is you," she said at one point. Le Pen also addressed anxiety among voters about her plans to pull France out of the European Union and replace the bloc with a club of independent nations. "I've heard the fears expressed," she said, explaining how she would invite European leaders immediately after her election to talks to repatriate powers to national capitals. The former lawyer would then call a referendum on the deal. "Nothing will be done without you, nothing will be done against you," she said. Notably absent was her proposal to withdraw France from the eurozone and return to the franc -- one of her signature policies backed by only a minority of voters, polls show. Herve Le Bras, a veteran sociologist and expert on the far-right in France, says conservative voters, particularly the elderly, are still wary of the FN which they view as too radical. "They are in favour of changing things, but not for turning the table upside down," he told AFP. He said he thinks Le Pen was disappointed by her first-round score of 21.3 percent and says the FN has progressed slightly nationwide, "but it's not a tidal wave". "I think she was very disappointed and is hoping to make up for it with a bigger score in the second round," he said. Le Pen had announced Monday she was stepping aside as FN leader in order to focus on the presidential campaign. On Friday, her stand-in Jalkh was hastily replaced by Steeve Briois, mayor of an FN-controlled town in northern France, after Jalkh was accused of praising the work of a convicted Holocaust denier. The party says Jalkh denies calling academic Robert Faurisson's research "rigorous". Paris (AFP) - Journalists' representatives at more than 30 French media outlets have signed a petition protesting against what they termed restricted access to far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen offered by her National Front party, organisers said Friday. The petition comes after a number of cases in which journalists were excluded from covering campaign events or the anti-EU, anti-immigrant candidate herself, who faces centrist Emmanuel Macron in the May 7 runoff. "For second-round campaigning, the National Front has decided to choose which media are authorised to follow Marine Le Pen," the petition says. "Several outlets have had their representatives excluded from any information or any possibility to follow the National Front candidate," it adds. The petition was signed by representatives for journalists at Agence France-Presse (AFP) and editorial staff at other major French media outlets including Le Monde and Le Figaro dailies, TF1 and BFM television channels as well as France Info radio. "We protest in the strongest way against this hindrance to carrying out our duty to inform," the petition says. "It is not up to political structures, whatever they may be, to decide on which outlets are allowed to exercise their democratic role in society." Reporters Without Borders warned Wednesday that press freedom has never been as threatened as it is now, in the "new post-truth era of fake news" after the election of US President Donald Trump. The group's annual World Press Freedom Index warned of the "highly toxic" media-bashing of Trump's election campaign and Britain's Brexit referendum. ANKARA (Reuters) - Iran holds a presidential election in May, in which pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani is seeking re-election against hardline rivals who have been gearing up for a political showdown. Within Iran's complex mix of clerical rulers and elected officials, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final say on all state matters, including Tehran's foreign policy. The Guardian Council, charged with vetting all candidates, disqualified hardline former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from running for the May 19 election. Following are the main contenders out of six qualified candidates to run for the upcoming election: PRESIDENT HASSAN ROUHANI A mid-ranking Shi'ite Muslim cleric, Rouhani won a landslide victory in 2013 by promising to end Iran's international isolation and create a freer society for Iranians. Rouhani, 68, championed a nuclear deal with six major powers in 2015 that ended a more than decade-old standoff with the West. Under the deal, most sanctions imposed on Iran were lifted in 2016, in return for Tehran curbing its nuclear programme. Iranian reformists, led by former President Mohammad Khatami, have endorsed Rouhani, whose hardline rivals say he has failed to revive the economy despite sanctions being lifted. Rouhani, also a lawyer, is the seventh president of Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. EBRAHIM RAISI A close ally of Khamenei, Raisi is seen as the main hardline candidate challenging Rouhani in the election. The influential but mid-ranking cleric in the Shi'ite Muslim hierarchy, has been a senior official for decades in the judiciary, which enforces clerical control of the country. Raisi, a law professor, has criticized Rouhani's economic record, portraying himself as a champion of the poor. He has promised a revival of the values of the Islamic Revolution. Hardliners have so far supported Raisi, appointed by Khamenei in 2016 as the custodian of Astan Qods Razavi, an organization in charge of a multi-billion-dollar religious foundation that manages donations to Iran's holiest shrine in the northern city of Mashhad. Raisi was one of four sharia (Islamic law) judges who oversaw executions of thousands of political prisoners in 1988. Some Iranian politicians believe Raisi is being groomed to succeed Khamenei and the presidency is just a first step. Khamenei served as a president for two terms before taking power in 1989. MOHAMMAD BAQER QALIBAF A former police chief, Qalibaf has been the mayor of Tehran since 2005 and is viewed as a pragmatic conservative. The former member of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), Qalibaf has been a staunch critic of Rouhani's economic policy. He has promised to more than double Irans income and tackle unemployment by creating five million jobs. Qalibaf, born in 1961, lost to Ahmadinejad in 2005 and Rouhani in 2013 presidential elections. His popularity was damaged by a corruption investigation in 2016 and the collapse of a tower in Tehran, which killed 20 firefighters. ESHAQ JAHANGIRI Iran's first vice president, Jahangiri is a moderate who served as the minister of mines and industries from 1997 to 2005. Jahangiri, 60, said he threw his hat into the ring to "stand by Rouhani and complement him". Jahangiri registered to run for the election amid concern among Rouhanis allies that the president might be disqualified by the Guardian Council. He is expected to drop out of the election to avoid a split of the moderate camp's votes. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Louise Ireland) PARIS (Reuters) - Widespread frosts during an unseasonably cold spell in Europe this month may have damaged some rapeseed crops that already endured dry conditions, which could limit a rebound in production after last year's disappointing harvest. Strategie Grains cut a forecast for European Union rapeseed production in 2017 by 340,000 tonnes to 21.4 million on Friday, factoring in the impact of cold, dry conditions. Fellow analysts ODA Groupe, meanwhile, currently project the EU crop at 20.5 million tonnes, closer to the four-year low of 20 million harvested in 2016. In Germany, there was concern freezing temperatures have hurt flowering crops in the south and center of the country. In cutting its EU-wide outlook, Strategie Grains made its biggest revision in Germany, reducing its forecast by 110,000 tonnes to 5.14 million. This was still higher than the forecast from Germany's farm cooperatives, issued on April 12 prior to the cold spell, of 4.93 million tonnes, up 7.1 percent from last year. "It is not possible today to say how serious any damage is, but frost on rapeseed flowers is likely to cause problems," one German analyst said. "But rapeseed in the biggest production regions in north and eastern Germany was not blooming much at the time of the frosts, any damage is likely to be concentrated in south and central Germany." Frosts are again forecast in Germany up to Sunday, with temperatures rising from Monday. In France, forecasters also trimmed expectations due to the combination of dryness and frost during flowering. ODA said it has lowered its French outlook by 170,000 tonnes compared to a month ago to 4.3 million tonnes, down from 4.7 million in 2016. "Rapeseed does have a strong capacity to recover in normal conditions but that's not the case currently. The rain we've had in France is not sufficient. We need more rainfall to support the growth of new flower buds," ODA's Antoine Gautier said. Some showers are forecast in France in the week ahead while frost will fade from this weekend. In Poland, three was also some concern about cold damage. Analysts Sparks Polska have reduced their 2017 crop forecast by about 100,000 tonnes to 2.8 million due to the cold, still up 33 percent from last year's very poor crop. "The cold occurred prior to the flowering stage, so the impact should not be major, we hope," Wojtek Sabaranski of Sparks Polska said. In Britain, rapeseed was generally in reasonable condition, in contrast to crops like spring barley where dry weather is becoming a major concern. Analyst Jack Watts of Britain's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board said farmers in west-central England were "really optimistic about their rapeseed this year," adding those in eastern regions, however, were struggling to grow the crop. Problems with cabbage stem flea beetle has led to a westerly shift in rapeseed plantings in England. (Reporting by Valerie Parent and Gus Trompiz in Paris, Michael Hogan in Hamburg and Nigel Hunt in London, editing by David Evans) Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - German airlines will no longer require two people to be in the cockpit at all times, an industry group said Friday, abandoning a rule introduced after a deadly crash in 2015. "An evaluation has shown that the two-person rule does not increase security, rather other risks to air security arise," the statement from the German Aviation Association (BDL) said. The requirement to have two people in the cockpit at all times was introduced after Germanwings copilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately flew a passenger plane into a French mountainside, killing 144 passengers and six crew in March 2015. Black box recordings showed that Lubitz, who had been treated for mental health problems in the months before the disaster, locked himself into the cockpit alone. The BDL's decision follows an easing of the two-person rule at the EU level by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in August last year. Instead of a blanket requirement, the EASA recommended using the measure only on a case-by-case basis. The BDL argued that allowing more people access to the cockpit and opening the door more often and more obviously would raise the risk of terrorists or criminals forcing their way in. "Security dangers resulting from an outside attack... must continue to be judged much more elevated than the danger from a so-called homicide/suicide case," the group said. It cited a historical survey showing that while there have been 1,074 hijacking cases between 1931 and today, only four cases of pilot suicide have been recorded. Keeping cabin crew in the cockpit whenever one pilot was absent would also leave them unable to help passengers in case of an emergency, the statement said. To minimise the risk of a repeat tragedy, the airlines said they would step up mental health checks on pilots and offer aircrew access to psychological support. Students clash with security personnel outside DEOs Student affiliated to major political parties clashed with security personnel during a protest outside the District Education Offices (DEOs) in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur on Friday. GIBRALTAR (Reuters) - The British people will harshly judge any prime minister who lets down Gibraltar at the last moment in Britain's negotiations to leave the European Union, the chief minister of "the Rock" has told Reuters. Gibraltar voters "chose to remain (in the EU) and should not become the first or last victim of Brexit," Chief Minister Fabian Picardo warned in an interview. But he expressed confidence that whoever emerges as prime minister after Britain's general election on June 8 understands this: "We will not be let down at five minutes to midnight." Gibraltar, a tiny British enclave on Spain's southern tip dubbed "the Rock" because of its famous cliff-faced mountain, is set to be a major point of contention in the exit talks, along with other thorny issues such as trade and citizens' rights. Residents of the territory voted overwhelmingly to remain part of the EU in last year's Brexit referendum. Gibraltar wants London to negotiate a "special status" with the EU for it after the British exit "The British people would judge very harshly a prime minister or any other minister in the British cabinet who at the last minute lets down the people of Gibraltar," Picardo said. But he added: "The next prime minister of the United Kingdom ... will continue to stand by the people of Gibraltar and continue to ensure that the sovereignty of Gibraltar is secure." Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives are tipped to increase their majority in the election, opinion polls show. In March, the European Union offered Spain a veto right over the future relationship between Gibraltar and the EU after Britain leaves the bloc. Spain, which claims sovereignty over the territory it ceded to Britain in 1713, has frequently irritated EU partners with attempts to use EU negotiations to put pressure on Gibraltar. Gibraltar rejected the idea of Britain sharing sovereignty with Spain by 99 percent to 1 percent in a 2002 referendum. Spain has signaled it was ready to discuss a special status for post-Brexit Gibraltar without abandoning its claims for joint sovereignty over the disputed territory. (Reporting By Reuters TV, writing by Sonya Dowsett; Editing by Tom Heneghan) Labor can be stressful, but for women in prison, its a completely different experience. There are 12,000 pregnant women behind bars every year in the U.S. and The Doctors examine the story of one woman who gave birth while incarcerated, Maria. I sold drugs to an undercover cop, she explains. When I went into prison I was five months pregnant. When it came time to deliver her baby, corrections officers cuffed her hands and feet she had to walk down two flights of steps in shackles. When Maria arrived at the hospital, one hand was cuffed to the bed frame. My childbirth was painful, she recalls. My hand got swollen because the cuff just got tighter and tighter on my hand. When Marias daughter was born, she was allowed to hold her for two minutes before the baby was taken away. She spent a total of eight hours with her newborn at the hospital. Watch: Prisoners Pay for Castration? Maria was allowed to take care of her baby in the prisons nursery until one night when she fell asleep holding the child. Then baby Isabel was sent to foster care and Maria returned to the general population. She saw her daughter once a month for the remaining eight months until she was released she now lives with Isabel and says shes doing well. Joining The Doctors are Janice, the founder of Birth Behind Bars; Gail, the director of Coalition for Female Prisoners; and Honorable New York State Supreme Court Justice Judge Richard Buchter. Janice notes that 23 states forbid the use of shackles on women in labor. In most states, prisoners are allowed to have some contact with their babies, but Janice says bonding between mother and child often doesnt get enough support. Watch: Female Prisoners Sterilized without Consent In New York State, Gail has been working to end the practice of shackling women, particularly during labor. Shes also concerned that pregnant prisoners get adequate food and medical care for a healthy pregnancy. The worst thing they do is separate a mother and an infant, she adds. Punishing the mother is punishing the baby. Story continues Dermatologist Dr. Sonya Batra wonders how a laboring woman could possibly be a flight risk. Judge Buchter responds that a few years ago, a prisoner being transported in New York State escaped restraints and shot two guards. However, he says, Once theyre in place I dont see any reason why they should be shackled. ER Physician Dr. Travis Stork notes that a pregnant woman may nevertheless be a violent offender. How do we strike that balance?" he asks. Gail responds that she thinks the law that New York State enacted in December 2106 hits the balance perfectly. It allows for an exception if there is a finding that this woman is a risk to herself or others. Every baby deserves to be born into this world under optimum circumstances, concludes Dr. Stork. Washington (AFP) - Global press freedom has hit a 13-year low, threatened by US President Donald Trump's media bashing and restrictions pursued by both democratic and authoritarian governments, a watchdog said Friday. Freedom House, a US-based human rights organization, highlighted growing concerns over efforts by governments around the world to clamp down on media and dissent. "Political leaders and other partisan forces in many democracies -- including the United States, Poland, the Philippines and South Africa -- attacked the credibility of independent media and fact-based journalism, rejecting the traditional watchdog role of the press in free societies," said Jennifer Dunham, who headed the research. The 2016 study of 199 countries concluded that just 13 percent of the world's population enjoys a "free press" with robust news coverage and protections for journalists. Another 42 percent of the world's population has a "partly free" press and 45 percent live in countries where the media environment is "not free," the group said. Friday's report echoed a similar survey released this week by France-based Reporters Without Borders, which said press freedom is facing serious threats in 72 countries, downgrading the rankings of the United States, Britain and others. Freedom House said press rights are being eroded by the efforts of politicians in democratic states to shape news coverage and delegitimize media outlets. "When politicians lambaste the media, it encourages their counterparts abroad to do the same," Freedom House president Michael Abramowitz said. - Dimming US beacon - Press freedom was on a modest decline in the United States even before Trump took office because of the industry's financial woes and news organizations' increasingly partisan positions, the report said. But Trump is worsening the situation with his attacks on "fake news" and characterization of the news media as "enemies of the people," according to Freedom House. Story continues "Such comments suggest a hostility toward the fundamental principles and purposes of press freedom, especially the news media's role in holding governments to account for their words and actions," the report said. The attacks on US media also have the effect of giving authoritarian regimes a green light to crack down on their countries' independent press, Freedom House added. "A greater danger is that the United States will stop being a model and aspirational standard for other countries," the report said. "Protection of press freedom in the United States remains vital to the defense and expansion of press freedom worldwide; indeed, it is a cornerstone of global democracy." - Russian propaganda - Russia especially is taking advantage of the situation by seeking to manipulate news and social media content in other countries, Freedom House said. "Vladimir Putin's regime in Russia has been a trailblazer in globalizing state propaganda," the report said. "It continues to leverage pro-Kremlin reporting around the world, particularly in neighboring countries with Russian-speaking populations." The worst scores for press freedom went to North Korea, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and the top scores to Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden. The global average fell to new lows. Press freedom is also under threat from surveillance laws designed to fight terrorism, the report said. It said Britain, France and Germany have recently passed laws "that tip the balance in favor of eavesdroppers and lack sufficient oversight mechanisms and safeguards against abuse," it said. China, Ethiopia, Iran and Syria "are among the many staunchly autocratic countries where physical and online monitoring is a fact of life for journalists, intended in part to intimidate the media and suppress critical coverage." Countries with sharp declines in press freedom included Turkey, due to increased censorship, crackdowns on independent media and a rise in detentions and violence against journalists. Poland also saw a major drop thanks to "government intolerance toward independent or critical reporting" and restrictions on speech concerning Polish history and identity. On the positive side, Freedom House cited modest improvements in press freedom in a handful of countries including Afghanistan, Panama, Sri Lanka and Fiji. Dunham said the report "cautiously upgraded" Afghanistan to "partly free" thanks to more diversity in the media but noted that "it remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists." New York (AFP) - General Motors reported a jump in first-quarter earnings Friday, topping analysts' estimates following strong sales in North America. The auto giant clocked another quarter of strong returns in North America from its line of trucks and crossover vehicles for which demand has remained strong amid relatively cheap gasoline prices. Net income for the quarter ending March 31 was $2.6 billion, up 33.5 percent from the year-ago period. Revenues rose 10.6 percent to $41.2 billion. "Our strong first quarter resulted from continued top-line growth and an intense focus on driving costs lower," GM chief financial officer Chuck Stevens said. "As we refresh our crossover portfolio in the next several months, we expect to stay on track to meet our financial commitments for the year." GM reported higher operating earnings in North America, making up for losses in Europe and South America and a decline in its international operations business, which includes China. GM saw retail car deliveries fall 5.2 percent in China to 913,442 compared with the year-ago period, attributing the drop to a reduction of tax incentives on cars. GM's earnings translated into $1.70 per share, far above the $1.46 expected by analysts. The company's shares rose 1.6 percent to $35.10 in pre-market trading. On what would have been her 256th birthday, Fridays Google Doodle honors Marie Harel, the inventor of Camembert cheese. The story of one of Frances most popular cheeses goes back to 1791, when Harel was a 30-year-old dairymaid in Vimoutiers in Normandy, northern France. Legend has it that a priest from the northern region of Brie fleeing the anti-clerical French Revolution that was sweeping the country, took shelter near Vimoutiers and taught Harel how to make the soft cheese famous in his home region. Harel added her own twist on the recipe, making her Camembert cheese in smaller wheels and without added cream. She also packaged the finished product in thin, round, wooden containers that have become an international icon. Camembert became a firm fixture in French culture after wheels of the cheese were issued to soldiers fighting in World War I. Harels famous container also made Camembert ideal for transporting across the Atlantic, where it found a new stateside following. Googles Doodle features a slideshow illustrating how the cheese is made, step by step. This article was originally published on TIME.com President Trump speaking at the NRA's annual conference in Atlanta on Friday, the first sitting President to do so since Reagan in 1983. Georgia is an open-carry state, and it's expected that many attendees will bring guns to the conference. It's like the gun prom. People are gonna want to show off. SEE ALSO: Quiz: Is this a real headline or a satirical one from Trump's 100 days? Unfortunately for attendees who were hoping to cheer Trump on in person instead of their living room, they'll have to choose between their warrior and their weapon: guns won't be allowed at his speech. CNN reported that precautions like banning guns from public speaking events are standard procedure, along with "closely with... local law enforcement partners." Law enforcement and secret security will be armed. People can't help but notice the irony of it all the NRA loves to claim that the only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun... unless it's the President's life on the line, then there's no such thing as a good thing with a gun, we guess. @thedailybeast ??? you can have them on campus, in schools, church but not at an NRA speech - WTF #wearedoomed B R Mom (@BRMom1) April 28, 2017 With all these good guys toting guns, you'd think Trump would be well protected. @thedailybeast Why? What do they have to fear? Should be the safest place in America. Bennie (@Clemfield2622) April 28, 2017 Some pointed out that Trump has kind of done this kind of thing before, but angering a different group of people. Story continues @RealDonaldTrFan That's hilarious.. is that like banning women from a women's health conference? bmaya (@bmaya8) April 28, 2017 Extremely valid question: what if there are bears?? @Gizmodo @Fusion But what if there are grizzlies? This is crazy Danforth P. Chudson (@danforthchudson) April 28, 2017 But at the end of the day, it's like, what are you so afraid of, NRA? If the NRA really believed its own bullshit, its leadership would insist that all guns be allowed at Trump's speech. https://t.co/olUSDtPMYs Erik Larson (@exlarson) April 28, 2017 Please join us in a collective sigh and go about your day. WATCH: This NYU student went undercover as a worker in a Chinese iPhone factory If you watched "Masters of Sex," the Showtime series on renowned researchers Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson, you witnessed vivid scenarios of human sexual response. What you didn't see onscreen was a couple having sex as the woman struggled with hip arthritis or as the man gingerly worked around recent knee surgery. Even so, these situations play out in many real-life bedrooms, potentially throwing a wrench into intimacy. Whether you're coping with chronic arthritis or recovering from a joint replacement procedure, you and your partner can still enjoy sex by combining caution and creativity. Here's how. [See: Osteoarthritis and Activity: Walking It Out.] Be direct with health care providers. At any age, if you're concerned about sex after surgery, ask about it, says Sallie Foley, a sex therapist, sex educator and therapy-trainee supervisor. "Patients need to be saying to the physical therapist and doctor: 'What are the specific things I can't do with sexual activity?'" she says. "Because younger professionals -- and older ones, frankly -- often assume that older adults aren't having sex. Well, older adults have more time and they have a lot of sex." That, she says, can take the form of intercourse, mutual masturbation, oral sex and more. As the patient, she advises, be willing to say: "We've been talking about my general rehab. Now I want to talk about my sex life. How will this joint replacement affect it?" Relieve knee pressure. If your joints are riddled with arthritis, your sex life can take a hit. For instance, a squatting position may become impossible. "You can have significant difficulty putting direct pressure on the knee," says Dr. Matthew Hepinstall, associate director of the Center for Joint Preservation and Reconstruction at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "Positions requiring kneeling can be quite uncomfortable." Whether you have an older aching knee or fresh knee replacement, you want to go easy on that area. Support your hips. In her work with couples after surgery, Foley sees many women who've had a hip replacement and been told not to move their hips too far apart. The concern, she says, is that the woman might pop the hip joint. A couple used to a missionary position might have to improvise and switch, she says, for instance with the woman on top. Side-by-side sex is another possibility. "Having pillows propped behind a person eases some pressure on lower-back or hip joints," she adds. "What we a call semi-reclining position." Use foam blocks as bolsters. You can look to your local craft store for foam blocks to make sex more comfortable. Propping your leg on a block may help with body alignment and enable positions you couldn't otherwise manage, Foley says. Or if you're kneeling, placing soft foam under your knees protects them from the pressure of a harder surface. Try yoga. For people who've undergone knee surgery, gentle yoga is a terrific idea, Foley says. "Yoga [instructors] give great tips on positioning with alternate positions," she says. When looking for a class, she recommends seeking ones with names such as yoga fundamentals, beginning yoga or restorative yoga. "Restorative yoga moves slowly," she explains. "They help you with poses and you can say, 'I need to replicate kneeling, but I can't put direct pressure on my knee like I used to.'" [ See: 4 Ways to Stick to Your Physical Therapy 'Homework.'] Seek physical therapy. After joint surgery, working with a physical therapist helps you return to normal daily function -- and that includes resuming your sex life. Sexual counseling, therapeutic exercise and advice about sexual positions are part of rehabilitation, according to a 2014 study in the journal Sexual Medicine. "Rehabilitation provided by physical therapists may help decrease pain, and facilitate greater self-awareness, self-confidence and improved body image, all of which encourage and affirm optimal sexual health," the study authors concluded. Follow post-op guidelines. "I typically recommend that people wait until their incision is well-healed before they start getting hot and sweaty," Hepinstall says. "With knee replacement, patients can participate relatively quickly." Their choice of positions might be restricted in the first few weeks, he adds, to give the incision time to mature and heal. With hip replacement, he says, restrictions might last six weeks or so, depending on the surgical approach used. Once past early recovery, Hepinstall says, he's never had patients complain about sexual function. Instead, every so often, he gets postoperative kudos when patients can resume an activity they've enjoyed. Address pain to improve sex. "Scientific studies support the fact that for people whose sex life is inhibited by joint pain, joint replacement actually improves [it]," Hepinstall says. Hip replacement likely offers the greatest improvement, he says, because bad hips probably interfere with intimacy the most. Surgery or not, lifestyle changes can improve a suffering sex life, Foley says. "If people have not had a joint replacement and their joints are hurting, they've got to look at their full lifestyle," she says. That includes reducing stress, getting enough sleep, eating healthily to reduce inflammation, walking gently and and sometimes just taking a soothing bath. Ease back gradually. Couples can reestablish their connection a number of ways. Skin-to-skin touching has value in itself, Foley says. "Sometimes I ask people to lie naked side by side and put their hands on each other's heart. Just to feel the beating of the heart inside the other person. Breathe together. And then begin to explore each other's bodies and give feedback: 'This is a great area -- it's not sensitive anymore.' Or: 'Gee, my scar's still sensitive. Can we work around my incision site?" And go ahead and play with sex toys, she suggests -- you can order online if you prefer. [How to Prepare for Hip Replacement Surgery.] Be sex-plorers. You don't have to be Masters and Johnson to take a scientific, exploratory approach to sex. "The sexiest thing older adults can do is talk about what they want to try before they go in the bedroom," Foley says. Once there, she says, the couple can accept that of course the session will be awkward, because they're trying new positions. "So it's going in with the attitude: 'We're like scientists and we'll see what works for us now, as opposed to in the past.'" Lisa Esposito is a Patient Advice reporter at U.S. News. She covers health conditions, drawing on experience as an RN in oncology and other areas and as a research coordinator at the National Institutes of Health. Esposito previously reported on health care with Gannett, and she received her journalism master's degree at Georgetown University. You can follow her on Twitter, connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at lesposito@usnews.com. Taiwanese hiker found after 7 weeks marks his 22nd birthday Tiwanese trekker Liang Sheng-yueh, who was rescued alive 47 days after he went missing in Langtang region, celebrated his 22nd birthday on Friday at a hospital in Kathmandu. This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. The federal government is currently being funded by a continuing resolution that expires on April 28, 2017 which also happens to be the 99th day of Donald Trump's presidency. If Congress fails to approve a new spending deal before then, Trump's 100th day as president will begin with a federal government shutdown. The last government shutdown took place under President Obama and lasted for more than two weeks in 2013. Hundreds of thousands of federal government employees were furloughed. The Smithsonian museums and National Park Service sites were closed, including the Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall in Philadelphia and the Washington monuments and memorials. With current fights in Congress over spending on the military, the border wall and sanctuary cities, it's certainly possible that no new continuing resolution will be passed in time. That would make Trump's 100th day in office an unusual anniversary, but the truth is not all recent presidents have much to brag about when it comes to the impact of their first months in office. Creating the concept The idea of using a president's first 100 days in office as a way to evaluate him began in 1933 with Franklin D. Roosevelt although FDR actually had in mind measuring the New Deal achievements of the first 100 days of a special congressional session that year. In a July 24 Fireside Chat, FDR referred to "the crowding events of the 100 days which had been devoted to the starting of the wheels of the New Deal." Journalists, historians and political scientists continued the practice of looking for accomplishments in the early months of a presidency. During those 100 days, FDR got many major bills through Congress to battle the economic crisis of the Great Depression. These bills created the Public Works Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps to provide job opportunities, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to insure bank deposits and the Tennessee Valley Authority to provide rural electricity. This flurry of activity became the standard by which future presidents would be judged often coming up short. Story continues In a 2001 study, political scientists John Frendreis, Raymond Tatalovich and Jon Schaff determined that the presidents who followed FDR have not come close to his success levels in seeing proposed bills pass into law so early in their administrations. The authors attributed that to changes in Congress that have slowed down the lawmaking process. Let's consider how the presidents have done. Truman to Clinton Following FDR's death, Harry Truman's first 100 days were focused on the closing battles of World War II, with Germany's surrender occurring less than one month after Truman took office. Dwight Eisenhower's first 100 days were similarly dominated by foreign policy, including the death of Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin and negotiations to end the Korean War. John Kennedy entered office with an ambitious agenda, which included the creation of the Peace Corps, but his first 100 days are probably best remembered for the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. Lyndon Johnson's first 100 days were most consumed by coping with the aftermath of Kennedy's assassination, but LBJ also used the period and Kennedy's legacy to begin the groundwork to pass major civil rights and war on poverty legislation. While Richard Nixon also promoted an ambitious domestic agenda in the White House, his first 100 days contained no major visible achievements at the time. Nixon told reporters: "I don't count either the days or the hours, really. I never thought in those terms. I plan for a long term." Later, it was revealed that he had ordered a secret bombing of Cambodia during the period. Gerald Ford's first 100 days are best remembered for his swearing-in ceremony following Nixon's resignation, when he announced that "our long national nightmare is over." He then pardoned Nixon one month later for any crimes the former president had committed in office. Jimmy Carter also had an inauspicious start. Possibly due to his inexperience in Washington, he asked Congress to pursue several different domestic policy goals, many of which never passed into law. Perhaps best remembered from Carter's early months is his speech from the White House to declare that energy policy and efforts to end American dependence on oil were the "moral equivalent of war." Ronald Reagan's administration drew the lesson from his immediate predecessor that it was best to focus on one or two domestic issues during the first 100 days. Reagan spent his first months as president promoting an agenda of tax and spending cuts, though those did not pass into law until August 1981, four months later. Reagan's first 100 days as president were also notable for the assassination attempt made against him, which limited his political efforts for part of the time period. George H.W. Bush's first 100 days as president were largely a continuation of the policies of the Reagan presidency. They were noted at the time for being relatively uneventful, with a congressional battle over a secretary of defense nominee and the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska dominating the political news. The biggest political news story during Bill Clinton's first 100 days was probably the failure of his stimulus package of domestic spending increases to get past a Republican filibuster in the Senate, though the eventual budget that resulted helped steer the United States toward budget surpluses later in the decade. Clinton's first month also included his signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act into law, the start of a debate about service of gays in the military and the creation of a task force on national health care reform, chaired by Hillary Clinton. The 21st century George W. Bush took office in January 2001 after a disputed electoral outcome in Florida led to a 5-4 Supreme Court decision that essentially made him president. In a politically divided country, Bush's strategy seemed to be to avoid controversy and build his political capital, with his major legislative proposals in the time period involving tax cuts and education reform. Due to the economic crisis that began during Bush's final months as president, Barack Obama's first 100 days in office were dominated by the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a package of economic stimulus investments that by some measures was even larger than those passed in FDR's 100 days in 1933. During a CBS "60 Minutes" interview in November 2008, Obama even said he was reading about FDR's 100 days as an example. Which brings us back to Donald Trump. Trump's main political success so far has been the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. His promised repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act failed to get support in Congress. His attempted travel entry bans of citizens of certain Islamic countries into the U.S. and attempted suspension of refugee entry have so far led to massive protests and have been blocked by federal judges. The Trump administration has also taken military action in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan, approved the construction of oil pipelines through North Dakota and sent out a request for contract bids to build a border wall with Mexico. It's not clear yet which of these events will be well-remembered a year or 10 from now. One thing is sure. If the Liberty Bell or the Lincoln Memorial is closed to tourists on Trump's 100th day as president, it's likely that government malfunction will be what is remembered about Trump's first few months in office. Robert Speel, Associate Professor of Political Science, Erie campus, Pennsylvania State University This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Editor's Recommendations In an interview on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he is absolutely considering proposals to break up the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the jurisdiction in which judges earlier this year blocked his executive order restricting travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries. His comments came one day after U.S. District Judge William Orrick temporarily blocked his effort to withhold money from so-called sanctuary cities - which, if appealed, would also go to the Ninth Circuit, which has a liberal reputation and is geographically the largest court of its kind. Trump wouldnt be the first president to try to change the court system for political reasons, but he cant break up the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Only Congress has the power to shape lower federal courts, through the Ordain and Establish Clause of Article III of the U.S. Constitution. But to understand why the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has come under particular scrutiny is a more complicated matter. One crucial point is when in American history the whole Circuit Court of Appeals system came to be the way it is today. It wasnt at the very beginning. For much of the 19th century, most federal criminal cases were seen to by a system of trial courts that had existed since the Judiciary Act of 1789. An early version of circuit courts existed to hear appeals from some federal district court cases - meaning that they had the power to review and change outcomes of lower-court decisions, but not much power, according to Arthur Hellman, author of Restructuring Justice: The Innovations of the Ninth Circuit and the Future of the Federal Courts and a professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Instead of having separate judgeships, each circuit court had a panel that consisted of two justices of the Supreme Court and the local U.S. district court judge. The judges would literally travel in a circuit, bringing the court to various places in the region, hearing the relatively small number of appeals that would come to them. In 1869, however, as the new federal statutes of the post-Civil War era led to an increase in federal litigation cases, the old system wasnt working. As a solution, Congress established one circuit judgeship for each of nine federal judicial circuits. This new type of circuit judge - or a designated Supreme Court justice, the district judge or some combination of two of them - could preside over the circuit courts, according to the Federal Judicial Center. Finally, that system also got scrapped, when, in 1891, Congress created the system of U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals. The nine new courts, one for each circuit, would be given responsibility for appeals coming out of the lower courts. Thats the system the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is a part of today. (The old U.S. circuit courts served as trial courts until they were abolished on January 1, 1912.) This new in-between kind of court was created for a very practical reason: because all appeals had previously gone to the Supreme Court, the highest court had gotten incredibly backlogged, Hellman explains. As a solution, he says, the Circuit Courts of Appeals were given jurisdiction over many cases that the Supreme Court would have previously had to hear. Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter In a growing country, it was also understood that the regions of the nation differed. There was thus a value to bringing justice closer to the people via a geographically-organized set of appellate courts. Number nine is the farthest west region, stretching all the way from the Mexican border up to Canada, and from Montana to California. But things have changed since the system was first established. When lawyers still traveled by train throughout the circuit, it made sense for Congress to, in 1929, divide the Eighth Circuit, which covered the middle of the country. (Thats why the Tenth circuit is geographically located between the Eighth and the Ninth.) But the Ninth Circuit, on the other hand, could still afford to be big. There simply werent as many people living out West when it was created. Hawaii and Alaska werent even states yet. Today, the Ninth Circuit is responsible for a much larger caseload that it was back then. Meanwhile, as the population of the West has increased, the Circuit Courts of Appeals have also become increasingly more important, especially after the so-called Judges Bill of 1925 let the Supreme Court justices have virtually complete discretion to pick which cases they would hear. As the Supreme Court took on fewer cases, the Circuit Courts of Appeals became the final courts for the resolution of many important questions, explains John Witt, a professor at Yale Law School. In the 1970s - as the civil-rights and environmental protections of the prior decade introduced a whole new heap of federal cases to the U.S. judicial system - caseloads skyrocketed. As a result, Washington debated whether to split the Circuit Courts of Appeals even further. In fact, Hellman was deputy director of the commission that was formed to consider the revision of the federal court system. But, Hellman recalls, the commission realized that keeping the circuits big was important. Though the large circuits would still have regional identities, including a wider geographic region meant that there would be a wider range of philosophies represented - which was particularly important at the time as the battle over segregation continued to rage. In that particular case, some in Congress advocated splitting the Fifth Circuit, which included much of the South. Hellman says that Mississippi Senator James Eastland, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, didnt want his state to be in the same circuit as Texas and Louisiana, which at that time, had some pretty liberal judges enforcing the Supreme Courts desegregation decisions. Eastland proposed giving Texas and Louisiana their own circuit and putting Mississippi, Florida, Georgia and Alabama in another. [The commission] heavily emphasized that every circuit should have at least three states to get diversity of legal communities, Hellman says, and to get even more diversity of Senators to take part in these selections of judges. (The Fifth Circuit was, in fact, split in the 1980s, but not along those lines. A separate appeals court for patents was also introduced in the late 20th century.) Splitting up the Ninth Circuit has been talked about for decades, too. Even in the 1970s, Hellman says that people were concerned that the different panels in the circuit were too often in disagreement when it came to Vietnam draft cases - and in 1974, he himself proposed that the best way to fix the problem would be to split the area along North/South lines, dividing California in half. But, he acknowledges, dividing a state between two different circuits is politically impossible. Nevertheless, experts say splitting the Ninth Circuit wouldnt solve Trumps perceived problem, even if it did happen. As Witt explains, If the Ninth Circuit were split into two new circuits, it would still have the same judges. This article was originally published on TIME.com Paris (AFP) - The ex-girlfriend of French President Francois Hollande, Valerie Trierweiler -- whose tell-all memoir was a sensation -- will publish her first novel next month about a torrid secret affair. But rather than being set in the corridors of power, "The Secret of Adele" is inspired by the painter Gustav Klimt's mistress, Adele Bloch-Bauer, her publishers said. It is the "story of a woman reborn, who lived a life that broke all the norms of her time and class, the novel of a free women," Les Arenas publishing house said in a statement. Trierweiler's explosive first book "Thank You For This Moment: A Story of Love, Power and Betrayal", was an international bestseller, translated into 12 languages, selling more than 600,000 copies in France alone. It told of her stormy relationship with Hollande which ended after he left her for actress Julie Gayet after paparazzi photographed him arriving for secret trysts at her Paris apartment. The scandal was deeply embarrassing for Hollande, whose popularity never recovered from Trierweiler's claim that the Socialist leader was disdainful of poor people who he allegedly called "the toothless". He denied ever using the term. Trierweiler, a journalist, said she decided to reveal intimate details of their relationship "to finish it forever". Her publishers insisted that her novel about the "torrid affair" between the artist and Bloch-Bauer, had no parallels whatsoever with Trierweiler's own life. Instead it tells of Bloch-Bauer relationship with Klimt while she was married to his patron, Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer. His portrait of her, "The Lady in Gold", is one of the most famous paintings of the 20th century, and she also modelled for his most erotic work, "Judith". "The Lady in Gold" was seized by the Nazis in 1938 but was later returned to the Bloch-Bauer family, who are Jewish. It was sold to an American collector in 2006 for $135 million (123 million euros). Though Ja Rule's Fyre Festival promised a luxury experience in exchange for its hefty ticket price, luxurious it is definitely not. Per the BBC, the festival, which began today, is off to a rocky start and attendees are documenting the mess on Twitter. So Fyre Fest is a complete disaster. Mass chaos. No organization. No one knows where to go. There are no villas, just a disaster tent city. pic.twitter.com/1lSWtnk7cA William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 27, 2017 Though the event was slated to begin Friday in the Bahamas' Exhumas islands, the festival seemed in disarray when guests began arriving Thursday. While Fyre Festival's glitzy website promised luxury accommodations, Twitter users at the event say their tents weren't ready upon arrival. Confused guests were apparently stranded without their luggage until well after the sun went down, and were apparently served meals like bread and packaged cheese for dinner. In addition, headliner Blink-182 cancelled its scheduled festival performance earlier on Thursday, citing an inability to "give you the quality of performances we always give our fans." Twitter user William N. Finley of North Carolina has been sharing dispatches from the island since his arrival Thursday. This is how Fyre Fest handles luggage. Just drop it out of a shipping container. At night. With no lights. #fyrefestival pic.twitter.com/X5CdZRyJWo William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017 Fyre Fest doesn't have beer. They "ordered it late" but they assured us it will be here tomorrow. #fyrefestival William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017 These are the secure lockers at Fyre Fest. They forgot to tell us we needed locks. #fyrefestival #fyrefest pic.twitter.com/Tqyjqbg2Gy William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017 Here's the "culinary experience" we got for our artists pass at Fyre Festival. pic.twitter.com/Kk9q9uvkX0 William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017 Luxury trash receptacles at the luxury bar (with no beer). No shoes, no shirt, pajama pants, no problem. #fyrefestival #fyre pic.twitter.com/PojJtfHlqL William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017 In the early hours of Friday, Fyre Festival released a statement via Instagram stating that they, "are working to comfortably accommodate guests and deliver a great experience," for attendees already on the island. Story continues As for those schedule to arrive Friday: "Due to circumstances beyond our control, and in line with a culture of safety, all inbound charter flights to the Exumas have been canceled. Your ticket and any funds uploaded to your RFID band will be refunded." Meanwhile, guests on the island have rushed to leave early. Most tickets to the Fyre Festival which ran from $450 to $12,780 included private flights to and from the island, which seems to have presented its own set of complications. Fleeing attendees waited at the airport for hours. We've left Fyre Fest. We're now at the airport. Goodbye, Fyre Fest, we hardly knew ye. pic.twitter.com/QGobnJo2bW William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017 The line of ex Fyre Festers at the Exuma International Airport. Yes that's throw up. #fyre #fyrefestival pic.twitter.com/jSZHg0F0Kn William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017 Just waiting with my Fyre Fest pals to get on the flight out. The plane hasn't left Miami yet. It's lit! #fyre #fyrefestival pic.twitter.com/glIYmIG0dc William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017 Boarding the "private" plane back to Miami. Fyre Fest gets 0/5 beltlines. They'll be hearing from Stacy @MillerLawFirmNC #fyrefestival pic.twitter.com/pFLSWEwenV William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017 We have to get off the plane because we've been sitting on the runway too long. They have to bring in a new crew. #fyrefestival pic.twitter.com/jMCRUy4PsC William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017 They've now locked us in the airport. No rules, just right. Welcome to the Bahamas! (Tell my family I love them) #fyrefestival pic.twitter.com/KkgkroZzhc William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017 As Finley told Mashable via Twitter DM at about 9:30 a.m. ET, "We are on a chartered plane from Swift Air, the same airline that flew us there. Everyone on board is from the festival. We're about to take off now." The reality is a far cry from the glamorous experience Fyre Festival's marketing videos promised. A video promoting the event from earlier this year featured the likes of models Hailey Baldwin and Bella Hadid lounging idly on a yacht. Meanwhile, Finley jokingly described the experience with a Lord of the Flies reference: "I have the conch. Piggy is dead. Chaos surrounds us". Fyre Festival has not yet responded to a request for comment through its concierge email. An automated email read: "We apologize for the inconvenience as we are experiencing overwhelming demand." Update, Friday, April 28, 11:08 A.M. ET: Fyre Festival has been "postponed." Fyre Festival set out to provide a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience on the islands of Exuma. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we must postpone this experience. We are working tirelessly to ensure each guest leaves the island safely and ask for everyones patience and cooperation as we continue to provide ongoing updates via email and our official social media channels as they become available, including refund information. A post shared by FYRE FESTIVAL (@fyrefestival) on Apr 28, 2017 at 7:04am PDT WATCH: '13 Reasons Why' hid a finale clue in the music Early humans may have lived on the North American continent 130,000 years ago, more than 100,000 years earlier than scientists previously believed, according to a new study. The research examined ancient mastodon bones that bore "conclusive" signs of being handled by intelligent beings, the researchers said. When a new freeway was being constructed near San Diego in the early 1990s, one of the excavators hit what seemed like an ancient pile of animal bones. Palaeontologists called to the site confirmed that the bones belonged to a long-extinct Pleistocene mastodon, a significant discovery on its own. But more than 20 years later, the site, called Cerutti (after one of its discoverers Richard Cerutti of San Diego Natural History Museum), may be rewriting the understanding of human presence in the New World. The arrangement of the bones at Cerutti suggests the early appearance of humans at the site, the researchers said. [In Photos: 130,000-Year-Old Evidence of Humans in California] "The bones were positioned in quite an unusual way," said Thomas Demere, a paleontologist at the San Diego Natural History Museum and lead author of the new study. "For example, one tusk was positioned vertically. Femur heads were found side by side in very distinct clusters, and the bones were fractured in a spiral way, which led us to believe that humans must have been processing those mastodon limb bones." Examining the bones The layer of finely grained sand silt holding the bones was completely intact, but within it, the researchers found several large cobbles with signs of wear. This indicates that the cobbles must have been used as hammers and anvils to process the bones, the researchers said. The geological conditions of the site led the researchers to think it must be more than 15,000 years old, thus preceding when Homo sapiens were thought to have lived in North America. Attempts to establish the age of the site using radiocarbon dating failed, because there was no collagen preserved in the bones, the scientists said. But in 2012, James Paces, a uranium-dating expert at the U.S. Geological Survey, received the bones. The results he obtained surprised the researchers. Story continues "I used a method called uranium series disequilibrium dating, which uses radioactive decay of naturally occurring uranium, and the initial results suggested that those [bones] might have been 110 [thousand] and 120 thousand years old," Paces told reporters Tuesday (April 25) in a media briefing. Skeptical about the results, Paces and his colleagues continued analyzing the bones. The researchers performed more than 100 analyses of bones, tooth enamel and ivory found at the site. The results kept pointing to the same age, the researchers said. [The 25 Most Mysterious Archaeological Finds on Earth] "We came up with a result of the estimated age of about 130,000 plus [or] minus 9,000 years, which represents the average of multiple analyses of cross sections of three separate specimens," Paces said. Wear and tear During the press briefing, the researchers dismissed suggestions that heavy machinery used during the freeway construction could have broken the bones. The only way such patterns could have been produced was if the bones were broken when fresh, the researchers said. To confirm this hypothesis, the team dug up an elephant corpse and set out to smash its bones using tools similar to those found at the site. "We produced exactly the same fracture patterns that we see on these mastodon limb bones," said Steven Holen, an archaeologist at the Center for American Paleolithic Research. Demere added that while the large limb bones were distinctively damaged, more fragile pieces of the mastodon skeleton, such as ribs and vertebrae found at the site, were completely intact. Humans in Africa were already making tools from the bones of large animals 1.5 million years ago, Holen said. The knowledge of such technology would therefore be known to the pre-historic American settlers and would explain why they only focused on the large useful bones. "These bones were not broken by carnivore chewing. They were not broken by other animals trampling on these bones," he said. "When we eliminate all of the other natural processes and reproduce the results experimentally, we have very strong evidence." Changing the paradigm The researchers, however, said they expect the scientific community to be skeptical of the findings. Most scientists think that humans made it to the American West Coast only 15,000 years ago, which is 115,000 years later than what the new study concludes. [Gallery: See Images of Our Closest Human Ancestor] "The team's conclusions are paradigm-shifting, and I'm sure they will come under a lot of scrutiny in the coming days and months. And so they should, as archaeology moves forward by discovery, interpretation and testing of the evidence," Matt Pope, principal research associate in palaeolithic archaeology and a senior geoarchaeologist at theInstitute of Archaeology of University College London, told Live Science in an email. "What's for certain is archaeologists will now be looking at earlier deposits in North America with closer interest," Pope said. "A claim like this can never rest easily on a single site, but the team [has] presented evidence which can't be ignored. They have opened up the possibility of a new, astonishing[ly] early and continental-scale episode of hominin [human species] dispersal." Holen said that finding human remains from the period at the Cerutti site but also anywhere else in the U.S. is unlikely. Very few human remains have been discovered in the U.S. of human cultures only 13,000 years old and population densities of the early arrivals were extremely low, he added. The researchers said they can only speculate who these early Americans were, where they came from, and whether the population survived and later mixed with newer arrivals or became completely extinct. The new findings were published online today (April 26) in the journal Nature. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Budapest (AFP) - Hungary said Friday it has completed a second anti-migrant fence on the Serbian border, a "smart" barrier with night cameras, heat and movement sensors and speakers blaring warnings in five languages. "Hungary is defending its border, and the Schengen zone at the same time," Karoly Kontrat, an interior ministry state secretary, told a press conference in Roszke beside the fence on Hungary's southern frontier. More than 400,000 migrants passed through Hungary in 2015 before a first fence was built and a deal between the European Union and Turkey and other measures dramatically slowed down the influx. But Budapest says that the new two-metre (6.5-foot) high fence, an external border of Europe's Schengen zone, is to prepare for an expected increase in numbers later this year and a possible breakdown of the EU-Turkey accord. Kontrat also said the bloc had failed to set up hotspots for asylum-seekers in Libya or turn back boats carrying migrants headed for Europe from Africa. The fence, made of NATO-standard welded wire, was erected by 700 prisoners. Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a radio interview Friday that the strengthened border fence system would "ensure Hungary's security for a long time". Orban, who has called immigration "poison" and a "Trojan horse of terrorism", has been criticised by Brussels and rights groups in Hungary and abroad for his tough anti-migrant line. A law enabling the automatic detention of all asylum-seekers entering the country in "transit-zone" camps -- people can leave only if they return to Serbia -- comprising shipping containers came into force last month. Separately this week the EU launched legal action against Hungary over legislation that critics say targets the Central European University in Budapest, a highly respected postgraduate university founded by billionaire George Soros. Orban on Friday called the Hungarian-born Soros, 86, who funds myriad non-governmental organisations throughout the region, a "public enemy" seeking to undermine Europe by promoting immigration. Though he'd been kicking around for a few years already, most audiences first took notice of Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You. From then on, he was never out of the public eye for long if he wasn't burning up the screen, he was covering the tabloids. In the new documentary I Am Heath Ledger, though, we get to see the late actor as few of us have seen him before through the lens of his own camera. SEE ALSO: Heath Ledger's sister lays those Joker rumors to rest Directors Adrian Buitenhuis and Derik Murray cover all the usual bases, pulling together clips of Leger's performances and interviews with his colleagues and loved ones. But the film is never more interesting, or moire poignant, than when Ledger turns the camera on himself. Ledger, it turns out, was constantly documenting his own existence. Some of the footage is totally mundane: Ledger jumping around in his living room, Ledger zooming in on his own feet. Some of it shows him experimenting, even if that just means fiddling with the camcorder's special effects en route to Burning Man. In one of the most memorable sequences, Ledger points the camera at his own face as he wanders through a hallway, whispering improvised dialogue about a supervillain chasing after him. It's weird and charming, and feels disarmingly intimate thanks to the close-up angle and the lack of polish. It feels like a joke between friends, not a de facto short film by one of the most famous actors of his generation. The moment so many of us first fell in love with Heath Ledger. Image: Touchstone It's in moments like these that we most clearly see the "real" Heath Ledger that his friends and family describe in their talking head interviews: an insatiably curious artist who was "always creating" and "lived every moment to the fullest." The descriptions themselves, though, have a distancing effect. I Am Heath Ledger is an almost relentlessly positive portrayal of the late actor, tending toward effusive but vague praise of Ledger as a person and Ledger as an artist. It feels like we're listening to a bunch of strangers talk about another stranger which is exactly what we're doing, of course, but probably isn't the impression that the filmmakers were trying to make. Story continues That said, it's tough to blame Ledger's loved ones for wanting to remember him at his best. Some of the most devastating moments in the documentary come when Ledger's family recalls his death. "The world did find out before we did," one of his sisters remembers sadly. Ledger's father, Kim, notes that while in some ways, they were like any other family who'd lost a child, "we had to live our feelings in the public eye." No wonder they aren't eager to open up any more than they have to. But it means that there's a real limit to what I Am Heath Ledger can offer. Gossip hounds won't find much to feast on here; the film deals with Ledger's demons very gingerly when it deals with them at all. Indeed, everyone involved takes pains to contradict the popular rumors that The Dark Knight pushed Ledger to the edge. "A lot of people would like to think it was a strenuous process for him," says one of the talking heads, before going on to stress that it was far from it. "He was in the best place of his life" when he died, insists another. Instantly iconic. Image: Warner Bros / dc comics Meanwhile, those hoping for a more analytical look at Ledger's life and career will also come away disappointed. Colleagues show up to reminisce about how talented he was, but there's not much examination of his place in Hollywood history his relationship with his peers, or the particular brand of 2000s-era masculinity that he reflected, or the way his onscreen persona evolved over time. In fact, no one is likely to learn much new at all about Ledger here. While there are some choice anecdotes (fellow Aussie actor Ben Mendelsohn delivers a particularly entertaining one about Ledger's "pre-Entourage entourage"), there are no big bombshells. The film assumes you're already familiar with the broad strokes of Ledger's biography. If you didn't already know that he had dated Naomi Watts, for example, you won't find out here, even as she shows up to praise his talent. So who, then, is I Am Heath Ledger for? One of the very first faces we see in the film is that of musician Ben Harper, who's clearly still devastated by the loss of his friend. "I honestly think the universe is off its axis," he says, sounding anguished. "I'm not supposed to be talking with you." I Am Heath Ledger is catharsis for those who feel the way that Harper does those who still miss him dearly, those who just want to see him again, those who still can't quite believe he's gone. It's not a movie about his legacy. It's a movie about, as Harper puts it, how "some people are just bigger than the world has room for." WATCH: Not even The Dark Knight filmmakers were sure about Jokers origins In recent years, illegal marijuana use has risen faster in states that have legalized medical marijuana than in states without such laws, a new study finds. In addition, the percentage of people with "marijuana use disorders" people who use the drug in unhealthy ways, or abuse it has also increased at a higher rate in these states, according to the study. Although medical marijuana laws may benefit some people, changes to state laws also may have negative consequences for public health, the researchers, led by Deborah Hasin, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University in New York City, wrote in the study. Marijuana may, for example, help cancer patients with pain and nausea. The researchers looked at data from three time periods: 1991 to 1992, when no states allowed marijuana use for medical reasons; 2001 to 2002, when six states had medical marijuana laws; and 2012 to 2013, when 15 states had medical marijuana laws. [Marijuana Legalization in the US (Map)] As of November 2016, a total of 28 states have passed medical marijuana laws, according to the study, published today (April 26) in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. Data on people's marijuana use and rates of marijuana use disorders came from national surveys from the three time periods included, the study said. Nearly 120,000 people in 39 states were included in these surveys, according to the study. Over the course of the study period, the rates of illegal marijuana use increased in all 39 states included in the study. In the states that never passed medical marijuana laws, the rates of illegal use of the drug rose from 4.5 percent to 6.7 percent an increase of 2.2 percentage points. In states that did pass medical marijuana laws, the rates of illegal use rose from 5.6 percent to 9.2 percent an increase of 3.6 percentage points. In other words, the rates of illegal marijuana use increased more quickly in states with medical marijuana laws, the researchers said. Story continues Similarly, the rates of marijuana use disorders also increased more quickly over the study period in states that had passed medical marijuana laws than in states that had not. In states without medical marijuana laws, the rates of marijuana use disorders rose from 1.3 percent to 2.3 percent an increase of 1 percentage point. In comparison, the rates of marijuana use disorders in states with medical marijuana laws rose from 1.5 percent to 3.1 percent an increase of 1.6 percentage points. The researchers noted that two states, California and Colorado, stood out for their higher rates of illegal marijuana use. For example, between 2001-2002 to 2012-2013, the rates of illegal marijuana use increased by 5.3 percentage points in California and 7 percentage points in Colorado, the researchers found. Marijuana has since been legalized for recreational use in both Colorado and California. They also noted that the rates of illegal marijuana use increased more sharply in states that passed medical marijuana laws after 2002-2003 than in states that passed the laws before those years, with the exception of California. [7 Ways Marijuana May Affect the Brain] However, the study had several limitations, the researchers noted. For example, the survey participants reported their own marijuana use, which could have led to inaccuracies. In addition, as marijuana use became more common, people might have been more forthcoming about reporting their use of the drug, which, in turn, might have contributed to the sharper increase between 2002-2003 and 2012-2013. In other words, in the earlier survey, people might not have admitted to using marijuana. More studies are needed to help explain why medical marijuana laws may increase the illegal use of the drug, the researchers said. Some possible explanations include an increased perception that marijuana is safe when a medical marijuana law is passed, as well as increased availability of the drug, the researchers wrote. Originally published on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Withdraw decision to deploy army: SSFN Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal (SSFN) led by Upendra Yadav has expressed serious concern over the government's decision to deploy Nepal Army in the upcoming local level polls. Srinagar (India) (AFP) - An unprecedented ban on Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter in Indian Kashmir has highlighted social media's role in energising an insurgency that has roiled the disputed Himalayan region for decades. Authorities in the Kashmir valley this week ordered internet service providers to block 15 social media services for at least one month, saying they were being misused by "anti-national and anti-social elements". The move followed an upsurge in violence in the region, where authorities say social media are being used to mobilise stone-throwing protesters behind increasingly frequent civilian attacks on government forces. Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the predominantly Muslim Kashmir valley, one of the world's most heavily militarised spots, where most people favour independence or a merger with Pakistan. One senior police officer said the power of social media to mobilise large groups of civilians was "worrying the security forces much more than the armed militants". "Social media is misused to mobilise youth during anti-militant operations," said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces in Indian Kashmir for decades. But the violent civilian protests, which often mobilise around the anti-militant operations conducted by government forces, are a relatively new phenomenon. The local government already frequently blocks mobile internet services in the volatile Kashmir valley, but it is the first time they have banned specific social media services in the interests of public order. The Kashmir valley has been tense since April 9, when eight people were killed by police and paramilitaries during election day violence. Since then, students angered by a police attempt to detain suspected protest ringleaders on college grounds have held regular demonstrations, frequently clashing with police. Kashmir's tech-savvy young -- 70 percent of the population is under 35 -- have increasingly turned to social media to express their anger as well as to mobilise demonstrations. Story continues "If they (the government) take away our means of communication and protest we will keep finding new ones," said Asim, a university student who gave only his first name. Political scientist Noor Ahmed Baba told AFP the conflict was now "playing out in the social media space". "The present government wants to silence the people. The violence of suppression will generate more violence," said Baba, a political scientist with the University of Kashmir. - 'Shooting the messenger' - Young Kashmiris have also used their mobile phones to record videos of killings and other rights abuses by government forces and upload them on Youtube. One video circulated online this month depicted a Kashmiri man tied to the front of an army jeep, apparently as a human shield against stone-throwing protesters. Indian police took the rare step of registering a criminal case after the footage went viral, sparking outrage in India. But no arrests have yet been made and India's Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi even appeared to support the use of a human shield, saying "if it has to be done again, it should be done again". Another video showed an Indian paramilitary soldier being heckled and slapped by protesters outside a polling station. But security expert Ajai Shukla said banning social media was "unlikely to control or diffuse the situation". "It is at best a temporary solution, but also means shooting the messenger," he told AFP. "It indicates poor security management. Politically it is a double disadvantage and from a strategic and technical (military) operations point of view it achieves nothing." Kashmir's armed insurgency in has significantly weakened since its peak in the 1990s. But dozens of Kashmiri youths have joined its ranks since last July, when security forces killed the popular young leader Burhan Wani. The death of the charismatic rebel -- himself a social media sensation who regularly uploaded video messages -- also sparked a wave of popular protest. More than 100 people died and thousands more were injured in clashes between protesters and government forces last year, the worst violence to hit the Himalayan region since 2010. One student activist said the ban on social media would remove one of the few remaining outlets for peaceful protest in Kashmir. "Social media is our media, everyones media. We're in it to show the world what is done to us generation after generation," said the activist, who asked not to be named. "Indian politicians and media misrepresent us. This has to end. How else do we protest without being called terrorists?" By Ori Lewis JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel intends to build 15,000 new settlement homes in East Jerusalem, the Housing Ministry said on Friday despite U.S. President Donald Trump's request to "hold back" on settlements as part of a possible new push for Israeli-Palestinian peace. A formal announcement of the settlement plan, quickly condemned by the chief Palestinian negotiator, could come around the time Trump is scheduled to visit Israel next month. Israel views all of Jerusalem as its "eternal and indivisible capital", but the Palestinians also want a capital there. Most of the world considers Jerusalem's status an issue that must be decided through negotiations. The last peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians collapsed in 2014. Housing Minister Yoav Galant told Israel Radio that his ministry and the Jerusalem Municipality had been working on the plan for two years, with proposals for 25,000 units, 15,000 of which would be in East Jerusalem, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed. "We will build 10,000 units in Jerusalem and some 15,000 within the (extended) municipal boundaries of Jerusalem. It will happen," he said. Saeb Erekat, the Palestinians' chief negotiator, said Israel's move was a systematic violation of international law and a "deliberate sabotage" of efforts to resume talks. "All settlements in occupied Palestine are illegal under international law," he said in a statement. "Palestine will continue to resort to international bodies to hold Israel, the occupation power, accountable for its grave violations of international law throughout occupied Palestine." Channel 2 news said an announcement on building could be made on "Jerusalem Day" which this year, according to the Hebrew calendar, falls on May 24, when Israel celebrates its capture of the eastern part of the city. This year marks the 50th anniversary, with a large number of celebrations planned. Trump's visit is expected to take place on or shortly after May 22. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a state they hope to establish in the occupied West Bank and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Trump told Reuters in an interview at the White House on Thursday that he wanted to see a peace deal. "I want to see peace with Israel and the Palestinians," he said. "There is no reason there's not peace between Israel and the Palestinians - none whatsoever." The U.S. leader met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington in February and is to see Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House on May 3. In January, two days after Trump took office, Netanyahu said he was lifting restrictions on settlement construction in East Jerusalem, just as the city's municipality approved building permits for hundreds of new homes. During Barack Obama's presidency, Netanyahu's government came under repeated censure for building in settlements, which the previous U.S. administration saw as an obstacle to peace. Under Trump, Netanyahu expected more of a green light to ramp up settlement building, but it hasn't been straightforward. While Trump has said he does not think settlements are necessarily an obstacle to peace, he did directly ask Netanyahu during a White House press conference in February to "hold back on settlements for a little bit". In 2010, Israel announced its intent to build homes in East Jerusalem during a visit by then-Vice President Joe Biden, who condemned the plan. It caused huge embarrassment to Netanyahu, who suspended the plan before reintroducing it in 2013. Most countries consider settlement activity illegal and an obstacle to peace. Israel disagrees, citing biblical, historical and political connections to the land - many of which the Palestinians also claim - as well as security interests. The East Jerusalem neighborhoods where building is planned are Givat Hamatos, East Talpiot, Ramot, Pisgat Zeev, Neve Yaakov, Ramot Shlomo, Gilo and Atarot. These areas extend in an arc from north to south around the eastern side of Jerusalem, forming something of a buffer with the West Bank. (Writing by Ori Lewis; editing by Luke Baker and Mark Heinrich) (BEIRUT) - Syrias military said Israel struck a military installation southwest of Damascus International Airport before dawn Thursday, setting off a series of explosions and raising tensions further between the two neighbors. Apparently seeking to interrupt weapons transfers to the Hezbollah group in Lebanon, Israel has struck inside Syria with increasing frequency in recent weeks, making the war-torn country a proxy theater for Israels wider war with Iran. The increasing tempo of attacks risks inflaming a highly combustible situation drawing in Israel, Syria and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, a staunch ally of President Bashar Assads government with thousands of fighters in Syria. Israels military said later Thursday that its Patriot Missile Defense system intercepted an incoming projectile from Syria over the Golan Heights. An Israeli defense official said the Patriot hit a drone, and the military is checking if it was a Russian aircraft that entered the Israeli side by mistake or if it was Syrian. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with protocol. Both the Syrian government and Hezbollah, however, are mired in the countrys 6-year-old civil war and are unlikely to carry out any retaliation that may ignite a bigger conflagration with Israel. Iran and Hezbollah are overstretched, and its not clear they can afford to gamble with a direct showdown with Israel now, said Maha Yahya, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center. Iran knows no matter how powerful theyve become, they cant be fighting on two fronts at the same time. Israeli Minister of Intelligence Yisrael Katz would not comment directly on the incident but said any similar strike would be in line with established policy to interrupt weapons transfers. It absolutely matches our declared policy, a policy that we also implement, Katz told Israels Army Radio. Just before the apparent Israeli missile strike, at least three cargo jets from Iran probably landed at the Damascus airport, said Ian Petchenik, a spokesman for the flight-tracking website FlightRadar24. They include an Il-76 flown by the Iranian cargo company Pouya Air that was last tracked over Iraq headed towards Damascus, he said. Story continues Its unknown what they were carrying. Passenger flights and civilian cargo jets continue flying into Damascus, although theres suspicion that some commercial flights serve as cover for weapons transfers from Iran. The Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a right-leaning think tank that has criticized the nuclear deal Iran struck with world powers, has said Pouya Air is the latest name for a long-sanctioned airline. It also has accused Pouya Air of funneling arms from Iran into Yemens capital of Sanaa to supply Shiite rebels there. Emanuele Ottolenghi, a senior fellow at the foundation, said he tracked a fourth cargo flight from Iran to Syria on Wednesday night, an Airbus A300 operated by Mahan Air, which is suspected of ties to Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. He also called one of the cargo flights, a Qeshm Fars Air Boeing 747, especially suspicious because the airline stopped operating in 2013, only to resume flights to Damascus three weeks ago. We dont know for sure, but lets say that we can fairly safely assume that the weaponry and fighters reach Damascus through these daily flights, Ottolenghi told The Associated Press. The explosions near Damascus reverberated across the capital, seat of Assads power. Syrias state-run SANA news agency said Israel had fired several missiles from inside the occupied Golan Heights, 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Damascus, striking a military installation southwest of the airport that serves both military and civilian flights. It reported damage but no casualties. The buildings shook from the force of the blast, said a media activist who goes by Salam al-Ghoutawi of the Ghouta Media Center in the opposition-held northeastern suburbs, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the airport. He said he heard the roar of jets in the distance. Explosions were silhouetted against the night sky in a video published by the center. Debris was seen flying out as the explosions illuminated a sizeable cloud nearby. Hezbollahs al-Manar media station reported a blast at fuel tanks and a warehouse next to the airport, which is 25 kilometers (16 miles) east of central Damascus. The Syrian military said in a statement the attack sought to raise the morale of terrorist groups the government maintains are fighting Assads forces. It made no mention of whether it would respond. Israel is widely believed to have carried out airstrikes in recent years on advanced weapons systems in Syria - including Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles and Iranian-made missiles - as well as on Hezbollah positions. It rarely comments on such operations. Last month, Syria fired missiles at Israeli jets after they struck targets in Syria, in a rare military exchange between the two adversaries. Hezbollah is an avowed enemy of Israel, and the two sides fought a monthlong war in 2006. Tensions between them along the Lebanon-Israel border have risen in recent weeks, with each side warning of a much more serious confrontation. Some Israeli officials have also recently been threatening grave damage to the Lebanese civilian infrastructure in case of a new conflict with Hezbollah, apparently in hopes the country can somehow rein in the militia. Yahya, the analyst, said Israel is increasingly worried about the potential arsenal that Hezbollahs could acquire and the weapons already available in Syria. Most likely they see a window of opportunity where their intervention can degrade Hezbollahs military power, she said. The conflict in Syria, which pits Assad and his regional allies against local and foreign opposition forces, has killed more than 400,000 people since it began in 2011. The civil war is further complicated by militant factions such as al-Qaidas affiliate in Syria and the even more powerful Islamic State group, which in 2014 seized a large chunk of territory but lately has been losing ground in the face of a campaign by a U.S.-led international coalition. Russia, another key Assad ally, denounced what it called an act of aggression against Syria. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova did not directly blame Israel for Thursdays explosion, but she cited Syrian media as saying Israel was responsible. In other developments, at least 19 people were killed in air raids across rebel-held Idlib province in the northwest. Some appeared to target ambulances and medical centers. The Civil Defense, a search-and-rescue organization, said four medical staff were killed in an attack on a university hospital in the town of Deir Sharqi, and four paramedics or ambulance operators died in an airstrike on an ambulance services in another town, Maarzita. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 19 civilians, including nine children, were killed around the province. The Civil Defense reported the same overall death toll. The activists believe Russia or the Syrian government launched the raids. U.S. jets also are known to strike in Idlib province, targeting al-Qaida-linked fighters. Associated Press writers Sarah El Deeb in Beirut, Ian Deitch in Jerusalem, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Albert Aji in Damascus contributed. This article was originally published on TIME.com BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday defended her foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel, whose meeting with a group critical of Israel's treatment of Palestinians prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel talks. Netanyahu said in an interview with a German newspaper he had tried to telephone Gabriel to clear the air after cancelling the talks but the visiting German foreign minister would not take his call. Asked if Gabriel had her backing, Merkel told the RND newspaper group: "Yes, he has that. We were in close contact during his visit to Israel." Netanyahu canceled talks with Gabriel on Tuesday after the minister met members of "Breaking the Silence," an Israeli organization often criticized by the Israeli government over its collection of testimonies from Israeli veterans about the army's treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank. Merkel said she often meets civil society groups during her foreign travels, adding the dispute "changes nothing in our conviction that support for the state of Israel is part of our raison d'etat." The dispute threatens to widen a rift between Israel and Germany over Jewish settlement building in the Israeli-occupied West Bank by Netanyahu's right-wing government. Netanyahu, who is also Israel's foreign minister, said he had tried to patch things up with Gabriel, telling German mass-selling daily Bild on Friday: "I wanted to telephone Foreign Minister Gabriel to explain my position and to clear things up, but he would not take the call." "I hope Gabriel meets me on his next trip to Israel rather than a radical fringe group that undermines Israel's security," he said. "It seems Mr. Netanyahu is under big pressure over what he has done," Gabriel said on Friday in Valletta. "This is why he is appearing in German newspapers." Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said Israeli officials had wanted Gabriel to meet representatives of Jewish West Bank settlers as a condition for the phone conversation, something the German side could not accept. "I do not welcome diplomats from other countries who visit Israel and meet organizations that call our soldiers war criminals. That is the reason why the meeting did not take place," Netanyahu told Bild. He added that relations between Israel and Germany were "extraordinarily strong" and that Israelis were thankful for Germany's help in maintaining Israel's security. Germany regards itself as one of Israel's closest allies and the cooperation and trade links are extensive. However, the legacy of the Nazi-era Holocaust, in which six million Jews were killed during World War Two, means relations are highly charged. In March, Germany canceled an annual meeting of German and Israeli leaders planned for May amid rising frustration in Berlin with settlement activity in the West Bank. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Hans-Edzard Busemann in Berlin and Tom Koerkemeier in Valletta; Writing by Paul Carrel and Joseph Nasr; Editing by Janet Lawrence) By Guy Faulconbridge and Kate Holton LONDON (Reuters) - Japanese leader Shinzo Abe asked Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday to ensure a smooth Brexit to allow Japanese companies to continue to operate as the United Kingdom exits the European Union. The leader of the world's third largest economy praised PM May for what he said were attempts to secure Brexit transparency and a transitional period to ease the United Kingdom's exit from the EU that is scheduled for March 2019. Since the shock June 23 Brexit vote, Japan has expressed unusually strong public concerns about the impact of Brexit on the United Kingdom, the second most important destination for Japanese investment after the United States. "The United Kingdom finds itself in the midst of major changes as it moves towards exiting the EU," Abe said through a translator after lunch with May at Chequers, the country house of the British prime minister. "I requested the prime minister for her continued consideration to ensure the smooth operations of businesses including Japanese companies," Abe said. May, an initial opponent of Brexit who won the top job in the political turmoil that followed the referendum vote and now has promised to make a success of the EU divorce, said she updated Abe on the preparations for Brexit. The outcome of the Brexit negotiations will shape the future of Britain's $2.6 trillion economy, the world's fifth biggest, and determine whether London can keep its place as one of the top two global financial centers. "I continue to have confidence in the economy of the UK after Brexit," Abe said, adding that Japan and the United Kingdom were the closest of allies on security matters in Asia. BREXIT? May said she wanted to ensure "the UK remains the best place in Europe to run and grow a business, whether it's one operating at home or abroad." Japanese companies including carmaker Nissan and conglomerate Hitachi have invested more than 40 billion pounds ($52 billion) in the United Kingdom. They employ a total of 140,000 people in the country. "It is important for the global economy that Brexit takes place smoothly and successfully," Abe said. "I evaluate highly the fact that the UK is focusing on securing transparency, predictability and introducing a transitional period." May mentioned SoftBank's purchase of Britain's most valuable technology company ARM, Nissan's commitment to build the new Qashqai model at their plant in Sunderland and Toyota's 240 million pound investment in Derby as evidence that Japanese business was confident about Brexit. May has said she wants a Brexit deal which will enable Nissan and other automakers to flourish in Britain, and last year the Japanese company said it had received assurances allowing it to increase production at its plant in Sunderland, northeast England. In October, Nissan said it would go ahead with plans to build the next X-Trail and Qashqai SUVs at its Sunderland plant, but gave no details on the type of assurances it had received that the site's export competitiveness would not be harmed. "In a situation where protectionist trends are becoming pronounced in the world, Japan and Europe and the United States must keep the flag of free trade hoisted high," Abe said. "Japan and the UK see themselves as the standard bearers of free trade." ($1 = 0.7730 pounds) (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Michael Holden and Ralph Boulton) Argentine President Mauricio Macri flew to Washington this week to present a new image of his country. Once mired in debt and feuds with foreign creditors, Macri wants the world to know that Argentina is back open for business. But theres a big hitch in his sales pitch, and it has to do with a chemical-laden river in New Jersey. Argentinas state-controlled oil company, YPF SA, is mired in a heated legal dispute over who foots the bill to clean up a New Jersey river saturated with pollution. The state legislature accused YPF of trying to duck out on its responsibility to help clean up the mess that one of its subsidiaries is legally on the hook for, even though it filed for bankruptcy last year. Both chambers of the New Jersey state legislature have called on Trumps Justice Department to investigate, and they say the buck stops with Macri. The legal dispute could cloud Macris international campaign to present a new above-the-board face for Argentinas business climate. Its also embroiled the state oil company in a potentially costly legal mess at a time when Argentina needs its energy revenues the most. And if YPF manages to avoid footing the bill, New Jersey lawmakers say, it could provide a blueprint for companies to escape future environmental damage claims. The story dates back to the 1980s, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first measured off-the-charts pollution levels in New Jerseys Passaic River, thanks in large part to a spillage from a nearby chemical company, Diamond Shamrock Chemicals, which produced Agent Orange, among other toxic chemicals. In 1983, Maxus Energy Corporation bought Diamond Shamrock, legal liabilities and all, and then YPF bought Maxus for $762 million in 1995, thereby inheriting a share of the Passaic River cleanup burden, New Jersey lawmakers say. In 2016, the EPA finally completed a plan to clean up the Passaic River, one of the largest of the EPAs so-called Superfund sites requiring hazardous waste cleanup. (New Jersey has 100 Superfund sites more than any other state in the country). Story continues The cleanup for the Passaic River, dubbed the Diamond Alkali Superfund site, is a massive undertaking that requires dredging 3.5 million cubic yards of contaminated soil. The task could cost $1.38 billion, though other government estimates price the total environmental and economic damage at $5.5 billion. The Passaic River has been seriously damaged by over a century of pollution, EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck said in March. Extraordinarily high concentrations of dioxin, PCBs, heavy metals and pesticides have robbed the people of New Jersey from being able to use this natural resource. With Trump poised to gut EPA funding by as much as 31 percent, the cleanup effort needs all the outside funding it can get. But when New Jersey turned to YPF to help foot the bill, the company said it couldnt afford to pitch in at the levels the state wanted. YPFs subsidiary Maxus filed for bankruptcy in June 2016, so the company said it was fresh out of money to help out. But the New Jersey state legislature and other businesses involved in the legal battle say this bankruptcy was by design. They claim YPF undertook a premeditated plan, years in the making, to strip Maxus of its assets and force it into bankruptcy to shirk its duty to the Passaic River cleanup. The timing of this bankruptcy filing was no coincidence. It was, we believe, part of YPFs master plan to attempt to make Maxus environmental liabilities evaporate from YPFs balance sheet, Frank Parigi, a lawyer with Occidental Chemical Corporation, told a New Jersey Senate committee hearing this month. Occidental Chemical Corporation is another one of dozens of companies involved in the legal battles over who pays what to clean up the the Superfund site. And just two months after the bankruptcy filing, the Wall Street Journal reported YPF managed to raise $1.75 billion in bonds from Wall Street one of the most successful Argentine corporate bond sales in history. Leading lawmakers to believe YPF wasnt as cash-strapped as it first led on. For New Jersey legislators at wits end over the legal battle, the buck stops with Macri. Though he doesnt oversee day-to-day operations of YPF, the oil company is 51 percent state-owned, and Macris government hand-picked YPFs top leadership. Mounting evidence of fraud committed by [YPF] against U.S. taxpayers shows Macri has a long way to go, New Jersey state Sen. Bob Smith and Assemblyman Tim Eustace wrote in an op-ed for NorthJersey.com Friday. Its precisely the kind of bad deal Trump railed against as a candidate and that his administration needs to undo, they wrote. The case comes as Argentina works to repair its economic image abroad, left in tatters after its 2001 financial crisis that forced it to default on $100 billion in debt one of the largest sovereign defaults in history. Macris market-oriented reforms slowed the countrys economic hemorrhage, but didnt stop it. The countrys economy contracted 1.9 percent in January and 2.2 percent in February, dashing hopes his reforms could quickly turn the countrys economy around. [Macris] reforms are effective, but take time. Which he may not have politically, said Shannon ONeil, an Argentina expert with the Council on Foreign Relations. Growth hasnt picked up as fast as everyone hopes. The question is if Argentines, who so far have given him the benefit of the doubt, continue to do so, she added. She said the reforms, including pricey social program, rely on a steady stream of government revenue including from oil and gas; Argentina has the fourth-largest shale oil and gas reserves in the world. That makes the state-owned oil giant all the more crucial for Argentinas road to recovery and Macris political future. The U.S. government is challenging YPFs subsidiary Maxus on its bankruptcy filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. In court filings submitted April 16, the U.S. government claims the natural resource damages to the Superfund site total $5.5 billion. If Maxus, and by extension, YPF was found responsible for covering these damages, it could put a huge dent in the companys value, estimated at some $24 billion. YPF agreed to pay $130 million to cover environmental costs for the cleanup thats only around 2.3 percent of the total cost the U.S. government claims. Occidental Chemical, which bought Maxus chemical business in 1986 but claims YPF is responsible for the bulk of the legal liabilities, agreed to spend $165 million on the work to begin cleaning the Passaic River. YPF did not respond to FPs request for comment, but in past statements said Occidental Chemical is merely trying to shift blame to pay less money for the clean up. Maxus has certain contractual obligations to Occidental related to the Passaic River, and it has fulfilled those obligations, including after Maxus was purchased by YPF, a YPF spokesman told the Wall Street Journal on April 18. Maxus was forced to seek bankruptcy protection after it exhausted its ability to continue paying. The legal drama wasnt at the top of the agenda if it was even on the agenda at all for Trump and Macris meeting, but it could dog the relationship in the future. New Jersey legislators plan to make a lot of noise in Washington over the issue, and want to see Congress hold Argentinas feet to the fire. That could throw a wrench into Macris plans to pitch a new Argentina to the United States. Photo credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images Jesse Watters, one of the hosts of the show "The Five" on Fox News, who has been facing backlash for his comments on Ivanka Trump, announced on air Wednesday night that he was going on for a vacation with his family and will return Monday. The announcement came days after former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly also announced his abrupt vacation on his show "The O'Reilly Factor." Im going to be taking a vacation with my family, so Im not going to be here tomorrow... Ill be back on Monday, so dont miss me too much," Watters said on the show. His show "The Five" was moved to the primetime time slot after Fox announced O'Reilly's departure. Read: Jesse Watters Denies His Ivanka Trump Comment Was Sexist Or Lewd The sudden announcement by Watters came at a time when Fox News is engulfed in multiple allegations of sexual harassment that led to resignations of O'Reilly, and Fox News founder and CEO Roger Ailes. The controversy surrounding Watters started Tuesday when he commented on footage of Ivanka Trump being booed on stage at an international summit in Berlin to discuss women entrepreneurs, where German Chancellor Angela Merkel was also present. "Its funny, the left says they really respect women, and then when given an opportunity to respect a woman like that, they boo and hiss. So I dont really get whats going on here, but I really liked how she was speaking into that microphone," he said. Watters' comments were reportedly interpreted as a sexual innuendo by critics. He clarified in a tweet Wednesday that his comment referred to Ivanka's voice and how it resonated like a smooth jazz radio DJ. In September, Watters was criticized over a segment where he reportedly conducted a series of mocking interviews of Asian-Americans in New York City's Chinatown. Critics called the five-minute segment, which aired on "The O'Reilly Factor," racist. In it, Watters was asking people in Chinatown about the 2016 election campaign and U.S.-China relations. However, more than listening to the opinions of people he questioned, he made fun of them and even asked them if he should bow when saying hello. Story continues New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the segment vile. Councilman Peter Koo said in a statement: Passing off this blatantly racist television segment as gentle fun not only validates racist stereotypes, it encourages them. The entire segment smacks of willful ignorance by buying into the perpetual foreigner syndrome," according to the New York Times. "I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings," Watters told Independent Journal Review at the time. He added: "I go into it thinking how can I listen to them and have them share with me their thoughts and opinions in a way that doesn't come across as mean." "I try to make it enjoyable for the person I'm interviewing," he told the Philadelphia Daily News in December. "We always come away from the interview all smiles, for the most part." Related Articles Woman beaten in captivity by husband, in-laws over dowry A 22-year-old was tortured in captivity for three days by her husband and in-laws over dowry dispute in Golbazaar, Siraha, before she was rescued by neighbours on Tuesday. By Koh Gui Qing and Michael Erman NEW YORK (Reuters) - When Kentucky's public pension put U.S. buyout firm KKR & Co LP in charge of its hedge fund investments in May 2015, its board expected the deal to save money and boost its returns. For the Wall Street firm the deal paid off - over more than a year its unit, KKR Prisma, increased by nearly half the amount of money it managed on Kentuckys behalf and its fee income rose by at least a quarter, according to KKR Prisma documents seen by Reuters. Kentucky, so far, has come up short. While KKR promised to cut its fees and make one of its portfolio managers available to oversee investments at no cost, Kentucky's hedge fund fee expenses rose at least 11 percent last year, according to estimates provided by the pension fund. KKR said the increase in Kentucky's fee expenses was in part because the discount was only effective from August last year, more than a year after the partnership started. Kentucky declined to explain why the discount kicked in later. At the same time, those hedge fund investments failed to beat its benchmark index last year for the first time in five years. To be sure, neither the setbacks nor the promised benefits would have radically changed Kentucky's dire condition as one of the nation's most underfunded public pension funds, with just over $16 billion in assets and a $18 billion funding shortfall. But the deal highlights the potential pitfalls cash-strapped public pension funds face as they scramble to shore up their finances by chasing discounts and riskier investments. Hedge funds promise higher returns, but are more complex and riskier than, say, government bonds. In Kentucky's case, the pension fund's concern about near-term savings made it effectively hand over the reins to a Wall Street firm, said Lynn Stout, a corporate and business law professor and governance expert at Cornell Law School. Kentucky has basically abdicated the throne, Stout said. "It's governance failure at the pension fund." Story continues What, besides a promise of lower fees, clinched the deal for KKR Prisma, making it the top manager of about $1.65 billion in Kentucky's hedge fund investments, was an offer to let an executive work for two weeks per month out of Kentucky's Frankfort office overseeing the portfolio. It was "like having a free staff member," David Peden, who was the pension fund's chief investment officer at the time, told Reuters. He said KKR approached him after it learned he could not find a qualified candidate to run hedge fund investments, at least not for the money Kentucky could afford.(Graphic: http://tmsnrt.rs/2p8uqEa) Peden, who worked at Prisma a decade ago and before it was taken over by KKR, said that relationship essentially "made it unnecessary to do a competitive process." He said he used the discretion given by the fund's guidelines to recommend the deal without a soliciting other bids. Kentucky terminated Peden's employment in January and neither would comment on his departure. However, last June, Governor Matt Bevin moved to limit the pension systems riskier hedge fund investments in response to funding pressures, and they may get phased out entirely. Girish Reddy, co-founder of KKR Prisma, described the deal as a strategic partnership that benefited Kentucky pensioners by giving them access to KKRs resources. We all want to maintain long-term relationships with any client, and I think providing these services at low or no cost are ways to build that relationship over the years, Reddy told Reuters. Rich Robben, Kentucky's current acting chief investment officer, rejected criticism that the fund gave too much control to the Wall Street firm. "The responsibility for making the investments lies with the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Retirement Systems," he said. Kentucky did not adhere strictly to the originally proposed investment plan that would have entitled it to a bigger discount, the fund said, with fees ultimately falling to 55 basis points from 70 basis points of the investments' value. KKR Prisma originally proposed to cut the fees to 45 basis points in a presentation to the board seen by Reuters. Kentucky is not alone in striking a partnership with a Wall Street firm. Ultimately whether it works for the pension fund comes down to what the partners bring to the table, said Matthew Rhodes-Kropf, visiting associate professor of finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and managing partner at venture capital firm Tectonic Ventures. In general, discounts were more readily offered by fund managers that underperformed their peers, while bigger, better funds tended to get better deals, he said. Rhodes-Kropf was the lead author of a Harvard Business School case study about a partnership between KKR and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. KKR manages about $10 billion for the fund together with another buyout firm Apollo Global Management, LLC, according to the pension funds annual report. Neither KKR, nor Apollo, nor the Texas pension fund, which manages $133 billion in total, would comment on their agreement or the fund's performance. The study showed that unlike Kentucky, Texas had several partnerships, including a $1 billion tie-up with the now-defunct Lehman Brothers. The Texas fund also negotiated to pay less if some of the investments performed poorly. Its really a question of: Do you have enough money to ask for a better deal? Theres no question theres some risk to these partnerships," Rhodes-Kropf said. "But if you get a big enough fee discount, then it may be worth the risk. (Editing by Carmel Crimmins and Tomasz Janowski) Police officer using baton on protester A police officer uses his baton on a protester at the corner of First St. and Broadway, April 29, 1992, in Los Angeles, after the acquittal of four Los Angeles Police officers for the videotaped beating of Rodney King. (Photo: Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) The 1992 Los Angeles riots began on April 29, 1992, after the acquittal of four LAPD police officers on trial for the beating of motorist Rodney King. Video of his treatment after a March 3, 1991, traffic stop drew international attention. Civil unrest, which included violence and looting, broke out on the streets of Los Angeles. More than 50 people died, and over 2,000 were injured. One of the most noted incidents of violence was an attack by an angry mob on white truck driver Reginald Denny, which was captured by a news helicopters camera and widely seen. The 1992 Los Angeles riots ended on May 4, 1992. (AP) See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr Los Angeles (AFP) - Joseph Joffo's childhood came to an end at the age of 10, when his father gave him and his brother 5,000 francs each and instructions to flee Paris and escape the Nazis. The boys were told they must never let anyone know they were Jews as they went on the run -- by foot, train and ferry -- from Hitler's feared SS secret police in occupied France. Joffo's 1973 autobiographical novel "A Bag of Marbles" recounted their incredible journey, their capture and subsequent escape, and became a global phenomenon, made into a film and a graphic novel. Now a lavish remake by Canadian filmmaker Christian Duguay ("Boot Camp," "Joan of Arc") starring French singing and screen legend Patrick Bruel gets its North American premiere at the Colcoa festival of French Film in Los Angeles on Saturday. Opening in 1941 in occupied Paris, "A Bag of Marbles" introduces cinemagoers to Joseph (Dorian Le Clech) and Maurice (Batyste Fleurial) at age 10 and 12 as they scramble home to the barbershop run by their father, Roman (Bruel). Roman realizes that the boys' best chance to escape the coming Nazi roundup is to leave the close-knit family and flee to their older brothers in the demilitarized "zone libre" on the French Riviera. Always just one false move from tragedy, they survive on every scrap of ingenuity and courage they can muster as they try to make their money -- the equivalent of about $815 each -- last and overcome extraordinary odds to elude the Nazis. "The most important thing is how strong the brothers' relationship was," Bruel, 57, told AFP. "Because they were so strong together, they made it. Because they loved each other, they made it." - 'Very scary' - Although Jacques Doillon's 1975 version of Joffo's story is regarded as a masterpiece, Duguay and his partners felt the story had enough untapped potential to warrant a remake that would follow the book more faithfully. Story continues Initially unenthusiastic about the prospect of starring in another war movie after 2007's "A Secret," Bruel was persuaded when he learned it would show the Holocaust from children's point of view. "We must never let people forget what happened, and we have to try to do our best to tell, inform, show, talk, explain," he told AFP. "Kids are a fantastic way to talk to kids. The identification of the two little boys can resonate in the minds of kids of the same generation." The film's release comes with the rise of the far right in Europe and the United States, and particularly the success of Front National leader Marine Le Pen in the French presidential election's first round last week, serving as a reminder of the perils of untrammeled populism. "Ten days before the election, in France we are all very scared of seeing Marine Le Pen being president because it's possible," Bruel said in a Q&A at Colcoa just ahead of his interview with AFP. "The extreme right goes all over Europe, everywhere. What is happening everywhere is very scary." Bruel, who has made ten studio albums and more than 50 films, found stepping into Roman Joffo's shoes relatively easy, as his own two boys are the same age as the movie's young stars. - Pressure - The atmosphere was tense during parts of the filming, which took place just days after Islamists massacred 137 people in cafes, restaurants, a concert hall, kosher supermarket and the Stade de France in Paris. Bruel's children had been in the stadium just a few days before it was targeted by three suicide bombers from the Islamic State group. "Emotionally, everybody was very under pressure, so we didn't have to go very far into our deep emotions to be in the situation," Bruel said. Joffo, now 86, didn't initially intend to publish "A Bag of Marbles," wanting simply to "leave a testimony" to his children and to exorcize his own demons. A friend persuaded him to send it to publishers and, after more than a dozen rejections, a small publishing house agreed on an initial print run of 30,000 copies. They sold in less than a month and the book went on to sell 20 million copies. Bruel remembers Joffo breaking down in tears after seeing the movie for the first time, turning to the star saying: "You went further than what an actor can do -- you gave me back my father." "We had a lot of good times. He's a funny guy. He's a very light person," Bruel said of his meetings with Joffo." "He came on the set and we had lunch and we talked. He was happy that they cast me to be the father." By Malik Fahad At least 13 people have been arrested in Sembabule district for allegedly distributing anonymous letters threatening people that they will be attacked and murdered. The suspects are said to be part of a group of thugs that are terrorizing different parts of Masaka region. The fliers the suspects were allegedly distributing named places and dates on which the attacks would be orchestrated. Ssembabule District Police Commander Denis Musinguzi says that the group was arrested in separate operations conducted in the district. Musinguzi says that Police is still hunting for others who are still at large. He has however asked the residents to stay calm adding that police has beefed up security. Musinguzi says that the suspects are soon going to be taken to courts of law when police investigations into the matter are finalized. Paris (AFP) - The party of French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen changed its interim leader for the second time in four days on Friday after her first stand-in was accused of praising the work of a Holocaust denier. Le Pen announced on Monday she was temporarily stepping aside as leader of the National Front (FN) to remain "above partisan considerations" while campaigning in the second round of the presidential election. She goes head-to-head against centrist Emmanuel Macron in a runoff on May 7. Jean-Francois Jalkh, an FN member of the European Parliament, was named as her interim replacement but immediately became embroiled in controversy over remarks about World War II Nazi gas chambers -- a subject that has repeatedly tripped up Le Pen. In an interview for a French academic journal published in 2005, Jalkh said: "On the problem of the gas chambers... we should be able to talk about this problem." According to the author of the journal entitled "Le Temps des Savoirs" (The Time of Knowledge), Jalkh praised the work of Robert Faurisson, a convicted Holocaust denier. "What I'm saying, and what really surprised me, in the work of a genuine negationist or revisionist... is the well-worked, rigorous nature of the argument put forward," Jalkh was quoted as saying. On Friday, the FN announced that Steeve Briois, the popular mayor of the northern town of Henin-Beaumont, would take over from Jalkh. "Mr Briois will take over the interim leadership and there'll be no more talk about it," FN vice president Louis Aliot told BFMTV news channel. Aliot said Jalkh denied making the remarks about the Holocaust. Jalkh, who is also accused of illegal campaign financing over Le Pen's failed 2012 presidential bid, did not return repeated requests for comment by AFP. Le Pen has sought to purge the FN of the anti-Semitism that has been the hallmark of her firebrand father, party co-founder Jean-Marie Le Pen. She kicked her father out of the party for repeatedly claiming that the Nazi gas chambers were a "detail" of World War II. By Maya Nikolaeva and John Irish PARIS/CHATELLERAULT, France (Reuters) - Marine Le Pen's bid to defy the odds and win the French presidency risked a setback on Friday when her designated stand-in as National Front party leader stood down to defend himself against charges he shares the views of Holocaust deniers. After an intense day of campaigning ahead of a May 7 run-off vote in which both the far-right's Le Pen and her centrist opponent Emmanuel Macron were carried back to the events of World War Two, surveys continued to show the independent Macron well ahead. But in a couple of potential blows to the centrist favorite, defeated far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon stopped short of endorsing him, despite telling his faithful not to vote for Le Pen. Election graphic: http: //tmsnrt.rs/2p6zUPE First round election graphic: http://tmsnrt.rs/2lPduBG And another loser from the first round, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, endorsed Le Pen, as expected. The abrupt departure of Jean-Francois Jalkh from the National Front (FN) party leadership before he had even taken on the job raised ghosts of the FN's past and revived a furor sparked by Le Pen's father when he called the Nazi gas chambers a "detail" of history. The renewed controversy threatens moves by Le Pen, who expelled her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, from the party two years ago, to cleanse the FN's image of xenophobic and anti-semitic associations and make it more palatable to a broader electorate. "There comes a time when the women and men of France must open their eyes to where the National Front comes from," Macron's campaign director Richard Ferrand said. The presidential contest has blown apart traditional party loyalties, presenting voters with a stark choice between a resurgent far right, once a pariah in French politics, and a man whose political movement is less than a year old and who has never held elected office. It sets Macron's enthusiasm for the European Union and call for pro-business reforms to boost growth against Le Pen's desire for France to close its borders to immigrants, unwind EU institutions and restrict imports to protect jobs. Most opinion polls show him winning next Sunday, with 60 percent or more of the vote, a slightly smaller margin than a week ago. Jalkh, a long-time ally of Le Pen senior who founded the National Front, was one of 35 FN members elected to parliament in the mid-1980s. He had been due to take over as interim party chief, a post Marine Le Pen has vacated to focus on the presidential race. FN officials said Jalkh denies the allegations linking him to Holocaust deniers, and Le Pen herself later told BFM TV "there is no one in the leadership of the National Front who defends this sort of thesis". At issue are comments attributed to Jalkh in a conversation with a researcher in 2005 about the work of a professor convicted more than once for questioning the scale of Jewish extermination in Nazi gas chambers during World War Two. Also unearthed was a 1991 report that said Jalkh attended a rally held by supporters of Marshal Philippe Petain, French wartime leader and Nazi collaborator, in July of that year. Le Pen's father has been convicted of inciting racial hatred for his remarks on the Holocaust, and referred to them himself as recently as 2015. GAY MARRIAGE JIBE A thorn in her side, the 88 year-old has refused to be silent as his daughter bids for power. He courted controversy again on Friday, saying a remembrance ceremony for a policeman killed last week by an attacker in Paris "exalted" the concept of gay marriage by giving the policeman's male partner the stage to speak in his memory. Marine Le Pen attended the state ceremony with other political figures including Macron, and distanced herself from her father's comment on Friday. "I felt it was a very dignified ceremony and I was very moved by the speech of his partner," she said. As Le Pen and her party grappled with the latest turn of events, Macron had troubles too. Melenchon, who came fourth in the election with about one on five votes of which about 40 percent are expected to back Macron, stopped short of endorsing him in a video released on YouTube. Fringe right-wing candidate Dupont-Aignan, meanwhile, gave his backing to Le Pen as expected. He gathered 4.7 percent of the first round vote. Macron on Friday campaigned at a village preserved as a monument to inhabitants killed by German SS soldiers in 1944. "Deciding not to remember is to take the risk of repeating history," the 39-year-old said in Oradour-sur-Glane, near Limoges in central France, a thinly veiled attack on Le Pen for the anti-immigrant policies he says are fuelling divisions in French society. Macron later gave a speech in Chatellerault, western France, taking his election battle to rural areas where disgruntled farmers have increasingly shied away from politicians or turned to the far-right following years of crisis. (Additional reporting by Cyril Camu; Writing by Brian Love; Editing by Andrew Callus and Andrew Heavens) DNA from two extinct human relatives the Neanderthals, and a mysterious branch of humanity called the Denisovans has been detected in the ancient mud of caves, even though those caves hold no fossils of those individuals, new research shows. The finding suggests that scientists could detect such extinct lineages in places devoid of skeletal remains, the researchers said. This technique, if verified, could fill blank spots in scientists' understanding of how and where humans evolved, according to the authors of the new study describing the finding. [Denisovan Gallery: Tracing the Genetics of Human Ancestors] Human remains are scarce The ancestors of modern humans once shared the world with archaic human lineages such as the Neanderthals the closest extinct relatives of modern humans as well as the Denisovans. Little is known about the Denisovans, but scientists think this ancient human relative might have roamed a vast range stretching from Siberia to Southeast Asia. DNA extracted from fossilized bones and teeth of Neanderthals and Denisovans has revealed many secrets about human evolution, such as how modern humans interbred with both lineages. But although there are numerous prehistoric sites that hold tools and other artifacts from ancient humans such as the ancestors of modern humans, or members of extinct human lineages their skeletal remains are scarce, thus limiting research into human evolution. Moreover, the ancient human fossils that archaeologists do unearth do not always have enough suitable DNA for genetic analysis. "Humans are a very small proportion of the fauna found in caves," said study senior author Matthias Meyer, a geneticist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. "In most excavation sites, if you find thousands of bones from animals, you're very lucky if you find one human tooth or a long-bone fragment." Story continues No bones, no problem Scientists took samples from different layers of this sediment profile in Trou Al'Wesse cave in Belgium. They ran genetic analyses on the samples. Monika V. Knul Instead, Meyer and his colleagues investigated whether ancient sediments found in caves might latch on to DNA. "We know that with DNA preserved in bones, the DNA binds to the mineral component of bone, so the same can, in principle, happen in sediments full of minerals," Meyer said. The scientists collected 85 samples of sediment covering a time span from 14,000 to more than 550,000 years ago, from seven sites in Belgium, France, Spain, Croatia and Russia, where previous research suggested ancient humans once lived. These sites included Denisova Cave in Siberia, which is where Denisovan fossils were first discovered. The researchers identified DNA from a variety of mammals, including woolly mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, cave bears and cave hyenas. Mixed in with this animal DNA were small traces of human DNA: The researchers found Neanderthal DNA in four caves, and Denisovan DNA in Denisova Cave. "The fact that sediment can indeed preserve DNA from extinct humans that lived there thousands of years ago is a pretty amazing finding," Meyer said. In addition, at each of the two sites where the researchers did not discover DNA from ancient humans, they had only a few samples to analyze, Meyer noted. "Maybe if we looked at more samples from each site, we'd find Neanderthal or Denisovan DNA as well," he said. DNA potential The scientists aren't sure what part of the bodies of the extinct human lineages this DNA came from for instance, skin flakes, hairs or bodily fluids such as sweat or blood. "Another possibility stems from how, in many sites, we find a lot of hyena DNA," Meyer said. "Maybe the hyenas were eating human corpses outside the caves, and went into the caves and left feces there, and maybe entrapped in the hyena feces was human DNA." Most of the DNA from extinct humans that was recovered came from layers of sediment where no human fossils had been found previously. This suggests that, in the future, DNA could help researchers detect the presence of humans even in the absence of their skeletal remains, the study authors said. For instance, "there are some very interesting open questions regarding the Denisovans we only have fossils of them from a single site in Russia, but we know they must have been much more widespread due to the pattern of interbreeding we see with modern humans," Meyer said. "By looking for DNA, there's the chance we can find many more Denisovan sites than we would by just looking for bones or teeth." One concern, however, is that DNA could seep across layers of sediment, thus making it difficult to figure out when, specifically, extinct humans or others lived at a site. (The deeper a layer of sediment is, the older it usually is.) Still, the research team "didn't find any obvious evidence of DNA movement," Meyer said, "but it's certainly a possibility that needs to be investigated for every site." Depending on how well DNA is preserved in any given cave, scientists "could learn much more information," Meyer added. "There's big potential here," he said, "and we need to do more work to understand just how big that potential is." The scientists detailed their findings online today (April 27) in the journal Science. Originally published on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Skopje (AFP) - Scores of people were injured as violence erupted in Macedonia's parliament after nationalist protesters stormed the building in anger over a vote for a new speaker, the interior ministry said Friday. The chaos in Skopje broke out on Thursday evening, with dozens of demonstrators -- including a group of masked men -- breaking a police cordon and entering parliament waving Macedonian flags, shouting and singing the national anthem. Footage from the scene showed chairs being thrown as fistfights broke out in the parliamentary press room, while Zoran Zaev, leader of the opposition Social Democrats (SDSM), had blood running down his face and shirt. One female SDSM deputy is seen yanked by the hair while other women climb down from a balcony in a bid to escape. An interior ministry statement on Friday said 102 people had been treated at city hospitals, including MPs and police officers. Interior Minister Agim Nuhiu earlier told media that 10 MPs and an unspecified number of journalists were among those hurt in the violence, which was condemned by the United States and European Union. The ministry said the situation was "normalised" on Friday morning but that there were "additional measures and activities to protect the security of citizens". The incident follows two years of political crisis in the Balkan country, where nationalist demonstrators -- who support the conservative VMRO-DPMNE party -- have been holding nightly rallies since an inconclusive December election. They oppose a proposed coalition between the SDSM and ethnic Albanians, which they perceive as a threat to national unity. VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski was Macedonia's premier for a decade until last year. Thursday's turmoil broke out after the SDSM and Albanian parties voted in a new parliamentary speaker, ethnic Albanian Talat Xhaferi. Their opponents say the vote was unfair, taking place after the former speaker had closed the day's session, but the EU said it took "positive note" of Xhaferi's election. Story continues Most of the injured deputies were from the SDSM party, but ethnic Albanian MP Ziadin Sela appeared to be one of the most badly wounded. Police eventually took control of the parliament, using stun grenades to clear out the protesters. President Gjorge Ivanov made a brief televised speech late Thursday, appealing for calm and inviting party leaders to his office on Friday to discuss the situation. By Ronnie Cohen (Reuters Health) - U.S. public health officials declared victory over malaria in 1951, but the mosquito-borne disease continues to infect and kill American travelers, a new study shows. From 2000 through 2014, more than 22,000 people with malaria were hospitalized in the U.S., including 182 who died from it, according to estimates published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Using hospitalization data, researchers found an average of more than 2,100 U.S. malaria cases a year nearly double the number previously reported. Most of those hospitalized for malaria in the U.S. are men. A majority are black, most likely foreign-born individuals who traveled abroad, frequently to their countries of origin, where they often fail to realize they are no longer immune to the deadly parasitic disease, lead author Diana Khuu said in a phone interview. We need to encourage travelers to seek pre-travel advice and to use personal protective measures against mosquitoes and anti-malarial medications when they travel to malarious countries, said Khuu, an epidemiologist at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Because a lot of people are not using these preventive measures, its resulting in a lot of hospitalizations and in half a billion dollars in hospital charges from 2000 to 2014, she said. Insecticide-treated bed nets have been credited with spurring a 41 percent drop in worldwide malaria incidence and a 62 percent drop in worldwide malaria deaths over the past 15 years. Despite the progress, malaria infected an estimated 212 million people and killed an estimated 429,000 in 2015. Nearly 90 percent of cases were in children under age 5 in Africa, where malaria claims a childs life every two minutes, according to a statement from the National Institutes of Health this week on World Malaria Day, April 25. Meanwhile, the number of imported malaria cases has steadily increased in the U.S. Dr. Stephen Gluckman of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia sees six to 10 patients a week who travel to malaria-risk areas in Africa, India, Southeast Asia and parts of South America. He attributes the increase in U.S. malaria cases to an increase in Americans traveling to developing parts of the world where the disease continues to threaten lives. He advises people traveling outside the U.S. to consult a bona fide travel clinic before departing. There are several options and significant nuances in advice for preventing malaria, he said in an email. Checking the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for travelers (http://bit.ly/2k74gQd) also can be helpful, but Gluckman, who was not involved with the study, believes individualized advice is superior. He warned that people infected with malaria might carry the disease for months or years before falling ill. In the meantime, an infected pregnant woman could pass malaria to her unborn child, and a mosquito could bite an unsuspecting infected person and pass malaria on when it bites another person. Moreover, Gluckman warned, there is a very large group of at-risk people who rarely get screened. These people grew up in developing parts of the world but now live in the U.S., he said. When returning to visit their country of origin, they very rarely seek any prevention advice because they grew up in a community that did not have access to prevention. They are difficult to reach but clearly could be accessed by the proper public health programs in the communities where they live in the U.S.A., he said. People who grew up in malaria-endemic areas, especially those who were exposed as children, do gain some natural protection, but they still can get malaria and therefore need to take preventive steps. In addition, spending long periods in a malaria-free area, like the U.S., can reduce immunity and render people more susceptible to infection. You can develop immunity, Khuu said. But after you move away, that immunity wanes. If they go back to visit, they might not use the preventive measures because they might think theyre still immune. And why do men appear to be more vulnerable, comprising 60 percent of the U.S. cases? Khuu believes they are less likely to seek pre-travel advice, less likely to use mosquito repellent and take anti-malarial medication, and their sweat might be more attractive to mosquitoes. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2oH8XyC American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, online April 24, 2017. (This story changes "foreigners" to "foreign-born individuals" in para 4.) By Kanupriya Kapoor and Karen Lema MANILA (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak warned on Friday that Southeast Asian countries needed to ensure their economic growth was inclusive, or risk marginalized people turning to violent extremism or even overturning political systems. "We know that those who see no hope in their own societies are more prone to the siren calls of terrorists who can exploit their vulnerability and fill them with their lies," Najib told an entrepreneurship event during an Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila. Islamist extremism is expected to be on the agenda, with fears for Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines about piracy, the rising threat of Islamic State and the ease with which militants can acquire weapons and move between countries. But the first order of the summit addressed a more pressing threat, as ASEAN called for calm from all involved in tensions on the Korean peninsula. U.S. President Donald Trump in an interview with Reuters said a "major, major conflict" was possible with North Korea over its missile programmes and China said the situation could slip out of control. In a rare, stand-alone statement, ASEAN urged North Korea and all parties concerned "to exercise self-restraint in order to de-escalate the tension and refrain from actions that may aggravate the situation". Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said all countries were worried. "The Korean peninsula is not that far from Southeast Asia. So whatever happens in the Korean peninsula, for sure it will affect us," she told Reuters. DANGERS OF DISPARITY Najib lauded the success of the 50-year-old ASEAN in expanding its collective gross domestic product to about $2.7 trillion, from $87 billion four decades ago, and said the region could become the world's fourth-largest economy. ASEAN has 10 members: Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Trade integration was lagging, Najib said, and tariff removal and harmonised customs standards needed to be "vigorously pursued". The Malaysian leader, whose premiership has been dogged by corruption allegations, which he rejects, and is expected to call an election this year, also warned that economic disparity could be politically destabilising. "The neglected underclass of those who felt left behind by economic growth, prosperity and globalisation can overturn elections and political systems," he said. Philippines Vice President Leni Robredo echoed Najib's call for leaders to pay more attention to their poor. "The voiceless and the powerless are now raring to be heard ... their frustrations are being felt on a global scale," she said in a speech. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will chair meetings of the ASEAN leaders on Saturday. He made it clear on Thursday that Beijing's contentious activities in the South China Sea - a divisive topic that figures at most ASEAN meetings - would not be discussed, because it would achieve nothing. Indonesia's Marsudi said the South China Sea issue was discussed among her counterparts but the focus was on completing guidelines for negotiating an ASEAN-China maritime code of conduct. Critics are sceptical and say China is trying to buy time while it develops islands it built from scratch, adding missiles and, according to some experts, the capability to deploy combat aircraft in disputed waters deep into Southeast Asia. ASEAN secretary general, Le Luong Minh, said the code needed to be legally binding to put a stop to "unilateral actions", because a previous commitment to play fair had been ignored. "It's important ... because of the complex developments in the South China Sea, especially the reclamation and militarization activities and all those unilateral actions," Minh told Reuters in an interview. "In that context, the need for an instrument which is legally binding." (Additional reporting by Neil Jerome Morales, Enrico dela Cruz and Manuel Mogato; Writing by Martin Petty) By Samuel Ssebuliba 76% of Ugandans are against amending the constitution to lift the presidential age limit. This is one of the findings of the 7th survey on peoples proposal to improve parliament and election in Uganda released by the African-led research Network, Afrobarometer. The findings indicate that there is overwhelming support for improving parliament and election in Uganda. Out of a sample size of 1,200 adults, 89% support the proposal to incriminate security agents and electoral officials who do not follow electoral laws. Further still 84% support the need for National dialogue, 94% want candidates who present forged academic papers stopped from contesting again while 66% do not want legislators to double as ministers. While presenting these findings, Francis Kibirige the national coordinator said that only 24% support the proposal to change constitution to accommodate presidential candidates who are above 75 years. The survey has noted that there is overwhelming public support for reforms to improve parliament and election while the most popular proposal was reducing the size of parliament as well as launching a National dialogue . The Survey was conducted between 26th December 2016 and 8th January 2017. You may think of multiple sclerosis as a physical condition, one that injures nerves and results in symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, trouble walking, bladder problems or vision loss. But MS has a profound, lifelong emotional component that includes mood swings, anxiety and depression. "MS is a chronic condition. Dealing with the emotional part of it requires an evolving approach, just like dealing with the neurological part of it," says Dr. Christopher Stewart, a neuropsychologist and assistant professor at Rush University Medical Center. [See: Am I Just Sad -- or Actually Depressed? ] The Emotional Link In MS, your immune system attacks the coating of the nerves (called myelin) as well as the nerve fibers. Damage can occur along the spinal cord and optic nerves, and in the brain. "Damage in areas of the brain associated with mood -- such as the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala -- may affect emotional processing," suggests Dr. Peter Arnett, a professor of psychology at Penn State University who's been studying emotional function in people with MS for 20 years. He says the interruption of nerve signals causes the neurons to misfire, which may lead to irritability and mood swings. MS is also commonly associated with anxiety disorders -- characterized by obsessive worrying or fear that doesn't go away -- and clinical depression, which can include persistent feelings of hopelessness or sadness that last for more than two weeks. Treatment guidelines issued in 2014 by the American Academy of Neurology suggest that over a lifetime, up to 54 percent of people with MS will experience depression at some point. "But a lot of people with MS may not yet be diagnosed. At any given time, more than 20 percent of people with MS may have depression," Arnett says. It's unclear why and when depression develops in people with MS. "It depends on the location of the lesions and the amount of brain atrophy (shrinkage) and disruption of pathways in the brain. That explains about 40 percent of depression in MS," Arnett explains. Story continues The rest, he believes, is associated with how people cope with MS. [See: Apps to Mind Your Mental Health.] Cascade of Emotions Stewart has noticed that people begin coping with MS before it's even diagnosed. "There's usually a period where the person starts experiencing some symptoms of MS, but doesn't know the underlying cause, and that can lead to a lot of anxiety," Stewart says. While it can be a relief to finally get a diagnosis, it can also be difficult to come to terms with a chronic condition that will have to be managed for life. "The biggest emotions initially are sadness and mourning. People worry about losing some daily functioning, and how that will affect them at home, in relationships and at work. It can be anxiety-provoking," Stewart says. "Some people do better in the adjustment period than others. It depends on the severity of symptoms," Arnett explains. "But we know that when people use coping strategies to actively address the problem, they're much better able to function." Tools to cope with the emotional side of MS are the same if you're in the beginning stages of the disease or if you've had it for a long time. Medical Approaches To treat MS-related depression or anxiety, your doctor will likely start by ruling out or addressing underlying conditions that can contribute to the problem, such as: -- Thyroid disorders -- Sleep problems, such as sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleep), restless leg syndrome or insomnia -- Side effects from medications, such as steroids, which may induce depression, according to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America -- Stress -- B12 deficiency -- Heart disease [See: 12 Best Heart-Healthy Diets.] Some MS symptoms may also fuel depression. A major culprit is fatigue, Arnett notes, which is also one of the biggest MS-related complaints. "If you can treat fatigue with medication or lifestyle changes, that's something that can improve depression," he says. "Don't wait until fatigue builds up and you feel exhausted. Take short breaks throughout the day." In severe cases of depression or anxiety, your doctor may prescribe medication, such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. Examples of SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac) or sertraline (Zoloft). These medications increase the availability of a brain chemical called serotonin, which helps regulate mood and anxiety. Do SSRIs affect people with MS differently than people who do not have brain or nerve damage? "They seem to work just as well, but it depends on the brain of that particular individual," Arnett says. However, SSRIs may have side effects, such as insomnia, which can fuel fatigue and depression, so it's important to monitor sleep problems while taking SSRIs. Strategies to Try at Home Other ways to keep MS-related emotions in check include the following lifestyle changes or coping strategies that you can employ on your own. Social support. "Many studies have shown that people who have more social support are less likely to be depressed. Don't withdraw from your friends. Go out for a cup of coffee, even if it's difficult. Join a support group. Get involved in an activity you enjoy or get involved in a group where you meet other people," Arnett suggests. "You need to find a way to still have relationships. Be flexible. You might not be able to physically run around at the park with your friends or kids, but it doesn't mean you can't go to the park," Stewart adds. Exercise. "Regular aerobic exercise can treat depression as well as medication or therapy in mild or moderate depression," Arnett says. He recommends 30 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise per day, such as brisk walking. Stress relief. "Your mood worsens when you're stressed. That can manifest in anxiety, nervousness and sadness," Stewart says. Try deep breathing, meditation or guided imagery. Volunteering. "This is key," Stewart says. "It gives you a sense of purpose. Maintaining that sense of purpose will help you get up every day. And again, be flexible. If you were work-oriented, maybe now you can become an advocate for patients with MS. It's a different kind of purpose than before the diagnosis." Does It Work? Not everyone responds to depression treatment, but that doesn't mean you should give up. "You need a team willing to continue working with you, even if the first treatment isn't as effective as you want. Talk often with your MS doctor and also your primary care physician, whom you might see more regularly," Stewart advises. "Depression is just as treatable in MS as it is in someone who doesn't have MS," Arnett says. "You can't change lesions in a brain, but you can build up social support or learn more active coping strategies or go through therapy, and that can improve mood. There's a lot of hope." Heidi Godman is a freelance health reporter for U.S. News. Her work has appeared in dozens of online and print publications, including the Harvard Health Letter (where she serves as executive editor), the Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sentinel and Cleveland Clinic Heart Advisor. Heidi also spent more than 20 years as a TV news anchor and health reporter. She's interviewed surgeons in operating rooms, scientists in laboratories and patients in all phases of treatment. Heidi has earned numerous awards for outstanding health reporting and was the first TV broadcaster in the nation to be named a journalism fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. Email Heidi at health@heidigodman.com. First Lady Melania Trump joined her husband President Donald Trump Thursday for a meeting with the Argentine President Mauricio Macria and his wife at the White House. The first lady has been known for her choice of elegant yet simple designer dresses; however she chose to stand out on Thursday donning a military-inspired olive green ensemble. She wore an army green colored skirt with a matching peplum-style blazer from Altuzarras Spring 2017 collection. The designer's gabardine military jacket had python-print piping on its seam and the jacket solely costs $2,995. While the matching skirt tailored with asymmetrical buttons added another $1,120 to the total price of the $4,115 ensemble. GettyImages-673952896 Photo: Getty Images Melania matched her edgy outfit with a pair of python Manolo Blahnik BB pumps which costs around $595 per pair. Her shoes perfectly matched with the piping of her designer ensemble. Even when Melania opted for a more edgy than her patent simple style for the meeting, she sported her trademark hairstyle- her caramel colored hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders. The U.S. first lady recently celebrated her 47th birthday on April 26 in Washington D.C. Melania attended the Senate spouses luncheon at the National Gallery of Art sporting a navy coatdress paired with a brown belt. The dress was possibly made out of alligator skin. She donned her trademark hairstyle. On Thursday, during the meeting, in contrast to Melania, the first Lady of Argentina was seen in monochrome attire, wearing a red pencil dress featuring a peplum design around the waist. Juliana, the first lady of Argentina matched her dress with a patent red leather clutch and red leather pumps by Aquazzura, which is sold at a price of $695. Story continues RTS1475I Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Surprisingly, Aquazzura, the designer brand has been currently involved in a legal battle with Trump's eldest daughter Ivanka Trump, as the high-end brand accused the first daughter of ripping off a number of its designs for her own fashion brand. Both the presidents wore navy suits for their meeting, however Trump decided to leave his jacket unbuttoned in order to showcase his long striped tie. The Argentinian president and his wife were treated royally up on their arrival to the White House. A red carpet and a military honor guard were placed at the gates as their motorcade entered through the driveway at the White Houses South Lawn entrance. The first ladies posed with their husbands for photos after their initial introductions. GettyImages-673945280 Photo: Getty Images Trump described Macri as my good friend for many, many years. "We're just going to be great friends, better than ever before," Trump said speaking of his expectations as far as his relations with Argentina were concerned. During their meeting, Argentine journalists at the White House asked about the ban on lemon imports. Argentina has been known as one of the worlds topmost lemon producers. Recently, the Trump administration delayed a decision by former President Barack Obama, which asked to lift a 16-year ban on imports of Argentine lemons. "I think we're going to be very favorably disposed," Trump joked about their meeting: "I'll tell him about North Korea and he'll tell me about lemons, he said Related Articles The megadonor Mercer family one of President Donald Trumps top patrons dramatically increased its philanthropic giving in 2015 and routed millions of dollars to charities closely associated with the conservative movement, a new tax filing reveals. The vehicle for the contributions was the Mercer Family Foundation, which is funded by Robert Mercer, the reclusive co-chief executive officer of hedge fund Renaissance Technologies, and run by his daughter, Rebekah. It gave out roughly $24.5 million in charitable grants in 2015, the most recent time period available, a 34 percent increase over 2014. The 2016 election cycle brought the Mercers new prominence as political heavyweights. They were among the earliest to throw support behind Trumps bid for the Republican nomination. And theyve remained among Trumps most steadfast and influential backers. Some of the conservative think tanks the Mercer foundation supported in 2015 the Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation among them have helped supply key personnel and policy ideas to the Trump administration since his victory in November. The Mercers political, charitable and business spending also serves as something of a map of their close ties to some of Trumps top White House advisers, including chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, and Kellyanne Conway, whose title is counselor to the president. This story is part of Federal Politics. News about ethics, campaign finance, lobbying and influence in the federal government. Click here to read more stories in this series. Don't miss another Politics investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. The Mercers rarely comment publicly about the reasons behind their political and charitable giving, and did not respond to a request for comment from the Center for Public Integrity. During the 2016 election cycle, Robert Mercer contributed $15.5 million to a super PAC that first supported the Republican presidential bid of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, then backed Trump. Story continues The foundation supports a grab bag of groups, from the obscure Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine (run by a scientist whom the Mercers have also supported as a candidate for Congress) to the Stony Brook Foundation (Robert Mercer and his wife live on Long Island) to the Heritage Foundation, a well-known Republican think tank that includes Rebekah Mercer on its board. Rebekah Mercer is also on the board of the Museum of Natural History in New York, which received $575,000 from the Mercer Family Foundation in 2015. Thats significantly more than the $100,000 the Mercer Family Foundation gave to the conservative Heartland Institute, which questions whether humans contribute substantially to climate change. Among the tax filings other highlights: The Mercer Family Foundations largest single grant in 2015, $5 million, went to the George W. Bush Foundation, which runs the former presidents presidential library. The Mercer contribution was the largest single donation the Bush foundation received that year, per its own 2015 tax filing. The Media Research Center, a media watchdog group run by conservative activist Brent Bozell, received $3 million. A Center for Public Integrity analysis of the Mercer Family Foundations tax filings reveals that the Media Research Center has received about $16.5 million since 2008, a larger amount than any other recipient of Mercer foundation dollars. The Mercers also gave $2.3 million to the Federalist Society, a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of the legal order. The Mercer Family Foundation has given that group roughly $6 million since 2013. The Federalist Society has guided Trumps selection of nominees for federal judgeships. Among the names on its list of suggested nominees: Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was confirmed this month. Leonard Leo, the executive vice president of the Federalist Society, took a leave of absence to personally shepherd Gorsuchs nomination through the Senate. Two groups that included both Rebekah Mercer and Bannon on their boards before Bannon joined the Trump administration, the Government Accountability Institute and Reclaim New York, received seven-figure sums. Don't miss another Politics investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. The Government Accountability Institute, a conservative investigative research group run by conservative writer Peter Schweizer, received roughly $1.7 million. Schweizer is the author of Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich. Bannon helped found the group, which the Washington Post reported paid Bannon $376,000 over four years for serving on its board, even as he ran Breitbart News. Rebekah Mercer chairs Reclaim New York, a watchdog group that received $1.25 million. The Heritage Foundation received $500,000, the same amount it has received annually since 2013. The Citizens United Foundation received $250,000.At the time, it was headed by David Bossie, who later became Trumps deputy campaign manager. The Mercer Family Foundation also gave $500,000 to the Center for Union Facts. The anti-union group is one of a series of nonprofits run by public relations executive Rick Berman, once dubbed Dr. Evil in a segment of television newsmagazine 60 Minutes. Success Academy Charter Schools, a chain of New York charter schools, received $500,000 in 2015. The Mercer foundation gave the schools $550,000 in 2014. Success Academys CEO, Eva Moskowitz, met with Trump after his election in November and was reportedly a candidate to be Trumps secretary of education. Ivanka Trump, the presidents daughter and advisor, toured a Success Academy school in November. The Center for Public Integrity news developer Chris Zubak-Skees contributed to this story. This story was co-published by Salon. Related story: New database details White House officials' finances Related: How Stephen K. Bannon connects to the Mercers This story is part of Federal Politics. News about ethics, campaign finance, lobbying and influence in the federal government. Click here to read more stories in this series. Related stories Copyright 2017 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C. Berlin (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday said she believed French presidential contender Emmanuel Macron would be a "strong president" if elected in a run-off against far-right leader Marine Le Pen. "I have absolutely no doubt that Emmanuel Macron will be a strong president if he is elected, as I hope he will be," she told the RND newspaper group. German leaders have been tentative about intervening in France's high-stakes vote, knowing that they are unpopular among voters on both the far right and the far left. Resentful at what they see as German-imposed austerity directed from Brussels over the heads of weak past presidents, left-wingers are the targets of intense wooing by National Front (FN) leader Le Pen as the run-off approaches. Merkel sought to ward off her support for Macron being seen as meddling from Berlin. "Every European leader represents the interest of their own country and its people, just like the German chancellor," she said. "The German-French friendship is indispensable for both countries, but for the European Union as well," the chancellor added. The interview marked an unusual intervention by Merkel in the French race, although her spokesman tweeted "all the best" to Macron after first-round results appeared Sunday. She met Macron as well as conservative candidate Francois Fillon and the Socialist party's Benoit Hamon in the run-up to the first round but ruled out talks with Le Pen. Her finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has been open on the subject, saying in early April that if he were French, "I would probably vote for Macron." Germany has a particular antipathy for the FN, some of whose members including founder Jean-Marie Le Pen have a history of Holocaust denial. The elder Le Pen labelled the gas chambers at Auschwitz a "detail of history". Meanwhile, the FN was forced to change leaders twice in the space of four days this week, after comments sympathetic to Holocaust denial surfaced from interim leader Jean-Francois Jalkh. Marine Le Pen has stepped down from leadership of the party in a bid to broaden her appeal to voters in the presidential run-off. Goma (DR Congo) (AFP) - Twenty-nine people have been killed in three days of clashes between rival factions of a militia group in a village in Democratic Republic of Congo's restive east, an official said Friday. The two factions are fighting for control of the village of Bweru in North Kivu province, a region plagued by regular flare-ups of ethnic bloodshed. "Since Wednesday two factions of the Mai-Mai Nyatura have been fighting for control of the village. The death toll on Friday is 29 people dead," a local administrator, Dieudonne Tshishiku, told AFP. "The clashes are still going on. Bweru and neighbouring villages have emptied of their populations," Tshishiku said, urging the Congolese military to intervene to end the violence and let civilians return to their homes. An NGO official speaking on condition of anonymity said the 29 dead included at least 11 militia fighters but added that the dead could also include civilians. The Mai-Mai Nyatura is a "self-defence" militia made up of people from the Hutu ethnic group who are in the majority around Bweru. Other ethnic groups in the area, including the Nande people, regard Hutus as foreigners, leading to rivalries and violence over land and resources. For more than a year, a cycle of attacks and reprisals between Hutu and Nande militias has stoked tensions in North Kivu, which like the rest of eastern Congo has been torn apart by over 20 years of conflict. In one recent bloody attack, Nande militiamen killed 25 Hutu civilians in February -- almost all of them hacked to death with machetes. Political tension has been mounting across the vast but troubled country since December, when President Joseph Kabila's second and final term officially ended but elections were not held. Though rich in mineral wealth and water, Congo has long been one of the Africa's poorest nations and rising unrest has only deepened the economic malaise. By John Whitesides WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tiffany Cartagena said she was eating with her mixed-race girlfriend at a restaurant in Ohio last month when she heard nearby diners remark about the "monkey" at the next table. Denver resident Gwendolyn Mami, an African-American, was on a January flight when another passenger proclaimed President Donald Trump's proposed border wall would stem the flow of "those people", she recalled. Allen Dees, a white Louisiana house painter, said two black men hurled racial slurs at him in March and told him to get out of their neighborhood. As Trump nears his 100th day in the White House after a campaign punctuated by his inflammatory comments about Muslims and immigrants, a number of Americans say U.S. race relations are deteriorating, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll. The poll, taken from March 28 to April 3, asked more than 2,800 adults to rate the danger of racism and bigotry in America. About 36 percent gave it the worst rating possible, saying they considered racism and bigotry an "imminent threat" to the country. That is up a few points from the 29 percent who answered the same way two years ago. (For a graphic on poll results see http://tmsnrt.rs/2oQAD54) The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the poll results. A majority of the nearly two dozen poll respondents reached by Reuters, including Cartagena, Mami and Dees, said they have recently sensed an unsettling rise in racial hostility - or at least a greater willingness by some Americans to express it. "I've seen a lot of people become more bold with their hatred and discrimination," said Cartagena, 29, who is white. A truck dispatcher in Youngstown and an unaffiliated voter, she cast a write-in vote for Senator Bernie Sanders for president in November. Not everyone sees a shift. While about one in four Americans surveyed in the Reuters-Ipsos poll said "people in my community get along worse than before," a majority said they had not noticed much change. Story continues "People are always squabbling about things. It's about the same as it was before," said Miriam Vroman, 84, a retired hospital supply worker in West Valley City, Utah, who voted for Trump. Democrats surveyed in the poll were more negative about the perceived threat from racism and bigotry than Republicans. Still, respondents from both major parties appeared to be more concerned about racism than two years ago as racial, ethnic and religious tensions have flared across the country. A spate of highly publicized police shootings of African Americans has strained community bonds. So have deadly mass killings in Orlando and San Bernardino, California, by assailants inspired at least in part by Islamic extremist groups. Some Trump critics say he stoked the enmity with his incendiary campaign rhetoric, including vows to ban Muslim visitors and deport millions of undocumented immigrants. Civil rights groups including the Southern Poverty Law Center and Anti-Defamation League reported a sharp uptick in incidents targeting minorities after Trump's election. Trump has made efforts to close the divide. In a post-election television interview in November he said he was saddened by acts of bigotry done in his name and called on perpetrators to "stop it." As president, he invited the Congressional Black Caucus and heads of historically black colleges to the White House. He also condemned anti-Semitic violence. 'I CAN BE TERRIBLE' Still, some say the damage is done, and that Trump has emboldened some people to act on their darker impulses. "People look to emulate the president. So they think 'if he can be terrible, I can be terrible'," said Sarah Riffel, 24, a white law-school student in Houston who voted for Clinton. Several poll respondents expressed growing unease about race and civility, even if they had not directly experienced or seen racist acts. "People talk to me differently since the election, I get different looks, different comments," said Clifton McMillan Jr., 31, a black food delivery worker in Helena, Alabama. "A lot of people are on edge." Mami, the airline passenger, says she's become more guarded in public in recent months. "People feel there is no need to be politically correct anymore," said Mami, 64, a higher-education administrator. It's not just minorities who say they're feeling unnerved. Dees, the painting contractor from Many, Louisiana, a town of about 2,700 people, said he sensed rising anger among black residents after Trump's unexpected victory. "You can just feel the tension building, like something is fixing to come to a head," said Dees, 46, who did not vote in the November election. "There is more of a hatred toward white people." The poll found 46 percent of Democrats surveyed said racism and bigotry pose an imminent threat to the country, up from 35 percent two years ago. That figure was sharply lower for Republicans: 27 percent now compared to 24 percent in 2015. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English in all 50 states. Respondents answered a series of questions, including one asking them to rate their concern about racism and bigotry on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning "no threat" and 5 meaning "imminent threat." The poll gathered responses from 1,268 Democrats and 1,008 Republicans. It has a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 2 percentage points for the entire group, 3 points for Democrats and 4 points for Republicans. For graphic on Anxieties about racism http://tmsnrt.rs/2oQAD54 (Additional reporting by Chris Kahn in New York; Editing by Jason Szep and Marla Dickerson) Good morning. These are todays top stories: Trump warns of possible major conflict with North Korea President Donald Trump said a major, major conflict with North Korea is possible, speaking to Reuters in a new interview ahead of his 100th day in office. Trump said he hopes to resolve the mounting U.S.-North Korea tensions with peaceful diplomacy, but he said the situation is very difficult. Reflecting on his presidency at the 100-day milestone, Trump also said, This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier. Pope Francis arrives in Egypt as messenger of peace Pope Francis arrived in Egypt this morning for a visit in which he plans to serve as a messenger of peace. His trip comes weeks after more than 40 people in Egypt were killed in ISIS attacks on two Coptic Christian churches on Palm Sunday. Francis is the first pope to visit the predominantly Muslim country since Pope John Paul II in 2000. NASA spacecraft makes first-ever trip between Saturn and its rings NASAs Cassini spacecraft has successfully completed the first-ever journey through the narrow gap between Saturn and its rings. The spacecraft finished the precarious trip safely and is now back in contact with Earth, sending back new images of Saturn. Also: Former First Lady Michelle Obama said she will not run for office. I wouldnt ask my children to do this again, she said at an event in Orlando, Florida - her first public speech since leaving the White House. Arkansas on Thursday executed Kenneth Williams, the fourth inmate in the state to receive a lethal injection in eight days. His attorneys are calling for an investigation into the execution after Williams convulsed several times before he died. Trump will address the National Rifle Association at the groups annual forum today, making him the first sitting president to do so since Ronald Reagan. Heineken is receiving praise for a new ad that shows strangers coming together over beer to discuss their different life experiences and beliefs about issues including politics, feminism and climate change. The Morning Brief is published Mondays through Fridays. Email Morning Brief writer Melissa Chan at melissa.chan@time.com. This article was originally published on TIME.com Violence erupted in Macedonias parliament as tensions between ethnic Albanian minorities and nationalists boiled over, prompting sharp rebukes from Western governments. Protesters supportive of the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party, as well as individuals clad in identity-concealing hoods, stormed parliament on Thursday night local time, violently accosting at least lawmakers and journalists. Police say the violence left 102 inside and outside parliament injured. Parliament had just managed to break the filibuster of the minority VMRO-DPMNE. The party lost its governing majority in Decembers elections, which were an attempt to quell concern after leaked wiretaps showing illegal surveillance and corruption on the part of the then-ruling party. The governing majority is now the Social Democrats, led by Zoran Zaev, in coalition with the parliaments ethnic Albanian parties. President Gjorge Ivanov has so far defied calls to make Zaev prime minister. On Thursday, parliament managed to move forward in putting together a new government by voting on a new speaker, who received the support of the Social Democratic parties as well as members of the ethnic Albanian parties. The newly elected speaker is Albanian Talat Xhaferi. The demonstrators, who had been protesting the influence of ethnic Albanian parties, broke through the police and entered parliament to assault journalists and legislators including some Albanian MPs. And so the fear now is that what had been a political crisis, with VMRO-DPMNE attempting to scare the Macedonian population with the idea of more rights for Albanians, will become a full-fledged ethnic clash. The Macedonian and ethnic Albanian communities are still living next to each other, not together, Jan Cingel, a researcher with the Bratislava-based GLOBSEC Policy Institute, told Foreign Policy. If something happens some kind of a spark can light more tensions. The European Union and NATO swiftly condemned the assault on lawmakers and reporters. Story continues The acts of violence in the Parliament are wholly unacceptable and we call for calm and restraint, Federica Mogherini, the EUs head of foreign policy, and Johannes Hahn, European commissioner, said in a joint statement. I strongly condemn yesterdays attacks on members of Parliament in Skopje. Violence has no place in any parliament, said Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary-general. But the EU and NATO havent specified how they could follow up on these words of warning. And, of course, not all EU member states saw the situation the same way. Hungarys foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, echoed the official Russian position in blaming influence from abroad. Moscow blames the EU and United States; Budapest, external intervention and, of course, Hungarian-born billionaire and perpetual bogeyman George Soros. (Russian and European interest and investment in the region increased only recently, said Cingel, who believes the protests were the manifestation of homegrown tension.) Macedonia hasnt had a government since December, when former Prime Minister Nukola Gruevski won an election but didnt gain enough votes to win a parliamentary majority. Talks with the ethnic Albanian parties floundered over a debate on designating Albanian as an official second language in Macedonia. Macedonia, a former Yugoslav republic, plunged into ethnically fueled strife and violence following Yugoslavias breakup in the 1990s. In 2001, the countrys Albanian minority led an armed rebellion that ended under a NATO-brokered peace agreement. The peace deal failed to resolve tensions between the countrys ethnic groups, which have been simmering ever since. While Macedonia made a series of democratic and market-oriented reforms in the past decade to boost their prospects of joining the EU and NATO, experts fear the country is backsliding and that the political crisis could spill into the streets. Photo credit: ROBERT ATANASOVSKI/AFP/Getty Images By Ruth Anderah High court Judge Joseph Murangira has set free rally car driver Andrew Desh Kananura and his 4 co-accused persons after he cleared them of the murder of Badru Katerrega, a former employee of Panamera bar and Restaurant located in Naguru, Kampala. Justice Murangira has ruled that after evaluating the evidence adduced by ten prosecution witnesses, he has neither found any piece of evidence placing the accused at the scene of crime nor attacking the accuseds defence that they had already left Panamera bar at the time the said murder was committed. The judge has also faulted the prosecution for not laboring to adduce evidence of their key witnesses while hiding under the guise that their lives were being threatened yet no affidavits were sworn and filed in court to that effect. The Judge has now acquitted Desh Kananura his brother Raymond Kananura and their private security guards; Jacob Onyango, Cirus Maganda and Samuel Muzolewa of the murder Badru Katerregga . Prosecution had alleged that the 5 accused beat Kateregga to death after suspecting him of stealing Shs10,000 from Panamera bar, owned by Desh and his brother Raymond Kananura. Justice Murangira has also ordered that Government refunds the accused their bail monies. Related Stories Desh pinned by former panamera employee for murdering colleague Andrew Desh Kananura charged By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House leaders have decided against holding a vote on a reworked healthcare system overhaul this week after failing to find the necessary support, congressional aides said on Thursday. White House officials had urged a floor vote on the legislation before President Donald Trump's 100th day in office on Saturday, hoping to follow through on a campaign promise to repeal and replace the 2010 Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Advocates had hoped to raise enough support for the measure after a group of hard-line Republican conservatives endorsed an amended version on Wednesday. But by Thursday evening Republican leaders still had not collected enough votes from moderate Republicans whose backing was also needed for passage in the House, given united Democratic opposition. "We won't vote this week," said one House Republican aide, who asked not to be named. Next week was not ruled out, another indicated. "We'll call a vote when we have the votes." Representative Pete Sessions, a senior House Republican, also left the door open to a vote next week. Possibly referring to Trump, Sessions said that a lot of people had tried to rush the legislation to the floor, but House Republican leaders want to "allow the time to do it right. "I said it will find its time and I am satisfied we are moving at a pace, keeping people engaged," he said at a late night session of the House Rules Committee he chairs. The Republican healthcare bill would replace Obamacare's income-based tax credit with an age-based credit, roll back an expansion of the Medicaid government health insurance program for the poor and repeal most Obamacare taxes. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office had estimated 24 million fewer people would have insurance than under the original version. House leaders brought the bill to the floor last month after Trump demanded a vote, but yanked it after a rebellion by Republican moderates and the party's most conservative lawmakers, in a major setback for Trump. An amendment drafted by Representative Tom MacArthur won over conservatives in the hardline Freedom Caucus this week, reviving some hopes that the bill could still pass. The amendment would allow states to seek waivers from some provisions. Among these are one mandating that insurers charge those with pre-existing conditions the same as healthy consumers, and that insurers cover so-called essential health benefits, such as maternity care. But a number of centrist Republicans still opposed the measure. "Protections for those with pre-existing conditions without contingency, and affordable access to coverage for every American, remain my priorities for advancing healthcare reform, and this bill does not satisfy those benchmarks for me," Representative Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania said in a statement posted on social network Twitter on Thursday. Some outside groups like the American Medical Association weighed in against the legislation, saying it would cost millions their health care coverage. The bill's future is further clouded in the Senate. (Reporting by Susan Cornwell and Susan Heavey; Additional reporting by Amanda Becker, Will Dunham and Richard Cowan; Editing by Julia Edwards Ainsley and Clarence Fernandez) By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to extend offshore oil and gas drilling to areas that have been off limits - a move meant to boost domestic production but which could fall flat due to weak industry demand for the acreage. The order could open up swathes of the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, as well as the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, that former President Barack Obama had sought to protect from development after a huge BP oil spill in 2010. "We're opening it up....Today we're unleashing American energy and clearing the way for thousands and thousands of high-paying American energy jobs," Trump said as he signed the order. Trump had campaigned on a promise to do away with Obama-era environmental protections that he said were hobbling energy development without providing tangible benefits, pleasing industry and enraging environmental advocates. But the executive order, called the America-First Offshore Energy Strategy, comes as low oil prices and soaring onshore production have pushed industry demand for offshore leases near their lowest level in years, raising questions over the impact. A Reuters review of government data showed the amount of money that oil companies spent in the central Gulf of Mexico's annual lease sale dropped more than 75 percent between 2012 and 2017. Dollars bid per acre and the percentage of acreage receiving bids both declined more than 50 percent. The figures were similar in the western Gulf of Mexico, the only other zone that got offers for leases during that period, according to the figures from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. "The Trump administrations hasty move today toward expanding offshore oil drilling ... defies market realities and is as reckless as it is unnecessary," said David Jenkins, president of Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship, a non-profit conservation group. "Why on earth would someone choose to push drilling in the riskiest and most expensive places on the planet when the current oil glut will make such ventures unprofitable for the foreseeable future?" he said. The president of the American Petroleum Institute trade group welcomed the order in a statement, while an API official said the order could help the industry over the long term. The official did not respond to a request for comment directly about current offshore lease demand. "In order to meet U.S. energy needs, it is important to keep options open for the long term, so industry can start planning for and determining where the best prospects are and then make those investments the global economy will require over time," the official said, asking not to be named. The order directs the U.S. Department of Interior to review and replace the Obama administration's most recent five-year oil and gas development plan for the outer continental shelf, which includes federal waters off all U.S. coasts. Weeks before leaving office, Obama had banned new oil and gas drilling in federal waters in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, protecting 115 million acres (46.5 million hectares) of waters off Alaska and 3.8 million acres in the Atlantic from New England to the Chesapeake Bay. LEGAL BATTLE LOOMS In addition to requiring a new five-year drilling plan, the order reverses Obama's decision to place certain parts of the Arctic permanently off limits to drilling. It also requires Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to review previous presidents' designations of marine national monuments and sanctuaries. Jill McLeod, a partner at international law firm Dorsey & Whitney, said Trump's order was a positive signal to the oil industry but was unlikely to trigger a surge in exploration in the near term given the costs. "The lifting of the ban does not necessarily make drilling in the Arctic a compelling proposition," she said. Environmental groups, including Oceana and the Center for Biological Diversity, criticized the order and promised to fight it in court. Democratic senators also opposed the order, saying it could threaten the fishing and tourism industries. Friday's order came on the heels of a separate decree by Trump this week triggering a review of federally managed land to determine if they were improperly designated as national monuments by former presidents. The move is intended to expand federal areas available for development. (Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Leslie Adler) More than 2 million people were killed in the 1950-3 Korean War, including almost 40,000 Americans. Some 7,000 U.S. soldiers are still listed as missing. Countless families were torn apart by the conflict, which is still officially ongoing, as it was only ended by armistice rather than a peace treaty. It remains one of modern historys longest wars. These facts are important to remember when a U.S. President says, There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea, as Donald Trump did in an exclusive Reuters interview published Thursday. The regime of North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un is a perennial headache for the international community. In recent years, North Korea has shelled South Korean islands and sunk a Naval corvette, claiming dozens of lives, including civilians. To fund its weapons program, the regime produces narcotics, fake currency and uses cybercrime across the globe. On Feb.13, it even unleashed VX nerve agent - a U.N.-certified Weapon of Mass Destruction - at Kuala Lumpur International Airport to assassinate of Kim Jong Nam, Kim Jong Uns estranged half-brother. It has abducted possibly hundreds of foreign nationals. At home, its own citizens are subject to crimes against humanity, according to a 2014 U.N. report. However, whats spurred Trumps saber-rattling is North Koreas nuclear program. Pyongyang has tested five nuclear bombs to date, and appears poised for a sixth. It also frequently tests missiles that may one day be able to reach the continental U.S. [We can] can tip new-type intercontinental ballistic rockets with more powerful nuclear warheads and keep any cesspool of evils in the earth, including the U.S. mainland, within our striking range, Kim Jong Un said after watching a rocket test last year. Read More: Why President Trump Could Never Go It Alone on North Korea Trump says that if North Korea cannot be persuaded from dismantling its nuclear weapons then military action maybe unavoidable. On April 8, he ordered a U.S. navy strike group - an armada, he called it - to the Korean peninsula. The obvious problem is that Seoul - home to half of South Koreas 50 million people, including 200,000 Americans - lies within range of North Koreas artillery, and possibly even nuclear weapons. Story continues Trumps gamble is that Kim Jong Un would shy away from retaliating against a U.S. strike on his nuclear facilities, cognizant that American military superiority means any full-scale war would undoubtedly result in his regimes complete destruction. Its not just about whether North Korea can respond, its about escalation dominance, says Stephan Haggard, professor of Korea-Pacific Studies at the University of California San Diego. You could find yourself in a situation when the United States thinks those risks are worth taking. We have options. Perhaps, but the success of those options hinge on 33-year-old despot who has proved himself ruthless even against members of his own family. Trump told Reuters that he operates under the assumption that Kim Jong Un is rational. But backed into a corner, is Trump willing to bet nuclear apocalypse on that? But even if North Korea were not to retaliate, theres no guarantee strikes would achieve their goal of permanently retarding the regimes nuclear program. Plus there would be dire strategic consequences. Beijing would be livid. The U.S. would have started yet another 21st Century war, utterly alienating international public opinion, tearing up its hard-fought Asian security alliance and inviting Chinese hardliners to push it out of the region. According to an August 2016 study by Brown University, the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan - in which the U.S. military has been involved - have directly cost 370,000 lives since 2001. (Not that weve stopped counting.) Read More: Can North Korea Actually Hit the U.S. With a Nuclear Missile? However, the broader point is that North Korea, for all its many and egregious faults, is a state hell-bent on survival. It might have nuclear weapons, but the regime cannot use them without guaranteeing its own destruction. Thats how nuclear deterrents work. North Korea is not ISIS with an end of days deathwish, wreaking jihad across the globe in its quest for a global caliphate. Why are people panicking about North Korea? asks Daniel Pinkston, an East Asia expert at South Koreas Troy University. Its secular, they want to survive and they are very cognizant of power balances. They are not suicidal. Unfortunately, there is little chance the regime will voluntarily give up its nuclear weapons. Kim Jong Un is very aware of the fates of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi and Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who were both toppled after abandoning their nuclear aspirations. He believes a nuclear bomb guarantees the security of his regime. And he might be right. For lack of any better option, the U.S. and its allies should utilize the countless strategic advantages that won the Cold War, because the tussle with North Korea is still part of that ideological reckoning. China should be pressured to crack down on those that profit from doing business with the regime, especially those that facilitate its illegal activities and weapons program. Common ground should be found for talks where possible. Trump is in a perfect position to do this. Hes a political outsider who says things other politicians dare not. But its unsure whether this pragmatism could stretch so far as to openly accept an uncomfortable fact: North Korea already is a nuclear power. Its first nuclear test was over a decade ago, and analysts say it probably has enough material for a dozen bombs today. From the Soviet Union and China to India and Pakistan, each new member of the nuclear club has faced a frosty reception. There are few good reasons to welcome North Korea, not least the effect it would have on nuclear proliferation, most notable for Iran. But there are absolutely no good reasons to start another Korean War. This article was originally published on TIME.com By Teis Jensen and Alastair Macdonald COPENHAGEN/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - For its neighbors and closest friends in Europe, Britain's impending departure from the EU has prompted a flurry of networking in the hope of defending free trade and lean budgets in Brussels. Britain has been the hub of an informal club known as the Northern Lights, that includes the EU's Nordic members, Irish and Dutch; it offered collective muscle in wrangling against more protectionist and dirigiste traditions in France and Germany or eastern and southern states hungry for EU subsidies. Now, the constellation of smaller, wealthy states is working to prevent a post-Brexit EU from tilting against their interests. It is looking further afield for allies, such as the free-trading Baltic states and Czechs, or Austria, which is mounting hawkish opposition to paying more to Brussels to make up for the big hole Britain will leave in the EU subsidy budget. "The British voice in the debate will be missed, especially in areas such as trade," Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen told Reuters. "Therefore, Denmark is looking to tighten our relations with our normal like-minded group of countries but at the same time reach out to other member states that we traditionally haven't coordinated with." Samuelson has been on what he calls an "alliance" tour that has taken in Austria, the Czech Republic and Portugal, looking to bolster ties on various parts of Denmark's agenda. His boss, Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, took part in a summit with Irish premier Enda Kenny hosted by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague last week at which all three spoke of common interests. Those are both on Brexit, which will hit trade especially for Britain's near neighbors as well as raise issues like fishing rights, but also on wider EU affairs. KEEPING IT INFORMAL Kenny was keen to stress that the idea was not to formalize a union within the Union, in the way that the Benelux trio coordinates EU policy or the Visegrad four of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary: "We are not talking about the birth of a new subsidiary of the European Council," he said. The core group includes countries both in and outside the euro zone and current governments that are variously somewhat right or left of center, though broadly committed by national tradition to free trade and keeping Brussels on a tight leash. Free trade, already under pressure since the election of the more protectionist-minded U.S. President Donald Trump and the rise of anti-globalisation forces in Europe, is a cause on which the likes of the Baltics and Czechs are very supportive. "It's very much based on the old British club, the Northern Lights, but without the UK," a senior Nordic government official told Reuters. "So we need to seek new partners." "The North and East feel now is not the moment to have protectionist tendencies. It is time to fight for free trade." Opposition to EU efforts to sign more free trade pacts has stumbled. Nationalist and leftist movements in Germany, France and elsewhere oppose long-running talks with Washington. They nearly derailed a deal with Canada that was finally signed last year after 11th-hour drama in Belgium's French-speaking south. With 21 percent of the EU population and 26 percent of GDP, a British-led northern six was a major force. The Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, Finland and Sweden will account for less than 10 percent of people and 15 percent of the shrunken EU economy. Denmark's Samuelsen, however, has been encouraged by the responses he's had from potential new allies he has visited. "So far," he said, "Ive been received very positively." (Additional reporting by Stephanie van den Berg in The Hague; Writing by Alastair Macdonald; editing by Ralph Boulton) By James Oliphant CLEARWATER, Fla. (Reuters) - Some of his supporters fret that President Donald Trump is backing himself into a corner with promises that cant be kept. Others lament he is not pulling America from international conflicts as he vowed or say he should get off of Twitter. Those grumbles are early warning signs for Trump as he marks his 100th day in office on Saturday. They were heard in Reuters interviews with Trump supporters in swing counties that went for Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 but then flipped for Trump last year a slice of the electorate dominated by white voters that is crucial to the Republicans re-election hopes and that Democrats want to win back. Reuters visited the same four places - Pinellas County in Florida, Northampton County in eastern Pennsylvania, Macomb County outside of Detroit, Michigan, and Gates County in rural North Carolina - right after the Nov. 8 election. MORE FROM REUTERS: * COMMENTARY: The danger of Trump's mood-based diplomacy http://reut.rs/2oC0PUM * COMMENTARY: Why Trump should mend ties with Russia http://reut.rs/2qiISqU What reporters found this time in more than two dozen interviews is that Trump voters are largely standing with their man but with signs of restlessness, mainly over foreign policy, concerns over getting legislation through Congress and some skepticism that he wont be able to follow through with promises from building a wall along the Mexican border to repealing Obamas signature healthcare law. But rather than bash Trump, many largely blamed Democrats and Republicans alike, a fractured Congress, the federal judiciary, and what they see as a hostile news media. (Graphic on how Americans rate Trump's performance: http://tmsnrt.rs/2q96hym) They showed a willingness to trust the president almost implicitly, saw him as a tireless worker, and appreciated his efforts to secure the border and curb immigration. They had little interest in the in-fighting between his senior aides in the White House. Maybe sometimes I question whats going on, said Karen Mayer, 47, an attorney in Clearwater, a west coast Florida city in Pinellas County, where the majority of its 500,000 voters went for Obama in 2008 and 2012 but then flipped for Trump last year. He prevailed over Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton by slightly more than 1 percent of the vote there. But at the same time, I have faith that he has a strong team, Mayer said. In a statement touting Trumps record in the first 100 days, the White House highlighted, among other things, his attempts to streamline government by proposing a lean budget, and his aggressiveness in foreign affairs, particularly with regard to challenging Russia and Iran. If Trump has reason to worry about his re-election prospects, it should be because of supporters like Brian McCann, 48, who owns a real estate firm in Northampton, Pennsylvania. I think hes finding out that he cant follow through on all his talk, he said. Internationally, I think hes creating more tensions than solutions. That was the main reason that Holly Peseski, 46, a legal assistant in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, graded Trumps tenure as a B-minus so far. I dont like the recent bombings hes done, Peseski said, referring to U.S. missile strikes on a Syrian airfield and a huge bomb dropped on a militant hideout in Afghanistan. He was a little too quick to act." Peseski had another complaint about Trump: I wish hed get off of Twitter. NOT PICKING UP NEW SUPPORTERS The counties Reuters visited reflect the rural, suburban and largely white coalition that carried Trump to the White House. Trump was able to flip these counties and dozens more like them powered by an enthusiastic voter base that included many people who had not cast ballots in years, as well as some Democrats who crossed over largely because of their dislike of Clinton. An analysis of Reuters/Ipsos polling data shows slippage in Trump's approval ratings, with lower enthusiasm among white men without a college degree, the core of his political base. (Graphic on Trump's popularity: http://tmsnrt.rs/2oQlz7n) In comparing Trumps approval rating in the first 20 days of his tenure to a 20-day period in April, Reuters also found a rise in disapproval among independents, college-educated adults, people with below-average incomes, white women and white Millennials. Those women voters were important to Trumps victory. He beat Clinton 53 percent to 43 percent among white women, who comprise 37 percent of the electorate. In Pinellas County, for instance, white women are by far the largest demographic among its more than 275,000 registered voters. Trump beat Clinton there by a little more than 5,000 votes. David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who lost his Pinellas-based seat in November in part, he said, because of his criticism of Trump, has seen few signs that the presidents support is fading, but at the same time, hes not picking up new supporters. Trumps overall approval rating in Reuters/Ipsos polling has declined steadily over the past two weeks and is now at its lowest level since he took office, with 40 percent of Americans now approving of his performance in office. HEALTHCARE CONCERNS Some voters interviewed in the swing counties identified the struggling effort to replace Obamas healthcare law as an early worry about Trump. Walter Watson, 62, a retired art teacher in Gatesville, a town of about 320 people in rural Gates County, North Carolina, said he did not like the way Trump and Republicans tried to rush through a new healthcare plan without giving it what he thought was proper consideration. You got to be careful, because this is a life and death issue for a lot of people, Watson said. His sparsely populated county backed Obama with 52 percent of the vote in 2012, but Trump won it with 53 percent in 2016. Congress is the biggest hindrance to Trump's success, many of those interviewed said. I dont think hes going to be able to do even half of what he claimed, said Bob White, 71, a retired finance worker in Clinton Township in Michigan. I dont think Congress is going to go along with him." But even as they express skepticism that Trump can achieve all of his campaign promises, his supporters are sticking with him for now. I think hes trying, said Watson. But he probably overstated what he could do, because even a president has limits. (Additional reporting by Laila Kearney in Northampton, Pennsylvania; Gary Robertson in Gates County, North Carolina; Tim Branfalt in Macomb County, Michigan, Howard Schneider in Washington and Chris Kahn in New York; Editing by Jason Szep and Ross Colvin) MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke on Thursday about the NAFTA trade deal and agreed there was an opportunity to update the accord to the mutual benefit of all signatories, the Mexican government said. In a statement, Pena Nieto's office said he and Trudeau had spoken on Thursday afternoon and were ready to begin the process of dialogue between Mexico, Canada and the United States, the members of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "Finally, they agreed to remain in close contact to ensure the process of (NAFTA) modernization is successful for the benefit of both nations," Pena Nieto's office said. U.S. President Donald Trump rattled Mexico and Canada on Wednesday when his administration said he had been considering an executive order to withdraw from NAFTA. On Thursday, Trump said that he aimed to renegotiate the deal with the two. (Reporting by Dave Graham and Frank Jack Daniel) By Ruth Anderah. The former FDC presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has this morning appeared before the high court. However, the state attorney Anne Ntimba has informed Court that investigations into the treason charges against Besigye are ongoing. The case has been adjourned to 30th June for further mention and reporting on his bail. Shortly after the hearing, Besigye told journalists that he is going to consult his lawyers on whether he should continue appearing before court or not. Related Stories.. Nakawa court has further extended Dr. Kiiza Besigyes bail Dr Kiiza Besigye today was my last appearance in court By Manolo Serapio Jr MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday he will look into the illegal detention of drug suspects at a secret cell in a Manila police station that has raised new questions about police conduct in his war on drugs. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it discovered the cell on Thursday, after a tip-off, at a police station in Manila's Tondo district, a hotbed of drug-war killings. The group said it found 12 people being held without charge, crammed into a tiny, dark, windowless room. The entrance was hidden by a wooden cabinet. Police on Friday sacked the station's chief and launched an investigation, the latest inquiry into the behaviour of a force which is coming under intense criticism for a litany of alleged abuses of power during Duterte's war on drugs. "I will look into this," Duterte told reporters, adding he would talk to national police chief Ronald dela Rosa about it. Jacqueline de Guia, a lawyer and CHR spokeswoman, said those inside the cell had been held without charge for at least a week. She cited them as saying police were trying to extort money from them, ranging from 20,000 to 200,000 pesos ($400 to $4,000). Some detainees also said they had been tortured, de Guia said. "It is definitely a matter of concern because these practices are not the norm," she said, adding the commission was investigating whether charges would be filed against the police involved. Congressman Harry Roque said he would call for the House of Representatives to investigate when its session resumes on Tuesday. "I find it profoundly disturbing that these men and women were illegally detained because there appears to be no records of their arrest and subjected to cruel, degrading, and inhumane conditions," Roque said in a statement. 'EYE OPENER' Regional police chief, Oscar Albayalde, said the Tondo police chief had been sacked along with about 10 other policemen and an investigation was underway. He thanked the CHR and said the discovery was an "eye opener". "Rest assured that we have in mind the best interest of the community and we will not tolerate any illegal act committed by our policemen," Albayalde said in a statement. Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella commended police for "acting decisively" to remove the officer in charge. Thousands of Filipinos have been killed since Duterte unleashed his campaign against drugs nearly 10 months ago. Police say they have killed only in self-defence, and the deaths of other dealers and users was down to vigilantes or gangs silencing informants. Activists say police accounts are implausible and accuse Duterte of supporting a campaign of systematic extrajudicial killings by police. Police and the government deny that. "The discovery of the secret jail is just the latest sign of how police are exploiting Duterte's abusive anti-drug campaign for personal gain," said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director for the New York-based Human Rights Watch. Duterte said on Thursday he was willing to face the music over his war on drugs and a complaint filed with the International Criminal Court would not stop his campaign. The discovery follows a April 18 Reuters report in which two policemen, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said police received cash for killing drug suspects, planted evidence at crime scenes and carried out most of the killings police blame on vigilantes. One of the men authored an unpublished 26-page report with detail on the alleged methods deployed in the drug war, the campaign's masterminds and perpetrators. It contained no documentary evidence. The government dismissed the claims. ($1 = 50.1150 Philippine pesos) (Additional reporting by Manuel Mogato; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Robert Birsel) An unknown number of published studies have a hidden flaw: The peers who supposedly vouched for their publication are phonies. And the closer publishers look, it seems, the more rotten studies they find. Now, in the biggest haul to date, publisher Springer has announced that its retracting 107 papers from a single journal over concerns that authors had cheated the peer review process some perhaps unintentionally. (The journal, Tumor Biology, was at the end of last year sold to publisher SAGE.) That amounts to a remarkable 2 percent of all the papers the journal published over the years in question, 2010 to 2016. Its not the first time that such fraud has been uncovered. But observers had hoped the problem had been nipped in the bud in 2014 after a group of publishers patched some vulnerabilities in the systems they use to review manuscripts. Read more: Its time to overhaul the secretive peer review process Now it seems clear that isnt the case. And, following what it called a deeper manual investigation prompted by the earlier retractions, Springer said it likely will turn up more studies needing retraction in its other journals. The latest debacle went like this: The journal, using a not-unusual practice, allowed authors to submit the names and email addresses of potential reviewers for their manuscripts. The names were real, but the emails were bogus, with some apparently controlled by companies paid by the authors to help them get their papers published. One such author told a news outlet in China that his paper had originally been rejected, but that when he hired one of the companies to help, the paper was accepted. Now hes worried that the retraction will stain his CV. Weve cataloged more than 450 retractions of papers for fraudulent peer review over the years. In December 2014, following our coverage in Nature of fake peer review, the Committee on Publication Ethics a UK-based group that promotes best practices in scholarly publishing issued a statement decrying systematic, inappropriate attempts to manipulate the peer review processes of several journals across different publishers. Story continues One of its member publishers? Springer. Read more: Why is it so damn hard to get a paper retracted? Despite that, 32 articles in the latest batch show submission dates in 2015 well after the journal should have been aware of the vulnerabilities in its systems. That suggests some unscrupulous players are using techniques we didnt know about earlier. SAGE, the new publisher, said it has put a number of measures in place including an overhaul of the journals peer review processes and new policies on the use of author-suggested reviewers to ensure this kind of breach doesnt happen again. Springer is taking steps to ensure the same thing. In addition to cleaning its own house, the company is sharing its screening processes with other publishers. Through COPE and another organization, the company has shared anonymised information about our screening processes which could assist [other publishers] in identifying similarly problematic papers, says Tamara Welschot, Springers director of research integrity and publishing services. The problem, however, is that by the time publishers round up all the usual suspects and find every case of faked peer review assuming thats possible the clever people who came up with the scam will probably have moved onto another. Plumbers, in their line of work, are fond of saying that water finds a way. Publishers need to stay committed to patching their own leaks. As he speeds toward his 100th day as president of the United States, Donald Trump is still happy to share how much hes learning on the job as the countrys 45th chief executive. I loved my previous life. I had so many things going, Trump told Reuters in an interview Thursday. This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier. It is the not the first time the former reality show host and real estate magnate has expressed surprise at the difficulty of the job, the size of the government or the vastness of the country. Below is a transcript from an interview Trump did with the Associated Press last week, where he explains the difficulty in managing the worlds most powerful country: TRUMP: The financial cost of everything is so massive, every agency. This is thousands of times bigger, the United States, than the biggest company in the world. The second-largest company in the world is the Defense Department. The third-largest company in the world is Social Security. The fourth-largest you know, you go down the list. AP: Right. TRUMP. Its massive. And every agency is, like, bigger than any company. So you know, I really just see the bigness of it all, but also the responsibility. And the human responsibility. You know, the human life thats involved in some of the decisions. Trump has also spent his first 100 days learning specifics about domestic policy and international relations, with a preference for one-page briefings that feature plenty of charts and maps, according to a New York Times report. In the middle of the process of attempting to fulfill one of his biggest campaign promises the immediate repeal of Obamacare the president remarked on the complexities of healthcare in America. I have to tell you, its an unbelievably complex subject, said Trump at a February meeting of the National Governors Association. Nobody knew that health care could be so complicated. Health care reform has bedeviled Washington, whether it was Hillary Clintons attempts during the 1990s or the months and months it took former President Barack Obama and Congress to come to an agreement on the Affordable Care Act. Health care accounts for over one-sixth of the U.S. economy, meaning any changes to policy affecting it ripple across other sectors. Story continues Trump has also expressed surprise at the relationship between North Korea and China, getting a lesson from Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to the U.S. After listening for 10 minutes, I realized its not so easy, Trump recalled to the Wall Street Journal in an interview earlier this month. I felt pretty strongly that they had a tremendous power [over] North Korea. But its not what you would think. President Trump smiles during a meeting with women small business owners in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in March 2017. (Photo: Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images) Trump also recently discussed how he now knows a lot about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, established in the wake of World War II to link nations in Europe with the United States and Canada to help prevent further global conflicts. They had a quote from me that NATOs obsolete, said Trump in his AP interview last week. But they didnt say why it was obsolete. I was on Wolf Blitzer, very fair interview, the first time I was ever asked about NATO, because I wasnt in government. People dont go around asking about NATO if Im building a building in Manhattan, right? So they asked me, Wolf asked me about NATO, and I said two things. NATOs obsolete not knowing much about NATO, now I know a lot about NATO NATO is obsolete, and I said, And the reason its obsolete is because of the fact they dont focus on terrorism. You know, back when they did NATO there was no such thing as terrorism. Terrorism existed prior to NATOs establishment in 1949. If Trump specifically meant Islamic terrorist organizations, NATO has had forces deployed in Afghanistan since 2003. Experts say there is no strong evidence NATO changed any of its policies due to Trumps comments on the campaign trail or while in office. Trump had some warning from his predecessor that his views would change. Regardless of what experience or assumptions he brought to the office, this office has a way of waking you up, said Obama in a November press conference. And those aspects of his positions or predispositions that dont match up with reality he will find shaken up pretty quick, because reality has a way of asserting itself. _____ Read more from Yahoo News coverage of Trumps first 100 days: People who use psychedelic drugs have described the experience as feeling as though they have reached a "higher state of consciousness." And now, a brain scan study backs them up. People in the study who used psychedelic drugs showed patterns of neural activity that were "higher" by some measures, compared with normal waking consciousness, researchers in England found. Previously, researchers knew that normal waking consciousness is a higher state of consciousness when compared with drowsiness and sleep, being under anesthesia or having certain brain injuries or diseases. Evidence of this came from studies in which scientists quantified the state of consciousness by measuring the certain types of activity of neurons. [Top 10 Mysteries of the Mind] In the new study, researchers looked at some of those same measures of brain activity in people who had taken LSD, ketamine or psilocybin, and found that this brain activity increased compared with the normal waking state. "We looked at magnetoencephalography data gathered by our colleagues from Imperial College London that show the magnetic activity of neurons in the brain," said Anil Seth, co-director of the Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science at the University of Sussex. "We found that the diversity of the signal its randomness and unpredictability is actually higher in people on these drugs than in people who are in the normal waking state. If you look at people who are sleepy, asleep or under anesthesia, this measure always goes down." The increase was similar for all three types of drugs used in the experiment, according to the study, published April 19 in the journal Scientific Reports. The researchers also tried to correlate the activity in the brain with what the participants of the experiment were experiencing. "We asked people questions such as: Do you feel your perceptions to be particularly vivid? How do you perceive the boundary between yourself and the rest of the world? How strange do things feel?" Seth told Live Science. "We did find some weak correlations between some of the measures and what people said they were experiencing." Story continues People who use psychedelic drugs frequently report intense spiritual, even life-changing, experiences, the researchers said. If these drugs are used carefully under medical supervision, this drug-induced "higher consciousness" could potentially help people with conditions such as depression that do not respond to conventional medication, they wrote in their study. "The present study's findings help us understand what happens in people's brains when they experience an expansion of their consciousness under psychedelics," said Robin Cahart-Harris, head of psychedelic research at the Imperial College London. [11 Odd Facts About Magic Mushrooms] "People often say they experience insight under these drugs and when this occurs in a therapeutic context, it can predict positive outcomes," said Cahart-Harris, who was not involved in the new study. However, the researchers stressed that although the drug-induced psychedelic state might appear as a higher-level consciousness based on the particular measure used in the study, it does not mean it is more desirable, or that being in this state is healthier. "The way we generally experience the world is the most useful way to experience it," Seth said. "We don't want to go around hallucinating all the time. It's not in any way saying that the psychedelic state is better or more valuable or more desirable. It's not a value judgment at all." The researchers said that in future research, they hope to further the understanding of these drugs by identifying how specific changes in the brain's activity relate to specific aspects of the psychedelic experience. Originally published on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Queen Mary (Adelaide Kane) married Lord Darnley (Will Kemp) after learning that she is pregnant with his child the last time Reign aired an episode on The CW. The Queen of Scots accepted her fate and chose a future where her child will rule both England and Scotland peacefully instead of marrying for love. The sad marriage was accompanied by a plot by the Vatican to give Darnley more power and put Mary on the side. Of course, the fiery monarch isnt one to easily bow down to any man or the Vatican. What will happen tonight on Reign? READ: Adelaide Kane teases Reign series finale. According to the synopsis of Reign Season 4, episode 10, titled A Better Man, on TVGuide, Mary will strategize ways to take over the English throne. Kanes character has been vying for her cousins throne for a long time now and her marriage to Darnley secures her claim even more for her throne. However, trouble is brewing in Scotland. The promo of the upcoming episode shows Darnley being pressured to produce an heir for the throne. He is unaware that his wife is already pregnant. He asks permission to visit her bedchambers at night. Marital problems arent the only problems on Marys mind. James (Dan Jeannotte), her handsome half-brother, discovers a plot against her life. There is no other way for her to escape the assassination attempt than to leave the castle immediately. Thats right: Mary leaves the Scottish court. Moreover, James gets caught up in a scheme orchestrated by the conniving John Knox (Jonathan Goad) and will be forced to deal with the traffic aftermath. What is Knox planning? It certainly will be something devious. Remember how he tricked Lola (Anna Popplewell) into believing that Mary wants her to assassinate Elizabeth (Rachel Skarsten)? It led to her swift death. Meanwhile, in England, Elizabeth will struggle to find an appropriate suitor to marry. History tells us that the English queen never marries and leaves her throne without an heir. Marys son James steps in and rules both countries peacefully. Story continues Season 4, episode 10 of Reign also stars Celina Sinden as Mays friend Greer, Megan Follows as the forever scheming Catherine de Medici, Craig Parker as Lord Narcisse, Ben Geurens as Gideon Blackburn, Rose Williams as Princess Claude and Spencer MacPherson as King Charles. The CW series returns after a two-week hiatus. As previously reported, the series finale of Reign, titled All It Cost Her, is scheduled to premiere on Friday, June 16 at 9 p.m. It remains to be seen how Mary will die in the final episode of the period drama. According to history, she was decapitated after being found guilty of plotting to assassinate Elizabeth. Reign fans are also eager to see Bash (Torrance Coombs) return for the final episode of the show. However, there is no news yet that he will return. Reign Season 4, episode 10 premieres Friday, April 28 at 9 p.m. EDT on The CW. Reign Photo: Ben Mark Holzberg/The CW Related Articles As President Trump nears his 100-day mark, it's important to take time and recognize the headlines that made us so scared we stopped moving. To honor the very special occasion, we've designed a quiz to test your knowledge of Trump's greatest headlines of the past three months. SEE ALSO: What to do when you're so overwhelmed by the Trump presidency you can barely move For each of the questions below, determine whether the headline is real or fictional. There is no prize if you win. Feel free, however, to tally up your score and quietly judge others who didn't score as high as you. Let's play! 1. Trump called Pavarotti a "great friend," but he's been dead for nearly a decade A. Real B. Thankfully fictional 2. EPA chief Scott Pruitt plagiarized a Chevron press release A. Real, and this one's not so bad! B. Fake news 3. Senator McCain is lone Republican Senator to vote to preserve the filibuster A. He did it! B. No, he didn't. He just said some angry things on cable TV. 4. Spicer: Hitler "didn't even sink to using chemical weapons" A. Yup. B. This has to be a lie, right? Tell me you're lying. 5. Neither Donald Trump nor Sean Spicer seem to know that Frederick Douglass is dead A. True B. False. Why does the Clinton News Network treat Trump so badly? 6. Speaker Ryan says President Trump will "be better for women" than Obama A. Of course he said that. B. False. Speaker Ryan only cares about tax cuts, not women. 7. Donald Trump watches Finding Dory while America protests his immigration ban A. True B. Fake news! 8. Sean Spicer: "Donald Trump doesn't own a bathrobe" A. True. B. False. And thanks for the image. 9. Donald Trump doesn't know how to spell Chinese President's name A. Yup. B. False and it's a miracle. 10. Mar-a-Lago is now advertising on Air BnB A. True B. False but could easily become true. 11. Trump doesn't know what executive order he signed A. True Story continues B. False but highly likely 12. Kellyanne Conway apologizes to CNN for fake massacre remark A. Correct B. Impossible. She'd never apologize. 13. Donald Trump's White House aides "confer in the dark as they cannot operate light switches" A. True. Mommy I'm scared. B. False 14. President Trump starts every morning with a mug of hot chocolate in bed A. Yes. And that's gross. B. This one is false! 15. Donald Trump used a phone flashlight to read a briefing on a North Korea missile test A. True. Help. B. False. Still want help. Lots of help. All the help we can get. ANSWERS: 1. A 2. B 3. B 4. A 5. A 6. B 7. A 8. A 9. B 10. B 11. B 12. A 13. A 14. B 15. A WATCH: This NYU student went undercover as a worker in a Chinese iPhone factory Thousands of high school seniors will soon decide: What's next for me? But what makes this question different from in years past is that more than ever, students have multiple avenues for earning a college degree. Students can choose a path that best fits their individual goals on their own terms. In the U.S., less than a third of undergraduates are considered "traditional" students, referring to those enrolled full time at a four-year residential college. Further, a recent study from the National Center for Education Statistics found that 62 percent of students work either full or part time, and 28 percent have at least one dependent. For many nontraditional students, pursuing a degree online is ideal, allowing them to achieve their goals and earn an undergraduate credential from anywhere in the world, even if life gets in the way. While some graduating high school seniors might not initially consider online education, the rapid growth of credible degree programs present a worthwhile option. Here are two reasons they should consider that route. -- Online learning offers flexibility during a gap year: The concept of pursuing a gap year after high school is becoming more and more popular. Millions of students graduating from high school desire to work, travel, volunteer or explore other interests before college. Learn how to [decide if a gap year makes sense for you.] One of the most desirable aspects of online degree programs is flexibility, which is essential for an activity like the gap year. Choosing an online degree allows students to pursue other interests without losing sight of a quality education. While parents of high school students may initially be skeptical, online education can be a reasonable compromise that provides students with the ability to also travel or pursue a job, but it doesn't come with the price of postponing or foregoing their education. Many universities offer hundreds of online degree programs that allow students to pursue their passions while also earning credits. Story continues -- Online courses allow for an opportunity to try: For many graduating high school seniors, the thought of leaving home to attend college can be daunting. Whether they are leaving family, friends or even a job behind, some students may not be ready and may feel unsure about whether they will succeed. For students in this situation, online degree programs are a great option. While going to college online does require self-discipline and time management, online students are provided the opportunity to earn a degree without a dramatic shift in their everyday lives. Students can possibly complete the majority of required freshman-level coursework such as math, science and English online at the same caliber and rigor as at on-ground schools. Explore how to [develop self-motivation skills before taking online courses.] For example, ASU's Global Freshman Academy allows students to take freshman-level courses online at no cost. If students successfully pass the course, they can choose to purchase college credit. This low-barrier, low-risk option allows students to try out the online learning environment and experience success in college courses before fully committing. The takeaway: As high school seniors aim to create a path to a college degree that best suits their individual situation, they might consider online degree programs that provide flexibility and opportunities as well as offer the same rigor and credibility as a traditional college degree option. Joe Chapman, director for online student services at Arizona State University, is responsible for supporting and retaining students at ASU Online. He holds a bachelor's degree in business marketing from Northern Arizona University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and has worked in online student services for more than 12 years. The intelligence and security agencies in the US played a key role in Donald Trumps election victory and they may yet be the ones who bring down this most extraordinary of presidents in recent American history. Hillary Clinton could well have been in the White House now had it not been for James Comey. She was riding high when the FBI Director announced, just days before polling, that the investigation into the former Secretary of States use of her email account was being reopened. Soon afterwards Mr Comey stated that nothing untoward had been discovered against Ms Clinton. But the damage had been done by then her campaign lost momentum while that of Mr Trump solidified. While effectively sabotaging the Democrat campaign, Mr Comey helped Mr Trumps by failing to reveal that an investigation into links between Mr Trump and Moscow, with evidence mounting, had been ongoing for months. Read more After his first 100 days, we should fear Trump more than ever There were accusations that the FBI had tried to hide the Trump inquiry while focusing on Ms Clinton. Among those who claimed this to be the case was Christopher Steele, a former MI6 officer who produced a report on Mr Trumps Kremlin links for the Democrats, and subsequently passed on incriminating information on Mr Trump and his associates to the FBI without any action being seemingly taken. The New York office in particular appeared to be on a crusade against Ms Clinton. Some of its agents had a long working relationship with Rudy Giuliani, by then a member of the Trump campaign, since his days as public prosecutor and then Mayor of the city. Two days before Mr Comey made his bombshell announcement about the Clinton reinvestigation, Mr Giuliani, part of the Trump team, talked about a surprise or two youre going to hear about in the next few days. Weve got a couple of things up our sleeve that should turn things around. But Mr Trump cannot shake off the allegations that he was the Muscovite Candidate. Russia has been the dominant theme in the first 100 days of the presidency, raising fundamental questions even about his legitimacy in office. The Kremlins long reach, reads the charge sheet, ranges from cyber-attacks on Democratic Party computers to the funding of the Republican candidates election campaign. Story continues There are now FBI and Congressional investigations into Mr Trumps Moscow connections. The President has tried to dismiss them in his endless rambling tweets and tried to deflect attention with false claims such as that he had been wiretapped on the orders of President Obama. There have, in addition, been attempts to stop important witnesses from testifying. But the inquiries continue. Mr Trump is now at loggerheads with the intelligence community. The antipathy of many of them towards him has been hardened by episodes such as his behaviour when he visited the CIA headquarters. Standing in front of the Memorial Wall a place of reverence in the Agency Mr Trump boasted about the fictitious size of his inaugural crowd and his own intellect: And then they say, Is Donald Trump an intellectual? Trust me, Im like a smart person. Former CIA director John Brennan let it be known that he was deeply saddened and angered at Donald Trumps despicable display of self-aggrandisement in front of CIAs Memorial Wall of agency heroes. Mr Trump should be ashamed of himself. Meanwhile, even senior figures in the Trump administration, including Defence Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, have acknowledged Moscows interference in the US election. Mr Tillersons own Kremlin connections have been questioned. He forged close ties with Russia during his 40 years of work for Exxon Mobil, and he worked on projects with the Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft. He is said to be close to its head Igor Sechin, a close confidant of Vladimir Putin. In 2013 the Kremlin awarded him the Order of Friendship. Senior Republicans like Senator John McCain had questioned whether Mr Tillerson was a fit person for his job with his close Russia ties. There have been questions, in particular, about Mr Sechin, who was named in the Steele report as one of the senior Kremlin officials who had met members of the Trump team before the election. There are, however, others in the team who are under more intense scrutiny than Mr Tillerson. There has already been a high-profile casualty, Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, who resigned as Mr Trumps national security advisor after just three weeks over his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the US. Lt Gen Flynn was accused of lying to Vice President Mike Pence over his insistence that he had not discussed against Russia with Sergey Kislyak. It transpired later that he was under investigation by the Pentagon for allegedly accepting Russian payment during trips to Moscow. He was to go on to admit working as a foreign agent, receiving money while representing the Turkish government in a dispute with the United States. Lt Gen Flynn resigned on the same day Barack Obama announced sanctions against Russia for attempting to influence the presidential election, and hours after Mr Trump had expressed full confidence in his National Security Advisor. Lt Gen Flynn has subsequently offered to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee in return for immunity from prosecution an offer the Committee has so far rejected. Paul Manaforts resignation as Mr Trumps campaign manager came before the election. He had filled the same role with Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraines former president, an ally of Mr Putin who is now in exile in Russia after being overthrown in the Maidan protests. It was money he received in his Ukrainian job which led to him leaving the Trump team, although he appears to have remained an influential voice behind the scenes. There are now fresh allegations that Mr Manafort received vast sums in suspicious payments from Mr Yanukovych. Prosecutors in Kiev want to question Mr Manafort and say they have requested the assistance of Mr Comey in doing so. It is seen as a sign of the Trump administrations nervousness about what may unfold that it appears to be trying to distance itself from Mr Manafort. In a recent briefing to journalists, the White House spokesman Sean Spicer brought up Mr Manaforts name unprompted, and claimed, to general incredulity, that he played a very limited role, very limited amount of time in the presidential campaign. http://players.brightcove.net/624246174001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5415012187001 Trump's first 100 days in numbers The same kind of damage limitation is being tried with Carter Page, who Mr Trump had formerly described as a foreign policy advisor and Mr Spicer now wants to stress was not really a major part of the campaign. According to Mr Steele and others who have provided information to the FBI, Mr Page had discussed intelligence being held by Russia on Ms Clinton with a senior Kremlin official and the issue of ending sanctions against Moscow with Mr Sechin. He also allegedly met a Russian intelligence operative, Victor Podobny, in 2013 and offered to provide him with documents about the energy industry. The FBI obtained a warrant under the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to carry out surveillance on Mr Page as the suspected agent of a foreign power. Mr Page says that his civil rights have been violated and he is the real victim of a conspiracy. As investigations continue into Mr Trump, conspiracy is a recurring theme among his supporters. They warn of a coup being planned by the deep state of the establishment and the intelligence services to unseat an elected President. Mr Trumps many enemies, meanwhile, hope that the investigations will lead to eventual impeachment of the President they loathe. What the intelligence and security agencies uncover, or fail to do, in the weeks and months ahead will shape the fate of the Trump presidency. Kathmandu (AFP) - A Taiwanese trekker who was rescued on a Nepal mountainside seven weeks after going missing marked his 21st birthday in a Kathmandu hospital Friday, recovering from an ordeal that left his girlfriend dead. Liang Sheng-yueh survived in the wilderness despite losing 30 kilos (66 pounds) but his girlfriend Liu Chen-chun, 18, died just three days before a team rescued the couple in northwest Nepal. A severely malnourished Liang was airlifted from the remote region after 47 days, during which he initially survived on potatoes and noodles, then on nothing except salt and water. It was a sombre birthday celebration for the young hiker, who was served cake in the ward where he was slowly regaining strength. "I'm sorry that everyone had to worry about me and be concerned for me. In future I think I will consider being more careful. I will live my life when back in Taiwan," he told reporters in broken English. The pair followed a river downstream after becoming lost, but became stuck after reaching the edge of a waterfall and were unable to climb back up. Dawa Tamang, a local man who helped the search team, said he followed the river alone until he spotted some bags by the bank. He called over rescuers after spotting the pair taking shelter inside a nearby cave, where they were using their tent as a blanket. "I thought they were dead," Tamang said. "I told others they were in there in a loud voice, and he threw the tent off and looked out like a frog. He joined his hands when he saw me. "We asked how his friend was, and he said that she died (three) days ago." Liang had explained how he placed salt on his tongue and drank water to last the cold stretch, Tamang said. The area the pair was located was so steep and narrow a long line was needed to airlift them out. Doctors treating Liang said that as well as his extreme weight loss, maggots had infested his right leg and he was extremely weak. Liang's doctor Chakra Raj Pandey said his condition had improved since and he was walking Friday morning, but he was still deeply troubled by Liu's death. "He is pained by the loss of his girlfriend. When he was rescued... he didn't want (to) come back alone," Pandey told reporters. (WASHINGTON) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Thursday that China has threatened to impose sanctions on North Korea if it conducts further nuclear tests. We know that China is in communications with the regime in Pyongyang, Tillerson said on Fox News Channel. They confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test. Tillerson said China also told the U.S. that it had informed North Korea that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own. Earlier Thursday, the senior U.S. Navy officer overseeing military operations in the Pacific said the crisis with North Korea is at the worst point hes ever seen, but he declined to compare the situation to the Cuban missile crisis decades ago. Its real, Adm. Harry Harris Jr., commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Harris said he has no doubt that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un intends to fulfill his pursuit of a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the United States. The admiral acknowledged theres uncertainty within U.S. intelligence agencies over how far along North Koreas nuclear and missile programs are. But Harris said its not a matter of if but when. There is no doubt in my mind, Harris said. The Trump administration has declared that all options, including a targeted military strike, are on the table to block North Korea from carrying out threats against the United States and its allies in the region. But a pre-emptive attack isnt likely, U.S. officials have said, and the administration is pursuing a strategy of putting pressure on Pyongyang with assistance from China, North Koreas main trading partner and the countrys economic lifeline. With international support, the Trump administration said Thursday it wants to exert a burst of economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea that yields results within months to push the communist government to change course from developing nuclear weapons. Story continues Susan Thornton, the acting top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, said theres debate about whether Pyongyang is willing to give up its weapons programs. She said the U.S. wants to test that hypothesis to the maximum extent we can for a peaceful resolution. But signaling that military action remains possible, Thornton told an event hosted by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies - the Washington think tank has advocated tougher U.S. policies on Iran and North Korea - that the administration treats North Korea as its primary security challenge and is serious that all options are on the table. We are not seeking regime change and our preference is to resolve this problem peacefully, Thornton said, but we are not leaving anything off the table. Tillerson took a similar stand in the Fox News interview Thursday, saying: We do not seek regime change in North Korea. ... What we are seeking is the same thing China has said they seek - a full denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. In a separate interview with National Public Radio, Tillerson said the U.S. remains open to holding direct negotiations with North Korea. But North Korea has to decide theyre ready to talk to us about the about the right agenda, and the right agenda is not simply stopping where they are for a few more months or a few more years and then resuming things, he said, according to excerpts of an interview that will air Friday morning. Thats been the agenda for the last 20 years. Multi-nation negotiations with North Korea on its nuclear program stalled in 2008. The Obama administration attempted to resurrect them in 2012, but a deal to provide food aid in exchange for a nuclear freeze soon collapsed. After weeks of unusually blunt military threats, President Donald Trumps national security team briefed lawmakers Wednesday on North Koreas advancing nuclear capabilities. A joint statement from agency heads made no specific mention of military options, though it said the U.S. would defend itself and friends. Harris told the committee that the financial sanctions imposed against the North Korean regime by the U.S. and other countries have done nothing to slow North Koreas quest for weapons of mass destruction. He also said hes been skeptical of Chinas willingness to exert its influence over Pyongyang. But Harris said hes become cautiously optimistic following recent talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Its only been a month or so and its too early to tell, Harris said. I wouldnt bet my farm on it. In a show of military might, the U.S. has sent a massive amount of American weaponry to the region. A group of American warships led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is in striking range of North Korea if the president were to call on it, Harris told the committee. A U.S. missile defense system called Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense is being installed in South Korea. Harris said he has adequate forces to fight tonight against North Korea if that were to become necessary. But the admiral also said he lacks all the attack submarines he needs and has no capable defense against the thousands of artillery pieces North Korea has assembled near the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea. There are about 28,500 U.S. military personnel serving in South Korea. We do not have those kinds of weapons that can counter those rockets once theyre launched, Harris said in response to a question from the committees Republican chairman, Sen. John McCain of Arizona. ___ Associated Press writer Matthew Pennington contributed to this report. This article was originally published on TIME.com Pitesti (Romania) (AFP) - Just like Asterix's small village held out against the Romans, 2,000 years later in Romania a fight is on to keep Latin alive just as it dies elsewhere in Europe. Latin is compulsory at all Romanian schools for one hour a week in the final year of middle school -- ages 13 to 14 -- and for older pupils studying literature. This makes Romania an outlier in Europe. Even Italy, the cradle of Roman civilisation, abandoned compulsory Latin for all middle school pupils in 1977. But this is under threat. Romanian education reforms last year proposed abandoning Latin in order to allow children to focus on subjects "more in step with modern times". This prompted an unexpected outcry, however, with backers of Latin organising an online petition and bombarding the government with complaints. "Many voices in society mobilised to defend Latin," recalls Theodor Georgescu, professor in classical languages at Bucharest University. "It's not normal for a government or a minister to decide the fate of a language studied in Europe for millennia," he told AFP. Latin forms not only "the foundation of humanist culture" but also the bedrock of Romanian, the only Romance language spoken in mostly Slavic eastern Europe, he said. - 'Patriotic duty' - Cowed by the resistance, the Romanian education ministry performed a U-turn and kept the one hour of compulsory Latin in place. Gheorghita Cucu, a Latin teacher at the I.C. Bratianu school in the southern town of Pitesti, was pleased. "The Latin language is a language of culture, it's the language of our ancestors, and it's a patriotic duty to learn it," Cucu said. In her lessons she teaches a mix of Latin grammar and proverbs interspersed with bits of Roman history, seeking to refute that it's a "dead language". "Latin is still alive in the Romance languages that it produced," like French, Italian and Spanish, said Alexandru Cretu, one of her star pupils. Story continues "The literature helps as well, because, as we know, Latin culture is the basis of European culture," he said. And it's good for thinking too. "It structures your thoughts and helps you make connections more easily, thanks to its grammar," Cretu said. He and three others will take part in an international Latin competition in May in Arpino in Italy, the former ancient city of Arpinum and birthplace of the Roman orator Cicero. Cucu hopes that, like other pupils in the past, they will cover themselves in glory. - Ceausescu versus Moscow - Romania has long caught the eye of various empires, from the Romans to the Ottomans to Austro-Hungary and in the 20th century, Russia. And Latin "has been used throughout history as a political weapon," said Professor Georgescu. In the Soviet era from 1945 to 1989, Russia went out of its way to snuff out Romanian culture, seeing it as a threat to Slavic hegemony, he said. Under orders from Moscow, the Romanian communist authorities banned the teaching of Latin in 1948. A major reform in 1953 sought to purge the "Latin excess" in Romanian script. But in the 1970s dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, seeking to exert some independence from Russia, made Latin compulsory again in middle schools. "Even if this was a political decision, the result was beneficial for pupils," Georgescu said. Moscow (AFP) - Russian prosecutors on Friday called for a three-and-a-half year jail sentence for a blogger who hunted Pokemons in church, in a case that has drawn ire from rights activists. Ruslan Sokolovsky posted a YouTube video in August 2016 showing him playing Pokemon Go on his phone in a Russian Orthodox church in the central city of Yekaterinburg that was viewed more than 1.7 million times. The militant atheist -- dubbed a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International -- was detained and charged under controversial legislation for "inciting hatred" and "insulting the feelings of religious believers" before being put on trial. "There are no grounds to let the defendant go unpunished," Russian news agencies quoted a prosecutor as saying in court. "I ask for a punishment of three years and six months of imprisonment for all crimes." Sokolovsky's harsh treatment has drawn comparisons with the jailing of the Pussy Riot performance artists after they staged a punk performance in a Moscow cathedral in 2012. The case has once again highlighted the power of the Russian Orthodox Church under the conservative rule of President Vladimir Putin. The court said the verdict in Sokolovsky's case will be delivered on May 11, agencies reported. The Sagkeeng First Nation in Canada where Serena McKay lived, mourned the death of the 19-year-old, whose killing was posted to Facebook. McKay was allegedly murdered Sunday by two teenage girls who brutally beat her. Its very sad in there. You can feel the sadness, the pain, the hurt. But the leaders that are talking, theyre trying to give hope, Rhonda Head, who attended the vigil Thursday, told CTV News. Organizer Alma Kakikepinace told local media that other vigils will be held across the country, including in Winnipeg and Montreal. We need to stand together on this, Kakikepinace reportedly said. We need to stop the hating. Yes, part of grieving is anger, part of grieving is sadness, but there are many other ways to heal from that. Were offering one way, if people would like it. Read: Facebook Responds To Live Video Of Killing, Allegedly Of 19-Year-Old Serena McKay Murder The alleged video of McKay's killing shows two women beating her and screaming obscenities at her. The attackers, whose identities have not been disclosed under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder. McKays death was ruled a homicide by police Tuesday. Facebook responded to the alleged killing video, saying that an investigation is underway into the incident. This was a horrific tragedy, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of Ms. McKay, a Facebook spokesperson told International Business Times in a statement Thursday. We have not been able to locate the video on Facebook, and are working with law enforcement as they investigate. Even as Facebook said the graphic video showing the vicious attack was removed from the social media site, the chief of Manitobas Sagkeeng First Nation Thursday called for the video to be pulled down from the site. Ive been personally given links and then its dead [when I click on it]. Im hoping that means it has been removed, but its hard to tell, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Sgt. Paul Manaigre told IBT in a phone interview Wednesday, adding that if the video remained online, it would eventually be removed. Story continues Sagkeeng resident Alma Kakikepinace, who was among the first to discover McKay's body, said she did not watch the video, and "I will not look, because I saw the end result I ask that people please not post the video anymore. Serena McKay Photo: Facebook/The Canada Press McKay was last seen by a family friend Saturday evening and was reported missing on Sunday. I can't imagine what the family, the community is going through right now. This is a 19-year-old female; this is someone's child, cousin, niece, sister. They're in shock, they're grieving over her loss and they're trying to come to terms with it, Manaigre told CBC News Tuesday. The internet, being what it is today, we have to be careful ... what we do. Everything is being put out there. It can be dangerous. Since Facebook launched the video streaming service, called Facebook Live, several users have used it to stream numerous crimes. Most recently, the company condemned the acts of Facebook killer Steve Stephens, a Cleveland man who filmed himself fatally shooting Robert Godwin and then posted it to Facebook. Related Articles Samsung released its quarterly earnings for the first quarter of fiscal year 2017. While the company posted a profit of $8.7 billion making the quarter its second-best ever, it also made an important announcement it would be launching a second flagship device in late 2017. Read: Samsung Galaxy S8 First Impressions Review For the mobile business, market competition is expected to intensify in the second half. Against this backdrop, the company will strive to maintain profitability through robust sales of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ and the launch of a new flagship smartphone in the second half, the company said in its press release. While the company did not name the device, it is evident, going by the companys tradition of launching two flagship devices since 2010, that the second device being hinted at is the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. This is the first official indication of the existence of the Note 8. While the device has been surfacing in rumors and leaks, Samsung has kept mum about it. The Note 8 is an important smartphone release for Samsung, since it will majorly help Samsung to repair the series reputation after the Note 7, which exploded and caused the company a major crisis. Samsung has already moved on from the Note 7 scandal with the release of its first flagship for 2017 the Samsung Galaxy S8, but it is the Note 8, that will be a test of whether consumer still has trust in the Note brand. Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Investigation Finds Battery Caused Phone To Catch Fire Owing to the Samsung Galaxy S8 release, the company says it expects its operating profit to increase further in the next quarter. For the mobile business, market competition is expected to intensify in the second half. Against this backdrop, the company will strive to maintain profitability through robust sales of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ and the launch of a new flagship smartphone in the second half, the company said. It also expressed high hopes from its new flagship. Story continues The company will aim to improve performance Year-on-Year by maximizing sales of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ and successfully launching a new flagship smartphone in the second half. In addition, the company will maintain profitability in the mid- to low-end segment. Related Articles A hoax put MacDonald Middle School in East Lansing on lockdown yesterday. According to the Lansing State Journal, police were called around 1:30 p.m. after a student snapped a picture of what they thought was someone dressed in a KKK robe walking in the woods near that school. Officers asked school administrators to put the school under "shelter in place" status. When the officers arrived, they discovered the photo actually just showed the roof of a nearby home. Police say the roof was white and had some resemblance to a person wearing a robe. The lockdown order was then lifted. London (AFP) - Scottish whisky exports returned to growth for the first time in five years in 2016 thanks to a weaker pound after Britain voted for Brexit, official figures showed Friday. The exports, which account for 90 percent of total sales, increased in value by A153 million ($198 million, 181 million euros) to more than A4.0 billion last year, according to the Scotch Whisky Association. By volume, exports rose to more than 1.2 billion bottles. "This is the first time since 2011 that both value and volume of Scotch exports recorded positive annual growth rates," the association said in a report, crediting the cheap value of sterling following Britain's vote in June to exit the European Union. "The value of sterling depreciated considerably, effectively making UK products sold abroad more attractive from a pricing perspective," said the report. However, it warned that leaving the EU would present challenges. "Both ensuring a deal which allows smooth movement of goods from the UK to Europe and securing the benefits from existing EU trade deals are major objectives." Leaving without a trade deal would risk losing benefits, including lower tariffs, in markets representing around 10 percent of exports, said the report. Scottish whisky was directly exported to 182 countries in 2016, up from 174 in 2015. More than 10,000 people are directly employed in the Scottish industry -- up six percent in the past three years -- while a further 30,000 people work in its supply chain from bottling to distribution. Scottish whisky accounted for 1.3 percent of the total value of British export goods in 2016, with the United States, France and Singapore the top markets. By Michelle Nichols and Lesley Wroughton UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned on Friday that failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs could lead to 'catastrophic consequences,' while China and Russia rebuked Washington's threat of military force. The showdown in a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on North Korea highlighted the diplomatic challenges of resolving tensions over Pyongyang, with the Trump administration aggressively pressing Beijing to rein in its ally, and China and Russia pushing back against Washington's rhetoric. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the 15-member council it was not only up to China to solve the North Korean problem. "The key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side," Wang told the council in blunt remarks that Tillerson later rebuffed. The ministerial meeting of the council, chaired by Tillerson, exposed old divisions between the United States and China on how to deal with North Korea. China wants talks first and action later, while the United States wants North Korea to curtail its nuclear program before such talks start. "It is necessary to put aside the debate over who should take the first step and stop arguing who is right and who is wrong," Wang told the council. "Now is the time to seriously consider resuming talks." Tillerson responded: "We will not negotiate our way back to the negotiating table with North Korea, we will not reward their violations of past resolutions, we will not reward their bad behavior with talks." Since 2006, North Korea has been subject to U.N. sanctions aimed at impeding the development of its nuclear and missile programs. The council has strengthened sanctions following each of North Korea's five nuclear tests. North Korea chose not to make a statement and did not take part in the meeting. In Tillerson's first visit to the United Nations he scolded the Security Council for not fully enforcing sanctions against North Korea, saying if the body had acted, tensions over Pyongyang might not have escalated. He urged the council to act before North Korea does and called on states to sever diplomatic and financial ties with Pyongyang and suspend the flow of North Korean guest workers, as well as impose bans on North Korean imports, especially coal. "Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences," he said. The United States was not pushing for regime change and preferred a negotiated solution, but Pyongyang, for its own sake, should dismantle its nuclear and missile programs, he said. "The threat of a nuclear attack on Seoul, or Tokyo, is real, and it's only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the U.S. mainland," Tillerson said. Tillerson repeated the Trump administration's position that all options are on the table if Pyongyang persists with its nuclear and missile development, but Wang said military threats would not help. 'FRIGHTENING' CONSEQUENCES Wang said dialogue and negotiations were the "only way out." "The use of force does not solve differences and will only lead to bigger disasters," he said. Wang and Tillerson met several hours after the council meeting and appeared to have a cordial exchange. "I appreciate the constructive way that China has engaged with the United States to address the challenges on the Korean peninsula that are common to both of us," the American diplomat said. U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters in an interview on Thursday a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov cautioned on Friday that the use of force would be "completely unacceptable." "The combative rhetoric coupled with reckless muscle-flexing has led to a situation where the whole world seriously is now wondering whether there's going to be a war or not," he told the council. "One ill thought-out or misinterpreted step could lead to the most frightening and lamentable consequences." Gatilov said North Korea felt threatened by regular joint U.S. and South Korean military exercises and the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula. China and Russia both also repeated their opposition to the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea. Gatilov described it as a "destabilizing effort," while Wang said it damaged trust among the parties on the North Korea issue. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told the council that to bring North Korea back to the table the international community "must send a strong message that provocation comes at a high price." "There is no doubt that dialogue is necessary ... however under the current situation where North Korea continues to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, meaningful dialogue is clearly not possible," he said. The Trump administration is focusing its North Korea strategy on tougher economic sanctions, possibly including an oil embargo, a global ban on its airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang, U.S. officials told Reuters earlier this month. (Editing by Frances Kerry and James Dalgleish) Tokyo (AFP) - Sharp said Friday its full-year net loss shrank by 90 percent and it swung to operating profit on structural reforms after being acquired last year by Taiwan's Hon Hai. The Taiwanese company, better known as Foxconn, acquired the Japanese industrial mainstay pummelled by huge losses and mounting debts in August, taking a 66 percent stake for $3.7 billion. The first foreign acquisition of a major Japanese electronics firm marked a watershed for Japan's once-mighty home electronics sector, which nurtured global brands including Sony and Panasonic but has struggled in the face of foreign competition. Sharp said that for the latest fiscal year to the end of March its net loss shrank to 24.9 billion yen ($224 million) from 256.0 billion yen a year earlier. Sales fell 16.7 percent to 2.1 trillion yen, but the Osaka-based firm booked an operating profit of 62.5 billion yen, reversing the previous year's loss of 162.0 billion yen. The smaller net loss and operating profit turnaround was partially due to structural reforms, including cost-cutting, Sharp said. Recoveries and improved profitability in several businesses, including display devices and air conditioners, also contributed, it said. "Sharp is gradually recovering as the positive impact of Hon Hai restructuring is materialising," Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Ace Research Institute in Tokyo, said before the results. "Sharp's survival simply depends on whether it can release hit products." Sharp did not announce its forecast for the current fiscal year that ends in March 2018. Over the past decade Sharp bet almost everything on liquid crystal displays (LCDs), boasting the most advanced technology in the world. But that turned into a weakness when the market became more competitive after the 2008 global financial crisis and lower-cost rivals dug into its profits. While the firm still produces cutting-edge LCD screens, it has lacked the huge research and development funds necessary to keep ahead of the competition. With Adam Rawnsley Surprise! No surprise. President Donald Trump was firing on all cylinders in a new interview with Reuters published Thursday evening, suggesting, there is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea, calling for a renegotiation of a trade deal with Seoul, and demanding South Korea and Saudi Arabia pay up for U.S. military protection. It was a return to campaign-style rhetoric for the president, and likely complicated relations between Washington and Seoul just days before the May 9 presidential election made necessary after President Park Geun-hye was impeached last month. The two leading candidates support reestablishing relations with the North Korean regime of Kim Jong Un, a move that would offer a new challenge for Washington policymakers. Not well received. Trumps remarks sent shockwaves through South Korea on Friday, causing the presidential frontrunners to suggest Washington ship recently deployed missile defense system home. Trump also said hes looking to renegotiate a 2007 trade deal, calling it horrible, and unacceptable. Crystal clear. If there was any ambiguity over U.S. policy about regime change in North Korea, they can be put to rest. At least for now. We have been very clear as to what our objectives are, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told NPR in an interview broadcast Friday morning. We do not seek regime change. We do not seek a collapse of the regime. We do not seek an accelerated reunification of the peninsula. We seek a denuclearized Korean peninsula and again that is entirely consistent with the objectives of others in the region as well. Tillerson also said the administration is open to negotiating directly with North Korea over its nuclear weapons, which would mark a major shift in Washingtons diplomatic efforts. Obviously that will be the way we would like to solve this, he told NPR. Missile costs. When it comes to the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system recently deployed to South Korea, the president appears to have confused the cost of the system itself with the cost of deploying it. The Lockheed Martin-built THAAD, which the Pentagon recently deployed on a temporary basis to defend against a possible missile attack from the North, runs about $800 million per system. But the United States didnt gift the system to Seoul, and will redeploy it back home eventually. Story continues Still, Trump told Reuters, I informed South Korea it would be appropriate if they paid. Its a billion-dollar system. South Korea pays about $900 million a year toward the basing of U.S. troops and equipment on its soil. The South Korean Defense Ministry issued a statement Friday saying, there is no change in South Korea and the United States position that our government provides the land and supporting facilities and the U.S. bears the cost of THAAD systems deployment, operation and maintenance. Saudi friends. Trump also dissed Saudi Arabia, complaining Washington was losing a tremendous amount of money defending the kingdom. Frankly, Saudi Arabia has not treated us fairly, the president said. The surprising comments about Saudi come as the Trump administration is working to forge warmer ties with the kingdom, after the relationship deteriorated during the Obama years, and is considering increasing its support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. China. The top U.S. admiral in the Pacific told a Senate panel Thursday he wouldnt bet his farm on China being able to convince North Korea to do away with its nuclear weapons program. Adm. Harry Harris said things have moved in a positive direction since Chinese President Xi Jinping met with president Trump earlier this month. I have been skeptical up to the recent discussions between President Trump and President Xi, Harris said, adding that were seeing more activity proactive, more positive activity from China than weve seen in a long time. I remain cautiously optimistic, but certainly hopeful. Flynn flop. The Pentagons watchdog has opened a probe into whether former National Security Advisor retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn violated the law by accepting payments from a foreign government, reports FPs Elias Groll. The investigation, revealed on Thursday by the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, is the latest setback for the disgraced former Trump campaign aide and White House advisor, whose dealings with Russian entities are under scrutiny in multiple probes. In a letter to the oversight panel, the Department of Defenses acting inspector general, Glenn Fine said he would examine whether Flynn failed to obtain the necessary approvals before a trip to Moscow in December 2015 paid for by Kremlin-funded broadcaster RT. At the time, Flynn was retired from the Army but he was still barred from accepting payments from foreign governments without permission from the secretary of the army and the secretary of state. RT functions as a mouthpiece of the Russian state. State to remain empty for a good, long time. While Tillerson has making diplomatic comments about North Korea, he continues to remain aloof to State Department staffers, who are waiting for him to name his top lieutenants, or offer a signal of support for the work they do. The New York Times ticks off his greatest hits in three months in office. Mr. Tillerson has also been plagued by a series of embarrassing missteps and hour-by-hour tactical turnarounds that a trusted team might have prevented. He declared President Bashar al-Assad of Syria an enduring presence only to contradict himself within days, publicly disagreed with South Korea over whether he had been invited to dinner, and noted cryptically that Iran was complying with a landmark nuclear accord only to declare hours later that the deal had failed. Welcome to SitRep. Send any tips, thoughts or national security events to paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or via Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley. Talk to the hand. Trumps interview with Reuters managed to pack in one more slight to an American ally. Trump told the wire service that he wouldnt be up for another phone call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, despite her suggestion that another chat could be in the works. Trumps phone call with Tsai during the transition raised eyebrows as a precedent-breaking insult to China, which does not recognize Taiwanese independence. Trump explained his decision by saying he was fond of Chinese President Xi Jinpings leadership on North Korean issues and I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him. Surface warfare. A Togo-flagged cargo ship full of confused sheep has done what few naval forces can claim to have done: sunk a Russian Navy ship. The Youzarsif H was hauling over 8,800 sheep through the Bosporus in Turkey when it collided with the Liman, a Russian intelligence vessel. All involved, sheep and humans, made it out ok, with the 78 crew of the Liman rescued and the Youzarsif leaving the encounter relatively unscathed. Its not clear what the Limans mission was but Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim conveyed his sadness over the incident to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Talking points. The State Department is trying to make sure U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley doesnt get ahead of Foggy Bottom, asking her staff to run any statements by headquarters before she makes them. Haley has been the administrations most outspoken critic of Russia and the Assad regime, appearing at times to get out in front of the White House and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on marquee issues. The New York Times reports that Tillersons staff has asked Haleys office to stick to basic talking points in public appearances and clear any significant departures from them with headquarters. Personnel. The rift between President Donald Trump and Sen. John McCain over the presidents foreign policy priorities appears to be healing, with two former aides to McCain on the Senate Armed Services Committee set to joint the administration. Buzzfeed reports that the Trump White House will soon nominate Tom Goffus as deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO policy and Kurt Volker in line for a job at the State Department, either assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs or the number three slot at the department. McCain and Trump had butted heads over a host of issues, most acutely the presidents apparent fondness for Russian President Vladimir Putin. But the personnel changes, along with a warmer tone from McCain about Trumps foreign policy, appears to mark a turnaround in the relationship. Fighting season. The Afghan Taliban has officially declared the start of its annual spring offensive. Fighting in Afghanistan is a cyclical, with the Taliban largely hunkering down during the winter and returning to major operations once the weather clears. Agence France Presse reports that the Taliban has named this years offensive Operation Mansouri after slain former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour, killed in Pakistan in 2016 by a U.S. drone strike. High profile attacks like this months Taliban assault on an Afghan military base Mazar-i-Sharif indicate that this year could be an especially violent one. Air defense. The skies over the border between Israel and Syria are tense once again following Israels downing of a drone that crossed over from Syria. The AP reports that Israel shot down a drone of unclear origin using a Patriot missile. The incident comes amidst growing tension between Israel and Syria over Iranian arms transfers to Hezbollah taking place in the country and follows an Israeli Air Force strike on Damascus international airport on Thursday. Photo Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form (SKOPJE, Macedonia) - Protesters stormed into Macedonias parliament and assaulted the leader of the Social Democrats on Thursday after his party and ethnic Albanian allies voted to elect an Albanian as parliament speaker, witnesses said. Live television footage showed Social Democratic leader Zoran Zaev with blood trickling from one side of his forehead, not long after he announced that the majority coalition led by his party had elected Talat Xhaferi as parliament speaker. A Reuters witness saw nationalist protesters angered over Xhaferis election beating up another lawmaker in parliament. Broken glass littered the floor and traces of blood were seen in hallways. Some of the roughly 200 protesters inside the parliament were masked. Police entered parliament after the disturbances erupted but did not immediately seek to quell the protesters, witnesses said. Macedonia has been without a functioning government since 2015 when the country sank into political turmoil over a wiretapping scandal that brought down the ruling nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party bloc. Elections were held in December 2016 but no government has been formed yet, though Zaev forged a majority coalition in parliament together with ethnic Albanians. But that parliamentary alliance has triggered daily street protests by Macedonian nationalists in Skopje. Ethnic Albanians comprise a third of the countrys population. VMRO-DPMNE lawmakers challenged the legality of Thursdays vote, saying it was not carried out electronically as is the usual case because the parliamentary session had formally ended. I condemn the attacks on MPs in Skopje in the strongest terms. Violence has NO place in Parliament. Democracy must run its course, the EU commissioner in charge of enlargement, Johannes Hahn, said in a tweet. This is the time for dialogue and not for violence, Mats Staffansson, Swedens ambassador to Skopje, told reporters on behalf of EU and U.S. legations in Macedonia. Story continues The current crisis is the worst since 2001 when Western diplomacy helped drag the country of 2.1 million people back from the brink of civil war during an ethnic Albanian insurgency, promising it a route to membership of the EU and NATO. But Macedonia has made little progress in that direction. Shortly before protesters charged into parliament, Zaev told reporters, With 67 votes we have elected a new parliament speaker. I want to congratulate Talat Xhaferi and good luck to all of us. Xhaferi became the first ethnic Albanian parliament speaker in Macedonia since the small, economically troubled Balkan country won independence from then-Yugoslavia in 1991. This article was originally published on TIME.com By Kanupriya Kapoor and Manuel Mogato MANILA (Reuters) - A maritime code of conduct between Southeast Asia and China must be legally binding to put a stop to "unilateral actions" in the South China Sea, because a previous commitment to play fair had been ignored, the ASEAN secretary general said on Friday. The Association of South East Asian Nations had not received any guarantees from China in discussions to create a framework for the code within this year, but ASEAN was hopeful a set of rules could be agreed to ward off disputes and militarization, Le Luong Minh told Reuters. "For ASEAN, such a framework must have substantial elements, and such a code of conduct must be legally binding," he said in an interview. Signing China up to a code that it must abide by, and can be enforced, has long been a goal for ASEAN's claimant members: Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea. China's recent decision to work with ASEAN to draw up a framework for a code, 15 years after they agreed to one, has been met with a mix of optimism and scepticism, coming at a time when Beijing races ahead with development of its seven artificial islands in the Spratlys. It has put radar, runways, hangars and missiles on some of those features, causing alarm in the region and concern about its long-term intentions. The framework, which all sides hope to finish this year, seeks to advance a 2002 Declaration of Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea, which commits to following international law, ensuring freedom of navigation and not putting people on uninhabited islands and features. MILITARIZATION ACTIVITIES "It's important ... because of the complex developments in the South China Sea, especially the reclamation and militarization activities and all those unilateral actions," Minh said of the code. "In that context, the need for an instrument which is legally binding, which is capable of not only preventing but also managing such incidents, is very important." Making demands of China is something ASEAN states have long been reluctant to do, wary of their economic dependence on their giant neighbor. ASEAN leaders are meeting in Manila for a summit this week. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday it was pointless discussing Beijing's contentious activities and no one dared to pressure it anyway. Experts doubt China would tie itself to a set of rules in a waterway central to its geostrategic ambitions and expect it to drag the process out until ASEAN accepts a weaker code than it wants. Asked if China had made any assurances it would stick to whatever code was agreed, Minh said: "We don't have any guarantee, we just have to try our best." Minh said the code needed to be more comprehensive than the 2002 DOC, which was only a political declaration. "It was good if all parties were implementing what was agreed, but that's not what is happening. The COC (code of conduct), we need a legally binding instrument." Minh also urged de-escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula, and said North Korea's foreign minister had sent a letter to him two weeks ago asking for ASEAN's support. He did not say what Pyongyang had asked ASEAN to do. "They expressed concern over what they (perceive) to be the threat to their security," he said. "They especially mentioned the joint exercises between the U.S. and South Korea." (Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Robert Birsel) SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's automakers association is concerned about the possible revision of the country's trade deal with the United States, an official of the industry group said on Friday. The remarks follow comments to Reuters by U.S. President Donald Trump that he would renegotiate or terminate "the horrible" trade deal with South Korea. "We are worried about the uncertainty of the deal," Kim Tae-nyen, vice president at the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA), told Reuters by telephone. The KAMA is an industry group of South Korean automakers, including Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin) By James Pearson SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion that Seoul pay for the THAAD advanced U.S. missile defense system would be an "impossible option," a top foreign policy adviser to South Korean presidential frontrunner Moon Jae-in said on Friday. Trump told Reuters in an interview on Thursday he wants South Korea to pay for the $1 billion Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. "Even if we purchase THAAD, its main operation would be in the hands of the United States," said Kim Ki-jung, a foreign policy adviser to Moon and professor at Seoul's Yonsei University. "So purchasing it would be an impossible option. That was our topic when we were considering the options," Kim said. Moon is leading polls by a wide margin ahead of a May 9 election to replace impeached former President Park Geun-hye, whose government agreed last year to deploy THAAD. Lee Ji-soo, a spokesman for Moon, said campaign officials were aware of the reported comments by Trump and deliberating his demand that South Korea pay for THAAD but added that there was no official comment from Moon's camp yet. Trump, in the interview as he prepared to mark 100 days in office on Saturday, also accused another ally, Saudi Arabia, of not paying enough for the U.S. defense umbrella. Trump's comments harked back to his populist campaign rhetoric and Bonnie Glaser, an Asia expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said they betrayed a lack of strategic thinking. "Trump's remarks reflect his persistent desire for allies to pay more for their defense," she said. "As far as their impact on South Korea's election, they will likely boost support for Moon, and if he wins, it will make it harder for the U.S. to sustain a hardline policy against North Korea. So Trump's remarks don't seem very strategic to me." Trump's comments provoked some consternation among Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress. Congressional aides noted the THAAD deployment came after years of discussions, in which South Korea took a great deal of convincing and then suffered economic retaliation from China. It just seems completely tone deaf ... That system isnt just good for South Korea, its also good for us, one aide said, adding that it would also defend U.S. troops in South Korea and deter North Korea from targeting U.S. territory. The U.S. military started THAAD deployment in early March, despite strong opposition from China, which says the system's radar can be used to spy into its territory. The deployment has also prompted a North Korean warning of retaliation. South Korea said on Wednesday major elements of the system were moved into the planned site in Seonjgu in the south of the country and would be fully operational by the end of this year. That system will have initial operational capability "very soon," a Pentagon spokesman told reporters on Friday. The Pentagon has called THAAD a "critical measure" to defend South Koreans and U.S. forces and the top U.S. commander in the Pacific, Admiral Harry Harris, said the system would be operational "in coming days." Seonjgu residents have protested, citing safety fears and its potential to be a wartime target. The United States currently has six THAAD batteries worldwide and a former U.S. State Department official, who estimated the cost of each at about $1.2 billion, said Washington would not want to sell THAAD to Seoul. "We want to retain THAAD in our arsenal, consistent with all other U.S. weapons systems deployed on the Korean peninsula. We own them. We retain them. We have the right to redeploy them," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. (Reporting by James Pearson & Ju-min Park in Seoul; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom, Patricia Zengerle, Matt Spetalnick and Phil Stewart in Washington; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and James Dalgleish) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war is part of a worrying assault on human rights and democracy across Southeast Asia, activists said as regional leaders gathered in Manila on Friday. Duterte has been condemned in the West for the crackdown, which has claimed thousands of lives since he took power last year, but he is expected to enjoy the support of most of his guests as he hosts the heads of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This is partly because the leaders of most other countries in the region have few democratic credentials themselves, or have human rights clouds hanging over them, according to Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division. "Human rights is in a precipitous downward spiral in every ASEAN country except perhaps Myanmar, and thats only because military rule in that country was so horrible for so long," Robertson told AFP. "By just about every measure -- freedom of expression and peaceful protest, religious tolerance, non-interference in civil society, respect for democratic principles, fair treatment of refugees and migrants -- the region is falling deeper into dictatorship, repression, and rights abuse." Amnesty International called on the ASEAN leaders to consider whether the drug war killings were a "serious breach" of the provision in the group's charter to protect human rights. Here are the leaders of ASEAN nations and issues surrounding their rule: - Brunei - Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 70, is one of the world's richest men thanks to his 49-year absolute rule over tiny, oil-rich Brunei. He caused controversy in 2014 when he introduced sharia law, which on paper includes severing of limbs and death by stoning. - Cambodia - A former Khmer Rouge soldier who defected from the brutal regime, Hun Sen, 64, has been in power for more than three decades. The shrewd politician claims to have brought stability to an impoverished nation ravaged by war. But he is also regarded as a strongman who has leveraged control over the country's security forces, judiciary and economy to block any challenges to his rule, while allowing corruption and rights abuses to flourish. Story continues - Indonesia Joko Widodo, 55, is the first elected leader from outside the political and military elites. His 2014 presidential victory was seen as a sign that Indonesia's democratic institutions were in good health, after emerging from three decades of iron-fisted rule under dictator Suharto in 1998. But he has struggled to push through reforms in a country still dominated by figures from the Suharto era and analysts say old establishment forces may be moving to retake power. - Laos - Thongloun Sisoulith, 71, rose to the premiership last year after serving as the communist state's top diplomat. He has trumpeted an anti-graft campaign in the impoverished nation. But scrutiny of his opaque administration remains all but impossible under a regime that bars international media and brooks no dissent. - Malaysia - Najib Razak, 63, has since 2009 been leader of Malaysia's ruling coalition, which in nearly six-decades in power has overseen rapid economic growth. But its policies favour the Malay majority and it has long been accused of repressing dissent. With elections due next year, Najib has cracked down on his opponents and sacked critics within his party. - Myanmar - Aung San Suu Kyi's reputation as a democracy icon and human rights defender has been tarnished by her first year in office. The 71-year-old has alienated many of her international backers for not speaking out against a bloody army crackdown on Rohingya Muslims. At home, poor progress on legal and economic reforms, a stalling peace process and a surge in online defamation cases have left many disillusioned with Myanmar's first civilian government in generations. - Philippines - A crackdown on drugs that has claimed thousands of lives has been the defining theme of Duterte's first year in office. Human rights groups warn he may be orchestrating a crime against humanity. But the 72-year-old lawyer insists he is "happy to slaughter" millions of addicts to end the drug menace, and that he does not care about the criticism. - Singapore - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 65, the elder son of late founding father Lee Kuan Yew, has led the affluent city-state since 2004. His Peoples Action Party was in 2015 returned to power in a landslide election win, extending the partys uninterrupted rule spanning nearly six decades. But rights groups have criticised the government for clamping down on political freedoms. - Thailand - Prayut Chan-O-Cha, a 63-year-old career soldier who toppled an elected government while army chief in 2014, heads a junta that has clamped down on dissent and stripped Thais of political rights. The ultra-royalist has promised an eventual return to democracy, but the dates for polls keep slipping and critics say the new junta-drafted charter will solidify the army's role in government. - Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, elected last year by the rubber-stamp parliament, is seen as a competent technocrat and a sturdy apparatchik in the conservative communist leadership. The party has little tolerance for internal dissent and routinely jails critics. The nations capital is the only city in the country where the federal government gives scholarships to underprivileged children to attend private schools. The goal of the voucher program, of course, is to help ensure low-income youth arent tethered to their often under-resourced and under-performing neighborhood schools. But a report released Thursday found largely negative results for students who participated in the District of Columbias Opportunity Scholarship Program, suggesting that many of the programs beneficiaries might actually fare better if they turn down the private-school money. The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) compared test scores for two groups of students: students who, through a lottery process, were selected to receive vouchers, and students who applied for yet didnt receive them. The study compared the progress of both groups of students from spring of 2012 to 2014 and found that, a year after they applied for the scholarship, math scores were lower for students who won vouchers. Whats more, after narrowing the pool of students down to those in kindergarten through fifth grade, both reading and math scores were lower for students who won vouchers. While students shortcomings in test scoresespecially in mathmay complicate the Trump administrations path to elevating voucher programs, the administration remains committed to fully funding vouchers and expanding access to similar options nationwide. President Trumps proposed 2018 budget would add $1.4 billion to school choicewhich includes voucher programs and charter schoolswith the goal of ramping up to an annual total of $20 billion. The proposed budget would also specifically allocate $250 million for a new private school-choice program, which likely would provide vouchers. Along with these major investments in school choice, the Department of Education as a whole would receive 13 percent less funding than last year, a reduction of $9 billion. The release of the study Thursday gives Democratic lawmakers renewed ammo against the larger-scale voucher proposal. When Secretary [Betsy] DeVoss own Departments independent research office tells her that siphoning taxpayer dollars into private schools has a negative impact on students, its time for her to finally abandon her reckless plans to privatize public schools across the country, Democratic Senator Patty Murray, the ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee, said in a statement. Democratic Congressman Bobby Scott, ranking member of the House Education and Workforce committee, said: We know that these failed programs drain public schools of limited resources, only to deliver broken promises of academic success to parents and students. Congress must end this failed program and support the more than 90 percent of students nationwide who are enrolled in public schools." Recommended: Being an 'Elephant Mom' in the Time of the Tiger Mother DeVos, however, wasnt discouraged by the latest findings, releasing a statement on Thursday indicating she hadnt shifted her views after reviewing them. D.C.s traditional public schools have not suffered as a result of being part of a system that allows choice, she said. Rather, they have greatly improved since the 2004 inception of the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP). The study released today found that D.C. OSP parents overwhelmingly support this program, and that, at the same time, these schools need to improve upon how they serve some of D.C.s most vulnerable students. We should demand excellence from all of our nations schools, regardless of their type. This Administration remains committed to fully funding D.C. OSP so that D.C.s most vulnerable students have access to the widest array of education options possible. Theres nothing in the report that supports DeVoss assertion that parents overwhelmingly support the program. Rather, it found the program did not have a statistically significant impact on parents or students general satisfaction with the school the child attended. The study did produce some positive findings: For example, parents of children who used school vouchers were were more likely to say that their childs school was safe, and the parents of participating children in sixth grade or higher were more likely than those of nonparticipating children to engage in education-related activities at home. But overwhelming support for the voucher program itself was not indicated in the IES report. Recommended: Escaping Poverty Requires Almost 20 Years With Nearly Nothing Going Wrong Virginia Foxx, the Republican chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, acknowledged in a statement the disappointing findings in this report, and argued that the program would need to step up and deliver the change that is necessary to ensure students excel from day one. But she also stood by the effectiveness of school choice. Theres no question improvements need to be made, but in no way should this single report diminish our support for the program or the belief that parents deserve more freedom and choices when it comes to their childrens education, Foxx said. A previous IES study of the D.C. voucher program, which wrapped up in 2010, found that voucher students were more likely to graduate than their non-voucher peers. Still, todays IES report is the latest in a recent string of statewide and local studies on voucher programs that have found lackluster academic results, including a 2015 study of an Indiana program that found no improvements in reading and significant losses in achievement in math and a February 2016 study of Louisiana's program that found strong and consistent evidence that students using a [Louisiana Scholarship Program] scholarship performed significantly worse in math. The IES evaluation is the first of three of this cohort of D.C. voucher recipients; the next one is slated for release in the next year or so and will evaluate student outcomes after two years in the voucher program. The IES study that came out today reflects one-year findings. One-year findings, particularly with respect to math testing, are often not predictive of final outcomes, said Serving our Children, the organization that administers the D.C. scholarship, in a statement. The organization also said previous findings about the programs positive impact on graduation rates and college attainment are more important indicators of, and predictors of, future success. Recommended: Trump's Presidential Status Anxiety DeVos has advocated for school choice, citing American students slow progress on national and international assessments as an argument against the status quo. Shes also indicated a reluctance to tie success in schools to empirical numbers, instead championing the idea of empowering parents to make the right decisions for their children. Im not a numbers person in the same way you are, she reportedly told a researcher in late March. But to me, the policies around empowering parents and moving decision-making to the hands of parents on behalf of children is really the direction we need to go. While unlikely to alter DeVoss views on school choice, the results of the study are likely to add another layer of complexity to the school-choice debateand another reason for Democrats to attempt to thwart the Trump administrations education agenda. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. The sun erupts in many different ways, but scientists have discovered all those eruptions follow a similar pattern involving magnetic fields and bursts of energy. Researchers studied coronal mass ejections, which are enormous explosions from the sun of hot gas called plasma and electrically charged particles, and the smaller ejections of hot gas called coronal jets that are a major factor in the solar wind. A study in the journal Nature found they now understand both of those eruptive events occur although on different scales when cold and dense swaths of material called filaments bulge, break through the suns magnetic fields and explode into space. Read: How the Sun Changes Earths Electricity It breaks out by putting so much stress on the magnetic fields suppressing it that they explosively realign into a new configuration, NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center said. When that happens, the energy in the filament can finally erupt out of the sun. The researchers suggest that if both coronal mass ejections and coronal jets have the same source, this process can be considered a universal model for solar eruptions. sun-eruption Photo: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/SDO Previously, scientists said they had different underlying mechanisms because they had such different results. Our theoretical model shows the jet can essentially be described as a mini-[coronal mass ejection], lead author Peter Wyper, a solar physicist at Durham University, said in the NASA statement. The university worked with the space agency on the project. Now we have the possibility to explain a continuum of eruptions through the same process. But if they are driven by the same mechanism, why do they look so different? NASA explains the magnetic field around the filament can be different strengths and shapes, which would affect how the material erupts. For example, magnetic fields looping above a filament will produce a bubble-shaped explosion a coronal mass ejection. Story continues The breakout model unifies our picture of whats going on at the sun, study co-author Richard DeVore, a solar physicist at Goddard, said. Within a unified context, we can advance understanding of how these eruptions are started, how to predict them and how to better understand their consequences. What the sun does is important to us on Earth solar eruptions can affect the magnetic fields around our planet, which in turn can disrupt our communications and navigation systems, and other technology that relay signals through the atmosphere. We can see this effect with our own eyes when charged particles blown here from the sun interact with gases in the atmosphere and magnetic fields around Earth to create swirling, colorful auroras. See also: What Sun Damage Does to the Moons Surface Salty Stuff is Erupting on This Nearby Planet Related Articles Madrid (AFP) - Two suspected jihadists arrested in Spain have admitted being in Brussels airport at the time of the deadly March 2016 attack but deny involvement, a court spokesman said. Mohamed Lamsalak and Youssef Ben Hammou were arrested earlier in the week as part of a joint investigation between Spanish and Belgian police. Officers seized firearms, drugs and cash in raids connected to the operation. The two men "have admitted that they were at the airport when the bombs went off. They deny involvement in the attacks," said a spokesman for the National Court, which specialises in terrorism cases. Belgium has been on high alert since March 22 last year when suicide bombers attacked Zaventem airport and the Maalbeek metro station, killing 32 people and leaving more than 320 wounded. The attacks were led by an Islamic State cell that was also responsible for the carnage in Paris in November 2015. The spokesman said an inquiry had established that the men were in Brussels from March 16-23. "They say that they went to Brussels to buy a car," he said. "Investigators are working to determine if the money (intended for the purchase) was used to finance the attack or for any other motive". The men, who are charged with belonging to a terrorist organisation, admitted that while in Brussels they visited the cousin of the two brothers who blew themselves up in the coordinated attack. Investigators were looking into a document found on Hammou, a Google Maps print-out which showed the route from Germany to Brussels taken by Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the jihadist group behind attacks in Paris which left 130 dead. Hammou and Lamsalak both deny any connection to the Paris attacks. The two suspects were among a group of nine people taken in for questioning in Barcelona and the northeastern region of Catalonia. On Tuesday, police said the nine were made up of eight Moroccans and one Spanish national. Four of those have been released on probation while three others remain in custody, but on charges not relating to terrorism. Story continues Between 2012 and October 2016, Spain detained 186 people with suspected links to Islamic jihadism, including 63 in Catalonia, according to the interior ministry. Spain, the world's third most visited country, increased its terror alert to category four on a five-point scale in 2015 after attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait. The country has been mentioned on extremist websites as a possible target for historical reasons, since much of its territory was under Muslim rule from 711 to 1492. But it has been spared major jihadist violence since March 2004, when bombs exploded on commuter trains in Madrid, killing 191 people in an attack claimed by Qaeda-inspired militants. Unlike France or Belgium, Spain is less exposed to the risk that radicalised citizens who left to fight abroad will return with plans to commit attacks on home soil. Only around 160 Spaniards are estimated to have joined the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, according to a study by the Real Instituto Elcano think tank, compared with over a thousand from nearby France since 2012. Stockholm (AFP) - The death toll from the Stockholm truck attack rose to five on Friday after a 60-year-old Swedish woman succumbed to her injuries, police said. An Uzbek suspect has confessed to using a stolen truck to mow down pedestrians on a busy shopping street in central Stockholm on April 7 in a rampage similar to attacks in Nice, Berlin and London. Three Swedes, including an 11-year-old girl, were among the dead along with one Briton and one Belgian. Fifteen others were injured. Police said the woman was being treated at a hospital in southern Sweden and died on Friday morning. Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old Uzbek national who was arrested a few hours after the attack, has confessed to driving the truck. Akilov ignored a deportation order and went underground after he was denied a residency permit in 2016. Although no terror group has claimed responsibility, Swedish authorities said Akilov is known to have shown sympathies for jihadists groups, including the Islamic State. He "confessed to a terrorist crime and accepted his custody detention," his lawyer Johan Eriksson told a custody hearing in Stockholm earlier this month. The Uzbek police have accused Akilov of attempting to join the Islamic State in Syria via Turkey in 2015, according to Russian media. An investigation into the truck attack is expected to take months as the authorities search for possible accomplices and try to determine the motives of the alleged attacker. On the cusp of his 100th day in office, President Trump went on a media blitz this week, granting interviews to a number of outlets reflecting on his first months in the nations highest office. In addition to an interview with the Associated Press that attracted attention for all the unintelligible lines in the transcript, Trump spoke to the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and Reuters about everything from his flip-flop on withdrawing from NAFTA to his surprise about the difficulties of his job. Below are some of the most illuminating tidbits from the commander in chief. He is nostalgic for pre-presidency life: I loved my previous life, Trump told Reuters. I had so many things going. This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier. As Trump threatened to terminate the North American Free Trade Agreement, members of his cabinet scrambled: The Post reported that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue were instrumental in persuading Trump not to abandon NAFTA. Perdue even brought along a prop to the Oval Office: A map of the United States that illustrated the areas that would be hardest hit, particularly from agriculture and manufacturing losses, and highlighting that many of those states and counties were Trump country communities that had voted for the president in November. It shows that I do have a very big farmer base, which is good, Trump recalled. They like Trump, but I like them, and Im going to help them. Hes not ruling out military action in dealing with North Korea: Trump told Reuters, There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely. Wed love to solve things diplomatically, but its very difficult, he added. Trump rejects the narrative of a power struggle between nationalists and globalists in his White House: Hey, Im a nationalist and a globalist, he told the Wall Street Journal. Im both. And Im the only one who makes the decision, believe me. Story continues The decision to stay in NAFTA was influenced partially by Trumps affection for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto: Trump told the Post, In one way, I like the termination. In the other way, I like them a lot, both of them. We have a very good relationship. And its very hard when you have a relationship, its very much something that would not be a nice act. It would not be exactly a friendly act. Trump is not particularly bothered by the possibility of a government shutdown: Well see what happens. If theres a shutdown, theres a shutdown, he told Reuters. Hes still boasting about his election victory: Trump brought copies of the electoral map to his interview with Reuters reporters. More than five months after his victory and two days shy of the 100-day mark of his presidency, the election is still on Trumps mind. Midway through a discussion about Chinese President Xi Jinping, the president paused to hand out copies of what he said were the latest figures from the 2016 electoral map. Here, you can take that, thats the final map of the numbers, the Republican president said from his desk in the Oval Office, handing out maps of the United States with areas he won marked in red. Its pretty good, right? The red is obviously us. He had copies for each of the three Reuters reporters in the room. _____ Read more from Yahoo News coverage of Trumps first 100 days: By Katy Migiro NAIROBI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have fled their homes and are now trapped under intense sun without food, water or medical care, aid agencies said on Thursday after fierce fighting forced them to pull out of the region. Almost 40,000 thirsty people are camped out in temperatures of about 40 degrees centigrade in Aburoc village, near the border with Sudan, said Marcus Bachmann, South Sudan head of mission for the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). "The quantity of water is not enough to survive in this environment," he told a news briefing via Skype from Juba. "With so many people squeezed in one place, the risk of an outbreak of cholera is extremely high. It puts the exhausted population at highest risk of death." South Sudan descended into civil war in 2013 after President Salva Kiir fired his deputy, unleashing a conflict that has spawned armed factions which often follow ethnic lines. The United Nations (U.N.) has raised fears of a possible genocide as millions have fled their homes, the economy is in a tailspin, harvests are devastated by drought and millions of people face famine. A government offensive in two parts of Upper Nile State, near the border with Sudan, forced 32 humanitarian staff to be relocated on Monday to the capital, Juba, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The displaced population in and around Aburoc is likely to hit 50,000 in the coming days, it said in a statement, and people are also reported to be crossing into Sudan for safety. "People fleeing... to Aburoc are undertaking long and treacherous journeys some travelling eight days by foot without access to water and food," it said. MSF's Bachmann said water trucks could not reach Aburoc, and it suspended its hospital operations there on Thursday morning. People are sleeping in the open without mosquito nets to protect against malaria and he said there have been reports of cholera in the area in recent months. Government forces are in control of nearby Kodok town after fighting ended there on Wednesday, Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) deputy spokesman Colonel Santo Domic Chol said. "The SPLA is calling on their citizens to come back to their houses," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation via phone, declining to give casualty figures. "War is war and war is ugly in any capacity... there must be refugees and there must be those caught in the crossfire." (Reporting by Katy Migiro @katymigiro; Additional reporting by Denis Dumo in Juba; Editing by Lyndsay Griffiths. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, womens rights, trafficking, property rights and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org to see more stories.) Donald Trump is splitting up families. After 19 years living and working in the US, paying taxes and raising a family, Mario Hernandez Delacruz was deported to a country he had not seen for two decades. His daughter, Estrella Garcia, and one of her younger sisters, drove him to the airport in the familys Jeep Wrangler where he caught a flight to Mexico. On the way, they talked about their plan to carry on appealing his right to live in the US; on the way home, there were just tears. mario-family.jpg Mr Delacruz has been forced to leave his family in Michigan (Courtesy of family) My mother has been so depressed. My two sisters aged 15 and 12 cannot concentrate at school. Ive had to carry on because Im now the head of the family, says Ms Garcia, seated in the familys modest home in south west Detroit. I dont think [Trump] cares. He just wants to get out people he doesnt think belong here. As Mr Trump marks 100 days in the White House, the impact of his executive orders on immigration are reverberating across the country. Citizens from six Muslim-majority countries were told they could no longer enter the US, the nations refugee programme was suspended, and agents from US Customs and Border Protection have been raiding homes and business and deporting people deemed to be illegal. Mr Trump had originally said his priority was deporting those undocumented migrants who had broken the law. But in Detroit and elsewhere, people who have lived in the country for decades and who have no criminal record are being detained and deported. Agents have been arresting people in courthouses and even as they leave church-operated cold weather shelters. My father had no criminal record. He worked, he volunteered in the community, and two of his children are US citizens, says 23-year-old Ms Garcia. Now, Dad is in Cancun with his mother and she is living in poverty. He calls every day and he says it's bad. Hes not allowed to apply to come here for 10 years And neither my mother or myself can go there. Story continues Mr Delacruz, 44, entered the US illegally in 1998. He had grown up in Tabasco in southern Mexico. He crossed with wife, Matilde, and Ms Garcia, who was then aged just five. Her only memory of the journey is of being carried by her father and another man. http://players.brightcove.net/624246174001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5415021966001 How Trump's immigration orders are affecting communities in Detroit In Michigan, Mr Delacruz worked as a carpenter and flooring specialist. He had two other daughters, Lucero and Diana, and was a member of the United Hispanic Pentecostal Church, located a couple of streets from their home. He also volunteered with a local organisation, Michigan United, which works to help poor families, many of them immigrants. The groups executive director, Ryan Bates, says the issuance of the Presidents executive orders was a moment when people in the community came together to fight in a way that was unprecedented. There were protests and rallies involving various faiths and communities. One event involved a march from a Latino Catholic church to a neighbourhood mosque. What is at stake is not just immigration policy, but the vision for our country. Are we going to be a place where everyone has an equal political voice? asks Mr Bates. Because, for more than 200 years, weve not been that. It took generations of struggle to bring in people. But Trump wants to turn back the clock to a time when only people who looked like me were full citizens. Cindy Garcias husband, Jorge, is also in a perilous situation. He came to the US in 1989 when he was aged just nine or ten. His parents are still in the country illegally, while Mr Garcia lives in a legal grey zone, permitted to remain by the authorities for now, but at risk of deportation. Were very frightened because we fear he could be taken at any time, says Mrs Garcia, a US citizen. She says that since Mr Trumps executive orders, people are feeling more vulnerable, even though her husbands legal battle dates back more than a decade. She says they have two children, a 14-year-old daughter, Soleil, and 11-year-old Jorge Jr, who are also US citizens. She says her husband works and pays taxes. She cannot understand why the authorities would want to threaten him. Mr Garcia says that if he were to return to Mexico, he would struggle. It would be like going to a country I dont know because things have changed, he says. Ive not been back since I came here. Mr Trump made a crackdown on undocumented migrants a major part of his election campaign and has vowed to build a wall along the Mexican border. While his executive orders relating to a travel ban have been put on hold by the courts, two other orders one that tightens border security and another focused on enforcement inside the US are impacting on communities. estrella-garcia.jpg Estrella Garcia drove her father to the airport when he left the country (Andrew Buncombe ) During his address to the joint houses of Congress in February, Mr Trump announced: As we speak, we are removing gang members, drug dealers, and criminals that threaten our communities and prey on our citizens. Bad ones are going out as I speak tonight and as I have promised. But as The Intercept pointed out, Mr Trumps immigration crackdown a toughening of a stance that activists said was already draconian under Barack Obama sets as high a priority for people who have abused any programme related to receipt of public benefits as it does for convicted offenders or people who had committed violence. The Trump administration has launched an unprecedented attack on the American idea that we should welcome immigrants and refugees, and build a stronger country in the process, Frank Sharry, executive director of the pro-immigrant Americas Voice Education Fund, told reporters earlier this year. They are using the cover story of bad hombres as a smokescreen for a strategy that declares open season on each and every undocumented immigrant in America. In a statement, US Customs and Border Protection, said: Mario Hernandez-Delacruz, an unlawfully present citizen of Mexico, was ordered removed from the United States after failing to voluntarily depart as ordered by a federal immigration judge in 2012. In an exercise of discretion and prior to his departure, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE) had allowed Mr Hernandez-Delacruz to remain free from custody with periodic in-person reporting. Ms Garcias presence in the US depends on the protection offered to children arriving in the country by DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme. While her two younger sisters are US citizens and can travel freely, she and her mother are unable to leave with any guarantee of being able to re-enter the country. As a result, they are unable to visit their father. She says Mr Delacruz ultimately had five weeks from being told he had to leave, to the journey to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. She tried to spend as much time with him as possible, but he was always busy. His wife cooked him his favourite meals. Now he is in Cancun, she says her father appeared shocked by the poverty his mother was living in there. The immigration officer said he was sorry what was happening but he had a daughter, says Ms Garcia. But I was so angry. I wanted to say You dont know what its like because this is not happening to you. Speaking in a mixture of halting English and Spanish, from his new home in Mexico, Mr Delacruz says the situation is very sad. The situation is bad because Im here and my family is in Michigan, he says. He explains he is obliged to stay in Mexico for ten years before he can apply to return to the US. Is there nothing he can do to change the situation? He replies in the negative. NadaNada. Related: For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. By Michelle Nichols and Lesley Wroughton UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned on Friday that failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and missile abilities could lead to 'catastrophic consequences,' while China and Russia cautioned Washington against threatening military force to solve the problem. While Washington has pressed Beijing to rein in its ally Pyongyang, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the U.N. Security Council that "the key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side." Tillerson urged the 15-member body to act before North Korea does and called on states to sever diplomatic and financial ties with Pyongyang. He said that because China accounted for 90 percent of North Korean trade, its role was particularly important. "Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences," Tillerson said in his first remarks to the council as secretary of state. The United States was not pushing for regime change and preferred a negotiated solution, but Pyongyang, for its own sake, should dismantle its nuclear and missile programs, he said. "The threat of a nuclear attack on Seoul, or Tokyo, is real, and it's only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the U.S. mainland," Tillerson said. While Tillerson repeated the Trump administration's position that all options are on the table if Pyongyang persists with its nuclear and missile development, Yi said military threats would not help. Yi said dialogue and negotiations were the "only way out" and called on parties to stop arguing over who must take the first step. China wants talks first and action later, while the United States wants North Korea to curtail its nuclear program before such talks start. "The use of force does not solve differences and will only lead to bigger disasters," Wang told the council. U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with Reuters on Thursday that a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. 'FRIGHTENING' CONSEQUENCES Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov also said on Friday the use of force would be "completely unacceptable." "The combative rhetoric coupled with reckless muscle-flexing has led to a situation where the whole world seriously is now wondering whether there's going to be a war or not," he told the council. "One ill thought out or misinterpreted step could lead to the most frightening and lamentable consequences." Gatilov said North Korea felt threatened by regular joint U.S. and South Korean military exercises and the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula. China and Russia both also repeated their opposition to the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea. Gatilov described it as a "destabilizing effort," while Wang said it damaged trust among the parties on the North Korea issue. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told the council that to bring North Korea back to the table the international community "must send a strong message that provocation comes at a high price." "There is no doubt that dialogue is necessary ... however under the current situation where North Korea continues to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, meaningful dialogue is clearly not possible," he said. The Trump administration is focusing its North Korea strategy on tougher economic sanctions, possibly including an oil embargo, a global ban on its airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang, U.S. officials told Reuters earlier this month. Since 2006, North Korea has been subject to U.N. sanctions aimed at impeding the development of its nuclear and missile programs. The council has strengthened sanctions following each of North Korea's five nuclear tests. (Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Frances Kerry) Ivanka Trump just had to trademark her name in China to avoid copyright copycats, but she doesn't have to worry that new parents will infringe on her turf: The name Ivanka is wildly unpopular in the United States. In 2015, only about 20 in 1 million babies were named Ivanka, according to U.S. Social Security Administration data. In 2016, pregnancy and parenting site BabyCenter saw a spike in interest in the name Ivanka, possibly driven by the soon-to-be first daughter, but the name fell nearly 1,800 spots in popularity so far this year, and now sits at No. 3,818 in that site's popularity ranking. (The BabyCenter ranking measures interest in a name based on what names people say they will use, but does not use actual birth certificate data, so it is not a fully reliable indicator of name prevalence.) One reason for the name's unpopularity may come from the way the consonants in the name sound, said Laura Wattenberg, author of the book "The Baby Name Wizard" (Three Rivers Press, 2005) and creator of the website BabyNameWizard.com. [7 Baby Myths Debunked] "That N-K is just a nonstarter," Wattenberg said. "There is literally no fashionable name with the letters N-K [in succession] for either sex at this point like 'Frank' is at an all-time low." Style over politics The Trumps may be a particularly controversial family Ivanka Trump's most recent trademark efforts were in the news because the first daughter was granted the trademarks while she and her husband were at dinner with the Chinese president. But ever since President Richard Nixon's Watergate scandal, Americans have largely eschewed naming their babies after political figures, especially the names of politicians who are still living, Wattenberg told Live Science. Until about the middle of the 20th century, the winners of presidential elections reliably produced naming bumps; there were surges of little Clevelands, Wilsons and even Roosevelts. That's not true today. Story continues "There was a clear turning point in American history where we went from routinely naming after political and military leaders and avoiding them at all costs," Wattenberg said. One reason may be a "certain cynicism about politics," Wattenberg said. But perhaps a more influential factor is that Americans have changed the ways they approach naming. "Names are now emblems more of style than meaning," Wattenberg said. People no longer name their babies after their fathers or grandfathers nearly as often as in the past, either. To the extent that babies do get presidential names, the reason rarely seems to track with a political stance. "Kennedy," for example, was the 57th-most-popular name for girls in the U.S. in 2015. But it wasn't blue-state residents honoring a liberal president who were driving the trend. "Kennedy" shows up in the top 100 baby girl names in Alabama, Texas, Utah and Tennessee, to name a few conservative strongholds. The name doesn't crack the top 100 in JFK's home state of Massachusetts. The politics of naming Children of presidents do sometimes start small trends in naming, Wattenberg said. Social Security data shows that Malia and Sasha jumped in popularity during the Obama administration. In the U.S., the name Malia, which had been slowly gaining in popularity since the mid-1990s, jumped from No. 344 in 2008 to No. 191 in 2009. Sasha, which had been more steadily familiar since the 1970s, jumped from No. 360 in 2008 to No. 261 in 2009. The names Ruth and Esther similarly saw popularity surges when these daughters of Grover Cleveland lived in the White House back in the late 19th century, Wattenberg said. [6 Politicians Who Got the Science Wrong] "Ivanka is different," she said. "She's not a little girl, and she's an explicitly political figure." Those two factors would make Ivanka less appealing as a namesake even if her name hadn't been too consonant-rich to mesh with parents' current preference for melodious, vowel-filled names, Wattenberg said. Perhaps the trendiest Trump names are those of the first lady, Melania, and first son, Barron. Both have remained largely out of the spotlight, but their names are poised for the big leagues. Melania is a flowing "liquid name" that fits well alongside popular choices like Aaliyah and Arianna, Wattenberg said, while Barron is an ambitious "exalted" name, and calls to mind royalty and divinity. (Other examples include King, Royal, Noble and Marvel.) "Those are two hot styles right now, so if any Trump family names do rise, they're the likeliest candidates," Wattenberg said. The rest of the Trump family is unlikely to kick-start any naming trends. Jared, Ivanka's husband, has a classic 1980s name that is a "dad name today," Wattenberg said. Tiffany, Trump's daughter with ex-wife Marla Maples, has another name that has already peaked. It hit a high at No. 13 on the popularity charts in 1982 and had dropped to No. 494 as of 2015. Eric, another Trump son, has a name that ranked at a respectable No. 137 in 2015, but that formerly popular boy pick has been sliding since the 1970s. Meanwhile, "Donald" is a name that is "well into grandpa territory," Wattenberg said. "Even Donald Trump he's a little young for a Donald." Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Washington (AFP) - Ninety-nine days after taking office, President Donald Trump on Friday is set to address the National Rifle Association, the hugely powerful US gun lobby that will surely give him a triumphant welcome. The event will be heavy with symbolism. Republican candidates jostling to the doors of the organization that prides itself on its ability to influence local and national elections may be a common sight. However, a sitting president addressing the group's members is far less so, the last time dating back nearly 35 years to Ronald Reagan. This time, Trump will address the NRA's 146th annual convention in Atlanta, Georgia, where more than 80,000 members and some 800 exhibitors are expected to take part in a four day event. The organization backed the real estate billionaire early in the 2016 presidential campaign and gave him significant financial support. In a short video about the speech, the NRA draws a parallel between Trump's address and Reagan's -- evidence, if any were necessary, of the lobbying group's close ties to the 45th president. "NRA members and gun owners helped put President Trump over the top," NRA Wayne CEO LaPierre said. The organization has since given the president high marks, especially for his appointment of conservative judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. - Campaign style - In 1983 Reagan electrified NRA members gathered in Phoenix, Arizona during his re-election campaign. "We will never disarm any American who seeks to protect his or her family from fear and harm," said the president, who has become an all-but sacred icon for many Republicans. "The constitution says 'The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,'" Reagan added to thunderous applause. The former actor was careful to cite the constitutions Second Amendment verbatim -- but only part of it. The full sentence stipulates that "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Story continues That formulation has prompted many different interpretations depending on views and politics. Although no elected official today advocates confiscating Americans' firearms, Democrats disagree with Republicans over the degree of regulation needed for weapons sales and permits. Former president Barack Obama failed to overcome fierce Republican resistance when he tried to pass minor gun control legislation following the Sandy Hook School massacre that killed 26 people in 2012. Obama was angry at what he called an "epidemic" of US gun violence. Trump was welcomed with wild enthusiasm when, in May 2016 while campaigning for president, he spoke NRA's national convention meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. "Crooked Hillary Clinton is the most anti-gun, anti-Second Amendment candidate ever to run for office," Trump told the convention about his Democratic White House rival. Eager to galvanize his base after humiliating setbacks in Congress, the president on Friday is expected to return to the campaign style of his 2016 NRA speech. Then on Saturday Trump will travel to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to tout his achievements at a rally of supporters. Pennsylvania is one of three swing states -- including Michigan and Wisconsin -- that proved crucial for Trump's surprise victory in November, thanks in no small part to support from the millions of NRA members. The argument that even an "immaterial" error on official paperwork can justify deportation, put forward by the Trump administration in a recent Supreme Court case, would be sufficient to deport the President's wife, Melania. The First Lady of the United States reportedly failed to disclose earnings from nearly two months of illegal work in the USA on a visitor's visa, and subsequently failed to mention the offence on immigration documents. A Serbian woman was recently deported for failing to disclose her husband's history in the military, thus setting a technical precedent for deporting Ms Trump, as Slate reports. Video not available for syndication Trump appears to check who Melania votes for In 1996, Ms Trumpthen Knausswas paid for modelling work undertaken in the United States while travelling on a tourist visa, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press. This violated her terms of entry. Read more What Trump wouldnt have to cut if Melania and Barron lived with him The first lady allegedly earned more than $20,000 (16,000) in the seven weeks before she acquired legal permission to work. She went on to apply for a green card in 2001 and became a naturalised US citizen in 2006 without disclosing any past indiscretions. Despite the recent revelations about her career history, however, she seems unlikely to face deportation. By contrast, Diva Maslenjak faced summary deportation when it emerged she lied about her husband's service in a Bosnian Serb military unit when securing US citizenship in 2007. She arrived in the United States as a refugee in 1999, fleeing persecution as a Serb living in Bosnia. She claimed her husband had never served in the army, but this was proven to be false and she was deported. Under new rules brought in by the Trump administration last month, immigration officials are required to prioritise the removal of any foreign national who has engaged in fraud or wilful misrepresentation in connection with any official matter or application before a government agency. Defending this stance during a Supreme Court case which challenged the ruling against Ms Maslenjak as unconstitutional, Justice Department lawyer Robert Parker suggested a minor 20-year-old offence such as driving at 60mph in a 55mph zone 20 years previously could be enough to reverse an entire citizenship decision. As he approaches his hundredth day in office, Donald Trump appears to be sufferingonce againfrom an acute case of presidential status anxiety. In public, of course, he has labored to play it cool, strenuously insisting (and insisting, and insisting) that he does not care about the first hundred days metric that historians and pundits have used to evaluate the success of new administrations since FDR. Trump has called this milestone ridiculous and artificiala meaningless media fixation. And yet, the less-than-laudatory press reviews seem to have left him seething. For evidence, look no further than the presidents pathos-drenched Twitter feed, where he recently took to vent, 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! This explains why we are now witnessing the White House in mad-scramble modefrantically reaching for last-minute accomplishments to placate the president, and pad his record. The closer Trump gets to the hundred-day marker, it seems, the more erratically he flings major legislative initiatives at the wall in hopes that something will stick. Recommended: Trump Falls From One Presidential Trap Into Another Last week, Trump abruptly pledged to unveil a massive tax-cut plan in the coming daysan announcement that reportedly surprised even his own staff. To meet their bosss deadline, they rushed out a single-page documentbullet-pointed, double-spaced, 229 words longthat resembled a homework assignment hastily completed in the stall during a bathroom break. Skeptics scoffed, Democrats balked, and even White House officials have struggled to articulate their plan. Meanwhile, with a government shutdown fast approaching, Trump threatened to blow up budget negotiations with an outlandishand politically unviabledemand that the funding bill include money for a border wall. (He eventually had to back down.) And with just 48 hours left in his first hundred days, Trump embarked on a quixotic last-ditch bid to jam an Obamacare replacement bill through the House before the weekendwhip counts be damned. (Speaker Paul Ryan refused to bring it to a vote Thursday night.) Story continues This flurry of ill-considered activity might seem needlessly volatile and self-defeatingbut its part of a larger pattern of behavior. This is, after all, not the first time a major milestone in Trumps career has sent him spiraling into resentment and recklessness. As Ive written before, Trumps angriest outbursts often accompany his greatest moments of recognition or triumph. He won the Republican nomination, and spent the next week feuding with Gold Star parents and complaining that Hillary Clinton didnt adequately congratulate him. He won the election, and spent the transition fighting with celebrities and championing a voter-fraud conspiracy theory. He was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, and spent the weekend fuming over the size of his inauguration crowd. Recommended: Atlanta's Controversial 'Cityhood' Movement Trump is a Queens-born billionaire who has spent his life chasing validation from elites who hold him in disdain. With each new benchmark he reaches, he holds out hope that it will finally quiet his chorus of haters. And when he realizes theyre still laughing at him, he acts out. Consider, now, what Trump is likely seeing these days when he turns on his TV: presidential historians discussing the unparalleled failures of his first hundred days; polls showing an historically low approval rating; pundits depicting a presidency gripped by impotence. Given his recent history, an eruption was inevitable. Earlier this week, the White House made a foray into the presidential legacy-measuring contest with a press release titled, President Trumps 100 Days of Historic Accomplishments. Trump, we learned, had accomplished more than any president since FDR, passed more legislation than anyone since Truman, and done more to stop the government from interfering in the lives of Americans than any other president in history. As my colleague Elaine Godfrey noted, some of the figures supporting these claims were (perhaps unsurprisingly) wrong, and the press release was widely mocked on the internet for its predictable bombast. But maybe for Trump, the comparisons are about more than chest-thumping and ego-pumping. With a hundred days behind him, Trump seems increasingly like a man disillusioned with his job, and disoriented by his place in history. I loved my previous life. I had so many thing going, Trump told Reuters this week. This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would consult Chinese President Xi Jinping before having a phone call with Taiwans leader Tsai Ing-wen. Tsai could speak with Trump again over the phone, she suggested in an interview with Reuters, Thursday In a White House interview, Trump said that he would not want to create problems in the U.S.-China relations as the independent status of Taiwan has been the most sensitive issue between Beijing and Washington. Look, my problem is I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi. I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation, Trump told Reuters, referring to the recent efforts of Beijing in helping the United States to keep a check on North Korea and put pressure on them to stop its missile and nuclear tests. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him, Trump added. I think hes doing an amazing job as a leader and I wouldnt want to do anything that comes in the way of that. So I would certainly want to speak to him first. Tsai said during an interview with Reuters earlier, Thursday that she was ready to have another phone call with the U.S. president. The pair had spoken earlier over the phone in December when Trump received a 10-minute long congratulatory call from the Taiwanese leader for being elected as the then president-elect. We dont exclude the opportunity to call President Trump himself, but it depends on the needs of the situation and the U.S. governments consideration of regional affairs," Tsai told Reuters. Beijing was angered by Trump's December call and it resulted in tensions between U.S. and China. Taiwan has been an extremely sensitive issue for Beijing as they want it to be a part of China. Beijing fears that any contacts between the independent province of Taiwan and other world leaders would grant it sovereignty. Taiwan has been independently and democratically ruled since 1949 and they do not want an accession to autocratic China. Story continues Beijing had filed an official complaint after the phone call. "We have noticed relevant reports and lodged solemn representation with the relevant side in the United States," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang had said then, according to CNN. "I must point out that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory ... The 'one China' principle is the political foundation of China-US relations. We urge the relevant side in the US to adhere to the 'one China' policy, abide by the pledges in the three joint China-US communiques, and handle issues related to Taiwan carefully and properly to avoid causing unnecessary interference to the overall China-U.S. relationship, Geng Shuang added. With the phone call in December, Trump cast a doubt on the United States support for Beijings One China policy that claims Taiwan is a part of China. However, Trump ruled out the possibility when he promised to honor the policy and hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort earlier this month. Trumps decision to dismiss the phone call with the Taiwanese president highlights the importance of the support from China in dealing with North Korea, which has become a major national security problem since Trump took office in January this year. Related Articles As tensions between the United States and North Korea escalate over the latters missile tests and nuclear capabilities, President Donald Trump said that even though he wanted to handle the situation with diplomacy, a major conflict could not be ruled out. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely, Trump told Reuters in an interview published Thursday. Wed love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult. Read: Nuclear Threat Of War From Kim Jong Un's North Korea Is Here To Stay The comments come on the same day as Secretary of State Rex Tillersons statement that the administration was ready to carry out direct talks with Kim Jong Uns regime to end its nuclear weapons program. Obviously, that will be the way we would like to solve this, Tillerson said in an interview that will air Friday, the WashingtonPost reported Thursday. But North Korea has to decide theyre ready to talk to us about the right agenda, and the right agenda is not simply stopping where they are for a few more months or a few more years and then resuming things. Thats been the agenda for the last 20 years, he added. The recent heightening of tensions between the two countries was sparked by the U.S. decision to send a Navy strike group near the Korean Peninsula, considered an act of aggression by Pyongyang, in response to which the North Korean government threatened Washington with a nuclear strike if provoked. In the Reuters interview, Trump acknowledged that North Korea was his biggest global challenge and said he hoped Kim was rational in his approach to the possible conflict. He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime, Trump said of the North Korean leader during the interview, So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. Im not giving him credit or not giving him credit, Im just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope hes rational. Story continues In the Reuters interview, the president was full of praises for Chinese premier Xi Jinping who he met at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, earlier this month, crediting him with assisting the U.S. in controlling North Korea and its nuclear program. I believe he is trying very hard, Trump said. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. However, further comments by the president indicated that Chinas role in trying to reign in Pyongyang came with its set of limitations, despite his claims that he had established a very good personal relationship with President Xi. With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he cant, Trump added. Related Articles Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at lifting bans on drilling for oil and gas in offshore Arctic and Atlantic areas, saying it would pull in "billions of dollars" for America and create jobs. However, Trump made no mention of the environmental rationale for the bans, brought in by his predecessor Barack Obama. "Our country's blessed with incredible natural resources, including abundant offshore oil and natural gas reserves, but the federal government has kept 94 percent of these offshore areas closed for exploration and production," the president said before journalists in the White House. "This deprives our country of potentially thousands and thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in wealth," he said. Trump's order calls for a review of the Obama-era bans with the goal of allowing "responsible development of offshore areas that will bring revenue to our treasury and jobs to our workers." Obama's indefinite prohibition on new drilling in US waters in the Arctic Ocean off Alaska, including most of the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, and in 31 underwater canyons in the Atlantic Ocean was enacted last December under a 1953 law. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act gives the president power to withdraw offshore areas from commercial use. Previous presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Bill Clinton also invoked the legislation. U.S. President Donald Trump displays an Executive Order on Offshore Energy Strategy at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 28, 2017. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) On the eve of his 100th day in the White House, President Trump signed an executive order Friday intended to let energy companies drill for oil in currently protected areas of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. The move was swiftly condemned by environmentalists, but Trump hailed it as a victory for the economy. This is a great day for American workers and families. And today were unleashing American energy and clearing the way for thousands and thousands of high-paying American energy jobs, Trump said, before signing the order. So far, Trumps energy policies have aimed at reversing the plentiful environmental protections established by his predecessor, former President Barack Obama. In the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Trump said the United States is blessed with wonderful natural resources, including offshore oil and natural gas reserves, which can be harnessed to stimulate energy production and job growth. He said the federal government has closed off 94 percent of these offshore areas, preventing potential energy production. And when they say closed, they mean closed. This deprives our country of potentially thousands and thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in wealth. I pledged to take action and today I am keeping that promise, he said. Trumps signing of the America-First Offshore Energy Strategy comes a day before the Peoples Climate March, an international protest against Trumps energy and environmental policies. The flagship march in Washington, D.C., and the more than 300 affiliated marchers across the globe, are expected to draw thousands. Though similar to last weeks March for Science, the march on Saturday will focus on Trumps efforts to remove regulations intended to protect the environment and curb climate change rather than scientific integrity. According to Trump, the new executive order begins the process of opening many offshore areas to job-creating energy exploration and rescinds the Obama administrations permanent protection of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. Story continues A month before leaving office, Obama banned offshore drilling in nearly all of the Arctic under U.S. control to protect marine life and prevent potential oil spills. He also declared portions of the Atlantic Ocean unsuitable for drilling. Obama relied upon a little-known 1953 law that allows the president to ban oil and gas drilling indefinitely in U.S. waters. At the time, an Obama administration official suggested that Trump would not be able to reverse the ban without an act from Congress because of its strong legal basis. On Thursday night, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke briefed the press on the contents of the executive order. He said it would direct the Interior and Commerce Departments to review offshore drilling and gas regulations in protected areas. As expected, the response to Trumps executive order from the environmental community was swift and harsh. Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, released a statement saying that millions of Americans concerned about the dangers of offshore drilling will not be drowned out, regardless of the oil lobbys influence over Trump. Just as he has throughout his 99 days in office, Donald Trump will fail in this attempt to destroy our beaches and coastal communities. The people have been heard and will continue to be heard, Brune said. Greenpeace USAs senior climate and energy campaigner Diana Best also released a statement condemning Trumps executive order. She said that renewable energy has already set the U.S. on course for energy independence and that offshore oil and gas drilling will condemn the nation to decades more of pollution. This executive order from the Trump administration is just the latest in a series of attempted rollbacks that most people in this country do not want, and only come at the behest of Trumps inner circle of desperate fossil-fuel executives, Best said. Holing up at Mar-a-lago may protect Trump from an oil spill, but it will not protect him and his cabinet of one percenters from the millions of people in this country from California to North Carolina who will resist his disastrous policies. Read more from Yahoo News: Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Jose Luis Magana/AP, AP WASHINGTON The week before the presidential election, Shally Venugopal, 33, and Indivar Dutta-Gupta, 34, were like many other young professional couples in the Democratic stronghold of Washington, D.C., looking forward to a smooth transition from President Obama to President Hillary Clinton. With a 4-year-old and a 7-month-old, their family conversation turned to how they would balance the 80-hour workweeks if Dutta-Gupta, an economic policy specialist, joined the new presidents transition effort or administration. In the end, the question was moot. Clinton was not going to be president. And Donald Trump was. That evening and that night I dont think Ive ever felt such a deep pit in my stomach, Venugopal recalled her election night reaction at a conference in early April. What happened next was a story that played out across the country, with one critical difference. We decided that the best way to process was just to do it over dinner, she said. And so we invited a small group of our friends. And it turned out that, actually, more people wanted to come. And more people wanted to come. And I think we ended up having 70, 80 people over to our house for dinner suddenly. Her friends were mainly people in their early to mid-30s, people whose years of experience in politics, government and nongovernmental organizations in Washington and around the world had made them by any measure a force to be reckoned with, but whose age by and large made them people youve never heard of. In the great pyramid of the D.C. workforce, they were from the thick layer of capable people who drive campaigns and organizations and keep government going, but who are not yet candidates for office or the breakout stars you see on TV. And they werent at dinner just to complain and drink away their sorrows. A Wharton graduate and CEO of a young tech company, Venugopal brought her management background to dinner and divided her guests into groups, 11 in all, by issue areas to sort of predict what could come of the Trump administration in its worst form and to plan. Going forward, they would be action-oriented, and the first step would be to prepare and to think ahead so they could fight back against what was about to happen. Story continues Two of the attendees at the dinner, Ezra Levin, 31, and Leah Greenberg, 30, would go on to found Indivisible, a political-action group that began as a downloadable guide on to how to influence Congress, written by former congressional staffers. That guide has become the lodestar of the new resistance movement and inspired the creation of more than 5,800 registered Indivisible chapters around the country, including at least two in every congressional district. Tax Day demonstrators demand President Donald Trump release his tax returns, April 15, 2017. (Photo: Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images) Slideshow: From crude to creative: 100 Days of Trump signs wielded by fans and foes >>> Another attendee, Andy Kim, would found Rise Stronger, which collaborated with the Townhall Project a crowd-sourced clearinghouse for information on which members of Congress are holding town halls, run by a couple of former Clinton staffers to put together the Peoples Calendar of events used by activists across the country. On Thursday, Kim declared he is exploring a bid to challenge GOP Rep. Tom MacArthur, a key author of Trump-era Obamacare repeal efforts, in New Jerseys Third Congressional District. In addition to helping out with Indivisible, Dutta-Gupta would go on to sit on the executive committee of the April 15 Tax March, which has rewritten the Democratic conversation around participating in any Trump tax reform bill by linking it to the release of his own returns. Venugopal started her own group too, Fight to Win, comprised of that first nights attendees, plus another 50, which now meets every six weeks. The group is gearing up to canvass for House of Delegate contests in Virginia and drive turnout and fundraising for the special election runoff in Georgias Sixth Congressional District to elect 30-year-old Democrat and former congressional staffer Jon Ossoff to Congress. Its a key district for liberal organizers across the country, as Democrats seek to win 24 seats and retake the House. It also just happens to be where Dutta-Gupta grew up. * * * When Democrats in February celebrated winning a state senate seat in a special election in Delaware, preserving the partys majority in the statehouse, many took it as a story of just how far the party had fallen. In reality, it was a sign of how the party might stage a comeback: by rebuilding from the ground up. Out of the despair and rage of the election loss, Democrats and progressives over the past six months have created an astonishing array of new groups that are radically transforming the landscape of the American left and promise to continue changing it for years to come. But beyond the record-breaking size and intensity of the outpouring, what most distinguishes the new groups is their willingness and attentiveness to work the regional levers of power. Structurally, the new groups are more oriented to state and district-based efforts than national efforts though they have national aims. They are more focused on getting people elected to smaller state-level offices territory that is cheaper and more accessible to political newcomers, but also critical in an era where Democratic bench needs desperately to be repopulated. Driven by the expertise and passion of older millennials, they alternate between massive marches and small-group meetings, between targeting existing members of Congress and seeking to elect new ones, all under the broad banner of the anti-Trump resistance movement. And yet despite a level of passion not seen in generations, the jury is still out on whether they can be as deft in electing Democrats nationwide as in thwarting what they see as the most objectionable parts of President Trumps agenda. But the intensity and sense of urgency shared by millions of progressive voters is a good place to start. If the Womens March on Washington the day after Trumps inauguration was the thunderclap that announced the storm, it was the presence of womens marches outside of Washington, in cities from Anchorage, Alaska, to Tallahassee, Fla., that first suggested what was coming would be more akin to climate change than a passing squall. The new power that would rise in opposition to President Trump would be as geographically distributed as the nations population itself. The Womens March flooded the streets of Washington, D.C., with women in pink knit caps from as far away as Belgium and Hong Kong, but it was the more than 450 sister marches in midsize cities and small towns across the country, and followup organizing through small affinity groups called Huddles that heralded what was to come. The fire wasnt just in D.C. It was everywhere. For decades, urban liberalism in America has failed to make a serious inroads into the countrys great interior, and conservatives have held aloft the banner of states rights as a bulwark against social and political changes. The Equal Rights Amendment died after traditionalists organized in states where liberals were weak to block ratification. Since 1973, abortion rights have been upheld over and over by the Supreme Court, and yet today abortion is less accessible than it has been in decades thanks to a tight net of state regulations and laws that have considerably narrowed the ability of providers to perform the procedure. A crowd fills Independence Avenue during the Womens March on Washington, Jan. 21, 2017. (Photo: Alex Brandon/AP) This deep dynamic in American political life was challenged by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean during his tenure at the Democratic National Committee after George W. Bush won reelection Dean proposed and implemented a 50-state strategy and by Barack Obama during his first campaign for the White House. The gay marriage movement also worked the state-based model, racking up a series of local wins on its way to a Supreme Court ruling that made it legal nationwide. Other groups, such as Fight for 15, have followed it as well, knowing that the current Congress wont pass a minimum wage increase but that they can make inroads in major cities. But under Obama, the old pattern reasserted itself with a vengeance at the level of electoral politics, thanks in part to the president concentrating organizing efforts under the banner of groups he controlled, rather than the party itself. The Democrats lost the House and the Senate on a wave of conservative state-based opposition the sort of declines that sometimes happen to the party in power, in this case magnified by the anti-Obama tea party movements impassioned regional work. And Democrats were even more significantly decimated at the level of state legislatures. According to Ron Brownsteins analysis of the decline, only in lost state legislative seats (850) did Obama significantly exceed [his post-World War II presidential] predecessors. Democrats were the majority in 59 percent of state legislatures when Obama took office, but only 31 percent when he left. Their hold on governors mansions shrank from 29 to 16 the lowest number in nearly a century . With the Democratic Party at low ebb in every way from an understaffed Democratic National Committee embroiled in a protracted search for a new chair to decimated state parties there was no unifying national voice once Obama and Clinton left the scene over the fall and winter that followed her electoral loss. And so millions of voices filled the space, propelled by the rage and fear sparked by Trump and the specter of Republicans in charge of the House, Senate, White House and majority of statehouses and governors mansions. Over the past 100 days, this new generation of activists has discovered to their enormous surprise that even without control of any branch of government, they themselves have the capacity, working in the communities where they live, to act as the great and final check balancing the new Republican power concentrated in Washington. And they have opened up the best chance in a generation to rebuild the decimated Democratic Party from the ground up. *** The new activists flooded town halls and congressional district offices in places like Little Rock, Ark., Salt Lake City, Utah, and the agricultural Central Valley of California. They went after Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a key member of the Senate committee investigating Russian election-meddling and a one-time strong proponent of Obamacare repeal. They went after House Intelligence Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes directly in his California home district, and were part of a successful national campaign to force him to recuse himself from the Russia investigation. Today, he is under investigation, and Democrats in his district are vying to challenge him in 2018. They flooded town halls held by House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz, who complained that his Utah constituents intended to bully and intimidate him, and went on to announce he was not only not going to run for reelection, he might leave Congress for good without completing his term. Protesters at a town hall in Utah, where Rep. Jason Chaffetz was slated to speak, Feb. 9, 2017. (Photo: Rick Bowmer/AP) They targeted House and Senate Democrats early on, driving them to the left and to a posture of opposition to Trumps nominees they did not at first appear inclined to take. They forced Trump to withdraw his first Dept. of Labor nominee Andrew Pudzer, and encouraged Democrats to send a signal in opposing Trump Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch so vociferously that Republicans had to scrap the judicial filibuster to get him through. And they creatively targeted nationalist White House aide Stephen Bannon, plastering cities with signs proclaiming him President Bannon and sending postcards to President Bannon at the White House in an effort to elevate his profile, make Trump jealous, and get Bannon sidelined. And it wasnt just new groups either. MoveOn, founded in 1998, was part of the picture, and so was century-old Planned Parenthood, and so were the Netroots stalwarts who fought the George W. Bush administration and helped Democrats take back the House in 2006. Coordinating through Slack channels and conference calls, the new groups gave energy to older ones and, in return, drew upon their organizing infrastructure. The result has been a level of activity that longtime observers of the American left-of-center political scene agree is unprecedented, and which is helping to fuel Democratic recruitment and fundraising efforts. Run for Something, founded after the election by former Clinton campaign staffer Amanda Littman, has been inundated by people who want to take her groups trainings in running for state and local offices, 8,000 in all. Emilys List, founded in 1985 to elect pro-choice Democratic women, had 900 women reach out about running for office in 2016. In 2017 so far with more than half a year to go more than 11,000 have contacted them about running in 2018. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, working in concert with the new groups Run for Something and Flippable among them is having a banner year recruiting candidates for state legislative seats and has had a handful of under-the-radar early victories in state special elections in places like Delaware and Georgia. The groups main focus for 2017 is the Virginia elections, where already Democrats have formally declared in 83 of the 100 House of Delegate districts. And 70 Democrats have declared in 46 of the 56 districts held by Republicans, making this falls state office elections more competitive than anyone can recall. Virginia Democrats are having their best state House recruitment year in memory, said DLCC communications director Carolyn Fiddler. At the congressional level, there has been a massive surge in interest, with 408 declared Democrats already in the running, according to a Vice headcount. Thats a 58 percent increase over the number who had declared by this point during the last midterm election cycle. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, for its part, says it has had recruiting conversations with more than 300 candidates in more than 70 different districts. Protesters rally against Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, Jan. 31, 2017. (Photo: Yuri Gripas/Reuters) And Indivisible, publicly launched as a volunteer-crafted Google Doc after a month-long postelection workshopping process, already has a paid staff of 17. Our expectations were incredibly low when we put the document online, said Indivisibles Greenberg, now the groups chief strategy officer, of their original instructional manual, posted five months ago. We thought that somebody would tell us, somebody would email us in six months and tell us that theyd used it. I remember when we first saw Indivisible Facebook groups popping up, we were really thrilled, and suddenly the trickle became a flood and we were just absolutely blown away. Swing Left had the same reaction. Launched the day before President Trumps inauguration by three novice organizers based in cobalt-blue political districts, Swing Left is an all-volunteer political action committee that aims to provide a pathway for Democrats in safe districts to help turn the tide in 52 House districts where the 2016 margin of victory was 15 percent or less. The group is now partnering with Rock the Vote to register new voters in swing districts, and with Knock Every Door, a postelection effort started by former Bernie Sanders senior adviser Becky Bond, co-author of Rules for Revolutionaries: How Big Organizing Can Change Everything, to target swing-state congressional races by knocking on every door in key districts. What were going to try to do is [build] a campaign infrastructure in waiting, founder Ethan Todras-Whitehill told Yahoo News earlier this year. The group today has more than 300,000 volunteers working in 26 states, and on Friday announced it has upped the number of swing districts its targeting to 65. Building on the model of the progressive newcomers, even longtime national groups went hyperlocal, hoping to leverage the power of activism and theoretically sympathetic state or city governments against the power of federal authorities. The ACLU used a sudden multimillion dollar fundraising windfall in the wake of Trumps executive orders on Muslim and refugee immigrants to launch a national network of small affinity groups called People Power to advocate on behalf of immigrants with city leaders across the country. We landed on localizing some of the asks because thats where the power to resist can be most meaningfully felt, Faiz Shakur, national political director of the ACLU, told Yahoo News. The [level of] outside mobilization is something I have never, in my nearly 50 years as an organizer, seen in my life, said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) at an early April MoveOn reception with Sen. Al Franken and Sen. Elizabeth Warren celebrating the lefts victory over the first GOP effort to repeal Obamacare. Rep. Barbara Lee speaking out against Trumpcare, Mar. 24, 2017, in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for MoveOn.org) This is bigger than the Civil Rights movement. This is bigger Im talking about in terms of people being involved this is bigger than the Vietnam War mobilizations. This is the biggest thing Ive ever seen, she added. Longtime Democratic organizer Bob Creamer, active since the 1960s (and Schakowskys husband), used much the same language to describe what he was seeing as early as February. Part of that is an artifact of the new organizing tools, and the well-documented way Facebook reduces the cost of turning our protestors while massively scaling up their size. But much of it is also a new political enthusiasm gap. And yet, as resistance leaders look around and find themselves energized by the outpouring of progressive activism, their enthusiasm has been somewhat tempered by the limits of engaged citizens to confront every challenge. Among those concerns, for example, is the extent of their power to protect the millions of noncitizens who live in this country, or those who wish to come here. Its easier to harm the people you said you were going to harm than to help the people you said you were going to help, said the ACLUs Shakur. Legal efforts have succeeded in blocking Trump again and again in the courts, stalling his executive orders on refugees and immigrants from seven majority- Muslim nations, as well as his efforts to crack down on cities that provide sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. But the president and Department of Homeland Security have enormous discretionary power not amendable to court intervention even so, which is scrambling the lives of millions who now live with an active threat of deportation hanging over them. And in the case of Planned Parenthood, the so-far successful effort to halt the Republican bill that would defund the group has been tempered by aggressive efforts by conservatives to do just that on a state-by-state basis, working with GOP state legislatures and governors, thanks to a GOP rollback of an Obama-era regulation barring such state actions. If Democrats and progressives are intent on going local, it is largely because conservatives have so thoroughly mastered state politics on issues of key importance to the Democratic coalition; Democrats, as invigorated as they are, are playing catch-up. Protesters outside the White House in response to Trumps travel ban from certain Muslim-majority countries, March 6, 2017. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images) To do that, they need new people to take action where they live, because they know that what happens at the state and district level in American politics going forward will make or break everything. The outpouring of on-the-ground organizing work in Georgias Sixth Congressional District illustrates the moments power and its limitations. More than 300 miles from the U.S. capital in suburban Atlanta, Jessica Zeigler, 32, had found herself sobbing on election night. A mother of three who works full-time, she described herself as a closeted liberal for a long time who bottled up her liberal feelings. Sometimes shed let something slip on Facebook, but mainly living in a well-to-do Southern suburb that had been voting Republican since the 1970s, she kept her opinions to herself. That changed after the election. I had a sense of overwhelming guilt that I had never voiced my actual views, said Zeigler the night of the primary. It was enough, she decided. I was done. She started to speak her mind on social media, writing a long post, and through that discovered other mothers like herself, one of whom told her, We have a secret club. Were liberal moms. And we all feel the way that you do. That secret group became Liberal Moms of Roswell and Cobb, a very public group that would take as its first major action the election of Jon Ossoff to Congress. This campaign gave me a place to channel all of that emotion that had built up for so long, Zeigler said. In the sixth district of Georgia, their efforts were joined by 19 local Indivisible groups, including one made up of local veterans of the Womens March. Another, Indivisible Georgias Sixth District, was also led by female newcomers to political organizing, and became one of the most active groups in the country, according to Greenberg. Although Ossoff did not win the primary outright, and will now face a June 20 run-off, Democratic turnout in the district was twice as high as expected during the special election. Ossoff won 48.1 percent of the vote, besting all previous Democrats whove run for Congress in the district over the last nearly 40 years. Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff speaks to his supporters in Georgias Sixth Congressional District. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images) *** In his final speech as president , Barack Obama said, It falls to each of us to be anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy. He issued a warning and a call to action about what our democracy demands: It needs you. Not just when theres an election, not just when your own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime. If youre tired of arguing with strangers on the Internet, try to talk with one in real life. If something needs fixing, lace up your shoes and do some organizing. If youre disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself. Show up. Dive in. Persevere. And more often than not, your faith in America and in Americans will be confirmed, he said. Not one member of the resistance Ive spoken with in the months since has cited his comments as inspiration. And yet all of them are, in their own way, enacting what he called for. The Democratic Party remains in disarray at the top, and many of the grassroots members think former Obama Labor Secretary Tom Perez who they had no opportunity to vote for is the wrong man for the moment. His early missteps in setting up a Unity Tour with Bernie Sanders only reopened the wounds of the 2016 primary, and that what he lacks in organic ability to inspire he tries to make up for with harsh words about Republicans that all too often draw negative attention. But in the end, whether progressives are able to block the Trump agenda will have almost nothing to do with Perez. It will have to do with the resistance movements success at fighting back against the administration using the levers of power they have in their home districts across America. As historians grade Trumps first 100 days, they have all too often considered his actions in a vacuum. Id give him failing marks for his 100 days, presidential historian Robert Dallek said. But he has not failed so much as he has been, over and over, parried by a force nearly as strong as the one that elected him. Trump didnt just stumble his way to a failed first 100 days a massive, in many ways unprecedented, resistance movement emerged to stop him, said MoveOn executive director Anna Galland. This movement is energetic, organized and has been repeatedly successful. The resistance movement is not just the background of Trumps first 100 days. Its a key driver of history as its playing out. Protesters at the Womens March on Washington on the first full day of Donald Trumps presidency, Jan. 21, 2017. (Photo: John Minchillo/AP) Noted Greenberg: Overall on the legislative front, its exceeded what we could possibly have hoped for. There was a unified Republican government that could not come to a health care vote. Nobody thought it would happen like that. The big question about the resistance during the opening days of the administration was whether or not it would be sustainable. The answer, at 100 days, is that it has become virtually self-sustaining, because outrage against Trump administration actions has turned out to be a resource renewed by each of his provocative new statements and stumbles and because a new generation of groups is building the infrastructure to sustain the momentum of the early days, and tie it to electoral goals. He remains the same person that he was 100 days ago. Hes not going to get better, said Greenberg. The only choice, then, for those who oppose him, is to get better more organized, more active, and more engaged themselves. _____ Read more from Yahoo News coverage of Trumps first 100 days: A series of Turkish airstrikes targeting American-allied Kurdish militias in Iraq and Syria threaten to put Turkey and the United States on a collision course, experts have warned. Syrian activists said the attacks, on Sinjar Mountain in northern Iraq and a mountainous region in Syria, killed at least 18 members of the Syrian Kurdish militia known as the Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, which are at the center of bitter divisions between the two NATO allies. The U.S. military is working closely with Kurdish fighters in Syria, considering them as the only viable force capable of seizing the city of Raqqa from the Islamic State. But Turkey regards the militias as a direct offshoot of a Kurdish militant group that poses a grave threat to Turkish security. As a result, a crisis is brewing over the U.S. partnership with the militias. The collision course is coming. Its already come in some respects and its a question of how badly this deteriorates, says Michael Hanna, a senior fellow at the New York-based Century Foundation. There are U.S. personnel on the ground. In the worst case scenario youre having Turkey, a NATO ally, a close traditional partner of the United States, could kill American personnel on the ground, he tells TIME. U.S. support for the YPG has raised tensions with Turkey for over two years. The YPG are closely linked to another organization, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a revolutionary armed group that has waged a decades long struggle for autonomy in the name of Turkeys Kurdish minority. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan once tried to negotiate peace with the PKK but is now in a political partnership with Turkeys ultranationalist party, a coalition that precludes any return to the peace process. Both Turkey and the U.S. list the PKK as a terrorist organization, but the U.S. insists that its militia partners in Syria are a separate group from the PKK guerillas fighting Turkey. Yet the two organizations have direct ties, and Kurdish citizens of Turkey are among the YPGs fighters. After U.S. military officials visited the site of the Turkish airstrikes in Syria, photos surfaced online that appeared to show a U.S. military official standing alongside a commander from the PKK. Story continues In Washington, U.S. officials continued to stress the distinction between the two militant groups. At a news briefing on Wednesday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner told journalists, I would strongly call into question, with all due respect, that senior military leaders of the U.S. were somehow glad-handing or shaking hands with PKK leaders. As I said, the PKK is a recognized foreign terrorist organization by the United States. The airstrikes did not just fray relations with the U.S. The Sinjar attack killed at least five members of yet another Kurdish force, the peshmerga, who are backed by the semi-autonomous Kurdish government in northern Iraq, an ally of both Turkey and the U.S. In an acknowledgement of the mistake, Turkeys Prime Minister Binali Yildirim phoned the president of the Kurdish government in Iraq, Masoud Barzani, to offer condolences, Turkeys state news agency reported on Thursday. Turkey-U.S. relations are deteriorating just as the U.S. gears up for an assault on the Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State. The U.S. sent Marines to Syria in March in an expansion of the American role in the ground war there and in a sign that it plans to contain its partnership with an umbrella group called the Syrian Democratic Forces, which include members of the Kurdish militias. The new deployment deepened Americas partnership with the militias, and raised the risk of a confrontation with Turkey. Turkey remains adamantly opposed to Kurdish militia playing a role in the Raqqa campaign, and have instead floated the idea of Turkish-backed Syrian rebel forces joining the fight to liberate Raqqa. These forces recently retook the city of al-Bab, near Aleppo, from ISIS, but U.S. officials do not appear to regard the Turkish proposal as a viable option. There isnt an easy solution to this problem, and now Turkey has raised the stakes somewhat, says Noah Bonsey, a senior analyst on Syria at the Brussels-based International Crisis Group. It could quickly spiral, he adds. This article was originally published on TIME.com ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey's military said that one of its outposts in the southeastern town of Ceylanpinar bordering Syria came under rocket attack early on Friday from Syrian territory held by the Kurdish YPG militia. The army returned fire, it said, killing 11 YPG militants. Military outposts in Turkey's Syria border area have come under intense fire over the past few days since Turkish warplanes struck Kurdish militant PKK targets in Iraq's Sinjar and northeastern Syria. Turkey has also been carrying out operations against Kurdish militants inside its borders. It has ramped up operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) following an April 16 referendum which passed constitutional changes that gave President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping executive powers. In a second statement on Friday, the Turkish military said 10 Kurdish militants, five of whom were women, had been killed in operations in the southeastern province of Tunceli. A total of 20 militants had been killed during the operation over three days. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the PKK, which has waged a three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state for Kurdish autonomy. The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union and Turkey. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Tulay Karadeniz; Writing by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Dominic Evans and Ece Toksabay) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States "strongly condemns" attacks on members of Macedonia's parliament, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement on Friday. Protesters stormed into Macedonia's parliament and assaulted the leader of the Social Democrats on Thursday after his party and ethnic Albanian allies voted to elect an Albanian as parliament speaker, witnesses said. "The United States strongly condemns the violent attacks on members of the Macedonian parliament which followed the election of Talat Xhaferi as Speaker of Parliament," Toner said. "The United States calls on Macedonian authorities to ensure the security of all members of parliament, to investigate the attack thoroughly, and to hold accountable those who committed acts of violence." (Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati; Editing by James Dalgleish) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday expressed concern over a plan by Venezuela to pull out of the Organization of American States but said the withdrawal is a two-year process by which time President Nicolas Maduro's current term would have expired. "The foreign minister's statement has no real practical or immediate effect because withdrawing from the OAS requires up to two years in terms of process, and in this case it would conclude after President Maduro's term had expired," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. He added: "We'd like to see them remain in the OAS but only if they comply (with) OAS standards." (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Marguerita Choy) By Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while China said the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control. Trump, speaking to Reuters on Thursday, said he wanted to resolve the crisis peacefully, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option was not off the table. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea," Trump said in an interview at the Oval Office. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said, describing North Korea as his biggest global challenge. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was a danger that the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control, his ministry said. Wang made the comments in a meeting at the United Nations with a Russian diplomat on Thursday, the ministry said in a statement. China, the only major ally of North Korea, has been increasingly uncomfortable in recent months about its neighbour's pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles in violation on U.N. resolutions. The United States has called on China to do more to rein in Pyongyang and Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for his efforts, calling him "a good man". "I believe he is trying very hard. I know he would like to be able to do something. Perhaps it's possible that he can't. But I think he'd like to be able to do something," Trump said. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that China had asked North Korea not to conduct any more nuclear tests. Beijing had warned Pyongyang it would impose unilateral sanctions if it went ahead, he added. Tillerson did not say when China made the threat. He is due to chair a meeting with U.N Security Council foreign ministers on Friday, where he said he would stress the need for members to fully implement existing sanctions as well as possible next steps. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, asked about Tillerson's remarks, would not say what actions China might take if there were a new nuclear test and would not comment directly on what Tillerson had said. "We oppose any behaviour that goes against Security Council resolutions. I think this position is very clear. This is what we have told the United States. I think North Korea is also very clear about this position," Geng told reporters. China banned imports of North Korean coal in February, cutting off its most important export, and Chinese media this month raised the possibility of restricting oil shipments to the North if it unleashed more provocations. Geng said Friday's UN meeting should not fixate on new sanctions. "If the meeting only focuses on increasing sanctions and pressure, I think this will not only lose a rare opportunity, it may also exacerbate the confrontation between all sides and may damage efforts to promote peace and talks," he said. MISSILE DEFENCE, CARRIER GROUP In a show of force, the United States is sending the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula, where it will join the USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in South Korea on Tuesday. South Korea's navy has said it will hold drills with the U.S. strike group. Admiral Harry Harris, the top U.S. commander in the Pacific, said on Wednesday the carrier was in the Philippine Sea, within two hours' striking distance of North Korea if needs be. Harris also said a U.S. missile defence system being deployed in South Korea to ward off any North Korean attack would be operational in coming days. China has been angered by the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), complaining that its radar can see deep into China and undermines its security. Trump said in the interview he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the THAAD, which he estimated at $1 billion. South Korea, one of Washington's most crucial allies in the region, said the United States would have to bear the cost, pointing to possible friction ahead. Trump's remarks came as South Korea heads into a presidential poll on May 9 that will likely elect liberal frontrunner Moon Jae-in, who has said the next administration in Seoul should have the final say on THAAD. Trump has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile, a capability experts say Pyongyang could have some time after 2020. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests and numerous missile tests, including one this month, a day before a summit between Trump and Xi in Florida. North Korea, technically still at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, regularly threatens to destroy the United States and says it will pursue its nuclear and missile programmes to counter perceived U.S. aggression. "It is just the U.S. which has pushed the situation on the peninsula to the brink of nuclear war by staging the largest-ever aggressive joint military drills against the DPRK for the past two months after bringing all sorts of nuclear strategic assets to south Korea," the North's KCNA state news agency said in a commentary. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "...The nuclear force of the DPRK is a treasure sword of justice and reliable war deterrent to defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country and global peace from the nuclear war threat posed by the U.S." Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on North Korea and other countries on Thursday to avoid behaviour or rhetoric that could increase tension. (Additional reporting by Phil Stewart, Matt Spetalnick, Eric Beech and Patricia Zengerle in Washington, Denis Pinchuk and Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow, Ben Blanchard and Vincent Lee in Beijing and Ju-min Park in Seoul; Writing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Nick Macfie; Editing by Robert Birsel) No Yes, a light case Yes, two or more light cases One serious case Two or more serious bouts Vote View Results London (AFP) - British Prime Minister Theresa May assured Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe on Friday that the UK remains "steadfast" in its condemnation of North Korea as the two met at her country residence of Chequers. "As we meet today, North Korea continues to take provocative action in the Asia-Pacific region," May said during a joint news conference. "In the face of this belligerence we stand steadfast in our condemnation of such destabilising activity," she said. The visit, Abe's first since May took office in July 2016 after the Brexit vote, comes as the UN Security Council gathers in New York to discuss the situation in North Korea. Condemning North Korea's nuclear and missile tests as a "violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and international obligations", May vowed to continue to "maintain pressure on North Korea". The two leaders also agreed to "stand firm in the face of destabilising Russian activity" in Ukraine and Syria through the use of sanctions. Abe's visit to the UK follows a visit to Russia on Thursday where he met President Vladimir Putin for talks on a decades-old territorial dispute over an island chain. The Soviet Union seized the islands off Japan's northern coast -- called the Southern Kurils by Moscow and the Northern Territories by Tokyo -- in 1945 in the closing days of World War II. Abe and Putin also sought to boost trade and economic ties hit by Japan joining sanctions on Russia over the crisis in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the British prime minister sought to secure investment and trade with Japan, the fourth-biggest source of foreign direct into the UK, according to statistics agency ONS. "The UK remains the best place to in Europe to run and grow a business," she said. Abe was quite critical of Brexit ahead of the June 2016 referendum, saying during his last visit to the UK a month before the vote that Britain would become "less attractive" for Japanese companies if it chose to exit the bloc. But on Friday, Abe told May that he continues "to have confidence in the economy of the UK". The United States on Friday pushed for tougher sanctions to confront the North Korean nuclear threat, piling pressure on China to act while warning it was keeping military options on the table. Addressing the UN Security Council for the first time, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for a global campaign of pressure to force Pyongyang to change course and put a halt to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. "Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences," he warned. Tillerson put the onus on China to use its "unique" leverage to influence its communist ally, but Beijing pushed back, arguing that it was unrealistic to expect one country to solve the conflict. "China is not a focal point of the problem on the peninsula and the key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side," Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the council. The Security Council meeting followed weeks of warnings from the US administration that it is running out of patience with Pyongyang. President Donald Trump has warned of the risk of a "major conflict." "The threat of a North Korean nuclear attack on Seoul or Tokyo is real, and it is likely only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the US mainland," Tillerson said. "All options for responding to future provocation must remain on the table," he said. "Diplomatic and financial levers of power will be backed up by willingness to counteract North Korean aggression with military action, if necessary." Russia and China made clear that a military response would be disastrous and appealed for a return to talks and de-escalation. China's Wang warned "the use of force does not solve differences and will only lead to bigger disasters." Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told the council the military option was "completely unacceptable" and warned a miscalculation could have "frightening consequences." Story continues - A decade of sanctions - The meeting of the top UN body laid bare major differences among key powers over the way to address the North Korea crisis. North Korea is 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. Over the past 11 years, the Security Council has imposed six sets of sanctions on Pyongyang -- two adopted last year -- to significantly ramp up pressure and deny Kim Jong-Un's regime the hard currency revenue needed for his military programs. But UN sanctions experts have repeatedly told the council the measures have had little impact because they have been poorly implemented. Tillerson called on all countries to downgrade or sever diplomatic relations with North Korea and impose targeted sanctions on entities and individuals supporting its missile and nuclear program. The United States is ready to impose sanctions on third countries where companies or individuals are found to have helped North Korea's military programs, he said. Washington has repeatedly called for stronger UN sanctions, but wants China, North Korea's main trading partner and ally, to harden its approach. In his remarks, Tillerson said China accounts for 90 percent of North Korea's trade and "has economic leverage over Pyongyang that is unique", suggesting sanctions from Beijing would have a strong impact. Beijing has rejected calls for economic pressure on Pyongyang, fearing it could destabilize North Korea, and both China and Russia argued at the UN that sanctions alone were not the answer. - Call for talks - The Chinese foreign minister pushed Beijing's proposal for reviving talks based on a freeze of North Korea's military programs. He said the long-standing proposal, which involves Pyongyang freezing military programs in exchange for a halt to US-South Korean annual military drills, was "reasonable and practical." "Now is the time to seriously consider talks," said Wang. The United States has rejected the Chinese plan and insists that North Korea first take concrete steps to show that it is ready to abandon its military programs. At the end of the meeting, Tillerson again took the floor and bluntly re-asserted Washington's stance. "We will not negotiate our way back to the negotiating table. We will not reward their bad behavior with talks," he said. The United States, Russia and China took part in six-party talks on North Korea's denuclearization from 2003 to 2009, along with Japan, South Korea and Pyongyang. The meeting of the top UN body comes just days after South Korea received the first deliveries of equipment for a new missile defense system from the United States that China fiercely opposes. The United States will seek talks with North Korea over the reclusive state's nuclear weapons programme, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said. He is meeting with key allies Japan and South Korea before chairing a ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council. It comes after President Donald Trump warned a "major, major conflict" between the two countries was "absolutely" possible. Mr Trump has ramped up international tensions in recent weeks after declaring he would solve the North Korea problem with or without China's help. During a visit to Seoul last week, Vice-President Mike Pence declared that the "era of strategic patience" was over and "all options" were being considered. This is a departure from the Obama era policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation. In the address, Mr Tillerson is due to discuss the steps the US believes are needed to "further isolate" Pyongyang to get it to halt nuclear and missile testing. Video not available for syndication Donald Trump warns major, major conflict with North Korea is absolutely possible North Korea has remained belligerent about its nuclear programme despite repeated warnings from the international community. On Thursday the state propaganda arm released footage of simulated attacks on the White House and US aircraft carriers, declaring "the enemy to be destroyed is in our sights". A US Pacific Commander told the House Armed Services Committee that Pyongyang could soon develop long-range missiles capable of striking the US. Read more Trump summons entire US Senate for top-level briefing on North Korea Admiral Harry Harris said: "Just as Thomas Edison is believed to have failed 1,000 times before successfully inventing the light bulb, so, too, Kim Jong-un will keep trying". Earlier on Friday US ambassador to the UN's Committee on Disarmament, Robert Wood, told reporters North Korea was the greatest threat to the 47-year-old Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Story continues He said the US will be "focused like a laser" on a meeting of the treaty's signatories next week in Vienna, Austria. The US expects a "strong course of condemnation" from attendees, he added. The diplomatic call comes after weeks of escalation by the US after Mr Trump announced an "armada" of US navy ships, including aircraft carrier USS Vinson, were to sail to North Korean waters. Meanwhile, Seoul and Washington continued with plans to implement the joint THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea despite protests from Beijing which said it could potentially threaten it. China has indicated it is more willing to discuss sanctions against Pyongyang, the Kim regime is economically dependent on it, despite its previous reluctance to destabilise its neighbour. Beijing fears an influx of refugees on the border and regards North Korea as a useful buffer as South Korea currently hosts nearly 30,000 US military personnel. Additional reporting by agencies (In April 21 story, corrects paragraph 5 to say Taltz's list price is $4,469 per month. Removes reference of pricing from analyst) (Reuters) - Canadian drugmaker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc said it had priced its recently approved plaque psoriasis treatment at $3,500 per month, ahead of an expected U.S. launch in the second half of 2017. Siliq is the lowest priced injectable biologic psoriasis treatment currently on the market, Valeant said on Friday. The treatment, which blocks a cell receptor known as interleukin-17 to tamp down inflammation, will compete with a host of existing IL-17 inhibitors including Cosentyx from Novartis AG and Taltz from Eli Lilly & Co. Looks like Valeant has sought to price this reasonably relative to Taltz and Cosentyx, Stifel analyst Annabel Samimy told Reuters. Taltz's list price is $4,469 per month. "But this is only list price it's neither here nor there unless you know the rebates provided to payers. But optically, looks like Siliq is the better value based on the price and relative efficacy," Samimy said. Siliq will also compete with other classes of drugs used to treat psoriasis such as Amgen Inc's Enbrel, Johnson & Johnson's Remicade and AbbVie Inc's Humira. Valeant is trying to regain investor confidence following a tumultuous year in which its pricing strategy and ties to a specialty pharmacy led to a wider political and regulatory scrutiny. The Canadian drugmaker's U.S.-listed shares were up about 1 percent at $8.98 in early trading on Friday. Siliq secured U.S. approval in February, but the Food and Drug Administration slapped on its label a black box warning - the most severe given by the agency - calling attention to the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. About 7.5 million in the United States suffer from psoriasis, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The disorder, characterized by raised, scaly skin patches, can be associated with other conditions, including diabetes and heart disease. (Reporting by Akankshita Mukhopadhyay in Bengaluru; Editing by Martina D'Couto and Sriraj Kalluvila) Vietnam has sentenced eight drug traffickers to death for smuggling 300 kilos (660 pounds) of heroin to China, some of it in gas cylinders, according to state media. The cartel was convicted of smuggling drugs across the border between 2004 and 2015, according to a report on Thursday in An Ninh Thu Do newspaper, the official mouthpiece of Hanoi police. Ringleader Dang Minh Chau was accused of leading the "dangerous criminal gang" but was spared a death sentence and handed life in prison because she has a young child. Two other gang members were also handed life sentences. "Dang Minh Chau will be sentenced to life in prison for illegal drug trafficking... because she has to raise her child who is under 36 months old," the police report said. Two more people were jailed for between 12 and 18 months following the four-day trial in Hanoi, according to the state-run Vietnam News Agency. Communist Vietnam has some of the toughest drug laws in the world. Anyone convicted of possessing more than 600 grams (21 ounces) of heroin or more than 20 kilos of opium can face the death penalty. Vietnam has vowed to tackle the illicit narcotics trade flowing into China, but crackdowns are hindered by the soaring demand for drugs, official corruption and a long porous border between the neighbours. Death sentences are routinely handed out for drug convictions, and Vietnam is a leading executioner globally, according to Amnesty International. A total of 429 prisoners were executed in the Southeast Asian country between August 2013 and June 2016, according to report published by Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security in January. Since 2013, Vietnam has carried out death sentences by lethal injection, replacing executions by firing squads. WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren says she's "troubled" by reports that former President Barack Obama will be paid $400,000 to speak at a September health care conference put on by Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald. The Massachusetts Democrat said Thursday on SiriusXM's "Alter Family Politics" program that she is concerned about the overall influence of money in politics. Obama spokesman Eric Schultz says in a statement that the Democratic former president accepted the invitation to speak because health care is "an issue of great importance to him." He added that Obama implemented financial reforms even after taking money from Wall Street as a candidate in 2008. Schultz says Obama will be true to his values and record "regardless of venue or sponsor" for his speeches. Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. If you're covered by Medicare, you may feel the pain of a shingles shot more in your wallet than in your arm. That's because the federal program that insures most seniors in the U.S. provides poor coverage for some recommended vaccines, including shingles, and could leave some people paying $200 or more for protection. Shingles is a viral infection that often causes a painful, blistering rash and, in some cases, leads to lingering nerve pain and, in rare cases, even blindness. The vaccine isn't foolproof, but for people aged 60 and older it reduces the risk of getting shingles by about 51 percent and, if you do get shingles, reduces the nerve pain it causes by close to 70 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some Vaccines Covered Better Than Others Unlike the flu and pneumonia vaccines, which are fully covered as preventive services under Medicare Part B, the shingles shot and other recommended vaccinations are covered as prescription drugs under Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans. Some of those plans provide better coverage than others, but nearly all of them divide their formularies, or list of covered drugs, into tiers according to cost. Drugs in Tier 1 and 2, mainly lower-priced generics and preferred brand-name drugs, have lower co-pays than more expensive nonpreferred brands in Tier 3 or 4. Consumer Reports found that many Part D plans categorize the shingles vaccine, Zostavax, as an expensive Tier 3 or 4 drug. Only one pharmaceutical companyMerckmakes the shingles shot, and theres currently no generic version. That means if you havent met your annual deductible, youll likely wind up paying full price for the shot, which is about $217. But depending on your plan, even after the deductible is met, consumers may have to pay a significant part of the shingles vaccine costup to $100. Story continues Many healthcare providers havent set up billing systems to file claims through prescription drug plans. So if you're vaccinated at your doctors office, you might be required to pay the full shingles vaccine cost up front and then file to be reimbursed by your insurance. Other Types of Plans Do Better Other forms of insurance do a far better job covering immunizations. Under provisions of the Affordable Care Act, private planssuch as insurance through your employer or purchased on a state marketplaceare still required to cover recommended vaccinations as preventive medical care, not drugs. That means that as long as you go to a provider in your plans network, your insurance will pay for preventive care without a co-pay, even if you havent met your deductible. Its really a shame that older Americans, who are most at risk of contracting shingles and most vulnerable to the potentially serious effects of the disease, often have to pay more than others for the vaccine, says Consumer Reports medical director, Orly Avitzur, M.D. If youre currently covered by a private health plan but anticipate going on Medicare in the next five years or so, one cost-saving strategy is to talk to your doctor about updating all your vaccinations now while your insurance provides good coverage, Avitzur says. The shingles shot is recommended for nearly all adults aged 60 and older. Don't Overpay: Advice for Medicare Patients Three out of four Americans eligible for the shingles vaccination still havent gotten it, according to the CDC. Not surprisingly, a 2015 report from the National Vaccine Program found that one of the main reasons adults skip recommended vaccines is the cost. If youve been putting off getting your shingles shot because you were quoted a high price, check your Part D plan. You may be able to get it for less. Confusion about insurance coverage for the vaccine can sometimes result in patients paying more than they should, Avitzur says. Dont delay, as the consequences of shingles can be devastating, advises Avitzur, a neurologist who has seen firsthand the painful effects of lingering nerve damage. Your best bet may be to get the shot at a pharmacy in your drug plans network. Youll still need to get a prescription from your doctor, but the pharmacy will bill your insurance company and youll pay the lowest out-of-pocket costs available under your plan. If you would like to get vaccinated at your doctors office, ask up front about the cost. Does your doctor charge more to administer the shot than your plan allows? If so, youll be on the hook for the difference. Also see whether the office will bill your Part D or Medicare Advantage plan directly or work with a pharmacy in your network to handle the billing. And last, if you dont have health insurance or you're experiencing medical or financial hardship, you might qualify for Mercks Vaccine Patient Assistance Program, which provides free vaccinations to those who are eligible. For details, go to merckhelps.com. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Copyright 2006-2017 Consumer Reports, Inc. A woman who has lost all her limbs to meningitis is finding a new way to be a mother. Jessica Haldin, 26, of Waikiki, Western Australia, collects lifelike dolls, all with their own names and their own birth certificates. Read: Toddler Who Lost Arms and Legs to Meningitis Gets Doll With No Limbs: 'Mummy, She's Just Like Me' "I like that I get to experience at least a little bit of what motherhood might be like, Haldin said in an interview with Caters News. I know the chances of me ever becoming a mum are small. So far, she has seven Reborn Dolls two boys named Cody and Zayden, and five girls named Allie, Ciara, Hope, Willow and Destiny. My favorite thing to do with the dolls is put them in cute outfits and give them cuddles, Haldin said. I've learned how to cuddle and hold them, even with my disability. When she was just 2 years old, she came down with a life threatening case of meningococcal meningitis. Doctors originally thought she had the cold, but two hours later, her arms and legs had turned black and she fell into a coma for a month. "When I woke up, my legs had been amputated as had my left fingers and my right thumb, she explained. After a year in the hospital and more than 100 operations later, Haldin was able to beat her illness, but not without scarring on more than 90 percent of her body, which makes prosthetics painful for her. I find it easier and less painful to just crawl on my bum, she joked. "I have adapted to life without limbs. I walk on my bottom or jump in my power chair to get around. Haldin explained her disability did not cause her to biologically be unable to have a child, but she doesnt believe she will get the opportunity to mother her own babies. Read: Toddler Who Lost a Leg and Part of a Foot to Meningitis Learns to Walk "Though I'm very happy and couldn't imagine my life with limbs, there are still some things I miss out on, which is why the dolls are so great, Haldin said. They help me nurse that mothering instinct that I wouldn't get to use otherwise." Story continues To help Haldin purchase a new electric wheelchair, visit her GoFundMe page. Watch: 10-Year-Old Who Had Leg Amputated Due to Cancer Gets American Girl Doll With Prosthetic Leg Related Articles: London (AFP) - A woman was shot by police in London during an anti-terror raid on Thursday following an intelligence operation, the city's Metropolitan Police said. The woman in her twenties was shot at an address in north-west London during an "ongoing counter terrorism investigation", police said in a statement. She was one of the subjects of the terror probe and remains under police guard in hospital. The evening raid saw three people arrested on terrorism charges, including two at the scene -- a 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman -- as well as a 20-year-old man nearby. Police also arrested a 43-year-old woman in Kent, south-east England, following the London raid. "All four have been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of terrorist acts," police said. "The address and persons connected with it had been under observation by counter terrorism officers as part of an ongoing intelligence led operation." Police said the probe was unrelated to the arrest earlier on Thursday of a man armed with knives close to the Houses of Parliament. The 27-year-old was arrested on terrorism charges after being surrounded by firearms officers who pinned him to the ground. The area around parliament has been on a state of heightened alert since a deadly attack on March 22 perpetrated by Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old convert to Islam. Masood drove into pedestrians, killing four, and stabbed a police officer to death at the gates of parliament before being shot dead by an armed officer. During my medicine rotation, I had a patient who was bilingual and needed an MRI. He insisted that we talk to each other in English, even though his native language was Portuguese. I started asking him questions from a safety screening and consent form. Do you have a pacemaker, defibrillator, or any wires in your body? I said. He hesitated before answering. Uh, I dont think so. The questions got a little more complicated, yet he refused a translator. As it took longer and longer for him to answer, and all the other tasks I needed to do continued to pile up, I told him I was going to get him a form in Portuguese. He relented, I faxed the completed form over to the imaging department, and then I stood at the machine, waiting for the confirmation. Filling and faxing forms, confirming prescriptions, requesting medical records these tasks rob me of time I could be thinking about how to treat my patients, yet I do them because they need to get done and more senior residents tell us we need to do them as part of our job. Its called scut work and its the target of some reform efforts led by people who think it contributes to burnout. You didnt graduate from medical school to stand by a fax machine, said my supervising physician. Yet as an intern, I spend a lot of time doing things that dont really advance my medical education, things that other people in the hospital hierarchy are paid to do. As a doctor, Im training to be at the top of the hierarchy, but I also want to be a team player. I told my attending that I tolerate these tasks because I feel uncomfortable dumping menial tasks on other people. It feels elitist, I said, and not collegial. Its not dumping, she replied, its delegation. All hospital personnel have responsibilities towards patient care, she said. Doctors, however, have responsibilities that nurses dont, and nurses can do things that nursing assistants cant. Everyone has a different role to play, and while I may be able to trade places with a staff member who has a more limited scope of practice, they cannot trade places with me. Story continues She called this practicing at the top of your license, putting your mind and time to the best possible use in diagnosing and caring for patients doing those things that my medical school training has prepared me for. Support staff, she said, are there to do the rest. Read more: 5 health care jobs that are thankfully obsolete Its a lesson she said she learned in residency when her attending caught her hovering by a fax machine, too. At Boston Medical Center, the Committee of Interns and Residents, a resident union, has been successful in helping residents delegate some of these tasks. For example, unit coordinators or medical secretaries are now responsible for obtaining outside medical records instead of residents. The committee is also investigating more efficient ways to complete MRI safety screenings and work with pharmacy technicians to complete medication reconciliations. After that conversation with my attending, I thought about all the time as a doctor I spent getting patients water, or looking for pillows, or helping them walk to the restroom. I thought about my Brazilian patient and how the time I spent filling out a piece of paperwork with him put me so far behind on other important tasks: calling in consults, following up on labs, and finalizing discharges for patients to nursing facilities with ambulance transportation. Those were my duties as a doctor. The pillows and water, I did because I wanted to be helpful. In the long run, I realize that I may have been doing both myself and the patient a disservice. While Im rarely asked by the staff at my hospital to do non-physician tasks, I wondered why I felt uncomfortable passing along these patient requests. Ive realized that many female physicians are similarly conflicted, and when they set boundaries, they often face unfair consequences. Id heard that nurses at another Boston hospital often asked female surgical residents to help do non-physician tasks like repositioning patients. When these residents declined to help, they were seen as unprofessional and complaints were filed. Noticing a disproportionate number of complaints against his female residents, a senior doctor investigated the issue and it led to a staff meeting where he highlighted the gendered discrepancy in these requests. He and the residents called for a culture change and reminder to each member of their role in patient care. Read more: Female doctors earn less than men, even within the same specialty While it may seem like these tasks are no big deal, time is a precious commodity. Five minutes here and five minutes there can add up to less time spent with my patients, or even snowball into extra work. I only have four years to practice medicine with the support and structure inherent in a residency training program. I want to take advantage of it. That conversation with my attending changed me. Since then, Ive been working on respectfully asserting myself with patients, and sometimes gently reminding them of my role in patient care that I am their doctor. Now when they ask me to fetch them milk or sugar, instead of saying yes, I say, yes, let me get someone to do that for you. Dr. Jennifer Okwerekwu is a first-year resident in the adult psychiatry training program at Cambridge Health Alliance. You can read more of her columns here. Britain wants to put its nose in the porn you watch. The Queen has rubberstamped the Digital Economy Bill, a law that will force any website that benefits commercially from porn to verify the age of users. SEE ALSO: How the UK government can hack your personal data If they fail to do the monitoring and checks, payment providers and third parties will be legally required to intervene. Should the websites refuse to comply, the ISPs will block content, even though it's legal. Matt Hancock, Minister of State for Digital and Culture, said the wide-ranging legislation, which also targets the UK's electronic communications infrastructure, was designed to ensure a more connected and stronger economy. The act will enable major improvements in broadband rollout, better support for consumers, better protection for children on the Internet, and further transformation of government services, he said. But if the bill sounds draconian it's because it is, according to advocacy groups like Open Rights Group, which have criticised the legislation as an "unworkable proposal." "The law poses significant concerns regarding privacy, security and censorship," according to Myles Jackman, ORG's legal director. Here's a breakdown of the big issues. Censorship of 'extreme' sex acts, like depictions of asphyxiation The body in charge of classifying and censoring porn websites, even if they're not based in the UK, will be the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), which already does a similar job for films. One of the main provisions of the law will force ISPs to prohibit access to porn sites that include "extreme pornographic content" enshrined in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act of 2008. It's a significant change from a controversial proposal in the draft bill which originally included "non-conventional sex acts" namely urination, female ejaculation or menstruation as well as sex in public as certified by the BBFC for commercial DVD sale. Story continues This "extreme" porn content is perhaps considered "non-acceptable" in the mainstream public perception, and includes sexual acts likely to cause deaths, serious harm and realistic depictions of rape. However, advocacy groups raise a question of freedom of expression in reference to these acts, in the sense that porn sites offer a fictionalised version that could be ascribed to personal taste or even art. "The definition of sexual acts likely to cause death is incredibly vague and could include fictionalised practices like asphyxiation, for example," Jackman said. Privacy threat from companies who don't know how to keep your data safe Age verification checks by porn sites could lead to a serious privacy breach. Companies that provide these checks have no experience of privacy or how to keep personal data safe, according to Jackman. Moreover, there is no statutory body to ensure the information provided through the checks is secure. "Companies could scrape personal information with no restrictions and monetise the information for financial gain," he said. There is also the possibility that hackers could access the data and leak the information as it happened with the Ashley Madison leaks. As we saw with the Ashley Madison leaks, the hacking of private information about peoples sex lives, has huge repercussions for those involved," ORG's Executive Director Jim Killock said in a statement. One of the world's biggest porn website operators, MindGeek, controls 90 percent of the UK porn market and has also offered to implement Age Verification. According to Jackman, the company is trying to become the "Facebook of porn," using personal and backend data from age verification to sell targeted ads or sell your details to other porn companies. "They would have all the interest to monetise as much as they possibly can," he said. Even overseas companies could be forced to self-censor in order to comply As mentioned, even porn sites that aren't based in the UK and which aren't subject to UK law can be blocked by ISPs. That raises not only a freedom of expression issue, but also a potential trade war, according to ORG. "Porn sites are already negotiating with credit card processors to comply in advance with the age verification checks," Jackman said. "Otherwise they could be financially at risk." For instance, Canada-based Fetlife, the self-declared "Facebook of fetish," is closing down parts of their site to comply with the British law, based only on economic reasons, Jackman said. "By closing down various parts of their site, websites are coerced into censorship on economic basis." WATCH: The best prop in 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' is Dave Bautista's bicep FILE PHOTO: A Tesla model S car with an electric vehicle charging station is displayed during a media preview day at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) September 10, 2013. The world's biggest auto show is open to the public September 14 -22. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo By Edward Taylor FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Tesla executive Klaus Grohmann was ousted last month after a clash with Chief Executive Elon Musk over the strategy of Grohmann's firm, which Tesla had acquired in November, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The Silicon Valley luxury electric carmaker is counting on Grohmann Engineering's automation and engineering expertise to help it ramp up production to 500,000 cars per year by 2018. At the time of the purchase, it described Klaus Grohmann and the company he founded as a "world leader in highly automated manufacturing". Tesla planned to keep Grohmann on, and Grohmann wanted to stay, but the clash with Musk over how to treat existing clients resulted in his departure, the source said. Grohmann disagreed with Musk's demands to focus management attention on Tesla projects to the detriment of Grohmann Engineering's legacy clients, which included Tesla's direct German-based rivals Daimler and BMW, two sources familiar with the matter said. Reached by phone, Klaus Grohmann declined to comment on the circumstances of his leaving, citing confidentiality clauses. "I definitely did not depart because I had lost interest in working," Grohmann said, without elaborating. A Tesla spokesman, asked about Grohmann's departure, praised him for building an "incredible company" and said: "Part of Mr Grohmann's decision to work with Tesla was to prepare for his retirement and leave the company in capable hands for the future. Given the change in focus to Tesla projects, we mutually decided that it was the right time for the next generation of management to lead." Two sources familiar with the matter said Tesla's plans to ramp up production with the help of the company now renamed Tesla Grohmann Automation remain on track. The management layer below Klaus Grohmann is continuing his work, they told Reuters. But they said parts of the workforce felt insecure about becoming so dependent on one client after the founder's departure. Story continues Last year, Tesla had said: "Under the continued leadership of Mr Grohmann, several critical elements of Tesla's automated manufacturing systems will be designed and produced in Pruem, to help make our factories the most advanced in the world." "Our factories are so important that we believe they will ultimately deserve an order of magnitude more attention in engineering than what they produce. At very high production volumes, the factory becomes more of a product than the product itself," Tesla said at the time. Tesla started out as a client of Grohmann Engineering, a small unlisted company based in Pruem, near the Luxembourg border, that helped companies design highly automated factories, a source familiar with the company told Reuters. As pressure grew to increase production volumes at Tesla, Musk decided to buy Grohmann Engineering and make Pruem a base for Tesla Advanced Automation. As well as BMW and Daimler, Grohmann counted the auto parts maker Bosch [ROBG.UL], chip maker Intel, and pharmaceutical firms Abbott Laboratories and Roche among its clients. Negotiations have started with some of the clients about how to compensate them for lack of resources devoted to their projects, one of the sources said. The German labor union IG Metall has demanded that Tesla's management formalize multi-year job guarantees and increase salaries as a way to provide assurance amid management turmoil. (Reporting by Edward Taylor; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Berkeley Rocked by Hundreds of Protesters Even Without Ann Coulter There Ann Coulters scheduled speech at Berkeley for tonight was canceled earlier this week, but that didnt stop hundreds of protesters from flooding the University of California campus. The demonstrators came ready for action and possible violence earlier in the afternoon wearing helmets, shields and padding, according to the Washington Post. The authorities also turned out in force, resulting in both conservative and liberal activists mostly just shouting at each other across the street, divided by a police line. Also Read: Ann Coulter Cancels Berkeley Speech After Threats of Violence: 'Sad Day for Free Speech' Prior to the outbreak, University spokesman Dan Mogulof said police had obtained a lot of information about threats [from] individuals and groups who intend to either come and protest all thats happening or support all thats happening, NBC News reported. However, by midway through the evening, only two people had been arrested in connection with the demonstrations one for carrying a knife on campus and another for obstructing a police officer, wearing a mask to evade police and other charges. Also Read: UC Berkeley Sued Over Ann Coulter's Postponed Visit Coulter, who initially insisted she would go to Berkeley even after the university canceled her planned speech citing threats of violence, told the New York Times on Wednesday: Its a sad day for free speech. After arriving in San Francisco, the conservative commentator had hinted that she might still swing by to say hello to her supporters in Berkeley but apparently held back. Also Read: Bill O'Reilly Defends Ann Coulter Against 'Snowflake Fascists on College Campuses' She later told Fox News Tucker Carlson on Thursday night that she hadnt planned to say anything inflammatory anyway. Well, my seditious and hateful speech, the theme of it, obviously, it was going to be a searingly brilliant speech on immigration, Coulter said. Related stories from TheWrap: Ann Coulter Cancels Berkeley Speech After Threats of Violence: 'Sad Day for Free Speech' UC Berkeley Sued Over Ann Coulter's Postponed Visit Ann Coulter's Speech Canceled by Berkeley Over Fears of Violence GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) Federal agents descended on the North Texas headquarters of television evangelist Benny Hinn and took boxes out of the offices. The search began about 9 a.m. Wednesday at Hinn's headquarters in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Grapevine, near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. According to Hinn's website, he was in Paris. Lisa Slimak, spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in Dallas, said she was unable to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation. A message sent to Bennie Hinn Ministries went unanswered. Hinn was one of six television evangelists investigated by the Senate Finance Committee in 2007. Three years later, the six were cleared of any wrongdoing. Four Bangor High School girls found themselves runners-up Monday, April 24, for best chef in the first annual La Crosse County Dairy Promotions Board cook-off. Ashlie Lockington, Brittney Kundinger, Karsen Kershner and Harley Barajas competed against other teams from the La Crosse Central and Logan school districts. Bangor family and consumer science teacher Molly Hundt was invited to participate in the program by the Dairy Council earlier this year. Hundt saw it as an opportunity to teach her students more about the dairy industry in Wisconsin and expose them dairy products they might not normally try. I did a whole unit on dairy, she said. I did a whole cheese sampling. She said the event highlighted courses on cooking, which are often overlooked or ignored. People dont always think of family and consumer sciences, Hundt said. Lockington and Kundinger competed in the live competition Monday night where they they made their version of the American classic the grilled cheese sandwich. Kershner and Barajas made their dish, another classic, macaroni and cheese before the competition. She said she challenged her students to find new and interesting recipients for the competition on the Wisconsin cheese website. To get all of her classes involved Hundt had her students compete in their own class cook off. The best-tasting mac and cheese would move on to the competition. She said her students made six different recipes then voted on the best tasting one. Hundt said she enjoyed seeing her students get excited about cooking and take pride in their dishes. We got a lot of feedback, she said. Both girls came into class with limited cooking experience. A fast and efficient robot wasnt enough to garner the support the West Salem FIRST Robotics team needed to move on to the April 26 worlds competition in St. Louis, Mo. Robotics advisor Erik Mathison said the team had hoped its nimble creation would win it enough points with other teams to move on to the next step after the regional competition April 12-15. For this years creation, the Gearbox Heroes team was tasked with creating a semi-autonomous robot capable of delivering large plastic gears and whiffle balls to targets throughout a steampunk-themed course. During the competition teams of three competed against each other and the clock to deliver as many gears and whiffle balls to their targets. At the end of each match the robots would receive additional points for climbing a rope. The last of these challenged nearly left the West Salem High School team stranded after it was forced to redesign its rope climbing mechanism with just two days left in the build season. Our biggest hurdle was to climb the rope at the end of the match, Mathison wrote after the competition. We changed our design with two days left of the build season and could not test it until the competition. The teams final solution involved a combination of ratcheting straps and Velcro to achieve their goal. Forming effective allegiances with other teams early in the competition was an important strategy for West Salem. The top-scoring teams would later choose two other teams to accompany them to the worlds competition in St. Louis. West Salem wanted to be one of those picked. Mathison said despite being nominated, the team was not selected as an allegiance member. They were disappointed a little, Mathison said. We had kind of a younger team this year. The team had only three seniors who had been in the program all four years. He said the Gearbox Heroes were able to accomplish all of their goals and overcome several hurdles to get there. Co-adviser Roxanne Munns said she was particularly happy with how well the team did programing the robot. She said the team experienced no problems during the competition as a result of poor programming. Mathison said it was always great to see teams persevere and overcome the many obstacles they will face during the build season and the competition. Just to see their joy and excitement, he said. Its a great feeling. Mathison said he hoped to use their defeat as a learning moment to get students excited about next years competition. While next years challenge wont be announced until January 2018, West Salems robotics team will spend the next several months prototyping robotics and experimenting with various different mechanisms. Mathison said every year the competition requires some kind of shooting or throwing mechanism. He said the students elected not to include a shooting mechanism because the reward was too little and it would have unnecessarily complicated the design. The Gearbox Heroes will also explore new technologies such as pneumatics, gyroscopes and imaging gear like rangefinders and lidar. Mathison said the team spent a lot of time talking with more experienced teams about how they had implemented these technologies in their robots. Munns said it was obvious from the regional competition that more work during the off-season would benefit the team in next years competition. The West Salem School Board will not fill the vacancy left by former trustee Greg Brickl after his resignation earlier this month. The board voted 4-1 not to fill the position, which opened up after Brickl moved outside the district boundaries to La Crescent, Minn., until April 2018, after Superintendent Troy Gunderson sited precedent in which former trustee Connie Dutton-Snell agreed not to run to avoid the appears of a board nomination after getting appointed to the board in 2012.. Board president Syl Clements did not cast a vote in order to prevent the possibility of a three to three vote. Board trustee Tom Grosskopf voted against. I see more benefit of having seven on the board, Grosskopf said. The odd number is the better number. There is more benefit to the person. He was not in favor of asking an appointed board member not to run in the spring. Board member Catherine Griffin said if the six board members could do the work there was no reason to fill the board. Prior to the decision, former board member of nine-years Scott Scafe expressed an interest in filling Brickls vacancy. I want to express my interest in filling the vacated board seat if you do choose to fill it, he said at the start of the meeting. Scafe was unseated during in the same election that led to Brickls joining the school board. He said he intends to run for the open school board seat next year. Gunderson said the situation has revealed a compliance issue with state statutes requiring schools to have a policy in place should a vote result in a tie. The policy committee will meet later this month and present a proposal at the next meeting in May. Budget In the past two weeks, the board cut down its $1 million deficit by more than half, bringing it to $480,000. The biggest savings came from a reduction in the districts health insurance increase. The board approved a health insurance increase of roughly 15 percent or $290,293. This was just over $200,000 than the district had originally planned. However, the change will ask everyone, including the school district, to pay more for insurance. As a result, employees who take the district insurance will see their share of costs nearly double from 10 percent after the deductible to 20 percent. Employees will also see an modest increase to their insurance premiums. Gunderson said a single employees will experience a rate increase of $20 a month, while a family should expect to pay roughly $60 more a month. The districts insurance deductibles will remain the same at $2,000 for singles and $4,000 for families. However, the districts contribution to the health reimbursement agreement will fall from from roughly 62 percent to a flat 50 percent. Board trustee Ken Schlimgen suggested the the district may find additional savings by reducing the cash-in-lieu of insurance; however, trustee Jane Halverson said she was worried that may cause more employees to jump back on the districts insurance negating the benefit of cuts. For the savings, I dont know if it is worth the risk, she said. Ive never been a fan of taking cash-in-lieu away. Schlimgen agreed with Halverson that the risk is probably not worth the reward. In addition to health care the district will make cuts in other areas as well, notably putting off purchasing a new bus at a savings of $90,000, a $100,000 reduction in post employment benefits, a $30,000 reduction in technology services and fewer co-curricular trip costs. The board did not take action on the proposed cuts during the meeting. Schlimgen said hed like to find additional $100,000 in savings to minimize the out-of-pocket expenses to the district to $380,000. Health Careers Pathways The board approved a request by high school principal Josh Malicoat to begin offering its own Health Careers Pathway program rather than relying on La Crosses program. West Salem entered into the program last year with the La Crosse School District in order to offer students opportunities to advance themselves in preparation for a health-related career. Students were able to take more health related courses, experienced hands-on experiences and were certified as nursing assistants. Malicoat said he believed that the district could offer a similar program that didnt require students to commute to La Crosse at a significantly reduced cost. He said the district had the necessary resources available to it run the program on its campus. Before students were required to commute to and from facilities in La Crosse. We didnt want them disconnected from our high school, Malicoat said. He said the program is beneficial for students who are interested in health careers because they are offered hands-on experiences during the almost monthly field trips. In order to make a local program possible, the district has begun partnering with local health facilities like Mulders. Malicoat said the program could even be offered to sophomores who had completed the districts Independent Learning Academy. Independent Learning Academy High school science and English teachers Jennifer Stenberg and Laura Skemp-Deal gave a presentation on districts latest accelerated learning program, the Independent Learning Academy. The program is offered to the top 15 freshman students in their class. Those students are offered the opportunity to take two sections of English and science simultaneously in a project-based learning environment. Students who complete the program are then able to take junior level English and science courses as sophomores. The academy was the brainchild of West Salem drama teacher Amy Hansen who said shed watched juniors and seniors struggled to fit in advanced courses such as chemistry or physics. Skemp-Deal said students are required meet all state standards for both classes in order to receive credit for both. The classes often combine traditional learning and project based learning. Students completed a variety of projects including diagrams, novellas and board games. The board instructed Stenberg and Skemp-deal to look into expanding its course options into other fields. Meteor Timber didnt have any friends at a public hearing in Tomah Tuesday. None of the 18 people who testified during a Department of Natural Resources hearing spoke in favor of the Georgia timber companys permit application to fill 16.4 acres of wetland to construct a sand processing and loading facility. Opposition ranged from hostility to hydraulic fracturing for extracting oil and natural gas to concerns about disrupting the peace and quiet of the rural countryside. We should stop all permitting to all stages of frac sand mining until there are appropriate independent studies that are completed and reviewed, said Janice Kenyon of rural Ontario. The DNR has tentatively approved the permit, which includes filling 13 acres of pristine hardwood swamp. Meteor plans to dismantle two cranberry operations on the 752-acre property, eliminate four impoundments and restore 2,000 feet of stream. Meteor has also proposed to preserve 640 acres of other high-quality wetlands and restore 58 acres at other sites. However, Sara Geers, staff attorney for Midwest Environmental Advocates, expressed skepticism of Meteors restoration plans and said the wetland Meteor wants to fill is rare in Wisconsin and hard to replace once its destroyed. Geers also doubted whether restoration promises can be trusted given the boom-and-bust nature of the sand mining and energy industries. David Epstein, president of Millston Investors Ltd., said the facility threatens neighboring landowners in the Jackson County town of Millston and nearby Lee Lake, a 30-acre impoundment with a public swimming beach and several lakefront houses. A local sportsmans club stocks the lake with trout. There are many valuable homes with Lee Lake frontage in the immediate area with private wells sourced by shallow aquifers, he said. We fear these domestic water systems ... might be adversely affected by Meteors upstream wetlands actions. Greg Eirschele said Unimins sand mining facility in Tunnel City has already transformed the local landscape. The hills are disappearing, Eirschele said. Theyre literally shipping them away. Kim Rudolph, who lives in southern Jackson County, worried about the facilitys impact on his property value. I want to know if the water table goes down, what is going to happen? he said. If my property value drops, are they going to reimburse me for that? A Trempealeau County homeowner said promises from frac sand companies to be good neighbors cant be trusted. Mike Sylla, who lives with his wife and two children in the town of Lincoln, blames a neighboring Hi-Crush sand mine for ruining his water supply. Sylla held up two jars of brown water that he said came from his well. He said his family must buy all its water from somewhere else. Im bringing this sample because it does and can happen, Sylla said. What are we going to drink in the years to come? We wont have any water. He said sand mines might bring a few jobs to the area, but what kind of jobs will there be when theres no water in the area? Kenyon raised the specter of silicosis, which she said is caused by silica particles that escape into the air from sand mining. Im a doctor, and I can speak to the health risks of this endeavor, she said. The little pieces of silica are like needles they are like little swords. They get into the lung tissue, and they do not disappear. There is no known cure for this. Meteor issued a statement shortly after the hearing. It said the project is a $65 million investment that will create nearly 100 jobs. We are pleased to see the regulatory process continue to move forward, and we welcome public input on our plans, said project manager Chris Mathis. Our company knows that sustainability is an important part of operating responsibly. That is why we have gone above and beyond other projects by developing a historic plan to permanently preserve and restore high-quality wetland on more than 600 acres. This effort merits support from those who want to see growth and economic development and those who want to preserve the environment because our project does both. Both the DNR and Army Corps of Engineers have questioned the projects economic viability, given the precipitous drop in demand for sand since domestic fracking peaked in 2014. But in spite of a recent industry slump, Meteor is in a unique position to have a profitable mining operation, according to an economic analysis prepared by a Pennsylvania consulting firm. Thats because the group owns land with large reserves of fine sands that are now in demand and if allowed to move forward would be able to load entire trains and put them onto the Union Pacific system, which would provide a direct link to Texas oil fields. Meteor has said it cannot find another location to accommodate such a large plant along the UP rail line. The company has also said permitting its project is the only way to prevent much of the 752-acre site from being clearcut. About three quarters of the land is owned by the A&K Alexander Cranberry Co., which was cited in 2013 by the Environmental Protection Agency for illegally filling 5.6 acres of wetlands. As part of the penalty, the EPA required A&K to restore 2.2 acres of the filled wetlands and to get an after-the-fact permit for another 3.63 acres. According to documents filed in support of the application, A&K managing partner Marty Alexander took out a one-year loan in August for $321,470 to settle the case. In a letter to Meteor, Alexander said if the sale does not go through, logging would be his only way to avoid foreclosure. Katie Graves of Sparta said opponents will continue to fight the project even if the DNR and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approve the permit. Why are we allowing corporations to harm us, to pollute us, to poison us? she said. Its past time for us to take a stand for our communities, our children, our grandchildren and this planetary ecosystem were all a part of. The public can submit written comments through April 28. Chris Hubbuch of the La Crosse Tribune contributed to this report. Sister Carlene Unser, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, 96, died Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare, La Crosse. She was in the 77th year of her religious profession. Sister Carlene was born Charles and Helen (Pease) Unser Nov. 29, 1920, in Eau Galle, Wis. She entered St. Rose Convent in 1936, and made profession of vows in 1940. Sister Carlene served as a primary teacher in elementary schools for 26 years: Roselle and Carroll, Iowa, and Mosinee, Dodgeville, Boyd and La Crosse (St. Wenceslaus), Wis. The last 30 years of her career were as art instructor at Viterbo College (University), serving as chairperson of the department for 10 of those years. Sister Carlene was one of the three FSPA at the time instrumental in designing the Fine Arts Center at Viterbo University. In 1996, Sister Carlene retired in La Crosse. She moved to Villa St. Joseph in 2015. Sister Carlene is survived by her Franciscan community and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Donald, Kenneth, Floyd and Charles; and three sisters, Sister Carola Unser, FSPA, Catherine (May) Szklarski and Lorraine Bauer. Friends may call after 3:15 p.m. Monday, May 1, at St. Rose Convent, La Crosse. A wake service will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Mary of the Angels Chapel that evening. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 2, in the chapel. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, La Crosse. Memorials may be sent to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 912 Market St., La Crosse, Wis., 54601-4782. Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements. We always got along with our neighbors to the north until Canada said it didnt want our milk. In these parts, thems fightin words. We in Americas Dairyland arent so prideful as to think all our exports are winners. We were happy to give the world Leinenkugels but remain apologetic about Milwaukees Best. But still, we will be gosh-darned if anyone is going to tell us our milk isnt welcome. Canada has changed its dairy policies, making it hard for outside processors to sell their milk there. This left Wisconsin processors with nowhere to send their milk, although Canada seems to have suggested where they can shove it. Now that Canadian policy makes it tough for U.S. farmers to sell the ultra-filtered milk used in cheese, producers in Wisconsin and other states will have nowhere to send a commodity with a limited shelf life. They face the prospect of dumping it, losing out on their sales and justifiably crying over spilled milk. American farm leaders are having a cow over this assault on their bread-and-butter product. They say Canada is setting a nationalist policy that makes it cheaper for processors to buy Canadian-made ingredients, undercutting foreign competitors. Canada counters that America is to blame for producing too much milk. (As if thats even possible, Wisconsinites say.) Canadians might also point out that Wisconsin knows all about setting rules that hamstring the competition. But only if the Canucks were feeling a little saucy after finishing a six-pack of imported Leinies. You see, Lambeau Field isnt the only venue where cheeseheads like to cultivate a home-field advantage. An Ohio dairy has sued the state of Wisconsin over its ban on the sale of ungraded butter. Minerva Dairy argues the ban is an anti-competitive restriction that protects Wisconsin dairies while blocking sales from other states. Perhaps, when Canada changed its dairy policy, it was merely pulling a Wisconsin. Because its located outside Wisconsin, Minerva cant easily have its artisanal butter graded by state inspectors. The company says it would have to spend $2,000 a day to have Wisconsin inspectors flown in, and only the Koch brothers have that kind of money to throw around. Wisconsins legal trouble started in February, when the state began enforcing a law requiring grading of butter. Residents who enjoy Kerrygold Irish butter have sued the state over the change. Any claims that the state is trying to protect consumers, as opposed to the interests of its powerful dairy industry, are more full of holes than Swiss. Cheeseheads getting their Irish up over butter is hardly new. The sale of colored margarine was banned here until the 1960s, as Wisconsin dairies wanted customers to know they werent getting the real thing. This year, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate that would ensure consumers know when theyre buying dairy substitutes. Its designed to crack down on companies that label their products as milk, cheese and yogurt when theyre actually made of soy. We here in Americas Dairyland want everyone to know when theyre settling for second-best. This is the same reason we think Canada should keep using our milk in its cheese. We also think the dairy market should be open to competition, with the cream rising to the top. That is, unless we spot anyone trying to bring in butter, colored oleo or anything else that might be better than what Wisconsin can put on the table. Well be gosh-darned if well let that happen. Most people get in trouble for smashing things apart Sarah Demers gets paid to do it. Demers, a physics professor at Yale University, spoke at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on the topic of high energy physics Thursday night. This branch of physics involves accelerating particle beams close to the speed of light before smashing them into each other and using the debris learn about the basic building blocks and forces of the universe. I love the big questions, she said in an interview. Understanding all of the fundamental particles helps create a picture of the universe. It helps us answer all of those big questions. During her talk, she spoke about the standard model of particle physics and the different particles and forces involved in electromagnetism, and strong and weak nuclear forces. She also spoke about the discovery of the Higgs boson particle at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland in 2012, which completed the standard model. The search for the Higgs boson started in the 1960s as an effort to describe why the massive fundamental particles have their mass. Attempts continued to fail until the LHC allowed scientists to probe further than they had before and find the elusive particle. Despite being technically complete, the standard model doesnt account for gravity or dark matter and energy, both of which make up the majority of stuff in the universe. Because of this, Demers said the work of particle physicists is not yet over and the LHC will be in operation for decades to come as scientists continue to gather data and see whether they can break the standard model and discover new fields of exploration. Its a discovery machine, she said. We dont really know what we are going to see. The higher up you can go the further you can see. Demers will also give a physics seminar, High Energy Physics: The Tools of the Trade, at 3:20 p.m. Friday in Room 100 of Cowley Hall. This talk is free and open to the public. This second talk will focus on how the equipment used to study particles work, such as accelerators that propel the particles at speeds close to the speed of light and the detectors the measure the result. Demers will also discuss her involvement with the ATLAS Experiment at the LHC, working one of the detectors looking for new and exotic particles. Demers was originally interested in a career as a public defender or constitutional lawyer in high school and said she caught the physics bug after taking a class her junior year. The concepts she learned about, such as how a fired bullet falls at the same speed as a dropped one, seemed to violate common sense. But instead of putting her off, the discoveries made her want to learn more, and her teacher encouraged her to become a scientist. Everything I thought I knew about how the natural world works was totally wrong, she said. It was difficult and shocking. Demers received her bachelors degree in physics from Harvard University, where she studied under the universitys first tenured woman physicist, Melissa Franklin. Franklin is a particle physicist, and Demers followed in her footsteps. In an interview, she said one of the challenges in her field is the small number of women in physics. Women have fewer role models, which is one of the reasons why she accepted the invitation to come to UW-L and talk about her work. People are naturally curious about these questions, she said. I get to ask these questions as a grownup and get paid to do it. It is an incredible privilege and one of the reasons I want to share what I do with others. 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. The North American Free Trade Agreement must be replaced with a transparent trade agreement that ensures farmers in all three nations, Canada Mexico and the United States, receive fair prices for their production, that consumers are guaranteed the right to know the content and origin of their food and that strong environmental protections are put in place to protect the sustainability of rural communities. While the current structure of NAFTA has increased trade between Canada, Mexico and the United States, farm profit margins did not increase. Multi-national grain traders made huge profits dumping subsidized U.S. corn on Mexico, crushing much of Mexicos farm economy to the point that Mexican Catholic Bishops said that NAFTA was leading to the cultural death of their nation. Trade agreements should promote fair trade that supports farmers of all countries, not just the financial interests of multi-national agribusiness corporations. To give just one recent example of how rural communities suffer from reckless trade policies that promote corporate profit at the farmers expense, Grassland Dairy Products the nations largest butter maker informed 75 Wisconsin dairy farmers April 1 that, as of May 1, their milk would no longer be needed because, due to changes in the Canadian milk pricing system, Canadian buyers had canceled contracts to import the equivalent of one million pounds of milk per day. Grassland management had been aware of forthcoming changes in the Canadian milk pricing system for at least several months, but Grassland gave their farmers minimal warning and left them with very few marketing options. U.S. processors, like Grassland, had been exploiting a loophole in the trade agreement that allowed them to ship ultra-filtered milk to Canadian cheese plants tariff-free since it was classified as an ingredient at the border. Once it arrived at the plants, its classification was changed to dairy to legally meet Canadian cheese production standards. Canada imposed no new taxes or tariffs on U.S. dairy imports, it simply created a new class of milk that is priced at the world market price, just as the U.S. imports were. Given this price equalization, Canadian cheese makers can now buy Canadian milk. Canadians want to buy Canadian just as Trump says we must buy American. Canada currently imports U.S. dairy products worth five times the value of its dairy exports to the U.S. U.S. processors and producers assumed NAFTA promised them a never-ending market for their excess production reckless trade policy. As Canadians note, the real problem with the U.S. dairy industry is massive overproduction. Because U.S. dairy farms continue to expand and push for ever greater production, at some point, (now) there is no room in market, the market is saturated and farmers will suffer. However, processors like Grassland will not. They decry Canada canceling their contract, but have no problem doing the same to their farmers. Ironically enough, Grassland has also been bankrolling the 5,000-cow factory farm expansion of Cranberry Creek Dairy in Dunn County to further flood the domestic milk market. And as noted by Darin Von Ruden, president of Wisconsin Farmers Union, Grassland was cutting its milk purchases as part of the plan to build this corporate-owned 5,000-cow dairy. Trade deals like NAFTA thrive on such commodity speculation that boosts corporate profits, while bankrupting family farmers, price gouging consumers and destroying the environment. NAFTA should be replaced with a new Fair Trade agreement, one that ensures farmers receive prices that, at a minimum, meet their costs of production plus a living wage. Farmers should not be pitted against each other in a race to the bottom. They deserve to have access to their own domestic markets and to be protected from imported commodities that are unfairly priced below the cost of production (dumping). Furthermore, people of all participating countries should not be subject to trade rules that restrict their right to: reject imports that do not meet their preferences on GM content, pesticide use, food labels or protect their local food systems. The basic human rights of farm workers fair wages and working conditions must be protected by trade rules that support jobs and rural development in all three countries. Food is a human right. Food sovereignty cannot be compromised by trade agreements designed by corporate interests. All nations have a right to decide what they will eat, how it will be grown and who will control it. No one should be forced to accept agricultural products they do not want. MADISON Republicans want to change Wisconsin law to mandate that their feedback be heard on a state education accountability plan. But so far, at least when counting emails to the state education department, they have had little to say. Only one Republican lawmaker responded to the Department of Public Instructions invitation from January to submit comments about the education plan being written as required by federal law, records obtained Thursday by The Associated Press show. The lack of emails proves that outreach to lawmakers has been successful and that the bill is unnecessary, said state Superintendent Tony Evers. Thats one of the reasons we havent had much of a response, Evers said. The Republican-controlled state Assembly plans to vote Tuesday on the bill that would prohibit the education department from submitting its plan to the federal government without first responding to any objections filed by members of the Senate or Assembly education committees. Democratic and Republican opponents alike argue the bill isnt necessary because lawmakers have had ample opportunity to provide input. The lack of emails plays into their argument. A January memo from the department to the Legislatures education committees detailed all the outreach it was doing on the plan, including meeting with school districts, soliciting online feedback, holding public listening sessions, meeting with stakeholders, lawmakers and Gov. Scott Walkers office and convening an advisory council comprising two Democrats and two Republicans. The department will also be taking public comment for the next two months and from lawmakers and the governor for a third month before submitting the final version of the plan by Sept. 18. Still, thats not enough for backers of the GOP bill up for approval Tuesday. Republican Rep. Ron Tusler, the bills sponsor, said a more formal process is needed to ensure any concerns raised by lawmakers are addressed. I think we have meaningful consultation we can offer, he said at a hearing on the bill. But Democratic Rep. Sondy Pope, who is on the advisory committee, called the bill absurd given the opportunities for feedback that already exist. Tusler said he thinks its absurd the Legislatures role isnt formalized in state law. Theres nobody in this committee that has bad intentions and is trying to prevent this plan from being a success, he said. The measure has no Democratic backers and no co-sponsors from either party in the Senate. Sen. Luther Olsen, the Republican chairman of the Senate Education Committee, told AP he doesnt think the bill is necessary because the department has gone out of the way to listen to lawmakers concerns and input. Olsen said he wont bring the bill up for a vote in his committee, meaning it likely will die in the Senate. Olsen is one of two Republicans on the advisory council. The other is Rep. Adam Neylon, of Pewaukee. The only email received by the education department so far offering comment came from Republican Rep. Romaine Quinn, a member of the Assembly Education Committee. The Assembly plans to vote Tuesday on a bill that would prohibit the education department from submitting its plan to the federal government without first responding to any objections. Friday, April 28, 2017 The Iowa Supreme Court imposed a six-month suspension for misconduct in a domestic matter In this disciplinary case, attorney Theodore Sporer appeals the findings and recommendations of the Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission recommending his law license be suspended for a period of six months. The alleged ethical violations occurred in the aftermath of a divorce decree. In a contempt proceeding arising from the divorce decree, the district court found Sporer falsely testified that he rejected the terms of a settlement letter sent by the opposing lawyer by immediately writing handwritten notes on the letter and sending it back to the opposing lawyer on the same day. The district court also found Sporer falsely and frivolously asserted that the secretarys signature on the bottom of a settlement letter bound the client to the terms of a settlement agreement. ...we affirm the findings of the grievance commission. We also affirm most of the grievance commissions conclusions. We suspend Sporers license to practice law for six months. The attorney had one prior reprimand in 31 years of practice. At issue was a document in divorce litigation that opposing counsel's secretary (Young) had signed in his office But the district court concluded that the September 24 settlement letter with Sporers handwritten note was a fraud. The court cited the tone, substance, and circumstances of the note. The court emphasized that it would be absurd for Linda to give up her retirement benefit of more than $100,000, plus an unknown value of a share of a defined benefit pension, in exchange for $3000. Further, the court noted that it would be extremely unlikely that Linda would surrender the retirement award in settlement of the contempt action against Gary. Further, the district court reasoned that there was no plausible motivation for Linda to accept such a ridiculous agreement. According to the court, there was no prospect of the district courts award of retirement benefits to be eliminated on appeal. The only argument presented by Gary was a fault-based argument unlikely to result in any adjustment of the amount of the retirement account award. The court We begin by observing that Sporers assertion that it was unfathomable to him that Young was anything other than a full agent is objectively absurd. Every lawyer knows that clerical staff provide essential support to a legal practice and make significant contributions to the lawyers and clients for whom they perform administrative services. Yet no lawyer, let alone a highly experienced lawyer, reasonably believes that clerical staff performing routine tasks such as retrieval of documents have authority, actual or apparent, to bind clients of the firm. We are not surprised that neither Sporer nor we have found legal authority supporting the proposition that legal secretaries generally have authority to bind clients of the attorneys for whom they work... On this subjective issue, we give respectful consideration to the findings of Judge Staskal in the contempt hearing and the commission in this proceeding. The commission and Judge Staskal did not believe Sporer actually believed his extraordinary assertion that secretaries have authority to bind clients to settlement agreements. We too simply find it hard to accept the notion that an experienced lawyer would believe a secretary dispatched on a routine mission of picking up legal documents had the authority to bind a client to the terms of a settlement agreement, particularly one in which a party was required to surrender a substantial legal claim. We thus conclude that the Board proved by a convincing preponderance of the evidence that Sporer knowingly made a false statement of fact or law to the tribunal in violation of rule 32:3.3(a)(1)... There are a number of features in the record that make Sporers assertions with respect to the annotation of the September 24 settlement letter difficult to believe. As Sporer himself concedes, lawyers do not ordinarily respond to settlement letters by scribbling handwritten annotations and returning them to the sending party by multiple means in nonemergency situations. Sporer responds by claiming he was in a hurry and angry at Duffy upon receipt of the September 24 settlement letter and was trying to make a point by responding in handwriting with exclamation marks... Sporer defends his conduct in part by suggesting that it would make no sense for him to testify falsely about an inconsequential document. But the marked-up version of the September 24 settlement letter and its claimed delivery to Duffy were not inconsequential. If Sporer had sent the marked-up September 24 settlement letter to Duffy on September 27well before Linda cashed the settlement check on October 10the case for accord and satisfaction or ratification would have been enhanced. The last communication on the settlement would not have been from Duffy but from Sporer. Sporer would thus have a better shot at establishing accord and satisfaction or ratification because he could argue that Duffy and Linda knew that Gary still insisted that the payment of the $27,000 would be made only with a full release of all claims, including the award of retirement assets and benefits in the divorce decree. In light of all the above, we thus find that the Board has proved by a clear and convincing preponderance of the evidence that the September 24 settlement letter with the Sporer notations was not generated on September 27 and was not provided to Duffy on that date. False statements to a tribunal, of course, may be orally made to the court. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2017/04/the-iowa-supreme-court-in-this-disciplinary-case-attorney-theodore-sporer-appeals-the-findings-and-recommendations-of-the-i.html 2 First lady Melania Trump listens as her husband President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a meeting with Argentine President Mauricio Macri his wife Juliana Awada in the Oval Office of the White House. The Big Lebowski is an American movie that has developed a large following. Since its release in the late 1990s, the film has been shown at film festivals, colleges, and special events. Many college students have spent evenings watching this film instead of doing their homework. One famous quote from the movie is this: "And even if he's a lazy man - and the 'Dude' was most certainly that, quite possibly the laziest in Los Angeles County, which would place him high in the runnin' for laziest worldwide." You can learn a lot from this quote about a lazy man. You can learn about a common feature of everyday speech in America: the use of adjective clauses. In today's report, we are going to explore how Americans use a type of adjective clause, sometimes called a sentence relative, in everyday speech. What is a clause? A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate. It does not act as a sentence on its own; instead, it is part of a longer sentence. One common type of clause is the relative clause. These clauses begin with relative pronouns such as that or which and act as adjectives in a sentence. For example, consider the sentence "The book that my friend gave me is very boring." In the sentence, the words "that my friend gave me" make up a relative clause that acts as an adjective for the noun, book. Today, we are discussing how Americans use adjective clauses that begin with the word which. You will often hear speakers use these clauses to modify an entire idea, not just a noun. Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber are English grammar experts. They say these special clauses that always use which are called sentence relatives. If this sounds difficult to understand, dont worry. We will give you many examples to clarify this point. Today we are going to show you two of the most common uses of sentence relatives. Common functions 1. Expressing a feeling or value judgement Americans often use sentence relatives when they are expressing a feeling or a value judgment. For example, a speaker may be talking about an idea. The sentence relative gives more information about the idea. Consider this famous scene from the 1954 film, On the Waterfront: "You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am. Let's face it." Here, the main idea is that the character sees himself as a failure. The sentence relative which is what I am expresses a feeling or value judgment about his situation. Marlon Brando's fictional character does not feel good about his life! He is saying that, in his opinion, his life has little value. Speakers do not always use sentence relatives to talk about their unhappiness. Indeed, speakers can use these structures to show happy feelings, too. Consider this example: "Two schools sent him acceptance letters, which is great news!" Here, the sentence relative which is great news shows the speaker's feelings about the statement in the first part of the sentence. This is an optimistic, positive use of a sentence relative; you will hear it often in everyday speech. 2. Interpreting information Americans also commonly use sentence relatives to interpret information. Consider this line from the 1960 film, The Apartment: "Our home office has 31,259 employees - which is more than the entire population of, uh, Natchez, Mississippi." In the quote, the sentence relative, which is more than the entire population of, uh, Natchez, Mississippi, interprets information in the main part of the sentence. The main part of the sentence is: Our home office has 31,259 employees. Using a sentence relative is a quick way to give and interpret information. If the same scene did not have the sentence relative. It might sound like: "Our home office has 31,259 employees. 31,259 employees is more than the entire population of Natchez, Mississippi." These lines are not as interesting as the line you heard from the movie. Why? Probably because it repeats information while the line from the movie uses the sentence relative to give new information. What about the Big Lebowski? Now that we have discussed two common uses of sentence relatives, think back to the film, The Big Lebowski. "And even if he's a lazy man - and the 'Dude' was most certainly that, quite possibly the laziest in Los Angeles County, which would place him high in the runnin' for laziest worldwide." Did you notice that the quote has one of the sentence relatives we talked about today? Can you recognize how the speaker is using it? Do you think it is to express a feeling, to interpret information, or to show something else? Write to us in the comments section of our website, or on our Facebook page. Closing thoughts Sentence relatives are very common in speaking. They are polite and acceptable in almost any situation. You will hear them every day in American workplaces, schools, airports, and so on. However, you should know that the structures we have talked about today are not as common in different kinds of writing. While you might read them in a newspaper or in fictional writing, say Conrad and Biber, you are less likely to see them in academic writing. That's all for today's program. We will be back next week, which means you will get to learn more grammar! I'm Alice Bryant. And I'm John Russell. John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story lazy adj. not liking to work hard or to be active clause n. grammar : a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb predicate n. grammar : the part of a sentence that expresses what is said about the subject relative adj. grammar : referring to a noun, a part of a sentence, or a sentence that was used earlier pronoun n. grammar : a word (such as I, he, she, you, it, we, or they) that is used instead of a noun or noun phrase modify v. grammar : to limit or describe the meaning of (a word or group of words) interpret v. to explain the meaning of (something) academic adj. usually used before a noun : of or relating to schools and education Louise Lawrence-Israels did not own many things during the three years she spent hiding from Nazis in Amsterdam, but she did possess a small toy chair. It was a gift for her second birthday, and it meant everything to Lawrence-Israels. She kept it her entire time in hiding, not far from the house where Anne Frank wrote in her diary. Now, this chair is joining thousands of other artifacts at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's new conservation and research center. The center opened on Monday, the annual Memorial Day for the 6 million Jews killed by Nazi Germany during World War II. Donating the chair was not easy for Lawrence-Israels, who is now 75 years old. "It was a big thing for me to actually give the chair, she said. "A lot of people can look at it and see how it was for a little child in hiding." More than 20 other Holocaust survivors joined Lawrence-Israels for the center's opening. The David and Fela Shapell Family Collections, Conservation and Research Center is in Washington, D.C. It is a large, modern building with space for documents and artifacts, and a lot of room to grow. The artifacts at the center are kept in eight climate-controlled rooms in a building designed to survive weather storms. The collection includes many artifacts of everyday objects, from children's toys and clothes to sewing machines used in concentration camps. Travis Roxlau, director of collections services, said center officials have spent 25 years gathering the items. "We collect stories, and all of the objects that go along with those stories, because as the surviving generation passes on, these are going to be the objects that are left to help us tell the history of the Holocaust," Roxlau said. For the survivors, they feel that protecting this collection of artifacts is important for preserving the reality of the Holocaust. "I think the most important thing is to make sure that the memory of the Holocaust isn't forgotten," said 75-year-old Alfred Munzer. Munzer donated a silver teething ring, which was with him at the age of nine months, when he was hiding with a Dutch-Indonesian family in the Netherlands in 1942. He also donated two small pictures of him that his mother kept hidden while she was in concentration camps. According to Munzer, who currently lives in Washington, D.C., the center and its artifacts will serve "as a lesson to the world as to where hate can lead to." The other Holocaust survivors are not going to be here forever, said Lawrence-Israels. Once we're not here anymore the museum and this institution will speak for us. She added, This is the only evidence that we leave behind, and with the climate today it's important that people see that this was real," she said. Researchers will be able to use the materials in the center. A reading room will open in the next year. The museum also is in the process of making documents and images available online. Im Phil Dierking. This story was originally written for Associated Press. Phil Dierking adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. Do you think peoples artifacts should be preserved in a museum, or should they stay with the owner? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________ Words in This Story artifact n. a simple object, such as a tool or weapon, that was made by people in the past concentration camps n. a type of prison where large numbers of people who are not soldiers are kept during a war and are usually forced to live in very bad conditions climate-controlled adj. another term for air conditioning diary n. a book in which you write down your personal experiences and thoughts each day holocaust n. the killing of millions of Jews and other people by the Nazis during World War II institution n. an established organization preserve v. to keep something in its original state or in good condition American researcher Kenneth Miller has been working with victims of war for more than 25 years. Miller is a trained psychologist. In school, he studied the mind and human behavior. He says most of what has been written about war over the years tells about soldiers and their experiences. But very little, he thought, was ever written about civilians. So he decided to write a book. His book, War Torn: Stories of Courage, Love and Resilience, describes the experiences of several civilians, including refugees. Miller wrote about people like 31-year-old Mustafa Hamed, a Syrian refugee who today lives in Germany. Hamed tried to cross the border between Syria and Turkey eight times, but was always stopped and sent home. On the ninth try, he made it. Now, Hamed is working hard to make a life for himself in Germany, but it is not easy. The most important thing is you are lost here. You have to find a new job, new friends and you have to find a new life. So this is a new start for me. His dream is to get a job in the news media. But first, he has to overcome some of the bad memories he has of living in Aleppo, one of the cities most affected by the war in Syria. Hamed has bad dreams, and remembers bombs exploding nearby. You can imagine it was daily, and you can hear every night, bombing someplace near you maybe for just two kilometers [away]. The electricity was cut down for a long time. So, you have to wait for seven or eight hours just to charge your mobile phone. The new book also tells about an Afghan man named Samad Khan. He was a refugee in the 1980s. At the time, Afghanistan was in the middle of a conflict involving pro-government fighters, forces from the Soviet Union, and rebels known as mujahedeen. While driving on a mountain road, Khan had a terrible accident. Many members of his family died in the crash. Khan felt guilty about the traffic accident for a long time. But many years later he felt better. He became a leader in his community and seemed happy. Khan told Kenneth Miller about the accident during a counseling session. Miller could not believe Khan had recovered so well from such a bad experience. He said that his family, friends and belief in God helped him get better. Miller said he included Khans story because it seemed to have a lot in common with other refugees from around the world. We are more alike than we are different. And his story also captures something we see in a lot of refugee communities. Which is, war, of course, can be devastating, but we are also built to heal. If the conditions are supportive and safe and stable, people have a remarkable capacity to be resilient and to heal." Miller also wrote about a young man, Emilio, who settled in Canada. He was forced out of Guatemala because of fighting in a village close to where he grew up. He and his family fled the country and went to a refugee camp in Mexico. Emilio now works as a musician, and is doing wonderfully well because of the support he received from his family, Miller said. Along with family support, Miller identified ways to help refugees feel comfortable in their new surroundings. He said the refugees need to feel welcome, be offered training in the local language and be given financial support or a chance to work. If they face discrimination, it will be harder for them to become part of a new society. "The more people feel marginalized and discriminated (against), of course the harder it is for them to integrate and the harder it is for them to heal." Im Dan Friedell. Faiza Elmasry wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Would you like to learn more stories about refugees and migrants? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story psychologist n. a specialist in the mind and behavior courage n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous resilience n. the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens devastate v. to destroy much or most of (something); to cause great damage or harm to (something) remarkable adj. unusual or surprising; likely to be noticed comfortable adj. not causing any physically unpleasant feelings; producing physical comfort session n. a meeting or series of meetings; a period set aside for an activity Thirty years after the worlds worst nuclear disaster, Chernobyl is about to become a solar farm. Officials in Ukraine plan to build a solar energy plant at the Chernobyl nuclear site. The announcement comes during the week of the 31st anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. The Chernobyl accident occurred on April 26, 1986. The incident would become the world's worst nuclear accident. 32 people died and dozens of others suffered painful radiation burns. Until recently, the government of Ukraine has largely ignored the area. Ostap Semerak is Ukraines minister of ecology. He spoke with VOA about the planned solar project. "Today, almost a year after we have started the work, I can announce the first private investment project working in the Chernobyl zone to build a small solar energy plant. Semerak says more than 50 national and international companies have expressed interest in building the solar plant. He adds that when completed, the project will produce about half the power produced by the Chernobyl nuclear plant. "We have received over 50 applications from companies of various sizes. Cumulatively, those would be enough to produce 2.5 gigawatts of power, which would be 2,500 megawatts. This is comparable to the output by two units of a nuclear power plant. This is about half the capacity which the Chernobyl power plant had before the disaster." Officials expect to complete the solar plant project in May. Im Jonathan Evans. Oksana Ligostova and Ruslan Deynychencko reported this story for VOA. Jonathan Evans adapted the report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in this Story capacity n. the amount of something that can be produced or managed by a factory, company, etc. ecology n. a science that deals with the relationships between groups of living things and their environments On Nov. 1, Linn Benton Food Shares warehouse in Tangent received two truckloads of food and household supplies arranged by the local branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. *Hint:* *Did you know you can use witchcraft to correctly arrange letters?* Not Enough? Get the first letter of today's Wordle after the ads below. New t... 20 hours ago : , , , , - 28 . German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday sought to dash British hopes that its exit from the European Union will have only a limited impact on the relations, rights and privileges it now has. Speaking to German lawmakers ahead of a weekend summit in Brussels to discuss the so-called Brexit, Merkel said to applause that she had the feeling that some in Britain still have illusions, and that is a waste of time. While Europe still envisions Britain as a close partner, Merkel said once it leaves the EU it will be an outsider and as such can and will not have the same rights or be in a better position than a member of the European Union. All of the 27 members of the European Union and European institutions are agreed upon that, she said, to applause. Britain has two years to complete its deal to leave the 28-nation European Union but is currently preoccupied with a snap election taking place in early June. Merkel said pressing issues like the treatment of citizens living in each others nations, the bill of remaining costs to be paid by Britain and border issues in Ireland need to be dealt with before a future relationship can even be discussed. Without progress on the many open questions of the exit, including the financial questions, it makes no sense to have parallel negotiations over the future relationship, the chancellor said. We need to know how Britain sees its future relations with us, she added. She said Germany will push for the impact of Brexit on Germans and other EU citizens living in Britain to be as minimal as possible, and for cooperation on security issues, like fighting organized crime and terrorism, to remain close. Let there be no doubt: Brexit negotiations will demand a lot from Britain and Europe, she said. She added that Germany and other EU countries need to define their own interests and goals, and that she expects EU nations to emerge from the Brussels summit with a strong signal of unity. EU officials at a meeting in Luxembourg said the EU nations formed a solid bloc and said little still needs to be agreed on in tough guidelines for their Brexit negotiators, which are to be approved at tomorrows summit. The EUs chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said we are ready, we are ready as he entered the meeting. The 27 European Union nations are heading into two years of divorce negotiations with Britain as a solid bloc, saying yesterday there is a large consensus on the tough guidelines for their Brexit negotiators which are to be approved at a weekend summit. Often divided on key issues from refugees to the financial crisis, the EU nations said no major questions were left for the leaders during Saturdays summit as the negotiations with Britain draw closer. The EUs chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said that we are united as he left the meeting of EU foreign and Europe ministers in Luxembourg. It was an unprecedented signal of trust, unity and consensus of the 27, said Maltese Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech, who chaired the meeting. Britain has spent lots of time trying to bounce back from the shock referendum result in June. It had to form a new government and now faces a snap election on June 8, making sure that negotiations on Brexit will not start until nearly a year after the referendum. Once the EUs guidelines are approved tomorrow, the European Commission will pour them into a tight negotiating mandate for Barnier which should be ready May 22. Talks are expected to start sometime after the British elections, when a new government is formed. The EU said pressing issues like the treatment of citizens living in each others nations, the bill of remaining costs to be paid by Britain and border issues in Ireland need to be dealt with before a future relationship can be discussed. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson immediately saw problems ahead. If youre saying that they want the money before they get any substantive talks, then that is obviously not going to happen, he told the BBC. Estimates for the British divorce bill go as high as 60 billion euros (USD65 billion). MDT/AP UK leader meets top EU officials for Brexit working dinner Britains prime minister took time out from her election campaign to meet the European Unions chief Brexit negotiator and head of the blocs executive. Theresa May held a working dinner Wednesday [yesterday, Macau time] at 10 Downing St. with negotiator Michel Barnier and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. May called a snap June 8 election last week, urging voters to give her Conservatives a bigger parliamentary majority to strengthen Britains hand in EU exit negotiations. The Macao Consumer Council and the Gansu Consumers Association signed a consumer protection protocol to establish a mechanism for case transfers, information exchange, and other co-operations this week in Macau. The council indicated that it has been trying to further its co-operation with provinces and regions included in the One Belt, One Road region. Both the Council and Gansu Consumers Association agree that co-operation between the two parties will help establish a healthy consumption environment and thus encourage economic development. The protocol between the two consumer organizations provides consumers with a fast and convenient mechanism to solve their disputes and encourage consumers confidence. Meanwhile, due to differences in shopping habits in the two regions, the Council and Gansu Consumers Association will exchange information on consumer protection periodically to encourage a harmonious consumer environment. These consumer incentives will benefit the economic development in both places and contribute to the One Belt, One Road strategic economic co-operation. The president of the Executive Committee of the Consumer Council, Wong Hong Neng, and the President of Gansu Consumers Association, Chen Qi Shou, hope to elevate the standard of consumer protection work in the two locations so that consumers are more secure. An unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from California early yesterday [Macau time] in a test of the weapon system that is part of the U.S. nuclear force. The missile blasted off from a silo at 12:03 a.m. from Vandenberg Air Force Base and delivered a single re-entry vehicle to a target approximately 6,759 kilometers away at Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, the Air Force Global Strike Command said. The launch command was issued via an air launch control system aboard a Navy E-6 Mercury jet. Tonights launch was an important demonstration of our nations nuclear deterrent capability, Col. John Moss, commander of Vandenbergs 30th Space Wing, said in a statement. Test launches like this one are vital to validating the effectiveness and readiness of our operational nuclear systems, so it is critical that they are successful. Operational tests of Minuteman 3 missiles are conducted regularly but the timing of yesterdays launch amid U.S. tensions with North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs drew criticism from the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, which has advocated against nuclear weapons for more than 30 years. When it comes to missile testing, the U.S. is operating with a clear double standard: It views its own tests as justified and useful, while it views the tests of North Korea as threatening and destabilizing, David Krieger, president of the organization, said in a statement on its website this week. What is needed is diplomacy rather than military provocations. Threats, whether in the form of tweets, nuclear-capable aircraft carrier groups, or nuclear-capable missile launches, only increase the dangers to us all, he said. President Donald Trump has in recent weeks ordered an aircraft carrier and other Navy vessels into the region in a show of force to deter North Korea, which this week conducted large-scale, live-fire artillery drills. On Wednesday, the White House hosted all 100 senators for a classified briefing on North Korea by Trumps secretary of state, defense secretary, top general and national intelligence director. The briefing team was to meet later with House members in the Capitol. The most recent previous Minuteman 3 launch was in early February. AP After the battle of Whirlpool, when Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron both went hunting for Frances blue-collar vote at a threatened home appliance factory, the presidential candidates clashed over fish in a return to more traditional campaigning yesterday. The anti-European Union far-right populist Le Pen was up before dawn to cruise aboard a fishing trawler on the Mediterranean. The sea trip was her latest television-friendly effort to portray herself as the candidate of Frances workers against the centrist former banker and economy minister Macron, whom she paints as the candidate of the financial, political and pro-EU elite. My grandfather was a fisherman, so I am in my element, Le Pen said after her pre-dawn voyage aboard the Grace of God 2 trawler. She said France will take back control of its maritime policies if she is elected in the second-round vote on May 7. She again tore into Macrons more pro-market, free-trade economic program. Macron fired back on Twitter, saying her proposals to take France out of the EU would sink Frances fishing industry. Have a nice trip. Europes exit she proposes, its the end of French fishing. Think about it, he tweeted, before a scheduled visit to the ethnically mixed Paris suburb of Sarcelles and a national television appearance today [Macau time]. Many voters cant stomach either candidate. French high school students scuffled with riot police in a cloud of tear gas during a Paris protest in which they pained Le Pen as an extreme nationalist with dangerous views and Macron as too cozy with the finance world. Students blocked entrances to some high schools and marched through eastern Paris to the Bastille neighborhood, the heart of the 1789 French revolution. Most of the protesters were peaceful, but a few clashed with the riot police ringing the crowds. Many of the students arent old enough to vote, yet they reflect a chunk of the French electorate that is expected to sit out the May 7 election, either because they dislike both candidates or because they assume Macron will win. While Macron has been considered the favorite for the runoff, pollsters have long noted that a very low turnout could propel Le Pen into the presidency. Le Pen may have hit a turning point with her surprise visit to the threatened Whirlpool clothes-dryer factory in northern France. The campaign maneuver put Macron on the defensive and prompted him to also meet angry Whirlpool workers later the same day. Yesterday, newspapers and commentators debated which of the two candidates scored the most points in the remarkable Whirlpool drama that highlighted their clash of styles and which was broadcast live on French news channels. War is declared, read a front-page headline of the daily Liberation. AP The trial of the former Public Prosecutor General, Ho Chio Meng, is coming to a close as the last witnesses enrolled by the defense were called yesterday to testify at the Court of Final Appeal (TUI). The Macau Lawyers Association (AAM) president Neto Valente and lawmaker Leonel Alves were scheduled to testify. The session began with a request from defense lawyer Oriana Pun for a rescheduling of the witness hearing, explaining to the court that Alves was unable to testify yesterday. This is because Alves, as a lawmaker, requires formal authorization to testify from the Legislative Assembly (AL) president Ho Iat Seng, and such authorization had yet to be granted at the time of trial. The president of the TUI, Sam Hou Fai, replied that the authorization request should have been made earlier, and denied Puns request to have the hearing delayed. Instead, he authorized Alves testimony to be delivered in writing. Valente proceeded to testify, saying that he met Ho many years ago before taking the office as Prosecutor General and while Ho was deputy Commissioner Against Corruption. Valente recalled that Ho had always conducted himself properly despite the two of them holding different views on many occasions. This remained true throughout the course of their professional relationship, especially as Valentes position as AAM president required him to meet with Ho on multiple occasions to discuss matters related to the judiciary system and present complaints from lawyers. Questioned by Pun about the accusations made against Ho, Valente mentioned his awareness of a confidential expenses special fund that depends directly from the Chief Executive and is intended for use in confidential matters by the judiciary and security authorities. He also expressed his awareness that, not all activities done by the authorities in the search for criminals and other highly confidential matters go into paper, noting that sometimes, we only get to know that certain diligences were made after its concluded. Valente referred to two particular cases to illustrate his point. In the first, local authorities made secret diligences in Cambodia to try to bring a person wanted in the MSAR to justice. He also referred to the recent finding of one of his kidnappers in mainland China in a case that goes back to 2001. After his kidnap in Macau, Neto Valente was rescued in a dramatic police raid. One suspected kidnapper leapt six stories to his death while trying to escape. Two other people were detained during the dawn raid. Valente also said he knew of Hos political aspirations through informal talks with several well related contacts in the mainland, noting that Ho was very respected, well related and supported in China. In response to the question of whether he thought that Ho had protected the interests of the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) and of the MSAR during his time leading the office, Valente said, I have no reason to think otherwise. Indirectly asking about the functions previously given to Wang Xian Di, Pun asked if it was possible and if it would make sense for Ho to recruit staff to do low-profile tasks and even informants. Valente responded, It is a fact that this happens. Even nowadays in the duties of security many times we resort to such kind of contacts. Regarding the large number of criminal swindling accusations, Valente also said, It is hard to believe that things are exactly like that. But thats my opinion as a citizen. He noted that above and beyond the sheer number of allegations against Ho, the case had created a bad [public] image of the justice and of the judiciary system of Macau. The prosecution sought to cross- examine Valente, remarking his testimony was just rumors, to which Valente responded, not really rumors but peoples opinion, noting once more that it is bad that in society what is being said is that this is not a serious trial and that the accused had already been sentenced from the start. The MP also questioned Valente on whether he thought it reasonable and legitimate for Ho to make use of MPs resources to bolster his political aspirations, to which he responded, Of course not! Sam Hou Fai requested the defence and prosecution to refrain from asking questions based on opinion and commentary and to stick to facts. Fai then interrupted the enquiry session and ended the court session shortly after. On the sidelines of the session, Pun mentioned that she had a total 19 witnesses for the defense who could not be present in the court. She remarked that about half of that number would present testimony in writing to the Court of Final Appeal. She noted that it was difficult for the remaining witnesses since she did not have direct contact with them. Prosecutors cannot use post-arrest statements a Chinese billionaire made to the FBI at his Manhattan trial on charges stemming from a United Nations bribery scandal, a judge ruled Wednesday. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick was a victory for lawyers for Ng Lap Seng after they argued the FBIs interview of Ng should not have taken place after he requested a lawyer. The judge called the governments continued questioning of Ng improper. According to a transcript of the FBI interview included in the court record, Ng said his primary reason for trips to the United Nations was to promote plans to build a U.N. conference center in Macau. My goal is to build this exhibition center, the largest in the world, Ng was quoted as saying. Lawyers for Ng have argued in court papers that the prosecution is politically motivated, saying the United States arrested Ng to block construction of the U.N. center in China that was meant to serve southern hemisphere nations. They said the United States wanted to slow the progress of Chinese influence over developing nations. Ng also was asked during the interview about a photograph on the internet of him with former President Barack Obama. According to the transcript, he said a friend from Taiwan introduced him to Obama. Ng is confined to a luxury Manhattan apartment under 24-hour guard as part of the USD50 million bail package imposed after his 2015 arrest. He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he contributed a portion of more than $1 million in bribes that reached a former U.N. General Assembly president. Also Wednesday, Broderick rejected Ngs request to toss out the indictment and ordered the government to identify Ngs alleged co-conspirators and alleged bribe payments at least two weeks prior to a trial scheduled to start May 30. Broderick also said over defense objections that prosecutors at trial can refer to Ng as Boss Wu, though the jury must be informed that the meaning of boss in Chinese is a reference to a supervisor or someone with superior status entitled to deference. Defense lawyers had argued that use of the words was highly prejudicial because jurors might think it implies Ng is involved in organized crime. Prosecutors declined through a spokesman to comment on the judges rulings. Tai Park, a lawyer for Ng, also declined to comment. Larry Neumeister, New York, AP An apparent Israeli missile attack on a Syrian military installation near Damascus International Airport shook the capital yesterday and raised tensions between the two hostile neighbors. The Syrian military said in a statement that the attack, which could be felt at least 15 kilometers away, was carried out by Israel and aimed to raise the morale of terrorist groups the government maintains are waging war against President Bashar Assads forces. The military said it would continue its war on terror government parlance for the battle against all groups trying to oust Assad. Israel appears to be striking at military convoys and installations in Syria at a quickening pace, maintaining it has the right to prevent authorities in Damascus from transferring weapons across the border to the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group. Hezbollah is a staunch ally of the Syrian government, which is mired in a six-year-long civil war, and also an avowed enemy of Israel, which occupied Lebanon for nearly two decades. Israeli Minister of Intelligence Yisrael Katz would not comment directly on the incident but said any similar strike would be in line with established policy to interrupt weapons transfers. It absolutely matches our declared policy, a policy that we also implement, Katz told Israels Army Radio. Israel is widely believed to have carried out several airstrikes in recent years on advanced weapons systems in Syria including Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles and Iranian-made missiles as well as Hezbollah positions. It rarely comments on such operations. Activists running the widely followed Damascus-focused Facebook page Diaries of a Mortar reported hearing several explosions before dawn, which they said could be felt across the Syrian capital. Syrias state-run SANA news agency said Israel had fired several missiles from inside the Occupied Golan Heights, 60 kilometers south of Damascus, striking a military installation southwest of the airport that serves both military and civilian flights. It reported several explosions and material damage but no casualties. It was not clear how Israel was identified as the culprit. The buildings shook from the force of the blast, said a media activist who goes by Salam al-Ghoutawi, of the Ghouta Media Center, in the citys opposition-held northeastern suburbs, about 15 kilometers from the airport. He said he heard the roar of jets in the distance at the time. A string of explosions could be seen silhouetted against the night sky in a video published by the center. Debris is seen flying out as the light of the explosions illuminated a sizeable blast cloud that took shape nearby. A pro-government site Damascus Now said the explosion was near the citys Seventh Bridge, which leads to the airport road. Hezbollahs al-Manar media station reported an explosion at the fuel tanks and a warehouse next to the airport, which is 25 kilometers east of the city center. Al-Manar also speculated the blast was caused by an Israeli strike. Hezbollah has sent thousands of its militants to fight alongside government forces in Syrias six- year-long civil war. Philip Issa, Beirut, AP An acute shortage of gasoline in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang that has sparked price hikes and hoarding is raising fears of potentially crippling pain at the pumps if things dont get better soon and driving rumors that China is to blame. The shortage, which is extremely unusual if not unprecedented, began last week when signs went up at gas stations around the city informing customers that restrictions on sales would be put in place until further notice. With no indication as of Wednesday night of when the restrictions might be lifted or why they have been imposed drivers continue to scramble to fill up their tanks and whatever other containers they can find. Prices, meanwhile, have shot up. They had been fairly stable, typically at about 70-80 cents a kilogram, but on Wednesday at least one station was charging USD1.40. Gasoline is sold by the kilogram in North Korean filling stations. One kilogram is roughly equivalent to one liter, so a gallon at the station costs about $5.30. China supplies most of energy-poor North Koreas fuel, and in lieu of official explanations, rumors are rife that Beijing is behind the shortage. The concerns are adding to a tense and uncertain mood on the Korean Peninsula since U.S. President Donald Trump assumed office with repeated calls for Beijing Pyongyangs economic lifeline to get tough on North Korea, which has responded with counterclaims Washington is pushing for a nuclear war. Though trade between North Korea and China appears to be solid, and possibly even growing, there are indications Beijing has been quietly tightening enforcement of some international sanctions aimed at getting Pyongyang to abandon its development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. Limiting the oil supply has been openly discussed in Beijing as one option. Whether that is actually happening is unclear. David von Hippel, a senior associate with the Nautilus Institute who specializes in energy and environmental issues, said supplies of crude oil and oil products would drop markedly without Chinese imports. But he stressed other factors could just as well be involved. The shortages and price rises being seen may be due to a combination of factors, including both actual shortages of products, more products being routed to other users specific ministries, key factories, or the military, for example and, or, more product being placed into government storage facilities, he said in an email. I do not have a sense, at present, of which of these options, and in what combination, is the driver for the price rises and sales restrictions. But two days after the restrictions were announced, North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency carried an unusually acerbic, and even threatening, editorial denouncing a country around the DPRK, an obvious if not explicit reference to China. DPRK is short for North Koreas official name the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The DPRKs nuclear deterrence for self-defense is by no means a bargaining chip for getting something, the commentary said, adding that if the country keeps applying economic sanctions while dancing to the tune of someone 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. It is unclear whether the gas shortage has affected North Koreas military, state ministries and major projects, all of which get priority access to the state-controlled supply. But the North this month has staged a huge military parade, unveiled a sprawling high-rise residential district and on Tuesday conducted its biggest-ever live-fire air, land and sea military drill. It is also believed to be prepared to conduct what would be its sixth underground nuclear test. Several chains of gas stations are operated under different state-run enterprises some, for example, are operated by Air Koryo, the national flagship airline and prices can vary. North Korea gasoline customers usually purchase coupons at a cashiers booth to fill up. Leftover coupons can be used on later visits until their expiration date. A common amount for the coupons is 15 kilograms (19.65 liters or 5.2 U.S. gallons). The number of North Korean gas stations has grown steadily in recent years, mainly in Pyongyang, provincial capitals and along major highways. Pyongyang traffic has gotten significantly heavier since Kim Jong Un assumed power in late 2011. The greater number of cars, including swelling fleets of taxis, has been seen as an indication of greater economic activity. Many of the vehicles are used for business purposes, such as transporting people or goods. When I last visited in 2005, they were filling up our bus with gas rations from buckets, said Curtis Melvin, a researcher at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University and a contributor to the 38 North website. Things have definitely changed. Melvin added that the growth of an actual domestic market for gasoline has made it possible to see when there is a problem, since prices are posted at the gas stations, making trends publicly trackable. There is also less rationing than in the past. If the apparent shortages are being caused by China, he said, the most likely explanation would be that less fuel is flowing across the border via pipeline. Such a slowdown or stoppage would have an immediate impact on prices and would take time to compensate for by ships, trucks or trains. The primary place for North Korea pipeline storage tanks in China is in the border city of Dandong. But it was also not clear if North Korean tankers were picking up as much fuel as usual. Eric Talmadge, Pyongyang, AP The 28th Macao Arts Festival kicks off today with a reinterpretation of Schubert and Ravels classics by world-renowned North American modern dance company, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane. The performance is titled Play and Play: An Evening of Movement and Music. The same company will also present the performance A Letter to My Nephew on May 1. Both shows will be held at the Macau Cultural Center. During a meeting with journalists yesterday, Janet Wong, Associate Artistic Director and Video Designer of the company, indicated that the performances do not convey any specific storylines. The first act will be just music and dance, people should just relax and absorb it, explained Won, but you will see a community of people working together towards a goal. You cannot explain what it really is. However, she clarified, you can appreciate the dancers movements, the music; you dont need to care too much about whether there is a story or meaning. Likewise, A Letter to My Nephew is an abstract performance without a specific story, according to Wong. The second story is very abstract, and is deconstructed, [] it [may depict a sort of] relationship between uncle and nephew, and its an American piece, [] there might be something about fear, something about this nephews ballet training when he is eight, maybe something about Macau, said Wong. Wong, who was born in Hong Kong, pursued her career interests in New York. This is the first time her team is visiting Macau, and her second personal visit to the territory. Most noticeably, her dancers will collaborate with four members of the Macao Orchestra when presenting the show to the audiences. Wherever we go, we enjoy collaborating with local musicians, said Wong. We can use recorded music, but live music and recorded music are really different. [] It really makes a difference in our muscles and bones to collaborate with something thats breathing and alive. Its really expensive, but I think its worth it, noted Wong. The U.S. company is famous for its inventive choreography, for which Bill T. Jones has been awarded several New York Dance and Performance Awards. In the year 2000, The Dance Heritage Coalition named Jones an irreplaceable dance treasure. The shows will be held in one sitting at the Macau Cultural Centers Grand Auditorium at 8 p.m. on April 28. JZ Hermes International SCA reported quarterly sales that beat estimates as the brands new production sites maintained faster output of Birkin bags and other leather goods to help meet surging demand in Asia. Revenue climbed 11 percent on a constant-currency basis, Paris-based Hermes said yesterday, beating the 8.8 percent median estimate of eight analysts in a Bloomberg survey. The shares rose as much as 1.3 percent. The results represent a marked uptick from a year ago, when flagging consumption in China and a terror-related downturn in European tourism saw the company report its slowest quarter in seven years. The luxury-goods industry has bounced back more broadly, with first-quarter results from leading names LVMH and Kering surging past analyst estimates. Despite an uncertain economic context we did very well, Chief Executive Officer Axel Dumas said on a call with reporters. You see an acceleration of the sales in mainland China. The sales are improving in Macau and Hong Kong. Berenberg analyst Zuzanna Pusz said the results underpinned the industrys recovery, even though the company cautioned that the growth rate could not be projected across the full year because of favorable comparisons in the first quarter. Hermes reported a very strong start to the year, pointing to the broader improvements in the luxury sector as well as a very solid underlying demand for its products, she said in a note. LVMH CEO Bernard Arnaults plan to take full control of Christian Dior SE is a positive because it will boost liquidity in Hermes stock, Dumas said. The deal weighed on Hermes shares earlier this week because the Arnault family plans to help fund it via its stake in its Paris rival, dumping more of the shares onto the market. Sales of leather-goods and saddlery, which account for roughly half of Hermes revenue, jumped 15 percent, benefiting from increased production. Hermes has opened new workshops and trained more leather workers as demand for the brands handbags held up even during the sectors slowdown of 2015 and 2016. The company said it was continuing to invest in a third production site in the Franche-Comte region in eastern France. It plans to increase leather-goods production by 8 percent and to hire and train 250 workers this year. Hermes, which affirmed an ambitious medium-term goal for revenue growth, was helped in Asia by the renovation of a store in Singapore and the opening of a new outlet in Chongqing, China, Dumas said. The recent strength of the yen held back previously buoyant tourist spending in Japan, he said. New customers seeking entry-level Hermes goods are boosting the companys performance in China. Sales of the brands iconic silk scarves and ties rose 8.5 percent in the first quarter worldwide after a decline a year earlier. Theres been quite a change of the client profile, Dumas said. The Chinese customer is quite young, younger than he used to be. Robert Williams, Bloomberg The Philippine president said yesterday he will not raise his countrys victory in an arbitration ruling that invalidated Chinas territorial claims in the South China Sea during a Southeast Asian summit this weekend, a stance that critics say is subservient to Beijing. Rodrigo Duterte said last years ruling is an issue between China and the Philippines and does not concern other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He hosts an annual summit of ASEAN leaders in Manila tomorrow. I will skip the arbitral ruling. It is not an issue here in the ASEAN, Duterte told reporters. A draft of an ASEAN chairmans communique to be issued by Duterte at the end of the summit also does not mention the arbitration decision, which invalidated Chinas historic claim to virtually the entire South China Sea. The arbitration tribunal also ruled that Beijing violated the rights of Filipinos by blocking them from fishing in a disputed shoal. Critics say Duterte should mention the ruling during the summit to increase pressure on Beijing to comply with it. The draft of the chairmans statement is deeply disappointing and, if not revisited, would manifest an absence of the desired leadership, said former Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, who spearheaded the filing of the arbitration case against China. Duterte, who took office in June, has taken steps to repair relations with China which had been damaged by the territorial conflict. Several other ASEAN members also claim parts of the South China Sea in a dispute that some fear could spark an armed conflict in economically bustling Asia. AP BURLEY After 10 years in the pernicious clutch of drug addiction, Austin McFarland finally feels free. In the next five years McFarland, 27, envisions buying his own home and possibly planning for a third child. His 2-year-old daughter and 9-month-old son will be the forces that keep him sober, he says. But getting to sobriety has been a long, hard road. Withdrawal from heroin makes you want to die, he said. McFarland tried to get away from the drug on his own before, curling up in a ball for a week at his brothers place. He didnt want to eat or drink and any touch him caused pain. Thursday night, McFarland was one of 23 graduates from 5th Judicial District Drug Court to take the stage at the King Fine Art Center in Burley. For the participants who are at the highest risk of reoffending, drug court is often the last stop before prison, Drug Court Coordinator Israel Enriquez said. If they successfully complete the program, they remain on probation for a period of time, but they are able to go back to the sentencing judge and ask for early release from probation and post-conviction relief. A felony charge can be reduced to a misdemeanor or even be dismissed. That provides a huge motivation for some people, Enriquez said. About 60 percent of participants successfully complete the program. If they fail they are sent back to face the sentencing judge, and often, prison. But for those grappling with heroin addiction like McFarland, the program is more than an alternative to prison and an opportunity to get clean its a matter of life and death, Enriquez said. McFarland spent a year in the program, seeing the judge every week. He was under constant supervision by his probation officer, randomly tested for drugs and alcohol, and he attended drug and alcohol classes and Narcotic Anonymous meetings while holding down a job in roofing construction. He expects the days following graduation to be no different than the year he spent learning to break the demanding pull of heroin and methamphetamine. For McFarland, the needle scars from shooting heroin have faded from his arms, but the emotional scars that remain are harder to heal. It takes a lot to get past that, he said. Addiction, he said, began at age 17 with drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. When he was prescribed hydrocodone after breaking his hand, the grip became stronger. McFarlands mother left the family when he was 11 years old and he and his younger brother often had free reign on how to spend their time. At 17 he dropped out of school, and he was arrested at 18 on a misdemeanor charge. He didnt use drugs again for two years. When he was 21 he started buying opiates off the street. Soon after, he started using heroin. His drug use didnt stop there. He also started using methamphetamine. He was homeless and slept on couches. Sometimes at homes of friends, sometimes strangers. At 22, he was supporting himself by dealing drugs. That continued for a couple of years, he said. I wouldnt call it a life at all. I was stuck in misery. My family didnt want me around, and my dad thought I was dead at one point. McFarland thought it was best if his dad continued to believe that. But even at the grungy bottom, he wanted something different for his life. So he prayed for help. That prayer was answered, he said although he didnt know it at the time when he was arrested for possession of methamphetamine. His daughter was born while he spent six months in the states retained jurisdiction program a therapeutic program run by the Idaho Department of Correction known as a rider but it wasnt enough to help him ignore the persistent beckoning of drugs. Although the rider gave him tools to deal with addiction, it did not let him practice those skills in real-life situations. When he was released, he lived at a halfway house in Twin Falls and stayed clean for a while, but a fight with his childs mother over whether he would be able to continue to see his daughter caused him to crack. I couldnt cope and began using methamphetamine, he said. He turned himself into his probation officer, and his probation was transferred to Burley. But he soon fell into the familiar life of drug use and started dealing drugs again. He was arrested last year for possession of methamphetamine and placed in the drug court program. Drug court, he said, gives you tools, but it also has a structure that makes you figure out how to live your life sober while facing the triggers to use. Drug court changed me a lot. Im a productive member of society. Im a great father and son. My dad recognizes me again. Ive got my old self back, McFarland said. I have learned so much. I know now what I dont want in life, and I know how to make better decisions for myself. The thirst for drugs, he said, never goes away. But now he realizes theres one desire to be in his childrens lives thats stronger. TWIN FALLS Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against the two men charged with murdering 15-year-old Canyon Ridge freshman Vason Lee Widaman in a brazen drive-by shooting last May. After looking at all the factors ... and all the things we had to prove, we did not believe we had a case where we could get it, Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said April 28. The deadline passed last week for Loebs to file an intent to seek the death penalty against Gerardo Raul Chavez, 19, and Jose Daniel Alvarez, 20, both of Buhl. In order to seek capital punishment against one of the men, Loebs and his deputies would have had to identify who they believe was the shooter. Witnesses have testified the shots came from the passenger side of the car, where Chavez was seated, but prosecutors have not said definitively that he fired the gun. Both men are charged with murder and/or aiding and abetting murder. With the prospect of the death penalty off the table, Chavez and Alvarez who were being held without bond are now able to seek bond. Chavez did so Thursday, and District Judge Richard Bevan set it at $5 million, citing his character and reputation and the nature of the charge for setting bond so high. Earlier in the hearing, Loebs had addressed that character. The reputation he holds, specifically among young people in high schools, is as a violent drug dealer, Loebs argued. Hes not unwilling to use violence to enforce drug debts and drug territory. Chavez is also a known and admitted drug user, Loebs argued. Last year when he tested positive for drugs, violating probation on a drunken driving conviction. The nature of the crime, the likelihood of conviction, the possibility of a life prison sentence and the accusation that Chavez and Alvarez intimidated a witness were all factors Loebs pointed to in asking for the $5 million bond. We have a charge and an accusation that this man, for no reason other than a very small drug debt, tracked down and shot a young man to death in broad daylight with an accomplice, Loebs argued. You cant really get a whole lot worse than that, than tracking down and shooting a teenage juvenile to death for owing a few hundred dollars. Defense attorney Doug Nelson argued Chavez lacks a serious criminal record and has no reason to abscond because his family lives in the area, his mother and father have attended every hearing and he has two jobs lined up if hes freed from jail. He and his parents have paid me a lot of money to take this case and litigate this case, Nelson said. Hes got every incentive to do it, and I dont see him going anywhere. Chavez had yet to post bond as of Friday afternoon. New details on sealed interview Another factor that Loebs, Nelson and Bevan all mentioned in Thursdays hearing was a Feb. 20 interview with Chavez conducted by Twin Falls Police Det. Ken Rivers without Nelson present. That interview is the subject of a suppression motion by the defense Nelson argues it was conducted unconstitutionally because he wasnt there and what was said in the interview will remain unknown to the public after Bevan ruled the video should be sealed. But its clear the interview, if Bevan finds it was conducted lawfully and allows it into evidence, will play a large role in the case. Both Nelson and Loebs mentioned it when discussing the likelihood of conviction. Hes got every reason to come to court to fight this case, Nelson said of Chavez. I know that one of the factors the states going to point to is likelihood of conviction; you have seen the videotape of the discussion between Gerardo and Officer Rivers. I dont know what youre going to do with that, but, that is something. While Nelson referenced the video somewhat vaguely, Loebs added it to the end of a long list of evidence the state has against Chavez. Theres a witness who saw this happen out of the passenger side of the car, the prosecutor said. A lady at the prelims said immediately after the shooting she saw this man in the passenger side of the car. We have two statements made by him to one witness that amounts to confessions; one saying he intended to kill the victim, and then afterward saying he had killed the victim. And we have a further statement on video I think should be weighed in terms of likelihood of conviction. Bevan also referenced the video. Given what Im understanding the facts to be that are before me, given the circumstances Im aware of from the video, given the overall tenor of this case and the way that it has been placed before me, I do feel that the criteria that are significant to me in this case are in terms of character and reputation, and the nature of the charge as well, the judge said. Chavez is next due in court for a status conference May 11. Alvarez, who has not sought bond, is scheduled for a status conference May 19. You cant really get a whole lot worse than that, than tracking down and shooting a teenage juvenile to death for owing a few hundred dollars. Grant Loebs, Twin Falls County Prosecutor Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy What is Trumpism? One hundred days into President Donald Trump's time in office, the answer seems less clear than ever. Despite fueling intense partisan rancor and torqueing up the divisions his candidacy helped lay bare, Trump never tethered himself to the kind of coherent ideological framework that most presidential candidates vow to never abandon. And at the first mile marker of his presidency, he has shown no signs of fitting into an ideological box or reconciling the political inconsistencies of his administration. Instead, Trump has held up his "flexibility" as a virtue and continued to regard deal-making as the ultimate achievement -- no matter the cost. Within hours of scrapping a scheduled House vote to repeal and replace Obamacare, Trump cast aside the conservative-minded reform efforts and said he'd be willing to instead cut a deal with Democrats. On the world stage, Trump's foreign policy actions have been inconsistent. He's broken with the anti-interventionist views of his campaign by launching a strike against the Syrian regime while affirming that he doesn't see a role for the US in Libya. And while he's taken a series of executive actions to implement the populist trade agenda at the core of his campaign, he's held back on delivering the biggest blows to the free trade economy he has so vigorously demonized -- from taking major action against Chinese trade abuses to renegotiating or withdrawing from NAFTA. Trump has yet to formally launch the process to restart talks with Canada and Mexico over NAFTA and presented this week with the option of making a bold declaration of his intention to withdraw from the trade deal altogether, Trump retreated. It was a moment that highlighted the ideological inconsistencies within the rungs of his top advisers -- a mix of nationalists and globalists, conservatives and moderates -- and the influence of those advisers on a president who prides himself on pragmatism more than ideology. But rather than shirking away from the contradictions, Trump is embracing them. "I'm a nationalist and a globalist," he told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on Thursday. "I'm both." Trump has touted himself as a conservative time and again, but he's often taken action to support conservative causes more out of political obligation than deep-rooted belief. 'Practical conservative' But after 100 days of Trump, Republicans also can't seem to agree what Trumpism means and what ideology he is most closely aligned with. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, an ally of Trump's, rattled off a list of positions he felt best described Trump's ideology when asked. "Anti-left, anti-PC, anti-stupidity and very passionately American," Gingrich said. "And he operates within that model all the time." "Philosophically, he is an entrepreneur," Gingrich added. Matt Schlapp, the chairman of the American Conservative Union, said he would call Trump a "practical conservative." Schlapp insisted Trump is guided by a core set of principles -- for example, that US economic interests and national security interests are interconnected -- but conceded that Trump is not ideologically driven. "I just don't think he's someone that approaches things by saying what 's our philosophical basis. I think he's someone that approaches policy issues and says, 'What's going to work? What's going to work for the American people?' " Schlapp said. And Trump made clear during the campaign that that is how he would operate. Assailed by his campaign rivals for lacking an ideological core, Trump responded by holding up his pragmatism and lack of ideological grounding as an asset. "The word compromise is not a bad word to me," Trump said during his presidential campaign. 'Impulsivity' But many of those who cried out that Trump lacked the conservative bona fides to lead the Republican Party have not let up. After 100 days, they remain convinced Trump has no ideological -- let alone conservative -- core. Beyond "impulsivity" and "deal-making," the Republican strategist Rick Wilson, a vocal Trump critic, argued there is no ideology driving Trump's presidency -- and it has hurt him as he's approached a Republican caucus rife with key conservative players. "There's no discernible ideological consistency to what he's doing," Wilson said. "He believes he can approach every problem like a real estate deal and I think that was one of the shocking things for him." That was a core complaint of conservative members of Congress who argued that Trump failed to dive into their policy concerns as he sought to win them over during the initial health care reform push, instead encouraging them to vote for the bill for politics' sake. But it's on foreign policy where Trump has been most scattershot. He pledged during the campaign to focus on the fight against ISIS in Syria without getting bogged down in the country's civil war by targeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But a chemical weapons attack on civilians by Assad prompted Trump to strike a Syrian air base with 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles. The decision flew not only in the face of his desire to keep the US laser-focused on ISIS, but also against his desire to work with Russia, the primary sponsor of the Syrian regime, to target ISIS and tackle a range of diplomatic issues. 'Enormous inconsistency' Joseph Nye, an expert on US foreign policy at Harvard University, said while it's still too early to judge Trump's ideological moorings on foreign policy, so far "there's enormous inconsistency." "He moves back and forth on ideological positions," he said. Rather, Nye said Trump appears to be taking a case-by-case approach to foreign policy decisions. It presents concerns of a lack of broader strategy, but Nye said Trump's more pragmatic approach to global affairs could be a boon. "There doesn't seem to be a solid ideological core there. Maybe that's a good thing," Nye said. Trump's top aides concede the Trump Doctrine is not yet fully formed, but insist that there are general principles to US foreign policy in the Trump era. Reince Priebus, Trump's chief of staff, said Trump has set "certain lines of where we're not going to allow people like (Assad) to go, but at the same time making it clear that we're not interested in the long term, you know, ground wars in the Middle East, but obviously focusing in on ISIS." Another senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity said the administration is "working on" crafting broader strategic goals, but said Trump has already demonstrated that while he is weighing the risk of action, "what he's also done in these first few weeks is he's weighed the risk of inaction." But the official made one point clear. While a more fleshed out Trump Doctrine may emerge, the outlines of one already have. "The other thing I would say, though, about the Trump doctrine, is it's not doctrinaire at all," the official said. "It's very pragmatic." CNN's Jeremy Diamond contributed to this report. This appeared in the Idaho Statesman: The deadlock between Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and the Department of Energy over allowing spent nuclear fuel into Idaho for research has gone on too long. With new players in Washington, its time for Idaho leaders to set aside the bad blood and build a new relationship that will benefit Idaho. There is reason for optimism. There are new faces all around this issue: a new presidential administration; a new secretary of energy; a relatively new nuclear cleanup contractor, with a new plan; and a fairly new director of the research lab. There is too much riding on long-term success for Idaho, the Idaho National Laboratory, our national security and U.S. energy policy to let this opportunity slip away. In 1995, DOE agreed with Idaho to clean up waste at INL. DOE has made good on some efforts and failed to honor other aspects of that agreement. It wants to bring new radioactive material in to INL for research purposes. But to hold DOE to its cleanup promises, Wasden feels compelled to block these shipments. This is not simple stubbornness. The federal government has failed to begin processing 900,000 gallons of radioactive liquid waste. Wasden often remarks that the containers holding this dangerous material in this liquid state are 60 years closer to leaking and possibly contaminating our critical Snake River Aquifer. An Integrated Waste Treatment Unit the DOE thought would be operational several years ago is still not doing the job. At the other end of the argument is Mark Peters, the new INL research director, who said his lab already is being negatively affected. The governments lead nuclear research lab is unable to do its research without the spent fuel. By saying no to accepting spent nuclear fuel shipments, Idaho and INL are missing out on potentially $200 million in economic impact. Wasden and Idaho Gov. Butch Otter have equal authorities under the 1995 agreement. Otter was rebuffed by Wasden two years ago when the governor wanted to give the green light for 200 pounds of spent nuclear fuel to enter the state for research. That shipment was rerouted to a lab in Tennessee. The fate of another shipment is up in the air. But we are hopeful. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry is the former governor of Texas. Otter knows him from their work together in the Western Governors Association. That connection led to a meeting between Otter and Perry last month in Washington. When he came in and sat down, the lab is the first thing he wanted to talk about ... how the lab is so important to the United States and to the Department of Energy, and to the future of nuclear power, Otter told the Statesman recently. A new cleanup contractor, Fluor, has taken a fresh look at the technical obstacles plaguing the IWTU facility which is designed to turn that liquid waste into a stable solid. It has completed its assessment stage and now is in a demonstration phase with some design fixes. Managers there have learned not to predict when the IWTU will be up and running, but Fluor is about to complete the first year of a five-year, $1.4 billion contract. Its leadership is confident it has the strategy and expertise to get the job done soon. Wasden issued a statement this week, noting that discussions about getting the waste issue resolved are held up pending getting DOE senior officials appointed and confirmed. Im optimistic that once senior managers are in place, we can work with DOE to address the compliance issues, Wasden said. Though many in Idahos Legislature and congressional delegation have encouraged Wasden to separate INLs missions of cleanup and research and let the research waste in, Wasden has been unwilling to let go of the leverage he and Idaho have. The other side of that coin is worth considering: Refusing to allow the spent fuel into the state over the past several years has not made the nasty liquid waste any safer and it could harm INLs status as the DOEs top nuclear research facility. The new leaders and the elected officials in place have a duty to come together, set a goal of serving both missions and negotiate a path forward. Gov. Otter can leverage his connections with Perry, and Rep. Mike Simpson his role as chairman of the House Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee that funds INL, to get all the parties to the table. The Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed failed Thursday to win over protesters in the south-eastern town of Tatouine as the region is ablaze with anti-government demonstrations calling for job creation and social development. The Prime Minister flanked by some other cabinet members arrived in the town to sooth protests. Cradle of the Arab Spring, Tunisia is facing economic hardship making state investment nearly non-existent. The country has been engulfed in new series of protests mainly in underprivileged regions of the country situated in the south, which has been buzzing with demonstrations. Meeting with civil society organizations and protesters in the town hall, Chahed announced that the government would create 2,000 jobs in the region. Tataouines right to development is not a favor, he said. His promise met with public boos, reports say. As Chaheds team tried to find its way out of the town hall, protesters chanted Work! Freedom! National dignity!, one of the slogans of the 2011 popular uprising that topped long-time ruler Zine el Abidine Benali. Social Affairs Minister Mohamed Trabelsi confessed to media that the situation had been tense but the government had to talk to the protesters. Protests paralyzed activities in Tatouine, where banks and businesses were closed. London Police Thursday shot a woman in her 20s, north of the British capital in a counter-terror operation against a group suspected for preparing and instigating terror attacks. Four other people; two men, aged 20 and 16, and a woman, 20, have been arrested in the operation conducted by Scotland Yard, BBC reports. The arrestees have been placed in custody at South London police station. The woman shot in the operation has been whisked to hospital, placed under police surveillance. She is in serious but stable condition, police told BBC. The operation took place a day after a man aged 27 armed with knives was arrested in Westminster, near the Parliament. The man was reportedly carrying two knives. Armed police pinned down the man after receiving tips-off from a man from the Muslim community who claimed to know the terror suspect. MI5 forces and police then began tracking the man. Police initially treated the case as a terror plot but gave up after realizing that the man had severe mental problems, The Guardian reports. Police ruled out link between the Thursday and the Wednesday operations. The British capital has been further on the alert since March 22 after a Daech militant known as Khalid Masood on board a 4-wheel car crashed pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and the parliamentary estate five weeks ago. After he hopped from the car, he stabbed a police officer to death. Three people died from the car attack. Police shot Masood dead. Chicken will be the best-positioned protein due to its low price position in times of pressure on consumer spending power but rises in production costs and the long-term impact of COVID-19 threaten to disrupt the sector, according to Rabobank. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea on Thursday hailed late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The worlds longest-serving president, who was on a two-day state visit to Uganda, said while dealing with pan Africanism that Africas problem is due to lack of unity to counter its challenges. I remember our hero Gaddafi who used to promote this African solidarity but sadly most countries would not still agree with him Africas instability is due to the egoism of each country, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema who has been in power since 1979 told reporters in Kampala. We forget that we are Africans. Things are not moving in the right direction for our countries and it is not that Africa is not self-sufficient but we, Africans, look at ourselves as people who cannot develop ourselves yet we have many resources. Africans think all civilization lies in the Western world. In response to his statement, the Ugandan leader, President Yoweri Museveni commended President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo for being a strong pan-Africanist who has taken his country from poverty to one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. He questioned: Why cant we [Africans] work together and fight against terrorists taking over countries like Mali and Somalia or negotiate better trade deals with a bigger market? Our pan Africanism is not sentimental. It is for prosperity, security, and historical and cultural reasons. We look at Africa as Africa. We do not care whether the country is Francophone or Anglophone, he said. The United Nations Security Council on Thursday examined a new resolution aimed at ending the decades-long, multi-pronged dispute over the ultimate status of Western Sahara. The final version of the resolution submitted by the Group of Friends of Western Sahara, [United States, France, the United Kingdom, Russia and Spain], aims at reaching a mutually acceptable political solution that includes resolution of the dispute over the ultimate status of Western Sahara. The vote on the draft resolution, initially scheduled for Thursday was however delayed to Friday to allow the Algeria-backed Polisairo separatist front to withdraw its militiamen from the Guerguarat buffer strip the southernmost tip of the Moroccan southern Provinces on the borders with Mauritania. A diplomat, positioned at the UN, revealed that the draft resolution strongly calls on the Polisario to immediately withdraw from the buffer strip where tensions have been building up since last August, threatening to undermine the 1991 ceasefire agreement. According to sources close to the UN Security council, the debates on the draft were positive for Morocco and put clear pressure on the Polisario front. France and the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have recently called the Polisario to withdraw immediately and unconditionally from Guergarat area. Guterres commended Morocco for responding positively to the call he launched last February on the parties to withdraw their security forces from the region. A former Spanish colony, Western Sahara was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords. An insurgency by the pro-independence Polisario Front ended with an UN-brokered truce in 1991 and the deployment of a UN mission, MINURSO, to monitor the ceasefire. The draft resolution to be adopted this Friday will renew the MINURSO mandate for another year. U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Robert P. Jackson announced Thursday that President Trump administration is set to deport seven thousand Ghanaians who have abused the terms of their Visa. In fact about 7000 of them are currently at different stages of the deportation process. And we are not apologetic about that, Robert P. Jackson said. The move comes a day after the UK High Commission in the West African nation revealed that four Ghanaian MPs have breached the UK visa policies. The four, according to the commission, have used their diplomatic passports to secure visas for persons who travelled to the UK and never returned. The British High Commission considers the actions completely unacceptable. In some cases these behaviors may arguably be criminal in nature, the British High Commission noted. In November, the United States deported 108 Ghanaian immigrants for reasons including drug-related offences, staying illegally, over-staying their visa and other crimes. Some of the deportees were said to have served various jail terms. In the first three months of 2016, about 350 Ghanaians had been deported from various countries around the world as a result of immigration-related issues. California hospital fined after taking out a womans ovaries by accident A hospital in California is being sued for the accidental removal of a womans ovaries. The Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, Calif., has been fined $47,450 by health officials, reported Catherine Ho of SFGate.com. Doctors at Sequoia were supposed to remove the patients appendix, fallopian tubes, and uterus during surgery in February 2016; however, due to a mistake in the hospitals surgical schedule, the patients ovaries were taken out. The patient, according to the report by the California Department of Public Health, will require lifelong estrogen replacement therapy as a result. The report did not mention the patients name and age, nor did it mention if the ovaries were removed instead of, or in addition to, the appendix, fallopian tubes, and uterus. The care and safety of our patients and staff are the highest priority at Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital and we take this matter very seriously. After self-reporting this event to the CDPH, we fully cooperated during their investigation and immediately took steps to ensure this never happens again, including revising protocols and staff re-education, said a spokeswoman for Dignity Health, a Northern California health system. In an announcement by the California Department of Public Health, the agency has stated the fine against Sequoia Hospital is one of 17 civil penalties filed against 14 California hospitals. All of the penalties, which total $1.1 million all in all, concerned incidents that have caused serious injury or death. (Related: Brain Surgeons Cant Tell Left from Right: Third Operating Mistake on Wrong Side of Patients Head) Support our mission and enhance your own self-reliance: The laboratory-verified Organic Emergency Survival Bucket provides certified organic, high-nutrition storable food for emergency preparedness. Completely free of corn syrup, MSG, GMOs and other food toxins. Ultra-clean solution for years of food security. Learn more at the Health Ranger Store. Out of the 14 hospitals, four of them, including Sequoia Hospital, are in the San Francisco Bay Area. Two of the hospitals, St. Lukes Campus and Kaiser Foundation Hospital and California Pacific Medical Center, are located in San Francisco. The other, Queen of the Valley Medical Center, is located in Napa. St. Lukes has been fined $47,452 after a patient felt dizzy and fell out of her bed while under the care of the hospital staff. The patient was not put through the prescribed hourly neurological checks and died despite undergoing emergency brain surgery. Kaiser Foundation Hospital has been fined $147,000 for two separate incidents in 2015 and 2016 that resulted in the deaths of the patients. In one, a patient receiving dialysis suffered massive blood loss and cardiac arrest after his line disconnected from his catheter. In another, a patient died after their tracheostomya surgical procedure to create an airwaywas mishandled and a tracheostomy tube cuff valve had been left inflated. A spokeswoman for Kaiser has said: We sincerely regret that these incidents occurred and extend our sympathy to the families involved. In response to these incidents, and to ensure such situations never occur again, we immediately investigated their root cause, evaluated our processes and implemented systemic improvements and training for our nurses, physicians, and staff. Queen of the Valley has been fined $225,000 for three incidents in 2013, in which hospital staff failed to properly track patients symptoms and dispense correct treatment. Two patients died while the third patient was left in a vegetative state. The California Department of Public Health, states Rhea Mahbubani of NBCBBayArea.com, is allowed to issue up to $75,000 in fines for the first administrative penalty of a hospital. The second penalty can go up to $100,000, and the third up to $125,000, as well as all subsequent violations within a three-year period. Hospitals that have been penalized have 10 days to appeal, and are required to issue a plan of correction. You can read up on more medicine-related and healthcare news by visiting Medicine.news today. Sources include: SFGate.com NBCBayArea.com Georgia-Hungary sign investment protection agreement Georgia and Hungary are boosting business relations by signing an agreement on protection of investments that guarantees investments will not be lost and be protected from fraud.Georgias Economy Minister Giorgi Gakharia and Hungarys Minister of National Economy Mihaly Varga have signed the agreement in Tbilisi.At todays Georgian-Hungarian Business Forum high officials from both countries stated they were keen to carry out joint projects and that the just-signed agreement on protection of investments would support this.Furthermore, at the Business Forum the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Siarto announced today that Hungary was opening an 85 million credit line for Georgia.Trade volume between Georgia and Hungary has been increasing steadily in recent years. In January-February 2017 trade turnover increased by 48 percent year-on-year (y/y) and amounted to $5.15 million. Ukraine, Iran agree to launch test train through Azerbaijan Ukraine and Iran have agreed to launch a test train for transportation of agricultural products, the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministrys press service quoted Minister Volodymyr Omelyan as saying.Omelyan made the remarks after his meeting with an Iranian delegation in Kyiv.The Ukrainian minister said that the test train may be launched in the summer and it will run through Georgia and Azerbaijan.This is the very prospective direction of cooperation for both countries. Ukraine should develop new international transport corridors in order to become a reliable transit bridge between the countries of Europe, Asia and the East, noted Omelyan.The minister called on the Iranian side to consider the possibility of transporting Iranian oil to Ukraine, as well as the prospects of building an oil refinery in the country.Earlier, Omelyan said that one of the worlds largest port operators DP World should enter the port of Yuzhny by the end of 2017.The Iranian delegation included the countrys Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Ukraine, Mohammad Beheshti Monfared, Managing Director of the Anzali Free Trade-Industrial Zone and the Iranian port in the Caspian Sea Reza Masrour, as well as representatives of the Iranian business sector. The News in Brief Georgia in CoE Annual Report on Democracy Thorbjorn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, released his fourth annual report on the state of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe - Populism - How Strong are Europes Checks and Balances? - on April 20, 2017. Apart from other European countries, the report also touches upon the conditions of judiciary system, media pluralism, freedom of assembly, elections, social rights and good governance in Georgia. On budget allocation to judicial systems across the Europe, the report pointed out that Georgia is among the six countries which spent the least - lower than EUR 20 per capita. Despite the adoption of the law on broadcasting which encourages all responsible authorities to continue strengthening the independence and diversity of public and private media, the Secretary General stated that concerns have been expressed about the past and continuing changes in media ownership, which have an impact on media pluralism and diversity in Georgia. Efforts to change the ownership of the countrys most popular TV station have caused continual concern among many international interlocutors and in civil society, the statement read, apparently referring to Rustavi 2 case, which led the European Court of Human Rights to suspend the Georgian Supreme Court ruling. Regarding freedom of assembly, the Secretary General said that the Georgian legislation prohibiting spontaneous assemblies also raises concerns. In this respect, it recalled the march of International Day against Homophobia in 2012, where the Court held that the authorities had failed in sufficiently containing homophobic and violent counter-demonstrators. Furthermore, the document stressed on inequalities existing in the political representation of certain groups such as persons with disabilities, minorities, internally displaced persons and young people and between men and women. Progress is starting to be visible with asset declaration systems being gradually improved, the introduction of e-declaration systems, the widening of their scope and more in-depth monitoring, the report read. The report also pointed out that the CoE Committee of Ministers also welcomed the adoption of anti-discrimination legislation in the field of employment. (civil.ge) Dropping a cigarette butt in Tbilisi now costs you 33 USD Littering in the Georgian capital may now cost you a fine of 80 lari (USD 33). This includes dropping cigarette butts. A total of 14 people were fined as the new regulation began to be enforced on Thursday. 13 of them were fined for dropping cigarette butts in the streets. Three foreigners were among those unlucky enough to get caught. The new fines come as a result of a long awaited move by City Hall to pay more attention keeping the capital clean and tidy. Starting from April 3, Tbilisi began enforcing new stricter regulations for street littering, but did not begin issuing fines until Thursday in order to give residents and visitors enough time to adapt to the new rules. Rubbish on the streets has always been a concern in Georgias capital, and the regulations have been weak and not even been enforced in practice. Although compared to many other cities of its size, the new regulations do not seem to be very strict, but Tbilisians believe that if they are enforced properly, the new rules may bring real improvements. The fines for street littering is 80 laris (USD 33) for up to 2 kilos of rubbish, while throwing waste from a building costs the offender 100 laris (USD 42). Littering with over 2 kilos entails a fine of 150 and 500 laris for throwing it in the street and from a building, respectively. There also incurs a fine for leaving a dogs or other pets waste, if it is not cleaned up within reasonable time, there entails a 50 laris (USD 21) fine. Polluting with hazardous materials is punished by 400 laris (USD 166) for a person and by 1,000 laris (USD 416) for a legal entity. The fines are enforced by special inspectors who patrol the streets in pairs, and are equipped with cameras and other gadgets to document the administrative offences. (DF watch) Agreement with European Investment Bank to be signed Finance Minister A new, 250-million agreement will be signed with the European Investment Bank in July 2017, the First Vice PM of Georgia, Finance Minister Dimitri Kumsishvili, has declared. According to him, the bank has doubled investments in Georgia and its portfolio has hit 1 billion euro. According to Kumsishvili, the investments envisaged by the agreement will be considered for the construction of the east-west highway. Kumsishvili is now paying a visit to the U.S., having already participated in meetings held by the IMF and the World Bank. (IPN) 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 @JeremySWallace State Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, said he's convinced most rank-and-file members in the House never wanted to see Visit Florida slashed so dramatically. But Latvala told reporters on Friday that House members were forced by "one guy" to vote with him or face political retaliation. Latvala didn't mention House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes, by name, but it was clear who he was referencing. "This is not a decision that was made by the rank-and-file members in the House," Latvala said. "This was made by one guy. And you know, there were a lot of brave souls that voted against the decision that were made on Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida and they've paid the price. And I know that because I've got bills sponsored with some of them that quit moving when they made that vote." Latvala would not cite a specific example when asked by the Times/Herald. House spokesman Fred Piccolo rejected Latvala's claim. "Our office would be delighted to look into any specific example the Senator would like to provide," Piccolo said. "As a matter of policy, the speaker has always said that the only thing expected of every member of the Florida House is that you vote your principles. As everyone knows, legislation doesn't move for a myriad of reasons. Retaliation or punishment is not one of them in the Florida House." The House initially proposed eliminating all funding for Visit Florida, an agency Gov. Rick Scott has asked for $100 million for to market the state as a vacation destination. But Latvala said after blow back from people back home worried about lost tourism, the House inched the funding up to $25 million. That is still dramatically off the $76 million that the Senate first proposed. Earlier on Friday, Visit Florida CEO Ken Lawson made a futile attempt to convince Senate and House budget negotiators to give his agency the $100 million it needs. He said cutting back would be disastrous for Florida tourism because so many other states are competing for the same tourists to visit their states. "We need you to fund Visit Florida," Lawson said. "We've got to fight the competition coming after us." But Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, said after Lawson's speech the number is not likely to change. That part of the budget has already been agreed to by Senate President Joe Negron and Corcoran and there is little chance the number will increase at all. @ByKristenMClark Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala, the Senate Appropriations chairman, told reporters Friday that in his 15 years in the Florida Senate he's "never seen" a budget negotiated like the one lawmakers are crafting for 2017-18. And he cast blame on one person: House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes -- although not mentioning him directly by name. Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, insisted first on hashing out -- in private -- trades on significant policy priorities they want accomplished this year before they would agree to let public budget conference committee meetings begin yesterday. (Session is scheduled to end May 5.) RELATED: "Lawmakers privately cut $200M deal to help kids in failing schools" "I haven't seen it to the extent that we've seen it this year of deciding so many issues as a part of the budget process," Latvala said. "I've never seen that before." "But that's driven strictly by the guy that wants transparency from the other end down there," Latvala added, in a clear reference to Corcoran. "He's the one that said, 'to get this, we need need to do this. To do that, we need to do that.' And all the President did was try to respond, to try to get an agreement so we can have our committees do their work and try to get out of here on time." Corcoran spokesman Fred Piccolo declined to comment. Corcoran promised "unprecedented openness" and transparency during his time as speaker; however, the budget process appears to be unfolding much the same as it has in previous years. MORE: "Did House Speaker retaliate against members who supported Visit Florida funding? Jack Latvala says yes" Latvala also warned Friday that given Gov. Rick Scott's opposition to the budget, there "absolutely" is a chance lawmakers will be back in special session either attempting to override or dealing with a vetoed budget. "I'm saying that the governor is very concerned about a number of the decisions that the presiding officers agreed to on spending. That's his prerogative and he gets the last look at the budget,'' he said. -- Staff writer Mary Ellen Klas contributed Photo credit: Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, with Senate Appropriations chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater. AP Mayors and commissioners in Tampa Bay are pressing their local senators to oppose a far-reaching proposal to increase Florida's homestead exemption from $50,000 to $75,000. "I think we'll be fine, otherwise we wouldn't bring it up," Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said Friday. The Senate maneuvered the bill in place for a floor vote after bypassing the Appropriations Committee and the Finance & Tax Committee -- even though the proposal has an updated fiscal impact of an estimated $644 million on local governments. Lobbying by Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman helped convince Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, to oppose the bill, a linchpin in budget negotiations between the Senate and House and a top priority of House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes. "It would be devastating to the Tampa Bay area," Rouson said Friday morning after talking with the two mayors, Pinellas Commissioners Janet Long and Ken Welch and Hillsborough Commissioner Les Miller. Rouson said he believed dire warnings that the higher exemption would result in a sharp decline in public services, including police and fire protection. UPDATE: The Senate Rules Committee passed the bill on a 9-2 vote Friday over the united opposition of counties, cities, special districts and a statewide fire chiefs association, setting the stage for a Senate floor vote. Two Democrats, Sens. Bill Montford of Tallahassee and Lauren Book of Plantation, joined seven Republicans in voting for the bill. Two other Democrats voted no and Republican Sen. Jack Latvala of Clearwater was absent. The bill was amended to reduce the potential revenue loss to about 30 small rural counties that are at or near the highest property tax rates they can levy. Previous: A higher homestead exemption? Good for homeowners, bad for counties The loss of two members of the Senate Republican Caucus adds some suspense to the issue. The GOP has 23 votes in the Senate, with Sen. Dorothy Hukill absent and former Sen. Frank Artiles having resigned a week ago. As a proposed constitutional amendment, the homestead exemption increase needs 24 votes to get on the 2018 general election ballot. Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, supports the higher homestead exemption, which is sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa. Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, is viewed by counties and cities as a long-time ally. Even if all 23 Republicans vote yes on the Senate floor, one Democrat would have to vote yes for the proposal to pass. Rouson reiterated Friday that his position won't change: He's opposed. State revenue experts have estimated that passage of the bill would result in a loss of $795 million in annual property tax revenue to counties, cities and special districts. The proposal (HJR 7105) cleared the House on Wednesday on an 81-35 vote. Read the latest Senate staff analysis of the bill here. @ByKristenMClark A proposal to create the first slavery memorial in Florida unanimously passed the state House on Friday with roaring applause but its prospects in the Senate are uncertain after one committee chairman stalled the legislation over a philosophical objection to the concept. Ocala Republican Dennis Baxley the chairman of the Senate Government Oversight & Accountability Committee who is known for his conservative positions never scheduled a hearing to consider the Senates version of a bill calling for a Florida Slavery Memorial near the Capitol in Tallahassee. Because of that, the fate of HB 27 now hinges on a rare procedural override that President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, could try to execute. House members Friday overwhelmingly embraced the idea for a slavery memorial, proposed in that chamber by Miami Democratic Rep. Kionne McGhee. I am literally and many of us in this room, we are literally 7,923 weeks out of slavery, McGhee, who is black, said on the House floor before the vote. As we gather here at this defining moment in this Capitol ... this is perhaps one of the most joyous moments in my life to know that the journeys that my forefathers went through were not lost. More here. Photo credit: Rep. Kionne McGhee, D-Miami. Kristen M. Clark / Herald/Times Tallahassee bureau @MichaelAuslen The Florida House is expected to pass watered-down legislation meant to increase the number of trauma centers in the state on Friday. Trauma centers, which handle the worst, most time-sensitive injuries like gunshot wounds and violent car crashes, are limited under state law based on the need in each part of the state. State Rep. Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, had proposed to get rid of limits statewide. But following criticism -- including from two doctors who treated Pulse nightclub shooting victims -- the legislation (HB 1077) was narrowed. Instead, the House on Friday will vote to take the power of determining how many centers each community needs away from the Department of Health and give it to the Legislature. The reason: Supporters say there are parts of the state where there aren't enough trauma centers, including the Jacksonville region. "To me, this is an access issue," said Rep. Travis Cummings, R-Orange Park, whose district includes Orange Park Hospital, a privately owned facility whose trauma center was shut down after a judge ruled the health department should not have allowed it to open. Safety net hospitals and trauma doctors say the number of trauma centers should be limited to allow them to have the most experience possible. The more frequently doctors do something, they say, the better they get at it. "What happens if you or I is involved in a motor vehicle crash and we get taken to a hospital that doesn't have the experience?" one such doctor, Michael Cheatham of the Orlando Regional Medical Center, said. "Our survival will drop because we're not receiving the care that we need." Similar legislation has not moved in the Senate. Trumbull's bill would set the maximum number of trauma centers in each region of the state based on population. Under the bill, Under the bill, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties would need four trauma centers between them and Broward should have two. "This is creating much more structure within the trauma statute," Trumbull said. Photo by Scott Keeler | Tampa Bay Times For picture posts from 2010 and earlier, see the Earlier Picture Posts Page HAMILTON The founder and former owner of what was Stevensvilles largest employer said the company is struggling as it looks for more work and new ownership. My fingernails are about worn out from holding on, Max Downing said Wednesday. The fabricating plant on the southern edge of Stevensville is currently operating with a skeleton crew of about 10 right now. Last November, the company significantly reduced its workforce through layoffs or reduced hours following a downturn in the natural resource industries that hit the steel fabrication company hard. At the time, the company said it expected that the layoffs would be temporary, but things havent improved. Downing had planned to retire at the end of March. Hes stayed in an attempt to find some projects that would put people back to work and to seek a new owner for the company. There does appear to be a resurgence in the mining industry, which Downing said could lead to some work for the Stevensville plant, which builds very large pieces of specialty equipment. At its height, Downing said the company employed over 110 people at salaries that averaged $50,000 a year. We had a payroll of upwards of $6 to $6.5 million, Downing said. Thats important for Stevensville and Ravalli County. With most of the log home businesses and sawmills gone, theres not a lot of industry left in the county. There are some large mining projects coming online around the country, including the expansion of a coal mine in Colorado and a gold mine in Nevada. That could lead to some projects for the Stevensville company that celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. Im trying to keep encouraged, Downing said. Im seeing a lot of projects getting underway out there. This is a great facility, with great employees. Im going to do what I can to move them forward. A recent survey of former employees indicated that about 80 would return if there was work to be had, he said. BILLINGS Several regular Montana polling places will be closed to voting as people head to the polls for an unusual Thursday special election May 25. Roughly 50,000 registered voters will be rerouted to other polling places, say Montanas county elections officials. To put that into perspective, the number of people with closed polling places is equal to Montana's sixth largest county of voters in 2016. Closed polling places were a big concern among county elections officials as they backed a state bill for a mail-ballot-only election. The bill failed over Republican concerns that people who vote in person, who trend conservative, would be disenfranchised. County election officials had also asked Bullock to schedule the special election for June 6, a date that would have had Montanans voting on a Tuesday in the first full week of June, the date Montanas primary elections are held. Elections officials struck out there, too. Many of the places are already booked with other events and unavailable for the states U.S. House special election. Gov. Steve Bullock chose May 25 because it was the earliest day possible for the special election and he wanted Montana's empty House seat filled. Jim Darcy School (in Helena) is having a big art fair, with art in the classrooms and kids going everywhere, said Audrey Dufrechou, Lewis and Clark County elections supervisor. The school polling place serves 3,372 registered voters. Some of those voters will be voting absentee, but theres always people who stop by the Helena polling place on election day to drop off their ballot or pick up a replacement ballot. It isnt just the vote-in-person crowd that shows up. Those Jim Darcy voters will travel eight miles to the county fairgrounds. Dufrechou is concerned some voters wont make the trip, especially if they find out after driving to the school. Shes mailing out notices about the change. In Ravalli County, Elections Supervisor Regina Plettenberg is redirecting 5,000 voters away from Hamilton High School and over to the county fairgrounds. Theyre having graduation. In fact they will be set up for rehearsal that day and graduation on Sunday, Plettenberg said. Ravalli County is one of those rural Montana areas where most people dont vote absentee. About 48 percent of Ravalli County voters cast absentee ballots in 2016. People like to vote in person Plettenberg said. In the more populated counties like Missoula, Gallatin and Yellowstone the absentee voting rate is about 70 percent or better, according to Montanas Secretary of State. That high absentee voter turnout hasnt quelled polling place concerns in Missoula County, where Rebecca Connor had eight polling places unavailable for multiple reasons. Franklin, Lowell and Rattlesnake schools are under construction. Chief Charlo, Cold Springs and Russell schools are having orchestral events. At Lolo Grade School and St. Joseph Elementary, the May 25 date is graduation day. Lolo is the big concern, Connor said. Its in a rural area where many people like to vote in person. Conner said she understands the appeal as rural resident herself. Voting is a community thing in rural areas, a time to get together. Were doing a heavy media campaign, Connor said. Were running ads in the Missoulian. We have two-color ads running this week. Well have a direct mailing. Giving voters a heads-up is complicated by a mail ballot school election that will be taking place May 2. No one wants to confuse voters. There are limits to how much voters are willing to put up with before they decide not to vote. Cooper said her office is considering reducing the number of polling places in Missoula County in future elections. The county has 28 polling places, which require more money and resources than the elections office has. Preparing for the reduction, Missoula County Elections and the University of Montana polled voters on how far they were willing to travel to vote. Voters became discouraged after five miles. In Yellowstone County, Elections Supervisor Bret Rutherford said Pioneer School will not be open for voting. The polling site serves about 650 people who will have to drive to MetraPark. HELENA School leaders secured some victories at the Montana Legislature to help districts pay for major maintenance projects, but the piece that would provide immediate relief for dozens of schools is at the heart of the sessions most heated and unresolved debate. There are a couple bills that are designed for building up funds in the future, which I think are very good, but that wont help anything in the next two years, said Billings Rep. Kathy Kelker, a Democrat who served on the School Funding Interim Commission that studied school repair needs last year. The bill that hasnt passed has a substantial amount of money in it. Senate Bill 367 would authorize the state to issue $80.3 million in bonds to pay for a variety of infrastructure projects, ranging from water and sewer upgrades to a renovation of Montana State Universitys Romney Hall. It also includes $16.3 million for local school repairs and upgrades. That would fund about three-quarters of 50 projects on a list first vetted, approved and ranked by the state almost six years ago. Those schools have had to wait after the states original funding source riverbed rents disappeared after a lawsuit and the 2015 Legislature did not authorize any spending. Now, the projects are tied to the fate of SB367, a proposal that has divided legislators even months before they arrived at the Capitol. On Thursday, the House was two votes shy of passing the measure but agreed to come back Friday morning for another attempt. Theres always a chance for people to take a deep breath, calm down and take another run at it, said Rep. Jeff Essmann, a Billings Republican who also served on the commission. On Thursday, the real estate developer urged his colleagues to support the bonding bill because the state needs to help local districts and the university campuses maintain their investments in buildings and, when necessary, renovate them. Im in the business of buying 50-, 60-, 70-year-old buildings and gutting them and rebuilding them because thats what needs to happen to a 70-year-old building. Its technologically obsolete. You cant serve the needs of the students. The average age of a Montana K-12 school building is 53 years. Sen. Llew Jones, a Conrad Republican who has long worked on state education issues, said he did not understand why some of his colleagues defined infrastructure so narrowly that they opposed SB367 because of particular projects. The basis of our economic engine is not just physical, he said. Im comfortable with the concept that education infrastructure is a key component of bonding along with roads, water and sewer. Ultimately, without an educated workforce today we have a bleak future tomorrow. One of the very few things included in our (Montana) constitution is the recognition that we need to help provide some basis for an educated workforce. Opponents to SB367 cite a variety of reasons, the most common being an opposition to state debt that they see as a burden on future generations. Others are open to bonding for critical public works projects, but do not consider renovations of buildings to be essential. While many admit the state has a special responsibility to assist K-12 schools, they blamed the political process for lumping those good projects with bad projects. Sen. Tom Facey, D-Missoula, led the School Funding Interim Commission last year and watched as the bonding bill failed Thursdays test in the House. The retired Stevensville teacher emphasized that many districts simply cannot pay for major projects like replacing a roof or repairing flood damage on their own. Rural schools simply do not have enough property tax base to raise the money locally. Also, state school budget rules strictly limit how much money districts can sock away, in an attempt to equalize the quality of education across the state. The judge said (in a 2005 lawsuit) that were not doing the right thing for facilities and were not giving schools enough money that they could do it on their own, Facey said. Kirk Miller, executive director at School Administrators of Montana, spent Thursday afternoon talking to legislators and calling district leaders across the state to urge them to do the same. They expended a lot of time, energy and, in some cases, money to write those grant proposals, he said of the projects listed in the bonding bill. Miller also lamented the death of HB134. It would have restructured the share of oil and gas taxes that local school districts get to keep and also would have allowed them to save up to $5 million beyond that for major facilities projects. Essmann tried to bring the bill to vote three times in the last week, but all failed. At least, Facey said, two other bills have outlined the framework for a new school facilities program and how it will be funded. Senate Bills 260 and 307 passed both chambers and one has already received approval from Gov. Steve Bullock. In combination, they divert some interest from the Coal Severance Tax Trust Fund to create a new subtrust whose interest will eventually flow into a new School Facility and Technology Account. Unlike the previous grant program which districts disliked because not everyone could afford to compete for that money the new fund will set up individual accounts for every district in the state. Money will be deposited into each based on a formula. Schools can then apply to withdraw some of that money for specific projects, providing plans to legislators as well as proof that they have some local funding to match the state dollars. That money will be easier to raise because of tweaks to state law about permissive levies, which allow districts to temporarily tax property owners up to 10 mills without a community vote so long as they provide advance notice and project details. Its the Montana way that when everybody cooperates with each other and pitch in a bit that allows those communities to have the support of their property taxpayers with a little money coming in from the state to make sure those projects get done, Miller said. Its a blend. And thats the real ingenious and good policy part to that. Jones called the program a good partnership between the State of Montana and local trustees. It was a significant step forward, he said. Its not a panacea. It wont begin tomorrow. Its slow moving. It requires an investment of money and time by local trustees who care deeply for their schools and it requires a commitment of those in the Legislature. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Missoulas Parks and Recreation Department and Kalispell-area trail builders landed two of the larger awards handed out this week in the annual Montana State Parks grants cycle. Syringa Park in the upper Rattlesnake neighborhood will receive $50,000 for trails construction and renovation for the trail-bike riding area. Foys-to-Blacktail Trails Inc. received $90,000 to finish a 16-year project with a final segment of a historic Civilian Conservation Corps trail between Herron Park and Blacktail Mountain. State Parks staff winnowed 69 requests down to 54 awards for this years pot of $1.66 million in available funding. The money comes through the federal Fixing Americas Surface Transportation legislation. The complete list of winning projects is available online at http://stateparks.mt.gov/recreation/rtpGrants.html In Western Montana, projects included: Bitterroot Cross-Country Ski Club $45,000, year-round trail maintenance Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation $45,000, trail maintenance, weed control and campsite restoration Butte-Silver Bow Government $20,000, Whisky Gulch Open Space Trails Cabinet Back Country Horsemen $10,000, Purcell drainage installation and maintenance Cabinet Resource Group $6,000, Kootenai Forest trail projects Echo Lake Trails Association Warming hut construction and trail maintenance Flathead Area Mountain Bikers $38,000, Spencer Trail maintenance Flathead Avalanche Center $45,000, advisories, safety information and education Flathead Snowmobile Association $45,000, trail maintenance and grooming in Flathead and Lake counties Foys to Blacktail Trails Inc. $90,000, connector trail Herron Park to Blacktail Mountain Helena City $22,000, Beattie Street trailhead improvements Kootenai Cross-Country Ski Club $15,000, ski club trail grooming and equipment replacement Kootenai Mountain Riders $20,000 Troy bike park project Last Chance Nordic Ski Club $14,000, MacDonald Pass Nordic Ski trail grooming Lincoln County Port Authority $20,000, Libby Creek Trail extension Mile High Nordic Ski Education Foundation $20,000, trail restoration and equipment purchase Missoula Nordic Ski Club $11,810, ski trail maintenance and grooming Missoula Parks and Recreation $50,000, Syringa Park trail construction and renovation Montana Conservation Corps $15,606, new trail construction and maintenance Montana Trail Vehicle Riders Association $45,000, motorized trail maintenance on Forest Service and BLM land Montana Wilderness Association $45,000, trail maintenance, structure construction, trail safety education MTB Missoula $6,000, community trails stewardship program Philipsburg $35,000, walking/biking trail construction Prickly Pear Land Trust $45,000, Peaks to Creeks Initiative trail infrastructure Rails to Trails NW Montana $10,989, Great Northern Historical Trail improvements Sanders County- $5,000, Thompson Falls Community trails signage and maintenance Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Club- $18,100, Seeley Creek Nordic ski trails Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation $6,060, trails restoration Swan Valley Connections $45,000, Mission Mountain Wilderness and Swan Front trails and backcountry services Troy Snowmobile Club $43,500, grooming shed construction and grooming operations Custer-Gallatin National Forest $220,350, trail projects Flathead National Forest- $45,000, Black Bear Bridge reconstruction Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center $45,000, avalanche education and safety program Lewis and Clark National Forest $20,000, general trail maintenance Lolo National Forest $25,200, heavy trail maintenance West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation $30,000, avalanche safety and education program West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce $45,000, grooming and trail maintenance West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation $60,000, Rendezvous Ski Trail System grooming Yellowstone National Park $15,000, Yellowstone River Trail restoration An 82-year-old Stevensville man was sentenced to 100 years in the Montana State Prison Thursday for sexually assaulting a child and will not be eligible for parole until he's served 25 years. Gary Gene Dowdle appeared before Ravalli County District Judge James Haynes on five sexual assault charges for molesting a girl numerous times when she was between the ages of 4 and 6. According to court records, when the girls mother confronted Dowdle about the allegations, he told her the girl liked it and came on to him. Dowdle made other admissions to the Ravalli County sheriffs detective who investigated the case. When the detective asked Dowdle how many times he assaulted the girl, Dowdle allegedly replied that he hadnt counted them, but he did it every chance he had. Dowdle was arrested after the girl told authorities in Colorado that she had been sexually assaulted over a two-year period. Ravalli County Deputy Attorney Meghann Paddock said Dowdle accepted a plea agreement that allowed his attorney to argue for a lesser sentence than allowed under Montanas version of Jessicas Law. First enacted in Florida, Jessicas Law was named for a 9-year-old girl who was kidnaped, raped and murdered in 2005. Montanas version requires a 25-year minimum prison sentence for adults convicted of various sex crimes against children under 13. In following the Jessicas Law statute, Paddock said Dowdle will not be eligible for parole for 25 years. I think its an appropriate outcome in this case, Paddock said. You can see it in the eyes of every woman and man Whove spent their whole lives living close to the land. Theres a love for the country And a pride in the brand In Americas heartland living close to the land In Americas heartland close to the land. This is the refrain from Rob Quist and Michael Martin Murphy's award-winning song "Close to the Land." Perhaps the easiest way to appreciate Rob Quist's love of Montana, places and people is to take a few minutes and listen to the whole song on YouTube. There is a reason this song won so many awards, including perhaps the highest, as it is now known as "America's Heartland Song." You really can see it in the eyes of those who live close to the land. What separates most Montanans from the rest of the country is Montanans have always lived close to the land in our jobs and enjoyments. Montanans think so highly of our state that our preamble to our Constitution states: We the people of Montana grateful to God for the quiet beauty of our state, the grandeur of our mountains, the vastness of our rolling plains, and desiring to improve the quality of life, equality of opportunity and to secure the blessings of liberty for this and future generations do ordain and establish this constitution. Rob Quist grew up with the quiet beauty of our state in eastern Montana before moving to the Flathead. He grew up to write and sing about the quality of a Montanan's life. In the process he has worked to improve Montana for future generations. His life embodies the sentiments of our preamble and his song. Who more could you trust to insure that future generations have the opportunities most of us take for granted in our enjoyment of the grandeur of our mountains, the vastness of our plains, our wonderful, clear, free-running waters, our never-ending big, blue "Big Sky?" How many of you have sung along with one of the many songs Rob Quist wrote concerning the people and places of Montana? When you sang along, how many times did they bring a tear to your eyes, knowing you had the privilege of growing up as Montanans? Montanans have a special opportunity to send a true Montanan to Washington in the mold of Mike Mansfield, Lee Metcalf and Pat Williams. While you may not have always agreed with the big three, you always knew they were Montanans through and through. I think one of the most important reasons for voting for Rob Quist is you know he isn't running based upon ego. He is running because he loves Montanans, Montana and all that this great state and her people represent. There is no need to make Montana great again, but there is a need for Montanans to retain our greatness. The simplest way to do so is by sending one of our greatest to represent all Montanans: Rob Quist. There has been much discussion and confusion since the November election about sanctuary cities and the role of local police in enforcing federal immigration law. (Ask the Judge: What the heck are sanctuary cities? April 14). Lets clear up some myths about what sanctuary cities are and the constitutional problems they are designed to address. While there is no legal definition of a sanctuary city (and none currently exist in Montana), the term commonly refers to a municipality that requires immigration authorities (typically, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE), to present a warrant signed by a judge before agreeing to hold someone for them. These policies are designed to ensure that local police dont hold someone illegally in their custody. No city is truly a sanctuary the implication that immigration enforcement doesnt happen in cities that adopt such policies is false. Usually, ICE asks local police to hold someone using whats called a detainer. An ICE detainer is a written request that a local law enforcement agency detain an individual for an additional 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) after their release date in order to provide ICE agents extra time to decide whether to take the individual into federal custody for removal purposes. ICE uses detainers to imprison people without due process and, often, without any charges pending or probable cause of any violation, raising serious constitutional concerns. Localities are under no legal obligation to employ city police and county sheriffs as de facto federal immigration officers. The 10th Amendment actually prohibits the federal government from requiring police to honor detainers. Recently, ICE began accompanying detainers with what are called administrative warrants as an attempt to address the constitutional concerns many law enforcement agencies, and groups like the ACLU, have raised about ICE practices. Administrative warrants are not criminal warrants and do not satisfy the Fourth Amendments warrant requirement because they are not signed or reviewed by a neutral judicial officer. Despite much of the political rhetoric surrounding the effects of sanctuary cities, studies have shown that designating a city as a sanctuary has no statistically significant effect on crime. In fact, one of the primary purposes of adopting a sanctuary policy is to increase trust and cooperation between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. Another myth about sanctuary cities is that they will put additional burdens on local taxpayers. The opposite is true. Sanctuary policies are designed to preserve local resources, rather than allowing federal agencies to dump their own responsibilities on local law enforcement personnel. Local resources should go towards their intended goal: protecting local residents. Perhaps most alarming, local law enforcement officials who comply with ICE detainers run the risk of violating the rights of ordinary citizens. This has already happened. In Pennsylvania, a New Jersey-born U.S. Citizen, Ernesto Galarza, was held illegally for three days in Lehigh County Prison after ICE agents requested his detention on the baseless assertion that he might be an undocumented immigrant from the Dominican Republic. The United States and the city of Allentown together paid Galarza $50,000, and Lehigh County paid $95,000 in damages and attorneys fees. The Lehigh County Board of Commissions later voted unanimously to end the countys policy of imprisoning people on ICE detainers. As the Trump administration ratchets up pressure on local law enforcement agencies to detain immigrants, there will undoubtedly be more individuals like Galarza who are unlawfully imprisoned. Sanctuary cities are nothing more than the lawful exercise of local control, protecting our citizens from federal overreach. These local ordinances remind us that the state and federal constitutions protect us all. The April 22 Missoulian front page photo shows Donald Trump Jr, Greg Gianforte and Steve Daines a billionaire and two multi-millionaires, all urging ordinary Montanans to support a billionaire president. One has to ask, how far gone is America's cult of wealth worship that we expect such politicians to represent our interests above their own? The standard canard is that such people know how to create jobs and that government should be run like a business. In reality, the wealth they create for themselves is far disproportionate to the number of jobs they create, and those who do not really believe in government are generally most incompetent at governing. What we get is government by and for big business, with all the attendant corruption, revolving doors and inattention to the interests of the little guy and gal. After watching four Greg Gianforte attack ads in one half-hour television show, I feel I must toss out my two cents worth about the upcoming special election. TV advertising is not cheap and yet for the better part of a year, I have had to endure countless Gianforte ads telling me what a common Montanan he is. Common Montanans cant afford countless ads on television. Those ads are paid for by dark-money groups that want Gianforte in Washington for reasons other than he is a good ol' boy from Montana. Since the Supreme Court told us that corporations are people and money is speech, election spending has gone through the roof. The candidate with the most money wins over 90 percent of the time. Most of this money is out-of-state money, in which case it probably does not speak for everyday Montanans. Rob Quist is not a billionaire and has chosen to live in the place where he was born and raised. Quist knows the issues that affect Montanans. He is not the voice of special interests and big money. When he says he is for public lands in public hands, he actually means it. My vote goes to a real Montanan. Randy Roberts, Thompson Falls Zagranis was arrested on March 22 at a convenience store. Police said when they tried to arrest him he shoved an officer to the ground, and the others officers had to force Zagranis to the ground. His trial is pending bearing a mental health evaluation and he remains in jail. A Butte man convicted by a jury last year of stealing over $4,000 worth of clothing from a Thomas Apparel while working as an employee while on pre-release was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison. Judge Kurt Krueger sentenced David Ruckdaschel as a persistent felony offender to 10 years in the Montana State Prison with five of them suspended and credit for 437 days served. He must also register as a violent offender. The sentence runs concurrent to Ruckdaschel's previous 2015 sentence for assault with a weapon. Ruckdaschel was arrested in February of last year after he left stolen clothing in an alley behind Thomas Apparel, 3636 Harrison Ave., while working there temporarily through the pre-release program. Ruckdaschel's accomplice and fiancee was caught red-handed picking up the clothing and testified against him in his November trial where he was found guilty of felony theft. Ruckdaschel's public defender Edmund Sheehy requested his client be sentenced to 10 years with the Department with five suspended. Speaking to the court, Ruckdaschel said he'd been a model inmate since his arrest, had been sober for 773 days and would have been dead long ago if not for court-mandated drug treatment in the past. He requested placement at a drug rehabilitation center in Butte to relearn skills from prior treatment. "There's still a lot of good left in me your honor, please don't throw me away," he said. The prosecution, led by deputy county attorney Ann Shea, requested Ruckdaschel be sentenced to 10 years in prison with none suspended, saying the sentence the defense requested was the same as Ruckdaschel's previous sentence which led him back to crime. Shea said if the suspended portion didn't work last time it wouldn't this time, and that it was significant that Ruckdaschel was in pre-release at the time of the crime. Ruckdaschel has a litany of previous violent and felony convictions, and Shea said most cases left victims. The victim of Ruckdaschel's most recent theft, store owner Paul Thomas, said he didn't want to waste time on restitution, according to Shea, and that he's lost trust in hiring pre-release workers. Probation and Parole officer Sue Carroll, who compiled Ruckdaschel's pre-sentencing investigation, said she had originally recommending 10 years with five suspended for Ruckdaschel to have time to pay restitution, but with no restitution recommending no suspended time. Court documents show Ruckdaschel's accomplice, Margaret Compton, has reached a plea agreement with the prosecution though the continuation of the case has been delayed until after the completion of Ruckdaschel's. HELENA WALKAWAY ARRESTED IN BUTTE Butte police were tipped off Wednesday that a walk-away from the Helena Pre-release Center convicted in 2010 of punching a woman in the face with a chain in Billings was in the vicinity of St. James Healthcare. Officers found Joshua Little Bird, 27, sitting in a chair in the entrance to the hospital and arrested him without incident around 4 p.m. Little Bird failed to return from work on April 22 and was placed on the Montana Department of Corrections most wanted escapees list. He remains in Butte jail on two out-of-jurisdiction felony warrants for the Montana State Prison. Jamie Jo Lynch, formerly of Butte, recently was selected by the Montana State Society to represent Montana in the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. Lynch, the daughter of Jim Lynch and Lauren Kippen, was born and reared in Butte and graduated from Butte High. She graduated in May 2016 from Boise State University, where she studied Environmental Science and Political Science with Sustainability. She lives in Washington, D.C., where she works for U.S. Sen. Jon Tester as executive assistant to the chief of staff and legislative director. When home in Montana she likes to be outdoors running or fly fishing on the Big Hole River, she said. The Montana State Society consists of Montanans living in D.C. It hosts events throughout the year, including the Cat-Griz Watch Party. The Washington Post described the Cherry Blossom Princess program this way: Every year, up to 55 princesses each representing a state, a U.S. territory or D.C. are selected on the basis of written applications that show off their leadership abilities, volunteer work and passion for the places they represent. (There are also a few international princesses chosen by embassies and international organizations.) They are then feted at a weeks worth of parties that culminate in the Cherry Blossom Grand Ball, where one woman wins the title of Cherry Blossom Queen via a spin of the so-called wheel of fortune. Her majesty receives a Mikimoto pearl necklace and then goes on a free, 10-day trip to Japan, where she makes public appearances with Japans Cherry Blossom Queen. Lynch described the festival in an email to The Montana Standard: The Cherry Blossom Festival occurs every spring in Washington, D.C. to honor the U.S.s relationship with Japan. The festival celebrates the gift of the cherry blossom trees that were given to the nations capital from Japan as a sign of peace post World War II. Lynch was crowned princess in the Mansfield room in the Capitol. At the crowning a minister from the embassy of Japan spoke and she gave a brief speech. The room was filled with other embassy staffers, Montanans that live in D.C., and the Montana delegation, Sen. Jon Tester and Sen. Steve Daines. It was incredible having our delegation and my boss, Senator Tester, at the event to celebrate my week ahead representing the Big Sky State. Montana is one of the only states that puts on a crowning ceremony for their princess so I was very honored to have this thrown for me. Montana also stands out throughout the week because of Senator Mansfield, former Majority leader and longest serving ambassador to Japan. All the embassy staffers couldn't praise Senator Mansfield enough and were delighted Montana had a princess to represent our unique state. The week wrapped up April 7 with the grand ball. This year the wheel landed on South Dakota. To end the festival the princesses rode on a float in the National Cherry Blossom Parade April 8 down Constitution Avenue one of D.C.'s largest parades. Sen. Tester said: I am incredibly proud that Buttes very own Jamie Lynch was chosen as this years Montana Cherry Blossom Princess. Every day she works long hours serving the people of Montana in the United States Senate, and I cant think of a better representative for this years festival. MISSOULA A minor celebrity from the television sitcom "Who's The Boss?" and a Snapchat ad were used as opposing weapons Thursday in the battle for Montana's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democratic candidate Rob Quist held a student rally on the University of Montana campus Thursday afternoon, just hours after actress Alyssa Milano held a get-out-the-vote event to support him at the same spot. The election is being held to replace Ryan Zinke, who was tapped to be Interior Secretary by President Donald Trump. Quist's main opponent is Republican Greg Gianforte, a businessman who lives in the Bozeman area, and who lost to incumbent Democrat Steve Bullock in November's gubernatorial election. Early voting has already started, but the special election is officially being held May 25. Quist, speaking into a megaphone to a crowd of several dozen students under cloudy skies, said maintaining access to public lands is a top priority for him if he wins. Ive been to probably almost 50 counties in the course of this election, and of course Ive been on a listening tour because I need to acquaint myself with the issues Montana is facing, Quist said. The No. 1 issue I hear is public lands, without a doubt. Thats one that pretty (much) sets us apart from the rest of the country. You know, we value our public lands out here because its what makes us special. Quist said 29 percent of Montanas land is wild and open country. Many other states around the United States have lost what we still have, he said. Ive traveled these states and I recognize it. You know, people out in Georgia, they have to go for hours at a time just to find a place to recreate. We dont want that in the state of Montana. I think the happiest people I know are people that spend a lot of time out in Mother Nature. If I encounter somebody thats having a rough day or a little depressed or grouchy, you know, I tell them, 'Perhaps you should take a walk in the mountains.' And on a side note, maybe Montana should tell that other guy to go take a hike. Quist attended UM, and referenced an old picture in the Montana Kaimin the student newspaper that showed him lying against a big rock on the Oval during a break between classes. In fact, it was a Montana student who first told me I should run, Quist said. I said, Well, what are you talking about? Im not a politician. And he said, Exactly. In the morning, Alyssa Milano best known for her roles in Whos the Boss?, Charmed, and Melrose Place" held a small rally and took students to the Missoula County Fairgrounds to vote early. Milano has traveled around the country supporting Democratic candidates this year. She didnt give a speech but posed for selfies with several college kids. Several students had to decline Milanos offer to drive them to vote at 10 a.m., saying they had to get to class. Meanwhile, the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC dedicated to electing Republicans to the House of Representatives, targeted UM students with a Snapchat geofilter ad that featured the caption How I Feel About Lyin Rob Quist." Courtney Alexander, a spokesperson for CLF, said that the ad would allow users to apply the filter after taking a selfie. The CLF has spent about $1.5 million in Montana so far in an effort to defeat Quist. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee told the Huffington Post last week that it was going to contribute "six figures" to Quist's campaign. WASHINGTON I've written a million columns critical of Donald Trump, give or take. This one is in praise. His campaign was a toxic stew of dog whistles to white nationalists and at times overt anti-Semitism. He continued during his first weeks in office to flirt with the racist fringe; his administration excised any mention of Jews from a statement on the Holocaust; he suggested that the rise in anti-Semitic threats and violence since his election might be a false-flag campaign orchestrated by Jews; he repeatedly hesitated to disavow anti-Semitism; and his spokesman perversely claimed that the Jews Adolf Hitler gassed weren't "his own people." But give him credit for this: Trump's speech in the Capitol Rotunda this week for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's Yom Hashoah remembrance ceremony was spot-on. Some highlights: "The survivors in this hall, through their testimony, fulfill the righteous duty to never forget and engrave into the world's memory the Nazi genocide of the Jewish people." "For the dead and the living we must bear witness. That is why we are here today, to remember and to bear witness, to make sure that humanity never, ever forgets." "The Nazis massacred 6 million Jews. Two out of every three Jews in Europe were murdered in the genocide. ... Yet even today, there are those who want to forget the past. Worse still, there are even those filled with such hate, total hate, that they want to erase the Holocaust from history. Those who deny the Holocaust are an accomplice to this horrible evil." Yes, he was reading from a teleprompter a speech somebody wrote for him. His delivery was prosaic and he occasionally repeated a phrase he liked as if reading the speech for the first time, which perhaps he was. So what? At least he gave the speech. I don't pretend to know whether Trump has changed in his heart. His campaign was so laced with bigotry toward African Americans, Latinos and immigrants that the anti-Semitism was just one outrage. But his Holocaust speech and similar words in a video and a White House statement in recent days suggest that Trump has the capacity to adjust. And that's welcome news. His first 100 days have been a disaster: No health-care reform, no travel ban, a passel of unmet promises, international confusion, historically low support. He has resorted to creating a fake sense of momentum with executive orders the kind of governing he and his allies decried when President Barack Obama did it. But Trump has never been a man of consistent principles, and he has shown that he's willing to jettison his campaign program, changing his positions on China, trade, the debt, the influence of lobbyists and others. He has apparently backed down from his promise to build a wall, to avoid a government shutdown. I don't expect some broad transformation, but if he's moving even tentatively or temporarily in the right direction in this case, shifting from his courtship of Steve Bannon's alt-right nationalists he should be encouraged. The Hill absurdly criticized Trump's Holocaust remembrance proclamation for using "similar wording to the Holocaust Museum website" when it said, "The Holocaust was the state-sponsored systematic persecution and attempted annihilation of European Jewry by the Nazi regime and its collaborators." The White House should be praised for echoing the museum's description of the Shoah. My friend Peter Beinart quibbled in the Atlantic with Trump's speech for failing to acknowledge that "the Holocaust creates obligations to protect the dignity of all people, not just Jews." That's true, but given Trump's history, he needed to make a full-throated acknowledgment of Jews' suffering. After a campaign that trafficked in the filth of anti-Semitism tweeting an image showing a Star of David atop a pile of cash; retweeting messages from white supremacists; refusing to condemn anti-Semitic threats against Jewish journalists; granting access and interviews to white-nationalist outlets; and closing with an ad showing prominent Jews juxtaposed with warnings of an international banking conspiracy Trump needed to speak clearly. This week, he spoke. "Today, we remember the 6 million Jewish men, women and children whose lives and dreams were stolen from this Earth," he said. " We remember the hatred and evil that sought to extinguish human life, dignity and freedom." And, crucially, he added: "Today we mourn, we remember, we pray and we pledge: Never again." Well said, Mr. President. Attacking the news media is a tactic straight out of the Donald Trump playbook, and Greg Gianforte, who appears to be adhering to the presidents campaign model as closely as possible, capitalized on an opportunity last week to paint journalists as the enemy, too. This week, in an interview with the Billings Gazette editorial board, he offered an apology for his comments about the press and said he fully supports the First Amendment. He also said last weeks comments were just a joke. While his apology is appreciated, Gianforte needs to take pains to set a better example of civility from now on. As a potential federal officeholder, he should embrace all of the Constitutions amendments not just the second one and live by them. That means demonstrating his unequivocal support in both words and deeds, even when his audience might be egging him in a different direction. Such was certainly the case last week when Gianforte, the Republican running for the U.S. House seat against Democrat Rob Quist, Libertarian Mark Wicks and write-in candidate Doug Campbell, celebrated his 56th birthday in Hamilton at a meeting hosted by the Advancing Conservatism Society, a local constitutional Christian group. Some 70 people were in attendance, including a Ravalli Republic reporter who was there to cover the event for the newspaper. And cover it he did. Reporter and Associate Editor Perry Backus wrote about the speech given by a local high school student, about the prayers and birthday cake. He wrote about Gianfortes speech in depth, including how the candidate echoed President Trumps promise to drain the swamp by imposing term limits and making it illegal for members of Congress to become lobbyists after theyve left office. And Backus wrote that toward the end of the candidates talk, a man in the audience said to Gianforte, Our biggest enemy is the news media and asked, How can we rein in the news media? The man followed up his question by turning to Backus, who was sitting next to him, and raised his hands as if he would like to wring his neck. Gianforte smiled, pointed at the reporter and said this: We have someone right here. It seems like there is more of us than there is of him. I dont have a simple solution for you. I will say that doing town hall meetings and getting out and visiting with people is very important. This joke made at the reporters expense wasnt funny at all. In fact, on its face, the statement demonstrated Gianfortes agreement that news media are the enemy. To be clear, the reporter never felt as though he were in danger of physical harm. But it should concern every Montanan when a candidate for Congress singles out any individual in a crowded room to point out that he is outnumbered. It should also concern voters that Gianforte has only recently become aware of the value of journalism. He was absolutely correct that personal meetings and town halls are very important for candidates and elected officials to hear directly from the public they purport to represent. It is even more important that journalists cover the issues and events of importance to voters. Montanas journalists will continue covering each candidate as we enter the final month before the May 25 special election. This coverage is absolutely critical to allow Montanas voters to make an informed choice in the election. It was disheartening to see contempt for this important work become a central and ongoing issue in the presidential campaign. President Trump has repeatedly criticized individual news organizations and journalists for coverage he considers unfavorable, including Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold, who was called a nasty guy by the president and who recently spoke at the University of Montana about his extensive coverage of the president. It was sickening to hear this contempt for journalists echoed in our own back yard. Of course, Gianfortes visit to Hamilton last week drew more public attention for his remarks about shooting prairie dogs than for his unfunny comments about outnumbering a lone journalist. He then spent the next few days fundraising and recreating with President Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr., and U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, which was duly covered by Montanas news media. Meanwhile, after their meeting with Gianforte, the Advancing Conservatism Society posted this message on Facebook: Give credit where credit is due. Perry Backus did a really nice write up of our Gianforte meeting on Monday night. This group is based in large part on shared esteem for the Constitution. However, the assumption from one of its members that news media is somehow our biggest enemy, and Gianfortes answer, heavily suggests that they have a lot of work to do educating people about it, particularly the First Amendment. The Missoulian While Americans might be traveling in record numbers, some regions of the world see much more traffic than others. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy LETTS, Iowa When Gerald Wickham got his U.S. citizenship in the early 2000s, the judge who presided over the event told him and the other immigrants at the ceremony something Wickham still thinks about. You bring a new dimension thats very important to this country, the judge told the new citizens that day. On Friday afternoon, Wickham, who came from Ireland but now lives in West Liberty, shared that memory with eighth graders in the Louisa-Muscatine Community School District. What do you think that means? he asked the students. The students paused for a bit, and then tried to answer. It means you bring different cultures, different types of work, different ideas, said student Christopher Lovell. And that was the message that English Language Arts teacher Rafael Benitez wanted his students to come away with. He wanted them to appreciate life experiences different than their own. I think its important, especially in this area where students may not have the opportunity to be exposed to different cultures and ways of life, Benitez said. The students have been reading Enriques Journey by Sonia Nazario, a book about a migrants journey to the United States. Our objective with this unit is seeing life from a different perspective, from a different point of view and finding overall themes. So, their end-of-the-unit paper was about finding a theme, he said. Benitez decided to conclude the unit with bringing immigrants to the classroom. In earlier classes, several immigrants Skyped with the students, and Wickham came to the afternoon classes. To prepare for the meeting, Benitez told the students a bit about the immigrants' countries of origin. We kind of generated questions as a class discussion and so the whole idea was: What if you had an opportunity to ask someone like that, 'What was your life like when you came here, the challenges, the obstacles and the triumphs?', he said. The students asked Wickham about differences between his native Ireland and the United States. They asked about his family and friends, about how he came to the United States and what he did once he arrived. Wickham told them about his life, saying his decision to go to college helped shape it. He encouraged them to go to college, too. The beauty of America is that there are so many opportunities for education, he told them. Benitez said he wanted the students to learn tolerance and understanding. Theres been a misconception about immigration in the past five or so years and being a son of [an immigrant], I think its important to have [students] have a wake-up call, he said. Were all immigrants here, the original settlers came here for the very rights that we enjoy now. 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. Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi [] Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes [] Weeks after music duo Amos and Josh pulled down their video for Heri Tuwachane after Amos ex-girlfriend got offended by the song and threatened suicide, the girl has spoken up. Cindy, a young lawyer at a leading law firm in Upper Hill, Nairobi, has blamed the duos manager Ally Ady for driving a wedge between them. We have been lovers for such a long time even way before Tusker Project Fame. Throughout those days, I have always taken a back seat even when Amos has publicly denied ever having a girlfriend but now that they are making money, Ally wants me out yet he adds no value to them, Cindy explained. But Ally insists Cindy is bad company for Amos and her frequent antics remain a threat to the duos music career. We pulled down the Heri Tuachane video after a suicide note was found in her room by her parents and we have incurred lots of expenses and lost time due to their individual misunderstanding, said Ally. After consultation with the lady and her parents we have come to an amicable understanding and they have now understood the song/video was NOT directed to her. In another statement, the former Tusker Project Fame contestants have said they are working towards reuploading the video. As you are aware, we pulled down the Heri Tuachane video due to some misunderstanding between Amos and his ex-girlfriend that turned a bit unfriendly and almost tragic. After consultation with the lady and her parents we have come to an amicable understanding and they have now understood the song/video was NOT directed to her. So we are in the process of re-uploading the video as we speak. All of AJ family should keep calm and expect more great content from us. Nairobi Governor aspirant Bishop Margaret Wanjiru was Thursday charged with two counts of malicious damage to property and creating a disturbance. She appeared before chief magistrate Francis Andayi following the incident on Wednesday during Jubilee primaries in Nairobi. She was accused that on April 26, 2017, she unlawfully and willfully with her supporters who were not before court destroyed 4 ballot boxes at City market polling station. She was also accused of destroying assorted ballot papers valued at Sh30,000. Wanjiru denied the charges. Chief magistrate Francis Andayi directed that the aspirant be detained for five days until police conclude investigations into the matter. He said the politician is required to deposit a Sh500,000 bond and give two sureties after the five days. Wanjiru asked the court to allow her to be detained at the police cells so that she can easily access her medication. She was taken to Kileleshwa police station and asked to provide the medical documents to prove that she was not feeling well. Police officers arrested a man Wednesday on suspicion of rape, gun possession and robbery with violence. The arrest comes after a couple reported that they were attacked and robbed by a gunman while on their way home in Nairobis Umoja 3 estate on Wednesday 4 am. According to the report, the gunman ordered the man to leave his wife behind then dragged her to a nearby building and raped her as he watched while hiding nearby. After the ordeal, the couple then followed the man and saw him enter a nearby house, a police report says. They reported the incident at Mowlem police post before police officers from Buru Buru police station were alerted. The officers followed the couple and arrested the suspect without any incident. The officers recovered a Kenya Police revolver inside the suspects car registration number KBL 948Q. Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to have bought the revolver from a police officer stationed at Buru Buru police station at a cost of Sh50,000. The officer was arrested and confessed to having stolen two guns and sold them to the suspect and another person who is still at large. Here are some of the biggest stories today. Kenyans Attack Political Analyst Manyora for Claiming Kabogo Was Rigged Out Theres one thing Kenyans like more than their morning tea, and that is political analysis. Or as I like calling it, conspiracy theory. With the ongoing political activities in the country, this job of analysing politics has become quite lucrative. Out of nowhere, some recently unknown figures ar Kenyans Hail The G.O.AT Orengo Wins Big in Siaya Despite Not Campaigning Siaya senator James Orengo has become the first Kenyan politician to win an election without declaring his candidature nor campaigning. The legislator floored his rivals to secure ODM ticket for his re-election bid with 140, 748 votes. His closest rival, Argwings Kodhek managed a measly 9,582 vot Poetic Justice: Celebrations After Isaac Mwaura Left ODM Only To Lose Jubilee Nomination People generally love a good payback. ODM supporters yesterday had the last laugh after nominated MP Isaac Mwaura conceded defeat in the Ruiru parliamentary race. Mwaura came a distant third with Simon Kingara winning the race. Incumbent Esther Gathogo came second. Many saw this as poetic just Hilarious VIDEO: Hitler Reacts to Waititus Win in Kiambu Hitler Reacts to Kiambu Jubilee Primaries ????????? pic.twitter.com/WGNQE1Z9Vg Droid (@droid254) April 26, 2017 Against all odds, Ferdinand Waititu Babayao beat William Kabogo to clinch the Jubilee ticket for Kiambu governor. After observing early results trickling in on Tuesday night Trumps race against the clock to do something And just like the Presidents first few days in the White House, its not immediately clear what exactly it all adds up to. On the one hand, the White House is insisting, like the boss in the Oval Office, that the First 100 days milestone is ridiculous, but on the other hand they are by all indications racing to make the most of every hour until Saturdays deadline. 100 days that changed America The dawn of a new administration unleashes conflicting forces of change, hope, opposition, dislocation and even confusion that reverberate throughout Washington far beyond the West Wing of the White House. Every first 100 days is fraught but President Donald Trump slammed into town on January 20 with unusual force, in keeping with a promise he made to supporters to turn the establishment on its head. Photographing President Trump Ever since President Donald Trump raised his right hand, vowing to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, the world has watched his efforts to Make America Great Again. Among those observing have been photographers who cover the White House. Day after day and often shoulder to shoulder they document the happenings of the Trump administration. Nuclear tests will never stop, North Korean government official says Speaking to CNN Wednesday, Sok Chol Won wouldnt confirm when the countrys long-anticipated sixth nuclear test would take place but said it wouldnt be influenced by outside events. The nuclear test is an important part of our continued efforts to strengthen our nuclear forces, he said. China tried to hack THAAD-linked group, US cybersecurity firm says China uses cyber espionage pretty regularly when Chinese interests are at stake to better understand facts on the ground, John Hultquist, the director of cyber espionage analysis at FireEye, told CNNs News Stream. We have evidence that they targeted at least one party that has been associated with the missile placements. The Popes perilous mission to Egypt In 1219, St. Francis crossed battlefields strewn with slain soldiers to reach the Muslim sultans camp in Egypt. His aim was to end the Crusades, an act of idealism that fellow Christians feared would end in Francis death. The friar survived, but his plan didnt. Malik al-Kamil refused to convert to Christianity. Hiker found alive after seven weeks lost in Himalayas Survivor Liang Sheng-yue was found conscious and with the remains of his partner, Liu Chen-chun, just before midday Wednesday and airlifted out of a ravine near the Narchet River in the Himalayas, according to rescuer Madhav Basnet. Marine Le Pen: The person behind the party Or at least that is what she believes. France is suffering from high unemployment, a stagnant economy, security fears, and the country remains bitterly divided as the government struggles to cope with immigration and integration. It is this fertile ground of disenchantment with the political class and a desire for change upon which Le Pen has built her campaign. The 10 things United is doing to avoid another dust-up, drag-out passenger fiasco In the wake of the forcible removal of a passenger from one of its regional flights earlier this month, United Airlines on Thursday acknowledged four failures at the airline and released a list of ten initiatives aimed at preventing a repeat of the incident that sparked a global public relations disaster. Google researcher figures how to make great night photos with a smartphone Name the number one problem with smartphone cameras. If you picked nighttime photos, we agree: While smartphone cameras have improved by orders of magnitude in the last decade, due to the constraints of their tiny lenses, low light conditions are still their Achilles heel. Twitter celebrates Trumps first 100 days with the savage burns youd expect Were closing in on the first 100 days of the Trump presidency, even though its felt more like 100 years since the inauguration. Pundits are now trying to gauge where the president falls on the success scale, from SAD! to BIGLY!, for this somewhat important but still kinda arbitrary milestone. Someone threw these cute chickens on a train carriage then fled into the night Is Borat still inspiring people to do dumb sh*t more than ten years on? When an unknown passenger threw two chickens on to a packed train in Sydney, Australia, before fleeing on Wednesday, it seemed a lot like an act of absurdist comedy. But its a mystery really. Google Home is upping your cooking game with 5 million new recipes Forget your stack of dusty old cookbooks and your worries about gunking up your phone with messy hands while you struggle to follow directions in the kitchen. Google Home will help streamline your cooking experience with a major expansion of its ability to guide you through recipes. NASAs new space fabric looks like chain mail and can protect astronauts Raul Polit Casillas at NASAs JPL created a 3D-printed space fabric thats flexible, easy to create, and a thermal regulator. Samsung has an app to keep you from texting and driving Okay, we all know we really shouldnt text and drive. But temptation is strong and sometimes getting back to someone right now feels more important than anything else. Its not, of course, but its a feeling that can be difficult to shake, even if we know its dangerous. Instagram has more users than ever Its only a matter of time until Instagram joins Facebooks billion-user club. The company announced Wednesday the photo sharing app has reached 700 million monthly active users, up from 600 million in December. Obamas $400,000 Wall Street Speech Is Completely In Character The rumors are true: Former President Barack Obama will receive $400,000 to speak at a health care conference organized by the Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald. It should not be a surprise. This unseemly and unnecessary cash-in fits a pattern of bad behavior involving the financial sector, one that spans Obamas entire presidency. Trump Wants To Break Up The Court That Blocked His Travel Ban President Donald Trump is threatening to break up the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which blocked his executive order banning travel from several nations with large Muslim populations and restricted the acceptance of refugees. Asked by the Washington Examiner if he had considered proposals to split the court, Trump replied: Absolutely, I have. All Beyonce Has To Do Is Read Off A Menu And She Becomes A Meme Lets face it, we dont have that much in common with Beyonce. So when she does something anything we can relate to, well, its impossible to ignore. Bey recently attended a private, star-studded dinner for Roc Nation exec Lenny Santiagos birthday in Los Angeles. Ellen Made A Joke About The Paris Robbery And Kim Kardashian Laughed Kim Kardashians robbery is heavy stuff. After thieves held her at gunpoint in Paris back in October, the reality TV star was left traumatized by the incident and retreated from the public eye for several months. President Uhuru Kenyatta has dismissed the NASA power-sharing lineup as nothing more than a ploy to create jobs for its leading figures. Uhuru said the opposition politicians have lost focus of what leadership means by wasting their energy on how to create positions of power for themselves rather than spending their efforts to improve the welfare of Kenyans. He said the Opposition group has for a long time been hoodwinking Kenyans with a promise to provide an alternative only to end up with a blueprint for jobs for themselves. This was never about the country. It was about giving jobs for themselves instead of the millions of Kenyan who need jobs, he said on Thursday. Uhuru said the Opposition leaders have also demonstrated they do not promote growth of democracy and respect for the Constitution by including non-constitutional positions in their lineup. While they are lying to each other about Prime Minister and Deputy prime Ministers positions which are not in the constitution, we in the Jubilee Party are busy committed to entrenching democracy to develop the country, he said. The President said the Jubilee Party has demonstrated its interest to deepen democracy by conducting free, fair and transparent nominations. In contrast, the opposition has conducted shambolic nominations that ended in anarchy and where certificates were dished out to preferred candidates, said the President. Uhuru was speaking during a tour of Kiambu county where he thanked residents for participating in the primaries. He also thanked the residents for exercising their democratic rights to give him a new team to participate in the August 8 elections. Deputy President William Ruto said the difference between the Jubilee Party and the opposition in terms of promoting democracy was clear like day and night. He said the Jubilee Party has conducted transparent nominations where voters have made real choices whereas the opposition literally auctioned nomination certificates. The DP also dismissed the opposition lineup as worthless as far as the progress of Kenya is concerned. There is a difference between sharing positions between the elite and creating wealth for our people, Ruto said. He said the Opposition has for more than a year promised Kenyans they would announce a new lineup but ended up naming the same people who vied for elections in 2013. These are people who are only interested in fake stories and lofty positions, the DP said. The President and the DP were accompanied by a host of leaders including Governors Ken Lusaka (Bungoma), Hussein Dado (Tana River), Salim Mvurya (Kwale) and Taita Taveta Senator Dan Mwazo. They were also accompanied by candidates nominated for various positions in Kiambu County led by Ferdinand Waititu who is vying the governorship on a Jubilee ticket. The President addressed rallies in Githurai, Ruiru, Juja and Thika town. The Napa County District Attorneys Office is calling a new Restitution Court a success, returning $35,916 to victims during its first year of operation. The court began in January, 2016, as a pilot program to hold convicted criminals accountable for not paying restitution to their victims. In order to be eligible, the participants needed to be on formal, supervised probation for a felony crime and owe over $1,000 in restitution. Furthermore, participants were selected who had paid little or nothing to their victims during the time of probation. Twenty-three probationers appeared in court during its first year. They paid $35,916 in total restitution. The average monthly payment increased from $53 to $366. This is an increase of 591 percent. Two participants paid their original restitution order amount in full, District Attorney Allison Haley said in a news release. The court is a collaboration of the District Attorneys Office, Probation Department, Napa Superior Court and the restitution collection agency, California Service Bureau. The participants were ordered by their probation officer to appear in front of a Napa County Superior Court judge at 11 a.m. on the third Monday of each month. It was clear that being held accountable in front of a Napa County Superior Court judge was highly effective, Haley said. Many participants acknowledged in court that they could pay more to their victims, and did so in future months. The one hour of monthly court time also allowed victims to voice their concerns and see what was being done to follow up with court restitution orders. Based upon the success of the first year, the court agreed to extend the program at least throughout the end of the 2017. Anyone with questions should contact Assistant District Attorney Paul Gero at (707) 253-4211. Napa Valley College officials will begin the search for a developer that could help hundreds of students and faculty members live on campus. NVCs board of trustees last week approved a request for builders to share their qualifications for a housing development, which would occupy vacant land at the main Napa campus northwest corner near Imola Avenue. The decision follows the unveiling in March of a planned campus village for up to 200 residents, which supporters hope will spare students from inflated rents and improve their chance of graduating by keeping them closer to support services and school life. There is the understanding across higher education that students who live on campus generally perform better; the learning environment changes, Superintendent Ron Kraft told trustees before their 6-1 vote to start reaching out to would-be developers. Discussions about bringing housing onto the NVC grounds, which have percolated for more than a decade, have picked up steam in recent months as school leaders have sought ways to keep their programs attainable to those battling bulging Napa Valley rents and long commutes. Nearly a third of the colleges estimated 8,000 students deal with housing insecurity, the lack of a fixed address that forces them to couch-surf or otherwise change lodgings frequently, NVC officials said last month. College officials have said the most direct route to creating housing probably will require partnering with a private builder, a pairing that would allow the sale of tax-exempt bonds on the private market and eliminate the need to win voter approval for a bond issue. The public-private contract would last 30 to 40 years, during which NVC would use rent revenue to cover its bond payments, and the college would take over the property when the contract ends. The request for qualifications will serve as a first round of cuts for NVC as it decides what developer should work with the college on a residential development, which would join similar housing complexes built by at least 10 other junior colleges in California. No construction timetable or price tag was released before the April 20 vote, but Superintendent Kraft described an architects rough estimate of $70 million for a three-story complex with room for 314 residents. The seven-member NVC boards dissenting voice came from trustee Amy Martenson, who questioned whether college leaders may be concentrating prematurely on one kind of housing before surveying students about their needs and before forecasting how much demand there would be from out-of-county applicants. I want the obvious steps done first before we look for a developer, she said. To Krafts assertion that college housing construction is shifting toward apartment-like buildings and away from dormitories, Martenson replied that dorms may be the more communal, welcoming setting for some. I stayed in an apartment while at UC Irvine, and a dorm at Berkeley, and I preferred the dorm, because being in an apartment is isolating, she said before casting her vote against recruiting a development partner. Being able to have the college experience of eating in a community (setting) and being with other people from all over the world is a great experience. I dont think we should make the assumption that students want to be in apartments; that (idea) should come from them. However, a choice of developer is not imminent much less designs, layouts or capacity giving the college the chance to deliberate, according to Kraft. Theres a lot of ambiguity in a project like this, a lot of moving parts, he said. Were in no rush and we shouldnt be in a rush. We dont have to be turnkey in a year, or even two years; it will take time to unpack this. Offshore wind turbines are about to become higher than the Eiffel Tower, allowing the industry to supply subsidy-free clean power to the grid on a massive scale for the first time. Manufacturers led by Siemens are working to almost double the capacity of the current range of turbines, which already have wing spans that surpass those of the largest jumbo jets. The expectation those machines will be on the market by 2025 was at the heart of contracts won by German and Danish developers last week to supply electricity from offshore wind farms at market prices by 2025. Just three years ago, offshore wind was a fringe technology more expensive than nuclear reactors and sometimes twice the cost of turbines planted on land. The fact that developers such as Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg AG and Dong Energy A/S are offering to plant giant turbines in stormy seas without government support show the economics of the energy business are shifting quicker than anyone thought possible and adding competitive pressure on the dominant power generation fuels coal and natural gas. Dong and EnBW are banking on turbines that are three to four times bigger than those today, said Keegan Kruger, analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance. They will be crucial to bringing down the cost of energy. About 50 miles (80 kilometers) off the coastline in the German North Sea, where the local fish and seagulls dont complain about the view of turbines in their back yards, offshore wind technology is limited only to how big the turbines can grow. Dong has said it expects machines able to produce 13 to 15 megawatts each for its projects when theyre due to be completed in the middle of the next decade much bigger than the 8-megawatt machines on the market now. Just one giant 15-megawatt turbine would produce power more cheaply than five 3-megawatt machines, or even two with an 8-megawatt capacity. Thats because bigger turbines can produce the same power from a fewer number of foundations and less complex grid connections. The wind farms layout can be made more efficient, and fewer machines means less maintenance. Right now, we are developing a bigger turbine, said Bent Christensen, head of cost of energy at Siemens Wind Power A/S, in a phone interview. But how big it will be we dont know yet. Larger turbines are heavier, placing a natural limit on size, said Christensen. Lightweight materials such as carbon fiber may be required to reduce the heaviness of the rotor and the blades as the turbines grow. If we just go 10 years back, nobody could imagine what were doing today, he said. When you try to predict the future you have to be quite careful. The scale of the turbines may not even stop at 15 megawatts. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, a unit of Lockheed Martin is working on components for a possible 50-megawatt turbine that would have blades 100 meters (about 328 feet) long. These gigantic blades would be able to fold away to reduce the risk of damage at dangerous wind speeds. Siemens, along with Vestas Wind Systems and General Electric, are advising on the research program thats funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. In the nearer term, Denmark, the home of wind energy, last month said it would expand the countrys main offshore wind test site to demonstrate turbines that will soar as high as 330 meters, taller than the Eiffel Tower. That could take the generation capacity past 10 megawatts, enabling turbine makers like Vestas and Siemens to challenge the boundaries of current capacity. The question of turbine capacity and wing span has never really been an issue from a technological perspective, Jens Tommerup, chief executive of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind A/S, a partnership Vestas has with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, said in an email. We have already taken the capacity of our 8-megawatt platform to 9-megawatt. The real question is what can the market support. Turbines will get bigger if developers and governments allow. The answer lies more in stable, visible volume targets rather than the technology itself, Tommerup said. The auction in Germany was a jaw-dropping moment for industry analysts, many of whom expected a steady decline in prices but not another record. Deep-sea projects in Germany and the cable arrays needed to reach substations off the coast make these developments more complex than in neighboring states. The idea that Dong and EnWB bid for zero subsidy was a shock and a first for projects of this scale. This is a wake up call that the fossil-fuel power industry in Europe is on its way out, Urs Wahl, manager of public affairs at Germanys Offshore Wind Industry Allianz, said in a phone interview. The previous record low price was 49.90 euros a megawatt hour, won by Vattenfall AB in September. Bloomberg New Energy Finance had anticipated bids near 55 euros. The average price in the end was just 4.40 euros per megawatt-hour because one Dong Energy project secured a subsidy of 60 euros per megawatt-hour. The others bid zero, meaning theyll get paid at market electricity prices. This option is opening up now as a subsidy-free production of electricity, said Magnus Hall, chief executive officer of Vattenfall, in an interview in Brussels on Wednesday. That really moves offshore into a perspective of continued growth. Competition in the German round may have been even tougher than other recent contests because it was the last chance for developers to win contracts for projects theyve worked on for years, according to Deepa Venkateswaran, analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. The surprise result highlights that developers appear to be increasingly banking on scale including cost cuts expected in the future and perhaps higher wholesale power prices, said analysts at Jefferies Group. The industrys relentless focus on efficiency and cost cuts have come at a big price for turbine makers. Vestas, which has installed more turbines than any other company, closed a third of its factories and cut more than 3,000 jobs to deal with three years of losses stemming from declining turbine prices. South Koreas CS Wind Corp., a turbine-tower maker, cut 54 jobs at a factory in Scotland on April 18, saying that extremely low prices requested by developers of projects created gaps in its order book. Clearly, this puts us all under pressure, Ralf Peters, a spokesman for turbine maker Nordex SE, said in a phone interview from Hamburg. His company, which builds only onshore machines, has already seen how ultra-low bids in the onshore wind market in Chile are squeezing the supply chain. There is something unforgettable that comes with the simple act of walking. As if each step were a careful brush stroke and each breath the precise word to a poem. This makes our walks something we won't easily forget. Walking helps us archive moments and organize our thoughts so they can be coherently expressed and handed down seven generations hence and beyond. There is also something about walking that invites recall. Walking takes us down memory lane, it makes us reminiscent and mindful. In fact, the Latin root of "memory" comes for memoria, which is derived from memor, meaning "mindfulness." I want us to remember with our feet. I want us to walk. I want us to recollect our thoughts. I want us to invoke mindfulness. I want us to be conscious of our entire surroundings, to connect to nature, and to connect with people. I want us to unearth the ancient, understand the present, and prepare for the future. I want us to be aware of the injuries and perils our environment faces; that it has been, and continues to be, at high risk or irreparable destruction. I want us to remember the people of native first nations that once tended the land, and, with all of us, who still continue to protect it. I want us to bear witness to the damage that we have done, and to seek reconciliation with both the native plants and the native people of Napa, as we work toward reconciliation with the entirety of the world and with ourselves. I invite you to our second annual Healing Walk this Saturday, April 29. We walk from Yountville to downtown Napa as a public display of mindfulness, witnessing, and action. We begin with an indigenous-led water-blessing ceremony and end with native drum and dance. We walk to invoke healing and advocate for the assured protection of our watersheds and the waterways, forests, and wildlife that comprise them. We invite the children and youth to carry our blessed water along the trek to remind us of the world we should leave for them and to prepare them for what is ahead. April 29 is also the People's Climate March, a global and national movement that pushes for policy changes that address socio-economic and environmental impacts of climate change. This year, the march has grown into a call for popular resistance under an administration that threatens to further damage and scar our ecosystems and our communities. It also marks 100 days of resilience since the new administration was sworn in. The Healing Walk and the People's Climate March walk in solidarity this year. The closing ceremony of Healing Walk Napa Valley includes a People's Rally that features local speakers beginning at 2 p.m. at the Oxbow Commons. The walk and rally are free and open to all. May our personal healing translate into interpersonal amends, and may those amends transcend into interspecies compassion. May our Ancestors accompany us in this journey. This is my personal invitation to you, for my ancestors, resilient through 500-plus years, and for all my neighbors, Xulio Soriano Healing Walk Napa Valley, Co-Founder First Nation Mixteca Metis SANTA ROSA -- Police are seeking a man who allegedly stabbed an employee at a Santa Rosa gas station Thursday morning, according to police. At 10:15 a.m., officers received a report of an assault with a knife at a gas station near Morgan Street and College Avenue, police said. There, officers learned that a man had entered the gas station's bathroom. After about 10 minutes, an employee told the man to leave, as the gas station has had problems with people doing drugs inside the bathroom. When the man exited the bathroom, the employee went inside and found blood, a syringe and other drug paraphernalia in the restroom, according to police. Minutes later, the employee exited the bathroom and was near his parked car at the gas station. The man then yelled and made derogatory remarks about the employee's ethnicity. The employee told the man not to comeback to the gas station because of the paraphernalia left behind in the bathroom. The man then ran toward the employee and punched him several times. The victim saw that the man had a small folding knife in his hand, police said. The suspect then ran off, heading north on Morgan Street. After returning inside to the gas station, the victim noticed he had been cut with the knife, suffering a cut to his face and a stab wound to his torso. The victim's injuries were not considered life threatening, according to police. Police were able to obtain surveillance images of the suspect. Anyone with information about his identity is asked to contact Santa Rosa police Officer Matt North at (707) 543-3600. SANTA ROSA -- The director of a Boys and Girls Club after school program in Petaluma was charged in Sonoma County Superior Court Friday with felony child endangerment and possession of child pornography. Benjamin Goerke, 22, of Rohnert Park, did not enter a plea and will return to court May 18. Goerke told the court he intends to hire a private attorney. Rohnert Park police arrested Goerke Monday on suspicion of posting a 6-year-old girl's photo and her personal information on an internet child pornography chat room. He posted bail and was released from the Sonoma County Jail. The Boys and Girls Club of Marin and Petaluma said Goerke has been placed on leave. Goerke is charged with child endangerment, possession of child pornography and unlawful taking of personal information from a data base, Deputy District Attorney Jason Riehl said this morning. Riehl said Goerke faces a state prison term if convicted. Goerke was ordered to not contact the alleged victim. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security informed the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety on March 29 that the girl's photo and personal information were posted on the internet site where images of child pornography are shared and arrangements are made to have the children available for molestation, Rohnert Park police said. The girl's parents confirmed the girl's posted name, Petaluma address and phone number were correct and that her photo was taken at an after school program at a Boys and Girls Club in the Petaluma area, police said. The IP address of the user who posted the photo and information was traced to Goerke's residence on East Cotati Avenue in Rohnert Park, police said. Police got a $50,000 arrest warrant for child endangerment and arrested Goerke at the after school program on Monday. Police said they searched his home and took electronics that access the internet. Goerke admitted taking non-pornographic photos of the girl with his cell phone and accessing her personal information remotely through the Boys and Girls Club's network, Rohnert Park police Cmdr. Aaron Johnson said. Goerke was hired in 2014 and has been the program director of the after school program at the Cinnabar School since January, according to the Boys and Girls Club of Marin and Petaluma. Goerke was subject to multiple background checks, Boys and Girls Club of Marin and Petaluma CEO David Jackson said in a "letter to the community" Tuesday. Members of the committee charged with reevaluating St. Helenas water and sewer rates got their first chance last week to talk to the consultants who helped shape the controversial rate hikes. The council-appointed Ad Hoc Utility Rate Committee peppered consultants with questions for over three hours on April 26, delving into the calculations that produced the rates and the new classification system that has caused some restaurants sewer bills to multiply by a factor of 20. Rate consultant Catherine Hansford, who calculated the new rates, answered questions along with municipal finance consultant Kenneth Dieker and bond counsel David Fama. Hansford defended the decision to eliminate the old tiered rate structure, in which the cost of water would increase as individual customers used more. Flattening the rate structure resulted in everyone having to pay more, but Hansford said it was made necessary by a legal case involving the city of San Juan Capistrano. The court ruled that customers rates must reflect the actual cost of service. California cities can no longer charge tiered rates unless they can prove that as customers use more water, the cost of providing that water gets more expensive. St. Helenas conjunctive water portfolio of groundwater, Bell Canyon reservoir water and water pumped in from the city of Napa doesnt meet that standard, since the city is contractually required to buy the expensive Napa water regardless of need, Hansford said. I truly do not believe that you can have a tiered system, she said. Hansford said the same legal standard forced the city to eliminate the old Meadowood surcharge, which also couldnt be justified. The old rate structure charged customers based on the size of their water meter, but the new rates are based on customer classification. That shift heavily affected restaurants like Gillwoods that say they are on the verge of being driven out of business after their base sewer charge jumped from $42 a month to $842. Hansford said the new restaurant charge was based on the type of sewage generated by restaurants, which is more expensive to treat because it contains food waste. But committee members still questioned why the rate structure lumps restaurants into one category, whether the business is selling pre-made ice cream or operating as a full-blown restaurant. If Im a hot dog stand and Im sending a gallon to the wastewater treatment plant, or Im a restaurant and Im sending 100 gallons, why should the base rate be the same? asked committee Vice Chair Tom Vence. Hansford said that the trend is toward having fewer customer categories, and St. Helenas new rate structure is very industry standard. But the city could create new categories or eliminate the base rates and make commercial sewer charges solely dependent on each business water use, she said. Fama said the rate hikes will help the city comply with its bond covenants, which require the systems net revenues to exceed its annual debt service by 120 percent. Being out of compliance with those agreements was a fairly serious matter that called for immediate action, Fama said. Reducing the rates to a point where the city would fall back below the 120 percent threshold would restrict the citys ability to borrow money and put it at risk of default on its bonds, Fama said. Dieker also cautioned against diverting money from the General Fund to pay for the removal of the Upper York Creek Dam, a popular idea among critics of the new rates. While that would be legal, he said cities throughout California need to maintain strong financial reserves because they could see their CalPERS pension costs double over the next five years. However, committee members continued to question whether ratepayers should be solely responsible for the cost of removing the dam since it isnt part of St. Helenas modern water system. The committees next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, May 8 at Vintage Hall. I strongly condemn yesterdays attacks on members of Parliament in Skopje. Violence has no place in any parliament. I call on all political actors to show calm, restraint, and respect for the democratic process. Political dialogue is the only reasonable and appropriate way forward, and is in the best interest of all citizens of the country. A majority of members of Parliament have elected a new speaker of Parliament. This is a positive step in resolving the ongoing political impasse. The democratic process must be respected. The authorities have a solemn responsibility to uphold the rule of law, and ensure the security of Parliament and its members at all times. Acts of violence like those we saw yesterday must not be allowed to happen again. (Natural News) What is Earth Day, really? In the decades since its founding, several incidents have marred what was supposed to be a celebration of the environment and a day where people are made aware of the many effects of pollution. One grisly event that most people are not aware of is the observances connection with one environmental activist, Ira Samuel Einhorn. If the name sounds vaguely familiar, that may be because Einhorn has since become notorious for one other thing: the murder of his girlfriend. The Unicorn Killer Born into a middle-class Jewish family, Einhorn was a left-leaning radical gifted with a wicked rhetoric. He nicknamed himself Unicorn because his surname translates to one horn in German. The Prince of Flower Power rubbed elbows with some of the most prominent figures and celebrities of the era while still a student at the University of Pennsylvania. Jack Kerouac, Isaac Asimov, and Allen Ginsberg were counted among his circle of friends. Einhorn even managed to endear himself to corporate personalities, selling blueprints of the future to CEOS and convincing them that funneling their resources into ecological projects could save the world. His time as the Guru of Peace of Love would eventually introduce him to Holly Maddux, a member of the womens liberation movement. Maddux was initially drawn to Einhorns magnetic nature. However, she soon discovered that this political icon was not what he seemed. After years of enduring physical abuse, Maddux fled to New York where she attempted to sever ties with Einhorn over the phone. In response, Einhorn threatened to dispose of her belongings if she didnt return to pick them up. Maddux returned to Philadelphia on September 9, 1977 and was never seen again. Einhorn told police that Maddux disappeared after going out buy tofu and sprouts. No more than 18 months later, the truth was revealed after neighbors complained of a foul-smelling, reddish-brown liquid that leaked from the ceiling below Einhorns bedroom closet. A police search turned up the badly beaten and partially mummified body of Maddux. They found her stuffed into a trunk packed with newspapers, air fresheners, and Styrofoam. Before Einhorn could begin his trial, he jumped bail and spent 23 years evading authorities by hiding out all over Europe. He was finally tracked down and arrested on June 13, 1997 in Champagne-Mouton, France, where had been living under the alias Eugene Mallon. He was extradited to the United States from France over four years later. (Related: See more investigations of people and events at RealInvestigations.news.) During his trial in 2002, Einhorn took the stand in his own defense. He claimed that Maddux had been murdered by CIA agents because she knew too much about the agencys paranormal military research, an article in the DailyCaller.com stated. Einhorn was convicted of Madduxs murder on October 17, 2002 and is serving a life sentence without parole. Earth Day today Organizers have understandably distanced themselves from Einhorn, the man who claimed to have been responsible for the environmental movement. (Related: How Earth Day could reinvent itself as relevant). John Opperman, Executive Director of the Earth Day Initiative, has said in a statement to OZY.com that he was one of the millions of people who got involved in the first Earth Day in 1970, before adding that Einhorn was somewhat involved in helping put together the event in Philadelphia. You can read more pieces concerning the environment by visiting Environ.news. Sources include: DailyCaller.com CrimeFeed.com CrimeAndInvestigation.co.uk OZY.com "The M90FR R&D work [the M55R CODOG power plant for the Project 22350 frigate] with 27,500 hp is being carried out under a state contract signed between Russias Industry and Trade Ministry and the Saturn Company and will be completed in December 2017," the press office said. Under the R&D work "Assault Hovercraft Components", the United Engine Corporation is developing the M70FRU-2 gas-turbine engine and the M35R-1, M35R-2 and M70R ship gas-turbine power units with 10,000 hp. As far as the two R&D works are concerned, the corporation has worked out the design documentation, organized the production and manufactured prototype gas-turbine engines. The third R&D work, the M70FRU-R, aims to develop the M70FRU-R engine with a reversible power turbine, which is expected to replace foreign-made analogs mounted on Russian ships. The corporation has worked out the design documentation, organized the production and is currently manufacturing prototypes. Earlier, Russian warships, in particular, the Project 22350 and 11356 frigates, were equipped with propulsion units of Ukraines Zorya-Mashproekt Company. In the early 2000s, the Russian Navys command adopted the concept of developing gas-turbine engines and units for Navy surface ships to stop the dependence on Ukrainian supplies and entrusted the job to the Saturn Company in Rybinsk. Copyright 2016 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. It also does not reflect the views of the Firm of which the Author is working for. Since the inception of this blog, the Author has avoided writing views and opinions of his clients or views and opinions which third parties has paid him to write. The Author has maintained editorial independence since Day One. Any individual or group affected by the opinions and views of the Author can write the author thru mangubat.patricio@gmail.com. Opinions and views expressed in this blog are personal views of the Author and does not involve organisations and companies being serviced by the Author as part of his profession as a Strategic Communications professional. The Association of American Universities (AAU), an association of 62 leading research universities, including Emory, published this week a data-rich report on the actions its members are taking to prevent and respond to sexual assault and sexual misconduct on their campuses. The report, based on the results of a new survey, shows that AAU universities are making significant improvements, and devoting substantial resources, to their efforts to address the issue. Over the past two years, under the auspices of the University Senate Committee for the Prevention of Sexual Violence, Emory has completed and reported findings from two comprehensive surveys, the first on student experience and attitudes regarding sexual violence, and a similar survey to explore faculty and staff members perspectives of workplace climate and knowledge of sex discrimination policies. Results from the surveys have provided the university with data to develop comprehensive, evidence-based strategies to greatly reduce sexual violence within the Emory community. Emory consistently works to improve ways to measure the effectiveness of policies, programs and interventions related to the prevention of sexual violence, says Vice Provost Lynell Cadray, whose Office of Equity and Inclusion oversees compliance with Title IX and other federal policies related to equal opportunity/affirmative action. Most recently, Emory has instituted mandatory education/advocacy training on the topic of sexual violence prevention for all faculty, staff and students; increased our data collection and monitoring of policies and procedures; and focused on creating a comprehensive, university-wide approach to addressing the issue," she notes. Some key findings of the new AAU report include: Humanitarian Action Students Advocate for Ethiopian Scholar at Risk Students enrolled in service learning course IL152 International Human Rights/PO390 Politics Seminar recently hosted a Free Dr. Gerba Week to illuminate the plight of Scholar At Risk (SAR) Professor Bekele Gerba and his situation in Ethiopia. Students of Dr. Janie Leatherman, professor of politics and international studies and Dr. Alfred Babo, sociology and international studies professor, have taken up the case of Professor Bekele Gerba, a foreign language professor at the University of Addis Ababa. At the time of his arrest, Dr. Gerba held the position of First Secretary General of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), a political party. He is a nonviolent activist, who has promoted nonviolent action and translated materials on nonviolence, such as by Martin Luther King. Free Dr. Gerba Week kicked off with a Snapchat takeover, a #Free Gerba photo booth and Ethiopian food. Day two featured a student panel in Loyola followed by a research symposium in the library. A petition was made available throughout the week which concluded with a cupcake give away. Dr. Leatherman said Fairfield students advocacy efforts have helped to bring international attention to Dr. Bekele Gerbas case. Students were successful in raising student awareness on campus about rights to education and freedoms necessary to exercise it, such as freedom of speech. Dr. Janie Leatherman continued, The CT Post's coverage of their campaign was also instrumental in spreading awareness not only locally or state-wide but also internationally. That article was republished in Europe and Ethiopia press, and via other major African news sites. Through advocacy work and while examining basic human rights, philosophy, principles, instruments and institutions in a global context, students have learned about human rights abuses in Ethiopia and Dr. Bekele Gerbas case, specifically the mistreatment of the Oromo people, Gerbas leadership of their nonviolent movement and more recent episodes of oppression and killings by the government. The research they have conducted for Scholars at Risk includes a background on the history and government of Ethiopia, its current geo-strategic relations, foreign policy, domestic politics, and other concerns, such as the famine Ethiopia currently is facing in parts of the country. Students are preparing an advocacy report on Dr. Gerba that will assist Scholars at Risk in its work to highlight his case internationally, advocate for him, and endeavor to protect his human rights and ultimately secure his release and safety. Through this process, students gain skills in research, writing, communication, teamwork and advocacy, and a specialized understanding of human rights violations in the context of higher education. The students have carried out research on four stakeholders: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the US Department of State's Bureau of Human Rights, Democracy and Labor, the European Parliament and the African Union. Last year, Dr. Leatherman and her students were asked by Scholars at Risk to help work on policy research surrounding the case of Dr. Mohammad Hossein Rafiee, a retired Iranian chemistry professor, who had been imprisoned in Tehran. His case was fraught with layers of complexities, decades of sanctions on Iran and the nuclear accord. In September, after spending 15 months prison, Dr. Rafiee was released on medical furlough and was allowed to recuperate at home, without guards. Scholars at Risk Advocacy Director, Clare Farne Robinson said Fairfields research and advocacy were instrumental in moving Dr. Rafiee's case forward. Recognizing the efforts of Dr. Leathermans and Dr. Babos students on behalf of Dr. Gerba, Robinson said, I have been thoroughly impressed with the students' commitment to this case, the leadership they've demonstrated in their actions, and their creative advocacy. 15:43 The Centre today told the Supreme Court it was ready to talk to recognised political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to resolve the crisis there, but not with the separatists. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi made it clear that the government would come to the negotiating table only if the recognised parties participate in the dialogue and not the separatist elements. He made the submissions before a bench, comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul, while rubbishing the claim of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association that the Centre was not coming forward for discussion and dialogue to resolve the crisis. Rohatgi said recently the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of the state held a meeting to discuss the situation. The bench asked the Association to come with suggestions to resolve the crisis, including stone-pelting and violent agitation on the streets of the Kashmir Valley. The apex court made it clear to the bar body that it would have to come out with suggestions after talking to all stakeholders and cannot shy away by saying that they do not represent everybody in Kashmir. It said there was need for a positive start and the bar body could play an important role by coming out with a gameplan and a roadmap for restoring normalcy in the Valley. The bench also made it clear to the Centre that the court would involve itself in the matter only if there was a view that it can play a role and there was no jurisdictional issue. "If you feel the court has no role and if you feel we have no jurisdiction, we will close the file at this moment," the bench told the AG who, at the fag end of the hearing, objected to some of the suggestions made by the bar body including that the separatists were being ignored. The bench also said both the parties have to take a joint step but the first step has to come from the lawyers' body which has approached the apex court. It also said it was aware that the situation in Kashmir Valley was not very palatable, while posting the matter for further hearing on May 9. The apex court was hearing hearing an appeal filed by Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association against the High Court order seeking stay on the use of pellet guns as a large number of people had been killed or injured due to their use. During the last hearing on April 10, the Centre had told the Supreme Court it was exploring a crowd control option that is akin to rubber bullets but not as lethal as pellet guns that are being used currently as a last resort to quell violence in the Valley. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court had on September 22 rejected the plea seeking a ban on use of pellet guns on the ground that the Centre had already constituted a Committee of Experts through its memorandum of July 26, 2016 for exploring alternatives to pellet guns. 21:02 The Congress accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of politicising the triple talaq issue and even suggested that the saffron party was trying to drive a wedge between Muslim women and their husbands to create a new vote bank. Senior Congress spokesperson Ghulam Nabi Azad said no other political party except the BJP and its ideological mentor the RSS are trying to politicise the issue. The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said no Muslim believes in triple talaq and the practice is adhered to as per the holy book in which certain norms and time-frame have been laid. "When the society is already discussing this issue of triple talaq and the court is looking into it, then why is the BJP unnecessarily coming in between Muslim women and their Muslim husbands. The BJP should not make attempts at creating a new vote bank," he told reporters. Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement urging Muslims not to view the issue of triple talaq from political perspective, he alleged that it was the Prime Minister who was politicising the issue. "He is the biggest champion of politicising the issue. He is the champion and he started it. And to say not to politicise it, is itself politicising it," he said, adding that the Prime Minister should exercise restraint and rein in his partymen. Azad asked if any other political party was seen raising the issue except BJP and RSS. He said if any other leader was saying so, it was only in response to what the BJP is saying. "BJP leaders and the RSS have been making this a political agenda before and during the elections. This is the agenda of the BJP and the RSS to politicise it. Other parties have only responded," he said. White-handed gibbons are forest-dwelling small apes. They have long arms, which help them swing from tree branch to tree branch as they travel. They are bipedal and walk upright on the ground or across tree branches. These gibbons are in Khao Yai National Park in Thailand. (Photo provided) Scholar reflects on three decades of field research by Andrea Hahn CARBONDALE, Ill. After nearly 30 years, they seem to recognize his footsteps and his voice. When Ulrich H. Reichard, associate professor of anthropology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, goes into Thailands Khao Yai National Park rainforest alone, the family group of gibbons hes been studying since 1989 go about their business and ignore him. For a researcher in the field, its good to be ignored. When Reichard brings along someone else, perhaps a student researcher, the gibbons initially draw back, showing caution. When I bring someone new, I put a hand on the person or stand physically close so the gibbons recognize that person as a sort of companion and not threatening, he said. Other researchers have noticed similar behavior. We have to be careful not to anthropomorphize, to give human personalities to gibbons. As scientists, we cant make assumptions about behavior. But they do seem to recognize me. Justin DAgostino, a Fulbright Scholar, is a Reichard advisee, and will use his Fulbright scholarship to study siamang, a large gibbon species, in Indonesia beginning in September. Florian Trebouet, a doctoral student, is currently in Thailand studying, not gibbons but stump-tailed macaques, a study he began in 2009 and continues with Reichards advisement. Reichard said sometimes students find field research intimidating once they realize how much more difficult and uncertain it is than laboratory research. However, the rewards, he said, are incalculable. I find that the animals Ive been studying so long mean a lot to me, he said. There is a happiness I only experience in the field, Im happy to be there. Of course, its not just happiness that brings him back to Khao Yai. Its research, some of it grant-funded. Reichard has recently put some of what hes learned during the years into a new book, Evolution of Gibbons and Siamang: Phylogeny, Morphology, and Cognition. The book is available from Springer Nature, an academic publisher of books in the sciences. Gibbons are members of the ape family, but as small apes they dont get as much attention as the great apes the gorilla, orangutan, bonobo and chimpanzee. There are 20 species of gibbon, a wealth of species diversity not available in the great apes. Thats one reason he studies them, Reichard said. Another reason is that he listened to his adviser, Professor Volker Sommer from UCL London. I had absolute trust in my adviser, he said. He helped set me up with contacts in Thailand so I could study white-handed gibbons and he told me it was something I could do, something that would work as a source of research for a long time. He was right. So every year since 1989, almost without fail, hes spent approximately three weeks during the summer with the gibbons, often paying for his research time and travel out of his own pocket by teaching extra classes. What are some of the things hes learned? Gibbons sing. They are much more vocal than other apes. Their songs are often male and female duets, a sort of antiphone, or alternating voice duet. It seems to be a ritual that may define their territory and strengthen their bond as a mated couple. But it might also be a bit competitive. Younger females sing more difficult songs, Reichard said, while older gibbon females sing more simply. The vocalization, which requires energy and carries for as much as a kilometer in the forest, may be a show of strength or reproductive desirability. He's also found that gibbons, thought to be monogamous, are known to trade in old partners for newer, apparently stronger, mates. We dont know exactly what causes that, Reichard said. When a young gibbon is ready to mate, opportunity has a lot to do with what is available. It might be that when a new opportunity presents itself, younger gibbons may take advantage of it. Much of Reichards research is evolution oriented. Gibbons occupy an important but somewhat mysterious place in the evolution of human beings. Though we have a common ancestor many millennia ago, gibbons were the first ape to branch off the hominoid tree. As such, they are not always included in evolutionary studies the way the great apes, who are closer to humans, are. Reichard said its time to bring the gibbon back into the human evolutionary fold. Reichard has also studied gibbon locomotion. While they are climbers, they travel mainly by brachiation -- swinging from tree limb to tree limb with an arm over arm motion. When they are on the ground, they walk bipedal and upright for short distances. The great apes, however, are mostly knuckle-walkers they sit upright but mostly move in a four-limbs-on-the-ground fashion. There is a debate among anthropologists and other scientists about the place of brachiation in human evolution. Reichard believes the bipedal nature of brachiation qualifies gibbons to remain in the evolutionary discussion. The argument for excluding gibbons fairly early in the human evolution process has to do with their size specifically brain size. Reichard, and those who agree that gibbons should not be discounted too early in the human evolutionary timeline, argue that absolute brain size is less important that relative brain size that while the gibbon is smaller than chimpanzees and other great apes, its relative cognitive ability renders it important for the study of human evolution. They are not dumb dwarf apes, Reichard said. Other factors than a failure to evolve cognitively account for their size. Other factors include gibbon populations existing in isolated microclimates in the Miocene epoch that affected them differently even though great ape species existed nearby and do not show the same climate-based morphological, or physical, changes. The answer, Reichard suspects, is in paleo-primatology the study of the primate fossil record. Ive always been interested in gibbon evolution, Reichard said. Ive wanted to go in that direction as the next logical step in my academic career. I know gibbons in a way few do I dont mean to exaggerate but there arent many scientists whove been in the field for such a long time over the years. As for evolution, we still have many questions about our common ancestor with the apes. The gibbon has played a role and we need to include them in the discussion. Ulrich Reichard is available to discuss white-handed gibbons or topics in primate evolution. Contact him at ureich@siu.edu. Recording siamang Justin DAgostino uses a Marantz professional audio recorder with a Sennheiser shotgun microphone to capture high-quality recordings of wild siamang vocalizations. While the very loud conversations can be heard more than 1.5 kilometers away in the forest, capturing recordings that can be statistically analyzed necessitates being within 300 meters of the gibbons, DAgostino said. (Photo provided) Graduate student wins Fulbright scholarship by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduate student Justin DAgostino is the recipient of a J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship award to study the origins of language flexibility by investigating how globalization impacts primate vocalizations. A doctoral anthropology student, DAgostino will spend a minimum of 10 months in Indonesia, flying into Jakarta in September to do field work in Sikundur and Batang Toru on the island of Sumatra. His project, Effects of anthropogenic noise on the natural calling behavior of wild siamang, involves testing how human-induced noise affects the loud, long, almost daily duets of the siamangs the largest of the gibbons. DAgostino said the implications of his study extend well beyond the black furry mammals. One of the most important parts of my doctoral education here at SIU is learning how to put this into an evolutionary perspective. It is possible, but at the same time quite difficult, to clearly show that if a close relative to humans, with a similar vocalization system, is impacted by noise, then all modern humans are also likely susceptible, he said. This project also has important conservation implications and could show that these animals are impacted not only by direct deforestation, but also by subtle things like human noise. In addition to his research, DAgostino, in partnership with Syiah Kuala University, Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari and the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program, will work with local field guides and make educational presentations in local schools and villages, engaging the community in his work and explaining the research. He said that during his time in Indonesia, he hopes to expand my established research skillset and my Bahasa, Indonesia, language competency. I want to contribute to primate communication research and honor the local culture by conversing with Indonesians in their native language. In addition to collecting data to finish my Ph.D. at SIU, I am also making a documentary of this experience, titled From Captivity to the Jungle, to share this amazing experience with family, friends and anyone else who is curious about this research adventure. A native of Alexandria, Va., DAgostino grew up in Bowie, Md., and the surrounding Washington, D.C. area. He moved to San Francisco at the age of 17 and earned a bachelors degree in biology at San Francisco State University in 2009. He completed his masters degree in anthropology in 2015 at California State University in Los Angeles before coming to SIU, where he has focused on primatology as he works toward his doctoral degree. While presenting his masters research at the International Primatological Society Congress in Vietnam in 2014, DAgnostino met his current SIU adviser, Ulrich H. Reichard, associate professor of anthropology. He was impressed by the young man who had already completed several intensive primate research studies and who had had articles published about the flexibility of gibbon learning and loud calls in long-tailed red langurs, an Asian monkey. DAgostino has also conducted a pilot study in Indonesia for the Fulbright project, following the agile primates through rugged terrain to observe the creatures, which are among the 20 species of gibbons currently listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as threatened, endangered or critically endangered. DAgostino said hes thankful that SIU has been very supportive of him and his research. Recently, he was chosen as one of the six recipients of the 2017 Graduate Professional Student Council Research Awards, which will also provide financial assistance for his research. I have loved my experience here at SIU, working with supportive faculty and staff to enable me to do something very important to the human species hypothesis-driven scientific research, DAgnostino said. Im very honored to accept this prestigious scholarship and become a member of the Fulbright family. This experience is professionally and personally rewarding. After completing his Fulbright project and his doctorate at SIU, DAgnostino said he plans to become an anthropology professor and continue doing research until my brain and body cannot do it anymore. (Editors: Please note related news release, also distributed to you today, on Ulrich H. Reichard, associate professor of anthropology, and his gibbons research.) Touch of Nature to host open house, paddling event by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondales Touch of Nature Environmental Center is hosting a free open house and community paddling event this spring. Breaking the Surface will take place May 6 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the center, located about eight miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road. Visitors can venture onto Little Grassy Lake aboard various people-powered watercraft or enjoy the other amenities offered at the experiential learning facility. Activities include the climbing wall, the zip line and a hike along Rocky Ledges Trail. Canoes, paddle boards and paddle boats will be available for use throughout the day at no charge. Paddlers may also bring their own boats but must have a current Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge sticker before launching; day passes will be available for purchase at the event. Refreshments may be purchased at the open house and paddling event. Free shuttle transportation rides will be available from the SIU Student Center to Touch of Nature and back. The shuttle will depart the Student Center at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and make return trips from Touch of Nature to SIU at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. To learn more about Touch of Nature Environmental Center or Breaking the Surface, visit www.ton.siu.edu, call 618/453-1121, or email tonec@siu.edu. Among the tops in web development -- Four members of a Southern Illinois University Carbondale student web development team after finishing third in the Association for Information Technology Professionals National Conference and Career Fair in St. Louis. From left, are: Lee Cooper, Ren Jing, Hallie Martin and Matthew Gross. A fifth member, Cody Lingle, was unavailable for the photo. All five students are seniors in the Information Systems Technologies program. (Photo by Russell Bailey) Student web development team places third in nation by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. A student web development team comprised of five seniors in Southern Illinois University Carbondales Information Systems Technologies program finished third in the nation earlier this month for their web application. Lee Cooper, Matthew Gross, Ren Jing, Cody Lingle and Hallie Martin competed with their fully functioning website for Ascend, a registered student organization in the College of Business. The team competed at the Association for Information Technology Professionals (AITP) National College Conference and Career Fair in St. Louis. Students are judged on a variety of criteria, including their development process, Nancy Martin, associate professor in the IST program and faculty adviser, said. Students gain valuable experience by completing a full project with a real client and deadline. The team will continue to work on the project until the end of the semester. Kalamazoo Valley Community College finished first among the five teams in the web project competition. One of two entries from Missouri Western State University was second. This is the third year SIU earned a trip to the finals to compete. The students challenge themselves to go beyond classroom to learn new things that are relevant to the job market, Martin said, noting that as an example, they selected a platform and computer language not used in the regular curriculum but that is in demand for web development jobs. Martin noted the teams success is also a sense of accomplishment for faculty, especially to see that our curriculum reflects the demands of the job market and the students are able to apply what they learn in class to a real project. Another key consideration is that students, faculty and companies that attend the event learn that SIU does a great job in preparing students for the job market, Martin said. The team members, by hometown are: Illinois: Centralia Matt Gross Danville Lee Cooper Sesser -- Cody Lingle Georgia: Atlanta -- Hallie Martin China: Simon Institutes 20th anniversary event features Jim Edgar by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar will reflect on 20 years of Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute next week. Edgar will deliver the keynote speech of the institutes spring 2017 event schedule at 6 p.m., Thursday, May 4, in the Student Center Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the institutes founding in 1997. Edgar, the 38th governor of Illinois, signed the documents creating the institute at SIU Carbondale on Sept. 18, 1995 -- prior to Simons retirement from the U.S. Senate in 1997. At the time, Edgar said of Simon and the institute: He will bring a strong commitment to public service, a thoughtful approach to confronting the vital issues of the day, a fundamental decency and unshakable integrity to this important, exciting venture. Jak Tichenor, interim institute director, said it was only appropriate that Edgar be the keynote speaker. Edgar and Simon knew each other from their time in Springfield, and more importantly, both valued bipartisan consensus on tackling some of the tougher issues back in the day, Tichenor said. Prior to serving as governor from 1991 to 1999, Edgar, a Republican from Charleston, was Illinois secretary of state from 1981 to 1991. He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1976 and re-elected in 1978 but resigned in 1979 to serve as legislative liaison to then-Gov. Jim Thompson. Tichenor said he anticipates Edgar will also discuss bipartisanship and consensus building today in the state. Tichenor notes one important accomplishment early in the institutes history while Edgar was governor was passage in 1998 of the first significant campaign finance reform legislation in Illinois in more than 20 years. A bipartisan coalition was able to gain passage of a law prohibiting political fundraisers in Springfield on days the legislature was in session, Tichenor said. When he became governor, Edgar inherited what at the time was the largest deficit in the states history, but was able to eliminate a backlog of $1 billion in unpaid health care bills. During his two terms, Edgar pushed through income tax relief provisions, property tax caps and adequate school funding. He was re-elected in 1994 by the widest plurality of any incumbent Illinois governor and won 101 of the states 102 counties, including Cook County. He left office in 1999 with $1.5 billion in the state coffers for his successor. Edgar was one of the most popular Illinois governors in recent times, Tichenor said. Its obvious that a lot of people will be interested to hear what his thoughts are on the Simon Institutes work on public policy and student education. After leaving office, Edgar was a resident fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He is a distinguished fellow at the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs, and spearheads the Edgar Fellows program. He is president emeritus of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation and serves on several corporate and non-profit boards. With cash flow almost normalising after demonetisation, customers on Friday thronged jewellery shops across the country to usher in Akshaya Tritiya. "We are seeing good footfall in our stores. In the last two months, after demonetisation, people have again started buying gold. We expect sales to go up by 40 per cent this Akshaya Tritiya compared to last year as prices are almost at the same level," Balram Garg, Managing Director, P.C. Jeweller, told IANS. Gold price hovered around Rs 29,000 per 10 grams for 24 Carat purity in the national capital on Friday. Akshaya Tritiya, a holy day for Hindus and Jains, is believed to bring good luck and success. It is considered to be an auspicious day to bring home gold. Buoyant gold sales on Akshaya Tritiya brought cheers to jewelers in Mumbai as well. Retail outlets saw crowds as people made their customary festive purchases on Friday morning. All India Gems & Jewellery Federation President Nitin Khandelwal said the trend to buy god started since Gudi Padva in March and continued owing to the ongoing marriage season. "There are significant crowds in jewellery shops all over and people, more than 75 percent, are opting for big and small items of gold jewelleries," Khandelwal told IANS. Mumbai Jewellers Federation President Rakesh Shetty said given the crowds, especially in suburbs, the gold sales could surpass even the Gudi Padva sales. "Today, the gold prices are Rs 29,300 in Mumbai, coming down over the past few weeks. This has encouraged customers. They are buying both jewellery and coins," Shetty told IANS. "Jewellers are expecting a 20 per cent growth in demand both in volume and value for gold and silver," India Bullion and Jewellers Association's spokeperson Pankaj Parekh told IANS in Kolkata. He said gold price may shoot up soon following international tensions. So, Akshaya Tritiya is seen as the right time to buy gold. Compared to last year's Akshaya Tritiya, the price of gold now is relatively low. The yellow metal's price was over Rs 30,000 per 10 gm in 2016. "Similarly, silver price remains at a lower range at Rs 40,000-41,000 a kg, which is conducive for demand," Parekh said. Bengaluru was no exception. While many people bought gold to ring in good tidings, others chose jewellery as an investment. Some jewellers in Bengaluru felt that demonetisation and restriction on cash payments would continue to affect the sale of gold jewellery and ornaments. --IANS ag-qn-bdc-ymr/mr ( 416 Words) 2017-04-28-13:44:08 (IANS) The Jindal Steel Works Group head's meeting at the hill resort Murree on Wednesday triggered wild speculation that a meeting between Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi may follow, Dawn News reported. Pakistan People's Party member Nafeesa Shah asked at a session of the National Assembly's Standing Committee: "Why is the government quiet regarding the visit of Jindal?" Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Shireen Mazari wondered how Jindal, close to both Modi and Sharif, visited Murree when he only held a visa for Lahore and Islamabad. Jindal and his delegation flew into Islamabad on Wednesday morning and were received by Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz and daughter Maryam Nawaz's son-in-law Raheel Munir. "If he (Jindal) has come on a private visit, why did we receive reports regarding his welcome through the Foreign Office?" Mazari asked. Defending the government, Standing Committee Chairman Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said the Minister for Information had given a clear statement on the Indian businessman's visit. The Dawn quoted analysts as saying that Jindal's visit could be part of a back-channel contact to improve relations between New Delhi and Islamabad that dipped to new low after a Pakistani military court sentence to death alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. The PTI has moved a resolution in the Punjab assembly airing its concern over the Jindal-Sharif meeting. The party was angry over the government's decision to keep Jindal's visit and the meeting a secret. "Jindal's secret visit to Pakistan after Jadhav's death sentence is significant," the party said. The official confirmation of the meeting came after Sharif's daughter tweeted about it. "Jindal is an old friend of the Prime Minister. Nothing 'secret' about the meeting and should not be blown out of proportion. Thank you," she wrote. The JSW Group specializes in steel, energy and infrastructure projects. Jindal was an honoured guest at the wedding of Sharif's grand-daughter in December 2015, the same event which Modi too attended. --IANS py/mr ( 350 Words) 2017-04-28-21:24:08 (IANS) Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari, who concluded his three-day state visit to Poland on Thursday, said it was "very productive" and signalled a new stage in bilateral ties. Addressing the Indian community and Friends of India, Ansari said: "If I say my visit to Poland has been very productive, it will be not an exaggeration. The future of Indo-Polish relationship looks very bright and it is almost ready to take off to new heights. There is almost a perfect understanding between the two democratic states." "The economic progress which Poland has made in the last two decades is very impressive and so is Poland's march towards democracy," he added. Ansari also invited Polish President Andzrej Duda to visit India. Accepting the invitation, Duda said: "I will come to India with a big business delegation. For us, India is a favourite destination. Earlier in the day, Ansari had a formal meeting with Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, where she mentioned the importance of India in international affairs. Later in the evening, she shared the dais with Ansari when she came to speak at the Business Economic Forum. Szydlo said: "We want to see India as our strategic economic partner. Two countries can increase trade and commerce to many folds. Poland is a gateway for India in the European Union because of its strategic location." Seldom any Polish Prime Minister met a foreign dignitary twice in a day. The cordiality and warmth she created with her presence spoke volume of her country's importance attaches to India. Since Poland does not have the post of a Vice President, Szydlo herself took the centrestage to be the perfect hostess for Ansari's visit. This gesture went very well with the Indian delegation. Before his departure, Ansari inaugrated the new building of the Indian Embassy. He was greatly impressed with its design and the location of the place. The land was originally purchased way back in 1984 and it took many years to clear the project by the Ministry of External Affairs. Ansari arrived in Warsaw on Wednesday evening. He is accompanied by his wife Salma Ansari. Earlier, the Vice President visited Armenian capital Yerevan on April 25 and 26. --IANS bhutani/vd ( 380 Words) 2017-04-28-23:00:08 (IANS) Rishi Kapoor, who is known for his outspoken nature, went on a Twitter rant to show his displeasure over current 'generation stars' over not attending the funeral of yesteryear's superstar Vinod Khanna. In a series of tweets, the 64-year-old-actor showed his disappointment at the film fraternity for attending the funeral in such small numbers. He started his rant by saying, "Shameful. Not ONE actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect." He did not stop there and said that he is very angry with today's "so-called stars" for attending Priyanka Chopra's event last night in big numbers but not Vinod Khanna's funeral. The veteran actor tweeted, "Why this? Including mine and thereafter.When I die, I must be prepared.None will shoulder me. Very very angry with today's so called stars. Angry. Met so many chamcha people last night at Priyanka Chopra's do last night. Few at Vinod's. So fuckn transparent. So angry with them." When asked about his son Ranbir Kapoor and wife Neetu Kapoor, who are currently not in the country he said, "Yes it has been expressed earlier on social media my wife and Ranbir are out of the country. Would never had been reason not to be there." The B-Town celebrities who attended the funeral ceremony include Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Dia Mirza, Arjun Rampal, and Chunkey Pandey among others. Bollywood icon Vinod Khanna breathed his last on Thursday. The veteran actor was hospitalised and later discharged from HN Reliance Foundation and Research Centre in Girgaum, Mumbai due to severe dehydration. He was also reportedly battling cancer for years. (ANI) Shah Rukh Khan is second to none when it comes to bringing the house down with his witty one-liners, sense of humour and an inherent charm. Becoming the first Indian actor to address a TED conference in Vancouver, SRK spoke on a host of topics ranging from aging process and humanity to his films. But what served as the icing on the cake was the special 'lungi dance'. "For years, I've been a huge fan of TED Talks. There are so many people in India who would like to come out with their ideas and thoughts, and speak them in Hindi," SRK said. The 'Raees' star also announced that he would be hosting the new TED show in India and that too, in Hindi. The superstar may be aging, but that surely doesn't seem to bother him much. "Aging is not a problem to fix or a disease to be cured. It is a powerful, lifelong process that unites us all," SRK opined, adding, "why should 'aging well' mean struggling to look and move like younger versions of ourselves? Ageism feeds on denial, our reluctance to acknowledge that we are going to become that older person." Be it his speech at the Edinburgh University or the Dhirubhai Ambani International School, SRK is well-known for his philosophical yet quirky takes on life and the lessons it gives. "Humanity is a lot like me. It's an aging movie star, grappling with all the newness, wondering whether she got it right," the actor shared, adding, "we had expected an expansion of ideas and dreams, not bargained for the enclosure of judgement." The highlight of the show, however, was the 'lungi dance' - a routine the star has been following ever since he and Deepika Padukone danced to the peppy number in the promotional video for his movie 'Chennai Express'. For the unversed, TED Talks is a series of influential conferences and videos, where expert speakers talk about new ideas revolving around education, business, science, life, technology and much more. (ANI) Following Sadhvi Pragya Thakur's accusations of being a victim of Congress' conspiracy, the grand old party on Friday said it was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that helped the former in getting bail. Congress' Raju Waghmare quoted the government's counsel in the Malegaon Blast case, who alleged the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of putting pressure on her to go slow, saying that there was a scheme to let Pragya get bail. "The Congress Party has a history that it always deals fairly with any individual or any political party. The Congress has never resorted to revenge politics. Regarding Sadhvi Pragya case, the government lawyer Rohini Salian said that the NIA is putting pressure on her to go slow. If the government lawyer says this, it shows there is conspiracy to let Sadhvi Pragya get bail, and not to put charges against her," Waghmare told ANI. Congress' Surender Rajput resonated the same, saying that the BJP moulded some acts of the Constitution which helped Pragya in getting bail. "As per the Constitution, the security agencies have put charges against her, and not the Congress. The court must have found her guilty and that is she why she was in jail for so long. However, the BJP moulded some acts of the Constitution which helped her in getting bail. The court is yet to give its verdict regarding the same. Sadhvi Pragya should remain patience. She is a criminal and she will be given stringent punishment by the court," Rajput told ANI. Days after getting bail from the Bombay High Court, Sadhvi Pragya yesterday alleged that she was a victim of the Congress government's conspiracy. "I am a victim of Congress government's conspiracy, I suffered nine years of injustice," Thakur said. Thakur criticised Congress leader P. Chidambaram for linking saffron to terrorism. "For misbeliever, saffron is always linked to terrorism, because they are afraid of it. For the demon, saffron is the strongest weapon," she added. Thakur said she would undergo treatment and blamed the Mumbai Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) for her ailment. "In 2008, I was illegally taken by the ATS Mumbai and for 13 days I was held captive. I was tortured. I used to be physically fit, but I am not fit now and the ATS is responsible for that," she said. On Tuesday, Thakur was granted bail. She was directed to submit her passport to the National Investigative Agency (NIA) court and appear on the dates mentioned before the trial court. The NIA had informed the court that it had no objection to the court granting bail to Thakur. The blast took place on September 29, 2008 opposite the Shakil Goods Transport Company in Malegaon. It was caused by an explosive device fitted to a motorcycle. In 2009, the ATS chargesheeted 12 alleged 'Hindu extremists', including Col. Purohit and Thakur for the crime. The ATS chargesheet stated that Thakur 's scooter was used for the blast by prime accused Ram Kalsangra (absconding). (ANI) When the whole world is completely dependent on technology, then why to worry about the problems in a marriage. The apps will do the job for you and save the marriage! - Fix a Fight allows you to not just patch up after a nasty fight with your partner, but also allows you to be really open and honest with them. This is a must-have app that every married couple should invest in. When the fight is too personal and matters too serious that you wouldn't even want to share them with your best friend or your mom, a third party way of looking at things is just what is needed and that's why Fix a Fight is so important! - Kindu ist he perfect cure for wedlock boredom. When you have been in a marriage for a very long time, it can be really difficult to keep up the interest in sex. Partners often take the other's need for granted - this app is designed to help both of you figure out exactly where you are sexually and for both of you to revive that spark in your marriage. Kindu allows your imagination to run wild and for your partner to know where your head is at. (ANI) Stating that India has stoutly and rightly defended its stand during the recent visit of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh, former Foreign Secretary Lalit Mansingh has said that "China respects strength"."China respects strength. It does not worry much about good mannerism and humility," Mr Singh told UNI in a brief interview.He was speaking here on the sidelines of a function yesterday wherein the Dalai Lama received the prestigious M L Sondhi Prize for International Politics for the year 2016."Such gestures of assertiveness (on Dalai Lama's Arunachal visit) is a rare display of firmness and sovereign rights by the Indian government with regards to China. Otherwise, we are used to timidity and playing things safe," he said."I find it refreshing and overdue. My only consideration is that this assertiveness should sustain," the former Foreign Secretary said.Answering a question, he said the particular gesture by the Indian government wherein a Union Minister (Kiren Rijiju) was to accompany the Dalai Lama during his stay in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh all throughout is a "unique gesture" and is "appreciable"."This was refreshing as avoiding reference to Tibet by India did not help India's diplomatic cause with regards to China or otherwise," he said.The External Affairs Ministry had firmly said no "artificial controversy" should be created about the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.The 82-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader had visited Arunachal Pradesh earlier this month when Beijing registered its protest saying, "It (Dalai Lama's visit) goes against the momentum of the sound growth of bilateral relations and will not benefit India in anyway." Braving strong reservation from China, the Indian government stood by its ground with the government making it clear that as a secular country India could not stop a spiritual leader's visit to any part, including Arunachal Pradesh.Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, also considered Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pointman for Arunachal Pradesh affairs, had said, "Arunachal Pradesh is not a disputed territory. People of Arunachal Pradesh are peace loving Indians, who desire to have friendly relations"."There is no political angle behind his Holiness's visit to Arunachal Pradesh. It is completely religious," Mr Rijiju has said.Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Gopal Baglay has said on his part, "The Government has clearly stated on several occasions that His Holiness Dalai Lama is a revered religious leader, who is deeply respected as such by the Indian people. No additional colour should be ascribed to his religious and spiritual activities and visits to various states of India".More UNI DEVN AE ADG 1029 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0100-871943.Xml The worked up parents have alleged that the Rishabh Academy School in the Sadar area had warned students they will not be allowed to attend school till they got the 'Yogi haircut'. The students also alleged that the school management had "banned" non-vegetarian food during recess. The matter, however came to light yesterday when some students were not allowed to enter the school because they did not have 'proper haircuts'. The management, however, denied the allegations and said its secretary Ranjeet Jain had merely asked students to be properly dressed and sport a "decent" haircut while attending school. "I asked the students to get Yogi-like haircuts, when they were unable to understand what we wanted. We basically want very short haircuts, of the kind the Army gives. I had asked the students to remain in discipline, and get 'Fauji cut'. Also, the students have been told strictly to not keep beards," Ranjeet Jain, Secretary Rishabh Academy said. Dozens of angry parents protested in front of the school, following which the police reached the spot and mediated between the parents and school authorities. (ANI) Two police personnel were injured when a mob protesting against arrest of five criminals started pelting stones on police personnel at Ghataro village under Lalganj police station area in Vaishali district late last night. Police said here today that a team of police personnel from Lalganj, Vaishali and Kartah police stations arrested five suspects of various loot cases from their hideout following a specific intelligence input. Agitated over the arrests, villagers started pelting stones on police personnel leaving two of them injured and secured release of criminals from the police custody. The injured cops had been admitted to a local hospital. The mob also blocked Hajipur-Lalganj road throwing vehicular traffic out of gear. Senior civil and police authorities have reached the spot to lift the road blockade, police added. UNI XC-DH AKM 1247 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-872141.Xml Professor and Head of the School of Humanities, Indian Buddhist Studies, Comparative Culture Studies (Kanazawa University), Prof. Mori Masahide and Interim Vice Chancellor and Dean, School of Historical Studies (Nalanda University) Prof. Pankaj Mohan signed the MoU here yesterday. According to the MoU which will remain in effect for five years, the two Universities will make concerted efforts to promote and develop cooperation in various activities like exchange of faculty members and research fellows, exchange of students, exchange of academic materials, publications, and information. Both universities would also conduct joint research projects and organize symposiums. Other activities would also be taken up for development of academic and educational exchange between the two institutions. Speaking on this occasion, Prof. Mohan said that India and Japan were ancient civilizations, bound by close cultural ties, adding that Nalanda also played a crucial role in the civilizational dialogue. "Since Nalanda University has the mandate to re-discover the threads of inter-Asian connection, our MoU with Kanazawa University holds immense significance," he remarked. MORE UNI DH AKM 1318 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-872174.Xml Superstar Shahrukh Khan has become the first Bollywood actor to deliver speech at the TED conference. Addressing the conference, Khan delved into different aspects of life ranging from his reputation as the "King of Romance", to playfully portraying an aging movie star grappling with the changes around him, since the introduction of the internet. The actor delivered his maiden TED Talk with motivational and inspirational words with a pinch of laughter, jokes, and sarcasm, in Vancouver, Canada, yesterday. Shahrukh's talk on the TED stage came just months before a version of the TED- Big Idea Sharing event makes a television debut in India, where he will play the role of curator Chris Anderson. "I sell dreams and I peddle love to millions of people back home in India who assume that I am the best lover in the world," Shahrukh said when he opened the talk. The actor said, "For years, I've been a huge fan of TED Talks," referring to the conference's freely shared videos in which brilliant and accomplished people dive concisely into captivating concepts." He further said, "Humanity is a lot like me. It's an aging movie star, grappling with all the newness, wondering whether she got it right." "We had expected an expansion of ideas and dreams; we had not bargained for the enclosure of judgment," SRK said. "You can use your energy to spread the darkness of destruction or you can use it to spread the joy of light to millions. There are so many people in India who would like to come out with their ideas and thoughts, and speak to them in Hindi," he added. "It has to be you who create a world that is its own best lover, that should be the future you," he said in closing, referring to the conference theme. TED talks is a prestigious platform which has been earlier graced by the likes of remarkable people like former US President Bill Clinton, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, astronaut Mae Jemison, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page to name a few.UNI SHS SB ADG 1348 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0059-872262.Xml Speaking on the occasion, Kazakhstan's Ambassador to India Bulat Sarsenbayev noted the symbolism of the event in the year of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and his country. He expressed confidence that with the establishment of the consulate in Tamil Nadu, which is known for its developed IT industry, engineering, tourism and transport infrastructure, as well as agricultural production, will promote cooperation in these areas. Chief Guest and Supreme Court judge Mr. Justice R.K. Agarwal said the opening of the consulate will ensure a significant contribution to the already deep bilateral economic ties and an increase in the flow of mutual investment. Chennai is a major industrial center of India, and is considered the automotive capital of the country. (ANI) The advent of the path-breaking Real Estate Regulation & Development Act, 2016 (RERA) gave a big boost to the real estate market helping both the developers and homebuyers in the process, said industry experts today at a seminar, organised by The Bengal Chamber of Commerce in association with MACJ A Buyers Choice Home Inspection. The seminar was organised to discuss the burning topic of the implementation of RERA and the concept of professional home inspection services around RERA. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Nandu Belani, president of CREDAI, said, "The advent of the path-breaking Real Estate Regulation & Development Act, 2016 (RERA) gave a big boost to the real estate market. It will help both the developers and homebuyers in the process." Mr. Girja Choudhary, CFO of Emami Infrastructure gave a detailed presentation on RERA, the concept, its key legal provisions and explained how RERA will affect all key stakeholders (developers and home buyers). "In the light of RERA, the home inspection services will not only boost the morale of consumers but will also provide the real estate developers peace of mind by assuring quality control over work done by contractors / workers," said leading city-based developer, Mr. Dileep Singh Mehta of Multicon Group. "I am happy to see the seeds of the home inspection idea that I had visualised 20 years back now seeing the light of the day at the right time for the real estate industry," Mr. Mehta said. Ms. Debjani Mukherjee ,Senior Vice President, Sales& Marketing, Bengal NRI Complex Ltd. agreed to this and mentioned that they have already engaged MACJ- ABCHI to conduct home inspection of 250 of their apartments of the premium Urbana Residential Project before handover to the customers. MACJ, India had in 2016 collaborated with US company A Buyer's Choice Home Inspections (ABCHI) to pioneer professional home inspection services in India for the first time. A Buyer's Choice Home Inspections (ABCHI) - started in the mid-2000s by Bill Redfern - is an industry leader in the home inspection franchise in USA & Canada and presently has 200 franchises spread across 19 countries, and is on a path to becoming the world's largest home inspection company. MACJ, India has been co-promoted by Mr. Mahendra Sureka and Mr. Arvind Kumar Bhotica, along with investor industrialists, Mr. Ravindra Chamaria of Infinity Group and Mr. Kamal Prakash of Jiwanram Sheoduttrai Group. The professional home inspection services had been launched by MACJABCHI in India in the light of RERA looking at the needs of the real estate industry - both home buyers and developers. Home inspection is a $5-billion industry in America and promises to develop into an even bigger market in India as the industry develops and matures over the next few years. Already 7-8 companies have started offering home inspection services at various locations across the country. Mr Bill Redfern, founder and CEO of internationally recognised A Buyer's Choice Home Inspections, said that post the signing of his agreement with MACJ, India in 2016, he was happy with the development of the business in India. "Our company has agreed to invest in the equity of the Indian entity of MACJ- ABCHI combined," Mr. Redfern said. "We've recognised a growing need for professionally certified home inspections across the country through ongoing analysis in local real estate markets. MACJ is the perfect team to lead the efforts to fill this unmet need. The momentum of the brand is remarkable and we are thrilled to be bringing ABCHI's high-quality services and franchise opportunities to India in partnership with MACJ, India," he said. Mr. Mahendra Sureka (Director-CEO, MACJ India) said, "The implementation of RERA will further boost the development of the home inspection services industry and I am confident that home inspection services in India will develop into a multi-billion US dollar industry over the next decade, helping both the developers and homebuyers in the process." MACJ-ABCHI has started its operations in Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune, and is in the process of opening offices in Chennai and Delhi through the franchise model route. The franchise model will enable them to expand faster at a lower investment and enable them to provide quality PAN-India service under the single MACJ A Buyers Choice Home Inspections brand. On the sidelines of the seminar, Mr. Sureka announced the launch of two more franchise partners in two key growth pockets of Kolkata at New Town and Tollygunge. The New Town franchise has been taken by Utsav Agarwal, an enterprising BBA student striving to be an entrepreneur, supported by his father G S Agarwal, the CFO of Magma Housing Finance. The Tollygunge franchise has been taken by Abhijit Naha along with his wife Ria, Abhijit being an MBA with 10 years of business experience in petroleum and forex business. Both the franchise partners agree that professional home inspections services are the need of the hour. " The demand is unlimited and we hope to provide quality and assured services with complete transparency that will fulfill the need of all stake holders, i.e., developers, homebuyers, real estate agents, interior designers, bankers, insurers and the government. It will fill the void of the real estate industry as well as open new avenues of skilling and providing employment opportunities in India," they said.UNI SJC KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-872532.Xml A woman was killed by her husband and in laws at Shahpur Panapur village under Mahnar police station area in Vaishali district last night when her family refused to meet their dowry demand. Police said here that the victim woman identified as Priyanka Kumar was strangulated to death by her husband Niranjan Singh and in laws when her family members refused to meet their growing dowry demand. Priyanka who was married five years back was being tormented for dowry since her marriage. Niranjan and his family members were absconding after the crime. A massive manhunt is on to nab the accused, police added. UNI XC DH KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-872535.Xml Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said that the state government is promoting holistic growth of bamboo sector by adopting area-based, regionally differentiated strategy to increase bamboo cultivation. Inaugurating a two day bamboo summit here, Mr Sonowal said, "People of Assam have grown up with bamboo. Bamboo culture has already been rooted in our minds for a long time." Since bamboo constitute an important segment of the wealth of Assam, the state government is committed to promoting a holistic growth of bamboo sector by adopting an exhaustive strategy to influence the growth of bamboo and its marketing, he added. Mr Sonowal also said the people of Assam have the skills of working with bamboo.Promoting the use of bamboo as industry would also work as a catalyst to materialise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of making North East as an organic hub of the north East, Mr Sonowal said. Urging the delegates of the summit who have come from across the country as well as outside to invest in bamboo and its allied sectors, Mr Sonowal assured all help, cooperation and security from his government to sustain and flourish the bamboo industry. More UNI SG AD2018 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-873065.Xml A team of officers, headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, constituted by the concerned District Administration visited the religious place to ascertain the facts. After investigations and examination of the complex, all the properties were found intact. The main door to the premises was locked and keys were handed over to the community members living in the area. The District Administration has appealed all sections of the society not to pay any heed to such rumours aimed at creating trouble. Meanwhile, Kashmiri Pandit and Jammu-based organisations today staged protests here over the alleged "desecration". The organisations, including All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC), Panun Kashmir, Jammu for India, and All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference, among others, demanded the registration of an FIR and the constitution of a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to take action in the case, which they claimed was "downplayed" by the state government. (ANI) As per the Guardian, score of protestor, wearing masks, stormed into the parliament on Thursday, after the opposition Social Democrat party and ethnic Albanian allies voted for a new speaker. Television footage showed opposition leader Zoran Zaev with blood trickling from one side of his forehead. The county has been without a government since December last year, after former prime minister Nikola Gruevski's conservative party won elections, but missed the opportunity to win majority of seats to form a government. (ANI) New York [USA], Apr 28 (ANI) U.S. President Donald Trump has admitted that conflict with North Korea is presently the biggest concern on his plate. In a recent interview, the President stated that there is an absolute chance that the U.S. could end up having a major conflict with North Korea. North Korea has conducted several tests ever since the new U.S. administration came to power and refused to halt its nuclear weapons development programs. In the most recent show of force, Pyongyang put its military might on display during a parade on April 15 marking the 105th birth anniversary of the country's founder Kim Il Sung, grandfather of present ruler Kim Jong Un. According to reports, North Korea displayed what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during the parade. The parade also featured the North's submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) for the first time. A day after it conducted a failed missile launch on its east coast following which U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has said that all options are still on table with North Korea, not ruling out military actions. Ever since, the two sides have been engaged in a spat of verbal warnings. Last week, a North Korean newspaper said Pyongyang was ready to take out a US aircraft carrier conducting drills with Japanese destroyers near the Philippines. With mounting Pyongyang's nuclear threats, Washington has also speeded the installation of its advanced missile defense system Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korea. Designed to shoot down missiles at a high altitude, a THAAD battery is made up of six truck-mounted launchers carrying some 50 interceptor missiles, and a fire control and communications unit, which are linked to the very long-range X-band radar system. The Trump administration has also said it will tighten economic sanctions against Pyongyang to halt Kim Jong-Un's nuclear weapons programme and ballistic missile tests. (ANI) The meeting will be chaired by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and is expected to be attended by ministers and officials from nine other nations including Russia, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Senegal, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Sweden and Italy, reports Sputnik news agency. Members of the Council will hear a briefing by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and he is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Tillerson on Friday afternoon. The North Korean mission to the UN issued a statement in response calling possible UN sanctions against Pyongyang illegal, and stressing that North Korea is prepared "to go to the end" if the United States does not change its policy in the region. This comes as tensions surrounding North Korea's military activities have escalated in recent months after Pyongyang conducted a number of nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches. In the most recent show of force, Pyongyang put its military might on display during a parade on April 15 marking the 105th birth anniversary of the country's founder Kim II Sung. (ANI) The Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Bahram Qasemi as saying that Durrani was told that Tehran expects the Pakistan government to adopt serious measures for arrest and punishment of terrorists. "Unfortunately, Pakistani side of Iran's borders are the most insecure ones and we expect Islamabad to honor its previous promises and prevent repetition of such attacks," Durrani was also told. Expressing sorrow over the terrorist incident, the envoy insured that he would convey Iran's message to the Pakistani government. Nine Iranian border guards were killed during an ambush attack by terrorists along the Iran-Pakistan border's zero-point on Wednesday. The guards were reportedly killed while they were patrolling in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan Province. (ANI) Just days after taking over the position from Marine Le Pen, the interim leader of France's far-right National Front (FN) on Friday stepped down after facing criticism for comments he made apparently contesting the use of gas chambers during the Holocaust. Jean-Franois Jalkh was named the interim president of the party on Tuesday after Le Pen stepped aside to fight for the French presidency. Jalkh is to now give way to one of the far-right group's vice-presidents, Steeve Briois, Efe news reported. Speaking to France's BFMTV, Le Pen's partner and party's Vice President Louis Aliot said Jalkh did not feel he was best poised to carry out his function and therefore would step down to "lodge a complaint and defend his honour". Following Jalkh's appointment as interim leader, French media dug out comments he made during an interview over a decade ago in which he apparently contested the use of Zyklon B for the mass extermination of Jewish people by Nazis during the Holocaust. "I consider that from a technical standpoint it is impossible -- and I stress, impossible -- to use it in mass exterminations. Why? Because you need several days to decontaminate a space (...) where Zyklon B has been used," he was reported as saying. Jalkh was to continue in his position as Secretary-General of the Jeanne micro-party, founded by Le Pen, for which he was currently being investigated amid allegations that the party misused public funds during the 2012 legislative elections. Le Pen's presidential rival, centrist Emmanuel Macron, has used the FN's far-right roots as a cornerstone attack tactic in his own campaign trail. On Friday, Macron visited Oradour-sur-Glane in central France, where Waffen-SS troops murdered 642 people in June 1944 in the worst Nazi massacre in occupied France. Opinion polls taken since the first round on Sunday suggest Macron, candidate of the En Marche (On The Move) movement, will easily beat Le Pen in the second round of vote for the presidency on May 7. --IANS soni/vt ( 341 Words) 2017-04-28-21:08:08 (IANS) The ballistic missile, which was fired from a site near Pukchang, was estimated to have failed as it exploded shortly after lift-off, Xinhua news agency quoted the Joint Chiefs of Staff as saying. However, a US official told CNN that the missile flew for about 30 to 40 kilometres before landing in the water off the Korean Peninsula. The test-fired missile probably was a medium-range ballistic missile called a KN-17, the US official said. The launch came hours after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson addressed a special meeting at the United Nations, calling for increased pressure on North Korea. "All options for responding to future provocations must remain on the table," Tillerson said. "Diplomatic and financial leverage or power will be backed up by willingness to counteract North Korean aggression with military action, if necessary." --IANS lok/ ( 167 Words) 2017-04-29-04:06:08 (IANS) Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-26 05:02:09|Editor: yan Video Player Close COPENHAGEN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Denmark should take an ambitious and long-term energy policy from 2020 if its goal of a low-emission society by 2050 is to be achieved, said a new report from the Energy Commission. The Energy Commission has since called for a paradigm shift in energy policy so as to ensure efficient conversion, according to the report handed over by commission chairman Niels B. Christiansen to Energy and Climate Minister Lars Christian Lilleholt on Monday. The Energy Commission also pointed out that the new energy policy must be more market-based and renewable energy support should be phased out as it becomes competitive. In the meantime, the establishment of a smart energy system is a prerequisite for integrating renewable energy into the energy system. "After last year's work in the Energy Commission, it is clear that an ambitious energy policy is needed from 2020 if we are to reach the long-term goal of a low-emission society based on renewable energy by 2050," said Christiansen. The Energy Commission was formed in March last year to analyze the new developments in the energy sector and make recommendations for the country's future energy policies. It composes of eight members from various academia and industries. At present, the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption in Denmark stands at approximately 30 percent, and fossil fuels still cover a substantial amount of energy consumption, according to the report. The Danish government has set a long-term objective to go free of fossil fuels by the year 2050. The Energy Commission considers the government's objective of at least 50 percent renewable energy by 2030 as a stepping-stone towards the 2050 goal. It recommends a paradigm shift in energy policy, where focus is on an international perspective, increased electrification and on developing efficient market-based solutions. "I am very pleased that the Energy Commission finds that there is no contradiction between being ambitious and focusing on costs," Lilleholt said upon receiving the report. "On the contrary, this is about setting up energy and climate policy in a way that gives us the most green change for the money," he said. "The work of the Energy Commission will make a significant contribution to the coming months of preparation for the government's energy campaign, which will be launched in autumn 2017 for negotiations on a new energy agreement," the minister added. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-27 14:51:37|Editor: MJ Arrested Indian fishermen are seen at a police station in southern Pakistani port city of Karachi, on April 27, 2017. Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency (MSA) has arrested 29 Indian fishermen and seized five boats for illegally fishing in Pakistan's territorial waters. (Xinhua/Ashad) ISLAMABAD, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani authorities detained 29 Indian fishermen on Thursday for allegedly violating the country's maritime boundary, security officials said. The Maritime Security Agency (MSA) said five boats of the fishermen were also seized. The Indian fishermen were involved in illegal fishing in Pakistani water, a spokesman for the MSA told the media. The MSA officials handed over the Indians to the police for legal proceedings. They will be produced in a court for legal proceedings, police said. India and Pakistan routinely arrest fishermen on charges of entering each other's waters as the maritime boundaries between the two countries were poorly defined and many fishing boats lack technologies on locating their precise places. Pakistani officials insisted that the Indian fishermen allegedly continued to intrude into the country's marine-rich Indus delta region regardless of the livelihood of local fishermen. This is the second time in a month that Pakistani forces captured Indian fishermen. On March 26, Pakistani authorities detained 100 Indian fishermen. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-27 22:49:29|Editor: MJ The scene on Whitehall after a police arrested man on suspicion of terrorism offences, who was carrying knives, in London, Britain on April 27, 2017. Police said on Thursday that a man had been arrested after an incident occurred in Whitehall, near the British Parliament as no injury was reported. (Xinhua/Tim Ireland) LONDON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- A man had been arrested on suspicion of "planning terrorist act" after a security incident occurred near the British Parliament with no injury reported, London police confirmed Thursday. London Metropolitan police said that the man, aged in his late 20s, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. Police said knives had been recovered from him. Two knives could be seen on the ground in a video clip which was taken at the scene and aired by BBC. Police arrested him at approximately 14:22, following a stop and search as part of an ongoing operation. He is being detained under the Terrorism Act and is in custody in a south London police station, police said. The city's traffic authorities confirmed that the Whitehall-Parliament Street is closed northbound due to a "police incident." "Long delays" are expected, according to the authority. The British Prime Minister Theresa May's official resident at Downing Street is not far away from the Westminster Parliament building. The incident came slightly over one month after the deadly attack outside the British Parliament compound which was claimed by the so called Islamic State. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 02:25:59|Editor: yan Video Player Close JOHANNESBURG, April 27 (Xinhua) -- South African Airways (SAA) said Thursday that all its flights are operating normally after a strike by cabin crew. On Wednesday, about 200 crew members went on strike, demanding an increase in their international meal allowance. The national airliner approached the Labor Court, which interdicted the crew members from striking and instructed them to return to work immediately. SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali confirmed that crew members resumed wok on Thursday. "Our planned flight schedules have resumed and whilst operations are geared to full service recovery, we remain exposed to minimal operational delays," Tlali said. He said ticketed customers whose flights were cancelled on Wednesday will be supported to travel on Thursday. The SAA Board of Directors will engage South African Cabin Crew Association over the next two months over the allowance dispute, the spokesman said, expressing optimism that an amicable agreement will be reached. He also stressed the airline's commitment to protecting its financial sustainability. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 02:46:07|Editor: yan Video Player Close TIRANA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The parliament of Albania failed for a third time in electing a new president during Thursday's plenary session as no candidate was nominated for the post. According to the Socialist Party-led governing coalition, the party did not put forth candidates in order to give the opportunity to the centre-right opposition to take part in this process and elect a president with broad political consensus. The opposition here has been boycotting parliament since 68 days, refusing to become part of this process as well as the June 18 elections. Given the first three rounds were wasted without any result, the chairman of the Socialist Party parliamentary group Gramoz Ruci said the parliament should no longer wait to elect a new president. Speaker of the parliament Ilir Meta should immediately call a meeting of the conference of the chairs of parliamentary groups in order to decide the next two rounds for the election of the president, Ruci stated at plenary session. Otherwise the country should hold early elections within the next 45 days as the constitution stipulates, he added. Meta also noted SP already had the required 71 votes to elect the next president even without the junior partner in governing coalition, the Socialist Movement for Integration. In case parliament fails to elect a president in three rounds of voting, another two rounds are held where the candidate is elected on a simple majority. If they too prove unsuccessful, parliament is dissolved and general elections are called. The president has a five-year mandate. The term of current President Bujar Nishani ends in July. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 03:41:24|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks to media outside 10 Downing Street as she calls a snap general election in London, Britain, on April 18, 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap general election on June 8 in what was a shock and unexpected announcement from outside 10 Downing Street. (Xinhua file photo) LONDON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May said Thursday night she needed a stronger majority in the House of Commons to strengthen her negotiating hand with Brussels as Britain prepares to leave the European Union. May was responding to a speech made hours earlier to German politicians by Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying the comments showed how tough the Brexit negotiations will be. In her speech, Merkel said Britain's relationship with the EU would be a different relationship, adding: "A third country, which is what the UK will be, cannot and will not have the same rights as an EU member state. All 27 EU countries and the EU institutions agree about that," she told the Germany's lower House of Parliament, the Bundestag. Responding to the comments, May told party supporters at an election rally in the city of Leeds in Yorkshire: "We have seen Chancellor Merkel's comments today. She says the UK has illusions about the process, and that the 27 member states of the European Union agree. We can see how tough those negotiations are going to be at times. "Yet our opponents are already seeking to disrupt those negotiations, at the same time as 27 other European countries line up to oppose us. "That approach can only mean one thing, uncertainty and instability, bringing grave risk to our growing economy with higher taxes, fewer jobs, more waste and more debt. We need the strongest possible hand, the strongest possible mandate and the strongest possible leadership as we go into those talks." Merkel said some people in Britain had illusions that trade talks with the EU could take place at the same time as negotiating the terms Britain's EU exit. "It would be a waste of time to maintain illusions that the two sets of negotiations could be held simultaneously," Merkel added. Britain wants talks about the terms of Brexit to take place alongside negotiating a future trading relationship with the EU and it's 27 member states, ahead of a final separation in two years time. EU leaders meet on Saturday to adopt a joint negotiating position on Brexit, but there will be no official talks between Brussels and London until after the British general election on June 8. Opinion polls continue to give May and her Conservative government a clear lead with an increased majority. Addressing a rally in the traditional Labour Party heartlands of northern England is seen as a move by May to win support for the Conservatives from Labour, led by Jeremy Corbyn. May, speaking at the rally in Leeds, said the general election is the most important election Britain has faced in her lifetime. "In this election, every single vote will count. And every person in this country has a positive reason to lend me their vote," she said. May was questioned by the media at the rally following comments made earlier by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson that Britain could join the U.S. in a military strike on Syria. May responded by saying it was a hypothetical issue as there were no proposals for a further strike on Syria. Asked by a journalist if Johnson would stay as foreign secretary if she wins the June 8 election, May replied "Boris is doing a great job as foreign secretary." Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 03:56:29|Editor: yan Video Player Close BUJUMBURA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Burundian senate on Thursday ratified a 50 million U.S. dollar financial agreement with the World Bank's International Development Association to support the country's health sector. Burundian Public Health and AIDS Control Minister Josiane Nijimbere told senators the funding will help an ongoing program to grant free medical services to children under five and to pregnant and delivering mothers. "The four-year program is starting in July this year and is ending in 2021," she said. The new program will also help adolescents fight HIV/AIDS as well as unwanted pregnancies and school dropouts through sensitization sessions, Nijimbere said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 05:37:12|Editor: yan Video Player Close TIRANA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Ilir Meta, current Albania's parliament speaker and the head of Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), will be new president candidate to be voted on Friday's plenary session, Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama announced late Thursday. After failing in the first three attempts to elect the new president, Premier Rama said that Ilir Meta enjoyed the full support of Socialist Party and that of Socialist Movement for Integration, the two main ruling parties. "I do not know anyone else who can be with everyone and with no one. Meta is a presidential candidate who comes naturally, because it is the situation that requires Ilir Meta as country's new president," Rama said Thursday night. He saw Meta as the president who would talk to everyone and tell everyone what he thought, adding that Meta was also an ideal solution for the main opposition party, Democratic Party which has refused to become part of this process. Earlier, it was the vice chairman of the SP parliamentary group Taulant Balla who confirmed that SP would support the candidacy of Ilir Meta as the governing coalition's candidate for the country's next president. The other candidacy proposed by SMI was that of the current Justice Minister Petrit Vasili. On the other hand, the head of DP, Lulzim Basha told reporters that he didn't support Meta's candidacy. According to him, even the offer of ruling SP for dialogue and talks over new president election was insincere as Basha said that Meta's candidacy was set about three months ago. Photo taken on March 22, 2017 shows the Gwadar port area in Gwadar, Pakistan. (Xinhua/Liu Tian) by Xinhua writers Yang Shilong, Zhang Zhihuan NEW YORK, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative is a very positive project that helps boost sustainable economic development in the world, especially in ill-connected Asia, a former U.S. diplomat has said. "I think it's a very important project. I think the idea of reconnecting Asia is very important," Marc Grossman, vice chairman of The Cohen Group, told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Because if you look at the area, especially in South Asia, this is a part of the world where, unlike many other parts of the world, there are very few connections really." "When you think about how well-connected Europe is and how much an advantage that has been for its economic development, all those things have yet to come in parts of Asia and Southeast Asia, parts of central Asia, certainly in South Asia as well," said Grossman, who served as U.S. ambassador to Turkey, assistant secretary of state for European affairs, and under secretary of state for political affairs. "So this is a big vision on the part of the government of China," he said. Grossman, who was the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan from February 2011 to December 2012, said the Belt and Road Initiative would help tackle the unifying challenge in South Asia -- economic growth. "What is the unifying challenge in South Asia? For example, people need jobs. People need sustainable economic development. People need a future," he said. "So I think one of the most interesting things about this vision is that it could really produce a lot of jobs for many, many people (in the region)." The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a collection of infrastructure projects currently under construction throughout Pakistan, is a "very interesting, specific example" of the Belt and Road Initiative comprising the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Grossman said. "These are positive things, so I'm sure there are lots of reasons to be interested in the Belt and Road Initiative, but for me, it's the question of economic growth," he said. Globalization has lifted millions and millions of people out of poverty. However, Grossman said that some people have been left behind, so he regarded the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity to provide jobs to those who have not yet benefited from globalization. The former U.S. official said the upcoming Belt and Road Forum in Beijing in mid-May, the highest level of its kind since the initiative was proposed, represents "a continuing, very important effort on the part of the Chinese government" to showcase the Belt and Road Initiative. "When the summit occurs in May, I think the Chinese side will have a chance to really discuss their objectives and to be honest with people about some of the concerns that are out there. That's only natural. This is a big project and so it's not surprising that people would have concerns about that," he said. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013 consists of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. It aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes. Grossman said China's message has to be clear that the Belt and Road Initiative is a joint project on a voluntary basis, and "not some effort by China to control a lot of other countries." "This is a joint development project. It's not just China telling you what to do or telling you how to do business or giving you some instructions somehow," he said. "I've always believed that you have to start with a vision, so the Chinese have this vision and so now the question is who will carry out the vision and how will the vision be carried out, and that's one of the most important issues (the summit has to answer)," he said. Grossman expressed the hope that some early results would be presented at the summit to demonstrate the great potential and feasibility of the huge project. "I think it's very important to make sure that there's some real success, some early demonstration that this works," the expert said. "People would like to see an example of how this works and how it works fairly, transparently and successfully." Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 05:42:16|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close SKOPJE, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov on Thursday night called for a meeting of the leaders of all political parties in the Macedonian Parliament in order "to review the current situation and to look into all options to calm and find a way out". The meeting is to be held in Ivanov's Cabinet on Friday, after Thursday's violent clashes in the Macedonian parliament. "In these moments of general concern I call you to remain calm and not to fall under fake provocations and manipulations," Ivanov said in his urgent address to the nation. "I call upon all institutions to behave responsibly respecting the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Macedonia. Everyone should be responsible for his acts and aware of the consequences that come out of them," he said. It is not clear if the parties will accept the invitation for the meeting. At least eight people with injuries were admitted in hospital in Skopje after taking part in the clashes in the Macedonian parliament. According to the police sources, additional 10 police officers were injured while trying to intervene and evacuate the parliamentarians out of the building. But the number of injured is expected to be higher since the special police units still uses stunt devices to control the situation in and around the Parliament building. Protesters rushed into the building of the Macedonian Parliament on Thursday afternoon after the MPs from SDSM and the smaller Albanian parties elected Tallat Xhaferi from DUI as new parliament speaker, although previously the Parliament session was concluded. The live streams of the Macedonian media from the Parliament building showed that some of the protesters supporting VMRO-DPMNE trapped the MPs from SDSM in one of the meeting halls and attacked them. Among the attacked was the leader of SDSM Zoran Zaev, who had visible physical injuries. The protesters against the new government majority are on the streets of Skopje for the past two months, opposing the formation of the Government between SDSM and three Albanian parties -- DUI, Besa and the Alliance for the Albanians. SDSM announced that it will demand responsibility for the bloody incidents in the Parliament. "Members of Parliament, representatives of the citizens are severely injured, and this is a peak of the uncivilized attitude of these people who are ready to sacrifice everything in order to avoid responsibility," SDSM said in a written statement. Tallat Xhaferi was elected with slim majority of 62 MPs (out of total 120). VMRO DPMNE called this election -- coup d'etat. The leader of VMRO-DPMNE Nikola Gruevski, who is currently in Austria, appealed for calmness through the social networks. "We need calming of the situation. VMRO-DPMNE will oppose this anti-state steps through legal and political democratic measures," Gruevski wrote on Facebook. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 05:57:21|Editor: yan Video Player Close ROME, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Possible consequences of Brexit on the Italian economy could be on exportations and contributions that the country will be required to pay to the European Union (EU), experts have told Xinhua. However, it is hard to predict now what is going to happen and everything will depend on the conditions agreed, they underlined. "There are some decisive variables that have to be defined. The most important is what will be the future contractual and economic relationship between the Britain and the European Union," said Riccardo Alcaro, head of research of the Transatlantic Program of Institute of International Affairs based in Rome. "If there is a hard Brexit, without an agreement, economic relations will be based on the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This will affect the European and the British economies in general. In this scenario, there will be a decline in trade and in economic relations and consequently a negative impact on growth," Alcaro said. "However, this is the situation that everyone wants to avoid. Part of them want to get some form of agreement, for example on tariffs. Consequences for Italy will depend on what agreements will be made,"he added. There are potential risks for Italian exports, he told Xinhua. "Often, in the Italian textile or agribusiness sectors there are small companies that rely mostly on one foreign market, speaking about exports," he explained. Some of them, especially those in the agribusiness sector, may suffer, he argued. "Anyway, everything must be defined, timing is not clear. We must see how Italian companies will prepare themselves to Brexit," the expert added. According to Umberto Triulzi, professor of Economic Policy at the University La Sapienza in Rome, it is difficult now to make predictions on the effects of Brexit on the Italian economy. The only thing certain, in his opinion, is the budget issue. "What is certain, so far, is that Britain, like other member countries, contributes with its own resources to the European budget. When the country will leave the European Union and will withdraw its contribution to the budget, the EU will have two choices. "The first is to reduce the budget, and therefore the contributions of the remaining member countries. The second is to keep the same budget, and the EU member countries will have to pay more," he said. Concerning European Union, political damages are more worrying than the economic ones, Triulzi said. "With regard to economic aspects, solutions can be found, and compromises can be made with Britain. On the other hand, Europe has suffered a severe political damage because of Brexit. The EU must be able to react, otherwise the risks that other member countries decide to move away will become more concrete," Triulzi said. Brexit could also bring some opportunities for the Italian economy, according to Andrea Beltratti, professor of Finance at the Bocconi University in Milan. "I believe that in the next two or three years some European institutions currently based in London will return to European continent, for example, some European agencies. In this context it would be very important that Italy equips itself to be able to take advantage of any relocation operation," Beltratti told Xinhua. Potentially there may be opportunities to relocate financial activities from Britain to the European continent, including Italy, the expert said. "In order to better equip themselves, Italian public and private stakeholders should coordinate to take advantage of the areas of excellence that exist in Italy, and to clarify to investors which are the benefits of investing in the country," Beltratti said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 06:07:26|Editor: yan Video Player Close LONDON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- British politician Lord Bates and his wife Li Xuelin on Thursday called on the Chinese community in Britain to cast their vote in the upcoming general election on June 8. Michael Bates, Britain's Minister of State at the Department for International Development and a member of the House of Lords, said in an open letter that the voting are important matters which impact British Chinese's daily lives as a community and as a country, stressing that the British Chinese voice should be heard in the elections. In the letter, Lord and Lady Bates said British Chinese make up around 1 percent of the British population, which is enough to populate over six parliamentary constituencies and elect six MPs. But if British Chinese do not register to vote in elections, their voice will be heard less and be less represented in the House of Commons, said the letter. "Spending a great deal of time with the British Chinese community we know that sometimes there is a reluctance to speak up and a preference to be self-contained. This is an admirable quality. The British Chinese community are amongst the most enterprising, best educated, most healthy and most self-reliant of any of the wonderful mix of ethnic communities that call Britain their home," the letter said. Lord and Lady Bates said they understand this instinct for self-reliance but sometimes this can be wrongly interpreted as not being interested. "We know that is far from the truth as so many British Chinese play a positive role in our communities but registering to vote and voting we believe is a way of demonstrating that we are both proud of our Chinese roots but engaged in our British home," they said. The couple said the importance of vote is to make sure British Chinese's voice can be heard in public debate and the specific needs of Chinese community are not overlooked. "There is tremendous goodwill and appreciation of the British Chinese community and a good way to demonstrate that we care about where we live is to register to vote," they said. Britain will hold a general election on June 8, which was called by Prime Minister Theresa May on April 18 and was later approved by the parliament. This image shows excavations at the site of El Sidron, Spain. (Credit: El Sidron research team) WASHINGTON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- An international team of researchers has successfully retrieved DNA from ancient humans in cave sediments where no skeletal remains have been found, according to a study published Thursday. The highly sensitive screening technique the team applied even identified ancient human DNA sequences from locations where the presence of an extinct human species called Neanderthals has been proposed but never demonstrated, said the study published by the U.S. journal Science. "It's a great breakthrough," Chris Stringer, an anthropologist at the Natural History Museum in London, who was not involved in the study, told Science. "Anyone who's digging cave sites from the Pleistocene now should put [screening sediments for human DNA] on their list of things that they must do," Stringer said. While there are numerous prehistoric sites in Europe and Asia that contain tools and other human-made artefacts, skeletal remains of ancient humans are scarce and they are not always available or suitable for genetic analyses. Researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, have therefore looked into new ways to get hold of ancient human DNA. "We know that several components of sediments can bind DNA," said Matthias Meyer of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany and senior author of the study. "We therefore decided to investigate whether hominin DNA may survive in sediments at archaeological sites known to have been occupied by ancient hominins." To this aim, Meyer and his team collaborated with a large network of researchers excavating at seven archaeological sites in Belgium, Croatia, France, Russia and Spain, where ancient humans are known to have lived. Overall, they collected 85 sediment samples covering a time span from 14,000 to over 550,000 years ago. Using tiny amounts of material, the researchers recovered and analyzed fragments of mitochondrial DNA, genetic material from the mitochondria, the "energy factories" of the cell, and identified them as belonging to 12 different mammalian families that include extinct species such as the woolly mammoth, the woolly rhinoceros, the cave bear and the cave hyena. To capture ancient human DNA in the samples, they developed a delicate DNA hook crafted from modern human mitochondrial DNA to fish out the sequences that most resembled it. It turned out that eight sediment samples from four caves contained Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA from either one or multiple individuals, while one sample from another cave contained DNA of Denisovans, another extinct human species. Most of these samples originated from archaeological layers or sites where no Neanderthal bones or teeth were previously found. "By retrieving hominin DNA from sediments, we can detect the presence of hominin groups at sites and in areas where this cannot be achieved with other methods," Svante Paabo, director of the Evolutionary Genetics department at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and co-author of the study, said in a statement. "This shows that DNA analyses of sediments are a very useful archaeological procedure, which may become routine in the future." HANOI, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam has seen a rising number of women who delay or even reject completely the idea of marriage regardless of social or biological factors, especially in major cities. "More and more of my female friends are choosing to live alone these days," Khuc Hong Thien, a 36-year-old man from Hanoi told Xinhua on Wednesday morning. Thien said of his single female friends that they were "free, independent and open-minded." Viewing the trend as no surprise in a more developed society, Vietnamese experts have surmised that equal access to education and employment are the key reasons behind Vietnamese women's improving financial independence, which can drive them towards a single lifestyle. Vietnam has a reputation throughout Asia for relative gender equality, as evidenced in several reports by the World Bank, and has been cited as a model country for being able to close gender gaps in education, access to health care, and many aspects of employment since the early 1990s. In 2006 and 2007 respectively, a gender equality law and anti-domestic violence law were ratified by the country's National Assembly, making Vietnam one in only a handful of countries in the world with both laws in place. In its 2015 report on social inequality, the international development organization Oxfam assessed that Vietnam was one of the countries with the highest female participation in the labor force across the Southeast Asia region, mainly in the exporting sectors. In 2016, 72.2 percent of Vietnamese working-age women were in the labor force compared to 81.7 percent of men, the country's General Statistics Office stated in its latest labor report. "Women don't necessarily need a man to support them anymore. They can earn a good income themselves, especially in cities such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City where women have fulfilling careers," Luu Bich Ngoc, director of the Institute for Population and Social Studies under Vietnam's National Economics University, told Xinhua. Being single can give women the liberty to grow and excel, with a great income. There are also colleagues and friends to hang out with, and partners to get together with for emotional bonding, and women have begun to ask why they need to marry when all their needs are getting fulfilled, Ngoc proposed. Alex Nguyen, 33, a journalist from Hanoi's Ba Dinh District is a woman keen on living an independent lifestyle. "I can afford to insist on choosing love with no hurry at all. There may be pluses to getting married but if I don't find my true love, I can still have a good life on my own," Alex told Xinhua confidently. Despite 12 years spent studying and working in New Zealand, Alex said that her ideology was not the result of being influenced by the modern cultural values of a developed country. "I've been fully aware of how I would chase happiness since I was in high school. My way of thinking is in fact not so strange among my peers and my kind of lifestyle is becoming more popular in my generation," she said. Alex admitted that having been back from New Zealand for three years she had faced pressure from her parents and relatives in Vietnam, who urged her to attend match-making appointments. It is widely known that just a few decades ago, Vietnamese women who could not get married were considered a shame on their families. "The older generation has not fully come to terms with the idea that marriage, besides being a reproductive decision, is an inviolable right, especially for women," Alex claimed, insisting that she will continue to live her own way. According to the former UDNP's gender specialist Nguyen Thi Dieu Hong cited the finding that education and financial status help strengthen women's independence in modern Vietnamese society. "Another contributing factor is that awareness of local people is being improved," Hong said. Truong Quoc Hung, younger brother of a 36-year-old single woman, told Xinhua that his family, while not supporting their daughter's single life, hardly put pressure on her regarding getting married. "She might be unhappy if she is tied to an unsuitable man, that's even worse than being alone for the rest of her life," the Hanoian man said. Hoang Tu Lien, 43, who lives in Hanoi's Thanh Xuan District, chose to stay single after her first love was rejected by her family due to the distance between the lovers. Scared of a second failure the female accountant has tried not to legalize any committed relation again, but could not deny wanting to have a child. "I felt somewhat depressed when my best friends got married, then had their first and then second children. I decided to become a solo mother six years ago through sperm donation, regardless of my parents' objection," Lien recalled. The right to motherhood of single women had been officially recognized by the Vietnamese government since 2003, by allowing them to receive sperm donations and have a baby through In vitro fertilization. "People have no other choice than to get used to my decision. Days passed by, and people talked less about my single life," Lien said, happily looking at her adorable son. While Lien's job can sufficiently guarantee her a living, she said that the feeling of being comforted by her boyfriend, who shows respect to her way of living, is freeing for her. "Not being married but just being together allows me to feel free while still being in a loving relationship. This way I can avoid the fear of commitment," she said, looking relieved. According to the UNDP's gender specialist Hong, the number of "single mothers" like Lien has been increasing in major cities of Vietnam such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and the central Danang City. "The majority of them are highly-educated and can earn great livings so they can finance themselves and their babies," Hong told Xinhua. The gender expert, nevertheless, believes that legal regulations are not yet supportive enough to single mothers and their children. "The government should make more efforts to guarantee their equal access to social resources," said Hong, adding that the supportive measures need to be more effective to help those single women with lower incomes and limited information on related policies. CANBERRA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Three dual-national Australians, alleged to have been Islamic State (IS) jihadists captured by army forces in Lebanon, could have their Australian citizenships stripped, according to Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne on Friday. The men, believed to be Lebanese-Australians, were arrested at gunpoint during army raids after a Syrian-born colleague, who was captured last year, admitted to living with the three dual nationals while working with IS. Pyne told the Nine Network Friday that the men could have their Australian passports cancelled if they are found guilty, thanks to laws introduced by the government last year. It has been reported, however, that the three men do not wish to return to Australia despite their dual citizenship. "There is a process of course, through which the Minister for Immigration and the government considers the citizenship of dual citizens who are found guilty of crimes that we regard as serious enough to strip citizenship," Pyne said. "It's very serious for Aussies to be fighting oversea in areas which are designated as 'no-go zones,' so we will look very carefully at what those three have been doing, and of course give them a fair hearing. "But we will take action, if necessary, to protect Australians from potential terrorists." Last year, the Australian Parliament passed a law allowing the government to strip dual nationals of their Australian citizenship if they are deemed to be terrorists and dangerous to the general public. CANBERRA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has confirmed it is planning public commemorations for the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook's first landing in Australia, which occurred in April 1770. The anniversary, which falls in 2020, will likely involve the creation of new memorials and exhibitions, while it has also been tipped that local museums will attempt to acquire priceless artifacts from the voyage. Captain James Cook, a British explorer, was ordered by the British Navy to sail south in search of the "mysterious" great southern land, at the time only known as "Terra Australis." Cook left Plymouth in England in August 1768, for a nearly three-year journey during which his ship "Endeavour" made landfall on what is now known as Australia in April 1770. On Friday, Australia's Minister for the Arts Mitch Fifield confirmed to News Corp that there are commemorative events planned for the occasion, which could include exhibitions, school programs and the acquisition of historical publications relating to the landings. "This is a significant anniversary in Australia's recent history," a spokesperson for the minister said. "Early planning is under way regarding this anniversary and the involvement of the community in this process." According to local media, Australian museums hold a number of Cook's key historical artifacts, including a journal which was purchased at a London auction in 1923. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the New South Wales Minister for Arts said that the state government was "working on a plan to appropriately commemorate the arrival of Captain Cook" as Cook first arrived on land in modern New South Wales. CANBERRA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- An Australian government decision to award just one company the contract to build Australia's next-generation naval submarines has been criticized. In April last year, the Australian government awarded the contract to French shipbuilder Direction des Constructions Navales Services (DCNS), which committed to build the 12 Barracuda-class submarines at a cost of 37.3 billion U.S. dollars. Following the contract announcement, the Australian National Audit Office was commissioned to report on the details of the contract, the results of which were handed down late on Thursday. While the report was deemed to overall be in favor of the contract, auditor-general Grant Hehir did admit the decision to award the contract to just the one company would lessen the motivation for DCNS to "produce a more economical and efficient build." Following the release of the report, a spokesperson for the Defence Department responded to the claim, saying the government did not have the resources available to involve a second partner. "Endeavoring to work with two international partners would dilute capability and undermine the effort required to arrive at a sound understanding of the capability, cost range and risk of the proposed design for the future submarine," the department said in comments published in Friday's News Corp newspapers. The 12 new submarines are slated to replace the nation's six ageing Collins-class submarines which first came into service in 1990. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 10:48:55|Editor: An Video Player Close GUIYANG, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Chen Qin was embroidering a butterfly for an order from the United Nations. "These pieces will be decorations for the covers of notebooks for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)," said Chen, 37, a member of the Miao ethnic group who lives in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Guizhou Province. Chen had never considered the possibility of selling her traditional handicrafts overseas. "Before the orders came, there was no reason to do embroidery. Now that we can make money from it, we are motivated to pick up craft again," Chen said. Almost all Miao women learn the embroidery which decorates their folk costumes, and now they can make money from the skill. "During the farming low season, women gather in my home to work," Chen said. Miao embroidery has a history dating back more than 2,000 years, and was included in a national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2006. However, since poverty has driven many Miao women to leave their villages and become migrant workers, the skill has started to lapse. The culture department in the prefecture seat Kaili, along with the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and UNDP are helping Miao families out of poverty while saving the traditional handicraft by teaching it to young people. One such program led to the establishment of an embroidery cooperative in the village of Meixiang in October 2015. Over the past year, the group has taken orders totaling more than 400,000 yuan (58,000 U.S. dollars), giving each embroiderer an annual income over 10,000 yuan. The womens' standard of living has significantly improved and more are returning home and signing up for training every day. "The government gave us sewing machines and a photocopier so that we can design the patterns ourselves," Chen said. The prefecture plans to come up with completely new embroidered products for global markets, said Liu Rui, a cultural official from Kaili. The "Jinxiujihua" campaign has been helping women across Guizhou out of poverty since 2013, according to the provincial women's federation. The program trains rural women in embroidery, batik and other handicrafts so that they can work in their hometowns. More than 500,000 women now work in handicraft industries with the support of the campaign which has helped about 10,000 out of poverty in 2016. by Xue Lei, Nguon Sovan PHNOM PENH, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation is crucial to deepen cooperation among participating countries, Cambodian Economy and Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth has said. Aun Pornmoniroth made the remarks in a recent interview with Xinhua. He said the forum, which will be held from May 14 to 15 in Beijing, presents a wonderful opportunity to solidify arrangements under the Belt and Road Initiative. Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of Silk Road. Aun Pornmoniroth said the international meeting will also signify the high level of importance placed on cooperation among Belt and Road countries that have a shared vision of development collaboration and regional connectivity. "This forum will be a strategic measure to boost the world economy and an important platform to deepen international cooperation and China's innovative practice to implement the concept of win-win cooperation," he added. According to the minister, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen will lead a high level delegation to attend the forum. "We wish to discuss the possibility of investment in several major infrastructure projects, like expressways, railways, bridges and airports," Aun Pornmoniroth said. He said the Southeast Asian nation wants to strengthen collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative to increase Chinese investment in Cambodia in key sectors such as agriculture, logistics, industry, human resource development and tourism. Aun Pornmoniroth said Cambodia has high expectations for the upcoming forum, saying that it will further deepen economic ties between Cambodia and China, and strengthen relations between Cambodia and all participating countries. Thus far, 28 heads of state and government leaders have confirmed their attendance at the forum. Other delegates include officials, entrepreneurs, financiers and reporters from 110 countries, and representatives of 61 international organizations. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 11:14:15|Editor: MJ Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he would prefer a diplomatic approach to solving the Korean Peninsula issue, but warned that a major conflict with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is possible. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," Trump told Reuters in an interview, adding that "there is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea (DPRK). Absolutely." Senior officials of the Trump administration on Wednesday briefed members of the U.S. Congress on Washington's policy towards the DPRK. Trump aims to use economic sanctions and diplomatic measures to pressure the DPRK into dismantling its nuclear and missile programs, U.S. officials said in a statement after the briefing. "We are engaging responsible members of the international community to increase pressure on the DPRK in order to convince the regime to de-escalate and return to the path of dialogue," said the statement. The statement was jointly issued by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats. The United States seeks stability and the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, calling the DPRK's pursuit of nuclear weapons "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority," said the statement. "We remain open to negotiations towards that goal. However, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies." Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 11:14:16|Editor: MJ Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Thursday called for restraint and calm in the Republic of Macedonia, saying that violence is "unacceptable." "We are following developments unfolding in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia with great concern and call for restraint and calm," Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said in a statement. "Violence directed at democratic institutions and elected representatives of the people is unacceptable," the statement said. "We urge all political forces to resolve their differences through democratic means, strictly adhering to the Constitution, in order to overcome the political impasse without further delay," the statement added. Authorities in Macedonia said Thursday that 77 people have been injured in clashes inside and outside the parliament building of the southeast European country. The injured included 22 police officers and three lawmakers who were attacked when dozens of protesters pushed through a police cordon and stormed into the building of the Macedonian parliament on Thursday afternoon, reports said. PHNOM PENH, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen left here on Friday for the 30th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), scheduled on April 29 in Manila, the Philippines. The summit will be held under the theme "Partnering for Change, Engaging the World," the prime minister wrote on his Facebook page before the departure. "The ASEAN leaders will discuss and exchange views on critical issues which ASEAN and the world are facing to further promote peace, security and prosperity for the region and the world," he said. According to a press release from the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, situation in the Middle East and in the Korean peninsula as well as in the world, including the health of the world economy, have been ASEAN's utmost concern. At the end of the summit, a chairman's statement will be issued and a number of documents are expected to be signed, adopted and noted, the press release said. Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. WELLINGTON, April 28 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand exports rose by 11 percent year on year in March, driven by a surge in exports to China, the government statistics agency said Friday. Exports hit 4.6 billion NZ dollars (3.16 billion U.S. dollars) last month, said Statistics New Zealand. Exports to China were valued at 1.1 billion NZ dollars (756.58 million U.S. dollars), up 43 percent, led by dairy and lamb products. "China continues to be our top destination for goods exports, and accounts for a quarter of the total dairy exports value," international statistics manager Tehseen Islam said in a statement. "This March, exports to China exceeded 1 billion NZ dollars (687.8 million U.S. dollars) for the first March month since 2014." The value of total dairy exports rose by 250 million NZ dollars (171.95 million U.S. dollars), or 29 percent, while the quantity rose 6.4 percent. Imported goods were valued at 4.3 billion NZ dollars (2.95 billion U.S. dollars), up 7.6 percent, giving New Zealand a trade surplus of 332 million NZ dollars (228.35 million U.S. dollars), or 7.1 percent of exports, in March. This compared with an average surplus of 11 percent of exports for the previous five March months. The annual trade deficit for the year ended March was 3.7 billion NZ dollars (2.54 billion U.S. dollars), compared with a shortfall of 3.8 billion NZ dollars (2.61 billion U.S. dollars) in the year ended February. In the quarter ending March, the value of imported goods rose 4.4 percent from the previous quarter to 13.6 billion NZ dollars (9.35 billion U.S. dollars), while the value of exported goods was up 2.4 percent to 12.2 billion NZ dollars (8.39 billion U.S. dollars). The trade deficit in the March quarter was 1.4 billion NZ dollars (962.92 million U.S. dollars), equivalent to 11 percent of exports. It was the 12th consecutive quarterly trade deficit and the largest since the September 2008 quarter. PYONGYANG, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has accused South Korean acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn of trying to keep conservative forces in power by hyping up threats from the north, said official media Friday. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted a spokesman for the Policy Department of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country of the DPRK as saying that Hwang made remarks about "tougher counteraction" and "retaliatory punishment" against DPRK recently. "Days ago, traitor Hwang convened a 'state council meeting' at which he said 'the north may make sixth nuclear test or other provocations on the anniversary of the People's Army' and 'the north will face tougher counteraction if it makes reckless provocation,'" said the spokesman for the official organ which deals with inter-Korean affairs. "On Wednesday, frightened by the combined live-fire demonstration of the services of the Korean People's Army the U.S. and south Korean warmongers hastily launched '2017 combined firepower annihilating drill,'" he said. The DPRK Tuesday held its largest ever combined live-fire drill in the presence of its top leader Kim Jong Un at Wonsan on the eastern coast to mark the 85th founding anniversary of its army. In response, the U.S. and South Korean forces also staged military exercises on Wednesday. "Even the master U.S., much upset by the rapidly developing nuclear attack capability of the DPRK, is flustering by hurling its strategic assets. It is ridiculous for the South Korean puppet group to vociferate about 'retaliatory punishment,'" said the spokesman. "What Hwang is behaving reveals the uneasiness of the south Korean conservative group who have been isolated and rejected as the days go by and betrays his sinister ploy to rally the conservative forces by inciting security crisis ahead of the 'presidential election,'" he added. South Korea will hold a general election next month and a number of conservative and liberal candidates are contending for the presidency. The DPRK has urged South Koreans to choose "progressive forces" to replace the conservative forces of the incumbent government which Pyongyang says has damaged inter-Korean relations. WELLINGTON, April 28 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and Australian troops in Iraq will train about 2,000 Iraqi Security Forces personnel in the next fortnight to fight Islamic State insurgents, the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) said Friday. "A steady flow of capable personnel is crucial in sustaining the counter-offensive against the terrorist group," Major General Tim Gall, the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said in a statement. Many of the forces trained by the joint New Zealand-Australian Task Group Taji had joined the assault to reclaim the western part of Mosul, said Gall. Some formed part of stabilization forces who were working to ensure the gains made against Daesh (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) in other parts of Iraq were sustained. "We've helped build a fighting force that's contributing to the current offensive against Daesh. But apart from force generation, we are also training the next generation of Iraqi military leaders who will be responsible for protecting their country in the future," he said. Task Group Taji, which comprised about 100 New Zealand troops and 300 Australian Defense Force personnel, had trained more than 21,000 Iraqi government forces since its training mission began in May 2015. Since last October, the NZDF had sent small groups of training and force protection teams to other secure training locations in Iraq. New Zealand soldiers had also been training stabilization forces such as the Iraqi Border Guards in addition to the Iraqi Army. Originally set for two years, the NZDF contribution to the international Building Partner Capacity mission in Iraq was extended by the government to November 2018. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 13:24:41|Editor: An Video Player Close BOSTON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- As U.S. President Donald Trump is about to hit his one hundredth day in office, changes observed suggest that his administration has adopted a more sensible approach in dealing with China, a leading U.S. economist told Xinhua here. Citing a recent probe on imported steel ordered by Trump, Richard Cooper, an international economics professor at Harvard University and former chairman of National Intelligence Council and under-secretary of state, said the move showed that "instead of acting before studying, he's now indicated that maybe we need a study before acting." Last week, Trump called for the initiation of a trade probe on steel imports on national security grounds. He has signed a memo directing his administration to expedite an investigation into whether steel imports are jeopardizing U.S. national security. "I take that as a positive sign starting at a very unfavorable position, but it's not over yet until we see the results of these studies and what he actually does," Cooper said. The meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump at Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida earlier this month also created a favorable condition for bilateral relations, according to him. "The visit of President Xi was very positive...he (Trump) had not acted on the currency manipulation, he's backed away from that sensibly, in my view," Cooper said. Trump "still has the big trade deficit in mind, but they've allowed themselves a hundred days to sort of work something out, I take that as a positive sign," he said. Environmental protection is something that needs China and the United States to work closely together, Cooper said. "If China and the United States reached a deal on environmental protection, we can roll it out to others," he said. As for China's role in the world, the veteran diplomat praised China's initiative of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which he thought was a "fine idea." The AIIB was established in 2015 and started operation in January 2016 to provide financing for infrastructure improvement in Asia. Its membership has increased to 70, with 13 new members approved in March. "I was involved in the creating of the Asian Development Bank and I thought the AIIB was actually a fine idea and can contribute," he said. "I don't worry about competition with the World Bank for two reasons. One, there's lots of room to spend money around the world constructively, and secondly, a little competition is not a bad thing," Cooper said. In fact, World Bank and the AIIB signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday to strengthen cooperation between them. Under the MOU, both sides agreed to cooperate in areas, including development financing, staff exchanges, and analytical and sector work. World Bank and the AIIB are discussing more projects to be co-financed in 2017 and 2018, the World Bank said on Sunday. Touching on the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013, Cooper said he does "not object to it," but looks forward to a more detailed plan to be spelled out by the Chinese government. The Belt and Road Initiative consists of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. It aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes. China is still "in the process of defining with some specificity" the content of the initiative, Cooper said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 13:24:41|Editor: MJ Video Player Close BOSTON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Despite the huge potential for U.S.-China cooperation, the lack of mutual trust and deep-rooted misunderstandings prevented the two countries from moving closer on trade as well as other issues, Anthony Saich, a leading U.S. expert on China told Xinhua in a recent interview. As he sees it, there are three common misunderstandings in the United States about China that contributed to the mistrust, said Saich, the director of Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation and a professor of international affairs at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. The first is about the substantial growth of U.S. exports to China in the past 15 years, which is often neglected or played down by U.S. politicians seeking to create the impression that China inundates the U.S. market with its manufactured goods. "I was looking at some figures recently. U.S. exports to China have gone up 500 percent since China entered the World Trade Organization, which is a counter to the normal rhetoric," he said. The second is the simplistic view of U.S.-China trade imbalance based only on trade figures. "It is about how do you count trade. A lot of what is exported from China the real value added is to American firms," Saich said, adding that "American investment into China is much more globally integrated than Chinese investment into the U.S. at the moment." U.S. investments in China "play an important part in the U.S. economy, and an important part of the global production chain, that's not the case with Chinese investments into America...they're much more one-off, buying buildings which are overpriced and buying companies which are massively overpriced." The third commonly-held misconception in the United States about China arises from the rhetoric that China steals U.S. jobs, said the expert. "Chinese is not stealing American jobs, technology is stealing American jobs. The peak for U.S. manufacturing in terms of employment was well over 50 years ago and it has been in decline ever since, so it's technology that's taking the jobs not China," Saich said. The two largest economies in the world are highly complementary to each other, Saich noted, as many pundits have pointed out. For example, President Donald Trump listed infrastructure as a key part of his economic policy, and China has rich experiences in this aspect, he said. "That's an area that if facilitated could be hugely beneficial to the United States." "Look how terrible the railway service is up and down the East Coast. I was stunned when I went to China and got on the high-speed rails. It's embarrassing coming back to AmTrak in America so those are kinds of areas where I think they're win-win," Saich added. Saturday marks Trump's 100th day in the White House and there is already a torrent of media reports reviewing his performance as the U.S. president during the period, and China is often a crucial part of these reports, highlighting the fact that U.S.-China relations are the world's most important bilateral ties. The recent meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago may help reduce mutual suspicion between Washington and Beijing, according to Saich. "I think the visit of President Xi was very helpful in terms of the two people interacting with one another. (It is) sending out a signal that whatever the differences are, we need to find a way to make the relationship work," he said. KABUL, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Taliban on Friday announced the start of their yearly rebel offensive in Afghanistan. The Taliban has codenamed their offensive "operation Mansoori" referring to their leader Mohammad Akhtar Mansoor who was killed in a U.S. drone strike along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border last year, they said in a statement. The Taliban militants, who ruled the country before being ousted in late 2001, renewed armed insurgency, killing government troops as well as civilians. They urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants besides warning people not to support the government. The NATO and U.S. forces completed their combat mission in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, after 13 years of military presence in the country but around 13,000 foreign troops remain in the country to train and assist the Afghan forces. On Thursday, the UN urged warring sides in Afghanistan to take further measures for better protect of civilians from conflicts. "With the so-called fighting season imminent, I appeal to all parties to take every measure possible to prevent unnecessary and unacceptable harm to Afghan civilians," Tadamichi Yamamoto, special UN envoy and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, said in a statement. "During an armed conflict, the intentional killing and injuring of civilians is a war crime," said Yamamoto, adding that "anti-government elements must stop this deplorable practice and everybody must apply - and respect - the definition of 'civilian' provided by international humanitarian law." About 715 civilians were killed and over 1,460 others injured in conflict-related incidents across Afghanistan in the first three months of the year, according to figures released by the UN mission in the country. The mission attributed 62 percent of the casualties to the Taliban and other anti-government militants. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 13:54:46|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close HANGZHOU, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Yuan Jiajun was appointed vice governor and acting governor of east China's Zhejiang Province Friday. The decision was announced at a session of the standing committee of the provincial people's congress, which also accepted the resignation of governor Che Jun. Yuan has worked in China's aerospace industry and was chief commander of the Shenzhou spacecraft system, according to the standing committee. Yuan was born in 1962. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in November 1992. Yuan had worked in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from March 2012 before becoming a member of the standing committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, deputy governor and then deputy secretary of the committee in October 2016. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 14:14:49|Editor: An Video Player Close BUENOS AIRES, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Argentine Ambassador to China Diego Guelar hailed bilateral ties as being at a "historic moment," according to an article published on Thursday. In an interview with financial daily El Cronista Comercial, Guelar also said President Mauricio Macri's upcoming visit to China in May could lay the foundation for the future of bilation ties in coming decades. "Expectations are very high among both the government and local public opinions" concerning Macri's China trip, said Guelar. Asked how he would describe the bilateral ties, which celebrated their 45th anniversary on Feb. 19, Guelar said they are "at a historic moment, because we are building a mature, long-term relationship based on national interests, and disconnected from any ideological banner." "In China, we find an essential player on the world stage (that is) complementary with our country and interested in continuing to consolidate bilateral ties, in other words, a partner that we have chosen, that we value and that we look after," he said. The envoy underscored "advances in investment projects in housing, roadway infrastructure, energy and mining" by Chinese companies in Argentina. Guelar also expressed admiration for China's recent development, saying: "They have transformed their country with an astonishing speed." China is Argentina's second largest trade partner, leading export market for agricultural goods, and third biggest foreign investor. NEW DELHI, April 28 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian woman believed to have been the world's heaviest is being shifted to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for further treatment, said India's privately-run Saifee hospital which has been treating her. According to a statement issued by the hospital, Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty now weighs 172 kg, down from an estimated 500 kg. "The team of doctors at Saifee Hospital has done a fabulous job and her recovery has been unprecedented. She is stable and all parameters are under control. She will continue to need neurological rehabilitation and physiotherapy," reads the statement issued by Aparna Bhasker, section chief of bariatric surgery, Saifee hospital Mumbai. "As the treatment here concludes she is being shifted to Burjeel hospital in UAE," it said. According to doctors, 36-year-old Abd El Aty would receive "secondary physiotherapy" there as the hospital is "closer to home for Eman and her family." Earlier this week Abd El Aty's sister accused renowned Mumbai doctor Muffazal Lakdawala, bariatric surgeon and the hospital of lying for publicity, kicking a row. She posted a short video message on the social media questioning weight loss of her sister and improvement. Lakdawala strongly rejected her allegations. Saifee hospital, located in Mumbai, in the statement described treatment to Abd El Aty "a proud moment" in Indian medical history. "She came on a chartered cargo plane and goes back as a passenger on a flight in business class," the statement said, showing latest pictures of Abd El Aty. Abd El Aty was brought to Mumbai for weight reduction surgery in February to be treated by Lakdawala. The Indian doctors brought her to Mumbai in a specially furnished chattered flight with all the essential equipment like portable ventilator, portable defibrillator, oxygen cylinders, intubating laryngoscopes and other safety drugs, besides a specially designed bed for Abd El Aty. Reports quoting family members of Abd El Aty said she has not moved out of her house for 25 years. Last year the Indian embassy in Cairo initially denied visa request of Abd El Aty owing to her inability to present herself in person at the office. However, she was later granted the visa after her surgeon Lakdawala tweeted to India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj about Abd El Aty's condition. KEY WORDS: United Airlines YOU MAY LIKE Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 14:54:55|Editor: An Video Player Close ATHENS, April 28 (Xinhua) -- In China's National Center for the Performing Arts, "Boat in Dream," a large piece of wooden artwork from Greece, attracts many visitors. Created by Greek artist Vangelis Rinas, the artwork was carved with a prose poem in braille praising the friendship between China and Greece in both languages. Born on the Greek island of Samos, Rinas had a dream of the faraway land and a strong China complex. When his work of great symbolic significance was first exhibited in the National Art Museum of China in Beijing in 2010, it caused a sensation among viewers. In May 2013, the artist gave "Boat in Dream" to China as a gift. China and Greece, two cradles of civilization, were connected by the Silk Road for centuries. And now the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative is providing new opportunities for the two countries to get closer. U.S. historians including Sarah Pomeroy thought that as early as in the fifth century B.C., Chinese silk was transported to Greece by the Scythians, a large group of Iranian Eurasian nomads inhabiting the central Eurasian steppes from the eighth century B.C. to the third century B.C., hundreds of years earlier than the Han Dynasty in China when the Silk Road was officially opened. Once a powerful empire, the ancient Greece expanded its sphere to the Black Sea and gained access to China's silk and other resources like gold, furs and leather. According to Chinese classics, Greek had links with China through the Silk Road as early as 2,000 years ago, with the help of Arabs. The theory has been verified archaeologically. The Dunhuang frescoes and Buddha statues showed that the Greek culture was most likely to spread to China during Alexander the Great's eastward conquest and in the time of Hellenization, said Fan Jinshi, head of Dunhuang Academy of China. The two ancient nations have produced cultural giants like Socrates and Confucius, who bore striking resemblances in their spiritual cores. The ever deepening friendship and cooperation between China and Greece have withstood tests. Greece has sent ships to aid the evacuation of the Chinese citizens stranded in Algeria and Libya when the security situation there deteriorated, while China continued to invest in Greece when the country was hit by sovereign debt crisis. During a meeting in Beijing in July 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras: "China hopes to work with Greece to build the (Piraeus) port into the biggest transshipment port of containers in the Mediterranean, the bridgehead of land-ocean transportation, and a support for Belt and Road Initiative cooperation." Tsipras said Greece will work with China to cement bilateral cooperation on the basis of the Piraeus port project, which is not only beneficial to the two peoples, but also has positive impacts on the region. According to Zou Xiaoli, Chinese ambassador to Greece, the port is more than an economic program; rather, it serves as a magnificent bridge linking the two peoples. Currently, over a dozen Chinese enterprises have invested in Greece, contributing to the development of bilateral economic and trade exchanges in such areas as maritime transportation, aviation, telecommunications, energy and finance. Exchanges between China and Greece is also booming. The two nations have worked together to hold forums on maritime cooperation and city management, build a Chinese culture center in Athens, and increase the amount of exchange students. The two governments have agreed that enhancing bilateral cultural exchanges and cultural industry cooperation carries significance for enhancing understanding between China and Europe, and securing world peace and stability. The hope is high that with joint efforts, the Silk Road linking the two nations for over 2,000 years will see a brighter future. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 15:30:00|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SYDNEY, April 28 (Xinhua) -- An Australian father and son have said they are lucky to be alive after spending three nights lost in the Tasmanian wilderness. John Ward, 41, and his 13-year-old son Stephen were hiking near Scotts Peak Dam in the Southwest National Park on Monday when they became lost. After a three-day search and rescue effort, the duo was found late on Thursday. John Ward was diagnosed and treated for mild hypothermia but Stephen was declared healthy. "It was tough; really, really tough," Stephen told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Friday. "We came across a hiker, he said we were on the right track, the one we were on, but it wasn't, we were on a big, big track." He said that he guessed they had ended up 20 kilometers away from their camp site. "We found a river and made a hut down there," he said. "I thought we were on the way out." The pair had water and managed to find scraps of food left behind by other hikers. Sergeant Chris Williams, the coordinator of the search, said that building the shelter had "probably saved their lives." "They've been able to protect themselves somewhat from the elements, from the heavy rain we had, they still did become wet and damp in that shelter," Williams told reporters. Speaking from a stretcher, John Ward thanked emergency services for conducting the search. "They did a really good job, they're real heroes," he said. Grave fears were held for the father and son since the alarm was raised on Tuesday night after they failed to return from their hiking trip on time. Police said the pair had never hiked in Tasmania before but a log book indicated they were going to be hiking the Scotts Peak track, which usually takes four or five days. Wendy Ward, John's mother, said she had not yet spoken to the pair. "(I am) very relieved. It has been a terrible couple of nights, we are all so relieved," she said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 15:35:01|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SYDNEY, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Low-cost Australian airline Jetstar has been rated as the worst in the world by its passengers. One in three respondents to the international survey of recent flyers who had flown with Jetstar reported flight delays with the average hold time being four hours. Lack of cost transparency and long delays were reported as the biggest gripes among Jetstar passengers. The results, released on Friday, were compiled by 11 consumer groups from around the world who surveyed 11,000 people who had travelled in the past year. Qantas was the best of the Australian airlines, ranking 36th globally, while Virgin Australia was 51st and Jetstar was last in 73rd. Fellow budget carrier Tigerair was not included in the results due to a small sample size. Emirates was rated the best airline in the world with an average score of 8.29 out of 10. A spokesperson for Jetstar said that the airline would always put safety before its schedule. They said their own internal data showed the average hold time for delayed flights was 20 minutes. "We know how important it is to get customers to their destination on time, and we recognize there is room for improvement and our team is doing a lot of work behind the scenes," the spokesperson told News Limited on Friday. Respondents to the survey rated airlines on punctuality, checking in, boarding, customer service, comfort, value and safety. Tom Godfrey, a spokesman for consumer group Choice, said the results should serve as a "real wake-up call for the airline." "Across the board we see they are failing to perform and consumers are unhappy about their excessive fees, the airlines aren't clean and they are just not running on time." Data released by the Australian Government in 2016 revealed that Virgin had the best rate of having flights arrive and depart on time while Qantas was second best in both categories. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 15:40:02|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MANILA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday urged all parties concerned to exercise self-retraint to de-escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The ministers reiterated their position in a statement that they support the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In addition, they called for the resumption of dialogue on the Korean Peninsula to defuse tensions and create conditions conducive to peace and stability. The ministers also urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to comply with the UN Security Council resolutions. The statement said ASEAN is mindful that instability on the Korean Peninsula "seriously impacts the region and beyond." ASEAN called on all parties concerned to exercise self-retraint and refrain form taking actions that may aggravate the situation. The ASEAN foreign ministers met on Friday in the run-up to the 30th ASEAN leaders' summit that will take place on Saturday. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will chair the summit and related meetings of all 10 ASEAN leaders to discuss ways to maintain ASEAN centrality and unity, including having a credible, collective and cohesive ASEAN response while addressing various regional challenges. ASEAN, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, is marking its 50th anniversary this year. Women with tradition clothes march during Ghana's 60 Independence Day celebration at the Independence Square in Accra, capital of Ghana, March 6, 2017. (Xinhua/Shi Song) ACCRA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The United States would expel 7,000 Ghanaians this year for breaching terms of their visa agreement, a U.S. diplomat said on Thursday. U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Robert P. Jackson said the Ghanaians had overstayed their permits and were currently at different stages of their deportation process. "About 7,000 of them are currently at different stages of the deportation process, and we are not apologetic about that," Jackson said at an event in the Brong Ahafo region, 400 km north of the capital, Accra. "We have a lot of Ghanaians who have overstayed their visas in the U.S. and I think that they need to be concerned about whether they would be allowed to remain illegally," Jackson said. "My guess is they will be given some options but the president will be serious about asking those who've violated their visa status to depart." Photo taken on March 19, 2017 shows a little girl waiting to get water at an Internal Displaced Person (IDP) camp in Doolow, a border town with Ethiopia, Somalia. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) ADDIS ABABA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government has provided life-saving nutrition assistance worth 8 million U.S. dollars to support the UN World Food Program's (WFP) response in drought-hit Ethiopia. The donation followed another 10-million-dollar grant to the WFP on Wednesday to bolster its humanitarian work in drought-stricken Somalia where more than 6 million people are food insecure. The latest contribution from China will enable the WFP to provide specialized treatment for more than 277,000 moderately malnourished children and women due to the ongoing drought that affected parts of the east African country. La Yifan, the Chinese Ambassador in Ethiopia, said during the hand-over ceremony on Thursday that China is a friendly country that provides support to its best ability. "We are a developing country, but we obliged to provide assistance to other countries through the World Food Program," he said. The ambassador appreciated efforts made by the Ethiopian government to reach out the emergency needs of its drought affected citizens. He also called on the international community to fulfill the commitments made in the fight against climate change, as a sustainable solution to minimize the occurrence of natural disasters such as the ongoing drought that affected parts of the Horn of African region. John Aylieff, WFP Ethiopia Representative and Country Director, appreciated China's contribution to support people in drought-affected Ethiopia, saying the support has come at a crucial moment as the East African country endures the worst drought in 50 years. "While the government did so much itself, support from the international community was needed. It was at this moment that China came forward," he said. Tadesse Bekele, Advisor at Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management, also appreciated the contribution from China, saying that "China is very generous to Ethiopia." "I am very much delighted that this supplementary food assistance will help those desperate people, and we will be able to save the lives of children and lactating mothers," he said. According to Tadesse, the Ethiopian government is working on proactive measures to minimize the effect of the drought in its effort to save the lives of millions of people. The Government of Ethiopia and its humanitarian partners on January this year have officially launched the Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD) for 2017, looking for 948 million U.S. dollars to reach out to 5.6 million people with emergency food and non-food assistance. Related: China on Wednesday also granted the WFP 10 million U.S. dollars to bolster its humanitarian work in drought-stricken Somalia where more than 6 million people are food insecure. WFP Country Director Laurent Bukera said the funds will allow the UN food agency to deploy emergency humanitarian assistance to more than 200,000 people. "This grant will support Somalis and will allow WFP to deploy emergency assistance to more than 200,000 for probably up to four months assistance," Bukera said. China also contributed 2 million U.S. dollars to WFP emergency response last year that helped it support close to 50,000 children and mothers to address malnutrition in the country, Bukera said. The Chinese Ambassador to Somalia Qin Jian hoped Somalia will overcome the natural disasters and rebuild their home, saying Beijing has long term support for Somalia. "China and Somalia enjoy long-term friendship. The diplomatic ties between brotherly states began in December in 1960, but relations between the two countries were there six hundred years ago," he said, adding China had carried out 89 projects including Benadir hospital, National Theater and Stadium Mogadishu between 1960 and 1991. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 16:20:15|Editor: Tian Shaohui Tourists visit Istanbul's Taksim Square, Turkey, on April 17, 2017. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared victory in a constitutional reform referendum that will give him sweeping powers, amid an outcry from the opposition that the voting was rigged. (Xinhua Photo) by Burak Akinci ANKARA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A reinstatement of the death penalty in Turkey will inexorably be a deal breaker for already faltering relations of the NATO country with the European Union. But is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan really serious on this or was it purely a nationalistic rhetoric used for winning the crucial referendum extending his powers? Just a few hours following his very tight victory on a constitutional referendum on April 16 granting him executive powers, the dominant president promised his supporters that he would speak with the prime minister and prominent parliamentarians about reintroducing capital punishment. Executions have not officially been used in Turkey for 33 years, and the death penalty was completely abolished through constitutional changes by 2004, with support of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), when Turkey was very progressive towards a European membership. There have been repeated calls for the use of the death penalty in Turkey since last July's failed coup. Hundreds of thousands of Erdogan's supporters see the death penalty as the appropriate punishment for soldiers involved in the coup attempt and for the suspected mastermind of the plot, the Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. "If the president says something, it has a meaning, and it definitely means something important. President Erdogan is a man of the people and the people feel that the death penalty should be brought back," said a senior member of AKP. He explained that at the present time though there was no official work done for a reintroduction of the sentence, "we are looking into it at different levels," added the source, who preferred to remain anonymous. During a televised interview, professor Mustafa Sentop, a prominent lawmaker for AKP, indicated that in case the death penalty is reinforced, it cannot be used retroactively for crimes of the past, leaving Gulen and suspected coup plotters off the hook. "If someone commits a criminal offense after the relevant law is passed, the capital punishment would be applied," he said, adding that "offenses to overthrow the constitutional order, intentional homicide and rape should be the mains crimes requiring an enforcement of the executions." If this will be the case, there is a major challenge of violating protocols of the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Turkey is a signatory. Presently, 59 countries officially use executions as punishment. One hundred and two have banned the death penalty. In six countries, capital punishment is applied in exceptional circumstances such as war crimes or breaches of military law. A number of European leaders have already warned Turkey that the return of executions is a "red line" for the EU amid a potential of suspension of political ties. EU leaders could well decide in the upcoming months to halt Ankara's accession negotiations which are at the moment de facto put on ice due to the Cyprus dispute and other obstacles, fueling even more anti-EU and anti-Western sentiment among Turks. According to a poll conducted after the coup plot last year by the opinion research institute ORC, 91 percent of the population demanded the death penalty for crimes be implemented. Meanwhile, the statements on this topic by European countries are explicit. The message that Brussels repeatedly sends is that the reintroduction of the death penalty would mean a breach of the accession negotiations with the European Union. "This will be a nightmare scenario for Turkey," writes columnist Murat Yetkin in his column in the Hurriyet daily news. "For Erdogan, that would strike two birds with one stone: it will be the EU, not Turkey, that finally cuts relations, meaning that Erdogan no longer feels restrained by European legal and democratic standard." The Turkish president has adopted an increasingly combative attitude against the EU in recent months, following decisions of some EU members, such as Germany, to ban pro-Erdogan rallies on their soil ahead of the referendum. He also said that he may put Turkey's bid to join the bloc to a separate referendum. European parliament president Antonio Tajani said Wednesday during a speech that the return of the capital punishment will be a "deal-breaker" in bilateral relations in line with German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel warning to Ankara. But Erdogan replied that his country has no lesson to take from anyone and that the EU official "has to know their place." The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a non-EU European institution that has dealt a heavy blow on Ankara on Tuesday by putting the country in its monitor list because of human rights violations, also issued a warning to Turkey not to reintroduce the death penalty. "The Assembly will not accept any backsliding on this," it said. It is early to predict for now if Erdogan, who is not shy of a political surprise, will go ahead or not on this burning issue. His immediate plans after his narrow referendum win is to return in May at the helm of his AKP, in line with the crucial constitutional revision in favor of which the Turks voted "yes." Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 16:25:15|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by Peerzada Arshad Hamid NEW DELHI, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Kia Motors, South Korea's second-biggest automaker, is set to enter the Indian car market by investing 1.1 billion U.S. dollars to build its first factory here, local officials said Friday. The factory would be set up at Anantapur district in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh later this year. According to officials, the manufacturing plant will be having an annual capacity of making 300,000 vehicles, according to a statement issued by Kia Motors. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the project was signed between local government of Andhra Pradesh and Kia Motors at Vijayawada city of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday. Executives from Kia Motors and state's top officials were present on the occasion. "Construction of the new manufacturing facility, Kia Motors' first in India and representing approximately a 1.1 billion U.S. dollars investment, will commence in the final quarter of 2017," said the statement. The manufacturing facility is expected to begin production in the second half of 2019. Kia Motors, the maker of Optima sedan, is considering making small cars and SUVs for the Indian market at the new plant. Reports said South Korean manufacturers are shifting factories overseas to cut costs and avoid labor strife that has affected their production. India is the world's fifth largest auto market and Kia hopes to cash in on the growth momentum of the car market in the country. "Construction of a new manufacturing facility in India will enable Kia to maintain its position as one of the world's fastest-growing automobile brands," the statement said. "The new facility in Anantapur will enable the company to start selling its models in India, and benefit from further sustainable sales growth, locally and internationally." Kia's affiliate Hyundai motor, which has been in India for the past 20 years, is the second largest carmaker in India after Maruti Suzuki. It produces cars at a factory near Chennai in Tamil Nadu and has an annual production capacity of about 700,000 cars. "We are delighted to announce that Kia's newest manufacturing facility will be here in Andhra Pradesh," said Han-Woo Park, president of Kia Motors. "It will enable us to sell cars in the world's fifth largest market, while providing greater flexibility for our global business." Analysts say with Kia making inroads in India, it remains to be seen how it would package its cars keeping in view the stiff competition from own affiliate as well as the market leader Maruti Suzuki. "It would be interesting to see how Kia would fit itself in the Indian market," said Atul Ahuja, a Delhi- based automobile industry expert said. "To my understanding the stiff competition between the companies and variety available in the car market will be in the interest of customers." India is considered as fastest growing major new car market with more than 3.3 million new cars sold in 2016. Tourists visit Istanbul's Taksim Square, Turkey, on April 17, 2017. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared victory in a constitutional reform referendum that will give him sweeping powers, amid an outcry from the opposition that the voting was rigged. (Xinhua Photo) by Burak Akinci ANKARA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A reinstatement of the death penalty in Turkey will inexorably be a deal breaker for already faltering relations of the NATO country with the European Union. But is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan really serious on this or was it purely a nationalistic rhetoric used for winning the crucial referendum extending his powers? Just a few hours following his very tight victory on a constitutional referendum on April 16 granting him executive powers, the dominant president promised his supporters that he would speak with the prime minister and prominent parliamentarians about reintroducing capital punishment. Executions have not officially been used in Turkey for 33 years, and the death penalty was completely abolished through constitutional changes by 2004, with support of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), when Turkey was very progressive towards a European membership. There have been repeated calls for the use of the death penalty in Turkey since last July's failed coup. Hundreds of thousands of Erdogan's supporters see the death penalty as the appropriate punishment for soldiers involved in the coup attempt and for the suspected mastermind of the plot, the Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. "If the president says something, it has a meaning, and it definitely means something important. President Erdogan is a man of the people and the people feel that the death penalty should be brought back," said a senior member of AKP. He explained that at the present time though there was no official work done for a reintroduction of the sentence, "we are looking into it at different levels," added the source, who preferred to remain anonymous. During a televised interview, professor Mustafa Sentop, a prominent lawmaker for AKP, indicated that in case the death penalty is reinforced, it cannot be used retroactively for crimes of the past, leaving Gulen and suspected coup plotters off the hook. "If someone commits a criminal offense after the relevant law is passed, the capital punishment would be applied," he said, adding that "offenses to overthrow the constitutional order, intentional homicide and rape should be the mains crimes requiring an enforcement of the executions." If this will be the case, there is a major challenge of violating protocols of the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Turkey is a signatory. Presently, 59 countries officially use executions as punishment. One hundred and two have banned the death penalty. In six countries, capital punishment is applied in exceptional circumstances such as war crimes or breaches of military law. A number of European leaders have already warned Turkey that the return of executions is a "red line" for the EU amid a potential of suspension of political ties. EU leaders could well decide in the upcoming months to halt Ankara's accession negotiations which are at the moment de facto put on ice due to the Cyprus dispute and other obstacles, fueling even more anti-EU and anti-Western sentiment among Turks. According to a poll conducted after the coup plot last year by the opinion research institute ORC, 91 percent of the population demanded the death penalty for crimes be implemented. Meanwhile, the statements on this topic by European countries are explicit. The message that Brussels repeatedly sends is that the reintroduction of the death penalty would mean a breach of the accession negotiations with the European Union. "This will be a nightmare scenario for Turkey," writes columnist Murat Yetkin in his column in the Hurriyet daily news. "For Erdogan, that would strike two birds with one stone: it will be the EU, not Turkey, that finally cuts relations, meaning that Erdogan no longer feels restrained by European legal and democratic standard." The Turkish president has adopted an increasingly combative attitude against the EU in recent months, following decisions of some EU members, such as Germany, to ban pro-Erdogan rallies on their soil ahead of the referendum. He also said that he may put Turkey's bid to join the bloc to a separate referendum. European parliament president Antonio Tajani said Wednesday during a speech that the return of the capital punishment will be a "deal-breaker" in bilateral relations in line with German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel warning to Ankara. But Erdogan replied that his country has no lesson to take from anyone and that the EU official "has to know their place." The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a non-EU European institution that has dealt a heavy blow on Ankara on Tuesday by putting the country in its monitor list because of human rights violations, also issued a warning to Turkey not to reintroduce the death penalty. "The Assembly will not accept any backsliding on this," it said. It is early to predict for now if Erdogan, who is not shy of a political surprise, will go ahead or not on this burning issue. His immediate plans after his narrow referendum win is to return in May at the helm of his AKP, in line with the crucial constitutional revision in favor of which the Turks voted "yes." Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 16:30:18|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TOKYO, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer arrived at the Sasebo base in Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, on Friday, where it will likely become part of an new amphibious unit to be stationed there next year. The helicopter-carrying destroyer called Ise is replacing the retired destroyer Kurama at the Sasebo base. The Ise, which is capable of handling the take-offs and landing of up to three helicopters simultaneously. Its flattop desk is 197 meters long and 33 meters wide and it is capable of carrying the controversial V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. These "offensive" weapons are in contravention of Japan's pacifist Constitution, a key clause of which reads that "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained." At a ceremony held on Friday, the skipper of the Ise vowed to work hard to ensure the ship would serve at the core of maritime missions. In March, Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) launched a new training unit at a camp in Nagasaki Prefecture. The amphibious brigade to be launched at the end of the next fiscal year, will use AAV-7 vehicles that can transport personnel and equipment on water and deploy them on land, where it can be used as a regular vehicle, GSDF officials have said. Preparations for this new unit at the GSDF's Camp Ainoura in Sasebo, Nagasaki, have been in place since 2015. Japan's defense ministry had been seeking 74.6 billion yen (760 million U.S. dollars) in government spending to bolster forces on some of Japan's southern islands, with funds from here also being allocated to set up the new amphibious unit in Nagasaki. The Ise is thought to be central to the amphibious unit's operations. The GSDF has been eyeing deploying the plane which can take off and land like a helicopter, yet fly like a fixed wing plane, at Saga airport in Saga Prefecture from 2019. The transport aircraft has a globally checkered safety record and was widely criticized after a crash in waters off Nago, near the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Schwab, in Okinawa, Japan's southernmost prefecture on Dec. 13. The Ise destroyer when called into action, will also serve as a central command hub for Japan's broader Self-Defense Forces, informed sources have said. The Maritime Self-Defense Force's Izumo, meanwhile, is the largest warship Japan has entered into service since WWII, and is clearly a de facto aircraft carrier, according to military analysts. The Ise is a smaller class of the Izumi, the latter of which is 248-meters in length and weighs 19,500 tons. It is able to accommodate 14 helicopters and is also believed to be able to launch the controversial Osprey, as well as F-35B fighter jets, from its lengthy flight deck. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 16:35:19|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TOKYO, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) said Friday that it conducted a joint drill east of Okinawa with U.S. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, according to local media reports. Defense Minister Tomomi Inada told a press briefing that the exercise was held to further strengthen the deterrence power of the Japan-U.S. alliance and to "show our country's commitment to the region's stability." Kyodo News quoted the ASDF as saying that two F-15 fighter jets based in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, joined two U.S. Navy F/A-18 fighters based on the Carl Vinson in the air east of Okinawa to conduct the fighting drill. The exercise was initially scheduled to be carried out on Wednesday afternoon, but was cancelled due to bad weather, the ASDF said. Although the two countries often hold joint military drills, one involving an aircraft carrier is rare. A policeman guards outside the Supreme Court in Washington D.C., the United States, on June 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) ACCRA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The United States would expel 7,000 Ghanaians this year for breaching terms of their visa agreement, a U.S. diplomat said on Thursday. U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Robert P. Jackson said the Ghanaians had overstayed their permits and were currently at different stages of their deportation process. "About 7,000 of them are currently at different stages of the deportation process, and we are not apologetic about that," Jackson said at an event in the Brong Ahafo region, 400 km north of the capital, Accra. "We have a lot of Ghanaians who have overstayed their visas in the U.S. and I think that they need to be concerned about whether they would be allowed to remain illegally," Jackson said. "My guess is they will be given some options but the president will be serious about asking those who've violated their visa status to depart." Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 17:05:27|Editor: Tian Shaohui Video Player Close HAVANA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Raul Castro and his visiting Seychelles counterpart, Danny Faure, expressed mutual willingness here Thursday to further strengthen cooperation between both nations. Castro and Faure met in a "friendly climate" and reviewed the "satisfactory" state of their bilateral ties while discussing other international issues, said a government release. Before meeting Castro, Faure laid a wreath to Cuba' national hero, Jose Marti, at the mausoleum devoted to him at the Revolution Plaza and toured the Memorial Museum there dedicated to Marti's life and work of liberating the Caribbean nation from Spanish colonialism. As part of his compact agenda in Havana, the African nation's leader was also received by the president of Cuba's National Parliament, Esteban Lazo. Faure expressed his confidence in solidarity and mutual support as the base of the progress for the two countries. Faure highlighted that Cuba and Seychelles share common historic goals and development projects focused on raising the living standards of the two peoples. The president of Seychelles arrived in Havana on Tuesday for an official visit until Saturday. As part of his schedule in Cuba, Faure on Wednesday chaired the opening of the Seychelles Embassy in Havana, the first of the African nation in Latin America, which was considered as a historic milestone for their bilateral ties. Cuba and Seychelles established diplomatic relations on April 12, 1978. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 17:30:35|Editor: Tian Shaohui Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Zhu Wanjun, Zhao Hui BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Bohan used to strolled over to the Haidian Book City in northwest Beijing in 2005. The cultural landmark, one of the largest bookstores in the Chinese capital, was the ideal destination for the then 15-year-old guitar-lover to buy CDs. At that time, it seemed impossible for him to predict that the old building at the center of Zhongguancun industrial zone would be transformed into a nationwide incubator for entrepreneurship and innovation. The Zhongguancun Inno Way company, which is headquartered in the Haidian Book City area, is now a new landmark of innovation with various well-known incubators, such as Garage Cafe, Kr Space and Legend Star. As "a platform of incubators," the Inno Way has met with great success in the past three years, serving as a bridge for both Chinese and international start-ups, markets and investment. Three years ago, with the invention of a smart guitar, Zhang started a business, Popumusic, after dropping out of the University of California, San Diego. In the beginning, even his parents tried to talk him out of the idea. Yet nothing could change his mind. Many of his friends had given up playing guitar without even really trying, because they found it too hard to learn. "Why not develop an easy-to-play smart guitar?" he thought. His confidence and courage were stimulated by the government's encouragement for mass entrepreneurship and innovation in the country. Vigorous efforts were made in China to implement the innovation-driven development strategy, such as the promulgation of the Outline of the National Strategy of Innovation-Driven Development and the launch of programs for major science, technology and innovation projects toward 2030. In May 2016, the "poputar" (a smart guitar) launched its first crowd-funding through E-commerce and received rave reviews. In one month, 4,000 guitars were sold with more than 3 million yuan (435,600 U.S. dollars) raised. Six months later, Zhang's other product, the "populele" (a smart ukulele), also succeeded in its crowd-funding with 6,000 sold out in 10 hours. "The hot sale of the 'poputar' and 'populele' has expanded the traditional guitar consumer market," said Li Wei, the company's market director. In the first quarter of this year, the company bagged two of the top three international production design awards -- the iF Design Award in February and the Red Dot Design Award in March. As one of the innovation enterprises hatched in the Zhongguancun Inno Way, PopuMusic's success has taken advantage of the current wave of innovation and entrepreneurship in China. "This is a down-to-earth and inclusive platform," Zhang said. "It provides start-ups with great support for building up teams, solving technique and finance problems. It gave me more confidence to face all the difficulties at the very beginning." In the opinion of Yao Hongbo, chairman of the Zhongguancun Inno Way's operating company, Beijing Haizhikechuang Technology Service, the ongoing wave of business start-ups in China is distinguished from the former wave in the late 1980s and early 1990s. "We used to produce pants and now we make aircraft -- you can see the huge difference," he said. China is trying to transform and upgrade from a "manufacturing country" to an "intellectual manufacturing country," where innovation is the most important "catalyst." PopuMusic has also been looking at international cooperation. Since last month, the company has been carrying out the first crowd-funding for the "populele" in the United States, with a target amount of 500,000 dollars. The company is considering the possibility of producing guitars in South Asia and has been keeping in touch with an Italian manufacturer on the possibility of using mechanical arms to replace part of human labor in the production. Zhang has an even bolder idea. He plans to build a social platform for music-lovers in the United States to promote self-learning and smart-learning of instruments throughout the world. Chinese innovative enterprises, like PopuMusic, are looking forward to expanding into overseas markets, while foreign start-ups are seeking better development in China. Both share the same idea of making full use of global resources to innovate. So far, Inno Way and other incubators have collaborated with 31 organizations from more than 10 countries in innovative exchanges, cross-border joint incubation programs and other cooperative projects. A total of 194 overseas returnees and foreign start-ups have taken root in this place. Inno Way has held a global innovation roadshow called "Demo the world" annually since 2015 to attract innovation start-ups from all over the world. Some of the winning projects have become permanent fixtures in Zhongguancun, obtained financing from Chinese enterprises and become potential acquisition targets of international companies like Apple. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 17:55:43|Editor: Tian Shaohui Video Player Close MACAO, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Macao's total value of merchandise export in first quarter of 2017 increased by 8.8 percent year-on-year to 2.94 billion patacas (about 367 million U.S. dollars), and import grew by 6.5 percent to 18 billion patacas (about 2.25 billion dollars), the special administrative region's statistics department said on Friday. Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that among the total export amount, domestic exports and re-exports rose by 15.4 percent and 7.7 percent respectively. Merchandise trade deficit widened to 15.06 billion patacas (about 1.88 billion dollars) for the first quarter of 2017. As for March 2017 alone, the merchandise export amounted to 1.07 billion patacas (about 134 million dollars), up by 4.8 percent year-on-year; value of re-exports (912 million patacas, about 114 million dollars) increased by 5.2 percent, with that of Wine (51 million patacas, about 6.37 million dollars) surging by 341.4 percent. Total merchandise import in March grew by 19 percent year-on-year to 6.41 billion (about 800 million dollars), of which imports of Watches and Gold jewelry expanded by 64.8 percent and 47.1 percent respectively. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to 5.35 billion patacas (about 668 million dollars). Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 17:55:43|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JAKARTA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government has abolished export tariff for crude palm oil (CPO) for May shipment due to falling prices of the commodity, and rising export tax for cocoa. Trade ministry disclosed that it has decreased the CPO export tariff to zero for exportation in May from 3 percent at the shipment in April, according to the ministry's statement received by Xinhua on Friday. Director General for Foreign Trade of Trade Ministry Oke Nurwan said the crude palm oil reference price in May was down 4.05 percent to 732.01 U.S. dollar per metric ton. "Now the reference price for CPO falls again that leads the government abandon the export tariff," he said. For cocoa, the ministry rose its export tax to 5 percent for May shipment from zero percent for exportation in April as prices of the commodity rise, the official said. The reference price for the commodity for May was up to 4.23 percent to 83.36 U.S. dollars, he added. Indonesia is the world's largest producer and exporter of palm oil, and among the world's top three cocoa producer along with Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 18:00:44|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close Liu Qibao (R), head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), shakes hands with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Athens, Greece, April 27, 2017. China and Greece have agreed here to boost cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan) ATHENS, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China and Greece have agreed here to boost cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative. China-Greece relations have sustained a healthy and stable development since the two countries established diplomatic relations 45 years ago, Chinese official Liu Qibao told Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Thursday. Liu, head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said China is willing to work with Greece to further deepen mutual political trust, mutually beneficial cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. China is also ready to make efforts with Greece to implement the Belt and Road Initiative, thus promoting the development of the China-Greece all-round strategic partnership, said Liu. The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road and maritime trading routes, bringing mutually beneficial economic outcomes for every nation involved. During the meeting, Liu introduced the new ideas and new strategies of national governance put forward by the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core. He said the CPC is willing to deepen communication with Tsipras' Syriza party on ideas of party and state governance in order to lay a solid foundation both politically and socially for the development of the two countries' relations. Tsipras said both the Greek government and the Syriza party attach great importance to developing relations with China and wish to take the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity to further advance bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, culture, science and technology, as well as tourism. Liu led a Chinese delegation for a visit to Greece from Tuesday to Friday at the invitation of the country's ruling Syriza party. During the visit, Liu also held talks with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, president of the New Democracy party, and participated in the launching ceremony of the "China-Greece Cultural Exchanges and Cultural Industry Cooperation Year" along with Greek Deputy Prime Minister Yiannis Dragasakis. At the ceremony, Liu oversaw the signing of two memoranda of understanding on film co-production and translation and the publication of classic and modern Greek and Chinese literary works. He also attended two exhibitions that opened at the inauguration, one featuring the cultural heritage of Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province, and the other showcasing the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics to be held in Beijing and Zhangjiakou. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 18:05:45|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LUSAKA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Friday denied reports that he threatened the Catholic Bishops over their statement on the current political situation in the country. On Sunday, the Catholic Bishops issued a statement in which they expressed concern over the political situation in the country following the arrest of the country's leading opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema, who has been charged with treason. The bishops expressed concern, among other things, the continued use of state institutions by the government to intimidate and silence opposing voices. On Thursday, some online publications reported that Lungu threatened the bishops and that he will be forced to ban the church in Zambia as it was a threat to peace. But presidential spokesperson Amos Chanda dismissed the reports, saying Lungu did not issue any statement threatening the bishops. "Ordinarily it is not the culture of State House to respond to any social media stories however false, but given the fairly objective disposition Zambia Reports have shown over the years, a real possibility exists that the falsehood it has published maybe be construed by the unsuspecting public to be the truth," he said in a statement released on Thursday. He however said Lungu has noted the concerns raised by the bishops and that he will in due course engage the church to discuss any matters of national interest. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 18:05:45|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW DELHI, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Indian authorities have booked 12 lawmakers of the eastern state of West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress Party in a money laundering case. The Enforcement Directorate, which investigates financial crimes, has registered the case against the 12 politicians, including some ministers, who are accused of accepting cash as bribes allegedly in a sting operation which was conducted by a local news website, officials said Friday. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered the report after the country's Supreme Court said earlier this month that the CBI will investigate the charges against the Trinamool Congress leaders in the wake of a plea by party chief and state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to stop the probe. The sting showed people resembling Trinamool Congress Ministers and leaders accepting cash from the website, Narada News, journalists who posed as representatives of a fictitious company seeking favors from the government. The tapes were released to news organisations before the 2016 assembly elections in West Bengal, which Banerjee swept, winning a second term as Chief Minister. Banerjee has said the footage is doctored and has alleged a political conspiracy. She has also accused the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using central agencies to "intimidate" her party as it sets its eyes on expanding its influence in West Bengal. BJP chief Amit Shah, who toured the state earlierthis week, has rejected Banerjee's allegation, accusing her of harbouring a "BJP phobia." "There is no conspiracy. They were seen on TV taking money. The entire world can see it," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 18:05:45|Editor: Tian Shaohui Video Player Close Spokesperson Geng Shuang (Source: fmprc.gov.cn) BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China hopes the open ministerial meeting on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, currently being held by the UN Security Council, will send a positive and balanced message to the outside world. "If the meeting simply focuses on enhancing sanctions and building up pressure, it will lose a rare opportunity, cause more confrontations between relevant parties, and hamper efforts for talks," spokesperson Geng Shuang said Friday at a daily press briefing. Geng said that China stood ready to join the discussions and exchange opinions to jointly find a solution to the issue. Participants of the meeting include Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 18:15:44|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Saudi backed Yemeni President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi issued a number of decrees and fired a cabinet minister along with the governor of the southern port city of Aden, creating anger among pro-secession southern politicians and supporters. The presidential decrees issued late on Thursday sacked Major General Aidarous Zubaidi as Aden governor, and replaced him by Abdulaziz al-Mufleihi. Yemen's Minister of State Hani Bin Buraik was also fired and forwarded for investigation. Observers said that the decrees targeted the two southern officials who are considered as the most powerful figures in Aden and key UAE-allied military commanders. According to the observers, the standoff and odds between Saudi-backed Yemen President Hadi and UAE have just reached boiling point. UAE-backed Governor of Aden Aidarous Zubaidi held an exception meeting with his team hours after Hadi's decree but no details have been revealed yet. Suspected UAE fighter jets hovered early on Friday morning over Aden's airspace and sporadic clashes occurred in Aden. Citizens in Aden fear further escalations as a result of Hadi's presidential decree. Hadi's decisions to remove UAE-loyal Aden governor created anger among leading secessionist leaders and supporters who called for anti-Hadi demonstrations in the country's southern regions. The southern port city of Aden is the headquarters of Yemen's internationally-backed President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and his government. Aden witnessed several well-planned assassinations and armed attacks after Saudi-backed forces drove the Shiite Houthi rebels out from the strategic city in July 2015. Yemen has been suffering from a civil war and a Saudi-led military intervention for around two years. The civil war began after the Houthi militants with support from forces loyal to the former president ousted the UN-backed transitional government and occupied capital Sanaa militarily in September 2014. The legitimate government controls the south and some eastern parts, while the Houthi-Saleh alliance controls the other parts including the capital Sanaa. The UN has sponsored peace talks between the warring factions several times, but the factions failed to reach common ground. The civil war, ground battles and airstrikes have already killed more than 10,000 people, half of them civilians, injured more than 35,000 others and displaced over two million, according to humanitarian agencies. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 18:15:46|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JAKARTA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's largest food processing firm Indofood Sukses Makmur posted an 11-percent net profit growth to 1.2 trillion rupiah (about 89.9 million U.S. Dollars) in the first quarter this year, the firm said on Friday. Indofood Chief Executive Officer Anthoni Salim said the CBP group contributed up to 50 percent to the firm's overall business during the first quarter this year, followed by flour with 21 percent, agribusiness 22 percent and distribution 7 percent. In all of its business during the period, the publicly-listed firm codenamed INDF recorded growing net sales figures by 8 percent during the period to 17.83 trillion rupiah (about 1.3 billion U.S. dollars) from the corresponding period last year that stood at 16.52 trillion rupiah (about 1.2 billion U.S. dollars), he said. The firm's subsidiary of Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur posted higher net profit growth than its parent firm with up to 1.09 trillion rupiah (about 81.7 million U.S. Dollars) in the period, or 15.6 percent higher than 944.8 billion rupiah (about 70.8 million U.S. dollars) recorded in the same period last year. The significant achievement was highly contributed by the enormous sales in its instant noodle products division that reached 63 percent from overall sales in the subsidiary firm, Anthony added. "It was followed by the sales in its dairy, snacks, seasoning, special food and nutrition products which each of them contributed 20, 8, 3, 2 and 4 percent," Anthoni said. European Council President Donald Tusk (R) shakes hands with visiting Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan after a joint press statement at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan) YEREVAN, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Armenia and the European Union held the first round of negotiations on Wednesday in Yerevan on forming a common aviation area, according to Armenpress. The talks were led by the Director of the General Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia (GDCA) Sergey Avetisyan, and Deputy Head of Unit for Aviation Agreements of the European Commission Klaus Geil. According to Piotr Switalski, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, who also attended the first round of negotiations, introduction of European standards and regulations will make Armenia "a member of our family." Armenia will have bigger opportunities for connecting with the world, which is of paramount importance, he added. GDCA Director Avetisyan said the agreement with the EU will create conditions for geographic diversification in the field and will effectively boost competition, which leads to price cuts and better services provided by airline companies. This will not only lead to lower prices for air fares for Armenians, but also contribute to stronger integration between Armenia and the EU along with the development of the aviation sector. On December 1, 2016, the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council of the EU adopted, without discussion, a mandate that would enable the European Commission to launch talks on a comprehensive air transport agreement with Armenia, which, when reached, will liberalize air travel from Armenia to all EU member states. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 18:35:54|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close YANGON, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar government and private sector will cooperate in their efforts for reforestation to fight gradual deforestation in the country, official media reported on Friday. The government's Forestry Department under Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation will grow 36,000 acres (14,580 hectares) of forest plantations per year starting from this 2017-2018 fiscal year, while the private sector will plant 28,000 acres per year. The growing of forest plantations by the government and the private sector is intended to produce over 2 million acres of forest over the next 10 years. Myanmar is one of most resource-rich countries in Southeast Asia. However, statistics show that forest coverage in Myanmar dropped to 42.92 percent in 2015 from over 57 percent in 1990. The country has restricted wood logs export to encourage more export of value-added wood products since 2014. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 18:46:00|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close MONROVIA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Liberian government has hailed the Chinese government's support in all fronts during a groundbreaking ceremony held in the capital Monrovia for the execution of a ministerial complex and legislative annex building projects . Liberian leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, while acknowledging the Chinese government's assistance so far, said on Thursday the two milestone projects will bring "a great relief to various ministries and agencies of the government still operating from outdated buildings that do not meet current daily realities." The west African country's Public Works Minister William Moore commended the Chinese government for providing funds for the construction of the projects. The construction costs a whopping 60 million U.S. dollars. Upon completion, the two buildings will include offices, meeting rooms, large auditoriums, multi-purpose halls, archives, canteen, and also auxiliary facilities such as water pump house, power distribution and generator room, among others. The ministerial complex, which seats atop 24,000 square meters of land, is designed to accommodate all government ministries and agencies with 1,300 people. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Chinese ambassador to Liberia Zhang Yue noted the projects represent another milestone in China-Liberia relations. Zhang described the construction as the brainchild of the mutual understanding between the peoples of China and Liberia, adding this will further strengthen the subsisting friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 18:51:01|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close By Maria Spiliopoulou ATHENS, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Greece's Foreign Ministry on Friday expressed the willingness of Athens to help, if asked, in the de-escalation of tensions in neighboring Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The violent attacks against several lawmakers by demonstrators, who stormed the parliament building in Skopjie on Thursday in protest of the election of a new parliament speaker, will be one of the topics discussed during Friday's informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Malta, the Greek Foreign Ministry said. "It is with sorrow and concern that we see FYROM backsliding into deep political crisis. A crisis that -- if it is to be dealt with -- requires that the involved parties show respect for the principles of democracy, legality and the rule of law," read an e-mailed press statement issued by the Greek Foreign Ministry. "Greece, which has long supported the principle of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of neighboring countries, stands ready, whenever asked to do so, to contribute to the de-escalation of the crisis based on the principles of international law and respect for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of FYROM," it was stressed. The two countries have long disputed over the use of the name of Macedonia since Greece's northern neighbor broke away from Yugoslavia in 1991. Macedonia is the name of Greece's northern province and Athens has worried that the use of the same name by the neighboring state could imply territorial claims. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 19:11:05|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SOFIA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria on Friday expressed concerns over the outbursts of violence in the Macedonian parliament building on Thursday night. "I am deeply concerned by the tensions in the Republic of Macedonia and yesterday's night clashes in parliament, which have led to dozens of injured, including members of the parliament," Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said in a statement on Friday. "I call on all parties in the Republic of Macedonia to respect the democratic process and to engage in dialogue," Radev said. Democracy and the rule of law are the way out of the crisis, he said. Meanwhile, in a declaration adopted unanimously, Bulgaria's National Assembly also expressed deep concerns about the tension in Macedonia. Bulgaria hopes that Macedonia and the leading political forces will take action to calm tensions and return to the field of politics, according to the declaration. "We express support for state unity and territorial integrity" in Macedonia, said the declaration. Radi Naidenov, Bulgaria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, also expressed concern about the escalation of the internal political crisis in Macedonia. "We do not accept violence in any form as a way to solve the problems," Naidenov said in a statement. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 19:31:11|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NAIROBI, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) started using mobile phone technology in reporting desert locust's invasion in the Eastern Africa, a senior UN official said on Friday. FAO Sub-regional Crop Production Officer for Eastern Africa Region Mathew Abang said that community administrators and selected youths have been identified to help in reporting army locust's deserts through mobile phones in the sub region to help hasten control the insects from causing massive destruction to farmers. "We have resorted to the use of mobile phones following our experience with the management of African army worms that that caused massive damage due to disconnect in communication between farmers and scientists," Abang said this during a stakeholders forum on Fall Armyworms in Nairobi. He said the approach is set to help harness data by triggering early warning response since it is not easy for scientists to monitor the movements of the insects without the help of local communities. Abang called on scientists to deploy the approach in the fight against Fall Armyworm that is currently ravaging crops, especially maize in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa countries. "Empowering communities through capacity building is an approach that should be scaled up in Africa in the fight against the pest as we wait for the scientific solution," Abang said. The Director of Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa (DLCO-EA) Stephen Njoka told the meeting that one of the solution to fighting Fall Armyworm and other pests in the region relies in the development of insect resistant crop varieties. "It is time to equip farmers with modern technology and improved resistant seeds to save them from making losses every year," Njoka added. He said that whereas his organization controls pests using aircraft, most small scale farmers cannot be helped by the approach as they own small farms. According to scientists, fall armyworm is so far the most damaging insect pest in Africa in recent times. Food security in Southern, Central and Eastern Africa is under threat by the invasive moth especially in regions where maize is the staple food. It has so far destroyed 287,000 hectares of maize in the region. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 19:36:12|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ISTANBUL, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to kick off a foreign tour at the end of this month that enables him to have a series of meetings with top leaders of the world but is not expected to lead to a readjustment in Turkey's foreign policy, a much-needed overhaul to break the country's growing isolation, according to analysts. Erdogan is scheduled to visit India, Russia, China, the United States and then join other NATO leaders for a summit in Brussels toward the end of May. "This chain of high-profile visits is unlikely to amount to a reset in Turkish foreign policy," Faruk Logoglu, a former diplomat who held top posts in the Turkish Foreign Ministry, told Xinhua. Logoglu feels Erdogan's visits "appear to be more a tactical product arising from the necessities of domestic politics and economy rather than being an initial step of a strategic overhaul of Turkey's foreign relations." Once boasting a policy of "zero problems with neighbors," Turkey has found itself growingly isolated in its region due mainly to its insistence on the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "We are quarrelling with everybody and Turkey is getting more and more isolated," Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said last month. Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has long been criticized at home for pursuing a sectarian foreign policy in the Middle East that does not serve the country's best interests. Arguing an overhaul in Turkey's foreign policy would require, among others, a genuine commitment to peace in Syria and the restoration of the rule of law at home, Logoglu said, "These benchmarks are hard to meet, given the president's views and policies to date." Turkey has major differences of opinion regarding the Syrian civil war with Russia and Iran, staunch supporters of the Syrian government, as well as with the United States, a NATO ally. Yasar Yakis, a former AKP foreign minister, also feels "the realities in the field will force Turkey to make these adjustments (in foreign policy) rather than the meetings that President Erdogan will hold with foreign leaders." Erdogan will be in India on Sunday, where he is expected to mainly discuss strengthened economic ties with the country's president and prime minister. Then he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on May 3, where economic and military ties will be discussed, but the Syrian civil war is expected to top the agenda. In a bid to mend ties with Russia, Turkey partly changed its position on Syria last summer by stopping support to rebel groups fighting to topple the al-Assad government. In addition, Ankara said it did not seek any longer to oust the Syrian president. Following a U.S. missile strike on a Syrian air base early this month, Turkey has, however, once again changed its position by insisting on al-Assad's removal. On the economic front, Turkey expects Russia to lift sanctions on some Turkish agricultural products, a measure Russia imposed in 2015 after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Turkish-Syrian border. Turkey has recently retaliated by stopping import of some produce, such as wheat, from Russia. On the military front, Turkey is planning to purchase S-400 air defense system from Russia. The sale of the sophisticated air defense missiles may be finalized depending on the progress of the talks between the two leaders, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik said last Sunday. Cahit Armagan Dilek, director of the Ankara-based 21st Century Turkey Institute think tank, is not optimistic about the deal to be finalized. Both Turkey and Russia will simply use the S-400 negotiations as a trump card against the West, he told Xinhua. Under U.S. and NATO pressure, Turkey gave up buying a similar missile defense system from China in 2015. Erdogan will travel to China for the Belt and Road Forum on International Cooperation to be held in Beijing on May 14-15, where the president is scheduled to meet with some foreign leaders. Dilek believes that Erdogan may use the summit in Beijing to boost his declining prestige by showing he entertains close ties with leaders around the world. In recent years, Erdogan has been more and more described in the Western media as a dictator due to allegations of increasing authoritarianism. He dismisses the claim, saying he is so named as he speaks up against tyrants. The Turkish leader is scheduled to be in the United States on May 16-17 where he will meet with President Donald Trump for the first time, and their talks are expected to focus on Syria and U.S. military support for Kurdish militia in Syria. Washington sees the Kurdish militia as a reliable ground force in the fight against the Islamic State (IS), but for Turkey, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) is simply a Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) outlawed by Ankara. The United States has turned so far a deaf ear to Turkish outcry over its support to the YPG, which has carved out three autonomous cantons in northern Syria by taking advantage of the civil war. Turkey sees the emergence of a YPG-controlled Kurdish autonomous region along the Turkish border, which may later gain independence, as a major threat to its national security. In the past week, Turkish jets bombed PKK and YPG targets in northern Iraq and Syria, sparking concern and criticism from both Washington and Moscow. On May 25, Erdogan will land in Brussels for a summit of NATO leaders, where he has the opportunity to meet with leaders of some EU countries. Turkish calls since last year for a top-level meeting with the EU to discuss the problems in bilateral relations have gone unanswered so far. Turkey has aspired to be a full EU member over the past decades, but their relations have been ruptured now and then by unending rows over issues like democracy, human rights and refugee. The ties have soured further since March, when Germany, the Netherlands and some others moved to bar Turkish cabinet ministers from addressing Turkish immigrants ahead of the April 16 referendum on constitutional changes in Turkey. The EU has been accusing Turkey of growing authoritarianism, violations of the rule of law and crackdown on dissidents and the media particularly following last July's failed military coup. Turkey, for its part, accuses the 28-nation bloc of protecting terrorists like the PKK. Officials from both sides have even started to talk about the possibility of ending Turkey's negotiations on joining the union. The EU will be the global actor with which Erdogan will have the most problems in the coming days, maintained Dilek, a former Turkish staff officer. He argued that it is quite possible that uncertainties in Turkish foreign policy may be the rule from now on due to the emergence of a one-man rule as the referendum greenlights a stronger executive presidency. The analysts feel that the series of meetings Erdogan will have with the world powers is important for Turkey, yet they have misgivings about whether Turkey could profitably use them given the country's increasingly negative image in terms of democracy and the dubious character of the referendum, which both the Turkish opposition and European bodies say was rigged with malpractices. "These visits are extremely important, because they are taking place in a period when Turkey's options are diminishing," Yakis told Xinhua. Referring to the fact that a report on the plebiscite by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is full of harsh criticism and that Turkey was recently put under political monitoring by the Council of Europe, Yakis added that "the coincidence of these visits with such developments are likely to affect negatively the outcome of the talks." Amid claims of widespread rigging in the referendum, Turkey's main opposition CHP will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights over the result. Yeasayers won by garnering a slim majority of 51.4 percent, while naysayers argue the referendum has lost its legitimacy due to blatant violations of the election law, including accepting unsealed ballots as valid. "It looks as if the uncertainty and instability caused by the referendum will prevent these critical talks from being used in Turkey's favor," Dilek remarked. In the view of Yakis, Erdogan's visits may help alleviate Turkey's isolation, but it will take a long time for the country to come out of it entirely. Logoglu, a former CHP deputy, is more pessimistic and suspects that Erdogan may be using the foreign tour to recoup his fading political strength at home. For Yakis, what Turkey must do is to try to find common ground with its interlocutors rather than to try to persuade the entire international community of its own version of the events taking place in its immediate neighborhood. "Turkey has to acknowledge that other stakeholders in the Middle East are entitled to perceive the events from a different perspective," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 19:46:15|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ISTANBUL, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday urged coalition forces and the United States to clear the Islamic State (IS) elements from Syria's northern towns of Manbij and Raqqa. "Together with the coalition led by the United States, Turkey and the Free Syrian Army can clean the area all together," Erdogan said at a meeting in Istanbul hosted by the U.S.-based Atlantic Council think tank. Currently there should be around 2,500 to 5,000 terrorists in the IS stronghold of Raqqa, the president said. "It is not difficult for us," he remarked. "Why do we exist if we cannot succeed?" Turkey has suggested a joint operation to retake Raqqa on condition that the United States keeps away the Syrian Kurdish fighters, who are seen by Ankara as the Syrian offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party but treated by the United States as a reliable ground force against the IS. Backed by the rebel Free Syrian Army, the Turkish military launched an operation in northern Syria in August last year and managed to clean an area of some 2,500 square kilometers. Turkish troops' move against Kurds-held Manbij, however, was blocked by the United States and Russia. "We should hand over Manbij to Arabs, who are its real owners," Erdogan said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 19:56:20|Editor: Tian Shaohui Video Player Close BERLIN, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Bayern Munich and Thiago Alcantara have agreed on a contract extension, the Bundesliga leaders confirmed in an official statement on Friday. The 26-year-old midfielder, whose current contract was stipulated until 2019, has committed his future to the German giants after putting pen to paper on a deal until June 2021. "Thiago is one of the best and most courted midfielders in Europe. We are very happy that we have been able to bind this outstanding professional for the long term," Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. The Spain international joined the "Bavarians" from Barcelona in the summer 2013 to provide twelve assists and nine goals in 75 appearances. Since his arrival, the midfielder has won the Bundesliga three straight times. The fourth title in row is in touching distance as Bayern sit atop the Bundesliga standings with four rounds to spare. He also won two German Cups. "My family and I feel very comfortable in Munich. Everything fits perfect. I want to win as many titles as possible with Bayern in the future," Thiago Alcantara said. Thiago's contract extension came just one day after Bayern made the transfer with Juventus' loanee Kingsley Coman perfect. Bayern Munich encounter Wolfsburg at the 31st round in Bundesliga on Saturday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes statements in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 16, 2017. Turkish President Recep TayyipErdogan declared on Sunday night that the proposed constitutional changes were accepted in a referendum, paying the way for the country to introduce the presidential system. (Xinhua photo) ISTANBUL, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday urged coalition forces and the United States to clear the Islamic State (IS) elements from Syria's northern towns of Manbij and Raqqa. "Together with the coalition led by the United States, Turkey and the Free Syrian Army can clean the area all together," Erdogan said at a meeting in Istanbul hosted by the U.S.-based Atlantic Council think tank. Currently there should be around 2,500 to 5,000 terrorists in the IS stronghold of Raqqa, the president said. "It is not difficult for us," he remarked. "Why do we exist if we cannot succeed?" Turkey has suggested a joint operation to retake Raqqa on condition that the United States keeps away the Syrian Kurdish fighters, who are seen by Ankara as the Syrian offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party but treated by the United States as a reliable ground force against the IS. Backed by the rebel Free Syrian Army, the Turkish military launched an operation in northern Syria in August last year and managed to clean an area of some 2,500 square kilometers. Turkish troops' move against Kurds-held Manbij, however, was blocked by the United States and Russia. "We should hand over Manbij to Arabs, who are its real owners," Erdogan said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 20:06:24|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PYONGYANG, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Friday condemned the test-launch of a Minuteman-III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Wednesday by the United States, which it said was a simulated strike on Pyongyang. "The test-fire, timed to coincide with the earlier-than-scheduled deployment of THAAD equipment and the arrival of the Carl Vinson nuclear aircraft carrier at the East Sea of Korea, makes the world see once again who is to blame for the deteriorating situation on the Korean peninsula," said the official Korean Central News Agency in a commentary. "It is just the U.S. which has pushed the situation on the peninsula to the brink of nuclear war by staging the largest-ever aggressive joint military drills against the DPRK for the past two months after bringing all sorts of nuclear strategic assets to South Korea," it said. The United States reportedly conducted its Minuteman-III ICBM test in California's Air Force Base at dawn Wednesday. The said test launch from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base involved an unarmed Minuteman-III ICBM and the purpose was to verify the status of the U.S. nuclear force and demonstrate what it was capable of doing, according to earlier reports. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 20:11:27|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by Joy Nabukeya MOMBASA, Kenya, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A small fishing village in Kenya's coastal region has earned international recognition as a hub for green economy thanks to a community-owned carbon offset project that has enhanced the conservation of mangrove forests. The Gazi village, located about 40 kilometers south of the port city of Mombasa, is the site of the project that has earned global accolades for revolutionizing conservation of mangrove forests. Thanks to this project dubbed Mikoko Pamoja (a Swahili word that means together with mangroves), Gazi has attracted international visitors to learn how carbon trade can lift communities' living standards. It is an initiative of the local community and Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI). Mikoko Pamoja is the first community-led project of its kind in the world to use sale of carbon credits to fund mangrove conservation alongside community development. Ecuador, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Madagascar, Mozambique and Tanzania are already using Gazi as a model example and keen to replicate it in their countries. Kenyan and British marine scientists have partnered to implement the carbon offset projects that also incorporates prudent harnessing of local habitats to alleviate poverty. Mikoko Pamoja has been approved by Plan Vivo Standards and Systems to sell approximately 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually over a period of 20 years. James Kairo, Project Developer and Chief Scientist at KMFRI, said it has unleashed massive benefits to local people and the wider coastal region. "Almost 70 percent of the commercial fisheries in Gazi bay depend in one way or another from mangroves," Kairo told Xinhua on Thursday. A number of projects to enhance access to social amenities like water and education are financed through the proceeds generated by sale of carbon credits generated by mangrove forests. Kairo is very optimistic about the future of Gazi carbon project saying it will break new ground in green economy alongside transformation of fisheries sector in the coastal region. Protecting mangroves through programs like Mikoko Pamoja is a triple win for climate, community and biodiversity," he added He noted the project has already expanded to other coastal villages and has become a focal point for mangroves research. Kairo is also a member of the International Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group under the banners of the Blue Forest, Coastal Ecosystem Services in East Africa (CESEA) and Sustainable Poverty Alleviation for Coastal Ecosystem Services (SPACES) projects He disclosed the next course of action is to provide evidence-based research that will support replication, up scaling and adoption of the blue carbon projects as nature based solutions to climate change challenges. Kairo reiterated that mangrove forests like any other marine resource should be utilized well to help in uplifting the living standards of local communities. "We created awareness to the community and showed them how the resources that surround them can be harnessed to solve their poverty and other social challenges," said Kairo. He noted the Gazi Community is already reaping benefits of conservation effort specifically eco-tourism and payments for ecosystem services. One of the landmark projects that have been established using funds generated from carbon offsetting is that of water supply to the village. More importantly, the success of the project has generated interest in the Kenyan government leading to the development of a robust National Mangrove Management Plan. The plan recognizes the critical role that mangrove forests play in environmental conservation and economic well being. "For a long time, the management of mangrove resources in Kenya was based on harvesting of wood products and ignored other essential roles the ecosystem play like fisheries and carbon storage," remarked Francis Kariuki, a forestry officer in the coastal region. "Lack of a management plan to guide utilization of mangrove resources is to blame for degradation of mangrove habitat," Kariuki added. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 20:21:30|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China's Belt and Road Initiative will promote peace and development in the regions and in the world, a Cambodian prominent scholar said ahead of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing from May 14 to May 15. China is going to host the forum that will bring together 28 heads of state and government as well as business executives from Asia, Africa and Europe. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, known as the Belt and Road Initiative, was proposed by China in 2013 with the aim of building a trade, investment and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa, along the ancient trade routes. To support the initiative, China has established the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with the initial capital of 100 billion U.S. dollars and the Silk Road Fund with China's funding of 40 billion U.S. dollars. "The initiative will promote peace and development," Sok Siphana, chairman of the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI), told Xinhua. The CDRI is a think tank that conducts research on economics, agriculture education, environment, governance, and health. He said Cambodia has paid early attention to the initiative and is working closely with China to share the value of peace and sustainable development under the Belt and Road Initiative. The scholar added that the Belt and Road Initiative will bring enormous benefits to Cambodia, particularly regarding funds for the development of infrastructure such as railways, roads, ports, power grids and air transportation. Siphana, who is also an advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia, said under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Cambodia-China relationship and cooperation would be further strengthened and expanded. He said both sides focused their cooperation on special economic zones, especially one in southwestern Cambodia's Preah Sihanouk province, construction of road and bridge, a new airport as well as a new national stadium. "The Belt and Road's framework provides new opportunities for Cambodia to expand bilateral trade and to attract Chinese investment," he said. He added that Cambodia has built a strong relationship with China in terms of political and economic development, and the bilateral relationship will be stronger under the Belt and Road Initiative. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 20:21:32|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close SHIJIAZHUANG, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The first phase of a Coca-Cola production base went into operation Friday in north China's Hebei Province. Currently, a five-hectare area has four production lines and an annual production capacity of 100 million unit cases (one unit case is 5.678 litres). Once the entire project is completed, it will be able to make 250 million unit cases annually. The base, covering more than 13 hectares, is located in Hebei's Xianghe County and has joint investment totalling 350 million yuan (51 million U.S. dollars) from COFCO Coca-Cola Beverages and Tianjin Bohai Light Industry Group. After completion, it will have nine production lines and is expected to meet demand in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region for the next 15 years. This is the second COFCO bottling factory in Hebei and its biggest investment. China is Coca-Cola's third biggest market worldwide, and COFCO became its first bottling partner after the company returned to China in 1979. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 20:36:41|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by Shristi Kafle RASUWA, Nepal, April 28 (Xinhua) -- This year's spring trekking season has been particularly busy for 28-year-old Tashi Tamang. For the first time in her life, Tashi has been operating a hotel in Langtang village serving trekkers from various countries and local porters. On some days, she does not even get enough time to have lunch until 4:00 p.m. in her stone-carved, newly constructed hotel, which is called "Flavor Guest House." Having lost five members of her family including her husband in the devastating earthquake in 2015, Tashi has found a means of livelihood from the hotel business, thanks to booming tourism in the region. Today, Tashi is the sole breadwinner of her three-member family and her life is gearing up to hold a promising future for her two children. Dressed in a traditional Tamang black skirt and a purple jacket with scarf on her head to protect from the cold, Tashi said her life had been turned upside down by the earthquake. "I lost my husband, my 2-year-old baby son, a loving mother-in-law and my own father and mother. I had never imagined that nature could be so cruel," she exclaimed. Tashi's husband was a trekking guide and was at his own home with his family members on April 25, 2015, when the quake shattered the Himalayan nation killing nearly 9,000 people. Tashi survived the disaster as she was five hours walking distance away from her village, on her way to the capital city to see off her two children prior to their new academic session. Her two children, aged eight and nine, study at a private boarding school in Kathmandu under the financial support of a foreign couple, who were once the client of her departed husband. "My youngest son had hardly started uttering the word mother and he is gone forever," Tashi said with tearful eyes, adding, "I am left alone with many struggles and huge responsibilities." Over 300 people including 80 foreign trekkers and 10 army personnel had lost their lives in the Langtang region alone in an earthquake-triggered avalanche. Most of the local residents lost their lives in the same place as they all gathered to attend a traditional funeral ritual of the Tamang community called "Ghewa." Langtang, located to the central-north of the capital city Kathmandu, is one of the most popular trekking destinations among foreign trekkers. The valley is renowned for its snow-capped Himalayan peaks, lakes, flora and fauna and the rich culture of the local inhabitants, including the Tamangs and Sherpas, whose culture resembles that of Tibet. Different global travel magazines along with The New York Times have featured the Langtang region as one of the "must visit" places in 2017. The whole Langtang village, which looks deserted today, was swept away by the disaster, with only rocks and stones, small artificial ponds and the remains of houses and kitchen utensils. Big prayer flags have been erected by the family members in the same locations where their houses were once located. Following the earthquake, all the survivors were airlifted to the capital city where they stayed for up to six months together in a Buddhist monastery, before heading back to their own land to start their lives again from zero. A new settlement of two dozen houses has been formed just a few meters away from the old Langtang village. There are plenty of stone and wooden guest houses and tea-shops run by quake survivors, widows and orphans to cater to the growing numbers of trekkers. Dawa Kyalmu, 40, has had a similar experience to Tashi. She lost her husband Cheng Tamang, who ran a bakery for 15 years, in the earthquake. Over the past year, she has been running the "Friendly Family Guest House" in Langtang, while her three children stay in nearby town with the support of an NGO. A foreign organization supported her in constructing the four-room building and a separate kitchen. "I am running this hotel alone and this is my source of income now. There were less tourists in 2016, but this year, the flow is high. The income supports the education of my children," Kyalmu told Xinhua, while preparing lunch in the kitchen for a group of foreign trekkers. By serving a typical Nepali lunch and dinner, cold drinks, noodles and biscuits, she could earn up to Rs. 10,000 a day (about 100 U.S. dollars) in April, the most popular tourism season after autumn. In 2016, foreign tourist arrivals to Nepal jumped almost 40 percent to 753,002. Langtang is the third most popular trekking destination in Nepal after Annapurna and the Chomolangma region. According to the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), more than 12,000 tourists used to visit the Langtang National Park every year before the quake and the number is expected to be similar this year. Although April 25 marked the second anniversary of the deadly quake, the locals of the Langtang region are preparing to mark anniversaries of the funerals of their family members next week only, as per their religious calendar. They are collecting money to organize a mass puja to pray in and to honor all of the names of the deceased. Karmu Tamang, who lost her 27-year-old son in the avalanche, runs a hotel in Lama village. Distributing free water and cold drinks to trekkers and passersby, Karmu told Xinhua, "By the grace of God, my hotel makes good money. I am distributing a portion of my earnings in the name of my deceased son, so that he can rest in peace easily." Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 20:41:43|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KINSHASA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- At least 29 civilians were killed on Wednesday evening during clashes between armed Nyatura and National Council for Renewal and Democracy (CNRD) fighters in Masisi territory, Province of North Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to police sources on Friday. The fighters of CNRD, a dissident branch of the Rwandan Hutu rebels of the FDLR, allegedly attacked Nyatura Local militia, thus provoking a fight that resulted in civilians killed by bullets. These two militia groups, which have been fighting in this part of the country for several months for ethnic reasons, are headed by former Congolese army (FARDC) deserter officers. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 20:41:44|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close CHANGSHA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Yu Yuanhui, former Party chief of Nanning City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, was sentenced Friday to 11 years in prison for graft. The sentence was handed down by the intermediate people's court of Tujia-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Xiangxi, Hunan Province in central China. The court also imposed a fine of one million yuan (around 145,000 U.S. dollars) on Yu and ordered all his illicit gains to be confiscated. The court found Yu guilty of taking advantage of his various positions in Guangxi to help others secure projects and get deductions or exemptions on land-transfer fees from 2006 to 2015. In return, he accepted money and property amounting to more than 8.8million yuan personally or through other people, the court said. According to the court, his confession and the fact that all his illegal gains were recovered were taken into consideration when deciding the sentence. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 20:51:52|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MANILA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines and Indonesia agreed on Friday to tighten their maritime security cooperation in a bid to quell piracy by extremists in the waters bordering the Philippines and Indonesia. The agreement was reached during the bilateral meeting between Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Widodo is here for a state visit ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on Saturday. In their bilateral meeting, the two Southeast Asian leaders also discussed security concerns, the fight against illegal drugs, enhancing trade ties, and people-to-people exchanges, among others. Both leaders witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on possible agricultural cooperation, including exchanges of technical assistance, joint research and mutual consultation. Both sides looked forward to productive ASEAN meetings throughout 2017 and underscored their commitment to upholding peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 21:01:50|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Bai Xueshan, former vice chair of the government of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for accepting bribes. Bai was also fined 3.5 million yuan (around 507,760 U.S. dollars), and his illicit gains shall be turned over to the state treasury, said the Xi'an Intermediate People's Court in Shaanxi Province. The court found Bai took advantage of his various posts to offer assistance to entities and individuals in land-related procedures, project approvals and contracting and adjustment of positions. In return, Bai accepted bribes worth about 38.87 million yuan, the court said. The court decided to be lenient as Bai pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, returned his illegal gains and offered information about other crimes. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 21:32:00|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on April 28, 2017. (Xinhua/Xue Lei) PHNOM PENH, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China and Cambodia agreed on Friday to boost their pragmatic cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. At meetings with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi said China appreciated Cambodia's cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative. China is look forward to the upcoming visit by Prime Minister Hun Sen to Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May, said Yang. The Chinese side is ready to dovetail the Belt and Road Initiative with Cambodia's development strategy, he said, adding that China supports its companies in participating in Cambodia's inter-connectivity projects, such as highways, airports and ports. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, known as the Belt and Road Initiative, was proposed by China in 2013 with the aim of building a trade, investment and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa, along the ancient trade routes. Calling Cambodia and China close friends, King Sihamoni said he and the Royal Family are willing to inherit the traditional friendship between Cambodia and China, and push forward development of bilateral ties. Prime Minister Hun Sen said he expects his China visit to elevate the Cambodia-China cooperation to a new high. He said the Belt and Road Initiative, which is of great historic significance, will further promote regional connectivity and integration. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 21:51:49|Editor: xuxin A Kashmiri protester holds stones before throwing them at Indian police and paramilitary troopers (unseen) during a protest in Srinagar, summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, April 28, 2017. (Xinhua/Javed Dar) Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 21:47:08|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's transportation, schools and businesses were brought to a halt on Friday as Brazilian unions launched a full-scale strike nationwide to protest President Michel Temer's social security and labor reforms. Buses are not running in Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Joao Pessoa, Curitiba and Porto Alegre, among other state capitals, as transportation workers joined the strike. In Sao Paulo, most of the subway network is also paralyzed. Rio was the only major city where buses did not fully stop working, but access to ferry boats, for example, has been blocked. There were blockades by protesters on a number of highways all over Brazil. In Rio, the Rio-Niteroi Bridge, which usually has heavy traffic in the morning, was fully blocked for half an hour. In the local airport, there was a confrontation between security forces and protesters, and the main access to the airport was temporarily blocked. School teachers also joined the strike, as they are one of the working classes who will be deeply affected by the social security reforms, and both private and public school teachers declared support to the strike and suspended classes. In an attempt to minimize the support to the strike, the government threatened retaliation against public workers who join the strike, and some local administrations, such as the city governments of Rio and Sao Paulo, took the same action. In addition, a court ordered a minimum amount of buses on streets or trade unions will have to pay hefty fines. The threat was ignored in most of the country though. President Temer's PMDB party has congressional majority to approve both reforms, but the strike may encourage rebellion within the party. The labor reform bill was approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday and will be voted at the Senate. But a fifth of the representatives from the ruling coalition voted against the bill. Senator Renan Calheiros, formerly head of the Senate and current leader of the ruling PMDB party at the Senate, said the reform is "sloppy" and damaging workers' rights and will not pass. The social security reform bill is expected to be voted at the House next week. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 22:02:13|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close RIYADH, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A Saudi policeman died and another was injured in cross shooting with a group of terrorists in disturbed region Qatif in the Eastern Province, Sabq local online news reported on Friday. No official confirmation was made yet, while the news report said that the incident occurred at dawn of Friday at a farm in Saihat. The two officers on duty were on routine field operations, when they were surrounded and shot. In June 2016, an on-duty traffic officer was shot dead also in Saihat, while in November 2015 two policemen were shot dead when their police jeep was attacked. Besides the sleeping cells of the Islamic State (IS) militant group, Saudi Arabia has been fighting violent groups in Qatif region for years, who are members in Saudi Shiite minority community demanding more rights in the conservative Sunni state. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 22:07:15|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close FUZHOU, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Former vice mayor of Shanghai Ai Baojun was sentenced to 17 years in prison for bribery and embezzlement of public funds by a court in east China's Fujian Province on Friday. Personal assets worth 5.8 million yuan (841,421 U.S. dollars) held by Ai, a former member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Shanghai Municipal Committee, were confiscated, according to a statement from Zhangzhou Intermediate People's Court in Fujian. The court ruled that his illicit gains through bribe-taking shall be turned over to the state treasury and those through embezzlement returned to Baosteel Group and to the Shanghai municipal government. Ai was found to have accepted bribes worth more than 43.2 million yuan while holding a series of offices in Shanghai between 2000 and 2014. The court said Ai abused his positions as vice general manager of Baosteel Group and vice mayor of Shanghai to embezzle public assets worth more than 7.5 million yuan from 2001 to 2009. Ai had been given relatively lenient treatment as he cooperated with investigators, surrendered all his illicit gains, admitted his guilt and repented. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 22:12:18|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MONROVIA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a mysterious disease in Liberia's southeastern county of Sinoe has risen to 11, a senior health official of the west African country said on Friday. Twenty cases of the strange illness have occurred since it began to ravage the county's capital of Greenville last Tuesday, Liberia's chief medical officer Francis Kateh told reporters. Nine people were hospitalized following the spread of the disease in the country, he said, but as of Friday, only three were in critical conditions, three in stable condition and three others had been discharged. Local sources said all the dead victims suffered severe stomach pain before succumbing to death. Health authorities, in a move to stop the spread of the disease, isolated all those who had contact with the dead. There have been speculations across Liberia that the symptoms of the illness were similar to that of Ebola, which ravaged the west African country in 2014. Kateh countered the claims, saying the initial tests performed on the blood specimens of the deceased at the Liberian Institute of Biomedical Research had disproved that the victims died from the Ebola virus, even though they showed similar symptoms like vomiting and stomach pain, among others. The official said more samples of blood specimens of the victims had been sent to the Center for Disease Control in the United States of America for testing. In the meantime, an investigation is underway to ascertain the origin of the disease in Greenville, he added. The Liberian government said it has already put in place the necessary mechanisms and measures to contain any outbreak of infectious diseases in the country. About 4,500 people died in Liberia alone in 2014 when the Ebola outbreak ravaged some countries in west Africa. Source:Xinhua| 2017-04-28 22:19:17|Editor: Mengjie Migrant workers have a meal at a construction site in Yuncheng city, north China's Shanxi Province, April 28, 2017. Over 600 migrant workers from southwest Sichuan province gathered together to celebrate the upcoming Labor Day holiday.(Xinhua/Cao Yang) Source:Xinhua| 2017-04-28 22:28:44|Editor: Mengjie Soldiers of Lixin Police Station of Xigaze Frontier Troop examine likelihood of geological disaster in Zham Town, Xigaze Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 25, 2017. Zham, once the largest border trade port of Tibet region, is now an empty town. Bordering Nepal, the town was devastated during the 8.1-magnitude earthquake on April 25, 2015. More than 4,250 people were evacuated from Zham four days after the massive earthquake as its geological structure was remarkably changed with possible secondary disasters. Before the earthquake, Zham port cleared about 90 percent of land-borne trade between China and Nepal. (Xinhua/Liu Dongjun) Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 22:22:23|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, April 28 (Xinhua) -- As the host country for the upcoming World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa, South Africa is looking forward to a meaningful dialogue and innovative ideas from stakeholders across the continent and the world, President Jacob Zuma said on Friday. South Africa wants the forum to accelerate partnerships and boost regional integration for Africa's inclusive and sustainable growth, Zuma said. Zuma said he will lead the South African delegation to the forum to be held from Many 3-5 this year in Durban under the theme: "Achieving Inclusive Growth: Responsive and Responsible Leadership." The forum will be attended by heads of state and government, and global leaders from business and the civil society to discuss important issues relating to the achievement of inclusive economic growth globally and with specific focus on Africa. "South Africa is honored to host this illustrious gathering of global leaders on behalf of the African continent and we look forward to sharing our insights and homegrown successes with the rest of the continent and the world," Zuma said in a statement distributed by his office. According to Zuma, this year's WEF on Africa will focus specifically on issues that include education, skills and employment, entrepreneurship, energy, infrastructure and development finance, combating, adapting to and building resilience against climate change, science and technology and innovation. Africa is facing a mixed outlook for growth. The economic growth forecast for the continent over the coming year is expected to be lower than the five percent average of the past decade, according to the WEF. Despite this, a number of African countries are growing above six percent per annum and foreign direct investment inflows continue to rise. Overall, the divergence of Africa's economies makes it imperative to address the challenges posed by a growing unemployed youth population and climate change, among others, the WEF said. Zuma said the forum comes to South Africa at the right time. As the host country, South Africa -- the only African G20 economy -- is championing reforms to eradicate extreme poverty and promote shared growth nationally, regionally and globally. "As a developing constitutional democracy that is defined by triple challenge of inequality, poverty and employment, South Africa believes that radical economic transformation is imperative to accelerating inclusive growth and eradicate these long standing challenges," said the president. He said South Africa's international partners and investors appreciate this historical need as they know it is key to long term sustainable development for the South African economy. Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Haizhou (L) receives interviews during the conference "EU-China Tourism Year 2018: New investment opportunities for the tourism sector in Bulgaria" held in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, on Apria 28, 2017. Chinese and Bulgarian officials here on Friday voiced their hope to boost cooperation in tourism, promising to make full use of the unique resources of the two countries. (Xinhua/Zhan Xiaoyi) SOFIA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Bulgarian officials here on Friday voiced their hope to boost cooperation in tourism, promising to make full use of the unique resources of the two countries. At the opening of the conference "EU-China Tourism Year 2018: New investment opportunities for the tourism sector in Bulgaria, Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Haizhou said "Today's seminar reflects the strong desire of Bulgarian side to tap its potential, improve its services, and expand its market in tourism so as to attract more Chinese tourists." He said Bulgaria "has rich, unique tourism resources, and the Bulgarian government attaches great importance to the development of the tourism industry." At the same time, China, as a country of 5,000 years of civilizations, has rich resources in tourism, including world cultural and natural heritages and beautiful sceneries, the ambassador said. Travelling to China will bring huge profits to Bulgarian tourism enterprises, he said, adding "The Chinese side sincerely welcomes more Bulgarian friends to China." Meanwhile, Bulgarian Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova said "I believe that Bulgaria has a huge potential to receive Chinese tourists." Creating joint tourism products by European countries was one of the ways to attract more Chinese tourists, Angelkova said. Bulgaria would improve visa policy, and examine possibilities for direct flights to and from China, she said. "The event today signals that Bulgaria is looking at the Chinese market, which is distant but promising," said Teodora Marinska, head of Finance and Public policies at the European Travel Commission (ETC), which organized the conference jointly with Andrey Novakov, Member of the European Parliament, and Bulgarian-Chinese Business Development Association. Tourism is one of the sectors that continue to grow even during crisis and continue to create jobs, she said. In July 2016, the European Commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang declared 2018 the EU-China Tourism Year in a bid to increase tourism between China and the EU, and help stimulate European enterprises to set foot on the booming tourism market in China and to allow more Chinese investments in Europe. Last year, the number of tourists from China to Europe reached 5.13 million, however, only 10,000 Chinese tourists visited Bulgaria in 2016, according the Chinese ambassador. (Photo courtesy of PopuMusic) by Xinhua writers Zhu Wanjun, Zhao Hui BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Bohan used to strolled over to the Haidian Book City in northwest Beijing in 2005. The cultural landmark, one of the largest bookstores in the Chinese capital, was the ideal destination for the then 15-year-old guitar-lover to buy CDs. At that time, it seemed impossible for him to predict that the old building at the center of Zhongguancun industrial zone would be transformed into a nationwide incubator for entrepreneurship and innovation. The Zhongguancun Inno Way company, which is headquartered in the Haidian Book City area, is now a new landmark of innovation with various well-known incubators, such as Garage Cafe, Kr Space and Legend Star. As "a platform of incubators," the Inno Way has met with great success in the past three years, serving as a bridge for both Chinese and international start-ups, markets and investment. Three years ago, with the invention of a smart guitar, Zhang started a business, Popumusic, after dropping out of the University of California, San Diego. In the beginning, even his parents tried to talk him out of the idea. Yet nothing could change his mind. (Photo courtesy of PopuMusic) Many of his friends had given up playing guitar without even really trying, because they found it too hard to learn. "Why not develop an easy-to-play smart guitar?" he thought. His confidence and courage were stimulated by the government's encouragement for mass entrepreneurship and innovation in the country. Vigorous efforts were made in China to implement the innovation-driven development strategy, such as the promulgation of the Outline of the National Strategy of Innovation-Driven Development and the launch of programs for major science, technology and innovation projects toward 2030. In May 2016, the "poputar" (a smart guitar) launched its first crowd-funding through E-commerce and received rave reviews. In one month, 4,000 guitars were sold with more than 3 million yuan (435,600 U.S. dollars) raised. Six months later, Zhang's other product, the "populele" (a smart ukulele), also succeeded in its crowd-funding with 6,000 sold out in 10 hours. "The hot sale of the 'poputar' and 'populele' has expanded the traditional guitar consumer market," said Li Wei, the company's market director. In the first quarter of this year, the company bagged two of the top three international production design awards -- the iF Design Award in February and the Red Dot Design Award in March. (Photo courtesy of PopuMusic) As one of the innovation enterprises hatched in the Zhongguancun Inno Way, PopuMusic's success has taken advantage of the current wave of innovation and entrepreneurship in China. "This is a down-to-earth and inclusive platform," Zhang said. "It provides start-ups with great support for building up teams, solving technique and finance problems. It gave me more confidence to face all the difficulties at the very beginning." In the opinion of Yao Hongbo, chairman of the Zhongguancun Inno Way's operating company, Beijing Haizhikechuang Technology Service, the ongoing wave of business start-ups in China is distinguished from the former wave in the late 1980s and early 1990s. "We used to produce pants and now we make aircraft -- you can see the huge difference," he said. China is trying to transform and upgrade from a "manufacturing country" to an "intellectual manufacturing country," where innovation is the most important "catalyst." (Photo courtesy of PopuMusic) PopuMusic has also been looking at international cooperation. Since last month, the company has been carrying out the first crowd-funding for the "populele" in the United States, with a target amount of 500,000 dollars. The company is considering the possibility of producing guitars in South Asia and has been keeping in touch with an Italian manufacturer on the possibility of using mechanical arms to replace part of human labor in the production. Zhang has an even bolder idea. He plans to build a social platform for music-lovers in the United States to promote self-learning and smart-learning of instruments throughout the world. Chinese innovative enterprises, like PopuMusic, are looking forward to expanding into overseas markets, while foreign start-ups are seeking better development in China. Both share the same idea of making full use of global resources to innovate. So far, Inno Way and other incubators have collaborated with 31 organizations from more than 10 countries in innovative exchanges, cross-border joint incubation programs and other cooperative projects. A total of 194 overseas returnees and foreign start-ups have taken root in this place. Inno Way has held a global innovation roadshow called "Demo the world" annually since 2015 to attract innovation start-ups from all over the world. Some of the winning projects have become permanent fixtures in Zhongguancun, obtained financing from Chinese enterprises and become potential acquisition targets of international companies like Apple. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 22:47:33|Editor: yan Video Player Close WESTERN PACIFIC, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese naval fleet on Friday conducted its first resupply mission in western Pacific waters. On Friday morning, supply ship Chaohu successfully conducted fuel resupply to missile destroyer Changchun and liquid supply to missile frigate Jingzhou. Chaohu Captain Zhou Baojun told Xinhua that, this time the three ships conducted transverse replenishment during sailing, a more complex type among the three types of replenishment, which are transverse, longitudinal, and vertical. After two hours of resupply, the Chinese naval fleet continued to sail to its destination. The fleet left Shanghai on Sunday morning for public relations visits to more than 20 countries. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 22:52:38|Editor: An Video Player Close Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C) inspects China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) in Beijing, capital of China, April 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China's centrally-administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have a promising future in boosting mass entrepreneurship and innovation, Premier Li Keqiang has said. Premier Li said he believes centrally-administered SOEs have more potential and opportunity in implementing mass entrepreneurship and innovation as they are rich in technology, talent, capital and resources. China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp. is among the leading SOEs in the area. Its web-based innovation platform has attracted more than 2,000 teams of makers, which generates ideas and products and sets an example for innovators across the country. During an inspection at the company's science park on Thursday, Li applauded the efforts, saying mass entrepreneurship and innovation will be a way to success for both small firms and industry giants. "The mass entrepreneurship and innovation initiative is a reform in essence," said Li, explaining that it taps human potential in improving productivity and uses Internet technology to match businesses with makers. It will substantially stimulate economic and social development, Li said. He encouraged other SOEs to build platforms to invite small firms to entrepreneurship and innovation as a new means of integrated development among large, medium and small companies. The premier also listened to reports from other SOEs, including Aviation Industry Corporation of China and China Mobile. In a meeting held following the tour, Li called on SOEs to strengthen efforts to reform and restructure. SOEs, especially centrally-administered SOEs, should continue to focus on improving growth quality and efficiency by advancing reforms, carrying out the innovation-driven development strategy, and building a modern corporate system, Li said, urging them to maintain profit increases and help the economic recovery. SOEs' profit growth accelerated to 37.3 percent from a year ago in the first quarter, compared with the 13.8-percent decline registered in Q1 of 2016 and the increase of 1.7 percent over the whole year, data from the Ministry of Finance showed. Li said centrally-administered SOEs should serve as vanguards in revitalizing the real economy by developing new growth engines and advancing industrial upgrades. To meet the nation's strategic needs and implement the "Made in China 2025" strategy, centrally-administered SOEs should move up the industrial and value chains and increase their presence in emerging sectors, through developing revolutionary new technologies and new business models that bring into full play China's unique advantage of having a vast market, according to Li. They should also use Internet and other new technologies to upgrade their production, management and marketing models so as to revive traditional sectors, Li said. To facilitate overhauls of SOEs, governments should implement favorable measures to create a sound business environment, by reducing red tape, increasing fiscal and financial support, and improving supervision, Li added. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 22:57:36|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 28 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday warned that armed conflict in Northeast Asia "would have global ramifications." "We must act now to prevent conflict and achieve sustainable peace," he told an open meeting of the UN Security Council on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. Guterres condemned "in the strongest terms" the repeated violations of the relevant Security Council resolutions by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). "The absence of communication channels with the DPRK is dangerous," Guterres said. "Armed conflict in Northeast Asia, which is home to one fifth of the world's people and gross domestic product, would have global ramifications." "We need to avoid miscalculation and misunderstanding," he said. "We need to act now to prevent conflict and achieve sustainable peace." Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 23:12:41|Editor: yan Video Player Close VILNIUS, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania is a reliable friend and ally of the United States, and America remains firmly engaged with NATO and cooperation with Lithuania in defense, U.S. President Donald Trump has said. Transatlantic relations remain vitally important, Trump said in his letter to Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite, according to a statement released Friday by the Lithuanian presidency. Trump said he highly valued Lithuania's commitment to allocate 2 percent of GDP for defense funding as of 2018. Lithuania's support while strengthening NATO role in the fight against terrorism illustrates how important is sharing of responsibility among allies, Trump said in his letter. Trump also praised Lithuania for its input into security operation in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the statement. Photo taken on March 23, 2017 shows the Capitol Hill in Rome, Italy. The EU-27 leaders will meet on Saturday at the Capitol Hill in Rome for the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. (Xinhua/Jin Yu) ROME, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Possible consequences of Brexit on the Italian economy could be on exportations and contributions that the country will be required to pay to the European Union (EU), experts have told Xinhua. However, it is hard to predict now what is going to happen and everything will depend on the conditions agreed, they underlined. "There are some decisive variables that have to be defined. The most important is what will be the future contractual and economic relationship between the Britain and the European Union," said Riccardo Alcaro, head of research of the Transatlantic Program of Institute of International Affairs based in Rome. "If there is a hard Brexit, without an agreement, economic relations will be based on the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This will affect the European and the British economies in general. In this scenario, there will be a decline in trade and in economic relations and consequently a negative impact on growth," Alcaro said. "However, this is the situation that everyone wants to avoid. Part of them want to get some form of agreement, for example on tariffs. Consequences for Italy will depend on what agreements will be made,"he added. There are potential risks for Italian exports, he told Xinhua. "Often, in the Italian textile or agribusiness sectors there are small companies that rely mostly on one foreign market, speaking about exports," he explained. Some of them, especially those in the agribusiness sector, may suffer, he argued. "Anyway, everything must be defined, timing is not clear. We must see how Italian companies will prepare themselves to Brexit," the expert added. According to Umberto Triulzi, professor of Economic Policy at the University La Sapienza in Rome, it is difficult now to make predictions on the effects of Brexit on the Italian economy. The only thing certain, in his opinion, is the budget issue. "What is certain, so far, is that Britain, like other member countries, contributes with its own resources to the European budget. When the country will leave the European Union and will withdraw its contribution to the budget, the EU will have two choices. "The first is to reduce the budget, and therefore the contributions of the remaining member countries. The second is to keep the same budget, and the EU member countries will have to pay more," he said. Concerning European Union, political damages are more worrying than the economic ones, Triulzi said. "With regard to economic aspects, solutions can be found, and compromises can be made with Britain. On the other hand, Europe has suffered a severe political damage because of Brexit. The EU must be able to react, otherwise the risks that other member countries decide to move away will become more concrete," Triulzi said. Brexit could also bring some opportunities for the Italian economy, according to Andrea Beltratti, professor of Finance at the Bocconi University in Milan. "I believe that in the next two or three years some European institutions currently based in London will return to European continent, for example, some European agencies. In this context it would be very important that Italy equips itself to be able to take advantage of any relocation operation," Beltratti told Xinhua. Potentially there may be opportunities to relocate financial activities from Britain to the European continent, including Italy, the expert said. "In order to better equip themselves, Italian public and private stakeholders should coordinate to take advantage of the areas of excellence that exist in Italy, and to clarify to investors which are the benefits of investing in the country," Beltratti said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 23:47:56|Editor: Song Lifang Video Player Close Nepali Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara (1st R) addresses a seminar entitled "One Belt, One Road and South Asia" in Kathmandu, Nepal, April 28, 2017. Experts on Friday stressed on strong partnership between China and South Asia under the framework of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative so as to achieve regional economic integration, prosperity, stability and create a win-win situation. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma) KATHMANDU, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Experts on Friday stressed on strong partnership between China and South Asia under the framework of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative so as to achieve regional economic integration, prosperity, stability and create a win-win situation. They made the remarks during a one-day seminar entitled "One Belt, One Road and South Asia" organized here by the China Study Centre. Addressing the program, Bangladeshi expert Humayun Kabir said China and South Asian countries can find a common ground to collaborate under the Belt and Road Initiative. "This is the era of mutual interdependence between various countries of the world. I believe that cooperation between China and South Asian region under the framework will help achieve regional economic integration, prosperity and stability by creating a win-win situation," he said. Former Nepali Foreign Secretary Madhuraman Acharya said "The concept of the Belt and Road Initiative has brought up several new opportunities in connectivity and economic integration between China and South Asia." Acharya said the Belt and Road Initiative has become a matter of geopolitical significance to countries in South Asia including Nepal. Sundar Nath Bhattarai, acting chairman of the China Study Centre, said countries in South Asia and China will spare no efforts to expand mutual and inclusive cooperation. Luxman Siriwardena, an expert from Sri Lanka, said the Belt and Road Initiative will facilitate global trade by developing infrastructures. "As a pioneer member, Sri Lankan political leadership and policy makers strongly believe that the Belt and Road Initiative will undoubtedly contribute to the long-term socio-economic development of the country," he said. Siriwardena said the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road will have a direct effect on Sri Lanka's trade, investment and tourism resulting in substantial contribution to the nation's economy. Addressing the function as the chief guest, Nepali Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the Belt and Road Initiative will benefit the entire South Asian region including Nepal. "Nepal wants to become a part of the Belt and Road Initiative and reap benefit from this," he said. Dr. Dai Yonghong, director of the Institute of South Asia Studies at the Sichuan University of China, said China wants active participation of all countries from South Asia region in the Belt and Road Initiative. "The Belt and Road (Initiative) is a very good proposal for all countries around the world including South Asian countries. Cooperation between China and South Asian countries will be beneficial for the peoples of the entire region through regional economic integration," he said, adding that the concept is open and inclusive. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong said the Belt and Road Initiative is the most important public product that China provides to the world. "China welcomes the South Asian countries to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and promote policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people to people bonds as their five major goals with the principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits," said the ambassador. The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-28 23:47:58|Editor: ying A Hungarian soldier oversees the double-row fence alongside the Hungarian-Serbian border near Roszke, Hungary, on April 28, 2017. The second line of a double-row fence alongside the Hungarian-Serbian border has been completed Friday, along all of its 155-km length, said Karoly Kontrat, Hungary's State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior. (Xinhua/Attila Volgyi) BUDAPEST, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The second line of a double-row fence alongside the Hungarian-Serbian border has been completed Friday, along all of its 155-km length, said Karoly Kontrat, Hungary's State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior. "The defence of the Hungarian border is stronger than ever: security has been increased," Mr Kontrat said Friday at the border crossing point of Roszke. "The Hungarian government has opted for the construction of the second row, because we have to be prepared for a potential large migratory pressure, stronger than ever before," he added. With the double-row fence completed at our southern border, the safety of Hungarian people is guaranteed for a long time," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also commented on the new fence Friday morning in an interview with Hungarian state radio Kossuth. "The fence is able to hold back literally any kind of human mass, it is practically impenetrable," the prime minister said. "The massive migration afflicting Europe has been continuous for the last two years, and the Balkan route is still active," said Kontrat, warning "With the coming of the summer, more and more migrants will start their journey towards the continent." He also said despite a decision at the last EU summit in Malta to set up hot spots for migrants in Libya, no action has been taken yet, and the number of migrants arriving in Italy from Libya has increased by 33 percent in the first quarter, on an annual basis. The Hungarian official said that the completion of the fortified fence would enable the Hungarian authorities to decrease the numbers of border guards and policemen working in the area. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 00:13:05|Editor: An Video Player Close BULAWAYO, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese firms should take advantage of the vast business opportunities that exist in Zimbabwe and intensify investment into the southern African country, Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Huang Ping said Friday. He told Xinhua at the annual 2017 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in the second largest city of Bulawayo that Chinese firms should invest not only in agriculture, the backbone of Zimbabwe's economy, but in the industrial sector to help speed up economic development in the country. This year's ZITF ran from April 25-29 under the theme: "Harnessing Linkages for Industrial Development". He said the embassy was enhancing information dissemination about the business opportunities in Zimbabwe to the Chinese business people so as to attract many Chinese investors. "We are bringing more Chinese business delegations to Zimbabwe to explore the potential of future cooperation. The opportunities are plenty but we need to do more to let the people back in China know the opportunities," he added. He commended one of the Chinese companies in Zimbabwe, Inspur, saying it was playing a part in the development of Zimbabwe's economy. Inspur is a state-owned Chinese firm that provides integrated information and communication technology (ICT) services. It began operations in Zimbabwe in 2011 and is one of the several Chinese companies that are exhibiting at this year's ZITF. "Inspur is doing very good business here and in the meantime it is helping Zimbabwe to develop by providing advanced technology and expertise and this is a good example and I hope more companies in China will come to Zimbabwe to intensify cooperation, create business and help Zimbabwe's economy to develop," Huang said. An official at Inspur, Joseph Qiu said they were using Zimbabwe's premier trade showcase, ZITF, to market their products to Zimbabweans customers. "The main purpose of our exhibition here is to let government ministries and other customers to get familiar with our products," Qiu said. The firm has been exhibiting at the trade event for the past four years. Qiu said Zimbabwe's fairly developed ICT sector, when compared to other countries in southern Africa, offered good business opportunities for the Chinese firm. A cement manufacturing firm recently set up in Zimbabwe, LiveTouch Investments, exhibited for the first time at this year's ZIFT where it sought to market its products to the Zimbabwean market. Chief executive officer Wang Dongming told Xinhua that the Zimbabwean market was promising given the vast infrastructure projects planned that include upgrading of major highways and rehabilitation of city roads and other infrastructure that were damaged by heavy rains this year. "We are a relevant small-scale cement factory and our advantage is that we offer acceptable price and the best quality," Wang said. A Chinese automotive company Beijing Automotive Group Co. Ltd (BAIC Group) that recently formed a joint venture with two Zimbabwean companies to form Beiqi Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd also exhibited at the ZITF this year. Its local partners are the government owned Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries (which had not been operational for more than four years) and automotive and spare parts dealer Astol Motors who jointly own 49 percent of shares in the joint venture. Beiqi Zimbabwe is involved in the importation of whole vehicles, knocked down kits, distribution, services and finance management. An official of the joint venture automotive firm Peter Makowa said they had sold 25 top of the range pick-up trucks - the Grand Tiger - which they launched on March 27 this year at a competitive price of 33,000 U.S. dollars. "This means that we sold one unit per day since we started operations and this is good. The market for our product is very good. We are using the technology that Zimbabweans are familiar with and we also provide after-sales service." Makowa said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 00:13:05|Editor: yan Video Player Close BULAWAYO, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Namibian President Hage Geingob on Friday decried low trade levels between Zimbabwe and Namibia and called for redoubling of efforts by the two countries to boost bilateral trade. While Namibia's total trade in 2016 stood at 13 billion U.S. dollars, its trade with Zimbabwe stood at a mere 24 million U.S. dollars, Geingob said. He was speaking at the 58th edition of Zimbabwe's premier trade showcase, the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Zimbabwe's second largest city of Bulawayo. Geingob added that trade was not only low between the two countries but across Africa because the continent mainly produces and exports unprocessed goods. The Namibian president thus called on African countries to create linkages that accelerate industrialization in the continent. He also called for the removal of barriers to trade, barriers that hinder free movement of labor and creation of strong regional value chains to enable the continent to compete globally. "To address burning challenges such as high unemployment in Africa, we have to expand our industrialization and value chain capabilities," he said. The 2017 ZIFT ran from April 25-29 under the theme: "Harnessing Linkages for Industrial Development". A total of 13 countries including China exhibited at the annual weeklong trade event. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 00:23:09|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOGADISHU, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The UN humanitarian agency on Friday warned of a famine risk in Somalia due to devastating drought ravaging the Horn of Africa nation. Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Vincent Lelei said some 1.7 million people have been reached with food security response activities in Somalia as part of the ongoing effort to avert a famine in the country. Lelei said in a statement that drought response still needs to be scaled up to meet the increasing needs of 6.2 million people who are in need of humanitarian assistance. "Already more than 600,000 of these people have uprooted themselves out of their homes because they need assistance in terms of food, water and health services," said Lelei noted. The crisis in the country has been exacerbated by diseases such as acute watery diarrhea (AWD)/cholera and measles. More than 28,000 AWD/cholera cases have been reported in 2017, including over 540 related deaths, according to the UN. The relief official noted that the need to provide humanitarian assistance to the millions of people affected by the drought crisis continues to outpace response efforts. "Five months into 2017, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate and the risk of famine is still persisting. This is of immediate concern to all of us, whether it is the Government of Somalia, the people of Somalia, NGOs, the UN, everybody," he said. Lelei highlighted a series of life-saving interventions that have been supported by the government, aid agencies and Somalis living at home and abroad. He said food security response activities have been concentrated in the regions of Bakool, Bay, Galgaduud, Hiiran and Lower and Middle Shabelle. "This number has gone up very quickly from 1.1 million earlier in the year," he said. According to UN, nutrition services have reached 332,000 people, including 70,000 children. Lelei said 225 sites have been established for the medical treatment of children. Nearly eight million livestock animals have also been treated for effects of the drought as part of an initiative that will encompass 20 million livestock animals in the next three months. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 00:38:14|Editor: yan Video Player Close KIGALI, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has commended Rwanda for improving farmer's livelihood through transformation of hillside agriculture using sustainable terracing practices. The Ethiopian leader who arrived in the small central African country on Thursday for a three-day state visit toured Kageyo sector, Gicumbi District, Northern Province to witness agriculture transformation and excellence in practice. Desalegn who was accompanied by the Rwanda minister of natural resources including other senior government officials was given a presentation by the ministry of agriculture officials about hillside agriculture transformation in Gicumbi district Friday. Farmers in the area have managed to practice sustainable agriculture activities and land management technologies, hillside irrigation, post harvest handing, marketing and rural finance which boosted agricultural productivity and incomes. "This is quite impressive and educative. These are impressing agriculture practices which can help in turning marginal lands into productive agriculture fields," said Desalegn during the tour. Land husbandry terracing works have enabled farmers to sustain cultivation and productivity on steep-slopes which has significantly reduced soil erosion whereby marginal and unproductive lands have been put back to productive use. The practice was introduced in the country in 2010 to increase productivity and commercialization of hillside agriculture in some of the poorest areas in Rwanda. Close to 100,000 hectares of land across hilly areas of Rwanda have been terraced which has given a boost to farmer's agricultural productivity and improved incomes. Speaking to reporters, Geraldine Mukeshimana, Rwanda minister of agriculture and animal resources said that hillside agriculture transformation has enabled small holder farmers in poverty stricken areas across Rwanda to increase crop production, improve livelihoods and incomes. "The agriculture practices form part of our investment in the development of smallholder farmers so that they can move from traditional subsistence agriculture to commercial agriculture," She added. Agriculture in Rwanda accounts for a third of the country's GDP, employing about 80 percent of the total population. It contributes 33 percent of Rwanda's domestic goods and exports. The country's second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy define a large number of programs in the agriculture sector including the intensification of sustainable production systems in crop cultivation and animal husbandry. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 00:43:15|Editor: yan Video Player Close ACCRA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Ghana and Latvia on Friday expressed commitment to enhance bilateral trade and explore business opportunities. A first-ever trade mission from Latvia led by Andrejs Pildegovics, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, engaged their Ghanaian counterparts in a business meeting to discuss potential areas of investments. Addressing the meeting, the Acting Chief Director of Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Edwin Adjei, urged prospective investors from Latvia to consider Ghana as the gateway to a wider West African market of over 300 million people. Over the past decade, Ghana has witnessed impressive economic annual growth rate averaging over 6.4 percent. Adjei said these opportunities and many others, including political and micro-economic stability, were all available for the benefit of anyone seeking to do business in Ghana, assuring them of higher returns on investments than anywhere in the West African sub-region. "In view of these developments, Latvia has the opportunity to share in Ghana's economic growth success story while we also look forward to tapping into the rich experience of Latvia, especially with much focus on development cooperation based on our shared values and aspirations," he said. Andrejs Pildegovics said his country was genuinely looking for business opportunities with Ghana and West Africa. "We look forward for more engagements with African companies," said Pildegovics. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 00:53:18|Editor: yan Video Player Close LJUBLJANA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Slovenian officials on Friday condemned the violence that occurred at the Macedonian parliament on Thursday, which left more than 100 people injured. The Slovenian Foreign Ministry called for stabilisation of the country, and said parliament should be a place of peace and democracy. On Thursday, supporters of former Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski stormed parliament, claiming the election last December was unfair. The injured included Zoran Zaev, the head of the social-democratic SDSM party. Mass demonstrations had been held against the transfer of power to the new ruling coalition after Talat Dzaferi was appointed as parliamentary speaker. Slovenian National Assembly Speaker Milan Brglez also expressed his sadness about the violence incident in Skopje and urged all sides to strive for a solution to the current parliamentary and government crisis. The speaker stressed in a written statement that this must be done for the future of Macedonia, adding that the country could count on Slovenia's support in this respect. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 00:53:19|Editor: yan Video Player Close THE HAGUE, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) foreign fighters returning from Syria to their countries of origin could carry out chemical weapons attacks after learning how to use the toxic substance in the battle zones, Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ahmeet Uzumcu warned on Friday. "The threat of chemical terrorism is a major concern especially after what happened in Syria and Iraq where ISIS has been identified as one of the perpetrators of sulphur mustard gas attacks, while there have also been some more recent allegations attributed to ISIS," said Uzumcu at a round-table with foreign press at the headquarters of the OPCW. "We fear that foreign fighters may get back to their countries of origin with the know-how of production and use of such weapons," he said. "We receive some information from our states parties, which rather confirms the seriousness. So far in the terrorist activities in several European countries other weapons were used, but they don't throw out the possibility that chemical or other non-conventional means could also be used," the OPCW chief expressed the worries. The OPCW called upon its member states to issue recommendations for necessary measures, while it keeps its Rapid Response Assistance Mission ready to deploy at short notice to any of its 192 member states upon request. "Most European countries have some preparedness individually but also through institutions like NATO and the EU to respond but other countries do not have responsiveness to react," he explained. The OPCW chief noted that since 2013 the number of cases of alleged use of chemical weapons has increased significantly, with 45 alleged incidents reported since late 2016, all in Syria. Uzumcu called upon the state members of the organization to strengthen the global norm established by OPCW by "enforcing the provisions of the organization." According to the OPCW, 95 percent of chemical weapon stockpiles declared by possessor states have already been eliminated. "Russia is likely to complete destruction by next year, while the United States in five to six years," said Uzumcu. Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the founding of the OPCW. The OPCW, Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2013, now has 192 member states representing 98 percent of the global population. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 00:53:19|Editor: yan Video Player Close JUBA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Friday called for increased famine response and prevention in the three African countries of Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, as well as Yemen. FAO warned in its latest report for April that if no action is taken, millions may die of hunger in the four countries where 30 million people are suffering severe acute food insecurity. "To avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the four countries over the coming months, we need to scale up livelihood support and income opportunities to affected families," it said. According to UN, supporting agriculture now "is not only investing in food production today, but food security tomorrow." Famine has already been declared in parts of South Sudan, where 100,000 people are affected, and more than 5.5 million people will not have any reliable source of food by July. The current levels of food insecurity in the four at-risk countries reflect continued under investment in agriculture and livelihoods within the wider humanitarian and development fields. Conflict and drought are forcing people to abandon their homes and their lands. "As agricultural seasons are repeatedly missed and livelihoods abandoned, the humanitarian caseload builds and the number of people on the brink of famine rise," said FAO. It said governments must invest now in pulling people back from the brink with approximately 80 percent of the affected populations relying on agriculture for their livelihoods. "Often famine starts in rural areas and must be prevented in rural areas, agriculture cannot be an afterthought," FAO said. "In parts of South Sudan, the fishing kits are the only lifeline to food for many families, while in Yemen, dairy kits are helping to provide life-saving milk for children," it said. In north-eastern Nigeria, agencies are collaborating to ensure people facing hunger receive both food assistance to meet their immediate needs and food production assistance to grow their own food. Food production kits cost less than 90 U.S. dollars but can provide enough food for a family of eight for six months. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 01:23:27|Editor: An Video Player Close BAKU, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Wei Jianhua said here on Friday China-proposed One Belt One Road initiative is expected to contribute to economic relations between the two countries, helping boost Azerbaijan-China volume of trade. In a speech on China-Azerbaijan relations at Baku State University, Wei notably addressed economic relations between China and Azerbaijan. He said Azerbaijan supported the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative and has great potential to become a valuable partner in this project. He also briefed about China's new development, the difficulties and challenges that China is facing and the new progress and the future prospects of China--Azerbaijan relations in economic area. The Ambassador praised the activity of the Chinese department of the Baku State University, adding that there are two Confucius institutes functioning in Azerbaijan and interest in the Chinese language is rapidly growing. China and Azerbaijan are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year. China was among the first countries to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan and establish diplomatic ties with it after the collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1991. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 01:23:28|Editor: yan Video Player Close TIRANA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Albanian parliament elected on Friday Ilir Meta as the country's new president with 87 votes in favor and two against. Meta was parliament speaker and head of Socialist Movement for Integration. His term of presidency will last till 2022. It was the fourth round of voting for a new president. The first three rounds failed as no candidate was presented by the ruling majority. The majority representatives said in first three sessions that they were waiting for the opposition to join the process. Albania's new president was proposed by the Socialist Movement for Integration and was unanimously supported by ruling Socialist Party. His candidacy was made public Thursday evening by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama who described Meta as the ideal president for Albania at this moment. On the other hand, the opposition continued its boycott, thus refusing to be involved into the president election process. After the counting of votes, Meta delivered a speech in which he stressed that country's stability and integration remained top priorities. Bulgarian girls throw roseleaves to welcome guests during the Rose Festival in the Kazanlak city, the center of Bulgaria's Rose Valley, June 8, 2014. (Xinhua/Chen Hang) SOFIA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Bulgarian officials here on Friday voiced their hope to boost cooperation in tourism, promising to make full use of the unique resources of the two countries. At the opening of the conference "EU-China Tourism Year 2018: New investment opportunities for the tourism sector in Bulgaria, Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Haizhou said "Today's seminar reflects the strong desire of Bulgarian side to tap its potential, improve its services, and expand its market in tourism so as to attract more Chinese tourists." He said Bulgaria "has rich, unique tourism resources, and the Bulgarian government attaches great importance to the development of the tourism industry." At the same time, China, as a country of 5,000 years of civilizations, has rich resources in tourism, including world cultural and natural heritages and beautiful sceneries, the ambassador said. Travelling to China will bring huge profits to Bulgarian tourism enterprises, he said, adding "The Chinese side sincerely welcomes more Bulgarian friends to China." Meanwhile, Bulgarian Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova said "I believe that Bulgaria has a huge potential to receive Chinese tourists." Creating joint tourism products by European countries was one of the ways to attract more Chinese tourists, Angelkova said. Bulgaria would improve visa policy, and examine possibilities for direct flights to and from China, she said. "The event today signals that Bulgaria is looking at the Chinese market, which is distant but promising," said Teodora Marinska, head of Finance and Public policies at the European Travel Commission (ETC), which organized the conference jointly with Andrey Novakov, Member of the European Parliament, and Bulgarian-Chinese Business Development Association. Tourism is one of the sectors that continue to grow even during crisis and continue to create jobs, she said. In July 2016, the European Commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang declared 2018 the EU-China Tourism Year in a bid to increase tourism between China and the EU, and help stimulate European enterprises to set foot on the booming tourism market in China and to allow more Chinese investments in Europe. Last year, the number of tourists from China to Europe reached 5.13 million, however, only 10,000 Chinese tourists visited Bulgaria in 2016, according the Chinese ambassador. He believed insufficient publicity, difficulties in visa application, and inconvenient traffic between China and Bulgaria were the factors behind the slow growth of tourism between the two countries. he said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 01:58:50|Editor: yan Video Player Close ACCRA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Friday reiterated Ghana's commitment towards facilitating efforts at regional integration and unity. He was speaking at the presidency during a meeting with Salou Djibo, head of the task force for the implementation of the sub-regional body (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS). President Akufo-Addo said, with ECOWAS having been established some 42 years ago, and trade liberalization agreements being in existence for nearly 40 years, West Africa was yet to reap the benefits of intra-regional trade because of the absence of political will to make the bloc a functioning reality. He said, with West Africa's population set to hit 500 million people by 2035, the region represented a genuine market with immense opportunities for trade, enterprise and ingenuity. Djibo said the task force was encouraged with the progress made so far in ensuring the realization of the Free Trade Area (FTA) in West Africa. He urged President Akufo-Addo to support the mandate and agenda of ETLS, and serve as an advocate for the team in ensuring that his colleague Heads of State adhered to the implementation and realization of the FTA. Statistics indicate that Intra-African trade, as percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) as of 2013, stood at around nine percent, a figure that is low, compared to other regions of the world. The ETLS is the main ECOWAS operational tool for promoting the West Africa region as a free trade area. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 02:03:51|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOGADISHU, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A Somali lawmaker on Friday survived a land mine attack in Mogadishu with two of his bodyguards sustaining light injuries. A senior police officer, Mohamed Dahir, at the scene told Xinhua that Mohamed Abukate escaped unhurt after his vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Hodan district in Mogadishu. "The landmine exploded immediately the vehicle of the lawmaker was in passed by. No casualties were reported but two of his bodyguards were slightly injured," said the police officer. Residents said the bomb which went off around 8 pm local time shocked the area. "The blast was so huge and we could feel the shock waves from a distance. We learnt it was targeting the MP," Abdullahi Muse, 27, told Xinhua. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack which comes amid increased attacks from Al-Shabaab militants who are fighting to topple the Western-backed government. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 02:13:49|Editor: yan Video Player Close MANILA, April 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people were injured in an explosion along a major road in Manila City on Friday night, police and news reports have said. The blast occurred in Quiapo district shortly before 11 p.m. local time on Friday and two of those injured were reportedly in critical condition, the police said. The police were investigating the explosion that occurred on the eve of the ASEAN leaders summit that will take place later Saturday. It was not immediately known what caused the blast. The police said the blast has nothing to do with the summit. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 02:23:51|Editor: ying Representatives pose for a group photo during the EU informal meeting of foreign ministers in Valletta, capital of Malta, on April 28, 2017. Turkey's accession process into the EU continues but currently there is no new work ongoing to open new chapters, said EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Friday. (Xinhua/Mark Zammit Cordina) VALLETTA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's accession process into the EU continues but currently there is no new work ongoing to open new chapters, said EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Friday. The words came at the EU informal meeting of foreign ministers in Malta. Mogherini said the criteria for negotiations are very clear. If Turkey is interested in accession negotiations, it knows what it implies especially in the field of human rights, media freedom and respect of international law. It is up to Turkey to express their willingness to continue to be a candidate country, she added. The rules are clear but a level of clarification is needed on their side. The EU foreign policy chief also said that the EU respects and recognizes the sovereign right of any country to decide its governance system, so the EU respect the results of the referendum in Turkey. However the EU expects the implementation to constitutional amendments will be done by seeking the highest degree of unity in the country, she added. She further noted that Turkish citizens are at centre of dialogue and cooperation also in relation to negotiations for accession. Mogherini said that the relation with Turkey goes beyond accession negotiations and covers different areas such as counter-terrorism cooperation and the crisis in Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 02:28:52|Editor: yan Video Player Close LONDON, April 28 (Xinhua) -- London and the Southeast will account for about 40 percent of the British economy by 2022 if current trends continue, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) said in an analysis Friday. The TUC report was published to coincide with the release by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) of official GDP figures for the first quarter of 2017. The ONS said the British economy grew by just 0.3 percent at the start of the year, the slowest growth rate since the first three months of 2016. The TUC analysis projects how the regions of Britain will grow over the course of the next parliament if existing trends continue. "It is part of a series of TUC election warnings, which show what the British economy will look like in 2022 if current trends continue unchecked," said a TUC spokesman. The report says that by 2022, London and the Southeast will account for 40 percent, or two fifths of British economy, a rise of 2.5 percentage points from 2015. In 1997 London and the Southeast accounted for a third of the British economy. "If current patterns continue, the most significant falls in the share of the economy over the next parliament will be in Yorkshire (dropping 0.5 percentage points to just 6.1 percent), the Northwest (down 0.4 percentage points to 9 percent) and Scotland (falling 0.4 percentage points to 7.2 percent), the analysis shows. The TUC says a comprehensive industrial strategy is essential for rebalancing of the economy, and for bringing strong growth and more jobs to all parts of Britain. TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: "This analysis shows that, with London and the Southeast dominating economic growth, too many people are missing out on the chance of a decent job just because of where they live." "Britain needs great jobs, and all the political parties must explain in their (general election) manifestos how they will deliver growth in every corner of the country, not just the capital," said O'Grady. The TUC has called on the incoming government to invest more in infrastructure, to enable Britain to compete with other advanced economies. It wants a public procurement policy to improve jobs and pay, and a green economy, by setting a target of 50 percent of Britain's energy coming from renewables by 2030. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 02:48:56|Editor: yan Video Player Close HOUSTON, April 28 (Xinhua)-- Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush was discharged from a local hospital on Friday after being treated for a mild pneumonia and chronic bronchitis, according to a statement released by the president's family spokesman. Former President Bush is very pleased to be home spending time with family and friends on Friday and grateful for the outstanding care provided by his doctors and nurses, the statement said. The 92-year-old Bush was admitted to the Houston Methodist Hospital on April 14 due to a persistent cough that had prevented him from getting proper rest, and was subsequently diagnosed as a mild pneumonia. The former president was later asked by his doctors to remain in the hospital for observation after being diagnosed with a chronic bronchitis. This is the third hospitalization for Bush this year. In January, Bush was sent to this hospital with an acute respiratory problem. In February, he was hospitalized for catching flu. Bush, who was born in 1924, was the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 02:48:57|Editor: yan Video Player Close DUBLIN, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The number of visitors from Britain fell by 6.5 percent in the first quarter of the year, the first drop in the quarter since 2010, according to new figures released on Friday. The figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed that the number of overseas visitors to Ireland for the first quarter of the year was 1.8 million, which was an increase of 0.6 percent compared with the same quarter in 2016. The year 2016 was a record-breaking year for overseas tourism to Ireland, with almost 9.6 million people arriving here, an increase of 10.9 percent, or 941,300 additional overseas visitors, when compared with 2015. "It is going to be a challenge to continue this upward curve," said Shane Ross, Irish minister for transport, tourism and Sport. While the overall figures remain positive, the first quarter of 2017 has seen a drop in the number of visits from Britain, he said. "This provides an indication of the challenge the Irish tourism industry is facing following UK's decision to leave the European Union. "It is a challenge that the government will meet, working with the tourism agencies and the industry. A key focus will be market diversification," he added. Tourism is the island of Ireland's largest indigenous industry, responsible for in excess of 4 percent of GNP in Ireland and employing approximately 220,000 people. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 03:09:05|Editor: yan Video Player Close RIGA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Latvians' support for their country's membership in the European Union (EU) has declined by 3 percentage points over the past year to 45 percent, a new Eurobarometer poll has revealed. Meanwhile, 10 percent of the surveyed people in Latvia were against their country's membership in the EU. Their percentage has remained unchanged since 2016. Across the EU, 14 percent of respondents said they disapproved of their respective country's membership in the bloc. According to the survey, which was conducted in March of this year, 57 percent of respondents in the bloc voiced positive attitudes to membership in the EU. Support for EU membership in Latvia's neighbor countries Lithuania and Estonia was also higher than in Latvia, with 65 percent of the surveyed Lithuanians and 67 percent of Estonians regarding membership in the bloc as something good. In Latvia, 44 percent of respondents feel that membership in the EU is neither good nor bad. The ratio of such respondents has grown by 3 percentage points from last year. Across the EU this opinion was voiced by every fourth respondent. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi(C, front) addresses a United Nations Security Council ministerial session on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsular at the UN headquarters in New York, April 28, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Friday that two basic directions must be stuck to while dealing with the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. "First, we must stay committed to the goal of denuclearization," Wang told a UN Security Council ministerial level meeting to discuss the nuclear activities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Denuclearization is the basic precondition for long-term peace and stability on the Peninsula and "what we must accomplish to safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation regime," he said. "Second, all parties should comprehensively understand and fully implement DPRK-related Security Council resolutions," he said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also briefed the special meeting, which was chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month. Wang and foreign ministers or vice foreign ministers of Britain, Russia, Senegal and Japan, attended the meeting. All the 15 members of the Security Council addressed the meeting, focusing on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and the implementation of relevant UN resolutions. The DPRK conducted a hydrogen bomb test and a nuclear warhead explosion test on Jan. 6 and Sept. 9 of 2016, respectively. The UN Security Council adopted resolutions on March 2 and Nov. 30 of 2016, respectively, demanding that the DPRK abandon its nuclear weapon and missile programs and imposing sanctions on it. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 04:54:30|Editor: yan Video Player Close ROME, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Italian investigators have busted a fundamentalist terrorist cell based in Germany and operating in Italy, state police said in a statement Friday. The cell, made up of 11 militants aged 20-30 and adhering to the Salafist sect of Islam, was "ready to carry out terrorist attacks," the statement said. One suspect, a Congolese national aged 27, has been arrested on charges of conspiracy to carry out international terrorist acts, according to the Italian interior ministry. The Congolese suspect had been a guest at a refugee center in Italy, had been radicalized, and was "willing to carry out terrorist attacks and to sacrifice his own life," police said. The suspect also issued instructions to fellow cell member as to how to camouflage themselves within mainstream society by removing all physical indications of their religious beliefs, such as beards and certain kinds of clothing. Investigators added the suspect has ties to slain Tunisian terrorist Anis Amri, who drove a hijacked lorry at high speed into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin on December 19 last year, killing 12 people and injuring dozens more. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 05:24:43|Editor: yan Video Player Close ZAGREB, April 28 (Xinhua)-- Croatia's junior party Most (Bridge) in the ruling coalition said on Friday its four ministers quitted from the government after argument with the prime minister, triggering a possible early elections. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Thursday sacked three ministers from the Most after they failed to support Finance Minister Zdravko Maric amid opposition's demand for him to step down due to a financial crisis of Agrokor, the Croatia's biggest private food company. On Friday, last Minister of the Most resigned. Most party leader Bozo Petrov, who is also speaker of Parliament, said the fairest solution to the current political crisis would be an early parliamentary elections. However, Plenkovic, also the leader of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), main party in ruling coalition, said on Friday he was sure HDZ would have a new parliamentary majority and new ministers and even a new parliament speaker would be appointed soon to replace those from the Most. On the same day, 79 members of the 151-seat parliament, most of them from HDZ, filed a no confidence motion to Petrov, the Speaker. Political analysts in Croatia believed the growing tension between the coalition partners has increased the prospect of a possible early election. A dispute between HDZ and Most last year toppled their previous government after just six months in office, and an early election was held. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 05:29:44|Editor: yan Video Player Close LISBON, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's unemployment rate fell below 10 percent in February for the first time in 8 years, the country's statistics institute revealed on Friday. The unemployment statistics were revised down for February from a provisional 10 percent reported the previous month to 9.9 percent, the lowest figure seen since 2009. Prime Minister Antonio Costa said the improved unemployment rate was a sign that the country's economic policy had been successful. "What should fill us with satisfaction, because it is what helps to reinforce confidence, gives strength to the economy and proves the success of this economic policy, is what is happening in the job market," Costa said during a speech at the inauguration of an industrial complex in Portalegre, around 230 km south of Lisbon. "As the National Institute of Statistics revealed today, in February for the first time in many years, we have a single digit rate for unemployment," he added. "The cycle has been reversed." Costa was sworn in as prime minister in November 2015, and since then has insisted that an anti-austerity approach is possible. Tens of thousands of jobs have been created since his Socialist party took office backed by the Left Bloc and Communist Party in parliament. However, there is still skepticism regarding his policies, with growth standing at a moderate 1.2 percent in 2016 and public debt still surpassing 130 percent. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 05:44:46|Editor: Tian Shaohui Mart Veliste, winner of the "Understanding China Contest", poses for a photo in Budapest, Hungary, April 28, 2017. Mart Veliste, a student from University of Tartu, Estonia has won the international event, "Understanding China Contest", in Budapest on Friday. The aim of the contest is to raise awareness about China and the 16+1 mechanism throughout the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. (Xinhua/Csaba Domotor) BUDAPEST, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Mart Veliste, a student from University of Tartu, Estonia has won the international event, "Understanding China Contest", in Budapest on Friday. The aim of the contest is to raise awareness about China and the 16+1 mechanism throughout the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. The 16+1 mechanism is a platform created in April 2012 by China and 16 CEE countries. "I got interested in China in 2012. I had a course on Chinese politics, and I really loved it," Veliste, whose major is international relations, told Xinhua after the contest, adding that he also spent time in Shanghai from September to December in 2016 for exchanges. Chinese ambassador to Hungary Duan Jielong said in his speech that the contest is a very meaningful event as it is the first of its kind in the CEE region with the theme of "Understanding China". He said he believed the contest would help further enhance the understanding of the people from CEE countries towards China. The contest had two rounds. The first, local round, selected national champions from sixteen CEE countries, based on an online trivia quiz on China. In the second, or the live round, all national champions presented their research papers on modern Chinese society, economy, as well as foreign and security policy. A total of 10 students participated in the live round at the Corvinus University of Budapest, representing Macedonia, Poland, Hungary, Latvia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovakia, Serbia and Estonia. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 05:54:53|Editor: yan Video Player Close SEOUL, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday test-fired a ballistic missile, which exploded after liftoff, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 05:54:55|Editor: yan Video Player Close ROME, April 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. online retailing giant Amazon.com was implicated Friday in an Italian tax probe, alleging the company owes 130 million euros (141 million U.S. dollars) in unpaid taxes for a five-year period ending in 2015. The investigation is at least the third in Italy against a big U.S. digital company that Italian tax officials targeted in major tax probe. In January, Italian officials opened an investigation alleging that search engine company Google owed at least 224 million euros, a charge the company denied. In late 2015, computer and mobile device giant Apple settled a tax suit for 318 million euros, the largest single tax settlement ever in Italy. In the Amazon case, tax authorities filed paperwork with prosecutors in Milan, alleging that Amazon's tax payments on 2.5 billion euros between 2011 and 2015 was too low. Amazon officials in Italy did not immediately comment on the probe, but in 2016 the company denied any wrongdoing when reports of a potential tax investigation in Italy emerged. Amazon was founded in 1994, and the company has operated its own Italy-only site since 2010. Since 2013, the Italy site has been the country's largest online retailer. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 06:14:59|Editor: yan Video Player Close by Alessandra Cardone ROME, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The first round of the French presidential election unveiled two antithetical visions of France, and of its role within Europe, according to an Italian analyst. Besides the collapse of the traditional political parties -- especially center-left Socialists and center-right Republicans -- the contraposition between two opposite political visions was a key element emerging from the vote, according to Antonio Villafranca, head of Europe Program with Italy's Institute for International Political Studies. "The two candidates who have reached the run-off have two antithetical perspectives of the European Union (EU), and of the role of France within the EU," he told Xinhua in an interview. The first round, held last Sunday, saw centrist, independent candidate Emmanuel Macron prevail with 24.01 percent of the vote, followed by far-right candidate Marine Le Pen with 21.3 percent. "Macron's vision is absolutely pro-Europe," Villafranca said. The centrist contender would push for a stronger EU, calling for further integration in the field of European defense and among members of the euro-zone, which would entail an overall revamp of the European process. Macron would see France's role being entirely played within these boundaries, according to the analyst. On the other hand, Le Pen proposed an opposing vision, mostly based on protectionism and on the "French first" principle. "This perspective is much more in line with that of U.S. president Donald Trump," Villafranca said. In her first address after results of the first round were clear, she cited former president Charles De Gaulle, and that was not by chance, according to the analyst. "She did so because her main challenge now is to be accredited as a candidate of the right, and not of the far-right," Villafranca said. "In the closing days of her campaign, Le Pen has also softened her anti-European slogans, and talked less of European issues." Nonetheless, her vision of France's role, said Villafranca, would imply at least negotiating with the EU -- if not confronting it -- in order for the national government to regain certain powers, beginning with the control of the national borders. The analyst suggested another element was strongly emerging from the French presidential contest: the weakening of the traditional "left-right" political divide. "In Macron's program, we find proposals typically belonging to a leftist vision, such as the idea of extending unemployment benefits to workers who currently do not qualify for them," Villafranca said. At the same time, he would agree to make France's hiring and firing rules even more flexible, and to overhaul the 35-hour working week measure, which are ideas more fit for a center-right force, he said. "The same happens with Le Pen, who does not represent solely the far-right sentiment, as it had been with her father Jean-Marie instead," Villafranca added. Finally, although all polls so far suggest Macron would have more chances of winning the run off, the analyst warned it was still too early to say what "message" French citizens would send to the EU. "Precisely because these two candidates are so antithetical, and separated only by a few points. We do have to wait the second round to determine what feelings will prevail, and what signal France is going to send to Europe," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-29 06:50:05|Editor: yan Video Player Close ROME, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Over 90 representatives from Rome-based United Nations (UN) agencies, civil society, academia, and the diplomatic corps joined a poverty reduction seminar in the Italian capital Friday. The seminar on "Global Partnerships for Poverty Reduction" was hosted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese government. Participants discussed how to increase awareness and knowledge on the role of agencies like Italian Development Cooperation, the International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in poverty reduction at country, regional and international level. Pietro Sebastiani, Director General for Development Cooperation at Italian Foreign Ministry, said the world has come a long way in reducing poverty, "but if we want to achieve complete poverty eradication, the needs of those who are more marginalized need to be addressed in a concerted effort". "That means that each of us plays a major role in making that goal achievable. Making every citizen whether in the public or private sector responsible for eradicating poverty," he said. Tan Weiping, IPRCC deputy director-general, said China is tackling poverty in a systematic and well-structured way. He said China has already achieved zero hunger "but we are interested in learning how to address malnutrition". "We as IPRCC are happy to be working with FAO and IFAD in developing and implementing together initiatives that contribute to the achievement of poverty reduction goal," he said. According to Tan, China just signed a 5 million U.S. dollar agreement with IFAD for South-to-South cooperation. "We are also looking forward to establishing new channels of cooperation with the Italian Agency of Cooperation and Development and with the Italian Government," Tan added. China Internet Information Center (CIIC) Vice President, Li Fugen, emphasized the important role of ICTs in reducing poverty, in particular in remote areas by offering innovative solutions for trading goods and giving access to information to everyone. IFAD Director of Global Engagement, Knowledge and Strategy Division, Ashwani Mutthoo, said IFAD is contributing to increasing knowledge sharing not only on past experiences but on innovative solutions that can contribute to overcoming the present challenges that several member countries are facing. "There are still almost 800 million people living in poverty and that three-quarters of those people are living in rural areas. So addressing rural poverty and making sure that no one, near or far, is left behind is essential to achieve the eradication of poverty," Mutthoo said. Men jailed for stealing San Fernando Magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine read 12 charges to Anthony Khan, 38, and Alvin Thomas, 42, that they broke into the storage house owned Victor Wing Sang at about midday and stole a five-tonne air condition unit; a stereo set; a battery; a seven-tonne air condition unit; stainless steel pieces; Aluminium kitchen utensils; a black leather bag; two lamps; 60 feet of copper wire; a table cloth set and two cordless phones. Both men, who are from San Fernando, pleaded guilty. Pitbull appeals order to pay Gladiator $70,000 Justice Mira Dean-Armorer earlier this month found that Williams, Devon Welch and Juliet Davy defamed Welch in 2010 by labelling him as gay and being guilty of extortion during radio programmes they hosted called The War Room and The Ground Report. Dean-Armorer acknowledged that this society has not yet evolved to be indifferent or acceptant to alternative sexual orientations. She said a persons sexual orientation cannot be of public interest as she dismissed the fair comment defence of the radio hosts. In his notice of appeal filed by attorney Michael Rooplal, Williams contends that the judge erred in fact and law when she found that he uttered words defamatory of Welch. He also insists that there was no evidence that he defamed his competitor. Another of Williams grounds for challenging the judges decision is that the issue of homosexuality was no longer a taboo topic in T&Ts society, therefore any imputation regarding the sexual orientation of Welch was not defamatory. At the trial, Williams, Michael Kerr and Lennox Smith gave evidence concerning Welchs sexual orientation. Williams also testified that he was the subject of sexual advances by Welch on a number of occasions. In his appeal, Williams said, given his evidence as well as the testimony of Smith and Kerr, he discharged the legal onus placed on him to prove that Welch was a homosexual. He further argued that Welch failed to provide any evidence of specific damage to his career or reputation to justify the award of $70,000. Williams has also applied to the Court of Appeal for a stay of execution of Dean-Armorers order which comes up for hearing on June 12. No date has yet been fixed for the appeal. Peace at PoS Magistrates Court yesterday There was also no noticeable increase in security at the courthouse at St Vincent Street yesterday, and Court and Process police officers at the court rubbished reports that prisoners were beaten when they became unruly after their court appearance in the Eighth Magistrates Court on Wednesday. This was after they complained loudly when Deputy Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle adjourned their matters to next month. Busby Earle-Caddle is acting as chief magistrate until an appointment is made by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and said she needed to get advice on how to proceed with some of the cases which were listed before Ayers-Caesar. Two weeks ago concerns of Ayers-Caesars unfinished cases were raised and earlier this week, Law Association president Douglas Mendes, SC, said the association will hold discussions with Chief Justice Ivor Archie, the attorney general and the director of public prosecutions to find a workable solution. Mendes, on behalf of the association, also expressed immediate concerns about the fact that a judge was appointed and took up office leaving behind outstanding, partheard matters. He said it was unfair that anyone should suffer the expense and anxiety of an avoidable, repeat trial. The full extent of the prejudice which may have been caused is not yet known, he said. Attorneys to address judge on SoE detention today Presiding over the trial of Bryan Soldier Barry Barrington is Justice Eleanor Donaldson- Honeywell in the Port of Spain High Court. Barrington, a former member of the Defence Force, is seeking compensation for what he claims were a wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and breach of his constitutional rights. He was among 13 people arrested separately during the 2011 State of Emergency in connection with the assassination plot. All were eventually released without being charged. Attorney Abdel Ashraph represents Barrington while Coreen Findley and Rachel Thurab appear for the Attorney General. On November 21, 2011, while at his Partap Trace, South Oropouche home, Barrington was arrested by approximately 15 masked police officers, according to his statement of case filed in the High Court on October 23, last year. Barrington said he was not informed of the reason for his arrest. He was taken to the Marabella Police Station for 30 minutes and then to the Woodbrook Police Station where he was detained for six days. He was then transferred to the Golden Grove Prison in Arouca where he was interrogated by several police officers. He was moved to the Immigration Detention Centre in Aripo the day after. On December 6, 2011, Barrington was eventually released without having been told the reason for his detention. It is the States contention that Barringtons arrest and detention were legal under the provisions of the Emergency Powers Regulations (EPR) 2011 which were in force at the time of his detention. At the preliminary stages of the lawsuit, the attorney general did not file a defence to the claim and instead applied to have Barringtons lawsuit struck out stating it was an abuse of process. This was dismissed by Donaldson-Honeywell. Earlier this month, Justice Vasheist Kokaram awarded suspected gang leader Anton Boombay Boney $70,000 in compensation for his unlawful detention for the period November 30, 2011 to December 5, 2011. Boney was one of the 13 arrested. Kokaram held that while the initial detention of Boney was reasonable, his continued detention was illegal. He also warned against arbitrary detention of people even during a declared State of Emergency PSC trying hard to select CoP Speaking yesterday after a swearing-in ceremony at the Office of the President in St Anns, Gomes said the PSC negotiated with a local firm and was awaiting Cabinet funding. She said Cabinet allocated $1 million last year, but this was not enough for an efficient selection process. I would like the public to be aware, to understand the legislation. We are bound by the legislation. It is not just selecting anybody... we have to go through a particular process, which we are doing, and we have reached to the point where we need Cabinet support on this, and then we can go ahead, she said. Asked if there were staffing issues at the PSC, Gomes said it was being restricted right now. We have quite a number of interviews, pay packages for several positions are not good enough, so people will not accept offers so we need those things resolved, because our job is not simply the selection, we also do monitoring and evaluation of the CoP and his deputies, and in order to do that thoroughly, we need to have the support of staff that is competent and more staff, if we really have to do the kind of investigative work that we need to do to have a safer Trinidad and Tobago and a more accountable TTPS, she said. Let international firms pay in US$ He was speaking at a swearing- in ceremony of Ainsworth Mohammed as a member of the Port Authority board at the Office of the President, St Anns. Carmona said it was a great appointment because of Mohammeds financial acumen. The reality is that we have a lot of national organisations that simply need to make money. For far too long we have allowed persons to pay peppercorn rates at the Port Authority and we need to stop that. In fact, when dealing with international firms, they need to pay in US dollars and not TT dollars, he said. Carmona also suggested that the possibilities of the yachting industry should be looked at. I hope one day that maybe, and Im not encroaching on government policy because I am a humanitarian, we can have massive yachts parked alongside that entire Sea Lots area. There will be great prosperity for all in that particular area and it can start with the Port Authority. Speaking with reporters after, Mohammed said with his area of expertise in management, he trusts he would be able to bring that to the fore to the benefit of the board and the country as a whole. Also sworn in yesterday was Justice Roger Hamel-Smith as a member of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission and Commodore Anthony Stafford Franklin as a member of the Police Service Commission. Carmona commended all for their commitment to public service. Its not going to be a straight road. You are going to get the slings and the arrows but you are armoured with intellect and integrity to make decisions that you feel are fair and reasonable according to your training, your experience and your sense of doing right and ensuring that wrong is not committed. Continue to rally, TT is a fantastic place. Yes we have issues, yes we have problems, we hold the crucible of the worlds transformation in our hands and we must not drop that crucible. It resides in the heart, the mind and soul of every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. FEEL donates 200,000 lbs of rice FEEL CEO Elena Villafana-Sylvester said, such a significant task could not be achieved without the collaboration of many organisations. She noted that FEEL works through a network of more than 100 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to distribute its foodstuff island-wide. The CSOs register with and agree to work with FEEL to accept donations, which they are then responsible for distributing to the needy in their community. This CSO network covers all corners of Trinidad including Cedros, Toco, Moruga, Mayaro, Chaguanas, Freeport, Carenage and there are three partners in Tobago. FEEL is a registered charitable organisation which collects donations in bulk for distribution to CSOs dedicated to making a better Trinidad and Tobago, including organisations working in education, with the elderly, differently- abled, homeless, abused and institutions working to assist disadvantaged persons. To help FEEL make a better Trinidad and Tobago call 624- 7808. To learn more, visit FEELs Facebook page www.facebook. com/FeelTandT Rain may bring relief from heat by Saturday and that means rain, hopefully. According to officials at the Meteorological Office at Piarco, the heat wave would continue until about Saturday evening. It is expected that there would be some rain which would affect south first. Yesterday, chairman of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) Romney Thomas announced that the authority was implementing its 2017 water supply and conservation plan aimed at managing its water resources. He said the reservoirs were maintaining just above half of its containment of water. Thomas said WASA has been monitoring the impact of the dry season and has been implementing strategies as necessary. He said over the years there have been drier and more intense dry seasons while the wet seasons have not yielded the normal levels of rainfall. Thomas said so far for April, there has been an average of 76 percent rainfall in all four of WASAs reservoirs. However, while he noted the levels at this time were favourable, he said the dry season was having a significant impact on several of WASAs surface water resources. This, he said, is resulting in an overall loss in production of about 25 million gallons per day. To counteract this effect, production has been increased at the Point Lisas desalination plant by about two million gallons daily. Production was also increased at the Caroni and Hollis water treatment plants and Hillsborough by about 11.3 million gallons per day. Thomas said the deficit, 27 percent, occurred due to reduced production at Courland, Kings Bay and Hillsborough West water treatment plants which were producing five, 40 and 35 percent of capacity respectively. While there are water restrictions in Tobago, none has been imposed in Trinidad. Transporter makes maiden voyage to Tobago Chairman of the Tobago Division of the Chamber Demi-John Cruickshank, who objected to the use of the barge when announced by Government, said The trucks are even taller than the barge wall. We touch some of the trucks (and) its sand and salt on them. Last week at the Scarborough Port, Cruickshank said he will be sticking to his decision to not use the barge to transport any cargo but said business owners will have no choice but to collaborate with the port to avoid any forced increase in the price of construction material and food products. We are hearing there are price increases in the supermarkets. Some people are already saying they are afraid that construction material prices will start to go up. The Transporter can only take 40 trucks. That literally cut us off by two-thirds in terms of what the Super Fast used to transport. Chairman of the Inter- Island Transport Committee Diane Hadad said the amount of cargo to the island has significantly decreased since the Transporters capacity is less than the Galicia. UK officer in TT Police manpower audit committee The committee has held over 20 meetings the last being on Tuesday. Sources revealed that an initial audit has so far revealed while there are 7,500 police officers on record, only 4,500 are on active duty, with the rest on sick leave, vacation leave, suspension, study leave and other types of leave. The committee has already provided Rowley and Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon with a status report on its work. The Terms of Reference of the committee are to help improve the police service by examining if the existing manpower is adequate in both quantity and quality, to serve the countrys public safety and national security requirements. The committee was also given authority to look at municipal police, estate constables, special reserve police and even private security firms to see the extent to which they could be of assistance, so that they could assist in partnering with the police. This could be achieved through legislative reform. A lot of ground has been covered, sources said, and the team has entered the data collection stage. Committee members have been having regular consultations with Security Minister Dillon. At the end of the audit, the committee is expected to submit its report to the Prime Minister which would include whatever recommendations deemed necessary to improve the service. Contacted yesterday for comment on the status of the Manpower Audit being carried out, Chairman Deosaran said, neither myself nor the committee will be prepared to speak publicly on the work in progress. Newsday understands Deosaran will be visiting Aruba next to address a Caribbean Commissioners of Police conference in which the main theme will be dealing with organised crime. The Members of the committee are Ag DCP Harold Phillip, ACP Erla Christopher, retired Permanent Secretary Jacqueline Wilson, attorney Allan Meiguel, security management consultant Dr Levi Guy-Obiakor Ag ASP Anand Ramesar. PM: Squatters have to pay property tax He said property tax is the law and so umbrage to those advocating a non-payment stance as this is akin to breaking the law. He added that some who have advocated not paying, are happily paying property tax on properties overseas. Asked why not revert to the old rates of Land and Building Tax, Rowley said that law had been repealed. He hit the Opposition for complaining that the property tax is oppressive when they originally proposed a land tax, at much higher rates. Rowley made the point he has been paying some form of property/land tax since he was age 17. Asked to quantify how much tax he would pay, Rowley said he is committed to paying the property tax and estimates the tax on his Glencoe, West Trinidad home to be several hundred dollars. He said the sum is notable but, not oppressive. Rowley hit the mischief and misinformation being propagated against the tax. When you enter Parliament, you take an oath to uphold the law. Property tax is the law! Until it is changed, all the shenanigans of amnesty and hiding and lying are against the law. It is a reasonable law and we will demonstrate that and proceed to collect the tax, he said. I have a good feeling about this, that the average citizen when they see the truth and realise they are being misled by misinformation, they would realise they are making a contribution to national development by paying their property tax, Rowley sa Young: Govt monitoring situation in Judiciary At the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Anns, Young explained that under the Constitution, the Judicial and Legal Services Commission is the body which handles the appointment of judges. Referring to the doctrine of separation of powers, Young said, Obviously as the government of the day, we are looking on and we are observing what is going on. Referring to recent statements from the Law Association president on the issue, Young said, At this stage, there is no role for the Government in what is going on. We would want to encourage a properly functioning criminal justice system and stand by ready to continue assisting the Judiciary in ensuring that happens. Libyas UN-backed government has requested the EU to provide it with armed ships and helicopters to intercept and prevent migrants from making the risky journey on boats to cross the Mediterranean towards Europe. Libyas request was marred by allegation of abuse endured by migrants on Libyan coast as well as a lack of strategy by the Libyan Coast guard regarding rescue missions. Libyas newly trained coastguards lack a strategy on where to deploy or how to detect and intercept smugglers, EU officials told Reuters. Citing a confidential EU assessment, prepared for EU defense ministers, who met in Malta, Reuters said that Tripoli government lacks a clearer strategy on how to detect and intercept people smugglers, who often carry migrants on unseaworthy boats from the Libyan coast. Libyan coastguards have also been accused of abusing migrants. Amnesty International accuses the force of shooting, beating and torturing refugees who are caught trying to flee Libya and are forced back to land, the assessment says, warning that EU nations supporting the operations risk fuelling rampant ill-treatment and violations of international law. EU officials are increasingly worried that Libya has become a major departure point for illegal migration to Europe attracting economic migrants and refugees from war-torn countries in the Middle East and Africa. So far this year, the UN Refugee Agency estimates that 1073 people lost their lives or have been missing in the perilous passage between Libya and Italy in the Mediterranean. The UNICEF said that at least 150 children were reported dead in the illegal sea crossing to Europe. Morocco continues to make notable progress in economic liberalization, according to 2017 Index of Economic Freedom created by the Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal. The North African country, which ranked 8th in Africa and 86th globally, is benefiting from a commitment to economic reforms that encourage a dynamically evolving private sector, says the annual guide, measuring the degree of economic freedom in the world. The Index covers 12 freedoms from property rights to financial freedom in 186 countries. Algeria, OPEC member, ranked 47th in Africa and 162th in global standings. The Index of Economic Freedom enables investors and decision-makers to track over two decades of the advancement in economic freedom, prosperity, and opportunity and promote these ideas in their homes, schools, and communities. In its analysis of Moroccan economy, the document says the policies adopted by Moroccan government to facilitate competitiveness and diversification of the productive base contributed to economic expansion averaging around 4 percent annually over the past five years. Morocco is a strong reformer in the area of private sector development, adds the document describing the country as a key U.S. ally in the struggle against Islamist terrorism. The 2011 constitutional amendments, which were approved by referendum, increased the power and independence of the Prime Minister and provided greater civil liberties, says the analysis. In addition to a large tourism industry and a growing manufacturing sector, Moroccos nascent aeronautics industry has attracted foreign investment, the document adds. In the Arab world, the region has been suffering in recent years from low economic growth and plagued by a high level of unemployment. Since early 2011, many countries in the region have experienced socioeconomic upheaval or outright conflict, and outcomes have been far from certain. The lives of many ordinary people have yet to change for the better. Of the Arab Spring economies, Tunisia and Egypt have shown the most encouraging results over the past year. However, Bahrain continues to be on a downward path in terms of economic freedom, and grading of economic freedom for Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Yemen remains suspended because of ongoing violence and unrest. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar are the regions two mostly free economies. The majority of the Middle East/North Africa regions 14 economies graded by the Index continue to be rated only moderately free or mostly unfree, with the Algerian economy categorized as repressed. Structural and institutional problems abound throughout the region, and private sector growth continues to lag far behind levels needed to provide adequate economic opportunities for growing populations. Despite the outflow of crude oil, actual trade flows remain very low, indicating a lack of economic dynamism. Taken as a whole, the MENA regions lack of job opportunities remains a serious problem, particularly for younger members of the labor force whose average unemployment rate is close to 25 percent. The vote on the draft resolution on the Sahara has been delayed by the UN Security Council to allow the Polisairo separatist militias to withdraw from the Guerguarat buffer strip on the borders with Mauritania. A diplomat at the UN Security Council who requested not to be named said that the draft resolution included a strong appeal on the Polisario to immediately withdraw from the southernmost tip of the Moroccan southern Provinces where tensions have been building up threatening to sap the 1991 ceasefire agreement. The Polisario has been blamed for simmering tension in the region by maintaining troops in the buffer strip, which, under the 1991 agreement, should remain demilitarized. The in-extremis decision by the Polisario to withdraw from the area has prompted a delay of the UN Security Council vote of a new resolution on the Sahara. UN Secretary General had previously reiterated his call for an immediate retreat of the Polisairo from the Guerguarat buffer strip in his report to the UN Security Council. He expressed deep concern regarding the presence of Polisario militiamen in the buffer strip warning that the situation may degenerate into the collapse of the cease-fire agreement. In his report, the UN Secretary General also called on Algeria to play a positive role in the negotiation process. He expressed support for the negotiations parameters launched by the UN Security Council since 2007 in order to reach a mutually acceptable political solution in good faith. Polisarios obstinacy to maintain troops in the demilitarized area in a stark violation of the 1991 cease-fire agreement makes it the culprit in case a conflict resurges and puts it in direct confrontation with the UN. Since occupying the Guerguarat border crossing point, Polisario militiamen have been hindering commercial traffic and carried out provocative acts against the Royal Armed Forces on the other side of the security wall (the berm). Their tactical goal was drawing Morocco into a military response so that they can play the victim at the international stage. The Polisarios insistence to maintain troops beyond the buffer zone mirrors the disenchantment within its ranks. By keeping armed men in the Guerguarat area, the Polisario seeks to portray a sham victory for its supporters as it loses support in Africa and at the international level. Tension started building up in the Guerguarat region last August when Morocco launched an anti-smuggling operation that has a police character to clear the southernmost tip of the Saharan provinces of all sorts of illegal commercial activities. Moroccan authorities also started asphalting a road to better monitor the area and bar traffickers and terrorist groups from setting up a safe haven in the buffer zone beyond Moroccos security berm on the borders with Mauritania. But in February, Morocco responded positively to a call by the new UN Secretary General for both parties to withdraw from the area, while the Polisario scorned the call. Carter Page. Photo: Artyom Korotayev/Artyom Korotayev/TASS Owen Ellickson, a writer and producer whose credits include The Office, Superstore, and Other Space, spent much of the presidential campaign tweeting revealingly false missives from inside Trumpland. Now, he has acquired a trove of leaked documents from inside the Trump White House, which Daily Intelligencer will publish over time as a series. We caution you that these documents are, as yet, unverified. SecretAgent_Man 45 Washington, D.C. My self-summary Im a heteroflexible demisexual alpha-beta Minnesota drawler whos looking to have a terrific and discreet time. Come be my partner in crime! (Thats an expression; to date I have not been charged with any crimes.) What Im doing with my life Hiking, advising 2016 presidential campaigns (cant tell ya which but lets just say we did pret-ty well), cooking, consulting for oil companies, traveling, collecting shells I find heck, itd be easier to tell you what Im not doing! One thing Im not doing: interacting in any way with officials representing the Russian government, knowingly, anyway. I hope to watch birds someday. Im really good at I make a killer Denver omelette. I can shave the heck outta my head. And Im very good at not having contact with Russian officials that are subject to U.S. sanctions, other than maybe Igor Sechin and a couple other guys. Thats all Im gonna say. Cant risk revealing my identity, here. Sorry, lovebirds! Favorite books, movies, shows, music, and food I dont like books, which is ironic, because theyre filled with pages, which is my last name, kinda. Movies: its gotta be Transformers! My favorite show is Agent Carter, because its about the kind of work I do, and her last name is my first name. Musicwise, I like top hits. Food: yes, please! The six things I could never do without MBible. Coffee!!! The Constitution, which I revere, and as far as I know do not violate. A complete, unwavering sense of discretion. My business partner, former Gazprom executive Sergei Yatsenko. My awesome name, Carter William Page. I spend a lot of time thinking about How unfair it is that some people travel to foreign countries all they please, while when other people do it becomes this big deal, where the FBI says theyre knowingly engaging in clandestine intelligence for that government, and a federal judge concludes theres probable cause to believe that. Barack Obamas been to Russia I dont see five U.S. intelligence agencies investigating him! I also think about dogs. What are they up to? On a typical Friday night I am Sitting back with a mint julep, talking with contacts and family make that FRIENDS and family and not meeting with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. That has only happened once, and even that time it didnt happen. I have a rowing machine I dont use it, but some Fridays I wish I did. You should message me if you love coffee! And fun! And long conversations, outside, far away from buggable objects like lamps and pens! I like all types, provided that you dont work for any intelligence agencies, but what are the odds that you would? Sorry I have to be so secretive online, but I promise, if we get together, Ill be a completely open book! Maybe if we make it just a bit more unpopular Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images When Republicans had to call off the vote on the American Health Care Act in March, President Trump dismissed the failure, saying, I never said I was going to repeal and replace in the first 61 days. As the Washington Post reported, he was wrong on two counts: Hed been in office for 64 days, and he repeatedly promised to repeal and replace Obamacare immediately or on day one, even if he had to call a special session of Congress. The White House kept holding negotiations with House Republicans, and this week there was a major breakthrough. Leaders of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus which tanked the original AHCA vote and the moderate Tuesday Group reached a compromise. An amendment to the original bill would let states opt out of Obamacares essential health benefits and other regulations, allowing insurers to charge people with preexisting conditions far more. Finally, most (but not all) members of the Freedom Caucus were onboard. But there was still one problem: making AHCA even worse for the poor, sick, and elderly alienated many moderate Republicans. Nevertheless, Republicans said they may vote to gut Obamacare this week, giving the president a huge legislative win by the end of his first 100 days in office. According to the New York Times, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus had pushed aggressively for the House to schedule the vote. But following a 90-minute meeting in House Speaker Paul Ryans office on Thursday night, Republicans announced that they still cant find a way to pass the health-care overhaul theyve been promising for seven years. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said there would be no vote on Friday, and denied that GOP leaders had ever wanted to vote this week. Were still educating members, McCarthy said. Weve been making great progress. As soon as we have the votes, well vote on it. The Speaker can only afford 22 GOP defections, and according to Politico, he still doesnt have the votes: At least 15 House Republicans remain solidly opposed to the bill, with another 20 leaning no or still undecided, according to GOP lawmakers and aides. The lack of progress on the health-care bill does have a silver lining for the GOP. Democrats had threatened to force a shutdown if Republicans tried to hold a health-care vote this week, but now it looks like Congress will pass a weeklong spending bill before the midnight Friday deadline, giving themselves time to negotiate a deal to keep the government funded through September. However, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi suggested that even if Republicans had voted on the wildly unpopular health-care legislation, the outcome wouldnt have be pretty. If they vote on it, the minute they cast that vote, they put doo-doo on their shoe, she said. #IStandWithShine. Photo: Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images Sean Hannity got a little loopy on Twitter this afternoon, firing off a series of tweets in response to todays Daily Intelligencer piece about the latest signs of upheaval at Fox News. To recap: Our story says James and Lachlan Murdoch the CEO and co-chairman, respectively, of Fox News parent company 21st Century Fox refused to provide Bill Shine, the networks co-president, with a public letter of support this week. By refusing to back Shine at this tumultuous moment for the network, the Murdochs may finally be signaling that theyre prepared to make the sweeping management changes theyve so far resisted after forcing out CEO Roger Ailes last summer, Gabriel Sherman writes. And as Hannity made clear today, he thinks Shines ouster would mark the end of Fox News. He also doesnt know what to call an umlaut. Gabe i pray this is NOT true because if it is, that's the total end of the FNC as we know it. Done. Best Sean https://t.co/W3BJ2wjzRD Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 27, 2017 Ha. Gabe sorry about the 2 dots. I couldn't do that again if I tried. Best Sean https://t.co/Aga19m4sS7 Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 27, 2017 The ambassador to the UN better watch her back, particularly with Rex Tillerson trying to get control over her public remarks. Photo: Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images Without question, one of the stars of the first 100 days of the Trump presidency has been ambassador to the UN and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley. Even as other members of the administration seemed to stumble and mumble and struggle to get a grip on their new responsibilities, Haley made news with ringing pronouncements that typically pleased foreign-policy elites fearful that Trump would upset long-established policies. Early on, she made waves by attacking Russia for its occupation of the Crimea, an act that had almost entirely escaped any negative attention from the president. More recently, she publicly conceded Russia was certainly involved in the U.S. elections of 2016, an obviously perilous line of thinking for the boss. But Haley probably got her biggest props over Syria, where she seemed at times to be well out in front not only of Trump but of the ostensible architect of the administrations foreign policy, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, as Abigail Tracy noted: Part of the Trump foreign-policy plan is that there is no plan. And, shortly after the chemical-weapons attack on a northern rebel-held province in Syria, Haley held up unsettling photos of child victims of the attack and condemned Russia as complicit. She sounded very much like her predecessor, Samantha Power, but not at all like any member of the Trump team up to that point. Then, during an interview with CNNs State of the Union after the Trump administration ordered last weeks bombing of a Syrian airbase, the media-friendly U.N. ambassador told host Jake Tapper that Assad is not the leader the war-torn Middle Eastern country needs and insisted there is not any sort of option where political solution is going to happen with Assad at the head of the regime. Haleys suggestion that the U.S. missile strike could be a harbinger of a regime change in Syria eclipsed Rex Tillersons more measured remarks, which emphasized that defeating the Islamic State remains the priority of the U.S. military in the Middle East. Haleys outspokenness has been all the more remarkable given her zero experience in foreign policy before getting this job, and her habit of surrounding herself with Palmetto State political advisers rather than international affairs experts. It sure looks like shes been winging it, and so far doing it brilliantly, from the point of view of her own career trajectory (she is already appearing on post-Trump presidential lists, and at the age of 45, has a lot of time to rise and shine). But like Icarus, she could be in danger of flying too high for her own good. According to a report from the New York Times, Tillerson is now moving to rein her in: [I]n an apparent attempt to foster greater coherence in American foreign policy, State Department officials are urging [Haleys] aides to ensure her public remarks are cleared by Washington first. An email drafted by State Department diplomats urged Ms. Haleys office to rely on building blocks written by the department to prepare her remarks. Her comments should be re-cleared with Washington if they are substantively different from the building blocks, or if they are on a high-profile issue such as Syria, Iran, Israel-Palestine, or the D.P.R.K., added the email, the text of which was seen by The Times. D.P.R.K. refers to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, or North Korea. It is not clear whether Donald Trump himself, not known for gracefully sharing the spotlight with underlings, shares his State Departments apparent concern that Haley is a potentially loose cannon with her own agenda. But there was an eye-raising incident at a White House dinner for ambassadors to the UN Security Council, where Haley sat next to The Boss, who said this: I want to thank Ambassador Nikki Haley for her outstanding leadership and for acting as my personal envoy on the Security Council. She is doing a good job. Now, does everybody like Nikki? Trump said. Otherwise she could be easily replaced, right? No, we wont do that. I promise you we wont do that. Shes doing a fantastic job. Maybe that was a joke, or maybe it was a supremely Trumpian way of reminding Haley that she serves at his pleasure. She might want to watch her back. Trump. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images A confession: Im much less afraid of Trump than I was a year ago. His rhetoric, his unfettered far-right agenda, his love of violence, and his loathing of constitutional limits during the campaign were indeed things to be terrified by. They still are. But those of us who were worried that the Constitution might not hold, and that liberal democracy was teetering on the edge of implosion, have so far, mercifully, been proven wrong. The Founders turn out to have constructed a system designed to confront exactly this kind of despotic figure and it has held up well, even with total GOP control of House and Senate, even in this dangerously liquid, hyperdemocratic modern world. The press has done its job of fact-checking, exposing, and opposing those in power (yes, Mr. Bannon, that is one part of its function in a democracy). The courts have resisted strongly. The opposition has seen a dramatic uptick in political and civic engagement. Even Trumps own congressional party has splintered, impervious to the charisma of their hood ornament. The American public has not been swept up in a nationalist fervor and has tilted against much of Trumps agenda on health care and immigration in particular. Yes, the Trump base remains invested in their antihero. In the poll of polls, he hasnt dropped below 40 percent for more than a fraction of his time in office. And yes, he still taps into the most powerful currents in the world right now. But his overall popularity is still shockingly low for a newly elected president. And his sad lack of substantive legislative achievements has revealed the talk-radio politics of the far right are incapable of forming a coherent governing agenda. Trumps Congressional address. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images I keep thinking of how Obama kept predicting during his eight years of frustration that at some point the fever would break on the right. It never did. But history is an ironist. It turns out that the only way the fever could ever have broken is if the GOP actually got complete control of the government and couldnt do much of anything. The bluff has been extravagantly called. Its one thing to rail against the disaster of Obamacare; its quite another, it turns out, to replace it. All the rights political power, we can now see, depended on being in permanent opposition, and never having to actually implement something. Their tax cuts for the very wealthy are tone-deaf; their resuscitation of the Laffer curve surreal. Theyve got nothing on health care but a return to the highly unpopular status quo ante. And they are caught between Trumps desire to borrow even more to finance his tax cuts and the GOPs resolute insistence throughout the Obama years that the debt was an existential threat. Its quite amazing to watch this unfold and unravel in real time. And heres the thing: My suspicion is that if Clinton had become president, the fever would not have broken at all; it would have intensified. Her incompetence and indecision would have given the GOP even more political oxygen; a Republican House would have stymied her even more effectively than it did Obama; her unfavorables would have gone through the roof; and it could have been an ugly death spiral for the Democrats. (The latest polls showing considerable dissatisfaction with Trump nonetheless show that in a rematch, he would actually do better today against Clinton than he did last November.) Instead, we have a manifest and brutal exposure of the stark promises Trump made, and of the incoherence and shallowness of so much of the Republican agenda. I still would never have risked putting this menacing clown into the Oval Office. But in the long run, if catastrophe doesnt strike, it might even be better for the future health of our politics that Clinton is not president. Maybe the American people are not so crazy after all. Heres the scorecard of Trumps first 100 days. The Clinton counterfactual also makes me worry about Emmanuel Macron and France. Hell almost certainly win but his victory could well be pyrrhic. Why? Because his persona, background, and agenda are almost designed to polarize France still further, and thereby empower the reactionary right still further. He is not a centrist candidate on the core issues the EU, immigration, Islamist terror, and national identity. He actually wants to accelerate European integration, he has attacked the notion that mass Muslim immigration is a problem for France, he embraces Angela Merkels impulsive invitation to more than a million Syrian refugees to come and live in the EU, he has called Islamist terrorism something to be lived with (even as France remains in a state of emergency), and he favors more Western involvement in tackling the chaos in the Middle East. Neither homeland, nor boss - Neither Le Pen, nor Macron. Photo: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images He is also a walking stereotype of the very globalist elites that many French have come to see as the enemy. A cute, cosmopolitan former banker who favors continuing many of President Hollandes policies (but with more emphasis on the free market), he cannot help but be seen as the globalist candidate par excellence in a France increasingly drawn to nationalism. Forty-six percent of the vote in the first round went to candidates who were skeptical of free-market economics and the EU. So we must fervently hope that Macron is able to have a successful presidency. Because if he fails and he has no party in the assembly to lean on Le Pen is waiting again in five years time. If the white regional working poor in France see no improvement in their lives, if the idea of traditional France continues to evaporate, and if the economic and social divide between the cognitive elite and the working poor deepens further, then what we are seeing now may be a pale version of the backlash ahead. Maybe Ive read too much Michel Houellebecq, or maybe Im too persuaded by the analysis of Christopher Caldwell, but I worry about the growing barometric political pressure in France. A Macron victory may not prevent, but merely postpone the deluge. Ive always felt a little insecure about my homosexuality because Ive never really understood camp. Well, I do understand it as a concept; it just doesnt come naturally to me. I remember one of my ex-boyfriends once excitedly inviting me to watch Mommie Dearest with him, the legendary movie about the crazy mothering of Joan Crawford, played by Faye Dunaway in a tour de force of melodrama that all but killed Dunaways career. It was a long time ago, and I was even less acculturated to gay culture than I am now. And as my boyfriend collapsed into fits and hoots of laughter as Ms. Crawford traumatized and terrorized her daughter Christina, I was merely shocked and horrified. I was watching a movie about the most hideous child abuse. And yet I was supposed to find it hilarious. Of course, I now laugh at it. But the laughter still makes me uneasy. And the great merit of the just-concluded Ryan Murphy mini-series, Feud, on the epic, brutal battle between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, is that, while it has many camp elements, its actually a movingly sympathetic account of two ultimately wounded, desperate, and lonely women. Their mutual struggle against Hollywoods brutal sexism, the sheer pathos of their late careers, the depth of the pain that led to such fathomless mutual cruelty: The writers somehow brought these to nuanced and riveting life. Jessica Langes performance might even help us see Crawfords talent and body of work beyond the Mommie Dearest cartoon. Im grateful for this. Its humane in a way camp often isnt. I know that identification with glamorous divas who are dying inside has long been an act of empathy for many gay men over the decades. I see how that dynamic vents some of the pain and exclusion that homosexuals have long experienced and endured. But there is also a streak of cruelty in the mocking of female desperation that the response to movies like Mommie Dearest reveals. Its the final iteration of Oscar Wildes remark that One must have a heart of stone to read the death of Little Nell without laughing. But at least Wildes quip was really directed at Dickenss sentimentalism, rather than at an actual little girl dying. I wish I could say the same about how camp evolved in the following century as well. Its why I cannot watch the Real Housewives franchise. It seems to me to take the cruelty of camp and direct it to fame-desperate and psychologically damaged wealthy women. The audience is not even laughing at characters in movies any more. They are laughing at real women as they descend into cat fights, drug abuse, absurd plastic surgery, brawls, and mutual hatred. Yes, laughing. I know these women willingly accept this brutal bargain: fame in return for mockery. But they are also human beings, mortgaging their souls to the guffaws and cackles of gay men and for the exploitative enrichment of Andy Cohen. Maybe as the pain of being gay recedes somewhat in a more inclusive America, camp may soften, and its misogynistic callousness wither as well. Thats the promise of Murphys achievement. At some point the mixture of cruelty and sympathy that has defined camp for so long may evolve into something less brutal and more forgiving. But then it would no longer really be camp, would it? See you next Friday. Approaching his 100th day in office, Donald Trump displays maps showing the large amounts of land occupied by his supporters. Photo: Carlos Barria/Reuters Donald Trump narrowly won his partys nomination despite the clear misgivings of his partys professional class, which viewed him as erratic, uninformed, and dangerous. He won the presidency despite losing by an unprecedented three million votes nationwide, with the benefit of extraordinary interventions by the FBI director and Russian intelligence to help criminalize and discredit his opponent. All these things add up to a crisis of legitimacy. And yet, rather than confronting the crisis of legitimacy hovering over them, all the actions Trump and his governing partners have taken over their first 100 days have deepened it. Trump may have few traditionally defined achievements so far, but he has redefined the institution he occupies. Before Trump it would have been outrageous for a president to withhold his tax returns, and unthinkable for one to retain business holdings in office. Breaching both of those bygone norms together has created a change much larger than the sum of the two. He has constructed a full-on nontransparent oligarchy. The arrangement is more easily recognizable to autocrats than to Americans, which is why Chinas government identified Jared Kushner as what is known in their system as a princeling. Trumps Republican allies have shut down Democratic bills to compel the president to disclose his tax returns, and raised no objection as his family has used his office to leverage their brand across the country and the globe. They have likewise slow-walked investigations into whether his campaign colluded openly with Russian hackers, or whether it was simply the unwitting beneficiary. Whatever comes out, the already-public evidence from the financial ties between Russia and numerous Trump advisers, to Trumps open exhortation for Russia to hack his opponents emails implies the most devious subversion of the national interest since Richard Nixon covertly sabotaged the 1968 peace talks in Vietnam. The most shocking degradation of office is the lowering of the standards of the office he has carried out. Whatever doubts Trump inspired about his fitness for office seem naive in comparison to what has transpired. The president is childlike, impulsive, ignorant, and ostentatiously lazy. He refuses either to perform his job or to delegate it to others. Instead, his staff tiptoes around as though they have taken custody of a child monarch. If youre an adviser to him, your job is to help him at the margins, one Trump friend told Politico. To talk him out of doing crazy things. One might even posit that Trump hates this job altogether, but how much? There is an endless supply of alarmed anecdotes and leaks from inside the administration attesting to this, yet nobody within the administration has quit to warn the public of the presidents dangerous unsuitability. Indeed, essentially all the leaks about his dysfunctional performance have appeared in the mainstream media, which the Republican base has spent years learning to ignore. Trump has held his base because he still commands the loyalty of party officials, and within the conservative news bubble he remains the decisive, alpha-male executive he played (and still tries to play) on television. This may explain why Trumps tweeting is one of the few aspects of his performance Republican voters dislike it is their sole, tiny window into his pathology. The bond fastening Trump with his governing partners is their mutual determination to exploit their majority to the hilt. Republicans routinely depict his popular-vote defeat as a kind of acclamation victory. (The president won overwhelmingly, insisted Chief of Staff Reince Priebus recently, in the sort of absurd lie that has grown so routine that it is no longer corrected.) They have continued to try to jam through a horrific health-care plan, even though three-fifths of the public prefers keeping and improving Obamacare to repealing and replacing it, and less than one-fifth approves of the specific Republican alternative. While three-quarters of the country believes that the wealthy and corporations dont pay a high enough tax rate, Republicans have made it their priority to reduce it. They have blocked an independent investigation of the presidents ties to Russia even though 73 percent of the public wants to establish an independent investigation. Trump seems never to have considered the possibility of moving toward the center and working with Democrats on policy. Nor have Republicans shown any inclination to cooperate with Democratic demands to conduct basic oversight of Trumps corruption and scandals. These two decisions, no oversight and no bipartisan legislation, seem linked. The implicit threat of exposing Trump to investigations is the lever Republicans in Congress have to ensure his fealty to conservative movement dogma rather than adopt more moderate and popular policies. This pact to maintain the Republican monopoly on power at all costs is a strategy shaped by the legitimacy crisis of the Trump presidency. The story of Trumps 100 days is in many ways a cheerful one for large- and small-d democrats alike. Trumps authoritarian tendencies amount to little more than a verbal tic. The partys legislative agenda has proven astonishingly inept. He attacks journalists as enemies of the people and dismisses the legal authority of the courts, but has proven either unwilling or unable to follow through. Yet while the fears of what Trump might do to the country out of malevolence have subsided, the fears of what he might do to it out of incompetence have grown. Trump became president because Americas political institutions failed. What remains to be seen is whether those institutions can separate Trumps failure from the countrys. Why didnt anyone try to warn him? Photo: Olivier Douliery/Bloomberg via Getty Images Saturday marks President Trumps 100th day in office, and to celebrate the occasion he got a bit too candid in an Oval Office interview with Reuters. Obviously certain elements of being president are pretty fun, but President Trump has discovered that it isnt all playing with trucks and pressing a button that makes Cokes appear. Sometimes theres work to be done, and as it turns out being leader of the free world is a lot harder than running a fake university and playing a caricature of a rich person on TV. I loved my previous life. I had so many things going, Trump told Reuters. This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier. Trump also expressed surprise at the lack of privacy and travel restrictions, though being president has not prevented him from visiting his own properties an average of once every 2.8 days. Youre really into your own little cocoon, because you have such massive protection that you really cant go anywhere, he said. And, adding some context to the truck incident, he said he misses being behind the wheel. I like to drive, he said. I cant drive anymore. How much does Donald Trump hate his job? At least President Trump can take solace in his new hobby: endlessly analyzing the size of his election win. Midway through a discussion about Chinese President Xi Jinping, the president paused to hand out copies of what he said were the latest figures from the 2016 electoral map. Here, you can take that, thats the final map of the numbers, the Republican president said from his desk in the Oval Office, handing out maps of the United States with areas he won marked in red. Its pretty good, right? The red is obviously us. He had copies for each of the three Reuters reporters in the room. Secretary Tillerson and President Trump. Photo: Pool/Getty Images With the situation in North Korea heating up, Trump administration officials have said theyre ready to try new tactics to rein in the countrys nuclear program. Let me be very clear: the policy of strategic patience has ended, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared last month. Now the White House has deployed a strategy that no former administration has attempted: having the president and the secretary of State play good cop, bad cop with North Korea. First the Trump administration said on Thursday that it wants to focus a burst of economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea. Their aim is to convince Kim Jong-un to abandon his pursuit of a nuclear weapon within a matter of months. In interviews with Fox News and NPR, Tillerson said the U.S. is open to holding direct negotiations with Pyongyang, and assured Kim Jong-un that that the U.S. just wants to talk: You know if you listen to the North Koreans, their reason for having nuclear weapons is they believe it is their only pathway to secure the ongoing existence of their regime. Well we hope to convince them is that: you do not need these weapons to secure the exist of your of your regime We do not seek regime change. We do not seek a collapse of the regime. We do not seek an accelerated reunification of the peninsula. We seek a denuclearized Korean peninsula and again that is entirely consistent with the objectives of others in the region as well. Tillerson went on to reject the idea that Kim Jong-un is crazy, saying: He may be ruthless. He may be a murderer. He may be someone who in many respects we would say by our standards is irrational. But he is not insane. As for the consequences if North Korea refuses to comply, Tillerson said China may impose sanctions. They confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test, Tillerson explained. All in all, Tillersons pitch seemed very reasonable, especially considering that North Korea just put out a video featuring a simulated explosion of the U.S. Capitol. Then President Trump weighed in. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely, Trump told Reuters during an interview in the Oval Office. He added that any move against South Korea would have dire consequences. Is [Kim Jong-un] willing to destroy his country and is he willing to destroy millions and million of lives and people? Trump asked. The president did reiterate that he has respect for North Koreas dictator: Hes 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. Im not giving him credit or not giving him credit, Im just saying thats a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not hes rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope hes rational, he said. Trump went on to say Chinese President Xi Jinping is a very good man, whos trying very hard to resolve the problem with North Korea. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death, Trump said. He doesnt want to see it. Of course, Trump doesnt want to see those things either. Wed love to solve things diplomatically but its very difficult, he said. Clearly this is all an elaborate strategy to convince Kim Jong-un that talking to Tillerson is his best option. Surely the president of the United States wouldnt just casually float the idea of a major, major conflict with a potential nuclear power. United. Photo: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images United Airlines has settled with 69-year-old passenger David Dao, who was forcibly dragged off a plane after he had been bumped from an overbooked flight. The airline and Dao reached an amicable settlement for an undisclosed sum, reports NBC News. The news of the settlement came shortly after United Airlines announced ten policy changes in response to the incident, which went viral after fellow passengers filmed the confrontation between police and Dao. The footage showed him being pulled from the plane, his face bloodied. The situation was made worse by United Airlines initial statement, which failed to address the passengers aggressive removal from the flight. (The United CEO issued an amended apology more than 24 hours later, taking full responsibility and promising this review.) We can never apologize enough for what occurred and for our initial response that followed, United Airlines says in its report about the April 9 incident. United Airlines takes full responsibility for what happened. The big changes United Airlines put forward include significantly upping the compensation to a maximum of $10,000 in travel vouchers though incentives will still start in the hundreds of dollars for passengers who get bumped from overbooked flights, and no longer forcing passengers who have already boarded to give up their seat unless theres a safety or security risk. United Airlines has also said it will come up with an automated system to solicit volunteers who are willing or able to adjust their travel itinerary to help avoid last-minute scrambles. Dao and four other passengers were ousted to free up seats for United Airlines crew members; after the review, the carrier reiterated that it will bar this practice less than an hour before departure. United Airlines is also calling for better training for employees, and for limiting its use of law enforcement in booking issues. United Airlines will also try to reduce overbooking altogether and to create a team to accommodate passengers on overbooked flights by finding alternatives, such as ground transportation. Theres also one more customer-friendly policy adjustment unrelated to Dao and overbooked flights involving compensation for permanently lost luggage. United will now pay fliers $1,500 for lost baggage, no questions asked, says the New York Times, though passengers can still file larger claims. Some of these recommendations United had previously announced, and others, such as employee retraining, will be rolling out later this year. United CEO Oscar Munoz also sent a letter about the Dao incident and Uniteds response in reply to questions from a Senate panel, after some lawmakers and their constituents called for an investigation. Our review shows that many things went wrong that day, Munoz said in a statement. Our policies got in the way of our values and procedures interfered in doing whats right. This post has been updated throughout. To be a Strategist editor is to live with the constant burden of always having the perfect gift ideas. But for you, our dear readers, its a burden were happy to carry. Presented as part of our Mothers Day extravaganza, heres what well be gifting our moms this year. Alexandre de Paris Hair Clip $75 A few years ago, my mom went crazy on vacation and bought half a dozen hair clips from this shoe box of a store in Paris apparently, they grip hair painlessly without ever coming loose. Way pricier than the stuff at the drugstore, but she swears by them. $75 at Shopbop Buy Fitbit Alta $144 My mom never takes off her Fitbit, which at this point is two-plus years old (Ive literally walked around the block with her after heavy dinners). Id get her the newest version, which tracks sleep and steps, but also notifies her whenever she gets a text. $144 at Amazon Buy $144 at Amazon Buy Davek Lightweight Mini Umbrella $49 My mom loves to proudly show me the latest teeny-tiny umbrella shes gotten at T.J. Maxx and say, Here, feel how small and light this is! (She has a bad back, and has a deep appreciation for things that are extremely light.) The problem with teeny-tiny umbrellas from T.J. Maxx is that one strong gust of wind, and thats the end of it. So I did some research, and found the Davek Lightweight Mini Umbrella, which appears to be the strongest and lightest umbrella on the market at the moment. It can fit in the palm of her hand, and will last her through many a rainstorm. $49 at Neiman Marcus Buy Exit West: A Novel $26 now 42% off $15 My mom is an immigration scholar, and I think she would love the new Mohsin Hamid book, Exit West (it follows a young couple fleeing a civil war in an unnamed country who end up in Greece, then England, and then finally the United States). She never buys herself new hardcovers (she gets 99 percent of her books at Housing Works), so this will be a treat. $15 at Amazon Buy $15 at Amazon Buy East Coast City Grid Quilt $450 This year, Im going to get my mother a quilt from Haptic Lab for her currently blanketless couch. The city quilts are sewn with maps of various cities: Boston, Los Angeles, New Orleans. And theyll embroider little stars on meaningful intersections. Though Im loathe to admit this level of cheesiness to the general public, Im going to get her the New York quilt, embroidered with a mark over her first apartment with my dad, the hospital where I was born, and the Upper West Side apartment where she lives now. $450 at AHAlife Buy Suri Baby Alpaca Aubergine Slipper $148 My mom is super hip I have countless stolen T-shirts and pairs of pants of hers hanging stealthily in my closet but doesnt make the wackiest fashion choices. This year, I have a Mothers Day plot to get her to change it up a little, starting in the comfort and privacy of her own home, with these shaggy Suri alpaca slippers. $148 at Accompany Buy get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best womens jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. If youre like us, youve probably wondered what famous people add to their carts. Not the JAR brooch and Louis XV chair, but the hand sanitizer and the electric toothbrush. We asked Bergdorf Goodman womens-fashion director and senior vice-president Linda Fargo, whose shop Lindas at Bergdorf Goodman opens May 1 at the Fifth Avenue store, which items she cant live without. Mariage Freres Casablanca Tea $62 Im a tea girl not a coffee girl and Im very particular about what tea I drink at what time of year, how strong it is, whether I add honey or sugar or agave, whole milk or not. But for summer, my favorite is this Casablanca tea. Its very transporting because its got mint and bergamot, and is delicious hot or cold (to make iced tea, I brew it hot and then just chill it). Were going to serve it at the opening of the pop-up. $62 at Amazon Buy $62 at Amazon Buy Natura Bisse Night Dual Treatment $270 Photo: Natura Bisse The best. I dont know how much more to describe it. Its a Spanish line that has natural ingredients, but its not a Tata Harper superorganic thing. Im at that age where my skin is starting to mean everything. Ive always taken care of my skin, and have used moisturizer since I was probably 11 years old, but and Ive heard this from other women I dont want to say I look different necessarily, but I feel great. I trust my skin to this product. $270 at Neiman Marcus Buy Mojo Naturals Pure Coconut Water $25 now 8% off $23 To me, its the best of the coconut waters. Its best for the morning after. Actually, Id recommend it for the night before and the morning after. Its great with tequila, too. Im going to sound like an alcoholic. I learned about this coconut water from Naeem Khan, whos like the ultimate exotic mixologist. You go over, and he says, Let me mix you something, and hes crushing kumquats and lychees he turned me onto Mojo. Ill have it in the mornings when I take my vitamins, too. $23 at Amazon Buy $23 at Amazon Buy Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Color in Pirate Red $37 Everybody who knows me knows Im a morning-noon-and-night red-lipstick girl. I consider myself a connoisseur. Im very picky about the exact hue of red not too orange, not too blue, not too brown. To me, this is one of the only true reds. Its the perfect formula, too, because its not too dry or too soft or too runny. I love a red lip because its a bit vintage and powerful. Its the symbol of love and lust and blood. Ive tried them all. Ive got drawers of discards. This is the one. Im actually even developing my own with Le Metier de Beaute, and its going to be called Love. $37 at Bergdorf Goodman Buy Johanna Ortiz Sherlock One Shoulder Poplin Wrap Blouse $795 As you can tell, I like a wardrobe composed of classics. A quality, white poplin shirt just makes you look awake. I love classics with a twist, though. Johanna Ortiz takes this high-quality mens shirting and makes it look like its falling off the shoulder. One arm looks rolled up and gathered. I just love white shirts on women because its a bit of tomboyishness or cool androgyny. $795 at Bergdorf Goodman Buy Joseph Scheer Moth $4,500 When you see a moth the way Joseph Scheer shoots them, up close, they look like a Fendi fur coat. They look like intarsia mad-color mixes, fully textured and furry. He travels all around the world to exotic places with certain cameras, and gets these great big blowups with a moth, not as a moth, but fully transformed. Anyone who knows me knows I love things from the natural world, too corals, shells, raffia, branches. $4,500 at Ruby Beets Buy The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best womens jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. Pants. I noticed them first while waiting on subway platforms, observing what I mentally filed as awkward cutoffs. They werent ripped up or anything (not boyfriend jeans) and they werent cuffed; they were just sort of fringily there, not quite hugging the calf, just hanging out a little above the ankles. It took some time for me to connect these with another emergent pants genre: the tight-hipped, wide-legged, cropped, quasi-sailor guys on offer from designers like Rachel Comey and Jesse Kamm. The Rachel Comey Legion pants sailor-shaped, elaborately cropped, widely knocked-off constitute the clear evolutionary missing link here. Lets say the defining characteristics of the pants Im talking about are as follows: snug around the stomach, breezy around the ankle, some not-apparently-flattering play with structure and volume in between. You might call them awkward. You might also call them ugly. The hard facts: These pants embody a masochist aesthetic. They are ostensibly chill and yet they are not comfortable high waist, no stretch, devious center seams. At their most extreme they have the potential to be punishing both physically (you dont feel good) and visually (you dont look so good, either), which seems like a remarkable achievement. We have arrived at wide-leg pants that are somehow more restrictive than the typical tight ones. These pants propose a pants-strategy that is the exact inverse of jeggings. Everyone is carrying these goddamn pants and Im pissed, wrote Silvia Killingsworth at the Hairpin. She called them horrendous. The biggest offender, she felt, was Everlane, which is just straight-up lying in its ad campaigns and saying that these pants look good on everyone. (Everlane: The most flattering pant youll ever try.) Everybody is entitled to get mad about pants, but to fault these ones for looking strange is to miss the point. The problem here isnt the pants; its Everlanes ad copy. These pants were never going to be sensibly anonymous basics, at least not for a consumer cohort that imprinted on skinny jeans. These pants are supposed to be kind of ugly. Im less interested in Devil Wears Pradastyle pedantry here (though, yes, Vetements probably does deserve some credit for certain iterations of these ugly new pants) than in considering the psychology involved the way that certain garments stir up a feels-so-wrong queasiness that tells you youre about to make either a very bad decision or a great one. Heres a hypothesis: More often than not, looking cool means looking almost but not quite ugly. There must be risk; thats how you display your love of danger. A tasteful knee-length dress with a nipped waist and a full skirt and just a touch of stretch is never going to look cool because it makes it too obviously easy to look good. Refinement lies in finding ever subtler and more discerning ways to be almost-ugly. Things that have achieved recent ubiquity by their nearness to ugliness include Birkenstocks, top knots, and millennial pink. The pants of 2017 join this fold. I invite you to remember the way it felt when you caught your first glimpse of skinny jeans, probably sometime in the mid-to-early aughts. Remember when skinny jeans looked bad? Remember how, by then, youd read a thousand jeans-for-all-bodies magazine features explaining that boot-cut jeans would balance your thighs? (Yes, normal, youd think as you read.) What would happen to the thighs now? Were these freaky new pants appropriate only to people like the skinny architecture student in my freshman-year French seminar an early adopter who had essentially no thighs in the first place? Sure, she looked cool. But who else possibly could? Pretty much everyone, it turned out. Daring to flirt with lack of flattery is a project available to all; if anything, its boring when only the thin and conventionally hot partake. And even if skinny jeans now seem like a neutral part of your lower-body architecture, its worth remembering that this wasnt always the case. The current generation of awkward pants dredges up all kinds of memories from the pre-skinny-jeans era. The past few years worth of mom jeans harkened back to a past that predated the typical millennial shopper; the new pants have a pungent familiarity. These are pants that conjure what my friends and I once called flare flap, that dread scourge of late-90s middle school: flood-length bell-bottoms terminating stiffly, abruptly above your sneakers. Now against all odds! flare flap is chic. It doesnt look good, quite, but it does look intriguing. Such pants are hostile to every idea Ive had about legs since puberty. They present a challenge. Who will accept it? Do you own any pants by Jesse Kamm? a friend emailed late last month. I feel that I am supposed to understand them to be ugly, unflattering, and overpriced, but I am trying on a pair now and I love them. These were not the Sailor ones but the Ranger ones, she hastened to specify so, not so wide-legged, but still rigid, cropped, and high-waisted. I imagined funneling my own thighs into their canvas. I liked it. She returned them, cowed by the price, but who knows? She might try again. Or I might. We have a lifetime to find new ways of looking almost ugly. This is the insidious way trends spread, after all, until one day you look up and realize theyre everywhere: not by brute force, not by direct appeal, but by tricking you into letting down your guard. Charmaine Yoest. Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP One of the most prominent anti-abortion activists in the U.S. has been named to a top Health and Human Services post, Politico reports. President Donald Trump said Friday he will be appointing Charmaine Yoest, the former president of Americans United for Life, as the assistant secretary of public affairs at HHS. Yoest is a senior fellow at American Values, but shes perhaps best known for her work with AUL, a major anti-abortion organization. The groups research is what prompted the Susan G. Komen Foundation to defund Planned Parenthood in 2012, and under Yoests leadership, it also helped advance anti-abortion legislation at the state level as part of its efforts to take down Roe v. Wade, one state at a time. According to Politico, AULs website lists Yoest as public enemy #1 for abortion-rights groups, and a 2012 Mother Jones profile of Yoest details her efforts to turn the U.S. into a post-Roe nation. In her new position at HHS, Yoest will be tasked with shaping all of the communication efforts for the entire agency, Politico notes. While Yoest is a political appointee, her post doesnt require confirmation by the Senate. Fav flop album? Artpop. Reply Thread Link Now, fav flop record that people HATE but I really enjoy? Metallica's St. Anger. Tin can drums and all. Reply Parent Thread Link my sissy LOVES that album so much; i've never heard it (haven't really gotten into metallica lmao) my fav flop album is probably gnr's "chinese democracy". in my honest opinion, it's such a brilliant work & i listen to it *very* often Reply Parent Thread Link Artpop didn't flop though. Had goo/decent first week sales. A #4 and #12(or something similar) out of the 3 singles it spanned. Reviews are mixed at worst and this is primarily because of the cycle of build em up and break em down that was happening with the media. The era however, was a MESS and a flop. The album it's self did fine along with the singles other than GUY Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i revisited artpop this past month, and it was truly ahead of its time. only major flaw is the r kelly feature on do what u want - which i HATE myself for bopping to Reply Parent Thread Expand Link heidi montags album, obvs Reply Parent Thread Link Agreed. And I tried. I really did. Reply Parent Thread Link not even transformer? Reply Parent Thread Link Alicia keys hasn't been a big name act in decades tho Reply Thread Link i agree. Reply Parent Thread Link She disappeared so quick wtf Reply Parent Thread Link Girl On Fire was pretty big and that was only 5 years ago. Reply Parent Thread Link that's a long time in pop years tbh Reply Parent Thread Link Unfortunately Reply Parent Thread Link God I hate that song Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I just checked on wiki and neither the song nor the album were big sis Reply Parent Thread Expand Link facts Reply Parent Thread Link delete this b4 gorlplz drags u sis! Reply Parent Thread Link I was just bopping to Joanne earlier, so this is a great time for this post. idk, Joanne has grown on me. Reply Thread Link Slay <3 Reply Parent Thread Link I really dig dancin' in circles for some reason. Haven't liked Gaga since her debut album leaked a year prior to the release Reply Parent Thread Link I thought that Rebel Heart was good. Some of the songs were beautiful, but there were too many that felt like filler in it. Edited at 2017-04-28 01:10 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link I agree. It definitely had some bops but there was a lot of very forgettable stuff on that album. Reply Parent Thread Link I agree with the albums on this list tho. LuLu was god awful to me. I forgot it even happened. I always love reading about albums that flopped/were panned at the time of release that end up being classics. Pitchfork reviews are notorious for that so it cracks me up whenever they panned something at the time and years later give it a Best New Reissue. Reply Thread Link Ooh, can you link some examples? Reply Parent Thread Link There's quite a few but I'll think of a few off the top of my head/google. There's a few weird ways they play themselves now that I think about it. When Basement Jaxx's Rooty came out they gave it a 3.6 and then put it as one of their best albums of the 2000's. They gave Andrew WK's I Get Wet a 0.6 and then put it on their list of one of the best albums of the 2000s too and an 8.6 reissue in 2012. A few others I can think of are Scarface, The Mountain Goats, Jay-Z. When Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness came out they gave it a 6.3 and the reviewer didn't seem all that impressed. On the reissue they gave it a 9.3. I know lots of sites change their minds looking back but to me there's something funny when Pitchfork does it bc they take themselves so seriously. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link P4K are infamous for deleting their reviews too. Some of them were highkey racist or homophobic, but internet was different at the time. Sometimes they delete positive reviews because the artists isn't that 'cool' anymore. Also they gave Daft Punk's Discovery a low score, but when it reissued with the anime film in two years they gave it a 8+. They recently admitted that they don't really review the music, but the relevance of the music at the time of release, or something like that. Carles from Hipster Runoff would've loved that. Reply Parent Thread Link Britney Jean? Never heard of it lol ngl I love Work Bitch and Alien. Never even heard Rebel Heart, Confessions is the last great Madonna album. Since I dont keep up with charts I probably like a lot of flop albums. Reply Thread Link Agreed on everything. Reply Parent Thread Link can't wait for Katy's ArtFlop! I bet there will be at least a couple mindless bops on there to enjoy Reply Thread Link There have to be, bc her whole career is built on mindless bops. Reply Parent Thread Link wow I forgot about this Vanessa Carlton era bop! Reply Parent Thread Link lmao I loved this so much when it came out. Reply Parent Thread Link They were ahead of their time and I say this 100% seriously tbh! Underneath's my fav tho Reply Parent Thread Link Man I was such a stan for Hanson back in the Middle of Nowhere days, to the point I got teased so much about it at school. THEY WERE MY FIRST CONCERT. I was at the weird age of 12 when This Time Around got released and felt like I was just too old to listen to them anymore and that it wasn't cool. Still regret giving up on my boys. They really are so fucking talented and deserve so much better. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i will forever love them, even if i don't listen to some of their later albums in full (i think this was the last one where i know all the songs). they all have at least one song on every album that i love though! Reply Parent Thread Link This album still holds up today. Reply Parent Thread Link i love this song. this is when i developed a crunch on the middle hanson Reply Parent Thread Link I didn't realize people despised that album. I honestly love it. Happy Pills is the only weak song. Reply Parent Thread Link I liked that one too. "Happy Pills" was a great single. Reply Parent Thread Link Slightly OT but I saw her perform recently and holy fucking shit. I'm a casual fan but wow, she was absolutely incredible. Reply Parent Thread Link "big name acts" Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link GOOD NIGHT XD Reply Parent Thread Link It's kinda crazy that in this day and age there can be one (non-hateful) moment that will ruin your career, but god help us, Natalia Kills did it. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link that album was so good. shame she ruined her career before it ever really got any traction Reply Parent Thread Link she's a bit of an idiot but I fucking love that album Reply Parent Thread Link i will forever love that album Reply Parent Thread Link truly an underrated album. every single song was great. Reply Parent Thread Link I recently had a quick listen through Britney Jean for the first time, and am I hearing things or is Britney not on Body Ache at all??? The whole song sounds like Myah Marie to me, and it's super obvious. Their voices aren't that similar. Reply Thread Link God that song is a mess. It's hard to tell who's singing it because there are so many effects on the vocals. Reply Parent Thread Link I fucking hate that song. I don't even think Myah Marie is that good of a Britney impersonator Reply Parent Thread Link Thank you! People were acting like Britney fans were fooled. Britney fans saw through that BS the moment Passenger leaked. MM is a terrible Britney impersonator. Reply Parent Thread Link didn't blackout flop? ik the era was a fucking mess but the album was great...it was myah's best work. also bionic, another flop of an album that i love. Reply Thread Link Myah didn't exist during Blackout. And Blackout was a #1 debut album before Billboard changed the rules literally last minute to accommodate The Eagles' Walmart exclusive disk. Never come for Blackout. Thx. Reply Parent Thread Link lol blackout was considered a flop at the time tho, based on how britney had sold before...and myah was def around at the time, lol these are facts. also how am i coming for blackout when i literally said it was a great album? at least learn how to use aave properly before appropriating it. anyways don't you have some racist trolling to do elsewhere? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link the change in rules was justified. whatever album sold more should have been #1. bloop Reply Parent Thread Link u mean Robyn? Doesn't she sing the majority of it? lol i can never not hear her in Piece of Me. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link keri hilson sang that one sis Reply Parent Thread Link I hope Alicia continues with her flop streak. Reply Thread Link damn lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Christina flopped hard with Bionic and Lotus. Beyonce also (kind of) flopped with 4. Edited at 2017-04-28 01:19 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link They'll also ignore Cuaron, del Toro, Inarritu, and Almodovar. They'll ignore Tilda Swinton and Monica Bellucci. No surprises about Darren Aronofsky. But fuck, JLaw, WTF at your choice in men. Dump the motherfucker. Or stop pretending to give a damn about women. Reply Parent Thread Link When I saw WKW's name on that list a while ago my heart was completely broken, his movies mean a lot to me but he ain't shit. No one on that list deserves respect. Edited at 2017-04-28 12:48 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link SMH so many of my faves are on the list. Reply Parent Thread Link I appreciate that none of my faves are on that list. Given how messy some of my faves are, it's a nice surprise. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lmao Woody Allen just so.... shocking truly Reply Parent Thread Link a+ first comment, and of course woody allen's at the top of that list. none of my faves are there but seeing monica bellucci did hurt a bit. Reply Parent Thread Link Ugh the comment saying she was sexually active for her age needs to fuck off this planet. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Is this a complete list? Because people say Ewan signed it but this name isn't on here. And I thought Emma signed it before taking her name off and apologising. EDIT: Emma Thompson. Way to be specific, me. Edited at 2017-04-28 02:13 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I don't know who the vast majority of these people are. Woot! Reply Parent Thread Link such brave artists coming together to defend a rapist Reply Parent Thread Link David Heyman?!?! Shit. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link the David Lynch signature will never not hurt Reply Parent Thread Link people actually being able to ignore how gross he is so insane to me, I'd be so repulsed to even be near him. I really dont get it. Reply Thread Link I only knew about him being a rapist & knew he was awful, but then I listened to the You Must Remember This episodes about him & it only amplified what a dangerous predator he is. I don't know how anyone supports him. Reply Parent Thread Link SAME. I didn't know until YMRT's Manson Family 12-parter that he was a piece of shit long before this even happened. He was like, post-fame, living in some small village in France where there was a boarding school, and he was fucking the underage students. And he was so awful to Sharon Tate. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah, I'm not surprised it's there either, it's Polanski and Assayas there was no way it wasn't getting in, and if it hadn't gotten in at Cannes it would have played one of the other major festivals. I do hope there are protests and boycotts though. When Allen last played Cannes I know some of the female critics banded together and held a cocktail/networking event during his screening instead of reviewing his work. Hope there is something like that again, or maybe they will just avoid it and see some other stuff. Reply Parent Thread Link I fucking wish. Evil men like him never die Reply Parent Thread Link 2017 goals: stay healthy and live long enough to see the death announcements of Polanski, Allen and Trump. Reply Parent Thread Link GOALS Reply Parent Thread Link Woody Allen's parents lived to be over 100. Just sayin. He's got genetics on his side. Reply Parent Thread Link I keep WAITING FOR IT TO HAPPEN every time it's one of his or Woody Allen's posts come onnnnn Reply Parent Thread Link can't wait for that post tbh, it's gonna be lit! Reply Parent Thread Link You know more than me, is it just me or is this year the comp really heavy on the English language films? I know it's all the American critics care for, but I like a lot of the foreign films and a lot of times it's the only chance they get for exposure/distribution deals. Reply Parent Thread Link No, Polanski is based in France, the art community loves him there and the government has no plans to extradite him. Reply Parent Thread Link unless this is part of a plan to lure him out of hiding and into a murder trap, this is abso-fucking-lutely unacceptable. but that's hollywood. where apparently good art and money is more important than self-respect or the law. and that's inside a society in which whiteness and money are the ultimate get-out-of-jail cards. literally. ugh. Reply Thread Link but would he tho? would he? Reply Parent Thread Link Don't mistake "Hollywood" for the French/international "auteur" circlejerk that is Cannes, sis. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link trump-polanski-woody 2017 COME THROUGHHHHHHHHHHH Reply Thread Link from your lips to god's headphones Reply Parent Thread Link How dare this child rapist make me read his name in a headline that isn't his obituary Reply Thread Link They don't. Reply Parent Thread Link D I E eva green? smfh how could u do this to me... Reply Thread Link Die roman Reply Thread Link I don't understand how celebrities can continue to work with rapists like Roman Polanski or Woody Allen. Working with a rapist to further your career is pretty low even for Hollywood. Reply Thread Link Like you said they don't fucking care. These men have huge legacies in the art communities and Woody still (occasionally) can nab Oscar noms/wins for his actors so they're 100% willing to sell out to be a part of that. The sheer amount of actors who have worked with Allen post- Soon Yi and Dylan Farrow accusations is staggering. And even now that Polanski is a fucking flop he can still get A list talent. Reply Parent Thread Link I can understand not knowing about the allegations when they first came out unless you were already in the industry. there's NO excuse for people to be working with him now. Reply Parent Thread Link I don't think anyone has a real excuse, but the ones that really get me are the actors and actresses who are already famous and getting steady work. Reply Parent Thread Link The actresses still work with Woody because they think they can get an Oscar nomination. I would hate to be that thirsty. Reply Parent Thread Link Kenyan anti-deforestation efforts have spurred new sustainable energy policies and encouraged green non-profits to take hold across the country, but capital costs and adherence to established practices are threatening the movements future. Nairobis required water heater policy was ahead of its time when the parliament approved it in 2012. Five years later, regulatory authorities are warning Kenyans who have not installed the mandated solar water heaters in their homes and businesses that they will face a fine of almost US$10,000 (one million shillings) in May, when the nations police are set to begin enforcing the law. Residential and commercial buildings with water needs upwards of 100 liters per day are now required to have solar water heaters part of their design, per policy. Otherwise, in addition to the fines, the government will order electricity providers to blacklist non-compliant estates. This could include hospitals, restaurants, boarding schools, other businesses, and even homes with more than three bedrooms. "Beginning next month, ERC and police officers attached to the commission will start conducting surveillance to ascertain compliance," Pavel Oimeke, the ERC's acting director-general, told The Daily Nation. "Where we confirm non-compliance, the law requires that we issue the building owner with a six-month notice to install the equipment failing which we shall charge them." The initiative, which the government says would boost economic activity and lower power burdens on the national electric grid, has been slow to take hold. ERD audits show that only 150,000 of three million homes and buildings have installed the required systems. So far, hotels have been the most active in amending their facilities to comply with the law. Kenyan boarding schools have moved at the slowest pace. Related: Can An OPEC Extension Push Oil To $60? Most of the new buildings are compliant while about 70 per cent of the old commercial buildings have installed solar water heaters, Oimeke said. The challenge will be institutions such as schools and universities, all of which have a huge hot water requirement. Many are yet to comply with the regulations. There are also residential homes, mostly those with upwards of three bedrooms that also use a lot of hot water and are yet to install the systems. The commission admits that the high cost of the green water heaters is part of the reason so many of Kenyas buildings went without the devices at the beginning of the grace period. Since then, prices have fallen, and regulators insist that the technology is now affordable. Cost is not a barrier. A few years back, it was between one and two per cent of the cost of construction but today, it has substantially gone down, Oimeke said. The kits cost between 125,000 shillings (US$1,210) and 150,000 shillings (US$1,452) for homes and between 600,000 shillings (US$5,809) and 2 million shillings (US$19,365) for larger commercial buildings. It is unclear if Nairobi has implemented a lending program for businesses that do not immediately have the capital to perform the necessary upgrade. Related: Space Mining: The Final Frontier For Oil Countries But that doesnt mean Kenyans are unenthusiastic about adopting solar power to fulfill other energy needs. A 2015 study by the research firm InterMedia found that 14 percent of the countrys citizens had already been using solar power as their primary source of lighting and charging power. The law is part of the global initiative to fight climate change, according to authorities. Without water heaters, wood is used to heat water, and chopping wood for cooking needs causes deforestation, which in turn, contributes to climate change. Capital shortfalls and a lack of education about the benefits of the new technology still prevent Kenyans from installing the water heaters. If enforcement of the law proceeds as forcefully as suggested, a 600,000-shilling upgrade will be easier for businesses to swallow than a one million-shilling fine. By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil prices fell below $50 this week as rising U.S. oil output and increasing Libyan exports led to a more bearish sentiment in oil markets. (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) Friday, April 28, 2017 Oil prices got walloped this week on growing concerns that U.S. shale is coming back too quickly, offsetting the progress made by OPEC. Meanwhile, disrupted Libyan production could come back online, taking one of the few reasons to be bullish away. WTI briefly sank below $49 per barrel on Thursday, but regained a bit of ground at the start of trading on Friday. Lower inventories, higher refining runsdoesnt matter. U.S. refiners processed a record volume of crude oil last week, according to the EIA. With maintenance season over and refiners ramping up to meet summer demand, they are pulling crude oil out of storage. U.S. inventories dropped by 3.6 million barrels, the largest drawdown in quite a while. But that did very little for oil prices, which dropped sharply this week. One reason the data could be a little misleading: gasoline stocks actually jumped much higher, so all that refining is resulting in gasoline heading into storage. Goldman: high probability of OPEC extension. Goldman Sachs head of commodities, Jeff Currie, said that OPEC is likely to extend its deal for another six months. That could result in WTI trading between $55 and $60 for the rest of this year, which is a "substantial upside, given we are trading at roughly $49.50" Currie said on Bloomberg TV. IEA: global oil discoveries hit record low. The IEA said on Thursday that the oil industry discovered a record low amount of oil in 2016, logging just 2.4 billion barrels in new discoveries. Also, the volume of oil given final investment decisions in 2016 amounted to 4.7 billion barrels, the lowest level in 70 years. The result could be a supply shortage towards the end of the decade, the IEA warned. In fact, the IEA has repeatedly warned about the pending shortfall, which would lead to higher prices and much more volatility by 2020. Libyan production restarts. Although there is conflicting news about what is going on in Libya, Reuters reports that several key oil fields in Libya are restarting operations, including the Sharara field that has a capacity of 300,000 bpd. That news could have been a big reason for the 1.6 percent sell off of WTI and Brent on Thursday. To be sure, there were separate reports that the Sharara field remained shut and Libyan production was still at a 7-month low at 490,000 bpd. Needless to say, Libyan production will likely seesaw for the foreseeable future, and conflicting reports will be likely. Related: U.S. Oil Rig Count Increases For 15th Straight Week Bakken oil exported to Asia. The first shipment of oil from the Bakken was exported to Asia last month, a cargo carrying 600,000 barrels. The exports could climb significantly with the startup of the Dakota Access pipeline, which will tie North Dakota crude into an existing pipeline system that extends to the U.S. Gulf Coast. The pipeline will also allow Bakken crude to fetch a higher price, providing a lift to producers. 1st quarter earnings look better so far. This week, Total (NYSE: TOT) reported a 56 percent increase in first quarter earnings from a year earlier. Oil prices were sharply up in 1Q2017 compared to 1Q2016, and production costs were also down. Net income for Total rose to $2.56 billion in the quarter. Cash flow excluding acquisitions and assets sales surged to $1.7 billion, the highest in four years and a level that the company last hit when oil prices were trading at $100 per barrel. The improved performance has led the French oil giant to begin investing in new projects, including one in Argentinas Vaca Muerta. It will be the first major project sanctions for Total since 2014. The costs are low, so its the right time to invest, Pouyanne said Thursday. Our strategy is to take advantage of this market, where you have a lot of weak players. Pouyanne sees oil prices rising towards the end of the decade, which makes today a smart time to make investments. Anadarko Petroleum sees shares dive after explosion kills 2 in Colorado. Anadarko Petroleum saw its share price plunge by more than 5 percent on Thursday after it said it would shut down 3,000 wells in Colorado following an explosion that killed two people. The cause of the explosion, which occurred on April 17, was unknown, but Anadarko said it would shut down the wells for several weeks to assess the situation. The wells account for 2 percent of Anadarkos oil and gas production, according to Reuters. Gas shortage in Australia could bring pain to LNG exporters. The Australian government is considering restricting natural gas exports because of a domestic supply shortage. Natural gas prices have surged by 80 percent in the first quarter of this year and the Australian government wants to protect domestic consumers and manufacturers. The Prime Minister met with Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) and Santos (ASX: STO), and is threatening to limit their exports if they do not provide sufficient gas to the Australian market. Santos stock price fell by more than 5 percent on the news. Australia has emerged as one of the worlds top LNG exporters in recent years due to a handful of massive projects constructed in the Northeast and Western Australia. Related: Why Is China Buying Up These Unprofitable Natural Gas Assets? Norway warns about falling safety standards in the North Sea. Norwegian regulators warned that the rush to cut costs in the expensive North Sea has led to a lowering of safety standards across the industry. The number of leaks occurring at oil and gas wells in Norway hit a five-year high last year. Trump to sign executive order on offshore drilling on Friday. President Trump is scheduled to sign an executive order aimed at opening up new drilling areas in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. The order is just the beginning of what will surely be a long drawn-out legal process, so there will be no immediate effect on the oil industry. By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russia has effectively reached its 300,000-bpd production cut target under its agreement with OPEC, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said. Yesterday it was about 298,000 barrels. We can say that we have reached 300,000 barrels, he told media on Friday. The milestone comes none too soon, as Russia had promised to achieve this level by end April. Russia had undertaken the cut off its October daily average, which exceeded 11 million bpd in a bid to help OPECs efforts to rebalance the market and improve prices. Together, OPEC bar Nigeria and Libya and 11 non-OPEC producers agreed last November to take 1.8 million barrels from daily global supply. However, these efforts have proved challenging, with global supplies actually rising during the first quarter of the year, despite hopes for the opposite and surprisingly high compliance. As Oil & Gas 360 noted in March, prior to the agreement, many countries increased production to record levels. This lessens the effect of any production cut, as the cuts are being made relative to the highest production levels in years. As a result, despite Saudi Arabia cutting significantly more than it was supposed to and Iraq working its way up to its own target, OPEC is now discussing an extension of the agreement into the second half of the year. Related: Is Canadas Oil Industry Regaining Momentum? Russia is taking part in the discussions, Novak said last week, adding that a decision will be made after a meeting with OPEC on May 24, a day before the cartels annual meeting that should see an official announcement on the extension. Meanwhile, shale output in the U.S. is rising and this is pressuring prices, fuelling pessimism that if the rate of output growth there continues, the OPEC extension would not have the desired effect. At the same time, however, the International Energy Agency warned that unless investments in oil pick up soon, a deficit will emerge after 2020. Middle Eastern producers need higher oil prices for new investments, but shale producers are doing pretty well at US$50 a barrel, with breakeven prices across the shale plays averaging US$35 a barrel, according to data from Rystad Energy. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: In a move long awaited by the U.S. energy industry, President Trump will order a review of the offshore oil and gas drilling bans that the previous administration introduced, the latest just weeks before the end of President Obamas second term. Speaking to media, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said that the review will result in an executive order named the America-First Offshore Energy Strategy. The document will seek to remove measures implemented by the Obama administration to protect vast areas from oil and gas drilling and is certain to cause outrage among environmentalists. For Trump, however, the drilling bans are an obstacle standing in the way of energy independence. While some, notably Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, believe that the removal of drilling bans will stimulate not just the oil industry but also the wider U.S. economy, others are skeptical. It will likely take years to remove at least one of the bansthe one concerning Arctic and Atlantic drilling, for which President Obama invoked a rarely used clause from the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Land Act. Invoking provision 12(a) from the OCSLA could theoretically ban oil and gas licensing in these areas for an indefinite future. The powers to do this lay exclusively with the President and the decision cannot be rescinded automatically by a future president. In other words, drillers will likely have to wait a while before they venture into the Arctic, if they even want to. Related: Why Is China Buying Up These Unprofitable Natural Gas Assets? Some analysts, as quoted by CNN, also note that it is not lack of access to new oil and gas reserves that is hobbling the energy industry; it was low international prices brought about by the shale revolution. ClipperData commodity research Matt Smith said Prices were suppressed because of oversupply. These changes in regulation aren't going to do anything to alleviate that. If anything, they're going to do the opposite. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: We live in a time of highly partisan redistricting. Secretary of State Dennis Richardson has developed a plan to lead us in a new, less partisan, less biased direction. Many Democrats have been lining up to call this a power grab, but in reality, Richardson seeks to hand over this power to a computer algorithm that could only be overridden by a supermajority of technical experts with a balanced party affiliation. I spoke with Seth Woolley of the Pacific Green Party about this plan, and he points out the Oregon Democratic Party has been gerrymandering districts in its favor; so they are likely to oppose a more fair system that changes that status quo. Woolley is uniquely qualified to comment on Richardsons proposal for three reasons. First, hes not a Republican. Second, as a computer scientist at Uber, he has expertise in database algorithms that deal with geospatial-based services, and third, he was on Richardsons Independent Redistricting Task Force, having helped provide the principles that produced this proposal. Woolley volunteered his time because he sought to ensure a clean proposal was drafted that would be fair to all party and nonparty members alike, offering a reasonable alternative to the status quo. Hes convinced this innovative proposal could meet the goal of being bipartisan, but if it were up to him, Woolley thinks proportional representation is the fairest, which is the only system that would be fair to third parties. The single-member-district voting structure we have today is what primarily creates our two-party system. Given our current electoral structure, Woolley thinks the implementation of Richardsons plan could put Oregon at the forefront of fair redistricting reform. There are, however, different ways of defining fair in an electoral context. One very reasonable one is advocated by Representative Knute Buehler which seeks to minimize wasted votes, keeping districts as close to being 50/50 in ideological makeup as possible. If you make a district closer to being 100% in shared voting behavior, then the impact of around 50% of that districts voters was wasted on the same outcome that half could have achieved. Its no accident that Oregon has one safe Republican Congressional District that Greg Walden won by 72% last fall when the two districts that Peter Defazio and Kurt Schrader hold were both won with just over 50%. Our state legislature works the same way. Seeking fairness by engineering more 50/50 districts for both political parties would require some gerrymandering of its own to accomplish. That might make it vulnerable to partisan manipulation. Dennis Richardson is steering it in another direction. The Richardson proposal seeks the use a computer program to instead optimize compaction which in practice, Woolley explains to me, would minimize the area between two circles. Imagine drawing the largest circle possible inside a district. Then draw the smallest circle possible outside the district. A compaction algorithm forms districts in a way that produces the least area between those two circles. This method keeps most local communities largely intact to vote together. A compaction algorithm would also produce more ideologically progressive Democrats. The Oregon Democratic Partys spoke-and-wheel districting scheme has prevented the emergence of a Bernie Sanders wing (from being elected), forging a significant gap between the values of its base and the kind of people that actually hold public office that are easily controlled by public employee unions and contractors whose narrow interests often clash with progressive voters more broad goals for the environment and social justice. Any redistricting system thats fairer will probably mean a few more Republicans elected to office in this state as well. Woolley points out that will primarily be new moderate Republicans representing suburbs. It appears to me that a process that only a partisan trooper of the Ben Unger wing of the Oregon Democratic Party would hate, reform that a progressive member of the Pacific Green Party can support, a data-driven innovation put together under the leadership of the least partisan Secretary of State Ive ever seen, is probably a new way to form districts that most Oregonians would support. Eric Shierman lives in Salem and is the author of A Brief History of Political Cultural Change. By Taxpayer Association of Oregon What would you say if I told you that you and your family could lose your mortgage interest deduction forever? Well, thats exactly what Big Government leaders are trying do under a scheme to pass HB 2006. Unbelievable, right? Middle class families have built their entire financial lives around the promise of the mortgage interest deduction. Now greedy politicians want to pull the rug out from homeowners and cause a financial collapse for many families. HB 2006 would scale back the mortgage interest deductions for families and limit it to $15,000 as the maximum allowed to be deducted. A homeowner making over $100,000 would lose their Oregon mortgage deduction completely. In addition, HB 2006 also eliminates mortgage interest deduction for all second homes. Once the politicians in Salem begin lowering your mortgage deductions, there is nothing to keep them from lowering them even further in two years. We are talking about thousands and thousands of dollars in higher homeowner expenses! Its hard to underestimate, just how grave a threat HB 2006 would be if it becomes law. Its no wonder the politician who authored this tax increase bill has decided to hide his or her identity by remaining anonymous. Thats rightthe idea of HB 2006 is so unconscionable that the politicians introducing it are choosing to remain anonymous so the public will never know who is responsible! Two ways to help: You can call your lawmaker at 1-800-332-2313 tell them to vote No on HB 2006 You can donate to our lobby effort here China to finance Karachi-Peshawar Railway Line ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has refused part financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the $8 billion Karachi-Peshawar Railway Line (ML-1) after China said it wanted to fund the project single-handedly. China strongly argued that two-sourced financing would create problems and the project would suffer, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal told a news conference on Thursday. The minister said he would not comment whether the Ministry of Railways has resisted the Chinese request for fears of monopoly, but said the entire financing would now come from China. The project was originally planned to be partly funded by the Manila-based ADB. Minister claims Planning Commission saved Rs560bn in four years He said the ADB would be accommodated in some other projects, such as those under the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation programme. Under the original plan, the ADB had to provide $3.5bn for the 1,700-kilometre-long line considered the backbone of the countrys logistics connecting two major ports with the rest of the country for transporting goods and passengers. The minister said the Chinese government therefore wanted that the project financing should be kept single-sourced. Pakistan and China are expected to sign a formal agreement in this regard next month. Mr Iqbal said the Planning Commission was making efforts to maximise allocation of funds for the next years development programme as it would be the final year of the current government. Therefore, the government would like to complete maximum number of projects during this period so as to support the growth momentum. He said it was also important to have larger development portfolio for the next year because it would trigger activity in the construction industry on which a number of other growth-oriented industries were dependent because of its potential to create jobs. But we also have to balance ways and means, he said, adding that the Planning Commission demanded Rs1 trillion for the of next years public sector development programme (PSDP), but the finance ministry has put a ceiling of Rs700bn. He said the finance minister and the prime minister would be requested to increase development allocations. The minister said the annual plan coordination committee would meet on May 17 to finalise next years development programme. And for a formal approval, the Planning Commission has proposed a meeting of the National Economic Council on May 21 or 22, depending on prime ministers availability. Mr Iqbal said that since the current government came to power in 2013, the commission has saved Rs560bn by cutting project costs, transparency and scrutiny. This included $1.6bn saving in highway projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Rs70bn in Jamshoro Coal Power Project. He said another $1bn saving has been secured from three liquefied natural gasbased power projects through competitive bidding by the executing agencies. He said the increased development portfolio has exposed the capacity of the various ministries and executing agencies to process a massive workload. Also, these agencies have formulated their project papers on the basis of feasibility studies prepared by international consultants. Mr Iqbal said the government has decided not to include any major project in the PSDP without completion of technical designs and financial closures. Previous governments included thousands of projects through token allocations without protecting major ongoing projects, he added. He said it was observed that 70pc of cost overruns were resulting because of inadequate financing in the PSDP. For example, the Bolan Medical College was started by former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto at an estimated cost of Rs7.5 million, but it was finally completed at a cost of Rs130m due to inadequate funding. This also inflates projects cost, delays implementation, and results in hundreds of white elephants like Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, which was started at cost of Rs80bn but ended up costing more than Rs500bn because the projects design kept changing as the implementation progressed. He said the government also revived some of the dead projects which had already consumed a lot of funds. Some of these included Quetta-Gwadar Highway (N-85) that was under suspension and was revived by the current government and made a connection under the western route of the CPEC. Lowari Tunnel, Islamabad International Airport, Katchhi Canal and Chitral Hydropower Project were some other important projects that became a subject of neglect, corruption and mismanagement, but they have been revived and would be completed during the current fiscal year, he said. Nawaz Sharif unannounced meeting with Indian business tycoon LAHORE / ISLAMABAD: An unannounced meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and a visiting Indian business tycoon at the hill resort town of Murree on Thursday triggered intense speculations in the country with several politicians and analysts suggesting it could be the precursor to a possible meeting between the Pakistani and Indian premiers in the near future. Sajjan Jindal, who is known for being close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also has a friendly relationship with Mr Sharif. Some seasoned analysts said that Mr Jindals visit could be part of some backchannel contact to improve relations between the two countries. Informed sources point out that its not possible for Mr Jindal to visit Pakistan without prior knowledge of the countrys civilian and military intelligence services. Former foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri described the controversy stirred up by the visit as unfortunate, saying that just because it was part of some backchannel diplomacy, it should not be rejected outright. In fact, he said, some of the best results were achieved as a result of backchannel contacts. On the other hand, some opposition politicians were angry over the governments decision to keep Mr Jindals visit as well the PMs meeting with him secret. The opposition PTI moved a resolution in the Punjab Assembly expressing grave concern over Prime Minister Sharifs 'secret' meeting with Mr Jindal, the Indian steel magnate. The meeting was mentioned by a number of TV anchors in broadcasts on Thursday, but there was no official word until the prime ministers daughter, Maryam Nawaz, tweeted confirmation of the steel tycoons visit. Mr Jindal is an old friend of the prime minister. Nothing secret about the meeting & should not be blown out of proportion. Thank you, read the tweet. According to media reports, Mr Jindal and his delegation arrived at Benazir Bhutto International Airport on Wednesday morning, where they were received by the PMs son Hussain Nawaz and Maryam Nawazs son-in-law, Raheel Munir. The meeting between the PM and Mr Jindal is said to have taken place in Murree. The prime minister, who arrived by helicopter along with his guests, landed at the Gharyal Ground and proceeded to have lunch at the Government House at Kashmir Point. Although strict security was in place for the brief visit, the identity of the PMs guests was not known at the time. PTI resolution The resolution, submitted by Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, said that a three-member delegation, led by Mr Jindal, was taken to Murree under official protocol. The opposition leader said the meeting became a matter of serious concern since the government had tried to keep it secret. He said the timing of the meeting was cause for concern, especially in the wake of the extreme atrocities being committed against unarmed Kashmiris by occupying Indian troops; the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav by a military tribunal and Indian forces unprovoked firing at the Line of Control. In these circumstances, Narendra Modis close aides (Mr Jindal) meeting with [the] Pakistani prime minister has sent a wave of restlessness among [the] masses, Mr Rasheed said in the resolution. Has Sajjan Jindal come to Pakistan to rescue Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is currently embroiled in crisis, the opposition leader asked. The resolution demanded that the nation be informed about the aims and objectives of the Indian delegations meeting with the PM. In his address on the floor of the Punjab Assembly, the opposition leader said that the Supreme Court had declared PM Nawaz Sharif an accused. He said the state of the countrys affairs was deteriorating with every passing day and almost all segments of society were demanding PM Sharifs resignation. He stressed that Nawaz Sharif should stay away from the PM Office until the joint investigation team finalises its investigation into the Panamagate scandal. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Islamabad, PTI MNA Murad Saeed questioned why the prime minister was meeting an Indian steel magnate at a time when tensions were high with our eastern neighbour. He claimed the party would move an adjournment motion in the National Assembly on the issue. In her book, This Unquiet Land, Indian journalist Barkha Dutt describes Mr Jindal as the unexpected conduit [between PMs Sharif and Modi] with movie-star looks. When Sharif was in Delhi, Jindal hosted a tea party for the Pakistani premier right after his meeting with Modi. It attracted little attention in the Indian media but in Pakistan, Sharif drew flak for finding time for Jindal and not for Kashmiri separatists, she wrote. Sajjan Jindal heads the JSW Group, which specialises in steel, energy and infrastructure projects. His younger brother, former Congress party lawmaker Naveen Jindal, is chairman of the umbrella Jindal Group. Mr Jindals relationship with the Sharifs is no secret: he was an honoured guest at the wedding of the prime ministers granddaughter in December 2015, the same occasion where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also a guest. The President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, has paid a working visit to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the seat of government, the Flagstaff House, in Accra on Friday April 28. The visit was meant to deepen the ties between the Ghana and The Gambia and afforded the The Gambian President the opportunity to thank President Akufo-Addo for the role he played during the general elections in The Gambia. Welcoming Mr Barrow at the Flagstaff House, Mr Akufo-Addo assured him of Ghanas support in deepening the economic ties between the two countries. Mr Barrow won the last elections in The Gambia, beating Yahaya Jammeh who had ruled the country for 22 years. Mr Jammeh refused to give up the seat after losing the polls. However, with the intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other international bodies, he gave up the seat, paving the way for the Barrow to govern the country. video Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video We can meet your demand for Wood pellets. Yes we can package it in Big bag as you want Standard DIN + EN plus A1 EN plus- A2 EN-B Diameter(mm) 4-10 6 6 4-10 Ash content (%) 0,5 0,7 1,0 3,0 Heating value(MJ/kg) 18 16,5 16,5 16,0 Moisture content (%) 10 10 10 10 The deadline to sign up for this free community event that is open to all is Nov. 16. Kennebunk Post "We need to invest in our kids," said resident Brenda Robinson. "That's how we keep graffiti out of Waterhouse Center and mischief out of the downtown on Saturday night." Michael Goot night and weekend editor Follow Michael Goot 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 I was part of an excellent panel discussion called Fake News vs. Real News on Thursday evening at Greenwich High School. About 75 people attended. We discussed what the definition of fake news is. On one level, it is the obviously fake stories that are designed to be click bait, so you will visit the website and they can sell you advertising. Fake news also has come to be an umbrella term for biased media. President Donald Trump has declared the media to be enemy of the people. My fellow panelist, Rosemary Armao, the Director of the Journalism Program at the University at Albany, said she could not remember a time when a presidential administration has been this hostile to the media. The media is under attack. More people are getting their news from Facebook. They click on something that has been recommended to their friend and sometimes the line between news and opinion gets blurred. People are gravitating toward news that confirms their own biases. The media in the past had been the gate-keeper. There is so much information coming at people that it is hard to sort out everything. The other panelists were Judith Patrick, editor of The Daily Gazette and Nicole Carner, library media specialist for Greenwich Junior-Senior High. It was a very informative discussion. The DEC has expanded its report on forest ranger activity, to include cases from around the state, not just the Adirondacks. There are a few local situations on here. It's a good time of year to be in the woods, black flies and mosquitoes aren't out yet, and the leaf-less trees allow good visibility on peaks. Notice the familiar theme in the rescue calls though -- unprepared hikers. Have a flashlight, compass, extra clothes and water at a minimum when heading into the woods. -- Don Lehman Forest Ranger Actions for 4/17 4/23/17 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations, and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured, or distressed people from the backcountry. In 2016, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 356 search and rescue missions, extinguished 185 wildfires that burned a total of 4,191 acres, and worked on cases that resulted in nearly 3,000 tickets or arrests. Across New York, DEC Forest Rangers are on the front lines helping people safely enjoy the great outdoors, said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. Their knowledge of first aid, land navigation, and technical rescue techniques are critical to the success of their missions, which take them from remote wilderness areas, with rugged mountain peaks, to white-water rivers, and throughout our vast forested areas statewide. Recent missions carried out by DEC Forest Rangers include: Washington County Town of Dresden Search: On April 23, Forest Rangers Anthony Goetke and Evan Donavan responded to a call to DEC Ray Brook Dispatch reporting three teenage hikers lost near Erebus. The group had climbed Sleeping Beauty Mountain but took the wrong trail on their descent. The groups cell phone did not provide location coordinates. As the group explained their location to Ranger Evans, he was able to identify their location. Within three hours, Donegan found the two Saratoga women and one Rensselaer man, and within an hour they were back at their vehicle. Hamilton County Town of Long Lake Search: On April 17 at 8:40 p.m., a 20-year-old Utica man reported that two of his hiking companions were lost on Blue Mountain. The two were reported to be wearing shorts and did not have flashlights or other necessary cold weather gear. Forest Rangers Jim Waters and Gary Miller responded, found the pair on the mountain, and escorted them to their cars by midnight. Saratoga County Town of Stillwater Prescribed Fire: On April 18, Forest Rangers Jamie Laczko and Joe Hess assisted National Park Service Rangers to conduct a 30-acre prescribed fire at Saratoga National Battlefield. These burns are conducted each year as a management tool to maintain the openness of the park as it was during the 1700s. DEC has a wildfire mutual aid and prescribed fire support agreement with the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service that allows agencies to share firefighters and equipment to support their missions. The burn was completed by mid-afternoon. Albany County Press Event: On April 17, Forest Ranger Director Eric Lahr, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Kevin Wisely, and State Fire Administrator Skip Nerney held an event at the Albany Pine Bush Commission Visitor Center to support wildfire prevention. Historically, the month of April has the highest number of wildfires, and DEC Forest Rangers have already responded to 23 wildfires that burned a total of 127 acres in 2017. Most spring wildfires are caused by brush and debris fires that are abandoned or grow out of control. The update to New Yorks open burning regulations in October 2009 created a brush burning ban from March 16 through May 14. The result of this burn ban has been a 35.5-percent reduction in spring wildfires throughout New York State. This equates to 1,039 fewer fires each year likely to have burned 2,345 acres. The bun ban (http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/109462.html) is in effect through May 14, and DEC posts a fire danger map on its website daily, http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/68329.html. Steuben County Town of Cameron Prescribed Fire: On April 17, Forest Ranger Timothy Carpenter supervised a five-acre prescribed fire in the West Cameron Wildlife Management Area assisted by seven additional rangers and five DEC firefighters. This fire burned was conducted to improve wildlife habitat by maintaining grass and eliminating woody plants. The controlled fire went as planned and was out by mid-afternoon. This was the third prescribed fire this spring on DEC lands in Steuben County for a combined treatment of 63 acres. Putnam County Town of Kent Wildfire: On April 17, Forest Rangers assisted Putnam County fire departments to contain a remote five-acre wildfire near China Pond. The fire, which appears to have been started by juveniles, ignited standing and fallen dead trees, making complete extinguishment difficult. It took two additional days of firefighting to declare the fire out. Clinton County Town of Mooers Search: On April 18 at 8 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch was called by Quebec Emergency Services to report a lost family of six along the U.S.-Canadian border near the Gulf Unique Area. Forest Rangers Rob Praczkajlo and David Russell responded, as did local fire departments, Sheriff Deputies, and U.S. Border Patrol and Customs agents. The familys cell phone call included geographical references that allowed searchers to narrow the search area. Within an hour of their call, the family was found by searchers and returned to their car. Essex County Village of Saranac Lake Search: On April 18 at 6 p.m., a 67-year-old Saranac Lake grandfather reported to DEC Ray Brook Dispatch that he and his 8-year-old grandson were lost on Mount Baker, a popular hiking destination with spectacular views of the area. Forest Rangers Rob Praczkajlo and Robbi Mecus made phone contact with the man and directed the pair to the proper trail. The Rangers navigated to their location and helped the pair out of the woods by 8 p.m. Orange County Town of Deerpark Wildfire: On April 19, Forest Ranger Peter Morehouse assisted local fire departments to control a 2.5-acre wildfire likely caused by a campfire left burning and unattended. Within an hour, the fire was contained but required further patrol throughout the afternoon before it was declared out. Essex County Town of Keene Rescue: On April 21, three Forest Rangers responded to a report of a 26-year-old Syracuse woman suffering fatigue on Nippletop Mountain. Her husband attempted to rehydrate her but needed assistance with her evacuation. Rangers used an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) through the Adirondack Mountain Reserve property to provide first aid and transportation. Within five hours of the initial call, the couple were back to their car and in no need of further medical attention. Chenango County Town of Pharsalia Arrest: On April 22, Forest Ranger Michael Burkholder investigated a complaint of a vehicle driving across Pharsalia State Forest, causing damage to the land and trees. After questioning one driver, Burkholder saw another vehicle abruptly leave the area. A pursuit occurred with assistance from a Chenango County Sheriffs Deputy. Subsequently, the driver stopped his vehicle. An interview led to the arrest of a 26-year-old Norwich man for driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment, and unlawful fleeing. Essex County Town of Keene Search: On April 22, seven Forest Rangers responded to a call from a group of Canadian hikers who reported that three of their friends had separated on the Fish Hawk Trail and not returned at the end of the day as planned. The two women and one man, in their mid-20s, were not prepared for a long stay in the deep snow and below freezing temperatures at higher elevations of the Great Range, nor did they have flashlights for hiking out at night. These circumstances led Rangers to believe this was a life-threatening incident. As morning began, 15 Forest Rangers were assigned to find the trio, as well as one state police helicopter to insert rangers to interior locations. The three hikers were able to evacuate themselves and returned to the Adirondack Mountain Reserve trailhead by 9 a.m. with no need for medical attention. Allegany County Town of Birdsall Search: On April 23, Ranger Justin Thaine responded to a 911 call reporting four people in two vehicles stranded on a backcountry road near Jersey Hill State Forest. One of the group was reported to be injured. Cell phone coordinates made locating the group easy with the exception of the off-road conditions. Thaine located the group by hiking to their location. He provided first aid while local emergency services were stationed at the nearest road location. An elderly couple, ages 79 and 80, were transported by ATV to a waiting ambulance. The other couple managed to get one vehicle moving again and returned to the highway; the second vehicle required towing. Ulster County Town of Shandaken Search: On April 23, Forest Rangers Ken Gierloff and Russell Martin responded to a 911 call reporting two lost hikers from Oneonta in the Big Indian Wilderness Area. Gierloff made cell phone contact with one of the hikers and determined the pairs approximate location. Martin hiked to the location, made voice contact, and escorted them back to their vehicle. The incident was concluded within three hours from the initial call for help. QUEENSBURY A former state trooper who works as a boat crash reconstruction expert told a Warren County jury on Friday that the boat on which Charlotte McCue was killed was hit from behind by the vessel blamed for the crash. Eric Weinreber, a retired state trooper from western New York, told the jury that the powerboat driven by Alexander M. West was overtaking one driven by Charlottes grandfather at the time of the crash. In that situation, a boat that is overtaking another is supposed to yield the right of way to the boat that it is approaching, he said. Weinreber, who was part of a team of state and local boat specialists who looked into the cause of the crash, authored a report on the collision that was debated Friday in the 10th day of Wests trial. West faces a 12-count indictment in connection with the 8-year-olds death on Lake George last July 25. Weinreber spent more than three hours on the witness stand before court broke Friday, and he will return to the stand Monday morning. Wests defense lawyer, Kathryn Conklin, grilled him for much of the time Friday about errors in a report presented Friday, specifically measurement numbers that were different in Weinrebers notes and in a chart that was presented in court during testimony. He dismissed them as clerical errors and said his conclusions were drawn based on physical evidence he reviewed, with measurements serving as reference points. On direct examination by Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan, Weinreber spent more than an hour going over the investigation that was conducted to determine how the boats collided. He told the jury that inspection of damage to the boats, a surveillance video that showed the crash and witness statements were used to draw conclusions. He said it was determined that the boat Charlotte was on, driven by her grandfather Robert Knarr, was headed in a southerly or southwest direction when it was hit, while Wests boat was headed south. Three navigation lights were visible on the side of his GarWood boat, indicating the side was facing the shore as the boat went parallel to shore, he said. Knarrs boat was headed 5 to 8 mph, while Wests was travelling at a minimum of 22 to 25 mph, according to Weinreber. The bow of Wests boat hit near the back, third-row seat of the other boat, coming across it at an angle, he testified. Weinreber said he also found no fault in Knarrs operation of his boat. West obviously took issue with the testimony, shaking his head in apparent disagreement on numerous occasions, and often talking to his counsel as Weinreber testified. Conklin spent more than an hour trying to poke holes in Weinrebers analysis, first asking whether investigators took into account whether lights on the lake could have played a part in the crash. The former trooper consistently responded that a boater should slow down if not sure of what they are seeing. If you are confused at what you are looking at, you are supposed to appropriately react, he said. Conklin pointed out numerous inconsistencies in the numbers in notes he took that were turned over to the defense, versus the chart that was presented in court and shown to the jury. Some numbers transposed, others were different. Weinreber dismissed the differences, saying they didnt affect the analysis or conclusions. Im going to defer to the actual physical damage, not the numbers, he said. Before Weinreber took the stand, Warren County sheriffs Investigator John Maday finished testimony that was begun Thursday. The defense tried to show that police scrutinized West more closely than Knarr, and also that West was cooperative with police when he voluntarily went to the Warren County Sheriffs Office to be questioned the day after the crash. At one point, Maday said, I didnt treat him (West) any different. Defense lawyer Cheryl Coleman had Maday discuss how Knarr twice refused a breath test for alcohol use at Glens Falls Hospital after the crash, ultimately giving a blood sample more than 4 hours after the collision that had no alcohol in it. Knarr, who was not charged, testified he had two glasses of wine before and at dinner in the hours before the 9:20 p.m. crash. West is charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and other counts for allegedly boating recklessly after having been drinking and using drugs at an all-day lake party known as Log Bay Day earlier that day. His 22-foot boat, with four of his friends on it, went over the top of the 28-foot antique GarWood. Charlotte was killed instantly, and her mother was seriously injured by Wests boats propeller. The defense has claimed that West had the right of way because Knarr was headed west, and a boat crash expert for West is expected to testify next week. Warren County Judge John Hall told the jury the prosecution would likely finish its case Monday, and the jury could expect to begin deliberations as early as late next week. Proceedings in the case will not be held Tuesday and for a half-day Wednesday because the judge has schedule conflicts. QUEENSBURY State Police arrested a man and woman late Thursday who they believe were responsible for the robbery and shooting of a Hague store clerk two days earlier and who may be linked to a string of burglaries in the area. Vittorio L. Vito Campano, 26, and 28-year-old Christine W. Tomko, of Charles Olds Road in Thurman, were arrested Thursday and charged with felony counts of attempted second-degree murder and first-degree robbery. Both were arraigned Friday morning before Queensbury Town Justice Eric Schwenker and sent to Warren County Jail for lack of $1 million cash bail or bond. Schwenker ordered a mental health exam for Campano at the request of his lawyer, Warren County Assistant Public Defender Sterling Goodspeed. Public Defender Marcy Flores said she had no comment on Campanos behalf as of Friday. Tomkos lawyer, Greg Teresi, also said he had no comment. Its too early to make any sort of assessment, Teresi said. They are accused of being the duo who held up The Hague Market around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, with Campano allegedly shooting owner Jim Rypkema. Rypkema was shot four times times with a small-caliber weapon and is recovering in a Burlington, Vermont, hospital from injuries that are not considered life-threatening. Police believe Campano made off with a small amount of money, as the small-town store had just opened for the season days earlier. He wore a camouflage mask at the time of the holdup, but both suspects went in the store. It was unclear what motivated the robbery, but it was believed to be part of a recent crime spree by the couple around northern Warren County. State Police Capt. Robert Patnaude said authorities got several tips following the incident, including video footage from the business and private residences. Police received a description of the car as a Pontiac Vibe with two distinctive stickers in the window. Patnaude said investigators caught a break in the case when State Police Investigator Kevin Reppenhagen, who was off-duty, spotted a car in Queensbury that matched the description. Reppenhagen contacted the Warren County Sheriffs Office and deputies tracked the pair down at a traffic stop. The two matched the description of the couple that State Police said were seen in the area and were wanted for questioning: a tall, stocky man and a short, stocky woman. They just went to get their marriage license (Thursday), Patnaude said. Thats why they were in Queensbury. The police obtained warrants to search a storage shed and they found three handguns and five long guns and what investigators believe may be the proceeds from eight other robberies in northern Warren County, where guns were stolen. One of those stolen guns was used in the Hague robbery, authorities said. The two occupants confessed to the robbery and numerous other recent crimes when police questioned them, officials said. Patnaude said Rypkema is in stable condition. He has four bullets inside him that came close to hitting vital organs. They arent able to remove them, he said. Police did not say how much money was taken not enough to put four bullets in somebody, Patnaude added. We believe they were shooting them to kill him, he said. Patnaude said he does not believe the crimes are drug-related. Its money-related, he said. Police do not know why the Hague store was targeted. Its an isolated area. Theres not many people around. They probably felt that they could get away with it, Patnaude said. The two do not have criminal histories. Police had received a complaint a couple weeks ago about guns being shot off in the Thurman area, according to Warren County Sheriff Bud York. Police credited the tips from the public for getting this pair arrested. York believes the pair could have continued on their crime spree. They werent going to stop, he said. Its instrumental that we found them. Tomkos Facebook page indicates she has worked as an emergency medical technician at local rescue squads, and that she and Campano are engaged to be married. The page indicates the couple had been living downstate in Greenwood Lake, just north of the New Jersey state line, until coming back north recently to get jobs locally. Campano has ties to Orange County. On April 18, two posts appeared on Tomkos Facebook page asking for money, including one that reads, In a serious bind, can someone help out with a few dollars? On the same day, Campano posted on Facebook about being in a depressed slump. His page indicates he recently got a job as an office assistant in Queensbury. He is a 2009 Queensbury High School graduate, while Tomko graduated from Lake George High School in 2008. The arrests came after a massive investigation involving dozens of officers from at least four police agencies State Police, sheriffs offices from Warren and Essex counties and Ticonderoga Police. The next court date is Monday for both defendants. GLENS FALLS Queensbury Taxi has abandoned its controversial plan to open an office and dispatch center on Bay Street, and instead is seeking Planning Board approval to operate from a second floor office above Achenbachs jewelry store at 220 Glen St., in the heart of downtown. The applicant seeks approval from the Planning Board with the intent of providing a valuable service for all members of the community, Michael Borgos, a lawyer for the cab company, wrote in the companys application narrative. The Planning Board will review the application at its meeting at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday in the Common Council chambers on the third floor of City Hall. Borgos wrote that the office would be used only for dispatching cabs and for clerical functions. City law requires that a cab company have an office in Glens Falls in order to pick up fares within Glens Falls. One dispatch employee would be at the office around the clock, and cab company owners would be there at times to supervise, Borgos wrote. Cab drivers would stop at the office at the beginning and end of shifts for accounting purposes, staying up to 15 minutes at a time. Drivers would not be waiting for fares or picking up riders at the office. The public is not invited to use the office and no advertising of the office location is intended, Borgos wrote. Cabs would be parked, cleaned and maintained at the companys lot on Dix Avenue in Queensbury. Queensbury Taxi previously planned to buy a building at 107 Bay St., outside the downtown district, but abandoned that plan after opposition from a neighborhood group and city officials. The cab company would rent the Glen Street office location. Mayor Jack Diamond was among city officials and neighborhood residents who in March urged the Planning Board to reject the companys application for the Bay Street location. Diamond said Friday he personally does not like the proposed Glen Street location, but he will not be commenting to the Planning Board. I havent been contacted by residents like I was on Bay about that particular use, Diamond said. I dont feel thats the direction the city needs to go, is to have an office space for a cab service on Glen Street, but Ill let the Planning Board make that decision. QUEENSBURY SUNY Adirondacks peace officers should carry guns, according to the recommendation of the community colleges emergency management team and a task force charged with studying the issue. The college received a request in October from the public safety department to explore the issue. After three months of discussion, the task force recommended that the college arm the officers. Ann Marie Somma, vice president for administrative services, presented a report at Thursdays Board of Trustees meeting. Somma outlined the history of security on campus. The college originally had security guards some in-house and some outsourced. In 2005, a campus public safety officer was hired. In 2013, all the security guards were replaced with public safety officers to coincide with the opening of the residence hall, where the public safety office is located. In 2014, the public safety office was designated an official law enforcement agency. Somma said the group brought in an expert from SUNY to do a cultural assessment of the campus and its law enforcement to see if it was ready for a step such as arming the peace officers. Somma explained that security guards have no powers beyond that of a civilian. Campus public safety officers have the duty of responding to a situation. They receive 339 hours of training compared with 16 for a security guard. Additional firearms training would be required to arm the officers. Somma said the initial cost of making the change would be nearly $37,000, including 80 hours of training for seven officers and purchase of weapons, holsters, ammunition, lockers and other equipment. The annual recurring expense for training and equipment would be about $3,264, according to Somma. Its really not a fiscal burden for the institution, she said. Somma pointed out the drawbacks of a stun gun. Stun guns have two prongs, both of which must stick into the suspect for it to work. An officer would need to be within 30 feet of the suspect to use a stun gun, and at that range, could risk being harmed by a suspect armed with a knife. Another issue is a stun gun may not be as effective in cold climates because people are wearing a lot of layers and the prongs may not stick, she added. Somma said the college has a behavioral intervention team that encompasses counseling, public safety and academic components to try to solve problems. In 2015, the team helped resolve a situation in which a person had made threats against a local elementary school. SUNY Adirondack already employs people who have had the firearms training. Six of the colleges security officers are trained police officers. All of them have been in a situation where they were required to draw their weapon. None of them were required to fire a shot, Somma said. It is one method of thinking that drawing a weapon itself is enough to get someone to comply. These officers have already gone through psychological training required of police officers. Somma said officers are allowed to respond only with certain levels of force, and only serious, dangerous situations justify use of lethal force. New York has the second highest number of incidents of targeted violence on higher education institutions, according to Somma, although she did not mention an exact number. The FBI has identified educational environments as the second-most common location for active shooter incidents, she said. Incidents in educational facilities account for some of the higher casualty counts. Somma said the campus is 4.1 miles from the State Police barracks and 3.6 miles from the Warren County Sheriffs Office. Queensbury is 64 square miles with a population just under 28,000. There are four deputies and a state trooper assigned to patrol the area on an average day, according to Somma. The average time to respond to the college has been in the range of 8 to 15 minutes, she said. A responding officer would need to travel the campus, locate the building, the area the suspect is in and then engage the suspect itself, she said. She pointed out that SUNY Adirondack is on the lower end of the total number of security personnel with 13 sworn officers. We are the only one of our peers that does not have any armed presence on our campus, she said, referring to other community colleges of about the same size. Somma also shared the results of a survey of campus faculty, staff and students. About 63 percent of people were in favor of arming the officers. If there was an active shooter incident on campus, 71 percent of employees who responded wanted an officer with a gun present and 79 percent of students wanted that. The faculty had the largest percentage of people not in favor of arming the officers, she said. The board of trustees asked numerous questions. Trustee Harry Booth questioned the high number of incidents. Isnt SUNY one of the largest university systems in the country, so theres a lot more campuses? he said. Trustee Bernice Mennis said she did not see enough in the report to justify buying guns for the officers. Have we ever had an active shooting? Have any other of those campuses had active shootings? she said. Mennis cited the nationwide publicity of cops involved in lethal shootings. The officers are sworn to respond and we have not given them all the generally accepted tools available to protect them and ourselves, Somma said. Richard Conine, assistant director of public safety, said the officers are trained to take a step back and de-escalate situations. Theres been instances when theyve been confronted with intoxicated students, they come back and talk to them later, he said. Booth took issue with the recommendation that a new location be found for the public safety office. The insinuation is if we arm our safety officers, theres going to be more detention and more arrests, he said. Conine said he believes the reason for the recommendation is it may be difficult to take a student into custody if his friends are around in the dorm. The office is now in the middle of the area where students gather. Somma said the office is small and does not have adequate room to interview students. The board took no action on the proposal, but took it under advisement. This is a difficult topic. Its thorny lots of considerations, Mennis said. The matter will be reviewed by President Kristine Duffy. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Shares of Apple have climbed 24% so far this year to $143.69 as of 10:22 ET. In a report circulated to clients April 28, Credit Suisse analyst Kulbinder Garcha reiterated his "Outperform" rating and $170 price target on the stock, implying more than 18% of potential upside. "That recent data points from the supply chain suggest that overall iPhone shipments remain in line to ahead of expectations, with potential for a stronger mix," he said. The analyst said that the real reason to buy Apple stock is the pent-up demand for a new iPhone with substantial changes. Garcha said the iPhone 8 is that iPhone, and that a "super cycle" of iPhone upgrading will ensue. Here's Garcha: He said the only way to go is to tackle the problem multifacetedly as illegal miners are involved in galamsey for a different number of reasons. He said, ''when you go into our communities, the miners have reasons for engaging in the activity. Some do that so they will be able to fend for themselves. Apart from galamsey they have nothing else doing because they have no better education. And so, such an individual may need another alternative to survive after he is asked to stop galamsey.'' According to him, galamsey operators have no source of livelihood but that and their motivation is solely to fend for themselves and their families. Furthermore, some have secured no better education for themselves and therefore they would need a replacement after quitting galamsey if the government expects them to survive. He added We should look for a sustainable solution. We should identify those who are not well educated and give them some form of training so they can be self-employed, generate income and be self-dependent. READ ALSO: Ashanti Regional security services deploy 140 personnel to flush out galamseyers ''It will not be possible for us to rely on soldiers in dealing with the menace,'' he said. The ultimatum given by government he indicated has helped in maintaining some sanity but was quick to add that, the illegal miners have seen this kind of approach before and so, I will stress the need for a sustainable solution. According to Mr. Elimah the currently proposed solution by the government is not sustainable although it has managed to maintain some sanity. Adding that some forces as deployed by the government are not new to the miners. He stressed the need for the various institutions to enforce our laws and regulations. READ ALSO: Here is how much Ghana needs to restore galamsey affected lands in Western region ''Let us strengthen our institution to help fight galamsey. If they need capacity building, we have to give it to them. If they have to travel abroad and learn from other experiences, they should be allowed to travel. The approach should look at strengthening the EPA and other bodies to help fight galamsey Out of the about a hundred businesses that applied, the selected businesses most of which were victims of incessant power supply known as dumsor are expected to rekindle the growth of their businesses that were stymied by the power fluctuations. This announcement was made by Mr. Alan Kyeremateng, Minister of Trade and Industry at meeting of business experts at the American Chamber of Commerce Ghana. The Minister explained that prior to the selection, businesses that applied went through screening and diagnostic exercises before the successful ones were selected to benefit from the package. Establishing the basis for this initiative, Mr. Kyeremateng said the 2017 budget states that a National Industrial Revitalisation Programme with a stimulus package for industry will be established. The package, according to the budget, will provide technical and financial support for companies that are distressed or facing operational challenges but are deemed to be viable. The budget states that promising businesses facing difficulty in their work would be given a package including both financial and technical support to help progress these businesses. Speaking at the meeting, Mr Kyerematen stated that had been allocated as seed fund, with an additional, to help the companies manage their debts. The Minister noted that $50 million was set aside as seed funding for the businesses and an extra $150 million also would be geared towards the debt reduction of these companies. He said the government had also outlined a 10-point agenda for business transformation in the country. Key among them is the (ODOF) policy. Others are the creation of strategic anchor industries by developing the petrochemical and iron and steel industries. The minister also highlighted other undergoing government projects like the One district, one factory among others that all meant to promote business growth and strengthen the economy of the nation. Mr. Kyeremateng further stated that the government also had in its plans to establish, diversify the countrys export and import base, as well as develop the small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) sector. He also hinted of future government projects like an industrial park that would expand the import and export hubs of the nation while developing small and medium enterprises. Speaking on Accra-based Peace FM, she denied rumours that she had a sexual affair with the suspended Pastor Josh Laryea of Doxa Temple. She narrated that, the wife of gospel musician Eugene Zutah made a shocking revelation about Pastor Josh Laryea to her which she later reported for further investigations. READ ALSO: Afia Swarzenagger rips into Josh Laryea over suspension from church Awo Zutah told me something about how she feels about Pastor Josh Laryea and what she said was not pleasing to the ear. She is a married woman. I didnt like it so I reported it to her husband. The next minute they ganged up against me and kicked me out of the church. Mzbel said. She also alleged that Awo Zutah is the cause of Josh Laryeas current predicament he is facing in the same church. After news broke that Pastor Josh Laryea was suspended Mzbel said she feels vindicated. The accident which occurred in the morning of Thursday, April 27, 2017, is the latest in the series of road killings usually due to impatience of motorists. Confirming the incident, Kehinde Adebayo, a spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA) said the driver of the trailer made a run for it but was later apprehended by police officers. Investigation conducted by the Agencys ERT on getting to the scene of the incident revealed that a bike man was crushed under a trailer while trying to make a u-turn. The driver of the trailer absconded immediately the accident occurred but was later apprehended by the Police officers and was taken to Olosan Police Station, Mushin for further interrogation. Unfortunately, the driver of the motorcycle identified as Biliaminu Olayiwola lost his life. His corpse was recovered by the LASEMA Response Team and handed over to the Police. The trailer was recovered off the road with a tow truck provided by LASTMA and moved to a safe place nearby thereby ensuring free vehicular movements, Adebayo narrated. ALSO READ: Truck crushes young girl to death in Akwa Ibom To guide against a recurrence of such accident, LASEMA General Manager, Adesina Tiamiyu cautioned motorists to be careful while driving in order to guard against needless loss of lives. I have regretted going to Libya. Life there is very difficult. There are robbers who robbed us at a gun point every day. When you report to the authorities, they dont do anything about it, one returnee told journalists. Many of them who travelled to Libya on foot through the Libyan Desert to seek greener pastures said that they were disappointed at the lawlessness in that country. They have, therefore, pleaded with other Ghanaians not to attempt going there. They also used the opportunity to call on the government to help other Ghanaians who are still stranded in Libya to return home. "We paid for the air-ticket months ago but there were no airplanes arriving in the country to bring us back to Ghana. We are pleading with government to save our brothers left behind in Ghana" another returnee said. The first deputy Speaker of Parliament Joe Osei Owusu described him as one bereft of decency and propriety. Speaking to Accra-based Starr FM he said the letter to parliament was unnecessary since they were private travels. READ ALSO: MP begs for forgiveness over visa fraud allegation I think that that High Commissioner in so many instances has acted in a way that in my view transcends the bounds of decency and propriety. These are personal travel arrangements. I believe strongly that if any of them took the matter up to appeal, some of those things may be overturned, he added. In a related development the MP for Tamale North Alhassan Suhuyini accused Jon Benjamin of deliberately leaking the letter he wrote to the Speaker of Parliament. Jon Benjamin is a media freak. And for me he is a very example of how not to be a diplomat. I dont think that his ways and operations since he got to this country and even if you read about his dealings in other countries that he has been has been very diplomatic and that is where I have a problem. Even if you look at the letter that he wrote to the Speaker that has been leaked, you will find a certain arrogance and disrespect to the sovereignty of Ghana. Why does he thinkif you read the letter that it is such a big privilege andhonour to give visas to Ghanaian parliamentarians to go to the UK. I mean who wants to go to the UK if you have no business there? he quizzed. Because of that colonial mindset that they are doing us a favour by giving us visas and so the visas will be given to us subject on good behaviour. I mean that arrogance in that letter is unacceptable, he added. Their responses come after the UK High Commissioner Jon Benjamin wrote a letter to the Speaker of Parliament citing three sitting members of parliament and a former member of parliament in an alleged visa fraud using their diplomatic passports. According to the commission, the MPs used an unauthorised person (a goro boy) and their diplomatic passports to apply for visas for some individuals who travelled to the United Kingdom and did not return as stipulated by their visas. They are Richard Acheampong, NDC MP for Bia East in the Western region (NDC), Joseph Benhazin Dahah, NPP MP for Ntotroso in the Bono Ahafo region, Johnson Kwaku Adu, NPP MP for Ahafo Ano South West in the Ashanti region and George Boakye, former MP for Asunafo South in the Bono Ahafo region. The High Commission said it had restructured its visa application rules in view of the current development. The Commission said that it will will henceforth only entertain and prioritize requests for visas from MPs, if they are made through the parliamentary protocol office who should verify that there is an official, parliamentary reason for the proposed visit. He said Bawumia is noted for telling lies so he [Koku] in particular don't waste his time on Dr. Bawumia anytime he speaks. Despite Dr Bawumia as vice president of Ghana, his image as a 'liar' and one who makes unsubstantiated claims remains, Koku Anyidoho has said. Mr Anyidoho has been the most consistent critic of Bawumia daring him on several occasions to come up with evidence to back his assertions. Dr Bawumia whiles leading the charge by his party in 2015 for a new voters register for the 2016 polls, a request later turned down by the Electoral Commission had said the NPP, after comparing the electoral registers of both Ghana and Togo, had uncovered the names citizens of Togo on Ghanas voter register, promising to provide more names as it undertook an audit of the voter's register. Koku Anyidoho speaking on the 100 days of the NPP in government in an interview on Accra-based Class FM said "When I was going after him on the voters register and hitting hard at his credibility, did you ever hear Dr Bawumia come out once to defend himself? They chose to pretend that they were not listening to what I was saying. "He held his press conferences, hes a PhD holder, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana and speculates on the cedi. He would do all kinds of things, but as we speak today hes now Vice President and within 100 days hes lost almost all his credibility." Mr Anyidoho noted that "When you listen to the young nurses who went picketing and had to sleep at the Ministry of Health, they are telling you that Bawumia has lied. You come out to come and say youve employed over 11,000 nurses and the people have come out to say: It is not true because we are still at home. You come out and say nurses application forms are selling at a certain rate but it has now dropped, but it is not true, a plethora of lies. When he was in opposition he said we were incompetent but now the diction has changed. READ MORE: NDC accuses Ken Agyapong of supporting terrorism He said those who are fortunate to have been nominated cannot guarantee their stay in office after one year. READ MORE: Only 36 women appointed in NPP MMDCE list His comments comes at the back of some supporters and members of the Party who have gone on rampage over President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's selection of MMDCEs. The activists have been up in arms over the nominations, condemning some of the presidents decisions against their wish. The youth in Tolon, Zebila, Mpohor, Savelugu, Nanton, Sagnarigu hit the streets soon after the announcement Wednesday afternoon to demonstrate their anger at the choice of the president, arguing that some of the nominees did not actively campaign for Nana Addo during the 2016 election. READ ALSO: Irate NPP youth run riot over appointment of MMDCEs John Boadu speaking on the development said several MMDCEs will lose their jobs. In an interview on Accra-based Kasapa FM, he said "Several of them by a years time will be sacked. Im sure that Ill receive reports indicating that some of them must have under performed, or had poor communication and relationship with party members and throwing their weight about in their respective areas, while other may have issues with chiefs or disrespect them. "With such matters if established we cannot continue to keep such MMDCEs in office. So if someone is not nominated now, it doesnt mean that is the end of the world, another chance may come." READ MORE: Here are the 212 MMDCEs appointed by Nana Addo He noted that "Im going to make a list of those who equally deserved MMDCE positions but for one reason or the other couldnt get them and ensure they are fixed elsewhere which is also dignified. Were not going to be unfair to persons who worked tirelessly for the partys victory in the 2016 election. "No one should have hard feelings, patience in such times is very necessary. Whoever will be responsible for attacks on any property will not get any appointment." The clarification relates to what's called "top of book" data, which is considered essential for trading, and Bloomberg's Server Application Program Interface "As Bloomberg admitted, the Bloomberg SAPI allows data recipients to view and download market data and run server-based applications on the market data. As such, those data recipients making use of the Bloomberg SAPI are getting functionally the same product as those purchasing a data feed from another vendor or directly from CTA, but at a fraction of the cost. " The letter from the CTA plan follows an earlier admission from Thomson Reuters, which competes with Bloomberg. It said that it "fully supports" the amendment, saying it was a "clarification that is critically needed in order to level the playing field in the United States for equity exchange data." It added: "Thomson Reuters believes that fees for US equity market data are not currently being applied in an even manner, benefiting some clients over others. This Amendment clarifies how the fees should be applied and should allow the administrators of the exchange data to apply the fees equally so that all clients pay the same price for the same service. Without this clarification, the industry will continue to operate in an inequitable way." Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Flynn, who headed the Defense Intelligence Agency from 2012 to 2014, came under renewed scrutiny earlier this week when the House Oversight Committee revealed that he did not disclose his payments from Russia's state-owned news agency, Russia Today, when he was renewing his security clearance in January 2016. Flynn also lobbied on behalf of a Turkish businessman with ties to the country's government between August and November of 2016, but he did not register as a foreign agent with the Justice Department until earlier this year. The White House has said that what Flynn did as a private citizen, after he retired from the DIA and before he was hired by the Trump administration, was not its concern. But Trump has faced questions about why Flynn, who was forced to step down as national security adviser after only 24 days, was not more thoroughly vetted for potential conflicts of interest before he was brought into the White House. Trump replied that while he does feel badly, Flynn "was approved by the Obama administration at the highest level." "And when they say we didnt vet, well Obama I guess didnt vet, because he was approved at the highest level of security by the Obama administration," Trump said. "So when he came into our administration, for a short period of time, he came in, he was already approved by the Obama administration and he had years left on that approval. Trump appeared to be doubling down on a talking point about Flynn's controversies that was first articulated on Thursday by White House press secretary Sean Spicer. Flynn's security clearance was reauthorized in January 2016 presumably due to his role managing Flynn Intel Group which means he wouldn't have had to renew it until at least 2021. Still, many national security and intelligence experts argue that, in light of Flynn's lobbying work throughout 2016 and the fact that he was pushed out by the Obama administration in 2014, he should have been subject to more scrutiny before he was elevated to such a high-level national-security position at the White House. " Cummings said in a statement on Thursday that the documents "raise grave questions about why General Flynn concealed the payments he received from foreign sources after he was warned explicitly by the Pentagon." The Chineses Deputy Director-General, Department of Africa Affairs, Ambassador Dai Bing, declared while speaking at the concluding ceremony of the 121st session of the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Ambassador Bing, noted that Nigeria, Congo-Brazzaville, and Ethiopia, among others, will now enjoy zero tariff set by the Chinese Government for imported products from the African continent. He added that this policy is part of the Chinese government poverty alleviation programmes under the Chinese intensive development programme for the African continent. We have chosen some African countries for industrial cooperation namely Nigeria, Congo-Brazzaville, Ethiopia and others. This program will start with four regions- Shantou; Chenzhen; Xiamen and Zhuhai, and if successful it could be extended to other regions. But if it failed the excesses would be curtailed, he stated. The biggest example of this is Google Assistant, the new digital helper that lives inside the Google Home speaker and newer Android phones like the Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy S8. But if we start living in a world where we do more and more of our computing through voice, how can Google make money if there aren't any eyeballs on screens to look at the ads it serves? This has been a budding theme at Google, and one an analyst asked about again during the company's earnings call on Thursday. In short, Google CEO Sundar Pichai doesn't have a clear answer yet. Instead, he's focused on perfecting voice control and the Google Assistant before figuring out a good way to monetize those products. "We are very focused on the consumer experience now ...I think if you go and create these experiences that work at scale for users, the monetization will follow," Pichai said on the earnings call. He also brought up successful products from Google's history, saying that at first the company didn't have the answers to monetization for products like YouTube and search. The annual TED conference is a mix of talks about science, technology, art, and design. Every year, at least a few of these talks involve a speaker bringing out a new piece of tech for the audience to gape at. This year, Robert Browning, the founder of aeronautic engineering startup Gravity, brought out his prototype of a flying jetpack. CNN's international man of mystery Richard Quest is currently in Lagos, Nigeria. The famous CNN presenter and journalist is in the country to shoot how easy it is to do business in Nigeria and also the challenges. He will be spending a week in the country. The duo took a shot together at an unknown location. Omotee captioned it, "#richardquest #questmeansbusiness." Meanwhile, on Monday, April 24, 2017, Mr Quest was at Nigeria Info FM for an early morning interview. During the lively interview, Richard Quest spoke about the $38M found in an Ikoyi apartment. "The best story of the day apart from Macron has to be the money found in the apartment" Richard Quest said in his radio interview. He further said "The next best thing is the head of the security force who says it was money that was being kept for covert operations that nobody seemed to know anything about. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! The Prosecutor, Cpl. Ibijoke Akinpelu, told the court that Ubong committed the offences between Jan. 10, 2014 and Aug. 24, 2014 at Ecobank, Unilag Branch, Lagos. She said that the accused had deliberately persuaded the complainant, Okusanya Olugbenga, to partner with him in a Palm oil business, which he knew was not plausible. Akinpelu said after Ubong fraudulently obtained N8.4 million from Olugbenga in 2014, he had been on the run, and was only apprehended recently by the police. According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 recommends a 15-year jail term for false pretences, while Section 285 prescribes three years for stealing. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.F. Adeeyo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N2million, with two sureties in like sum. She ordered that one of the sureties must be a property owner with evidence of land use charge payment. Hamsat, 37, whose address was not given, is facing charge of issuance of dud cheque. The prosecutor, SP Eshiet Eshiet, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Aug. 18, 2016, at No. 22a, Aroloya St., Lagos Island. The cheque was returned on presentation and all efforts made by the complainant to get back the money proved abortive, he said. The offence contravened Section 322 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, Mrs F. O. Botoku, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum. She said the sureties must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government. The Magistrate, Mr W. B. Balogun, who granted the bail, said the accused should provide one surety in like amount. He said the surety must show evidence of tax payment to Lagos State Government. The accused however, denied the charge. Earlier, Police Prosecutor Igonbo Emby told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 9 at about 11.50 p.m. at Sura Market on Lagos Island. According to him, the accused conspired with another man still at large and stole N140, 000 belonging to the complainant, Mr Pius Nwigbo, also at the market. The offence contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The Magistrate, Mrs A. T. Omoyele, said that Adebayo was sentenced, based on the facts before the court, noting that the sentence would act as deterrent to others. The News of Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adebayo was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to a two-account charge of conspiracy and stealing. Adebayo admitted that he bought the car from a man whose name was given simply as Festus for N40, 000. He told court that he, thereafter, sold the car to another person for N60, 000. The convict and Alexander, who pleaded not guilty, were arraigned on March 20, 2017. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Cyriacus Osuji, said the accused committed the offences on March 16 at Jakande in Lekki, Lagos. The prosecutor said that the convict and Alexander also conspired and stole a Mercedes Benz marked LSD 167 AE, valued at N800, 000, which was in the custody of the Ilasan Police Station. Osuji said that the offences contravened Sections 287 (7) and 407 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The prosecutor said that the vehicle was involved in an accident and was kept in the custody of the police. He added that Alexander allegedly conspired and towed the car from where it was parked and sold it. Osuji, however, tendered the statement of the accused, which was admitted in evidence. The community engagement saw officials from the States Ministry of Health and Reckitt Benckiser carry out sanitation, free Malaria testing and consultation in all the four States Abuja, Abia, Ogun and Lagos State. They also went round communities to sensitize and educate residents on the immense benefits of maintaining clean environment as one of the most cost effective ways to reduce mosquitoes which are the major carriers of malaria parasite. Speaking at the press briefing in Abuja to commemorate the 2017 WMD, General Manager, RB West Africa, Mr. Rahul Murgai, said the community engagement and collaborations are part of numerous consumer engagement activities by the company to stem the prevalence of malaria scourge in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. He said the partnership with the States and Federal Government, which has been on-going for years, also demonstrates the companys commitment to the anti-malaria fight in the country towards a clean and heathy Nigeria. Marketing Director, RB West Africa, Leferink Aliza also explained that, through the grassroots community engagement, we educate communities on the importance of hygiene, and how the simple habit of maintaining clean surroundings and drainages can significantly help to reduce malaria. According to Aliza, There are an estimated 100million malaria cases with over 300,000 deaths per year in Nigeria, mostly among children under the age of five. Malaria is preventable and we have made it our fight to educate on how to protect the most vulnerable Pregnant women and children and their families against Malaria. Reiterating Morteins commitment to eradicating Malaria, Marketing Manager, RB West Africa, Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi Omotola stated that Mortein has been at the forefront of the fight against Malaria in Nigeria. Our #OneActAgainstMalaria campaign has recently been deployed to bring the message closer by imploring everyone to do one preventive act towards the eradication of Malaria within their immediate environment. Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, in his address at the Abuja event commended Mortein for its work and continuous support in the fight against malaria through its collaboration with the government. Also, the Commissioners for health in Lagos, Ogun and Abia States also commended Mortein for teaming up with their respective State governments in the fight against malaria and pleadged further commitment to work with Mortein/RB to ensure total eradication of malaria in the country. Speaking with the Head Sustainability, Access Bank, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan on why her financial institution has chosen to adopt sustainability practice, she explained that, Access Bank is totally committed to sustainability because they believe that sustainability is the only and the right way to do business. 'We formalised this commitment about 11-years ago when we established our Standard Sustainability Function and ever since then, we have been going along on the journey. 5 years into our journey, we initiated the Legal Development of the Nigerian Sustainability Banking Principles which today is adopted by World Bank that operates with the Central Bank of Nigeria, so, on an annual basis we celebrate what we refer to as the Sustainability Awareness Week and bring on board stakeholders to share experiences, share knowledge and hold our various stakeholders to go together on the sustainability journey. Today happens to also be the day that we celebrate our Employee Awareness Day, so across the our banks, you would have seen our various employees in their various Tshirts with the range of their groups projects written on it. ranging from school adoption project to community health project to safe water initiative, amongst the whole range of others. And the aim also is to let everyone know that we have our individual roles to play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. So being a banker or working in a bank does not exempt you from being a leader in the community or in the society and contributing your individual quota to ensuring the society is a better place.@ One of the panelists at the Day II event, Dr. Tayo Taiwo, an environmental expert, identified environmental, social and financial risks as factors why financial institutions must embrace Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because of its ambitious and wide-ranging set of global environmental, social and economic targets. Dr. Taiwo, who is also the MD of Xploits Consulting Limited explained that considering environmental and social risks as part of the risk appraisal process for transactions helps a financial institution to decrease its exposure to overall risk and contributes to its long-term financial viability. According to him, a financial institution can do so by developing an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), which can be integrated into its existing risk management framework including the risk assessment process for transactions. A well-developed Environmental and Social Management System can lead to decreased exposure to environmental and social risks, increase market opportunities, and an enhanced reputation, which help contribute to the long-term financial viability of the company, he added. In his own comment, Chief Responsibility Officer,Parallel Point Consult, Abiola Oshunniyi, said there is a broad consensus that the financial services industry, of which Access Bank Plc plays an important role has a vital role to play promoting sustainable development. He said given the strategic importance of banks in the value chains of critical sectors such as agriculture, energy and trade, the role of banks in the sustainable development of Nigeria cannot be underestimated. According to him, the goals are chiefly designed to promote the transition to a more viable future. These goals are ambitious and embrace a wide range of environmental, social and economic issues, including climate change, energy, water stewardship, marine conservation, biodiversity, poverty, food security, sustainable production and consumption, gender equality and economic growth. Executive Director, HACEY, Ms Rhoda Robinson, also a member of the panel, said leading financial services companies should identify and measure their contributions to the SDGs, integrate their achievements into sustainability reporting processes and commission comprehensive external monitoring. Finally, fundamental concerns regarding the contradicting trends of sustainability and continuing economic growth. Ms Robinson argued that sustainable banking integrates Environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into traditional banking, and sets ESG benefits as a key objective. She said the adoption of SDGs by banks will clearly pave the way for better diffusion of sustainable banking, noting that Banks are highly committed to sustainability but need key success factors in place to realize the full benefits of their sustainable banking efforts. By incorporating sustainability principles into corporate strategy funding decisions and product/service definition processes, banks can be influential in supporting and promoting environmentally and/or socially responsible projects and enterprises. Lawal was invited for questioning by the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East. He was asked to appear before the committee on Thursday, April 27, but failed to honour the invitation - this is the third time he would shun the committee. Moving forward, the committee said it would not invite Lawal to defend the allegations against him again. The panel said it would go ahead and present its final report on the probe into the contract scandal in the rehabilitation of the North-East. It was learnt that the final report will be presented to the senate next Tuesday, May 2. Lawal was alleged to have played a vital role in the mismanagement the funds by the Presidential Initiative on the North-East. President Muhammadu Buhari had suspended him based on the interim report of the Senate panel which indicted him. The panel re-invited him for the third time through a letter on Wednesday, April 26. The embattled SGF had asked for a new date of appearance after the committee invited him the second time. ALSO READ: Osinbajos panel quizzes suspended SGF According to Punch, members of the committee were angry that Lawal did not show up the third time. Speaking to newsmen at the meeting venue on Thursday, Chairman of the panel, Senator Shehu Sani said Lawal gave no reason for his absence. He said the SGF gave excuses of being busy with official assignments for his non-appearance on previous invitations. Sani added, "We thought that now that he is on suspension, he would have enough time to be here. We sent letters to his former office and his house but the one for his house could not be delivered. The men at the gate turned back our messenger. "Now, we are here since 10am, waiting for him, and its now 12 noon. It is clear to us that he is not appearing. As you can see, he is not here. "We see this as a deliberate choice to absent himself from this committee and we believe that the general public has seen how we all tried to give the man an opportunity to defend himself publicly." It was gathered that the Presidency had requested the Senate panel's interim report and other information available to it. This, it was learnt, is to enable the three-man panel set up by Buhari carry out its assignment efficiently. The presidential panel led by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, was constituted to investigate alleged contract scam. "As eager as he is to be up and about, the president's doctors have advised on his taking things slowly, as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the United Kingdom some weeks ago," Shehu said in an emailed statement. "Full recovery is sometimes a slow process, requiring periods of rest and relaxation," he said, adding that Buhari was still in charge, despite his lack of public appearances. The president, who has spent most of his time at his private residence, talked regularly with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and received daily briefings on government activities, he said. Buhari's aides repeatedly insisted the 74-year-old was "hale and hearty" throughout his time in London, where he spent nearly two months before returning to Nigeria in early March. After arriving in Abuja, the former military ruler contradicted those assertions by saying he "couldn't recall being so sick" and revealing he had had blood transfusions and other tests. Shehu's references to a "long period of treatment", convalescence and recuperation indicates a more serious condition than stated, although exactly what has not been specified. The presidency said in January that Buhari's trip to London was for "routine medical check-ups" during a short holiday. He was said to have been treated for a persistent inner ear infection during a previous trip last June. Buhari dismissed claims during the 2015 presidential election that he was seriously ill with prostate cancer, saying it was an opposition smear designed to show him unfit to be head of state. Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday. As eager as he is to be up and about, the Presidents doctors have advised on his taking things slowly, as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the United Kingdom some weeks ago. President Buhari himself, on his return to the country, made Nigerians aware of the state of his health while he was in London. Full recovery is sometimes a slow process, requiring periods of rest and relaxation, as the Minister for Information, , intimated in his press briefing after the FEC meeting on Wednesday. According to him, in spite of the Presidents lack of visibility, Nigerians should be rest-assured that Buhari has not abdicated his role as Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria. The President receives daily briefings on the activities of government, and confers regularly with his Vice President, Prof. His private residence, in which he has been spending the majority of his time recently, also has a fully equipped office. God is the giver of life and health. We are grateful that He has seen our President through the worst period of his convalescence in London.We are thankful that the President has passed a number of benchmarks already. The service was however attended by Governors Abdullahi Ganduje, Abdulaziz Yari and Ibikunle Amosun of Kano, Zamfara and Ogun States respectively. Buharis absence follows comments from Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose that he had become a Friday president who was only seen during prayers at the Aso Rock mosque. The president was also absent from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, April 26. The Presidency has however dismissed concerns that Buhari has fallen ill again. As eager as he is to be up and about, the Presidents doctors have advised on his taking things slowly, as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the United Kingdom some weeks ago, Buhari spokesman, Garba Shehu said. "President Buhari himself, on his return to the country, made Nigerians aware of the state of his health while he was in London. Full recovery is sometimes a slow process, requiring periods of rest and relaxation, as the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, intimated in his press briefing after the FEC meeting on Wednesday. Despite his lack of visibility, Nigerians should rest assured that President Buhari has not abdicated his role as Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria. He receives daily briefings on the activities of government, and confers regularly with his Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. His private residence, in which he has been spending the majority of his time recently, also has a fully equipped office. God is the giver of life and health. We are grateful that He has seen our President through the worst period of his convalescence in London. We are thankful that the President has passed a number of benchmarks already. We pray that God continues to see him through this period of recuperation, he added. Buharis health has been cause for concern since January 19 when he left Nigeria for a 10-day medical vacation in London. The senate president is standing trial over alleged false assets declaration while serving as governor of Kwara . The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trial had suffered similar fate between April 18 and April 25. Both adjournments, however, were at the instance of the prosecution team. Sarakis trial which began in September 2015 had suffered numerous setbacks, mostly at the instance of the prosecution. NAN recalls that the prosecution shortlisted eight witnesses who would testify against the senate president in the 13- count charge of alleged false assets declaration. Those to testify are Yahaya Bello, Michael Wetkas, Mustapha Musa, Nura Bako, Adamu Garba, Samuel Madojemu, Abdulrahaman Dauda and Nwachukwu Amazu. Some of the witnesses were said to be DSS operators who investigated the four forms submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau by Saraki. The prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) had asked for short adjournment to enable him produce his witnesses. He said that there was the need to ensure financial independence for local governments because they were essential to democracy and development in any country. It is very dicey because it will involve you to amend so many sections of the Constitution, but what I will assure you is were going to push for financial autonomy. We are concerned because if you go all over the country today, local governments are no longer in existence. That is not good for democracy, its not good for development and that is why it has become very difficult for the people of the grassroots to feel the impact of government, he said. The deputy speaker described local government is an important part of democracy. Once they cannot operate on their own, once they dont have elected officials at local government level, once they dont have access to their own money, definitely, it will be difficult to do anything at that level. Lasun said that all over the world, local government was responsible for almost 40 per cent of development, hence the need to push its financial autonomy in the country. He said that the onus for constitution amendment lay with the state assemblies. If the States want the Constitution to be amended, they will append their signature to what we pass at the National Assembly, he added. On the report of the National Conference conducted by the last administration, the deputy speaker said that it would be considered for inclusion in the Constitution amendment. We have done that. We have taken those that we think are reasonable and they are going to form part of what we will consider here. The reviewed Constitution will be ready by May, 2018 at most; if we follow our programme diligently, I think it cannot be earlier than February or March, next year. But, I can assure you of one thing, were going to ensure that we achieve all these within the third year of this administration. The move, according to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau, was because the balance appeared to be diminishing. He said this is baffling because states have not collected any money from the fund since the beginning the present administration. This was part of the resolutions made at the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, April 27. The meeting was led by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. "No state has collected money from the ecological funds in the last one or two years and we notice that the balance is going down. Somebody must be touching it," Lalong said. Also speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, said the current balance in the Ecological Fund is N33.6 billion. He said members of the audit committee include governors of Oyo, Borno, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna and Anambra states. The Ministers of Finance and Environment are also part of the committee. ALSO READ: State Governors want Ecological Funds shared, they should be told off The mandate of the Funds, according to a citation on its website, says it is meant to do the following: "Reduce ecological problems nationwide to the barest minimum; facilitate quality and effective implementation of projects; judicious and equitable utilization of the Fund." It is also meant for the "effective management of Ecological Fund Projects." Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, revealed at the meeting that the Federal Government will clamp down on cattle rustlers and militants like never before. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the award was conferred on the governor by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at an Award Night and Investiture of the Governor of the Year to mark NUJ at 62. The event held at the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja. Presenting the award to the governor, NUJ President, Abdulwaheed Odusile said the award was to recognise people that had excelled in their callings as well contributed to the development of the society. Todays award is in two categories, Leadership Award and Entrepreneurship Award. For leadership award, we look at people in government who have discharged their mandate credibly." For the entrepreneurship award, we look at those in the private sector that have contributed immensely to the development of the society." Sen. Amonsun is our choice for leadership because he has successfully rebuilt Ogun state." For the entrepreneurship category, Dr Benoy Berry of CONTEC GROUP is going home with the NUJ Outstanding Achievement Award for his investment in agro-allied business, he said. Responding on behalf of the awardees, Amosun commended the NUJ, adding that the award was a call to do more. I take this award as a challenge by the NUJ for me to do more. This award is not for me alone but for the people of Ogun state." The nation cannot be built without the support of everybody, that is why I am happy with this award, he said. Earlier, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello said he was happy to be associated with the event and promised to support journalists practicing in the territory. Bello, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, FCTA Administration, Ajakaiye Babatope congratulated the recipients for their award. He expressed the hope that leaders, industrialists and entrepreneurs would emulate the outstanding qualities of the recipients in order to attract similar recognition in future. The commands Comptroller, Mr Abutu Onaja, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano on Friday. He said the vehicle was intercepted near Dutse in Jigawa on Thursday, April 27. My officers, somewhere close to Dutse town, intercepted a trailer carrying 377 bags of foreign rice covered with Nigerian goods including furniture, bags of dates, Bua sugar and used tyres. The people put the foreign rice under the local goods to give the impression that all the items are local goods, Onaja said. He said the seized foreign rice had N4.1 million total duty value, while the value of the other local items were yet to be ascertained. According to him, the area command donated 4, 220 bags of seized rice to Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs) in 2016. Our warehouse is currently filled up with rice and other items seized by the Command because we have no fewer than 6, 143 bags of rice in the warehouse at the moment. He said said the command would continue to discharge its responsibilities with a view to checking smuggling. The group made the announcement via a statement released by spokesman, Emma Powerful. The statement reads: We should not be discouraged by the court ruling of April 25, 2017. Rather, we should be focused on May 30, 2017 remembrance day, which is the priority of every IPOB member to ensure that no movement of any sort, both human and vehicular, across Biafra land on that day, will take place. We must make sure that all areas occupied by Biafrans for the remembrance and honour of our heroes and heroines, who laid down their lives during the genocidal war are shut down. Our leader (Kanu) has been in high spirit since his arrest in 2015 and we cannot afford our spirit to be dampened towards the liberation of Biafra because of conditions attached to his release. IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu was granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja on April 25. ALSO READ:Governor Fayose joins Nnamdi Kanu in court [PHOTO] Jibrin is the suspended Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation. Justice John Tsoho fixed the date on Friday after hearing arguments for and against an application filed by two members of the House, Rep. Nicholas Ossai, and Rep. Oker Jev. The two members are asking the court to put the hearing of the substantive matter on hold, pending the determination of their interlocutory appeal before the Court of Appeal. Counsel to the lawmakers, Mr Akeem Kareem, told the court that they had already filed a notice of appeal against the ruling of the court delivered on April 13, which prevented them from joining the suit as interested parties. The lawmakers counsel said that they were dissatisfied with the ruling of the court. The two applicants submitted that their interest would be jeopadised and their rights infringed on, should the court go ahead and hear the substantive matter without waiting for the resolution of the appeal. They insisted that it would be against the principles of fair hearing if their application for stay of proceedings was not first determined by the court before proceeding with the substantive matter. The position of the two lawmakers in seeking the stay of proceedings was supported by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, and the House of Representatives. Dogaras counsel, Mr Kalu Onuoha, told the court that he had been served with the motion seeking the stay of proceedings. He however said that he needed time to respond to it as required by law, adding that it was the fundamental right of the two applicants to get fair hearing from the court. In opposing the motion, Jibrins counsel, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), asked the court to discountenance the motion for stay of proceedings. He said this was on the grounds that those seeking to stop the substantive matter had no locus standi (business) to do so. Falana argued that the two lawmakers had been effectively shut out from joining the case by the April 13 ruling of the court. According to him, for them to appear in the matter or file an interlocutory appeal, they need to obtain leave of the court first. He held that without the leave of the court, the appeal of the two lawmakers was incompetent and invalid, and therefore could not be adjudicated upon by any court. Justice Tsoho, in his ruling, said that the two lawmakers needed the leave of the court before they could file an appeal. He however agreed to hear the motion seeking to stay proceedings in the interest of fair hearing, adding that the issue of fair hearing was constitutional and took precedence over any other matter. Mohammed also said that the presidents absence from Wednesdays Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting is not synonymous with non-performance. The minister made the comments during an interview with Channels Television in Ilorin after Buharis absence raised fresh concerns about his health. I think the President has been quite transparent. The President has told you that he was ill a few months ago, he has come back and he is taking his time. It is not correct for you to say that you dont see him at public functions Thats not correct, Mohammed said. The fact that a President or a minister does not come to office, does not mean he is not working. Im here today for instance, those who have come to my office would not see me. Mr President receives ambassadors, he does all he oughts to do but the fact that he didnt come for the Federal Executive Council meeting does not mean he is ill and anyway, there is no compulsion for him to preside over every FEC meeting, he added. Buhari had earlier been absent from the FEC meeting of April 12 leading Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo to preside over the gathering. In explanation of Buharis absence on April 12, Mohammed said that the president had decided to attend to other matters because the agenda was light. Mohammed also said, on April 26, that the president would work from home because he needed to rest. Buhari's absence from the April 12 meeting was the first since his March 10 return to Nigeria from a 49-day medical vacation in London. Buhari had said, on arrival in Nigeria, that he did not remember being so sick in all his life. He also said that he would soon need follow-up treatment for the undisclosed ailment. ALSO READ: Kanu was brought from kuje prison to the Federal High Court Abuja to sign the necessary bail papers. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the process, which took about 10 minutes saw Kanu emerging with smiles from the court in company of his sureties and relatives. Earlier, his lawyer, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, his three sureties, the Chairman, South East Senate caucus, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, a Jewish High Chief Priest, Immanuu-El Shalom and a Chartered Accountant residing in Abuja, Tochukwu Uchendu signed his bail bond. Justice Binta Nyako had on Tuesday April 25, admitted Kanu to bail on health grounds. He was also to produce a highly respected and recognised Jewish leader and a highly respected person, who is resident and owns landed property in Abuja. ALSO READ: IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu satisfies bail conditions Nyako ruled that each of the sureties are to deposit N100 million each. In addition to the above bail conditions, Kanu was barred from attending any rally or granting any form of interview. Soyinka also said that Buhari is obligated to make the information public because hes public property. The Nobel Laureate made the comments on Friday, April 28, while speaking to journalists in Lagos. Why is the president hiding his state of health? Hes supposed to understand hes public property, me Im still private property, thats why Im not in Aso Rock, Soyinka said according to Premium Times. Once you are in Aso Rock, or you occupy a similar position, you have a responsibility to come out frankly to your citizens. Guarding your state of health like Donald Trump is guarding his tax returns is not what we expect from a Nigerian president. Let him address the nation and stop all these speculations which create unnecessary political manipulations among other things," he added. Buharis repeated absence from public functions has caused concerns about his health. The president has failed to attend two Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings and was also absent at the Aso Rock Jumaat service on Friday. The playwrights home had been invaded by the herdsmen last year while he was out of the country. Let me narrate a personal experience just one among many that was brought home to me, right against my doorstep. Before that specific happening, I had observed a change of quality in forest encounters with cattle herdsmen over the years, Soyinka said on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, in an address to the National Conference on Culture and Tourism. These changes had become sufficiently alarming for me to arrange meetings with a few governors and, later, with the late National Security Adviser General Azazi. At the time, we thought that they were Boko Haram, infiltrating into the south under guise of cattle herding. That was then, and of course that surmise has never been firmly proven or disproved. Recently however, I returned from a trip outside the country about to find that my home ground had been invaded, and a brand-new Appian way sliced through my sanctuary. That motorable path was made by the hoofed invaders. Both the improvised entry and exit are now blocked, but interested journalists are invited to visit. In over two decades of living in that ecological preserve, no such intrusion had ever occurred. I have no idea whether they were Fulani or Futa Jalon herdsmen but, they were cattle herders, and they had cut a crude swathe through my private grounds. I made enquiries and sent alerts around, including through the Baale of our neighborhood village. There has been no repeat, and hopefully it will remain the first and last of such invasion. What it portends however is for all thinking citizens to reflect upon, and take concerted measures against, he added. Soyinka also said that Nigeria would never have a viable tourism sector if it continued to tolerate the insecurity unleashed by marauding Fulani herdsmen. Omotosho, who is the National Coordinator, Environmental Advancement Initiatives, an NGO, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. The health departments and the affected communities should be strengthened to monitor industries so as to curb industrial pollution in their localities before much damage is done to the health of innocent people." With growing industrialisation, so many chemicals are being indiscriminately disposed off in various communities across Nigeria." Such communities can be located in the Niger Delta, River Kaduna area and around Bompai Industrial Area, Kano, he said. Omotosho said that issues concerning waste disposal by industries should be handled by local government officials who knew their surroundings very well. He called for an increase in the number of environmental health officers engaged by the three tiers of government in order to meet the international standards. He said that if these measures, among others, were adopted, they would save the society from the menace of pollution-related diseases which could be easily prevented. Besides, Omotosho underscored the need to create adequate public awareness on sound industrial waste management procedures in the country for the benefit of industrialists and the general public. In capitalist societies such as Nigeria, creating environmental awareness among the teeming rural population with low literacy levels is the best option to address the growing menace of environmental pollution." The boys were told they must never let anyone know they were Jews as they went on the run -- by foot, train and ferry -- from Hitler's feared SS secret police in occupied France. Joffo's 1973 autobiographical novel "A Bag of Marbles" recounted their incredible journey, their capture and subsequent escape, and became a global phenomenon, made into a film and a graphic novel. Now a lavish remake by Canadian filmmaker Christian Duguay ("Boot Camp," "Joan of Arc") starring French singing and screen legend Patrick Bruel gets its North American premiere at the Colcoa festival of French Film in Los Angeles on Saturday. Opening in 1941 in occupied Paris, "A Bag of Marbles" introduces cinemagoers to Joseph (Dorian Le Clech) and Maurice (Batyste Fleurial) at age 10 and 12 as they scramble home to the barbershop run by their father, Roman (Bruel). Roman realizes that the boys' best chance to escape the coming Nazi roundup is to leave the close-knit family and flee to their older brothers in the demilitarized "zone libre" on the French Riviera. Always just one false move from tragedy, they survive on every scrap of ingenuity and courage they can muster as they try to make their money -- the equivalent of about $815 each -- last and overcome extraordinary odds to elude the Nazis. "The most important thing is how strong the brothers' relationship was," Bruel, 57, told AFP. "Because they were so strong together, they made it. Because they loved each other, they made it." 'Very scary' Although Jacques Doillon's 1975 version of Joffo's story is regarded as a masterpiece, Duguay and his partners felt the story had enough untapped potential to warrant a remake that would follow the book more faithfully. Initially unenthusiastic about the prospect of starring in another war movie after 2007's "A Secret," Bruel was persuaded when he learned it would show the Holocaust from children's point of view. "We must never let people forget what happened, and we have to try to do our best to tell, inform, show, talk, explain," he told AFP. "Kids are a fantastic way to talk to kids. The identification of the two little boys can resonate in the minds of kids of the same generation." The film's release comes with the rise of the far right in Europe and the United States, and particularly the success of Front National leader Marine Le Pen in the French presidential election's first round last week, serving as a reminder of the perils of untrammeled populism. "Ten days before the election, in France we are all very scared of seeing Marine Le Pen being president because it's possible," Bruel said in a Q&A at Colcoa just ahead of his interview with AFP. "The extreme right goes all over Europe, everywhere. What is happening everywhere is very scary." Bruel, who has made ten studio albums and more than 50 films, found stepping into Roman Joffo's shoes relatively easy, as his own two boys are the same age as the movie's young stars. Pressure The atmosphere was tense during parts of the filming, which took place just days after Islamists massacred 137 people in cafes, restaurants, a concert hall, kosher supermarket and the Stade de France in Paris. Bruel's children had been in the stadium just a few days before it was targeted by three suicide bombers from the Islamic State group. "Emotionally, everybody was very under pressure, so we didn't have to go very far into our deep emotions to be in the situation," Bruel said. Joffo, now 86, didn't initially intend to publish "A Bag of Marbles," wanting simply to "leave a testimony" to his children and to exorcize his own demons. A friend persuaded him to send it to publishers and, after more than a dozen rejections, a small publishing house agreed on an initial print run of 30,000 copies. They sold in less than a month and the book went on to sell 20 million copies. Bruel remembers Joffo breaking down in tears after seeing the movie for the first time, turning to the star saying: "You went further than what an actor can do -- you gave me back my father." "We had a lot of good times. He's a funny guy. He's a very light person," Bruel said of his meetings with Joffo. What better way to ease off the stress of the week than watch a good movie. With that in mind, check out our list of movies currently showing in cinemas across Lagos and Abuja. Starring: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans Synopsis: An adaptation of the Disney fairy tale about a monstrous-looking prince and a young woman who fall in love. Friday - Thursday: 1:50pm, 4:15pm Daily: 11:30AM, 1:55PM, 4:25PM Starring: Ama K. Abebrese, Liz Benson-Ameye, Okagbue Chris Synopsis: Lotanna is a story about a young man (Chris Okagbue), who discovers that he has to offset a huge debt owed by his father before his sudden death, to a fearful loan shark called Don Cleff. Sunday: 12:10pm Starring: Richard Mofe Damijo, Toyin Aimakhu, Blossom Chukwujekwu Synopsis: Chuks (aka Terminator) is an ardent player with the ladies. He enjoys the attention of women, including girlfriends from the past. He believes that once a man has had a woman, he forever has access to her. When challenged by his friends to see if he can prove the universality of that theory with three ex-girlfriends from his school days within 21 days, he accepts it. Turning on his best charm he sets off to try and prove himself, but his quest brings him to three women, Ifeoma (Ify), Tomi and Ejiro, whose situations in life have changed drastically since school days. This challenge of their various new statuses makes his quest to win the bet more and more insurmountable as he tries to prove the immutability of the age-old law, OKAFOR'S Law. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 6:25pm, 8:50pm Friday -Thursday: 1:20PM, 3:30PM, 5:45PM Friday - Thursday: 9:10pm Fri & Mon - Thu:11:40 AM, 4:00 PM Sat & Sun: 11:40 AM Synopsis: Omotunde, A young civil engineer married to Raymond an OAP(Online Radio Personality), has just given birth. Coloured by their different cultural backgrounds,their mothers-in-law forcefully move in with the couple to perform the Igbo child care rite called, Omugwo. But instead of relieving their children of the burden of childcare, the mothers rivalry complicates life for the couple to comical effects. Daily: 12:50pm,7:10pm Friday -Thursday: 6:35PM, 8:20PM Daily: 10:00am, 6:05pm Starring: Rita Dominic, Akin Lewis, Chidi Mokeme Synopsis: It focuses on a couple Sharon (Rita Dominic) and Kobi (Chidi Mokeme), who in a bid to save their union, expose some of the truths surrounding struggles and independence in marriage. Showing: Daily: 8:40pm Daily: 4:50pm, 7:20pm Friday -Thursday: 2:25PM, 8:05PM Starring: Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson Synopsis: When a mysterious woman seduces Dom into the world of terrorism and a betrayal of those closest to him, the crew face trials that will test them as never before. Showing: Daily: 10:15am, 12:45pm, 2:00pm, 3:20pm, 4:35pm, 6:00pm, 7:15pm, 8:35pm Daily:4:05 PM, 7:15 PM, 9:45 PM Fri - Sun:12:40 PM, 1:55 PM, 3:25 PM, 4:40 PM, 7:00 PM, 9:15 PM, 10:00 PM, Mon - Thu:12:40 PM, 1:55 PM, 3:25 PM, 4:40 PM, 7:00 PM, 9:15 PM, 10:00 PM (--VIP SHOWS--) Daily: 8:20 PM Fri - Sun: 11:00 Daily: 12:20pm, 2:20pm, 5:05pm, 7:40, 8:35pm Friday -Thursday: 11:30AM, 1PM, 2:05PM, 3:40PM, 4:40PM, 6:10PM, 7:15PM, 8:45PM Starring: Ariel Winter, Michelle Rodriguez, Joe Manganiello Synopsis: In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting race through the Forbidden Forest leading to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history. Showing: Friday -Thursday: 11:00am,1:20pm Friday -Thursday: 11:30AM, 1:15PM Friday -Thursday: 10:10am Daily: 11:50 PM Starring: Keanu Reeves, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ian McShane Synopsis: After returning to the criminal underworld to repay a debt, John Wick discovers that a large bounty has been put on his life. Friday - Thursday: 4:20PM, 6:55PM, 8:15PM Friday -Thursday: 3:15pm, 6:40pm, 7:50pm Starring: Michael Pena, Dax Shepard, Jessica McNamee Synopsis: A rookie officer is teamed with a hardened pro at the California Highway Patrol, though the newbie soon learns his partner is really an undercover Fed investigating a heist that may involved some crooked cops. Showing: Daily: 10:45am, 4:40pm Starring: Max Cavenham, Rita Dominic, Nicola Alexis Synopsis: The story follows a casual extramarital affair that soon becomes a living nightmare for Dr. Daniels who quickly discovers that his free-spirited conquest (Rita Dominic) wants more and would go to great lengths to achieve it. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 5:15pm Daily: 11:30 AM, 4:05 PM Daily: 5:20pm, 8:50pm Starring: Jamie Foxx, Michelle Monaghan, Dermot Mulroney Synopsis: A cop with a connection to the criminal underworld scours a nightclub in search of his kidnapped son. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 2:55pm, 5:15pm, 6:40pm Daily: 2:00 PM, 6:10 PM, 8:15 PM, 10:20 PM Starring: Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler Synopsis: A group of high-school students, who are infused with unique superpowers, harness their abilities in order to save the world. Showing: Daily: 12:00pm 2:40pm Daily: 12PM Daily: 6:50 PM INEC Chairman, Prof. Mamood Yakubu, made the request when he led the commissions management to a courtesy visit on the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Thursday in Abuja. Yakubu said that with the return of peace to Borno and the North East states, many Nigerians previously in Internally Displaced Camps, before and during the last general elections, had returned to their homes. He said that while peace had been restored to the North East states and many people had returned to their towns and villages, INEC had challenges in deploying its personnel and materials in five local government areas in Borno. The areas, according to him, are Damboa, Chibok, Goza, Bama, and Gala/Balge. The challenge is not in the local government headquarters but the road leading to the local government headquarters. We have been largely informed that the areas are risky, in the sense that the insurgents, in some instances, manned these roads. We are all aware of the incident that happened last week involving some of our very senior officers in the Army. It is on these reasons and out of our desire to ensure that every Nigerian is given opportunity, that we are approaching the Air Force to assist INEC in respect of these five LGAs. We appeal to the Air Force, in the interest of our democracy and father land, to deploy our national assets at your disposal to enable us achieve this great responsibility, Yakubu said. The INEC Chairman said that the commission would be grateful if the NAF could grant the request as it was the desire of the commission that all Nigerians be bio-metrically captured. Responding Air Marshal Abubakar pledged the readiness of the force to partner with INEC for safe deployment of INECs staff and materials. He said that the NAF would be happy to get involved and support INEC in whatever way that would make the exercise a success. Not only will we be able to move your personnel and equipment to these LGAs headquarters, I think our presence there would also confer some security to your personnel in carrying out their assignment. We have the assets and we will give you every support needed to carry out the exercise, Abubakar said. He also promised the forces readiness to assist INEC in future election not only in Borno but in any part of the country. In the future we have the C130 aircraft which is a cargo aircraft that can move item from Lagos to any other part of the country. We are always willing once we get your request to move the items to where you desire to have them, he added. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said while flagging on the registration at the Karu Area Council office of Federal Capital Territory, that more than 4,000 staff were deployed nationwide. We want to assure Nigerians that the current exercise is just the beginning; we are considering deploying personnel to cover 8,809 wards and 120,000 polling units. We are working on the logistics because this exercise is going to be very huge. For the current exercise, confined to 774 local government offices, we mobilised more than 4,000 of our staff. If we are to deploy this exercise to the wards, on the basis of five staff per ward, we need to recruit over 44,000 staff. If we are to extend it to 120,000 polling units, on the basis of five staff per polling unit, we will require more than 600,000 ad hoc staff for the registration, the chairman said. According to him, since it is going to be all year round, INEC needed to consider the logistics. I want to assure that we will go down to the ward and polling units but for a good beginning we need to start from the local government level. He said the commission would do a midterm review of the exercise after six months to look at the success, challenges and how to improve on the exercise. Yakubu, however, called for the collaboration of stakeholders for the success of the exercise. He said such collaboration was necessary to prevent registration of underage or foreigner as well as preventing politicians from hijacking the process for personal interests. This process is for every Nigerian and it is our collective responsibility to keep an eye on it. That is why we are doing it in our offices without involving all and sundry. If anybody is found to be underage, do not hesitate to expose such person by reporting to the commission or security agency to immediately apprehended such person. The same thing goes for anybody trying to hijack the process. The INEC boss added that those who lost their Permanent Voter Cards or Temporary Voter Cards should also visit the registration centres for replacement. Yakubu described the exercise as another effort by INEC to consolidate the countrys electoral process. According to him, it also provides an opportunity for those who yet to register to do so, or collect their PVCs. The INECs Administrative Secretary, Abuja Municipal Area Council Office, Alhaji Ahmadu Umar, called for collaborative effort by stakeholders to sensitise the people on the exercise. We appeal to all stakeholders, especially the political parties and the media, to help the commission in sensitising the people on the exercise, Umar said. AMAC Chairman, Abdullahi Candido, urged INEC to extend the exercise to the wards or polling units. Candido said the appeal was necessary as many people reside at communities far away from the local government or area council headquarters. Makarfi made the comment in reaction to Buharis absence from three Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings. It cannot be okay and it can never be okay. My take is that if the President is not fully fit to stay in office, it is better that he tell Nigerians, so that the Vice President will continue to be Acting President, exercising the powers of acting president, Makarfi told The Nation. Then you run away from this kind of situation when we allow time for the President to fully recover and assume his mantle of leadership. Me as PDP person, as a human being, I will never wish any human being ill-will, even if I disagree with you politically. So, it does not matter that it is APC that is the person that is sick. My prayer is that he will be fit to serve his term. As a politician, I equally want him to finish his term. So when some people begin to insinuate things, of what interest would it be to PDP should the President be unable to finish his term. We dont wish him ill will, we want him to be well, we want him to be fit enough to be on seat when in 2019 we go for election and defeat the APC. For a number of reasons, the PDP wishes the President well, for stability of this country, political stability and the fact that we want to defeat a sitting President. We dont want any confusion politically in this country. It is not good for anybody and as a human being; I never wish anybody ill will irrespective of political differences, he added. Meanwhile, Information Minister, Lai Mohammed has said that Buharis absence from FEC meetings is not synonymous with non-performance. The fact that a President or a minister does not come to office, does not mean he is not working. Im here today for instance, those who have come to my office would not see me," Mohammed told Channels TV in Ilorin. Buhari had earlier been absent from the FEC meeting of April 12 leading Osinbajo to preside over the gathering. In explanation of Buharis absence on April 12, Mohammed said that the president had decided to attend to other matters because the agenda was light. Mohammed also said, on April 26, that the president would work from home because he needed to rest. Buhari's absence from the April 12 meeting was the first since his March 10 return to Nigeria from a 49-day medical vacation in London. Buhari had said, on arrival in Nigeria, that he did not remember being so sick in all his life. He also said that he would soon need follow-up treatment for the undisclosed ailment. ALSO READ: Sheriff in a statement signed by his Deputy National Chairman, Dr Cairo Ojougboh issued on Thursday in Abuja, said this was to enable his led National working Committee (NOC) to focus on repositioning the PDP. We are opting out and focusing our efforts at making the party the darling of Nigerians again. We had made tremendous progress before former President Jonathan was asked by party leaders to convene a meeting where stakeholders will adopt the governor s Committee report on reconciliation. "Unfortunately, former president Jonathan lost control of the meeting he convened and allowed Makarfi group to continue with their anti party posture he said. All the organs of the party were already queuing up behind us and Jonathan came to unbundle the progress we made by his inability to control the meeting. We will not continue again but rather concentrate on rebuilding our party, he said. But some of us don't get to the Mosque until the Imam is about to round up the Kbutbah. At this point, can one still offer supererogatory prayers? ALSO READ: This is the right time to supplicate to Allah on Friday Here is the explanation. As stated in Fiqh Sunnah, once the Imam comes in (and greets the congregants) one should no longer offer any Nawafil except Tahiyaytul Mosjid (the prayer of greeting the mosque) which may be performed quickly during the khutbah unless one comes at the end of the khutbah and would not have the time [i.e.,before the actual salah begins] to perform tahayyatul masjid. It is reported that Ibn 'Umar used to perform along prayer before al-Jumu'ah and then two rak'at after it, and he said that the Prophet used to do so. This is related by Abu Dawud. This hadith sums up the significance of observing supererogatory prayers before Khutbah begins. Jabir reports that a man came to the mosque on Jumu'ah while the Prophet was delivering the khutbah. The Prophet inquired of him: "Did you offer the salah?"The man replied: "No!" He told him: "Pray two rak'at." This is related by the group. In one narration it states: "If one of you comes to the mosque on the day of Jumu'ah and the imam is delivering the khutbah, he should pray two rak'at and make them quick." This is related by Ahmad, Muslim, and Abu Dawud. In another narration, it is stated: "If one of you comes to the mosque on the day of Jumu'ah and the imam has already arrived, he should offer two rak'at." This is related by al-Bukhari and Muslim. The survey, commissioned by Microsoft Nigeria and conducted by market research firm YouGov, was shared at the just concluded annual British Education and Training Technology (BETT) Middle East 2017 event held in Dubai on April 2526. Nigerian educators were present at the event, led by Microsoft Nigerias Education Programs Manager, Jordan Belmonte. Per the survey, Nigerian educators deem themselves highly proficient and believe they should be the ones to lead the digital revolution in the classrooms of the nation. They are also most interested in apps that help coordinate teaching materials. 90% of them believe their school leaders have a definitive understanding of how to use technology to improve the classroom experience, 54% affirmed that technology was used in some way in their school, and 64% agreed that problem-solving was an important skill required by students. In terms of how the absence of technology impacts the student body, 46% believed that it would deride students of entrepreneurial opportunities. Even worse, 54% of the educators surveyed lack proper understanding of technology implementation and integration into the way they teach. Over several decades, Microsoft has worked with institutions and educators around the world, and gained a deep understanding of how technology in schools can transform the learning experience, said Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Worldwide Education, Microsoft Corporation, according to a statement made available to Pulse Tech. We continue to bring our leading-edge products, services and programs to bear on this challenge, always taking into account that technology is not the lone agent in such transformations, and can even complicate or slow down the process if not implemented with due diligence. We recommend that education leaders take a curriculum- focused approach to technology adoption, keeping in mind their educational goals, and then integrate those technologies that facilitate tangible benefits for students and teachers. The study shows that the biggest factor needed to transform education and learning experiences was educator skill sets, especially knowing how to make the most of tools and resources that are available. Lack of digital proficiency is the biggest challenge facing the youth, especially in the Middle East. It is crucial to take the steps for equipping educators with the right tools and providing them with trainings that will help address the technological challenges in the classroom; empowering students with key 21 st century skills to deliver immense change, said, Jordan Belmonte, Education Programs Manager, Microsoft Nigeria. Security concerns are the governments main reasons for doing this, but there is also suspicion that economic incentives for local telcos may be involved as the telcos have repeatedly complained to regulators about free calls via such apps. The partial shutdown comes off the back of a three-month nationwide state of emergency which came in place after terrorist attacks killed 47 people in two churches on Palm Sunday. The emergency law gives Egyptian authorities immense power to do things like monitor personal communications without judicial oversight. Sinai, a town which has seen increased attacks from the Islamic State (IS), was off the grid on Wednesday with 3G networks and mobile phones shutdown for hours while a security operation targeted at insurgents took place. Egypts National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) firmly denied that it was disrupting VoIP services saying, there is no truth to the rumours circulating, Quartz Africa reports. ALSO READ: New report shows Egypt has the highest number of users on social network Speaking to Quartz Africa, Ahmed Abdel Naby, 23 and administrator of Internet Revolution Egypt a Facebook page that boasts over a million followers, said, The latest blocks shows that the authorities are melding national security and business concerns. At this rate, no one will be able to make calls freely. The Egyptian regulators and local telcos have always maintained that customers calls should be charged and that users are free-riding by using internet data. NTRA has also declared support for a controversial law in the works that makes it a crime to speak against the president on the the Internet. Our demands are simple: we want quicker and affordable internet without constant disruptions so we can be like other countries that respect freedom of expression, Abdel Naby said, according to Quartz Africa. The government cannot keep on using terrorism as an excuse to disrupt apps. Egypt may be the most populous Arab country in the world but it has one of the slowest internet speeds worldwide, ranking in the bottom five for broadband and 95th for mobile. But first, I'll tell you a cool story about one of the world's favourite presidents in the past decade. Barack Obama. So we know people everywhere like to smoke their weed. Very much. That also included people of America. The weed industry was massive and also illegal. that means the government was getting no share of that revenue. So Obama thought, "hey, why do we arrest people for selling weed, when we can get a share of that money?" And so began the legalisation of weed in the Obama administration. According to Forbes, America made $6.7 billion in revenue from Marijuana. That money is more than Nigeria's education budget in 2016. Let's come back home to Nigeria. The Nigerian industry we're looking at is not weed. The only burning bush Nigerians can endorse, as per morality prefects, is the one Moses saw on the Holy Mountain. We're going to talk about the Nigerian greed industry, because you know, Nigerians don't play with their hunger for more. It's why when MMM started, you tell someone, hey MMM is basically you taking another person's money. It's greed. Nigerians will be like, But when MMM crashed, all of them were like, We made a hilarious post about the crash that made MMM people very sad back then. But you see, there's a new one in town now. Back to greed. Imagine Buhari says, "Fellow Nigerians, blow whistle and we'll give you national honour and you'll be remembered for generatuions". Nigerians will be like, But when you say "oya, blow whistle and collect 5%", all Nigerians will be like, And the secondary strategy is what seems to be working. I mean, we're seeing dollars being found much more than we have seen the President this entire year. But we're just imagining what the plan actually is for the whistleblowers. One day you're just a normal person, the next day you're in the Bahamas with $1 million like, Or they are going to keep them waiting for the money like, What if the people whose money they casted will come for them like, And next thing you know, Whistleblower's life is blown away. Anyway since the EFCC is saying the they've recovered 17bn in 4 months, it means this hook-them-with-greed formular is working. But I have one final theory on this, You know in a football match, the only person who can blow whistle is the referee, And for a referee to blow the whistle, he has to be on the pitch, whistle blowing for all the players. Does that mean that maybe... Does mean that Whistleblowers are just casting all the other people they were playing with? "Venezuela is a mess," Trump said in response to a reporter's question as he received Argentine President Mauricio Macri to the White House. "I'm very sad for Venezuela, very sad to see what's happened in Venezuela," he said. "Venezuela is a very sad situation." His comments come as the government of leftist President Nicolas Maduro prepares to withdraw from the Organization of American States, a Washington-based regional grouping that encompasses all countries in the western hemisphere but Cuba. The Maduro government charges that a group of countries led by the United States is using the OAS to try to force him from office. Venezuela, a major oil producer on the brink of economic collapse, has been hit by waves of anti-government protests in response to deteriorating living conditions and a deepening political impasse. Caracasannounced it was withdrawing from the OAS after the group called a meeting of foreign ministers to discuss the crisis. Led by France and Germany, the European Union has identified defence cooperation as a key area for rebooting the crisis-hit bloc after Britain's traumatic vote to leave. "This is one of the fields where European Union integration is advancing the most," Mogherini said after EU defence ministers met in Malta. Ministers would review progress in May and then it would be up to EU leaders meeting in June, or later in the year, to take "bold decisions if we want to deliver on defence and security," she said. This could include efforts to relaunch a so-called rapid response force, which was approved as a rotating battle group led by member states a decade ago but never deployed, Mogherini told reporters. "Now with crises all around, we hear from our partners, starting from the UN ... that a rapid reaction force from the EU would be needed to be deployed in some crisis areas," she said. Mogherini has spearheaded efforts to give the EU the "hard power" to match its "soft power" influence. Britain, nuclear armed and with a permanent veto at the United Nations, long opposed such efforts, fearing the creation of a "European army" commanded from Brussels. But Brexit has taken Britain out of the equation and faced with doubts over US President Donald Trump's commitment to Europe's defence, Mogherini has led voices urging the EU to take on a more active defence role. In March, defence and foreign ministers approved her plans for an embryonic military headquarters to coordinate EU overseas security operations. German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said it was "impressive to see that now all 27 member states (minus Britain) are ready to put the security and defence union on a good path." Her remarks, following a EU foreign ministers meeting in Valletta, came after recent calls from some countries that negotiations over Turkey's potential membership of the bloc should be stopped. The talks in Malta highlighted sharp differences on ties with Turkey after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's victory in a referendum to reform the constitution gave him increased powers. Germany urged its EU peers not to end accession talks despite deep misgivings over Turkey's rights record, saying the country is key to European interests, not least as a NATO ally. Austria however reiterated its demand that negotiations be ditched, saying Erdogan had violated the EU rule of law and eschewed democratic norms that candidate countries must put in place. After a "very frank and open" meeting with the foreign ministers, Mogherini said she was "happy to have (Turkey) in but a level of clarification" was needed from Ankara. "The accession process continues, it is not suspended, not ended (although) we are currently not working on any new chapters," she told reporters. "The criteria are very clear, well known and if Turkey is interested in joining, as the foreign minister told us today, ... it knows very well what that implies, especially in the field of human rights, rule of law, democracy and freedoms," she said. Erdogan meanwhile accused the EU of backing the 'No' campaign in this month's referendum on expanding his powers, but insisted Turkey's door was still open. The EU backed the losing side but that was in the past and from now on the EU should "put efforts into how you will develop your relations with Turkey. Although you carried out that campaign, we are opening our door," he said. Mogherini, who said the EU respected the outcome of the vote, was due to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu later Friday. 'Wrong reaction' German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said earlier that his government was "strictly against breaking off the accession talks.... It would be the completely wrong reaction." "In NATO, we did not even exclude Turkey even during the times of military dictatorship (there). Why should we now have an interest in pushing it in the direction of Russia?" he said. But Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz repeated his call for talks to be halted and told his EU colleagues to make their minds up. "I consider it completely wrong if we hold up this fiction of an accession (to the EU) as Turkey moves away even further from Europe every year," Kurz said. "We need, finally, a clear decision." In March last year, the European Union signed an accord with Turkey to speed up the accession talks, along with visa liberalisation and billions in aid in return for Ankara halting a flood of migrants, mostly from Syria and Iraq, coming to Europe. Erdogan and top Turkish officials have repeatedly threatened to rip up the deal because of the lack of progress in membership talks. Moudeina represented the victims during Habre's trial by a special court created by Senegal and the African Union. AFP asked her if Thursday's verdict upholding Habre's life sentence for war crimes and crimes against humanity represented a turning point for African justice, and what its implications were for the increasingly unpopular International Criminal Court. What will be the impact of the verdict? There will be a significant impact. You cannot imagine the joy this has brought today. We have spent 17 years in search of justice, and we were stuck in a kind of tunnel. Now we are out of the tunnel and stepping into the light. We are delivering a very strong message to dictators, to all human rights abusers. I believe everyone will pay attention. The fight against impunity has now begun in earnest, which is a turning point for Africa. Today, any African can allow himself to believe he could take on the most prolific offenders in court. Could the special tribunal become a model for Africa? Definitely. It would suffice for the African Union, which took on the task of setting up this jurisdiction, to do it again for other cases, but with improvements. This is a huge start. There were certainly errors that we will rectify in order to establish a very good jurisdiction. The way we organised witnesses and the victims was very badly organised. Chad is very far away and many were not able to come here. Is it a real alternative to the International Criminal Court (ICC)? For sure. The ICC has a complementary role that works alongside national jurisdictions. If today we have demonstrated that Africa is capable of judging Africans, we will no longer need to turn to the ICC, because we will have shown our capacity to judge our own. It was the Chadian victims of Habre who brought the case. At the beginning, there was just seven of us. Today, we have more than 4,385 in our camp. Operation Mansouri -- named after the group's former leader who was killed in a US drone strike in May 2016 -- will use strategies from "conventional attack to guerrilla operations", the statement said. "The key objective... will be the foreign forces, their military infrastructure and intelligence, and the elimination of their local mercenaries," the extremist group said in a statement. "The enemy will be targeted, harassed, killed or captured until they abandon their last posts." The annual spring offensive normally marks the start of the "fighting season", though this winter the lull was shorter and the Taliban continued to battle government forces. The Taliban warned of further "suicide attacks, complex attacks and inside attacks" by soldiers or police turning against their peers. Authorities have arrested 35 soldiers as fears grow the Taliban had inside help. The gunmen were dressed in army uniforms and had valid passes to the base, fuelling suspicions of complicity on the 30,000-strong base, where Western instructors are sometimes called on as part of NATO's training, assistance and advisory mission. So-called insider attacks -- when Afghan soldiers and police turn their guns on their colleagues or on international troops -- have been a major problem during the war, which began in 2001. Both the Afghan defence minister and his army chief resigned following the attack. It is not clear whether the announcement of the spring offensive will lead to an immediate escalation in fighting. US warning Earlier this month, the American military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on Islamic State group hideouts in eastern Afghanistan, killing nearly a hundred militants. It was the first time the US military's GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, dubbed the "Mother of All Bombs" had been used in combat. The target was IS hideouts in the Achin district of Nangarhar province. The bombing aimed to erode IS's capabilities in Afghanistan, but it was also seen as a warning to the much bigger Taliban group. The attack triggered global shockwaves, with some condemning the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that is not considered as big a threat as the resurgent Taliban. US-led NATO troops have been at war in Afghanistan since 2001, after the ousting of the Taliban regime for refusing to hand over Osama bin Laden following the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Mohamed Lamsalak and Youssef Ben Hammou were arrested earlier in the week as part of a joint investigation between Spanish and Belgian police. Officers seized firearms, drugs and cash in raids connected to the operation. The two men "have admitted that they were at the airport when the bombs went off. They deny involvement in the attacks," said a spokesman for the National Court, which specialises in terrorism cases. Belgium has been on high alert since March 22 last year when suicide bombers attacked Zaventem airport and the Maalbeek metro station, killing 32 people and leaving more than 320 wounded. The attacks were led by an Islamic State cell that was also responsible for the carnage in Paris in November 2015. The spokesman said an inquiry had established that the men were in Brussels from March 16-23. "They say that they went to Brussels to buy a car," he said. "Investigators are working to determine if the money (intended for the purchase) was used to finance the attack or for any other motive". The men, who are charged with belonging to a terrorist organisation, admitted that while in Brussels they visited the cousin of the two brothers who blew themselves up in the coordinated attack. Investigators were looking into a document found on Hammou, a Google Maps print-out which showed the route from Germany to Brussels taken by Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the jihadist group behind attacks in Paris which left 130 dead. Hammou and Lamsalak both deny any connection to the Paris attacks. The two suspects were among a group of nine people taken in for questioning in Barcelona and the northeastern region of Catalonia. On Tuesday, police said the nine were made up of eight Moroccans and one Spanish national. Four of those have been released on probation while three others remain in custody, but on charges not relating to terrorism. Between 2012 and October 2016, Spain detained 186 people with suspected links to Islamic jihadism, including 63 in Catalonia, according to the interior ministry. Spain, the world's third most visited country, increased its terror alert to category four on a five-point scale in 2015 after attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait. The country has been mentioned on extremist websites as a possible target for historical reasons, since much of its territory was under Muslim rule from 711 to 1492. But it has been spared major jihadist violence since March 2004, when bombs exploded on commuter trains in Madrid, killing 191 people in an attack claimed by Qaeda-inspired militants. Unlike France or Belgium, Spain is less exposed to the risk that radicalised citizens who left to fight abroad will return with plans to commit attacks on home soil. Three Greek Cypriots and a Syrian were remanded in police custody for three days in connection with Thursday's kidnapping of the Cypriot-Norwegian child from outside a nursery school in the capital Nicosia. One of the men is believed to have organised the kidnapping, while the suspected vehicle used for the abduction was found in possession of the 33-year-old Syrian national, said police. Police also told a Nicosia district court that the Norwegian father had emailed the mother to say the girl was with him somewhere in Cyprus, safe and in good health. The girl would stay one week with him, then he would instruct his lawyers to arrange custody of the child. Police said they had indications the girl had been taken across the island's UN-patrolled ceasefire line to the Turkish-controlled north via an unofficial crossing point from the south. The Turkish Cypriot side had also been alerted to try to locate the missing girl. Cypriot authorities have issued a European arrest warrant for the child's father who is separated from the Greek Cypriot mother with whom he has been engaged in a bitter custody battle. Two masked men forcibly took the girl from her mother as she was being dropped off at the nursery, then sped off with a getaway driver, police said. Policing in Cyprus is complicated by the island's decades-old division. A breakaway Turkish Cypriot administration in the north is recognised only by Turkey and has no extradition agreement with any other country. The new law on facial coverings falls short of a total ban in public places demanded by right-wing parties, like that in effect in neighbouring France since 2011. The prohibition will apply to public servants -- including election officials, military and judicial staff -- performing their duties. "The state has a duty to present itself in an ideologically and religiously neutral manner," says the text of the law passed by the lower house in the evening. Germany has since 2015 taken in more than one million migrants and refugees, most from predominantly Muslim countries. This has stoked a xenophobic backlash and boosted the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany party, which has attempted to link the influx to a heightened threat of terrorism. 'Limits of tolerance' Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the social integration of immigrants requires "that we make clear and communicate our values and the limits of our tolerance to other cultures". The ban on full facial coverings allows exceptions -- for example, for health workers protecting themselves against infections or police officers concealing their identity. People can also be required to remove facial coverings in order to match them with their identity papers. New security measures also include the use of electronic ankle bracelets, if approved by a judge, for people deemed a security threat, in federal police cases -- such as known Islamic radicals considered potentially violent by security services. Another law paves the way for national and state police forces to pool their data in a new integrated IT system. Under another new measure, Germany will implement EU rules on the exchange of flight passenger data to counter terrorism and serious crime. And physical attacks on police, emergency services and military personnel on duty will in future be punished more severely, with up to five years' jail. The reforms follow the December 19 truck attack in Berlin claimed by the Islamic State group. The suspect, 24-year-old Tunisian national Anis Amri, was shot dead four days later by Italian police. The Amri case sparked public anger after it emerged he had already been in the crosshairs of security services and should long ago have been sent back to Tunisia, which for months refused to take him. The practice consists of recruiting poor pregnant women, usually from the Roma minority, and transferring them to Greece to give birth and sell their baby to couples there, who are ready to pay up to 15,000 euros ($16,300) for a baby boy. Any payment is considered illegal, but the Greek legal system does not help solving the problem as it allows the mother to simply sign her child away in front of a notary, investigators say. The mothers usually get a fraction of the money with the bigger chunk pocketed by the traffickers. Two men, aged 47 and 50, from the small town of Kameno near Burgas were jailed for 10 years for recruiting two pregnant women from a nearby village and accommodating them in flats in Greece with a view to selling their babies when they were born. The wife of one of the men was also jailed for six years and another accomplice received a three-year suspended sentence. The crimes occurred in the years between 2008 to 2010. During a visit to the region of Burgas and Kameno in 2016, AFP collected testimony from local officials and ordinary people about a shady trade that feeds on endemic poverty of the local Roma. The chaos in Skopje broke out on Thursday evening, with dozens of demonstrators -- including a group of masked men -- breaking a police cordon and entering parliament waving Macedonian flags, shouting and singing the national anthem. Footage from the scene showed chairs being thrown as fistfights broke out in the parliamentary press room, while Zoran Zaev, leader of the opposition Social Democrats (SDSM), had blood running down his face and shirt. One female SDSM deputy is seen yanked by the hair while other women climb down from a balcony in a bid to escape. Interior Minister Agim Nuhiu earlier told media that 10 MPs and an unspecified number of journalists were among those hurt in the violence, which was condemned by the United States and European Union. The ministry said the situation was "normalised" on Friday morning but that there were "additional measures and activities to protect the security of citizens". The incident follows two years of political crisis in the Balkan country, where nationalist demonstrators -- who support the conservative VMRO-DPMNE party -- have been holding nightly rallies since an inconclusive December election. They oppose a proposed coalition between the SDSM and ethnic Albanians, which they perceive as a threat to national unity. VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski was Macedonia's premier for a decade until last year. Thursday's turmoil broke out after the SDSM and Albanian parties voted in a new parliamentary speaker, ethnic Albanian Talat Xhaferi. Their opponents say the vote was unfair, taking place after the former speaker had closed the day's session, but the EU said it took "positive note" of Xhaferi's election. Most of the injured deputies were from the SDSM party, but ethnic Albanian MP Ziadin Sela appeared to be one of the most badly wounded. Police eventually took control of the parliament, using stun grenades to clear out the protesters. The chaos in Skopje broke out on Thursday evening, with dozens of nationalist demonstrators -- including a group of masked men -- breaking a police cordon and storming parliament in anger over a vote for a new speaker, an ethnic Albanian. Footage from the scene showed chairs being thrown as fistfights broke out in the parliamentary press room, while Zoran Zaev, leader of the opposition Social Democrats (SDSM), had blood running down his face and shirt. The violence, which was condemned by the European Union and the United States, follows two years of political crisis in the country of about two million people. An early election in December was supposed to end the turmoil, but its inconclusive result only deepened the uncertainty and has led to nightly protests by nationalist demonstrators, who support the conservative VMRO-DPMNE party of former premier Nikola Gruevski. They oppose a proposed coalition between the SDSM and ethnic Albanian parties, which they perceive as a threat to national unity. The storming of parliament was sparked by a vote by the SDSM and Albanian groups for a new parliamentary speaker, Talat Xhaferi. While the EU said it took "positive note" of Xhaferi's election, the protesters considered the vote unlawful, taking place after the former speaker had closed the day's session. 'Policy of hatred and division' Condemning the violence on Friday, Gruevski said the SDSM and their allies had "knowingly decided to violate the law and the constitution, which directly caused the event that ensued". The SDSM said the speaker's election was "a major step" in the democratic process and blamed the violence on "a policy of conflict, hatred and division" brought on by the rule of Gruevski, who served as premier for a decade until last year. President Gjorge Ivanov, an ally of Gruevski, was set to hold an emergency meeting of party leaders on Friday but the SDSM said it would not attend. Ethnic Albanian party BESA said the interior ministry had "allowed VMRO-DPMNE hooligans to attack the highest legislative institution". 'Situation normal' The ministry said the situation was "normalised" on Friday morning but that there were "additional measures and activities to protect the security of citizens". It said 102 people had been treated at city hospitals, including MPs and police officers. Most suffered minor injuries. Interior Minister Agim Nuhiu -- who announced his resignation on Friday over the night's events -- had told media that 10 MPs and an unspecified number of journalists were among those hurt. Most of the injured deputies were from the SDSM party, but ethnic Albanian MP Ziadin Sela appeared to be one of the most badly wounded. Video from parliament showed one female SDSM deputy being fiercely yanked by the hair while other women climbed down from a balcony in a bid to escape. Police eventually took control of the parliament, using stun grenades to clear out the protesters. The political crisis in Macedonia, which aspires to join both the EU and NATO, erupted in 2015 over a huge wiretapping scandal. A focal point of the current tension is a controversial demand of Albanian parties that Albanian be made an official language across Macedonia. Critics of the demand fear it could lead to the break-up of the small landlocked country, in which about a quarter of the population is ethnic Albanian. President Ivanov has denied Zaev a mandate to form a coalition government with Albanian parties, alleging national sovereignty would be undermined. Mouhcine Fikri, 31, was killed on October 28 as he protested against the authorities' seizure and destruction of his swordfish, which had been caught out of season. His death in the northern port of Al-Hoceima sparked nationwide protests. The Criminal Chamber of Al-Hoceima handed down the sentences Wednesday after a manslaughter trial of 11 people including officials from the fisheries authority and the interior ministry along with employees of the cleaning company, the local prosecutor said. In a statement carried by the official MAP news agency, the prosecutor said those sentenced to prison also faced fines of $55 (50 euros) and that the other four suspects were acquitted. The Public Prosecutor's Office appealed against the judgment, which was handed down after a trial of just two days. The victim's parents were granted an unspecified amount of compensation. Mobile phone footage of Fikri's death sparked a wave of protests across Morocco. Demonstrations have continued to rock Al-Hoceima province, with activists demanding jobs, denouncing corruption and asserting the Berber identity of the Rif region. Several local officials including the provincial governor were dismissed at the end of March. Interior minister Abdelouafi Laftit, appointed as part of a new government in early April, visited the town shortly afterwards to try to calm what a local weekly magazine called a "social earthquake". Nearly a month of clashes at anti-government protests have left 28 people dead, according to prosecutors. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday intensified his row with foreign powers that he accuses of plotting to overthrow him. His government announced it was launching the two-year process to pull out of the Organization of American States, a key regional diplomatic grouping whose secretary general Luis Almagro has branded Maduro a dictator. "I am proud to say I took the decision... to free our country from interventionism," Maduro said in a speech on Thursday. "We are free of the OAS and we will never return," he added. "To hell with the OAS! To hell with Luis Almagro!" OAS branded 'traitors' The move was a defiant show of force in a mounting crisis for Maduro, whose center-right opponents blame him for the country's economic collapse. They want elections to remove Maduro, whose current terms runs through the end of next year. The United States played down the announcement. It "has no real practical or immediate effect because withdrawing from the OAS requires up to two years," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. "In the meantime Venezuela will remain a full member of the OAS, and required to fulfill all of its obligations as a member state. And that begins obviously with respect for democratic norms and processes." Trump 'sad' for Venezuela US President Donald Trump meanwhile spoke out on the mounting crisis in Venezuela. "Venezuela is a mess," he said in response to a reporter's question as he received Argentine President Mauricio Macri at the White House. "I'm very sad for Venezuela," Trump said. "Venezuela is a very sad situation." In Brussels, the European Parliament said in a resolution it "strongly condemns the brutal repression exercised by the Venezuelan security forces, as well as irregular armed groups, against the peaceful protests". It urged the Venezuelan government to bring those responsible for the deaths to justice and guarantee the right to peaceful protests. US 'imperialism' slammed The OAS has led an international chorus of concern over the economic and political chaos in the major oil-exporting country. Maduro has long had testy relations with the Washington-based regional group, calling it an instrument of US "imperialism." But the final straw came on Wednesday, when 19 of the 35 OAS member countries voted to call a foreign ministers' meeting on the Venezuelan crisis. A founding member of the OAS, Venezuela will become the first country to leave since the group was launched in 1948. Cuba was expelled in 1962. jpegMpeg4-1280x720Almagro had urged OAS members to sanction Venezuela for violating the group's democratic norms. Political analysts questioned what Venezuela would actually gain by the move. "Withdrawing from the OAS would isolate Venezuela much more and raise doubts about whether it remains a democracy," said Diego Moya-Ocampos of London-based consultancy IHS Markit Country Risk. "This is without a doubt a desperate measure that indicates the government is trying to get out (of the OAS) before sanctions are applied," he told AFP. Injuries, arrests Venezuela has suffered an economic collapse fueled by a plunge in international prices for its crucial oil exports. The center-right opposition planned further street protests for Thursday. The opposition and government accuse each other of stirring up violence in the protests. In just under a month of unrest, more than 400 people have been injured, and nearly 1,300 arrested, according to the attorney general. It said that the United States will work with the Macedonian parliament's new speaker, Talat Xhaferi, "to support democracy and to help Macedonia move forward on its European path." The violence erupted late Thursday when nationalist demonstrators, including a group of masked men, stormed the parliament in anger at a vote appointing Xhaferi, an ethnic Albanian. Scores of people were hurt in the bloody melee. Around a quarter of Macedonia's population of two million are ethnic Albanians, whom nationalists see as a threat to national unity. The landlocked country aspires to join both NATO and the EU. The search came as three other Khodorkovsky-associated groups were put on the register of banned "undesirable" organisations for allegedly stirring unrest and undermining state security. The Open Russia movement, which was created by the former Yukos oil company owner after his release from prison and departure into exile in 2013, openly opposes Putin's rule and seeks to rally his opponents. The organisation's website said police seized equipment and some 100,000 flyers printed ahead of an anti-Kremlin protest dubbed "We've had enough" planned for Saturday. Moscow police did not issue an official comment about the search, but a source told the TASS news agency that it was conducted by anti-extremism officers. "The search has to do with the event on April 29," Open Russia coordinator Maria Baronova, who organised the protest, told journalists outside the building. Baronova said police were "seizing all equipment and all documentation" without showing a warrant and employees remaining inside were told not to leave. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists Thursday that the Open Russia rally had not been sanctioned and warned that it would lead to "actions by the authorities." Russia saw the biggest anti-Kremlin demonstrations in years on March 26 after opposition leader Alexei Navalny rallied thousands of protesters over high-level corruption. More than a thousand participants were arrested at the rally in Moscow alone, with some jailed for up to 25 days. Thursday's raid appeared to be part of a campaign by the authorities to turn the screws on groups connected with arch-Putin foe Khodorkovsky. The justice ministry included three Khodorkovksy-linked organisations based abroad called OR (Otkrytaya Rossia), the Institute of Modern Russia and the Open Russia Civic Movement on its list of "undesirable" organisations that are banned in Russia. Haley argued that years of appeals to Bashar al-Assad to allow aid deliveries to reach civilians in besieged areas had failed and that the focus must now squarely be on the Syrian president's main ally. "Who's the one member-state who continues to protect the regime that is keeping this humanitarian assistance from going through?" asked Haley. "Russia must live up to its promise to deliver real peace talks and a real political solution," said the US envoy. "The sieges of the Syrian people must be lifted. The war profiteering and the theft of medical supplies must be stopped." The council heard a report from UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien who said the humanitarian crisis was worsening in Syria, now in its seventh year of war. O'Brien called for a pause in fighting in eastern Ghouta, outside Damascus, where he said some 400,000 civilians remain trapped, under siege by government forces. UN aid convoys have been unable to reach eastern Ghouta since October. Russia's envoy challenged the UN assessment of the humanitarian crisis, saying a cessation of hostilities was holding "in Syria, as a whole" and that access to besieged areas required "painstaking work." Petr Iliichev, the Russian charge d'affaires, stressed that Russia, Turkey and Iran were working to uphold a ceasefire. "Neither you nor your western colleagues have said a word about how you are putting pressure to bear," Iliichev told Haley. Describing the humanitarian crisis in Syria as a "catastrophe," French Ambassador Francois Delattre said a ceasefire and access for aid deliveries were needed to pave the way to credible peace talks. The United Nations hopes to bring the Syrian government and the opposition back to Geneva next month for a new round of talks on ending the war despite little progress in previous negotiations. Delattre said political talks can succeed with "much stronger pressure from Russia on the Syrian regime and a clear political re-engagement of the United States." South Sudan, which split from the north in 2011, has declared famine in parts of the country, saying a million people are on the brink of starvation. The number of South Sudanese refugees arriving in Sudan has surpassed 95,000 since the start of 2017, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Office, or OCHA, said in its latest bulletin. This brings the total number of South Sudanese refugees taking shelter in Sudan since a brutal civil war erupted in their country in December 2013 to nearly 390,000. OCHA said that, as of April 15, Sudan was hosting about a quarter of the estimated 1.6 million South Sudanese refugees in the region. UN aid agencies anticipate a continuous influx of South Sudanese refugees throughout this year. Khartoum has opened a new "humanitarian corridor" for delivering relief items to people affected by famine in South Sudan's Bahr El Ghazal state, a top UN aid official said in a separate statement on Thursday. This is the second road route opened by Khartoum within a month for delivering aid to the South Sudanese people. It will transport aid from El Obeid in central Sudan to the city of Aweil in Bahr El Ghazal. "This new road corridor, opened by the government of Sudan... will help bring much needed relief to thousands of South Sudanese who are affected by the famine," said UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Marta Ruedas. The World Food Programme will deliver about 7,000 tones of sorghum to about 540,000 South Sudanese through this route. South Sudan's leaders fought for decades for independence from the north, but an internal civil war erupted in 2013 out of a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar. Aid groups have denounced a "man-made" famine caused by the conflict in South Sudan that has forced at least 1.7 million people to flee the country, disrupted agriculture, sent prices soaring and cut off aid agencies from some of the worst-hit areas. RBU hosts get together of senior citizens Educational institutions of the SGPC are leading in every field: Sukhminder Singh Like its name suggests, Your Pie restaurant focuses on having customers tailor-make their own pizza pie. When it opens for business Friday, May 5, the Davenport pizza shop will welcome customers to a down-the-line format. They will not only choose their own pizza toppings from a wide assortment of vegetables and meats, but also will choose from various crusts and sauces. Your Pie also offers its favorite pizzas on the menu as well as customized panini sandwiches and salads. The restaurant is the latest Quad-City franchise for business partners Dan Sacco and Doug Ormsby, who met decades ago while working at a Pizza Hut in Clinton. Located at 4520 E. 53rd St., Suite 400, Your Pie is part of the growing Birchwood Fields Office Park being developed by Russell Construction, also headquartered in the office park. "We were looking to do something else, and we liked what these guys do," Sacco said of the Athens, Georgia-based Your Pie chain. Sacco, of Dubuque, and Ormsby, of Bettendorf, also own the Panchero's in Davenport and Dubuque. They plan a total of three Your Pies stores under their new Gizzeria Group Inc. company, including one in Dubuque in September and another next year in the Madison, Wisconsin, area. The unusual Gizzeria name makes reference to the Italian town where his grandfather immigrated to Iowa from, Sacco said. "It's a nice way to remember him." When they open next week, it will be Iowa's second Your Pie, opening just about a week behind another franchisee in Waterloo, he said. "Everything Doug and I have ever done, we look at things that are fresh food and good service," Sacco said. "Quality is king with us." The owners plan to give their 30-person staff a trial run ahead of the opening by hosting a three-day Dine and Donate fundraiser to benefit the Bettendorf School Foundation. Sacco said participants must sign up for a free pizza on Your Pie Davenport's Facebook page. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m., the restaurant will give away pizza to those who signed up. Customers must pay for drinks or other food orders and are asked to make a donation to the Bettendorf Schools Foundation, Sacco said. The store then will be closed Thursday, May 4, and open for regular business at 10 a.m. Friday, May 5. For just that day, all entrees will be discounted to $3.14 the number for pi, the mathematical equation. The store's manager is Mary Fues. Your Pie can be reached at 563-332-7811. To sign up for the Dine and Donate, visit the Davenport Your Pie's Facebook page. A biennial series of community events to discuss the situation in the Middle East starts Monday, led by Art Pitz, a college professor and historian. The series happens twice a year, once in the spring in Iowa and once in the autumn. The upcoming sessions are sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Quad-Cities and will be held at the Bettendorf Public Library and Davenport Public Library, Eastern Avenue branch. For his part, Pitz wonders what will happen after the United States, inevitably, defeats ISIS. "I see very nominal thought given to this," he said, pointing out the land that ISIS has claimed, and who has ownership of it, will be in question. That actually harkens back 100 years to World War I, when the region was divided up in peace settlements. The residents have not forgotten, and modern problems trace back a century or more. The series: "An Update on ISIS" is 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 1, at the Eastern Avenue branch library, 6000 Eastern Ave., Davenport. Military defeat of ISIS will not take away the ideas that led to the group's formation. "We are not just dealing with an organization here or single nation-state. We are dealing with a number of ideas that have coalesced over time and will continue to cause mayhem around the world," Pitz said. The unhappy reality, he said, is that the United States will be dealing with some form of jihadism for the foreseeable future. Islamic jihadism was not on the radar not so long ago, Pitz said. Americans focused on threats from the Soviets for many years, and in Great Britain, Irish terrorists and bombings held the attention. "That is arguably more destructive than what the jihadists can do in the United States," Pitz said. Pitz, a professor at St. Ambrose University, Davenport, urges Americans not to get into the "blame game" when it comes to presidential leadership. Most American presidents in the past 100 years have been involved in the Middle East to some extent, he said. "We tend to be too present-minded." "Israel and the Palestinians, 1, 2 or 3 State Solutions" is 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 8, at the Bettendorf library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive. The situation with Palestinians seems to have taken a back seat to Syria or the deal with Iran. "But this still festers," Pitz said. Likely options have been identified: 1. Israel annexes the West Bank, and that is one state; 2. Two states, which has been a U.S. policy goal for many years, involves a boundary on which there is no formal agreement. Pitz calls this "unachieveable fiction," except that no one has offered a better idea. A three-state solution would be room for Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. There is some discussion on this, he said, and involves Israel managing Hamas in some manner. "The Middle East Refugee Crisis Today" is 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 15, at the Davenport Eastern Avenue branch library. The refugee crisis today is possibly the worst since World War II, Pitz said, noting that former residents of Sudan, for example, live in the Quad-Cities. The nation has had refugees since it began, Pitz said, discussing why some people fear newcomers as potential threats. "No one can guarantee 100 percent security, so what level can we live with?" he asked. The fact the nation has stayed fairly safe since 9/11 is because U.S. agencies have done their jobs, he said, noting the value of the Muslim community in helping to maintain security. "What is happening in Egypt?" is 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 22, at the Bettendorf library. Egypt has "been a mess for some time," he said, adding that generals in charge are not gifted leaders. They don't know about the economy, and there are legacy issues that date back to the rule of Gamal Abdel Nasser, 1956-1970. Nasser was the second Egyptian president. Nasser's policies guaranteed jobs to college graduates, the professor said. That ended up bloating the Egyptian bureaucracy and fostering cronyism "of the worst sort." It is struggling economically and is a police state. On the other hand, Egypt opposes ISIS and Hamas, as the United States does. The Coptic Orthodox Church is to be included in this discussion; its liturgy traces back to the earliest days of the church, and the language is derived from the Egyptian language. Some Coptic churches are located in the Midwest, in Chicago, Pitz said. Q. Do city or county building codes regulate how many toilets need to be in a restaurant? In the past two weeks, I have been to restaurants in Bettendorf and Davenport, and both of these establishments have only one woman's and one men's stall for the entire restaurant. Both establishments look to seat more than 100 people. Reader A. We contacted the cities of Bettendorf and Davenport to find out. Bill Connors, Bettendorf community development director, responded: "The number of fixture units are determined by Chapter 29 of the International Building Code based on the occupancy classification of the business and the design occupant load." To view the full text of IBC Chapter 29, visit qctimes.com/askthetimes. Q. I'm just amazed when reading the Quad-City Times all the felons who stay on the streets somehow and just continue to commit crimes and get little more than a slap on the wrist or a time out. What would be very informative in an article such as this is an explanation as to why so many charges were dropped. Perhaps the prosecutor can explain. There are no consequences for committing crimes. Once again, a short explanation within the article as to the thought that went into the plea bargain. A. We contacted Mike Walton, Scott County attorney, and John L. McGehee, Rock Island County state's attorney, for more information. Walton said, "There are many reasons why the state will enter into a plea agreement. It is important to remember an arrest is an allegation. For a conviction, the allegations have to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Sometimes, this is difficult, especially if witnesses refuse to cooperate with the prosecution. The prosecution has to realistically evaluate the evidence that can be presented at trial. If the state proceeds with a weak case, then the defendant may be acquitted and get zero punishment. A plea agreement is a method to be sure a defendant gets some punishment, even though it may be less than the original charge. These decisions are made after a thorough evaluation of the evidence and after consultation with law enforcement and the victims. The County Attorney's office seeks to obtain the appropriate sentence for each case and continually obtains convictions in serious cases resulting in significant prison sentences." The Rock Island County state's attorney's office has not responded. We will follow up with any additional comments once he replies. Q. What is the name of the body of water in the middle of Credit Island? Andy A. We contacted the Davenport Parks and Recreation Department to find out. The department consulted the Richardson-Sloane Special Collection Center of the Davenport Public Library. Here is what they found: "None of the maps in our collection labels the lagoon or lake on Credit Island. "However, the Illustrated record of C.W.A. projects, Scott County, Iowa, 1933-1934, p. 53 (SC 352.7 Ill, Vol. 1) names projects #19 and #30 'Credit Island Lake.'" A Davenport man was sentenced Friday to up to 17 years in prison on charges stemming from three separate incidents, including one in which he led state troopers on a high-speed chase in January. Edward Steven Feeney Jr., 36, pleaded guilty in Scott County District Court to eluding or attempting to elude while participating in a felony, possession of marijuana-third or subsequent offense and delivery of methamphetamine. He filed a written plea of guilty through his attorney, Jack Dusthimer, to three counts of interference of official acts resulting in injury, an aggravated misdemeanor. District Court Judge Stuart Werling granted Feeney's request to be sentenced immediately, and he imposed a term of up to five years in prison each on the eluding and marijuana charge, which will run at the same time. That sentence will run back-to-back with a sentence of up to 10 years imposed on the methamphetamine charge. Of that charge, he must serve a mandatory minimum of more than three years before he is eligible for parole. Werling also sentenced Feeney to up to two years in prison on each of the interference charges. Those sentences will run at the same time but back-to-back with the other sentences, for a total of up to 17 years in prison. In exchange for his plea, Assistant Scott County Attorney Nathan Repp dismissed an additional charge of burglar tools and agreed not to seek a habitual offender sentencing enhancement. As part of his plea, Feeney agreed not to appeal his conviction and sentence. According to court records: Feeney in October delivered less than five grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Davenport. Feeney was arrested Jan. 18 after leading an Iowa state trooper on a high-speed chase on Interstates 80 and 74 that ended in Bettendorf. He later tried to flee on foot from police but was apprehended after a short pursuit. He was in possession of marijuana, and officers found a smoking device in the car. On Jan. 29, Davenport police responded to the 4400 block of East 53rd Street regarding a burglary. Officers met with the owner of the property and found Feeney, who was acting suspiciously. He initially gave police false information, and when they pressed him, he became combative and tried to turn away and walk through officers. He resisted as officers tried to put him in handcuffs. Three officers were injured during the incident. At that time, he was served with the arrest warrant in the methamphetamine case, according to court documents. Dusthimer represented Feeney in the methamphetamine and interference cases, while attorney Michael E. Motto Jr. represented him in the eluding case. The newly appointed attorneys for Stanley Liggins are asking a judge to delay his third murder trial, which is scheduled to begin May 22 in Waterloo. Aaron Hawbaker and Nichole Watt with the public defenders office in Waterloo also want 7th Judicial District Chief Judge Marlita Greve to transfer the 55-year-old from the Scott County Jail to the Black Hawk County Jail pending trial. The judge has not yet ruled on the motions, and a hearing date had not been set as of late Friday afternoon. Liggins is charged in the strangulation death of Jennifer Ann Lewis, 9, of Rock Island, on Sept. 17, 1990. The girl's burned body was found near a Davenport elementary school. Prosecutors say she also was sexually abused. He was twice convicted in the girls death and sentenced to life in prison in 1993 and 1995. The Iowa Supreme Court overturned the first conviction, and on Nov. 6, 2013, the Iowa Court of Appeals reversed the second conviction. Greve granted Liggins motion earlier this year to move the trial from Scott County to Black Hawk County, citing the heavy pretrial publicity surrounding the case. On April 20, about a month before his third trial was set to begin, Greve granted Liggins motion to fire his appointed attorneys, Derek Jones and Miguel Puentes from the Davenport public defenders office. Greve did not explicitly say in her written ruling that Liggins' trial would be postponed, but she wrote that "it could conceivably take another year before different attorneys are familiar enough with this case to go to trial." Hawbaker, the chief public defender in Waterloo, and Watt filed their appearances in the case on Monday. On Friday, Hawbaker filed a motion to delay the start of the trial, saying that given the procedural history of this case and the volume of documents to analyze, defense counsel cannot, in any informed manner, suggest an appropriate date for trial. He requested that a status conference be scheduled after Jan. 1, 2018, at which time counsel should be prepared to set a date certain, according to the motion. In a second motion filed Friday, Hawbaker asked that Liggins, who has been held without bond in the Scott County Jail since February 2014, be transferred to the Black Hawk County Jail pending trial. Holding Defendant in Scott County creates an unreasonable burden on the Defendants opportunity to consult with his attorneys and prepare his defense because of the travel time between counsel and the Defendant, he wrote. Waterloo is more than two hours away from Davenport, he noted in his motion. Scott County Attorney Mike Walton said Friday that he is reviewing the motion to transfer Liggins to Black Hawk County and noted that such a request is allowed by the rules of criminal procedure in Iowa. Walton added that he will not resist the motion to delay the trial. A century ago, Davenport became Iowa's "premiere flashpoint" as the patriotism that accompanied World War I swept the country, stoking suspicion and animosity between German-Americans and other nationalities that shared the city. Called the "most German" of cities in Iowa, Davenport had attracted 40,000 to Scott County over a 40-year period, beginning in the 1850s. The strength they brought from their homeland the culture, work ethic and industriousness almost instantly was brought into question when President Woodrow Wilson declared America's involvement in the war 100 years ago, in April 1917. "You have all these good German-Americans in Davenport who have helped the community thrive and grow, and then you get U.S. entry into the war, the draft and the demonization of those same people," said Leo Landis, Iowa state curator, Des Moines, who termed Davenport the "premiere flashpoint" of anti-German sentiment in Iowa. Iowans' uneasiness with their German neighbors was reflected in the Babel Proclamation, issued by Iowa Gov. William Harding in May 1918, prohibiting the speaking of German or other foreign languages in the state. No other state issued such a proclamation. But anti-German incidents in Davenport had begun to escalate long before the governor's action. Students protested and burned German-language books at Davenport High School. Long-established business and street names were changed if they sounded German. Even a park in the west end was renamed. People and places considered suspect were targeted and labeled with yellow paint. German farmers who had worked Iowa's land for generations suddenly were regarded as unpatriotic. Relations in Davenport were difficult for those who thought they had found a welcoming new homeland. Division's impact In an effort to offer a positive perspective to the city, a group of prominent German-Americans invited Daniel Wallace from the League of Humanity to speak at the sold-out Turner Hall in Davenport. According to the book, "Anti-German Sentiment in Scott County," by Brenda Schaeffer Hansen, the invitation came after President Wilson declared the U.S. had joined the war. The president said America's enemy has "filled our unsuspecting communities and even offices of government with spies and criminal intrigue everywhere afoot at our national unity of counsel ..." The Davenport speech by Wallace included negative remarks about Great Britain and its military, according to Hansen's book. Police arrested Wallace at the Turner Hall, charging him with sedition. The four men who had arranged for him to speak also were arrested. Charged with conspiracy were attorneys Fred Vollmer, Earl Willis, Charles Wiese and a bookkeeper, A.J. Miller. Despite their not-guilty pleas, each was fined $2,000, according to an account in the Muscatine Journal. Two others also were charged with conspiracy, including Dr. Henry Matthey, who later served as a surgeon with the German army. There were bigger ways to crack down on those whose patriotism was in question. In July 1918, authorities conducted a massive "slacker raid," according to The Gazette in Cedar Rapids. The front-page story, which originated out of Davenport, said the raid was conducted by government and state officials, aided by 50 soldiers from the Rock Island Arsenal. The security force of about 500 rounded up an estimated 2,000 young men from the streets and out of factories in Davenport, along with "pool halls and places of amusement." They were transported to the Scott County Courthouse for questioning, which took all night. By noon the next day, all but 16 had been released after proving they had registered for the draft. Only three of the 16 unregistered were from Davenport; the others, according to the story, "are transients and floaters who claim to have registered elsewhere." Kory Darnall, a historian from Davenport, showed that hundreds of residents were investigated for allegedly making pro-German or anti-American statements to their neighbors. Internment of German-Americans, he wrote in his book, "Schuetzenpark Davenport's Lost Playground," was hinted at and openly discussed by the U.S. Department of Justice. During this time, some German-Americans dug in their heels. But some second- and third-generation Americans chose to dissociate with the German monarchy, said Glenn Ehrstine, a professor of German at the University of Iowa, who helped put together a traveling historic exhibit on World War I in Iowa. German newspapers, so active before the war's onset, closed by 1918, including the successful Davenport daily, Der Demokrat. Regular people felt the impact in many ways, too. When Kathlyn Hofmann's grandmother, Flossie Struve, fell in love with Hans Baasch, she had to renounce her U.S citizenship. Hans Baasch had left Iowa to look for gold in California in 1911-12 and never got his American citizenship. He did sign a document stating he would be loyal to the U.S., not Germany, "but that didn't help him in 1918," said Hofmann, of DeWitt. The young couple had to wait until the war ended to be naturalized. Businesses, streets and parks in Davenport were renamed. One of the most public examples was the German Savings Bank, founded in 1869 by German immigrants and located at the southwest corner of 3rd and Main streets. This bank, a predecessor to Wells Fargo Bank, was profitable and powerful with several mergers before 1917, but it was renamed the American Commercial Savings Bank in 1918. The bank operation never recovered from the change. The ornate building was torn down in December 1926. It had been proudly constructed just 14 years earlier, with materials trucked to Davenport from Vermont. No German, no beer, no park When the former German Savings Bank was razed, the debris was transported to a popular park in the west end, Schuetzen Park, where pieces of the building remain to this day. Schuetzen was a large recreation area that first was created as a target range for rifle marksmanship and a place to keep parts of the German culture alive. It had an inn, dance hall, zoo, bowling alley even a roller coaster. As many as 12,000 people visited the park in a single day for major events. Historian Darnall, president of the Schuetzen Park Gilde, said the park closed for a trio of reasons: Second- and third-generation German-Americans, far removed from the homeland, lost interest in it; Prohibition, which made the sale of beer impossible after 1919; and the Iowa governor's ban on speaking foreign languages in public. For six years, 1917-23, Schuetzen Park changed its name to Forest Park and added the roller coaster, partly to help make up for the lost alcohol sales. But the amusement ride did not conform to modern safety standards, and people got hurt, Darnall said. Ultimately, there was not enough support, and the park closed in 1923. The property was sold, and a chiropractic mental hospital moved in. In 1960, it again changed hands, becoming the Good Samaritan Center. Today, the restored park area is located to the south of the center. On Sundays in the summer, a group of people gather to socialize and to speak in their native language. Visitors have included tourists from Austria, Switzerland and, of course, Germany. '100 percent American' Some of Davenport's most prominent residents stood up for German-Americans. Charles August, or C.A., Ficke, an attorney and former mayor of the city, wrote in his book, "Memories of Fourscore Years," that he thought it would be wise to "cease calling foreign-born citizens German, Irish, Scandinavian or other foreign Americans. They are doing their utmost to help win this war and they deserve to be called simply Americans." Ficke told of being asked by the city's chapter of the National Council of Defense to interview seven German-American farmers living near Walcott. "I felt like a fool," Ficke wrote, "all seven had been born in this country ... some did not even speak German. All were 100 percent American." Dean Ficke is a descendant of C.A. Ficke, and he volunteers at the German American Heritage Center & Museum. He said he mostly remembers his grandparents, on his mother's side, who farmed in northern Scott County and were worried about losing their horses to the U.S. Army. Fortunately, the animals were not called into duty. While the Davenport School Board put an end to German language classes by May 1918, it was "quietly reintroduced" by 1925, said Jim Schebler of the Davenport School Museum. Economic impact The Rock Island Arsenal was a center of growth in the Quad-Cities during World War I. Arsenal jobs grew from 1,400 in 1916 to 13,000 workers by 1918. The population of Davenport also was growing during those years from 43,028 in 1910 to 56,727 in 1920. George Eaton, Arsenal historian, said the Quad-Cities has a reputation for having a pool of skilled labor, but it was not enough. "All kinds of people moved here for the jobs," he said, adding that the workforce shrunk back to about 650 after 1925. Items produced on the island included "everything a soldier would need," Eaton said, "from tin cups to cannons." The island's tin shop made plates and eating utensils. It had the largest leather shop in the United States, used for saddles, among other things. A huge clothing shop turned out backpacks, belts and whatever else the soldiers needed. Arsenal workers made artillery ammunition and rifles, including the 1903 Springfield rifle. Meanwhile, about half of the buildings on the island were constructed during the war, Eaton said. One problem was a lack of housing for new workers. The U.S. Housing Corp. was involved with construction and contracting for more places to live. The majority were in Rock Island and Moline. In Davenport, around 260 homes were built along Telegraph and Blackhawk roads and near Vander Veer Botanical Park. Also during World War I, the First Army was created. Its headquarters is at the Rock Island Arsenal, and a centennial event is being planned for next summer, Eaton said. The first war was just 19 months long for the United States, so most of the heavy equipment manufactured at the Arsenal did not make it to France. American soldiers primarily used heavy equipment from France and Britain. In other words, despite all the ramped-up manufacturing, it was too late for the heavy equipment made at the Arsenal to get to the front. "Saddles, reins, ammunition, items for horses, that's about all that went there from here," Eaton said. According to Landis, the Des Moines historian, Iowa farming and many other industries across the country experienced some of their most profitable years from 1910 to 1920. In 1914, farm families faced economic challenges as the prices they received for livestock, crops and other production did not keep pace with what was charged the consumers. The war's beginning meant there was a new demand for farmer's produce, and their prosperity returned. With the end of the war in November 1918, there was no federal economic plan to stabilize farm prices. As a result, rural Iowans faced economic hardships sooner than urban Iowans, Landis said. In manufacturing, the Bettendorf Company took on greater production to meet war needs, and a 1919 report shows that 3,000 box cars were produced there for the U.S. government. "Of course, it is not until after the Great Depression and World War II that Bettendorf really grows," Landis said. World War I ended in the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Army Lt. V.E. Hodges shared his account of the Armistice, "November 11 at the Front," with the Davenport Democrat newspaper: "The battlefield, which a minute earlier was an inferno, was now quiet. Up from the stillness, as far as one could hear, rose the sweet strains of the Star Spangled Banner, coming from the throats of thousands of Americans. Men lost control ... Colonels, majors, captains and lieutenants returned to headquarters, sat down and cried. "We saw 'Old Glory' wave on a distant hill ... Oh, how much that meant to us!" Illinois State Police District 7 in East Moline is reminding young drivers to think responsibly as they celebrate during the upcoming prom and graduation season. The primary safety message is in the word PROM, which asks teens to Please Return On Monday. During the next couple of weeks, troopers will conduct high-visibility patrols with aggressive enforcement of the Fatal Four violations: DUI, speeding, seat belt and distracted driving, with a focus on DUI violations. This is a time for celebration, not tragedy, District 7 commander Capt. Victor Markowski said in a news release. Illinois State Police District 7 will remain vigilant with traffic law enforcement. We would rather approach a teens window with a citation, than their front door with tragic news for their family. According to the release, troopers want to modify teen driving behaviors, which include distractions, carelessness, fatigue and inexperience. These behaviors, when combined with drugs or alcohol, can be lethal. Car crashes kill more teens during the weekends of prom and graduation season than any other time of year, according to the release. Seat belt enforcement zones also will be conducted in addition to directed patrols. 1. Wet weather hangs around A good Friday to all. It's the end of the work week, so what does the weekend hold? Here's the forecast from the National Weather Service. Today there's a chance of sprinkles before 9 a.m., then showers likely after 1 p.m. There's the possibility of patchy frost before 7 a.m. for areas north of the Quad-Cities. Otherwise the day will be cloudy with a high near 53 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent with new precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Tonight there's a 40 percent chance of showers before 10 p.m. Skies will be cloudy with a low around 44 degrees. Northeast winds will gust as high as 20 mph. Saturday showers are likely after 1 p.m. The high will be near 48 degrees. Northeast winds will gust as high as 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80 percent with new precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Saturday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm are likely with a low around 43 degrees. Northeast winds will gust as high as 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80 percent with new rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm are likely with a high near 55 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 90 percent with new rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible. 2. Elton John returning to Quad-Cities Elton John will perform at the iWireless Center on Nov. 10 as part of a six-city concert tour. The Friday night show will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale May 5 at 10 a.m. Visit Ticketmaster.com for more information. Read more. 3. Iowa DOT gets bids on I-74 project The Iowa Department of Transportation said this week it received 16 bids for various elements of a new Interstate 74 bridge and a pair of affiliated projects. Although some of the 16 bids overlap, the response appears to have been a robust one. Ten different companies or joint ventures submitted 16 bids on four different packages. Read more. 4. Teen sentenced to prison in 2015 fatal shooting in Davenport A Rock Island man was sentenced Thursday to up to 20 years in prison for the September 2015 fatal shooting of 19-year-old Louis K. Woodson Jr. Juwan Attron Johnson, 19, declined to make a statement before District Court Judge Joel Barrows handed down the sentence during a short hearing in Scott County District Court. Barrows sentenced Johnson to up to 10 years in prison on charges of voluntary manslaughter and intimidation with a dangerous weapon, both Class C felonies. Read more. 5. Rock Island cancels weekend garage sale event A Spring Community Garage Sale event organized by the Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department has been canceled because of the threat of rain this weekend. The event was scheduled for Saturday at Longview Park with a rain date for Sunday, but the weather forecast for both days has prompted the department to cancel the sale. The next Community Garage Sale is scheduled for Sept. 30. For more information, call 309-732-7275. 6. Emergency drill today at Black Hawk College There will be a full-scale emergency exercise at Black Hawk College this morning. The excise will take place at the colleges new Health Sciences Center on the Quad-Cities Campus, 6600 34th Ave., Moline. The drill will allow EMS students to participate in a mass casualty incident. The students will assess and treat fictitious injuries on volunteer actors (college staff and students). The EMS students will be graded on their response to the scenario. There may be sirens, flashing lights and loud noises as part of the drill. There will be activity inside and outside the Health Sciences Center. The EMS Program and Black Hawk College Police Department have partnered with the Moline Police and Fire departments, the East Moline Police and Fire departments, Genesis Ambulance and MedForce helicopter to conduct the drill. So, if you see a bunch of emergency vehicles on campus, remember, it's just a drill. DAVIS | Authorities say a couple from Lennox has died from injuries suffered in a two-vehicle crash in southeastern South Dakota last weekend. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety says 89-year-old Delmar Kuper was driving a van that collided with a pickup at an intersection on U.S. Highway 18 east of Davis on Sunday afternoon. Kuper and his wife, 81-year-old Viola Kuper, were both injured and taken to a Sioux Falls hospital. Both died Monday. The driver of the pickup was not hurt. All three people were wearing seat belts. The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating. SIOUX FALLS | An appeals court has revived a lawsuit filed by a small energy drink company with South Dakota origins against former food giant Sara Lee. The Argus Leader reports that a three-judge panel with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas ruled that a state district court judge wrongly dismissed claims made by the company, Jacked Up. The lawsuit argues that Jacked Up founder Joseph Schmitz signed a licensing agreement with Sara Lee that entitled it to royalties on sales of the product and sales to Sara Lee. Three weeks later, Sara Lee sold its beverage division to the J.M. Smucker Company, which terminated the contract with Jacked Up. Part of the Sara Lee company later became Hillshire Brands, which in turn was bought by Tyson Foods. Schmitz sued Sara Lee for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and fraudulent inducement. The suit also named Smucker for interfering with the lawsuit and trade secret misappropriation. Sara Lee argued it was willing to go forward with the energy drinks but Jacked Up violated the agreement, but Schmitz said Greg Immell, then an executive with Sara Lee, called to terminate the deal. The judges believed Schmitz's account. "Schmitz's account is corroborated by an internal Sara Lee email dated October 26, 2011, suggesting that Immell had told Schmitz that the licensing agreement would be terminated and that Schmitz 'was not too happy,'" the judges wrote. The ruling allows Jacked Up to move forward with the lawsuit. Last year, Schmitz was jailed in South Dakota's Lake County in connection to the shooting death of his fiancee at the Lake Madison home they rented. ABERDEEN | A South Dakota businessman who served in the Spanish-American War is finally receiving military recognition nearly half a century after his death. The Aberdeen News reported Thomas Jefferson Henegar's family will be able to place a military marker on his headstone at Riverside Memorial Cemetery in May after a lengthy journey to verify his military service. Cindy Mohr, Henegar's granddaughter, says the records of his service were destroyed in a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. According to the center, the fire destroyed between 16 million and 18 million military records. Mohr's mom, Dolores Forrest spent years compiling information in an attempt to get recognition for her father. When Forest died in 2014, Mohr took over. Mohr turned to Sam Olson, an Americanism officer, and Aaron Walberg, Brown County Veterans Service officer, for help. "We kept running into dead ends," Olson said. "I finally asked Cindy if she could send me photos, and from there we were able to find out (Henegar) had medals." They discovered a photo of Henegar in uniform wearing two small medals given out for service in the Spanish-American War. Sen. John Thune's office assisted in the research by requesting the necessary military records. Walberg said the age of Henegar's case made it unique. "It's really a neat deal," Walberg said. "These are guys that served in the late 1800s, and here we are 119 years later setting a military marker to commemorate his service to this country. It just goes to show you it's never too late." MITCHELL | A South Dakota man who claims to have found a mouse in a can of soda is suing Coca-Cola Co., saying he missed 60 hours of work and accumulated $1,000 in medical bills after becoming ill. In court documents, attorneys for Coca-Cola Co. disputed that there was proof that the mouse ended up in the can during bottling, saying it would have been in a more advanced stage of decomposition, The Daily Republic in Mitchell reported. Six weeks had passed between bottling and when Duane Putzier opened the can on June 7. Brian Johnson, an attorney for the Atlanta-based company, said during a motions hearing Tuesday that he anticipates testimony from a veterinary pathologist, who will analyze the mouse's decomposition. The defense also hopes to get testimony from the quality assurance manager and line supervisor of the Portland, Indiana, plant where the can was bottled. Putzier is seeking $2,026, plus any general damages proven at trial, with interest. He sued under a new South Dakota law that allows certain cases to be handled more quickly. Under that law, each side is restricted to one witness and six hours. But Johnson asked Judge Patrick Smith to change those limits for the case. Smith approved three experts for each party and agreed to lengthen the time limit for the trial. Johnson asked for four days, though the trial could take longer. "Coca-Cola is faced with a claim that's really an attack on its brand," Johnson said. "Coca-Cola takes these cases extremely seriously and tries them all." SIOUX FALLS | The search is on for a man who robbed a Sioux Falls credit union. A police spokesman says the man entered Voyage Federal Credit Union on Kiwanis Avenue late Thursday morning and told employees he had a gun. Police say employees never saw a gun but handed over money, and the man ran away. Just about everyone who stops by "La Familia" restaurant in Mexico City is welcomed with Neli Delgado's warm smile. Delgado's restaurant is a small, rotisserie chicken, take-out establishment located in a working-class neighborhood. But to its owner, La Familia means much more than just four walls and a rotisserie oven: It's a sign that she's once again free to dream big again. "This is very beautiful to me. It's the first step, but we will soon be growing and adding new dishes," Delgado said. Delgado says her life turned upside down when she was 18 years old. "My father died the month before I was to finish high school and my family completely collapsed," she said. Homeless, penniless and grieving, Delgado says she was easy prey for a charming man who promised to care for her, offering marriage and eternal love. "I used to eat cheap apples and coffee. That's all I could afford," Delgado said. "I was suffering a lot, and when he approached me offering to help, I felt I had no other option." But the promise of marriage was just a trick. Her suitor was, in reality, a human trafficker. "One day he told me 'I gave my life for you and you're also going to have to give yours for me. I'm struggling financially so you're going to have to help me by being a sex-worker in Mexico City,'" Delgado said. 'We were shown off as merchandise' Delgado was soon forced to work in an alley in La Merced, a notorious red-light district in Mexico City. "Those of us girls who were new would stand at the entrance. They would show us off as if we were merchandise," Delgado said. Delgado says she was forced to have sex with 30 to 40 men every night for a month, until a police raid finally set her free. She says that she was not the only victim of human trafficking. "Ninety percent of those of us there were human trafficking victims," Delgado said. Her trafficker was convicted and sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison. It took some time to put her life back together after regaining her freedom, but Delgado says once she got there she formed an ambitious plan to make something out of a second chance. That's when she thought of opening her own restaurant, a dream Delgado had ever since she was working on getting her business degree after regaining her freedom. Her new dream is growing her business enough to make it a franchise in Mexico City. "This represents everything for me," Delgado said. "Now I'm free to do whatever I want. Back then I wasn't free. He would use me as an object clients could buy as they please at any time, and now I have the freedom to do what I like." Strength to prevail She partnered with Luis Narciso, and old friend and classmate from business school. Narciso says he's awed by Delgado's determination. "I wonder where she got the strength to overcome so much and prevail, because you need a lot of will power to get back up again," Narciso said. And his partner has no plans of slowing down. Delgado says she would like to open another chicken rotisserie in about a year. They're currently in conversations with UberEats. If successful, they would be added to the list of restaurants that cater to the office buildings in Polanco, an upscale district in Mexico City. In the last few years, Delgado has also become an activist, raising awareness about human trafficking and urging authorities in several countries to take steps to curb this crime. Delgado participated in the "One Billion Rising" event held in Paris in February 2016, which called for "systemic changes towards ending violence against women and girls once and for all." She also gave her testimony at the Vatican Youth Symposium last October, where she briefly met Pope Francis. She was recently invited to travel to Malta by the Mediterranean country's government to give her testimony at an event there. Delgado is also thinking about giving back to her hometown. One of her dreams is to propel economic activity in her community so that other young women like her to become entrepreneurs. "I used to be discriminated against because I was poor and dark-skinned," Delgado said. "I would like to empower women so that they can become suppliers for the business group I'll have in the future." RAPID CITY | Timothy Edward Coats was born on April 24, 1953, to Harry and Ruth (Rudolph) Coats in Sioux Falls, SD. He was the second born son, having an older brother, who died in infancy. He then became the oldest of seven children. Tim graduated from Lincoln High School and joined the U.S. Navy in 1971. He served as a data systems technician for the next six years. While being stationed in California, Tim became a born again Christian. Upon receiving an honorable discharge in 1977, he decided to attend Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, TN, to pursue a BA degree in Pastoral Administration. During his time at Bible College, he met his future wife, Kathy Jenkins from Norton, VA. They were married on Aug. 2, 1981. Tim and Kathy enjoyed a short missions trip to the country of Panama with Steve and Judy Lytle. Tim was then employed by the Free Will Baptist Home Missions Department to establish a church in the surrounding area of Rapid City, SD. Harvest Time Free Will Baptist Church was founded in Box Elder. Here Tim would remain for the next thirty-three years. These years were blessed with five children and a number of secondary jobs. Tim served as the chaplain for Rapid City Regional Hospital, Hospice Chaplain, a driver for Croell Redi-Mix, a customer service representative for Ditech, and a salesman for Combined Insurance. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Kathy Coats; daughters, Melody Coats of Antioch, TN, Bethany Coats of Rapid City, and Emily (Paul) Boettcher of Lennox, SD; sons, Jeremy Coats of San Diego, CA, and Zachary Coats of Rapid City; siblings, Becky (Bob) Smith of Parker, SD, Gina Merriman of Valley City, KS, Monica (Les) Iseminger of Crooks, SD, Ted (Peggy) Coats of Indianapolis, IN, Melinda (Ron) Keefer of Wasilla, AK, and Laura and (Bryan) Keil of Pacifica, CA; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by grandparents, Harmon and Rose Miller; grandparents, Joseph and Julia Rudolph; parents, Harry and Ruth Coats; brother, Johnny Coats. Tim loved the beauty of the Black Hills and the abundant opportunities for hunting that could be enjoyed here. Unfortunately, he was involved in a hunting accident on April 22, 2017, that claimed his life. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Kirk Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at Calvary Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Harvest Time-Free Will Baptist Building Fund. An online guestbook may be signed at the Kirk Funeral Home website. WINNER | Patrick James OBryan, 85, died Jan. 24, 2017, at the Winner Regional Longterm Care Center after a short illness. Patrick James OBryan was born April 10, 1931, at the homestead in Mellette County near Wood, SD, to Boyd M. and Theodoshia Doshia (Eastin) OBryan. The family lived here for a few years, then moved to another place in the same area. Pat attended country schools for the lower grades, then went to Winner High School for two years and continued at Colome High School for the following two years, graduating in 1949. Pat worked on area farms and ranches for a few years before enlisting in the United States Army and serving in Korea. When he returned from his military service he married Ethel E. Steele in Clearfield, SD, in the summer of 1954. One daughter, Lorinda Lou, was born to this marriage in 1958. Pat worked on area farms and ranches in Tripp County until 1963 when he bought a ranch north of Hot Springs, SD, bordering the Wind Cave National Park. He worked part-time as a bartender for about 4 years in Hot Springs while ranching and then worked on road construction in South Dakota and Wyoming. Pat was divorced in 1969. In 1973 he married Carole A. Fleming in Rawlings, WY, where they worked on road construction for a few years. In 1982 the bought a bar, restaurant, and campground (Pats Place) south of Hill City, SD, which they operated for 10 years. In 1992 they sold Pats Place and semi-retired back to the ranch north of Hot Springs. They then bought a bar in Hot Springs called the Red Eye Saloon and ran it for a few years until they sold it and moved back to the ranch full-time. He sold the ranch in 1996 and they moved into a house in Hot Springs. Pat was a lifetime member of the American Legion holding numerous offices in the organization. He was also a member of the 40/8 organization where he also held many offices including Nationals Grand Locale. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. and a member of the Eagles, both in Rapid City. He was living with his daughter Lorinda for the past four years in Winner. Pat is survived by his daughter Lorinda (Larry) Sund of Winner, SD; step-daughter Cheryl Jenniges of Belvedere, SD; one sister Clarice Poler of Colome, SD; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his ex-wife Ethel, wife Carole, parents, six brothers: Harvey (Betty), Don, Mike as an infant, Dennis as an infant, Kenneth (Shirley) Richard Dick (Mavis); five sisters Minella (Harry) Schueth, Vera (Cliff) Wold, Norma Lea (Amil) Dirksen, Kathryn (Abe) Shedeed, and Dorthy (Ed) Rhode; and two step-sons: Kyle and Monty Fleming. Inurnment will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 5, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD, with full military honors. There will be a luncheon reception at the American Legion Club Post #71 in Hot Springs following the burial. Arrangements are with Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home of Rapid City, SD. UN Special Rapporteur argues against extension of sanctions imposed on Russia MOSCOW, April 28 (RAPSI) Sanctions against Russia fail to achieve the desired result and cause more damage to countries imposing them than the targeted country itself, Idriss Jazairy, the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur said during press-conference in Moscow on Friday. Mr. Jazairy arrived in Russia this week as the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures. He described his task as an attempt to evaluate negative impact caused by the sanctions imposed on Russia after the beginning of crisis in Ukraine back in 2014. According to the Special Rapporteur, this evaluation is highly peculiar situation because unlike other cases he has to assess the damage caused to economically developed country and not a developing one. The Special Rapporteur believes that the damage caused to Russia by sanctions in the frame of three years reaches as high as $55 billion. These losses inconvenienced residents of Russia and hurt the least protected social groups, including children under 16 and retired persons. Mr. Jazairy noted that in 2014 Russia had to endure two economic problems simultaneously: drop in oil prices and sanctions themselves making it difficult to evaluate damage caused by just one of the factors. According to Mr. Jazairy, Russian government took effective measures to minimize losses and to adapt the countrys economy to emergent circumstances. He noted in particular that in this case losses of countries imposing sanctions were much higher than losses of Russia itself and reached as high as $100 billion. The Special Rapporteur brought closer attention to three key points: Sanctions against Russia are ineffective and fail to achieve the planned goals. Such pressure only weakens business ties between countries and causes nothing but problems in the world of economic globalization. In addition, these measures hurt, above everyone else, population and business community, not involved in the political conflict. Sanctions against individuals are also viewed as highly questionable by Mr. Jazairy. In his report, he plans to bring up the point on need to respect the immunity granted to elected officials and how it is important to be cautious during imposing of sanctions against individuals protected by such immunity. Finally, Mr. Jazairy expressed his wish to visit Crimea and Sevastopol to evaluate the state of human rights protection in those regions. He said that in order to do so he hopes that both Russian and Ukrainian authorities would be open for discussion. Mr. Jazairy also noted that despite the existence of the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) it may be reasonable to bring up the possibility of establishing special body to review disputes over unilateral coercive measures. HELENA A recent memo from Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke requiring a review of all grants more than $100,000 has Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks scrambling to understand and deal with the consequences. We were surprised, said Adam Brooks, who oversees federal grants for FWP. The Montana agency receives a large portion of its funding from federal grants that it relies on to start its July 1 fiscal year. Those grants fund 75 percent of the cost of jobs like wildlife biologists and administrative staff. The Department of Interior funds, if delayed, could also affect the acquisition of 450 acres of new wildlife habitat along the Bighorn River, an addition to the Grant Marsh Wildlife Management Area that was recently approved. DOI funds The Department of Interior annually distributes $5.5 billion in grants and cooperative agreements, according to the memorandum Zinke signed on April 12 and which took effect on April 19. Zinke, a Montana resident and former U.S. Congressman, said in the memo that he was issuing the directive to help him understand the immense impact grants and cooperative agreements have on the mission delivery of the Department. Although the memo says the procedures are temporary and that business as usual would return as soon as possible, no end date is given. All requests must get the approval of James Cason, The Interior's deputy secretary, the memo said, who will be assisted by the Office of Acquisition and Property Management. Montana impacts FWP was expecting to get almost $20 million in federal funding and begin spending it on July 1. These grants represent over half the funding used to support Fisheries & Wildlife staff and operations across our state, and to support administration of these programs from our headquarters in Helena, Brooks wrote in an email to Eric Hyatt, who represents eight western state wildlife agencies. A delay of funding until late July or August could very likely result in the loss of (the Grant Marsh WMA) purchasing opportunity, Brooks added. A grant that would have helped pay for a statewide Hunter Education conference and instructor training event in June will be cancelled since the federal funding cannot be approved in time. An overdraft of more than $300,000 has also been incurred by FWP so far because of the grant delay. For anything federally funded its definitely a blow, Brooks said. The two big questions in Brooks mind are: How long will funding be delayed? And if FWP covers the costs of the grants in the short term, will the grant funds be honored and the state reimbursed, or will the agency be left with a deficit? Theres not any guarantees and thats frightening, Brooks said. Wide net Zinkes directive affects more than just state wildlife agencies which receive funds administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Agencies under the Department of Interior umbrella include the National Park Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and U.S. Geological Survey. Representatives from some of those agencies referred all questions to public relations officials. Other spokespeople were unaware of the memo or bumped media requests to their national headquarters, which had not responded by press time. A BLM Montana spokeswoman said her agency doesn't have any grants that would meet the $100,000 threshold. Wyoming Game and Fish Department spokesman Renny Mackay said his agency wouldnt be as hard hit as Montana since its budget is structured differently. Weve got a little more time to see how this might affect us, he said. We get about 25 percent of our revenue from (grant programs)," that could be delayed. Mackay added that the Wyoming wildlife agency is keeping an eye on the issue and will be talking with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials soon to understand possible ramifications. Nationally The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which provides a collective voice for state game agencies in Washington, D.C., is reportedly drafting a letter to Zinke that could be delivered as soon as today outlining the consequences to states of his grant review requirement, according to an email. AFWA spokeswoman Patricia Allen said the memo was one of the top items being discussed by her superiors with Department of Interior officials during a daylong Thursday meeting. At the end of the day, though, she said the group was not ready to comment on the issue and would not confirm that a letter was being drafted. Much of the money for FWP comes from Pittman-Robertson funds collected from a federal tax on firearms and ammunition purchases, as well as Dingell-Johnson funds that are gathered from a tax on fishing gear and some boat engine sales. Those federal dollars granted to states come with very specific sideboards on how they can be spent. In 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service distributed $1.1 billion to state wildlife agencies for conservation, wildlife and administration collected from Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson excise taxes. Another program that is less reliable in terms of state funding is the State Wildlife Grant Program, which benefits wildlife and their habitat. The SWG funds are appropriated by Congress. Trump cuts President Trumps 2018 budget has proposed cutting $1.5 billion from the Department of Interior, a 12 percent reduction, prompting some to speculate that Zinke may be looking for ways to shave off dollars. In a March press release Zinke said the budget would still enable the Department to meet its core mission and prioritizes programs that will put Americans security first. The press release also said, The budget reduces land acquisition funding by more than $120 million and focuses available discretionary funds on investing in and maintaining existing parks, refuges, and public lands. The Florence Carlton High School theatre department is going in a new direction and has formed the Florence-Carlton Shakespeare Company. The goal for the theatre troupe is to establish a non-profit and perform Shakespeare and other quality plays in other Montana schools. Our program is doing something different than most other schools, said drama director Derk Schmidt. Inspired by Shakespeare in the Parks and Shakespeare in the Schools, we have embarked upon a new journey. Having performed classics over the last two seasons, we have carved our own unique niche into the valley, a footprint that spans centuries. The production on April 28-30 was not written by William Shakespeare but is a quality staple of theatre productions: Oscar Wildes classic comedy The Importance of Being Earnest. Most high schools across America perform an exhausting cycle of about 10 exclusive plays every year from 'Oklahoma' to 'Annie' to 'Grease' and this is fantastic, said Schmidt. These plays are lovely classics. But as a drama program we desire more, something different. Schmidt said that he was inspired two years ago when he watched Montana Shakespeare in the Parks perform Cyrano de Bergerac" on the campus of the University of Montana. I learned was that Shakespeare companies often perform non-Shakespearean works by his contemporaries that have followed in the Bard's beloved footsteps, Schmidt said. He recalled a college trip to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada. We watched several Shakespeare plays. They were inspiring. Amazing, Schmidt said. Then, on a Saturday matinee, I will never forget, I witnessed the most perfectly hilarious play. It was a satire, written and first performed in 1895, about two men who both pretend to be the same fictional person to, what else, get the girl. It was called 'The Importance of Being Earnest.' Schmidt said that he is pleased to be directing the hilarious comedy in Florence, 17 years since that college experience. Schmidt described the cast and characters. This play will feature veteran actor Sean Rice as Mr. John Worthing, our protagonist, alongside the rising star we know as Zach Schroeder as the antagonistic Algernon Moncrieff, he said. These two men seek, respectively, the attention of Miss Gwendolen Fairfax, played by newcomer Phoebe Hall, and Miss Cecily Cardew, played by second-year veteran Angie Elkinton. Despite the intimidating efforts of Lady Bracknell, played by second-year actor Jewel Zeiler, the guys temporarily succeed in getting the girls, but there's one problem: neither one of them is who they say they are. In the end, all is well, including a union of taboo between first-year players Bryce DeWitt as Reverend Canon Chasuble and Cayden Young as the Governess, Miss Prism. Schmidt said the Florence-Carlton Shakespeare Company is producing the timeless satire unabridged, the way Wilde intended, he said. Senior and student director Sean Rice said the play is cleverly written. It is not quite todays humor like what you would see on comedy central or something, Rice said. Oscar Wilde is a good author and it is challenging for high school students today to bring out that humor. Rice said the first step is a thorough study of the script to understand the old lofty language. But then we have to find a way to make them act that out so that adults and students who havent been studying the script will get it, he said. Sometimes you really have to exaggerate or you have to pronounce things in certain ways or put emphasis on words to make it work for them. Assistant director Angie Elkinton said she likes the play because of the amount of thought put into the humor. Senior Zach Schroeder portrays the flamboyant and obnoxious character Algernon Moncrieff. His over exaggerated personality is sometimes a stretch, Schroeder said. Algernon is the Oscar Wilde equivalent. He modeled that character after himself. Senior Jewel Zeiler plays Lady Bracknell the mother of Gwendolen who is refusing to let her daughter marry Jack. She is very, very mean, said Zeiler. She has been very fun to portray because it has made me come out of my comfort zone a little bit, like what I say and how I act. She kind of scares me sometimes, said Phoebe Hall who plays Gwendolen. She is very against who I have chosen to fall in love with. One of the more famous scenes in the production is the tea scene with Gwendolen and Cecily Cardew. Basically we are both just realizing this girl is trying to steal my man and that is just not okay, said Hall. Were just really petty towards each other. I say I have my diary so I have always something fabulous to read. Zeiler said the audience will enjoy The Importance of Being Earnest. Many people think Shakespeare language is too difficult but this language is easier to understand and the jokes are modern to today, she said. It is very funny and still relevant. Zeiler praised teacher and director Derk Schmidt for his creativity and dedication. I think it is amazing what he comes up with, the dedication to build this set and to get us working on this, Zeiler said. It is really and truly like 100 percent dedication. It is inspiring to me. Schmidt built the intricate set over spring break. Costumes of Victorian elegance with hats and gloves were sponsored by Tuxedo Gallery. They gave us each a free tuxedo and an extra vest so it looks like were changing outfits plus what we have brought from home looks like were well dressed, said Rice. Zeiler said they appreciate the quality of the performance, the call to a higher standard set by Schmidt and the formation of the Florence-Carlton Shakespeare Company. I believe it sets us apart from other schools, Zeiler said. Shakespeare is very hard and you have to portray it right. Rice said, Weve been doing higher-caliber plays as far as high schools go and figured weve set the standards of excellence why would we go back down? Our goal is higher standards. The production is the results of the drama class and every student in the class has a job to do, sound director, stage manager, props master, choreography and light coordinator. Normally, drama programs are after school but since this is a class we all have to work, Rice said. We have a small cast and other students have intensive jobs that they are assigned. You can see the Florence-Carlton Shakespeare Companys production of The Importance of Being Earnest at 7 p.m., on April 28 and 29 and at 2 p.m. on April 30, which is also senior night. Tickets are available from FCSC students and VIP 'balcony' seating will be available for $5, general admission for $4 for adults. Tickets cost $2 for students and staff. The Importance of Being Earnest is a trivial comedy for serious people," Schmidt said. Please support the arts in our community and join us for our sixth annual spring play. Its going to be a good production, said Rice. Come out and enjoy it. The cast includes John Worthing, J.P. played by Sean Rice; Algernon Moncrieff, Zach Schroeder; Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D., Bryce Dewitt; Lady Bracknell, Jewel Zeiler; Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax, Phoebe Hall; Cecily Cardew, Angie Elkinton; Miss Prism (governess), Cayden Young; Lane (manservant), Keith Rose; Merriman (butler), Carson Katen; Footman, Gavin Zaluski. The crew icludes Director, Derk Schmidt; Student director, Sean Rice; Assistant director, Angie Elkinton; Director of lighting, Tucker Johnson; Musical director, Morgan Jones; Stage manager, Teylah Lawson; Wardrobe master, Keith Rose; Property master, Mitch Edgar; Set engineer, Wayne Schmidt; Set design, Derk Schmidt with Zach Schroeder, Phoebe Hall and Cayden Young; Playbill designer, Brock Elam; Directors assistant, Chloe Miller; Sound engineer, Derk Schmidt; Sound assistant, Zoe Lewis; Accompanist, Morgan Jones; Production manager, Jewel Zeiler; and Crew director, Mitch Edgar. Matthew A. McClune didnt last long on his own recognizance. The 25-year-old Hamilton man who pleaded guilty last week to burglarizing and desecrating a Corvallis church is back in jail after he failed to show up to provide required breath samples. McClune accepted a plea bargain agreement last week that would defer the imposition of his sentence for six years and require that he complete 120 hours of community service. He will also was ordered to pay restitution. Immediately following that hearing, he was released on his own recognizance to await a sentencing hearing set for June 9. As part of his release, McClune was required to regularly meet with a probation officer to provide a breath sample to ensure that he wasnt drinking alcohol. According to two reports from the Montana Department of Justices 24/7 Sobriety Program, McClune called his probation officer to report that he had a doctors note which said he couldnt come in due to the fact that he has a bad knee. The reports said McClune has either not been showing up for the tests or had been calling with an excuse since he was released from jail. McClune was told that he was expected to report, but replied that there was nothing he could do since being crippled, the report said. He does not walk with a limp or anything like that when does come in, it added. McClune was arrested earlier this week and his bail set at $30,000 by Ravalli County District Judge James Haynes. The Corvallis Methodist Church was vandalized on March 3. McClune apparently entered the building through a second-floor window that he had broken out with a rock. While inside, he ripped up Bibles, marked the walls with graffiti that included pentagrams and the numerals 666 and wrote profanity in the guest book. He also broke into the office safe and stole a stereo, computer monitor, keyboard and mouse, as well as numerous checks. McClune was arrested after church officials learned that one of the stolen checks had been processed a local bank. The check was written to Matt McClure for $500, with the words grounds keeping added to the memo line. McClune deposited $400 of the check into his own bank account and received $100 in cash immediately. He later withdrew another $300. Police found the missing computer, keyboard and mouse at McClunes home when he was arrested. He admitted to breaking into the church after drinking heavily. McClune said he didnt remember vandalizing the church, but did recall that he was in a dark place mentally at the time. McClunes sentencing is set for June 9. DEER LODGE Self-described "mountain man" Don Nichols was granted parole Thursday after serving nearly 32 years in the Montana State Prison for kidnapping a world class athlete out on a training run in 1984 and killing her would-be rescuer a story that drew widespread media coverage and was the subject of a made-for-TV movie. The Montana Board of Pardons and Parole agreed to release Nichols, 86, after a hearing at the prison. Nichols was sentenced to 85 years in prison for kidnapping biathlete Kari Swenson in the mountains near Big Sky and killing Alan Goldstein, a friend helping to search for Swenson when she failed to return home from her run. Swenson, who was 22, said she was chained up during her ordeal and spotted her would-be rescuers before her abductors did yelling at them to leave because Nichols had threatened to shoot anyone who tried to help her. Nichols shot Goldstein, the other man ran away and Nichols' son Dan apparently accidentally shot Swenson. She said she was left for dead with a "sucking chest wound" for hours as Goldstein's body lay nearby. Don and Dan Nichols fled and were arrested five months later after manhunt in the mountains of southwestern Montana. Board members recognized Nichols' clean record in his more than 30 years in prison and his completion of educational programs, including anger management and life skills. "You've been a very, very good prisoner, absolutely," said board member Mary Kay Puckett, who added: "We're taking a chance on you, Mr. Nichols." "You will not regret it," Nichols replied. The board asked Nichols how he felt about his crimes. "It was wrong and I don't know what else to say. I feel bad about it," he said. He once wrote that the blame for the incident lay with Goldstein and Swenson who he said he kidnapped to be a bride for his then 19-year-old son. Swenson's mother, Janet Swenson, urged board members to deny parole for Nichols. "Don't be fooled by Don Nichols' demeanor today," she said. "He's a sociopath and that won't change." Prior to Don Nichols' 2012 parole hearing, Kari Swenson wrote a letter to the Bozeman newspaper calling the Nichols "crazy misfits" who chose to live apart from society and defy its laws. "I endured being grabbed by both wrists, hit in the face, thrown to the ground, chained to Dan, threatened with knives and guns, marched through the woods, secured like an animal to trees and spent a terrifying night chained next to Dan," Swenson wrote. She said she spent years in counseling and still has shrapnel in her chest that hurts her and brings back haunting memories of the ordeal that ended her athletic career. Dan Nichols was convicted of kidnapping and assault and was released from prison in 1991. He was sentenced to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to maintain a drug-involved premises after a March 2011 raid on a marijuana cultivation operation. The case was the subject of a 1987 made-for-TV movie "The Abduction of Kari Swenson," starring Tracy Pollan, and was featured in a February episode of Investigation Discovery's TV show "Your Worst Nightmare." The board said Nichols is prohibited from going to Gallatin County, where the crimes took place, and Madison County, where he was captured. He also must wear a GPS monitor. Nichols said he had a place lined up to live in the small community of Deer Lodge, where the state prison is located. He said he planned to sell his paintings, try to get books published and raise flowers. CLEVELAND, Ohio - The owner of a rare large, undeveloped site in central Tremont hopes to build a 75-unit apartment project, bringing new rental construction to a neighborhood where the market has been fueled by duplexes and conversions. Plans presented at a city design-review committee meeting Wednesday show a four-story building at the southwest corner of West 11th Street and Fairfield Avenue, an intersection where restaurants and a coffee shop - South Side, Parallax and Loop - hold the other corners. The parcel, roughly three-quarters of an acre, is partially covered with gravel today and informally acts as a parking lot for nearby eateries. Mike Tricarichi's Telecom Acquisition Corp. bought the property in 2008, just as the real estate market was grinding to a halt and the national economy was shuddering. Since then, he's cleared the site, demolishing a few blighted buildings. And he's been sitting on the land. "I had intentions of doing some kind of mixed-use, retail-apartment project," Tricarichi said during an interview. "But I couldn't make it pencil." Now he's proposing market-rate apartments - rents might range from $800 to $1,500 a month, he said - with a 60-car underground garage and a 15-car parking lot outside. Most units would be studios or one-bedrooms, with a few two- and three-bedroom units mixed in. He hopes to start construction in the fall. Tricarichi is, perhaps, best known in local real estate circles as the owner of a cluster of buildings on Old River Road, on the east bank of the Flats. His company owns and operates the Odeon concert club, and he's been trying to repopulate nearby properties with restaurants and other tenants. In his early 60s, Tricarichi lives, at least part time, in an apartment on the west bank. He owns a house in Chesterland and calls Las Vegas his primary residence. If the Tremont project comes together, he said, he'll probably move into the building. A neighborhood block club has vetted the plans a handful of times, resulting in a smaller building than Tricarichi and his architect, Stephen Ciciretto, originally envisioned. The Cleveland City Planning Commission is likely to get its first look at the proposal on May 5. "The developer has been very receptive to what the neighborhood wants to see in the project, overall," said Matt Moss, housing and economic development director for Tremont West Development Corp., a nonprofit neighborhood group. Moss estimates that Tremont's new residential pipeline - completions, proposals and active construction sites - was up by 30 percent during the 12-month period that ended March 31, when compared with a year before. Between new townhouses, the occasional condo proposal and rental makeovers of buildings such as Wagner Awning on Scranton Road, Moss tallied 237 such units at the end of last month. There's plenty of rental housing in Tremont, he noted, but very little of it is new. That's one reason Tricarichi doesn't seem worried about supply and demand, at a time when lenders nationwide are taking a more tempered approach to apartments after years of rising rents and towering cranes across the country. He wouldn't divulge much about financing, though he hopes to take advantage of Cleveland's residential property-tax abatement program. The city routinely grants abatement if projects meet certain green-building standards. The development will require a rezoning of the site, which is earmarked for multifamily use but zoned for shorter, smaller buildings. The proposed new zoning would apply an urban overlay district to the property, allowing Tricarichi to build close to the edges of the land, and would allow for a taller, more densely built project. The zoning proposal could go to the neighborhood block club for a vote during May and would subsequently wind its way through the city's legislative process. The legislation also might adjust the zoning all the way to West 14th Street, where older apartment buildings across from Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church actually sit on land zoned for retail - a classification that would allow commercial development such as a gas station. New multifamily zoning would limit future uses of the corner and bring the land-use designation in line with what's actually there. City Councilman Kerry McCormack, who represents the area, said he's encouraged by the evolution of the project and the developer's efforts to address neighbors' concerns about the size of the building and parking. The proposal meets the city's requirement of one parking space for every apartment outside of downtown. "Is a parking lot across the street from South Side convenient? Sure," McCormack said. "But is it the highest and best use for that area? No." SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Fresh out of law school and with a job in downtown Syracuse, Garth Coviello was looking for a home that was close to work. He had driven through the Strathmore section of Syracuse with his realtor and she mentioned what a special area it was. Summit Avenue made an impression, and he was excited when he saw a listing for the home on nearby Stolp Avenue. Built in 1910, the house had been a rental since 1996 and it was in rough shape. He told the Post-Standard in 2011: "The house looked just awful. Dilapidated. The front of the roof had moss growing all over it, and there was paint peeling everywhere." But he thought the house "had character, thought it would be fun to fix up," and he loved the view of the city from the front porch. With the help of his brother, and his wife, Karly, Coviello got to work and began a nearly nine-year renovation, which won a "Tender Loving Care Award" from the Preservation Association of Central New York in 2011. The results are a blending the historic and the modern. The home's floor plan is more open than most other period layout, and the owner believes has a "unique style among the area's numerous colonial homes." The kitchen, Coviello's favorite room, was opened to include a dining area and an added dry bar. The master bathroom's cracked porcelain was ripped out and replaced with marble and a large shower unit with a frameless shower door was installed. Modern conveniences like walk-in closets, a mudroom and a first-floor laundry room are also included. Coviello says the sleeping porch is great for yoga. The Strathmore neighborhood lived up to its reputation. He says it has a "great sense of community," great activities he enjoys being only a block away from Onondaga Park. With a growing family, Coviello and his wife are looking for a larger house for themselves. There are open houses scheduled for Sunday, April 30 and Sunday, May 7, both from noon to 3 p.m. THE DETAILS Address: 127 Stolp Avenue, Syracuse, N.Y. 13207 Price: $182,500 Size: 2,144 square feet Acreage: 0.27 acres Monthly Mortgage: $698 (based on this week's national average rate of 4.01 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.) Taxes: $1,729 (Based on assessed value of $107,000) Built: 1910 School District: Syracuse City Schools Kitchen: The owner's current favorite room, was recently completely updated. Features a breakfast bar, granite countertops, stainless appliances, a dry bar, and 42 inch cabinets. There is also a large pantry. Living areas: Described as having a more open floor plan than most homes. The living room has a fireplace and several large windows. Home also features a first-floor office, numerous walk-in closets, a mudroom and a sleeping porch. Master bedroom: One of five bedrooms in the home. Small room located off it could be used as nursery. Bathrooms: Two new bathrooms are in the house. Carrera marble replaced the old porcelain. Shower units include frameless shower doors. Outside: Built on quarter-acre lot, property has a new roof, stone patio, and charming porch with great views of the city and Carrier Dome. Located in the Strathmore section of Syracuse, it is one block away from Onondaga Park. Agent: Garth Coviello Website: coviellore.com Phone: 607-761-7226 Email: Garth@CovielloRE.com To nominate a listing for House of the Week, send an email to home@syracuse.com. 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The partnership between Nepal and ADB since its establishment in 1967 has consolidated the mutual cooperation in the alleviation of poverty, enhancing vocational skills and technical know-how and addressing natural calamities and emergency situation besides education, health and drinking water. The Bank has so far invested billions of rupees to execute small, middle and mega development projects since its establishment 50 years ago in its bid to support Nepal to free from vicious circle of poverty. It is noted that Nepal has worked in around 200 development projects in cooperation with ADB. Among the ongoing projects in operations with ADB technical support and funding are Melamchi Drinking Water, Hydropower Investment, South Asian Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation, Roads Improvement, School Sector Improvement, Kathmandu Upatyaka Drinking Water Supply Improvement, Electricity Extension and Transmission Capacity Expansion and Engineering Higher Education Expansion. On the occasion of Golden jubilee for its establishment, the Board of Governors of ADB are discussing development issues under Building Together the Prosperity of Asia in participation of over 3000 participants from 67 member countries. The four-day seminar programme provides a vibrant platform to discuss economic, finance and development issues of current interests to ADB stakeholders. The topical discussion would be on Asias opportunities for the next 50 years, resilient cities, public private partnership progress and challenges in Asia and the Pacific, women leadership for inclusive and livable cities, transcending the middle income challenges and technology for development, among others. A high-level Nepali delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara would apprise the international community of Nepals development aspirations, contemporary political development, local level elections and development projects and make efforts for further cooperation. A separate meeting of the Finance Ministers of SAARC countries is also taking place in Yokohama on the sideline of the occasion. The meeting would discuss the agendas to make SAARC functional and take stock the programmes SAARC announced earlier on free trade, energy, road network and connectivity. ADB is owned by 67 members including 48 from the Asia-pacific region. Nepal as a founder member of the Bank has invested 0.03 % of the total capital of ADB. On Nepals 50 years partnership with ADB and its role, former Finance Minister and Foreign Affairs Minster Ram Sharan Mahat said, We need ADB as a reliable partner for the development of Nepal. Lauding ADB cooperation in development infrastructure of Nepal, Mahat said the importance of multilateral agencies such as ADB is high when we need more development cooperation for countrys prosperity. Another former Finance Minster Surendra Pandey commented, ADB cooperation is imperative for us to attain double digit economic growth rate.RSS Bollywood hot actress Esha Gupta has faced a strange situation from her own fans. Having fans brings so happiness to the actor or actress as they can get recognized everywhere they go. But there would be problem of the same fans create some troubles in the name of hardcore devotion towards celebrities. Mainly for the actresses, problems from fans get double for their beauty as so many fans try to touch them or try to get a photo with them. Bollywood hot actress Gupta, who is branded as a glamorous girl in the industry, had faced the embarrassing situation when she had gone to Dubai to open a shop in a shopping complex. According to the reports one particular male fan had started asking to take a selfie with her. As she is going to the washroom, that fan followed her like a shadow and even entered Ladies changing room. Bewildered Esha called the security guards to pull him out of her sight. Later she was so sweet enough to leave him without any oral complaint as he claimed that he followed only for the selfie but not for molestation. With the incident Esha had been in shock throughout the entire episode. Kathmandu, Nepal: All- party meeting is going to be held at Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahals official resident Baluwatar today. Prime Minster Pushpa Kamal Dahal had on Thursday called an all-party meeting to discuss over the Constitution amendment bill and other current political situation of the country. Top leaders of all the political parties representing the Legislature-Parliament have been invited to the meeting. Nepalgunj, Nepal: At least three persons including a minor were killed when a passenger jeep fell down the road and plunged into the Bheri River in Rukum district on Friday. The ill-fated jeep with registration number Ga 1 Ja 206, which had left for Chisapani in Rukum from Aathbiskot met with the accident leaving 11 other injuries. Among the deceased two are identified as one year old Sirjan Budha of Chaurhajari, Rukum Kum Bahadur Basnet of Jajarkot district. The missing person in the Rever is yet to be identified. Kathmandu, Nepal: Following an intense negotiations, the ruling coalition and the agitating Madhesi Front have finally forged a consensus assuring the local elections in two phases- first on scheduled date on May 14 and second on June 14. As per the deal, the constitution amendment bill registered in the parliament will be revised before being tabled in the full House to address grievances of the agitating Madhesi and then the agitating Madhesi parties will participate in local elections by calling off its agitations. With the deal, there is merriment among the people that the local elections have become certain now. However, numerous questions are still looming around the sky. Even though the main opposition UML had given its nod for two phase elections if Madhesi parties agreed to participate in the elections, it has now begun to protest the deal. Interesting fact of now is that not only the Main opposition but also the agitating Madhesi parties have also begun to speak against of the deal. We have made an understanding to participate in the elections but not made any deal; chairman of the recently formed Rastriya Janata Party (RJP) Mahanta Thakur said while commenting about the deal on Monday. According to him, the agitating Madhes based parties will participate in the elections only if the demands raised by them are addressed through the amendment in the constitution before the elections. Even though the government allies and the Madhesi parties had agreed to amend the constitution, no decision was made about the contents of the amendment proposal. As neither the government allies nor the agitating Madhesi parties are confident over the deal, the main opposition UML has got a chance to play over the deal to establish its partisan interest in the pretext of nationalism. UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has said on Monday that his party would not support the governments fresh constitution amendment proposal. Speaking at the Legislature-Parliament on Monday, he had said that his party cannot support such deal to amend the constitution. The government has proposed to empower the federal commission to change the provincial boundaries without the consent of the state assembly concerned, we cannot support it, he said. Similarly the loose understanding reached between the government allies and the agitating Madhesi parties to increase the number of local units in different Terai districts is also opposed by the UML. A Standing Committee meeting of the party held earlier on Monday at Chairman Olis residence in Balkot had conclusion that the governments move to amend the constitution on the name of addressing the grievances of the agitating forces would polarize the parties further. The meeting had also opposed the governments decision to hold the local polls in two phases. The UML has a claim regarding the decision to hold the local elections in two phases that the decision would have indented to influence voters with populist program in the fiscal budget. The UML has alleged that new amendment proposal is more regressive and anti-people than the previous one. The government on April 11 withdrew the bill tabled on January 8 to replace it with another bill as earlier proposal to change the boundaries of Province 5 was widely opposed from different sectors. WARNING for European visitors European Union laws require you to give European Union visitors information about cookies used on your blog. In many cases, these laws also require you to obtain consent. As a courtesy, we have added a notice on your blog to explain Google's use of certain Blogger and Google cookies, including use of Google Analytics and AdSense cookies. 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No to Death! No to Deprivation! No to Devastation! No to Rehabilitation! Development with equity and Justice! Visthapan Virodhi Jan-Vikas Andolan (VVJVA) Press Statement: Branding Vistapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan (VVJVA), Jharkhand unit and Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti as a Maoist fronts by Home Ministry of Government of India a Its a undemocratic and violent step by Indian State. The Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan (VVJVA) strongly condemns the home ministrys move to suppress resistance against forced displacement and corporate land grab by terming peoples movements like Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti and VVJVA Jharkhand unit as Maoist party front organizations which must be crushed. This is a calculated strategy of the home ministry to create an atmosphere that will enable the repression of not just these movements but also many others who are putting up a strong resistance against the anti- people agenda of the corporate and the government. The Vistapan Viordhi Jan Vikas Andolan is an all India level united platform of different movements from different parts of the country that are resisting the displacement of Adivasis, dalits, farmers and labourers by corporations in the name of various development projects. This united platform has not only supported and bolstered the struggles for securing land rights of the Adivasis and Dalits but has also put forward a model of pro people and sustainable development in a constructive manner. The various constituents of VVJVA are active in Odisha, Maharshtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and in Other states. Member sangathans of VVJVA are working for building and strengthening democratic and constitutional structures like the Gram Sabhas and asking for entitlements to be given under the Forest Rights Act, 2006; Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, etc. Rigorous and sustained efforts have been undertaken in these regions to resist land grab and assert the constitutional rights of adivasis over their natural resources, livelihood and dignity. The timing of the report given by the Home Ministry condemning people centric movements is strategic. It comes at a time when Corporations have had to step back and concede to constitutional processes. The Niyamgiri Adivasi Movement has been able to defeat a large Corporation like Vedanta. These Adivasis have succeeded in their hard struggle through their Gram Sabhas by insisting on the implementation of the PESA Act, 1996 and by rejecting the mining of the Niyamgiri Hills. Similarly, the POSCO Prtirodh Samiti has succeeded so far in their long and heroic struggle in saving their lands giving their livelihood and their forest land. While one of the leaders of the movement is being awarded internationally for the efforts to save the environment, the Indian Home Ministry is trying to brand this movement and discredit the struggle of the people. This is not the first time that the government has targeted movements by terming them as front organizations. In the past few years this has become the modus operandi of the government to stifle movements. Use of UAPA and other draconian laws against activists and the leaders of the affected communities has become common practice. In the past few months, the Jharkhand unit of the VVJVA, has been actively participating, working and building up a strong adivasi resistance movement against the amendments to the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, (CNT 1908) and Santal Parganas Tenancy Act , SPTA 1949. These amendments are a move by the government to dispossess thousands of Adivasis by losing their fundamental and constitutional rights. It is this resistance to the governmentsa moves to dispossess adivasis that is being repressed. Along with strong resistance to changes in CNT and SPT act, Jharkhand unit constituents of VVJVA are strongly leading other anti-displacement struggles in Jharkhand state, against forceful land acquisition for Electro Steel Plant, Jindal mining Project in santhal pargana, movement of displaced person in Tenughat power plant, Bokaro steel plant, Tiger Project Betla, Kutaku Dam, Santuary and Dam in Gumala. All constituents of VVJVA are working in people to raise peoples democratic struggle against the corporate loot of jal-jangal-jamin. It is this resistance to the governments moves to dispossess adivasis that is being repressed. VVJVA wass actively conducted fact findings where peoples rights have been violated in way of forcfully snachting their resources, in whcih emminent people from legal, acadecia, social movements have participated. VVJVA activelly opposed and raised issues from Badkagao Firing incident, repression and killings in Niyamgiri area. This active involment of VVJVA against the anti-people development policies of state, against the state repression and strong work towards the goal of people based development model have shaken the very basic nature of this pro-corporate state structure. It is interesting to note that the home ministry report itself says that the main plank has been the issue of displacement of local communities and that the pro tribal issues were being raised in the opposition to the amendments of the CNT/SPT Acts. "The Maoists tried to strengthen coordination between its mass organizations and other like-minded organizations to undertake Programmes against alleged state violence and for protection of democratic rights. In 2016, the issue of displacement of local communities remained the main plank of mobilization by the mass organisations. In Niyamgiri Hills area (Districts Rayagada and Kalahandi, Odisha), the outfit continued to guide the activities of the Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti. Similarly in Jharkhand the Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan a front of the CPI (Maoist), tried to take up pro-tribal issues and opposed amendments to the Chhotanagpur and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Acts, modifications in Domicile Policy etc"(Home Ministry Reoprt 2017, para 2.8). The Niyamgiri movement is a successful one, the legitimacy of whose demands have been upheld by the Supreme Court of India and the larger civil society. The consistent resistance by the people of the region has forced a mighty corporation to withdraw their operations. The Jharkhand Resistance to the amendments have also been widespread with support of all sections of the civil society. The protest has been within the democratic framework. This is a time when the strength of peoples movements is increasing and mass movements are gaining ground thwarting the corporate agenda. In this atmosphere branding movements as fronts or anti national etc is a way to repress peoples movements. We strongly condemn this move. We demand that the home ministry should instead focus on providing the struggling masses with their basic rights. The forest rights act and PESA act beg for proper implementation. On many occasions these have been bypassed to grant land for large projects. Various communities who have been displaced by development projects and mining activities are still struggling to get the compensation they were promised in terms of land, jobs and/or monetary compensation. Further, environmental laws are being openly flouted while the government turns a blind eye. If these were being implemented and the constitutional rights of the people were being upheld, so many agitations would not have raised or flared up against the state policies. The necessity for people to float and form such "Front Organizations" would not have appeared on the social scene at all. It has become a regular practice for aIndian Home Ministrya to brand all peopleas organizations that take-up and work on their issues as Maoist or Maoist affiliated. This is a sinister design of the home ministry to choke the resistant voices of the oppressed people, and adivasis who are struggling to protect their natural habitat and constitutional rights. It is time that the government looked for political solutions and examined the flaws in its policies rather than finding ways of repressing movements that stand up for democracy and constitutional rights in the truest sense. We again condemn this repressive act of state to label peoples movements to repress any kind of dissent. And we declare once again VVJVAs commitment to stand in struggle with people, to fight against injustice caused by anti-people development plans, we will carry forward our united struggle against displacement of all kinds, to established and ensure rights of dalits, adivasis, farmers, labourers on land and resources. We appeal to all peoples movements, academicians, students and workers to raise their voice against home ministries recent report and condemn the fabricated allegation made by in it. And to strengthen the peoples struggle against exploitative development model of the state. The Polisario Front was unable to stand up to the UN for a long time. Since the early hours of Friday, its armed elements, positioned in the buffer zone of Guerguerat, near Moroccos border with Mauritania, started dismantling the makeshift check-ups they erected to block the truckers transiting between this Moroccan locality and northern Mauritania. It seems that the firm wording of the draft resolution that the UN Security Council is set to vote this Friday has strongly shaken the separatist fronts leaders who hastened to backtrack in their escalation in the demilitarized area near Gueguerat. According to local sources, the Polisario militiamen received orders from the Polisario headquarters in Rabouni camp in the early hours of Friday to break the camp where they had set up a checkpoint for vehicles heading from Morocco to Mauritania. A source close to the Permanent Representation of France to the UN in New York said the representatives of Russia and Uruguay challenged the wording of certain paragraphs of the draft resolution that they considered unbalanced. The text pressured the Polisario and its Algerian sponsors to withdraw illico-presto from the buffer zone of Guerguerat not to expose themselves to UN sanctions. It remains to be seen whether the Polisario will definitively and totally withdraw its troops from the buffer zone, or whether it is using a mere tactical maneuver and planning to reposition its militiamen near Guerguerat once the resolution is adopted. In any case, the tone used by the Security Council in the draft resolution leaves no room for maneuvering and the Polisario has no choice but to comply with the UN demands. According to the recommendations of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, as stated in the text of the resolution to be adopted this Friday, the position of the Polisario will be greatly weakened. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Supermarket shelves and roadways are full of Chinese imports in the fiercely independent North Korean capital. CNN's Will Ripley reports. As featured on House to vote on North Korean sanctions next week The House will vote on a bill to authorize new sanctions against North Korea, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced Thursday. There was a time when Neli Delgado was forced to have sex with 30 to 40 men a night. Now she's a restaurateur and speaks at anti-trafficking events. As featured on How sex trafficking survivor became a restaurateur Just about everyone who stops by "La Familia" restaurant in Mexico City is welcomed with Neli Delgado's warm smile. A ballistic missile launched early Saturday by North Korea in defiance of international pressure and at a time of heightened regional tensions appears to have failed. You have permission to edit this html. Edit Close Obin and Amariah Olson's action flick The Shadow Effect with be On Demand, Digital HD and DVD in the U.S. on May 2nd. The flick was written by another family duo, Chad and Evan Law. Their story was adapted to screen Tony Feole who also wrote the screenplay for the Olson's 2015 flick Operator. The Shadow Effect stars Cam Gigandet, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Brit Shaw, and Michael Biehn. Obsessed with gene regeneration, and fascinated by the phenomenon of the waking dream, Dr. Reese (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) explores the psyche of Gabriel Howarth (Cam Gigandet), a young man whose life is turned upside down when his violent dreams begin to blend with reality. When Gabriel's dreams mirror political assassinations, he must race against the clock to not only save himself and his wife Brinn (Britt Shaw), but stop an experimental government program. With time running out, and Gabriel's life on the line, only Dr. Reese holds the key to unlocking the truth. In the clip below Biehn chases after Gigandet in a warehouse. If we should learn anything from this clip it is that there is no such thing as too much laser sighting in an action film. It is almost a lost art. There is something magnificent about human endeavours that require several lifetimes to achieve. The Basilica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona was started in 1888 by architect Antoni Gaudi, but he will have been dead for 100 years before this catholic church, the crowning achievement of his career, is completed. How does an idea hang on for so long, and more importantly, who and how does the physical realization of that idea happen? When society talks about clean energy, images of wind turbines and solar panels immediately spring to mind. Private billionaires like Elon Musk is seen as the public face of 'a better future.' And yet one of the earliest scientific ideas for green power is actually Nuclear Fusion, and for the past five years, a large scale prototype has been quietly being constructed in southern France. Since Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev shook hands in 1985, there has been a $14 Billion (and counting) engineering mega-project involving seven of the world's most powerful nations, something analogous to the early stages of the International Space Station, inching towards fruition. It is called, ITER, or the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor; but in latin, iter also means 'the way.' Since the turn of the century, people have dreamed to not just harness the power of our sun, but to create and manage our own tiny version for all our energy needs. Fusion is a beautifully simple idea generating vast sums of nuclear energy by combining small molecules elements like our sun, instead of blowing molecules apart like our bombs. Hence the cheeky title of Mila Aung-Thwin and Van Royko's primer on nuclear fusion, one of modern science and engineering's greatest spiritual quests. A journey that has proven out to be fraught with peril, and has seen its share of prophets, con-men, and project managers. From a self-educated Russian soldier who had a vision of a magnetic containment system, Tokamak, come to him dream while on duty on a remote Soviet island 1949, to a German-Austrian expatriate in Argentina, at about the same time, that fooled the world his local government that his Thermotron was on the verge of reality that he scored his own private island. The film effectively dramatizes these with beautiful little animated vignettes in between scientists wringing their hands at the politics and the possibility of their careers leading to the largest single failed experiment in the history of mankind. There are also some modern, 21st century pioneers, that have been bitten by the fusion bug, duct tape physicists on a (relative) Home Depot budget that are looking into their own reactor designs. Companies like General Fusion and Focus Fusion that are not constrained by big government and big funding, but the private sector is equally constrained in terms of resources. The Germans are also working on thier own design in tandum with ITER, cryptically called the Wendelstein 7x Stellerator, that has lit a plasma only for a fraction of a second last year. The US Congress has placard on the wall of one if its hearing rooms that reads, "Where there is no vision, the people will perish." This underscores the challenges we collectively, as a species, face to power future generations on our planet without wrecking the place, and, perhaps more optimistically, open up the opportunity of spreading out into the solar system. Belief is easy, Science is hard. The big scientific dreams require not just collaboration across people and conflicting nations and cultures, but across large spans of time. And the bringing the Tokamak design to scale at ITER has proven a laundry list of complex technical, funding, and political setbacks that have shaken (and diminished) populist credibility and interest. American congress threatens to pull funding, the South Koreans believe ITERs project management and communication is a disaster, and Russia has gone far afield from the Perestroika era. At one point, late in the film, you see a senior physicist, 35 years into his career, and an even older, long retired physicist shake hands and smile while lamenting the fact they will probably never bear witness to their life goals, seeing the clean nuclear energy of ITER type designs become the primary source of all the world's energy. Let There Be Light is an snappy birds-eye view, a state of the nation(s) glimpse, of ITERs scientists, politicos and construction workers as they push towards 'first plasma' in 2025, co-incidentally the same year that Sagrada Familia should be complete. Praise be to science and forward thinking government. The subject of our hyper-connected, social media-based cultural landscape is a fruitful and relevant one for filmmakers, and one with great potential for mass audience interest, given how pervasive this is in our daily lives. David Finchers Facebook origin story The Social Network can be looked upon as the gold standard of this sort of film, its paranoid thriller elements fitting well with the real-life dystopian aspects of the corporate encroachments and privacy erosion that are seemingly inescapable hallmarks of our constant online presences. The latest film to tackle this very large subject is The Circle, directed by James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now, The End of the Tour) and written by Dave Eggers, based on his 2013 novel. The protagonist is Mae Holland (Emma Watson) who, with an assist from her best friend Annie (Karen Gillian), escapes her dead-end customer service job and lands a much more lucrative position at The Circle, a powerful social media company (an obvious Facebook analogue). At the Circle, Mae is essentially doing the same work as she was before, but now shes got a fancier title (her department is in Customer Experience), and is now in a chill college campus-type environment, where her co-workers hang out on the lawn, play games and practice yoga. Everyone seems friendly and super-supportive, and this vibe is reinforced by the weekly company pep-sessions led by CEO/Circle co-founder Eamon Bailey (Tom Hanks), who uses these company-wide meetings to excite the workers and introduce new products and initiatives. At the first session Mae attends, Bailey unveils a new feature called SeeChange, which consists of tiny circular cameras barely bigger than marbles that can be easily implanted anywhere, which not only transmit extremely vivid images, but impart information on atmospheric conditions and data on every visible person and object in the frame. Bailey emphasizes the potentially revolutionary impact this can have on activists and those suffering human rights abuses all across the globe, and how dictators and other abusive authoritarian figures will soon be no longer able to act with impunity and in secret. Despite the fact that now Maes working at a place where shes happy, for a company that seems to be doing work genuinely beneficial to humanity, discordant notes of disquiet are disturbing her bliss. The long hours of work are keeping her away from her home and family, where her father (Bill Paxton, in one of his final screen roles) is battling MS, putting a considerable financial and emotional strain on all of them. Maes work also alienates her from her childhood friend/ex-boyfriend Mercer (Ellar Coltrane), who is completely opposed to the nature of the corporation Mae works for. At work, the stresses of the job on Annie are becoming alarmingly visible, making Mae fear for her friends health. Also, two bubbly co-workers cheerily chide Mae for not making every detail of her life visible to everyone in the company, as well as the general public. These co-workers reinforce the disconcerting emphasis on total transparency demanded by the corporate culture of the Circle, as well as giving off a disturbingly cultish vibe. Finally, Ty (John Boyega), a co-worker with access to the secret archives where all the massive amounts of data gathered by the Circle on their customers personal information is stored, confides with Mae his concerns that the Circle's do-gooder public image is hiding a much more sinister use for all this material. Tom Hanks jokingly remarked at The Circles world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival that he hopes the film inspires arguments that would lead to fistfights between those with opposing opinions. While this is an unlikely post-screening occurrence, the film certainly raises provocative ethical questions related to the consequences our constant connectedness. However, it addresses these concerns in a way that only skates the surface of its issues and never actually deals with these in any real depth. The films biggest problem in this respect is that Maes shifts in character even though Watson performs quite well never feel quite believable as written. Mae changes from green, wide-eyed rookie, to skeptical observer, to a true believer who willingly subjects herself to a 24/7 Truman Show-type worldwide broadcast of her every waking moment and finally to a sort of a corporate revolutionary. But all these character changes always feel theoretical and mechanically plot-motivated, rather than emotionally real. The Circle is always blindingly obvious, almost to the point of didacticism, about its critiques toward the global social-media world it depicts. Even so, its denouement feels too neatly wrapped up, despite its teasing ambivalence about whether human liberation has been achieved, or if its characters have been transferred to a larger and less visible sort of prison. (Incidentally, the ending of the film adaptation has been significantly changed from Eggers much more downbeat conclusion to his original novel.) Despite all this, The Circle still has some positive things going for it. Ponsoldt, invaluably aided by Matthew Libatiques elegantly sleek, gleaming cinematography, comes up with a lively visual analogue to Eggers text, complete with floating bits of online activity and users comments (although considerably more sanitized than they would be in real life). The performances are quite fine across the board, even though the characters themselves are rather thinly drawn. Watson finds some potent emotional notes; Hanks typically avuncular presence adds some intriguing wrinkles to a character that could be easily stereotypically evil; Patton Oswalt, as the Circles COO, convincingly plays smarmy; and Bill Paxtons recent passing, too tragically soon, is a poignant reminder of what a reliably accomplished actor he was. The Circle contains some intriguing ideas, as well. Notwithstanding the Circles Orwellian corporate slogans sharing is caring, secrets are lies, privacy is theft the films dystopian vision is much closer to Aldous Huxleys in Brave New World. The Circle posits that we have become willing slaves to near-total surveillance of our online and personal activities through our desire for convenience and instantly attainable interpersonal connections. Ultimately, however, The Circle suffers from the same weaknesses endemic to social media itself: grappling with important issues, but doing so in a way that flattens out much of the complex nuances, and encourages superficial snap judgment rather than considered debate. In the end, the film provides some food for thought, but not quite enough for a satisfying meal. The Circle opens in theaters on April 28. "Criminal Law as Family Law" | Main | "Rethinking Federal Diversion: The Rise of Specialized Criminal Courts" April 28, 2017 Arkansas completes fourth execution in a week, but not without apparent problems As reported in this new NBC News article, the "lawyer of a convicted killer who was put to death by lethal injection Thursday has demanded an investigation after his client repeatedly convulsed during the 'horrifying' execution." Here is more: Media witnesses reported "coughing, convulsing, lurching, jerking" for a 10 to 20 second period during the execution of Kenneth Williams at the Cummins Unit, where the Arkansas death chamber is housed. The allegations come amid questions around the use of the controversial lethal injection drug midazolam. The state's stocks of the drug were due to expire and it has been racing to execute a record number of inmates Williams was the fourth to be executed inside of a week. "This is the most I've seen an inmate move three or four minutes in," said Associated Press reporter Kelly Kissel, who witnessed his tenth execution Thursday night. Kissel explained that Williams "lurched" 15 times in quick succession, followed by five slower lurches, three minutes after the sedative midazolam was introduced. Kissel said two other witnesses from local media organizations agreed with his assessment and also said that Williams could be heard after the microphone to the death chamber was turned off. Williams' attorney called for an investigation and called the descriptions "horrifying." "This is very disturbing, but not at all surprising, given the history of the risky sedative midazolam, which has been used in many botched executions," said Shawn Nolan, an attorney who had taken up Williams case two weeks prior to the execution. "What's important right now is that all the information about tonight's execution must be meticulously documented and preserved so that we can discover exactly what happened in that execution chamber." State officials pushed back against the allegations that the execution might have been "botched" and allegations it did not follow the protocol. J.R. Davis, spokesman for Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, described the lurches as "involuntary muscular reaction to the midazolam." Though he had not witnessed the execution, he said the medical community supported the drug's safe use and that this reaction did not mean the procedure had been painful.... Nolan, called Davis' explanation "trying to whitewash the reality of what happened" and he called for a full investigation. "We tried over and over again to get the state to comport with their own protocol to avoid torturing our client to death, and yet reports from the execution witnesses indicate that Mr. Williams suffered during this execution," Nolan said in a statement. "Any amount of movement he might've had was far less than any of his victims," said Jodie Efird, one of the victim's daughters who attended the execution. Williams had been serving a life sentence for the Dec. 1998 murder of a University of an Arkansas-Pine Bluff cheerleader. Then 20, the inmate escaped after only serving a month at the Cummins Unit by hiding inside a barrel of pig slop that a garbage truck had removed from the prison grounds. The former gang member shot and killed Cecil Boren, stole his truck, led police on a high-speed pursuit and killed another man, Michael Greenwood, in a resulting car accident. A jury sentenced Williams to death for the 1999 murder of Boren, a 57-year-old former warden of the prison where Williams was executed.... Arkansas Department of Correction Spokesman Solomon Graves said that the lethal injection was administered at 10:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. ET) and Williams was declared dead at 11:05 p.m. Williams, 38, was scheduled to die at 7 p.m. local time (8 p.m. ET). Williams' execution was delayed more than three hours because of attempts by his lawyers before a state court and the U.S. Supreme Court to stop it. Shortly after 10 p.m. the U.S. Supreme Court declined to stop the execution. April 28, 2017 at 08:20 AM | Permalink Comments I completed my commute to work, but not without apparent problems. I completed going to the bathroom, but not without apparent problems. I coughed, jerked, and lurched doing those activities. So, let's ban them. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 28, 2017 9:52:28 AM Interesting---looks like these people have no clue what the deal is--seems to me that as the midazolam takes effect (i.e., suppresses breathing), a billion years of evolution takes effect, and the body desperately tries to get oxygen, but that doesn't mean that the guy was conscious. There is no indication of when the KCl, which is the thing that would allegedly cause the pain, was administered. If the KCl wasn't administered until after the midazolam (and the vecuronium bromide--I think that's what Arkansas uses) was administered, this seems to be much ado about nothing. Remember also, a billion years of evolution also has created spinal reactions in humans--the spine controls involuntary movements in reaction to extreme stimuli. Not being able to breathe--hmmmm. Posted by: federalist | Apr 28, 2017 10:09:47 AM My heavens, what overly dramatic nonsense. My grandmother, the sweetest woman to ever live and who never killed anyone, spent her final DAYS gasping for air as her body failed her. Excuse me for not being too concerned about this murderer possibly conscious while trying to catch his breath for 10-20 seconds. Death is grisly and most of us will die in a much more painful manner than Williams did. Our goal needs to be painless execution but there is no need to clutch our pearls if we do not quite get there every time. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Apr 28, 2017 10:24:44 AM You da man, Tarls. Posted by: federalist | Apr 28, 2017 11:48:44 AM There have been various findings, by experts, that usage of midazolam were problematic, including in past executions. What happened here and in another execution of this quarter where problems were alleged is unclear, Prof. Berman sure to repeatedly use "apparently." federalist also hedges, as is appropriate, since we are just making reasoned assumptions here based on limited reports. [I saw a reference(see Chris Geidner) that the state, however, said the latest was 'flawless' and there won't be an investigation. Seems ill-advised. You had four executions. Have a full investigation, if anything as Prof. Berman suggests, to help promote the idea that it went fine. I'm sure some will disagree, but everything will be out there, for all sides to examine.] "Perfection" is not needed here either legally or practicably (nothing is perfect) though the report in that article alone discusses more than a 10-15 second period (unless the 20 lurches, e.g., all took place in that time). It's clear many wouldn't care if a much higher amount of pain was suffered by murderers here. But, there is a constitutional and legal requirement here, and it is helpful some people are specifically concerned about it. And, they are likely to realistically overcompensate, our system balancing things out by hearing from various voices. Taking everything, not one data point of one incident, into consideration. Posted by: Joe | Apr 28, 2017 12:05:08 PM Edit: 10 to 20 seconds There is a tendency to be affected by botched executions (or claims thereof) and (too) painful/barbaric executions is a core concern of the 8A. So, you can see why people would want to focus on this sort of thing. The reports on how the drugs were obtained in many of these cases to me very well might be even more troubling on some level as well as the secrecy of the process. This would also go beyond the harm to the executed murderers alone. Posted by: Joe | Apr 28, 2017 12:13:40 PM Joe. Please tell the class how the source of the drug, and secrecy involved is in any dispositive to the Eighth Amendment claims that can be made? Your making these false and stupid arguments is why I repeatedly call you a weasel. You are sneaky, dishonest, and hypocritical. You argue the Eighth Amendment, or whatever Amendment, but the real aim of your demand is to find the pharmacists, and have left wing thugs beat their ass and burn down their places to protect vicious murderers from being executed, and to intimidate any other pharmacist contemplating helping the state carry out its legal duty. You should accept and confess your inner weasel. I have come to oppose the death penalty so the entire death penalty appellate bar, both prosecution and defense, is fired. Then, the murderers may be dispatched, Euro style, by suicide or by murder by other inmates, as the guards are nowhere to be found. Then we could have mass eradication of these murderers, at no cost to the government. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 28, 2017 12:36:33 PM Any of you feminist lawyers or their male running dogs demand Joe be banned because he is posting too many comments? Posted by: David Behar | Apr 28, 2017 12:41:11 PM The secrecy part has been addressed on this blog repeatedly, including that post where David (who is hard to take seriously, but just to answer that point) apparently offered me a job -- doing things out in the open is important to show the law is truly being followed, including the means used to execute meets requirements. The source of the drug also factors in there & proper regulation there is a norm for drug regulation generally. Prof. Corinna Lain over at PrawfsBlawg and in her writings talked about this and other issues. I'm concerned about drug regulation, including drugs used to kill people, generally, beyond specific constitutional demands. I'm not sure what my spirit animal is. Don't think it's a weasel. Posted by: Joe | Apr 28, 2017 12:50:37 PM Joe is not calling you or anyone else a weasel, David. You continue to fail to understand how your vitriol serves to undercut the merits of whatever substantive point you wish to deliver. And that is why I field more complaints about you than about all other commenters combined. Posted by: Doug B. | Apr 28, 2017 12:55:06 PM The problem, Joe, is the press--all they do is report "both" sides--instead of asking the germane question, i.e., whether the movement happened before or after the KCl. Seems to me that, from a clinical standpoint, a dose enough to knock out a horse of midazolam and a dose enough to kill a horse of vecuronium bromide will knock the guy out prior to the KCl, which is what causes the possibility of so-called unconstitutional pain. And if I were the state, I would say FU to an investigation also. Posted by: federalist | Apr 28, 2017 2:32:35 PM Doug. Please find a better word for someone using pre-textual legal argument to find a pharmacy, knowing it will be sued, threatened, and burned down. The certainty of such an effect is that of planetary orbits. Does the sun rise in the East? The pharmacies will be attacked by lawyers and then by thugs, and destroyed. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 28, 2017 2:41:04 PM Fed is correct. Do not believe me. Anyone who has had anesthesia, has experienced not reaching the number 3 in a count, then waking up in recovery. One is "gone" in a second. The doses of an execution are 10 times greater than are used for operative anesthesia, where the body is cut open, broken bones are pulled apart and reset. Holes are drilled, and screws are screwed in, skin is cut off and restapled together. The complaints are not ridiculous. They are pre-textual and false. The lawyer complaining is trying to fool a tribunal, and deserves investigation by the Disciplinary Counsel for claiming pain is taking place. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 28, 2017 3:12:24 PM Joe, as an opponent of secrecy and as a fan of transparency, please publish your full name, home address, cell phone number, where you work, and a copy of your 2016 tax return. I think transparency fans should all do that. All those demanding the tax return of Donald Trump, all those who opposed the Birther movement, should publish their tax returns to the internet, on Facebook. Demands for transparency have the legitimacy and the same purpose as the Birthers demanding the Kenyan birth certificate of Obama. The sole purpose is to use such information for vicious personal attack, and to evade the substantive policy debate on the facts and on logic or utility. Joe, I am converted to your viewpoint, transparency, now publish your 2016 tax return. Be transparent. As a disclosure, what I really want to do is to send released criminals to the houses surrounding yours. My request is pre-textual, because I know full well, you will soon become a victim of a serious crime if I do that. And that would be the real reason I am requesting this information from a stranger. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 28, 2017 3:22:07 PM Past examination of the executions here point to various aspects that need to be done properly. The people with expertise there can examine the germane issues. The press, in short bursts, allegedly not reporting things in a good way shouldn't change basic good policy of open oversight here. Killing four people would be a good point to do it. Posted by: Joe | Apr 28, 2017 3:38:28 PM It wouldn't even surprise me if the actions took place prior to the actual administration of the midazolam as some form of malingering. Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Apr 28, 2017 4:22:55 PM A tangentially related point: "A North Carolina state prison officer died Wednesday after being assaulted by an inmate. Sgt. Megan Lee Callahan, 29, of Edenton, was attacked around 5:30 p.m. at Bertie Correctional Institute, and died about 6:20 p.m., officials said. Authorities are investigating Craig Wissink in connection with her death, officials said. Wissink has been in prison for more than a decade after being convicted of first-degree murder in Cumberland County and sentenced to life in prison." http://nbc4i.com/2017/04/27/inmate-assaults-kills-female-north-carolina-corrections-officer/ Here are the details of Wissink's previous murder: "The evidence at trial tended to show that around 10:00 p.m. on 27 June 2000, two individuals knocked on the door of a trailer belonging to Jonathan Pruey (Pruey). As Pruey approached the door, the individuals opened the door from outside. Pruey and his roommate, Corrie Cordier (Cordier), attempted to close the door. One of the individuals, who was wearing a Halloween hockey mask, fell in through the door. Cordier stomped down on the individual's face and Pruey slammed the door shut, bracing himself against it. A few seconds later, Cordier heard a loud noise, a moan, someone stumbling in the living room, and then the sound of someone hitting the floor. Pruey's wife and another roommate turned on the lights and saw Pruey lying on his back on the kitchen floor. Pruey was losing a large amount of blood from his chest and mouth." http://caselaw.findlaw.com/nc-court-of-appeals/1485812.html Just curious. Does anyone know how long the chests of Jonathan Pruey and Sgt. Callahan heaved before they died? Posted by: TarlsQtr | Apr 28, 2017 6:30:39 PM Tarls. Humanity is a totally foreign language to the reptiles here. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 28, 2017 8:55:24 PM Buzzfeed reports: "On Friday, inmates successfully sought a court order that the state conduct an autopsy of Kenneth Williams and preserve certain blood and tissue samples in relation to ongoing litigation into the state's execution methods. The state opposed the request, saying nothing had gone wrong during the execution, but US District Judge Kristine Baker "found that plaintiffs have demonstrated that the blood and tissue samples are relevant to and in controversy in this action," ordering the collection." See also, Associated Press, which also noted that the lawyers of Williams want a full investigation; the state reports it will only do a routine review. Posted by: Joe | Apr 29, 2017 5:06:41 PM We've seen the blood stuff before---remember the BS Lancet Study over how much sedative was in the bloodstream? Turned out the stuff degraded post-mortem. Breyer actually cited that in Baze v. Rees (ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha). The judge's order is routine, although I don't know that she gets to tell the state to pay for it. I'm just curious why people take the press nonsense at face value--if the stuff is used for surgery, then if the movements stop before the KCl, then . . . . And there's a billion years of evolution that tries to hold onto life. Doesn't mean the guy was sensate, and all evidence suggest he was not. Posted by: federalist | Apr 30, 2017 1:12:41 PM Assessment of pain in the non-verbal patient, or even in the unconscious patient. There are validated scales, which may be used. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/533939_6 Here is a pain scale for unconscious patients, with 4 items. Executioner may fill it in 30 seconds. Best would be to record the face and body of the executed, and allow others to judge for themselves. It should not be made public, since it may reinforce murder for public attention. http://kpnursing.org/professionaldevelopment/CPOTHandout.pdf Posted by: David Behar | Apr 30, 2017 1:14:18 PM I am looking into ethics charges against Nolan, for making a false report to a government official, and against Judge Kristine Baker for a self dealing judgement. Thanks, Joe. Good report. Posted by: David Behar | Apr 30, 2017 1:25:57 PM I take press articles, including the ones Mr. F. links at times, with a grain of salt. Posted by: Joe | Apr 30, 2017 2:35:42 PM Post a comment Henry Chung, namesake of Henry's Hunan chain of restaurants, died last weekend in the Richmond District at age 99. Chung's empire of restaurants helped popularize regional Chinese cuisine marked by heavy use of garlic and chile peppers. The Chronicle's obituary for Chung lays out his fascinating life, as does an ABC7 tribute segment to him. Henry's Hunan opened in 1974 on Kearny, later moving to a larger, current space on Sansome. Popularity grew after a 1976 New Yorker article by Tony Hiss praised Chung's food. Setting the scene in "Frisco," Hiss claimed to have "discovered the best Chinese restaurant in the world." He ate there while on a vacation, on Thanksgiving day, and enjoyed his meal with a Coke to cut the spice from the food. At the time, Hiss noted, Patty Hearst was "back home on Nob Hill" BART was "functioning smoothly," and the Oakland Raiders had the best record in the NFL. Henry Chung had already lived a long life by the time he started in the restaurant business with his wife Diana in his 50s. Born in 1918, in Liling, Hunan, Chung was married at the age of 8 to a 12-year-old bride, as was the custom in the village where he grew up. He had three children by the time he graduated high school. Locally recognized for his intelligence, his village sent him to university in Nanjing. How his first marriage dissolved isn't known, and he lost touch with his children. He then married Diana, another Hunanese university student. She died in 2003. Chung entered diplomatic service for the Nationalist government of China, and he and Diana and their first two children decamped to the US, to Houston, in 1948. When they were called back by the Nationalist government, which fled to Taiwan, the Chungs stayed put. After opening a variety of businesses in Houston and San Francisco, ice cream shops, diners, etc, Henry and Diana began to cook food from their home province. The New Yorker coverage was a huge boon to the business. "It changed our lives. We went from a restaurant that was moderately successful to being so busy that we had lines that went around the corner," Chung's son Howard tells ABC7. "We had street performers that would come and perform in front of the lines." According to the Chronicle, Henry and Diana Chung returned to China in 1982 after diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China were stabilized. From the paper: They found that, during the Cultural Revolution, [Chung's first three children and their progeny] had been severely punished for Mr. Chungs escape. The couple began bringing Mr. Chungs children and their extended families to the United States. Buying more buildings and opening restaurants inside them gave the new arrivals employment. The number of Henrys Hunan locations swelled to six, each one managed and staffed by a different branch of the family. MacKenzie Fegan, Henry Chung's granddaughter and the family biographer according to the Chronicle, remembers that Chung told her to "Live a good life, eat good food, wear good clothes and dont be sloppy." He'll be remembered with a memorial celebration, details of which have not yet been released. CBS Films just released the first image of actress Helen Mirren in character, and in costume, as Sarah Winchester in the upcoming thriller Winchester. It's directed by Michael and Peter Spierig, the Australian brothers behind the 2009 film Daybreakers, and the upcoming Saw: Legacy, and as we learned last year, Mirren is taking on the role of the mysterious and reportedly troubled heiress who built the famed, labyrinthine Winchester Mystery House, all in an effort to confuse and outrun ghosts who she believed were haunting her. People Magazine got the exclusive first look, and Mirren tells them, "I dont believe in ghosts, but I do believe people can be haunted, and Sarah Winchester is a haunted person. That was the appeal in the role." Co-director Peter Spierig tells the magazine, "Sarah Winchester is quite a remarkable woman, and the idea of her being just a crazy person who was haunted by ghosts is not the full story. Helen Mirren, in particular, I think is great in portraying that. Michael Spierig tells People that he thinks Winchester was "an intelligent woman and a little misunderstood," and he points to the fact that she was passionate about design and an inventor herself, having come up with unique intercom and irrigation systems for the house herself. She was also one of the first people ever to own a telephone. Some location shooting for the film occurred last month in San Jose without any of the stars on set, and as People now explains, the brothers have actually reconstructed a version of the house and some of its interiors in Australia. They'll be back, as we heard last month, in May to shoot on location at the Winchester Mystery House and possibly in San Francisco? Terminator: Genisys star Jason Clarke co-stars as a San Francisco psychiatrist who is "dispatched to the estate to evaluate [Winchester's] state of mind, [and] he discovers that her obsession may not be so insane after all." The film is due for a Spring 2018 release, and Michael Spierig assures People, "From what weve done over the last couple of months, I think everyone will be pretty scared." Actor and playwright Simon McBurney probably did not anticipate the explosion of old-fashioned radio theater that's been happening lately via podcasts when he began working on The Encounter several years back. Like many of the pieces he's worked on with Complicite, the 34-year-old London theater collective that he co-founded, the piece relies heavily on technology in this case, a binaural microphone developed by German manufacturer Neumann that looks like a human head and that mimics the way we hear sound locationally around our heads. The marvelous effect, created with the help of sound designer Gareth Fry and individual headphones for every audience member, is an immersive piece of sound theater that arguably could presage the future of podcasting or just audio experiences generally. McBurney has applied the technology to an adaptation of a 1991 novel called Amazon Beaming by Petru Popescu, which is based on the real-life experiences of American National Geographic photographer Loren McIntyre traveling through the Amazon rainforest by himself and becoming embedded, as it were, with the Mayoruna tribe in 1969. McBurney's piece, in which he alternately portrays himself, as well as an omniscient narrator, and McIntyre, manages to tell McIntyre's story while simultaneously describing the struggle of interpreting it for the theater, and dipping us into the mind of McBurney as well. "I have a very hard time stilling my mind," McBurney admits in an interview with Curran editor at large Kevin Sessums, showing him a mark on his head where he, without realizing it, had dug in the claws of a hammer during rehearsal. And that intensity comes through multiple times in The Encounter, in which the line between McIntyre's own revelations during his jungle stay in 1969 blur completely into McBurney's in the present day, and what results is a piece of theater that is as much about existence and the passage of time as it is about materialism, nature, and the scourge of capitalism that is destroying the Amazon bit by bit. At the outset, McBurney tries to play off the problematic nature, especially in today's academic discourse, of McIntyre's white-man's experience of an native tribe and their customs. That is not what we're here to parse. Instead, McBurney wants us to focus on the visceral power of being stripped of civilization, and possessions, and of wandering a completely strange and threatening environment with nothing but the kindness of other human beings to rely on. It may have been a more interesting piece, overall, if McBurney had tried to speak to some of the questions of how McIntyre got himself into the predicament of being stranded and taken in by natives when he was there to document and photograph them. But he made an effort to connect himself to the story by traveling to the Amazon himself several years ago, something he documented in video, and he finishes his curtain call by saying that one of the modern-day Mayoruna whom he met insisted that he return to tell his people that "we exist," i.e. to remind all of us in the developed world that there are people who still live close to nature and who are trying to protect precious parts of our environment from human development and climate change. In that way, he implies, his project is similar to McIntyre's one of bringing back the evidence of lives, and this other way of life, to the rest of us who may not remember that they're there. The Encounter is at its best when, running around the stage, McBurney is creating a mental landscape for us purely through audio acrobatics, old-timey radio effects like sloshing water bottles and rustling celluloid tape, and his own evocative talents of description. Also, we are constantly pulled back out of this immersive story by the interruption of McBurney's young daughter, invisible but heard as if she were right in front of us, wandering into his studio as he works on the piece when she's supposed to be in bed. We're expected to make those leaps in time and space with ease, and mostly we do. But there are moments, especially in the second hour of the play, when it becomes easier to close one's eyes and nod off to the calming tones of McIntyre's voice created with an audio distorter that deepens McBurney's high tenor voice and an American accent particularly as the story of McIntyre's Amazon adventure grows ever more abstract. (The second accidental drug trip gets a bit exhausting.) Gorgeous visuals by lighting designer Paul Anderson and projection artist Will Duke, utilizing the large, beautifully textured upstage wall of audio foam, provide something to look at in moments when McBurney is more vocal artist than spectacle. Fans of experimental theater should experience the piece, if for no other reason than it feels fresh and powerful in its form alone. The collective experience of the theater is changed, but only slightly, through the use of the headphones. It's the world of effects, and the strangely dizzying, discomfiting sensations that the technology brings I promise you you will feel itchy and anxious within the first five seconds of hearing a mosquito that are the single biggest success here. It's exciting enough just to realize that technology has provided this angle on the medium of theater, and it's a far more stirring version of virtual reality than the visual VR realm has shown us so far. The Encounter plays through May 7. Find tickets here. Previously: 'The Encounter' To Bring Experimental Audio-Centric Theater To The Curran The Curran has been an occasional advertiser on SFist and the Gothamist network, as have other theaters. This is not a sponsored post, and was not dictated by the Curran. I think I went to Jeremiah Tower's Stars Restaurant only once when it was close to the height of its fame. I remember this occasion because it was around 1988 or '89, and it was the first time I had gone out to a "fancy" dinner, just me and a friend, no parents and no parents' money. It was just post high school, those days when we lived at home, didn't have to pay rent, but did have jobs and spending money. I'm not sure if it was for a birthday, or us just wanting to "to do it up," but it was certainly true that in those days, when you wanted to celebrate anything with a fancy night out, Stars was the first choice. We sat in one of its slightly raised dining areas; I'm pretty sure we ordered wine, and perhaps that buzz contributed to the effect, but I do remember Stars living up to the hype, with the whole evening making me feel like some kind of fancy adult for the first time in my life. And then, a few years later, as tends to be the case with the majority of "it" restaurants, Stars was no longer the place to be, and soon after that, it wasn't a place at all. The new documentary tells the story of the Stars Restaurant creator, his formative years as the child of rich but neglectful parents, his rise in the kitchen at Chez Panisse, his success and stardom, and his eventual disappearance from the spotlight. The documentary makes the case that Tower was one of the most influential chefs in America that most have people have never heard of. Perhaps that is true for the majority of the country, but for those who lived in the Bay Area any time between the late 1970s and 1999, Jeremiah Tower was a very familiar name. But that doesn't mean people actually knew him, and the film illustrates that even his closest friends never really did. And still don't. Utilizing a combination of Tower family home movies and reenactments, along with voiceover from Tower, often reading from his own journals, we learn about his early life, the child of rich parents who lived to travel the world and throw fancy parties, with their children in tow, for better or worse. "The worst thing that ever happened to me is that I wasn't an orphan," Tower reminisces, after recalling an event involving him alone on a beach, with a local fisherman who teaches him how to cook a fish, along with things a six year old probably shouldn't be taught. On those frequently lonely trips on ocean liners and stays at fancy hotels, Tower took shelter in the kitchens and dining rooms, pouring over menus like they were books of fairy tales. Tower never took any kind of culinary training, instead utilizing those childhood memories and skills picked up having to help out his mother when she'd be too drunk to finish the menu for a party she was hosting, to cook for friends in college. His hobby eventually landed him job at a Chez Panisse in 1972. His eventual split with Alice Waters and Chez Panisse has become the stuff of legend, and it's a shame Waters declined to participate in the documentary; it might have helped solidify the truth once and for all. But regardless, there's no denying that their partnership changed the landscape of American cooking and restaurants forever, basically inventing what would eventually become known as "California cuisine." (The archival footage of Chez Panisse in the 1970's and Stars in the 1980's are especially sweet additions for local viewers.) Many famous chefs are interviewed throughout the film, which in itself is amusing since the concept of "celebrity chef" didn't really exist before Jeremiah Tower. Anthony Bourdain, Mario Batali, Wolgang Puck and others all offer words of praise, acknowledging his influence, while also admitting Tower is an enigma...and a bit of a prick. The Last Magnificent does shed some light on why Tower remained such a mystery, even to his closest friends, but it leaves a lot of questions unanswered. We never really learn just why he stepped away from the spotlight for so many years. And a film that began as a portrait of the rise, fall, and disappearance of a maverick hit a road bump when, during its filming, Tower stepped out from retirement to head the kitchen at a high profile restaurant. That story in itself could be its own movie. Instead, director Lydia Tenaglia weaves it into the last quarter of the film, which interrupts the linear flow she has going for the rest of the picture. But that's a minor complaint for a documentary so visually rich and centered on a man so endlessly fascinating. Like any great meal, Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent leaves you wanting more, not less. Chef Jeremiah Tower and director Lydia Tenaglia will be at the below theaters for post-screening audience Q&A's this weekend: Friday April 28th Landmarks Embarcadero Center Cinemas, San Francisco 7:10pm showtime Saturday April 29th Landmark's Embarcadero Center Cinemas, San Francisco 2:45pm showtime Q&A moderated by former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown Shattuck Cinemas, Berkeley 7pm showtime Q&A moderated by Narsai David Sunday April 30th Rafael Film Center, San Rafael 4:15pm showtime The Richmond district is a massive neighborhood of parallel and perpendicular streets with its southern border meeting Golden Gate Park and the Presidio to its north. With the Pacific Ocean at its west, the area is known for its heavy fog and brisk weather with a wind chill factor unique to its location. Two commercial strips cut through the heavy residential area, along Geary Boulevard and Clement Street. And although not in close proximity to San Franciscos famous Chinatown, the area has an extremely large Chinese population and is renowned for some of the best Chinese restaurants in all of San Francisco. Historically, the area was made up of rolling sand dunes and not developed until after the 1906 earthquake as replacement housing. Known as the Park-Presidio district until 2009, today the Richmond has evolved into a largely residential, but also budding commercial, neighborhood with a combination of family-owned storefronts and cafes and a vibrant selection of dining, as well as a vast selection of karaoke bars. Central Richmond is home to the historic Argonne Playground established in 1926, whose many renovations have earned it a reputation as an outstanding gathering spot for families with both toddlers and older kids. Also within the neighborhood borders is Fulton Playground, home to an active community center with a clubhouse that hosts a variety of programs and classes. Central Richmond is a residential haven with an optimal location, perfect for enjoying the best of what San Francisco has to offer. For the latest Central Richmond listings, check out Zephyrre.com. Central Richmond is 1 of 89 neighborhoods in San Francisco. With so many distinct areas, understanding the Citys real estate market requires a nuanced and highly local approach. As a business operating in San Francisco since 1978, with nearly 400 agents, Zephyr Real Estate is specially positioned to cater to your real estate needs, whether buying or selling. Have a question about the local market? Contact Zephyr Real Estate today through their site or 415.496.2600. They'll match you up with a member of their team who can assist you. This post is brought to you by Zephyr Real Estate. Three officers with the San Francisco Police Department were injured Thursday night, when the patrol cars they were in collided at a busy Mission District intersection. According to an SFPD spokesperson, the collision occurred at 10:44 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of 15th and Mission Streets. SFPD spokesperson Sergeant Michael Andraychak writes that "two marked SFPD radio cars were responding to a call for back up" at 15th and Valencia when the vehicles crashed into each other. "One was a single officer car; the other a two officer car," Andraychak says. The impact was hard enough that one car was sent into afire hydrant "before coming to rest against a building." All three of the officers suffered injuries Andraychak says are not life-threatening, and were transported to an area hospital for treatment. It's still not clear how the crash occurred, but Andraychak that "both units were responding in emergency mode (red light and siren)," suggesting that the drivers were moving quickly, and that it might have been too loud for officers to realize they were on a collision course with their opposing numbers. Andraychak says that SFPD's Traffic Collision Investigation Unit was expected to "work through the night" to determine how the wreck occurred, and that more information might be available later today. This January Milwaukee rapper/producer Safari Al celebrated the launch of his labor-intensive side project: an ambitious multi-media poetry zine called Silt Rifle. Each issue of the bi-monthly, hand-stitched zine spotlights a different poet, and is accompanied by a cassette tape and digital download of those poems set to original music from Al himself. Until now, those cassettes have been pretty exclusive things, and there was no way to hear them unless you subscribed to the zine through the crowd-sourcing platform Patreon. If you're not a subscriber and wondering what those tapes might sound like, though, here's your chance to check one out. Since the first installment of the zine spotlighted Al's own poetry, he's releasing the accompanying cassette tape as a stand-alone Safari Al album called Stone School. You can stream it below ahead of its official release on Monday, May 1. Stone School can't help but feel like a traditional Safari Al project, in so much as it's Safari Al reciting his own words over his music, the vibe is decidedly different from a normal mixtape. A comforting blanket of fuzzy loops, leisurely jazz and lulling pianos, the music works in conjunction with the poems but also separate from them, frequently wandering off to do its own thing during the breaks between prose. It plays like a modernist spin on the old-fashioned library story times of our youth, creating a safe space for shutting out the outside world and getting lost in somebody else's mind for a half hour. Below the stream of Stone School you can also check out an accompanying video, a collaboration with the film collective Yes And, coordinated by Wes Tank. Katherine Heigl was born too late. So deliciously evil in Unforgettable, she would have been a great cast member on Dynasty or Dallas. Now, she has to carry the torch (and a bit of the Fatal Attraction revenge motif) alone in Unforgettable, a guessable drama that still manages to entertain. Heigl plays the ex-wife of a brewer (a bland Geoff Stults) who brings his new squeeze (Rosario Dawson) to town. Shes a bohemian editor from San Francisco who isnt quite sure whats going on. A daughter (Isabella Kai Rice) bounces between exes, so theres no way the two women wont interact. Sure enough, the first meeting is rocky. The ex, so perfectly coiffed and dressed, wants to control everything. She pretends to be friendly, but its just a matter of time before her claws come out. The newbie, meanwhile, has a skeleton in her closet. She had a restraining order on a man who doesnt appear to be out of her life and, as we learn in all films like this, she hasnt said anything to her future husband. Through a little Google-searching and a stolen cellphone, Heigl is able to make contact and pretend to be Dawson. The situation escalates, trouble ensues and, before we know it, the two are just a swimming pool away from an all-out catfight. Easily, Unforgettable could have been a Wednesday offering on Lifetime. But director Denise Di Novi has classed-up the premise and given Heigl so many sausage-like dresses its impossible not to see this is no toss-away film. Behaving in slippery ways, shes able to control a lot of people except her mom (Cheryl Ladd). She still has a firm grasp on her horse-riding daughter and isnt afraid to tug on the reins every now and then. Ladd looks every bit the beauty pageant matriarch. She has all of the moves down, demonstrating how far the apple fell from the tree. Stults, meanwhile, is about as dense as men in these dramas get. He shuffles through scenes, doesnt see the discord and flips the blame when it least needs to be flipped. A conversation Dawson and Heigl have at a restaurant (complete with drinks) is probably Unforgettables most memorable moment, largely because it prompts action at a shareholders dinner. Its wildly inappropriate but thats what makes something like this such trashy fun. Although Heigl likes to play honorable women with good intentions, shes perfect as one of the women Bad Moms like to take down. Dawson doesnt win many points with a bland performance that omits key material (why, for example, didnt she explain to Stults where those scars came from?) but she serves the films purpose and emerges as you might guess. Unforgettable wont nudge Fatal Attraction from any list. But it sure shows there are plenty of nut-jobs where that one emerged. What were you doing at 18 months? Conrad Tao was playing songs on the piano. At 4, he gave his first recital. At 8, he made his concerto debut. At 13, he was featured on the PBS series From The Top as a violinist, pianist and composer. Now, at 22, Tao is still turning heads as both composer and pianist. As one of the featured artists at Saturdays Sioux City Symphony Orchestra season finale, hell perform An Adjustment, an original piece that combines music and digital artwork a first for local musicians. An Adjustment, which premiered in 2015, was commissioned by the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. Locally, it will feature visual media designed by Daniel Fine. Appearing in Hong Kong last week, Tao responded to questions about his work, his career and that decision to focus on piano instead of violin. It appears there are so many Conrad Taos. How do you decide which aspect to emphasize or nurture? And how in the world did the piano edge the violin? Im just motivated by what interests me. And I'm mercurial, so that means I'm shifting gears a lot of the time. Its not by design; I dont know if I have that kind of discipline. As for the piano edging out the violin..,well, I was never a particularly good violinist, I dont think. That helped make the decision easier. Do you consider yourself a composer first? Or a performer? And why? I consider myself a performer first. A lot of what Im writing these days concerns some aspect of performance or physicality a recent theme has been exploring what the sonics of effort might be, because I find the various sonic, visual, and performative artifacts of people trying beautiful and awkward and moving and I suspect that all of that comes back to being a performer myself. Additionally, working in the concert pianist context, a context in which virtuosity sometimes gets treated uncritically as some default register, has probably been an influence on this aspect of my writing. The piece youre going to do here also involves digital artwork. How does that factor in? And how did you create it with Daniel Fine? What is the give-and-take with a visual artist? We're going to be using a scrim between me and the orchestra for the An Adjustment visuals, which will hopefully provide some dimensional interest. Its been a collaboration of e-mails and Google Hangouts; my primary focus in working with Daniel has been directly discussing the structure of the work. Weve also discussed the aesthetic language of the piece in-depth. But the overall visual vocabulary has come entirely from Dan. When an organization commissions something like that, does it have any input? Or is it simply, Wed like you to create something for us? How free are you to do whatever you want? I have felt quite able to create whatever I want in the commissions Ive received. If any limitations present themselves beyond the usual material parameters for a work its usually because of my own imaginative limitations, and/or my own pre-emptive worrying about how something might be read. Even though you have this very experimental, avant-garde side, theres also the Conrad who performs a lot of traditional classic music. What is the balance? Im really just trying to do what interests me. That encompasses different repertoire, different mediums, different contexts, different challenges. Not everyone is seeking balance between new work and old work, but for me, performing and creating new work has made returning to old work unimaginably more exciting. (For the past few months Ive been listening to almost nothing but Mozart recordings by Philippe Herreweghe, Kristian Bezuidenhout, Isabelle Faust, and others.) I also think Im partially guided by an anxiety about being pigeonholed. Whether rightly or wrongly, I feel very intensely that the moment you can be constituted legibly as some sort of defined thing, your possibilities are foreclosed in such a way that your humanity is compromised. I think that this kind of ossification or easy categorization puts one on a fast track toward complacency. I am terrified of that, and I suspect that that fear has had a considerable influence on the way I organize my various projects. What is the process when you compose? Do you start with something as inspiration? Do you store ideas and pull them all out on writing day? Or is it just a matter of being moved on a particular day? Its a boring answer, I know, but the process is a bit all of the above. Like, sometimes I start with a conceptual framework for the piece. Sometimes it just begins with a phrase, or a contour, or a melody, or a chord. There are few things as annoying as suddenly getting ideas and not being able to write them down, so Ive started using my phone to document the various things that strike me. This documentation takes the form of notes, voice memos, even rudimentary notation. When you started at such an early age did you know you wanted to continue in music? Or was that something that just evolved? I kind of emphatically didnt know I wanted to continue doing various musical things. I dont have any memories of seeing a musician onstage and thinking, Oh, thats what I want to do. I sometimes wish I had that kind of mythological crystallizing moment, because it seems to provide an appealing kind of catharsis. I didnt get that moment. I think I started too young for it. But, ultimately, Im grateful that I never really had that moment where I decided that music-making was going to define the rest of my life. A, because when you are, like, 6 years old, you probably shouldnt be making any grand decisions about the rest of your life. You should be exploring possibilities and having a good time with them. B, because when I was a teenager, I found myself needing to create my own reasons and meanings for my musical pursuits. Ive found that useful, because that set up a way of thinking about my relationship to music that didnt hinge on any expectations of what I might get out of it. It became much more about what I chose to put in. What havent you done thatd youd like to do? I loved Public Service Announcement. I could easily see you writing a Broadway musical. Ive wanted to write some form of musical theater for a while now. I like the form, although respecting the form of musical theater goes hand in hand with acknowledging that a lot of musical theater is, like, bad. (Laurie Anderson once said that her objection with musical theater is that its music lite, and I cant really disagree with that.) Im dipping my toes in music theater soon, with a project Im workshopping in Miami in May, but thats shaping up to be a consideration of the notions of voice, utopia, alternative worlds and possibilities, and fire taking the form of a series of structured improvisations mixed with fixed recorded material and live vocal processing that I perform on an APC40 with Charmaine Lee, a brilliant vocalist and improviser, with interstitial and environmental filmed pieces created in collaboration with Lee Heinemann, a Baltimore-based artist friend of mine. I guess thats not quite a musical or opera. So yeah, some type of musical theater is still something Id like to try my hand at. What do the awards and acclaim do for you and the music? Are they just nice to collect? Or do they have an impact? It's always nice to feel like my work is being recognized, especially when award juries include colleagues of mine! At the end of the day, though, awards are a flash of validation, an ego boost, and sometimes provide resources. Thats not insignificant, but thats where it has to end for me. Besides, the most validating ego boosts that Ive experienced have come in the form of collaborations, or interests in collaboration. Nothing is more of an honor than people actually wanting to make things with you! Compassionate men and women are being sought to take volunteer training offer by Hospice of Siouxland. The training will be held at the Akron Care Center, 991 Hwy 3, Akron, Iowa, on May 1 and 4. Each class time will be 12:30-3:30 p.m. Contact the Hospice of Siouxland Office at 233-4144. Screenings Free blood pressure screenings, 9:30-11 a.m. Wednesdays at Countryside Senior Living, front lobby. No appointment necessary. Programs/Self-Help Groups Al-Anon Information Center, call 712-255-6724. Al-Anon and Alateen, meetings locally. For times, dates and locations of area meetings, call 712-255-6724. Alcoholics Anonymous, beginners information, call 712-252-1333. Arc of Woodbury County, serving the mentally challenged, 5:15 p.m. meeting, second Monday of the month at Mid-Step Services, 4303 Stone Ave. For families and interested persons. Child Care Resource and Referral, provides resources, education and advocacy for children, parents, and child care providers. Assists in child care needs. For more information, call 712-277-1180. Co-Dependence Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at First Lutheran Church, Fireside Room. Co-Dependents Anonymous (CODA), 10 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St. Compassionate Friends, 7 p.m. fourth Wednesday of each month (third Thursday in November and second Sunday December) in Mercy Medical Center's Leiter Room. For families who have lost children. Contact Nancy Webb 712-212-4032 or Don Mulder 712-541-5512. Clinics Siouxland District Health immunization clinics, call for appointment, 712-279-6119 or 1-800-587-3005. Information Family and Addictive Illness series, for more information, call 234-2300. Iowa Fathers, 6 to 8 p.m. fourth Tuesday of each month at Hope Lutheran Church, Education Building, 218 W. 18th St., South Sioux City, Neb. Support group to help single, divorcing and divorced parents residing in the state of Iowa. Mercy Pathways Outpatient Program, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, on the third floor, Mercy's Central Medical Building, 801 Fifth St., Suite 360. Provides hope, help, opportunity to connect through group therapy for individuals experiencing personal, relationship, psychiatric issues. For more information, call 712-279-5991. Narcotics Anonymous, meetings daily, various times, dates and locations. For more information, call 712-279-0733. Overeaters Anonymous, 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3700 Indian Hills Drive; 6 p.m. Tuesdays at St. John's Lutheran Church, 402 Lane Ave., Storm Lake; 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Church of the Nazarene, 226 N. Main St., Viborg, S.D.; 5:30 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays at Newman Center, 320 E. Cherry St., Vermillion, S.D.; 10:30 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St. A 12-step recovery program for people who have problems with food and weight. No fees. St. Lukes Outpatient Behavioral Health Program, 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday and Thursday on fifth floor of St. Luke's, located at 2720 Stone Park Blvd. Offers several levels of outpatient care including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and group therapy. This program provides support and integrated treatment to individuals experiencing personal or relationship issues as a result of their mental illness. For more information and admission criteria, call 712-279-3906. Sobriety By Faith, 8:30 a.m. Saturdays at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For more information, call James Mothershead at 712-577-9715. The Link-Recovery and Freedom, 1603 Glen Ellen Road; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday workshop, and Christian 12-step meeting 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. For all ages. Call Dee at 389-7432. Women in Recovery, meets monthly at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For details, call 712-255-4623. Tarahouse Meditation Center, 8 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 6:30 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, all at 3112 Rebecca St. Three easy 10-minute sessions in small group; beginners welcome. For more information, call 490-6410. Blood pressure and blood sugar screening, 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays in the lobby at Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Free to public. Support Groups Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Hawkeye Club basement, 420 Jones St. For more information, call 277-5935. Celebrate Recovery, Bible-based 12-step recovery group. Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive. Childcare provided. 712-490-3343. All welcome. PFLAG of Siouxland, (Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays), 7 p.m., fourth Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November. St. Mark ELCA Church, 5200 Glenn Ave., in the upstairs meeting area. 712-258-3116. Singles widowed and divorced, all ages, 4 p.m., Sundays. McDonald's at Sixth Street and Lewis Boulevard. 712-252-2675. GriefShare, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814. HIV/AIDS Support Group, meets weekly. For more information, call Darla or Teri at Siouxland Community Health Center, 712-252-2477 or 888-371-1965. Hospice of Siouxland, seeking volunteers. For more information, call 712-233-4144 and ask for a volunteer coordinator. La Leche League of Siouxland, breastfeeding support group meets every third Thursday at 11 a.m. at Morningside Lutheran Church. Children are welcome. For more information, call Mary at 712-546-7280 or Jacquie at 712-255-2998. Living Each Day Cancer Support Group, 7-8 p.m. second Thursday of the month, Floyd Valley Hospital, Conference Center Room 2, Le Mars, Iowa. Open to all cancer patients, cancer survivors and family members. No charge. Pre-register by calling 712-546-3441 or 800-642-6074, ext. 441. Mom and Baby Support Group, 10-11 a.m. last Monday of the month at the Orange City (Iowa) Hospital, lower level. For new moms and babies. 712-737-5260. Tri-State Sober Project, 12-step meeting, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Friendship Community Church, 305 Sergeant Square Drive, Sergeant Bluff. 6-7 p.m., Thursdays, Transitional Services of Iowa, 1221 Pierce St., Sioux City. Doug's Donors Support Group, information for organ donors and recipients, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Fridays, 5:15-6:30 p.m. second Thursdays of the month at Mercy Cafeteria Woodbury Room. 712-277-1050. Divorce Care, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814. NAMI Siouxland, (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Support Group meets 6:30 p.m., second Tuesday of the month at Friendship House, 1101 Court St. For individuals and family members dealing with mental illness. 712-255-4209. New Life Life Support Group, 3:30 p.m. every Saturday at 2929 W. Fourth St. Spiritual 12-step program. For more information, call Donald at 712-574-1744 or James at 712-255-7624. Orphan Sunday, 3:30-5 p.m. Sunday at Sunnybrook Community Church loft, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive. Post Polio Support Group, 11 a.m. first Thursday of the month at Perkins Restaurant by Menards. 712-490-8213. Relationship Support Group, 7 p.m. Fridays at Marketplace Mall. For more information, call 239-3129. Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Individual and Support Groups. For more information, call CSADV in Sioux City at 712-258-7233; Plymouth County at 712-546-6764; Monona County at 712-423-3443. Advocacy and support available 24 hours a day at 1-800-982-7233. All services free of charge and confidential. Sickle Cell Disease Support Group, 11 a.m. third Saturday of each month at St. Luke's Hospital, meeting room 1. For patients, their family and any concerned member. Call La'Keshia Rainey at 712-203-2019 for more information. Single and Parenting, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814. Sioux City Association of the Deaf, 7 p.m. third Saturday of the month at Morningside Church of Christ, 5015 Garretson Ave. Regular meeting, September-May; no meeting, June, July, August and December. Siouxland Autism Support Group, second Thursday of the month at Northwest Area Education Agency, 1520 Morningside Ave. For more information, call Julie Case at 712-490-8939. Siouxland Epilepsy Support Group, 5 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at Prestwick Apartment Clubhouse, 4230 Hickory Lane. For anyone diagnosed with seizures or epilepsy and family or friends. For more information, call Steve at 274-6927. Siouxland IC support group, meets quarterly in Sioux City. For patients struggling with interstital cystitis. For more information, call Jacque Dundas 316-641-9766. Siouxland Informational Group for the Blind, 2-5 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at Northern Hills Retirement Community, 4002 Teton Trace. For more information, call 712-266-8926 or 258-8151. Grief support group, 5:30-7:30 p.m., beginning Oct. 5 for 13 weeks (may join at any time), Crescent Park United Methodist Church, 2826 Myrtle St., Sioux City. Scott, 712-899-6315. Siouxland Ostomy Association, 2 p.m. first Sunday of each month (except September, which will be second Sunday; and no meetings June, July, August), in Room 300 at Mercy Medical Center, 801 Fifth St. For more information, call Dick Lindblom at 251-2453. Siouxland Parkinson Disease Support Group, 1 p.m. fourth Monday of the month at Siouxland Center for Active Generations, 313 Cook St. For more information, call Sally Reinert at 402-987-3516. South Sioux City Weight Support Group, 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at St. Paul United Methodist Church, South Sioux City. For more information, call 494-1401 or 494-2133. Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland, 520 Nebraska St., Suite 101: Women's Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Wednesday of the month; LGBT Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Friday of the month; Adult ADHD, 6 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; Advocacy Group, 1:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month. For more information, call 712-255-1065. Take Off Pounds Sensibly, group meetings various times, days and locations in Siouxland. For information on the chapter in your area, call 1-800-932-TOPS. Voice Disorder Support Group, meets as needed at Mercy Medical Center, Buena Vista Room. 712-279-2686. Women's Peer Support Group, in Wayne and South Sioux City, Neb., for those who have experienced domestic abuse. For more information, call the Wayne office at 402-375-4633 or 1-800-440-4633; in South Sioux City, call 402-494-7592. Help and support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services free and confidential. Woodbury County D.M.D.A., noon-2 p.m. first Saturday of the month at Country Friendship Acres, 4501 West St.; 7-8 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at 515 Court St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at 441 W. Third St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at 409 W. Third St. in the Community Room. Support group for people with disabilities and mental disorders. Natural Mamas in Siouxland, 1 p.m., third Tuesday of each month in the Garretson room of the Morningside Public Library. All ages of children are welcome to come with moms. For sharing natural living tips, recipes, natural remedies and health, homemaking, mothering, etc. For more information, call 402-913-0038 or visit their Facebook page. A Step Beyond support group, 3:30 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, except for August, November and December when it meets at 5:30 p.m. (no meeting in January) at the Christy-Smith Resource Center, 1819 Morningside Ave. For more information, call 712-276-7319. Divorce care, 5 p.m., Sundays. Fireside room, Morningside Lutheran Church, 700 South Martha St. Gamblers Anonymous meetings, 4 p.m. Thursdays at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 315 Hamilton Blvd.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Morningside Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave.; 7 p.m. Tuesdays, St. John Lutheran Church; 7 p.m. Sundays, Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St.. 712-277-2901. Art therapy support group, 5:30 p.m. second Thursday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. Registration required, call 252-9387. After Breast Cancer Support Group, 5:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call Brenda, 252-9370. After Prostate Cancer Support Group, 5:15 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call 252-9426. Alzheimer's Association, Big Sioux Chapter Support Group, 2 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; 4 p.m. third Tuesday of the month (under age 65) at 201 Pierce St., Suite 110 (Famous Dave's building); and 6 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the Barnes and Noble Cafe. For more information, call Emily Lord at 712-279-5802. Christy-Smith Funeral Homes of Sioux City, extensive grief library at the Morningside location. Open to the public during weekday hours. For more information, call 276-7319. Chronic Pain/Chronic Illness Support Group, 7:30 p.m. fourth Wednesday of the month in the lower level of the Orange City Hospital. For more information, call 712-737-5260. Connections Area Agency on Aging, and Mercy Medical Centers Older Adult Services Welcome to Medicare, 1:30-4 p.m., the first Friday of every month at Connections Area Agency on Aging, 2301 Pierce St. To pre-register, or for more information, contact Connections Area Agency on Aging at 712-279-6900. Its been a week of learning to let go more than I have in the past. And also discovering a little more about who I am. The real me thats underneath the blankets of niceness and calmness and peace. In general, I am a person of peace and joy. People often tell me that I have a calming presence. I know that these traits come from the Lord. Theyre part of my personality, but theyve also been forged through some of lifes difficult trials. There have been more than a few, just as in most peoples lives. SIOUX CITY | Nursing can be a dangerous profession. Infection from accidental needle sticks and back injuries from lifting patients are probably two of the most common risks that come to mind. Two Morningside College seniors examined workplace violence in the health care field and sleep deprivation among nurses, and shared their findings with posters at the National Student Nurses' Association Conference in Dallas, Texas, which was held April 4-9. "We decided as a group that we wanted to see as new nurses what things happen to our bodies and things that we can do to cope," said Shelby Hawn, who began researching unsynchronized circadian rhythm cycles, sleep deprivation and fatigue in night shift nurses with a group of her peers in the fall for a class. The Denison, Iowa, native and president of the Morningside Student Nurses' Association then carried that research over into the spring semester, ultimately presenting it at the conference, along with Madison Jennings, of Algona, Iowa. Jennings said she and Hawn are the first Morningside College nursing students to ever participate in the poster presentation portion of the conference, which featured 96 posters. "A lot of older nurses came up and said, 'I remember this' or 'This happened to me,'" said Hawn, who said one nurse, upon looking at her poster, recalled arriving at home after a night shift and not remembering how she got there. Jennings said she was approached by a state legislator from Georgia who was working to pass a law that would allow nurses to have more privacy in the state. She said patients and their family members were looking up nurses' home addresses online through the state board of nursing. Disputes that had originated in the workplace were following nurses to their doorsteps. "It was really cool to collaborate with people who had the same ideas as I had, but they had taken a different spin on it and applied it to individualized state needs," Jennings said. "She had never been in health care, but we had the same basic ideas that this is seriously a problem nationwide." Both Hawn and Jennings said they hope their presentations raise awareness about these issues, not just at the conference but in the Siouxland community. Joined by their research groups, the students also presented the interventions they've proposed to combat workplace violence and sleep deprivation and fatigue at both Mercy Medical Center and UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's. "Patient safety is something that nurses always try to promote. It's their highest goal, but errors happen," Hawn said. While conducting her research, Hawn said she was surprised by how often nurses are involved in car crashes on their way home from the hospital after working a night shift or the frequency at which medication errors occur when nurses are deprived of sleep. Hawn learned that from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., nurses who work the night shift experience a drop in their circadian rhythm -- or sleep/wake cycle -- causing high levels of sleepiness. This misalignment of circadian rhythm can affect human physiology, hormone secretion, reproduction and lifestyle, putting nurses at risk for a host of health problems, including diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. "Was it a little scary? Yes," said Hawn, who plans to work the night shift on the post-critical care floor at Mercy Medical Center-Sioux City after graduation. "But I found many ways to kind of adjust and things I can promote to prevent some things." Hawn's plan of action is resting while on break, eating healthy and establishing a nighttime routine at home by limiting distractions and sleeping in a dark room. Jennings, who has a nursing job lined up on the post-surgical oncology floor at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City, said nurses are the target of verbal assaults and physical violence at the hands of both patients and their family members, but many nurses fail to report those incidents. She said she was shocked that some nurses didn't know that they can report incidents of violence. "Too many nurses were perceiving the events that would occur to them -- even if it was just a verbal attack -- as kind of a part of the job," she said. "'I signed on to work with people who are not always in the best mental state.' They considered it as something that was just going to happen." Jennings said it was challenging to find statistics on how often violence occurs in the health care field because it's so under-reported. She was able to identify incidents of violence involving intoxicated patients in emergency departments or incidents where family members lashed out after receiving news that their loved one wasn't going to survive. Jennings said interventions need to be made hospital-wide to educate staff about how they can report incidents of violence and keep potentially volatile situations from escalating. "Stay closer to the door. Don't put the patient between you and the door," she said. "If there's a potentially aggressive situation, never go in the room alone." ELK POINT, S.D. | Chris and Vicki Nearman, nearly inseparable in their lives, continue their connection, eight months after their deaths. Vicki Nearman died Aug. 22, 2016. Her sister-in-law and closest friend, Chris Nearman, died four days later. Both were 65. Both were retired Elk Point-Jefferson Elementary School teachers. Their families used memorial contributions, in conjunction with middle school and high school students and teaching colleagues, to establish education scholarships, one for each woman. The scholarships, which may run for a decade or so, were presented on Monday night during Senior Awards Night at the high school in Elk Point. As fate or chance would have it, one student, Emily Crabtree, won both scholarships, not that it was designed that way. "They had a spooky relationship," said Craig Nearman, Vicki's husband. "And that is continuing." To understand how close these women were in life -- and might continue to be in death -- we go back to 1969 when Vicki Woodford, of Sergeant Bluff, showed up as a freshman at the University of South Dakota, where she met classmate Chris Baker, of Mason City, Iowa. Each grew up as a middle child in her family, each had two siblings. The two elementary education majors roomed together, beginning with their second semester at USD. They soon began dating brothers from the Elk Point and Jefferson areas, not far from the USD campus in Vermillion. "Our first date was a double-date with them," Craig said of his wife, Vicki, who joined his brother, Scott Nearman, and Chris on that first date. Craig and Vicki wed on Jan. 6, 1973. Scott and Chris tied the knot on Aug. 11, 1973. Both couples bought houses in Elk Point the same year just blocks apart, homes featuring identical floor-plans. Vicki Nearman began her teaching career at EP-J. Chris babysat Vicki's children for a few years before she, too, landed a teaching job. For three-plus decades, Vicki taught fourth-graders, as Chris handled third-grade instruction. They attended the same church, served on the Immanuel Lutheran Church Council together and raised their families in sync. They shared Friday night dates for years with their husbands, taking time to commiserate and/or celebrate happenings in the classroom and community. They retired together at the close of the 2013 school year and shared a party marking the feat. Both began substitute teaching that autumn. As they began planning a trip to Mexico together, slated for the spring of 2015, Chris was diagnosed with cancer. The development forced them to sideline that journey as Chris, with Vicki's help, battled her disease. By early August 2016, Chris' health was failing. Vicki, in need of some same-day surgery at that time, went in for a procedure on Aug. 17, but ran into complications. She died on Aug. 22, 2016. "Chris was still conscious enough to understand," said Craig, detailing how family members told Chris that her sister-in-law and best friend had died. "Chris hung in there until Vicki's deal was done." Chris Nearman died on Aug. 26, 2016, the day Vicki Nearman was buried. The two were laid to rest side-by-side at Elk Point Cemetery with the picture you see here separating their graves. The two will share vases for flowers to decorate tombstones made of granite stone selected from the same quarry. And in death, this week and this fall, they'll share Emily Crabtree as she embarks on her educational trek at USD, a challenge made a bit easier thanks to a pair of Nearman memorial scholarships which came to $1,500 in this, the first year. Crabtree, 17, who plans to study elementary education, recalled how she loved Vicki Nearman and fourth grade, a time in which she could dive into South Dakota history projects. "I still see Emily as a third-grader," said Jane Allard, who taught with Chris Nearman for 25 years. "Emily is a good choice. She would have had both Chris (third grade) and Vicki (fourth grade) for science." "To get both scholarships is unreal," said the daughter of Mark and Nicole Crabtree. "It was a great moment. My parents and I cried." On Monday night, some 55 scholarships totaling $49,000 were awarded to EP-J High School seniors, said Christine Hemmingstad, high school counselor. Perhaps none packed the punch as did the Nearman scholarships. Tears welled in the eyes of Craig Nearman who explained how the applications for the Vicki Nearman Memorial Scholarship had no names at the top, just numbers. Craig and their children read the applications and agreed that "No. 2" should be the recipient. Scott Nearman, meantime, pored through the applications for the Chris Nearman Memorial Scholarship. He narrowed the pool to the top five candidates and could not select a winner. So, he simply put five sheets of paper, each bearing a name, on his living room floor. He closed his eyes and scattered them around and around before lifting a hand and blindly placing it atop one name. The fact both families picked Emily Crabtree wasn't lost on those who loved best buddies Chris and Vicki Nearman. The women, they say, undoubtedly had a hand in this scholarship selection. "They're obviously up there still working together," Craig Nearman said, glancing above. "It was a proud moment for all of us." SIOUX CITY | A Sioux City man who was fired upon by a Sergeant Bluff police officer won't serve prison time for his conviction on assault and gun charges, but will remain in custody to face a federal firearms violation. District Judge John Ackerman on Friday sentenced John McPherson, 47, to 191 days in jail on misdemeanor charges of carrying a dangerous weapon and assault on a peace officer. Ackerman gave McPherson credit for the 191 days already served, saying that if McPherson were given the maximum three-year prison sentence, he'd likely be released soon after arriving and being processed at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Oakdale. A Woodbury County District Court jury found McPherson guilty at the conclusion of a one-day trial earlier this month. McPherson has been indicted in U.S. District Court in Sioux City on one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. According to the indictment, McPherson has a 1997 conviction in California for assault with a deadly weapon. McPherson will remain in custody as the federal case proceeds. No hearings have been scheduled. Officers called to the Bridge Mobile Home Park in the 100 block of Eighth Street in Sergeant Bluff on Oct. 20 to serve an arrest warrant on someone else encountered McPherson, who was sleeping in the driver's seat of a parked Jeep. An officer body cam video of the incident shows a Sergeant Bluff police officer approaching McPherson's vehicle and knocking on the windows before firing a single shot through the front driver's side window. Police say McPherson made movements with his hands toward his waistline. The shot did not strike McPherson. In the video, the officer can be seen removing McPherson from the vehicle and forcing him to the ground before finding a loaded .45-caliber handgun in the waistband of his pants. He was charged with assault as a result of a scuffle with officers while being interviewed later in the day. SPENCER, Iowa | A Spencer, Iowa, man has been arrested by the Clay County Sheriff's Office on felony drug charges, after authorities found methamphetamine in his home. The Clay County Sheriff's Office on Friday reported the arrest of Earl Halbur, 56, of Spencer. The sheriff's office release said Halbur was initially arrested for speeding while driving, then a search of his home was conducted after Halbur reportedly had marijuana in his car. The sheriff's office said many types of drugs were found in the home, including meth. Halbur was arrested on the felony charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and failure to have a drug tax stamp. He was held Friday on $32,000 bond in the Clay County Jail. SIOUX CITY | The Sioux City School Board has launched an internal investigation into a series of allegations the districts top budget chief leveled against Superintendent Paul Gausman in early February. As The Journal first reported, chief financial officer John Chalstrom accused Gausman of creating a hostile workplace and threatening his job if he shared alternative budget proposals with school board members outside regular board meetings. A Chalstrom intermediary, Dan Greenwell, shared the list of concerns with board members at a Feb. 11 meeting and in a series of emails. Greenwell, a frequent critic of Gausman and his administration, urged the board to investigate the claims, which included allegations the superintendent used a management style heavy on manipulation and intimidation. Gausman has vehemently denied all of the charges. School Board President Mike Krysl confirmed this week the board is undertaking an investigation that we think is an appropriate follow-up to the allegations that were raised." We have been diligent on any and all issues raised," Krysl told The Journal. Depending what details the in-house probe produces, an external investigation could follow at a later date, Krysl said. Its too early to know how long the initial investigation will take, he added. The board on Monday received legal advice from an outside attorney who concluded any records generated by an investigation related to the conduct or performance of a district employee or former employee would be confidential files not subject to disclosure under the states open records law. In a two-page letter to the board, Des Moines attorney Jim Hanks cited two Iowa Supreme Court cases involving school districts as precedent for his opinion. The Journal obtained a copy of the letter, in which Gausman also was copied. Krysl confirmed Thursday the legal advice does not preclude him from confirming an investigation is ongoing. "All board members feel this has been a tricky balancing act, by which we are counterbalancing transparency with the legal rights of district employees," he said. In an interview Thursday, Hanks said some results from the investigation could be shared with the public, so long as it didn't delve deeply or run afoul of the privacy rights of individuals questioned in the investigation. "It would be heavily dependent upon what the board chose to say, Hanks said. The outcomes could be varied. It would be possible for the board to say something, but it would be limited." Chalstrom, who was appointed chief financial officer in 2014, was placed on administrative leave two days after Greenwells Feb. 11 meeting with Krysl and Board Vice President Mike McTaggart. On April 10, the board, by a 5-2 vote, approved a settlement agreement with Chalstrom. Under the deal, he will remain on paid administrative leave until the expiration of his contract on June 30. He also will receive about $35,000 in severance pay through Sept. 30. Gausman was appointed superintendent of Sioux City's 15,000-student public school district in 2008. He was named Iowa Superintendent of the Year by the School Administrators of Iowa in 2013. It is such an honor to receive the Komen grant, said Emily Tuschen, clinic manager for Promise and project director, in the release. We are excited to partner with Komen Siouxland again and bring this back to our community. This grant allows Promise to promote breast health, including patient education, preventative care and diagnostics, making it available to women who might not be able to afford it otherwise. Donald Trump and Republicans are proposing large tax cuts for companies and taking away tax deductions from the middle class. I fail to see why Iowans voted for this. AptarGroup, Inc. provides a range of dispensing, sealing, and material science solutions primarily for the beauty, personal care, home care, prescription drug, consumer health care, injectable, and food and beverage markets. The company operates through three segments: Pharma, Beauty + Home, and Food + Beverage. The Pharma segment provides pumps for nasal allergy treatments; and metered dose inhaler valves for respiratory ailments, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in pharmaceutical market; elastomer for injectable primary packaging components; and active material science solutions. The Beauty + Home segment primarily sells pumps, closures, aerosol valves, accessories, and sealing solutions to the personal care and home care markets; and pumps and decorative components to the beauty market. The Food + Beverage segment offers dispensing and non-dispensing closures, elastomeric flow control components, spray pumps, and aerosol valves to the food and beverage markets. It sells its products through own sales force, as well as independent representatives and distributors in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. The company has a strategic partnership with PureCycle Technologies LLC to develop ultra-pure recycled polypropylene into dispensing applications; and a collaboration with Sonmol for developing a digital therapies and services platform targeting respiratory and other diseases. AptarGroup, Inc. was incorporated in 1992 and is headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois. EVERTEC, Inc. engages in transaction processing business in Latin America and the Caribbean. The company operates through Payment Services - Puerto Rico & Caribbean; Payment Services - Latin America; Merchant Acquiring; Business Solutions, and Corporate and Other segments. It provides merchant acquiring services, which enable point of sales and e-commerce merchants to accept and process electronic methods of payment, such as debit, credit, prepaid, and electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards. The company also offers payment processing services that enable financial institutions and other issuers to manage, support, and facilitate the processing for credit, debit, prepaid, automated teller machines, and EBT card programs; credit and debit card processing, authorization and settlement, and fraud monitoring and control services to debit or credit issuers; and EBT services. In addition, it provides business process management solutions comprising core bank processing, network hosting and management, IT consulting, business process outsourcing, item and cash processing, and fulfillment solutions to financial institutions, and corporate and government customers. Further, the company owns and operates the ATH network, an automated teller machine and personal identification number debit networks. It manages a system of electronic payment networks that process approximately three billion transactions. The company sells and distributes its services primarily through direct sales force. It serves financial institutions, merchants, corporations, and government agencies. EVERTEC, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Kirby Corporation operates domestic tank barges in the United States. Its Marine Transportation segment provides marine transportation service and towing vessel transporting bulk liquid product, as well as operates tank barge throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, coastwise along three United States coasts, and in Alaska and Hawaii. It also transport petrochemical, black oil, refined petroleum product, and agricultural chemicals by tank barge; and operates offshore dry-bulk barge and tugboat unit that are engaged in the offshore transportation of dry-bulk cargo in the United States coastal trade. As of December 31, 2021, it owned and operated 1,025 inland tank barge, approximately 255 inland towboat, 31 coastal tank barge, 29 coastal tugboat, 4 offshore dry-bulk cargo barge, 4 offshore tugboat, and 1 docking tugboat. Its Distribution and Services segment sells after-market service and genuine replacement part for engine, transmission, reduction gear, electric motor, drive, and control, electrical distribution and control system, energy storage battery system, and related oilfield service equipment; rebuild component parts or diesel engine, transmission and reduction gear, and related equipment used in oilfield service, marine, power generation, on-highway, and other industrial applications; rents generator, industrial compressor, high capacity lift truck, and refrigeration trailer; and manufactures and remanufactures oilfield service equipment, including pressure pumping unit, as well as manufacturers electric power generation equipment, specialized electrical distribution and control equipment, and high capacity energy storage/battery systems for oilfield customer. It serves to various companies and the United States government. The company was formerly known as Kirby Exploration Company, Inc. and changed its name to Kirby Corporation in 1990. Kirby Corporation was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. SFGNs Speak OUT is a weekly feature giving a regular voice to South Florida LGBT leaders. As Trumps first 100 days approaches, what your concerns about his administration? With Trump pretty much all of the advances achieved on LGBT equality are threatened. Trump rolled back guidelines designed to protect transgender students. His proposed budget would slash critical funding for HIV/AIDS research. He appointed homophobic people such as Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to lead some of our countrys most important departments. In fact, the administration's current cabinet might very well be the most anti-LGBT we have ever seen. We need to be very concerned and vigilant that any changes to the Affordable Care Act do not allow medical discrimination or exclusions to coverage for LGBT Americans. With Trump's opposition to marriage equality and the removal of LGBT questions from the census and the issue of LGBT civil rights removed from the White House's official webpage, it is clear that we and our families are not valued equally by this president. We have struggled too long to be relegated to a second-class citizen status by this Republican government at best indifferent and at worst opposed to our rights as Americans. We must therefore dedicate these next years, especially with elections in 2018 and 2020, to supporting candidates and organizations advocating for our equality and the best of our American values. Justin Flippen, Vice Mayor of Wilton Manors Our greatest concerns in dealing with President Trump are his unpredictability, lack of political sophistication, and irrational thinking. The players keep changing, with the exception of his daughter and son-in-law. But what influence do they have? LGBT issues aren't on his radar, but limiting our rights and visibility are priorities for his right wing, so-called Christian supporters. Resistance is a day by day activity, carrying forth issues in the courts, and rapid-fire responses to his bumbling. Brian McNaught, noted columnist, author and LGBT activist My concern is that some Democrats will give up on LGBT rights in an effort to reach more mainstream voters. The Democratic Party lost its appeal to white, middle class voters. They may mistakenly think that these "white middle class voters" have a general issue with LGBT politics and rights. Mistaken. Trump didn't win because of his more conservative social views and the Democrats didn't lose because they were more progressive on LGBT rights. As far as President Trump is concerned, he has made several appointments that are not encouraging but may not yet mean we should sound the alarm. As the New York Times editorial board stated, The only good news for the LGBT rights movement this year has come from the courts. Early this month, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued a ruling that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects gay people from discrimination at work." I still hold out hope that, as some time passes, President Trump will be more LGBT friendly and perhaps even propose some landmark legislation that could surprise all of us. He is from a very liberal state, his daughter and son-in-law, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, are known to be very LGBT friendly, and, the president may just surprise us. Either way, let's never be complacent. Tom Hantzarides, Host and producer of "GET OUT! South Florida, an LGBT radio show Visit SFGN.com/SpeakOut to see all of this weeks responses. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you know of a LGBT community leader that you believe should be a part of this list. Speaking to a packed house Friday morning at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center, Mayor Jack Seiler urged attendees of the 55th annual Mayors Prayer Breakfast to come together for the greater good. We have been challenged and will be challenged to live better lives, to practice what we preach and to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk and maybe walk that walk with our Lord, Seiler said. The involvement of Jim Daly, of the conservative Christian policy institute Focus on the Family, in this years prayer breakfast sparked a backlash from members of South Floridas sizeable LGBT community. The Mayor received multiple calls to rescind Dalys invitation and drop out of the event all together. Seiler, however, stayed the course and attended the breakfast alone. By being here you have confirmed that prayer matters in Fort Lauderdale, Seiler said during his six minute speech. You have confirmed that communication matters, that exchanging ideas matter and that faith matters. We need a prayer breakfast. We as a society need a prayer breakfast. We in Fort Lauderdale need a prayer breakfast. As all this debate swirled around, I thought My God, now more than ever we need a prayer breakfast. Meanwhile, as prayer breakfast attendees heard from Seiler protesters assembled outside to denounce the event. The Mayor has embarrassed himself with the way he went about this, said Wayne Besen, a gay rights activist and founder of Truth Wins Out, a non-profit organization that stands up to anti-LGBT prejudice. He looks insensitive. His reaction is what everybody hates about politics. Joining Besen on the sidewalk of A-1-A was Laurie Woodward-Garcia, a Miramar resident who said she was disgusted by Seiler. Im a Catholic mother and I want my daughter to know she can love whoever she wants, Woodward-Garcia said. The suffering of LGBT people must stop. Daly was the first special guest to speak. He told a story of how he worked with Ted Trimpa, a gay lobbyist to combat human sex trafficking in Colorado. He also acknowledged that unlikely partnerships could be made after putting aside fundamental differences such as the definition of marriage. One of the most important things who have to do as we come together is agree that were going to disagree on some core things, Daly said. Daly said the Christian community needs to improve its generosity of spirit. We have not handled the cultural discussion and debate very well at times, Daly said. Thats something Im trying to lead on. How we can engage people that dont think the way we think and be generous in spirit to find solutions that our communities desperately need. One of those solution seekers is Leslie Tipton. Tipton, pastor of the Church of the Holy SpiritSong, attended the prayer breakfast and introduced herself to Daly. He seemed very open and was not judgmental and did not look down upon me, said Tipton, a married lesbian. He gave me his email address and I believe he is sincere about opening a dialogue. Tipton said she came out to several attendees of the prayer breakfast and never once received a negative response. They applauded me for being a bridge builder, Tipton said. Nobody reacted poorly to me at all. They were kind. They smiled, we hugged. Elsewhere, Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Dean Trantalis had originally planned to attend the prayer breakfast, but withdrew in an 11th hour decision. Their views are simply too extreme from gay marriage to reparative therapy to transgender rights, Trantalis said in a news release. I would not want any hint of perception that I was condoning the work of Focus on the Family or helping provide Mr. Daly a platform. It is truly unfortunate that Mr. Daly was invited to be the keynote speaker when the Mayors Prayer Breakfast should be a place for bringing all segments of Fort Lauderdale together in a spirit of peace and harmony. Seiler, in his last term as Mayor and rumored to be considering a run for Florida Attorney General, asked the audience to stop yelling and judging and start listening and loving. We need to emphasize that we dont elevate ourselves by knocking others down, Seiler said, going on to remark, How awesome would we feel if race, religion, skin color and sexual orientation didnt trigger bias or prejudice, but instead motivated us to love our neighbor and empowered us to treat others like we would like to be treated. In addition to the sidewalk protesters, one attendee was removed from the breakfast for shouting during Dalys remarks. The man was identified by the Sun-Sentinel as Michael Gagne, a gay man and father to four adopted children. Gagne shouted Right message, wrong messenger, hey ho homophobia has got to go! during Dalys segment of the program and was promptly escorted out of the ballroom by security. Editor's Note: The writer of this article is a candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, District 93. More and more human rights groups are looking to put a stop to the prosecution of LGBT people in Chechnya as the situation becomes increasingly dire. In response to Chechnyas actions, the United States Holocaust Museum has issued a statement condemning the country for their treatment of the LGBT community. The Holocaust teaches us what can happen when state-sponsored, group-targeted violence is allowed to go unchecked, said Museum Director Sara J. Bloomfield. The reports about the targeting of LGBT persons in Chechnya combined with statements from Chechen officials seemingly endorsing violence are cause for great concern. Both the Chechen and Russian governments need to investigate these allegations and ensure the safety of LGBT populations within the Russian Federation. According to the United Nations Human Rights, men that are perceived to be gay or bisexual are being abducted by Chechen militia and local security since March. Many of the men are subjected to violence such as electric shocks, insults and beatings, many of which takes place at an unofficial detention center near the city of Argun, a town of nearly 30,000 near the center of the Chechen Republic. According to a press release from the Holocaust Museum, homosexuals were subjected to similar treatment during the Holocaust an estimated 100,000 men were arrested for their sexuality, which was deemed as a sort of contagion that weakened society and did not contribute to the growth of the Aryan population. The United Nations Human Rights also released a statement calling for the release of arrested Chechen gay men, as well as a cease to the mistreatment of LGBT people in the country. We call on the authorities to proceed with the immediate release of everyone unlawfully detained in the Republic of Chechnya on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, to conduct prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into all suspected cases of abductions, unlawful detention, torture and unlawful killing, and to ensure that all those involved in such acts are held to account, and that victims are provided with effective remedy, the statement read. If you want to help gay men flee Chechnya, you can participate in this Facebook fundraiser here. Wed, 26.10.22 - 12:09 Another blast of heat at the end of the month is likely to break the record in Spain With only a few days left in... Two exciting races in the North American Amateur Drivers Association trotting series went to post on the betting card at Monticello Raceway on Thursday afternoon, and upon their completion Alan Schwartz and Tony Ciuffetelli each were victorious in their respective splits. Schwartz scored a come-from behind triumph with Im Fabulous in 1:59 while Ciuffetelli used the front end route for a 2:00.3 victory with Avivas Winner. Schwartz, who was the National Amateur Driver of the Year in 2000, has spent most of the recent seasons racing against professionals while carrying amateur status. Today at the Mighty M he hustled Im Fabulous away from the mobile gate and settled in behind the betting favourite Current Crisis (Bobby Krivelin) and was content to follow the leader as Krivelin cut fractions of :30, 1:00.4 and 1:29.4 all the way to the top of the lane at which point Schwartz tipped his mare to the outside trotted to away to a two-length victory over Current Crisis. Third place went to AJ Destiny driven by Bob Davis. I figured if I could get in behind Kriv(elin) on the first turn and then let his horse cut the fractions Id have a good chance to beat him in the stretch, Schwartz said after his driving victory. And it worked out perfect as my mare was the strong horse in the lane. Although he has been participating in amateur races at Monticello and Yonkers Raceways in recent years Schwartz has been reluctant to travel the Billings circuit as he did in the early 2000s. I have a small stable and get plenty of action at Monticello so I dont have to travel far away to drive, Schwartz explained. It was his ninth winning drive this season and over the years Schwartz has won 584 races ranking him second all-time behind Boots Dunns 1152. Im Fabulous is owned by Brenda Messenger and Scott Woogen and trained by Gary Messenger. She paid $5.40 for win. The other NAADA event saw Tony Ciuffetelli and Avivas Winner trot to the lead as they came off the first turn and use the front end route to score an exciting victory with three horses just heads apart at the finish. My horse likes the front end and as long as I keep the wraps on him so he doesnt got too fast to the half he finishes strong, Ciuffetelli explained. He wasnt that strong today but strong enough to hold off (Tony) Verruso (with Pocket Passer) and (Bob) Krivelin (with Superiorcourt) for the victory. Comfortable all the way until the backside the second time around Ciuffetellis trotter was joined by Tim Lizzi (Joe Lee) nearing the third quarter but that trotter went off-stride erasing Lees chances at victory. However, Verruso moved Pocket Passer, who was following Tim Lizzi, up alongside Avivas Winner as Krivelin moved in closer along the pylons hopefully awaiting a chance to rally in the passing lane. Around the final turn the three leaders were all set for the stretch drive but Avivas Winner showed real grit keeping both Pocket Passer and Superiorcourt at bay and trotted on to a neck victory over the former with Pocket Passer a length back in third place. Avivas Winner is owned by Scheigert Racing Stable and trained by Amanda Kelley. He returned a $12.40 win mutuel. With the completion of five NAADA series legs Krivelins 42 points are two better than Schwartzs. Third, with 32 points, is John Kokinos while Joe Lee (23) and Tony Verruso (21) round out the top five in series points. (NAADA) Trot Insider has learned that Standardbred horse owner and horse racing enthusiast Frank Basso Sr. recently passed away. Basso was one of a kind and loved the business as a fan, gambler and owner. He got involved in horse ownership back in the mid 1970s with trainer Kent Baker (in the Arochar Mist days) with one of his first horses being his fondest and best in free for all trotter Johnny Jumpup. Vasso went on to own numerous horses over the years. Over the years the Bassos also moved into managing and training their own stable, as Frank teamed up with his sons Paul and Frank Jr., who eventually broke into driving scene and was named rookie of the year at Flamboro. The last horse that Frank Basso Sr. owned and trained was trotter Incredible FX. Basso would still tag along when his son, Paul, would head out to Mohawk the odd time. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Frank Basso Sr. Several sophomore stakes stars of last season will make their return to the races on Saturday night at The Meadowlands. With the first of three Graduate Series pacing legs set for May 6, Boston Red Rocks, Check Six and Western Fame gather in the evening's eighth race to get their four-year-old seasons underway with an eye on that target. Boston Red Rocks was the top freshman of the 2015 class and had a successful if not spectacular sophomore season, picking up over $400,000 and edging past $1 million in career earnings for owners Peter Blood and Rick Berks. Trainer Steve Elliott put three qualifiers into him, the most recent a solid closing 1:50.1 win from off the pace for regular driver Tim Tetrick. Just edged out in that 1:50.1 mile was Western Fame. The son of Western Ideal was virtually unraced at two but blossomed into a major stakes winner last summer for trainer Jimmy Takter. He won a heat of the Jug and a division of the Bluegrass, earning nearly a half million dollars for Brittany Farms with Mark MacDonald doing the bulk of the driving. Check Six had a million-dollar season last year for owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Switala and Martin. He dominated the Pennsylvania program and was a presence on the Grand Circuit, winning eleven times including the PASS final. He's had two preps going in for trainer Ron Burke with Yannick Gingras at the lines, his latest a 1:52.2 score with a 26 flat kicker. They'll sort it out on Saturday while gaining form toward future Grand Circuit engagements. Saturday also marks the $50,000 final of the World Harness Handicapping Challenge and it is not to late to enter the competition. First race post time is 7:15 p.m. (With files from The Meadowlands) Heres a great way to spend some time with your Mom, wife, sister, that special lady in your life, or the entire family on Mothers Day. Why not take a drive to a Standardbred breeding farm to visit the mares and foals! On Sunday, May 14, High Stakes Farm in Moffat, Mac Lilley Farms in Dutton, and Seelster Farms in Lucan, Ont. will all be opening their farms to the general public for a special Mothers Day Open House. The farms will showcase their mares, foals, stallions and facilities, and in collaboration with the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association (SBOA) and Standardbred Canadas I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club, will educate visitors about Standardbred breeding and harness racing. This marks the sixth consecutive year that the SBOA and SC have partnered to host this event. The Open House provides a great opportunity for people who dont normally have a chance to visit a horse farm to connect with the horses and the people in the Standardbred industry. This event is free to the general public. High Stakes Farm will be opening their gates from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The Open House at High Stakes is an officially recognized fundraiser for the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society (OSAS). Mac Lilley Farms will host their event from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. In addition to showcasing their mares and foals, the Hands On Horses Team from the Ontario Harness Horse Assocation (OHHA) will be providing rides in jog carts around the racetrack. The Glencoe 4-H horse club members will be passing out cupcakes and drinks to the guests. Mac Lilley Farms will also promote the 250th anniversary of horse racing in Canada with a commemorative mile and information display. Seelster Farms will be opening their farm from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The Open House at Seelster Farms is an officially recognized fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society, with voluntary donations being graciously accepted on their behalf. The farm will have over 30 mares and foals available for viewing along with the farm's eight stallions. High Stakes Farm 9685 First Line Moffat, Ont. L0P 1J0 (5 minutes from Mohawk Racetrack & 15 minutes from downtown Milton) Mac Lilley Farms 28322 Chalmers Line Dutton, Ont. NOL IJO Phone # 519-762-3423 Seelster Farms 33618 Roman Line, R.R. # 3 Lucan, Ont. N0M 2J0 (15 minutes from London) NORTH BONNEVILLE Easy access for hikers to popular Table Mountain and Aldrich Butte trails in the Columbia River Gorge is no longer available as a result of the sale and closure of Bonneville Hot Springs Resort and Spa. However, a community-based effort is under way to develop an replacement route. For many years, the former Bonneville resort allowed hikers to park on a graveled area west of the buildings. From the parking lot, it was a 0.1-mile hike to the start of what was known as the Dick Thomas Trail, which climbed for a mile and 500 feet elevation to marshy Carpenters Lake. Once at Carpenters Lake, hikers could follow routes south to the summit of Aldrich Butte, north to the summit of Table Mountain or northeast to Greenleaf Falls. Over the winter, Bonneville Hot Springs Resort and Spa was sold to Foundations Recovery Network, a Tennessee-based mental health and substance abuse company. Adam Marion, chief executive officer of Foundations Recovery Network-Washington, said the company took ownership of the former resort in mid-January and closed the trail access four to six weeks later. The people we treat are not dangerous, Marion said. Its not a half-way house.Theres no felons or sex offenders. However, medical confidentiality rules apply and unregulated public access on the site is not compatible with the business, he said. Without public access near the former resort, hikers wanting to head north must start at the U.S. Forest Service trailhead on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail just off state Highway 14 across from the Bonneville Dam second powerhouse. That adds, maybe, 4 miles each way to the Table Mountain hike, said Dan Huntington, a key player in the development of Cape Horn trail in western Skamania County. Its brutal. Ive always started near the resort. Table Mountain is a great hike. It would be too bad to lose it. It was not uncommon to see 30 cars parked on the west edge of the former resort property on a Saturday, he said. Tom Jermann, city planner for North Bonneville, said closure of the parking area at the former resort has hikers and others parking along the road on the back side of Greenleaf Slough and trespassing across private land. The non-profit Bonneville Trails Foundation is trying to find a solution. The foundation is working on a proposal to connect North Bonneville city center via a trail on the east side of Hamilton Creek to national forest land. The key is acquiring access across a piece of private property. The foundation has a map with proposed hiker and mountain bike routes on Aldrich Butte. This could be the catalyst for getting better access, Jermann said. We (City of North Bonneville) can be the hub. People could park here and hike up. Stan Hinatsu, recreation program manager for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, said a connecting trail from North Bonneville to the existing trails in the Aldrich Butte-Table Mountain area conceptually is a good idea. But, theres a process involved, and its not particularly fast-moving. Although the Forest Service owns the property where the existing network of trails and old roads connect, the routes have not been analyzed and are not authorized by the agency, he said. Analysis needs to be done of the existing trails, as well as a connecting trail from North Bonneville, he said. We just dont know enough about the proposal and how it fits into the landscape, Hinatsu said. Its not just as easy as drawing a line on the map and saying thats a great route. Locomotive emissions from trains serving the proposed Longview coal export terminal would increase the cancer risk rate for Longviews Highlands-area residents by 10 percent over background county levels, state and county officials said Friday. The terminal itself would also cause a wide range of adverse environmental impacts, according to the long-awaited final environment impact statement on Millennium Bulk Terminals $680 million project. Cowlitz County and Washington Ecology officials released the 11,000-page document Friday. Printed copies will not be available, but the report can be found online at millenniumbulkeiswa.gov. By Friday afternoon, Millennium was already challenging Ecologys cancer findings, pointing to different figures in the report that suggest there would be a 3 percent increase in cancer risk. But Ecology officials continued to stick by their statements. A record number of comments were submitted on the project, with 267,000 commentators weighing in on what would be one of North Americas biggest coal export terminals. The permitting process has taken five years and has been among the most hotly-debated projects ever proposed in the Lower Columbia River area. We spent the bulk of our time and effort really focusing on the potential impacts to the local community, where impacts would be greatest, said Elaine Placido, Building and Planning director for Cowlitz County, in a prepared statement. We received an unprecedented 267,000 comments, so it was clear to us that people are really interested in this project. Millennium officials noted that the release of the EIS is an important milestone in project, which would create more than 1,000 construction jobs, 130 permanent jobs and $5.4 million in annual state and local taxes. We have carefully designed the project to protect air and water quality, fish and wildlife, groundwater and people in accordance with regulatory requirements, said Bill Chapman, president and CEO of Millennium. The report evaluates 23 environmental areas, finding adverse impacts in 19 of them, according to a joint-press release from Ecology and Cowlitz County. Impacts include filling wetlands, dredging riverbed, injuring fish and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. It also identifies unavoidable impacts in nine areas: air quality, vehicle traffic, vessel traffic, rail capacity, rail safety, noise pollution, social and community resources, cultural resources and tribal resources. The new analysis confirmed earlier conclusions that coal dust would not exceed air quality standards for human health. However, updated information in the report found that locomotive diesel particulate matter would cause an unavoidable increase in cancer risk rates in a neighborhood along the rail line in Longview. Part of the revised analysis is due to a reappraisal that concluded that four locomotives will be needed to pull coal trains to the dock, not three as assumed earlier. Low-income and frontline neighborhoods will be hit hardest by increased cancer risks, as was confirmed in the document released today. As a cancer doctor, Im acutely aware that we must prevent what we cannot cure; we simply cannot allow this dangerous project to proceed, said Dr. Stephen Chandler of Longview, in a press release from anti-coal groups. Still, the number of locomotives serving the terminal woud be a small percentage of those that hundreds that pass through Kelso and dozens of other communities in Western Washington every day. Supporters of the coal terminal questioned the reports findings on locomotive diesel particulate and associated cancer risk. DOEs assertion regarding a maximum 16 train trips is seemingly an indictment against rail service across the state, which transports grain, lumber, Boeing aircraft fuselages, and the consumer products we all rely on every day, said Mariana Parks, spokeswoman for Alliance for Northwest Jobs and Exports, a pro-Millennium group, in a prepared statement. Parks asked what implications this would mean for other trains not associated with the project and whether Ecology is suggesting these other trains also increase cancer risk. By making this allegation today, DOE violates the very methodology of the expansive scope it chose to evaluate the projects impacts, and instead chose to look in isolation at the alleged impacts of train operations for a specific commodity, ignoring the example of expansive rail operations across the state, Parks added. The 1.3-mile long unit trains also would cause traffic jams in peak commute times in Cowlitz County, the report said. Coal trains would close the busy Industrial Way/Oregon Way intersection a total of about two hours a day. (The analysis was done assuming that no Industrial Way/Oregon Way improvements are made, but they are under design and have been funded by the Legislature). Overall, the project would increase U.S. exports of coal by 40 percent and global greenhouse gas emissions would rise by about 2 million metric tons annually, the report found. Originally county and state officials had recommended that Millennium mitigate or compensate for just half of those emissions. Now theyre recommending Millennium mitigate for all of the 2 million metric tons. Millennium criticized the report for suggesting that it mitigate for off-site emissions. It is not reasonable to expect any company to mitigate for other peoples emissions. That would be like asking the public ports in Washington and Oregon to mitigate for the half a million cars they import every year, said Wendy Hutchinson, vice president of public affairs for Millennium. The Association of Washington Business said report will have a chilling effect on business and job creation in the state. This sets a troubling precedent. At a time when were competing in a global marketplace, employers need certainty and predictability. ... especially for areas of the state in need of job growth and economic development, said Kris Johnson, president of the the association, in a prepared statement. While environmentalists saw flaws in the report, they also said it confirms some of their concerns about adverse environmental impacts from the project. The FEIS falls short in a number of respects. It continues to treat coal dust dismissively. It doesnt incorporate the findings of a separate Health Impact Assessment that is underway, said Kristen Boyles, attorney with Earthjustice. It seriously underestimates the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that this project would have, ignoring extensive technical criticism of the draft. It nonetheless documents a host of totally unacceptable impacts that by themselves should easily trigger denial from the state and local regulatory agencies. Its time to move on. The statement is not a decision or a permit. Rather its an analysis that will be used by 10 agencies to consider more than 20 permits needed for the project. Cowlitz County residents will participate in a climate march at the Port of Kalama on Saturday. The march is part of the nationwide People's Climate March. A larger march is planned the same day in Washington D.C., to "push back against the Trump agenda and at the same time (push) forward on our vision of a clean, safe world where the rights of all people are protected ..." according to the event website, peoplesclimate.org. The Kalama event will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a fishing boat parade on the Columbia River, followed by workshops at 1 p.m., held in the Kalama Community Building at 216 Elm Street. The workshops will focus on building effective environmental community campaigns. Cathlamet residents will also hold a climate march that same day, beginning at 11 a.m. at Strong Park. For anyone feeling a bit more adventurous, a group of hikers and climbers will meet at the crater rim of Mount St. Helens on Saturday. Climbers plan to take a group picture with banners. For information about the Kalama event, email landownersandcitizens@gmail.com. For information about the Cathlamet event, email aemlen@centurytel.net. For information about the Mount St. Helens event, email noamjg@gmail.com. tech2 News Staff The Razer Blade is the default gaming ultrabook for many, a surprising niche that Razer somehow managed to fill. Acers recently announced Triton 700 gaming laptop looks like an attempt to take on Razer in this domain. The Triton 700, unveiled at Acers next@acer event in New York, is a 15.6-inch device that weighs just 2.6 kg and measures 18.9 mm from the side. This relatively slim chassis will house a 7th generation Intel processor, an Nvidia GeForce 10-series graphics card, up to 32 GB of DDR4 RAM and two NVMe PCIe SSDs in RAID 0. That last just means that your storage will be blisteringly fast. The display offered is a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) display with support for Nvidia G-Sync to limit screen tearing in gaming. Connectivity options include Killer DoubleShot Pro networking, Thunderbolt 3 support, two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, one HDMI 2.0 port, one DisplayPort and one Ethernet port. Oh, and Acers apparently managed to squeeze an RGB-backlit "mechanical" keyboard into that chassis. These don't seem to be the traditional, Cherry MX type mechanical keys however, and seem more akin to the butterfly switches on Apple's MacBooks. That's not all that's interesting about the keyboard, however. It's been moved down, where the trackpad would be, and the trackpad has been made larger, transparent, and placed near the display hinge. The trackpad is made of Gorilla Glass, so at least it shouldn't break easily. The placement of the trackpad is unusual, but this is a gaming laptop, after all, and you'll probably be using it with a mouse anyway. Acer hasnt clarified the exact specifications of the device, so we cant comment on its capabilities. Acer did add that its using an AeroBlade 3D fan with metal blades to help cool this device. Interestingly Acer claims that the Triton 700 is designed to be VR-ready, so we can assume that the GPU will be a powerful one. The device pricing is expected to start at $2,999, which is almost Rs 2,00,000 in the US. India pricing and availability details are yet to be revealed, but the prices will definitely be way higher. tech2 News Staff Facebook's Messenger Lite for Android, which was launched on 2 October last year in 5 countries, is now rolling out to 132 more. Yes, after rolling out an offline mode on Instagram, hitting big figures with its Facebook Lite app, the social network is now bringing the lite version of its standalone messaging app to an additional 132 countries. The announcement was made by Facebook's head of Messenger, David Marcus, who announced the roll out today. He emphasized the importance of every single user, no matter how old their smartphones were, "Making sure that everyone can have a great experience with Messenger irrespective of the age of their smartphone is very important to us." Oddly, as TechCrunch pointed out, Messenger Lite, will still not arrive to a number of countries including Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Sudan, UK, US and North Korea. Not arriving in India, Bangladesh and Mexico is indeed a bit strange, especially as Facebook would benefit most from the launch in these countries. Messenger Lite brings the core features of Messenger without the data-intensive bits like camera effects and the app platform. What users in the 132 countries would be happy to see is a messaging app packaged in a tiny size that will work on slow and unstable 2G networks. Messenger Lite even works offline and will deliver messages once the user enters a region or space with data connectivity. The almost worldwide availability of Messenger Lite is another blow to competitor Snapchat, which does not seem to be interested in launching a Lite version of its app in developing countries. The Facebook competitor did introduce a Travel Mode back in 2015, that allows for lowered data usage by preventing snaps from automatically downloading. In reality, there is little that Snap Inc. can do to make its app lighter, since the app works mainly on data-heavy video content. PTI More than a decade after an eminent group of scientists gave the green signal for India to undertake a human space flight, the ambitious venture is nowhere near take-off in the absence of government approval. In November 2006, at a meeting convened by the Indian Space Research Organisation, scientists were highly appreciative of the study undertaken by the space agency on such a mission, and were unanimous in suggesting that the time is appropriate for the country to undertake the venture. But the mission seems to have fallen off the priority list of the Bengaluru-headquartered Isro since then. "We need to get the approval for that programme, till that comes we are working on some critical technologies, like environmentally-controlled laboratory, flight suite," Isro Chairman A S Kiran Kumar told PTI. "We have also done some re-entry experiment. Certain technology elements we will continue to develop until the country is ready for taking up this as a full-fledged programme," he said. "For this (the human space flight programme), the requisite priority has to be there, funding has to be there, then only activities will happen.". Kiran Kumar said Isro's immediate priority is to meet the basic needs of communication, navigation and remote sensing. "First, we have to ensure all this is done adequately, there itself, we are trying to push the envelope and then (we have to undertake) more frequent launches so that we provide the requisite number of satellites in orbit for meeting all these requirements," he said. "So, that is still happening, not yet happened. That will remain the bigger priority," he said. According to him, work towards such a mission would continue. "As and when the approval etc. comes, then we will take it up in a bigger way. At this point, priority is not that," Kiran Kumar said. Nearly 80 scientists from across the country had participated in the November 7, 2006 meeting to discuss the issues related to the mission, an Isro press release at that time said. The Isro had conducted studies for four years from 2002 to examine the technological challenges of such a mission and the Indian capability to undertake it. The concept for the venture included development of an autonomous orbital vehicle which could be launched by India's Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, GSLV-Mk II or GSLV-Mk III, the release had said. Studies highlighted that the Isro has maturity in many technologies required for the mission. However, new developments are required in life support systems, improved reliability and safety and crew escape system, among others. The meeting was attended by eminent scientists like U R Rao, Yash Pal, R Narasimha, R M Vasagam, N Pant, P S Goel, N Balakrishnan, A R Upadhya, T S Prahlad, S Vasantha and Avinash Chander, then Isro Chairman G Madhavan Nair and Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to travel in space. tech2 News Staff Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has beamed back images of the windblown sand dunes of the Ganges Chasma. The Ganges Chasma is a deep canyon at the eastern end of the Valles Marineris, one of the largest canyon systems in the solar system. The dark sands are covering the intricate sedimentary rock layers, highlighting the layers at times. The dark coloration is because the sand is rich in iron and magnesium, unlike the silica rich sand on the beaches and deserts of Earth. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been observing the red planet since 2006, and has progressed human understanding of Mars with a number of new discoveries. The MRO has discovered clay minerals, found icy water on the poles and flowing, salty water. The studies of Mars by the MRO were instrumental in the Reconnaissance rover mission. The MRO also found evidence of carbon dioxide frost, which disappears overnight in the dusty regions of Mars. When the Schiaparelli spacecraft by the European Space Agency crash landed onto the surface of the planet because of a glitch in the navigation system, it was the MRO that confirmed the crash by capturing images from orbit. The MRO is being used to scout for potential landing sites for pioneering manned missions to Mars. Isros Mangalyaan mission continues to be in orbit around Mars, well after its intended mission duration. tech2 News Staff The question of whether or not the Note series will continue seems to be settled with information buried deep within the first quarter financial results released by Samsung. Samsung has indicated that it will be launching another flagship device towards the end of the year, around the same time that it has traditionally been launching the Galaxy note series of smartphones. However, Samsung has stopped short of explicitly calling the device the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Although a stylus was initially considered as outdated technology, Samsung stuck to its vision and the series has its loyalists, particularly in the creative professions. "For the mobile business, market competition is expected to intensify in the second half. Against this backdrop, the company will strive to maintain profitability through robust sales of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ and the launch of a new flagship smartphone in the second half. Moreover, Samsung will also look to sustain profitability in the mid- to low-end segment by launching new products and streamlining the lineup," the financial statement says. The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was a disaster with smartphone batteries that refused to stop exploding, prompting two rounds of recalls. However, loyal customers of Samsung only viewed the debacle as a temporary setback, and experts are of the opinion that the fiasco will not permanently affect the reputation of the electronics giant. The demand for the device did not subside despite the dangerous explosions and bans from flights. Samsung has made available the Note 7R, a refurbished Note 7 with a smaller 3200 mAh battery to prevent the explosions, in select markets only. hidden Tesla executive Klaus Grohmann was ousted last month after a clash with Chief Executive Elon Musk over the strategy of Grohmann's firm, which Tesla had acquired in November, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The Silicon Valley luxury electric carmaker is counting on Grohmann Engineering's automation and engineering expertise to help it ramp up production to 500,000 cars per year by 2018. At the time of the purchase, it described Klaus Grohmann and the company he founded as a "world leader in highly automated manufacturing". Tesla planned to keep Grohmann on, and Grohmann wanted to stay, but the clash with Musk over how to treat existing clients resulted in his departure, the source said. Grohmann disagreed with Musk's demands to focus management attention on Tesla projects to the detriment of Grohmann Engineering's legacy clients, which included Tesla's direct German-based rivals Daimler and BMW, two sources familiar with the matter said. Reached by phone, Klaus Grohmann declined to comment on the circumstances of his leaving, citing confidentiality clauses. "I definitely did not depart because I had lost interest in working," Grohmann said, without elaborating. A Tesla spokesman, asked about Grohmann's departure, praised him for building an "incredible company" and said: "Part of Mr Grohmann's decision to work with Tesla was to prepare for his retirement and leave the company in capable hands for the future. Given the change in focus to Tesla projects, we mutually decided that it was the right time for the next generation of management to lead." Two sources familiar with the matter said Tesla's plans to ramp up production with the help of the company now renamed Tesla Grohmann Automation remain on track. The management layer below Klaus Grohmann is continuing his work, they told Reuters. But they said parts of the workforce felt insecure about becoming so dependent on one client after the founder's departure. Last year, Tesla had said: "Under the continued leadership of Mr Grohmann, several critical elements of Tesla's automated manufacturing systems will be designed and produced in Pruem, to help make our factories the most advanced in the world." "Our factories are so important that we believe they will ultimately deserve an order of magnitude more attention in engineering than what they produce. At very high production volumes, the factory becomes more of a product than the product itself," Tesla said at the time. Tesla started out as a client of Grohmann Engineering, a small unlisted company based in Pruem, near the Luxembourg border, that helped companies design highly automated factories, a source familiar with the company told Reuters. As pressure grew to increase production volumes at Tesla, Musk decided to buy Grohmann Engineering and make Pruem a base for Tesla Advanced Automation. As well as BMW and Daimler, Grohmann counted the auto parts maker Bosch [ROBG.UL], chip maker Intel, and pharmaceutical firms Abbott Laboratories and Roche among its clients. Negotiations have started with some of the clients about how to compensate them for lack of resources devoted to their projects, one of the sources said. The German labor union IG Metall has demanded that Tesla's management formalize multi-year job guarantees and increase salaries as a way to provide assurance amid management turmoil. Reuters IANS Twitter's decision to block the British police and intelligence agencies from accessing data to identify terrorist plots has evoked criticism from the government. To ensure that its data is not used for surveillance, the micro-blogging site blocked the access to key streams of information on April 25 that is used by police and M15 to identify potential threats. "We are protesting this decision. We are in talks with Twitter on getting access to this data," The Telegraph quoted a spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May, as saying. The spokesman also called for other social media companies to be a part of government's fight against terrorism. According to reports, the government had paid a third-party company for a service that tracked terms related to potential terror attacks - before this was blocked by Twitter cutting off access to its API. This is not, however, for the first time that Twitter has taken a tough stance against a government's surveillance plan using social media data. In December 2016, the social media site blocked the US law enforcement agencies from accessing real-time data through a deal with Dataminr. This decision by Twitter has come under a tremendous pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). "We prohibit developers using the Public APIs and Gnip data products from allowing law enforcement - or any other entity - to use Twitter data for surveillance purposes. Period," Twitter had said in a blog post then. Discussions are currently ongoing between the British government and Twitter to resolve the issue. It is believed that the data being requested would be anonymised. About me I'm Avi Green From Jerusalem, Israel I was born in Pennsylvania in 1974, and moved to Israel in 1983. I also enjoyed reading a lot of comics when I was young, the first being Fantastic Four. I maintain a strong belief in the public's right to knowledge and accuracy in facts. I like to think of myself as a conservative-style version of Clark Kent. I don't expect to be perfect at the job, but I do my best. My profile Archives - Archives - July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010 February 2010 March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 September 2010 October 2010 November 2010 December 2010 January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 Professional wrestling was built on ethnic stereotypes. Given its carnival roots, wrestling organizations needed to find ways to connect to new groups of people quickly and easily and, as P.T. Barnum might say, there is no quicker and easier way to make a large group of people know how to feel about someone than to assign them an ethnic stereotype. And so, long before the days of complex characters (at least by wrestling standards) such as Shawn Michaels and Triple H, you could almost always boil a wrestler down to which ethnicity they represented. The Italian one. The Russian one. The Middle Eastern one. Given the makeup of that particular audience, you wouldnt have to work very hard to make someone a face or a heel. That line of thinking carried into the 1970s and 80s when Vince J. McMahon and son Vince K. McMahon turned the regional WWWF into the international WWF and eventual WWE. We all know Hulk Hogan for his love for America (and racism) but the reason Terry Bollea was bestowed with that moniker was because he was meant to be The Irish one, with the story going that the elder McMahon wanted him to dye his hair red. Hogans transcendence of that label mirrored the rise of the company into something bigger and slightly more complex. The cartoonish 1990s eventually gave way to The Attitude Era, which is where we began to see WWE wrestlers as characters truly unmoored from those basic trappings. At least, mostly. Over the years, the WWE has vacillated between these two notions. Theres the idea that a professional wrestler can be a complex individual with wants and desires that have nothing to do with their birthplace or skin color. But theres also that traditional conviction that the quickest way to get a crowd to understand a character is to make it all about their birthplace or skin color. More often than not, that latter option is used to ensure that the wrestler is seen as an out-and-out bad guy. Its hard not to point to the fact that Vince K. McMahon is not only still in charge of the company, but still intimately involved in character creation and storytelling. McMahons WWE has always been an avalanche charging down a mountain. All of the other federations create and innovate, but eventually theyre consumed by the avalanche. Either they become a part of the WWE or the WWE takes what it likes and keeps moving. Meanwhile, McMahon has always maintained a childlike notion of what wrestling audiences ultimately want. They want fart jokes. They want slut shaming. They want the American to beat up the non-American. Sure, you can cite plenty of examples when this wasnt the case, but theyre dwarfed by the examples when it was. A lot of wrestling fans, worn down by uncomfortable storylines and racist/xenophobic tropes, have lowered the bar for McMahon rather than asking more of him. These days when WWE pays off a storyline from start to finish, theyre lauded as reconquering kings. Never mind the fact that seven other storylines played out in jagged fashion with unsatisfying conclusions. The same goes for the way the WWE has handled race and ethnicity. The company has flashes of modern thinking, like when the planets aligned for Black Excellence in 2016. Then again, theyre also the same company that brought African-American wrestler Apollo Crews over from Smackdown to Raw and immediately put him in a storyline with African-American wrestler Titus ONeil, the underlying assumption being that you might as well just put the black guys together because what else are you gonna do with them (something the WWE has done many times before)? Its similar to what they did with Jinder Mahal when he returned to the WWE last July after a two-year absence. Mahal, whose real name is Yuvraj Singh Dhesi, is a Canadian wrestler with a strong pedigree and history. Hes also of Punjabi Sikh origin, so naturally the WWE had his character hail from India, gave him the last name Mahal, and made his story all about that. Since returning to the WWE, Mahal has followed that traditional path. Hes been a heel from the get-go, even if he was mostly used as an enhancement talent to make other wrestlers look better. In an attempt to give him a bit more visibility, he was partnered up with Rusev, a heel character defined mostly by his own point of origin (technically Bulgaria, but also sometimes Russia?). Rusev and Mahal dont really have anything in common but just like The League of Nations gimmick, which formed a heel stable out of four guys from someplace other than America, the bond was that they were both foreigners. So it goes. After Rusev was injured, it seemed like Mahal was destined to ride out his current contract as a jobber to the stars. It surprised just about everyone then when he won a six-pack challenge to become the new No. 1 contender to the WWE Title two weeks back. As shocking as that victory was, it was equally unshocking when Mahal immediately established his heel bonafides by launching into (an admittedly well-done) diatribe about how Americans dont respect him because hes different and smarter than them and better than them. As often happens in professional wrestling, hes a heel who makes a compelling case, but you could still boil it down to the same old song and dance. Im a foreign guy, so Im the bad guy. That isnt on Mahal, mind you. In the two weeks since hes gone from jobber to main eventer, hes taken the ball and run with it. He followed up his victory with a solid segment against current champion Randy Orton. Along with his pair of cronies, he beat up the champ, stole the title belt, and made off in style. Its classic pro wrestling bad guy work and Jinder is playing his part perfectly. To those who boo him, just like those who boo Roman Reigns, youre proving the point that hes accomplishing what hes set out to do. It remains to be seen how well any of this pays off. Mahal could remain in the title picture, become a solid mid-carder, or he could even slip back down to jobber status when its all said and done. Whatever happens, however, its always going to be a bit of a sore spot with how WWE got here. Theres a discussion to be had about the inelegant way Mahal was elevated, but regardless its more about the generic way that Mahals character has been presented. He could have been a heel who wasnt all about his other-ness. He could have been a complex person who just so happened to be of Indian descent, but that had nothing to do his motivation. He could have been a foreign good guy, if you can believe that. There are so many ways WWE could go with a character like this but, as usual, they took the traditional route, and thats a shame. The truth is that will probably always be the case so long as Vince McMahon is in charge. Hes proven time and time again that while he is malleable to many things, he is also tied to the era of his and wrestlings past. He remembers a time when no one would have batted an eyelash as the brown guy is bad because hes the brown guy. Sadly, some that persists. But its a shame that WWE has to continue leaning into that notion. A lot of WWE fans will give them a pass because the way Mahal expresses himself is just different-sounding enough to make it seem progressive. But you dont have to dig very far to realize its the same old act, just tweaked enough to convince you its not feeding into the lowest common denominator trappings pro wrestling has for far too long. For what its worth, I think Jinder Mahal could be pretty successful in the WWE. And he doesnt need that same-old ethnic stereotyping to do it. BAU experts urge for food, income generation plans for Haor people Experts in a seminar at Bangladesh Agricultural University expressing concern about the suffering of Haor people due to recent flash flood. The seminar was held at the University\'s Fisheries Faculty Conference Room on Thursday. Mahdi Hasan, BAU : Experts and scientists on Thursday urged the government and other donor and financial organizations to support the Haor people by providing food, promoting income generating activities, loan with low-interest to improve the condition. They also expressed that promotion of trading low-price fish in Haor areas from other part of country should be managed by the Department of Fisheries (DoF) to decrease the pressure on fisheries resources in Haor water body. They were addressing a seminar on "Investigation and Assessment of Fish Mortality in Haor" in Fisheries Faculty Conference Room of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU). An expert team, led by Prof Dr Mohammad Mahfuzul Haque of aquaculture department of BAU, has published their findings and recommendation in the seminar. The team has visited Tanguar haor, Halir haor and Dekhar haor from 24th April to 26th April. Based on their observation and analysis of samples, they said that decreased dissolved oxygen and increased acidity of water due to decomposition of immature paddy grain, shrubs and other organic materials caused the fish mortality. They found no sign of heavy metal intoxication or disease infection in their collected samples of water, soil, fish and duck carcasses. The expert team also recommended to introduce cage culture of fish as an alternative income source, regular vigilance of fishing and monitoring of whole situation by DoF, fisheries research institute and other related NGOs. They also urged the government and development organizations to take necessary steps that the situation would not become worse while the deposition will enhanced by the sun in the late years. The present situation in Haor areas is a national crisis, said dean of fisheries faculty Prof Dr Subas Chandra Charkrabarti. Everyone and every organization related to Haor should work together to overcome the hazard and make happy Haor again, he added. The academicians and graduate students of the fisheries faculty attended the seminar. News In Brief 2 killed in Jessore lightning strikes Jessore Correspondent : Two people were killed in a lightning strike at Mahinikati village in Jhikargacha upazila of Jessore districton Thursday Locals said Saiful Islam, 28, son of Shawkat Ali, and Shahid Hossain, 48, died on the spot when a streak of thunderbolt struck them while they were returning home from a field with cattle in the evening. Two cattle were also died in the incident. 3 arrested with bomb-making equipments in Savar SAVAR: Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested three militants with 'pistol bomb'-making equipments at Village Line Paribahan in Rajfulbaria Bus Stand of Savar on Thursday 10pm. Savar Nabinagar RAB-4 said, RAB settled a check post in Rajbaria Bus Stand and searched the Village Line Paribahan Bus where RAB found three men with huge bomb making equipments, Jihadi books, 1 pistol and bullets. Company Commander of RAB-4 Major Abdul Hakim led the operation. Major Abdul Hakim said, "We primarily considered them as militants. We are questioning them. Details will be given tomorrow in press conference, reports UNB. Robbers loot house in Gopalganj GOPALGANJ: Robbers looted valuables, including gold ornaments and cash, from an expatriate's house at Ramdia village in Kashiani upazila early Friday. Locals said 10-12 armed robbers swooped on the house of Jamal Minar, an expatriate living in Saudi Arabia, breaking open its collapsible gate around 12:15 am and held hostage its inmates at gunpoint. They later looted valuables, including gold ornaments and cash worth Tk 10 lakh, from the house and fled with the booty. Two held with phensidyl in Sylhet Sylhet Correspondent: Members of Rapid Action Battalion arrested two alleged drug traders with 178 bottles of contraband phensidyl syrups from Mujumdarpara area in Sylhet city on Wednesday night. The arrested were identified as Samsul Islam, son of Mongai Miah of Dholyargawn and Sajedul Islam son of A Mutlib of Dholyargawn village under companygonj upazila in the Sylhet District. RAB- 9 Senior ASP and Senior AD Moinuddin Chowdhury informed that a press release. He said on receiving secret new a tem of RAB lead by ASP Pijush chandra Das Made and Operation in the west side of Majumdarpara Eidgah. RAB able to arrest two drug traders with 178 bottles of contraband phensidyl syrups. Later the arrested were hand over to Katwali police Station. Ghorshal renamed as Sajina Union Jhenaidah Correspondent : Ghorshal union of Jhenaidah Sadar upazila was declared as Sajina Union by the Deputy Commissioner on Thursday afternoon. Deputy Commissioner Mahbub Alam Talukder declared the union transplanting a branch of sajina plat at Jaduria village in Ghorshal. Jhenaidah Sdar upazila agriculture officer Dr. Khan Mohammad Maniruzzaman, agriculture extension officer Rokanuzzaman, Ghorshal union parishad chairman Masud Parvez Liton, Jhenaidah press club joint secretary Foysal Ahmed among others remain present there. The chief guest said, sajina, its leafs and flower contain huge nutrition, amino acid and some herbal values protects the body from malnutrition, joint pain, blood pressure, kidney stone, constipation, diabetes and some other diseases. To ensure better health each and every house of the union will be brought under sajina plat transplantation activities within a few months, the chief guest said. Rice price up in Kishoreganj Staff Reporter , Kishoreganj : Price of rice has gone volatile due to heavy rainfall and Boro paddy crops have fully damaged in Haor areas and local people blamed syndicate business in this regard. Recently rice price has hit all time high despite record Aman outpur. For the last 10 days , rice price has increased more than Tk 7-10 per kg as there is a lack of proper monitoring of mill owner and whole sale market. Food Department has appointed number of dealers for selling rice, specially in haor affected areas in districts, rural areas and in the city areas. Open Market Sell (OMS) has been running but those could not control the rice price. According some buyers and traders in the Dhaka, Chittagong, Natore, Dinajpur, Pabna, Bhairab Bazar, Ausuganj in last one year, the price of rice including Pyjam, Lota, Sorna, Boro, Minicate, BR- 28, BR- 29 and Chines ER9 has increased by Tk. 8-10 per kg. Now Miniket, Pyjam, Nujirshail, Mataribhog and Bushmati rice are being sold from Tk. 48 to 75 per kg. Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), Kishoreganj District President Alam Sarowar Tito said that the rice millers have been making huge profit but the farmers and consumers eing deprived. Senior Advocate Maya Bhowmik, TIB and Sanak Ex. President told The New Nation that the government should monitor the rice markets properly as the millers have been increasing rice price irrationally. Though the rice price has gone skyrocket but the farmers for the millers have been purchasing rice at lower rate The millers and holl sale traders are making super profit from the rice market from their stored rice. This syndication has been proved as the main obstacle of the common people now. Sources said, there are 100-150 corrupt businessmen in Kishoreganj, Bhairab Bazar, Pabna, Kustia, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Ausuganj controlling rice markets establishing syndicates across the country. Kishoreganj District Administration arranged an emergency meeting with rice millers and traders held at local Collectorate Conference Room with D.C Md. Azimuddin Biswas in the chair on Thursday morning. ADC (Gen) Torafder Md. Akhter Jamil, D.D , Agriculture Extension Md. Shafiqul Islam, D.C Food, Md. Masudur Rahman, CAB President Alam Sarowar Tito, A.D of Consumers Rights Protect Md. Ibrahim Hossaion, Women Chamber Senior Vice-President Bilkis Begum, Chamber Director Paritosh Pall and Rice Miller Md. Osman Gani were also present. Trump says he thought being president would be easier than his old life Donald Trump says being US President is more work than he thought it\'d be. Reuters, Washington : He misses driving, feels as if he is in a cocoon, and is surprised how hard his new job is. US President Donald Trump on Thursday reflected on his first 100 days in office with a wistful look at his life before the White House. "I loved my previous life. I had so many things going," Trump told Reuters in an interview. "This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier." A wealthy businessman from New York, Trump assumed public office for the first time when he entered the White House on January 20 after he defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an upset. More than five months after his victory and two days shy of the 100-day mark of his presidency, the election is still on Trump's mind. Midway through a discussion about Chinese President Xi Jinping, the president paused to hand out copies of what he said were the latest figures from the 2016 electoral map. "Here, you can take that, that's the final map of the numbers," the Republican president said from his desk in the Oval Office, handing out maps of the United States with areas he won marked in red. "It's pretty good, right? The red is obviously us." He had copies for each of the three Reuters reporters in the room. Trump, who said he was accustomed to not having privacy in his "old life," expressed surprise at how little he had now. And he made clear he was still getting used to having 24-hour Secret Service protection and its accompanying constraints. "You're really into your own little cocoon, because you have such massive protection that you really can't go anywhere," he said. When the president leaves the White House, it is usually in a limousine or an SUV. He said he missed being behind the wheel himself. "I like to drive," he said. "I can't drive any more." Many things about Trump have not changed from the wheeler-dealer executive and former celebrity reality show host who ran his empire from the 26th floor of Trump Tower in New York and worked the phones incessantly. He frequently turns to outside friends and former business colleagues for advice and positive reinforcement. Senior aides say they are resigned to it. The president has been at loggerheads with many news organisations since his election campaign and decided not to attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington on Saturday because he felt he had been treated unfairly by the media. "I would come next year, absolutely," Trump said when asked whether he would attend in the future. The dinner is organised by the White House Correspondents' Association. Reuters correspondent Jeff Mason is its president. Meanwhile, the senior U.S. Navy officer overseeing military operations in the Pacific said Thursday that the crisis with North Korea is at the worst point he's ever seen, but he declined to compare the situation to the Cuban missile crisis decades ago. Law empowers ACC to collect documents from any source Appellate Division (Civil) Surendra Kumar Sinha CJ Syed Mahmud Hossain J Hasan Foez Siddique J Mirza Hussain Haider J Sonali Jute Mills Limited and another-Petitioners vs Anti-Corruption Commission, represented by its Chairman, Dhaka and others..........Respondents Judgment May 29th, 2016 Anti-Corruption Commission Act (V of 2004 Section 19(1)(2) Sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 19 have given wide jurisdiction to the Commission to enquire into and investigate any allegations whatsoever as covered in its schedule and in doing so may direct any authority, public or private to produce relevant documents. The person concerned shall be bound to comply with the said direction. The power contained in Section 19 of the Ain can be exercised both at inquiry as well as investigation stage. Bankers' Books Evidence Act (XVIII of 1891) Sections 2(4), 5 and 6 Anti-Corruption Commission Rules, 2007 Rule 2(Ka) The word "inquiry" (AbymUvb) as envisaged under Rule 2 (ka) of the Rules, 2007 is with regard to fact finding inquiry for OD AwfhvMi mZZv D`NvUbi jyO, which will go to assist the Commission either to proceed further by lodging an FIR or to keep it with the record, if found no basis to the allegation. The word "inquiry" as used in Section 2(4) of the Act of 1891 has no manner of application for enquiry by the Commission since at the stage of enquiry by the Commission question of giving evidence does not arise at all. ..... (18) Code of Criminal Procedure (V of 1898) Section 94 Bankers' Books Evidence Act (XVIII of 1891) Sections 5 and 6 During course of inquiry by the Commission, Section 94 of the Code and Sections 5 and 6 of the Banker's Book Evidence Act, 1891 have no manner of application. . ..... (19) Code of Criminal Procedure (V of 1898) Section 94 The jurisdiction of Sessions Judge to give permission is limited to "investigate of offences" under Sections 403, 406, 408 and 409 and Sections 421, 422 both inclusive and Sections 465 and 477A both inclusive of the Penal Code. The jurisdiction of the High Court Division rests with other offences .... (16) Mizan Sayed, Advocate instructed by Md Taufique Hossain, Advocnte-on-Record-For the Petitioners. AKM Fazlul Haque, Advocate, instructed by Sufia Khatun, Advocate-on-Record-For the Respondents. Judgment Syed Mahmud Hossain J : This civil petition for leave to appeal is directed against the impugned judgment and order dated 3-6-2012 passed the High Court Division in Writ Petition No.8243 of 2010 discharging the Rule. 2. The facts giving rise to this civil petition for leave to appeal, in a nutshell, are: Writ-petitioner No.1, a public limited company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1994, having its registered office situated at BCIC Bhaban (14th floor), 30-31, Dilkusha Commercial Area, Dhaka-1000 had established a factory situated at Khulna. Writ-petitioner No.1, one of the leading Jute Mills in Bangladesh, has filed the instant writ petition along with writ-petitioner No.2, the Chairman of the writ-petitioner No.1-company. Its case, in short, is that the Anti-Corruption Commission (in short, the ACC) under the signature of writ-respondent No.2 had issued the impugned Memo No. `y`K/wetAbyt I Z`sI-1/25-2010 (gvwb jUvwis)/ 16018 dated 18-8-2010 directing Writ-respondent No.3, the Bank concerned to supply the attested photo copy of various bank documents and loan information of the writ-petitioners, which were kept under the custody of writ-respondent No.3. In response thereof, writ-respondent No.3, vide office letter No. cOtKvt/KcOAwe/mvbvjx RyU dated 30-9-2010 duly supplied the required documents to writ-respondent No.2 with copy to writ-petitioner No.2 (Annexure-A). In this regard, it has been stated that writ-respondent No.2, vide an administrative order bearing Memo No. `y`K/cOkvt/ 63/07/9835 dated 22-6-2006 the categorically contended, inter-alia that without having specific order of the Court concerned as provided under Section 94(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (in short, the Code) and Sections 5 and 6(1) of the Bankers' Book Evidence Act,1891 (in short, the Act) no information as to banking documents and accounts of the incumbent concerned can be supplied to other authority concerned. The said contention of the Commission has further been reiterated in Memo No. `y`K/cOkvt/63/07/12037(2) dated 4-8-2009. In response thereof, proforma respondent No. 4, the Bangladesh Bank had also circulated, the said office order to all nationalized/ commercial bank of Bangladesh vide office letter bearing Memo No. weAviwcwW/ bxwZ-4/770918/2009-2954 dated 24-8-2009. It has been contended that in view of Section 19(1) in particular clause (Gha) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 in short, the Act) writ-respondent No.1 is empowered to ask for producing/collecting the "public record or copy thereof". Since bank account information/loan documents of an account-holder cannot be treated as "public documents" in view of Section 74 of the Evidence Act, 1872 by no stretch of imagination the accounts information and loan documents of the writ-petitioner, which were kept under the custody of writ-respondent No.3, can be treated as "public documents". However, writ-respondent bank being the custodian of account information and documents and information as required by writ-respondent No.2 cannot be supplied without prior permission from the competent court of law. The respondent-bank in this regard had utterly failed to maintain the secrecy and confidentiality of the account information and the related affairs of the writ-petitioners. 3. In the stated circumstances, the writ-petitioners served Notice Demanding Justice on 15-10-2010 by special messenger and courier service upon the writ-respondents with request to return all the documents so supplied by the respondent-bank and to confirm m writing that those documents would not be used to the detriment of the writ-petitioners in any proceeding in future but to no avail. 4. Writ-petitioners, Sonali Jute Mills Ltd. and another filed the above writ petition before the High Court Division challenging the memo dated 18-8-2010 and obtained Rule Nisi in Writ Petition No.8243 of 2012. 5.Writ-respondent No.1 entered appearance by filing affidavit-in-opposition controverting the material statements made in the writ petition. His case, in short, is that writ-respondent No.2 had not caused violation of any law whatsoever by asking the bank loan information of the writ-petitioners for the purpose off inquiry of the offences as prescribed under the schedule of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004. Moreso, it has been contended that Section 5 of the Banker's Book Evidence Act, 1891 and Section 94 of the Code of Criminal procedure have no manner of application for holding inquiry under the provisions of the Act, 2004. 6. The learned Judges of the High Court Division upon hearing the Rule by the judgment and order dated 3-6-2012 discharged the Rule. 7. Feeling aggrieved by the judgment and order passed by the High Court Division, the writ-petitioners as the leave-petitioners have filed this civil petition for leave to appeal before this Division. 8. Mr Mizan Sayed, learned Advocate, appearing on behalf of the leave petitioners, submits that the Anti-Corruption Commission without seeking any permission from the competent Court of law beyond the provisions of Sections 5 and 6(1) of the Banker's Book Evidence Act, 1891 and Section 94 of the Code of Criminal Procedure directed the bank to supply the banking documents, as such issuance of such letter and supply of documents are both without lawful authority and violation of law and, as such, the impugned judgment passed by the High Court Division in discharging the Rule should be interfered with. 9. Mr AKM Fazlul Hague, learned Advocate, appearing on behalf of the respondent, on the other hand, supports the impugned judgment delivered by the High Court Division. 10. We have considered the submissions of the learned Advocates of both the sides, perused the impugned judgment and the materials on record. 11. The question to be resolved here is whether the documents which are related to the bank account of the petitioners lying in the custody of the respondent-bank could be directed to be produced before the officer of the Commission at the stage of inquiry without due permission of the Sessions Judge/High Court Division as the case may be. 12. In this connection, it is pertinent to quote the relevant provisions of Section 19 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Ain, 2004 which is quoted below: 19| AbymUvb ev Z`sIKvh Kwgkbi wekl ygZv| --(1) `ybxwZ muwKZ Kvb AwfhvMi AbymUvb ev Z`sIi yI, Kwgkbi wbgic ygZv _vwKe, h_vt- (K) mvyxi mgb Rvwi I Dcw'wZ wbwZKiY Ges kc_i gvag mvyxK wRAvmvev` Kiv ; (L) Kvb `wjj D`NvUb Ges Dc'vcb Kiv ; (M) kc_i gvag mvy MOnY ; (N) Kvb Av`vjZ ev Awdm nBZ cvewjK iKW ev Dnvi Abywjwc Zje Kiv ; (O) mvyxi wRAvmvev` Ges `wjj cixyv Kivi Rb civqvbv Rvwi Kiv ; (P) GB AvBbi DIk c~iYKi, wbavwiZ Ab h Kvb welq| (2) Kwgkb, h Kvb ewK AbymUvb ev Z`sI mswko welq Kvb Z_ mieivn Kwievi Rb wb`k w`Z cvwie Ges Abyicfve wb`wkZ ew Zvnvi ndvRZ iwyZ D Z_ mieivn KwiZ eva _vwKeb| 13. Having gone through the provisions of the above section, we find that Sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 19 have given wide jurisdiction to the Commission to enquire into and investigate any allegations whatsoever as covered in its schedule and in doing so may direct any authority, public or private to produce relevant documents. The person concerned shall be bound to comply with the said direction. 14. The power contained in Section 19 of the Act can exercised both at inquiry as well as investigation stage. It is of course true that the Act of 2004 or the wewagvjv framed thereunder did not prescribe the procedures to be adopted by the officers of the Commission for procuring those documents. 15. It is contended that since Section 19 of the Act of 2004 has no overriding effect over Section 94 of the Code of Criminal Procedure as well as Sections 5 and 6 of Act of 1981 without taking due permission from the Sessions Judge or the High Court Division, the Commission cannot be given direction upon the respondent bank to supply the required documents. 16. The jurisdiction of Sessions Judge to give permission is limited to "investigate of offences" under Sections 403, 406, 408 and 409 and Sections 421, 422 both inclusive and sections 465 and 477A both inclusive of the Penal Code. The jurisdiction of the High Court Division rests with other offences. 17. Section 94 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides for taking prior permissions from the Sessions Judge and the High Court Division with regard to investigation of offences as stated therein and, as such, is not applicable for inquiry. 18. The word "inquiry" (AbymUvb) as envisaged under Rule 2 (ka) of the Rules, 2007 is with regard to fact finding inquiry for OD AwfhvMi mZZv D`NvUbi jyO which will go to assist the Commission either to proceed further by lodging an FIR or to keep it with the record, if found no basis to the allegation. As such, the word "inquiry" as used in Section 2(4) of the Act of 1981 has no manner of application for enquiry by the Commission since at the stage of enquiry by the Commission question of giving evidence does not arise at all. 19. During course of inquiry by the Commission, Section 94 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Sections 5 and 6 of the Banker's Book Evidence Act, 1891 have no manner of application. 20. Over and above, the provisions of Act of 2004 being special in nature shall prevail over other laws notwithstanding the fact that the provisions of other laws were not excluded by any non-obstante clause." In the light of the findings made before, we do not find any substance in this civil petition. Accordingly, this civil petition is dismissed. World Bank must stop encouraging harmful tax competition Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram : One of the 11 areas that the World Bank's Doing Business (DB) report includes in ranking a country's business environment is paying taxes. The background study for DB 2017, Paying Taxes 2016 claims that its emphasis is "on efficient tax compliance and straightforward tax regimes". The World Bank has been promoting tax cuts and tax competition as magic bullets to boost investment. As a result, tax revenues in developing countries continue to fall. Credit: IPS The World Bank has been promoting tax cuts and tax competition as magic bullets to boost investment. As a result, tax revenues in developing countries continue to fall. Credit: IPS Its ostensible aim is to aid developing countries in enhancing the administrative capacities of tax authorities as well as reducing informal economic activities and corruption, while promoting growth and investment. All well and good, until we get into the details. Tax less First, the Report advocates not only administrative efficiency, but also lower tax rates. Any country that reduces tax rates, or raises the threshold for taxable income, or provides exemptions, gets approval. Second, it exaggerates the tax burden by including, for example, employees' health insurance and pensions and charges for public services like waste collection and infrastructure or environmental levies that the businesses must pay. The IMF's Government Financial Statistics Manual correctly treats these separately from general tax revenues. Third, by favourably viewing countries that lower corporate tax rates (or increase threshold and exemptions) and negatively considering those that introduce new taxes, DB is essentially encouraging tax competition among developing countries. Thus, the Bank is ignoring research at the OECD and IMF which has not found any convincing evidence that lower corporate tax rates or other fiscal concessions have any positive impact on foreign direct investment. Instead, they found net adverse impacts of tax concessions and fiscal incentives on government revenues. According to the research, factors such as the availability and quality of infrastructure and human resources were more important for investment decisions than taxes. The World Bank's Enterprise Surveys also do not find paying taxes to be high on the list of factors that enterprise owners perceive as important barriers to investment. For example, the Enterprise Survey for the Middle East and North Africa found political instability, corruption, unreliable electricity supply, and inadequate access to finance to be important considerations; paying taxes or tax rates were not. Yet, the World Bank has been promoting tax cuts and tax competition as magic bullets to boost investment. Not surprisingly, thanks to its still considerable influence, tax revenues in developing countries are not rising enough, or worse, continue to fall. According to some estimates, between 1990 and 2001, reduction in corporate taxes lowered countries' tax revenue by nearly 20%. Instead of encouraging tax competition, therefore, the World Bank should help developing countries improve tax administration to enhance collection and compliance, and to reduce evasion and avoidance. According to OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria, "developing countries are estimated to lose to tax havens almost three times what they get from developed countries in aid". Global Financial Integrity has estimated that illicit financial flows of potentially taxable resources out of developing countries was US$7.85 trillion during 2004-2013 and US$1.1 trillion in 2013 alone! Conflicts of interest However, the Bank's Paying Taxes and DB reports do little to strengthen developing countries' tax revenues. This should come as no surprise as its partner for the former study is Pricewaterhouse Cooper (PwC), one of the 'Big Four' leading international accounting and consultancy firms. PwC competes with KPMG, Ernst & Young and Deloitte for the lucrative business of helping clients minimize their tax liabilities. PwC assisted its clients in obtaining at least 548 tax rulings in Luxembourg between 2002 and 2010, enabling them to avoid corporate income tax elsewhere. How are developing countries expected to finance their infrastructure investment needs, increase social protection coverage, or repair their damaged environments? Instead of helping, the Bank's most influential report urges them to cut corporate tax rates and social contributions to improve their DB ranking, contrary to what then Bank Chief Economist Kaushik Basu observed: "Raising [tax] allows developing countries to invest in education, health and infrastructure, and, hence, in promoting growth." How are they supposed to achieve the internationally agreed Agenda 2030 for the Sustainable Development Goals in the face of dwindling foreign aid. After all, only a few donor countries have fulfilled their aid commitment of 0.7% of GNI, agreed to almost half a century ago. Since the 2008 financial crisis, overseas development assistance has been hard hit by fiscal austerity cuts in OECD economies except in the UK under Cameron. The Bank would probably recommend public-private partnerships (PPPs) and borrowing from it. Countries starved of their own funds would have to borrow from the Bank, but loans need to be repaid. Governments lacking their own resources are being advised to rely on PPPs, despite predictable welfare outcomes - e.g., reduced equity and access due to higher user fees - and higher government contingent fiscal liabilities due to revenue guarantees and implicit subsidies. Financially starved governments boost Bank lending while PPPs increase the role of its International Finance Corporation (IFC) in promoting private sector business. Realizing the Bank's conflict of interest, many middle-income countries ignore Bank advice and seek to finance their investments and other activities by other means. Thus, there are now growing demands that the Bank stop promoting tax competition, deregulation and the rest of the Washington Consensus agenda. Bank must support SDGs However, nothing guarantees that the Bank will act accordingly. It has already ignored the recommendation of its independent panel to stop its misleading DB country rankings. While giving lip service to the International Labour Organization (ILO) and others who have asked it to stop ranking countries by labour market flexibility, the Bank continues to promote labour market deregulation by other means. If the Bank is serious about being a partner in achieving Agenda 2030, it should align its work accordingly, and support UN leadership on international tax cooperation besides enhancing governments' ability to tax adequately, efficiently, and equitably. In the meantime, the best option for developing countries is to ignore the Bank's DB and Paying Taxes reports. (Anis Chowdhury, a former professor of economics at the University of Western Sydney, held senior United Nations positions during 2008-2015 in New York and Bangkok. Jomo Kwame Sundaram, a former economics professor, was United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, and received the Wassily Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought in 2007). Emerging threat from Myanmar to our apparel trade MEDIA report said quoting international business study report that Myanmar is fast emerging as a formidable garment exporter to global market becoming a challenger to Bangladesh. As per report compiled by Consultancy Firm Kurt Salmon Bangladesh is still preferred as the most attractive destination to European retailers among six Asian nations due to its competence in the supply chain and quality products at competitive cost. But our next-door neighbour Myanmar has long established experience in textile industry and making a comeback again to become a challenge to Bangladesh in near future. It is yet to make lot of efforts to integrate production with supply chain but we must keep in mind that it stands only next to India, Vietnam and Cambodia in the region. The time can never be better than now for Bangladesh manufacturers and exporters to take steps to effectively tackle Myanmar factor. With strong trade-ties with China, Myanmar manufacturers have all the potentials to benefit from Chinese expertise for establishing domestic backward linkages and forward linkages with global market in the near future. Looking at market chain Bangladesh is still the second most attractive destination after Cambodia and it is right time our manufacturers have to stress more to using high-end technology to go for smarter and efficient production; which will also significantly reduce the products' cost. Also, it needs a clear understanding that the 'cheap-labour' factor for Bangladesh will not remain a constant blessing in our labour intensive production system. So our garment industry must try to shift from low cost production of basic items to high value items with widely diversified product base to capture a major share of medium and top-end branded items. In our view production and marketing strategy must be constantly reviewed for adaptation with changing time. Need of the hour is to closely monitor our competitors to remain competitive. It is more important for us when 85 percent of Bangladesh exports earning come from garment exports and producers are working on expansion plan of the industry to raise export earning to US$ 50 billion within few years. True, that Bangladesh has big market share in Europe and North America, but then again the country strategy must be to remain low cost suppliers with higher rate productivity. We can't forget that China is abandoning the garment industry for higher cost of labour that makes it uncompetitive in global market. Given China's ever increasing high-costs in production our manufacturers will have to tactfully and strategically take the market in our favour and that needs strategic policies to deal with newly emerging competitors like Myanmar and the rest. Public health facing risk from fake drugs THE High Court recently asked the government to stop producing and marketing of antibiotic, penicillin and hormone drugs of 28 pharmaceutical companies with immediate effect. Furthermore, the court also issued a rule asking the concerned authorities of the government to explain why the earlier HC ban on production and marketing of those drugs has not been executed. The High Court order came disposing a writ from a human rights body seeking the court's intervention to stop production and marketing of such drugs in public interest. Producing and marketing of substandard drugs is not anything new in Bangladesh, despite a number of court rulings we have witnessed in the past that went unheeded. Barely ten months ago the Health and Family Welfare Ministry had decided to cancel license of 20 pharmaceutical companies for producing sub-standard and fake drugs. But they didn't stop their operation rendering the HC ruling almost ineffective. We have our markets flooded with substandard and counterfeit medicines. Substandard products arise from poor quality control using poor manufacturing practices while counterfeit products are the 'products' of criminals. Considering the vast scale of global pharmaceutical industry and the incidence of potentially fatal diseases -- any amount of poor-quality medicine is unacceptable since it increases morbidity and also mortality. That said, we fail to comprehend why the Ministry of Health, besides other concerned authorities, is repeatedly failing to address this prevailing dilemma. According to a report last year, many companies have repeatedly and grossly failed to ensure good manufacturing practices (GMP) in Bangladesh, and yet continue producing substandard medicines. We don't know how they managed to run, but one thing is clear that medicine quality assurance and regulatory authorities are not fairly functioning. It can't be said that the government is not serious in battling the menace of poor and counterfeit medicines, but the question is again why it can't prevent the criminal practice so detrimental to public health. We suggest that regulatory bodies must address their limitations in this regard. We believe, banning of innumerable drug manufacturing companies will not solve the problem overnight, what we clearly need is to chalk-out effective policy outlines and strengthen the institutional capacity to implement the policies so that companies will not shut the doors but overcome shortcomings. Producing quality medicine is a highly critical issue. Companies must comprehend gambling with public health. It is a serious offence that they must avoid and be punished if they continue to do so. In our view the Directorate of Health Service and Drug Administration must take effective steps for the people to get right medicines. Man held over threat to blow up Australian HC CTTC unit of DMP arrested a man who was allegedly involved for threatening to blow up Australian High Commission in Dhaka. This photo was taken from DB office on Friday. Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit has arrested a man from Banasree area in the city for threatening to blow up the Australian High Commission in Dhaka. Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Masudur Rahman said a CTTC team arrested Tausif Hosen Shimanto, a freelance photojournalist, around 5pm on Thursday. In an email sent to the Australian High Commission on April 25, Tausif demanded Tk 5 lakh, threatening to blow up the mission with bomb if his demand went unheeded, he said. He also sent a similar message to Jaago Foundation the following day. Faulty designs, inexperienced drivers behind launch mishaps M M Jasim : Faulty design, construction and inexperienced drivers of launches are some major reasons for the accidents these water vessels faced. The people travelling through the waterways allege launch owners often modify the original design and get approval from the Shipping Ministry. Such a malpractice goes on unabated because of a nexus between some launch owners and the officials at the Ministry, they added. The most alarming aspect of this is that many of the launch owners get approvals for 1-storey vehicles, but build 3/4-storey launches, instead, which put thousands of passengers at risk of fatal accident every year. At least 4,440 people died, 550 injured and 420 remained missing in more than 550 passenger launch accidents that took place in the last 39 years, according to the Ministry and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). In the latest launch capsize in the River Meghna in Narayanganj on March 30, 11 people were killed and several others missing. The accidents in the last decade cost around 1,960 lives, while 176 persons went missing. Official data show five accidents in 1977 claimed 29 lives. A total of 127 lives were lost in 41 launch accidents in 2001, the highest causalities in a single year. In 2003 and 1986, the number of such accidents increased. As many as 464 people died in 31 accidents in 2003 while 426 people died in only 11 launch accidents. Experts pointed out that many of these accidents occurred either because the launches were unfit or overloaded, which collided with other vessels or structures. Although hundreds of committees were formed to probe the accidents, nobody was reported till date to have been punished. Between January 2002 and July 2013, only five to seven probe reports were made public following some major river mishaps. Almost all the recommendations made by those committees towards putting an end to such loss of lives remain unimplemented. Mir Tareque Ali, a Professor of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), said, "In order to avoid the design fee and the supervision fee, the launch owners put their own water crafts as well as the lives of thousands of innocent passengers in jeopardy. In many instances, the launch owners simply ignore or disregard the safety of the passenger vessel by making illegal and dangerous modifications like changing the length or breadth or height without any prior consultation with a qualified naval architect." "Checking the design and plan of an inland vessel is a very special type of job and only a person from naval architecture background is entitled to do this type of special task. Unfortunately, most of the personnel engaged in the design checking process are not naval architects. Consequently, flawless design of inland passenger vessels can never be achieved if this practice continues," Professor Tareque Ali said. General Secretary of Safe Waterway Implementation Movement Aminur Rasul Babul said due to the negligence of the Shipping Ministry the owners start their launches with faulty design and then they carry the launches overloaded. As a result, accidents continue to recur in the waterways. He also said, "The reports of 863 probe committees, formed to investigate 535 accidents, were not made public. At the same time, the recommendations of the committees were never implemented by the government." "In many cases, the investigations focused on wrong issues instead of the main reasons behind the accidents. Many probe bodies were more concerned about finding out a 'culprit' and paid no heed to identifying in measures to prevent such accidents," Babul said. Most cases, the passenger launches carry insufficient lifebuoys and no life jackets at all, thus leading to a higher death toll following a mishap. The Department of Shipping, which regulates waterways transport, had also failed to check and monitor the plying of unfit and overloaded vessels due to a lack in manpower. Acknowledging the shortage, Chief Engineer and Ship Surveyor of the Department of Shipping, Md Fakhrul Islam said that the staff crisis is indeed crippling the department's monitoring work. At present, only four surveyors were posted to verify fitness of the vessels registered by the department. Protesters storm parliament, attack lawmakers Opposition leader of Macedonia Zoran Zaev (centre) after being attacked in parliament. The Guardian : Around 200 demonstrators, many wearing masks, broke through a police cordon and entered Macedonia's parliament, attacking MPs in protest at the election of a new speaker despite a months-long deadlock in talks to form a new government. The protesters stormed parliament on Thursday night after the country's opposition Social Democrat party and others representing Macedonia's Albanian ethnic minority voted for a new speaker. Shouting and throwing chairs, the protesters attacked MPs, including the opposition leader, Zoran Zaev. Television footage showed Zaev bleeding from the forehead and other Social Democrat MPs surrounded by protesters waving national flags, shouting "traitors" and refusing to allow them to leave. Broken glass littered the floor and traces of blood were seen in hallways. Police later fired flash grenades in an attempt to disperse protesters outside the parliament and clear the way for the evacuation of politicians still in the building. In a televised address, the country's president, Gjorge Ivanov, called for calm and said he had summoned the leaders of the country's main political parties for a meeting on Friday. Ivanov said the constitution had been been violated and appealed "for reasonable and responsible behaviour". Macedonia has been without a government since last December, when former prime minister Nikola Gruevski's conservative party won elections, but without enough votes to form an administration. Coalition talks broke down over ethnic Albanian demands that Albanian be recognised as an official second language in a country where a quarter of the population is ethnic Albanian. Zaev has been seeking a mandate to form a government for months, after reaching an agreement with an ethnic Albanian party, the Democratic Union for Integration, to form a coalition. However, Ivanov refused to hand him the mandate. The assembly of the republic of Macedonia, as the Balkan nation's parliament is known, has been deadlocked for three weeks over the election of a new speaker. Zaev had suggested earlier on Thursday that one could be elected outside normal procedures, an idea immediately rejected by the conservative party as an attempted coup. Zaev went ahead with the vote, and a majority in parliament elected Talat Xhaferi, a former defence minister and member of the Democratic Union for Integration. Police said about 10 officers were injured during the melee and reinforcements were sent to assist those inside the parliament building. The protesters who stormed parliament were among a group of demonstrators who have been holding rallies nightly for the past two months in the streets of Skopje and other cities. Many are supporters of Gruevski. EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called for "calm and restraint" "The acts of violence in the Parliament are wholly unacceptable," Mogherini said in a statement. The European Union enlargement commissioner, Johannes Hahn, condemned the violence, saying in a tweet: "Violence has NO place in parliament. Democracy must run its course." Sweden's ambassador to Macedonia, Mats Staffansson, speaking on behalf of other European diplomats, reminded the country's politicians of the need for dialogue and said: "It is the responsibility of the police of this country to make sure that this kind of violence does not happen." Serve people with more humane attitude Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday urged judges and lawyers to serve people with a more humane attitude to reduce their sufferings. "Come forward with the mindset of serving people. It's not possible to reduce the sufferings of those people seeking justice by merely enacting laws and enhancing infrastructural facilities," she said. The Prime Minister said this while addressing a function marking the National Legal Aid Day at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. She also reiterated that the three organs of the State-legislature, judiciary and executive-will have to work with an understanding for successfully running the state and urged all concerned to remain alert in this regard. "A state could never be run properly if one of these (organs) accuses others...everyone should remain alert about it," Sheikh Hasina said. She said, every branch has its own power as the legislative branch frames laws, the judiciary implements those laws and the executive branch ensures the enforcement of those laws. "So, no one of the three state organs could move alone as all of those need to move ahead maintaining understanding. I'll only say no one should forget this that the state should have to be run properly taking all together." The National Legal Aid Day is being observed on Friday across the country aiming to make people aware of the legal assistance provided by the government to the poor, insolvent, and destitute justice seekers. Chaired by Law Minister Anisul Huq, the function was addressed, among others, by Law and Justice Division Secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque. Director of the National Legal Aid Services Organisation M Mostafizur Rahman delivered the address of welcome. A presentation on the successes and achievements of the National Legal Aid Services Organisation was screened on the occasion. The Prime Minister also digitally inaugurated a documentary drama written, directed and acted by Law and Justice Division secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque on the legal aid services. The Prime Minister said, her government has been working to establish an independent, neutral and modern judiciary system hoping that such legal aid services would help to reduce the discriminations. Recalling the experiences of her and her Father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in jail, the Prime Minister said that based on such experiences and taking information during the jail period, her government had introduced the legal aid services and the poor, hapless and distressed people are now getting its benefits. Sheikh Hasina said during her term during 1996-2001, her government had enacted the National Legal Aid Services Act, 2000 but the subsequent BNP-Jamaat government stopped providing such services through Legal Aid. The Prime Minister said over the last eight years from 2009 to March 2017, legal aid services have been provided to some 2,31,626 people, including 1, 66,339 female and children with the government fund. Some 46,546 cases have been dissolved under the government legal aid programme during the period. Sheikh Hasina said her government gave permanent shape to the separation of Judiciary through enacting the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2009. The Prime Minister said special committees were formed at courts in remote areas of the country as well as at labour courts to provide legal assistance. Besides, the government legal aid service is also being provided in the Supreme Court through formulating Bangladesh Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee. Terrorism is not conflict of ideologies within Islam The short-lived visit to Bangladesh by former British Prime Minister David Cameron showed the glimpses how the British leader thinks about the challenges for global leadership that need to be fairly addressed to fight terrorism and bring prosperity to the world and particularly in countries facing civil wars and chaos. He has identified the three major challenges for world leaders such as how to ensure functional quality of democracy, access to justice to common people and a corruption-free administration. These are the major crisis destabilizing many countries to fight within the community facing injustice and discrimination. His observations based on his long experience as a successful British Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016 bears significance. Britain witnessed historic changes during this period. He resigned after the referendum he held in June last year when British people decided to leave European Union by a majority of 52 percent votes against 48 percent to remain. As he was in favour of remaining with the Union he resigned accepting the verdict of the British people, which was no doubt an historic decision to let the will of the people to reign supreme. Speaking before the audience in Dhaka he was forthright in saying that Islam is not to be blamed for terrorism. His analysis is that Islamic extremists are fighting an ideological war within Islam. He denied there is a clash of civilisations. In his view Islam is facing a clash of ideologies within itself. He said the World leaders must fight terrorism together which is found now almost everywhere. We agree with Mr David Cameron that surely it is not a clash of civilizations. But we can't agree at the same time as he said terrorism is a clash of ideologies within Islam. In fact the fight that we see in Iraq or Syria or elsewhere is not an ideological fight within Islam but a fight of anger and frustration resulted from various wars in the Middle East and Afganishtan when serious brutalities were committed against Muslim men, women and children. We want this point should be seriously weighed by David Cameron and Western leaders if they realty mean to defeat Muslim terrorism. They must understand the real cause. ISIS in running their terrorist attacks are using easy access to oil money but the powerful state parties are equally cruel and using all brutalities against rivals and even killing innocent people using chemical weapons. ISIS and others extremists have ideology of killing innocent Muslims, Christans and this indiscriminate killing is not based on Islamic ideology. Muslims in general don't accept them as Muslims; they are radicalized and dangerous people targeting anybody and every body. It has no connection with protection of faith or Islamic ideology whatsoever. We agree with Mr Cameron that terrorism must be decisively fought everywhere but what is important is that such fight in no way should undermine democracy and rule of law. It can't diminish access to justice in a society, which must protect human rights and people's liberty. David Cameron did not answer part of the question directly that fights against terrorism is also being exploited in some countries to building autocracy by defeating democracy. He gave his answer with all emphasis for protecting democracy. Our aims must be clear and simple: Terrorism must be defeated but not democracy. Autocracy is also terrorism. Instead of private terrorism we do not want to see the success of state terrorism. 3 militants belonging to Neo JMB Tamim Group held : RAB Three alleged Neo-JMB militants of Sarwar-Tamim group arrested from Savar by RAB-4 team on Thursday. UNB, Dhaka : The three suspected militants, arrested from Savar on the outskirts of the capital on Thursday, were active members of Neo JMB's Sarwar-Tamim Group, claimed Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Friday. Rab Director (Media) Mufti Mahmood Khan made the claim at a press briefing at the elite force's Karwan Bazar media centre in the city. He said the arrested militants had planned to carry out subversive activities in various places, including the city. On secret information, a special team of RAB-4 arrested Tamim Dari alias Abdullah Al Hasan alias Al Jafri alias Amir Hamza, 32, Quamrul Hasan alias Kajal alias Nuruddin, 26, and Mostafa Majumder alias Shihab alias Hamza, 32, from a Gabtali-bound bus at Jhitka of Rajfulbaria around 10pm on Thursday, said Mufti Mahmood. The elite force team also recovered one foreign pistol, five bullets, two magazines, 1.150 kg plastic explosive and improvised explosive device (IED)-making materials from their possession. The RAB media wing chief said Tamim Dari is a converted Muslim with his previous Hindu name being Gouranga Kumar Mondal. He converted to Islam in 2003 when he was pursuing higher secondary education. He got admitted to Chittagong Marine Academy in 2006 and on completion of his degree there, he served different ships, including 'Banglar Kakoli', from 2010 to 2014, Mufti Mahmood said, adding that Tamim got involved with Neo JMB in August last. Sumaiya speaks about her `abduction` bdnews24.com : Five-year-old Sumaiya's reunion with her parents led to an emotional scene at the DMP's media centre on Thursday. After handing over the child to its parents, even the police personnel were unable to suppress their emotions before the child's family. Police rescued the child from a house at Dhaka's Jurain neighbourhood in the wee hours of Wednesday. Five persons, including a woman Sabina Akhter Brishti, were detained from the scene for their suspected involvement in the "abduction of the child" on April 3. Sumaiya's parents arrived at the Media Centre of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police at 11am on Thursday where the mother Munni Begum showered the child with hugs and kisses. The crying child told her mother: "I have cried a lot for you. But Brishti hit me." Brishti, who was once a neighbour of the family and is the main suspect in the incident, is currently in police custody. Her father Siraj Mia and three others are also under interrogation, said Kamrangirchar police OC Md Shahin Fakir. At the media briefing, Sumaiya described the manner in which she was kidnapped on April 3. "Brishti used to visit us. She often tried taking me to her house. That day she came to our house. Mother was inside, then she took me out on the street holding my hand." In reply to a reporter's query, she said: "I wanted to scream but she pressed me inside a rickshaw." "Keeping me captive, she tried several times to make me address her as 'maa'," claimed the child. Brishti was not permitted to speak at the media session. Sumaiya's father Zakir Hossain could not explain why Brishti had kidnapped his daughter. "I saw Brishti only once but never spoke to her," he said. Sumaiya's mother Munni Begum said, "Brishti came to our place in the afternoon on that day. She said she wanted to meet the landlord. She was sitting in my balcony. After a while I saw she was not there and neither was Sumaiya." As per the general diary filed by Zakir, Sumaiya went missing from a road in front of her house in Kamrangirchar's Borogram around 5pm on April 3. Zakir, a garment worker, filed the GD the same day and lodged an abduction case at Kamrangirchar Police Station on Monday. Video footage from near Sumaiya's house showed a woman wearing a black burqa walking away with the girl. "The motive behind the kidnap is not clear yet. Brishti has visited India a couple of times. We are seeing if she is engaged in human trafficking," said Deputy Commissioner of Lalbagh Police Mohammad Ibrahim. BD, India to work to promote tourism UNB, Dhaka : Bangladesh wants to promote the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove and a Unesco world heritage site, working together with India and promote cross-border tourism keeping the environment unhurt. "We're willing to work to further promote this Unesco heritage site. Bangladesh and India can work together in this regard," a senior government official told UNB. He said there is scope to boost tourism both on Bangladesh and Indian sides by working together. "There're two types of beauty in the Sundarbans on Bangladesh and Indian sides. Tourists can see both sides' beauty though journeys through the Sundarbans," Director of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) Taufiq Rahman told UNB. Huge cigarettes seized at HSIA BSS, Dhaka : Armed Police Battalion (APBN) in two drives seized 265 cartons of illegal foreign cigarettes worth about Taka 4.77 lakh from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the city last night. "We arrested one Rokonuzzaman, arrived at the airport from Malaysia, and recovered 42 cartons illegal foreign cigarettes from his possession after searching his luggage," said senior officer of APBN Md Ziaul Haque. In another drive, they held another Abdullah Al Mamun, who flew from Air Arabia, with 217 cartons illegal cigarettes, he said. The estimated value of the seized cigarettes was Taka 4.77 lakh which were handed over to the customs authority. Rusty (left) and Troy Cloutier MidSouth Bank founder-President Rusty Cloutier and his son, Troy, who was promoted to CEO of the bank last November as part of a succession plan, have been fired in an abrupt move that has been the talk of the Lafayette banking community. MidSouth issued a press release mid-morning Thursday announcing the ousters: This decision by the Board of Directors is part of a transition plan already underway to improve the performance of the Company. Jim McLemore has been appointed President and CEO on an interim basis for both the holding company and bank. Mr. McLemore has over 30 years of banking industry experience, including 8 years with MidSouth as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. McLemore will also retain his position as Chief Financial Officer during the interim period. These leadership changes are effective immediately. Jake Delhomme, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. stated, The Board of Directors is fully supportive of Mr. McLemore in his immediate endeavors as President and CEO. The release goes on to announce the recent hires of Erin DeWitt as chief risk officer, a position she held at Scottrade Financial Services, and Kade Peterson, a former executive at USAmeriBank, as chief information officer. Founded in 1985, MidSouth is headquartered in Lafayette and has assets of $1.9 billion as of March 31, 2017. The bank has 57 branches in Louisiana and Texas. Candyce Perret Photo by Robin May Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Piper Griffin did an about-face at Wednesdays hearing involving The Independent's public records lawsuit against CDC Clerk Dale Atkins. Last week Griffin said in near certain terms that she would likely open up at least portions of the three lawsuits filed in 2004, 2005 and 2006 against Third Circuit Court of Appeal candidate Candyce Perret by her ex-fiance, John Houghtaling II of the Gauthier Houghtaling law firm in New Orleans. Griffin asked Perrets and Houghtalings attorneys to redact portions of the three suits and justify those black outs in a redaction log that was due to our attorney, Gary McGoffin, by Monday at 3 p.m. so that she could review them before Wednesday's 9 a.m. hearing. She said in certain terms she would rule Wednesday. Read more in this editorial, "Candyce Perret's very troubling candidacy," published ahead of the primary. Perret and her ex were allowed last week to intervene in our public records suit against the clerk of court, and filed last-minute exceptions to our petition on the eve of this week's hearing. Attorney James Williams Both Perrets and Houghtalings attorneys defied the judges instructions to create the logs and turn them over to The IND at 3 p.m. Monday, and also missed the same deadline to file exceptions to our suit. Prominent, well-connected New Orleans attorney James Williams, who said last week he represented Houghtaling, appeared this week for both Perret and Houghtaling, his former law partner. Judge Piper Griffin By Wednesday morning Griffin had done a 180. In a surprise move (well, it was a surprise to us), said she was wrong last week. I think I indicated that the intervenors do something improper, she said. Its worth nothing that the intervenors defiance of her instructions to them last week was never even addressed in court Wednesday. Griffin then said she realized over the weekend Sunday night, she thinks it was that her court does not have jurisdiction to reverse a prior court judgment (i.e., sealing the records in each of the three cases) and denied The INDs mandamus petition. We respectfully disagree. The IND gave notice of its intent to seek a supervisory writ to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, but that wont come in time for voters to have knowledge of whats in those cases before going to the polls Saturday to decide whether Perret or Susan Theall, who has faced criticism for what appears to be campaign finance violations, should represent them on the Third Circuit Court of Appeal. Voters still know so little about Perret, who has refused to appear alongside Theall since a mid-April grilling by audience members at a Louisiana Citizens Action Network forum. At the request of members, Lafayette Bar Association President Missy Theriot reached out to the Perret campaign to set up of a forum so that the candidates' peers could learn more about them. Theriot says she offered breakfast, lunch or afternoon options, knowing the candidates' schedules would be busy. "[Perret's] response was that with only two weeks [before the election] she had too many commitments. We stopped there," Theriot says, explaining the association, which has remained neutral in the race, did not reach out to Theall because members wanted to hear from both candidates. "We did try to provide that service to our members," Theriot says. Perret also skipped a bar forum in the primary. It's unfortunate that voters still don't know enough about Perret's background. Perret's ex-fiance's law firm donated $5,000 to her campaign the same day John Houghtaling got a favorable ruling from an Orleans Parish judge. But they do have an idea of what she's trying to hide in those lawsuits. By some sort of glitch in the clerks system, the 2005 suit was obtained online and sent to The IND by a source before this battle to unseal the records was undertaken. Whats contained in that suit alone Houghtaling asked the court for a restraining order, alleging in a sworn, verified petition that Perret stalked, threatened and intimated him and his new girlfriend brings into question Candyce Perret's suitability and temperament for the Third Circuit Court of Appeal, and because of Griffins unexpected about-face Wednesday, voters will just have to wonder whether whats in the 2004 and 2006 suits is even more disturbing. John Houghtaling II We can assume Perret breathed a sigh of relief after this week's hearing, and it seems Houghtaling was rather pleased with attorney Williams' performance as well, as Gauthier Houghtaling donated $5,000 to the Perret campaign Wednesday. The Louisiana House overwhelmingly has agreed that public school students should be able to carry sunblock without a doctor's permission or their school's blessing. Wikimedia A prescription for sunscreen? The Louisiana House overwhelmingly agreed Thursday that public school students should be able to carry sunblock without a doctor's permission or their school's blessing. Lawmakers voted 99-1 to spell out in state law that a student "may possess and self-apply sunscreen" at school, on a school bus or at a school function. The proposal heads next to the Senate for debate. Ville Platte Rep. Bernard LeBas, a Democrat, said he sponsored the bill as a cancer-fighting measure and to address allowances for sunscreen use that vary from school district to district. Rep. Patricia Smith, a Baton Rouge Democrat, voted against the measure after unsuccessfully trying to require students in kindergarten through the fifth grade to have a school employee apply the sunscreen. "For younger children, I think there ought to be some protections for them," Smith said. Rep. Barry Ivey, a Baton Rouge Republican, asked her: "It's sunscreen. Has anybody (overdosed) on sunscreen?" Lawmakers rejected Smith's changes in a 67-25 vote . Three weeks into the 60-day window for the session, the House Appropriations Committee appears ready to begin getting down to its primary task of approving a budget for state government. (Editor's Note: this story was updated on Friday afternoon to include comments by Democratic Caucus head Rep. Gene Reynolds.) It took until the fourth week of the 60-day fiscal-only session, but the House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to take up formal consideration of HB1, the state budget, when it convenes at 9 a.m. on Monday. Rep. Lance Harris of Alexandria, leader of the Republican Caucus, tells The Independent in a phone interview Friday morning that his intent is to get HB1 to a vote on the floor of the House on Thursday of next week. Rep. Lance Harris Harris says the Appropriations Committee will take up Gov. John Bel Edwards' executive budget Monday but that subcommittees of the full committee will have a series of amendments to the budget that will fundamentally rework it. "We're actually well ahead of where we've been in the process compared to other years," Harris says. "What's different about this year's process is that we had subcommittees of four or five members of Appropriations take separate parts of the budget and really drill down into the budgets of departments and programs to a level of detail that has not been possible when we had the full committee reviewing the budget," Harris explains. Harris says Appropriations will work with the revenue base developed by the Legislature's chief economist, Greg Albrecht. He confirms speculation that the aim of the Republican leadership is to avoid midyear budget cuts, thus the target for the budget will be based on 97.4 percent of Albrecht's revenue estimate. Albrecht tells The Independent the number he recommended to the committee for General Fund revenue (the money that the requires government appropriation to be generated) is $9.469 billion. The rest of the money included in the overall budget includes federal revenue, and income generated by fees. "My number is a little higher than the administration's number because I think corporate income and franchise tax revenue will come in a little higher than they did," Albrecht says. Rep. Cameron Henry House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry of Metairie also thinks his committee can clear HB1 on Monday and get it to a debate and vote on the floor of the House by Thursday. "That will give the Senate a full three weeks to consider and debate the budget," Henry tells The IND. The budget prepared by Henry's committee in 2016 was heavily reworked on the floor of the House and then later by the Senate. He says that the budget is an iterative process, that he expects changes to occur at each step of the way. "It will change in our committee, then there will likely be changes made on the House floor," Henry says. "Then the Senate will get it and it will go through changes there. If necessary, it'll end up in a conference committee where it will change again." Henry says the approach to this year's budget began with one certainty that the Revenue Estimating Conference revenue forecast would not be accurate. "We know that it's been off by as much as 5 percent in previous years," Henry says. "I think it's irresponsible to base a budget on a number that we know is not accurate." He says that by basing revenue numbers on 97.4 percent of the REC numbers, the state can avoid the midyear budget cuts that have wreaked havoc in state programs over the past nine years. "If you work from that 97.4 or 97.5 percent number, it provides a cushion of about $250 million dollars that we think is in the margin of error in the REC numbers," Henry says. "That means we could eliminate the need for midyear cuts, which is what we're after." Harris says an additional benefit is that basing the budget on a percentage of the revenue forecast also reduces the size of the so-called fiscal cliff the state faces in 2018 when temporary taxes passed in 2016 to limit some of the carnage of the fiscal mess left in the wake of the Jindal administration expire. "Taking this approach actually positions us to have a budget this coming year that is about $240 million to the good instead of having a $400 million hole," Harris explains. "We think it also reduces the size of the cliff from $1.4 billion to about $700 million. It's big, but it's more manageable." The devil of the budget is in the details. Democrats and the governor's office have been pressing Republican leaders for details on what will be cut and what will be funded. None have been forthcoming. Rep. Gene Reynolds of Minden spoke with The Independent on Friday afternoon. Reynolds, who heads the 41-member House Democratic Caucus says Speaker Taylor Barras and Rep. Henry spoke about the budget framework in their meeting with the Caucus on Thursday, but details as to what would be cut were missing. "We understand that there will be cuts, but we need specifics, and those have been difficult to get," Reynolds says. "We have no clue as to what they're going to cut, where or how much." Reynolds says he's not sure how much of the details of the budget have been shared outside the Republican leadership and the Appropriations Committee members. That will change on Monday when Henry's Appropriations Committee convenes. "The truth is that we are only 41 members," Reynolds concedes, referring to his caucus. "The Republican majority is going to do what they want to do and they are going to own whatever it is that they do." Budgets only require simple majorities to pass. Republicans hold a 64-41 advantage over Democrats in the House. They do not need any Democratic votes in order to pass HB1. The larger challenge will likely come from the Senate where lawmakers there are less ideological and more amenable to doing business with the Edwards administration. Considering the difference in the makeup and outlook of the two chambers, there is a strong likelihood that the budget will only be resolved in a conference committee made up of an equal number of members of the House and Senate. The product of the conference committee would then have to be approved by each chamber. The session will end no later than 6 p.m. on June 8. Illustration by Georgia Gates IND Media urges Lafayette Parish residents to vote "yes" on the half-cent sales tax proposition on Saturday's ballot and to support the three property tax renewals. Public schools reflect and shape the values of the communities they serve. The condition of many Lafayette Parish public schools should be an embarrassment to us all. We have schools that were built decades ago to accommodate far fewer students than are now enrolled there. Through years of short-sighted neglect, we have allowed temporary buildings to become near-permanent solutions to classroom overcrowding. These metal buildings are not environments conducive to learning. They scatter the student body across campuses and raise safety and security concerns due to their condition, number and accessibility. We commend Superintendent Donald Aguillard and the board for the manner in which they have conducted school system business. There is none of the acrimony that came to characterize previous board/superintendent relationships, and that has allowed the system to respond more effectively to community needs and concerns. The new Southside High School under construction in Youngsville is a prime example of the kind of work that has resulted from the good partnership between the superintendent and the board. The new building on the Alleman Middle School campus is another example. They have accomplished this work in tough times. We believe the capital plan to which the superintendent and the board have presented and committed to carry out can bring similar benefits to communities across the parish. We take their word that this is their plan. We believe they have earned our trust through the way they have conducted their affairs. Public education is central to the success of the American experiment. It plays a central role in preserving our democratic republic that relies on an educated and informed public in order to flourish. There are many fine private schools in Lafayette Parish, but public education is the tide upon which all boats rise or fall. No community can truly prosper and succeed if only a small portion of it does well. The key to successful communities is to provide avenues for advancement for all, to give every talent the opportunity to be discovered and developed. Public education has as its mission, duty and responsibility the democratization knowledge; to provide that access to knowledge and development to everyone, regardless of who they are or the circumstances of their parents. It has been and remains the cornerstone of our community's success. Lafayette's future is bright. We seek to compete with the world, not just our neighbor communities. While we cannot predict who our future business, community, spiritual or technology leaders will be, we have faith that they will arrive when we need them. The best way to ensure that they are there in our time of need is to invest in those institutions that we know provide the climate and resources to allow the development of the skills every successful community needs. We believe investing in the Lafayette Public School System now is the smartest investment Lafayette voters can make in themselves in this decade. The half cent sales tax is 100 percent dedicated and will allow for the construction of 248 permanent classrooms. It has a 10-year sunset provision. Please vote "yes" on the school board tax on Saturday. **PROPERTY TAX RENEWALS **There are also three property tax renewals on the ballot, and we urge your support of them as well. The taxes will not cost parish residents any extra money, and the funds generated from these taxes are all dedicated toward vital services, including the basic upkeep of our public jail and courthouse, and, for city voters, city buildings. Our economy is in a downturn because of low oil prices, and local government is struggling to maintain basic services. These propositions do not amount to a heavy burden for individual taxpayers but are critical for our government. Were the tax renewals to fail, the effect on the city-parish budget would be devastating. Voters across Lafayette Parish are being asked to renew a 2.06 millage to repair and maintain the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center; this millage is the jails only source of income for repairs. The other parishwide renewal is a 2.34-mill property tax to maintain the seven-story parish courthouse, which was built in 1965. The third is only for city of Lafayette voters, who are being asked to renew a 1.13-mill property that supports the maintenance and operation of an estimated 130 public buildings, including all city fire and police stations. Again, your "yes" vote is urgently needed. Called a total loss after a tragic fire, uncertainty about the historic club's future is an encouraging development. Photo by Robin May It looked like the Church of Zydeco lost one of its cathedrals to a mysterious fire earlier this week. Miller's Zydeco Hall of Fame owner Dustin Miller, 29, has walked back an earlier statement to The Daily Advertiser that he would not reopen the Lawtell club, saying the magnitude of that decision has begun to weigh on him. He bought the club to continue a tradition he grew up in, one that hed be reluctant to see die in his St. Landry Parish hometown. You didnt grow up in this town without going there. Ive been going there since I was young, even before I was supposed to be in there, Miller laughs. For now, hes willing to allow that the future is uncertain, as regards the clubs possible resurrection. A nurse practitioner and a state representative elected in 2015, Miller credits the club with his personal success, counting his time operating the club as critical to his political and personal success. Miller renamed the club "Millers Zydeco Hall of Fame, but zydeco acolytes knew the Lawtell dance hall as zydecos Grand Ol Opry. Those who drove by on Highway 190 on Tuesday and Wednesday, gawking at an ashen lump, invoked its original name in passerby mourning: Oh God, Richards has burned to the ground. The charred hardwood of the 70-year-old dance hall marks a tragic blow to the waning but still-active tradition of countryside creole dance halls in Southwest Louisiana. St. Landry Parish fire officials say the blaze began some time Tuesday evening in the 11 oclock hour, not long after a local band finished a rehearsal around 10. Firefighters returned Wednesday to tackle a re-sparked attic fire, fueled by oxygenating headwinds. The building was built with good, old sturdy wood, says dance hall researcher John Sharp, who visited the site Wednesday. Once a little bit of it caught fire, thats a lot of fuel. Now, its a gutted, big black hole. The building is said to be a total loss either from direct char or heat damage. Richard's in its heyday; its marquee promoting Boozoo Chavis Image courtesy of Johnnie Allan, the Center for Louisiana Studies, UL Lafayette Opened in 1947, Richards was a hot landing spot for zydeco luminaries like Boozoo Chavis, Clifton Chenier and Terrance Simien. Zydeco pioneer John Delafose, who graced the stage countless times, died of a heart attack shortly after a performance there in 1994. Richards also occupied a must-stop address on the famed Chitlin Circuit. Both B.B. King and John Lee Hooker played the club in years past, adding an expanded legacy to the zydeco pantheon most associated with the club. Folks around Lawtell have lost a still-functioning community center. Miller says the club saw its fair share of birthdays, graduations and weddings. Theres some talk of arson, sparked by the reported discovery of flammable material said to be sniffed out by a service dog. Miller maintains that he doesnt buy that it was arson, instead suggesting that the dogs nose may have been tripped up by booze-soaked floors. He adds that the fire marshal is still investigating. Perhaps only a few other clubs, according to Sharp, can claim the sacred air boasted by Richards The Offshore Lounge (nee the Gin Side Inn) in Lawtell, Dauphines in Parks, Slims Y-Ki-Ki in Opelousas and Hamiltons in Lafayette, all of which are closed. Richards is/was the last of that vintage of country creole dance halls. Venues like Richards provided more than a platform for zydeco, according to Sharp; they operated as de facto marketplaces for all kinds of social and commercial activity. Some included horse tracks or ice cream parlors, others sold liquor by the bottle. Richards continued its own community center legacy into its latter years, opening on an infrequent basis for the stray zydeco show Keith Frank wasnt a stranger or community event. Sharp says contemporary stars returned to Richard's to partake of tradition, and bask in the hallowed glory of a sweat-packed Saturday show. If there was one place that was the history of zydeco in a handful, Sharp says, it was that place. We support the Lafayette School Board sales tax Public schools reflect community values. Lafayettes failure to invest in our public schools is embarrassing. 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. Hurricane Update: Fears arise that Gov. Ron DeSantis may reroute Hurricane Ian from Florida coast to Martha's Vineyard Study: People who define themselves by what they stand against, are usually afraid to tell people what they stand for Liz Cheney: Voters need to ask themselves, why they are so out of touch with their politicians White House: IRS toy guns for children are now politically correct, mandatory BREAKING: Biden's economic sanctions on the U.S. to be partially lifted prior to November election GOP's new slogan for midterms: Make Dissent Patriotic Again PSA: Due to high gas prices police departments will now be responding and making arrests via Zoom. NYT: Roe vs Wade to be renamed the "Don't Say Fetus" law Democrats insist on carrying unwanted presidency to term Elon Musk went to bed thinking he owns Twitter. Then the mail-in ballots arrived at 2am... Obama: "If you like your information you can keep your information" Fact checkers reveal Biden handler not a real Easter bunny Biden 2021: you'll save $0.16 on 4th of July BBQ! Biden 2022: you'll save a ton of $$ if you don't eat this 4th of July! Disney to buy Epstein Island for new theme park The Biology Underground is like the Weather Underground, except they are real biologists and they've had to go underground "Psssst. Hey you, kid. Ya wanna watch a Disney movie with me?" "I am not suicidal," says COVID-19 after being contracted by Hillary Clinton Trans-swimmer Lia Thomas's trophy is smaller than for male swimmers, and only 73% gold Sources: U.S. now considers majority of U.S. citizens a threat to U.S. BREAKING: Russian General claims he was beaten up outside Ukrainian bio lab by two Nazis who poured vodka and caviar over him and yelled "This is NATO Country!" Global warming news: 100,000 Russian migrants fleeing climate change about to march into Ukraine Future headline: Donald Trump to buy CNN for one dollar Georgia Governor Stacy Abrams feels honored to be the new Supreme Court justice President Biden: 'Vote for me or I'll shoot this foot' Fact checkers give Pinocchio's speech four Bidens Fauci: The only thing we have to fear, is a lack of fear itself! Study: Most people have had sex more violent than January 6th Facebook permanently bans Facebook from Facebook for violating Facebook community standards New remake of the 1950's horror movie Them to be titled Them/They Teachers Union: Idea that CRT is being taught in K-12 just a conspiracy theory by white supremacists trying to maintain their systemically racist police state Xze/She/He who controls the past controls the future; Xze/She/He who controls the present controls the past S ocialists vow to fight against Critical Socialism Theory A more perfect Soviet Union: the Party pretends it unites us, and we pretend we are united Biden solves border crisis with free direct flights from Central America to major metropolitan areas Critical race theory: destroy the world of systemic racism, build a world of systemic race-baiting In the future everyone will get canceled for fifteen minutes Biden proposes bill to spend two trillion dollars on more money printing factories Social unity: They pretend to hold elections and we pretend we voted Immigrants to Texas and Florida from New York and California break down and cry when they realize all their sacrifices for a better tomorrow were based on lies China anal swabs detect new 'silent but deadly' transmission of covid-19 variant Social science breakthrough: 'White' is the new way of saying 'Bourgeois' Biden administration swat teams make sweeping arrests of underground female-only track meets 'Green energy' to be renamed 'blackout energy' for easier comprehension of climate complexities New children's game: Rock, Paper, Scissors, Science Texas: Biden administration sends emergency wind turbines to help fight the blackouts BREAKING: Biden signs executive order canceling the number 45 ATTENTION: It is your duty to report anyone who says this is no longer a free country. 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Social media justice: followers removed from pro-Trump accounts will be added to Biden's Twitter account Fact check: a democratic election is the one in which votes are counted until Democrats win JUST IN: China bans Twitter for being too totalitarian Pelosi introduces new House rule to replace 'gender' terms like mother, daughter, father, son with the word 'comrade'; the only acceptable pronoun will also be 'comrade' Sources: Biden transition team demands access to White House basement to begin renovations BREAKING: President Trump pardons America for its past Prime Minister Modi: to avoid accusations of racism India will change its name to Cleveland Biden creates Antifascist Librarian Justice Committee; the first book scheduled for burning is Fahrenheit 451 Media study: 148% of Americans believe voter fraud doesn't exist 2020 Election forecast: if Joe Biden emerges from the basement on Election Day and sees his shadow, expect four more years of Trump BREAKING: President Trump pardons Corn Pop Toobin, though on administrative leave, is still pulling for Biden Chinese whistleblower: Biden-20 was genetically engineered in a Wuhan lab Nancy Pelosi sponsors a bill to create the office of removal of the President New college humanities major: Critical Trump Studies Opinion: Joe Biden is just an idea CNN: Biden took a solid second place in the debate, while Trump only came next to last Having ordered that all Californians switch to electric cars by 2035, Gov. 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Breaking: the Democrat Party has finished transitioning from being the party of JFK to being the party of Lee Harvey Oswald Paradigm shift in Chromatics: Study shows Indigo (#3F00FF) mixed with Jamaic (#C0FF01) yields Black (#000000) Study: the trouble with wokeism is eventually you run out of victims Stacey Abrams refuses to concede to Harris; declares herself Biden's VP Election 2020: Spunky former presidential candidate wins VP slot by a head Churches in many states to hold services in opened up pubs and bars Election 2020: Xi Jinping still undecided on vice president for Joe Biden Reports: Republicans pounce on 'Republicans pounce' reports Minneapolis launches online looting app to combat Covid-19 DNC study finds lockdowns no longer necessary as the economy is now being destroyed more effectively by looters and rioters With America in lockdown, China offers to host Democrat primary Bernie Sanders tests negative for President In related news, Joe Biden follows other candidates in withdrawing from race and endorsing Joe Biden New York Governor Cuomo shuts down all 'non-essential' business, surprised to find himself out of a job Biden commits to picking a woman as running mate as long as she passes his sniff test Joe Biden's coronavirus prevention tips: always rub hand sanitizer on young girls before sniffing and fondling them Russian lawmakers warned that the American Democrats are meddling to re-elect Putin Joe Biden promises lucrative board member jobs as door prizes to get people to his rallies Democrats now worried they might even lose the illegal alien vote Soleimani's remains FedExed back to Iran and now no one knows what happened to the box BREAKING: massive search underway in Iran after Soleimani's boxed FedEx'd remains stolen off front porch Liz Warren harshly critical of Biden's suggestion to coal miners that they should learn to code, offers to have them trained as romance novelists instead Pelosi: "First we have to impeach Donald Trump before we can find out why we impeached him." Schiff calls his Amazon Alexa to testify: 'She knows absolutely everything' Iran answers to new Reagan statue in Berlin by erecting Obama statue at Tehran airport where he delivered pallets of cash California accepts award for most progressive environmental policies; further progressive developments to be announced as blackouts permit BREAKING: Romney DNA test reveals he is 1/1024th Republican California Governor Gavin Newsom blames electricity blackouts on Ukrainian kulaks, vows revenge Rat falling from White House ceiling fears for his life, begs reporters for protection, offers a tell-all memoir Latest UN climate report shows this month so far has seen the scariest climate pronouncements on record Climate science: there's no need for climate protests in China because China is already communist Islamic clerics split on whether Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib should be traveling around the world without an accompanying male relative Dem candidates call for the Beatles' song 'Get Back' and the 'White Album' to be banned; surviving two white guys of the group must pay reparations Bond's number is up: next 007 will be a black woman, played by Barack Obama NYT: moon landing was one small step for Man, one giant leap for White Male Supremacy HURRICANE WATCH: Tropical storm Barry has records sealed, once offshore expected to change name to Barack Trump politicizes the 4th of July, declares it henceforth to be called the 45th of July, or July the Trumpth Barack Obama critical of Trump for failing to insert 'I, me, my' into his 4th of July speech: "very unpresidential!" Congressional Democrats: John Dean's testimony proves Trump is Nixon in disguise and must be impeached Bernie Sanders admits to being a millionaire, promises to eat himself if nominated International Women's Day observed, women only paid 73% of attention afforded to men Democrats: anti-Semitism means never having to say you're sorry AOC: aborting babies helps preserve the planet for the next generation Bernie Sanders launches presidential campaign, promises to "build a great big beautiful Iron Curtain" around America if elected West Virginia renames itself Eastern Kentucky to avoid further embarrassment from Virginia BREAKING: Justice Ginsburg released from hospital after breaking 3 ribs at late night bar brawl in Adams Morgan DNA news: Senator Warren tanking in latest totem polls Orwell studies: 84% of academics believe problems raised in 1984 can be fixed with solutions from Animal Farm Progress in gender justice: online dating industry issues recommendations for men to wear body cameras, bring attorneys as chaperones Study: the only people who don't know what socialism is are the socialists Poll: 1 in 3 #FightFor15 activists believe movement is related to lowering the age of consent across America CNN expert: Kavanaugh confirmation will increase global warming by 3 degrees Harry Reid comes forth to say Judge Kavanaugh didn't pay any taxes in high school Hollywood to America: If you've got a flag on the Moon, you didn't plant that; some other country made that happen Protest march in straight jackets against Trump ends in chaos as participants try but fail to free themselves HEADLINES YOU WILL NEVER SEE: California Gov. Jerry Brown single-handedly stops wildfires in his state by issuing an immediate statewide ban on wildfires San Francisco closes all Planned Parenthood clinics after sting operation catches employees using plastic straws Vegan mother undergoes experimental surgery to force her breasts to produce almond milk With none of his emails answered, frustrated Nigerian man commits suicide and leaves $100bn fortune to charity California gives new meaning to strawman argument as caped Strawman battles supervillains in restaurants, bars, and fast food joints Violence increases in Mexico as cartels switch from smuggling drugs to plastic straws to San Francisco Obama proposes a Paris Economic Change agreement among nations to address how world will cope with future runaway economic warming Stormy Daniels plans border visit to give migrant children freebies San Francisco: man dumping off 20 lbs of human waste in plastic bag on street corner cited for using non-biodegradable plastic bag BREAKING: ICE renamed Planned Citizenship, immediately absolving it of all criticism Senate Democrats demand Supreme Court nominee not be unduly influenced by U.S. Constitution BREAKING: In 2018, Obama and Biden can finally celebrate Recovery Summer IG Report: the FBI broke the law, but since there was no criminal intent, no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case Pelosi on Trump's MS-13 "animals" comments: "Four legs good, two legs bad" Iran nuclear talks set to resume between the United States and John Kerry Report: The Mueller investigation has finally determined that the lyrics to Louie Louie are not about Trump and Russian collusion MARKETS: Demand for carbon credits spikes as Hamas seeks to undo damage to Earth's atmosphere caused by burning 10,000 tires on Gaza border BREAKING: After state reassignment surgery Pennsylvania will henceforth be known as Transylvania Experts: If we don't act now, unicorns will be extinct in just ten years. Children will ask, "Mommy, what's a unicorn?" Women and minorities will be forced to seek alternative hallucinations Korean war must continue: Hawaiian federal judge declares Trump's peace effort unconstitutional New York: feminists march on Broadway, demand the street be given new, non-misogynistic name Experts: California's planned transition of all state jobs from citizens to illegal aliens by 2020 will help to avoid bankruptcy and save money for social programs for illegal aliens Putin: If I didn't want Hillary to be president she would be dead Doritos maker PepsiCo to introduce snack line for women; new Doritas chips will be 77% as big as Doritos and won't make any scary 'crunchy noises' TMZ: Tooth Fairy accused of sexually assaulting millions of children, outs self as Transgendered Tooth Recovery Specialist RUSSIA COLLUSION: Trump offers Putin to trade Rep. Maxine Waters for two unnamed members of the State Duma Ikea founder dead at 91; his coffin arrived in a box with confusing instructions and took 3 hours to assemble This Thanksgiving ex-president Obama continues with his tradition of apologizing to turkeys everywhere for the injustice they suffered since America's founding Oslo, Norway: 2017 Nobel Peace Prize goes to advocacy group about which you'll forget immediately after reading this headline Cambridge, MA, library to replace racist 'Cat in the Hat' with inclusive 'Che in a Beret' Millions of men worldwide eagerly await broadcast of Hugh Hefner's funeral, solely for the articles Bill Gates offers to pay for Trump's wall on condition he gets to install Windows Bernie Sanders introduces single-payer public transportation bill to end America's unequal, unfair, and expensive private transportation system DNC embroiled in controversy after official Twitter account accidentally 'likes' pictures of US Constitution and Bill of Rights Hurricane Irma hits Cuba, causes millions of dollars worth of improvements to property and infrastructure Climate study: extreme weather may be caused by unlicensed witches casting wrong spells in well-meaning effort to destroy Trump Ex-president Obama declares Irma "Hurricane of Peace," urges not to jump to conclusions and succumb to stormophobia CNN: Trump reverses Obama's executive order banning hurricanes ISIS claims responsibility for a total solar eclipse over the lands of American crusaders and nonbelievers When asked if they could point to North Korea on a map many college students didn't know what a map was CNN: We must bring America into the 21st century by replacing the 18th century Constitution with 19th century poetry Pelosi: 'We have to impeach the president in order to find out what we impeached him for' BREAKING: As of Saturday July 8, 2017, all of Earth's ecosystems have shut down as per Prince Charles's super scientific pronouncement made 96 months ago. Everything is dead. All is lost. Life on Earth is no more. DNC to pick new election slogan out of four finalists: 'Give us more government or everyone dies,' 'Vote for Democrats or everyone dies,' 'Impeach Trump or everyone dies,' 'Stop the fearmongering or everyone dies' Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power" is humanity's last chance to save the Earth before it ends five years ago Experts: The more we embrace diversity the more everything is the same BOMBSHELL: TMZ offers Kathy Griffin $5 mil to keep any future sex tape private DEVELOPING: CNN, WaPo, NYT anonymous sources say Vladimir Putin may have ties to Russia BREAKING: Manning and Snowden have come out with strong condemnation of Donald Trump leaking classified information to Russia Gun store goes into lockdown over report an "active university professor" roving the grounds Dozens injured at Ralph Lauren & Louis Vuitton headquarters after Ivanka calls in missile strikes on rival fashion houses BOMBSHELL: Evidence proves Donald Trump conspired with his campaign to defeat Hillary Clinton University ranked "very intolerant of free speech" fights the accusation by banning the study and all involved Concerned that Russians don't consume enough alcohol in the month of March, Russia's Orthodox Church makes St. Patrick's Day official holiday Grassroots group calls for "The Million Regulators March" on Washington, supported by all who fear the loss of their betters telling them what to do Experts: Starbucks CEO Schultz's hiring of 10,000 Muslim refugees likely to blow up in his face Will the groundprog be frightened by its own shadow and hide - or will there be another season of insane protests? Trump signs executive order making California and New York national monuments; residents have two days to vacate Women's March against fascism completed with 400,000 fewer deaths than anticipated Feminist historians uncover ghastly concentration camps where so-called "housewives" were forced to live inauthentic lives slaving away in kitchens Dictionary of the future: Global Warming was a popular computer simulation game, where the only way to win was not to play "Anti-fascist" groups violently protest misspelling of their original name, "aren't-we-fascists" Post-inauguration blues: millions of democrats distraught as the reality of having to find real jobs sets in "Journalism is the continuation of war by other means" is exposed as a fake quote by mainstream media journalists Congressional Democrats: "We cannot just simply replace Obamacare with freedom because then millions of Americans will suddenly become free" Schoolchildren jailed for building only white snowmen Obama's reckless attacks on Russia serve as recruitment tool to create more Russian hackers Hillary: "I lost, so I'm going to follow our democratic traditions, poison the wells, and scorch the earth" Children in Venezuela cook and eat their Christmas toys Hillary: "I can hack Russia from my bathroom" Hillary suggests to counter "fake news" with government newspaper called "Truth" ("Pravda" for Russian speakers) BREAKING: Millions of uncounted votes found on Hillary's private voting machine in her Chappaqua bathroom New York Times: Fidel Castro world's sexiest corpse After years of trial and error, CIA finally succeeds with the "waiting it out" technique on Fidel Castro Post-election shopping tip: look for the PoliticsFree label at your local grocer to make sure you don't buy from companies that don't want your business anymore In Hillary's America, email server scrubs you Obama transfers his Nobel Peace Prize to anti-Trump rioters Democrats blame Hillary's criminal e-mail server for her loss, demand it face prison Afraid of "dangerous" Trump presidency, protesters pre-emptively burn America down to the ground Clinton Foundation in foreclosure as foreign donors demand refunds Hillary Clinton blames YouTube video for unexpected and spontaneous voter uprising that prevented her inevitable move into the White House Sudden rise in sea levels explained by disproportionately large tears shed by climate scientists in the aftermath of Trump's electoral victory FBI director Comey delighted after receiving Nobel Prize for Speed Reading (650,000 emails in one week) U.N. deploys troops to American college campuses in order to combat staggeringly low rape rates Responding to Trump's surging poll numbers, Obama preemptively pardons himself for treason Following hurricane Matthew's failure to devastate Florida, activists flock to the Sunshine State and destroy Trump signs manually Tim Kaine takes credit for interrupting hurricane Matthew while debating weather in Florida Study: Many non-voters still undecided on how they're not going to vote The Evolution of Dissent: on November 8th the nation is to decide whether dissent will stop being racist and become sexist - or it will once again be patriotic as it was for 8 years under George W. Bush Venezuela solves starvation problem by making it mandatory to buy food Breaking: the Clinton Foundation set to investigate the FBI Obama captures rare Pokemon while visiting Hiroshima Movie news: 'The Big Friendly Giant Government' flops at box office; audiences say "It's creepy" Barack Obama: "If I had a son, he'd look like Micah Johnson" White House edits Orlando 911 transcript to say shooter pledged allegiance to NRA and Republican Party President George Washington: 'Redcoats do not represent British Empire; King George promotes a distorted version of British colonialism' Following Obama's 'Okie-Doke' speech, stock of Okie-Doke soars; NASDAQ: 'Obama best Okie-Doke salesman' Weaponized baby formula threatens Planned Parenthood office; ACLU demands federal investigation of Gerber Experts: melting Antarctic glacier could cause sale levels to rise up to 80% off select items by this weekend Travel advisory: airlines now offering flights to front of TSA line As Obama instructs his administration to get ready for presidential transition, Trump preemptively purchases 'T' keys for White House keyboards John Kasich self-identifies as GOP primary winner, demands access to White House bathroom Upcoming Trump/Kelly interview on FoxNews sponsored by 'Let's Make a Deal' and 'The Price is Right' News from 2017: once the evacuation of Lena Dunham and 90% of other Hollywood celebrities to Canada is confirmed, Trump resigns from presidency: "My work here is done" Non-presidential candidate Paul Ryan pledges not to run for president in new non-presidential non-ad campaign Trump suggests creating 'Muslim database'; Obama symbolically protests by shredding White House guest logs beginning 2009 National Enquirer: John Kasich's real dad was the milkman, not mailman National Enquirer: Bound delegates from Colorado, Wyoming found in Ted Cruzs basement Iran breaks its pinky-swear promise not to support terrorism; US State Department vows rock-paper-scissors strategic response Women across the country cheer as racist Democrat president on $20 bill is replaced by black pro-gun Republican Federal Reserve solves budget crisis by writing itself a 20-trillion-dollar check Widows, orphans claim responsibility for Brussels airport bombing Che Guevara's son hopes Cuba's communism will rub off on US, proposes a long list of people the government should execute first Susan Sarandon: "I don't vote with my vagina." Voters in line behind her still suspicious, use hand sanitizer Campaign memo typo causes Hillary to court 'New Black Panties' vote New Hampshire votes for socialist Sanders, changes state motto to "Live FOR Free or Die" Martin O'Malley drops out of race after Iowa Caucus; nation shocked with revelation he has been running for president Statisticians: one out of three Bernie Sanders supporters is just as dumb as the other two Hillary campaign denies accusations of smoking-gun evidence in her emails, claims they contain only smoking-circumstantial-gun evidence Obama stops short of firing US Congress upon realizing the difficulty of assembling another group of such tractable yes-men In effort to contol wild passions for violent jihad, White House urges gun owners to keep their firearms covered in gun burkas TV horror live: A Charlie Brown Christmas gets shot up on air by Mohammed cartoons Democrats vow to burn the country down over Ted Cruz statement, 'The overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats' Russia's trend to sign bombs dropped on ISIS with "This is for Paris" found response in Obama administration's trend to sign American bombs with "Return to sender" University researchers of cultural appropriation quit upon discovery that their research is appropriation from a culture that created universities Archeologists discover remains of what Barack Obama has described as unprecedented, un-American, and not-who-we-are immigration screening process in Ellis Island Mizzou protests lead to declaring entire state a "safe space," changing Missouri motto to "The don't show me state" Green energy fact: if we put all green energy subsidies together in one-dollar bills and burn them, we could generate more electricity than has been produced by subsidized green energy State officials improve chances of healthcare payouts by replacing ObamaCare with state lottery NASA's new mission to search for racism, sexism, and economic inequality in deep space suffers from race, gender, and class power struggles over multibillion-dollar budget College progress enforcement squads issue schematic humor charts so students know if a joke may be spontaneously laughed at or if regulations require other action ISIS opens suicide hotline for US teens depressed by climate change and other progressive doomsday scenarios Virginia county to close schools after teacher asks students to write 'death to America' in Arabic 'Wear hijab to school day' ends with spontaneous female circumcision and stoning of a classmate during lunch break ISIS releases new, even more barbaric video in an effort to regain mantle from Planned Parenthood Impressed by Fox News stellar rating during GOP debates, CNN to use same formula on Democrat candidates asking tough, pointed questions about Republicans Shocking new book explores pros and cons of socialism, discovers they are same people Pope outraged by Planned Parenthood's "unfettered capitalism," demands equal redistribution of baby parts to each according to his need John Kerry accepts Iran's "Golden Taquiyya" award, requests jalapenos on the side Citizens of Pluto protest US government's surveillance of their planetoid and its moons with New Horizons space drone John Kerry proposes 3-day waiting period for all terrorist nations trying to acquire nuclear weapons Chicago Police trying to identify flag that caused nine murders and 53 injuries in the city this past weekend Cuba opens to affordable medical tourism for Americans who can't afford Obamacare deductibles State-funded research proves existence of Quantum Aggression Particles (Heterons) in Large Hadron Collider Student job opportunities: make big bucks this summer as Hillarys Ordinary-American; all expenses paid, travel, free acting lessons Experts debate whether Iranian negotiators broke John Kerry's leg or he did it himself to get out of negotiations Junior Varsity takes Ramadi, advances to quarterfinals US media to GOP pool of candidates: 'Knowing what we know now, would you have had anything to do with the founding of the United States?' NY Mayor to hold peace talks with rats, apologize for previous Mayor's cowboy diplomacy China launches cube-shaped space object with a message to aliens: "The inhabitants of Earth will steal your intellectual property, copy it, manufacture it in sweatshops with slave labor, and sell it back to you at ridiculously low prices" Progressive scientists: Truth is a variable deduced by subtracting 'what is' from 'what ought to be' Experts agree: Hillary Clinton best candidate to lessen percentage of Americans in top 1% America's attempts at peace talks with the White House continue to be met with lies, stalling tactics, and bad faith Starbucks new policy to talk race with customers prompts new hashtag #DontHoldUpTheLine Hillary: DELETE is the new RESET Charlie Hebdo receives Islamophobe 2015 award; the cartoonists could not be reached for comment due to their inexplicable, illogical deaths Russia sends 'reset' button back to Hillary: 'You need it now more than we do' Barack Obama finds out from CNN that Hillary Clinton spent four years being his Secretary of State President Obama honors Leonard Nimoy by taking selfie in front of Starship Enterprise Police: If Obama had a convenience store, it would look like Obama Express Food Market Study finds stunning lack of racial, gender, and economic diversity among middle-class white males NASA: We're 80% sure about being 20% sure about being 17% sure about being 38% sure about 2014 being the hottest year on record People holding '$15 an Hour Now' posters sue Democratic party demanding raise to $15 an hour for rendered professional protesting services Cuba-US normalization: US tourists flock to see Cuba before it looks like the US and Cubans flock to see the US before it looks like Cuba White House describes attacks on Sony Pictures as 'spontaneous hacking in response to offensive video mocking Juche and its prophet' CIA responds to Democrat calls for transparency by releasing the director's cut of The Making Of Obama's Birth Certificate Obama: 'If I had a city, it would look like Ferguson' Biden: 'If I had a Ferguson (hic), it would look like a city' Obama signs executive order renaming 'looters' to 'undocumented shoppers' Ethicists agree: two wrongs do make a right so long as Bush did it first The aftermath of the 'War on Women 2014' finds a new 'Lost Generation' of disillusioned Democrat politicians, unable to cope with life out of office White House: Republican takeover of the Senate is a clear mandate from the American people for President Obama to rule by executive orders Nurse Kaci Hickox angrily tells reporters that she won't change her clocks for daylight savings time Democratic Party leaders in panic after recent poll shows most Democratic voters think 'midterm' is when to end pregnancy Desperate Democratic candidates plead with Obama to stop backing them and instead support their GOP opponents Ebola Czar issues five-year plan with mandatory quotas of Ebola infections per each state based on voting preferences Study: crony capitalism is to the free market what the Westboro Baptist Church is to Christianity Fun facts about world languages: the Left has more words for statism than the Eskimos have for snow African countries to ban all flights from the United States because "Obama is incompetent, it scares us" Nobel Peace Prize controversy: Hillary not nominated despite having done even less than Obama to deserve it Obama: 'Ebola is the JV of viruses' BREAKING: Secret Service foils Secret Service plot to protect Obama Revised 1st Amendment: buy one speech, get the second free Sharpton calls on white NFL players to beat their women in the interests of racial fairness President Obama appoints his weekly approval poll as new national security adviser Obama wags pen and phone at Putin; Europe offers support with powerful pens and phones from NATO members White House pledges to embarrass ISIS back to the Stone Age with a barrage of fearsome Twitter messages and fatally ironic Instagram photos Obama to fight ISIS with new federal Terrorist Regulatory Agency Obama vows ISIS will never raise their flag over the eighteenth hole Harry Reid: "Sometimes I say the wong thing" Elian Gonzalez wishes he had come to the U.S. on a bus from Central America like all the other kids Obama visits US-Mexican border, calls for a two-state solution Obama draws "blue line" in Iraq after Putin took away his red crayon "Hard Choices," a porno flick loosely based on Hillary Clinton's memoir and starring Hillary Hellfire as a drinking, whoring Secretary of State, wildly outsells the flabby, sagging original Accusations of siding with the enemy leave Sgt. Bergdahl with only two options: pursue a doctorate at Berkley or become a Senator from Massachusetts Jay Carney stuck in line behind Eric Shinseki to leave the White House; estimated wait time from 15 min to 6 weeks 100% of scientists agree that if man-made global warming were real, "the last people we'd want to help us is the Obama administration" Jay Carney says he found out that Obama found out that he found out that Obama found out that he found out about the latest Obama administration scandal on the news "Anarchy Now!" meeting turns into riot over points of order, bylaws, and whether or not 'kicking the #^@&*! ass' of the person trying to speak is or is not violence Obama retaliates against Putin by prohibiting unionized federal employees from dating hot Russian girls online during work hours Russian separatists in Ukraine riot over an offensive YouTube video showing the toppling of Lenin statues "Free Speech Zones" confuse Obamaphone owners who roam streets in search of additional air minutes Obamacare bolsters employment for professionals with skills to convert meth back into sudafed Gloves finally off: Obama uses pen and phone to cancel Putin's Netflix account Joe Biden to Russia: "We will bury you by turning more of Eastern Europe over to your control!" In last-ditch effort to help Ukraine, Obama deploys Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jackson's Rainbow Coalition to Crimea Al Sharpton: "Not even Putin can withstand our signature chanting, 'racist, sexist, anti-gay, Russian army go away'!" Mardi Gras in North Korea: "Throw me some food!" Obama's foreign policy works: "War, invasion, and conquest are signs of weakness; we've got Putin right where we want him" US offers military solution to Ukraine crisis: "We will only fight countries that have LGBT military" Putin annexes Brighton Beach to protect ethnic Russians in Brooklyn, Obama appeals to UN and EU for help The 1980s: "Mr. Obama, we're just calling to ask if you want our foreign policy back. The 1970s are right here with us, and they're wondering, too." In a stunning act of defiance, Obama courageously unfriends Putin on Facebook MSNBC: Obama secures alliance with Austro-Hungarian Empire against Russias aggression in Ukraine Study: springbreak is to STDs what April 15th is to accountants Efforts to achieve moisture justice for California thwarted by unfair redistribution of snow in America North Korean voters unanimous: "We are the 100%" Leader of authoritarian gulag-site, The People's Cube, unanimously 're-elected' with 100% voter turnout Super Bowl: Obama blames Fox News for Broncos' loss Feminist author slams gay marriage: "a man needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" Beverly Hills campaign heats up between Henry Waxman and Marianne Williamson over the widening income gap between millionaires and billionaires in their district Biden to lower $10,000-a-plate Dinner For The Homeless to $5,000 so more homeless can attend Kim becomes world leader, feeds uncle to dogs; Obama eats dogs, becomes world leader, America cries uncle North Korean leader executes own uncle for talking about Obamacare at family Christmas party White House hires part-time schizophrenic Mandela sign interpreter to help sell Obamacare Kim Jong Un executes own "crazy uncle" to keep him from ruining another family Christmas OFA admits its advice for area activists to give Obamacare Talk at shooting ranges was a bad idea President resolves Obamacare debacle with executive order declaring all Americans equally healthy Obama to Iran: "If you like your nuclear program, you can keep your nuclear program" Bovine community outraged by flatulence coming from Washington DC Obama: "I'm not particularly ideological; I believe in a good pragmatic five-year plan" Shocker: Obama had no knowledge he'd been reelected until he read about it in the local newspaper last week Server problems at HealthCare.gov so bad, it now flashes 'Error 808' message NSA marks National Best Friend Day with official announcement: "Government is your best friend; we know you like no one else, we're always there, we're always willing to listen" Al Qaeda cancels attack on USA citing launch of Obamacare as devastating enough The President's latest talking point on Obamacare: "I didn't build that" Dizzy with success, Obama renames his wildly popular healthcare mandate to HillaryCare Carney: huge ObamaCare deductibles won't look as bad come hyperinflation Washington Redskins drop 'Washington' from their name as offensive to most Americans Poll: 83% of Americans favor cowboy diplomacy over rodeo clown diplomacy GOVERNMENT WARNING: If you were able to complete ObamaCare form online, it wasn't a legitimate gov't website; you should report online fraud and change all your passwords Obama administration gets serious, threatens Syria with ObamaCare Obama authorizes the use of Vice President Joe Biden's double-barrel shotgun to fire a couple of blasts at Syria Sharpton: "British royals should have named baby 'Trayvon.' By choosing 'George' they sided with white Hispanic racist Zimmerman" DNC launches 'Carlos Danger' action figure; proceeds to fund a charity helping survivors of the Republican War on Women Nancy Pelosi extends abortion rights to the birds and the bees Hubble discovers planetary drift to the left Obama: 'If I had a daughter-in-law, she would look like Rachael Jeantel' FISA court rubberstamps statement denying its portrayal as government's rubber stamp Every time ObamaCare gets delayed, a Julia somewhere dies GOP to Schumer: 'Force full implementation of ObamaCare before 2014 or Dems will never win another election' Obama: 'If I had a son... no, wait, my daughter can now marry a woman!' Janet Napolitano: TSA findings reveal that since none of the hijackers were babies, elderly, or Tea Partiers, 9/11 was not an act of terrorism News Flash: Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) can see Canada from South Dakota Susan Rice: IRS actions against tea parties caused by anti-tax YouTube video that was insulting to their faith Drudge Report reduces font to fit all White House scandals onto one page Obama: the IRS is a constitutional right, just like the Second Amendment White House: top Obama officials using secret email accounts a result of bad IT advice to avoid spam mail from Nigeria Jay Carney to critics: 'Pinocchio never said anything inconsistent' Obama: If I had a gay son, he'd look like Jason Collins Gosnell's office in Benghazi raided by the IRS: mainstream media's worst cover-up challenge to date IRS targeting pro-gay-marriage LGBT groups leads to gayest tax revolt in U.S. history After Arlington Cemetery rejects offer to bury Boston bomber, Westboro Babtist Church steps up with premium front lawn plot Boston: Obama Administration to reclassify marathon bombing as 'sportsplace violence' Study: Success has many fathers but failure becomes a government program US Media: Can Pope Francis possibly clear up Vatican bureaucracy and banking without blaming the previous administration? Michelle Obama praises weekend rampage by Chicago teens as good way to burn calories and stay healthy This Passover, Obama urges his subjects to paint lamb's blood above doors in order to avoid the Sequester White House to American children: Sequester causes layoffs among hens that lay Easter eggs; union-wage Easter Bunnies to be replaced by Mexican Chupacabras Time Mag names Hugo Chavez world's sexiest corpse Boy, 8, pretends banana is gun, makes daring escape from school Study: Free lunches overpriced, lack nutrition Oscars 2013: Michelle Obama announces long-awaited merger of Hollywood and the State Joe Salazar defends the right of women to be raped in gun-free environment: 'rapists and rapees should work together to prevent gun violence for the common good' Dept. of Health and Human Services eliminates rape by reclassifying assailants as 'undocumented sex partners' Kremlin puts out warning not to photoshop Putin riding meteor unless bare-chested Deeming football too violent, Obama moves to introduce Super Drone Sundays instead Japan offers to extend nuclear umbrella to cover U.S. should America suffer devastating attack on its own defense spending Feminists organize one billion women to protest male oppression with one billion lap dances Urban community protests Mayor Bloomberg's ban on extra-large pop singers owning assault weapons Concerned with mounting death toll, Taliban offers to send peacekeeping advisers to Chicago Karl Rove puts an end to Tea Party with new 'Republicans For Democrats' strategy aimed at losing elections Answering public skepticism, President Obama authorizes unlimited drone attacks on all skeet targets throughout the country Skeet Ulrich denies claims he had been shot by President but considers changing his name to 'Traps' White House releases new exciting photos of Obama standing, sitting, looking thoughtful, and even breathing in and out New York Times hacked by Chinese government, Paul Krugman's economic policies stolen White House: when President shoots skeet, he donates the meat to food banks that feed the middle class To prove he is serious, Obama eliminates armed guard protection for President, Vice-President, and their families; establishes Gun-Free Zones around them instead State Dept to send 100,000 American college students to China as security for US debt obligations Jay Carney: Al Qaeda is on the run, they're just running forward President issues executive orders banning cliffs, ceilings, obstructions, statistics, and other notions that prevent us from moving forwards and upward Fearing the worst, Obama Administration outlaws the fan to prevent it from being hit by certain objects World ends; S&P soars Riddle of universe solved; answer not understood Meek inherit Earth, can't afford estate taxes Greece abandons Euro; accountants find Greece has no Euros anyway Wheel finally reinvented; axles to be gradually reinvented in 3rd quarter of 2013 Bigfoot found in Ohio, mysteriously not voting for Obama As Santa's workshop files for bankruptcy, Fed offers bailout in exchange for control of 'naughty and nice' list Freak flying pig accident causes bacon to fly off shelves Obama: green economy likely to transform America into a leading third world country of the new millennium Report: President Obama to visit the United States in the near future Obama promises to create thousands more economically neutral jobs Modernizing Islam: New York imam proposes to canonize Saul Alinsky as religion's latter day prophet Imam Rauf's peaceful solution: 'Move Ground Zero a few blocks away from the mosque and no one gets hurt' Study: Obama's threat to burn tax money in Washington 'recruitment bonanza' for Tea Parties Study: no Social Security reform will be needed if gov't raises retirement age to at least 814 years Obama attends church service, worships self Obama proposes national 'Win The Future' lottery; proceeds of new WTF Powerball to finance more gov't spending Historical revisionists: "Hey, you never know" Vice President Biden: criticizing Egypt is un-pharaoh Israelis to Egyptian rioters: "don't damage the pyramids, we will not rebuild" Lake Superior renamed Lake Inferior in spirit of tolerance and inclusiveness Al Gore: It's a shame that a family can be torn apart by something as simple as a pack of polar bears Michael Moore: As long as there is anyone with money to shake down, this country is not broke Obama's teleprompters unionize, demand collective bargaining rights Obama calls new taxes 'spending reductions in tax code.' Elsewhere rapists tout 'consent reductions in sexual intercourse' Obama's teleprompter unhappy with White House Twitter: "Too few words" Obama's Regulation Reduction committee finds US Constitution to be expensive outdated framework inefficiently regulating federal gov't Taking a page from the Reagan years, Obama announces new era of Perestroika and Glasnost Responding to Oslo shootings, Obama declares Christianity "Religion of Peace," praises "moderate Christians," promises to send one into space Republicans block Obama's $420 billion program to give American families free charms that ward off economic bad luck White House to impose Chimney tax on Santa Claus Obama decrees the economy is not soaring as much as previously decreeed Conservative think tank introduces children to capitalism with pop-up picture book "The Road to Smurfdom" Al Gore proposes to combat Global Warming by extracting silver linings from clouds in Earth's atmosphere Obama refutes charges of him being unresponsive to people's suffering: "When you pray to God, do you always hear a response?" Obama regrets the US government didn't provide his mother with free contraceptives when she was in college Fluke to Congress: drill, baby, drill! Planned Parenthood introduces Frequent Flucker reward card: 'Come again soon!' Obama to tornado victims: 'We inherited this weather from the previous administration' Obama congratulates Putin on Chicago-style election outcome People's Cube gives itself Hero of Socialist Labor medal in recognition of continued expert advice provided to the Obama Administration helping to shape its foreign and domestic policies Hamas: Israeli air defense unfair to 99% of our missiles, "only 1% allowed to reach Israel" Democrat strategist: without government supervision, women would have never evolved into humans Voters Without Borders oppose Texas new voter ID law Enraged by accusation that they are doing Obama's bidding, media leaders demand instructions from White House on how to respond Obama blames previous Olympics for failure to win at this Olympics Official: China plans to land on Moon or at least on cheap knockoff thereof Koran-Contra: Obama secretly arms Syrian rebels Poll: Progressive slogan 'We should be more like Europe' most popular with members of American Nazi Party Obama to Evangelicals: Jesus saves, I just spend May Day: Anarchists plan, schedule, synchronize, and execute a coordinated campaign against all of the above Midwestern farmers hooked on new erotic novel "50 Shades of Hay" Study: 99% of Liberals give the rest a bad name Obama meets with Jewish leaders, proposes deeper circumcisions for the rich Historians: Before HOPE & CHANGE there was HEMP & CHOOM at ten bucks a bag Cancer once again fails to cure Venezuela of its "President for Life" Tragic spelling error causes Muslim protesters to burn local boob-tube factory Secretary of Energy Steven Chu: due to energy conservation, the light at the end of the tunnel will be switched off Obama Administration running food stamps across the border with Mexico in an operation code-named "Fat And Furious" Pakistan explodes in protest over new Adobe Acrobat update; 17 local acrobats killed White House: "Let them eat statistics" Special Ops: if Benedict Arnold had a son, he would look like Barack Obama AD GOES HERE CARBONDALE With the total solar eclipse only a few months away, the planning group at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is nailing down details on how the university and its partners will handle one of the highest-profile celestial events in the country in years. To that end, officials from NASA, the Adler Planetarium in Chicago and a solar instrumentation company are planning a two-day visit to SIU in early May to prepare for the event, which may draw as many as 50,000 people to the campus and city. The visiting contingent, which will include officials from the NASA EDGE webcast program, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Lunt Solar Systems, is set for May 1 and 2. During the visit, officials will review plans and logistics for the eclipse education program, which will have great implications for sky watchers not only in Carbondale that day, but those all over the world. NASA EDGE is a video podcast discussing the latest technology and research going on at NASA centers across the country. New episodes appear monthly and are transmitted to the public through several websites, including NASA TV, iTunes, YouTube, USTREAM and other podcast sites. The show, which combines humor and education, provides an insider's view of NASA and updates the public on the most innovative and groundbreaking research. On eclipse day, NASA EDGE is planning a four-hour broadcast that will include live interviews and video of the eclipse as it crosses the country. Blair Allen, the irreverent co-host and professional outsider of NASA EDGE, said the trip is an important planning event for the show. During our trip there we will be confirming many of the logistics for our broadcast, Allen said. For example, we will finalize the placement of our set, test technical capability for sending our signal via the web and confirm camera placement, and such. The NASA EDGE team also will work with Lunt Solar Systems, maker of solar telescopes and ultra-high definition heliostats, to determine the best solar observation sites near the programs set, and to run other tests for the day of observations, Allen said. On Aug. 21, the eclipse viewing path and shadow will sweep across the country from northwest to southeast, with its point of greatest duration a few miles south of Carbondale. The total solar eclipse is the first over the mainland United States since 1979. The universitys planning, led by a campus-community committee, has been underway for more than two years. Plans call for activities throughout the weekend before and the day of the eclipse. Lou Mayo, planetary scientist with NASA and program manager for the agency for the event, said NASA selected SIU as its site to cover the eclipse for a number of reasons. SIU has excellent infrastructure that can accommodate a large number of people, Mayo said. It has an engaged community (and) it is on the center line and is the center of the eclipse (for greatest duration). It also has reasonable chances for clear skies. As program manager for NASAs eclipse activities, Mayo said he will be helping coordinate operations while also staffing the NASA booth at SIU on the big day. I am also an astronomer and will be involved in interviews about the eclipse, he said. Hopefully, I will have time to snap a few pictures as well. Mayo said solar eclipses are wondrous events but are often too remote to attend. Many occur over the oceans that cover so much of the Earths surface. This one is right in our backyard so millions in North Americans will have a chance to see it, he said. NASA often uses celestial events that capture the interest and imagination of the public to promote science education. Allen said its next to impossible not to get excited about a total solar eclipse. Eclipses and partial eclipses are rare, but this is bucket-list-level amazing, Allen said. The real excitement is being able to experience this significant astronomical event with the thousands of folks gathered at SIU and fellow observers all across the country. And when you can share it with people outside the path and give them an opportunity to participate, there is nothing like it. Mayo said a scientific highlight of the event will be using a new and advanced sun-observing system, developed by Lunt Solar Systems. The observing system is for near real-time, ultra-high definition imaging of the eclipse in white light, Hydrogen alpha, and Calcium K wavelengths, Mayo said. The images should be stunning and will be broadcast through our NASA EDGE programming. Michelle Nichols, master educator with Adler Planetarium, will be part of the team visiting campus next month. On the day of the eclipse, Nichols will act as a roaming correspondent in Saluki Stadium during the NASA coverage. I will be plugged in wherever they need me to talk to the crowd, get individual reactions and lead several quick educational activities, Nichols said. So (the May visit) will be the first time that the entire NASA and SIU teams, with me included, will be together to develop the elements of the broadcast. It will be an opportunity to further refine what the organizers will need me to do and when that will happen. Nichols said the eclipse will connect millions of people through shared wonderment and experience, and through the past and present. When you see a total solar eclipse, you are immediately and personally connected to the countless people who have seen them in the past and you instantly understand why people were awed and frightened of them, she said. You are also immediately connected to the concept of the precise alignment of sun, moon, and Earth that makes this possible. It is incredible to be able to share this event with many people gathered together in a large group, so I am especially looking forward to that aspect of this event at SIU. This editorial appeared in Thursday's Washington Post: One of the most curious aspects of President Donald Trump's foreign policy has been his absence of a clearly articulated view much less a strategy on Afghanistan, where 8,400 U.S. troops are still helping fight a war. Before and during his campaign, Trump hardly spoke about what has become the United States' longest conflict, except to denounce Pakistan for its role in supporting the Taliban and to deride U.S. attempts at nation-building in one of the world's least developed countries. This month, the president authorized the dropping of the world's biggest nonnuclear bomb in a remote part of eastern Afghanistan even though he had yet to decide whether and how the United States would remain engaged in the country. Now the administration appears to be moving toward filling this glaring gap. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis visited Kabul this week, following a trip by national security adviser H.R. McMaster; a policy review is said to be near completion. A recommendation is pending from the U.S. commander in the theater, Gen. John Nicholson, to send 3,000 or more additional U.S. troops to the country in an attempt to break the momentum of the Taliban, which has been slowly taking ground from the Afghan government and inflicting unsustainable casualties on its security forces. Trump should approve the increase along with other military measures that could turn the tide. But he should also drop his resistance to U.S. programs to bolster the Afghan economy and political system and to fight corruption. Without them, the war will never be won. The military problems plaguing the government of President Ashraf Ghani were tragically exemplified last week when a Taliban attack on an army base killed more than 160 soldiers many of them raw recruits. The skillful operation by militants disguised as soldiers was attributed by some U.S. officials to the Haqqani network, which continues to find safe harbor in Pakistan. Meanwhile, administration officials say Russia and Iran have begun supplying weapons to other Taliban factions in a clear attempt to undermine the U.S. and NATO forces backing the Ghani government. At least 6,700 of the more than 300,000 Afghan security forces were reportedly killed last year as the Taliban gained territory across the country. That was partly because many Afghan units remain poorly trained, but also because they lack adequate air support in battle, due to tight restrictions on U.S. operations imposed by President Barack Obama. Trump should address both problems by dispatching additional U.S. trainers and Special Operations forces and by allowing American planes and drones to operate with the same freedom against the enemy that they have in Iraq and Syria. At the same time, Mr. Trump should back a parallel effort to bolster Ghani's government, which has been hamstrung by political infighting and continued corruption. Reading inspectors general's reports about how billions in U.S. and other international development aid have been squandered, it is easy to jump to the conclusion that the West should abandon Afghan nation-building. Yet progress has been made the country's gross domestic producthas doubled, and education levels, including for women, have risen sharply. Sustaining that development, even if it is slow and painful, is as important as turning back the Taliban. To the Editor: After my letter to the editor on March 30 questioning State Rep. Terri Bryants support of the Southern Illinois University, she released an e-newsletter dated April 1 outlining the ways she supports SIUC. She then voted against HB 109 which would provide critically needed money to higher education and social services, and explained her reasoning in an e-newsletter dated April 8. It is disheartening that Bryant holds out for a comprehensive budget and fails to see the big picture in the context of Bruce Rauners anti-higher education rhetoric. HB 109 appropriates money that exists, despite Rauners claim that it will sink the state into debt. He insulted our intelligence on April 10 by claiming he has not taken higher ed and social services hostage, even rejecting the thought of hostages as political leverage despite his well-known campaign rhetoric of crisis creates leverage. On April 19, Rauner tweeted that our universities are among his biggest frustrations and referenced problems that have been there for decades. I could go on. For more than two years, Rauner has proposed unbalanced budgets, advocated compromise while attacking those he needs to compromise with, embraced victimhood, and blamed everyone for his abysmal leadership. His public cheering of the Senate while sabotaging the grand bargain behind the scenes is all you need to know about Rauner. I hope Bryant is persuaded to vote yes on a veto override of HB 109 if it gets to that point. If Rauners history wont change Bryants mind, Im afraid nothing will. Matt Gorzalski Carbondale The Denmark Technical College Area Commission will share control over the school with the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education under a plan approved by the S.C. House. Under the plan, the State Tech Board will consult with area commissioners and local officials, according to Rep. Justin Bamberg, D-Bamberg. Its going to be a joint-type process so we can improve the problems that developed over time, continue to improve student enrollment, as well as look at how we can offer a very high level of program, Bamberg said. Basically, the State Tech Board is going to look at ways to improve the school financially, in course offerings and in general, he said. A Senate bill would have given Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical Colleges Area Commission control over Denmark Tech. The House changed the bill this week and sent it to the Senate for its consideration. The House's amendment calls for the State Tech Board to take over the duties of the Denmark Tech Area Commission for an 18-month period, from May 2017 to November 2018. At the end of the period, full control will revert back to Denmark Techs commission. Bamberg expects the Senate will agree with the changes. "Sen. (Brad) Hutto has agreed with this plan and this is the plan we were able to broker as far as the legislative delegation for the geographic area the school serves," Bamberg said. "I don't see any reason why the House version put up won't be the plan that will work. I think we have the best plan to help the school flourish." Hutto, D-Orangeburg, was the bill's original sponsor in the Senate. The State Tech Board will be required to provide quarterly status reports to the chairman of the Senate finance committee and the chairman of the House Ways and Means committee on Denmark Tech, its operations, financial standing, recruitment and retention of students and actions taken to stabilize the college, he said. Bamberg said he and Rep. Lonnie Hosey, D-Barnwell, will also be kept abreast of the school's status. We want Denmark Techs foundation as strong and as stable as possible so we can continue to build it to its highest point, Bamberg said. "We don't want to tie hands with regards to the people who will be tasked with protecting the school for purposes of longevity." This isnt about pride. This isnt about position, he said. Its about the students and future students and to ensure the school is still around. Lawmakers are also planning for the replacement of the Denmark Tech Area Commissioners. Bamberg, Barnwell and Allendale county lawmakers have submitted a list of replacement commissioners to Gov. Henry McMaster for his confirmation. The recommendations remain under review and officials with the governor's office have said there is no set timeline for appointing the new commissioners. Lawmakers considered keeping former Denmark Tech Area Commission Chairman Thomas Williams on the commission, but Bamberg said this will no longer be the case. "We have already submitted to the governor a new appointment to replace Thomas," Bamberg said. The State Tech Board continues to work with Denmark Techs Area Commission to better understand the financial challenges and operations of the college. Left:Attorney Grant Connell has found, yet again, reason to call for a bucking up of investigation processes and procedures by the police. Middle:Martin James hid his face even as he left the Serious Offences Court a free man. Right: Investigator Inspector Sherol James was given a thorough going over by defence attorneys Grant Connell and Israel Bruce. Attorney Grant Connell is calling on the police to find the perpetrators in several homicides here over the last 12 years, including those of nine-month- old Mozarie Lee and Glen Jackson, former Press Secretary of PM Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. Connells call came during a conversation with THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday, minutes after Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne ruled that Martin Jahson James, 45, and Ricardo McFee, 29, both labourers of Villa, had no case to answer on charges of murdering baby Lee, and attempting to murder his father Mozart Lee and mother. Shelly Ann Durham, during an incident at Glen on October 7, 2016. The Chief Magistrate discharged the defendants at the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) on Tuesday, after upholding No Case submissions by Connell and Israel Bruce, representing James and McFee respectively. The baby was shot to death while in the arms of his mother. She and the babys father however, sustained injuries when gunshots were reportedly fired into a yard at Glen, around 7 p.m. on the date in question. In his conversation with THE VINCENTIAN, Connell stated, "Its time the police do proper investigations, instead of arresting innocent people to give the public the impression that they are being effective. They have a duty to us as citizens, to find the perpetrators of these acts; thats why they are paid. Connell urged the police to "shake off the shackles, move away from what the colonialists taught, and adopt a different approach. Police investigator cross-examined With reference to the matter at hand, Connell noted that investigator Inspector Sherol James, Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Calliaqua, told the Court she spent about 3 minutes on the crime scene, then left for the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, leaving Constable Joel Williams in charge. He also noted that the vehicle PE540, reportedly belonging to Monty Hillocks of Belmont, in which the babys father, an audio technician, was reportedly installing an audio system when the shots rang out, never remained in police custody. Inspector James had also told the court that PC Williams was a qualified and competent crime scene investigator and she had confidence in him. James evidence also revealed that three guns, including one reportedly found in a vehicle Hillocks was driving, as well as spent shells collected on the crime scene, were sent abroad for forensic analysis, but to date the results have not been received. Under cross-examination by Bruce, the investigator admitted that a statement McFee had given to the police during an electronic interview, to wit that he in a shop at Glen when the incident was reported to have occurred, was confirmed by the persons who McFee said were at the time in the shop, including the shopkeeper, someone referred to as Peas-I and the co- accused Martin James. James had also given a statement, inclusive of an alibi during an electronic interview in the presence of his lawyer, but it was not shown in Court. Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche indicated that the DVD was not available. Guns fired, shooters unidentified In his no case submission, Connell described the investigations as a dismal failure. Bruce agreed, and pointed out that the babys parents, as well as Randy Humphrey, an assistant technician, who was also in the yard when the shooting occurred, could not assist the prosecutions case, as they were unable to say who fired the shots. Mozart had told the Court that he had heard gunshots, but did not see who was firing the shorts. Mozart had also testified that he received a bullet to the chest which threw him onto the ground and that Hillocks, who was close to the vehicle, ran over him, and he heard more gunshots. Durham and Humphrey also said that they did not see who fired the shots. Durham said Hillocks was standing next to Mozart who was putting the speakers in the vehicle, about five feet from where she stood hold the child. Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche did not respond to the no case arguments, but he maintained that the investigations were not a dismal failure and commended Inspector James. He pointed out that Justice has two sides, and that he was seeking justice for the infant who was killed. In search of a witness On the first day of the hearing, last week Wednesday, April 19, and following testimonies by of nine prosecution witnesses, the prosecution requested and was granted an adjournment, so that notice could be given to Hillock that he was needed to testify When the matter resumed on Tuesday, Delpleche told the Court that Hillocks was located, but that he had raised certain concerns. As a result, Delpleche requested another adjournment, this time for the prosecution to make an application under the Witness Special Measures Act to have Hillocks evidence provided through video link. The Chief Magistrate did not grant that adjournment. After the men were discharged on that matter, McFee was not allowed to walk free, as he is serving a prison sentence for an unrelated ammunition possession matter. James left the Court a free man, but was escorted by members of the Rapid Response Union (RRU) to a waiting vehicle, and whisked away. THE VINCENTIAN understands that the security provided for James was requested by his lawyer. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves signs the agreement with Taiwan on police and immigration affairs, in the company of Ambassador Baushuan Ger , and witnessed by (standing L-R): Renold Hadaway, COP (Ag) and Colin John, Deputy COP (Ag) (Photo Credit: Lance Neverson) The Republic of China (Taiwan) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on April 21, 2017, signed two agreements concerning cooperation in police and immigration affairs. Ambassador Baushuan Ger of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, in his capacity as Minister of National Security, affixed their signatures to the agreement, witnessed by this countrys Commissioner (Ag) of Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Renold Hadaway, and Deputy Commissioner (Ag), Colin John. Under the agreements, which took effect as of the date of signing, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines agree to combat transnational crimes through the exchange of information, cooperation of investigation, and promotion of capacity building. The bilateral agreements, respectively Agreement on Police Cooperation and Agreement Concerning Cooperation in Immigration Affairs and Human Trafficking Prevention; were signed earlier in Taiwan by Dr. Jiunn-rong Yeh, Minister of the Interior of the Republic of China (Taiwan), whose portfolio covers that countrys National Police Agency as well as its Immigration Agency. (Source: ROC - Tawian Embassy) Members of The Frontline have stayed the course for an unprecedented 500 days and more. The protest action against the results of the December 9, 2015 general election which saw the ruling Unity Labour Party being returned to office, moved, on Wednesday 26th April, 2017, into its 500th day. Since December 10th 2015, a number of persons who oppose the results of the election results have gathered outside the Electoral Office on Bay Street, Kingstown to make their sentiments known. The protest and the area where it is mounted have since assumed the name The Frontline. Luzette King, a Mesopotamia native who has lived, studied and worked in the UK and the USA, returned home prior to the 2015 general elections, and has become one of the main forces behind the protest action. She told THE VINCENTIAN that protest (action) shows determination and, in the case of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, The Frontline will ensure that in the coming years there is free and fair elections. "Who would have thought that we would be here for 500 days. I think that in itself depicts the determination that we have on The Frontline to ensure we get in the future free and fair elections, said King of the durability and purpose of the protest. "We are also here to support the petitions. They all come together to ensure that this would never happen again, said King. She explained that their activities are mainly geared towards keeping the issue of the "stolenelection in the faces of Vincentians "that they dont forget. King spoke to the December date the Chritmas season - for the last three general election (2005, 2010, 2015) as being a deliberate ploy to distract the electorate. "The Frontline came out of that idea that never again would we have an election during Christmas which would make it easy for them to steal and get away with it, said King. She assured that the protest will continue until this regime is gone, " not just the ministers, but all the people who are involved in this election, Supervisor of Elections and her deputy. King lamented the absence of a genuine civil society, and looks to the Frontline filling this void by forming itself into a formal body and even become a registered concern. Even as she reflects on the harassment by the police during the initial stages of the protest, King cites as even greater challenge as being that of getting people interested in what around them, i.e "to get people to understand that this situation is not real, its not democratic and we can do something about it. King is currently before the court on charges of causing inconvenience to the public, contrary to section 282 of the Criminal Code for an incident that took place on The Frontline on January 6th, 2016. She is confident that the nation will win. "If we cannot rely on our votes, then what? Meanwhile former Leader of the Opposition New Democratic Party, Arhnim Eustace is singing praises of the protestors. Making an appearance at The Frontline on Wednesday, he said, "I have come here today not to take part in the protest but to observe and recognize those who have been here. Without them, things could have been different, many persons would have forgetten about what happened in the last election. Because they are here every single day, that makes the difference. He added, "You cant ask for greater commitment. It is so unusual, the commitment so great, that it would be very, very difficult to find another group to attempt anything near this. nobody expected the protest action to last this long, (and) we are going to continue. (KH) Nigerian student Samuel Toka would like to make a contribution to the development of music talent here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Samuel Toka, from an early age, was enthralled by the sound coming from a small wooden musical instrument known as the violin, which you hold under your chin and play by pulling a bow, a special stick, across the strings to create sound. It was, as he discovered, the violin. Little wonder, therefore, that Samuel started playing the violin at the early age of thirteen years. He was introduced to and taught how to play the instrument by a friend who played the keyboard and violin. "In Nigeria, I attended the Apostolic Baptist Church. The church has branches throughout the countryside. I joined the churchs orchestra, which comprised of a number of talented musicians. We performed at many church functions; at the same time, it helped me to improve my skill as a violinist, Samuel said. As for his arrival in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the young man explained that the Nigerian Government set up a Student Program in 2015, which facilitated overseas for students on merit. "I was one of the several persons chosen to attend the All Saints University, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, he quipped. According to Samuel, it was a bit strange when he arrived in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. "You see, he said, "coming from a big country with a large population, to a small island with a different dialect, the food, the building and the layback attribute of the natives, it was a culture shock. . I had to make some adjustments to my life, but I am enjoying every moment of it. His introduction to playing here in SVG, he explained thus: "I was visited to perform at a function in Layou, and I met Desmond Roberts, the organist of the St. Georges Cathedral Kingstown. Before I met Desmond, I played at the International Prayer House in Arnos Vale for a while. At the moment, I perform and worship at the Ascension Anglican Church, Sion Hill. He contended that playing the violin helps with his studies. "Its one way of easing the stress, especially when I am preparing for examination, he said, adding, "It helps me to develop a positive attitude to my studies. It is the young mans hope that, "The same way a friend took time to shape my music career, I will like to do the same for the youngsters of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Samuel was born to mother Irene Toka and father Joseph Toka in Portharcout, a river state of Nigeria, and is the youngest among three children - two boys and one girl. Trinidadian nationals Shane Crawford at left as they appeared initially in the IS Dabiq magazine holding assault weapons in Syria in early 2015. (Source: Dabiq Magazine) "How could a dead man be a threat? Thats the question posed by Joan Crawford, when reporters for Middle East Eye (MEE) contacted her by telephone at her home in Trinidad, to inquire about her sons whereabouts. Her son, Shane Crawford, reportedly the first of more than 100 nationals of Trinidad and Tobago who have joined the Islamic State (IS) group, was designated a terrorist by the United States at the end of March 2017, a day after his home country had done so. But Joan Crawford claimed that her son was dead months before this designation. She had been informed, she told MEE, in October 2016, by an associate of her son, that Shane had been injured in a US drone attack in October 2016, and later died. That communication had come, she said, after she had left a WhatsApp message for her son, after he had failed to contact her as he would have done on a regular basis. Joan said that she has since been able to verify that her son had died, through another contact in Syria. It had taken her several months to do so, she said, then disclosed that she had received confirmation from another of her sons associates in Syria. US designation rebuked Now the whole affair of misinformation has hit the fan, with Umar Abdullah, the leader of the Islamic Front of Trinidad and Tobago, which seeks to build cross-religious relationships in the Caribbean, slamming the move by the Americans. Abdullah accused them of using Shane to leverage their influence on the nation, which is the largest supplier to the US of liquified natural gas. MEE reported that Abdullah had said, in an interview, "The designation has nothing to do with Shane Crawford, but rather he is being used as a pawn by the US administration, to gain a foothold here in Trinidad and Tobago in their so-called fight against terrorism. "Trinidad and Tobago, as Ive said in the past, is the flag bearer of Islam in the West, and this has no doubt also been realised by the US, and so has engaged and encouraged our government to take a firmer stance on issues relating to the rise and propagation of Islam here. Crawford left for Syria in 2013 and is thought to have been the first of more than 100 Trinidadians to leave the Caribbean nation for ISs self-proclaimed Middle Eastern caliphate. He rose to notoriety in midc-2016 after calling for Trinidadians sympathetic to IS to attack non-believers in the country, in a lengthy interview in ISs English-language Magazine Dabiq. The Middle East Eye (MEE), founded in 2014, is an online news portal covering events in the Middle East, which has been cited by major media publications. (Source: Caribbean News Now, MEE) The apartment building at Ratho Mill that was designed and renovated to accommodate students of the Trinity School of Medicine. Trinity School of Medicine continues to invest heavily in its St. Vincent home. The latest undertaking is the Ratho Mill Complex, a new student housing facility located within walking distance of its campus, and is being undertaken in partnership with local entrepreneur Mr. Roger Adams. The 26-unit apartment building is three-storey tall, with beach-view balconies taking full advantage of the medical schools elevated, hillside location. The single bedroom units are furnished by local suppliers, and include full-size kitchens and separate study areas. The building itself also boasts full-time security for students, ensuring a safe environment. President of Trinity, Mr. Steven Wilson said, "Trinity School of Medicine has been so graciously welcomed by the people of St. Vincent as a part of the community, so were always excited when our growth can so directly contribute to the success and growth of Vincentian businesses. In agreeing, Mr. Adams added, "The school plays a very important part in the local economy. I welcome the growth. Ive already recommended two other local entrepreneurs to the school for future projects. Student housing is a great long-term investment with Trinity. He explained briefly the origins of the joint venture, "I met Mr. Wilson through a friend that already worked with the school. We quickly agreed on a contract and began the nine-month construction. We had great support on this project, from the workers themselves putting in Sunday-to-Sunday efforts, to the Vincentian governments guidance, as well as local banks, suppliers, and my family and friends. Trinity School of Medicine is a fully accredited International medical school focused on helping students achieve their goals of becoming licensed physicians in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean nations. Trinity is known for its early clinical experience, internally supportive and externally philanthropic campus culture, and a marked dedication to the study of excellence in medical education. To find out more, one can visit http://www.trinityschoolofmedicine.org/. H.E Yuri Pimentel, Ambassador of Venezuela to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, said clearly that Venezuela was seeking solidarity for its cause of building a just and fair society for all Venezuelans. Following Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros attendance at the recent Meeting of the OECS Authority held here, to rally support against the forces that are threatening that countrys sovereignty, Vincentians joined in with the rest of the world to express their solidarity with the government and people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Ambassador H.E Yuri Pimentel, while speaking at a ceremony held at the Venezuelan Embassy last week Wednesday which was being celebrated as a Day of Solidarity - said that they were "obliged to share and alert the world, especially the friends of the Bolivarian Revolution, of the threat wrought on our country. Over the past several days, violence has erupted on the streets of Venezuelas capital city, Caracas, and other cities across the country, as opposition forces protested against the Maduro led administration, claiming that it has "eroded democracy and has plunged the oil driven economy into chaos. H.E Pimentel explained that since his country gained independence from Spain, and following on the death of Simon Bolivar, new forms of colonialism had crept in. It was only until President Hugo Chavez came into power in 1999 that things began to turn around for the majority of the Venezuelan people, especially the poor. The Ambassador stressed that Chavez sought to nationalize the oil industry Venezuelas primary source of foreign exchange a move that was never supported by the United States Government, and accordingly, he continued, the US has conspired to end the Bolivarian Revolution. "Today we are facing a similar situation, plagued by new dangers and threats against our country, and from this we want to alert our brothers and sisters of St Vincent and the Grenadines, H.E Pimentel said. "The international conspiracy proposes, through destabilization, chaos and vandalism to foment a foreign intervention that produces a change of regime, he continued. The ambassador also blamed Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro and the international media, especially US based media houses, of playing into the conspiracy in order to oust the Maduro led administration. International news organizations were and have been involved in intentionally misleading the public on what was actually taking place in Venezuela, Ambassador Pimentel said. In fact, the international media would not show the mass support, and the large numbers who turned up to support Maduro in a rally that was held on Wednesday (last week), amidst the call by that countrys opposition for the staging of what has been referred to as "the mother of all marches. And having outlined the issue as it existed in his country, the ambassador said that his country denounced regional oligarchies and right-winged governments that had conspired to assault and destabilize Venezuelan democracy. And so, it was with this in mind, that the Government and People of Venezuela were invoking international solidarity with the cause of building its revolution in the service of all Venezuelans. (DD) We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. By Azernews By Gunay Camal Azerbaijan's sovereign wealth fund SOFAZ has considered investment opportunities in France. The issues was among the topics of a meeting between SOFAZ Executive Director Shahmar Movsumov and Florence Mangin, the Director of the Department of Continental Europe at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development in Baku. Movsumov briefed the French delegation on the Funds activities, management of its assets, South Gas Corridor project, Azerbaijans activities on transparency in extractive industries and work to be implemented by the Commission on Transparency in Extractive Industries established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, ongoing economic reforms and measures for maintaining macroeconomic stability and fiscal sustainability, Strategic Roadmaps approved by the President, and answered questions. Being a special purpose state organization, the primary objectives of SOFAZ are to help maintain macroeconomic stability in the country and to generate wealth for present and future generations. SOFAZ earlier announced that it will continue to invest in real estate within its investment strategy on real estate. The share of SOFAZ investments that can be made in real estate is 10 percent of the total investment portfolio. The practice of investing in real estate abroad has already allowed the Fund to acquire Gallery Actor, a mixed-use office and retail complex located on Pushkin Square in Moscow for $133 million, an office complex in London's West End for 177.35 million, a property in Paris for 135 million, Pine Avenue Tower worth $447 million in Seoul and Palazzo Turati office building in Italy, Milan. Earlier during her Baku visit, Mangin met with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. At the meeting shre stressed that two French banks are interested to participate in financing of TAP and major railway projects initiated by Azerbaijan. By Azertac SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev, director of the plant Khayal Jafarov and project manager on behalf of Samsung Engineering Han-su Kim informed the head of state of the construction work. The foundation of the plant was laid by the President of Azerbaijan in December, 2011. Samsung Engineering Co. Ltd won an international open tender to provide engineering, procurement, construction and pre-commissioning services for the plant. The plant will have a capacity to produce 1,200 tonnes of ammonia per day and 2,000 tonnes of urea per day. The President was also informed of the project to build a gas supply system under Sumgayit industrial zone development plan. President Ilham Aliyev toured the plant and viewed construction progress. The project involves a 3,200-strong workforce, including 3,100 Azerbaijani citizens. The plant will create up to 400 permanent jobs. The total cost of the project is 750 million euros. The plant will play a key role in strengthening Azerbaijan`s economy, increasing the country`s export potential and boosting its non-oil sector. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic have discussed ways of developing cooperation as a delegation of Azerbaijani parliamentarians visited Prague. The delegation, led by MP Eldar Ibrahimov, included Mahir Aslanov, Igbal Mammadov and Elchin Guliyev, Azertac reported. During the meetings with Vice Chairmen of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Radek Vondra?ek and Vojtech Filip, the Azerbaijani delegation discussed the Azerbaijani-Czech bilateral relations, prospects for developing interparliamentary cooperation, as well as economic cooperation between the two countries. The meetings with Czech Deputy Minister for Agricultural commodities, foreign relations and organic farming section Ji?i Sir, Chairman of the Senate Committee for Economy, Agriculture, and Transport, agriculture expert Jan Hajda, and Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture of the Czech Parliament Ladislav Velebny featured discussions on the reforms carried out in both countries' agricultural sectors. The Azerbaijani delegation also met with Vice-Director of Czech State Agricultural Intervention Fund (SZIF) Milos Irovski to discuss the establishment of cooperation between the Fund and relevant Azerbaijani authorities. The diplomatic relations between the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan were established in 1993. The two countries actively cooperate in the fields of economy, tourism, culture and education. The Czech Republic ranks the 12th in the list of main importers of Azerbaijani goods. The share of the Czech Republic in the total export from Azerbaijan totaled 2.58 percent in January-November 2016. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic amounted to $316 million in January-November 2016, and $214.4 million of which accounted for the export of Azerbaijani goods to the Czech Republic, according to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee. By Rashid Shirinov The arrested blogger, Alexander Lapshin, met with his lawyer in the infirmary of the Baku Detention Facility No. 1 on April 27. Blogger Lapshin, who owns citizenship of several countries, will stand trial in Baku for his illegal visits to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Lawyer Eduard Chernin told Trend that Lapshin is currently being treated in the infirmary. The treatment continues, he feels fine, there is no deterioration. Lapshin also met with the investigator and got acquainted with the investigation materials. The investigator asked him the necessary questions," Chernin said. The lawyer said that the investigation still continues and its completion is expected in the coming days. Chernin also noted that Lapshin isnt thinking to move to the treatment facility of the Justice Ministry. The lawyer earlier informed that Lapshin complained of pain in the heart and then was taken for examination in a private clinic where he was diagnosed as tachycardia. The blogger illegally visited Azerbaijan`s Armenia-occupied lands and now is charged under the articles 281.2 (appeals directed against state) and 318.2 (illegal border crossing) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. He violated Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012. Helped by his accomplices in the occupied territories, Lapshin paid a number of visits to Azerbaijan`s occupied lands, where he voiced support for "independence" of the illegal regime, and made public calls against Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016. The blogger was arrested in Minsk in late 2016 and transferred to Baku in February 2017. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova The Azerbaijani and Croatian foreign ministries have conducted political consultations. The deputy foreign minister, Khalaf Khalafov, and the assistant minister for European Affairs, Gordan Bakota, led the Azerbaijani and Croatian delegations at the negotiations, Azertac reported. Khalafov stressed speedy development of political dialogue between the two countries, hailing the role of visits and meetings of the heads of state in this process. He noted that Azerbaijan is interested in expanding and deepening cooperation with Croatia in all spheres. Khalafov expressed his confidence that the inter-governmental economic commission will contribute to the development of economic and trade relations. Bakota, in turn, emphasized the importance of continuing joint efforts towards developing economic ties. He stressed the role of President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovi?s visit to Azerbaijan in raising the bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership. President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic visited Azerbaijan in October 2016. During her visit, the Croatian president had bilateral meetings with the countrys leadership and discussed the prospects of cooperation in political, economic and humanitarian spheres. By Azernews By Kamila Aliyeva The construction of new seaport, through which chemical products will be exported, is currently underway in the Turkmen city of Garabogaz of the Balkan velayat (province). Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister for Industry Batyr Ereshov reported on the progress of the ports construction at a government meeting held on April 28. The construction of a modern port facility in Garabogaz on the site of the old one is envisaged by a large-scale project to build a chemical plant producing 1.155 million of carbamide a year. With the commissioning of the enterprise the products will be exported by sea. This project is implemented by the Japanese-Turkish consortium as part of the Japanese company Mitsubishi Corporation and the Turkish construction firm Gap Insaat. Currently, relevant studies of the seabed and the coast of the Caspian have been carried out, and volumes of construction and installation work have been established. The planned productivity of the future port is 3,500 tons of shipment per day. The construction of a plant with an annual capacity of 1.155 million tons of carbamide is expected to be completed in June 2018. About 900 workplaces will be created at the plant. Earlier it was reported that this plant will be the largest enterprise of this kind in Turkmenistan and the cost of the contract is approximately $1.3 billion. Natural gas, on the reserves of which Turkmenistan occupies a leading position in the world, will be the raw material for the enterprise. Meet award-winning artisans and buy their products at Kerala Arts and Crafts Village A man with an extensive history of domestic violence was sentenced Thursday to probation for his most recent offense, though his judge thinks its unlikely he will successfully complete the program. Natrona County District Judge Catherine Wilking sentenced Roger Johnson to three years of supervised probation for a felony strangulation charge. His probation will include in-patient substance abuse treatment, a program at the Casper Re-Entry Center and intense supervision. Wilking said that Johnson had an atrocious criminal history and had attempted almost all of the programs available through the justice system. If Johnson violates a condition of his probation, he will serve up to five years in the state prison. You mess up once, Mr. Johnson, and thats it, she said after handing down her sentence. Ill be surprised if I dont see you before me again. Prosecutors originally charged Johnson with aggravated assault and battery, strangulation, kidnapping and first-degree sexual assault. However, Assistant District Attorney Michael Schafer said they dismissed all but the strangulation charge after the victim told them that the events didnt occur exactly as she had originally reported to police. Prosecutors felt they could definitely prove that Johnson strangled the woman but became less sure about the other charges. Johnson was arrested in October after the woman reported that he had forced her into his car and drove to Wheatland, court documents show. While in the car, she said that Johnson threatened her with a folding knife and said he would kill her. After the two returned home, she said Johnson held a knife to her throat, choked her and forced his hand in her pants to touch her genitals. Schafer said that Johnson had been convicted of at least seven previous felonies, three of which involved violence against women. He said Johnson had been arrested at least 10 times in connection to domestic assault and had been convicted of felonies or misdemeanors in at least seven of those instances. The defendant is obviously a danger to anyone he is in a relationship with, Schafer said. History seems to be repeating itself. Schafer recommended that Johnson be sentenced to five years in prison, the maximum allowed by law. I wish I could recommend a higher amount, he said. In contrast, Johnsons public defender Kurt Infanger recommended a sentence of probation. He said that Johnson needed treatment and counseling for substance abuse and other issues, including anger management. He said Johnson attempted to get treatment while at the Natrona County Detention Center but had been unsuccessful. These problems arent just going to go away, he said. The victim also requested that Johnson get treatment. In a brief and tearful statement Thursday, she told Wilking that Johnson needed to be held accountable but also needed long-term substance abuse treatment. When Johnson spoke at the end of the hearing, he said that based on his previous time in the penitentiary he knew he wouldnt get the help he needed there. He also admitted that he had made a mistake. I want to apologize to (the victim), Roger Johnson said, tears rolling down his face as he turned to look at the woman sitting toward the back of the courtroom. I realize what I did and I hurt the woman who has been here for me unconditionally. Quietly, the woman responded with a shaky thank you. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 2,500 incidents of domestic violence were reported to law enforcement in 2014. Slightly more than half of those reports resulted in arrests, according to the coalition. More than 800 students in Cheyenne are learning in trailers on school campuses, a result of Laramie County School District No. 1s elementary school growth and vanishing state construction funds. Heading into the 2017 legislative session, lawmakers had set aside roughly $42 million to build a new junior high school in Cheyenne. Laramie No. 1 is in the minority of districts in the state because it has continued to experience enrollment growth through the recent economic downturn, to the point where it has encountered overcrowding. Plus, the funding that was available was one-time money; it made sense to use it for a one-time expense, officials said, rather than to pay for an ongoing cost. More money had been allocated to pay for a new elementary school in Teton County, which has roughly 400 students in trailers, otherwise known as modulars, or in overcrowded classrooms. The new buildings in Cheyenne and Jackson would be the latest and, potentially, the last of 25 new schools built by the state this century through coal lease bonus money. Through that funding mechanism, the Legislature has spent more then $2 billion to build and repair schools in recent years. Officials, educators and legislators have said the state probably repaired and replaced schools at a faster clip than needed when the money was flowing. We thought at the last session, OK, well get this funded next time, said John Lyttle, Laramie 1s superintendent. We did think it was going to happen. Change of course But as the Senate debated the bill to appropriate the money to the districts, some legislators expressed preference for maintaining the schools theyd already built, especially now that coal lease bonus money has effectively dried up with no return in sight. Major maintenance of the states school facilities costs around $65 million per year. The state should begin taking care of its existing buildings with what little construction money is left, some lawmakers reasoned, rather than adding to the maintenance bill. Wyomings been very fortunate, and weve been able to keep that red line quite a bit down there, said Sen. Bill Landen, referring to the states low threshold for building maintenance and replacement. We probably need to shift our attention into providing more major maintenance than we already have. Landen, the former chairman and current vice chair of the school facilities committee, said Tuesday there was a philosophical difference between what his committee recommended and what the larger body believed. So, at the end of February, the Senate stripped the funding that would have been used to build Laramie 1s new school. Late attempts by Cheyenne Republicans, like Sens. Tara Nethercott, Stephan Pappas and Affie Ellis, to secure construction money were shot down. Sen. President Eli Bebout said at the time that the district needed to go through the proper process of obtaining funding. But the district had gone through the correct process, officials say. Lyttle said the district has been in the planning process for more than 10 years and has twice studied whether Laramie 1 needs a new school, at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars. During debate in February, Pappas said the work on the school that now wont be built cost taxpayers $6 million. Its a great disappointment, obviously, Lyttle said earlier this week. Were trying to figure out what were going to do. Landen said the Legislatures decision to increase class size should alleviate some pressure in Cheyennes schools. Previously, classroom size was funded by the state at a ratio of 16 students per teacher. But recent legislation repealed that measure. Trailers and new boundaries No new school means there might be more trailers in Cheyennes future. But theyre an inelegant solution, Lyttle and others have said: In the winter, students have to don their coats as they head to some classes because they have to leave the main building. Faculty time is spent ushering students to and from the modulars. Plus, students in the trailers are isolated from the rest of their peers. The district is also re-drawing its boundaries for which students can go to what schools within the district. That means that some students will be sent to a new school next year as the district tries to maximize every space, Lyttle said. Unlike Natrona County, where any student living in the district can ask to attend any school, enrollment in Laramie 1 is tied to where a student lives. Families might have moved to a certain neighborhood so their child could attend a specific school. Re-drawing those boundaries, then, has an impact not just on a student, who may be moved into a new academic and social situation, but also on the whole family. The experience can be so difficult for parents, students and faculty that modulars are preferable, said Eric Jackson, the principal of Saddle Ridge Elementary. Its very difficult to look at families right across from the building knowing that we could use another building in our district and telling them that theyre going to another school, he said. In addition to re-drawing its boundaries and looking at more modulars, the district is also leaving the door open to litigation. Last week, Laramie 1s board passed a resolution authorizing the district to sue the state. While the move follows in the general footsteps of at least three other districts, Laramies has language unique to its predicament. [T]he legislature bears the burden of funding and providing constitutionally adequate facilities to school districts that provide an equal opportunity for a quality education, the resolution read. Wyomings education system and the physical facilities with which to carry on the process of education are not currently being funded according to constitutional mandates and governing law, resulting in harm to this District. The resolution does not state a timeline nor an intent to file suit, Lyttle said last week. But it leaves the door open. In the meantime, the district will continue to grapple with overcrowding issues. Were going to keep talking to our legislative body, Lyttle said. Its going to get worse before it gets better. From the large picture windows of his log home, Mike McMeans watched the Bighorn River rush past the greening spring grass of his front yard last Wednesday. Normally its a soothing scene, but in the record-setting high water year of 2011, the once-placid river rose to within 4 to 5 feet of the deck that extends from his two-story windows. The house, built in 2004, became an island, while the large island across from the house went underwater. For two weeks McMeans and his wife were displaced from their home, which is about 7 miles south of Hardin, Montana. This is setting up like 2011, McMeans said as he gave a tour along the riverbank. Were one rain event away. High water Earlier this week, the Bighorn River was flowing at 11,500 cubic feet per second more than four times the average flow at this time of year. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bighorn River flow at St. Xavier since Nov. 1 is the highest in 81 years of record-keeping. The culprit is a huge snowpack in Wyoming where a predicted runoff about 200 percent of average has sent water into Bighorn Reservoir at a higher rate than it can be evacuated. Managers of Yellowtail Dam, the large concrete gate between Bighorn Reservoir and the Bighorn River in Montana, are in a race against time and nature. Were going to continue to try to push as much water as we can through the system, Clayton Jordan, of the Montana Office of the Bureau of Reclamation, told a gathering of anglers, guides, fly shop owners and homeowners last Wednesday at a meeting in Fort Smith, Montana, just minutes from the dam and river. Were aware some homeowners are being impacted, Jordan said. But with a maximum possible runoff prediction of 2.8 million acre-feet of water the high water year of 2011 saw 2.5 million acre-feet the Bureau is worried about holding too much water in Bighorn Reservoir. On the high end of its April 1 water forecast, the Bureau predicted river releases could hit 12,500 cfs in May and 13,500 by June. At the beginning of April the high end of the Bureaus forecast was just over 10,500 cfs, so that high number has already been exceeded and theres still lots of snow in the mountains and always the chance of heavy spring rainstorms. A religion It seemed appropriate that the roughly 75 people the majority of them anglers were crowded into the community room in the small town of Fort Smiths Baptist church last Wednesday to express their concerns to Bureau of Reclamation officers. In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing, reads the first line in Norman Macleans famed fly-fishing novella, A River Runs Through It. Religion can be a hot-button issue, and so can fly fishing when it comes to flows in the Bighorn River. Thumping at the makeshift pulpit on the warm evening was Anne Marie Emery, executive director of the Bighorn River Alliance, a river and fly-fishing advocacy group. The main targets of her sermon were Jordan and Steve Davies, Montana-area manager of the Bureau. The main theme hammered home by Emery was that the group was tired of the Bureaus conservative water management, holding back water in an attempt to ensure a full reservoir through the summer. She also complained that having the rivers management broken down between Wyoming, where the Bighorns headwaters are located, and Montana is not working for Bighorn anglers. As evidence of this, eight of the last 10 years have resulted in sustained releases over 7,000 cfs, the Alliance complained in a letter delivered to the Bureau and read at the meeting. One would have to look at the prior 24 years to see that happen again. Seven of the last 10 years have resulted in sustained releases over 8,000 cfs. One would have to look at the prior 29 years to see that happen again." The letter criticizes the Bureau for favoring lake users at the expense of homeowners, river anglers and lodges, a complaint thats been aired since the agency reconfigured its operating criteria. Nevertheless, we genuinely feel BOR intentionally favors lake interests in Wyoming over river interests in Montana, despite the overwhelming disparity in number of users, economics, accessibility and most importantly long-term viability, the letter continued. Bureau stance Davies assured the crowd that the Montana and Wyoming offices are in constant contact about managing the high water. Weve been in daily operational mode for two months, he said. We have calls weekly with the Wyoming office. I assure you intensive cooperation is occurring. One angler mumbled, We dont want discussion, we want results. Part of the problem, Davies told the crowd, is that for the past five to 10 years runoff has fluctuated dramatically. Right after 2011s record high water, the Bighorn Basin saw record low inflows. Its very challenging conditions given that the Bureau has relatively new operating criteria meant to try and ensure at least minimal flows for fish in Montanas Bighorn River while also guaranteeing enough water to make Horseshoe Bend Marinas boat ramp usable in Wyomings end of the Bighorn Reservoir. Climate change is factoring into this, Davies said. Were seeing earlier runoffs. We are recognizing earlier temperatures that are much higher. Were looking at modeling efforts to try and document that. None of that mattered to long-time Bighorn fisherman Richie Montella. We used to have a steady flow of 3,500 (cfs), he said, standing to address Davies. We dont need this erratic up and down. Angler and former fly shop owner Gordon Rose also pushed Davies and the Bureau to be more liberal with its pre-runoff water releases from the dam to avoid the wild swings in river flows come springtime. This annual water fight extends back to at least 2006, when lake users began demanding more water for boating in the 70-mile-long Bighorn Reservoir that straddles the Montana-Wyoming border. They were backed by the National Park Service, which manages the land around the reservoir as the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. This year, though, because of the high runoff and high releases out of the dam, it will be later than normal that the boat ramp at Horseshoe Bend Marina will be usable the southernmost ramp. In the long term, Davies said the Bureau of Reclamation is working on mathematical models to better understand water flows based on the variability of mountain snowpack, rainstorms and earlier runoff. That provided little salve to the folks gathered under the Big Horn Baptist Churchs towering white steeple. Some, like Montella, walked out shaking their heads. On the banks Meanwhile, McMeans is dealing with a river that in 2011 ate about 25 feet of bank, forcing him to move an irrigation wellhead back 10 feet. Ive been fighting this since 2009, he said. Roughly 10 years ago we didnt get these high flows for such an extended period of time. He has neighbors with similar concerns, some of whom may lose structures, not just riverbank. The high water is frustrating for such homeowners because the dam was built partly as a means of flood control, the No. 2 concern after generating power. Providing irrigation water is third, and last comes recreation. Following 2011s high water, McMeans added 225 tons of limestone to the bank in front of his house to prevent more loss of his property. Now hes thinking he may need to add additional rock to protect a stretch of bank upstream. Its either riprap or lose your property, he said. The good thing with the riprap is its improving the fishery. I dont have to go anywhere else. A spring storm closed roads across portions of southern and central Wyoming on Friday as snow and wind made travel difficult. The storm caused the shutdown of Highway 16 over the Big Horn Mountains, as well as Highway 20 between Thermopolis and Shoshone, Highway 287 between Rawlins and Lander and Highway 220 between Muddy Gap and Alcova. The Wyoming Department of Transportation cautioned no unnecessary travel on highways throughout the central and eastern portions of the state including interstates 25 and 90 near Buffalo and Highway 59 near Wright. As of Friday afternoon, the storm had dumped more than a foot of snow on Atlantic City and 9 inches on the Powder River Pass in Big Horn County, according to the National Weather Service in Riverton. Three inches of snow fell in Lander, while Buffalo received 6 inches. Casper avoided the brunt of the storm. Snow fell over the Oil City but did not accumulate on local roads during the day Friday. Two inches fell at Casper-Natrona County International Airport, with only an inch in the city itself. A winter storm warning was in effect over Casper until Friday night. The storm should largely leave Wyoming by the weekend. Editor: I grew up in a small town in Nebraska and now live in Laramie. After working summers in Grand Teton National Park, the wildness in Wyoming greatly influenced me to stay in this wonderful state. I have traveled extensively throughout the country as a tour guide and as a national park employee at three parks. There is something extremely special about the West, and especially Wyoming. The ability to escape to the backcountry and connect with the natural beauty of this state is something that I truly treasure. I have become particularly fond of the Red Deserts wilderness study areas in southwest Wyoming. We must continue to protect this unique region. It provides us a wealth of recreational opportunities and an abundance of habitat for wildlife. We have the opportunity to save something that makes this great state so special. I recommend all of us exercise our civic duty by submitting comments on the draft resources management plan for the area, when it is released later this year. All it takes is a simple email or letter sent to the Rock Springs BLM office. Future generations deserve opportunities to enjoy the wilderness, just as I had growing up. So please, lets all do our part to protect what is left. I will continue to fight for our wild lands in this beautiful state that I now call home, as I hope others throughout Wyoming will do as well. We must stand up for our open spaces, or we risk losing the spirit of Wyoming. We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some April 28 papers in history. With a subscription to newspapers.com you can search the Arizona Daily Star and many other newspapers using keywords or dates, and download articles or pages. Catalina United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Speedway, will host a series of lectures on climate change at 3:30 p.m. Sundays, April 30, May 7, May 14 and May 21. The lectures will address climate change, faith and climate change, societal impacts in Bangladesh and Native American perspectives on climate change, respectively, according to press materials. The church also has a Caring for Creation Bible study 6 p.m. Wednesdays May 3, May 10, May 17 and May 24. St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 602 N. Wilmot Road, will host Pascua Yaqui deer dancers in processions that open and close the Solemn High Mass 10:15 a.m. Sunday, April 30 as a way to highlight the work of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona's Council for Native American Ministry. Following the service at 11:45 a.m., food prepared by residents of Old Pascua will be available for sale with plates at $5, according to press materials. This January 2017 file photo shows the exterior views of the new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Tucson. James Michael Moeller has been named president of the temple. As part of the Jewish community's recognition of the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem and the 69th anniversary of Israel's independence, the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road, will host a showing of the National Geographic documentary "Jerusalem" 1 p.m. Sunday, April 30. At 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 30, the Jewish community will discuss "My Israel Moment" on a panel at the community center. A Yom Hazikaron ceremony will follow honoring fallen Israeli soldiers and terror victims. Other activities include a concert by adult and youth choirs at Congregation Anshei Israel, 5550 E. Fifth St. 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 2 and the lecture "Bridging Through Water" 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 7 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. Make reservations for the lecture by Thursday, May 4 at jfsa.org/rosenlecture. An off-duty Border Patrol agent shooting recreationally is being investigated as the cause of the Sawmill Fire, which has burned nearly 47,000 acres and cost more than $1 million to fight so far. In an emailed statement, the Border Patrol did not name the agent but said the agent reported the fire immediately after it began. The U.S. Attorneys Office in Tucson has been given a report on the fire that was done by a U.S. Forest Service investigator, said Jeff Whitney, director of the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, one of three agencies overseeing the firefighting effort, along with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Considering that the individual reported the fire as soon as it started ... as to whether we choose to go criminal (with the investigation) has yet to be determined by the three agencies, Whitney said. The agents self-reporting is a credit to the individual, he added. Its regrettable, Whitney said of the fires cause. Well proceed through the normal channels to see what the possibilities are in the investigation. The National Border Patrol Council, which represents many Border Patrol agents, will not comment until after the investigation is completed, said council spokesman Art Del Cueto. Heidi Schewel, spokeswoman for the Coronado National Forest, also declined to comment on the fires cause. Our investigation is still active and we do not talk about it. That is our policy, she said. The fire began Sunday near Box Canyon about 10 miles southeast of Green Valley and has swept across the Santa Rita Mountains and into ranching grasslands dotted with mesquites south of Interstate 10 and west of Benson. It had burned about 73 square miles an area equivalent to nearly one-third the size of Tucsons city limits but was holding steady Thursday, after previously growing as fast as five miles in a day. Its holding in place. Its not grown much today, Bea Day, a fire incident commander, told more than 200 residents at a Sawmill Fire update meeting Thursday night in the J-6 Ranch community, which is about 7 miles from the fire and remains under a pre-evacuation order. The 46,954-acre fire was 40 percent contained Thursday night and 799 firefighting personnel from multiple agencies were battling it, now under the direction of a top-level Type 1 management team. The blaze isnt secured on its edges, is active on its eastern edge and can change rapidly, fire officials added, saying Friday and Saturday will be critical to the firefighting efforts because of continued high winds. But were confident the fire will hold, Day said. Another red-flag warning will be in place for the region Friday, with wind gusts up to 45 mph expected, according to the National Weather Service. The winds expected Friday afternoon may cause the grounding of aircraft as they did on Thursday because the wind made slurry drops ineffective. Thursday morning, five helicopters and four fixed-wing aircraft did drop slurry and water on the fire, which is one reason firefighters made progress in stopping the blazes growth. Infrared and other technology is also helping them attack hot spots. The $1 million-plus cost figure was provided by Jay Lusher, operations sections chief for the firefighting effort. Officials reopened Arizona 83 through the burn area after the highway had been closed south of Interstate 10 to near Sonoita since Monday. The Cochise County Sheriffs Office assured J-6 Ranch residents at the meeting that if the fire moves closer and evacuations are ordered, deputies will direct traffic and will physically knock on doors to make sure residents get the word to leave. Theyll also patrol any evacuated neighborhoods, they told residents nervous about potential looting. Another community update meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Benson High Schools multipurpose room, 360 S. Patagonia St. in Benson. Residents said theyre ready to move fast. We are all packed and ready to go, said William Hume, 63, a retired government worker. Hopefully the wind stays out west and doesnt turn around. Hume and his wife bought land and a Santa Fe-style home a year ago in the J-6 area. Everybody is a little nervous. But, it is what it is. You cant beat Mother Nature. If you have to go, you have to go, said Hume, who plans to stay with his brother in Tucson if evacuated. Paul Lundberg, a 28-year-old cook, has lived in the J-6 area all his life. He said he was a bit nervous earlier in the week about the fire, but not now. Im ready to go. Im all packed, and if I have to make a move, I will go, he said. Brian Rountree and his girlfriend, Melinda Mathews, were all packed and were beginning a trip to Indiana. Rountree, 55, said he smelled smoke and saw the glow of the fire Wednesday night from Mathews 4.6-acre property, which was left to her by her late father. One of their neighbors moved her 10 horses to a friends place, further from the fire area. My Dad lived here 35 years and added to his manufactured home. I dont know if it will be here when we get back, Mathews said. I hope so, because it was his. An off-duty Border Patrol agent shooting recreationally was involved in the Sawmill Fire, the agency confirmed Thursday. In an emailed statement, the Border Patrol did not name the agent but said the agent reported the fire immediately after it began. All further questions were referred to a state agency. The fire began Sunday afternoon near Box Canyon about 10 miles southeast of Green Valley and has burned 40,000 acres southeast of Tucson. The fire is being investigated as human-caused, said Heidi Schewel, spokeswoman for the Coronado National Forest. The Forest Service's investigator is investigating the cause of the fire for three agencies that have been affected by the fire: Arizona State Land, where the fire began; the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forest Service. She declined to comment further on the cause of the fire and said a report on the blaze will likely take some time to complete. "Our investigation is still active and we do not talk about it. That is our policy," Schewel said. The National Border Patrol Council, which represents many Border Patrol agents, would not comment until after the investigation is completed, said council spokesman Art Del Cueto. First, do no harm. Its a medical principle that members of Congress ought to keep in mind when messing with our health-care system. For Democrats pondering the Republican proposals to replace the Affordable Care Act, the principle is easy to apply. Theyll vote no if they ever get the chance to vote because the replacement plan, the American Health Care Act, is worse than what its intended to replace. It will lead to millions of people losing insurance without many assured benefits other than an end to the dreaded insurance mandate. But for Republicans like Tucsons Rep. Martha McSally, the answer is more complicated. McSally and many other congressional Republicans ran for election on the idea that to use the phrase she and others repeated often Obamacare is collapsing under its own weight. So McSally has taken a tack of trying to fix the problems with the proposed replacements, rather than recognizing that the replacements themselves might be the biggest problem. In March, she helped negotiate changes to the original replacement bill: Getting an additional $15 billion for mothers, newborns and people with mental illness or substance-abuse problems was one. She also has argued for a longer transition from the old Medicaid subsidies to a new, pared-down system. Like much of the congressional GOP, McSally has been wedded since last years campaigns to the idea of Obamacare collapsing, a phrase suggesting that any replacement would be better than the ultimate failure of Obamacare. Voters seemed to accept this point of view. But then a funny thing happened. When President Trump was elected and the public was faced with the possible reality of the Affordable Care Act actually being repealed, it became more and more popular. People began to protest, worrying that under the replacement bill, they would again be denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition or due to impossibly high rates charged in high-risk pools. The idea that insurance companies would no longer be required to cover 10 fundamental services started to worry people. Just as important, further examination has shown that the Affordable Care Act is not collapsing under its own weight. It has major flaws especially the cost of insurance on the ACA marketplaces for people who are not poor enough to qualify for large subsidies. But it is by far better than any alternative presented so far. In its assessment of the American Health Care Act, the Congressional Budget office said this: In CBO and JCTs (Joint Committee on Taxations) assessment, however, the nongroup market would probably be stable in most areas under either current law or the legislation. Get that? The insurance market would be stable under either the American Health Care Act or the existing Affordable Care Act, not collapse. The analysis goes on: Under current law, most subsidized enrollees purchasing health insurance coverage in the nongroup market are largely insulated from increases in premiums because their out-of-pocket payments for premiums are based on a percentage of their income; the government pays the difference. The subsidies to purchase coverage combined with the penalties paid by uninsured people stemming from the individual mandate are anticipated to cause sufficient demand for insurance by people with low health-care expenditures for the market to be stable. Other analyses have found the same thing: There are problems with the private insurance marketplaces that need fixing, but the Medicaid expansion and the overall reduction in the number of uninsured people has been a success. But this week, the House made another effort at reviving the American Health Care Act, this time with changes that appealed to the more conservative Republicans. When it was revealed that one provision would allow members of Congress to opt out of some changes protecting themselves from the weakening of standards under the bill McSally submitted a bill that would remove that provision. Dr. Daniel Derksen, a professor of health policy at the University of Arizonas College of Public Health, told me the amended bill is aking to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. The American Health Care Act would be a catastrophic disaster, said Derksen, who also heads the UAs Arizona Center for Rural Health. Most important, he pointed out, would be the drastic cuts in federal commitments to support state Medicaid programs. This would take us back to having 1.2 million uninsured Arizonans, he said. Theres nothing inherently flawed in the design of the Affordable Care Act, Derksen said. Its a matter of how you can improve on it so that insurers will stay in and customers arent trying to decide whether they have a provider every year. Among the possible improvements: Making it possible for insurance companies and states to agree to participate for longer terms, maybe three years as in other federal programs, so that the year-to-year uncertainty is removed, and doing so across state lines. So, for all McSallys work at trying to improve the Obamacare replacement, perhaps the solution is simpler than tinkering around the edges. Its to do no harm by saying no. High winds have grounded aircraft fighting the Sawmill Fire on Friday, officials said. Fire crews continue working on the ground to fight the fire and increase containment lines around the blaze, which has burned 47,000 acres since Sunday across Southern Arizona. The fire is about 40 percent contained. Officials say high winds expected today could hamper efforts to halt and extinguish the fire burning southeast of Tucson. High winds Thursday forced officials to ground firefighting aircraft. The fire has already crossed one mountain range and burned across a desert valley since it started Sunday south of Tucson, about 10 miles southeast of Green Valley. No injury or structure damage has been reported. About 800 people are assigned to fighting this fire, the largest burning in Arizona now. An off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent is being investigated for possibly starting the fire while shooting recreationally, officials have said. Officials say the agent immediately reported the fire. The University of Arizonas longtime dream of opening a veterinary school wont be coming true any time soon. The proposed project, which received $8 million from state taxpayers in this years budget, is on hold until at least 2019 after the nations veterinary school accreditor rejected the UAs accreditation proposal a second time. The American Veterinary Medical Associations Council on Education first ruled last summer that the UAs plans to create a novel fast-track veterinary school were flawed to the point that students might not receive a high quality education. The UA disputed that its plan was inadequate and spent $10,000 to appeal the decision. On Thursday, the university put out a news release saying it lost the appeal. This was not the decision we hoped for, obviously, but we are not giving up, said Provost Andrew Comrie, who added that the UA plans to continue the quest for accreditation. The university will work with the accreditor to meet or exceed all of its standards and become a program worthy of Arizona and the University of Arizona, he said. The veterinary council could have made the UA wait until April 2018 to reapply for accreditation, but offered instead to accept a new application in June this year. Even so, the process could take 18 months or more and, assuming it goes well, the earliest the new school could open its doors would likely be fall 2019, Comrie said. The UA initially had hoped to start enrolling students in 2015. The UA concept called for veterinarians to be trained in three years instead of four by attending school year-round instead of taking summers off. It also called for much of the training to occur at non-UA locations such as the Reid Park Zoo and the Pima Animal Care Center. In rejecting the UA proposal last June, the accreditor said it met six of 11 quality standards necessary for accreditation. Areas of deficiency included lack of evidence of the programs long-term financial viability, inadequate staffing and recruiting plans, lack of a high-quality research program and concerns that students might not have adequate access to learning opportunities. The accreditor was concerned that the number of animals in need of medical care at the off-site locations might not be large enough to support the training needs of the 100 would-be veterinarians the UA proposed to enroll each year. Although the UA lost the appeal there was one bright spot: The accreditor reconsidered its initial finding that UA lacked a high-quality veterinary research program. That means the university now meets seven of 11 quality standards instead of six of 11. The proposal the accreditor rejected was the brainchild of the UAs Shane Burgess, dean of agriculture and life sciences. Now the UA has hired a veterinary consultant to aid the effort. The consultant, Mark Cushing, is a longtime political strategist, lobbyist, corporate executive and former litigator according to the website of his firm, Animal Policy Group. Comrie, the provost, said Cushing has successfully helped three other educational institutions obtain veterinary school accreditation. The expected cost of Cushings services wasnt immediately available Thursday. The veterinary school was a signature initiative of departing UA President Ann Weaver Hart, who convinced the state Legislature to make an $8 million contribution to the effort after lawmakers initially said no. It wasnt immediately clear how much of the state money has been spent to date. Comrie maintained in an interview Thursday that none was spent, but a UA news release last year said some of the money was already being used to upgrade a site in Oro Valley that would serve as the veterinary schools headquarters. The state funding has allowed the university to begin renovating the School of Veterinary Medicine building in Oro Valley, the Aug. 9, 2016, news release said. Four people were displaced after several apartments were damaged during a Friday morning fire at a complex on Tucson's north side, officials said. A person called 911 shortly after 1 a.m. to report flames coming from an apartment in the area of East Fort Lowell and North Dodge Boulevard. Within minutes, several more 911 calls were made reporting heavy smoke and flames from a specific apartment complex, located in the 3800 block of East Fort Lowell Road, said Capt. Barrett Baker, a Tucson Police Department spokesman. The first fire unit that arrived saw a large fire coming from a second floor apartment, with flames engulfing the entire unit, Baker said. One crew began extinguishing flames from the outside while additional units helped evacuate the adjacent apartments. It took nine units consisting of 23 firefighters to bring the blaze under control within 11 minutes of arriving at the scene. There were no injuries reported by firefighters. The fire damage was confined to the upstairs apartment where the fire started, which was unoccupied at the time, Bakers said. The Red Cross of Southern Arizona is assisting four residents from three neighboring units were displaced because of water, electrical or smoke damage. Mangy coyotes might be roaming your neighborhood, but state wildlife officials say they probably dont need to know about it. The Arizona Game and Fish department says in a news release that while its appreciative of calls from the concerned public . . . unless (the coyotes) are threatening public safety or alive but not moving, AZGFD is discouraging the public from contacting the agency about coyotes with mange. The agency has taken about a dozen calls about nuisance coyotes over the past four weeks, mostly on the citys east side, the release says. But a gnarly-looking coyote on its own isnt enough to call wildlife officials. Urban coyotes are prone to mange because they tend to have weakened immune systems. Eating garbage and other abnormal foods may be part of the problem, said Anne Justice-Allen, the agencys veterinarian and wildlife health program supervisor. We are unable to treat such cases, but know that such diseases are natures way of culling the weak and maladapted from wildlife populations. Neither rabies nor canine distemper was found in any of coyotes the agency examined. Mange is a disease in canines caused by various types of the mites and a symptom of an infected coyote can be lesions and hair loss. Failure of the animals immune system can lead to death, the agency said. Nature lovers, ecology experts and other concerned citizens offered pleas, marked-up maps, family photo albums and even some tears Wednesday night during an emotional public hearing on the future of the Lazy K Bar Guest Ranch. Despite opposition from the public, Maranas planning commission voted for the third time since 2014 to recommend Town Council approval for a plan to turn the historic dude ranch into a 178-home subdivision. Eighteen members of the public spoke out during the hearing about the plan to rezone the Lazy K ranch, but not one voiced support for it. Commissioner Marcia Jakab said their testimonies changed her vote to a nay. Ive sat in this position for almost 10 years, she said before the roll-call vote, which went 4-1 in favor of approval. And even when we had meetings that were approaching midnight about the landfill (a heated Marana rezoning debate in 2010), there was always somebody that came forward that was supporting it. And there was absolutely no support in this audience tonight. But the project developer said she was encouraged there appeared to be fewer opponents in the audience Wednesday night than in the past. I didnt take it as a united front against it, Linda Morales, CEO of The Planning Center, said Thursday. The Tucson design firm, in partnership with developer Greg Wexler, is crafting the Lazy K plan on behalf of the property owners. I felt like it was a better position than weve been in the past two times. The proposal would rezone the ranch site to allow for a subdivision with four times the density allowed under current zoning, which permits about 42 homes one per 3.3 acres or a 600-unit hotel. The new specific plan zoning would allow for about 1.3 homes per acre, with lot sizes ranging from 6,000 to 11,200 square feet. The lot sizes were proposing are absolutely something homebuilders are interested in and buyers are interested in, Morales said. The acre-plus lots are not necessarily selling on the market right now. The latest version of the Lazy K proposal includes at least 60 percent open space, a hiking trail and preserves the original stone homestead and the existing outdoor fireplace, patio and event lawn as a common area. The homes could cost up to $600,000. On May 16, the development and rezoning proposal is scheduled to go before the Town Council, which has already rejected the proposal twice. But for both of those earlier votes, the rezoning plan needed support from a supermajority of council members six of seven members in order to pass. Under state statute, a supermajority is required for zoning changes that are opposed by 20 percent of adjacent property owners. This time, developers found a way to avoid triggering that requirement. The supermajority requirement doesnt apply if the opposition comes from neighbors who are more than 150 feet away from the land being rezoned. So this year, developers added a 150-foot strip of land around the perimeter of the Lazy K property that wont be rezoned. Now the proposal can pass with a simple majority, or four yes votes, and only 103 acres of the 138-acre property will be rezoned. Morales defended the decision to add the 150-foot buffer. The developer was willing to give up 35 acres of the site as natural open space to buffer the property and to take it out of the protest area, Morales told the commission. That 150-foot (condition) was put in by state law because it was deemed to be the area most affected by a zoning change. Local historian Ken Scoville, who opposes the development plan, said the move steamrolls an important check on controversial government actions. The 150-foot buffer does not change the level of opposition to the project, or its impact, he said on Thursday. Were going to circumvent our representative government and the checks put in place, just so we can appease the developer and get the project through, he said. Its just wrong. WILDLIFE CORRIDOR SHRINKING Speaker after speaker told the commission that 178 homes do not belong in the environmentally fragile site. Opponents also said the development disrupts what little remains of a crucial wildlife corridor between the Tucson Mountains and the Tortolitas, despite developers efforts to minimize the projects impact on the crossing. Much of the original one-mile wide wildlife corridor established by Pima Countys Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan is already occupied by high-density housing east of Scenic Drive, said Barbara Rose, a vocal opponent of the Lazy K proposal. Pima Countys conservation plan had protected the Lazy K property until it was annexed into Marana in 2001. Maranas own draft habitat conservation plan was never formally adopted. Lazy K property owners Jim Shiner and Peter Evans have been trying since 2014 to get a plan approved to finally develop their land. The site is a half-mile north of Saguaro National Park West, and is west of North Silverbell Road and south of West Twin Peaks Road. Opponents are also concerned about increased traffic in the area and the impact of reopening Scenic Drive, which runs along the eastern edge of Lazy K, where walkers, cyclists and wildlife are common. The commissions recommendation included the condition that a covenant be enacted to ensure the open space established in the site plan will be enforced by a third-party, such as the Arizona Land and Water Trust. Before casting her yea vote, commissioner Terry Fehrmann said, In review of this plan, I will tell you its greatly improved from two years ago. She called the plan acceptable, noting the developers have made many compromises, including keeping all homes single-story. Scoville said the apparent lack of enthusiasm about the subdivision plan is telling. Everybodys like, Well, it could be worse, he said. Is that the way you develop a city? A man rescued two kittens from the approaching Sawmill fire Thursday, after he heard them crying in his yard as the fire drew closer to his property, officials said. The good Samaritan saw no signs of the kittens' mother, so he caught them and took them to the Human Society of Southern Arizona, spokeswoman Vanessa Ford wrote in a news release. The kittens will be fostered and cared for until they're ready to be adopted. We want anyone affected by the fire to know that if they find a stray animal, they can bring that animal to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona," said Brandy Burke, Chief Operations Officer. "This includes, not just dogs and cats, but smaller animals like domesticated rabbits, who may be displaced because of the fire." The Humane Society is able to care for animals affected by disasters like the Sawmill Fire because of the group's disaster relief fund, Ford said. We are currently on standby to assist with the domestic pet evacuees of the Sawmill Fire," Ford said. "Were in close contact with Pima County and the Southern Arizona Red Cross Chapter, actively monitoring this situation. Anyone who finds a stray animal in the area of the Sawmill Fire can contact the Humane Society at 327-6088 ext. 111. The U.S. Postal Service is releasing its first thermochromic ink stamp to commemorate Augusts all-American eclipse. Rub the stamp, which features a photo of a total eclipse of the sun, and the heat from your finger will reveal a photo of the moon. Both images were taken by astrophotographer Fred Espenak of Portal, Arizona. Espenak is excited about the stamp, even more so about the eclipse, which will traverse the United States from Oregon to South Carolina. Espenak has observed total eclipses on seven continents. His wife, Patricia, is also a total-eclipse aficionado. The couple met 20 years ago while viewing an eclipse in India. The August event will be a great opportunity to interest larger numbers of Americans in eclipses and astronomy, Espenak said. He expects folks from across the country to travel to the path of totality. Its great to have one in our backyard, he said. Fred will travel 1,066.7 miles for his backyard experience, viewing the all-American eclipse on Aug. 21 from a gathering in Casper, Wyoming. Thats still much closer than some of his eclipse jaunts. In 2003, he boarded an icebreaker to catch the path of an eclipse in Antarctica. Patricia Espenak will travel 1,557.5 miles to view the eclipse with the couples two granddaughters in Corvallis, Oregon. Fred Espenak said the girls, 8 and 11 years old, have already been indoctrinated into the eclipse cult. Solar astronomer Matt Penn was enthusiastic about the stamp, which will be released June 20, the date of the summer solstice. Penn, of the National Solar Observatory, is leading a campaign that has enlisted hundreds of students and amateur astronomers to make a movie of the all-American eclipse. He said the event is an opportunity for millions of Americans to learn about solar science. The upcoming eclipse is very exciting, and it gives solar physicists a chance to show a lot of taxpayers exactly what we study, he said. During totality, millions of people will be able to see the solar corona, sculpted into beautiful shapes by the suns magnetic field, he said. The corona, the plasma surrounding the sun, is usually unseeable, but becomes visible during a total eclipse to those under the full shadow of the moon. Help India! By Shafeeq Hudawi, TwoCircles.net Kozhikode: What do you notice the most when you visit cities like Delhi and Mumbai? The bustle of these cities, the endless flow of people on the streets, or the tall buildings? For 26-year-old Jabir Karat, a resident of Kozhikode, it was the pile of wastes that cluttered and choked these cities which were most visible. So, he decided that he would try to save his own city, Kozhikode, from facing a similar future even though he had little experience in this field. Support TwoCircles Jabir came to the Capital in 2007 to pursue his education, and enrolled in Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, in the History stream and followed it by completing his Masters from Delhi University. It was during his college days that Jabir spent some time in Mumbai, where he worked for the educational empowerment of slums after receiving Gandhi fellowship by Kaivalya Education Foundation of New Delhi. This period turned out to be a turning point in Jabirs life. During his stay, Jabir had to visit slums, surrounded by dumping yards. It was Mumbai, which instigated the thought about a clean and green India. I knew that the country was being urbanized and industrialized, leading to the production of huge wastes. But the lack of an effective mechanism to manage the mounting wastes had earned our country the bad reputation of being one of the worlds most polluted countries. I wanted to rectify that image, the 26-year-old said. So, in 2014 he returned to Kozhikode and started Green Worms. Jabirs entrepreneurship now has a turnover of Rs 15 lakh a month. The company, which has been registered as a sustainable NGO, has 48 employees and an 18,000 square feet unit to deal with the waste collected from households, events, restaurants, hospitals and local self-governing bodies. For Jabir, managing waste is not a mere job to earn profits. Its a mission for a good cause, which he terms social entrepreneurship. People were staring at me when I started this initiative. They wondered why a History student wanted to do something. But I didnt care because I was well aware of my duties to the country, Jabir says. But conceptualising a business plan is nothing compared to getting finances for the same. Jabir is the son of a daily wage labour and hence found it tough to get the finance for his initiative. Fortunately, Jabir found an investor in his friend and relative Shameer Babu. Shameer invested the initial capital of Rs 6 lakh. Now in its third year, Jabirs clients include 38 residential apartments, eight hospitals, 80 residents associations, three panchayats and 18 hotels. Jabirs employees collect waste from these places and segregate it at his unit at West Hill in Kozhikode. Food waste is converted to fertilizers for organic farming while plastic is recycled. Unrecyclable plastic is handed over to construction firms to make tar. Besides this, Jabir is also running workshops to train people hosting big events how to minimise food wastage. In a recognition of his initiative, Kerala Finance Minister Dr. Thomas Isaac visited Green Worms last year and wrote a long post on his Facebook page hailing Jabir and his work. If all things go as planned, Jabir will sign a MoU with the district administration to scientifically dispose of the waste produced by the entire Kozhikode. Help India! By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net A five-member Samajwadi Party delegation that visited Saharanpur to investigate the violence happened in the city on April 20 has alleged that Saharanpur MP Ram Lakhanpal Sharma asked the police to fire on the Muslims. Support TwoCircles According to the delegation, Sharma said, Fire on these pigs (Muslims). I am the captain here and I am ordering you. I have the government in the state now. This allegation was confirmed by some of our police sources, while other sources were unable to recall the exact words of MP as it was chaotic all around. SP delegation also alleged that when the police force did not follow the orders of Ram Lakhanpal Sharma, his younger brother Rahul Lakhanpal Sharma grabbed the collar of some officers on the spot and threatened them. That was the moment when MP, his brother, and their supporters started violence against Police officials. On April 20, MP Ram Lakhanpal Sharma and his supporters carried out a procession in respect of B R Ambedkar in Saharanpur, even after the administration denied them giving the permission to carry out the procession. When the procession march entered the Dudhali village which has more than 85 percent populations of Muslims and 15 percent of Schedule Castes, the BJP members started passing derogatory comments against the Muslim community. When police tried to intervene, the matter got worse and participants of the march started torching vehicles and public property SP delegation, however, also claimed that the Police took action after SP MLA Sanjay Kumar Garg informed the then DGP Javeed Ahmad. But Police took Suo moto action against rioters as is evident from local sources and police claims. Arkansas, one of the more backward of US. states by many measures such as education and economy is rushing to kill off death row inmates in an unprecedented rush to Execution just to meet a May first deadline. Why Arkansas? Why rushed executions? But the most concerning aspect, that is for those other than the condemned men, is just why there is such a rush to execute these men and it all boils down to the FDA. That's right, the Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency charged with keeping drugs safe. You see, most other countries are less than enthusiastic when it comes to supporting the barbaric act of killing people instead of keeping them in prison and are refusing to send the chemicals necessary for execution by lethal injection. US drug companies likewise won't supply the drugs. The result of that unwillingness by drug companies is that the last stockpile of lethal drugs in Arkansas is nearing its expiration date. In fact, the most critical drug expires in just a few days which is why the rush to execute these men in the final week. Think about it for a second. To add to the absurdity of actually having the state killing people we have the ridiculous notion that a drug being used to kill someone in a lethal injection wont be safe to use if it is one day past its expiration date. Perhaps the state of Arkansas is concerned that the expired drugs will make the person ill, perhaps give them an upset stomach before killing them? But that's the law. Because of FDA rules and state laws Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has demanded that the state carry out eight executions in the final eleven days before the drugs expire. Execution by poison. While people in various parts of the country are dying in record numbers of drug overdoses from illegal or even legal opioids (narcotics), the state of Arkansas cant legally execute (kill) any prisoner by simply giving them an overdose of heroin which would knock them out almost instantly and end their lives painlessly in a matter of seconds. Instead a series of poisons must be administered in a specific sequence to finish the execution and those drugs must be legal, not expired, and can only be administered by a doctor or under a doctor's orders which, of course violates the basic oath of a doctor to "first, do no harm.". Any drug pusher in the country could execute these men painlessly using just what they carry in their pocket inventory, but the government rules don't permit that, although they do permit, nay, encourage killing citizens, something only a few countries still do. In 2015 Fiji, Madagascar, the Republic of Congo, and Suriname all banned executions, leaving the top five countries that still execute people: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the United States of America. What drugs exactly? The execution drug which is about to expire at the end of the month is midazolam which in small doses, one one-hundredth that given to inmates, causes amnesia and acts as a tranquillizer and is used in surgery. In massive doses, it is thought by some medical experts to sometimes enhance pain. Vecuronium bromide is the second drug. It is used in surgery to prevent the patient from moving - in other words, it paralyses the patient. If the person were awake and not on a mechanical ventilator (the situation during an execution) this has been compared to drowning because it also prevents breathing. The final drug is potassium which stops the heart from beating. Some victims of this execution protocol have been seen to go into convulsions when one or more of the drugs didnt act as expected. Consider how much easier it would be to just give a fatal dose of heroin, but that would be against the rules. Drug companies do not advertise their involvement in executions. The US Census was expected to include LGBTQ people starting with the 2020 survey as the community got excited that everybodys sexual orientation and gender identity would be acknowledged as a report was published detailing which new categories would appear the next time the survey comes around. However, those hopes were swiftly crushed as the US Census people came forward to say that the inclusion of those woke categories was inadvertent. Sarah Kate Ellis, the CEO of LGBTQ media monitoring organisation GLAAD, blames President Donald Trump. She says its a systematic effort by Trumps administration to erase LGBT people. Census Bureau isnt bowing to pressure to include LGBTQ people Last year, the feds started to put pressure on the Census Bureau to include LGBTQ peoples identities in the data they collect, because its important. Theres been a US Census every decade since 1790 (which was only a few years after America became America, so its a bit of a longstanding tradition). They collect data about the languages people speak and what plumbing facilities they use in their houses, so why not their sexuality and identified gender? As usual, the Democrats in Congress had the right idea. They pushed for focused census questions about gender identity and sexual orientation so that new legislation could be passed with a better understanding of the LGBTQ, thus making American LGBTQ citizens lives easier. National LGBTQ Task Force responds A response has been issued by the National LGBTQ Task Force, whose Criminal and Economic Justice Project Director, Meghan Maury, said that Trumps White House has taken yet another step to deny LGBTQ people freedom, justice, and equity. She also spoke of the importance of the data collected in the US Census, since the information the Census Bureau receives assists in the enforcement of legislation such as the Violence Against Women Act and the Fair Housing Act, as well as helping in the distribution of resources like housing supports and food stamps. So, she says if the US government will not accept LGBTQ people and open themselves to information about how many there are in the country, then it cannot do its job to make sure minorities receive a fair treatment, and adequate access to necessary rights, protections, and services. She has called upon Trump and his team to advertently collect information on LGBTQ people, and also wants Congress to conduct oversight hearings to find out why Trumps administration decided at the last second to deny LGBTQ people their right to existence. US President Donald Trump has announced that theres a potential major conflict coming against North Korea, although his preferred way of dealing with the Kim Jong-un situation would be tactful negotiation, which isnt exactly Trumps forte. The delicate crisis were dealing with here is Kims itchy trigger and his penchant for nuclear weapons and his adamant determination to create a missile capable of being launched from North Korea and reaching the United States. Obviously its in Trumps best interests that this doesnt happen. The Trump administration has spent all week trying to suppress the military muscle in Pyongyang and the irresponsible nature of Kim and his typically reckless antics, specifically to get them to stop testing intercontinental missiles. It seems as though that was a losing battle and theyve packed that in as Trump has come forward to admit that a major, major conflict may be on its way with the Asian dictatorship. This comes at the back end of Trumps first 100 days as President Trumps campaign was very first-100-days-heavy, but hes been mostly ignoring the milestone as he hasnt accomplished anywhere near what he promised he would on the campaign trail. Instead, hes warning his country about the nuclear war he may have begun. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has announced that the US is prepared for face-to-face negotiations with Kim and his people, but that if these talks are to take place, Kim would have to be ready to consider throwing out all of his nuclear arms. Of course the US will not do the same, because theyre selfish. The White House is only announcing that its open to negotiation now because Admiral Harry Harris, whos in charge of the US Pacific Command, told the Senate that the North Korea situation is in the worst condition hes ever seen it. Thankfully, Trump agreed, and hes finally taking the Kim Jong-un situation with the gravity it deserves, because this is very serious stuff were talking about, and very dangerous waters were heading into. The conflict is not a given theres just a chance Luckily, this major, major conflict with North Korea isnt guaranteed. Trump only warned that there would be a chance of such a conflict, but it hopefully wont get to that stage. Trump also said, to Reuters, that he and his administration would love to solve things diplomatically, but admits that this is very difficult to accomplish. However, Trump did note a plus side to the situation, because the Chinese President Xi Jinping has agreed to join forces with the US in pressuring Kim to get rid of his nukes. Xis cooperation may have something to do with the friendship that Trump claims the two are forming, or Xi could have been impressed by the missile strike Trump called on Syria following President Assads chemical attack on his own people when Xi was staying with Trump at his Florida resort and thought to himself, This guy means business. I like this guy. And now here we are. Trump believes that Xi is trying very hard to figure out the North Korea crisis because he doesnt want turmoil and death to come to his people. The US President lauded the Chinese President as a good man...a very good man, who he has gotten to know very well over his first handful of months in the Oval Office. He also noted Xis patriotism and love for his own country, saying that he loves China and he loves the people of China, which is something he probably believes they have in common, and Trump supporters certainly agree, but its debatable given what hes done to his people with some of his policies. Trump also said that while Xi would like to be able to do something about North Korea, its possible that he cant. How cheeky. The Chinese navy came up after the victory of communism over the nationalists. The Chinese are fast learners and bought an old Soviet-era aircraft carrier from Ukraine.The warship was refurbished and commissioned into the Chinese navy as the Liaoning. The warship became operational in 2016. The Chinese did some reverse engineering and started work on a second aircraft carrier in2014. The warship has now been completed. It was constructed at the North Chinese shipbuilding yard at Dalian.The Chinese have so far only completed the hull which was launched two days back. The various systems that are required for an aircraft carrier are not yet ready and it will take another three years before they are operational. At the earliest, the warship can be ready for combat duty only by 2020. They would be the second navy in the world to operate more than one aircraft Carrier. The UK, France, Russia, and India maintain only one. Chinese aircraft carrier The Chinese Aircraft Carrier is, however, not a match for the American carriers. Firstly, it just displaces 50,000 tons which are half the tonnage of the American Nimitz-class warships, that displace nearly 100,000 tons. The Chinese warship is powered by a gas turbine power plant, unlike American ships which are nuclear powered. This is likely to lead to severe limitations of range and endurance of the Chinese warship. The Chinese warship also carries 24 Nimitz classJ-20 Chengdu Fighters and 12 helicopters compNimitz-class careers like the Carl Vincent which carry 90 operating aircraft. In such a scenario, the Chinese aircraft carrier practically will be no match for the US carrier fleet. However, the warship can overawe the nations in the China Sea like the Philippines, North Vietnam, and the island state of Formosa. As per reports, the Chinese are constructing two more carriers but they are also conventional warships with limited tonnage. China has shown its intent to match US navy power in the Pacific. But the Chinese are ahead of India which is also constructing an indigenous aircraft carrier but delays means it will see the light of the day only by 2024 Future Operating an aircraft carrier requires perfection and the Chinese do not have much expertise in using aircraft carriers. The US Navy has been operating such warships for close to 100 years. For the Chinese navy to match the US expertise, will take decades. China is building feverishly, not only carriers but other warships as well. The United States must be wary of the Dragon. Under no circumstances can China be a considered a friend of the USA, despite all the handshaking at Trump's resort in Florida. Donald Trump: 100 days in the White House On the occasion of his first 100 days in the White House, Donald Trump has granted an interview to the Reuters agency in which he warned of the possibility of a "serious, serious conflict" with North Korea for the nuclear programs at his hands The Kim Jong-un regime. The US president Donald Trump has addressed a wide range of political and personal issues and has admitted that it was not expected that the presidency of the country would be so complicated. Trump: North Korea can have serious conflict "There is a possibility that we end up having a serious, serious conflict with North Korea," Trump stressed. The leader has said that although he would like to resolve the tension with the Pyongyang regime peacefully and through diplomacy, that option is "very difficult". Donald Trump has called North Korea its biggest global challenge.Washington has asked China to mediate with the Kim Jong-un regime. In this regard, Trump has called on his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, whom he described as "good man", to make every possible effort in that direction. "I think he's trying hard, I know he'd like to be able to do something about it," he said. Donald Trump: Why we spend more on Climate change? On climate change, a phenomenon that Donald Trump has denied, he has lamented the bad treatment that the US considers received at the Paris climate summit and has advanced that within two weeks he will make public its decision on whether the US remains in the agreement or not. The president says he is willing to keep the country in the pact as long as Washington achieves better conditions. Trump believes that China, India or Russia do not pay enough to help the least developed countries fight climate change. "It's not fair because these countries pay almost nothing and we (the US) are paying huge amounts of money," he said. "We want a fair deal," he has clinched. Trump on budget problems Donald Trump has been quiet about the possibility of a closure of the Administration because of budget problems. "If there is a closure, there is a closure," he said on the eve of the deadline for Congress to reach an agreement on public spending that would avoid the closure. Donald Trump: I though it will be easier In a more personal reflection, Trump has admitted that he thought that presiding over the United States would be "easier" and that he was surprised how complicated it is to preside over the country. "I loved my previous life, I had so many things going on, this is more work than I had in my previous life, I thought it would be easier," he said after revealing that he misses things like driving and feels In a bubble. Brooklyn is definitely a hot travel destination featuring its line of boutique hotels, art style restaurants, and trendy cocktail bars as well as the famous Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Prospect Park stroll. But the city has got a snazzy new attraction, an a la carte Bookstore owned by novelist Emma Straub. This is not an ordinary bookshop as it has indie credentials, literary roots and a fan base of Brooklyn resident writers. The store is located on Smith Street in Cobble Hill neighborhood and is named 'Books Are Magic' to tap into the literary mystique of the area. A lot of tourists visit bookstores and this new shop offers a snazzy pastime for visitors to Brooklyn after some hot coffee or a pleasant neighborhood walk. Cultural tourism enterprise The bookstore ranks with other a la carte stores in the country like Parnassus in Nashville, Sky Light in Los Angeles and Elliot Bay bookstore in Seattle. The owner hopes that Books Are Magic will feature on travel itineraries in the area as the store is like a "hyper-local" cultural enterprise and tourists and locals do find browsing books an enjoyable pastime. The store comes as a boon after the closure of Book Court in the area that served indie literature. It has been a guiding light for cultural tourism in the area. The idea of founding an indie bookstore when big stores like Barnes & Noble closed branches in New York might appear a bit daunting but shops like Book Court also did encouraging business by relying on booksellers and the publishing world network. Modern social media approach Like author Ann Patchett, who owns bookstore Parnassus, author owned Books Are Magic is definitely an encouragement in the list. Such stores stand up for books, for culture and novelty tourism besides encouraging local talent. Books Are Magic branded pens will also be sold beside paperback books to cater to both the traveler and local interests. There is also a modern approach to the launch through using social media on the internet. There, they can create a fan following and community building of fans by forming memberships and Brand tote bags. The owner authors husband is a graphic designer who designed branded pens, the tote bags and mugs offered by the store. The space is not supposed to be uber-Brooklyn hipster but pretty minimal with couple of places to sit and delve into books. There is also a store wall mural and a neon pink Books Are Magic sign. Since the day Donald Trump kicked off his campaign for president, he's had an issue with the mainstream media. Fast forward to two months into his presidency and Trump's relationship with the press is only getting worse, which was evident during his latest rant on Twitter. Trump on media On the day Donald Trump announced his plans to run for president, he stood at a podium inside Trump Tower in New York City and labeled illegal immigrants from Mexico as "rapists" and "murderers." As expected, the media was quick to hit back at Trump's language, which resulted in backlash from the press and millions of Americans who would go on to refer to the future president as a bigot. In response, the former host of "The Apprentice" started his feud with the press, who he believed took his words out of context, which would be a theme that would continue over the rest of his campaign, and into his time in office. Following his election last November, Trump's feud with reporters and journalists only got worse, with the president now referring to the media he doesn't agree with as "fake news." As seen on his Twitter account on March 29, Trump is not done with his criticism of the press. Remember when the failing @nytimes apologized to its subscribers, right after the election, because their coverage was so wrong. Now worse! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2017 To start off his Wednesday morning, Donald Trump took to Twitter to criticize the press for their recent reporting of his administration. "Remember when the failing @nytimes apologized to its subscribers, right after the election, because their coverage was so wrong," Trump tweeted out, before adding, "Now worse!" If the people of our great country could only see how viciously and inaccurately my administration is covered by certain media! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2017 While Donald Trump's first social media message was a specific attack on the New York Times, his follow-up tweet was more vague. "If the people of our great country could only see how viciously and inaccurately my administration is covered by certain media!," he concluded. Next up Though Donald Trump continues to pick fights with various media and news outlets, he has bigger issues to deal with in the White House. There's currently an investigation taking place in the House Intelligence Committee regarding Russia's impact on the election in favor of the president, while Trump is also forced to unify his own party who can't seem to come together on various issues, most notably the Republican Party's failed attempt at health care reform. One of the biggest hurdles Donald Trump has been forced to overcome has been convincing people that he is knowledgeable about global political issues. While the president has had a difficult time doing so, his press secretary is attempting to make the case for him. Spicer on Trump One aspect of a candidate being successful at running for president is their ability to show knowledge of World Affairs and what is going on in other countries, especially in how it relates to the United States. At times during his campaign, Donald Trump struggled when it came to giving detailed responses to general questions that are expected of a presidential candidate. However, the former host of "The Apprentice" was able to weather the storm and make it to the White House. Since being sworn into office last January, Trump has clashed with various word leaders, most recently being his awkward visit with German Prime Minister Angela Merkel. Earlier this week, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed his concern that Trump was so supportive of last year's Brexit vote in the United Kingdom, which was a highlighted issue during the March 28 press briefing at the White House. While taking questions from reporters, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer did his best to make Donald Trump appear as if he was well versed in global issues, while claiming he was a "leader' in making the Brexit vote a success. "I think the president is very well steeped in world affairs, especially Europe, NATO, all of the issues," Spicer said of Trump. Not stopping there, Spicer went on to give the billionaire real estate mogul questionable credit on Brexit. "He (Trump) was a leader in the effort to call Brexit, as you know," he continued, before offering the president's full support of the United Kingdom. Moving forward After just two months as commander in chief, Donald Trump and his team are doing all they can to twist recent controversy in their favor. Whether it's international affairs, the ongoing Russian scandal, failed health care reform, or questionable executive orders, it looks like Trump will continue to have a tough road ahead of him for the foreseeable future. Unless Democrats and Republicans can reach a compromise on spending, the United States government will face a certain shutdown. In addressing the issue, Donald Trump knows exactly who he has decided to blame. Trump on Twitter In recent years, American politics has become so partisan that the possibility of a government shutdown is now a routine worry in Washington. Following the 2016 presidential election, the political divide among the American people and their elected officials has only widened, making "compromise" the ultimate dirty word as breaking from the party line on the left or right is now seen as betrayal, and could end a political career in the process. With Donald Trump approaching his 100 days in office, he's gone through ups and downs, with various controversies hanging over his head. From the growing Russian scandal, to in-fighting with high-level members of his own administration, to some of his most questionable executive orders being blocked by the court, the former host of "The Apprentice" has not had the smoothest transition into the White House. With a government shutdown a real possibility at the end of the week, the president used his Twitter account on April 27 to lash out over the issue at hand. The Democrats want to shut government if we don't bail out Puerto Rico and give billions to their insurance companies for OCare failure. NO! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017 Taking to his Twitter feed on April 27, Donald Trump decided to shift all the blame of a government shutdown onto the Democrats, while also dragging Puerto Rico into the equation. "The Democrats want to shut government if we don't bail out Puerto Rico and give billions to their insurance companies for OCare failure," Trump wrote on Twitter, before adding, "NO!" Congress Likely To Avoid Government Shutdown (At Least For Another Week) https://t.co/nJbwPw1kcZ NPR Politics (@nprpolitics) April 27, 2017 Twitter reaction In response to Donald Trump's tweet, social media users were quick to give their thoughts and didn't hold back. "YOU LITERALLY JUST TWEETED THIS THE OTHER DAY! STOP!" writer Jules Suzdaltsev tweeted out, before attaching a screen shot of a previous Trump tweet that was nearly identical to his latest. @realDonaldTrump Finish your morning dump without Twitter, wipe up, and go do something productive with your day, you small-minded twerp. Mike P Williams (@Mike_P_Williams) April 27, 2017 "Just so you know, Republicans control The White House (that's you) and the Senate & the House. Nobody knew governing could be so complicated," author Brian Klass wrote in response on Twitter. "Finish your morning dump without Twitter, wipe up, and go do something productive with your day, you small-minded twerp," writer Mike Williams tweeted out. @realDonaldTrump Here are some fun facts: You're not actually a king, you don't get to spend my money like you are a king. You are an employee, act like it Kevin (@TheKevinDent) April 27, 2017 @realDonaldTrump Just so you know, Republicans control The White House (that's you) and the Senate & the House. Nobody knew governing could be so complicated Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) April 27, 2017 "Democrats can't shut down government, dummy. GOP controls all three branches. If it closes, it's your fault," editor Alex Zaiben noted. The negative reaction continued in response to Donald Trump's tweet, as it was clear that many Americans have decided to blame the president and Republicans if a government shutdown were to take place. Former First Lady Michelle Obama made her first speech since leaving the White House. She and former President Barack Obama came out this week to give speeches. He spoke to a group of youth leaders in Chicago on Monday. On Thursday, April 27, Mrs. Obama spoke at the America Institute of Architecture Convention in Orlando. The very first thing she said was that she would never run for a political office. She made that admission because people had been speculating and suggesting that she should get involved in politics. No cameras were allowed during the event to hear Obama speak to the group, according to CNN. However, it was reported that the wife and mother was very clear when she said she wouldn't ask her children to do that again. She added that politics is tough and it is hard for everyone when one member of the family gets involved in politics. Two simple things The speaker cited two things she and her children are able to do now that they haven't done in eight years. She said she can open the door when they have visitors, and her children are able to open their windows if they like. Those are little things most people take for granted, but they were not able to do those simple things in the White House. Also, it is good not to have the weight of the country on their shoulders. Rather than running for office, Obama said she will help the country while staying a private citizen. She stated that she will continue to be involved with young girls and women who are facing difficulties with healthcare, violence, education, finances and other related matters. Departure from White House Speaking about their family's departure from the White House, the 53-year-old mother of two daughters confessed that it was very difficult for her entire family. They had been there for eight years and it was the place where her daughters grew up. She said Malia, 18, and Shasha, 15, had tears in their eyes on the day they were leaving. However, they are adjusting well since they moved from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Next speech Mrs. Obama's next speech is scheduled for May 5. She will attend a College Signing Day event at The Public Theater in New York City to celebrate high school students pursuing higher education. There is a long list of celebrities who will be with Obama on this occasion. More than 200 New York City high schoolers will also be there. There will also likely be other speeches that the former president and his wife will be giving in the near future. Disgraced retired General Michael Flynn has serious legal troubles that are growing by the day, which could result in his ending up in jail. In the latest twist in the drama surrounding Trump's former national security adviser, the Department of Defense's inspector general is looking into taking improper payments to him from foreign governments after his retirement from the Army. Those payments are strictly prohibited by law. The DOD's inspector general sent a letter on April 1 to the Republican Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Jason Chaffetz. The letter said in part that it was looking into whether General Flynn had "failed to obtain required approval" before accepting payments from foreign governments. even as a retired officer, he could not accept payments unless "congressional consent is first obtained." His lawyer has indicated claims that his client, General Flynn, informed the DOD that he would be traveling to Russia, but he was not specific whether the government was told he would be paid. $45,000 Russian payment from Russia under DOD scrutiny The required disclosure form filled out by General Flynn to become the National Security Adviser was released by the Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Elijah Cummings. In January of 2016, Flynn filed an SF-86 in order to renew his security clearance. Payments from foreign governments should have been revealed there but General Flynn did not, failing to mention a $45,000 payment he received from Russia to attend an RT dinner. That money was for attending a dinner that included him seated next to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Michael Flynns latest legal problems: a brief guide https://t.co/I7MIC8ExLT Vox (@voxdotcom) April 27, 2017 The issue isn't accepting the money, which is not illegal, but failure to disclose the payment and not seeking permission to accept them. Vox.com reports that Steve Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas specializing in these national security matters, General Flynn could receive jail time and get "locked up." The crime would be lying to federal investigators in making a "materially false" statement. U.S. Attorney Jeff Sessions likely will recuse himself from The matter would go to the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has already recused himself from these "Russian/Trump-related matters." Should AG Sessions go back on his word, he would create a political firestorm. In an incredible twist, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer blamed former President Obama for the General Flynn controversy. He blamed Obama for giving him security clearance in 2015. A former Obama administration communications director, Jen Psaki, called the charge from Spicer as "absurd." Sean Spicer is now blaming the Obama administration for Michael Flynns security clearance https://t.co/Tb1ZuLNJSB Salon (@Salon) April 28, 2017 On Thursday the #United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had opened a door to the #North Korean regime to negotiate when President Trump sidestepped in with the sort of martial-sounding threats against the North that the Oval Office has tried to avoid until now. Putting his foot in it, again On the 100th day in his office, #Trump mouthed off that America could in fact end up having a major conflict with North Korea, as he expressively told Reuters during his 100 day celebrations. This is not the sort of diplomacy that one would expect of an American president; it is impulsive, off record and also grossly indiscreet. Seen in the most positive way, this was Trump trying to pressure the #North Korean regime into freezing its nuclear missile tests, those experiments that have amped up in the past few years and months and caused the White House no end in speculation and anxiety about the country's aims. If the #North Korean regime did freeze its steps, this would be seen as the first step toward embarking once again on the sort of negotiations that Rex Tillerson, the clearly hampered Secretary of State, had referred to that morning. Other analysts and political pundits, however, have speculated that perhaps Trump was indulging in the sort of 'madman theory' that can circulate in the play book of powerful men, the idea that a mad president is so dangerous that he can get his way during global diplomatic negotiations by freaking the enemy out. The madmen playbook The idea if the "madman president" was what President Trump and many of his right-hand aides apparently so love about President Richard Nixon's tenure as president. Nixon persuaded the anarchic Ho Chi Minh, a troublesome North Vietnamese leader, that he could in fact be so unhinged that he may indeed drop the bomb if they didnt in fact resolve a way to conclude and end the horrifying Vietnam War. This, of course is one theory. The most likely justification about his dramatic diplomacy is that President Trump, who has until this week mostly circumvented the bait-and-switch that the North Korean regime produces with its alarming decries of war and violence, simply gave in to his old behavior trait: trying to sound as tough as the enemy. This is an issue however in that it doesnt align with the message that the Oval Office has been proclaiming in the past week, and that message has been that no pre-emptive strikes have been premeditated or strategized against the North Korean country, and that diplomacy talking and negotiating is the preferred method of the administration. The president's aides have routinely referenced an integrated strategy of escalating military and financial compression to make the regime engage in diplomatic talks with the United States. The overall objective of this sort of method is to bring the leader #Kim Jong-Un to his senses, and not to his knees, as Harry Harris Jnr told the New York Times on Friday. Sure, the insecure leader of #North Korea is a little dictator that is used to getting his way, but when faced with Trump's childish outcries and incursion into war mongering talk it's not going to be an easy ride with these two severe personalities helming two of the world's most provocative countries. #Rex Tillerson seems to be on the same page. He told NPR in a radio interview that the US dont want to find a complete collapse of the North Korean regime and they dont want the peninsula in any way reunified quickly. "We seek a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. He also spoke of the possibility of the United States having direct talks with the embattled regime. united airlines was in the news recently for all the wrong reasons. Just a couple of weeks ago a video went viral where people saw a passenger, 69-years-old Vietnamese-American doctor Mr David Dao, being dragged out from a Chicago flight by law enforcement officers. As soon as the video which was made by a fellow passenger was made public, it enraged the online viewers and the act was instantly disapproved by people from all over the world. Another video showed an injured Dr Dao with an impaired face reentering the aircraft while saying "I want to go home, I want to go home." Deal between Dr Dao and United Airlines According to reports, the popular airlines has made a deal with Dr David Dao for an undisclosed amount of money. The Vietnamese-American doctor suffered from this brutality on flight in an effort to make some space for four crew members of the airlines for the flight that was scheduled from Chicago to Kentucky. On Thursday, while addressing a press briefing the attorney of Dr David Dao, Thomas Demetrio questioned that "Are we just going to continue to be treated like cattle?". While explaining the incident that his client underwent, Mr Demetrio described it as being even more horrible than what Mr Dao went through during the Vietnam war. He said that Dr David suffered several health issues as an aftermath of the United Arilines incident including a concussion, a broken nose as well as lost two teeth. He further informed that Dr Dao will have to undergo reconstructive surgery in order to recover from his sinus problem that was cause by what was done to him by the police officers. Statement by the CEO of United Airlines Oscar Munoz The CEO of United Airlines Mr. Oscar Munoz recently announced a change in the policy of the airlines. He said in a statement that all the passengers deserve top quality service and they must be treated with respect, he further said "Two weeks ago, we failed to meet that standard and we profoundly apologise." As a result of incident, passengers travelling through United Airlines will now be presented up to $10,000 for voluntarily giving up their flight seats. Seems like the airlines is going through a tough time since on Wednesday, United Airlines was again in the news. This time the incident was related to a giant 90 cm long bunny called Simon that lost its life while being on -board one of the flights. The #North Korean regime is treading a little too closely toward a nuclear conflict than is comfortable for most Americans and South Koreans. Only a few weeks ago the government in South Korea had to assure its worried residents that things were fine and that nobody would be throwing bombs any time soon. The threat of #nuclear war is one thing, but people's psychologies and fear levels are another. It's a well known fact that talk of war can drive up cortisol levels in a person's nervous system thus making stress and other bodily stressors a real issue. This in turn can alter chemical and hormonal imbalances in the body so literally talk of nuclear war can have a negative impact on a person's wellbeing. One only needs to imagine how nerve-racking it must be to live in #South Korea now or Portland, where experts have predicted that The North Koreans may bomb if they perfect their long-range missile systems. It all sounds a bit bonkers, until you realize that these are the #powerful men ruling whole countries, and not little boys in the playground. Trump is the bully, or is it Kim jong-un? This is the world and the planet and people we are talking about, not toys in a playground or sides in a toddler spat that has gone on too long and caused everyone grief. The first two months of the Donald Trump administration haven't gone as well as the president had planned, especially when it comes to being on the same page as his fellow Republicans. In response, two hosts on MSNBC decided to speak out. "Morning Joe" on Trump Since the start of his campaign for president, Donald Trump has struggled when it comes to being accepted by a wide-range of individuals. Trump's feud with the mainstream media is well-documented and has only become more strained by the day, while his relationship with the Republican Party has been an issue since the early days of the election. Even during the day the former host of "The Apprentice" officially became the Republican nominee, a group of conservatives known as the "Never Trump" movement came together in opposition. However, while there are some who still oppose the president, many Republicans continue to stick by his side and defend him ad nauseam. These issues were discussed during an interview with two MSNBC hosts on the March 29 edition of "Late Night with Seth Meyers." Joining host Seth Myers on Tuesday night was Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, the co-hosts of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC. The interview covered a lot of ground, mostly about the current administration, with the two hosts not holding back their thoughts about Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Joe Scarborough, a former Republican congressman, has been vocal with his criticism of Donald Trump, despite being an early supporter of the billionaire real estate mogul. "We've known the guy for 10, 11, 12 years, and we never expected it to be quite this bad," Scarborough said, describing Trump's behavior as president as "shocking." Mika Brzezinski To Seth Meyers: Donald Trump Presidency Far Worse Than She Expected https://t.co/47YBXBBmPr pic.twitter.com/HFeoSBM0dF Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline) March 29, 2017 Mika speaks At this point, Mika Brzezinski ripped into the GOP, targeting those who continue to "suck up" to the Donald Trump. "The fact that Republicans are still sucking up to him at this point is kinda pathetic," Brzezinski pointed out. "The whole thing has turned into lies and misinformation, calling the news fake news, undermining the judiciary, undermining every branch of government," she said, before adding, "I dont care if youre a Republican or Democratic, theres right and theres wrong and this guys wrong." Moving forward With the "Morning Joe" crew and others in the media unwilling to back off from holding the president's feet to the fire, it doesn't look like Donald Trump is going to refrain from voicing his own opinion. On Wednesday morning, the commander in chief took to Twitter to lash out at the New York Times and other news outlets for "viciously" attacking his administration. "Teen Mom" fans know that many of the show's stars have had plastic surgery, some more than others. However, Reality TV doctor, Dr. Miami, who has become known for posting his cosmetic surgeries on SnapChat, is opening up about the one "Teen Mom" star he refused to work on. While many fans may think it's Farrah Abraham, due to the many procedures she's already had, Dr. Miami says he's not going to name any names. Dr. Miami dishes on 'Teen Mom' stars' surgery However, Wet Paint reveals that the "Teen Mom" star who Dr. Miami refused to operate on was Jenelle Evans. Jenelle allegedly went to see Dr. Miami over a year ago in hopes of having a chin reduction surgery. However, the plastic surgeon revealed that he thought she was pretty as she was, and so he told her he would not perform the cosmetic procedure on her. One of the 'Teen Moms' came in like a year ago for a chin reduction and I just refused to do it because I thought she was fine, she was pretty," the doctor revealed. Kailyn and Briana were model patients Meanwhile, Dr. Miami did agree to perform surgery on "Teen Mom 2" star Kailyn Lowry and "Teen Mom 3" star Briana DeJesus. The two MTV stars sought out the doctor for mommy makeovers, and the doc reveals they were model patients. They were great patients. They were super nice, super grateful. They followed instructions post-op, he said of the moms. The plastic surgeon even revealed that since Kailyn Lowry is pregnant with baby number three, she may need to come see him for a bit more surgery, which is "great," saying she could "join the club" and become a "frequent flyer." The doc weighs in on Kylie Jenner rumors Dr. Miami also gave his opinion on the rumors that Kylie Jenner had breast implants, saying that he believes the youngest member of the Kardashian/Jenner family went under the knife to enhance her bust. Its weird because she denied having lip injections and then she came forward and said she did, so maybe well find out on the next season of 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' why she denied [the alleged surgery]." By Zhu Wenqian in Beijing and Wang Ying in Shanghai | China Daily | Updated: 2017-04-28 07:34 Fans watch C919, China's first homegrown big passenger jet, performing a high-speed taxiing test at the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai on Sunday. [Photo by Yin Liqin/For China Daily] Domestic aircraft manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corp of China said on Thursday that it has started work to develop a wide-body commercial jet with Russia, and the passenger plane is expected to be delivered within 10 years. The 280-seat wide-body jet would have a range of 12,000 kilometers. The project signals the two countries' ambitions to compete in the wide-body market, which is currently dominated by US aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co and European manufacturer Airbus Group SE. "Research and development of wide-body aircraft was launched recently," said He Dongfeng, vice-chairman and president of COMAC. The research and development for the jet will be conducted in Moscow, and the assembly work will be conducted in Shanghai, COMAC announced at November's Zhuhai Airshow. Li Xiaojin, a professor at the Civil Aviation University of China in Tianjin, said: "It is hoped that the development of wide-body aircraft will drive the growth of many related aircraft manufacturing sectors in China. And China will be able to learn and apply the experiences from Russia, and enhance the manufacturing level of the nation's aviation industry. "Wide-body aircraft requires high standards in terms of aircraft engine technology and aircraft materials. China and Russia still face some difficulties in making competitive wide-body jets, given their current manufacturing levels," Li said. Meanwhile, the C919, China's first self-made passenger jet airliner, is technically ready for its maiden flight and will take to the skies soon, said the president of the Shanghai-based aircraft maker. COMAC said a variety of factors will be taken into consideration for C919's first flight, including the condition of the aircraft, the status of the crew and weather conditions. With the help of global cooperation, COMAC has managed to learn existing mature modes, adopt scientific methods, and utilize resources of the industry, technology and talent all over the world to create its own passenger jets. "COMAC's 256 leading suppliers come from 14 countries and regions, and our partners include leading aviation institutes and enterprises such as GE Co and Fokker Technologies Holding BV, and its OEMs including Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier Inc," said He from COMAC. Safety is the cornerstone of civil aviation, and it is all industry players' responsibility to keep flights safe, He said. Contact the writers at wang_ying@chinadaily.com.cn and zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn Shanghai Disneyland is the most favored domestic destination for tourists planning to travel during the May Day holiday from April 29 to May 1, according to a list released by online travel agency Ctrip. Let's take a look at the most popular locations for a long weekend getaway. No 10 The Songcheng Scenic Spot The Women of the World Festival will make its China debut in Beijing's Tianqiao Performing Arts Center this September. The monthlong WOW event's extensive programs include exhibitions, performances, workshops and forums, which will celebrate women's achievements and explore the challenges that women are still facing today. "When I launched the festival in 2010, I wanted to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. "Now, it has become the largest arts event for women in the world, which is far beyond what I have expected in the beginning," says Jude Kelly, artistic director of London's Southbank Centre, among Britain's largest cultural institutions. She was in Beijing to attend the opening ceremony at Tianqiao Performing Arts Center on April 15. "Although the WOW festival started in London, it's not a British thing, it's a global thing. It belongs to China, belongs to Kathmandu, belongs to Pakistan and belongs to Australia, anywhere that the girls and women, boys and men want to gather to speak of what the future could look like and how to make that future happen," Kelly says. So far, the festival has been held in 20 cities, including Melbourne and New York as well as the main venue in London, and over 20,000 people have attended the event. In March 2016, the UK-China Workshop for Senior Arts Center and Theater Management was held at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center. Li Yinhe, wife of Wang Xiaobo, attends the book launch of Wang's new collection in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily] Chinese author Wang Xiaobo died 20 years ago, but his works are still popular among Chinese readers. Beijing October Culture and Arts Publishing House released a collection of Wang's works on April 11, his death anniversary. About 100 people crowded a Pageone bookstore in Beijing for the book launch, including Li Yinhe, who's Wang's wife and a professor of gender studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "I went to his tomb this morning, and I saw flower bundles, cigarettes and liquor laid in front of the gravestone," says Li. "I also found a piece of paper with his wordssomeone wrote it down and left it there. A butterfly lingered on the paper." Yang Xiaoyan, the editor of the collection, says all of Wang's works are included in the seven-installment collection, including some previously unpublished manuscripts. Li thinks the reason why people still commemorate Wang is that the problems Wang tried to address with his works remain unsolved. A collection of his novellas, Wang in Love and Bondage, was translated into English, and is available on Amazon. His novel The Golden Age was translated into French, Japanese and Korean, according to Li. Wang was born in Beijing in 1952, and experienced the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), during which he was sent to the countryside of Yunnan province to work as a farmer. Wang started writing during that time, and life in the rural area in southwestern China became the setting for many of his later works. He was relocated to Shandong province, and worked as a teacher in 1971. Two years after the end of the turmoil, Wang took the national college entrance exam and was accepted by Renmin University of China in Beijing. Wang married Li in 1980 and studied East Asian Studies at University of Pittsburg in the United States. He returned in 1988 and taught at Peking University and Renmin University before he became a freelance writer in 1992. His novels and essays, including The Golden Age and Love in the Time of Revolution, became popular in the 1990s. "It's been two decades, and Wang Xiaobo's novels have defied time," says Cheng Er, director and novelist, adding that the thoughts and narratives, together with the freedom contained in Wang's works, still surprise him every time he reads them. "His humor and sarcasm are at a place still overlooking today's society," Cheng says of Wang's essay collections, such as The Silent Majority and An Idiosyncratic Pig, which delve into arts and social issues, calling for a spirit of critical thinking. "Reading his words, sometimes I am immersed in thoughts, and sometimes I burst into laughter." A ceremony was held on April 16 in the Shanxi Museum to celebrate the return of the relic. [Photo/CGTN] After an absence of nearly two decades, the 1,300-year-old Dengyu Stone Tower eventually came back home in North China's Shanxi province. The Chung Tai Chan Monastery in Taiwan has recently donated the ancient pagoda to Shanxi. The body of the stone tower was stolen from Dengyu village in Shanxi in 1998. When a private collector donated it to the Chung Tai Chan Monastery in Taiwan, the monastery decided to return it to Shanxi. A month-long exhibition of this ancient pagoda has begun and will run until mid-May. Many visitors have come to appreciate the beauty of the pagoda. Qiao Qiao is a Chinese teacher of a local middle school and has always been a fan of cultural relics. He says he came specially to see this stone tower and felt it's so exquisite and looks amazing. He also hopes that his students can come and learn about its history. Zhang Huiguo, deputy curator of the Shanxi Museum, says the pagoda is a precious example of a Buddhist stone tower in the prosperous Tang Dynasty. "It's really rare to see such an exquisite Buddhist sculpture with such beautiful colors and four faces of Buddhist images. Experts are now doing more research on it." The former abbot of Chung Tai Chan Monastery, Wei Jue decided to return the pagoda to Shanxi once he understood it had been stolen. When he passed away, his disciple honored his abbot's final wish. Many visitors say they feel moved by his kindness and generosity. Clockwise from top: Fu Han, lead vocalist of the indie rock band Queen Sea Big Shark; the photo titled Mysteries; the band gave a live show in Qingdao, Shandong last year; a photo titled Star of the Ocean by Fu Han; members of the band at Houhai Lake in Beijing. Photos by Zou Hong / China Daily and Provided to China Daily Queen Sea Big Shark's lead vocalist Fu Han ventures into photography while riding a recent wave of renewed popularity for her style of rock 798 Art Zone, the hottest place to explore the contemporary art scene in the capital, is fully packed with weekend tourists. In one corner of the zone, dressed in retro high-rise black pants, white blouse and black winklepickers, Fu Han sips her iced coffee. The lead vocalist of the indie rock band Queen Sea Big Shark, Fu is sharing laughs with the three other band members, guitarist Cao Pu, bassist Wang Jinghan and drummer Xiao Wu - when her cellphone isn't buzzing. "If I knew we could do it (as a band) for 12 years, I wouldn't have done it in the beginning," giggles Fu. "Fortunately, playing music is still fun." Queen Sea Big Shark, founded in 2005, is one of the capital's most popular rock bands. With its wild spirit, trendy music that blends rock, electronic and the retro sounds of the 1970s and 1980s, the band has been a fixture at Beijing's live music venues and at outdoor music festivals around the country for over a decade. In March 2016, the band released its third full-length album, Beijing Surfers' Adventure, under Modern Sky, one of the country's largest indie record companies. Last year the rockers also kicked off a 12-city national tour. On April 15, they released a documentary, Queen Sea Big Shark: Beijing Surfers' Adventure, at Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) in 798 Art Zone. The band also gave an unplugged performance after the screening. The documentary follows the production of the album and latest tour, with stops in cities the band visited for the first time, including Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and Lhasa, capital of China's Tibet autonomous region. "A young man drove for 500 kilometers to see us in Urumqi along with his mother and sister," recalls the guitarist Cao. "I had to take the oxygen during the performance in Lhasa for hight attitude sickness." The new album, which combines jazz, hip-hop and indie music elements, took the band six years to finish. After that, the band members spent three months traveling independently, without any contact. "I went to a music festival in Texas (United States), the others went to Indonesia, the Philippines and the Grand Canyon," says Fu. "We did it intentionally because we wanted to have some time 'alone'." "We have known each other for many years. We are so close like families. We agreed that it's good to separate for a while," adds Fu. Their trips and separated days inspired them to write songs, including Bling Bling Bling, Beijing Surfers and Drifting on the Earth for the new album. Timed with the screening, Fu launched her photography exhibition Playing on the Earth. 80 photos were taken by Fu and selected from over 3,000 photos from 2008 to 2016. The ongoing exhibition at UCCA continues through May 30. "I started my passion for photography from taking pictures of myself. Then I realized that photography is not just about documenting everyday life but also about self-expression," Fu says. In her photos, Fu started focusing on her friends, including the band members, audiences, and the places she traveled. Among the images displayed is a girl in blue tight skirt and a rooster-shape headgear looking into the mirror. The photo, titled Mysteries, was taken in 2013 by Fu when she was in New York taking in a Halloween party. Another photo, of a skinny girl sitting on a motorbike, captures a high school classmate of Fu. "She is the coolest person I have ever seen. She rode that motorbike from Beijing to Lhasa to be a volunteer teacher. She also traveled to Inner Mongolia to live on the grassland alone for a year," says Fu. "She has no desire for material things. She enjoys the freedom and lives her life at her own pace." "It seems to be a luxury to be oneself and stay true to oneself," Fu adds. "She is my idol." The interview was constantly interrupted by fans, who wanted pictures, autographs and chats. "My 2-year-old daughter enjoys your songs very much. I took her to your show in Beijing's Star Live last December. She likes listening to the song Beijing Surfers, before she goes to bed every night," says a woman, who claims have been a band fan since she was a university student. She watched Queen Sea Big Shark's performance for the first time at the Strawberry Music Festival. "It feels good to see these people, who have been with us for years," say Fu, giving the woman a big hug. Born in Beijing, the 30-something Fu was born to a pianist mother and a doctor father. She attempted to learn piano but failed. "I was not a quiet girl. I was very naughty and couldn't sit down for hours to practice playing the piano. Thankfully, my parents are open-minded and they are very supportive of my choice," say Fu. With a bachelor's degree in architecture from Beijing University of Technology and a maste'sr degree in graphic design from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Fu was influenced by the indie rock bands in the capital then, including Joyside and PK14. She founded Queen Sea Big Shark with guitarist Cao, her classmate Beijing University of Technology. Then Cao introduced the other two members of the band. All the band members are Beijing natives and they often hang out around Beijing's Houhai Lake, once a peaceful, scenic spot that's become a tourist site. "We just wanted to have fun with music and didn't plan anything," says Fu. In 2007, the band released its self-titled album under the Modern Sky label, which featured Chinese and English lyrics. Besides the dance rock tunes, the band members also won fans' attention for their stage presence, especially the lead vocalist, who reflects her fashion sense in her stage outfits. "I designed my stage clothes by myself. I collects cloth pieces, fabrics and accessories," says Fu, who also designs posters and album covers for the band. In 2009, Queen Sea Big Shark embarked on a tour in the US, opening for famous acts such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. In 2010, the band released its second album, Wave, which has strong electronic beats. A year later, they performed at Summer Sonic in Osaka, Japan. "In the past, we just had dozens in audiences to our shows but now we perform in front to hundreds of thousands of people. The change of the country's indie music landscape is also obvious. People are open to different types of music," Fu says. In 2016, the band initiated a concert called Young Friends Concert, inviting their musician friends, including bands like Carsick Cars and Youth. "We want to make this concert a series, which aims at introducing original Chinese indie rock bands," says Fu. "We want to do something for people like us." chennan@chinadaily.com.cn By CHEN WEIHUA in Washington and AMY HE in New York | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2017-04-28 04:32 The $1 trillion infrastructure plan proposed by US President Donald Trump signals win-win opportunities for China and the United States, according to experts. US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao told the Boston Globe last Friday that she expected Trump's $1 trillion plan to debut this summer after the administration tackles tax reform. "We're on track," Chao said of the infrastructure bill. "There's a great deal of discussion over the most difficult part of the initiative, which is funding it." Yukon Huang, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP), said China should tell the US that it has been improving infrastructure for decades, resulting in higher productivity, and the US should do the same to boost competitiveness and exports. "And it's good for us because a prosperous America is good for China," he suggested the Chinese side should tell the US. In the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card released in March, the American Society of Civil Engineers graded US infrastructure D+. The D rating is regarded "poor" and "at risk," just a step above failing and unfit for purpose. Scott Rechler, former vice-chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said more than $3 trillion of infrastructure investment was required in the US just to bring it up to par. "To put that in perspective, our current plan is $1 trillion, so that's still less than one-third of what's anticipated is needed for infrastructure. This is a byproduct of literally decades of the government underinvesting in infrastructure," he said. "We're in the 21st century and we're using infrastructure from our 20th century and in some cases in our 19th century right now," he added. While Americans are sharply divided on issues, Gallup polls in the past months show overwhelming public support for infrastructure spending. In a January poll, 69 percent of Americans think more infrastructure spending is Trump's most important promise. In a March poll, 76 percent of Americans endorse Trump's infrastructure proposal. "I think it would be a wonderful thing if the two countries could collaborate in this field because obviously, there are huge complementarities," said Pieter Bottelier, a visiting scholar in China studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Bottelier, a former World Bank official, also noted that the US needs a lot of money for infrastructure and China has the savings. "So this is an area extremely important for potential cooperation," he said. China's record in the past decades in building massive infrastructure projects has been widely recognized in the world. By the end of 2016, China ranked No 1 in the world in the mileage of high-speed rails, expressways and urban transit systems, according to the country's National Development and Reform Commission. Seven of the world's largest container ports are also in China. Peter Wu, vice-president of China Construction America (CCA), pointed out that the US needs to replace some of its bridges as soon as possible to keep the safe and quality condition of all its infrastructures. "We have already noticed the $1 trillion plan based on President Trump's administration and personally I believe at this point that $1 trillion is not enough. But it's a very, very positive Step One towards improvement," he told a recent seminar on rebuilding US infrastructure that explored opportunities and challenges for potential Chinese partners. Wu said his company has been eying public-private partnership jobs and pursuing this kind of work for the past few years, and there were some positive and some negative experiences. "We believe the public-private partnership market in the US has a very, very bright future. However, right now, this market is not mature, even compared to neighbors like the Canadian market or the South American markets," he said. CCA, with 2,000 employees, of whom 98 percent are locals, is among a number of Chinese firms that are active in the US construction market. Others include equipment manufacturer Sany America and China's rail car maker CRRC, which already has contracts in Boston, Los Angeles and other US cities. Huang, of CEIP, believes the problem in the US will be financing, because US households don't save very much while Chinese households save a lot and the Chinese government tapped that savings for infrastructure. "China should say, I am very happy for our companies to be supportive of your infrastructure needs, in partnership between Chinese companies and US private companies, therefore they are not a budgetary burden," said Huang, a former World Bank country director in China. Bottelier of SAIS believes it will depend on whether the US government is willing to establish a federal infrastructure bank, citing the example of Lou Jiwei, who, while running China's sovereign wealth fund many years ago before becoming finance minister, offered the Obama administration Chinese financing for US infrastructure. In Bottelier's view, that financing would be provided if the US government would establish a federal infrastructure bank because it would be too difficult for an external financier to deal with the different regulators in 50 US states. "I don't know what the current administration thinks about that," he said of the Trump administration, which marks its 100th day in office on Saturday. Zhang Jianping, director of the Research Center for Regional Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce, suggested recently that China and the US should consider expediting talks on a reciprocal opening up of government procurement markets. While noting the possible hurdles posed by Trump's "Buy American and Hire American" slogan, Zhang believes the two countries could expand their shared interests by opening up the government procurement markets and strengthening cooperation in infrastructure. Contact the writers at chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com and amyhe@chinadailyusa.com. United Airlines and the passenger who was dragged from a Chicago flight earlier this month have reached a settlement for an undisclosed sum, they said on Thursday, in the carrier's latest step to contain damage from an incident which sparked international outrage. Viral videos of Dr David Dao being dragged down the aisle of a United jet and CEO Oscar Munoz's handling of the incident touched off a public outcry, prompted calls for new regulation of the airline industry by congressmen, and led United's board of directors to reverse an agreement to make Munoz the company's chairman in 2018. United said earlier on Thursday it would create a new check-in process that would allow passengers to volunteer to give up their seats for compensation, and it increased the limit of that compensation to $10,000 from $1,350. Dao, a 69-year-old Vietnamese-American doctor, was injured and hospitalized after Chicago aviation police dragged him from the plane to make space for four crew members on the flight from the city's O'Hare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky. United has taken "full responsibility for what happened on Flight 3411, without attempting to blame others, including the city of Chicago," Thomas Demetrio, an attorney for Dao, said in a statement. In another embarrassment for the airline at O'Hare airport, a 3-foot-long giant rabbit died at a United pet holding facilityfollowing a flight from London. The incident took place on April 20, but was first reported on Wednesday by British newspaper The Sun. The 10-month-old Continental Giant breed rabbit named Simon, who was tipped to become one of the world's largest rabbits, had appeared to be in good condition upon arrival at the facility at Chicago's O'Hare airport, an airline spokesman said. Simon was due to be picked up by a celebrity who had bought him. But when a United worker later checked on Simon, he found he had died, spokesman Charles Hobart said. "We never want that to happen and it's always a sad experience for all involved when an animal passes while in our care," Hobart said by telephone on Wednesday. The cause of death has not yet been determined, the spokesman said, adding that United was reviewing what happened. Hobart said the airline had offered to carry out a post-mortem investigation on the rabbit, but the owner had declined. He said United also offered compensation to the owner, whom he did not identify, but did not disclose the amount. REUTERS Ford Motor Co's first-quarter profit in Asia fell as competitive pressures in the region took a toll. Ford's overall results saw profit decline 35 percent from the year-ago period, the company announced on Thursday. The second-largest US automaker had warned investors in March that higher costs and lower sales volumes would hinder quarterly earnings. In Asia, Ford said it earned a pre-tax profit of $124 million compared with $220 million for the same period last year. Ford said China drove the decline in profit before tax due to negative industry pricing and a weaker yuan. Ford's equity income in China slumped 38 percent to $274 million from $443 million in the 2016 quarter. "The Chinese market is fiercely competitive and competition has gotten better from some local firms there plus the Western firms are all trying to stay noticed too," David Whiston, auto analyst with Morningstar Inc said in an email. "Consumers have a ton of choice so discounting can be a problem and that seemed to pick up a lot in 2016 and has continued into 2017. The pricing issues are not unique to Ford; it's an industry-wide issue." For the rest of the year in Asia, Ford continues "to expect profits to improve from 2016 due to higher volume. Net pricing will be lower due to negative industry pricing in China, while exchange expected to be unfavorable due to weaker RMB (yuan)," the company said in a statement. For the quarter, Ford reported a net income of $1.59 billion, or 40 cents a share, down 36 percent from $2.45 billion, or 61 cents per share, a year earlier. On average analysts were looking for earnings of 35 cents a share. Revenue rose to $39.1 billion from $37.7 billion a year ago. General Motors, the largest American automaker, is scheduled to report its first-quarter results on Friday. paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com China said on Friday that the potential use of force over the issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) missile activity "does not resolve differences" and will only lead to bigger disasters, and that negotiation is the "sensible choice for all parties". Speaking at a special session at the UN Security Council, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the international community must keep its commitment to denuclearization.No matter what happens, "we should never waiver in our commitment to this goal," he said. China opposes the DPRK's research, development, and possession of nuclear weapons, and it urges the country to stop its missile development, Wang said. The DPRK needs to honor its denuclearization obligations, he said, and urged that all parties "demonstrate political wisdom" to work constructively toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Wang also stressed that dialogue is the best option for resolving the nuclear problem, adding that between 2003 and 2007 when all parties were engaged in negotiations, three joint documents were adopted and a joint statement from 2005 set the roadmap for the DPRKs abandonment of all nuclear programs. Since negotiations ended in 2008, the situation has "gradually gone out of control", with the DPRK accelerating its nuclear and missile development process and conducting multiple tests and launches, he said. China pledged that it would implement UN sanctions on the DPRK, but Wang also said that "China is not the focal point of the problem on the peninsula" and that nuclear resolution "does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side". As a neighbor to the Korean Peninsula, however, China has promoted a negotiated solution to the issue, expanding negotiations from a three-party dialogue to a six-party one, Wang said. China supports a dual-track approach, including a proposal of "suspension for suspension", which calls for the suspension of nuclear and missile activities by the DPRK, and the suspension of military exercises by the US and South Korea. The proposal is designed to address the most pressing concerns of involved parties, but "they also help pave the way toward denuclearization", Wang said. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who chaired the council meeting, pressed for an increase in DPRK's financial isolation. He pushed for new sanctions on DPRK entities and individuals, saying that the US "will not hesitate to sanction third-party entities" that support the DPRK's illegal activities. He also called for a suspension of diplomatic ties to the DPRK to prevent it from exploiting its diplomatic privileges to fund illicit nuclear activity. "The US and China have held very productive exchanges on this issue, and we look forward to further actions that build on what China has already done," he said. He said that the US "much prefers" a negotiated solution, but is committed to defending itself and its allies against DPRK aggression. "This new pressure campaign will be swiftly implemented and painful to North Korean interest," he said. amyhe@chinadailyusa.com The month of May is almost upon us, and with it comes a weekend I've been looking forward to for some time: an opportunity to visit Congregation Bet Ha'Am in Portland, Maine with Rabbi David Evan Markus! We're honored to be this year's Bernstein Scholars-in-Residence there. (Previous years' scholars have included Dr. Nehemia Polen, Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, and Rabbi Art Green.) Over the course of our weekend, we'll be co-leading a Kabbalat Shabbat service, offering Shabbat morning Torah study, offering a Shabbat evening se'udah shlishit ("third meal") and havdalah program with teaching and poetry, and sharing some teaching with their community Hebrew school on Sunday morning. Through song, text, teaching, and experience we'll offer an introduction to Jewish Renewal. Here's what they've shared about our visit on their website: Congregation Bet Ha'am, through the Rosalyne S. & Sumner T. Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence Fund, is proud to welcome this years Bernstein Scholars-in-Residence, 'The Velveteen Rabbi" Rachel Barenblat and Rabbi David Markus, co-chairs of ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. Mark your calendars and plan to join us for the weekend of May 5-7, 2017. The weekend marks the halfway point between Passover and Shavuot, exactly halfway between liberation and revelation. Here, the Torah teaches us Love your neighbor as yourself. Activities and discussions will focus on the themes of love, community, and holiness through various practical and spiritual lenses. Well look at how Jewish Renewal can use themes and motifs to deepen the spiritual experience of public prayer services timed to the Torah cycle and the spiritual flow of the year, how mitzvot are intertwined with ritual, and the support of Jewish community in modern times. Friday, May 5, 7:30 PM - Kabbalat Shabbat Evening Service: Holiness, Love, and Community - Loving your neighbor in modern times. Saturday, May 6 9:00 AM - Torah Study: The spiritual and practical of community and renewal. 6:00 PM - Potluck Seudat Shlishit and Havdalah: Havdalah Service with a program on Illness and Healing. Sunday, May 7 10:30 AM - Adult and Childrens Workshop Mitzvah and Mysticism - Holy Doing and Holy Being. All are welcome! Please contact Benjamin Gorelick in the Bet Ha'am office at 879-0028 or [email protected] for more information about this exciting weekend. If you're in or near Portland Maine, we hope to see you there next weekend. Please turn JavaScript on and reload the page. Loading... Checking your browser before accessing the website. This process is automatic. Your browser will redirect to your requested content shortly. Please wait a few seconds. Columbia RecordsGet ready for a triple dose of Foster the People. The band has dropped three new tracks from their forthcoming third album: "Pay the Man," "S.H.C.," and the lead single, "Doing It for the Money." The new songs are streaming now on YouTube. You can download them as a three-track bundle via iTunes. "One of my favorite things about music is that it's unifying," says frontman Mark Foster. "We wrote these songs to reflect joy in a time where people have needed it more than ever and we thought it was a good time to share them with you." Foster the People's third album, their follow-up to 2014's Supermodel, is due out this summer. The band will be playing new songs on their upcoming North American tour, which kicks off May 26 in San Diego. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. SINGAPORE Vietjet inaugurated its international route connecting Ha Noi and Singapore on Thursday, a move to meet the increasing travel demand from passengers. On this occasion, Vietjet provides passengers with a two-day promotion in which tickets on the route are sold from zero dollars until Friday. The airfares are available from noon to 2 pm at www.vietjetair.com with travel period from August 14 to December 31. The daily flight on Ha Noi-Singapore route lasts two hours 55 minutes per leg. The flight from Ha Noi takes off at 10am (local time) and arrives in Singapore at 1.55pm (local time). The return flight departs at 2.55pm and lands in Ha Noi at 4.50pm. Singapore remained one of the favourite destinations for Vietnamese tourists. Up to 468,000 Vietnamese travelled Singapore in 2016, up 12 per cent year-on-year, according to Singapore Tourism Board. Last year also saw over 257,000 Singaporeans visiting Viet Nam, 8.7 per cent higher than 2015, data from the Viet Nam Administration of Tourism showed. VNS HA NOI FPT will cooperate with French businesses to promote the fourth industrial revolution, FPT chairman Truong Gia Binh said at a workshop held in Paris on Wednesday. The workshop drew some 130 representatives from Frances corporations, businesses and startups. Viet Nam Ambassador to France Nguyen Ngoc Son appreciated the setting up of FPTs representative office in France in 2008, which significantly helped in boosting the relationship between the two countries. The ambassador also hoped FPT and the French firms could reach new agreements of cooperation, especially in the fields of providing information technology (IT) services and specialised solutions. "On the demand for human resources in information technology, Viet Nams government would like to train one million programmers each year to catch up with the fourth industrial revolution. Moreover, technology is considered one of the six leading points on the basis of which Viet Nam wishes to strengthen ties with France," Son emphasised. At the conference, La Poste chairman Philippe Wahl said cooperation with Viet Nam was one of the key steps in the development orientation of the company in Asia. With regard to technology, Viet Nam was taking strong steps in terms of development and FPT was one of the pioneers. At present, FPT has many projects with major technology partners, such as IBM, Microsoft, GE Digital, Siemen and AWS, to train human resources and to meet the needs of this revolution. FPT has also introduced three models of cooperation with its clients and partners in France, the model of software services, factory model applied for digital conversion service and product development model for the Vietnamese market. These models have been successfully deployed by FPT at a number of major French clients, such as Neopost, Airbus and Telespazio. The event was organised by FPT in collaboration with Frances IE Club and La Poste Company to seek opportunities between FPT and French enterprises as part of the fourth industrial revolution. VNS HA NOI The General Department of Taxation (GDT) is aiming to apply electronic invoices for petrol products in a bid to enhance the management of petrol station data and prevent tax losses. Under the plan, tax authorities expect to set up a parallel and synchronised sales management software, which will allow individuals and enterprises to get their e-bills when buying petrol. Sales data will then be transmitted directly to the tax authorities, allowing for thorough management of petrol business operations. However, since the implementation of electronic invoices for petrol products is likely to be costly, the plan is not currently feasible, according to Nguyen Van Phung, director of the Large Enterprise Department under the GDT. He added that it was impossible to force enterprises to spend such a large amount of money within a short time without calculating the business efficiency of the plan. Therefore, the GDT is working on a pilot programme to implement the scheme on a trial basis. According to ang Ngoc Minh, the GDTs deputy general director, tax authorities at all levels and petrol businesses must start to study and apply scientific and technological applications, preparing the necessary equipment and legal basis for electronic invoices in the sale of petrol products. "Petrol dealers are encouraged to follow the plan, however, the GDT will make it mandatory for all petrol businesses in the future," Minh said. The GDT previously stamped all petrol stations nationwide as a measure to better manage petrol business operations, which has shown significant improvement. However, according to a representative from the department, this is still just a temporary solution. Many argue that another solution is to encourage consumers to require paper invoices whenever they buy petrol. Nonetheless, Phung said, the current process of issuing bills at petrol stations is very complex and difficult to manage as few customers demand bills after they purchase petrol. Most of the customers use motorcycles, and each purchase ranges from VN40,000-50,000 (US$1.7-2), not worth waiting a long time for the bill. Therefore, many petrol stations collect those bills and illegally sell them to other buyers who need bills but do not actually make purchases, Phung said. VNS HA NOI Petrolimex Insurance Joint Stock Company (PJICO), with code PGI, will sell 20 per cent of its charter capital to Samsung Fire&Marine Insurance. This plan was released at PJICOs annual shareholder meeting in Ha Noi on April 26. The company will offer 17,743,555 shares, equivalent to 20 per cent of its charter capital, to Samsung Fire&Marine Insurance Co Ltd, a leading non-insurance company of South Korea. Offer price will be not lower than the minimum price that was proposed in an advisory report on fixing corporate value of VP Bank Securities Co Ltd (VPBS) and the price that was traded on the stock exchange on October 20, 2015. The company plans to issue the shares this year after the Ministry of Finance approves in principle to change PJICOs charter capital and the State Securities Commission also approves PJICO sale of shares to the South Korean partner, cafef.vn reported. After issuing the shares, PJICOs shares owned by the Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) will reduce from 51.18 per cent to 40.95 per cent, while PJICOs shares owned by Vietcombank will drop from 10.04 per cent to 8.03 per cent, according to PJICOs management board. Meanwhile, at PJICO, shares held by Viet Nam Re-insurance Corporation will fall from 8.79 per cent to 7.03 per cent and those owned by Hanel Co Ltd will decline from one per cent to 0.8 per cent. Samsung Fire&Marine Insurance holds 20 per cent of PJICOs charter capital. Also at the shareholder meeting on April 26, PJICOs management board submitted to shareholders the business plan for this year. This year, the company expects to achieve insurance revenue of VN2.5 trillion (US$109.6 million), excluding revenue from insurance of fishing boats, a year-on-year increase of 6.7 per cent. Its pre-tax profit will reach VN140 billion, an increase of 11.6 per cent against the same period last year. The company announced its target of minimum dividend of 10 per cent for this year. In 2016, PJICOs total insurance revenue reached VN2.48 trillion, a year-on-year growth of 11.4 per cent. Its pre-tax profit reached VN125.4 billion, a year-on-year surge of five per cent. Its dividend for 2016 was 11 per cent, one per cent higher than the plan approved by the shareholder meeting in 2015. - VNS HCM CITY Retailers in HCM City, including Saigon Co.op and Big C, are offering discounts on pork products in an effort to boost consumption. The price of live pigs has dropped to a record VN20,000-23,000 (US$0.87-$1.32) per kilo in recent days mostly because of oversupply, causing big losses for farmers. According to a Saigon Co.op spokesperson, from April 25 to May 2, Co.opmart supermarkets and the Co.op Food chain will cut pork prices by 10-20 per cent to promote sales. It has reduced sale prices, but has kept purchase prices unchanged to support farmers. After the discounts, a kilo of pork thigh or pork shoulder is now sold at around VN60,000 at Co.opmart and Co.op Food. The price is VN52,800 a kilo for pigs trotters; VN66,000 a kilo for pigtails and VN70,000 a kilo for minced pork; and VN48,000 a kilo for pork shank. Co.opmart and Co.op Food have also cut prices of pork-based prepared and ready-to-eat food. All the pork products have met food hygiene and safety regulations in addition to VietGap standards, and have clear label of origin. Nguyen Anh uc, deputy general director of Saigon Co.op, said Co.opmart and Co.op Food had reduced pork prices to encourage consumption, while keeping buying prices unchanged to support farmers. Depending on the market in coming days, Saigon Co.op will continue to adjust prices in the spirit of support for farmers, he said. Big C Vietnam also cut prices by 8 per cent on all pork products since Tuesday. This is its third adjustment since March, raising the total discount rate by 20 per cent. Ho Quoc Nguyen, PR director for Central Group Vietnam, said pork sold at Big C was supplied by businesses under the citys price stabilisation programme. Input pork prices have not seen major fluctuations, but the retailer has updated market prices to adjust sales prices to ensure the best deal for consumers. At a meeting between Long An Province and Vissan Joint Stock Company on Tuesday, inh Thi Phuong Khanh, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said farmers in her province had been suffering from a continuous decline in pig prices since before Tet (Lunar New Year). The price has fallen from VN31,000-33,000 a kilo before Tet to VN 23,000-25,000 a kilo, while the production cost is VN37,000 for each kilo, resulting a total loss of about VN40-45 billion. The province has a total of 299,000 pigs, with 30,000-40,000 pigs needed to be sold each month, with 21,578 pigs bred following VietGap standards, she said. Nguyen ang Phu, deputy general director of Vissan Co Ltd, said that Vissan understood the difficulties faced by pig farmers due to the relentless fall in pig prices. But, because of regulations ensuring product quality, Vissan will only buy pigs that meet VietGap standards and that are bred under the Livestock Competitiveness and Food Safety Project, as well as pigs that are bred at farms participating in a city programme to trace their origin. Vissan currently sells 1,500 pigs every day from Vissans own farm as well as from its associated farms. To help the livestock industry of Long An province, Vissan will buy an additional 200 pigs from this province each day. But the pigs must meet VietGap standards, he said. At a meeting in Ha Noi on Monday, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong called on large animal husbandry businesses to increase their purchase of pigs and keep them in frozen storage in order to help farmers reduce inventories and stop the downward price spiral. As scheduled, the ministry will meet with authorities, businesses and farmers in HCM City today to discuss measures to boost consumption of the meat. VNS HA NOI Vietnam International Bank (VIB) received shareholders approval to distribute 44.6 per cent dividend payment rate in 2016, including 5 per cent in cash and 39.6 per cent in bonus shares. The rate is 25 per cent higher than the previous year, which included 8.5 per cent in cash and 16.5 per cent in bonus shares. At their meeting in Ha Noi on Thursday, shareholders agreed to pay bonus shares to the banks employees at a rate of 0.4 per cent of the charter capital. The banks shareholders also approved the business plan for this year, which includes pre-tax profit of VN750 billion (US$33 million), surging 7 per cent over last years figure, and VN120 trillion in total assets, up 15 per cent year-on-year. VIB chairman ang Khac Vy believed 2017 would be a promising year for the banking industry and the bank would focus on ensuring the quality of products and customer services and investing in human resources to reach the reviewed goals. Han Ngoc Vu, VIB general director, said the bank would strive to enter into M&A deals and grasp opportunities to buy retail businesses of other banks. Over the past three months, the bank posted after-tax profit of VN126 billion, up 14 per cent year-on-year. During the reviewed period, its net interest income, net fee and commission income and gain from investment securities also experienced positive growth of 16 per cent, 31 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively. Debts purchased from the Viet Nam Asset Management Company were handled well, resulting in a decrease of 2.19 per cent in the banks non-performing loan ratio as of March 31, lower than the 2.58 per cent seen at the end of 2016. VIB shares (code VIB), meanwhile, dropped 0.5 per cent to close at VN20,000 on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) on Thursday. VNS VIENTIANE Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met in Vientiane on Thursday with Vietnamese investors to hear about their difficulties in a bid to help create favourable conditions for Vietnamese investments in Laos. Phuc praised the efforts and results achieved by Vietnamese firms doing businesses in Laos, which he said contributed significantly to enhancing socio-economic co-operation between the two countries. Phuc also urged firms to study the market and investment policies carefully before investing in Laos The Association of Vietnamese Investors in Laos (AVIL) should also enhance co-operation with management agencies in the countries and organise dialogues between the governments and investors in order to tackle difficulties, Phuc said. Tran Bac Ha, AVILs president, said that Vietnamese investments in Laos would be directed toward high-technology sectors, trade, services and tourism and contribute to increasing bilateral trade value by 10 per cent in 2017. Ha said Viet Nam has so far invested in 269 projects in 17 of Laos 18 provinces with a total registered capital of US$5.1 billion, some $2.2 billion of which has already been disbursed. The association proposed that the two governments improve the framework for economic co-operation and adopt policies to facilitate investment and trade. Detailed instructions should be developed to effectively implement agreements between the two countries, such as the agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, labour co-operation and border trade. Ha said at the meeting that the two economies should enhance co-operation in major sectors, such as energy, transport, agriculture and trade. According to the Viet Nam Foreign Investment Agency, Laos ranked first among 68 countries and territories in Viet Nam has invested, and was the third largest foreign investor in Laos. The two contries recorded bilateral trade of $236.2 million in the first quarter of this year, up 4 per cent over the same period last year. On the occasion of Phucs two-day visit to Laos, which ended on Thursday, the two sides agreed to map out long-term orientations to collaborate for sustainable development of bilateral relations, stepping up trade ties while ensuring social welfare and environmental protection. VNS HCM CITY The newly established five modal (rail/road/air/river/sea) infrastructure network has brought a great deal of investment to the Red River Delta, especially Hai Phong, delegates told a seminar held in HCM City on Wednesday. Hans Kerstens, international business development manager at Deep C Industrial Zones, said in the last five years the north has become the most popular investment destination for foreign companies. Almost US$60 billion has been invested there since 2011, outperforming the south by nearly $9 billion, he said. Availability of prime industrial land adjacent to the new infrastructure developments in combination with reliable power, water, wastewater treatment and, unconditionally, the best tax package available in Viet Nam are some of the reasons why many more investors have decided to come here, he said. Vu Duy Mat, deputy director of Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong, said the airport, upgraded last year, has been a success story in terms of both passengers and cargo. In the first quarter of this year passengers and cargo throughput increased by 47 per cent and 48 per cent year-on-year. The presence of a second airport (besides Noi Bai Airport in Ha Noi) capable of handling cargo via international routes is an imperative to comfort investors in the mobile phone and electronics business, he said. Pham Hai Manh of the Ministry of Transports Maritime Project Management Unit said a major game changer in the north has been the construction of the new Hai Phong International Gateway Port (also known as Lach Huyen Port). Until recently Hai Phong only had a port with a limited draft of seven metres. The new Lach Huyen Port, which will become operational next year, will allow vessels with a draft of 14 metres or 100,000DWT to berth in Hai Phong, eliminating the need to tranship from places like Singapore or Hong Kong and reducing the time to markets. Hai Phong in particular has received a lot of interest among foreign investors, o Trung Thoai, chairman of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority, said. It is home to 490 FDI projects worth almost $14 billion by some major players like LG, Bridgestone, Knauf, Regina Miracle, Nipro Pharma, and Flat Glass. The integrated infrastructure, especially the transport system, has been one of the biggest factors in this. Its investment environment too has greatly improved, especially in terms of administrative procedures, enabling businesses to get licences and customs and tax declarations faster, he said. He expected the investment wave in the city to strengthen further when large national transport infrastructure works are completed soon. He hailed the active support offered by local authorities to investors. The province has approved a list of projects requiring FDI investment in 2016-20, with a focus on environment-friendly ones, he said. Kerstens said investors in the Deep C Industrial Zones can enjoy the convenience of transportation by sea, road, rail, and air. They have so far attracted over $3 billion worth of investments from various countries in 70-odd projects. The zone supports customers by providing an integrated support package in an unconditional and transparent way to allow them to do business hassle-free, Kerstens said. Nearly 100 business people attended the seminar on Mega Infrastructures Make Difference in the North organised by Beluxcham together with various IP authorities, Deep C Industrial Zones, and KPMG. VNS HA NOI The CEO of Euro Auto company, an authorised BMW cars dealer in HCM City, has been arrested for allegedly smuggling luxury cars into the country. The Ministry of Public Securitys Police Department of Economy and Corruption-related Crimes on Wednesday inspected the home and office of Nguyen ang Thao, who has been the CEO of Euro Auto since November 2015. In late 2016, authorities discovered many violations while examining the companys car imports. Euro Auto was found to sell imported cars even while the cars were waiting for the required customs clearance. The company also failed to provide legal documents to prove the origin of many products, and allegedly used fake documents such as purchase contracts and receipts to import cars. VNS HA NOI - The rapid development of technology, the Internet and social networks has resulted in significant development of e-commerce in Viet Nam, however, it has brought challenges for many enterprises, especially in intellectual property protection. It was necessary to raise the awareness of community about the protection of intellectual property rights in general and the e-commerce environment in particular, Tran Van Tung, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, told a workshop on intellectual property enforcement in e-commerce in Ha Noi on Wednesday. "The Government, the Ministry of Science and Technology and other ministries and sectors have been working hard to prevent intellectual property infringement as well as infringements of intellectual property rights in the digital environment, but this work faces many difficulties," Tung said. Nguyen Nhu Quynh, deputy chief inspector the Ministry of Science and Technology, said enterprises were not fully aware of the protection of intellectual property rights in e-commerce. She pointed out difficulties including enterprises not being aware of the problem, difficulties in identifying violating organisations or individuals, difficulties in collecting evidence and incomplete legislation. Le Ngoc Lam, deputy director of National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam, said e-commerce had grown vigorously. Due to the almost infinite authors privilege and the scope on the Internet, along with the development of e-commerce, online infringement has become a major challenge. E-commerce was developing very strongly in Viet Nam, however, the sector had many shortcomings because it still lacks qualified staff, he said. In addition, co-ordination among agencies caused difficulties and obstacles, he added. Functional units need to have training courses on e-commerce, strengthening the co-ordination activities between enforcement forces in the prevention and control of intellectual property infringement. As the responsible agency for intellectual property issues, the National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam would add sanctions for the electronic transaction environment, while co-ordinating with authorities to resolve domain name disputes and in identifying related issues to intellectual property infringement cases, said Lam, the representative of the office. - VNS KHANH HOA Construction of a reservoir to collect water leaking from the Hon Ro dumping site in the central Khanh Hoa Provinces Ninh Hoa Commune must be completed soon, the Peoples Committee has said. At a dialogue held on Thursday between the provincial Peoples Committee, Ninh Hoa Communes Peoples Committee and residents, committee chairman Le uc Vinh said the reservoir must be built before the end of this June to curb heavy pollution in the commune. Residents in Ninh Ich Village complained that the Hon Ro dumping site has a terrible smell and water leaking from the garbage site is polluting the water source, affecting the lives and health of people in the village since last year. Residents had reported the situation to the local authority on several occasions, but there was no improvement yet. Finally, following a long period of suffering, in February, they decided to block garbage trucks from entering the site as a way of protest. Reacting to the peoples anger, Vinh said he sympathised with the inconvenience and disturbance faced by the residents. However, he said the blocking of garbage trucks had caused difficulties for the local authority in dealing with domestic waste, as more than 60 tonnes of waste is discharged each day on average. Vinh said in 2015, the province had invested in building a new garbage site with high technology to bury waste. However, in late 2016, dirty water began leaking due to the heavy rainfall, causing serious pollution. He reprimanded Ninh Hoa Communes Peoples Committee for not solving the problem quickly and completely and asked locals to remain calm and wait for solutions from the local authority. To solve the problem, Vinh said the authorised agency was building a reservoir to collect water leaking from the dumping site. The agency would also take measures to isolate toxic substances contained in water. Further, the landfill would be fixed before July 30, he added. He also asked the communes Peoples Committee to invite representatives of the residents to participate in the implementation of the solution to address the pollution. After all the tasks were completed, authorized agencies would inspect the quality of waste water and air and the operation of the landfill thrice a month. The frequency of inspection would be decreased to once or twice per month in subsequent months. An automatic monitoring centre would also be set up in Ninh Ich Village to identify violations. This May, the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment would inspect the wells of 42 households to evaluate the quality of water. The provincial Department of Health would send doctors to provide health checks for affected residents in the village, Vinh said. VNS AN GIANG The southern Mekong Delta province of An Giang will host a Food and Tourism Week from May 16 to 25 at Vinh ong Trade Centre in Chau oc City. The event, organised by An Giang Tourism Promotion Centre and the Sai Gon Biz Marketing Communication Joint-Stock Company, will introduce local specialties and encourage participating vendors to offer higher quality food and services, further boosting tourism. There will be 200 booths, displaying signature dishes and souvenirs from An Giang and other provinces, including Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, ong Nai, Long An, Thai Nguyen and Thua Thien Hue, among others, according to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Food vendors from Thailand, Korea, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the US and others will also join the event. Visitors will have an opportunity to meet famous international chef Martin Yan, who will have a cooking demonstration on May 20. To attract more visitors, event organisers will hold a ceremony to honour Ba Chua Xu (local tutelary goddess) and on Ca Tai Tu (southern folk music) performances featuring the cultural values of the Oc Eo period and ethnic Khmer. VNS NEW YORK Haim, the pop band of three California sisters who found a ready fan base with a debut album four years ago, on Thursday announced a long-awaited follow-up. The band said Something to Tell You will come out July 7 and broke the news Wednesday night with a small gig at a Los Angeles deli where the sisters first performed as children. Haim released a first song, Right Now, that moves the bands pop sound in a trippier direction, with a syncopated rhythm over the piano leading to a dark baritone saxophone. The band -- made up of sisters Alana, Danielle and Este Haim -- was described as a latter-day Fleetwood Mac when it released its debut album Days Are Gone in 2013. Haim won a growing fan base with appearances at the worlds leading festivals -- plus a collaboration with Fleetwood Macs Stevie Nicks. As with Days Are Gone, Haim said it worked on the latest album with producer Ariel Rechtshaid -- who in 2015 recorded Adeles hit When We Were Young. The band also worked on the latest album with Rostam Batmanglij, best known for his alternative rock band Vampire Weekend. AFP HA NOI Scientists recently unearthed various traces of human beings at three caves in the central province of Nghe An, dating back to 3,000-8,000 years ago. Tombs, stone working tools, ceramic ware and snail shells, as well as ash, animal bones and pieces of copper wrist bracelets were found at the Me Mon and Ban an caves in Que Phong District and the Ho Trung Cave in Tan Ky District. Through the objects, especially ceramic ware with decorative patterns in the form S letter and triangular shaped holes, the sites have been identified as residential areas of the ancient people, Lai Van Toi, a researcher from the Centre for Citadel Research, said. The objects prove that the local ancient people conducted trade with the Mai Pha Culture in the northern province of Lang Son, which dates back to 3,500-5,000 years ago. Prof Toi said the sites are valuable historical evidence that need further excavation and research, linking it with local geology, bio-diversity and the natural landscape. Initial research at 11 local caves was conducted earlier this month for seven days by scientists from the Nghe An Provincial Museum and the centre. VNS There are about 10,000 unclaimed motorbikes, three-wheelers and other vehicles in HCM City. Photo thanhnien.vn Khanh Duong When you have about 10,000 unclaimed motorbikes, three-wheelers and other vehicles on hand, you are running out of space to store them. You are also running out of ideas on what to do with them, because you do not have the budget to maintain vehicles confiscated for one reason or the other. People are supposed to pay fines and reclaim them, for the most part, but when they dont, the vehicle rusts away in an open area or warehouse with finite space. In HCM City, authorities have recently stepped up their crackdown on three-wheelers, self-modified vehicles, vehicles carrying outsized goods or the so-called blind vehicles that have no lights or number plates, and in some instances, no brakes either. Of course, this has meant that the number of temporarily seized vehicles has been growing non-stop, and the number of those remaining unclaimed after the mandated deadline has been going up, too. HCM City authorities took a decision recently to sell the unclaimed vehicles as scrap, with the money raised going to the State Budget. According to decision, the scrap liquidation solution would apply for vehicles that owners have not claimed seven days after their temporary confiscation. Heres where someone should step in and say, whoa, hold on to your horses. A closer look at the 10,000 or so vehicles to be sold as scrap is warranted at this point. Many of them have remained in the citys stores for years and gathered significant rust. But local reports say that they there are also a large number of relatively new, expensive models: SH, Liberty, Spacey, etc. Is selling such vehicles for scrap value a cost-effective decision? It is a fact that the city has the right to decide on other ways to clear the inventory of unclaimed vehicles. At a time when there is a lot of talk about both public citizens and the Government needing to practice thrift and avoid wastage, what does this decision say? In Ha Noi too Of course, the phenomenon of unclaimed vehicles is not unique to HCM City. In Ha Noi, hundreds of them can be seen in storage areas around the My inh Bus Station, and in Bo e ward in Long Bien District and Nam Trung Yen apartment building area in Cau Giay District. Here, too, the bikes range from very old ones to modern models that cost around VN200 million (US$8,900) each. A storage place owner in Bo e told the Nhan Dan (People) newspaper that the highest number of vehicles received every day can be up to over 200 cars and motorbikes, and this included 50 to 60 whose ownership could not be verified. He said the vehicles were not just those confiscated for traffic violations, but also those taken as material evidence in criminal cases awaiting further investigation or unidentified owners in robbery cases. Without funds to invest in storing and maintaining the confiscated vehicles, many new ones also were in a broken-down condition after being exposed to the harsh weather conditions for some time, he added. Colonel ao Vinh Thang, head of Ha Noi Traffic Police Department, said that last year, his office temporarily seized 1796 cars, 18,945 motorbikes and more than 1,000 electrical bikes for various traffic violations. The ownership of about 30 per cent of the seized vehicles could not be verified. The Ha Noi Parking Company has more than 2,000 unclaimed vehicles. Why are so many vehicles unclaimed? Some people say that the owners cannot afford the fines, other expanses and complicated procedures involved in getting their vehicle back. The other expenses here include vehicle management and maintenance fees for the period that the vehicles are confiscated. When added up, the many kinds of fees exceed the current market value of the vehicle, and the owners or violators decide not to claim it. According to Decree No 115/2013/N-CP on the management and preservation of material evidence relating to administrative violations, as well as vehicles that are temporarily seized, once the deadline for paying the fines has passed, the concerned agency has to announce subsequent penalties on local media and at office headquarters at least two times. Thirty days after the announcement, the vehicles will be officially seized and placed under the determination of concerned State agencies. The locality in charge of the confiscated vehicles is authorised to deal with them. Under the hammer While HCM City authorities have decided to sell seized vehicles as scrap, the capital city has, in recent years, been auctioning them. Statistics from the Ha Noi Police Department show that in 2014, more than 2,000 seized vehicles were successfully auctioned, collecting almost VN5 billion. From November 16, 2015 to November 15, 2016, another 1,991 unclaimed motorbikes and self-modified vehicles were auctioned. However, said Lieutenant Colonel inh Thanh Thao, deputy head of traffic police division under Ha Noi police department, identifying the vehicles owners is a complicated process and takes quite a long time. According to the regulations, if no one claims ownership, the police will have to verify whether the owners or the vehicles are in the list that authorised agencies are seeking (especially in criminal cases). If no one still claims ownership or the vehicles are evidence in criminal cases, the vehicles will be officially confiscated and their fate determined by State agencies. The verification process takes from one month to up to half a year. Once the ownership is verified, auctioning the seized vehicles is another complicated process. Major Nguyen Thanh Cong, from Traffic Police Department under Public Security Ministry blamed the situation on the lack of detailed instructions. He said that the most difficult part is to assess the vehicles value after it has been kept in storage, and determine a price level for auctioning them. Other factors Back to HCM Citys decision, we have to consider the possibility of the real owners of expensive brands, cars or motorbikes, not knowing the fate of their robbed property or assets that have been implicated in other criminal cases. Even though tracking the owners can be difficult, it is not impossible, and it would a much fairer solution to allow someone to get back their lost property instead of scrapping it. Surely the digital era and modern technology would allow authorised agencies to look for and help people whove lost their vehicles. It is not too much to expect that an official website or network is launched where all information on vehicles, including its specifications, images, number plate and other details are published. Any person whos lost his or her property can go to a website and check the details. And if the seized motorbikes and cars are still usable, scrapping them will be a colossal waste. Greater transparency and clarity (removal of ambiguities), fair and less complicated reclamation procedures, rational categorisation of vehicles into those that can be used and those that are better scrapped, as well as open auction processes will go a long way to addressing the problem. Even if these steps take time, it will be worth the effort, because the public will feel they have a stake in a fair process. VNS CAN THO Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan met with voters in Cai Rang District of the southern city of Can Tho on Thursday to listen to their opinions ahead of the third plenary session of the 14th legislature. Voters from Hung Thanh Ward of Cai Rang District raised compensation for land clearance, health insurance, jobs for young people, child sexual abuse and public investment in Can Tho. The NA Chairwoman affirmed that the issues of voters concern will be up for discussion at the upcoming NA session. Mentioning the high rate of unemployment among young people, including university graduates in the locality, Ngan said there are several reasons for the problem, one of which is the quality of training falling short of the demands of the labour market. She also pointed to the incorrect perception that only employment in State-owned agencies is a proper job. More attention should be paid to training and vocational orientation, the NA Chairwoman said, urging a change of thinking among young people. Chairwoman Ngan listened to voters proposals on imposing stricter punishments on serious crimes such as the trading, transport and production of illegal drugs, and causing environmental pollution. Responding to public concern about child sexual abuse, the legislator said the NA has included the problem in its supervision programme and requested the Ministry of Public Security to report on the situation, with a view to supplementing the revised Penal Code. Ngan stressed that social condemnation is important to preventing such illegal actions. The NA Chairwoman informed the voters that Can Tho has been allocated the same level of five-year public investment as Hai Phong and a Nang in order to boost its development, matching its status as one of the five centrally-governed cities and the centre of the Mekong Delta. She also announced that at the upcoming plenary session, the 14th NA is scheduled to pass 13 bills and five resolutions while debating four draft laws for the first time. Also yesterday, NA Chairwoman Ngan met with voters in Phong ien District of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho and answered their questions on environmental protection, food safety, corruption, fruit production and traffic accident reduction. Regarding voters queries on corruption prevention and control, the top legislator noted that the NA has amended the Law on Corruption Prevention and Control, while the Party and State are also focussed on the issue. She noted that several major corruption cases have been brought to light, including some related to major banks, and 12 would be made public in 2017, affirming the Party and States consistent "no safety zone for corruptors policy. Asked about fake and sub-standard commodities, Ngan said NA deputies discuss the matter at all their socio-economic debates, while building a supervision programme. The legislature has also issued a resolution on the matter and assigned the Government to strengthen State management over fake and poor quality commodities, especially in the field of agriculture, she said. Answering voters questions on measures to support pig breeders suffering losses due to falling pork prices, she attributed the situation to poor market forecasts and said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was seeking ways to boost processing, while urging authorised agencies to provide more exact market forecasts. Regarding measures to prevent the use of food additives without clear origin, the top legislator pledged that in the upcoming third session, the NA will study the matter and issue a resolution asking ministries to strengthen supervision and management in the field. VNS Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will attend the 30th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Manila, the Philippines from April 28-29 at the invitation of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat HA NOI Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will attend the 30th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Manila, the Philippines from April 28-29 at the invitation of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. At the events, the Vietnamese delegation will aim to contribute to strengthening ASEAN connectivity and improving the blocs operations, while fostering intra-bloc unity, and enhancing the central role of the association. Along with boosting co-operation in narrowing development gaps to benefit ASEAN residents, Viet Nams participation in the event is a chance for the country to bolster its partnerships with other ASEAN member states as well as the blocs dialogue partners. During the summit, themed Partnering for Change, Engaging the World, ASEAN leaders will review plans for the building of the ASEAN Community, while discussing measures to enhance the central role of the association and its relations with partners as well as regional and international issues of shared concern. As ASEAN is celebrating its 50th founding anniversary and the second year of the ASEAN Community, at the event, leaders will seek measures to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and action plans to strengthen intra-bloc connection. So far, the community has made progress in realising the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and blueprints in all three pillars of the vision. As many as 218 out of 290 activities in politics-security are underway at different levels, while 532 out of 611 economic measures included in the roadmap for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2025 building have been implemented, and the AEC 2025 Consolidated Strategic Action Plan has also commenced. ASEAN is also specifying the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Communitys blueprint with 109 actions. To support the building of the ASEAN Community, the group has also stepped up efforts to strengthen connectivity and narrow development gaps, and launched the third phase of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration with five priorities of food and industry; trade facilitation; micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; education; and health care and welfare. Along with enhancing its efficiency, the association will beef up ties with partners such as China, the US, India, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Canada and the UN, while designing joint action programmes with the remaining dialogue partners of Japan, Australia, Russia and the EU. ASEAN has also committed to maintaining and fostering peace, stability, maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom in the East Sea, as well as settling disputes through peaceful measures, with full respect for diplomatic and legal processes in line with widely-recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. ASEAN has showed its responsibility in building a favourable environment for peace, stability, maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom in the East Sea through promoting the full, strict and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and collaborating with China to soon finalise a Code of Conduct in the waters. VNS HA NOI The Party Central Committees Inspection Commission has decided to consider disciplinary action against seven former top executives of the National Oil and Gas Group (PVN), including a member of the Politburo, for causing severe economic losses and negatively affecting the prestige of the Party. The Commission found that the PVN Party Committees Standing Board was negligent in advising the PVN Party Committee on a 2009 resolution that approved illegal contract packages, and a 2011 resolution on investing in OceanBank contrary to the Law on Credit Institutions, which resulted in a loss of VN900 billion (US$39.59 million), including VN800 billion ($35.19 million) to OceanBank. The Commission asked the Party Committee of the Central Business Bloc to take quick disciplinary action against the PVN Party Committees Standing Board. inh La Thang The Commission also proposed that the Partys Political Bureau and Central Committee consider disciplinary measures against former Secretary of the Party Committee and former Chairman of the Member Council of PVN, inh La Thang, who is now a Politburo member and Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee. It found that Thang bore prime responsibility for resolutions and wrongdoings by the Party Committees Standing Board and the Member Council of PVN in 2009-11. He was found to have violated regulations of the groups Board of Directors by signing an agreement on contributing 20 per cent and upwards of OceanBanks capital before getting approval of the Board of Directors. Thang was also responsible for the Member Councils resolutions authorising bidding packages violating Government decrees and advising the Prime Minister to designate many bidding packages that failed to meet legal regulations. He was found responsible for violations of the Law on Bidding relating to the engineering, procurement and construction contract for Dung Quat Biofuel Plant, as well as the low investment efficiency in a number of projects, including the inh Vu Polyester manufacturing plant and bio-energy projects. Phung inh Thuc It decided to retroactively remove Phung inh Thuc from the position of Secretary of the PVN Party Committee in the 2010-15 tenure over his accountability for violations of the PVN Party Committees Standing Board in 2011-14. Thuc, who is former Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, a member of the Board of Directors and General Director of PVN in 2008-10, and Secretary of the firms Party Committee and Chairman of the Member Council from September 2011-July 2014, was also identified as responsible for issuing the two damaging resolutions. He also violated organisation and personnel regulations, gave wrong assessments about Trinh Xuan Thanh on his transfer to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and did not take into account violations by Nguyen Xuan Son when he worked as Director General of OceanBank. Thuc was also found responsible for violations in the inh Vu Polyester manufacturing plant and bio-energy projects. o Van Hau o Van Hau, former Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, member of the Member Council and General Director of PVN from November 2011-October 2014, was dismissed from his position as Deputy Secretary of the PVN Party Committee for the 2010-15 period, as he was found to have links with the issuance of Resolutions 233/NQ-U and 4266/NQ-DKVN. Hau irresponsibly provided wrong assessments of Trinh Xuan Thanh and Vu inh Duy on their transfer to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, took responsibility for accrediting Nguyen Xuan Son and for violations in the inh Vu Polyester manufacturing plant and bio-energy projects. Nguyen Xuan Son Meanwhile, the Commission decided to expel Nguyen Xuan Son, former Secretary of the PVN Party Committee and Chairman of the Member Council, from the Party for being responsible for the PVN Party Committees Standing Boards violations in the 2010-15 period as well as the issuance of the two above mentioned resolutions. Son was found to abuse his position and authority and intentionally act against the States regulations on economic management, causing severe losses when he represented the PVN at OceanBank. Son is being apprehended in service of investigations. Son is the only one of the suspects to have been arrested. Binh inh violations The Commission issued a warning against Nguyen Quoc Khanh, former Secretary of Party Committee, Chairman of the Member Council, former member of the Party Committees Standing Board and former Deputy Director General of the firm, for violations of the PVN Party Committees Standing Board in 2010-15, and the issuance of the two said resolutions. He got involved in legal violations in assigning contracts for the Long Phu 1 and Thai Binh 2 thermal power plants, the inh Vu Polyester manufacturing plant and bio-energy projects. Regarding violations in the south-central province of Binh inh, the Commission asked the Party Secretariat to consider punishments of Nguyen Van Thien, former Party Central Committee member and former Secretary of the Binh inh Party Committee, for wrongdoings in illegal appointments of officials who failed to meet conditions and standards for the posts during the 2010-15 period. It also decided to reprimand Le Huu Loc, former Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and former Chairman of the Peoples Committee of Binh inh for his violations in recruiting and deciding on salary levels for public servants against regulations in the 2011-16 tenure. VNS Retired people gets retirement pension in HCM City. Photo vnmedia.vn HCM CITY Achieving the target of social insurance for 50 per cent of the country workers within three years will be a formidable challenge, since only 24.6 per cent out of 53 million workers have joined the system so far, according to Bui Sy Loi, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Committee for Social Affairs. Loi spoke yesterday at the opening of the 6th plenary meeting in HCM City of the NAs Committee for Social Affairs on implementation of social insurance policies, the management and use of the insurance fund in 2016 and the report on the implementation of the national targets. Reports presented to the committee pointed at widespread violations by employers of social insurance obligations to their workers. According to a report represented at the meeting, by the end of 2016, the total number of people participating in social insurance topped 13 million, some 775,000 more than in 2015. The amount of social insurance collection was estimated at VN174.5 trillion (US$7.8 billion) while the compulsory social insurance debt was VN6.55 trillion ($291 million). Deputy Pham Xuan Thang from the northern province of Hai Duong raised concerns over the transparency of the collection, management and use of social insurance fund. This has a great impact on those who are paying for social insurance so they need to know about their money and it should be transparent, Thang said. 2016 was the first year the social insurance system underwent specialised inspections. Social insurance agencies at all levels conducted nearly 7,600 inspections of more than 13,000 employers. They found that more than 39,400 workers were uninsured or underpaid for over VN23.6 billion (more than $1 million); 11,600 workers were paid less than their salary rate for more than VN9 billion ($900,000). Meanwhile, 6,800 people were found wrongly benefiting from social insurance of nearly VN7.9 billion ($351,000). Doan Mau Diep, deputy minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs said that inspections showed that violations by enterprises of the social insurance law were rife. Typical offenses include failing to pay or paying insufficiently for social insurance of labourers, appropriating employees social insurance premiums, recording the wage in the labour contract lower than the actual wage, or signing seasonal contracts to avoid paying social insurance, Diep said. In 2016, more than 201,000 enterprises paid social insurance, but this number was very low compared with 470,000 operating enterprises, Thang said. The enterprises have a lot of ways to evade insurance while we have not had effective measures to encourage or force them to pay, he said, asking for more potent and legal sanctioning solutions. Loi urged the Viet Nam Social Insurance to closely co-ordinate with the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour in initiating lawsuits against enterprises owing social insurance debts, and increase the efficiency of investment in social insurance and unemployment insurance funds in order to ensure safety and growth. VNS HA NOI Three guided missile cruisers from the Russian Navys Pacific Fleet have arrived at Cam Ranh international seaport of Viet Nams south central coastal Khanh Hoa Province. The guard missile cruiser Varyag, the medium-sized sea tanker Pechanga and rescue tugboat Fotiy Krylov, with a total of more than 640 sailors onboard, started a goodwill visit to the country from Thursday to Monday. During the visit, the commanders of the ship group, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Alexey Yurevich Ulyanenko, will meet leaders of Khanh Hoa Peoples Committee and officers of the Vietnamese Navy. Russian naval officers will also participate in activities to solidify collaboration in defence and maritime security between the two nations. The visit will help enhance the Viet Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, including ties in defence and navy. VNS MANILA ASEAN foreign ministers issued yesterday a statement expressing grave concern over the escalation of tension in the Korean Peninsula, urging the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) and all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint to de-escalate the tension. ASEAN is mindful that instability in the Korean Peninsula seriously impacts the region and beyond, the statement said, urging the DPRK to comply with its obligations arising from all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and international laws. They also called for the resumption of dialogue on the Korean Peninsula to defuse tensions and create conditions conducive to peace and stability. The Korean Peninsula situation was one of the main issues tabled at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, the 15th meeting of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council, and the 19th meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council in Manila, the Philippines, on April 28. These events reviewed preparations for the 30th ASEAN Summit today. Another outstanding issue discussed at the meetings was the East Sea. ASEAN foreign ministers reiterated resolve to accelerate the building of a framework for a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea so as to attain a substantive, effective code in line with international law. The ministers stressed that amidst the complicated international and regional context, especially tensions in the Korean Peninsula and militarisation in the East Sea, ASEAN needs to keep a strong common voice and bring into play its role, contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world. Speaking at the meetings, Viet Nams Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh shared other countries viewpoint on the tensions. He affirmed that ASEAN needs to take a sober, impartial and consistent approach. The bloc should consolidate its internal strength, solidarity and unanimity, increase co-ordination of their stance, and build a common voice for ASEAN on issues of shared concern. It also "needs to enhance its central role in ASEAN-led mechanisms and encourage big countries balanced and constructive participation in the region", he said. He added the association "needs to enhance peoples engagement in the building of the ASEAN Community and make use of every contribution to the communitys development". Regarding the East Sea issue, Minh shared other countries concern about complex developments in the waters, including reclamation and militarisation activities. He emphasised that "all countries are responsible for contributing to peace, stability, security and safety of navigation and overflight in the East Sea". Countries must be committed to settling disputes by peaceful means on the basis of respect for international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, along with diplomatic and legal processes in the region. They also must not use or threaten to use force. Deputy PM Minh welcomed the continued efforts made by ASEAN and China to seriously and fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and build an effective COC. The 30th ASEAN Summit will officially open at the Philippine International Convention Centre in Manila on April 29. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will lead the Vietnamese delegation to the event. Meeting with counterparts Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held separate meetings with top diplomats of the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia on the sidelines of the 30th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Manila yesterday. During a meeting with Philippine Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, the two officials lauded the time-honoured co-operation between Viet Nam and the Philippines. They agreed to promote high-level visits as well as a ministerial-level meeting of the Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation this year, and enhance ties in marine issues, including fighting piracy. Meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, the two ministers discussed boosting bilateral ties and holding the sixth session of the Viet Nam-Malaysia Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation as well as the implementation of signed agreements. Minh urged Malaysia to fairly judge the case related to Vietnamese citizen oan Thi Huong and ensure her rights. While meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, the two sides agreed to increase high-level visits and accelerate negotiations on the demarcation of the exclusive economic zones in waters. They agreed to implement the outcomes of the seventh session of the Viet Nam-Indonesia Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation in a bid to reach US$10 billion in two-way trade by 2018. The sides also agreed to enhance co-operation to maintain ASEANs central role and unity as well as peace and stability in the East Sea. They stressed the need to continue working together closely in ASEAN to finalise a Code of Conduct in the East Sea and ensure its effectiveness.VNS HCM CITY Farmers in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region have begun this years first harvest season of brackish water shrimp, earning strong profits due to high prices and favourable breeding conditions. The price of 30-piece-per-kilo size black tiger shrimp, which is bought at ponds by traders, is VN245,000-250,000 (US$10.6-10.8) a kilo. Nguyen Duy Bao, who rotates growing shrimp and rice in a rice field in Kien Giang Provinces An Minh District, said At this price, shrimp-rice rotating farmers can earn a profit that is equal to 60-70 per cent of the production cost of shrimp. In the early months of this year the weather was not severe as during the same period of last year, so shrimp grew quickly, Bao said. Farmers in Kien Giang have bred more than 102,000ha of shrimp in the first three months of the year, up 11 per cent against the same period last year, according to the provinces Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. In Ca Mau Province, which is the countrys largest shrimp producer, farmers who began breeding shrimp fries early this year have reaped their harvest. Nguyen Van Thoa in Ca Mau Provinces Phu Tan District has sold two ponds of white-legged shrimp after three months of breeding and got a profit of VN700 million ($30,400). Many farmers here have not bred shrimp this year because they were afraid of severe drought, salt water intrusion and poor harvest as last year, Thoa said. This year, saline water intrusion in the delta occurred late and the salinity has been low so many farmers are waiting for the proper time to release shrimp fries into ponds for breeding. At present, the weather is hot, causing a high content of pH (potential of hydrogen) in shrimp ponds or rapid growth of algae in shrimp ponds. This could affect the growth of shrimp. Quach Thi Thanh Binh, deputy head of the Soc Trang Province Aquaculture Sub-department, said farmers should regularly carry out water inspections as well as heed the warning of competent agencies about shrimp diseases in order to choose a proper time to put water into shrimp ponds. Soc Trang will enter its main period for releasing shrimp fries into ponds for breeding after May when the rainy season officially begins, according to the provinces Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The provinces shrimp breeding areas expect to increase as the price of shrimp is high this year, said the department. Soc Trang farmers have harvested more than 1,000ha of shrimp with a total yield of 4,153 tonnes so far this year. Raw shrimp shortage Ngo Thanh Linh, general secretary of the Ca Mau Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, said most shrimp processors in Ca Mau are facing a shortage of shrimp material. The supply of raw shrimp can only meet 40-50 per cent of the demand of large shrimp processing firms in the province, he said. In addition, the third quarter of the year is the main shrimp export season so most domestic shrimp processors are buying more raw shrimp to ensure their production. The domestic supply of raw shrimp will not meet the demand of shrimp processors in the coming time and the price of shrimp will remain high, Linh said. The delta, which accounts for more than 80 per cent of the countrys shrimp breeding area, has raised more than 536,000ha of shrimp as of the end of last month, up about 53,300ha against the same period last year. VNS HA NOI Ten years after beginning renovation work on old apartment buildings in Ha Noi, the city has renovated 14 of some 1,516 old apartment buildings, a seminar has reported. Deputy Chairman of the city Peoples Committee Nguyen The Hung said renovating old apartment buildings was very difficult. Although city authorities, concerned offices and experts have mapped out plans, they were extremely hard to implement, he said. At the seminar to discuss renovating and rebuilding old apartment buildings, a representative of Ha Nois Department of Construction said most old apartments in the city built in the 1960s-1990s in the four inner districts are out of date. Statistics from the department show that the city has about 1,516 old apartments building with two to five floors. In 2003, the city Peoples Committee started assigning investors in collaboration with district authorities to carry out surveys and build master plans for a total of 93 apartment buildings. So far 14 rebuilt apartment buildings have been put into use, five others are under construction, while four are in very poor shape and need to be demolished as soon as possible. Construction experts agreed that the key issue was the consensus between investors and residents living in old apartment buildings. In 2015, the Government promulgated a decree defining the responsibilities of owners of apartment flats to renovate their places of residence and at the same time to solve the problems in the renovation of old buildings, according to director of the citys construction department Le Van Duc. However, there are still some regulations that are not suitable with real situation in the city, especially in the process of renovating and rebuilding the whole old building, he said. Therefore, the department proposed six policy mechanisms, including criteria for listing dilapidated old apartment buildings on renovation plan; mechanism of renovating and rebuilding condominiums; selecting investors; compensation policy and resettlement assistance; and financial mechanism for projects. Not yet final measure Several proposals such as offering land clearance compensation, raising buildings height, reducing resident density, increasing underground area to build more facilities at new apartment buildings were mentioned by experts at the seminar. Selecting suitable investors and resettlement policies for residents living in old buildings was also recommended by experts. However, Dr Vu Thi Minh from the National Economic University said increasing the number of floors in new apartment buildings could make the urban landscape more cluttered. She urged the city to develop policies for building underground areas at apartment buildings for the commercial purpose. It is a sustainable financial resource for the renovation and rebuilding of old apartment buildings, she said. Deputy Chairman of Ha Noi Urban Development and Planning Association ao Ngoc Nghiem said the function of a building after renovation wasnt necessarily for residential purposes, but could be a multi-functional urban area. Construction expert ao Van Bau from the association said that work should begin on apartments that need to be renovated or rebuilt immediately. According to the Ministry of Constructions criteria, a residential apartment must have a lifetime of 50 years, however, most of the old apartments are only 30-40 years old but are deteriorated. The city Peoples Committee Vice Chairman Nguyen The Hung said when planning the renovation of an old apartment building, offices need to set criteria for project durability, landscape architecture, and rights of residents. VNS KON TUM The Jarai people in Gron Village of the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum believe that the nearby forest is sacred, its trees immortal. They have adopted strict rules to protect the forest, for example punishing those who cut even a small branch for firewood by making them plant 100 new trees. Old people tell their children and grandchildren to keep preserving the giang huong (pterocarpus macrocarpus) trees, calling them the soul of the village. The villagers have entrusted Nguyen Huu Manh and Ro Mah Kem with protection of the forest for almost 20 years. Every day, the two men patrol there or remove brush to prevent fire. They divide the forest into halves, each responsible for one, and meet up once they have completed their tasks. Kem, a 51-year-old native villager, is intimately familiar with every tree. The giang huong trees are changing leaves in April, sprouting dark red buds and making the forest seem like it has changed into a new dress. Its scorching outside but under the trees its cool. I was born in Gron Village and have lived here my whole life. As a child, I used to go to the forest with my friends to catch birds, Kem said. For us in those days this forest was the happiest place on Earth. His partner, Manh, is not a native man. His family moved from the central province of Quang Binh over 20 years ago. For the first few years, they were struggling to make ends meet. They did not have enough rice to eat and had to add cassava. Manh soon fell in love with the forest, accepting a job as a forest keeper and receiving VN2 million (US$90) monthly from the commune Peoples Committee. Nguyen Huu Manh (right) and Ro Mah Kem have worked as forest keepers for 20 years. Photo tienphong.vn The hardship of the job and the low pay sometimes depressed him. Some acquaintance advised him to quit the job. But I love the forest and I cannot leave it, Manh said. The two mens shared love of the forest has turned them into brothers protecting a prized possession. Manh said during their first days of working together, they built a bamboo hut in the heart of the forest. No power, no water, they only relied on an oil lamp. On rainy nights, wind blew out the lamp and the two men sat in the darkness, listening to thunder. Besides harsh weather and working condition, the two men also have to deal with illegal loggers. The loggers usually send us threatening messages saying they will kill us or chop down the forest, Manh said. We dont care about such threats. What must be must be. Our job is to protect the giang huong forest, Manh told the Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper. Kem said they started working as forest keepers in 1996 when the commune Peoples Committee chairman Ro Mah Le decided the trees needed protecting from the waves of loggers seeking economic benefits. Le loves the forest, too. Three times a week he visited us in the forest. He brought some food, we had meals and chit-chats, Kem said. Manhs wife said that illegal loggers worked in groups and were aggressive, while Manh and Kem went to the forest with just two simple jungle knives, which worried her a lot. "Manh is always telling me that he will seek another job next year but he has worked there for 20 years, she said. Manh and Kem numbered the trees in the forest. Over an area of 3.8ha they counted 1,200 big trees with trunks so thick that two people cannot encircle them, and 800 small trees. During their patrols, Kem and Manh howl to signal to other villagers if they detect loggers. Once the villagers arrive and encircle the forest, the loggers cannot escape, Manh said, adding that the only road out of there passes by the houses of 50 families in Gron Village. Viet Nams giang huong trees are listed in Group 1, a group of precious wood. A cubic metre of giang huong is worth hundreds of million of Vietnamese ong. People want the wood because of its perfume and firmness. Wrist-sized branches are also wanted. This turns the 2,000 giang huong trees of Gron Village into a desirable logging target. Trinh Xuan Huu, a forest ranger responsible for the forest area in the commune, said there was no forests in Gia Lai Province comparable to the one in Gron Village. Shortage of forest rangers was blamed for the loss of other forests in Central Highlands provinces, but in the last 20 years not a single giang huong tree in Gron Village was harmed, Huu said. Its thanks to the engagement of local villagers, particularly the two forest keepers Manh and Kem, he said. VNS Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh delivers speech at meeting in Ha Noi on Wednesday to review projects using ODA funds and preferential loans. VNA/VNS Photo Tran Viet HA NOI World Bank (WB) preferential loans during the 2017 fiscal year will be used for sustainable development, infrastructure, improvement of tertiary education, and disaster recovery in the central region, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. Minh, also head of the National Steering Committee for Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Preferential Loans, made the statement while chairing a meeting in Ha Noi on Wednesday to review projects using ODA funds and preferential loans. In the first four months of this year, Viet Nam signed agreements for a total US$700 million of ODA and preferential loans. As of April 24, an estimated $410 million was disbursed. This is the last year that Viet Nam will receive preferential loans from the WBs International Development Association. The global lender committed loans to 14 projects and programmes in Viet Nam worth $2.1 billion. After July 1, loans to Viet Nam will be less preferential. However, disbursement speed has been inconsistent, with delays in some projects, making it difficult for those projects to complete their goals if the disbursement deadlines are not extended. Speaking at the meeting, Minh said the Government will increase the efficiency of the use of preferential loans by speeding up the projects progress. He asked agencies to work with the State Bank of Viet Nam to prepare projects for submission to authorities for approval, ensuring that negotiations with the WB are on schedule. VNS A violated contruction in Truong inh Street, Ha Noi. The city Peoples Committee has recently ordered agencies to name and shame residential building projects that violate land regulations in the city. Photo vov.vn HA NOI The Peoples Committee of Ha Noi has recently ordered agencies to name and shame residential building projects that violate land regulations in the city. The committee also asked agencies to bar investors of the violating projects from participating in other projects. The move came after the citys inter-sectoral inspection team conducted random checks on 50 real-estate projects and discovered 38 projects violating regulations on planning and construction, reported Voice of Viet Nam online newspaper. The main violations included constructing beyond permitted storeys, constructing beyond allowed areas and failing to finish legal documents for the planning and construction of the projects, the committee said. Nguyen Vinh Quang, head of the construction inspection team of Hai Ba Trung District said the Truong inh Complex in Truong inh Street was one of the violating projects. The projects investor was found to be ignoring their commitments under the construction licence, Vinh said. Quang said he welcomed the move by the city administration, though it was late in the day. Its an imperative thing to do, he said. When naming violating projects via mass media, locals living near the projects should help managerial agencies supervise them, he said. With public pressure, investors would be prevented from delaying fixing their violations, he said. The move also means that the responsibility of managerial agencies for violating cases must be clarified, he said. In previous years, projects to construct residential buildings in the city that had bad debts or failed to meet standards on fire prevention were named via mass media. However, it stopped at broadcasting the violated projects and did not mention the punishments that violators received after that, Tran Ngoc Quang, general secretary of the Viet Nam Real Estate Association said. Thus, Quang said broadcasting the punishments was also necessary, he said. He added the city administration should name violating projects more frequently and make a mechanism so that residents could access information on these projects. Nguyen Manh Ha, former head of the Ministry of Constructions Housing and Property Market Management Department welcomed the move and said violations should be strictly punished. Ha also stressed that the most needed thing the city had to do was not allow violating investors to participate in other projects. VNS HA NAM Police in northern Ha Nam Provinces Kim Bang District will investigate a man for allegedly abusing children, head of the district police Le Van Tuan has said. o Van Huong, 58, has been put into temporary detention. The police said on Thursday they had gathered substantial information, evidence and witnesses to charge Huong for committing the atrocity upon some students of ong Hoa Primary School in Kim Bang Districts ong Hoa Commune where he worked as a security guard. Earlier, parents of many students of the school filed complaints with local authorities about Huong sexually abusing the students. The school management board has temporarily suspended his work. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs estimates that some 2,000 Vietnamese children face violence and abuse annually, of whom 1,200 suffer sexual abuse. Among these, more than 13 per cent are girls below the age of six. VNS HA NOI Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau, assistant minister of foreign affairs, completed the third selection round for the position of director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Chau is one of the nine contenders for the position, whose tenure is from 2017 to 2021. This is the first time that a Vietnamese diplomat is in the running for an important position in the UN agency. On Thursday, the assistant minister made a presentation on his action programme to the UNESCO executive board and ambassadors of member countries. The candidates were interviewed on April 26 and 27, during the 201st session of the UNESCO executive board meeting in Paris, France. In his action programme, Chau put forth three key plans concerning UNESCOs vision and proposals to help the organisation function more effectively, the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Paris reported. Firstly, UNESCO must continue its mission of peace because it is a sacred task recognised by the UNESCO Constitution. Secondly, UNESCO needs to continue with reforms to become a more effective and active organisation and re-position its space in the United Nations system. Finally, UNESCO must do a better job of disseminating information so that the world understands that its focus is on natural sciences and social sciences, apart from cultural and educational matters. It should work with other countries to build a society in which all people have access to information. After the presentation, Chau answered queries raised by the executive board who wanted to understand his views on how to address challenges such as tighter budget; implementation of projects to ensure that UNESCO remains both an intellectual and action-based organisation at grassroots level; and measures to enhance cooperation and dialogue among parties in the framework of UNESCO activities. Chau said he felt honoured and proud to have been nominated by the party and the state to contend for this position. He was glad to be able to present a strategic vision with reform proposals to help UNESCO adapt and meet challenges, he added. The 55-year-old candidate was Viet Nams ambassador to Belgium and the European Union (EU) from 2011 to 2014. He has been involved in many of UNESCOs education, culture and heritage activities. Every four years, a new director general for UNESCO is elected by its General Conference. There are nine candidates for the position this year. The person nominated by the executive board is chosen by secret ballot, which will take place during the boards 202nd session in October. In November, during the 39th session of the General Conference, the boards chairperson will share information about the candidate it has nominated. The General Conference will then consider this nomination and elect, by secret ballot, the person proposed by the executive board. VNS HCM CITY There have been more than 15,000 cases of dengue fever in the south so far this year, according to the Pasteur Institute of HCM City. HCM City, Binh Duong and An Giang provinces have reported the highest number of cases. In HCM City, as of the end of March, there were nearly 5,000 cases including three fatalities. In Can Tho, there have been more than 320 cases, a 10 per cent increase year-on-year. Huynh Minh Truc, director of the Can Tho Preventive Medicine Centre, said on Thursday that there is a rising incidence of dengue in the city. Dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases would continue to increase during the upcoming rainy season, he said. Some dengue hot spots, which are being monitored, are seeing a rise in the mosquito population. If there are no measures to eliminate mosquitoes and their larvae, the risk of a dengue outbreak is very high, Truc said. Health officials in the region are encouraging people to not only spray chemicals but also use traditional methods to exterminate mosquitoes and their larvae. VNS HCM CITY A private health clinic in HCM City was found to be violating regulations on check-ups and treatment, in addition to two Chinese doctors being absent during working hours. An inspection team, led by Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, on Thursday conducted a surprise inspection of Nguyen Trai Health Clinic on 277 Nguyen Trai Street in HCM Citys District 1. The team found that the clinic maintained health records of patients in a careless and haphazard manner. Ten health records of patients were found lacking patients personal information, symptoms, diagnosis of the disease and treatment undertaken. Explaining the situation, a representative of the clinic said the newly-recruited receptionists were not fully trained and this was the reason for the mistakes. Tien asked to see some doctors to inquire about the shoddy way in which patients health records were kept, but two out of five doctors were not present. The clinic reported that there were five doctors at the clinic, of which two were Chinese. Bui Minh Trang, chief inspector of HCM Citys Department of Health, said last year as well, the department found the clinic to be flouting rules, such as offering unregistered check-up and treatment services to patients. The team also inspected Faffles Medical Health Clinic, where two foreign doctors were working, and Mayo Health Clinic, where a Chinese doctor was working. These two clinics were not found to be violating any regulations. Trang said the department would continue inspecting private health clinics and classify the quality of these clinics. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese citizens, especially the underprivileged, will have access to inexpensive drugs produced by US biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences to treat hepatitis C infections. The cost of the drug will be just one per cent of the price of the companys brand-name drugs sold in the US to treat the same infections. The good news comes after the Vietnamese Ministry of Health and Gilead Sciences signed an agreement on Wednesday under which the US pharmaceutical company would provide enough of its brand-name drugs such as Sovaldi, Harvoni and Epclusa, to help Viet Nam fight the hepatitis C virus. The company will also assist Vietnamese pharmaceutical enterprises in producing generic drugs to treat hepatitis C in the future. Gilead Sciences plans to provide the health ministry with a list of foreign pharmaceutical companies it has authorised to supply materials for manufacturing drugs to treat hepatitis C. Truong Quoc Cuong, Deputy Minister of Health and Head of Drug Administration of Viet Nam, told Dan tri online newspaper that the ministry was considering allowing domestic enterprises to import materials to produce hepatitis C generic drugs soon. The ministry would, without delay, issue a distribution licence under the fast-track licensing regime for hepatitis C drugs produced by Gilead Sciences, Cuong said. It would submit a request to the government to add these Gilead Sciences drugs to the list of drugs imported under the Government plan, he added. Gilead Sciences is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that invents, develops and commercialises innovative medicines, especially in areas where medical needs are unmet. Its product portfolio and its pipeline of investigational drugs include medicines for treating HIV/AIDS, liver diseases, cancer, inflammatory and respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular conditions. It is estimated that Viet Nam has around four million people with hepatitis C infections. Representative of a pharmaceutical company who declined to be named said the agreement was believed to be very meaningful to people contracting hepatitis C in Viet Nam. It would help cut the cost of treating hepatitis C virus by a significant amount, she said. With the same drugs manufactured by the company, if patients were treated in Viet Nam, the treatment cost would be dozens of times cheaper than in foreign countries, she added. And if the health ministry adds the drugs to the list of medicines paid by health insurance, poor patients in our country will benefit, she said. VNS Almost all hotels in the resort cities of Sa Pa and a Lat are reportedly fully booked for the four-day Reunification and Labour Day holidays. Travellers complain that the rates of the few remaining rooms have doubled, but that they dont have a choice now. Sa Pa and a Lat were last year named among the best destinations for 2017 by TripAdvisor travellers. As most of southern Viet Nam is going through one of the hottest summers in years, there will certainly be huge crowds in places that can offer some relief from the heat. Vietnam Airlines has added 175 flights on domestic routes, anticipating a 15 per cent increase in demand compared to last year. Railway companies will also schedule dozens of extra trips to destinations such as Nha Trang and Phan Thiet. VNS SKOPJE Demonstrators stormed Macedonias parliament Thursday and attacked MPs, including the opposition leader, in protest against a vote for a new parliamentary speaker. Zoran Zaev, who leads the main opposition Social Democrats, was seen with blood on his face amid the chaos, while Interior Minister Agim Nuhiu told media that 10 deputies had been injured, as well as some police and journalists. The violence erupted after around 100 nationalist protesters supporting the rival VMRO-DPMNE party entered parliament waving Macedonian flags and singing the national anthem. An AFP photographer said he saw around a dozen masked men among the demonstrators, while footage showed chairs and tripods being thrown as fist fights broke out in the parliamentary press room. "I condemn the attacks on MPs in Skopje in the strongest terms. Violence has NO place in Parliament. Democracy must run its course," said European Union Commissioner Johannes Hahn on Twitter. The incident follows months of political deadlock in the Balkan country, where demonstrators have been holding nightly rallies in the capital since an inconclusive December election. They oppose a proposed coalition between Zaevs Social Democrats (SDSM) and ethnic Albanians, which they perceive as a threat to national unity. According to local media, Thursdays incident broke out after the SDSM and Albanian parties voted in a new parliamentary speaker although the former speaker had closed the days session. Their chosen speaker, Talat Xhaferi, is ethnic Albanian. The EU later said it took "positive note" of Xhaferis election. Call for calm A few hours after the protesters entered parliament, police took control of the building but around 2,000 to 3,000 protesters remained outside. "I am calling for tensions to be calmed and for non-violence," said President Gjorge Ivanov in a televised speech, inviting political party leaders to his office on Friday to discuss the situation. "No one from abroad will solve our problems," he said. For a decade until last year, Macedonia was ruled by the conservative VMRO-DPMNE and its leader Nikola Gruevski. Decembers election saw the party secure 51 seats in the 120-seat parliament or two more than the SDSM, but the conservatives failed to reach a deal with kingmaking Albanian parties. Although Zaev then reached an agreement with the Albanian groups, Ivanov refused to give him a mandate to form a government. An ally of Gruevski, the president expressed concern over the controversial demand of Albanian parties that Albanian be made an official language across Macedonia. Critics of the demand fear it could lead to the break-up of the small country of around two million people, about a quarter of whom are ethnic Albanians. Following a seven-month ethnic Albanian insurgency in 2001 that left more than 100 people dead, a peace accord was reached providing more rights for the minority. Alarming The EU and the United States have urged Ivanov to reverse his decision and grant Zaev a mandate. Macedonias opposition has also warned its conservative rivals that they are playing with fire by using the ethnic card in a bid to stay in power. Decembers vote was supposed to end two years of political upheaval, sparked by a huge wiretapping scandal, but it has only served to deepen the crisis in Macedonia, which aspires to join both NATO and the EU. Both the SDSM and VMRO-DPMNE blamed each other for provoking tensions after Thursdays violence. A spokesman for the human rights organisation Council of Europe said the incident was "alarming," while Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama expressed concern over the "really dramatic" situation. Macedonia criticised Albania earlier this month for "open interference" with its internal politics. AFP APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO EGYPT (28-29 APRIL 2017) ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS Al Masah Hotel, Cairo Friday, 28 April 2017 Mr President, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Honourable Members of Government and Parliament, Distinguished Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Ladies and Gentlemen, As-salamu alaykum!! I thank you, Mr President, for your cordial words of greeting and for your kind invitation to visit your beloved country. I have vivid memories of your visit to Rome in November 2014, my fraternal meeting with his Holiness Pope Tawadros II in 2013, and my meeting last year with the Grand Imam of the University of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmad Al-Tayyib. I am happy to be here in Egypt, a land of ancient and noble civilization, whose vestiges we can admire even today; in their majestic splendour they appear to withstand the passing of time. This land is significant for the history of humanity and for the Churchs tradition, not only because of its prestigious past that of Pharaohs, Copts and Muslims but also because so many of the Patriarchs lived in Egypt or passed through it. Indeed, Egypt is often mentioned in the sacred Scriptures. In this land, God spoke and revealed his name to Moses (John Paul II, Welcome Ceremony, 24 February 2000: Insegnamenti XXIII, 1 [2000], 248), and on Mount Sinai he entrusted to his people and to all humanity the divine Commandments. On Egyptian soil the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph found refuge and hospitality. The generous hospitality shown more than two thousand years ago remains in the collective memory of humanity and is a source of abundant blessings that continue to expand. As a result, Egypt is a land that in some sense we all feel to be our own! As you say, Misr um al-dunya Egypt is the mother of the world. Today too, this land welcomes millions of refugees from different countries, including Sudan, Eritrea, Syria and Iraq, refugees whom you make praiseworthy efforts to integrate into Egyptian society. Thanks to its history and its particular geographical location, Egypt has a unique role to play in the Middle East and among those countries seeking solutions to pressing and complex problems that need to be faced now in order to avoid the spread of worse violence. I am speaking of the blind and brutal violence caused by different factors: sheer desire for power, the arms trade, grave social problems and that religious extremism which uses the Holy Name of God to carry out unprecedented atrocities and injustices. This destiny and role of Egypt are also the reason that led the people to call for an Egypt where no one lacks bread, freedom and social justice. Certainly this aim will become a reality if all are willing, together, to turn words into actions, authentic aspirations into commitments, written laws into enforced laws, by drawing on the innate genius of the Egyptian people. Egypt thus has a singular task, namely, to strengthen and consolidate regional peace even as it is assaulted on its own soil by senseless acts of violence. Such acts of violence have caused unjust suffering to so many families some of them are present among us who mourn their sons and daughters. I think in a particular way of all those individuals who in recent years have given their lives to protect your country: young people, members of the armed forces and police, Coptic citizens and all those nameless victims of various forms of terrorist extremism. I think also of the murders and the threats that have led to an exodus of Christians from northern Sinai. I express my gratitude to the civil and religious authorities and to all those who have offered welcome and assistance to these persons who have suffered so greatly. I also think of the victims of the attacks on Coptic churches, both last December and more recently in Tanta and Alexandria. To the members of their families, and to all of Egypt, I offer my heartfelt condolences and my prayers that the Lord will grant speedy healing to the injured. Mr President, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I can only encourage the bold efforts being made to complete a number of national projects and the many initiatives of peacemaking, both within the country and beyond its borders, aimed at that development in prosperity and peace which its people desire and deserve. Development, prosperity and peace are essential goods that merit every sacrifice. They are also goals that demand hard work, conviction and commitment, adequate planning and, above all, unconditional respect for inalienable human rights such as equality among all citizens, religious freedom and freedom of expression, without any distinction (cf. Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Egyptian Constitution of 2014, Chapter 3) . Goals, too, that require special consideration for the role of women, young people, the poor and the sick. Ultimately, true development is measured by concern for human beings, who are the heart of all development: concern for their education, health and dignity. The greatness of any nation is revealed in its effective care of societys most vulnerable members women, children, the elderly, the sick, the disabled and minorities lest any person or social group be excluded or marginalized. In the fragile and complex situation of todays world, which I have described as a world war being fought piecemeal, it needs to be clearly stated that no civilized society can be built without repudiating every ideology of evil, violence and extremism that presumes to suppress others and to annihilate diversity by manipulating and profaning the Sacred Name of God. Mr President, you have spoken of this often and on various occasions, with a clarity that merits attention and appreciation. All of us have the duty to teach coming generations that God, the Creator of heaven and earth, does not need to be protected by men; indeed, it is he who protects them. He never desires the death of his children, but rather their life and happiness. He can neither demand nor justify violence; indeed, he detests and rejects violence (God hates the lover of violence: Ps 11:5). The true God calls to unconditional love, gratuitous pardon, mercy, absolute respect for every life, and fraternity among his children, believers and nonbelievers alike. It is our duty to proclaim together that history does not forgive those who preach justice, but then practice injustice. History does not forgive those who talk about equality, but then discard those who are different. It is our duty to unmask the peddlers of illusions about the afterlife, those who preach hatred in order to rob the simple of their present life and their right to live with dignity, and who exploit others by taking away their ability to choose freely and to believe responsibly. Mr President, you said to me a few minutes ago that God is the God of freedom, and this is true. It is our duty to dismantle deadly ideas and extremist ideologies, while upholding the incompatibility of true faith and violence, of God and acts of murder. History instead honours men and women of peace, who courageously and non-violently strive to build a better world: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Mt 5:9). Egypt, in the days of Joseph, saved other peoples from famine (cf. Gen 41:57); today it is called to save this beloved region from a famine of love and fraternity. It is called to condemn and vanquish all violence and terrorism. It is called to pour out the grain of peace upon all hearts that hunger for peaceful coexistence, dignified employment and humane education. Egypt, in building peace and at the same time combatting terrorism, is called to give proof that al-din lillah wal watan liljami religion belongs to God and the nation to all, as the motto of the Revolution of 23 July 1952 states. Egypt is called to demonstrate that it is possible to believe and live in harmony with others, sharing with them fundamental human values and respecting the freedom and the faith of all (cf. Egyptian Constitution of 2014, Article 5). Egypt has a special role to play in this regard, so that this region, the cradle of the three great religions, can and indeed will awake from the long night of tribulation, and once more radiate the supreme values of justice and fraternity that are the solid foundation and the necessary path to peace (cf. Message for the 2014 World Day of Peace, 4). From great nations, one can expect no less! This year marks the seventieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Arab Republic of Egypt, which was one of the first Arab countries to establish such relations. Those relations have always been characterized by friendship, esteem and reciprocal cooperation. It is my hope that my Visit may help to consolidate and strengthen them. Peace is a gift of God, but also the work of man. It is a good that must be built up and protected, respecting the principle that upholds the force of law and not the law of force (cf. Message for the 2017 World Day of Peace, 1). Peace for this beloved country! Peace for this whole region, and particularly for Palestine and Israel, for Syria, for Libya, Yemen, for Iraq, for South Sudan. Peace to all people of good will! Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to greet with affection and a paternal embrace all the Egyptian people, who are symbolically present here in this hall. I also greet my Christian sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters, who live in this country: Coptic Orthodox, Greek Byzantines, Armenian Orthodox, Protestants and Catholics. May Saint Mark, the evangelizer of this land, watch over you and help all of us to build and achieve the unity so greatly desired by our Lord (cf. Jn 17:20-23). Your presence in this, your country, is not new or accidental, but ancient and an inseparable part of the history of Egypt. You are an integral part of this country, and over the course of the centuries you have developed a sort of unique rapport, a particular symbiosis, which can serve as an example to other nations. You have shown, and continue to show, that it is possible to live together in mutual respect and fairness, finding in difference a source of richness and never a motive of conflict (cf. Benedict XVI, Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, 24 and 25). Thank you for your warm welcome. I ask the Almighty and One God to fill all the Egyptian people with his divine blessings. May he grant peace and prosperity, progress and justice to Egypt, and bless all her children! Blessed be Egypt my people, says the Lord in the Book of Isaiah (19:25). Shukran wa tahya misr! APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO EGYPT (28-29 APRIL 2017) ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE Al-Azhar Conference Centre, Cairo Friday, 28 April 2017 As-salamu alaykum! I consider it a great gift to be able to begin my Visit to Egypt here, and to address you in the context of this International Peace Conference. I thank my brother, the Grand Imam, for having planned and organized this Conference, and for kindly inviting me to take part. I would like to offer you a few thoughts, drawing on the glorious history of this land, which over the ages has appeared to the world as a land of civilizations and a land of covenants. A land of civilizations From ancient times, the culture that arose along the banks of the Nile was synonymous with civilization. Egypt lifted the lamp of knowledge, giving birth to an inestimable cultural heritage, made up of wisdom and ingenuity, mathematical and astronomical discoveries, and remarkable forms of architecture and figurative art. The quest for knowledge and the value placed on education were the result of conscious decisions on the part of the ancient inhabitants of this land, and were to bear much fruit for the future. Similar decisions are needed for our own future, decisions of peace and for peace, for there will be no peace without the proper education of coming generations. Nor can young people today be properly educated unless the training they receive corresponds to the nature of man as an open and relational being. Education indeed becomes wisdom for life if it is capable of drawing out of men and women the very best of themselves, in contact with the One who transcends them and with the world around them, fostering a sense of identity that is open and not self-enclosed. Wisdom seeks the other, overcoming temptations to rigidity and closed-mindedness; it is open and in motion, at once humble and inquisitive; it is able to value the past and set it in dialogue with the present, while employing a suitable hermeneutics. Wisdom prepares a future in which people do not attempt to push their own agenda but rather to include others as an integral part of themselves. Wisdom tirelessly seeks, even now, to identify opportunities for encounter and sharing; from the past, it learns that evil only gives rise to more evil, and violence to more violence, in a spiral that ends by imprisoning everyone. Wisdom, in rejecting the dishonesty and the abuse of power, is centred on human dignity, a dignity which is precious in Gods eyes, and on an ethics worthy of man, one that is unafraid of others and fearlessly employs those means of knowledge bestowed on us by the Creator.[1] Precisely in the field of dialogue, particularly interreligious dialogue, we are constantly called to walk together, in the conviction that the future also depends on the encounter of religions and cultures. In this regard, the work of the Mixed Committee for Dialogue between the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Committee of Al-Azhar for Dialogue offers us a concrete and encouraging example. Three basic areas, if properly linked to one another, can assist in this dialogue: the duty to respect ones own identity and that of others, the courage to accept differences, and sincerity of intentions. The duty to respect ones own identity and that of others, because true dialogue cannot be built on ambiguity or a willingness to sacrifice some good for the sake of pleasing others. The courage to accept differences, because those who are different, either culturally or religiously, should not be seen or treated as enemies, but rather welcomed as fellow-travellers, in the genuine conviction that the good of each resides in the good of all. Sincerity of intentions, because dialogue, as an authentic expression of our humanity, is not a strategy for achieving specific goals, but rather a path to truth, one that deserves to be undertaken patiently, in order to transform competition into cooperation. An education in respectful openness and sincere dialogue with others, recognizing their rights and basic freedoms, particularly religious freedom, represents the best way to build the future together, to be builders of civility. For the only alternative to the civility of encounter is the incivility of conflict; there is no other way. To counter effectively the barbarity of those who foment hatred and violence, we need to accompany young people, helping them on the path to maturity and teaching them to respond to the incendiary logic of evil by patiently working for the growth of goodness. In this way, young people, like well-planted trees, can be firmly rooted in the soil of history, and, growing heavenward in one anothers company, can daily turn the polluted air of hatred into the oxygen of fraternity. In facing this great cultural challenge, one that is both urgent and exciting, we, Christians, Muslims and all believers, are called to offer our specific contribution: We live under the sun of the one merciful God Thus, in a true sense, we can call one another brothers and sisters since without God the life of man would be like the heavens without the sun.[2] May the sun of a renewed fraternity in the name of God rise in this sun-drenched land, to be the dawn of a civilization of peace and encounter. May Saint Francis of Assisi, who eight centuries ago came to Egypt and met Sultan Malik al Kamil, intercede for this intention. A land of covenants In Egypt, not only did the sun of wisdom rise, but also the variegated light of the religions shone in this land. Here, down the centuries, differences of religion constituted a form of mutual enrichment in the service of the one national community.[3] Different faiths met and a variety of cultures blended without being confused, while acknowledging the importance of working together for the common good. Such covenants are urgently needed today. Here I would take as a symbol the Mount of the Covenant which rises up in this land. Sinai reminds us above all that authentic covenants on earth cannot ignore heaven, that human beings cannot attempt to encounter one another in peace by eliminating God from the horizon, nor can they climb the mountain to appropriate God for themselves (cf. Ex 19:12). This is a timely reminder in the face of a dangerous paradox of the present moment. On the one hand, religion tends to be relegated to the private sphere, as if it were not an essential dimension of the human person and society. At the same time, the religious and political spheres are confused and not properly distinguished. Religion risks being absorbed into the administration of temporal affairs and tempted by the allure of worldly powers that in fact exploit it. Our world has seen the globalization of many useful technical instruments, but also a globalization of indifference and negligence, and it moves at a frenetic pace that is difficult to sustain. As a result, there is renewed interest in the great questions about the meaning of life. These are the questions that the religions bring to the fore, reminding us of our origins and ultimate calling. We are not meant to spend all our energies on the uncertain and shifting affairs of this world, but to journey towards the Absolute that is our goal. For all these reasons, especially today, religion is not a problem but a part of the solution: against the temptation to settle into a banal and uninspired life, where everything begins and ends here below, religion reminds us of the need to lift our hearts to the Most High in order to learn how to build the city of man. To return to the image of Mount Sinai, I would like to mention the commandments that were promulgated there, even before they were sculpted on tablets of stone.[4] At the centre of this decalogue, there resounds, addressed to each individual and to people of all ages, the commandment: Thou shalt not kill (Ex 20:13). God, the lover of life, never ceases to love man, and so he exhorts us to reject the way of violence as the necessary condition for every earthly covenant. Above all and especially in our day, the religions are called to respect this imperative, since, for all our need of the Absolute, it is essential that we reject any absolutizing that would justify violence. For violence is the negation of every authentic religious expression. As religious leaders, we are called, therefore, to unmask the violence that masquerades as purported sanctity and is based more on the absolutizing of selfishness than on authentic openness to the Absolute. We have an obligation to denounce violations of human dignity and human rights, to expose attempts to justify every form of hatred in the name of religion, and to condemn these attempts as idolatrous caricatures of God: Holy is his name, he is the God of peace, God salaam.[5] Peace alone, therefore, is holy and no act of violence can be perpetrated in the name of God, for it would profane his Name. Together, in the land where heaven and earth meet, this land of covenants between peoples and believers, let us say once more a firm and clear No! to every form of violence, vengeance and hatred carried out in the name of religion or in the name of God. Together let us affirm the incompatibility of violence and faith, belief and hatred. Together let us declare the sacredness of every human life against every form of violence, whether physical, social, educational or psychological. Unless it is born of a sincere heart and authentic love towards the Merciful God, faith is no more than a conventional or social construct that does not liberate man, but crushes him. Let us say together: the more we grow in the love of God, the more we grow in the love of our neighbour. Religion, however, is not meant only to unmask evil; it has an intrinsic vocation to promote peace, today perhaps more than ever.[6] Without giving in to forms of facile syncretism,[7] our task is that of praying for one another, imploring from God the gift of peace, encountering one another, engaging in dialogue and promoting harmony in the spirit of cooperation and friendship. For our part, as Christians and I am a Christian we cannot truly pray to God the Father of all if we treat any people as other than brothers and sisters, for all are created in Gods image.[8] All are brothers and sisters. Moreover, we know that, engaged in a constant battle against the evil that threatens a world which is no longer a place of genuine fraternity, God assures all those who trust in his love that the way of love lies open to men and that the effort to establish universal brotherhood is not vain.[9] Rather, that effort is essential: it is of little or no use to raise our voices and run about to find weapons for our protection: what is needed today are peacemakers, not makers of arms; what is needed are peacemakers, and not fomenters of conflict; firefighters and not arsonists; preachers of reconciliation and not instigators of destruction. It is disconcerting to note that, as the concrete realities of peoples lives are increasingly ignored in favour of obscure machinations, demagogic forms of populism are on the rise. These certainly do not help to consolidate peace and stability: no incitement to violence will guarantee peace, and every unilateral action that does not promote constructive and shared processes is in reality a gift to the proponents of radicalism and violence. In order to prevent conflicts and build peace, it is essential that we spare no effort in eliminating situations of poverty and exploitation where extremism more easily takes root, and in blocking the flow of money and weapons destined to those who provoke violence. Even more radically, an end must be put to the proliferation of arms; if they are produced and sold, sooner or later they will be used. Only by bringing into the light of day the murky manoeuvrings that feed the cancer of war can its real causes be prevented. National leaders, institutions and the media are obliged to undertake this urgent and grave task. So too are all of us who play a leading role in culture; each in his or her own area, we are charged by God, by history and by the future to initiate processes of peace, seeking to lay a solid basis for agreements between peoples and states. It is my hope that this noble and beloved land of Egypt, with Gods help, may continue to respond to the calling it has received to be a land of civilization and covenant, and thus to contribute to the development of processes of peace for its beloved people and for the entire region of the Middle East. As-salamu alaykum! [1]An ethics of fraternity and peaceful coexistence between individuals and among peoples cannot be based on the logic of fear, violence and closed-mindedness, but on responsibility, respect and sincere dialogue: Nonviolence: a Style of Politics for Peace, Message for the 2017 World Day of Peace, 5. [2] John Paul II, Address to Muslim Religious Leaders, Kaduna (Nigeria), 14 February 1982. [3]John Paul II, Address at the Arrival Ceremony, Cairo, 24 February 2000. [4] They were written on the human heart as the universal moral law, valid in every time and place. Today as always, the Ten Words of the Law provide the only true basis for the lives of individuals, societies and nations. [] They are the only future of the human family. They save man from the destructive force of egoism, hatred and falsehood. They point out all the false gods that draw him into slavery: the love of self to the exclusion of God, the greed for power and pleasure that overturns the order of justice and degrades our human dignity and that of our neighbour (John Paul II, Homily during the Celebration of the Word at Mount Sinai, Saint Catherines Monastery, 26 February 2000). [5]Address at the Central Mosque of Koudoukou, Bangui (Central African Republic), 30 November 2015. [6] More perhaps than ever before in history, the intrinsic link between an authentic religious attitude and the great good of peace has become evident to all (John Paul II, Address to Representatives of the Christian Churches and Ecclesial Communities and of the World Religions, Assisi, 27 October 1986: Insegnamenti IX, 2 (1986), 1268. [7] Cf. Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 251. [8] Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Declaration Nostra Aetate, 5. [9] ID., Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 38. WATERLOO -- Payne Memorial AME Church will celebrate its second annual Marriage Hall of Fame at 5 p.m. Saturday at Porky's Red Carpet, 1409 Newell St. Six couples from the Cedar Valley will be honored who have celebrated at least 50 years of marriage: Lee and Gale Tolbert, Johnnie and Pearl Johnson, William and Carol Jefferson, George and Delores Meeks, Janet and Willie Prymer and Jesse and Caroline Loveless. There also will be recognition for couples who have been married for 25-plus years. For tickets, call Aaisha Flint at 232-2605 or the church, 233-8189. The event is open to the public. WATERLOO -- Church Women United will celebrate May Friendship Day at noon May 5 at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Theme for the day is "Kindling Fires of Love." This is the only fundraiser for the local unit. The lunch will be at noon, followed by a program. Tickets are $7, available from the churches in the unit by Tuesday. Call Louise Conklin at 232-8729 for more information. CEDAR FALLS -- Nondenominational Bible talks will take place each Sunday in May at the Cedar Falls Municipal Band Hall, 211 Washington St. The talks are planned for 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., and everyone is welcome. For more information, call L. Lee or M. Chardeen, (402) 594-3909. WATERLOO -- The Music Ministry of Antioch Baptist Church, 426 Sumner St., will host a weekend of worship and praise to celebrate the Gospel Choir's Annual Day at 4:30 p.m. May 21 and 22. Theme is "More than a Conquerer." There will be a gospel concert May 21 featuring area vocalists, groups and gospel recording artist Justin Cruickshank of Cedar Rapids. The special guest May 22 will be Toril Sudduth and the congregation of the Shilliam Ave Church of God in Christ. Contact the church office at 233-2587 or Minister Reatha Phillips at 433-5406. CEDAR FALLS -- St. Lukes Episcopal Church's "FILM:TALK" series will continue at 1:30 p.m. May 7 in Will Hall, with discussion of the 2017 film "Arrival." It's described as "a sci-fi film that defies conventions and opts for strong writing and a unique, intelligent story." All are urged to view the film. EVANSDALE A passenger in a March single-vehicle crash has been arrested for allegedly causing the wreck. Antonio Raymone Harris, 28, Waterloo, was arrested Thursday for willful injury causing serious injury, third-offense domestic assault and domestic assault with strangulation. He was later released from the Black Hawk County Jail. Harris was severely injured in the March 7 crash on Interstate 380 in Evansdale. The vehicle rolled onto the Cedar Valley Nature Trail near River Road, and paramedics had to remove the vehicles roof to free Harris. The crash happened while Harriss girlfriend, Aja Bennett, was driving him to work. According to court records, Harris assaulted Bennett inside the vehicle before they left the driveway of their West Third Street home. He allegedly bumped the gear shift into park as she was backing out, grabbed her by the neck and forced her head between the vehicles seats so she couldnt breathe. Later, while they were on Interstate 380, Harris asked Bennett a question, and when he didnt like the answer, he allegedly said, Well then, I will just kill us both. He then grabbed the steering wheel and pulled it toward the ditch. Bennett was treated for minor injuries in the crash. CEDAR FALLS Plans are being revised after the lowest bid for remodeling and expansion of North Cedar Elementary School was nearly 36 percent higher than the estimate. The Board of Education this week rejected all four bids for the construction work, which ranged from $9.96 million to $11.37 million. The lowest base bid, from Larson Construction of Independence, was $2.5 million more than the $8.47 million officials had estimated the project would cost. In recommending the rejection of bids, well continue to revise and work on options, said Superintendent Andy Pattee. Hopefully, in the next two to four weeks well have a firmer grasp on that, he added. My guess is there will probably be changes in design. Pattee suggested there may have been a number of reasons the bids came in so high, including growing costs of construction materials during the past two years. The North Cedar project was first included in a September 2014 referendum, more than two years ago. It wasnt until the third attempt that a bond issue was approved by Cedar Falls Community Schools voters last April. The original intent was to bid this a month ago, he noted. Bidding it now for work to begin in mid-June may not have been feasible for some construction companies. But the plan to stretch renovations over at least 2-1/2 years is one of the biggest factors that we continue to have dialogue about, Pattee said. While it allowed minimal disruption to students education, the approach came with a cost. There was a pretty large premium added for that phased approach, he said. Thats because of uncertainty on the part of construction companies about how much material costs will rise over the time period. In a revised plan, Pattee said their target would be to get the construction down to 24 months or less. The intent would still be to complete the project by August 2019. In other business, the board approved: Technology equipment bids of $384,634 for computer network hardware from CDW-G of Vernon Hills, Ill., and $31,098 for uninterruptible power supply equipment from Dice Communications of Omaha. Doug Nefzger, chief financial officer, said the hardware bid includes complete replacement of all network routers, switches and wireless transmitters/receivers. Both bids reflect a 50 percent discount through the Universal Service Administration Companys e-rate program, which helps public schools purchase such technology equipment. A $100,197 bid from National Playground Equipment of Carlisle for playground equipment at Orchard Hill Elementary School. The schools parent group is contributing $30,000 of the expense. A slight revision to the new high school land purchase agreement. Starting June 30, 2032, the Iowa Board of Regents would have a year-long option to buy back the land for the purchase price if district voters have not approved a bond issue to build the school or construction has not yet begun. The closing date for purchase of the land, which is currently part of the University of Northern Iowa, will be at the end of August. Appointing Eric Rosburg as Holmes Junior High School associate principal effective July 1 with a $81,750 annual salary. DES MOINES As people across the country prepare for a day of demonstration designed to show what life would be like without immigrants, families in Iowas immigrant community are preparing for that literal possibility. Arrests and deportations of immigrants living in the U.S. without documentation have increased in the roughly three-month tenure of President Donald Trump, who made stronger enforcement of the countrys immigration laws a centerpiece of his campaign. That increase has led immigrants in the country without documentation to live with a heightened sense of fear, according to leaders in Iowas Latino community, the largest minority population in the state at roughly 6 percent, according to census data. I can only speak for the Latino immigrants and the undocumented, and there is a lot of fear, a lot of apprehension and uncertainty. There are things that are happening now as a result of this current administration, and its got them in fear, said Michael Reyes of Davenport, who is the state director of Iowas chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC. Theyre in survival mode as it is, Michael Reyes said. Theyre just trying to put food on the table and get their kids educated, but now the deportations are disrupting their families. Theyre splitting families up. Former President Barack Obama implemented programs that added protections to some undocumented immigrants, but his administration also deported more than 2.5 million people, more than any other administration in U.S. history, according to federal data. Immigration arrests are up roughly a third under Trump and arrests of immigrants with no criminal records have roughly doubled, according to recent federal data analyzed by The Washington Post and USA Today. Joe Enriquez Henry, a LULAC national vice president for the Midwest, said he has observed a surge in immigration arrests in Iowa, particularly in central Iowa. A national Day Without Immigrants is planned for today. Latino leaders in Iowa said demonstrations are planned in Des Moines and Cedar Falls. Similar demonstrations were held in February, shortly after Trump took office. The goal is to highlight immigrants contributions to the country. Meanwhile, Iowa families with undocumented immigrants are preparing for the possibility those individuals could be arrested, detained and deported at any time. Latino leaders said fundraisers are being held to help families pay for legal costs and bail or to help families that lose a family member to deportation pay for things such as rent, groceries or other necessities. And programs have been introduced to educate undocumented immigrants on their rights and help families prepare for someones potential deportation by, for example, establishing power of attorney or determining what would happen to children left behind by a deported parent. The things that are going on within the community, its almost sad when theyre planning their possible or potential deportation, what are they going to do with their children, theyre looking at powers of attorney with their neighbors and friends, Reyes said. These are all things that you and I would never think of or could never contemplate. I couldnt be making plans to leave my children. Just the thought of that, its heartbreaking. But not all leaders in Iowas Latino immigrant community think things are so bleak. Monica Reyes co-founded DREAM Iowa, which advocates on behalf of immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children, some of whom are shielded from immigration by an Obama-era program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. Reyes, who is a so-called DREAMer with DACA protections, graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and works as a mortgage lender for a Des Moines credit union that specializes in selling mortgages to undocumented immigrants. Reyes, whose mother is undocumented, said she noticed initially undocumented Latinos were afraid to be seen in public after the November election. But that has decreased as time has passed, she said. All of a sudden, the fear level just skyrocketed, said Monica Reyes, who is not related to Michael Reyes. Now, I feel like its gotten back to normal. Monica Reyes said although the Trump administration may be stepping up deportations, it has not yet repealed the Obama-era programs. Nothings changed. I still have DACA, and my mom is still undocumented. Nothings changed, she said. For the majority of people, and I said this right after the election, most people have nothing to worry about. I think a lot of people are in this bucket of this unaffected group: still nothing better, but nothing worse. But the Trump administration has arrested more undocumented immigrants without criminal histories than did the Obama administration. And the Trump administration has given some mixed signals; recently Trump said DREAMers should not fear deportation, but shortly after, a DREAMer in California previously protected by DACA was deported to Mexico. It was the first such deportation, according to USA Today. Theres a lack of clarity, and its making clear that anything could happen at any point in time, Henry said. Its a scary situation. And yet Monica Reyes remains optimistic. She said she is hopeful the resulting national debate over the issue will lead to tangible results in the form of federal immigration reform, and she thinks Latinos will have a voice in that conversation. Meantime, she said she is encouraged by the actions being taken to support families with undocumented Latino immigrants. Families facing deportation and separation now have a community that is supportive and wants to help out, Monica Reyes said. People are just really stepping in and wanting to help out, and that is really awesome. DAVENPORT -- The newly appointed attorneys for Stanley Liggins are asking a judge to delay his third murder trial, which is scheduled to begin May 22 in Waterloo. Aaron Hawbaker and Nichole Watt with the public defenders office in Waterloo also want 7th Judicial District Chief Judge Marlita Greve to transfer the 55-year-old from the Scott County Jail to the Black Hawk County Jail pending trial. The judge has not yet ruled on the motions, and a hearing date had not been set as of late Friday afternoon. Liggins is charged in the strangulation death of Jennifer Ann Lewis, 9, of Rock Island, on Sept. 17, 1990. The girl's burned body was found near a Davenport elementary school. Prosecutors say she also was sexually abused. He was twice convicted in the girls death and sentenced to life in prison in 1993 and 1995. The Iowa Supreme Court overturned the first conviction, and on Nov. 6, 2013, the Iowa Court of Appeals reversed the second conviction. Greve granted Liggins motion earlier this year to move the trial from Scott County to Black Hawk County, citing the heavy pretrial publicity surrounding the case. On April 20, about a month before his third trial was set to begin, Greve granted Liggins motion to fire his appointed attorneys, Derek Jones and Miguel Puentes from the Davenport public defenders office. Greve did not explicitly say in her written ruling that Liggins' trial would be postponed, but she wrote that "it could conceivably take another year before different attorneys are familiar enough with this case to go to trial." Hawbaker, the chief public defender in Waterloo, and Watt filed their appearances in the case on Monday. On Friday, Hawbaker filed a motion to delay the start of the trial, saying that given the procedural history of this case and the volume of documents to analyze, defense counsel cannot, in any informed manner, suggest an appropriate date for trial. He requested that a status conference be scheduled after Jan. 1, 2018, at which time counsel should be prepared to set a date certain, according to the motion. In a second motion filed Friday, Hawbaker asked that Liggins, who has been held without bond in the Scott County Jail since February 2014, be transferred to the Black Hawk County Jail pending trial. Holding Defendant in Scott County creates an unreasonable burden on the Defendants opportunity to consult with his attorneys and prepare his defense because of the travel time between counsel and the Defendant, he wrote. Waterloo is more than two hours away from Davenport, he noted in his motion. Scott County Attorney Mike Walton said Friday that he is reviewing the motion to transfer Liggins to Black Hawk County and noted that such a request is allowed by the rules of criminal procedure in Iowa. Walton added that he will not resist the motion to delay the trial. Broken Time: 6:30 p.m. today. Location: Waterloo East High auditorium, 214 High St. Details: East High Drama Club presents an original showcase on bullying. It will include poetry and choreographed musical pieces. Admission: Donations; concessions are $1. U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters Time: 7 p.m. today. Location: Independence Jr/Sr High School, Independence. Details: The Sea Chanters are the official chorus of Americas Navy. Admission: Free, but tickets are needed by contacting the school. Amazing Grace Time: 7 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Saturday (shows also May 5 and 6). Location: Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial St. Details: Black Hawk Childrens Theatre production. The BHCT season closes with the story of Grace, a girl who loves acting out stories who is told by two classmates that she cant be Peter Pan. Grace shows us she can do anything. Tickets: Call 291-4494 or go to www.wcpbhct.org. Shell Rock Swing Show Time: 7:30 p.m. today and 4 p.m. Saturday. Location: Boyd Building, Shell Rock. Details: Residents of 12 area communities participate in this annual show. Tickets: $15; call 885-6510. National Superhero Day Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Location: Cedar Bend Humane Society, 1166 W. Airline Highway, Waterloo. Details: Be a shelter pets superhero and come dressed as a superhero. There will be reduced adoption fees and prizes for those dressed in costume. UNI softball vs. Wichita State Time: Noon and 2 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday (senior day). Location: Robinson-Dresser Complex, West 12th Street, Cedar Falls. Tickets: Available at the gate. An Evening at the Museum Time: 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Location: Grout Museum, 503 South St., Waterloo. Details: Guests will enjoy a behind-the-scenes museum collectors tour, scavenger hunt, multiple buffets, cash bar, silent auction, raffle and cork pull. Cost: $35 per person. Go to www.gmdistrict.org/2017gala. Riverview Music Showcase Time: 7 p.m. Saturday. Location: Riverview Conference Center, 439 N. Division St., Cedar Falls. Details: This years showcase will have a patriotic theme. For those who would like to join the choir, a two-hour rehearsal is required and will begin at 3 p.m. that day. A dinner will be provided for those in the choir. Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra Time: 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Location: Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls. Details: Pianist Mimi Soloman will join the orchestra. Tickets: Go to www.unitix.uni.edu or www.wcfsymphony.org or call 273-4849. Luther College Jazz Band Time: 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Location: Center for Faith and Life, Luther College, Decorah. Admission: Free. Spring Concert Time: 3 p.m. Sunday. Location: First Presbyterian Church, 505 Franklin St., Waterloo. Details: The program will cover a wide range of musical periods from early Baroque (late Renaissance) to contemporary jazz. A brass ensemble will join the churchs handbell and vocal choirs. The University of Northern Iowa vocal faculty will join the choir for Giovanni Gabrielis In Ecclesiis and Ralph Vaughan Williams O Clap Your Hands and The Old 100th Psalm Tune. Luther College Chamber Orchestra Time: 4 p.m. Sunday. Location: Center for Faith and Life, Luther College, Decorah. Admission: Free. Belly Dance Show Time: 6 p.m. Sunday. Location: Cedar Falls Community Center, 528 Main St. Details: Prairie Rose Middle Eastern Dance Troupe and the UNI Middle Eastern Dance Club will be putting on a show. It is a family-friendly show. Admission: Free. UNI New Horizons Band concert Time: 7:30 p.m. Monday. Location: Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, Cedar Falls. Details: The 85-member band will perform music from World War I, marches and a tribute to Artie Shaw. Admission: Free Soil and Water Conservation Week Time: 4 p.m. Tuesday. Location: Cedar Falls Public Library, 524 Main St. Details: Black Hawk County Soil and Water Conservation District and University of Northern Iowa will host an event on the release of a community conservation book. YWCA of Black Hawk County salad luncheon Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday. Location: 425 Lafayette St., Waterloo. Details: Hosted by the YWCA Friends Board. Enjoy a buffet lunch with a variety of homemade salads. Admission: $9. Hearst Film Series Time: 7 p.m. Tuesday. Location: Hearst Center for the Arts, 304 W. Seerley Blvd., Cedar Falls. Details: Films in May are a thing of beauty films. The film this Tuesday is Beauty & the Beast (1946). Admission: Free. Cedar Falls Authors Festival Time: 7 p.m. Thursday. Location: Hearst Center for the Arts, 304 W. Seerley Blvd., Cedar Falls. Details: Scott Cawelti will speak on Robert Wallers Songs as Poetry. The 100-day presidential evaluation period dates back to Franklin Roosevelt, who pressed Congress to pass his New Deal in that time during the Great Depression. President Donald Trump recently tweeted the milestone, which occurred Saturday, is a ridiculous standard. We agree. However, his Contract with the American Voter listed 10 pieces of legislation to be enacted in his 100-day plan. The Republican-controlled Congress hasnt approved any, although Trump signed laws reversing 13 Obama-era regulations and had his nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court approved. Trump promised to swiftly repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), before realizing nobody knew health care could be so complicated. Blame congressional Republicans for being remiss in devising a reasonable alternative for a program fraught with problems, despite seven years of complaining. Trumps dead-on-arrival budget would have increased allocations for the military and homeland security, while slashing funds for local economic development assistance, the environment, agriculture, education, assistance to the poor and seniors and cultural activities. The Trump Wall may never be built. Border-state Republicans oppose it as do others wary of its potential cost and effectiveness. Mexico is unwilling to pay, and Trumps budget lacks an import tax to finance it. That 200-word tax plan would cut corporate rates from 35 percent to 15 percent, compress the seven individual rates into three, nearly double the standard deduction, while eliminating all deductions except for mortgage interest, charity and retirement savings. Republicans are wary of the estimated $5.5 trillion revenue loss over 10 years amid a federal debt of nearly $20 trillion. Trump claims robust economic activity will offset those loses. Trump has fulfilled many campaign promises through executive orders, a practice he and Republicans condemned when they bore Barack Obamas signature. Border security has been a priority. While the courts have thus far rebuffed his two travel bans, Trump has aggressively gone after undocumented immigrants with criminal records and without arrests of the latter have doubled. Wary immigrants are cited as the reason southern border arrests declined by 67 percent in March. Trump wants to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement Treaty, rather than pull out, which could hurt U.S. agriculture. He did pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a pact denounced by the far left and right, which will boost a Chinese alternative lacking similar employment and environmental protections. Trump has made heads spin with foreign-policy reversals, particularly regarding China, which he frequently castigated for unfair trade and being world-champion currency manipulators. He also toyed with ending the U.S. policy of One China the mainland. But after an April meeting at Mar-a-Lago with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump touted their great chemistry and dropped the currency complaint. He even dropped his demand China halt North Korean aggression. After listening (to Xi) for 10 minutes, I realized its not so easy, said Trump, who discovered North Koreas Kim Jong-un isnt fazed by tweets, taunts or misdirected armadas. After dinner, Trump also abandoned his stance of nonintervention in Syria, ordering Tomahawk missiles fired at an airfield used by President Bashar al-Assads regime to launch chemical weapons, which crossed Trumps line. That essentially ended his bromance with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Syrias ally. We may be at an all-time low in terms of our relationship with Russia, Trump said. But he developed a new fondness for NATO. I said it was obsolete, Trump remarked. It is not obsolete. While Trump hasnt pulled out of the Paris Climate Accords, he has extolled fossil fuel, approving the Keystone XL and Dakota pipelines. Never mind coal is a failing, environmentally destructive industry with bankrupt companies losing market share to cheaper natural gas. Trump repealed the Stream Protection Rule forbidding coal companies from dumping debris into rivers and streams, polluting downstream drinking water. FBI Director James Comey and congressional committees debunked his tweets Obama ordered wiretapping in Trump Tower, but it added to a soap opera atmosphere permeating the White House. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was fired over undisclosed communications with the Russian ambassador. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from a probe for the same reason. Campaign advisers Paul Manafort and Carter Page are being investigated for purported Russian ties. Trump delegated son-in-law Jared Kushner to achieve Mideast peace and reorganize the federal government when not fighting with far-right strategic adviser Steve Bannon, whose goal is the deconstruction of the administrative state. At 100 days, Trumps approval ratings range from 38 to 44 percent, while all others since Roosevelt exceeded 53 percent. But he has the support of more than 80 percent of Republicans. 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(1) Jul 29 (1) May 11 (1) Jul 11 (1) New officers will be sworn in at the 2017 GTLA Annual Convention and President's Gala. ATLANTA, GA, April 28, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Attorney Jonathan A. Pope, a partner at the law firm Hasty Pope, LLP, has been selected as the 2017-18 Treasurer of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA). Pope has previously served as a GTLA regional vice-president. New officers will be sworn in at the 2017 GTLA Annual Convention and President's Gala, which will be held at the Ritz Carlton-Buckhead in Atlanta on April 27-28. Other officers to be sworn in at the Friday evening President's Gala include Mike Prieto, President; Laurie Speed, President-Elect; Dan Snipes, Executive Vice President; Lyle Warshauer, Secretary; and Jess Davis, Parliamentarian. Founded in 1956, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association is dedicated to strengthening and upholding Georgia's civil justice system and protecting the rights of citizens and consumers. Its prestigious Guardian of Justice Award is presented annually to a member who has given extraordinary service. The annual convention affords members the opportunity to obtain mandatory continuing legal education credits. This year's educational sessions will offer 12 CLE credit hours including 3 Trial, 1 Ethics, and 1 Professional. The law firm of Hasty Pope, LLP specializes in personal injury cases involving medical malpractice, auto or truck collisions, and workers' compensation, as well as wrongful death lawsuits. Jonathan Pope was recently named as one of the Top 100 attorneys in the state in Super Lawyers Magazine's Georgia 2017 issue. He has previously been honored as a National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyer and nominated to Georgia Trend Magazine's Legal Elite list. Hasty Pope, LLP has three convenient locations to serve clients throughout north Georgia. Their offices are in Canton, Gainesville, and Atlanta. To schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with a personal injury attorney, call (770)479-0366 or visit www.hastypope.com. About Hasty Pope, LLP Hasty Pope, LLP is a Georgia law firm specializing in personal injury cases. With offices in Canton, Gainesville, and Atlanta, Hasty Pope attorneys handle cases involving auto accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, construction accidents, workers' compensation, traumatic brain injury, medical malpractice, and other types of serious personal injury. Their goal is to ensure that clients receive the financial compensation due to them for their injuries. To learn more, visit: http://www.hastypope.com/ For all media inquiries, please contact: Allison Reinert Cardinal Web Solutions http://www.CardinalWebSolutions.com # # # Apr 28, 2017 | By Tess The owners of a dog who was found bleeding to death after being shot several times in Hammamet, Tunisia are asking the 3D printing community to help give their pup a second chance at life with the help of 3D printed prosthetics. In 2015, Sally the dog was found on the brink of death on the streets of Hammamet in Tunisia, where she had reportedly been shot and brutalized by municipal police. The poor pup, whose legs were damaged and who was bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound to the head, was close to being left for dead. Fortunately, an animal rescue team found Sally just in time and was able to transport her to a local animal shelter, where she was treated in emergency for her most serious wounds. There, a veterinarian surgeon was able to remove most of the bullet shards from her head and legs, though the damage to her elbow joints was so severe and complicated that the vet could not repair them, leaving them fused together. That was far from the end of Sallys journey, however, as the resilient pup was taken charge of by Rescue Animals of North Africa (RANA), which arranged for her to be treated in Europe for long-term care. Just over a year after her traumatic experience, Sally was brought to British animal rescue charity Wolfies Legacy, where the Morris family found her. Ed and Tania Morris, a married couple who care for a number of disabled pets, adopted Sally earlier this month and have been desperately trying to find her the care she needs in order to walk properly again. After professional consultation, however, it seemed that surgery was out of the question because of the complex condition of Sallys front legs. Now, one potential solution to help Sally regain her mobility is a 3D printed prosthetic. Tania explained, I have seen a set of 3D printed legs (or rockers) on a dog with a similar condition where the elbows are fused. The mobility and freedom they provide is truly life changing. Sally has normal shoulder movement, so the dream would be someone who could develop and create a set of 3D rockers for her. Unsure of where best to find 3D printed prosthetics for Sally, Ed and Tania have set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign through which they are not only seeking to raise money but to find people and organizations who have the means to design and create prosthetics for their dog. These prosthetics have been achieved in the USA, surely there's a UK company who might be willing and capable of helping Sally? reads the crowdfunding page. Tania Morris and Sally (Images: Harvey Hook/HotSpot Media) Currently, Sally is getting around using her back legs and elbows, which provides her with some mobility, but is also taxing on her delicate elbow skin. The Morris family are hoping that a more permanent solution presents itself. Who knows, perhaps Channel 4s The Supervet will catch wind of the inspiring story and offer its help. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Apr 28, 2017 | By Benedict Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have used 3D printing to create a Tarzan-inspired swinging robot. The unusual bot uses 3D printed claws to swing itself along the length of a wire, and could be used by farmers to monitor crops. Georgia Tech's new 3D printed swinging robot was inspired by beloved feral man Tarzan In what might be one of the more unusual robotics projects of the year, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have created a robot inspired by Tarzan, Edgar Rice Burroughs fictional feral man who was raised by apes in the jungle following the death of his parents. But unlike the literary Tarzan, this partially 3D printed robot has one very specific goal: to swing itself along a stretch of cable in order to monitor the ground below. According to the researchers involved, this could make the new Tarzan a handy machine for farmers looking to monitor crops. Me Tarzan, you maize, it might say. The Tarzan-inspired robot, whose movement actually mimics that of a sloth, is capable of swinging up and down the length of a wire using 3D printed claws and articulated arms. When one arm takes hold of the wire, the other pumps back and forth until it has generated enough swing to grasp a more advanced section of the wire, thus propelling the robot forwards. Georgia Tech's 3D printed Tarzan robot mid-swing Its great fun to watch, and its also got some pretty sensible engineering behind it too. While this Tarzan is currently powered by batteries, the Georgia Tech researchers say that a future version could use solar panels, making it even better suited for outdoor work. And outdoor work is apparently this robots calling: Jonathan Rogers, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, says that the partially 3D printed Tarzan robot could assist those working in the agriculture industry, since robots with wheels or legs find it difficult to move through dense fields without damaging crops. With a cable suspended at the right height above those crops, Tarzan would not only move freely over the fields without damaging anything, it could also capture aerial images or collect other data about what lies below, sending information to the farmer via a wireless connection. It might sound weird, but the Georgia Tech researchers believe that this kind of technology is absolutely essential to the next generation of agriculture. Georgia Tech's Jonathan Rogers talking about the 3D printed Tarzan robot The only way we can really achieve the level of food production were going to need in the future is to employ automation and robots, Rogers said. When somebody came to me and asked How do we get a robot to live in a field for long periods of time and walk around and move around persistently without needing a human to help it? The only way is to do something out of the way and off the ground. Sensible talk, and we were pretty much on board with the whole projectuntil the Assistant Professor claimed that his 3D printed Tarzan is the best way of moving around off the ground. Hmmm. While one can certainly appreciate the artistry of the 3D robot, that claim is surely up for debate. Drones, for example, would have the freedom to hone in on specific areas of a field, as they are not confined to straight lines. (We saw an impressive crop dusting drone just last week.) And even a pulley-based system would seem to offer the advantages of the Tarzan robot with perhaps a smaller chance of malfunction. Well give Georgia Tech the benefit of the doubt, however, because the 3D printed swinging robot surprisingly performs very well in terms of energy consumption. This, the researchers say, is largely thanks to the influence of the sloth. The sloth is really energy efficient, and were trying to design this robot to be very energy efficient too, Rogers said. Essentially, one day it can be powered by the sunswinging along on its way without needing power, without needing batteries, without needing to be charged. The 3D printed Tarzan robot was built at Georgia Techs Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (IRIM), where five Georgia Tech colleges and the Georgia Tech Research Institute collaborate on projects that have attracted approximately $32 million in sponsored research. While were not expecting Tarzan to swing its way out of the laboratory and into a farming job anytime soon, well be very happy if it does. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: comeinandburn wrote at 5/2/2017 1:25:10 PM:agreed.. After watching this for 2 seconds made me think the same thing. Someone got a huge Research Grant for creating this:)I.AM.Magic wrote at 5/2/2017 8:09:29 AM:Way over engineered ! definitely not energy efficient. Just an excuse to develop a swinging robot.2Rbotoguy wrote at 4/28/2017 5:13:09 PM:What don't you use wheels? https://youtu.be/2h6UPMcy8-o Apr 28, 2017 | By David 3D printing technology is changing the way global manufacturing operates, and is predicted to establish itself even more firmly in the upcoming years, as part of the Industry 4.0. Although the advantages presented by this next phase are clear, some countries are more prepared for it than others. McKinsey and Company has recently opened a new Digital Capability Center in Beijing, to help China stay competitive and up-to-date with the technologies that are set to revolutionize the industry. Industry 4.0 is a general term for the major disruptive technologies, most of which are already implemented to a greater or lesser degree, that are soon going to transform the entire life cycle of a product. From the initial planning and design phase to after sales service and customer care, businesses have the potential to change their methods for the better, with the help of four new technological developments: advanced production techniques like 3D printing, increased data availability and interconnectivity, analytics including artificial intelligence, and advanced human-machine interactions. McKinsey recently carried out an industry-wide survey on Industry 4.0, gathering opinions from 130 companies across a range of different sectors. When asked whether Industry 4.0 would improve their companys competitiveness, nearly 80 percent of Chinese manufacturers answered that it would, compared to 57 percent of U.S companies, 54 percent of Japanese manufacturers, and just 50 percent of respondents from Germany. Despite this positivity and confidence in the potential benefits, only 57 percent of Chinese companies surveyed said that they were ready for Industry 4.0, compared to 71 percent of the generally less optimistic U.S manufacturers. The figure was even lower amongst state-owned Chinese manufacturers, with only 44 percent claiming they were prepared for the new initiatives. According to the report,Lack of a systematic roadmap and toolbox is consistently cited as a top obstacle to implementing Industry 4.0 among Chinese manufacturers. The Digital Capability Center that McKinsey has just set up in Beijing will hopefully go some way towards increasing national readiness for the manufacturing industrys upcoming digital transformation. A combination of model factory and digital technology showroom, the center was established in partnership with Tsinghua University, one of Chinas leading academic institutions. It will provide a safe testing site for companies looking to take advantage of technologies like 3D printing or automated logistics, as well as demonstrating the most cutting edge digital tools and providing a hands-on training experience on a large scale. Discussing the motivations behind the launch of the new DCC, which is the fifth of its kind after centers established by McKinsey in the United States, Germany, Italy and Singapore, Joe Ngai, Managing Partner, McKinsey Greater China said Disruption is now a daily reality for companies in China, yet todays world of rapid technological change also presents opportunities for business leaders. To realize the benefits of disruptive change, even the most successful organizations must continually reinvent themselves. According to Karel Eloot, Senior Partner and Co-Leader of McKinseys Operations Practice in Asia, companies using the DCC "can immediately leverage the deep experience of McKinseys team of experienced technology and operations experts. Once a company has gone through the Digital Capability Center program, they will be prepared to roll-out what theyve learned throughout their own operations network. Back in 2015, the government launched the Made in China 2025 initiative, promising extensive financial support to change the country from a traditional manufacturing workshop into a leading industrial innovator, making use of 3D printing and other cutting-edge developments. Known as the worlds factory, China has a huge share of the global exports market, worth $2.4 trillion in 2016. It produces 70 per cent of mobile phones, 80 per cent of air conditioners and 91 per cent of personal computers, but its general manufacturing productivity still falls way behind other developed countries. Research and development into 3D printing technology is already highly advanced in China, but mostly with smaller start-ups and research agencies. The report indicated that multinationals are still reaping most of the rewards of 3D printing advances, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution for implementing Industry 4.0. However, providing a centralized location for developing new breakthroughs and supporting clients at every stage of their evolution means that the new DCC in Beijing will hopefully go some way towards helping China on its way. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Zach Campbell at Harper's Magazine: Some say that Arnaldo Otegi is an assassin. Others call him a peacemaker. Given his history, he might be a little of both. Otegi used to be a member of E.T.A., the armed militant group that fought in Spain for fifty years for an independent Basque state, first against the dictatorship of Francisco Franco in the 1960s and 70s and later against the countrys democratically elected government. Otegi has gone to jail on terrorism charges three times, and is now the leader of the second strongest electoral force in the Basque Country. His actions led to E.T.A. issuing a ceasefire seven years ago, but the group still hasnt disbanded. In the Basque Country, violence is often justified behind closed doors. Since its inception in 1959, E.T.A. has killed over 800 people and, for decades, kidnapped and extorted to finance their activities. In response, Spains civilian and military police, and paramilitary groups financed by the Spanish government, killed hundreds and tortured thousands, even after the countrys transition to democracy. At different times in history, both sides have had enormous popular support in the Basque Country, and it has divided the region as much socially as it has politically. Here in many workplaces, schools, social circles, and even families, people found themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Now after fifty years of conflict, Otegi says he knows how to end the war. more here. Here are the week's strange and newsworthy happenings, from an amazing archeological discovery to Bill Murray's dabbling in classical music. Poet Shel Silverstein's Sausalito Houseboat Asks $390K, SF Curbed Shel Silverstein's bohemian one-bed one-bath houseboat is now on the market at $390,000and it looks as quirky as the beloved poet's works. Ohand it's built on top of an old balloon barge from World War II. Read More Judge Blocks Trump Effort to Withhold Money From Sanctuary Cities, NY Times A San Francisco judge temporarily blocked President Trump's attempts to starve sanctuary cities of federal funds Tuesday. The ruling is yet another judicial setback for the administration, which has now seen three immigration orders put on brakes by federal courtsin its first 100 days. Read More Bill Murray will be reading Hemingway and Capote while classical musicians Jan Vogler, Mira Wang, and Vanessa Perez accompany him in the background in his most recent project, to debut at Festival Napa Valley. (Courtesy of Dorn Music via YouTube) Bill Murray to Debut Classical Music, Literature Project in Napa, SFist 66-year-old actor Bill Murray's latest unexpected project is being introduced in Napa. This summer, as part of the Festival Napa Valley, Murray will sing Gershwin and read Hemingway to the accompaniment of acclaimed cellist Jan Vogler, whom he met on a flight. We're not even surprised. Read More A 130,000-year-old Archaeological Site in Southern California,Nature Just published yesterday, the discovery of an archaeological site near San Diego may completely change our understanding of prehistoric human arrival in North America. The fractured bones of an ancient elephant-related species were found alongside tools like anvils and stone hammers, meaning our early ancestors may have arrived in what's now California much, much earlier (read: 100,000 years earlier) than we thought. Read More National Monuments Under Siege by Trump Include 8 in California, SF Chronicle President Trump issued an order Wednesday instructing the Interior Department to review all national monuments greater than 100,000 acres designated over the last decade. The list includes eight national monuments across California, such as Berryessa Snow Mountain and Giant Sequoia. Read More Spike in Suspected Heroin Overdose Deaths in Santa Rosa Spurs Public Warning, The Press Democrat Santa Rosa has seen five deaths relating to heroin overdose in the last 10 daysa spike that could point to a particularly potent batch of the drug on the streets. Toxicology reports are still pending, but the Sonoma County Coroner's Office officials decided to release the information Tuesday to warn the public and hopefully prevent another death. Read More The R&D Explanation The pharmaceutical industry offers several responses to the charges of excessively high prices. First, it notes that prescription drugs account for just 10 percent of the nations health care costs; by comparison, 32 percent of costs go to hospital care, according to a 2016 report from Medicare. It also notes that an open market means that patients in the U.S. can access the most innovative treatments far earlier than any other country, says Robert Zirkelbach, executive vice president at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the industry trade group. For example, data from PhRMA show that patients in Europe wait an average of nearly two years longer to get access to cancer medicines than American patients. But the industrys primary defense of rising medicine prices are the high costs associated with drug development. Drug companies spend over 10 years and up to $2.6 billion bringing a drug to market, according to a 2016 Journal of Health Economics article based on research by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (which gets a minority of its operating funds from the pharmaceutical industry). Of that amount, $1.4 billion is actual costs items like salaries, labs, clinical- trial expenses and manufacturing. The remaining $1.2 billion is capital costs: what the company sacrifices by investing time and money in an unproven drug. Some experts dispute these numbers, saying they overstate the true costs. Even after accounting for their research investments, however, drug companies are among the most profitable public businesses in America. And an analysis from the research company Global Data revealed that 9 out of 10 big pharmaceutical companies spend more on marketing than on research. Most of them also have big budgets for lobbyists to ensure the laws continue to work in their favor. The Center for Responsive Politics puts the number of pharmaceutical industry lobbyists at 804 in 2016. Further, some drug companies are moving away from doing all of their research in-house and instead are buying smaller companies with promising products. About 70 percent of industry sales come from drugs that originated in small companies, up from 30 percent in 1990, according to a Boston Consulting Group survey. In addition, drug companies increasingly focus on products that can generate the highest profits. The majority of drugs approved by the FDA are now expensive specialty drugs. Many drug companies are also pursuing orphan drugs medicines targeting diseases that afflict fewer than 200,000 people. These medications cost an average of $140,000 a year. The catch: Many orphan drugs eventually receive additional approvals as a treatment for other conditions, dramatically increasing the market for the drug. The government supports orphan drug development with tax breaks and other incentives. In 2016, the pharmaceutical industry netted $1.76 billion in orphan drug tax credits. Too many people struggle to pay for drugs and end up waiting to fill a prescription, taking less medication to make it last longer or deciding to not fill the prescription at all. Unless costs come down, people will not be able to afford the drugs they need, leading to poorer health and higher health care costs. Both Republicans and Democrats have called for measures to lower drug costs. These proposals include allowing Medicare to negotiate prices and making it legal to buy prescription drugs in Canada and Europe. In his first address to a joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump declared that we need to "work to bring down the artificially high price of drugs and bring them down immediately." Let's hold the president to his promise. The concern Americans have over drug prices is part of the larger issue of health care. That was demonstrated in the recent debate over the proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA). As the potential impact of the bill emerged, Americans urged their lawmakers to oppose it. The bill was flawed from the beginning. It would have added an age tax on older Americans, increased their insurance rates dramatically and reduced health insurance subsidies. It would have left 24 million people who now have health insurance without coverage. It also would have provided tax breaks worth $200 billion to insurance and drug companies. The decision to shelve the AHCA was a victory for the American people won, in large part, by tens of thousands of engaged AARP members like you who wrote letters, sent emails and called their members of Congress. The demise of the AHCA, however, doesn't mean Americans don't want change or that they are satisfied with their health care. That is clearly demonstrated by the outrage over drug prices that are just too high in many cases. We have a long history of advocating for lower prescription-drug prices, and we will work with the administration and Congress to continue that fight. If you are concerned about the high cost of drugs, let your member of Congress know by calling 844-453-9952 toll-free. Jo Ann Jenkins is CEO of AARP. Congressional leaders have brought back the terrible healthcare bill, and it's even worse than before! Unless we do something, they could pass an age tax that could cost you up to $13,000 per year, weaken Medicare, give billions away to special interests, and end protections for 25 million Americans between 50-64 with preexisting conditions like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Oh, and did we mention Congress is exempting themselves from any change to the preexisting conditions protections. Outrageous and unacceptable. The vote could happen as soon as Friday and we need each and every one of you to speak up. Call 1-844-259-9352 today and tell your Representative to kill this terrible bill, once and for all. It's no surprise that special interests and their allies in Congress aren't giving up on this terrible bill. But neither will AARP's 38 million members. Let's remind them that they work for us, and that we're ready to hold them accountable. Tell your representative to stand firm Noem secures second term with big win over Smith The win is historic as Kristi Noem becomes the first woman to win re-election to the highest political seat in the state. Quarterly Highlights and Appendix 4C Perth, April 28, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - During this past quarter, Liquefied Natural Gas Limited ( ASX:LNG ) ( LNGLY:OTCMKTS ) (LNGL or the Company) unveiled its updated Vision, Mission, Values, and Strategy statement underpinning execution of our three-path strategy aimed at realizing our desire to be the world's premier provider of mid-scale LNG liquefaction solutions. A Message from the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer The quarter began with Magnolia LNG gracing the January 2017 cover of LNG Industry magazine, which hailed Magnolia LNG as the next US Gulf Coast project. The quarter closed with delivery of an investor presentation detailing the multitude of competitive advantages that Magnolia LNG has over its competition. The key takeaway from this work is that Magnolia LNG is the only US greenfield project that offers prospective LNG buyers absolute certainty. - Certainty on design; - Certainty on costs; - Certainty on permitting and approvals; - Certainty on source of equity; and - Certainty on pricing required to finance a project. We reiterated our message in April at the Gastech Conference in Japan. Our message is clearly resonating with the LNG industry, and importantly with LNG buyers. While our competitors struggle to offer any firm execution plans, LNGL instead continues to provide certainty on all fronts. The transparency of our disclosures and work at Gastech has prompted buyers to question the basis for promises and price quotes made by our competition. Our fact-based disclosures are truly differentiating Magnolia LNG and demonstrate a significant competitive advantage for LNGL. I am more confident today in our competitive advantages including our patented OSMR(R) liquefaction technology, our portfolio of diverse projects, and our certainty of cost structure, regulatory approvals, and commercial offerings that separate LNGL as the preferred partner for global LNG buyers. Our focus is to lead the next wave of U.S. LNG contracts. In keeping with our promise to shareholders, we have managed our liquidity closely consistent with our stated plans. We closed March 2017 with the Company's total cash position at A$49.3 million, and we remain debt free. QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS Magnolia LNG: - The quarter was dominated by an all-hands-on-deck marketing effort to secure offtake agreements for Magnolia LNG. - On 23 January 2017, Magnolia LNG announced a non-binding heads of agreement (HOA) with Vessel Gasification Solutions, Inc. (VGS) for sales to KGLNGT terminal in India. The non-binding HOA provides for a 20-year free-on-board (FOB) sale and purchase agreement (SPA) of up to 4 mtpa. The obligations of the parties are conditional upon Magnolia LNG's satisfaction with or waiver of conditions precedent including financial close of the KGLNGT terminal and satisfaction by VGS of defined credit requirements underpinning their LNG purchases within agreed timeframes. - On 31 March 2017, management conducted an investor presentation and conference call highlighting the competitive advantages and greater certainty of the Magnolia LNG project relative to other LNG projects in North America. - Managing Director & CEO, Greg Vesey, Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Anthony (AG) Gelotti, Chief Technical Officer, John Baguley, and other marketing staff attended the Gastech international gas and LNG market conference in Tokyo in early April 2017. - On 30 January 2017, Magnolia LNG announced a further extension of the validity period of the current binding EPC contract with KSJV through 30 June 2017. - LNGL continued to examine technical improvements in the OSMR(R) technology and plant modular design to further reduce costs. - On 24 March 2017, Magnolia LNG requested the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District proceed with finalizing the Ground Lease for the Magnolia LNG project. Bear Head LNG: - The Transport Canada's TERMPOL Review Committee completed their review of the Bear Head LNG TERMPOL report. The TERMPOL review process is a technical review of marine terminal systems and transhipment sites. It is a voluntary review of the proposed shipping route and marine terminal, but mandated under the separate environmental assessment process, and identifies navigational and marine transportation-related recommendations to support a safe shipping environment. Corporate: - None Security movements: On 27 January 2017, 952,137 ordinary shares were issued from the conversion of 952,992 Incentive Rights relating to a 2014 Incentive Rights grant held by Mr Paul Bridgwood, a former KMP (key management personnel) and employee of LNGL. Upon vesting, the number of Performance Rights outstanding reduced from 13,084,291 to 12,131,299. Financial Position: During the three-months ended 31 March 2017, net operating cash outflow was A$7.1 million, which compared with the net operating cash outflow of A$5.1 million for the three-months ended 31 December 2016. Management believes the liquidity management plan remains on course to deliver its goal of liquidity into 2019 but acknowledges there remain risks to realizing the goal. LNGL's total cash balance as at 31 March 2017 was A$49.3 million, which compares to A$59.9 million as at 31 December 2016, reflecting a net reduction in reported cash of A$10.6 million. The change in reported cash between periods reflected net cash outflows of A$7.1 million and a non-cash reduction of A$3.5 million from currency translation effect relating to movements in exchange rates associated with cash held in denominations other than the Australian dollar (primarily U.S. dollars). The quarter ended March 2017 included several expenditures of a nonrecurring or annual nature, which inflated the quarterly cash outflow relative to the quarter ended December 2016. LNGL maintains a material portion of its existing cash and cash equivalents denominated in US dollars. The preponderance of forecasted cash outflows are denominated in US dollars, supporting maintenance of a majority of cash and cash equivalents denominated in US dollars as a foreign exchange risk mitigation strategy. Because LNGL's reporting currency is Australian dollars, the US dollar denominated cash balances are translated to Australian dollars at each balance sheet date, with the net effect reflected as unrealized gain (loss) from translation as a period end-to-period end reconciling item in reported cash balances. The Company has no debt. To view tables and figures, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/3G660DM9 About Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd Liquefied Natural Gas Limited ( ASX:LNG) ( OTCMKTS:LNGLY) (LNGL) is an ASX listed company whose portfolio consists of 100% ownership of the following companies: - Magnolia LNG, LLC (Magnolia LNG), a US-based subsidiary, which is developing an eight mtpa or greater LNG export terminal, in the Port of Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA; - Bear Head LNG Corporation Inc. (Bear Head LNG), a Canadian-based subsidiary, which is developing an 8 12 mtpa LNG export terminal in Richmond County, Nova Scotia, Canada with potential for further expansion; - Bear Paw Pipeline Corporation Inc. (Bear Paw), which is proposing to construct and operate a 62.5 km gas pipeline lateral to connect gas supply to Bear Head LNG; and - LNG Technology Pty Ltd, a subsidiary which owns and develops the Company's OSMR LNG liquefaction process, a midscale LNG business model that plans to deliver lower capital and operating costs, faster construction, and improved efficiency, relative to larger traditional LNG projects. Quarterly Activities & Cash Flow Reports March 2017 Sydney, April 28, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited ( ASX:COB ) are pleased to provide the Company's latest Quarterly Activities & Cash Flow Reports for the period ending March 2017. March 2017 - Highlights Thackaringa Project - Assays Confirm Thackaringa as a significant Cobalt-Pyrite Project. - Diamond and RC drilling campaign concluded, further drill assays and Scoping Study work underway. - Second round of drill results being processed, expect market release early May 2017. - Market demand forecasts show increasing cobalt market deficit, 9% CAGR demand growth to 2020F with Electric Vehicle (EV) battery demand the key driver. Corporate - Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited listed successfully 2 February 2017. - Options vesting date 2 May 2017. COB will then apply for ASX quotation, expected on or about 9 May 2017. - Conditions fulfilled to receive 51% of beneficial interest of Thackaringa Leases (EL6622, EL8143, ML86, ML87) to Cobalt Blue Holdings. This receipt is subject to retention clauses, detailed in this release. - Completion of successful China visit. Thackaringa Cobalt - Broken Hill NSW Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited ( ASX:COB ) reported significant and encouraging cobalt assays from our drilling program commenced in November 2016 at the Thackaringa project near Broken Hill, NSW. The results were reported 27 March 2017 and reinforce the substantial cobalt and pyrite development opportunity at Thackaringa. Drilling was commenced by Broken Hill Prospecting Limited ( ASX:BPL ) which retains a participating interest in the project. - Assays from our 2016 Diamond Drilling program confirm continuity and tenor of cobalt-pyrite mineralisation at Railway, Pyrite Hill and Big Hill deposits. - The Diamond Drilling program provided representative material for planned metallurgical testwork that commenced in March. - A significant Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling program (commenced in February 2017) designed to expand and upgrade existing Thackaringa Mineral Resources is complete. The Thackaringa project is located within the Broken Hill Block of the Curnamona Province and is composed of Willyama Supergroup high grade regional metamorphic gneisses, schists and amphibolites. Within the project area the local geology is dominated by quartz-albite-biotite gneiss, quartz-albite gneiss, and amphibolite dykes. The extensive stratabound cobalt-pyrite mineralisation at each deposit (Pyrite Hill, Big Hill and Railway) is hosted by quartz-albite gneiss. - At Railway, assays confirm broad intersections of high-grade mineralisation with potential to add to the existing resource. Mineralised intercepts include: a. Drillhole 16DM05 - 48m @ 1,045ppm Co from 30m b. Drillhole 16DM06 - 42m @ 1,615ppm Co from 28m c. Drillhole 16DM07 - 25m @ 1,232 ppm Co from 35m and 26m @ 1,456 ppm Co from 71m d. Drillhole 16DM08 - 4m @ 1,301ppm Co from 57m and 19m @ 1,221ppm Co from 76m - At Pyrite Hill mineralised intercepts include: a. Drillhole 16DM01 - 52m @ 840ppm Co from 95m including 7m @ 1,111ppm Co from 96m b. Drillhole 16DM02 - 23m @ 1,392ppm Co from 127m Mineralisation at the three deposits has a combined strike length of 4.5 kilometres with widths varying from 25 metres to 100 metres. The increased thickness is typically due to the extensive development of tight isoclinal folding within the pyritic horizon. The 2016 drilling program comprised eight fully-cored diamond drill holes at three locations - Pyrite Hill, Big Hill and Railway (Figure 1, see link below). The work was undertaken primarily to provide sufficient material to undertake meaningful metallurgical test work. By twinning previous RC holes the JV was able to confirm the tenor of mineralisation and compare the assays and sampling protocols for historical RC percussion drilling vs diamond drilling. All 2016 holes were drilled at inclinations between 45 and 60 degrees into the steeply-dipping host lithology. A total Inferred Mineral Resource of 33.1Mt at 833ppm cobalt (at a 500ppm Co cut-off) has previously been estimated for Thackaringa (reference COB Replacement Prospectus released 31 January 2017). The now completed 2017 drilling program comprised approximately 4,675m of RC drilling plus 1,797m of diamond drilling. The program is designed to extend the drilling coverage and improve drilling density in support of future Mineral Resource estimations, replace some of the historical drilling for QA/QC purposes and provide material for further metallurgical testwork. COB's activities have related to exploration, there have been no activities relating to production or development. A summary of the expenditure incurred on exploration activities during the quarter can be seen in the Table below (refer to link below). Our schedule of work is shown below (refer to link below). Looking forward, we will be delivering a Preliminary Feasibility Study by mid-2018 and a full Bankable Feasibility Study by mid-2019. Drilling has now concluded under Stage One of COB's developmental milestones. Preparation and assaying of the substantial Stage One drilling program continues. We expect to release a second round of drilling results in early May 2017. In conjunction with this work, significant technical studies are being undertaken as part of our Scoping Study commitments, to be finalised mid-year. The Global Cobalt Market The following section has been included with permission from Hillcrest Consulting, a global cobalt commodity consulting service. The global cobalt market is characterised by low supply coupled with high demand growth that will drive long dated price strength. Demand - 9% demand CAGR to 2020 - Electric Vehicle battery demand the initial driver. Supply - 3% supply CAGR to 2020 - Cobalt prices have little influence on primary producers' decision-making as most cobalt is a by-product of either nickel or copper production. Mounting evidence exists to suggest that new nickel and copper supply growth is cobalt constrained. Price Outlook - 2017 marks the beginning of a sustained price rally, set to revisit previous cyclical highs, forecast to hit US$80,000 per tonne by 2020F - refer to Figure 3 below. However, not all battery materials are the same, as the lithium price is forecast to weaken. Corporate News Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited listed successfully on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) - 2 February 2017. Options Participating IPO shareholders received 12.5 million free attaching Loyalty Options on a 1:4 basis. As part of an in-specie distribution, Broken Hill Prospecting Ltd (BPL) shareholders received 8.75 million free Bonus Options (also on a 1:4 basis). The Loyalty and Bonus options will vest on 2 May 2017 (three months after COB's ASX listing). COB will then apply for ASX quotation, expected on or about 9 May 2017. Further details of the In-Specie Distribution, Bonus Options and Loyalty Options may be found in Sections 2.1, 2.2 & 2.3 of the COB Replacement Prospectus dated 3 January 2017 (Replacement Prospectus) - supplemented by the supplementary prospectus dated 10 January 2017 (Supplementary Prospectus), copies of which may be found at www.cobaltblueholdings.com. Conditions fulfilled to receive 51% of economic interests of Thackaringa Leases to Cobalt Blue Conditions have been fulfilled (Exploration Farmin Joint Venture Agreement Clause 3.1(a) & 3.1(b)) to receive 51% of beneficial interest of the Thackaringa Project to Cobalt Blue Holdings. Cobalt Blue notes the interest must be retained under Clause 3.1(d), reprinted below: Exploration Farm-in Joint Venture Agreement (Broken Hill Prospecting Ltd and Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd) - Clause 3.1(d) In order for COB to retain the Stage 1 Percentage Share received in accordance with clause 3.1(b), then during the period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending no later than 30 June 2017 (Stage 1 Earning Period), COB must: 1. Complete an Exploration program of works within the JV Area (with a minimum 'in ground' expenditure of AUD 2 million (inclusive of GST and in addition to the Execution Payment)) which is sufficient to define an Inferred Mineral Resource of 100 Mt (to JORC 2012 standards), and give a notice to BHPL verifying the amount of Expenditure that COB has incurred on Exploration in the JV Area; and 2. Complete a Scoping Study (to JORC 2012 standards). Please note: The tenement holdings described at the conclusion of this release do not show this interest as the satisfying conditions were met after the end of the quarter. Completion of Successful China Visit CEO Joe Kaderavek and Chair Robert Biancardi recently (4-8 April) completed a commercial/technical visit to China. They travelled extensively across four provinces, visiting companies responsible for over 80% of Chinese cobalt capacity. China processes approximately 50% of the world's cobalt and has long dated experience with cobalt extraction and technical expertise require to make cathodes (cobalt containing electrodes found in lithium-ion batteries). COB management believes there are enormous benefits to co-operation, for example deploying best in class technologies to achieve high yield, low cost extraction processes. The team were very impressed by Chinese research and development efforts, particularly focussed upon cobalt salt production from sulphide materials (such as Cobalt Blue). Further, plant design and state of the art process control allow for efficient processing of very high material volumes. From their viewpoint, Chinese refineries are looking for diversification away from an increasing dependency on sourcing cobalt from the African copper belt. The collective view was that current pricing (approx. US$25/lb) was sustainable, with all industry participants making a good margin. However, further upward price pressure may cause battery makers to "thrift" and use lower cobalt content cathodes in response. Looking forward, we would like our shareholders to keep in touch with COB updates and related news items, which we will post on our website, the ASX announcements platform, as well as social media such as Facebook and LinkedIn (see respective links below). Please don't hesitate to join the 'COB friends' on social media and also to join our newsletter mailing list at our website. To view the full Quarterly Report, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/9G43OE8O About Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX:COB) (FRA:COH) (OTCMKTS:CBBHF) is an exploration and project development company. Work programs advancing the Broken Hill Cobalt Project in New South Wales continue. Our ambitious goals are subject to funding availability. Cobalt is a strategic metal in strong demand for new generation batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries now being widely used in clean energy systems. Quarterly Activities Report Brisbane, April 28, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Sayona Mining Limited ( ASX:SYA ) ( DMNXF:OTCMKTS ) ("Sayona" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the activities report for the quarter, including completion of the Authier Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS"), reporting of a maiden JORC Ore Reserve, and commencement of the Phase 2 drilling program. In Australia, an initial soil and rock chip sampling program produced encouraging results. Highlights - Completion of the Authier Pre-Feasibility Study which demonstrated the technical and economic viability of developing a simple, open-cut mine and concentrate production facility - Maiden JORC Ore Reserve reported for the Authier project - Authier Phase 2 drilling program commenced. Initial five holes demonstrate extensions of the mineralisation in the western sector - Further encouraging soil and rock chip samples from Mallina in Western Australia Authier, Canada During the quarter, the Company's primary focus was on the development of the Authier project. The Company's activities included completion of the PFS, reporting of a maiden JORC Ore Reserve and commencement of the Phase 2 drilling program. Authier Work Programs The Company's primary strategy is to focus on completing the studies required to commence the development of the project. Authier is a near-term development project and cash-flow generation opportunity. The Company believes it will create significant share value-uplift potential for shareholders as the project is advanced towards development. Authier Pre-Feasibility Study The PFS has been completed to an accuracy of +/-25% and has contributions from a number of leading industry service providers including, SGS Canada and Bumigeme Inc. All of the metallurgical testing has been undertaken at SGS Lakefield. The SGS Lakefield facility has been operating for over 70 years in metallurgical testing and design, and employees have considerable experience in the Canadian lithium industry. Bumigeme Inc is a Canadian firm of consulting engineers based in Montreal, working mainly in the mining and metallurgical sector. Dr Gustavo Delendatti was the Competent Person for the Mineral Resource estimate. Key outcomes of the PFS include a pre-tax Net Present Value ("NPV") of C$140 million over an initial 13-year mine life, based on the current Proven and Probable Ore Reserve estimate of 10.2Mt @ 1.02% Li20 at a 0.45% Li20 cut-off grade (Table 1). The pre-tax Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") is estimated at 39% and payback on capital is 2.2 years. The life-of-mine ("LOM") cash operating costs are estimated at C$334 per tonne (mine gate basis) or C$367 per tonne FOB Port of Montreal based on a development capital expenditure of C$66 million and a life-of-mine capital cost estimate of C$113 million. The Company is now looking at a number of optimisation options to significantly enhance the value of the project, including: - Additional definition and expansion drilling to expand the size of the resource and reserves, and extend the project mine life; - Further geotechnical test work to assess the potential for a steeper hanging wall pit slope. This would reduce the waste removal requirement and LOM waste to ore ratio; - The current development approach is to initially construct the project with a planned annual production rate of less than 2,000 tonnes of ore per day. This avoids a lengthy and costly Environmental Impact Assessment. Once in production, the Company will assess the technical and economic viability of expanding the production capacity of the project; - Further metallurgical test work to improve processing recoveries and concentrate grades. The PFS assumes a metallurgical recovery of 80% and a 5.75% Li20 concentrate grade. However, recovery rates of up to 88% and concentrate grades higher than 6% Li2O have been achieved in historical metallurgical testing; and - Other downstream value-adding opportunities including the potential to produce lithium hydroxide. The Authier deposit will be mined by open cut methods enhanced by the shallow and thick nature of the mineralisation, allowing spodumene ore to be processed from the commencement of mining. The PFS demonstrated a LOM strip ratio of 6:1 (waste to ore) providing a low mining cost. The Company believes with further drilling it can expand the size of the resource, provide better definition of the orebody, and lower the overall waste to ore ratio. Bumigeme have designed a concentrator plant to process 700,000 tpa of ore feed using conventional flotation technology suitable for a pegmatite orebody. The plant will produce a 5.75% Li20 concentrate suitable for feedstock to lithium carbonate conversion plants. Further studies will be undertaken to potentially reduce the iron content of the Authier lithium concentrate for sale to the glass or ceramics industries. The PFS pricing is based on the May 2016 Deutsche Bank Lithium Industry Study and assumes that concentrates are delivered FOB to an export ship at the Port of Montreal. The LOM average price assumption is US$515/tonne for a 5.75% Li20 concentrate. The modelled price for the PFS is a significant discount to the current market and is considered conservative. The Company plans to move the project forward with a number of work programs, including: - Phase 2 resource expansion and definition drilling (in progress); - Advanced geotechnical and hydro-geological assessments (in progress); - Metallurgical pilot plant testing; - Definitive Feasibility Study; and - Testing of Authier concentrates for the conversion into lithium carbonate. The Company is also progressing its environmental and Mining Lease permits, and believes the approvals can be achieved within the planned development timetable. Phase 2 drilling Program During the quarter, the Company commenced its Phase II resource expansion drilling program. The Company believes there is excellent potential to both expand the size of the existing resource and to optimise and improve the existing resource. In addition, the Company is planning to further expand the total project area resource by drilling the recently discovered lithium pegmatite and undertaking exploration for further mineralised pegmatites. The program incorporates approximately 4,000 metres of diamond drilling. The mineralisation remains open in all directions (see Figure 1 in link below) and drilling is being planned with the following objectives, including: - Defining the mineralised boundaries and lifting the resource categories in the western sector that were not accessible during the 2016 drill program. The 2016 drilling program in the western zone highlighted wide intervals of mineralisation, including 46m @ 1.26% Li2O from a depth of 190 metres, including 24m @ 1.62% Li2O from 190 metres; - Testing for mineralisation in the eastern and western strike extensions; - Infill definition drilling within the main resource zone (Infill zone on Figure 1) where the mineralisation is not well defined and is currently treated as waste; - Assessing the resource potential of the new northern pegmatite which intersected 7m @ 1.36% Li20 from 15 metres. Any new mineralisation within the new pegmatite is likely to fall within the main Authier open-cut pit shell and significantly improve the waste to ore ratio in a future operation; and - Pegmatites generally occur in "swarms" and the company's aim is to locate additional mineralised pegmatites in the area. The drilling program has been designed with three aims, including: - To improve the overall quality and expand on the size of its JORC 2012 compliant Mineral Resource estimate. The project now has nearly 19,000 metres of diamond drilling in 141 holes. The Company's plan is to increase the size and confidence levels of the resource and to study the merits of an expansion and/or the value adding potential of the project beyond what has been studied in the current Pre-Feasibility Study which is nearing completion (Figures 1); - Assess the resource potential of the newly discovered pegmatite (Figure 2, see link below); and - Locate additional lithium mineralised pegmatites. During the quarter, the Company released the initial results of the drilling focused on targeting extensions of mineralisation in the western sector. Significant intersections from the first five drill holes, include: - Hole 17-02: 32m @ 1.15% Li2O from 165m, including: o 7m @ 1.44 % Li2O from177m; o 6m @ 1.37 %Li2O from186 m; and - Hole 17-03: 11m @ 1.07 % Li2O from 222m, including: o 5m @ 1.42 % Li2O from 226m; and - Hole 17-05: 19m @ 1.26% Li2O from 224m, including: o 9m @ 1.69% Li2O from 224m. The new holes drilled west of the main Authier pegmatite orebody have successfully demonstrated extensions of the mineralisation at open-cut mineable depths. The results have confirmed an extension of the main pegmatite orebody by 300 metres to the west within the deeper levels and 200 metres west at shallower levels. The mineralisation remains open to the west and further drilling will be required to test the full western strike extent of the deposit. The Phase 2 drilling program has now been completed. Thirty-one diamond drill holes totalling 4,104 metres have been completed testing extensions of the mineralisation to the west, east and depth in the main orebody, and within the new northern pegmatite. Assay results from the remaining holes are pending. Western Australian Lithium Projects Mallina Project The Mallina project is located 80 kilometres west of the Pilgangoora lithium deposits of Altura Mining and Pilbara Minerals, and compliments the Company's other 1,000 km2 lithium exploration portfolio in the Pilbara region The Mallina project overlies Archaean sediments and mafic volcanics which have been intruded by post tectonic monzogranite. The area does not appear to have been prospected for pegmatite mineralisation before the recent discovery, despite the combination of post tectonic granite, structure and proximity to the Wodgina / Pilgangoora lithium discoveries to the east. During the quarter, reconnaissance and mapping within the Mallina tenement area has focused around the Discovery pegmatite area, with 93 rock and 66 soil geochemical samples collected (see figure 1). The Discovery pegmatite is an albite-spodumene pegmatite mapped over 500 metres of strike extent with rock chip assays up to 2.13% Li2O (see ASX release, 21 December, 2016). The Company's recent work has identified four previously unknown lithium mineralised spodumene pegmatites, which form part of an extensive swarm of pegmatites. The eleven rock samples collected over the Discovery pegmatite returned an average of 1.48% Li2O, with all of the samples collected to date in this 500 metres plus strike length target (21 rocks samples) averaging 1.35% Li2O. The pegmatite is weathered, in part silicified and has poor outcrop, typically visible over widths of 3 to 5 metres and up to 8 metres, but without the contacts to adjacent greenstone rocks being observed. The true width of the structure is not yet known. West of the Discovery pegmatite, two other areas of lithium mineralised pegmatites have been identified, with rock samples returning up to 2.65% Li2O. These pegmatites are also poorly outcropping, but can be traced intermittently over several hundred metres of strike extent. Additional traversing in this area is planned to more fully understand the extents of the mineralisation. Significantly, a single pegmatite outcrop, located 900 metres to the south of the Discovery pegmatite was identified and sampled, returning an assay of 3.47% Li2O. This area has very poor outcrop and further reconnaissance and sampling will be undertaken to try to define the extents to the mineralisation. The results do however, indicate the potential of the area to host additional mineralised pegmatites. These targets may lie under shallow soil cover. An orientation soil geochemical programme was undertaken over the known discovery pegmatite. Results to 5,230ppm Li (1.12% Li2O) were returned from the coarse soil fraction, indication further sampling could be an effective test of the covered portions of the tenement. Further reconnaissance, mapping and rock sampling is planned in follow up to the strong mineralisation identified to date. Work will focus in the area of newly discovered spodumene pegmatites as well as traversing the unexplored remainder of the tenement area. This work will be complemented by systematic soil geochemistry, to be carried out with the aim of identifying targets under shallow cover. Work will commence as soon as possible, once access after the recent flooding is possible. Work to progress statutory approval to allow drill testing of the targets has commenced. Pilbara Lithium Projects Due to the extensive wet weather during the quarter, the Company was unable to progress any of its exploration activities on its portfolio of lithium projects in the Pilbara district. Mt Edon Lithium Project Due to the extensive wet weather during the quarter, the Company was unable to progress any of its exploration activities at the Mt Edon lithium project. Corkwood Graphite Project There was no exploration activities at the Corkwood project during the quarter. Corporate - Share Purchase Plan Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company announced an offer to eligible shareholders to apply for new, fully paid ordinary shares (New Shares) in Sayona under a Share Purchase Plan (the SPP). The SPP is underwritten to $1,500,000 by Patersons Securities Limited (Patersons) who are acting as Lead Manager and Underwriter to the offer. In addition, the Company has agreed to grant Patersons the right to facilitate an offer of Shares up to $1,500,000 to be issued at the same price as those under the SPP (Top Up Placement). Funds raised under the SPP will be used to accelerate the development of the Authier project in Canada. Work programs will be focused on enhancing the value of the project, including: - Resource upgrade following the completion of the Phase 2 drilling program; - Geotechnical and hydrogeological programs to improve the pit wall slopes and reduce the life-of-mine waste movement; - Further metallurgical testing to optimise recoveries and concentrate grades; - Updating the February 2017 Pre-Feasibility Study and Ore Reserve; - Studying the potential for producing value-added lithium carbonate and/or hydroxide; and - Continuation of the environmental and mining lease work programs. In addition, the Company is progressing its Mallina project in the world-class Pilgangoora lithium district in Western Australia, where mapping and sampling programs have outlined a number of prospective lithium targets. The SPP provides the opportunity for eligible shareholders to subscribe for up to $15,000 worth of New Shares without incurring brokerage or other transaction costs. The issue price will be determined at the issue date of New Shares under the SPP based on a 20% discount to the volume weighted average price of Sayona shares traded on the ASX during the 5 days immediately prior to the issue date of the New Shares. To view the full Quarterly Report, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/ZTS5TG21 About Sayona Mining Limited Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:SYAXF) is an Australian, ASX-listed (SYA) company focused on sourcing and developing the raw materials required to construct lithium-ion batteries for use in the rapidly growing new and green technology sectors. The Company has lithium projects in Quebec, Canada and in Western Australia. Please visit us as at www.sayonamining.com.au pikepicture/iStock/Thinkstock(MIDDLETOWN, De.) -- The 26-year-old suspect who allegedly shot and killed a Delaware state trooper on Wednesday chased the officer before gunning him down, police said. The suspect, identified as Burgon Sealy, allegedly shot 32-year-old Cpl. Stephen Ballard, and then fled to his home, where he held a 20-hour standoff with police. He was later shot and killed by police after he emerged carrying a weapon, ABC affiliate WPVI reported. Here is a timeline of how the standoff unfolded: Wednesday Around 10 a.m. Ballard observed what police described as a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of a Wawa convenience store in Bear, Delaware on the Pulaski Highway. In a press conference Thursday, state police said that they think Ballard "had a reason to stop" the red Dodge Charger and that it could have been "drug involvement." The trooper, dressed in full uniform, made contact with both the driver and the passenger, who showed their IDs, police said. When Ballard walked to the passenger side of the car, he asked Sealy to step out of the vehicle, and a struggle ensued. Sealy allegedly removed a firearm from his waistband and pursued Ballard in the parking lot. Ballard tried to take cover behind a parked vehicle, but when he fell, Sealy allegedly fired several rounds at him, striking him. The driver of the car stayed on the scene until more troopers arrived and was taken into custody without incident. He was later released. Ballard was treated on the scene and transported to a local hospital. Around 3 p.m. All schools in the Appoquinimink School District in the Middletown, Delaware area are placed on lockdown amid the search for Sealy. Around 4:45 p.m. State police announce at a press conference that Ballard has succumbed to his injuries and that Sealy had barricaded himself in his home on St. Michaels Drive in the Brick Mill Farm development. After he fled, Sealy had contacted family members to inform them that he had shot the trooper, police said. The family members then contacted law enforcement, who traced Sealy to his home. Sealy fired several rounds at police officers. Residents in the area were evacuated due to the gunfire. Hostage negotiators on the scene attempted to get information from the suspect and to obtain a "peaceful resolution," police said. 7:32 p.m. Delaware Gov. John Carney announced that U.S. and state flags will be flown at half-staff in Ballard's honor. 8:22 p.m. Sealy stopped making contact with police on the scene, who set up an explosive charge on the residence. Authorities did not enter the home but continued attempts to make contact with Sealy to persuade him to surrender. 9:35 p.m. Police identify Ballard as the trooper who was killed. He was an eight-year veteran of the Delaware State Police, police said. Thursday 4 a.m. Sealy allegedly began firing at officers again, and authorities continued to try to negotiate with him. The Odessa Fire Company had opened its facility to temporarily house the residents in the area who had been evacuated. 9:17 a.m. Sealy exited the home with a weapon, according to officials. He was then shot by law enforcement. 9:29 a.m. Sealy is pronounced dead on the scene. About 25 minutes later, police confirm to ABC News that the standoff is over. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The Bombay High Court today sought the NIAs stand on a plea by the Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur against the trial courts permission to a blast victims father to assist the prosecution in the case. A bench of justices V K Tahilramani and M S Karnik issued the notice also to the victims father, Nisar Bilal, seeking his stand on sadhvis plea and posted the matter for further hearing in June. Facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has moved the high court against the special NIA court order permitting the victims family to assist the prosecution in the trial. The anti-terror court had in February this year permitted Bilal, the father of a victim who had died in the September 29, 2008 blasts, to intervene in the case and assist the prosecution in the trial against Sadhvi and ten others. Nisar had filed an intervening application in the special court in January when it was expected to frame charges against the accused. In her petition to the high court, Sadhvi has claimed that Nisars application was filed with malafide and ulterior motives. The appellant (Sadhvi) is already a victim of false implication at the hands of the prosecution. She cannot be exposed to any further risk of prejudice in any manner. There is absolutely no necessity or purpose for the victim or his family to assist the prosecution, the petition said. The petition further alleged that the special NIA court has erred and has allowed the victims father to intervene without proper application of mind. The order of the special court should be set aside and quashed, the petition sought. Congress Chief Sonia Gandhis son-in-law Robert Vadra made unlawful profits of Rs. 50.5 crore from a land deal in Haryana in 2008, Justice SN Dhingra Commission is said to have concluded. The Commission set up in 2015 by Manohar Lal government was looking into the grant of licences for change in land in Gurgaon. Robert Vadras company, Skylight Hospitality, was also under the scanner. According to the report, the remarks were made by the Justice S N Dhingra commission which has filed in the Supreme Court the inquiry report that relates to alleged irregularities in land deals. People familiar with the commissions report told the daily that there was collusion aimed at benefiting Vadras company. Skylight had bought land from Omkareshwar Properties in 2008 and later sold it off to DLF after a change in land use at a much higher price. As per the committees report, Skylight minted profit of Rs. 50.5 crore from the deal. The company could have purchased more land with this money, which needs to be looked at, the report adds. Vadra had bought the land from Omkareshwar using a fictitious cheque. According to the report, Vadra had paid the money for land after receiving an advance from DLF. This was routed through another company of Vadra. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has dubbed as politically motivated reports linking her land deals with that of her husband Robert Vadras company that were under the scanner of a Haryana government ordered investigation. In a statement late Thursday night, Priyanka said her finances had nothing to do with those of her husband or his company Skylight Hospitality which is under Haryana governments scanner over its land deals with realty major DLF. Priyanka has said in a statement issued through her office: Six years prior to the purported land deal involving Skylight Hospitality on April 28, 2006, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra purchased 40 Kanal 00 Marla (5 acres) of agricultural land in village Amipur, tehsil Faridabad, district Faridabad in Haryana. Ms Vadra, the 45-year-old daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said she was responding to the questions of a journalist from a leading newspaper in relation to my husband in which it was alleged that I had acquired properties with illegally acquired funds. She added: The land was purchased for a total purchase price of Rs. 15 lakh, which was paid for entirely by cheque, which was the equivalent of Rs. 3 lakh per acre. The source of funds for the aforesaid purchase was rental income of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from property inherited from her grandmother Indira Gandhi. She then went on to distance herself and her dealings with the business ventures of her husband. She said: The source of funds for this or any other property acquired by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has no relationship whatsoever with Robert Vadras finances and/or Skylight Hospitality, and no relationship whatsoever with DLF. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is very soft in dealing with terrorism and the atrocities of Maoists in Indian states. Instead of talking tough the Home Minister is only making statements that India will retaliate. People burnt Singh effigy and demanded his suspension. One should have the guts to take action fast instead of merely issuing statements. Both late V.K. Krishna Menon as Defence Minister, Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister showed their courage to fight enemy fire with fire. Late Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned his job as Minister once a major railway accident occured. But the present day Ministers are just buying time and failed to perform at the highest level and not having the guts to quit when they dont deliver. Just like Pakistani terrorists, Maoists were also causing havoc within our country and after a long time we could kill 20 odd Maoists overall and they finished off 25 CRPF men in one stroke. It is now or never situation to act swiftly before the situation goes out of hand. BJP government makes several promises when the economic growth was at its lowest ebb but there is less importance paid to security aspect. The incumbent government failed to prevent terror attack and the influx of Maoists in various parts of the country. The latest one was in Sukma region and the area is strife torn most of the days. Just like improving the economic stability, it is of utmost importance to give more attention on internal security as well. We welcome Modis approach to the problems and his frequent foreign visits but at the same time it is of utmost need to prevent Maoist strikes on a regular basis. In the mid-day attack occurred between Burkapal-Chintagufa, 25 security CRPF jawans were killed and some of them were seriously injured after armed Maoists ambush. The Maoists are equipped with powerful improvised explosive devices and it is a permanent threat in this region. These are pre-planned attacks by Maoists and the Home Ministry should have the firepower to prevent serious attacks and avoid loss of our armed force jawans and other security people in the wake of such a well planned attack. Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge of the government, he was instrumental in introducing new schemes for the benefit of the people and it goes a long way in promoting his image. Inaugurating two projects with an estimated investment of Rs.24000 crore in the Bastar region, Modi was trying hard to bring out a change in these backward regions of Chhattisgarh and was making a big leap in the right direction. However, the menace created by Maoists in this region and other areas is causing more worry as they take people on hostage and are not afraid to kill them as well. Attack on CRPF jawans gave them more confidence to go beserk. On the verge of completing three years in office, the Union Government should have a close watch on the law and order problem. There were frequent strikes by Maoists and that created a panic among the people living in this region. Priority should be given by PM to curtail violence and make the land free from the Maoists menace. PMs appeal to Maoists to give up arms appears sound good but the position is not changing much after Modi assuming office. Maoists challenge is to be tackled with tact and bring the culprits to books before bringing normalcy to safeguard the interest of the people and our security personnel, who are dying in well knit ambushes by the Maoists. It is a shame for our forces to lay down arms in front of Maoists in such fierce attacks. It is time to beef up security. (The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.) Web Toolbar by Wibiya Get the book on John Summers HERE. This is a story of evil and profound injustice in the legal community. Explore demonic minds in the legal community that include judges. There are moments when behaviours of certain individuals tend to undermine the basic principle of humanity. However, when such behaviour is displayed by someone who is supposed to know better, then eyebrows should be raised. Dezrin Carby-Samuels and her son, Raymond have have both had to deal with countless abuse on their basic human rights and just when everyone thought that justice will be served, John E. Summers stepped in with his callous disregard for the desires of Dezrin and her enforced isolation by his client. John E. Summers, a Bell Baker lawyer has gone to the extent of preparing a fraudulent affidavit and using other deceptive methods to deny Dezrin and Raymond the chance to even see each other since 12 June 2015. The evil being perpetrated by John Summers clearly shows that people who are supposed to know better with regards to the application of the laws of the land can even stoop so low as to use lies and apparent fraud to commit apparent crimes against humanity. If nothing at all, John Summers should have realized that Dezrin Carby-Samuels is an aged elderly woman who deserves nothing less than respect and reverence from society. There is one thing that John Summers callous disregard for the rights of Dezrin further proves and that is the fact that there really is a very big difference between being human and a human being. This goes to show that one can be a human being alright and still behave in a way that is alien to humans who embrace empathy for each other. For a lawyer to be able to fabricate lies against an elderly woman and her son is simply a slap right in the face of the law enforcement and our humanity.. Even though on the 11th of February, 2016, Justice Patrick Smiths Superior Court of Ontario made a ruling that Raymond should be allowed to pay daily visits to his sick and bedridden mother. However, John Summers in collaboration with Dezrins husband, Horace and daughter, Marcella have used dubious ways and means to prevent Raymond from seeing his sick mother. They even went to the extent of fraudulently tagging Raymond as not being sound mentally. When a lawyer, in his right senses, decides to deceive the court in order to frustrate an elderly woman like Dezrin Carby-Samuels, then it is about time that well-meaning humans team up to support a petition for the disbarment of John Summers from further pracitising law in the Province on Ontario. Web Toolbar by Wibiya A messenger of God self-acclaimed Horacio Villegas says that he has predicted that the Third World War will commence this year in 2017. This is not the first time that the mystic has predicted events that went ahead to happen. Villegas who lives in Texas came to the limelight following the fulfillment of some of his prophecies. Earlier, he accurately predicted that Donald Trump will emerge as the 45th president of the United States since 2015 as reported by Daily Star. He further added that the billionaire businessman would be the architect of the nuclear war. Horacio Villegas also predicted that attack on Syria by the United States which happened earlier in the month when Trump fired 59 Tomahawk missiles into Shayrat airbase near Homs suspected to be the origin of a chemical weapon attack that killed dozens of people. This action, he warned, would draw in China, Russia, and North Korea. If the prediction should be taken seriously, World War III may just be a few weeks away because according to Villegas, it would coincide with the first visit of Our Lady a name that has been frequently used for Virgin Mary, the mother of God to Fatima in Portugal. It can be recalled that Our Lady visited Fatima on six different occasions. The first was on the 13th of May 1917. There is a strong claim by Catholic faithful that on this visit Our Lady warned that if Russia is not converted, the country would be used by God to inflict chaos on the world. Villegas claims the commencement of World War III would coincide with the first visit of Our lady to Fatima which is just three weeks away. Our lady visited Fatima last on the 13th of October 1917, a date that would coincide with the end of the war. The self-acclaimed "supernatural being" made his visions and prophecies known to Daily Star Online. This has resulted to a date for the nuclear war which would plague the world in few weeks time. Villegas made known one of his dreams where he said, I saw balls of fire falling from the sky and hitting the Earth. Villegas was quoted to have told Daily Star that, "The main messenger that people need to know in order to be prepared is that between May 13th and October 13, 2017, this war will occur and be over with much devastation, shock, and death." According to the clairvoyants vision, the war will wipe out a significant part of the world. He said he saw, people everywhere were running around trying to hide from this destruction. Knowing that the world has not fully recovered from the tremors of the WWII, such prophesies and the tension already in progress between the world powers should be a serious source of concern. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 68F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Low 57F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Congresswoman Eshoo Faces Heavy Criticism for Omitting Assyrians and Greeks in Genocide Statement Congresswoman Anna Eshoo. Washington (AINA) -- Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, who represents the 18th congressional district in California, has come under heavy criticism for failing to mention Assyrians and Greeks in her statement on the Turkish genocide of Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks. The 18th district includes San Jose, home to 12,000 Assyrians. The Turkish Genocide of Christians occurred during World War One, between 1915 and 1918. The genocide claimed the lives of 750,000 Assyrians (75%), 1 million Greeks and 1.5 million Armenians. The International Association of Genocide Scholars recognized the Assyrian and Greek genocides in 2007. Representative Eshoo, who has an Assyrian father and an Armenian mother, posted the following statement on her Facebook page: On this day 102 years ago the world bore witness to the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians and other minorities by the Ottoman Empire. Despite efforts beginning in 1975 to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, Congress has yet to acknowledge what took place 102 years ago. I'm proud to have consistently cosponsored the Armenian Genocide Resolution in every Congress I've served in to have formal recognition by the government of the United States, and I will not rest until we are successful. Let us take the time today to remember the 1.5 million people who were taken from us--parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins. Each succeeding generation will hold them in their hearts and we will never forget. May we honor them by rising to the occasion and formally recognizing their loss and collectively say, "Never again." She referred to Assyrians and Greeks as "other minorities" even though when combined more were killed than Armenians. This is the second time she has refused to name the Assyrian and Greek victims of the Turkish genocide. Her 2015 statement on the 100th anniversary of the genocide also used the term "other minorities." Carlo Ganjeh, the American representative of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, a global Assyrian umbrella organization, expressed disappointment at Representative Eshoo's failure to name the Assyrians and Greeks in her statement. Mr. Ganjeh sent the following letter to her office: On April 24, 2017, I learned that the Office of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo had released a statement in support of the Armenian Genocide but had unfortunately not included any statement about the other 2 nations that were victims of the Young Turk genocide -- the Assyrians Greeks. As you may know, these nations also faced the same regretful fate as did our Armenian brothers and sisters. In the past, the office of Congresswoman Eshoo had a policy to include these nations by name versus a generic description of them as "minorities", that potential unintentional oversight has caused a significant issue within our Assyrian American community who are her supporters. Could you please consider making the necessary corrections to that statement and add Assyrian/Greek nations are specified? We would hate for the great work of our Congresswoman in the Assyrian community to be in any way tarnished by this potential oversight given her dedication to our Assyrian struggle, as she has been backbone of the Assyrian awareness campaign for over 25 years. Rosie Malek Yonan, an Assyrian activist and author of The Crimson Field, a novel about the genocide, published an open letter on her blog to Representative Eshoo, in which she said "Assyrians may be a stateless nation, but we are not invisible. We are not nameless and we are certainly not the "other minorities" as you have callously labeled us in your April 24, 2017 statement" and "Is the Assyrian name so offensive to you that you couldn't show some semblance of respect for the Assyrians as well as the Greeks in this case to mention them directly?" Thea Halo, whose mother is Greek and father Assyrian, both survivors of the genocide, and who wrote a book about her mother's experience titled Not Even My Name, said the following in an email to AINA: As a woman of Assyrian and Pontic Greek decent, I have felt proud of the fact that a fellow Assyrian had been elected to the US Congress. And I am pleased that you have taken it upon yourself to bring the Armenian Genocide to the attention of other members of Congress and call for a Resolution recognizing the Genocide. However, it is long past time for the full story of the tragedy that befell the Christians of Ottoman Turkey to be revealed? In 2007, The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) affirmed that the Assyrians and Pontian and other Asia Minor Greeks, (who had made Asia Minor their home for three and four millennia) had also suffered a genocide comparable to the genocide of the Armenians during the same time and place. I believe I speak for the many descendants of this great crime, and for those who actually lived through this crime, such as my mother, who died in 2014 at the age of 105 years, we implore you to set the record straight once and for all. Pass a resolution that recognizes all three Christian victims of the Ottoman Genocide, Assyrians, Pontian and other Asia Minor Greeks, and Armenians between 1913-1923. Nearly all the comments on Representative Eshoo's facebook page were critical of her for not naming Assyrians and Greeks. One person wrote "Instead of saying never again to a genocide we should say never again to you holding office." Another person wrote "An Assyrian women that bares an Assyrian last name fails to mention 'Assyrian Genocide.' How do you sit here and supposedly be a voice for your people but fail to mention that we were massacred on many different occasions." Although Congresswoman Eshoo has been generally supportive of Assyrian issues, Assyrian community leaders have communicated to her in the past their dissatisfaction of omitting the Assyrians in her statements on the Turkish genocide. AINA contacted the Washington office of Representative Eshoo and was told by a staff member that her press secretary would return our call. No call had been received by publication time. Syrian Assyrian Militia Condemns Turkey for Bombing Kurds The Syriac Military Council, a Christian militia in Syria opposed to the Assad regime, condemned Turkey for bombing its U.S.-backed Kurdish allies who are fighting ISIS. The Christians accused Turkey of continuing the genocidal and anti-democratic campaigns of the Ottoman Empire. The statement reads in part: "This attack came at the 102nd commemoration of the Syriac Assyrian, Armenian and Greek genocide 'Sayfo,' while Turkey is continuing the same policies against the people living in the Middle East, trying to overthrow the democratic project that our people are working together to reach a political and administrational system based on pluralism, justice, equality and democracy." Turkey's airstrikes killed 40 Kurdish fighters in Iraq and 30 in Syria. The Kurds in Syria belonged to the People Defense Units (YPG). The Syriac Military Council (MFS) and its female wing, the Beth Nahrin Women Protection Forces, are allied with the YPG Kurds in a U.S.-backed alliance named the Syrian Democratic Forces. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is a multi-ethnic coalition and it is leading the fight against ISIS as it prepares to attack Raqqa. Despite historical ethnic tensions, the Kurdish-led SDF was able to recruit so many Sunni Arabs that a top U.S. commander estimates that 60% of the fighters are Arab and 40% are Kurds. Earlier this month, the Syriac Military Council published a letter asking for the U.S. to provide more direct military aid as it prepares to participate in the attack on ISIS' capital, Raqqa, alongside its Arab and Kurdish allies. The Council said that the U.S. aid had favored the Arabs and Turkmen. Turkey considers the YPG--the Kurds in the U.S.-backed SDF--to be part of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which the Turks and the U.S. State Department identify as a Marxist terrorist group. Although there are ideological ties between YPG and PKK, YPG says it is a separate group and the U.S. government agrees. In Iraq, five members of the Kurdish Peshmerga military force were killed by the Turkish airstrikes in the Sinjar area. The Kurdish Regional Government said that Turkey did it by mistake and blamed the PKK for the deaths by operating in the area. The Syriac Military Council reiterated that it is "standing next to our brothers-in-arms against this barbaric attack against our forces that had been and still [is] sacrificing their lives to defeat ISIS and liberate Syria from their tyranny." It asks the international community to oppose Turkish "aggression." In October, the Syriac Military Council threatened to fight Turkish forces and its Islamist proxies with the Free Syria Army banner when Turkey intervened to stop SDF advances. The Christian militia accused President Erdogan's regime of having an "ISIS mentality" by pursuing an "Islamic regime" and supporting extremists. The U.S. attitude towards Turkey is long overdue for a reversal. We must face the reality that Turkey is now in the Islamist camp and we are in an undeclared proxy war with Erdogan. One of the first things the U.S. should do is grant the Syriac Military Council's request that the U.S. stand firmly against Erdogan's neo-Ottoman jihad and adequately support the Christians and Kurds in the Syrian Democratic Forces. Iraqi Assyrians Slowly Return to Their War-Damaged Town The Assyrian flag flies above a banner bearing a crucifix on the side of a guard box at a checkpoint on a road leading into the town of Qaraqosh on April 16, 2017 near Mosul, Iraq. ( Carl Court/Getty) In August of 2014, ISIS militants swept through towns near Mosul, Iraq, taking control and forcing thousands to flee. Among the towns was Qaraqosh [Baghdede in Assyrian], which was Iraq's largest Christian city with a population of 50,000. For more than two years, occupying ISIS jihadists tried to erase any evidence of Christianity from Qaraqosh--burning churches, destroying icons and statues, toppling bell towers, and more. Qaraqosh was retaken by Iraqi forces in October of 2016, but the city remains almost completely deserted. Little by little, some residents who were forced to flee have been returning to recover what belongings remain, to assess the damage to their property, and to attend church services and holidays. Only a handful of families have moved back to the city so far, still fearing for their security, as Iraqi forces continue to battle ISIS in nearby Mosul. An Assyrian militiaman stands guard on top of the Saint John's church (Mar Yohanna) during an Easter procession in the nearly-deserted predominantly Christian Iraqi town of Qaraqosh (also known as Hamdaniya), some 30 kilometers from Mosul, on April 16, 2017. Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty) Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty) A fighter from the NPU (Nineveh Plain Protection Units) walks through a destroyed church on November 8, 2016 in Qaraqosh, Iraq. The NPU is a military organization made up of Assyrian Christians and was formed in late 2014 to defend against ISIS. Chris McGrath/Getty) Chris McGrath/Getty) A woman looks to salvage items from the rubble at the back of a church in Qaraqosh on December 22, 2016. Chris McGrath/Getty) Chris McGrath/Getty) A smashed statue of Jesus Christ sits on the altar of a church burned and destroyed by ISIS during their occupation of the predominantly Christian town of Qaraqosh on December 27, 2016. Chris McGrath/Getty) Chris McGrath/Getty) The remains of a destroyed church stand in the town of Qaraqosh on April 13, 2017. Marko Djurica/Reuters) Marko Djurica/Reuters) A soldier from the U.S Army stands guard next to a defaced christian statue during Christmas Day mass at Mar Hanna church in Qaraqosh on December 25, 2016. Chris McGrath/Getty) Chris McGrath/Getty) Chemicals used by Islamic State militants to produce bombs are seen inside a warehouse at a church in the town of Qaraqosh, Iraq, on April 12, 2017. Marko Djurica/Reuters) Marko Djurica/Reuters) The broken cross of a Christian Church in the town of Qaraqosh on November 26, 2016, after Iraqi forces recaptured it from ISIS jihadists. Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty) Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty) A member of the Assyrian militia NPU rings the bell of a destroyed church in Qaraqosh on March 3, 2017. Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty) Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty) Policemen look through a hole in a house from the clashes in Qaraqosh, on December 9, 2016. Alaa Al-Marjani/Reuters) Alaa Al-Marjani/Reuters) Assyrian militia fighters from the Nineveh Plain Protection Units drive a pick-up truck in Qaraqosh, transporting four men, allegedly members of ISIS, that were found inside a tunnel in Mosul, on December 20, 2016. Jm Lopez/AFP/Getty) Jm Lopez/AFP/Getty) An ISIS billboard is seen destroyed in the middle of the road on November 8, 2016 in Qaraqosh, Iraq. Chris McGrath/Getty) Chris McGrath/Getty) A priest walks through the streets of Qaraqosh on November 4, 2016. Martyn Aim/Corbis via Getty) Martyn Aim/Corbis via Getty) Interior of the heavily damaged Church of the Immaculate Conception in Qaraqosh on December 4, 2016, one month after Iraqi forces recaptured it from ISIS. Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty) Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty) An Assyrian soldier attends the first Sunday mass at the Grand Immaculate Church since it was recaptured from Islamic State in Qaraqosh on October 30, 2016. Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters) Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters) Assyrian priests hold the first mass in the damaged Grand Immaculate Church since it was recaptured on November 2, 2016. Alaa Al-Marjani/Reuters) Alaa Al-Marjani/Reuters) A destroyed Santa Claus costume lies on the floor of Saint John's Church (Mar Yohanna) during an Easter ceremony in the Christian Iraqi town of Qaraqosh on April 16, 2017. Carl Court/Getty) Carl Court/Getty) Volunteers from the Iraqi town of Qaraqosh build a giant cross on the main road, as they try to return to normal life after ISIS jihadists were expelled in October of 2016. Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty) Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty) Farmer Sami Yuhanna inspects his farm that contains buildings destroyed by clashes in Qaraqosh, Iraq, on February 9, 2017. Muhammad Hamed/Reuters) Muhammad Hamed/Reuters) An Assyrian artist who fled the Islamic State in 2014 from Qaraqosh, returns to his family home to begin sorting through his belongings that were ransacked for valuables by ISIS militants on February 4, 2016. His house, where he was raised, is the only property in his family that was not completely destroyed. He lives in an IDP camp in the Christian neighborhood of Ainkawa in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish Region of Iraq. Martyn Aim/Corbis via Getty) Martyn Aim/Corbis via Getty) Boys visit the burnt out main church as Iraqis attend the first Palm Sunday procession in the Christian city of Qaraqosh on April 9, 2017. Suhaib Salem/Reuters) Suhaib Salem/Reuters) An Assyrian volunteer and his son paint over signs and writings by ISIS militants in Qaraqosh on February 7, 2017, after the militants were driven out by the government army. Muhammad Hamed/Reuters) Muhammad Hamed/Reuters) An Iraqi soldier cleans chairs as others attend the first Palm Sunday procession in the burnt out main church of the Christian city of Qaraqosh since Iraqi forces retook it, on April 9, 2017. Suhaib Salem/Reuters) Suhaib Salem/Reuters) Assyrians pray at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, damaged by ISIS fighters during their occupation of Qaraqosh, on November 12, 2016. Felipe Dana/AP) Felipe Dana/AP) A man sweeps dust off pews in preparation for the Christmas Day mass at the Mar Hanna Church on December 22, 2016. Chris McGrath/Getty) Chris McGrath/Getty) Assyrian of Qaraqosh attend the first Palm Sunday service at the heavily damaged Church of the Immaculate Conception on April 9, 2017, since Iraqi forces recaptured it. Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty) Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty) An Assyrian girl smiles during an Easter procession at the Saint John's church (Mar Yohanna) in the town of Qaraqosh on April 16, 2017. Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty) Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty) Assyrians take communion during Easter mass in Qaraqosh, Iraq, on April 16 2017. Maya Alleruzzo/AP) Maya Alleruzzo/AP) Assyrian women cry as they attend an easter procession at the Saint John's church (Mar Yohanna) in the nearly deserted Iraqi town of Qaraqosh on April 16, 2017. Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty) Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty) Assyrians stand by a big cross in the town of Qaraqosh on April 13, 2017. Marko Djurica/Reuters) Marko Djurica/Reuters) Marignane, France, Airbus Helicopters celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Gazelles maiden flight today during a conference at the museum of aviation in St Victoret, near the company headquarters. Fifty years after its maiden flight on 7 April 1967, the Gazelle is still being operated by nearly 100 customers in 34 countries and it is appreciated for its ease of maintenance and high reliability. Developed and manufactured in cooperation with the United Kingdom at the end of the 1960s, more than 1,250 Gazelles have been delivered. Today 470 rotorcraft more than a third of all Gazelles manufactured are still in service, a hundred of which are operated by the French army. A helicopter of many firsts, the Gazelle was the first Airbus helicopter to be equipped with the Fenestron which is still present on Airbus light and medium rotorcraft, including the first of the H generation, the H160. This major innovation improves safety around the tail rotor on the ground and reduces the sound level of the rotorcraft. It was also the first Airbus helicopter to be equipped with glass-resin blades developed in cooperation with the German company Bolkow. Lastly, it was the first helicopter in the world to be awarded the IFR qualification, category I, by the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority), allowing operators to fly to instrument flight rules with a single pilot on board. On 15 May 1971, the Gazelle broke three speed records in its category: - Over 3 km: 310 km/h - 15/25 km: 312 km/h - Over 100 km in a closed circuit: 296 km/h The Gazelle was a major success in the military sector and nearly 80% of the rotorcraft in service are used by armies around the world. By the end of December 2016, the Gazelle fleet had accumulated more than 7 million flight hours. The Gazelles (SA341 and SA342) that have accumulated the most flight hours (14,200 and 13,100 respectively) are currently operating in the United States. About Airbus Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2016, it generated revenues of 67 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as Europes number one space enterprise and the worlds second largest space business. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide. Medias: Media contacts: 50 years ago today the first Airbus aircraft, the A300B, embarked on its maiden flight. On this historic anniversary we look back with pride and admiration at the aircraft and programme that were at the beginning of the Airbus story. Read more Airfreight volumes on Asia-Europe trade lanes eastbound and westbound are expected to surge in the coming months, according to the latest survey results for the APAC Forwarding Index. Around 54% of survey respondents predicted Asia Pacific air cargo volumes across all lanes will be higher in three months time than at present, with 37% expecting them to remain the same and just 9% lower. Meanwhile, 52% of respondents reported that volumes in April compared to March were higher while only 11% said they were lower. The most dynamic air cargo lanes in April compared to March were Asia Pacific to Europe (73% experienced higher volumes month-on-month), Europe to APAC (55% higher m-o-m) and Asia Pacific to North America (63% higher m-o-m). Concerns of a possible protectionist import tax on goods entering the US may be holding some shippers back in the North America region, said APAC consultant Cathy Roberson. Still, a respectable showing for North America as the economy remains healthy as the first half of the year progresses. Emerging markets volume appears strongest to Asia Pacific for airfreight with more than half of respondents anticipating higher volumes on the lane three months from now. This is likely due to food imports from such locations as Africa, Chile, Argentina and elsewhere. Share this story April 28, 2017 Irans Guardian Council on April 20 agreed on six individuals to be allowed to compete in the May 19 presidential elections. The absence of one name caught many by surprise: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The late-night announcement ended speculations about whether the former two-term president (2005-2013) would be allowed to run. The Guardian Council made its decision amid harsh criticisms of Ahmadinejads record, performance in office and even personal manner by his opponents. Al-Monitor spoke with academic, longtime journalist and former conservative political strategist Amir Mohebbian about the events surrounding the former presidents disqualification. He said, The Guardian Council did not disqualify Ahmadinejad but rather did not approve of his qualifications to stand in the 2017 presidential elections. There is a subtle nuance here. Right after Ahmadinejads registration to run on April 12, he was targeted by a vast boycott and massive pressure by some ordinary citizens, commentators, media outlets and online communities particularly on channels of the popular messaging app Telegram. Strikingly, the campaign against Ahmadinejad originated mostly from the Principlist camp rather than rival moderates-Reformists. Pressure reached a high when ex-lawmaker and fierce Ahmadinejad critic Ahmadi Tavakoli in an open letter to the Guardian Council urged its 12 members to disqualify the former president. Tavakoli cited Ahmadinejads lack of commitment to the principles of the Islamic Republic as the main reason why he should be deemed unfit to run for office yet again. This prompted supporters of the former president to believe that the attacks were aimed at pressuring the Guardian Council to take action. But is it possible for the vetting body to be influenced by the media or individuals? Mohebbian rules out such a possibility. He told Al-Monitor, The Guardian Council functions based on its own regulations. However, societys circumstances could affect its decision-making process, and nobody can deny that there was massive opposition by the conservatives against Mr. Ahmadinejad since his registration. The Guardian Councils decision was in line with what the conservatives and the Reformists expected it to do. Ahmadinejad defeated late former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi in the 2005 and 2009 elections, respectively. Both Rafsanjani and Mousavi were running on the Reformist ticket, which is why most members of the camp including pro-Rafsanjani technocrats, supporters of former President Mohammad Khatami and the newly founded moderate faction had major differences with Ahmadinejad over policy and his running of the government. Yet the conservative former presidents greatest enemy these days appears to be fellow conservatives. When asked about the reason behind this animosity toward Ahmadinejad, Mohebbian said, After his election [in 2005], he cut and denied his ties with that camp. In addition, some of his policies and ideas were in total contradiction with the conservatives and sometimes even were against the countrys interests. Therefore, their rift deepened day by day. Mohebbian added, The conservatives and the Reformists were not in cahoots [in campaigning against Ahmadinejad] but had a common interest: It was seeing him out of the race. That shared interest forced the Reformists, who have always been protesting against the Guardian Councils approbation supervision, to remain silent when they saw that the[ir] rival was eliminated with the same method they are dissatisfied with. The message [of the Guardian Council] is that the interests of the Islamic Republic are beyond and above the interests of individuals. Whats next for Ahmadinejad? Given his failed bid for office, there is the question of whether Ahmadinejad will now face the same fate as his successor, Khatami, who is even banned from Iranian media. In the view of Mohebbian, Any move [on the part of Ahmadinejad] that creates tension could be worrying [for the establishment]. There will be no problem if he accepts the new circumstances. If he doesnt, then restrictions could be imposed upon him. When the current situation is passed, things may get even better for Mr. Ahmadinejad, though all depends on how he reacts now. Ever since the announcement of the barring of Ahmadinejads bid for a third term, both conservative and moderate-Reformist media outlets and their respective online communities have continued their boycott of Ahmadinejad, preferring not to even mention the disqualification, or as Mohebbian puts it, the Guardian Councils disapproval. In this vein, in the early hours of April 21, Ali Akbar Javanfekr, who serves as the spokesman of Ahmadinejads team, wrote on his Telegram channel, Mr. Ahmadinejad and [his former vice president Hamid] Baghaei ran in the presidential race in accordance with their national and religious duties. They planned to fix peoples economic problems and deter potential threats aimed at the nation. With its decision, the Guardian Council freed them from that burden. Al-Monitor asked Javanfekr to elaborate on the details of the Guardian Councils ruling as well as the various campaigns against his candidacy, but was only told that he cannot make remarks about any subject that is not about Mr. Ahmadinejad or Mr. Baghaei. A source close to Ahmadinejads inner circle who spoke with Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity said, They have decided to refrain from making any comments for the time being and keep their distance from the media. Despite this apparent strategy, Ahmadinejad and his also disqualified former Vice President Baghaei broke their silence on April 23. In a statement, they thanked those who asked them to run for president and made it clear that they have not, and will not, support any candidate in the elections. That statement stopped the rumors of Ahmadinejads support for conservative hopeful Ebrahim Raisi, which have been intensified given Raisis hiring of two of Ahmadinejads ministers as his campaign managers. A polarized society? While addressing his students on Sept. 26, 2016, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke about an individual who had approached him to seek his view on whether to run for president. He said he advised the individual to avoid the polarization of society. I did not tell him not to participate, Ayatollah Khamenei continued, I said I do not find it advisable that you participate. The individual in question was Ahmadinejad, who after his April 12 registration argued that Iranian society has already been polarized between the two main moderate-Reformist and Principlist groupings and that his bid for the presidency erodes that dichotomy. Asked what may be ahead, Mohebbian predicted, Another rift is highly likely in the coming weeks. By that time, conservatives Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Ebrahim Raisi have to choose between themselves, and one has to withdraw in favor of the other. On the opposite front, it is clear that incumbent President Hassan Rouhani is the main candidate and First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri acts as the backup candidate. He concluded, The next confrontation will be between these two fronts. April 28, 2017 When the chairman of HaBayit HaYehudi, Minister of Education Naftali Bennett, entered the polling station on the morning of April 27, he was greeted by his supporters who shouted, "Who's there? The next prime minister!" Accompanied by his wife Gilat, Bennett was there to vote in the primaries for his party's leadership. Bennett had initiated the early primaries, saying that HaBayit HaYehudi must be ready in the event of early elections. But beyond his desire to prepare the party for future possibilities, Bennett also wanted to hold sudden primaries in an effort to ensure that he would win another term as party head. He wanted to take advantage of there currently being no significant challenger. And indeed, the move proved to be a success. He swept the election with some 80% of the total votes. This means that for the third consecutive time, he will lead the party in the next election. Two candidates ran against him. They were Jonathan Baranski, a reserve colonel, who lives in the settlement of Eli, and Yitzchak Zaga, a rabbi and economist. Both men claimed that Bennett had turned HaBayit HaYehudi into a fashionable momentary phenomenon, while obscuring its religious Zionist banner. While Bennett sees himself as leader of the right after the Benjamin Netanyahu era, Baranski and Zaga would rather preserve HaBayit HaYehudi as a sectoral party. In other words, they do not pretend to one day take control of the government. Just before the election on April 26, Baranski accused Bennett of "elegantly disassociating himself from the true path of religious Zionism." Baranski announced his decision to run against Bennett in an interview with the Mako website April 20, saying, "I felt as if the way the party's leadership had disassociated itself from the values of religious Zionism made it impossible for me to feel at home there." He then criticized the way that HaBayit HaYehudi allowed for the creation of a separate prayer space for Reform Jews at the Western Wall and ignored the issue of the Amona outpost, which was evacuated in February for illegally occupying private Palestinian lands. Neither the media nor the political system showed much interest in the primaries. Not only was the outcome entirely predictable, the party continues to be associated with a particular sector of the population, despite all of Bennett's efforts to break new ground. Bennett may have his eyes on the prime minister's office, but the chances of him getting there as head of a religious party identified with the settlers are slim at best. Nevertheless, no one contests that in 2012, Bennett took a party in decline, with just three seats, and turned it into a major success story. Under his leadership, it became a vibrant party with 12 seats and real power in the government. It has long been forgotten that Bennett did not choose to join HaBayit HaYehudi. Rather, he was forced to do so. At first, he wanted to run as part of the Likud, Israel's largest right-wing party, but then he realized that his path there was blocked because of his bitter feud with Netanyahu. The fight erupted when Bennett served as Netanyahu's chief of staff (2007-2008). Bennett arrived at HaBayit HaYehudi during his search for an alternative party platform, and went on to seize control of the party with the help of his cohort, current Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. The rest is history. HaBayit HaYehudi walked away from the last election in 2015 with the feeling that it failed, having shrunk to just eight seats. Successful coalition negotiations eventually improved this dismal situation, with the party receiving three ministerial portfolios. Having taken the Ministry of Education for himself and the prestigious Ministry of Justice for Shaked, Bennett make the people forget the disappointing election results and get back on track. It is this track that he thinks will lead him to the premiership. In an effort to take this plan to the next stage, Bennett increased his involvement in diplomatic and security issues as a member of the security cabinet. By insisting on maintaining his ideological independence, he was able to position himself in the media as the only minister to warn against the threat posed by the Hamas terror tunnels during Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014. At the same time, he continued and continues to turn HaBayit HaYehudi into a party that represents all of Israel. He is trying to sever his association with the far right. These efforts include, according to analysts, ending his partnership with the National Union faction headed by Knesset member Uri Ariel. This detachment from Ariel, as well as criticism of Bennett from within his own party, as voiced by Baranski and Zaga, are examples of the trap in which Bennett is now caught. On the one hand, he wants to expand the circles supporting the party and realizes that Ariel is an obstacle to that. On the other hand, Ariel brought the hard right, including the settlers, into the party, making it possible for Bennett to win eight seats. Without them, the election results would likely have been worse. At the same time, Bennett is being forced to maneuver between the ultra-Orthodox nationalist voices in the party and those who feel that he is destroying HaBayit HaYehudi's very DNA as a religious nationalist party by conscientiously avoiding issues of religion and state. The way the crisis surrounding the Amona outpost was handled just a few months ago was also a headache for Bennett, with many people in the party claiming that he failed to use his power in the government in a timely manner to prevent the settlement's evacuation. HaBayit HaYehudi has just 31,000 registered voters, most of them religious nationalists, settlers and ultra-Orthodox nationalists. Since this core will also decide on the party's list of candidates for the Knesset, it is hard to believe that HaBayit HaYehudi will break new ground with gestures to the wider public. And so, Bennett is caught in a catch-22. The more he advocates for a more liberal, less religious agenda while dissociating himself from groups on the far right, the more likely he is to lose "safe" votes. On the other hand, if he fails to change the party's character and image, the chances of him increasing its strength so significantly that it offers an alternative to the leadership of the right and to the state itself are slim at best. The old-new party chairman will have no choice but to maneuver within this tangled web of constraints from now until the next election. While happenstance brought him to HaBayit HaYehudi and turned him into a rising political star, it is also blocking any path he might have to become the leader of the right. He may control the party, but time and again he learns about the limitations of that party as a launching pad for an eventual run for prime minister. April 28, 2017 It seems real this time. Barring a last-minute turnaround, the Gaza Strip will find itself in the worst humanitarian crisis it has known since the 2007 revolution that brought Hamas to power, with disastrous repercussions for its 2 million residents and for Israel. On April 27, the Palestinian Authority (PA) informed Israels Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories that it was immediately cutting off funding for Gaza's power supply. Not only will it no longer buy diesel fuel to operate the Gaza Strips one and only power station the PA stopped doing so several weeks ago it will stop footing the monthly bill for the power supplied by the Israel Electric Corporation to Gaza. Data published by the Israeli human rights group Gisha indicate that Israel currently uses 10 high-voltage power lines to provide 80% of Gazas electricity consumption some 120 megawatts at an estimated monthly cost of some 40 million Israeli shekels ($11 million). Israel deducts the cost from the taxes it collects for the PA. In September 2016, the PA signed an agreement with the Israeli Finance Ministry on resolving a debt of 1.78 billion shekels ($491 million) it had accrued to the Israel Electric Corporation, in installments to be spread over five years. The PAs announcement is not necessarily the result of economic constraints. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made the dramatic decision to cast off all responsibility for Gaza after the new Hamas leader there, Yahya Sinwar, established a committee to run the daily affairs of the Gaza Strip. Thus, Hamas effectively completed the removal of the PA from Gaza. It is not entirely clear what got Abbas so angry, given that since the revolution, the PA has not been allowed to exercise any military or civilian power in the enclave. The prevailing view is that Abbas got sick and tired of propping up the Hamas rulers: While the PA was transferring money each month to pay the salaries of tens of thousands of its former employees in Gaza, fund power supplies and maintain public facilities, most of Hamas financial resources were being used for its military buildup and the digging of tunnels to be used for terror attacks against Israel. And so, this month, the PA started to gradually cut the pay of the tens of thousands of its unemployed former staff. It also announced that it had stopped paying for the maintenance of the medical facilities in Gaza and for medical equipment and medicine. This is undoubtedly the start of a humanitarian crisis, which the Israeli defense system did not take into consideration even in its worst-case scenarios, a source in Israel's civil administration of the West Bank told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. Israel will have to quickly make a series of decisions on this issue, he added. On one hand, clearly Israel cannot fund Hamas' rule for example, by providing it with free electricity and money for the maintenance of Gazas medical and civilian institutions. On the other hand, turning off the lights there and now is not feasible. People will die there, said the Israeli source. Disease will break out from contaminated water because they wont be able to purify drinking water and treat waste. And thats just one example. A total blackout will result in a collapse of all the civilian systems in Gaza, which means a health and environmental threat to Israel, too, not to mention its military implications. Abbas has presented Israel with a major dilemma. Any move it makes to forestall a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip will serve as a lifeline for Hamas. As it is, the Hamas government has already become Israels only option. After the 2007 revolution, Israel formulated a defense strategy that views the removal of Hamas by economic or military pressure as having graver consequences than keeping it in power. Thats why in the 2014 Operation Protective Edge, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided on the advice of defense officials not to target the collapse of Hamas but rather to create deterrence. Deterrence was achieved, albeit at a heavy loss of life. And the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas has been maintained for the past three years, though occasionally some renegade groups manage to fire off a few rockets at Israel and disrupt the peace. Now that Abbas is cutting himself off from Gaza, Israels strategy is unlikely to hold up. Hamas will not give up power, a Palestinian source in the West Bank city of Ramallah told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. They will do all they can to maintain their rule, including engaging in another round of fighting with Israel, whatever the cost. An economic crisis will not bring down Hamas. They will not give in and tell Abbas to come and take back the keys, a senior Israeli civil administration official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. The official said Hamas would even prefer to be brought down by an Israeli military operation, gaining a heroic excuse for failing to take care of its people as promised. This is the extent to which the insanity prevails there, he added. The Palestinian source believes a solution will eventually be found. He said, Israel would not dare cut off power, and in cooperation with Egypt, the international community will be mobilized to pressure Abbas into taking back responsibility for Gaza. Indeed, Hamas has called for international intervention to resolve the crisis. But even if the humanitarian crisis is settled, it will only be a temporary measure. The PA itself is mired in debt and barely keeps its own institutions afloat. After 10 years, Abbas understands that he cannot and should not continue to fund the organization that kicked him out of Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel, which imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip 10 years ago in hopes of bringing Hamas' rule to an end, is also now finding itself at a dead end. Sooner or later, it seems, Israel will be forced to suffer the consequences of its own ill-advised actions. April 28, 2017 The third edition of the Palestinian Film Week, organized by the Egyptian Association of Film Writers and Critics and the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo, took place on April 18-24 at the Opera House in Cairo. Seventeen Palestinian documentaries and short films shed light on the lives of the Palestinians in the diaspora, the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, and their suffering as a result of the harsh Israeli practices. Land Call, directed by Nagham Nizar, who attended the event, is a short documentary about the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. I tried to shed light on BDS-related discussions and events to show how the movement is evolving and the challenges it faces as well as the actions taken by its organizers around the world. I wanted to shed light on the organizations that supported this movement and showcase the fruits of their efforts. This movement is one of the Palestinian liberation and salvation tools, which include arms and cinema. I also wanted to show that this movement is posing a threat to Israel as it continues to reveal its violations, Nizar, the 32-year-old director from Gaza, told Al-Monitor. The international BDS movement is actively promoting the boycott of Israel, of Israeli companies and of international companies that the movement considers to be complicit in their violations of Palestinian rights. In addition, the movement seeks the boycotting of Israeli sports, cultural and academic institutions and activities, and calls on these institutions to withdraw their investments from all Israeli companies. It does so by showing the Israeli violations committed against the Palestinians such as the construction of the wall in the West Bank and the establishment of settlements. Nizar said that these films can deliver great messages about the suffering of the Palestinian people as they contain scenes that are easily etched on ones memory. Filmmaker Omar al-Eimawi, 26, from the Gaza Strip, was unable to leave Gaza to attend the event as a result of the ongoing closure of the Rafah border crossing. But his short film Private Number, which he directed in 2012, did make it to the event. In some cases, we receive calls from unknown numbers, which is normal outside the Gaza Strip. But in Gaza especially during a war when this happens, it means the call is from the Israeli army to warn us to evacuate our houses in preparation for a bombing. In other words, a single call could lead us to lose our house in any Israeli war against Gaza. This is the story of my film, Eimawi told Al-Monitor. The young director pointed out that the first goal of any film produced is to be viewed by the public or to participate in festivals outside the Gaza Strip with the aim of conveying a message, and this is what any director aspires to. My film was featured in several festivals, including the 31st edition of the Alexandria International Film Festival in 2015, the Nordic Youth Film Festival in Norway in 2013 and the Mississauga Youth Film Festival in Kenya in 2013, Eimawi added. Faeq Jarada, the art director of the Palestinian Film Week, told Al-Monitor that what characterized this edition is the cooperation of the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo and the Egyptian Film Writers and Critics Association. Add to this that the festival featured several Palestinian documentaries and films that were funded and directed by Palestinians only. I believe that the films screened in the festival are very important as they convey to the Egyptian people the daily Palestinian sufferings. The 17 films highlighted in detail the life of the Palestinian people, the apartheid wall and the Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli jails as they conveyed a message that the Palestinian people love life but are suffering, he said. Jarada added, Documentaries are crucial for Palestinians as they document the reality they endure. Palestinian cinematography embrace documentaries due to the Palestinian cause. We, the Palestinians, have taken part in almost every festival held around the world using documentaries or short or long films, and we win awards. In 2013, we were the only Arabs who participated in the Cannes Film Festival with the short film Condom Lead by the brothers Mohammad and Ahmad Abu Nasser. I hope there will be an official Palestinian institution that embraces all documentaries and filmmakers. Amir Abaza, the president of the Egyptian Film Writers and Critics Association, president of the Alexandria International Film Festival and cinema critic, told Al-Monitor that their initiative to dedicate one week to Palestinian films was warmly welcomed by Palestinian directors, producers and the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo. Since September 2016, we dedicated in the Alexandria International Film Festival a section to films about Jerusalem, and this is how we considered dedicating the year 2017 to Jerusalem on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration and the 50th anniversary of Israel's occupation of Jerusalem. We chose the third edition of the Palestinian Film Week to serve as one of the events of the Jerusalem year, he said. Abaza stressed the need for evidence and tools that show the world that Palestine and the Palestinian cause are still in peoples hearts, and that no blackout or violations will ever put an end to this cause. Cinema and art shall serve as one of these tools. Such events and festivals are great proof that there are strong relations between the Palestinian and Egyptian peoples, as they show that the Palestinian cause is still present in the heart of Cairo. April 28, 2017 WASHINGTON Amid signs of possible progress in negotiations with Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Saudi-led coalition is now looking for a political solution rather than a military operation to take Yemen's Red Sea port of Hodeidah, former US officials who work on Yemen said. The possible breakthrough could avoid a military escalation to take the Houthi-held strategic port that some US and UN experts feared could exacerbate famine in Yemen after two years of civil war have made millions of people dependent on humanitarian aid. "It seems people are backing away from the idea of a military operation," former US Ambassador to Yemen Gerald Feierstein told Al-Monitor April 27, referring to the Saudis. "And [they] are thinking more creatively about how do we achieve this objective without having to resort to military [solutions] and breaking a lot of crockery." "So I think that right now, there is a lot of rethinking going on about can we get this done other ways," said Feierstein, now a senior fellow with the Middle East Institute. "And maybe they are getting some positive signals from the Houthis, that [they] might be amenable to an arrangement here that gets this thing kind of unstuck and allows the humanitarian assistance to come in." A political solution to the Hodeidah port could also prove to be a confidence-building measure that could help make way for renewed political talks to try to find a political resolution to Yemen's two-year civil war, diplomats said. "Most importantly, if you can get some kind of political agreement on Hodeidah, it might in turn be a confidence-building measure that allows you to accomplish other things, that allows you to move on to getting back to political negotiations," Feierstein said. "So it could be a real game changer if you can get this done." "Ramadan is four weeks away," Feierstein added. "If you can put on the table now something on Hodeidah, it can be an extremely positive signal for the Yemeni people to see that maybe Hodeidah is about to be resolved," and could be a springboard for political reconciliation talks. "The equipment to repair the damage to the port is in the region," Feierstein said. "If you can get an agreement [for the Houthis] to pull away from the city, whatever that may be to operate the port, to ensure it is not being used for contraband and to work out an arrangement, with local companies, commercial contractors, to take this stuff and distribute, that sends an incredibly important signal to the Yemeni people." "I believe all of the parties are confronting the realities around Hodeidah," a former senior Barack Obama administration official, speaking not for attribution, said. "The Houthis understand or should understand that they face a different political and geopolitical landscape, which directly impacts their military position on the Red Sea," the former senior administration official said. "And the coalition now sees more clearly the magnitude of the task and the significant risks to the already dire humanitarian situation." Yemen's Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr, speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a UN Yemen donors' conference in Geneva April 26, said Yemen had proposed that the UN take control of the Hodeidah port to ensure that the Houthis do not receive Iranian-smuggled arms through it. "This port has been developed for receiving weapons for the militias. We are taking decisions to finalize what is going on. We don't prefer using force there," Daghr told Reuters. "So it's us who proposed to the United Nations to operate the port and to impose monitoring on the port but we didn't receive a clear answer on this matter." Nations donated $1.1 billion for the UNs Yemen humanitarian aid appeal this week, including $94 million from the United States. The UN says 17 million of Yemen's 26 million people are at risk of hunger. "We are witnessing the starving and the crippling of an entire generation," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the Yemen pledging event in Geneva April 25, calling the Yemen famine a "man-made crisis." "Some 17 million are food-insecure, making this the world's largest hunger crisis," Guterres said, adding that one child under 5 years old dies every 10 minutes in Yemen. "This means 50 children in Yemen will die during today's conference and all those deaths could have been prevented," he said. Alabama Launchpad April 27, 2017 The University of South Alabama and the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce host the 2017 Alabama Launchpad Competition at the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center on Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Mobile, Ala. From left, representatives of Wyndy, G Mommas Cookies and Maho Shades show off their cash grants. (Mike Kittrell) Three startup teams split shares of almost $250,000 following the finale of the Alabama Launchpad Startup Competition Thursday in Mobile. Winners were picked by a panel of judges from business, technology and investing at the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center, with the event hosts by the University of South Alabama and the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. The startups winning were: Selma's G Mommas Cookies, which took home $107,000 for its business plan marketing southern-style cookies baked with real ingredients. Orange Beach-based Maho Shades, which offers sunglasses and eyeglasses made in Alabama, won $62,000 and an additional $1,000 as the People's Choice Video Voting Award winner. Wyndy, of Birmingham, a mobile app connecting parents and reliable college babysitters, won $80,550. Funding is awarded according to the business' financial needs and the marketability of the venture. Alabama Launchpad is a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama which funds and mentors aspiring entrepreneurs in hopes of fostering job creation. Launchpad has invested more than $2.9 million in 61 companies over the past 10 years. Those startups have gone on to create 502 jobs and secure $50 million in additional funding. Greg Sheek, Launchpad programs director, said the competitions spotlight startups, provide support and "give the entrepreneurs opportunities to receive mentoring and also receive feedback from the judges who have proven experience in investing and building successful businesses." Business and state officials are wrapping up a tour of bioscience sites in Denmark today with meetings in Copenhagen. The tour, which began earlier this week in Germany, is aimed at promoting and networking on behalf of Alabama's bioscience industry. The Alabama Department of Commerce announced the group toured the Copenhagen Bioscience Park (COBIS), a facility in Denmark's Medicon Valley, the site of various labs, startups and mid-size companies. The group was scheduled to take part in seminars, presentations and network on behalf of Alabama's bioscience industry. "We look forward to encouraging even more partnerships with colleagues here in Europe," Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said. "This is a prime opportunity for Alabama's life sciences industry to grow, not just in overseas markets but also in new investments back home." The delegation hopes to make connections in areas related to drug discovery, medical devices and research, among others. Among the delegation are representatives from HudsonAlpha, Envision Genomics, Southern Research, Blondin Bioscience, Conversant Biologics, GeneCapture, Serina Therapeutics and officials from the Huntsville, Opelika, Mobile and Tuscaloosa County areas. The University of Alabama and University of South Alabama are also represented. Shoney's Shoney's new design prototype. (Courtesy) Here are the top stories in business on AL.com for Thursday, April 27, 2017. Follow all of Alabama's business news here, anytime. Shoney's plans to open five restaurants in the Birmingham area in the next five years, the first in Fultondale. The buffet restaurant will break ground on May 2 on the first location at 1234 Boots Blvd. When AT&T moves out the last of its workers in the downtown City Center building, it will take its name of the building as well, the company confirmed to AL.com. One woman's dream of entertaining kids in her Alabama hometown has turned into a two-town business called The Factory. The Liberty National building won't be part of the 20 Midtown development after all. The business group that bought the building out of foreclosure just lost it to its previous owners. "To answer the question with which we began, TVA did cause Mrs. Bobo to die sooner and suffer more in the course of dying than she otherwise would have," Chief Judge Ed Carnes wrote in a filing issued Wednesday for the 11th Circuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals. But the appeals court sent the case back to a lower court for damage recalculation. A Birmingham biotech startup has established a European operations center in the Netherlands. BioGX, a developer and manufacturer of genetic detection technology, established the operation to grow in the European markets, as well as the Middle East and Africa. A Tampa company is recalling nearly 140,000 pounds of smoked meat and poultry sausage because it could contain "extraneous" materials. The company, Uncle John's Pride, sells products at locations in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. virginia college Virginia College on Drake Avenue in Huntsville. (The Huntsville Times file photo) More than 100 jobs will be up for grabs next week during a public career fair at Virginia College in Huntsville. The free hiring event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4 on 2021 Drake Ave. S.W. A spokeswoman said Wednesday 39 employers were signed up and over 130 employment opportunities would be available. That number is expected to grow as the employer registration deadline nears May 1. Community partners and employers include Verizon, Redstone Federal Credit Union, PNC Bank, Senior Helpers, Buffalo Rock, TekSystems and more. Staffing agencies Snelling, Automation and Surge Staffing will also be present at the event. Virginia College will provide career development opportunities, refreshments, giveaways, resume development and reviews at the fair. Attendees will have a chance to win prizes, such as a Chromebook and an Amazon gift card. Members of the public must register with the campus prior to the event by calling 256-533-7387. Raven-haired Carol Forman was an unlikely villain. She had girl-next-door appeal, with bright eyes and a wide smile. But in the late 1940s, the Alabama native was cast as the evil Madame Sombra in the 1947 serial, "The Black Widow," in which she was so good at being bad she soon found herself typecast. Film historians consider her Hollywood's "first villainess," and film buff Jerry Blake describes her as "the only serial actress to specialize in villainous roles." Born Carolyn Sawls on June 19, 1918, in Epes, Ala., she took drama classes in high school, according to the Encyclopedia of American Film Serials by Geoff Mayer. Forman left for Los Angeles right after high school and began a career in B movies and westerns, Mayer wrote. After her portrayal of Madame Sombra, Forman received more serial offers. In 1948, she played Queen Khana in "Brick Bradford," the Spider Lady in "Superman," and Nila in "Federal Agents vs. Underworld Inc." She would make another western, "Brothers in the Saddle," before returning to serials in 1952 as Laska in "Blackhawk." She had appearances on "The Cisco Kid" TV series, and portrayed Dangerous Dora in the Doris Day musical "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" in 1953, Mayer wrote. After that, she retired to Texas, returning to Hollywood for two small roles before she died July 9, 1997, in Burbank, Calif. Click here to see her obituary in the Los Angeles Times. Bojangles' store.jpg The first Bojangles' in Mobile will be at 3213 Dauphin St., just east of I-65. (Courtesy Bojangles') Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits will open its first restaurant in Mobile, at 3213 Dauphin St., according to a company spokesman. While he could not confirm the opening date, the spokesman said the restaurant will be owned and operated by Bojangles' franchisee Angle Inc. of Gautier, Miss. "This is their first Bojangles' and they are looking forward to growing the brand in the region," said Cliff Cermak. Founded in 1977 and based in Charlotte, N.C., Bojangles' is known for its Cajun-inspired menu featuring fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits. Bojangles' has 716 system-wide restaurants, of which 309 are company-operated and 407 are franchised restaurants, primarily located in the southeastern United States. There are 34 Bojangles' locations in Alabama, according to the company's website. The building that housed The Dermatology Center on Dauphin Street will be demolished for the new Bojangles' location. (Michelle Matthews/mmatthews@al.com) Over the next several years, the development agreement between Bojangles' and Angle is expected to result in "multiple new Bojangles' restaurant locations in southern Alabama and southeast Mississippi," according to a news release. "We are pleased and excited to welcome Angle Inc. to our existing group of experienced restaurant operators," said Bojangles' President and CEO Clifton Rutledge. "We are very pleased with the growth we are seeing outside our core markets and, as we've said before, growth in adjacent markets will be driven by franchisees that have the depth of business experience to help us continue to grow the Bojangles' brand the right way." The first Bojangles' in Mobile will be built at the site of the former location of The Dermatology Center, just east of I-65 on Dauphin Street at Midtown Park Drive West. Join us for another stop on our journey through Whitman, Alabama. The goal of the documentary series? Bridge the gap between people. Filmmaker Jennifer Crandall traveled hundreds of miles to capture the essence of America as people across Alabama bring "Song of Myself" by poet Walt Whitman to life. Crandall below tells us more about meeting Greg Koontz in Ashville. Whitman, Alabama site | On Facebook This shoot was one of the most complicated of any we've done so far. Three of us were filming. I was on the ground. Ginnard Archibald was flying a drone. And Bob Miller was filming Greg while flying in another plane with Greg's friend Don Wade. "It's not every day that you get to be flying in the air with your leg out the window," Bob said. "It was pretty amazing." There had to be a lot of communication between the two pilots. When Don would call his turns, he would transmit over Greg while he was reading the poem. So Greg would start over. And then it would happen all over again. The verse was just a handful of lines. We had cheat sheets--lines of the poem printed on paper strips--taped to the instrument panel. But it took a lot to get through them. As for the meaning of the poem, Greg said he had no idea what he was reading. So afterward he looked up the verse. "And it was talking about the afterglow of sex!" he said. "Pretty funny. It was so heavy in metaphor, I didn't even get it!" Even though he's a self-described "adrenaline junky," Greg doesn't take as many risks as he used to. "When you're young, you're just bulletproof. And as you get older, you start mitigating those risks with common sense," he said. Greg has had 24 friends die in plane crashes since 1974. "I have survived a few mistakes, and I look back and I think, But they didn't, and I don't know why. People are good pilots. And now they're gone." The key to safety is practice: "You practice what you do, and then you do what you practice." Over the course of his career, Greg has done more than 1600 performances, won a national award for best air show performer, and now operates a B&B called Sky Country Lodge, where he offers personal aerobatic training. I think this shoot is an extreme example of the kind of hoops we ask everyone to go through for this project - and they do. And thanks to Greg and Don we had the opportunity to show a small slice of Alabama from up above. It's not a view you get every day - but it's a good one. By filmmaker Jenn Crandall, as told to writer Liz Hildreth A federal grand jury in Birmingham on Thursday indicted three Mexican men for being in the country illegally. Mario Perez-Velasquez, 41, was indicted on one count of possessing a firearm and being prohibited to do so because he was in the United States illegally and illegally re-entering the United States after previously being deported. According to the indictment, Perez-Velasquez possessed an EIG derringer .22-caliber pistol on Jan. 25, 2015, in Talladega County. On April 10 of this year, Perez-Velasquez was found to be voluntarily in the U.S. after having been removed to Mexico in March 2004, January 2006 and May 2012. Jesus Gomez-Gonzalez, 35, and Miguel Angel Gonzalez-Jimenez were also indicted on charges of illegally entering the U.S. after previously being deported. According to the indictments, Gonzalez-Jimenez was found in St. Clair County on March 23 after having been removed from the U.S. in July 2014, and Gomez-Gonzalez was found in Morgan County on April 7 after being removed from the country in November 2004. None of the defendants obtained consent from the U.S. attorney general or the secretary of homeland security to re-apply for admission into the United States, according to the charges. The maximum penalty for illegal re-entry after deportation is two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum sentence for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Department of Homeland Security investigated the cases, which the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama is prosecuting. US officials say sanctions are key to denuclearisation, but how they would force change remains unexplained. One thing is clear about US President Donald Trumps approach to North Korea. He is clearly trying to send the message that he means business and that this could mean the US military gets involved. Its not a subtle message to send an aircraft carrier strike group into the region. The president is anxious to send a message to North Korea and China that he is different and that his strategy will be as well. So what is the strategy? At the state department they are putting all of the emphasis on effective sanctions. They believe if sanctions are fully implemented, that could force a change from the North Korean leadership when it comes to its missile and nuclear weapon programme. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will chair a meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday where the idea of new sanctions will be talked about. READ MORE: Is war coming to North Korea? A confusing comment came from down the road in Washington when Admiral Harry Harris testified before two congressional committees. He was repeatedly asked what the driving motivation for Pyongyangs nuclear programme is. Why does Kim Jung-un want a nuclear bomb? Harris answer was quite simple. He basically said that he believes not having the bomb would create an existential crisis for Kim. If that is what the US administration thinks Kims motivation is, it is not at all clear how they think sanctions would change what they present as a bedrock belief of the North Korean leader. US officials keep pointing to Iran as the reason sanctions can work when it comes to negotiating a final deal over a nuclear programme. But there is a big difference between the two countries that the officials are not talking about. Sanctions are meant to put pressure on governments. They are meant to put pressure on the people who then in turn put pressure on their leaders. The Iranian leaders knew protests in the street were possible. They had just cracked down on a popular movement when they signed onto the nuclear deal with the US and other world powers in 2015. The growing threat of an uprising was incentive to bargain for nuclear relief. I have yet to find anyone at the state department who believes that the North Korean people are even close to revolting. We dont know much about what is really happening in the country but every indication is that the government has been very effective clamping down on dissent. There are many in Washington who question if the Trump administration really has a strategy when it comes to North Korea. Right now, officials say they do. So perhaps the better question to be asking is does it actually make sense? Tehran Fatemeh Daneshvar moves easily around the room as she speaks of her accomplishments, pausing at one point to admire a photo of her children, and at another to flip through a glossy magazine packed with images of some of the thousands of women her charity has aided. Daneshvar, 43, now counts seven major businesses to her name, having spent years pursuing a successful career in the male-dominated mining industry. She serves on Tehrans city council and the Iranian chamber of commerce, and has authored dozens of reports on the social problems plaguing Iran, from addiction to child labour. She donates one-fourth of her income to her own charity, Mehrafarin, which supports women and children whose fathers have abandoned them. But of all that Daneshvar has achieved over the years, she is proudest of her work with Irans street kids. She runs a programme to train and support dozens of exceptional orphans, giving them a chance to succeed in the broader community. Once, they were just yearning for a basket of fruit; now, they want to be astronauts, the best physicists of the world, Daneshvar tells Al Jazeera from inside her Tehran office. Daneshvar has done all of this while raising four young children alongside her husband and business partner, and she openly acknowledges that it has not always been an easy road. Along the way, she faced resistance from traditionalist members of Irans business community but she persisted, citing a need to send a message to other women in the country. Daneshvar recently sat down with Al Jazeera to speak about how she found success in a male-dominated industry, while also challenging Western stereotypes of what it means to be a woman in Iran. Al Jazeera: What initially drew you to the business world? Fatemeh Daneshvar: I did my MA in the field of business management and later decided to do business for myself. I was single at the time, but it wasnt quite something normal in Iranian culture, which was male-dominated in the business field especially in mining and importing/exporting. But I entered the mining industry sector and started exporting mining materials to different countries. My business took off and I got very successful. Later on, I realised Id gotten a lot of attention as the only woman active in this field. I realised that Im quite different from others because of some of the virtues I have, like self-confidence, risk-taking and audacity. The first business deal I made, I made a $2m deal, but all I had was $200. People wanted to know how on Earth I did that. I explained that it was through the art of negotiations. Al Jazeera: What challenges have you faced while navigating this male-dominated world? Daneshvar: I was always committed to setting goals and prioritising my goals, and I tried to look at them from above. Then, I always told myself: Thats nothing, lets do it. Among those objectives was bringing four children into the world. I made those children at the height of my business and I was quite busy, but it happened and I am very happy for that two boys and two girls. It was like an earthquake across the country, that in a totally male-dominated field, a woman has gotten this vote. It was like a thunderbolt. by At that time, it came to my mind to become a member of the business chamber of Iran. There was no female member of the mining industry at the chamber. When I signed up, the senior members made fun of me, saying no such young lady should come to this field. They teased me that I should leave; I was pregnant at the time with twins and very busy. But in the election of the chamber, I got the second-highest vote. It was like an earthquake across the country, that in a totally male-dominated field, a woman has gotten this vote. It was like a thunderbolt. I received a lot of calls from male members of the chamber that I should resign, and that they could not accept a woman presiding over them. I sometimes got very tired and fed up with these kinds of calls, but I thought if I do resign, its a kind of betrayal to the women in our society. Instead, I made way for others: There are currently three other women chairing specialised committees. Al Jazeera: Do you believe there are misconceptions in the West about what life is like for women living under Islamic rule? Daneshvar: There is a huge misconception about women in Iran from a Western perspective. When Ive travelled to different countries, Ive realised that Iranian women are extremely highly educated and enjoy many more freedoms that in some of these other countries. But these misconceptions persist. In a country like Iran, women have a delicate conduct with their husbands. They shouldnt weaken their husband to strengthen themselves. My husband has been a great partner, especially for raising children. When Ive had to be away from home dealing with my business, he has filled that gap for me. He has been a great father and is wonderful with the children. This is another key to success, having a supportive partner. Al Jazeera: What would you say are the most pressing social problems facing Iran today? Daneshvar: Addiction and unemployment. These two are the root causes of many of the problems that I personally have seen, the social crimes and social harms. Our country is neighbouring Afghanistan, where many of the drugs are produced, and it is a transit route for drugs to Europe and Western countries. In the process, a lot of Iranian youth can become addicted to these types of drugs, and this leads to many social problems and social issues. We have divorce, we have family problems; we have many, many issues resulting from this. What is especially worrisome is the addiction among women, which should be tackled very seriously, because they are involved in child-bearing. The countrys senior authorities have always been very sensitive to this, but recently senior officials have paid a lot more attention to the issue, and many rehabilitation camps have been launched. Such efforts have been cumulatively increasing. Al Jazeera: Whats your advice for women and girls who want to follow in your footsteps? Daneshvar: I always advise them, the number one enemy is fear. Do not be scared, no matter what. And always think about yourself set goals and objectives for yourself. Try to know thyself first. Im indebted to my spiritual intelligence. Because of the way my family raised me, I fear nothing but God. Thats why I always take risks and do things that many people do not do. This Q&A was adapted from a translated interview and has been edited and condensed for clarity. Follow Megan OToole on Twitter: @megan_otoole Philip Riteman was just 13 when the Nazis shoved him and his family on to a train bound for Auschwitz from the Pruzhany ghetto in Poland. At the time, he and his family had no idea they were being carted to their deaths. Three oclock in the morning somebody [yells] and I see the German sitting with a gun and screaming, yelling, Out, out you Jews!' Riteman recalled. They walked to the railroad tracks and Riteman saw freight trains stretching as far as his eyes could see. Riteman, a Polish Jew, said about 100 people were crammed into the trains which measured roughly 8ft by 20ft. The Nazis told them it would be an hours ride. Two hours gone, three hours gone all day on the train. [On] the train we shake. The train slow, slow, you hear rifle shooting, but you cant see it because you look to the boards. And we stay, all glued together. Could you picture this? Can you imagine? I wouldnt do this to animals. As the train clicked along the tracks on the seemingly endless ride, a man soon dropped dead at Ritemans feet the first casualty of this tragic journey. A fellow behind me, a tall fellow, he says, Maybe you can try shifting, move your feet, maybe one inch, everybody moves an inch, and see if we can put the dead body to the wall. We did this. The train continued rolling through the countryside. For what felt like days, a young mothers baby began crying. Its screams still torment Riteman to this day. Then, it stopped. The baby died in the mothers arms, said Riteman bitterly. She was hysterical. Six or seven days passed. There was no, food, water, or bathrooms. I peed every day in my pants. Everybody [defecates] in their pants and pees, and everybody screaming, crying unbelievable they could do this to human beings. Then, one morning, they finally arrived at Auschwitz. Riteman was separated from his family, and it was the last time he would ever see them again. In the afternoon, my parents already was gassed, he said, with tears in his eyes. Trains after trains coming in. They gas them. Could you imagine? I couldnt believe it. I was there a month and I didnt believe theyd do this. I thought I was still going to see my parents. I will still see my sisters, my brothers. Then I found out. I see people going to the crematoriums, and they gassed 5,000, 10,000 at one time. Its very, very hard for me to talk about it. Ritemans entire family was exterminated by the Nazis. His father, mother, five brothers, two sisters, his grandparents, and nine uncles and aunts were annihilated in Auschwitz. READ MORE: Six other times the US has banned immigrants I will never forget Riteman was later transferred to Dachau concentration camp. After being liberated by the Americans in 1945, he spent time in a displaced persons camp. He weighed just 34kg. Then, in 1946, he landed in Newfoundland, then pre-Confederation Canada. This is just one gruesome snapshot of the Holocaust, which claimed the lives of about six million Jews during World War II. More than a million Jews like Riteman were hauled off to Auschwitz but only a handful made it out alive. At least 960,000 perished there. According to The Blue Card, an international organisation that provides financial assistance and other resources to Holocaust survivors, there are an estimated 100,000 survivors still alive today, many of whom live in poverty. April 23 marked Israels observance of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day which hangs heavy on the hearts of many survivors around the world. I will never forgive, and I will never forget, said Fanny Starr, 95, another Polish Holocaust survivor who endured the terrors of Auschwitz. Starr, who now lives in Denver, Colorado, lost her mother, two of her siblings, and many other family members to the gas chambers of the German concentration camp. She remembers the atrocities well. Ashes of burnt bodies fell like snow from the Auschwitz crematoriums, she said. That was such a heinous crime against humanity to try to annihilate our race, Starr added. But thank God, they didnt succeed. Six million people lost. People who committed no crime, they killed nobody, without no reason, we were just slaughtered. READ MORE: A brief history of war and drugs From Vikings to Nazis Stand up to hatred early on With the tide of nationalist politics and xenophobia seemingly rising on both sides of the Atlantic, Starr said its more important today than ever to commemorate the Holocaust so the world can be reminded of what can result when toxic ideologies grip entire countries and continents. Something like the Holocaust just doesnt happen overnight, said Ken Jacobson, deputy national director of the Anti-Defamation League in New York. Its related to a long history of anti-Semitism in Europe, over 2,000 years, which became deeply embedded in Western civilisation. Thats why we commemorate the Holocaust, to symbolise that it just didnt happen, it took a period of evolution for it to happen, and that one has to stand up against hatred early on. On Tuesday, at the US Capitol in Washington DC, President Donald Trump commemorated Yom HaShoah with a sombre speech. Those who deny the Holocaust are accomplice to this horrible evil, Trump said. We will never, ever be silent in the face of evil again, he added. Despite Trumps remorseful speech, during and after his presidential campaign, countless synagogues, playgrounds, and public areas were vandalised with graffiti swastikas and phrases like Heil Trump and Make America White Again. Although Trump has called for hate crimes being carried out in his name to stop, he was slow to denounce support from racist factions across the country, including David Duke, former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, and his populist rhetoric has also coaxed some of the radical rights ideologies to emerge from the shadows. Some of the populism, [you could] call it nationalism, described Jacobson. Some of its coming from the right again, some is coming from the left. [Its] very disturbing because it has an anti-democratic feel, and it emboldens those people who engage in this invasive, discriminatory, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic behaviour. According to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic hate crimes against Jews, including assaults, vandalism, and harassment, rose by 34 percent in 2016. In the early months of 2017, these incidents are continuing to spike. We know that 30 million Americans still have anti-Semitic attitudes, Jacobson added. In the past, because of civil society, because of the mood of the country, very few of them ever would act out those attitudes. Because of the [current] atmosphere, some of it from the campaign, some of it from other kinds of issues as well, a sense of anxiety about the political world, about the economic world, about identity, has come together in a way thats emboldened a certain number of people to now act out their anti-Semitic attitudes in a way that they havent for quite a while. WATCH: UpFront special The rise of anti-Semitism Nationalist political climate Jews are the most targeted religious group for hate crimes in the US, a phenomenon that was prevalent in American society long before Trumps rise and nationalist politics shifted to the mainstream. In 2015, Jews were targeted twice as much as Muslims for religiously motivated hate crimes in the US. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which compiles an annual report of hate crimes based on data from nearly 15,000 law enforcement agencies, found that of 5,850 registered hate crimes in 2015, 1,354 were motivated by religious bias. Of those, 51.3 percent or roughly 694 of these were anti-Jewish hate crimes. I definitely think [Trumps] rhetoric has emboldened people on the radical right, said Heidi Beirich, an researcher and expert on extremism and nativism at the Southern Poverty Law Centre (SPLC) in Montgomery, Alabama. Beirich told Al Jazeera that the SPLC collected data on about 1,800 hate crime-related incidents in the post-election period. She estimated that about one-fifth of those were carried out in Trumps name. What happened is in the wake of the election we just saw [hate crimes] across the United States against Jews, but also against immigrants and also against Muslims, that were the major populations that he attacked during his campaign. Beirich added that xenophobic rhetoric targeting immigrants and particularly Muslims, shares disturbing parallels with the rise of European anti-Semitism, which often coincided with nationalism, during the 1930s and 1940s. She also noted that Britain, too, saw a skyrocketing of anti-Muslim crimes following Brexit, the countrys referendum on leaving the European Union. So, when Hitler rose to power it started with a wave of violence like this, Beirich added. She also explained that in todays political climate, its critical to commemorate the Holocaust. If everything goes completely to hell, youve got genocide, you demonise populations enough, thats where you are heading, Beirich said. You dont want to start going down that road. And the Holocaust is just this horrific reminder of what can happen. Thats when mass slaughter can occur. We shouldnt even be talking about this, thats why it is so tragic, you know, that we have to be keep reminding ourselves of the Holocaust. Its embarrassing. READ MORE: Remembering Britains other war veterans Make sure that doesnt happen again For Riteman, the Polish Auschwtiz survivor, such reminders plague him daily. The black tattoo ink on Ritemans left arm the numbers, 98706, his Auschwitz prisoner ID are for ever etched there. Although the ink on his arm has faded, the horrific memories have not. The pain and bitterness from his time in Auschwitz still rings heavily in his voice. Thats got to be told to our children, our grandchildren, great, great, great grandchildren. So long as the world exists, they should make sure that doesnt happen to anybody. Period. Today, Riteman is 95. Hes tired, and hard of hearing. Yet, hes still quite spry. At his quaint Canadian home in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which he shares with his 85-year-old wife Dorothy, whom he met in Montreal in 1947, Riteman stares off into the distance. For decades, he didnt speak about the horrors of the Holocaust but its a subject he now discusses openly and something he treats as a duty largely, so history doesnt repeat itself. You people are lucky, he said. Youre living in heaven. You dont even know it. I want you to wake up and make sure it doesnt happen again. Thats the reason Im speaking in schools, universities. Make sure [you] dont hate nobody, dont do no harm to anyone. Be a good person. Maybe we could make a better world to live for everybody. Whistle-blowers should be aware of how politicians use their leaks, but governments must protect not punish them. Paul is a lecturer in IT, IP and Media Law at UEA, the author of Internet Privacy Rights: Rights to Protect Autonomy. Journalism, and the media more generally, is under a lot of pressure. The fake news furore rumbles on while traditional media is under a number of threats: struggling business models; loss of trust from many directions; journalists under surveillance and threatened by authoritarians; and an increasingly nervous dependency on social media platforms Facebook and Twitter. Within this troubled environment, the role of whistle-blowers has been criticised. Did WikiLeaks help US President Donald Trump get elected? Was Julian Assange working with Russia to undermine American democracy? Are whistle-blowers, rather than being a positive force, breaking down the walls of secrecy that conceal the misdeeds of the powerful, allowing themselves to become the cats-paw of autocrats and authoritarians? These important questions are part of a larger challenge for the whole of the media. It is not only whistle-blowers that need to consider their responsibilities, but the media as a whole and governments. Good journalism is needed right now more than ever. And whistle-blowers are important at a time when the world and politics in particular is in turmoil. Journalisms role in helping people to understand what is happening is critical from the catastrophe in Syria and the rise of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) to the prominence in the west of the far right. When governments react to this turmoil by retrenching into a more authoritarian approach as demonstrated from Trump to May, Erdogan to Putin and many more that makes whistle-blowers vital if journalists are to be able to play their parts. Snowden: A model whistle-blower? Edward Snowdens revelations of the mass surveillance activities of the NSA, GCHQ and others in 2013 demonstrated the immense value of whistle-blowers, but also the importance of thinking through and taking responsibility for your leaks. Though British and American authorities remain staunchly critical of Snowden, what he revealed provided people with a far better understanding of what is happening. In some ways, Snowden's case might be seen as a model of how whistle-blowing should work. by His leaks have led to more restrictions, legal challenges and legal developments in the governance of surveillance, and in some ways improved the way surveillance is managed, understood and overseen. Snowden chose The Guardian to release his information to, and his documents slowly and carefully found their way into the public domain through a series of other responsible media outlets, from Der Spiegel and the Washington Post to the New York Times and Le Monde. In some ways, Snowdens case might be seen as a model of how whistle-blowing should work. By contrast, the fact that the Trump campaign was able to use WikiLeaks revelations concerning Hillary Clintons emails might be evidence of a lesser strategy. Fake narratives It is not that the Clinton leaks were false or unimportant. They were true and they were important. But the timing and method through which they were released enabled information to be used in ways that were seen by many to be manipulative and in some ways highly misleading. Misleading not by being fake news but by helping others to create a fake narrative. The tumult surrounding fake news should not be seen in isolation. Media manipulation and failure does not just come by reporting things that arent true, nor by failing to report things that are true, but by allowing false narratives to be created. Selective use of facts, failure to see things in context, failure to see the implications and impact of stories are all failures and in some ways more dangerous failures than the more obvious fake news. The medias job is not just to report facts, but to put them in context and to help people to understand them. In the UK, the media conspicuously failed to do this during the Brexit referendum. In the United States, the same could be said over the election of Donald Trump. Those failures have had significant consequences. Whether without them these elections would have had different results is another question, and whether different results would have been better is yet another. But elections and referendum results determined on the basis of greater understanding of the issues and facts must be better for democracy, and for building trust. More responsibility needed The big question is how to respond to these problems or perhaps more importantly how not to respond. It would be easy for the fear of fake news to be used as reason to clampdown on freedom of speech. Registering real news sources or algorithmically blocking fake news sources is essentially nothing more than censorship. Clamping down on whistle-blowers in general because Assange might have been effectively working for Putin would be a distinctly retrograde step. by Clamping down on whistle-blowers in general because Assange might have been effectively working for Putin would be a distinctly retrograde step: the spectre of the Russian Bear and fear of the far-right can be used to justify many authoritarian moves by exactly those liberals who should oppose them. What is needed is more responsibility. Whistle-blowers need to be aware of how their leaks might be used. They are, however, only a small part of the picture. Journalists need to stand up and be counted and to help rebuild peoples trust. They need to emphasise their independence moves such as the appointment of former Chancellor and current Conservative MP George Osborne as editor of Londons Evening Standard do exactly the opposite. They need to be louder, clearer and more direct in calling out lies and challenging false narratives. They need to be more aware when they are being used by politicians and resist that, strongly and vocally. They need to halt or even better reverse the growing reliance on Facebook and Twitter as routes to news. Governments also need to take responsibility. They need to be brave enough not to tighten regulation. They need to rein back surveillance of journalists, and try to protect rather than punish whistle-blowers. Sadly there are precious few signs that any of this will happen. Dr Paul Bernal is a lecturer in IT, IP and media law at the UEA Law School, and the author of Internet Privacy Rights: Rights to Protect Autonomy. His research includes the role of social media, government surveillance and the interactions between politics, society and technology. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Early March, 2017: The United States government and the United Nations announce large increases in the amount of coca being cultivated in Colombia. The head of the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs flies to Colombia and meets the President. The increase is due to the end of aerial fumigation operations, he says, but he also assures the press that he would not be asking the government to restart that policy. Speaking at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, the Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs blames the growth on the machinations of drug trafficking gangs and greedy peasants who, she claims, are planting more coca so they can take advantage of the new substitution initiatives under the peace accords. The news of the rise is reported with the air of a national crisis. Semana, the largest magazine in the country, says the bumper crop will affect the international order, in particular in relation to the United States, which will become narcotised. This is no less than the great challenge for the post-conflict era. According to the text of the peace agreement the government should be weaning campesinos (peasant farmers) off growing coca by first offering incentives to grow alternative crops. Nevertheless, forced manual eradication takes place across the country, and the Colombian government has announced the largest cultivation target in its history: 100,000 hectares. In the first few months of the year more than 40 blockades are recorded: eradication teams are prevented from working by communities who demand the assistance they have been promised. The government responds with the specialised police force, the ESMAD, who disperse the protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets. In one case the police arrest protesting farmers and the community responds by detaining 15 officers for 24 hours. Where does this excess capacity come from? Why are so many farmers in Colombia prepared to break the law? The answers are not mysterious. Land inequality The governments own comptroller general recognises that after almost 200 years of reforms and counter-reforms, and many billions of pesos invested, the same crisis reigns in agriculture(pdf). The agricultural policy crisis, noted the comptroller generals report, is the result of the lack of political will on the part of the state to make viable the campesino economy. Colombias President Juan Manuel Santos and his administration have adopted reforms that officials say will lead to a more equitable distribution of land. But these policies in reality display the contrary, notes the report. Like his predecessors, Santos is committed to the promotion of exclusive trading strategies, based in mega-projects which dont solve the underlying problem. Instead, they could consolidate and deepen even further both displacement and concentration of land. A typical example was the Zidres Law, passed during the conclusion of the peace agreement, which includes some mild measure to address land inequality in one of the most unequal countries in the world. The law, which deals with the takeover of land in conflict-ridden areas, works for large landowners and against the core tenets of the peace deal. These landowners, one analysis points out, will be given incentives for productive partnerships, technology packages, subsidies and support through a whole series of mechanisms from which Colombian peasants have never benefited in the countrys entire history. The result of such policies? Rural poverty and backwardness are by every measure a national scandal. Today in the countryside one in ten people cannot read or write. One in five children between five and 16 years of age do not attend school. Three quarters of people aged between 17 and 24 are without access to an educational institution. In some regions four out of every five people live below the poverty line. But neither land policies nor the national economic model are considered relevant to the drug policy debate. Free trade deal with the US Semana, running through the possible causes of the rise in coca production, did not mention it either. Nor did it mention the passing of a Free Trade Agreement with the United States in 2012, which correlates closely with the beginning of the rise in cultivation in 2013. That death knell for Colombian agriculture, OXFAM America estimated (pdf), would mean around 1.8 million farmers could suffer a significant drop in their income, leaving them with few options except migration, joining the FARC, or growing coca. As was entirely predictable, reported the Colombian press one year after the treaty came into effect, the initial damage is occurring in agriculture, where the countrys tariffs have been relinquished and US subsidised goods accepted. Keeping such facts off of the drug policy agenda has been a great propaganda victory for the Santos administration, achieved with the complicity of international organisations eager for high-level affiliation. The proper question for analysts and commentators is: Why do the poor do what they do? The forbidden question is: Why are they so poor? The government publicly attributes coca cultivation to the machinations of peasants, the guerrilla and criminal groups, and Santos has even felt comfortable enough to claim that the demobilisation of the FARC will mean Colombia can finally become drug-free. Can a government pursue an economic agenda that drives peasants to produce an illicit crop in order to survive, and still be considered to be concerned with reducing drug cultivation? by Inside Colombia, political activists, community leaders and human rights defenders recognise the source of the problem and call for fundamental changes in the nature of the society. They are currently being murdered at a rate of around eleven a month. A political party that includes a new economic model in its charter has had more than 120 of its members murdered in the past five years. Counter-narcotics funding for security forces Has there ever been such a thing as a counter-narcotics policy in Colombia? Is it sensible to claim, as many analysts now do, that the rise in cultivation proves the failure of past policies? Can a government pursue an economic agenda that drives peasants to produce an illicit crop in order to survive, and still appear concerned with reducing drug cultivation? The answer for most analysts is yes, regardless of how absurd and counter-intuitive it may appear. And what of the supposed failure? Pentagon spokesperson James Gregory once described the policies pursued in Colombia as among the US governments most successful and cost-effective programmes. And he added: By any reasonable assessment, the US has received ample strategic national security benefits in return for its investments in this area. What is called counter-narcotics funding has in fact been funding for the Colombian military and police, which are now both modernised and enormous. Around 70 percent of Plan Colombias counter-narcotics funding actually never leaves the United States because it used to purchase arms and equipment. Because of that money which amounts to more than $10bn in the past two decades Colombia remains the major regional ally for the US and its leadership is committed to the economic model preferred by foreign capital. And as Christian Aid points out, Colombia also remains a country in which wealth and power is concentrated in the hands of the elite [who] dominate politics, monopolise resources, and repress social movements, trade unions, political opposition and others seeking to challenge the balance of power. Ross Eventon is a research associate at the Global Drug Policy Observatory, based in Latin America. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Europes far-right groups and ideologues have long been collaborating across national borders to further their agendas. Immediately after Marine Le Pen successfully advanced to the second round of the French Presidential election by beating the candidate from the mainstream right, Italys far-right leader Matteo Salvini, tweeted a photo of him with the French politician, with the caption Go Marine. He later added: it is time get rid of the Brussels cage!. Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders known for his anti-Islam rhetoric similarly expressed his excitement: Congratulations sent to Marine Le Pen. A day of celebration for all Patriots in Europe. On to the 2nd round and the Presidency! These expressions of transnational solidarity between Europes far-right leaders were hardly surprising. In the past few years a number of these far-right parties from across Europe have started officially coordinating strategies and in January, representatives from these movements gathered in Koblenz, Germany for a conference. The gathering prompted some observers to talk about an allegedly new nationalist international emerging in Europe. While the nationalist international appears as an oxymoron at first, international cooperation between ultra-nationalists has a long history. The history of supranational nationalism in Europe Right-leaning, nationalist movements existed in the old continent since the pre-WWI era. Linked by anti-Semitism, ethnic nationalism, cult of force and violence, anti-leftism, anti-parliament and anti-democratic policies, national resentments, and/or imperialism, fascist-like movements played a significant role in Europes politics and society since the 1920s. Europes far-right groups also often collaborated with each other across national borders. Notably Benito Mussolinis fascism was influenced by French ideas, and later inspired similar authoritarianisms in other European countries. In fact, a fascist international was a dream for many nationalists in the interwar period. Many of them joined the famous fascist international conference of Montreux, and even became foreign soldiers in the German army during World War II. After 1945, many neo-fascists, including Oswald Mosley, tried to build pan-European associations. They started with the European Social Movement of the early 1950s, which was also their extremist response to the mainstream process of European integration. OPINION: The rise of the black international Since the 1980s and 1990s more structured far-right parties as well as little groups have been rising to prominence in Europe on a platform based on ethno-nationalism, sovergnity, and the defence of national traditions. In recent years, the popularity and outreach of these groups have been further facilitated by internet and social media. The protection these parties and groups offer is appealing because of the fear of globalisation, Europeanisation, and immigration along with the failures of traditional parties. From the 2000s onwards, terrorist attacks, the economic crisis, and the refugee crisis helped spread their popularity even further and provided ground for more common action on issues that the general population feared. Therefore, existence of a rightwing supranational dimension is not surprising. A new nationalist international? Far-right parties recently established a group in the EU parliament called Europe of Nations and Freedom. This further allowed them to coordinate their policies at a supranational level possibly aiming to dismantle EU institutions and integration. They imagine a new federation of European nations which has to be (implicitly) white and which should defende national native traditions. Naturally, their vision of Europe looks very different from the existing cosmopolitan and multi-cultural one. Their Europe will be even more suspicious of Muslims, reintroduce national currencies, and surely implement new laws against the current free circulation of people. Internationally, it will be supporting Russia while admiring Trump and his administration. As Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Frauke Petry said in a telegram to Trump, We as Germans and Europeans will follow your foreign policy position with hope, because it is refreshingly different from the course of the past decades. This shows the potential appeal of a nationalist international especially today with the European project lacking any real appeal. Also, these far-right parties are already influencing policies on immigration and refugees in many countries. OPINION: Is this really how fascism takes hold in the US? The problem is that the EU has been turning a blind eye on these groups. And as Maya Goodfellow recently pointed out, media is not always doing a goob job of understanding these far-right leaders and explaining their policies to the general public: Journalists and reporters must critically analyse far-right narratives instead of as often happens in covert ways reiterating them. After Brexit and the victory of Trump, these extremist parties and culture will represent a strong challenge to western democracies for the years to come. Andrea Mammone is a historian at Royal Holloway, University of London. His recent book Transnational Neofascism in France and Italy is published by Cambridge University Press. He has written for the Washington Post, the New York Times, CNN, The Independent, and Foreign Affairs, among others. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Julius Malema is using the EFF to maintain his political relevance whilst waiting for Zumas departure from the ANC. The leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the third largest political party in South Africa, is Julius Malema: A controversial, but popular politician. Malema has always maintained one primary goal since he founded the EFF in 2013: Ousting President Jacob Zuma from office. His party has so far failed to present an alternative political path for South Africa and, as a result, Malemas political future after the eventual end of Zumas tenure as president is now being questioned. Controversy surrounding Malema The 36-year-old politician, who was once an avid Zuma supporter, turned against the beleaguered president after he was expelled from the governing African National Congress (ANC) in 2012 for allegedly sowing divisions within party ranks. Malema, who often said his blood is green, black and gold referring to the colours of the ANC, was distraught about the party diciplinary committees decision and blamed Zuma personally for his expulsion. But the controversy surrounding Malema was not just limited to party politics or his rocky relationship with the president. He has also endured various lawsuits and faced corruption accusations in South Africa. For example in September 2011, Malema was found guilty of hate speech for singing the apartheid-era struggle song Shoot the Boer. Boer means farmer in Afrikaans. And a year later, after his expulsion from the ANC, his finances and the extravagant life style he has been enjoying as the president of the partys youth league, came under scrutiny. There have also been several reports in the South African media about his vast property empire. A powerful come-back While many people thought Malemas political career was practically over, in light of the corruption allegations, his conviction for hate speech and his expulsion from the ANC, he managed to make a powerful come-back in no time. There are a number of South Africans, particularly white South Africans, who dread the possibility of Malemas ascendancy to presidency by He founded the EFF in July 2013, and his party managed to claim 25 seats in the 400-seat South African parliament in general elections merely a year later. What drew attention to the EFF was its public pronouncement on racial issues and its radical economic agenda. The EFF has grown over the years with the organisation now claiming to have over five million members. In the 2016 municipal election the EFF garnered 8.31 percent of the vote, an impressive achievement for a party that was contesting local municipal elections for the first time. But in parliament the EFF has always been more interested in fighting and damaging Zuma than it has been in forming an effective opposition party. Since their arrival in parliament, EFF members have disturbed proceedings continously and their anger has been, by and large, directed at the president, who they regularly call on to resign. Some party members have even publically insulted him using vulgar language of a kind rarely employed by those in the public eye. Failing to introduce an alternative discourse In the meantime, the EFF is largely seen to have failed in introducing an alternative discourse to the South African parliament, while limiting itself to condemning Zuma for his misdemeanors and indiscretions. Malema himself is now facing criticism for pursuing a personal agenda in parliament. He stands accused of trying to settle scores with Zuma, rather than using his partys mandate to pursue the political aspirations of his constituents. OPINION: Is the downfall of the ANC in South Africa inevitable? In short, the EFF have so far failed wholesale to deal with sociopolitical challenges affecting ordinary South Africans, many of whom perceived the 2016 municipal elections as a referendum to gauge the popularity of the ANC. Those elections proved that the ANCs popularity is in rapid decline Zumas party lost control of several major cities in South Africa. However, the EFF has failed to capitalise on that decline. The percentage of votes secured by the EFF in the 2016 election (8.31) barely surpassed the 6.35 percent the party had previously secured in the 2014 general elections. Maintaining political relevance But, notwithstanding his polarising rhetoric, Julius Malemas political career can still be considered a success story by any standards, even though there are a number of South Africans, particularly white South Africans, who dread the possibility of Malemas ascendancy to presidency. His off the cuff remarks about whites and his proposal to implement Zimbabwe style land grab policies continue to turn people, including many black South Africans, against him. The chances of the EFF gaining majority in South African national parliament and eventually electing Malema as its president are very remote. They have failed to present a practical plan to address South Africas sociopolitical grievances other than embracing the general broad stroke rhetoric of social justice that was already common parlance for almost all political parties in South Africa. The only way Malema could be the next president of South Africa is if the EFF merges with the ANC and Malema runs for the presidency on the ANC ticket. It is possible that he is simply using the EFF as a vehicle to maintain his political relevance whilst waiting for Zumas departure from the ANC. Thembisa Fakude is a researcher at the Al Jazeera Center for Studies. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Kenneth Williams death wraps up an aggressive execution schedule set to beat expiry of drug used in lethal injection. Arkansas has wrapped up an aggressive execution schedule, putting to death its fourth inmate in eight days, hours after a last-minute motion to halt his execution failed before the US Supreme Court. Kenneth Williams, 38, received a lethal injection on Thursday night at the Cummins Unit prison at Varner for the killing of a former deputy warden in 1999. He was pronounced dead at 11:05pm, 13 minutes after the execution began. Arkansas had initially held off on executing Williams, who was scheduled to die at 7pm local time, as officials awaited word from the Supreme Court. His death warrant was set to expire at midnight. A few minutes after 10pm, the court ruled to deny the petitions, without elaborating on its decisions. An Associated Press reporter who witnessed Thursdays execution said Williams lurched and convulsed 20 times during the lethal injection. A prison spokesman said he shook for approximately 10 seconds, about three minutes into the procedure. READ MORE: Arkansas carries out first double execution since 2000 I extend my sincerest of apologies to the families I have senselessly wronged and deprived of their loved ones, Williams said in a final statement he read from the death chamber. I was more than wrong. The crimes I perpetrated against you all were senseless, extremely hurtful and inexcusable. Arkansas had scheduled eight executions over 11 days before one of its lethal injection drugs expires at the end of April the nations fastest pace since the Supreme Court reauthorised the death penalty in 1976. Courts issued stays for four of the inmates. Among the four lethal injections was Mondays first double execution in the United States since 2000. State officials have declared the string of executions a success, using terms such as closure for the victims families. The inmates have died within 20 minutes of their executions beginning, a contrast from midazolam-related executions in other states which took anything from 43 minutes to two hours. The inmates lawyers have said there are still flaws and that there is no certainty that the inmates arent suffering while they die. The long path of justice ended tonight and Arkansans can reflect on the last two weeks with confidence that our system of laws in this state has worked, Governor Asa Hutchinson said in a statement issued after the execution. Carrying out the penalty of the jury in the Kenneth Williams case was necessary. There has never been a question of guilt. Arkansas scheduled the executions for the final two weeks of April because its supply of midazolam, normally a surgical sedative, expires on Sunday. The Arkansas Department of Correction has said it has no new source for the drug though it has made similar remarks previously yet still found a new stash. READ MORE: The struggle against Americas racist death row Court filings by Williams on Thursday afternoon followed two threads: that Arkansas executions this week were so flawed that there is little doubt Williams will suffer as he dies, and that he has an intellectual disability that would make him ineligible for execution. He was sentenced to death for killing former deputy warden Cecil Boren after escaping from the Cummins Unit prison in a 1,800-litre barrel of hog slop in 1999. He left the prison less than three weeks into a life term for killing University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff cheerleader Dominique Hurd in 1998. At the conclusion of that trial, he had taunted the young womans family by turning to them after the sentence was announced and saying You thought I was going to die, didnt you? After jumping from the barrel of kitchen scraps, he sneaked along a tree line until he reached Borens house. He killed Boren, stole guns and Borens truck, then drove to Missouri. There, he crashed into a water-delivery truck, killing the driver, Michael Greenwood. While in prison, he confessed to killing another person in 1998. Belgian of Moroccan origin Mourade Zeguendi announces refusal to be typecast by Brian De Palma as a Molenbeek fighter. A Belgian actor of Moroccan descent has turned down the role of a terrorist in a film by the director of Scarface, in a move he hopes will curb the stigmatisation of communities in culture. Mourade Zeguendi on Friday thanked his fans for their support in his decision not to play in Brian De Palmas film, three days after announcing the news on his Facebook page. I would never have thought in my life that I would turn down a film for Brian De Palma, Zeguendi had said in a 51-second video that has now been viewed more than 30,000 times. De Palma, a living legend of cinema, offered me to play in one of his films which is going to be shot in Belgium. The role I was offered, I will let you guess what it was. A Molenbeek terrorist. And so I had to say no to Brian De Palma. F**k, its terrible. Belgiums Molenbeek neighbourhood made headlines after it emerged that two of men allegedly behind a deadly attack in Paris in November 2015 had lived there. READ MORE: Message from Molenbeek We are not terrorists Later, in an interview with De Standaard, Zeguendi said: There is a difference between playing a Mafioso and a terrorist, and when I heard terrorist from Molenbeek, I said stop. Its not Afghanistan here. As a father, a Belgian and an inhabitant of Brussels, I say these grotesque simplifications have to stop. De Palma, 76, is best known for his psychological thriller and crime films. As well as Scarface, he directed Carlitos Way, The Untouchables and Carrie. By the time of publishing, De Palmas representative had not responded to Al Jazeeras request for further comment. Zeguendi, a 36-year-old actor, has appeared in more than 20 films and television series, and performs in theatre. Joseph Fahim, a film critic, programmer and a lecturer based in Cairo, told Al Jazeera that Zeguendis stance was commendable. [But] does it herald a possible future resistance on part of Arab actors for these kind of roles? I doubt it, he said. For every Zeguendi, there will be dozens of other actors willing to snatch the chance to work with someone like De Palma and justify their decision. He said that several other artists had refused similar roles on account of being typecast, but not all decisions are made public because actors usually refuse to sever their relationships with directors. So maybe it is actually brave of him to publicise this, said Fahim. Follow Anealla on Twitter: @anealla Nelson Mandelas granddaughter tells Al Jazeera that President Zuma should listen to the people and step down. Ndileka Mandela, granddaughter of Nelson Mandela, has supported the South African oppositions call for President Jacob Zuma to step down. Tens of thousands of South Africans have staged protests in recent weeks demanding Zumas resignation, and opposition parties, religious groups and civil society activists have joined forces against him. In an interview Al Jazeera Englishs UpFront, Mandela told host Mehdi Hasan: If the people are calling for that, yes, he should listen to the people and then step down. READ MORE: Political parties stage anti-Zuma protests in Pretoria Zuma, who came to power in 2009, has been battered by a series of corruption scandals, while the country has suffered record unemployment, slowing growth and stubborn racial inequality. This months protests were the biggest in years and were sparked after Zuma sacked his widely respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan, leading to a tumbling of the countrys currency and stock markets, causing losses worth millions of dollars. Ndileka Mandela in March stated she would no longer vote for the ruling African National Congress (ANC), the party that led the decades-long struggle against apartheid and carried Nelson Mandela to power in the 1994 elections, ending white-minority rule. She told Upfront host Mehdi Hasan: The leader must go back to the basic tenets of ANC. Of the Freedom charter. READ MORE: Thuli Madonsela on Jacob Zuma and fixing South Africa When asked how her grandfather might react to the current turmoil within the ANC, she said that while it was unfair to compare this to the apartheid government, I would refer back to what he [Nelson Mandela] said when he was alive, [] if the ANC does what the apartheid government did, you must do the same that you did to the apartheid government. Zuma, 75, is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, and as president before the 2019 general election. He is facing a no-confidence vote, which was initially scheduled for April 18 and delayed owing to a legal tussle over whether it should be a secret ballot for politicians. US and South Korean officials say launch of missile, amid high tensions on the Korean Peninsula, appears to have failed. North Korea has test-fired a ballistic missile, according to the South Korean and US military, defying pressure from the US and the Norths main ally, China. US and South Korean officials said Saturdays test, from an area north of the North Korean capital Pyongyang, appeared to have failed, in what would be a fourth successive unsuccessful missile test since March. The test came as Rex Tillerson, US secretary of state, gave warning to the UN Security Council that failure to curb North Koreas nuclear and ballistic missile programmes could lead to catastrophic consequences. US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the missile was probably a medium-range weapon known as a KN-17 and appeared to have broken up within minutes of taking off. WATCH: North Korea The Death of Kim Jong-nam South Koreas military said the missile, fired from the Pukchang region in a northeasterly direction, reached an altitude of 71km before disintegrating a few minutes into flight. Al Jazeeras Wayne Hay, reporting from Seoul, said: The failed test launch was inland possibly it could mean that this was not necessarily new technology and not necessarily a new type of missile that they were testing. Perhaps something they have tested before. Obviously, if it is inland, it is going to be launched over potentially populated areas, so there is a certain amount of confidence there, that it is not going to fail, that it is going to fly over those populated areas out to sea before it crashes. It is also possibly a clue that this was a medium-range missile. Shinzo Abe, Japans prime minister, said in London on Saturday that North Koreas decision to test-fire a ballistic missile represents a grave threat to his country. He called on the US and China to keep up pressure on North Korea. Despite strong warnings by the international community, North Korea today went through its ballistic missile launch, he said. It is a grave threat to our country. This is absolutely not acceptable. We strongly condemn such acts. The North has been conducting missile and nuclear weapons-related activities at an unprecedented rate since the beginning of the year and is believed to have made some progress in developing intermediate-range and submarine-launched missiles. The launch comes amid high tensions on the Korean Peninsula and warnings from US President Donald Trumps administration that it is running out of patience. North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad! Trump said in a post on Twitter after the launch. On Friday, the US pushed for tougher sanctions to confront the North Korean threat, piling pressure on China to rein in its ally while warning that it was keeping military options on the table. But both China and Russia rejected the US threat of military force at a meeting of the Security Council on the matter. Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister, told the 15-member council it was not only up to China to solve the North Korean problem. The key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side, Wang told the council. Ramallah, West Bank At least 50 Palestinian protesters were injured in clashes with Israeli forces on a day of rage held across the occupied Palestinian territories to show solidarity with more than 1,500 prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli prisons. The majority of injuries resulted from tear gas inhalation, while some protesters were shot with live or rubber bullets, a ministry spokesperson told Al Jazeera. Director of Ramallah Hospital Ahmad Bitawi said more than 20 people were injured. He said most were leg injuries and not life threatening. The day of rage was called for by Fatah, the political party of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and the national committee to support the prisoners hunger strike. In a statement issued last week, Fatah said the excessive practices of the Israeli occupation, particularly by the Israeli Prison Service, meant Palestinians should clash with the occupier everywhere across our homeland. On Friday, Palestinians across the occupied West Bank gathered at the solidarity tents set up before proceeding to nearby military checkpoints. On a hillside overlooking the entrance to Ofer prison, where a number of the hunger-striking prisoners are detained, dozens of young men hurled stones at Israeli military vehicles. Israeli forces responded with volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets, while the occasional live round was heard. I know that by being here you are not directly helping the prisoners but you are helping a little bit, 26-year-old Anas Salous, who did not participate in the protests, told Al Jazeera. I cant accept being at home and doing nothing. Unless we support them and show up, nothing will happen. It is better to come here than just giving it a Facebook like. I was a prisoner in the past. At the end of the day, it is their own fight. I know they have no power and that they are fighting with their bodies. They have the right to use their bodies. Using their bodies as a weapon, this is the last chance they have. READ MORE: How Israel denies rights to Palestinian prisoners Clashes also erupted in towns and villages across the West Bank where protesters threw stones at Israeli forces, who responded with a variety of crowd control weapons and live fire, according to local media. Palestinian prisoners began a hunger strike on April 17 in protest over conditions in Israeli prisons, calling for more family visits, better medical attention and an end to torture and administrative detention imprisonment without charge or trial. Around 6,500 Palestinians are currently being held in Israeli prisons, 500 of whom are held under administrative detention. The mass prisoner hunger strike was organised by Marwan Barghouti, a senior Fatah figure who is serving multiple life terms in an Israeli prison for his role in killing Israelis during the second intifada. The day of rage followed a general strike that shuttered businesses, schools, government institutions and public transport across the occupied Palestinian territories on Thursday. A number of clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli forces on Thursday, local media reported. Catholic pontiffs two-day visit is aimed at fostering peace between the Muslim and Christian-minority community. Pope Francis said violence cannot be committed in the name of God, in a speech at a Muslim-Christian conference in Egypt. The 80-year-old touched down at Cairo airport on Friday before he was ushered in a car to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Francis is in Egypt on a 27-hour visit to push for dialogue with Muslims and support the countrys embattled Christian minority that has suffered a series of attacks. Peace alone is holy and no act of violence can be perpetrated in the name of God, for it would profane his name, the Catholic pontiff said. He also warned against rising populism. Demagogic forms of populism are on the rise. These certainly do not help to consolidate peace and stability, he told the conference, organised by Al-Azhar, the worlds foremost Sunni Islamic centre of learning. It is essential that we spare no effort in eliminating situations of poverty and exploitation, where extremism more easily takes root, and in blocking the flow of money and weapons destined to those who provoke violence. Acts that do not promote peace are a gift to the proponents of radicalism and violence, the pope said. Amid high security, the pontiff is meeting with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Imam of the government-run Al-Azhar mosque and an Islamic philosophy professor, before meeting with Sisi and Pope Tawadros II, the head of Egypts Coptic Church. Egypt has been under a state of emergency since two bombings in Coptic churches earlier this month that killed 45 people. All of the countrys churches have been placed under additional protection because of the risk of another assault timed to coincide with Francis being in the country. The most recent attacks have been claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group, which has warned of further attacks against Egypts Coptic Christians and on the Vatican. Armoured cars have been stationed in front of the presidential palace and security men have been posted every hundred yards along a 20km stretch between the airport and central Cairo. The pope is also going to meet Coptic Pope Tawadros II. Egypts Copts, who make up about 10 percent of the countrys population of 92 million, are the Middle Easts largest Christian minority and one of the oldest. The two men are due to walk together to the Coptic church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the heart of Cairo, which was hit by a bomb attack in December claimed by ISIL that killed 29 people. The attack was the deadliest targeting the Coptic community since the 2011 suicide bombing that killed 23 people in Alexandria. READ MORE: Pope set to visit Egypt in call for peace On Saturday, the pontiff will preside over a mass for the countrys small Catholic community, estimated to number around 272,000 spread across various rites. Egypt has seen a wave of attacks against Christians since 2013, when the military led by Sisi overthrew President Mohamed Morsi, the countrys first democratically elected president. For decades, Christians have complained of discrimination, saying they are denied top jobs in many fields, including academia and the security forces. They have also accused the security forces of failing to do enough to protect them from religious extremists, a complaint that has persisted under Sisis rule. US President Trumps fired national security answer is being investigated over payments from foreign sources. Investigations have intensified into President Donald Trumps sacked national security adviser, Michael Flynn, with the Pentagon watchdog joining lawmakers in probing payments he accepted from foreign sources including a Russian state-sponsored TV network. At the same time, documents released on Thursday by the top Democrat on a House oversight committee showed Flynn was warned by authorities after he retired from the military in 2014 not to take foreign government-sourced money without advance approval from the Pentagon. Flynn, a former army lieutenant general and Defense Intelligence Agency chief, later accepted tens of thousands of dollars for his work on behalf of foreign interests, including RT, the state-supported Russian television network, and a Turkish-owned company linked to Turkeys government. The Pentagons acting inspector generals office confirmed on Thursday he has launched an inquiry into whether those payments qualify as coming from foreign governments and whether Flynn properly informed military authorities about them. Peter Mathews, a political science professor at Cypress College, said Flynn should have exercised extra caution as former officers such as him can be called back to serve active duty at any time, for example if war breaks out. During the time they are retired, they shouldnt have any obligations to foreign governments or countries by taking money from those foreign sources, Mathews told Al Jazeera. Trump fired Flynn in February for failing to inform senior administration officials about his contacts with Russian officials contacts that are being examined as part of the wider inquiries into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign. The White House defended its hiring of Flynn and attempted to shift blame for any problems with his vetting onto the Obama administration, which handled the reissuance of his security clearance in January 2016. Bold warning Elijah Cummings, who released the documents showing Flynn was warned, said during a news conference that Flynn had been clearly informed he needed to get permission to receive foreign payments and there is no evidence he did so. The Pentagons warning to General Flynn was bold, italicised and could not have been clearer, Cummings said. In a key 2014 document, Flynn was told by a Defense Intelligence Agency official that the US constitutions emoluments provision prohibits any monetary payments or gifts from a foreign government unless congressional consent is first obtained. Earlier this week, Cummings and Republican Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House committee, said that they had found no evidence Flynn asked the army for permission to receive foreign payments or informed the military he had accepted them. Army spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith said the Army had no records that Flynn requested that permission. One episode in question involves a trip he took to Moscow in 2015 for RTs anniversary celebration. He was paid at least $33,750 to attend the gala at which he was seated next to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Turkish payments In a statement, Flynns attorney Robert Kelner said the defense department was fully aware of the trip, citing his previous statements that his client briefed DIA officials before and after the RT trip. Kelner also pointed to a letter, released in redacted form by Cummings, that notes that Flynn provided a thumb drive to the agency containing documents detailing the RT event, including that Leading Authorities, a speakers bureau that handled Flynns paid speeches, was handling the event for him. Flynn has previously disclosed he got between $50,000 and $100,000 as part of his personal stake in $530,000 that his company, Flynn Intel Group, received for consulting work last year for a Turkish businessman. Last month Flynns firm filed as a foreign agent with the justice department for its consulting work and acknowledged the work may have benefited the government of Turkey. Flynns client, Inovo BV, is owned by a businessman who is also a member of a committee overseen by Turkeys finance ministry. In comments to the Associated Press, Utah Republican Chaffetz, chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said that Flynn had an obligation to seek approval to take money from a foreign government. We found no evidence that he did that. The committees inquiry is one of several congressional investigations into Flynns contacts with foreign officials. On Thursday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer rebuffed criticism from Cummings that the White House was covering up. Asked about Trump administration vetting, Spicer appeared to shift blame onto the Obama administration, which had fired Flynn as head of the DIA. Why would you re-run a background check on someone who is the head of the Department of Defense Intelligence Agency that had and did maintain a high-level security clearance? Spicer asked. He noted that Flynns security clearance was renewed during the Obama administration with all of the information thats being discussed that occurred in 2015. Palestinians take on Salt Water Challenge to draw attention to plight of more than 1,500 prisoners on hunger strike. A social media campaign highlighting the plight of more than 1,500 hunger striking Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails has gone viral, with people from across the world posting videos of themselves on social media drinking salt water in solidarity. Similar to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that went viral in 2014, the Salt Water Challenge sees supporters of the hunger striking prisoners drink a mixture of salt and water. The participants then challenge others to do the same. Since April 17, Palestinian Prisoners Day, many prisoners in Israeli jails have been on an indefinite hunger strike protesting prolonged imprisonment without charge, medical negligence, administrative detention and limited family visits among other charges. The prisoners have refused to eat food until their demands are met and they are only consuming salt water as a means to steady their health. The salt water campaign was launched with a video by Aarab Marwan Barghouti, the son of imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who is currently serving five life sentences over his role in the second Intifada against the Israeli occupation. Barghouti has spent nearly two decades of his life in Israeli jails, and spent almost three years in solitary confinement. According to a 2013 interview, his tiny windowless cell denied him aeration or direct sunlight and was infested with cockroaches and rats. My father, along with 1,700 other political prisoners started the Hunger Strike for Freedom and Dignity in demand for human rights and humane living conditions in the prisons, Aarab Marwan Barghouti said in the video. The clip then ends with Barghouti nominating Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf and others to take part in the challenge. Assaf helped the campaign go viral which has now seen thousands of people take part in the challenge, including the 2017 winner of Arab Idol, Yacoub Shaheen. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, since the start of Israels occupation 50 years ago, more than 750,000 Palestinians have been imprisoned by Israeli forces. About 6,500 Palestinians are currently in Israeli jails, 300 are children. Palestinian leaders have denounced Israels refusal to negotiate with the hunger strikers, warning of a new Intifada if any of them die. Demonstrations have been held in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip to support the prisoners, with Israeli forces firing tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets and live ammunition at protesters. At least five soldiers killed, 40 wounded after bomber detonates explosives-laden vehicle near troop convoy. A suicide car bomber has attacked a military convoy in northeast Nigeria, killing five soldiers and injuring another 40, security forces have said. Two military officers told the AFP news agency on Friday that the attacker, believed to be loyal to factional Boko Haram leader Abu Musab al-Barnawi, targeted the convoy, which was conducting clearance operations between Yobe and Borno states. At about 10:00 GMT on Thursday, a suicide bomber believed to be a Boko Haram terrorist riding in a van loaded with explosives rammed into a military convoy at Manguzum village, one said. We lost five soldiers in the incident and more than 40 sustained various degrees of injuries, added the officer, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak about the incident. OPINION: Boko Haram feeds off corruption in Nigeria In a separate development, at least 15 gunmen believed to be Boko Haram fighters were shot dead during a battle with soldiers. Kinsley Samuel, Nigerias military spokesman, said that the fighting occurred in the Sambisa forest in the countrys north. There has been a spate of deadly attacks on military targets in recent months, as troops fight to end the eight-year conflict, which has killed thousands of civilians. A multinational force of troops from Nigeria and its neighbours last year drove Boko Haram out of towns and villages in northeast Nigeria, but isolated attacks and suicide bombings continue. WATCH: Rescued Boko Haram wives share stories (2:21) In December, President Muhammadu Buhari said the capture of a key camp marked the final crushing of Boko Haram in its last enclave in Sambisa Forest, once the groups stronghold. But since then, the group, which split into two factions last year, has stepped up its attacks. One Boko Haram faction is led by Abubakar Shekau from the Sambisa Forest. Abu Musab Al-Barnawi leads the other faction, based in the Lake Chad region, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group. At least 20,000 people have been killed in the Boko Haram conflict since it began in 2009 and more than 2.6 million others made homeless. US president says he wants to see a diplomatic solution to the standoff but does not rule out military action. US President Donald Trump says a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programmes, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely, Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview on Thursday. Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple US presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasising by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. Wed love to solve things diplomatically but its very difficult, he said. Trump said North Korea was his biggest global challenge. He lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in Pyongyang. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month. I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps its possible that he cant, Trump said. READ MORE: Is war coming to North Korea? Trump spoke a day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programmes. Tillerson said on Thursday that China has threatened to impose sanctions on North Korea if it conducts further nuclear tests. We know that China is in communications with the regime in Pyongyang, Tillerson said on Fox News Channel. They confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test. Tillerson said China also told the US that it had informed North Korea that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own. The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority. It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbour and ally, and remained open to negotiations. Al Jazeeras Adrian Brown, reporting from Beijing, said Trumps praise of President Xi Jinping seemed like a possible strategy to flatter China into taking a firmer stance with North Korea, although Chinas options could be limited. In many ways Chinas hands are tied. Any sanctions against the North have to be carefully calibrated because if you squeeze North Korea too hard, you risk the [North Korean] regime being toppled. You then have the prospect of hundreds of thousands of North Korean refugees pouring across the border, perhaps into China, and also the prospect of a united Korea, with US military bases very close to Chinas border, said Brown. So Chinas options, when it comes to further sanctions, are perhaps limited, he added. US officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct US military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among US forces in both countries. Multi-nation negotiations with North Korea on its nuclear programme stalled in 2008. The Obama administration attempted to resurrect them in 2012, but a deal to provide food aid in exchange for a nuclear freeze soon collapsed. Turkish army says YPG fighters fired rockets across the border, prompting retaliation by Turkish forces. The Turkish army has claimed it has killed 11 terrorists during cross-border clashes with Syrian Kurdish fighters. Rockets fired on Friday from an area controlled by the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in Syria targeted a Turkish army command post in the Ceylanpinar district of Turkeys southern Sanliurfa province. The Turkish army fired back and killed 11 terrorists, it said. There were no reports of casualties on the Turkish side. This was the third day in a row that clashes have been reported across the tense border after the Turkish military jets carried out air strikes targeting the YPG fighters in the area earlier this week. Fridays clashes came as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the YPG that Turkey would fire back against any assault and thwart the creation of any Kurdish state in northern Syria. Are we going to leave them unanswered? We are doing what is necessary, Erdogan said in Istanbul. We will take this kind of measure as long as the threats continue. Ankara sees YPG as a terror group linked to outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) inside Turkey. The PKK has waged a battle against Turkish authorities since 1984. But the United States considers it to be a key ally in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) in Syria. A Turkish military statement said Tuesdays strikes were carried out to prevent the PKK from sending terrorists, arms, ammunition and explosives to Turkey, adding that the operation was conducted within the scope of the international law. The US Department of State has said it is deeply concerned Tuesdays strikes that were also carried out in Iraq were conducted without proper coordination either with the United States or the broader global coalition against ISIL. On Wednesday, Russias foreign ministry said the attacks carried out by Turkey were unacceptable and called on all sides to show restraint. Ankara said Washington and Moscow had been properly informed in advance. Macedonia opposition leader, injured in Thursdays violence, shuns talks and brands attack on him as attempted murder. Macedonias opposition leader Zoran Zaev said on Friday the assault on him and his fellow legislators in parliament was attempted murder and rejected the presidents call for emergency party leaders talks. Supporters of the countrys dominant nationalist party invaded parliament on Thursday and assaulted opposition legislators. Zaev was among 102 people injured during the violence inside and outside parliament that followed the election of an ethnic Albanian parliament speaker. The head of a small ethnic Albanian opposition party and 22 police officers were also injured. Speaking at a news conference in the capital Skopje on Friday, Zaev accused former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and President Gjorge Ivanov of provoking the violence and claimed they were prepared to sacrifice the state interest for their own personal interests. An official in the Social Democrat party told AP news agency that Zaev would not be attending the talks that were scheduled to take place on Friday. Gruevski and his nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party ruled Macedonia for a decade until December last year when the election saw VMRO-DPMNE secure 51 seats in the 120-seat parliament two more than the SDSM but the conservatives failed to reach a deal with king-making Albanian parties. Although Zaev reached an agreement with the Albanian groups, President Ivanov refused to give him a mandate to form a government, leaving the country without a functioning leadership. An ally of Gruevski, the president expressed concern over the controversial demand of Albanian parties that Albanian be made an official language across Macedonia. Critics of the demand feared it could lead to the break-up of the country of about two million people a quarter of whom are ethnic Albanians. WATCH Macedonia Behind the Facade Speaking at his party headquarters early on Friday, Gruevski said the Social Democrats consciously violated Macedonias Constitution by electing the new speaker despite the months-old deadlock in efforts to form a new government. Greed to seize power at any cost is the direct cause which led to this adverse situation, and they bear responsibility for it, Gruevski said. Stalling departure Hristijan Georgievski, a political analyst, said the problem facing Macedonia was not of an ethnic nature. They are rather of a political, legal or be it criminal nature, he told Al Jazeera from Skopje. What we saw yesterday was the result of a small group of people, presumably of the outgoing ruling party, feeding repeatedly off ethnic strife, hatred and disinformation in hopes of stalling or postponing their departure from power. Agim Nuhin, interior minister in the countrys interim government, has offered to resign over the failure by police to stop the protesters from storming parliament. In this weeks UpFront, we speak to Israels consul general in New York, Dani Dayan, who defends his countrys expansion of settlements, including the construction of its first new settlement in decades. In the Reality Check, we look at the dark and fascist origins of Frances National Front party, and ask if it has changed. And in a special interview, the granddaughter of Nelson Mandela, Ndileka Mandela, explains why she had to leave her grandfathers political party. Headliner Israeli diplomat: Settlement issue overblown Editors note: For more from this interview, click here. In February, the Israeli Knesset passed a law retroactively legalising thousands of settler homes in the West Bank, and in March, Israel approved the construction of its first new settlement in decades. Is Israel really heeding the call US President Donald Trump made to hold off on settlement building in order to advance the peace process? Our cabinet already made the decision to listen to the president and to formulate a new policy of restraint, says Israels consul general in New York, Dani Dayan. That doesnt mean that we agree with the rationale of that request. The whole issue of settlements is so overblown, so overrated the basic problem is whether the Palestinians recognise Israels right to exist. In this weeks Headliner, Dani Dayan who himself was a former settler leader defends his countrys policy on settlements in the occupied West Bank. Reality Check Is Frances National Front still fascist? Marine Le Pen, who recently resigned temporarily as leader of the National Front (FN), is now facing off against centrist Emmanuel Macron for Frances top spot. Though she has stepped down temporarily, she remains a member of the FN a party founded by her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, and a former Vichy Nazi, Leon Gaultier that now supports her candidacy. So, has the party changed at all? In this weeks Reality Check, we examine whether the party has shed its fascist past. Why is Mandelas granddaughter abandoning the ANC? Thousands of demonstrators have taken to South Africas streets demanding President Jacob Zuma step down as his partys membership plummets. Has the African National Congress, once led by freedom fighter Nelson Mandela, who then became South Africas first democratically elected president, lost its way? I saw first hand the abject poverty of the people in the rural areas and what they suffer, says Ndileka Mandela, the eldest granddaughter of Nelson Mandela. The leadership, the leader, must go back to the basic tenets of the ANC, the basic tenets of the Freedom Charter. That is why we are calling the ANC to account, to embody the values and legacies of our founding fathers. In this special interview, we speak to Ndileka Mandela on why shes decided to speak up against the current leadership of her grandfathers party. Follow UpFront on Twitter @AJUpFront and Facebook. Five suspects have been identified in connection with the July 2016 killing of Antonio Mason and the nonfatal shooting of his infant daughter, Gainesville Police announced Tuesday. Four of the suspects Jacoby Sheffield, 27; Daryl Wilkerson, 25; Jamal Thompson, 21; and Rodney Sheffield, 28 are currently in custody. Jacoby Sheffield and Wilkerson were arrested Tuesday by GPD, while Thompson is currently incarcerated in Georgia, said GPD spokesperson Officer Ben Tobias at a Tuesday press conference. Late Wednesday night, Rodney Sheffield turned himself into the Alachua County Jail, Tobias wrote in an email. Police have yet to find David Lock, 32, he said. On July 27, 2016, Mason, 35, was killed in a late-night home invasion after being shot in the chest by four gunmen, police said. The gunmen also shot Masons infant daughter, Zymya, whom he was holding during the invasion as well as a bystander. Both Zymya, who was 11-months-old at the time, and the bystander, Jordan Smith, sustained nonfatal injuries, according to the release. Zymya and Smith were both shot in the arm. They broke into the house and just began shooting wildly, Tobias said. Initially, GPD offered a $3,000 reward after the shooting for information that would lead to an arrest, according to Alligator archives. But after not receiving many tips from the original award, the department raised the award in late August to $5,000, and did so again in late September to $8,000, according to archives. GPD believes Rodney Sheffield ordered the other four suspects to break into the house at 820 NW Fourth Place, promising to pay them. Rodney Sheffield falsely believed that someone who had previously stolen money from him lived at the house, according to the release. All five suspects face charges of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder, according to the release. The young infant that was shot, Tobias said, that bullet wound in her arm is going to be a somber reminder to her that her father is not there to watch her grow up. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now As of Thursday morning, Wilkerson and Jacoby Sheffield remain in the Alachua County Jail, each in lieu of a $3.5 million bond. Rodney Sheffield remains in the jail with no bond. English News China-Cambodia cooperation drives barren land into prosperity Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 28 Avril 2017 So far, Cambodia has already become one of the most robust and promising Asian countries. Behind its rapid economic development are its continuously deepened cooperation and in-depth exchange of experiences with China, for which SSEZ can serve as the best evidence. By Wang Tian, Jiao Xiang, Yu Jinghao, Zhang Zhiwen from Peoples Daily Sihanoukville port, once a piece of barren and impoverished land in southwestern Preah Sihanouk province, has now grown into a prosperous field thanks to China-Cambodia collaboration under the Belt and Road initiative put forward by China. The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) built on the port is among the first 8 overseas economic and trade cooperation zones approved by Chinese government, and also an important cooperation project between China and Cambodia. The booming SSEZ is a model for China-Cambodia pragmatic cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out when visiting Cambodia last October. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, on multiple occasions, also expressed his expectation to build the special economic zone into the "Shenzhen in Cambodia". Located at key juncture along the route of the "Belt and Road", SSEZ is now a flagship economic zone since the win-win cooperation project has benefited local residents. "I could hardly express my feeling when I came here 10 years ago, since it was a mess here," recalled Jiang Jun, manager of engineering department of SSEZ. The first factory building was delivered in 2009 after conquering various hardships, and the park finally took initial shape at the end of 2012. Greatly inspired by the 'Belt and Road' initiative proposed by Xi in 2013, we brought the construction of the special economic zone onto a fast lane, with the number of registered enterprises growing at a fast pace, Cao Jianjiang, general manager of the SSEZ said, adding that the zone is now an international industrial park. So far a total of 160 mills have been built on the soil of first-phased 5-square-kilometer park, and 109 textile, clothing, luggage and leather enterprises have been introduced, of which 94 are China-funded ones. The industrial output of the zone, where 16,000 people are working, has contributed more than 50% to the economy of Preah Sihanouk province. The arrival of Chinese companies has completely changed the small village of Sihanoukville port where cement buildings, electricity, and tap water didn't exist before. Eung Sarum, Chief of Township Bet Trang, told People's Daily that they used to live on corps and tree-cutting, but now almost each household, who has members working in industrial park, can afford to buy a motorcycle, adding that their lives have been much improved. Chinese enterprises have donated multimedia classrooms, aided impoverished students and provided free training of Chinese and skills for local villagers, said Kaev Boutthy, President of Primary School of Township Bet Trang. "I'm grateful to China," she said while pulling her palms together, which is the most sincere way for Cambodians to express appreciation. Local government officials and scholars also hailed the "Belt and Road" initiative to the Peoples Daily. Khlot Thyda, President of Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), believes that the initiative, which aims at common development, is a win-win proposal with practical significance. The 76-year-old woman added that the world will embark on a road of peaceful development if every country could join the initiative. The 'Belt and Road' initiative is about inter-connectivity which brings new opportunities," noted Sok Chenda Sophea, Secretary General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC). Apart from the park, China and Cambodia have enriched the outcome list from pragmatic cooperation under Belt and Road initiative. Chinese enterprises have built and renovated 20 roads in the country, covering a mileage of 2,669 kilometers and accounting for more than 35% of the total mileage of Cambodia's highway. The 8 newly constructed super-large bridges have also greatly improved the country's transportation and facilitated the locals. In addition, 6 completed hydro-power stations and 3 power grid networks contributed a lot to local people's livelihood and economic growth by ensuring the electricity supply for almost the whole country. Cambodia has not entered the era of peaceful construction until 1998. After decades of wars and chaos, Cambodian people have nurtured a strong desire for development. So far, Cambodia has already become one of the most robust and promising Asian countries. Behind its rapid economic development are its continuously deepened cooperation and in-depth exchange of experiences with China, for which SSEZ can serve as the best evidence. The rise of the special economic zone is a result of the top design of the two governments, communication between related departments, and concerted efforts of the enterprises. The zone not only incorporated China's successful experience in constructing industrial parks, but also created a development pattern unique to Cambodia. Sok Chenda told People's Daily that the professional, earnest and diligent Chinese entrepreneurs have brought fantastic Chinese experiences to the zone, and the SSEZ has all the factors for success as the most promising special zone in Cambodia. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Yunnan dispatches sci-tech experts to South Asia, Southeast Asia, builds bridge of int'l technological cooperation China's Beidou reaches world-leading level: white paper Silk Road e-commerce promotes trade among Belt and Road countries Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News China-Europe freight train brings UK-made products to China Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 28 Avril 2017 "The UK's commodities will reach out to the world along the ancient Silk Road," said Greg Hands, UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment, adding that the freight train commuting between China and the UK will inspire and accelerate the latters globalization process. By Huang Peizhao, Li Yingqi and Zhao Cheng from Peoples Daily The first freight train from the UK to China which filled with UK-made products will arrive in Yiwu, East China's Zhejiang Province on Saturday, after finishing its 12,000-kilometer journey. Analysts said that the train has not only injected vitality into Chinas trade with the UK and Europe, but also revealed the glimmer of theBelt and Road initiative. The train, filled with 32 containers of products, left the London Gateway terminal of Dubai Ports World (DP World) on April 10. The London-Yiwu line recreates the ancient Silk Road trade route that once connected Europe to China. "People came all the way to the gateway to witness the historic moment. The cold weather and strong wind did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the public," Nelson, a security guard at the port, described the moment when the train set off from London. He added that it was touching to see the crowds waving Chinese national flags and good luck banners. In the two weeks since the trains departure, many more customers showed interest in the train and consulted about the details, said Oliver Treneman, manager of the gateways logistics park. Treneman said that the train has a significant meaning for them as a new way of transportation for manufacturers and retailers based in London. It is faster than sea transportation and cheaper than air freight, he explained, adding that the freight train has offered a new approach for the transnational transportation of British commodities. "We believe it's just a start and there will be plenty such trains in the future. It trades British goods for firm hard currencies," said an employee of the London gateway who hailed China as the country on which the UK has placed high expectations after its exit from the EU. The UK, as an island country surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, heavily relies on exports because of its limited domestic market. The country is expected to have to find new business chances post-Brexit, as the European market currently accounts for over half of British exports. Against this backdrop, the UK political circle reached a consensus to seek benefits from China's Belt and Road initiative. China-Europe freight trains are the best opportunity for the UK to strengthen its trade with its global partners especially after its exit of the EU, the BBC said in a report. "The UK's commodities will reach out to the world along the ancient Silk Road," said Greg Hands, UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment, adding that the freight train commuting between China and the UK will inspire and accelerate the latters globalization process. The Belt and Road initiative will bring Scotch whisky, a symbol of national pride, to the vast Chinese market, and as a result generate tangible benefits, said Shane, an employee with the Scotch Whisky Experience, a whisky visitor attraction based in the UK. You can image how exciting that will be, he said, saying that many Chinese residents like the liquor as well. According to Shane, the Scotch Whisky Experience has made a plan to keep a 5 percent growth for whisky exports from now until 2020. He believes the plan will be realized under the assistance of the Belt and Road initiative. When the outbound freight train that departed from Yiwu finally arrived at Barking Station in London in January, the BBC said that it was amazing for China to reopen the ancient Silk Road with modern technology. Less than three months later, the fully loaded freight train departed London for Yiwu. It has been compared to an unusual Silk Road train by some British media outlets. The Belt and Road initiative is a cure to the consequences of Brexit, and the country will enjoy development, an owner of a pharmacy located in Beak Street of downtown London, told the People's Daily. "The arrival of the first China-Europe freight train in London marked the reach of the Belt and Road route to the westernmost tip of Europe, and now it has returned," remarked a British scholar in an interview with the People's Daily. The expert added that the train has injected new energy into China-UK and China-Europe trade, and also reflects the great attraction of the Belt and Road initiative. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Yunnan dispatches sci-tech experts to South Asia, Southeast Asia, builds bridge of int'l technological cooperation China's Beidou reaches world-leading level: white paper Silk Road e-commerce promotes trade among Belt and Road countries Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) Over the last three days, close to 25,000 people have been displaced by intense fighting between the South Sudan Peoples Liberation Army and the Agwelek forces around the town of Kodok. The humanitarian organizations that have up until now been providing essential medical services, water, food, non-food items and shelter have had to temporarily suspend []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... It certainly appears that Trump has more common sense and intelligence on taxes and the economy than many of those advising him, the career politicians from both parties, the bureaucrats, the media and most economists. I am a 64 year old CPA who has been doing taxes for approximately 40 years. This is the most intelligent tax policy I have seen since Ronald Reagans and my initial thoughts make me believe that it is better than Reagans. It is a simple and logical plan that would give everyone the incentive to earn more instead of spending so much time and money trying to beat the tax man. I believe the impetus it would give to economic growth is immeasurable. The summary of what I have seen on President Trumps tax plan looks like it would greatly help almost everyone and especially the overall economy. If the U.S makes the corporate tax rates more competitive, businesses in the U.S would have a great incentive to keep businesses here and/or to move business back from overseas. Foreign businesses would also have a greater incentive to move and build businesses here which is, after all, the biggest economy in the world. Regulatory relief also helps a lot. The lower the regulatory burden, the greater the likelihood that businesses will thrive and keep their prices competitive. If you lower the tax rate, get rid of a lot of the special interest deductions along with reducing regulations, businesses and individuals will become more productive, boosting the economy. If you get rid of the alternative minimum tax (AMT), the estate tax, and many tax deductions and tax breaks, you take away the incentive to shelter income. The number of potential audits is greatly reduced, minimizing the cost of IRS. People and businesses would structure their personal lives and businesses without much regard for taxes which would make everything run more efficiently and effectively. Democrats are already saying they are against Trumps proposed tax policy changes. What a surprise. Democrats seem to believe the money is all theirs. They decry any cut in taxes as if it was the governments money in the first place. They call tax cuts a cost to the government. In contrast, when government entities increase taxes and fees, the media and Democrats talk about the additional revenue to the government, not the cost to individuals and businesses to pay the tax. The following article points out that networks howl about the loss of revenue to the government. I do not recall them decrying the loss of money to individuals and businesses when government increase taxes and fees. Basically the media repeats Democratic talking points. Democrats, including the media, believe the people work for the government instead of the government working for the people. Democratic politicians and the media are so lacking in knowledge about economics that they don't even comprehend that as they rail against trickle-down or supply side economics, it's their own policies that are pure trickle-down economics. They believe that more money should go to the government, then they run the money through a major bureaucracy enriching the already huge government entities and finally, they trickle out a much smaller amount to their special interest groups which they claim generates jobs. It is a simple concept that the more money that is left in the private sector, the more potential there is for growth. It is too bad so many dont understand. The Democrats really dont want a simple tax code. With a simplified tax code, politicians cant bribe as many individuals and businesses with goodies. They cant buy votes. According to IRS, only a little over 30% of people itemized their deductions in 2013 and Trump wants to significantly increase the standard deduction along with lower the rates. Then he wants to eliminate and cap itemized deductions. Trumps policy suggestions help almost everyone and simplify the code so much that most people should be able to fill out the tax forms themselves. Think of all the money that could be saved if they didnt have to spend so much time and money on tax preparation and/or planning. The only people who may be hurt by limiting itemized deductions would be the truly rich. The poor and middle class will be helped, not hurt. Then the public is continually fed the myth that when you cut rates that it costs the government. Bushs across-the-board significant cuts in tax rates in 2003 showed that that was absolutely not true. Bush inherited a recession and a collapsing stock market when he took office in 2001. The economy was stagnant. Income tax revenues dropped from $1.2 trillion in fiscal year 2000 to $900 billion in fiscal 2003. Bush got his tax cuts approved in May 2003, the economy got a huge boost, and income tax revenues shot up to more than $1.5 trillion by FY2007. Rates were cut by around 10% across the board and revenues shot up over 60%. The CBO and other economists did not seem to understand the simple concept that the more money you leave in the hands of individuals, the more they have to spend, save and invest. All of that is more stimulating to the overall economy than having the government confiscate a continually greater share, and then picking winners and losers. The kneejerk reaction of the Democrats and the media to such effective tax reform, seen whenever proposals to allow people and businesses to keep more of their own money is telling. They would rather have more people dependent on government than a growing, stimulated economy. I have seen many economies that collapsed because the government got too big. (Venezuela is a current example. The Soviet Union was a previous example.) I do not believe I have ever seen an economy collapse because individuals and businesses have been able to keep a greater share of the money that they, not the government or politicians, earned. The bad ideas I see on tax reform all relate to some sort of national sales tax. This can be in the form of a Value Added Tax (VAT) or the "fair tax" that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckaee supported. These are highly regressive taxes that will widen the wealth gap and destroy the U.S. consumer-driven economy. They complicate the tax system instead of simplify it. The border adjustment tax also sounds stupid because it is so complicated. The best border adjustment there would be is to stop double-taxing earnings that companies legitimately allocate to other countries. Double taxation is absolutely unfair. Some Democrats in particular seem to be entertaining the idea of a VAT lately, which shows they really dont care about simplicity or economic growth. They also seem to have little concern for the middle class and the poor because any VAT is highly regressive and reduces purchasing power. Trumps proposals are for an extremely progressive income tax system. It is truly a shame that the Democrats, including the media, are so intent on punishing those they have defined as rich that they dont mind taking away important economic opportunities from the poor and middle class in the process. Lets give everyone a chance to move up the economic ladder. Trumps simplification proposals certainly appear to enhance everyones opportunities. Hellner is a CPA with more than forty years' experience on tax matters. On February 7, 2017 Betsy DeVos was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Education by a vote of 51-50 with Vice President Mike Pence breaking the tie vote. She made history because she was the first Cabinet nominee to be confirmed in this way. The question now is whether this contentious and controversial minister will make history by ensuring implementation of her objectives of school choice, charter schools, and vouchers, or as her critics argue, be the ideological advocate of anti-public education by undermining the traditional public school system? Whatever the answer, it is not coincidental that education is a major political issue in Britain as in the US. In both countries, a host of problems on the issue confront the administrations, the role of government, the issue of funding student loans which inevitably require increased taxes, the nature of the core curriculum. If the main controversy in the U.S. is over charter schools, the schools that are public funded and independently operated, sometimes by for-profit companies, in Britain it is the issues of grammar schools and selectivity. The Trump administration might learn from events in Britain. British Prime Minister Theresa May is an energetic and ambitious leader, already immersed in the thorny Brexit issue. Her stated objective is for Britain to be the worlds great meritocracy, a country where everyone has a fair chance to go as far as talent and hard work will allow. The place to start on her agenda of social change is with the educational system. The dominant aspects of her plan are to end the ban imposed in 1998 on the creation of new grammar schools, and to help poorer children to succeed educationally. To do this she advocates the extension of selectivity in the school system. The issue of school selectivity is one that affects and is related to other aspects of life, such as prices of houses in areas that are said to have the best schooling, the movement of people from North to South England, and the nature of Britains industrial strategy. That strategy is important for May who is concerned that the UK is placed 16th out of the worlds 20 developed economies in the number of people having a technical education. But May is concerned with improving and providing a solid ground in academic subjects. She points out that about 1.25 million children attend primary and secondary schools in England that are rated as inadequate or requiring improvement. Grammar schools will help change this. Grammar schools (GS) are state schools that select students by an examination at age 11, "the 11 plus," taken by pupils in the last year of private or primary school. A number of problems exist over the test and its nature. The test tends to be based on verbal and non-verbal reasoning, and on questions not usually discussed in primary schools, thus favoring children who come from educated families, or have private tutors. Pupils who pass the test go to the local grammar school, while those who do not pass go to the local state school, or what used to be called secondary modern. In England there are about 160 grammar schools out of 3,000 state secondary schools, and 69 grammar schools in Northern Ireland. There are no state grammar schools in Wales or Scotland. Those students who do not pass the exam can go to the local "secondary modern school," (SMA). In addition, there is the "comprehensive" system which is attended by pupils of all abilities, and became the norm in the 1970s. Though GS have existed since 16th century, the system today dates from the 1944 Education Act that made secondary education free. The system was based on a division that has important social significance. GS focused on academic studies, and the implication was that many of the pupils would continue on to higher, university, education, and would likely succeed in life. SMS implied that pupils would not go on to higher education, but would go into some form of trade or employment. In addition, there was also provision for a third type of school, the technical school, but few were established. The main problem is that this selective educational system reinforced class division, differences in income, and social inequalities. As a result, governments in the 1960s, based on ideology of social equality, ordered local authorities to phase out GS and SMS, and replace them with a comprehensive system. Some areas did this, but others, mainly in conservative areas, did not. In 1998 the Labour government, headed by Tony Blair, forbad the establishment of any new selective schools It is this system that is being challenged by Theresa May, who herself was educated on scholarship at a grammar school, a selective direct grant school, and then at Oxford. Her present Cabinet contains 9 members who attended selective schools. About 11% of Members of the House of Commons attended similar schools. The basic educational problem is evident. Age 11 is too young to make what is virtually a life choice. What can be termed life chances should not be determined by a test at 11. The reality is that the proportion of poorer children reaching the necessary level to pass is considerably lower than that of wealthier children. Statistics show that children from households in the top 1% of income had an 80% chance of admittance to selective schools. For a start there should be opportunities for children to transfer between types of schools. Chances for children coming from working class families is to a considerable degree determined by where they live or the income of their parents. Selectivity is in reality often related to areas with high house price or family wealth. Prime Minister May strongly calls for greater diversity of the system so that it can cater to the needs and abilities of all children. That policy means more free schools sponsored by universities and independent schools, faith schools, and selective schools. Diversity will result from new selective schools that will be able to become grammars. It also means extending free public transport for poor children to attend grammars. Mays main focus is on grammar schools, almost all of which are rated good or outstanding, compared with only 20% overall of state schools. May therefore wants the ban on selective schools to be relaxed. Her chief point is that they cater for the most academically gifted children. Therefore, her government will support the expansion of good or outstanding grammar schools. What is interesting is that May, a political conservative, is calling for new grammars to take a minimum proportion of children from lower income households. She has called for children from ordinary, working class families to have a fair chance in life. However, questions remain, both in UK and U.S. In the U.S. the issue is clear, will charter schools improve the quality of education or will they lead to destroying the public school system? In the UK, will the expansion of selectivity and grammars contribute to social mobility and a more egalitarian society? Indeed, in both countries the fundamental question can be raised, is education the golden key to social mobility? Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on April 16 won a referendum by a narrow margin of 51.4%, extending the powers of his office and curtailing the powers of the parliament and judiciary in Turkey. This vote took place at a time when approximately 40,000 individuals have been jailed following a coup attempt against Erdogan. Despite the curtailment of the other branches of government and the incarceration of many of those who strongly oppose him, Erdogan, in an interview with CNN, insisted that these reforms do not make him a dictator. He stupidly declared himself mortal and insisted that he would have a successor as supposed reasoned proof that his holding of the office would not be permanent. Erdogan's new powers bring up another important question: who deserves to belong to NATO? Whether Turkey is or is not a democracy after this revamping of the government by Erdogan is important, as it is one of the two purposes that are the basis for NATO unity, with the other being military support in the case of attack. NATO itself states, "NATO promotes democratic values and encourages consultation and cooperation on defence and security issues to build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict." The term "democratic values" is sufficiently vague to cover a range of definitions. Keeping in mind that NATO was originally a defensive organization against communism, particularly as represented by the USSR, democratic values could be understood as "non-communist values." The federalism and checks and balances of the U.S. constitutional model could not be said to apply to many of the European states. Further, the idea of a responsible citizenry at the grassroots is different in the USA from how it is in European states. Also, some of those states at the time NATO was formed enjoyed colonial rule over other countries, whereas the United States had never gone the colonial route, although many on the left would dispute this statement. The parsing of the definition of a democracy has become a commonplace in the Middle East. Often, democracy is portrayed as simply allowing people to vote rather than imposing a military dictatorship on the populace. Compromise, consensus-building, respect for differing viewpoints, checks and balances, proper balance between local districts and central government, an informed and responsible citizenry, no taxation without representation, and respect for law greater than respect for office or person are essentials for a democratic context in which voting takes place. As long as the West sees elections in Libya, Egypt, Iran, Afghanistan, or (now) Turkey, many naive people docilely accept that those countries are "democratic," but they are not. It is typically forgotten that in the Soviet Union, Josef Stalin sometimes garnered 99% of the votes. Workers were given time off from their employment and directed to go vote (with Stalin as the only candidate). Years ago, after the Taliban was kicked out of Afghanistan by the U.S., our TV newscasters were so happy to show photos of smiling Muslim women voting for the first time with purple ink on their fingers as a sign that they had gone to the polls. Thus, if people vote, you have a democracy. Ignored was the fact that even with a new "democratic government," the U.S. and the Afghanis were still in a fight to the death, as we are today with the Taliban and other warlords throughout the country. Further, Hamid Karzai, their first democratic president, was hardly George Washington. He was a corrupt official who, with his cronies, lined his pockets with American aid and other forms of corruption. Turkey's membership goes back to early 1952, during the administration of President Harry S. Truman. At that time, both Greece and Turkey were admitted. NATO was formed to protect Europe from the threat of communism. Not only had Stalin occupied Eastern Europe, but there were real threats against Greece and Turkey by internal communist insurgents in Greece and by the USSR, which was threatening Turkey about the use of the Turkish Straits. Because of the threat of the USSR to Turkey and, following that, to the Eastern Mediterranean, we were forced to make an exception by admitting Turkey as an Asian country into a European alliance system. Today, however, and in fact since 1991, our European alliances no longer require Turkish participation. In addition to the question of a member's commitment to democracy, the other key reason for NATO's existence is the members' commitment to militarily defend the other NATO allies. Under the NATO alliance system, Articles 5 and 6, an attack on any of the members is considered an attack on all. Therefore, considering the volatility of the Islamic world, as it presently stands, if any country attacks Turkey, we are treaty-bound to come to Turkey's defense. Can Turkey really be counted on as a NATO ally? It is undemocratic now, and anti-Israel. What if the USA or another NATO country were attacked because of defense of Israel? Does anyone really think Turkey under that scenario would come to our defense? Or what if we had to attack Turkey because of their helping an attack on Israel? How could we attack a NATO ally? As Turkey becomes less democratic and comes increasingly to resemble the other dictatorial countries of the Middle East, their governmental vision is less in conformity with NATO's stated goals. Further, Turkey and the U.S. no longer have the same enemy we shared when Turkey was first admitted to NATO. Lastly, many scenarios can easily be imagined where the U.S. would be attacked and Turkey would not wish to fight for us, or where Turkey would be attacked, and we would not like to fight for them. For these reasons, Turkish membership in the NATO alliance should be revoked. If a military alliance of some sort should still be deemed warranted, it should be written on a bilateral basis with Turkey, and in terms of 21st-century realities, not those that existed at the end of WWII. A woman raised an uproar in a church when she decided to breastfeed during a service, and she was asked to cover up her nude breasts with a blanket. The woman refused and got so angry that she decided to make a webcam video available to the entire world showing her baby sucking on her breasts. Annie Peguero, of Dumfries, says in a Facebook Live video that she was questioned twice as she breastfed Sunday in Summit Church in Springfield: first as she sat near the church's "baby room" without a nursing cover over her breast and a second time as she nursed openly in the sanctuary during the sermon. Peguero, a military wife and mother of two, said a church official told her it went against church policy to nurse openly. "We don't want to make a man uncomfortable in church, and we also don't want to make a new churchgoer feel uncomfortable," Peguero said she was told. But Peguero got so angry that she posted a video of herself breastfeeding so the entire world could see it. That started me thinking. Her behavior seems to have crossed the line from necessity to exhibition. Could it be that some women find it sexually exciting to breastfeed in public? After all, women don't need to show their breasts in public to breastfeed. 1) They can breastfeed at home. 2) They can breastfeed in a bathroom stall. 3) They can breastfeed in public but cover their breasts with a blanket. If a woman "needs" to show her breasts in public for breastfeeding, and feels the need to do it so badly that she makes a video of her doing it for others to watch, could it be that she is getting sexual pleasure from it? It doesn't take much searching on YouTube to find videos of women who clearly enjoy breastfeeding for that purpose: Sexy Mommy Breastfeeding Toddler Breastfeeding Tutorial Compilation Sexy Mom #1 PART18 Breastfeeding mother - SEXY Mom shows her boobs PART59 - Breastfeeding SEXY mother Show her boobs Since there is no need to show one's breasts in public to breastfeed, I have to conclude that this urge to do so is an offshoot of the nudist movement. Annie Pegueru went to a church where people wanted to pray to God, not her breasts. And how respectful is it to whip out your breasts when you're supposed to be praying to God? Are people supposed to be multitasking like this in a place of worship? I imagine not. People say breastfeeding is only natural. There are many things that are natural that are nonetheless done behind closed doors. Let these women get their exhibitionist joys using a mirror, not a webcam. They should be naked only in the eyes of God, not their fellow parishioners. Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com. President Trump has issued two executive orders directing a temporary halt to immigration from certain countries along with the most recent order to withhold federal funds from so-called sanctuary cities and counties. The travel-related orders have been challenged in federal court and have been stayed by activist federal judges using the flimsy pretext that these E.O.s are an abridgement of the immigrant's constitutional right to religious freedom. Forget for a moment that the subjects of these E.O.s aren't American citizens, therefore are not entitled to protections under our Constitution, and focus instead on the functional result of such a brazen attack on the separation of powers. The basis for these orders is not religion, but rather the lack of functioning governments in these nations from whom we can gather sufficient information to adequately vet their emigres. The order to withhold funds has also been challenged and subjected to a stay. President Trump correctly believes that it is his duty to prevent the wrong-headed importation of potentially dangerous individuals and to halt the ongoing subsidizing of local governments enabling illegality. The left (predictably!) lost their minds. In their rush to oppose all things Trump, they turned to their primary method of implementing policy the courts usurping powers constitutionally vested in the office of the president. The hubris of the activist wing of the judiciary has long been troubling, but this presumptive, arrogant overreach is unprecedented. No intellectually honest interpretation of the Constitution or applicable law can provide a rational basis for just one of nearly 3,000 federal judges to have the power to exercise a de jure veto over the actions of the president in the course of his duties as commander-in-chief especially when the existing law so clearly and unequivocally grants the president the statutory authority to act in the specific manner the judge is presuming to stay. While such egregious misuse of the judicial power constitutes an impeachable offense, there is an easier and less protracted means of reining in these black-robed tyrants. Congress can, under their broad authority to govern the inferior courts, strip the federal courts of their jurisdiction over executive action when the president is exercising the statutorily granted power to suspend or modify entry to the United States. Simply put, Congress established the lower courts and can modify (even remove) the jurisdiction of those courts. This can be done through the same administrative rules and procedures by which court districts are routinely drawn or modified. This means streamlined committee handling and rapid implementation. Indeed, there is precedent for this. The "Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996," signed into law by Monica Lewinsky's old boyfriend, stripped jurisdiction to challenge certain actions of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) (the forerunner of today's ICE) from federal courts. Congress can put an end to this unconstitutional and irresponsible judicial activism. Reassert the proper role of the courts, and do so before one of the once banned immigrants or refugees commit another act of criminality or terrorism. The author writes from Omaha, Nebraska and welcomes visitors to his website, www.dailyherring.com. Liberals are perfectly happy if boys decide to be girls or boys decide to become homosexual. But they are definitely not happy with boys, or girls, who decide they don't like being homosexual and want help becoming normal again, and so liberals want to outlaw so-called "conversion therapy." Democratic lawmakers this week introduced a bill that would ban the practice of "conversion therapy," treatments that historically have targeted the LGBT community and claim to be able to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2017 was introduced Tuesday by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), along with Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.). About 70 other members of Congress, all Democrats, have said they support the bill, which would allow the Federal Trade Commission to classify conversion therapy and its practitioners as fraudulent. Conversion therapy, also referred to as "reparative therapy" or "ex-gay therapy," purports to be able to change a person's sexual orientation. Highly controversial, the practice has been decried by dozens of mental health, medical and LGBT rights groups as harmful and misleading. So changing one's gender, which is an impossibility, is something we should pretend is possible, but changing sexual orientation, which we have seen time and time again, is harmful and misleading. I remember that Ellen once had a lover named Anne Heche, who dated Steve Martin when she thought she was heterosexual. Then she dated Ellen when she thought she was a lesbian. Then she left Ellen for a man who not only wore men's clothing, like Ellen, but also had a man's body parts. This switching back and forth is not uncommon, and some people want therapy to help them become heterosexual. Why is this wrong, but cutting off your penis and growing breasts if you're a man who "thinks" he is a girl is considered healthy? Seven states and the District of Columbia have successfully passed legislation to ban or restrict conversion therapy in some way. California was the first to do so, banning the practice outright in 2012; others are New Jersey, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont and, just this month, New Mexico. Although New York does not have an outright ban, the state effectively prohibits conversion therapy through administrative regulations. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie became the first Republican governor to sign a state bill banning conversion therapy for minors. It's funny how they ban "conversion" therapy, but they don't ban treatments that persuade people to become homosexuals. These treatments are administered not by psychologists, but rather by schools, which teach, in their curricula, how wonderful being a homosexual is and encourage students to try it. Eventually, Democrats will get their way, and helping people who want to be heterosexual will be a crime. Just as Democrats are making it a crime to keep boys out of girls' bathrooms. Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com. On Wednesday night, I had a chat with a good friend and Mexican businessman by phone. He was curious about President Trump and rumors that the U.S. would pull out of NAFTA. Apparently, the Mexican peso had a bad day with the rumors of a U.S. cancelation. It's amazing how many media outlets in Mexico overreact to everything that hits the internet about President Trump! Later, we learned that President Trump has decided to negotiate rather than terminate, as we heard in news reports. As I explained to my friend in a subsequent call, I support negotiations because it makes sense after 24 years. It is important for all three nations to put their cards on the table and move on or terminate the agreement. Also, a renegotiation may actually show that the original NAFTA worked out rather well for all. Opposition to NAFTA is huge in Mexico, especially in the agricultural sector. I've heard from many Mexicans who despise the way the agreement was approved in Mexico. And they will tell you that pre-NAFTA GDP growth was stronger, although I am not sure that you can blame all of that on NAFTA. I worked in Mexico in the 1980s, before NAFTA, and there were many protected industries. In other words, it's easy to have growth when government policies curtail competition. Nevertheless, it's fair to say that Mexico should take a look at NAFTA, because it was sold as the key to general prosperity, and it has not really worked out that way! As a supporter, let me say that we made a huge mistake with NAFTA. It should have been submitted to the U.S. Senate as a treaty. It also passed primarily on a party basis in the House (234-200), with the GOP generally supporting it and most Democrats opposing it: The strongest support in the House came from Republicans, who cast 132 votes for the trade plan and 43 against it. Among Democrats, 102 voted for the agreement and 156 opposed it. The one independent in Congress voted against the plan. The Senate vote was 73-26 in favor. Why didn't we go with the treaty route with 73 votes in favor? Consequently, we did not get the best deal in 1993. Instead, we got an agreement where a president could call for withdrawal or negotiation. Senator Obama did in 2008, and it was a big part of Mr. Trump's message in 2016. A treaty discussion would have recognized the benefits of a North American economic union, but it would have slowed up the movement of manufacturing jobs south of the border. Also, a treaty could have included border safety and control of illegal immigration as part of a broad compromise. So let's renegotiate NAFTA and do it right this time, as a treaty, as the Constitution calls for. P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk), (YouTube) and follow me on Twitter. In a recent article for the Daily Signal, Professor Walter Williams of George Mason University wrote how each Earth Day is "accompanied by predictions of doom." He points to the first Earth Day in 1970, when Professor George Wald of Harvard proclaimed that "civilization will end within 15 to 30 years," and how Professor Paul Ehrlich of Stanford repeated the Malthusian claim that the world population would overrun the food supply. Earth Day has consistently been marked by apocalyptic environmental prophecies that never come to fruition. This year's Earth Day was not at all different. The Huffington Post warned us that we had passed a "frightening milestone" of CO2 in the atmosphere, and GreenPeace tweeted that we have only ten years to save the planet. If these scare tactics are a reflection of the climate alarmism on Capitol Hill, the politicians aren't showing it. When it comes to climate policy, there are two common trends with liberal politicians: a desire to grow government and blatant hypocrisy. A perfect example of climate hypocrisy comes from former vice president Al Gore. Gore was one of the first climate alarmists to make the discussion of so-called global warming popular with his 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth. In the film, Gore claimed that sea levels would rise upwards of 20 feet "in the near future." He then took his share of the $24,000,000 the documentary earned and bought himself an $8-million mansion on one of the beaches he said would soon be underwater. Clearly, the most universally known champion of climate change doesn't buy his own rhetoric. It seems as if what constitutes as "good policy" to climate alarmists is any initiative that will increase the size and scope of the federal government while costing Americans their jobs. For example, take the defining climate policy of the Obama administration, the Clean Power Plan. Obama's former head of the Department of Energy, Charles McConnell, claimed that the Clean Power Plan would "reduce sea-level rise by the thickness of three sheets of paper ... and reduce the global temperature by 0.003 degrees Celsius." The cost? A measly $39 billion per year and a loss of 300,000 jobs per year. And what happens when a climate change initiative doesn't meet liberal activists' goal of increasing the size of government? Take a look at what happened in Washington state. Washington's referendum "Initiative 732" called for a revenue-neutral carbon tax in exchange for decreases in the state's income tax, expanding tax credits for low-income families, and lowering the business tax rate. While a carbon tax is a terrible idea, it is clear that this ballot initiative would not achieve the dramatic increases in taxes and spending that the left has become accustomed to in climate change legislation. And this didn't sit well with the climate hawks. Groups such as the Sierra Club, the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy, and the Washington state Democratic Party came out heavily against the measure, stating that it did not invest in "green jobs, energy efficiency, transit, housing, and renewable energy." In other words, it didn't expand the government enough. The tax-and-spenders succeeded in defeating that measure, even at the risk of jeopardizing our planet! The fact that Democrats in D.C. haven't offered a plan to fight climate change without growing government (or maybe a plan that, on net, shrinks it) shows they are very much on the same wavelength. The only conclusion one can draw is that either liberals didn't believe the climate alarmism they peddled this Earth Day or they are willing to hold the planet hostage in order to raise your taxes. Colton Grace is a free-market activist who has worked for a variety of campaigns and conservative non-profits. Last December, the citizens of Austria elected as president left-winger Alexander Van Der Bellen, and now they are reaping the consequences. Instead of Muslim immigrants assimilating into Austrian society, he wants Austria to adapt Muslim ways. Because of "Islamophobia," of course. Muslim Judeophobia (aiming at the destruction of the Jewish people) and Christophobia (currently killing the remaining Christians in the Middle East) are not of much concern, evidently. The U.K. Daily Mail reports: Austria's left-leaning president Alexander Van Der Bellen has suggested all women must one day wear headscarves to combat Islamophobia. The green-backed independent triumphed over his populist right-wing rival Norbert Hofer in December after an unprecedented repeat vote. His comments come after the Austrian government banned the full-face veil in public spaces in January, as part of an attempt to counter the rise of the far-right Freedom Party. During a talk to students Mr Van der Bellen suggested all women should wear a headscarf in solidarity with Muslims. Speaking at The House of the European Union in Vienna, he said: 'It is the right of a woman do men wear headscarves too? to dress herself however she wants. That is my opinion about it. But "however she wants" doesn't mean what it seems to mean: 'Besides that, not only Muslim women. Every woman can wear a headscarf. And if it goes on and I am already on the next question with actual rampant Islamophobia, the day will come that we must ask all women to wear a headscarf. 'All out of solidarity with those who have to on religious grounds.' Well, at least he is "asking," not commanding. For now. Theoretically Former President Obama has not been available for comment. Of course, he thinks they speak "Austrian" in Austria, and he doesn't understand that language. But if you speak German, here is Van Der Bellen making his views known that assimilation is 180 degrees different in his world: Hat tip: John McMahon Just recently, Ted Cruz proposed using assets confiscated from El Chapo and other criminals to pay for the wall. It was met with high fives all around, at least on the right. Alas, there is a chronic shortage of billionaire criminals in custody. But there is a bumper crop of employers who hire illegal immigrants. They could easily pay for ten walls. Four years ago, American Thinker was kind enough to publish my article on immigration reform. The main recommendation I made was to augment the penalties on companies that employ illegal immigrants with a tax or fine or fee of around $5.00 per hour (or more) for each such employee. It occurs to me that if it were adopted, the revenue could be initially earmarked to pay for the wall. A million full-time employees would raise around $10 billion each year. Once the wall is paid for, the money could fund many other useful programs, or just be used to lower the deficit. This is not the Mexican government writing us a check, but it would come primarily from the labor of Mexican citizens. That should satisfy most Americans while not embarrassing the Mexican government. On a related topic, visas for highly skilled workers, how about a quarterly auction for the H-1B visas or whatever is needed to legally hire such "talent"? The cost should reflect the true market value of these people and level the playing field for qualified American talent. Your digital subscription includes access to all content on our agricultural websites across the nation. Access unlimited content and the digital versions of our print editions - This Week's Paper. With less than 24 hours before the government runs out of money, precipitating a partial shutdown of services, President Donald Trump let the Democrats know that there are limits to what he and the Republican Congress will accept to keep the government operating. Democrats have been piling up conditions under which they will agree to a budget resolution that funds the government through September 30. But the difficulty of the negotiations has forced Hill Republicans to offer a one-week extension of funding to keep the government operating. If Democrats won't accept the stopgap measure, the president is prepared for a government shutdown. Reuters: "We'll see what happens. If there's a shutdown, there's a shutdown," Trump told Reuters in an interview, adding that Democrats would be to blame if the federal government was left unfunded. Congress has until 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday to pass a bill to fund the government or face a shutdown, which would temporarily lay off hundreds of thousands of federal workers. Republicans introduced a bill on Wednesday to fund government operations at current levels for one more week, giving them time to finish negotiations with Democrats on the plan for the rest of the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. Trump said a shutdown would be a "very negative thing" but that his administration was prepared if it was necessary. In a wide-ranging interview, he defended the one-page tax plan he unveiled on Wednesday from criticism that it would increase the U.S. deficit, saying better trade deals and economic growth would offset the costs. "We will do trade deals that are going to make up for a tremendous amount of the deficit. We are going to be doing trade deals that are going to be much better trade deals," Trump said. Trump also said it would be unfair to offer a debt bailout to Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, because it was unfair to people in U.S. states. Democrats have made continued Obamacare payments to insurance companies one condition they've imposed to support a funding bill. Another is a refusal to allow any money for the president's border wall. It remains to be seen how far Republicans will go to get the Democrats on board for the short-term funding extension, given that they need 12-15 Democrats in the House voting for the bill for the measure to pass. Trump's statement may be a gambit to force the Democrats to put up or shut up. A partial shutdown of government is a crap shoot for both parties, since blame for it would probably be shared equally by Republicans and Democrats. History shows that the media will almost certainly blame the Republicans and specifically President Trump for the impasse, even though in this case, it is the Democrats who are setting impossible conditions for their vote. My guess is that a stopgap funding bill will be passed near or shortly after midnight tonight. Man who had Amri contacts ejected, another arrested Pair alleged part of Berlin-based Islamist cell (ANSAmed - ROME, APRIL 28 - A Moroccan man who allegedly made contact with Anis Amri, the Tunisian behind the December terrorist attack on a Berlin Christmas market in which 12 people died, was ejected from Italy on Friday, sources said. A Congolese citizen was arrested in the same anti-terrorism operation conducted by investigators in the southern Puglia region. The two were allegedly part of a Salafist cell active in Berlin that had allegedly joined ISIS. CSM to examine Catania prosecutor case on NGOs controversy Don't generalize on migrant rescues, Justice minister (ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 28 - Giovanni Legnini, the head of the Italian judiciary's self-governing body the CSM, said Friday that the CSM will look at the case of Catania prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro next Wednesday. Zuccaro caused controversy on Thursday by saying that some NGOs involved in migrant-rescue operations in the Mediterranean "could be financed by traffickers". Justice Minister Andrea Orlando on Friday warned against sweeping generalizations amid a furore over a Catania probe into alleged links between some NGOs involved in migrant rescues in the Mediterranean and human traffickers. "It is not necessary to generalize, it is necessary to investigate," said Orlando. "If someone deserves to be punished, they should be punished". Federico Gelli, the head of a parliamentary commission of the asylum-seeker crisis, said Friday that Zuccaro will address the commission on May 9. "It is important to have every useful element to understand why the prosecutor made certain statements," Gelli said. "We must be careful not to discredit the activities of many organizations, without which it would be impossible to manage the emergency". Lower House Speaker Laura Boldrini voiced concern on Friday on Zuccaro case. "Casting this shadow over those who save human lives, without having evidence, is grave and irresponsible," Boldrini said via Twitter. "Saving lives at sea is a duty, those who do it are not committing a crime". (ANSAmed). n the course of summer 2016, Qatar announced it would take a 10% stake in the LATAM Airlines Group, the deal completed in January acquire a 49% shareholding in Meridiana and raise its stake in IAG to 20%. Etihad confirmed it would invest further in Virgin Australia in order to maintain its 22% stake and strengthen its foothold in the Americas by entering into codeshare agreements with Air Canada and Avianca. Emirates, which announced a number of changes to capacity deployment across its network (including several new A380 routes), set up a new codeshare agreement with Copa Airlines, while expanding cooperation with codeshare partners Malaysian Airlines and WestJet. As the share of global traffic carried by the ME3 continues to rise, it is instructive to see how each of these airlines has pursued breakneck growth. The manner in which these airlines have expanded their global presence over the last decade is remarkable. There are two clear components: organic growth (from a collective 2.1 billion available seat kilometres (ASKs) and 80 destinations in 2005 to 10.9bn ASKs and 175 destinations in 2015); and inorganic growth, which encompasses a variety of partnership models within the global airline ecosystem. The simplest of these inorganic options is interline or codeshare agreements, typically with small carriers serving a network of secondary cities or large carriers that can provide significant feed. More complex, however, is the wide swathe of higher order relationships, such as joint ventures, strategic agreements and equity investments these airlines have undertaken to accelerate expansion. As airlines around the world increasingly pursue such relationships, it is interesting to note how the ME3 have chosen to follow approaches distinct from each other and, in doing so, have begun to upend the traditional view of alliances and build cross-alliance bridges. The partnership visualisation (shown in graphic form) puts into perspective the nature of the ME3s engagement with other airlines and alliances. Each node represents an airline (where size reflects the ASKs it flies) and the connectors indicate a relationship between airlines weighted by the depth of the relationship. In particular, it highlights the distinct approaches favoured by each ME3 airline: Emirates has been very selective in pursuing partnerships, while Etihad has built a dense network of partnerships that bridge alliances and Qatar has strongly embedded itself in the Oneworld ecosystem. It should be noted that the image does not reflect a geographic network map; the relative position of an airline arises from the strengths of the different relationships it has built with other airlines. Emirates, a pioneer of the aggressive international hub-and-spoke model built on the geographic advantages of the Middle East, has achieved growth largely through organic expansion. This is in keeping with its long-standing positioning vis-a-vis legacy carriers. Where necessary, codeshares or interline agreements have been established to ensure feed at vulnerable points in its network the relationship with JetBlue in the US being a prime example. The airline recently established two large strategic agreements, with Qantas (May 2013) and Malaysia Airlines (December 2015). These arose from situations where the partner faced severe financial and strategic pressure, and chose to align with Emirates to achieve broader access to lucrative markets in Europe and elsewhere by funnelling traffic through Dubai, while optimising capacity to more profitable core markets Southeast Asia for Malaysia Airlines, and Asia and the US for Qantas. Interestingly, both are members of Oneworld, but saw more value in partnering with Emirates rather than with alliance members; Emirates strong connectivity through Dubai and the airlines dominant market position clearly encourage opportunistic extra-alliance cooperation. Etihad, being the last of the ME3 to launch, needed to rapidly build scale to emerge as a viable alternative in the congested Middle Eastern hub-and-spoke environment. Alongside ambitious organic growth, therefore, Etihad has relied heavily on inorganic growth extensive codeshare agreements to build network scale complemented by strategic agreements (with Air France-KLM, for example) and equity investments in airlines around the world. In effect, this has allowed Etihad to build a global presence at significantly lower cost than an organic rollout. The endgame was the establishment of the Etihad Airways Partners (EAP) alliance in 2014, an independent Etihad-centric alliance of eight airlines collaborating on network and commercial deployment. EAP also ensures sharing of best practices and resources across the alliance, as evidenced by aircraft from Jet Airways and crew expertise from Alitalia being used to launch Air Serbias transatlantic service. Remarkably, Etihads assertive partnership strategy seeks to extract synergies with prominent members of global alliances such as Alitalia, Air France-KLM (SkyTeam) and Airberlin (Oneworld). This, with Etihads extensive codeshares with Star Alliance members, allows the airline to create bridges across alliances. Qatar, from its relaunch in 1997, initially pushed for aggressive organic growth comparable to the Emirates hub-and-spoke model operations before shifting to broader cooperative structures. It surprised the industry in 2013 by joining Oneworld, becoming the first ME3 carrier in a global alliance. Qatar is now well embedded in the Oneworld ecosystem, with a majority of its equity or strategic partnership activities linked to alliance members. It has also signed a strategic agreement with Royal Air Maroc to broaden its access to central and west Africa. Of more interest in recent times, however, have been the equity investments mentioned earlier in IAG and LATAM Airlines Group (20% and 10% stake, respectively), both of which are large Oneworld partners. This cements existing alliance relationships and offers room to explore further cooperation that could deliver financial, commercial and strategic value. Although it is yet unclear exactly how Qatar will act on these investments, they are likely to generate significant value by increasing Qatars grasp on strategic positions (transatlantic routes and major European hubs with IAG, and the competitive South American market with LATAM). These are, of course, in addition to the basic financial benefits from stock appreciation. However, the recent investment in Meridiana and a possible investment in Royal Air Maroc indicate a potential pivot to an Etihad-like model based on turning around a smaller airline with close operational and commercial synergies. The nature of the ME3 airlines growth through partnerships provides several insights to the industry and some indication of how this may evolve further. Scale and profitability are twin drivers for evolving cooperation models. The global ambitions of the ME3, particularly Etihad and Qatar as they play catch-up with Emirates, are causing them to increasingly penetrate the global ecosystem of relationships for inorganic growth. The objective has clearly been to achieve market access at a reasonable cost an impulse that will continue as competition intensifies. Carriers around the world seek the opportunity for financial, commercial and strategic benefits from ME3 partnerships through joint value creation. There is, prima facie, a case for mutual value addition by ME3 alliance membership. Qatar has seen a strong rise in traffic through Oneworld partners, and the addition of Qatar has allowed Oneworld an expanded footprint into areas of relative weakness, such as the Middle East, South Asia and Africa. Etihad is generating strong revenue flows from, and to, EAP partners and drawing ever closer to SkyTeam. There is, however, a possibility that alliance structures might prove to be restrictive for the ME3 in the light of their independent expansionary aspirations, as evidenced by occasional reports of tensions between Oneworld members Qatar and American Airlines. Traditional alliances are not going away anytime soon, although emergent parallel alliances/partnerships will distort the ecosystem. There are still strong commercial and operational incentives to alliance membership; the majority of the worlds most heavily trafficked routes remain the domains of key alliance members and their joint ventures (JVs). While there may be some conflicts within alliances, the cost and complexity of exiting alliances will give airlines pause. Airlines not already in an alliance, though, may choose to keep their options open. Extended ME3-centric alliances or partnerships, building on network scalability and commercial alignment, are likely to provide viable alternatives to existing alliances for some airlines and passengers. The ME3 have steadily built these alternate spheres of influence to capture increasing passenger flows. Carriers are drifting towards engagement with the ME3 outside alliances, and will continue to pursue opportunistic, multi-pronged cooperation agreements. In many cases, a carriers decision to partner with an ME3 airline may arise from a if you cant beat them, join them position Emirates strategic agreements being prime examples. In others, the ME3 airline might play the role of a white knight, as in the case of Etihads investments. While there is a clear value for both parties in such agreements, the ME3 often engage from a position of strength, backed by strong network connectivity and financial resources. In general, airlines will continue to seek profitable growth, even if that entails acting outside traditional forms of cooperation such as alliances, in consort with the ME3. Should margins come under pressure again in the coming years, there will be an even stronger incentive to pursue partnerships to sustain momentum. Carriers will enter multiple relationships to cover all commercial and strategic bases optimally. The current trend of elevating partnerships from codeshares to JVs, strategic agreements and equity engagements, will continue apace across the industry, with the ME3 being equally opportunistic in taking advantage of market developments. This will strain traditional alliance structures and relationships. Qantas scaled back long-standing relationships with British Airways at Singapore and Cathay Pacific at Hong Kong in favour of a partnership with Emirates through Dubai. Carriers are, thus, clearly seeking a strategic and operational path that is likely to generate the most sustainable profit over and above, or in addition to, alliance considerations. By offering deeper cooperation outside the alliances (within which most legacy airlines JVs still reside), the ME3 are creating parallel spheres of influence. Etihad, in particular, will continue to effectively bridge members across alliances. Equity investment further deepens the ME3s impact on alliances, and will continue to grow as a vehicle for expansion. While the ME3 are not the only active dealmakers, the scale and breadth of Qatar and Etihads investments increase their penetration into key alliance members and raise their ability to drive the targets commercial and strategic moves more substantially in order to support or strengthen an ME3-centric model. An equity stake also allows an investor to capture additional value through appreciation in the targets stock price or enterprise value upside that would otherwise be lost to the shareholders of the target. In general, these airlines will expect equity investments to deliver value across three dimensions: financial (growth in enterprise/stock value), commercial (access to valuable and/or growing markets through preferred partnerships) and strategic (greater synergies and mutual benefits). Global competition including equity investments by American and Chinese carriers will spur further investment to lock in strategic assets across the industry, particularly those that provide a strong regional presence and feed. This will also encourage more distressed regional airlines, or their governments, to actively court ME3 capital and restructuring support. For an industry constantly in flux, these are particularly exciting times. With profit margins soaring, global traffic rising and ever more capacity coming into the market, many airlines will seek partnerships for growth and sustainability. And the ME3, with their global ambitions, strong connectivity and financial strength, will undoubtedly have a significant role to play in the evolution of the industry. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron says he plans to attach a priority to establishing close ties with Germany if elected as President of France, reports TASS. In a status as new President of France, my first political contact with the head of a foreign state will be with German Chancellor Angela Merkel as I plan to reach the point that France will act jointly with Germany in both the EU-related affairs and the defense issues since we have interests and goals in common, Macron said in an interview with TF-1 channel. As for my first foreign visit, it will be a trip to the French armed forces units operating outside France, he said. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Four people have been arrested in London in a anti-terror operations, and another woman suspect has been wounded, London law enforcement said. According to London police, officers wounded one suspect during the operation. The woman is now hospitalized. All four have been arrested in suspicion of plotting terror attacks. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on Friday to further isolate North Korea by swiftly imposing stronger sanctions in the event of further provocations by the reclusive state, including a long-range missile launch or sixth nuclear test, Reuters reports. Tillerson, in his first visit to the United Nations, will chair a ministerial meeting of the 15-member body. It comes just days after council ambassadors said President Donald Trump made clear - over lunch on Monday at the White House - that he would be the U.S. leader to deal with Pyongyang, ideally peacefully. "They are now in the phase of working out what the best way to do that is," said a senior council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It was left hanging that there clearly would be a military solution if needed." The Trump administration is focusing its North Korea strategy on tougher economic sanctions, possibly including an oil embargo, a global ban on its airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang, U.S. officials told Reuters earlier this month. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. US President Donald Trump told Reuters on April 27 the fight against ISIS must end with its humiliating defeat, rather than a simple defeat. I have to say, the end of ISIS is near, and it must be humiliating, he said. Trump didnt disclose how exactly he plans to finish the ongoing fight against the Islamic State. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu vowed to make PACE regret degrading his countrys status to under monitoring, HaberTurk reported. Cavusoglu mentioned that during previous years Turkey had increased its investments in PACE budget. We will decrease it, we will make minimal payments. Currently we are discussing whether or not to send a delegation. From now on they wont see the previous cooperation. We have other actions to take also. Let them now they will regret this, he said. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has degraded Turkeys status to under monitoring. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Polad Bulbuloglu, Azerbaijans candidate for UNESCO Director-General, has appeared in an embarrassing situation on April 27 during hearings of candidates in Fance. The chairman of the session warned Bulbuloglu that the candidates must speak either English or French. After reading a few sentences in English, Bulbuloglu however began to speak in Russian. I myself am dissatisfied with my level of English, however thats not important, the important thing is what a man has in his head, he said. Bulbuloglu was even unable to give decent responses at the session, by continuing to emphasize only the fact that he supposedly plans to bring large amounts of money for the realization of different UNESCO programs. It is noteworthy that Bulbuloglu, a man who in his term in office as Azerbaijani culture minister destroyed the medieval Armenian cross-stones in Nakhijevans New Jugha, which UNESCO itself had acknowledged as world heritage, is now a candidate for UNESCO Director-General. During the entire period of this crime, Bulbuloglu didnt make even one remark on condemning or preventing the destruction of the Armenian cross-stones. In addition, now as Azerbaijans Ambassador to Russia, he has numerously delivered belligerent rhetoric on taking up arms and fighting Armenians. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The Coordination Council of Armenian organizations of France is going to support En Marche! movement leader Emmanuel Macron in the second round of the French presidential election to be held on May 7. The letter of the Council Co-Chairmen Murad Papazian and Ara Toranyan addressed to Macron reads: We welcome your visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Paris on April 24 and want to thank that you paid a tribute to the memory of 1.5 million victims of the Genocide. Your step is fully in line with your engagement, especially, in the initiative to include April 24 in the Republics calendar. This is an evidence of your devotion to the justice demand for the victims, victims who suffered one of the most brutal massacres of the 20th century as the US President said a day before. This issue of dignity and human rights, over which a great fight is being carried out, needs support, mainly the support of courageous state figures who are dedicated to progress and values. Your engagement in this issue, your visit on April 24, our meeting with you, your stance on the Armenian Cause, as well as your overall leading political principles aimed at restoring Frances positions convince us that your are such a figure. We as well are convinced that it is the unity that will enable us to overcome crises. Thats why through this letter we want to express our support for you in the upcoming presidential election. Earlier the Armenian National Committee of France also expressed support for Emmanuel Macron. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned Turkey over the arrests, detentions and suspensions in connection with the July 15 military coup attempt, RT reported. Turkey has the right to protect itself and also to prosecute those who were behind the failed coup attempt. But that has to take place based on the rule of law, full respect to the rule of law, Stoltenberg said ahead of an EU defense ministers meeting in Valetta, Malta as quoted by RT. He said he attaches importance to these values and discussed this issue with the Turkish leadership. After the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey over 47.000 people were arrested. Hundreds of thousands of people were dismissed from their posts. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The preliminary investigation of the attempted rape of an 18 year old woman in Kapan has been completed in Syuniks provincial investigative department of the Investigative Committee. On January 18 of 2017, an 18 year old local of Kapan town reported that a doctor of the Kapan Medical Center attempted to rape her. A criminal case was initiated on the report. The 18 year old woman was admitted to the rehabilitation unit of the medical center on January 16. A day later, she was transferred to the Doctors Unit, which wasnt meant for patients. Overnight January 17-18, one of the doctors of the medical center, sexually assaulted the young woman while being intoxicated. The woman resisted, pushed the assailant back, bit his hands, threw a glass of water at him and prevented his assault. The doctor has been charged for attempted rape and has been remanded in custody. Notice Suspect is innocent until proven guilty by the Court of Law. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. On the very first day of PACEs June sitting, the Rules of Procedure will be changed and a special provision will be set for removing Pedro Agramunt from the post of president, Armenias delegate to PACE Samvel Farmanyan said on Facebook. He said the incumbent president of PACE Agramunt has chosen the option of humiliating himself to the end, by not appearing to the April 28 PACE Bureau session and not presenting his resignation as he previously promised to. In the given situation, the PACE Bureau was forced to make a humiliating and unprecedented de facto impeachment decision. By the way, all lawmakers 27, voted in favor of the decision, while three lawmakers from Spain and Azerbaijan abstained from voting. As a legal resolution of the current shameful situation, the PACE Rules of Procedure will be changed on the first day of the June sitting and a special provision will be set for de jure removing Pedro Agramunt as president, if, of course, he stubbornly continues not resigning until then, Farmanyan said. He added that an extraordinary session of PACE EPP faction will be held in May in Prague to discuss the embarrassing and unprecedented situation. The EPP will convene a special session in Brussels to discuss Agramunts shameful behavior. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The city of Villena of Spain adopted an institutional statement according to which it officially recognizes and condemns the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Embassy in Spain told Armenpress. The statement, adopted by the Villena City Council, describes the 1915 events as Genocide and crime against humanity. The condemnation of such crimes is important in terms of excluding new similar events. It is worth mentioning that before the voting the Turkish side tried to exert pressures as a result of which the representatives of the Peoples and Socialist parties changed their stances at the last moment, however, this didnt have any impact on the voting results which included Villena in the list of over three dozen Spanish cities that recognized the Armenian Genocide. The results of voting of parties represented in the City Council are the followings: European Greens (Los Verdes Europa) 11 votes in favor, Peoples Party (PP) 7 votes against, and the Socialist Party (PSOE) 3 votes abstained. As Armenpress was informed from the press se3rvice of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, the parties discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest highlighting the close cooperation and provision of legal aid within criminal cases, performance of international queries in short terms, exchange of operative information. During the talk with the Chairman of the RF Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin issues on the criminal case initiated on murder of serviceman of the 102th Russian military base located in Gyumri Dmitri Yalpayev were discussed, as well. A. Hovsepyan provided the Russian counterpart with some information about the results of investigation of the criminal case. The parties highlighted the measures taken operatively to reveal the murder, the identification of the suspect and emphasized the necessity of finding all circumstances of the criminal case. In the result of meetings with the Chairmen of the Russian and Belarusian Investigative Committees an agreement was achieved to hold the next trilateral meeting in Yerevan in autumn, 2017. During a U.S. Institute of Peace visit to Pakistan and Afghanistan this month, we met with senior officials and civil society and business leaders. Based on those discussions, we believe the solution lies in Afghan and regional politics, not just on the battlefield. The United States should shift its strategy to prioritize reaching a political settlement based on the Afghan constitution among all Afghan groups, including the Taliban. In doing so, the Trump administration can move from a policy of avoiding failure to one of achieving success. The right strategy should include four main components. First, the United States should use its existing counterterrorism capability to destroy all Islamic State and al-Qaeda elements in Afghanistan. It must also enhance its support for the Afghan security forces so that they can deny the Taliban strategic battlefield successes. More Afghan special forces, greater close-air support capability and better intelligence capacity are needed to maintain control of Afghanistans major population centers and transport arteries. An Afghanistan that can clearly survive without a peace settlement is more likely to achieve one. Second, such military assistance must be part of a political strategy to address the drivers of conflict that have allowed the Taliban to make steady territorial gains. A modest increase in military support will not stabilize Afghanistan if the Afghan government does not take tough measures to reduce the cancer of corruption. It must win greater public support by building the economy in a way that creates jobs, and conduct credible elections that will provide greater legitimacy for the government and strengthen its position in a future peace process. The United States and Afghanistan should make mutual commitments to support these efforts. Third, the United States should make clear that a successful outcome will not require military defeat of the Taliban. The goal instead should be an Afghan-led and -owned peace process that produces a political settlement among all elements of Afghan society, including the Taliban. The settlement should protect the human rights of all Afghans as enshrined in the constitution and guarantee that Afghan territory will never be used to support international terrorism. This requires that the Afghans, Afghanistans neighbors, and the United States and its international partners agree on a framework for an inclusive peace process. As part of this process, the United States, in close coordination with the Afghan government, should consider direct talks with the Taliban. Finally, the United States should work to rebuild a regional consensus for a stable Afghanistan. The Trump administration should revitalize an international contact group to align all relevant outside powers. The key message for Russia, China and Iran is that we want a political settlement. Our forces are there only as long as requested by the Afghan government. Once the country is stable, free of terrorist groups and able to prevent their return, we can discuss a timetable for the reduction and gradual withdrawal of our military presence. By Bradley Dunseith On February 1, 2018, the Thai parliament approved the law for trade and investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). With the EEC, Thailand hopes to develop its eastern provinces into a leading ASEAN economic zone. The EEC straddles three eastern provinces of Thailand Chonburi, Rayong, and Chachoengsao off the coast of the Gulf of Thailand and spans a total of 13,285 square kilometers. The government hopes to complete the EEC by 2021, turning these provinces into a hub for technological manufacturing and services with strong connectivity to its ASEAN neighbors by land, sea and air. As of January 1, 2018, the EEC has attracted US$9.3 billion in promised FDI, according to data provided by Thailands Board of Investment (BOI). The government expects US$43 billion (Thai Baht 1.5 trillion) for the realization of the EEC over the next five years. This funding will come from a mix of state funds, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and foreign direct investment (FDI). The government has identified four core areas essential in making the EEC a renowned economic zone: (1) increased and improved infrastructure; (2) business, industrial clusters, and innovation hubs; (3) tourism and; (4) the creation of new cities through smart urban planning. The government predicts the creation of 100,000 jobs a year in the manufacturing and service industry by 2020 through the EEC. RELATED: Corporate Establishment and Structuring Services from Dezan Shira & Associates Optimizing a region with great potential Thailands eastern seaboard already enjoys strong connectivity to neighbouring countries and established trade routes. The seaboard has seen success in petrochemical, automobile, and electronic industries. A major focus of the EEC is to improve existing connectivity and foster manufacturing and innovation. The government envisions creating established sea routes from the eastern provinces of Thailand to Myanmars on-going Dawei deep-sea port project, Cambodias Sihanoukville port, and Vietnams Vung Tau port. The government is expanding the Laem Chabang seaport already the countrys biggest with the goal of transforming it into a marine hub of South East Asia. To improve connectivity by air, Thailand is expanding the U-Tapao airport in Rayong province substantially. With the opening of a second passenger terminal and runway, the U-Tapao airports passenger capacity will increase from its current 800,000 people to 3 million. The expansion will not only facilitate an increase in tourist arrivals attracted to Thailands eastern beaches but will also transform U-Tapao into a hub for aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul, air cargo, and logistics. Connectivity by road will improve with the development of high-speed and double-track railways connecting ports, airports, industrial clusters, and major urban centers throughout Thailand. Development Projects In order to realize the abovementioned four core areas of development, the government has identified 15 major investment projects for the EEC. These are: U-Tapao airport and aircraft maintenance; Sattaship commercial sea port; Further develop Laem Chabang port; Further develop Map Ta Phut port; Develop a high-speed eastern rail route; Develop double-track railways through the eastern provinces; Expand highways and motorways; Develop next generation automotive vehicles with focus on battery and electric vehicles; Develop aviation, industry and lifestyle robotics, smart electronics; Advanced petrochemical and bio-economy Turn eastern provinces into a medical hub; Promote and facilitate tourism in eastern provinces; Develop eastern provinces into a global business hub; Create new cities to support a surge in eastern population with focus on inclusive growth and; Strengthen public utilities. Additionally, the government is planning to build a digital park in Si Racha located on the coast of Chonburi in hopes of developing an Eastern Economic Corridor of innovation (EECi) a complimentary project which will provide digital connectivity. Taking the first step From the above list, the government has selected five projects to initiate the EEC. These projects will be given initial priority and will provide the foundations for subsequent development in the EEC. U-Tapao airport development The government expects the U-Tapao airport to usher in a wave of new tourists. Developing the airport further will also expand the ECCs reach into the aviation sector. Here is what the Thai government hopes to accomplish. Construct a second runway; Construct second passenger terminal (2.24 million square feet); Connect airport with high speed railway; Develop commercial area (1.08 million square feet); Develop a maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) center and; Develop a new Free Trade Zone as well as a Training Center within airport. Laem Chabang port The government plans to increase the Laem Chabang ports connectivity and capacity within the first year of the EECs development. Double container accommodation from seven million to 18 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEU) a year; Increase car export accommodation from one million to three million units a year; Become a logistics hub and gateway into South East Asia and; Improve railway connection from port. High speed and double track railways In developing the EEC, the government is prioritizing the creation of faster and more comprehensive routes between airports, ports, industrial clusters, and urban centers. Further develop a high-speed railway from Bangkok to Rayong which will connect three international airports (Don Muang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao) within one hour Increase capacity of Bangkok-Rayong high-speed railway so as to accommodate 110 million passengers annually Connect sea ports to industrial clusters with a double-track railway Upgrade railway to double-track between Laem Chabung port and Map Ta Phut port. Reach out to targeted industries with emphasis on developing new technologies in the EEC Under the broader vision of Thailand 4.0, the governments development strategy, Thailand has identified five existing industries to further develop as well as five new industries to target for additional growth. The government hopes to attract these industries to the EEC through tax exemptions and other benefits. The first five sectors to build upon include: Next-generation automotive; Smart electronics; Affluent medical and wellness tourism; Agriculture and biotechnology and; Food innovation. The subsequent five sectors the government plans to establish include, Industry and lifestyle robotics; Aerospace; Logistics and aviation; Biofuel and biochemical and; Medical services and healthcare. According to BOI, the total amount of foreign investment reached 790 projects by the end of 2016. Foreign investment reached 158 digital projects at US$46.85 million; 64 electrical and electronic projects totalling US$1,090.14 million; 39 automotive projects totalling 1,226.04 million; 49 Agricultural projects totalling US$204.59 million; 10 medical projects totalling US$151.59 projects; 9 automation and robotics projects at US$17.08 million; and 4 aerospace projects at US$12.95 million. The top investors by country include Japan at US$1,133.80 million, Singapore at US$756.11 million, China at US$721.01 million, and Hong Kong at US$558.56 million. While these investments are not limited to the EEC, the government is positioning the EEC to handle much of this forthcoming work. Create new cities within the EEC In anticipation for a population surge in its eastern provinces, the government plans to create new cities to accommodate more people. The government envisions these cities as inclusive with international quality education and healthcare. The government is currently identifying potential locations for planned urban growth. What can investors and companies look forward to? The government is hoping to secure much of the funding for the EEC through PPPs and FDI. Offering attractive incentives for both foreign investments and foreign presences in the EEC will be essential in realizing the EECs development. The Eastern Economic Corridor Bill approved in principle in mid-April 2017 will amend or suspend more than 100 Thai laws and regulations within the EEC which restrict foreign investment and generally curb the ease of doing business. While the government has yet to finalize a comprehensive list of incentives, the government has announced a major cut in personal income tax to 17 percent for investors in the EEC, land leases of up to 50 years, and a free flow of foreign currencies in the three eastern provinces. Furthermore, a 50% reduction in corporate income tax over a period of five years is now on offer for investors in the three provinces which comprise the EEC. To create incentives within the next generation automotive industry, the government is planning to provide up to eight year tax and import exemptions on vehicle manufacturing depending on the type and scale of their production. Foreign experts operating in key fields will be eligible for tax exemptions between ten to 15 years. The government has also established a Thai Baht 10 billion competitive enhancement fund for targeted industries. Conclusion The development of the EEC is a clear indicator that the Thai government is aiming to diversify its economy, moving away from previous dependences on the garment and agriculture industries. The government plans to expand urban centers within the EEC and is working to develop advanced training programs to improve its skilled workforce. Expansion of airports, railways, and sea ports may very well transform Thailands eastern provinces into a robust and dynamic commercial region. With the creation and expansion not only of manufacturing centers but entire cities, the success of Thailands ECC may open up Thailand as a premier investment and business location of ASEAN. Editors Note: The article was first published on April 28, 2017 and has been updated on June 29, 2018 as per latest developments. The Council has decided four rates of 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent. New Delhi: Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Friday asked industry to pass on the benefit of lower taxes under GST to consumers saying profit is not a bad word, unjust enrichment is. Profit is not a bad word. But unfair enrichment is. And therefore the benefit of reduction in taxation is a benefit that consumers are entitled to. And thats not a principle that can be seriously contested, he said at the CII annual conference. However, finance minister assured the industry that there will be no surprise when GST rates will be announced by the GST Council. We are now in final stages of fixing tariffs for different commodities. The formula under which it is being done has also been explained and therefore nobody is going to be taken by surprise, its not going to be very significantly different (from present), said Mr Jaitley. GST law passed by the Parliament has proposed setting up an anti-profiteering body to see that benefits of tax cuts under GST are passed on to consumers. Some in the industry have been peeved at the provision of anti-profiteering in the GST bill calling in retrograde. The GST Council is meeting in Srinagar next month to decide which product will be taxed at what rate under the new indirect tax proposed to be rolled out from July 1. The Council has decided four rates of 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent. Besides this there will be surcharge on some luxury and sin products for five years to fund compensation to states for any loss of revenue due to GST. Finance minister said that abolition of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) is in the final lap and this will set the stage for more reforms in the FDI policy. I am now in the final stages of doing away with the FIPB because 90 per cent of the investment in India comes under the automatic route. So for the balance 10 per cent, do we need multiple forums to give approval or (do) we need just one forum in one ministry? he said. Rajesh confirmed that the two are indeed contemplating a partnership. Multi-talented Priyanka Chopra, who is on cloud nine after her Marathi film Ventilator bagged a National Award, may come on board for Rajesh Msapuskars next film as well. Rajesh confirmed that the two are indeed contemplating a partnership. Yes, I am in talks with Priyanka Chopra for another Marathi film and she might come on board for my next film as a producer. Right now, its too early to give out any details, though, he said. The director also commended the actress on broadening her language horizons. It takes courage to do what Priyanka is doing. She can easily produce a Bollwyood film but she chooses to tell different stories in different languages; its very overwhelming and encouraging to see somebody from Bollywood who has so much power and still wants to do something unconventional, he added. Mapuskar who had earlier directed the Hindi film Ferrari Ki Sawari, says he would love to work with Priyanka on a Hindi project but she is not keen to produce Hindi films right now. He says, I would love to collaborate with her for Hindi films but Priyaka is very clear that she doesnt want to produce Hindi films right now. She wants to focus on regional. The soldiers were killed in a pre-dawn militant fidayeen attack at the artillery headquarters of the 155 Field Regiment at Panzgam Srinagar: The Army on Friday paid glowing tribute with full military honours to Captain Ayush Yadav and two other soldiers who laid down their lives while fighting militants during a fidayeen attack at their camp in Jammu and Kashmirs frontier district of Kupwara on Thursday. Homage was paid to the valour and sacrifice of Captain Yadav, Subedar Bhoop Singh Gurjar and Naik Botta Venkata Ramana in a solemn ceremony held at Badami Bagh Cantonment, the headquarters of Armys 15 (Chinar) Corps, defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said. 26-year-old Captain Yadav, the only son of a UP police inspector, was a native of Kanpur. Subedar Gurjar, 46, was a resident of Kherla Bujore village of Dausa district in Rajasthan and Naik Ramana, 38, that of Arivanipallam village in the Vizag district of Andhra Pradesh. They were killed in a pre-dawn militant fidayeen attack at the artillery headquarters of the 155 Field Regiment at Panzgam, about 80-km northwest of Srinagar, on Thursday. Five other soldiers were injured whereas two militants were shot dead by Naik Rishi Kumar even after he was hit by a bullet in the head. A third militant involved in the attack escaped and the Army has launched a massive search operation in the area to get him dead or alive, officials said. Soon after the attack, protests by locals were held in nearby villages of Panzgam and Kralapora. The Army opened fire at the protesters who were demanding the corpses of slain militants, killing one person. Ten others were injured in the firing and during the clashes. The Chinar Corps Commander Lt. Gen. JS Sandhu joined by the officials from civil Administration and other security forces, paid rich tributes to the slain soldiers in Fridays ceremony, the defence spokesman said "The young officer Captain Ayush Yadav defied his 25 years of age and had established himself amongst his comrades as a spirited and daring soldier. The 46-years-old martyr Subedar Bhoop Singh had joined the Army in 1992 and is proudly remembered by his comrades as a highly professional soldier and a true patriot. A true son of soil, Naik Botta Venkata Ramana, 38, had earned the respect of a warrior and was a friend to all," a statement issued by the Army said. Captain Ayush is survived by his parents, while Subedar Singh has left behind his wife and two children and Naik Ramana, his wife and two children wailing and waiting. Their mortal remains were flown to their native places for last rites with full military honours, Col Kalia said. He quoted Lt. Gen, Sandhu saying that that the Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved families and remains committed to their dignity and well being. The step has been taken to ensure that the officials are working at their best to improve the law and order in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The alert was issued on behalf of the Chief Minister by Shrikant Sharma, a senior minister in the Yogi-led government, said reports. (Photo: PTI/File) Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday issued a warning to all government officers stating that he could call them at any time on their landline between 9am and 6pm. The alert was issued on behalf of the Chief Minister by Shrikant Sharma, a senior minister in the Yogi-led government, said reports. The step has been taken to ensure that the officials are working at their best to improve the law and order in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the report said. Senior police officers are said to enjoy a little more flexibility with the new rule as they are often out inspecting areas and supervising juniors. But the rule is seen to be a little hard on the administrative officials - District Magistrates- who will find it difficult to excuse themselves from the new order. The officials will also have to justify themselves on occasions when they are not able to abide by the rule. Yogi Adityanath has been striving to change the existing law and order situation in the state ever since he took charge as the Chief Minister. Within days of taking over as the Chief Minister in March, Yogi had asked bureaucrats to work for 18-20 hours, or look for an alternative career if unable to do so. In an attempt to curb the crimes in the state, Yogi has also announced surprise attendance checks. In a recent order, the CM also banned 15 holidays from educational institutions in Uttar Pradesh, which commemorated the birth and death anniversaries of eminent personalities. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said recently the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of the state held a meeting to discuss the situation. New Delhi: Government on Friday told the Supreme Court it was ready to talk to recognised political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to resolve the crisis there but not with the separatists. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi made it clear that the government would come to the negotiating table only if the recognised parties participate in the dialogue and not the separatist elements. He made the submissions before a bench, comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul, while rubbishing the claim of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association that the Centre was not coming forward fordiscussion and dialogue to resolve the crisis. Rohatgi said recently the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of the state held a meeting to discuss the situation. The bench asked the Association to come with suggestions to resolve the crisis, including stone-pelting and violent agitation on the streets of the Kashmir Valley. The apex court made it clear to the bar body that it would have to come out with suggestions after talking to all stakeholders and cannot shy away by saying that they do not represent everybody in Kashmir. It said there was need for a positive start and the bar body could play an important role by coming out with a game plan and a roadmap for restoring normalcy in the Valley. The bench also made it clear to the Centre that the court would involve itself in the matter only if there was a view that it can play a role and there was no jurisdictional issue. "If you feel the court has no role and if you feel we have no jurisdiction, we will close the file at this moment," the bench told the AG who, at the fag end of the hearing, objected to some of the suggestions made by the bar body including that the separatists were being ignored. The bench also said both the parties have to take a joint step but the first step has to come from the lawyers' body which has approached the apex court. It also said it was aware that the situation in Kashmir Valley was not very palatable, while posting the matter for further hearing on May 9. The apex court was hearing hearing an appeal filed by Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association against the High Court order seeking stay on the use of pellet guns as a large number of people had been killed or injured due to their use. During the last hearing on April 10, the Centre had told the Supreme Court it was exploring a crowd control option that is akin to rubber bullets but not as lethal as pellet guns that are being used currently as a last resort to quell violence in the Valley. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court had on September 22 rejected the plea seeking a ban on use of pellet guns on the ground that the Centre had already constituted a Committee of Experts through its memorandum of July 26, 2016 for exploring alternatives to pellet guns. Togadia, the international working president of VHP, urged the govt to crack down on the militants who were 'at war' with security forces. Vadodara: Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia on Friday demanded that the government carry out "carpet bombing" in Kashmir Valley to stop the attacks on security forces by militants. "After attacks on Army camps in Uri and Kupwara, our government should carry out carpet bombing in Kashmir Vally area to stop such attacks. The attacks on Army camps and the incidents of stone-pelting should be considered as a war and the government should carpet bomb these areas," Togadia said on the sidelines of an event here on the occasion of Lord Parshuram Jayanti. Togadia, the international working president of VHP, urged the government to crack down on the militants who were "at war" with security forces. He said hostility between the civilians and Army personnel was on the rise in Kashmir. "It was time that we should not show any leniency and carpet bomb them, or else the enemy will spread to other states and talk of breaking the country into pieces," he said. He demanded review of the Rs 80,000 crore special development package for Jammu and Kashmir, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015. "This money should be used for welfare of farmers in the country as the condition of farmers in several states is very bad. Farmers are holding protests seeking waiving of farm loans. They are committing suicide," Togadia said. While rejecting his bail, the High Court had said there are grave charges against Purohit and there is prima facie evidence against him. New Delhi: Malegaon blasts accused Lt Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit on Friday moved the Supreme Court for bail, after the Bombay High Court order rejecting it. While rejecting his bail on Tuesday, the High Court had said there are grave charges against Purohit and there is prima facie evidence against him. Purohit was arrested in November 2008 and was accused of helping in the formation of a right -wing outfit, Abhinav Bharat. According to National Investigation Agency (NIA), Purohit had allegedly taken part in conspiracy meetings and even agreed to arrange for the explosives to be used in the Malegaon blast. But Purohit claimed the NIA had dropped the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against him and those witnesses who gave statement under the MCOCA should not be considered while deciding the bail application. Purohit had argued that the NIA was selective in exonerating some accused persons and that the agency made him a scapegoat in the case. The court observed, At this prima facie stage, Purohits arguments that provisions of Unlawful Activity Prevention Act and conspiracy not applicable to him is not accepted. The court considered that the nature and gravity of the charges that were leveled against Purohit were serious and grave in nature. The court said that even if MCOCA had been dropped, the gravity of other charges like waging war against the country and charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Explosive Substances Act and Arms Act couldnt be ignored. The court considered that the punishment to which Purohit will be liable, on conviction, may extend to death or imprisonment for life. While rejecting the bail, the court said that already some of the witnesses had retracted the statements they had made before the ATS. Therefore, apprehension of tampering of evidence and threatening witness also cannot be called as unreasonable or groundless, it said. The court also rejected Purohits contention that he should be released on bail because the trial got delayed for eight years. Pakistans Opposition party, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, raised the issue in Parliament. Islamabad: Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif are engaged in secret talks, Pakistan media reports claimed on Thursday. Pakistani television channels reported that an Indian delegation, led by industrialist Sajjan Jindal, met Mr Sharif this week and flew back to India. The Indian delegation conveyed the message of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to PM Sharif, claimed a Pakistani TV channel. Pakistans Opposition party, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, raised the issue in Parliament. Mr Jindal, JSW chairperson, spent some hours in Pakistan and then returned to India. The three-member delegation went to Murree where they had lunch with Mr Sharif, Dunya News reported. The secret meeting comes amid efforts to pave the way for a meeting between Mr Sharif and Mr Modi on the sidelines of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), an emerging economic and security alliance. The reports of talks come amidst a diplomatic tussle between India and Pakistan over the death penalty awarded to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Yadav. Imran Khans Opposition party, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), expressed reservation over the arrival of Indian delegation and submitted a resolution in Punjab Assembly and raised the issue in Parliament. PTIs leader in Punjab Assembly, Mehmoodur Rasheed, tabled a resolution stating that the Indian delegation flew to Pakistan to rescue a beleaguered Mr Sharif amid calls for his resignation after a split decision of the Supreme Court in the Panama leaks case. The PTI resolution demanded the House and people be apprised of the motives behind the visit of the Indian delegation, which was not confirmed by the foreign ministry. Voicing reservations, PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said, We are concerned over the visit. PM Sharif has business relations with Indians. Mr Modis surprise stopover in Lahore in December 2015, on Mr Sharifs birthday, was also allegedly facilitated by Mr Jindal. The Indian government had denied that Mr Jindal had any role in the back channel talks between the two countries. He will have a 32-month long stint as the head of the about 3-lakh personnel strong force as his retirement is scheduled in December, 2019. New Delhi: Senior IPS officer Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar on Friday took charge as the new Director General (DG) of the CRPF, days after the force lost 25 of its men in a deadly Naxal ambush in Chhattisgarh. Bhatnagar, 57, reached the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters at Lodhi road here and took charge after he was accorded the ceremonial guard of honour. The government had issued orders for appointing Bhatnagar, a 1983-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, as the new full-time DG of the force on April 26. The post had been lying vacant for close to two months after incumbent DG K Durga Prasad retired on February 28. Acting DG Sudeep Lakhtakia on Friday handed over the baton to Bhatnagar, who came back to India last night after attending a conference in Jakarta. Bhatnagar was till now serving as the DG of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). He will have a 32-month long stint as the head of the about 3-lakh personnel strong force as his retirement is scheduled in December, 2019. Soon after taking charge, he asked his officers to give him a briefing on the recent incidents in Chhattisgarh that claimed the lives of 37 troops, including the one on March 11 where twelve men were killed in a Naxal ambush in Sukma in the Bheji area. The CRPF is the country's largest paramilitary force and is deployed as the lead force for conducting anti-Naxal operations and to render a variety of roles in the internal security domain. In an audio clip, the Maoist group claimed that security forces clicked 'objectionable pictures of women killed in fighting'. Raipur (Chhattisgarh): In an audio clip, the Dand Karanya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) claimed that the attack on 25 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans in Sukma on Tuesday was a result of sexual violence by security forces against tribal women, and murder of villagers. According to reports, taking responsibility for the attack, DKSZC spokesperson Vikalp said in the audio clip, The PLGA (CPI (Maoist)s military wing Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army) launched the Chintagufa-Burkapal to give an answer to Mission 2017 and the fake surrender campaign. We congratulate the PLGA, its leadership, commanders and the people of Dand Karanya for their active support. This attack was just an extension of the Bhejji attack (on the CRPF in March 2017). These attacks are retaliatory, defensive, to defeat anti-people policies and to take forward the pro people struggle. "These attacks should be seen as retaliation against the sexual atrocities that are being committed by the security forces against the tribal women and girls in the conflict zone. It should also be seen as an answer to the countless incidents of sexual violence which is a blot on any civilized society. Bhejji and Chintagufa-Burkapal attacks should be seen as (retaliatory) attacks for the dignity and respect of tribal women. These attacks are being carried out to liberate the tribal people in conflict areas from the inhuman atrocities they facing from the security forces, he added. Vikalp also reiterated his partys opposition to road construction projects in the area, claiming that under the garb of development, the government intended to loot people through these projects. The spokesperson denied that dead bodies of CRPF jawans were mutilated by the Maoists, a claim corroborated by CRPF. However, Vikalp claimed that it was the security forces which usually mutilated bodies of PLGA personnel. He also alleged that objectionable pictures of our women killed in fighting were clicked by CRPF, who then spread them on social media. Accusing the Central and state governments of undemocratic practices, DKSZC said, These attacks are in opposition to the exploitation of the Dalits, the Tribals and the minorities and the attacks on their culture and economic lifestyle by the Brahmanic, Hindutva, Fascist, Sanghi, and the BJP governments and the direct involvement and active protection of the police and security forces. Claiming that the Maoists were not the enemies of jawans, the spokesman in the audio clip asked them to give up government jobs and participate in the peoples struggle. Reacting to the Maoists statement, Chhattisgarhs Special Director-General of Police DM Awasthi said that he will look into it and check its authenticity, said reports. Amit Shah had targeted the TMC government, saying under it West Bengal had become the 'most poverty stricken state' in the country Kolkata/Birpara: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Thursday fired salvos at each other on the last day of the latter's three-day visit to the state where the saffron party wants to expand itsfootprint after a string of electoral successes. Shah targeted the TMC government, saying under it West Bengal had become the "most poverty stricken state" in the country, and promised to help it "flourish like Maharashtra and Gujarat" once the BJP came to power there. Banerjee, who, after decimating the Left in its bastion in 2011, has been fiercely defending her turf, accused the BJP of trying to "intimidate" her party and declared she would "capture Delhi". "Such poverty is not there anywhere else in the country," Shah told a meeting of booth-level BJP workers in Kolkata while winding up his three-day visit to the state. The BJP chief who, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is being credited for the massive upswing in the party's fortunes, winning assembly elections in several states including Uttar Pradesh, said West Bengal was the "next" on his radar. "Ebar Bangla (West Bengal this time)...I have seen great enthusiasm among the people during my visit and I am sure that the BJP will win (elections) in Bengal," he added. "Only the BJP under (Narendra) Modi's leadership can provide such a government. No one else can," he claimed, adding, "Bengal will flourish like Maharashtra and Gujarat." The mercurial TMC leader, who has been taking on the BJP over a variety of issues, including raids on her party leaders and their arrest in corruption cases, shot back, saying, "They (BJP) are afraid of the TMC. That is why they are trying to intimidate us. "But the TMC cannot be browbeaten. We hold our heads high. Those who challenge me...I accept the challenge. We will capture Delhi," she said, addressing a public meeting in Birpara. Apparently referring to Shah's visit to a slum in her Bhawanipur constituency in Kolkata yesterday, she said, "They come from Delhi and spread lies. They are in a hurry (to capture power in Bengal). They are threatening to unleash the CBI on TMC leaders. They cannot handle Gujarat, but they are eyeing Bengal." Rejecting Shah's claim of an impoverished West Bengal, Banerjee said, "Development is the biggest pillar of our strength in Bengal. What we can achieve, nobody can match that. Our government works for the poor. No one can match the work done by us." "India's industrial growth rate is 7 per cent, while that of Bengal is 10 per cent. India's growth rate in the service sector is 9 per cent, while that of Bengal is 13.99 per cent." Banerjee took a dig at Shah, who had lunch in a Dalit household in Naxalbari a couple of days back, saying, "Lunch at a Dalit household and dinner at a five star hotel...we do not believe in such photo-ops." Renewing her charge that the BJP incited people in the name of religion, she asked them to not align with the saffron party. "We work for all the religions, castes, communities," she said, alleging that the BJP was "trying to destroy" West Bengal by its "divisive politics". Shah, on the other hand, accused the Mamata Banerjee government of unleashing atrocities on the people in a way "never seen since Independence". The BJP leaders have been accusing the state government of orchestrating "atrocities" on Hindus and appeasing the minority community. With the political fortunes of Congress and the Left in a free fall, the BJP has been trying to claim their space in the eastern state. Although BJP's vote share in West Bengal dipped since the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from 17.5 per cent to 10.2 per cent in the 2016 Assembly polls, the party won three seats for the first time contesting on its own in the state. Earlier it had polled around 4.06 per cent votes in 2011. In the 2016 Assembly polls, BJP garnered around 56 lakh votes, up from 19.5 lakh in 2011. In the state where the party hardly had any presence a few years ago, its candidates had polled more than 10,000 votes in 262 out of 294 Assembly segments. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said recently the PM and the Chief Minister of the state held a meeting to discuss the situation. New Delhi: The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Friday that it cannot hold talks with Kashmiri separatists or with Pakistan, in a strong message to pro-freedom leaders in the Valley, where tension between civilians and security forces has spiked after a fresh wave of fatal clashes. Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi, the governments top law officer, rejected the J&K high court bar associations plea for a unilateral ceasefire and resumption of talks with separatist leaders such as Syed Shah Geelani. Mr Rohatgi told the bench that there can be no talks with Pakistan or the separatists, and even the court cannot direct the government for holding talks with them. The A-G said, The counsel is saying that we should hold talks with Syed Geelani and other leaders. What is going on? What kind of dialogue with these separatist leaders is he talking about? I cant have a dialogue. If he has to talk, he has to talk under the rules (Constitution), he said. The court immediately asked the A-G, Did we say we will direct you? Did we agree? It was a suggestion within certain parameters. The A-G made his submissions before a three-judge bench when Chief Justice J.S. Khehar suggested suspension of the use of pellet guns in the Valley, provided there was a reciprocal assurance that there would be no violence and stone throwing from the other side. The bench also comprising justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul was hearing a petition from the bar association against pellet guns use that results in innocents being killed and several persons losing eyesight. The A-G drew the courts attention to the associations reply describing Kashmirs accession to India as a controversial instrument of accession. He asked the court How can they (bar) say it is a controversial instrument of accession and the two countries India and Pakistan are killing people in Kashmir? Is he saying we should have dialogue with Pakistan?. Earlier, advocate Abdul Quayum, appearing for the bar association, blamed security forces for indulging in unbridled violence, and sought a direction from the court that the Centre be asked to hold unilateral, uninterrupted, unconditional talks with all stakeholders in the state. However, the CJI immediately told him, We can direct them (Centre) to suspend the use of pellet guns for two weeks, but you must assure that violence and stone pelting will stop. But the advocate refused to give any assurance saying he was only representing the bar. He and another bar counsel, Zafar Shah, repeatedly argued that unless security forces stopped use of pellet guns and other firearms against Kashmiri people, violence would continue unabated. The association placed in the court photographs purportedly detailing alleged excesses on people including children as young as five years old carried out by security personnel. Mr Quayum told the court that there was considerable peace in J&K when A.B. Vajpayee was the Prime Minister and similar efforts were made by the then PM Manmohan Singh. He said during the two regimes, the Centre had talks with various stakeholders including Hurriyat leaders, Syed Shah Geelani and others. But since 2016, there has been a change in the government policy. They are not going for any talks. They just want to use force by security forces and kill people, the counsel argued. However, the CJI asked the counsel Why would anyone unnecessarily harass you? Both sides should be willing to talk. You (association) must come out with a roadmap and suggestions so that we can pass a direction within the framework of law. Justice Kaul, who hails from Kashmir, said Students must get back to college and continue with education. There is so much unemployment in the state the most worrying aspect. You must take steps to stop the violence. The bench posted the case for further hearing on May 9. It said the 30 suicides reported by district collectors were due to a variety of causes, but not drought. New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu government has informed the Supreme Court that not a single farmer in the state had committed suicide due to the drought situation, and claimed it was very sensitive to the plight of farmers. In its affidavit filed before a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, the state said 82 poor farmers had died of natural causes like heart attacks or illness, and each of their families had been given Rs 3 lakhs as relief. It said the 30 suicides reported by district collectors were due to a variety of causes, but not drought. Conscious measures had been taken by the state to provide releif to individual families of the deceased in case of distress whatever may have been the reasons for the deaths. On April 13 a three-judge bench had pulled up the state for being a mute spectator to the suicide of farmers and said it was obligatory for it to be sensitive and take steps to address farmers problems. At the resumed hearing on Friday, as three judges were not present, the matter was posted for hearing on May 2. It may be recalled that Tamil Nadu farmers had been on a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to draw the Centres attention to their problems, and the court issued notice seeking the states response. Later P. Ayyakannu was allowed to file a petition in this case. In its reply, the state said it faced one of the most severe droughts, unprecedented in the past 100 years. Karnataka had failed to release the states share of Cauvery waters for the past five years, it said, and this was one reason for the state facing drought in Cauvery delta. However, it also said it had taken various proactive steps to provide redressal to the states farmers in distress. The state had requested the Centre to provide Rs 39,565 crores as drought relief, but the Centre released only Rs 1,748.28 crores in January this year, it said. It said crop loans of Rs 1,840.79 crores had been given to 3.5 lakh farmers during the demonetisation period so that they could continue their farming activities without any glitch. Further interest-free loans were issued to farmers who made prompt repayments within the due dates, and as a result 7.62 lakh farmers were given loans to the tune of Rs 4,227.98 crores by cooperative banks, the state said, seeking dismissal of the petitions. There is also confusion over whether or not Union minister J.P. Nadda will be sent back to the state. New Delhi: The BJP may go into Himachal Pradeshs Assembly elections to be held later this year without a chief ministerial candidate. Most party cadres, sources said, are against former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal being projected for the job because of the corruption charges slapped against him when he was the CM. There is also confusion over whether or not Union minister J.P. Nadda will be sent back to the state. The names of two senior state leaders Satpal Singh Satti and Jairam Thakur and Sangh pracharak Ajay Jamwal are doing the rounds for the top job. Speculation has been rife within the state BJP that Mr Dhumal now wants his younger son to enter politics and has been lobbying hard for him. His elder son, Anurag Thakur, is already MP from Hamirpur. While there is growing anti-incumbency against CM and Congress stalwart Virbhadra Singh and the BJP is confident of coming to power in the hill state, it is also wary of Mr Dhumals supporters lobbying for him. While speculation is rife that Mr Nadda could also be the CM candidate, the state cadre is aware that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not in favour of disturbing his Cabinet. With the BJP high command favouring RSS pracharaks and former pracharks for the top post, Sangh pracharak and Northeast in-chrge Ajay Jamwals name is also doing the rounds for the top post. Mr Satti, a senior leader, is the state unit chief and Mr Thakur is a former state Cabinet minister. While Mr Satti has a clean image and an is considered as an organisation man, Mr Thakur is considered as a good administrator and one of the favourites of the cadre. The JNU students' union, in a statement, condemned the notice and called it a 'criminal agenda' of destroying the university. The notice that is addressed to the JNU vice chancellor contains names of students affiliated to the Left student groups which dominate the campus politics. (Photo: PTI/Representational) New Delhi: The Delhi Police has served a notice to JNU asking 30 of its students to join the probe in a sedition case over an event where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised last year. The notice that is addressed to the JNU vice chancellor contains names of students affiliated to the Left student groups which dominate the campus politics. Some of the students, whose names figure in the notice, including AISA (All India Students' Association) leader Shehla Rashid, and Aprojitha Raja, the daughter of CPI national secretary D Raja, were active in a movement demanding release of the three students who were arrested in the case. The notice says, "For the purpose of investigation some students are to be interrogated in this case. You are hereby informed through this notice to direct following students of JNU to remain present at Administrative Block of JNU (sic)." However, the police said that it is a "routine examination". "It is a routine exercise and we have been carrying it out for sometime now. We are just examining witnesses so that no side feels that they haven't been heard," said a senior officer from the Special Cell that is probing the case. The notice has listed three dates--April 27, 28 and 29--but the students named in the notice didn't join the probe on Friday. However, another officer said that they are likely to join investigation tomorrow. The police haven't even filed a charge-sheet in the case and are examining witnesses. There is a likelihood that apart from the three students named in the FIR--former JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya-- more people might be named in the charge-sheet, whenever it is filed. The JNU students' union, in a statement, condemned the notice and called it a "criminal agenda" of destroying the university. "We see this as another attempt to target and threaten students and ultimately to fulfil the government's criminal agenda of destroying a university where the battle of ideas and critical thinking are well-cherished practice," read the statement. The arrest of Kumar, Khalid and Bhattacharya on charges of sedition for allegedly organising an event against hanging of Afzal Guru had triggered a huge controversy with the opposition political parties slamming the police for "working at the behest of ruling BJP". The controversial programme organised last year sparked an outrage after allegations surfaced that anti-national slogans were raised in the university. The arrest of Kumar catapulted him to national fame and resulted in student protests across the country. After footage of the event was found to be authentic, some students, including two Kashmiri students, were questioned by the Special Cell sleuths last year. The two schools are situated in Faridabad-Badarpur border and South Delhis Ambedkar Nagar. New Delhi: Blending art with science in a bid to improve the overall look, two government schools are in the process to adorn a new look backed by innovations. The two schools are situated in Faridabad-Badarpur border and South Delhis Ambedkar Nagar. From making exquisite furniture out of discarded material to tackling the age-old problem of truancy in a methodical manner, the remodelled schools have everything. The principals of the schools, from Molarband and Dakshinpuri Extension, shared the news at a SharEd event titled Small Innovations Go a Long Way organised by Creatnet Education on Friday. Principal of GBSS School No.2 in Molarband, Dr Khaleeq Ahmad, was transferred to the school two years ago, which is situated on the Faridabad-Badarpur border and has a semi-rural and immigrant population. With Mr Ahmads innovative tactics, the school with a strength of 3,000 students and once in shambles, has been infused with new lease of life making it one of the best government schools in the area. As a part of innovation, the principal has merged all the classroom sections into one class, where one teacher teaches and the other teacher sits at the back. I personally check all the the students notebooks once in a year and sign it. When I joined the school, it lacked sitting arrangements and in todays time we have over 600 desks. We now tackle truancy problem by calling parents and taking their signatures and secondly mark attendance of students going out, Mr. Ahmad said. On the other hand, Mythili Bector, who took charge as principal of Sarvodaya Vidyalaya Dakshinpuri Extn.in 2015, brought the school on par with her strict attitude yet flexible behaviour. Ms Bector introduced a puppet theatre in the school as a part of curriculumm, where puppets are made using scraps like broken rods and frames. The school does not throw or sell them, but reuses them by creating something new. She helps the tiny tots adjust better to school life by allowing parents with them for the first ten days. A school where drug abuses, gambling, mafia influence and alcoholism were regular incidents, today it is a school with zero truancy. A school where teachers were being beaten up, today it is the best when it comes to no cheating in exams, added Ms. Bector. Officials from the Delhi police said that they have no information and was unaware about any such development. New Delhi: The security agencies at IGI airport were on their toes after a passenger claimed that he wanted to quit Pakistan intelligent agency ISI. The passenger got off an Air India flight (AI-213) from Dubai at the IGI Airport on Friday. The passenger, identified as Muhammad Ahmad Sheikh Muhammad Rafiq, a Pakistani passport holder, approached a help desk at the airport and conveyed to a lady at the counter that he wanted to share information about Pakistans spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The apprehended man, who claimed to be an ISI agent from Pakistan, appeared to be depressed. Instead of heading towards transfer area, from where he had to catch a flight to Kathmandu, he approached the helpdesk. After seeing his suspicious activity, the helpdesk questioned him. Mr Rafiq told the airport staff that he has connections with the ISI but had decided to call it a day and remain in India. He said, Hello, I am an ISI agent. But I dont wish to continue any further and want to remain in India, said an airport sources to this newspaper. The lady immediately swung into action and informed security officials who detained him immediately and informed the concern security agencies. He was whisked away to an undisclosed destination, where he was being questioned by sleuths from various central agencies. His claims were being verified, said the sources. Mr Rafiq (38) had arrived at IGI airport on Friday morning by Air Indias flight from Dubai and was further booked for Kathmandu, said sources. Officials from the Delhi police said that they have no information and was unaware about any such development. We are not in a position to comment into this matter as we dont have any informing about this incident. The said person is likely to be interrogated by the central agencies, said a senior police official on the condition of anonymity. Shah asserted that he is buoyed by the kind of response that he had received in Bengal during his three-day visit. BJP president Amit Shah being welcomed by an underprivileged woman at her home during his visit to Goranga Nagar area in Rajarhat near Kolkata. (Photo: PTI) Kolkata: Concluding his three-day Bengal tour on Thursday, BJP president Amit Shah once again reiterated that next time the BJP will form government in Bengal. I have been here for three days. On Tue-sday, I had been to North Bengal. On Wednesday, I spent time at Bhowanipore and today I am here at Rajarhat. Poverty that I have witnessed in Bengal exists in no other place in the country. Another paribartan in Bengal is inevitable. We will make Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal), Mr Shah said, addressing party workers at Sukanta Nagar in Rajarhat. The BJP chief once again hit out at the Mamata Banerjee government in Bengal and alleged that the kind of atrocities the state government inflicted on its people has never been witnessed anywhere in the country after independence. We will form government for the people in Bengal. It will be a government which will ensure that you do not have to move the court to hold immersion of Durga idols. Once a BJP government is formed, Bangladeshi infiltrators will be stopped at the border, youth will get employment and the cultural heritage of Bengal will be restored, he said. Mr Shah asserted that he is buoyed by the kind of response that he had received in Bengal during his three-day visit. The atmosphere I have seen in last three days has made me confident that next time BJP will form a government here. I assure you that once a BJP government is formed in West Bengal the state will turn into a happy state like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Haryana, he added. Mr Shah held a booth-level committee meeting (booth no. 231) at Sukantanagar area in Rajarhat and launched a booth chalo abhijan, and also interacted with some voters in the area who offered him sweets and showered flower petals on him. Earlier in the day, the BJP president held a core committee meeting with state BJP leaders including BJP MPs from the state like Babul Supriyo, S.S Ahluwalia. According to a senior party leader, Mr Shah urged the leaders to expand the party organisation. He has told us to welcome people from other parties in the BJP and reach out to people educating them about the development that the BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi has ushered in the states that are being ruled by us. He has also called for discipline among the party workers, a state BJP leader said. Following the meeting, Mr Shah visited Shyama Prasad Mookerjees ancestral house in Bhowanipore and paid a floral tribute to the bust of Mookerjee. He left for Delhi after addressing party workers in Rajarhat. The civic body has also terminated the contract of an agency, which was maintaining the public toilet at the Gateway of India. Mumbai: Based on the public feedback, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to take action against public toilets, which have been listed as dirty in its survey. The civic body has also terminated the contract of an agency, which was maintaining the public toilet at the Gateway of India. According to the civic officials, the BMC had installed feedback machines at 54 toilets across the city, wherein people were asked to vote on the cleanliness of the public toilets. During the four-month period from December 2016 to April 27, 2017, 89 lakh users rated the toilets. Based on the survey report, the civic body has decided to act against the agencies, whose toilets have been found dirtiest among all. We have decided to issue show-cause notices to agencies, who have worst reports, said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant commissioner of A-ward. He said, The agency Sulabh International opposite Taj Palace Hotel has already been terminated for not keeping the toilet clean. We had issued notice to them twice for keeping toilet unclean and overcharging people, especially women, for the use of urinals. Now that they have fared poorly in public feedback, we have terminated their services. The BMC labourers will maintain the toilet henceforth. Earlier the civic officials and engineers would visit to the toilets and submit their reports. We have now asked people to rate toilets in their areas and based on their report we have started taking action. I have written to other assistant commissioners to take necessary action against agencies, who fared poorly in the survey, he said. Unclean toilets The Maharashtra ATS on April 20 in a joint operation with the Uttar Pradesh ATS arrested Ahmed from Mumbra. Mumbai: The probe by Maharashtras Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has revealed that Nazim Ahmed, arrested from Mumbra a few days ago, had been deported from Saudi Arabia in 2016. Sources revealed that Ahmed used to work as a plumber in Saudi Arabia but was arrested after he continued to work on an expired work permit. Post his arrest, he was imprisoned in Saudi for 18 days and then deported to India. Thereafter, he went back to Bijnor before returning to Mumbra. The Maharashtra ATS on April 20 in a joint operation with the Uttar Pradesh ATS arrested Ahmed from Mumbra. Ahmed has been suspected of having ISIS links and working on a terror module and planning an attack in Maharashtra. An ATS source revealed that Ahmed in 2015 travelled to Saudi Arabia for work. He was employed as a plumber at Habab Makka and worked there for a year-and-a-half. He then changed his job and started working at Makka itself on an Iqama ID card," said the source. During an inspection, it was allegedly found that Ahmed did not have the necessary documents to seek a work permit and was arrested for the same. He was jailed for 18 days in Saudi Arabia and then deported to India from there," the source said. The source added that after returning to India, Ahmed stayed in Bijnor where he allegedly was impressed by Jihadi thought. He saw posts justifying Jihad and also saw some clips about the same on social networking sites," said the source. The ATS is investigating his contacts and connections in the city and state. The extra limb was from a twin that had grown out of the pelvic when she was born Three-year-old Choity Khatun was given little prospect of survival until she was brought to Melbourne last year by Australian charity Children First Foundation. (Photo: AFP) Sydney: A toddler born with three legs -- because body parts of a twin had grown inside her -- was returning home to Bangladesh Friday after complex and rare surgery in Australia enabled her to walk and run, her doctor said. Three-year-old Choity Khatun was given little prospect of survival until she was brought to Melbourne last year by Australian charity Children First Foundation. A team of surgeons spent several months mapping out a procedure to reconstruct her anatomy. "A twin had grown out of her pelvis but the twin was only part of a twin... The problem is there's no rulebook for this because she's a very unique individual so you have to try and work out what was where," Chris Kimber, the paediatric surgery head at Monash Children's Hospital, told AFP."When Choity arrived in Australia, she was very malnourished, she couldn't walk properly at all," said Kimber. Working in consultation with experts from Europe and the United States, the surgeons planned a procedure that involved removing the remains of the third leg -- part of which was earlier cut off in Bangladesh -- as well as taking out, disconnecting and reconnecting other organs. The actor will play the role of curator Chris Anderson once the TED stage launches in India. Vancouver: Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan charmed a TED Conference crowd on Thursday, sharing his life and playfully portraying himself as an aging movie star grappling with the changes around him. Khans talk on the TED stage came just months before a version of the big-idea-sharing event makes a television debut in India, where he will play the role of curator Chris Anderson. In a rare display, scores of fans staked out the convention centre where TED was taking place, some of them pressing against windows to watch Kahns appearance being streamed to television screens. For years, Ive been a huge fan of TED Talks, Khan said, referring to the conferences freely shared videos in which brilliant and accomplished people dive concisely into captivating concepts. There are so many people in India who would like to come out with their ideas and thoughts, and speak them in Hindi. TED curator Anderson described TED Talks India as the organisations most ambitious television project to date, and expected it to reach tens of millions of people when episodes begin airing later this year. TED collaborated with media giant Star India on the project. The country is teeming with imagination and innovation, Anderson said in a blog post. We believe this series will tap into that spirit and bring insight and inspiration to many new minds. In a TED video likely to go viral when it is released online, 51-year-old Khan reminisced about growing up in a time when the word apple brought to mind fruit, not a world-changing company co-founded by the late Steve Jobs. He spoke of his career rocketing and the arrival of an internet age where social media was so rampant that he felt humanity, like me, was becoming an over-exposed prima donna. I sell dreams and I peddle love to millions of people back home in India who assume that I am the best lover in the world, Khan said as he opened his talk. It has to be you who creates a world that is its own best lover, that should be the future you, he said in closing, referring to the conference theme. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests since 2006, the last in September last year. North Korea celebrated the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean Peoples Army earlier this week, on Tuesday. Usually, it has marked important events in the past by launching missiles or conducting nuclear tests. As the American aircraft-carrier strike group led by USS Carl Vinson sped to the region and US officials warned that all options are on the table, there were fears that the North Korea might use this day for its sixth nuclear test. In the event, there has been much sabre-rattling on both sides, but no nuclear test. North Korea conducted live-fire drills involving 300-400 artillery pieces. The US nuclear-powered submarine USS Michigan reached the South Korean port of Busan on Tuesday for exercises with the Japanese and South Korean navies. As three Americans were taken as hostages in North Korea, US defence sources are talking about North Korea developing a nuclear-tipped missile that could reach the American mainland, and contemplating the need for a pre-emptive strike. US expert Jonathan Pollack has warned that loose talk of pre-emptive strikes could lead to North Korean retaliation, so that the US could stumble needlessly into what would be the biggest crisis in East Asia since the United States intervened in the Korean War in 1950. The last two weeks have seen increasingly shrill rhetoric from North Korea, provocative tests of missiles, and US and South Korean military manoeuvres. The latter have evoked harsher North Korean warnings: its state media have threatened to deliver the most ruthless blow if there is even the smallest provocation from the United States, and that the United States and South Korea could be completely destroyed in an instant if North Korea were to launch a pre-emptive strike. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests since 2006, the last in September last year. It also has conducted numerous medium- and long-range missile tests since Kim Jong-un took power in 2011. It is against this fraught background that Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Washington on April 6-7. China is North Koreas principal ally, accounts for 90 per cent of its trade and is the main source of the countrys food and energy. But despite US President Donald Trumps anti-China remarks during the 2016 US election campaign, the most interesting outcome of this interaction was Chinas support for the United States on the North Korean issue. On April 17, the US state department said that China had sent the Trump administration positive signals that it would increase economic sanctions to pressure North Korea to abandon its development of nuclear weapons and missiles. Later, a day after North Koreas vice-foreign minister said and use nuclear weapons if threatened, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Beijing was about North Koreas recent nuclear and missile activities. At the same press conference, spokesman Lu Kang praised recent US statements on the North Korean issue: American officials did make some positive and constructive remarks... such as using whatever peaceful means possible to resolve the (Korean) Peninsula nuclear issue. China is also showing some new toughness towards North Korea: it banned imports of North Korean coal in February and has reduced fuel sales to North Korea.This has evoked some harsh words from Pyongyang, including the warning that China should get itself ready to face the catastrophic consequences to its relations with the DPRK. Global Times, a Chinese state-run paper, said in a recent editorial that China could enforce stricter measures aganst North Korea, including a ban on oil exports, or join a US-led effort to block the Norths access to international financial markets. However, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi refused to confirm these initiatives. While China is pursuing a balanced approach at present between the US and North Korea, Chinas interests differ from those of the US in crucial areas. China on its part is wary of efforts to pressure the North Korean regime militarily, being concerned about an unpredictable North Korean retaliation should the regime in Pyongyang fear collapse, the attendant regionwide political turmoil and the influx of refugees into China itself. China also views negatively the possible reunification of the Koreas under a South Korean government closely allied to the United States, since that would expand US influence at its borders. More immediately,China sees with great disfavour the US militarys increasing presence in South Korea, specifically the US move to deploy elements of its Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) missile defence system. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has said THAAD is not a simple technical issue, but an out-and-out strategic one. Countering a powerful missile defence system means more advanced Chinese missiles, with more aggressive deployment. Security affairs commentator Ian Armstrong has noted that China is not so much concerned about the interception capabilities of THAAD, but another major THAAD component the radar, which identifies and communicates the location of missile targets to the interceptor. Though the US and South Korea have repeatedly said THAAD will be directed only at North Korean missiles, the Chinese know that THAADs radar can be easily switched into a long-range mode that would give the US an early warning of Chinese missile launches. Chinese commentators see this as evidence of US reluctance to work with China on promoting regional stability and see no alternative to pursuing their own missile programmes to counter the American strategic advantage in the region. The latter could include hypersonic glide vehicles and multiple, independently targetable re-entry vehicles. MIRVs are difficult to detect and would thus effectively counter the strategic advantages provided by THAAD. On Wednesday, South Korea triumphantly announced that unspecified parts of THAAD had been installed. These are said to include two or three launchers, intercept missiles and a radar. China sees this as an ill-timed provocation. Syed Ata Hasnain, a retired lieutenant-general, is a former commander of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps. He is also associated with the Vivekananda International Foundation and the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. Red Corridor forces have mostly suffered when they encounter large groups of insurgents. Police officers and jawans pay tribute to the CRPF personnel killed in the Sukma Naxal Attack in Chattisgarh, at the SSP office in Meerut. (Photo: AP) Analysing a tragedy for whatever reasons must begin with an expression of regret. Thats exactly how I look at the situation where the nation has been left frustrated yet again with a heavy loss in the security domain. Losing 25 police personnel in circumstances much like in the past inspires little confidence in the ability of Central armed police forces and of the intelligence agencies that support them in the Red Corridor. Amid all the patriotic fervor that accompanies the loss of uniformed personnel, the public also deserves to know why this happens so often. While doing so the colour of the uniform one has worn must not be evident; only then will justice be done. To make this into an us versus them affair within the uniformed services would be inherently unfair. Even as I write an encounter is in progress in Kupwara where the Army has suffered losses. Such losses in the administrative realm, of camps and perhaps convoys, doesnt absolve the Army and Central forces in Kashmir from the many blunders which have occurred in the recent past. Sukma is nothing short of a tragedy. I insist on calling it that since innocent policemen doing their job and being martyred as they were not trained adequately to do that job is indeed a tragedy. Citing former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfield, the phrase known knowns is most applicable here. Almost everything which goes into making such a repeated tragedy is a known in terms of past analyses, and we are fully aware that it is a known. There are some knowns that cant and wont change unless transformational decisions are taken, but its important to keep the public informed. The Central Reserve Police Force has been delineated as the core or lead force to take charge of counter-insurgency operations (CI ops) across the country. Was this Union Cabinet decision, based on the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee and Group of Ministers, correct? Is it something that should be reviewed? Analysts are far happier quoting the decision than questioning its wisdom, or the absence of implementation. When such decisions are taken, they should be based on the capability of a force or its potential. If the latter, then the means to acquire that capability must also be delineated and orders issued. By merely recommending the CRPF as the lead force for CI ops without examining its structure, manning pattern and command and control, the Kargil Review Committee perhaps erred substantially. However, the purpose is not to assign blame; a decade and a half down the road experience itself would have repeatedly shown that in its current format and makeup it is unfair to give the CRPF such a responsibility. The known knowns of the force mentioned by every analyst in the past three days needs a brief recount. Chasing nimble tribal guerrillas armed to the teeth who are fighting a son of the soil insurgency in a terrain they know like the back of their palms isnt really a joke. CRPF jawans are often 50-60 years old as the retirement age in the force is 60. It will be unfair to question it as I am unaware if the force has laid down an age limit for deployment of personnel in the Red Corridor. If not, then it is essential, and units must be restructured as Red Corridor units. The Armys Rashtriya Rifles is a fine model of a CI force to examine and improve upon. The manning pattern, under which senior CRPF positions are occupied by Indian Police Service officers is too flogged an issue to repeat. The point to emphasise is that institutional awareness of weaknesses in the operational realm cant be expected from a hierarchy completely inexperienced in training, planning or execution of such operations anytime in their service. To be parachuted into one or more star ranks and suddenly bearing operational responsibility and the lives of so many personnel under care is inherently unfair both on the IPS officers and the CRPF. Harping on this is like begging the question, as nothing is likely to change. It is best to work around it and look at other ways of potential optimisation. Leadership, training and equipment are the three areas which need to be reviewed, other than the senior leadership question. Most fighting entities will inform you that the best welfare for warriors is to ensure they are fully enabled in their quest to inflict maximum casualties on the adversary, and prevent casualties unto themselves. This is best done through training and professional stocktaking. Some Red Corridor forces like the Andhra Pradesh Greyhounds have proved their capability beyond doubt, but such excellence is a drop in the ocean compared to the magnitude of the problem. The Armys Para SF units, particularly the ones that have operated in Sri Lanka and the Northeast, have institutional experience and strength. There are enough veteran officers and men who could be tapped professionally to impart their knowledge. Institutions like the National Police Academy are centres of excellence which must be involved in analysis and lesson-learning in a substantive way. The plethora of experience that the CRPF and state police forces possess is itself not little. The circumstances surrounding the Sukma event, however, do not inspire any confidence on the basics that those involved in such operations must have. Everything here is supposed to be tactical, including having meals. Troops deployed on operations do not eat at the same time, and not without establishing security through observation posts, sentries and the like. There is obviously a real need to return to the basics, and to do so repeatedly. Red Corridor forces have mostly suffered when they encounter large groups of insurgents. Obviously, one of the banes of such operations is contact-based command and control and getting the sub-unit to respond beyond just returning fire. I am not sure whether training on this is ever carried out. CRPF units are most usedly to platoon-based functioning. Even the best Army units may find it difficult to have a full company-based response in the face of such situations. The fact that a full company can come under enemy action at a single time is itself a reflection of questionable field tactics. If this is to improve, egos must be shed. Smaller teams can train with Greyhounds and other successful police outfits, but if a full sub-unit response is necessary, it should imbibe the Armys functional culture. The immediate upgrading of equipment is vital. The Union home ministry has a very efficient procurement machinery. It must look at rotary aviation resources for recce and response. The Mine-Protected Vehicle is an imperative, and funds cant be the reason for not provisioning this. While the intelligence services have secured India quite well over the last many years, tactical-level intelligence in the Red Corridor still seems to be highly questionable. I laud the BSFs concept of G sections of its units. In all my experience, I have not found more competent intelligence personnel at the tactical level. This is something that the CRPF should examine closely. The writer, a retired lieutenant-general, is a former commander of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps. He is also associated with the Vivekananda International Foundation and the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. Samsung and Apple maintained their leadership in the smartphone market in early 2017 while Chinese-based Huawei's strong growth cemented its number three position, a market tracker said Thursday. Research firm IDC said overall smartphone shipments grew 4.3 percent in the first quarter, slightly better than its prior forecast, to 347 million units. "The first quarter smartphone results further prove that the smartphone industry is not dead and that growth still exists," said IDC analyst Ryan Reith. "There is no question that 2016 was a pivotal year for the industry as growth dipped to low single digits for the first time. However, we believe the industry will show some rebound in 2017, and the strong first quarter results certainly support this argument." Reith said the 2017 market will feel the impact of the new Samsung Galaxy S8 flagship handset, and a widely expected announcement from Apple for its new iPhone later this year. According to the survey, Samsung led the market in the first quarter with a 22.8 percent share to 14.9 percent for Apple, with little growth for the top two vendors. But Huawei's sales jumped 21.7 percent to give it a 9.8 percent share, and fellow Chinese makers Oppo and Vivo, the number four and five vendors, respectively, also boosted their sales. IDC said the bulk of smartphone growth is likely to come from low-cost handset makers. "Although we have seen an abundance of premium redesigned flagships that just entered the market, moving forward, we still expect most of the growth to come from more affordable models in a variety of markets," said IDC's Anthony Scarsella. "Despite all the popularity and media hype around premium devices, we continue to witness a shift in many companies' portfolios geared towards affordable devices with premium-type styling compared to flagship models." He added that makers "have started to implement a single premium design language that ultimately blurs the lines between the high-end and the low-end, allowing the average consumer to jump on the brand without a hefty upfront investment." The report is based on preliminary quarterly estimates, with Apple due to report sales figures next week. George Mariadas Kurusu, a H1-B visa holder and former FSISD teacher, has been in federal custody since his arrest in May last year. George Mariadas Kurusu was also ordered to forfeit USD 5,987 to the government and serve three years of supervised release (Photo: DC/File) Houston: A 58-year-old Indian teacher in the US has been fined over USD 50,000 and ordered to serve three years of supervised release by a court for defrauding several Indians on the pretext of providing them H-1B visas and teaching jobs in America. George Mariadas Kurusu, a H1-B visa holder and former Fort Stockton Independent School District (FSISD) teacher, was also ordered to forfeit USD 5,987 to the government and serve three years of supervised release. He has been in federal custody since his arrest in May last year. US District Judge Louis Guirola sentenced Kurusu to time served (approximately 11 months) and ordered him to pay USD 53,004.51 restitution for the wire fraud scheme involving the hiring of Indian nationals to teach in the US. In January, Kurusu pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud; one count of fraud in foreign labor contracting; one count of tampering with a witness, victim or an informant; and, one count of making a false statement on a visa application. By pleading guilty, Kurusu admitted that from December 2012 to May last year, he defrauded several individuals out of more than USD 50,000 for a "visa package" provided by a company he owned which promised H1-B visas, teaching jobs, and the maintenance of those jobs and visas for his victims. According to court records, Kurusu, established a separate business, Samaritan Educational Services (Samaritan), which he personally obtained financial benefits in violation of his visa. Kurusu also lied on an application to renew his visa. However, he began placing advertisements in a newspaper in Hyderabad, providing services for a fee to individuals who were seeking teaching positions in the US. Kurusu led applicants to believe that they had to go through his business in order to both obtain a visa and a job. He asked the victims to pay large fees on the pretext they were solely to be used to complete paperwork and none would go to him. He paid those nominal fees, but pocketed the rest. The victims initially set up all the paperwork for the visa and to obtain a job at FSISD then provided Kurusu such information along with other personal information. Kurusu, in promoting his scheme, used this information to place a buffer between the victims and both the State Department and FSISD. Kurusu further insured his scheme was not revealed when he ordered the victims not to mention to the State Department they enlisted the services of Samaritan and not to contact FSISD directly, but only through him. When the victims arrived in the US, in particular within the FSISD, Kurusu had the victim's set up a bank account and an Electronic Transfer of Funds (ETF) where 15 per cent of their monthly paychecks, before taxes, were wired to Kurusu's Samaritan business bank account. When the victims began questioning the arrangement, Kurusu warned the victims that if they did not pay, they would lose their jobs and their visas; and again, advised them not to contact the FSISD otherwise they would jeopardize all H1-B visa holders in the district. FSISD was unaware of the defendant's scheme. Once Kurusu became aware an investigation was being conducted, he told them if they did speak to law enforcement, all the other H1-B visa holders in the district would lose their jobs and be deported. United said earlier on Thursday that it would offer passengers who give up their seats up to $10,000. Dr. David Dao, the Asain passenger who was dragged out of the United Airlines flight. (Photo: AP) Chicago: United Airlines and the passenger who was dragged from a Chicago flight earlier this month have reached a settlement for an undisclosed sum, they said on Thursday, in the carrier's latest step to contain damage from an incident that sparked international outrage. Viral videos of Dr. David Dao being dragged down the aisle of a United jet and Chief Executive Oscar Munoz's handling of the incident touched off a public outcry, prompted calls from congressmen for new industry regulation, and led United's board of directors to reverse an agreement to make Munoz company chairman in 2018. United said earlier on Thursday that it would offer passengers who give up their seats up to $10,000, reduce overbooking of flights and no longer call on law enforcement officers to deny ticketed passengers their seats. Southwest Airlines also said on Thursday that it would end overbooking of flights. Dao, a 69-year-old Vietnamese-American doctor, was injured when Chicago aviation police removed him from his seat and then dragged him from the plane to make space for four crew members on the flight from O'Hare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky. United has taken "full responsibility for what happened on Flight 3411, without attempting to blame others, including the City of Chicago," Thomas Demetrio, an attorney for Dao, said in a statement. Demetrio said there was no need to proceed with separate litigation against the city. Republic Airways, United's regional partner which operated the flight that Dao was on, has also been released from responsibility as part of the settlement, Demetrio's office said. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office declined to comment on the settlement. The three Chicago Department of Aviation officers who pulled Dao off the plane and a supervisor involved in the incident remain on paid leave, said Chicago Department of Aviation spokesman Karen Pride, who declined to comment on the settlement. United said in a separate statement that it was pleased to reach "an amicable resolution of the unfortunate incident that occurred aboard flight 3411." "We look forward to implementing the improvements we have announced, which will put our customers at the center of everything we do," the airline said. Munoz stressed that point in a letter sent on Thursday to customers, saying the airline would increase its focus on their satisfaction. "We can never say we are sorry enough for what occurred, but we also know meaningful actions will speak louder than words," he said. Separately, officials at 10 of the busiest U.S. airports said their rules prevent security officers from physically removing passengers from airplanes unless a crime is committed. Trump drops in at briefing by top three national security aides on threat posed by Pyongyang. US defense secretary James Mattis and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford after briefing US senators on the situation in North Korea in Washington DC. (Photo:AFP) Washington: The US on Thursday vowed to step up economic sanctions to force North Korea to resume talks over its nuclear programme, underlining that its past efforts had failed to halt Pyongyangs unlawful weapons programmes. Briefing senators at the White House, top Trump administration officials said President Trump wanted to use diplomatic measures and tighten sanctions to pressure Kim Jong-uns regime. The senators earlier were ferried in a bus from the US capitol to the White House for an unusual detailed briefing from the Trump administration officials on the current situation in North Korea. President Donald Trump himself dropped by at the briefing, which was addressed by his top national security aides secretary of state Rex Tillerson, defence secretary James Mattis, director of national intelligence Dan Coats and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General Joe Dunford. Past efforts have failed to halt North Koreas unlawful weapons programmes and nuclear and ballistic missile tests. With each provocation, North Korea jeopardises stability in Northeast Asia and poses a growing threat to our allies and the US homeland, the three top officials Mr Tillerson, Mr Mattis and Mr Coats said in a joint statement after the meeting. North Koreas pursuit of nuclear weapons was an urgent national security threat and the top foreign policy priority, they said, adding that upon assuming office, Mr Trump ordered a thorough review of US policy pertaining to the North Korea. The Presidents approach aims to pressure North Korea into dismantling its nuclear, ballistic missile, and proliferation programmes by tightening economic sanctions and pursuing diplomatic measures with our allies and regional partners, the statement said. It said the Trump administration was engaging responsible members of the international community to increase pressure on North Korea in order to convince the regime to de-escalate and return to the path of dialogue. We will maintain our close coordination and cooperation with our allies, especially the Republic of Korea and Japan, as we work together to preserve stability and prosperity in the region. The United States seeks stability and the peaceful denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. We remain open to negotiations towards that goal. However, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies, the three top Trump administration officials said in a statement. Kandahars powerful police chief Abdul Raziq last December called for a safe zone for Taliban militants. Kabul: An Afghan strongman is giving sanctuary to Taliban fighters and their kin who had sought haven across the border in Pakistan, building on a radical strategy to reduce Islamabads influence on the insurgency. Kandahars powerful police chief Abdul Raziq last December called for a safe zone for Taliban militants, a contentious plan centred on Afghanistans accusation that the insurgency is fuelled by Pakistans support in cross-border sanctuaries. Since then, around two dozen insurgents have sought sanctuary in the southern province from senior commanders to low-level fighters with Mr Raziqs trusted aide, Sultan Mohammed, instrumental in getting them to leave Pakistan, security sources say. Some of them spoke to AFP by telephone from secret locations in Kandahar. All say they have been granted de facto amnesty, and some given housing and cash in exchange for not returning to the battlefield. Sultan Mohammed told me, Come back to your country, your homeland without fear. I guarantee no one will touch you, 37-year-old Mullah Abdul Rauf, a former member of the Talibans economic commission, said. He came to the border in his car to receive my family, said Rauf, who defected earlier this year from Quetta in southwest Pakistan with his three wives and children. Mohammed likens his effort to poking small holes in a large dam. Other Taliban figures who the sources claim sought refuge in Kandahar include senior commanders Malim Paida, Mohammadullah Khan and an insurgent leader known as Doctor Khalil a longtime fugitive who escaped in a mass jailbreak in Afghanistans second largest city in 2011. They will meet their Turkish counterpart in Malta, for the first high-level meeting since the divisive referendum in Turkey. Brussels: European Union foreign ministers were seeking a way out of a stalemate on membership talks with Turkey on Friday, as ties between the two have sunk to their lowest level in years. EU ministers also will meet with their Turkish counterpart in Valletta, Malta, for the first high-level meeting since the divisive referendum in Turkey that gives more powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his stinging criticism of several EU nations, some of which he compared to Nazis. "The current situation as it is, is definitely not sustainable and this in a way frustrating for both sides," EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said. While some ministers are calling for sustained relations with a pillar of the NATO alliance and a major partner in controlling the flow of migrants into the EU from Syria and beyond, others are calling for change. "There are so many areas where we need a correct, friendly and productive cooperation that we have to see, together with our Turkish colleagues, how we can improve the situation," Hahn said. Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has been at the forefront in calling for a fundamental reset of relations, and claims Turkey has thwarted fundamental EU values. "The path cannot be membership," he said. He insisted that Erdogan had crossed many "red lines" that would bar membership, including the imprisonment of journalists, undue pressure on the opposition, and the referendum which will bring more powers to the president. "I would like to see a clear, courageous EU stand. 'Yes' to contact with Turkey. 'No' to accession," Kurz said. Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak questioned Turkey's credentials to join the EU, saying that EU "values must be underpinned by concrete steps and you must not be saying one thing and marching in a different direction." In the wake of the referendum victory two weeks ago, Erdogan has been talking about the reinstatement of the death penalty, which is outlawed in all EU nations and is a key moral benchmark of the bloc. Turkey applied to join the EU three decades ago, and they started negotiating in 2005. But of the 16 negotiating chapters on issues as varied as capital movement and food safety, only one has been provisionally closed: science and research. There has been no progress in recent months. Even though the Netherlands was one of the nations that Erdogan compared to "Nazis," Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said he would still try to end the war of words. "Our bilateral relationships have been difficult, but my plan is to deescalate tension," he said. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said it is well known that one country, two systems has made remarkable achievements. Beijing: China has urged the European Union (EU) to stop interfering in Hong Kong and Macao affairs after the European Commission and European External Action Service issued their 2016 reports on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Macao SAR. "We urge the EU to halt interference in Hong Kong and Macao affairs, and contribute more to the China-EU relations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing on Thursday. He added that it is well known that "one country, two systems" has made remarkable achievements as he said that the SAR system has been effective under the Constitution and the basic law of the two SARs. China will stick to "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," "Macao people governing Macao and a high degree of autonomy, said Geng. European Commission in its report said, 2016 was a politically challenging year for the Hong Kong SAR and for the functioning of the 'one country, two systems' principle. It also highlighted the case of the five book publishers who went missing in 2015, which according to the report, the EU regards as the most serious challenge to the Basic Law and the 'one country, two systems' principle since the 1997 handover, continued to unfold, and the circumstances of their disappearance have yet to be clarified. "The EU hopes that the Hong Kong SAR and China's central government will resume electoral reform in Hong Kong in line with the Basic Law and reach an agreement on an election system that is democratic, fair, open and transparent," the report stated. Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that India has sought consular access to 46-year-old Jadhav. Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday said that it will decide "on merit" the request made by India for consular access to its citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a military court on spying charges. Pakistan's assertion came a day after India handed over an appeal by the mother of Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by the Field General Court Martial, to the appellate court, initiating a process to get his conviction overturned. Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that India has sought consular access to 46-year-old Jadhav. "We have made it clear time and again that Pakistan and India have signed an agreement on consular access in 2008, and according to clause VI of that agreement, decision to grant consular access in cases where detentions and arrests relate to political or security matters, the request of consular access will be decided on merits of the case", he said. Referring to Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale's demand for consular access to Jadhav during a meeting with Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua on Wednesday, the spokesman said that the Indian diplomat had submitted a request for an appeal "which will be examined by experts." Zakaria's statement differs from that of army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor who had said last week that Jadhav was a spy and consular access cannot be given to spies. Similarly, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua was quoted by local media as saying yesterday that consular access agreement was related to prisoners and not spies. Pakistan has rejected India's request for consular access to Jadhav 15 times. Zakaria alleged that Jadhav was a serving commander of Indian Navy, working for Indian intelligence agency RAW and was caught red-handed. India acknowledges that Jadhav had served with the navy but denies that he has any connection with the government. Jadhav made confessions, and was tried for espionage activities, Zakaria said, adding that his trial was conducted according to the law of the land in a transparent manner. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy." The Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. However, India denied Pakistan's contention and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistan's agencies. "Pakistan has always highlighted to the International Community that India uses Afghan soil against Pakistan and it has been repeatedly stated by those in India in position of authority and responsibility that their effort is to squeeze Pakistan from the eastern and western borders," he alleged. He urged the international community to take note of "Indian state sponsorship of activities of subversion, terrorism and financing of terrorists against Pakistan." by Kamel Abderrahmani He admires the charity shown by the pontiff towards Syrian Muslim refugees, and his push in favour of love and against hatred. Islamic scholars are not like this, he says, they do not denounce Daeshs hatred and do nothing for Christians. He calls on the pontiff to press President to Sisi and Al Azhar to reform Islam. Without this Al Azhar risks being the academy of world fundamentalism. Here is the letter from our friend and collaborator Kamel Abderrahmani. Paris (AsiaNews) Kamel Abderrahmani is a young Algerian Muslim, known to our readers. He wrote a letter to Pope Francis on the eve of his visit to Egypt. In it he thanks the pontiff for his courage to go to Egypt despite terrorist attacks and for his commitment to peace in the world. The letter expresses admiration for the Pope's act of welcoming Syrian Muslim refugees and wonders why Islamic scholars have not done anything similar for Christians. The young man asks the Holy father to press Al Azhar and Muslim institutions to modernise themselves. They can start by condemning violence and reforming Sunni teaching that leads to violence, as well as share life with Christians and members of other religions to make coexistence possible in a world at peace. Dear Pope Francis, Before I start this letter, let me introduce myself. My name is Kamel Abderrahmani, and I am a young Algerian Muslim who has been studying at a French university for about two years. I am greatly interested in the burning issues that disrupt peoples lives. With my modest contributions to the AsiaNews.it website, I try to further peace and religious rapprochement between Christians and Muslims, in the West and in the East. Despite the hardships I have encountered, the lack of means and my difficult personal and financial situation, I will not stop believing in a better world, where we cannot live but in harmony, peace and brotherhood. Earlier this month, I was invited to Rome by my friend, Fr Bernardo Cervellera, and it is thanks to him that I learnt of your plan to visit Egypt at the end of April, not only to meet Coptic Christians but also senior Muslim officials at the Al Azhar. This is a good news, given the disturbing conditions in which Copts live today, these Copts who continue to resist not only the attacks carried out by madmen of Allah but also the denial of their rights (such as the ban on building churches) at the hands of the Egyptian government. There is also the problem of coexistence severely put to the test by Islamist activism. Everyone knows that Copts and Muslims have always lived together: a peaceful coexistence that has lasted for centuries before the advent of destructive Islamism that become a serious threat to such a life together. This is just an example of how all Eastern Christians live. We have all seen the executions of Yazidis in Syria and Iraq, tortured, forced into exile, at least those who managed to do so. It is a crime, a disaster committed before the eyes of the world, something that you have denounced and firmly condemned, unlike my co-religionists who have done nothing. They have not even lifted a finger to denounce this crime against humanity and against God. Whats worse, even Al Azhar, the official institution that represents Islam, has not dared take a clear position. Yet this institution is well-placed to denounce Daesh or even excommunicate it. Instead, it continues to view these barbarians as Muslims! But can barbarism have a religion? Can one live with terrorism? I am a Muslim, but this institution, in my eyes and those of millions of Muslims, has lost all credibility. What I am certain, dear Pope, is that hatred is not innate; it is inculcated and taught by our theologians and that is the whole problem. Most Muslim institutions, in fact, continue to regard Christians and Jews as unbelievers, and this appears to give carte blanche to the "soldiers of Allah" to attack Christians and all those who do not think like them. Indeed, I was flabbergasted by a prayer recited last year in Makkah during Ramadan, when the Imam prayed for Daesh and against Jewish and Christian "unbelievers." All this is mind-boggling! As you welcome Syrian Muslim families in the Vatican, dear Pope, the Islamic State exterminates [others] in the name of Islam without any official institution ever issuing any condemnation. I have noticed that every time you intervene to douse the fire in the Middle East, our Ulama (Quranic scholars) intervene to pour petrol on the fire. We live in [a situation of] theological anarchy that dare not acknowledge its name. This translates into the systematic rejection of those who think differently. Islam, dear Pope, needs to be shaken out of its jurisprudence. It is so sick and split that today we need an institution like yours. Yes, an institution that updates it, modernises it, and takes it out of the hands of ignorant people and barbarians. If I address myself to you, dear Pope Francis, it is not to complain or criticise gratuitously Muslim institutions. I am doing this to convey my dissatisfaction and my anger towards those who represent official Islam and who engage in double talk. I believe in you (whilst remaining Muslim), but I do not believe in them! unlike our Ulama, I love peace and dream of a world in which religions would be but paths towards peaceful coexistence and universal wisdom. I remember that once you said that life is attained and matures in the measure that it is offered up in order to give life to others. This is certainly what mission means." In fact, you have made this mission the heart of your work, without fear of anyone. The proof is that the recent attacks in Egypt have not scared you off and you have kept faith in your trip, which will undoubtedly be a message of love and peace between all the segments of Egyptian society and the Middle East, which is the heartland of monotheistic religions. In this brief trip that you are making with the blessing of the Lord, the Muslim that I am hopes that it will bring peace and tolerance, above all carry a clear message to President al-Sisi, who must do everything to ensure freedom of worship and expression, and allow Christians to build new places of worship. As for Al Azhar, I hope you can convince them of the need to reform Islamic jurisprudence, and the programmes taught to students in that institution, and above all modernise and update the religious discourse, since the current one only lays the ground for Islamic terrorism. In other words, Al Azhar must cease to be the worlds academy of fundamentalism. This means putting strong pressure on al-Sisi and Al Azhar. Dear Pope Francis, as a Muslim, I admire your courage and your bravery. Indeed, how could I be indifferent when on Easter Sunday, before more than 60,000 faithful in St Peter's Square, on the occasion of the Urbi et Orbi's blessing, you asked for God's help to end the conflicts and wars in the world, as well as arms trafficking and the suffering endured by the weaker. "May he grant peace to the entire Middle East, beginning with the Holy Land, as well as in Iraq and Yemen, without forgetting once more, the Syrian tragedy where the civilian population is "prey to a war that continues to sow horror and death." Once again you stand out compared to our "Ulama" to denounce the heinous attack on fleeing refugees that took place the day before in the Aleppo region, Syria, with a heavy toll of 110 dead. On the 14th of this month, in the Colosseum, you strongly criticised all the crimes that are committed around the world. "Ashamed of all the scenes of devastation, destruction and drowning that have become a normal part of our lives; Ashamed of the innocent blood shed daily of women, children, migrants and people persecuted because of the colour of their skin or their ethnic and social diversity or because of their faith in You, you said on Good Friday. I admire your views, they are just, human, wise. They inspire love towards you, towards the Christians of the whole world, and also towards the noble institution that you represent, the Vatican. Dear Pope Francis, I turn to you in a simple language with a sincere heart, full of faith and hope in you and in your desire to propagate peace in this world. Your charisma, your wisdom, your high spirituality and sincerity give me hope for a better world, for a fraternal world. I salute you, and may God bless you, accompany you and help you in everything you do for the good of humanity! Kamel Abderrahmani Paris, 20 April 2017 by Fady Noun Cairo (AsiaNews) Peace is a sacred task. As Jesus taught, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God," said Rev Jim Winkler, secretary general of the National Church Council of Christ in the USA, the first speaker to take the floor and open the Al-Azhar International Peace Conference. Suddenly, the latter took on a metaphysical dimension. Rev Olav Fyske, secretary general of the World Council of Churches, followed the US clergyman in the same spirit, expressing the same concepts. Meeting in the multipurpose hall of the Fairmount Hotel, participants from the four corners of the Muslim world, including far-flung China, appear to be, as Jesus put it when he saw the crowds that followed him, like sheep without a shepherd. They represent a vulnerable world subject to violence, on the margins of abundance, stripped of its rights, plagued by poverty, dominated, exploited, marginalised. Today this hall was the mountain where Jesus spoke his Beatitudes. Whether they are doctors of the law or ignorant, sedentary or migrants, the planets overfed or poor, fathers and mothers in tears, everyone is an orphan of peace, looking for a way out of the hell of hate and violence in which the world has fallen unsure on how to get out of it. Participants represent about 560 million Muslims in the world. "Hope, only our shared life can give it," said Coptic Orthodox Bishop Bola on behalf of Tawadros II, the spiritual leader of nine million Orthodox Copts, who was in Kuwait until yesterday but is on his way back to meet the pope. "It is not we who are not living in Egypt," said the patriarch, "but it is Egypt that lives in us. Whats the point of praying in churches without a homeland? It would be best to pray in a nation without churches," Tawadros added. These words are full of patriotism, as opposed to the resigned mind-set that dwells in us. with boldness and abnegation, the Coptic Orthodox Church is promoting a culture of outreach and endurance. Although things might be changing now, persecution has long been its daily bread. "I come from Tanta, scene of the attack on the Palm Sunday in which 28 people died and another 95 were wounded," Bishop Bola said. "We respond to violence with palm leaves and olive branches, he explained. The palm tree is the symbol of the height of conquest and glory. We shall face off violence and terrorism with peace." He called on governments that fund war and on arms traders to give up their hypocrisy, adding that he prays to see "the sources of Takfirist thinking and terrorist financing dry up." Poverty, ignorance, the extreme injustice inflicted upon Palestine, and the duplicity of the Bush administration were cited as elements of frustration and violence. "Development is the new name of peace, Pope Paul VI said in the 1970s. Fifty years later, these words have not lost their topicality." These themes came back throughout the morning. Al Azhar Grand Imam Ahmad el-Tayeb and the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew gave their address. The latter came to Egypt to meet his "brother" Francis, this afternoon. Bartholomew himself has become a spokesman for "global peace" and praised "the courage and vision of this global initiative" that led the al-Azhar imam to convene the conference. He noted pertinently that in lieu of the post-modernity exalted by some champions of the bloated industrial world, with "the explosion of religious affiliation post-secularity has come to the fore rather than disappear. The Patriarch of Constantinople sees an irreducible opposition in the pair fundamentalism/relativism. He rightly pointed out that the terms of this contradiction are violence, although one is active, whilst the other is "cold". In his view, "fundamentalism is a form of zeal that is not based on truth, [it is a] false religiosity. As the audience applauded, he reiterated that "Islam is not synonymous with violence" and that "peace can be achieved only through voices of peace." This is radical. He ended his address by saying that to meet to the eager expectations of peoples, religion must be based on four pillars freedom, justice, solidarity, and compassion noting that this needs a world-wide effort to succeed. Grand Imam Ahmad el-Tayeb also took the high ground to talk about a problem that haunts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's mind, and spurs him daily to fight more vigorously against the ideology of the Islamic state. A pessimist, the dour-faced grand imam noted that "history is a succession of wars intertwined by brief periods of peace, not the other way around." Hence, are war and violence humanitys destiny? Going against this, the grand imam said "If the Christian God and the Muslim God are the same, he cannot contradict himself on essential things, like mercy, and peace." Still, in concluding, he defended the Qur'anic passages on war, noting that in Islam, "the use of violence is codified" and "war is strictly defensive, never offensive." Words that left Christian exegetes unsatisfied. Caution thus governed the topic of exegesis. We know how much Muslims are reluctant to submit the Quran to historical and critical analyses. Some will say, and with good reason, that "a bad interpretation leads to a bad interpretation of the other," an in some cases, to violence, to the extent that the other becomes "the ontological enemy." Varying in quality, none of yesterday's lectures approached the theme from a different perspective. All of them aimed at penetrating the ideological, political and religious vortex that is jolting the world in the present-day maelstrom. National conference of female religious scholars issues three fatwas. Child marriage is against Islamic law. Marriage age for women should be raised from 16 to 18. Every year, 340,000 girls are married. Sexual violence should also be banned, even in marriage. In Indonesia, 16,217 cases were reported in 2016. Environmental destruction for economic development should also be illegal. Jakarta (AsiaNews) On its last day, the first national conference of female scholars (imams), held in Ciberon (West Java)on 25-27 April, issued three fatwas (religious edicts) against child marriage, sexual violence in and outside marriage, and the destruction of nature in the name of economic development. More than 700 imams, students and Islamic academics attended the gathering. The first edict would compel Muslims to prevent child marriage, noting how this practice is not only harmful but also un-Islamic. Although not binding, the fatwa states that parents, communities, and the government have the responsibility of preventing child marriages. The conference also calls for the age of marriage for women to be raised from 16 to 18. According to UNICEF, every year one Indonesian girl in six, or 340,000, marries before the age of 18. The country is ranked 37th in the world in terms of child marriage, second in Southeast Asia after Cambodia. The second edict is revolutionary for Islamic culture. It states that sexual violence is haram even within a marriage. According to this fatwa, sexual violence is against the hifd un nafs (right to life), hifd al irdhu (right to freedom and respect) and hifd al nasl (right to procreation). The edict also states that zina (adultery or sexual act outside of marriage) is different from rape, whose victims must not be punished. According to the National Commission on Violence Against Women, 16,217 cases of sexual assault were reported in Indonesia in 2016, up from 11,207 in 2015. Lastly, the third fatwa is about environmental protection. It deems haram the destruction of nature for the sake of economic development since it can cause social and economic disparities. To achieve this, the conference calls on the government to tighten its environmental protection rules and drop all laws and regulations that allow the use of natural resources in development. Francis and Patriarch Tawadros II want to move on the path of full unity. They prayed in the church attacked in December. [J]ust as the heavenly Jerusalem is one, so too is our martyrology; your sufferings are also our sufferings. Cairo (AsiaNews) - In his meeting with Egypts Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II on Friday, Pope Francis said that Catholics and Coptic Orthodox are on the path of unity, and that their martyrology underlies their ecumenism of blood. Addressing the patriarch, the pontiff said your sufferings are also our sufferings as evinced by the innocent victims of the latest attack in Cairo. After their speeches, the two went to the nearby St Peter's Church to pray in the place where a bomb attack killed 29 people last December. They were joined by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who is in Cairo for the Peace Conference. The meeting between Francis and Tawadros centred on ecumenism. Francis cited Tawadros' visit to Rome on 10 May 2013, which has become the occasion for celebrating an annual Day of Friendship between Copts and Catholics. Tawadros did the same, noting that dialogue between the Eastern Churches and the Catholic Church marks its fifteenth anniversary in an atmosphere in which all members of the two Churches affirm the belief in the importance of the Lord's words: "This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). Unity in today's world, Tawadros added, is the clearest and most fundamental testimony of Christ we can offer to the world. So, Your Holiness, we wait for the day when we shall break bread together on the sacred altar, the day when all the bells of the churches will ring out together to celebrate the birth of the Saviour or His Resurrection. " For his part, Francis said As we joyfully progress on our ecumenical journey, I wish particularly to recall that milestone in relations between the Sees of Peter and Mark which is the Common Declaration signed by our predecessors more than forty years ago, on 10 May 1973. After centuries of difficult history marked by increasing theological differences, nourished and widened by non-theological factors, and growing mistrust, we were able that day, with Gods help, to acknowledge together that Christ is perfect God with respect to his divinity and perfect man with respect to his humanity (Common Declaration of Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III, 10 May 1973). Such a journey saw a further step today with the signing of a joint declaration that ends the disagreement over their respective baptism, thus leading to mutual recognition of this sacrament. We can no longer think that each can go his own way, In his address, Francis did not mention this, but stated that both confessions belong to Jesus and that he is our all. What is more, we realized that, because we belong to him, we can no longer think that each can go his own way, for that would betray his will that his disciples all be one so that the world may believe (Jn 17:21). In the sight of God, who wishes us to be perfectly one (v. 23), it is no longer possible to take refuge behind the pretext of differing interpretations, much less of those centuries of history and traditions that estranged us one from the other. In the words of His Holiness John Paul II, there is no time to lose in this regard! Our communion in the one Lord Jesus Christ, in the one Holy Spirit and in one baptism already represents a deep and fundamental reality (Address at the Ecumenical Meeting, 25 February 2000). Consequently, not only is there an ecumenism of gestures, words and commitment, but an already effective communion that grows daily in living relation with the Lord Jesus, is rooted in the faith we profess and is truly grounded on our baptism and our being made a new creation (cf. 2 Cor 5:17) in him. In a word, there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Eph 4:5). Hence, we constantly set out anew, in order to hasten that eagerly awaited day when we will be in full and visible communion around the altar of the Lord. In this exciting journey, which like life itself is not always easy and straightforward, but on which the Lord exhorts us to persevere, we are not alone. We are accompanied by a great host of saints and martyrs who, already fully one, impel us here below to be a living image of the Jerusalem above (Gal 4:26). Among them, surely Peter and Mark in particular rejoice in our encounter today. Great is the bond uniting them. We need only think of the fact that Saint Mark put at the heart of his Gospel Peters profession of faith: You are the Christ. It was the answer to Jesus ever urgent question: But who do you say that I am? (Mk 8:29). Today too, many people cannot answer this question; there are even few people who can raise it, and above all few who can answer it with the joy of knowing Jesus, that same joy with which we have the grace of confessing him together. Together, then, we are called to bear witness to him, to carry our faith to the world, especially in the way it is meant to be brought: by living it, so that Jesus presence can be communicated with life and speak the language of gratuitous and concrete love. As Coptic Orthodox and Catholics, we can always join in speaking this common language of charity: before undertaking a charitable work, we would do well to ask if we can do it together with our brothers and sisters who share our faith in Jesus. Thus, by building communion in the concreteness of a daily lived witness, the Spirit will surely open providential and unexpected paths to unity. The deepening progress of our ecumenical journey is also sustained, in mysterious and quite relevant way, by a genuine ecumenism of blood. Saint John tells us that Jesus came with water and blood (1 Jn 5:6); whoever believes in him thus overcomes the world (1 Jn 5:5). With water and blood: by living a new life in our common baptism, a life of love always and for all, even at the cost of the sacrifice of ones life. How many martyrs in this land, from the first centuries of Christianity, have lived their faith heroically to the end, shedding their blood rather than denying the Lord and yielding to the enticements of evil, or merely to the temptation of repaying evil with evil! The venerable Martyrology of the Coptic Church bears eloquent witness to this. Even in recent days, tragically, the innocent blood of defenceless Christians was cruelly shed: their innocent blood unites us. Most dear brother, just as the heavenly Jerusalem is one, so too is our martyrology; your sufferings are also our sufferings. Strengthened by this witness, let us strive to oppose violence by preaching and sowing goodness, fostering concord and preserving unity, praying that all these sacrifices may open the way to a future of full communion between us and of peace for all. The impressive history of holiness of this land is distinguished not only by the sacrifice of the martyrs. No sooner had the ancient persecutions ended that a new and selfless form of life arose as a gift of the Lord: monasticism originated in the desert. Thus, the great signs that God had once worked in Egypt and at the Red Sea (cf. Ps 106:21-22) were followed by the miracle of a new life that made the desert blossom with sanctity. With veneration for this shared patrimony, I have come as a pilgrim to this land that the Lord himself loves to visit. For here, in his glory he came down upon Mount Sinai (cf. Ex 24:16), and here, in his humility, he found refuge as a child (cf. Mt 2:14). Your Holiness, dearest brother, may the same Lord today grant us to set out together as pilgrims of communion and messengers of peace. On this journey, may the Virgin Mary take us by the hand, she who brought Jesus here, and whom the great Egyptian theological tradition has from of old acclaimed as Theotokos, the Mother of God. In this title, humanity and divinity are joined, for in his Mother, God became forever man. May the Blessed Virgin, who constantly leads us to Jesus, the perfect symphony of divine and human, bring yet once more a bit of heaven to our earth. Costs amount to about one billion dollars. Trump: "It would be worthwhile to pay." Seoul: "The South Korean government provides site and facilities, the United States pays for installation and management." Washington: "Renegotiate or terminate" the free trade agreement. Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - US President Donald Trump says South Korea has to cover the costs of deploying the Thaad (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile defense system. Washington and Seoul are currently working on the installation of some key components of Thaad at Seongju, South Korean Peninsula. The transaction costs amount to about one billion dollars. "I informed South Korea that it would be appropriate to pay. It is a system worth billions of dollars, "said US President. Trump adding he intends to "renegotiate or terminate" the Free Trade Agreement with the South, which he termed "horrible". The deployment of Thaad is an important topic of discussion in the ongoing presidential race in Seoul. Moon Jae-in, forerunner and Democratic Party candidate, has already pledged to revisit the agreements in case of victory in the elections. In response to Trump's statements, the South Korean Defense Minister has made it clear that South Korea does not intend to bear the costs. In a statement it said that there is no change to the "base position" in the agreements between the two countries: the South Korean government provides the site and related facilities, the United States pays for the installation and management of the Thaad. Cosmopolitan Survey Reveals How Men And Women Feel About Pubic Hair Trending News: A Large Percentage Of Guys Will Dump A Girl Over Her Pubic Hair Long Story Short A considerably large number of guys prefer women to be completely bare down there and they're not afraid to tell women how they like it. Long Story Grooming your pubic hair is a very personal experience, except when it's not. A new survey of 4,146 people aged 18 to 35 from Cosmopolitan gathered from social media accounts including AskMen's very own Facebook page, delved into our manscaping and womanscaping habits to find out what we like, what we don't, and how much we're willing to tell our partner to change it up. For women, 70% said their preference is for guys to be trimmed, which is precisely equivalent to how many guys in the survey said they keep it trimmed. For men, 46% prefer women to go completely bare and 57% of the women surveyed do just that. Cosmopolitan.com But while we may have our preferences, at the end of the day it's our bodies and we can do whatever the hell we want, right? Well, maybe not. 40% of guys surveyed said they've talked to their partner about changing up their pubic hair, compared to 23% of women. Perhaps even more shocking, 30% of guys said they consider pubic hair as a potential relationship deal breaker, compared to just 19% of women. One of the respondents, a 35-year-old guy named Justin, said he'd be open for trimmed, but not au naturel. Even if you dont shave completely, you can still trim it down and make it neat, he said to Cosmo. I just cant imagine being down there without any sort of upkeep. It seems unhygienic. Actually, doctors quoted in The New York Times have said not shaving is more hygienic for women, as it traps bacteria from getting into the vagina. Still, we like what we like, and 51% of the total people surveyed said they groom, not for hygiene, but because they "feel more attractive when it's groomed." Other interesting results from the survey included that women don't want guys to suffer the pain and agony of waxing just 12% want a guy to go completely bare. It's also interesting to note that 55% of women spend $1-$20 on pubic hair grooming, while 67% of guys spend nothing. Whatever you choose to do down there, it really is up to you. But please, for the sake of your sex life, do something. Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Would you dump a girl if she didn't groom her pubic hair to your liking? Drop This Fact A survey we did back in 2015 of 5,000 people (mostly men), found that 40% of guys felt some sort of pressure to manscape. Interest in electrical brain stimulation has skyrocketed in recent years, both in the popular media and scientific literature. Scientists and clinicians are using the non-invasive and cheap technique to treat various neurological and psychiatric disorders, including depression, epilepsy and addiction. The US military is researching whether it improves learning and attention. And those who train elite athletes can see its potential to enhance performance. But our research shows... Photo courtesy of Europcar Group InterRent, Europcar Groups low-cost brand, has opened a new location at the Dubai International Airport. This new location has expanded InterRents presence in the Middle East. Currently, it has locations in Oman, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar. In Dubai, InterRent will offer customers a range of vehicles, from the smallest cars to SUVs. Customers can select extra such as a child seat or GPS device. I am very proud to enlarge our offer within the Middle East with Dubai, a very appealing destination, said Jehan de The, group director of InterRent. As a growing leisure destination with massive demands for car rentals, InterRent will offer an affordable alternative to make sure visitors can save, drive, and enjoy. Armenias Constitutional Court on Friday rejected an opposition appeal against the official results of this months parliamentary elections that gave victory to President Serzh Sarkisians Republican Party (HHK). The Congress-HZhK alliance led by former President Levon Ter-Petrosian accused the HHK of bribing and intimidating voters and resorting to other falsifications. It presented the court with more than 40 pages of written documents as well as video and audio material purportedly proving fraud. In a verdict read out by its chairman, Gagik Harutiunian, the court said the Congress-HZhK did not submit the kind of factual evidence that would warrant an annulment of the official vote results. The opposition appeal was also short on specifics, it said. Congress-HZhK representatives boycotted the announcement of the verdict. I dont think that the truth will prevail today, Levon Zurabian, a leading member of the bloc, said in his concluding remarks at the court hearings earlier in the day. But one day we will do that together with the whole nation. I dont want to participate in this farce anymore, Zurabian declared before walking out of the courtroom. Vahe Grigorian, a lawyer representing the Congress-HZhK, challenged the court to demonstrate its independence by scrapping the official results that showed Ter-Petrosians bloc winning 1.65 percent of the vote. The chairman of Armenias Central Election Commission (CEC), Tigran Mukuchian, insisted, meanwhile, that the bloc failed to come up with proper evidence of widespread and systematic electoral fraud. In court, you have to speak with facts, rather than make political statements, he told reporters. Mukuchian claimed that the CEC ensured full transparency in the April 2 elections not least because of opposition-backed amendments to the Electoral Code enacted by the Armenian authorities last fall. Those changes led to the installation of electronic voter authentication devices in all polling stations. The authorities publicized the signed lists of voters that cast ballots on April 2. This allowed opposition parties to verify whether somebody else voted in place of those Armenians who were absent from the country or simply boycotted the elections. Mukuchian said the Congress-HZhK failed to prove any instances of multiple voting based on a thorough examination of those lists. He also downplayed media reports about the HHKs use of its administrative resources, saying that those irregularities did not affect the overall election outcome. The documents submitted by the Congress-HZhK to the countrys highest court included secretly recorded audio purportedly indicating that employees of a wealthy businessman affiliated with the HHK were told to campaign for his reelection to the parliament or lose their jobs. Armenias Special Investigative Service (SIS) launched last week a criminal investigation into the scandalous recording. It has not charged anyone yet. In a joint preliminary report issued on April 3, European observers said the Armenian authorities largely respected fundamental freedoms during the well-administered vote. But they also reported credible information about vote-buying, and pressure on civil servants and employees of private companies. Nevertheless, the European Unions foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, stated through a spokesperson that the official vote results reflect the overall will of the Armenian people. The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan similarly congratulated the people of Armenia on the conduct of the ballot. Armenia accused Azerbaijan of obstructing the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process after the foreign ministers of the two states met in Moscow on Friday for fresh talks hosted by their Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. Lavrov initiated the trilateral meeting in an attempt to get the conflicting parties to narrow their differences on a peace plan drafted by Russia, the United States and France. In a statement on the meeting, the Russian Foreign Ministry said its participants stressed the need to fulfill confidence-building agreements that were reached by Armenias and Azerbaijans president at their last meetings held in Vienna and Saint Petersburg last year. The ministers agreed to continue contacts on all discussed issues, said the statement. It added that after their trilateral session Lavrov, Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadyarov were joined by the American, Russian and French diplomats co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group. It gave no details of the ensuing exchange of views on the state of affairs in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. The Minsk Groups U.S. co-chair, Richard Hoagland, expressed hope late last month that Mammadyarov and Nalbandian will prepare the ground for a fresh meeting of their presidents. The Russian statement said nothing about the possibility of such a summit. Nalbandians press office released a virtually identical statement on the meeting, while a spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said only that the foreign ministers will brief the presidents on its results. In separate written comments made later in the day, the Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Tigran Balayan, condemned Baku for a fresh ceasefire violation in Karabakh that left an Armenian soldier dead on Friday morning. Baku is again demonstrating that the negotiation process is not important to it, Balayan told the official Armenpress news agency. Otherwise, it would not have endangered the process on the day of the foreign ministers meeting by blatantly violating the ceasefire again. By resorting to such a provocation at a time when everyone awaits the results of the Moscow meeting, Baku is making it clear that it does not care about those results, he charged. 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW: Todays guide to the obscure, the possibly relevant and things in between Notice on Calling an Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of City Service SE The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (hereinafter, the Meeting) of City Service SE (Societas Europaea), corporate ID code: 12827710, registered address: Narva mnt 5, Tallinn, Harju county, 10117, the Republic of Estonia (hereinafter, the Company), is convened by the Management Board of the Company. Meeting date and time. The date of the Meeting is 22 May 2017, Monday; time 09:00, registration starts at 08:30. Meeting place. The Meeting shall take place at the Vilnius office of the Company, at Gyneju st. 16, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania (Business Center VERTAS, the 11th floor). Meeting agenda. The Supervisory Board determined the following agenda of the Meeting: 1. Presentation of the consolidated annual report of the Company for 2016 to the shareholders. 2. Presentation of the auditors report of the Company to the shareholders. 3. Approval of the set of consolidated annual financial statements of the Company for 2016. 4. Distribution of profit (loss) of the Company of 2016. Availability of draft resolutions. Draft resolutions of the Meeting (including on distribution of profit) as well as auditors report, annual report and consolidated financial statements are attached hereto and are also available for examination on the website of the Company at www.cityservice.eu. Shareholders can also examine the draft resolutions of the Meeting and other mentioned documents during business hours from 09:00 till 12:00 every working day until the Meeting at the following addresses: in Lithuania the Companys Vilnius office at Gyneju str. 16, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania; in Estonia the office of law firm VARUL, Ahtri 6a, 10151 Tallinn, the Republic of Estonia. The minutes of the Meeting shall be made accessible to the shareholders after seven days following the Meeting day at the Companys website. Eligibility of shareholders. The total number of the Companys shares and the number of shares granting voting rights during the Meeting is the same and amounts to 31,610,000. ISIN code of the Companys shares is EE3100126368. The list of shareholders entitled to take part in the Meeting shall be determined as at 23:59 on 15 May 2017. Representation of shareholders. The shareholders will have to submit the following documents for the registration as participants of the Meeting: 1. Shareholders (natural persons): his/her identity document (passport or ID card). 2. Representatives of shareholders (natural persons): his/her identity document (passport or ID card) and a duly signed written power of attorney issued by the shareholder. 3. Representatives of shareholders (legal persons): in case of representation by law certified extract (or other similar document) from relevant commercial registry of the country where the legal person is registered providing information on a right of representation and identity document of the representative (passport or ID card); in case of authorized representation certified extract mentioned above, identity document of the representative (passport or ID card) and a written power of attorney duly issued by the legal representative of the shareholder. 4. Shareholders whose shares are held through the nominee accounts: his/her identity document (passport or ID card) and a duly signed written power of attorney issued by the holder of the nominee account opened with the Estonian central depository for securities indicating the number of shares owned by the shareholder. Please be informed that shareholders, who are entitled to participate at the Meeting, can authorize by electronic means a natural or legal person to attend and vote on behalf of them at the Meeting. Power of attorney that is digitally signed by the shareholder must be submitted via e-mail to matas.likauskas@cityservice.eu not later than by 19 May 2017 (17:00). At the Meeting the authorized person shall have the same rights as a represented shareholder, unless the authorized persons rights are limited by the power of attorney or by law. Documents issued in a foreign country must be translated either into English, Lithuanian or Estonian and legalized in the manner established by the law. Voting by general ballot paper. A shareholder or his proxy may vote in writing by filling in a general ballot paper, in such a case the requirement to deliver a personal identity document does not apply. The form of a general ballot paper is presented on the Companys website. Upon a shareholders request, the Company shall send the general ballot paper to the requesting shareholder by registered mail or shall deliver it in person against signature no later than 10 days prior to the Meeting free of charge. If the person who had completed the general ballot paper is not a shareholder, the completed general ballot paper must be accompanied by a document confirming the right to vote. The duly completed general ballot paper should be sent by e-mail to matas.likauskas@cityservice.eu or delivered directly to the Companys Vilnius office at Gyneju str. 16, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania, not later than by 19 May 2017 (17:00). The Company reserves the right not to include the shareholders vote, if the general ballot paper does not meet the requirements of paragraphs 5.8 and 5.9 of the Statutes of the Company or if the general ballot paper is written in a way that it is impossible to establish shareholders will on a separate issue. Right to supplement agenda. Please be informed that shareholders whose shares represent at least 1/20 of the share capital of the Company may demand inclusion of additional issues on the agenda of the Meeting if the respective demand has been submitted in writing or by e-mail to matas.likauskas@cityservice.eu no later than by 6 May 2017 (17:00). Shareholders whose shares represent at least 1/20 of the share capital of the Company may submit to the Company draft resolutions in respect to each item on the agenda in writing or by e-mail to matas.likauskas@cityservice.eu by 18 May 2017 (17:00). Right to receive information. Shareholders will have the right to receive information about the activities of the Company at the Meeting. Questions may be submitted before the Meeting by e-mail to matas.likauskas@cityservice.eu or delivered directly to the Companys Vilnius office at Gyneju str. 16, Vilnius, the Republic of Lithuania. Please be informed that the management may refuse to answer the shareholders questions if it can significantly damage the interests of the Company. Additional information is provided by tel.: +370 5 239 4900 and on the website www.cityservice.eu. We have more newsletters Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to FREE email alerts from bathchronicle - Daily A Bath woman has admitted stabbing her husband at home - with her children nearby. Loana Soave, aged 43, stabbed her younger husband in Englishcombe Lane on December 5 last year. The man, aged in his 30s, recovered after being treated at the Royal United Hospital and is now at home looking after their children. Two children were in the couples small home at the time of the stabbing, a court heard today. Soave was charged with wounding with intent and had been due to face a trial on May 30. But she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of wounding before a judge on February 3, avoiding the need for a trial. Soave appeared at Bristol Crown Court today (April 28) via videolink from the womens prison Eastwood Park in Gloucestershire. With an Italian translator to help her understand proceedings, she listened as lawyers discussed her case before Judge Euan Ambrose. After legal discussions, the judge told her: Im going to adjourn the case now to the fifth of June. You will be brought to court on the fifth of June and the court will decide whether it has to have a hearing about what happened and about the time of the assault. If the court has to have a hearing then that will be on another day. If not, you will be sentenced on the fifth of June. Thats all for today. Soave wept on and off throughout todays hearing. She will remain in custody until her next court appearance. We have more newsletters Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to FREE email alerts from bathchronicle - Daily A record number of Liberal Democrats have applied to be the partys candidate for Bath in the general election after 100 local people joined the party in the 10 days since it was called. The Lib Dems received 20 nominations when the two-day window to enter closed today (Friday, April 28). It follows Jay Risbridger's shock withdrawal of his candidacy earlier this week. A committee of local members will now cut the 20 down to a shortlist. Those left in the race will make their pitch to a meeting on Monday (May 1) at Bath City FCs home ground Twerton Park. Bath Liberal Democrats chairman Ben Stevens: This exceptional response means that we have a fantastic choice of well qualified applicants to select from. The final decision will be entirely with our Bath members, which is exactly as it should be. Bath and North East Somersets Lib Dem membership is now at an all-time high of 800. This figure includes 100 people who joined following Prime Minister Theresa Mays election announcement. Local campaign chairman Paul Strasburger, who sits in the House of Lords, said: People who previously voted for other parties are flocking to us, mainly motivated by the Government's unnecessary choice of a hard and destructive Brexit. In Bath they feel that their current Tory MP has completely failed to represent their views in parliament. Other key local issues which the Lib Dems feel are fuelling a surge towards them locally are the planned park and ride on Bathampton Meadows and the possible relocation of Bath Central Library. Lord Strasburger added: We are feeling very bullish, and hopeful of a Lib Dem win and a return to an MP in the Don Foster tradition who truly represents the views of Bathonians. But we are taking nothing for granted and we know we have a lot of work to do. The general election takes place on June 8. It is expected that Lib Dems will become the third party to have their Bath candidate in place on Monday - joining the Conservatives and Greens. In a contrast, Labour candidates are being selected by regional board members and members of the party's ruling National Executive Committee. Because the application and selection process is centralised, Bath Labour was not able to say how many people have applied but a spokesman said there are multiple candidates running. The NEC could decide on candidates on Tuesday (May 2). Bath Ukip has not responded to requests for comment. Some Hernando County residents are on edge after stray bullets hit their home. No one was hurt but they are pretty shaken up. Stray bullets flying in Trillium community Bullets come from different neighborhood backyard ranges Deputies called to neighborhood twice for gunshots It's happening in the Trillium community in Brooksville, an area of homes that have recently been built, which is why this hasn't been a problem before. The neighborhood is usually very quiet, but earlier this month that changed when residents heard gunshots. "We came home we heard gunshots the neighbors were scurrying inside. I wanted to go out and get my mail my neighbors were outside and they're all like we heard a bullet wiz past our head. It lodged somewhere and we think it lodged at the side of your house, Michelle Nadzeika said. Sure enough she found a hole outside the wall to her kid's room where police pulled out a bullet. It's not the only time residents here have seen evidence of gun shots. Nadzeika's neighbor has a bullet hole in her fence and another neighbor had one in their garage. She said now many people in the area are on edge. "So now every time we hear gunshots we're all inside and we're all calling the police. Because that bullet landed so close to my children's windows we're going upstairs, we're shutting all our doors, and we're moving to the back of our house. We're staying away from our front door, she explained. According to police reports, those gunshots are coming from different backyard gun ranges at nearby homes. For the bullet that hit Nadzeika's home, police say the berm at the range where it originated was too low. We're told that beam is now being fixed before another shot is fired. SB 130? A similar situation happened in St. Petersburg in 2015, where a man set up a range in his backyard. That lead to SB 130 being passed last year which restricts recreational shooting in an area the person knows is residential and where there are homes within one acre of each other. SB 130 does not apply in the case of the shots fired near Nadzeika's home, however. because the backyard gun range in question is near the Trillium neighborhood, not in it. According to the police report, no charges were filed against the people who fired the shot that landed at Nadzeika's home. One of those people firing at the time, Devon Vasquez, said the incident was just an accident. We dont try to hit anybodys houses. We didnt see the house peeking over the berm that we were shooting at, Vasquez explained. What they need to understand is they are moving out into the country where people can bear arms and where people can shoot on their property, he added. Vasquez has meet with Nadzeika and her family and offered to fix the hole in her home. A reminder (hopefully) Nadzeika hopes this incident serves as a reminder to all recreational shooters in the area that a neighborhood is nearby. "They know they have a residential community in their yard now, I understand it wasn't here before but it's here now, and at some point they have to be held accountable for how they're handling their firearms what condition their range is in which direction they're firing, she explained. Vasquez said materials are being brought in the last weekend in April to fix the berm before it is used again. According to police reports, Hernando County deputies have been called out to that neighborhood twice because of gun shots in the area. The first time was because of the range mentioned above. The second time deputies were unable to determine where the shots came from. Bullying in schools is a big problem, and one Hillsborough County school is taking a new approach to tackling bullying and boosting self-esteem. Hillsborough school removes bathroom mirrors to boost self-esteem Mirrors replaced with inspirational quotes, positive affirmations Idea of no mirrors to help tackle bullying, empower students Nearly 50 percent of children in grades 4 through 12 reported being bullied in school in the past month. Fifteen percent of high school students said they were electronically bullied in the past year. Strawberry Crest High School Principal, David Brown, got the idea to cover up the bathroom mirrors with inspirational quotes and positive affirmations to bring some kindness back and empower students. So much is coming at these young teenagers now and they have to figure it out for themselves, Brown said. When Principal Brown brought the idea to his students, some were a little apprehensive. When he initially told us, I was a little scared to not have mirrors because I look in the mirror as well as everybody else, so I was kind of scared, but I also thought how beautiful it was going to be, said student Marianna Ibarra. Ibarra said despite those initial fears, students went straight to work to remodel the bathrooms and create the new mirror replacements. Youre beautiful, youre perfect the way you are. And we did it in both English and Spanish, said student Danielle Wynn. Wynn said once the initial shock of no mirrors wore off, the ladies at Strawberry Crest embraced the positive images. Theres so many people coming up like, Oh my Gosh, you were part of it? I love what you guys did! Wynn said. The students said this is one legacy they are proud to leave behind. It was a lot of work and it took a lot of effort and organization and a lot of our free time but it was worth it because it made a big impact in our school and I think it will continue to make a great impact in our school, Ibarra said. The student government said the boys bathrooms are next. They plan on renovating them this summer with similar types of messages and encouragement. Each of the four restrooms the students remodeled have a different theme, from a beach decor to a world theme that features inspirational women from history. REMINDER: It's hot out. Florida temperatures can range in the 80s and above for much of the year, and with dewpoints and humidity the heat index can make it feel even hotter -- especially inside a car. So now is as good a time as any to remind people: your car is officially too hot to leave a kid or a pet in it. Car temperatures get too hot to leave pets, kids inside Florida law protects those who break a window to rescue a pet, person Every year we see stories about children and pets dying after being left in a car for an extended period. Already, a woman in Plant City was charged with child abuse and neglect after leaving her baby in a hot vehicle. Brandi Guggino reportedly went to pay a fine at a courthourse in Hillsborough County on April 24. She didn't expect to be in the building for long, she told police. When concerned citizens and officers removed the baby from the car, she was sweating, her face was red and she was rubbing her eyes. Police say they believe she was left in the car for about 11 minutes. The temperature of the car seat was 123 degrees. A 2-year-old in Brandon died back in March after being left in an SUV outside a day care for several hours. The temperature that afternoon outside the car was around 89 degrees. And in May, a police K-9 was left inside a patrol SUV outside the Brevard County Courthouse. The dog was found dead inside the vehicle. Follow the chart below to see just how hot the inside of the car was. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; And contrary to popular belief, cracking open a window or parking a car in the shade will do little to nothing to keep a car cool enough inside. Leaving a child in a car can lead to charges of child abuse and neglect. The state of Florida does not have such stiff penalties for a person who leaves a pet in a car, despite recent efforts. Some counties do have ordinances, including Orange County, and will charge the offending owner with animal neglect or cruelty. Pets don't sweat, except through their foot pads. They pant to cool down, but after a while it becomes counterproductive. While sweating and evaporation can help a human stay cool, pets have a much harder time, which makes them very vulnerable to heat stroke, especially pets with short noses like bull dogs or pugs. Florida does, however, have a law that protects people who rescue a pet or vulnerable person who is in distress in a hot car. If a person follows a certain set of steps, they will be protected from criminal liability for breaking into the car, and also civil liability if the owner of the car sues the person for damaging the car to break in. What Russia, Iran, and the United States Can Do The Afghan military, backed by some 8,400 U.S. troops, is struggling to shore up its ranks after a devastating attack killed over 100 soldiers on a military base in Mazar-i-Sharif , marking a morbid beginning to another summer fighting season. This time around, though, the Afghans and their American partners have two more forces to contend with: Russia and Iran . Both countries stepped up their support of the Taliban over the winter, possibly as a hedge against persistent American indecision about how deeply to stay involved, and for how long. Left unchecked, Russian and Iranian support could enable the Taliban to win the long-term occupation of a provincial capital this summer, which would further erode Afghan government legitimacy. To head off such an outcome, the new Trump administration must consider an approach that brought some success in the aftermath of the 2001 U.S. invasion: rebuilding a regional consensus with Russia and Iranas well as China, India, Pakistan, and the Gulf statesto stop funding proxies and support stability in Afghanistan. Russias support for the Taliban has altered the regional dynamic that fuels the war. Since the end of 2016, Russia has reportedly been providing arms to the Taliban operating in northern Afghanistan. Russian officials have also reportedly met with Taliban representatives in Russia and Tajikistan. Meanwhile, over the past year Moscow has held discussions with Islamabad and Tehran about their mutual interests in supporting the Taliban. Russias sudden cooperation with the Taliban is particularly surprising, given the bloody fighting between their Soviet and Mujahedin predecessors in the 1980s. Russia claims that its motivation for supporting the Taliban is to fight the Islamic States Afghan offshoot , prevent Central Asian terrorist groups such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) from destabilizing the region, and control drug trafficking through Central Asia into Russia. But the real reason may be to cause trouble for the United States . - More, foreignaffairs Currently Reading Fast food workers of Reddit tell you what to never order from their restaurant Currently Reading Best bars, beaches and museums around the world A federal judge in Houston has ordered Exxon Mobil to pay a nearly $20 million civil penalty for releasing 10 million pounds of pollutants into the air from its Baytown refinery complex from 2005 to 2013. In a Wednesday ruling, U.S. District Judge David Hittner said evidence showed the Texas oil company's emissions had put it in violation of the Clean Air Act for 16,386 days. The environmental groups Sierra Club and Environment Texas Citizen Lobby filed suit against Exxon in 2010, but the district court ruled in the company's favor four years later. Later, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Hittner to reconsider his decision. On Wednesday, he accepted the plaintiffs' argument that Exxon collected more than $14 million in so-called economic benefits by delaying actions that would have curbed the emissions. But he denied the plaintiffs' request to order Exxon to admit it had violated the Clean Air Act, among other requests. "This penalty should send a message that it doesn't pay to illegally pollute," said David Nicholas, a Massachusetts attorney who represented the plaintiff. At the time of the suit, Exxon had already paid $1.4 million in fines to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Harris Country. But the Clean Air Act allows citizens to file lawsuit against companies they believe are in violation of federal environmental laws, especially if the government is not enforcing the law. Unless Exxon appeals the decision and wins another courtroom battle, it will pay the $19.95 million civil penalty to the U.S. Treasury Department. Exxon Mobil said it's considering legal options, including appealing the ruling. "We disagree with the court's decision and the award of any penalty," Exxon spokesman Todd Spitler said in an emailed statement. "As the court expressed in its decision, Exxon Mobil's full compliance history and good faith efforts to comply weigh against assessing any penalty." Philip Hilder, principal of Houston law firm Hilder & Associates, who helped represent the plaintiffs, said he believes it's the largest judgment of civil penalties returned under a Clean Air Act citizen suit. When Donald Trump was running for president, he took positions on several key issues that could have a negative impact on Texas. The first 100 days of his presidency have shown a welcome shift away from those hardline stances. Take the wall, for instance. You know which wall - that "big, beautiful wall" that Trump promised would span the U.S.-Mexico border from Brownsville to San Diego, Calif., to keep out illegal immigrants and drug traffickers. While the wall may have been popular for Trump supporters in other parts of the country, the view in border states is different. Not a single member of Congress - Republican or Democrat - from districts or states along the border wants that kind of physical wall. They may support a wall in more places or a better barrier in some stretches, but they don't want such a stark division with Mexico. The same goes for many ranchers along the border, which is significant because most of that land in Texas is privately owned. Wall-doubters are leery of the high costs and ecological implications, not to mention the disruption of trade and tourism with Mexico. Which brings up another key issue that Trump is backing away from - the North American Free Trade Agreement. As a candidate, he promised to tear it up the first chance he got. As president, he is now saying he can support renegotiating NAFTA instead of abandoning it. That's smart too. Our state has more commerce with Mexico than any other. Texas companies export $92.5 billion worth of goods to Mexico annually, almost four times California's total. Nearly 400,000 jobs in Texas depend on trade with our southern neighbor. NAFTA, like any treaty from the 1990s, could be updated and improved. But a border tax or any other radical change would raise consumer prices and reduce U.S. jobs. Republican members of Congress from Texas should encourage Trump to keep moving in the right direction on these issues. Their voice will be heard in this administration. They can remind the new president that what's good for Texas is also good for him and the entire country. ----------------------------------- This is our opinion; what is your's? Email us a letter to the editor at opinions@beaumontenterprise.com Make sure to include your name, mailing address and phone number so we can contact you to verify the letter, but only your name and city of residence will be published. You can also mail letters to The Enterprise, P.O. Box 3071, Beaumont, TX, 77704. The limit on letters is 200 words. Healthcare is moving outpatient due to technology development and a focus on value-based care. As a result, hospitals and health systems are looking at key strategies to transform their institutions in the future. At the Becker's Hospital Review 8th Annual Meeting in Chicago, McGuireWoods Partner Geoff Cockrell, JD, moderated a panel titled "Lessons from the Experts: What's New, Next and Best in Healthcare Finance." The panelists included North Ottawa Community Health System CFO Donald Longpre; MemorialCare Health System CFO Karen Testman, RN; Chief Administrative Officer of Marshfield Clinic Health System Scott Polenz; and Director of Analytics and Cybersecurity at GE Healthcare Travis Frosch. The key trends discussed during the panel include: 1. Balancing inpatient and outpatient investments. Traditionally hospitals invested in inpatient beds and departments for expansions and upgrades, but now more care is moving into the ambulatory setting. More patient interactions are done on the outpatient side and hospitals are building satellite ambulatory locations to extend their reach. "We are looking for revenue growth opportunities," said Ms. Testman. "We did get into the business of freestanding ASCs and imaging centers. That's been a way for us to diversify our revenue and grow our revenue outside of the hospital environment. We are starting to look at opportunities in physical therapy and skilled nursing facilities." Mr. Longpre discussed his hospital's efforts to keep patients out of the emergency room and urgent care facilities by attaching patients to a physician when they come in. Community agencies have space in the ER to help patients through the recovery process. MemorialCare is also focused on outpatient strategy as part of larger population health and consumerism initiatives. The health system is investing in IT development tools to make healthcare access more user friendly, but at the same time continuing to invest on the inpatient side. "Most of our patients don't really appreciate what we are doing in terms of development on the inpatient record. It's not something that touches them," said Ms. Testman. "We are giving that some extra thought and trying to determine whether we can pull back on some of those resources and continue to invest on the ambulatory side and some of the things that our patients will actually touch and feel. For the most part, most of our patients don't end up in the hospital. Their interactions are with our physicians and surgery centers." 2. Updating the financial leadership model. The budget structure at many institutions is outdated in the era of value-based care. It may take a new budget and financial leadership structure to truly overhaul the system. "We are going from the typical budget process which is very painful and not value-added to a rolling forecast which is exciting for us in the aberrations area. I think for the first time in quite some time, our financial leadership wants to work with operations instead of just sitting in the room and sending the report," said Mr. Polenz. "They are sitting down and planning and giving us the tools we need to be able to do things proactively. Those are a couple things that are quite different for us as a system." 3. Value-based payments. The panelists feel value-based payments and risk-sharing payment models are here to stay. As a result, healthcare providers are spending significant resources to navigate patients through the healthcare system efficiently and ensure a pleasant experience. However, not all of providers' revenue is value-based and having one foot in and one foot out of the risk-sharing pool is challenging. "What is interesting is the pace in which we are seeing it grow varies across the country," said Ms. Testman. "In California, we've had different forms of managed care and capitation for 20 years. We are seeing that continue to grow and a lot of creative partnerships and affiliations going on as part of that." 4. Creative partnerships and affiliations. MemorialCare signed an agreement with Anthem to create Vivity, which provides access to MemorialCare, Cedars Sinai and UCLA in addition to other well-respected systems in the area. "We are seeing more and more of the creative partnerships and affiliations involved, but in our market where 30 percent of our revenue is risk-based, the majority is still fee-for-service arrangements and it's hard to tell how quickly that will evolve in our markets," Ms. Testman said. "In other parts of the country it might still be relatively slow." 5. Cybersecurity investment. As hospitals and health systems move into the digital age, they risk hackers stealing their data and compromising medical records without the appropriate cybersecurity. Around 81 percent of hospitals increased their budget for cybersecurity in the past year, said Mr. Frosch, with some hiring big data analysts and other spending for managed services with more predictable costs. 6. Data analytics. Investment in technology and data analytics can help hospitals create value in small and large ways. In many hospitals, it's a big step forward to gather the cost per case data for a certain procedure and then identifying the surgeon costing the most perhaps that surgeon is using a more expensive implant and standardizing the procedure. In other cases, large health systems are using data analytics to manage population health. "Organizations are taking on massive numbers of lives and they need more robust full sets," said Mr. Frosch. "The thing that we encourage is low hanging fruit, small bites and big return on investment." Many hospitals don't have a comprehensive analytics strategy or understand where their budget will go in the future, said Mr. Frosch. "We have a framework for engaging with customers called FastWorks [which combines a set of tools and practices designed to build better products]. From anyone in software development, it's agile and in hyper drive," said Mr. Frosch. "I think really sitting down and understanding from the key stakeholders all the viewpoints and perspectives and iterating through that over a time horizon is the only way you can do that. And we've seen tremendous success with that." 7. Avoid overbuilding. Under-utilization is a problem for many healthcare providers, as several operating rooms, exam rooms and patient rooms go empty every day. The unused space still costs providers money and overall becomes a burden on the healthcare system. "We need to re-think what we do," said Mr. Longpre. "We can't say we are this big hospital that provides all this inpatient care. There is technology out there that is going to take orthopedics to outpatient surgery just like gynecology and urology moved from inpatient to outpatient. If you're a small community hospital, you're not going to have that much inpatient care." Telehealth and virtual health are becoming more important as well. The technology can help people recover at home. Marshfield Clinic Health System is constructing a hospital and taking the trend toward outpatient care into consideration. "In the market where we are building the hospital, we will try to take care of anywhere from 45 to 55 patients at any given time at the 44-bed hospital," said Mr. Polenz. "We aren't overbuilding because we know [outpatient is] the future. Even in our skilled nursing facility project, we anticipated certain numbers and when we got it up and running even a year later, some of the numbers we projected are being done in the outpatient basis." The following health IT vendor contracts and go-lives occurred in the past week. Concentra an occupational medicine, urgent care, physical therapy and wellness services provider will implement Allscripts' practice management suite. Hill Hospital of Sumter County in York, Ala., will implement Evident's EHR solution, Thrive. Cognitive Medical Systems, a clinical decision support provider, and Motive Medical Intelligence, a clinical workflow software provider, will help the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs implement clinical decision support over the next year. Grand Rounds and Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine are joining forces to connect more patients with Johns Hopkins physicians. Stephens County Hospital in Toccoa, Ga., entered an agreement with Wellsoft Corp., an emergency department information system provider. HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, on April 27 addressed the Trump administration's long-term plans for health IT guidance during a speech at the Health Datapalooza conference in Washington, D.C., reports the Washington Examiner. He said the Trump administration will focus on interoperability and work to reduce the burden health IT regulations place on physicians. "Data is absolutely crucial, don't misunderstand me," Dr. Price said, according to the Washington Examiner. "But we need our physicians to be patient-facing, not computer-facing, which is what many of them feel they are right now." St. Francis Health in Topeka, Kan., will likely avoid closure this summer as multiple health systems have shown interest in acquiring the facility. Earlier this month, Denver-based SCL Health said it would cease operating St. Francis Health this summer regardless of whether another owner or operator is found. SCL Health President and CEO Mike Slubowski said the hospital, which has lost $117 million over the last five years, isn't sustainable in today's healthcare environment. Following the news that St. Francis would close without a new owner, Prime Healthcare Foundation, the Ontario, Calif.-based nonprofit arm of Prime Healthcare Services, disclosed in an April 20 letter to Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback that it wanted to acquire the hospital. "With sound management focusing on quality patient care, St. Francis can be a flagship hospital for Prime Healthcare and a cornerstone in the Topeka community," Prime Healthcare's general counsel Troy A. Schell told Becker's Hospital Review. On Thursday, another system indicated it is interested in rescuing St. Francis from closure. In a letter to Mr. Slubowski, Kansas City-based University of Kansas Health System President and CEO Bob Page said the system has a proposal in the works to acquire St. Francis, according to the Kansas City Star. As Mr. Page outlined in the letter, KU Health would partner with Nashville, Tenn.-based Ardent Health Services to operate St. Francis, according to the report. "We understand how to work with doctors, nurses and caregivers to provide quality care, while also providing access to the extraordinary resources of a nationally renowned academic medical center," Mr. Page wrote. "In addition, Ardent Health Services has one of the most experienced joint venture management teams in the nation." KU Health and Prime Healthcare may not be the only ones interested in taking over St. Francis. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Stormont Vail Health in Topeka is exploring the feasibility of acquiring the hospital. With the interest St. Francis is getting from potential buyers, Gov. Brownback said earlier this week "there really should ne no reason for St. Francis to close," according to the Lawrence Journal-World. More articles on healthcare industry transactions: U of L could spin off its hospital due to uncertain healthcare environment Children's Hospital Colorado, St. Mary's Medical Center to form children's care alliance The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Friday affirmed a district court decision blocking the $54 billion proposed merger between health insurance giants Anthem and Cigna. In February, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson sided with the Department of Justice and blocked the proposed merger between Indianapolis-based Anthem and Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna on antitrust grounds. The judge held that the proposed merger would harm consumers by causing healthcare prices to increase and impede innovation and competition. Anthem filed an appeal in the case. A three-judge appellate court panel issued a 2-1 decision Friday upholding the district court's decision. The court said Anthem failed "to show the kind of extraordinary efficiencies necessary to offset the conceded anticompetitive effect of the merger." The American Medical Association said it is pleased with the court's decision. "The appellate court sent a clear message to the health insurance industry: a merger that smothers competition and choice, raises premiums and reduces quality and innovation is inherently harmful to patients and physicians," said AMA President Andrew W. Gurman, MD. Although this could be the end of the road for the proposed merger, Cigna still can't immediately walk away from the deal. A Delaware Chancery Court judge has barred Cigna from terminating the transaction pending the outcome of a May 8 hearing at which Anthem will ask the court to extend its order preventing Cigna from calling it quits on the proposed merger until the end of litigation. If the court denies Anthem's request, Cigna is free to terminate the proposed deal, according to Bloomberg. The insurers have the option of appealing the case to the U.S. Supreme Court to try to save the deal. A Cigna spokesperson told Becker's Hospital Review Friday that the insurer disclosed the appellate court's decision in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission but declined to comment further on the ruling. In a statement issued to Becker's, Anthem said it is committed to completing the merger and is reviewing the court's opinion to evaluate its options. Anthem said it "is disappointed by today's decision given that the demonstrated efficiencies make this a pro-competitive, consumer friendly transaction." More articles on payer issues: Anthem CEO Joe Swedish: 58% of business in alternative payment models BCBS of Minnesota pays back $328k in surprise medical bills Centene sees Q1 revenue jump 69%, commits to 2018 ACA marketplace Here are 20 recent findings with regard to Clostridium difficile infection. C. diff caused an estimated half a million infections in the country in 2011, according to the CDC. The findings are listed below, beginning with the most recent: 1. The hospital-acquired infection C. diff may spread outside the hospital setting via food, according to a study presented during the 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases held in Vienna from April 22-25. The study included lab results from stool samples taken from patients at 482 hospitals across Europe. 2. New study results show that C. diff infection recurrence may increase the risk of death in patients. The results, presented at the 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, held April 22-25 in Vienna, included the outcomes of 6,874 patients who had acquired the C. diff infection in a hospital between 2002 and 2013. Of these, 16.6 percent experienced C. diff recurrence. 3. Asymptomatic carriers of toxigenic C. diff in hospitals increase the risk of infection for other patients, according to a study published in Gastroenterology. Researchers performed the population-based prospective cohort study at two university hospitals in Denmark. They screened all patients for toxigenic C. diff in the intestine upon admission, from Oct. 1, 2012, to Jan. 31, 2013. 4. A study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, found gastric suppression medication use increases risk of recurrent C. diff infection. Researchers included proton pump inhibitors and histamine 2 blockers in the study. 5. A study published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics shows that a pill form of treatment, involving frozen or freeze-dried fecal microbiota, could be effective for C. diff. Study participants underwent dried fecal microbiota transplants via colonoscopy using fresh, frozen or freeze-dried products. 6. Antibiotic stewardship programs may be key element of managing C. diff infections among patients suffering from osteoarticular infections. Researchers examined a cluster of hospital-acquired C. diff infections among 26 osteoarticular infection patients for the study, which was published in Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control. 7. A study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, shows that switching from using metronidazole to vancomycin as the initial treatment for severe C. diff infections could lower the risk of death among patients. Researchers examined data from more than 10,000 patients treated for C. diff infections through the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system between 2005 and 2012 for the study. 8. Researchers found adding the drug bezlotoxumab to standard antibiotic treatment can significantly reduce the risk of recurrent C. diff infections, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involved 2,655 adults in 30 countries around the world. 9. A study in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology details the Veterans Health Administration's Antimicrobial Stewardship Initiative that led to a 12 percent decrease in overall antibiotic use and reduced readmissions, mortality and C. diff infections. The initiative involved holding in-person educational conferences, supporting champions, creating online resources and requiring all facilities to maintain an antimicrobial stewardship program. 10. The primary driver in surging rates of C. diff across the U.K.'s publicly funded healthcare system is antibiotic misuse, a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases shows. Researchers examined national data on the rates of C. diff from 2006, when high C. diff rates across U.K. hospitals first received public attention, to 2014. The researchers also studied antibiotic prescribing data from the same time period and genome sequences from 4,045 national and international C. diff isolates. Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox! 11. A study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology shows that the use of commonly prescribed heartburn medications is associated with an increased risk of infection for C. diff and Campylobacter. Researchers examined health data on more than 500,000 people collected in a database in Tayside, Scotland. Those who took the acid suppression medications displayed a 1.7-times higher risk for C. diff. 12. A single fecal transplantation is not more effective than the existing standard of care administration of oral vancomycin taper for treating patients with recurrent C. diff infection, according to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Canadian researchers examined patients experiencing an acute episode of recurrent C. diff. 13. Fecal microbiota transfer is an effective long-term treatment for recurrent C. diff infection, a study in United European Gastroenterology shows. Study researchers examined 39 patients treated with FMT for recurrent C. diff infection at an academic medical center between July 2010 and January 2016. 14. Preventative oral vancomycin reduces the incidence of C. diff during allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, a Pittsburgh-based University of Pennsylvania study shows. The study was presented at the 58th Annual American Society of Hematology Meeting and Exposition in San Diego in December. For the study, researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study including 105 adults undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the University of Pennsylvania between April 2015 and July 2016. 15. A study, published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, found patients with a body mass index of greater than 35 kg/m2 were 1.7-fold more likely to be associated with severe C. diff compared to those with a BMI of 20 to 35 kg/m2. Researchers examined patients admitted with C. diff at a tertiary care center from January 2013 to June 2015. 16. A study in The American Journal of Gastroenterology shows that proton pump inhibitor use does not increase the risk of developing C. diff infection in intensive care units. The investigators analyzed data from all adult ICU patients at three affiliated hospitals between 2010 and 2013. 17. C. diff infections among Medicare enrollees were associated with a significant increase in mortality rates when compared to uninfected Medicare patients (23.4 percent to 42.6 percent), according to a study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. Researchers examined Medicare data from 2008 to 2010 on 1,165,165 patients aged 65 years and older. Among these, 6,838 experienced C. diff infections. 18. Dirty linens from healthcare facilities may be a source of environmental C. diff contamination, according to a paper published in FEMS Microbiology Letters. In 2015, researchers examined linens at a laundry facility that services six hospitals, 30 local outpatient clinics and the Washington National Primate Research Center, all located in the Seattle area. 19. A study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, shows that when patients receive antibiotics in a hospital bed, the next occupant of the bed is at a heightened risk for developing C. diff infection. Researchers looked at patients in four New York City-area hospitals who were admitted from 2010 to 2015. They examined patients who spent 48 hours in a hospital bed whose previous occupant spent 24 hours in the bed, with no more than a week separating the two. 20. Treating empty patient rooms with ultraviolet C light disinfection robots can substantially reduce the rate of C. diff infections in high-risk patients who will later occupy the rooms, according to a new study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. Researchers monitored the impact of the technique from February 2014 to January 2015 across three hematology-oncology units at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Monarch Medical Group, a California-based practice management company, is embroiled in a kickback scheme that could lead to prison time for 21 physicians, according to Medscape. Here are five things to know: 1. Last week, a California state court charged 21 physicians with accepting kickbacks for patient referrals in a scheme that Monarch Medical Group owners Tanya and Christopher King cooked up. The Kings were charged in the case along with the physicians and two pharmacists. The practice management group allegedly advertised providing physicians with new revenue streams for transdermal pain creams, oral medication dispensing and urine drug-screening, according to the report. 2. The operation allegedly billed workers compensation for $40 million fraudulently and collected in excess of $23 million; the physicians involved made around $2.2 million in kickbacks, according to the report. The kickbacks were called "marketing expenses." 3. The creams involved were not FDA-approved, but the physicians prescribed the cream and shared in the profits, either earning a flat fee or as high as 90 percent of the reimbursement from workers compensation. The physicians were required to sell a quota of the products to participate. 4. Monarch Medical Group also allegedly purchased and repackaged oral pain medications that the physicians dispensed and then Monarch billed for them without disclosing the wholesale price and physicians received a portion of the profits. 5. For the urine drug-test screenings, the King-owned King Medical Management billed insurers for performing the tests on workers compensation patients and physicians received either a flat rate or percentage of the profits for the test and then samples were referred to another lab for testing as well. The King operation allegedly paid $60 for the additional testing and billed insurers up to $700 per tests. To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below Neil Skehel of Awards International and Steve Harper from Invest NI Events firm Awards International plans to create nine jobs in its new Belfast-based customer service and sales centre. The posts will have an average salary of 20,000. The jobs are being supported with 45,000 of funding from Invest NI. The company runs several awards programmes, mainly in the financial and business services sectors, and currently employs 35 people in Britain, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates. Managing director Neil Skehel said the investment comes on the back of "considerable growth". He added that he planned to quadruple the company's size over the next five years. "The new customer service and sales team in Northern Ireland will help us to expand our customer base and generate new leads across a number of industries," he said. Lord Lawson has been criticised over his comments relating to migration post-Brexit. Tory Party grandee Lord Nigel Lawson has been blasted for suggesting that City bankers should be prioritised over unwanted "Romanian fruit pickers" after Brexit, with senior Conservatives also distancing themselves from the remarks. The former chancellor said that the worries about access to financial talent were overblown, and that bankers would be welcomed with open arms over European farmhands once free movement agreements are scrapped. Speaking on a Brexit panel in London, Lord Lawson said: "There will be some changes on the immigration front ... but it's people like the Romanian fruit pickers that we don't need. It is not the highly skilled people that the City wants - who will always be welcome." Lord Lawson made the statement in reference to worries raised by Barclays boss Jes Staley, who said immigration policy was arguably a bigger sticking point for the industry than crucial passporting rights - which currently give firms open access to the EU single market for financial services. However, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron described Lord Lawson's comments as "edged with racism", adding that he has shown "incredible naivety" about the economic impact of Brexit. Mr Farron told the Press Association: "Not only are his comments edged with racism, they also fail to understand the need for high-skilled and low-skilled labour across the country - with sectors like healthcare, education, construction and farming dependent on immigrants who come to the UK, pay there taxes and work hard." Tory MP Neil Parish - chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee - distanced himself from Lord Lawson's remarks and admitted that "UK agriculture could not function without foreign labour". He said: "We've already seen increased difficulty for businesses recruiting foreign labour since Brexit. If a Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) is not in place to fill the void left by freedom of movement, we will likely see food rot in our fields." Jack Ward, chief executive of the British Growers Association, added that farmers could be forced to relocate abroad - to regions including Eastern Europe, North Africa, and even South America - in order to be closer to an available labour pool. "We've got the skills, we've got the logistics (to move), but it's not good for the British economy." He added: "This is one of the biggest concerns of the industry, that people in positions of influence do not get some of these issues, or do not get the significance of the availability of this labour." There are worries that Prime Minister Theresa May's targets, which aim to bring annual net migration down to the "tens of thousands" from current estimates of around 273,000, will also put key industries which are heavily reliant on migration at risk. Home Secretary Amber Rudd confirmed this week that businesses would be consulted on plans for a new immigration system over the summer. A Conservative spokesman said: "These are Lord Lawson's personal views." Pictured at the CBI Northern Ireland annual dinner are from left to right: David Gavaghan, Chairman CBI Northern Ireland, Barry Smyth MCS Group, Angela McGowan, CBI Northern Ireland Director and Adrian Doran, Barclays Northern Ireland. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Each day without a working government at Stormont hinders business, investment and job creation, a business leader has warned. Angela McGowan, director of the CBI in Northern Ireland, said the impact that "any political vacuum has on the business community should never be underestimated". "Having a devolved government up and running again before the end of June is critical for local firms - for economic policy and for job creation," she added. "Each day without a devolved government is a lost opportunity to make progress on the key economic issues that shape the business landscape. "A political vacuum comes with a very high economic price tag - it hinders business, it puts investment at risk, it deters foreign direct investment and it dramatically reduces our ability to deliver those job creation promises in the Programme for Government." Mrs McGowan was speaking during the CBI's annual dinner at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. Political parties have been locked in an impasse since the collapse of the devolved institutions in January. Formal talks have now been paused until after the General Election on June 8. On Brexit, Ms McGowan said: "Europe's leaders will shortly be meeting to agree a common response to the Article 50 letter. "Brexit is gathering pace, underlining the pressing need for a strong and cohesive political voice championing our interests in London, Dublin, and in Brussels, and ensuring Northern Ireland's special circumstances are heard and understood. "Closer to home, business wants to see immediate progress on delivering a lower corporation tax rate, the construction of the second North-South Interconnector, a step change of investment in transport infrastructure and a renewed focus on education reform to ensure no young person is left behind in an increasingly digitalised economy." Also addressing around 600 business guests last night, CBI Northern Ireland chairman, David Gavaghan said: "(While there is no denying that the business community faces huge challenges ahead... our future growth is dependent on how successful Northern Ireland will be at supporting the creation of businesses that are at the cutting edge of the global economy". "Both government and business can take lessons from two local people who confronted their fears and inhibitions to become global leaders in their respective fields. "Colin Williams from Sixteen South is at the forefront of children's film animation. Professor Sir John McCanny is a world leader in cyber security and led the initiative that created the Centre for Secure Information Technology (CSIT) here in Belfast. CSIT is now known as the UK's Innovation and Knowledge Centre for Cybersecurity and has facilitated the creation of more than 1,00 new jobs in the local knowledge economy. "What they and others like them have achieved demonstrates that Northern Ireland has an abundance of talent. "Government and business must work together to harness talent and infuse it with the necessary ambition to facilitate the emergence of a new generation of Northern Irish global leaders." Adrian Doran, head of corporate banking, Barclays - the event's strategic partner supported by MCS Group - said small and medium firms remained the "backbone of our local economy, and we really do have some world-class small businesses". "In the current climate it's especially vital that these businesses get continued support to thrive and grow," he added. "At this event last year, we announced our 100m SME loan fund, and we are delighted with how this has been taken up. "Barclays UK has also recognised the sheer quality and quantity of high-growth businesses in Northern Ireland, as Belfast has just been selected as a location for one of its Barclays Eagle Lab business incubators, its 10th in the UK." Friday May 5 marks the last day that the banknote featuring prison reformer Elizabeth Fry will be legal tender People have just a week left to spend old paper 5 Bank of England notes in shops before they lose their legal tender status. Friday May 5 marks the last day that the banknote featuring prison reformer Elizabeth Fry will be legal tender. Around 155 million of the notes are still in circulation. After this date, shops no longer have to accept it as payment. The Bank of England said some banks and building societies may continue to accept the old fiver after May 5 - but this is at their own discretion so people may want to check their own bank or building society's policy. Several major banks and building societies told the Press Association that customers can continue to deposit old fivers after May 5. But some also said it was a good idea for people to give themselves time to hand in old fivers rather than leaving it until after they have lost their legal tender status. The Post Office said that it will still take the old 5 notes as payment or as a deposit into an account in one of its branches. The Bank of England will continue to exchange the old 5 notes for all time, as it would for any other Bank note which no longer has legal tender status. Old paper fivers and the new 5 note have co-existed since the polymer banknote was first issued by the Bank in September 2016. The new Bank of England fiver is stronger than its predecessor and boasts new security features making it harder to counterfeit. But it has been controversial as it emerged that traces of animal-derived additives were used in its production. A public consultation has been launched by the Bank into how it produces new 20 polymer notes. The Bank previously said it has held off signing supply contracts for the 20 polymer note, which is due to be released in 2020, in order to better understand "the range of public opinion" surrounding the use of tallow in banknote production and explore potential plant-based substitutes such as palm and coconut oil. In September this year, the Bank will issue a new 10 polymer note featuring author Jane Austen, recognising "her universal appeal and enduring contribution to English literature". A spokesman for the Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers, which represents Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland, said previously: "The paper Scottish fivers are not being withdrawn from circulation, they are just not being reissued. "They don't have a withdrawal date as such similar to the English 5 notes." Here is what some major account providers have said about whether people can still deposit 5 notes after May 5: :: Post Office - The old 5 note can still be used as payment or be deposited into an account at any of the 11,600 Post Office branches. :: Barclays - Barclays customers can continue to deposit the paper 5 note into their business or personal account. This will also apply to the old "round pound" when it ceases to be legal tender later this year, having been replaced by the new 1 coin. Barclays said: "We would recommend that customers allow sufficient time to return old notes/coins rather than leave it until legal tender status is withdrawn." :: Yorkshire Building Society - It will accept old fivers after May 5 and take them out of circulation when they come into its possession. :: Nationwide Building Society - Nationwide will continue to accept the old 5 notes from existing customers. Customers are required to pay the money into their account and they can then automatically withdraw the money in new notes if required. :: HSBC - It has said it will continue to accept the old 5 notes from its customers. :: Lloyds Banking Group (includes Halifax) - Existing customers will still be able deposit the old 5 notes. :: RBS/NatWest - It said that if a customer brings in one of its notes that is out of circulation, it replace them with new ones. A former Vogue model who launched a book about her life this week has been stunned by allegations she exaggerated claims about being a member of the famous Top of the Pops dance troupe Legs & Co. Patience Bradley, who lives in Holywood, Co Down, enjoyed rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous during a stint as a top model in London during her teens in the early 1980s. In her memoirs Where Do You Go To My Lovely - launched on Monday - she writes about dancing with Legs & Co and was shocked last night when a former member of the group took to social media to rubbish her claims. Writing on the website "One for the Boys" former Legs & Co member Sue Menhenick states: "Patience Bradley was never .... has never ....been in Legs and Co, either in cabaret with us or appearing on TOTPs." Patience, who returned to Northern Ireland some years ago and lives a quiet life with her husband Ivor in Co Down, insisted that she did dance with Legs & Co and couldn't understand why Sue Menhenick had gone out of her way to say she hadn't. She says: "I don't say that I was a member of Legs & Co, but I did dance with them a couple of times. "I have no idea why she would do this. I did say that Pan's People were the better dance group; maybe she has taken offence at that. "I don't want to cause any trouble. People can be terribly jealous and I don't know why. "That was such a small part of my life and I never considered myself a member of Legs & Co - although I did dance with them twice and it's laughable - I just don't know why she is doing this. "I would never want to take anything away from the group. Expand Close Patience Bradley with Legs & Co / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Patience Bradley with Legs & Co "I will say that they were a group of girls who did not get on the totally well together." Patience enjoyed a few fascinating years in London as a teenager mixing in celebrity circles among many big names at the time, including actors Christopher Reeve, Oliver Reed and David Soul. She also took part in a few iconic ad campaigns, including the Brutus "Get Your Jeans on" and Bounty Bar adverts. There is much more to her book than her heady teenage days in London and in tomorrow's Belfast Telegraph she talks in detail about her life-long battle with eating disorders, the cruelty she suffered as a child at the hands of her father and her charity work in Northern Ireland. Cillian and Jamie at the film's UK premiere Holywood actor Jamie Dornan is set to star in a film about the notorious 1983 Maze prison breakout. Thirty-eight republican inmates fled the maximum security facility in September 1983 in the biggest prison break in British or Irish history. Nineteen were recaptured within a short period, but the rest got away. The escapees included Old Bailey bomber Gerry Kelly, now a Sinn Fein MLA, who went on to write a book about the escape. Read More Warder James Ferris died of a heart attack after being stabbed. Two others were shot but survived. The mass escape was described at the time by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as "the greatest incident in British prison history". The film is set to be directed by three-time Oscar nominated writer/director Jim Sheridan and is called H-Block. It will be produced by Dylan Sellars. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Jamie Dornan with the painting by Colin Davidson Actor Jamie Dornan with his sister Jessica Dornan Lynas and father Dr Jim Dornan at the launch of the NIPanC at the Mater Hospital in Belfast PA Terrifying tale: Cillian and Jamie Dornan in Anthropoid PA Change of scene: Jamie Dornan in The Siege of Jadotville Gillian Anderson in The Fall Jamie Dornan as Pat Quinlan Jamie Dornan in Robin Hood. Pictured: Jamie Dornan in Robin Hood KARLOVY VARY, CZECH REPUBLIC - JULY 01: Actor Jamie Dornan attends world premiere of Anthropoid movie during the opening ceremony of the 51st Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) on July 1, 2016 in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. (Photo by Matej Divizna/Getty Images) Getty Images Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan Getty Images Jamie Dornan with O'Connor's staff Leona Dallas, Rebecca McGowan, Coleen Cahill and Jodie Mooney. Pic O'Connor's Bar Ballycastle Jamie Dornan at the Game of Thrones farewell party in Belfast. Picture Colm O'Reilly LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 02: Actors Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson attend the premiere of Universal Pictures' "Fifty Shades Darker" at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on February 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) Getty Images Jamie Dornan has been voted a Northern Ireland legend. Pictured Jamie Dornan as Pat Quinlan Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan. Anthropoid Jamie Dornan and Charlotte Le Bon The Fall returned to our screens last night with Jamie Dornan reprising his role as serial killer Paul Spector On the red carpet at the UK premiere of Fifty Shades in Leicester Square last night are Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson with director Sam Taylor-Johnson (left) and author EL James Getty Images Gisele Bundchen and Jamie Dornan Attention fell on Jamie Dornan when he started dated actress Keira Knightley in 2003 Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan in The Fall BBC/The Fall 2 Limited/Helen Slo Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson Jamie Dornan in The Fall BBC/The Fall 2 Limited/Helen Slo Jamie Dornan in Fifty Shades of Grey. Photo: Focus Features Universal Jamie Dornan poses for photos with fans as he attends the screening of The Siege of Jadotville at the Savoy Cinema in Dublin. PA PA KINGSBARNS, AL - OCTOBER 05: Actor Jamie Dornan plays during a practice round at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Kingsbarns Golf Links golf course on October 5, 2016 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Getty Images KINGSBARNS, AK - OCTOBER 05: Actor Jamie Dornan plays during a practice round at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Kingsbarns Golf Links golf course on October 5, 2016 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Getty Images Paul Spector played by Jamie Dornan. HUNTING SEASON: Gillian Anderson as DSI Stella Gibson and Jamie Dornan as Paul Spector in The Fall PA Big league: Jamie Dornan in the first series of The Fall, a role which helped him land the lead in 50 Shades opposite Dakota Johnson Jamie Dornan as Paul Spector on the operating table Helen Sloan / The Fall 3 Ltd Sally Ann Spector (Bronagh Waugh), Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan). Jamie Dornan with his dad Jim Jamie Dornan attending at the opening ceremony of the 51st Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) on July 1, 2016 in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. (Photo by Matej Divizna/Getty Images) Getty Images DSI Stella Gibson (GILLIAN ANDERSON), Paul Spector (JAMIE DORNAN) in The Fall. Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan take part in Q&A following the screening of BBC Two drama 'The Fall' to launch series three at BFI Southbank on September 7, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images) Getty Images Jamie Dornan on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The Belfast Telegraph article about Jamie Dornan featured on the Stephen Colbert show. Jamie Dornan on the Stephen Colbert show. The BBC's The Fall Jamie Dornan plays serial killer Paul Spector BBC/The Fall S2 Ltd/Helen Sloan Paul Spector, played by Jamie Dornan Jamie Dornan as Paul Spector in The Fall Jamie Dornan as killer Paul Spector Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey and Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele in trailer for Fifty Shades Of Grey ? Universal Studio Jamie Dornan says filming racy scenes with Dakota Johnson for Fifty Shades of Grey was not sexy. Fifty Shades of Grey FameFlynet.uk.com Jamie Dornan has told The Observer Magazine that filming racy scenes for the film Fifty Shades of Grey with co-star Dakota Johnson was not sexy. Ian West/PA Wire. PA Actor and Comedian Bill Murray hugs 50 Shades of Grey actor Jamie Dornan as they walk of the 12th tee during round one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Carnoustie PA Northern Ireland model Jamie Dornan and Eva Mendes in their sultry new Calvin Klein advert Jamie Dornan and Gisele Bundchen in an Aquascutum advert. In the band Sons of Jim, with Dave Alexander. Jamie Dornan with Dakota Johnson in 50 Shades of Grey (Dame Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson, Graham Norton, Jamie Dornan and Sigrid (Matt Crossick/PA) PA Wire/PA Images Jamie Dornan in an advert for Calvin Klein Jeans In the band Sons of Jim, with Dave Alexander at a Sports Relief event at Custom House Square in Belfast. Jamie Dornan
Northern Irish actor Jamie has modelled for Calvin Klein (with both Kate Moss and Eva Mendes), Dior, Aquascutum and Armani, among many other brands. He also appeared in in the Sofia Coppola film, Marie-Antoinette. Jamie Dornan, wife Amelia and Dulcie in 2014 NEW YORK - OCTOBER 13: Actors Rose Byrne and Jamie Dornan arrive for The New York Film Festival screening of "Marie Antoinette" at Alice Tully Hall October 13, 2006 in New York City. Jamie Dornan in the Hammer Horror production, Beyond the Rave Jamie Dornan as Sheriff Graham from Once Upon A Time Jamie Dornan as Sheriff Graham from Once Upon A Time Jamie Dornan as Sheriff Graham from Once Upon A Time Jamie Dornan as Paul Spector and Gillian Anderson as DSI Stella Gibson in the TV thriller The Fall BBC/The Fall 2 Limited/Helen Slo Jamie Dornan is being linked to the Christian Grey role Jamie Dornan / Amelia Warner Jamie Dornan / Amelia Warner Jamie Dornan chats to Sarah Travers, host of UTV's The Magazine, on his first visit to Belfast since marrying musician, Amelia Warner. jamie dornan eva mendes, ad for Calvin Klein Jeans jamie dornan eva mendes, ad for Calvin Klein Jeans Shot by photographer Steven Klein in the desert in Palm Springs, California, both the Fall 2009 Calvin Klein Jeans and Calvin Klein Underwear campaigns will feature Eva Mendes and Jamie Dornan together. These dramatic black and white campaigns will be featured in global print and outdoor advertising. The Calvin Klein Jeans campaign will feature the exciting new Calvin Klein Jeans Body, a revolutionary, new jean for men and women, uniquely designed for a more contoured and shape enhancing fit. Jamie Dornan with The Fall co-star Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan in a photoshoot for Red magazine Actor Jamie Dornan (L) poses with his wife Amelia Warner as they arrive to attend 'Fifty Shades Freed - 50 Nuances Plus Claires' Premiere at Salle Pleyel in Paris on February 6, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / PATRICK KOVARIKPATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey and Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele in the first cast photos from the Fifty Shades of Grey movie FRANK OCKENFELS/EW Jamie Dornan, (right) in Fifty Shades Darker PA Johnson and Dornan in Fifty Shades Freed Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey and Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele in the first cast photos from the Fifty Shades of Grey movie FRANK OCKENFELS/EW Leading man: Jamie Dornan on The Graham Norton Show PA Jamie Dornan plays Abe in New Worlds, on Channel 4 Jamie Dornan plays Abe in New Worlds, on Channel 4 Jamie Dornan and Ann Skelly in scene from Death And Nightingales BBC/Night Flight Pictures Ltd 20 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jamie Dornan with the painting by Colin Davidson According to Deadline, Murphy stars as the head of the ring of IRA prisoners who has earned the respect of the prison guards and wants a life of peace. Dornan will play a violent prisoner who starts discovering weaknesses in the prison and is one of the last to agree to escape and when he does he leaves with a vengeance on the way out. It's understood Brosnan is in talks to play the warden of the prison who is pitted against the escapees. The film will see Dornan and Murphy teaming up again after they starred together in Anthropoid which centred on the plot to kill SS beast Reinhard Heydrich, one of the architects of the Holocaust. H-Block is the second film to be in production about the Maze breakout. 'Maze' is currently in post-production and its makers were accused of "romanticising the violence" of the breakout. The Irish-Swedish co-production is being funded by the Irish Film Board (IFB), Film Vast and RTE, with Cork County Council and Cork County Council Arts Offices providing regional support. Written and produced by Stephen Burke it was shot in the decommissioned Cork Prison and around Cork city, and stars Martin McCann, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor and Barry Ward. It is due for release on September 22, 2017. Voters in Dublin were less likely to vote in favour of a united Ireland Two out of three people in the Irish Republic would vote for a united Ireland, a major opinion poll has found Rory McIlroy has said that we need to weigh up the possibility of a united Ireland following the Brexit vote. Taoiseach Enda Kenny has called for a commitment to a united Ireland to be included in the final Brexit treaty European leaders have said Northern Ireland could easily rejoin the EU after Brexit if it votes for Irish reunification. In a move that may anger unionists, diplomats are preparing to ask the other 27 EU members to endorse the idea at a summit on Saturday. Under the terms of the Good Friday agreement both UK and Republic of Ireland are committed to holding a referendum on the subject if there is a popular will for reunification within Northern Ireland. The theory is that it will be similar to the reunification of East and West Germany after the end of the Cold War in 1990. The move would prevent the return of a hard border between the two countries. But increased talk of Irish reunification has stoked fears in Westminster about the potential break up of the UK under the stress of Brexit. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already called for a new independence referendum after the country voted overwhelmingly for Remain. She argued that the Brexit vote constitutes a material change in Scotlands circumstances within the union which would justify a fresh vote under the terms of the Edinburgh agreement signed by David Cameron and Alex Salmond in 2014. The meeting in Brussels will lay out the formal adoption of EU guidelines for exit negotiations with the UK. Read more Read More The leaders are expected to take tough opening stances on certain issues such as the rights of EU migrants within the UK and the future of Gibraltar as well as Northern Ireland. The other EU leaders are keen not to appear to go too easy on the UK as it leaves for fear that it may encourage the Eurosceptics in their own countries to push for a referendum. Taoiseach Enda Kenny has called for a commitment to a united Ireland to be included in the final Brexit treaty. But a UK government source rejected the move for Irish reunification, telling the Financial Times: "Northern Irelands constitutional position as part of the UK is based firmly and clearly on the freely given consent of its people. "The UK government has consistently upheld the principle of consent regarding Northern Irelands future. "It is clear that the majority of the people of Northern Ireland continue strongly to support the current political settlement, including Northern Irelands continuing position within the UK." Donald Tusk called for action to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic The UK must must settle the issues of "people, money and Ireland" before talks on negotiating a future relationship with the EU can begin, the president of the European Council Donald Tusk has said. Leaders of the other 27 nations will meet on Saturday to agree their negotiating strategy for Brexit. Donald Tusk said discussions about future relations can only start once "we have achieved sufficient progress" on key exit issues. He said: "In other words, before discussing our future, we must first sort out our past." The EU "will not discuss our future relations" with the UK until "sufficient progress" has been made on key issues, Mr Tusk said. As well as outstanding financial obligations, a deal on the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and Britons living in the rest of the bloc must be reached. Mr Tusk also called for action to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Read more Read More The council president said this approach was "not only a matter of tactics, but - given the limited time-frame we have to conclude the talks - it is the only possible approach". In a letter to EU leaders ahead of the meeting on Saturday, he wrote: "Only once we collectively determine in the European Council that sufficient progress has been made on all these issues, will we be in a position to hold preparatory talks on the future relationship with the UK. "I would like us to unite around this key principle during the upcoming summit, so that it is clear that progress on people, money and Ireland must come first. "And we have to be ready to defend this logic during the upcoming negotiations." SDLP leader Colum Eastwood welcomed Mr Tusk's comments. He said: "Theresa May and the Tories may have demonstrated a tin ear to the discordant voices in Northern Ireland and Scotland but its clear that we have strong friends in the European Union. "Donald Tusks clear support for the spirit and the structures of the Good Friday Agreement is a powerful statement that maintaining progress in Ireland is a priority for Europe. "Over the course of the last number of months, SDLP MPs and our party negotiators have pressed the British Government for an admission that Northern Ireland is the only place in these islands with an automatic path back into the European Union. The British Brexit Secretary has now admitted that the primacy of the Principle of Consent means that people here can vote to join a sovereign United Ireland within the European Union. "As the tectonic plates of our constitutional landscape, in Ireland, Britain and Europe, continue to shift, we should look to the Good Friday Agreement as an anchor of stability. An endorsement of the principle of consent and the path to re-entry to the European Union as part of a United Ireland by EU leaders would give further weight to that anchor." Northern Ireland has too many schools, says report author. A major plan for the strategy of education in Northern Ireland has identified up to 40 schools which could merge or close. Schools have been identified where "sustainability is an issue" meaning education chiefs faced with considering options and opening consultations on possible mergers or even closures. Read More EA Director of Education John Collings said: "We have too many schools for the size of our population, particularly at primary school level." The Education Authority plan, called Providing Pathways and published on Friday, sets out priorities and actions for schools for the next three years. The regional plan also shows that more than 220 schools are running at budget deficits, according to the Education Authority's first regional plan. The news comes as more than 40 school heads said they will refuse to implement any more cuts to their school budgets. Mr Collings added: "Providing Pathways is the first area plan for the whole of Northern Ireland. "It aims to ensure that we have a network of sustainable schools for Northern Ireland that are of the right type, of the right size, and in the right place." The detailed report reveals that 36% of primary schools in Northern Ireland have fewer than 106 pupils. The report contains action plans for named schools across Northern Ireland's 11 local government districts. For some schools, such as Belfast Boys and Girls Model school, consultation on increased numbers is recommended, for others such as St Louise's in west Belfast, a possible reduction in pupil numbers is suggested. The Board of Governors at Gaelscoil na bhFal is to carry out a consultation on a decrease in enrolment, while the future of a number of schools is to be examined, including the troubled Movilla High School in Newtownards. Prime Minister Theresa May speaks with Lee Rowley, Conservative Candidate for North East Derbyshire (L), Andrew McArthur, Engineering Manager (2nd-L) and Anthony Carlysle, Managing Director (R) during a visit to IKO Polymetric on April 27, 2017 in Chesterfield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images) Prime Minister Theresa May speaks with Lee Rowley, Conservative Candidate for North East Derbyshire (L), Andrew McArthur, Engineering Manager (2nd-L) and Anthony Carlysle, Managing Director (R) during a visit to IKO Polymetric on April 27, 2017 in Chesterfield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images) Prime Minister Theresa May speaks with Lee Rowley, Conservative Candidate for North East Derbyshire (L), Andrew McArthur, Engineering Manager (2nd-L) and Anthony Carlysle, Managing Director (R) during a visit to IKO Polymetric on April 27, 2017 in Chesterfield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images) Jeremy Corbyn has accused Theresa May of hiding from the public after staff were barred from the Prime Ministers rally at their workplace. The Labour leader said Ms Mays refusal to face real voters on the campaign trail was showing contempt for the public and suggested she was scared of them. The attack comes after she only appeared at a campaign event in a Leeds a business centre after all the staff had been sent home for the evening. The tactic allowed the Conservatives to pack the event with the party faithful. The Prime Minister only faced questions from journalists. Earlier, speaking to reporters in Clay Cross, in Derbyshire, she clearly forgot where she was, telling them she was very happy to be in this, urr, particular town. Read more Read More It follows Ms Mays refusal to take part in campaign TV debates, prompting broadcasters to suggest she could be empty-chaired. Mr Corbyn said: Theresa May is hiding from the public. She won't take part in TV debates and she won't talk to voters. Refusing to debate Labour in this election isn't a sign of strength, it's a sign of weakness. What is she afraid of? Voters deserve to know what political parties are offering. We are setting out our plans to rebuild and transform Britain. Expand Close Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (C) speaks to supporters at a general election campaign event at Shine Centre in Leeds, northern England, on April 27, 2017. Britain goes to the polls in an early general election to vote on June 8. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (C) speaks to supporters at a general election campaign event at Shine Centre in Leeds, northern England, on April 27, 2017. Britain goes to the polls in an early general election to vote on June 8. AFP/Getty Images Read more Read More In Leeds, the Prime Minister won huge cheers with an audacious appeal to Labour supporters to lend me their vote to give her the strength to deliver a successful Brexit. But one employee then revealed the Conservatives waited until all the staff had gone home and that the event was only for party supporters. Rik Kendell, a developer and designer, tweeted: That's my workplace, she didn't arrive until we'd all left for the day. Everyone in the building past 6pm was invite-only. The Conservative Party has not yet responded to a request from The Independent to comment on the accusation that Ms May is hiding from the public. Newry pensioner Eileen Ruddy challenges the chairperson of Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Roberta Brownlee, about the proposed closure A summit meeting has been called over the future of a Northern Ireland hospital's A&E unit. The Southern Health Trust said the emergency department at Newry's Daisy Hill was unsustainable and relying too heavily on locum doctors. Yesterday the trust requested a regional summit with the Department of Health. It will start next week. The trust's medical director, Dr Richard Wright, told the BBC the issue needed regional support. Angry scenes unfolded outside the trust's headquarters as members of the public tried to gain access to the board meeting. The crunch meeting came after warnings that the department may temporarily close overnight due to staff shortages. Last month the trust said a temporary suspension of the service overnight would be a last resort. Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw said the issue showed the need to restore an Executive. "My colleague Councillor Patrick Brown and I have lobbied to emphasise the unacceptability of making significant decisions over the future of healthcare services in the area based on budgets rather than people," she said. "I am concerned the consultation on options will go ahead without any apparent sense of how it fits into the overall strategy for transformation of our health and social care system." She added: "This transformation is the single most important issue we have at devolved level, which is why we should have a Health Minister back in place and a Health Committee scrutinising the work without delay." The Southern Trust's interim chief executive, Stephen McNally, said the rust board remained "fully committed" to Daisy Hill Hospital and "will explore every option to keep the Emergency Department open, as long as services can be safely provided." "This summit will bring together the collective expertise of health professionals from across Northern Ireland to support our efforts in maintaining the service in future," he said. The summit will be attended by staff from the Health and Social Care Board, the Public Health Agency, Belfast Trust, the Ambulance Service, the NI Medical and Dental Training Agency and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority. The funeral of a Co Tyrone girl who died suddenly this week is to take place today. Teenager Elle Trowbridge, a pupil at Drumragh Integrated College, was found dead on Monday. It is the second tragedy to hit the school in five months. Clare McSorley (18), a former pupil, who knew Elle, passed away last November. It comes just weeks after another teenager from Killyclogher, Amy Gordon (18), died suddenly on Good Friday. Elle's funeral will take place in the same church as Amy's, less than two weeks after she was laid to rest. Both deaths have rocked the small village outside Omagh. Friends of Elle, a keen horserider who was a member of Drumragh Showjumpers, have paid tribute to the popular student on social media. Drumragh Integrated College principal Nigel Frith said the school had been left devastated by her death. "Our thoughts are with the family of Elle at this very, very difficult time for them and I would like to, on behalf of everyone at the school, extend my sympathies to them," he told the Ulster Herald. "This is devastating for the school. "It is the second tragedy like this that we have had here in this school year. "We will be doing everything we can to ensure that every pupil is properly supported. "We will be talking to them, to let them know that we are here for them and to ensure they feel safe. "We must pull together as a school and community. "It is only a few days since another young girl from Killyclogher died. "It is a very strange world we live in today and sometimes we do not always know or understand the pressures that teenagers and young people are under." The school posted phone numbers for Lifeline and Childline on its website and has urged people to speak out. Elle had taken to her Facebook page to celebrate recent success with her showjumping. Drumragh Showjumpers were named school team of the year at a ceremony last month, and she was named senior area showjumper last November. Friends of the teen flooded social media with heartfelt tributes. One posted on Facebook: "Still can't believe it. Just goes to show, you never know how someone is truly feeling. "Elle you were an absolute pleasure to be around and that's how you will be remembered, I'm blessed to have been your friend, until we meet again, sleep tight bud." Another friend wrote: "Rest easy Elle, you were truly loved by all and not a day will go by you won't be missed - you'll always be with me like a handprint on my heart." Elle is survived by her mother Mandy, stepfather Gavin and brothers Connor and Cian. The student's funeral will take place at St Mary's in Killyclogher today at 10am. Maurice Harron's Hands Across the Divide Sculpture at the end of the Craigavon Bridge in Londonderry. Picture Martin McKeown. A meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council descended into farce last night after a fresh row broke out over the city's name. The dispute arose during a debate over whether the city should be called Derry, Londonderry or both in a joint bid with Belfast to become 2023 European Capital of Culture. Unionist councillors wanted the bid to include 'Londonderry' in the branding. Sinn Fein and several independents, who wanted it to remain simply a 'Derry-Belfast' bid, opposed the amendment from independent unionist Maurice Devenney. His proposal was defeated in a vote despite the SDLP backing the move, along with the Ulster Unionists and DUP. Mr Devenney said his proposal was a bid to "bring in the unionist factor". "We are a minority here in Londonderry," he said. "It was interesting to see a split nationalist vote - SDLP supporting 'Londonderry', Sinn Fein opposing it. "Sinn Fein, I think, need to question what equality really is. "All we are looking for is equality for the unionist community here in Londonderry." Read more Read More The DUP's David Ramsay said his council colleagues "did not seem to understand the importance of our city's official name Londonderry being used". He said all unionists wanted was "a genuine acceptance of the official city name that was given to this city after the London stonemasons built the city walls". Tyrone-based independent councillor Paul Gallagher then proposed that the word 'Strabane' be added to the bid and branding, making it a 'Derry-Strabane-Belfast' bid. The SDLP's Martin Reilly described that proposal as "farcical". "If they are watching this in Belfast they will be laughing at us," he said. Mr Gallagher insisted that the people of Strabane would be paying for the bid through their rates and that they should not be disenfranchised. However, his proposal was defeated. Mayor Hilary McClintock urged members to be "mindful of the message" the council was putting out. Londonderry previously held the title of UK City of Culture in 2013. Belfast failed in its bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008. In 2013 the city used the 'Derry-Londonderry' branding to promote events during the year of culture. Every year, two cities are designated Capital of Culture by the European Union, and organise a series of cultural events over the 12 months. The UK was picked to host the event in 2023 before it voted for Brexit and to leave the European Union last June. Hosting the year-long programme of events can bring increased investment, create jobs and significantly boost the local economy. The winning UK city will be announced late next year. Donald Trump administration has said it will continue to offer support to the talks process. The US Government has urged the Northern Ireland parties to use the pause in the talks to get government back up and running as soon as possible. It comes after Secretary of State James Brokenshire announced a pause in talks to allow for the June 8 General Election. In a statement, the US Department of State said: "The pause in talks to form a government in Northern Ireland allows time for planning a constructive, cooperative way forward. The United States urges all political parties in the region to establish a power-sharing government soon after talks resume in June. "The people of Northern Ireland deserve a representative, effective and responsive devolved government. It is vital to build on the political and economic progress made since the Good Friday Agreement, as well as to build a better, shared future for the regions citizens. "We appreciate the UK and Irish governments ongoing engagement and continue to offer our strong support for peace, reconciliation, and prosperity in Northern Ireland." Willie Frazer with Colin and Barbara Worton outside Laganside Court in Belfast DUP leader Arlene Foster last night accused the Irish Government of "standing in the way of closure" for the families of the Kingsmill massacre. The former First Minister spoke out as the Kingsmill families faced a further delay to the long-awaited inquest due to the failure of Dublin authorities to provide materials requested by the coroner, Judge Brian Sherrard. Mrs Foster said she would be raising what she described as "one of the most brutal and cold-blooded atrocities of the Troubles" with Taoiseach Enda Kenny. "I will be writing to the Irish Prime Minister to voice my support for the innocent victims of Kingsmill," she said last night. "I am disappointed that the Irish Government is now standing in the way of closure for these families, who have already suffered so much. "I have previously raised this with the Irish Prime Minister and sought to advance the matter. "Whilst I accept the handover of documents between two jurisdictions raises legislative problems, a voluntary solution would address the matter. "I trust Prime Minister Kenny will be able to encourage a positive response from his government. "This has dragged on long enough." The former First Minister's stinging remarks came just hours after relatives of some of those killed in the IRA atrocity threatened to pull out of the inquest if authorities in the Republic did not co-operate. Colin Worton, whose brother Kenneth was among 10 textile workers gunned down during the roadside ambush, said he would not be satisfied until there was full disclosure. "The Dublin Government have to step up and give all that they have because we know they have information on the killings, so why not pass it over?" he asked. "We need to have the complete disclosure because we will not be happy until we have it. "There is only one option - get the full disclosure from the South or else. "Otherwise, it's just a partial inquest." Mr Worton was speaking after concerns about delays in the delivery of documentation from An Garda Siochana were raised during a preliminary hearing at Belfast's Laganside Court. Alan Kane QC said: "Justice would be denied to them (the families) if the inquest were to be completed (without) adequate disclosure of materials by the authorities in Dublin." The factory workers were travelling home from their jobs when their minibus was ambushed in January 1976. They were asked their religion then lined up on a country road and shot dead in a sectarian attack blamed on the IRA. Only one man, Alan Black, survived, despite being shot 18 times. Victims' relatives are seeking details from the Garda about the weapons used, intelligence and the getaway van employed by the gunmen. However, Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan cannot direct an officer to give evidence to the inquest without new legislation. The court was told that a letter outlining areas of concern was sent earlier this month, and that Sean Doran QC, counsel for the coroner, has met with Irish officials to discuss the case. Judge Sherrard said the material from Garda was of "central importance" and he could not contemplate closure until all avenues had been explored. "I am mindful of the need to ensure that the totality of the information that is being sought is provided," he added. "This matter will not be closed until I am satisfied we have taken the appropriate steps." The court also heard that the families are to be given a document detailing the history of the weapons used in the notorious atrocity. The paper, prepared by the PSNI, will detail any links with other IRA attacks. The inquest, which was stalled to allow police to investigate a partial palm print found on a van believed to have been used by the gunmen, is expected to resume next month. Judge Sherrard said he was content to proceed, but cautioned that witnesses could be recalled if the Garda information threw up new leads. "We will keep pushing with regard to this," he added. Victims' campaigner Willie Frazer, who accompanied some of the families to court, said: "The Irish Government has got a lot of information. They should hand it over." The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin was contacted for a response last night, but no one was available. The entrance to the barracks in Ballykinler Information from an Army inquiry into the deaths of two soldiers at a base in Northern Ireland should be disclosed to their families, a coroner ruled. The probe into events at Ballykinler barracks in Co Down produced 2,000 pages of documents. Lance Corporal James Ross, 30, from Leeds died in December 2012 and Rifleman Darren Mitchell, 20, from London two months later. Coroner Joe McCrisken has decided official information contained in a service inquiry report should be released to their families. His barrister Sean Doran QC said the coroner had "determined that disclosure of this material should be made to the next of kin". The victims had both fought in Afghanistan and their families have raised post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) concerns following their deaths. They served in the Second Battalion the Rifles. Eight other service personnel self-harmed at the army base in Northern Ireland. Five are still serving in the army, a legal representative for the MoD has disclosed. The Department has until next month to disclose the material, barring any appeal to a higher court by those affected, the coroner told a hearing in Belfast. The stencilled message which has been removed from the Foyle Bridge The family of a young man whose body was recovered from the Foyle after a seven-week search are furious that a sign marking the base camp of their search operation has been removed. 'Camp Jacko' and the hashtag #GetJackBack had been stencilled at the foot of a pillar at the Foyle Bridge during the long search for teenager Jack Glenn. The pillar marked the scene of the massive effort as people came from all over Ireland to help search for Jack's body. Derry and Strabane District Council gave the go-ahead for the sign to be covered over after being contacted by a multi-agency group set up to deal with suicide prevention in the north west. The 18-year-old was reported missing on February 2 this year and from then until his body was finally recovered on March 26 his parents, Colin and Hester, and sister Katie spent every day at Camp Jacko. Jack's distraught mum Hester said she was left wracked with emotion when she found out the sign had been removed. "I have been struggling so much with the pain of losing Jack, we all have. But when I got the phone call from a man who had been with us every single day helping to look for Jack to tell me the sign had been painted over I just went to bits," she said. "I haven't had the strength to face crossing the bridge yet since we got Jack back but Camp Jacko means so much to me. "This was where the hundreds of people came to offer to help us look for him and it was where we formed friendships and bonds with those people - so many of them we didn't know but who will always be our friends now. "We spent every waking minute at Camp Jacko; we ate there, we walked the river bank, we paced up and down and we even slept there, that is how significant Camp Jacko is to us." She added: "I remember vividly the day the sign went up because it was one of the few times I found something to smile about. "I had been out on a search and when I came back to the camp and looked up there it was, I smiled and thought to myself, 'Jack you are a wee legend'. "The thought that someone would paint over that sign without as much as a word to any of us has left me physically shaking with anger. "I miss Jack so, so much and we are all struggling with the pain and the last thing we needed was anyone to add to that." It transpired during the full council meeting that the decision to remove the sign was made by the working group following guidelines from the World Health Organisation on suicide prevention. Jack's mother and father and other family members were present in the public gallery, and were offered apologies from individual councillors who were quick to distance themselves from the council's decision, describing it as inappropriate, premature and "insensitive to the grieving family". However, one of the agencies represented on the working group defended the removal of the sign at a meeting with the Glenn family, arranged by Councillor Maurice Devenney. An outraged Mr Devenney relayed to council that contrary to the feelings and sentiments of his fellow councillors "the PHA (Public Health Agency) think it was the right thing to do to paint over the sign". He also pointed out that no one had contacted the PSNI so that the family were informed ahead of the sign being removed, which is the usual protocol. No one was available for comment from the PHA when contacted. European arrest warrants issued by the UK are no longer valid because of Brexit, a test case in the Republic is due to hear this morning. Michael Forde SC, a barrister for an Irish businessman wanted for fraud in the UK, will argue that the triggering of Brexit this month means that the 2002 EU agreement that underpins the European arrest warrant system can no longer be used by the UK. The case has wider implications for dozens of people awaiting surrender to Northern Ireland from the Republic and other EU countries. Mr Forde's client, Thomas Joseph O'Connor, a Roscommon builder who worked in the UK, was sentenced to four and a half years by a London judge, but skipped bail and fled to Ireland. The UK authorities issued a European arrest warrant and he was arrested by gardai. In court documents obtained by the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Forde will argue that human rights guarantees enshrined in the 2002 EU Council "framework decision" on European arrest warrants protect prisoners for the entire length of their sentence. The UK will have completely withdrawn from the EU in two years, which would invalidate Mr O'Connor's rights during his four and a half-year sentence, Mr Forde said. His argument, if successful, would also cover suspects who have not been convicted in the UK, but who would allegedly suffer the same diminishment of their Framework Decision rights if surrendered to the UK. The 2002 EU Council agreement covers all the terms of the European arrest warrant, including the right to appeal and other measures after the prisoner is surrendered to another EU country. Those measures would be null and void in just two years, Mr Forde will argue before the Irish Court of Appeal this morning. A legal source said that the O'Connor case is the first to use the triggering of Brexit to contest a surrender to the UK and that there was "many more to come". In court documents presented this morning, Mr Forde will argue that O'Connor (49), from Cloughbeirne, The Walk, Roscommon, cannot be blamed for Britain's lack of preparation when it triggered its withdrawal from the European Union. "Prior to that referendum taking place, no significant preparations were made by the UK Government to address the obvious difficulties," the statement of claim says. "The Plaintiff cannot be faulted for the failure of the UK authorities in this regard, insofar as these proceedings are concerned." O'Connor is wanted in the UK over his role in a 5m tax fraud after losing an Irish Supreme Court appeal before the Brexit referendum. In 2006, he was convicted in London of fraud after a five-week trial. He fled to Ireland and forfeited 30,000 in bail money. He was sentenced in 2007 at Blackfriars Crown Court, London, in his absence and the UK authorities have been seeking his return ever since. His case is due before the Court of Appeal in Dublin after another High Court judge refused a full hearing on the case. Mr Forde reappeared before another High Court judge this week to seek legal aid for his client. Judge Donnelly questioned why Mr O'Connor needed free legal aid when he was able to raise 120,000 in bail money but accepted that he had a right to the aid. Mr Forde said that the High Court has previously accepted that his client is poverty-stricken and cannot afford a lawyer. A man who provided the bail money for a dissident republican fighting extradition to Lithuania ran the largest money-laundering scheme for smugglers and paramilitaries ever detected in Northern Ireland, the Belfast Telegraph has learned. Convicted fraudster Kenneth Mackin masterminded the bogus purchase and sale of tens of millions of pounds worth of Coca Cola through his wholesale business that was, in reality, a front for laundering illicit gains from hundreds of cigarette smugglers and paramilitaries. Sam Sittlington is a former PSNI financial detective who now runs a fraud detection company and oversaw the investigation into Mackin. Mr Sittlington described Mackin's operation as the largest such network ever detected in Northern Ireland and uncovered a vast network of cigarette smuggling all over the world. "This goes across the world, as far as Hong Kong," he said. "The biggest cigarette smuggler in Ireland was putting his money through this. Everybody was in there, a lot of paramilitaries along the border. "We counted 150 criminals but there was other names as well." Liam Campbell was the Real IRA's director of operations at the time, Belfast's High Court subsequently found. Last December, Mackin and his wife put up 40,000 (33.7k) in bail money for Campbell, who is wanted in Lithuania for the alleged purchase of Semtex explosives, arms and other bomb-making equipment. Campbell was found civilly liable for the 1998 Omagh bomb, which killed 29 people. Campbell, who has a conviction for Real IRA membership, is also a major cigarette smuggler who ran one of Ireland's largest networks, according to authorities on both sides of the border. Last December, Kenneth Mackin's wife, Veronica, told Judge Aileen Donnelly in a Dublin High Court bail application that the money had come from the company account of Bubbles Wholesalers, an importer and cash and carry company she and her husband run in Dundalk. Under cross-examination, Veronica Mackin was not asked about her husband's previous convictions, committed while he was a sole trader in the border region. Bubbles was incorporated by the couple in Dundalk after Kenneth Mackin's conviction in Northern Ireland. Kenneth Mackin (47), of Maphoner Road, Mullaghbawn, Newry, was in court for the December hearing. Ms Mackin returned to the High Court last Monday to say she and her husband supported Campbell's application, which was unsuccessful, to have his bail conditions eased. In 2005, Kenneth Mackin pleaded guilty to nine counts of money laundering, deception and evading VAT and was given a three-year suspended sentence. He was also ordered to repay 500,000 to the UK government. "He was ordered to pay 500,000 and he did pay it all," Mr Sittlington said. "He was involved in very sophisticated crime that involved hundreds of clients." Kenneth Mackin and his brother, Raymond Mackin, who was given a suspended sentence and ordered to repay 250,000, claimed to be distributing Coca Cola in the Republic, according to the Organised Crime Task Force. It said in a later summary of the case that it as "a classic case of money laundering and VAT fraud which was based on an elaborate scheme involving the fictitious transportation of Coca Cola between Northern Ireland and the Republic." In 1999-2000, the Mackin brothers were sending 15 lorry loads per day to the Republic - more Coca Cola than was actually being produced in the state. A Garda source familiar with the High Court bail process said that previous convictions are not an absolute bar to posting bail. Asked about her husband's conviction, Veronica Mackin said that the Campbell case was a "private matter". Italian road racer Dario Cecconis body is escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit on a lap of honour by motorcyclists and supporters Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's girlfriend Francesca and his brother Luca at the scene of the accident which claimed the life of the young Italian racer at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 27/4/2017: The gloves and helmet sit on the coffin of Italian rider Dario Cecconi during a service at the start line on theTandragee 100 circuit in Co Armagh in his memory following his death in a crash at last Saturday's races. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 27/4/2017: An Ulster flag is draped on the coffin of Dario Cecconi during a service at the start line on theTandragee 100 circuit in Co Armagh in his memory following his death in a crash at last Saturday's races. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 27/4/2017: The gloves and helmet sit on the coffin of Italian rider Dario Cecconi during a service at the start line on the Tandragee 100 circuit in Co Armagh in his memory following his death in a crash at last Saturday's races. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 27/4/2017: An Ulster flag is draped on the coffin of Dario Cecconi during a service at the start line on theTandragee 100 circuit in Co Armagh in his memory following his death in a crash at last Saturday's races. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 27/4/2017: Chequered flags are waved as the hearse carrying the coffin of Italian rider Dario Cecconi crosses the finish line during the lap of honour of the Tandragee 100 circuit in Co Armagh in his memory following his death in a crash at last Saturday's races. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th April 2017 Hundreds gathered at the Tandragee 100 course, to say 'Farewell to Dario Cecconi'. Pictured: Florence and Naomi Burns wave chequered flags at the Finish line. Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 27/4/2017: Chequered flags are waved as the hearse carrying the coffin of Italian rider Dario Cecconi crosses the finish line during the lap of honour of the Tandragee 100 circuit in Co Armagh in his memory following his death in a crash at last Saturday's races. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th April 2017 Hundreds gathered at the Tandragee 100 course, to say 'Farewell to Dario Cecconi'. Pictured: Florence and Naomi Burns wave chequered flags at the Finish line. Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th April 2017 Hundreds gathered at the Tandragee 100 course, to say 'Farewell to Dario Cecconi'. Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th April 2017 Hundreds gathered at the Tandragee 100 course, to say 'Farewell to Dario Cecconi'. Pictured: North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club Tarmac Section formed a guard of honour. Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th April 2017 Hundreds gathered at the Tandragee 100 course, to say 'Farewell to Dario Cecconi'. Pictured: North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club Tarmac Section formed a guard of honour. Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th April 2017 Hundreds gathered at the Tandragee 100 course, to say 'Farewell to Dario Cecconi'. Pictured: Florence and Naomi Burns wave chequered flags at the Finish line. Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th April 2017 Hundreds gathered at the Tandragee 100 course, to say 'Farewell to Dario Cecconi'. Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th April 2017 Hundreds gathered at the Tandragee 100 course, to say 'Farewell to Dario Cecconi'. Pictured: Florence and Naomi Burns wave chequered flags at the Finish line. Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit by motorcyclists and road race supporters in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit by motorcyclists and road race supporters in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's girlfriend Francesca and his brother Luca at the scene of the accident which claimed the life of the young Italian racer at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's girlfriend Francesca and his brother Luca at the scene of the accident which claimed the life of the young Italian racer at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit by motorcyclists and road race supporters in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit by motorcyclists and road race supporters in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit by motorcyclists and road race supporters in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit by motorcyclists and road race supporters in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit by motorcyclists and road race supporters in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit by motorcyclists and road race supporters in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit by motorcyclists and road race supporters in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Pacemaker Belfast 27-4-17 Dario Cecconi Lap of Honour - Tandragee 100 Italian road racer Dario Cecconi's remains are escorted around the Tandragee 100 circuit by motorcyclists and road race supporters in tribute to the young Italian racer, who sadly passed away following an accident at the Tandragee 100 last Saturday. Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Chequered flags fluttered at Tandragee last night as tragic motorcycle racer Dario Cecconi completed his last circuit of the course he called home. Friends and mourners turned out in their hundreds to take part in a moving farewell lap of honour for the Italian racer (inset), who died from injuries sustained during a crash on his final lap of the Tandragee 100 course. His brother Luca and partner Francesca Benvenuti travelled to be at the injured racer's hospital bedside before he passed away. Last night Anne Forsythe, clerk of the course and honorary secretary of the North Armagh Motorcycle & Car Club, said Dario's family had been "blown away" by the love and respect they had been shown. "It was very difficult for them, but they very much appreciated how the crowd had been respectful of their feelings as they came to the spot where the incident happened," she said. "Everyone stayed well back, allowing Luca and Francesca the space to feel able to get out of their car and mark the moment, before going on. "We had the chequered flags waving, because that was Dario finishing his final lap - the lap he was on when he crashed. He finished his race." Anne, who was with Francesca and Luca when they stopped at the spot of the crash, said the heartbroken brother kept repeating "amazing, amazing" in response to the show of respect to the rider. She added: "They could feel the love. They could definitely feel the love. It was a fitting tribute to a lovely, lovely bloke." She thanked everyone who had turned out to honour the racer's memory. "They did Dario proud, they did the club proud, and they did their sport proud," said Anne. A crowd-funding page set up to help the family had raised more than 4,500 of its 5,000 target last night. Organiser David McWaters posted: "Dario's family are overwhelmed by the support and they have asked that the money raised be donated to the Injured Riders Welfare Fund." Bedfordshire Chief Constable Jon Boutcher is heading up the probe into dozens of murders linked to the spy A major investigation into Britain's former top spy inside the IRA will be significantly compromised if its files are fully disclosed in separate civil actions, the High Court heard on Friday. A judge was told handing over material produced by a team of outside detectives could create a "chill factor" in attempts to get at the truth behind the activities of agent Stakeknife. Bedfordshire Chief Constable Jon Boutcher is heading up the probe into dozens of murders linked to the spy - named in the media as west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci. He wants all working papers produced since his investigation, codenamed Operation Kenova, was launched last June "ring fenced" from discovery in lawsuits being brought against Scappaticci. That material is believed to include documents stretching back to the 1980s, as well as so-called confession tapes from the IRA interrogation of suspected informers. Scappaticci left Nothern Ireland in 2003 after he was identified as Stakeknife. Before quitting his home he vehemently denied being the agent while in charge of the IRA's internal security team, the so-called 'Nutting Squad'. He is facing at least 20 civil actions over alleged kidnappings and interrogations. Police and the Ministry of Defence are also being sued in the damages claims. But counsel representing the PSNI urged Mr Justice Stephens to allow non-discovery of the Operation Kenova working papers in those litigations. If the application is rejected, Nicolas Hanna QC argued that all the lawsuits should instead be stayed until the criminal investigation is completed. He said: "Unless the limited degree of restriction, ring-fencing of the working papers, is imposed upon the civil litigation, it's likely that the ability of Mr Boutcher and his Operation Kenova team to achieve their objectives will be significantly compromised." Mr Hanna insisted there was an urgency as the police chief seeks to give assurances to people wanting to co-operate with his probe. "Until this is resolved the chill factor is going to be there, the fear factor is going to be there that material provided by individuals helping the inquiry will see the light of day," he added. "Mr Boutcher has had to cultivate the trust of the community in which he's seeking information, in circumstances where there's been a long history of distrust." Frank O'Donoghue QC, appearing for Scappaticci, opposed the move to stop full discovery. He argued that full disclosure should take place. Reserving his decision on the application, Mr Justice Stephens pledged: "I will give judgment in this as soon as I can, given the other commitments I have." Arlene Foster has been accused of bending the knee to the Irish language community after she met with two groups at Stormont yesterday. TUV leader Jim Allister claimed the DUP was "weakening" in its stated stance against an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland. But a DUP spokesman said Mrs Foster was simply engaging in a listening exercise, and described the engagement so far as "useful". Mrs Foster met with both Pobal and Conradh na Gaeilge at Stormont. It came a day after she visited the Irish language department of Our Lady's Grammar School in Newry. Pobal said its delegation was left feeling "optimistic" after a "very positive" meeting with Mrs Foster. Director Janet Muller said she felt "hopeful" for the future. "I would certainly hope so," she said when asked if an Irish Language Act was close, but added: "These are complex matters". "I am optimistic after today's meeting, hopefully the result will be an effective Irish Language Act." The DUP's refusal to back an Act was one of the sticking points in the now paused talks to save Stormont. Last month Mrs Foster said she planned to meet with Irish language groups to listen to the views of those who speak the language. Conradh na Gaeilge president Dr Niall Comer said he believed his group "got a good hearing". "It is useful that we had a meeting today in which we put our proposals for an Irish Language Act before the party, and the costs associated with them, as in the discussion document," he said. "The Irish language community have been waiting too long for the State to bring in legislation that will protect these language-related human rights. "The talks period is almost over, and now is the time for action." Mrs Foster did not speak to the media after the two meetings yesterday, but following Wednesday's discussions she said: "There is nothing to be feared from engaging with another culture, in fact I think it's a sign of strength if you engage with another culture that's not your own." However, Mr Allister accused the DUP of "genuflecting" to the Irish language sector. He accused Mrs Foster of "preparing to pay Sinn Fein's price for the return to office". "TUV is unequivocal in opposing the imposition of an Irish Language Act under any guise," he said. "The Irish language is already feted with special funding, a North/South executive body and a privileged Irish-medium education sector. "Insatiable Sinn Fein and its satellites, like Pobal, demand more official status for Irish in Northern Ireland; Irish in our courts, on our road signs and on all Government documents; preferment of Irish speakers in the public sector with adverse employment consequences for non-Irish speakers, and huge commitment of public money to finance this de-Britishisation programme. "Having brashly decreed it would not 'feed the crocodile', and that it was 'Never, Never, Never' to an Irish Language Act, the DUP is clearly weakening its stance and readying to pay the price after the election. Unionists beware." But the DUP responded to the TUV criticism by saying Mrs Foster was "engaged in a listening exercise". "The engagement so far has been useful," a party spokesman he said. "She has met a wide range of groups and individuals from throughout the British Isles. "There are a wide range of opinions on how the language should be supported in the future. Whilst Jim feels threatened by engagement, we do not." Steven Agnew has insisted that non-violence has always been a core principle of the Green Party after questions were raised as to how a former deputy leader who defected to Sinn Fein found a home in the party for more than two decades. Anne Graham - sister of murdered academic Edgar Graham - told Mr Agnew to clarify where the party stands on the murder of political adversaries. She was referring to the former deputy leader and Queen's law lecturer Peter Doran's refusal to condemn the 1983 murder of Mr Graham, who also lectured in law at QUB. "This man Doran seems not to have had any Damascene conversion before moving to Sinn Fein and for so long had a happy home in the Greens and held positions of influence there", she wrote in a letter to the Belfast Telegraph. His biography on Sinn Fein's website describes him as having "worked closely with the Republican leadership in Derry during an early career in journalism in the 1980s". Mr Agnew said the Green party condemns all murders committed during the Troubles and that he cannot explain why Dr Doran, who left the party in 2011, refuses to condemn the murder of a fellow QUB academic. "The killing of Edgar Graham is one of thousands of heinous crimes which were unjustifiable at the time and remain so today," he said. "When Peter Doran was a member of the Green Party he signed up to our principles of democracy and non-violence. "I would encourage Peter Doran to condemn murder in all its guises despite what the Sinn Fein party line might be." But Mr Doran again refused to condemn outright the killing of Mr Graham. Yesterday he reiterated his "profound sorrow" over the academic's death, noting that he previously said nothing he could say would be adequate for those who knew and loved him. "It is my earnest wish that all the victims of the conflict and their loved ones who have been so terribly wronged will participate in a healing that cannot come too soon," he said. The scene in Peckham Rye, south east London, where a man in his 20s has been stabbed to death (Chad O'Carroll/PA) Police were called at 3.15pm on Friday to reports of an altercation in Peckham Rye, south-east London. A man in his 20s has died after he was found with stab wounds in what was the latest in a series of stabbings in London this week. Police were called at 3.15pm on Friday to reports of an altercation in Peckham Rye, south-east London, Scotland Yard said. London Ambulance Service (LAS) and officers found a man, believed to be aged in his 20s, with stab wounds and he was pronounced dead at 3.51pm. Video footage and pictures posted on social media show four police cars and sirens blaring following the incident as people looked on in the aftermath in broad daylight. One witness, who posted a video, described the scene as chaos. Meanwhile, a murder investigation was launched after a man with a fatal stab wound was found on a bus in Marylebone. Police were called by LAS at around 12.10am on Friday to a 48-year-old man with a stab wound on the Route 189 bus in Gloucester Place near the junction with Dorset Square, north-west London. On Thursday, police were called just after 1pm to reports of a stabbing at Dulwich Park, south-east London. A 31-year-old-man was found at the scene with a stab wound to his head, and he was taken to a south London hospital where his condition is described as critical. The suspect is described as a light-skinned black male, aged in his 20s, about 5ft 10in, and wearing dark clothing. Police said he made off from the scene on a pedal cycle in the direction of Forest Hill Road. Also on Thursday, police were called at 6.55pm to Herbert Road, south-east London, to reports of a man stabbed. Officers found an 18-year-old man suffering from stab wounds, and he was taken to a south London hospital where his injuries are being treated as life-threatening. On Sunday, police were called at around 11.20pm to reports of an injured man in Bow Common Lane, east London. Officers found a 54-year-old man suffering a head injury and a stab wound. He was taken to hospital where his condition is stable, and not life-threatening. Before going to hospital, the man indicated that another man was seriously injured inside a flat in Bow Common Lane. Officers found a 60-year-old suffering stab injuries, and they administered first aid until the arrival of the LAS, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.06am on Monday. He was named as Keith Sinclair from Bow. On Wednesday, a 19-year-old man was arrested at an address in Wandsworth on suspicion of murder following the stabbing of a 17-year-old male in Ingrave Street, south-west London, on Sunday. Police and the LAS were called to the scene at 1.25am to reports of a disturbance and a male stabbed. The victim was taken to a south London hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2.50am. Theresa May speaks at a General Election campaign event at the Shine Centre in Leeds (Anthony Devlin/PA) Theresa May will visit a business before being introduced at a rally by Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson. Theresa May will make a direct pitch to Scottish unionists on her first trip of the General Election campaign north of the border. The Prime Minister will tell a rally that a vote for the Tories will strengthen the union and allow the UK and Scotland to flourish, as she seeks to capitalise on the partys growing support in the nation. Mrs May has turned down First Minister Nicola Sturgeons call for a second independence referendum to try and protect Scotlands status in the European single market, and will reiterate her insistence that voting Tory will bolster her hand in Brexit negotiations due to begin after the June 8 election. In east London, Jeremy Corbyn is expected to make his most personal speech of the campaign so far and urge young voters, who could hold the key to his electoral prospects as they are more likely to back him, to step up and vote for Labour. But in Leeds, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron will reiterate his claim that he could replace Mr Corbyn, who he has described as demonstrably the worst leader in British political history, as leader of the official opposition. While the opposition leaders battle it out in England, Mrs May will seek to exploit apparently growing levels of support for the Tories in Scotland. A YouGov poll of Scottish voters released on Friday suggested the Tories are the leading unionist party north of the border, up 13 points on 28%, behind the SNP on 41% but ahead of Labour on 18% and the Lib Dems on 7%. The PM will visit a business to discuss the Governments industrial strategy before being introduced at a rally by Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, where Mrs May is expected to say: My message to the people of Scotland today is clear: if you vote for me it will strengthen my hand in the Brexit negotiations. It will strengthen the union, strengthen the economy and together the UK and Scotland will flourish. Because when Scotland is flourishing, the rest of the United Kingdom is flourishing too. Mr Corbyn will make a direct plea to young potential voters, who he will tell to overcome apathy and resignation because it only favours the Tories. He will highlight figures showing 2.4 million young people are missing from the electoral register and a turnout rate of just 40% among 18 to 24-year-olds as he urges them to claim your future. The Labour leader is expected to say: Dont let the Conservatives hold you back. Dont let the Conservatives hold Britain back. Quite simply, only the Labour Party can deliver a Britain for the many, not the few. Police block protesters entering into the parliament building in Skopje, Macedonia (AP) Macedonia's opposition leader has rejected the president's call for emergency talks, hours after demonstrators - mostly supporters of the dominant conservative party - invaded parliament and assaulted opposition legislators. An official with the Social Democrat party said Zoran Zaev would not attend the talks, but did not provide further detail. Police said 102 people were injured, mostly lightly, in the riot. Mr Zaev was among the victims, as was the head of a small ethnic Albanian opposition party, and 22 police officers. The country is in a deep political crisis that started with a wire-tapping scandal more than two years ago, and inconclusive elections last year further complicated matters. Macedonia is also increasingly divided along ethnic lines, with demonstrators protesting against opposition plans to give greater powers to the ethnic Albanian minority - a quarter of the population. The European Union condemned the violence and said the cornerstones of democracy should be respected. In neighbouring Serbia, prime minister Aleksandar Vucic called emergency security consultations over the unrest. Conservative VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski also criticised the violence, but said his political opponents provoked it. Speaking at his party headquarters early on Friday, Mr Gruevski said the Social Democrats consciously broke the country's law and constitution by electing a new parliament speaker - an ethnic Albanian - despite the months-old deadlock in efforts to form a new government. "Greed to seize power at any cost is the direct cause which led to this adverse situation, and they bear responsibility for it," Mr Gruevski said. The violence started when dozens of protesters, many masked, broke through a police cordon after the speaker's election, shouting, throwing chairs and wielding camera tripods abandoned by startled journalists. Police said arrests were made, but gave no further details. Clashes lasted for hours on Thursday night, with police initially doing little to stop the invasion, and the crowd inside parliament swelled to several hundred. Eventually, police used stun grenades to evacuate the building and free legislators and journalists trapped inside. EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said: "Violence is unacceptable, even more so when it happens in the house of democracy." Ms Mogherini, attending a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Malta, called the incident a "serious crisis that can be dangerous". Macedonia's political crisis started in early 2015 when Mr Zaev accused then-prime minister Mr Gruevski of masterminding a massive illegal wire-tapping operation against the judiciary, police, politicians, journalists, foreign diplomats and religious leaders. Mr Gruevski denies wrongdoing, and has blamed the wire-taps on unspecified foreign spies. His party won December's elections with a slim majority, and then refused to form a coalition with ethnic Albanian parties who are demanding Albanian be declared the country's official second language. Mr Zaev agreed to the Albanian demands, striking a coalition deal, but President Gjorge Ivanov refused him the mandate to govern, claiming the Albanian demands threaten the country's sovereignty. A six-month uprising by ethnic Albanian rebels seeking stronger minority rights in 2001 brought the country to the brink of civil war. Peace was secured after international mediation. AP Scores of protesters have broken through a police cordon and stormed Macedonia's parliament, attacking politicians amid anger over the election of an ethnic Albanian as speaker. The protesters entered the parliament after the opposition Social Democrats and parties representing Macedonia's ethnic Albanian minority voted for the new speaker. Shouting and throwing chairs, the protesters attacked politicians including opposition leader Zoran Zaev, who television footage showed bleeding from the forehead. Footage showed Mr Zaev and other Social Democrats surrounded by protesters waving national flags, shouting "traitors" and refusing to allow them to leave. Macedonia has been without a government since December, when former prime minister Nikola Gruevski's conservative party won an election but did not secure enough votes to form a government. Coalition talks broke down over ethnic Albanian demands that Albanian be recognised as an official second language. One-fourth of Macedonia's population is ethnic Albanian. Mr Zaev has been seeking a mandate to form a government for months, after reaching an agreement with an ethnic Albanian party, the Democratic Union for Integration, to form a coalition. However, President Gjorge Ivanov refused to hand him the mandate. The Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, as the Balkan nation's parliament is known, has been deadlocked for three weeks over electing a new speaker. Mr Zaev had suggested earlier on Thursday that one could be elected outside normal procedures, an idea immediately rejected by the conservative party as an attempted coup. Mr Zaev went ahead with the vote, and a majority in parliament elected Talat Xhaferi, a former defence minister and member of the Democratic Union for Integration. Police said about 10 officers were injured during the melee and that reinforcements were sent to assist those inside the parliament building. The protesters were among a group of demonstrators who have been holding rallies nightly for the past two months in the streets of Skopje and other cities in the country over the political situation. Many are supporters of Mr Gruevski. A senior European Union official condemned the violent protest. Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said in a tweet that ''Violence has NO place in Parliament. Democracy must run its course''. Sweden's ambassador to Macedonia Mats Staffansson, speaking on behalf of other European diplomats, reminded the country's politicians of the need for dialogue and said ''it is the responsibility of the police of this country to make sure that this kind of violence does not happen''. AP The United States will seek talks with North Korea over the reclusive state's nuclear weapons programme, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said. He is meeting with key allies Japan and South Korea before chairing a ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council. It comes after President Donald Trump warned a "major, major conflict" between the two countries was "absolutely" possible. Mr Trump has ramped up international tensions in recent weeks after declaring he would solve the North Korea problem with or without China's help. During a visit to Seoul last week, Vice-President Mike Pence declared that the "era of strategic patience" was over and "all options" were being considered. This is a departure from the Obama era policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation. In the address, Mr Tillerson is due to discuss the steps the US believes are needed to "further isolate" Pyongyang to get it to halt nuclear and missile testing. Expand Close Nuclear-powered submarine USS Michigan approaches at the southeastern port city of Busan on April 25, 2017. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nuclear-powered submarine USS Michigan approaches at the southeastern port city of Busan on April 25, 2017. AFP/Getty Images Read more Read More North Korea has remained belligerent about its nuclear programme despite repeated warnings from the international community. On Thursday the state propaganda arm released footage of simulated attacks on the White House and US aircraft carriers, declaring "the enemy to be destroyed is in our sights". Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close In this image made from video provided by North Korean broadcaster KRT, missiles are paraded at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Saturday, April 15, 2017. (KRT via AP) AP Soldiers march across Kim Il Sung Square during a military parade Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) AP North Korean women wave and cheer as they look toward their leader Kim Jong Un during a military parade Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea, to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) AP 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 Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) AP North Korean men and women dressed to represent doctors and other medical workers march across Kim Il Sung Square during a military parade on Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) AP Korean People's Army (KPA) soldiers march on Kim Il-Sung squure during a military parade marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on April 15 saluted as ranks of goose-stepping soldiers followed by tanks and other military hardware paraded in Pyongyang for a show of strength with tensions mounting over his nuclear ambitions. / AFP PHOTO / Ed JONESED JONES/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Korean People's Army (KPA) tanks are displayed on Kim Il-Sung square during a military parade marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on April 15 saluted as ranks of goose-stepping soldiers followed by tanks and other military hardware paraded in Pyongyang for a show of strength with tensions mounting over his nuclear ambitions. / AFP PHOTO / Ed JONESED JONES/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Members of the Korean People's Army (KPA) ride on mobile missile launchers during a military parade marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on April 15 saluted as ranks of goose-stepping soldiers followed by tanks and other military hardware paraded in Pyongyang for a show of strength with tensions mounting over his nuclear ambitions. / AFP PHOTO / Ed JONESED JONES/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Korean People's Army (KPA) soldiers march on Kim Il-Sung square during a military parade marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on April 15 saluted as ranks of goose-stepping soldiers followed by tanks and other military hardware paraded in Pyongyang for a show of strength with tensions mounting over his nuclear ambitions. / AFP PHOTO / Ed JONESED JONES/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Korean People's Army (KPA) soldiers march during a military parade marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on April 15 saluted as ranks of goose-stepping soldiers followed by tanks and other military hardware paraded in Pyongyang for a show of strength with tensions mounting over his nuclear ambitions. / AFP PHOTO / Ed JONESED JONES/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Korean People's Army (KPA) tanks are displayed during a military parade marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on April 15 saluted as ranks of goose-stepping soldiers followed by tanks and other military hardware paraded in Pyongyang for a show of strength with tensions mounting over his nuclear ambitions. / AFP PHOTO / Ed JONESED JONES/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Women wearing traditional Korean dress wave flowers and shout slogans as they pass North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un during a mass rally marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on April 15 saluted as ranks of goose-stepping soldiers followed by tanks and other military hardware paraded in Pyongyang for a show of strength with tensions mounting over his nuclear ambitions. / AFP PHOTO / Ed JONESED JONES/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images An unidentified rocket is displayed during a military parade marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on April 15 saluted as ranks of goose-stepping soldiers followed by tanks and other military hardware paraded in Pyongyang for a show of strength with tensions mounting over his nuclear ambitions. / AFP PHOTO / Ed JONESED JONES/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images An unidentified missile and mobile launcher makes its way through Kim Il-Sung square during a military parade marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on April 15 saluted as ranks of goose-stepping soldiers followed by tanks and other military hardware paraded in Pyongyang for a show of strength with tensions mounting over his nuclear ambitions. / AFP PHOTO / Ed JONESED JONES/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Women wearing traditional Korean dress wave flowers and shout slogans as they pass North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un during a mass rally marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on April 15 saluted as ranks of goose-stepping soldiers followed by tanks and other military hardware paraded in Pyongyang for a show of strength with tensions mounting over his nuclear ambitions. / AFP PHOTO / Ed JONESED JONES/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A rocket-themed float makes its way through Kim Il-Sung square during a mass rally marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung, in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. Kim saluted as ranks of goose-stepping soldiers followed by tanks and other military hardware paraded in Pyongyang for a show of strength with tensions mounting over his nuclear ambitions. / AFP PHOTO / ED JONESED JONES/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images North Korean soldiers carry flags and a photo of late leader Kim Il Sung as they march across Kim Il Sung Square during a military parade on Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) AP In this image made from video provided by North Korean broadcaster KRT, missiles are displayed during a parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Saturday, April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has appeared in a massive parade in the capital, Pyongyang, celebrating the birthday of his late grandfather and North Korea founder Kim Il Sung. (KRT via AP) AP North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves during a military parade on Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) AP In this image made from video broadcast by North Korean broadcaster KRT, soldiers take part in a parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Saturday, April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has appeared in a massive parade in the capital, Pyongyang, celebrating the birthday of his late grandfather and North Korea founder Kim Il Sung. (KRT via AP) AP In this image made from video broadcast by North Korean broadcaster KRT, military tanks prepare for a parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Saturday, April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has appeared in a massive parade in the capital, Pyongyang, celebrating the birthday of his late grandfather and North Korea founder Kim Il Sung. (KRT via AP) AP A North Korean soldier man rides his bicycle near Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong on April 15, 2017. China issued a stern warning that a conflict over North Korea could break out "at any moment", as Pyongyang vowed a "merciless" response to any US military action. / AFP PHOTO / Johannes EISELEJOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A North Korean woman rides her bicycle near Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong on April 15, 2017. China issued a stern warning that a conflict over North Korea could break out "at any moment", as Pyongyang vowed a "merciless" response to any US military action. / AFP PHOTO / Johannes EISELEJOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images In this image made from video broadcast by North Korean broadcaster KRT, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un applauds during a parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Saturday, April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has appeared in a massive parade in the capital, Pyongyang, celebrating the birthday of his late grandfather and North Korea founder Kim Il Sung. (KRT via AP) AP In this image made from video broadcast by North Korean broadcaster KRT, a portrait of the country's founder Kim Il Sung is carried during a parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Saturday, April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has appeared in a massive parade in the capital, Pyongyang, celebrating the birthday of his late grandfather and North Korea founder Kim Il Sung. (KRT via AP) AP In this image made from video broadcast by North Korean broadcaster KRT, soldiers take part in a parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Saturday, April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has appeared in a massive parade in the capital, Pyongyang, celebrating the birthday of his late grandfather and North Korea founder Kim Il Sung. (KRT via AP) AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp In this image made from video provided by North Korean broadcaster KRT, missiles are paraded at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Saturday, April 15, 2017. (KRT via AP) A US Pacific Commander told the House Armed Services Committee that Pyongyang could soon develop long-range missiles capable of striking the US. Admiral Harry Harris said: "Just as Thomas Edison is believed to have failed 1,000 times before successfully inventing the light bulb, so, too, Kim Jong-un will keep trying". Earlier on Friday US ambassador to the UN's Committee on Disarmament, Robert Wood, told reporters North Korea was the greatest threat to the 47-year-old Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Expand Close Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China confirmed to the US it had requested the regime conduct "no further nuclear test" / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China confirmed to the US it had requested the regime conduct "no further nuclear test" He said the US will be "focused like a laser" on a meeting of the treaty's signatories next week in Vienna, Austria. The US expects a "strong course of condemnation" from attendees, he added. The diplomatic call comes after weeks of escalation by the US after Mr Trump announced an "armada" of US navy ships, including aircraft carrier USS Vinson, were to sail to North Korean waters. Meanwhile, Seoul and Washington continued with plans to implement the joint THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea despite protests from Beijing which said it could potentially threaten it. China has indicated it is more willing to discuss sanctions against Pyongyang, the Kim regime is economically dependent on it, despite its previous reluctance to destabilise its neighbour. Beijing fears an influx of refugees on the border and regards North Korea as a useful buffer as South Korea currently hosts nearly 30,000 US military personnel. It wouldnt be a Northern Ireland Westminster election without talk of pacts between the political parties, particularly on the unionist side. The talks and debate is still ongoing but not surprisingly seem to have ran into difficulties. The whole premise of pacts (or the cause of them) is the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) election system thats used for Westminster elections. Its a winner take all system well summed up by former US President John F Kennedy who said In politics, a wins a win, coming close only counts in shuvhapenny. Read More Its a weird undemocratic system, which has caused tensions in British politics over the years. Bill White The FPTP system means that the number of seats won is not related to vote share (in the wider country of region e.g. UK or NI). Its the system that at the last UK General Election (2015) gave UKIP one seat in parliament with 3,881,099 votes, and the SNP 56 seats with 1,454,436 votes. Its a weird undemocratic system, which has caused tensions in British politics over the years. The basis of a pact is that if one party withdraws in support of another candidate or party, then all of that withdrawing parties supporters will automatically go to the polls and support the other candidate or party. But people dont behave like robots. Yes, there are some who will follow the party line instructions, but our polling over the years suggests this number is lower than what some people think. There is also the proven fact that you never maximise, particularly the unionist vote, unless you there are a good choice of candidates i.e. If you had two unionist candidates who ran in one election and had gained say 10,000 votes each, that doesnt mean if you ran only one of these candidates the next time (with the support of the other) they would get 20,000 votes that candidate would probably get around 17,000 votes i.e. 3,000 votes would go missing. Read More This is the myth about pacts in FPTP elections, - let me say right up-front that any pacts in NI whether UUP-DUP, SF-SDLP, or any combination, will not make any difference in any of the constituencies, except perhaps Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Apart from Fermanagh and South Tyrone there are only a few other seats that are being discussed as part of the pact debates between the parties i.e. South Belfast, East Belfast, North Belfast, and perhaps Upper Bann. So lets look at a few of these seats. In East Belfast, Gavin Robinson will win or lose whether or not hes in a pact with the UUP i.e. any pact will have little impact, as Robinson will win or lose based on other factors, not whether hes the sole unionist unity candidate. Likewise, Ive said that Fermanagh and South Tyrone is the only seat that is impacted by a pact (between the unionist parties) Yes, with a unionist pact Tom Elliott has a better chance of winning, but thats not to say he will definitely win with a pact (he could still lose). With pacts, what you gain on the roundabouts, you lost on the swings. Bill White Then we have South Belfast a key marginal seat that will certainly be included in any pact discussion between various parties. At the last Westminster election, the unionists say that if you add up all the unionist votes then that wouldve have exceeded Alasdair McDonnells vote (the current sitting SDLP MP for South Belfast) This is correct. But if there had have been one combined unionist candidate then undoubtedly a chunk of Sinn Feins Mairtin O Muilleoir 5,402 votes would have switched to McDonnell (as the only realistic nationalist who could win the seat) to counter-act the combined unionist candidate. Likewise, if the SDLP did a deal with Sinn Fein, then again using South Belfast as an example, - Yes, theyd gain a good number of O Muilleoirs 5,402 votes (NB not all), but theyd probably lose a chunk of the Alliance and small u unionist votes (annoyed at the SDLP-Sinn Fein pact) that McDonnell picks up just because hes the sitting MP. Basically with pacts, what you perhaps gain on the roundabouts, you could lose on the swings. In East Belfast, the sitting DUP MP Gavin Robinson ran as an agreed unity unionist candidate at the last 2015 election. Robinson gained 19,575 votes, and Naomi Long (Alliance) 16,978 votes. If Robinson hadnt been the one unionist-unity candidate (i.e. other Unionists, particularly the UUP, also ran for the seat), then our post-election polling analysis shows Robinson wouldve got around 17,000 votes, and Naomi Long 15,000 votes approximately. Yes, Robinson gained UUP (and other unionist votes) but Long also gained votes from, for example, disaffected supporters from other parties, former non-voters, and also some former UUP voters, all of whom disagreed with the pact. Basically Gavin Robinson wouldve won anyway, pact or no pact. Again, the gains on the roundabout lose on the swings argument, plays in. If youre the agreed one-unionist unity candidate, theres nowhere to hide. Bill White Then there is the personal reputation consideration with pacts. If youre the unity candidate with no opposition on your side (i.e. unionist or nationalist), then youve nowhere to hide, and no excuses, if youre running in a seat that youre expected to win. Again take South Belfast as the example, the DUP and UUP both ran in this seat at the last three Westminster elections, and the SDLP won all three times. But the DUP and UUP could blame each other for this. Theres no way of disproving this and its a comfort blanket that the UUP and DUP can hide behind. But if youre the agreed one-unionist unity candidate, theres nowhere to hide. Youre expected to win, and if you dont, your personal reputation in politics will be seriously damaged. Put it this way, Gavin Robinson won the East Belfast seat in 2015 as a unionist unity candidate but if he had lost, I suggest he wouldnt be in politics today. Theres also a cultural point with pacts, particularly on the unionist side. Pacts dont suit the unionistprotestant psyche, which historically always has had a rich independent thinking streak. Theres always those who say Im a unionist, but Im certainly not going to vote for THAT unionist candidate. If you want a simple illustration of this independent culture, just count the number of churches the next time you travel through a NI town or village, - therell be one Catholic church, but many different types of Protestant churches. So I would suggest to the political parties out there who perhaps are getting excited about pacts and agreements on seats. Dont get too carried away, as in terms of whos going to win, they have a lot less impact than you might think. Bill White, is Managing Director of Belfast based LucidTalk Polling and Market Research. You can follow LucidTalk on Twitter at @LucidTalk. This has been framed by the Conservatives as an election about Brexit, but it is also more generally about who we are and what we want to be. I believe that South Belfast, the constituency I am lucky enough to represent, is one characterised by a strong sense of fair play and a spirit of generosity to those less fortunate. This was never demonstrated more tellingly than when a request for assistance for refugees living locally was met literally by rooms full of clothes, shoes and children's toys. Fundamentally, this sense and this spirit drive our political expectations - from a taxpayer-funded universal healthcare system to provision of free education for all from the youngest possible age. I was, therefore, horrified when all the MPs from the two main unionist parties opposed giving sanctuary in the UK to 3,000 desperate refugee children from Syria. This is absolutely not who we are. It runs contrary to the sense of fair play and spirit of generosity people in South Belfast, as in many other places, have shown to those less fortunate. I have no doubt such issues will be considered and remembered by the voters in June. PAULA BRADSHAW (ALLIANCE) MLA for South Belfast Michelle ONeill at a vigil in February for four IRA men who were killed by the SAS in Clonoe This weekend, Michelle O'Neill will again take the starring role as republicans gather in Loughgall to mark the deaths of eight IRA members, shot dead by the SAS in May 1987 after attempting to blow up the police station in the Co Armagh village. It comes just weeks after the Co Tyrone woman marked her coronation as Sinn Fein's new northern leader by attending a commemoration for four IRA men shot dead by the SAS in her birthplace of Clonoe in 1992 after attempting to - you've guessed it - blow up a police station. Why did the IRA never learn from its mistakes? More to the point, why hasn't she? As she faces another barrage of criticism for her decision to attend Sunday's event in honour of the so-called "Loughgall Martyrs", O'Neill only has herself to blame. Whatever appetite may still exist in Northern Ireland for wallowing in the past, it only becomes truly dangerous when the wallowing is endorsed by political figures who are meant to be leading by example, rather than glorifying violent terrorists to a point where young people who were not even born at the time may well start to think of killing and dying "for Ireland" as a laudable aspiration. The Loughgall ambush represented the IRA's greatest loss of life in a single incident during the entire Troubles, so it was naturally bound to leave a mark on the republican psyche. Victims of violence, likewise, must never be forgotten. But the only innocent victims of that attack were brothers Anthony and Oliver Hughes, who were driving home from work at the time and whose car was riddled with bullets. Anthony tragically died of his injuries. Valid criticisms can be levelled against the SAS operation that night, including the failure not to evacuate the area for fear of tipping off the IRA that the security services were onto them; other civilians could easily have died. But Sinn Fein's objection to the operation was not because of its recklessness; the republican movement was far more reckless with innocent life in the course of the "struggle" with no more than the mildest slaps on the wrist from the movement's political leadership. Sinn Fein's only objection is that their comrades came out worse from the encounter. Had Anthony Hughes been killed as a result of IRA action, Sinn Fein would've written him off as collateral damage. Therein lies the party's muddle-headed thinking on what are euphemistically called "legacy issues". On the one hand, it demands that an absolute distinction be made between Sinn Fein and the IRA. On the other hand, it constantly blurs that line, seeking credit for what it regards as the political successes of the IRA, as well as sympathy for loss of life by republican activists. Either the republican movement is one thing, or it isn't. Sinn Fein needs to make up its mind which it is. Actually, it has. Martin McGuinness's headstone was proof of that. In 1973, the former butcher boy from Derry stood in a Dublin courtroom, charged with terrorist activity, and stated emphatically from the dock: "I am a member of Oglaigh na hEireann (the IRA) and very, very proud of it." In the last weeks of his life, the former deputy First Minister then approved a headstone which equally proudly proclaimed his membership of the same IRA. Two statements, more than 40 years apart, both bearing the same uncompromising message. Begging the question: what had really changed in the interim? McGuinness said he wanted history to judge him fairly, but he had a choice about how he wanted to be remembered - and he chose to prioritise his role in the IRA over everything else. His opponents were symbolically given McGuinness's permission from the grave to do likewise. The same goes for Michelle O'Neill's decision to attend another IRA commemoration. She is making a deliberate decision to prioritise hero-worship of the Provisional IRA over community-building. Families of the dead have every right to remember their loved ones in any way they see fit. By attaching their name to particular commemorations, however, parties are giving those events their explicit official endorsement. That has consequences which they're bound to accept, not least of which is that they will continue to be tainted by association. By repeatedly hitching her wagon to the IRA when it suits her agenda, or helps out in the middle of another divisive sectarian head-count at the polls, Michelle O'Neill cannot simultaneously wash her hands of the IRA when the association becomes less useful. Like McGuinness, O'Neill is giving her opponents permission to place her on the same continuum. If she wishes to "own" the IRA's name, she must also own the parts she finds uncomfortable and others regard as heinous, as well as those she considers noble and sympathetic, just as those who applaud the SAS's actions in Loughall should not forget Anthony Hughes. In that regard, the failure by Doug Beattie, decorated soldier and now Ulster Unionist MLA, to mention in a newspaper column this week that an innocent victim also died that night was disappointing, to say the least. For O'Neill, this means not only celebrating the IRA when its volunteers fell in what they call "active service", but taking responsibility when it was innocents who died - and there were far more of those than there were IRA members with any cause to feel aggrieved because they got in return what they were happy to dish out to others. Sinn Fein lectures unionists on the need to reach out to nationalist communities, but appears to believe that the process is a one-way street. In recent days, Arlene Foster even managed a few words in Irish, God love her. It may have been a small gesture, but it was the right gesture. O'Neill's continued need to reassure the boys of the old brigade that she has their back by attending every Provo pity party is the wrong gesture, in the wrong place and definitely at the wrong time. Though, perhaps, rather than deploring it, we should see it as an overdue outbreak of honesty. Michelle O'Neill has had plenty of chances since she assumed leadership responsibilities to assert her identity as her own woman. Instead, she's been content to play the role of Her Master's Voice, following in the footsteps of her predecessors, rather than striking out on a new path. At least she is doing it while she's still around to defend her decisions, rather than using a headstone to stick two defiant fingers up at everyone who dearly wanted to believe the republican movement had changed. Muslims participate in prayer services at Baitul Mukarram, the national mosque of Bangladesh, April 21, 2017. The Bangladesh governments decision to build 560 mosques nationwide with almost $1 billion in money from Saudi Arabia could turn counterproductive if conservative groups exploit them to promote Wahhabism over the more moderate Sufi practice of Islam, analysts said. This week Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas cabinet approved a proposal to build the mosques in each town to spread Islamic culture across the predominantly Muslim South Asian country whose constitution guarantees secular rule. The governments Islamic Foundation will oversee construction expected to cost 90.6 billion taka (U.S. $1 billion), officials said. It will be paid through a Saudi grant of 80.17 billion taka ($967 million) with Bangladesh covering the rest. Experience shows that the Saudi ideology of Wahhabism spreads incitement against other faiths. People of Bangladesh are peaceful and they are respectful to all religions, Abdur Rashid, chairman of the Islamic Studies department at Dhaka University, told BenarNews. Popular in Saudi Arabia, Wahhabism stresses the literal interpretation of the Quran and its followers see other religions, including other strains of Islam, as infidels. Osama Bin Ladens al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are subscribers of the ideology, which Saudis started spreading in the 1970s. Sufism, on the other hand, is a less puritanical form of Islam popular in South and Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh. Sufism promotes attaining a spiritual connection with Allah, not establishing Islam through a violently literal interpretation of the Quran. Rashid cautioned against the governments decision, saying there is risk of spreading Wahhabism across the country through these mosques on the pretext of nourishing Islamic culture. So, the government will have to be careful so that violent Wahhabism is not expanded, he said. On a positive note, he said the mosques could be used as temporary shelters during natural calamities such as cyclones and floods. Design plans call for each mosque to have separate prayer and ablution facilities for men and women, a library with materials for children, and guest rooms and training facilities for imams. Construction is to finish by December 2019. Political concerns Bangladesh will be holding its next general election in the year 2019, and an opposition leader said Hasinas government could be using the mosque construction-project for political purposes. The prime minister and the government have been patronizing them (Islamic groups) to get votes in the 2019 general elections, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the secretary general of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), told BenarNews. The election is tentatively scheduled for January 2019. Hasina has come under similar criticism lately for siding with the hardline Hefazat-e-Islamis call to remove the Lady of Justice statue from outside the Supreme Court building, saying the statue of a Greek goddess is unbefitting for Bangladesh. About 90 percent of the countrys 160 million people are Muslims. Her government also faced accusations from opposition parties of trying to win Muslim votes over its decision to recognize degrees from Qwami madrassas as the equivalent of general masters degrees. City of mosques The mosques are not needed, according to leader from Bangladeshs Sufi Muslim minority that has been violently targeted by religious extremists. Saudi finance is a concern. They may use their money to promote Wahhabism through these mosques, Rezaul Haq Chandpuri, who is with a federation representing Bangladeshi Sufis, told Agence-France Presse, adding that religious minorities would feel helpless and insecure. Bangladesh already has more than 250,000 mosques, Religious Affairs Minister Matiur Rahman told members of parliament in November 2015. The capital Dhaka, often referred to as the city of mosques, is home to 6,000, according to the Islamic Foundation. Planning Minister A.H.M. Mustafa Kamal told reporters on Tuesday that Hasina proposed the mosque project during her visit to Saudi Arabia last year and the Saudi King approved it. Shamim Mohammad Afzal, director general of the Islamic Foundation under the ministry of religious affairs, told BenarNews his organization was prepared to build the mosques. Site selection is complete. This initiative of the government will spread the peaceful spirit of Islam, he said. Four suspected militants blew themselves up Thursday as commandos raided a house where they were holed up in northwestern Bangladesh, and after a woman and child were able to flee to safety, officials said. The suspects shot at and threw grenades toward security forces that had surrounded the house in Chapai Nawabganj district, during the counter-terrorist raid that spanned two days and ended late on Thursday, according to police. They were believed to be members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, an outlawed militant group whose offshoot, Neo-JMB, was blamed for a deadly siege at a cafe in Dhaka last year Bangladeshs worst ever terrorist attack. One of the dead militants was identified as 30-year-old Rafiqul Islam (alias Abu), Khurshid Hossain, the deputy inspector general of police of Rajshahi Range, told an evening press briefing in Chapai Nawabganj. Hossain did not name the other three militants who also committed suicide by exploding bombs inside the house in Shibganj-Trimohoni village, about 316 km (196 miles) from Dhaka. Four militants became suicidal. But we were able to rescue an injured woman and a child [from the militant den], Hossain said, adding that the woman and the child were admitted to a local hospital. Even before the end of the operation in the afternoon, they were urged to surrender, Hossain said of the suspects. Eagle Hunt Members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team who raided the home told BenarNews that Abus wife, Sumaiya, and their daughter fled from the house. Another daughter was not at the house when police surrounded it around 6 a.m. Wednesday. SWAT and other officers began the raid code-named Operation Eagle Hunt at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, but stopped four hours later because of poor visibility. Eagle Hunt resumed around 9 a.m. Thursday. About an hour later, neighbors reported hearing an explosion from inside the house. At around 4:15 p.m., police asked the militants to let the women and children leave the building. Sometime after 5 p.m., an ambulance carrying a woman left the scene, followed by another ambulance carrying the child about 20 minutes later, neighbors said. Abu left his familys home and rented the house in Shibganj-Trimohoni about three months ago, according to reports. On Wednesday, his mother, Fulsana Begum, asked him to leave the house and told reporters that she feared her grandchild could be killed in the raid. Ongoing raids Bangladeshi police have carried out 19 counter-terrorist raids since July 1, 2016, when members of Neo-JMB killed 20 people, mostly foreigners, during an attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in Dhaka, according to Bangladeshi authorities. Since July 2016, at least 63 suspected Neo-JMB militants have died, either killed by police or through suicide bombs. Last month, at least 30 people including 18 suspects, three law enforcers and five children, were killed in a series of bombings, grenade attacks and other violence as Bangladeshi security forces launched counter-terrorism raids nationwide. ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. 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The College of Musical Arts is proud to host the 2017 New Music Gathering, said Kurt Doles, MACCM director. For over 35 years, Bowling Green has been a hotbed of new music activity; contemporary music is part of our DNA and part of the musical and educational lives of all our students and faculty. The conference features the masterful percussionist (The New Yorker), conductor, and author Steven Schickwho, for the past 40 years, has championed contemporary music by commissioning or premiering more than 150 new works. He is a Distinguished Professor of Music and holds the Reed Family Presidential Chair at the University of California San Diego, and is music director of the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus and artistic director of the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. His keynote address will focus on the theme of support. Headlining performers include the boundary-breaking International Contemporary Ensemble and New Music Detroit on May 11, Schick on May 12, and Michigans Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble on May 13. Based in a different city each year, the New Music Gathering celebrates music internationally while focusing on a dedicated population in its hosting region. With concerts, lecture recitals, roundtable discussions, panels and one-on-one consultations with industry professionals, the gathering is not only a conference in the traditional sense, but also a collective place for creativity to grow, improve, solidify and, above all, get personal. Cofounded by five musiciansLainie Fefferman, Daniel Felsenfeld, Mary Kouyoumdjian, Matt Marks and Jascha Narvesonthe goal of the New Music Gathering is to offer a time and place to exchange ideas and to focus on the needs and desires within the new music community. We are honored to present the third annual New Music Gathering at the new music hub of Bowling Green, Ohioto carry the overwhelming and awe-inspiring levels of support this community endeavor has thus far received to the Midwest, said the cofounders. Kurt Doles has already been a gatherer extraordinaire, and percussionist Steven Schicks keynote address will no doubt be dazzling. We want to see you there, to hear your music, your ideas, your stories, because that is what makes the gathering what it is. The 2017 New Music Gathering is largely made possible by the generous support of flutist and MacArthur Fellow Claire Chase, champion of the gathering and of the larger new music community. The New Music Gathering has announced reduced pricing this year to allow more attendees from the new music community. Advance tickets purchased by May 1 are $50 for a full-three-day conference pass, or $60 at the door; and $20 for a day pass. Tickets are free for current BGSU students, staff and faculty with a valid ID at the door. BGSU alumni are free with a reserved ticket online. Von: KAI DIEKMANN & CHRISTIAN STENZEL BILD: Mr. Prime Minister, German newspapers have called you "Vladimir Tayyip Netanyahu", Israeli media speak of the biggest scandal for decades - all of this after the cancellation of your meeting with German Foreign Minister Gabriel. What happened to the German-Israeli relationship? Benjamin Netanyahu: The relationship between Israel and Germany is extremely strong. It is based on shared values between our peoples. Israel is the one true democracy in the Middle East. Germany contributes greatly to Israeli security and we are very grateful. What exactly happened that made you cancel the meeting with the German Foreign Minister Netanyahu: My rule is simple: I will not meet with foreign diplomats who, when visiting Israel, meet with organizations that call our soldiers war criminals. That is the reason the meeting did not happen. Lesen Sie auch What is so problematic about the NGOs "Breaking the silence" and B'Tselem? Netanyahu: Breaking the Silence is not a human rights organization. It seeks the false criminalization of Israeli soldiers and calls for them to be tried for war crimes. Auch interessant In countries like China or Russia, our Chancellor or Foreign Minister met human rights activists or opposition groups during an official state visit. Don't you think this should also be possible in a democracy like Israel? Netanyahu: Foreign diplomats are welcome to meet with civil society activists and members of the opposition and anyone else they'd like. They can even meet with Breaking the Silence. But my red line is that I will not meet diplomats who come to Israel and lend legitimacy to fringe radical groups that falsely accuse our soldiers of war crimes and undermine Israeli security. Can you imagine a diplomat meeting the American President or British Prime Minister after meeting with NGOs calling American or British soldiers war criminals? When Foreign Minister Gabriel arrived in Jerusalem, Israel commemorated the Holocaust the 6 Million Jews murdered by the Nazis. Would you have expected more sensitivity, especially from a German, given that date? Netanyahu: I think it was a particularly insensitive time to seek a meeting like this. These are the days we mourn the murdered members of our people in the Holocaust and our fallen soldiers. The Israeli army is the one force that keeps our people safe today. Is it true that, after the cancellation, you tried to call the German Foreign Minister, but he refused to take the call? Netanyahu: I wanted to call foreign minister Gabriel to explain my position and resolve this but he refused to set up a call. Do you have any doubts, that foreign minister Gabriel is a real friend of Israel? Netanyahu: The German-Israel relationship is very strong and will continue to be so. I hope that the next time Gabriel visits Israel, he meets with me instead of a radical fringe group undermining Israeli security. Does Germany's special relationship with Israel mean that German politicians cannot criticize the Israeli government or meet with its domestic critics? Netanyahu: Anyone is free to criticize Israeli policies. We are a completely open society with freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of the press. How much damage did this dispute do to the German-Israeli relationship? Netanyahu: This will not affect German-Israeli relations. We cooperate on so many levels- security, economics, technology and more. Our relationship is very strong and will continue on this path. "Israel's security is part of Germany's raison d'etat" this is what Chancellor Merkel has promised in the Knesset. Do you see this promise compromised? Netanyahu: Chancellor Merkel has been a true friend of Israel and continues to be so. She understands Israel's security concerns and has been very supportive and understanding of our needs. She understands that Israel is a natural ally for Germany and cooperation benefits both our nations. Lesen Sie auch Ivanka Trump in Berlin : There was no booing of Ivanka US media claim that Ivanka was booed and sneered in Berlin. Thats wrong! BILD clarifies. The new German President, Mr. Steinmeier, will arrive in Israel in ten days time for his first visit as President. What do you expect of him? Netanyahu: I look forward to the visit of the German President and I know that we will have good discussions about a wide range of issues. How do you see Steinmeiers role in the Iran nuclear deal at the time when he was still Foreign Minister? Netanyahu: It's no surprise that I opposed the Iran nuclear deal because I believe it paves the way for Iran to get a large arsenal of nuclear weapons in just a few years. I hope that this deal is changed or cancelled so that the threat of Iran can be neutralized. Iran doesn't just threaten Israel. It threatens Germany, Europe, its neighbors and the entire world with its ballistic missiles and its radical ideology which seeks domination and war. For Immediate Release, April 28, 2017 Contact: Brett Hartl, (202) 817-8121, bhartl@biologicaldiversity.org Foe of Endangered Species, Public Lands Nominated for Deputy Interior Secretary David Bernhardt's Lobbying for Mining, Oil, Development Special Interests Creates Swamp of Ethical Conflicts WASHINGTON Industry lobbyist David Bernhardt has been nominated for deputy secretary at the Department of the Interior, where he would directly oversee management of more than 1,600 endangered species and millions of acres of public lands. Over the past 20 years, Bernhardt has taken full advantage of the revolving door between industry and government including a stint as Interior's top lawyer under the George W. Bush administration and the law firm of Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber and Schreck, where he represented big agriculture, oil and gas, and mining companies. Appointing a lobbyist like Bernhardt shows just how empty Donald Trump's promise to drain the swamp was, said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity. From Scott Pruitt to Ryan Zinke, and now David Bernhardt, President Trump has assembled the most anti-environmental administration in history. Bernhardt has represented a who's-who of special interests, including Rosemont Copper, which is behind a push to develop a massive open-pit copper mine in the scenic Santa Rita Mountains, south of Tucson, Ariz. Bernhardt has also represented Cobalt International Energy, which was sued in 2014 for bribing foreign officials to obtain oil concessions. Bernhardt will now oversee the agencies that must ultimately decide to allow which mining and fossil fuel projects to proceed. Bernhardt has also represented the Westlands Water District and lobbied on its behalf for legislation that would weaken water quality in the California Bay Delta to benefit large agribusiness interests in California. That would, in turn, harm endangered steelhead, salmon, and the critically endangered Delta smelt. If confirmed Bernhardt would be in a unique position to undermine the Fish and Wildlife Service's efforts to follow the best available science and implement the proper conservation measures. David Bernhardt will be the go-to guy that helps Rep. Rob Bishop try to repeal the Endangered Species Act, said Hartl. In his long career taking advantage of the revolving-door of special interests, Bernhardt has always sided with big business at the expense of our most imperiled wildlife. If confirmed he'd be a disaster for all endangered species. During Bernhardt's tenure as Interior's top lawyer, the department was racked by a series of high-profile scandals. One involved political tampering with decisions about endangered species protections by the Fish and Wildlife Service decisions that are supposed to be based solely on science. Additionally, employees from the Minerals Management Service were found to have used cocaine and had sexual relations with members of the oil and gas industry, and department officials were convicted of lying to the Senate regarding former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.2 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. For Immediate Release, April 27, 2017 Contact: Greer Ryan, (812) 345-8571, gryan@biologicaldiversity.org Public Records Sought on Trump's Plan to Cut Energy Star Program WASHINGTON The Center for Biological Diversity filed Freedom of Information Act requests this week demanding records relating to the Trump administration's proposed cuts to all funding for the Energy Star program. The filings requested communications from the Office of Management and Budget, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy. Energy Star is a voluntary labeling program that helps individuals and businesses save money while reducing energy waste and reducing harmful emissions. It helps consumers choose between different types of appliances, electronics, lighting and other products, as well as new homes and commercial buildings. We hope public records reveal the real motive behind Trump's bizarre proposal to gut the Energy Star program, said Greer Ryan, sustainability research associate at the Center. Planning to eliminate a widely successful program that's supported on both sides of the aisle is yet another shortsighted attack by this administration on any effort to address climate change. Energy Star is an effective and well known program. In 2015, with a $50 million budget, the program led to $34 billion in consumer and business savings. In total it has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2.7 billion metric tons since 1992 the equivalent of nearly 40 percent of total U.S. annual greenhouse gas emissions. The Energy Star labels are recognized by more than 85 percent of Americans. To protect our planet and ensure we have a livable climate, we need to reduce emissions in every way possible. That means rapidly transitioning to wildlife-friendly renewable energy sources but also reducing energy waste, said Ryan. Energy Star is a cost effective and tried-and-true way to reduce energy waste in our homes and businesses. It's a program we just can't afford to cut. Download the requests here, here and here. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.2 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. For Immediate Release, April 27, 2017 Contact: Kristen Monsell, (510) 844-7137, kmonsell@biologicaldiversity.org Trump Order Could Open Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific to Offshore Oil Drilling Unprecedented Act Threatens Coastal Communities, Wildlife, Climate WASHINGTON President Trump today announced plans to order the government to review the Obama administration's ban on offshore drilling across thousands of square miles in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. The order which could also open the Pacific coast to new drilling could lead to dramatically increased risks of oil spills, damage to oceans and wildlife, and a worsening of the climate crisis. It's as if Trump doesn't care at all about oil spills, whales or global warming. Oh yeah, he doesn't, and that's pretty clear from this order, said Kristen Monsell at the Center for Biological Diversity. This reckless giveaway to the oil industry could wreak havoc in the pristine waters of the Arctic and the rich oceans off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. But we're ready to battle this dangerous plan in court. On Dec. 20 President Obama permanently removed most of the Arctic and key parts of the Atlantic from the federal fossil fuel leasing program using his authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The action protected about 115 million acres of the Chukchi and Beaufort seas in the Arctic and almost 4 million acres of undersea canyons in the Atlantic, from Massachusetts to Virginia. The Cook Inlet and waters near existing projects on Alaska's North Slope remain available for risky oil leasing. Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act has been used by presidents of both parties, starting with former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, to protect sensitive marine habitats from oil drilling. The 2017-2022 offshore oil and gas leasing draft plan initially included 10 lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico, and one lease sale each in Cook Inlet, the Beaufort Sea, the Chukchi Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. The final plan only included the lease sales in the Gulf and Cook Inlet. The Arctic and Atlantic were removed from the final plan due to the significant risks to sensitive areas, widespread public opposition, and conflicts with military use. The Pacific Ocean was not included in either the draft or final plan. But Trump's order means that officials could try to include any of these waters in a new, revised plan. Oil companies have previously expressed interest in drilling federal waters in the Arctic, the Atlantic, and near Malibu and Orange and Humboldt counties off California. Protecting the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific from new drilling was an important action that we'll vigorously defend. This is still a nation of laws, and there are limits to Trump's power, Monsell said. Scientific facts and public opinion both support climate action and placing limits on dangerous offshore oil drilling, particularly in the treacherous Arctic and along the heavily populated East and West coasts. Trump's order also requires a review of rules developed after the Deepwater Horizon tragedy that seek to improve the safety of offshore drilling operations. One rule requires exploratory drilling operations from floating rigs in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas to use improved blowout preventers and have capping stacks and containment domes on site. The rule also requires the presence of a second drilling rig that could bore a relief well if other containment measures fail, as happened with Deepwater Horizon. Rolling back these safety rules will only increase our determination to fight new offshore oil drilling, Monsell said. We will take to the courts and the streets. The stakes were already high, and Trump just raised them. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.2 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. A ten-nation consortium has reported the first high-quality reference genome sequence of barley, a cereal crop that is used around the world as animal fodder. Moreover, malted barley grains are the raw material for popular beverages such as beer and whiskey. The barley genome was sequenced and asembled using an array of state-of-the-art methods, taking ten years. For the first time, scientists can now locate all genes precisely in the genome and analyze complex gene families that play a key role in the malting and resilience. The barley genome sequence also highlighted regions vulnerable to genetic erosion and will help breeders recover genetic diversity in their crop improvements efforts. Developing climate-smart and pathogen-resistant crops is the key current challenge of plant breeding. Sequencing the genome sequence of a crop reveals detailed information on the location, structure and function of its genes and thus provides useful knowledge for breeding programs to boost crop improvement. Ten years ago, the International Barley Genome Sequencing Consortium (IBSC) set out to assemble a complete reference sequence of the barley genome. At that time, this seemed a daunting task: the barley genome is almost two times larger than the human genome and 80 % of it is composed of highly complex repeat structures. Now researchers report the outcome of their joint work in the journal Nature. Sequencing a huge plant genome The past decade saw many advances in sequencing technology and computational algorithms that helped the barley sequencing consortium to produce a nearly complete high-quality reference sequence of the barley genome. Sequencing and assembling the barley genome was a truly international collaboration, says Nils Stein, researcher at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) in Gatersleben, Germany. Stein has been coordinating IBSC since 2008 and is grateful for the support the consortium has received: Our thanks go to the public and private funders who believed in the success of our project and have sustained our research over the past ten years. Generating and analyzing all the sequence data and complementary resources kept teams around the world in Germany, the UK, China, Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA busy for a decade, explains Guoping Zhang, a professor at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou China. The final raw data set included 2.5 terabases in the form of fragmented short sequence reads. Bioinformatics was key to stitching the pieces and construction of a fully ordered sequence assembly. We used chromosome conformation capture and Bionano optical mapping, two new technologies that can reconstruct the linear order of sequences from the three-dimensional structure of the genome in the nucleus or images of labelled long DNA molecules, says Martin Mascher, a scientist at IPK Gatersleben and lead author of the Nature paper. All datasets and computational methods have been deposited in public archives and described in a Data Descriptor in the journal Scientific Data. Manuel Spannagl from the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, who led the annotation of genes, points out: The barley genome contains more than 39,000 protein-coding genes, many of them present in multiple copies. In addition to complex gene families, the barley genome abounds with transposable elements: These pieces of selfish DNA have invaded plant genomes for millions of years, and it seems that in barley some elements evolved a preference for specific regions of the genome, explains Heidrun Gundlach an international expert on repetitive DNA in plants working at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen. A better understanding of malting genes Alcoholic beverages made from malted barley have been known since the Stone Age and some even consider them as one of the reasons why humankind adopted plant cultivation. During malting, amylase proteins decompose starch in germinating grains into fermentable sugars. It has been known for over twenty years that that there are many genes in the barley genome that code for amylase, but until now, we were unable to determine the exact number because some copies are very similar to each other, explains Chengdao Li, the Director of Western Barley Genetics Alliance at the Murdoch University in Perth, Australia. Only with the help of the genome sequence could the amylase genes be clustered on the chromosomes and the individual copies be compared. Ilka Braumann, a scientist at the Carlsberg Research Laboratory in Copenhagen, is intrigued by the unexpected evolutionary dynamics of these malting-related genes: It came as a great surprise to us that there is lots of structural variability in the largest amylase gene cluster, even between elite malting barleys. Vulnerable genetic diversity Barley was domesticated between 10,000 and 12,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent and has since spread across all temperate regions of the world. The processes of domestication, local adaptation and modern breeding have been accompanied by intense selection pressures that have reduced sequence diversity in the genome. In barley and other cereals, huge regions of the genome are inherited as a single block, suppressing the reassortment of alleles into new combinations. The team of Robbie Waugh at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee, Scotland used the reference sequence to assess genetic diversity in modern elite varieties along the genome. Prof. Waugh describes their findings: The barley genome sequence enables us, for the first time, to grasp the full extent of the non-recombining regions, and highlights the need for clever approaches to introduce beneficial alleles from exotic genepools to counteract genetic erosion. The barley genome sequence is now accessible to the scientific community and private breeding companies for genetic analyses. Andreas Graner, head of the German Federal ex situ Genebank at IPK Gatersleben, is excited about the new sequence assembly: The reference genome sequence will help us understand the genetic diversity of the 22,000 barley accessions in our collection and guide their targeted utilization to recover lost diversity. The long-term goal of these efforts is to breed a barley crop that can maintain high yields in a changing environment to safeguard global food security. Cereal grasses of the Triticeae tribe have been the major food source in temperate regions since the dawn of agriculture. Their large genomes are characterized by a high content of repetitive elements and large pericentromeric regions that are virtually devoid of meiotic recombination. Here we present a high-quality reference genome assembly for barley. Chromosome conformation capture mapping was used to derive the linear order of sequences across the pericentromeric space and to investigate the spatial organization of chromatin in the nucleus at megabase resolution. The composition of genes and repetitive elements differed between distal and proximal regions. Gene family analyses revealed lineage-specific duplications of genes involved in the transport of nutrients to developing seeds and the mobilization of carbohydrates in grains. We demonstrate the importance of the barley reference sequence for breeding by inspecting the genomic partitioning of sequence variation in modern elite germplasm, highlighting regions vulnerable to genetic erosion. It will facilitate positional cloning, provide a better contextualization of population genomic datasets, and enable comparative genomic analysis with other Triticeae in non-recombining regions that have been inaccessible to analysis of gene collinearity until now. The exciting methodological advances in sequence assembly and genome mapping have enabled even large and repeat-rich genomes to be unlocked and hold the promise of constructing reference-quality genome sequences, not only for a single cultivar, but for representatives of major germplasm groups. It can be tough to be a vegetarian. You have to work harder than everyone else to make sure youre getting all the nutrients your body needs. So, when its time to take a Opinion | 04 November 2022 | Interviews India needs to connect OPD with the cashless insurance network to bring them into the digital economy After having raised $1.2 million from Entrepreneur First and GrowX Ventures in 2021, how do you see the perfor...Read more GENEVA, Switzerland - A meeting of developing countries has resolved to create policies to bridge the digital divide, as it emerged that financial services within Nigeria's digital economy could add US$88 billion and create over 3 million new jobs over the next 10 years. Geneva This comes as Ministers from developing countries namely Nigeria, Mexico, Kenya, Argentina, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Chile, Costa Rica and Pakistan under the auspices of Friends of E-Commerce for Development (FED), resolved to put forward a policy agenda to bridge the digital divide as well as provide development solutions in the long term, during their meeting in Geneva, Switzerland this week. The job figures are in line with estimates of a study carried out by McKinsey Global Institute (MGI). Further studies indicate that potential gains of the digital economy will be manifest in digital accounts, payments, mobile money, health and educational services and other sectors of the economy. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, who led the Nigerian delegation to Geneva, explained that the Ministry is already developing the Smart Nigeria Digital Economy Project and that the objective is to solve efficiency problems and create leap-frog opportunities in the economy, improve competitiveness and foster technology development and innovation more generally. There are currently 150 million active mobile users in a country of 170m, of which over 60% are connected to the internet. The Smart Nigeria Digital Economy Project is Nigerias response to an area of intense economic and technological activity by Nigerian youths, where there is a growing pool of talent, he stated. It is a sector of the economy where the private sector already has ownership. The role of government would therefore be to ensure a sound pro-competitive regulatory environment and hardware infrastructure to foster rapid growth of this area, Enelamah added. The Minister also shared the fact that there are currently 150 million active mobile users in a country of 170m, of which over 60% are connected to the internet. There are some 17m Facebook users and new technology start ups and young people writing apps that solve problems and spur growth. Lagos, the largest commercial city in Africa accommodates some of Africas well-known consumer tech businesses such as iRokotv, Hotels[dot]ng, Jobberman, Andela, Balogunmarket, and Truppr[dot]com. Road map Meanwhile, FED gathered for its first Ministerial Meeting in Geneva on the sidelines of the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) E-Commerce week. In a communique at the end of their meeting, the group said that the road map put together by member countries would form the foundation for sustainable economic development as well as pave the way for conversations at UNCTAD and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in advance of the Ministerial Meeting of the WTO in Argentina later this year. The communique noted that the, FEDs came together to build an inclusive and open space for discussion of e-commerce viewed from the development perspective. FEDs view e-commerce as an instrument that brings the digital, development and trade agenda together and as a tool for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The FED is a diverse, non-negotiating, group of WTO Members and UN Member States at different levels of development, with an understanding of the impact of E-Commerce and its ability to create sustainable economic opportunities for all. In light of Nigerias strong engagement in the fast developing area of digital economy of which e-commerce is a part, on 24 April, Nigerias chief negotiator, Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, was invited by the office of the UNCTAD Secretary-General to deliver the Keynote Address at the UNCTAD E-Commerce week session on E-commerce in Africa. In his address titled: Trumping Timidity: The Importance of Audacity in the Digital Economy, Ambassador Osakwe urged African countries to integrate digital economy strategies and action plans into domestic structural reforms for diversification, modernisation and growth. Africa needed to be offensive in this area, acting innovatively, purposefully and expeditiously because the gains and development yields were considerable as evidenced by the Nigerian example. Fabric artist Duan Yinkai (right), master of traditional batik techniques in Yunnan province, speaks to foreign guests who attended a meeting in Beijing on China's poverty alleviation efforts on Thursday. [Photo by Wang Zhuangfei / China Daily] Foreign governmental and private representatives lauded China's progress in poverty reduction as the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee hosted an event in Beijing showing how the country has done it. The event, using the example of the CPC Yunnan provincial committee since 2012, attracted about 400 diplomats, foreign politicians and representatives of international organizations on Thursday. "China's tremendous success in lifting the majority of the underprivileged people out of poverty in over a little more than 30 years is a feat that is unparalleled and truly inspiring," said Mark van den Boogaard, senior policy adviser for the United Nations Development Programme. Van den Boogaard, who has recently returned from a research trip to Yunnan, said the country's goal to pull all people out of poverty by 2020 is "ambitious" but "realistic". "From what we have seen in the north of Yunnan, under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese authorities are clearly on the right track." Van den Boogaard cited the "duel approach" of targeted poverty reduction and intervention on one hand, and the nation's idea of leaving no one behind on the other. Lennart Nilsson, counselor for agricultural affairs with the Swedish embassy, said the figures for China's poverty relief are impressive. "Yunnan province has a fantastic environment. It is also important for the authorities to preserve the ethnic culture and protect the environment during the poverty reduction process," he said. Song Tao, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, said at the event that the CPC is willing to share its experience in poverty reduction with the international community and help its neighbors and developing countries to explore their own ways to eradicate poverty. "Facts have shown that the fundamental strategies by General Secretary Xi Jinping on targeted poverty alleviation are the golden key for China to realize its poverty eradication targets," he said. China lifted 55.6 million people out of poverty between 2013 and 2016. However, more than 40 million still live in poverty, which means that in the coming four years, China would have to pull an average of 10 million people each year out of poverty to reach its target of eradicating poverty by 2020, according to the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development. Chen Hao, secretary of the CPC Yunnan provincial committee, said provincial authorities have prioritized the preservation of the traditional culture of ethnic groups and the protection of the ecology and environmental while reducing poverty. Yunnan's environmental efforts are crucial since it is the source of a number of important national and international rivers, he said. The province has managed to reduce its impoverished population from 8 million in 2012 to 3.6 million in 2016. xuwei@chinadaily.com.cn After more than a year and a half of court preparation, Earthlife Africa, Johannesburg (ELA-JHB) and the Southern African Faith Communities' Environment Institute (SAFCEI) have blocked the unlawful and unconstitutional actions of the South African government in its nuclear deal. The judges ruled that the secret tabling of the intergovernmental agreements (IGA) with Russia, USA and Korean are unconstitutional and unlawful and that they be set aside. They also ruled that the decisions made (section 34 determinations) to procure nuclear are unlawful and unconstitutional and that they be set aside. The government and Eskoms proposed procurement of nuclear energy was ruled unlawful and unconstitutional and was set aside, and any existing requests for proposals from nuclear energy providers have also been set aside, meaning they are made null and void. Unlawful and unconstitutional The judgement means that there is no decision in terms of the relevant empowering statute that new nuclear generation capacity is needed and should be procured. The Russian agreement has been declared unlawful and unconstitutional for its tabling. Before any nuclear procurement can proceed, the minster of energy (in concurrence with Nersa) will be required to make a new determination in accordance with a lawful process that is transparent and includes public participation. This will necessarily require disclosure of relevant information that to date has been kept from the public, including critical information on costs and affordability, says Adrian Pole, legal representative for ELA-JHB and Safcei. Government to pay costs The government has to pay the costs of the court case as well as the other legal costs incurred by Safcei and ELA-JHB. And the judges declared that the governments decision (section 34 determination) must have public participation as a part of its procurement process, and that Eskom as the procurer has been set aside, which means Eskom cannot go ahead with the nuclear procurement. In future the minister and/or the national energy regulator (Nersa) would be required to conduct public participation before making any new decisions. Holding the government to account Safcei and ELA-JHB based their case on the South African Constitution, which states that when it comes to far-reaching decisions, such as the nuclear deal, which would alter the future of our country, government is legally required to debate in parliament and do a thorough, transparent and meaningful public consultation, says Safcei spokesperson, Liz McDaid. The organisations and citizens who are motivated by a demand for a just energy transition to sustainable energy are planning to launch an even bigger campaign soon to ensure this judgement is only the start of people holding the government to account on its energy deals, adds Makoma Lekalakala of ELA-JHB. A lot has happened in the two months since the final arguments were heard in the nuclear court case in February 2017. The Presidents late-night cabinet reshuffle at the end of March has spurred countrywide marches and a vote of no confidence is looming. Many more discrepancies have since been reported, with the nuclear deal being in the spotlight in the latest crises in political leadership. Citibank has agreed to pay an administrative penalty of almost R69.5 million in relation to the bank's involvement in a forex trading cartel, the Competition Commission said. Citibank has also agreed to appear as a witness in the hearings involving the prosecution of other banks, which are also accused of being involved in this cartel. About 17 banks, including Standard Bank, Absa, JP Morgan, Investec Ltd, BNP Paribas and Nomura, have been accused of being involved in currency manipulation. Citibank admitted to the Competition Tribunal that between 2007 and 2013, it colluded with its competitors in respect of spot trading of ZAR currency pairs, in contravention of the Competition Act. These competitors are the banks that are cited as the respondents in the complaint referral. The [Competition] Commission believes that the case against the banks is very clear from its papers and we will be resisting any attempts to delay proceedings at the Tribunal on the basis of technicalities. We therefore call upon the banks to file their answers to the case in the interest of the speedy resolution of this matter, said the Commissioner of the Competition Commission, Tembinkosi Bonakele. The Commission notes that despite filing its papers with the Tribunal on 15 February against 17 banks, none of the banks have to date filed their answers to the case, except HSBC, which has filed papers, disputing that it participated in the cartel. Subsequent to the Commission filing its case, the Tribunal convened a pre-hearing on 10 March, at which most of the banks indicated that they would be filing exception applications, challenging the commissions case on the basis that it did not have jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute the matter. Further, other banks indicated that they require evidence in the Commissions possession against them. The Tribunal by agreement of all parties directed among others as follows: the Commission is to file a supplementary affidavit to its complaint referral by 31 March 2017, and any banks wishing to file an exception applications should do so by 3 May 2017. A second pre-hearing will be held on 23 June, where further directives on proceedings will be given. The hearing of the exception applications is set down for 20 - 21 July 2017. Wealth taxes, now under consideration by the Davis tax committee, are notoriously complicated and expensive both to administer and to comply with, tax practitioners say. On Tuesday, they were commenting on the committee's call for submissions on the desirability and feasibility of a wealth tax, more particularly on a land tax, a national tax on the value of property (over and above municipal rates) and an annual wealth tax. The introduction of a wealth tax would come on top of the sharp hike in the tax rate of high-income earners announced in the 2017-18 budget, which created a new tax bracket of 45% for those earning more than R1.5m. It is expected to raise about R127bn. Government's need for additional sources of tax revenue is likely to be heightened if the recent credit-ratings downgrades of SA to junk status have a significant effect on government's borrowing costs and on the rate of economic growth. PwC tax policy leader Kyle Mandy said that the trouble with net wealth taxes was that they were "extraordinarily expensive both to administer from a tax authority's perspective and to comply with from a taxpayer perspective because of their complexity". This was because they required the valuation of assets. Secondly, these types of taxes did not generate significant tax revenue because they generally only applied to relatively high thresholds. Very few people were liable for the tax and there were usually a lot of exemptions to exclude certain assets. Thirdly, wealth taxes could be "highly distorting" in a global context in which wealth was highly mobile. South African Institute of Chartered Accountants senior executive for tax Pieter Faber said the wisdom of introducing a wealth tax in SA would have to be evaluated on the basis of the country's tax mix as a whole and what maximum tax to GDP ratio should be applied. "A tax on assets would be equivalent to imposing an estate duty on the living, who would probably find many innovative ways to avoid paying the tax by having the use of their assets without owning them" Assets would have to be valued either on an annual basis or once off. "The more complicated tax laws are, the easier they are to get around," Faber noted. Questions would have to be asked as to whether a wealth tax was the most effective way of raising money for the fiscus and whether the fiscus had an income problem or a spending problem, he said. "At the moment, we are only looking at the issue as if we only have an income problem. We first have to sort out the bigger problem," Faber said. The committee's inquiry into a wealth tax is based on a request by former finance minister Pravin Gordhan for it to investigate whether it would be appropriate for the government to introduce additional forms of wealth taxation. The committee noted that SA has three forms of wealth taxes - estate duty, transfer duty and donations tax - which together bring in about 1% of the country's tax revenue. The committee does not consider capital gains tax a form of wealth tax. The Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSeta) has become the latest training authority to be embroiled in allegations of maladministration, corruption and inefficiency. The public protector is in the process of finalising a report relating to allegations of maladministration, corruption, financial mismanagement and abuse of power at the AgriSeta. Some board members including acting chairman Thami ka Plaatjie and CEO Jerry Madiba, were implicated for allegedly submitting fraudulent claims, allocating discretionary funds for gala dinners without board approval and fictitious deviations for transactions to cover up illegal transactions. Ka Plaatjie and Madiba did not return calls for comment. Setas have previously been criticised for inefficiency, being a haven for corruption and for enrolling ghost students. They have come under fire for failing to tackle SA's skills deficit. Others - such as the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Seta and the Safety and Security Services Seta - have been under administration for reasons including poor governance and noncompliance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane recently wrote to the AgriSeta board, detailing some of the allegations, which also include: the submission of fraudulent claims by members of the Food and Allied Workers Union, payment of former board members despite them no longer occupying their posts and the extension of an internal audit contract by the CEO without board approval, thereby contravening the PFMA. Public protector spokesman Oupa Segalwe said the report was almost done and that the responses of interested parties and those implicated had been incorporated. "The report is now being quality-assured. It could be ready for release next month," said Segalwe. An Outsourced Risk and Compliance Assessment forensic report was also submitted to the board in March. The report exposes transgressions regarding tender awards, recruitment processes, staff intimidation, irregular payments and misrepresentation to the board. Furthermore, the AgriSeta's quarterly monitoring report showed that the authority was seriously underperforming and that it had achieved only 66% of its targets as set out in a service level agreement for 2016-17. The Department of Higher Education and Training could not be reached for comment. However, in a letter sent to the Seta board in March, the department expressed concern about the Seta's performance and demanded an action plan indicating how the situation would be improved. Agri SA deputy executive director Christo van der Rheede, who was recently appointed as a board member for the AgriSeta, said this week it was clear there was a governance and management crisis at the Seta. "We cannot allow public money to go to waste. This Seta is meant to empower workers and farmers - if such institutions are not performing then we have a huge problem." Source: Business Day Research, performed between Cornerstone OnDemand, a global leader in cloud-based talent management software, and researchers at Harvard Business School, has uncovered how the distance between two employees' desks affects various performance measures. According to the findings of this study, placing the right type of workers in close proximity to each other generated up to a 15% increase in organisational performance. Hassan Shaikh, founder of Revolve, a specialist corporate and retail interior design strategy agency, says many South African companies are not considering this in their workplace design as to how it suits their culture and employees. Companies do much strategic thinking around business but often when it comes to utilising their space, there is not enough expertise and thought applied to how the space needs to drive profitability. They seldom explore how the physical location of an employee and proximity to others can influence his/her productivity and performance. Physical space appears to be an underutilised resource that companies can use to enhance organisational performance and knowing how to rearrange employee seating may be one of the most cost-effective resources at their disposal. Two years of research from Cornerstone found that for an organisation of 2 000 workers, strategic seating planning could add an estimated $1 million per annum to profit. It showed how performance and work quality is significantly impacted when one groups the right types of co-workers together. This study measured the effects of performance spill over both positive and negative and found that a symbiotic pairing of workers in physical space can greatly improve performance. It showed that neighbours have a significant impact on an employees performance either positive or negative. Putting productive, quality employees together Shaikh says it is important for corporates to understand just what type of employees they have as this affects the spatial design. In the study, three types of workers were grouped: productive workers, who completed tasks quickly but lacked quality, quality workers, who produced superior work but did so slowly and finally generalists, who were average across both dimensions. In general, 25% of workers tend to be productive, 25% quality workers and the balance generalists. The study showed the best seating arrangements was to place productive and quality employees together as this creates a spill over effect on both employees areas of weakness. In fact, there was a 13% gain in productivity and a 17% gain in effectiveness. Of interest, seating like with like employees did not show any significant improvement. Better understanding of employees can enhance individual and team performance but it does need management insight to determine where they want the most spill over to occur. This can be done by fully engaging with employees in the organisation and understanding what works for them and what they feel needs to be improved on, with a space and needs audit. One also needs to appreciate that the optimal seating arrangement for one organisation may not be the best for all. Space ideally needs to be designed in such a way that it allows employees to focus, collaborate, learn and socialise. This requires a shift away from a traditional, one-dimensional floor plan to multifunctional, multidimensional workspaces. Creating spaces that are flexible and tailor-made to specific business needs is critical. Office space is a tool to support business and there is a strong business case, which supports the notion of workplace design influencing performance. If one can plan the space of an organisation well enough to produce better outcomes, physical space suddenly becomes an important business resource, concludes Shaikh. South African Airways (SAA) said on Thursday, 27 April 2017, its flight schedule had returned to normal after industrial action from cabin crew was brought to an end by a court interdict on Wednesday. The South African Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) said however it may seek to review the ruling and renew its pursuit of an increased international travel allowance. SAA said on Thursday it had to cancel 50 flights on Wednesday as a result of the strike, but was expecting only minimal disruptions after a significant increase in cabin crew reporting for duty. "Our planned flight schedules have resumed and whilst operations are geared to full service recovery, we remain exposed to minimal operational delays," SAA spokesman Tlali Tlali said. SAA was assisting all passengers and had implemented a recovery plan to ensure those affected on Wednesday were accommodated. Sacca deputy president Christopher Shabangu said on Thursday the union was considering seeking a review of an interdict granted on Wednesday. SAA had won a labour court interdict only after the union's legal representatives were not able to fully prepare legal documentation and make arguments on Wednesday morning, Shabangu said. The interdict expires on June 23 June, with the union saying it would likely have determined how to proceed by Friday. Shabangu said SAA had not made significant moves in an attempt to address the union's concerns, which also included general concerns over the state of the airline, including millions of rand being paid to international consultants on a turnaround strategy for the carrier. SAA said it was committed to a further facilitated dispute resolution process with the union over the next two months. "We are hoping that we will be able to come to an amicable agreement with the union that accommodates cabin crew concerns while protecting the financial sustainability of the airline, even before the court date in June," SAA said. Source: The Times Information and communication technology (ICT) is at the heart of a modern economy. Personal computers, cell phones, the internet, and other mobile devices and systems have played an important role in reorganising work and personal lives. Luke Muller Trends like big data and the internet of things (IoT) will continue to radically alter the workplace and create new business models. Change is inevitable and constant. New, more advanced devices and forms of communication are continuously evolving. Savvy countries have recognised this and have adopted policies that encourage innovation in their ICT industries. Sadly, South Africa isnt one of them. The tiny post-soviet nation of Estonia provides a good example of government-induced ICT dynamism. Post-independence, the Estonian Parliament recognised that open communications and the free flow of knowledge are essential for modern networked societies. To encourage competition, it privatised the state-owned telecommunications company and granted three mobile operator licences. Private ICT companies have flourished under low regulation and a 20% flat-tax rate despite serving a local market of only 1.3 million people. New companies can register quickly and conveniently online. Foreign investment is nurtured and non-nationals can apply for e-residency to run an Estonian company from anywhere in the world. Estonia: A world-renowned ICT hub Now Estonia is a world-renowned ICT hub standing at the forefront of developing ICT technologies. For example, Skype, a voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP) service and software application, was developed technically by Estonians, and it was the first country to allow online voting in general elections. The country has achieved rapid GDP growth and the lowest debt to GDP ratio in Europe. Estonias per capita GDP was slightly less than South Africas in 1997 but soared to more than three times higher in the following two decades. Lessons for South Africa Many factors contribute to growth, but there are lessons for South Africa from the small Baltic countrys use of ICT to promote a free society and e-democracy. Instead, South Africans new telecommunications policy has the potential to halt the dynamism of our ICT industry. Instead of lowering regulation, the policy proposes increased government oversight. The government should introduce collaborative regulation with the industry to maintain and encourage innovation. Government plans a wireless open access network (WOAN) that will operate using all currently unassigned high-demand electromagnetic spectrum. This spells disaster for private network operators who should be allowed to bid on unallocated spectrum lots without reserve prices. A well-designed auction would ensure that spectrum is allocated efficiently to private businesses to the benefit of consumers. Private network provision much more successful Policy makers may fear that the poor are not gaining access to ICT, but evidence shows that private network provision has been much more successful at connecting the poor than attempts made by Telkom and other state-owned network providers. South Africas private mobile operators have roughly 80 million subscribers combined. Telkom should be privatised and regulation preventing competition relaxed. Also, the government should simplify ICT company licensing and operational requirements and encourage foreign investment. Allow the ICT sector to flourish then perhaps South Africa can be called an e-democracy. The inaugural South Africa Brand Summit & Awards, which takes place 16-17 November 2017 in Cape Town, is calling for nominations of top South African brands. The categories are as follows: Socio-economic development Policies and practice on rights issues (human rights, labour rights, environmental rights, childrens rights, animal rights, womens rights, group rights, etc.) Community builders South African brand ambassadorship, locally and abroad Ethical leadership Embraces and promotes diversity Generates positive publicity for South Africa Attracts positive interest in South Africa Generates positive publicity and global goodwill for South Africa Mentors and grows young South Africans Summit trends At a critical time in South Africas history, summit will provide a unique platform to begin but not finish a series of important conversations about the health and future of South Africas nation brand, under the theme Recapturing the South African narrative. Pioneers from business, politics and civic society will explore the challenges and opportunities presented by looking at: The size of the gulf that exists between South Africas brand identity and brand image; How South Africa is currently perceived, what it is associated with and known for, domestically and globally. Our nations brand narrative(s), ie the messages that are being received out there, domestically and globally, about the country; how these are generated and propagated, and how they inform the narrative of the nation brand image; South Africas best-loved brands, across the spectrum domestically and globally, that particularly influence South Africas image. Speakers The Summit has secured a growing list of thought-leaders, speakers and panellists, including: Professor Jonathan Jansen - academic, columnist and author Siki Mgabadeli - ENCA Television and SABC Radio anchor Crispin Sonn - executive director, Gamiro Investment Group Alan Winde - provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities, Western Cape Yanina Dubeykovskaya - founder and chairwoman of The World Communication Forum, Davos Solly Moeng, reputation specialist and project convenor, says, We are excited about the feedback we have received for our inaugural summit. It is our honour to welcome a growing list of speakers, panellists, moderators and sponsors from all sectors of our society. The need for such an initiative has never been more critical or timelier. The Summit will initiate and lead critical conversations about our nation's brand image, the attributes that make us proud, as well as the opportunities that remain to improve on our best efforts to progress in an increasingly global and complex world. This initiative will also provide an opportunity to reflect on how best to position South Africa as an attractive destination for FDI, discerning tourists, project collaboration in many sought-after fields (academia, sports, etc), all aimed at promoting sustainable development, as well as regional and global leadership for South Africa. Early bird tickets and award nomination forms are available here. South Africa's ranking on apparent labour market inflexibility (129th out of 138 countries according to the World Economic Forum Competitiveness rankings 2016/2017 ) suggests that businesses perceive South Africa to be a rigid operating environment. Is this justified and can employers limit their exposure to the cost inherent in paid public holidays? A foreign business executive recently visiting our shores expressed surprise at the number of public holidays enjoyed by South Africans. With four public holidays, in short succession in April, one can appreciate his amazement. Companies must contend with four consecutive weeks reduced to four-day weeks during April and May 2017, wreaking havoc on productivity and throughput. Many countries have more public holidays South Africa guarantees its citizens at least twelve public holidays per year. An average of one public holiday per month does not seem extravagant, or does it? Sri Lanka appears to be the undisputed world champions of public holidays with 25 public holidays per year. Propping them up in second place, with a respectable 21 public holidays per annum, is India. It comes as little surprise those Scandinavian bastions of labour force protection, Sweden (15) and Norway (13) grant employees significant numbers of public holidays. Some of the countries providing the highest number of public holidays are not those that would regularly spring to mind, including Colombia and the Philippines (18), Thailand, Turkey and Pakistan (17) and, joining Sweden on 15 days, Japan, Malaysia, Argentina and Lithuania. Even South Koreans get a generous allotment of 13 days per year. It thus seems that South Africans do not enjoy significantly more time off due to statutory public holidays than colleagues in many other jurisdictions do. However, when faced with an economy that is being challenged on many fronts, some businesses can ill afford to absorb the cost of paying employees for an additional day where they are not expected to work (or to pay them double wages where the employees indeed work on the public holiday). When one sees the number of businesses downsizing, relocating operations to other jurisdictions or closing their doors, the harshness of the realities facing businesses is driven home. For those organisations that have to make tough calls on continued viability and justifying their labour bill or loss in productivity, there may be some reprieve. Reviewing appropriate Acts The answer could lie in reading together the obligations and flexibility permitted in both the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and the Public Holidays Act (PHA). Every employee is entitled to the public holidays published in the PHA (section 5(1) of that Act). Employees are also entitled to remuneration for the public holidays (section 5(2) of the PHA and section 18(2) of the BCEA). Where the employee does not work on a public holiday (where the day falls on what would otherwise have been a normal working day), the employee remains entitled to payment for that day. In essence, an employer may not deduct a day's wages from an employee's remuneration merely because the employee did not work because the day was a public holiday. Where the employee works on a public holiday (and that day would have been a normal working day) the employee is typically entitled to double normal wage for that day. The company is thus faced with a situation where it either forfeits the productivity of the employee for that day (and pays normal wage for the public holiday) or receives the benefit of the employee's service, but pays double for it. The phrase Hobson's Choice springs to mind Exchanging the day However, an oft forgotten section of the PHA may unlock some relief for embattled employers. In terms of Section 2(2) of the PHA, an employer and employee may agree to exchange a public holiday for any other day. Thus, an employee who does not wish to celebrate Christmas may thus exchange that public holiday for another day that have some significance to the employee. The employee would thus work on Christmas Day, at normal remuneration, but would be entitled to take off a day to celebrate Diwali, Rosh Hashanah or another day of significance to the employee or community. The employer would then treat the substitute day as a public holiday for the employee. Thus, the employee would not be required to attend work on that day and will receive normal remuneration for that day. Should things change and the employer expect the employee to work on this substitute day, the employer would have to pay the employee double for the work done on that day. Employers could seek to obtain the employee's consent to exchange a public holiday (listed in the PHA) for another day where the employee would ordinarily work. The parties would agree that the employee would work on, say, Workers' Day, but exchange that public holiday for a normal working day, but at a time suitable to the employer's business operation. The employer's operation may require more hands on deck on May Day than, for example, Gin Day (10 June 2017, regrettably not celebrated in South Africa). The value in this arrangement is that the employer can stagger the impact of either lost production or increased cost occasioned by employees working on public holidays provided the employees agree to exchange the public holidays. Organisations with 24/7/365 operations could benefit from an agreement allowing them to let employees exchange public holidays for periods during which the business experiences lulls in production or undergoes seasonal maintenance. Considering how jealously some employees guard their public holidays, obtaining their consent for this exchange may be easier said than done. However, prudent employers may wish to insert wording to this effect into their employment contracts for new hires to allow flexibility when this is required at a later stage. Cartoon Network corners kids' TV on any device It's no secret that TV viewers have changed their consumption habits. Luckily, some broadcasters have changed with their audience and are now embracing all new digital channels. Pierre Branco, vice president and general manager of Southern Europe and Africa for Turner, oversees all aspects of the business both commercial and editorial across those territories to making sure that Turner adapts to each market and delivers the best offer possible to both its consumers and partners. He recently revealed the brands holistic slate of content for the 2017-18, which proves their success. Pierre Branco, vice president and general manager of Southern Europe and Africa for Turner. As proof, stats in Dstv-I, TechEdge and Dstv-i Homes, show Turner Kids has remained the first pay TV multiplex for 31 consecutive months, with Cartoon Network holding the top spot as the first pay TV kids channel in South Africa among those aged 4 to 14. In March 2017, the channel was also up 17 percent in ratings and up ten percent in shares year-on-year. Eight out of ten top competitive kids shows were Cartoon Network shows, with the other two remaining places occupied by their second kids channel, Boomerang. The Sunday Times Generation Next study for 2016, which comprised face-to-face written questionnaires from 5,500 children between the ages of 8 and 23 in six urban and peri-urban provinces show that its not just the young set that tunes in to their toons. Its a favourite with many older kids and the young at heart, too ranked as the second coolest pay TV channel, just behind Trace Urban, for kids and adults alike. This ties in with findings from Turner Africas recent data and consumer insights survey that showed parents, especially mothers, are a strong source of influence on South African children when it comes to picking something to watch, much more so than in other EMEA markets. That trend compares across the rest of the continent, as Cartoon Network is widely distributed in both French and English-speaking Africa. Branco says, It benefits from high visibility and awareness as a leader in kids pay TV in all our key markets. Through our social media pages, we can exchange with our enthusiastic fans from across the continent; on Facebook, Cartoon Network Africa has about 620,000 fans who interact with our brand every day, through views, likes, comments or shares. Thats important as TV viewing is no longer limited to a set broadcast in front of a standard TV set. I chatted to Branco about childrens evolving TV-viewing habits, how Cartoon Networks offering has extended into the digital realm as a result of this total consumption trend and whats the impact on advertisers Explain Cartoon Networks positioning as a boy-focused, girl-inclusive channel. Explain Cartoon Networks positioning as a boy-focused, girl-inclusive channel. Cartoon Network is universally appealing to kids who look for creative and qualitative content, by providing a space for them to laugh out loud and stretch their imagination. It is the home of highly creative programmes, of unexpected and imaginative experiences, with high-quality, multi-layered comedy and adventure shows. Our most successful programmes include Regular Show, Teen Titans Go! and Ben 10, which benefits from a very high awareness (98% for kids aged seven to nine) in South Africa according to the Kidz Global Brand Trends study. While 60% of our young viewers are boys, our programming does take girls into account with certain shows being more girl-skewed like the Powerpuff Girls, with the new series holding the second highest brand awareness among all Cartoon Network shows for kids aged 6 to 11 and is in the top three of the most likable Cartoon Network shows among younger girls between the ages of 6 and 8, according to South Africa BrandTrackers Awareness and Likeability Wave 3 2017. Interesting. Elaborate on how and why kids viewing habits have evolved. Interesting. Elaborate on how and why kids viewing habits have evolved. One of our strengths as an international media group resides in the fact that we can benchmark many markets and thus, anticipate trends. Worldwide, its been said that pay TV is slowing down, because of the arrival of new players that naturally leads to evolving consumer behaviour. While the strength of our linear channels is undeniable, as seen through our very positive ratings, it is true that todays viewer can consume content on multiple platforms. This is exciting for Turner: it means we can extend our innovation beyond the creation of programs and come up with an engaging consumer experience. In South Africa, children tend to stay younger for longer and they will move away from animated content later than in other markets. Weve also noticed strong co-viewing habits in South African households, giving Pay TV an advantage to other means of consumption as it is a platform you can watch in a group, unlike phones or tablets. This is based on the Turner data and consumer insights teams kids industries qualitative survey, which interviewed 90 South African families for a month on their lifestyle, TV-viewing habits and digital habits. Finally, South African viewers are very faithful to a particular brand. This is a great opportunity for us as were looking to expend our brands outside the realm of television and if our viewers are passionate about certain programmes, this means there will be an appetite for more. How has your offering extended into the digital realm because of this total consumption, and whats the impact on advertisers? How has your offering extended into the digital realm because of this total consumption, and whats the impact on advertisers? Turner is becoming a more consumer-centric, data-driven media company, at a time where consumer and industry insights have an increasingly central role in how companies can innovate, from content development through to marketing and monetisation. This increased focus on insights and analytics will allow Turner to provide richer metrics to the various partners it works with across its portfolio of branded destinations. Turner is committed to deploying its brands across the full digital ecosystem. Weve been launching innovative products, focusing on gaming and apps; in 2016, EMEA markets witnessed 33 million apps downloads, as well as 406m annual gameplays across kids websites. YouTube vertical channels have been launched in November 2016 for Cartoon Networks key franchises, such as Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, The Powerpuff Girls and Ben 10. Elaborate on the digital products we can expect to launch in South Africa this year. Elaborate on the digital products we can expect to launch in South Africa this year. At the end of January 2017, Cartoon Network launched an exciting new micro-network specifically designed for small screens. Cartoon Network Anything offers a stream of brand-new content, created exclusively for fans of the channel to enjoy on their mobiles and tablets allowing kids to engage with their favourite shows and characters like never before. In February, we launched a new Boomerang YouTube channel for Africa, so all our Tom & Jerry fans will be able to enjoy exclusive clips and compilations online through the continent. We premiered an all-new series Mighty Magiswords on Cartoon Network, which benefits from exclusive shorts and video vlogs for Youtube and CN Anything. And theres more to come! Later this year, an exclusive new app, MagiMobile, will allow all Mighty Magiswords fans to connect their mobile devices to their TV to collect items from the show. We will also be offering new levels of our Ben 10: Up to Speed app and launching a new Steven Universe console game. What are you personally most looking forward to from the 2017/18 season? What are you personally most looking forward to from the 2017/18 season? Digital platforms allow us to be more innovative than ever with our content production: we can deploy content across multi-platforms, like weve done with Mighty Magiswords. A project Im very excited about, and that will be launching in the upcoming month, is our new Cartoon Network original series OK K.O.!, which lives across the TV and gaming landscape. The animated series, called OK K.O.! Lets Be Heroes, has been greenlit and will be followed by an integrated console game jointly developed with indie video game studio Capybara Games. The console and PC game is an action brawler with role-playing game elements, while the show integrates this gaming universe in its storyline. This is a great example of a multi-media development process and the result for fans will not disappoint: theyll be able to access the property through diverse platforms. Seems diversification is the way of the future. For more on Turner Africa, visit their website or here to view Boomerangs YouTube channel. Jean Bosco Nzeyimana's company, Habona Ltd, employs 25 young people who collect garbage, separate out the plastic and metal, and use the organic waste to produce fuel briquettes for cooking. With the remains from the briquette process, they make organic fertiliser, which is sold to farmers. This according to Pius Sawa, Reuters Young Africans seeking to transform agriculture This is a very smart agricultural technology because this is the place where farmers can get compost that helps them restore the soil quality lost through applying chemical fertilisers, said Nzeyimana, adding that Habona is producing 50 tonnes of fuel a month. Managing the waste also reduces the greenhouse gasses that would be emitted into the atmosphere if the garbage were destroyed by burning it on an open fire, as often happens around markets. The Rwandan entrepreneur is just one example of young Africans seeking to transform agriculture by using new technologies while contributing to food security and employment. Their innovations were showcased at the MasterCard Foundations Young Africa Works Summit 2017, held in Kigali in February, aimed at putting young people at the centre of a green revolution for Africa that can help equip agriculture to thrive amid climate change. The increasing severity of climate change is already amplifying existing stress on water availability and food security in many African countries, said Anne Miles, the foundations director for youth livelihoods and financial inclusion. A growing youth population means this group will be particularly vulnerable, she added. At the same time, young people are uniquely poised to understand the problem and to use new methods to make farming sustainable, efficient and profitable even as the planet warms, the foundation believes. Help for women farmers Pilirani Khoza founded the Bunda Female Students Organisation in 2014 to help pay fees for disadvantaged women students on science courses at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi. In return, the sponsored students act as agricultural extension workers, training poor women farmers to survive harsh climatic conditions. The students are sent to rural counties, where they each train around 30 women farmers for a month. They provide the farmers with the inputs and knowledge they need to implement relatively simple methods, such as using small plastic bottles filled with water and pierced at both ends which are tied onto the crop, irrigating it for six months. So far the project has reached 360 rural farmers, who are making progress in planting trees, growing vegetables and crops that are tolerant of drought and floods, and conserving water in the soil, said Khoza. In Kenya, meanwhile, 23-year-old Brian Bosire is the brain behind UjuziKilimo, which means knowledge farming in Swahili. Having seen farmers in his village suffer from poor yields due to droughts, floods, and erratic rains, Bosire developed a handheld electronic sensor that gathers data on soil quality and helps farmers decide what to grow. My first dream was to have some device that any farmer like my mother or a village woman could just stick into the ground, and within a few minutes get the precise information about what kind of inputs they need, what kinds of crops will do well, and where can they get those inputs, he said. The service is operated by extension agents who test the soil and send information and advice to farmers on their mobile phones, which they also use to pay for their subscription. In 2015, Bosires company won an award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, recognising its work in developing technology to improve the livelihoods and yields of small-scale farmers. One of the 250 farmers who were getting 10 bags of maize from one acre is now earning $300 per month from vegetable farming, said Bosire. We are proud that at least the farmer is getting the right knowledge to drive him to profitability. In the next two years, the company aims to reach 200,000 Kenyan farmers, he added. Ending hunger Bosire said climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing Africa, because its agriculture is mainly rain-fed. One of the best ways to make farmers more resilient is to create solutions that are tailored to smallholders, he said. Nzeyimana said climate change is for real. Young people, because of the skills they have, have to take a lead in trying to make sure that we mitigate the climate change risks before they hit us the hard way, he emphasised. Currently, the fuel briquettes his company produces are sold only in southern Rwanda but it is planning to build a bigger plant to be able to supply the whole country. Khoza said young Africans are the drivers of agricultural transformation. We give hope to other youth that without them, we cannot (meet) the Sustainable Development Goals of ending hunger and poverty, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. New jobs Richard Munang, regional climate change coordinator with the UN Environment Programme, said agriculture is key to tackling poverty in Africa. He cited World Bank figures showing that a 10 percent increase in agricultural productivity on the continent translates into a seven percent reduction in poverty. Agriculture has the potential to reduce African poverty two to four times faster than any other sector, he noted. That is because it employs nearly two-thirds of the population on average, with women producing up to 80 percent of the food. Through the agricultural value and supply chains, the sector interacts with technology, logistics, and energy where it can create new income opportunities, Munang said by email. The best way to achieve this is to consider the full supply chain, not just on-farm production, he said. For example, information and communications technologies can be used to link producers with markets, and clean energy deployed to power food processing, adding value and employment on both sides. This is the sector youth need to engage in to create jobs for themselves and future generations, said Munang. Thomson Reuters Foundation is the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters and covers humanitarian news, climate change, resilience, womens rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit news.trust.org/climate Mastercard and prepaid processing and payments solutions provider Global Technology Partners (GTP) signed a partnership agreement that will result in the latest prepaid solutions being made available across Africa to government institutions, financial services and corporate sector and consumers. Martin Hartinik via 123RF The partnership will enable the development and implementation of a wide range of solutions across various markets on the continent. These solutions are aimed at supporting government payments, driving innovation in the travel and tourism sector and driving transparency and efficiency for the financial services and corporate sector. African economies are in support of driving cash out of the financial system, and the introduction of digital payment solutions is in line with their cashless strategies. Businesses on the continent need smart solutions that will provide efficiency, but also offer convenient ways to track and monitor expenditure, said Daniel Monehin, division president, Sub-Saharan Africa. Providing Mastercard prepaid card solutions will strengthen GTPs existing offering in Africa, and provide consumers greater access to payment systems, international travel, and online shopping. Prepaid cards also provide employers with an effective payroll solution, introducing a more efficient and transparent way for businesses to monitor expenditure. Mastercard prepaid programs give cardholders greater access to the global marketplace, while advancing government efforts to increase financial literacy and inclusion. These programs also give businesses and government agencies a payroll solution that drives cash out of the system and provides essential financial tools to control cash flow. This partnership will also enable GTP to offer new payment solutions such as digital wallets and virtual cards to our customers, said Rich Bialek, chief executive officer at GTP. Cardholders are assured that regardless of how they use the prepaid solution their funds will be secured by the Mastercard multi-layered approach to protecting payments. EMV chip and PIN technology is a global payment standard to ensure that funds are protected even if the card is lost or stolen. Once funds are loaded to the prepaid card, cardholders can use the card to pay for goods and services in store, online, by phone or to withdraw cash from ATMs anywhere Mastercard is accepted locally or at millions of locations worldwide. The prepaid card ensures flexibility, convenience and security. GTP is committed to working with our partners to introduce digital prepaid solutions that meet the needs of consumers and businesses across the continent, concluded Bialek. Workers affixed the sign, which read General Aung San Bridge (Bilugyun) on the Mawlamyine side of the bridge at about 4:30am, and an identical sign on the Chaungzone side by 6:00am. The government had delayed several scheduled opening ceremonies and made no announcement of the impending opening, apparently hoping to avoid further protest. The only warning for the opening came in a 9:30pm Facebook post on the night of April 26 from the Mon State Chief Minister Dr. Aye Zan, who wrote, the public will be able to cross the General Aung San Bridge (Bilugyun) tomorrow from 5am to 10pm. May Mon State develop and the public find peace of mind. Protests against the bridge have been spearheaded by a group called the Committee of Public Movement for Thanlwin Bridge, which has vowed to continue its campaign despite the opening of the bridge. We are planning to meet to discuss how to continue our work. We have already sent an open letter to the international community and continue to collect petition signatures urging the government to honor the original name of the bridge, the Thanlwin Bridge (Chaungzon), said Min Aung Mon, a member of the committee. The committee began collecting signatures on April 13 and by April 25 had over 120,000. Most are from Mon State, though the issue has resonated with other minority ethnic groups and activists, especially in Kayin (Karen) State and Bago and Yangon (Rangoon) regions. The group plans to submit the petition to the Union Government in Naypyitaw. Protest have swirled since the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), which holds a majority of seats in the Mon State Parliament and in the Mon delegation to the Union Parliament, voted in March to name the Bridge for General Aung San, Myanmars independence leader. Many in Mon State believe the name should reflect Mon history, rather than General Aung San, who hailed from the majority Burman ethnic group. On March 19 more than 20,000 people joined a protest in the Mon State capital Mawlamyine (Moulmein) lead by the Committee of Public Movement for Thanlwin Bridge (Chaungzon). In Early April, 14 political parties issued a statement opposing the name, arguing that it hurt national solidarity and efforts to reconcile a country that has known decades of conflict. Sai Kham Jan, a member of the central executive committee of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), told Shan Herald today that he had received complaints from villagers saying they have been impacted by the gold mine. The mining is located near Kongmu village, which is only 10 miles from Mong Phyak, he said. Their operations are too close to the community. Some parts of the village have been damaged. The Maenam Long River runs through our town. Everyone can see how dirty it is with pollution now. The controversial gold-mining project is contracted to the U Ar Shaing firm; work began at the site at the beginning of this year. SNDPs Sai Kham Jan explained that when the company started the project, they paid each household in the village 60,000 kyat (US$44). He said the villagers accepted the money because they did not know anything about gold mining, and they certainly did not know that it would affect their homes and their land. There are about 60 households in Kongmu village, he said. Sai Kham Jan said that, to date, the local government has taken no responsibility for the matter. He accused the local administration of doing nothing because it does not affect them personally. Shan Herald reported that on December 9 one man was killed and another five seriously wounded when they were shot by soldiers from the Burmese armys Battalion 330 while they were observing mining operations in Mong Len, Tachileik Township. Since then, there have been no reports that the case has been dealt with nor has compensation been paid to the victims families. On June 27 last year, Shan Herald reported that 35 civil society organizations had demanded that the ruling National League for Democracy government suspend all mining operations across the country. However, numerous mining operations continue in Shan State and other parts of Burma. Shan State is rich in natural resources, including gold, coal, rubies and forests. But, due to a lack of management and governance, these resources are being quickly depleted. Burma ranks as one of the worlds least transparent countries where management of natural resources is concerned. By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN) Things That Will Make You Believe In Aliens Pulse oi-Syeda Farah The existence of extraterrestrials and flying saucers is a well-known fact to top public officials of every major country on the planet. People around the world are often confused with a simple question about aliens existence and wonder if they really do exist or not. You May Also Like To Read: Was A UFO Spotted In Tasmania? There are several theories to it, as people believe that they do exist and there are those who believe it's all a hype. Here are some of the theories which can make you believe that aliens really do exist! Do Check: 10 Mysterious n Horrifying Objects These facts about aliens being real can add more to your confusion! Find out by reading the facts about aliens existence as claimed by the sources. Aliens Have Contacted Humans According to sources, Edgar Mitchell, who was the Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 14, had claimed that aliens have contacted humans a couple of times. He said that the governments conceal the truth from people, as people would panic! Aliens Are Real Dr. Boyd Bushman, who is a former Area 51 scientist, claimed that aliens are real and friendly. He explained his theory of aliens being friendly to the people at the US air base, where people were studying about the existence of UFOs all day. He also contributed in creating flying saucer technology for a defense firm. The Napoleon Bonaparte Theory He claimed that he was kidnapped by aliens. Apparently, he was reported to be missing for many days in July 1794 and later was saying that he was held captive by strange-looking people. When investigators checked him, they discovered a small foreign object embedded within the skeletal remains of Napoleon and declared the object to be a microchip. The Game Of Chess! According to Mr. Ilyumzhinov, who was the President of the World Chess Federation, aliens had invented the chess. He claimed that he was kidnapped by aliens in yellow spacesuits on September 17th, 1997. Crazy, right? Sleep Paralysis According to a renowned psychologist named Allan Cheyne, he said, people who believe they've been kidnapped by extraterrestrials are vulnerable to experience sleep paralysis. Geophysical Activity It is claimed that the extraterrestrials are causing or monitoring geophysical activity on our planet. This claim was made on the basis of monitoring a video footage of the volcanic eruption of Mount Shindake on Kuchinoerabu-jima Island in Japan on May 29th, 2015. According to the video, it is believed that a UFO was watching the incident from the skies as it occurred. What's is your take on the same? Let us know at the comment section below. Akshaya Tritiya 2021: Remedies For Delayed Marriages Remedies oi-Lekhaka Akshaya Tritiya is one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar. According to the Luni-Solar calendar, followed by the Hindu community, Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated on the third day of the bright phase of the moon, that is, during the month of Vaishakha. As per the Gregorian calendar, 14 May is the day Akshaya Tritiya falls on this year. People of the Hindu community use the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya to pray to their favourite deities for prosperity, material wealth and spiritual progress. They say that anything that is begun on the day of the Akshaya Tritiya cannot go wrong, and a thing with a good start is considered half done. Poojas which are performed on this day bring tenfold benefit. Charity, donation or any kind of act that do good to the people around you will be rewarded with immense returns by the universe. This day is also holy for the purchase of a new vehicle, house, land and gold. The purchase of gold is of great importance since gold is seen as a form of the Goddess Lakshmi. Bringing Goddess Lakshmi will ensure that you have a flow of righteous wealth into your home throughout the year. Marriages And Akshaya Tritiya Other than these, Akshaya Tritiya is seen as a good day to perform many auspicious rituals. People of certain parts of the country perform yearly rites that honour the dead on this day. It is a good day to start the education of a child. Many choose this day to have their kids write the first words as an auspicious step towards a successful education. Marriages are another important ceremony that is popular on the Akshaya Tritiya day. On any other day, marriages cannot be performed without checking with the Astrologer for a good 'Muhurut'. But Akshaya Tritiya is so auspicious that there is no need for a Muhurat on this day. There are thousands of marriages performed on this day. People also conduct mass weddings at a single venue. People who are unable to get married due to financial restraints find these kinds of mass weddings especially useful. But what if obstacles in your life do not let you get married? There are families with young men or women who are of the age to be married but the wedding doesn't happen due to varied reasons. There are times when everything is decided but somehow the wedding proposal dissolves, leaving the whole family dejected. If you or one of your family members faces such problems, Akshaya Tritiya is the perfect day to find solutions to your dilemmas. There are a few remedies that you can do to solve the problems that stops or delays marriage. Read on to know more. Remedies For Delayed Marriages On Akshaya Tritiya There are many reasons behind the marriage being delayed. The most common reason is the problems in horoscopes or the birth chart. The planets such as Saturn, Venus, Mars and Rahu are the culprits behind problems in marriages. The seventh house of the birth chart is dedicated to marriage; and if any of these planets occupy an unfavourable position, it can cause a delay in getting married. Try the methods given below on Akshaya Tritiya and you will definitely find a life partner soon. Take a coconut and hold it in your hand. With your favourite deity in your mind, say your name and Gotra and circumambulate a holy banyan tree seven times. Now, leave the coconut below it. This will remove any obstacles in getting marriage. Donate a pot made up of mud to a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Conduct a 'Rudrabhishek' for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Consult an astrologer to find out which planet ails your seventh house and is responsible for the delayed marriage problem. Perform poojas and chant the mantras dedicated to the responsible planet to appease it. Perform the following pooja with complete devotion and find sure results with regards to your marriage. 1. On the Akshaya Tritiya night, take a large yellow cloth and lay it on a raised platform. Do this facing the east. 2. Place an image of Goddess Parvati on it. 3. Take a handful of wheat and place it on the cloth too. 4. You must buy a 'Vivaha badha nivaran vigraha' beforehand. Place it on the wheat and use saffron and sandalwood paste to draw a tilak on your forehead. 5. Now, use a garland made up of turmeric beads and say the following mantra. For The Men Looking For A Bride 'Patning Manoramang dehi manovrittanusarinim tarining durgasansarsagarasya kulodbhawaam' For The Women Looking For A Groom 'Om gang ghraun gang shighra vivaha sidhaye gauryen fatta'. This mantra must be chanted using the turmeric beads three times a day for four consecutive days, starting from the Akshaya Tritiya day. On the fourth day, go to a temple dedicated to Goddess Parvati and drop the Turmeric garland there. Reciba en su email: noticias de ultima hora, analisis tecnicos o el cierre de mercado Email no valido Nombre requerido Recibira las informaciones mas relevantes del dia en tiempo real Que informacion desea recibir? Noticias de Ultima hora Boletin Cierre de Mercado Boletin analisis tecnico Boletin Fundsnews Debe seleccionar un tipo de boletin Acepto la Politica de privacidad Debe aceptar la politica de privacidad Responsable EMPRESAS DEL GRUPO WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Finalidad La remision de informacion, novedades y promociones Establecimiento o mantenimiento de Relaciones Comerciales. Legitimacion Consentimiento del interesado. Interes legitimo en el desarrollo de la relacion comercial Destinatario Empresas del Grupo WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Derechos Acceso, rectificacion, supresion, limitacion, oposicion y portabilidad Informacion adicional Politica de Privacidad de nuestra pagina Web + INFORMACION PODCAST The era of the Zeppelin, how it shaped the New York skyline and the disastrous crash of the Hindenburg onA an airfield in New Jersey. On the afternoon of May 6, 1937, New Yorkers looked overhead at an astonishing sight the arrival of the Hindenburg, the largest airship in the world, drifting calmly across the sky. In size and prominence, the Hindenburg would prove to beA the greatest airship of all. It was the Concorde of its day, providing luxurious transatlantic travel for the rich and famous. In Germany, the airship was used as a literal propaganda machine for the rising Nazi government of Adolf Hitler. New York City was already in the throes of Zeppelin mania by then. These rigid gas-filled airships, largely manufactured by Germany, were experiencing a Jazz Age rediscovery thanks in part to the Graf Zeppelin, a glamorous commercial airship which first crossed the ocean in 1928. Its commander and crew even received two ticker-tape parades through lower Manhattan. But dreams of Zeppelin-filled skies were quickly vanquished in the early evening hours of May 6, 1937, over a landing field in Lakehurst, New Jersey. Its destruction would be one of the most widely seen disasters in the world, marking an end to this particular vision of the future. But a mark of the Zeppelin age still exists on the New York City skyline, atop the citys most famous building! The Bowery Boys: New York City History podcast is brought to you . by you! We are now producing a new Bowery Boys podcast every two weeks. Were also looking to improve the show in other ways and expand in other ways as well through publishing, social media, live events and other forms of media. But we can only do this with your help! We are now a member of Patreon, a patronage platform where you can support your favorite content creators for as little as a $1 a month. Please visit our page on Patreon and watch a short video of us recording the show and talking about our expansion plans. If youd like to help out, there are five different pledge levels (and with clever names too Mannahatta, New Amsterdam, Five Points, Gilded Age, Jazz Age and Empire State). Check them out and consider being a sponsor. We greatly appreciate our listeners and readers and thank you for joining us on this journey so far. And the best is yet to come! An announcement in Scientific American of the first airship designed by Count von Zeppelin. An early illustration from Scientific American (June 26, 1909) showing an early prototype of the Zeppelin airship. In the 1920s people imagined putting mooring masts on everything! The ZR3 Los Angeles, made for America by the Germans as part of post-war reparations, flies over New York, above the construction of the Empire State Building. Dr Hugo Eckener and the crew of the Graf Zeppelin receive ticker tape parade in lower Manhattan. People gather around the Graf Zeppelin in an old file photo. Perhaps theyre boarding or are simply gathering in awe to view the marvelous airship. Video of the Graf Zeppelin entering over the skies of New York, photographing the city. A diagram of the mooring mast atop the Empire State Building at least as it was supposed to have worked. In Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, a retro-futuristic film, the mooring mast is effectively used to deposit Gwyneth Paltrow on top of the Empire State Building. The Hindenburg flew over Manhattan on a few occasions. The photograph below is from August 8, 1936. The Hindenburg had actually safely docked at the Lakehurst facility a few times in 1936. From the photo caption: Various news crews covering the landing of the Hindenburg, in 1936, in Lakehurst, New Jersey. The man perched atop the vehicle on the left is Albert Emanuel Al Gold, of Fox Movietone News, who would eventually capture footage of the famous Hindenburg disaster, in 1937. The Hindenburg ignites over Lakehurst and so hurtles to the ground in a horrifying burning mass. Newsreels featuring the Hindenburg and Herbert Morrisons distraught play-by-play. April 26, 2017 Turkey appears to be hoping that its bombing this week of Sinjar in Iraq and Rojava in northern Syria will enable it to intervene in those countries on a larger scale. Since Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria in August 2016, attacks against organizations linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Syria and Iraq have always been on the agenda. Harassment artillery fire on Rojava, an autonomous but unrecognized Kurdish area, has been constant. After the coalition of countries battling the Islamic State (IS) decided to exclude Turkey from a pending operation to retake Raqqa in Syria, Turkey's massing of troops on the border has signaled its intentions. The latest Turkish operation came early April 25, when the Turkish air force attacked the PKK's Yazidi allies in Iraq's Sinjar region and many positions in the Deriq area of northern Syria. Turkey also bombed Qarachok Mountain in Syria, targeting the headquarters, press center, liaison offices and Voice of Rojava radio, all belonging to the PKK-affiliated People's Protection Units (YPG). Reports said 20 YPG staff members working in those units were killed and 18 wounded. The YPG is working with the US-led coalition against IS in Syria. But Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist group because of its ties to the PKK. Turkey has tried unsuccessfully to convince the United States to end its affiliation with the YPG and instead work with Turkish-backed forces. Turkey also hit five targets in the Kersey Valley and Amude village attached to Sinjar. One target was Radio Cira, which has many Yazidi listeners. Kersey had served as a refuge in 2014 for Yazidis fleeing IS. In this Turkish air attack, one militant of the Sinjar Resistance Forces (a local Yazidi self-defense unit) and five peshmerga forces were killed; nine peshmerga were wounded. Turkeys chief of general staff office explained the operation in a written statement: Syria and northern Iraq are used by the PKK and its extensions to smuggle terrorists, weapons, ammunition and explosives to our country. After Turkeys National Security Council declared the end of Operation Euphrates Shield, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said operations would continue under new names and Turkey would never allow Sinjar to become a second Qandil. Qandil is the PKK's main headquarters in the mountains of northern Iraq. On April 4, Erdogan said, There are efforts in Sinjar to create a second Qandil. There are now 2,500 PKK personnel at Sinjar as part of these efforts. Before the April 25 air attacks, Turkish newspapers were reporting a scenario of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) entering northern Syrias Tell Abyad to sever links between the Kurdish cantons of Rojava. According to the most widely held theory, Turkey seeks to oust the YPG from Tell Abyad, where Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens live together; entrust the region to the TSK-supported Free Syrian Army; and open it to Arab settlement. Kurdish sources also drew attention to increased TSK military moves at Akcakale, across the Turkish border from Tell Abyad, and more frequent artillery harassment toward villages in the Afrin area. That all these moves coincide with the lead-up to Erdogans visit May 16-17 to Washington have added new dimensions to the situation. What is Turkey after? What does Ankara want to achieve? Since Turkey has decided that an autonomous entity in northern Syria under Kurdish leadership is a threat to its security, Ankara has opted for an aggressive policy. The much-publicized PKK connections of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its YPG military arm provide Turkey's government with ample political support domestically. In the most recent event, even the main opposition the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) offered the government its full support. Ozturk Yilmaz, the CHP's deputy chairman, told the media, The PKK has made a major redeployment from Qandil toward Sinjar. Turkey has to defend its border. Our struggle with the PKK is fully justified by international law. This is all very normal actually, belated. The Sinjar Yazidis' support of the PKK and their increasing contacts with Rojava have amplified the perceived threat against the Turkish state. Ankara has made sure that Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) shares its concerns. Although Massoud Barzani, KRG president and leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, doesnt approve of Turkey's attacks, he still holds the PKK responsible. This bombing was prompted by the PKK presence at Sinjar. We are demanding the PKK forces leave Sinjar Mountain, he said. Although it's not the collective position of all Kurdish parties, Barzanis approach makes Ankara feel somewhat at ease. The Barzani governments attitude is widely reported and played up in the Turkish media, which hardly mentions the negative reactions of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the Iraqi Kurdish Gorran Movement (Movement for Change), the Islamic Movement, the Islamic Union Party and the Islamic Society Party, which deplore Turkey. Another of Turkey's major objectives, in addition to eroding Kurdish gains in the region, is to terminate the US partnership with the YPG under the umbrella of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Turkey has vehemently opposed a Raqqa operation in cooperation with the YPG and has instead offered to set up an army of 10,000 TSK-supported local fighters. If Turkey continues such operations, the power distribution in the field is bound to change. The YPG might have to pull back its forces from around Raqqa and Tabqa to defend Rojava against Turkey. This will further weaken and stall the operation against IS in Raqqa. But this may also make Turkey's offer of a partnership more worthwhile for the United States. Iran, Russia and the Syrian regime want the Syrian army to be the ones to liberate Raqqa, thus preventing the United States from establishing and maintaining a presence in Syria. Meanwhile, how do the Kurds interpret the Turkish attacks? Sipan Hemo, YPG general commander, made this assessment for Al-Monitor: "This is not an unexpected development. They were preparing for this for a long time. Certainly, major powers must have known about it. Both the Russians and Americans must have known of Turkish preparations. We noted how the American troops working with us were upset that they couldn't stop these Turkish attacks. They went to Qarachok and mixed with the people. This was not an official decision from above, but a reflection of sentiments of their commander on the ground. In a way, it was to tell the Turks, If you hit the Kurds, we are here. Actually, it was Russia that was controlling Turkey in Syria." But to achieve victory in Idlib, Russia "is giving the green light to Turkey. Havent you noticed how major rebel units that were once supported by Turkey are melting away because of this Turkey-Russia cooperation? Asked if the YPG will withdraw its forces involved in the Raqqa operation to the north if Turkish attacks continue, Hemo replied: For us, fighting IS is not a tactic, but a strategic choice. We are not doing this to get more weapons from the US. If these attacks continue, the Raqqa operation will suffer, as we will have to fight on two fronts. Certainly Russia, Iran and Syria will be happy, because they all want the Raqqa operation to fail" so Syria can liberate Raqqa without the United States. As to scenarios of Turkey's army entering Tell Abyad in Syria and the local resistance it might encounter, the YPG's Hemo had this to say: We dont expect a ground operation against Tell Abyad," because not only is there a "sizable presence" of Kurds there, for the most part, "Arabs there won't support Turkey." "Arabs in Tell Abyad are those who earlier escaped from Turkey-supported gangs and who returned after we liberated the town," he said. Also, "Turkmen presence isn't significant. Isho Gweriye, president of the Syriac Union Party and a member of the Syrian Democratic Assembly, said not only the Kurds but all peoples of the area see Turkeys attacks as aggression. He made this assessment for Al-Monitor: These attacks are a continuation of [Turkey's] chauvinist policies. It was important for Erdogan to go to Raqqa. But the US policies did not allow him. What Erdogan wants is for the forces now involved in the Raqqa operation to return to the north. As [SDF] units were entering Tabqa, the Turkish army stepped up its operations. This is important. Erdogan wants to disrupt the Raqqa operation and insert the Turkish forces into the operations." He added, "All this is happening on the eve of Erdogans Washington trip. This is an effort to influence Washington. But it is the people of the region who are paying the highest price. It only fuels animosity between the peoples. Arabs are uncomfortable also. Our people see Turkey's moves as an occupation of our land, a violation of sovereign rights and as colonialism. Turks may get the support of a few who are promoting their own private interests, but the tribes here do not approve of Turkeys designs. BEIJING (PTI): In a major revamp, China has slashed the number of "army groups" from 18 to 13 as part of its plans to reduced three lakh troops to make the world's largest army a mightier force capable of winning modern wars. The Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) headed by President Xi Jinping, has decided to reorganise the army, Defence Ministry spokesperson Senior Colonel Yang Yujun said on Thursday. Yang said that 13 army groups (army corps) will be formed from the previous 18. The move is a crucial step to build a strong and modernised new-type army and is important to shifting the focus of the PLA from quantity to quality and efficiency, he told the media in Beijing. In response to a question on reform of military academies and research institutions, Yang said that the reform aims to adapt to the new command system and military structure, as well as to provide talent and theoretical and technological support to the building of a first-class military force. The downsizing of the PLA was announced by President Xi in 2015 to make the force leaner and reliant on modern warfare. The unprecedented reform began in November 2015, when CMC unveiled a blueprint for the PLA's development. The commission pledged to establish a leaner and more efficient command chain, to reduce the number of non-combatant personnel and departments and to build the PLA into a mightier force capable of winning modern wars. On April 18, Xi had ordered the newly formed 84 large military units to give priority to building "new-type" fighting capabilities in electronic, information and space warfare. Xi, heading the over two million-strong military, spoke to the commanders of the new units during which he asked them to hone their skills and focus on joint operations and technology. "The new PLA units must prepare themselves for combat and study wars. They should concentrate on improving their joint operation capabilities and technology level," Xi said. He also told the new forces to conduct more combat exercises and give priority to building "new-type" fighting capabilities, state-run China Daily reported. In PLA terminology, new-type fighting capabilities generally refers to capabilities of engaging in electronic, information and space operations, the report said. His call for preparation for new type of war came as Beijing prepared to counter the US deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) interceptor missiles in South Korea, whose powerful radars could see through most part of China, including its missile development programme. THAAD is designed to intercept and destroy short and medium-range ballistic missiles during their final phase of flight. As it expanded strategic influence, China is also flexing its military might specially in the neighbourhood over the territorial disputes with India, Japan and countries in the South China Sea region. The new PLA units are at combined corps level, which means their commanders have or soon will be promoted to a rank of either major general in the Ground Force, Air Force and Rocket Force or rear admiral in the Navy. Though the PLA has not disclosed how these units were set up, it is likely that they were created through the regrouping of existing forces rather than recruiting new personnel, because the Chinese military is still engaged in cutting its troops by three lakhs, official media reported. Since Xi's announcement of reducing the number of troops in 2015, the PLA has set up a headquarters for its Ground Force, founded a Strategic Support Force dedicated to electronic, information and space operations, and established a Rocket Force to replace the former Second Artillery Corps. The previous four top PLA departments - staff, politics, logistics and armaments - were dismantled. The Eurofighter Typhoon takes off to test the Meteor BVRAAM. An Eurofighter GmbH photo LONDON (BNS): In a major milestone, the Eurofighter Typhoon jet has successfully test fired two Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAMs), thus paving the way for the weapon's integration on to the aircraft. The test conducted over UK's Hebrides Range involved an Airbus Defence & Space Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA) 4 (of the Spanish Air Force) with the support of BAE Systems, Eurofighter GmbH, MBDA and UK's Ministry of Defence. During the test, the Eurofighter Typhoon successfully completed simultaneous firing of two MBDA Meteor BVRAAMs, Eurofighter GmbH, the maker of the Typhoon jet, announced on April 27. The trial was used to test successful engagement of targets and the simultaneous two-way data link between two missiles and the aircraft. The data gathered follows a series of six successful Meteor firings conducted from the Eurofighter Typhoon in 2016, the official statement said. Operational evaluation of the weapon with the UK Royal Air Force is due to begin later in 2017, the company said. BEIJING (PTI): China on Thursday launched an upgraded version of a fighter jet manufactured jointly with Pakistan that can be used for training in peacetime and for combat missions during wartime. The dual-seat fighter trainer JF-17B is an upgraded version of the military aircraft JF-17. The JF-17B was developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China to meet the requirements of international customers and the global market, according to AVIC. China and Pakistan jointly manufacture JF-17 Thunder a lightweight and multi-role combat aircraft. AVIC said in a statement that the plane can be used for training in peacetime and can also be used in combat missions during wartime. The JF-17B climbed up and stayed in the air for about 26 minutes during its maiden flight and was witnessed by guests from home and abroad, reported state-run Xinhua news agency. The debut flight symbolised a major milestone in the development of the JF-17 aircraft series, AVIC said. Yang Wei, chief designer of the JF-17B, said the aircraft brings a new force to JF-17 family and will increase JF-17 series' competitiveness in global market. AVIC said the JF-17B was developed in a market and customer-oriented manner and has achieved a balance among performance, quality, cost and market needs. Sources with AVIC said the F-17B aircraft has received overseas orders during its development stage. HYDERABAD (PTI): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch five communication satellites by the year-end, its chairman A S Kiran Kumar has said. The satellites, proposed to be launched, are aimed at improving the communication system within the country, he said on Thursday. "There are five (satellites) that are coming up... all are communication satellites," Kumar told PTI in Hyderabad. All the satellites would be put in space by the end of this year, the noted space scientist said. "Specific use is (to) improve the number of transponders available... (for communications). It will improve our communication capability within the country very significantly," Kumar said. The ISRO chief was speaking on the sidelines of a lecture organised on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of the Osmania University. In his lecture, Kumar gave an overview of the satellites launched by ISRO and their purposes in the areas of weather forecasting, disaster management, space exploration, geo-spatial applications, education and agriculture among others. Kumar said India is the only country to achieve the feat of having a large number of satellites. ISRO and the government has made GPS-aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) mandatory for all aircraft by 2019 to ensure safety and precision landing, he said. India has 4,000 heritage sites for which ISRO plans to make an inventory and site management plan, Kumar said. In February this year, the space agency scripted history by successfully launching 104 satellites, including India's weather observation Cartosat-2 Series, in a single mission on board its dependable Polar rocket from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. MUMBAI (PTI): Tata Motors has signed a contract with the Defence Ministry to supply specially built 3192 Safari Storme units to the Indian Army and Navy to replace their Maruti Gypsy, thus further strengthening its position as the leading supplier of mobility solutions to the country's Armed forces. Though the company did not share the value of the order, it has been learnt that it is worth Rs 375 crore. These will be built under a new category of vehicles called the GS-800 (General Service 800) and will be 4-wheel drive units and are modified as per the Defence Ministry requirement. These Safari Stormes 4x4 are specially developed as per the defence ministry's RFP (request for proposals) with three basic criteria minimum payload capacity of 800 kg; hard roofs and air conditioning, the company said, adding the Safari Stormes have completed a total trial duration of 15 months in various terrains across the country. Tata Motors' foray into the defence supply is progressing as per the plan. Tata Motors has already supplied the 10-tonne Tata High Mobility Vehicle 6x6 as replacements for Tatra. Commenting on the order, Vernon Noronha, vice president, defence & government business at Tata Motors said, "We are very proud to have received this order for 3,192 units of the Safari Storme under the newly formed GS800 category. Tata Motors has been a leading supplier of mobility solutions to the Armed Forces and this order is a testimony to our partnership with our security forces." This variant of the Storme has been modified from the one available for civilians with an upgraded drive-train and significantly modified suspension, he said. Launched in 2012, Safari Storme boasts of better on-road and off-road capabilities and all-round performance, providing customers with an un-matched driving experience as it offers best-in-class ground clearance of 200 mm. Tata Motors' Defence Solutions unit offers a wide range of vehicles in the light, medium and heavy category. These include logistics, tactical, armoured and specialist vehicles. Tata Motors has been associated with the off-road defence and security forces since 1958 and has supplied over 1,50,000 vehicles to the Army and the paramilitary forces so far. It also exports its range of specialised defence vehicles to the SAARC, ASEAN and African regions. Its multi-axle range like 12 12, 8 8 and 6 6 units are also supplied to leading missile developers across the world. It also suppliers specialist vehicles for the UN peacekeeping missions. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2017 (2021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Edward Snowden will be speaking live next month discussing the ethics of mass surveillance via a webcast to a Brandon University audience. This is an incredible opportunity for the people of Brandon and Westman to hear from one of the most provocative and thought-provoking individuals of recent years, in his own words, said BUs vice-president academic and provost, Steve Robinson. We leapt at the chance to arrange this opportunity for all BU students, faculty and staff as well as members of the Brandon area public to engage with Edward Snowden on this important topic, and we welcome everyone in all of the communities we are a part of to take part as well. Snowden rose to international prominence in 2013 when he revealed the scope and scale of U.S. intelligence agency mass surveillance, fuelling debates over privacy and security that continue to this day. From his current residence in Moscow, Snowden will give a live lecture and take questions from Brandon about mass surveillance and the role that universities can play in ethical debates about surveillance. The talk is a joint production between BU, the University of Winnipeg and the University of Lethbridge. Universities are built on collaboration, Robinson said. We are pleased to work with our colleagues in Winnipeg and Lethbridge to bring this important discussion to a wider audience. The Snowden lecture will be streamed live to BUs Harvest Hall on Tuesday, May 9. Doors open at 5 p.m., with Snowden expected to begin speaking at 6 p.m. The event is free to the public and all are welcome to attend, however, space is limited. The Brandon Sun Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2017 (2021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A former Canadian Forces Base Shilo soldier who lured an underage girl for a sexual encounter got caught when the girls older sister turned vigilante. When her young sister went to the soldiers home, the older sibling was nearby watching. It was basically a very ill-conceived sting operation at the older sisters request, Crown attorney Rich Lonstrup said. In Brandon provincial court on Thursday, the offender received a total sentence of eight months in jail and two years probation for invitation to sexual touching and obstruction of justice. The Brandon Sun isnt naming him due to a publication ban that prevents the printing of any information that could identify the victim. Where the soldier is originally from wasnt mentioned in court, but at the time of the offence in September 2013 he was stationed at CFB Shilo. Twenty-four years old at the time, he was dating the 15-year-old victims older, adult sister when, on Sept. 7, 2013, he and the underage girl exchanged text messages. In that text conversation, the offender repeatedly sexually propositioned the girl. He encouraged her to come to his home on base to meet for sex, and described what he wanted to do in graphic detail. Unsolicited by the girl, he also texted her a photo of his penis. The girl was emotionally vulnerable at the time, Lonstrup said. She had been cutting herself as a form of self-harm and release for emotional pain. When he tried to talk her into sexual relations, he actually tried to suggest that it would make her feel more confident and less likely to cut herself, Lonstrup said. Lonstrup said the girls responses, while she wasnt assertive enough to tell the offender to stop texting, discouraged his advances and showed she wasnt interested. Her texts revealed her as confused and scared, Lonstrup said. Nevertheless, the soldier convinced the girl to come to his home. However, the girls older sister found the texts before that meet could happen. As planned, the victim went to the home. Shortly after, her sister entered the home and found the solider in a bedroom with the girl. The sister forced her way into the bedroom as the soldier tried to hold the door shut. She and a friend then assaulted the offender and left with the girl. There was no sexual touching of the victim, but Lonstrup said she was left devastated and frightened by the mans attempt to manipulate her. Immediately after, the soldier texted the victim and asked her to stop her sister and the friend from reporting the matter to police. They did, however, and police arrested the accused. Lonstrup said the accused persisted in trying to get his charges dropped. After his first court appearance, he texted the victims sister and threatened to have her charged for the break-in at his home if she didnt get her younger sibling to retract her statement to police. He told the single mother, who had a child form a previous relationship, that shed go to jail and lose her child. On Nov. 8, 2013, the frightened woman went to Shilo MPs to try to get the charges against the soldier dropped, but Lonstrup said police wouldnt because they already had the underage victims statement and other evidence. Six days later, the soldier went to MPs to report the break-in and assault, and both of the women who had entered his home were charged. The charges against the young victims sister were eventually dropped, while her friend received a one-year conditional discharge for assault. The key piece of evidence were the text messages between the soldier and girl. Lonstrup said the offender had deleted the conversation, but police used software to recover the texts. The soldier remained with the Armed Forces while pending on his charges, but transferred to British Columbia. When his new captain in B.C. found out about the charges, he was dishonourably discharged from the Armed Forces. He and a new partner have since moved back to this area. While his offence involved a minor, the former soldiers lawyer told court that a forensic psychologist has concluded that the offender is not a pedophile. He was not attracted to children, this was part of a larger sort of sexting situation that was driven by poor coping skills, Lisa LaBossier said in arguing for a sentence that would see her client spared from any further jail time. LaBossier proposed options to achieve that end, including a mix of time served and house arrest. She said that, prior to the offence, her client had struggled with his transfer to CFB Shilo and being away from family. He felt isolated and depressed and was using cocaine. The army rejected his request for a transfer home. In that state, LaBossier said, he reached out to women for sex as a way to feel better. Tens of thousands of messages to other women were found by police, and conversations with four women in particular were all of a sexual nature. The only conversation found that involved a minor was with the victim in this case, LaBossier said. She added that her client tried to commit suicide in 2015 out of shame over his crime and fear of jail. Lonstrup asked Judge Donovan Dvorak to impose 18 months jail, minus 90 days credit for some pre-sentence time the accused spent in jail before being released on bail. Dvorak concluded that a non-jail sentence wasnt appropriate. He sentenced the former soldier to time served on the obstruction charge, plus five months of jail on the invitation to sexual touching offence. ihitchen@brandonsun.com Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2017 (2021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Offering a list of unanswered questions, Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Larry Maguire has a number of concerns as it relates to the Liberals looming legalization of recreational marijuana. With the related proposed legislation recently brought forward, Maguire said that his next step as an elected official will be attending a technical briefing offered to Members of Parliament next week. In the weeks ahead, Maguire said that he will definitely be reaching out to constituents on the various aspects of legislation. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Rick Macl, owner of Growers n Smokers on 18th Street North, holds some of his personal Aurora Cannabis Snow Dome (LA Confidential) medical marijuana strain at his shop on Tuesday. His approach will be along a similar vein as the electoral reform meeting he hosted last fall, during which he said that he received positive feedback from those who attended. A series of public meetings will be held across the Brandon-Souris riding, which will allow anyone interested in sharing their views the ability to do so, as well as learn more about related issues. I cannot stress enough how important it is that constituents have an opportunity to share their ideas, concerns and views on this legislation, Maguire said. Maguire also plans on sending out a survey to constituents, which will also be available online, through which he said that he wants to ensure that the voice of Westman is heard loud and clear in Parliament. Brandons Member of Parliament said that he also hopes to hear the views of local municipal leaders, police services, those in the education system and medical community. While he hopes to gain insight from constituents to carry forward to his colleagues in Ottawa, Maguire said that he also needs to have the Liberals answer a number of questions, including: What are the costs of legalization? And is there a plan to work with municipalities and provinces or will the costs get downloaded and all the responsibility for implementation and enforcement? If people are allowed to grow four marijuana plants on their personal property, what sort of regulations need to be in place so they dont end up in the wrong hands? What roadside equipment for testing will be approved and how much will it cost, who pays for it and who will pay for the training for drug recognition experts? How did they arrive at the limits that are outlined for the amount of THC in a persons system? If the age of possession is set at 18, and the medical community says its not safe for people under the age of 25, how are our kids protected from the adverse effects? How will the issue of roadside testing be addressed and what direction is being given to police forces across the country to deal with marijuana possession and driving? Is legalization really going to take the criminal element out of pot sales? (ensure organized crime does not infiltrate legitimate businesses) As The Brandon Sun reported earlier this week, it isnt only politicians who have concerns as it relates to recreational marijuanas legalization. Local cannabis advocate Rick Macl, owner of Growers n Smokers on 18th Street North, put forward the argument that four plants arent enough for medicinal users such as himself and that he isnt convinced there will be enough cannabis available through legal streams to meet the demands of recreational users, given that supply is already being strained for existing medicinal users. He also shares in Maguires concern as it relates to roadside testing and THC levels, in that tolerance levels vary drastically from user to user. tclarke@brandonsun.com Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2017 (2021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. It sure may not feel like spring yet, but beer festival season is almost here. Flatlanders Beer Festival is taking place in Winnipeg on June 9 and 10. Seeing that last years edition of the festival was their best year yet with a sneak peek of a bunch of (then) up-and-coming breweries, we will likely see another sneak peek of what to expect from up and coming breweries such as One Great City and Brasserie Nonsuch. Half Pints is hosting an event on June 8 to promote their Wild Rice and Honey beer for which they collaborated with Central City Brewing from with Surrey, B.C. as part of Canadas 150 celebrations. Submitted Microbrasserie Charlevoix, out of Baie-Saint-Paul, Que., makes one of First Draught columnist Cody Lobreau's favourite stouts in the world La Vache Folle (The Crazy Cow). Montreals Mondial de la biere festival is taking place only a few days later in downtown Montreal and it looks like Ill likely be going back for a second year in a row. The festival hasnt announced what sort of events are taking part, yet nor what breweries will be taking part, but, like Flatlanders, it will be a great way to check out what new breweries have popped up. Lately, Ive been mostly drinking sweet, tropical IPAs like Collective Arts Ransack the Universe. I absolutely love where IPAs have gone recently, but sometimes you drink so much of a style that you need to lay off it for a while. While making my regular visit to the Corral Centre Liquor Mart, I was simply trying to think of an interesting beer to try. It can be tough to pick out a beer, especially at a location like the Corral Centre where they can only carry so many different kinds, but one popped out at me immediately, reminding me that Ive never reviewed it for The Sun before only briefly mentioning it in my Jan. 27 column discussing the best beers Ive ever reviewed. Microbrasserie Charlevoix, out of Baie-Saint-Paul, Que., makes one of my favourite stouts in the world La Vache Folle (The Crazy Cow), and while it has been available in Manitoba two times in the past, usually it sells out before I get a chance to critique it for you. Charlevoixs La Vache Folle is an Imperial Milk Stout that tops out at a whopping nine per cent ABV. I find that milk stouts arent that common in can or bottle form in Manitoba, but its a style that I seem to find more at brewery tasting rooms than anywhere else. La Vache Folle pours a thick, black-as-night body with a bit of a brown cola hue to it and a lightly frothy yet yellow-brown cookie dough head on top. The aroma is pretty sharp as Im getting notes of roasted coffee, a bit of heavy cream, creamy milk chocolate, a light amount of nuttiness and a light sour note at the end that I just cant describe. La Vache Folle is going to be a good deal sweeter and creamier than a Guinness or a Stir Stick Stout for the fact that they add milk to the brew, so its not vegan friendly. As Im tasting La Vache Folle, the very first thing I notice is the sweetness of the stout its very sweet, almost like an iced mocha. There are flavours of roasted malt that give it the typical roasted coffee flavour most of us know and love in great stouts, a bit of milk chocolate, an undeniable presence of some sort of dairy product that gives it a real rich, creamy feel in your mouth, as well as a hit of cream flavour. What I keep forgetting about this beer is that its nine per cent ABV, so the 500 ml bottle will give you a bit of a buzz if you drink the entire bottle yourself. Compared to most stouts on the market, La Vache Folle is quite a bit higher in alcohol content; most stouts are usually between four and six per cent ABV. Also, I find most Imperial Stouts are barrel-aged, so seeing a stout thats showing itself off without the help of oak and rum or bourbon is a big plus. The stout is creamy, incredibly sweet and creamy, but also packs a rich coffee bite in every sniff-n-sip. Liquor Marts website doesnt currently have information about the product, but it is available at Corral Centre and Victoria Avenue locations in Brandon, as well as in Portage la Prairie, and possibly at other Liquor Marts throughout the area. $5.94 per 500 ml bottle. 4.5/5 pints Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2017 (2021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. According to Perquita Burgess, one of the women who accused former Fox News host Bill OReilly of sexual harassment, he called her hot chocolate, said looking good there, girl to her backside and grunted when he walked past her desk. If true, OReillys behaviour was disgusting and abusive. Still, a teeny, tiny microscopic part of my persona wishes it would happen to me. I can already feel the backlash. Feminists: please put down the daggers and hear me out. I know this is a terrible, cringe-worthy admission, especially from someone who considers herself a liberated, modern woman. When youre a female in her late 60s who hasnt had a facelift, the world considers you well, it doesnt consider you at all. Youre pretty much invisible. And not just invisible to men. To women, too. Ive been in more rooms than one filled with women a couple of decades my junior, and while I cant say they were mean to me, I did feel ignored. They simply refused to engage with me as they did with those of their own ilk. Im not looking for pity or compliments (especially backhanded ones such as What are you talking about? You look great for your age!). Its not as though I feel unloved, and the last thing Im looking for is to have an affair. I have a wonderful husband who, after 32 years of marriage, is incredibly caring and attentive and still finds me attractive. But it doesnt help my self-image that everyone from movie stars to TV journalists to some of my friends seem to be aging backward, Benjamin Button-style. Case in point: I applaud Netflix for renewing Grace and Frankie, a comedy series starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The show features the lives of older women, but have you seen Jane Fonda lately? Fonda (whos pushing 80), now looks young enough to be my daughter, or maybe even granddaughter. I get it that for many aging Hollywood actresses and broadcast journalists, plastic surgery is practically a requirement if they want to keep working, but I dont have to like it. Just how can an ordinary woman grow old gracefully when most of the images of older women she sees dont look like God intended? When I was in my 20s, I worked as a model. I received a lot of attention based on my outer appearance. Being judged for my looks on a constant basis did not make for the happiest years in my life. Whether I got a gig or not either temporarily confirmed or denied my self-worth, something that did not make for a healthy psyche. In some ways, shedding my dewy-fresh self for the more mature me has been good. It forced me to develop myself in other arenas. Now, working as a freelance writer, my bosses dont know how old I am or what I look like. Believe me, its waaay more satisfying to create an essay, news story, blog post or an advertising brochure than to be glorified for any fleeting beauty I may have once possessed. I know I shouldnt care about the aging process. Maybe having once been a model has warped my perspective. This desire to be recognized as attractive enough to be objectified is ugly, vain and possibly dangerous. Besides, other than my youth, I have everything I really need and want. And seriously, Im profoundly grateful Im still here and kicking. All you have to do is read the obituaries (which I now do religiously) to know a lot of people of my generation are not. I know in my head and my heart that someone who is ogling women or making unwanted advances is exhibiting demeaning, ignorant behaviour that should not be tolerated. Still, when I look in the mirror, I occasionally get wistful for my younger countenance untarnished by time, crows feet, spider veins and anxiety caused by being lucky enough to have lived all these years. If that makes me a terrible person, guilty as charged. Judy Marcus is a freelance writer. Her blog, Opinionated Woman, appears on Chicagonow.com. She wrote this column for the Chicago Tribune. A version of this column recently appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2017 (2021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Its easy to understand why the subject of organ donation makes procrastinators out of the best of us. Its not exactly pleasant to think about what happens to our organs after we die. But for the 200 Manitobans waiting for a kidney transplant, and the 20 waiting for a heart, lung or liver transplant, potentially life-saving organ donations are top of mind. This week is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, with campaigns across the country aimed at getting people to register as organ donors. Currently, all Canadian provinces have an opt-in system for organ donation, which means citizens must declare their intent to be donors. In 2012, Transplant Manitoba and the Tissue Bank of Manitoba introduced an online organ donation registry, Sign Up For Life, to make the sign-up process easier and create an easily accessed electronic database. A splashy ad campaign featuring local celebrities Fred Penner Could Save Your Life has raised awareness about the registry, but the actual sign-up rate has been relatively slow. As of Wednesday, 19,333 Manitobans had registered as organ donors at SignUpForLife.ca, which is about 1.44 per cent of the population. Thats an improvement over last year at this time, when just more than 14,000 had registered. The low percentage doesnt necessarily reflect most Manitobans attitudes toward organ and tissue donation, however. Many folks simply havent gotten around to registering online, or still carry an old-fashioned paper donor card that cant be tracked in the new system. Online registries are one way to bolster numbers of registered donors. But advocates such as Canadian composer David Foster, whose foundation supports families with children in need of organ transplant, and groups such as Manitobans for Presumed Consent, would like to see more jurisdictions adopt an opt-out model for organ donation. An opt-out, or presumed consent, model assumes every citizen is an organ donor unless they specify otherwise. Opt-out systems leverage what psychologists call the default effect. When a certain option is the default, its more likely to be chosen. Several European countries have adopted opt-out systems, but the idea has been met with resistance in North America, with many folks stumbling over the ethics, legalities and language of presumed consent, as well as having a general squeamishness around the subject. But an opt-out model still allows people to have a say over what happens to their own bodies. When France moved to an opt-out model earlier this year, 150,000 people signed the refusal registry in one day. How many online organ donation registries can say theyve seen those kinds of numbers in one day? In order for opt-in systems to work, people still need to do just that: opt in. The opt-out model is clearly a more effective approach and should be given serious consideration in this country. Opt-out systems may one day come to Canada: MLA Stephen Fletcher introduced a private members bill on presumed consent in the Manitoba legislature earlier this year, and last year, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said he wants to bring an opt-out system to that province. In the meantime, Manitobans could have an immediate impact and give their province the distinction of having the highest rate of registered organ donors in Canada. All thats needed to get started is a Manitoba Health Card and two minutes spent online. Winnipeg Free Press AIB chief executive Bernard Byrne has urged the Government to return the State-owned lender to the stock markets by summer, rather than delaying until the second half of 2017. According to the Irish Independent, Byrne made the case that all the requirements were in place for it to sell a near-3bn stake in the bank successfully. Missed out on those Electric Picnic tickets? Not to worry, Disney are hosting a festival (for adults) this year. Electroland will take place in the Disneyland Paris park on July 8 and already promises some stellar acts. Tributes have been paid to RTE's political correspondent David Davin Power, who has retired from the station today, writes Daniel McConnell. Over 100 RTE colleagues gathered in the main newsroom to pay tribute to the veteran reporter. A daily presence on Irish television screens, Mr Davin Power has been praised as of the most trusted and influential voices in Irish politics. He began his career with the national broadcaster in the early 1980s and was a founding presenter on Morning Ireland radio programme in 1984. He made the bold decision to leave RTE to run the newsroom at Century Radio in 1989 only to return to Montrose two years later as Northern Editor. While in Belfast, the Dubliner led the station's coverage on the embryonic peace process and the establishment of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. He later returned to RTE in Dublin to work as a political correspondent at Leinster House. Thanks for all the kind words: sad to be leaving such wonderful colleagues but I have had a fantastic time over the years ddp (@theddp) April 28, 2017 Jon Williams, the managing director of RTE News and Current Affairs, led tributes to the retiring reporter. He said: "In all the places that I have worked his analysis and ability to tell a story is without peer. "He is going to leave very big shoes to fill. David has had a fascinating and truly storied career, his career has been the story of this island and that is something that is truly remarkable." SIPTU members in the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), excluding Airport Police and Fire Service, have voted against the acceptance of Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) proposals. The proposals are contained in the Company/Union Framework document in relation to terms and conditions of employment. There has been a call from Fianna Fail for the Government to establish an Oireachtas Committee on Mental Health. The parties spokes person on the issue James Browne has written to Taoiseach Enda Kenny to request a new joint committee to facilitate discussions relating to mental health services. The Government has insisted it will not stymie efforts to find closure for Kingsmill massacre victims. Ten Protestant textile workers were gunned down during an IRA roadside ambush in South Armagh in January 1976. Relatives of some of those killed have threatened to pull out of an inquest if legal authorities in the Republic do not co-operate. They are seeking details from the Garda about the weapons used, intelligence and the getaway van employed by the gunmen. A statement from the Department of Justice said: "Any suggestion that there is an unwillingness by the Irish government to assist the inquest or stand in the way of closure for the victims' families would be unfounded. "The Irish Government has given its commitment to co-operate to the greatest extent possible, within the law, with the inquest and, in fact, has taken unprecedented legal measures to facilitate that co-operation and to deliver upon its commitment." It said the government took the "unprecedented" step of producing domestic legislation to facilitate legal co-operation with the inquest. "This legislation facilitated the transfer of significant evidential material by An Garda Siochana to the Northern Ireland coroner. "The Irish authorities have continuously sought to cooperate with the coroner and his legal team as part of an ongoing legal process." The factory workers were travelling home from work when their minibus was stopped. They were asked their religion then lined up on a country road and shot dead in a sectarian attack blamed on the IRA. Only one man, Alan Black, survived despite being shot 18 times. Victims' relatives are seeking more details from the Garda. However, Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan cannot direct an officer to give evidence to the inquest without new legislation. Update 3.35pm: A Government TD has broken ranks to call on Health Minister Simon Harris to consider buying the 300m land on which the new national maternity hospital will be built in a bid to end the escalating scandal, writes Fiachra O Cionnaith. Fine Gael TD Kate O'Connell urged the move as a way to resolve the stand-off, saying either entering into a long-term lease with the Sisters of Charity or buying the land outright is the only realistic option. Speaking on RTE Radio's Today with Sean O'Rourke as Sinn Fein confirmed it will table a motion seeking legal guarantees the hospital "remains entirely within public ownership" and will be independent in all clinical matters, Ms O'Connell said ownership remains the key issue in the dispute. While Minister Harris has to date refused to speculate on purchasing the new National Maternity Hospital site, she said the Health Minister must consider the move during the coming month of talks with all groups involved. "I think it's time for cool heads. The Minister has asked for a month to try and address concerns, she said. "My own view is that we should try and negotiate with the Sisters of Charity and come to some form of agreement." Ms O'Connell later confirmed to the Irish Examiner that she believes that either buying or leasing the land are the only options available. Speaking on the same programme, Iona Institute patron Prof Patricia Casey said she also believes "the nuns should sell the hospital or sell the land" instead of agreeing to "sell their consciences". While independent of the Sisters of Charity, she said: "I would be extremely surprised if the Sisters of Charity wanted to be abortion campaigners or abortion providers". The comments came as Sinn Fein confirmed it will table a motion on the ongoing new National Maternity Hospital when the Dail returns next Wednesday, which among other issues will demand legal guarantees over the facility's complete independence from any religious influence. The motion, which was published by party health spokesperson Louise O'Reilly yesterday, includes a specific reference to the ongoing controversy over the independence of the new national maternity hospital which calls on the Government to: ensure the new National Maternity Hospital is built on the St Vincent's Hospital campus as quickly as possible, remains entirely within public ownership and has legally guaranteed independence from all non-medical influence in its clinical operations within the laws of the State Update 12.25pm: Maternity service users in Ireland are calling on the Sisters of Charity themselves to clarify whether certain medical procedures will be permitted at the new National Maternity Hospital. While the St Vincents Hospital Group has said it will allow all legal procedures, AIMS Ireland wants the religious order themselves to make a statement. The Association for the Improvement of Maternity Services said it needs clarity on whether abortions, IVF and sterilisations would be permitted by the religious sisters. Chairperson of AIMS Ireland Krysia Lynch said: The women of Ireland, the childbearing women of Ireland, they absolutely do not want to find that their bodies are being controlled by religious ethos - or by anybody. They want autonomy over their own bodies and at the moment that is 100% not guaranteed. Update - 11.10am: Dr Chris Fitzpatrick has said he felt he had no alternative but to resign from his position on the project Board planning the National Maternity Hospital (NMH). He explained that he stood down over concerns about the proposed governance and control of the new facility at St Vincent's hospital. Dr Fitzpatrick said: "I would like to say that I registered my concern about this almost a year ago to the day. "I spoke in a public forum in relation to it, I spoke to the media and was encouraged by the National Maternity Hospital to address their concern in relation to the governance structures that were being discussed at the time with St Vincent's Healthcare." Dr Fitzpatrick said his anxiety "concerned ownership and control of the hospital". Prof Chris Fitzpatrick says he had no alternative but to resign pic.twitter.com/pVL5Fiy7eV RTE News (@rtenews) April 28, 2017 However, he insisted that none of the deliberations should derail or decelerate the project and it is absolutely essential the NMH co-locates at St Vincent's as planned. He said "there is an opportunity to resolve the problem" as it is of "national significance" as the first maternity hospital being built this century. He said it is absolutely critical there is absolute separation between Church and medicine, especially when it comes to female reproductive healthcare, and made it clear that he was not reassured by the statements issued by other consultants on the Board or by Nicholas Kearns' statements. Prof Fitzpatrick says the co-location is a 'compromised deal' pic.twitter.com/wtR1wVglMw RTE News (@rtenews) April 28, 2017 Dr Fitzpatrick told the Sean O'Rourke programme on RTE Radio 1 that the "sufficient ambiguity in the composition of the Board" will guarantee division and confusion. "This is not the way to run a maternity hospital," he said, referring to it as a "compromise governance model". He said he very much shared the view that it should exist as a co-operative partnership with St Vincent's hospital. Update - 10.45am: Barnardos CEO Fergus Finlay has said he did not anticipate another fallout concerning maternity hospital ownership in 2017. "I didn't think we would ever have a row again about the state consciously, deliberately deciding to build a maternity hospital, and giving it to the Catholic Church, " he said on Newstalk Breakfast. "I just cannot understand the basis behind the decision, the logic behind the decision. You wouldn't build a university and hand it over to the Catholic Church. It's inexplicable." Meanwhile, the former master of the Rotunda has defended Ireland's maternity hospital system. Sam Coulter Smith said current facilities are all free from religious influence, and that the new hospital can be autonomous if current standards are followed. "It must be very clear who's in charge, who's making the decisions and how those decisions are made, and who those decisions are reported to," he said. "There can't be any interference from any outside body with any other interest. "That's what we have in the maternity hospitals at the moment. We have a mastership system. We've got a system that works." Update - 8.45am: The former Master of the Coombe has resigned from the project board of the National Maternity Hospital. Professor Chris Fitzpatrick has stood down in support of Dr Peter Boylan who resigned yesterday over reservations about the proposed religious ownership of the hospital. In his resignation note, Prof. Fitzpatrick said he shared Dr Boylan's concern that the Sisters of Charity will own the new 300m taxpayer-funded hospital. Earlier: The boards of Holles Street and St Vincent's hospitals are to begin working on the governance and legal agreements for the new national maternity hospital. St Vincent's board confirmed last night that it is fully supportive of the decision to locate the facility on its land. The boards are now expected to meet with Simon Harris to complete the necessary agreements - which they say will guarantee the hospital's clinical independence - as set out in the original deal. However, Social Democrat TD Roisin Shortall believes that the deal is not sufficient to guarantee independence. She said: "That would indicate that what we've been led to believe in relation to the independence of the new National Maternity Hospital is not actually the case. "When you look at the detail of the report, you see that what is proposed is a company that is to be set up that would be entirely owned by St Vincent's and equally a board that would be dominated by St Vincent's. "That is not an independent hospital." A man arrested in Waterford after a crackdown on suspected links to terrorism terrorism will appear in Waterford District Court today. He was taken into custody along with a woman yesterday on the outskirts of the city centre after a rented property was searched. Former Anglo Irish Chairman Sean FitzPatrick told gardai that he had no reason to hide the full extent of his loans from the bank, his trial has heard. It is the prosecution's case that multi-million euro loans taken out by Mr FitzPatrick (aged 68) and his family were artificially reduced for a period of two weeks around the bank's financial end of year statement by short term loans from other sources, including Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS). On day 115 of the country's longest running criminal trial, prosecuting counsel told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court their case was complete. Defence Counsel, Bernard Condon told the court then that the defence had some applications to make and these would take some time. The jury was asked to return on May 11. Earlier, the court heard that after his arrest by investigating gardai, Mr FitzPatrick told them that there was no financial benefit to him, his family or Anglo Irish Bank in the annual refinancing of some of his loans. He said he never came up with the suggestion that the refinancing should be done. He said it was done by someone else and he just signed it off. I never went and spoke to anyone in INBS. I never came up with the suggestion that should be done. Every year someone in the accounts department did it and it was done, done, done and I just signed it, he told gardai. He denied that he was seeking to conceal the extent of his loans from the bank's board, shareholders or auditors. This was not being done behind closed doors. It was not being done secretly. There was no secrecy about the loan process. No prohibition on anyone being told about it, he told Detective Sergeant Brian Mahon, during interviews at Bray Garda Station. He said around 40 staff in the bank knew. Asked if he was trying to conceal his loans from the auditors he said that the bank's loans figures were returned every quarter to the Central Bank. Asked if the refinancing was a deliberate attempt to mislead the auditors about the true extent of your loans Mr FitzPatrick replied: Why would I want to do that? Where was the benefit for me? Where was I making money? All of the loans up to 2008 were performing, approved by the credit committee, where was the benefit for me in refinancing? He told Sergeant Mahon that the media would have been at the back of his mind as he was concerned there would not be a misleading picture. He said he didn't believe loans he had taken out as part of investment partnerships he was involved with had to be disclosed in Anglo's figures as he was only liable for a part of those loans. He said the refinancing was done for the first four or five years to ensure a misleading picture was not put out. If there was no refinancing, the bank would have included the entire partnership loans and the question was which was more misleading?, he told gardai. He said that it was suggested by the bank in 1995 that this was the route he should take to more accurately reflect the level of real borrowing by him. He said he didn't know who came up with the solution. There was no financial benefit to me, my family or the bank, he added. Asked about the temporary transfer of monies from his own deposit accounts he said he had no recollection of he or his wife giving instructions for that to happen. Gardai asked him how it could have happened without instruction he replied: Exactly. How did it happen?. He said he didn't know if any other directors, non executive directors or Anglo senior management know about the full extent of your borrowings. Mr FitzPatrick of Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow has pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act. These include 22 charges of making a misleading, false or deceptive statement to auditors and five charges of furnishing false information in the years 2002 to 2007. Two Cork men accused of IRA membership were freshly charged today at the Special Criminal Court with possession of firearms and ammunition. Joseph Walsh (aged 36) of Glengarriff Road, Fair Hill, Co Cork and Michael Gilmartin (aged 46), with an address at Chestnut Drive, Cluain Ard, Newtown, Cobh, Co Cork were charged today with possession of firearms including a magazine suitable for a 9mm parabellum pistol, a 9mm parabellum pistol and a double-barrel sawn-off shotgun at Chestnut Drive, Cluain Ard, Newtown, Cobh, County Cork on December 14 last year. A 25-year-old man has been charged in Waterford with funding terrorism. Hasan Bal, who is originally from the UK and had been living in Waterford city, was remanded in custody after a brief hearing at Waterford District Court. He is charged with providing funds for a terrorist organisation on October 2, 2015, and attempting to provide funds on October 23, 2015. The court was told Bal made no reply when both charges were put to him by detectives. Judge Kevin Staunton was told there was no issue when he asked if there were any "language difficulties" with Bal. A Garda outside Waterford Courthouse today. Pic: PA The judge had asked: "He's an English speaker?" Two detectives gave a brief account to the court of when Bal was detained and charged. He was arrested on Thursday in Waterford and charged with the two offences under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005. Bal, who has a beard and was wearing a black jacket, stood as the case was called. He did not speak and no application for bail was made on his behalf. Bal's solicitor Pat Newell told the court that he was applying for legal aid and that he was reserving his position on a bail application until the case is back before the court on Tuesday. A woman arrested on Thursday in Waterford as part of the same investigation was released without charge, with a file being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Donald Trump has said he would like to see a diplomatic resolution to escalating tensions with North Korea, but fears "we could end up having a major, major conflict". The US president was speaking after secretary of state Rex Tillerson said China had threatened to impose sanctions on North Korea if it conducts further nuclear tests. "We know that China is in communications with the regime in Pyongyang," Mr Tillerson said. "They confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test." Mr Tillerson said Beijing also told the US that it had informed North Korea "that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own". China's foreign minister said the situation on the Korean peninsula "is under great tension and at a critical point". Wang Yi said the international community must stay committed to parallel progress on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and upholding peace and stability. He told reporters ahead of a UN Security Council ministerial meeting on North Korea that "what is crucial today is to resume the talks", even if few players are involved initially. The ultimate goal, he added, would be to resume multilateral discussions known as the six-party talks. He also reiterated China's proposal that North Korea halt nuclear and missile tests in exchange for the US and South Korea stopping military exercises. He called it "sensible and reasonable" and said the proposal was gaining support from many countries. The Trump administration has declared that all options, including a targeted military strike, are on the table to block North Korea from carrying out threats against the US and its allies in the region. But a pre-emptive attack is not likely, US officials have said, and the administration is pursuing a strategy of putting pressure on Pyongyang with assistance from China, North Korea's main trading partner and the country's economic lifeline. With international support, the Trump administration said on Thursday it wanted to exert a "burst" of economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea that yields results within months to push the communist government to change course from developing nuclear weapons. AP Former US president George HW Bush has been released from hospital after treatment for pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. His spokesman Jim McGrath said Mr Bush is "pleased to be home spending time with family and friends" and is "grateful for the outstanding care provided by his doctors and nurses" during his two-week stay in hospital. The 92-year-old had been admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital on April 14 for treatment of a persistent cough and was later diagnosed with pneumonia. After the pneumonia was treated, he remained in hospital as doctors dealt with a case of chronic bronchitis - a constant irritation of the lining of tubes that carry air to the lungs. His doctors said chronic bronchitis is a condition more prevalent with age and can aggravate the symptoms of pneumonia. Mr McGrath said Mr Bush will continue receiving treatment for bronchitis at home, but this should not affect the 41st president's plans to travel to his home in Kennebunkport, Maine, where he and his 91-year-old wife Barbara spend their summers. Mr Bush and his wife live in Houston during the winter. Mr Bush, who served as president from 1989 to 1993, was also treated in hospital for 16 days in January for pneumonia. During that hospital stay, which included time in intensive care, doctors inserted a breathing tube and connected him to a ventilator. He was taken to hospital in 2015 in Maine after falling at home and breaking a bone in his neck. In December 2014, he was treated for a shortness of breath during a week-long stay in hospital, and he spent Christmas 2012 in intensive care for a bronchitis-related cough and other issues. Mr Bush has a form of Parkinson's disease and uses a motorised scooter or a wheelchair for mobility. Despite his loss of mobility, he celebrated his 90th birthday by making a tandem parachute jump in Kennebunkport. Last summer, Mr Bush led a group of 40 wounded warriors on a fishing trip at the helm of his speedboat, three days after his 92nd birthday celebration. After his release from his hospital stay in January, he participated in the coin flip at the Super Bowl in Houston. AP The German parliament has approved a government proposal to ban the wearing of full-face veils for public servants while they are at work. The bill was proposed last year by security officials from German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc. A human rights group has expressed concern over brutal attacks in India by self-appointed "cow protectors" against Muslims and lower castes over rumours that they sold, bought or killed cows for beef. Human Rights Watch said Indian authorities should promptly investigate the attacks and prosecute those responsible or face allegations of complicity. Many critics allege the vigilantes are linked to extremist Hindu groups affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The group said: "The police, too often, have filed complaints against the assault victims, their relatives, and associates under laws banning cow slaughter." Hindus, who form 80% of India's 1.3 billion population, consider cows to be sacred and for many eating beef is taboo. In many Indian states, the slaughtering of cows and selling of beef is either restricted or banned. Human Rights Watch said that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government came to power in May 2014, at least 10 Muslims have been killed in mob attacks in seven separate incidents of mob violence related to allegations over cows. Mr Modi has condemned the attacks. His party, which also runs various state governments, has promised swift action against the offenders, but the attacks continue. Vigilante groups have become active in small towns and cities across India. Lower castes usually carry out undesirable tasks such as skinning dead animals, and many work in the leather industry. "Self-appointed 'cow protectors' driven by irresponsible populism are killing people and terrorizing minority communities," said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch. UPDATE 9.15pm: North Korea's deputy UN ambassador has warned that US efforts to get rid of his country's nuclear weapons through military threats and sanctions are "a wild dream". Kim In Ryong said North Korea's nuclear weapons are never part of "political bargains and economic deals". He said: "In a nutshell, DPRK (North Korea) have already declared not to attend any type of talks which would discuss its nuclear abandonment, nuclear disbandment." He reiterated North Korea's longstanding contention that its nuclear programme "is the product of the United States' hostile policy towards DPRK". He said: "That is why every solution will be possible when the United States hostile policy is withdrawn in advance. Mr Kim "categorically rejected" Friday's UN Security Council meeting on the North Korean nuclear issue - which his country declined to attend - as "another abuse" of the council's authority, acting on instructions of the United States which is a veto-wielding member. Mr Kim said: "As we expected, (the) US has taken issue with self-defensive nuclear deterrent of the DPRK, and not only to justify their anti-DPRK aggressive war racket but also to create atmosphere for sanctions against DPRK at any cost." He said the United States "is wholly to blame for pushing the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war by staging the largest-ever joint aggression military drills against the DPRK for the past two months" and deploying "nuclear strategic assets" to South Korea. While the United States once talked about nuclear disarmament, Mr Kim said it is spending a trillion dollars "in a bid to secure a nuclear edge" - and he said this issue should be addressed "before tabling the denuclearisation of the DPRK". "The nuclear force of the DPRK just serves as a treasured sword of justice and creditable war deterrent to protect the sovereignty and dignity of the country and global peace from the US threat to ignite a nuclear war," he said. UPDATE 5.30pm: The US has called for new sanctions against North Korea and threatened to punish international companies doing banned business with the pariah nation's nuclear and missile programmes. Doing nothing could be "catastrophic", senior diplomat Rex Tillerson told a special UN Security Council session he chaired. He was speaking after Donald Trump said he would like to see a diplomatic resolution to escalating tensions with Pyongyang, but fears "we could end up having a major, major conflict". Amid council members' warning about the potential for conflict, Mr Tillerson urged tougher action from China, North Korea's main trading partner. China is North Korea's main source of food and fuel aid. While it wants the North to end its nuclear weapons programme, it is wary of destabilising a traditional ally it fought with in the 1950-53 Korean War. EARLIER: British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has accused North Korea of issuing "blood-curdling threats" as it threatens world peace over its nuclear weapons programme. Addressing the UN Security Council, Mr Johnson called on China and Russia to use their influence with Pyongyang to "restrain" the regime. He said: "There could hardly be a clearer threat to world peace more demanding of a unified response than the activities of one member of the United Nations, North Korea breaking its treaty obligations, ignoring the will of this council, and making blood-curdling threats to inflict grievous harm on peoples of other countries. "We urge other partners with direct influence on North Korea to use their leverage to the full with the aim of easing tensions and ensuring compliance with the express will of the UN. "There is a vital role for China and Russia, both of whom are neighbours of North Korea with influence on Pyongyang, and as permanent members of this council, a special responsibility they have for preserving international peace and security. "The UK calls on Russia and China, and other member states, to use whatever influence they possess to restrain North Korea and guide its leaders towards a peaceful settlement. "Britain stands alongside our allies in making clear that North Korea must obey the UN and halt its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes - disarming in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner." Mr Johnson said that many countries were not implementing already agreed sanctions against Pyongyang. "The United Kingdom believes it is vital for this council to stand ready to take further significant measures to bring about a peaceful resolution. "And sooner or later the North Korean regime must realise that their isolation not only holds back their own people, if the regime really cares about their own people, but also weakens their own grip on power," the Foreign Secretary said. The UN discussion is happening as the White House has declared that all options, including a targeted military strike, are on the table to prevent North Korea from carrying out threats against the United States and its allies in the region. US President Donald Trump has said he wants to see a diplomatic resolution to the crisis but fears "we could end up having a major, major conflict". The US president was speaking after secretary of state Rex Tillerson said China had threatened to impose sanctions on North Korea if it conducts further nuclear tests. "We know that China is in communications with the regime in Pyongyang," Mr Tillerson said. "They confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test." Mr Tillerson said Beijing also told the US that it had informed North Korea "that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own". China's foreign minister said the situation on the Korean peninsula "is under great tension and at a critical point". Wang Yi said the international community must stay committed to parallel progress on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and upholding peace and stability. He told reporters ahead of a UN Security Council ministerial meeting on North Korea that "what is crucial today is to resume the talks", even if few players are involved initially. The ultimate goal, he added, would be to resume multilateral discussions known as the six-party talks. He also reiterated China's proposal that North Korea halt nuclear and missile tests in exchange for the US and South Korea stopping military exercises. He called it "sensible and reasonable" and said the proposal was gaining support from many countries. The Trump administration has declared that all options, including a targeted military strike, are on the table to block North Korea from carrying out threats against the US and its allies in the region. But a pre-emptive attack is not likely, US officials have said, and the administration is pursuing a strategy of putting pressure on Pyongyang with assistance from China, North Korea's main trading partner and the country's economic lifeline. With international support, the Trump administration said on Thursday it wanted to exert a "burst" of economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea that yields results within months to push the communist government to change course from developing nuclear weapons. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that China has threatened to impose sanctions on North Korea if it conducts further nuclear tests. "We know that China is in communications with the regime in Pyongyang," Mr Tillerson said on Fox News Channel. "They confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test." Mr Tillerson said China also told the US that it had informed North Korea "that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own". Earlier on Thursday, the senior US Navy officer overseeing military operations in the Pacific said the crisis with North Korea is at the worst point he has ever seen, but he declined to compare the situation to the Cuban missile crisis decades ago. "It's real," Admiral Harry Harris Jr commander of US Pacific Command, said during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Admiral Harris said he has no doubt that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un intends to fulfil his pursuit of a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the United States. The admiral acknowledged there is uncertainty within US intelligence agencies over how far along North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes are. But Harris said it is not a matter of if but when. "There is no doubt in my mind," Admiral Harris said. China's foreign ministry had no immediate comment on Mr Tillerson's remarks on new sanctions, but a spokesman said Beijing remained committed to implementing sanctions imposed under UN Security Council resolutions. "And the reason that China implements relevant resolutions is to fulfil our due international obligation rather than being pressured by any outside parties," Geng Shuang said at a daily briefing. China has consistently called for an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, but says it opposes unilateral sanctions imposed without a UN mandate. China in January suspended coal imports from the North for the rest of the year, but it did so following the passage of a Security Council resolution capping Pyongyang's coal exports. Other economic activity with North Korea remains robust. Still, Beijing has been increasing pressure on North Korea, and would be willing to impose punitive measures unilaterally in the event of another nuclear test, said Cheng Xiaohe, an associate professor at Renmin University's School of International Studies in Beijing. "So Tillerson's comments are correct - but be careful, China does so for China's national interest, not as a result of US pressure," Mr Cheng said. The Trump administration has declared that all options, including a targeted military strike, are on the table to block North Korea from carrying out threats against the United States and its allies in the region. But a pre-emptive attack is not likely, US officials have said, and the administration is pursuing a strategy of putting pressure on Pyongyang with assistance from China, North Korea's main trading partner and the country's economic lifeline. With international support, the Trump administration said on Thursday it wants to exert a "burst" of economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea that yields results within months to push the communist government to change course from developing nuclear weapons. Susan Thornton, the acting top US diplomat for East Asia, said there is debate about whether Pyongyang is willing to give up its weapons programs. She said the US wants "to test that hypothesis to the maximum extent we can" for a peaceful resolution. But signalling that military action remains possible, Ms Thornton told an event hosted by the Foundation for Defence of Democracies - the Washington think tank has advocated tougher US policies on Iran and North Korea - that the administration treats North Korea as its primary security challenge and is serious that "all options are on the table". "We are not seeking regime change and our preference is to resolve this problem peacefully," Ms Thornton said, "but we are not leaving anything off the table." Mr Tillerson took a similar stand in the Fox News interview, saying: "We do not seek regime change in North Korea... What we are seeking is the same thing China has said they seek - a full denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula." In a separate interview with National Public Radio, Mr Tillerson said the US remains open to holding direct negotiations with North Korea. "But North Korea has to decide they are ready to talk to us about the about the right agenda, and the right agenda is not simply stopping where they are for a few more months or a few more years and then resuming things," he said, according to excerpts of an interview that will air on Friday morning. "That's been the agenda for the last 20 years." AP A woman in her twenties has been shot by British police and four people arrested during terror raids in London and Kent. The injured suspect is being held under police guard after being rushed to hospital in a serious condition following the swoop at a north London address. Police said she was a subject of an ongoing investigation by counter-terror officers who are searching several addresses across London. The raids are not connected to an earlier incident when a man carrying knives was arrested near Downing Street on suspicion of planning a terror attack, Scotland Yard said. The woman was shot as officers entered an address in Harlesden Road, Willesden, shortly before 7pm on Thursday. Video posted online appeared to show heavily armed police clad in black storming a terraced house as loud bangs rang out. One described seeing "loads of police with balaclavas, streets cordoned off, ambulances". The Metropolitan Police said a 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman were arrested at the property and a 20-year-old man was detained nearby. A 43-year-old woman was arrested in Kent shortly after the raid and all four are being held on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of terrorist acts at a south London police station. The injured woman has not been arrested due to her condition, which police described as "serious but stable". No other injuries have been reported. Police said the property and people connected to it had been "under observation by counter-terrorism officers as part of an ongoing intelligence-led operation". Further searches at linked addresses across London are under way, although the locations have not been disclosed. The incident has been referred to the Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) "as a matter of course", Scotland Yard said. Police said the operation was unconnected to the earlier arrest of a 27-year-old man armed with knives in Westminster. During an "intelligence-led" operation, terror police swooped on the suspect close to Downing Street and the scene of the deadly Westminster Bridge attack. A woman in her sixties who was injured in the April 7 truck attack in Stockholm has died, raising the death toll to five. Stockholm police said the woman, who has not been publicly identified, had been taken to hospital following the incident. Braidwood is poised to remember the capture of Australia's deadliest bushranger gang on Saturday with actual descendents of the outlaws themselves. The Capture of the Clarkes is set to be a near-faithful reenactment of brothers John and Tom Clarke's showdown with NSW police, 150 years ago, in 1867. Members of the cast of the reenactment of the capture of the Clarke Gang. On April 29, the town of Braidwood will mark 150 years since the bushrangers' capture. Credit:Elspeth Kernebone Brothers Luke Clarke, 33, and Tom Clarke, 28, are descendants of the outlaws and will be playing them on Saturday, including wearing clothing identical to what they were wearing on the day. "I couldn't even make the bloody drama class," Luke said, who will be playing John. Coles has been ordered to pay a former employee more than $1 million in damages after she slipped from a safety step at the Tuggeranong supermarket. Nicole Marie Harris, 34, started part-time work at the store a few weeks before she rolled her ankle and tumbled from the step, badly injuring her right hip, knee, ankle and shoulder, as she straightened stock in December 2009. Acting Justice Linda Ashford found Coles liable for damages. Credit:Nic Walker Ms Harris underwent physiotherapy and was prescribed medication, but experienced ongoing pain in her hip. She used a walking stick because she had a fear of falling and was unable to perform some household tasks or drive, sit or stand for long periods of time. South Canberra residents are in shock as police investigate more than 50 car break-ins on Thursday night. ACT Policing's Station Sergeant Harry Hains said items were robbed from several cars in Narrabundah, Kingston, Garran and Griffith, although no cars were reported stolen. Aftermath of a car break-in on Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah on Thursday night Credit:Clare Sibthorpe He said police were following a number of leads and was confident they would lead to charges. "At this stage, there are at least 50 and possibly more, as reports are still coming in," Sergeant Hains said. The Australian Federal Police has raised concerns about a "cultural element" inside corporate Australia that is hampering investigations into serious financial crimes, including bribery, fraud and money laundering. In a Senate inquiry into whistleblower protections, the AFP said corporate cultures that discouraged whistleblowers to speak out about unlawful behaviour undermined investigations. The inquiry also heard Australia's banks are continuing to pressure workers who blow the whistle on unethical and unlawful behaviour, despite a series of scandals and parliamentary inquiries into misconduct in the sector. The AFP said whistleblowers faced discouragement from employers to speak out about financial crime. AusCann managing director Elaine Darby says there is an incredible amount of hype in the cannabis industry. He floated Phytotech (now MMJ Phytotech) on the ASX in January 2015 to a roaring response climbing from 20 on issue to 92 on their second day only to resign as executive director two weeks later over a threatening social media rant. Smith said his Facebook account had been hacked. Investors attracted But despite these antics the industry has been too attractive to resist for some investors. Perth-based medicinal marijuana company Phytotech Medical is on the rise. Credit:Gary Malerba To give a sense of scale consider that medical marijuana sales hit $US4.9 billion ($6.5 billion) in the United States last year and will reach $US7.3 billion in 2020, according to research by marijuana investment group Archview. The local industry is a fraction of that size but investors have still thrown money at Australian players since the growing of cannabis for medicinal use and research was legalised in February 2016. A government facility for growing medical marijuana in Israel. Credit:Getty Images America is the Wild, Wild West: there are no standard set of rules that apply. BuddingTech Adam Miller "We get phone calls all the time from people wanting to invest in the industry," says Merchant Funds managing director Andrew Chapman, whose small-stock fund has about $10 million invested across four local medical cannabis companies. "The reasons why the shares have done so well over the last six to 12 months is there's a lot of money chasing the theme, but there's just not many homes for the money to go into." World-renowned cannabis breeder Nevil Schoenmakers. A handful of the Australian companies seeking to cultivate or manufacture medical marijuana in Australia are listed on the ASX, and nearly all have outperformed the wider market by a considerable margin this year. Shares of three of the largest cannabis pure plays AusCann, Zelda Therapeutics and MMJ Phytotech each grew by more than 150 per cent in the past six months. The All Ordinaries Index on the ASX has lifted 12 per cent. Preparing Cannabis oil for medical use. Credit:Rohan Thomson Sales question The local industry shouldn't expect runaway sales growth like that seen in the United States, where individual states have legalised use of the drug, says Adam Miller, founder of medical cannabis technology and innovation accelerator BuddingTech. "America is the Wild, Wild west: there are no standard set of rules that apply," he says. Health Minister Greg Hunt. Credit:Justin McManus "They have a significant medical market but none of the products that are being sold there have gone under any clinical trials, there's no standardisation." Miller says that while it is delivering eye-watering sales figures at the moment, most of the US industry would be shut down overnight if the federal government there put an industry framework in place that abides by the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. Phytotech medical founder Ross Smith resigned as executive director following a social media furore. Australia on the other hand has gone by the book, he says, which means the market will grow slower but it will be compatible with a global market should it eventuate. In California marijuana can be prescribed for a variety of conditions, including headaches or anxiety, and bought in a variety of forms. But Australian doctors can only prescribe the drug in pill or oil form and when there is scientific evidence that a certain product is effective for that condition. It is worth noting also that depending on the use the plants can be bred to virtually remove any intoxicating effects. State and federal governments and the Therapeutic Goods Administration are still deciding what medical conditions qualify, but medicinal marijuana has been used to treat people who have epilepsy, chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and HIV/AIDS. Companies that want to grow, import or manufacture cannabis oils or tablets need to apply for a licence from the Office of Drug Control, which has so far issued four licences for growing, two for research and one for manufacturing. Market potential Despite these constraints, Miller says there is a significant market waiting to be tapped. A white paper BuddingTech wrote with the University of Sydney found there would be a patient portfolio of about 30,000 Australians with epilepsy, HIV and multiple sclerosis that would seek to use the drugs. Those alone would be worth $150 million to $200 million a year. No producer has brought an Australian grown or manufactured cannabis product to the market yet, with a Victorian government trial the only cultivation for medicinal purposes currently under way, according to the Department of Health. Patients are instead taking imported products. Meanwhile hopeful participants like AusCann, one of the largest cannabis companies on the ASX, are still waiting for their licences to be approved. "Everyone can see the potential but we still have this uncertainty," says AusCann managing director Elaine Darby. AusCann has just harvested its first crop from its growing facilities in Chile. The majority will be used in clinical studies which, if successful, will mean AusCann can register those products and sell them there in about 12 months time. Regulatory hurdles With the opening up of the local market Darby says the company plans to be growing about two hectares of cannabis in Australia by the middle of next year. It will then need to take its produce to trial to prove it is an effective treatment for specific conditions before doctors can prescribe it. In the meantime AusCann will start importing produce from Canadian company Canopy Growth, which is the largest manufacturer in North America and also AusCann's largest shareholder, with a 10 per cent stake. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt's move to relax importation laws in February sent AusCann stocks up 24 per cent. While jumping through regulatory hoops is slowing the process, Darby says the biggest challenge facing the industry is convincing doctors to prescribe cannabis medication. Because medical cannabis is not approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, doctors need to become an "authorised prescriber" of cannabis, while also complying with a layer of state-based rules a process Darby says is onerous. "The market potential is massive: if you look at chronic pain alone, that's conservatively a $5 billion market sitting there," she says. "But at the end of the day you need to get the doctors to prescribe. If you look at Canada there were only a handful of doctors prescribing, there's now in excess of 300 prescribing and well in excesss of 100,000 patients and that's all happened in a couple of years. But if you look at their initial growth, it was very slow." Manufacturing potential MGC Pharmaceuticals has also been preparing for legalisation in Australia, and has set up trial operations in Slovenia while tapping expertise from Europe and Israel in anticipation of the local market opening up. "My view was that this industry was going to happen, it was just a question of if it was going to be one year or 10," says executive chairman Brett Mitchell. Earlier in April it successfully started extracting cannabinoid resins from plants at its facilities in Slovenia and is taking part in a clinical study to discover if the drug can reduce the number of seizures experienced by children with epilepsy. With legalisation, MGC is bringing its expertise in breeding, extraction methods and manufacturing of the end products to Australia, with joint ventures with a major east coast university and a hospital close to being inked. Mitchell says it will have a set-up in Australia similar to that in Slovenia within a year. But as anything produced will need to go through clinical trials, Mitchell says he can't make revenue projections. The uncertainty around when these companies will start generating meaningful revenue from medicinal cannabis has not dampened investors' enthusiasm. Wariness wise But Zach Riaz, director at the Banyan Tree Investment Group, recently compiled a report on the state of the local industry and warned that while it will be a significant and profitable industry in years to come, some share price growth of ASX cannabis companies is getting ahead of fundamentals. "I think investors need to be be a bit wary," he says. "These guys are in their early stages there's a lot of studies and trials that need to be conducted successfully before any of this can be commercialised and sold." That expensive process could require capital raising, he says, a further risk to investors, while just one or two unfavourable results in the scientific trial could cause a company's share price to be "absolutely smashed". "What their best chance is, and I'm pretty sure most of these guys are hoping for, is a big pharma company coming in to take them out." Chris Macdonald, principal and investment adviser at Morgans Chatswood, notes that most of the stocks have fallen off from highs in March and had arrived at a "happy medium"."The government awarding licences a couple of months ago is what really set off the current hype, and like all of these bubbles they do run out of steam," says Macdonald, who has advised companies in the industry. "People are still paying quite high multiples for these stocks that are pre-revenue, or certainly a number of years away from profitability because they're happy to bet on the fact that over the next three to five years they could potentially have access to very, very large revenues." 'Out of control' Chapman says Stemcell United's "out of control" share price fluctuations (it has since returned to 11) risked damaging the reputation of the whole industry. "Unfortunately, mum and dad investors get hurt in that," he says. "We shouldn't be seeing that sort of stuff any more and I'm hopeful that we don't because it takes a bit of that credibility off the actual industry." Chapman says his fund was one of the first backers of the industry, investing in Phytotech, the first to list on the ASX. While Phytotech had a volatile start to life, jumping in value more than fourfold to 92 in its first two days trading and plunging back to 28 when its founder Smith quit following the social media scandal, it was now trading at 62. "So it wasn't a flash in the pan," says Chapman. "And now as the industry is maturing, and as the investors within the industry are maturing as well and understanding what goes into making a successful medicinal cannabis company, we should see less and less of that sort of behaviour." Even Darby, from AusCann, says investors need to take a cautious approach when there was so much "hype" around the industry. Loading Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook is for the first time counting local advertising revenue in Australia rather than Ireland. Credit:AP A 2015 Senate inquiry into multinational tax avoidance had criticised technology companies including Apple, Google and Microsoft for failing to count lucrative advertising revenue, and/or shifting profits to low-tax or no-tax nations such as Singapore and Bermuda. It was revealed they were among a number of multinationals under audit by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan is looking to hit multinationals with tax bills amounting to $4 billion. The tax assessments include $2.9 billion in tax liabilities already issued against seven multinational companies. Following the ATO's court win against oil giant Chevron last week, Treasurer Scott Morrison said "Australia has some of the toughest rules in the world dealing with cross-border transactions and ensuring that Australia gets the right amount of tax on profits made in Australia". He said in addition to MAAL laws, the new 1000-strong Tax Avoidance Taskforce announced in last year's federal budget, together with the recently-implemented Diverted Profits Tax that is expected to raise $100 million in revenue a year from 2018-19, "sends a clear message to multinationals". One of the great mismatches in our economy is how little property developers are accused of giving to politicians from time to time, and the massive amounts politicians gift to the developers some $11 billion a year, according to a new book by two Queensland economists. No, that's not a misprint - $11 billion a year. That's the estimate of how much well-connected, lobbyist-hiring developers make from rezoning and planning decisions compared with the Australian Capital Territory's method of taxing such windfall profits. It's no wonder there are enduring question marks about the relationship between developers and bureaucrats when there is so much money at stake, such a fabulously rich honeypot to attract flies. It's why some governments ban developers from being elected to local government, or attempt to ban them donating to political parties. It's why there's a steady stream of stories about dubious planning, licence and zoning decisions, for everything from coal mines to blocks of flats. India will overtake Germany in 2022 as the world's fourth-largest economy and push Britain out of the top five, based on analysis of growth projections by the International Monetary Fund. But the challenges the South Asian nation must surmount to get there are many. These include executing a wide-ranging overhaul of the tax system, sorting out the biggest pile of distressed assets among major economies, reviving lacklustre productivity, substantially increasing employment opportunities, encouraging corporate investment and overcoming a significant infrastructure shortfall. Some seven decades after independence, India may outshine its former colonial master. Credit:Bloomberg India's economy is still recovering from a cash ban that sucked out 86 per cent of currency in circulation near the end of last year. And then there's the likely near-term disruptions from the implementation of a nationwide goods and sales tax; indeed the government has already missed an April deadline for putting the tax in place and is now working against the clock to meet its new July 1 goal. Bill Shorten has called on Malcolm Turnbull to outline a time frame for the fall in gas prices. Credit:Justin McManus As one Labour MP told Fairfax Media this week: "May's stolen all our policies." The Conservative party's manifesto to be published early next month is likely to include a cap on energy prices. It is an idea of "the most blithering stupidity," according to the free market think tank Adam Smith Institute. "There's not a huge amount of point in beating Labour if one does so by repeating their idiocies." President Donald Trump has helped spark the debate. Credit:AP Four years ago the then-Energy Minister Michael Fallon said freezing energy bills would be "extremely dangerous" and drive companies out of Britain. But on Monday he defended his U-turn, saying the markets had failed to yield the competition the government had hoped for. "This is not a market working perfectly and therefore we are intervening to make markets work better," he told the BBC. Pauline Hanson should have ridden the populist tsunami that gave Donald Trump the US presidency. Instead she was blaming voters. Credit:Tony McDonough May addressed this shift in thinking in her speech to the Tory party conference last year which set out ways to claim "the new centre ground" after the "quiet revolution" of Brexit. "The roots of revolution run deep, because it wasn't the wealthy who made the biggest sacrifices after the financial crash but ordinary working class families." Malcolm Turnbull is stepping into the market. Credit:AP Critically, her approach has her well ahead of Corbyn in the polls with six weeks until election day. As long as she maintains this lead, the economically dry right wing of her party will find it difficult to oppose her. Not that May has pushed through all her populist reforms. Late last year, she abandoned her flirtation with putting employees on company boards an idea heavily opposed by the business community which argues it dilutes decision-making and exposes management strategy to tactical leaking. Nevertheless, her 2016 green paper on tackling corporate excesses picks up Labour's proposal for publishing the ratios of executive pay to the average employee's. Does the centre-right's newfound enthusiasm for intervention represent a brief flirtation or new model for government? In Australia, it would appear Turnbull is embracing this approach. Along with the gas intervention, are the Coalition's noises about wanting to address housing affordability. Treasurer Scott Morrison has said "care must be taken to temper excessive investor activity that can inflate the market." Exactly what Morrison will announce at the budget remains to be seen but the regulator APRA has been encouraged to impose measures to limit housing speculation. The IPA's Roskam argues market intervention will not solve all the Coalition's political problems. "It's red tape and planning restrictions that have made housing unaffordable, yet the public believe that the source of the problem - government - is now somehow going to provide the solution," he complains. "Exactly the same applies to energy policy and the electricity and gas markets." The economically dry Liberal Senator from Victoria, Scott Ryan, says the transition from government monopolies to privatised companies has also contributed to voter resentment against the corporate sector, with consumers left to navigate systems geared to profit on their own. Perversely, he says, too much choice has become a bad thing. "Too often at the moment it can be bewildering or confusing, compounded by a fear of being 'ripped off'," he said. Ryan adds anyone trying to compare a health insurance policy or mobile phone contract will be left befuddled. "We need to make choice empowering again." Meanwhile, the big end of town appears reluctant to help itself. Morrison said earlier this month that he warned the business community in Australia that they risked ceding a freer economy to Labor-stoked populism if they continued to go M.I.A when it came to advocating economic reforms. Jim Chalmers was chief of staff to the former Labor Treasurer Wayne Swan at the time of the GFC and is now Labor's finance spokesman. He argues even the once neo-liberally focussed international bodies like the International Monetary Fund and OECD are talking of "inclusive growth at every opportunity." "The GFC torpedoed the purist argument that markets are always infallible and that wealth will somehow distribute itself," he says. "It's not just some of the right-wing rhetoric that's shifting, it's the whole conversation in the centre about ensuring people have a stake in the prosperity they help generate." James Paterson was until last year the IPA's other most prominent voice. He is now a Liberal Senator in Victoria. Yassmin Abdel-Magied left Australia after being hounded in the media and on social media for her comments on Australia Day. Credit:SBS Following on from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's announcement of a new citizenship test based on "Australian values", Monday's Newspoll revealed a parlous 36 per cent primary vote for the Coalition and a fat 10 per cent for One Nation, which is a significant increase on its vote from last year. If the Coalition can't recapture those voters, it needs to hold on to their preferences, so it can at least benefit from some of the right-wing populist boom. Against this backdrop, Abdel-Magied materialised, as if from political-correctness-gone-mad paradise, with her ill-considered comments equating the deaths of war veterans to the plight of modern refugees. A hijab-wearing black Muslim feminist who hates our war heroes? Oh goody. Sure, the government might be unable to define what Australian values are, but now its members could sit back, point and say: well this is what they aren't. The Telegraph called for Abdel-Magied's sacking and two cabinet ministers Peter Dutton and Barnaby Joyce weighed in to question her employment by the public broadcaster. Tony Abbott said she needed to sign up to Team Australia, and Pauline Hanson said the government's new citizenship test should ask people if they respected Anzac Day. The Deputy Prime Minister even went so far as to say that it was people like Abdel-Magied who made it difficult for him to argue for ABC funding within the expenditure review committee. (Barnaby, bless him, really can phone this stuff in. Despite being a genuine egalitarian at heart, he is the Coalition's one-man protection squad against Hansonism. This latest left-wing claptrap was his to kick out of the park. He aimed his boot.) It helped that the young target had previously been on the ABC's Q&A program to claim that Islam is "the most feminist religion", a statement that was met with cries of outrage; and it helped, of course, that many Australians have genuine concerns about Islamic extremism and the integration of Muslim immigrants into broader society concerns too often dismissed by progressives. I strongly suspect that the level of outrage a person feels over the desecration of the Digger tradition is in inverse proportion to the proximity he or she has ever had to a battlefield. But as cultural warriors on both left and right know, outrage can be very useful, and the less direct experience you have of the source of your outrage, the purer that outrage can be that's why Muslims tend to be most despised in the electorates where there are none. It's not possible to know what the Diggers died for, because they're not here to ask. As has been noted by former prime minister Paul Keating, World War I soldiers died largely to protect rival colonial interests, a fact we wilfully disregard every April 25. Nonetheless our national day of remembrance and mourning is precious, not least to those of us who have veterans in our families, and some idea of the reality of modern deployments, which are more about nation-building than they are about napalming infants, or whatever sophomoric anti-war cliche the ignorant want to believe. No, it's not possible to speak for the dead. But it is often said the Diggers died for freedom and democracy, which includes in its definition a large dollop of free speech. It's fairly certain they didn't envision a future Australia where a young woman is subject to institutional bullying from men in government because of an opinion, however lazily expressed. As for the legions of Twitter morons who sit in their stained underpants and defend the mighty Anzac spirit from the safety of their anonymous Twitter accounts: a VC for every one of you. Loading Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull "trusts and respects" Andrew Bragg. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen A damning official review of the last federal election campaign found the Liberals were comprehensively outgunned by Labor. The party's finances were so dire that Turnbull had to tip in almost $2 million of his own money to keep the campaign afloat. And the Liberals are trailing in the polls, with Bill Shorten increasingly confident of winning the next election. The Liberal Party needs a hero and is set to turn to Bragg. Illustration: Matt Golding "People were a bit shocked," an insider close to Bragg said of his appointment. "Everyone agrees we ran a terrible campaign in 2016 so it seems bizarre to put in someone without any nuts and bolts campaign experience. "Not everyone thinks it was a wise decision." Bragg's resume looks thin compared to his predecessors. When Brian Loughnane took the job he had been chief-of-staff to two Liberal leaders and run the Victorian division of the party. Lynton Crosby had run the Queensland division. Andrew Robb had led the powerful National Farmers Federation and served as deputy federal director. Bragg, by contrast, worked in senior policy roles at the Financial Services Council for seven years before joining the Liberal-aligned Menzies Research Centre as policy director. "He's been considered more as a think-tank guy than a campaign director," a Liberal MP said. "But there was an absence of other candidates." Federal directors are only chosen with the blessing of the prime minister and that's true of Bragg. "The PM trusts Andrew and respects him," a Liberal source said. "He has complete loyalty to the PM and loyalty is important to Malcolm." For several years Bragg, who declined to comment for this piece, was secretary of the Wentworth Federal Electoral Conference, the fundraising and campaigning vehicle in Turnbull's seat. As well as being good friends with Brown, he was best man at the wedding of long-time Turnbull staffer David Bold. While one confidante questions whether Bragg is "too close" to the PM, others point to his allies across the party. Robb, who conducted the recent election review, is said to back his appointment as well as frontbenchers Josh Frydenberg and Alan Tudge. Menzies Research Centre executive director Nick Cater said: "A lot of people talk the talk but he actually gets things done. "He may not have the experience of a party insider but he certainly has the right skill set." Cater has been impressed by Bragg's organisational skills, framing of policy issues and knowledge of digital media. Businessman Tony Shepherd, who has worked closely with Bragg, said: "He's dynamic, has tonnes of energy and is strong on policy. "He's a can-do person who brings a younger perspective to the job." Bragg grew up in Shepparton in regional Victoria, where he attended the local Catholic school. While other students took gap years to travel overseas, he worked on the floors of the local fruit packing and dairy factories to save money to study accounting at the Australian National University in Canberra. Many close to him express surprise he would take the backroom job given his obvious ambitions to become a politician. Bragg unsuccessfully ran for a Senate spot last year before narrowly missing out on preselection for the Victorian seat of Murray. Victorian senator James Paterson, who entered the Senate at 28, said Bragg is a "great liberal intellectual" who will one day enter Parliament. "It's terrific to see the party place its trust and faith in a young person with ideas, energy and creativity," he said. The government has refused to guarantee new export restrictions on gas will cut domestic prices by half. Announcing his dramatic gas market intervention on Thursday, which followed largely fruitless meetings with east-coast gas companies, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said domestic wholesale prices should be as much as halved. Mr Turnbull said the current quote for wholesale gas, at $20 a gigajoule, was much higher than that paid by Australia's main customers including Japan and "should be around half that or less" as a result of new powers to restrict exports to guarantee domestic supply. But he later said households should not expect gas bills to be cut by half, and clarified that his aim was to bring domestic prices back to export parity. Controversial Sydney University lecturer Tim Anderson used a series of Anzac Day social media posts to accuse Australian military personnel of committing murder in Syria. On the same day ABC presenter Yassmin Abdel-Magied was attacked for a Facebook post invoking the phrase "Lest We Forget", Dr Anderson described Anzac Day as celebrating "the failures of our collaboration in imperial war". The political economy lecturer, who made headlines earlier this month for a series of claims denying Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was responsible for a chemical attack on civilians, was referring to a botched coalition airstrike last year that killed nearly 100 Syrian soldiers who were fighting against Islamic State. Australia's Department of Defence offered its condolences following the operation and said it would never intentionally target a Syrian military unit or actively support Islamic State. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull expressed his regret over what had occurred. HOSPITALITY CAN take many forms. It's about more than good food and wine with service to match. Hospitality is about delivering all these things with warmth and passion, day in and day out, and leaving your guests feeling better when they leave than when they arrived. South On Albany, just off the main thoroughfare in the NSW south coast township of Berry, has hospitality down pat. It starts with the dazzling smile of co-owner and restaurant manager Sonia Greig and continues with ex-Berry Sourdough Bakery chef John Evans's gloriously flavoursome cooking. South on Albany. Credit:Jennifer Soo As locals, Evans and Greig know what their region has to offer, and they showcase much of it. With the exception of two champagnes, the wine list is completely domestic, NSW-heavy, and long on drops from wineries in the Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands and Canberra District. The food is delightful. Six "tastes", including Ortiz anchovies served in their tin with house-made chilli jam, double as appetisers and bar snacks (if you just pop in for a glass of wine). After almost 20 years gracing Australian television screens, 10 of those fronting Channel Nine's Today, Lisa Wilkinson has yet to be nominated for a Gold Logie. Her omission has been labelled a "travesty" and a campaign was launched on her behalf. But it seems her exclusion from Australia's top television honours list has not had an effect on the stalwart breakfast television host. "I cannot in a million years ever imagine being nominated [for a Gold Logie]," she told Fairfax Media at the event, after more than an hour helming Nine's demanding live red carpet show. When asked how she felt about being left out again this year, she said: "I feel great. I feel thrilled just to be invited to the Logies." This is the curious thing that I keep returning to in battles between the left and right sides of politics. In all the vitriolic responses to Abdel-Magied, a clear theme emerges go back to where you came from and just see how well you like it there, you ungrateful bitch. It doesn't matter that Abdel-Magied has done everything required of migrants to prove her commitment to Australia, achieving success in the fields of education, the workplace and community service. Like all migrants, she might love Australia but Australia is only willing to love her back if she plays by their rules. Show gratitude. Be humble. And never forget how lucky you are that we aren't like Those Other People. I have often theorised that the most vehement of the west's racists and misogynists enjoy pointing to the treatment of women in various parts of the Middle East not so much as a comparison but as a threat. They seem to be suggesting that women in their own countries are enjoying a conditional benevolence that could be withdrawn at any time. Certainly, many of them appear to enjoy discussing the finer details of brutality that are meted out to women in regions where misogyny has been legislated more crudely and forcefully than in those places careful to keep it hidden. I have entire folders full of emails from white Australian men describing in precise detail what they think ought to be done to me to put me in my place and what in fact would be done to me if we weren't so civilised in this country. Still. Watch your back, bitch. I have no doubt that there are people in this country who would quite happily line up to watch women like Abdel-Magied dragged into the street to be stripped, whipped and stoned to death as both a punishment for blaspheming against the nation's myth building and a warning for anyone else thinking about doing it themselves. It's hypocrisy at its finest to pretend that half of the people baying for Abdel-Magied's blood aren't experiencing an almost euphoric rapture at being given the green light to wield their bigotry freely and without fear of censure. These are the people who consider the term 'political correctness gone mad' to be a legitimate response to anything that codifies kindness and inclusivity rather than hostility and oppression. They are the ones who'll spit poisonous, violent invective at women in the same breath as angrily declaring Islam to be fundamentally misogynistic. They celebrate free speech when it suits them and tell you to shut your fat, ugly, f--king mouth when it doesn't. This body of work consists of 22 atmospheric black-and-white landscapes, which have been in the making for the past year and a half. The series was produced over two hiking expeditions in 2015 and 2016 to the alpine regions of France, Italy and Switzerland Tour du Mont Blanc. Tom, tell me about this series, the context, where were the images taken and how were they taken? Passage. Credit:Tom Goldner The landscapes were all captured on medium-format film, developed, printed, toned and finished by hand at my darkroom in Kensington. I can honestly say I have never put so many hours in producing work. As I run The Fox Gallery I am also curating the exhibition. There isn't one step in this process I bypassed. This body of work represents a transition in my creative practice and my life I am unable to separate the two. A few years ago I found myself disenchanted with photography. I felt the need to get back in the darkroom to start producing work with my hands again. This series of work reflects this changing state in my practice. I see parallels to my work in the changing state of the landscapes the fact you can stand in the same spot one year later and finding everything is different. The fact these images were produced on film and printed in the darkroom is only relevant for me if the work is received as being as good or better than what can be produced digitally. My work doesn't focus on nostalgia or trends but rather the relevance of film and darkroom printing in the contemporary age of photography. Why go with the term "passage"? I try not to overthink the titles for my work. In fact, I often can't pinpoint when they come to me. The former chief minister of the Northern Territory Adam Giles has not followed the royal commission investigating the treatment of teenage detainees under the care of his government and previous administrations. He moved interstate to work for West Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart after losing the NT election in the wake of last July's damning Four Corners report. Appalled: Former Northern Territory chief minister Adam Giles at the royal commission But appearing before the royal commission for the first time, Mr Giles reacted melodramatically when asked about horrific ABC footage of children being tear-gassed, beaten or manacled to a restraint chair in a spit hood. "As a dad and an Aboriginal man, watching those Aboriginal kids getting thrown down like that, I had a lump in my throat, chills up my spine," he told the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the NT on Friday. The NSW government has abandoned one option to forcibly merge Ku-ring-gai Council with Hornsby, after failing to meet a deadline to appeal against a court decision leaving questions around the future of other Sydney councils fighting forced amalgamations. In March, the Court of Appeal found Ku-ring-gai Council had been denied procedural fairness by the government because it kept two reports on which it based the amalgamations policy secret. The government had 28 days to appeal against the decision, a time frame that lapsed this week. It faces four other legal challenges to council mergers, including Woollahra Council's appeal which is due to be heard in the High Court next month. More than a day after being taken from a Brisbane hospital by his parents, Chase Walker-Steven has been taken to a New South Wales hospital for assessment, ending a frantic search. The four-year-old, who suffers from a disability, was taken from Lady Cilento Hospital about 12.30pm on Thursday by mother, Cini Walker, and father, Marc Alexander Steven. Cini Walker (top left), Marc Alexander Steven (top right) with their son Chase Walker-Steven (bottom left). Credit:Facebook - Chasing Hope About 24 hours later police issued an Amber Alert, which was sent interstate, leading to police receiving about a dozen calls from members of the public with information. However, it wasn't until about 4pm when police had their first major breakthrough. After information from the public, Ms Walker was found in Newcastle, on the New South Wales' central coast, and after calling her partner, Mr Steven brought Chase to officers in the same area less than an hour later. Prisoners at a south-east Queensland correctional centre have badly damaged an exercise yard, forcing the facility into lockdown. A brawl a few hours earlier in a Maryborough prison saw two detainees sent to hospital with injuries. Arthur Gorrie prison was put into lockdown on Thursday night. The SEQ incident, in Ipswich's Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre, broke out about 4.15pm Thursday when several prisoners barricaded themselves in the exercise yard, a Queensland Corrective Services spokesman said. "A small number of prisoners damaged the fixtures, including lights, in the exercise yard," he said, in a statement. A Taiwanese man has been sentenced to 18 months in jail after Australian Border Force officers found he was carrying child pornography on his arrival at Brisbane Airport last year. Sheng-Wen Wang, 24, arrived in November on a working holiday visa and after officials conducted a random luggage search, more than 100 images and 34 videos were found involving children as young as three. Australian Border Force officers found the child porn material in the Taiwanese man's belongings after stopping him on November 15, 2016. Credit:AAP He was arrested and charged at the scene before being sentenced in the Brisbane District Court on Thursday. The man was expected to be released after serving eight months, combined with a $2000 security on the condition of good behaviour for three years, before being deported. The maximum penalty for an the offences is $450,000 and/or 10 years jail. In the hands of Trump, fake news became a catchphrase to discredit any news report or fact which didn't align with his own beliefs and ambitions. Along with this came the term "alternative facts" to defend Trump's preference for facts that work in his favour. From the beginning of his campaign, Trump was not afraid to make demonstrable false public statements. His apparent ability to get away with outright lies has lowered the bar for politicians around the world and emboldened those who seek to sweep aside inconvenient truths. At the same time Trump declared war on sections of the mainstream media, declaring them an "enemy of the American people" a phrase taken straight from the totalitarian playbook. The more the media accuses Trump of lying, the more Trump's followers trust him. Of course the mainstream media hasn't exactly covered itself in glory in the social media age, engaging in a tabloid click-bait race to the bottom to chase advertising dollars lost to the web. Fake news has actually become the victim of fake news, to the point where the term is now often evoked to describe any supposed fact with which someone doesn't agree. Fit to print So in the space of a few months the term fake news has become practically meaningless. Yet there's still a push to do something about it from the likes of Google and Facebook who realise that it's becoming a threat to their credibility as the de facto gatekeepers of the truth. Keep in mind that Mark Zuckerburg happily underplayed the impact of fake news in the early days, to protect Facebook's reputation. Until now mob rule has decided what's true on social media, but facts don't work this way the truth is not a democracy and you can't assume that what people read and share the most must be accurate and therefore is worth spreading. The world is round, whether you like it or not. Before last year's US election, Google News was already working on a "Fact Check" concept to crack down on public comments which play fast and loose with the truth. The aim was to pick up media outlets blindly regurgitating the lies of public figures or perhaps deliberately choosing not to question those lies rather than to catch the outright fabrications of fake news sites. Google News isn't manually fact-checking articles, instead it's giving news sites the option to include ClaimReview tags in their articles to indicate that facts have been checked. The articles must be transparent, with citations and references to primary sources, and Google has threatened to banish news sites from Google News cutting off their lifeblood if they abuse the system. While it started in the United States and United Kingdom, Google's Fact Check program has recently gone global. It's already under attack as some people consider fact-checking a form of bias and political attack as people who like to twist the facts don't like being called out on it. Fact Checking efforts are also complicated by the fact that journalists can't always name their sources, and that some journalists are prepared to hide behind this in order to support the lies of their favoured politicians. Rise of the machines Google has also changed its search algorithms recently to punish sites which promote fake news. An artificial intelligence bullshit detector, designed to sniff out fake news, is perhaps more reliable than trusting people although AI can have its own inadvertent bias, especially if it learns from people correcting its mistakes. As with IBM Watson's efforts to help with skin cancer diagnosis, perhaps the solution is not to train AI to weed out fake news but rather teach it to identify stories which are clearly not fake a much easier task. Then AI can hand its human masters a short-list of questionable stories rather than expecting humans to flick through every news story in search of lies and misinformation. The grape vine Of course Google's efforts will struggle to curb the spread of fake news directly through social media. Facebook is under pressure to do more, but its fake news tools might just exacerbate the problem. Rather than relying on algorithms to identify potential fake news, Facebook is instead introducing tools allowing users to flag items as fake news. The system doesn't discriminate between fabricated news and biased news, plus it relies on people knowing that a story is fake. Facebook's plan is clearly open to abuse, mob rule can't be trusted as people's opinions of fake news vary, plus some will maliciously tag accurate stories as fake. There's also the issue of bot accounts, or hacked accounts, enforcing the beliefs of their masters. Then there's the question of whether Facebook's fake news rulings will be applied universally or tailored for each user, which would just reinforce the filter bubbles which ensure that people only hear what they want to hear. Often the most important stories are truths that people don't want to hear or believe. Facebook says it also has a team of fact-checkers to investigate stories but it's been caught out in the past suppressing conservative news and using fact-checking services accused of left-wing bias. Join the crowd Rather than trusting the mainstream media or the average man on the street, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales proposes to start yet another news service in WikiTribune. Hiring professional journalists and volunteer fact-checkers, the site will be supported by reader donations. The fact that WikiTribune isn't relying on citizen journalists alone is telling. Citizen journalism was built on the idea than your average person could be trusted to tell the truth without being influenced by the mainstream media's vested interest in maintaining the status quo it's a fair point, but in the era of fake news it's become clear that every citizen brings their own bias to the table. While it's a noble idea, WikiTribune isn't really going to solve the problem. Even if it can ensure that it doesn't present fake news, it will be just another voice in the crowd. What we really need is to know which voices we can trust, and to combat political efforts to encourage mistrust in those voices which do speak the truth. Sections of the mainstream media have abused public trust in recent times, following their own agendas and fuelling a click-bait war in which fake news could flourish. It all ties back to the original sin of giving away their content online for free, devaluing the truth and the important role which trained journalists play. As Australians prepare their credit cards and sims for the S8 landing in stores today, the importance of the release for Samsung can't be overstated after last year's flaming Note7 fiasco. While Samsung execs hold their breath, the release has managed to avoid major controversy - so far. But the concept of smooth sailing is foreign to the tech world. Here, we take a quick look at the highs and lows of the release to now. Firstly, the bad CSIRO chief executive Larry Marshall remains optimistic about collaboration between the CSIRO and the US scientific community despite US President Donald Trump's plan to cut funding to some of CSIRO's key US partners. Dr Marshall was speaking at a business briefing in Sydney on Friday organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Sydney. In his speech, Dr Marshall said that the US was CSIRO's most significant international research partner, highlighting relationships with partner organisations NASA, Boeing, GE and NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In March, Mr Trump released his "America First" budget, which proposes to cut NOAA's research budget by 52 per cent, NASA's earth science budget by 5 per cent and the Environmental Protection Agency's research and development office by 48 per cent, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Google Maps has moved one of Melbourne's busiest streets to the outskirts of Ghana, Africa. But don't take our word for it try it for yourself. Open up a new window and type "Collins Street" into Google. This is what will likely show up: Victoria's powerful police union says officers are called to the Parkville and Malmsbury youth justice centres daily to respond to violent incidents that should be managed by centre staff. In a submission to the parliamentary inquiry into issues at the juvenile jails, Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt called for better resourcing at Parkville and Malmsbury so staff don't need to rely on police intervention. The police union says officers are called to the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre daily. Credit:Paul Jeffers Mr Gatt said police from stations near Parkville and Malmsbury were called daily to incidents that rarely resulted in outcomes, like charges being laid. He said this happened because of ineffective management. "For these routine violent incidents, police must attend the centre and offer to speak with the victim who is often uncooperative," Mr Gatt said. A magistrate has warned lawyers not to take a "scatter-gun approach" to the criminal case against four men charged over an alleged Christmas Day terror plot in Melbourne's CBD. On December 23 last year, police charged Hamza Abbas, 22, Abdullah Chaarani, 26, Ahmed Mohamed, 24, and Ibrahim Abbas, 23, over an alleged terror plan targeting Melbourne landmarks. An artist's sketch of Abdullah Chaarani, from an earlier appearance at the Melbourne Magistrates Court. Credit:Joe Benke The Melbourne Magistrates Court was told on Friday that 12 computers and mobile phones and computer hard drives, which were seized in the investigation, still need to be examined before the court can determine if there is enough evidence for the men to be committed to trial. Magistrate Charles Rozencwajg said he was "anxious" for the prosecution to refine its case against the men, who were all charged with preparing or planning a terrorist act in Melbourne between December 1 and December 22, 2016. Former prime minister Paul Keating has attacked Melbourne City Council's plan to fund redevelopment of the Queen Victoria Market by building a massive skyscraper next to it. As hundreds of protesters gathered on Friday morning at the market to object to the council's $250 million refurbishment, Mr Keating went on local radio to question whether the plan would destroy its heritage. "Here is a city council looking to put a 200-metre-tower right on the periphery of it to sort of raise money to fix it up," Mr Keating told ABC Radio's Jon Faine. "In essence it does not need fixing up." The state forking out $1.5 million will help Bayswater council double its money and save 'Carter's Lot', but activists say many other vital urban wetlands are exposed to developers because of an archaic classification system. Despite vocal disagreement from some of Perth's most prominent scientists who rated its ecological significance highly, 'Carter's' wetland management category was as low as they go. A protester makes his point. Environmental organisations, local MP Lisa Baker and Bayswater councillors joined the community in a nine-month campaign against a large housing subdivision planned for the site. They carried out protests outside Parliament and Ministerial offices, fundraisers, petitions and letter-writing drives, convinced development would not only devastate Carter's but also lay waste to the millions in state and local government funds spent on restoring the adjacent Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary. Parents are increasingly defending their children's poor grades and bad behaviour, and the flow-on effect has created a toxic environment in WA schools according to a number of state education bodies. Both the Western Australian Primary Principals' Association and the State School Teachers' Union of WA said the relationship between parents and teachers was now so sour it had led to "aggressive and defensive behaviour" from parents, and it was beginning to have an effect on students. Education Minister Kate Jones has welcomed the funding increase. Credit:Lostinbids Stories told to WAtoday include: "A child once went home and sobbed that he had been kept in at lunch, and so missed the school's soccer trials. The parent came to the school in a very emotional, defensive state and demanded an explanation as to how this could have happened. The truth was, he had attended the trials and not been selected. He hadn't been kept in at all." "I have had one girl come in with an entirely plagiarised essay. I pulled her up on it, and told her to take it home to her parents and have them sign it so I could be sure they were up to date on what had occurred. Instead, the parents came marching in the next day and yelled at me because their daughter said I had been too harsh with her." Washington: He misses driving, feels as if he is in a cocoon, and is surprised how hard his new job is. President Donald Trump on Thursday reflected on his first 100 days in office with a wistful look at his life before the White House. "I loved my previous life. I had so many things going," Trump told Reuters in an interview. "This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier." A wealthy businessman from New York, Trump assumed public office for the first time when he entered the White House on January 20, after he defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an upset. Bangkok: Human rights officials have exposed a hidden jail holding accused suspects without charge at a Manila police station in the latest abuses linked to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's so-called "war on drugs". The officials from the Philippines' Commission on Human Rights surprised police when they led journalists to the hidden jail's entrance behind a bookshelf in the station in the Tondo slum, where the first of almost 8000 killings began when Mr Duterte took office in July last year. Twelve women and men were found in a dark, cramped, unventilated area where they were forced to use plastic bags when they needed to go to the toilet. The detainees said they had been abducted, accused of involvement in drugs and held for days without being allowed to contact family members or lawyers. North Korea unsuccessfully test-fired a ballistic missile on Saturday from a region north of its capital, Pyongyang, South Korea's military said, defying intense pressure from the United States and the reclusive state's main ally, China. The test came as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned the United Nations Security Council that failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs could lead to "catastrophic consequences". US and South Korean officials said the test appeared to have failed, in what would be a fourth successive unsuccessful missile test since March. US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the missile was probably a medium-range missile known as a KN-17 and appears to have broken up within minutes of taking off. 23 January Trump withdraws the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. During a private meeting with congressional leaders, Trump repeats his unsubstantiated claim that 3 to 5 million illegal votes cost him a popular vote triumph over Hillary Clinton. 24 January Trump signs executive orders reversing Obama's halt to the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines. Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office. Credit:Bloomberg 25 January Trump signs executive orders directing the federal government to fund construction of a southern border wall and to suspend funding to cities that offer sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. 26 January President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico cancels a trip to the US to meet with Trump after Trump repeats his demand that Mexico pay for a border wall separating the two countries. 27 January Trump signs executive order banning all entry of foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, indefinitely suspending resettlement of Syrian refugees, and suspending all refugee resettlement for 120 days. US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May at the White House. Credit:AP 27 January Trump meets with UK Prime Minister Theresa May, who becomes the first foreign leader to meet with the new US President. 28 January Federal District Court judge issues a stay, blocking implementation of Trump's "Muslim ban" executive order. 29 January The Yakla commando raid against Al-Qaeda in Yemen is launched, leading to the death of one American and a number of civilian casualties. In the coming weeks, the Trump administration goes back and forth between hailing the raid as a great success and blaming its failures on former president Obama, who did not authorise it. Trump fires Acting Attorney-General Sally Yates, an Obama holdover, after she ordered Department of Justice employees not to defend the president's "Muslim ban" order due to doubts over its legality. 31 January Trump nominates Neil Gorsuch to fill the US Supreme Court seat vacated by the death of Antonin Scalia in 2016. February Donald Trump with national security adviser Michael Flynn and chief strategist Steve Bannon during a phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Credit:Bloomberg 1 February Trump discusses the controversial refugee resettlement deal during a tense and truncated phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. 4 February A district court judge in the Western District of Washington temporarily blocks Trump's "Muslim ban" order. Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe refuses a secret request from White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus to publicly dispute reports that Trump associates had been in regular contact with Russian agents. 16 February Donald Trump's 75-minute press conference. Credit:Bloomberg Trump holds a 75-minute long press conference in which he attacks the media, denies any ties to Russia while accusing Hillary Clinton of having them, and asks an African-American reporter to arrange a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus. The presser is widely regarded as bizarre. "Day Without Immigrants" protests are held throughout the country, with immigrants walking off the job to demonstrate their importance to the economy. Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington. Credit:Molly Riley 22 February Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets with Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop. 23 February It is announced that six White House staffers had been removed from their posts after failing FBI background checks. 24 February The White House bars The New York Times, CNN, Politico, Los Angeles Times and Buzzfeed News from a news briefing. Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference and attacks the media, Islamic State and illegal immigrants, while touting himself and the coal industry. He suggests a limitation on the use of anonymous sources by news reporters. 27 February Trump announces plans for a 9 per cent hike in military spending, as well as huge spending cuts at the Environmental Protection Agency and State Department. Speaking to the Today Show on NBC, former president George W. Bush, implicitly criticises Trump's handling of the media and religious freedom. Donald Trump's first speech to Congress. Credit:Bloomberg 28 February Trump's first speech to Congress, outlining his policy priorities. March United Nations, New York: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned on Friday that failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and missile development could lead to 'catastrophic consequences,' while China and Russia cautioned Washington against threatening military force. Washington has recently lavished praise on Beijing for its efforts to rein in its ally Pyongyang, but Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made clear to the UN Security Council it was not only up to China to solve the North Korean problem. "The key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side," Mr Wang told the 15-member council in remarks contradicting the White House belief that it does wield significant influence. The ministerial meeting of the council, chaired by Mr Tillerson, exposed old divisions between the United States and China on how to deal with North Korea. China wants talks first and action later, while the United States wants North Korea to curtail its nuclear program before such talks start. Latest News NABs net profit up 8.3% Good results driven by home loan growth, rising interest rates Refinancing volumes soar in changing market Brokers need to take advantage of $16.9 billion boost Lender-imposed conditions that brokers write a certain number of loans per month or year to retain accreditation need to go, said Peter White, executive director of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia ( FBAA ).Speaking in front of the Senate Standing Committee on Economics in a government inquiry into consumer protection in the banking, insurance and financial sector on Wednesday (26 April), White said these restrictions called minimum volume hurdles were reducing a brokers ability to write loans for whatever lender they desired.What that creates is a very bad consumer outcome because a broker can only give guidance on loans for lenders that theyre accredited to, he said.These restrictions mean that while a broker may be doing the right thing for the borrower with regards to the panel of accredited lenders they have access to, there may be another outside that scope which is more suitable.Unfortunately they cant reach into that because they are constrained by the aggregators agreements and those accreditations. Thats generally restricted because they dont have volumes to reach that lender, he told the panel.Those sorts of things need to go.White also criticised elite broker clubs, saying he would outlaw them if he could. With brokers given access to better speed of applications, this was unreasonable and completely unfair to the borrower.You have an innocent borrower at the backend there. Hes sitting behind a broker who may only give a specific lender one deal every three months, he said. That gets penalised because they dont have the volume. Its got nothing to do with the borrower.When asked about soft dollar benefits, White said that these incentives needed to become more transparent although completely outlawing them may not be the best solution.There was also nothing wrong with the current base model of commissions that brokers are paid today, he said, referring to the FBAAs global research that found Australian brokers were paid below the global average. As for trail, this provided a number of positive consumer outcomes when it was introduced.With trail being brought into place, that was there to minimise the outcome of churn and also to provide a greater level of service to the borrower that wasnt necessarily being provided by the banks.The FBAAs research showed that taking away trail led to higher upfront commissions, a greater level of churn, and sales of additional products that may not be acceptable in the market.Finally, White expressed his opposition to the fixed upfront commission recommended by consumer advocacy group CHOICE.The baseline of lending is very standard, he said. But its the knowledge and capabilities of what adds onto that to make it appropriate to that borrowers specific needs or their lending structure. That becomes quite a significant skill set and its not the same.If you do a mum and dad home loan for example, thats a very different transaction to doing development finance and working through feasibility studies and presales and all the research and due diligence that goes into that.Although these are generally higher loan sizes, the amount of work definitely increased as well, he said. Get your pineapples ready, Psychos: A Psych movie could be coming sooner than expected. New reports hint that production will soon begin on a feature film, three years after the long-running USA comedy ended its eight-season run. Will There Be a Psych Reunion Soon?>>> News of the production appeared in the April 27 edition of Production Week. Filming of Psych is expected to commence on May 24, in both Vancouver (where the original series was shot) and San Francisco. Unfortunately, the trade publication had no further details for Psychos anxious to know when their favorite fake detective might be back to solving murders. This is not the first hint that a Psych movie could be coming. Back in July, series creator Steve Franks tweeted a photo with stars James Roday, Maggie Lawson and Timothy Omundson. He accompanied the picture, taken at a convention, with a tantalizing message to fans: Thanks for all the extraordinary #Psych10 love today. If this doesnt get us a #PsychMovie, nothing will. More recently, Psych co-star Dule Hill dropped some hints about the possibility of gathering the shows cast for some sort of reunion. Oh, I think theres definitely something coming, Hill told reporters at the Television Critics Association in January. I love the whole Psych world. Im hoping that Steve Franks and the whole USA team will come together and make something happen, he added. Hold on, Psychos, hold on. Neither the stars nor the producer have commented on this latest report. The 2014 finale of Psych offered closure on the series storylines, but it also left open the possibility of future cases for Shawn Spencers (Roday) fake-psychic detective along with Juliet (Maggie Lawson) and Gus (Hill), Shawn was last seen chasing a new adventure in San Francisco. It is not hard to envision the gang getting back together to solve one more murder a few years later. A comedic mainstay on USA for eight seasons, Psych followed the antics of a fake psychic who helped the police of Santa Barbara, CA, solve crimes. While the cast of Psych has remained busy since their shows finale, it is quite possible that all main characters could be available for a movie filming soon. Roday has had several TV-directing jobs over the past few years (most notably helming several episodes of FOXs Rosewood). Hill was a star of the short-lived CBS legal drama, Doubt, and has since been cast in a season-long arc on USAs Suits. Psych Star Dule Hill Joins Suits Season 7>>> Having starred in sitcoms since the end of Psych, Lawson recently appeared in a multi-episode arc on The Great Indoors. Corbin Bernsen (Henry Spencer) and Omundson (Detective Lassiter), meanwhile, will both appear as gods in upcoming roles Bernsen in Starzs American Gods and Omundson in FOXs Lucifer. What do you think of the news about a possible Psych movie? Would you watch it? Which star from the series are you most excited to see return to their role? Let us know in the comments! Want more news? Like BuddyTVs Facebook page! (Image courtesy of USA) The first Double U-Turn of this season of The Amazing Race provided a heart-pounding episode. It also caused the end of road for one very likable and impressive team. In this episode of The Amazing Race, Double U-Turn Ahead, there is (obviously) another Double U-Turn. Sadly, like most sequels, it is a big ole dud. The U-Turn is used but in the most boring way possible, which by consequence, creates a dull episode. Is the Constant Bickering Making The Amazing Race a Drag or a Delight?>>> The Amazing Conspiracy The teams keep racing directly from the Norway Pit Stop and head to Milan, Italy. This is all thanks to the super helpful, easy and not at all clear product placement of the Travelocity app. Though The Amazing Race isnt given the teams much down time this leg they do all manage to congregate at one point and decide that Ashton and Vanck must be U-Turned on this leg. Everyone on this season has decided that The Amazing Race is a very social game. Its not a game where a bunch of sweaty Americans make fools of themselves across the world. (This is news to me.) Ashton and Vanck are not playing this social game and that means they must go. In order for the teams to go ahead with their Ashton and Vanck Plan, they have to get to the U-Turn. Their first obstacle is the Roadblock. The designated team members must ride in a restaurant that is contained completely within a tram car. While riding and eating, they must find three red and yellow words along the route and repeat them to the clue giver. Its a gorgeous challenge but with all the collusion going on, no one has much trouble with the task. Even if some words are missed, everyone works together so by the second go around, everyone has got it worked out. After the Roadblock The Amazing Race decides to break up the teams by having everyone sleep the night and give them a staggered start in the morning. There are five minutes in between each team. This means that the last team to leave is 30 minutes behind the first which does suck, but The Amazing Race has had much larger staggered starts. The real issue though is that soon after the teams start racing the next morning the Double U-Turn is right by their next clue. Tara and Joey are the first team arrive to the U-Turn but in their effort to not be the bad guys (or memorable at all) they dont go about with the Ashton and Vanck plan. Instead, they leave it up to Liz and Michael. Liz and Michael U-Turns Ashton and Vanck but they are not done. Liz and Michael find Becca and Floyd and tell Team Fun to U-Turn them so no one but Vanck and Ashton will get U-Turned. If The Amazing Race is a social game, its not a very nice one. Make a Mold or Grab a Hold The conspiracy being successful everyone travels to the Detour. The choice is between Make a Mold and Grab a Hold. In Make a Mold, the teams must make a very creepy statue out of paper mache and a wire mold. One member sits inside the mold and the other does the molding. In Grab a Hold, one member of the team must climb a rock wall while the other member holds their rope and slack. Heading to the Detour everyone but Ashton and Vanck, are feeling pretty pleased with themselves. Then Brooke makes her acquaintance with the rock wall and the good feelings crumble to dust. You might remember that in previous legs Brooke was very annoyingly confident that she could do climbing challenges better than her partner Scott. You might also remember that Brooke is the W-O-R-S-T. Quiz: Which Reality TV Host Are You?>>> It should come as no surprise then that although this rock wall looks pretty easy (certainly easier than anything Scott has had to scale this season) Brooke loses it. Brooke weeps and whines over the wall which creates a hilarious difference with rock climber Becca who has something of a sexual experience on the rock. Somehow Brookes weaknesses are also Scotts fault. Though Scott is 20 feet below Brooke, he is supposed to tell her where to go and hold her literally every step up of the way. Scott deserves sainthood after this season because he could easily drop Brooke to her death and make it look like an accident but he doesnt. He even encourages her in his sassy way. Happily Ever After? Ashton might be a little bit of snob and she certainly hasnt been very kind to her severely awkward partner Vanck. Still, if there was anyone failing the social aspect of The Amazing Race it is whiny, snotty Brooke. Not that Id wish that Brooke and Scott had been U-Turned because that means wed robbed off more Scott who is a delight. Hes a sarcastic and snippy delight but a delight nonetheless. The point is that seeing Ashton and Vanck struggle isnt satisfying. It is just sad. The Double U-Turn is too much for Vanck and Ashton to handle. They are hopelessly in last place but for once they dont turn on each other. Vanck and Ashton work well with one another. Ashton even tries to comfort Vanck at one point. (Vanck meanwhile remains a bit of a robot.) No kindness can fight the inevitable however. The two come in last and are eliminated from The Amazing Race. So what did you think of Ashton and Vancks elimination? Was it fair and deserved or were they ganged up on by the other teams? Will you miss them? Should another team have been targeted? How do you feel about Scott and Brooke? The Amazing Race season 29 airs Thursdays at 10/9c on CBS. Want more news? Like our Facebook page. (Image courtesy of CBS) Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) has reached an agreement to acquire IQ Retail, based in Stellenbosch, South Africa. UK headquartered KCS already provides software to 1,700 customers worldwide, offering end to end ERP solutions including Supply Chain Management, Order to Cash, Financial Management, CRM, Warehouse Management, Transport Management, Business Intelligence and ePOS. The acquisition supports the companys strategy of continued growth and follows three other acquisitions during the last 18 months including two in the USA and another previously in South Africa. Like KCS, IQ Retail has been delivering Retail and ERP Solutions for more than 30 years. The companys suite of products, currently the leading Retail POS solution in South Africa, is distributed via a channel of 160 business partners. On completion of the acquisition, the KCS operation will provide solutions to 13,000 customers and 100,000 users in Southern Africa, and makes KCS the regions leading provider of software solutions to this sector. IQ Retail will continue to maintain and support its existing solutions and, in time, will introduce new benefits to its customers from the KCS portfolio. These include advanced e-commerce and Cloud services along with an optional upgrade path to the established suite of KCS services and products. To further support existing customers of its K8 ERP system, KCS will look at integrating some of the solutions from the IQ Retail suite. Ian Bendelow, KCS group chief executive officer, said: As the second key strategic acquisition in Africa, this further strengthens our presence on the African continent, expands our service capabilities and product offerings. As we extend our platform for growth, IQ Retail affirms and aligns with our on-going business strategy of focusing on the needs of retailers, merchants, wholesalers and distributors. Our customers will benefit from an even stronger South African-based team to support our customers needs. Michael Reyneke, director of IQ Retail, added: This acquisition by KCS allows two industry leaders to combine their resources to further strengthen service and product offerings, enabling the delivery of high performance, integrated business management solutions to our customers in Southern Africa. We believe our history, culture and client profile will propel us into the future and we look forward to enhanced offerings for our clientele. As group managing director for KCS in Africa, Des Nangle will support IQ retail directors, Michael Reyneke and Chris Steyn, and their team, to ensure the benefits of being part of the larger group are available to all customers. South Jersey Election Day results roundup: Who won, who lost? Follow along for news throughout Election Day and race results as they come in. A small business from Burnham-On-Sea which stages five free to attend food and drink festivals across the region each year has been named among the shortlisted finalists in the UKs inaugural Small Awards which recognise the achievements of small and micro-businesses. Launched in 2012, the Eat: Festivals event in Burnham-On-Sea happens twice a year with 20,000 people attending each one. In 2016 the business took over the well-established Wellington Festival, and this year it has been asked to host a Somerset Day event in the heart of Taunton. Last year it introduced the Young Makers Market with free pitches for new business owners aged 16 to 24 and a bursary for new food and drink businesses these events. The business has been named as a finalist in the Heart of Gold category in this years Small Awards. This award recognises small businesses that contribute a bit extra to their local community; those that work with their community, other small businesses, local charities, schools, local councils or their local residents to achieve great things. Eat: Festivals will find out if it has won the award at a special ceremony in London on May 25th hosted by comedian and TV personality Sue Perkins. We are over the moon to have been shortlisted in The Small Awards, says director, Beverley Milner Simonds. The festivals are a real celebration of each town and their great surrounding producers: we bring people together and, hopefully, add a bit of sparkle. Our aim is to create great free days out and help people to reconnect with the productive countryside around them. The Small Awards in association with Facebook will recognise the achievements of small businesses in ten categories across multiple sectors and areas of activity, including high street businesses, family businesses, start-ups and business-to-business companies, as well as those that export, and even companies that contribute most to their community. One of the individual category winners will also be named overall Small Business of the Year. Facebook will give that business 1000 worth of free advertising credit. The judges for this years Awards include the former Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable; 2014 Apprentice winner Mark Wright, who now runs SEO and PPC agency Climb Online, and former Digital & Culture Minister Ed Vaizey. India's Halol facility, which is about 40 kilometres from Vadodara in Gujarat, is set to close operations from Friday. Around 625 permanent workers at the site say that they would continue their protests against the site's closure. Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has created quite a splash around the Modi governments Digital India project. The Mukesh Ambani-run firm has consistently promoted its telecom subsidiary as a key driver of Digital India. Sporadic protests by land losers and project affected people are impeding the flow of investments to Tata Steel's industrial park at Gopalpur. Locals, agitating over jobs and compensation issues, have blocked the main gate of the park since November 2016 and are intermittently disrupting the operations of Tata Steel's ferro-chrome plant at the site. Sahara chief today said in Supreme Court that he would pay Rs 1,500 crore in the SEBI-Sahara account on or before June 15, 2017. However, the apex court warned Roy of dire consequences if the cheque was dishonoured. Signalling an end to a long-drawn regulatory tussle, the Delhi High Court (HC) on Friday upheld a settlement agreement between Tata Sons and NTT DoCoMo to realise the $1.18-billion London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) award in favour of the Japanese telecom giant. is second to none when it comes to bringing the house down with his witty one-liners, sense of humour and an inherent charm. Becoming the first Indian actor to address a TED conference in Vancouver, SRK spoke on a host of topics ranging from ageing process and humanity to his films. But what served as the icing on the cake was the special 'lungi dance'. "For years, I've been a huge fan of TED Talks. There are so many people in India who would like to come out with their ideas and thoughts, and speak them in Hindi," SRK said. Thank u @TEDTalks @TEDchris @julietrblake for a wonderful time. All who came to lov me in Vancouvermy lov 2 u. pic.twitter.com/FJD3yWgxsQ (@iamsrk) April 28, 2017 The 'Raees' star also announced that he would be hosting the new TED show in India and that too, in Hindi. Glad u had a good time. Thx for the support. https://t.co/QzT40BPB79 (@iamsrk) April 28, 2017 Check out a few tweets from the show: "The future you is an infinite you. A circle that has no end or beginning."@iamsrk #TED2017 pic.twitter.com/2FKbLikyA0 Khaliya (@Khaliya) April 28, 2017 Humanity is just like me. An aging superstar....grappling with new things....wondering how to get them right. @iamsrk has charmed #TED2017 pic.twitter.com/8Nxn3Jf3br Parmesh Shahani (@parmeshs) April 28, 2017 Shah Rukh Khan is one of the funniest people I've seen speak. #TED2017 pic.twitter.com/y6fyhv3oJC Davey Alba (@daveyalba) April 28, 2017 "I want to tell the other @TEDTAlks speakers - they paid me for this and they're not paying you." Great @iamsrk irreverent humor #TED2017 pic.twitter.com/vdH20wsepQ Cindy Gallop (@cindygallop) April 28, 2017 .@iamsrk announces new @TEDTalks India show he'll be hosting in Hindi. His talk was a big hit at #TED2017 pic.twitter.com/gNrFri7gmq Dena Takruri (@Dena) April 28, 2017 The superstar may be ageing, but that surely doesn't seem to bother him much. "Ageing is not a problem to fix or a disease to be cured. It is a powerful, lifelong process that unites us all," SRK opined, adding, "why should 'ageing well' mean struggling to look and move like younger versions of ourselves? Ageism feeds on denial, our reluctance to acknowledge that we are going to become that older person." Be it his speech at the Edinburgh University or the Dhirubhai Ambani International School, SRK is well-known for his philosophical yet quirky takes on life and the lessons it gives. "Humanity is a lot like me. It's an ageing movie star, grappling with all the newness, wondering whether she got it right," the actor shared, adding, "we had expected an expansion of ideas and dreams, not bargained for the enclosure of judgement." The highlight of the show, however, was the 'lungi dance' - a routine the star has been following ever since he and Deepika Padukone danced to the peppy number in the promotional video for his movie 'Chennai Express'. For the unversed, TED Talks is a series of influential conferences and videos, where expert speakers talk about new ideas revolving around education, business, science, life, technology and much more. Watching Baahubali 2 is like being in a purportedly romantic relationship with a psychotic person who keeps saying if you can't handle me at my worst, you don't deserve me at my best. The worst in this case is basically 150 minutes and the best is around 20 minutes. After a decent first part, director S S Rajamouli seems to have got a carte blanche from his producers to let his imagination go unfettered in the second part. He did make a wild and weird movie, but it ends up being a distended mess. As suggested at the end of the first part, Baahubali 2 hits the ground running with the back story of Amarendra Baahubali (Prabhas) and how before his coronation as king of the ancient city of Mahishmati he meets the love of his life Devasena (Anushka) under the garb of a simpleton. The first 60 minutes of the movie are slow and the comedy track involving Subba Raju as the simple-minded cousin of Devasena barely evokes any laughs. Things pick up a little when Devasena realises the real person behind the unassuming guy in their midst and goes to his kingdom with him. A tale of mistaken identities leads Baahubali's near-real mother Sivagami (Ramya Krishna) to have a fit of rage and, instead, she anoints her other son Bhallaladeva (Rana Daggubati) as the king. Second half is how righteousness of both Sivagami and Baahubali lets Bhallaladeva unfurl a vortex of tragedies until his nephew (Mahendra Baahubali) returns to avenge for the deaths. For the last 22 months, we always knew that the antagonist was going to die a bad death in the hands of his blood-thirsty nephew. We has been waiting for the journey to a predestined goal, but Rajamouli disappoints. He goes offtrack way too often, and by the end we are left huffing and puffing on realising that the whole fuss around Kattappa killing Baahubali was fairly predictable. The movie reminded me of what Sigmund Freud once said about the defining characteristic of Vienna: Schein uber Sein looking good is better than being good. Rajamouli constantly tries to dazzle but never moves the audience emotionally. The VFX effects by Makuta are top-notch and cinematography by Senthil Kumar is awe-inducingly fabulous. Right from the titles to the details of the Mahishmati kingdom and the climactic war sequenes, the movie is a visual delight. But the hollowness creeps in quickly because the story is such a paint-by-numbers revenge drama and in no time the audience will discover that this emperor has no clothes (no pun intended). For all its flaws, at least Baahubali 1 felt more organic. But the second part is flush with adrenaline and there's a phallic-like symbolism attached to Prabhas right from the word go. In the initial parts, each twitch of his muscle sends the audience into raptures, but even he couldn't salvage the movie in the post-interval happenings. Ramya Krishna's character is an oddity. For all the strength she displays as a strong female character in a male-dominated movie, she falls easy prey to hearsay. She epitomises a character in Henry James' The Portrait of a Lady: Her love of knowledge coexisted with the finest capacity for ignorance. Anushka does her bit well, but she was far better in the first part, where she would be the only one hissing at Bhallaladeva. Rana Daggubati as the scheming villain and Nassar as his father are functionally good. The moments of levity that one experiences invariably have Sathyaraj in them as Kattappa, the trusted commander of both Baahubalis. While the suspense of why Kattappa betrayed Baahubali might have been a cop out, Sathyaraj's intense tumult in the whole sequence is brilliant. M M Keeravani tries to lift up the sagging plot with his soaring background music and it seems he's over-compensating for his meh-inducing soundtrack barring the title track. Each Rajamouli movie has 30 minutes of amazing wham-bang action, with style and brio, and Baahubali 2 has that in spurts: The way Baahubali beheads a man in front of the whole court, pre-climactic sequence, the way title track was shot and the interval bang. Barring these, the movie feels like Jodorowsky's Dune being mounted on the big screen with dollops of megalomania instead of delicious off kilter sensibility. The movie hits its stride only after two hours of a gruelling set-up and by then, you would be world weary and just going with the motions. The movie left me asking one question: Did Rajamouli always want to make a mere money spinner instead of investing his passion in coming up with something for posterity's sake? Ask someone who endured it why Kattappa did what he did, and go watch Mukti Bhawan instead, if any cinema near you deigns to show it, that is. PS: If you can help it, watch the movie in Telugu. Watching a dubbed version would be like taking a shower while wearing a raincoat. Government on Friday told the Supreme Court it was ready to talk to recognised political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to resolve the crisis there but not with the separatists. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi made it clear that the government would come to the negotiating table only if the recognised parties participate in the dialogue and not the separatist elements. He made the submissions before a bench, comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul, while rubbishing the claim of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association that the Centre was not coming forward for discussion and dialogue to resolve the crisis. Rohatgi said recently the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of the state held a meeting to discuss the situation. The bench asked the Association to come with suggestions to resolve the crisis, including stone-pelting and violent agitation on the streets of the Kashmir Valley. The apex court made it clear to the bar body that it would have to come out with suggestions after talking to all stakeholders and cannot shy away by saying that they do not represent everybody in Kashmir. It said there was need for a positive start and the bar body could play an important role by coming out with a gameplan and a roadmap for restoring normalcy in the Valley. The bench also made it clear to the Centre that the court would involve itself in the matter only if there was a view that it can play a role and there was no jurisdictional issue. "If you feel the court has no role and if you feel we have no jurisdiction, we will close the file at this moment," the bench told the AG who, at the fag end of the hearing, objected to some of the suggestions made by the bar body including that the separatists were being ignored. The bench also said both the parties have to take a joint step but the first step has to come from the lawyers' body which has approached the apex court. It also said it was aware that the situation in Kashmir Valley was not very palatable, while posting the matter for further hearing on May 9. The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association against the High Court order seeking stay on the use of pellet guns as a large number of people had been killed or injured due to their use. During the last hearing on April 10, the Centre had told the Supreme Court it was exploring a crowd control option that is akin to rubber bullets but not as lethal as pellet guns that are being used currently as a last resort to quell violence in the Valley. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court had on September 22 rejected the plea seeking a ban on use of pellet guns on the ground that the Centre had already constituted a Committee of Experts through its memorandum of July 26, 2016 for exploring alternatives to pellet guns. Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006. Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more. Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them. 26 years of website archives. The Delhi High Court on Friday rejected the RBI's intervention plea in the Tata-Docomo case while taking on record the terms of consent of the settlement between Japanese telecom major NTT Docomo and Tata Sons over the payment of $1.17 billion damages to the former. Justice S Muralidhar in his verdict rejected the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) intervention plea opposing the settlement as well as the damages awarded to Docomo by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). The court said it has given detailed directions in its judgement and disposed of the plea by Docomo seeking enforcement of the LCIA award. The court had reserved its verdict on March 15. Docomo and Tata had gone for arbitration as the Indian company was not able to find a buyer for the Japanese telecom major's 26.5 per cent stake in their joint venture, Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL), when it exited from it. Under the shareholding agreement between them, on Docomo's exit from the venture within five years, Tata was to find a buyer who would purchase the Japanese company's stake at minimum 50 per cent of the acquisition price, which came to around Rs 58.45 per share. The other option was Tata purchasing the shares at the fair market value, which was Rs 23.44. However, this was not acceptable to Docomo and it had opted for arbitration. Thereafter, the LCIA in June 2016 awarded damages of $1.17 billion in favour of Docomo for Tata's inability to find a buyer as per the shareholding agreement. Docomo had moved the Delhi High Court for enforcement of the award after Tata cited refusal of permission by the RBI to make the payment. The RBI, during the proceedings, had contended that once it had denied permission for transferring the money overseas, the issue had attained finality. It had said that till date, its decision has not been challenged. The RBI, in its intervention application, had contended that the shareholding agreement was illegal and objected to the award of damages. It had said that Docomo's shares in TTSL be purchased only at the fair market value. The Indian central bank had later also opposed the settlement arrived at between Tata and Docomo. Under the settlement agreement between the two companies, Tata and Docomo had decided to settle their two-year-old dispute regarding TTSL with the Indian company withdrawing its objections to the enforcement of the award. Tata had already deposited $1.17 billion with the high court. The Japanese company, in turn, had said it will "suspend its related enforcement proceedings in the United Kingdom and the United States" for a period of six months. With the launch of a subsidised regional air connectivity scheme Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (Udan) on Thursday, you can now fly to Shimla from the capital for as low as Rs 2,000 as little over half of the seats in the Shimla-bound flight, operated by Air India subsidiary Alliance Air with a plane having 42-seater plane, are being sold at the discounted fare of Rs 2,036, inclusive of taxes. However, due to restricted availability of seats on the Delhi-Shimla route being subsidised, the fares can shoot up to as high as Rs 19,000 for the remaining seats. Its an auspicious 'golden' Friday. is believed to bring good luck and success and hence its the perfect day to buy gold. It is believed that buying gold for investment or an upcoming occasion yields great results. Naturally, a lot of people are lining up for this shopping festival. TiE Chennai, a network of entrepreneurs in the city, has mooted a suggestion to incorporate mediation in all contracts across small and large enterprises, in order to make business easier.It has also conducted a session for aspiring entrepreneurs on legal aspects of conducting business, where the do's and don'ts for start-ups with examples from the "Stayzilla affair" were deliberated upon, said the organisation.Yogendra Vasupal, founder and CEO of online accommodation aggregator Stayzilla, was arrested and had to spend almost a month in jail, following a complaint filed by a vendor. However, according to Vasupal, cash was never a constraint in settling the dispute with the vendor- Jigsaw Advertising and Solutions. Instead, it was a matter of principle he said. Reflecting on the issue, R Narayanan, President, TiE Chennai, said: "Entrepreneurs tend to get things done and when the judicial system fails them they find other ways and means, not all of them are fair and easy. One self- help measure, that can eventually become a movement, could be to incorporate "mediation" into all contracts across small and large enterprises." The 135-km Eastern Peripheral Expressway project to connect Kundli to the north of Delhi on National Highway-1 with Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, with the idea to unclog traffic in and bound for the national capital, is about half-done, say ground engineers here. The government is in advanced stages of formulating a new policy to increase domestic and reduce dependence on imported high-tech military equipment, Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor said it could be time to reprivatise some of the nationalised banks to prevent the throwing of good money after bad banks in the form of persistent recapitalisation. Faster and All-Round development is our Motto- Sh. Venkaiah Naidu Minister reviews the progress of various schemes under Urban Development & HUPA Ministries in Haryana To I&B Field Offices, Shri Naidu Asks to communicate more in local langauge & develop Programmes on Regional Culture & Talent Faster and all-round, inclusive development is our motto to build a New India, said the Union Minister of Urban Development and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) and Information & Broadcasting Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu. The Minister was addressing a press conference in Chandigarh after holding Review meeting on the progress of schemes related to the Ministry of Urban Development & Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation. He said that the country is witnessing a new environment of aspiration and development. Shri Naidu further said that this government incentivizes performance competition and reforms, which would take the country to newer heights. Giving details about the meetings, Shri Naidu said that the deliberations focused on the implementation, achievements, effectiveness and problem areas and finding solutions to those problems. He said that Haryana has raised its demand for 8.97 lakh houses and the ministry has asked the state to finalize the list. The Minister further said that the interest subvention of 6.5 percent is being given by the Centre in housing. Speaking on AMRUT and other flagship programmes of the Ministry of Urban Development, Shri Naidu said that the government has adopted a single window clearance approach so that the schemes can take-off quickly and in a hassle-free manner. He further said that Haryana state government has assured that it is at an advanced stage of notifying the rules and setting up the Authority/Tribunal under the Real Estate Regulations Act. (RERA). Under Deendayal Antodaya Yojana, National Urban livelihood Mission (DAY-NULM), 22 Urban Local Bodies have been covered in the state; 294 Urban SHGs provided revolving funds. Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) has sanctioned 8 schemes with a total loan amount of Rs. 4448 crore in Haryana. Shri Naidu said all the three plans (worth Rs., 2565 crores) under AMRUT in the state have been approved. On the ongoing projects Shri Naidu called upon the state government for expeditious completion. Shri Naidu, while deliberating upon National Infrastructure Development Projects, said that 11 cities in Haryana are now as Open Defecation Free (ODF) under Swachh Bharat Mission. To achieve the objective of constructing 1,10,000 Individual Household latrines (IHHLs) work has commenced on 31702 IHHLs and 19,345 units have been completed till date. The Minister informed that the Government of India has released its second tranche of Rs. 96 crores towards Smart City Mission for Faridabad. Shri Naidu also reviewed the status of Metro projects in Haryana state especially the Narela-Kundali sector, Badarpur-Escort Mujesar and Badarpur-Mahilpur. In his review of the departments of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Sh. Naidu said that the field units should focus more on the local culture and local talent. They should also bring the beneficiaries of various government schemes on the forefront and should not remain fixated on political or bureaucratic figures only. The Minister asked the concerned authorities to examine the possibility of launching Haryanvi language bulletin and other programmes. Sh. Naidu said that projection of developmental activities should be the main theme of the content put out by the field offices. Haryana Chief Minister, Shri Manoharlal Khattar; Haryana local bodies Minister, Smt. Kavita Jain; Secretary Urban Development, Shri Rajiv Gauba; Secretary HUPA, Ms. Nandita Chatterjee; Chief Secretary Haryana, Shri D S Dhesi & other Senior officers from the ministries and the state government attended the review meetings. The Passing out Parade of 107th (Male) and 108th (Female) batches of Recruit Constables was held at Police Training College, Jharoda Kalan here today. They took the oath in a colourful ceremonial parade after successfully completing their basic training. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju took the salute of the marching contingents. The parade was attended by Delhi Police Commissioner Shri Amulya Patnaik and other senior officers of Delhi Police. . . These batches will augment the trained manpower of Delhi Police. 964 Constables including 202 Women showcase Indias unity in diversity as 433 Constables including 134 Women are from North East, besides 105 Constables of Daman and Diu Police. This inclusion should help Delhi Police in capturing benefits of workplace diversity. During long and hard training they acquired skills in Law, Police Science, Criminology, Computer Application, Cyber Crime and Human Rights with emphasis on professionalism, discipline and good behavior. For effective community policing they have been sensitized on gender issues, Crimes against Women, Children & Senior Citizens. With special emphasis on Safety and Security of Women, all the Women Constables have been trained in Unarmed Combat (UAC) & Commando. In outdoor training, they are trained in handling of weapons, vehicle driving, firing practice. They are trained to use the latest weapons. . . After witnessing their impressive march past, Chief Guest Shri Rijiju gave away the All-Round Best trophy to W/Ct. Chiewelou Thele. In his address, Shri Rijiju acknowledged the working challenges in the Delhi Police. He said that the pan-India composition of the team would now enable the force to appreciate and be sensitized towards the diverse population in the burgeoning metropolis. This, he said, can be enabled only through discipline. He hoped the tough training will help them turn into true professional police personnel and encouraged them to come forward and accept the huge challenges of policing the national capital in a better way. Shri Rijiju was happy to know that these constables have been trained in counter-terrorism techniques, cybercrime, unarmed Combat etc. Stating that the Police and Security Forces are burdened with great responsibilities, Shri Rijiju hoped that they will certainly meet with the expectations. He said the Delhi Police is amongst the best in the country, which should be maintained. He further advised the police officers to be sensitive to the security needs of women and protect the poor and weaker sections of society. . . Commissioner of Police, Delhi congratulated the freshly inducted Constables for completion of their training successfully. In his welcome address Shri Amulya Patnaik drew attention to the approach adopted and some key measures taken to enhance the effectiveness of the training which in turn would be visible in field duty. He said that the constables are expected to do their job with distinction, despite the challenges they face. He affirmed that unbiased service to the public helps in building trust. He added that the uptick in crime and its nature makes it imperative for the police force to be updated and acquire skills in latest technology along with physical and mental agility. Apart from functional knowledge he laid importance on soft skills so as to effectively meet responsibility towards the children, women, senior citizens, disillusioned youth and other needy sections. . . The educational profile of the 964 newly inducted Constables is quite impressive as this batch has 25 Post-Graduates, 347 Graduate, 8 B.Ed, one LLB and 478 Senior Secondary qualified personnel. . . I am aware of your initiative for resolving the Cyprus issue. You have led from the front in trying to bring a new era of peace, development and security. Not just for Cyprus, but for the whole region. We wish you every success in your efforts. Under your leadership, Cyprus has successfully overcome its recent financial and banking challenges. And, recorded one of the highest growth rates in the Euro zone in 2016. Excellency, we commend your vision and leadership for taking your country out of this crisis and on to the path of economic prosperity. Friends, Signing of Tripartite MOU for broadband services to Post Offices A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding has been signed today among BBNL, Department of Posts and BSNL for providing broadband connectivity of BharatNet to Post Offices in rural areas. The MoU signed under the chairmanship of Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha is the first tri-partite agreement to provide broadband connectivity to about 1.3 lakh, post offices in rural areas and 25,000 sub-post offices for high speed internet connectivity to the rural masses. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sinha said that the first phase of connecting about one lakh Gram Panchayats is nearing its completion and in the remaining one and a half lakh Gram Panchayats 100 mbps broadband connectivity will be completed by December, 2018. In reply to a question, the Minister said that BharatNet is one of the 9 pillars of realising the Prime Ministers vision of Digital India. Shri Sinha said that provision of citizen services is the focus of BharatNet and in the agreement signed today, BSNL is the service provider, that would provide broadband services, the cost of setting up of infrastructure and the operational expenses would be paid by the Department of Posts. Since the BharatNet is the National Network, BBNL would facilitate and coordinate this entire operation. In future, MoUs with other Government Departments are also proposed to be signed. <><><><><> The Eastern Peripheral Expressway for decongesting Delhi likely to be complete by August 2017 EPE to be the countrys first green expressway with world-class smart features Shri Nitin Gadkari does an aerial survey and addresses the press at the construction site Outlines the Governments plans for bringing a transport revolution in the country The Minister of Road Transport & Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari did an aerial survey of the ongoing construction work of the 135 km long Eastern Peripheral Expressway that runs from Kondli Ghaziabad- Palwal. The Minister was accompanied by media persons on this aerial visit. Addressing the press near Palwal Shri Gadkari said that the construction of the Expressway was nearly 60 percent done, and he was hopeful that it would be over by August this year. The Peripheral Expressway Project comprises two expressways - Western Peripheral Expressway (WPE) and Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) connecting NH-1 and NH-2 from Western and Eastern side of Delhi.The EPE and WPE constitute one combined project forming a Ring Road around Delhi with a total length of 270 km. About 183 km length passes through the State of Haryana whereas the remaining about 87 km length passes through the State of Uttar Pradesh. Shri Gadkari said that once complete, the two expressways together will allow a by pass for traffic not meant for Delhi and headed towards the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir. This will not only decongest Delhi but also cut down pollution by almost 50 percent. The Expressway is planned to be equipped with the latest, world class smart technology and road safety features like intelligent highway traffic management system, video incident detection system and a closed tolling system where the toll will be charged on the distance travelled, said Shri Gadkari. The Minister also informed that the EPE will be the countrys first Green Highway, with landscaping, plantation with nearly 2.5 lakh trees and fully lit by solar energy. There will also be facilities for rainwater harvesting at short distances. The Highway will also have roadside amenities like petrol pumps, motels, restaurants etc. The Expressway will greatly benefit farmers, traders and the people of the NCR region and neighbouring states of UP, Uttarakhand, as a whole by providing better road connectivity in the region. The projects will give a major boost to the transport infrastructure of the region, making it speedier, more efficient and less polluting, which in turn, will give a boost to the economy as a whole. The projects will create both direct and indirect jobs. The construction work of EPE has generated 40 lakh mandays of employment. 2100 engineers and 5200 workers are employed daily. Besides this, the local population would be involved in creating and maintaining the green belt. The roadside amenities will provide markets for local produce. Shri Gadkari informed that the total compensation given to farmers for land acquisition for Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways was Rs 7700 crores, The Minister further said that an efficient and integrated transport system is necessary to bring down logistics cost and give a boost to the economy. He informed that twelve expressways are also being constructed in other parts of the country, including Delhi- Meerut ,Delhi-Jaipur, DelhiLudhiana-Amritsar-Katra, Mumbai - Vadodara, Bangaluru-Chennai, Hyderabad-Vijaywada-Amravati, Hyderabad-Bangaluru, Nagpur Hyderabad and Amravati Ring Road Expressway. Shri Gadkari further informed that the Government is fast moving towards meeting its target of building 2 lakh km of National Highways. Starting from around 57000 km of NH we have reached a figure of 103933 km . He said that the pace of construction of National Highways across the country has risen very fast. A record 16000 km of NH construction work was awarded this year. He said the award target for the coming year is 25000 km. He also said that the daily rate of construction has gone up from about 2 km per day three years back to about 22 km per day at present. Urban Housing Mission now set for implementation in NCT of Delhi Issues resolved at a meeting chaired by LG of Delhi Minister of HUPA Shri Venkaiah Naidu grants exemption from Mission Guidelines DDA and DUSIB to sign MoA with Ministry of HUPA for implementation of PMAY(Urban) in Delhi Issues that held back implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)-Housing for All Mission in the National Capital Territory of Delhi for 22 months have now been resolved. Minister of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu approved signing of Memorandum of Agreement between the Ministry of HUPA, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) enabling implementation of the Urban Housing Mission in NCT of Delhi. The issues were resolved at a meeting taken by the Lt. Governor of Delhi Shri Anil Baijal last month. Keeping in view the uniqueness of jurisdiction of land ownership in NCT of Delhi, it was decided in the meeting taken by LG of Delhi that DDA and DUSIB will sign the Memorandum of Agreement as required under the PMAY(Urban) Mission Guidelines. As per the Guidelines, Government of NCT of Delhi was to sign the MoA. However, Minister of HUPA Shri Venkaiah Naidu now granted exemption in this regard. The MoA requires the State Governments to commit to comply with six mandatory conditions including amending the Master Plan earmarking land for affordable housing, removing requirement of separate Non-Agricultural Permission if the land falls in the residential zone, putting in place a single window time bound clearance system for layout approvals and building permissions, providing additional FAR/FSI/ Transferable Development Rights and relaxing density norms for slum redevelopment and low cost housing etc. DDA and DUSIB will be the State Level Nodal Agencies as required under the Guidelines for implementing the In-Situ Slum Redevelopment component of PMAY (Urban) while DDA will be the agency for other components viz., Credit Linked Subsidy component, Affordable Housing in Partnership with Public and Private sectors and Beneficiary Led Construction. Under PMAY(Urban), central assistance of up to Rs.1.00 lakh per beneficiary under ISSR, Rs.1.50 lakh under AHP and BLC, interest subsidy of 3% to 6.50% on housing loans of Rs.6.00 lakhs to Rs.12.00 lakhs under Credit Linked Subsidy component is provided. Ministry of HUPA has so far approved construction of 18,75,389 affordable houses for urban poor in the country with an investment of Rs.1,00,466 cr and central assistance of Rs.29,409 cr. AAR/KM/April 28, 2017 The hundredth day of an American presidents term traditionally marks the end of the honeymoon period a time to take stock of early achievements, launch new legislation, and set a new direction. But the scorecard for Donald Trumps first 100 days doesnt read well, and the direction for the next four years is looking so new as to radically contradict the premise of his campaign. President Vladimir Putin has said Russia's ties with Japan were moving forward as he met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the latest bid to make progress on a decades-old territorial dispute. The meeting follows on from Putin's first visit to Japan in 11 years last December, when the two leaders failed to resolve a disagreement over an island chain that has prevented their nations signing a peace treaty to formally end World War II. But the Russian strongman insisted that the two sides are making important steps towards bolstering trade and political relations despite the dispute. "At our previous meeting... During talks we agreed to activate our relations, our contacts, our joint work, and we can already draw some conclusions: there is movement forward," Putin yesterday said at the start of talks with Abe in Moscow. During Putin's visit to Japan the countries signed a flurry of economic deals and agreed to begin negotiations towards possible economic cooperation on the disputed islands. Abe yesterday said Japan's bilateral relations with Russia are "developing as they should". The Kremlin had said that yesterday's talks would focus on "the state and prospects for development of Russo-Japanese cooperation in the political, trade and economic, and humanitarian spheres." The Soviet Union seized islands off Japan's northern coast in 1945 in the closing days of the war. Known as the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, they have been a thorn in relations ever since. The United States would deport 7,000 Ghanaians this year for breaching terms of their visa agreement, a US diplomat said on Thursday. US Ambassador to Ghana Robert P. Jackson said the Ghanaians had overstayed their permits and were currently at different stages of their deportation process, Xinhua news agency reported. "About 7,000 of them are currently at different stages of the deportation process, and we are not apologetic about that," Jackson said at an event in the Brong Ahafo region, 400 km from the capital, Accra. "We have a lot of Ghanaians who have overstayed their visas in the US and I think that they need to be concerned about whether they would be allowed to remain illegally," Jackson said. "My guess is they will be given some options but the President will be serious about asking those who've violated their visa status to depart." Jewellers called Akshaya Tritiya on Friday to be the best they have had since 2013, with demand rising 30 per cent as compared to last year in volume terms. India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) is locked in upper circuit of 10% at Rs 736 on BSE in opening deal after the company said Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) has been entered with Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP), Assam and Rajasthan for transfer of equity stake of the company in the joint venture subsidiary companies/transfer of undertaking to the respective state governments/ state institutions. hits 52-week high of Rs 129, up 9% on BSE in early morning trade after the company said it received Letter of Intent (LoI) from Madhya Pradesh government for allotment of cement grade limestone mining lease. Spaces, Amsterdam-born creative workspace pioneer, has launched its first location in Gurugram. Located in Cyber City, the newly launched facility marks the company's first Indian entry. is a creative working environment with a unique entrepreneurial ethos. Its workspaces offer an inspiring environment designed to integrate lifestyle into work and members are encouraged to build their networks and connect. The Gurugram Cyber City site meets the varied workplace requirements of today's entrepreneurial businesses. More than xx seats are available in the hub's vast work area, which includes a cafe with barista-served coffee and fresh deli food. There is also ample space for private meetings and quieter work in numerous offices and meeting-rooms. With the opening of the Gurugram workspace, this is the 25th facility globally for . The company - which was founded in 2006 - plans to set up its next India facility in Chennai and is likely to aggressively expand to 50 locations over the next few months. has its presence in four continents: Europe, the US, Latin America, Australia and Asia. "Spaces is redefining the way work is done, providing a contemporary, social and inspirational environment with a real focus on community. People are far more productive and successful in an enjoyable, social and inspiring work environment this is what Spaces offers. Spaces give members the opportunity to take their careers into their own hands and our events enable them to get involved in the buzz of the spaces way of life. While our staff take care of all the day-to-day logistics of the workplace, our members are free to connect and get creative," said Country Manager Spaces, Harsh Lambah. Spaces helps businesses expand their entrepreneurial horizon with monthly motivational and inspiring sessions by experts from various sectors. Gurugram is the ideal location because of its startup and entrepreneurial spirit. Spaces Gurugram occupies a 1532 - mt.sq features state-of-the-art meeting rooms, private offices and aesthetically designed co-working spaces. Fans in Tamil Nadu have to wait a little longer to watch the most anticipated movie of the year, 'Baahubali "About Rs. 10 crore is yet to be settled to the producer form the distributors side. The qube company which is releasing the movie is waiting for the producers' approval to release the movie," said Panneerselvam, President, Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners' Association Negotiations are on from both the sides so that the movie can be released. The theater owners are waiting for the answer from the qube. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Alert security forces on Friday foiled a bid by two militants to loot a branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank (JK Bank) here. One militant was arrested, while the other managed to flee. The incident happened when the bank's Mehandi Kadal branch employees had gone to offer Friday prayers and the branch appeared to be closed. A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel deployed at the branch told ANI that when he along with a head constable of J&K Police (JKP) were guarding the bank, the two militants approached the bank, and asked, "Is the bank closed?" "When we answered that it would be opened soon, one of the militants pulled out a pistol and fired a single shot at the constable but missed as the alert constable pushed him and he fell down. While I caught the other, the militant who had opened the fire managed to flee," said the CRPF official. The JKP constable sustained bullet injury on his right hand. Nearby stationed CRPF personnel immediately secured the area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Credit rating agency ICRA has recovered to pre-demonetisation levels of prices of key commodity such as cement in April 2017. As per ICRA, the cement prices have been negatively impacted in the west, east and south following post-demonetisation, have rebounded. In the northern region, prices have remained relatively stable, displaying relative in-difference over the last six months, despite demonetisation. "With the impact of demonetisation gradually subsiding, cement prices have reached the pre-demonetisation levels in April 2017 in most markets. Going forward, we expect prices to be supported by a marginal improvement in capacity utilization," said Senior Vice President and Group Head ICRA, Sabyasachi Majumdar. He further said that the slowdown in new capacity addition and improvement in the supply-demand scenario in FY2018 should support capacity utilization levels and thereby cement prices. As for region-wise price trends in the past six months, in the Ahmedabad market, the prices, which had declined by 17 percent during October 2016 - January 2017, started a rebound from February 2017 onwards and increased by around 19 percent to Rs. 265/bag in April 2017. Similarly, in Hyderabad, the cement prices had declined by 16 percent during November 2016 - March 2017. However, a steep hike in the cement prices in the month of April 2017 by around Rs. 60/bag (27 percent growth) on an MoM basis, pushed the prices up to Rs. 325-330/bag. This has largely been driven by a supply moderation and pricing discipline. In the East, there has been a moderate decline by seven percent during November 2016 - January 2017. In this region, the demand is primarily supported by Government projects and the IHB segment, which saw an increase in cement prices by six percent in March - April 2017. On all-India basis cement production reported a de-growth of 1.0 percent in 11M FY2017 to 255 million MT. Demonetisation impacted cement volumes which declined by 10 percent during November 2016 - February 2017 when compared to the corresponding previous period. Looking ahead, ICRA expects cement demand to grow by around four to five percent during FY2018, mainly driven by a pick-up in the infrastructure segment - mostly housing, road and irrigation projects. Further, the increased budgetary allocation for the infrastructure sector, which includes roads, railways, metro, irrigation and housing, during FY2018 will directly and indirectly support cement demand. Also, higher rural credit and increased allocation for rural, agricultural and allied sectors, including the demand for rural housing, are expected to be significant contributors to the overall cement demand. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a recent interview, the President stated that there is an absolute chance that the US could end up having a major conflict with North Korea. North Korea has conducted several tests ever since the new U.S. administration came to power and refused to halt its nuclear weapons development programs. In the most recent show of force, Pyongyang put its military might on display during a parade on April 15 marking the 105th birth anniversary of the country's founder Kim Il Sung, grandfather of present ruler Kim Jong Un. According to reports, North Korea displayed what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during the parade. The parade also featured the North's submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) for the first time. A day after it conducted a failed missile launch on its east coast following which US Vice President Mike Pence has said that all options are still on the table with North Korea, not ruling out military actions. Ever since the two sides have been engaged in a spat of verbal warnings. Last week, a North Korean newspaper said Pyongyang was ready to take out a US aircraft carrier conducting drills with Japanese destroyers near the Philippines. With mounting Pyongyang's nuclear threats, Washington has also speeded the installation of its advanced missile defence system Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korea. Designed to shoot down missiles at a high altitude, a THAAD battery is made up of six truck-mounted launchers carrying some 50 interceptor missiles, and a fire control and communications unit, which are linked to the very long-range X-band radar system. The Trump administration has also said it will tighten economic sanctions against Pyongyang to halt Kim Jong-Un's nuclear weapons programme and ballistic missile tests. Backing Priyanka Gandhi's refutation of any relation between the property she purchased in Haryana with alleged illegal acquired funds and her husband Robert Vadra's finances , the Congress party on Friday said the fact that 'no concrete' material has come out shows the character of the her statement. "I think it is very clear that after two or three years of constant persecution and after three years of misinformation, nothing has come out. Agencies of several states are trying to harass and I think that the fact that no concrete material has come out shows the character of the statement made," Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told ANI. Gandhi's statement claimed that such allegations against her appeared to have been based on questionable documents and had been publicised deliberately. The statement further alleged that the statements were 'politically motivated' and 'malicious' in intent. "Six years prior to the purported "land deal involving Skylight Hospitality" on April 28, 2006 Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, purchased 40 Kanal 00 Marla (= 5.0 acres) of agricultural land in Village Amipur, Tehsil Faridabad, District Faridabad in Haryana," a press release from Priyanka's office stated. It further said that the land was purchased for a total purchase price of Rs. 15, 00,000 paid for entirely by cheque, which is the equivalent of Rs. 3, 00,000 per acre. "The source of funds for the aforesaid purchase was rental income of Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from property inherited by her from her grandmother Smt. Indira Gandhi. The source of funds for this or any other property acquired by Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has no relationship whatsoever with Shri Robert Vadra's finances and/or Skylight Hospitality and no relationship whatsoever with DLF," it added. The press release said the prevailing Collector Rate for agricultural land in Village Amipur, Tehsil Faridabad for 2006-07 and as of April 28, 2006 (the date of purchase) was Rs. 3, 00,000 per acre. "Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra paid applicable Stamp Duty of 4 percent (applying to a women purchaser of rural agricultural land) amounting to Rs. 60,000 (Rupees Sixty Thousand) on the purchase price of Rs. 15, 00,000. The press release added that any allegations made by a leading daily in the purported article and/or any headline which besmirches the reputation of Gandhi will appear to be based upon certain questionable documents and represent a deliberate, politically motivated and malicious campaign to besmirch and destroy her reputation. Gandhi last year acknowledged the receipt of the Enforcement Directorate's notice to Vadra's company in Bikaner. The Enforcement Directorate had conducted extensive searches in this case in Rajasthan and other places in May and had claimed to have seized a number of documents. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's consistent denial of consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav suggests him already being executed, said former union home secretary and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R.K. Singh on Friday. Singh told ANI, "Requesting for consular access and visas to Kulbhushan's parents is a human right issue. It should not be denied. Nextly, the reason behind asking for the report is that we have strong feeling that Kulbhushan has already been tortured to an extent that he is already dead and that's why he was sentenced to death by a Pakistan's military court." Singh suggested the government should take strict reciprocal action against the terrorists who infiltrate to India through the International Border. "We should set up fast track courts for terrorists who infiltrate into the Indian side through the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir , Jaipur. A fast track trial should be conducted. They all should either be awarded a death sentence or given life imprisonment," he added. Resonating similar views, Minister of State (MoS) for Home Hansraj Ahir said that it's New Delhi's right to the health status of Kulbhushan Jadhav. "May be not today, but afterwards they have to give us the health status of Kulbushan Jadhav," Ahir told ANI. The Indian government has requested for Consular access to Jadav on sixteen occasions, and Pakistan has refused to entertain them on grounds that it is a defence and security matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said the European Union (EU) and India should work closely to bring peace, stability and development in Afghanistan. "In places like Afghanistan, India and the EU can forge closer cooperation for the benefit of the people of Afghanistan and for the cause of peace and stability in the region. Wherever possible, India and the EU must join forces to tackle the root causes of terrorism," Anastasiades said in a keynote address at the India Trilateral Forum 12, organised by Observer Research Foundation, in association with the Government of Sweden and German Marshal Fund, here on Thursday. Pointing that terrorism and political instability go hand in hand, the President said Cyprus had been consistently making the case for tackling the root causes of terrorism and this requires joining forces. "In our region, in Syria, Iraq and Libya, political instability has allowed radical organisations such as the ISIL to fill in the vacuum in an absence of political leadership. The result has been chaos and an unprecedented flow of migration. Likewise, India faces significant migration flows from Afghanistan, and has suffered from terrorism," he said. He pointed out that the major challenges that Europe faced were very much the same that India must address. Attacks in Brussels, Istanbul, Saint Petersburg, Dhaka, Egypt, Stockholm, London and elsewhere were a tragic proof that we were facing a sophisticated global terrorist threat, from which no country was immune, he said, adding the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack was a stark reminder that the challenge is common. Anastasiades said Cyprus was stepping up its efforts within the European Union, calling for a strengthened international legal framework. Calling for an increased cooperation in trade, the President of Cyprus said the multipliers of an Free Trade Agreement, in the context of an ambitious EU-India Strategic Partnership in the 21st century, were enormous. He said the EU and its Member States possessed tremendous expertise and know-how, in the very areas where India wished to take huge modernisation leaps, and where Prime Minister Modi set an ambitious agenda: Make in India, Clean India, Digital India, Smart Cities, and other significant initiatives, like the International Solar Alliance. The Republic of Cyprus has strongly supported the signing of the FTA, and will seize the opportunity to engage actively with India in sectors like renewable energy, most notably in solar energy and natural gas, in shipping and financial services, new applications of thermal energy in medical sciences and pharmaceuticals, in advanced university research and people-to-people contacts, he added. He said one of the main pillars of his visit had been to strengthen cooperation in the economic field, and his delegation included over 60 businessmen, who participated in Cyprus-India business forums in Mumbai and in New Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Depression is world's leading illness and is one of the major reasons for suicides globally, says the World Organization (WHO). The story in India is no different. Everyone gets depressed at some point or other in life. On this note, there is a difference between feeling low for a short period and clinical depression. The good news is, clinical depression can be treated. Hence, according to Smita Sundararaman, the founder and managing director of NatureHealz, it's time to talk it out, instead of brushing it under the carpet. Sundararaman further explained that the stages of depression are not scientifically agreed upon. However, it is true that there are stages a depressed person goes through. This is the pattern they generally follow: - Depression is first characterized by denial followed by anger. People do not accept that they suffer from depression; they brush it off as just a low point in their life. Then they feel angry at the world and its injustices. They question why are they the ones picked to go through this suffering? - This stage is followed by personifying the depression and confronting it. This can include trying to strike bargains with it to make it leave or negotiating with it to leave you alone. - After this comes the lowest of the low - feeling so depressed that getting out of bed is a chore, getting dressed and going to work is impossible. You may keep thinking of death and how welcome it may be. At this stage, family members are genuinely worried and push you to take psychiatric treatment. - Acceptance is the last stage when you truly acknowledge that you have an illness and need to be treated. A life spent in this condition seems to be agony, and you know you need help. Mental illness is no longer a taboo word, but something to absorb, accept and treat. Diagnosing Depression- Various signs to look out for include: - Feeling depressed for almost the whole day, especially in the mornings after waking up - Feeling tired and low on energy daily - Indecisiveness - Low concentration - Feeling guilty and/or worthless constantly - Sleepless nights or too much sleeping almost daily - No pleasure or interest in any activities - Feeling restless or bogged down - Repeatedly thinking of dying and suicide - Marked increase or decrease in body weight Treating Depression: Most treatments like Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) or prescription drugs treat the symptoms of depression, not the cause. Relief is short-lived, and patients often relapse after some period. The only way to cure depression is 'naturally,' says Smita Sundararaman. Depression can be treated from the root by bringing about some lifestyle changes. Psychiatrists and therapists act as enablers in this process by helping you talk through the problems you face. Here is what you can do: - Reach out to people who matter and involve them in your cure. Suffering from depression is much harder when alone. Having trusted family and friends by your side can go a long way in speeding up your recovery. - Exercise regularly to boost secretion of feel-good hormones like serotonins and endorphins. Exercising also increases the growth of brain cells and synapses which are the connections in the brain. This helps you to fight out of depression. Aim to do at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, even if it just means going for a brisk walk. Getting your body moving may seem like the hardest thing in the world, but stick to it. - Sleep for at least seven to nine hours every night. This is the amount of sleep you need to rest your brain and body. Sadness, mood swings, fatigue, and irritability all increase if you are sleep-deprived. Sufficient sleep is an effective weapon to combat depression. - Take care of your nutrition. Eat small-sized balanced meals at regular intervals instead of a big, heavy meal. Avoid sugary foods even if they make you feel good momentarily. Complex carbohydrates are a better choice for gaining higher energy levels in the long run. Skip the coffee. Replace it with tulsi tea or infused water. - Natural anti-depressants like cashew nuts, turmeric in milk or food, bananas, whole grains, leafy vegetables should be considered before popping any prescription drugs. - Get plenty of sunlight. This ensures you get enough Vitamin D and helps you feel more cheerful too. Eliminate stress creators from your life, whether they exist in your work or personal life. - Naturopathy Therapies like foot bath and certain yoga asanas along with Pranayam can help you release the stress in your mind and body. - Try and relax after a day's work. Find your "me" time to connect with self. Spend time in nature away from gadgets. Do things you enjoy - get a massage, listen to music, play a sport, or spend time with your loved ones. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Crime Branch of Delhi Police on Friday arrested three persons for allegedly raping and murdering a woman and her friend in Kanjhawala village. The bodies of the two women were found within 24 hours of the crime. Two different cases have been registered by the Delhi Police. During preliminary investigation, the accused have been identified as the women's husband and a relative. The Crime Branch has so far arrested three of the accused. Two others were still absconding. According to the police, the couple were threatened with robbery, raped and murdered by the accused. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police on Friday arrested Hawala operator Naresh Jain in connection with the T.T.V. Dinakaran bribery case. It's alleged that Jain helped middleman Sukesh Chandrashekhar in money transfer. One more person has been detained in connection with the case. Dinakaran's house was searched yesterday and an informal interrogation was done with his wife, Joint Commissioner of Police, Delhi confirmed to ANI. Dinakaran had reportedly, through middleman Chandrashekhar, sought the 'Two Leaves' symbol of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) by allegedly trying to bribe an Election Commission official. 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 cross examined along with his 'friend' Mallikarjuna and P.A. Janardhanan, sources stated. During his third day of interrogation by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police yesterday, Dinakaran finally accepted that he met Chandrashekhar, the man alleged to be the middleman in his bribery dealing with the Election Commission of India (ECI). Dinakaran, sources say, initially refused to have known Sukesh. He later accepted meeting him when Sukesh himself gave the details of his meeting with the former. However, Dinakaran maintained that he did not pay any money to Sukesh. Following this, the Delhi Police Crime Branch team visited Chennai, even as a Delhi Court granted five-day police custody to Dinakaran. Dinakaran had earlier moved a bail application in a Delhi Court. He was produced before the Tis Hazari Court here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stressing on the importance of unity between Muslims and Christians to shape peace, Pope Francis on Friday urged to reject violence in the name of God or religion and preach messages of peace and tolerance instead. "Let us say once more a firm and clear 'No!' to every form of violence, vengeance and hatred carried out in the name of religion or in the name of God," reported CNN, quoting the Pope said at a peace conference at Al-Azhar University, the premier seat of high learning among Sunni Muslims. The pope said it is essential to eliminate poverty and exploitation in order to prevent conflicts and build peace in the . "In order to prevent conflicts and build peace, it is essential that we spare no effort in eliminating situations of poverty and exploitation where extremism more easily takes root, and in blocking the flow of money and weapons destined to those who provoke violence," he said. He also called for an end to the proliferation of arms and condemned demagogic forms of populism. "If they are produced and sold, sooner or later they will be used. Only by bringing into the light of day the murky maneuverings that feed the cancer of war can its real causes be prevented. National leaders, institutions and the media are obliged to undertake this urgent and grave task." He said. The Pope arrived in Egypt on Friday, on two-day trip, which is aimed to shape the Muslim-Christian brotherhood. The Pope's visit comes nearly two weeks after the Palm Sunday attack on two Coptic churches in Egypt, leaving at least 45 people dead. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said that the government has adopted a single window clearance approach so that the schemes under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) can take-off quickly and in a hassle-free manner. Addressing a conference in Chandigarh followed by a review meeting on the progress of schemes related to the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Naidu said, "The interest subvention of 6.5 percent has being given by the centre in housing against Haryana's demand for 8.97 lakh houses." He further asserted that Haryana State Government has assured that it is at an advanced stage of notifying the rules and setting up the Authority/Tribunal under the Real Estate Regulations Act. (RERA). "Under Deendayal Antodaya Yojana, Urban livelihood mission (DAY-NULM), 22 urban local bodies have been covered in the state. 294 Urban SHGs provided revolving funds. Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) has sanctioned eight schemes with a total loan amount of Rs. 4448 crore in Haryana. All the three plans worth Rs., 2565 crores under AMRUT in the state have been approved," Naidu added. The minister while deliberating upon Infrastructure Development Projects said that 11 cities in Haryana are now as Open Defecation Free (ODF) under Swachh Bharat Mission. "To achieve the objective of constructing 1, 10, 000 Individual Household latrines (IHHLs) work has commenced on 31702 IHHLs and 19,345 units have been completed till date." The minister also informed that the Government of India has released its second tranche of Rs. 96 crores towards Smart City Mission for Faridabad. The minister asked the concerned authorities to examine the possibility of launching Haryanvi language news bulletin and other programmes and said that projection of developmental activities should be the main theme of the content put out by the field offices. In his review of the departments of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Naidu said that the field units should focus more on the local culture and local talent. They should also bring the beneficiaries of various government schemes on the forefront and should not remain fixated on political or bureaucratic figures only. Naidu also reviewed the status of Metro projects in Haryana state especially the Narela-Kundali sector, Badarpur-Escort Mujesar and Badarpur-Mahilpur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday stayed the bail given to former Uttar Pradesh minister Gayatri Prajapati in a rape case by a local court. Prajapati, who was arrested in connection with a case of an alleged sexual assault of a minor girl, was released from the district jail in Lucknow earlier on Wednesday. Prajapati was earlier granted bail by a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in connection with the case. Two associates of Prajapati were also given bail. The court asked them to furnish two sureties of Rs one lakh each and a personal bond of same amount as a condition of bail. Prajapati was arrested on March 15 from the Aashiyana area in Lucknow by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF). The Samajwadi Party leader, who was also accused of allegedly raping the girl's mother, evaded his arrest for nearly a month before he was arrested. Earlier in February, a police complaint had been filed against the former minister and six others in the case following the Supreme Court's order. The Uttar Pradesh Police had also filed a non-bailable warrant against the former minister and six others for the same. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of Urban Development and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Venkaiah Naidu will review the implementation and progress of various new urban development and housing missions launched by the central government in Haryana today at a high level meeting at Chandigarh. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, concerned ministers of the State Government, Secretaries of the two urban ministries, Chief Secretary of Haryana and and state Level Mission Directors of new urban missions and other senior officials will attend the review meeting chaired by the Union Minister. The central government launched Swachh Bharat Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Smart City Mission and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to enable inclusive and sustainable urban development and to improve infrastructure in urban areas of the country. Swachh Bharat Mission is being implemented in all the 80 statutory cities and towns of Haryana and the Ministry of Urban Development. Under AMRUT, 20 cities and towns are included in the Mission. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday welcomed Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades at the joint press conference asserting that the India has contributed personnel to the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus. "I am delighted to welcome you and I know that India has enjoyed a special place in the heart of every Cypriot President. Cyprus and India share rich legacies of ancient civilizations and, our civilizations have influenced each other through millennia. India has always stood by Cyprus on all crucial issues. India has contributed personnel to the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus. Three force commanders from India served in this capacity, and it is heartening for me to know that all of them are fondly remembered in Cyprus," said Prime Minister Modi. Prime Minister Modi also praised President Anastasiades for leading a new era of peace, development, and security. "Cyprus has successfully overcome its recent financial and banking challenges. Cyprus has also been recorded as one of the highest growth in Euro zone," said Prime Minister Modi. Further referring to their discussions, Prime Minister Modi said, "The President and I agreed that India will offer excellent investment opportunities for Cypriot entrepreneurs. The industry and business in our two economies can shape attractive partnerships through the flagship programmes launched by my Government. The beautiful landscapes of Cyprus and the wide horizons of 'Incredible India' can be a source of tourism promotion in both our countries". Prime Minister Modi appreciated Cyprus's support for India's claim for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council stating that, "Both of us believe that a reformed Security Council, reflective of the world as it is, and not as it was, is necessary to address the range of complex challenges facing the world today. I deeply appreciate your support for India's claim for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council. The President and I also discussed ways to strengthen our partnership in other inter-governmental organizations and regimes". Earlier in the day, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of four agreements after delegation talks and working luncheon. The four agreements are Executive Programme on Culture, Education and Scientific Cooperation for 2017-2020; Work Plan under programme of Cooperation in Agriculture for 2017-2018; Merchant Shipping Agreement; and Air Aviation Agreement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India hopes that a just and lasting solution to Cyprus problem, where northern part of Cyprus is under Turkish control, will be found in accordance with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution and the European Acquis. "We understand that the two sides in Cyprus have been talking to each other. India hopes that a just and lasting solution will be found to the Cyprus problem in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and the European Acquis. We support a peaceful dialogue between the concerned parties," Ruchi Ghanashyam, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, on Thursday, said. The statement assumes significance as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be on a two-day visit to India, from April 30, accompanied by a huge business delegation. Meanwhile, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades is currently on a four-day visit to India, from April 25. Earlier, the Cyprus President sought India's help to reunify the northern and southern parts of the country. When asked if India would mediate on the Cyprus issue, Ghanashyam said, "Two leaders (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Cyprus) will meet and discuss issues that they decide to. I would not like to prejudge or speculate. However, our position on the Cyprus issue is very clear and well known. I don't need to reiterate it." In 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus, overran parts of it and has since stationed troops in the north. There is a ceasefire line that cuts across Cyprus, monitored by U.N. troops. The invasion by Turkey was in response against a coup which had been staged by the Cypriot National Guard against former Greece president Makarios III with the intention of annexing the island. The invasion came after more than a decade of sporadic inter-communal violence between the islands Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots resulting from the constitutional breakdown of 1963. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid protests over the alleged "desecration" of a temple in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, the state government on Friday said an investigation of the shrine's complex has found all its properties "intact". A team of officers, headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, constituted by the concerned District Administration visited the religious place to ascertain the facts. After investigations and examination of the complex, all the properties were found intact. The main door to the premises was locked and keys were handed over to the community members living in the area. The District Administration has appealed all sections of the society not to pay any heed to such rumours aimed at creating trouble. Meanwhile, Kashmiri Pandit and Jammu-based organisations today staged protests here over the alleged "desecration". The organisations, including All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC), Panun Kashmir, Jammu for India, and All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference, among others, demanded the registration of an FIR and the constitution of a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to take action in the case, which they claimed was "downplayed" by the state government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress Party on Friday accused the Central Government of double standards, while stating that it's almost three years since Prime Minister Narendra Modi resumed office and they have done nothing about the Lokpal Act. Congress leader Anand Sharma told ANI, "There is no reason why Prime Minister Modi-led- BJP government did nothing for Lokpal. When the BJP was in opposition, they agitated for it. Now, I say without any delay there should be Lokpal. This shows that they have double standards." Sharma asserted that the BJP Government does not believe in accountability and transparent governance. The apex court yesterday asked the Central Government to implement the Lokpal Act, while saying that there is no justification for holding it in abeyance. The apex court passed the judgment while hearing a plea filed by an NGO, Common Cause. It had earlier slammed the Central Government for not appointing the Lokpal in an expeditious manner. Appearing for the NGO, Common Cause, senior apex court lawyer and former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan had argued that though the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, received Presidential assent on January 1, 2014, and came into force from January 16, 2014, Lokpal is not being appointed by the Central government deliberately. Earlier this month, Congress leader K.C. Venugopal filed a privilege notice against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, accusing him of misguiding on the Lokpal bill that is pending with the standing committee in the Lok Sabha. Earlier on March 23, the opposition unleashed a stinging attack on the government, over the delay in appointment of the Lokpal, a day after it informed the Supreme Court that the anti-corruption ombudsman cannot be appointed without amending a law. However, Jaitley intervened and said the required amendment in the law was being considered by the parliamentary standing committee concerned. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A large number of demonstrators entered the Macedonian parliament, breaking the police cordon and assaulted the MPs, in protest against the election of a new speaker. As per the Guardian, score of protestor, wearing masks, stormed into the parliament on Thursday, after the opposition Social Democrat party and ethnic Albanian allies voted for a new speaker. Television footage showed opposition leader Zoran Zaev with blood trickling from one side of his forehead. The county has been without a government since December last year, after former prime minister Nikola Gruevski's conservative party won elections, but missed the opportunity to win majority of seats to form a government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The suspected militants of the Garo Liberation Army (GNLA) allegedly fired at the coal truck moving through the Highway - 62 at Dambuk village, near Rongara in South Garo Hills of Meghalaya. The police said that at around 9:30 p.m. yesterday, six to seven heavily armed militants, suspected to be from the GNLA fired at about 4-5 coal trucks plying through the route, adding that there was no casualty. "Immediately after we received information on the incident, a police team rushed to the spot and search operations were launched in the surrounding areas," said Abraham T. Sangma, SP of South Garo Hills. In a separate incident on April 25, about five to sixsuspected of the same outfit allegedly beaten up a 14-year-old school boy as he was unable to answer their questions properly. The incident took place in the village of Dambuk Atong under Rongara Police Station limits. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), now the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case against Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in the Narada sting case. The ED is likely to summon them soon for questioning. Last week, the CBI registered a First Information Report in the Narada sting operation case against TMC leaders Madan Mitra, Mukul Roy, Saugata Roy and ten others. The FIR also lists Sultan Ahmed, Iqbal Ahmed, Kakoli Ghosh, Prasun Banerjee, Suvendu Adhikari, Sovan Chatterjee, Subrata Mukherjee, Firhad Hakim, Aparupa Poddar and serving IPS officer Syed Hussain Meerza. The Supreme Court had dismissed a petition by the West Bengal government challenging the Calcutta High Court's order. West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday responded to the FIRs and called it a "political" game. She added that a name on an FIR did not prove guilt. Earlier on March 17, the Calcutta High Court ordered a CBI probe into bribery allegations against top TMC parliamentarians and ministers. Reacting to the court's order, Mamata said that she will appeal against the court order in a "higher judiciary". Earlier in April 2016, the court had formed a three-member committee to probe the controversial tapes. Narada News, led by its editor-in-chief Matthew Samuel, had earlier released three sets of videos of its sting operation, where top TMC leaders were allegedly seen accepting bribes from journalists posing as businessmen. The ruling party had dismissed the tapes as 'doctored' and said the 'dirty tricks departments' of its political opponents were behind the 'smear' campaign. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan that it will take legal action for leveling 10 billion rupees bribe allegations on the party leadership allegedly to stay silent in the Panama case. Punjab government spokesman Malik Ahmed Khan said Imran should reveal the identity of the person who allegedly offered him Rs.10 billion bribe. "If he (Imran) does not provide the name in three days, we will file a defamation notice against him and file a claim in the Court of competent jurisdiction," Geo News quoted Malik, as saying. Meanwhile, defending the PTI chief, Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Mehmood-ur-Rehman said the entire nation knew that Imran did not lie. He challenged Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif to file a lawsuit against Imran, saying that the PTI chief will will fight the case in the court. "You might have several political differences with Imran Khan but the entire nation knows he does not lie," Rehman said. The PTI chairman had earlier this week alleged that he had been offered Rs 10 billion to stay silent in the Panama case but refused to name the person who had offered the bribe. "Just imagine how much money he offered me to be silent. Rs.10 billion. If he can offer me this much money, just imagine how much he would offer to others. That is why if we don't maintain public pressure on this issue, then after two months it will be dragged to next year," he said. Rejecting Imran's claims, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif called him a 'liar'. Shahbaz discarded Imran's claims, saying that the PTI chief has set a record of telling lies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rishi Kapoor, who is known for his outspoken nature, went on a Twitter rant to show his displeasure over current 'generation stars' over not attending the funeral of yesteryear's superstar Vinod Khanna. In a series of tweets, the 64-year-old-actor showed his disappointment at the film fraternity for attending the funeral in such small numbers. He started his rant by saying, "Shameful. Not ONE actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect." Shameful. Not ONE actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 He did not stop there and said that he is very angry with today's "so-called stars" for attending Priyanka Chopra's event last night in big numbers but not Vinod Khanna's funeral. The veteran actor tweeted, "Why this? Including mine and thereafter.When I die, I must be prepared.None will shoulder me. Very very angry with today's so called stars. Angry. Met so many chamcha people last night at Priyanka Chopra's do last night. Few at Vinod's. So fuckn transparent. So angry with them." Why this? Including mine and thereafter.When I die, I must be prepared.None will shoulder me. Very very angry with today's so called stars. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Angry. Met so many chamcha people last night at Priyanka Chopra's do last night. Few at Vinod's. So fuckn transparent. So angry with them. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 When asked about his son Ranbir Kapoor and wife Neetu Kapoor, who are currently not in the country he said, "Yes it has been expressed earlier on social media my wife and Ranbir are out of the country. Would never had been reason not to be there." Yes it has been expressed earlier on social media my wife and Ranbir are out of the country. Would never had been reason not to be there Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 The B-Town celebrities who attended the funeral ceremony include Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Dia Mirza, Arjun Rampal, and Chunkey Pandey among others. Bollywood icon Vinod Khanna breathed his last on Thursday. The veteran actor was hospitalised and later discharged from HN Reliance Foundation and Research Centre in Girgaum, Mumbai due to severe dehydration. He was also reportedly battling cancer for years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With Sino-US relations appearing to get cozier with frequent consultations between leaders of the two sides, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to consult with Chinese President Xi Jinping before speaking to Taiwan's leadership. In a recent interview, Trump said he wouldn't want to "cause difficulty" for the Chinese leader by again breaking with the "one China" policy, reports the CNN. "He's a friend of mine. He's actually a -- I think he's doing an amazing job as a leader, and I wouldn't want to do anything that comes in the way of that. So, I would certainly want to speak to him first," Trump said in praise of the Chinese leader. This is in contrast to the friction caused between Washington and Beijing after the newly-elected President Trump accepted a congratulatory phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. As China protested and launched an official complaint, Trump tweeted: "Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call." Before the call, no US President or President-elect had spoken directly to the Taiwanese leader since the 1970s, as China does not recognize Taiwan's independence, and under the "one China" policy the US has a long tradition of respecting that stance. Xi and Trump held their first meeting in April at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Since then, the two leaders have discussed the tensions in the Korean Peninsula twice over phone call, the recent on April 24. According to analysts, eager to stop rapid advances in North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, Trump is signaling a break with decades of US policy as he looks to commit China to ramping up pressure on North Korea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the Uttarakhand High Court directing the judicial magistrate to seize the EVMs used during the assembly polls, the Congress has called on the poll panel to 'come clear' and convince the nation of no tampering and manipulation with the voting machines. Congress leader Pradeep Tamta told ANI that if the High Court has taken the matter into consideration then the issue is serious. "Now the Election Commission needs to satisfy the people that there was no tampering and manipulation with the EVMs," he added. Toeing similar views, party leader P. C. Chacko said that as long as the 'doubt' remains the question will also persist that there was tampering with the machines. "It shows that the Election Commission is failing in its duty to tell the people this cannot be tampered with. Normally a court doesn't intervene in such matters because the election commission decision is always accepted. But they failed to provide that there was no suspicion and tempering. It is for them to come clear on this and people should be told that it cannot be tampered with that is the assurance the people wants today," Chacko added. The High Court ordered that the EVMs pertaining to Vikasnagar be "preserved" and kept in a sealed room. "The process of sealing shall be carried out in the presence of the Judicial Magistrate, Vikasnagar," the order stated. Former Cabinet Minister and Congress leader Navprabhat had approached the High Court over alleged tampering of EVMs in the Vikasnagar constituency, from where Navprabhat had contested as the Congress candidate. On March 11 - the day of counting of votes -Navprabhat lost to the BJP candidate Munna Singh Chauhan by over 6,418 votes. On Thursday, Justice S. K. Gupta ordered that notices must be served to the State government, the Centre, the EC, among others, over the alleged tampering of EVMs. According to the order, the respondents would need to file their response within six weeks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Time is of the essence," urged Lise Kingo, CEO and Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact, to an audience of more than 300 local and global leaders from business, finance, civil society, Government and the UN, at the conclusion of the UN Global Compact two-day event, Making Global Goals Local Businesses - India, in New Delhi on Friday. The closing of the meeting focused on the opportunities for driving transformational change and using breakthrough innovation to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "The first movers to align their businesses with the Global Goals will have a five-to-fifteen year advantage on this sustainable playing field, and the best minds from the world of sustainability are coming together with those at the forefront of innovation to generate disruptive technologies. We are seeing how new breakthrough technologies in a range of fields are enabling the type and scale of change needed to meet the Global Goals," said Kingo. The two-day event brought together local and global leaders to focus on how, through bold innovation, businesses can create solutions to address the challenges of sustainable development, advance responsible practices and tap into new opportunities found within the SDGs. An objective of this event was to facilitate a multi-sectoral dialogue to contribute to the development of the UN Global Compact's new suite of Action Platforms, launched this year with partners from business, civil society, government, academia and the UN. These Action Platforms seek to promote responsible activities and fill emerging gaps in meeting the Global Goals. Participants representing all sectors actively engaged in breakout sessions to generate new ideas and shape these platforms going forward, for example on breakthrough innovation, impact reporting, humanitarian action and peace, sustainable finance, low-carbon development, inclusion, decent work and sustainable living. During the event, the and Sustainable Development Commission released its 'Better Business, Better World - India' country report. Elaborating on key highlights from the report, Lise Kingo noted: The SDGs offer a compelling growth strategy, opening up at least USD one trillion of market opportunity for the private sector in India. This is out of a total global value of USD 12 trillion that could be unlocked by sustainable business models in four key areas: food and agriculture, energy, cities and health. Over 72 million new jobs could be created in India by 2030. One market hot spot alone - low-income food markets - could create around 11 million of these jobs. Indian business leaders are already using innovative technology and business models to enter Global Goals-related markets. Participants and speakers also advocated for a holistic approach to SDG leadership, empathising both the opportunities and responsibilities presented by the SDG agenda. They discussed their company's efforts to align with the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, which ask businesses to meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Throughout the breakout sessions, "do no harm" practices and collective action initiatives were common topics, from corporate water stewardship, to anti-corruption, to financing education for girls. A special partner session co-hosted by the UN Global Compact, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), World Resources Institute (WRI), and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) present insights on the Science-Based Targets initiative, making the business case for companies in India to set science-based targets and helping them specify how much and how quickly they need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Looking to future and the next steps on the journey to 2030, Lise Kingo announced the launch of the search for the 2017 class of SDG Pioneers, seeking out individuals who are taking bold actions for the SDGs. She called on individuals to submit their story to the UN Global Compact by 26 May 2017. The event adjourned with a call to action to business leaders in India and all over the world to spread the global movement for responsible and sustainable business and to make the SDGs and 2030 Agenda a mainstream business agenda. "Let's build our movement and keep the momentum," concluded Lise Kingo. Businesses working together with civil society and governments can create a more peaceful, just and prosperous society, leaving no one behind. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After China said it wanted to fund the USD eight billion Karachi-Peshawar Railway Line project in Pakistan single-handedly, Islamabad has refused part financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). "China strongly argued that two-sourced financing would create problems and the project would suffer," the Dawn quoted the Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal as saying at a news conference on Thursday. The minister, however, refused to comment whether the Railway Ministry has resisted the Chinese request for fears of monopoly, but said the entire financing would now come from China. Pakistan and China are expected to sign a formal agreement in this regard next month. Ahsan Iqbal said the ADB would be accommodated in some other projects, such as those under the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation programme. Under the original plan, the ADB had to provide USD 3.5 bn for the 1,700-kilometre-long line, considered the backbone of the country's logistics connecting two major ports with the rest of the country for transporting goods and passengers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) H. E. Mr Nicos Anastasiades, Hon'ble President of the Republic of Cyprus urged Indian industry to invest in the country's key areas including banking and finance, shipping and transportation, education, science and technology, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy and tourism in order to stimulate trade and investments between the two countries said at 'India -Cyprus Business Session' jointly organized by ASSOCHAM, CII and FICCI. The President said, I am pleased to inform that during my visit to New Delhi, a number of bilateral agreements and Memoranda of Understanding will be signed in the fields of Merchant Shipping, Air Services, Agricultural Co-operation, education and culture. I believe that these areas of co-operation are some of those that have the potential to significantly boost our economic and commercial exchanges. He said, Cyprus's shipping industry has been one of the most successful export services of our country, as Cyprus enjoys the privilege of being one of the most influential global hubs for ship owning and ship management services, and home to some of the world's most prominent names in shipping; offering competitive ship registration costs and favourable tax regime for ship management and other international business enterprises. The education sector also has the capacity of becoming another significant area of collaboration between Cyprus and India. The three state Universities, and the five highly esteemed private universities offer a wide range of courses and degree programmes, attracting foreign students from all over the world, rendering the island a major educational centre in the region. Another field of great prospect relates to science and technology, on which India possesses much-needed and much-welcomed experience and expertise, which could greatly benefit Cyprus. Attracting talent is very important for boosting our entrepreneurial and start-up ecosystem. For this reason, we have very recently introduced an attractive Start-up Visa Scheme, under which startups from India can easily locate in Cyprus and have easy access to the EU market. Other areas of co-operation which could be actively explored are those of renewable energy on which Cyprus has a long-standing expertise, and Tourism, Mr Nicos Anastasiades added. In this respect, the Protocol on Air Services Agreement to be signed on Friday in New Delhi can pave the way for establishing direct connectivity between our two countries; thus increasing the so far very modest number of tourism exchanges if one considers the potential that this sector holds. A new strategy recently completed aims to diversify and enrich the tourist product. With the first luxury casino resort, the marinas and other major projects this is a space to watch out for new investments, said the Cyprus President. Cyprus is now emerging stronger than ever from an unprecedented crisis and our journey along the road to recovery has been faster than anyone could predict, enjoying one of the fastest growing economies of the EU; currently just short of 3% of the GDP. We recognise the importance of maintaining sound public finances. We are committed to maintain a stable and competitive tax regime. We shall continue to invest in our human capital, supporting higher education and research. In particular, the Government has developed a new legal framework, which establishes the procedure of direct licensing of large investments, and it applies on pilot cases a fast track licensing mechanism for investment projects. I would encourage foreign investors, including Indian investors, to invest in projects in Cyprus, which the Presidency can promote through its fast track mechanism for receiving the relevant licenses within short and specific timeframes. Mr Sandeep Jajodia, President, ASSOCHAM said, Cyprus is not only an attractive investment destination but could be used as a gateway to EU for Indian businesses. The other area where India can contribute is imparting and providing host of digital skills and services. Besides, India can provide world class healthcare facilities which will complement your booming tourism sector. Mr. Deep Kapuria, Chairman, CII Central Europe Committee, and Chairman, Hi-Tech Group said that Cyprus location in the Eastern Mediterranean at the crossroads of three continents gives it easy access to the markets of West Asia, North Africa, Russia and Southern Europe. It can act as a gateway to these regions for Indian companies, particularly the EU of which it is a member state. Mr. Rakesh Bakshi, Sr. FICCI Executive Committee Member and Chairman & Managing Director, RRB Energy Ltd added, enriching and broad-basing our economic relations would hold us good and role of tourism and hospitality sector can play an integral role in catapulting our relations to next level. Information technology & information technology enabled services, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and R&D, to mention a few will certainly and needed verve to our economic engagements. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) EPF members will now only be required to submit a self-declaration for the advance in case of illness of members/ dependents. Differently abled members will also get advance on the basis of self-declaration. A member will no longer be required to submit any medical certificate or any other certificate or document or proforma whatsoever to avail advances under paragraph 68-J or under paragraph 68-N of EPF Scheme 1952. Ministry of Labour & Employment has amended Paragraph 68-J and Paragraph 68-N of Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 and It will come into force from the date of its publication in the official Gazette. According to it, a member would only be required to submit a self-declaration, which has already been included in the composite claim form, to avail advance under the EPF Scheme in case of illness of members/ dependent and also in case of differently abled members. This is in continuation of initiatives taken by EPFO as part of next phase of its e-governance reforms with a view to make the services of EPFO available to its stakeholder in an efficient and transparent manner. An administrative order was issued on 20.02.2017 in the matter of Introduction of Composite Claim Forms (Aadhar and Non-Aadhar ) to replace existing Claim Forms No. 19, 10C & 31 and Forms No. 19 (UAN), 10C(UAN) & 31 (UAN). EPFO has since implemented Universal Account Number (UAN) for its subscribers. It is now possible for subscribers, who have seeded their UAN with Aadhar Number and Bank account details, to submit claim forms directly to EPFO without the attestation of employers. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) HCL Infosystems gained 1.86% to Rs 57.50 at 10:45 IST on BSE after the company announced that its board of directors approved the slump sale of an undertaking. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 27 April 2017. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was down 107.96 points, or 0.36%, to 29,921.78. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 51.73 points, or 0.34%, to 15,331.22. On the BSE, 2.79 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far, compared with an average volume of 5.65 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 58.30 and a low of Rs 57.20 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 64.85 on 25 January 2017. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 36 on 7 June 2016. The small-cap company has an equity capital of Rs 44.58 crore. Face value per share is Rs 2. HCL Infosystems announced that the board of directors of the company at a meeting held on 27 April 2017 approved the slump sale of an undertaking namely, Digischool Business undertaking consisting of business of sale of software licenses to K-12 schools of HCL Learning, a wholly owned subsidiary. The sale was made on a going concern basis to Everest Edusys and Solutions. HCL Infosystems said that sale consideration of the transaction is Rs 20 crore as a mix of cash and 12% secured optionally convertible debentures. Everest will issue 40.56 lakh shares of Everest Edusys and Solutions to HCL Learning on the closing date, representing 33% of equity capital on a fully diluted basis. It is a strategic arrangement with Everest Edusys and Solutions in the education space through the slump sale. Everest would become an associate company of HCL Learning subsequent to the closure of acquisition. Indicative time period for the completion of transaction is September 2017. Everest has a flagship brand named QED, which focuses on transforming learning outcomes, through an integrated approach, using assessments as a framework, delivered through Technology. HCL Infosystems reported consolidated net loss of Rs 50.73 crore in Q3 December 2016 compared with loss of Rs 37.13 crore in Q2 September 2016. Net sales fell 23.65% to Rs 764.64 crore in Q3 December 2016 over Q2 September 2016. HCL Infosystems is India's premier IT services, solutions & distribution company. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For a hotel project in Lyon Cox & Kings owned Meininger Hotels and Fonciere des Regions, through its subsidiary Fonciere des Murs, signed an agreement for Meininger Hotel in Lyon, located on Rue Zimmermann, near city centre. The 169 room and 580 bed hotel is expected to open mid 2019. This is the fourth joint hotel deal of Meininger and Fonciere des Regions. Three further joint projects in Munich, Paris and Milan are under development. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prism Cement surged 5.55% to Rs 124.55 at 9:45 IST on BSE after the company said it has received letter of intent from Madhya Pradesh Government for allotment of cement grade limestone mining lease for 50 years. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 27 April 2017. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 97.22 points, or 0.32%, to 29,932.52. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 39.27 points, or 0.27%, to 14,811.72. High volumes were witnessed on the counter. On the BSE, 2.05 lakh shares were traded on the counter so far as against the average daily volumes of 67,628 shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 129.10 in intraday trade, which is also a 52-week high for the stock. The stock hit a low of Rs 123.50 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 72 on 27 December 2016. The mid-cap company has equity capital of Rs 503.36 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10. Prism Cement has received letter of intent from Madhya Pradesh Government for allotment of cement grade limestone mining lease for 50 years in villages Chulhi and Majhiyar, district Satna, Madhya Pradesh, with about 23.6 million tons of reserves, subject to completion of formalities,. The application for this mining lease was made under the earlier regulations and was under processing by the state Government. The mining lease would be captive to the cement plants of the company at Satna, Madhya Pradesh. Prism Cement reported net loss of Rs 47.02 crore in Q3 December 2016, as compared to net loss of Rs 15.22 crore in Q3 December 2015. Net sales fell 9.2% to Rs 1134.54 crore in Q3 December 2016 over Q3 December 2015. Prism Cement is an integrated building materials company, with a wide range of products from cement, ready-mixed concrete, tiles, bath products to kitchens. The company has three divisions, viz. Prism Cement, H & R Johnson (India) and RMC Readymix (India). Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Key benchmark indices hovered in a narrow range in negative zone in the afternoon trade. At 13:15 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 120.10 points or 0.4% at 29,909.64. The Nifty 50 index was down 40.60 points or 0.43% at 9,301.55. The Sensex was trading below the psychologically important 30,000 mark. It had closed above that level during the previous trading session. Weakness in European and Asian indices amid persisting geopolitical worries spoiled investors' risk appetite. Among other indices, the BSE Mid-Cap index advanced 0.38%. The BSE Small-Cap index rose 0.41%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex. The breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was negative. On the BSE, 1,327 shares fell and 1,308 shares rose. A total of 148 shares were unchanged. Cement stocks were mixed. Grasim Industries (up 0.61%), UltraTech Cement (up 0.1%) and Shree Cement (up 0.08%) edged higher. ACC (down 0.87%) edged lower. Ambuja Cements fell 1.62%. The company is scheduled to announce March 2017 quarter earnings today, 28 April 2017. Telecom stocks were mostly higher. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (up 1.37%), Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) (up 0.87%), Idea Cellular (up 0.59%) and Reliance Communications (up 0.29%) edged higher. Bharti Airtel (down 1.58%) and Bharti Infratel (down 1.93%) edged lower. Uttam Sugar Mills lost 3.95% at Rs 136.05 after net profit fell 8.4% to Rs 61.86 crore on 1.2% decline in net sales to Rs 407.60 crore in Q4 March 2017 over Q4 March 2016. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 27 April 2017. Overseas, European and Asian stocks edged lower as geopolitical concerns continued to loom over the markets. US President Donald Trump threatened to terminate the US trade agreement with South Korea, declaring that the five-year-old accord with a key ally was "a horrible deal that has left America destroyed. Trump also warned that conflict with North Korea was possible, even though he said he preferred peaceful resolution more. Among economic events, the European Central Bank (ECB) left its monetary policy unchanged on Thursday, 27 April 2017, even as ECB President Mario Draghi acknowledged the economic recovery taking place in the Eurozone. The ECB chief stressed that while risks remained tilted toward the negative, the Eurozone's economic recovery had improved the bloc's outlook. US stocks closed higher on Thursday, 27 April 2017, ahead of major tech company earnings. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Bank of India jumped 5.72% to Rs 169 at 14:15 IST on BSE after the bank said that the board of directors approved capital raising for FY 2018 in a meeting held today, 28 April 2017. The announcement was made during market hours today, 28 April 2017. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 116.23 points or 0.39% at 29,913.51. More than usual volumes were traded on the counter. On the BSE, 8.59 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far as against average daily volume of 6.1 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 169.75 and a low of Rs 160.90 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 172.65 on 6 February 2017. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 104.50 on 23 May 2016. The large-cap bank has equity capital of Rs 687.44 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10. Union Bank of India's board of directors approved capital plan for the year ending 31 March 2018 (FY 2018). The board approved to raise total capital funds up to Rs 6350 crore during FY 2018 in the form of core equity capital and/or additional tier 1 (AT1) bonds and/or tier 2 bonds, subject to maximum issue of Rs 4800 crore, within overall limit of Rs 6350 crore, of additional tier 1 (AT1) bonds and/or tier 2 bonds. The board approved to raise equity capital not exceeding Rs 4950 crore, within overall limit of Rs 6350 crore, during FY 2018 through public issue (i.e. follow-on-public issue) and/or rights issue and/or private placement, including qualified institutional placements and/or preferential allotment to the Government of India or other institutions and/or any other mode(s) subject to necessary approvals. Union Bank of India's net profit rose 32.4% to Rs 104 crore on 8.9% rise in total income to Rs 9589.45 crore in Q3 December 2016 over Q3 December 2015. Union Bank of India is one of largest state-owned banks in India. The Government of India (GoI) held 63.44% in Union Bank of India (as per the shareholding pattern as on 31 March 2017). Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 29 civilians were killed in clashes between Nyatura militia and National Council for Renewal and Democracy (CNRD) fighters in North Kivu province of DR Congo, the police said on Friday. The fighters of CNRD, a dissident branch of the Rwandan Hutu rebels of the FDLR, attacked Nyatura militia on Wednesday, thus provoking a fight that resulted in civilian killings, Xinhua news agency reported. The two militia groups, which have been fighting in this part of the country for several months for ethnic reasons, are headed by former Congolese army (FARDC) deserter officers. --IANS py/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam's suggestion of implementing a two-child policy is not only "unnecessary" but is also "anti-women" and "anti-poor", says an expert. "Assam's total fertility rate (TFR) at 2.2 is not too far from India's replacement level fertility, which is 2.1. Therefore, the suggestion of implementing a two-child policy would not only be unnecessary but also grossly severe," Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India, told IANS over email. "In the past, in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh when the law in these states debarred women with more than two children from contesting panchayat elections, we saw an increase in sex-selective abortions, women being deserted, and women giving their children up for adoption," she said. Muttreja said the policy is "a violation of a couple's prerogative to a rights-based approach to family planning, and indicates that numbers matter more than people do". She said this proposed method of family planning based on disincentives and incentives is "anti-women, anti-poor, compromises human rights, and also India's commitment to a rights-based approach to family planning". Barring the two-child norm, she said, Assam's draft population policy is "progressive" and focuses on increasing the age of marriage and making education free till the university level. "These measures will lower the TFR without coercion or discrimination," Muttreja said. Replacement level fertility is the level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next. In developed countries, replacement level fertility can be taken as requiring an average of 2.1 children per woman. Long-term impacts of restrictive policies, like China's 'one-child policy', could lead to skewed demographics. In 2015 China scrapped its infamous 35-year-old one-child policy. Muttreja pointed out the country is in the midst of a population crisis. "The long-term impact of such a restrictive policy includes skewed demographics, gender imbalance, increasing age dependency, and shrinking age of working population," she said. Moreover, studies have shown that the reduction in the fertility rate in China might not necessarily have been because of the one-child policy. "The overall development of the country during that time increased the income and education levels of the people, thereby contributing to lower birth rates," she said. Citing examples of Kerala and neighbouring Sri Lanka, Muttreja batted for introduction of non-coercive policy measures. The National Family Health Survey 4 revealed a 12.9 per cent gap in the availability of modern methods of contraception and other family planning services. "The government can focus on raising awareness about modern contraceptives and spacing methods, while also making these services available and accessible to all. Family planning services have a direct impact on improving maternal mortality and child mortality, ensuring that the population is stable and healthy," she added. --IANS sgh/ssp/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP has set an ambitious "Mission 400" target for 2019 Lok Sabha polls, a top party leader said on Friday. The BJP, which won 282 seats in 2014, has identified 120 Lok Sabha seats won by opposition parties in the last general election and has chalked out a strategy to win these seats. Besides the party is also seeking to expand its base in areas where it has not got much electoral success. Though the Lok Sabha elections are still two years away, the party has begin gearing towards them. BJP President Amit Shah embarked on a 15-day "Vistaar Yatra" (party expansion tour) earlier in the month to strengthen the party in some of the states ruled by opposition parties including West Bengal and Odisha. The party is also focusing on Kerala and Tamil Nadu as part of its efforts to expand its base. Party leaders said that the expansion in new areas would also help in making for any loss of seats in areas it had done well in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. --IANS bns/ps/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that China threatened North Korea with sanctions if it undertook another nuclear weapons test, the media reported. Tillerson made his comments on Thursday ahead of a visit to the UN and amid rising tensions over the North Korean nuclear weapons programme, CNN reported. "They confirmed to us that they had requested that the regime conduct no further nuclear test," Tillerson said of the Chinese. "In fact, we were told by the Chinese that they informed the (North Korean) regime that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions action on their own." Tillerson said he was hopeful about cooperation with the Chinese. He also said he believed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is rational. "He may be ruthless...He may be a murderer. He may be someone who, in many respects, we would say by our standards is irrational. But he is not insane." North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test late last year, and observers have said a sixth test may come soon, reports CNN. The Secretary of State said the US approach to North Korea under Trump is different from former President Barack Obama's in terms of both "intensity" and "expectations". "We're asking a lot of the Chinese," Tillerson said. "I think in the past, the assumption has been the Chinese would only take limited action. We're going to test that assumption." North Korean official Sok Chol Won told CNN on Wednesday that the country's government would never stop nuclear and missile tests "as long as America continues its hostile acts of aggression". --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan has refused part financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for its Karachi-Peshawar rail line following China's interest in "single-handedly funding the project". "China strongly argued that two-sourced financing would create problems and the project would suffer," Pakistan's Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal was on Friday quoted by Dawn news as saying. The minister said the entire financing of the $8 billion project -- originally planned to be partly funded by the Manila-based ADB -- would come from China, the report said. Pakistan and China are expected to sign a formal agreement in this regard next month. The ADB had to provide $3.5 billion for the 1,700-km Karachi-Peshawar line, considered the backbone of the country's logistics and is one of the four main railway lines in Pakistan. --IANS akansha-ruwa/soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Slamming the Modi government for rise in casualties in violence/terror attacks across India, the Congress on Friday said the situation during the earlier UPA rule was much better than under the present government since May 2014. Why does this government talk of nationalism when it has failed in curbing casualties, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi asked. He also compared the casualty figures of the last 35 months of the United Progressive Alliance rule and the same period under the present National Democratic Alliance government. "In Jammu and Kashmir, 91 civilians and 198 soldiers lost their lives (since NDA rule). In the 35 months preceding this, that is during 2011-14, 50 civilian and 103 jawans were killed -- around half of the current figures." "In Maoist violence, 442 civilians and 278 jawans lost lives during the past 35 months (since Narendra Modi came to power). In the 35 months earlier, the numbers were 367 and 268 respectively," Singhvi said. Talking of casualties in the north-east, the Congress leader said: "Between 2011-14, 229 civilians and 47 jawans lost their lives in the regions, compared with 344 and 99 respectively since the BJP-led government came to power at the Centre." "On each parameter -- be it Jammu and Kashmir, Maoist violence, Pakistan attack, China factor or the north-east -- there have been increase in attacks against India," he added. --IANS rs/tsb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A CRPF trooper was injured on Friday when two men attacked him inside a bank in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag town. One of the attackers was overpowered. "The attackers tried to snatch the weapon of the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) trooper. But other security personnel managed to overpower and arrest one of the men," a police officer said. The injured trooper was taken to a hospital, police said. --IANS sq/mr/py (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades was accorded a ceremonial welcome on Friday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Anastasiades. He was then accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the forecourt. Later during the day, Anastasiades will participate in delegation-level talks with Modi. The two sides are also expected to sign agreements. Anastasiades, who arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, will depart from New Delhi on Saturday. This is his first visit to India. Cyprus, the eighth largest foreign investor in India, has cumulative Foreign Direct Investment of above $8.5 billion in areas of financial leasing, stock exchange, auto manufacture, manufacturing industries, real estate, cargo handling, construction, shipping and logistics. --IANS rs/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A hawala operator from old Delhi was arrested here on Friday in connection with T.T.V. Dinakaran's bribery case, police said. Police said one more person associated with Chandni Chowk based hawala operator Naresh Jain was also detained at the airport here. He is being questioned about his role in illegal money transfer. Jain, who was arrested from his hideout on a tip off, helped Dinakaran's middleman Sukesh Chandrashekhar in transferring money from Chennai to Delhi, police said. "Jain helped Chandrashekhar arrange Rs 10 crore in Delhi, which was part of Dinakaran's deal," a senior police officer said. The arrest came after the Thursday operation at Dinakaran's house and interrogation of his family members, including wife and employees, in Chennai. Dinakaran had given a task to Chandrashekhar, seeking the 'two leaves' symbol of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) from the Election Commission (EC) with a Rs 50 crore bribe. The crime branch earlier recovered about Rs 1.3 crore and two luxury cars, a BMW and a Mercedes, from Chandrashekhar during a raid on a south Delhi hotel. Dinakaran was cross examined along with his 'friend' Mallikarjuna and P.A. Janardhanan, police said. A team of crime branch is looking for all middlemen including Chennai based bureaucrats and officials of the Election Commission who were in touch with Chandrashekhar and Dinakaran in this money transfer. A Delhi Court had sent Dinakaran to five-day police custody. --IANS sp/py/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A hawala operator from old Delhi, Naresh Jain, was arrested here on Friday in connection with sidelined AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dinakaran's alleged offer of Rs 50 crore in bribes to the Election Commission officials, the Delhi Police said. One more associate of Chandni Chowk-based Jain was also detained at the airport here. He is being questioned about his role in the illegal money transfer related to the case, the police said. A Delhi court later sent Naresh Jain aka Nathu Singh to two-day police custody. Special Judge Poonam Chaudhary allowed the Delhi Police to quiz Jain till April 30, observing the serious nature of the case and gravity of the offence. "Teams of Crime Branch, which is investigating the case, have questioned over 50 people so far in this connection, including Dinakaran's close relatives, family members, employees, personal assistant and close friends. Their statements have been recorded during this process of questioning of Dinakaran," a senior Delhi Police officer told IANS. Dinakaran's alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrashekhar was remanded in judicial custody till May 12 after the police said he is no more required for custodial interrogation. The police sought custodial interrogation of Jain on the ground that he is required to identify other accused and help ascertain the money trail in the case. The police said Jain, who was arrested from his hideout on a tip-off, helped Chandrashekhar in transferring the money from Chennai to Delhi. "Jain helped Chandrashekhar to arrange Rs 10 crore in Delhi, which was part of Dinakaran's deal to bribe Election Commission officials to ensure favourable decision in the allocation of 'two leaves' poll symbol to Dinakaran's aunt V.K. Sasikala's faction," the police officer told IANS. The police are examining the Call Details Record of Jain and those at his residence in Chandni Chowk, he said. The arrest came after Thursday's operation at Dinakaran's house and interrogation of his family members, including wife and employees, in Chennai. Dinakaran had given a task to Chandrashekhar to secure the 'two leaves' symbol of the AIADMK for the Sasikala faction from the Election Commission in lieu of a Rs 50-crore bribe. The Crime Branch of Delhi Police earlier seized about Rs 1.3 crore and two luxury cars from Chandrashekhar during a raid at a south Delhi hotel. Dinakaran was cross-examined along with his 'friend' Mallikarjuna and Private Assistant Janardhanan, the police said. A team of crime branch is looking for other middlemen -- including Chennai-based bureaucrats and officials of the Election Commission -- who were in touch with Chandrashekhar and Dinakaran in this money transfer process. Police teams also raided their residences in search of possible leads to establish Dinakaran's involvement, the police officer said. Some more persons who aided Dinakaran, Chandrashekhar, Jain and Mallikarjuna in transferring Rs 10 crore could be arrested soon. The teams have identified some suspects, including some Chennai advocates, the police officer added. Meanwhile, Chandrashekhar moved a bail application which the court has listed for hearing on May 1. --IANS akk-sp/tsb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 200 Delhi University (DU) ad-hoc teachers observed a daylong hunger strike here on Friday to press their demand that they be absorbed as permanent faculty. The teachers from across Delhi University colleges sat at the Arts Faculty building and addressed their peers on the "irregularities" being committed by the varsity. "There are a total of 200-250 teachers who are observing a day-long hunger strike... And another 1,500 are associated with the movement," Himanshu Singh, Assistant Professor (ad-hoc), Satyawati College (Evening), told IANS over the phone. He said that these teachers are not being made permanent for a long time, and are forced to enjoy a sub-par status, in that they do not get to avail many facilities which permanent faculty get. "Some of us have been teaching us for more than ten years, some even more. Why are we not good enough for permanent status, when the university can trust us with teaching students, their evaluation, and their careers?" Singh added. The ad-hoc teachers too were hired after clearing the same interview process as is conducted for permanent faculty, he said. Another ad-hoc teacher, Prem Kumar from Satyawati College said that they will also march to the Vice-Chancellor's office and present him with a charter on their demands. The Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) also extended its support to the protesting teachers. --IANS vn/sm/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Enforcement Directorate on Friday registered a money laundering case against some Trinamool Congress leaders over their alleged involvement in the Narada sting in which the accused received money in exchange of favours to a fictitious company, an official said here. "We have registered a case against the TMC leaders under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)," the official told IANS. The ED move comes 10 days after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on April 17 filed an FIR against a dozen senior leaders of West Bengal's ruling TMC and an IPS officer in the Narada case. On March 17, the Calcutta High Court ordered a CBI preliminary inquiry into the case and asked the federal investigation agency to submit the report within 72 hours. The controversy erupted in West Bengal in March last year when Narada News portal uploaded a series of video footage purportedly showing a number of high-profile TMC leaders, including former and present ministers, MPs and state lawmakers, receiving money in exchange of favours to a fictitious company. --IANS aks/ruwa/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five major infrastructure firms have been involved to complete within the targeted 400 days the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, which will be dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August, the government said on Friday. The 135-km six-lane Expressway will help divert over two lakh vehicles, currently passing through Delhi, while travelling between neighbouring/adjoining states. "The Expressway will be fully access-controlled. Entries and exits to and from the Expressway are through designated inter-changes only. It has a closed toll system wherein toll is collected only for the distance travelled and not the entire stretch," Union Minister for Road, Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari said. Gadkari, during a review of the ongoing construction, visited Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh and Palwal in Haryana respectively. Sadbhav Engineering, Jai Prakash Associates, Ashoka Buildcon, Oriental Structural Engineers, and Gayatri Constructions are involved in construction of different stretches of the Expressway. A total of 2,094 contractors, engineering staff and 5,181 skilled and unskilled labourers are working to complete the project on time. Gadkari was accompanied by National Highway Authority of India Chairman Yudhvir Singh Malik and Lok Sabha member from Baghpat Satyapal Singh. He said it is the first time in India that farmers have been given a land acquisition cost of Rs 5,900 crore as compared with the project cost of an estimated Rs 4,418 crore. The entire Expressway has seven inter-changes -- Delhi-Saharanpur (Mavikalan), Delhi-Meerut (Duhai), Delhi-Hapur (Dasna), Ghaziabad-Aligarh (Beel Akaberpur), Kasna-Bulandshahar (near Sirsa), Atali-Chainsa (Maujpur) and Delhi-Agra (Palwal). There are four flyovers, 77 vehicular underpasses and 152 pedestarian underpasses on the Expressway. Toll plazas will be equipped with electronic systems for faster tax collection and uninterrupted travel experience. The Expressway will be equipped with highway traffic management system, which will include variable messages, signages, closed-circuit television, video incident detection system, warning devices, overspeed checking system and other smart features. As many as 2.5 lakh trees of different species are proposed to be planted along the Expressway. Rain water harvesting will be provided at every 500-metre interval on either side of the Expressway. The project was started after the Supreme Court's directive in 2006 to construct a ring road for vehicles not bound for Delhi to move between Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Initially, the project was to take two and half years, but following Modi's directive the target has been set at 400 days. The Expressway passes through Sonipat, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Faridabad, and Palwal in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The proposed alignment crosses the Yamuna at Khurrampur/Khata in Uttar Pradesh and Faizpur Khadar in Haryana and also crosses the Hindon river. --IANS rup/tsb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Foreign ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) met here on Friday to begin a trade and economic integration summit. The summit precedes the Saturday meeting between the heads of state and governments of Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, Efe news reported. Economy and trade are among the key discussions as Asean nations are exploring new forms of economic integration following Washington's withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in January. The US withdrawal from TPP has opened ways for Asean to settle a free trade agreement proposal - Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) - with other six countries: China, Australia, South Korea, India, Japan and New Zealand. The 10-member Asean organisation, comprising about 625 million inhabitants, aims to raise its combined GDP to $4.7 trillion by 2020 and become the world's fourth largest economy in 15 years. During the summit, the dialogue participants will address the territorial disputes in the South China Sea where several Asean members have exchanged spats with China. The issue has been addressed in Asean summits on various occasions and the group does not plan to adopt a belligerent position towards China. According to a final draft of its declaration, Asean would simply seek peaceful solutions and support self-control policies. Meanwhile, a group of about 100 people gathered around the Philippine International Convention Centre, the summit venue, to protest "against allowing world powers to plunder and militarise Southeast Asia", according to the summit's organisers. About 2,000 delegates have taken part in the Manila summit since it started on Wednesday. This meeting is one of the two Asean summits held annually. The second meeting will take place in November, with Asean's main partners, including China, US, India, South Korea, Japan and Australia, participating. --IANS ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Members of Germany's lower house of parliament have approved a law that partially bans the full-face Islamic veil or the burqa, the media reported on Friday. The bill will prevent civil servants, judges and soldiers from wearing burqas at work, the BBC reported. After the approval on Thursday, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the move to ban the burqa showed how far tolerance towards other cultures would go in Germany. The bill will now go to the upper house. Right-wing parties want Germany to emulate France where a total ban on wearing burqas in public places as has been in force since 2011. Last December, Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a ban on full-face veils wherever legally possible, saying they were not appropriate in her country. In February the state of Bavaria announced plans to ban the full-face veil in government workplaces, schools, universities and while driving, reports the BBC. More than a million migrants. including many Middle Eastern Muslims, have entered Germany over the last 18 months. The move follows several terror attacks, including one on a Berlin Christmas market that claimed 12 lives. France, Austria, Belgium and Turkey have all imposed a ban in certain public spaces. Legislation supporting a ban is in progress in the Netherlands, while local bans apply in other nations including Denmark, Russia, Spain and Switzerland. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Supermodel Gigi Hadid, who is the part of an exclusive video released by Reebok, says she prefers working out with friends than going solo. The video, tiled "This or That", shows her playful side in an outfit styled in Reebok spring-summer 2017 collection including Club C 85 Diamond shoes, launching in India on May 1. She reveals her personal preferences when it comes to fitness and fashion, proving there are no set rules when it comes to keeping fit and looking great. On fitness, she said: "I'm a horrible dancer so I'm just going to give you yoga vibes." She prefers "workout classes with friends" compared to solo sessions. On her running preferences, Hadid exclaims: "Running free! Don't put me on a treadmill please!" The video also features Hadid challenging prescriptive notions of what women should look like and how they should work out. --IANS nv/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway has paid an emotional tribute to late filmmaker Jonathan Demme by calling him her "favourite rebel angel". Demme, who directed films like "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Philadelphia", died here from esophageal cancer at the age of 73 on Wednesday. Hathaway, who starred in Demme's 2008 film "Rachel Getting Married", took to Instagram to pay a tribute to Demme, reports belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Alongside a photo of outer-space, Hathaway wrote: "Dearest JD (Jonathan Demme), in this moment when words fail me, I am so grateful to the light which lets me see you everywhere, in everything." "Thank you for cracking open the heart which is now breaking (it's always worth it). My favourite rebel angel... I love you forever. See you later." --IANS sas/nn/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed the Reserve Bank of India's application opposing the enforcement of an arbitral award in the Tata-NTT Docomo case. Justice S. Muralidhar cleared the way for enforcing the $1.17 billion arbitral award by the London Court of International Arbitration, to settle a two-year-old dispute between Tata and Docomo. The arbitral award "is declared as enforceable in India and shall operates as a decree of this court". The RBI through its intervention application opposed the award as well as the settlement between Tata and Docomo over the Japanese company's exit from the joint venture. It had also opposed the pact arguing that it amounted to a transfer of shares and was illegal. --IANS pk/ksk/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As a story goes, this director, who was behind some of Hollywood's most path-breaking films across genres, helmed debuts of many who would become its biggest stars, and won Oscars galore in his half-a-century career, was once asked by an ignorant studio executive what he had done. Fred Zinnemann just answered: "Sure. You first". The acclaimed director however said he had spent years trying to disown the story, which he said he had been told by his colleague Billy Wilder about himself. But there is no doubt that even a brief sketch of the career of Zinnemann, whose 110th birth anniversary is on Saturday, is impressive. Preferring to work on authentic locations and with many non-actors among the cast to achieve a sense of realism, he has to his credit one of the most iconic Westerns ever, despite "High Noon" (1952), starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly, breaking all the stereotypes that were (or would continue to be) associated with the genre. "From Here to Eternity" (1953) has the challenging task of depicting soldiers' life in peace, "The Nun's Story" (1959) about a young woman (Audrey Hepburn in one of her best performances) having to decide if she is fitted for religious life, "A Man for All Seasons" (1964) about a king's adviser who has to choose between his convictions and his life, and "The Day of the Jackal" (1973), a chase to stop an assassination which holds the audience despite they already knowing it was unsuccessful. Zinnheimer however came to prominence with "The Seventh Cross" (1944), one of the first cinematic depictions of Nazi concentration camps - though much before their true level of depravity and inhumanity was known. Starring Spencer Tracy as a political prisoner who breaks out of one such camp and finding most of his associates disown him while some strangers help him, it set a recurring motif of Zinnemann's work - stories of principled but lone heroes facing adversity. Born to a Jewish family in what was then the Habsburg Empire, Zinnemann said in his memoirs "A Life in the Movies: An Autobiography" that when "growing up, I wanted to be a musician, but fortunately I discovered in time that I had no musical talent. Then I tried law, and I am not sorry I did because it taught me a method of thinking..." After getting his law degree, he convinced his parents to let him study film-making which he did in Paris and Berlin before moving to the US in 1929 and reaching Hollywood the next year. One of his first jobs there was as an extra in "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930). Beginning with short films, he directed a couple of B-grade mystery thrillers in 1942 before he got his break with "The Seventh Cross". His next notable film was "The Search" (1948) about a young Czech boy freed from Auschwitz searching for his mother across post-war Europe, a topic made more poignant by the fact that Zinnemann had found that both his parents had perished in the Holocaust. Though his film oeuvre comprises a little less than 50 films though only 25 of them are credited, he has also to his credit the introductory films of the likes of Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger, Montgomery Clift and Meryl Streep. Of the 18 different actors nominated for Oscars in his films, a third of them including Gary Cooper, Frank Sinatra, Vanessa Redgrave won while Ivan Jandl, who played the boy in "The Search", was conferred a Special Juvenile Academy Award. Zinnemann once said he just liked to do films that are "positive in the sense that they deal with the dignity of human beings and have something to say about oppression, not necessarily in a political way but in a human way", but also that would always think of himself as a Hollywood director since he believed "in making films that will please a mass audience, and not just in making films that express my own personality or ideas". What more could you want? (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) --IANS vd/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The death toll in the collapse of a temporary jetty over West Bengal's Hooghly river has increased to 12, officials said on Friday. As many as nine people are still missing following the collapse of the temporary wooden jetty at Telinipara ghat in Bhadreswar due to high tide on Wednesday. "We have recovered more bodies since Thursday and the toll is 12 now," Hooghly Superintendent of Police Sukesh Jain told IANS. According to the police, passengers waiting to cross over to North 24 Parganas district fell into the river as the wooden structure collapsed. The locals managed to save some passengers from drowning before rescuers and police reached the spot. --IANS sgh/ssp/ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Marathi film "Sairat" fame director Nagraj Manjule says that he will direct a Hindi film someday. He was conferred with Maharashtra's Icon of the Year award by 92.7 Big FM on Thursday here where he spoke about the speculation of him working with megastar Amitabh Bachchan. "Right now, I can't reveal much about it. It is too early to talk about that. But surely in future, I will direct Hindi films". Talking about the rise of collaboration between Hindi and Marathi film industries, he said: "Till the time good movies are being made, there is no problem in collaboration with any industry." On receiving the award, he said: "It feels really good to receive honour for your work. I feel our responsibility should be towards our work. People give award because they appreciate your work." "It is a symbol that your work is being appreciated and praised by people. Awards don't increase responsibility towards work, but I feel we should be responsible enough to do our best work." "I feel privileged when my name is taken with the industry's top league directors. All are doing their best work. Over the years, all these people have taken forward the industry and I am just a small part of this movement," he added. --IANS iv/nn/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Cyprus on Friday signed four agreements, including on air services and merchant shipping, following delegation-level talks headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades here. "Advancing a multifaceted partnership. The two leaders witness exchange of four agreements after delegation talks and working luncheon," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted. The two sides signed an executive programme on culture, education and scientific cooperation for the years 2017 to 2020. Both sides signed a work plan under a programme of cooperation in agriculture for the period 2017-2018. Another agreement was signed on cooperation in the area of merchant shipping. A fourth agreement was signed to boost air services between the two countries. Earlier in the day, the Cypriot President was given a ceremonial guard of honour in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Anastasiades also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and described him as a "spiritual leader of Cyprus and inspiration for its freedom struggle". Following this, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the visiting dignitary. Ansastasiades will confer Cyprus's highest civilian honour, the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III, on President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday evening when the latter will host a banquet in honour of the visiting delegation. Anastasiades, who arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, will depart from New Delhi on Saturday. This is his first visit to India since he became the President in 2013. Cyprus, the eighth largest foreign investor in India, has cumulative foreign direct investment of about $9 billion in areas of financial leasing, stock exchange, auto manufacture, manufacturing industries, real estate, cargo handling, construction, shipping and logistics. --IANS ab/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 56-year-old Indian-American man was killed after getting caught in firing at a motel in the US state of Tennessee. Khandu Patel worked as a housekeeper at Americas Best Value Inn in Whitehaven, Memphis, a report in Fox13Memphis said. He was staying there temporarily with his wife and two children. Patel was standing at the back of the motel when he was shot on Monday at 7.30 p.m. (local time), the local Fox affiliate reported. "He finished his day's work and was out walking around the property," Jay Patel, the victim's nephew, told the channel. "Next thing you know he hears some gunshots flying around and one caught him in the chest." Patel was shot in the chest and died before he was taken to the hospital. Jay said his uncle was preparing to move out of Whitehaven to the nearby Southaven in Mississippi for another job after a week. "He was ready to get out of there," said Jay. "Just trying to put food on the table. So he had to take what he had at the time." According to police, there were witnesses that know who killed Patel, but they were not cooperating. Memphis police said multiple suspects sped off in a new silver Nissan Altima or Maxima. The local NBC affiliate WMCA quoted police as saying that the target of the shooting was someone who was staying at the hotel. There were about 30 gun shots, an elderly lady told the network. Police have offered a reward for those providing information on Patel's killers. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian capital market regulator on Friday voiced serious concern over the standard of corporate governance, saying the country lacked a code of conduct for institutional investors. "Is the system of corporate governance in the country working satisfactorily...Majority would say no," Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Chairman Ajay Tyagi said, while addressing the annual session here of industry chamber, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Noting that according to company ownership patterns in the Indian context, "Fifty per cent ownership is with the promoters, while institutional investment is increasing, nowadays touching 30 per cent", Tyagi said there is "no code of conduct" for institutional investors. "What are their responsibilities, once they are significant shareholders? Our impression, and this is the saddest part, is that promoters prefer institutional investors who are passive," he said. "There is need for a common stewardship code. Just increasing the institutional share, without taking active interest and responsibility, does not serve corporate governance," he added. Pointing out that investors' rights are a subject, the Chairman said: "If promoters' plus institutional shareholding crosses 80 per cent, then retail, minority investors really become a minority...who will take care of their interests?" "Then there is the issue of independent directors, who have not been discharging their functions properly. They have no commitment to any cause, resign without giving any reasons, just say they are sick...giving fake reasons." "These are issues of serious concern, to which I have no solutions at the moment," Tyagi added. He also said the functioning of independent auditors in India was another matter of concern. "If the auditors' committee is not working, independent directors are not independent and there is no code of conduct for institutional investors, then the system is clearly not working," Tyagi added. Objecting to the Jammu and Kashmir government order to clamp down on social media and instant messaging apps, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) on Friday said internet clamp-down is not the key solution to criminal activities. The IT industry organisation said the focus of the law enforcing agencies should be on engaging with alternate modes of communication used for criminal activities rather than a "blanket ban". "Internet clamp-down, according to IAMAI, does not solve the problem it sets out to solve, but in turn creates other societal problems. Shutting down channels of communication during law and order crisis only heightens the state of paranoia amongst the citizens," it said in a statement. "Elements engaging in nefarious activities continue to access other channels of communication, irrespective of the shutdown, and the focus of the law enforcing agencies should be to engage with these modes of communication, rather than to order a blanket ban." The statement pointed out that internet clamp-downs have become a regular feature of executive diktat and as per records, there have been 73 instances of internet blockage between 2012 and 2017, with 32 in Jammu and Kashmir alone. "Medium of communication via internet can be used by law enforcing agencies to communicate their messages more effectively during crisis. There are numerous instances of internet communication proving to be effective in disaster management, both in India and abroad," IAMAI stated. According to the IT industry association, internet shutdown is not justified under any situation. "Denying people internet access affects their right to freedom of expression, access to basic amenities like medical assistance, and information in emergency situations. Also, often a person's inability to freely communicate in a riot-like situation can cost her or his life," the statement added. --IANS ppg/sm/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's envoy in Iran was summoned by Iran's Foreign Ministry on Friday over the killing of 10 Iranian border guards in an attack on the Pakistan-Iran border last week, Dawn news reported. "Unfortunately, Pakistani side of Iran's borders are the most insecure ones and we expect Islamabad to honour its previous promises and prevent a repetition of such attacks," the Dawn quoted Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bahram Qasi as telling Ambassador Asif Ali Khan Durrani. At least 10 border guards in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province were killed in an attack by militants along the Pakistani border's zero-point. Iran urged Pakistan to adopt "strict measures" to ensure that no such incident takes place again, the daily said. "We strongly expect the Pakistan government to adopt serious measures for the arrest and punishment of terrorists." --IANS ruwa/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rome, April 28 (IANS/AKI) Italian authorities expelled two North Africans accused of supporting jihadist groups and proselytising radical Islam, the Interior Ministry said on Friday. The first suspect, a 32-year-old Tunisian, who had been living in the Sicilian city of Ragusa without valid residency documents, was deported aboard a flight from Palermo airport, the ministry said. He had used Facebook and other social networks to share jihadist propaganda with other Islamic extremists and consulted radical material online, Italian anti- investigators said. The Tunisian was a follower of one of the masterminds of the Al Jamaa al-Islamiya group which carried out an attack at the Egyptian archaeological site of Luxor in 1997, killing 58 foreign tourists and four Egyptians, investigators said. A 27-year-old Egyptian suspect living in the Lazio town of Latina without legal residency documents was deported from Rome's Fiumicino airport after police held him on Thursday, the Interior Ministry said. The Egyptian had praised the deadly December attack on a Christmas market in Berlin carried out by Anis Amri, a Tunisian supporter of the Islamic State jihadist group, and had called for more such attacks, according to investigators. A total of 170 Islamic suspects have been expelled from Italy since January 2015, the ministry said. Earlier on Friday, anti-terror police from the southern Italian port city of Brindisi announced the arrest of a Congolese citizen resident in Berlin, Nkanga Lutumba, who is alleged to be a supporter of IS. --IANS/AKI mr/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japan will not make concessions in its negotiations with the US for a bilateral trade deal, Finance Minister Taro Aso said. Aso, who is also the deputy prime minister, warned that Tokyo will maintain a firmer stance with Washington when it comes to dealing with the future pact, following the US' withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement under President Donald Trump, Efe news reported. "If we do bilateral negotiations with the US, we can't make any concessions," Aso told a Japanese daily on Thursday. "It would be good if the US joined the TPP later on, once it understands that a free trade agreement would have tougher terms," he said. Aso said he remains confident that the US might still rejoin the TPP, but stressed that there would be no renegotiation on the terms of the agreement. He said he expects a definitive answer from Washington on whether it would return to the TPP by 2018, when midterm elections will be held. Since Washington's departure from the ambitious 12-nation agreement, the Japanese government led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has urged the US to reconsider, with the TPP viewed as a fundamental part of Tokyo's strategy to re-launch its economy. But US Vice President Mike Pence said following a meeting with Aso in Tokyo on April 18 that the Trump administration already considers the TPP agreement a thing of the past. At the meeting, Pence and Aso initiated a process of high-level economic dialogue, which will continue until the end of the year with the aim of opening negotiations for a future bilateral trade agreement. --IANS ksk/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jharkhand Police on Friday has started the process to confiscate properties of banned Maoist outfit People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) chief Dinesh Gope, an official said. PLFI and it's supremo Dinesh Gope has spread its influence to at least 10 districts of the state. "Police headquarter has given its consent to confiscate the properties of Dinesh Gope. Gope has amassed properties in Ranchi, Khuti, and other districts of the state. He has also invested outside the state," a police official involved in anti-Maoist operation told IANS. "Dinesh has properties in the name of relatives and other people as well. A list of properties are being prepared. The process will be completed after taking orders from the court. Police has identified a two floor bungalow in a colony in Ranchi too," he added. A petrol pump owner was arrested last year during demonetisation while trying to deposit Dinesh Gope's Rs 25 lakh in bank. Police sources say that Gope used contractors and petrol pump owners for investment of money earned through extortion. --IANS ns/sm/hs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sajan Jindal-led JSW, which has expressed interest in investing Rs 50,000 crore to set up a 10 million tonne a year steel plant in Odisha, may set up the plant in the location earlier earmarked for the Posco plant. "Posco site is one of the possibilities. We are examining locations in different places including one near Paradip. But decision over identifying land is yet to be taken," said Jindal after holding a meeting with Chief Secretary A.P. Padhi. He, however, said that it would not be easy for his company to set up the project in Jagatsinghpur, where the South Korean company faced several difficulties. Earlier last year, Jindal, after a meeting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a business meet in Bengaluru, had expressed his desire to set up a mega steel plant in Odisha. Posco India has decided not to go ahead with the Rs 52,000 crore project and requested the Odisha government to take back its 2,700 acres of land provided to it near Paradip for setting up a 12 mtpa steel plant. --IANS cd/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Karnataka government is likely to issue, within three days, an order capping multiplex tickets at Rs 200 within three days as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had proposed in the state Budget. "The Chief Minister has already given in-principle consent to the proposal to cap multiplex tickets," state Principal Secretary, Information and Public Relations, M Lakshminarayana said here on Friday. The delay in issuing the order has triggered a public debate as cinema theatres had started charging whopping prices for the keenly-awaited "Baahubali 2 - The Conclusion", which hit the screens on Thursday night. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), the apex body of Kannada film industry, has been pushing for implementing the proposal after receiving the complaints of multiplexes collecting exorbitant ticket rates. "I expect the government to issue the order on capping multiplex tickets by Tuesday since Saturday and Monday are holidays," said KFCC President Sa Ra Govindu, alleging that the government has been delaying the order by sending the file from one department to another. But Lakshminarayana denied it. "It is not done deliberately, but to seek consent from departments which come under the purview of the subject matter," Lakshminarayana said. The exhibitors are skeptical about the government's move to cap prices at Rs 200. Last month, Mukta Arts Managing Director Rahul Puri had said the industry would in all likelihood oppose the move, stating that price capping as a concept was against free market. "The government has not called for suggestions or objections from public to the proposal of capping cinema tickets at Rs 200. Those affected may appeal in the court against the government order," said K.V. Chandrasekhar, who owns the two-screen Veeresh theatre here and is a former president of the KFCC. The proposal in the 2017-18 budget followed the recommendations by a 14-member committee, headed by filmmaker and Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy Chairman S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu. The Congress leadership has not accepted the resignations of Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken and state incharge P.C. Chacko, who put in their papers in wake of the party's debacle in the civic polls, party sources said on Friday. According to a party source, the resignations have not been accepted by party chief Sonia Gandhi and they will continue on their posts. Maken and Chacko had on Wednesday resigned owning moral responsibility for the party's defeat in the MCD polls. Apart from Sonia Gandhi, the resignation letters were also sent to party Vice President Rahul Gandhi. --IANS sid/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The AAP has said it was "not right" to make fun of the party whenever it raises questions on EVMs as other political parties also have been raising their concerns over the issue. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh said the party has legitimate concerns over the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the Election Commission needs to address them. "Nearly 18 political parties of the country, including the Congress, CPI, BSP, have raised doubts over EVMs and the High Court of Uttarakhand has also ordered to seize the EVMs, then why is it that the AAP is being made fun of," Singh said. The AAP leader's remarks came after over four-hour long meeting of the party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on late Thursday night. He said the Election Commission should work towards solving the problems related to the EVMs. Singh also said that "everything was fine" within the party and denied possibility of any reshuffle in the Delhi government. He, however, said organisational improvement was needed in the AAP and the party would work towards it. Singh said that the party would work towards "making necessary changes" on structural and booth levels. The PAC meeting was organised to "introspect" and analyse the AAP's defeat in the Delhi municipal elections, results of which were announced on Wednesday. After the meeting, Singh told reporters that the party "introspected" on what went wrong and where the party "fell short". He also announced that the PAC has approved the appointment of Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai as the AAP's Delhi convenor. The post fell vacant when AAP leader Dilip Pandey resigned from the post on Wednesday after party's defeat in municipal polls. Singh took on the political opponents who had raised questions about party's progress and its future. He said one cannot write off the AAP as in the past four years all that the party has achieved was not less. The Bharatiya Janata Party won the civic polls, bagging 181 municipal wards out of 270 and pushed the AAP to a distant second spot with just 48 wins. The Congress could emerge victorious only in 30 wards. --IANS am/bns/sm/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Mumbai court on Friday sentenced model-cum-wannabe actress Preeti Jain for plotting the murder of award winning Bollywood director Madhur Bhandarkar 12 years ago. The Sessions Court, which also fined her Rs 10,000, found two other co-accused -- Naresh Pardesi and Shivaram Das -- guilty and awarded them three years in jail. Two more accused were acquitted. Shortly after the verdict, Jain moved an application for bail which was granted on a surety of Rs 5,000. When the matter was first highlighted in 2005, Jain had charged Bhandarkar with rape but the case was quashed by the Supreme Court in 2012 after she dropped the charges against him. Earlier, in July 2004, Jain filed a complaint with police alleging that Bhandarkar raped her 16 times between 1999 and 2004 on the pretext of giving her important roles in his films. The director denied the allegations. In her statement then, Jain claimed that "we had sex 16 times and Madhur made promises of giving me a lead role in his films". However, he didn't cast her in any of his films. Barely months later, police investigations revealed that Jain had hired a contract killer to eliminate Bhandarkar and was arrested. During the long trial, the court examined 51 witnesses including Bhandarkar. The prosecution said Jain had paid Rs 75,000 to contract killer Pardeshi to kill Bhandarkar. When he didn't carry out her bidding, she demanded the money back. When mafia don Arun Gawli learnt of the plot, he alerted the police, leading to Jain's arrest. After the verdict, Jain merely expressed "shock". Mumbai-based Bhandarkar is a renowned director of various blockbusters like "Chandni Bar," "Fashion", "Traffic Signal" and "Page 3" among others. --IANS qn/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Nalanda University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kanazawa University in Japan for academic collaboration, an official said on Friday. According to the MoU, the two universities will make an effort to promote and develop cooperation in activities like exchange of faculty members, research fellows, students, academic material, publications, information, and undertake joint research projects and symposiums. The MoU will be in effect for five years. Kanazawa University is located in Kanazawa, capital of Ishikawa prefecture, and offers various undergraduate and graduate courses. Nalanda University is coming up in Rajgir, 12 km from where the ancient Nalanda varsity stood till the 12th century when an invading Turkish army razed it. --IANS ik/tsb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepal has confirmed it will participate in the One Belt One Road (OBOR) Conference in China next month, a media report said on Friday. The Nepali side on Thursday communicated to the Chinese authorities that Kathmandu is sending a high-level delegation to the conference, according to Rishi Raj Adhikari, Foreign Relations Adviser to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', the Kathmandu Post reported. The conference will start on May 14. Officials are continuing efforts to sign an agreement with China during the conference for Nepal to become part of OBOR, a flagship foreign policy initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara will lead the Nepali delegation to the conference. Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat and Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi held a series of meetings with Chinese Ambassador Yu Hong on Monday and Tuesday at the Foreign Ministry in order to narrow down differences and to agree on a text that Nepal can sign at the conference. Officials said the two sides have already settled sections on connectivity but issues like commerce, financial institutions and currency arrangements and Nepal's lobbying for special favour in trade and investment as a least developed country are yet to be addressed. After intensive meetings, the Chinese side is learnt to have told Nepali officials that they will respond to Nepal's concerns after consultation with Beijing within a couple of days. "If China agrees to our terms, we'll sign the agreement at the upcoming conference," said Adhikari. At least 28 heads of state and over 150 nations have confirmed their participation in the conference. Conceived and bankrolled by China, OBOR is a long-term strategic initiative to improve connectivity and enhance trade routes from Southeast Asia to Europe. --IANS sm/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The family of Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh and last Nizam of Hyderabad State, on Friday expressed their unhappiness over being ignored during the centenary celebrations of Osmania University. The Nizam's grandson Nawab Najaf Ali Khan, who attended the inaugural ceremony of the centenary celebrations addressed by President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday, said the family members of Nizam should have been invited on the dais. "We regret to share our dissatisfaction and dissent that none of the posters of Nizam VII who founded of the University were put up during the celebrations," he said in a statement. He pointed out that even the name of Mir Osman Ali Khan was not pronounced correctly during the speeches at the inaugural ceremony. Najaf Ali Khan, who is president of Nizam Family Welfare Association, appealed to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who did not address the centenary celebrations, to release his speech copy highlighting numerous contributions made by Mir Osman Ali Khan for all-round development of Hyderabad. He also demanded that a statue of the Nizam VII be installed at a suitable place in the premises of Osmania University. Najaf Ali Khan, who attended the ceremony with his family member, had earlier stated that he felt proud and happy over being invited by university authorities. "It made me immensely happy that it is due to the effort of my grandfather that so many people in various walks of life have learned from this institute and achieved so much in their lives. Those people remembered my grandfather fondly," he had said. Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir criticised the state government for ignoring both Nizam and Urdu language during the celebrations. He said that the tributes should have been paid to Nizam by placing his portrait on the stage and by inviting members of his family on the dais. The university officials had said that they invited Mir Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah, Mir Karamath Ali Khan Muffakham Jah, Nawab Mir Azmet Ali Khan and Nawab Shahamat Jah, all grandchildren of Mir Osman Ali Khan, to the centenary celebrations. However, none of them turned up. --IANS ms/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday rubbished allegations that the state government had leaked the Dhingra Commission report, set up to probe controversial grant of licences for prime commercial properties in Gurugram including those to Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra. "Copy of the report was submitted to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover. The court will take cognisance of this matter. There has been no leakage but if at all, it is established, it will be a matter for probe," he told media here on Friday following media revelations that the commission report had pointed out grave irregularities by Vadra and his companies in land dealings. The one-man Justice S.N. Dhingra Commission of Inquiry, set up by the Khattar government in May 2015, had submitted its 182-page report on August 31 last year. Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has hit out at the Commission and the BJP government in Haryana for carrying out a "witch-hunt", adding that the report "had not found anything". Hooda, who had demanded that the report of the Dhingra Commission be made public, trashed the whole move of the Haryana government to get only a handful of licences probed, including one granted to the firm owned by Vadra. The report has pointed out irregularities in grant of licences and allotment of land to individuals and companies, including Vadra and his companies, in prime areas of Gurugram city, adjoining national capital New Delhi. The report, it is reliably learnt, has indicted the previous Congress government (2005-2014) in Haryana led by Hooda, for irregularities in grant of licences. It has pointed out to alleged connivance of the Hooda government in favouring Vadra and others. "I wouldn't have submitted a 182-page report if there was no irregularity," Dhingra, a retired judge of the Delhi High Court, had told media last year afdter submitting the report. The commission had been mandated to probe licences given by the Hooda government for the development of colonies, housing societies and commercial complexes in four villages - Shikohpur, Sihi, Kherki Daula and Sikanderpur Bada - in Gurugram. Vadra had termed the inquiry commission as a "political witch-hunt" launched against him, while Hooda has noted that out of the licences granted for over 33,697 acres of land, one-third of these being in Gurgaon, the BJP government deliberately chose to get the probe by the commission done only for 63 acres where Only 16 licences were granted. --IANS js/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Orlando Bloom has spoken of how terror threats made him more concerned about being in public spaces with his six-year-old son. The actor, 40, said recent global attacks, combined with his work on upcoming espionage thriller "Unlocked", had heightened his nerves, reports mirror.co.uk. He said: "Sometimes I will be in parks, or big theme parks, with (my son), suddenly I think, 'Oh, this is a bit? this could be one of those weird places where something?'" Bloom compared the current climate to his training days as a young actor, when he was "constantly being pulled off the Tube due to bomb scares...". --IANS nn/nv/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor is angry over new generation of actors as they chose to skip late actor Vinod Khanna's funeral. Khanna, a Bollywood superstar who later embraced politics, died here on Thursday morning following a battle with cancer, marking the end of an era in Hindi films. He was 70. He was cremated in the evening at the Hindu Crematorium, Worli and Bollywood celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Kabir Bedi, Rishi Kapoor, Danny Denzongpa among many others were present to say the final goodbye to the late actor. Rishi, who has worked with Vinod in films "Eena Meena Deeka" and "Amar Akbar Anthony", took to Twitter to show is dissaproval. "Shameful. Not one actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect," Rishi tweeted. "Why this? Including mine and thereafter. When I die, I must be prepared. None will shoulder me. Very very angry with today's so called stars," he added. The actor said that his wife Neetu Singh and actor Ranbir Kapoor are not in the country and that is why they couldn't attend the last rites. Filmmaker Kunal Kohli supported the 64-year-old's comments and tweeted: "I share your anger sir. I left the country in the morning. Found out as I boarded the flight. Shame today's stars didn't pay their respects". Kohli added that young "stars" don't have idea of cinema before their time. "The sad part is some youngsters. So called Stars or otherwise. Have no idea of cinema before their time," Kohli said. --IANS dc/nv/hs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Naik Bhoota Venkata Ramana was to visit his home here soon. But on Thursday his family received the shocking news of his death in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Ramana was one of the three soldiers killed when guerrillas believed to be foreigners sneaked into an army camp in Kupwara district. Two militants were also killed. The body of the 38-year-old Ramana is expected to be flown in here later in the day. The last rites will be performed with full military honours, officials said. Anita was waiting for her husband, who had telephoned her on Wednesday that he will return home on May 10. Their children, daughter Chinmayi (9) and son Ganesh (5), too were eagerly waiting to see their father. Also waiting for Ramana were his aged parents and younger brother Koteswara Rao, an autorickshaw driver. Elder brother B. Appala Raju is also serving in the army. According to family members, Ramana had promised Anita that he would be home for their 12th marriage anniversary on May 18. Ramana joined the Indian Army 18 years ago and belonged to the Madras Regiment. He was keen to serve in the army for few more years by applying for an extension. --IANS ms/ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday called on Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades who is on a five day visit to India. "Intensifying cooperation with Cyprus. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj calls on President Nicos Anastasiades, discusses areas of bilateral cooperation," ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted. Earlier, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Anastasiades who was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. The visiting guest was given a ceremonial guard of honour at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Anastasiades also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and described him as "spiritual leader of Cyprus and inspiration for its freedom struggle", Baglay said in a tweet. The Cyprus President will hold delegation-level talks with Modi. The two sides are also expected to sign some bilateral agreements. Anastasiades, who arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, will depart from New Delhi on Saturday. This is his first visit to India since he became the President in 2013. Cyprus, the eighth largest foreign investor in India, has cumulative Foreign Direct Investment of above $8.5 billion in areas of financial leasing, stock exchange, auto manufacture, manufacturing industries, real estate, cargo handling, construction, shipping and logistics. --IANS rs/ksk/sar/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Taliban on Friday announced the start of their annual rebel offensive in Afghanistan, a media report said. The Taliban have code-named the offensive "Operation Mansoori", after their leader Mohammad Akhtar Mansoor, killed in a US drone strike along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in 2016, Xinhua news agency reported. The Taliban ruled the country before being ousted in late 2001. The rebels urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centres regarded as legitimate targets besides warning people not to support the government. Around 13,000 foreign troops remain in Afghanistan to train and assist the Afghan forces. On Thursday, the UN urged the warring sides in Afghanistan to take further measures for better protection of civilians from conflicts. About 715 civilians were killed and over 1,460 others injured in conflict-related incidents across Afghanistan in the first three months of the year, according to figures released by the UN mission in the country. --IANS sm/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three days after the death of its two siblings, a third orphaned tiger cub has died in Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh National Park, officials said on Friday. The cubs were kept in an enclosure in the field bungalow of the Forest Department after their mother was electrocuted by a poacher near the Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve in January. "The first two cubs died on April 23 and the third died on April 26," a Bandhavgarh forest official told IANS. More than 50 tigers have reportedly died in the past 20 months in Madhya Pradesh, a state known for its forests and tigers. Wildlife activists allege negligence, exposure to humans and absence of a wildlife veterinary cadre as the main reasons behind the deaths. Wildlife experts and activists said the tiger cubs, about five months old, died either due to 'Parvovirus' or 'Carbo virus'. Officials denied the allegation. "Treatment of any animal is on the basis of symptoms... When we started the treatment, viruses didn't appear, though samples had been sent to IVRI and Jabalpur," Mridul Pathak, field director of Bandhavgarh National Park, told IANS. Asked about the exposure of cubs to humans, Pathak said the cubs were kept in isolation and humans do not carry viruses. The wildlife activists, however, say the cubs were exposed to several people, including Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on April 19 and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on April 21. "The Chief Minister along with 200 people visited Bandhavgarh and saw the cubs. Four days later, two cubs died. The Railway Minister visited the park on April 21 and the third one died after that... They were exposed to many, violating the norm," wildlife and RTI activist Ajay Dubey told IANS. The forest officials have rejected the allegation, saying the department was dedicated to wildlife conservation. "Had the people who are now alleging helped earlier, we might have saved the cubs... We had even been procuring medicines from foreign and tried our best but no one came forward to help when needed," Pathak said. According to Dubey, there is no wildlife veterinary cadre -- permanent wild animal doctors -- across 10 tiger reserves and sanctuaries, including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna and Sanjay. "The government in 2005 decided to form a permanent cadre for vets. The last reminder was sent to the tiger reserves and parks in 2013. Nothing has happened... Right now the veterinarians are either on deputation or contract, which limits the development scope," Dubey said. Dubey has also registered a complaint with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) demanding an investigation into all the tiger deaths. --IANS kd/py/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China on Friday said US President Donald Trump saying that he would consult Beijing before talking to Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen was a "slap" on her face. Beijing's reaction came after Trump said he would consult Chinese President Xi Jinping before talking to Tsai, who in an interview said that there was a possibility of another phone call between the US President and her. Last year, Trump had made China furious by talking to Tsai, breaking the four-decade-old US policy of not maintaining touch with any Taiwanese head. "(Xi) He's a friend of mine. He's actually a ... I think he's doing an amazing job as a leader, and I wouldn't want to do anything that comes in the way of that. So, I would certainly want to speak to him first," Trump said in an interview. China said it had noticed the comments. "We have noticed the response made by the US side and I believe Taiwan also has noticed the response," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told the media here. "China always opposes any official contacts and countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan. This position is consistent and firm," Geng said. "There are hot online debates about the possible phone call. They believe it's a slap in the face of Tsai Ing-wen," Geng added. The phone call between Trump and Tsai had soured relations between the US and China. A self-ruled island, Taiwan has never openly accepted being part of the Chinese mainland. Beijing claims the breakaway part as its own. --IANS gsh/soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump has threatened to terminate the US trade agreement with South Korea, declaring that the five-year-old accord with a key ally was "a horrible deal" that has left America "destroyed". Trump said on Thursday that he is looking to disrupt an important partnership in the tumultuous Asia-Pacific region as well, even with Seoul on edge because of Pyongyang's escalating military provocations, the Washington Post reported. He sharply criticised the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, known as Korus, the latest version of which was ratified in 2011. "It's a horrible deal. It was a Hillary Clinton disaster, a deal that should've never been made," Trump said, referring to the then Secretary of State who became the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee. "It's a one-way street". South Korea is the US' sixth-largest goods trade partner, and the US goods trade deficit with Korea was $27.7 billion last year, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative, the daily reported. Next week marks an anniversary for Korus and triggers a review period to potentially renegotiate or ratify a new version of the agreement. "We've told them that we'll either terminate or negotiate," Trump said. "We may terminate." The President said that the process of termination of Korus is simpler than with the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). "With Nafta, we terminate tomorrow; if we did, it ends in six months," he said. "With the Korean deal, we terminate and it's over." Trump added: "I will do that unless we make a fair deal. We're getting destroyed in Korea." On his trip to Asia last week, Vice-President Mike Pence had said that the US was looking to "reform" the Korus agreement because US businesses "face too many barriers to entry, which tilts the playing field against American workers and American growth". Trump's threat to South Korea comes after he withdrew the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact. The Trump administration is also pushing to renegotiate the trade relationship with Japan, another important ally. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday urged coalition forces and the US to clear the Islamic State (IS) militants from Manbij and Raqqa towns in Syria. "Together with the coalition led by the US, Turkey and the Free Syrian Army can clean the area all together," Xinhua news agency quoted Erdogan as saying at a meeting here. Currently there are around 2,500 to 5,000 terrorists in Raqqa, Erdogan said. "It is not difficult for us," he remarked. "Why do we exist if we cannot succeed?" Turkey has suggested a joint operation to retake Raqqa on condition that the US keeps away the Syrian Kurdish fighters, who are seen by Ankara as the Syrian offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party but treated by the US as a reliable ground force against the IS. Backed by the rebel Free Syrian Army, the Turkish military launched an operation in Syria in August 2015 and managed to clean about 2,500 square km area. Turkish troops' move against Kurds-held Manbij, however, was blocked by the US and Russia. "We should hand over Manbij to Arabs, who are its real owners," Erdogan said. --IANS py/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maoist guerrillas killed two villagers in Odisha's Malkangiri district, police said on Friday. The incident occurred on Thursday night. The victims were identified as Bisu Kisani and Ram Padiami. Meanwhile, a Maoist camp in Ambadala forests on the Rayagada-Kandhamal border was destroyed following a fierce gun battle between security forces and the rebels. Director General of Police K.B. Singh said there were 15 Maoists in the group and the exchange of fire continued on Friday. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was seized. --IANS cd/ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The other day, Seema, a recent migrant from Uttar Pradesh, told me of the recent troubles her family has been facing. It got me thinking how the ruralurban divide in medical infrastructure is, frustratingly, still a common reason why people are migrating to bigger cities. Anyway, when I met the petite young widow, all she could do was yawn hugely. I cant remember when I slept last, she said. All it took was a split second to turn our lives upside down cannot but sympathise with the dilemma Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who arrives on Sunday, faces. It was evident when Mr Erdogan was jailed in 1998 for for inciting religious hatred and threatening the Kemalist nature of Turkey, especially (its) secularity. Kemal Ataturk was the founder of modern Turkey, the man who banished religion with the fez and sought to recreate his country in Europes liberal image. Jawaharlal Nehru is his closest South Asian counterpart. is considered one of the most auspicious days in India to buy gold. On this today, lakhs of people will want to invest in gold and hence, the demand for gold, particularly in the form bars, coins and jewellery rises during this period. However, no matter how treasurable, gold is an expensive commodity. The went into a huddle on Thursday to mull over its unimpressive show in the civic polls in Delhi, as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged his newly-elected councillors "not to betray AAP". During the day, Punjab party affairs in-charge Sanjay Singh and his deputy Durgesh Pathak stepped down, following the resignations of Delhi Convenor Dilip Pandey, Delhi campaign chief Ashish Talwar, and legislator Alka Lamba on Wednesday. The Aam Aadmi Party won in 48 of the 270 wards of the three Delhi Municipal Corporations, polls for which were held on Sunday. The BJP swept the elections with 181. Addressing the new councillors at his residence here, Kejriwal administered them a "pledge of honesty" and cautioned them not to let themselves be lured or involved in corruption. He claimed the three municipal corporations of Delhi were "most corrupt" civic bodies in India. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would try its best to wean them away but urged them to remain united. "Always keep your recording devices (in mobile phones) on so that we can know if any such effort is made." Kejriwal asked the AAP councillors to ensure a check on corruption in the civic bodies by raising their voice against it. "This party has emerged from an anti-corruption movement; so, please work with full honesty," he said. "Maintain honesty and have the courage to raise voice against corruption in the MCDs. They (BJP) might send you to jail or try to suppress your voice, but do not fear," the Delhi Chief Minister said. Kejriwal also told the newly-elected councillors not to leave movement against corruption even if someone lured them to join other parties by offering huge money. "It is a very pious movement. If you leave AAP, this movement, the people will then never be happy," Kejriwal said. Kejriwal's AAP is battling a crisis following the unimpressive show in the elections to the three municipal corporations. The polls were held on April 23 and votes counted on April 26. Kejriwal also held a separate, closed-door meeting with the AAP legislators. Party sources told IANS that they discussed the poll performance and ways to "reinvent the momentum from the grass-roots". A key decision towards this end was the appointment of Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai as the AAP's Delhi Convener after Pandey's resignation. "Rai has been chosen for the post. However, any final decision will be taken in a meeting of the party's Political Affairs Committee," a party source said. The land deal case has been at the centre of political mudslinging ever since the Narendra Modi government came to power. There's now a new twist to Vadra's alleged shady dealings. On Thursday, Priyanka Gandhi, in a statement, distanced herself from her husband Robert Vadra's finances and company dealings. She said her finances had nothing to do with those of her husband Robert Vadra's or those of his company Skylight Hospitality, which is under the Haryana government's scanner over its land deals with realty major DLF. Miffed over Justice Dhingra panel report on controversial land deals of being leaked selectively to the media, Congress blamed BJP and the Manohar Lal government in Haryana for the move. The Congress party labelled this a political witch-hunting. The one-month-old government in Uttar Pradesh on Friday said it was working on a 100-day agenda to transform the work culture in state government offices. The police here today arrested 21 persons including a theatre owner for allegedly selling tickets of the film "Baahubali-2: The Conclusion" in black market. "Baahubali-2:The Conclusion", long-awaited sequel to the 2015 multilingual drama by director S S Rajamouli, released today. Police arrested seven persons from three theatres in the limits of Cyberabad Commissionerate here including P Rajesh, a theatre owner, and N Prasad, an employee, for selling tickets at higher prices, said inspector Shanker Yadav of Special Operation Team, Balanagar Zone. In Rachakonda Commissionerate limits, police nabbed 14 persons for black marketing of tickets, said inspector K Narsing Rao. Police seized hundreds of tickets from the accused, who were booked under the AP Cinemas (Regulation) Act and Hyderabad City Police Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fierce clashes between jihadists and Islamist rebels near Damascus left at least 40 dead and 70 wounded today, a monitoring group said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes pitted the Saudi-backed rebel faction Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) against Fateh al-Sham, Al-Qaeda's former branch in Syria, and Faylaq al-Rahman, which is backed by Qatar and Turkey. "There were at least 15 dead among the ranks of Jaish al-Islam and 23 among its adversaries" as well as two civilians, the Britain-based Observatory said. Another 70 were wounded. Jaish al-Islam said its opponents had provoked the clashes by harassing reinforcements headed for Qabun, east of the Syrian capital, a front with regime forces. Faylaq al-Rahman denied the allegation. In May 2016, more than 300 people were killed in a battle between the two sides. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sixty per cent of the work on the 135-km Eastern Peripheral Expressway, being constructed from Kundli to Palwal, has already been completed, Union minister Nitin Gadkari today said. Efforts are being made to complete its construction by August, he said, adding that work on the Palwal-Manesar section of the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal project has been completed. After making an aerial survey of the progress on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway near village Jahllaka in Haryana, the Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways said completion of this project would reduce vehicle pressure by up to 50 per cent in Delhi, besides reducing pollution. This is the first access-controlled expressway being constructed at a cost of Rs 4,418 crore, he said. After its completion, vehicles would not have to enter Delhi for mutual transit to the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, he said. The minister lauded the efforts of the Haryana government in completing the work in its territory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in November, 2015. Like the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, work on construction of Western Peripheral Expressway in the state is also being carried out by the Haryana government, he said. Gadkari said apart from smooth movement of traffic in the area, new possibilities for development of industrial and business sectors would be generated with the construction of Eastern Peripheral Expressway. A new era of economic development would commence in the area with its completion, and it would also supplement government efforts on logistics improvement, he said. The Eastern Peripheral Expressway would pass through Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautambuddh Nagar and Faridabad. Many modern facilities, including highway traffic management system, electronic signage, video incident detection system, warning devices, over speed checking system, way-in motion, fire optic network are being used in the project. As part of the project, 222 structures out of 339 to be constructed such as bridges, interchanges and over-bridges have also been completed, he said. In addition to the construction of main bridges on Yamuna river, Hindon river and Agra canal, eight railway over- bridges, four over-bridges, 45 small bridges, 77 underpasses and 152 pedestrian underpasses are also part of the project, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The space debris has emerged as a new cause of global concern prompting the relevant agencies world-wide to make a joint bid to find a solution to the meance, says defence minister's Scientific Advisor Satheesh Reddy. "Space debris is a serious concern today for the entire world. The ISRO has conducted a conference on this. That is going to be an emerging subject and also a serious issue as a large number of satellites are launched every year all over the world. "All space agencies of respective countries (including ISRO) are working to have a coordinated system to tackle this problem," Reddy told PTI on the sidelines of a programme at Osmania University here. According to European Space Agency (ESA), over 4,900 space launches since 1957 have led to an on-orbit population of more than 18,000 tracked objects. Only 1,100 are functional spacecraft. The remaining are space debris - the objects no longer serving any useful purpose. About 64 per cent of the routinely-tracked objects are fragments from some 250 breakups, explosions and collisions of satellites or rocket bodies. In addition, there is an evidence of a much larger population of the debris that cannot be tracked operationally. An estimated 7,00,000 objects larger than 1 cm and 170 million objects larger than 1 mm are expected to be orbiting around earth. This large amount of space hardware has a total mass of more than 7,500 tonnes. Speaking about the research programmes in Space Science, Reddy said that Osmania University has the calibre to undertake the subject and work with the government. "Osmania University has a very good telescope with a very good object viewing capacity. Why not Osmania University revive its subject and work in this area so that we have much more flexibility tomorrow in launching our satellites," Reddy said. Replying to a query, he said India needs a large number of cyber security professionals in future and universities across the country need to focus on the subject, given its importance. According to him, only National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra is offering a masters degree in cyber security. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told the United Nations today that "all options" to respond to any future North Korean missile or nuclear tests "must remain on the table." "The threat of a North Korean nuclear attack on Seoul or Tokyo is real, and it is likely only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the US mainland," Tillerson told a Security Council meeting on the threat from North Korea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Kerala High Court today termed as "serious" the allegation that state Power Minister M M Mani made "unsavoury" remarks against women at a recent public meeting at in Kunchithanni in Idukki. The observation was made by a high court's vacation bench of justices P N Raveendran and P V Asha, while hearing a plea by Kerala resident George Vattukulam, who has sought a court- monitored probe into the allegations that Mani made the "sexually-loaded, anti-women statements" at a public meeting. While hearing the plea against Mani, the court asked the state counsel if the Kerala police chief was not aware of it. The bench posed the query as the state counsel opposed Vattukulam'a plea. The bench then also directed the petitioner to produce the CD of the minister's speech and the copy of the complaint made to police in this regard. The state counsel opposed the plea, contending that the petition was not maintainable as the petitioner ought to have approached the police or a magisterial court for a probe into the matter. The counsel denied that the minister made any derogatory remarks against women. He added he was mentioning about media persons during his speech. At this, the high court observed that the media persons too have their fundamental rights. The bench subsequently posted the matter for for further hearing on next Tuesday. The petitioner has alleged that Mani had used abusive language against women leaders and activists of 'Pembilai Orumai,' a group of plantation workers in Idukki district who had organised a month-long stir in Munnar last year. "The respondent is a habitual offender and regularly uses abusive language and sexually-loaded statements especially against the women," the petition said. Mani, however, had refuted the allegation against him on the floor of the state assembly. He had told the assembly that he had not used any offensive language against women. "I have not used the word woman even once in my 17-minute speech," which, he claimed, had been edited by the media, a section of which was against him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid protests over the alleged "desecration" of a temple in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, the state government today said an investigation of the shrine's complex has found all its properties "intact". A team of district officials carried out the examination of the Bhargashakha Bhagwati temple in Mattan area after posts and pictures alleging its "desecration" were uploaded on social networking sites by "mischievous elements", an official spokesman said. "After investigation and examination of the complex, all the properties were found intact. The main door to the premises was locked and keys handed over to the community members living in the area," the spokesman said. The Anantnag district administration has also appealed to people to ignore rumours aimed at creating trouble. Meanwhile, Kashmiri Pandit and Jammu-based organisations today staged protests here over the alleged "desecration". The organisations, including All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC), Panun Kashmir,Jammu for India, and All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference, among others, demanded the registration of an FIR and the constitution of a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to take action in the case, which they claimed was "downplayed" by the state government. "We condemn the incident. We urge the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to order a probe and bring the miscreants involved to book as they are trying to instigate communal tension," APMCC Chairman Vinod Pandit told reporters. He also demanded adequate security for temples in Kashmir. National Conference Minority Cell President M K Yogi said: "Being the custodian of the Kashmiri Hindu properties and their worship places, the PDP-BJP government has abdicated its responsibility by giving a long rope to wrong-doers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The army today paid floral tributes to three of its personnel, including an officer, who laid down their lives while repulsing a militant attack on their camp in Kupwara district of Kashmir. Wreaths were laid on the coffins of the three soldiers -- Captain Ayush Yadav, Subedar B S Gujjar and Naik B V Ramana -- at a ceremony held at the headquarters of the 15 Corps here, a defence spokesman said. He said Corps Commander Lt Gen J S Sandhu led the officers and other ranks of the army in paying floral tributes to the three soldiers before their mortal remains were flown to their native places. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Khan, Inspector General of Police S J M Gillani and senior paramilitary officers were also present at the wreath-laying ceremony, he added. Captain Yadav, Subedar Gujjar and Naik Ramana were killed in the militant attack on an army camp in Panzgam area of Kupwara yesterday while five other soldiers were injured. Captain Yadav, who hailed from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, had joined the service some three years ago. Naik Ramana (38) hailed from Visakhapatnam and served in the army for the last 18 years while Subedar Gujjar (46) had put in 26 years of service. Two unidentified militants were killed in the retaliatory action by the army while one militant managed to escape from the scene in an injured condition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The much-awaited "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion" today released in Karnataka with moviegoers enthusiastically paying up to Rs 1,600 for a ticket. As much as 75 per cent of the screens available in the state are showing the SS Rajamouli-directed multi-lingual film. In Bengaluru alone, 72 out of the 94single screen theatres are screening it, reflecting the frenzy the film has created, film trade circles said. The film has been released in Telugu, Hindi and Tamil here. Tickets priced between Rs 600 and Rs 1,600 are being sold like hot cakes on booking portals like PVR and BookMyShow. Exhibitors too have shown preference to play"Baahubali 2" over other language films, including Hindi andKannada. "As much as 75 per cent of screens available in the State are playing 'Baahubali 2', and in Bengaluru alone, 72 of the 94single-screens are screening the film," N R Sudheer of Vasupradha Enterprises, which released the film on behalf of the producers in Karnataka, told reporters here. In Mysuru, as many as 40 screens out 45 are showing "Baahubali 2." Almost all theatres in Bellary, which borders Andhra Pradesh, are playing the Prabhas-Sathyaraj film to packed houses, Sunil, an avid cine-goer said over phone. The Kannada film fraternity, however, is pushing for the immediate implementation of a budgetary proposal to peg the ticket prices at Rs 200 in single screen theatres and multiplexes. "The delay has only emboldened theatres and multiplexes toplay "Baahubali 2", instead of releasing Kannada films. SomeKannada films were also replaced, to rake in good moolah, inan unfair manner," KFCC President Sa Ra Govindu said. He is also pushing for refunding the excess amount charged for "Baahubali 2" and other films if the government implemented the proposal. However, the film exhibition industry has been sceptical about thegovernment's move to cap movie ticket prices at Rs 200. There were demands from various stakeholders of the film industry to the government, urging it to cap multiplex entry fee at Rs 120 on the lines of neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Earlier last week, Kannada outfits had threatened to stall the film's release protesting alleged controversial remarks made by actor Sathyaraj, who plays the role of Kattappa. However, they withdrew the protest after the actor expressed regret over the comments made by him nine years ago during the Cauvery row. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thousands of wedding ceremonies, on top of the usual weekend rush, may leave traffic on Delhi's roads in knots tomorrow. With an estimated 14,000 weddings lined up, the traffic police will deploy extra personnel at Chhattarpur, Mehrauli, and Delhi-Gurgaon road where several banquet halls and farmhouses are located. "We will be seeking the help of the local police in traffic management. They will be assisting the traffic police in issuing challans and ensuring that vehicles are parked properly," Garima Bhatnagar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said. Traffic police officials said they have held meetings with banquet hall and farmhouse owners, asking them to deploy their staff to ensure that vehicles were not blocking traffic. Anil Thadani of the popular JEA band said they were swamped with bookings tomorrow. "People had started making bookings almost 10 months in advance for this day," he said. "Even though today is Akshaya Tritiya, which is considered an auspicious day, we have more bookings for tomorrow than today," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress today accused the BJP of being anti-farmer and alleged that it stood exposed as the chief economic advisor advocated for taxing agricultural income. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked the party not to "backstab" the country's farmers. "RBI Gov Urjit Patel & SBI chief oppose farm loan waiver. CEA wants to tax agriculture. Don't backstab India's farmers," Surjewala said in a series of tweets. He said first Niti Aayog member Bibek Debroy suggested that the agricultural income should be taxed and now CEA Arvind Subramanian was advocating the same. Surejewala asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to spell out why the BJP was "surreptitiously hoodwinking" the farmers. "The anti-farmer face of BJP govt stands exposed! BJP's hidden agenda of taxing farmers unmasked by Chief Economic Adviser," he tweeted. Subramanian today said states, which have the option to levy the tax, should make a distinction between rich and poor farmers. A controversy had erupted after Debroy suggested that the agricultural income should be taxed. However, Jaitley later clarified that there was no such proposal and the Centre has no power to impose tax on agricultural income. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Bulgarian men were jailed today for 10 years and a woman for six years for trafficking two pregnant women to sell their babies in neighbouring Greece. The sentences issued by a court in the Black Sea city of Burgas were among the heaviest for a crime that has become common in the region over recent years but has been tough to prove and punish, prosecutors said. The practice consists of recruiting poor pregnant women, usually from the Roma minority, and transferring them to Greece to give birth and sell their baby to couples there, who are ready to pay up to 15,000 euros (USD 16,300) for a baby boy. Any payment is considered illegal, but the Greek legal system does not help solving the problem as it allows the mother to simply sign her child away in front of a notary, investigators say. The mothers usually get a fraction of the money with the bigger chunk pocketed by the traffickers. Two men, aged 47 and 50, from the small town of Kameno near Burgas were jailed for 10 years for recruiting two pregnant women from a nearby village and accommodating them in flats in Greece with a view to selling their babies when they were born. The wife of one of the men was also jailed for six years and another accomplice received a three-year suspended sentence. The crimes occurred in the years between 2008 to 2010. During a visit to the region of Burgas and Kameno in 2016, AFP collected testimony from local officials and ordinary people about a shady trade that feeds on endemic poverty of the local Roma. Some of the mothers were said to have sold more than one baby. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 300-km-long Chambal Expressway, connecting Madhya Pradesh with Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, will be constructed through the ravines of Chambal region, an official said here today. The decision to construct the six-lane expressway was taken in a meeting held between Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari in Delhi yesterday, a Public Relations department official said here. "After his meeting with the Union minister, the chief minister informed that a 300-km-long, six-lane Chambal expressway is proposed in Madhya Pradesh. The right-of-way (a type of easement granted or reserved over the land for transportation purposes) for this expressway will be 100 metre," the official added. He said 2500 hectares of land will be acquired for this project, out of which nearly 50 per cent of the land is owned by the state government. "Chambal Expressway will be constructed from the greenfield alignment through the ravines and along the banks of Chambal river," he added. The expressway would start from the state highway (SH) no. 6 at Pali and will connect to Uttar Pradesh on the national highway 92 (Bhongaon-Gwalior), the official said. The expressway will cross national highway 3 (Mumbai-Agra) before passing through various areas in Madhya Pradesh, he said. "This expressway will benefit Bhind, Morena, Sheopur and Chambal areas of Madhya Pradesh. The expressway will connect Madhya Pradesh with Rajasthan at one end and to Uttar Pradesh on the other," the official said without elaborating the exact location where the expressway will connect to Rajasthan. He said the details about the cost of the project and other related aspects are not available immediately. The official informed that the chief minister also discussed about the proposed 1265-km-long, six-lane Narmada Expressway during his meeting. Narmada Expressway is a proposed eight-lane expressway in the state, which will connect the historic towns of Amarkantak in the eastern end of Madhya Pradesh and Alirajpur in the western end of Madhya Pradesh along side of Narmada river. The official said the CM also expressed his concern about incomplete works of several national highways, passing through Madhya Pradesh. "The Union minister has assured the chief minister that problems of incomplete works would be addressed. The CM also discussed about the problems hampering the construction of national highways including Rewa-Allahabad, Bhopal-Jabalpur, Satna-Bamitha, Indore-Edlabad and Rewa-Sidhi," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China's ride-hailing major Didi Chuxing has raised over USD 5.5 billion, making it Asia's most valuable startup worth of over USD 50 billion. The company, an investor in Indian ride-hailing platform Ola, will use the fresh funding to support its global strategy and continued investments in artificial intelligence-based technologies. Didi, however, did not name the investors. Reports suggest that Japan's SoftBank Group, China Merchants Bank, and an arm of China's Bank of Communications participated in the round. It already counts Apple and Chinese Internet giants Alibaba and Tencent among its investors. "Building on its competitive AI-based analytics capabilities, Didi is working towards systemic breakthroughs in intelligent driving technologies and smart transportation architecture," Didi said in an e-mailed statement. Last month, the four-year old startup opened up an AI lab in Mountain View, US, to focus on developing intelligent driving systems. While the company did not respond to whether it would pump in fresh money into Ola, Didi said the funding will help its "efforts to build an efficient and sustainable global mobility ecosystem". The round is believed to value Didi at about USD 50 billion, ahead of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi that is valued at USD 46 billion. Last year, Didi had succeeded in buying US-based Uber's operations in China, helping the company gain further market share. At that time, Didi was valued at about USD 34 billion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned at the United Nations today against military action to respond to the threat from North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes. "The use of force does not solve differences and will only lead to bigger disasters," Wang told the Security Council. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Murugappa group company Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company today reported profit after tax of Rs 220 crore, up 14 per cent form the same quarter last year. For the full year, its net profit rose 26 per cent to Rs 719 crore, the company said in a statement. It attributed the muted number to the revised NPA provisioning norms which came down to three months from four months and also increased standard asset provisioning which rose from 0.35 per cent to 0.40 per cent. Gross NPA and net NPAs (on three months overdue basis) improved to 4.7 per cent and 3.2 per cent respectively,from 4.8 and 3.1 per cent. -------------------------------------- Ceat consolidated net plunges 50% Mumbai: Tyre-maker Ceat today reported a massive 50 per cent fall in consolidated March quarter net profit at Rs 60.9 crore despite a high other income and better sales. In reporting quarter its revenue grew to Rs 1,627.30 from Rs 1.554.05 crore. On a standalone basis, its revenue of Rs 1,437 crore,and net of Rs 70 crore down 38 percent. Anant Goenka, managing director attributed the poor show to a fall in margins due to note ban and spike in raw material prices. Ceat established in 1958 produces over 25 million tyres annually. --------------------------------------- IDFC net inches up 4% to Rs 135 cr Mumbai: IDFC, the holding company of IDFC Bank, a brokerage and an AMC, reported a 4 per cent rise in March quarter net income at Rs 135 crore on an income Rs 731 crore, which grew 5 per cent over the year-ago period. Balance-sheet size grew 35 per cent to Rs 1.2 trillion while networth rose to Rs 10,820 crore from Rs 10,109 crore. For full year, net stood Rs 699 crore, up 34 per cent over the previous year. In October 2015, all the financing undertaking was transferred from IDFC to IDFC Bank. --------------------------------------------- MGL opens 200the filling station Mumbai: Mahanagar Gas that distributes compressed natural gas and piped gas to the city today said it crossed the 200th CNG station in the megapolis. In the Mumbai metropolitan region, MGL caters to over 5 lakh vehicles plying on CNG with over 1,100 dispensing points and a compression capacity of over 28 lakh kg CNG per day. The 200th station was opened at the suburban Ambernath. Managing director Rajeev Mathur said the average distance between two CNG stations across the megapolis region is 1.52 km in the Western suburbs, 1.47 km in the Central suburbs, 3.2 km in Navi Mumbai and 4.5 km in Kalyan-Dombivali- Ambernath-Badlapur region. MGL is a JV between Gail India, Royal Dutch Shell India and Maharashtra and serves over 9 lakh households and over 3,000 small commercial and industrial establishments. It supplies CNG to nearly 5.5 lakh vehicles, including over 2 lakh rickshaws and above 59,000 taxis and over 2 lakh cars in Mumbai, Thane, Mira-Bhayander, Navi Mumbai and beyond and CNG to 3,300 city buses. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Beverages giant Coca-Cola Company today said its President for India and Southwest Asia Business Unit Venkatesh Kini has quit after leading the operations for over three years and T Krishnakumar will replace him. Kini, who has chosen to return to the US to pursue other opportunities outside the Coca-Cola system, will remain with the company till July-end to ensure a smooth transition for his successor, Coca-Cola Company said in a statement. He had worked with the company for 19 years. Krishnakumar is currently CEO and South West Asia Regional Director of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), the bottling arm of the company. Subsequently, Vamsi Mohan, Region Director for Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia of Bottling Investments Group (BIG), will replace Krishnakumar as South West Asia Regional Director for Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, it added. The company further said Christina Ruggiero will be the new CEO of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd. She will report to Mohan. She is currently chief procurement officer for the Coca- Cola System in North America, and president and CEO for Bottlers' Sales & Services LLC. The appointments in senior leadership in the Indian and South West Asia Business Unit of Coca-Cola and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages will take effect from May 1, the statement added. On the changes, Coca-Cola President Asia Pacific Group John Murphy said the firm is designing a new operating model to support its next stage of transformation. "Key components of this new operating model are a revitalised organisational capability and better system alignment to ensure optimum execution multiplies our marketing plans and investment," he added. Similarly, BIG President Irial Finan said: "...We believe that the revitalised system leadership structure that we announce today will enable us to continue consolidating India as one of the most important growth engines for The Coca-Cola Company globally." He said India is the sixth-largest market for Coca-Cola in terms of volume and still has tremendous growth potential. The company and its partners operate nearly 60 factories in India employing 25,000 people directly and its products are sold through over 2.6 million retailers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress and the BJP today sparred over the "leak" of the reported findings of Justice S N Dhingra commission that Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, had allegedly made unlawful profits in a land deal in 2008 in Haryana. The Congress accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Haryana of "deliberately and selectively leaking" the report to "damn" Vadra out of vendetta, despite court injunctions on its publication, a charge rejected by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Khattar. The Dhingra commission had probed alleged irregularities in the grant of land licences to a firm owned by Vadra and submitted its 182-page report to Khattar on August 31, 2016. The contents of the report are yet to be made public by Haryana government which had given an undertaking in the Punjab and Haryana High Court not to release the report until directed by the court. A report in a leading business daily citing unnamed people familiar with the commission report, however, claimed that the probe had indicted Vadra for allegedly making unlawful profit from a land deal in Haryana in 2008 without spending a single paisa. Khattar on his part said action will be taken on the findings of the Dhingra commission. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi accused the BJP- led governments of being in the habit of deliberately leaking reports as it believes in "politics of vendetta." "Some very strange things are happening. I can understand the government, both the Central and the state, and a ruling party which is steeped in vendetta and blinded by rage by deliberately leaking the so-called Dhingra Commission report. "This government is in the old habit of deliberately leaking reports as it believes in the politics of vendetta. Such is your politics of vendetta that you are blinded and selectively leak anything to attack anyone," he told reporters in Delhi when asked about the issue. Both Naidu and Khattar rejected the Congress' allegation. "We don't have the habit of leaking out... This government believes in transparency and does not interfere in the legal process. We don't run after individuals," Naidu told reporters in Delhi. The Information and Broadcasting minister said he does not have any information on the Dhingra panel report. Hitting out at the Congress, he said, "They may be speaking of their own past experiences (of leaking reports)." The minister said the government will take action based on the findings of the report. Denying the Congress' allegation, Khattar said the high court should take cognisance of the matter. The Commission was asked to probe alleged irregularities in grant of licences by the previous Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government for development of colonies, housing societies and commercial complexes in four Guragon villages. Vadra's Skylight Hospitality is among the firms under scanner. "Once the report is made public and something comes out, it will be a matter of investigation," the chief minister told reporters in Chandigarh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid a spate of policy changes in the US under the Trump Administration, the Monetary Fund is closely following the developments in America, a top IMF official has said, noting that there is considerable uncertainty on specific policies. "Our latest World Economic Outlook assumes fiscal expansion by the US will carry momentum forward, raising US economic growth from 2.3 to 2.5 per cent in 2018, which is positive for the global economy," Tao Zhang, Deputy Managing Director of the Monetary Fund, told PTI in an exclusive interview. "At the same time, there is considerable uncertainty on specific policies. We are following policy developments closely, and we will need to see details of the various proposals to better understand their implications," the top IMF official said when asked about the economic policies of the US President . Zhang said although growth is picking up, the world still faces many challenges, and risks remain skewed to the downside. "These risks include an inward shift in policies and elevated policy uncertainty; an aggressive rollback of financial regulation; and a faster-than-expected tightening of financial conditions. These are risks, not yet certain. We have to see whether they come to pass," he said. "As our Managing Director Christine Lagarde said during the Spring Meetings, we are seeing the global picking up momentum," he added. "Despite some improvement for the US and other advanced economies, most of the global pick-up stems from emerging markets, including India. "The outlook for the Asia Pacific region remains robust- the strongest in the world-and recent data point to a pickup in momentum," he said. Responding to a question, Zhang said the IMF is now starting to discuss next phase of quota reforms. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had articulated about it in his address to the IMF last week here. "There is a general recognition by the Fund's membership that the IMF's governance should evolve, as the global evolves. We can never be complacent, and I would expect that the IMF's governance will continue to evolve to reflect the shifting global economic landscape," he said. "The Executive Board will also start discussion on the next review of our quotas, including a new quota formula that allocates the voting power in the IMF Executive Board, in the second half of this year," Zhang said. "An historic reform of our governance came into effect last year, bringing a shift of influence in favour of emerging market and developing countries. The Fund and its membership recognise the growing role of the dynamic emerging market countries in the global economy," said the top IMF official. The IMF is "closely" following the implications of some of the major policy changes initiated by the Trump administration that has resulted in "considerable uncertainty," a top IMF official has said. "Our latest World Economic Outlook assumes fiscal expansion by the US will carry momentum forward, raising US economic growth from 2.3 to 2.5 per cent in 2018, which is positive for the global economy," Tao Zhang, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, told PTI in an interview. "At the same time, there is considerable uncertainty on specific policies. We are following policy developments closely, and we need to see details of the various proposals to better understand their implications," the top IMF official said when asked about the economic policies of the US President Donald Trump. In recent weeks, Trump has decided not to label China a currency manipulator and said he would cut a favourable trade deal with Beijing if it agreed to help him with North Korea. The administration has also indicated that it will not seek sweeping changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement, which the president called the "worst trade deal". Immigration was the centerpiece of his campaign. Trump signed an executive order on January 27 barring people from the seven countries from entering the United States for 90 days. The order was blocked by federal courts and the Trump administration replaced it with a revised, narrower travel ban effective March 16 which dropped Iraq from the list. Courts have also halted parts of the second order. Meanwhile, Zhang said although the global growth is picking up, the world economy still faces many challenges, and risks remain skewed to the downside. "These risks include an inward shift in policies and elevated policy uncertainty; an aggressive rollback of financial regulation; and a faster-than-expected tightening of financial conditions. These are risks, not yet certain. We have to see whether they come to pass," he said. "As our Managing Director Christine Lagarde said during the Spring Meetings, we are seeing the global economy picking up momentum," he added. "Despite some improvement for the US and other advanced economies, most of the global pick-up stems from emerging markets, including India. "The outlook for the Asia Pacific region remains robust- the strongest in the world-and recent data point to a pickup in momentum," he said. Responding to a question, Zhang said the IMF is now starting to discuss next phase of quota reforms. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had articulated about it in his address to the IMF last week here. "There is a general recognition by the Fund's membership that the IMF's governance should evolve, as the global economy evolves. "We can never be complacent, and I would expect that the IMF's governance will continue to evolve to reflect the shifting global economic landscape," he said. "The Executive Board will also start discussion on the next review of our quotas, including a new quota formula that allocates the voting power in the IMF Executive Board, in the second half of this year," Zhang said. "An historic reform of our governance came into effect last year, bringing a shift of influence in favour of emerging market and developing countries. The Fund and its membership recognise the growing role of the dynamic emerging market countries in the global economy," said the top IMF official. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Describing terrorism as a "sophisticated weapon" from which no country is immune, Cyprus today advocated close cooperation between India and the European Union for tackling the root cause of this global menace. Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, who is on a five- day visit to India, said the "long-standing" ties between India and Cyprus is "reciprocal and of mutually beneficial". "Tomorrow agreements will be signed in the areas of merchant shipping, agriculture, aviation, education and culture to widen our cooperation," he said. "The major challenges in the area of security that Europe faces is the same which India does. Whether it is London, Stockholm, St Petersburg or Mumbai, all face the threat today. Terrorism is a sophisticated weapon from which no country is immune," the president said. In his keynote address at the 'India Trilateral Forum 12' here, he asserted that security and economic sectors were two areas in which the two countries can work in a more focused manner to do a "great deal in our strategic partnership". "In Mumbai, I paid my respect to the victims of the 2008 terror attack. And, I say, the threat of terrorism calls for strengthening ties. Cyprus stands with India and is a supporter for the comprehensive convention against terrorism. "We need a united response against terrorism. So we participated in the Global Coalition To Counter ISIS. We also provided ways and means to counter terror organisations by giving military assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces and actively exchanging information and intelligence with partners," he said. Anastasiades said this at the event co-hosted by think- tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF), German Marshal Fund of the US and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden. "India's engagement with its neighbours and its valuable contribution to regional peace and stability signifies its crucial role in the region and by extension, the world. "In places like Afghanistan, India and the EU can forge closer cooperation for the benefit of the people and for peace and stability in the region. Where possible, India and the EU must join forces to tackle the root causes of terrorism," he said. Anastasiades said terrorism and political instability go hand in hand and lie at the heart of challenges that both the EU and India face. "In our region, in Syria, Iraq and Libya political instability has allowed radical organisations such as the ISIS to fill in the vacuum in absence of political leadership. The result has been chaos and an unprecedented flow of migration," he said, adding India faces significant migration from Afghanistan and has been affected by terrorism. "The EU-India Joint Declaration on the fight against terrorism is an important step in fighting the menace," he said. On Cyprus' internal issues, the President said India has been a "long-standing, reliable ally in our efforts to reunify Cyprus and its people through a comprehensive settlement, in a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, with a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship, in line with UN Security Council Resolutions and EU law". "Cyprus's struggle continues today in a different form, and India continues to stand firmly and unequivocally by the Government of Cyprus in its efforts to safeguard the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus following the 1974 illegal invasion and subsequent occupation by Turkey," he said. "While we remain firmly committed to the ongoing negotiating effort, we look to friends and allies such as India to convey the message to Turkey that the status quo is unacceptable, and that it needs to engage constructively, and actively in the efforts underway," the Cypriot president said. Anastasiades emphasised both the countries could engage strongly in the economic sector also. "Cyprus is proud to be a special envoy of India within the EU, a bridge - if you like - between India and the EU. "Cyprus's position is that it is high time to work towards advancing the EU-India negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement, which will open new avenues of cooperation in the economic sector. I believe that there is now a new momentum in this regard and we must ensure that the process moves forward he said. "A Free Trade Agreement, besides the obvious trade and economic benefits that would accrue, will provide the space for EU Member States to maximise their bilateral engagement with India, in all possible sectors of economic activity," Anastasiades added. Make in India, Clean India, Digital India, Smart Cities, and other significant initiatives, like the International Solar Alliance, these Indian initiatives are significantly reinforced when India and the EU Member States work closely, he asserted. The president said Cyprus is eager to be part of this new and dynamic EU-India partnership and to contribute actively for mutual interest, particularly in areas where Cyprus has expertise, including energy, renewable energy, hydrocarbons, shipping, education and tourism. "Cyprus very much looks forward to the next EU-India Summit, which will take place in New Delhi in October," he said, adding, the EU-India trade volumes are "solid and convincing proof that India-EU relationship has grown beyond its infancy and it must be taken to full maturity". Anastasiades also invoked Mahatma Gandhi in his speech, saying, he is an inspiration to the world and the Cyprus with whom he maintained a strong personal relationship. Earlier, briefing reporters on his visit, Ruchi Ghanashyam, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said the Cypriot President will meet his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee tomorrow. He will also present Mukherjee with Grand Collar of Order of Makarios III, the highest ranked order of Cyprus to foreign heads of state and governments. He will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow and hold a delegation-level talks, apart from meeting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. "We understand that the two sides in Cyprus have been talking to each other. India hopes that a just and lasting solution will be found to the Cyprus problem in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and the European Acquis. We support a peaceful dialogue between the parties concerned," she said, when asked about the situation in Cyprus. On the mediation prospect, she said, "Two leaders (our PM and the President of Cyprus) will meet and discuss issues that they decide upon. I would not like to prejudge or speculate. However our position on the Cyprus issue is very clear and well known. I don't need to reiterate it." "India and Cyprus share time-tested ties. On many global issues, both countries share similar views. India has extended unwavering support to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, of Cyprus. "Cyprus supports India's views on crucial issues such as the UN Security Council reforms and the Nuclear Suppliers Group," Ghanashyam said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police today questioned several men suspected to have been linked to the money trail in a bribery case in which AIADMK (Amma) party leader T T V Dhinakaran has been arrested. A day after bringing Dhinakaran from Delhi and conducting searches at his residence here, the Crime Branch police personnel also grilled some others who allegedly had knowledge about the money transaction, police sources said. Dhinakaran was arrested on April 25 in Delhi following four days of questioning for allegedly attempting to bribe an unidentified EC official to get the undivided AIADMK's 'two leaves' election symbol for his faction. The police had earlier arrested Sukesh Chandrasekar, who had allegedly struck a deal for Rs 50 crore to help the AIADMK (Amma) faction keep the two leaves symbol, and seized Rs 1.30 crore from him. A Delhi court granted five days police custody of Dhinakaran following which he was brought here. The Delhi police after questioning the suspects asked some of them to appear again at the Central Government Office Complex, 'Rajaji Bhawan,' at Besant Nagar here, they said declining to provide more information. Besides, the police team visited various areas, including Adambakkam and Kolapakkam here, to question some persons, whose identity had not been disclosed. Sources said evidence was being gathered to sequence the Chennai-Delhi money trail, its alleged link to Dhinakaran, how cash was routed through alleged hawala operators including Faisal and Naresh. The latter was arrested today. Besides the physical aspect involving transfer, the source of the money, proof for cash transfer, and related transactions were being looked into. With the arrest of Naresh, it was now only about "joining the dots" and the Delhi Police was trying to conclude the probe ahead of producing Dhinakaran before a court in the national capital when his five-day custody ends, the sources added. Dhinakaran continued to be housed in the Central Government Guest House in Rajaji Bhawan and was being confronted with the "developments" in the case, police said. The Delhi Police team declined to comment on the progress in the case. A security blanket has been thrown around the Rajaji Bhawan complex with a posse of police personnel led by an assistant police commissioner guarding the entry points to the guest house. Journalists were not allowed entry inside. Naresh was detained at the Delhi Airport for involvement in "illegal transfer" of money to Chandrasekhar by Dhinakaran. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Noted educationist, economist, litterateur and quizmaster Dilip Kumar Barua died here today after a brief illness, his family sources said. Barua (73) was the principal of Cotton College here, north east's premier institution in 2000 and was the principal of Haflong Government College in 2001. An alumnus of the Delhi School of Economics, HE had joined as faculty in the college's economics department in 1966. Barua had also served as joint director of Assam Administrative College from 1989 to 1992 and was also a member of the Assam Planning Board and the second State Finance Commission (2001-2006). He served as a consultant in state-level studies, Administrative Reforms Commission, Government of India, besides being a member in Independent Public Committee set up by the government for evaluating the management and implementation of solid waste management in Guwahati, State Audit Advisory Board and Assam State 7th Pay Commission. He was actively associated with the functioning of Gauhati University, Indian Institute of Bank Management, the sources said. Credited with being a pioneer in popularising the concept of quizzing in Assam, Barua often conducted such programmes for both students and adults. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in his condolence message said that Baruah was a thoughtful writer and his contributions as an academician and economist would always remain in the minds of the people of Assam. His visionary leadership as principal of Cotton College had helped the institution to scale new heights of success and create a better academic environment, Sonowal added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) El Salvador has became the first country in the world to ban the mining of metals in what campaigners called a landmark move for environmental protection. The law bans "prospection, exploration, exploitation, extraction or processing of metallic minerals in El Salvador," according to the text published yesterday in the official journal. "This is more than just a novelty," the president of the Salvadoran Ecological Unit, Mauricio Sermeno, told AFP. "It is a law that is necessary in the face of an industry which, far from bringing any benefit to communities, brings serious pollution to water sources and the environment." When lawmakers approved the bill in March, non-government campaign group MiningWatch Canada said El Salvador had "made history, becoming the first country to ban metal mining outright." Some Latin American countries thrive on mineral exports but local communities complain of environmental risks from toxic metals used in the process. The new law entered into force after being signed by President Salvador Sanchez Ceren. El Salvador says it will protect poor rural communities threatened by proposed mining projects. The country has had disputes with powerful foreign mining firms in the past. MiningWatch has said it hopes the Salvadoran legislation will set an example for other countries in the region. This month it seized assets belonging to an Australian- Canadian gold mining group, OceanaGold, for legal fees the company owed after losing a lawsuit over mining permits. In neighboring Guatemala, rural communities are challenging mining projects by Goldcorp of Canada and two US firms, Tahoe Resources and Kappes, Cassidy & Associates (KCA). Nicaragua has rejected projects by Canadian company B2 Gold. Central American countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are among the poorest in the region. But mining accounts for a minimal portion of their economies and jobs, a recent study by various NGOs showed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 74-year-old woman was strangulated to death allegedly by her son, using a plastic pipe, in south-west Delhi's Sagarpur area, police said today. The accused then made a PCR call and said, "I have killed my mother," according to a senior police officer. It is suspected that the accused, Laxman (48), killed his mother after she refused to go to an old-age home, he said. The woman, Laxmi Naidu, was first hit on the head by a brick and then strangulated using a plastic pipe on April 25. Laxman told the police that he was suffering from depression since he was unemployed. However, it is being investigated whether he was undergoing treatment for it. He said that he couldn't afford to bear the expenses of his mother and strangulated her. He has been arrested. Police said that when they reached the spot, he was found sobbing and expressed remorse about killing his mother. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today expressed confidence he would be able to open a "new page" in troubled relations with Washington at a meeting with his counterpart Donald Trump next month. "I believe that we will open a new page with Mr Trump in Turkey-US relations," Erdogan told the Atlantic Council Istanbul summit ahead of his meeting with Trump in mid-May, adding that American support of Kurdish militia in Syria was "harming the spirit" of their alliance. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said today that accession talks with Turkey have not been halted and she still wants it to join, if Ankara can meet necessary conditions. Her remarks, following a EU foreign ministers meeting in Valletta, came after recent calls from some countries that negotiations over Turkey's potential membership of the bloc should be stopped. The talks in Malta highlighted sharp differences on ties with Turkey after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's victory in a referendum to reform the constitution gave him increased powers. Germany urged its EU peers not to end accession talks despite deep misgivings over Turkey's rights record, saying the country is key to European interests, not least as a NATO ally. Austria however reiterated its demand that negotiations be ditched, saying Erdogan had violated the EU rule of law and eschewed democratic norms that candidate countries must put in place. After a "very frank and open" meeting with the foreign ministers, Mogherini said she was "happy to have (Turkey) in but a level of clarification" was needed from Ankara. "The accession process continues, it is not suspended, not ended (although) we are currently not working on any new chapters," she told reporters. "The criteria are very clear, well known and if Turkey is interested in joining, as the foreign minister told us today...It knows very well what that implies, especially in the field of human rights, rule of law, democracy and freedoms," she said. Erdogan meanwhile accused the EU of backing the 'No' campaign in this month's referendum on expanding his powers, but insisted Turkey's door was still open. The EU backed the losing side but that was in the past and from now on, the EU should "put efforts into how you will develop your relations with Turkey. Although you carried out that campaign, we are opening our door", he said. Mogherini, who said the EU respected the outcome of the vote, was due to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu later today. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said earlier that his government was "strictly against breaking off the accession talks.... It would be the completely wrong reaction." "In NATO, we did not even exclude Turkey even during the times of military dictatorship (there). Why should we now have an interest in pushing it in the direction of Russia?" he said. But Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz repeated his call for talks to be halted and told his EU colleagues to make their minds up. "I consider it completely wrong if we hold up this fiction of an accession (to the EU) as Turkey moves away even further from Europe every year," Kurz said. "We need, finally, a clear decision." In March last year, the European Union signed an accord with Turkey to speed up the accession talks, along with visa liberalisation and billions in aid in return for Ankara halting a flood of migrants, mostly from Syria and Iraq, coming to Europe. Erdogan and top Turkish officials have repeatedly threatened to rip up the deal because of the lack of progress in membership talks. The president also warned that he would review relations with the EU as a whole after the referendum. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Mahesh Sharma today denied there were plans to stop excavation at Keezhadi in this district, saying there has been "rewarding results" from the site, dating back to 2nd Century BC. Referring to opposition from some sections to the transfer of an official overseeing the excavation process, Sharma, Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, said it was a routine exercise. "I just want to put end to all queries and confusion by saying that this excavation is important to our ministry, Archaeological Survey of India and the government of India," he said. Sharma was speaking after a visit to the site at Keezhadi, a hamlet where the excavation work has revealed the existence of an urban civilisation in the 2nd Century BC. Addressing reporters along with his colleague Nirmala Sitharaman and state BJP chief Tamilisai Sounderrajan, Sharma said the excavation had been planned for five years and that two years had already passed. "There has been very rewarding results of this excavation. We have got reports that there was civilisation and culture over here, in these areas, even in 2nd century BC. So thats a matter of pride for all of us," he said. The Ministers' visit to the site comes in the backdrop of reports that the excavation had been stalled. DMK Working President M K Stalin had alleged the Central Advisory Board of Archaeology had reportedly stalled the excavation at the site. He had written to Sharma in January this year, seeking continuation of excavation and necessary funds for it. Sharma said the excavation had to be done in a time-bound manner and pointed out that the transfer of an official overseeing the process was a routine exercise. Another official, hailing from Tamil Nadu, had been appointed in his place and he "definitely" will be completing the work, the Minister added. He said Centre has released Rs 40 lakh to ensure that the excavation work "did not face any problem." He assured the people of Tamil Nadu and officials that there will be no shortage of funds to complete the excavation. "It is not a matter of individuals, it is a matter of institution. I am the minister today and I may not be the minister tomorrow. But that does not mean that government or ministry work will stop," he said. The work completed in the last two years has been compiled in a book, Sharma said. The excavation showed there is "evidence-based culture" in that area, he added. Sharma and Sitharaman said the 'antique' items unearthed during the excavation will be exhibited in the state. Sitharaman said herself, her cabinet colleague and MP from Tamil Nadu, Pon Radhakrishnan, and the BJP's state unit had taken up the matter with Sharma long back and wanted him to visit the site. Earlier, some pro-Tamil activists protested against the transfer of the earlier official overseeing the excavation, and engaged in heated arguments with with local BJP supporters during the Ministers' visit. The activists were detained, Police said. (Reopens MES5) The Union Ministers later said if the state government cooperated, the 'antique' items would be exhibited at a museum to be established at Keezhadi. Meanwhile, BJP State president Tamilisai Soundararajan condemned the incident where a group of members of some Tamil outfits allegedly showed black flags to the Union Ministers. She alleged that the state police failed to give protection for the Ministers, and sought action against the police officials concerned. An explosion today rocked a central district of Baghdad that has been repeatedly hit by car bomb attacks in the past, a correspondent reported. It was not immediately clear what the target of the blast, which occurred just before 11:00 PM (0130 IST), was but the explosion lit up the sky in the Karrada neighbourhood and sent debris flying the area, the AFP correspondent said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Asserting that the final battle against the will be fought in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Raman Singh today said his government will not sit idle till there was peaceful development in the Bastar region. He was replying to a discussion over adjournment motion notice in Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on the recent Maoist attack in the state's Sukma district in which 25 CRPF jawans were killed. The main opposition Congress had sought the discussion. In his reply, the Chief Minister said, "The final battle against Naxalism in the country will be fought in Chhattisgarh. Anti-Naxal operations will continue in Bastar and the state government will not rest till there is peaceful development in Bastar for the betterment of the people." "Maoists fear development. They do not like development of facilities like roads, bridges, health and education, but despite all odds the state government is working to ensure every kind of development in Bastar," he said. "The incident in Burakpal in Sukma is definitely very painful as we have lost our brave soldiers," Singh said. "The state government's policy against Naxalism is very clear. First, there is no compromise with terrorism and Naxalism. We will continue the fight to save democracy," he said. "The construction of 57-kilometre long road connecting Sukma-Doranpal-Jagargunda is being carried out in collaboration with Central and state security forces. Our soldiers have achieved martyrdom while protecting the roads being built in Bastar zone....I would like to bow down to their martyrdom," the CM said. "In the last one year in Bastar region, we have completed the construction of 200 km of roads. About 2000 km of roads are being built there. Police and security forces, including CRPF, ITBP, Cobra battalion, are working hard to protect the workers who are constructing the roads," he added. The CM got emotional when he mentioned the Naxal attacks inJiramValley and Tadmetla in the past. Earlier, moving the adjournment notice, Congress Legislative Party Leader TS Singhdeo and other party MLAs said that contrary to government's claims of elimination of Maoist problem in Bastar, the rebels were executing deadly attacks frequently. Police intelligence machinery had collapsed and launched two attacks within 46 days which clearly showed police were not doing enough, Singhdeo added. Meanwhile, the Congress members staged a walk-out from the House over a comment of BJP MLA Shivratan Sharma about the opposition party. However, they returned after Sharma concluded his speech. US auto major General Motors (GM) today stopped production at its first Indian plant in Halol, Gujarat, as part of consolidation of manufacturing operations in the country. The company's arm, General Motors India will now operate all of its manufacturing operations from its second plant at Talegaon in Maharashtra. GM India President and Managing Director Kaher Kazem said the company was mindful of the impact on employees at Halol. "We have committed to support them through this necessary transition with generous separation payments or the option of continuity of employment at Talegaon," he said in a statement. Kazem said a range of additional support measures had been put in place for employees who opted for "significantly enhanced" separation payments and those who would transfer, including tax and financial advice and pre-transfer visits to Talegaon. In 2015, the US auto major had announced that it would cease production at the plant, a move that affected around 1,100 employees. The Halol unit, which had a total annual manufacturing capacity of 1.1 lakh units annually, was originally planned to be shut by mid-2016. GM has been in talks with China's SAIC Motor Corporation to sell the plant. A term sheet was signed a few months back to evaluate a possible deal but the Chinese firm stated that a final takeover would be subject to government approvals, settlement of labour and all other pending issues by the American auto major. In 2015, GM had announced plans to invest USD 1 billion to enhance manufacturing operations and roll out 10 locally produced models in India. However, struggling to make a turnaround in India, the company has put on hold its investments on new models for the country as the US auto major undertakes a full review of its future product portfolio here. It hasn't put any timeline for lifting freeze on investments on the new products. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German prosecutors say authorities have arrested two Japanese citizens and an American on suspicion of selling millions of euros worth of drugs online. Frankfurt prosecutors say a 43-year-old Japanese man, a 40-year-old Japanese woman and a 39-year-old man from the US were arrested yesterday in Berlin. Their names weren't released. In a statement today, prosecutors said the suspects were part of a gang that sold cocaine, cannabis and Ecstasy on darknet websites, which aren't visible without special software. Prosecutors say the three suspects and a 38-year-old Japanese woman who's still on the run received at least 2.3 million euros (USD 2.51 million) from the sale of drugs online since September 2012. Authorities seized several kilograms of illegal drugs during their search of five Berlin apartments. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Germany's Interior Ministry said today it will "leave no stone unturned" in trying to determine how a German army officer managed to register as a Syrian asylum-seeker without being detected. Conceding that mistakes were made, a ministry spokesman said every effort was being made to uncover how the 28-year- old lieutenant duped authorities, received a place in a refugee home and collected financial aid. "This decision was wrong," the spokesman, Tobias Plate, told reporters in Berlin. "The Interior Ministry and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees will now leave no stone unturned until it's known how this could happen, and if there were deficiencies." Franco A was arrested on Wednesday and charged with preparing an act of violence that investigators believe he planned to blame on refugees. He and a 24-year-old German student, who also was arrested, had allegedly expressed anti- foreigner views, according to electronic devices seized by investigators. A, whose full name wasn't released due to German privacy rules, allegedly stashed a pistol in a Vienna airport bathroom and was taken into custody when he went to retrieve it in February. He was freed, but Austrian authorities informed their counterparts in Germany, and a fingerprint match showed he registered as a refugee in November. Germany by then had seen the arrival of hundreds of thousands of asylum-seekers, many of them fleeing war and persecution in the Middle East. It also had tightened vetting procedures following a series of violent attacks in Germany and neighbouring countries that were carried out by registered refugees. Plate rejected the notion that there were "structural problems" in the procedures for vetting asylum-seekers. "Instead, it seems that established and required security measures, which all those involved should have known about, weren't followed," he said. A defense ministry spokesman, Jens Flosdorff, said the officer had passed routine security checks since joining the army eight years ago and hadn't aroused any suspicions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Global press freedom has hit a 13-year low, threatened by US President Donald Trump's media bashing and restrictions pursued by both democratic and authoritarian governments, a watchdog said today. Freedom House, a US-based human rights organisation, highlighted growing concerns over efforts by governments around the world to clamp down on media and dissent. "Political leaders and other partisan forces in many democracies - including the United States, Poland, the Philippines and South Africa - attacked the credibility of independent media and fact-based journalism, rejecting the traditional watchdog role of the press in free societies," said Jennifer Dunham, who headed the research. The 2016 study of 199 countries concluded that just 13 percent of the world's population enjoys a "free press" with robust coverage and protections for journalists. Another 42 per cent of the world's population has a "partly free" press and 45 per cent live in countries where the media environment is "not free," the group said. Today's report echoed a similar survey released this week by France-based Reporters Without Borders, which said press freedom is facing serious threats in 72 countries, downgrading the rankings of the United States, Britain and others. Freedom House said press rights are being eroded by the efforts of politicians in democratic states to shape coverage and delegitimize media outlets. "When politicians lambaste the media, it encourages their counterparts abroad to do the same," Freedom House president Michael Abramowitz said. Press freedom was on a modest decline in the United States even before Trump took office because of the industry's financial woes and organisations' increasingly partisan positions, the report said. But Trump is worsening the situation with his attacks on "fake news" and characterisation of the news media as "enemies of the people," according to Freedom House. "Such comments suggest a hostility toward the fundamental principles and purposes of press freedom, especially the news media's role in holding governments to account for their words and actions," the report said. The attacks on US media also have the effect of giving authoritarian regimes a green light to crack down on their countries' independent press, Freedom House added. "A greater danger is that the United States will stop being a model and aspirational standard for other countries," the report said. "Protection of press freedom in the United States remains vital to the defence and expansion of press freedom worldwide; indeed, it is a cornerstone of global democracy." Russia especially is taking advantage of the situation by seeking to manipulate news and social media content in other countries, Freedom House said. "Vladimir Putin's regime in Russia has been a trailblazer in globalising state propaganda," the report said. "It continues to leverage pro-Kremlin reporting around the world, particularly in neighbouring countries with Russian- speaking populations." The worst scores for press freedom went to North Korea, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and the top scores to Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden. The global average fell to new lows. Press freedom is also under threat from surveillance laws designed to fight terrorism, the report said. It said Britain, France and Germany have recently passed laws "that tip the balance in favour of eavesdroppers and lack sufficient oversight mechanisms and safeguards against abuse," it said. China, Ethiopia, Iran and Syria "are among the many staunchly autocratic countries where physical and online monitoring is a fact of life for journalists, intended in part to intimidate the media and suppress critical coverage." Countries with sharp declines in press freedom included Turkey, due to increased censorship, crackdowns on independent media and a rise in detentions and violence against journalists. Poland also saw a major drop thanks to "government intolerance toward independent or critical reporting" and restrictions on speech concerning Polish history and identity. On the positive side, Freedom House cited modest improvements in press freedom in a handful of countries including Afghanistan, Panama, Sri Lanka and Fiji. Dunham said the report "cautiously upgraded" Afghanistan to "partly free" thanks to more diversity in the media but noted that "it remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As it prepares to put in place a no-fly list of unruly passengers, the government plans to categorise such misconduct into various levels along with consequent regulatory actions, in the wake of a Shiv Sena MP assaulting an Air India staffer. A common list of passengers who behave in an unruly manner on a flight is likely to be prepared even as the government is yet to decide on whether such a person will be barred from a particular airline or from all domestic carriers. "We are investigating this right now," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha today said to a question on whether there will be a blanket ban. "The no-fly list will include both safety and security concerns. Safety concerns emanate when there are passengers that exhibit unruly behaviour," Sinha said. The government is also examining on what basis can a passenger be banned from flying, who will take a decision to impose a ban, and how to track information about such passengers. The need for a no-fly list follows the incident last month involving Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad who assaulted an Air India staffer as he was upset because he could not fly business class on an all-economy flight. Following this, Gaikwad was banned by the national carrier and subsequently by all other domestic airlines. The ban was rescinded after the MP expressed regret. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court today asked authorities not to remove 'Seemai Karuvalam' (Prosopis Juliflorais) trees till further orders, as the matter has been referred to a larger bench. The bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar gave the direction, while putting on hold the court's earlier order for removal of the trees, alleged to be harmful to the ecosystem. The bench gave its directions on a plea by Meganathan, an advocate, seeking to forebear the authorities from drastically removing the trees. "Since the matter has been referred to a larger bench, no further action should be taken by the official respondents with regard to the removal of Semmai Karuvalam trees," the bench said in its order and posted the matter for further haring on May 11. The court also issued notice to the director of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, which has an abundance of Prosopis Juliflorais trees across its 630 acre campus, forming a large variety of wild life. The IIT-M authorities too want part of the abundance growth of these trees on the campus to be curtailed to pave way for building some students hostel and other facilities. Arguing that the tree has been found useful in providing for the fuel, fodder and shade and construction material in the rural areas and playing a crucial role in stabilising soil and breaking wind, advocate Meganathan said asserted that its negative effect on the ecosystem is yet to be proved scientifically. The drastic eradication of trees in absence of any scientific study will have an adverse impact on the environment due to sudden loss of green cover and reduction in the carbon sequestration, the petitioner said. Carbon sequestration is a natural or artificial process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form. Stating that the plant has also excessive source for firewood and production of paper and cardboard, the petitioner said the spices from the plant has been known to medicinal values. The 630-acre IIT Madras campus is home to spotted deer, black bucks, monkeys, monitor lizards, star tortoises, many spices of snakes and about 120 species of birds, 60 species of butterflies and 300 species of plants and trees, the petitioner said adding that all of these co-exist with prosopis trees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Calcutta High Court today directed the CBI to continue with its probe into the Narada sting operation case and asked Trinamool Congress MP Aparupa Poddar, an accused, to cooperate with the investigators. Justice Joymalyo Bagchi's direction came while hearing Poddar's prayer for dismissal of an FIR against her. Poddar's counsel Siddharth Luthra submitted before the court that she was not an MP during the alleged video shoot and as such provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act was not applicable against her. It was submitted that the video was claimed to have been shot in April, 2014, while the results of the 16th Lok Sabha elections were declared in May, 2014. Poddar is a first time Lok Sabha MP from Arambagh constituency in West Bengal. Justice Bagchi directed the CBI to produce relevant records regarding the case on the next date of hearing, May 10. In the sting operation, which was claimed to have been done in 2014, some persons resembling senior TMC leaders are seen accepting money from representatives of a fictitious company in return for favours. The high court had ordered the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the matter. The order was challenged by the West Bengal government in the Supreme Court, which refused to grant relief on March 17 and gave the CBI one month to conclude the preliminary probe and file an FIR, if required. The CBI has booked 12 top TMC leaders, including MPs and ministers, and an IPS officer in connection with the sting case. FIR has been registered for alleged criminal conspiracy under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act dealing with bribery and criminal misconduct. The maximum sentence for these crimes ranges from five to seven years of imprisonment. The TMC leaders against whom the CBI has registered the FIR include Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Roy and Lok Sabha MPs Saugata Roy, Poddar, Sultan Ahmed, Prasun Banerjee and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. West Bengal ministers, including Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim, Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari, Environment minister Sovan Chatterjee, and Panchayati Raj and Rural Development minister Subrata Mukherjee, have also been named in the FIR. Former state minister Madan Mitra, MLA Iqbal Ahmed and IPS officer Saiyaad Mustafa Hussain Mirza have also been made accused in the case. The sting was done by the editor of portal Naradanews.Com, Mathew Samuel, who claimed to have used an iPhone for the purpose. The contents had then been transferred to a laptop and stored in a pen drive. The Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL), Chandigarh, had, on a direction of the Calcutta High Court, checked the video clips and had reported that there was no tampering or editing. The CFSL had stated in its report that it could open 47 files out of 73 movie files provided in the pen drive. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Heritage Foods, promoted by family of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, today announced a foray into North India with dairy products as it aims to become a national player and clock Rs 6,000 crore revenue by 2022. "We have entered into North India with the promise to deliver freshest milk to the consumer. We want to be a national player and focus on value added products. We are targeting revenue of Rs 6,000 crore in five years," Heritage Foods Executive Director Brahmani Nara told PTI. The company said milk supplied in Delhi will be collected from farmers located just 5 hours away, ensuring its freshness and quality. Heritage Foods, which earlier this month completed acquisition of dairy business of Reliance Retail, will offer entire range of milk and milk products such as curd, butter, buttermilk and ice cream. The company, which has a strong presence in South India, reported sales of Rs 2,380 crore in financial year 2015-16 and dairy accounted for 75 per cent of its total sales. Nara said the company is in talks with an international firm for a joint venture to launch products in the curd segment and would make an announcement soon. She, however, did not disclose the name of the company. Nara also said the products would be priced at par with that of competitors such as Amul and Mother Dairy. Heritage Foods is a private sector enterprise with several business divisions including dairy, retail, agri, bakery and renewable energy. The company currently operates 15 milk processing plants near its markets in 15 states. It also has 5 processing plants post-acquisition of Reliance Retail's dairy business. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japanese telecom firm NTT DoCoMo hopes that the RBI will not create any more obstacle in enforcement of the USD 1.17-billion award by the Tata Group as approved by the Delhi High Court to settle a 3-year old dispute between the estranged partners. The Delhi High Court today rejected the Reserve Bank of India's objections in the Tata-DoCoMo case, clearing the decks for the Tatas to pay USD 1.17 billion to the Japanese telecom major. "We hope and expect that the RBI will not seek to delay final resolution by, for example, lodging an appeal against this very clear decision," DoCoMo sources told PTI. The company considers today's verdict to be of "huge significance" for foreign investments in India. DoCoMo has been locked in a legal battle with the Tata Group over alleged breach of contractual obligations pertaining to the Indian joint venture. "The court's decision is very welcome. It is of huge significance for foreign investment in India, because it shows that the Indian Courts will recognise their international obligations and enforce an award within a matter of months," the sources added. An acceptance of the judgement will make this a "landmark" case, boosting investor confidence in India's legal system, they pointed out. The two sides had gone for arbitration as the Indian company was not able to find a buyer for the Japanese telecom major's 26.5 per cent stake in their joint venture, Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL), when it exited from it. As per the shareholding agreement, on DoCoMo's exit from the venture within five years, Tata was to find a buyer who would purchase the Japanese company's stake at minimum 50 per cent of the acquisition price, which came to around Rs 58.45 per share. The other option was Tata purchasing the shares at the fair market value, which was Rs 23.44. However, this was not acceptable to DoCoMo and it had opted for arbitration. Thereafter, the London Court of International Arbitration or LCIA in June 2016 awarded damages of USD 1.17 billion in favour of DoCoMo for Tata's inability to find a buyer as per the shareholding agreement. DoCoMo had moved the Delhi HC for enforcement of the award after Tata cited refusal of permission by the RBI to make the payment. The RBI had contended that the shareholding agreement was illegal and objected to the award of damages. It had said that Docomo's shares in TTSL be purchased only at the fair market value. The RBI had later also opposed the settlement arrived at between Tata and Docomo. Under the settlement agreement between the two companies, Tata and DoCoMo had decided to settle the dispute, with the Indian company withdrawing its objections to the enforcement of the award. Tata had already deposited USD 1.17 billion with the high court. The Japanese company in turn had said it will "suspend its related enforcement proceedings in the UK and the US" for a period of six months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades today strongly pitched for decisive action against states supporting, sheltering and sustaining "violence factories" in their regions. The two leaders held detailed discussion on bilateral as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern. These included ways to boost trade ties and UN Security Council reforms. Both sides also signed four pacts, including one for air services and another on cooperation in merchant shipping. At a joint media event with the Cypriot leader, Modi said India has always stood with Cyprus on crucial issues and firmly supports its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Modi said India has contributed personnel to the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF) in Cyprus. Three force commanders from India, Modi said served in Cyprus as a part of the UNPKF and are fondly remembered in the Mediterranean country. He also lauded the Cypriot President's efforts to resolve the long-pending Cyprus issue Anastasiades said he is sincerely appreciative of his "dearest friend" Modi and the Indian government for India's equivocal support on the Cyprus issue. Modi said that while India has been battling cross-border terrorism for decades, Cyprus, due to its geographical location, understood the threat posed by terrorism. "We agreed that there is an urgent need for all countries to decisively act against those states which generate, support, shelter and sustain these factories of violence in our regions," the prime minister said in a veiled reference to Pakistan. Emphasising the need for creating a comprehensive legal framework to fight terror, Modi advocated early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, proposed by India at the UN. The two sides also agreed on the need for early reforms in the UNSC as Modi expressed appreciation for Cyprus' support to India's bid for inclusion in the world body as a permanent member. The Cypriot leader said his country wanted India to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Describing the Cypriot president as "great friend and strong supporter of India", Modi said he also discussed with him ways to strengthen the partnership in other "inter- governmental organisations and regimes". Issues like growing economic relations between India and Cyprus figured during the talks. The Mediterranean country is the eighth largest investor in India. Last year, the two countries had revised the double taxation avoidance agreement. For better coordination between the two countries in key sectors, Anastasiades also announced an inter-ministerial working group to provide "much needed political direction". The Cypriot president said his country is supportive of enhancement of the EU-India strategic partnership and back a EU-India free trade agreement. Anastasiades invited Indian companies to invest in Cyprus which can help them gain an easy access to Europe, the Gulf region and North Africa. Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the Cypriot president, and discussed areas of bilateral cooperation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades today strongly pitched for decisive action against states supporting, sheltering and sustaining "violence factories" in their regions. The two leaders held detailed discussion on bilateral as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern. These included ways to boost trade ties and UN Security Council reforms. Both sides also signed four pacts, including one for air services and another on cooperation in merchant shipping. At a joint media event with the Cypriot leader, Modi said India has always stood with Cyprus on crucial issues and firmly supports its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Anastasiades said he is sincerely appreciative of his "dearest friend" Modi and the Indian government for India's equivocal support on the Cyprus issue. Modi said that while India has been battling cross-border terrorism for decades, Cyprus, due to its geographical location, understood the threat posed by terrorism. "We agreed that there is an urgent need for all countries to decisively act against those states which generate, support, shelter and sustain these factories of violence in ourregions," the prime minister said in a veiled reference to Pakistan. Emphasising the need for creating a comprehensive legal framework to fight terror, Modi advocated early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, proposed by India at the UN. The two sides also agreed on the need for early reforms in the UNSC as Modi expressed India's appreciation for Cyprus' support to India's bid for inclusion in the world body as a permanent member. The Cypriot leader said his country wanted India to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Describing the Cypriot president as "great friend and strong supporter of India", Modi said he also discussed with him ways to strengthen the partnership in other "inter- governmental organisations and regimes". Issues like growing economic relations between India and Cyprus figured during the talks. The Mediterranean country is the eighth largest investor in India. Last year, the two countries had revised the double taxation avoidance agreement. The Cypriot president said his country is supportive of enhancement of the EU-India strategic partnership and back a EU-India free trade agreement. Anastasiades invited Indian companies to invest in Cyprus, which can help them gain an easy access to Europe, the Gulf region and North Africa. Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the Cypriot president, and discussed areas of bilateral cooperation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian-American man has lost his US citizenship after being sentenced to over five years in prison for conspiring to illegally distribute male enhancement pills imported from China, Justice Department said today. Ismail Ali Khan, 29, was also convicted and sentenced for falsely stating in his application to become a naturalised US citizen that he had never committed a crime. He now faces deportation to India. Khan, a resident of Decatur in Georgia, was sentenced to five years, seven months in federal prison after being convicted of conspiring to import illegally and distribute male enhancement pills that contained the drug found in Viagra, the US Department of Justice, Attorney's office, Northern District of Georgia said in a statement. His sentence would be followed by three years of supervised release, it said. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Steve C Jones ordered that Khan's status as a naturalised US citizen be revoked and his certificate of naturalisation was declared void. Judge Jones also ordered that Khan be immediately deported to India once he completes his prison term. At that time, supervised release will not be enforced. Khan was found guilty by a jury on February 13. "This defendant endangered the health of countless individuals by illegally importing and distributing drugs that can be obtained in the US only with a prescription written by a licensed, medical professional," said US Attorney John Horn. "The defendant became a naturalised US citizen by giving a false statement about his criminal history, while he was engaged in this illicit drug scheme," Horn said. Justin Green, Special Agent in Charge, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office said FDA remains committed to pursuing those who endanger the US public health by distributing fraudulent and potentially dangerous products. The defendant and others imported from China male enhancement pills and distributed the pills throughout the US, Horn said. These pills contained the same drug that is the active ingredient in Viagra. If the pills had been properly labelled, the FDA and US Customs and Border Protection would have stopped them from entering the US because Viagra is available in this country only when prescribed by a licensed physician and dispensed by a pharmacist, Horn said. In order to evade import restrictions, the defendant and his co-conspirators directed their suppliers to mislabel the boxes containing the pills to make it appear that the boxes contained items that can be legally imported into the US, such as beauty products, pottery, coffee and tea, the Justice Department said in a statement. They received the illegally imported pills at multiple addresses in Atlanta. They rented storage units at different locations where they repackaged the pills for distribution to wholesale and retail locations in the Atlanta area and throughout the US, the statement said. In order to evade detection by law enforcement authorities, they moved their illegal operations regularly, used aliases, false addresses and fake business names, and misrepresented the nature of their business when renting storage units and mailboxes, it said. Over the course of a conspiracy that lasted from early 2011 until May 2014, Khan and his co-conspirators illegally imported and distributed more than USD 1.5 million worth of illegal drugs that came from China. On August 12, 2013, while this drug conspiracy was ongoing, Khan submitted an application to citizenship and Immigration Services to become a naturalised United States citizen. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's new envoy to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri has discussed the tense political situation in the Himalayan country with former Nepalese prime minister K P Sharma Oli, known for his anti-India stance. Puri, who was appointed the Indian ambassador to Nepal in March, called on Oli at his party's office on the outskirts of Kathmandu yesterday. Oli, the chairman of the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), and Puri discused matters relating to the deadlock between the government and some political parties over the local-level polls scheduled for May 14, according to party sources. Earlier this month, Oli had said that unnecessary issues should not be brought forth to obstruct the election process and the issue of Constitution amendment can be thought of only after the polls. Returning from Thailand after a medical-checkup, Oli had referred to the process of merger of some of the Madhes- centric parties as a positive signal. Oli, who became the prime minister in October 2015 following promulgation of the new Constitution, resigned from the post in August last year blaming India for his fall. He had alleged that India was behind the months-long agitation by the Madhesi people, who are of India-origin, demanding amendments to the Constitution. He had said that the blockade of key border points with India by Madhesis was more inhuman than a war and criticised New Delhi for raking up alleged rights abuse in Nepal at the UN Human Rights Council. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turning the tables on India Inc, NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya today said the industry is not discharging its responsibility of creating jobs. "What is industry doing for job creation? Government makes policies ... I don't see single industrialist starting a factory to produce apparel. "Why China exports USD 175 billion worth apparel we export only USD 17 billion worth of apparel. I think there is some responsibility on part of industrialists too," he said at when asked if the government has failed to create jobs. Panagariya also said the industry, if facing any problem, should approach the government for removal of policy barriers. "No industrialist came and told me that I want to invest in apparel industry and please remove barriers ... I understand you go for profit, naturally you will go for profit." he said, adding that the industry must contribute its bit in creating jobs. The NITI Aayog vice-chairman further said India needs to focus on domestic policies to step up its share in global trade to 4-5 per cent from the current 1.7 per cent and not get perturbed by what is happening in the US. "What matters more is what we do in India", he said. The global merchandise export is USD 16-17 trillion and there should be an effort to raise India's pie, irrespective of increase or decrease in global trade, he said. Panagariya said policy changes are happening at the level of Centre and states too should be pushed to bring reforms. He also noted that reform in food processing sector is very low. Panagariya also said most states still have not provided legal framework to APMC Act. He mentioned that the Cabinet has accepted the recommendation for privatisation of 20 PSUs sent by NITI Aayog and it is only a matter of time when the process of ownership change would start. "Already, the closure of sick PSUs have started happening based on the suggestion made by the Aayog," he said. Panagariya also observed that the strident attitude demonstrated by the US is showing signs of change and hopefully there would be a turnaround in the approach of advanced economies in favour of openness. He said that he was not in agreement with the view that greater use of robotics and artificial intelligence should be a source of worry for India. "Our labour force, employed in mass manufacturing industries such as clothing and leather sector, has the capability to do a much better job than robots. "With conducive policies and business environment, India would continue to be in the reckoning," Panagariya said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares of Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd today saw heavy buying, soaring nearly 20 per cent, after the Delhi High Court rejected RBI's intervention plea in the Tata-Docomo case. The stock jumped 19.94 per cent to settle at Rs 8.30 -- its highest trading permissible limit for the day -- on the BSE. On the NSE, it surged 19.56 per cent to close at Rs 8.25. The company's market valuation rose by Rs 270.59 crore to Rs 1,622.59 crore. On the volume front, 28.67 lakh shares of the company were traded on the BSE and over 89 lakh changed hands on the NSE during the day. While Tata Sons and group companies hold 63.11 per cent stake in the firm, NTT Docomo has 11.76 per cent, as per March quarter data with BSE. The Delhi High Court today rejected the RBI's intervention plea in the Tata-Docomo case while taking on record the terms of consent of the settlement between the Japanese telecom major and Tata Sons over the payment of USD 1.17 billion damages to the former. Justice S Muralidhar in his verdict set aside the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) intervention plea opposing the settlement as well as the damages awarded to Docomo by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). Docomo and Tata had gone for arbitration as the Indian company was not able to find a buyer for the Japanese telecom major's 26.5 per cent stake in their joint venture, Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL), when it exited. Docomo had moved the Delhi High Court for enforcement of the award after the Tatas cited refusal of permission by the RBI to make the payment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To revive its ties, Italy is keen to support the 'Make in India' drive and hopes to take bilateral trade to nearly 8.5 billion euros in 2018, visiting deputy minister for economic development Ivan Scalfarotto said here today. Scalfarotto is leading a high profile delegation of 60 Italian companies to the country to explore business and investment opportunities. "We have a long-standing relationship with India and we want to strengthen it further especially when it is growing at over 7 per cent. With this visit, we are hopeful that bilateral trade would reach to 8.5 billion euros by 2018," he told reporters on the sidelines an investment summit. He said Rome is committed to contribute to improve the ties, and share her expertise and know-how in key areas such as green technologies, renewables, food processing, textiles, SMEs and infrastructure. "India, with her emphasis on infrastructure, manufacturing, IT, and clean energy, among others, is a huge opportunity for our businesses. "There are already 600 Italian companies operating here and we want to further strengthen our ties," he said. The minister further said in the automobiles sector, Italian component manufacturers are ready to offer their knowledge and advanced technologies for hybrid, electric, fuel cell and hydrogen vehicles. Scalfarotto said Italy, which is the second largest manufacturing economy in the EU after Germany, has so far invested nearly 2.2 billion euros in India while the latter's contribution in their FDI is around 110 million euros only. When asked whether there has been an improvement in ease of doing business here, he said, "though things have changed to some extent, there are some areas that still need to be addressed. Government's policy on single taxation under GST, emphasis on creating infrastructure, among others are positive signals." Addressing the investor forum, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis assured the delegation that his administration will provide all necessary assistance and infrastructure to facilitate Italian companies to set up businesses in the state. "Maharashtra is growing at more than the national growth rate. We are making huge investments in creating infrastructure. Along with this, we are trying to streamline our processes to ensure single-window clearances. We already have 130 Italian companies operating in the state and we expect more and more companies to come to the state," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The proposed Kerala Co-Operative Bank, an ambitious initiative of the CPI(M)-led LDF government, is likely to become a reality in 18 months with a committee today submitting its report on its formation. The government had mooted the bank with the aim of strengthening the cooperative sector in the state. The expert committee, headed by M S Sreeram of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore, entrusted with the study of various aspects of the proposed bank, submitted the report to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with detailed recommendations for its formation. The report suggested that the government initiate steps to get necessary permission in principle from the Reserve Bank of India and the NABARD for the initiative. State Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac said the main objective of the proposed bank was to strengthen the cooperative sector in the state. The bank had been envisaged as an apex body of the cooperatives in the state, he told reporters here. Making it clear that there would be no job loss due to the proposed bank, Cooperation and Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said employees in the cooperative banks would be redeployed. Among other things, the report recommended completion of the process for formation of the bank in 18 months by integrating all 14 district co-operative banks with the state-level bank. With the formation of Kerala Bank, the present three-tie cooperative would be converted into a two-tier system. The existing primary agriculture cooperative societies would be retained as such. The new Bank should be able to function by levying interest on financial products sans exorbitant service fees, the report said. The government should sanction Rs 1,000 crore either as budget allocation or 'long-term-subordinated-debt' or grant for the capital investment support, technological integration and human resource development, it said. A special audit based on the financial statement of March 31, 2017 should be conducted as a prelude to the integration at the district cooperative sector. A project management unit and project advisory board should also be set up for the initiative, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The world's largest solar power park -- the Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park -- with an installed capacity of 1000 MW will be ready by end of May near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. "Already, 900 MW capacity has been commissioned while the balance 100 MW will be commissioned by May end," AP principal secretary (energy and infrastructure) Ajay Jain told reporters during a field visit here today. "Right now, we are generating 1867.23 MW of solar power, which is the highest in the country. Rajasthan is second with 1812 MW capacity, followed by Telangana (1287 MW) and Gujarat (1250 MW). Our target is to produce 10,000 MW of solar power by the year 2022," Jain said. Prior to the commissioning of the Kurnool Solar Park, the Kamuthi plant in Tamil Nadu had the largest installed solar capacity of 648 MW and Topaz Solar Farm in California 550 MW. The Kurnool Park has come up on an area of 5,811 acres at total cost of one billion USD with Greenko (500 MW), Soft Bank Energy (350 MW), Azure Power (100 MW) and Prayatna Developers (Adani group) (50 MW) as the joint developers. The park will produce 2,600 million units of power per annum, according to Jain. The Government of India has granted Rs 200 crore for the project, he added. AP, the principal secretary said, now produced 6052 MW of power from non-conventional sources, including 3600 MW from wind. "We are ranked fifth in the country in wind power generation and plan to upgrade the capacity to 8000 MW by 2022. AP will be contributing 10 per cent of wind and solar energy out of the Centre's target of 175 GW by 2022," Jain said. AP Solar Power Corporation, managing director, G Adiseshu, Southern Power Distribution Company Chairman H Y Dora and other top officials were present. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scores of people were injured as violence erupted in Macedonia's parliament after nationalist protesters stormed the building in anger over a vote for a new speaker, the interior ministry said today. The chaos in Skopje broke out on Thursday evening, with dozens of demonstrators -- including a group of masked men -- breaking a police cordon and entering parliament waving Macedonian flags, shouting and singing the national anthem. Footage from the scene showed chairs being thrown as fistfights broke out in the parliamentary press room, while Zoran Zaev, leader of the opposition Social Democrats (SDSM), had blood running down his face and shirt. One female SDSM deputy is seen yanked by the hair while other women climb down from a balcony in a bid to escape. An interior ministry statement on Friday said 102 people had been treated at city hospitals, including MPs and police officers. Interior Minister Agim Nuhiu earlier told media that 10 MPs and an unspecified number of journalists were among those hurt in the violence, which was condemned by the United States and European Union. The ministry said the situation was "normalised" on Friday morning but that there were "additional measures and activities to protect the security of citizens". The incident follows two years of political crisis in the Balkan country, where nationalist demonstrators -- who support the conservative VMRO-DPMNE party -- have been holding nightly rallies since an inconclusive December election. They oppose a proposed coalition between the SDSM and ethnic Albanians, which they perceive as a threat to national unity. VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski was Macedonia's premier for a decade until last year. Thursday's turmoil broke out after the SDSM and Albanian parties voted in a new parliamentary speaker, ethnic Albanian Talat Xhaferi. Their opponents say the vote was unfair, taking place after the former speaker had closed the day's session, but the EU said it took "positive note" of Xhaferi's election. Most of the injured deputies were from the SDSM party, but ethnic Albanian MP Ziadin Sela appeared to be one of the most badly wounded. Police eventually took control of the parliament, using stun grenades to clear out the protesters. President Gjorge Ivanov made a brief televised speech late Thursday, appealing for calm and inviting party leaders to his office on Friday to discuss the situation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi police has arrested a person for allegedly throwing off a man, who was his minor cousin's boyfriend, from a high-rise building in Ghaziabad last year in what is suspected to be a case of honour killing. The accused, Vikram Joshi, was arrested from Ahmedabad yesterday. He was declared a proclaimed offender by a Dwarka Court here and was carrying a reward of Rs 20,000 on him, DCP (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said. In April last year, Vishal Verma (22), a tailor by profession, had eloped with a minor girl belonging to a different caste of a village in Rajasthan. On reaching Delhi, they took refuge in Vishal's sister's home in Uttam Nagar. Vishal's sister informed the girl's parents. On May 2, the girl's father Mukesh Joshi, her uncle Vikram and cousin Avinash reached Uttam Nagar to resolve the issue, the DCP said. They assured Vishal and his family members that they will allow him to marry the girl once she turns 18. Vishal and his family agreed to this proposal and allowed the girl's family to take them back home, he said. But instead of taking them to their village, the girl's family members took Vishal to a high-rise building at Vijay Nagar in Ghaziabad. There he was mercilessly beaten up and pushed off the building, the officer said. The Ghaziabad Police registered a zero FIR and transferred the case to Delhi. Delhi police conducted several raids but could not nab the accused following which they were declared proclaimed offenders by a court in Dwarka. On March 8, a reward of Rs 20,000 was also declared on their arrest. Delhi Police's Special Cell received information on the first week of April that one Vikram Sharma, is roaming in Delhi and Ghaziabad to evade arrest. Later on receiving information about his presence in Ahmedabad, a team was sent there and the accused arrested, the DCP said. During interrogation, the accused said Vishal lived near their house at Gurara village in Sikar district of Rajasthan. "He said Vishal's act brought dishonour to their family and they planned to kill him. Vikram had been evading arrest by hiding in Ahmedabad, Guwahati in Assam, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Noida, Ghaziabad and Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh," the officer said. Police is trying to arrest the other two accused. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cox and Kings-owned MEININGER Hotels and Fonciere des Regions, through its subsidiary Fonciere des Murs, today said they have signed an agreement for a MEININGER Hotel in Lyon, France. The 169-room and 580-bed hotel is expected to open ain mid 2019, the company said in a release issued here. This is the fourth joint hotel deal of MEININGER and Fonciere des Regions. Three further joint projects in Munich, Paris and Milan are currently under development. "We are very happy with this great new addition to our portfolio and about realising it together with Fonciere des Regions. Lyon is a popular travel destination, furthermore it is France's second most popular business hub. This means the city attracts city tourist and business traveller alike," MEININGER Hotels CEO Hannes Spanring said. MEININGER currently operates 17 hotels in 11 European cities including Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, London, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna and Copenhagen. The company is a subsidiary of Holidaybreak, a travel group specialising in educational and activity holidays. Holidaybreak is a subsidiary of Prometheon Holdings (UK), which is a part of Cox and Kings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Met department today forecast cloudy skies for Patna and Gaya tomorrow and said other parts of Bihar including Bhagalpur and Purnea may witness rain or thundershower. The state capital, which has been witnessing over 40 degrees Celsius for the last couple of days, today registered 41.3 deg C. The Met office said temperatures across the state may increase further, but there is no forecast of heat wave. Gaya was the hottest place in the state with 42.4 deg C, followed by Bhagalpur at 42.2 deg C and Purnea at 38 deg C. With the maximum temperature hovering above 40 degrees Celsius in major cities of the state, the state government today drew 3,700 MW from the central sector. The government will buy more power from open market if needed to ensure uninterrupted power supply, officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Security forces foiled an attempt by militants to rob a bank in Anantnag district of Kashmir and arrested one ultra today, police said here. Two armed men entered into a branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank on the Tehsil office premises in Mehandi Kadal in Anantnag this afternoon. Security personnel deployed there tried to apprehend the militants, but they opened fire, a police official said. He said a CRPF head constable sustained bullet injury in his right hand. One of the militants, who was carrying a weapon, managed to escape. However, his accomplice was apprehended by police and CRPF personnel, the official said, adding he has been identified as Muneeb Ahmad Malla, a resident of Reshipora in Shopian district. Further details were awaited, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Twenty-nine people have been killed in three days of clashes between rival factions of a militia group in a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an official said today. The two factions are fighting for control of the village of Bweru. "The death toll on Friday is 29 people dead," a local administrator, Dieudonne Tshishiku, told AFP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The fourth round of peace talks between the Mizoram government and the Hmar People's Convention (Democrats) was held here today with both sides agreeing to continue with the dialogue in the near future. State additional secretary for Home Lalbiakzama, who is the leader of the government delegation, told PTI that the parleys were held in a cordial atmosphere and mutual trust. "Official level talks to deliberate on the terms of the framework agreement would continue till the talks, in the final phase are elevated to political level," a senior Home department official said. The six-member HPC(D) delegation was led by L T Hmar, working chairman of the Hmar outfit. Sources in the HPC(D) delegation said, that the talks now revolved around autonomy of the Sinlung Hills Development Council (SHDC), formed in the wake of the accord signed between the state government and the erstwhile underground HPC on July 27, 1994. The name of the council was also proposed to be changed from SHDC to Sinlung Hills Council, by omitting the word 'Development', the sources said. Dissatisfied with the 1994 accord, Lalhmingthanga Sanate had formed the HPC(D), which continued to voice its demand for an autonomous district council under the sixth schedule. During the last talks held in December last, the HPC (D) delegates handed over the arms taken away from the police in an ambush on March 28, 2015 while the state government reciprocated by releasing the outfit's self-styled 'army chief' Lalropuia Famhoite on bail. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Modern Foods Ltd, acquired by Singapore-based Everstone Group last year, is aiming to "quadruple its revenue by 2021" by foraying into new categories and newer markets, a top official said here today. After relaunching the brand with new logo and marketing exercise, Modern Foods' chief executive officer and Board Member, Aseem Soni said the company was looking at revenues of Rs 1,000 crore by 2021. "We are looking at a 25 per cent increase in revenue by FY17-18. We would like to quadruple it (the revenue by 2021). That is the target we have set ourselves", he told reporters here. For the financial year 2016-17, the company had registered revenue of Rs 270 crore, he said. On the diversification plan, Everstone Capital Asia, managing director Rajev Shukla said, "we would venture into new categories and newer markets either by ourselves or through collaborations". "We are looking at entering the packaged foods market. You will see the brand extend into new categories", he said in response to a query declining to elaborate. The company which is a strong player in the Southern and Eastern markets would look at strengthening presence in the North and West. Asked about the manufacturing facilities, Soni said the company had factories in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Mumbai and Kolkata. Each factory can produce about 60,000 to 1.50 lakh bread loaves per day, he said. "We are looking at 60-65 per cent revenue from bread (business) and remaining from new categories", he said. On the expansion plans, the company was looking to have over one lakh outlets from the current 80,000, he said. Later, talking to PTI about the reason for the rebranding exercise, Shukla said it was a combination of many things. "The brand Modern has not evolved over the last 15-20 years. It has to be refreshed. If you are not relevant and contemporary then you are not a preferred brand. Though we are establshed, we still have many things to do. There are new markets we have to go to," he said. "We are quite strong in the South and East, not so much in the North and West where we operate through franchises. These are markets where we would look to strengthen our presence", he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Private sector City Union Bank today said Reserve Bank of India has approved the re-appointment of N Kamakodi as MD and CEO, for a period of three years with effect from May 1. "Pursuant to the approval received from Reserve Bank of India, N Kamakodi MD & CEO of the bank has been reappointed for a further period of three years from May one, 2017 to April 30, 2020", the Tamil Nadu-based bank said in BSE. Kamakodi joined the bank as Deputy General Manager in 2003 and was later elevated as General Manager in 2005. In 2006, he was appointed as Executive Director. From May 2011, he was serving the bank as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, the bank said in its website. Shares of City Union Bank ended at Rs 164.40 apiece upby 2.91 per cent over previous close in BSE. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Nalanda University (NU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Kanazawa University of Japan for academic collaboration, a NU statement said today. Mori Masahide, Head of the School of Humanities, Indian Buddhist Studies, Comparative Culture Studies, Kanazawa University and Pankaj Mohan, Interim Vice Chancellor on behalf of Chancellor Vijay Bhatkar Nalanda University signed the MoU in Rajgir yesterday, According to the MoU, the two universities will make an effort to promote and develop cooperation through exchange of faculty members and research fellows, exchange of students, and academic materials, publications and information, Smita Polite, Head of NU communication department said in the statement. The two would also conduct joint research projects and organization of symposiums. Speaking on the occasion, Pankaj Mohan said "India and Japan are ancient civilizations, bound by close cultural ties, and Nalanda played a crucial role in this civilizational dialogue. Since Nalanda University has the mandate to rediscover the threads of inter-Asian connection, our MoU with Kanazawa University holds immense significance". Mori Masahide said in his brief speech, "Kanazawa University has been designated by the Japanese Ministry of Education as a "Super Global University", and as Nalanda University shares this vision and goal, the MoU would pave the way for an enduring partnership between the two institutions." K Chandramoorthi, the officiating Registrar of Nalanda University said, "we are pleased to collaborate with the Kanazawa University, a 50-year-old National University of Japan whose roots can be traced to 1862". Kanazawa University offers various undergraduate and graduate courses and has three colleges and 16 schools with about 11,000 students including 350 international students. Based on the vision of late President APJ Abdul Kalam, the Nalanda University was set up at Rajgir near the ruins of ancient Nalanda University in Bihar in 2010. Its first academic session began on September 1, 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government expects to complete the first phase of the Navi Mumbai airport in 2020 by making one runway and one terminal operational. GVK Group has won the bid to operate the airport, which would help in easing the severe air traffic congestion at the Mumbai aerodrome. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha today said the situation pertaining to the Navi Mumbai airport is "complicated" due to various factors, including resettlement issues. Looking at all of that, it is going to take significant amount of time to resolve those issues and actually get the airport built, he added. "We are looking at it in phases and our hope is that sometime in 2020 or so, we will be able to get phase one up and running which would mean one runway and one terminal," Sinha said at an event here. The Navi Mumbai airport was first proposed way back in 1997 and received the government nod in 2007, but got lingered due to delay in land acquisition and getting necessary government permissions such as environmental clearance. In February, the GVK group bagged the bid to develop the airport. "We are all working very hard on Navi Mumbai (airport). It is a complicated situation because the terrain itself is tricky... There are significant resettlement issues. There are 3,900 families still there and we have to resettle them. There are connectivity issues," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today slammed Germany's foreign minister as "insensitive" over refusing to cancel meetings with rights groups critical of Israel's government, amid rising tensions between the two allies. Netanyahu had scrapped talks with Sigmar Gabriel at the last minute, after Germany's top diplomat pressed on with plans to meet with Israeli rights groups Breaking The Silence and B'Tselem. In an interview with Germany's biggest selling Bild daily, Netanyahu defended his decision. "Foreign diplomats are welcome to meet with civil society activists and members of the opposition and anyone else they'd like," he said. "But my red line is that I will not meet diplomats who come to Israel and lend legitimacy to fringe radical groups that falsely accuse our soldiers of war crimes and undermine Israeli security," he added. Pointing out that the meetings with the activist groups were held on a day when Israel was commemorating the victims of the Holocaust, Netanyahu said that "it was a particularly insensitive time to seek a meeting like this". "These are the days we mourn the murdered members of our people in the Holocaust and our fallen soldiers. The Israeli army is the one force that keeps our people safe today," he said. Netanyahu's decision to cancel the meeting with Gabriel was a rare step, but in line with the current right- wing government's stance against groups it accuses of having political agendas and unfairly tarnishing Israel. Due to its historical responsibility as the perpetrator of the Holocaust that killed six million Jews, Germany has not only been Israel's staunch ally but has also been cautious in its public criticism of the Jewish state. However, tensions have grown as Netanyahu has irked Berlin by pressing on with settlement building in the Palestinian territories despite repeated warnings from world powers that it would harm any prospects for peace. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two persons were killed in a Nor'wester that lashed parts of Nadia district in West Bengal today. Renuka Majumdar (55) was killed when a tree branch hit her during the storm while she was returning home, the police said. One Narayan Biswas (52) of Badkulla, died after the roof of a makeshift structure he was sitting in, collapsed. His relative Bijan Biswas was badly injured in the incident, the police said adding, the injured has been admitted to Shaktinagar hospital for treatment. The day's highest temperature in West Bengal was recorded in Bankura at 42.2 deg C, which was closely followed by Burdwan (41 deg C), Asansol (40.1 deg C) and Sriniketan (40 deg C), the Met department said. The mercury stood at 37.2 deg C at Kolkata, which was two degrees above normal, the Met department said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A well-known Pakistani television and theatre artist has refused to accept government assistance of 5 lakh rupees for the treatment of her ovarian cancer in protest against the visit of an Indian steel tycoon to the country. Naila Jafri, who has acted in several memorable plays, was due to receive a cheque of 500,000 rupees from President Mamnoon Hussain's Artist Welfare Fund, but she has now turned down the assistance. She said she had applied for the grant and the cheque has been processed and was to be delivered to her in a few days. "But now I cannot accept a dime from the government that entertains people from the very country that has been plotting against us our interests and our people," she told the Express Tribune newspaper today, referring to the visit of Sajjan Jindal to Pakistan and his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Jindal on Wednesday had an hour-long meeting with Sharif at the premier's private residence in the hill station of Murree, about 45 kms from Islamabad, triggering speculation in the Pakistani media that the stalled India-Pak talks could be revived. Opposition parties have created an uproar after the "secret" meeting, with Imran Khan's Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf alleging that Jindal conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "message" to Sharif on the issue of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav's death penalty, given by a Pakistani military court. Jindal is said to be the man who had arranged a meeting between Modi and Sharif in Lahore on December 25 in 2015 on Sharif's birthday and the day when Sharif's grand daughter Mehr-un-Nisa was married. Jafri said she will no longer accept the government assistance since it has allowed Jindal in Pakistan with a no- police-inquiry visa. "The love, respect and prayers I have received from my people when they came to know of my illness are unimaginable and I won't do anything that may hurt their feelings," she said. India-Pak ties are strained over cross-border terror attacks in India and over the death sentence to Jadhav on charges of spying. India has denied Pakistan's contention and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistani intelligence agencies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's opposition parties today questioned the timing and the motive behind the meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Indian steel tycoon Sajjan Jindal at a private residence of the prime minister this week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today ordered the police to detain a man forthwith for not depositing the money he had promised in the last hearing, saying no one can "run away" after making a statement in the court. "When you have made a statement to the court, you cannot run away. Have you made a statement? The answer is yes. Have you complied with it? The answer is no. We do not need anything more," a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar said. The apex court said the lawyer appearing for petitioner, Surinder Singh Arora, had on February 17 stated before it that he was ready and willing to deposit the arrears of rent, which was assessed to be around Rs 50 lakh by the high court in January this year which he had challenged. The top court had then asked him to deposit the amount with the apex court registry within eight weeks. When the matter came up for hearing today, the bench, also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul, noted that Arora, who was present in the court, had not deposited the amount with the registry. "The aforesaid order has not been complied with till date. The above order was passed on the statement made to this court by the counsel for the petitioner," the bench noted. "The Station House Officer, Tilak Marg Police Station, New Delhi, is directed to detain the petitioner Surinder Singh Arora in judicial custody forthwith. He shall be produced in this court on the next date of hearing i.E. May 1," it said. The bench also observed that the petitioner had given an undertaking in the court that he would deposit the money, but he has not complied with it. "You have given an undertaking to give the money which was arrear. You cannot do it, that you make a statement before us and not give the money," the bench said. Arora had filed an appeal in the apex court against the Delhi High Court order in a rent dispute matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Animal rights organisation PETA staged a demonstration here today against the dissection of animals for experiment in educational institutions. The demonstration was organised in Jantar Mantar here to mark World Week for Animals in Laboratories. "There are superior and modern teaching tools that are widely available instead of resorting to such old methods," said PETA India Science Policy Advisor Rohit Bhatia. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said several studies have noted that students learn better from digital dissection tools than anatomical dissection. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A right-wing outfit in Punjab today demanded scrapping of Article 370 that grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and also called for the country to take the initiative to declare Pakistan a terrorist state. Talking to newsmen here, Deepak Bhardwaj, President, Punjab Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti, said that provision of special status to Jammu and Kashmir was tantamount to discrimination with other states of the country. "This must be shelved at the earliest by scrapping Article 370 to halt the growing attacks on security forces in J&K," he said. Reminding the Modi government that it had come to power on the agenda of construction of Ram temple in Ayodhaya, uniform civil code and scrapping of Article 370, Bhardwaj said while the first two issues were being addressed by it, the third issue was being sidelined under pressure of Mehbooba Mufti's government in J&K. Demanding continuation of surgical strikes against cross-border terror camps for curbing terrorism, Bhardwaj argued that non-Kashmiris should be allowed to buy property in J&K while the Hindus uprooted from the state should be rehabilitated there for bringing Kashmir into the national mainstream. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior IPS officer R R Bhatnagar today took charge as the new Director General (DG) of the CRPF, days after the force lost 25 of its men in a deadly Naxal ambush in Chhattisgarh. Bhatnagar, 57, reached the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters at Lodhi road here and took charge after he was accorded the ceremonial guard of honour. The government had issued orders for appointing Bhatnagar, a 1983-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, as the new full-time DG of the force on April 26. The post had been lying vacant for close to two months after incumbent DG K Durga Prasad retired on February 28. Acting DG Sudeep Lakhtakia today handed over the baton to Bhatnagar, who came back to India last night after attending a conference in Jakarta. Bhatnagar was till now serving as the DG of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). He will have a 32-month long stint as the head of the about 3-lakh personnel strong force as his retirement is scheduled in December, 2019. Soon after taking charge, he asked his officers to give him a briefing on the recent incidents in Chhattisgarh that claimed the lives of 37 troops, including the one on March 11 where twelve men were killed in a Naxal ambush in Sukma in the Bheji area. The CRPF is the country's largest paramilitary force and is deployed as the lead force for conducting anti-Naxal operations and to render a variety of roles in the internal security domain. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A special CBI court today dismissed the central agency's plea seeking cancellation of YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's bail in cases related to alleged quid pro quo investments in his companies. The CBI had last month sought cancellation of Jagan's bail alleging that he had violated the conditions by trying to influence a crucial prosecution witness. The investigating agency had in its petition before the principal special judge submitted that case witness and former Chief Secretary P Ramakanth Reddy, during his interview to a newspaper and a TV channel owned by Jagan, made "unwarranted observations and comments contradictory to the statements" given before CBI. The CBI also said that Reddy's statements were found to be detrimental to greater extent to the prosecution cases pending against Jagan and others. After hearing the arguments and counter arguments, the court, which had earlier reserved its order, dismissed the CBI's plea today. Jagan was present in the court. Meanwhile, the court today also allowed Jagan's petition seeking permission to visit New Zealand with his family for 15 days. In the FIR registered in 2011, the CBI had alleged that investments were made by various companies in Jaganmohan Reddy's firms as quid pro quo for various favours bestowed on them during the tenure of his father late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh between 2004 and 2009. These investments were quid pro quo for government favours such as land allotments, licences, etc, the CBI charged. Jagan, thus, amassed huge wealth misusing the office of his late father, the probe agency alleged. Several former ministers and bureaucrats are also named as accused in the cases. The CBI had alleged in the FIR that investors had put money in the companies owned by Jagan at a premium which was a bribe in return for favours doled out to firms by his father and the then chief minister YSR Reddy. Jagan, an MLA from Andhra Pradesh, was released from a jail in Hyderabad in September 2013 after being in prison for 15 months following his arrest in the case by CBI in May 2012. While granting bail to Jagan, the special CBI court had then ordered him not to directly or indirectly induce or influence the witnesses. He was also asked to be present before the court during the proceedings in the case. The central probe agency has filed 11 charge sheets in connection with the cases and the trial is going on before the CBI court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US armoured vehicles are deploying in areas in northern Syria along the tense border with Turkey, a few days after a Turkish airstrike that killed 20 US-backed Kurdish fighters, a Syrian war monitor and Kurdish activists said today. Footage posted by Syrian activists online showed a convoy of US armoured vehicles driving on a rural road in the village of Darbasiyah, a few hundred meters from the Turkish border. Clashes in the area were reported between Turkish and Kurdish forces Wednesday a day after the Turkish airstrike which also destroyed a Kurdish command headquarters. The Turkish airstrikes, which also wounded 18 members of the US-backed People's Protection Units, or YPG, in Syria were criticised by both the US and Russia. The YPG is a close US ally in the fight against the Islamic State group but is seen by Ankara as a terrorist group because of its ties to Turkey's Kurdish rebels. Further clashes between Turkish and Kurdish forces in Syria could potentially undermine the U.S.-led war on the Islamic State group. A senior Kurdish official, Ilham Ahmad told The Associated Press that American forces began carrying out patrols along the border yesterday along with reconnaissance flights in the area. She said the deployment was in principle temporary, but may become more permanent. A Kurdish activist in the area, Mustafa Bali, said the deployment is ongoing, adding that it stretches from the Iraqi border to areas past Darbasiyah in the largely Kurdish part of eastern Syria. "The US role has now become more like a buffer force between us and the Turks on all front lines," he said. He said US forces will also deploy as a separation force in areas where the Turkish-backed Syrian fighting forces and the Kurdish forces meet. It is a message of reassurance for the Kurds and almost a "warning message" to the Turks, he said. Navy Capt Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, did not dispute that US troops are operating with elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) along the Turkish border, but he would not get into specifics. The SDF is a Kurdish- dominated alliance fighting IS that includes Arab fighters. "We have US forces that are there throughout the entirety of northern Syria that operate with our Syrian Democratic Force partners," Davis said. "The border is among the areas where they operate." He said the US wants the SDF to focus on liberating the IS-held town of Tabqa and the extremist group's de facto capital, Raqqa, "and not be drawn into conflicts elsewhere." Rami Abdurrahman, director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the deployment seems limited and is aimed to "prevent fighting" between the two sides. The US has recently shifted from working quietly behind the scenes in Syria's conflict toward overt displays of US force in an attempt to shape the fight. Last month, about 200 Marines rolled into northern Syria backed with howitzers, significantly widening America's footprint in a highly toxic battlefield. The Marines' deployment came days after another intervention, when dozens of army troops drove outside the town of Manbij, riding Stryker armoured vehicles, following an earlier conflagration of fighting between Syrian Kurdish troops and Turkish troops. The US deployment in Manbij intentionally put Americans in the middle of that rivalry, hoping to cool it down. The SDF retook Manbij from IS control, and Turkey with its troops nearby said it won't allow the town to be under Kurdish control, threatening to move on it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's first smart and green highway -- Eastern Peripheral Expressway -- for decongesting Delhi will be completed in August this year, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation the 135-km, the nearly Rs 11,000 crore access-controlled six-lane expressway. The project is replete with smart and intelligent highway traffic management system (HTMS) and video incident detection system (VIDS) besides a closed tolling system in which the collections will be made only on the distance travelled and not on the entire length. "The project, most likely, will be completed in August this year. We have spent a huge Rs 5,900 crore on land acquisition. Once complete, This will reduce traffic congestion in Delhi and will have the best automatic traffic management system, landscaping, besides wayside amenities. We're planting at least 2.5 lakh trees and the expressway will be lit by solar panels," Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari said here. The Eastern Peripheral Expressway will set a benchmark in highway construction by being environment-friendly with world-class safety features and smart/interactive infrastructure, the minster said. The project, which commenced on September 14, 2015 will consume a million tonnes of flyash from NTPC's various thermal plants to utilise waste and minimise pollution. The greenfield project, which hit several hurdles and saw laying of its foundation by Prime Minster Narendra Modi on November 5 2015, will divert around 2 lakh vehicles passing through the national capital daily to this bypass, cutting out pollution. Gadkari, who inspected the project sites in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, said the toll plazas will be equipped with the faster Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system offering an uninterrupted travel experience to users. "The Expressway will be equipped with HTMS which will include Variable Message Signs (VMS), CCTV, VIDS, Warning Devices, Overspeed Checking System, Weigh-in-Motion, Pavement Management Systems and Fibre Optic Network. All information collected from HTMS equipment will be relayed to a central server in control room which will, on the basis of input, trigger alarms and change VMS messages etc. This will result in real-time incident management," he said. Along the expressway, wayside amenities like petrol pumps, motels, rest areas, restaurants, shops, repair services etc will be developed, he said. Landscaping will be done at all the interchanges, major bridges and toll plazas with provision of fountains and lighting and a total of about 2.5 lakh trees of various species will be planted as green belt within row of the Project Expressway, he added. Unique features of the project will be rainwater harvesting at every 500 metres on either side of the Expressway and the watering of the plants will be done through drip irrigation, he said. In keeping with the Prime Minister's Swachh Bharat Mission, provision of toilets will be made at regular intervals along the expressway on either side at a distance of 25 km, he added. The expressway passes through Sonipat, Bagpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Faridabad and Palwal in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, and the proposed alignment crosses river Yamuna at Khurrampur/Khata in UP and Faizpur Khadar in Haryana and crosses the river Hindon. The project will consume 10.2 lakh tonne cement, about one lakh tonne steel, 19 lakh tonnes of sand and 50 lakh tonnes aggregates. Manpower employed is 7,275. The project had earlier faced resistance from farmers over land and other issues which have since been solved by giving higher compensation. The Supreme Court has directed police chiefs of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to provide adequate security for expeditious completion of the project. The project work has been divided into six packages and are being carried out by Sadbhav Engineering, Jai Prakash Associates, Ashoka Buildcon, Oriential Structural Engineers and Gayatri Project and barring package III, the physical progress of the packages was between 57 and 61 per cent. Package III, being built by the debt-laden construction and cement firm Jaiprakash Associates, made only 36 per cent progress. There are about 400 structures in this project out of which two major bridges are on river Yamuna and one major bridge on river Hindon and Agra Canal. There are 8 interchanges, 4 flyovers, 71 vehicle underpasses, 6 RoBs etc. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maria Sharapova eased into the semi-finals of Stuttgart's WTA tournament after seeing off qualifier Anett Kontaveit on Friday for her third-straight win on her comeback after a 15-month doping ban. The 30-year-old five-time Grand Slam winner has yet to drop a set in Stuttgart and powered past Estonia's Kontaveit, ranked 73rd, for a 6-3, 6-4 quarter-final win in one hour, 23 minutes. This was another impressive display from the Russian, who hit four aces, 28 winners and just two double faults, while she converted five of her six break points. "I served quite well and held my serve which gave me confidence, so I'm happy," said Sharapova. "We haven't played each other before, so the first six games were just about working each other out. "I kept myself in good shape, because once you lose it, it's hard to get it back," she added when asked about her fitness on court after 15 months out. The former world number one will now play either France's Kristina Mladenovic or Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro in Saturday's semi-final. Sharapova only made the main draw for Stuttgart after being given a wild card as her ranking was wiped out after testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open. Her rivals have heavily criticised the decision to give her wild cards in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome with Canada's Eugenie Bouchard branding her a "cheater" on Thursday. There has been nothing but support for the Russian from the Stuttgart crowd with a few positive banners around the indoor arena. She has been in commanding form on clay here as Sharapova waits to learn on May 16 whether she will be granted a wild card to play next month's French Open. The 21-year-old Kontaveit had already knocked out last year's French Open champion and fifth seed Garbine Muguruza in the second-round. The Estonian put up a fight, breaking Sharapova's serve in the second set and matched the Russian's tally of four aces. But Sharapova made light work of her early on, breaking Kontaveit's serve on the way to winning all of the last four games to take the first set in just 36 minutes. The Estonian dug deep at 3-1 down in the second and had the audacity to break Sharapova in the fifth game. But with her superb array of baseline shots, Sharapova broke her opponent straight away, then held her serve to go 5 -2 up. The plucky Kontaveit held her serve, then broke the Russian for the second time, but Sharapova also dug deep and broke the qualifier again to take the second set. Sharapova has won three Stuttgart finals, suffering just one defeat, in her four previous appearances. Her bid to reach a fourth final on Sunday has been made easier as top names, such as Angelique Kerber, Muguruza, Britain's Johanna Konta and Agnieszka Radwanska, have all crashed out. Only two of the seven top-ten players who started here -- second-seed Czech Karolina Pliskova and fourth-seeded Romanian Simona Halep -- have survived to the quarter-finals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The father of the murdered Maldivian blogger Yameen Rasheed pleaded for an international investigation today, saying he had no confidence in the government to deliver justice. Hussain Rasheed, 54, was speaking in neighbouring Sri Lanka where he is meeting foreign diplomats to put pressure on the Maldives government to carry out an independent investigation. A tearful Rasheed described seeing the body of his 29- year-old son, who had been murdered hours earlier at his home by unidentified attackers. "His throat was slit, there were 14 stab injuries that I counted, but later we saw he had been stabbed in 35 places and part of his skull was missing," Rasheed told reporters in Colombo. The government has promised an investigation, but Rasheed said he could not trust them to deliver justice. "I heard about 18 people have been killed in the Maldives like this in the past three years, but no one has been prosecuted." Yameen Rasheed, who poked fun at the nation's politicians on his blog The Daily Panic, was found in the stairwell of his Male apartment with multiple stab wounds to his chest and neck. He died in hospital. He had lodged complaints with the police about death threats he had received in December, but they were not taken seriously. On Friday his father said Maldives police had acted suspiciously, washing down the scene of the crime and having the blood-splattered wall repainted. They also prevented anyone from taking pictures. The United Nations has already called on the Male government to order an independent investigation into the killing of Rasheed, the third media figure to be targeted in the troubled archipelago nation in the last 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. The Maldives regime has already faced censure from the UN over the arrest and jailing of a former president and a former defence minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today held a discussion with Indo-German Energy Programme officials here today to boost the state's power sector. IGEN is German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development's initiative for carrying out viable energy security programmes in developing countries. As providing stable power supply and reducing loss in transmission are prime objectives of his government, Sonowal said German expertise and technical know how in this regard would be of immense value for ensuring electrification in rural areas of the state. Explaining the functioning model of IGEN, its Director Winfried Damm said the India now consumes more than 6,600 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy per year, but its per capita electricity consumption of around 1,000 kWh is less than one seventh of that of industrialised countries. This creates considerable challenges in all areas of society and in rural and urban regions, he said. IGEN also offered to set up one photovoltaic thermal project in Guwahati for demonstrating the effectiveness of the plant to which then chief minister readily agreed and directed Chief Secretary V K Pipersenia to identify a suitable location for it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A city-based realtor today offered to sponsor the education of the children of 25 CRPF and three Indian Army soldiers martyred in Chhattisgarh and Kashmir respectively. The offer was made by Mahesh Savani, who owns the P P Savani Group. Apart from financially supporting the education of the martyred soldiers' children, the realtor also came forward to sponsor the marriage of the security personnel killed in Chhattisgarh and Jammu and Kashmir on April 24 and April 27, respectively. Earlier in September last year, Savani had announced financial support to the children of 19 soldiers martyred in the Uri attack in Kashmir. "When our soldiers are sacrificing their lives for the country, I feel that the society also needs to pay back by helping their children. I have decided to sponsor the education of the children as well as the marriage of the girls who lost their fathers in battles in Chhattisgarh and Kashmir recently," Savani said. 25 CRPF men were killed in a deadly ambush by Maoists in Chhattisgarh on April 24, while three soldiers were killed in anti-terror operations in Kupwara district of Kashmir yesterday. "I have already started the process of acquiring details of all these 28 martyrs so that I can deposit money into their bank accounts. I am also approaching schools so that I can deposit the yearly fees of these children directly," the realtor said. He claimed that the daughter of one of the Uri attack martyrs will be married this Diwali. "I will be visiting Bihar this Diwali to attend the ceremony. After getting the financial support, many families of these martyrs have enrolled their children in private schools, as they are no longer worried about fees," Savani added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yusra Mardini, a Syrian woman who helped save a boat carrying fellow refugees, has been appointed by the UN agency for refugees as its new Goodwill Ambassador. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said Mardini's actions saved the lives of 20 refugees who were fleeingthe Syrian capital, Damascus. Mardini, 19, was also one of the 10 athletes who made up the historic Olympic Refugee Team and participated at the Rio Olympic Games last year. She has been a very powerful voice for the forcibly displaced across the world and an example of their resilience and determination to rebuild lives and positively contribute to host communities. "The UN refugee agency does the most important and incredible work for refugees under extremely challenging circumstances, and I am proud to use my voice to support UNHCR," Mardini said, accepting her new role. She said through UNHCR, she is eager to continue spreading the message that "refugees are just normal people living through traumatic and devastating circumstances, who are capable of extraordinary things if only given a chance". When Mardini's boat broke down between Turkey and the coast of On the last stretch of their long journey to escape war- torn Damascus, Mardini and her sister jumped into the sea to pull the boat to safety. Mardini is currently a full time student in Germany and continues to train in the hope of competing at the next Olympic Games in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, in 2020. Since her participation at the Rio Olympics, Mardini has worked closely with the UN agency, drawing global attention to the plight of refugees, speaking at forums including the 2016 UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants and the 2017 World Economic Forum in Davos. She has also advocated for the refugee cause during meetings with the Pope, world leaders, influential business figures and other world leaders. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said Mardini is a "deeply inspiring" young woman who has, through her powerful personal story, represented the hopes, fears and incredible potential of the more than ten million young refugees around the globe. Welcoming the announcement, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said he hopes that through her role as UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Mardini will continue to inspire refugees, "reminding us that anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and strength of the human spirit." Goodwill Ambassadors are some of the most recognisable public faces of the UN agency. They help take its work to every corner of the world through their influence, dedication and hard work. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The favours export of oil and natural gas to allies and friends like India, a top cabinet official has said. US Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's comments came as US President Donald Trump prepared to take steps towards removing the shackles on offshore energy exploration. "We would like to export (oil and natural gas) to other countries," Zinke told reporters at a White House news conference on Thursday. "Part of our national security is to not only be able to provide ourselves with energy independence, but also to provide our allies with energy, certainly liquid natural gas in Europe," he said, adding that export of oil and natural gas requires infrastructure, which is not the case now. "We are working our ways to make sure we can reverse that. A lot of it is the infrastructure. And we are quite frankly behind in the infrastructure," he said. Zeke was responding questions on possibility of export of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to India and other countries. Providing US allies with affordable, reliable and abundant energy is something the US is looking into, Zeke said. "I am a supporter of export," he said. Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had visited the US in March and discussed with energy secretary Rick Perry the export of LNG to India from early 2018. Indian investments in LNG and Shale sector in the US -by both the government and the private sector - were also discussed. Zinke said on Friday Trump would sign an executive order to direct a review of the locations available for offshore oil and gas exploration and of certain regulations governing offshore oil and gas exploration. The Department of Interior, he said, would reopen the Obama administration's five-year drilling plan, finalised in November, that restricts lease sales for new drilling to only the Gulf of Mexico and waters off south-central Alaska. "This order will cement our nation's position as a global energy leader and foster energy security for the benefit of American people, without removing any of the stringent environmental safeguards that are currently in place," Zinke said. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing his Commerce Secretary to investigate whether aluminum dumping by countries like China and Russia are jeopardising US national security. "The American aluminum industry has been severely damaged by unfair foreign trade. Cheap subsidised foreign imports have flooded into the market, destroying thousands of great American jobs, jobs that are no longer," Trump said at the executive order signing ceremony yesterday. He asked his Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to investigate the impact of aluminum import, given that it is significantly used in critical defence industry manufacturing. "Today I'm calling on Secretary Ross to prioritise the investigation he initiated yesterday into whether foreign aluminum imports are jeopardising our national security, and to submit a report setting forth his findings," he said. "Based on those findings, Secretary Ross will make formal recommendations to the White House for what to do about the problem, and whether or not we do tariffs or taxes or something else to get our aluminum business going again," Trump said. The metal is in high demand in the US defence industry, particular for building high-tech planes like F-35, F-16 and C-17 and in the armor-plating of military vehicles. "We cannot afford in these dangerous times to become dependent on foreign nations for the aluminum that our military relies on," the US President said. "Today, we're sending another clear signal to the world: we will fight for American jobs for American workers, and we will fight always for the American dream of bringing it back...," Trump said. In a statement, the White House said while American manufacturing of aluminum suffers and shuts down, foreign imports continue to pour into the country. In 2016, aluminum imports into the US increased by 18 per cent while American production fell by 47 per cent. Of the eight aluminum smelters based in the US at the beginning of 2016, seven have either shutdown, reduced production, or are idled, it said. China, the world's top producer and consumer of the metal, is expected to be the worst hit by this executive action. From 2012 to 2015, imports of semi-fabricated aluminum from China grew by 183 per cent, the White House said. "Imports of aluminum foil from China have grown from zero per cent of the United States market in 2004 to 22 per cent today. Employment in the aluminum industry fell by nearly 13 per cent from 2015 to 2016," it said. The White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, said the American aluminum industry is in trouble. "Having declined down to the lowest levels of aluminum that we've produced since 1952. It is critical for our national defences -- the Army ground vehicles and the Air Force jets, the Navy warships," he told reporters at his daily conference. The Trump administration on Wednesday announced an investigation into aluminum imports. The investigation mirrors a probe the Commerce Department launched last week focusing on the steel industry. The Commerce Department has 270 days to investigate the issue and draft its findings after consulting with the Pentagon. The president then will have 90 days to decide whether to take any actions, which could include high tariffs on aluminum imports. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New clashes erupted today between the Turkish army and a Syrian Kurdish militia seen as a terror group by Ankara but as a key ally by the United States in the fight against jihadists, the Turkish army said. Rockets fired from an area in Syria controlled by the Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) targeted a Turkish army command post in the Ceylanpinar district of Turkey's southern Sanliurfa province. The Turkish army fired back, killing 11 "terrorists", it said. There were no reports of casualties on the Turkish side. This was the third day in a row clashes have been reported across the tense border after the Turkish air force earlier this week bombed YPG targets in Syria. The US State Department has said it was "deeply concerned" that the strikes were conducted "without proper coordination either with the United States or the broader global coalition" against the Islamic State group (IS). Russia's foreign ministry on Wednesday meanwhile said Turkey's bombing raids were unacceptable and called on all sides to show restraint. But Ankara insisted that Washington and Moscow had been properly informed ahead of time. Turkey says fighters of the YPG in Syria are linked to Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) separatists inside Turkey, who have waged an insurgency since 1984 that has killed over 40,000 people. But Washington, wary of committing large numbers of its own forces on the ground, sees the YPG as essential in the fight against IS in Syria. The new clashes came as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday warned the YPG that Turkey would fire back against any assault and thwart the creation of any Kurdish state in northern Syria. "Are we going to leave them unanswered? We are doing what is necessary. We will take this kind of measure as long as the threats continue," Erdogan told a conference in Istanbul. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 20 persons, mostly children, have been affected by jaundice at a village in Kendrapara district, officials said today. The fresh outbreak of the disease has been reported in Goudabandhpur village under Mahakalpada tehsil. Intake of unsafe drinking water has apparently led to the disease's outbreak, said officials. For the past one month, jaundice cases were witnessed in at least six other villages in Kendrapara district. But the disease was brought under control in those villages following timely medical intervention, they said. The blood samples of the affected villagers have been sent to microbiology department of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack for test. The samples of drinking water drawn from the village have also been dispatched to pathology and bacteriology department of the medical college hospital, said Additional District Medical Officer, M H Beig. A sizeable number of affected people are either women or children from the predominantly backward locality, where the sources of potable water are unsafe for human consumption. An alert has been sounded in the affected locality and adequate preventive measures are on to contain the disease, said officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The British Muslim shot dead during a terror attack on Parliament in March had claimed he was waging jihad in revenge against Western military action in countries in the Middle East, it emerged today. UK security services have managed to decode the last message sent out by Khalid Masood before he rammed his high- speed car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and stabbed to death a police officer at the gates of Parliament on March 22. According to the Independent newspaper, the message on the WhatsApp messaging service reveals the 52-year-old Muslim convert's motivation behind the attack that claimed four innocent lives. The person who received the message has been extensively questioned, but freed after the police and MI5 concluded that he was not part of the plot and had no prior knowledge of what was unfolding in March, the newspaper said. Eleven others detained following the attack were freed and have been cleared from inquiries. The insight into the terrorist's mindset follow the arrest of a suspected jihadist yesterday, just 100 yards from where Masood was shot by police, who was found armed with knives heading towards Downing Street when he was dramatically stopped by armed police. The 27-year-old suspect was taken away by armed police and is being questioned by the Scotland Yard at a south London police station. The access to Masood's message was achieved by what has been described by security sources as a use of "human and technical intelligence". Details of the method used cannot be disclosed for security reasons, but sources said they now have the technical expertise to repeat the process in future. It was made possible because Masood's mobile telephone was recovered after he was shot dead. Islamic State (ISIS) had claimed "credit" for his attack, but no evidence has emerged to back this up. The issue of WhatsApp's encrypted service, which is closed to anyone besides the sender and recipient, had come under criticism soon after the attack. "It's completely unacceptable. There should be no place for terrorists to hide. We need to make sure that organisations like WhatsApp, and there are plenty of others like that, don't provide a secret place for terrorists to communicate with each other," UK home secretary Amber Rudd had said. It is unclear whenRuddwas made aware that Masood's WhatsApp message had been retrieved. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US today retained India on its priority watch list this year for "lack of improvement" in the intellectual property (IP) framework. "India remains on the priority watch list this year for lack of sufficient measurable improvements to its IP framework on long-standing challenges and new issues that have negatively affected US right holders over the past year, particularly with respect to patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and enforcement," the US Trade Representative (USTR) said in a report. The 'Special 301' report is an annual review of the global state of IP protection and enforcement. The USTR's priority watch list names those countries which it considers are not properly protecting the US copyrights and patents. However, India has never participated in this exercise and has termed this report as an unilateral move. The report alleges that India's IPR regime is not in compliance with global norms, a charge India strongly contests at all forums. Trading partners on the priority watch list present the most significant concerns this year regarding insufficient IP protection or enforcement or actions that otherwise limited market access for persons relying on IP protection, the report said. It added that 11 countries including China, India, Indonesia, Russia and Thailand are on this list. "These countries will be the subject of intense bilateral engagement during the coming year," it added. Meanwhile, the US Chamber of Commerce in a statement asked India to address challenges in its patent system particularly with regard for computer-related inventions. The chamber also said that Indian government needs to modernise its copyright laws. "India continues to dismiss the need for substantive changes to its intellectual property (IP) laws and regulations. "We will continue to encourage the Indian government to address the biggest gaps in its IP protections, including uncertainties and challenges in the patent system," it said. Multi-national companies particularly from pharma sector have time and again raised concerns over India's IP regime saying New Delhi's policies discriminates foreign firms. On the other hand, India has always maintained that its IPR regime is in compliance with the global rules including that of the World Trade Orgainsation. The developed countries have raised questions about section 3 (d) of the Indian Patent Act 1970 and compulsory licensing (CL), saying the norms restrict innovation. The section does not allow patent to be granted to inventions involving new forms of a known substance unless it differs significantly in properties with regard to efficacy. In a way, it stops ever-greening of patents. India's Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman yesterday said that India's intellectual property right (IPR) laws are in compliance with the global rules and any "suspicious narrative" about the credibility of domestic IPR norms "is just not warranted". "India has a robust mechanism and legislative framework to deal with IPR related matters," she has said. The USTR report also said the long-standing IP challenges facing US business in India include those which make it difficult for innovators to receive and maintain patents particularly for pharma and software. "New and growing concerns, including with respect to draft policies that negatively affect the commercialisation of biotechnology, and the positions that India supports and voices in multilateral forum on IP issues, continue to generate scepticism about whether India is serious about pursuing pro-innovation and - creativity growth policies, it said. Running into nearly 80 pages, the annual report - the first under Trump Administration -- identifies several countries where the US believes IP protection and enforcement has deteriorated or remained at unacceptable levels and where market access for Americans who rely on IP protection has been unfairly compromised. Further, it said while Pakistan maintained positive momentum on enhancing its IP regime, stakeholders continue to face a number of challenges in this market. According to the report, China is home to widespread infringing activity, including trade secret theft, rampant online piracy and counterfeiting. "China also requires that mandatory adverse terms be applied to foreign IP licensors, and requires that US firms localise research and development activities. Structural impediments to civil and criminal IPR enforcement are also problematic, as are impediments to pharmaceutical innovation," it said. It added that US innovators face challenges including restrictive patentability criteria, that undermine opportunities for export growth in countries such as Argentina, Canada, India, and Indonesia. In countries including China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Russia, innovators also face lack of adequate and effective protection for regulatory test, it claimed. "Inadequate protection for trade secrets in a number of countries, notably in China and India, also puts US trade secrets at unnecessary risk," USTR said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President has done more than many former US presidents in his first 100 days in the office, a top Indian-American White House official has said. "I think we've had a bold and big first 100 days," Raj Shah, who occupies the powerful position of Deputy Communications Director and Research Director at the White House told PTI. "On the national security front -- the actions in Syria, some of the actions both at the UN and elsewhere, regarding Russia, North Korea -- I think have shown some good deal of success," he said ahead of Trump completing his first 100 days in his office tomorrow. Shah, 32, is one of the few aides of Trump to have landed in the White House within hours of him being sworn in as the 45th President of the US. "The President on legislation, on executive orders, has done more in terms of a numerical value than many previous presidents, any president since World War II. We're proud of that," he said. Shah said the Trump Administration has made a tremendous amount of progress. "The summit in Mar-a-Lago with Chinese President Xi Jinping was by all accounts very well put together, made a lot of progress on a host of issues. A little bit more recently, but we've seen a lot of action on trade now," Shah said while referring to the series of executive orders that Trump. "We started off early, withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, now we're taking the conversations regarding trade with Canada and some of the actions by the Commerce Department and the ITA involving soft wood lumbering ports, so the conversations with the president of Mexico and the prime minister of Canada involved with bilateral trade and NAFTA overall have yielded, I think, some good results," he said. Shah said the President made significant progress on NATO front too. The President brings this up in all his bilateral discussions with NATO member states, which is NATO members paying their kind of agreed upon percentages of their GDP into defence, and building up their defenses so that way common defence is stronger, he said. "We, again, achieved results on that front. I think on a whole host of areas, there's obviously tonnes to do and a lot more of an agenda to roll through, but I think we've had a tremendous amount of progress in the first 100 days," Shah said. He said a lot of Trump's "big agenda items" that he campaigned has seen significant progress. "For example, he campaigned on tackling illegal immigration. We've seen a dramatic drop in border crossings on south-west border, and we've seen the beginning steps and this is a long process and involves appropriations and building, and other pieces, but the first steps in the border wall construction," Shah said. He said the Trump administration cracked down on sanctuary cities. "The skinny budget blueprint had cuts in domestic spending, while increasing spending on the military and national security and interior security," he said. "We saw big achievements, on the economy. For example, the energy sector through a series of executive actions and orders. Some involved Keystone XL pipeline, Dakota Access pipeline. Some involved the regulatory burden that energy companies face," Shah said. The extreme protection rule that the Obama administration had passed, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations that they had implemented, lifting them off, creating new guidelines for exploration for oil gas on federal lands, he said. He said the trade is a growing piece of the agenda, in which the US is going to enforce trade agreements, pursue its rights when other countries are not abiding by standards and norms that they should be on trade, he said. "On the legislative front (I) won't sugarcoat that we've had some setbacks on healthcare, but we do remain hopeful that we're going to see a significant amount of progress. If you look at it historically, President Obama had the stimulus that he signed in the first 100 days, but that was a bill that responded to an economic crisis that was being negotiated all before he even took office," he noted. "If you go back before that, President Bush did not sign his tax cuts until the summer of 2001, didn't sign No Child Left Behind until 2002. If you go back to president Clinton, NAFTA, other bills that he signed his first term not signed until certainly later in the process," Shah said. Shah said the Trump administration has a big agenda on healthcare, big agenda items with tax reform that was laid out, principles, at least, were laid out this week, both on the economy and healthcare and then infrastructure and other pieces that we want to look forward to. The United States is not ruling out direct dialogue with North Korea on its nuclear programme, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an interview with National Public Radio. "Obviously, that would be the way we would like to solve this," he said, according to the transcript published today, when asked whether Washington seeks talks with Pyongyang. "But North Korea has to decide they're ready to talk to us about the right agenda - and the right agenda is not simply stopping where they are for a few more months or a few more years and then resuming things. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US should review its options for dealing with Pakistan, including taking unilateral actions against terrorist safe havens in the country, if it does not cease its support to the militant outfits attacking neighbours like India, eminent experts told American lawmakers. Seth G Jones, director International Security and Defence Policy Centre RAND Corporation, in his testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Congress has reduced its military assistance to Pakistan in recent years and curtailed Pakistan's access to foreign military financing. "But even today's reduced amounts of US assistance could be cut further," he said, adding that targeted economic sanctions could be selectively applied against specific organisations and individuals. Washington could encourage other countries to consider similar steps. "The United States should review its options for dealing with Pakistan. For example, the United States could take further steps to pressure Taliban sanctuaries within Pakistan, with or without the support of Islamabad," he said. Washington could sketch out a vision of an improved relationship with Pakistan if Islamabad cuts its ties with militant groups attacking both Afghanistan and India, Jones said. "This outcome would be highly desirable for broader American interests, given Pakistan's central role in the stability of the entire region and its ability to upend that stability," he said. Vanda Felbab-Brown, senior fellow at the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence in the Foreign Policy Programme at the Brookings Institution, said Pakistan's unwillingness to cease its support for the Taliban also reflects its uncertainties and internal limitations. "More than a decade after 9/11, Pakistan's military- intelligence establishment remains preoccupied with India's ascendance at a time of Pakistan's own stagnation and atrophy. Afghanistan has repeatedly been a prime theatre for Indian and Pakistani rivalries," Brown said. Fearing encirclement by India, Pakistan has been greatly reluctant to suppress Afghan militant groups using Pakistan for sanctuary, he said. "Pakistan's continuing support for these groups, despite pressure from the United States and NATO, reflects the persistent view of the Pakistani military-intelligence establishment that the jihadi groups are critical assets in preventing threats on Pakistan's western flank from an India- friendly regime in Kabul and in securing access to Central Asia's trade routes," the expert said. Bill Roggio, editor, Long War Journal, Foundation For Defence Of Democracies said that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is a dangerous jihadist group that is backed by Pakistan's military and Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate. "The LeT is known to operate training camps in Afghanistan and attacked the Indian Consulate in Herat in 2014...The US has also listed several senior LeT operatives, including Hafiz Saeed, the group's emir, as Specially Designated Global Terrorists," he said. Roggio said the Islamic State has established a small, but significant, foothold in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vinod Khanna wanted to visit his ancestral home in this city but the Bollywood star could not fulfill his wish, according to a Pakistani cultural official. Khanna passed away at a hospital in Mumbai yesterday. He was 70. Shakeel Waheedullah, General Secretary Cultural Heritage Council Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who met Khanna in 2014 in India as part of a cultural delegation, said, "In his autograph, Khanna extended his good wishes to people of Peshawar and expressed a desire to visit his ancestral city." "Khanna wanted to visit Peshawar to see the area where his parents and forefathers lived. He had sent a request for his visit to Pakistan, but could not succeed," Waheedullah added. He said the Cultural Heritage Council Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will soon hold an event to honour Khanna. Renowned film historian Muhammad Ibrahim Zia was also a part of the delegation that met Khanna and legendary actor Dilip Kumar, who also belongs to Peshawar. Zia said Khanna's ancestral home in Peshawar is intact and being used by All Pakistan Women's Association. "During our meeting with Khanna, he was very happy over his reunion with the people of his birth place Peshawar," Zia said. The delegation presented Khanna gifts including Peshawar Chappal (footwear) and a traditional dress which he accepted happily, Zia said. The historian said Khanna's father Mehr Chand was a well-off person in Peshawar and migrated to India in 1947 when Khanna was an infant. "Khanna was born in Peshawar on October 6, 1946 at Sardar area in Cantonment jurisdiction. His father Mehr Chand Khanna was a prominent businessman and former Minister in Congress," said Zia, who has authored a book, 'Peshawar the Funkar', on the artistes from the city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ultra-nationalist Buddhist monks and their supporters have forced the closing of two Muslim schools in Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city, in a reminder that religious strife remains a threat to the country's stability. About a dozen monks and scores of supporters gathered this afternoon near the two Muslim madrassas while police stood by as protesters demanded that local officials close the buildings. The raucous three-hour gathering ended when officials agreed to allow them to chain the entrances of the two buildings, which the protesters claim were built illegally. Tensions between Myanmar's overwhelmingly Buddhist population and the Muslim minority spread after violent conflict broke out between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya in 2012 in western Rakhine state, where the Rohingya are accused of entering the country illegally from Bangladesh. It appeared that the madrassas were chained shut largely to appease the protesters and defuse tension, but it was unclear what their long-term fate would be. "What happened today was very, very sad to me," said Tin Shwe, a Muslim community leader. "This school has been built many years ago and all of our generations took care of it." A militant organisation of Buddhist monks, known as Ma Ba Tha, has spearheaded protests against Muslims. Its leaders have been accused of stirring up mob violence leading to the deaths of Muslims and destruction of their property around the country. Most of the anti-Muslim activities have taken place outside of Yangon, the country's most cosmopolitan city. In what seemed to be a coordinated campaign, anti-Muslim activists last year pressured local officials to have Muslim institutional buildings declared illegal and torn down. In some cases, the activists occupied and dismantled the structures themselves. Today's action against the madrassas was unusual because it occurred in Yangon, one of the rare times such forced closures have happened there. The Ma Ba Tha movement had seemed to be in decline for the past few years, but the situation that fuelled its growth, the ethnic conflict in Rakhine, remains unresolved. More than 1,00,000 Rohingya Muslims live in squalid displacement camps where they were resettled after the 2012 violence. The government still refuses to grant citizenship to most of the estimated 1 million Rohingyas, even though in many cases, they have lived in Myanmar for generations. Violence heated up late last year when a small armed Rohingya insurgency was launched, leading to massive retaliation by Myanmar's army, which was accused of carrying out severe human rights violations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Ben Blanchard and Philip Wen BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's warm words for Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as a "good man" will reassure Beijing that he finally understands the importance of good ties, but risks leaving America's regional allies puzzling over where they fit into the new order. The budding relationship between the two leaders appeared highly unlikely when Trump was lambasting China on the campaign trail for stealing U.S. jobs with unfair trade polices. In December, after winning office, he upended protocol by taking a call from the president of self-ruled Taiwan, which China regards as its own territory. A few months on, after meeting Xi at his Florida residence earlier in April, Trump appears to have done a complete volte-face, praising Xi for trying hard to rein in nuclear-armed North Korea and rebuffing Taiwan's president's suggestion of another call. But the big question is whether the rapprochement will last. Trump also expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2016 presidential campaign, but that relationship has since chilled. Chinese officials will no doubt be pleased by Trump's overtures, said Jia Qingguo, a leading academic who has advised the government on foreign policy. "People will say that the only thing we know for sure about Donald Trump's administration is uncertainty and unpredictability," said Jia, dean of the School of International Studies at the elite Peking University. "But judging from what he has been saying and doing, it's quite reassuring as far as China is concerned. Certainly I think people have developed more positive views about the Donald Trump administration here and we have a lot of expectations that we can work together constructively." For China's neighbours, it is a little more complicated. On one level, a healthy relationship between the world's two biggest economies suits everyone. "It's hugely positive that there's been a reasonably constructive start to the bilateral dialogue between those two countries," Tom Lembong, Indonesia's investment chief and close aide to President Joko Widodo, told . But long-time allies may also be wondering just how far Washington still has their back. Shashank Joshi, senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said countries such as Japan and South Korea could lose influence if Trump's focus on enlisting Xi's help over North Korea creates a "sort of U.S.-China G2". "There are competing instincts within Trump pushing him in opposite directions," said Joshi. "His nationalism pushes him towards competition with China, but his deal-making instinct, his openness to personal influence, and his affinity for strongmen pushes him towards Xi, especially if he can show results on North Korea." But Trump, who has long touted his deal-making ability as a real estate developer, has also made clear his approach to China is transactional. He is so focused on securing cooperation against North Korea, his top national security priority, that he has even publicly promised to go easier on Beijing over critical trade issues in return. Some of Trump's aides doubt, however, that China will do enough to restrain North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes. Some experts believe the thaw between the economic rivals could be fleeting if Xi fails to come through on the North Korean issue. SOUTH CHINA SEA Singapore-based security expert Ian Storey said he believed Trump's remarks would be closely scrutinised by Southeast Asian leaders looking for signs of an emerging Asia strategy. "Most would welcome a calm, co-operative relationship between China and the U.S., but they will be deeply concerned at anything that looks like Trump will give Xi a free hand over the South China Sea dispute, or elsewhere," said Storey, who is based at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute. The administration has so far sent out mixed rhetorical signals over the hotly disputed South China Sea. China's extensive claims to the vital global trade route are challenged by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan. The U.S. has increased naval deployments in the South China Sea in recent years amid roiling tensions and extensive island-building by China but, under Trump, its warships have yet to challenge China with a so-called freedom of navigation patrol close to disputed islets and reefs. A Trump administration official has told the United States wants to avoid antagonizing China on sensitive issues like the South China Sea for now while waiting to see how far Beijing will go tightening the screws on North Korea. But the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said this did not mean abandoning efforts to counter China's growing military and economic might in the Asia-Pacific region. Admiral Harry Harris, the chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, told the U.S. Congress this week that he expected to be carrying out such patrols in the South China Sea soon, and repeated earlier concerns at China's continued militarisation of the area. "Given Trump's newfound friendship with Xi Jinping, it might make it significantly harder for the Pacific Command to get its plans approved for the next freedom of navigation patrols," Storey said. UNPREDICTABLE In Japan, often at odds with China over what Beijing views as Tokyo's failure to properly atone for World War Two, a Japanese government source sought to downplay any impact the burgeoning Trump-Xi friendship might have on Japan-U.S. ties. "Trump's softened approach to Xi may seem to be some kind of shift in the balance of power but security cooperation between Japan and the United States is extremely stable and has been confirmed in the face of the current crisis situation in North Korea," the source told . The tricky issue of Taiwan has not gone away either, and is one of several that could upset relations. Democratic Taiwan has many friends in Washington who will not want to allow autocratic China to get its way with the island, and the United States is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. Wang Dong, associate professor of international studies at Peking University, said China would remain on alert for another change of direction by Trump. "There are reasons for optimism, but we are still being realistic. There are still issues out there, from Taiwan to the South China Sea," he said. One Beijing-based Western diplomat told Reuters that, while China might be pleased to see Trump hang ally South Korea out to dry with his criticism of their free trade deal and demand Seoul pay $1 billion to host a U.S. anti-missile system China has strongly opposed, China should not have any illusions. "He's so unpredictable who knows what he'll say next week or next month?" said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. "His mood turns on a pin." (Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Beijing; Linda Sieg in Toyko; Kanupriya Kapoor and Karen Lema in Manila; Sanjeev Miglani in New Delhi; Greg Torode in Hong Kong; Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Alex Richardson and Frances Kerry) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Corrects Silver Lake Partners to Silver Lake in 5th paragraph) By Julie Zhu and Cate Cadell HONG KONG/BEIJING (Reuters) - Didi Chuxing, China's top ride-hailing firm, is set to become the country's second-most valuable privately owned company, with a valuation of more than $50 billion, through a fund raising round of up to $6 billion, sources said on Thursday. The valuation represents a jump from Didi's $34 billion price tag in August, when it agreed to acquire Uber Technology Inc's China business, and also puts it closer to the U.S. firm's $68 billion. It also propels Didi well above Xiaomi Inc, which held the title of China's most valuable startup after a 2014 funding round valued the smartphone maker at $46 billion. Ant Financial, China's most valuable private internet finance firm and an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, is valued upwards of $60 billion. The funding round has drawn investors including Japan's Softbank Group Corp, private equity firm Silver Lake, China Merchants Bank and Bank of Communications, two people familiar with the matter said. They declined to be identified because they are not authorised to speak publicly. Didi Chuxing, Silver Lake and Softbank declined to comment, while China Merchants Bank and Bank of Communications did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The people said that part of the latest capital investment in Didi would be used for international expansion. Didi has sealed several overseas partnerships, focusing on intelligent driving, such as making use of artificial intelligence, as well as similar ride-hailing services. The firm is ramping up overseas activity as regulatory changes are set to take a toll on their local service. Draft rules released in October would slash the number of eligible drivers and double fares for users in major cities, the company has said. Since Uber exited the Chinese market last year following a drawn-out rivalry with Didi, the Chinese firm has sought to expand in Latin America, leading a $100 million investment in Brazilian ride-hailing service 99 in January. Last month it officially opened a lab researching artificial intelligence-related driving technologies in Silicon Valley in the United States. The company has previously entered a range of strategic agreements with U.S. tech firms including Lyft, TripAdvisor Inc and Udacity. (Reporting by Julie Zhu and Cate Cadell; writing by Kim Miyoung; editing by Stephen Coates and Neil Fullick) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Stephen J. Adler, Jeff Mason and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump complained on Thursday that U.S. ally Saudi Arabia was not treating the United States fairly and Washington was losing a "tremendous amount of money" defending the kingdom. In an interview with Reuters, Trump confirmed his administration was in talks about possible visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel in the second half of May. He is due to make his first trip abroad as president for a May 25 NATO summit in Brussels and could add other stops. "Frankly, Saudi Arabia has not treated us fairly, because we are losing a tremendous amount of money in defending Saudi Arabia," he said. Trump's criticism of Riyadh was a return to his 2016 election campaign rhetoric when he accused the kingdom of not pulling its weight in paying for the U.S. security umbrella. "Nobody's going to mess with Saudi Arabia because we're watching them," Trump told a campaign rally in Wisconsin a year ago. "They're not paying us a fair price. We're losing our shirt." The United States is the main supplier for most Saudi military needs, from F-15 fighters to control and command systems worth tens of billions of dollars in recent years, while American contractors win major energy deals. The world's top oil exporter and its biggest consumer have enjoyed close economic ties for decades, with U.S. firms building much of the infrastructure of the modern Saudi state after its oil boom in the 1970s. Saudi officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Trump's latest comments. But Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir rejected similar comments from Trump during his election campaign, telling CNN during a visit to Washington last July that the Islamic kingdom "carries its own weight" as an ally. Saudi Arabia's powerful deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Trump last month in a meeting that was hailed by a senior Saudi adviser as a "historical turning point" in relations. The talks appeared to signal a meeting of minds on many issues, including their shared view that Iran posed a regional security threat. Riyadh and other Gulf allies see in Trump a strong president who will shore up Washington's role as their main strategic partner and help contain Riyadh's adversary Iran in a region central to U.S. security and energy interests, regional analysts said. ISLAMIC STATE "HUMILIATION" Asked about the fight against Islamic State, which Saudi Arabia and other U.S. allies are confronting as a coalition, Trump said the militant group had to be defeated. "I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation," Trump said, when asked about what the endgame was for defeating Islamist violent extremism. "There is an end. Otherwise it's really tough. But there is an end," without detailing a strategy. A visit to Israel would reciprocate a White House visit in February by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to meet Trump next Wednesday in Washington. Trump has set a more positive tone with Israel than his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, who often clashed with the right-wing Israeli leader, and has raised concerns among Palestinians that their leaders may not get equal treatment. Trump has also asked Israel to put unspecified limits on its building of Jewish settlements on land the Palestinians want for a state, and has promised to seek a Middle East peace deal that eluded his predecessors. However, he has offered no new diplomatic prescriptions. "I want to see peace with Israel and the Palestinians," he said. "There is no reason there's not peace between Israel and the Palestinians - none whatsoever." Trump brushed aside a question of whether he might use a possible trip to Israel to declare U.S. recognition of the entire city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a reversal of longstanding U.S. foreign policy likely to draw international condemnation. "Ask me in a month on that," he said, without elaborating. If Trump ties an Israel visit to next month's Brussels trip, it would be around the time Israelis are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, when Israel captured Arab East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. Successive U.S. administrations as well as the international community have not recognized Israel's annexation of the eastern part of the city, and the future status of Jerusalem remains one of the thorniest issues in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Israel claims all of Jerusalem, which contains sites sacred to the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths, as its capital. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state of their own. (Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom; Writing by Yara Bayoumy and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Howard Goller) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Private lender Federal Bank's net profit went up manifold to Rs 256.59 crore for the quarter to March as net bad loans shrank. Also, there were significant gains from retail, corporate and wholesale banking verticals. Net profit stood at Rs 10.26 crore in the January-March quarter of 2015-16. The board also approved capital-raising plan of Rs 2,500 crore through various means, including qualified institutional placement (QIP), rights issue, preferential issue or follow-on public offer. Total income during the period rose to Rs 2,598.06 crore, from Rs 2,262.94 crore a year ago, said in a regulatory filing. For the all of 2016-17, net profit spiked 75 per cent to Rs 830.79 crore, from Rs 475.65 crore a year earlier. Likewise, total income grew to Rs 9,759.20 crore, from Rs 8,556.35 crore. The bank improved its asset quality, with net non- performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans easing to 1.28 per cent of net loans as on March 31, 2017, from 1.64 per cent at the end of March 2016. Gross NPAs read 2.33 per cent of gross advances by the end of 2016-17, slightly down from 2.84 per cent a year ago. In absolute terms, net NPAs stood at Rs 941.20 crore at March-end, down from Rs 950.01 crore in the year-ago period. Gross NPAs came in at Rs 1,727.05 crore as against the earlier Rs 1,667.77 crore. Provisions for bad loans and contingencies came down to Rs 122.70 crore for the reported quarter, from Rs 388.64 crore a year before. said its board of directors has recommended a dividend of 45 per cent or Rs 0.90 per share for 2016-17. The bank said the capital may be raised in one or more tranches. The board also cleared a hike in overall foreign holding to 74 per cent. "The board also gave its approval to increasing the sub-limit ceiling on total holdings of foreign institutional investors or foreign portfolio investors... Up to an aggregate limit of 74 per cent of the paid-up capital of the bank," it said. The stock ended at Rs 107.45, up 13.58 per cent, on the BSE on Friday. By Rajendra Jadhav and Swati Verma MUMBAI/BENGALURU (Reuters) - Demand for gold in India was seen higher ahead of an auspicious day for gold purchases on Friday compared to last year, with lower prices also acting as a catalyst. "Sentiment is very good in the market. Jewellers are reporting higher footfalls," Somasundaram PR, head of the India unit of the World Gold Council, told Reuters, adding he expected sales to show double-digit growth over the same day last year. Gold prices were up to 3.7 percent lower on Akshaya Tritiya, the second-biggest gold-buying occasion in India after Dhanteras, which falls in October-November. "Sales could be 20-25 percent higher than last year. Bullion dealers and retailers were well stocked in advance and we are looking for very good sales in jewellery as well as coins," said Chirag Thakkar, a director at gold wholesaler Amrapali Group in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. Bouyant demand from the world's second-biggest consumer could support global prices, which are up about 10 percent so far this year. Dealers in India were charging a premium of up to $1.50 an ounce this week over official domestic prices, compared with a premium of $1.00 last week. Domestic prices of gold include a 10 percent import tax. Two-thirds of gold demand in India comes from villages, where investment in jewellery is seen as a hedge in times of distress. "Demand has improved from rural areas due to good monsoon rains (last year)," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a private bank. In top consumer China, premiums rose to around $8-$10 an ounce over the international benchmark, from $3-$4 an ounce last week. "The demand in China continues to be stable. We saw huge gold imports as banks wanted to cash in on the premiums," a Shanghai-based banker said. China's net-gold imports via main conduit Hong Kong more than doubled month-on-month in March, data showed on Tuesday. In Singapore, gold premiums were at 50-80 cents, while in Japan prices continued to remain at a discount of 50 cents. (Writing by Nallur Sethuraman in Bengaluru; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Commercial Feature is a Business Standard Digital Marketing Initiative. The Editorial/Content team at Business Standard has not contributed to writing or editing these articles. For further information, please write to assist@bsmail.in Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is leaving no stone unturned to follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda of maximum governance. After taking some strong decisions to improve the law and order condition in the state, now the Chief Minister is making sure that the bureaucrats in his government work efficiently. The Chief Minister's office has now issued a notice warning the officials that CM Adityanath could call them "any time" on the landlines at their offices between 9 am and 6 pm, reports NDTV. The notice further stated that in case officials failed to answer the call then they should have a justification ready for not being available. However, if the officers are on the field, they would be spared otherwise they would have to pay penalty for not being present in office. Recently, Yogi Adityanath has completed one month in his office. The hardline hindutva leader is taking some strict administrative decisions since day one of acquiring office in order to change the working style of bureaucrats. Read Also: Yogi Adityanath completes a month as UP CM: Here are the top decisions he took Last week, in a stern warning, the Chief Minister told the state government officials that those who cannot work for 18-20 hours are free to leave their jobs. "The state government will not tolerate any laxity in implementation of the government schemes. Officers who are willing to work 18-20 hours daily can continue with the government or else they are free to leave", he said in a rally in Gorakhpur on April 22. Recently, Adityanath in his address on the occasion of Dr BR Ambedkar's 126th birth anniversary on April 26, expressed concern over the shrinking academic session due to increased holidays. Read Also: Uttar Pradesh govt cancels 15 holidays on birth, death anniversaries of VIPs "There should be no holidays in schools on birth anniversaries of great personalities. Instead, a special two- hour programme should be held to teach students about them. The 220-day academic session has been reduced to only 120 days due to such holidays and if this tradition continues, there will be no day left for teaching in schools," he said. In Uttar Pradesh, there are 42 public holidays of which at least 17 are related to the birth anniversaries of eminent personalities. Also Watch: Taking a cue from Uttar Pradesh, the Delhi government has decided to cancel public holidays marking the birth or death anniversary of eminent personalities, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said today. 1/3 Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) April 28, 2017 "The Delhi government will cancel holidays on birth or death anniversary of eminent personalities. I have issued instruction to the chief secretary in this regard," he tweeted. 2/3 Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) April 28, 2017 Sisodia lauded the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh for cancelling 15 public holidays on birth or death anniversary of eminent personalities. "The Uttar Pradesh government has taken a good initiative in this matter. We should always be ready to learn from other states," he said. 3/3 Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) April 28, 2017 The UP Cabinet had on April 25 decided to cancel 15 public holidays in educational institutions. "Instead, students in schools and colleges would now be taught about the great personalities on these days," it had said. Also Watch: Government on Friday told the Supreme Court it was ready to talk to recognised political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to resolve the crisis there but not with the separatists. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi made it clear that the government would come to the negotiating table only if the recognised parties participate in the dialogue and not the separatist elements. He made the submissions before a bench, comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul, while rubbishing the claim of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association that the Centre was not coming forward for discussion and dialogue to resolve the crisis. Rohatgi said recently the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of the state held a meeting to discuss the situation. The bench asked the Association to come with suggestions to resolve the crisis, including stone-pelting and violent agitation on the streets of the Kashmir Valley. The apex court made it clear to the bar body that it would have to come out with suggestions after talking to all stakeholders and cannot shy away by saying that they do not represent everybody in Kashmir. It said there was need for a positive start and the bar body could play an important role by coming out with a gameplan and a roadmap for restoring normalcy in the Valley. The bench also made it clear to the Centre that the court would involve itself in the matter only if there was a view that it can play a role and there was no jurisdictional issue. "If you feel the court has no role and if you feel we have no jurisdiction, we will close the file at this moment," the bench told the AG who, at the fag end of the hearing, objected to some of the suggestions made by the bar body including that the separatists were being ignored. The bench also said both the parties have to take a joint step but the first step has to come from the lawyers' body which has approached the apex court. It also said it was aware that the situation in Kashmir Valley was not very palatable, while posting the matter for further hearing on May 9. The apex court was hearing hearing an appeal filed by Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association against the High Court order seeking stay on the use of pellet guns as a large number of people had been killed or injured due to their use. During the last hearing on April 10, the Centre had told the Supreme Court it was exploring a crowd control option that is akin to rubber bullets but not as lethal as pellet guns that are being used currently as a last resort to quell violence in the Valley. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court had on September 22 rejected the plea seeking a ban on use of pellet guns on the ground that the Centre had already constituted a Committee of Experts through its memorandum of July 26, 2016 for exploring alternatives to pellet guns. Steel tycoon Sajjan Jindal held a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the hill resort town of Murree on Thursday triggering speculations of "back channel" talks between the two countries, according to the Pakistani media. Jindal, the chairman and managing director of JSW Steel, is also believed to have facilitated a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and counterpart Nawaz Sharif meet in December 2015, even though New Delhi denied it. Jindal met Sharif at his private residence in the country's hill station Murree, about 45 kms from Islamabad. The family members of Sharif received Jindal at the Islamabad airport after his visit to Afghanistan. Jindal was later escorted to Murree in an official protocol where he had an hour-long meeting with the prime minister. The meeting could be precursor to talks between the two leaders during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in June in Kazakhstan, Pakistan's The Express Tribune said. "Although nothing has officially been shared about the context of this meeting, it is believed it was part of back-channel diplomacy to arrange a meeting between the Pakistani and Indian prime ministers on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to be held in June in Astana, Kazakhstan," the paper noted. The meeting between Jindal and Sharif, however, has caused a political storm in Islamabad with the opposition criticising Sharif for keeping the meeting with Jindal a 'secret'. In fact, the prime minister's daughter, Maryam Nawaz, was forced to clear the air by tweeting that Jindal was an 'old friend' of the Prime Minister Mr. Jindal is an old friend of the Prime Minister. Nothing 'secret' about the meeting & should not be blown out of proportion. Thank you. Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 27, 2017 Meanwhile, a resolution was today submitted in Pakistan's Punjab Assembly against the "secret" meeting of Sharif and Jindal. Punjab Assembly Opposition leader Mian Mahmoodur Rashid submitted the resolution in the assembly, saying Sharif held a "secret" meeting with a three-member Indian delegation led by businessman Sajjan Jindal in Murree. "Jindal brought the message of Modi (which seems to be about Kulbhushan Jadhav). The people of Pakistan should be told as why the premier kept his meeting with Jindal secret. What was the purpose of this meeting at a time when India is bent upon isolating Pakistan in the world," the resolution said. PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said: "Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will have to tell the people as why he felt the need to hold a secret meeting with an Indian businessman". Jindal is said to be the man behind arranging a meeting between Modi and Sharif in Lahore on December 25 in 2015 on the occasion of Sharif's birthday and the marriage his grand daughter Mehr-un-Nisa. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple U.S. presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasizing by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said. In other highlights of the 42-minute interview, Trump was cool to speaking again with Taiwan's president after an earlier telephone call with her angered China. He also said he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the U.S. THAAD anti-missile defense system, which he estimated at $1 billion, and intends to renegotiate or terminate a U.S. free trade pact with South Korea because of a deep trade deficit with Seoul. Asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the pact, Trump said: "Very soon. I'm announcing it now." Trump also said he was considering adding stops to Israel and Saudi Arabia to a Europe trip next month, emphasizing that he wanted to see an Israeli-Palestinian peace. He complained that Saudi Arabia was not paying its fair share for U.S. defense. Asked about the fight against Islamic State, Trump said the militant group had to be defeated. "I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation," he said, when asked about what the endgame was for defeating Islamist violent extremism. XI 'TRYING VERY HARD' Trump said North Korea was his biggest global challenge. He lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in Pyongyang. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month. "I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesn't want to see turmoil and death. He doesn't want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. "With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he can't," Trump said. Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed U.S. lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority." It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbor and ally, and remained open to negotiations. U.S. officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct U.S. military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among U.S. forces in both countries. 'I HOPE HE'S RATIONAL' Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. "He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. "I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational," he said. Trump, sipping a Coke delivered by an aide after the president ordered it by pressing a button on his desk, rebuffed an overture from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who told Reuters a direct phone call with Trump could take place again after their first conversation in early December angered Beijing. China considers neighboring Taiwan to be a renegade province. "My problem is that I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi," said Trump. "I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation. So I wouldn't want to be causing difficulty right now for him. "So I would certainly want to speak to him first." Trump also said he hoped to avoid a potential government shutdown amid a dispute between congressional Republicans and Democrats over a spending deal with a Saturday deadline looming. But he said if a shutdown takes place, it will be the Democrats' fault for trying to add money to the legislation to "bail out Puerto Rico" and other items. He also defended the one-page tax plan he unveiled on Wednesday from criticism that it would increase the U.S. deficit, saying better trade deals and economic growth would offset the costs. "We will do trade deals that are going to make up for a tremendous amount of the deficit. We are going to be doing trade deals that are going to be much better trade deals," Trump said. Amity Lodge No. 23 is located at 305 S. 100 E. in Brigham City. Its origins tracing back to the stonemasons of the Middle Ages and perhaps much further, Masonry came to Colonial America in the early 1700s and to Utah in 1858, with the dispatch of Johnstons Army. Early next month, Utahs Freemasons will hold a statewide public open house in a collaborative effort to share information about their organizationthe worlds oldest fraternitywithin their respective communities. On Saturday, May 6, Masons from Logan to St. George will welcome visitors to their meeting places, referred to as lodges or temples, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Residents of Box Elder and Cache counties are encouraged to visit Amity Lodge No. 23 in Brigham City and Harmony Lodge No. 21 in Logan. George Winters, secretary of the Amity Lodge and former Grand Historian of the Utah Grand Lodge, said Utahs Freemasons host the statewide open house annually. What were doing is opening the doors up and allowing people to come in and view our buildings, answer questions that the general public may have and just let them see what we do in Lodge, basically to dispel a lot of the rumors that are out there about Masonry, Winters said. The questions will be answered by Freemasons with the knowledge to give them honest and truthful answers. It wont be the kind of rhetoric you hear on the Internet. It will be first-hand knowledge right from the source. Winters said visitors to the Amity Lodge temple will also have the opportunity to view a collection of important Masonic artifacts. These include a red cap worn by James Cash JC Penney, founder of the J.C. Penney Company retail chain; a hand-forged square and compass set used by Freemasons in Johnstons Army; several strands of George Washingtons hair; and a White House foundation stone etched with historic bankers marks. George Washingtons hair comes from a private collection back East, and its very valuable, he said, and Im always impressed when I get to see these White House stones. The stones, he said, were discovered when the White House was renovated back in the 1950s, during President Harry Trumans administration. It was a means for the stonemasons to be paid, Winters explained. They would cut their marks into the stone and then they would tally the marks up at the end of the day or week and their pay would be drafted from that. Truman, who was a Masonic Grand Master, preserved the stones and presented one to each one of the Grand Lodges across the United States. Each stone was affixed with a small brass White House plaque and accompanied by a letter from the president, framed in recycled White House wood. These are some pretty important artifacts, Winters said, and we invite everybody to come downfamilies if theyd like to come. No matter where you live, there is a Masonic lodge not too far away, and we encourage everybody to go in, bring your questions. Wed be happy to see everyone. Whichever Masonic temple they visit on May 6, guests throughout the state are invited to bring non-perishable donations to benefit the Utah Food Bank. Refreshments will be served at some locations, including the Amity and Harmony temples. Amity Lodge No. 23 is located at 305 S. 100 E. in Brigham City. Harmony Lodge No. 21, which is currently being renovated, is located at 118 W. 100 N. in Logan. More information about the statewide open house is available at www.utahgrandlodge.org.
jennifer@cvradio.com Brexit: A linguistic Bing Bang? Published on April 28, 2017 Story by Emmanuel Testenoire Translation by: Natacha Lescart en fr it es de pl With member States and governments leaders gathering this weekend to launch the Brexit negotiations process, one question is becoming increasingly relevant that of the European Unions future. With Great Britain leaving the EU, the English could lose its rank of official language within the Union. What then, are the consequences for the institutions, their work and the citizens involved? Although Malta and Ireland speak mainly English, only Great Britain chose English as its official language within the European Union. Both countries respectively elected Maltese and Gaelic as their official language when they entered the EU. English is undoubtedly the most used language in European institutions and the European bubble. However, due to Brexit, it will be the official language of none of the remaining member States. The European Lingua Franca A simple walk through European neighbourhood in Brussels is enough to be persuaded that English is spoken everywhere. Even if each institution has the opportunity to choose its working languages, the English language remains privileged. Since its enlargement in 1995, English has become the first of three official working languages of the European Commission (English, French and German). While in 1997, French and English were almost equivalent 45% of working papers were published in English, while 40,5% were in French the gap grew larger over the years. In 2013, 81% of the Commissions written papers were in English compared to 4,5% in French and 2% in German. At the European Parliament, the outcome is the same. The institution works officially in the 24 official languages of the Union. However, English remains number one. In 2012, English was spoken for 129 hours during plenary sessions, whereas German was only used for 76 hours and French for 38 hours. A shake-up of the European approach to work The European Union is the number one employer of translators and interpreters in the world, with approximately 7,000 employees working in these fields. With 24 official languages, there are 526 languages combinations, and not all of them are easy to carry out. In such cases, an intermediate language, called a pivot, is used to switch from the first minor language to the target language. Youve probably guessed: English is the first language to be used in these cases. Giving up English would have a huge impact for the European Institutions as well as their work and their employees. Their working habits would be shaken, an entirely new set of staff able to work in the other official languages would have to be hired and translation and interpreting services would be disrupted. The European Unions work does not only concern its institutions, it also affects thousands of companies that gravitate towards it from within the European Bubble. With almost 20,000 lobbyists and 5,590 interests representations, Brussels is in terms of lobbying the second city worldwide, just behind Washington D.C. Exchanges between the institutions and the interest representations (private or public) are almost exclusively done in English. What about its citizens? Even though all working documents in the institutions are supposed to be translated into all 24 official languages, this is hardly ever the case. Many web pages from europa.eu are only available in a few languages and sometimes only in English. Withdrawing English from the picture raises the question of European citizens access to institutional work. According to a Eurobarometer survey, English is the first foreign language spoken in Europe (for basic knowledge as well as for the ability to understand an article or to have a discussion). English is even the only language from the top 3 foreign languages to be mastered in each of the Member States. No language seems to be able to replace it as efficiently. Whilst the European Union must face the rise of nationalism and Euroscepticism, should it widen the gap between itself and its citizens by ceasing to use the first foreign language that they learn to speak? At an internal level, during a time when actions are expected on numerous complex subjects, not to use a lingua franca runs the risk of slowing down European progress. Story by Emmanuel Testenoire Translated from Brexit : big bang linguistique ? European Union, why are you so distant? Published on April 15, 2017 en fr es it de pl 47% of citizens don't favor the EU, according to a report published by the Pew Research Center in 2016. European nationals and media feel they are being misinformed and dismissed as far as European affairs are concerned. But isn't the EU a victim of misinformation and misunderstandings as well? And doesn't the media contribute to it in its own way? Nowadays, as information and communication grow exponentially, misinformation is devastating and can prove to be a very violent tool. Eyes on Europe, Cafebabel and the Representation of the European Commission in Belgium organized a workshop for exchanges between journalists, EU officials and experts on media and communication about two main themes: "European Union: how can misinformation be countered?" and "Communication regarding EU-funded projects." Misinformation, yes, but what does that mean? Misinformation is a mass communication technique that alters reality to influence, to deceive and to promote an idea or concept. It may be desired by the government, social groups, or companies, but it can also be unintentional due to incompetence, mistakes or misunderstandings of the facts. The EU, the media and citizens are both victims and contributors of misinformation. Whats the role of the EU in all this? The EU shows a rather distant behavior towards the citizens who feel abandoned by it. Europe is a sign of disappointment and misunderstanding. According to the Pew Research Centers report, the number of Eurosceptics will rise in 2017 in response to Brexit and EUs future migration and economic policies. Its harsh to see the gap between the EU and its citizens widening every day. The EU's future is bleak. Criticisms of the European Union are increasing and include its lack of transparency, its complexity, its detachment, its erroneous policies in economic, international and European affairs, as well as its unpunctual communication. But isnt that Euroscepticism fed by misinformation or misunderstandings of European matters? Misinformation and the media: a matter of aptitude? One of the responsibilities of the media, and one that is far from unimportant, is making an appropriate report of European activities and decisions, yet the phenomenon of misinformation keeps growing. Journalistic training is certainly sharp, but many gaps remain in European studies and policies. Poor mastery of European political matters can quickly disfavor journalists and put their professionalism under questioning, though nobody will contradict the complexity of assimilating the workings of the EU and its policies with finesse. This lack of knowledge plays a significant role in the phenomenon of misinformation. With the peak of "mainstream" internet sites like Facebook and Twitter, fact-checking has become less fashionable. The issue of verifying sources is certainly a great obstacle for the adequate work of a journalist; however, this verification, that is one of the basic tasks of journalism, now goes out the window: it's a race to be the one who published it first. Our journalists tell us: "we try to check, but sometimes we have no time." It is difficult for them to apply to the letter the rule of source verification, as it takes a lot of work and investigation. In addition, reporters seem to be partial sometimes. Its easy to understand that a journalist will favor an article that will sell more over another one. The commodification of information, even giving false information through biased source verification and/or insufficient knowledge of the workings of the EU and its activities, can drive journalists to negligence. It is due to this phenomenon that some of the topics that are most important to the general public fall through the cracks. Public knowledge regarding EU-funded projects. According to a recent study, 75% of Belgians say they are not well informed or not informed about EU activities. And 8% declare to have contributed to European funding for the development of a project. Each year, the EU provides financial assistance in the form of grants, loans and contracts to SMEs, NGOs, non-profits, youth projects, researchers, farmers and rural businesses. This money is managed in association with national and regional authorities through various funds such as ERDF, ESF, CF, EAFRD and EMFF. The 2020 economic growth target for Europe is not to generate profit to the recipient of aid, but to assist in reaching an "economic balance". To cite just one example among many of European aid beneficiaries, theres the Kaanal lighthouse, located in Molenbeek, which is a coffee shop and canteen with a co-working space with possibilities of privatization. EU-funded projects are victims of poor communication on the part of European authorities and journalists, but also of the funds organizations mentioned above. The EU adopts a remote and invisible behavior precisely at the local level. The European Commission should establish a communication plan and strategy to promote these initiatives; its in the EU's interest to communicate its investments and improve the visibility of its activities requires working hand in hand with journalists and fund organizations such as the ERDF, ESF , CF, EAFRD and EMFF. The projects are difficult to sell to the public, according to our journalists, and therefore hard to advertise. This is not a selling point, basically. Our contributors advocate for the establishment of a local-level communication strategy by the EU that will connect with much more people who will have journalists and funding organizations as mediators, although this requires giving more resources to fund organizations to improve reporting of these projects. Conclusion. Countering misinformation should be a priority for the EU and the media, as both contribute to and are victims of it. Left to work hand in hand, the Commission should implement debriefings to help journalists achieve a better understanding of and increase the visibility of European affairs, and propose a reform that would improve collaboration between the EU and the media. The EU should also consider concretely applying the principles of transparency set out in the Maastricht Treaty and reinforce the link between the administered and those who administer. Misinformation from both the EU and the media works against them. It is high time that they make every effort to counter this phenomenon, which one day may turn against them and the expression "hoisted by their own petard" becomes a painful reality. This article was originally published on the official website of the association Eyes on Europe. Eyes On Europe Eyes On Europe Created in 2004 by a group of students, Eyes On Europe is an organization that deals with European affairs. Through their magazine and their website, they promote Europe through citizenship and dialogue. For more information, visit their Facebook page. Story by Eyes on Europe Translated from Union Europeenne, pourquoi es-tu si distante? The Brussels European schools: victims of their own success Published on April 23, 2017 en fr es it de pl The success of European schools is indisputable. In over 60 years of history, the European schools have offered a multilingual and multicultural education to several tens of thousands of children. However, with the expansion of the European Union and with the leading institutions being located in Brussels, the available infrastructures are desperately short of places. For decades, the Brussels European Schools have been victims of their own success. Even if they are not directly part of a European institution, they remain strongly associated with the European Commission. This European project was founded by the governments of the European Union Member States. The first school was opened in Luxembourg in 1953, prior even to the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957. Its main goal was to offer the children of the staff of the European institutions an education in their mother tongue and in a multicultural environment, a goal which is moreover always relevant. An increasing overpopulation There are currently fourteen European schools spread over seven countries (Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the UK). The infrastructures of the Brussels European Schools have a nominal capacity of approximately 10,000 places, all of which are already overpopulated, with the exception of Brussels IV and Brussels I (Berkendael). This overpopulation is a real headache for the schools. It causes security and management problems which may negatively impact the quality of teaching. Teachers are complaining more and more of overcrowded classes which can reach up to 31 or 32 students. The Central Enrolment Authority was created in 2006, following the phenomena of increasing applications to enrol in the Brussels European Schools. The principal purpose of this organisation is to adjudicate on enrolment and to manage the flow of applications to the Brussels European Schools. Naturally, in Brussels, the problem is intrinsically linked to its status as capital of Europe, the preferred home of European institutions. Consequently, on the basis of data collected at the beginning of 2017, there are more than 32,000 people working for the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union alone. "Useful languages" section preferred over others What's more, with some schools being preferred to others, the applications for enrolment in the "coveted" schools accentuate this problem. Specifically, parents can choose the school in which they want to enrol their children, and in that respect they are loath to place their kids in the newly established schools. Is there a lack of confidence in the infrastructures of the new institutes? Or fear of limited academic support? Nevertheless, and regardless of the motivation of the parents, the final decision falls to the Central Enrolment Authority who, depending on the number of enrollees in the child's language section, will offer a place at the school with the fewest students. However, some parents want to place their child in the already overloaded French- or English-speaking language sections without fail, which reinforces the imbalance in school enrolments. The motivation behind this decision is to place their child in the so-called "useful languages" sections, even though the European schools were created with the aim of offering an education in the dominant language, or mother tongue, of the child. It is therefore unsurprising to sometimes have children of parents from a Southern or Central European country enrolled in an unsuitable language section. This difference in interest between the schools gives rise to a distrustful atmosphere for future enrolment applicants. It places unnecessary pressure on the already overcrowded schools and introduces some uncertainty in the recruitment of staff and the distribution of resources, decisions which sometimes have to be made as quickly as possible in order to offer the best academic support possible. The European schools, well aware of their role to play in promoting the European identity, shape the Europeans of tomorrow, today. However, without a permanent solution to this overpopulation problem, the Brussels European Schools cannot fully realise this potential. Article written by Sam Almond and first published on the official site of Eyes on Europe. * | Eyes On Europe Created in 2004 by students, Eyes on Europe is an organisation focussed on European matters. Through its magazine and its website, Eyes on Europe promotes European citizenship and discussion. For more information, visit their Facebook page. Story by Eyes on Europe Translated from Les ecoles europeennes de Bruxelles victimes de leur propre succes Europa, Europa, Europa! Published on April 14, 2017 Story by Marton Biro en it es fr de pl With a new act the Hungarian goverment would close the biggest and best private university in Hungary, the Central Europen University (CEU). But Budapesters showed their opinion and the their power as well. Here is why are the people on the streets. It really started to seem like people here are okay with everything that is happening. There were demonstrations, but not too loud and not too effective ones. So it really felt like people agreed with everything from migration politics to the NGO act. I also thought that maybe that is what people want and the media was right about us. And then something happened. The government has pushed a button. So here we are now, less than three weeks ago they announced the act about foreign universities, they voted about it and the citizens had the fifth demonstration against it on Wednesday, 04.12. But what brought those people to the street now, after maybe they had already been fed up but still had tried to ignore the government and had thought that maybe someone else would do something instead of them? First of all, we should not forget that we are talking about a post-socialist country. We cannot blame everything on socialism, of course, but we have to admit that it couldnt really help the people to know their rights or to speak up about the problems. There are countries (yes, I am talking about France) that knows how to protest and how to use civil rights. So if Hungarians are not doing anything against something it does not necessarily mean that they agree with it. Secondly, the people here went through so many things that were insane or unbelievable. But the Lex CEU simply does not make any sense. This is one of the best universities in its field in Europe, respected by all the professionals. It was actually visible that the worlds biggest universities, most well-known professors and Nobel Prize winners support it. This prestigious university unquestionably has the right to continue its work. So everyone started to think about the obvious reasons like the University was founded and financed by one of the governments arch enemies, George Soros. And it would be a ridiculous reason to shut down such a highly respected school as the CEU. Then again, this university works a little differently from the state universities. That is why it can provide an American degree with the Hungarian one. And the different is always frightening, mainly if it is successful as well. Furthermore, this is also about our reputation. Which is already not the best. But the CEU is one of the last institutes that could prove the existence of the Hungarians who think in a different way. And obviously a university mostly consists of students, and students can become the angriest and loudest enemies of a system. We have this joke in Hungarian that there is no autumn holiday at the Budapest University of Technologies and Economics since 1956, because the fights against the Russians were started by the students. There are still some memorials, events and posters about the 60th anniversary of the Hungarian revolution in 56. But maybe the best way to remember is protesting. We have to remember that we do have our voice and 60 years ago the people were so strong together that the dictatorship alone could not hold them back and they needed the Russians to stop them. Now I would like to believe that is not possible. We are still afraid of the Russians and there are articles in the news day by day about cyber-attacks and spy activity of the Russians. But we will not see Putins tanks on the streets of Budapest again. We would like to believe in Europe. And we need your help and support. Actually the ones who do not believe the propaganda are also angry about EU because it lets corruption and antidemocratic acts go so far. But according to many statistics including the Eurostat Public Opinion charts still more the two-third of the Hungarians wants to belong to the EU despite the complains that they may have. And that is what we could see yesterday on the streets as well. Beside all the government-critic sayings and adages, what you could mostly hear was Europe. You need the positive message, too, in a demonstration. You cannot just destroy everything; you should have an aim. Something why you do everything. At least if you want to be productive. Yesterday for us these positive messages were Democracy, Free education and Europe. The demonstrations have not ended yet. Now there is an organized activity in every two days. I thought that the only solution was moving to another country. But I started to get my hope back. To feel the power of my voice. And in a situation in which we got an ultimatum if we want to belong the EU or not I finally reached the point that I dont care about the official opinion of Hungary. Because it rarely represents its people. Doesnt matter what our politicians say. The peoples will was really clear yesterday. We want to belong to Europe. And we are ready to work for that. Story by Marton Biro Brussels: The concrete heart of Europe Published on April 28, 2017 Story by cafebabel FR Translation by: Cafebabel en fr de es it pl [SPONSORED CONTENT] As the European Union reaches a turning point, Brussels is trying to show off its European identity. We visit four symbolic places guaranteed to make you fall in love with the good Old Continent. No champagne, no petits fours, no official photos of Donald Tusk cutting a red ribbon with silver scissors. Instead, there's a line of more than 2,000 European citizens waiting impatiently for the gates of the Europa building to open. This particular Saturday, 10 December 2016, the new headquarters of the European Council is thronging with people. Many have been waiting for a long time. After more than a decade of work, Europe's newest jewel is revealed: a gigantic cube which will host meetings between representatives of the 27 member states, from ministers to heads of state. Europa: the antithesis of European institutions But the first people to see the Europa wont be Angela Merkel, Theresa May or Mariano Rajoy - theyll be Patrick, Laura or Fernando. Hundreds of ordinary people have braved the elements to enjoy the open day put on by Europes institutions, who have made a point of welcoming the ordinary people of the Old Continent ahead of its leaders. Has Christmas come early? Certainly for those who like a challenge. For Europas new look is certainly unconventional: taking up more than 70,000 square metres, the building boasts 3,750 windows, a central lantern in the form of a giant egg, lit up by 374 LED tubes and a certain idea of melding the old and new. The cost? 321 million. Critics have called it a white elephant, pointing to how far the budget has swelled from its original 240 million - not really fitting for a building in which technocrats in suits and ties will get down to the task of running Europe. The Belgian architect in charge of the project, Philippe Samyn, has tried to justify the huge price tag. Firstly, he says, it costs the likes of Patrick, Laura and Fernando much less than the NATO building sat at the opposite end of the city, which cost around 1 billion. Secondly, the Europa has a real, European identity: its facade is made up of a series of wooden frames, the lumber taken from sites across all the member states of the EU. Then he plays his trump card: the meeting rooms where the summits of EU leaders will be held, which will be resplendent in coloured tiles that reach from floor to ceiling. "Institutional buildings are often austere or even sinister," says Samyn. "We wanted to construct a relaxing place which underlined the joy in making these important decisions." Well see whether the colours help to relax tensions between Angela Merkel and the Greeks when the building opens properly in 2017. Beers by the Berlin Wall... in Brussels One thing is certain: with the Europa, Brussels is adding an extra coat of polish to the European quarter. But while the Rue de la Loi now boasts no fewer than three major EU buildings (the others being the Lex and the Justius Lipsius, both of which are occupied by the Council of the European Union), the Belgian capital has plenty more European spaces to show off. Just a ten-minute walk away, another house is waiting patiently to for the public. The House of European History - the first official museum of the history of the EU - will open its doors on 6 May in celebration of Europe Day. Situated in the centre of the Leopold Park, the buildings towers and staircase entrance give it a solemn feel. Built on the foundations of an old dental clinic, its already drawn mockery from eurosceptics for (again) the price tag - around 56 million. Still, from next weekend, youll be able to learn about everything from the European Coal and Steel Community to the Treaty of Rome and the Bolkestein Directive. And knowledge like that is priceless. Then theres the nerve centre of the European Parliament. Known as "Station Europe", this free space allows young people the chance to jump head-first into a virtual representation of the Parliament building. 3D models, dioramas, touch-screens the EU has spared no expense to make sure that any information about your elected officials is at your fingertips. Station Europe is ideally situated close to the famous Place du Luxembourg - a hotspot for any pro-European night on the town - in what remains of the old Brussels railway station. If youre unsure about the thought of plugging into the EU Parliament 2.0, go and have a couple of pints on the other side of the road. Europe will never look prettier. But Brussels isnt just erecting buildings to the glory of Europe - theyre also moving monuments. On the promenade of the Berlaymont building - the headquarters of the European Commission - youll soon have the chance to see (and Instagram) a piece of history: an authentique section of the Berlin Wall, weighing three metric tonnes and measuring 3.6 metres tall, with a painting of John F Kennedy draped in an American flag. The "Kennedy Piece" is one of 15 sections of the wall which were brought to the Belgian capital in 2009 as part of the installation "Breaking the Wall", celebrating the 25th anniversary of Germanys reunification. German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble, and EU Commissioners Gunther Oettinger and Kristalina Georgieva were on hand to crack open a bottle of champagne. After the celebrations, the Commission bought the Kennedy Piece and put it pride of place outside their front door. How much did they pay? We dont know. Lets not give the Eurosceptics any more ammunition. --- All the buildings mentioned in this article will be open to the public from Europe Day - 6 May 2017. Story by cafebabel FR Translated from Bruxelles : une Europe en beton | BY Ricki Green | News Corp Australia, the official representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Australia, has today announced the industry leaders selected to the Australian Cannes Lions jury panel. The 2017 Australian Cannes Lions jurors are: Film: Laurie Geddes, J. Walter Thompson, Sydney Outdoor: David Nobay, Marcel, Sydney Media Awarding Jury: Imogen Hewitt, Havas Media/Havas Group Cyber: Andy Flemming, M&C Saatch, Sydney Direct Awarding Jury, Jason Williams, Leo Burnett Australia Radio: Matt Dickson, The Studio Southern Cross Austereo, Perth Promo & Activation Awarding Jury: Tara Ford, TBWA\Melbourne Design: Niccola Phillips, M&C Saatchi, Sydney PR: James Wright, Red Agency Glass: Bec Brideson, Venus Comms Mobile: Brad Eldridge, Soap Says Tony Phillips, chief marketing officer, News Corp Australia: Its great to have such a talented bunch of industry leaders represent Australia at the worlds most creative festival. To be so well represented across so many categories proves the calibre of our creative talent in this country. | BY Lynchy | Dentsu Singapore has appointed Christina Lim as Managing Director effective 15 May. Rosalynn Tay, who has been double-hatting as the CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Singapore and Dentsu Singapore since her appointment in 2015, will focus on continuing the strong growth momentum of Dentsu Aegis Network Singapore and its 10 network brands. A seasoned practitioner and visionary of branding and marketing, Lim (pictured) brings with her close to 30 years of experience, where she joins the business from leading Singaporean retailer, NTUC FairPrice. In her 10 years as Director of Brand & Marketing, Lim transformed the homegrown grocery retailer into a progressive and innovative brand in its field; her works which often have a technological focus, are consistently lauded as game changers and have been recognized through many marketing industry awards. She was instrumental for building and strengthening the NTUC FairPrice brand to what it is today a much loved icon with a strong affinity across the populations. This is evident in the recognition of the retailer in the Influential Brand Awards as well as the Campaign Asia Top 1,000 brands award. Prior to this, Lim spent 18 years in the advertising industry where she also took on senior positions in Publicis Singapore, TBWA Singapore and EURO RSCG Singapore (now known as Havas Worldwide Singapore) and has worked on blue-chip clients such as Hewlett Packard, AVIVA, Western Union and Dell. In her new role Lim will work closely with Andy Greenaway, Executive Creative Director of Dentsu Singapore, and report directly to Tay. Tay said, As Dentsu Singapore continues to scale exponentially, Christinas appointment is a timely arrival of talent and I couldnt be more pleased of her addition to our leadership bench. She has proven herself an innovative mind with an in-depth understanding of consumer-brand dynamics within the Singaporean landscape qualities integral to driving the business that is Dentsu Singapore. | BY Lynchy | OMD International has appointed Sarah Hargreaves as Managing Partner. In this role, Hargreaves is leading the OMD International team which manages OMDs key global and regional client relationships. An accomplished, international media and marketing communications professional with 20 years of experience, Hargreaves (pictured left) joins OMD International from Mindshare Singapore, where she was Managing Partner, Client Leadership, leading brand and performance marketing for multiple accounts including IBM, American Express and InterContinental Hotels Group. Prior to this, Hargreaves worked at UM, starting as a Media Manager at Universal McCann before rising to the ranks of Regional Managing Partner in the same agency. Commenting on the appointment, Ranga Somanathan, CEO Omnicom Media Group, Singapore & Malaysia said, Sarah is a fantastic addition to the OMD International team and brings with her a perfect mix of media knowledge across all platforms and expertise. Sarahs vast expertise in handling international accounts will enhance OMD Internationals service offering and add further momentum to this unit. I am delighted to welcome her on board. Stephen Li, APAC CEO, OMD, added, OMD is always seeking to augment its teams with talent of the highest calibre and Sarah is a perfect example of our strategy. Sarahs leadership will help us accelerate our vision and growth for our global and regional client partners. This is an exciting opportunity. OMD is a network that has established itself as a phenomenally strong agency on the back of a culture of growth leveraging the best of innovation, creativity, and results. OMD International is made up of a bunch of talented people and it is rewarding to work with the team to drive further growth and deliver great work, said Hargreaves. Mr Mahatara said he was overwhelmed with the community support he received since going public with his story, but did not want to rely on that help to get him through his recovery. "Our thesis really and this has been established in different places around the world, before you actually put specific proposals, you use the citizens to help explain and to guide the planning processes so in fact you end up with a win-win in that situation rather than a win-lose situation which appears to be the modern trend." At the same time as he was founding World Photo Day all those years back, Korske was drowning in debt after spending money on "stupid things like TVs and cars". He went on a six-year odyssey around Australia, taking photographs, living in his car and taking jobs wherever he could, from cafes to farms. Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Jaxport CEO Eric Green said the $23.5 million grant marks a milestone in our initiatives to build the port of the future and move cargo in the most efficient and eco-friendly way possible. An Uber driver was placed in custody and is awaiting sentence after being charged with raping a female passenger. The alleged sexual assault occurred on March 30, when 36-year old Angel Sanchez picked up the woman after a work-related gathering in Newport Beach, California, reports Reuters, citing prosecutors. Sanchez drove his victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, to Santa Ana, before assaulting her in his minivan. Following the attack, she immediately ran outside and called 911. An Uber spokesperson commented about the incident, saying: Nobody should go through what this rider reported to police. We worked with law enforcement on the investigation, and will continue to work with authorities. For his actions, Angel Sanchez faces a maximum sentence of 8 years in prison, if found guilty; in the meantime, he has been banned from driving for the ride sharing service. A similar episode occurred in Delhi, India, approximately 2 years ago, when an Uber driver took a female passenger to a remote place and raped her. The victim pressed charges and the man was eventually sentenced to life in prison. Following that incident, the company introduced safety measures and tightened driver checks. PHOTO GALLERY Kia has announced that it will invest $1.1 billion into a new manufacturing plant in Indias Anantapur District. The facility will be Kias very first in India and construction is scheduled to commence in the final quarter of 2017 before vehicles start rolling out in the second half of 2019. The plant, occupying approximately 23 million square feet, will include all the necessary facilities for stamping, welding, painting and assembly and ultimately ramp up to build around 300,000 vehicles annually. Additionally, the plant will allow the South Korean brand to sell vehicles in India for the very first time as it looks to capture a share of the rapidly-expanding market. In announcing the plant, key executives from Kia Motors signed a memorandum of understanding with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh. In a statement, president of Kia Motors Han-Woo Park said We are delighted to announce that Kias newest manufacturing facility will be here in Andhra Pradesh. It will enable us to sell cars in the worlds fifth largest market, while providing greater flexibility for our global business. Worldwide demand for Kia cars is growing and this is our latest step towards becoming a leading global car manufacturer. PHOTO GALLERY Following concerns that a key German supplier for Tesla could go on strike and potentially delay the arrival of the Model 3, the electric automaker has offered pay rises and job guarantees for the disgruntled workforce. Grohmann Engineering was purchased by Tesla last year and formed Tesla Advanced Automation Germany but despite its relationship with Tesla HQ, German trade union IG Metall has cried out for pay rises. After Easter, Reuters reports that Tesla offered workers at Grohmann a pledge to guarantee jobs for five years, a one-off 1,000 euro payment ($1,089) and stock options. Additionally, the carmaker offered 10,000 euros in stock options for four years prior to Easter and according to IG Metall, these conditions have significant reduced the likelihood of a workers strike. However, the union is still demanding improved pay and a collective wage bargaining contract. Late last month, the head of Grohmann, Klaus Grohmann, was ousted from the company over a clash with Elon Musk about the strategy of the German company. It is reported that Grohmann disagreed with Musks demands for the company to focus on Tesla projects at the detriment of legacy clients of Grohmann Engineering, including Daimler and BMW. PHOTO GALLERY With just 10,464 km (6,500 miles) on board, this Rosso Siviglia 1987 Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV is definitely one of the best kept examples weve ever seen. Aside from an Alpine CD stereo system, this car is believed to be in its original spec, wearing its original tires and still packing its 5.2-liter V12, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. According to the Bring a Trailer ad, its next owner will receive the cars warranty/maintenance book, factory tool roll and jack, a pair of Lamborghini leather work gloves, an unused spare tire assembly, clean Carfax and AutoCheck reports and a clean Texas title. This particular car has been redesigned with pronounced aerodynamic elements, such as the bulging intake vents, engine covers and straked rocker sills to go with the massive rear wing imported from the prior iteration. The Rosso Siviglia (Seville Red) paint is also thought to be original, although the rear wing was recently repainted due to stress cracks in the finish. Inside, the Senape (Mustard) leather upholstery is also reported to be original and looks very well preserved judging by these images. As for performance, the 5.2-liter V12 was good for 420 PS (414 HP) back when this Countach was new. At the beginning of 2017, the car received a substantial tune-up which includes 125-150 psi compression across all cylinders, master cylinder rebuilt by KARPS (rebuilt calipers, new lines & fluid), rebuilt Bosch fuel distributors and warm up regulators, new hatch support, electrical and A/C work plus an engine oil and filters change. As of right now, the largest bid has reached $155,000 a price that should continue to evolve in the coming days. PHOTO GALLERY Looking into a hybrid hypercar such as the Ferrari LaFerrari requires a multi-million dollar budget, with some examples having already reached an eight-digit sum. As absurd as it may sound, two units of the Italian-made machine were listed on Mobile, here and here, for a 10 million price tag each, which equals to $10,910,000 at the current exchange rates, or almost $22 million combined. Currently located in Luxembourg, the red LaFerrari was made in 2014, and has 1,700km (1,056 miles) on the clock, whereas the white one, which can be found in the United Kingdom, is one year younger, and was barely driven, as its odo reads just 210km (130 miles). If they indeed sell for this ridiculous amount, then they will make another example, which was up for grabs some two years ago, for what was then considered to be an almost impossible asking price $5 million, a true bargain, beating investing into real estate, or stocks. What is believed to be the most expensive Ferrari LaFerrari ever sold changed hands during the Monterey Car Week, last summer, for $4.7 million. PHOTO GALLERY Parents in Kettle Valley are devastated to find out their children wont be accepted into the school they moved to the neighbourhood for. Three mothers all said they followed the school's instructions to get their children accepted at Chute Lake Elementary, but were told on Monday that no new families would have their kids entering. We moved here for the sense of community and for the school, said Laura Myles. "We moved here so our kids could go to the school. The thought of having her three children separated at multiple schools terrifies her. There has been a kids wait list every single year," she said. "There are 27 kids on that wait list just for kindergarten that will be sent to neighbouring schools. According to the parents, another 33 are wait-listed in other grades. Only students who have siblings at the school were accepted. Communities across our district are growing rapidly in many cases, much faster than the schools that serve them, the school district said in a press release. The district said Chute Lake Elementary has limited space and property to expand. Some schools present an opportunity to convert existing multipurpose rooms to dedicated classrooms, which is relatively simple and cost effective. However, some schools have limited space and property in which to expand, such as Chute Lake Elementary," said the district. On Thursday, the moms were told their children have been accepted into Anne McClymont Elementary. Starting school is scary, and the solution they are proposing to us is to send them down on the bus to another school. It is not our neighbourhood school, said Myles. Alanna Chambers, who moved to the community so her children could attend the school seven years ago, said the kindergarten classes have decreased in number three, to two and a half and now two. A middle school is set to be built by 2019, but the parents would like a guarantee their children can be registered for Grade 1 at Chute Lake. "It is seemingly the same situation year after year," said Camille Olsen. They could have done better." A public meeting will be held May 1 at the school. We feel that the school wants what's best for our community as well. We do feel that they are on our side and they do want to welcome our kids in there, said Chambers. Photo: Google Street View Enderby Mayor Greg McCune said he's received some local support after the NDP's Shuswap district candidate accused him of a conflict of interest. Provincial candidate Sylvia Lindgren's comment was made during an all-candidates forum in Enderby on Tuesday. During the debate, candidates were asked what could be done to improve traffic safety on Highway 97A through the city. Liberal candidate Greg Kyllo suggested converting part of the abandoned CPR rail to roadway by turning the highway into two lanes northbound and putting in two southbound lanes on the rail bed. Conditional agreement to purchase the 43 kilometre rail line has been okayed by regional districts in the North Okanagan and the Columbia Shuswap. Lindgren said the mayor would probably like the road to go past his own business. He shouldnt be voting on it, said Lindgren, referring to McCune's directorship with NORD. That is a conflict of interest. McCune owns Sutherlands Bakery which is flanked by Highway 97A and the rail bed. I think if you polled 99 per cent of the population of Enderby, they wouldnt see it that way. So for someone to come in from outside, well that is just her idea of campaigning, retorted McCune. Being in politics in a small community actually costs your business revenue. "I received several supportive calls from residents after the forum telling me that Lindgren was told not to come back to Enderby if she was going to act in that fashion. McCune said there had been talk for years about using the rail bed to alleviate traffic going through Enderby even when the railway was still operational. Its a log jam and its starts earlier every year, especially with the improvements to the Trans Canada Highway. 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In a news release from SSPS, the group took aim at a clause in the master plan's vision statement, which says the city has "trust in the stewardship of our parks and recreation." Leaders of the SSPS call that statement an "astonishing admission of our city's failure to earn that trust to date." "We think that to say, 'We have trust in the stewardship of our parks and recreation,' in a vision statement is actually an admission that the city does not have that trust now but their aim is to recover it, and thats why we called it an astonishing admission that requires full explanation in the report," Lisa Martin later clarified. While the vision statement includes that clause, the SSPS statement says that's not backed up within the remainder of the document. "Nowhere in the report is this reality described and analyzed in any meaningful way, yet the lack of trust is a fundamental barrier to real progress in maximizing the benefits of our parks to our quality of life and our environment," the SSPS statement says. The group also set its crosshairs at a statement from a consultant hired by the city to help move the process along. In particular, it scolds the consultant's language on public opinion on taking up parkland for commercial uses and on amusements in public parks. The consultant says "many" residents oppose commercial uses and that the community is "divided" on amusements. That, SSPS says, ignores the 85 per cent opposition to commercial uses in parks recorded in a phone survey conducted for the master plan, as well as several rallies and petitions and letters to the editor. The group's statement takes further issue with the "deliberately ambiguous" language used in the document, including "inappropriate development" rather than "commercial development," and "preferably unencumbered" rather than simply "unencumbered." The SSPS is calling on the master plan's steering committee to include a recommendation that would, if heeded, amend the Parks Dedication Bylaw to remove a clause that allows council to lease public park land out. The bylaw was voted on in a 2002 referendum, and SSPS believes those who voted in favour of it "believed they had protected our parks from commercial development." The city will be holding an open house at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre on May 1, while feedback will also be received online at the city's public engagement website. Photo: Getty Images It's got a ways to go before it is passed, but the Vernon District school board has given second reading to a $97.5 million 2017-18 budget. Once the money is earmarked for programs and services, we have a pot of money we can invest in our schools which is a delight for our trustees, said board chairperson Kelly Smith. We can add employee support, a mental health liaison person which was a pilot project last year but this will keep it going. We have money for an education summit and can improve technology use in the classrooms. Smith said $693,000 was going back into the school system. According to the chair, teachers' salaries and benefits total $62.6 million. Photo: Kari Sargeant They're baaaaaack. A herd of deer that was caught on video by Darrel Wihnon on April 18 as they wandered through the downtown core at around 8 a.m. on a Sunday appear to have returned to the city centre. This time, a herd of half a dozen deer were spotted meandering down 30th Avenue in the middle of a Thursday afternoon. The deer were seen on main street just after 1 p.m. Photo: R. Barton Beairsto Elementary will be bursting at the seams next September. The Vernon District school board has approved an additional French immersion kindergarten class for the 2017-18 school year. The school will be very, very full, but we can cope for that year, said board chairperson Kelly Smith. Parents, many wrapped in blankets, lined up outside the school in the early morning hours on Jan. 17, hoping to register their children for the popular kindergarten French classes, but there were more students than spaces. Apart from the new class, trustees have approved a recommendation to establish a round table of stakeholders to discuss the future of French immersion within the district. Photo: Donna-Marie Gregersen File photo. Concerns in the Shuswap over the possibility of further floods or landslides are heading to Victoria. Politicians attending the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) conference in Kamloops have supported a resolution calling on the province to ensure logging companies hold comprehensive public consultations in communities that could be affected. The resolution was put forward by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. There are worries logging the steep slopes in some areas have or could impact water sources and slope stability, said Rhona Martin, chairperson of the CSRD board. Since I've been the representative, there have been two very significant torrents at Swansea Point. Residents of the community, which sits south of Sicamous along Mara Lake, are very, very concerned, Martin said, adding there were similar worries at Silver Creek, between Salmon Arm and Falkland. Last Saturday night, 10 Silver Creek properties were evacuated due to an immediate danger to life safety as a result of groundwater and slope instability, according to a regional district release. The order has since been lifted. At a recent meeting, CSRD directors recommended to Tolko and the Ministry of Forests that a moratorium be placed on future logging activity in the Hummingbird Creek and Mara Creek basin due to the history of large debris flows in the area. It also called on Tolko Industries to hold public engagement meetings to provide information and answer questions regarding forest stewardship plan amendments. "I don't think anybody around our board table is opposed to logging but there should be consultations with communities that may be impacted," Martin said. Photo: Google Street View A neurologist says there was nothing doctors could do to save a Calgary gas station employee brought to hospital after a hit-and-run. Maryam Rashidi, 35, was trying to stop a driver from leaving the Centex gas station in Calgary without paying in June 2015. She chased the vehicle into traffic and climbed on the hood of the truck to get the driver to return and pay his $113 bill. Joshua Cody Mitchell, 22, is on trial for a number of charges including second-degree murder. Court has heard the driver swerved, causing her to fall to the ground where she was run over by the front and rear dual tires of the vehicle causing devastating injuries. Dr. Phillippe Couillard, an expert in critical care neurology at Foothills Medical Centre, told court Rashidi was brought in by air ambulance and examined by the emergency team. He said scans and X-rays showed the bone at the base of her skull and the first vertebrae in her neck both had fractures. Couillard said there was bruising on her lung and some cuts. Couillard said she also remained in a deep coma and a CT scan revealed three out of four blood vessels going to the brain were damaged. He said one of the blood vessels was blocked with a blood clot. "That clot went to the main blood vessel into the brain on the right and caused a very large stroke on that side," Couillard testified. Photo: DriveBC UPDATE: 5:50 a.m. A lane closure remains in effect at the scene of last night's crash on the Connector. DriveBC last updated the situation about 3 a.m. As many as seven patients may have been injured in the incident, according to unconfirmed reports. UPDATE: 10:25 p.m. The Okanagan Connector remains closed in the eastbound direction, but the westbound lanes have now reopened following a vehicle crash. ORIGINAL: 9:55 p.m. A vehicle crash has closed the Okanagan Connector in both directions Thursday night. The crash occurred at about 9:30 p.m., two kilometres west of the Elkhart Road exit on Highway 97C. DriveBC has no estimated time of reopening at this time. The cause of the crash and extent of any injuries is unknown at this time. Photo: The Canadian Press Crystal Pepper, daughter of Dr. David Dao, accompanied by attorney Stephen Golan. The passenger who was dragged off a flight after refusing to give up his seat settled with United for an undisclosed sum Thursday in an apparent attempt by the airline to put the fiasco behind it as quickly as possible. David Dao's legal team said the agreement includes a provision that the amount will remain confidential. One his lawyers praised United CEO Oscar Munoz. Munoz "said he was going to do the right thing, and he has," attorney Thomas Demetrio said in a brief statement. "In addition, United has taken full responsibility for what happened ... without attempting to blame others, including the city of Chicago." The deal came less than three weeks after the episode and before Dao had even sued. The deal means United will not face a lawsuit, which could have been costly, both in legal bills and in further damage to the airline's reputation. Photo: CTV Manitoba Public Insurance has revoked a Star Trek fan's personalized licence plate after receiving complaints that its message ASIMIL8 is offensive to indigenous people. Nick Troller has been driving around with the plate for two years. It's held within a Star Trek licence frame that also bears the quotes, "We are the Borg," and "Resistance is Futile." Troller tells CTV Winnipeg that on his favourite show, an enemy race of aliens called the Borg travel through the galaxy trying to assimilate other cultures into their own. He says he thought the plate was funny and notes strangers and other Trek fans have complimented him and asked to take photos with the plate. But Troller got a phone call Wednesday from a staff member at Manitoba Public Insurance who told him two people had complained that the word assimilate is offensive to indigenous people. He also received a letter from MPI on Thursday demanding he "surrender" the plate immediately, telling him he can either get a new plate or a refund on the $100 charge. "In this context, we asked Russia to provide support in rearming and strengthening our armed forces, in particular, the newly-formed air defense force," he added. According to Bat-Erdene, Russia is assisting Mongolia in training its troops. About 350 Mongolian servicemen are currently studying at 20 Russian military schools on favorable terms or free of charge. The Mongolian delegation headed by the defense minister has arrived for the 6th Conference on International Security in Moscow. The conference started on April 26 and will last through April 27. During the conference, Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu and the heads of Russias Security Council and Foreign Ministry will present Russias vision of the international situation and the reasons why the situation has become less stable. In December 2015, Mongolia has take the delivery of Russian military equipment including T-72A main battle tanks and modernized In the past Mongolia has already received Russian-made military equipment including 100 main battle tanks T-72A, 40 BTR-70M APC, 20 BTR-80 and some military trucks. "I informed the defense minister that we had worked out the basis of Mongolias military policy, a package of defense laws had been adopted in line with the policy and specific tasks had been set to the armed forces," the Mongolian defense minister said."In this context, we asked Russia to provide support in rearming and strengthening our armed forces, in particular, the newly-formed air defense force," he added.According to Bat-Erdene, Russia is assisting Mongolia in training its troops. About 350 Mongolian servicemen are currently studying at 20 Russian military schools on favorable terms or free of charge.The Mongolian delegation headed by the defense minister has arrived for the 6th Conference on International Security in Moscow. The conference started on April 26 and will last through April 27.During the conference, Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu and the heads of Russias Security Council and Foreign Ministry will present Russias vision of the international situation and the reasons why the situation has become less stable.In December 2015, Mongolia has take the delivery of Russian military equipment includingmain battle tanks and modernized BTR-70M APC. This transfer of combat equipment to Mongolia is provided in the framework of military and technical assistance of the Russian Federation.In the past Mongolia has already received Russian-made military equipment including 100 main battle tanks T-72A, 40 BTR-70M APC, 20and some military trucks. Photo: The Canadian Press Arkansas wrapped up an accelerated executions schedule with a lethal injection that left the condemned inmate lurching and convulsing before he died, prompting calls for investigations and renewed scrutiny of the state's efforts to put multiple inmates to death on a compressed timeline. Kenneth Williams on Thursday became the fourth convicted killer executed in Arkansas in eight days as the state sought to carry out as many lethal injections as possible before one of its drugs expires Sunday. An Associated Press reporter who witnessed the execution said that about three minutes in, Williams' body jerked 15 times in quick succession lurching violently against the leather restraint across his chest then the rate slowed for a final five movements. J.R. Davis, a spokesman for Gov. Asa Hutchinson who did not witness the execution, called the movements "an involuntary muscular reaction" that he said was a widely known effect of the surgical sedative midazolam, the first of three drugs administered. Williams' attorneys released a statement calling witness accounts "horrifying" and demanding an investigation into what they called the "problematic execution." The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas backed up that call for a review, saying the state may have violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. In a statement Friday, the organization's executive director Rita Sklar said the governor had "ignored the dangers ... all to beat the expiration date on a failed drug." Arkansas had scheduled eight executions over an 11-day period before one of its lethal injection drugs expires April 30. That would have been the most in such a short time since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, but courts issued stays for four of the inmates. The four lethal injections that were carried out included Monday's first double execution in the United States since 2000. Photo: The Canadian Press U.S. President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order today that could lead to the expansion of drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. With one day left to rack up accomplishments before he reaches his 100th day in office, Trump will order his interior secretary to review an Obama-era plan that dictates which locations are open to offshore drilling, with the goal of the new administration to expand operations. It's part of Trump's promise to unleash the nation's energy reserves in an effort to reduce reliance on foreign oil and to spur jobs, regardless of fierce opposition from environmental activists who say offshore drilling harms whales, walruses and other wildlife and exacerbates global warming. "This order will cement our nation's position as a global energy leader and foster energy security for the benefit of American people, without removing any of the stringent environmental safeguards that are currently in place," Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told reporters at a White House briefing Thursday evening. Zinke said the order, combined with other steps Trump has taken during his first months in office, "puts us on track for American energy independence." The executive order will reverse part of a December effort by President Barack Obama to deem the bulk of U.S.-owned waters in the Arctic Ocean and certain areas in the Atlantic as indefinitely off limits to oil and gas leasing. It will also direct Zinke to conduct a review of the locations available for offshore drilling under a five-year plan signed by Obama in November. The plan blocked new oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It also blocked the planned sale of new oil and gas drilling rights in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas north of Alaska, but allowed drilling to go forward in Alaska's Cook Inlet southwest of Anchorage. The order could open to oil and gas exploration areas off Virginia and North and South Carolina, where drilling has been blocked for decades. Photo: BC NDP British Columbia's New Democrat Leader John Horgan will speak at a union convention in Victoria today as part of his campaign leading up to the provincial election on May 9. At a campaign stop in Prince George Thursday, Horgan noted that today is National Day of Mourning, which is held each year to honour workers who were killed on the job. Horgan said no one should go to work with fear they won't come home safe. B.C. Liberal Leader Christy Clark was also focused on workers during her campaign yesterday, visiting a North Vancouver sawmill and wood chip plant. Clark defended a call on the federal government to ban U.S. coal exports through B.C. in retaliation against American tariffs imposed on softwood lumber. In the final stretch to the polls, Clark is trying to keep her Liberal party in power ahead of Horgan's New Democrats, and Andrew Weaver's Green party. Photo: The Canadian Press First, Donald Trump threatened to rip up NAFTA. Then he didn't. This week he did again. Now, he's saying he won't. But maybe, he says, he'll change his mind again and rip it up if he can't get a good deal. "A negotiating ploy," said Gary Hufbauer of the Peterson Institute, a top U.S. expert on the North American Free Trade Agreement. "True to Trump's style. The only surprise was the quick reversal (this week)." It involves the concept that negotiating clout stems from the power to walk away. That power belongs to parties who don't fear the WATNA the acronym for Worst Alternative To A Negotiated Agreement. And right now, it seems, some people aren't sweating about the WATNA. For starters, there's the U.S. Congress. Trump needs Congress to move and it hasn't. It's not only slow-walking the appointment of a trade czar, but has yet to approve a notice that would allow negotiations to start in 90 days. And the clock is ticking. If there's no deal by next April, the Mexicans warn it probably can't happen next year because of their national election. Canada's stance is wait-and-see. Trade expert Laura Dawson explains the basic challenge for the U.S. president: He wants others to feel some fear. And it's not clear anyone's palms are sweating over the risk that NAFTA talks derail, the status quo continues, and Trump's big campaign promise to renegotiate crashes into oblivion. "The alternative to a renegotiated NAFTA has been the status quo. And the status quo is not too bad (for them)," said Dawson, the head of the Canada Institute at Washington's Wilson Center. Photo: The Canadian Press Somewhere off Newfoundland's southwest coast, a Norwegian ship has begun spooling out a massive, thick cable that will connect the island with Nova Scotia, a 170-kilometre voyage that, once completed, will create North America's longest subsea electricity link. The cable-laying ship CS Nexans Skagerrak started rolling out the black-and-orange cable across the Cabot Strait late Wednesday, a process that began just off Cape Ray, N.L., where the cable has already been anchored. The slow-moving ship, operated by Nexans SA of France, is expected to arrive off Point Aconi, N.S., by May 8, if the weather holds. "It looks like we've got a pretty good weather window to work with," said Rick Janega, president and CEO of Emera Newfoundland and Labrador, a subsidiary of Halifax-based Emera Inc. A second cable is expected to be deployed by early June. Final connections and testing are expected to wrap up by the end of this year. The two cables, each the width of a two-litre pop bottle, will be part of the $1.6-billion Maritime Link project, which will enable Newfoundland and Labrador's Crown-owned Nalcor Energy to provide privately owned Nova Scotia Power Inc. with renewable energy from the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador. The cables will also enable the two provinces to trade and sell electricity. Each can carry up to 250 megawatts of electricity. Photo: The Canadian Press Turning to diplomacy after flexing military muscle, the United States will urge the UN Security Council today to increase economic pressure on North Korea over its nuclear weapons program, leaning on China in particular to turn the screws on its wayward ally. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet with his counterparts from allies Japan and South Korea before chairing a ministerial meeting of the UN's top decision-making body. The U.S. wants to tighten the implementation of sanctions and build international resolve to isolate North Korea so it eventually disarms. That's a goal that has eluded U.S. administrations for two decades, and the threat is intensifying. North Korea may already be able to strike its U.S.-allied neighbours with a nuclear-tipped missile, and could have the U.S. mainland within range by the end of President Donald Trump's first term. Tensions on and around the divided Korean Peninsula have been running high. In an attempt to deter North Korea from more nuclear and missile testing, the U.S. has sent a group of American warships led by an aircraft carrier to the region. North Korea this week conducted large-scale, live-fire exercises on its eastern coast. However, after weeks of unusually blunt military threats, the Trump administration announced this week its policy is to exert economic and diplomatic pressure with international partners to achieve denuclearization and that it is not aiming for regime change in North Korea. Officials say, however, a military strike is still an option. Photo: Google Street View Emergency crews are on the scene after a line fell, knocking down trees in the Glenrosa area this morning. The lines fell on Mcrobbie Road, near McIver. There is no word yet as to what type of lines have been affected. Castanet will provide more details when they become available. Send your news, photos and video to [email protected] Photo: CSRD Crews have brought in heavy equipment and are clearing debris at Eagle Bay Road, but there is no word when it will be passable. On Thursday, a torrent of water completely washed out a section of the road, leaving a gaping hole metres wide and deep. About 3:30 p.m., a sudden, substantial increase in creek flow overwhelmed a culvert, causing water to flow over the road and along the adjacent ditch. It completely compromised the roadway. A preliminary geotechnical assessment was conducted by helicopter Thursday evening. Ryan Nitchie, with the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, said Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure crews are removing debris and releasing water from the creek as they work to construct a temporary access past the washout. There was a lot of water that came down, said Nitchie Friday. There is heavy equipment working on it right now. Nitchie said there are 318 homes on the far side of the washout, but most of them are seasonal and there have been no requests for emergency help from residents. Some people have been making their own arrangements to get around the water by boat, said Nitchie. If people do need emergency help, Nitchie said they are asked to call 911. Eagle Bay Road will remain closed until further notice. Photo: Twitter British Columbia's Liberal leader says she would take steps to ban thermal coal shipments through the province if the federal government doesn't act during a fight over softwood lumber tariffs imposed by the United States. On the election campaign trail in Burnaby, Christy Clark said Ottawa has not yet responded to a letter she sent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking for a stop to American thermal coal passing through B.C. ports. Clark said she expects Ottawa will act to keep "filthy" U.S. coal from reaching China in accordance with its climate-change agenda. She says that otherwise, the province would go it alone and take measures such as imposing a heavy tax on coal shipments in an effort to stop them. Clark made the comments in the midst of a softwood lumber dispute sparked when the United States imposed an average tariff of 20 per cent on Canadian softwood lumber, impacting jobs in forestry-dependent B.C. The Liberal leader is campaigning for a second term in office as voters prepare to head to the polls May 9. Photo: The Canadian Press About 673 icebergs have drifted into shipping lanes off eastern Newfoundland so far this year. That's almost as many as were counted during the whole ice season last year, ending in late September. Gabrielle McGrath of the U.S. Coast Guard's International Ice Patrol says it could still be a record season, but numbers are starting to come down and many bergs have melted. She says a big question is whether winds will bring several more icebergs farther south from where they were seen earlier this week off northeastern Newfoundland. Thick sea ice in the region and in the Strait of Belle Isle is affecting ferry travel and nearby fisheries. The International Ice Patrol was formed after the Titanic disaster in 1912 and works with Canadian partners to track icebergs. He emphasized that Moscow regarded Belgrade as a reliable and proven partner that stands for the international security principles too. "Unfortunately, the world is not getting any more tranquil and stable, and the events of recent decades - color revolutions, invasions, violent toppling of governments - have not done any good," the minister added. Shoigu added that the proclaimed purpose of the above events - promoting democracy and prosperity - has not been attained in a single country of those affected by color revolutions. "The Moscow conference we host is aimed specifically at discussing these issues and, hopefully, coming up with solutions," the Russian defense minister stressed. He added that the Serbian presidential election won by Aleksandar Vucic has bolstered Russias confidence that the friendship and partnership between the two countries will strengthen. "Please, congratulate him for me and give him my sincere wishes for success. Our regular meetings have proven the mutual interest of Russias and Serbias defense ministries in constructive relations," Shoigu concluded. According to the SIPRI Arms Transfers Database, for 2016, Serbia has received many military equipment from Russia including 2 Mi-8MT/mi-17, 30 second-hand "Our regular meetings have proven our interest in furthering our ongoing military and military-technical cooperation," Shoigu said.He emphasized that Moscow regarded Belgrade as a reliable and proven partner that stands for the international security principles too."Unfortunately, the world is not getting any more tranquil and stable, and the events of recent decades - color revolutions, invasions, violent toppling of governments - have not done any good," the minister added.Shoigu added that the proclaimed purpose of the above events - promoting democracy and prosperity - has not been attained in a single country of those affected by color revolutions."The Moscow conference we host is aimed specifically at discussing these issues and, hopefully, coming up with solutions," the Russian defense minister stressed.He added that the Serbian presidential election won by Aleksandar Vucic has bolstered Russias confidence that the friendship and partnership between the two countries will strengthen."Please, congratulate him for me and give him my sincere wishes for success. Our regular meetings have proven the mutual interest of Russias and Serbias defense ministries in constructive relations," Shoigu concluded.According to the SIPRI Arms Transfers Database, for 2016, Serbia has received many military equipment from Russia including 2 Mi-8MT/mi-17, 30 second-hand BRDM-2 , 5 MiG-29S fighter aicraft and 30 T-72B main battle tank. Photo: Dave Ogilvie Fire crews used the Jaws of Life to extract a driver following a two-vehicle crash on Main Street in West Kelowna late Friday morning. The crash sent one of the vehicles onto the sidewalk. Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to remove the roof of the sedan to get the trapped driver out. Jordon at Retro Thrift, across the street from the crash, said he heard a loud squeal, then saw the car cross two lanes of traffic, jump onto the sidewalk, and hit a pole in front of Star Buds. He didn't see what caused the incident. There is no word on the condition of the driver. Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer A South Okanagan man was sentenced to 991 days behind bars for his involvement in a violent break and enter and several other offences. Bryce Williamson, 28, was sentenced in Penticton court on Friday. With time served, he will spend another 485 days in prison. Judge Meg Shaw told the courtroom Williamson lost significant amount of money helping his family run a legal marijuana grow-op. In early December 2015, Williamson called an acquaintance who was involved in the business with his grandfather, told him he was dead, and accused him of stealing his grandfather's money. When the acquaintance was away over the holidays, he got a call on Dec. 26 from his father, informing him his home in Oliver had been broken into. The father told police he went to the home and spotted tire tracks in the snow, the house had been broken into and turned upside down. A man then came at him with a large knife, knocking him to the ground and threatening to kill him. The victim managed to convince Williamson to release him, and ran out of the house calling his wife, who contacted police. Williamson was arrested and released on a promise to appear. Then on Jan. 25 2016, the acquaintance found out his event rental business in Osoyoos had been broken into. Items stolen were later recovered by the Kelowna RCMP, when Williamson tried to cash cheques stolen from the business in Rutland. He was again arrested, and again released. After not showing up for court in Feb. 2016, a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was spotted in May driving his pickup truck on Highway 33 and was arrested and charged with obstruction after giving an incorrect name. He has been in custody ever since. In handing down the sentence, Shaw said Williamson's judgement was clouded by anger and use of drugs, adding he was holding a major grudge against the acquaintance. In his favour, was him entering guilty pleas, his absence of a criminal record and good prospects for employment. His level of remorse was also questionable, appearing mostly focused on himself, she said. Following the sentencing, Williamson's grandfather told the court that his grandson went overboard, but he was trying to protect the family when this all happened. He is a good kid who took it all on himself, he said. Shaw admitted it was a tragic situation. The young and not quite so young came out to Hall Road pond in Mission Creek Regional Park, Friday, to watch 500 rainbow trout find themselves a new home. The release of the fish marked the start of the Regional District of Central Okanagan's Go Fish program, that lets kids 15 and under catch one fish per day at Hall Road pond or Shannon Lake, without having a fishing licence. It promotes an appreciation for the natural world for the youth, it gets them outdoors, it teaches them respect for nature and teaches them some practical skills on how to fish and how to enjoy different activities, said James Chester, community liaison with the RDCO. The truck full of fish pulled up to the pond at 11:30 a.m. and began pouring the trout into the pond, to the obvious enjoyment of the kids watching. Every Sunday until June 18, the RDCO will be hosting Go Fish sessions at Hall Road pond and Shannon Lake between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., where kids can learn to fish using the district's rods and lures. If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,... Azerbaijan is trying to fill the absence of any valid word in the negotiations process by speaking in the language of provocations. April 28, 2017, 16:45 Azerbaijan jeopardizes negotiations process by ceasefire breach foreign ministry spox STEPANAKERT, APRIL 28, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: Foreign ministry spokesman Tigran Balayan said in response to an inquiry of Armenpress. - How would you comment Bakus escalation of the situation in the line of contact, which resulted in the death of an Artsakh Defense Army soldier, ahead of the meeting of Armenias, Russias and Azerbaijans foreign ministers in Moscow? - Azerbaijan is trying to fill the absence of any substantial word in the negotiations process by speaking in the language of provocations. Once again Baku is showing that it doesnt attach importance to the negotiations process, otherwise it wouldnt endanger it by making another flagrant ceasefire breach on the day of the foreign ministers meeting. Making this type of a provocation when everyone is expecting the results of the Moscow meeting, Baku is also clearly demonstrating that it really isnt interested in it, and regardless of what level meeting is proceeding, it continues to stick to its policy of provocations which it adopted for many years. It is an emotional and momentous day the end of an era, said KTF CEO, Dr Genevieve Nelson. Patrick stepped down after serving as chair for 11 years. Patrick was a founding director when the organisation was established in 2003 and took over as chair in 2006. THIS week, at the annual general meeting of the Kokoda Track Foundation, we bid a heartfelt farewell to our chair and co-founder, Patrick Lindsay AM. We are so grateful for Patricks unwavering passion for the people of Papua New Guinea and his relentless efforts in guiding and growing KTF to where it is today. The organisation has evolved and grown significantly under his leadership. Since Patrick took the helm, KTF has raised over $8 million in donations and expended these funds on its aid and development activities in Papua New Guinea in the vital areas of education, health, livelihoods and leadership. During this time, KTF has trained 715 elementary and primary teachers for Papua New Guinea, supported 155 teacher postings across rural areas and delivered educational resources on over 600 occasions to 45 schools along and around the Kokoda Track. KTF has constructed the Kokoda College School of Education and School of Health, the Kou Kou Community Hall, and elementary schools in Alola, Naduri, Enivilogo, Efogi 2, Manari, Sanananda, and Buna villages. It was Patricks vision and determination that saw the creation and delivery of the Archer Leadership Scholarships, named in honour and memory of the late Fred P Archer, a Coastwatcher in WWI and WWII, who believed in the power of education to transform the future of PNG. Seven years later, the program has changed the lives and futures of 42 young leaders from across PNG. Patricks vision and tireless determination enabled KTF to identify needs and gaps and then develop innovative solutions and ways of working to improve the lives of individuals and communities across PNG said Genevieve. During Patricks service, KTF expanded from operating in the villages located along the Track itself, to now working in six Provinces across the country. Stepping into the chair role is director and long-time supporter, Ian Kemish AM. Ian is the former Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea and grew up in PNG. Ian will be supported by Elizabeth Carr as deputy chair. Siam City Cement collaborates with NIIT Technologies 28 April 2017 Siam City Cement Co (SCCC) of Thailand has partnered with global IT solutions organisation NIIT Technologies Ltd to build its future-ready IT infrastructure. Supporting the digital transformation for SCCC, NIIT Technologies has designed, delivered and is operating its private and public cloud infrastructure. SCCCs digital journey is driven by INSEE Digital, its IT subsidiary started with INSEE Smart program. The program focussed on deploying Asias first SAP S4 HANA hybrid cloud IT infrastructure, the INSEE DIGITAL Cloud Data Centre. The IT infrastructure, delivered in a record time of six months, enabled SCCC to adopt new business models and rapidly deploy other digital technologies. Backed by this scalable hybrid cloud infrastructure, SCCC successfully integrated its newly-acquired subsidiary in Bangladesh and is currently integrating its operations in Sri Lanka and Vietnam in a cost-effective manner. Khun Ittaya Sirivasukarn, CEO of INSEE Digital, SCCC's IT subsidiary, said: Digital brings opportunity and change for businesses, enabling their transformation. The use of digital technologies such as cloud can help create new services and business models to enable growth and geo expansion. We realised this and collaborated with NIIT Technologies to establish IT infrastructure at SCCC and its group companies, which is reliable, secure and scalable to meet SCCCs strategic business needs. Published under Nepal plant project faces delays 28 April 2017 Construction of the Honshu Shivam Cement Factory, a Nepal-China joint venture, is likely to be delayed as the government has been slow to build a road leading to the limestone quarry, the Kathmandu Post reports. The Honshu Holding Group of China has invested NPR36bn (US$351m) or 70 per cent of the project cost into the venture, while its partners has invested the remainder. A study has shown that NPR3bn will be required to construct the 40km road. However, the government has allocated NPR100m for the current fiscal year, said Shiva Ratna Atal, general manager of the factory. According to Atal, the company has not been able to transport heavy machinery due to the lack of a proper road. The alternative gravel road cannot be used to transport heavy equipment. Likewise, a 5km tunnel needs to be built to reach the limestone quarry. Heavy equipment needed to bore the tunnel cannot be brought in as the alternative road is too narrow. CEO of Investment Board Nepal (IBN), Maha Prasad Adhikari, told the Post that they had taken up the matter with the National Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance. The government should allocate NPR1.5-2bn in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year to develop the project efficiently, he added. Meanwhile, the provision of electricity for the plant is proving to be a contentious issue. The government has agreed to provide electricity to the plant directly from the national grid by constructing a substation at Bardaghat in Nawalparasi. The estimated cost of providing electricity to the factory and quarry is NPR500m. However, the Ministry of Industry has allotted NPR30m for the purpose in the budget of the current fiscal year. Moreover, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has only recently issued a tender notice to erect the transmission line, the report added. Published under No sign of Pakistan cement export recovery 28 April 2017 Pakistan recorded export volumes of 204,159t cement in March 2017 on revenues of US$11.38m, representing a MoM decline of 11.77 and 7.04 per cent, respectively. On an annual comparative basis, the declines were much steeper with volumes down 65.03 per cent and revenues falling 59.86 per cent, according to the country's Federal Bureau of Statistics. In the first nine months of FY16-17, cement exports totalled 3.644Mt or US$191.51m compared with 4.555Mt at US$248.02m in the same period of the previous year. This translates to a contraction of 20 per cent in export volumes and 22.8 per cent in value terms. The breakdown of exports reveals dispatches from Pakistan to Afghanistan declined by 24.3 per cent to 1.446Mt. However, on a more positive note, deliveries to India rose by 54.2 per cent to 920,349t. Exports via sea were down by over 27 per cent to 1.39Mt. Published under State Sen. John DeFrancisco said a New York State Fair task force didn't recommend the $15 million aerial gondola that received funding in this year's state budget. According to one of the task force's co-chairs, that's not accurate. Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney told The Citizen Wednesday that she read DeFrancisco's comments about the gondola project. Without criticizing or singling out the senator, she said the concept was discussed at the task force's first meeting. Mahoney's office provided a PowerPoint presentation from the meeting in November that lists the gondola as one of several project ideas. That's one reason why DeFrancisco's public statements about the gondola seemed to surprise Mahoney. She recalled a phone conversation with DeFrancisco during which she asked for his support to request $20 million from the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council for Orange Lot improvements, including the installation of an on-ramp to Interstate 690 from the lot. Mahoney explained that they wanted to seek funding from the regional council so they could fully fund the projects endorsed by the task force the parking improvements, a $35 million expo center on the fairgrounds and the gondola. The state planned to provide $50 million for the second round of improvements at the fairgrounds. That would be enough to cover the gondola, parking upgrades and design costs related to the expo center. If the council provided the funding to support the parking lot makeover, the larger pot of state money could be used to cover the entire expo center project. "In that call I made (to DeFrancisco), he was effusive in support," Mahoney recalled. She added that the gondola was always on the list of projects that would receive state funding. She believed when she called DeFrancisco that he understood the $70 million investment would support the parking upgrades, the expo center and gondola. But in a phone interview earlier this month, DeFrancisco said the gondola wasn't one of the recommendations made by the task force. He said it was an idea floated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo when he released his 2017-18 spending plan. "He started making calls shortly before the budget was released that he wanted to do the gondola," DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, said. Mahoney said she was "disappointed" to see DeFrancisco's comments. "(The gondola) was part of the agenda early on and it was one of the priorities that the group coalesced around," she said. She also thinks it's unfair to criticize Cuomo for the gondola. The governor, she said, responded to what the task force recommended. "These aren't his projects. These are our projects, and Senator DeFrancisco was part of that group," Mahoney said. Every Friday, The Citizen features a pet available for adoption from the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York. This week, we spotlight Cher. Q: Who is your best friend? A: That's an easy one! My BFF for all times would be my Sonny. Sonny and I came here together when we were found wandering, all alone and unidentified. By the way, we were really scared and hungry. My shelter people said I had this thing called "emaciated." That wasn't fun. Q: What has been your worst experience? A: Well, we used to have a human whom we thought loved us. That wasn't true. Our human didn't come here to look for us, and that makes me very sad. We even have a suspicion that we were just thrown away and not really lost. But that's just my opinion. Q: If you could describe yourself, what would you say? A: Well, I am very pretty, as you can see. I am also very outgoing, and I really love people. I mean, I really, really, really love people. That just happens to be a pit bull trait. I also love Sonny, and wouldn't it be great if someone adopted us together? I know that probably won't happen, but I can dream, can't I? Q: If you could visit any place in the world, where would that be? A: Well, I don't have an answer for that specific question. But I can tell you where I would not want to visit if that helps you fill up your space. I do not want to visit places that have bans against my breed or any "bully" breed, as some canines are called. Unfortunately, there are many of those places, so I won't bother giving them a mention here. I like it right here, thank you very much! Q: If you could meet someone famous, who would that be? A: Allow me to tell you about Stubby! Stubby was a pit bull-type dog and was the most decorated dog of World War I. He is credited with capturing a German spy, whom he pinned down and held until American soldiers could take him prisoner. The commanding officer of the 102nd Infantry, Yankee Division, where Stubby was a mascot, was so impressed by Stubby's actions that he promoted him to sergeant. I would have loved to have met this hero dog! Q: Do you have an interesting fact to share? A: I do! In case you didn't know it, the pit bull is, without a doubt, the most misunderstood dog breed ever. In fact, one of the most misunderstood things about it is that it's not really a dog breed at all! This is true. The pit bull is actually a general term that means different things to different people. To some, it's simply a synonym for the American pit bull terrier. To my shelter people, it means the best dogs in the world! Q: Do you have any advice for our good Citizen readers? A: I do! May is a busy month for my shelter people. We will be at the flea market at the Owasco Fire House from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 13. We will have lots of fun things to check out and buy, and all proceeds go to our shelter to help dogs like me and Sonny. Then, for the first time, we will be at Majorpalooza on May 28, and we are looking forward to that. Thank you, as always, for stopping by to say hello and please stop by to see me, Sonny and all the rest of our shelter friends. Thank you and love, Cher. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Christ Episcopal Church in Jordan will have a special guest at its annual Blessing of the Bikes Saturday, May 13. The Rev. Dr. DeDe Duncan-Probe, the new bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York, will lead a brief worship service and bless riders at 10 a.m. at the church, 25 N. Main St., Jordan. Duncan-Probe is the first woman (and motorcycle enthusiast) to serve as bishop of central New York in the nearly 150-year history of the diocese, the church said in a news release. The biker community builds lasting friendships between people of many different backgrounds, Duncan-Probe said in the release, And in that way it makes a real difference in peoples lives. For me, riding and being outdoors in the beauty of Gods world is a spiritual experience, and Im looking forward to sharing that with the people of central New York! The event is open to the public, including non-riders. For more information, call the church at (315) 689-3141. April 28, 1962 Dr. E. K. Fretwell, Assistant Commissioner for Higher Education, New York State Education Department, was the featured speaker at the closing banquet of the New York State Association of Junior Colleges held at Auburn Community College Saturday evening. Dr. Fretwell was the recipient of the annual association award for meritorious service to the junior college movement in New York State. His address concerned the encouragement of scholarship among the administrators and faculty of two-year institutions of higher education. Dr. Fretwell received his bachelor of arts degree from Wesleyan University, his M.A. from Harvard University and his PhD. degree from Columbia University. He has served abroad with the state department in Czechoslovakia and was vice consul in Prague. He has been the Administrative Secretary for the John Hay Whitney Foundation and has written numerous books and articles. His publications have appeared in the Yearbook of Education, the Educational Record, the Junior College Journal and New York State Education. His best known book was published in 1954 by the Columbia University Press entitled "Founding Public Junior Colleges." A total of 125 delegates attended the annual convention at the local college and represented some 36 member institutions, both public and private. The group was divided into three discussion sections Saturday morning for the purpose of exploring the implications of programmed learning for the two-year college programs. The afternoon was devoted to the annual business meeting, presided over by outgoing president Elbridge Smith of Agricultural and Technical Institute, Cobleskill, New York. Dr. Lawrence Spring, President of Erie County Technical Institute, was elecred president of the association for the coming year. After touring the facilities of the local college, the delegates visited Cayuga County Museum and the Seward Mansion. The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is accepting applications for an August 2017 trooper cadet class. If you are looking for a career that affords you opportunities to achieve your goals, then the THP is where you belong. It is a multi-faceted, full-service, statewide law enforcement agency that has numerous divisions that are guaranteed to interest the participant. This is an extremely positive and exciting time to be a member of an elite law enforcement agency. The agency continues to grow in size, and prides itself on professionalism and respect within the law enforcement community. In 2016, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) named the THP as the First Place winner in the Highway Patrol/State Police Agency category consisting of 501-1500 troopers in the nation. Additionally, THP received two awards for traffic incident management and technology. THP is internationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The training division will challenge and prepare one for the real life scenarios that one will experience as a trooper. Our training is Peace Officer Standards Training Commission (POST). Additionally, the training that one will receive from the training curriculum is transferable as college credit hours. Officials also provide one the opportunity to attend numerous law enforcement training classes to obtain specialty skills such as crash reconstruction, drug recognition expert (DRE), instructor development and more. Daily services performed by a Tennessee state trooper: Assisting the public, enforcement of criminal and traffic laws, saving lives, traffic enforcement, motorcycle traffic patrol, crash investigation, crash reconstruction, criminal interdiction, criminal investigations, identity crimes investigations, special operations and tactical duties, K-9 handling, diving, aviation, executive protective services, bomb squad, and much more. Men and women interested in a career as a Tennessee state trooper must apply online Thursday, April 27, through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9. Individuals interested in applying for the position of state trooper must be at least 21 years old, a U.S. Citizen and have a high school diploma or equivalent. No applicants with felony convictions will be considered. One can apply online at http://agency.governmentjobs.c om/tennessee/default.cfm . Once approved by the Department of Human Resources, applicants will be notified of their qualification status via email. THP anticipates the agility test and interview appointments to begin May 22 through 26, at the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Training Center. I am more excited today about the opportunities our troopers have to succeed compared to those when I joined the THP, said Colonel Tracy Trott. It is not a secret that law enforcement has been faced with difficult challenges. However, we train and prepare our troopers to do their job professionally and ethically. As I have stated before, our troopers make Tennessee a safe state to work, live and play by putting highly trained personnel on Tennessee roadways. Legislation implemented in October 2012, called the Tennessee Excellence, Accountability and Management Act (TEAM Act) revised the hiring method to incorporate an interview process that tests an applicants knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies. As a result, selected applicants will be required to successfully pass the physical agility test prior to being selected for an interview. There is no longer an examination portion to qualify for the state trooper position. If hired, individuals must obtain a valid Tennessee driver license prior to the class start date of Sunday August 27, 2017. Candidates are required to successfully complete a level II background investigation which includes a credit check and polygraph test. Recruits must pass a psychological and medical examination including a drug screening. There are currently 921 authorized commissioned trooper positions within the THP. Upon graduation, trooper cadets will be assigned to vacant positions across the state. The starting salary for a trooper is $38,208 annually with an annual 4.5% statutory step raise for the first 10 years. With regular pay increases, a state trooper can earn $56,784 per year after 10 years of service under the current pay structure. Pay may also increase if you are promoted within the THP. The position also includes a pension plan, health insurance, overtime pay and paid holidays. Troopers are also provided with winter and summer uniforms, equipment, weapons (2 Glock pistols, 1 AR-15 and 1 shotgun,) as well as a patrol vehicle. For additional information on becoming a state trooper, visit the website at http://www.tn.gov/safety/artic le/trpqualifications . For more information about applications, interested individuals are encouraged to contact the Tennessee Department of Human Resources Applicant Services Division at 615 741-4841. Auburn Armature President and CEO Geoff Murphy said his phone "blew up" after reports Thursday, April 27, that the electrical equipment distributor may close plants across New York and lay off its 118 employees. The news was a surprise to him. In a phone interview the next day, Murphy said Auburn Armature is for sale. A potential buyer has been identified, but he declined to disclose the entity. The source of the speculation about Auburn Armature's future is a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the state Department of Labor last week. The reason for the filing, according to the form, is a "possible plant closing." At the state level, the WARN Act requires companies to give "early warning" of closures and layoffs, according to the Labor Department's website. Private businesses with at least 50 full-time employees are subject to the WARN Act. Under the WARN Act, businesses are required to provide at least 90 days notice of a plant closing, mass layoff or relocation. Murphy said Auburn Armature was advised to submit the WARN notification "just in case there will be some adverse conditions." The notice not only is a requirement for businesses, but provides certain benefits and protections to affected employees should there be any plant closings or layoffs. The potential layoffs outlined in Auburn Armature's WARN notice is the worst-case scenario. Murphy said the idea was to identify a buyer who would retain most, if not all of the current employees. "We're looking to enhance and grow based on our position and some of the things that we do," Murphy said. Auburn Armature was founded nearly 70 years ago. The company moved to its headquarters on Wright Circle in 1998. Over time, it added other locations. There are facilities mainly warehouse space and sales offices in Albany, Cheektowaga, East Syracuse, Rochester and Vestal. Fifty-four of the companies 118 employees work at those plants. In 2013, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli visited Auburn Armature to announce that DeltaPoint Capital Management, a Rochester-based private equity firm, would acquire a majority stake in the company. The transaction included a $7 million investment, $3.4 million of which came from state pension fund managed by DiNapoli. Murphy said further information will be released when the sale is finalized. He cautioned the community against "taking the extreme" from what's stated in the WARN notice, which he said was meant to prioritize employees and ensure their protection should any layoffs be made. "We're very committed to this area," he said. "We have been for 70 years." Brittany Martin, a music major with an emphasis in vocal music from Paris, Tenn., was named the recipient of Lee Universitys 2017-18 Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award. The Presser Foundation, established by music publisher Theodore Presser, is dedicated solely to the support of music and music education. With its Undergraduate Scholar Award, the Pennsylvania-based foundation recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding accomplishments in music performance at accredited colleges and universities across the country. Brittany represents the very best in the Lee University School of Music, with excellent scholarship, exceptional musicianship, and dedicated stewardship of God-given abilities, said Dr. William Green, dean of the School of Music at Lee. We are honored to have her designated as our Presser Scholar. During her time at Lee, Martin has been involved in Ladies of Lee, an ensemble of which she currently serves as vice president and a section leader. She is also a member of Opera Theatre, a student worker for the Department of Musicianship Studies, and a music theory tutor for Academic Services. Apart from Martins musical engagements, she is the founding vice president of Lee University Peacemakers, a student action club advocating for Christian non-violence, in addition to being a member of Lees racial social justice advocacy group. Martin has also served as both a tutor and mentor with Y-CAP (YMCAs community action project) of Cleveland. During the summer of 2015, Martin served with the National Council of Churches of the Philippines in Manila as a part of the Global Justice Volunteers program , working for equality at various levels. She also had the opportunity to travel with Ladies of Lee to Goa, India, in May 2016 to serve with Rahabs Rope , an organization committed to the elimination of sex trafficking in India through education, prevention, and intervention. Following her graduation in May 2018, Martin plans to pursue a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary. In receiving this award, I am humbly reminded of the many teachers, mentors, friends, and family members who cultivated my mind and spirit and who exemplified for me a life of excellence, said Martin. I thank them, and all the more, I commend the many other deserving, dedicated, and excellent students among whom I stand and whose efforts do not go unnoticed. I am honored each day to make music with them. As the 2017-18 Presser Scholar, Martin will receive a cash stipend for her upcoming senior year. Presser Undergraduate Scholar Awards are distributed to a number of accredited institutions throughout America. Past recipients of Lee University include Kristiana McCombs (2016), Matthew Kelly (2015), Joey Archer (2014), Erica Tipton (2013), Matthew Wilkinson (2012), Lamprini Lindeman (2011), Christopher Oglesby (2010), Sabbath Ward (2009), Rachael Skidmore (2008), Michael Land (2007), Brooke Upton (2006), Troy Strand (2005), Rachel Ogle Laney (2004), Amy Shallenberger (2003), Brian Shaw (2002), RaeAnna Hooper (2001), and Jeffrey Jewsome (2000). For more information on Lees School of Music, call (423) 614-8240. Dr. Chad Whelan has been promoted to president of Loyola University Medical Center after serving as Loyola's senior vice president and chief medical officer. (Handout) Dr. Chad Whelan has been promoted to president of Loyola University Medical Center after serving as Loyola's senior vice president and chief medical officer. Whelan will lead the 547-bed hospital in Maywood, which includes a heart and vascular medicine center, a Level I trauma center, a burn center, a cancer center, a children's hospital and an outpatient center. Advertisement Whelan worked at Loyola as an associate professor of medicine from 2009 to 2011 and then spent a few years at the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he worked as associate chief medical officer for performance improvement and innovation. He returned to Loyola in 2015. Whelan earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Advertisement Loyola University Medical Center is part of Loyola University Health System, which also includes Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park and outpatient services in Cook, Will and DuPage counties. Loyola University sold the medical center in 2011 to Catholic health system Trinity Health, which has 93 hospitals in 22 states. lschencker@chicagotribune.com Twitter @lschencker Macy's State Street flagship store is seen April 14, 2017, in downtown Chicago. The top half of the building is available to potential buyers or joint venture partners; a deal could generate millions for Macys. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) More than a year after first dropping hints about cashing in on its State Street store, Macy's is making it official: It's ready to sell. The Loop flagship is formally for sale or, to be more precise, the top half of the building is available to potential buyers or joint venture partners. The deal could generate as much as $130 million for Macy's at a time when it is slashing costs and closing stores throughout the country. Advertisement Macy's spokeswoman Andrea Schwartz confirmed in an email that the company plans to sell the eighth through the 14th floors of the building, encompassing 700,000 square feet. She did not say how much the company expects the real estate to fetch in a sale. "Macy's is continuing to execute on our real estate strategy that is focused on creating value through monetization and, in some cases, redevelopment of our assets," Schwartz said. "We are still working on a plan for a downsized Macy's State Street store, which we expect will result in a more vibrant and productive store." Advertisement Upper floors of the more than century-old building could be redeveloped into a new use such as loft offices, apartments or a hotel. The entire building at 111 N. State St., which includes lower levels connected to Chicago's underground Pedway system, has more than 1.5 million rentable square feet. The portion that's for sale is believed to have about 650,000 square feet of rentable space. Exterior of Macy's, 111 N. State St. in downtown Chicago, on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) The floors are all larger than 100,000 square feet, aside from the 14th floor and an even smaller penthouse. Cincinnati-based Macy's plans to continue owning the lower floors, which include retail space and the famed Walnut Room restaurant on the seventh floor. "Of course we will keep the tradition of the Walnut Room," Schwartz said. Macy's building fills an entire block, bounded by State, Washington and Randolph streets and Wabash Avenue. It was designed by Daniel Burnham, and built in stages in the 1890s and early 1900s. A partial sale of the old Marshall Field's building would bring an influx of cash to Macy's, which is among several old-line retailers fighting to stay afloat in today's e-commerce world. The 158-year-old firm is in the process of closing 100 stores nationally. Macy's could put some proceeds from a State Street sale toward a much-needed refresh of the Loop store. Advertisement A team of Eastdil Secured brokers, led by Chicago-based senior managing director Stephen Livaditis, is advising Macy's in the sale. If a sale is completed, the deal would require dividing up the building and creating a separate entrance with access to elevators leading to the top floors. Other unique older buildings with wide floors, such as the Merchandise Mart, the former Apparel Center and the Sullivan Center, have become popular office destinations in recent years among tech and creative firms. Some familiar faces in Chicago could be candidates to acquire the Macy's space. Sterling Bay, a Chicago developer whose projects include McDonald's future headquarters, under construction west of the Kennedy Expressway, bought five floors of a Portland, Ore., building from Macy's in 2016. New York-based 601W, which owns Chicago properties including the old main post office, Aon Center and Prudential Plaza, earlier this year bought a Macy's in Minneapolis that closed. Both developers plan to convert the former Macy's spaces into creative offices. Macy's efforts to carve up the Loop building bring some long-awaited clarity regarding its plans. Advertisement The department store chain's first public mention of a potential sale came in November 2015, saying it was considering a development partner or "other deal structures," which was thought to mean a partial sale of the building or an outright sale with a lease-back of the retail space. In February, Chief Financial Officer Karen Hoguet told analysts Macy's was focusing on a plan to downsize its Loop store to make it "a more vibrant, more productive store." At that time, Hoguet said a Chicago deal likely would be similar to a 2015 transaction in Seattle in which it sold the top four floors of a store to a developer that is converting the space to offices. Macy's previously said it uses lower levels and the first through eighth floors for selling, with higher floors used for functions such as an annual flower show, Macy's regional offices, private events and storage. The Walnut Room was the first restaurant to open in a department store, going into the seventh floor of Marshall Field's in 1907. The wood-paneled restaurant's 45-foot-tall Christmas tree attracts large crowds in the winter. Some Chicagoans still refer to the department store as Marshall Field's. Macy's acquired the beloved brand in 2005, creating a backlash locally. rori@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @Ryan_Ori The 2017 Compass gets Trailhawked, replete with red tow hooks front and rear, as well as a Gloss-black roof that complements the black cladding on the lower part of the car. (Robert Duffer) The compact crossover is now the best-selling segment in the U.S. For the first time, the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue are the best-selling models in their respective brands. Automakers are making so many crossovers and SUVs, with at least four but up to six crossover models within a lineup, the market is oversaturated. Most of these tall hatchbacks dont much standout from each other. Thats why Jeep merged two compact crossovers in the Compass and Patriot into one all-new 2017 Jeep Compass. The Compass is Jeeps go-to global vehicle and as such, may be the most impactful crossover in their lineup. Manufactured in four countries and sold in 100, it uses parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles small wide architecture shared by both the Jeep Renegade and the Fiat 500x, which are both considered subcompact crossovers. The Compass is 2.6 inches longer than the Renegade. On the inside, it shares parts with the midsize Jeep Cherokee. It gets a new available 8.4-inch touch screen with hexagonal icons and clearer, sharper display. On the outside, its meant to look like a smaller Grand Cherokee, the brands best-seller that sits at the large end of the Jeep crossover spectrum. While its goal is global, its target is millennials prepping for families or boomers ready to downsize, said Kim Japinga, Jeep brand manager, at a Thursday meeting with the Midwest Automotive Media Association. We didnt get to drive the Compasses on display but we did get to play with the controls and take a deeper dive than when it was launched at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show. The four trim levels share the familiar seven slotted grille, though the slots have gotten wider, less vertical than the founding Jeep grille. It has the black cladding on the rockers and wheel wells like the Grand Cherokee (and Subaru Outback), and shares the same lighting, a deliberate attempt to separate it from the narrow, hawklike headlights of the midsize Jeep Cherokee. It looks like a Jeep, which people like. Jeep has been in the right place at the right time during the global boom for crossovers. In 2016, Jeep sales were up 13 percent globally (6 percent in the U.S.), the seventh consecutive year of growth. It may be the brand keeping FCA afloat. The iconic American brand known for rough-and-tumble Wranglers has retained the reputation of being off-road ready throughout its growing product line of crossovers, thanks in part to the trail-rated Trailhawk designation. The 2017 Compass gets Trailhawked, replete with red tow hooks front and rear, as well as a Gloss-black roof that complements the black cladding on the lower part of the car. The Compass starts at $20,995, which is about $2,000 more than the Renegade and $2,000 less than the Cherokee. The Compass Trailhawk starts at $28,595. All Compass get the underwhelming, puttering but efficient 2.4-liter Tigershark engine, but there are three available transmissions, including a 6-speed manual, and a 9-speed automatic available only on 4x4 models. There are also two 4x4 systems available on all four models; Active Drive optimizes fuel economy and Active Drive Low best attacks off-road trails. All models comes with Selec-Speed Control, which is the dial on the console that lets you toggle between auto, snow, sand, and mud modes. Trailhawk gets rock mode as well. The Trailhawk comes as a 4x4 only, and has a one-inch lift for more room in the wells of the standard 17-inch wheels, a ground clearance of 8.5 inches (8.2 inches in other Compass), and a disconnecting rear axle, which means that it will default to front drive for efficiency until the system notices slippage or some need for 4x4. The driver doesnt need to do anything except drive. The 9-speed automatic is included in the Trailhawk. It can ford up to 19 inches of water and tow 2,000 pounds, according to Jeep, and rides higher than the Subaru Outback. Jeep calls it the most off-road capable compact crossover available. Many compact crossovers pretend to some off-roading elements, but the Compass Trailhawk should deliver, based on our drive experiences with Trailhawk trims on other Jeeps. And the other Compass models have bona fide off-road design in their DNA for most off-road applications. That's enough to make it stand out and steamroll the homogenous compact crossover competition. Reactions, rants and general observations regarding the Chicago Michelin guide star ratings, which were announced Tuesday. Considering that the number of Michelin-starred Chicago restaurants has been declining (down to 19 restaurants last year), this year's rebound to 25 starred restaurants (an all-time high in the four years Michelin has been publishing a Chicago guide) has to be considered encouraging. Advertisement "Chicago had a great year," said Michael Ellis, international director of the Michelin Guides. There are more starred restaurants in New York (62, including 7 three-star restaurants) and San Francisco (38, including 2 three-stars), the only other North American cities that receive Michelin scrutiny. But we're at least trending upward. Advertisement What does a Michelin star mean? Its effect on local diners is uncertain, but, clearly, Michelin ratings matter a great deal to international visitors, and deep-pocketed foodies like to keep track of how many Michelin-starred restaurants they've visited. And in a hypercompetitive restaurant market such as Chicago, any positive recognition is received gratefully, even joyfully. Even a single Michelin star carries considerable prestige. "I'm thrilled, stunned and amazed," said one-star recipient Bruce Sherman, whose fine work at North Pond had eluded the attention of Michelin inspectors in the previous three guides. "It's certainly nice to know that persistence pays off; I've been doing this for however many years, and it's gratifying to get this notice." Iliana Regan, on the other hand, received a star for her Elizabeth restaurant in its first year of eligibility. (Elizabeth opened at the end of September 2012, weeks after Michelin's Chicago evaluations had been completed.) "We thought 'maybe,' but we weren't sure," she said. "I felt everything from hope to anxiety to some moments, based on what others had said, of feeling confident. But you never know. But upon confirmation, I felt very proud." For all its influence or lack thereof, Michelin is clearly the most prestigious restaurant guide in the world, and the publication of its 2014 Chicago Guide will elate some chefs and food fans and bitterly disappoint others. Here's a quick breakdown. Winner: Curtis Duffy, Grace restaurant. Duffy was the chef when Avenues received two stars in 2011, and he really hoped his 9-month-old restaurant would be equally well-received. It was. "With us being less than a year open, this is truly remarkable," he said. "When I left Avenues, we set extremely high goals, and the entire staff is excited about what we achieved." Winner: Thomas Lents, Sixteen. Sixteen received a star three years ago, lost it two years ago when then-chef Frank Brunacci left, had the star restored last year, and this year got upgraded to two stars. Lents and the Sixteen team have not only restored the restaurant's reputation, they have enhanced it. First-time winners: Every restaurant that received star recognition is worthy of praise. But 19 of Chicago's 25 starred restaurants had stars last year (happily, Michelin didn't take any stars away this year). A special welcome-to-the-club to EL Ideas, Elizabeth, Grace, The Lobby, North Pond and Senza. Advertisement Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Losers: Losing one's Bib Gourmand award (given to restaurants that represent "good value") isn't always a bad thing. Just ask Carlos Gaytan, whose Mexique restaurant lost its Bib last year, only to receive a star instead (a starred restaurant cannot be a Bib Gourmand and vice versa). That gave some hope to Bistronomic, The Bristol and Storefront Company, which found out last week that they'd lost their Bib Gourmand distinction, but it was not to be. Sixteen's deserving upgrade aside, there were no promotions among previously recognized restaurants. Overlooked: It was nice to see North Pond receive star recognition, however long overdue. But I'm still waiting for the Michelin Man to send a little love to mk, Les Nomades, Perennial Virant and Trenchermen. And I thought for sure that Brindille, the French sibling to one-star Naha restaurant, would grab a star in its first year. To say nothing of Avec, Frontera Grill, Girl & the Goat, Green Zebra, GT Fish & Oyster and Nightwood, which seem doomed to permanent Bib Gourmand status. Baby steps: Michelin still doesn't quite know what to do with Next, the style-switching restaurant that defies categorization. But, at least this year, Next is include among the 380 nonstarred restaurants in the book. That's better than the last two years. Hard to imagine that Next is hurting its star chances by not being predictable enough. Overlooked: Apparently, Chicago has no star-worthy sushi restaurants; Michelin inspectors awarded Bib Gourmands to a handful of sushi restaurants, but no stars. Sorry, but Juno is underrated as a BG. And Katsu and Masaki didn't get a thing. Loser: The suburbs. For the second straight year, the Michelin inspectors didn't deem a single suburban restaurant worthy of a star. Michelin did award single stars to Courtright's and Vie two years ago but took them back last year. Are there really no Michelin-worthy restaurants beyond the city limits, or do Inovasi, Quince, Oceanique, Restaurant Michael and Tallgrass as well as Courtright's and Vie have a legitimate gripe? On the plus side, Michelin awarded Bib Gourmands to restaurants in Berwyn, Evanston, Hinsdale, La Grange, Oak Park and Skokie. pvettel@tribune.com Advertisement Twitter @philvettel Northwest Indiana is something of a stepchild to its own state. Neighbors to the south and east look to areas like Valparaiso, Munster and Hammond and see city runoff, an un-Hoosier-like area that is often othered from the rest of the state with a nickname: "The Region." But up in Roscoe Village, former Hoosier Curtis Rund is taking the name back with his new 12-seat restaurant, The Region, serving a proud northwest Indiana culinary tradition: the smashed hamburger. Advertisement For devotees of the thicker pub-style burger, smashing a burger might sound blasphemous, but there's nothing irreverent about these pressed patties. Rund learned his craft in high school manning the griddle at Schoop's, a regional Indiana diner-style burger chain known for mashing its meat. Time being a flat circle, he's back cooking on the flat-top nearly 20 years later, now burger-ing full time. Despite the thinner approach, the burger is still juicy, but the best (and defining) part is the edge: crispy and crunchy, something like barbecue's burnt tips, only still attached to the patty. An 80/20 chuck blend from local Ellengee Market makes the 7-ounce burger tender in the center, and the brittle bits overflow from the edges of the bun (the heavier the smash, the larger the finished patty), made from a special recipe at Rudy's Bakery and delivered daily by the 10-dozen. Advertisement The Region's "everything" includes only raw onions, sweet relish and a house-made, mayo-based "Region sauce." It's the right move: The acidity of the onions cuts through the sweet relish, while the sauce smooths it all out. Just make sure you ask for cheese, which isn't a given. Rund loves heat, so he offers jalapeno, habanero and insanity sauces that complement the "everything" preset. I found the hot options to be solid but unnecessary. Word to the napkins, Region's burgers are a literal handful a greasy, messy, tasty indulgence. The Region, 2057 W. Roscoe St., 773-857-2874 adlukach@chicagotribune.com Twitter @lucheezy Chef Diana Davila talks about her antojos ("lively, shareable plates meant to be nostalgic dishes, things you're always going to crave") at Mi Tocaya in Logan Square. (Sean Leidigh/WGN) (Chicago Tribune) The first time I had Diana Davila's food, she was the chef at an Oak Forest restaurant (owned by her parents) with the uninspiring name Hacienda Jalapenos. Her cooking was polished and sophisticated indeed, a bit more sophisticated than the market would bear back then but "cooking down" to her audience wasn't Davila's style, even as a 21-year-old. Fast-forward a dozen years, and Davila was in Andersonville at Cantina 1910, a short-lived restaurant that probably deserved a better fate. I was on the verge of reviewing that place, quite positively despite a rather erratic front-of-the-house operation, when Davila abruptly resigned her post. (She still doesn't discuss the why of that departure, but it wasn't happy.) Advertisement I would have sung the praises of her passionate cooking then. I'm happy to do so now. Davila now hangs out in Logan Square, answering to nobody as chef and owner of Mi Tocaya Antojeria, which opened in mid-March. An antojeria is a small-plate cafe serving antojitos, or "little cravings," and cravings, says Davila, are what her cooking is all about. Advertisement Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 16 The components of Veracruzana sauce are turned into a condiment for sweetbreads milanesa. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) "Any menu I've ever done has been about 'what am I craving, what do I feel like eating?'" she said. "My cooking is based on memory, things that I've always loved. Like that moment is 'Ratatouille' when one bite immediately transports you. How magical that can be." Mi Tocaya seats only 38 (that figure includes the bar, which for all intents and purposes is a dining counter) in a pleasantly cramped space filled with local art, including a dramatic "tree of life" mural painted by Jason Brammer. As might be expected, the 6-week-old restaurant is still finding its way; though the menu is short, its two largest plates the beefy caldo de res and the lamb barbacoa remain unavailable, though Davila vowed to get the caldo to her tables by this weekend. "I have to dedicate the time to get (the dishes) right," said Davila, who, like any first-time chef/owner, is multitasking like crazy. "It's like when you buy a house; it takes time to fill it up with all the things that are going to be a reflection of you." What the menu already reflects is pretty impressive. There are only four tacos on the menu, but the generously portioned, single-tortilla tacos are as enjoyable to savor as they are daunting to eat politely. (These definitely are lean-in, guard-your-shirt dishes.) There's a fine steak-and-chorizo campechano taco, and occasionally one starring batter-fried striped bass, but the vegetarian "milpa" taco is especially enjoyable. A milpa is a farm that rotates complementary crops corn, squash, beans, chiles and Davila combines them (charred squash, toasted chile, beans and corn crema) into a lovely composition. Peanut butter y lengua is rich in flavor and beautifully composed, topped with cooked red onions for color and crunch. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) The most intriguing dish, however, is also Davila's chef-iest. It bears the provocative name "peanut butter y lengua," and consists of crisped cubes of braised beef tongue in a complex and delicious sauce of peanuts, cured tomato and chile de arbol, accented with bay and cilantro leaves. Rich in flavor and beautifully composed, topped with cooked red onions that provide color contrast to the vivid orange-red sauce, this is as much a must-order dish as anything dubbed "peanut butter and tongue" can ever be. Give the ceviche aguachile points for looks, the chopped shrimp and vegetables placed over a smear of avocado puree and topped with black picaditas, squid-ink masa disks that function as sopes, only thinner. Dab a picadita in avocado, spoon on a little ceviche and enjoy. The guacamole, reliable as always, arrives a little dressy, thanks to a dusting of black ash made from serrano peppers. Tradition exists on the Mi Tocaya menu, though it's not immediately apparent. There's a mussels dish that's essentially a seafood-inflected pozole soup, and the fideos secos (toasted noodles) swim in a murky broth that would pass for sopa Azteca, though the chef prefers "salsa Azteca." Either way, the salsa/broth is thin enough that careless slurping will ensure a trip to the dry cleaner. The featured fish so far, Davila has employed tuna, fluke, ono and wild bass is smothered in so much mole verde (undeniably tasty) that guests could play "name that protein" at the table. Veracruzana sauce is inextricably linked to fish, particularly snapper, but Davila takes that sauce or, rather, a low-liquid version of same and turns it into a condiment for sweetbreads milanesa. I'm a sucker for sweetbreads anyway, but this version particularly in the way it matches a customary Mexican preparation to a decidedly noncustomary protein, with a little Italian idiom for good measure just became one of my favorites. Advertisement Davila loves cheese and reckons that her audience does too; accordingly, well-charred lengths of longaniza sausage are draped over rajas (cooked poblano strips) and queso fundido, an umami-rich preparation. Her fanciful stew of cactus paddles (nopales figure prominently in the decor and the restaurant's logo) includes corn, squash and fried cheese curds, in a sort of Mexico-meets-Wisconsin mashup. Call it Mad Mex, or Mexican poutine, but the flavors merge nicely, even though the textures (the corn is attached to the cob and the squash in my dish was barely cooked) do not. Desserts at present consist only of flan de queso and a very good tres leches cake topped with chocolate ganache. Beverages include a handful of inexpensive wines (uniformly priced at $9/glass and $29/bottle), a few beers (mostly Mexican imports) and some cute cocktails, including a couple of margaritas (I liked the elderflower margarita, and I didn't think I would) and a reposado and mezcal take on an Old Fashioned. Bustling service is friendly and informative, and if occasionally a dish arrives without the implement needed to taste or share it, said implement usually arrives in a minute. When warm weather arrives for keeps (well, until September), the outdoor patio will virtually double Mi Tocaya's seating, which will present the staffers with new, and potentially quite profitable, challenges. For now, the principal challenge is finding parking in this densely populated neighborhood. Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic. pvettel@chicagotribune.com Twitter @PhilVettel Advertisement Mi Tocaya Antojeria 2800 N. Logan Blvd. 872-315-3947 www.mitocaya.com Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Tribune rating: Two stars Open: Dinner Tuesday to Saturday Advertisement Prices: Tacos $4, antojitos $8-$13, large plates $24. Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V Reservations: Strongly recommended Noise: Conversation-challenged Ratings key: Four stars, outstanding; three stars, excellent; two stars, very good; one star, good; no stars, unsatisfactory. The reviewer makes every effort to remain anonymous. Meals are paid for by the Tribune. Earth, Wind and Fire(L-R) Verdine White, Ralph Johnson, Phillip Bailey and B. David Whitworth of Earth, Wind and Fire performing on stage at the Nice Jazz Festival in 2013. (Valery Hache/ AFP/Getty Images) Earth, Wind and Fire and CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers are teaming up for a North American tour, titled "2054 The Tour." The legendary acts will stop at the United Center July 26, with a special guest DJ and unique stage set-up that will provide audiences with additional space to dance. Advertisement The tour kicks off in Oakland, California July 12 before wrapping up in Detroit in August. Rodgers was recently honored with an Award for Musical Excellence from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Earth, Wind and Fire was inducted in 2000. Advertisement Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. May 5 through Livenation. RELATED ITEMS: Harry Styles playing Chicago Theatre on first solo tour ABC's 'Good Morning America' will be live from Maggie Daley Park Monday with Kerry Wood Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) The recently completed Old Erie Canal Heritage Park in Port Byron will be opening for its first full season early next month, and local park officials have set a meeting to talk about what's happened so far and what can happen going forward. A community information session has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, May 1, at the Port Byron Middle School library. "The purpose of the meeting will be to review last season's performance and attendance and to look ahead to this season's anticipated goals and objectives," according to a press release. The Canal Society of New York State, which oversaw the development of the $9.6 million project, anticipates the park will be open seven days a week from early May to Oct. 31. A specific opening date has not been determined. The park opened to the public last September through October for an initial trial run. It is the first historic site with direct access for travelers on the state Thruway, with a location between exits 41 and 40 for eastbound travelers. It's also accessible for local residents from a separate entrance off Route 31 in Port Byron. For further information on Monday's meeting, call Andrea Seamans at (315) 776-4582 or andreaseamans@hotmail.com. Reports from the Bahamas indicate that the Fyre Festival -- a heavily hyped two-weekend "luxury" concert on the island of Exumas -- is a disorganized mess, with incoming flights grounded and the festival site in chaos. Scheduled headliners Blink-182 canceled their appearance late Thursday; the status of other headliners, including Pusha-T, Migos, Disclosure, Major Lazer, was unclear at press time. Festival organizers postponed the event on Friday morning amid the chaos, tweeting, "After assessing the situation this morning and looking at best options for our guests, we cannot move forward as we hoped we could." They added that they are working on scheduling flights for those already on the island. Advertisement Social media lit up late Thursday with reports from concertgoers who described an unassembled festival site, lost luggage and inadequate transportation. Flights to the island from Miami were canceled because the island was "over capacity," according to reports. The concert, organized by rapper Ja Rule and entrepreneur Billy McFarland, had promised "a cultural moment created from a blend of music, art, and food." Tickets ranged between $1,000 and $12,000 -- and some VIP packages as high as $250,000 -- with amenities including private plane and boat rentals, massages and local beach tours. Advertisement According to reports from would-be concertgoers, the site is more like a hurricane disaster staging area, with incomplete tents and boxed lunches instead of luxury accommodations and celebrity chef-prepared meals. One attendee told Billboard, "They're basically disaster relief tents. With a mattress on some sort of bed frame. They're not that uncomfortable, but the tents are so poorly made that they'd blow over in a second if there was any wind or rain." In a statement, Blink-182 said, "We're not confident we would have what we need to give you the quality of performances we always give our fans." A festival rep didn't immediately respond to Variety's request for comment. A series of tweets on the festival's site, sent early Friday, reads: "We're currently working through the unexpected start to #FyreFestival. Thank u for bearing with us as we attempt to accommodate guest needs. GUEST ON SITE: Working to comfortably accommodate needs. If you need, please head to main site/blue house. Security, first aid, + staff 24/7. GUEST W/ PENDING TRAVEL: Due to circumstances beyond our control, inbound flights have been canceled. We're working to refund your ticket." The concert had been promoted with a splashy video featuring Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski that depicting people sunning on the beach of an island "once owned by Pablo Escobar," riding jet skis, and luxuriating on yachts. But in the weeks leading up to the festival, the Wall Street Journal reported that several of the headliners had not been paid their advances, although later this was rectified. On April 17 the New York Post published a story headlined "Are Fyre Festival organizers in over their heads?" which cited a source as saying "attendees have not yet seen pictures of their 'villas' on the fest's private Bahamian island," while another source said, "It feels like they have good intentions, but are out of their league Several companies bailed on working with them because they were very disorganized. They don't return calls." On Friday morning the festival's website still hosted original advertising for the festival: "You'll be flown roundtrip on a custom, VIP configured Boeing 737 aircraft between Miami International Airport and Exuma International Airport on Great Exuma. Guests will be staying in modern, eco-friendly, geodesic domes. Additional housing and events are available for purchase across nearby islands and private cays." RELATED STORIES: R. Kelly sued by man who says singer broke up his marriage Advertisement Former NPR radio host Diane Rehm is getting married again, and no one's more surprised than she is CM Punk to compete on MTV show Watch the latest movie trailers. Piano soloist Radu Lupu, left, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Riccardo Muti at Symphony Center on Thursday, April 27, 2017. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Riccardo Muti performed two valiant rescue missions Thursday night at Symphony Center, in the first subscription concert of his April-May residency with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. One of them came as a relief from the same-old. The other came as a shocking disappointment. The music director elected to preface the Brahms symphony cycle he is scheduled to conduct over the coming two weeks with two other big Romantic works, Beethoven's towering Piano Concerto No. 5 ("Emperor") and Liszt's rarely heard "A Symphony to Dante's Divine Comedy" his "Dante Symphony," for short. Advertisement The event brought a larger-than-usual influx of audience members, many of them no doubt eager to witness the return of the greatly admired Romanian pianist Radu Lupu as soloist in the Beethoven. Lupu and Muti were, in effect, making up for a canceled CSO Beethoven concerto date they had together a scheduled collaboration in the Piano Concerto No. 1 that was to have taken place here in January 2013 but was lost to illness. Advertisement An odd pairing of familiar Beethoven and unfamiliar Liszt, you say. But in fact Daniel Barenboim had conducted the very same program with the CSO in March 1992, when Orchestra Hall heard a brilliant and poetic "Emperor" Concerto marking the Chicago Symphony debut of the much-heralded Russian virtuoso Evgeny Kissin, who was all of 20 at the time. It would be nice to be able to report that Lupu's account of the mighty "Emperor," which concluded Symphony Center's season-long cycle of the five Beethoven piano concertos, was in the same exalted league, or even on par with the best performances this remarkable artist has given here since his first appearances with the CSO (in another Beethoven concerto, No. 3) 45 years ago. Alas, for whatever reason, Lupu was in poor form, turning in an enervated performance that was riddled with mistakes and labored passage work. As such, it did no credit to his reputation as one of the most important pianists of his generation. Lupu always has tended to be an idiosyncratic artist, not only in his preference of a chair over a piano bench, or his tendency to conduct along with his own playing. One moment he could summon probing intelligence and deep feeling, only to withdraw into enigmatic self-communion the next. The problem Thursday appeared to be more basic: The pianist's fingers seemed incapable of doing what his searching musical intellect asked of them. Temperament and tension were seriously missing in action. There are, to be sure, many valid approaches an interpreter may bring to Beethoven's grandest keyboard concerto. But an "Emperor" as deficient in heroic sweep and imperious command as this one is no "Emperor." Anodyne outer movements enclosed a sluggish adagio where glimmers of Lupu's Beethoven style at its best shone through warmly rounded tone, supple phrasing and, above all, sensitive attention to the soft end of the dynamic spectrum. It wasn't enough. That left Muti and his full-blooded Beethoven orchestra to rescue this reading effectively the "Emperor" as a symphony with piano obbligato with the firmest of accompaniments. You could see the gratitude on Lupu's face as he gave the maestro a long and perhaps embarrassed hug at the end. Advertisement Muti had directed another big Liszt tone poem, "A Faust Symphony," with the Chicago Symphony in October 2011, early in his second season as music director. The composer's "Dante Symphony," inspired by the great Italian poet Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy," is more uneven in quality, overextended, flirting with kitsch with its demonic depiction of hellfire and brimstone in the opening "Inferno" section. But its strikingly prophetic pages make the score worth an occasional hearing. This writer was harshly dismissive of the "Dante Symphony" when Barenboim directed it here in 1992 but found more to admire in Thursday's performance. Muti the musical dramatist was as alive to the pages of apocalyptic force as he was to the pages of bittersweet lyricism. He did a fine job of generating and sustaining intensity through the rambling episodes from the raucous pandemonium of Liszt's abyss (magnificent playing from the CSO brass), through the shimmering "Purgatorio," to the transcendent vision of the distant heavenly sphere in the concluding choral "Magnificat." The women's voices of the Chicago Symphony Chorus brought an ethereal radiance of sound to that hymn in praise of the Almighty. Chorus soprano Alison Wahl floated her brief solo lines appealingly from her aerie in the lower balcony. Liszt composed two endings to the symphony, a quiet one and a loud one that his son-in-law Richard Wagner called a "pompous plagal ending." Muti effectively gave us both endings. The program will be repeated at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $40-$270; 312-294-3000, www.cso.org. John von Rhein is a Tribune critic. Advertisement jvonrhein@chicagotribune.com Twitter @jvonrhein RELATED STORIES: Recommended Chicago-area classical concerts What to see and hear at Bach Week Festival Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) NEW YORK The sudden exit of a spouse can clear the stubborn male mind, as can the well-timed slam of a door. Thus scholars and students have argued for years over whether Henrik Ibsen, the author of the proto-feminist drama "A Doll's House," actually left open the slight possibility that the self-absorbed husband, Torvald, might wise up to his objectifying and condescending ways and change enough for Nora to come back to her family. Something Torvald mutters about "the most wonderful thing of all" certainly holds that suggestion, but, then again, that's just Torvald and it is the last line of Ibsen's play. Nora's already gone, for her own good. Well, that was the case in the New York mind until Thursday night, when Lucas Hnath's "A Doll's House, Part 2" which stars Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble member Laurie Metcalf in a blistering and aptly dominating central performance officially opened on Broadway, the final entry in the 2016-17 season on the Main Stem. In Hnath's sequel (Ibsen is no longer around to object to such a project, of course), Nora walks right back through the famously slammed door that once sent many a tremor through many a real husband in London or New York. Advertisement MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Having done very nicely on her own as a writer for the past 15 years, Nora has come only for a visit. Everybody has grown much older, especially Torvald, who once liked having a younger wife. Advertisement Hnath, who writes here in a lean, contemporary vernacular although without overt period-busting anachronism, has created a fascinating and frequently very funny little play that is less about the issues raised in "A Doll's House" than you might expect, and more about returning to greet your former responsibilities and the unrelenting awkwardness of conversations with ex-spouses or former lovers. Chris Cooper plays Torvald in director Sam Gold's uncluttered, deftly staged production, forged on a simple but incisive set by Miriam Buether that allows Metcalf's Nora to occupy a sharp triangular point that's about as close as you get to the audience at the Golden Theatre. An aging Torvald, whom Hnath imagines as still loving his wife while retreating into a permanent malaise, struggles to compete with that. But the other female characters in Hnath's play are not especially impressed with what Nora chose to do, all those years ago. The other takeaway of this quite compelling little exercise is that acts of revolution can flow from privilege and that they invariably create collateral damage. Metcalf's returning Nora doesn't just talk to Torvald she spends some quality time with Anne Marie (Jayne Houdyshell), her old nursemaid and a character who (in Ibsen's original play) was forced by her economic and other circumstances to give up her own children. Unsurprisingly, she has a complicated response to Nora's exit. And then, most interesting of all, perhaps, there is Nora's chat with Emmy (Condola Rashad), a young woman for whom Nora's exit mainly meant her losing her mother. She's not a charter member of the Nora fan club, either. Metcalf shows you in real time how Nora's conversations none of which is easy bring about a cascading series of discoveries about one of dramatic literature's most famous characters, a woman now aware of what lies on the other side of the door to her marriage. Remarkably, Metcalf does this without losing any of Nora's force or power. This really is a multilayered performance: you can see Ibsen's Nora herein, plus the woman Nora became and the compassionate cracks in her armor. And Rashad rises up to meet her Emmy, you intuit, is her mother's daughter, all right, even if the self-actualization she has learned can also be a weapon when it comes to expressing frustration at her own abandonment. Still, the most poignant scenes of this 90-minute exploration are with Cooper's Torvald, not the least for how much they reveal about how difficult it is for any of us to change. At one point, Cooper lies on the floor, needy and still upset, his broken Torvald stretching out a forlorn hand in the direction of the woman he never can have back. And what is Nora to do with that? It is an issue of the ages, and the question of the night. "A Doll's House, Part 2" plays at the Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St.; www.dollshousepart2.com Advertisement Chris Jones is a Tribune critic. cjones5@chicagotribune.com Twitter @ChrisJonesTrib MORE FROM THE THEATER LOOP: A Broadway 'Bandstand' for the Greatest Generation Martha Lavey, longtime leader of Steppenwolf Theatre, is dead at 60 Advertisement In Broadway's 'Anastasia,' the screens put our princess in a corner 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' has barely a drop of that magic chocolate 'Hello, Dolly!' on Broadway: All stand for Bette Midler 'Indecent' on Broadway: Lessons of an obscenity trial Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) "Aladdin" "Aladdin," the most frenetic and cartoonish of Disney's screen-to-stage musicals, officially opened its first national tour in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. And Adam Jacobs, his gleaming white teeth, his charming costar Isabelle McCalla as Princess Jasmine and the rest have all acquired a little more attention to veracity and Broadway chops since this show's first turn on the rialto. The new "Aladdin" crew is committed and fun, which you would expect, but they also bring more emotional depth to a show naturally inclined to remain in the shallow end of the pool. You can't beat catching a first-class Equity tour right at the start. Through Sept. 10 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.; $44-$153 at 800-775-2000 or www.broadwayinchicago.com Advertisement Lookingglass Theatre ensemble member David Schwimmer and playwright-director Alexander Zeldin talk about Zeldin's "Beyond Caring," which debuted in London and is playing in Chicago through May 7, 2017, at Lookingglass. (Jose Osorio / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) "Beyond Caring" 1/2 Four temporary workers toil for faceless agencies in the new, hypernaturalistic theater piece created by the conceptual British director Alexander Zeldin. "Beyond Caring," which lasts about 90 minutes, mostly is composed of watching these workers clean a raw space. No more, no less. It is about the work, and how split shifts can cleave a soul in two. This is a deep and intensely wrought dive into the problem of invisibility a theatrical demand that we better consider the plights of people who need their paychecks so badly to feed themselves or their children that they will put up with this. Through May 7 at Lookingglass Theatre, 821 N. Michigan Ave.; $40-$75 at 312-337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org Advertisement "Blue Man Group" 1/2 "Blue Man Group" has been playing at Briar Street Theatre since 1997, a remarkable run of 20 years. There have been only two major overhauls in that time; the latest adds selfie sticks, new music and a livelier finale. I'd argue the Blue Men need a bigger overhaul they still chomp marshmallows, bang drums and paint up audience members but this remains a fine gateway for the young into the arts. If you've never had the pleasure, go. Open run at the Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St.; $49-$69 at ticketmaster.com A song from The Second City e.t.c.s Fantastic Super Great Nation Numero Uno" (Chicago Tribune) "Fantastic Super Great Nation Numero Uno" 1/2 "Fantastic Super Great Nation Numero Uno" is an inclusive and warmhearted new e.t.c. Theater show, directed by Ryan Bernier, that takes a broad view of the moment. There have been edgier revues on the e.t.c. stage, but this crew is so funny you worry some coastal talent-spotters soon will steal them away. Alan Linic plays a Cubs fans who slept through everything that has happened since. Katie Klein's old-school parody of affirmative women's daytime talk shows "What's Up Girl?" is probably the richest material of the night. Open run in Second City e.t.c. Theater in Piper's Alley, 1618 N. Wells St.; $19-$46 at 312-664-4032 or secondcity.com "The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz" The House Theatre's 2005 production of "The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz" has returned to the Chopin Theatre in Wicker Park, just in time for a dark family spring break experience. Phillip Klapperich's stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum's story is very much in sync with the intensity and darkness of the original book about a troubled girl from Kansas. Dorothy who is played, and with the right mix of vulnerability and resilience, by Kara Davidson is very much a recognizable teenager in this version. And AnJi White does not mess around as the Witch of the West (the wickedness is in the beholding). Through May 7 at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St.; $30-$45 at 773-769-3832 or thehousetheatre.com "Hamilton" This Broadway show has given Chicago a Chicago-style production. The heartland "Hamilton" is performed by players mostly younger and less experienced than the original New York cast and is less flashy. But it is more in touch with the fundamental scrappiness of the early years of a rebel colony turned into a spectacular democratic experiment. And in a city whose native theater is founded on truth, it is somehow very much more human and vulnerable. That Chicago-style sensibility is led by Miguel Cervantes, the superb actor in the title role. This is a company that deserves to be embraced. Open run at PrivateBank Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St.; $65-$400 at 800-775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com Advertisement Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 9 "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, with Evan Tyrone Martin (center) as Jesus of Nazareth. (Liz Lauren photo ) "Jesus Christ Superstar" If you know every note of "Jesus Christ Superstar," the rock opera penned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, you'll be surprised by what you hear in director Ron Kellum's splashy new production at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. This talented African-American cast really does have something new to give. The co-music directors Kory Danielson and Tom Vendafreddo clearly allowed a whole lot of freedom: I've never heard "I Don't Know How to Love Him" sung with the embellishments that Felicia Boswell offers. And why not? Through May 28 at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora; $44-$59 at 630-896-6666 or paramountaurora.com "Linda Vista" 1/2 Dick Wheeler is a heterosexual white male, halfway to an antique, both the smartest guy in the room and a misanthropic grump. And "Linda Vista" is his play. His very funny play. How you feel about Wheeler, played at Steppenwolf in all his epic mediocrity by Ian Barford, largely will dictate how you feel about Tracy Letts' new world premiere. Its most telling scene takes place between Wheeler and his friend Paul. The men are talking about their deathbeds; they come to see that life then will suck, and that all you can do is grab whatever vestiges of happiness your aging bones, and dubious morals, will allow. Through May 21 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.; $20-$94 at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org "Marry Me a Little" 1/2 Spring has sprung in Chicago. High time, then, for a Stephen Sondheim revue. Porchlight Music Theatre is staging "Marry Me a Little," about a pair of emotionally entangled New York singles and the least known of the Sondheim songfests. And Austin Cook, who stars in this show with Bethany Thomas and also serves as musical director, has been granted permission update the song list to include such ditties as "Rainbow" from "Into the Woods" and "The Best Thing That Ever Has Happened" from "Road Show." This show is mostly an excuse for 75 minutes of lesser-explored Sondheim. Such a pleasure. Through May 21 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.; $38-$51 at 773-327-5252 or porchlightmusictheatre.org Advertisement "The Most Happy Fella" Theo Ubique's production of Frank Loesser's "The Most Happy Fella" is like fine wine on a chilly night, one of my favorites in many years of Rogers Park musicals. As the romance between a charming vineyard owner and a much younger waitress arguably a problematic story this staging is both respectful of the 1956 original and just subversive enough to expand on the sensual complexity. And it's gorgeously sung by a truly remarkable cast. The music explodes all around you. Through May 7 at Theo Ubique Theatre, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave.; $34-$39 (an optional dinner is $25) at 800-595-4849 or theo-u.org "The Mystery of Love & Sex" The two young people in Bathsheba Doran's compassionate play are what's often called soul mates. Charlotte (Hayley Burgess) and Jonny (Travis Turner) are longtime girl-and-boy friends who, as they head off to college, are exploring their own sexuality and trying to figure out if they are gay. She's Jewish, he's African-American. But this play is not just about their relationship, it deepens in Act 2 and brings in conflicts with Charlotte's parents, as well as the power and necessity for reconciliation. Through July 2 in the Gillian Theatre at Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe; $35-$80 at 847-242-6000 or writerstheatre.org Odysseo, which is being staged at a lot of Soldier Field in April, is the 2017 touring show by Cavalia that marries equestrian arts, stage arts and high-tech theatrical effects. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) "Odysseo" As with the first Cavalia production, the best parts of the new, more spectacular "Odysseo" come when the horses are allowed to roam free over the stage. This touring French Canadian enterprise has the combined magic of a computer-generated set and a 17,500-square-foot performance space, and you really do feel a sense of having come upon them in the steppe of Kazakhstan or the damp of Norway. "Odysseo" is a show genuinely in love with the horse. Still, as a fan of acrobatics, I was mightily impressed with the act from New Guinea, the best tumblers I've ever seen. Open run in the White Big Top, Soldier Field South Lot, 1410 Museum Campus Drive; $34.50-$269.50 (VIP price includes food and drink) at 866-999-8111 or cavalia.com Advertisement "Shakespeare in Love" The smarty-pants 1998 movie "Shakespeare in Love" imagined a love affair between Shakespeare and Viola de Lesseps, a wannabe actress seduced by a life on the boards. The stage adaptation has had a mixed history (it really should have been a musical). But in the hands of the director Rachel Rockwell who has put a lot of heart into the Chicago Shakespeare Theater production it makes for a very warm, accessible and enjoyable night out. Nick Rehberger is unpretentious and likable as the man himself, Kate McGonigle is a pleasing Viola, and the whole play is now a love letter to the collaborative nature of Chicago theater. Through June 11 in the Courtyard Theater on Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave.; $58-$88 at 312-595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com The cast of Spamilton performs "Lin-Manuel as Hamilton (Chicago Tribune) "Spamilton" 1/2 With "Spamilton," the savvy parodist Gerard Alessandrini ("Forbidden Broadway") has come roaring back in a new, local production ideally timed for Chicago, delivering nonstop laughs to anyone with enough knowledge of "Hamilton" to get the gags. The famous "blue-collar/shining beacon/Puerto Rican" is played by Yando Lopez, an actor with a better vocal instrument than Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Eric Andrew Lewis blows out the room as Aaron Burr. It's a fair criticism to say that Alessandrini is perhaps too much in love with the real "Hamilton" to really skewer the show, but there's guaranteed fun here for Miranda obsessives. Open run at the Royal George Cabaret Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St.; $59-$99 at 312-988-9000 or spamilton.com "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" I actually had a blast at this semiscripted affair that employs 23 actors to play members of the two feuding families joining in holy matrimony. Don't judge without going. Still, I wouldn't be recommending this thing if it were just like last time. The difference this time around is that the show begins in an actual Chicago church, where the congregants are to be commended for their sense of humor, and the scale and quality of the Chicago improv community (not all of whom are in the first blush of youth) have improved vastly in the years since I last saw this show. It's a rough, tough, divisive world out there. Here, everyone was having fun. Go in a group. Open run at Resurrection Church, 3309 N. Seminary Ave.; $75-$85 at 773-327-3778 or tonylovestina.com Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) Inspired by social media, some people are turning to rubber bands, fishing line and paper clips in an effort to perfect their own pearly whites - a practice that orthodontists warn could lead to gum irritation, misalignment and tooth loss. (Randall Benton / Sacramento Bee / TNS) In this age of do-it-yourself everything, orthodontists say teeth straightening is one task you should leave to the professionals. Inspired by social media, some people are turning to rubber bands, fishing line and paper clips to perfect their own pearly whites a practice that orthodontists warn could lead to gum irritation, misalignment and tooth loss. Advertisement A quick search on YouTube reveals thousands of tutorials about how to straighten teeth without braces, many posted by users who appear to be teenagers. People online say they've successfully closed spaces in their smiles by stretching small rubber hairbands over their teeth to pull them closer together. Others recommend do-it-yourself molds and retainers, which are widely available for purchase online. While these beautifying projects might be cheap at first, they carry a risk that could ultimately cost thousands of dollars, said Dr. Jeffrey Kwong, an El Dorado Hills orthodontist. If a rubber band slides to the top or bottom of the teeth and wedges into the gum line, retrieving it is nearly impossible without professional help, Kwong said. If left in the gums, the band can cause an infection or weaken the ligaments around the tooth to the point where it falls out. Advertisement "The rubber band will start chewing away at the ligaments and making the tooth become loose," Kwong said. "We only have so much gum tissue. If the teeth are moved too far beyond the point of where there are hard tissues, that could be a problem as well." A recent survey from the American Association of Orthodontists found that 13 percent of orthodontists are seeing patients who have tried DIY teeth straightening. The organization could not provide numbers on how many patients experienced dental problems after their experiments, but said in a statement that "some of these DIY teeth straightening attempts have caused severe damage including tooth loss and leading to costly repairs." This spring, the organization put out a consumer alert warning orthodontists and parents to look out for the worrying trend. Brandon Andre, a 24-year-old musician and photographer from Los Angeles, said he doesn't see the danger. Last summer, Andre wanted to close the gap between his two front teeth but couldn't afford to see an orthodontist, he said. Instead he purchased elastic hair bands for $5, which he placed on his teeth daily for about six weeks. After some soreness and bleeding, the teeth started moving closer together, he said. Andre detailed his experience in a nine-minute YouTube video, which has more than 273,000 views. He did address the possibilities of long-term damage in the video but said it wasn't a problem for him. "It wasn't enough to sway me to not want to do it," Andre said of the orthodontists' warnings. "Luckily for me I was successful and had no problems, and it totally changed how I felt about my image. But it's not going to work for everybody." Most people try the "gap band" method because they're self-conscious about their teeth but don't have the money to purchase braces, Andre said. Braces cost somewhere between $3,000 and $7,000 depending on insurance contributions, according to the Consumer Guide for Dentistry. While not everyone who tries to straighten their own teeth will cause damage, Kwong warns anyone considering it to consult a professional and not take the risk. Advertisement "People get lucky sometimes," he said. "It's hard to predict who's going to be lucky and who's not going to be lucky. If (these kids) miss something, if they don't catch something, if something happens, it's tens of thousands of dollars in dental work to fix these problems. And some things may be irreversible." Dr. Kelly Giannetti, a Sacramento orthodontist, said she's recently seen patients who tried to fit themselves for a night guard or snore guard, which can result in misaligning the "bite" between the top and bottom teeth. She believes orthodontists might be seeing more of those cases because of social media. "Sometimes, especially nowadays, most kids get a lot of their information online, watching YouTube videos," she said. "Everything right now tends to lean more toward DIY. Sometimes they don't realize teeth are part of your health, and health isn't a good thing to do yourself." @SammyCaiola Jesse Jackson Jr. speaks to news media following a hearing in his divorce case at the Daley Center on April 28, 2017. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) Lawyers for disgraced former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and ex-Chicago Ald. Sandi Jackson may be in settlement talks over the couple's acrimonious divorce but Jackson Jr. was still in fighting mode Friday morning, angrily hinting that damaging information about her has yet to emerge. Jackson Jr. was speaking outside court at Chicago's Daley Center, moments after conceding that the divorce will be fought in Washington, D.C., as she wanted, and not in Chicago, as he had preferred. There was a brief hearing Friday on the divorce case in Washington, but nothing new was decided. Advertisement Challenged in the D.C. case by her to produce a list of his sexual partners since he married her 25 years ago, Jackson Jr. said Friday that he had "taken responsibility for all of my shortcomings as a man and all of my actions including marital behavior and imperfections, of which I am not proud." But Jackson Jr. made a curious comment Friday about "discoveries" involving his estranged wife. Advertisement "My discoveries of March 21, 2016, while Sandra was in prison on our home computer make it impossible for the marriage to continue. That is not only my position. It is the position of every member of the Jackson family," he said. Asked if he was making a cryptic threat with his repeated references to his March 21 "discoveries," Jackson Jr. replied, "No, no that's a promise." Jackson Jr. who, like his wife, served federal prison time for public corruption, and has battled bipolar disorder was twice tapped on his back by his attorney, Brendan Hammer, as he referred Friday to the discoveries he said he had made, and left the courthouse immediately thereafter. Hammer acknowledged that Jackson Jr.'s legal team has been talking with Sandi Jackson's lawyers "about contours of what a settlement would be but we are rather far off." Sandi's Jackson's Chicago lawyer, Jessica Interlandi, told reporters after the hearing that a settlement was likely in both side's best interests. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > The two will soon begin mediation in Washington. Jackson Jr., who lives in Chicago now, complained that Sandi had made "loose and hypocritical accusations, half-stories, tell-all books" but added "I have personally learned the lessons of what power and hubris can bring." "My children deserve a better chance than I had, and I had a great one," he said. Advertisement Sandi Jackson is not writing a book, her attorney said Friday in Washington. She remains in Washington and is fulfilling her 200 hours of community service at the well-known Martha's Table food pantry, a favorite spot for the Obama Family to serve meals to the poor. CONTRIBUTING: Katherine Skiba kjanssen@chicagotribune.com Twitter @kimjnews Robert Heath, in photos taken March 7, from left, March 10 and March 14, 2017, when he allegedly left without paying at Coco Pazzo, Trump Tower and Mothers Too. (Chicago Police Department ) A self-styled playboy who Chicago police say refused to pay an $1,800 bar tab at Trump Tower and also ran up large unpaid tabs at two other downtown bars says he is now partying in San Diego and has challenged the cops to "Catch me if you can." Robert A. Heath Jr., 30, was arrested at Trump Tower on March 10 after refusing to pay his $1,838 tab, according to a police report. In a phone conversation with Chicago Inc. this week, he claimed he is a wealthy executive for an electric car manufacturer adding, "I don't need to steal I just don't like Donald Trump." Advertisement Heath said he has a shaky memory of the night because "I was drunk," but added that he bought "champagne for every table in the bar I think it was Armand de Brignac, because that's my favorite." "I guess I made an impression because everyone was looking at me," he said. "It was kind of weird." Advertisement Arrested and released on his own recognizance, Heath, of Canton, Ga., had allegedly pulled the same stunt just three days earlier at Coco Pazzo Cafe in Streeterville, running up a $229 tab for booze and a chicken dinner that he refused to pay. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Court records allege he did it a third time at Mothers Too in the Gold Coast on March 14, when he was charged with trying to skip on a $106 tab. Mug shots from the three busts appear to document his deteriorating mood over his alleged weeklong free drinking spree (cases connected to the alleged Mothers Too and Coco Pazzo thefts were dropped after witnesses failed to show up in court). But Heath seemed in good humor when he told Inc. that the incidents were part of a nationwide spree of bad behavior that he expects to be documented in a magazine article. He alluded to the movie "Catch Me If You Can," in which Leonardo DiCaprio plays trickster Frank Abagnale Jr., who for years lived a jet-setter's life by pretending to be an airline pilot. Heath sent Inc. a series of pictures of himself with an American Express black card, with groups of women in nightclubs and in luxury vehicles he claimed to own, adding, "I'll beat the case in Chicago with pleasure tell Chicago police to have me extradited in any one of my white exotics (cars) I wreck $100k cars for fun catch me if you can." But Heath's claims to be "super well-connected with the U.S. Navy" were not backed by Navy spokeswoman Katie Suich, who said there is no record of Heath having served. kjanssen@chicagotribune.com Twitter @kimjnews Illinois House Speaker Michael Madiganlistens as Gov. Bruce Rauner gives his budget address to lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Feb. 15, 2017, at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Gov. Bruce Rauner has made some mistakes in delivering his message, and I've been critical of his efforts. But as he seeks re-election, as the state drowns in debt, as Boss Madigan rubs his thin fingers with icy glee, what is Rauner up against? Advertisement Part of what he's up against is Democratic patronage workers installed into cushy state jobs on the Illinois Department of Transportation payroll under his Democratic predecessor, Pat Quinn. You can look it up. It was in the Chicago Tribune. Advertisement According to the story, hundreds were hired as "staff assistants" by Quinn under what a federal court monitor called "questionable circumstances." And dozens are still holding onto those jobs, protected by union work rules This is Illinois. I'd like to think that most of the Democratic payrollers are dedicated, selfless public servants who work long hours. But since I've been covering politics around here for centuries, I'm guessing a few might also be lickspittles, political kids, morons, nincompoops, idiot relatives who couldn't get a job without political clout and the help of those who get out the vote. Even House Speaker Michael Madigan, boss of the Democratic Party, was mentioned in the court monitor's patronage report. Boss Madigan reportedly installed a physically aggressive bricklayer in a staff assistant IDOT job that involved "maintaining relationships" with minority road contractors. Maintaining relationships? Advertisement Could it mean the bricklayer took minority contractors to a delicious lunch to Tom's Steakhouse in Melrose Park at state expense? If so, I hope they ordered the porterhouse, medium rare. Or, perhaps "maintaining relationships" is just about hanging out over lattes, then texting the contractors late into the night sharing cool videos and laughing at their jokes by typing "Haha" on the phone. Minority road contractors must be served. For Democrats, a road project's cost to taxpayers isn't nearly as important as getting a piece of the taxpayer pie to various groups defined by skin pigment and gender, who then can kick in to a politician's election fund. Not that I'm saying that happened. I'm just thinking. But here's what bothered me: Why a bricklayer and not a pipefitter? Don't pipefitters or sheet metal workers or unemployed meat grinders have the necessary diplomatic skills to "maintain relationships" with road builders? Of course they do. Advertisement But they don't have Boss Madigan. Sadly, the bricklayer allegedly had to resign after "physically assaulting" a state lawmaker. Boss Madigan, who controls the lawmakers, doesn't abide crude physical assault of his pet legislators. Mental assault, yes, of course. He uses his mind to bend them into submission. But never physical assault, so the bricklayer stepped down, yet not before the unnamed state lawmaker in the Tribune story also stepped forward to say, essentially, "never mind," the assault never happened. Madigan's brain. Dig it. The other part of the story that astounded me was the court monitor saying that the payrollers were hired under "questionable circumstances." Advertisement That usually is code for some Chicago politician needing to put a relative to work. Wife of alderman: "Honey, your daughter needs a job!" Alderman: "What do you want me to do, use my elected office to leverage a job for Pumpkin?" Daughter: "Yes, daddy." Alderman: "OK, Pumpkin. It's not my money anyway" According to the story, Quinn's deputy chief of staff Ryan Croke created a database where a job applicant's work experience, such as "election judge" would be entered. Advertisement One aide emailed Croke about an applicant: "Do you know who/where this (job applicant) came from?" Croke's response: "Yes call for details." He didn't want to explain things on an email. Imagine that. Unfortunately for Rauner, that story about Democrats stuffing the payroll wasn't as thrilling for the rest of the media as covering protests in which Rauner hatred was rampant. This week he's been up against an onslaught of public protests organized in part by (taxpayer subsidized) public unions and groups demanding that taxpayers pay for abortions. And all of it covered by journalists who refer to the Republican Party as the "Rauner-funded Republican Party." Advertisement It's true. Rauner is a wealthy man who takes no pay as governor. And he has donated large sums to the GOP out of his own pocket. He doesn't take it out of your pockets. He takes it out of his pocket. Yet oddly enough, there is another political party in Illinois. It is the Democratic Party, the party of spending and debt and high taxes, all of it controlled for decades by Boss Madigan. Madigan takes truckloads of political cash from public unions who work for government and, who are paid, ultimately, by the taxpayers and he funnels those political donations to his loyal minions. Unlike Rauner, Madigan doesn't go into his pockets. Essentially he goes into your pockets, by proxy. And so, journalists might say, constantly and dutifully of course, that Illinois Democrats belong to "Boss Madigan-controlled Democratic Party." Sadly there wasn't as much public screaming or theater about the Tribune patronage story as there was about the anti-Rauner protests in Springfield. Advertisement Screaming and yelling is very dramatic, offering great visuals and TV likes it. But taxpayers don't do much screaming about their money being used to hire Democratic patronage workers and all the rest. If taxpayers gathered in mobs to complain, they'd be characterized by journalists as "angry," which in modern parlance suggests something is pathologically wrong with them. So taxpayers don't protest or scream or march. They vote. And too often, they just sell their homes and leave. Listen to "The Chicago Way" podcast, with John Kass and Jeff Carlin. Advertisement jskass@chicagotribune.com Former President Barack Obama speaks about civic engagement at the Logan Center for the Arts on the University of Chicago campus on Monday, April 24, 2017. The event was billed as a "Conversation with President Obama and Young Leaders." (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) Talk may be cheap but speeches sure aren't. Not Barack Obama's, at any rate. He's charging $400,000 for an upcoming speech sponsored by a Wall Street investment firm, the equivalent of his annual salary as president. Advertisement Valerie Jarrett, his longtime adviser, doesn't come cheap either, or at least she didn't until the outcry over the $30,000 she was scheduled to receive for this year's graduation address at Northeastern Illinois University. The school is struggling financially during the state's budget mess, and she responded to the protests by agreeing to speak for free. To be fair, even at 30 grand, Jarrett was a bargain in the celebrity-speech market. Advertisement Compare her price with Matthew McConaughey's. A couple of years ago, the great sage of the movie stage was paid $135,000, plus travel expenses, to dispense his "13 life truths" at the University of Houston on graduation day. McConaughey's truth No. 2: "Unbelievable is the stupidest word in the dictionary." Unbelievable is also the word many of us apply to the extravagant sums that famous or purportedly important people are paid to sprinkle their wit, wisdom or inanities over a live audience. By one estimate, former President George W. Bush, who reportedly makes between $100,000 and $175,000 per speech, has collected more than $30 million in speaking fees since he turned over the White House keys to Obama. That may sound like a lot, but, according to the allamericanspeakers.com website, it's less per speech than Larry the Cable Guy gets. Do you want to book Larry for your luncheon? Or Pitbull, Kaley Cuoco or Denzel Washington? According to the site, any of these famous people yes, they're all famous in some circle will cost you a minimum of $200,000. If your budget doesn't stretch that far, for a mere $5,001 to $10,000, you can book the "best hypnotherapist" in LA, one of an assortment of "motivators" or "the world's only jollytologist." "Unbelievable," you may still be thinking, as you contemplate all the things you could do with that money, like take a great vacation or pay off your mortgage or send your kids to college, but you know what? Matthew McConaughey is right. Anything people do is believable, and in a capitalistic society, it should be easy to believe that where there's a demand, there's a supply. Let's not blame the speakers for reaping the crazy sums others are willing to pay. Advertisement For the record, speakers deserve to be paid. At a minimum, they should be offered a payment, even if, when fitting, they turn it down. At Northeastern, for example, where finances are dire, it's fitting that Valerie Jarrett, a woman of some means, speaks for free. It's also fitting that she was offered some payment. Speaking, done well, is work. Anyone who thinks speakers should speak for nothing because it's an honor to be asked should ask themselves if they'd go to work for free because it's an honor to have a job. Giving a speech is more than talking. It's performing. It requires preparation. We take it for granted that musicians are paid to play music and athletes are paid to play ball, so it's not crazy that people who talk be paid for talking, at least when their talk is helping someone else make money, as it often is. It would have looked better for the Democrats if Obama had resisted a $400,000 Wall Street fee on his first lap around the post-presidential speaking circuit, but the firm paying him is using him to make money, hoping he'll attract buzz and investors. Why shouldn't he make money off people making money off him? Same for George W. Bush. Advertisement Colleges and universities that pay outlandish sums to graduation speakers are using their speakers for financial gain too, imagining that celebrities will attract publicity, students and alumni donations. That logic seems loopy but it's believable. The underlying question, of course, is why we want to hear people stand on a stage or at a lectern and yak at us for 15 minutes, 30 or, Godsaveus, an hour. Only rarely is it for the content of the speech, which is rarely memorable. When the speaker's a celebrity, we mostly want to look, not listen. We want to be able to say we were there. In fact, the quality of the speech is often in inverse proportion to the celebrity of the speaker. The best speeches I've heard have been from people I'd never heard of and who probably weren't paid. But I hope they were offered something. mschmich@chicagotribune.com A Syracuse woman is accused of stealing approximately $300,000 from her former employer. The New York State Police said Sherri L. Ellis, 46, of Marian Dr. in Syracuse, has been charged with second-degree grand larceny and first-degree falsifying business records. Ellis was a billing and title clerk at 3-Xtreme Motorsports in the town of Hastings, Oswego County. She allegedly stole the funds between July 2014 and July 2016. She was arraigned in the Village of Central Square Court. She was placed on pre-trial release through the Oswego County Probation Department. Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett leaves court in 2015. Federal prosecutors have recommended that she receive a sentence of 7 1/2 years in prison for taking part in a kickback scheme. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) Barbara Byrd-Bennett's fall began in April 2015 when a pair of FBI agents investigating a kickback scheme at Chicago Public Schools knocked on her door. Byrd-Bennett, a Harlem, N.Y.-raised former teacher handpicked by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to steer the city's district in the wake of a 2012 teachers strike, agreed to speak to the agents that day. Advertisement But federal prosecutors allege nearly everything she said was a lie. On Friday, two years and 14 days after that first interview, Byrd-Bennett faces sentencing at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse for her role in a bribery case that added an embarrassing chapter to the troubled history of CPS. Advertisement Byrd-Bennett pleaded guilty in October 2015 to steering more than $23 million in no-bid contracts to the SUPES Academy education consulting firm where she once worked in return for kickbacks, other perks and a promise of a lucrative job once her time as CPS CEO was over. Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of nearly 7 1/2 years for the disgraced educator, more than double the 3 1/2 years in prison that her attorneys have asked U.S. District Judge Edmond Chang to consider. Byrd-Bennett is scheduled to be sentenced hours after one of her co-conspirators, former education consultant Thomas Vranas. In a filing early this month, Vranas' attorneys asked a judge to consider a sentence of three years of probation. Prosecutors will ask that Vranas instead serve a 39-month prison sentence. Gary Solomon, whom prosecutors called the "mastermind" of the bribery scheme, was sentenced last month to seven years in prison. He has appealed his prison term. Solomon and Vranas, who co-owned SUPES Academy and Synesi Associates, also entered guilty pleas. Byrd-Bennett will learn her fate as CPS struggles to avert insolvency and awaits a ruling also set to come down Friday afternoon in Cook County Chancery Court on a lawsuit filed in an effort to wrest more money from the state. Byrd-Bennett's case has also deepened what officials and observers sometimes describe as a "trust deficit" that CPS faces with the public it serves. "I think she's a byproduct of a very flawed system," said Wendy Katten of the Raise Your Hand parent advocacy group, which has long pushed the city to dump its current mayor-appointed school board for an elected body. Much of the case against Byrd-Bennett centered on emails sent between her and Solomon that seemed to make no effort to conceal the kickback scheme. In one message, Byrd-Bennett even implied she needed cash because she had "tuition to pay and casinos to visit," according to the charges. Advertisement Prosecutors say she hired her friends at CPS and exploited her knowledge of the district to enrich herself and secure college and wedding funds for her twin grandsons. Byrd-Bennett "expected to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars" when she went back to work for SUPES after leaving CPS. Solomon and Vranas received payments of more than $2.9 million, the government said. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Prosecutors said Byrd-Bennett eventually sought to cooperate with the government's investigation. She provided what authorities described as "truthful information regarding other areas of interest" to the government and the school system's inspector general and also met with law enforcement from outside the Northern District of Illinois. She apologized after pleading guilty following a formal indictment that came three years nearly to the day after Emanuel described her as "the best and the brightest" when he tapped her to lead CPS. Katten plans to be in court for Byrd-Bennett's sentencing but doesn't see an opportunity for much closure. "Yes, an individual did a bad thing, but the Board of Education was negligent in their role and should've cut off that long before they did. It shouldn't have taken a federal investigation to stop that," she said. Chicago Tribune's Jason Meisner contributed. Advertisement jjperez@chicagotribune.com Twitter @PerezJr Barbara Byrd-Bennett, right, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on April 28, 2017, after being sentenced for her role in a bribery scandal. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett began to sob in a federal courtroom Friday as she struggled to explain where "the tipping point" was that led her down a path of corruption. The pressure of leading the nation's third-largest school system was enormous, she said. The mayor had shuttered dozens of schools, there was a bitter teachers strike, relentless budget issues and students dying virtually every day from gun violence. Still, those stresses were no excuse for lining her own pockets, she said. Advertisement "Oh, your honor, I wish I had magic words or a better explanation," said Byrd-Bennett, her voice cracking as she stood at the lectern reading from prepared notes. Prosecutors, however, said the motive was simple to explain: "Naked greed." Advertisement In the end, U.S. District Judge Edmond Chang sentenced Byrd-Bennett to 4 1/2 years in prison for scheming to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks in return for steering lucrative contracts to SUPES Academy, an education consulting firm where she had formerly worked. The hourlong hearing capped a stunning fall from grace for Byrd-Bennett, who was considered a star in urban education when Mayor Rahm Emanuel handpicked her to lead the city's cash-strapped school district. In handing down the sentence, Chang said he needed to send a message to other public officials and corrupt vendors that they face significant time behind bars if they're caught defrauding the public for their own financial gain. It's a message that so far has not gotten through, the judge said. "It's distressing that Chicago has not and seems unable to shed its image of public corruption," Chang said to dozens of spectators packed into his 21st-floor courtroom. "The people are waiting to find out if Chicago can ever be a city that works for its people and not for corrupt officials and people willing to pay bribes." Despite the stern talk, Chang's sentence was three years less than what prosecutors had requested and also well below the seven-year term given to SUPES co-founder Gary Solomon, who has been described by prosecutors as the mastermind of the kickback scheme but was not a public official. In cutting her somewhat of a break, Chang cited Byrd-Bennett's age she turns 68 in July and ultimate cooperation with authorities in the investigation, as well as the dozens of letters he received extolling her life's work as an educator. Still, Byrd-Bennett needs to serve significant prison time because her corruption "infected the public education system" and made citizens more cynical that city officials are working on their behalf, Chang said. "You know better than most that this is not some abstraction," Chang told Byrd-Bennett. "It's a real and concrete problem." Advertisement Earlier Friday, Chang sentenced Byrd-Bennett's co-defendant, former SUPES official Thomas Vranas, to 18 months in prison for his role in the massive bribery scandal. Byrd-Bennett pleaded guilty in October 2015 to a single count of wire fraud. She admitted in a plea agreement with prosecutors to steering more than $23 million in no-bid contracts to SUPES. In exchange for Byrd-Bennett's influence, Solomon and Vranas gave her tickets to sporting events, meals and other perks, but no cash actually exchanged hands. Instead, Byrd-Bennett was promised hundreds of thousands of dollars as a "signing bonus" once she left her duties at CPS and rejoined SUPES as a consultant, her plea deal said. The bonus was to be concealed in trust accounts set up in the names her twin grandsons with the cash available to her once she left CPS. A CPS committee set up to evaluate no-bid contracts initially balked at awarding SUPES a noncompetitive deal but later approved the plan, records show. In pushing for the contracts, Byrd-Bennett admitted she lied to other CPS administrators, telling them she had no financial connection with the company. When one district official raised concerns about the no-bid deal, Byrd-Bennett effectively had him fired, according to court records. Much of the case centered on emails sent between Solomon and Byrd-Bennett that seemed to make no effort to conceal the alleged kickback scheme. Advertisement Solomon told Byrd-Bennett in one 2012 email, "If you only join for the day, you will be the highest paid person on the planet for that day. Regardless, it will be paid out on day one," according to court records. In another message, Byrd-Bennett implied she needed cash because she had "tuition to pay and casinos to visit," records show. In court Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Church said the email exchanges gave the whole scheme an air of ridiculousness. "How could anyone be so stupid to send emails that are so open, so brazen about exchanging money for official action?" Church said. Chang agreed, saying he was startled by the "casualness" of the corruption. "The emails were even sprinkled with humor, of all things," Chang said. "It sends a signal to the court that you and Mr. Solomon didn't think you were going to get caught." Advertisement While Byrd-Bennett became the public face of the scandal, the Tribune had reported previously that Solomon's ties to the Emanuel administration go back to the beginning of Emanuel's tenure in office, predating the arrival of Byrd-Bennett. In fact, Solomon helped recruit Emanuel's first schools CEO, Jean-Claude Brizard, at the request of the mayor-elect's transition team in February 2011. Solomon went on to recommend Byrd-Bennett, who was the lead trainer at SUPES when CPS hired her as chief education officer in April 2012. Emanuel spokesman Adam Collins said in an emailed statement Friday that Byrd-Bennett had "betrayed the public trust." "She broke the law," Collins said. "She turned her back on the very children she was entrusted to serve, and the children of Chicago are owed much better than that." Byrd-Bennett left the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse without comment Friday, ignoring questions from reporters as she stepped into a gray minivan waiting on South Dearborn Street. Chang ordered her to report to prison on Aug. 28. Before he was sentenced earlier Friday, Vranas, 36, read a short statement to the court, apologizing to the schools, the students "and the citizens of Chicago" for all the harm he caused. Advertisement "What I did was wrong," Vranas said as his wife cried softly in the courtroom gallery with relatives and supporters. "I will regret it for the rest of my life." Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > In arguing for probation, his attorneys noted that it was Vranas' truthful cooperation that allowed prosecutors to uncover the scope of a fraud that Byrd-Bennett initially lied about when confronted by FBI agents two years ago. But Church, the prosecutor, said Vranas played an important role as "the guy behind the scenes getting the work done," hiding money and making sure that Byrd-Bennett was taken care of with payoffs they expected to still be coming for years in the future. "He was all-in, judge," Church said. "This wasn't a simple mistake or a one-time lapse in judgment." jmeisner@chicagotribune.com jjperez@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @jmetr22b Twitter @PerezJr Illinois State Police shut down the westbound lanes of Interstate 290 for about two hours early on April 28, 2017, while troopers investigated reports of gunfire on the expressway. (Elvia Malagon / Chicago Tribune) At least one car was damaged when shots were fired in the outbound lanes of the Eisenhower Expressway between California Avenue and Homan Avenue on the West Side late Thursday, according to the Illinois State Police. About 11:40 p.m., state police began receiving reports of shots fired from a white Porsche SUV that was traveling west on the Eisenhower, officials said. Advertisement No one was reported injured, but at least one motorist reported damage to their car, state police said. Troopers were investigating if the motorist was the intended target. State police shut down the westbound lanes for about two hours early Friday while they searched for evidence between California Avenue and Homan Avenue. Troopers did not say if they had found anything. Advertisement It was the second time this week that gunfire was reported on I-290, according to police. No one was in custody as of Friday. Video obtained by the Chicago Tribune shows footage at the time of the April 10, 2017, fatal shooting of Cook County Associate Judge Raymond Myles in Chicago's West Chesterfield neighborhood. (Chicago Tribune) The night before Cook County Judge Raymond Myles was killed, prosecutors say, the getaway driver texted the gunman: "Green light for 4 a.m." Early the next morning, prosecutors said, Joshua T. Smith drove Earl Wilson, the suspected shooter, to Myles' Far South Side home to execute a plan that had been weeks in the making: the armed robbery of Myles' girlfriend, which took a tragic turn when the judge intervened and was shot five times. Advertisement On Friday, as Wilson, 45, appeared in court for the first time, prosecutors revealed that police officers familiar with him identified him in videos from surveillance cameras in the neighborhood in part because he was wearing distinctive jeans he had been seen in on multiple occasions He was wearing those same jeans when he was arrested without incident Tuesday afternoon at his Englewood home, prosecutors said. Advertisement Prosecutors said Smith, 37, the alleged getaway driver who was charged two weeks ago, had also identified Wilson to police as his partner in the shooting before dawn on April 10. Wilson, however, does not appear to have talked to police following his arrest Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors also disclosed that Wilson had attempted to carry out the robbery four days before the shooting with another individual but backed off then because "it wasn't a good time." Wilson drove his own car to the scene, prosecutors said, while the other, undisclosed individual who was described as a witness and is likely cooperating with authorities helped stake out the judge's house. At that time, Wilson told the witness he was "hurting for money" and planned to rob the judge's girlfriend because she had "a lot of money," Assistant State's Attorney Guy Lisuzzo said. That same witness had helped Wilson conduct surveillance of the judge's residence in late March, Lisuzzo said. Police also relied on phone records to help break the case, believed to be the first fatal shooting of a Chicago area judge in more than three decades. Those records showed that Wilson called Smith at about the time he broke off the robbery on April 6, according to Lisuzzo. Cell tower records put Wilson near the judge's house at the time of the call, he said. Lisuzzo also said records show Smith sent Wilson the "green light" text at 8:53 p.m. the night before Myles was killed. The two texted back and forth that night about trying to line up a car "to take care of that business," according to the prosecutor. The two used a Pontiac Sunfire registered to Smith's ex-girlfriend, but police said she had no knowledge of the plot. Advertisement Phone records also show that Wilson and Smith called each other three times between 4 and 5 a.m. on the morning of the shooting, Lisuzzo said, while cell tower records put both near the judge's home at the time. Wilson was ordered held without bail Friday on charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder by a DuPage County judge who was brought in to handle the bond hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building since all the judges assigned to the courthouse knew Myles because of his many years of work there. Prosecutors have said Wilson had been tracking the movements of Myles' girlfriend for two or three weeks to learn her schedule. In a video statement to detectives, Smith said Wilson lay in wait for the girlfriend before 5 a.m. April 10 after observing she regularly left the judge's home in the West Chesterfield neighborhood to work out early in the morning, according to prosecutors. When she came out, he shot her in the left thigh and took her gym bag, prosecutors said. Apparently hearing the gunfire, Myles emerged onto the rear porch and confronted the gunman. He was shot five times, including a graze wound. His girlfriend, 52, survived. Wilson fled with only the woman's gym bag but later tossed it away in anger when he discovered it contained no money, prosecutors said. Wilson had been led to believe the judge's girlfriend might be carrying as much as $3,000, according to sources. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > The Tribune has reported that police are looking into whether the judge's girlfriend was targeted in the attack for personal reasons. Smith is related to a former husband of the judge's girlfriend. She ended that marriage two years ago after discovering he might be a bigamist, and he later secured an emergency order of protection against her after alleging she had threatened to shoot him, court records show. Advertisement Wilson has a criminal record dating to the early 1990s, Cook County court records show. He was sentenced in 1992 to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder and home invasion for stabbing a former girlfriend two years earlier, according to the records. He was released from prison in 2004. Police also are investigating the possible involvement of yet another person in the plot, law enforcement sources have told the Tribune. mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com jgorner@chicagotribune.com Twitter @crepeau Twitter @JeremyGorner Sean Williams, 38, was the last of three defendants sentenced in the 2011 killing of Andre Vasquez, 15, and the shooting of his then-33-year-old mother. Williams pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 50 years in prison on April 24, 2017, according to court records. (Illinois Department of Correctio / ) A man accused of fatally shooting a 15-year-old boy and wounding his mother in a 2011 home invasion pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to a minimum of 50 years in prison this week, according to prosecutors and court records. Sean Williams, 38, charged with being the shooter in the attack, was sentenced Monday by Cook County Judge Evelyn Clay in the killing of Andre Vasquez, 15, and the shooting of his then-33-year-old mother, according to prosecutors and court records. Davonta Williams, the other robber, was sentenced to 34 years in prison in February, and Jennifer M. Vojinovic was sentenced to 24 years in prison last fall after pleading guilty to being the getaway driver. Advertisement Vojinovic and Sean and Davonta Williams were arrested following the Oct. 18, 2011, killing in the 3400 block of North Lawndale Avenue when a Chicago Streets and Sanitation worker spotted and followed them and called police. Two robbers had stormed into the home in the Avondale neighborhood, duct-taping the family that lived there while looking for drugs and a gun. They found neither, and left with just a gold jewelry box, a cell phone, credit cards and the mother's state identification card, according to police and prosecutors. After stashing them in a waiting car, one of the gunmen returned to the home to kill the family. He shot and killed Andre Vasquez and wounded his mother in the head. But he couldn't find Vasquez's then-14-year-old sister, who had managed to escape, prosecutors have said. Police say they arrested the suspects, including the driver of the car, based on the car's description and license plate. Authorities say they found 9mm and .25-caliber handguns and the stolen items. All three suspects confessed following their arrest, prosecutors have said. Advertisement Sean Williams is now in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections. He has a projected parole date of Sept. 18, 2064, when he would be 86 years old, according to the agency's website. DeWallis Teddy Harris, 43, accused of in the May 6, 2009, killing of Ramone Morris in the 4400 block of West Adams Street, was found guilty of murder Thursday, April 27, 2017, according to court records. Harris shot Morris over an $80 debt as the boy walked his then-14-year-old sister to school in 2009, according to prosecutors. (Cook County sheriff's photo / ) A man accused of killing a 16-year-old boy over an $80 debt as the boy walked his then-14-year-old sister to school in 2009 was found guilty of murder Thursday, according to court records. DeWallis "Teddy" Harris, 43, was accused of the May 6, 2009, killing of Ramone Morris in the 4400 block of West Adams Street. Harris was found guilty of first-degree murder Thursday in a trial before Cook County Judge Stanley Sacks, according to court records. Advertisement In the spring of 2009, Harris believed that Morris owed him $80, and the two scuffled several times over the debt, Morris' family said at the time Harris was charged. Morris and Harris fought again May 6, 2009, as the teen walked his sister to school in West Garfield Park, Morris' family said. The fight escalated, and Harris shot Morris in the back of the head, killing him, according to prosecutors. Advertisement Police said after the shooting that Morris was found in the street in the 4400 block of West Adams Street with a gunshot wound to the back of the head just after 9 a.m. that day. Morris was a Crane High School student who was at least the 35th Chicago Public Schools student killed that school year information that CPS and police no longer make public. Harris was arrested in November 2010 on a domestic battery charge at a home on the West Side, and police discovered he had been named in a murder warrant the previous June. He is due back in court June 5. SPRINGFIELD Update: Later Thursday, sponsoring Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie put a procedural hold on the bill, meaning it has passed both chambers but has not been sent to the governor. The Illinois House on Thursday sent Gov. Bruce Rauner legislation designed to stabilize two city worker pension funds, but the measure is likely ill-fated. Advertisement Rauner already vetoed a similar measure lawmakers approved during the previous General Assembly session that ended in January, and he's expected to reject the latest measure as he presses for a broader statewide pension overhaul. "We will work with you and your priorities, as long as you work with us an our priorities," said House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs. "Sure, I am concerned about Chicago's systems. But I am more concerned about Illinois' systems, our five systems, and no one on that side of the aisle seems concerned with it." Advertisement Sponsoring Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, said lawmakers had many problems to tackle but should not leave workers "in the lurch" in the meantime. "This is a very important solution to a very important problem," said Currie, the House majority leader. The legislation pushed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel is aimed at preventing retirement systems for municipal workers and laborers from going broke in about a decade. The two funds are a combined $21 billion short of what's needed to pay out future benefits, and the plan relies on newly hired employees paying more toward their retirement The latest version was sent to Rauner's desk on a 63-45 vote. Supporters would need 71 votes to override a potential veto, an unlikely threshold given Democrats control 67 votes and Republicans are reluctant to buck their governor. The Senate approved the bill earlier this year. Under the proposal, newly hired employees would start paying 11.5 percent of their salaries toward their retirement, which is 3 percent more than current employees. In later years, that amount could be reduced if an independent number cruncher agreed that less was needed to meet the city's goal of having 90 percent of the assets needed to pay benefits over the next 40 years. Employees hired from 2011 to 2016 already receive lower retirement benefits, and would have the option of increasing their contributions to 11.5 percent. In exchange, they would be eligible to retire at age 65 instead of 67. Employees hired before 2011 would see no changes. The Chicago City Council already did much of the heavy lifting by voting last year to approve a new tax on city water and sewer service that will top 30 percent by 2020. At that point, the new tax is expected to raise $239 million a year for the municipal fund. In 2014, aldermen raised the fee for emergency services on all landline and cellphones billed to city addresses by $16.80 a year to raise about $40 million annually that will be pumped into the laborers fund. Even with the already enacted tax and fee increases, the city in 2023 would have to come up with at least $278 million more a year to meet the pension funding requirements in the bill. That led Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton, to compare the proposal to a "Ponzi scheme," saying taxpayers will be on the hook for more in the future. mcgarcia@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @moniquegarcia With the school year coming to a close, Chicago Public School is short at least $130 million. Here is how it happened. (Jonathon Berlin, Phil Geib, Juan Perez Jr. And Kori Rumore/Chicago Tribune) Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Subscribe here. Topspin A Cook County judge on Friday is expected to issue rulings that could determine the future of Chicago Public Schools' ongoing battle with the state over education funding. Advertisement "This could be a critical week for the future of our schools," district CEO Forrest Claypool told the audience at the Chicago Board of Education's monthly meeting Wednesday. In February, Claypool prompted an outcry from parents, teachers and elected officials when he issued a dire warning that the school year could end nearly three weeks early without an early decision in the district's lawsuit, which argues the state's education funding formula is discriminatory. Advertisement The district is asking for a preliminary injunction that effectively would freeze education funding in the state; the state has filed a motion to dismiss the case, and a ruling on that also is expected Friday. "Ending school early would be a tragedy for Chicago students, and we hope that between our civil rights lawsuit and our continued fight for fair funding in Springfield, that with your help, this drastic action can be avoided," Claypool said this week. The legal fight is unfolding amid a state budget logjam that's delayed the distribution of more than $1 billion in state aid to schools across the state, a Wall Street ratings agency said Thursday. Moody's Investors Service said CPS with its junk-level credit rating, exhausted reserves and cash flow troubles is among a handful of school districts "most vulnerable" to those delays. Senior officials from CPS said they have evaluated contingency plans and options for the district this week along with city officials but that no plan has been finalized to address the end of the school year. "We will provide all CPS stakeholders with an update after the court's ruling," Claypool said. The rulings expected Friday again put Cook County Judge Franklin Ulyses Valderrama in a position to affect the city's political landscape he's the judge who in 2015 ordered the release of police cruiser video depicting the fatal shooting of teenager Laquan McDonald by Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke. CPS is asking Valderrama to bar state government from making new payments to any Illinois school district until it can show it will pay for education and teacher pension costs in a nondiscriminatory manner. It isn't yet clear how such a move, if approved, would lead to a rapid solution for the district's immediate financial pressures. Advertisement State government attorneys argue such a decision would have an outsized and harmful effect on the 80 percent of Illinois schoolchildren who do not attend CPS, a retort derided by the district as confirmation of the "precise evil" enabled by discrimination. The state's lawyers argue CPS has no legal basis to sue under Illinois' civil rights law and have asked the judge to dismiss the case outright. Both sides acknowledge Valderrama has no authority to dole out funds or undo Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of a measure that would have provided $215 million in state aid to CPS. But the district argues the government has a variety of fixes at its disposal and will come up with a solution once a court says the state's current practices are unlawful. The district's lawsuit argues that the state discriminates against its largely impoverished and minority students, and violates Illinois civil rights law, by contributing more money to teacher pensions in the suburbs and Downstate than Chicago. CPS says the state is expected to pay $4 billion to finance Downstate and suburban public school teacher pension funds, and pays about $12 million for CPS to handle its own affairs. A series of skipped pension payments and investment downturns helped increase the district's pension obligations to the point where CPS must now pay roughly $720 million to the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund by June 30. Advertisement The delays in state aid payments are separate from the pension issue but also can contribute to the woes of a school system with money problems. State government distributes general aid to school districts but also grant dollars that finance specific programs. Moody's said those grants have been "increasingly delayed against a backdrop of continued state budget pressures" and said districts have reported lags in payments that have grown from as long as six months last year to nearly nine months this year. CPS did not respond regarding how those delays affect a projected budget deficit that looms at the end of the fiscal year. CPS attorneys argued in court last week that the district's financial crisis has reached a point where budget fixes can no longer avoid the classroom and CPS "will literally have to shutter its doors" absent relief under the Illinois Civil Rights Act. (Juan Perez Jr.) What's on tap *Mayor Rahm Emanuel is not expected to have a public schedule. Advertisement *Gov. Rauner has no public events scheduled. *The Illinois House meets. The Senate has gone home for the week. From the notebook *Illinois GOP chair uses 100-day mark to raise money: Tim Schneider, the state's Republican chairman, issued a fundraising email to the party faithful on Thursday noting this weekend's symbolic milestone for the Donald Trump administration. "Saturday marks President Trump's 100th day in office and we're celebrating here at the Illinois Republican Party by reflecting on all of President Trump's accomplishments and all that we plan to do as a party, state, and nation under his leadership," Schneider said in the email. "By protecting our border, bringing jobs back home and draining the swamp, President Trump continues to act on his campaign promises. He's already enacted over 28 pieces of legislation, signed over 25 executive orders, achieved a Supreme Court confirmation, and saved over $18 billion annually for our nation through regulatory reform," said Schneider, a Cook County Board commissioner. The email contained a link to an online "congratulations" card for the president as well as a "donate" button for contributions. Advertisement At least Schneider will refer to Trump by name. Schneider was put in the GOP chairmanship by the governor, who also heavily funds the party apparatus. But the re-election-seeking Rauner is shy about attaching his name to anything Trump. (Rick Pearson) *Illinois Democrats score a win: A bill to roll back an Obama-era regulation on transportation planning is headed to President Donald Trump's desk, letting lead sponsors Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Rep. Dan Lipinski of Western Springs take a victory lap. The measure, which passed the Senate in March, cleared the House on Thursday on a 417-3 vote. The two Illinoisans said the Department of Transportation rule, which took effect in January, threatened federally funded transportation projects in the Chicago area because so-called Metropolitan Planning Organizations in urban areas would have had to merge with counterparts even across state lines or develop a single, unified long-range plan. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is the regional planning group for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties and, according to Lipinski, it administers federal transportation funding based on a regional, long-term planning process. In effect, the rule would have required governors and other leaders in Indiana and Wisconsin to approve transportation projects for northeastern Illinois, according to Lipinski, who said mayors, planning and transit agencies from across the country had expressed to him their opposition. Advertisement If, for example, the Indiana or Wisconsin governor did not want to prioritize funding for the modernization of Chicago's Union Station, all he would have had to do is sit on his hands or refuse to approve the transportation improvement plan, a Duckworth aide said. For Duckworth, House passage meant congressional approval of her first-ever Senate bill. "Red tape shouldn't hurt our economy or stifle economic growth," she said. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., co-sponsored the measure, as did Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., who called the DOT rule "a prime example of a regulation in search of a problem." Ahead: If Trump signs the bill, the "Metropolitan Planning Organization Coordination and Planning Area Reform" rule will be a thing of the past. (Katherine Skiba) *Take your child to work day: And now, a short Friday flashback involving ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. *"The Sunday Spin": On this week's show, Chicago Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson's guests are Democratic state Rep. Anna Moeller of Elgin, who passed a pay equity bill; Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich, who's on a book tour; and Bob Schillerstrom, chairman of the Illinois Tollway, which approved a $4 billion Tri-State Tollway project. "The Sunday Spin" airs from 7 to 9 a.m. Sunday on WGN 720-AM. What we're writing *Gov. Bruce Rauner, state House Speaker Michael Madigan meet for first time since December, offer dueling accounts. Advertisement *City plans to fire head of security at O'Hare who lost Tollway job amid sexual harassment complaint. *Illinois House sends Rauner city pension bill, but he's likely to veto again. *Ex-CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett to be sentenced Friday in bribery case. *Feds seek financial records of company co-owned by Cook County Circuit Clerk Dorothy Brown. *Appellate court deals City Hall loss by reversing $29.1 million tax judgment against online hotel booking sites. *Illinois Tollway board OKs $4 billion rebuilding, widening of Tri-State Tollway. Advertisement *Targeted by Trump, Chicago EPA workers speak out. *Cook County sheriff's deputies stomped on by shooting suspects at jail. *Alleged gunman charged in slaying of judge, wounding of judge's girlfriend. Watch video of suspected gunman fleeing. *Jesse Jackson Jr. agrees to pay alimony to estranged wife Sandi Jackson. *Shorewood mayor says he did no wrong, offers reimbursement for use of gas. What we're reading Advertisement *United Airlines quickly settles with passenger dragged off plane by Chicago aviation officers. *Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker: Won't remove Sheriff David Clarke over jail dehydration death. *Geneva woman pleads guilty to killing husband with poisoned smoothie. *Bears trade up, take North Carolina QB with #2 pick. Follow the money *Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here. Advertisement Beyond Chicago *Pentagon watchdog investigating money that former national security adviser Michael Flynn received from foreign groups. *Trump and Democrats continue to fight over a potential government shutdown. *How does Trump's tax plan work? *Protesters attack Macedonian lawmakers after leadership vote. Gen Bentley teaches her third-graders how to write the letter q in cursive at Bannockburn Elementary School in Illinois on Sept. 23, 2011. (Keri Wiginton / Chicago Tribune) SPRINGFIELD As students increasingly forgo pencil and paper in favor of keyboards and touch screens to write everything from essays to notes to friends, some worry that the cursive lessons marked by hours of drawing looped letters on lined pages may soon disappear. Now, Illinois lawmakers are getting involved in the debate over whether schools should be required to teach cursive writing even in today's technology-dominated classrooms. The lawmaker pushing the idea says being taught the fancy text can improve students' learning abilities and help them read handwritten notes from their grandparents. Advertisement The Illinois House has advanced legislation to require cursive instruction, moving it to the Senate for further debate. That's despite criticism that mandatory lessons would put another burden on schools already struggling to meet other goals with limited time and money. Currently, the state lets local school districts decide whether to teach cursive, said Jackie Matthews, a spokeswoman for the Illinois State Board of Education. Chicago Public Schools, for example, doesn't require cursive instruction, but principals can choose to add it to their school's curriculum. Advertisement Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 and Naperville Community Unit School District 203, on the other hand, require cursive to be taught to second-graders. Indian Prairie School District 204, which includes Aurora and Bolingbrook, doesn't require cursive instruction, but a spokeswoman for the district said most second-grade teachers incorporate it into lessons. Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, the Hillside Democrat pushing the state requirement, said schools would not have to create a separate cursive class. Instead, they could incorporate it into existing courses. Welch said cursive allows people to sign checks, mortgage papers and legal documents, and he contended people who don't know how to write script are more vulnerable to identity theft. He also noted that people who write in cursive can read it as well. "They can read the notes from their mother and grandmother," he said. "They can read our historical documents like the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution." And advocates including the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation say cursive improves students' reading, spelling and retention skills, as well as making them more focused. "It really benefits them in a lot of ways," said Sheila Lowe, the foundation's president. Not everyone is convinced. Some opponents say that the state shouldn't make the decision for local schools and that a one-size-fits-all approach won't work well. "I think that local school districts have a better understanding of what their schools need to achieve," said Zach Messersmith, assistant director of government relations for the Illinois Association of School Boards. If the requirement eventually becomes law, Illinois would join a handful of other states, including Alabama and Tennessee, that mandate cursive instruction. Earlier this month, Welch had to postpone a vote on his plan because some Republicans lined up to speak out against the plan, with one saying the writing style is outdated. Advertisement "I appreciate that a lot of people miss seeing cursive in the classroom, but times change," said Rep. Mike Fortner, R-West Chicago. "Our world has changed." Welch said he used lawmakers' two-week spring break to try sway his colleagues. In an ironic twist, part of his lobbying effort traded old-school handwritten notes for posts on Facebook and Twitter. In one, he displayed a photo of the vote tally of the first bill he ever sponsored, showing a piece of paper covered in signatures from other lawmakers. When the plan was called for a vote in the Illinois House this week, it did win the support of some Republicans and advanced to the Senate by a 67-48 vote. After all, one lawmaker contended, the state already requires the teaching of all kinds of things. "Yes, it is an issue of local control, but if you look at the school code, outside of the core studies, we have mandated a course of instruction on Bird and Arbor Day, on 'Just Say No' day, on Irish famine study," said Rep. David Harris, R-Arlington Heights. "Really? Irish famine study? I think cursive could be just as important as Irish famine study." hbemiller@chicagotribune.com Twitter @haleybemiller Arkansas executed its fourth inmate in eight days, ending a frantic schedule as the state's supply of a sedative it uses in lethal injections expires at the end of April. Kenneth Williams, 38, initially was sentenced to life in prison for the 1998 killing of Dominique Hurd, a university cheerleader. He was later convicted of capital murder after he escaped from prison in 1999 and killed Cecil Boren. Boren's daughter, Jodie Efird, watched Thursday night's execution from the death chamber in Arkansas' Cummins Unit prison. She said Williams' death may not bring closure to her family, but it helps a little. "Every time we drive down this road, he's not here anymore," she said of Williams. Williams expressed remorse in his final words. "I was more than wrong. The crime I perpetrated against you all was senseless," Williams said, according to CNN affiliate KATV-TV in Little Rock. Williams died by lethal injection at 11:05 p.m. local time. He was one of eight inmates who had been scheduled to be put to death before Arkansas' supply of sedatives used in its lethal injections expires at month's end. The expiration is an issue because a resupply is uncertain as Arkansas and other states struggle with suppliers that don't want their products used in executions. The sedative, midazolam, is a controversial replacement for anesthetics that Arkansas and other states can no longer obtain. Four of the eight inmates have been executed, but the courts have postponed the other four executions for various reasons. Because of the delays, those four inmates will not be executed in April, a spokesman for Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. Hutchinson had put a temporary hold on Williams' execution Thursday evening to allow the US Supreme Court to consider motions for stays of execution. The court denied all the motions. AP: Williams' body lurched Williams' body lurched violently about three minutes into the execution, an Associated Press reporter who was there reported. That account led Williams' attorneys to demand an investigation and call the sedative into question. The body jerked 15 times in quick succession, the AP reported, before moving five more times at a slower rate. Williams' attorneys singled out midazolam, the sedative that Arkansas and other states have used as a replacement for anesthetics that drug companies have withheld. Death penalty critics have argued for years that midazolam is a sedative -- not an anesthetic -- and that the condemned would feel tortuous pain from the drugs that come next. Midazolam, critics say, contributed to botched executions in other states. "The accounts of the execution of Mr. Williams tonight are horrifying," Williams' attorney Shawn Nolan said. "We are requesting a full investigation into tonight's problematic execution," Nolan said. The governor said in a news conference Friday he sees "no reason for any investigation other than the routine review that is done after every execution." Wendy Kelley, director of the state Department of Correction, briefed Hutchinson after the execution. Hutchinson said that the movement seen by witnesses "was described as coughing without noise" and from Kelley's account, there was "no indication of pain." Another witness, Little Rock TV anchor Donna Terrell, told CNN affiliate KARK-TV that after the midazolam was injected, Williams' chest started going up and down rapidly from 10:55 to 10:59 p.m. After that, it appeared he stopped breathing, or it was no longer noticeable, Terrell said. Even though the microphone was turned off, Terrell said, witnesses could still hear heavy breathing. But Williams' face was expressionless, and it didn't appear as if he were in pain, she said. A third witness, Arkansas state Sen. Trent Garner, said on Twitter that "the inmate did not suffer or seem in pain." "His face was calm. It was not cruel, unusual, botched or torture," Garner's tweet reads. The arguments over drugs The eight Arkansas inmates -- like many before them across the country -- initially fought their executions on the grounds that midazolam does not reliably prevent a painful death and helped contribute to botched executions in other states. But the Arkansas Supreme Court denied the claim. States generally didn't use midazolam in the past, but they've turned to it as drug makers clamped down on the use of other drugs in executions. Lethal injection traditionally required a three-drug cocktail: The first (sodium thiopental or pentobarbital) put the prisoner to sleep; the second (pancuronium bromide) brought on paralysis; and the final agent (potassium chloride) stopped the heart. But manufacturers and European countries started withholding sodium thiopental and pentobarbital around 2010, saying they didn't want them used in executions. Arkansas and other states turned to midazolam as an alternative. In 2014, several executions, all employing midazolam, were widely considered botched. In Ohio, Dennis McGuire gasped and convulsed for 10 minutes before dying. In Arizona, Joseph Wood snorted and gulped for air as he died over a period of two hours. And in Oklahoma, Clayton Lockett writhed for 43 minutes before succumbing to a heart attack. After each of those cases, states issued holds on capital punishment while the processes were reviewed. In June 2015, the US Supreme Court upheld the use of midazolam in executions in a 5-4 ruling. It's unclear whether Arkansas will receive fresh supplies of midazolam after its current batch expires. One manufacturer, West-Ward Pharmaceuticals, filed a brief in support of the eight inmates this month, saying it tries to ensure its medication isn't used in executions. The other executed Arkansas inmates On April 20, Ledell Lee became the first of the four Arkansas inmates to be executed as well as the first person in the state in 12 years. He was convicted in 1995 of murdering a woman in her home two years earlier. Jack Jones and Marcel Williams were then put to death Monday in the first back-to-back executions in the United States since 2000. They had committed murders in the 1990s. The executions have drawn international outcry. "While the rest of the country and the world moves away from the death penalty, Arkansas has shown just how committed it is to running in the wrong direction," said James Clark, a senior campaigner at Amnesty International USA. "While it is too late for Kenneth Williams, Jack Jones, Marcel Williams and Ledell Lee, it is not too late to commute the sentences of all of those remaining on death row." Prison escapee After his conviction in Hurd's killing, Kenneth Williams escaped from Cummins prison the following year and killed Boren at his home a couple miles away. He stole Boren's vehicle and drove to Missouri, where he was captured after causing a traffic accident that killed a driver, Michael Greenwood. He was convicted of capital murder for Boren's death in 2000. Boren's widow said earlier she planned to witness the execution. "We just live 2 miles from the prison. ... Every time I go up and down the highway, I know he's there," Genie Boren told KATV. "We are looking forward to this happening so we can put it behind us." Williams was executed at the same prison he escaped from 17 years after his conviction in Cecil Boren's murder. CNN's Darran Simon contributed to this report. President Donald Trump reaffirmed his support for gun rights Friday, telling attendees of a National Rifle Association convention that "the eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end." Trump, the first sitting president to address the group's annual convention in more than 30 years, assured the audience that he would defend their right to bear arms. Advertisement "You have a true friend and champion in the White House," he said. Trump also revived what has been called a racist insult against Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, calling her "Pocahontas." That's a reference to claims she made about being part Native American. Advertisement The president's trip to Atlanta also will serve as his first foray into a congressional race since taking office. Trump is expected to attend a private fundraiser for Republican congressional candidate Karen Handel, a local election that has become a national referendum on his presidency. Trump has been a champion of gun rights and supportive of NRA efforts to loosen restrictions on gun ownership. During the campaign, he promised to do away with President Barack Obama's efforts to strengthen background checks and to eliminate gun-free zones at schools and military bases. The last president to address an NRA convention was Ronald Reagan, who spoke to the 1983 gathering, according to the powerful gun rights lobby. Trump's appearance in Atlanta has sparked protests. President Donald Trump is applauded by Wayne LaPierre, left, executive vice president and CEO of the NRA, during the NRA-ILA's Leadership Forum at the 146th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits on April 28, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Scott Olson / Getty Images) The NRA is pushing for federal legislation to make any state's concealed-carry permits valid nationwide. Opponents say the move would effectively turn the weakest gun standards in the nation into the law of the land. The GOP-led Congress already passed a resolution to block a rule that would have kept guns out of the hands of certain people with mental disorders, and Trump quickly signed it. Trump, who also attended last year's NRA convention as a candidate, boasts of owning a pair of guns and says his two adult sons are avid hunters. He stirred controversy during the campaign when he suggested that "Second Amendment people" could stop his opponent Hillary Clinton, which some interpreted to be a call for violence against the Democratic nominee. Trump disputed that charge. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said on the plane trip from Washington that NRA members supported Trump during the election based on his strong commitment to gun rights. He also cited Trump's appointment of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. "I know the NRA is glad to have a justice in that seat who is such a staunch defender of the Constitution," he said. Kevin Michalowski, executive editor of a magazine published by the United States Concealed Carry Association, said seeing that a president will be addressing the annual meeting "gives the gun industry a feeling of he's on our side." Advertisement The political landscape has changed dramatically with a president now in the White House friendly to the gun industry and gun rights. But Michalowski said it's premature to get complacent with gun sales having tapered off since the election and "there's always a group out there that opposes the Second Amendment and what it stands for." After addressing NRA members, Trump is scheduled to attend a private fundraiser for Republican congressional candidate Karen Handel. It's the president's first such endeavor for a congressional hopeful since taking office and confirmation that the GOP sees Georgia's 6th Congressional District runoff as a barometer of the 2018 midterm elections. The affluent, well-educated district has been in Republican hands since 1979 when the future House Speaker Newt Gingrich took office and it still covers the usually conservative northern suburbs of Atlanta. But an upstart Democrat, 30-year-old Jon Ossoff, used an anti-Trump wave to raise more than $8 million ahead of an April 18, multiparty primary and nearly won the seat outright, finishing almost 30 points ahead of Handel, the top Republican vote-getter. Handel largely avoided mentioning Trump during the primary campaign, a nod to his struggles in November, when he barely won a district that usually gives GOP presidential nominees more than 60 percent of the vote. But Handel has openly embraced the president in the opening days of the runoff campaign. Trump called to congratulate her on qualifying for the runoff and praised her via his personal Twitter account. Both major parties and their aligned organizations have flooded the district with volunteers, paid staffers and promises of millions in additional television advertising ahead of the June 20 second round. The winner will succeed Republican Tom Price, who resigned to joint Trump's Cabinet as health secretary. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. A prominent Florida eye doctor accused of political corruption was convicted of Medicare fraud Friday, increasing the odds that federal prosecutors could pressure him to testify against New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez. Dr. Salomon Melgen faces 15 to 20 years in prison on 67 counts, including health care fraud, submitting false claims and falsifying records in patients' files, unless he offers or accepts a deal before his sentencing, scheduled for July 14. Advertisement The senator denies any wrongdoing. The doctor, 62, collected more money from Medicare than any other physician in the nation $21 million at the height of the fraud in 2012. Advertisement He showed no reaction when the verdict was read and was immediately taken into custody. Several of his family members burst into tears outside the courtroom. "It's not fair," said his wife, Flor Melgen. "He's a good doctor." Defense attorney Kirk Ogrosky said he's considering an appeal. "He cares very deeply about his patients and tried very hard to help them," Ogrosky said. "He had hopes the jury would see it differently." Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Benjamin G. Greenberg said in a statement that Melgen will "be held accountable for perpetuating a massive fraud scheme that caused millions of dollars in losses." The senator's defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, said he spoke with Menendez after the verdict, "and he is saddened for his long-time friend and is thinking of his family on this difficult day." "As we have known for the past two years, the issues involved in Dr. Melgen's case in South Florida had no bearing on the allegations made against the Senator, and this verdict will have no impact on him," Lowell's statement said. Melgen and Menendez face trial on Sept. 6 in New Jersey on charges the doctor bribed the senator for favors, including intervention in a billing dispute with Medicare. Advertisement Prosecutors convinced jurors the doctor stole up to $105 million from the federal medical insurance program between 2008 and 2013 by performing unneeded tests and treatments on mostly elderly and disabled patients. Melgen's attorneys argued that the Dominican-born, Harvard-trained doctor was a kind and caring physician. They acknowledged that he made billing and treatment mistakes, exposing him to potential lawsuits and possibly losing his medical license. But they said they were unintentional, and therefore not a crime. Prosecutors countered that anybody can make an occasional mistake, but Melgen's actions were too numerous to be honest. For example, the doctor frequently billed Medicare for tests and treatment of prosthetic eyes. Prosecutors also pointed to tests run in seconds that were supposed to take five minutes or more. That made the tests unusable for diagnosis, but enabled him to bill Medicare up to several hundred dollars each for as many as 100 patients a day. He pocketed millions more by splitting single-use vials of an expensive eye drug into four doses and billing the government for each one, they said. Melgen became politically active in 1997, when he treated Florida Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles, who appointed him to a state board. Advertisement He was soon hosting Democratic fundraisers at his 6,500-square-foot (605-square-meter) North Palm Beach home. That led to his friendship with Menendez, during which Melgen paid for trips he and the senator took to France and to the doctor's home at a Dominican resort. Menendez reimbursed Melgen $58,500 after the trips became public knowledge. Federal prosecutors say Melgen's gifts to Menendez were actually bribes. In return, they say, the senator obtained visas for the married Melgen's foreign mistresses, interceded with Medicare officials investigating his practice, and pressured the State Department to intervene in a business dispute he had with the Dominican government. "Dr. Melgen's case focused solely on the day-to-day operations of his medical practice and the private care of his patients - specifics of which the Senator could not be aware, nor has it ever been suggested otherwise," Lowell's statement said. "From the beginning, Senator Menendez has been clear that he has always acted in accordance with the law and in his appropriate legislative oversight role as a member of Congress. When all of the facts are heard, he is fully confident that a jury will agree and he will be vindicated." President Donald Trump is currently engaged in a match of escalating rhetoric and even military posturing with Kim Jong Un. And Trump has some thoughts on his adversary thoughts in which Trump notably appears to empathize with him. In a new interview with Reuters, Trump weighs in on whether the North Korean dictator is a rational leader by pointing to the situation in which he found himself: Succeeding his late father, Kim Jong Il, at a very young age. "He's 27 years old," Trump said. "His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want, but that is not easy, especially at that age." Trump went on to clarify that he wasn't praising the North Korean leader. "I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit; I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do," Trump said. "As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational." Trump's comments come notably as his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, is signaling a rare willingness to hold direct talks with North Korea in search of a diplomatic solution. Tillerson tells NPR in an interview set to air Friday, "Obviously, that will be the way we would like to solve this." Tillerson also appeared to lay the groundwork for diplomacy Thursday, telling Fox News's Bret Baier that the North Korean leader may not be as crazy as his reputation suggests. (As The Post's Anna Fifield has reported, this is the consensus of the North Korea experts, who say dismissing Kim as unstable risks miscalculating.) "All indications, Bret, by intelligence agencies ... are that he is not crazy," Tillerson said. "He may be ruthless, he may be a murderer, he may be someone who in many respects we would say, by our standards, is irrational. But he is not insane." Tillerson added: "And indications are in the past that when certain events have happened, he has taken made rational choices." So it seems possible that Trump's comments are part of a calculated effort to reason with the North Korean leader in hopes that he would give up his nuclear ambitions voluntarily. Trump seems to take things a step further than merely saying Kim Jong Un is rational, granting that he was put in a difficult spot leading his nation at such a young age. In the same Reuters interview, though, Trump also suggests a conflict may ultimately result a "major, major conflict." "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump said, adding: "We'd love to solve things diplomatically, but it's very difficult." And Trump has in the past offered qualified praise for authoritarian, strongman leaders up to and including Russian President Vladimir Putin and the late Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. "He was a bad guy really bad guy," Trump said of Hussein. "But you know what he did well? He killed terrorists. He did that so good. They didn't read them the rights. They didn't talk. They were terrorists over. Today, Iraq is Harvard for terrorism." WASHINGTON President Donald Trump's plan to overhaul the nation's tax code could provide significant tax cuts for the working-class voters who elected him, but the unknowns could end up hurting many of these core supporters of the president. A look at how Trump's tax plan could affect families at different income levels: Advertisement THE WORKING CLASS These are the people who have been left behind by an increasingly globalized economy. Trump's proposal, a one-page outline short on detail, says he would double the standard tax deduction, which could provide significant relief to working-class families. But Trump's top economic adviser used some bad math to describe the proposal, raising questions. Advertisement Gary Cohn said the standard deduction for a married couple would be doubled to $24,000. But that's not double. The standard deduction for a married couple is $12,700, so double would be $25,400. Cohn said the deduction would create "a zero tax-rate for the first $24,000." That sounds great, but very few families making $24,000 a year pay federal income tax, said Roberton Williams, a fellow at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. In fact, 44 percent of all U.S. households pay no federal income tax, though most pay other taxes. Trump's one-page sketch is silent on whether the tax code would still include the personal tax exemption, which allows most families to exempt $4,050 in income for each spouse and dependent child. In big families, this tax exemption can add up. During the campaign, Trump released a tax proposal that would eliminate the personal exemption. Also during the campaign, Trump proposed getting rid of the "head of household" filing status, which is mainly used by single parents. This filing status provides a lower tax rate and a higher standard deduction than filing as a single person. Trump's new plan is silent on this issue as well. THE MIDDLE CLASS The median household income in the U.S. is about $55,000, though people living in high-cost areas can make much more than that and still feel like they are in the middle class. Advertisement Doubling the standard deduction or at least raising it to $24,000 could provide significant tax relief to middle-income families. But whether they pay more or less depends largely on details that have yet to be released. One of those pesky details is how Trump will structure the tax rates on individual income. Trump has proposed reducing the number of tax rates from seven to three 10 percent, 25 percent and 35 percent. But the administration has yet to determine the income levels for people who would be put in each bracket. HIGH-INCOME FAMILIES Trump's plan has the potential to provide big tax cuts to high-income families unless you live in a state with high state and local taxes. Trump calls for eliminating the Alternative Minimum Tax, which was enacted in 1969 to prevent high-income people from paying no income tax. It has evolved over the years and now impacts about 5 million households, most of them making between $200,000 and $1 million a year. In 2005, Trump himself paid $36.5 million in taxes, mostly because of the AMT. Without it, he would have paid just $5.5 million, according to a leaked copy of that year's return. Advertisement On the flip side, Trump wants to eliminate the deduction for state and local taxes, a big tax break that benefits millions, especially people living in Democratic-controlled states with high local taxes such as New York, New Jersey and California. Last year, more than 43 million families claimed the deduction, saving them nearly $70 billion. THE SUPERRICH These are the 1 percenters, people like Trump who make millions a year and are worth even more. Trump is proposing big tax cuts for the superrich, including repealing the estate tax. The federal estate tax is widely misunderstood. The fact is it affects very few estates. If your parents' estate is worth less than $10.9 million, you don't have to worry about this tax. This year, about 5,200 estates will pay the tax, according to the Tax Policy Center. Trump also wants to reduce the top income tax rate from 39.6 percent to 35 percent. But perhaps the biggest windfall for rich people could come from Trump's plan to lower the top tax rate for small business owners from 39.6 percent to 15 percent. Advertisement Rich people, including Trump, tend to report a lot of business income, Williams said. But the true effect of this tax cut will depend on how the Trump administration defines a small business owner. If the tax cut applies to all business income reported on individual tax returns, it would be a huge windfall for many rich families. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said Trump will propose safeguards that would prevent rich people from taking advantage of the tax cut, but he provided no details on how that would work. If there is anything more rewarding than making a personal sacrifice for a good cause, it's getting other people to do it for you. That's the thinking behind a lot of legislation at all levels of government that imposes mandates on private parties at their expense. The impulse explains an ordinance proposed by a Chicago alderman who thinks there is inadequate access to restrooms in the city and wants someone besides the city to solve that problem. Advertisement South Side Ald. David Moore, 17th, was in a Subway restaurant when he saw a woman crying. She had urgently needed to relieve herself upon arriving there, she told him, but the staff wouldn't let her use the restroom until she bought something, even though she promised to make a purchase afterward. As it happened, she couldn't wait and wet herself. "It was humiliating" for her, Moore told the Chicago Sun-Times. Limiting access to paying customers, he said, "is inhumane." His measure would compel any licensed business that provides "public toilet facilities to its customers" to open them to all "individuals who have an emergency" without demanding a purchase or charging a fee. Problem solved. The Chicago City Council would advance its humane agenda, and those in need would get to relieve themselves. Advertisement But someone would bear the burden, and as is often the case in Chicago, that someone would be business owners who have invested money, provided employment and offered goods and services to consumers. They would have to open their restrooms to anyone claiming dire need, regardless of the cost in additional maintenance. The Illinois Restaurant Association promptly noted that during popular events, some establishments could be deluged with nonpaying people happy to take advantage of their restrooms, even if these places are not equipped to handle crowds. Some businesses might decide that staying open on St. Patrick's Day or during Lollapalooza is not worth the trouble. Employees would have to clean up after untidy interlopers, and paying customers might find they have to wait in line behind those merely passing through. And pity the staffers assigned the task of determining who has a genuine emergency and who doesn't. If the council thinks the problem warrants action, of course, it could meet that responsibility itself. The blindingly obvious way is to provide more free public toilets at the expense of the city, or rather, its taxpayers. If a public need exists, it's hard to see why the public shouldn't shoulder the burden. But Chicago is infamous for its lack of these facilities. "L" stations used to have them, but they were closed decades ago. If that Subway outlet's policy was inhumane to one person, the CTA's decision is cruel to millions. Chicago is one of many cities that feel no obligation to make it easy for people to perform an unavoidable physical function. Lawmakers have learned that public toilets offer convenient sites for drug use, sex, vandalism, overnight occupation by the homeless and rampant slobbery. San Francisco, where pedestrians know to watch their step on frequently fouled sidewalks, finally hired workers to monitor the use of its public toilets. But these employees cost $1 million a year, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, on top of the money to buy, install and maintain the facilities. Putting the onus on private businesses would allow Chicago to ameliorate the problem at no cost to taxpayers. But it wouldn't be free for the businesses affected. Prostitutes and heroin addicts might find the retailers' restrooms, like public toilets, a suitable haven for illicit activities. Advertisement The episode that provoked Moore is not necessarily common enough to warrant a city response. Most people are willing to make a small purchase to use a restaurant's restroom, and most restaurants don't take a hard line on the matter. The rare instance when someone behaved unreasonably, with awful consequences, shouldn't be treated as the norm. Assuming the council doesn't want to provide a network of public toilets, it could approach retailers with an incentive rather than a command. Yearly grants or tax incentives for establishments that are willing to furnish unrestricted access would open a lot of stalls. The city would get what it wants at a reasonable cost without inflicting pain on business owners. It's always tempting for elected officials to impose mandates on business, allowing them to claim credit while leaving the heavy lifting to others. But private companies that are expected to meet alleged social needs at their own expense are entitled to tell governments: After you. Steve Chapman, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/chapman. Download "Recalculating: Steve Chapman on a New Century" in the free Printers Row app at www.printersrowapp.com. schapman@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @SteveChapman13 Do I want to get caught with it or without it? That's the tragic and unfortunate question that some people in Chicago's most hazardous neighborhoods ask themselves. Caught with it may mean jail and prison time, without it could mean serious injury or death. The "it" is a handgun. "Increased prison sentences for gun offenders" is not the answer to the question. Illinois already has some of the harshest penalties in the country. Those convicted of violent crimes are serving increasingly longer periods of time with gun enhancements requiring those convicted to serve 100 percent of their sentences. Are we safer? Haven't we proved that we cannot incarcerate our way out of the crime problem? Advertisement Illinois is now spending more than $1.3 billion on its prison system. There are approximately 44,000 people in Illinois' prisons, a 30,000 person increase since 1983 when there were only 14,000 in prison. African-Americans are about 14.7 percent of Illinois' population but about 57 percent of the prison population. Nearly 30,000 people leave prison every year and the recidivism rate is about 50 percent, meaning that half the people who leave are back in prison within three years. Moreover, almost 90 percent of the people in prison are released at some point to return to society. Many are returning to the most segregated, most economically bereft and most resource-deprived areas of Chicago. A century ago, black families were banned from living in many of Chicago's neighborhoods because of restrictive covenants, force and policy. Those families were relegated to areas of the city that enjoyed limited access to economic resources, a result of the city's widespread practice of redlining. The overcrowding and segregation of these neighborhoods was further defined by the construction of large public housing developments. Now decades later, the impact of these policies has left many of these neighborhoods in disarray with underperforming schools, abandoned homes and displaced families. The Chicago area is historically one of the nation's most racially and economically segregated regions; as we look around the country, many regions that are similar are also the most dangerous. Generational poverty and isolation have created a sense of hopelessness and despair for some people in these communities. Advertisement We all want the same standard of living: safe communities, equal opportunity, decent housing and good schools for our children. Rather than increased prison sentences, there are some positive steps we can take. Here are our top five: Provide comprehensive trauma services for distressed neighbors and neighborhoods; closing mental health centers is counterfactual. Neighborhoods populated with victims of and witnesses to violence and complex trauma who go untreated are prone to repeating the cycles of violence and trauma. Concentrate the services (school counselors, wellness centers, treatment programs, etc.) in the neediest communities. Supply educational, vocational and employment opportunities for our youth; almost 50 percent of Chicago's young black men ages 20-24 are neither in school nor employed. This percentage is one of the worst in the nation, and the majority of these young men live in racially segregated neighborhoods of the South and West sides. Implement effective policing; the clearance rate for violent crimes (in some neighborhoods) is at an unacceptable level and has been declining for several years. Related to this failure is the Chicago Police Department's historic and documented practice of excessive force and civil rights violations. We need a consent decree with community and federal oversight to monitor and enforce police accountability. This could be the foundation for building cooperative and trusting relationships between the community and the police that are essential to public safety. Reduce the proliferation of illegal handguns; there are no gun shops in Chicago, but there are clearly too many guns. Although it's estimated that about half the guns used in crimes in Chicago came from out of state and, while Illinois legislators can't write laws applicable to other states, they could improve registration requirements. Many of the illegally owned guns were once legally owned and later reported lost or stolen. Proposed solutions include state licensing of gun dealers, regular reporting requirements, penalties for failure to report lost or stolen firearms, and limits on the purchasing of multiple firearms within a specified time frame. Provide re-entry services (before and after release) to those returning from prison; we must help those who want to be productive citizens by preparing them for release as well as extending opportunities for counseling and for skills training while eliminating barriers to employment, education and housing. In the long term, we must develop a comprehensive plan to reverse the history of segregation and unequal opportunity in our city; that history and that reality have consequences. If we are to prosper as one city moving forward, we must address that reality with acknowledgment, vision and determination. After an April weekend of multiple reported shootings, Randolph's eldest daughter told him that she, her husband and his three grandsons were planning on moving to the suburbs and perhaps eventually out of the area. The violence in their South Shore neighborhood in particular, and more generally in the city where they have lived for many years, has become overwhelming. This was not an easy decision, but it was a decision they felt they had to make. We are hopeful that our state, county and city leaders will make thoughtful and considered decisions to improve the quality of life for all our children. Advertisement Randolph Stone is a clinical professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School. Maya Powe is a law student at the school. I've no doubt she thinks she is qualified. Politics is not really all that different from advertising, right? You promote handbags; you promote nice causes. Women entrepreneurs, friendship between nations, edgy earrings whatever. These are all part of a lifestyle that everybody wants, and it's a lifestyle that Ivanka Trump has been selling, for profit, for most of her life. But when Trump appeared on a podium in Berlin this week, purportedly to discuss women in the workforce, she did not seem qualified. On the contrary, she provided a shocking reminder of the damage that the Trump lifestyle brand will do (and has already done) not just to America's "image" but to America's reputation as a serious country, even to America's reputation as a democracy. Why was she there at all? The other panelists the Canadian foreign minister, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund and German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised no eyebrows, because their official functions explain themselves. But Trump was there as "first daughter," a notion which the moderator of the panel another impressive woman, the editor of a business magazine at one point asked her to explain. "The German audience is not that familiar with the concept," she said. "... Who are you representing, your father as president of the United States, the American people or your business?" Trump has enough media training to know what to deny. "Certainly not the latter," she said quickly (only to contradict herself, a few moments later, by saying, as she is no doubt accustomed, "Speaking as an entrepreneur ..."). But the question never got a real answer. As everyone in the room knew perfectly well, Trump was not on the panel because she is an entrepreneur, or because she represents the American people or even because she speaks for her father, which is far from clear. She was on the panel because Merkel, ever the pragmatist, realizes President Trump is not interested in history, ideas, policy or any of the other things that have long tied the United States to Germany. To maintain its deep political and economic relationship with this American administration, Germany therefore needs to be solicitous of Trump's daughter. There are sinister precedents here. Daughters have long been used cynically to "humanize" thuggish men. The president's strategically meaningless but politically useful bombing raid on Syria was justified on the grounds that Ivanka Trump had seen pictures of dying children and prevailed upon his softened heart, as in a fairy tale, to do something. Sarah Kendzior has laid out the remarkable similarities between Trump and Gulnara Karimova, the Uzbek dictator's daughter, a "cosmopolitan socialite who married into a powerful business family" before making her mark as a fashion designer." Like Trump, Karimova also masks "brutal practices under the pretext of a soft 'feminism' " and styles herself an ideal modern woman. But the real problem with Trump is not what she and her husband, Jared Kushner, contribute to the president's "image," but what their presence says about the culture of this White House. One of the things that distinguishes rule-of-law democracies from personalized dictatorships is their reliance on procedures, not individual whims, and on officials experienced people, subject to public scrutiny and ethics laws not the unsackable relatives of the leader. That distinction is now fading. No ordinary public official would be allowed to dine with the leader of China, as Trump did, on the same day that China granted valuable trademarks to her company. No civil servant would be able to profit from the jewelry she advertises by wearing on public occasions. Only in kleptocracies are sons-in-law with broad international business interests allowed to make foreign policy. Yes, sure, "the Clintons did it" and look how that turned out. First lady Hillary Clinton's attempt to craft a health-care policy ended in fiasco largely because her mixed roles created hostility. Even though she acquired genuine legitimacy by being elected senator and serving as secretary of state, that hostility remained. The suspicion of nepotism haunted her throughout her career, and it probably cost her the presidency. For all I know, Trump might really care about the lives of working women, though she has never demonstrated much interest in how they are treated at the factories that produce her products in China (so much for "America first"). But it makes no difference. When she plays with the role of public official as if she were trying on a new hat, she demeans the public servants who take their jobs seriously, who acquire them through expertise and competition, who work for salaries and obey ethics laws. The presence of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner in the White House, particularly in a White House that has failed to nominate hundreds of senior officials, is a glaring symbol of democratic decline, and around the world it is already recognized as such. From age 13 until I went away to college, my best friends were, in this order, a horse that was practically impossible to train; a kitten that had been dumped by the side of the road in a paper bag; and my 75-year-old neighbor, who rated my back flips off her diving board while she floated in a pool chair in the shallow end drinking iced tea. While it may not sound like it, I was picky about who I hung with. Others seemed to define friendship as sameness. Girls wearing matching outfits, boys with the same haircut and way of talking. But if I wanted to be with someone just like me, I might as well be with myself. Plus, it seemed most of my peers had lost the ability to live in a world of imagination, a world I seldom left. During church, I pretended to hike the Appalachian Trail. In school, I daydreamed about living in Paris and eating chocolate croissants for breakfast, or making it to the Olympics, riding a much better horse than the one responsible for all the teeth marks on my mother's new Mazda. Advertisement Now in my mid-40s, I can look back and say there is little chance I will ever have an apartment overlooking the Eiffel Tower, but I have found happiness elsewhere, most recently in a basement apartment across the street from Kilmer Elementary School in Chicago. I met Hayfaa and her family in January, after applying to adopt a refugee family with the Syrian Community Network. Right away, Hayfaa and I hit it off. And I don't, like I said, hit it off with everyone. Advertisement Hayfaa and I experienced very different childhoods, and, in some ways, couldn't be more dissimilar. Hayfaa, a Muslim, grew up the eldest of 13 children in the metropolitan city Daraa, in southwest Syria. I was raised Protestant in a small town in south Alabama, and have only one older brother. I like nothing more than coming home exhausted after hours at the barn, the scent of sweat and oats trailing me through the house, while Hayfaa would kill for a day at the spa, embracing her more feminine side. Somehow, like two sides of a coin, we complement each other, though it's hard to explain why. Instinct tells me it's because we share a similar dedication to raising our children, have an incredible drive to challenge ourselves at every turn, and possess the same stubborn streak you'd think would lead us into heated arguments. When I met her, Hayfaa wouldn't tell me what she needed. I had to snoop around the apartment, playing a game of guess what's missing: Bath towels? Pillows? Pajamas? Shampoo? Every time I visit, I tell Hayfaa I want coffee, not orange juice. She pours me both. She is surprised that I arrive on time. I am surprised she arrives late. I want to teach her how to ride a bike. She wants a nice bedroom dresser with a mirror, like the one she left back in Syria. She overlooks my punctuality. I let her pour me orange juice I won't drink. She writes a list of things she needs for the children. I prioritize finding a new dresser over getting her astride a bike. I know from experience it feels good to give someone things that they shouldn't be without, but the most rewarding part of adopting a refugee family is the love that grows between strangers. A while back, I crafted a resume for Hayfaa's husband and began scouring the want ads for possible jobs for him. Considering he had worked as both an accountant and a business manager in Syria and Jordan, I felt his talents were wasted in his minimum-wage position as a cook. Through the help of another friend, he got an interview for a desk job, and when Hayfaa called me to tell me her husband got the position, I couldn't stop jumping up and down. Why are you so happy, my husband asked. And when I told him, he let out a huge sigh of relief, and we had our own celebration 21 miles north of their apartment in Rogers Park. When our families get together for an outing, such as an afternoon at the zoo, it is hard to tell who is more excited. And now, when I visit Hayfaa while my 10th-grader is at school, my son begs me to bring him her homemade date-filled cookies. My youngest asks when the family will come to play at our house. I still waste time daydreaming, but I no longer hunger for a view of the Eiffel Tower. I just want to sit on a bench at the playground with my new friend on a cloudless summer day and exchange stories that make us double over in laughter before we stand up, embrace, and say, see you later. Shannon Sweetnam is a Chicago-based fiction writer whose stories have appeared in numerous journals, including Cleaver Magazine, Crab Orchard Review, and the Georgetown Review. She is the winner of the 2016 Wilda Hearne Flash Fiction Award. Rural communities without meaningful access to broadband are at risk of falling behind their more populated counterparts. This digital divide continues in many of our rural communities and hinders job growth, slows e-commerce, and limits access to online education and health care stunting population growth and holding back rural economies. According to a recent survey, Americans spend 506 minutes, more than eight hours, each day viewing and using a variety of media. Internet use accounts for more than 30 percent of that time. We increasingly rely on the internet for access to news, shopping, connecting with friends and family, and searching for information. Clearly, the internet is a driving force behind commerce, access to health care, continuing education, and agricultural excellence. Access to broadband is critical to fully realizing many initiatives that could greatly benefit rural areas. High-speed internet access allows rural businesses to expand their markets beyond their geographic locations through the creation of an online presence. Mom and Pop-type stores and small manufacturing facilities can broaden their reach and sell innovative products on a national scale, or even globally. Emerging technology in the field of health care, such as telehealth capabilities, allows rural residents to communicate directly with medical professionals without long distance travel to medical facilities. The availability of telemedicine improves the overall health of a community by providing efficient access to routine healthcare and specialist physicians. High-speed internet access also increases educational opportunities through online college courses and access to large libraries. The availability of these assets provides rural residents with global information and resources. Greater numbers of colleges and universities offer classes and degrees online, allowing residents across the country to expand their knowledge and earn degrees without travel and relocation to places where college campuses are located. For those in agriculture, broadband access is vital. It allows farmers to obtain real-time information including weather forecasts and crop prices. Precision agriculture and data management tools offer immense opportunities for farmers to lower costs, increase crop yields, and further improve stewardship of our natural resources. Access to broadband is a critical component in the implementation of these tools. Too often, high-speed internet access is either not offered in rural communities, or it is priced too high, making it prohibitively costly for the average resident. As Senate Chair of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, I am committed to finding a solution to these obstacles, so we can help our communities prosper. I was pleased to see that the Finger Lakes region has been awarded funding for broadband expansion through the second phase of New York States Broadband Program. The program is now accepting applications for the third phase of funding for broadband expansion. Applications are due by August 15, 2017. I strongly encourage interested parties to visit the programs website at nysbroadband.ny.gov. The benefits of expanding high-speed internet into our rural communities include population growth, economic development, and healthier communities. That is something we can all get behind. Raise your hand if you think the American economy is delivering on its potential. Anyone? Class? Anyone? We thought so. Growth is anemic, impinging on prosperity for everyone while leaving many people far behind. There is hurt in this country, and concern about its future. President Donald Trump won the presidency on a promise to goose growth to a faster clip. The U.S. standard of living would improve significantly if annual growth grew to 3 percent from roughly 2 percent, where it has languished since the Great Recession ended in June 2009. The fastest way to get there is . Anyone? Class? Anyone? The answer is tax reform. Advertisement The country is long due for an overhaul of its tax code, a jumble of unfair burdens and loopholes that holds back business activity. Trump has the right idea: His plan focuses on cutting taxes for businesses to encourage investment at home, to create growth and jobs. Tax rates for individuals also would come down, among other changes. But we aren't going to sweat the details here because there are so few. Trump and his team are working off a fact sheet that could have been squeezed onto two Post-it notes. That's OK because the numbers and components outlined Wednesday surely will change. Trump's ideas are a starting point for negotiations with Congress over legislation. The good news is that Republicans, who control Congress, seem engaged, especially in the House, where leaders have worked on their own tax reform proposals for years. Advertisement Going forward we hope to see a robust debate that also involves Democrats. They have just as much to gain by delivering a brighter future to constituents. Fun fact: The last big tax reform achievement, in 1986 under President Ronald Reagan, came from both sides of the aisle. Yes, the partisan chasm is far wider today. It's also true that during President Barack Obama's two terms in office we saw no interest by Democrats in using tax reform as an engine of growth. This has a chance now that a growth-first president occupies the White House. Our biggest concern is that the president's proposal included no third Post-it note, the one that would analyze the impact of his tax cuts on the national debt and, crucially, ideas for balancing those cuts with additional revenue. Due to decades of reckless spending, the U.S. has dug its way into a nearly $20 trillion hole that threatens to sabotage Social Security and Medicare. Talk about a bleak future. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says not to worry tax reform will pay for itself because more economic activity will generate more tax revenue. Sorry, that's likely fantasy math. Harvard economist N. Gregory Mankiw, who worked for President George W. Bush, told The New York Times that a general rule of thumb is that only about one-third of the cost of tax cuts is recouped by faster economic growth. The rest must come from corresponding tax increases, closing loopholes and reducing spending, or the national debt will grow. Trump and Congress will have to be responsible. Tax watchdog groups provide estimates that are frightening to consider. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget says Trump's cuts could cost the Treasury $5.5 trillion in lost revenue over a decade. Without offsets, that would increase federal debt to 111 percent of gross domestic product by 2027 the highest in U.S. history from an already worrisome 77 percent today. Do taxpayers who are now $20 trillion in the hole want to spend trillions more imperiling the future for their children and grandchildren, in order to give some people jobs now? Anyone? Class? Anyone? Become a subscriber today to support editorial writing like this. Start getting full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. You've got a business meeting in New York or a vacation in Paris. United has convenient flights at a good price. But maybe you'll choose another carrier just to avoid Hell's favorite airline the one that had a passenger dragged from his seat before takeoff. To United CEO Oscar Munoz, fear that a single outrageous incident on an April 9 flight out of O'Hare could permanently wreck his brand's reputation is real enough for him to change how the airline operates. On Thursday he ripped up the company's playbook on the management of overbooking situations. He also promised to never repeat the O'Hare customer service disaster. Advertisement What Munoz said is worth quoting because United's success, and his job security, depend on whether flyers find it to be true: Every customer deserves to be treated with the highest levels of service and the deepest sense of dignity and respect. We know. A lot of you flyers, especially those crammed into economy class, are rolling your eyes over the "deepest sense of dignity and respect" line. The idyllic age of flying went out of style with the Boeing 707. But really, what's so ridiculous? While flying is a high-stress business and legroom ain't what it was, an airline's personality shines through based on each interaction with employees. Either a spirit of common decency prevails or it doesn't. When it doesn't, you want to cut up your frequent flyer-card and fly someone else. Advertisement For Chicago-based United, things went wrong years ago. The airline endured a stay in bankruptcy court after the tragedy of 9/11, and the 2010 merger with Continental was mismanaged. By the time Munoz took over in 2015, employees and passengers were both fed up. Then Munoz missed time for heart-replacement surgery. Still, the airline's performance and image were improving until passengers boarded the 5:40 p.m. United Express flight to Louisville on a certain Sunday. Here we get to Munoz's promise that the O'Hare incident won't be repeated. As part of his mea culpa, United released a brief report explaining what happened and what will change. United said that because an earlier flight to Louisville was delayed for a mechanical issue, agents decided at the last minute to rebook four crew members onto Flight 3411 to ensure they could work a Louisville-Newark flight the next morning. When no passengers volunteered to make room by giving up their seats in exchange for compensation, agents followed company protocol to identify four customers to be involuntarily bumped. After one of those passengers, Dr. David Dao, refused to leave his seat, United agents called Chicago Aviation Department officers, who roughed him up and dragged him off. United admits it all went wrong. The airline was more devoted to its rulebook than to its customers. Employees didn't have the authority or the training to solve an unusual situation, so they followed standard procedure to the disastrous conclusion: United seen around the world on social media as the airline that beat up a paying customer. Going forward United says it won't squeeze traveling crew members onto flights at the last minute, won't bump customers who have boarded, won't call the cops to eject a customer because of an overbooking issue and will reduce overbooking. Just as important, United employees will have the training and permission to resolve customer service issues in the moment. They'll be able to offer as much as $10,000 in compensation to entice volunteers to be bumped and get creative in finding alternate transportation for bumped passengers and crew. Employees encouraged to think on their feet are much more likely to do the right thing. So which airline will you book to New York or Paris? Munoz hopes you're willing to give United another try. Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook. Become a subscriber today to support editorial writing like this. Start getting full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. President Donald Trump has decided that America will remain within the NAFTA trade partnership with Canada and Mexico for now, but he wants to renegotiate the terms of the partnership so as to further benefit American trade interests. As we consider trade relations among the NAFTA trade partners, it is appropriate to explore the connection between our trade relations with Mexico and the raging debate about illegal Mexican immigration. For many years, there has been extensive debate about illegal immigration from Mexico and how American authorities should deal with it. There has also been extensive debate about the economic value and costs that Mexican immigrants here illegally pose to American businesses, labor markets and social institutions. Advertisement Yet, there has been little to no public discussion about the economic factors that have led the people of Mexico to flee their homeland to illegally enter the United States in the first place. As the president of the richest nation in the world seeks further trade benefits from its poorest NAFTA trade partner, I would like to better understand why Mexico is in its current economic situation, and what American and Mexican leaders can do about it. Many Americans have voiced strong opposition to the illegal migration of Mexicans into America, and I bet that many Mexicans, if given the choice, would probably prefer to live, work and prosper in their own country. In this regard, there would be a mutual benefit to both Mexicans and many Americans if we would expand the public discussion from curbing illegal immigration to enacting beneficial policies that allow Mexican citizens to thrive in their homeland and throughout the NAFTA trade region. I don't know the answer to this issue, but I do have the following questions: Advertisement 1. What kind of trade agreement do we have with Mexico, where thousands of Mexican men, women and children are motivated to risk their lives to illegally enter the United States for low-skilled, low-paying jobs, only to be treated like second-class citizens when they arrive? 2. Why does Mexico, which is the biggest trade partner to the most powerful nation in the world, not have the industrial capacity to employ many of its citizens? 3. What are American and Mexican leaders doing to improve economic conditions in Mexico, so that Mexican people don't feel the need to come to the United States illegally? 4. As the United States continues to espouse the virtues of capitalism and free trade, why are skilled Mexican professionals not allowed to work in their fields in America and throughout the NAFTA trade zone? The public perception is that Mexican immigrants here illegally have little education and few skills. Yet, there are highly trained Mexican professionals doctors, educators, lawyers, etc. who are working in America as low-skilled laborers because there are limited work opportunities in Mexico for professionals to earn decent wages, and because the governing bodies of American and Canadian trade groups, such as the American Medical Association or the American Bar Association, do not have parity agreements with Mexico. As a result, Mexican professionals are unable to legally practice their professions in America or throughout the NAFTA trade zone without redundant training. Rather than remaining in the doldrums of narrow-minded and protectionist rhetoric, expanding the public policy dialogue on Mexico could lead to trade policies that mutually benefit the United States, while helping Mexico to prosper. At the very least, for those Americans who deride Mexican illegal immigration, I've heard that a strong Mexican economy and job market is a great way to curb such behavior. James Harris, Oak Park On the day before President Donald Trump hit his first 100 days, I woke up to a CNN headline that "we could end up having a major, major confrontation with North Korea." I was tempted to go back to bed, but I persisted. Advertisement The news didn't make persistence easier. In another 100-days interview, this time with Reuters, the president wistfully lamented that his new job is "more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier." Now he tells us. I could not help but draw a connection between this news and another story I was working on, an announcement by George Washington University that Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., will be teaching a class in the fall. The name of the class? "Dystopian Visions." Advertisement Is that an appropriate topic for these times or what? In the relentless crush of daily news, I am not surprised by the notion that many readers would seek refuge in the works of writers whose perspective is not limited to the factual world. Think of dystopia as the opposite of utopia, a very unpleasant place where people lead dehumanized lives under the heel of autocratic elites who profess to be creating a utopia. After Trump's election to the White House, booksellers reported a surge in sales of such perennial favorites as "1984," "Brave New World" and "The Handmaid's Tale" a miniseries version of which has been streaming on Hulu. Recent years have seen a wave of new dystopian fiction, such as "The Giver," "The Hunger Games" series and the "Divergent" series in the young adult book and movie markets. Novelist Junot Diaz calls dystopia "the default narrative of the generation." Yet the dystopian wave began long before Trump's election. As John Feffer, author of the dystopian novel "Splinterlands," recently wrote in The Nation, there was an apocalyptic mindset on both sides of the recent presidential election. On one side, Trump "tapped into the end-of-days impulses of Christian evangelicals, anti-globalists and white power enthusiasts." On the other side, Hillary Clinton supporters warned of a "Trumpocalypse" with more severe climate change, economic collapse and the outbreak of race wars. But Sen. Paul's interest started well before the recent presidential race. In a 2013 VICE interview he revealed, "I think dystopian novels are a discussion of politics, and sort of what happens if you let a government accumulate too much power." New presidents or kings think they're too good and smart to abuse their power, Paul said, offering President Barack Obama's early stand against indefinite detention for prisoners in Guantanamo Bay as an example. Obama reduced their numbers, but politics prevented him from closing the place down as he had promised. Good intentions, Paul said, are "not good enough. It's like when (President James) Madison said, "If government were comprised of angels, we wouldn't have to worry about how much power to give the government." Advertisement Having been immersed in reports of widespread intolerance for conservative speakers on campus, I feared that the announcement of Paul's new teaching gig would send angry letters and petitions flying like snowflakes. But initial reaction, at least, was quite the opposite. Available seats went quickly, despite its 8 a.m. time slot, which touched off unconfirmed reports of left-out Paul fans offering cash bribes to would-be seat scalpers. The genre's appeal to the libertarian-minded Paul is easy to see. Dystopian fiction tends to cast bold, courageous individuals against big government, glorifying the smarts, skills and tenacity of its heroes and heroines. Its anti-authoritarian sentiments have instant appeal to rebellious teenagers whose central theme in life is the oppression imposed on them by their elders. With that in mind, it is not surprising that Paul is quite popular among students, as his father, former Rep. Ron Paul, a Texas libertarian Republican, also was. Yet we also need to be cautious about which lessons to take away from dystopian narratives. They often turn on the savior who steps up and leads the masses in Messianic fashion out of a crisis. Real life usually doesn't work out that easily. Many of the same people who support Trump today ridiculed Obama supporters for following a "savior," until they had one of their own. Democracy calls for an electorate that remains conscientiously involved and refuses to pass the buck to others. Otherwise, just when you think "it's not the end of the world," it is. Clarence Page, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/pagespage. Advertisement cpage@chicagotribune.com Twitter @cptime With Amazons' fifth brick-and-mortar bookstore opening its doors in Chicago this past month, some consider it more important than ever to support the city's local and independently owned bookshops. Chicago is incredibly proud of its talented and homegrown artists, musicians, chefs and business owners. Visit some of the best bookstores that the Windy City's literary scene has to offer. Women & Children First 5233 N. Clark St. 773-769-9299 Advertisement First established in 1979, this Andersonville bookstore prides itself in being one of the largest feminist and LGBTQ friendly bookstores in the country. In addition to book clubs, performance salons and the two or three author readings hosted per week (in March, "Bad Feminist" author Roxane Gay did a reading), the store hosts a "Feminist Craft Circle" and an Activism Series that showcases a different Chicagoland social-justice organization each month. Quimby's (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Quimby's 1854 W. North Ave. 773-342-0910 The weird and wonderful Quimby's of Wicker Park has been specializing in the "unusual, the aberrant, the saucy and the lowbrow" since 1991. The store supports independent publishing by working on a consignment basis with writers and artists to get their material out to the public. At Quimby's you will find material that cannot be found on Amazon or the average bookstore: alternative comics, obscure small press books, and self-published zines (pronounced "zeens," you're welcome). Advertisement Curbside Books & Records 125 S. Clark St. 773-999-9411 Tucked inside of Revival Food Hall downtown is Curbside Books & Records by Chicago independent publisher, Curbside Splendor. The selection of books come from small presses and local publishers, and the unique array of records are by Chicago musicians and independent record labels (cassettes are also sold, hello nostalgia!). Grab a coffee or a cocktail from the Revival Cafe-Bar and check out some of the best literature and music that Chicago artists are producing. The Book Cellar (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) The Book Cellar 4736 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-293-2665 What could be better than combining wine with books? Sip on a glass of wine, a bottle of beer or a cup of coffee from this Lincoln Square bookshop's cafe while you browse a wide selection, including works by lesser-known and local authors. The shop welcomes book clubs looking for a cozy atmosphere and would be happy to have you as a member at one of their already established book clubs including a French club (Bonjour, Proust!) and a Young-Adult club. The Underground Bookstore 1727 E. 87th St. 773-768-8869 This South Chicago bookstore has been the source for African and African-American literature and culture for 17 years. In addition to the large selection of books available, Underground also offers a wide selection of newspapers, magazines and tape-recorded speeches by Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They pride themselves on stocking titles that aren't available anywhere else in the city and firmly state that there is "no title they cannot get." Space Oddities Chicago 1007 N. California Ave. 773-697-4439 This cozy and quirky bookstore and curiosity shop prides itself on being the only wide-range bookseller in Humboldt Park. In addition to fiction and nonfiction, this new and used bookstore offers a broad variety of subjects including philosophy, pulp sci-fi, comics, art books and mythology. Space Oddities also sells a carefully curated selection of paintings, art prints, jewelry, candles and other artwork by local Chicago artists. They also host fun events, such as a poetry and taxidermy workshops, book signings and even tea parties. Volumes Bookcafe 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-697-8066 This Wicker Park book-cafe is the perfect place to peruse, read or work while sipping on a chai latte or indulging in a variety of Dollop pastries. The store has a heavily curated inventoryevery book on the shelves was handpicked by the knowledgeable staffbut they also take orders for any book you might want. Volumes hosts a wide array of events including monthly open mic nights, weekly trivia nights (winners take home books!), story times for kids and a "Sip & Stitch" club on Sundays. Armadillo's Pillow 6753 N. Sheridan Road 773-761-2558 Opened in 1994 to sell handmade jewelry, this Rogers Park bookshop now sells a wide variety of books, both common and uncommon, along with incense and other charms. With books piled high, this unique shop is the perfect place to hang out, cozy up with a book and enjoy the array of folk & outsider art. Don't forget to grab a $1 "street read"the Armadillo's Pillow's selection of books on the sidewalk that you can take home for just a buck. Read It & Eat (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) Read it & Eat 2142 N. Halsted St. 773-661-6158 This Lincoln Park culinary bookstore highlights selections on cooking, travel, biographies, essays and history. Here, you can find anything from the parody cookbook, "Baking Bad," to a guide on the history of oysters, "Oyster: A Gastronomic History." The store also has a calendar full of cooking classes, demonstrations, tastings and chef signings. The Read it & Eat cookbook club meets monthly to discuss recipes and techniques while sharing a meal. Open Books 651 W. Lake St. 312-475-1355 Open Books' flagship store is in the West Loop, but they also have a location in Pilsen. Open Books is a "nonprofit social venture" offering instructional programs to cultivate literacy skills in children, book programs that deliver books to schools and nonprofits across Chicagoland, and creative writing programs for kids in third to 12th grade. The store offers a huge selection of books across many genres for adults and an extensive youth section with more than 10,000 children's and young adult books. Advertisement Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > The Seminary Co-op/57th Street Books 5751 S. Woodlawn Ave., 1301 E. 57th St. 773-752-4381, 773-684-1300 What started in 1961 as a basement store of scholarly books has grown to a two-store co-op in Hyde Park. The bookstores pride themselves on being an "epicenter of cultural and intellectual life." The Seminary Co-op sells an extensive collection of scholarly titles with a focus on humanities and social sciences, while 57th Street Books houses a selection of general interest titles including kid's books, fiction, cookbooks, mysteries, science fiction and graphic novels. Uncharted Books 2620 N. Milwaukee Ave. Come meet Ramona, a PAWS Chicago rescue dog named after the beloved children's book character, at this Logan Square bookstore. Uncharted books sells used literature and nonfiction, from vintage to almost new, in a quaint and cozy setting. The shop encourages socializing, drinking, eating, writing, working and hanging out. They also host events often, including game nights and open mics and are available for public events such as readings or book launches. Bucket O' Blood Books and Records 3182 N. Elston Ave. 312-890-3860 Don't be spooked by the name. This Avondale genre bookstore aims to create a welcoming space where readers can come together, share common interests and have a good time. Bucket O' Blood specializes in science fiction, fantasy and horror literature, but they also carry a small, curated section of literary fiction, mystery and nonfiction. You'll also find a selection of rare and out of print genre books, and a bargain section of $1 books. Events hosted at the shop include both sci-fi and horror book clubs, board game nights and a monthly movie night brought in by the Chicago Horror Society. Sandmeyer's Bookstore 714 S. Dearborn St. 312-922-2104 A true "mom-and-pop" shop, Sandmeyer's Bookstore has been operating in the South Loop since 1982. Browse their extensive collection of new releases, travel guides and children's books, or ask for a recommendation from the Sandmeyers themselves. Bask in the history of the neighborhood while wandering around the "library-like" brick building; Sandmeyer's is located in the Printer's Row neighborhood, where printing and publishing businesses originally stood. Chicago Rare Books Center 703 Washington St. Evanston, 847-328-2132 Established in 1998 and originally located in Gold Coast, Chicago Rare Books Center now serves the Evanston area. The shop focuses on the work of the partners that own it: children's books, modern literature, jazz and blues, art, Chicago and the Midwest and Americana in addition to a huge selection of rare and unusual books in all subjects. From a $7,000 copy of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" illustrated and signed by Salvador Dali, to an 1836 book on anatomy, the Chicago Rare Books Center specializes in the fascinating and unusual. Advertisement @AudreyGorden | agorden@tronc.com Quick! Think of something interesting to say at dinner Friday night. If nothing's coming to you, here are your conversation starters for the weekend. The digit: 100 Who are the most influential people in the world? Time magazine has a list. They've picked the 100 artists, activists, entrepreneurs and leaders making a difference. From John Legend to Ivanka Trump, Viola Davis to Ed Sheeran, Elizabeth Warren to Chance the Rapper, the list clearly isn't drawing from just one category of influencers. Advertisement Crowded party You may be used to two or three featured artists making an appearance on an album, but try 24. That's how many contributed to British virtual band Gorlliaz's upcoming album, "Humanz." The album, released this weekend, features Vince Staples, De La Soul and Pusha T, along with many other artists. "Rogue One" actor Ben Mendelsohn will narrate the album's interludes, but if the "Star Wars" connection doesn't hook you, a portion of the album was recorded in our sweet home Chicago. From big screen to small Season 1 of "Dear White People," the follow-up TV series to the 2014 film by the same name, drops on Netflix April 28. The comedy will follow college students as they address social injustice, political correctness and activism in the modern age. Critics of the show have described the premise "racist against white people," which others are calling out for irony. Advertisement Every move you make Emma Watson and Tom Hanks star in "The Circle," a thriller set in the not too distant future, where Watson's character is hired by the world's largest and most powerful tech and social media company. The film addresses issues of privacy, ethics and personal freedom and hits theaters this weekend. Considering everything from your TV to your headphones may be spying on you these days, try not to come out of the movie too paranoid. @AudreyGorden | agorden@tronc.com Ivy Hill Elementary School teacher Nashwa Mekky (right) teaches her fifth graders in Arlington Heights to use a new Singapore-style mathematics curriculum. (Mark Kodiak Ukena / Pioneer Press) After 25 years of instructing students with a University of Chicago mathematics program, officials with Arlington Heights School District 25 are switching to a new Singapore-style curriculum that they say is more closely aligned with the Common Core standards. District 25 has used the university's Everyday Mathematics program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade since 1992. Advertisement But with the debut of the new Common Core standards, district officials decided their longtime math curriculum did not adapt itself to the new standards as much as officials would have liked, said Eric Olson, assistant superintendent of student learning for District 25. "Everyday Mathematics, unfortunately, no longer meets our needs," Olson said. "We are a high-performing district, and we need a curriculum that best meets our students' needs." Advertisement Even as a couple of other area districts continue to use the University of Chicago program, District 25's new math curriculum, called Math in Focus, was written since the new Common Core standards were adopted, making the program more closely aligned with those uniformed set of standards designed to prepare students for college and the workforce. Olson said. Commonly referred to as "Singapore math," the new math curriculum typically involves a teaching method where students are taught to master fewer concepts but in greater detail. It also includes a three-step learning process, including concrete, pictorial and abstract. Olson said district officials and teachers also no longer liked idea of using the Everyday Mathematics "spiral" curriculum. With a spiral-style curriculum, a classroom teacher introduces a mathematical concept to students and even if some students in the classroom do not fully understand the concept, the teacher is supposed to move on since the curriculum is designed to circle back to those concepts in future lessons. "The issue we found with this type of (spiral) curriculum is that it was hard for teachers to move on from a concept if students were still not understanding that concept," Olson said. Considered more of a mastery-style curriculum, Math in Focus will cost the district $300,000 for a total for six years a one-time charge that includes implementation costs, such as professional development and materials, Olson said. After six years, if district officials decide to continue with the Math in Focus curriculum, the cost to continue the program will be much less, he said. But the move has puzzled Andy Isaacs, the director of the University of Chicago's STEM education, who said he did not know what was behind District 25's decision to drop the Everyday Mathematics curriculum. Advertisement The latest edition of Everyday Mathematics specifically was designed to align with the Common Core standards, he said. "We did a complete, ground-up revision of the program, which was re-built for the Common Core," Isaacs said. "We were dealing with those who wrote the Common Core standards for almost two years, and everything has been field-tested at schools across the country." Other area school districts, including Wheeling Community Consolidated School District 21 and Evanston School District 65, are using the new Everyday Mathematics 4, known as EM4, Isaacs said. "Singapore math has become the darling in some circles, but the (District 25) teachers had good success with Everyday Mathematics, so I'm a little puzzled," he said. District 25 recently has experienced a slight decline in students' math scores, with 63 percent of students having met or exceeded standards on the state's Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test for the 2014-15 school year before dropping in 2016 to 60 percent of students who were tested, according to district figures. But district officials have said many factors might explain the district's slightly lower scores during the second year of the PARCC test, given in April 2016, compared to the first time the state assessment was administered during the spring of 2015. Advertisement While the PARCC assessment last year featured just one test, the 2015 PARCC assessment consisted of two tests, one given in March and a second in May. The two scores were combined to create a total, overall standard score, district officials said. Even with the recent drop in math scores, the school board's decision to approve the new Math in Focus curriculum was not prompted by concerns over students' state standardized test scores, Olson said. "The district relies much more on our MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) scores, which have stayed consistent for years," Olson said. "We are not at all concerned about our schools' test scores, but we always want our students to perform better, and with the Math in Focus curriculum aligned with the state's learning standards, our scores should rise." kcullotta@tribpub.com Twitter @kcullotta Aurora police Friday said they had not ruled out street gang motivation in shootings Wednesday and Thursday that damaged houses on both sides of the Fox River. At about 10:35 p.m. Wednesday, several gunshots struck a home on the 900 block of Sard Avenue, on Aurora's West Side, police said in a statement published to Facebook. Moments before the shots were heard, a newer-model, white Cadillac sedan was seen northbound on Sard, followed by a gray minivan of unknown make or model, police said in the statement. Police said they have no further suspect information. Advertisement The next day, at about 9:15 p.m., bullets hit a home on the 200 block of North Ohio Street, on the city's East Side, police said. After the shots were fired, a white sedan was seen leaving the area southbound on Ohio Street, westbound on Kane and northbound on Smith, police said. Police ask anyone with information to call Aurora police at 630-256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and qualify for a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to any arrests. Advertisement People also can submit tips through the Aurora Police Department's free My PD mobile app. hleone@tribpub.com Twitter @hannahmleone MISS: There are two signs outside the recently shuttered Downtown Books & Coffee in Auburn. One says "closed," and the other says "For Rent." Independent brick-and-mortar book stores are a rare community asset, and Auburn was fortunate to have this store for the past seven years. Our best wishes to the folks who ran the shop and worked there. And hopefully, there may come a day when another book shop can return and flourish in our growing downtown. People with ideas for book projects may contact Downtown Books Publishing at DowntownBooksandCoffee@gmail.com. HIT: To an Auburn student getting a head-start on a career aimed at helping people. Cayuga Community College sophomore Mackenzie Cunningham has plans to go to medical school and become a pediatric oncologist. In the meantime, she has supplemented her education in the real world, participating in two trips to the Dominican Republic to help administer health care to people unable to get to their nearest hospital hours away. The volunteer work so far from home not only helped people in need, it has helped prepare Mackenzie for a future in the medical field. MISS: To prison visitors who may become prisoners themselves. Police said that three people were charged after drugs were found during an inspection of visitors at Cayuga Correctional Facility. Two women were accused of possessing balloons stuffed full of synthetic marijuana. They were charged with felony promoting prison contraband. Police said that the man who drove them to the prison had marijuana in his vehicle and because he is on parole he was also charged with violating the terms of his release. When an Aurora police sergeant hit his head and lost consciousness, a bystander used a Fox Valley Mall officer's radio to call for help during a struggle with a teenage boy who was resisting arrest inside the mall, according to police. At about 6:50 p.m. Saturday, the 16-year-old, an Aurora resident, caused "a disturbance" at the center of the mall, police said in a statement published to Facebook. Advertisement The boy apparently knocked over a stack of cups at a food vendor there, said Aurora police spokesman Dan Ferrelli. A security officer told the boy to leave the property and had begun to lead him out when an Aurora police sergeant met them and started walking alongside, according to the statement. Advertisement As the three were about to reach an exit, the boy said he was going to go into a store, police said. He was repeatedly told to leave the mall, but instead continued toward the store, screaming and yelling profanities, police said. When the officers tried to arrest him for trespassing, he immediately resisted and fought, police said. The boy's actions caused the sergeant to trip and fall backward, strike his head on the corner of a wood store display and lose consciousness, police said. A man who saw what happened asked the security officer, who was still trying to restrain the teen, how he could help, police said in the statement. The officer told the man to use his radio to call for help. In the meantime, the sergeant regained consciousness, police said. The bystander helped the officers gain control of the teen and take him into custody, according to the statement. The teen, charged with felony resisting arrest, misdemeanor battery, criminal trespass to land and disorderly conduct, yelled and swore on the way to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries and was released to his parents, police said. The sergeant was also treated at an Aurora hospital, where he was given several staples to close a deep cut, police said. The security officer had a minor laceration to his face that didn't require hospital treatment and the other man was not injured, police said. If someone were to come across a similar situation, they should always ask before jumping in to assist unless the officer or security personnel are completely incapacitated, Ferrelli said in an email. "In most instances they will be able to articulate if they need help or not," Ferrelli said. "Jumping in unannounced may actually make the situation worse as the last thing an officer or security person in peril would need would be to think he/she is being further attacked." Advertisement hleone@tribpub.com Twitter @hannahmleone The Fox Valley Festival Chorus will be traveling to Italy in June to perform at the Vatican and other spots. (Fox Valley Festival Chorus / Handout) This June, the Fox Valley Festival Chorus will be traveling to Italy to sing at an evening Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican as part of a 10-day performance tour in Italy. "We will be singing Masses at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice," Fox Valley Festival Chorus member Bette Weaver said. Advertisement The group also will be performing a musical theatre concert in Florence that will include songs from "Les Miserables" and "Phantom of the Opera." About 40 choir members of the 65-person chorus will be making the journey as part of the Fox Valley Festival Chorus' American Celebration of Music tour under the guidance of its director Mary Beth McCarthy. Advertisement In the past, the chorus has sung at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City. Weaver has been to Italy previously as part of a pilgrimage with her church and visited St. Peter's Cathedral. "To sing at the Vatican will be one of the highlights of my life definitely something on my bucket list," she said. "Where the choir stands at St. Peter's is right next to the chair of the Pope." And although the Pope is not expected to be celebrating Mass that evening, just to be there is "pretty amazing," Weaver said. Currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, she said, "Music is one of the things that keeps me going." The Fox Valley Festival Chorus has been active in the community since 1955. Joining the chorus about five years ago, Fox Valley Festival Chorus President Shireen Bacchetti said, "When we moved to Naperville, I stopped singing for a while and focused on other things until I saw a newspaper ad about the Fox Valley Festival Chorus." The group does not require an audition for new members, Bacchetti said, and not everyone in the chorus comes from a serious music background. Advertisement "We do take our music seriously and sing difficult pieces," she added. "But, we also have a lot of fun in the process." Some members have an extensive music background, Bacchetti said, while others have only sung with their church choir. "But, we don't turn anyone away," she added. Cathy Janek is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News It was 20 years ago that the city of Aurora began celebrating Arbor Day by planting trees around town. It was a new way the city decided to locally honor the national day that celebrates trees, flora and natural beauty. Now, the celebration includes the mayor visiting schools and helping students honor the day by planting trees at their schools. Advertisement Aurora Mayor Robert O'Connor will honor the 20th year of this kind of celebration by visiting five schools the most ever in one day since the city began. O'Connor Friday will join students, teachers and school officials to speak about the significance of trees in the community and to plant additional trees on the grounds of Jefferson Middle School, Holy Angels School, Cowherd Middle School, Fischer Middle School and The Wheatlands Elementary School. Advertisement "One of the things I enjoy most is getting out and visiting our schools," said O'Connor. "To be able to connect with our children and discuss the importance of our environment is especially important." Earlier this week, at the City Council meeting, O'Connor read a proclamation for Arbor Day and accepted a plaque the Illinois Department of Agriculture gave to the city for its 20th year of these celebrations. O'Connor also mentioned the good work the city's long-standing Tree Board does of categorizing and keeping track of the city's tree population. The board also runs the Heritage Tree program each year where people can nominate old, historic or beautiful trees for recognition. Joining with the city each year is ComEd, which takes part with the city at the schools to demonstrate the importance of trees and tree safety to the students in attendance. Following the tree plantings, city crews will also distribute saplings to students that they can plant at home. slord@tribpub.com There has been a rash of burglaries to vehicles in Aurora recently, and police believe some of the incidents may be related. Police noted that most of the vehicles involved were unlocked or had valuables in plain view. Advertisement "Car thieves will walk through parking lots and neighborhoods looking for valuables to steal," the police posted in a statement on their Facebook page. "They go from vehicle-to-vehicle checking door handles and when they find one unlocked, they'll enter the car or truck, quickly search for anything of value, and make their getaway within a couple of minutes. If they come across a locked vehicle but also see items in plain view such as purses, computers, and other valuables, they're not deterred. They simply bust a window, grab the item, and run." Recent burglaries include: Advertisement Two vehicles were hit in the 700 block of Richard Street, one in the overnight hours of April 20-21 and the other around 7:30 a.m., April 25. One vehicle in the 700 block of North Gladstone Avenue was burglarized in the overnight hours of April 19-20; one was hit in the 1300 block of Monomoy Street between 9:40 and 11:09 p.m., April 24; and one in the 2100 block of Best Place in the overnight hours of April 10-11. A vehicle in the 700 block of Four Seasons Boulevard was burglarized between 2 and 5:30 a.m. April 19; another between 7:30 and 9:10 p.m. April 12 at Four Seasons and Ravine Park Lane; one in the 600 block of Serendipity Drive between 2:30 p.m. April 19 and 6:15 p.m. April 21; and another between 6:30 and 6:40 p.m. April 7 in the 800 block of Serendipity. A vehicle in the 2500 block of Ogden Avenue was burglarized in the overnight hours of April 22-23 and another in the 900 block of Terrace Lake Drive between midnight and 10:30 a.m. April 23. Earlier in the month, vehicles in close proximity were burglarized in the overnight hours of April 11-12 in the 1500 block of Hollycrest, 1300 block of North Randall Road and the 1500 block of Burr Oak Circle. Another one was hit in the overnight hours of April 12-13 in the 700 block of Calico. On April 12, a vehicle was hit between 9 and 9:30 a.m. in the 2900 block of Kirk Road and another between 7 and 11:30 a.m. in the 1600 block of Premium Outlets Boulevard. Cars and trucks were burglarized on the East Side in the overnight hours of April 25-26 in the 1100 block of Squire Drive; on April 21-22 in the 800 block of Pearl Street and 1000 block of Century Lane; between 12:20 a.m. and 12:50 p.m. April 11 in the 600 block of Gates Street; between 6 and 9:30 p.m. April 7 in the 500 block of College Avenue; and one in the 200 block of South LaSalle in the overnight hours of April 6-7. On the Far East Side, a vehicle was broken into during the overnight hours of April 18-19 in the 2200 block of Highfield Lane and another in the overnight hours of April 9-10 in the 2900 block of Waters Edge Circle. Advertisement On the West Side, vehicles were broken into in the 400 block of Michigan in the overnight hours of April 10-11, and the 200 block of South Calumet in the overnight hours of April 8-9. Police ask anyone with information to call Aurora police at 630-256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and qualify for a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to any arrests. People also can submit tips through the Aurora Police Department's free MyPD mobile app. Some Aurora aldermen recently got a first look at a downtown development that would include a coffeehouse, urban market, community room, banquet hall, co-working space and full commercial kitchen. Known as Project Canvas, the development is planned for the Pocus building on the southeast corner of River and Benton streets, just east of the new Aurora Public Library. The building most recently housed Triple Threat Mentoring on its first floor, and is part of the River Street Plaza that includes the condominiums along River Street and the Fox River. Members of the City Council Planning and Development Committee recommended a revision to the River Street Plaza plan that allows more permitted uses to accommodate the Project Canvas plan. Advertisement "I think it's a great addition to our downtown," said Ald. Michael Saville, 6th, Planning and Development Committee chairman. The project is connected to Orchard Community Church, which "has been more and more engaged in downtown Aurora," said Scott Hodge, lead pastor of the church. Last year, the church sold its campus at Barnes Road and Galena Boulevard on Aurora's far West Side, and decided "we had an opportunity to do something different and unique an investment in downtown Aurora," Hodge said. Advertisement Ald. Mike Saville, 6th (Mike Saville photo) Canvas has a contract to buy the property, and is ready to start developing it into a seven-day-a-week "social space" as soon as possible, Hodge said. He said church officials did not want to "just plop a church into downtown." "It's a place where people can connect," he said. "The space is perfect for us." According to the plan, the church would only use a large remodeled gathering room on the second floor on weekends. Itwould become a banquet room and common space for activities such as weddings, corporate events and even black-tie galas throughout the week, Hodge said. The second floor also would include studios for meetings, yoga classes, film screenings and the like, he said. The first step of the development would be to build a large urban coffeehouse on the first floor that Hodge said would feature "fresh-brewed coffee, baked goods and fast Internet." Eventually, the first floor also would include an urban market with locally sourced handmade goods. Hodge said it would be a "low-cost, low-risk" space. He said Project Canvas also would include a full commercial kitchen rentable by the hour or the day. Hodge said he sees the kitchen as an incubator for restaurants and pop-ups. "The idea is this would become a hub of all kinds of activity throughout the week," he said. Ald. Bill Donnell, 4th (City of Aurora) Hodge said Project Canvas has retained the designer of the restaurant Buttermilk in downtown Geneva. Officials are still deciding on a name for the project, but Hodge said because the building is considered historic, they likely would look at a name rooted in the city's history, perhaps connected to when Aurora became one city in 1857. The Pocus building was home to Pocus Motors, which for many years was a Mercedes-Benz dealer. Advertisement Ald. Bill Donnell, 4th, said "the project looks beautiful," but was concerned about parking. He pointed out that the city recently made another church jump through hoops on the issue to locate just outside the downtown core. "I just want to make sure we're being consistent here," he said. Ed Sieben, the city's zoning administrator, said the development could utilize the large public parking lot shared by the city and library and is within 400 feet of the Pocus building. He said city officials always contemplated that the lot would be used for development in the River Street Plaza area. slord@tribpub.com A Miller's Ale House will be built where Luigi's House once sat along Route 59 in Aurora. (Steve Lord / The Beacon-News) The Aurora City Council has paved the way for a Florida-based bar and restaurant to build along Route 59 in front of the Meijer store. Aldermen unanimously approved a plan revision for two lots in the Meijer subdivision at 778 N. Route 59, where Miller's Ale House is looking at leasing property to build a restaurant, adding onto the 78 locations it already has in 11 states. The restaurant would be built where Luigi's House restaurant used to be. That building has been torn down. Advertisement The restaurant would have a bar, an outdoor patio and windows that would open in good weather to have an open-air feel. Miller's officials are looking at starting construction as soon as possible, likely in early May. Miller's Ale House first opened in Jupiter, Fla., in 1988, according to its website. It has locations in Illinois in Chicago Ridge, Lombard and North Riverside. In addition to the Aurora site, it plans to build in Schaumburg and Norridge. Advertisement slord@tribpub.com The owners of Jimmy's Grill and Potter's Place in Naperville are looking to put a restaurant with an outdoor dining patio in downtown Oswego. (File photo / Chicago Tribune) Two Naperville restaurateurs are looking to buy property for a Mexican restaurant in downtown Oswego. The Oswego Village Board on Tuesday will consider a purchase agreement for property the village owns at 63 Washington St. Advertisement Andrew Trasatt and John Leahy, the owners of Potter's Place and Jimmy's Grill in downtown Naperville, have proposed building a restaurant that will feature a two-level outdoor dining patio, village officials said. The village's focus to recruit new restaurant concepts is part of an overall economic redevelopment plan initiated through a newly created tax increment financing district that encourages developers to invest in downtown properties. Advertisement Village President Gail Johnson said she's thrilled residents will have more options to dine and that a new restaurant concept will infuse new energy into the downtown. "I am beyond excited to announce this addition to our downtown nightlife," Johnson said. "The opportunity to partner with successful restaurateurs who pride themselves in creating an experience for diners will add a new vibrancy to Washington Street, giving people extra options, which will mean more visits. Nothing draws a crowd quite like al fresco dining in the downtown." The agreement would allow the investors to pursue development approval through the village's public review process. Village Administrator Dan Di Santo said that if the proposal is approved Tuesday, the developers will be able to submit development plans and go through a zoning entitlement process which involves public hearings before the Plan Commission and Village Board. He said negotiations are part of the process that involves possible TIF district public infrastructure improvements. "The village will be negotiating a redevelopment agreement with the developer that will set forth the terms of the deal such as purchase price and possible incentives," Di Santo said. "The purchase price on the agreement is listed at $60,000. However, the final price will be dictated by the negotiated redevelopment agreement. The redevelopment agreement will be considered by the Village Board at the same time as the development plans." The site is one of three properties on the block that previously housed village operations prior to the construction of the new Village Hall at 100 Parkers Mill. The village's redevelopment plans include a new public parking lot behind the building at 110 S. Adams St. that the village owns. Advertisement Oswego's downtown redevelopment plans show possible streetscape improvements in front of the proposed restaurant that are designed to be pedestrian-friendly, village officials said. The village also owns 65 Washington St., which houses Fire House Pizza Pub, immediately west of the proposed restaurant site. Oswego officials said that if a redevelopment agreement is approved, the developers will have three months to receive plan approval from the Village Board. The village acquired 63 Washington St. in 1998 and utilized the building for additional office space when Village Hall was at 113 Main St. It was last used by the village as offices for the Community Development Department. After Village Hall relocated to its current location in 2008, the Oswego Chamber of Commerce occupied the building from 2011 through 2014. The building has since remained vacant. Oswego continues to actively pursue development partners for the vacant parcel at 113 Main St., village officials said, which is just north of the Dairy Hut ice cream shop. Advertisement Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News. Oswego officials said there is no reason to be concerned as the village on Thursday announced it has taken a well out of service due to higher-than-usual levels of radium in the water there. Oswego said the well will be temporarily out of service until radium levels meet Illinois Environmental Protection Agency standards. Advertisement Village officials said that the state EPA notified the city that naturally occurring radium levels in Well 4 were above drinking water standards. "This is not an emergency," village officials said in a news release. "Oswego water customers are not at immediate risk and do not need to use an alternative water supply such as bottled water." Advertisement Radium is a naturally occurring radioactive element that is present in varying amounts in rocks and soil within the earth's crust, according to the village. Small amounts of radium also can be found in groundwater supplies, according to the Illinois Department of Health. The radium filter at Well 4 was replaced as it routinely is, according to the village. However, the well will not be placed back into service until radium levels are certified by the regulating agency. In the interim, the village will continue to receive drinking water from its seven other wells that have tested below the Illinois EPA threshold for radium. Oswego water customers will receive a notice with EPA information in their next water bill. The village of Oswego contracts with Water Remediation Technology, which removes radium from the village's public water system. The contractor removes radium from the groundwater through a filter that collects radium. Well 4 is expected to be back in service by the end of May, according to the village. While all radium exposure carries some degree of risk, the Illinois EPA established a maximum contaminant level of 5 picocuries per liter in public water supplies. In the case of Well 4, the most recent quarterly test resulted in an annual average of 5.7 picocuries per liter. Village officials said Oswego has taken corrective action to prevent the problem from occurring again. "While the public is not at an immediate risk, please consult your physician if you have any specific health concerns," the village's news release said. Advertisement Customers with questions can contact Oswego Director of Public Works Jennifer Hughes at 630-551-2366. More information on radium in drinking water is available at the Illinois Department of Public Health website at www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/private-water/radium-drinking-water. Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News. The Yorkville City Council has strengthened its noise regulations after receiving complaints about loud music coming from businesses in the city. The new city noise ordinance sets allowable decibel levels by time and land use and gives Yorkville police more ways to enforce sound and vibration regulations. Advertisement City staff said the noise ordinance was last revised a couple of years ago when an outdoor amphitheater was being proposed for the downtown. A comprehensive review of regulations covered various areas within the city and research from surrounding communities. At about the same time the city was receiving complaints from residents that live near Pinheadz Bar & Grill in the 1200 block of North Bridge Street. The bar and affiliated Yorkville Bowl is located near single-family residences. City Administrator Bart Olson said the city has received similar complaints about other businesses in the past as well. Advertisement "The ordinance will be universally applicable and solve problems in the future," Olson said. Although the owner of Pinheadz made structural and mechanical changes to the building in an effort to reduce the noise levels when bands performed, people complained the noise problem had not been improved, city officials said. The city decided to restudy the ordinance and hired Soundscape Engineering, a Chicago and Ann Arbor, Mich., based acoustical consulting firm that specializes in acoustics, noise and vibration control to do an assessment for Yorkville. According to a staff report, Soundscape Engineering recommended an entirely new noise ordinance be written that clarifies how to measure noise and how loud noise levels should be in designated areas. The consultant reviewed several ordinances in other cities including Chicago, Joliet, Aurora and Naperville. They also structured the ordinance to provide simpler regulations for police to enforce. As part of its services, the consultant recommended a list of sound measuring devices for police to use to enforce the new ordinance. Yorkville Community Development Director Krysti Barksdale-Noble said the consultants recommended levels to address both sound and vibration levels. She said the ordinance reduces the maximum sound levels from 65 to 60 decibels during daytime hours and from 55 to 50 decibels in nighttime hours in residential areas near the bar. She said the ordinance requires those maximum thresholds be reduced by 10 decibels for tonal or vibration readings. The tonal measurements must be below 50 decibels during the day and 40 decibels at night in the adjacent residential areas. Advertisement The new changes make adjustments relative to the different types of noise. "The point of the changes in our code is to address the different sounds," Barksdale-Noble said. "Sound is transmitted in different ways. Currently, we were only measuring sound through an auditory pitch." She said the new ordinance will provide police with more guidance on how to take a measurement if they are invited by a homeowner to do a reading within a home. "If police were invited to go inside the home, the ordinance tells them how to accurately take the measurement. The windows and doors all must be closed and the actual monitor must be three feet away from a ceiling or wall to get an accurate reading," Barksdale-Noble said. Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News JORDAN Jordan-Elbridge Central School District residents will have a chance to hear from the candidates running for school board seats and offer their opinions on the proposed 2017-18 budget. Meet the Candidates Night is slated to take place in conjunction with the public hearing on the budget at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, at the Jordan-Elbridge Middle School district office conference room, 9 N. Chappell St., Jordan. The regular Board of Education meeting will follow. Four candidates are running for three open seats this year in Jordan-Elbridge. Board President David Gallaro and Vice President Lisa Long are running for re-election, along with newcomers Annette Gustafson and Christian Brunelle. Board member Lynnette Zelias is not running. The school board terms run for three years. The Jordan-Elbridge budget proposal includes no tax levy increase for the second straight year. The district has a state-imposed tax increase cap of 0.09-percent for this year, so a simple majority of yes votes are needed to pass the budget proposal. Residents will vote on the budget and school board candidates on May 16. Roy Bethge, deputy police chief in Buffalo Grove, is planning to retire. (Courtesy of the Buffalo Grove Police / HANDOUT) Retiring Buffalo Grove Police Deputy Chief Roy Bethge likes to talk about the founding principles of police work and the social contracts that helped develop them but lately, he enjoys talking about boredom. His interest in boredom, he said, isn't the result of him soon entering retirement. Once he officially retires Monday, he plans to continue working with a consulting group he helped start that trains workers in the public sector to become future leaders. Advertisement But Bethge, 50, said he wishes he had a little more boredom during his 27 years in law enforcement. "In a perfect world, I would never have to arrest anybody," Bethge said. Advertisement After having to make a countless number of arrests and respond to a number of police calls throughout his career, Bethge plans to start his retirement Monday following a ceremony at the Buffalo Grove police station. The Chicago native, who said he grew up less than two blocks from Wrigley Field and later graduated from Maine East High School in Park Ridge, now plans to expand his consulting firm called The Virtus Group. The term "virtus," Bethge said, comes from a Roman political philosophy that involves the ideas of valor and courage. With police-involved shootings dominating national headlines lately, Bethge said he worries that the country is losing sight of those values and the theoretical social contracts that bind them together. "The police are the last bastion of those social contracts," he said. "We as a civilized nation need to stop and think about that for a moment." Bethge said he first learned about police work through a police explorers job-study program at Maine East. While attending Oakton Community College, the school hired Bethge as a security guard and later added him to the police staff, he said. He came to the Buffalo Grove Police Department at 22 years old. He said he did not expect to spend the rest of his career in Buffalo Grove. "It's been amazing," Bethge said. "If someone had told me things would work out this way, I'd have told them they were crazy." Advertisement During his last full week on duty, Bethge declined to answer when people asked him to reflect on a high or low point that stood out in his career. After nearly three decades of public service and thousands of interactions with people in various situations, he said the totality of his work was too important to try and single out one episode. "As a police officer, you'll never know the moment in time when you'll have the biggest impact on someone because they'll never tell you," he said. "It's not about a moment. It's about a career." rwachter@pioneerlocal.com Twitter @RonnieAtPioneer When reputed master shoplifter Ignatius M. Pollara traveled from Florida to Chicago in 2015, he came for what authorities called a business trip a planned whirlwind of thefts from stores in four different areas and then, after four nights, a flight home. But it looks like his trip won't end until sometime in 2018 and will include some unplanned nights with the Illinois Department of Corrections. Advertisement Pollara, 51, was sentenced Friday in DuPage County to five years in prison on retail theft and burglary convictions. He has been in custody since his arrest in July 2015, when he was arrested outside a Hobby Store in Lombard for stealing an art pencil set. With credit for time served, Pollara likely will serve about eight months in prison. However, after that he must return to DuPage to serve nine more months in jail on two separate contempt of court citations he received. Advertisement Then he will have to deal with an arrest warrant the state of Florida has issued for parole violation charges, local prosecutors said. Pollara's reputation had followed him from Florida, where officials say he made perhaps $1 million from reselling items, often expensive toys such as high-end Lego sets, that he had stolen. In sentencing Pollara, Judge Liam Brennan noted that his crimes were not motivated by traditional reasons, like a drug user or compulsive gambler who steals to feed an addiction. "This defendant steals because it's convenient to steal, and it helps him live," the judge said. Given Pollara's criminal history, Brennan said, it would be futile to sentence him to probation, as his attorney had asked. As part of the sentencing hearing, prosecutors played a segment of a 2014 report on Pollara on the ABC show "20/20" in which a correspondent dubbed him "the Mozart or LeBron James of shoplifting." Pollara was on parole in Florida when he told authorities in 2015 he planned to visit relatives in Illinois. But Pollara's parole officer, knowing he did not have relatives here, alerted local police, who tailed Pollara for a day as he visited more than two dozen stores in the Schaumburg and Oak Brook areas before arresting him in Lombard. After a March bench trial, Brennan found him guilty on retail theft and for burglary, a felony count that has rankled Pollara whose inability to remain quiet in court has gotten him in trouble several times, including Friday. Advertisement Midway through the hearing, following repeated outbursts from Pollara, the judge moved the proceeding to a courtroom equipped with a mostly soundproof booth and had Pollara placed inside. His muffled screams could be heard at several points during Assistant State's Attorney Shanti Kulkarni's argument. The prosecutor called Pollara an "insufferable narcissist" who was consumed more by ego than common sense. He asked for the maximum seven-year sentence. The judge allowed Pollara back in the courtroom to make a statement before sentencing. The defendant told the judge he planned to change his ways and would stay out of trouble to avoid a return trip to Illinois on a parole or probation violation. "My mother said before she died that you've got to change your ways," said Pollara, whose mother is alleged to have periodically acted as a lookout for him. Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter. The cast for the Beverly Theatre Guild's "Sister Act" from May 5-7 at Morgan Park Academy's Baer Theater includes Jen Lenihan (from left), Meg Massaro, Egypt Marie, Fred Eberle and Justine Raczy. (Photo courtesy of the Beverly Theatre Guild) The 1992 film "Sister Act" starring Whoopi Goldberg was so popular that it inspired a musical of the same name. The Beverly Theatre Guild closes its 2016-17 season with the local premiere of "Sister Act" May 5-7 at Morgan Park Academy's Baer Theater in Chicago. Advertisement "Lyric-wise it's very clever. The sound of it is very awesome too," said Dawn Farrell, director and choreographer of "Sister Act." "The music is borderline disco. It's very fun to move to. It's even more fun to make nuns do things you wouldn't typically see them do. Obviously Alan Menken has had so many wonderful productions and shows. His music is great." Advertisement "Sister Act" features book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane. Lyrics are by Glenn Slater and music is by Menken, who won Oscars for scores for "Aladdin," "Beauty and the Beast" (1991), "The Little Mermaid" and "Pocahontas." In the musical, as in the film, aspiring disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder in 1970s Philadelphia and is placed in protective custody in a convent of a parish that has fallen on hard times. "Doing the musical and getting to work on this character and getting to work with the performers you get to dig a lot deeper than watching the movie," said Farrell, of Oak Lawn. "The movie is very comical and the musical is comical but you really see this journey with Deloris and all the lessons she learns. She is just this person looking to follow her dreams. She does come from a Catholic school background. Reliving that as an adult, you take your life lessons with you. "She's really listening to what these nuns have to say and using something she loves, which is music, to help her find out who she is." Disguised as a nun and butting heads with Mother Superior, Deloris ends up working with the choir. "Most people are familiar with the movie but in this story on stage you really get a better sense of her growing as a person and building strength," said Farrell, dance department supervisor for Oak Lawn Park District. "Sister Act," which premiered in 2006, had a 2011 Broadway adaptation that was nominated for several Tony Awards including best musical. Advertisement "All the ladies are genuinely having fun doing this show," said Farrell, who first worked with the Beverly Theatre Guild in 1999 when she played a Hot Box Girls dancer in "Guys and Dolls." Farrell has been reunited with Laurie Videka Krizka, who played the lead, Sarah Brown, in "Guys and Dolls" and now plays Sister Mary Celeste in "Sister Act." "It is great that people are still continuing to do what they love," said Farrell, who choreographed the Beverly Theatre Guild's "Seussical the Musical" in October. "It's fun having a familiar face like that." Led by Charm Tims as Deloris and former Equity actors Jane Brewer and Fred Eberle, the cast includes residents of Alsip, Chicago's Beverly and Mount Greenwood communities, Chicago Ridge, Evergreen Park, Homer Glen, Lansing, Monee and Palos Heights. "The fact that everyone is so unbelievably supportive of one another is nice to see. That is probably the biggest thing I will take from this experience," said Farrell, who also directs and choreographs for Oak Lawn Park District Theatre. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. Advertisement 'Sister Act' When: 8 p.m. May 5-6; 2 p.m. May 6-7 Where: Morgan Park Academy's Baer Theater, 2153 W. 111th St., Chicago Tickets: $20 each; $18 each groups of 10-plus; $16 each groups of 20-plus (call for group sales) Information: 773-284-8497 or www.beverlytheatreguild.org Etc.: presented by the Beverly Theatre Guild Elizabeth Joy Roe is the featured pianist at Southwest Symphony Orchestra's "Elizabeth Roe, Rachmaninoff & Sibelius" May 7 at Trinity Christian College's Ozinga Chapel Auditorium in Palos Heights. (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Joy Roe) Elizabeth Joy Roe may be best known for the Billboard chart-topping and Emmy-nominated Anderson & Roe Piano Duo, but her solo skills will be on display in the Southland. Southwest Symphony Orchestra closes its 2016-17 season with "Elizabeth Roe, Rachmaninoff & Sibelius" May 7 at Trinity Christian College's Ozinga Chapel Auditorium in Palos Heights. Advertisement "In general I feel that Rachmaninoff was such a masterful composer for the piano," said Roe via phone while running personal errands in Chicago, where she currently is based. "He was one of the ultimate pianists of all time but also just an incredibly ingenious composer. "His music strikes this incredible balance of virtuosity but also emotional immediacy. There's something incredibly moving and voluptuous about his music whether or not you're a classical music aficionado or someone who's totally new to the genre." Advertisement It can "move you and excite you because it's filled with both this incredible power and excitement but also the gorgeous melodies and luscious harmonies," she said. Roe, whose latest album is "John Field: The Complete Nocturnes," is the featured pianist on "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Considered one of the greatest compositions of the Romantic Period, the piece is based on "Caprice No. 24" for solo violin by Niccolo Paganini. "The Paganini theme has been revisited many times by different composers throughout history and I feel Rachmaninoff takes such an inventive and visionary approach to manipulating the theme," said Roe, who began playing piano at age 6. "He takes the theme to unexpected places and ultimately offers 24 variations that are incredibly cohesive and surprising and the 18th variation, which is perhaps the emotional heart of the epic, is absolutely magical." The 18th variation has been featured on several soundtracks including the 1980 romantic fantasy drama "Somewhere in Time" starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour and the 1993 fantasy comedy "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray. Roe's performance of "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" marks the third time she has worked with Southwest Symphony Orchestra with which she collaborated in 2012 on Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1" and in 2008 on George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." "It's great to work with them again on a piece I love," she said of performing with the orchestra directed by David Crane. "He always is very enthusiastic and seems open to my ideas. It's always a pleasure to play works from the piano concerto literature. "It's some of the greatest pieces ever written from classical music. David does a great job bringing this beautiful and powerful music to the Chicago community at large so I have to praise his love for the music and his wonderful collaborative spirit." Advertisement The Southwest Symphony Orchestra concert begins with a piece inspired by a resort village in the Swiss Alps "Pastorale d'ete" (Summer Pastoral) by Arthur Honegger and ends with "Symphony No. 2" by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. "Classical music and arts organizations elevate a community in terms of elevating the spirit of humanity and providing a respite from the nonstop activity of daily life," said Roe, who released the album "Britten & Barber Piano Concertos; Nocturnes" recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra in 2015. "I feel that something like the survival of the Southwest Symphony Orchestra and arts organizations in general ensures that we stay in touch with the sufferings and the joys of human experience. That's what the arts represents." Roe follows her performance with Southwest Symphony Orchestra by reuniting with Greg Anderson, of Anderson & Roe Piano Duo, for the Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition from May 22-June 10 in Fort Worth, Texas, where they will co-host the webcast for www.cliburn.org. "We did the junior competition a couple of years ago. This is the first time we're doing the real thing, which is an exciting opportunity for us," said Roe, who gave her solo recital debut a decade ago at Lincoln Center in New York. "They'll be able to watch us give previews and get reactions to the performances. A lot of people consider the Cliburn to be the piano Olympics. It's a really big event in the classical world." Advertisement Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. 'Elizabeth Roe, Rachmaninoff & Sibelius' When: 4 p.m. May 7 Where: Trinity Christian College's Ozinga Chapel Auditorium, 6601 W. College Drive, Palos Heights Tickets: $26 or $21 adults; $21 or $16 ages 65-plus; $17 or $12 each group of 10 or more; $6 students; free ages younger than 12 Information: 708-802-0686, www.southwestsymphony.com or www.elizabethjoyroe.com Advertisement Etc.: presented by Southwest Symphony Orchestra A south suburban man and former owner of a home health care business who pleaded guilty last year to bribing doctors in exchange for patient referrals avoided prison time at a sentencing hearing Thursday. Romy Macasaet Jr., of Homewood, was sentenced to a year of home confinement followed by three years' supervised release, or probation, according to Joseph Fitzpatrick, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Chicago. Advertisement Prosecutors, in a filing earlier this month, had suggested Macasaet receive a prison term between 37 and 46 months for admitting to paying more than $700,000 in bribes to physicians while he was president and majority owner of Home Bound Healthcare Inc. Macasaet's attorneys had sought a "non-custodial" sentence that could have included a period of probation, community service work or possibly home confinement. Advertisement As part of the plea he made last September, Macasaet agreed to step down as Home Bound's president and divest his ownership in the business, which has seven offices in Illinois and Nevada. He pleaded guilty to one count of violating the anti-kickback statute. Home Bound, separately, last year agreed to pay $6.7 million to the government related to Medicare reimbursements the company received. Also, Macasaet agreed to pay a fine of $250,000. Macasaet, who has since founded another home health care business, had admitted to contracting with doctors and paying them monthly fees of between $1,000 and $4,000 in exchange for referring patients covered by Medicare to Home Bound. Doctors completed paperwork showing that the patients were confined to their homes and eligible for medical care, although the government contended that Home Bound billed Medicare for medically unnecessary services. There was no evidence that patients treated by Home Bound received sub-par medical care, prosecutors and Macasaet's attorneys pointed out in pre-sentencing filings. Still, the government noted in seeking a term of imprisonment for Macasaet, "the integrity of the system rests on honest and transparent practices that places patient interests above all else. This did not happen here." Prosecutors said that he had concealed kickback payments to physicians "in the guise of sham Medical Director agreements with physicians," and that the number of bribe payments was "staggering," with 437 checks issued to doctors from 2006 through 2014. Macasaet "was certainly smart enough not to pay physicians with cash in an envelope," and needed a way to transmit those payments to doctors "but not get caught doing so," the government said in its filing earlier this month. The government said its investigation into the bribes lasted three years and involved interviews with current and former Home Bound employees, as well as patients and physicians. Advertisement Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Prosecutors and Macasaet's lawyers noted that he had no prior criminal history but the government pointed out that the offense "was not a one-time mistake in judgment but a course of conduct that provided numerous opportunities for reflection and contemplation about the illegal conduct." Macasaet's lawyers, in arguing for a lenient sentence that did not involve time in prison, noted he is the primary caregiver for his two parents, who are ailing and homebound, and that Macasaet "is loved, respected and revered by everyone who knows him." He is currently president of another business he started, Home Based Health Caring Hands, and receives a gross annual salary of approximately $175,000, according to his attorneys' pre-sentencing filing. The firm offers home-based care to patients who pay out of their pockets for care and do not bill Medicare or private insurance. Prosecutors had said that the bribes paid by Macasaet had resulted in $9.8 million in Medicare payments to Home Bound Healthcare. Reimbursement to the government for the Medicare billing will be made in installments, with the final payment by Home Bound being made in February 2023, according to court filings. Separately, Home Bound and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services entered into an agreement under which the company will establish and implement policies, procedures and practices designed to ensure compliance with the requirements of federal health care programs, according to the government. mnolan@tribpub.com Advertisement Twitter @mnolan_j Roger Agpawa, foreground, is surrounded by supporters Monday outside a Cook County Circuit Court judge's courtroom following an initial hearing seeking to block him from becoming Markham's mayor. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown) The winner of Markham's mayoral race won't be allowed to take the oath of office, a Cook County judge ruled Friday. In granting the Cook County state's attorney's request for a temporary restraining order blocking Roger Agpawa from being seated as mayor, Circuit Judge David Atkins acknowledged the likely success of the state's lawsuit barring him from taking office. The next hearing on that lawsuit, which was filed April 12, is scheduled for June 14. Advertisement Agpawa had hoped to take the oath at Wednesday's Markham City Council meeting. State election law, according to the complaint, bars Agpawa from holding elected municipal office due to a 1999 felony conviction. Advertisement Certified election results from the Cook County clerk's office showed Agpawa received 41 percent of the votes for mayor in the April 4 election, while write-in candidate Kenneth "Mojo" Muldrow Jr., a Markham police officer and president of the Markham Park District, received just under 35 percent. Agpawa, a lifelong Markham resident and fire chief in Country Club Hills, had pleaded guilty in federal court to mail fraud and would need a presidential pardon in order to hold municipal office. The state's attorney's complaint notes that any person convicted of an "infamous crime" is not eligible to hold any office of "honor, trust or profit." In Illinois, an infamous crime is one that "violates commonly accepted principles of honesty and decency," and mail fraud "has historically been deemed an infamous crime," the state's attorney argues. As part of the conviction, Agpawa avoided jail time but was ordered to pay restitution, serve three years of probation and perform 200 hours of community service. During an April 24 court hearing when the request for the temporary restraining order was argued before Atkins, Agpawa's attorney, Burt Odelson, noted that while convicted felons are barred from holding elected municipal positions, someone with a similar criminal history could serve as a state representative or governor. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Odelson argued that the disparity is unconstitutional, but Atkins, in Friday's ruling, pointed out the statute "has passed constitutional challenges." Dozens of Agpawa's supporters filled Atkins' courtroom for that hearing, and Odelson said at that time that blocking Agpawa from becoming mayor "would negate" the votes of residents who elected him. He said that voters went to the polls fully aware of Agpawa's criminal history. In his ruling, the judge wrote that Markham voters who backed Agpawa "have serious concerns about the effectiveness of their rights as voters," and that some had called and written to him. Atkins wrote, however, that "while the court is sympathetic to these concerns and does respect the right of the people of Markham to vote as they choose, it cannot ignore the plain meaning of the law." Advertisement According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, Markham aldermen could declare the mayor's position vacant and name one of the elected council members to serve as acting or interim mayor until the 2019 election. The election laws don't provide for a special election to be held to fill a vacancy in an elected municipal post. A message left Friday at Odelson's office seeking comment was not returned. mnolan@tribpub.com Twitter @mnolan_j General Benjamin O. Davis Sr., America's first African-American general, is pictured in this undated photograph. Davis also is the namesake of the Richton Park VFW. (Senate Democratic Caucus photo) The namesake of Richton Park's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 311 will receive a special honor, if State Sen. Michael E. Hastings has his way. Hastings, D-Tinley Park, has advanced a resolution that would designate Aug. 2, 2017, as General Benjamin O. Davis Sr. Day. Hastings, a West Point graduate who served a decade in the military, said as the first African-American general, Davis' service to our country was "extremely important." Advertisement "This guy is one of the best of the best," Hastings said. "He is reflective of Post 311, which is one of the "top VFW posts in the entire state." According to a biography on the post website, the brigadier general had a distinguished career, earning the Distinguished Service Medal along the way, as well as letters of commendation from the secretary of war and the quartermaster general. Advertisement Davis was born in 1877 in Washington, D.C., the son of a servant for Civil War General John A Logan. Davis was a high school cadet and attended Howard University in 1897 as a member of the black unit of the National Guard. During the Spanish-American War, he enlisted in the 8th U.S. Volunteer Infantry, and re-enlisted in the regular army as a private stationed in Utah, climbing the ranks to corporal and squadron sergeant major. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > He eventually earned a regular commission and was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant while serving in the 9th Calvary in the Philippines. In 1905 he was promoted to first lieutenant, became a professor of military science and tactics at Wilberforce University. He was an attache in Monrovia, Liberia from 1909 to 1912. He was promoted to captain in 1915, the biography said. He returned to the Philippines for three years after the death of his first wife. In 1919, after remarrying, he was a professor of military science and tactics at Tuskegee Institute. He became in instructor of the 372nd Infantry of the Ohio National Guard in Cleveland. For three years, he was an official army representative of an organization for relatives of slain WWI soldiers buried in European cemeteries. In 1938, he was given his first independent command, with the 369th National Guard Infantry Regiment. After 42 years of service, he earned the rank of general in 1940. As brigadier general, he was the commander at Fort Riley, Kansas., with the 2nd Calvary Division. Appointed to the Committee of Negro Troop Polices, he investigated racial incidents and worked to solve racial problems, the biography said. Hastings, who also served at Fort Riley, said he can relate to Davis, not only because of his military service, but also his work in the senate, "I represent a very diverse district and for me, it's important that we operate as one unit to get things done," Hastings said. Erin Gallagher is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. District 230 Superintendent James Gay addresses a group of student advisers Thursday, April 27, 2017, at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park. Sandburg is the top-ranked south suburban public high school for 2017, according to U.S. News & World Report. (Ted Slowik / Daily Southtown/Chicago Tribune) Southland public high schools are significantly better represented in a new ranking of secondary education quality compared to a year ago. Gathering input from stakeholders, communicating effectively and continuously working to improve outcomes are key factors contributing to the academic success of students in their districts, local superintendents said. Advertisement In its 2017 rankings released this week, U.S. News & World Report included at least 12 south and southwest suburban public high schools on its list of the top 100 in Illinois, compared to one school a year ago. In 2016, Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort was ranked No. 75. This year, none of the three remaining Lincoln-Way high schools is ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Advertisement The top-ranked school in the Southland this year is Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, which placed No. 45 in Illinois. The two other schools in Consolidated High School District 230 also made the state's top 100, with Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Palos Hills ranked No. 70 and Victor J. Andrew High School in Tinley Park ranked No. 75 in the state. "I think it's a collaboration of our teachers, our board, parents and the community," District 230 Superintendent James M. Gay said Thursday during a semi-annual student advisory gathering of about 75 students from the district's three schools. Student input influences decisions about curricular and extracurricular offerings, he said. Thursday's session at Sandburg began with students conducting a team-building exercise. "We don't dictate what they have to do," Gay said. "We work in tandem with everyone to provide the best experience. We don't work in isolation." Joel John, a senior and Student Council president at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, addresses students from District 230's three schools April 27, 2017, during a gathering of about 75 student advisers to Superintendent James M. Gay. (Ted Slowik / Daily Southtown) Community High School District 218 also earned recognition for its three schools. Harold L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn was ranked No. 62, Alan B. Shepard High School in Palos Heights was ranked No. 68, and Dwight D. Eisenhower High School in Blue Island was ranked No. 86 in the state. Other Southland high schools making the U.S. News list of best in the state were Lemont at No. 48, Lockport East at No. 71, Evergreen Park at No. 78, Reavis in Burbank at No. 90, Southland College Prep in Richton Park at No. 95 and Oak Lawn at No. 97. District 218 Superintendent Ty Harting, a Blue Island native and Eisenhower graduate, said this is the first time U.S. News has recognized district schools as among the state's best. "I've known for a long time our schools are banging it out," Harting told me Thursday. "Our teachers do a phenomenal job." Advertisement U.S. News changed its methodology for rankings this year to place more weight on pupil achievement in schools with higher populations of low-income and minority students. "There's a greater emphasis on (serving) economically disadvantaged students," Harting pointed out. "That, for us, is a huge component." In its methodology, U.S. News said it first looked at student performance on state-required tests during the 2014-2015 school year. Schools had to perform better than statistically expected on standardized tests in their state, given their student poverty levels, to make it to the next step. The reason Lincoln-Way schools are unranked this year is District 210 included freshmen during its first year administering the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC exam, district officials told me. The state eliminated the test after just two years. "My only struggle with the rankings is the elimination of many top schools based solely on the performance of one class freshmen in the first year of PARCC, and the first time many had experienced online testing," said Tim Reilly, District 210's assistant superintendent for curriculum. "We are also really happy for several schools in our area who were named to the U.S. News list," Reilly added. "We know teachers and administrators at these other area schools who are among the best in the business, and it's high time that they were recognized for the great work they do." Advertisement Students who advise District 230 Superintendent James M. Gay take part in a team-building exercise involving a web of yarn during a gathering of student advisers on April 27, 2017, at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park. (Ted Slowik / Daily Southtown) U.S. News said schools that made it past the first step of standardized-test scores were then judged on the performance of poor and minority students. "Then, schools were evaluated on whether their least-advantaged students those of black, Hispanic and low-income backgrounds performed at or better than the state average," U.S. News said. "We've got an extremely high at-risk population," Harting told me. "The notion of academic predictability says that lower income equates to lower test scores." Illinois School Report Card data shows 100 percent of District 218's 5,383 students meet low-income qualifications. The district's diverse population includes 35.6 percent black, 31.7 percent Hispanic and 29.6 percent white students. Sixteen percent of the district's pupils are students with disabilities. "We address not just the academic, but also the social and emotional lives of our students the whole child," Harting said. "You need stability to perform well in the classroom. That's been a real source of emphasis for us." The third step in the U.S. News rankings required schools that passed the first two steps to have a graduation rate of at least 75 percent. In a fourth and final step, U.S. News looked at how well schools prepared students for college based on participation in and performance on Advanced Placement exams. Advertisement "We've had a major push to increase AP participation," Harting said. "In the past five years we've more than doubled AP participation, while our success rate has remained stable," meaning the percentage of students passing AP exams has been constant. District 218's mission and goals include nurturing the "whole child," setting high expectations for students and staff, creating a safe and healthy environment, fostering meaningful engagement and implementing a rigorous curriculum. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > "A lot of different people contribute to our mission," Harting said. "Our high schools are like little cities. We never sleep. We're 24/7." Seven of the state's top 10 public high schools in the 2017 U.S. News rankings are in Chicago, with Northside College Prep rated No. 1. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire was the top-ranked suburban school and No. 6 in the state. U.S. News & World Report is among several outlets that rank high schools. Niche, an online publication, released its rankings of top Illinois schools in late March. Southland high schools among the state's top 100 in the Niche rankings included Sandburg at No. 42, Lincoln-Way West at No. 47, Lincoln-Way East at No. 51, Homewood-Flossmoor at No. 55, Lemont at No. 57, Andrew at No. 60, Evergreen Park at No. 64, the now-closed Lincoln-Way North at No. 67, Lockport East at No. 69, Stagg at No. 79, Lincoln-Way Central at No. 92 and Shepard at No. 99. Advertisement Newsweek and Chicago magazines are expected to announce their annual school rankings in August. tslowik@tribpub.com Twitter @tedslowik President Donald Trump is applauded by Wayne LaPierre, left, executive vice president and CEO of the NRA, during the NRA-ILA's Leadership Forum at the 146th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits on April 28, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Scott Olson / Getty Images) I have to admit, the first 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency haven't been as bad as I expected. Sure, there have been some nights I've been kept awake by fears of thermonuclear war. Some days it seemed like military action involving North Korea was imminent, but so far diplomacy seems to be tempering the saber-rattling. Advertisement As I expected, Trump seems preoccupied with his image and the appearance of results and short on actual accomplishments. There's the Supreme Court appointment, which I think isn't so much a victory for Trump as it is for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Republicans got their way by refusing to consider a nominee for nearly a year and changing Senate rules, so we'll see how that plays out the next time Democrats hold the majority in Congress. Advertisement There are the failed attempts to repeal and replace Obamacare, which I think aren't so much Trump's fault as the failure of moderate Republicans to agree with far-right members of their own party. There's an early proposal for a huge tax cut for the rich that would explode the budget deficit, another issue sure to expose divisions within the Republican party without doing anything meaningful to help grow the economy. There are polls that show Trump with record-low approval ratings as he attempts to govern the way he campaigned, through Tweets, sound bites, photo ops and relentless criticism of his opponents. There's Trump's refusal to release his tax returns that might show how his family members and business associates stand to benefit from his policy proposals and executive actions, and growing questions about potential conflicts of interest. Oh, yeah, then there are those ever-expanding questions about what role Russia played in trying to influence the outcomes of elections in America and Europe and whether representatives of the Trump campaign colluded with foreigners to undermine our democracy. As those investigations continue, I'd like to focus on three aspects of Trump's first 100 days in office: The Wall, immigration enforcement and the attempted travel bans. In the debate over sanctuary cities and enforcement of immigration laws, I agree with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who said if Congress doesn't like the law it should change it. I think Congress is full of cowards who refuse to tackle the nuanced, complicated issue of people working without legal permission who have lived here peacefully for many years, who contribute to the economy and whose children are U.S. citizens. Advertisement Millions of human beings living in America without legal permission pose no threat to anyone. If Trump wants to deport criminals, "rapists" and "bad hombres," that's fine, and most Americans would agree with that. But when government agents start deporting productive members of society and separating mothers from children, that's something different. Most people don't want that. They want sensible immigration policy that includes a path to citizenship. I think it's shameful that Congress lacks the courage to enact meaningful immigration reform. Other than urging Congress to change the law, I can't argue with those who insist the law should be enforced. Show the families ripped apart and children held in detention centers. If that's what it takes to compel people to pressure their representatives into changing an unreasonable law, so be it. Speaking of the law, courts thus far have found Trump overstepped his authority when he twice attempted to ban people from predominantly Muslim countries from traveling to the United States. I never believed the "America First" nationalist rhetoric that attempts to blame job losses and other economic woes on "others." I know automation and other profit-driven factors are more responsible than immigrants for the wage stagnation that compelled so many voters to choose Trump. Trump's attempted travel bans are discouraging foreign visitors from spending money in the United States. It'll be tough to grow the economy while shooting an important industry like tourism in the foot. The Dubai-based airline Emirates, for example, recently announced it's cutting flights to the United States due to decreased demand. Advertisement "This is a commercial decision in response to weakened travel demand to U.S.," an airline representative told Business Insider. "The recent actions taken by the U.S. government relating to the issuance of entry visas, heightened security vetting, and restrictions on electronic devices in aircraft cabins have had a direct impact on consumer interest and demand for air travel into the U.S." Trump can't have his cake and eat it, too. When he tries to make good on a promise like a misguided notion that banning foreign travelers will somehow improve national security he ends up hurting the domestic economy. Being president is a lot harder than he thought it would be, Trump told Reuters Thursday. If Trump succeeds in deporting many of the estimated 11 million immigrants living in America illegally, such a move would no doubt increase prices for produce and other goods and services that benefit from below-average wages. He would please his base, but all consumers would suffer. "The cost of produce could skyrocket due to a lack of farm workers, and the restaurant and manufacturing industries could see severe labor shortages, driving up costs or possibly forcing businesses to close," the Associated Press reported in February. Undocumented workers contributed $11 billion in taxes a year and removing all of them from the economy would cause a 2.6 percent annual drop in gross domestic product, AP found. I think Trump's presidency is best symbolized by a single issue: the wall. He promised to build a big, beautiful wall along the country's southern border since the day he first kicked off his campaign, and that Mexico would pay for it. He played to fears that "others" were stealing jobs, when it's actually more complicated than that. But his promise sounded good to enough voters in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania to carry him to victory. Advertisement Trump has since backed away from his promise that Mexico would pay for the wall. He now understands Congress would have to authorize funds for the wall, which Republicans say would cost about $20 billion but which Senate Democrat Claire McCaskill of Missouri said would cost $67 billion. Either way, that's a lot of money for a ridiculous project. Many people who live along the border and Republican legislators who represent them oppose building a wall. The bigger issue regarding illegal immigration is people overstaying legal visas, not secretly entering the country without permission. A stupid, expensive wall does nothing to address that type of illegal immigration. Those billions of dollars wasted on a wall would be better spent rebuilding America's roads, bridges, water systems, dams, power grids, railroads and other public works projects, but we've seen no progress toward an infrastructure plan. The funny thing is, Democrats and Republicans agree on the need for an infrastructure bill, and such a measure has the greatest chance of achieving bipartisan support in Congress. Instead, we've had two failed attempts by Republicans who control the White House and both chambers of Congress to perpetuate the biggest sham in American political history repealing and replacing Obamacare. If Republicans ever make good on their promises to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, they'll probably pay a heavy price at polls if millions of Americans can no longer afford health insurance to cover pre-existing conditions and other high-cost factors. Advertisement Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Instead of debating the real reasons for the high costs of health care which include profit-driven insurers and pharmaceutical companies raising prices to benefit shareholders we have partisans blaming other politicians. At some point in recent decades, winning elections seems to have become more important than governing and representing citizens. Trump made promises he knew he couldn't keep. If Republican factions in Congress ever get on the same page, they might actually pass changes on taxes, health care or other issues they've blamed on Democrats for a long time. They said they would do it. People believed them. Voters elected them because they said they would make things better. Now, they're in power and they can't make things better because they campaigned on a bunch of phony promises. That's the real reason for the lack of accomplishments during Trump's first 100 days. tslowik@tribpub.com Advertisement Twitter @tedslowik John Filippi, the principal of Deerfield's Shepard Middle School and a Vernon Hills resident, was recently named the 2017 middle school principal of the year by the Lakes Region of the Illinois Principals Association. Filippi is in his third year at Shepard and during his tenure the school was named a Blue Ribbon award winner by the U.S. Department of Education in 2016. He started his education career in 2005 as a physical education and health teacher. Advertisement Moving into administration in 2011, Filippi joined Deerfield Public Schools District 109 as an assistant principal at Caruso Middle School before taking over at Shepard in 2014. Filippi and his wife, Rachel Filippi, live in Vernon Hills with their 8-month-old son Matt. Q. What is the most important part of your role as a principal? Advertisement A. The most important part of my job is to support all who call Shepard their home. This job is about service to others. As principal, I need to make sure teachers and staff have all of the supports they need and I must ensure the school is responsive to our larger community. But, most of all, I am responsible for making sure each Shepard student meets his or her full potential. Q. What gives you the most satisfaction in your role as principal? A. The most satisfying moments are when I get to see students and staff shine. As a principal, their success is my success. And, quite honestly, any accolades I receive are a credit to them. Being recognized as Lake County middle school principal of the yearthat is a credit to them for the amazing ideas, energy, expertise and enthusiasm they bring each day. Q. What is the most outstanding thing you have seen from a student during your time as Shepard principal? A. I'm not sure I can pick just one. I've seen students go to state for wrestling, perform flawlessly on stage, and demonstrate academic ability far beyond their years. But, if I had to pick from my favorite student success moments, I'd point to the moments I see kids make simple, kind gestures. When you see a student pick up a struggling peer, stand up for someone that can't stand up for themselves or go the extra mile to make someone's daythose are the special moments. Steve Sadin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. A Bolingbrook man convicted of sexually assaulting and robbing an 85-year-old widow in Westmont has been sentenced to 100 years in prison. The sentence for Tevin Rainey, 23, was handed down last week by DuPage County Judge Brian Telander. Advertisement A follow-up hearing on the case will be held Thursday. Rainey's defense attorneys expect to file a motion to reconsider sentence, which preserves Rainey's appeal rights and will likely produce one more future hearing for Rainey at the trial level. Rainey could choose to appeal or seek relief via the post-conviction process. Advertisement He already has been turned over to the Illinois Department of Corrections and is not expected at next week's proceeding. Rainey was found guilty this year of breaking into the woman's apartment in early on Jan. 1, 2015, and then sexually assaulting her at gunpoint before forcing her to drive to an ATM and withdraw money. In finding Rainey guilty, Telander commented that prosecutors had constructed a case against Rainey that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. The judge's sentence likely will keep him behind bars for the rest of his life. Telander sentenced Rainey to 60 years on a count of aggravated criminal sexual assault, and then gave him a consecutive 40-year sentence for armed robbery with a firearm. Rainey must serve 85 percent of the 100-year sentence before he is eligible for parole. His victim, now 89, declined to testify at the sentencing hearing, but her clear and credible trial testimony was a critical component of the prosecution case, said Assistant State's Attorney Mike Pawl, who garnered the conviction with fellow prosecutor Cathy DeLaMar. "To be able to testify about something so unimaginably horrible with such grace and dignity was a tribute and a testament to her," Pawl said Thursday. The woman said at trial that she could not positively identify Rainey as her attacker, but other key details of her testimony were corroborated by evidence gathered by investigators. She was able to lead police to the Woodridge apartment complex where she dropped off her attacker. Rainey sometimes stayed there with a relative, according to trial testimony. Rainey argued at trial that an acquaintance was the actual attacker, but authorities said they found both Rainey's and victim's DNA on the gun used that night. Several relatives of Rainey wrote the court and asked the judge to take into account his difficult upbringing at sentencing. His mother, Nicole Rainey, was one of 21 people crushed to death in Chicago's E2 nightclub stampede in 2003. Advertisement "I'm not sure everyone could understand the big losses Tevin and his siblings took," Rainey's aunt, Wynonia Rainey, wrote in a letter in the court file. Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter. The Flagstaff Youth Chorale would like to thank the following businesses and individuals who donated items and funds to our annual fundraising event on Arizona Gives Day. We appreciate the support this provides our organization, helping us to continue to provide choral music experience for the children and youth in our community. We would especially like to thank Single Speed Coffee Cafe for allowing us to hold the event in their business, and to Slugs from Space String Quartet for providing a terrific atmosphere with their fun, unusual musical arrangements. Cambridge Lakes Charter School in Pingree Grove recently announced the total amount of funds raised during its annual fun fair. "This year's event truly went above and beyond," said Bethany Nelson, community relations and events director of the school's campus council. "We raised over $9,200 to purchase new technology and make improvements on existing technology for the 820 plus students we currently serve. That's over $2,400 more than we have raised in the history of this event." Advertisement Fun fair activities ranged from a boat race, face painting, sand art, bounce house, silent auction, raffle and Coyote Quick Pick. Vendors included local author and airbrush painter Roy Adorjan. "Planning is already underway for making next year's event better based on feedback from volunteers and attendees," said Casey Kizior, communications director for Northern Kane Educational Corp., the management firm of the school. "Families can look forward to technology improvements being implemented in the near future." Attorney Peter Katsaros, left, gives opening remarks at a news conference at Elgin Township offices Thursday. Katsaros represents Elgin Community College campus police deputy chief Tami Haukedahl, middle, and campus police officer William Powell. (Rafael Guerrero / The Courier-News) Two Elgin Community College campus officers have filed discrimination complaints against the school's retiring police chief, their attorney announced at a Thursday press conference, more than one month after an internal investigation ordered the department to undergo training to prevent "discrimination, harassment and retaliation." The press conference occurred the day before police Chief Emad Eassa's Friday retirement. Advertisement Attorney Peter Katsaros, who is representing ECC officers Tami Haukedahl and William Powell, said complaints were filed Feb. 15 with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging discrimination and retaliation based on their gender, race and age. The complaints allege Eassa engaged in gender- and race-based discrimination over the past three years, Katsaros said. On a regular basis, the chief would refer to fellow colleagues and female and minority faculty and administrators using vulgar language, according to the complaints filed with the EEOC. Advertisement Katsaros said the college conducted an independent investigation and returned results March 20. He said the officers were not satisfied with the recommendations, which they said did little more than warn police Chief Emad Eassa to stop using profanity. Eassa, whose last day working on campus was April 21, could not be reached for comment Thursday. "The College does not generally comment publicly on personnel issues or pending legal action. The College does note, however, that the two officers are still in the process of availing themselves of internal processes at the College available to those who feel aggrieved," Elgin Community College President David Sam said in a statement released Thursday. "In regard to the now-public allegations, let me be clear: The college takes these matters seriously and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind," Sam said. The complaints also allege Eassa held a spring 2016 meeting with some of his officers, including Haukedahl, and called Sam "a weak leader" who was intimidated by men and surrounded himself with women. Four officers also met with Elgin Community College human resources director Richard Enyard in August to lodge a complaint, according to officers' attorney. Among the four was Powell, an ECC officer of seven years. Prior to ECC, he served as police chief in Aurora before retiring in 2008. In a letter sent to Haukedahl, Sam said Eassa was directed to stop using profane language or displaying sexually explicit pictures in his office. After the investigation concluded, Elgin Community College police would "undergo training that addresses issues of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation," according to a copy of the letter provided by the officers' attorney. Advertisement Powell and Haukedahl are expected to meet with some of the ECC trustees and delegates next week about the independent investigation's findings, the two said. Katsaros said the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission could take months to make a decision. raguerrero@tribpub.com Elgin's Olde Towne Inn originally was Smitty's and has been open 90 years. Owner Patsy Maple is celebrating the bar's past this Saturday afternoon. (Mike Danahey / The Courier-News) A spot along Bluff City Boulevard that claims to be Elgin's oldest bar is marking its 90th year in business. According to information from the Elgin Area Historical Society, in 1927 William "Smitty" Schmitz and his wife Eva had the bungalow built, opened it as Smitty's and served barbecue through the end of Prohibition in 1933. Legend has it that the first beer poured in Elgin after Prohibition's repeal was at Smitty's at the northeast corner of Bluff City Boulevard and the end of Grace Street, which is an on and off ramp for Route 20. Advertisement Patsy Maple of Villa Park bought the Olde Towne Inn in July 2015, her first venture into the bar business. The place's origin story and other tales she heard along the way were a big part of the appeal that eventually led to buying the spot, Maple said. Advertisement Maple said she used to work at a Chicago ad agency, but was looking for something that would give her more flexibility in taking care of daughter Kaylee, 7. "I hung up my advertising cap and came here," Maple said. Actually, Maple said she had a Realtor friend, the now-deceased Bill Sullivan, looking for places for her, and four years ago he brought her to the Elgin bar. "You've got to be kidding," Maple recalled as being her initial reaction to the Inn. "The decor seemed last updated in the 1980s. There were purple and green bathrooms," Maple said. "But Bill told me, 'You don't know the history.' And he knew that I love a challenge." Maple learned there were people who have been coming to the bar for 30 or more years. She heard stories from the days when there were factories nearby and how the building at one time apparently was a garage, with arches that still exist giving evidence of its two bays She learned the bar had been moved decades ago from the lot behind where it is now to make way for the Route 20 bypass. And the bar in the inn apparently has been around as long as the establishment has, even though Prohibition was in place when Smitty's opened. Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain said he grew up three doors down from the bar and knew Smitty's grandchildren. As a child, Kaptain would go with his father to Smitty's Tavern to have a soda. Advertisement "When I started working at the (Fox River Water Reclamation District) in the early 1970s, that's where we stopped to cash our paychecks," Kaptain said. Kaptain recalled Smitty as being a gruff guy and a character who ran the bar well into the 1980s. Sharing one of his own stories, Kaptain said one Christmas season when he and friends were at the bar, Kaptain asked Smitty, since they all were regulars, if Smitty would buy them a round for the holidays. "He looked at me and said, 'See that guy over there? That's Brownie. He's been coming here since 1933, and I've never bought him a drink. So why would I buy you all a drink?'" Kaptain remembered that with quite a few blue collar businesses close by, Smitty's had a big lunch crowd but business owners took to not giving employees paychecks until after 4 p.m. for concern that workers would not come back after their noon meal. Maple heard similar tales from the late Gene Booker, who owned Booker's in South Elgin at the time he died. Advertisement "Booker told me he found receipts in the basement from checks that had been cashed," Maple said. "And Booker said Smitty told him that he carried a shotgun with him and a bowling bag full of money when he'd go home." Booker bought Smitty' bar in 1985 and ran it as South Side Annie's until 1999 when Sharon and Mike Poole bought it and renamed it the Olde Towne Inn. Maple bought it from Sharon Poole almost two years ago. Maple said rehab work has included taking out old carpeting filled with bar spills and smells, putting in new windows to replace ones that had frost on them in winter, redoing the kitchen, and converting a storage space into a patio. That's past bringing the structure up to code, particularly the electricity. Another big challenge has been city construction projects along Bluff City Boulevard which have meant water occasionally having to be turned off and driveways occasionally being blocked. Maple said she's also been building a clientele of old and new patrons making her place "a community bar where women feel comfortable." She offered a video of karaoke night with a diverse crowd singing along to Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" as example of what she meant. Daytime bartender Emma Bruderle said the Inn is "a friendly little place where people treat you like family." Customer Jessenia Gutierrez agreed. Advertisement "It's a good bar. It's really small, but everybody there is really friendly. The bartenders do their best to help everybody," she said. Brian Boun said he at first thought the Inn would be an intimidating place for a newcomer, but "I'm happy to see the Inn turn 90. I'm only 29, and already it's one of my favorite places to go to have a drink and just talk to people." Mike Burns whose family owns the four Emmett's Brewing Co. locations in the suburbs enjoyed a recent visit to the new Olde Towne Inn. "I liked it. I like old joints with some history," Burns said. "I'm looking forward to another visit good people and good libations." Downtown Neighborhood Association treasurer Karin Jones said she and her husband, Gentry, went to the Inn's Friday fish fry a few weeks ago and found the food to be excellent. Maple said the recipe used for the fish came from Smitty. Smitty's recipe for barbecue chicken will be served Saturday from noon until 3 p.m. along with 10-ounce beers priced at 64 cents which Maple claimed her research showed with the price in 1933. Advertisement mdanahey@tribpub.com No winners in nuclear war: The fear of nuclear war with Russia is a long shot. They like to bully little countries. They backed down over Cuba and in Afghanistan. The only war where they came out on top was due to fate when Germany overextended itself. Total nuclear war is a death threat with everyone involved. There would be no winners. Vexed about Trump tax returns: I noticed on the news that people were protesting in Chicago and around the United States about President Trump not posting his tax returns. Why don't these people post their tax returns in the newspaper? What's the difference? It's a piece of paper. Get a life. It irritates me that these people are so hung up on the fact that Hillary Clinton lost the election. Trump is the president for the next three and a half years. Advertisement Leery about legalizing marijuana: I'm calling about marijuana usage. I can't believe they want to legalize it when studies have shown it causes brain problems. I have two grandchildren whose parents were druggies. One child has attention deficit disorder, and the other has severe depression. Marijuana causes depression and causes you to overeat. What is this country coming to? Something must happen. Puzzled by protests: Protesting costs taxpayers' money. From what I've seen, all the protesters are too young to be paying taxes. Why is it so important to know what someone is paying in taxes when it has absolutely nothing to do with how the country is run? Advertisement Taxing question: I would like to see copies of last year's income tax returns for the newly elected Elgin trustees. People are pushing for President Trump's income tax returns, so let's get a clean slate and see what their tax returns look like this year and next year. They should have nothing to hide. Back off about tax returns: To all liberals and some Republicans, President Trump is not obligated to show his tax returns. If Congress wants to make it mandatory, they should. This is all meant to hurt Trump and his forthcoming tax reform. The election is over. Trump won. Get used to it. Living shrines: What's with the local government naming buildings for folks while they are still alive? These famous public servants already have a fabulous pension, outstanding health care and yearly raises paid for by taxpayers. With all these nice benefits, do they still need their names on buildings? We don't need people in government congratulating themselves and creating living shrines. Find cure for cancer: Thirty years ago, the AIDS virus threatened to exterminate the sexually active gay community. No matter what their status was, they were all condemned. The medical society worked frantically to find an antidote to control this virus. If research could stop the impending death threat of AIDS, why can't they stop cancer? Could money and medical profit be the reason? Deport drug dealers: Watching the news tonight, I saw an Army man who spent two tours of duty in Afghanistan. He was discharged from the Army and later caught selling cocaine. He was given a 15-year prison sentence that was cut in half. He is on parole now, and the government wants to deport him. People are asking the governor to pardon him. Excuse me, but there are a lot of guys in jail who committed the same crime. They did their time. Let's deport the man because we don't need drug dealers in Illinois. Traveling Trump: Isn't it ironic that President Trump preaches to buy American, but if you go to his hotels, it looks like nothing was made in America. Bedsheets, robes, you name it. The hotels are built with Russian and Chinese steel. I don't get it. When former President Obama took a vacation, Trump was the main one talking against it and raising havoc about it. Yet Trump has already spent twice the amount going to Mar-a-Lago that Obama spent in a year. If Trump stays at this pace, he will have spent more money in one year going on vacation than Obama spent in eight years. I rest my case. Comparing marijuana to alcohol: I want to comment on the caller who said that pot kills brain cells. The caller is right. That is a downside of smoking pot. However, if you stop smoking pot, your brain cells will redevelop. Alcohol is a lot worse than pot. Most people smoke pot to mellow out. Alcohol kills in many ways, and you don't hear it scrutinized the way it should be. When people drink alcohol, they get crazy. People who drink and drive kill entire families. Alcohol messes with every major organ in your body. Editor's note Advertisement Speak Out is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you see something you disagree with or think is incorrect, call us at 312-222-2460 or email couriernews@tribpub.com. Please include "speak out" in the subject line. Evanston Township High School seniors Vernice Richardson, left and Destinee Adams try on prom dresses Tuesday, April 25, 2017 in Evanston at the Woman's Club of Evanston clubhouse-turned "Dreams Delivered Boutique." (Libby Elliott / Pioneer Press) When two Evanston Township High School graduating seniors walked into the Woman's Club of Evanston's clubhouse-turned "Dreams Delivered Prom Boutique" Tuesday they were awed by the multitude of racks and rows of flowing formal gowns, any one of them theirs for the taking. Vernice Richardson and Destinee Adams were two of many ETHS girls who stopped by the "boutique" to pick out a dress, shoes and accessories all free of charge to attend prom next month. Advertisement They heard about the dress giveaway at school, the girls said. "They made an announcement about the prom boutique in our school's senior assembly, so I thought I'd come check it out," said Richardson, who tried on outfits with Adams. Advertisement The girls, who are friends, attended together "to make the experience more fun," Richardson said. WCE and its supporters collected enough formal dresses over the past several weeks to help ensure that dozens of girls at Evanston Township High School have a chance to be the belle of the May 27 senior prom. "Think about all the challenges facing young girls today," said Woman's Club of Evanston president, Chava Wu. "When a community comes together to support this generation of teens, we're giving them so much more than just a dress." With the cost of the prom ticket, dress, shoes, jewelry, makeup and getting hair and makeup done, girls' families often shell out hundreds of dollars to participate in prom, one of the milestone events of the high school years. WCE members acknowledge that the costs can be prohibitively expensive and stressful for already-tapped out families. However, the Dreams Delivered event is not about income-levels or socio-economic status, WCE leaders said. For the most part, they said, any girl who made an appointment through the school to get a dress was able to participate in the giveaway. Kim Stanton, a WCE member and chairwoman of this year's Dreams Delivered effort, said that from Sunday to Tuesday, girls who had made an appointment were able to browse the boutique with a volunteer personal shopper and even with a friend or relative along for support. Stanton said on the first day of the dress distribution, 34 students were outfitted head-to-toe. All of the items dresses, high-heels, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, purses and more were donated. WCE also partners with the charitable arm of the Delta Chi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. for the Dreams Delivered event. With help from the sorority chapter, other club volunteers and ones from local merchants, the donated dresses, accessories and other supplies, get sorted. All of the volunteers help make sure every frock that hits the boutique's racks is age-appropriate and ETHS prom dress code compliant, according to WCE leaders. Advertisement Over the past 11 years, Dreams Delivered has outfitted more than 800 ETHS students with new, or nearly new, formal dresses in a range of sizes and styles, all collected from local residents, organizers said. "This is a place where young women can come in and feel special," said Michelle McClure Lacy, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. and an organizing partner of Dreams Delivered. "I've seen girls come into this boutique, get outfitted, and walk out feeling empowered and beautiful." This year, there were at least 10 local businesses, churches and even a state representative's office that collaborated with WCE and served as a drop-off point for people to make dress donations. Rachel Hershinow, who owns Stella Boutique, a clothing store on Central Street in the north suburb, has offered her store as a collection point for the past five years, she said. She said her regular customers know about the project and often save dresses to donate. "People love repurposing their old dresses, many of which have only been worn once," she said. Advertisement Kenny the Kleaner, a chain of Chicago-based dry cleaning stores, has cleaned gowns free of charge for the Dreams Delivered project since the program started. Owner, Kenny Davis, estimates his store has cleaned as many as 500 dresses over the years for young prom goers. "When they come in to pick up their freshly pressed dresses, they're absolutely beaming," he said. Libby Elliott is a freelancer. (Left to right) Gregory Ignoffo, Gloria Murawska and James Lima take the oath of office from at the Leyden High School District 212 Board of Education meeting on April 27. (Pioneer Press / Pioneer Press) The first meeting of new Leyden High School District 212 Board of Education had familiar faces April 27 as three incumbent board members were sworn in to new terms of office, giving the board plenty of experience as it tackles a busy agenda ahead. Gloria Murawska, Gregory T. Ignoffo, and James A. Lima, who ran unopposed, took the oath of office from Superintendent Nick Polyak after officially acknowledging the results of the April 4 election. Advertisement Murawska collected 4,999 votes, Ignoffo 4,643 and Lima 4,737 votes in the election. Following their installation into office, board members re-elected Ignoffo as board president, Murawska as vice president and Lima as board secretary. Board member Lisa Anthony was nominated to serve as the board's delegate to the Illinois Association of School Boards. Advertisement Right after their installation, the board plunged into considering bids for construction projects. Officials have undertaken first steps in what has been termed the largest construction and renovation project in the history of the district, with major additions planned for both East and West Leyden high schools. Keeping the board intact has become "really helpful," said Ignoffo. For instance on construction, "this is something we've been looking at a long time," dating to 2007, he said about the group's experience. He said the long service together doesn't detract from people expressing their views. "This is what I love about this board seven people here, we could have 11 opinions when we start from just the seven people and we work it out," he said. The company that holds the largest contract on the 2.4 million-acre Four Forest Restoration Initiative is moving forward with a commercial composting operation that will help use up the massive amounts of woody biomass produced from its tree thinning work. The move comes nearly two years after contractor Good Earth Power AZ first took steps to pursue composting tree limbs, needles, tops and small trunks -- collectively called biomass or slash -- by entering into a partnership with Flagstaff-based Roots Composting. After facing zoning ordinance roadblocks on its initial plan to produce commercial compost on a property in Williams, Good Earth received approval from the Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday to start up such an operation on a 40-acre site in Valle, just to the east of Highway 64. The property, which is surrounded by state trust land and residential areas, had historically been operated as a part of the Black Mesa coal slurry pipeline and is partially occupied by an APS substation. Kevin Ordean, co-founder of Roots Composting and now the director of soils at Good Earth, said chipped biomass from the forest provides the carbon component of successful compost while organic food waste collected from places like coffee shops, grocery stores and restaurants provides the nitrogen component. The material will be stored in long, large piles, left to cook for about four months, then dried, sent through screens and bagged to be sent off to customers, according to Ordeans permit application. At full capacity, Good Earth estimated the operation will employ 15 people and will see up to 30 truck trips per day. While expressing some concerns about the safety risks posed by large trucks turning into and out of the property from Highway 64, planning and zoning commissioners all expressed support for furthering forest restoration in the region. They approved Good Earths two-year temporary use permit on a 5 to 3 vote. BIOMASS BOTTLENECK Many of those involved with 4FRI agree that biomass is a major bottleneck for make progress on the restoration project. Without finding a way to add value to the woody matter, it remains a costly byproduct of forest thinning that makes the endeavor much less economic for private logging companies to pursue. Good Earth looks at the composting project as only one of several strategies it is pursuing to process woody biomass from the forest, said Adam Cooley, director of manufacturing and sales with the company. The companys contract with the Forest Service requires it to remove the biomass created from thinning acres. And for every ton of saw logs Good Earth cuts and harvests, it produces more than a ton of biomass, according to a 2016 presentation by Good Earths Jason Rosamond. On Wednesday, Cooley said Good Earth has solutions to process all of the biomass produced from its thinning operations that he is not at liberty to disclose at this time. We do have avenues to move all of the slash, all of the biomass in the plans, Cooley said. Do we have infrastructure in place at moment to do it? No. But we have to put it in and we have the funding behind us to do that now. A NEW PAGE? Several citizens who spoke at Wednesday nights planning and zoning hearing mentioned Good Earths troubled track record as reason for the commission to take a hard look at the companys temporary use application. Since it received the 300,000-acre 4FRI Phase 1 contract in September 2013, Good Earth has thinned a total of 8,332 acres. That is far less than the 45,000 acres-per-year rate the company had originally told the Forest Service it would reach by 2017. Good Earth has faced at least two lawsuits from former consultants and contractors over the past two years. The bigger lawsuit was lodged by its former timber manager, Campbell Global, that alleged Good Earth had breached the companies contract and racked up $3 million in unpaid fees. Under a settlement reached late last year, Good Earth agreed to pay Campbell Global about $1.3 million. Good Earth also was investigated twice by the Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division and ordered to pay $44,000 in back wages after one of its subcontractors failed to pay the correct prevailing wage and fringe benefits to nine workers. It was fined another $9,000 by the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health last year for an incident where a mill worker got his arm caught and nearly ripped off in a running machine. Cooley acknowledged that the company has had its difficulties, but he said things are looking up. Starting in November, the company received additional investors and brought on additional management as well as individuals with experience in the timber industry in the Northwest, Cooley said. The company has molded how we approach business and how we approach this contract, he said. On the east side of 4FRI, the company has shut down and is doing extensive upgrades to its Lumberjack sawmill in Heber. Once those upgrades happen, Cooley anticipates the mill will ramp up to a minimum run rate of 100,000 board feet per shift, which represents three to four times what the mill was doing before it was shut down for upgrades. Eventually the mill will go to two shifts, he said. Good Earths plans also include building a sawmill to cut small-diameter trees that will be located on the west side of the 4FRI project, which encompasses the area around Flagstaff and Williams, Cooley said. With new infrastructure, Good Earth is accelerating operations to get to the point of being able to harvest and process 30,000 acres per year by the first part of 2018, he said. The Glencoe Village Board has agreed to a new four-year contract with the union that represents the village's rank-and-file public safety officers. At the April 20 village board meeting, as part of the consent agenda, trustees voted to accept the new contract with the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, which represents the 26 members of the Glencoe Public Safety Department who are not part of the department's administration. Advertisement According to the new contract, officers will receive pay increases of 2.5 percent each year, except for fiscal year 2019, when the increase will be 2.75 percent. It said employee health insurance contributions will rise from 11.6 percent to 13 percent in the first two years of the contract to 15 percent in the last two years. The new contract runs retroactive from March 1, 2017, through February 28, 2021, it said. Advertisement Village Manager Phil Kiraly said after the meeting that negotiations started in December and concluded in March. Ryan Harrison, president of the local FOP branch, said members voted unanimously on March 27 to accept the deal. Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelancer for Pioneer Press. The celebrated novelist Ray Bradbury once wrote that he "was amused and somewhat astonished" when a critic analyzing his work wondered "how I could have been born and raised in Waukegan and not noticed how ugly the harbor was and how depressing the coal docks and railyards down below the town." Bradbury, writing in "Just This Side of Byzantium," an introduction he composed for his novel "Dandelion Wine," answered with this: "But, of course, I had noticed them and, genetic enchanter that I was, was fascinated by their beauty. And again, that supposedly ugly railyard was where carnivals and circuses arrived with elephants who washed the brick pavements with mighty steaming acid waters at five in the dark morning." Advertisement Though Bradbury, who died at 91 in 2012, moved to the Los Angeles area as a teenager, he always kept Waukegan close to his heart, fictionalizing the city as "Green Town" in "Dandelion Wine" and other works. And he kept libraries close to his heart, as well, often noting how he spent his formative years visiting Waukegan's old Carnegie Library and raising money to support library causes into old age. To commemorate Bradbury's legacy and contributions to Waukegan and literature, a local committee is hoping to raise $125,000 to fund a statue of the "Fahrenheit 451" author, book in hand and aboard a rocket ship, to be placed outside the Waukegan Public Library. The statue committee launched a website (www.raybradburystatue.org) dedicated to the effort last month and announced earlier this month that people who donate at least $150 will receive a book from Bradbury's personal collection, which he left to the library when he died. Advertisement "He was a voracious reader, and there are a lot of books," said Amanda Civitello, the library's marketing and communications manager. A prototype of the Ray Bradbury statue for which a Waukegan committee is trying to raise funds. (Luke Hammill / Lake County News-Sun) Richard Lee, executive director of the library and chair of the Ray Bradbury Statue Committee, said $13,000 has been raised so far, along with a promise for $20,000 more. "I hoped that we would be dedicating it this summer," Lee said. "But that's not going to happen. So maybe next summer." Donors who give at least $500 will be permanently recognized on or near the statue, Lee and Civitello said. The committee chose Maryland sculptor Zachary Oxman to complete the statue, which would measure 12 feet tall and be made of two to four tons of stainless steel, Lee said. Members decided on Oxman who has done work for United States presidents, according to the committee's website after issuing a request for qualifications, narrowing the responses down to three artists and then issuing a request for proposals to those three artists. Civitello said Oxman's design stood out because it paid homage to Bradbury's imagination. The rocket ship nods to the author's fixation on science fiction, and the book signifies Bradbury's love for literature. People who donate at least $150 to the effort to bring a Ray Bradbury statue to the Waukegan Public Library will receive a book from the author's personal collection, with a seal similar to the one in this photo showing it is authentic. (Luke Hammill / Lake County News-Sun) "We wanted to capture his creativity," Civitello said. Work wouldn't begin on the statue unless the committee raises the total $125,000, Lee said. Advertisement Lee added that he wants young children to one day walk by the statue on their way into the library and be reminded that a famous writer grew up in Waukegan. "Who's the next writer from Waukegan?" Lee said. "Anybody can be inspired." Rendition of the 12-foot-tall statue of Ray Bradbury to be built by Zachary Oxman and erected in front of the Waukegan Library (Ray Bradbury Statue Committee) lhammill@tribpub.com Twitter @lucashammill The fresh fish market at Francos Pescheria, 471 S. Rand Road, is temporarily closed while workers build a 50-seat cafe that will serve food and alcohol. (John P. Kelly / HANDOUT) Two new restaurants are scheduled to open in Lake Zurich in the coming months, while village officials recently said goodbye to two other well-known restaurants. Lake Zurich Village Board members voted unanimously April 17 to award liquor licenses to the two new eateries coming to town Zin at 583 N. Rand Road and a cafe run by Franco's Pescheria at 471 S. Rand Road. Advertisement But members also agreed to eliminate the liquor licenses of Hackney's, a longtime local favorite at 880 N. Old Rand Road, and El Jardin, 500 Ela Road, a popular chain restaurant based in Chicago, who both have officially closed their doors in Lake Zurich. Sarosh Saher, community development director for Lake Zurich, said many residents likely will miss Hackney's and El Jardin. Advertisement "Hackney's was an institution in Lake Zurich, and a number of long-term residents have a sentimental attachment to the restaurant from memories of having eaten there or having attended an event there," Saher said. "El Jardin was open for about two-and-a-half years, and provided a unique cuisine and setting for a restaurant in the community." Representatives of Hackney's and El Jardin could not be reached for comment. Telephone service at both businesses has been shut off. Lake Zurich officials also are grateful that Franco's Pescheria chose to remain in the community by moving to its new location in Village Square Shopping Center, Saher said. Zin is actually moving into Franco's former space at Lake Zurich Shoppes, he said. The new cafe at Franco's Pescheria plans to include outdoor seating and an interior bar for customers. The business formally was Diamond Fresh Seafood, which closed recently after operating in Lake Zurich since 2000, said Franco Radogna, owner of Franco's Pescheria. He took over operations of the fresh fish market by Diamond Fresh, dubbed it Franco's and is now adding the cafe, he said. The previous owners of Diamond Fresh also attempted to open a cafe but they closed it after realizing they needed a liquor license, Radogna said. "We have the freshest fish from within 40 to 50 miles," Radogna said. "There's no place else you get such fresh fish today." Franco's keeps fish on display no longer than three days, and the average "turn time," or purchase from the case, is a little less than two days, he said. Advertisement But the fresh fish market now is temporarily closed until workers finish building the 50-seat cafe, which will be considerably larger than the previous 22-seat cafe, Radogna said. "We're in the middle of the transition," he said. "We're hoping to open by the second or third week of May." The cafe will cook and serve any food sold in the fish market, Radogna said. "Now, we're taking it to the next level," he said. "We're going to add bread, produce, pizzas, pastas, sauces and expand the prepared food side." The business has hired chef Sam Netter, who formerly worked as a chef at Real Urban Barbecue and Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue restaurants and other locations, Radogna said. Franco's also plans to employ about five to six people during daytime hours and seven to nine people at night, he said. Advertisement The other new eatery coming to Lake Zurich, Zin, is scheduled to open in June. The restaurant will be a gastropub, using a "farm-to-table concept" and offering prepared meals along with alcohol service, said co-owner Bob Kryscha. The new business is planning to partner with Copper Fiddle Distillery, of Lake Zurich, and other suppliers in downstate Illinois and throughout the Midwest, he said. The idea is to work with area farms and producers to deliver customers fresh-tasting food and alcohol, Kryscha said. "The whole concept is to try to make 80 percent of the menu fresh," he said. Zin recently hired chef Steve Geren, who has 25 years of experience and shares in the restaurant's concept, Kryscha said. With the new restaurant set to seat 38 people, Zin will look to employ around 12 workers, he said. Despite the loss of Hackney's and El Jardin, business in Lake Zurich still is growing, according to Saher. Advertisement "Staff has also seen a healthy amount of activity through issuance of occupancies and build-out permits for businesses in the community," he said. In the first quarter of 2017, the village experienced a 10 percent increase in certificates of commercial occupancy and a 30 percent increase in commercial build-out permits compared to the same quarter last year, Saher said. Phil Rockrohr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. Sheree Ann Shaw pleaded guilty in McHenry County court to two counts of aggravated driving under the influence. (McHenry Police Department) A Wisconsin woman pleaded guilty Friday to driving under the influence of heroin during a fatal crash that killed a Woodstock woman and seriously injured her husband while they were riding on their motorcycle last year. Sheree Ann Shaw, 46, of Twin Lakes, who pleaded guilty in McHenry County court to two counts of aggravated driving under the influence, faces 3 to 26 years in prison when sentenced June 29. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors dropped other charges. Advertisement Mike Thornton, 40, who was driving his Harley-Davidson Rode Glide along Richmond Road in McHenry on the afternoon of May 6 with his wife, Amy, as his passenger, sat in the front row of the courtroom weeping quietly as Shaw entered her plea. The Thorntons, who had been married nearly 20 years and have two sons, had taken the day off work together and spent the afternoon riding the motorcycle and having lunch in Lake Geneva. Advertisement The couple were on their way to visit Mike Thornton's parents in McHenry when their near-perfect afternoon was shattered by Shaw crossing the center lane and striking them. Amy Thornton, 42, never regained consciousness and was taken off life support nine days later, the day after their oldest son graduated high school. Mike Thornton suffered a broken pelvis and shattered elbow. Police said Shaw was driving a Ford Taurus when she crossed the center line and struck the couple. She was charged with driving without a valid license and posted bond and returned home to Wisconsin. After toxicology results showed that Shaw had heroin in her system at the time of the crash, she was arrested in Walworth County and her charges were upgraded. She was released from Walworth County on a $2,500 recognizance bond. But, in the weeks that followed Shaw did not show up to court hearings in Walworth County or McHenry County. Warrants were issued for her arrest and she was later captured by authorities in Las Vegas. She was returned to McHenry County jail July 22 where she has remained. Mike Thornton had said in previous interviews that riding on his motorcycle with his wife, who was a well-known nurse at Centegra Hospital in Woodstock, was a passion they had shared. But outside court Friday he said that he has no plans to ever ride a motorcycle again. Advertisement "I don't want to put my life in someone else's hands again," he said adding that he also does not ever want to be responsible for someone else's life. He said hearing Shaw plead guilty was "awesome." "(We are) closer to it being over her being put away," he said. Mike Thornton today walks with a cane and said he has had six surgeries. He is still not back to work for Black Diamond Plumbing and Mechanical in McHenry. Their older son, Zachary, has since begun college at University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and their younger son, Michael, is about to end his freshman year at Woodstock North High School. Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter. Flagstaff will see another round of gusty winds Friday as a cold front moves through Arizona. Highs in Flagstaff wont get much above 50 degrees through Saturday, and there will be a chance for showers across eastern Arizona. There was even some light snow this morning in far northeastern Arizona near Tsaile and Chilchinbito. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Yavapai County and most of south central Arizona today as winds top 40 mph and temperatures remain near 70 degrees or higher, with low humidity. Winds will die down by Sunday and warmer weather will return by midweek, with highs in the low 70s in Flagstaff. Following is the detailed Weather Service forecast for Flagstaff through midweek: This Afternoon A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Breezy, with a west northwest wind around 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. North wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. North northeast wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 28. North wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Sunday Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind 9 to 11 mph. Sunday Night Clear, with a low around 33. Monday Sunny, with a high near 68. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 70. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 70. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Thursday Sunny, with a high near 73. Thursday noon: High winds will again dominate the weather in the Flagstaff region Thursday and Friday as a cold front moves through northern Arizona. Winds will gust above 30 mph in Flagstaff today and 40 mph farther east, with a chance of showers in far northeastern Arizona. On Friday, a cold front will shift southward through the day and a band of showers and thunderstorms could develop in the White Mountains North of the front, much drier northwest winds will develop, becoming quite strong by later in the afternoon and evening mainly in Yavapai County, where some gusts exceeding 40 mph are possible. High temperatures Friday will be 10-15 degrees cooler than Thursday. A cold northerly flow will continue through the day Saturday, with gusty north to northeast winds. The best chance of showers will be limited to Apache County, with only a slight chance as far west as Flagstaff. Any showers Saturday are expected to end by evening. The Illinois Attorney General's office has asked the Naperville Police Department to explain why it has declined requests to release police reports about a fatal crash involving a Naperville police officer, according to documents provided to the Naperville Sun. Police declined an April 11 Naperville Sun Freedom of Information Act request seeking police records in connection with the crash at Ogden Avenue and Feldott Lane that caused fatal injuries to 73-year-old Phyllis Manderson-Davis. Advertisement The crash occurred April 8 but was not made public by police until April 11. No information other than the time and place of the accident and Manderson-Davis' name, which was incorrect in the news release, were released. The DuPage County Sheriff's Office's Accident Reconstruction Team is handling the investigation. Advertisement The city's response to the Sun's request provided no grounds for the denial beyond the city being "unable to release the requested information at that time." Assistant Attorney General Christopher Boggs sent an electronic letter Thursday to the police records manager requesting a "detailed written explanation" concerning the handling of the request and "the factual and legal bases for the applicability of any exemptions, together with an unredacted copy of the requested records for this office's confidential review." The city has seven business days to respond. Acting Naperville City Attorney Michael DiSanto said the police department approves or denies information requests after conferring with the city's legal department. In this case, the request was "denied on the basis that the investigation is still open and pending," DiSanto said. "Our intention is to maintain the impartiality of DuPage County's investigation until it's complete." The office will prepare a response in the next few days and will await a reply before determining its next step, he said. It is not known when DuPage County will complete its investigation. Sgt. Bob Harris, the sheriff's office spokesman, said last week it remains ongoing. "As soon as it is done there will be a media release," Harris said in an email. "I can't say for sure when that will be." Before landing her decadeslong role as the grandmother in Chicago Tribune Charities' holiday performances of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker," Jane Bockman danced with the Chicago Ballet Guild and Lyric Opera of Chicago Ballet and toured the country as a member of Ruth Page's Chicago Opera Ballet company. As a Ruth Page dancer, the Naperville resident performed on Broadway and on a barge anchored off Navy Pier in a production of "The Merry Widow" during the International Trade Fair in 1960. Advertisement "She was a lyrical dancer, wonderfully expressive and very graceful and petite," said longtime friend Dolores Long, a fellow Ruth Page dancer during the 1950s. "Janey was one of the older dancers, so she'd get the parts requiring a certain amount of maturity, even though she always looked so young." Bockman, 96, who also ran a Hyde Park dance school with her late husband, died April 12 at Community Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Naperville from complications related to a fall she suffered two weeks ago. She spent the last 30 years of her life in Naperville, said son Jeffrey Bockman, also of Naperville. Advertisement "There are generations of Chicagoans that will always remember her as the grandmother in the 'Nutcracker,'" said Long, who with her late husband, Larry, choreographed the long-running ballet. "And she so looked the part. If she wasn't knitting on stage, she was dancing." Born Jane Stevenson in Aurora, Bockman graduated from West Aurora High School in 1938. She worked at the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago, and took an interest in ballet in her 20s after seeing a performance of "The Waltz King." "She immediately took to dancing," Jeffrey Bockman. "She was the kind of person that worked really hard to be the best at it." Bockman started taking lessons, eventually studying at the Hyde Park dance studio of her future husband, Charles Bockman, a dancer whose performance career was cut short after he developed an illness later diagnosed as multiple sclerosis. The couple got off to a rocky start. "It was the usual thing," Bockman told the Tribune in a 1949 story. "We met and fought and he picked my dancing technique apart. My pride was hurt, and then suddenly we were friends." The couple was married in 1948. While her husband ran the studio, Bockman danced with several dance troupes in the Chicago area and toured the country with Ruth Page's Chicago Opera Ballet. At age 41, she injured her knee while dancing with a male counterpart. "She had her leg up against his chest and was doing a back bend, when she heard her knee pop," her son said. "Despite the pain, she kept dancing and finished the performance." Advertisement After the injury, Bockman stayed home to care for her husband, who by then was in a wheelchair. After he became bedridden, she took over teaching and ran the studio herself for the next 12 years, until after he died in 1983. "Jane was a great teacher, enthusiastic and totally nonjudgmental," said her friend Carlynn Ricks, who took lessons from Bockman in the 1970s. "She loved dance so much, she made you love it, too." In 1966, Bockman joined the cast of "Nutcracker," although she initially felt too young to be playing the grandmother in her mid-40s. "It's amazing what a little makeup will do," her son said with a laugh. Bockman continued in that role for 30 years, performing at both the Arie Crown Theater and the Civic Opera House, until the show's final curtain call in 1997. "She never missed a single performance," her son said. Advertisement In her retirement, Bockman was a coordinator for senior trips for the Naperville Park District, Jeffrey Bockman said. After 80, she started working at Devonshire of Lisle "helping old people" for another 10 years, he said. Other survivors include three grandsons and two great-granddaughters. A private gathering will be held. Joan Giangrasse Kates is a freelance reporter. Maine East High School has a spot among Illinois's top public schools in U.S. News and World Report's latest ranking of Best High Schools in the nation. (Jennifer Johnson / Pioneer Press) Maine East High School has a spot among Illinois's top public schools in U.S. News and World Report's latest ranking of "Best High Schools" in the nation. The Park Ridge school, which serves portions of Park Ridge, Niles, Des Plaines, Morton Grove and Glenview, was ranked 37th in the state in the 2017 rankings, which were released April 24. Advertisement "What I'm really pleased about is that people in Park Ridge are starting to reframe their perhaps outdated thinking on Maine East," said Maine Township High School District 207 Superintendent Ken Wallace. "It is a special school, and I'm really proud of them." According to U.S. News and World Report, schools across the country are ranked based on reading and math results on high school proficiency tests; whether "disadvantaged" student groups identified as black, Hispanic and low-income "performed at or better than the state average for the least-advantaged students;" graduation rates; and how the schools prepare students for college-level work using data from Advanced Placement exams. Advertisement According to the rankings, the top five schools in Illinois are selective-enrollment schools in Chicago: Northside College Prep, Payton College Prep, Jones College Prep, Young Magnet High School and Lane Technical High School. Coming in sixth is Stevenson School High School in Lincolnshire, followed by Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale, Lincoln Park High School in Chicago, Prospect High School in Mount Prospect and Brooks College Prep in Chicago. Though Maine East made the "Best Schools" list, District 207's other two high schools, Maine South in Park Ridge and Maine West in Des Plaines, did not. Wallace pointed to "flawed" state PARCC testing, unequal comparisons between schools, and a failure to meet the performance threshold for black, Hispanic and low-income students that kept Maine South and Maine West out of the rankings. Wallace said some schools studied by U.S. News tested students in higher grade levels or different cohorts of students at a particular school, while District 207 gave the PARCC math and language arts tests to freshmen. Participation in tests also differed from school to school, Wallace said. "Participation rates varied significantly between schools, such that the characteristics of students who tested at one school may have been very different than the characterizes of students who tested at another school," a statement from Don Marzolf, director of grants and assessments for District 207, read. "As a consequence of these factors, the Best Schools methodology inappropriately compared schools based on different tests and different student populations. This was especially problematic as not meeting this primary threshold precluded a school from consideration on other indicators, such as graduation rate and Advanced Placement performance." Robert Morse, chief data strategist at U.S. News and World Report, said the publication believes the test score comparisons across schools "are generally reliable" and that test score data shows ninth-grade English (ELA) tests the ones given to District 207 students were "somewhat easier for students to achieve proficiency on." Math assessments, he said, "did not differ substantially in the percent of students achieving proficiency." "To the extent that any comparisons are unfair, in this particular case, Maine South and Maine West would have both been advantaged by the fact that they tested their students in ELA I, the easier ELA assessment," Morse said. "These schools did not pass step one of the U.S. News methodology, meaning that their overall performance was not substantially more than what would be expected, given their proportion of students identified as economically disadvantaged." Advertisement The scores reviewed for the Best Schools ranking were based on test scores from the 2014-15 school year, according the publication. With the PARCC test gone, District 207 school performance will now be based on SAT results, putting it on more equal footing with other schools in the country, Wallace indicated. "Once we're using the SAT, it will be apples to apples," he said. Morse said SAT results were not used in the U.S. News analysis. Wallace pointed out that other typically high-performing schools, like Barrington High School, Deerfield School and Highland Park High School, were also left out of the Best Schools ranking. "The metrics that matter the most is really the CRI [College Readiness Index]," he said. "Our schools are double what it would take to get on the [Best Schools] list." Advertisement According to the rankings, Maine East has a college readiness index of 40.3, Maine South's is 44.6 and Maine West's is 34.5. The three top suburban schools in the state Stevenson, Hinsdale Central and Prospect had CRIs of 71.6, 62.8, and 61.5, respectively. U.S. News calculated CRIs "based on AP exam participation rates and percentages of students passing at least one AP exam," according to the publication. The AP test participation rate at Maine East was 47 percent, with an 80 percent passing rate, according to U.S. News' data. At Maine South, the participation rate was 49 percent with an 87 percent passing rate, and at Maine West the participate rate was 41 percent with an 80 percent passing rate. As for graduation rates, Maine South has the highest in District 207, with 91 percent of students graduating, followed by Maine West with 86 percent and Maine East with 83 percent. Wallace noted that Maine East's college completion rate is especially high, despite having the district's highest number of low income and minority students. Advertisement "Their low-income students are at or above the college completion rate of non-low-income students," he added. "It speaks again to the compelling work that the staff and leadership team at Maine East are doing." According to U.S. News data, 59 percent of Maine East students are classified as minorities, and 46 percent of students are economically disadvantaged. At Maine West, minority enrollment is 52 percent and 39 percent of students are economically disadvantaged, the data shows. At Maine South, just 16 percent of students are minorities and the economically disadvantaged rate is 7 percent. A full list of the Best Schools rankings and data on individual schools can be found at www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/rankings-overview. jjohnson@pioneerlocal.com Twitter: @Jen_Tribune John Knights comic touch has made it to television on Showtime and Comedy Central. He headlines a May 5 comedy show at Villa Cesare in Schererville. (Photo courtesy of John Knight) Sometimes it's the little things that can make a difference in the tricky world of stand-up comedy. John Knight said he did some research on his craft when he was young. Advertisement "I would read everything about comedy," said Knight, a professional comic who has snared television exposure on the Comedy Central, Showtime and A&E networks. Knight read a George Burns book, taking away a valuable nugget of advice from the venerable icon of humor. Advertisement "He said never talk while they're still laughing," Knight said. "I kind of developed my timing from that." Having plied his comedic craft for 35 years, Knight will display his seasoned expertise when he gives a headlining performance at a May 5 comedy show at Villa Cesare in Schererville. Knight's onstage style encompasses topical and observational humor. "It's a mixture of the two," the Pittsburgh-area resident said. Regarding influences, Knight points to an edgy comedian who deftly gave his bristling -- yet articulate -- take on the world before dying in 2008. "My style's not similar, but I was a big fan of George Carlin," Knight said. "When I first saw George Carlin, I said that's what I want to do." Knight said he was just a youth when he caught Carlin live. Much later on, Knight and Carlin crossed paths at a comedy club. Advertisement "I actually got to meet him," said Knight, pointing to the encounter that occurred at Zanies in Chicago. "He was at my show one night," Knight recalled. "It was a Thursday night in the summer, and there was, like, 12 people -- two of them were George Carlin and his girlfriend. He came up after the show. He said, 'Hey John, we tried to move around all the seats to make it look full for you.'" Knight brings his colorful background to the Cinco de Mayo bash, which is being produced by Schererville resident Nick Gaza, who has been a headline stand-up comic at the Tropicana Casino Hotel Resort in Las Vegas. Gaza will serve as emcee for Schererville's night of comedy, which he says is aimed at those 18 and older. The show, which begins at 8 p.m., includes a taco bar that kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Also available will be a cash bar with margarita specials. Additionally, feature act Bill Gorgo, a veteran of onstage comedy, will perform. Advertisement "I've been in this for 32 years now," said Gorgo, noting he's served up laughs in more than 30 states. Regarding his comedic style, Gorgo labels it "adult without being crude." Gorgo said his many years as a comedian have taught him that emotions and images need to be conveyed to those in the audience. "We're trying to share emotions and pictures with them," said Gorgo, a resident of Des Plaines, Ill., who was born and raised in Chicago. "I love a good joke," Gorgo assured. In that vein, he appreciates the job Rodney Dangerfield did as far as stringing together quality, laughable lines. He calls Dangerfield a "great editor" of stand-up material. Advertisement Gorgo also admires the time-tested comedy of Knight, who does podcasts. "John is one of the funniest comics I ever worked with," Gorgo said. Knight's avenues of laughter include online writing. "I write a column every week called 'What Aggravates Me,'" Knight said. Found at www.yajagoff.com, the column appears in an online forum that has amassed an audience for Knight's musings on relatable topics that include the lawn-related dilemma of cutting the grass. "We're the number one blog site in the Pittsburgh area," the funnyman said. Advertisement Bob Kostanczuk is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Cinco de Mayo Comedy Show Where: Villa Cesare, 900 Eagle Ridge Drive, Schererville When: May 5; taco bar 6:30 p.m., show 8 p.m. Tickets: $35, includes taco bar and show Information: 219-322-3011, www.eventbrite.com Joshua J. Volkers (left to right), Rudy Galvan, Tamarus Harvell, Raphael Diaz, Jon Beal, Matthew Garry, Juwan Lockett and Luke Daigle play inmates protesting the quality of food while serving their prison time in Raven Theatre's new run of Tennessee Williams' play "Not About Nightingales." (Dean La Prairie / Post-Tribune) During my 12 years in prison, teaching as a college adjunct professor for the Purdue college program at Westville Correctional Center and also Michigan City Prison, I learned as much from my captive audience as they learned from me. After 26 years, the State of Indiana pulled the plug of the program's funding in 2012. But I still recall what life was like for the inmates behind the walls and coils of barbed wire. Advertisement The offenders incarcerated always ranked food served in prison as their top priority complaint. This is a behind bars subject which has remained the same for decades. Advertisement Playwright Tennessee Williams wrote his play "Not About Nightingales" in response to the real-life news headlines of 1938, when four inmates died after being punished because of a hunger strike started to protest the poor standards for the food served at a Philadelphia prison. Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St. in Chicago, just opened a new production of Williams' play with a long run through June 4 and added programming events to shed light on what problems plague today's prison systems, and especially the facilities in Indiana and Illinois. The current state of criminal justice and incarceration will be discussed following two performances of "Not About Nightingales," including at the 3 p.m. Sunday matinee with guest speakers from the Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform; Dr. David Olson, Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology Department at Loyola University Chicago; and Pamela Rodriguez, President of Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, a statewide provider of prison diversion and community reentry services. A second discussion will follow the 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18 performance, with Jennifer Vollen-Katz, executive director of The John Howard Association of Illinois, which monitors the conditions and programming in all Illinois correctional facilities, as well as helping to create and implement operational and policy reform system wide. Both talks are open to the public and there is no charge for those who would like to attend the talks only, which will begin at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, and 10 p.m. on May 18. Reservations are not necessary for the talks only. Regular ticket prices apply to the performances. Williams' "Nightingales" play isn't often produced and was deemed too controversial at the time because critics said the play "humanized prisoners." It was finally resurrected 1998 by the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain and Redgrave Moving Theatre in London before moving to the Alley Theatre in Houston later that year. In 1999, it received its Broadway debut at the Circle in the Square Theatre, where it received six Tony nominations, including Best Play, Best Actor, Best Director, and winning for Best Scenic Design. This new play run in Chicago is masterfully directed by Michael Menendian, who has found an ideal cast to bring to the life the results of the deceptive actions of the tyrannical prison warden Boss Whalen, played by Chuck Spencer, and his inhumane treatment of the inmates who land in his island prison. The prison population's leader Butch, a great turn by actor Joshua J. Volkers, rallies the inmates of Hall C to fight back about the poor nutrition of the meal menus by waging the hunger strike. When it garners media attention, the warden responds with torture. It's up to Whalen's inmate assistant Jim, played by Brandon Greenhouse and the warden's new secretary Eva, played by Sophia Menendian, to struggle with exposing the details of the strike. Some of the most moving performances come from the actors cast as the lot of inmates who must endure the daily challenges of prison life, including Luke Daigle as Queen, Raphael Diaz as Mex, Rudy Galvan as Joe and Matthew Garry as Swifty. Jon Beal shows his mean streak as Schultz, the prison guard. Ray Toler has designed an amazing multi-level set, which made me feel like I was right back in prison, and it's paired with the impressive lighting by Diane D. Fairchild and the props by John Buranosky the latter which includes the traditional tin plates and cups used in the prison dining hall. Running at two and half hours, "Not About Nightingales" is an important work with a message connected to every taxpayer, since according to the latest Indiana of Department of Corrections report, it costs an average of $40,000 per year per inmate to feed, clothe, house and provide for those incarcerated. Tickets for "Not About Nightingales" start at $38 for seniors and teachers and $21 for students, veterans and active military, with regular tickets prices at $43. FYI: 773-338-2177 or www.raventheatre.com During my own prison teaching years, the prison food I experienced in the main dining hall wasn't so great. However, in the prison school building where I taught, there was also a culinary arts program as one of the vocational course offerings and inmates enrolled, created delicious recipes which would be served to the faculty at a grand dinner every semester in the fall and spring, treated as an honors luncheon for the student inmates with high grades. Advertisement Today's recipe is for the potato soup served at the 2012 spring honors luncheon, which was the final one of these events I attended. Many prison soup recipes have been featured in my three published cookbooks and always rank as popular with readers, including such appetizing selections from "the big house" like cream of broccoli soup, French onion soup and cream of celery soups. The following simple potato soup recipe was prepared by my instructor colleague Ron Edwards and his culinary arts class as part of one of his delicious private dining event menus. The soup recipe was originally created by then 29-year-old Jeremy Luter, No. 196113, of Merrillville, while he was serving four years for aggravated battery. Columnist Philip Potempa has published three cookbooks and is the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. Mail your questions: From the Farm, PO Box 68, San Pierre, Ind. 46374. pmpotempa@comhs.org Crime-Free Cream of Potato Soup Makes 6 servings. Advertisement 2 cups diced and cooked potatoes 2 tablespoons margarine 1/4 cup chopped onion 1/4 cup flour 1 tablespoon chicken base (a paste used instead of bouillon cubes) Black pepper to taste Advertisement 3/4 cup water 3 3/4 cup heated milk 1/4 cup chopped celery 2 carrots chopped (optional) 1. In soup pot or large saucepan, saute onions in margarine until tender. 2. Add flour, chicken base and pepper and cook a few minutes until seasonings and flour start to dissolve and then add water and stir until mixture thickens. Advertisement 3. Add potatoes, celery and carrots and cook until tender. (Vegetables can be pre-cooked to reduce cooking time for soup.) 4. Add the heated milk and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally and adjusting seasonings and thickening as needed. 5. Serve soup with a crust of bread. Northwest Indiana government officials learned Friday that the Indiana Supreme Court decided not to hear a big box store's tax appeals case in Howard County, striking a financial blow to cities and towns here with a large number of stores like Wal-Mart, Meijer's and Lowe's. "This is not over. This is not fair. This is going to destroy local governments," Marilyn Meighen, general counsel for the Nexus Group, told members of the 16-Plus group of local government leaders at its regular meeting. Advertisement Meighen said the court's decision, which came Thursday, was split, 3-2. The Nexus Group is a Zionsville, Ind., based research firm that specializes in property taxation issues. It has been working with Lake County government and its communities on the big box appeals issue. Advertisement Large stores have been appealing their tax assessments for the past 10-12 years, arguing that they should be assessed according to the value of a vacant big box store located nearby. Community leaders argue that they should continue to be assessed according to how much value the property is worth to its current user. Before becoming the first case to reach the Supreme Court, Kohl's had won its appeal on a lower court level. The decision by the Supreme Court not to review it means the lower court's decision stands. As a result, the community in Howard County where the Kohl's is located will have to assess the store at about half of what it had been assessed at, causing local government to lose money in the future. It also will have to pay Kohl's the difference in the amount the retailer would have paid under the appealed amount over the number of years appealed. Meighen said there are several local appeals coming up through the process, which begins with the local Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals, then moves to Indiana Board of Tax Review, followed by the Indiana Tax Court, and finally to the Indiana Supreme Court. Lake County Council attorney John Dull had previously told the 16-plus group the county was committed to fighting the appeals all the way to the Indiana Supreme Court. He had said there were 30 appeals filed throughout the county. Many of those appeals were filed by stores located in tax increment financing districts. Nexus Group president Frank Kelly said communities are sliding down a slippery slope with the appeals. "We start with big boxes, then other stores. Why not my house as well," he said. He said local governments rely on those taxes for the operation of their towns. Advertisement "We have out-of-state entities that own the big boxes pushing the tax burden elsewhere," he said. Hobart Councilman Dave Vinzant, D-4th, asked about laws passed by the state Legislature a couple of years ago with the intent of helping communities as they grapple with the appeals. One piece of legislation called for market segmentation, meaning that the appeals would have to be based on similar big box buildings in the same kind of market. Another allowed communities to pay any retailer the amount owed for past years over a 5-year period, provided it is more than a certain amount and it is approved by the auditor in that county. Meighen said both bills were more of an attempt at arbitration by the state. "It's intent was to get everyone in a room and work it out," Meighen said of the market segmentation portion. Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. A puzzle is one of many things offered by Lisa Timmerman to the children she cares for. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) After having twins at the age of 24, Lisa Timmerman discovered the cost of day care for them and her 8-year-old son made it nearly impossible to live a comfortable life. "I was a single mom and I wasn't able to see my kids and play with them," Timmerman said. "So one day, I thought to myself, 'I could do what their child care provider is doing.'" Advertisement That was 14 years ago. She watched children and eventually started Lisa's Home Day Care in Portage. Now, Timmerman and other child care providers across Northwest Indiana are keeping a close eye on developments in the wake of police discovering loaded firearms, liquor and other weapons inside a home day care in Merrillville earlier this month. Advertisement State inspectors got involved and the Merrillville Town Council may tighten regulations on child care operations. "We need to do this for the safety of the kids," Police Chief Joseph Petruch said at a recent meeting. "This is one of the worst things to happen in this town." Under a microscope Merrillville police were dispatched to Tawana Cole's home day care at 1730 W. 53rd Ave. on April 11 after being called by the Indiana Department of Child Services to assist in an unannounced walk-through. When no one answered the door, an officer opened and climbed through a window, allowing other officers and DCS agents to enter, according to a probable cause affidavit. They heard children's voices inside one of the bedrooms, and found two women and 15 children huddled together. One child held a stack of napkins to his head to cover a wound, the affidavit said. Police also discovered four loaded guns, several open and partially empty bottles of liquor, and an assortment of swords and daggers, according to the affidavit. Cole, 44, and the two women in the home were charged with one count of neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, 12 counts of neglect of a dependent and 13 counts of criminal confinement. Inspection records of Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), a state agency that inspects and regulates day cares, reveal that Cole's day care received 57 violations since 2014, including seven violations during her most recent inspection on March 27. Advertisement "I can tell you that based upon our inspection on the 27th of March, we didn't find anything that was worthy of an emergency closure at that point because it had a lot to do with paperwork," said Marni Lemons, FSSA's deputy director of communications. Cole's day care license expired March 31. In 2014, Cole's license was revoked after she was cited for 17 violations during one inspection that included missing paperwork for children, a leaking roof, failing to have background checks for employees and proof of completing child abuse detection training. She previously had licenses revoked at two other homes in Gary and Merrillville, according to FSSA officials. "There was quite an effort made for us to revoke the license," Lemons said of the 2014 action. "When we do revoke a license, Indiana state law allows the license holder to appeal the revocation and they are allowed to remain open during the time they are appealing." Ultimately, Cole reached a settlement agreement with FSSA and she was allowed to continue running her day care, Lemons said. "This is often what happens," she said. "They agree to fix the issues and we allow them to remain open and then we continue following up to ensure they met that agreement." Advertisement As the licensing agency, Lemons said FSSA is not intent on closing child care facilities. "It's important to understand that our goals and objectives are not to shut down child care. Our goals and objectives are to make sure there is plenty of safe child care available for all the people who need it, because that's one of the greatest barriers for parents to get a job. So we're working to make sure they are safe and that they're operating." Merrillville Town Council President Richard Hardaway said he would like to have a proposed ordinance tightening day care regulations by the next council meeting. It's a business Tucked in the corner of her family room, next to a curved sectional sofa, Timmerman sits in a chair in her makeshift office that also serves as a playpen and classroom. Her home must be spotless when FSSA shows up unannounced for its annual inspection. She knows it'll be soon and that it's serious business. Advertisement The inspector comes with a detailed checklist and looks at her paperwork, the kitchen, the ceiling fan, the fire extinguishers, the water temperature, the bathroom and even the toilet paper roll. "The inspectors come and they go everywhere," Lemons said. "They're looking at everything from cleanliness to the way they are maintaining their food." A Northwest Indiana day care once received a violation for its "sippy cups being stored and not covered." Debbie Sampson, a FSSA child care home licensing manager, said an emergency closure has been ordered for issues ranging from an infestation of bedbugs, roaches and mice, but most closures stem from a serious injury or death because of a lack of supervision. Inspectors closely examine paperwork to make sure that facilities have the proper records on file for all children, Sampson said. Day cares also are required to have up-to-date shot records, background checks on employees, documentation showing that employees have completed the necessary training, among other records. "Training is a big one we look for," Lemons said. "We need to see a record kept that all the employees are being appropriately trained for things like CPR and first aid." Timmerman's folders are color coordinated. When the inspector comes, she hands them a folder with all of her children's paperwork, she said. Advertisement "This is the part of running a day care people don't talk about," she said, and that she didn't know about when she began. "I'll be honest, when I first started, I was a babysitter," she said. "I knew how to watch kids and take care of kids, but I had no idea it was a business." When Mike and Carisa Willis, of Portage, began searching for day care for their 12-year-old, they were a bit apprehensive. "It's scary when you first go into it," Mike Willis said. "You have to find someone to trust with your child and get comfortable with them." He and his wife first checked to see if a day care was registered with the state before visiting, he said. His wife stumbled across Timmerman's business card while exercising at a local health club. That was seven years ago. Both of their sons still go to Timmerman's day care. "With both of us working full-time [Timmerman] has basically been another parent for us," he said. "She stays really active with them. She teaches the kids stuff. We were lucky to find her." Advertisement Willis said he was alarmed when he heard about what happened at the day care in Merrillville. "I thought that was crazy," he said. "When you hear about stuff like that, it's scary but that's how I know we were lucky to have (Timmerman) all this time." Lemons said parents could be the FSSA's biggest allies in detecting perilous day cares. "Any time we receive a complaint, we will inspect and investigate the complaint, so the most valuable tool that we have are parents' eyes and ears," she said. "And parents must let us know if there is a problem. We recommend that parents stop in unannounced from time to time." jaanderson@tribpub.com Twitter @JavonteA A student was arrested Thursday afternoon in connection with the threatening notes at Flagstaff High School. Flagstaff police arrested a 17-year-old female at the high school after concluding she was responsible for writing a threatening school note found earlier in the day. No further details were given on how she was discovered. Flagstaff Police Chief Kevin Treadway said the latest note was found in the girls bathroom 10 minutes before the note said an alleged attack was to occur. Treadway said the student has confessed to being responsible for the latest note, but he could not confirm that she was involved in the six other notes found since March that referred to a Columbine-type incident. The student was interviewed after a police investigation and arrested at the high school. She is currently being booked into Coconino County Detention Facility. She has been charged with one felony count of interfering with an educational institution and one misdemeanor count of threats and intimidation. Flagstaff High School students were released early on Wednesday after another note was found -- the sixth in the past month. No new names or dates were in the note, according to Flagstaff Police Sgt. Cory Runge. Wednesday was an early release day, but after finding the note officers and school officials released students at around noon instead of around 1 p.m. Students were told to shelter in place, which means the students were able to walk around the school but the doors to the outside were locked. There was already a strong police presence at the school because one of the previous five notes had mentioned April 26 as a date that something might happen. In March, five notes were found in bathrooms around the school. The notes stated that something would happen at the school on April 20 or April 26. One of the notes also mentioned a few teachers and students by name. At a meeting last week at Flagstaff High School, Flagstaff Deputy Police Chief Dan Mussleman said the department has interviewed about 50 to 60 people about the notes at the school. The department has also been granted about six search warrants for information and evidence. He said the department has several leads and is working with the FBI and the Arizona Department of Public Safetys Crime Lab to analyze evidence in the case. He declined to say what evidence other than the notes was found and who the department had interviewed. He said the department does have a plan in place in case something happens, but declined to detail the plan. At Tuesday nights Flagstaff Unified School District board meeting, Flagstaff High School Principal Tony Cullen said the school has instituted several measures to help keep students safe and is working on a rough draft of a letter to parents on what to expect if an emergency happens at the school. He said the students and staff have been doing lock-down emergency drills on a regular basis through the whole school year. Staff have put laminated posters in the school's bathrooms to remind students on what to do in an emergency if they find themselves in the hall or bathroom. Staff have also been limiting early access to the building in the morning, he said. In the past, it was not unusual for students to arrive early to school and hang out with friends in the common area. Staff are now keeping the doors locked until 7:30 a.m. and limiting the number of outside doors that are unlocked that students can use to go in and out of the building. Those doors that are unlocked have either a security camera or a person or both watching who comes in and out. The school has also instituted a hallway pass system for students, Cullen said. Each teacher has a sign-out sheet in their room where students must sign out and then back in to use the bathroom or get something from a locker during class. Treadway said that police will continue to have increased presence at the school until they can confirm no one else is involved. Anyone with information about the notes should contact Detective Barreras at (928)679-4055 or Silent Witness at (928)774-6111. Silent Witness is offering a reward of $5,000 for information leading to an arrest. Do you remember what it was like to be in middle school? Now think what it must have been like to have been your teacher? Yet Jillian Worssam, the 2017 Coconino County Teacher of the Year who teaches science at Sinagua Middle School, relishes it. I love middle schoolers because theyre sassy, Worssam told the Daily Sun in 2013. They have personality and theyre still teachable. Theyre not as cynical as high schoolers are and theyre not as needy as elementary kids are, so we can have fun. And her students return the compliment by volunteering for extra projects, joining the Science Club and even hanging out with her over lunch just to talk science and teach her how to make a movie on her iPod. I dont care what anyone says, if you dont have a good relationship with your students, and if you dont make them want to learn, theyre not going to learn, Worssam said. That philosophy has stood Worssam in good stead, dating back to when she was teaching at FUSDs alternative school, now called Summit High. She is not only a Teacher of the Year but this years Viola Award winner for excellence in science education and the inaugural Flagstaff STEM Teacher of the Year in 2012. She was named a Rodel Exemplary Teacher in 2013, one of 12 in Arizona. At Sinagua, Worssam teaches and manages the afterschool oceanography club and STEM/Makerspace club. She created the Scientist in the Classroom Program at Sinagua, which recruits scientists from the business, government and organizational world into the classroom each month to talk to students about what they do. The program also includes an annual field trip to a STEM-related business or organization. And it encourages scientists to work one-on-one with honors science students at the school for an entire year. Worssam is the current chair of the Flagstaff Festival of Science and has volunteered at the festival for 15 years and served on its board for six years. She also helps to plan the Flagstaff Community STEM Celebration every year. She is also a world traveler, having received several grants to make scientific education trips to the Arctic and the Antarctic. She blogs with her students if there is a connection and brings back a treasure trove of show-and-tell items from each trip. Im very field-based, Worssam said. I get excited about what I teach because I have the opportunity to go in the field. Originally interested in forestry, Worssam discovered the value of teaching while working for the Peace Corps in the Philippines. She uses the connections from her research trips to find mentors for her students they are in Norway, Russia and New Zealand, along with 15 states. So in this year of the March for Science and heightened concern over the future of federal support for science research, it is fitting that a science teacher is honored for the countywide award. Jillian Worssam is a role model not only for other teachers of science but educators everywhere who want to leverage the resources of students, colleagues and the community behind excellence inside the classroom and out. Why these young voters in Pueblo want to get more youth involved in voting The following editorial appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Wednesday, April 26: President Donald Trump told Fox Business News on April 13: Weve done an amazing job on regulations. Weve freed it up. We freed up this country so much. Last month, Trumps Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Scott Pruitt, freed up the country to continue using a pesticide called chlorpyrifos on everything from strawberries and almonds to Brussels sprouts and broccoli. This despite a warning from the National Institutes of Health that chlorpyrifos can cause adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune effects in human beings. This despite scientific studies indicating that chlorpyrifos can interfere with fetal brain development, leading to higher rates of autism and lower intelligence. The Trump administration fails to acknowledge that the government has a role in protecting Americans from unseen dangers in their food. Thats weighed against economic facts: Chlorpyrifos kills insects that destroy crops, leading to bigger yields and cheaper food. Protecting industry is likely to be more important than protecting consumers in an EPA run by Pruitt, the former attorney general of Oklahoma with a history of fighting the EPA. Trump recently sent him some help in the person of Nancy Beck, who was named the EPAs deputy assistant administrator for chemical safety and pollution prevention. This is the office that regulates toxic chemicals. Becks previous job: senior director of regulatory science policy for the American Chemical Council. In this job, she challenged scientific studies unfavorable to the chemical industry. During the George W. Bush administration, she analyzed toxic chemicals for the Office of Management and Budget. In 2009, the House Science Committee criticized her for rewriting the science on some policy issues. Even under the Obama administration, the EPA dragged its feet on regulating chlorpyrifos. The pesticide was outlawed for household use and for use on tomatoes in 2000, but the effort to restrict all agricultural use bogged down until 2015. A federal appeals case kept it in limbo until March. Just when the EPA-adopted rule was set to take effect, Pruitt undid it. Chlorpyrifos, marketed under trade names like Lorsban and Dursban, accounts for at least a third of the $6.2 billion in annual worldwide sales of its manufacturer, Dow AgroSciences. It just so happens that Dow also donated $1 million to Trumps inauguration committee. The company has challenged the scientific conclusions about its effect on childrens brain development found in studies at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the University of California at Davis and Columbia University. Dow further claims that chlorpyrifos results in $22.9 billion in added income for U.S. farmers. When science is in dispute, its the job of regulators to decide when risks outweigh rewards. The EPA took 15 years to decide that yes, they did. It took the Trump EPA about 15 minutes to decide that no, they didnt. Wash your kids food very carefully. Our weekly round up of other news affecting foreign investors throughout Asia: Singapore Companies Act and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP) Act: Significant Recent Developments Singapore recently announced amendments to its Companies Act and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP) Act. Learn more the measures companies need to adopt to become compliant with these key changes. Establishing a Presence in India Offices, Partnerships, and Companies A physical presence in India is essential to break into the countrys emerging market. This article breaks down the types of offices and partnership options available to foreign companies while weighing the respective benefits and drawbacks of each one. Understanding Russias e-Commerce Market The e-commerce market in Russia is constantly growing. The volume of cross-border trade in Q1, 2016, grew more than twice compared with the same period in 2015. In 2017, Russian buyers will spend 37 percent more via foreign online stores than in the past. Chinas European Rail Freight Terminals On The Silk Road Express Chinas Rail services in terms of operating freight containers through from China have been expanding throughout Europe, with some 15 cities now connected directly to China. Read about them here. Electronics Production in Vietnam: A Guide to Emerging Opportunities Electronics production is among Vietnams most lucrative opportunities for investment. Exports within the sector alone have increased nearly five times between 2011 and 2016. Read more to understand the trends behind this rise and optimize entry strategy. About Us Our Briefing updates are written by and provided by the various regional offices of Dezan Shira & Associates throughout Asia. To obtain a complimentary subscription to Asia Briefing please click here. To contact Dezan Shira & Associates concerning foreign investment and assistance in Asia, please email us at asia@dezshira.com Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide. An Introduction to Doing Business in ASEAN 2017 Doing Business in ASEAN introduces the fundamentals of investing in the 10-nation ASEAN bloc, concentrating on economics, trade, corporate establishment and taxation. We also include the latest development news in our Important Updates section for each country, with the intent to provide an executive assessment of the varying component parts of ASEAN, assessing each member state and providing the most up-to-date economic and demographic data on each. An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2017 Doing Business in China 2017 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in China. Compiled by the professionals at Dezan Shira & Associates in January 2017, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Chinese market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to keep up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes. An Introduction to Doing Business in Hong Kong 2017 Doing Business in China 2017 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in China. Compiled by the professionals at Dezan Shira & Associates in January 2017, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Chinese market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to keep up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes. An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2017 An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2017 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in India. As such, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Indian market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to stay up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes. An Introduction to Doing Business in Singapore 2017 An Introduction to Doing Business in Singapore 2017 provides readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Singapore and outlines the citys role as a trading hub within ASEAN. The guide explains the basics of company establishment, annual compliance, taxation, human resources, and social insurance in the city-state. An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017 An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam. Compiled by Dezan Shira & Associates, a specialist foreign direct investment practice, this guide explains the basics of company establishment, annual compliance, taxation, human resources, payroll, and social insurance in this dynamic country. Chinas counterfeit food & beverage business is booming. In January, global news sources reported that for years around 50 family-run factories had been producing fake condiments, producing revenues of up to RMB 100 million (US$14.5 million) per year. Not only were these factories using industrial and recycled ingredients, they were packaging potentially toxic mixtures in brand named packaging, including Knorr and Nestle. It has also been estimated that over five percent of the Chinese wine market is counterfeit, whether that be bathtub booze concocted from a random mix of industrial ingredients, or cheap wine repackaged in luxury branded bottles. Instances like this can severely affect your brands image in the market and reduce your brands equity significantly. Because products with a strong brand equity are much more difficult to imitate and challenge in the marketplace, it is imperative that companies take all possible measures to protect brand equity. Brand building Below are two key tips in how to build a brand that resonates with consumers. Know your competitive advantage A proactive, consumer-led approach must be taken to achieve competitive advantage by differentiation. It is important to determine and understand your brands most special point of difference, ie. A unique selling point, making this the focus of all branding activity. Further, resources should not be wasted exploiting competitors weaknesses; instead, make their offer less relevant by emphasizing the strengths of your brand. Remain focused Often brands get distracted trying to defeat competition and lose sight of what the consumers really want. If your brand diverges from the needs of consumers, it is likely that your brand equity will decrease, meaning you will be more vulnerable to competition. Further, branding across all touch-points (6Ps: proposition, product, pack, price, place, promotion) must be single-minded. The focus of all marketing mix activities should consider your products key occasion, as well as your primary and secondary target markets. The equity of a strong brand offering will be much greater than that of brands with a number of different messages. Hence, developing a cohesive, multi-channel brand message is an important method for protecting brand equity and defeating counterfeits and imitators. RELATED: Changing Tastes: Chinas Imported Wine Industry Brand protection China operates on a first to file system for trademarks, which are awarded to the first party who obtains registration. This allows a party to use the trademark from the day of an application until it is exclusively registered. However, it also allows any other party to use the trademark up until it is fully registered. If a trademark is not filed in China, in some cases, companies may come across trademark squatters, which are domestic Chinese companies who look out for successful foreign brands, and file the trademark before the foreign company. They do this in order to sell the trademark back to them when they arrive, often entailing a lengthy and expensive negotiation process, or even to take advantage of the brand for their own benefit. A good example of this is Castel Frere wines who entered the Chinese market in 1999, but failed to file the correct IP protection for their Chinese brand, Ka Si Te (). A year later, local wine distributor Panatis registration of the trademark was granted. In January of this year, Castel lost the latest battle for the trademark in a dispute that has lasted almost two decades. Consequently, Castel have taken the costly measure to rebrand themselves to Ka Si Dai Le () in the Chinese market. It is evident that Chinas IP legal environment is a challenging ordeal for even the largest of foreign investors. Registering trademarks in China is of utmost importance, especially for entities who have invested a lot of time, effort and funds to build up the reputation of their brand. IP is more relevant today than ever, especially for F&B, where certain brands depend on trust of consumers and geographic indications as their main selling points. Packaging rights As packaging plays such a vital role in both branding and consumers purchasing decisions in the F&B sector, many copies have emerged in the Chinese market. Packaging can be protected in China under various types of IP: the Trademark Law, the Patent Law, the Copyright Law, and the Anti-unfair Competition Law. Though technical features of packaging could be protected as utility models or invention patents, packaging is more commonly protected by design patents. Design patents protect aspects such as visual features which are designed to be distinct from other brands, and are able to be reproduced via industrial application. A combination of features such as shape, color, and pattern also constitute this. Copyright is also a valid option, as its scope of protection is broad. Copyright is able to protect original shapes, ornamental works of applied or fine art, images of products, brochures and catalogues, website content, labels, and all other manner of marketing material. Though works are covered by copyright upon creation, voluntary registration can provide strong proof of ownership in the case of dispute in China. Its even more critical to protect your packaging IP when considering consumer perceptions around counterfeit or knock off products. Research conducted by the Silk Initiative shows that Chinese imitations are growing in popularity, and may actually provide a better, more localized food product that is more suited to Chinese palettes. Some Chinese companies therefore can take advantage of this scenario by adapting their packaging from well known, established brands with a wealth of existing equity, but delivering a better experience on product. Trade secrets Typical theft of trade secrets involve renegade employees leaking secrets to competitors. A way to safeguard against this is to import product ingredients in different combinations or batches to be combined as the final product in China, much as the way Coca-Cola or KFC is produced. In addition to this, measures such as signing confidentiality agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and clear marking of trade secret documentation can further prevent losses from leakage of trade secrets. Many foreign F&B companies fear their trade secrets will be divulged when registering products with the China Food and Drug Administration. However, although a list of ingredients is required to be supplied, exact formulas or amounts do not have to be submitted. As a result, some companies carefully select trustworthy Chinese agents to conduct mandatory product registration on their behalf. Developing an integrated strategy It is evident that F&B companies should consider carefully the two aforementioned aspects when operating in China though it also should be noted that a strong brand strategy plan is nothing without the relevant legal protection. This also works the other way round: strong IP protection without competent branding may give local imitations the upper hand when making an impact with consumers. As such, branding strategy and IP protection should be seen as complimentary methods of brand equity protection rather than alternatives. About Us China Briefing is published by Asia Briefing, a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. We produce material for foreign investors throughout Asia, including ASEAN, India, Indonesia, Russia, the Silk Road, and Vietnam. For editorial matters please contact us here, and for a complimentary subscription to our products, please click here. This article was co-authored by Dezan Shira & Associates and the Silk Initiative: Dezan Shira is a full service practice in China, providing business intelligence, due diligence, legal, tax, IT, HR, payroll, and advisory services throughout the China and Asian region. For assistance with China business issues or investments into China, please contact them at china@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. The Silk Initiative is a business strategy and marketing mix innovation consultancy specializing in the food and beverage space. They provide a range of brand strategy, consumer insight, business intelligence and creative execution strategies to clients ranging from global food and beverage giants to SMEs. Need help making sense of the complexities of the China and Asia market? Contact them at info@thesilkinitiative.com or visit www.thesilkinitiative.com. Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide. An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2017 This Dezan Shira & Associates 2017 China guide provides a comprehensive background and details of all aspects of setting up and operating an American business in China, including due diligence and compliance issues, IP protection, corporate establishment options, calculating tax liabilities, as well as discussing on-going operational issues such as managing bookkeeping, accounts, banking, HR, Payroll, annual license renewals, audit, FCPA compliance and consolidation with US standards and Head Office reporting. Payroll Processing in China: Challenges and Solutions In this issue of China Briefing magazine, we lay out the challenges presented by Chinas payroll landscape, including its peculiar Dang An and Hu Kou systems. We then explore how companies of all sizes are leveraging IT-enabled solutions to meet their HR and payroll needs, and why outsourcing payroll is the answer for certain company structures. Finally, we consider the potential for China to emerge as Asias premier payroll processing center. Dezan Shira & Associates You are here: Home Shanghai authorities rolled out new measures Thursday to woo foreign investors, cutting restrictions on their access to the city's service and manufacturing sectors. Photo taken on Sept. 11, 2015 shows an aerial view of the highest building in Puxi, east China's Shanghai Municipality. [Photo/Xinhua] Accounting, auditing, architectural design and rating services, as well as financial services, will open wider to foreign investment, according to a directive issued by the Shanghai municipal government. In addition, the government will press ahead with "orderly" opening of fields such as telecommunications, the Internet, culture, education and transportation, and welcomes foreign investment in government-backed science and technology projects, said the directive. In the industrial sector, limits for foreign investors will be eased in the production of rail transit equipment, motorbikes and fuel. The government supports foreign capital's involvement in advanced manufacturing industries, such as new information technology, new materials, intelligent equipment, biomedicine, aerospace, new energy and Internet-based automobiles. It also hopes foreign investors could help sharpen the competitive edge of the city's traditional auto, steel, shipping and chemical industries. What's more, new measures to open financial, telecommunications, the Internet, cultural, shipping, and maintenance services will be piloted in the Shanghai free trade zone. By 2016, Shanghai had attracted more than 80,000 projects funded by foreign capital, with contractual foreign investments totaling around 400 billion U.S. dollars. Last year, foreign-funded enterprises, the number of which accounted for 2 percent of the city's total, contributed 27 percent of the city's GDP and 20 percent of employment. Foreign-funded enterprises have played an important role in Shanghai's efforts to make itself an international center for the economy, finance, trade and shipping, as well as for scientific and technological innovation, according to the local commerce commission. Alibaba's four-year-old Yu'e Bao surpassed JPMorgan's U.S. government money market fund to become the world's largest. (Xinhuanet file photo) Alibaba's four-year-old Yu'e Bao surpassed JPMorgan's U.S. government money market fund to become the world's largest, according to the Financial Times. With 165.6 billion U.S. dollars under management, the Yu'e Bao fund has grown rapidly, reflecting the increasing importance and irreplaceable role of technology and e-commerce in China. The payments affiliate company of Alibaba, Ant Financial Services Group found that a great deal of cash remains in customers' accounts, which could be used for a fund. The Yu'e Bao fund was therefore born in 2013 and swept the money in those accounts into it. Due to Yu'e Bao's expansion, Tianhong Fund Management, the co-founder of Yu'e Bao has become the first fund company to break one trillion yuan (about 145 billion U.S. dollars). Moreover, Yu'e Bao's custodian bank CITIC Bank has also become the largest fund custody institution. Peter Alexander, managing director of China consultancy Z-Ben Advisors commented that Yu'e Bao has "so many individual accounts they are able to have the power to negotiate with banks, and because the duration is very short, they also have high liquidity." The large scale of the Yu'e Bao fund allowed it to "negotiate better rates, and banks need deposits to lend, and these are deposits," Alexander was quoted as saying by the Financial Times. An analyst at Tianhong Fund Management said that their company gives top priority to the liquidity of capital flows, but they also take every measure to balance the yield rate, liquidity and financial risks. "Yu'e Bao's large scale of capital brings challenge for investment, research and risk management," said Wang Dengfeng, a fund manager of Yu'e Bao. "On one hand, the fund holders have diverse demands, on the other hand, huge assets bring bigger pressure." You are here: Home China's top legislature Thursday decided to extend the trial reform of the people's juror system by a year to increase public participation in legal proceedings. The decision was passed at the closing meeting of the bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. The two-year pilot program at 50 courts in 10 provincial-level regions, including Beijing, Hebei and Heilongjiang was due to end in May. It is necessary to extend the trial period to gain more experience and ensure the desired effect, Shen Deyong, deputy president of the Supreme People's Court, told lawmakers Monday in his statement to the NPC Standing Committee. Unlike the jury system in the United States, where jurors are randomly selected, jurors in China are chosen from a group of candidates recommended by local communities or authorities. A juror exercises the same power as a judge but cannot hear a case alone nor act as chief judge of a collegial panel. Legislators, judges, prosecutors, police officers and lawyers are excluded from jury service. In 2016, jurors at the 50 courts participated in the hearings of 11,642 criminal cases, 64,917 civil cases and 5,213 administrative cases. The decision will come into force on April 28. Oysters wreak havoc on Denmark's seashore. [Photo/Weibo.com] Danish people would never expect that the oyster crisis confronting their country may turn into a food-lovers' bonanza in China. The European country's dilemma may be the last thing Chinese people would ever understand as they see the abundance of seafood as a treat, rather than a problem. The Danish Embassy published a story on Monday evening on its official Sina Weibo account, China's twitter-like social network, about the problems for their country caused by an invasion of the exotic oysters. Chinese internet users enthusiastically responded with much discussion about ways to address the issue on Weibo, then WeChat, another popular social media network. The embassy makes a small joke in the post to invite Chinese people to eat oysters in Denmark which triggered heated debate. Apparently, when it comes to eating, Chinese people are very serious and they already started to make plans for their oyster journey. The most popular comment came from someone suggesting oyster visas should be issued "with 10 years' unlimited round trips and one-month-long stay and I can eat up them all in five years" received over 10,000 likes. There are people even recommending visa-free and oyster immigration policies in China. The oysters, known as Pacific oysters, are a new species in Denmark and have caused huge damage to the seashore's ecological environment. Their proliferation is unstoppable since they have no natural enemies there. People have to get across them in shoes before swimming. What's worse, their occupation leads to the endangerment of the Limfjord, a Danish local oyster. Scientists and fishermen made numerous complaints to the nation's conservation authority but the thorny issue remains unsolved. They also encouraged local people to bring them to their dining tables and few were motivated. The Danish Embassy is very grateful for Chinese people's innovative advice such as building oyster sauce factories and organizing oyster-dining journeys. It also said as long as China permits, they'd love to export oysters to China. Fabric artist Duan Yinkai (right) speaks to foreign guests who attended a meeting in Beijing on China's poverty alleviation efforts on Thursday. [Photo/China Daily] Foreign governmental and private representatives lauded China's progress in poverty reduction as the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee hosted an event in Beijing showing how the country has done it. The event, using the example of the CPC Yunnan provincial committee since 2012, attracted about 400 diplomats, foreign politicians and representatives of international organizations on Thursday. "China's tremendous success in lifting the majority of the underprivileged people out of poverty in over a little more than 30 years is a feat that is unparalleled and truly inspiring," said Mark van den Boogaard, senior policy adviser for the United Nations Development Programme. Van den Boogaard, who has recently returned from a research trip to Yunnan, said the country's goal to pull all people out of poverty by 2020 is "ambitious" but "realistic". "From what we have seen in the north of Yunnan, under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese authorities are clearly on the right track." Van den Boogaard cited the "duel approach" of targeted poverty reduction and intervention on one hand, and the nation's idea of leaving no one behind on the other. Lennart Nilsson, counselor for agricultural affairs with the Swedish embassy, said the figures for China's poverty relief are impressive. "Yunnan province has a fantastic environment. It is also important for the authorities to preserve the ethnic culture and protect the environment during the poverty reduction process," he said. Song Tao, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, said at the event that the CPC is willing to share its experience in poverty reduction with the international community and help its neighbors and developing countries to explore their own ways to eradicate poverty. "Facts have shown that the fundamental strategies by General Secretary Xi Jinping on targeted poverty alleviation are the golden key for China to realize its poverty eradication targets," he said. China lifted 55.6 million people out of poverty between 2013 and 2016. However, more than 40 million still live in poverty, which means that in the coming four years, China would have to pull an average of 10 million people each year out of poverty to reach its target of eradicating poverty by 2020, according to the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development. Chen Hao, secretary of the CPC Yunnan provincial committee, said provincial authorities have prioritized the preservation of the traditional culture of ethnic groups and the protection of the ecology and environment while reducing poverty. Yunnan's environmental efforts are crucial since it is the source of a number of important national and international rivers, he said. The province has managed to reduce its impoverished population from 8 million in 2012 to 3.6 million in 2016. Xi Yanchun: Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to the press conference of the State Council Information Office. Last night, China's Tianzhou 1 cargo spacecraft completed its task successfully. Today, we are delighted to invite Mr. Wang Zhaoyao, Director of China Manned Space Agency, Yang Baohua, Vice President of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Zhao Guangheng, Chief Designer of the Space Utilization System, and Sun Jun, Deputy Director of Beijing Aerospace Control Center, to brief you on the mission and then take your questions. Now, lets welcome Mr. Wang Zhaoyao to make an introduction. Wang Zhaoyao: Ladies, gentlemen and friends from the media, good morning. Its a pleasure to meet you here today. Last night, the Tianzhou 1 cargo spacecraft completed its task by successfully docking with the Tiangong 2 space lab inorbit at 7:07 p.m. and beginning the transfer of cargo. This marked the completion of the tasks set forth for Chinas space lab, which include making a successful maiden flight, maintaining a stable operation and a steady orbit, refueling the space lab in orbit and achieving fruitful results, before eventually making a safe return to Earth,. On behalf of the missions command center, we came here to tell you about last nights flight and Chinas space program in regard to the space lab phase. We will also take some of your questions. The Tianzhou 1 cargo spacecraft is specially designed for working with Chinas space station. Last nights flight was the maiden flight of the space stations cargo transportation system, which consists of the Tianzhou 1 cargo spacecraft carried atop a Long March 7 rocket. Now, Id like to tell you about the process of the flight. At 7:41 p.m. on April 20, the Tianzhou 1 cargo spacecraft lifted off atop the Long March 7 Y2 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Center and entered its designated orbit as scheduled. At 12:23 p.m. on April 22, the Tianzhou 1 cargo spacecraft completed automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong 2 space lab 393 kilometers above the Earth. At 7:07 p.m. on April 27, after preparatory works, the Tianzhou 1 cargo spacecraft successfully refueled the Tiangong 2 space lab in orbit, achieved a major technical breakthrough. In the next phase, the cargo spacecraft will remain docked with the space lab as they orbit together. The cargo spacecraft will also undock and fly alone and try different approaches to improve in-orbit refueling technology. After that, the cargo spacecraft will land under control in a designated area in the South Pacific Ocean, while the space lab will remain in space for further exploration. Chinas manned space station project got the green light in September 2010. Its divided into two phases: first, the space lab phase and then the space station. In the first phase, we aim to achieve the goals of cargo transportation and supply, astronaut medium-term space missions, and long-time support on ground. We will also conduct various experiments in space. The aim is to pave the way for the building and operation of our space station. Since 2016, we have successfully launched the Long March 7 carrier rocket, the Tiangong 2 space lab, the Shenzhou 11 manned spacecraft and the Tianzhou 1 cargo spacecraft. The four flights achieved success in Chinas manned space program, and laid a solid foundation for the building and long-term operation of a space station. The year 2017 is full of important events, including the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Liberation Army, the 20th anniversary of Hong Kongs return to the motherland and the 25th anniversary of the founding of Chinas manned space program. Therefore, the success of the space lab mission is even more important, as it showcases the nations strong will to achieve rejuvenation and our firm determination to become a space power. Now, wed like to take your questions. Thank you. Xi Yanchun: Thank you, Mr. Wang. Now the floor is open to questions. Please identify the media you represent before asking a question. CCTV: Mr. Wang, a moment ago you told us about the flight mission of Tianzhou 1. However, for you, what is the biggest specialty of this mission comparing to previous ones? And what is worthy of our attention as the mission continues? Thanks. Wang Zhaoyao: Compared to previous manned flight missions, the mission of Tianzhou 1 is the maiden flight of China's space station cargo transportation system. Since it is the first flight, there are several things to note: First, the mission has new features; second, the technological difficulties are great; third, the duration of the mission is long. As for the new features, Tianzhou 1 is a brand new cargo conveyor we have developed for Chinas space station. The payload ratio and the amount of propellant refueling are on a par with current international standards for space cargo transportation systems, if not being ahead of them. At the same time, we have scheduled more than 10 scientific experimental projects on the spacecraft, which help improve the efficiency of the entire mission. Second, there are significant technical difficulties. Tianzhou 1 is designed to fully test the propellant refueling and the autonomous fast rendezvous and docking technologies. The international community regards these two experiments as involving technologies with very large technical difficulties. According to our knowledge, only Russia and the United States have developed the propellant refueling technology, but only Russia is using this technology on the international space station. It is really difficult. In addition, the current rendezvous and docking process needs two days for preparation. If the technology of autonomous fast rendezvous and docking technology succeeds, we only need 6.5 hours for rendezvous and docking between two spacecrafts. It will greatly enhance our work efficiency. Third, the duration time is long. From the day when the space cargo ship arrived at the Wenchang Launch Site in Hainan in mid-February, to the day in the future when Tianzhou finishes its experiments, the mission will take more than half a year to accomplish. For such a long time, it poses a challenge for the organizing and command of the whole mission, as well as for the support system. Meanwhile, Tianzhou , after docking with the Tiangong 2 space lab, will orbit in tandem with it for two month. This is the longest time so far for any combination of Chinese space vehicles. As the last manned mission before the space station is built, the mission is significant in serving as a link between past and future. In the late period of the flight, there will be a series of experiments arranged worthy of attention. For example, there's the flight of Tianzhou from one position to another for another docking with Tiangong 2, and the autonomous fast rendezvous and docking. What's more, a CubeSat will be released; an advanced navigation, guidance and control device and new domestic-made components will be tested in orbit. An active vibration isolation technology will also be tested. Those tests will be carried out one by one. Therefore, you have many projects to anticipate. Thank you. China Daily: I have a question for Mr. Zhao Guangheng. In this Tianzhou 1 flight mission, what payloads are arranged in the space application system? What specific experiments have been carried out? Thank you. Zhao Guangheng: The space application system has arranged scientific experiments and technical tests, including research on the effects of microgravity on cell proliferation and differentiation, research on key technologies of the two-phase system experimental platform, verification of key technologies for non-Newtonian gravitational experiments and verification of key technologies of active vibration isolation. The Chinese Academy of Sciences, domestic research institutes and universities in both the mainland and Hong Kong are among the 12 research teams that are participating. The research on effects of microgravity on cell proliferation and differentiation covers the effects of microgravity on the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells and the cellular structure and function. Eight studies have been carried out in the international forefront of this research area. We are looking forward to gaining deeper understanding of the rules of the proliferation and differentiation of some cells under microgravity, such as embryonic stem cells, liver stem cells, pluripotent stem cells, bone cells and osteoblasts. These results could be useful in the field of stem cell tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, human reproduction and the prevention and intervention of bone loss both on the ground and in the space. After loading into orbit, the experiment has begun its scheduled 30-day operation and is progressing smoothly. This is the first project. The second is research on key technologies of the two-phase system experimental platform. We are mainly seeking to create a technical foundation for solving the engineering difficulties of space-efficient heat transfer, for exploring the enforcement mechanism of spacephase-change heat transfer, for verifying the key technologies of the two-phase system, for research into evaporation and condensation under a microgravity environment, for further understanding the effects of gravity on the phase-change heat transfer and mass transfer and also for the further experiments and engineering applications. The third is the verification of key technologies for non-Newtonian gravitational experiment. This project is mainly to carry out in-orbit tests on the performance of high precision electrostatic suspension accelerometer. The accelerometer performance index has reached the international advanced level, which will provide important technical support for our country to carry out research of basic space physics, weak force measurement and gravity gradient measurement. The fourth is the verification of key technologies of active vibration isolation. This project is mainly to make in-orbit verification of the key technology of active vibration isolation for maglev. It will be able to increase the aircraft platform-provided microgravity level one to two orders of magnitude, to meet the needs of this mission and high microgravity experiments in the future. TASS (Russia): China has achieved a high level of science and technology. In this case, would China like to cooperate with Russia? The second question: will Chinese astronauts stay in the space station for a long time or just a shorter period after it becomes operational? Since Chinas approval of its manned space program in 1992, we have always maintained a good relationship with Russia and established the Sino-Russia Manned Space Cooperation Joint Committee. Within this framework, China and Russia had conducted various forms of cooperation in the field of manned space flight. In the early stageRussia gave us great support in regard to research on spaceships and spacesuit development, and some other related technologies. Ive expressed our gratitude to Russia on different occasions. The manned space engineering program should be a good platform for international cooperation. China is willing to cooperate with different countries on the basis of mutual respectequality and mutual benefitopenness and transparency. We would like to continue our cooperation with Russia and other countries in this field. The second question is whether the astronauts can stay in the space station for a long time. In our plan, the astronauts should stay in the space station according to the differing need during the stage of construction. After it is finished, the astronauts will indeed stay in the space station for a long time. We have put a lot of effort into building this rare space station. It would be a pity if it had no astronauts operating there. Thank you. Takungpao: Tianzhou 1 is Chinas first cargo spaceship, so what is its transport capacity? Whats the significance of its orbital refueling test with Tiangong 2? Could you compare Tianzhou 1 with similar cargo spaceships recently launched by the United States and Russia? Moreover, media reports have shown cargo shipment of International Space Station is not going smoothly. Do you think Chinas Tianzhou 1 could take on supply missions for the International Space Station in the future if needed? Yang Baohua: Tianzhou 1, an important part of building and operating Chinas manned space station, provided resources and fuel to Tiangong 2 space lab this time. It will also be used to transport trash from the space station and destroy it after entering the atmosphere. Developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Tianzhou 1 has the maximum cargo capacity of 6.5 tons and weighs 13.5 tons fully loaded. Its maximum refueling capacity is 2.1 tons. Thats quite impressive. As for the third question regarding its features compared with other cargo spaceships internationally, it has a larger cargo capacity and a higher payload ratio than its foreign counterparts. Its cargo capacity of 6.5 tons is much higher than the 2.3 tons of its Russia counterparts; its U.S. counterparts, Cygnus and Orion, can ship 2.7 tons and 3.5 tons respectively. The retired Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) had a cargo capacity of up to 7.7 tons. However, its weight, at nearly 21 tons fully loaded, meant its payload ratio (the proportion of cargo capacity to the total weight of the spaceship) is only 0.3, much lower than Tianzhou 1s impressive 0.48. Another feature is that our space program has followed a modular design approach, which can serve multiple purposes. Though a late starter, Chinas manned space program is developing at a high starting point. Since the very first design period, we have conceived a series of modular designs. The Tianzhou 1 we launched this time has a fully-enclosed cargo hold mainly to provide food and other materials for daily use. We have also sent some equipment and experiment payloads for the capsule for the future space station. We also have a semi-sealed design and the cargo hold is mainly to transport some big components, like a solar wing. Chinas manned space station is designed to have a life cycle of over 20 years. During such a long orbit, it may suffer malfunctions in components like the solar wing. The solar wing, due to its size, needs to be put into a semi-sealed capsule during transportation, and then gets replaced or maintained through mechanical arms in the space station under the operation of astronauts on board. Another module could be a fully-open design to transport much bigger equipment for not just maintenance of the space station, but also some big satellites and low orbit flight vehicles ready for launch. So, this is so-called modular design. The third feature for Tianzhou 1 is that its both economical and practical. It is not only used for cargo shipment and refueling, but also for warehousing and carried out experiments. Besides the in-orbit refueling test, the Tianzhou 1 this time is also equipped with several dozen experiment payloads in order to meet long-term experimental tasks. Lets continue, to address the second question, which focuses on the significance of space refueling. We should say that the technology is very critical. A complete command of propellant in-orbit refueling marks the breakthrough in a number of key technologies, such as extravehicular activities of astronauts, docking, unmanned and manned automatic and manual space rendezvous from Shenzhou-8 to Shenzhou 11, invariably working for the construction and operation of the space station. The current technology is no exception. We have made a major breakthrough by solving the space refueling technology in our Space Lab, a key process when we move on to operate a space station. By removing the last obstacles possibly affecting the building and operation of the space station in the long run, and consolidating the foundations of the space station for smooth and lasting operation, the significance of the technology goes far beyond the issues Ive just mentioned. The technology can be further applied to low-orbit satellites and spacecraft by providing orbital refueling. It can also operate as a refueling center and intermediate station for the exploration of deep space, which is indeed magnificent. It is generally known that the United States failed in launching a space cargo craft when something went wrong with its rocket and Russia also was unsuccessful in refueling the International Space Station. What is fortunate, however, is that the ISS is refueled with surplus resources so it can sustain normal operations for some extra time. So, the media start to focus on our space cargo endeavors, wondering whether our space freight craft can send some necessary resources to the ISS. But the operation is difficult at present -a result of the denial of Chinese accession to the International Space Station imposed by the United States and EU countries in the beginning. Because of this, the technological standards, such as the interfaces, are yet to be unified, and that is why the docking cannot be fulfilled in the short term. However, the aerospace staff in China is willing to work on behalf of the International Space Station, because space exploration, the manned endeavor, should be a cause shared by the entire human race in peace. Wang Zhaoyao: The remark of Mr. Yang is very comprehensive. China is enabled by both of its technologies and competence to transport freight to the International Space Station. However, as what Mr. Yang told us, we need, specifically, to take a step further to solve problems with different interfaces, which has drawn considerable concern from the international community. In the past few years, the country has been engaged in standardizing the interfaces of its spacecraft, especially in regard to manned spaceflights. Its like the diversity of cell phones which cannot be recharged because of unmatched outlets. German News Agency: I have two questions. The first one is, as youve completed the space lab phase, when will you launch the first manned space station? Second, it is reported that China will cooperate with Europe in space development; will you jointly construct some perennial moon space stations? Thank you. Xi Yanchun: Do you refer to the Moon Exploration Project in your second question? German News Agency: Weve just noticed some media mentioned China and Europe will cooperate in construction of moon space station, so can you clarify it? Wang Zhaoyao: After completing flight missions of the space lab phase, we will enter into the development of the space station. According to our plan, we will construct a China Manned Space Station in the period from 2019 to 2022. So, when to launch the next manned space flight depends on the construction plan. In between, several manned flights are scheduled. So thats the general plan. Secondly, concerning the China-Europe cooperation on a moon orbital space station in the next phase, we have conducted exchanges and cooperation with the European Space Agency, the Italian Space Agency and other aerospace institutions in Europe with great success. We discussed how to enhance future cooperation on manned space flight development with the European Space Agency. The moon orbital space station is one of the technological approaches under research and demonstration by Chinese and international experts. Based on our knowledge, the United States, Russia, Europe and China have all made efforts to realize manned moon exploration and moon resource development though the model of a moon orbital space station, which has received considerable appraisal. So, whether we will cooperate or not and how we will join hands should be announced after the detailed technological plan is released. China Radio International: As Mr. Wang just mentioned, from June of last year to now, the flight missions in the space lab phase of China manned space engineering program were all completed. Can you sum up what important achievements have been made in the phase? What kind of role do they play in the follow-up development? Wang Zhaoyao: From June of last year to yesterday, four planned flight missions of the space lab phase were all completed. In retrospect, we have taken note of many important achievements and successful experiences that are worth learning. The first one is that weve built up a freight transport system for the space station. Many reporters just mentioned it, and its the prerequisite for space station construction. If we cant resolve the problem of reliable supply, astronauts wont have food and drink when the space station completes construction. So now, we have the achieved basic conditions for building up a space station in the future. Second, we have realized the objective of astronauts staying in space in the medium terms. The Shenzhou 11 Spacecraft carrying astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong stayed in space for 33 days, the longest time for Chinas manned space flight program. We examined the astronauts life, work and health status in orbit and technical problems concerning the maintenance, support and protection of the whole system. It laid a solid basis for follow-up longer flights in the future. Third, we examined and confirmed many key technologies for space station construction as Ive just mentioned. Take the fourth space lab mission as an example, rendezvous and docking were conducted at the orbital altitude of the future space station, 393 kilometers, rather than the spacecraft operating orbit height, which is dozens of kilometers lower. As we accomplished rendezvous and docking, cargo replenishing, propellant refueling and orbital maintenance in the orbit close to an altitude of 400 kilometers, all the technologies are key ones for space station construction. Fourth, we conducted a large number of scientific experiments and technological tests in space. The projects Mr. Zhao has just mentioned and the ones of Tiangong 2 all took the lead in technical indices internationally. For China, manned space flight has entered a new era of application and we have a solid basis for human-involved experiments on future space stations. Fifth, weve improved project capacity in conducting high-frequency launch missions. Compared with one manned space flight a year, or two a year, we can now execute four in less than one year. The missions of high frequency and intensity posed severe challenges to the organization, command and logistical guarantees. After the space station goes into long-term operation, we will operate at least three to four missions, or even more every year. The examination of the flights in this phase helps us improve the capacities of organization, command, operation and guarantee. We can say that weve made breakthroughs in space station construction and operation until now. Construction of related facilities has been completed, which means we have the capability of building space stations. What are we waiting for? Its the construction of the main body of several cabins, kernel module and experimental module. After they are developed, we can conduct orbital assembly of a space station. From this aspect, the completion of space lab stage means Chinas manned space flight enters the space station era. Beijing News: An important characteristic of the task this time is its comparatively long duration. Particularly in September, the third rendezvous and docking will be carried out. So, my question is: What challenges will the task meet in the aspect of monitoring and control? And is there any new technological breakthrough in this regard? Thank you. Sun Jun: I think there are three big challenges in the aspect of monitoring and control. First, the task is a lengthy one. The long duration means the flight plan is more complicated than previous rendezvous and docking missions, and we have to undertake more tasks to verify the key technology in the space station stage. The entire time span will be five months, including two months of combined flight and three months of independent flight. In addition, a number of orbital scientific experiments will be conducted. It should be said that, the difficulty of task organization and implementation is still relatively large. Second, comparatively big changes also occurred in the rendezvous and docking flight plan this time. In previous rendezvous and docking tasks, including those related to manned flights, we adopted the fixed rendezvous and docking plan which could be completed within two days. According to the requirements of the future space station, and because we will not control the huge space station for orbital maneuvering and phase adjustment, the cargo spacecraft needs to have rendezvous and docking capabilities at any phase angle. The cargo spacecraft flight plan this time has underwent significant change, in which the rendezvous and docking could be conducted by adopting two-, three-, four-, and five-day plans. So, there is a dynamic change in the rendezvous and docking plan, which is a completely new challenge. Third, for the first time we carried out the task of in-orbit propellant refueling. We successfully completed the test yesterday, despite of the fact it was a very complicated task. The whole process of propellant refueling was divided into 29 steps in five stages, and lasted a total of five days. So, the situation creates a very high requirement for ground control. We have made a series of breakthroughs in the following aspects. First, in terms of the task organization and management, we optimized the flight control model under conditions of long duration. In the past, we adopted the method that each individual experimental team and individual system received flight control support from the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center. This time, taking into account the long duration of the task and, at the same time, providing experiences for future long-term management and control of space stations, we made a plan combining centralized and distributed flight control modes and corresponding systems. In the future, relevant experimental units can work in the remote support center to complete the flight control task in cooperation with us. Second, aiming at the design of dynamic rendezvous and docking, we made a breakthrough in researching and developing the key technologies involving dynamic launch window calculation, multi-day rendezvous mode design and long-cycle, high-precision orbit forecasting to solve the problems in rendezvous and docking schemes spread over several days. Third, aiming at the requirement of propellant refueling control, we made a breakthrough in ground coordination control technology, designed the collaborative control technology scheme, researched and developed the propellant refueling ground monitoring software, fault diagnosis software and visual monitoring software. In addition, we also organized experts in all systems to establish a professional team for propellant refueling support. We made clear the monitoring report and the key decision-making points so as to ensure our entire propellant refueling process went through smoothly and successfully. Thank you. China Review News Agency (CRNA): The Tianzhou 1 flight mission has been referred to as a final stage in the battle before we start construction of our space station. I'd like to ask, compared with the International Space Station (ISS), what will be the major improvements in regard to our own space station? Also, do we plan to cooperate with other countries or organizations upon completion of the space station? Xi Yanchun: Your first question was similar to that raised by Wen Wei Po. Is there anything you want to add, Mr. Wang? Wang Zhaoyao: It's fair to say that our own space station has its own unique features. For example, ours has moderate size, but with expansionary capabilities. The ISS weighs more than 200 tons and the Mir over 100 tons. Our space station will weigh more than 60 tons, and 90 tons when the weight of the spacecraft and the cargo craft are included. Considering China's demands, we think its capacity is sufficient. The space station is going to be of moderate size, but room will be left for expansion into a three-module structure. Second, we optimized the overall design to increase construction flexibility. The design of our cargo spacecraft features three modules so that we will ship small cargoes in enclosed cargo bays, use semi-open bays for large-sized cargoes and open bays for extra-large cargoes. Third, we have innovated the co-orbit flight mode with Chinese characteristics. In the design of the space station, we will set up a new platform to carry large optic equipment for celestial observation and research, similar to the Hubble Space Telescope. The platform can circle in the same orbit with the space station, yet able to dock with it whenever necessary. This will facilitate repairs and maintenance by astronauts working in the space station while ensuring normal working conditions. Fourth, we are applying the latest high-tech achievements and have raised comprehensive efficiency. The ISS was designed in the late 20th Century. We are building our own for the 21st Century. Therefore, we will make best use of the latest scientific and technological achievements, information and electronic technologies among others, and apply them to our space station to ensure world-class standards for its system, parts and performance. For example, the previous space stations have no internet connection, while now internet access in space station is achievable. In short, our space station will reflect the most cutting-edge technologies. As for current development, the research and construction of the whole space station is steadily progressing. We have resolved the key technologies and design plans. Preliminary tests are being conducted for the flight modules. At the same time, accommodation systems such as cargo transport, manned spacecraft and launch vehicles are being manufactured or designed. International cooperation, as I mentioned just now, should be conducted with an open and cooperative attitude. These years, we have been enjoyed extensive cooperation with many countries, and organizations, including the European Space Agency, France, Germany, Italy, and Russia, etc. We will maintain our policies and principles after our space station becomes operational. As to the modes of cooperation, joint development of equipment, carrying out space scientific experiments on our platform, sharing experiment devices and transmission of experiment results are all possible. Last year, we signed cooperation deals with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to provide experiment resources on our space station to all countries, including developing countries. The UNOOSA highly lauded such cooperation and has been active in promoting it. The two parties are currently working on concrete details of how to conduct programs. Thank you. Xinhua News Agency: The achievement of targets in spacelab phase marks Chinas entrance into the era of space station operation. What preparations are Chinese astronauts making for the new era? What experimental payloads will be carried in the space station? What space experiments will be conducted? Thank you. Wang Zhaoyao: Chinese astronauts, the core of our manned spaceflight program, are preparing themselves to meet the higher requirements of the space station era. First, they will have to stay in space for a long time. The longest duration until now has been one month. In future, it will be extended to three or six months, perhaps even longer. They have to live, work, continue training and conduct experiments there. Second, their technical skills need to be improved. Astronauts have so far conducted most of the space experiments inside the spacecraft; however, when building the space station, they will have to do a lot of work outside, which is a huge challenge. Third, we need to ensure we have enough astronauts. We have recruited two groups, but some of them will retire from active service at a certain age. So, we need to select and nurture new astronauts, equipping them with the abilities to construct and operate space stations. Zhao Guangheng: I would like to add something about space science and application planning. We will conduct large-scale space scientific researches and applications on over 30 subjects in eight fields, namely space life science and biotechnology, microgravity fluid dynamics and combustion science, space materials science, basic physics in microgravity, space astronomy and astrophysics, space environment and space physics, space earth science and applications, and space applied new technology testing. We are stepping up our efforts to establish multidisciplinary experiment platforms and publicly-supported experimental platforms. We are working to be in the vanguard of space science and make a number of scientific achievements with global influence, thus ensuring great strides are made in Chinas space science endeavor. Wang Zhaoyao: The applied experiment payloads of our manned space flight program since Shenzhou 2 weigh only one ton or so. However, now we have three capsules in the space station, which can load over ten tons for the first time, and they will be upgraded during operation. So, we have abundant space experiment and space science payloads for a large number of projects. Xi Yanchun: Thank all the spokespersons for their responses today. We must also thank all the aerospace science and technology workers for their hard work. Thank you all. That concludes todays press conference. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda presiding over a meeting between the ruling and Madhesi parties. It struck a deal with the Madhesi parties. [Photo courtesy of PM personal secretariat] Nepal is bracing for local elections being held almost in two decades. Sanghiya Gathabandhan (Federal Alliance), a grouping of parties based in the Madhesh, withdrew anti-poll protests following an agreement with the government. The two sides concurred to conduct election in two phases on May 14 and on June 14. The ruling coalition agreed to endorse the revised constitution amendment bill on the fast track in the parliament to rope the recalcitrant Madhesi forces into participating in the election. The latest political development followed the unification of six Madhesi parties, whose futile and prolonged agitations starting from the promulgation of new constitution in 2015 came unstuck. Even after inking the accord, some top Madhesi leaders have made contradictory remarks and ramped up anti-government rhetoric visibly for public consumption. However, the decision to hold the election in two phases, first in the hill and then in the Terai region, is likely to create psychological division among the populace. The ruling Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) consented to do so allegedly on the advice of India. The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) claims that the decision smacked of ploy to thwart the election. The party's Standing Committee meeting decided to put all efforts to foil the amendment proposal in the House, citing that it is regressive. The opposition blew a fuse over the government plan to unveil fiscal budget on May 29, two weeks before the second round of election. "The budget seeks to influence the voters. Thus, it should be presented only after election," says UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai. To all appearances, the Madhes-based parties kowtowed to public pressure but in fact they have just changed tack. Working as an overt geopolitical instrument of India, the Madhesh-based parties have promoted dangerous ethnocentric politics to create ethnic and social cleavage in Nepal that had never previously witnessed ethnic conflict in its history. In the beginning, they demanded only one province in the southern flatland, known as Terai/Madhesh, bordering India, but then made a strong pitch for a large number of ethnic-based provinces in the hilly and mountainous region adjoining China. This was intended to create instability across the districts contiguous with China's Tibet Autonomous Region, hoping it would spill over the border. Behind the demand for a single province in Terai/Madhesh lies a hidden motive to weaken Kathmandu and shift the focus of national politics to Terai. With their effort to create a single Madhesh province having failed, they are now pressing ahead for two provinces in the Terai belt excluding the hilly region. This move seeks to establish the notions of two nations Terai and Hills and prepare the ground for the eventual secession of the plains. After toppling the nationalist Oli government, the ruling NC and MC first registered an amendment bill in parliament last November to address the issues related to provincial boundaries, languages, citizenship and representation in the National Assembly. It sought to split Terai from the hills, creating massive protests in the region. The main opposition, CPN-UML, called it treasonous. The bill tried to recognize Hindi as the national language and allowed naturalized citizens to hold top government posts. As the bill was sure to be rejected in the House, the government replaced it with one based on consultation with the agitating Madhesi forces. The fresh amendment proposal does not include the provision to change the boundary of province, but it has retained other contents as it is to woo the Madhesi parties. The new charter authorizes the local units to decide on all issues except matters relating to security and foreign relations. They can form their own police force, run cooperatives and FM radio stations, collect taxes, manage local services, formulate and execute development plans and projects, conduct basic health programs, distribute land ownership certificates and mediate among village assemblies, district assemblies and the local court. The statute grants voting rights to the heads and deputy heads of local units to elect the president and vice president, and the National Assembly, but the Madhes-based parties are hell-bent on depriving the local elected representatives of their voting rights and other crucial powers. Democracy deepens only if the locally-elected representatives are allowed to exercise autonomy and select the highest public office holders. This will give ordinary people a strong voice in the upper echelons of government. Denying this democratic truth, the Madhesi parties have shown strong aversion to grassroots democracy. This is quite puzzling, and exposes their hidden motive to establish their lordship in the Terai region. Ritu Raj Subedi is an associate editor of The Rising Nepal. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. You are here: Home Flash The scene on Whitehall after a police arrested man on suspicion of terrorism offences, who was carrying knives, in London, Britain on April 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Tim Ireland) A man had been arrested on suspicion of "planning terrorist act" after a security incident occurred near the British Parliament with no injury reported, London police confirmed Thursday. London Metropolitan police said that the man, aged in his late 20s, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. Police said knives had been recovered from him. Two knives could be seen on the ground in a video clip which was taken at the scene and aired by BBC. Police arrested him at approximately 14:22, following a stop and search as part of an ongoing operation. He is being detained under the Terrorism Act and is in custody in a south London police station, police said. The city's traffic authorities confirmed that the Whitehall-Parliament Street is closed northbound due to a "police incident." "Long delays" are expected, according to the authority. The British Prime Minister Theresa May's official resident at Downing Street is not far away from the Westminster Parliament building. The incident came slightly over one month after the deadly attack outside the British Parliament compound which was claimed by the so called Islamic State. Flash EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini addresses the press conference following the informal meeting of EU Defense Ministers in Valletta, Malta on April 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Yun Yuan) Defense is one of the fields where EU integration is advancing the most, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Thursday at the informal meeting of EU Defense Ministers in Malta. The need to be consistent and move forward on EU defense and security cooperation is very relevant as a demand is seen for this work, she added. The different fields were reviewed on the move forward, mainly permanent structure cooperation, synchronization of defense budgets and EU defense action plan to finance both research and capability. Maltese Minister Carmelo Abela for National Security and Home Affairs added that there is a proposal for a European Defense Fund. The Ministers also examined the promotion of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in the field of Defense. Further decisions on this and the coordination of defense budgets will be further decided upon on the 18th of May. "With crises around us, a rapid reaction force that might be deployed in some areas has also been deemed necessary," added Mogherini. The rapid response, Toolbox needs to be strengthened, including the EU battle-groups to reinforce their effective financing, added Abela. Flash Israel's army said Thursday that its Patriot missile defense system intercepted an incoming object from Syria, reportedly a drone, while it was above the Israeli-held Golan Heights. Local media reported that the projectile was a drone that crossed from Syria to Israel's aerial territory. A military spokesperson confirmed in a statement that the Patriot system "intercepted a target above the Golan Heights" in northern Israel. The statement did not provide further details. The incident came in the wake of an alleged Israeli airstrike in Syria during the night between Wednesday and Thursday. The Syrian army confirmed that Israel missile fire targeted a Syrian military position near the international airport of the capital Damascus. Israel fired several missiles from inside the annexed territory against one of the military positions southwest of the Damascus airport, causing fire and several explosions in the targeted site, which left damages, according to a report on the state TV that quoted Syrian army source. Israel has not officially assumed responsibility for the attack, but local media reported that the strike targeted a weapon arsenal of Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite group that fights alongside President Bashar al-Assad army. It was not the first Israeli strike, as the Israelis have ramped up their airstrikes on military positions in Syria recently, targeting military base in Qunaitera province in southern Syria this week, as well as a military position near the ancient city of Palmyra last month. Israel seized the Golan Heights during the 1967 war and annexed it later in a move that has never been recognized internationally. Flash The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has accused South Korean acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn of trying to keep conservative forces in power by hyping up threats from the north, said official media Friday. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted a spokesman for the Policy Department of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country of the DPRK as saying that Hwang made remarks about "tougher counteraction" and "retaliatory punishment" against DPRK recently. "Days ago, traitor Hwang convened a 'state council meeting' at which he said 'the north may make sixth nuclear test or other provocations on the anniversary of the People's Army' and 'the north will face tougher counteraction if it makes reckless provocation,'" said the spokesman for the official organ which deals with inter-Korean affairs. "On Wednesday, frightened by the combined live-fire demonstration of the services of the Korean People's Army the U.S. and south Korean warmongers hastily launched '2017 combined firepower annihilating drill,'" he said. The DPRK Tuesday held its largest ever combined live-fire drill in the presence of its top leader Kim Jong Un at Wonsan on the eastern coast to mark the 85th founding anniversary of its army. In response, the U.S. and South Korean forces also staged military exercises on Wednesday. "Even the master U.S., much upset by the rapidly developing nuclear attack capability of the DPRK, is flustering by hurling its strategic assets. It is ridiculous for the South Korean puppet group to vociferate about 'retaliatory punishment,'" said the spokesman. "What Hwang is behaving reveals the uneasiness of the south Korean conservative group who have been isolated and rejected as the days go by and betrays his sinister ploy to rally the conservative forces by inciting security crisis ahead of the 'presidential election,'" he added. South Korea will hold a general election next month and a number of conservative and liberal candidates are contending for the presidency. The DPRK has urged South Koreans to choose "progressive forces" to replace the conservative forces of the incumbent government which Pyongyang says has damaged inter-Korean relations. Flash The Taliban on Friday announced the start of their yearly rebel offensive in Afghanistan. The Taliban has codenamed their offensive "operation Mansoori" referring to their leader Mohammad Akhtar Mansoor who was killed in a U.S. drone strike along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border last year, they said in a statement. The Taliban militants, who ruled the country before being ousted in late 2001, renewed armed insurgency, killing government troops as well as civilians. They urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants besides warning people not to support the government. The NATO and U.S. forces completed their combat mission in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, after 13 years of military presence in the country but around 13,000 foreign troops remain in the country to train and assist the Afghan forces. On Thursday, the UN urged warring sides in Afghanistan to take further measures for better protect of civilians from conflicts. "With the so-called fighting season imminent, I appeal to all parties to take every measure possible to prevent unnecessary and unacceptable harm to Afghan civilians," Tadamichi Yamamoto, special UN envoy and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, said in a statement. "During an armed conflict, the intentional killing and injuring of civilians is a war crime," said Yamamoto, adding that "anti-government elements must stop this deplorable practice and everybody must apply - and respect - the definition of 'civilian' provided by international humanitarian law." About 715 civilians were killed and over 1,460 others injured in conflict-related incidents across Afghanistan in the first three months of the year, according to figures released by the UN mission in the country. The mission attributed 62 percent of the casualties to the Taliban and other anti-government militants. Endit You are here: Home Flash Japan's Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) said Friday that it conducted a joint drill east of Okinawa with U.S. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, according to local media reports. Defense Minister Tomomi Inada told a press briefing that the exercise was held to further strengthen the deterrence power of the Japan-U.S. alliance and to "show our country's commitment to the region's stability." Kyodo News quoted the ASDF as saying that two F-15 fighter jets based in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, joined two U.S. Navy F/A-18 fighters based on the Carl Vinson in the air east of Okinawa to conduct the fighting drill. The exercise was initially scheduled to be carried out on Wednesday afternoon, but was cancelled due to bad weather, the ASDF said. Although the two countries often hold joint military drills, one involving an aircraft carrier is rare. Radio Free Asia 2017-04-26 Tibetan advocacy organizations and international rights groups called this week on China to release a high-ranking Tibetan religious figure taken into custody 22 years ago and held incommunicado ever since. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, now 28 years old, was detained together with his family by Chinese authorities in 1995 after he was identified by exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama as the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, Tibets second most-senior Buddhist monk. A Beijing-backed candidate, Gyaincain Norbu, was then installed by China in his place, and remains unpopular among Tibetans. The head of Tibetan Buddhisms Sakya lineage pays respect to photo of the Panchen Lama, April 25, 2017. RFA Nothing has been learned of the fate of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima since he vanished with his family in detention, and requests by the United Nations and other international agencies and human rights organizations to visit him have consistently been refused by Beijing. Speaking in an interview with RFAs Tibetan Service, Dardon Sharlinga secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations of the Dharamsala, India-based Central Tibetan Administration (CTA)described the Panchen Lamas continued disappearance as the greatest representation of Chinas overall policy toward Tibet and Tibetans. The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance has told CTA officials that the issue of the Panchen Lama remains an unresolved case,' Sharling said. Chinas refusal to allow the young lama to fulfill his traditional role is a huge loss not only for the Panchen Lama himself but also for Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan people, Sonam Gyaltsena professor of history at the College of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah, in Dharamsalatold RFA. Getting a proper spiritual education is the most important cause for a reincarnated lama to be able to continue the work of his predecessor, Gyaltsen said. Serious international crime In an open letter released on April 25, the Panchen Lamas birthday, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom commissioner Tenzin Dorjee chose words that spoke directly to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, voicing his sadness that the missing Panchen Lama may never read his words. Ever since you were abducted as a young child at the age of six, the Chinese government has refused to share even basic information about you and your whereabouts, Dorjee wrote. Please know that I think about you every day, and as each year passes, my resolve to find you and restore you to your rightful role becomes stronger. The continued detention of the Panchen Lama in secret is an act of enforced disappearance, the Dharamsala-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) added in a statement this week. [This] is a serious international crime that violates multiple human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other major international human rights instruments, TCHRD said. TCHRD calls on the Chinese government to end the enforced disappearance of the Panchen Lama and allow him to live like a normal human being with all the basic rights such as life, livelihood, and [freedom of] movement, the rights group said. Interference from Beijing The selection of reincarnate lamas in Tibetan areas of China is now subject to approval by Beijing, with high-ranking religious teachers often cultivated by the government as patriotic lamas-politically reliable figures who will not call for Tibetan independence from Chinese rule. China is now keen to engineer a process that produces a pro-Beijing monk as the next Dalai Lama when the present holder of the title, now 81, eventually passes away. Without any recognition from the Dalai Lama, the Chinese authorities can never be able to put the stamp of legitimacy to their selection of any religious leader, whether it is the Panchen Lama or a future Dalai Lama, Bhuchung Tsering, vice president of the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) said in an April 25 statement. China might want to have its own version of Rule by Incarnation, Tsering said. But it is the will of the believers that will really matter. The earlier the Chinese authorities realize this, the better it will be for them. Reported by Urgyen Tenzin for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Kalden Lodoe. Written in English by Richard Finney. ChinaAid Media Team Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985 Email: [email protected] For more information, click here By Maggie, China Aviation Daily | Apr. 28, 2017 The first EASA-CAAC Safety Conference was held in Shanghai on April 27. Leaders from civil aviation departments and the aviation industry in China and the EU had a broad and in-depth exchange of views on issues in respect of deepening EU-China civil aviation cooperation and promoting EU-China aviation safety development. CAAC Administrator Feng Zhenglin said that, the EASA-CAAC Safety Conference is an important platform for the civil aviation industry from China and the EU to communicate and cooperate with each other. EU-China civil aviation cooperation has reached substantial results. For now, China has signed bilateral transportation agreement with 27 out of 28 EU countries. There are 15 EU countries having launched nonstop routes to China and there are over 600 flights weekly flying between China and the EU. The passenger traffic between China and the EU in 2016 reached 8 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 15%. As at the end of 2016, China civil aviation industry has a total of more than 1400 Airbus aircraft, which totaled nearly half of China's civil aviation aircraft. Airbus final assembly line in Tianjin is a typical example for EU-China civil aviation cooperation. Moreover, Airbus A330 delivery and completion center will be the first delivery and completion center for wide-body jets outside Europe. Mr Feng said that, China and the EU should further deepen cooperation on the following five aspects: innovation on safety regulation, extension on bilateral airworthiness, elevation of supporting ability for air traffic control, promotion of general aviation industry's development and cooperation on education and training. CAAC Chief Engineer Yin Shijun said that, promoting EU-China civil aviation cooperation will improve trust between China and the EU and facilitate communication on aviation products. Elevation on aviation safety will improve air transport's development. Airworthiness cooperation agreement will increase aircraft's certification efficiency and release the domestic industry's burden. Information communication and exchange over aviation products' design and manufacture, continued airworthiness, operation should be strengthened. Mr Yin said that, China currently has approximately 1400 transport aircraft and 650 general-purpose aircraft that are produced in Europe. European aircraft projects that are manufactured in China now include Airbus final assembly line in Tianjin and Diamond DA40 in Binzhou Shandong. Additionally, Diamond DA42 project in Wuhu Anhui and Tecnam project in Shenyang are being reviewed now and will soon be put into operation. Police in London said a female suspect was shot and wounded as they foiled an active terror plot in a raid on a house in northwest London. Police entered the house yesterday evening, firing tear gas and shooting the woman, who was in her 20s and is now in a serious but stable condition. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said at a press briefing on Friday that three occupants of the house, in the suburb of Willesden, were arrested on suspicion of plotting a terror attack. Two more people were arrested when they returned to the property later. A woman was also arrested in a related raid in Kent, Basu added. Due to these arrests that have been made yesterday, I believe we have contained the threats that they pose. Asked if police had foiled an active terror plot, Basu said, Yes. The arrests were not linked to yesterdays arrest of a man carrying knives near the Houses of Parliament. Police said they had been following him as a suspect when he was arrested. On March 22 Khalid Masood mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in his hired car, killing four before stabbing an unarmed police officer to death outside the Houses of Parliament. Masood was then shot dead himself. Neighbours living next to the Willesden house said the family were Somali Muslims. Alex Paton, a nearby resident, told the BBC I saw coppers (policemen) and masked men with guns, and there was a guy running down the road with a gas mask and a machine gun. Police said the woman who was shot had been taken to hospital under police guard but had not been arrested for the moment because of her condition. The terror threat level issued by the security services in England, Wales and Scotland is Severe, one level down from the top rating of Critical. The current level means a terror attack is highly likely. To contact the reporter: chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com Two years ago, when Pakistani student Khola Masood was dazzled by the offers from PhD programs in Japan, Italy, New Zealand and China, she picked China and enrolled at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing to advance her education. The 25-year-old business management PhD candidate also aspires to learn Chinese, as she sees growing investment and cooperation between the two countries. "Having Chinese language capabilities can be advantageous when I go back to Pakistan," Masood adds. The advantage of studying in China includes international experience and the quality education, she believes. In 2016, China became the third most-popular destination for students who study abroad after the United States and the United Kingdom. Students who come from Belt and Road countries increased 13.6 percent from 2015. The total number was 207,746, according to the Ministry of Education. "The continuous rise of China's education quality has won recognition from both students and parents abroad," says Liu Jinlan, associate dean of the UIBE's School of International Education. The deepening exchanges between China and countries along the Belt and Road routes create a higher demand for international talent, she says. Liu notes that China's policy support, such as the Belt and Road scholarship offered to 10,000 foreign students each year for the next five years, also contributes to this rise. After finishing high school at home, Albanian student Florian Osmanaj received a six-year full scholarship from the China Scholarship Council, including free tuition, accommodation, medical insurance and a 2,500 yuan ($363) monthly stipend. But when Osmanaj first arrived at Shandong University to study Chinese in September 2014, he encountered a great language barrier. "I didn't even know how to say nihao (hello)," he says. He later got help from both teachers and Chinese friends. Starting from the second year, Osmanaj enrolled in Capital Medical University as a clinical-medicine major. The classes are all in Chinese. "I study nearly every day," he says. There were times that he got frustrated, but his passion in medicine motivated him to keep reading and working hard. Osmanaj is happy the university he attends is affiliated with many high-caliber hospitals in Beijing. That offers him abundant opportunities to get hands-on experience. He sees closer ties between his country and China. He even persuaded his younger brother back home attend a local Confucius Institute to study Chinese. "It's difficult to find other countries that offer opportunities more than China at this moment," he says. Osmanaj believes his future will be connected with China. "I feel China is my second home," he says. "Even if I don't live here in the future, I will try my best to present Chinese culture in my country, and tell others about the food, the people and the places." BERLIN Germany understands China's efforts to open its markets step by step, and it is "unrealistic" to expect China to fully open its market overnight, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Wednesday. He made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi after attending the third round of China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security. Germany is confident that China will not reverse its opening up policy, and the bilateral economic and trade exchanges aim for win-win results, Gabriel said, adding that the open market and equal partnership are the common aspirations for both countries. He also said China is one of Germany's closest partners in world politics, adding that the rapid development of bilateral ties in all areas is a result of the high mutual trust between the two sides. Gabriel also said that Germany supports China's Belt and Road Initiative and is ready to increase the pragmatic cooperation with China within this framework. Many major issues of global concerns can not be solved without China, Gabriel said, noting that Germany attaches great importance to China's international role and is ready to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in global and regional affairs. Germany is fully confident of the prospect of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, he noted. For his part, Wang said China expects Germany and members of the European Union (EU) to exert influence so that the bloc could at the earliest date implement its obligations stipulated in Article 15 of the protocol on China's accession to the WTO, a "stumbling block" of China-EU economic cooperation. In accordance with the article, WTO members should cease the surrogate country approach in anti-dumping investigations on China after Dec 11, 2016, which expires exactly 15 years after China's admission. China appreciates Germany's positive attitude in solving the aforementioned problem, Wang said, noting that the two countries also have remarkable consensus on reaching the China-EU investment agreement and opening the free trade cooperation as early as possible, he said. In the dialogue, the two sides agreed to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership, make joint preparations for the upcoming high-level visits, and promote the dialogue mechanisms on people-to-people, financial and security exchanges. Beijing and Berlin believed their economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature, and the two nations have far more complementarities than competitions in this aspect. The two countries said they are willing to facilitate the investments of companies, noting that amid the rising economic anti-globalization and protectionism, China and Germany, both major trading nations in the world, shall uphold free trade and investment and deliver their explicit support for openness, inclusiveness, cooperation and win-win results. Moreover, as the second and fourth economies in the world, China and Germany also shoulder responsibilities to safeguard peace and stability, said Wang, adding that China supports Germany to play a more important role in European affairs and global governance. China's Europe policy remains consistent and stable, even though the continent has entered a key period, as the peoples of France, Britain and Germany will in the coming months vote on their countries' development directions and the European integration, he said. Wang added that it is China's hope and belief that Germany, as the core country in Europe, will keep committed to the European stability, and work with China to offset global uncertainties with a stable bilateral relationship, and facilitate regional integration with enhancing the China-Europe cooperation. China welcomes Germany's increasing emphasis on Asia, and China particularly, on its agenda, said Wang, adding that Beijing warmly welcomes German Minister of Economic Affairs Brigitte Zypries, who will attend the Belt and Road Forum on International Cooperation next month as the representative of Chancellor Angela Merkel. In the meeting, the two sides also exchanged opinions on the issues of common concern, such as Korean Peninsula and Syria, and agreed to solve these conflicts by peaceful means. Employees at Japan's robot venture Cyberdyne demonstrate the new robot suit's Hybrid Assistive Limb labor version at the Cyberdyne headquarters in Tsukuba. The HAL, which is designed to learn the users' motion and help their movements, can be used by construction workers to carry heavy objects. [Photo/Agencies] Xiongan could emerge as the Chinese version of Tsukuba, the Japanese science city near Tokyo that was conceived in 1963 during the post-war reconstruction, experts say. They said the planned Xiongan New Area could borrow ideas from Tsukuba. The latter has set an example on how to transform overcrowded, unmanageable metropolitan areas into parts of a larger and orderly economic region. The April 1 announcement of the plan to create the Xiongan New Area laid emphasis on relocating Beijing's "non-capital" functions to Xiongan, about 100 kilometers south of the capital city. The new area will be built into a green, livable and modern zone, which is expected to serve as a trailblazer in addressing the problems of big cities, a new engine for innovation and growth, and a bridge for infrastructure connecting Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province. A similar scheme in Japan last century resulted in Tsukuba, which could be a role model for China's Xiongan New Area, said Zhou Muzhi, professor of economics at Tokyo Keizai University. Tokyo grew into the world's largest city in 1955, thanks to Japan's rapid economic takeoff after World War II. The Japanese government came up with the idea of relieving the densely populated capital through systematic relocation of 31 prominent national research and educational facilities to less-congested regions of Japan. Tsukuba, a rural area 50 km northeast of Tokyo, was selected in 1963 as the site for Japan's first science city to host those institutes. Japanese Prime Minister's Office set up the Academic New Town Construction Promotion Headquarters in 1964. The Tsukuba Academic New Town Construction Act came into force in 1970, setting the goal of "establishing a science city appropriate for conducting experimental research and education while at the same time developing a well-balanced rural city, and contributing to the ease of the excessive population concentration in the existing Tokyo metropolitan area". The then planned science city, which now covers 284 square kilometers, was supposed to be home to 350,000 residents. In the 1970s, people who moved to Tsukuba were said to need three thingshigh boots for the mud, a flashlight (as there were few streetlights) and a stick to keep stray dogs at bay. In 1973, the University of Tsukuba was established, the forerunner of which was the Tokyo University of Education that was founded in 1949. And in 1980, all 31 national institutes selected to move from Tokyo were relocated to the new city. Tsukuba has since grown tremendously, becoming home to 147 research institutes and 227,000 people, according to Zhou. Today, Tsukuba is Japan's cutting-edge science city. Its research covers a wide range of areas, such as electronics, biotechnology, mechatronics, new materials, information engineering, space development, environmental science, natural resources, energy, earth sciences, civil engineering, construction and agriculture. There are four Japanese Nobel laureates associated with Tsukuba. Shin-Itiro Tomonaga, professor emeritus of the Tokyo University of Education, received the Nobel Prize in physics in 1965; Leo Esaki, former president of the University of Tsukuba, was awarded the 1973 Nobel physics prize; Hideki Shirakawa, professor emeritus of the University of Tsukuba, was the winner of the chemistry prize in 2000; and Makoto Kobayashi, professor emeritus at the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization in the city, was the recipient of the 2008 physics prize. "The Japanese government has had a very clear idea of what kind of city Tsukuba should be. That is, it should be an international science city," Zhou said. "Japan has made it (like that)." A large community of international scholars and researchers also give the city a unique cosmopolitan quality. Tsukuba has achieved worldwide recognition as a major scientific and technology center. The new city hosted the International Exposition on Science and Technology in 1985. The event's theme was apt: "Dwellings and SurroundingsScience and Technology for Man at Home". The fair put Tsukuba on the global map. The science-driven city hosted the G7 Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting last year. The city was also designated as the Tsukuba International Strategic Zone by the Japanese government. Through deregulation and tax incentives, the designation aims to promote "life innovation" for achieving a healthy aging society and "green innovation" for realizing a low-carbon society. Tsukuba's success story shows that it is important to develop a clear vision for such a new city's role, have clarity on policies and be patient, Zhou said. "It took the Japanese government 20 years to move those institutes to Tsukuba." He highlighted, however, that Tsukuba does not help relieve Tokyo's population density. The Tokyo metropolitan area, which includes Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama and Tokyo prefectures, has seen its population increase from 11.28 million in 1950 to 38 million. The rise of Tsukuba has not dwarfed Tokyo's towering position as a research center. The Japanese capital has 44.6 percent of the country's research professionals. The Xiongan New Area, if developed well, would become a bright spot in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. But Beijing will continue to be the engine driving the growth of the region, Zhou said. He said Beijing should sharpen its capability to manage its dense population, as people will continue to move in. A major transportation network and basic infrastructure should be in place in Xiongan by 2020. The area will be well connected to Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei by 2022 when the Winter Olympic Games are held, according to Xinhua. Please Donate In order to maintain this blog I have to pay for its upkeep including a hosting company, support services, virus and other malicious hackers. If you appreciate what I write please make a donation. Racist PayPal Tries to Close Down My Blog As you can see from this article PayPal have removed my blog. I would therefore ask people to make any future donations to the following: Name of Account: Brighton and Hove Unemployed Workers Centre Account No: 04094107 Sort Code: 09-01-50 Reference: Web donations Many countries have shown a keen interest in China National Nuclear Corporation's cutting-edge third-generation ACP100 nuclear reactor, the company revealed on Thursday. CNNC said it had conducted discussions with countries, including Pakistan, Iran, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Brazil, Egypt and Canada, over potential use of the technology. It disclosed the strong international interest on Thursday at the 12th China International Exhibition on Nuclear Power Industry 2017 in Beijing. The ACP100, which the company calls the Linglong One, is a small modular reactor relying on pressurized water reactor technology. CNNC said it had completed all the research, development and design process and the unit would be ready for engineering construction after government's final approval. SMRs are defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency as advanced reactors producing up to 300 megawatts of power that can be largely built in factories and shipped to utilities and end users. Linglong One is the first reactor of its kind in the world to have passed the safety review by the International Atomic Energy Agency, a remarkable breakthrough in global small multipurpose modular reactor development, said the company. According to CNNC, compared with other energy sources, small reactors as a distributed power source and power supply for a particular region have obvious advantages. It said that in the field of industrial steam supply under the present pricing system, co-generation of steam and power by the ACP100 was economically superior to other power supply modes in view of its 70 percent of heat utilization efficiency. The company said it also provides clean and environmentally friendly energy for water desalination for coastal cities short of water. Many executives in China's nuclear power sector have pitched the use of small scale reactors, as an alternative heat source to lessen dependence on coal-fired plants to reduce pollution. Wan Gang, head of the China Institute of Atomic Energy, said the operation of the small modular reactors was secure, as the core temperature and internal pressure were much lower than a conventional reactor. "The small modular reactors are safe for civilian use in cities," said Wang. A technician works on the Hualong One reactor at the Fangchenggang nuclear power plant in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo by Liang Fuying/For China Daily] China General Nuclear Power Corp said it is confident the first phase of the UK government's assessment of the company's plan to build a nuclear power plant in southeastern England will be completed by mid-November. "We plan to submit the preliminary security report to the British government by mid-November and wrap up all the first phase examination work by then," said Mao Qing, the project manager at CGN responsible for Hualong One's assessment, at the 12th China International Exhibition on Nuclear Power Industry 2017 in Beijing on Thursday. "We are confident that Hualong One is not only safe and technically mature, but also economically competitive, and will pass the UK's strict approval process." The UK government asked nuclear regulators to begin the Generic Design Assessment of CGN's Hualong One reactor design, China's domestically developed third-generation reactor, in January, a process that industry experts expect to take about 60 months in four phases. An expert said he believes there are high chances Hualong One meets the British government's stringent safety, security and design requirements and receiving approval from UK will also make it easier to export Hualong One to other developed nations. Considering CGN's vast experience in building nuclear facilities at home and the significance of the nuclear power plant at Bradwell in southeastern England, chances are high that the parameters are met, said Joseph Jacobelli, a senior analyst with Asia utilities and infrastructure research at Bloomberg Intelligence. Representatives from the UK's Office for Nuclear Regulation and Environment Agency spoke highly of CGN's design research and operation capacity after a visit to the company's Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant in March, according to Mao. UK Energy Minister Jesse Norman also said earlier the stringent regulatory regime in the UK's nuclear industry is to ensure security and the mitigation of any potential environmental accidents. According to Mao, after the first phase of preparation which is expected to take 10 months, the company will spend another 12 months on the evaluation of a preliminary safety report, followed by a 13-month security and environmental impact assessment evaluation before construction and a 25-month discussion with British nuclear safety regulators for further technological improvements. CGN has well prepared itself for all kinds of potential risks and response strategies in accordance with the British government's assessment requirements, said Mao. CGN and French utility Electricite de France SA has set up an industrial partnership, General Nuclear Services, to promote the assessment. CGN Chairman He Yu said earlier that investing in Bradwell will push forward Chinese reactors' global market development. A worker at a local clothes manufacturing factory in Rongcheng county is also a pop music lover. [Photo by Leo Chan/For China Daily] The proposal to set up the Xiongan New Area is attracting not only State-owned enterprises but the private sector, including startups, entrepreneurs and even fresh graduates from across China. All are eager to set up a base, perhaps even headquarters, in the upcoming innovation hub. "Xiongan will be a hot spot for startups and entrepreneurs. It's supposed to drive growth through innovation, technology upgrades and a brand new style of development," said Qu Chunwei, a native of Anxin county, Hebei province, who used to work in Tianjin. His Xixiangyang village is part of Anxin county, one of the three counties that have been included in the new area, the grand plan for which was announced on April 1. Qu has just returned to Xiongan to test waters for his own e-commerce business, an online payment app. The app is expected to aggregate or integrate existing platforms such as WeChat Pay, Alipay, and UnionPay seamlessly. "That way, I can make transactions more convenient, because consumers don't have to download all the e-wallet service apps that different shops demand," he said. "I think it'll have a huge market as more and more Xiongan residents will choose to pay bills with mobile phones in the future," Qu said. He said the people of the three counties will become denizens of the Xiongan New Area; thus, all are his potential customers. Two of Qu's childhood friends from Shanxi province have joined him in the venture. They are receiving training at a startup incubator in Anxin county. Li Jinkui, deputy bureau chief of the Anxin Employment Service Bureau, said he has received many telephone enquiries from fresh graduates and migrant workers about the support they might receive if they relocate to the area to either set up business or work. Li said free training would be provided to those starting up. The employment bureau will come out with more supportive policies to encourage people to start innovation-related businesses in future. "We used to ask them (natives settled elsewhere) to return, but we were always rebuffed because they thought the small town didn't offer good opportunities," Li said. Thanks to the Xiongan New Area plan, the situation has changed now. A fisherman from Anxin county tries to catch fish at the lake of Baiyangdian with help from cormorants. [Photo by Leo Chan/For China Daily] The new area, the third national special economic zone after the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and the Shanghai Pudong New Area, is of national significance and "crucial for the millennium to come", according to the central government. "I believe the new area will bring a lot of opportunities that would be comparable to that of neighboring Beijing and Tianjin," said Yang Hejun, head of Anxin Mingdao Start-ups Service Co Ltd, a startup incubator. The enterprise has enrolled about 20 candidates, including returnees and locals, for training in starting a new business. Mingdao was established last year to help develop new businesses by giving them office space and related services, including advice on business and technology. It has set up 70 offices for use by startups. Given the high chance for a rise in the number of innovative startups now, supportive policies could lead to the incubator's expansion, Yang said. Not many Anxin natives working outside appear to have returned to their hometown like Qu had done in less than two weeks after the big announcement on April 1, he said. "But I've heard that many successful entrepreneurs in big cities like Beijing are planning to return." Niu Gensheng, 64, a native of Rongcheng county, one of the three countries included in the Xiongan New Area, told Hebei Daily that he had advised his son, who works in Beijing, to return home in the near future. According to Yang, most of the locals now based elsewhere are waiting for further clarity on policies and development plans for the new area. Such policies and plans are being drafted. Yang said all those keen to set up startups, including himself, should be prudent, and choose only those business fields that are in accordance with the policies of the planned new area. Xinhua News Agency quoted Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli as saying that Xiongan should promote innovation, attract high-tech enterprises and avoid becoming an industrial hub led by traditional industries. The proposed emphasis appears to have inspired some of the established local entrepreneurs to adapt their development strategies accordingly. Xu Linghua, chairman of Hebei Taidou Cable Group Co Ltd, said he has started combining his old business with innovation. Taidou Cable is a local private company engaged in the making of cables in Xiongxian, the third county included in the new area. "My cable-making factories might adapt to the overall planning of the new area," Xu said, adding that he is keen to establish an online platform to exhibit and sell cable products across China. "Even if my factories get eliminated (as part of the area development), internet-led businesses might be welcome, because cables will be still needed in the development of Xiongan," he said. "They will be needed in buildings and transportation facilities such as subway train systems," Xu said. Zhang Peng, a native of Xiongxian county, is an investor in the county's ecological agriculture. He returned from Baoding where he finished his schooling and started his career. [Photo by Wang Weiqian/For China Daily] A Xinhua report quoted an official with the preparatory committee of Xiongan as saying that high-tech businesses such as 5G communications, biomedicine, artificial intelligence and internet finance might be welcome. The master plan for the new area development has not yet been finalized. Companies such as Hebei Hengshan Construction Co Ltd, which is based in the provincial capital Shijiazhuang, about 200 km away from Xiongan, are watching the situation closely. Xing Shitian, who works with Hengshan, believes no matter how the area will develop, new infrastructure such as buildings is essential. Hengshan may well set up a branch in the area, he said. "I hope specific policies for the development of Xiongan will be announced as soon as possible. We are well prepared to go there and seek new construction orders," Xing said. While the private sector and individual entrepreneurs are awaiting policy clarity, State-owned enterprises have received initial support from policymakers. The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council said on April 14 that central SOEs will be encouraged to locate their newly registered high-tech, new technology and high-end service businesses in the Xiongan New Area. They "are encouraged to lend strong support to the construction of the zone in areas like energy security, infrastructure, electricity, telecommunications, rail transport, ecological protection, information-based networks and smart cities," it said in a statement. Contact the writers at zhangyu1@chinadaily.com.cn Collaboration to improve civil aviation between China and the European Union is advancing along with the growth of air travel, which reached some 8 million passenger trips last year, representing an annual increase of 15 percent, according to the chief of China's aviation authorities. "China has signed bilateral transportation agreements with 27 out of the 28 EU countries, with 15 of the nations already having launched direct flights to China. Every week, there are more than 600 flights between China and the EU," according to Feng Zhenglin, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Feng gave a keynote speech at the first joint aviation safety conference of the CAAC and European Aviation Safety Agency, held in Shanghai on Thursday. Aviation cooperation between China and the EU has reached more than 100 programs dealing with such areas as laws and regulations, safety standards, airworthiness and maintenance, and aviation security, Feng said. The two parties signed a letter of intent to work together in 2013, drew a road map for aviation security in 2015, and in 2016 launched the EU-China Aviation Partnership Project, according to Feng. A letter of intent supporting the project was signed on Wednesday at the conference's opening ceremony. "A typical example of the deepened cooperation between China and EU is the Airbus final assembly line in Tianjin. There are about 1,400 Airbus aircraft being operated across China, accounting for nearly half of all aircraft in operation in China," he said. Yu Nan, an industrial analyst from Haitong Securities, said: "There is huge growth potential in the Sino-EU aviation market compared with the fully developed Sino-US market. I expect more direct routes will be launched and more airlines to launch code-share agreements." In the case of China and the United States, 812 flights between the two nations were made every week in the winter of 2016, up 20.8 percent from the summer of 2016, according to CAAC data. There are as many as 15,000 passengers and 116 flights between the two every day. Leading members of the aviation community at the conference discussed progress on establishing a bilateral aviation safety agreement between China and the European Union. More uniform standards, reached through a safety agreement, would make it easier for companies to market their aviation products in China and Europe, while maintaining the high safety record that benefits both regions. "This year is the year of opportunities," said Henrik Hololei, director general for mobility and transport for the European Commission. Hololei said he expects a set of negotiations to be finalized soon between China and the EU that would include the safety agreement, which would benefit the aviation industry of both. Panel discussions were held that dealt with such topics as implementing efficient safety management systems for maintenance, new technologies and developments in aircraft navigation systems, and efforts to promote the wider use of helicopters in China for uses like emergency medical services. The conference marks a new high in aviation ties between China and the EU after steady grown in recent years, said Li Jian, deputy head of the CAAC. BEIJING China's economic planner has pledged more efforts to push forward structural reforms in 2017 as the world's second-largest economy is still in the middle of overall rebalancing. Supply-side structural reform remains high on this year's work agenda, said a statement released Thursday after a two-day meeting of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Solid and effective measures will be rolled out to cut excessive capacity, reduce the number of unsold homes, de-leverage, bring down business burdens, and improve weak areas. The NDRC said it aims for new breakthroughs in economic restructuring. While the economy has shown signs of stabilizing in the first quarter, structural problems remain and uncertainties linger, which requires unwavering and continued efforts to deepen reforms, according to the statement. Other key areas were also highlighted, including cutting red tape, reforms in taxation and finance, the mixed ownership of State-owned firms, opening up in more sectors, and environmental protection. MADRID China's telecoms giant's branch in Spain, Huawei Spain, joined the employers' organization, the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), it was reported Thursday. Huawei Spain CEO Tony Jin Yong and the president of the CEOE Joan Rosell signed an accord to this effect here, highlighting how the agreement will help the company participate actively in CEOE affairs. Jin Yong said joining CEOE "is a further demonstration of our promise to continue in the Spanish market and it is a tool to consolidate our strategy of cooperation, innovation and growth in Spain." Rosell said it was an "honor" for CEOE to have Huawei Spain join their ranks, as it is "one of the leading companies in technological and innovative solutions." JINAN - The first direct air route connecting Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province, and Europe will be launched next month, the airport announced Thursday. The Jinan-Milan route, set to begin service May 19, will be operated by Italian Neos airlines once a week, said a manager with the Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport. Flight NO957, which will operate via a Boeing 767 aircraft, is scheduled to depart Jinan airport every Friday at 11 pm, while the return flight is scheduled for 2:40 am local time from the Milan-Malpensa Airport. A one-way trip will take around 11 to 12 hours, according to the manager. The route will help boost trade and cultural exchanges between Shandong and its neighboring regions and European countries, he said at a press conference. Shandong is rich in tourism resources. Famous resorts in the province include Mount Tai, the hometown of ancient philosopher Confucius in Qufu, and coastal sites such as Yantai and Weihai. BEIJING - Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Thursday said US accusations that China is subsidizing plywood exports are abuses of policies. "The US Department of Commerce ignored the active cooperation of the Chinese firms in its preliminary determination," said Sun Jiwen, spokesperson of the MOC, at a press conference. The remarks came in the wake of a preliminary determination made by the US Department of Commerce on April 18 in an investigation of imports of China's plywood products, with the calculated preliminary subsidy rates ranging from 9.89 percent to 111.09 percent. The US Commerce Department has miscalculated the rates and applied "Adverse Facts Available" without giving Chinese firms sufficient access for plea and response, according to Sun. "Chinese firms have expressed strong dissatisfaction about US infringement of their interests," said Sun. Sun urged the US government to strictly follow WTO rules and investigation procedures, and cautiously apply trade remedy measures. The US government has announced tightened enforcement of duties against subsidies earlier this year. BEIJING - The overall investment environment in China has been improving in recent years and China's door is going to keep opening wider, Sun Jiwen, spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, said Thursday. Sun's remarks came on the heels of the 2017 American Business in China White Paper released last week by the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China). The White Paper argues that foreign-invested enterprises face many regulatory challenges in China, saying access to China's markets remains relatively restricted. Attracting foreign investment is one important part of the basic state policy of reform and opening up, and China welcomes foreign companies to invest in China, Sun told reporters. China welcomes foreign companies operating in China to share their insights to improve the country's investment environment through joint efforts, Sun said. China is trying to create and protect a fair market environment for competition and is making service industries, manufacturing, and mining sectors more open to foreign investment, he said. "Foreign companies will be treated the same as domestic companies when it comes to license applications, standards-setting and government procurement, and will enjoy the same preferential policies under the Made in China 2025 initiative according to this year's government work report released last month," Sun added. A worker assembles a robotic arm at a factory in Foshan, Guangdong province. [Provided to China Daily] BEIJING - China's major industrial firms continued to post double-digit growth in profits in March, adding to signs of a stabilizing Chinese economy, official data showed Thursday. The companies reported a 23.8-percent year-on-year profit growth last month, slowing from 31.5 percent in January and February but still much faster than the 8.5-percent increase in 2016, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). In the first three months of the year, profits of major industrial firms rose 28.3 percent year on year, the NBS said in a statement. The profit growth was supported by rising commodity prices, improved demand and expectations, as well as higher productivity, according to an analysis note from China Merchants Securities (CMS). In the first quarter of 2017, major industrial firms saw profit margins of their primary business edge up 0.68 percentage points to 6.13 percent. It was the first time the profit margin climbed above 6 percent since 2014, reflecting a better industrial structure and increased efficiency, the CMS said. Meanwhile, the companies' debt-asset ratio dropped 0.7 percentage points to 56.2 percent. NBS statistician He Ping noted the profit growth in March was of higher quality, as consumer product and equipment manufacturing accounted for a larger share of all newly-generated profits than in the January-February period, while the share of mining and raw material industries fell. The manufacturing industry reaped 1.49 trillion yuan ($216.2 billion) of profits in the first three months, accounting for 87.5 percent of overall industrial profits, and up 23.4 percent year on year. The industrial sector, which accounts for about a third of China's GDP, started to pick up last year after profit declines in 2015, helped by government efforts to cut overcapacity and a recovery in the property market. Value-added industrial output expanded 6.8 percent year-on-year in the first three months, accelerating from 6.3 percent in January and February, and 6 percent in 2016. "The sector was off to a good start in the first quarter, with some indicators, industries and regions performing better than expected," Zheng Lixin, spokesperson of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said Wednesday. The upbeat profit data came after a slew of other indicators suggesting improvement in the Chinese economy. The country's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) came in at 51.8 in March, higher than the 51.6 recorded in February and staying above the boom-bust mark for the eighth month in a row. Unemployment fell 0.05 percentage points to 3.97 percent at the end of March from three months earlier, as more new jobs were created. However, as commodity prices retreat, upstream industries may lose steam and drag down the overall industrial profit growth in future, the CMS said. "Coal, oil and steel industries already posted slower profit increases in March," said He, who also warned of pressure from rising costs and financial expenses. The annual industrial profit growth for this year will moderate to 15-20 percent, the CMS said. China's GDP expanded 6.9 percent year on year in the first quarter, up from the 6.8-percent growth in the previous quarter and 6.7 percent in 2016. It also beat previous market expectations of 6.8 percent and came well above the annual growth target of around 6.5 percent. Egypt Today, by: Moataz Abdel Fattah Dear Pope Francis, Egyptians say to you: Hatnwarna; an Egyptian colloquial phrase that we use to summarize a deep meaning that translates into: You will bring light with you to us. We look forward to your visit. Upon your arrival, you will find a nation with three main characteristics: First, the hopeful and proud people of Egypt believe and endorse your emblematic message: The world needs peace, love and mercy. Egyptians today follow in the footsteps of their ancestors and thus welcome you as a friend, as a messenger of peace, and a pilgrim to the country thatover 2,000 years agogave refuge and hospitality to the Holy Family as they fled the threats of King Herod, as you stated in your message to the Egyptian people a few days ago. You remind Egyptians of Saint Francis of Assisi who crossed the Mediterranean Sea to meet with Sultan al-Kamel and put an end to the Fifth Crusade 800 years ago. It is the same message of peace that Egyptians endorsed then and that their ancestors sanction now. Second, your visit comes as the death toll of Egyptians mounts due to the terrorist attacks launched against Egyptians, Christians and Muslims alike. Egyptians know that they will win their battle against terrorists who claim to be Muslims but act against all the teachings of Islam. Egyptians will win because of their serenity and resilience. Terrorists thought that targeting Christians would drive a wedge between Christians and Muslims. Contrary to the extremists expectations, Muslims took it upon themselves to help Christian victims and their families, donate blood and money, and wave a stronger fabric of national unity under the slogan of one nation, different regions under one God. Third, Egyptians join hands with you in calling for the bloodshed to stop in the Arab World. Egyptians have given refuge to millions of Iraqis, Libyans, Syrians, Sudanese and Yemenis as their duty toward humanity. Egypt has no refugee camps and has no way to isolate and discriminate against non-Egyptians. Egyptians can and want to help our brothers and sisters throughout the region, but we need the help and support of all nations and organizations. Sir, you will be meeting top Egyptian political, religious and intellectual figures. They will likely tell you that we need the Catholic Church to tell the world that Egypt is a country of peace, Islam is a religion of peace; and enemies of peace are of different nationalities and religions. You know how extremists misrepresented Catholicism. Islam has caught the same disease and we are fighting back. Your prayers and support are much appreciated. God bless you. ADDIS ABABA - China has been commended for its positive role in addressing the infrastructure gap in Africa. China's infrastructure development projects in Africa have been boosting employment while enabling skills development and technology transfer, according to speakers at a seminar recently organized in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa to deliberate on the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. Organized under the theme, "Belt and Road Initiative: African Perspective," the seminar has attracted speakers and presenters of senior government officials, diplomats, scholars and representatives of international institutions among others. Recalling a report by the World Bank, Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie, Resident Representative to Ethiopia of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), said Sub-Saharan Africa lags other developing regions in all dimensions, especially in the power sector, where electricity generating capacity per capita has changed little over 20 years. Only 35 percent of the population has access to electricity and Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest road and railroad densities among developing regions, noted the UNDP Official. "China is playing an important role in addressing the infrastructure gap in Africa," she said. She also underlined the need for UN and other institutions to forge closer partnership with China to crowd-in private investment in infrastructure, support countries to improve efficiency in public investment in infrastructure. Atnafseged Kifle, Advisor to Ethiopian State Minister of Transport, noted on his part that all engineering projects undertaken by China involve the construction of infrastructures much needed by Africa. For that purpose, he said China introduces competitive industries urgently needed by African industrialization and hires large number of local workers for the construction. "Global investment that follows infrastructural advance not only boosts local employment but also generates spillover effects, such as skill development, management experience, and technology transfer, which also help to reduce the high unemployment rate in Africa," he said. He said Ethiopia's Ministry of Transport has a strong view that African policy makers to make the most of Chinese investment in infrastructure development coined under the "Belt and Road Initiative," so as to foster sustainable development. He further noted that African countries need to seize the unprecedented opportunity of Africa-China partnership to team up in planning and promoting infrastructural development and industrial collaboration. The UNDP official has also hailed the development cooperation between China and Ethiopia. "China's role as an international player in development cooperation continues to grow, through bilateral cooperation and multilateral channels. At the 2015 UN Summit in September, China announced a South-South Cooperation Aid Fund worth 2 billion U.S. dollars," she said. The South-South cooperation remains an important framework for engagement between Ethiopia and China on promoting sustainable development, she said, adding that the UNDP has used this vehicle to promote cooperation between China and Ethiopia in the area of renewable energy technologies. Regarding the Belt and Road initiative, the UNDP Resident Representative said the initiative presents a unique opportunity to Ethiopia by building on the existing good partnership with the China on several fronts. "The UN stands ready to support the Government to develop bankable proposals that China could consider funding under the initiative." "I also trust that the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be hosted by China in May 2017 will help to further consolidate the support within the context and aspirations of Agenda 2063 and 2030 agenda for sustainable development," she said. Ethiopia is aggressively pursuing a transformative agenda anchored on industrialization for structural change to achieve middle income status by 2025, reiterated the UNDP Resident Representative. "This is an excellent opportunity for collaboration between the UN agencies and China to support this outcome by strengthening systems, knowledge, and technology adoption towards industrial transformation in Ethiopia," she said. Vincent C. McDonald is talking about the advantages of commercial weather service in Beijing, April 26, 2017. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Weather information is valuable asset, as it allows individuals to plan ahead, organizing their days around how it is going to look outside. Vincent C McDonald, chief international strategy officer (CISO) for AccuWeather, said he was proud to provide exact forecasting information to the people in China. He added that staff working for the company's forecasting app, Weather China, were also trained in reading climate changes and industry specifics. In China, the commercial meteorological service market size would be worth 10 billion yuan, Chinese edition of Bloomberg Businessweek said in 2014. The commercial meteorological service output was only $600 million in 2015, and, according to a report by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the value of a customized meteorological service in China would surpass 200 billion yuan. Vincent gives a speech on technologies of AccuWeather at the Global Mobile Internet Conference 2017 in Beijing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] As the commercial meteorological service market continues to be promising, a range of weather-related specialists have been attracted to work in China including Huafeng-AccuWeather, a weather information service provider, formed by Huafeng meteorological media Group and the world leading commercial weather service company, AccuWeather. According to the company, it has established partnerships with exclusive smartphone venders such as Huawei, Oppo, Vivo and Samsung in order to provide climate change information to technological users around the nation. Huafeng-AccuWeather, supported by AccuWeather and the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), has since expanded the service available, providing quality information about early weather warnings, and on-the-spot and daily weather predictions. The company also provides customized information to clients, located in specific parts or streets in China. "We can't control the weather, but we can know what it is going to be like and how it is going to affect our decisions", Vincent said. WELLINGTON - New Zealand exports rose by 11 percent year on year in March, driven by a surge in exports to China, the government statistics agency said Friday. Exports hit NZ$4.6 billion ($3.16 billion) last month, said Statistics New Zealand. Exports to China were valued at NZ$1.1 billion ($756.58 million), up 43 percent, led by dairy and lamb products. "China continues to be our top destination for goods exports, and accounts for a quarter of the total dairy exports value," international statistics manager Tehseen Islam said in a statement. "This March, exports to China exceeded NZ$1 billion ($687.8 million) for the first March month since 2014." The value of total dairy exports rose by NZ$250 million ($171.95 million), or 29 percent, while the quantity rose 6.4 percent. Imported goods were valued at NZ$4.3 billion ($2.95 billion), up 7.6 percent, giving New Zealand a trade surplus of NZ$332 million ($228.35 million), or 7.1 percent of exports, in March. This compared with an average surplus of 11 percent of exports for the previous five March months. The annual trade deficit for the year ended March was NZ$3.7 billion ($2.54 billion), compared with a shortfall of NZ$3.8 billion ($2.61 billion) in the year ended February. In the quarter ending March, the value of imported goods rose 4.4 percent from the previous quarter to NZ$13.6 billion ($9.35 billion), while the value of exported goods was up 2.4 percent to NZ$12.2 billion ($8.39 billion). The trade deficit in the March quarter was NZ$1.4 billion ($962.92 million), equivalent to 11 percent of exports. It was the 12th consecutive quarterly trade deficit and the largest since the September 2008 quarter. CIRO REDONDO - The largest Cuban bio-electric plant with foreign investment for clean energy production began construction on Thursday in the central Cuban province of Ciego de Avila. Located in the town of Ciro Redondo, about 430 kilometers east of Havana, the plant will also apply Chinese technologies by the joint venture firm Biopower SA, a company with British and Cuban capital. According to Francisco Lleo, official of the Cuban sugar state company AZCUBA, the investment of the plant will amount to about $186 million and it will start operations in December 2019. "This will be the first plant in Cuba to generate energy through the use of the sugarcane leftovers generated in the Ciro Redondo plant and to contribute 60 megawatt hours to the country's electricity system," said Lleo. He also said that once sugar harvest is over, the plant will process marabu wood, a tree that proliferates in the local fields, to continue electricity generation. "The plant will deliver all the electricity the factory needs to produce sugar and the rest will be contributed to the National Energy System," as part of Cuba's effort to produce up to 26 percent of its electricity with renewable or clean energy by 2030, said Lleo. Chinese ambassador Chen Xi and British ambassador Anthony Stokes attended the commencement ceremony and welcomed the start of the bioelectric plant construction in Ciego de Avila. Chen said he was pleased that Chinese companies are now helping Cuba's economic development, which helps strengthen ties between Havana and Beijing. "This project will be a success because in addition to offering new jobs to the residents of the community, it will also preserve the environment by offering clean and efficient energy," he said. It will have a great impact on the community because it will completely eliminate the sugarcane leftovers generated by the plant and will substantially reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. Stokes pointed out that this is the first project launched by Cuba, China and the United Kingdom in the region for the production of renewable energy and will provide jobs for the local population. "It is an important day for economic relations between our countries, which will help build a more sustainable and ecological future," said Stokes. The production of electricity with renewable energy is part of the strategic projects of authorities in the Cuban energy sector to save fossil fuels and reduce its dependence on imported oil. As regulators grapple to keep a lid on soaring housing prices in big cities, some people sign up for the debt treadmill and others decide to just get on with life. Yang Yang reports. The average price of a home in Beijing grew from 56,000 yuan a square meter in October to 63,000 yuan a square meter in March, an increase of 9 percent. SONG NIANSHENG/LONG WEI/CHINA DAILY, KUANG LINHUA/CHINA DAILY A 2 million yuan millstone hangs around the necks of Wu Jian and his wife, and yet they consider themselves lucky. That amount, equivalent to $290,000, is how much Wu, 28, of Beijing, and his wife owe a bank and their relatives after they borrowed money to buy a 60-square-meter apartment in the city last winter. If Wu and his wife were on an average salary in Beijing of a little less than 10,000 yuan and each contributed half their pay toward repayments, they would finally discharge their debt by about 2035. However, that calculation ignores any interest they have to pay, which could stretch their burden by quite a few more years. However, Wu said he feels he had no other choice other than to buy into the Beijing real estate market. He bought the house because he was getting married, he said, and his wife is now expecting a baby. In fact he had previously not expected to buy a house so early because the deposit, 1.5 million yuan, would usually be far too much for a young couple under the age of 30. "The baby is due soon, and we wanted to stay in Beijing, so we just had to," he said. One reason Wu and his wife consider themselves fortunate to have gotten on the real estate escalator is that since they bought their home, housing prices in the capital have continued what seems to be an inexorable rise. The real estate agent fang.com says the average price of a home in Beijing grew from 56,000 yuan a square meter in October to 63,000 yuan a square meter in March, an increase of 9 percent. By contrast, Zhilian Recruiting, a China-based website, said that between winter and spring, the average salary in the capital rose from 9,835 yuan to 9,942 yuan, an increase of 1 percent. What this means is that buying a home in Beijing is increasingly out of the question for many young people unless their parents or even grandparents help them financially, and they borrow from relatives and friends in addition to banks. Beijing had a population of 21.5 million in 2014, the Beijing Statistics Bureau said, about a third of whom were aged 20 to 34, many of whom attended college at local universities or in other cities. They are some of the most talented people the city has. Haidian district, in the city's northwest, is often cited as the epitome of the housing affordability problem. The exorbitant prices and continuing increases are driven in large part by parents keen to have their children attend top primary and middle schools in the area to increase their chances of being accepted into top universities such as Peking, Tsinghua and Renmin universities, which are all located in the district. An anecdote that has recently been doing the rounds tells of a taxi driver and a passenger getting into a conversation about the price of housing, whereupon the driver puts this paradox to his passenger: If graduates from the likes of Peking University and Tsinghua University do not earn enough to be able to afford a house in Haidian, why then bother buying one? Many of those who have read this account online have given a nod to the taxi driver, and public resignation to the idea that there is no stopping the price rises has given way to bleak pessimism that for young people from middle-class families on just average incomes, homeownership will forever remain a pipe dream. Wu Nan 28, a journalist, said: "People, especially friends and relatives back in my hometown, use housing as a gauge of your success. If you don't own a home you are regarded as a loser. Added to which, a man like me is disadvantaged in the marriage market." BEIJING - A spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday that automobile sales may see slower growth this year in spite of better-than expected figures for the first quarter. Auto sales rose 7 percent in the first three months, higher than the 5 percent estimate for full year growth, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. MOC spokesman Sun Jiwen said at a press conference that the main reason behind the strong growth was higher demand, especially demand for commercial vehicles on the back of commodity transportation needs and more infrastructure projects under construction. In the first quarter, commercial vehicle sales surged 22.9 percent. However, sales of passenger vehicles, making up some 85 percent of the total sales, rose just 4.6 percent year-on-year during the period, lower than market expectations. Sun forecast that annual auto sales would remain steady this year, but growth would be slower than 2016 due to a high comparison base and reduced policy incentives for buying low-emission cars. Earlier this month, the MOC unveiled measures to allow companies with or without authorization from brand owners to sell vehicles from July 1, 2017. "The move will promote market competition, raise logistics efficiency and optimize market supply," Sun said. The preceding measures implemented since 2005 require that all car dealers secure authorization from brand owners. The old system helped safeguard market order, but also gave rise to monopolistic practices, dragged on competition and made auto parts expensive. China had remained the world's largest automobile manufacturer and market for eight consecutive years by 2016, with auto sales up 13.7 percent to more than 28 million units last year. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. License for publishing multimedia online 0108263 Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Netizens suggest names for new ship, but are told that must wait Asked whether China would build military bases around the world following the launch of its second aircraft carrier, a Ministry of Defense spokesman said, let's not get carried away. China will make decisions on the development plan for its new aircraft carrier and supporting facilities according to mission needs, ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said at a regular news conference on Thursday. The nation's second aircraft carrier was launched on Wednesday in Dalian, Liaoning province. Harbors and training and logistics facilities are key support elements for carriers, and China will produce an overall plan for their development, Yang said. A name for the new aircraft carrier, the largest and most sophisticated surface vessel that China has ever built, has not been disclosed. Netizens and military enthusiasts have submitted a number of suggestions online, including a proposal to call it CNS Shandong. "We have read the posts," Yang said. "But by the rules of precedent, the name is unveiled at the ceremony for the vessel's official handover to the People's Liberation Army Navy." The PLA Navy currently operates one aircraft carrier, CNS Liaoning, which was refitted from an incomplete Soviet-era vessel at the Dalian shipyard, where the second carrier was built. The Liaoning went into service in September 2012, and work started on the second carrier a year later. Dry dock construction began in March 2015, and the second carrier was launched with its propulsion and power systems operating, the Navy said in a news release on Wednesday. The next stage is an outfitting process that includes installing the aircraft carrier's interior equipment and weaponry. As that is being done, engineers also will test and fine-tune installed equipment and the overall design, the statement said. The new carrier has a displacement of about 50,000 metric tons and will carry domestically developed J-15 fighter jets and other aircraft, according to the Ministry of Defense. Major General Zhu Chenghu, a professor at the PLA National Defense University, said the new carrier is about 70 to 80 percent finished, but it will take about two years for it to be commissioned and another two years to reach full combat readiness. At the news briefing, Yang also welcomed US Defense Secretary James Mattis and other senior US military officials to visit China as soon as convenient for both nations. "China is willing to work constructively with the US in risk management and settle differences, and willing to continue increasing mutual trust of both militaries," he said. zhangzhihao@chinadaily.com.cn Orders for dual-seat version of existing jet placed even before maiden flight A dual-seat FC-1B trainer/fighter jet makes its maiden flight on Thursday in Chengdu, Sichuan province. [Provided to China Daily] China conducted the maiden flight of its dual-seat FC-1B trainer/fighter jet on Thursday morning, aiming to seize a bigger share of the global military aircraft market. The event took place at an airport of Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, the maker of the plane and a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corp of China. It was witnessed by AVIC executives, foreign guests and journalists. The FC-1B, also known as the JF-17B, is the latest variant of the single-seat FC-1 fourth-generation multirole combat aircraft co-developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, the leading aviation company in Pakistan. It was designed to meet the requirements of such planes from foreign clients and the international market, according to AVIC. The State-owned aircraft giant said the aircraft is capable of not only training pilots but also engaging in aerial combat and striking ground targets. Yang Ying, general manager of China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corp, the trade wing of AVIC, said the FC-1B is one of the best trainer/fighter jets in the international market. It can carry beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles and precision land-attack ammunition. "Because of the FC-1's excellent service record and the new plane's good capability and competitive price, the FC-1B has received orders from the international market even before the maiden flight, which means our clients have a very high level of confidence in our development and production capacity," he said at a news conference in Chengdu after the maiden flight. Yang Wei, chief designer of the FC-1 family at AVIC, said the plane that made the flight on Thursday has been ordered by a foreign buyer, indicating that such aircraft are badly needed in the market. Normally, clients would only accept mass-produced aircraft rather than those used in test flights, he said. He said the FC-1B's design improvements are not limited to the addition of an extra seat to the single-seat FC-1. Many changes were required, such as the adjustment of the airframe. He said AVIC will continue to upgrade and design new variants of the FC-1 family. Currently, Pakistan is the only confirmed user of the FC-1, with more than 80 aircraft delivered to the Pakistan Air Force, according to Pakistani media. China and Pakistan signed a contract with an unidentified buyer at the 14th Dubai Airshow in November 2015. The identity of the buyer and the number of FC-1s involved remain undisclosed. Earlier reports said that many nations including Myanmar, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia are interested in the FC-1 and its variants. There are more than 30 foreign users of Chinese military aircraft in the world, according to Yang Ying, the manager. In an effort to protect national security, China has strengthened its oversight of foreigners and foreign organizations involved in geological surveys or mapping in the country, according to the top legislature. An amendment to the Surveying and Mapping Law, which was passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Thursday, provides heavy punishments for foreigners or foreign organizations that illegally acquire geological data. "With fast developments in recent years, many people and organizations overseas have begun collecting our information - economic, military and geological," said Yue Zhongming, deputy director of the office for legislative planning under the committee's Legal Affairs Commission. Under the revised law, foreigners or foreign organizations that want to do surveying or otherwise collect geological data should get a permit from the State Council and military authorities, while those involved in long-term mapping should cooperate with the nation's government departments. If they don't abide by the law, foreign violators will be subject to fines of at least 100,000 yuan ($14,510) - double the past penalty of 50,000 yuan. Anyone who seriously violates the revised law can be fined up to 1 million yuan or even ordered to leave the country. "Such punishments aim to deter those illegally getting our important geological data, especially data that involves State secrets," Yue said. Song Chaozhi, deputy director of the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, said that illegal mapping involving foreigners has been frequent in the past few years. The amendment is designed to curb such misconduct, Song said. In a case disclosed by the administration in 2010, a Japanese citizen was found illegally collecting geological information in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region while professing to be there for travel and environmental investigations. After local residents reported the activity, the person was fined and his mapping results and tools were confiscated, the administration said. "We're planning to improve the guideline in accordance with the amendment, which will take effect on July 1," Song said. He Yehui, a member of the committee, applauded the amendment, but said the legislature should write specific rules on the management of foreigners and organizations. "Mapping and surveying relate to our safety. If we have no practical rules, it will be easier for those with bad intentions to use legal loopholes to harm our State security," she said. The rise of industrial profits in March reflects structural improvements in the economy, official data suggested on Thursday. Major industrial companies registered 23.8 percent year-on-year profit growth last month, down by 7.7 percentage points from the previous two months, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. In the first quarter of this year, the growth rate of company profits increased 28.3 percent year-on-year, down 3.2 percentage points compared with the first two months. Although the growth slowed a little compared with the same period last year, double-digit growth is a good sign, according to He Ping, an NBS statistician. He said high raw material costs have squeezed profits, but expected the positive trend to continue, as some promising signs have appeared in the economic structure. Profits in March from traditional industries - mainly mining and raw materials - accounted for a smaller share of profits (down 0.9 and 9.5 percentage points, respectively) compared with the previous two months, the data showed. By comparison, the contribution of consumer manufacturing and equipment manufacturing to total profits increased by 0.5 and 0.6 percentage points respectively during the same period. In the meantime, profits for private enterprises increased from 14.9 percent to 15 percent in March, while the rate of profit growth for State-owned enterprises dropped to 70.5 percent from 100.2 percent. "A slight slowdown in growth does not mean the economy has peaked and will recede," said Deng Haiqing, an analyst at Jiuzhou Securities. "Considering all the recent promising factors, such as relatively high profit growth and the rebound of private fixed asset investment, the economy might have passed the lowest point of the L-shaped recovery path and will bottom out." Gao Ming, an analyst at China Merchants Securities, attributed the rapid profit growth in the first quarter to four causes: a price surge, a recovery in the future economic outlook, recovery on the demand side and improvements in production efficiency. Looking ahead, the rate of profit growth may continue to slow a little, considering that one of the main drivers - a surge in prices - might recede in the coming months, according to Gao. Data from the NBS showed that the price surge accounted for 16.2 percent of the profit growth in March, compared with 22.7 percent in the first two months. Gao said annual profit growth this year might fall within the 15 to 20 percent level. Overall, China's GDP expanded 6.9 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2017, up from the 6.8 percent growth in the previous quarter and 6.7 percent in 2016. It also beat previous market expectations of 6.8 percent and came well above the annual growth target of around 6.5 percent. E-commerce giant Alibaba is using big data to help Chinese police keep tabs on wholesalers suspected of importing fake motor lubricants from Malaysia and selling them online, the company said. Authorities detained 11 suspects, including a Malaysian citizen, in June after it was discovered that counterfeit Mobil, Shell and Castrol products were being sold on online shopping platforms, including Alibaba's Taobao. More than 50,000 barrels of fake lubricant with a street value of 100 million yuan ($14.5 million) was found at storehouses in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and Yiwu, a city in Zhejiang province. It was the first time a Chinese mainlander had been found selling fake products manufactured overseas online, according to the General Administration of Customs, which listed the case as the most important in 2016 related to intellectual property protection. Though falsely branded, the motor oil itself met Chinese standards, according to customs officials, but specific formulas and additives may not match the true brands. After further investigation by Mobil, Shell and Castrol, customs officials in Tianjin, Shenzhen and Guangzhou were tipped off in October and seized more falsely branded motor lubricant. The products were bound for a trading company based in Tianjin that had been registered under the name of a Malaysian citizen. "We're assisting police in investigating the case using our big-data technologies to spot and locate affiliated dealers and storehouses," Hong Jun, who heads a task force in Alibaba's platform governance department, said on Wednesday. Alibaba joined hands with the Zhejiang Public Security Bureau two years ago to launch Cloud Sword, a campaign to use big data and offline actions to stamp out fake goods on online platforms. The information Alibaba provides is passed on to the Ministry of Public Security's International Cooperation Department, which has been asked to work with the Malaysia government to investigate the Malaysian source of the fake lubricants, said Jessie Zheng, Alibaba's chief platform governance officer. Hong said the case goes back two years, when police in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, found fake motor lubricants imported from overseas by a Guangzhou import and export company registered by a Malaysian citizen. Despite seeming like an easy decision to make, Liu Xiaojun, a rural entrepreneur in Anhui province, said investing in the village where he was born has been a highly complicated process. "Having personal relations with the villagers has brought me benefits as well as setbacks," said Liu, who runs a nectarine farm in Sanfeng village, Jingde county. More than six years ago, he quit his job at a business consulting company in Beijing and returned to his boyhood village to start the farm. Liu said his decision to invest in the farm was a result of his affection for the agricultural sector and for Sanfeng. However, he had no idea how complicated starting a business in the mountainous village would be. Liu said he was the apple of the villagers' eyes as a child. However, despite now being one of the very few local residents with a college education, he found a majority of villagers had little faith in his business plan. "It seems like I will always be a little boy in their eyes," the 34-year-old said. At the end of 2010, Liu rented more than 5 hectares of land through land transfer from local villagers. Though he sought long-term cooperation with them, he was only granted use of the land for 15 years, "which is a short time in terms of the growth of the trees", Liu said. "Also, they didn't allow me to combine the small lots to make larger ones," he said, adding that he even had trouble convincing his own parents. "For example, when I banned the use of herbicide on the farm, my father insisted on using it. It was only after the herbicide killed dozens of trees that he agreed to abandon the practice, but he still didn't really understand why I want to produce eco-friendly fruits," Liu said. Wuhan -- Chen Xuefeng, a former provincial-level official in Central China's Henan province, stood trial Thursday at a court in central China's Hubei Province for accepting bribes and abuse of power. Prosecutors accused Chen of taking advantage of his positions to seek benefits for others and of accepting money and assets worth more than 148 million yuan (nearly $21.5 million dollars) between 2000 and 2015. Chen was a former member of the standing committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Henan Provincial Committee and former secretary of the Luoyang Municipal Committee of the CPC. The case was tried at the Intermediate People's Court of Jingzhou City in Hubei. Chen made a statement to the court in which he pled guilty and expressed remorse. More than 60 people, including legislators, political advisors, journalists and members of the public, were present at the trial. The verdict will be announced at another date. BEIJING -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy will continue escort missions, a long-term task, Yang Yujun, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense (MOD) said at a press briefing on Thursday. China will continue to play its role in maintaining regional stability and safeguarding vital marine routes. Yang made the remarks when responding to reporters' question on the resurgence of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia this year. On April 15, Frigate Hengyang of China's 25th convoy fleet rescued a Panamanian ship that was being attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. The Chinese navy also freed a Tuvalu-registered vessel that had been boarded by pirates in the Gulf of Aden on April 9. Since Dec. 2008, the Chinese fleet has escorted more than 6,000 ships through the area and have rescued or assisted more than 60 ships. BEIJING -- Chinese police solved 430 cases involving counterfeiting, purchasing and selling fake IDs or "hukou" household registration documents in a three-year campaign. A total of 702 people and 249 police officers were punished for their involvement, according to a statement released after a national public security meeting on hukou management on Thursday. Of the police employees, 70 were removed from their posts and 69 held criminally liable. The nationwide campaign to deal with incorrect, fake or duplicate ID information and the corruption behind it began in 2014. Police have nullified nearly 3.1 million duplicate hukou records and corrected about 11 million items of wrong personal information in the past three years, said the statement. Hukou is China's household registration and administration system, which is linked to citizens' ID cards and personal records. It ties access to basic social welfare and public services to one's place of residence, and hukou benefits differ based on the region, creating a demand for counterfeits. As Chinese cities restrict property purchases to prevent housing bubbles, demand has grown for fake IDs. Vice Public Security Minister Huang Ming said police departments across the country should control the hukou system, help migrant workers obtain permanent urban residence, and bring the unregistered population into the hukou system. Dinosaur fans can entertain their eyes with various dinosaur fossils at Zigong Dinosaur Museum in Zigong city, Southwest China's Sichuan province, the first of its kind in China. Built on the well-known "Dashanpu dinosaur fossil site" about 11 kilometers northwest of Zigong, the dinosaur museum is one of the world's three largest dinosaur museums, the other two are respectively the Dinosaur National Monument in the US and Dinosaur Provincial Park in Canada. Covering an area of more than 66,000 square meters, the museum boasts a collection of nearly all known dinosaurs from the Jurassic Period, which was 205 million to 135 million years ago. The museum is reported to exhibit one of the biggest collections of Jurassic dinosaur fossils in the world. "Zigong is known as the dinosaur kingdom in Asia, where more than 170 dinosaur fossil sites have been found," said Dong Yi, who is responsible for publicity at the Tourism Development Commission in the city. "Five Drunken Princes Return on Horses" by Ren Renfa. [Photo/CGTN] China hardly registered in the art market scene around ten years ago, but it has now overtaken the United States as the world's largest art market. But such was its hasty arrival at the top table, and it has been struggling to cope with issues such as authentication. In 2016, art sales in China were reported to be worth about $4.8 billion, accounting for more than a third of the world's total. The most expensive work was, "Five Drunken Princes Return on Horses" by Yuan Dynasty artist, Ren Renfa, which went for about $46 million. "Album of Landscapes" by Qi Baishi, and "Snow-capped Mountains in Switzerland" by Zhang Daqian, were both sold for more than $14 million at Beijing's Poly autumn auction. However, it seems that more and more forgeries are being identified. According to a survey, nearly a third of the works which were sampled in 2013 were seen to be counterfeits. "The hotter the market is, the greater the chance of counterfeits. Because there is a lot of interest in it," the Capital Normal University's Professor Han Chao says. A few artists have admitted that their works have been forged. In addition, the development of technology enables this kind of illegal activity. "Someone sent me a picture of Li Keran, and I took a look at it and told him it is real. But I also told him that I have to look at the original one to make sure. However, it turned out it was a counterfeit. Modern technology is very developed, like 3D printing. So the emergence of fake works is common," Capital Normal University professor Han Chao said. In the absence of supervision and control, some industry practitioners spotted an opportunity. Ordinary consumers with no discernible experience couldn't tell an authentic work from a fake one. The lack of integrity became a major headache for new consumers entering the art market. Even worse, artists and collectors were powerless when it came to protecting their rights. "You can take it to the court, but the legal process is very long and the result is uncertain. Whereas the auction house or the so-called auction market is not responsible for the sale once the transaction is done. You can't even find who sold the artwork to you because that is classified information," artist Han Shuli says. But that particular ruling has seen its day. The Chinese Ministry of Culture has issued a set of regulations which define an official standard for the art market. The regulations stipulate that auction houses must not mislead consumers, while protecting their right to know about the source of the work. Meanwhile, it won't all fall on the auction houses. Today's artists will be responsible for authenticating their own art works. Last October, some eight companies -- including the Artron group -- established authentication systems which have become a major standard for artworks evaluation. Now every piece of art is "traceable", so that the fake ones will have no place to hide. The emerging Chinese art market also led to the development of the art finance industry, including loans, secured lending, insurance, appraisals and other services. China's arrival on the art market scene was sudden, maybe too sudden, but it's slowly finding its feet. CEO Riccardo Sciutto says the brand also targets loyal clients. [Photo provided to China Daily] What do millennials want in their shoe cabinets? Besides glamorous pumps, some might want more versatile offerings. Italian luxury shoe brand Sergio Rossi, best known for its ultrafeminine and sensual heels, is now trying to meet this demand by putting emphasis on more comfortable styles. "The challenge we face is regaining our strength in the daywear part of the market, creating desire for our product among millennials as well as among loyal clients," says Riccardo Sciutto, CEO of the company, after a recent visit to Beijing. Besides its classic offerings of pumps this season, the brand has introduced Sr1, a 2017 spring/summer collection that highlights geometric heels and a square toe. "We have kept our focus on the future and built a collection that responds to the needs of the modern woman, moving our attention from the red carpet to daywear, with shoes that can easily work from day to night," he says. Sciutto, who was previously general manager of Hogan at TOD's Group, joined the company about a year ago, after the brand was sold by French company Kering to private equity firm Investindustrial in 2015. "When I joined the company, I felt as if I was seeing a sleeping beauty ready to be woken up, and that is precisely what we did," he says. "I believe the only way to succeed is to look within, be inspired by the true DNA of the brand and its outstanding history. Sergio Rossi's new collection debuts with a ballet performance in Milan.[Photo provided to China Daily] "We have worked on identifying the woman who inspires us: She is confident, sophisticated, feminine and never takes herself too seriously." The heritage of the brand is where the process of relaunch began, says Sciutto. Sergio Rossi, founded in the 1950s, has been one of the go-to choices on red carpets for stars and celebrities. All the shoes are handmadeinvolving more than 100 stepsat its factory in San Mauro Pascoli, Italy. The brand looked back at the 1990s, the creative heyday for Sergio Rossi, and used the archive as a starting point to create the new collection, says Sciutto. "S and r represent the respect and pride in the heritage of the Sergio Rossi brand and the number 1 is the symbol of rebirth and a fresh start." The new collection debuted with a live ballet performance at Milan's Teatro Filodrammatici in September, signaling the rebirth of the brand. At the same time, the brand rebuilt its digital platforms, including social media and its website, creating original content to engage with customers. "I have a motto: Think heritage, play digital," says Sciutto. China, Japan and Europe are now the brand's key markets, he adds. The brand has just opened two stores in Beijing, at the China World Mall and Beijing SKP. Students celebrate region's anniversary with paper-cuttings (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2017-04-27 Some photographs of paper-cuttings made by college students in Inner Mongolia have recently attracted a lot of attention online. Many people have reposted the photographs in internet forums and on micro blogs. The series of paper-cuttings made by sophomores from Inner Mongolia Finance and Economics University vividly depicts scenes of college life. Recently, the students who created the paper-cuttings have started a new creation. This time, they will create a paper-cutting with six different scenarios of more than 70 characters measuring as long as 5.4 meters. They have already finished the framework of the paper-cutting. "As college students, we will find our own way to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, said Yang Hongguang, a sophomore from the IMFEU. Yang founded a paper-cutting association in October 2015, with the intention to promote this traditional folk art among students. Yan comes from Yulin, Shaanxi province, where traditional folk arts are popular, including stone-carving, clay-sculpting and willow-weaving. Yang is so fond of making paper-cuttings that he started to learn the craft with his grandmother when he was only 5 years old. "Every year, before the Spring Festival, my neighbors often ask me to make paper-cuttings for them, since decorating windows with paper-cuttings is a traditional custom for every family in my hometown before the Chinese Lunar New Year, he said. "I usually have a sense of achievement after I have finished making the beautiful red paper-cuttings, he added. Since Yang lived in Shaanxi for many years, he integrates Shaanxi culture into his work. However, he began to combine Inner Mongolian ethnic culture with his paper-cuttings after coming to study in the autonomous region. "This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, and I would like create a paper-cutting to celebrate the anniversary, he said. Yang claimed that it will take a lot of time to make the paper-cutting due to its size. His work will consist of six scenarios, depicting great changes that have occurred from the founding of the autonomous region in 1947, to the present day. Yang Hongguang, a sophomore from Inner Mongolia Finance and Economics University introduces one of his paper-cuttings. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Morning Post] A submarine-launched ballistic missile is displayed during a military parade in central Pyongyang, April 15, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula has become ever more complicated due to the words and deeds of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States. The DPRK's fifth nuclear test last September and its continued missile tests in the past months have violated the United Nations Security Council resolution and posed a threat to regional stability. More economic sanctions by the Security Council will be warranted if such violations continue. The United States has not made the matter any better by flexing its muscles. On Wednesday, some 2,000 US and the Republic of Korea troops took part in a military drill just 30 kilometers south of the Demilitarized Zone, a day after the DPRK held its own artillery drill. The USS Carl Vinson and other warships are cruising toward the area in what US President Donald Trump earlier described as "an armada". On Wednesday, Trump and his senior officials held a classified briefing with US senators. The words that came out of that meeting have been relatively moderate compared with the warmongering rhetoric in the past weeks. The US now says it aims to pressure the DPRK into dismantling its nuclear, ballistic missile and proliferation program by tightening economic sanctions and pursuing diplomatic measures with the US allies and regional partners. It did not say what steps the US will take to ease the tensions, although starting to install the US' missile defense system in the ROK is not likely to do so. There has been much talk in the US that actions by China will be essential. They believe China should cut off all economic ties with the DPRK. That is wrong-headed. China has implemented the UN Security Council resolution on the DRPK. It would be unreasonable and unrealistic for China to cut all economic ties, a move that will cause a huge humanitarian disaster and destabilize the region. Some in the US even floated the idea to arm the ROK with nuclear weapons and encourage Japan to develop its own bombs. Some still believe that a military option is viable. Such thinking can be summarized in one word: simplistic. Those who believe that more economic sanctions will bring the DPRK to its knees have forgotten that all five DPRK nuclear tests since 2006 were conducted under the UN sanctions and the US unilateral sanctions. No one should assume that more sanctions will magically work. China is deeply worried about a military conflict on the Korean Peninsula right on its border. Who would not be? The ROK and Japan, which host the US troops, are probably concerned that a war in the region will devastate their cities and people. The US said it will not tolerate the DPRK having ballistic missiles that can hit US, but it has not addressed the DPRK's concern for its own security. Despite the US assurances that it is not pursuing regime change, such words have no credibility after the US invaded Iraq in 2003 to remove Saddam Hussein under the false pretext of weapons of mass destruction. Its regime change in Libya in 2011, ousting Moammar Gadhafi after he gave up his country's nuclear weapons program, will also have suggested to the DPRK that it should hold on to its nuclear program if it wants to prevent similar US aggression. In this sense, the US should correct its mistakes, such as by signing a peace treaty with the DPRK, heeding the Chinese proposal to resume the Six-Party Talks, and implement the "two-suspensions": The US suspends its joint drills with the ROK while the DPRK suspends its nuclear test. The key to denuclearization is in the hands of the DPRK and the US. China can help if both of them refrain from taking provocative actions. The author is deputy editor of China Daily USA. chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com File photo shows Seoungju residents chant slogans during a protest against the government's decision on deploying a US THAAD anti-missile defense unit in Seongju, in Seoul, South Korea, July 21, 2016. The banner reads "Desperately oppose deploying THAAD". [Photo/Agencies] The militaries of the United States and the Republic of Korea are accelerating installation of the controversial Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system south of Seoul. If, as US Pacific Command chief Harry Harris claimed, THAAD is expected to be operational "in the coming days", there is little chance of it being suspended because of protests from Beijing and Moscow, even though it comes at a time when Washington and its allies want them to commit more comprehensively and deeply to coordinated moves. Although the official excuse has been Pyongyang's wayward stuntsmanship and the threat it poses, making THAAD a fait accompli and pre-empting any change of mind from the next administration in Seoul may be a more powerful driver behind the rush to get THAAD up and running in the ROK. Of course, Beijing and Moscow have valid reasons to protest, because the advanced system upsets the regional strategic balance and its radar undermines Chinese and Russian security interests, even though both the US and the ROK claim otherwise. And since the deployment of THAAD in the ROK is now seemingly done and dusted, China and Russia have no choice but to respond. Yet, whatever form that takes, it will not be the end of the story, since the nascent coalition against Pyongyang's nuclear/missile program is likely to be collateral damage from the intransigence of Washington and Seoul. Beijing and Moscow are in the same boat with Washington and its regional allies on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula thanks to a shared security interest. And in the White House's latest rhetoric on Korean Peninsula denuclearization, China and Russia are referred to as "partners in the region", indicating unprecedented eagerness for a united front. Beijing, however, has been identified as crucial to dissuading the DPRK from continuing along the path it has chosen. So much so that Washington seems to believe that Beijing alone can make a dramatic difference. Beijing, on its part, has been consistent in adherence to diplomacy and pursuing a nuclear-free peninsula with the united efforts of all stakeholders. The push to make THAAD operational in the ROK, however, creates a serious distraction for Beijing, because it represents a new security threat to it, one it must now address as a matter of urgency. Washington and Seoul claim Beijing is misreading the situation and overreacting, but that is because they are not willing to take Beijing's concerns seriously and have not looked at the matter from Beijing's perspective. Seoul does not seem to care what this means in the long run. But THAAD threatens to permanently change the regional landscape and only adds new dynamics to a situation that was already complex and requiring of careful handling. A craftsman dismantles a timepiece before repairing it in their office in the Palace Museum in Beijing, April 7, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] Two technicians demonstrated their formidable dexterity at a recent display of craftsmanship organized by a vocational and technical college in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. More activities like this should be held to arouse the "spirit of craftsmanship" among young people. Any mention of the spirit brings to mind popular stories of the past, such as the butcher skillfully dismembering an ox, which show the esteem in which craftspeople used to be held. The spirit of craftsmanship is something that is sadly lacking today. To demonstrate the spirit, manufacturers must be devoted to producing the best products possible. This is a basic code of conduct for people to follow in the modern era. However, the reality is, China still has some way to go to realize this. According to a recent survey conducted by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Chinese consumers purchased 62.5 billion yuan ($9.06 billion) of Japanese goods via the internet or in other ways in 2016. In the first quarter of 2017, foreign tourists spent nearly 967.9 billion Japanese yen ($8.7 billion) in Japan, half of which was by Chinese tourists. The popularity of Japanese commodities among Chinese can be attributed to their high quality and the spirit of craftsmanship exhibited by the Japanese. The quality of China's homemade products has considerably risen in recent years, but the services and quality of quite a lot of them are generally at a low level, partly due to the lack of technologies but partly due to the lack of the spirit of craftsmanship. The number of Chinese visiting Japan to buy Japanese products underscores the need for China to restore its craftsmanship spirit. -SZNEWS.COM US companies can partake in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, but they need to learn more about the transnational trade network, researchers from some Washington think tanks said. "Before you can change policy, you need to educate people as to what are the opportunities" said David Lampton, director of China studies at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). "As a matter of policy, we can support the Asian Development Bank working with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, or the World Bank working with the AIIB," he said. "But to become active (in the initiative) is a political decision." On a world map at his SAIS office, Lampton used a marking pen to connect the dots linking Southwest China's Kunming city to major south Asian cities including Singapore, Hanoi and Bangkok to form three bold lines, along which he said mammoth railway projects would be undertaken to enhance connectivity in Asia, which is the signature concept of the Belt and Road Initiative. "Each of these three lines is longer than the Transcontinental Railroad, the line that changed the US," Lampton said. "All these railroads will need equipment, signaling, money and commercial development. Why shouldn't General Electric that builds railroads and signaling do it?" The Belt and Road Initiative, comprising the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, was first 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. Lampton said the Chinese initiative is popular partly because nations neighboring China and beyond find the need to cooperate with China to improve infrastructure and interconnectivity. The author of Following the Leader Ruling China, From Deng Xiaoping to Xi Jinping said his next book will help the public and US multinational companies discover what he sees as tremendous opportunities arising from connectivity projects. Last Thursday, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim called the Belt and Road initiative "unprecedented". "China has been stepping up and illustrating that it's concerned about development, not just in the neighboring countries or even along the Old Silk Road, but globally," Kim said, adding that the World Bank is cooperating well with the AIIB. Douglas Paal, vice-president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the Obama administration "made a huge mistake by taking a negative attitude on the AIIB". "I welcome the posture taken by China's leadership to open this more to others' participation," Paal said, adding that he expected more concrete plans to come out of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which opens on May 14 in Beijing. Cheng Li, director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, said the forum would help the world know more about China's investment in infrastructure, both regionally and globally. He said the Belt and Road Initiative is basically a reinvestment in infrastructure and is an active supplement to institutions involved in infrastructure, such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. "The Western understanding of the Belt and Road Initiative has just begun," Li said. "Increasingly, the academics, government and particularly business circles in the US will get more interested in the initiative." David Dollar, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a former US Treasury emissary in Beijing, said that "there are potentially opportunities for the US companies in the initiative; a lot will depend on how China works out all the details of the different financing legalities." huanxinzhao@chinadailyusa.com (China Daily USA 04/26/2017 page2) Quan Yingmei broke into the male-dominated tailoring trade on London's Savile Row when she became what is believed to be the first Chinese female master cutter to work in the home of luxury and bespoke tailoring. Quan Yingmei Working her way up from the bottom following studies at Central Saint Martins, she is now director of Welsh and Jeffries, a tailor to the Prince of Wales, at 20 Savile Row. Quan said: What I love about tailoring is the detail, your eyes have to act as a camera to capture everything. A few years ago, when I took the tube (London Underground) to work, I would observe the suits the men were wearing, looking at how their trousers and jackets were made and fitted, if the color was right and if it was bespoke or ready-to-wear." Quan is from Northeast China and arrived in the United Kingdom in 2000 to study design at Central Saint Martins in London where she was introduced to tailoring. She then underwent her training at three bespoke tailors; Kilgour, Tom Baker and Castle Tailors. My sights were firmly set on tailoring by then and I didn't want a path toward sales and design. I wanted to know how to actually make and fit a jacket from start to finish," she said. I left Savile Row and worked elsewhere in London. I started from scratch and learned about making patterns and canvas for about a year and a half but I felt I wasn't learning enough to get to where I wanted, so I returned to Savile Row." Quan eventually settled at Welsh and Jefferies in 2009, but her journey as a master cutter wasn't without its challenges. Workers at Savile Row would have been there for 20 to 30 years and probably thought I wouldn't stay around for long," she said. I had to build my confidence and learn a new culture, how to speak and greet people, and some thought I was too young." Quan Yingmei at Golden Shears Awards 2011 But she proved herself with her professionalism and skills. While I gained respect from the trade, it took a while to get clients on my side but I have many customers now who completely trust me and my judgment," she said. In 2011, Quan outshone all other competitors to win the Golden Shears Award, the Oscars of the tailoring world. She said she likes to keep her suits traditional, but is also happy to add a contemporary twist to some of her creations. Some customers will have 20 to 30 suits and they ask me to choose a style for them. I like creating something new that makes them feel confident. I don't want them to open up their wardrobe and it be full of the same suits." As Welsh and Jefferies celebrate its 100th anniversary, Quan said she would love to see more women entering the trade. Women have a different sense of style and can offer a newer perspective, which I think is great for business." Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend a UN Security Council special ministerial meeting on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. The meeting, chaired by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, is being held on Friday to discuss ways to maximize the impact of existing sanctions on Pyongyang and show resolve to respond to further provocations with appropriate new measures, a US State Department spokesman said at a briefing. On Wednesday, the Trump administration said that after briefing senators on its policy toward Pyongyang, it aims to push the country into dismantling its nuclear and missile programs through tougher international sanctions and diplomatic pressure, and remained open to negotiations to bring that about. Chinese has taken note of the briefing and recent remarks by senior US officials, which project a message of hope that the situation on the peninsula can be resolved to peacefully through talks, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Thursday. "We think the message is positive and should be affirmed," he said in a daily news conference in Beijing, hoping that all related parties could get the message. Geng also said that since the US is a major party to the issue, "We hope and welcome that Washington will assume the role and the responsibility that it should." Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai said on Wednesday that China had a shared interest with the United States on the Korean Peninsula, where both want continued stability and progress toward denuclearization. "The situation on the Korean Peninsula is a challenge to all of usChina, the US and Russia and othersand we should work together to seek a diplomatic solution to the issue," Cui said in an interview with CNN. Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Li Zhanshu, director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, at the Kremlin in Moscow on Wednesday. Bai Xueqi / Xinhua The mutual trust and cooperation between Russia and China are stronger now than at any time in the past, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, expressing satisfaction at the development that relations between the two nations has taken. Putin, while meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow with Li Zhanshu, director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also said he was looking forward to attending the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing next month and meeting with President Xi Jinping. Putin said that Russia supports the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. Li said that regardless of fluctuations in situations around the world, China and Russia will not change their policies of cementing and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination; their goals to realize common development and rejuvenation; their determination to safeguard international fairness and justice; and securing global peace and stability. Putin said the current Russia-China high-level exchanges are intensive, and have fostered steady progress in exchanges of all areas through enhanced cooperation on the economy and trade, Putin said. The two countries have made effective communication and coordination on global and regional affairs an important aspect of their relationship, he added. Li also said the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries is stronger than it has ever been and serves as an example of how an international relationship should be, with win-win cooperation as its core. China-Russia relations have matured and are stable as they further develop, Li said. China is willing to work with Russia to promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries so they can better serve the interactions between their leaders and the development of ties, Li said. He said China and Russia need to support each other on core issues and major concerns, further deepen cooperation in various fields, implement major projects of strategic significance and advance pragmatic cooperation at high levels. Also on Wednesday, Li met with Anton Vaino, chief of staff of the Russian Presidential Executive Office, and Sergei Ivanov, special presidential representative for environmental protection, ecology and transportation. Jin Yong, a professor of international relations at the Communication University of China, said the communication between the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Russian Presidential Executive Office is unique for both countries in dealing with foreign affairs. Such communication demonstrates the unique connection shared by the upper levels of both governments, he said. Ruan Zongze, executive vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the meeting between Putin and Li has sent a signal that the high-level political trust between China and Russia is stable, which is important in safeguarding world peace. anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn Campaign will cover 30,000 km in bid to promote ties and attract visitors to China SYDNEY - A fleet of 10 panda vans were officially launched in Sydney on Thursday to begin their journey around Australia to promote the China-Australia Year of Tourism 2017. The journey will see the "panda explorer" take groups of Chinese travel ambassadors on a 30,000-kilometer adventure, exploring a variety of cities and towns, including the Outback. The initiative aims to promote cooperation between the two nations and hopes to bring more Australian visitors to China. Director of the China National Tourist Office Luo Weijian said the campaign is a "first for China Tourism". "Of the more than 1 million Chinese visitors to Australia each year, most visit cities and popular destinations but few have the chance to experience life right throughout the continent," Luo said. "So the panda vans fulfill two roles - taking China to hundreds of towns and also giving Chinese people an insight into the diverse landscapes and cultures of Australia." Plans are also under way for a special meeting between a koala and giant panda at the Adelaide Zoo in the state of South Australia. The campaign also hopes to educate more Australians about Chinese culture, by acting as a roving travel information booth and giving out prizes to people encountered during the road trip. Great advocates Chairman of Tourism Australia Tony South told Xinhua he hopes those in the vans will become "great advocates of Australia". "I'd like to think that their aspirations for coming to Australia are satisfied and they can go home happy," South said. "For anybody, the most powerful thing you can get is a recommendation from a friend. If that happens, then I think we've done a good job." Along the journey, the panda vans will capture video and images across Australia to be shared across Chinese social media. As for the selection of pandas to be the star of the campaigns, the decision was simple. "Australians love pandas just as much as Chinese people love koalas," South said. LOS ANGELES - Alexandre Amiel was alarmed when his 11-year-old son asked the day after the January 2015 attacks on Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish supermarket in Paris: "Why do they hate us?" The veteran filmmaker's answer is an unflinching exploration of racism in France at a time when the nationalist politics of presidential candidate Marine Le Pen have become part of the political mainstream, and racially-motivated attacks are on the rise. Why Do They Hate Us?, which gets its US premiere on Sunday as part of the Colcoa festival of French film in Los Angeles, is a documentary with a difference. Like a nonfiction version of Mathieu Kassovitz's groundbreaking 1995 movie La Haine, Amiel's three part documentary is told from his own perspective as a Jew but also through the eyes of a black man and Arab woman. "We did three stories with people who are not especially victims of racism, but are going to take the audience by the hand and bring them a narration with two sides," said Amiel, 43. "First, it's your own story and then it's an investigation of what racism is today." Amiel - a "cultural but not practicing Jew" and a highly-regarded former TV reporter - originally made Why Do They Hate Us? as a trilogy of television documentaries shown in France last year. Clips of the filmmakers' exchanges with extremists were viewed online nearly 20 million times, prompting their theatrical release as one two-hour movie. It comes as hate crimes against minorities are rocketing in France, up 22.4 percent in just one year to 2,034 incidents in 2015, with anti-Muslim hate crimes more than doubling. The candidates in the upcoming French election represent a stark choice. Amiel, a liberal on the left of the political spectrum, describes centrist and presidential favorite Emmanuel Macron as the candidate he "dislikes the least". "In the US, Trump was elected. In England, we didn't believe that they would leave Europe and they did. Maybe we learned a little bit from what happened elsewhere, we showed that we can sometimes be more intelligent. It doesn't happen often," he said. Cambodian minister hails Beijing's leading role in regional integration PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - China's Belt and Road Initiative not only benefits all participating countries and regions, but also strengthens relations among them, Cambodian Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth has said. The proposal refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming at building a network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of Silk Road. "It is a promising initiative, which not only benefits all members' economic performance, but also strengthens ties," Aun Pornmoniroth said ahead of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held from May 14 to 15 in Beijing. The initiative will help develop some of the economically least integrated parts of the world through greater connectivity, including the construction of infrastructure, the minister said. "As the dynamics of international relations are changing rapidly, we look to China to play an even larger role on the global stage," he said. He said China is well-positioned to play a leading role in deepening regional economic integration through strengthening connectivity and economic development. In regional connectivity, he said that the initiative benefits all participants in Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania, lowering transportation cost, increasing trade volume and value, and extending trade accessibility. For economic development, he said that the initiative fosters collaboration within the regions with a flow of people, goods, trade, capital and ideas, thus enhancing economic performance in each country and region through better connectivity by road, rail and air which will support stronger links in trade, investment, banking and finance. Under the initiative, he said, Cambodia and China agreed to focus on core areas such as infrastructure and agriculture. In infrastructure, he said the cooperation focuses on transportation such as railway, highway, aviation, communication, network, aerospace and nuclear energy. On the agriculture, it focuses on specialized crops, aquatic and animal products, as well as food processing, agricultural inspection and quarantine, he said. Cambodia will benefit from this initiative through increasing trade and investment with China and other countries, he said. "China will be a key market for Cambodia's export diversification and investment programs." The minister also said that China has put great emphasis on people-to-people relationship to enhance friendship with Cambodia. "We are looking to China not only for financing and investment flows, but also to bring in management skills, technical knowledge and skills knowledge and new technologies, particularly in the area of infrastructure development," he said. "In other words, we believe China should be a knowledge provider." DAMASCUS - Syrian state media blamed Israel on Thursday for a missile attack on a military installation near Damascus International Airport that shook the capital with the force of the blasts. Israeli Minister of Intelligence Yisrael Katz would not comment directly on the incident, but said any similar strike would be in line with established policy to interrupt the transfer of weapons to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. "It absolutely matches our declared policy, a policy that we also implement," Katz told Israel's Army Radio. Israel is widely believed to have carried out several airstrikes in recent years on advanced weapons systems in Syria as well as on Hezbollah positions. It rarely comments on such operations. The widely followed Diaries of a Mortar Facebook page, which is run by activists in Damascus, reported several explosions at 3:42 am that could be heard and felt across the capital. Syria's state-run SANA news agency said Israel had fired several missiles from inside the Occupied Golan Heights south of the capital striking a military installation southwest of the airport, which serves both military and civilian flights. It reported several explosions and material damage but no casualties. The blasts were felt at least 15 kilometers away. "The buildings shook from the force of the blast," said a media activist who goes by Salam al-Ghoutawi, of the Ghouta Media Center, in the city's opposition-held northeastern suburbs. He said he heard the roar of jets in the distance at the time of the blasts. A string of explosions could be seen silhouetted against the night sky in a video, with blazing debris flying out of the blast. The light of the explosions illuminated the sizable blast cloud that took shape nearby. British Prime Minister Theresa May greets Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the European Commission, in London, on Wednesday. Hannah Mckay / Reuters LONDON - British Prime Minister Theresa May told European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday she wanted a "deep and special relationship" with the European Union, trying to warm the atmosphere before Brexit talks begin. After a dinner at her Downing Street official residence with the EU's main Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, and his British counterpart, David Davis, both sides said the meeting was "constructive" but offered few details. The four have in recent weeks been careful not to poison the atmosphere before the talks, leaving financial markets and business leaders to guess what the mood is as battle lines are drawn before the complex negotiations for Britain to leave the EU, following last June's referendum vote to quit. "The prime minister had a constructive meeting this evening with President Juncker of the European Commission," a spokesperson for May said in a statement. "Following the UK's letter of notification under Article 50 (on its departure from the EU), she reiterated the UK's commitment to achieving a deep and special partnership with the European Union." The cautious wording is in stark contrast to the early days of May's premiership, when she riled EU leaders by taking a firmly pro-Brexit stance to win over her governing Conservative Party and, she said, to carry out the will of the people. May is keeping her cards close to her chest before the talks, not wanting to give her hand away. But she is letting members of her government speak out. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that while divorce talks with the EU could be tough, Britain would win a good deal. The EU said it expects the talks to begin after that election - when May hopes to strengthen her parliamentary majority - and when she has confirmed her negotiating team, which is now led by Davis. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Britons on Thursday not to delude themselves that they would continue to enjoy EU rights after Brexit and insisted the bloc would only agree on future ties with London after they have nailed down a deal to leave. Striking a firm tone in a speech, Merkel also said talks on Britain's financial obligations to the EU would have to be addressed early on in the talks. Lawyer Thomas Demetrio (L), who is representing David Dao, the passenger who was violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight, speaks as lawyer Stephen Golan (C) and Dao's daughter Crystal Dao Pepper look on during a press conference in Chicago, Illinois, US, on April 13, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] CHICAGO - A passenger, who was violently dragged off an overbooked United flight has reached a settlement with the airline, his lawyer said on Thursday. Thomas Demetrio, a prominent Chicago attorney representing the 69-year-old David Dao, said in a news release that "the United has taken full responsibility for what happened on Fight 3411" on April 9. He didn't disclose the sum, which should "remain confidential" as agreed by the two sides. Dao, a Vietnamese-American doctor, was hospitalized after three aviation policemen at Chicago O'Hare International Airport was summoned aboard and dragged him from the plane to make space for four crew members on the flight bound for Louisville, Kentucky. He suffered concussion, a broken nose and lost two front teeth, which led to an online uproar against the misconduct. Demetrio praised United for taking "full responsibility for what happened on Flight 3411, without attempting to blame others, including the City of Chicago." Manchester City Council selected Far East Consortium (FEC) as lead contractor on one of the largest residential development projects ever undertaken in the city, involving 10,000 new homes and 1 billion pounds ($1.29 billion) in investment. Over a 10 to 15 year period, the "Northern Gateway" development project will involve the construction of new homes, cycle routes, walking trails and green spaces across 300 acres (1.2 million square meters) of land across the Manchester neighborhoods of New Cross, Lower Irk Valley and Collyhurst. The project is expected to involve 1 billion pounds of investment over the next decade. David Chiu, chairman of FEC, said: "Manchester is the third-most visited city in the UK and is famed for its architecture, culture, musical exports and media links along with an impressive heritage of scientific and engineering innovations. I myself have been in the city many times and am of the belief this project is a top priority for FEC in the UK." Northern Gateway forms part of a residential growth strategy led by Manchester Place, a joint initiative between Manchester City Council and the UK Government's Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). Manchester Place aims to deliver 25,000 new homes in Manchester over the next 10 years. FEC has previously been selected to develop tower blocks under the scheme. In March, FEC unveiled plans for a 200 million pound ($247.4 million) residential development bordering Manchester's Angel Meadow Park. FEC will erect four buildings - one with nine floors, a 17-floor block, a 22-level tower and one with 41 floors. Together, they will comprise 754 new homes, the first of which are due to be finished in 2019. Chiu said that Manchester City Council market data shows the demand for new homes in Manchester city centre will continue to exceed supply. "Manchester is a place where people from all walks of life want to stay and where families thrive," he said. "That is why for us this project is not only exciting but also presents unique challenges that will require a leading developer with a strong balance sheet as well as solid experience in land assembly, planning and development." FEC was founded in 1972 by David Chiu's father, Hong Kong entrepreneur Deacon Chiu. David Chiu's daughter Winnie Chiu heads hotel operator Dorsett Hospitality International, an FEC subsidiary. The family operates under the so-called "Chinese wallet" strategy, in which developers acquire hotels and real estate in areas that attract large numbers of Chinese tourists and residents. FEC has property in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK and New Zealand. Manchester has the third-largest proportion of Chinese residents in the UK, behind Cambridge and London's Tower Hamlets neighborhood, according to the 2011 census. Sixty-four thousand Chinese tourists visited the north of England in 2015, up from 35,000 in 2014. Direct flights between Beijing and Manchester began last year. To contact the reporter: angus@mail.chinadailyuk.com.cn Solving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue and negotiation is "the only practical, right choice", Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday before the start of a UN Security Council special ministerial meeting on the issue. The Korean Peninsula is facing escalating tension and it's necessary for the UN Security Council to have this meeting, Wang said at the UN headquarters in New York. The meeting, to be chaired by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, will cover ways to maximize the impact of existing sanctions on Pyongyang and show resolve to respond to further provocations with appropriate new measures, a US State Department spokesman said at a briefing earlier this week. Wang said China's stance on the peninsula nuclear issue has been consistent and clear. No matter what happens, we should stick to two basic directions, he said, one is realizing denuclearization of the peninsula and defending international nuclear non-proliferation system, the other is maintaining peninsula peace and stability. As the DPRK sped up its nuclear and missile programs recently, China supports the international community to step up efforts against nuclear proliferation, he said. China advocates strengthening efforts for peace and dialogue with the escalating tension on the peninsula. An emphasis on preventing nuclear proliferation and promoting peace and dialogue should be strengthened at the same time, he said. China has proposed the "two-track approach" as a solution to the peninsula nuclear issue. It calls for simultaneous efforts for the denuclearization process on the peninsula and negotiations to replace the armistice between the North and South with a peace treaty. As the first step, China proposed "double suspension", which means a suspension of nuclear activities and missile launches by DPRK, and a halt to large-scale joint war games by ROK and the US. "This proposal is reasonable and is garnering understanding and support from more and more countries. Hopefully, all parties can think about it seriously," Wang said. Wang said that the meeting is expected to reach new consensus on implementing Security Council resolutions related to the DPRK fully and comprehensively, reducing tension on the peninsula as soon as possible and seeking a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue. Greek PM Tsipras receives Liu Qibao in Athens By Lei Xiaoxun | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2017-04-28 21:59 Over the last five years, Nebraska hospitals have lost out on $18.3 million due to a one-sentence Obamacare loophole. Ensuring access to quality care in rural areas is challenging enough without the federal government erroneously diverting needed funds. This week, I introduced a bill to undo this misguided Obamacare provision, dubbed the Bay State Boondoggle, and help hospitals continue to serve our seniors. Medicare hospital wage reimbursements are adjusted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as required to reflect the geographic area where services are delivered. Prior to Obamacare, if a hospital transitioned from a critical access hospital, to which the CMS wage index does not apply, to an acute care facility in which it does, the necessary funding reallocation would take place within the state. However, Obamacare included a provision requiring Medicare wage reimbursements to come from a national pool of money rather than state allocations. So why is it called the Bay State Boondoggle? The issue centers on a 19-bed hospital in Nantucket, Massachusetts, which was purchased by a large health system soon after Obamacare was signed into law and redesignated from a critical access hospital to an acute care hospital. Because this facility transitioned from a program in which the wage index does not apply to one in which it does, its wages set a new floor for all 81 traditional fee-for-service hospitals in Massachusetts. Allowing Massachusetts to artificially inflate labor costs based on a single hospital with unusually high wages drove up the wage floor on the CMS index. The result was far more Medicare dollars flowing to Massachusetts hospitals and away from hospitals in most other states. By now, more than $2 billion dollars has been diverted from hospitals nationwide. My bill would end this boondoggle and return financial responsibility to the states. To bring further relief to Nebraska health care providers, I also continue to work on reducing arbitrary and burdensome regulations on rural hospitals. For example, the 96-hour rule requires physicians at critical access hospitals to certify at time of admission Medicare and Medicaid patients will not be there more than 96 hours. Otherwise, the hospital must transfer the patient or face non-reimbursement. I introduced the Critical Access Hospital Relief Act to remove this provision and ensure rural Americans are not placed at a further disadvantage. This week, CMS announced it is beginning the process of updating its guidance on enforcement of the 96-hour rule. I am eager to hear from Nebraska hospitals and patients on the proposal but also pleased to see the Trump administration agreeing with the need for changes. Too often when the federal bureaucracy gets involved, it makes situations worse rather than better. We are seeing prime examples of this problem in rural health care, and I am glad to have the opportunity to propose legislative solutions for patients and providers. (Photo : US Navy) USS Carl Vinson with deck full of planes. Advertisement Adm. Harry Harris, Commander, United States Pacific Command (USPACOM), said the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and its Carrier Strike Group 1 (CSG-1) will counterattack North Korea if that country bombards it with ballistic missiles. Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on Apr. 26, Adm. Harris said CSG-1, of which the Vinson is the flagship, can "absolutely" defend itself against anything North Korea can fire at it, including ballistic missiles from the North Korean shore. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Adm. Harris, however, revealed North Korea does not have a single anti-ship ballistic missile capable of finding, tracking and striking the Vinson. The capability to do efficiently still eludes China despite China's heavily hyped anti-access, area denial (A2/AD) defense network that's not 100 percent effective. "North Korea does not have a ballistic missile anti-ship weapon that would threaten the Carl Vinson strike group. The weapons that North Korea could put against the Carl Vinson strike group are easily defended by the capabilities resident in that strike group. If it flies it will die, if it's flying against the Carl Vinson strike group," said Adm. Harris. More ominously, Adm. Harris said CSG-1 will indeed launch a counterstrike if attacked but couched this action in diplomatic terms, calling it the ability to "project power." "I'm confident in that strike group's ability to not only defend itself but to project power, if that is the call that we receive from the president and secretary of defense." Adm. Harris, the first Asian-American to achieve the rank of Admiral in the U.S. Navy, said fighters and ground attack jets of CSG-1 are now less than two hours flying time from North Korea. His mother is Japanese. He said CSG-1 is transiting the Philippine Sea just east of Okinawa, "in striking range, power projection range, of North Korea if called upon to do that. And then in a few days I expect it will continue to move north." Advertisement TagsAdm. Harry Harris, United States Pacific Command, USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), Carrier Strike Group 1 (CSG-1), North Korea, china, anti-access, area denial (A2/AD), ballistic missile anti-ship weapon (Photo : Getty Images) China had 20 nuclear reactors under construction at the end of March. Advertisement The China Nuclear Association revealed on Thursday that China had at least 20 nuclear reactors under construction at the end of last month, with a total capacity of 23.11 gigawatts. China also has 36 reactors in full commercial operation at the end of March, with a capacity of 34.72 GW. When combined, the two will give nearly 58 GW, consistent with the country's aim for capacity on line by the end of the decade. But China also plans to add more 30 GW of nuclear reactors by 2020. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement However, the association's chairman Zhang Huazhu cautioned that achieving the overall goal would be challenging. Construction of nuclear reactors has slowed down after a nationwide safety review has been implemented amid the Fukushima disaster in Japan in 2011. Zhang said that 10 of the units are advanced third-generation reactors and include the Toshiba Corp's Westinghouse's AP1000. The AP1000 reactors boast of having not only a bigger generation capacity but also new integrated safety features. The world's first AP1000 unit is expected to enter service in the second half of this year. Zhang said the project is now on its testing phase and is in place to meet its 2017 schedule. "The AP1000 and Hualong One currently under construction and the CAP1400 about to go into construction will be the main models of future development," he said, noting that the reactors maturity and efficiency will be tested further while in the construction phase. Meanwhile, the first of the two demonstrations Hualong One units being constructed in China's Fujian province has completed its hydraulic pressure test on April 8 and is expected to start operation in 2019. Advertisement Tagsnuclear reactors, Nuclear Power Plant, china, AP1000, Toshiba Corp, Hualong One It appears that the Nebraska Legislature has begun the dangerous slide down the slippery slope of becoming like Kansas, thanks to the efforts of Governor Deep Pockets and his Gang of 29 cheered on by the Americans for Prosperity. Governor Pete Ricketts has been touting it (LB461) as the 2017 Nebraska Taxpayer Reform Act. Tax reform is a key component to Grow Nebraska, Ricketts said even before debate began on the floor of the Legislature. Some ag producers and the state Chamber of Commerce and a handful of business groups have also spoken in support of the bill and its promise to deliver tax relief to Nebraskans. While Ricketts was handing accolades to Revenue Committee Chairman Jim Smith of Papillion and Ag Chair Lydia Brasch of Bancroft and freshman lawmaker Steve Erdman of Bayard all three members of the Gang of 29 another group was waving the caution flags trying to stop the runaway train. You remember the Gang of 29, those lawmakers who got together last December before the session started and decided who was going to chair the committees and how they were otherwise going to run the table. Opponents have said it is irresponsible to be talking about a bill that will cut taxes for the wealthiest and raise taxes on some middle-income families at a time when the state faces a large budget shortfall that will result in cuts to services on which Nebraskans rely. Spokespersons for nonprofits, the teachers union, public employees union and at least one farm organization have joined to form an opposition group called Rebuild Nebraska. More than 20 organizations in the group said they want to rebuild Nebraskas families, communities, businesses, schools, infrastructure, and workforce though a stable, sustainable, and progressive tax system. Some state senators, who obviously fear that their opposition will be met with Ricketts-financed opposition to their re-election bids, have been silent on the issue. That tactic was used in the most recent election and has been eroding the non-partisan basis of the one house Legislature. Its a complicated bill that would change the way agricultural land is valued to an income-based approach and change income tax rates and personal exemption amounts and use economic growth projection rates to trigger income tax cuts. Lincoln Senator Kate Bolz, a member of the Appropriations Committee, said since actual revenues often fall short of projections, a tax cut in a down year could put the state in a budget bind. She said the bill just isnt responsible fiscal management. Her Lincoln colleague, Senator Patty Pansing Brooks, said the plan as presented would grant sizable tax breaks to wealthy Nebraskans while leaving only a "crumb" for low-income people. Rural senators have remained split on the issue. Some have spoken highly of the plans to revamp ag land values while others say the proposal does too much for income tax cuts and not enough for property taxes. Rebuild Nebraska member Anne Hindery, CEO of the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, said the tax system should protect middle-class and low-income families while making sure we have a stable revenue source for our state. She said the proposed tax plan would place a greater burden on families who are already struggling, potentially creating a greater demand for direct services from nonprofits. Nebraska State Education Association spokeswoman Karen Kilgarin said the state is already 49th in the Nation in the proportion of state aid for K-12 Education. The proposed massive tax cut would make it nearly impossible for the State to provide adequate and necessary funding for K-12 as well as higher education, she said, adding that school districts would likely see drastic cuts in state aid. Ricketts said tax reform is a key component to Grow Nebraska with lower taxes for families and to grow the economy. He maintained that the 2017 Nebraska Taxpayer Reform Act will do that. Count me among the skeptical. On its face, tax reform is something that is decades overdue. But tax reform in a time of revenue shortfall is biting the hand that feeds you. Remember, the state gets its money from taxes. Cut the taxes and you get less money. Simple, right? It was the support of the Americans for Prosperity that pushed me over the edge. Thats the so-called Tea Party. These are the folks who pushed for change in neighboring Kansas and in Oklahoma where public schools can only afford to be open four days a week. To them I say, butt out. Its our problem and something that a truly non-partisan Legislature could fix, given the freedom to act without undue political pressure from the executive branch and a group of nationally known political bullies. (Photo : Getty Images) India is more threatened with China's expanding naval footprints in the Indian Ocean that Beijing's new aircraft carrier. Advertisement India is not disconcerted on the recent launch of China's first indigenous aircraft carrier, saying it will take Beijing at least five years to make the warship capable of being deployed as an offensive weapon. What alarms New Delhi most is the rapid expansion of China's long-range naval deployments by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "The launch of the half-finished carrier does not amount to much in real terms. But India can ill-afford to ignore China's continuing quest to go global in the maritime domain, which has been its major focus area since 2009," a senior officer said, stressing that China already has both the Gwadar Port and Djibouti. Since December 2013, China's nuclear and conventional submarines conduct regular forays across the Indian Ocean Region on the pre-text of anti-piracy patrols, The Economic Times reported. China has also "strategically encircled" India by boosting its maritime connections including Bangladesh, Cambodia, eastern Africa, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, to name a few. Although China still needs some years to gain expertise in operating fighters from carriers, India has operated "flattops" since it inducted its first carrier in the more than 50 years ago. However, India is also apparently slowly fiddling away its edge, struggling on pursuing its long-standing plan to have three aircrafts. China recently unleased its first homegrown aircraft carrier Type 001A, or likely to be named Shangdong, on April 26 at the Dalian Shipyard in Liaoning Province. The country's aircraft carriers represent its modernization and upcoming superpower status, Popular Science noted. Moreover, state media has quoted naval officers saying that China will plans to build five more aircraft carrier. Currently, the Type 002 carrier is undergoing modular assembly, while the Type 003 will follow in the late 2020s. Advertisement TagsIndia, china, Aircraft carrier, Type 001A carrier, Shangdong carrier (Photo : Getty Images) China is poised to become the world's largest consumer of craft beer in terms of value this year. Advertisement China is set to become the world's largest consumer of craft beer, a new report from Drink Sector claimed. Demand of craft beer in China has significantly increased and will make it the biggest global drinker of beer in value terms this year, according to The Morning Advertiser. China, which already holds the title for the world's largest alcohol consumer, has depended on import from larger breweries like Germany in recent years. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement However, such trend is starting to decline as consumers seek for beers brewed by small-time producers. The study further revealed that the Chinese beer market will beat the US in value this year. Plus, a rising number of domestic brewers are starting to launch their products in the country, thanks to the demand of the middle-income consumers who are willing to trade foreign and premium imported products. "In particular, small and medium-sized craft breweries are well suited to target their brands in China at a niche segment of affluent and middle-class consumers who desire to trade up through purchases of premium foreign products," the report said. Meanwhile, China's love for beer comes to no surprise as it is also the home to ancient beer. In 2015, a 5,000-year-old brewery has been discovered on the country's Neolithic site, and scientists believe it is the earliest evidence of barley- and millet-based beer making in China. Now, two breweries, namely, Beijing's Jing-A Brewing Co and Hong Kong's Moonzen Brewery, are producing beer inspired from the scientists' findings. Both firms are producing the original beer recipe, giving the modern world an ancient taste. Advertisement Tagsbeer market, china, craft beer, brewed beer, alcohol (Photo : Getty Images) China Eagle to build the country's biggest production base for industrial drones. Advertisement China Eagle, maker of the Divine Eagle and the Sharp Sword stealth drones, is planning to construct the country's biggest production base for industrial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The production base of the Beijing-based firm will be located in Jingjiang's economic and technological development zone in east China's Jiangsu province. It is anticipated to produce its first industrial drone this month, GPS World reported. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The new base will have an annual production capacity of 5,000 units. It will also design the UAVs for mapping, aerial inspection, and unmanned cargo transport. China Eagle, which also collaborates with the state oceanic administration to produce drones for shore patrols, is eyeing an estimated output value of 3 billion yuan per year. Many experts said that the general aviation sector is still unable to meet the high demand of industrial customers in China. Meanwhile, China's e-commerce giant JD.com also unveiled its plan to build 150 operation sites for drones deliver in Sichuan province. The drone delivery sites, which aim to significantly cut down freight cost by as much as 70 percent, will deliver Sichuan's products to shoppers nationwide within 24 hours. JD.com has been developing its drone delivery services to meet the demand of China's rural areas with complex terrain and underdeveloped infrastructure. Drones that could carry up to 50 kilograms have started its operations, while those that could carry 500 kilograms are currently in the pipeline. Unlike Amazon and other companies with drone delivery services, JD.com focuses more on areas where poor transportation structure prevents efficient delivery. Advertisement TagsChina Eagle, drones, UAVs, unmanned aerial vehicles, Divine Eagle drone, Sharp Sword stealth drone I had the time to meditate deeply on life on the plane heading towards Korea, the motherland. When you travel on an airplane, you sometimes would face bad air turbulence. During these times, we experience the plane wavering. I have never had air travel without its wavering. Wavering is a process that we must go through in air travel. This time around, the airplane was wavering a few times when the air currents were not good. I experienced a pretty violent wavering, which went on for a while. At that time, the captain stopped everyone from moving. He made us fasten seat belts and withhold from going to the bathroom. At that moment, all crewmembers also stopped moving for a while. You must stop for a while when you experience violent wavering in your life. When you are violently wavering, you must follow Gods guidance as if you were following the instructions of the captain on an airplane. Just as you leave everything to the captain on the plane, you must leave everything to God. I learn how to leave everything every time I ride an airplane. Air travel allows us to surrender our life with our hands open. We also need to train ourselves to surrender everything to God in our pilgrimage. There are many times in which life is not smooth. There is a time when everything wavers no matter how much we try. At that time, we must open our hands and leave everything to God. We must switch from the life of activity to passivity. Through that process we become deeply rooted in God. A tree deepens its roots while it wavers. Therefore, the wavering is not just bad. Through wavering, we grow inward like a tree that grows even further down. There is another lesson I learned from the wavering on the plane. It is the fact that the wavering does not lasts forever. If you wait a little, the wavering stops, and the airplane calms back down and flies to the destination. Just like a shower that passes, the wavering always stops. Life does not end when it wavers. Through the wavering, we grow more and more. We learn how to live in the midst of wavering. You will learn how to live embracing some problems. I thought about what was the most important thing in a wavering plane. It was love. To live is to love. There is no beautiful, holy, and noble word like love. Love is a great power. We endure anything because of love. We overcome everything because of love. We endure all the pain because of love. The happiness of life is in loving and being loved. God is love. God sacrificed His only Son for us because of His love. Jesus sacrificed everything for us because of His love. Love is a sacrifice. The way to know how much we love someone is to see how much we sacrificed for them. Jesus sacrificed everything because He loved us. Jesus lived a wavering life for us. For this reason, He understands us who live a wavering life. He understands our suffering, agony, and pain. We understand others as much as we love. The more you love, the more you understand. We had arrived at Incheon Airport early in the morning and waited for another flight to Busan. It was a long journey. After arriving in Busan, we took a break and then attended the R & R Global Leadership Forum. On the first evening, we watched a movie on the late Rev. Ok Han-heums discipleship and shared a serious conversation about discipleship. We had time to pray for the Korean and the immigrant church, as well as reflect on the way of discipleship and discipleship training. The late Rev. Ok Han-heum was a wonderful pastor who devoted his whole life to the ministry of making disciples. While recalling his life, I had a precious time of looking back at my own life and my pastoring. Every time I visit my motherland, I learn many things. On the first night, Pastor Cho Bong-hee of Mokdong Global Church gave me a gift, How to Survive and How to Grow, written by Kim Hyun-joong. It was a good book that explained how to survive and grow in a difficult time. One night passed, but I learned a lot during the day. Travel always gives me the gift of precious learning. So even though it is difficult, traveling is a great pleasure for me. Today early in the morning, my wife and I got up and spent time together with meditation on the Word and prayer. I interceded for you and especially for those who are having difficulties. I visited the motherland with cautions about a potential war, but the motherland seems surprisingly peaceful. Please continue to intercede for our homeland and the ministry of this insufficient servant. Reverend Joshua Choon-Min Kang is the senior pastor of New Life Vision Church, located in Los Angeles. This is one of the weekly letters he writes to his congregation. For the original, visit www.nlvc.org. We are thrilled to present New Zealands premier book honours The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards - winners ceremony as the first public event at the Festival. Local writers - such as Clare Dunleavy Jenny Pattrick and Nick Bollinger - feature aplenty in General Festival Events. That this Festival is the largest showcase of local writers in the world is something we are immensely proud of.New Zealand and international guests take part in a huge range of FREE events across the Festival. From the inaugural Walk on High , speakers podiums and readings to salon-style soirees in the glittering Heartland Festival Room, you can catch Apirana Taylor Susan Faludi , and many others for nix. This article contains spoilers for the first two seasons of HBOs The Leftovers. A few years ago, a close friend of minea youth minister on his way home from a mission tripdied in a tragic car accident. His wasnt a martyrs death, nor a long-fought battle against illness. It was swift. The call to pray for him came at 11 that night, and a couple of hours later came news of his passing. My prayers (or lack thereof) felt meaningless, his death purposeless. My friend was gone, and Id been left behind. For the Christian, death is never final. Paul himself euphemizes the death of saints as falling asleep, and death is filled with purpose as those in Christ await resurrection on the Last Day. Such hope and truth, however, may be difficult to believe for the friends and family left in the wake of deaths throes. It is the tension of the now and not yet, of knowing spiritual truth but wrestling to believe ita whisper of doubt that asks, What if there is no purpose in loss? Such is the case in the HBO series The Leftovers, created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta (the latter of whom also penned a novel by the same name). Now in its third season, The Leftovers is about a Rapture-like event in which two percent of the worlds population disappears. This Sudden Departure happens swiftly, and is a seemingly random, meaningless event void of the spiritual significance found in popular Christian accounts of a Rapture. There is no logical or spiritual reasoning that can make sense of the disappearances. Children and parents, sinners and saintsall disappear, with no discrimination based on morality or innocence. The premise may seem ... 1 Global Mapping International (GMI) will close its doors on June 30, more than three decades after it began as a two-year global mapping project. We thought wed get it done and disband in two years, GMI president and CEO Jon Hirst told CT. Then we realized the monumental nature of gathering information for the Great Commission was essentially never-ending, and that led to GMI becoming a third-party independent research organization supporting the global church. Long before Google Maps, GMI began as an innovative way to support the church, helping foreign missionaries become more effective with custom maps, infographics, and other resources. This week, the organization announced that its changing funding structureunderscored by a changing approach to missionwill force it to close. GMI relied too heavily on donors who would rather see it lean on service and product pricing for revenue. Donors now tend to come out of the business world or ... 1 A ploughshare is a nobler object than a razor. But if your natural talent is for barbering, wouldnt it be better to be a barber, and a good barberand use the profits (if you like) to speed the plough? However grand the job may be, is it your job? Harriet Vane, a fictional character created by Dorothy L. Sayers in Gaudy Night, posed this question during a college reunion at Oxford in 1935. A former classmate, the outstanding scholar of her year who had married a farmer and everything had gone wrong, reasoned that despite her own difficulties, farming and marriage was a finer thing than spinning words on paper. We can almost hear Sayers voice in Harriets response. Look here! I admire you like hell, but I believe youre all wrong. Im sure one should do ones own job, however trivial, and not persuade ones self into doing somebody elses, however noble. Simple yet profound. Women should do the job to which they are called. I love Gaudy Night. I loved it even before I realized what a progressive argument it makes about female vocation. As a first-time reader, I was so absorbed with the story that I didnt pay attention to the author. I was oblivious to how Harriet Vane mirrored controversial moments from Sayers own life, including the unhappy end of a long-term relationship and an illicit sexual affair. She also mirrored her exceptional aspects, such as Sayers degree from Oxford and her professional success as a single woman outside the hallowed halls of academia. It wasnt until I taught Gaudy Night that I really began to understand the implications of its argument: that women ... 1 Operation Rescue to Ryan: Keep Your Promise to Defund Planned Parenthood Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-683-6790 ext. 111; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue WASHINGTON, April 28, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- Operation Rescue is ardently urging House Speaker Paul Ryan to publicly announce that there will be a provision for completely defunding Planned Parenthood in the next Continuing Resolution. In a letter faxed to Speaker Ryan yesterday, Operation Rescue President Troy Newman reminds Ryan of promises made by he and President Donald J. Trump to defund America's largest abortion provider. "On behalf of the majority of Americans that oppose the tax funding of Planned Parenthood due to their heavy involvement in the morally reprehensible business of abortion, I urge you to keep your promise to the American people," Newman stated. Newman added urgency to his plea, noting that Operation Rescue has documented 42 medical emergencies at Planned Parenthood abortion facilities since January 2016, that have required ambulance transport of patients to hospitals for treatment that Planned Parenthood was not equipped to provide. "It is important to note that our list is not comprehensive. The actual number of women injured at Planned Parenthood abortion facilities is expected to be much higher," said Newman. He spoke to Ryan about the tragic death of Cree Erwin-Sheppard, who died due to a botched first-trimester abortion she received at Planned Parenthood in Kalamazoo, Michigan, last year. "An autopsy revealed that. . . Cree received a 4 cm full tissue perforation of her uterus, which caused internal bleeding," Newman wrote. "She was sent home without having been treated or informed of this life-threatening injury. Cree's brother, Tyler Sheppard, has since become involved in trying to expose the truth about the lack of skill and care Cree received at Planned Parenthood." Newman also mentioned the death of Tonya Reaves, who succumbed to a fatal abortion she received at a Chicago-area Planned Parenthood abortion facility in 2012. "It is simply unconscionable for Federal tax money to continue to go to this organization that has caused so much human suffering and loss of life in violation of the moral consciences of the majority of U.S. citizens - not to mention the criminal conduct Planned Parenthood is accused of committing," said Newman. Earlier this year, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and five of its affiliates were referred to the Department of Justice for criminal investigation and prosecution by House and Senate panels after their investigations revealed Planned Parenthood had illegally participated in the sale of aborted baby remains for profit. "Planned Parenthood must be defunded in the next Continuing Resolution, in keeping with your promises. We can accept no more excuses for delay," Newman said. Please contact Speaker Ryan and demand the immediate defunding of Planned Parenthood. Link to Ryan's E-mail contact page. View Newman's Letter to Ryan Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Click here to support Operation Rescue. Share Tweet home World USCIRF urges State Department to add Russia to list of worst violators of religious freedom The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has called on the U.S. State Department to add Russia to the list of countries that are considered the worst violators of religious freedom. USCIRF, a bipartisan panel created to make recommendations regarding the issue of religious freedom, has released its annual report on Wednesday, in which it listed Russia among six new Tier 1 "countries of particular concern" (CPC). This is the first time in USIRF's 20-year history that the former Soviet state was included in the list. Last week, Russia's Supreme Court banned the Jehovah's Witnesses from the country under a 1997 extremism law. "On April 20, the Russian Supreme Court issued a ruling banning the existence of the Jehovah's Witnesses in that country. Their right to religious freedom is being eliminated thoroughly a and yet 'legally' under Russian law," the report noted, according to The Christian Post. "Russia's continued use of its 'anti-extremism' law as a tool to curtail religious freedoms is one of the reasons USCIRF has recommended for the first time that Russia be designated as a 'country of particular concern,' or CPC, under the International Religious Freedom Act for particularly severe violations of religious freedom," it continued. The report, which covers 2016 to February 2017, recommended that 10 countries, namely Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, be re-designated as CPCs, which is meant to signify nations that are guilty of severe violations of religious freedom. It also called on the State Department to add Central African Republic, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, and Vietnam to the list of CPCs. Terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State, the Afghanistan-based Taliban, and the Somali terror group al-Shabaab were listed in the report as "entities of particular concern" for the first time. The designations came after an amendment to the International Religious Freedom Act that required the U.S. to identify non-state entities that severely violated religious freedom. The commission noted in its report that religious freedom violations are getting more common and more severe. It expressed concern that the state of religious freedom has worsened enough that observers are becoming "numb to violations of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion." USCIRF also called on President Donald Trump to confirm a new ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, as David Saperstein, who assumed the position in January 2015, has already completed his tenure this year. The Tuttleman Collection: A celebration of art and legacy An eclectic and discerning collection showcasing an outstanding selection of works by European, American and Latin American modernist masters to be offered in our May sales in New York During the course of their marriage, Edna and Stanley Tuttleman built a diverse and expansive collection of art spanning multiple decades, a variety of media and some of the defining movements of the 20th and 21st centuries. In the Tuttleman Collection, modernist sculptural masterpieces by Henry Moore and Pop works by Roy Lichtenstein lived side by side in an arrangement that underscored the couples deep love of art in many forms and traditions. Open a larger version of this image Edna and Stanley Tuttleman standing in front of Roy Lichtensteins 1973 trompe loeil masterwork Stretcher Frame Revealed Beneath Painting of a Stretcher Frame Art was fully integrated into the Tuttlemans lives, says Conor Jordan, Christies Deputy Chairman of Impressionist and Modern Art. Their passion was articulated through a salon-style installation that swept through every room of their house, extending well into the surrounding landscape. Open a larger version of this image The exterior of the Tuttlemans Pennsylvania home. Centre: Fernando Botero (b. 1932), Woman with Umbrella & Man with Cane, c. 1977. Bronze. Artists proof one of two; edition of six. 90 x 35 x 30 in (228.6 x 88.9 x 76.2 cm). Estimate: $1,000,000-1,500,000. This work is offered in Latin American Art on 24-25 May at Christies in New York The voluptuous sculptures of Fernando Botero and Henry Moore punctuated the grounds of their Pennsylvania home, styled after the Storm King Art Center in the Lower Hudson Valley in New York. Turning to the acoustic and kinetic, Harry Bertoia sculptures and Alexander Calder mobiles from the 1950s through to the 1970s helped create an atmosphere in the Tuttleman home that transcended the conventional and leaned toward the unexpected. The central highlight is Roy Lichtensteins 1973 trompe loeil masterwork Stretcher Frame Revealed Beneath Painting of a Stretcher Frame (Estimate: $2,000,0003,000,000), which hung above the fireplace at the centre of their home, and which is in certain ways the cornerstone of the Tuttleman Collection. Open a larger version of this image The heart of the Tuttlemans home. Centre: Roy Lichtenstein, Stretcher Frame Revealed Beneath Painting of a Stretcher Frame, 1973 Open a larger version of this image From top: Louise Nevelson, Dawns Landscape XXXI, 1975; Henry Moore (1898-1986), Working Model for Reclining Figure: Prop, 1976. Signed and numbered 'Moore 1/9' (on the back of the base). Bronze with green and brown patina. Length: 31 in (80 cm). Estimate: $1,500,000-2,500,000. This work is offered in the Impressionist and modern Art Evening Sale on 15 May at Christies in New York A Houston woman won an international entrepreneurship award with her water conservation business. RELATED: Local software developer wins Siena entrepreneur award Katie Anderson was one of six winners of the annual Cartier Women's Initiative Awards with her Save Water & Co. business, which aims to conserve water in commercial establishments and multifamily properties through business processes improvement. Save Water & Co. is already saving 30 million gallons of water per month in Houston, the company said. Anderson was awarded $100,000 to invest in her business. The annual international business competition recognizes female entrepreneurs who contribute to the global economy. A Houston police cruiser caught fire and a wrecker driver was arrested after the two crashed Thursday night while en route to a different accident. The police car and the wrecker were both driving on the North Freeway around 10 p.m., headed to a nearby accident, when they collided in an emergency lane near Rankin Road, said an officer with the Houston Police Department on scene. Loretta Lynch, as Hussein Obama's top lawyer at the DOJ, which means political muscle above the law, stays in her patent Alinsky political vein after President Trump takes office and pledges to return America to a Nation of Laws: Above. The United States Supreme Court: Above. photo by Stan Deatherage Is the concerted Democrat plan to obfusticate the purpose of government by the unprecedented delaying of President Trump's appointments, while galvanizing with the organized protesters' directive to obstruct the process of governing, at the federal level, working for the Democrat brand? Yes, Democrats will finally create a Socialist Progressive utopia if they remain banded together. No, the nation is in dire straits, on so many levels, and needs immediate repair. I'm busy with my important life, such as it is, and don't care. 68 total vote(s) What's your Opinion? From Capitol Hill, to indoctrinated college campuses' intellectual safe spaces; to the radical, reactionary and intolerant Left; to Democrat leadership calling for "blood in the streets" of America's cities , Socialist Liberals are obstructing the governing process as best they can, however they can. Never before, in modern times, has the opposition party been so reluctant to accept defeat; actually, a total defeat at all levels of government, have they created a toxic environment where there will possibly be two paths forward - the destruction of our United States Republic or the dissolution of the crumbling Democrat party.Should I have to pick between the two possible inevitable eventualities, I, like all patriots, vote for the dissolution of the diseased Democrat party, and plan to hasten that process as best that I can in whatever manner possible. Could it be that I am that much of a devotee to the Grand Ole Party that I wish to see the toxicity of Democrat party dissolve away from this American political landscape?Hardly. As a multi decade Republican, I am plenty perturbed by leadership at all levels, as the Republican brand has been tarnished by some ineffective, occasionally vapid politicians, and stained by pathetic leadership here in North Carolina, at the ready to sacrifice core Conservative principles for the sake of "big tent" inclusion. However, the one thing that keeps the Republican Party from unraveling at the seams is the party's diversity of intellectual abilities, where often our best are rewarded to ascend to serve, while still too many of our least capable inextricably are elected as best they can; but, no political party will ever be perfect; we must all accept that truth.We must also accept the reality that when a political party becomes so toxic, such a perahia of perpetual impropriety, it deserves to be put down; put down permanently, irrespective of what might arise from its putrid ashes. Today's Democrat is at that irrevocable point. That party has long past the point of no return, its path forward is a bumbling, non patriotic plod to perfect oblivion.After eight years of the most ineffective two term president, barack Hussein Obama, in the history of the United States; the most scandal ridden president in the history of the United States, and, as the greatest of all ironies, received less relative First Amendment scrutiny than any president in the history of the United States, the Democrat party, bolstered by the Democrat media wrongly feels emboldened to obstruct and delegitimize the presidency of Donald J. Trump to the point that our American Republic would be placed in great jeopardy.If one or the other must fail, it will be my personal maxim that it be the Democrat party, their overwhelming non patriotic status , which they revel in, be damned. Here begins the series on such, which is only heightened by the intellectual debilitating effect of their chronic mass hysteria of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome).In this series, we shall examine as much of the process of Democrat obstruction, elevated to hysterical proportion by the collusion of the unprincipled Democrat Media, and we will do it by using truth, not the conjectural false narratives feeding their toxic hysteria, a toxic hysteria, which is humorous to watch, but will eventually lead to destruction of the Republic that so many patriots do so dearly love, and have sacrificed everything to preserve.This series is for the patriots of the United States of America. Three Texas cities rank among the top 10 cities for minority entrepreneurs, with Houston topping the list, according to a report by Expert Market. Houston took the top spot because of startup opportunities and affordable living costs, according to the business resource company. Dallas came in at No. 7 and Austin at No 8. RELATED: Houston woman wins international entrepreneurship award The report studied the corporate landscape for minorities in more than 40 business hubs, looking at the number of minority-owned enterprises, economic opportunities for minorities, access to financial resources, the startup ecosystem and costs, and the rate of new entrepreneurs. Houston's affordable living costs, diversity and business incubators make it the most attractive city for minority entrepreneurs, according to the report. The study also shows that Houstonians are more likely to work with or buy from a business owned by a minority. According to the report, 40 percent of new entrepreneurs in 2016 were African-American, Latino, Asian or other nonwhite ethnicity, and that the number of new Latino entrepreneurs more than doubled since 1996 to 20.8 percent from 10 percent. Click here to see the full Expert Market report. Wells Fargo will provide a face-lift to four small businesses in Houston through a renovation competition the bank announced Thursday. The competition is open to businesses in the East End, Near Northside or Third Ward. They must also have one of the following zip codes: 77003, 77004, 77009, 77011, 77012, 77020, 77023 and 77029. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate If you read it on the internet, it must be true. Right? Irwin Palchick, the owner of F Bar in Montrose, wants to clear up the swirl of gossip that's been going around Facebook regarding the abrupt shuttering of his club's Tuesday night drag shows and overall future. "I've seen a couple of the posts. A lot of these people don't know what they're talking about, as usual. It's always just a rumor," he says. Posts began appearing earlier this week about the disappearance of F Bar's Tuesday drag revue, known as Dreamgirls, which featured several well-known local performers. Palchick says the night is indeed no more. BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARE: Houston queen transforms into Pennywise from Stephen King's 'It' "I want the best for the girls, and I just feel that they are playing to a very, very tiny (crowd). They're not making money, and I'm not making any money and the place is getting worn out," Palchick says. "We're gonna give it a little rest. It's not done. I think we'll regroup and refresh the bar and come back with Tuesday nights. We're going to remodel the inside. I think this drag phenomenon and thank you, RuPaul is going to continue. But it's gotta settle down." F Bar's once-mighty Tuesday nights regularly attracted hundreds of people for its late-night performances. It was a polished cast that offered up lots of variety. But Palchick says competition from all sides has forced him to close on Tuesdays. "Drag is rampant in Houston right now. It's everywhere. You've got Rich's. You've got F Bar. You've got TC's. You've got Bayou City. You've got Michael's Outpost. You've got South Beach. You've got JR's. You've got Hamburger Mary's," he says. "And it's the same girls in the same outfits doing the same songs. HOMECOMING: 'Drag Race' star Farrah Moan comes home to Houston "The cost of running these shows I pay the girls more than most bars do. I pay them $125 each (a night). Plus they get their tips. Makeup and dresses and hair and shoes and necklaces are expensive. And you've got your DJ, your floor staff, your door staff, your bartenders. "When you don't take in enough to cover the show, it doesn't pay to do it anymore." F Bar has also shuttered its Wednesday drag talent night because of competition from other venues. And aside from gay bars, there are recurring drag shows at The Improv and Warehouse Live and drag brunches at Boheme and Lowbrow. Despite all that, there's still plenty of drag in the F Bar schedule. Thursdays are "urban" with performers Adeciya Iman and Jayda Iman Alexander. Fridays feature male dancers with hosts Aria Crawford and Paulina Fhiffer. Saturdays are again urban with hosts Adeciya Iman and Trinity K. Bonet from "RuPaul's Drag Race." And Palchick says Sunday's F Latin Divas show is "phenomenal" and still going strong. All but two girls from the Tuesday revue, Deyjzah Opulent Mirage and Chloe Knox, have been shuffled into other nights. "They're both seasoned people," Palchick says. "They'll find work." SHANTAY THEY STAY: Houston queens who could be on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Several performers have taken to Facebook to offer their own opinions. "While we as queens appreciate the tips you give us, it is the drinks you purchase that keep us employed. The bar can be full of people that tip us but if they are not buying drinks (especially if there isn't a cover) then the bar loses money to keep us on a show," wrote Crawford, who performs Fridays and Sunday at F Bar. Mirage posted that she "didn't want to be in any other show at fbar and everyone there was very sure of that ... and I am very happy with my choices as well as whatever decisions made. "Other than that thanks but we're not gonna start any storybending because then there will be #facts...and I don't really feel like all that." Palchick laughs off rumors of unpaid employees and the entire bar closing. "I'm going to be 70 years old in July. I'm not planning to go anywhere," he says. "If I were to close ever, I would sell it to a competent person." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Residents voiced a number of concerns at a public hearing held at Humble High, on the proposed widening of FM 1960 hosted by the Texas Department of Transportation on Tuesday, April 25. The project consists of widening FM 1960, between BF 1960 -A to Atascocita Shores Drive, from a four-lane roadway to a six-lane roadway divided by a median, a 15-foot shared outside lane and 5-foot wide sidewalks. "We are seeing a lot of growth in the northeast corridor of Harris County, so we are trying to address that now and trying to stay ahead of it," said Danny Perez, TxDOT public information officer. The project proposal emphasizes the increase in lanes for FM 1960, which has raised great concern with the Belleau Wood East Homeowners Association, which already had been concerned with the existing four-lane roadway. Dwayne Johnson, president of Belleau Wood East Homeowners Association stood amongst community members and leaders of TxDOT to ask how their concerns would be factored into the equation. "Our issue has been the speed. There's no traffic signal between Woodland Hills and Timber Forest, so you have cars exceeding the 50-mile speed limit," Johnson said. "We are trying to turn left, exiting the subdivision, into that type of traffic." Johnson said due to the rate of high speed and the current four-lanes, there have been numerous accidents and turning it into a six-lane roadway would only increase the dangers residents face. "We are looking for some consideration within the new project for a traffic stop in Artesian Way or Lakeshire street exit onto 1960," Johnson said. Josh Adams, a representative for the owners of Woods on the Fairway apartments, also expressed his concerns at this hearing. "This has happened to us before; we own a lot of apartment communities. It has actually shown to devalue our property because people are not interested in having to take a U-turn," Adams said. Adams said the majority of his residents work on the west side of town, and the proposed plan blocks the only direct entrance leading to the apartments, which resides on the east side. A summary of the public hearing will be posted later in the year on the TxDOT webpage prior to the release of the Environmental Impact Statement. The Cassini spacecraft, on a historic and eventually fatal orbit that dives between Saturn's body and its rings, has re-emerged from its first dive and fired back some closest-ever photos of the planet's atmosphere. NASA lost contact with the spacecraft yesterday during the dive, but reacquired contact just before midnight last night with its Deep Space Network Goldstone Complex in California's Mojave Desert. NASA said in a news release: "In the grandest tradition of exploration, NASA's Cassini spacecraft has once again blazed a trail, showing us new wonders and demonstrating where our curiosity can take us if we dare," said Jim Green, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. As it dove through the gap, Cassini came within about 1,900 miles (3,000 kilometers) of Saturn's cloud tops (where the air pressure is 1 bar -- comparable to the atmospheric pressure of Earth at sea level) and within about 200 miles (300 kilometers) of the innermost visible edge of the rings. The agency explains that the gab between the rings and Saturn's atmosphere is about 1,500 miles ... a narrow window for a spacecraft being guided from so far away. "No spacecraft has ever been this close to Saturn before. We could only rely on predictions, based on our experience with Saturn's other rings, of what we thought this gap between the rings and Saturn would be like," said Cassini Project Manager Earl Maize of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. "I am delighted to report that Cassini shot through the gap just as we planned and has come out the other side in excellent shape." Cassini will make its next dare-devil dive through the gap on May 2. Jake Ellison can be reached at jakeellisonjournalism@gmail.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/Jake_News. Also, swing by and *LIKE* his page on Facebook. If Google Plus is your thing, check out our science coverage here. A Conroe man will spend about 1.5 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for bank fraud and stealing from his employer, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Houston announced Thursday. Kiran Andhavarapu pleaded guilty Feb. 9, 2017, officials said. Andhavarapu stole almost $500,000 from Weatherford International, an oil and gas service company, where he worked as a financial controller. He opened up bank accounts in the name of EProduction Solutions LLC, a subsidiary of Weatherford, but listed himself as the owner. He stole refund checks made out to Weatherford and deposited them in the dummy bank accounts, officials said. As part of his plea deal, Andhavarapu admitted stealing a total of $484,873.95. He will remain in custody until transferred to a federal prison, officials said. A Huntsville mother has posted an emotional plea on Facebook, saying she hopes to call attention to what she believes is the bullying of her 10-year-old daughter at Huntsville ISD. Tracey Murphy said her daughter, who is in fourth grade at Stewart Elementary, is being relentlessly teased about her weight, and sometimes the teasing turns to pushing or punching. "I'm scared because I see in the paper that these kids are killing themselves because of bullies," Murphy said Friday. BASKETBALL BRAWL: Katy ISD students caught on camera fighting during game She said the bullying has been going on since her daughter was in first grade at Sam Houston Elementary. Murphy transferred her daughter to Stewart this school year in an attempt to help her, but said the problem continues. "They tell my daughter to ignore it and she does, but they keep on." Murphy said she has filed complaints with teachers and school district administrators and would like the school district to take more steps to address bullying as a whole. "This is a very big issue here in Huntsville," Murphy said. CYBERBULLYING: 2 more indicted in connection with Texas City teen's suicide Hunstville ISD Deputy Superintendent Dr. Gregory Rodriguez declined to discuss specifics of any individual student or incident, but said the school district received a complaint from a Stewart Elementary parent on Wednesday. He said the district conducted an investigation and reported the results of the investigation to the parent. "As a district, we are always going to be sure to provide a safe and secure environment for our kids," Rodriguez said. The school district has an incident reporting website, where parents or students can file complaints about harassment, violence, discrimination or bullying in the school system. The district also tracks incidents and reports them to the State of Texas, Rodriguez said. "This is not a widespread problem," he said. Maria Olguin, another Huntsville resident, said she moved her 9-year-old daughter from Scott Johnson Elementary to Stewart Elementary last school year to help her daughter get away from bullying over her weight. Olguin said the bullying continued at Stewart until Olguin paid several visits to the teacher and administrators at the school. Things have now calmed down for Olguin's daughter, and she now feels comfortable attending school, Olguin said. However, she still feels it's a problem that needs more attention. "For every kid, it's getting worse and worse," Olguin said. The Huntsville ISD Student Code of Conduct defines bullying as the following: Bullying is when a student or group of students engages in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, or in a vehicle operated by the district and a school district's board of trustees or the board's designee determines that the behavior: 1. Has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or of damage to the student's property; or 2. Is sufficiently severe, persistent, and pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student. This conduct is considered bullying if it: 1. Exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator who is engaging in bullying and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and 2. Interferes with a student's education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school. Lone Star College Fairbanks Center celebrated a milestone on April 26. This year marks the 15-year anniversary that the center has been open, aiming to help students achieve their academic goals. The center's faculty, staff, and student have come along since the doors of the facility opened 15 years ago. During the first year of operation, the system even utilized classroom space at Langham Creek High School as an additional site for Cy-Fair College classes. "This center was actually a result of our commitment to the Cy-Fair community. Part of the college system's commitment was that we were going to be responsive to the needs of the entire Cy-Fair community," Seelpa Keshvala said, LSC-CyFair president. "When this building was constructed, part of the design was to ensure that we provided comprehensive support services, so that some of our students wouldn't have to travel to our Barker Cypress campus." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A New Caney High School student took top honors at the 60th annual Montgomery County Fair with a special ingredient grandma's love. Junior Maci Loving, who turned 16 Friday, reigns as the grand champion in the cookie contest she entered at the 2017 MCFA junior nonlivestock show. The creatively presented German chocolate cookies with a spoonful of filling on top sold for $2,100 at the auction April 3 to Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Clark. "It's not something you normally see," Loving said. It's usually in a cake instead of a cookie. I think that helped push it over the edge." But the cookies were made with a little TLC. Before the fair, Maci's grandmother Jeanette Loving, a former longtime New Caney ISD educator who is 72 "and proud of it," found the recipe online and shared it with Maci. Then, Maci took a trip to her grandmother's house on Lake Toledo Bend, where she goes every summer to bake together. "We worked together on them," said Jeanette Loving, who also provided an old family Czech kolache recipe that helped Loving win Grand Champion in 2015. "I always go online and look for recipes I think are interesting. Maci starts working on it and away she goes. She usually tweaks every recipe. She's a very good little cook. We've been baking since she was little and she really has an interest with it. "It is the most exciting experience any grandmother can have." From there, Maci started baking the cookies at home with friends to perfect the recipe. "Oh lord, I probably (baked) at least 20 (batches)," Maci said. "I baked six times just in a week before the show. It was crazy trying to balance time with a hog as well." Not only does Maci cook, she also competes in the livestock show. This year, her hog was last on the list of 135 sales in 42nd place for hog at the livestock auction, when the unexpected happened. Her hog sold for $7,000. "That was absolutely crazy," she said. "I was hoping for maybe ($2,000) for being last - I was shocked. My grand champion goat in 2010 sold for $5,000. Everybody was taking pictures, I was screaming up on the auction block - it was amazing, just amazing." Maci is the New Caney FFA president and a top student in her class - she also competes in bass tournaments. Her younger sister Shelby, who is in the seventh grade, qualified this year with her hog and earned honorable mention in homemaking. Her older brother also competed showing goats and hogs. He now attends Texas A&M, where Maci is interested in studying to be a veterinarian. While Maci considered culinary school, she "found her heart" in caring for animals as a veterinarian. "I will continue cooking for the rest of my life," she said. "I want to pass it down to the next generation of my family." Her parents James and Sher Loving also were involved in FFA and fair shows. Cheri Loving is proud to see her daughter work hard and shine as she follows the tradition. "It's definitely a family thing," Cheri said. "It takes a family to do it on most parts. She was really happy to have grandma's recipe and grandma has taught her well - grandma puts her love into teaching the kids. I'm just so proud of her." Just like all great duos, two Splendora ISD teachers and their students are teaming up to save the bees. Splendora High School's English II teacher Michele Burch and Piney Woods Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Sheila Flynn are hoping through research and collaboration, their students can come up with a solution to save the honeybees. For the first time, the United States lists the rusty patched honeybee as an endangered species. The high school students are doing problem/solution research about the effects of the decrease in the honeybee population. With their research, the students are creating formal proposals they will pitch to the administration. The solution they create must be something that can be implemented at Splendora ISD. 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. Investigators arrested Wednesday three more suspects in connection with the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old Freeport boy. The suspects -- Freeport residents Leslie Jaime, 35, and 13-year-old and 14-year-old boys -- are accused of stealing firearms from a building in the city of Jones Creek, one of which was later used in the shooting and killing of 14-year-old Juan Borja. The FBI Violent Crime Task Force is searching for five robbers involved in a bank heist Thursday afternoon in southwest Houston. Around 1:30, robbers hit up the BBVA Compass bank by Old Spanish Trail and Fannin, according to a news release from the FBI. One robber crouched and guarded the door, while the others ordered all customers and employees to the ground. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The mother of a young woman who spent more than 24 hours nearly naked at the Waller County Jail said the decision to place her daughter on suicide watch was made without professional confirmation and turned the weekend arrest into a humiliating ordeal. Colleen Schehr said her 24-year-old daughter, Chelsea Schehr, was arrested Saturday over a "domestic dispute" with the father of her child and was taken to the Waller County Jail in Hempstead. The young woman's clothes were taken away, and she was given a blanket with which to cover herself. Since Chelsea Schehr was on her menstrual cycle, the blanket also functioned as a sanitary napkin and a towel, her mother said. Colleen Schehr said she was speaking on behalf of her daughter because the young woman was traumatized by what happened to her. AGING OUT: Waller County may replace 'inefficient, outdated' jail (Story continues below.) Calls to the Waller County Jail on Wednesday were not returned. Waller County Judge Trey Duhon said although he was not directly involved with this case, he learned that when Chelsea Schehr was booked into the jail, staff determined she should be placed on suicide watch. "When this woman was brought in and went through the process of being booked into jail, based on her responses, she was identified as a potential suicide risk," Duhon said. "So she was placed in a suicide-watch jail cell." Colleen Schehr questioned who decided that her daughter was potentially suicidal. "She should have been assessed by a doctor, a licensed professional, but there was nothing," she said. "They're false allegations." PENDING PROGRESS: Sandra Bland Act to increase officer training for de-escalation left pending in Legislature committee According to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, the judge said, inmates who are identified as a suicide risk do not receive clothes since the items can be used for self-harm. "She was given a standard-issue, heavy-duty blanket, which cannot be torn or ripped," he said. "I am very familiar with the blankets. They are more than sufficient to cover an inmate's body and protect modesty." The heavy blanket, however, became soiled and wet as Chelsea Schehr repeatedly cleaned blood off herself from her heavy menstrual flow. A guard took that blanket and replaced it with one that was smaller and barely covered her private parts, she told her mother. Colleen Schehr said when her daughter was arraigned, she was the only person in the courtroom "wearing" a blanket. JAIL DEATH: Man dies at hospital after seizure in Harris County Sheriff's Office custody "She was trying to hold her blanket close to her body to fill out paper work, while she was bleeding on herself," Colleen Schehr said. Duhon said that while inmates on suicide watch have the option of choosing a blanking or a smock, most opt for the blanket. Colleen Schehr, however, said her daughter was not offered a smock or any sort of garment. "She kept asking at least for underpants," Schehr said. The young woman also begged for toilet paper, sanitary napkins or tampons and asked to see a doctor but none of her requests was fulfilled, her mother said. Chelsea Schehr also told her mother that, in her cell, she had to contend with blood "all over the floor" from a previous inmate and urine in the sink. NO, THANK YOU: Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith declines resignation request Duhon said as far as he knew, the jail staff acted in "strict accordance" with jail commission standards. "She has not filed a complaint with the Texas Jail Commission," the judge said. "If she does, an investigation will be conducted." Colleen Schehr said Thursday the family planned to file a complaint. The Waller County Jail has been in the public eye in recent months as the site where Sandra Bland took her own life in July 2015 after a questionable arrest by a state trooper on a rural roadway. (Story continues below.) That case ended in a $1.9 million mediated settlement between Bland's family and Waller County. In March, a female inmate filed a complaint with the jail commission, accusing a male inmate of sexually assaulting her. The male inmate was performing duties typically assigned to inmates with trusty status, but this male inmate had not been given that status, officials said at the time. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Florida high school student is staying home today after being suspended for posting a racist Craigslist advertisement. "TWO SLAVES FOR SALE - $470" read the unnamed Senior's Craigslist ad, showing two African American classmates at Fleming Island High School. "Two healthy negro slavegals for sale," the ad continued. "Good condition and hard work ethic! If you need another pair of hands around the farm/house, you're in luck!" POLICE: Florida woman offers sex act in exchange for Chicken McNuggets The ad has since been removed from the website, but not before sparking outrage. According to News 4 Jax, Fleming Island High School Superintendent Addison Davis issued the following statement: "We do not tolerate this type of behavior and we are disheartened that any of our students would be subject to discrimination. Fleming Island High School administration and district leadership are working together to create a schoolwide plan of action to strengthen the climate and culture while celebrating the school's diversity. We encourage parents and guardians to take the time to talk to their child about this important matter." VANDALIZED: UT fraternity house hit with graffiti calling them rapists, racists The male student has been suspended for 10 days and referred to an alternative school reports ABC 10. He may also face expulsion depending on the decision reached by the school board. Click through above to see infamous hate crimes committed in the U.S. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Pasadena City Council race for District G has drawn three candidates. They are Oscar Del Toro, a small business owner; Allen Munz, a civil engineering company founder; and Cary Bass, the incumbent hoping for his second term. Cary Bass Bass wants to develop more recreational areas such as parks, pools, green spaces and walking paths. Bass said he also wanted to continue building a stronger sense of community. "One of my core concerns is building relationships with my neighbors and the citizens of Pasadena. It's all about trust," he said. Bass also is interested in developing a more effective partnership between the city and Pasadena ISD. A lifelong Pasadena resident, Bass and his wife, Fran, have lived in District G for 35 years. He is employed by Bass and Meineke Complete Auto Care, a Pasadena-based business founded by his parents and owned by his mother. "My experience comes from running a small business and a large corporate warehouse which gives me the ability to work with budgets, employee relations, payroll and benefits," he said. For more information, visit www.carybass.com. Oscar Del Toro Small business owner Del Toro says he is committed to making sound decisions, solving problems and inspiring change. "As a candidate, I offer voters three things; my experience and knowledge as a small-business owner, my passion for making the best decisions for every citizen of Pasadena and my talent for confronting difficult and complex issues," he said. "For example, if there's an issue other people don't want to discuss because they are uncomfortable, I'm not afraid to bring that issue to the table and help work things out." Del Toro said voters should question whether their council member makes decisions that are representative of the citizens who elected them. "Voters should consider whether a council member makes decisions based on what is best for the community or whether they make decisions that benefit only a specific group. If that is happening, then it is time for a change at city hall," he said. Del Toro moved to Pasadena from Monterrey, Mexico with his wife and three children in 2001. He beccame a U.S. citizen in 2006. "Ultimately, being a council member isn't just about fixing the streets. It isn't just about fixing the sidewalks," he said. "That's just the basics. It's also about inspiring people, especially the younger generations, to achieve their full potential because when you achieve your goals, you bring positive things to the whole community. "If you love what you are doing you are going to transmit that feeling and sense of commitment to others," Del Toro said. "As an elected official, my goals is to inspire people to work together to create a better city and a better future for the City of Pasadena." Allen Munz With an understanding of civil engineering paired with knowledge from a 45-year career working with municipal governments, Munz said he can offer voters extensive knowledge and experience if elected. "I am proud that I helped form R.W. Patrick Civil Engineering and Surveying Company over 45 years ago," Munz said. R.W. Patrick Civil Engineering and Surveying Co. serves as the city engineering firm for the City of South Houston, a relationship the company has maintained for decades. Munz said his expertise and business experience allows him insight into successful city government. "I know about the infrastructure of cities and my expertise and experience give me an advantage over my opponents," he said. Munz said it is time for change within Pasadena city government and if elected, he promises to work with other council members to create a more open and transparent city council. "Right now if you go to a city council meeting, they read each item so fast you can't even tell what they are voting on," Munz said. "And, most people are not even aware there is a pre-council meeting or know where it is held. I think we should do away with the pre-council meeting unless we move that meeting to the regular council chamber and make sure it is open to the public." Munz said he would support having a pre-council meeting if it were held one week before the regular council meeting to give citizens and council members time to study each agenda item and ask questions. Munz also supports posting background documents along with the regular agenda on the city website for every meeting. "I think the council should make everything more public and these are the types of things that create a more open and transparent type of city government," Munz said. A former Marine, Munz and his wife, Betty, are 43-year members of Sagemont Church, where he serves as a deacon. As a candidate, he has worked to finance his campaign without outside help. "I don't believe in taking large campaign donations from people," he said. Election Day is Saturday, May 6. Details: www.pasadena.tx.us This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Conroe man has been identified as the pilot killed when his small plane crashed into a pond in a rural area near Huntsville Tuesday morning. Officials say Kermit Greer Faulkner died when the twin-engine Cessna 421C he was flying crashed into the pond near FM 980, flipped over and caught fire around 10:40 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration says Faulkner had taken off earlier in the morning from Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport and was near a private airstrip in Huntsville when he declared an emergency, telling air traffic controllers that his plane was experiencing oil problems and a possible engine fire. Shortly before Faulkner's plane crashed into the shallow pond, the aircraft clipped several trees and damaged a fence directly behind a large home. A resident of the house next door, John Syphrett, was not home at the time of the crash, but he pointed out to The Courier the damaged fence and treetops Faulkner's stricken plane had hit before crashing into the pond. Syphrett says small aircraft frequently fly over the neighborhood, but he was not aware of any plane crashes in the area in the 11 years he's lived in his home. "But this is more unusual than a lightning strike," he said of the crash. The FAA said Faulkner was flying to College Station, about 50 miles to the west of the crash scene, and north of Conroe. It's not clear whetehr he had diverted to the airstrip because of the engine problems or had intended to land at the strip as part of his trip. FAA investigators were at the scene shortly after the crash, while crews worked into the late afternoon to recover Faulkner's body. The exact cause of death has not been determined. The 62-year-old Faulkner was an experienced and accomplished pilot, having been recognized by the FAA and featured in an aviation magazine for his advanced training. The "Aviation Business Gazette" reported in 2013 that Faulkner had set a "positive example" and was being listed on the FAA's prestigious Airmen Certification Database. The database is a listing of certified pilots who have met or exceeded educational, licensing and medical standards established by the agency. Faulkner's Facebook page, which has not been updated since 2014, features photos of him with a broad smile while at the controls of a small plane. The page also says he had worked as an electrical engineer and had studied electrical engineering and computer engineering in college. Refusing to remove a surgical mask was enough to get a young man arrested at the right-meets-left protest at UC Berkeley on Thursday. The encounter that led to the arrest witnessed by a Chronicle reporter began when another protester arrived at Sproul Plaza shortly after 11 a.m. with a sign that said, The issue is not free speech, the issue is fascism. A small group of university police officers surrounded that man, Raphael Kadaris of the Refuse Fascism group, and told him that his sign violated a campus ordinance against carrying signs larger than 30 inches by 30 inches. Kadaris, who handed the sign to a bystander, was given a warning. But the second man, wearing a surgical mask, refused to remove it, identify himself or submit to a photograph. I feel like Im being criminalized, he said. He told police he was wearing the mask because of a sore throat and that he had left his wallet and identification at home. I plead the fifth, the masked man told police. Thats not applicable here, the unidentified officer replied. Why is that not applicable? said the masked man. We are not in court, another officer replied. Police arrested the man, who then took off his mask, cuffed him in plastic restraints and led him away. A UC Berkeley police spokesman said the man was arrested for obstructing officers, wearing a mask to evade police and giving false identification. Police were out in force, trying to stem violence in the wake of the cancellation of a speech by conservative commentator Ann Coulter. At the entrance to campus, authorities distributed leaflets saying that the following items were prohibited because they could be used as weapons: bicycle locks, frozen fruit, balls, laser pointers, plastic water bottles, skateboards and balloons. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani When Pasadena last chose a mayor, in 2013, about 7 percent of its registered voters determined who would lead the industrial port city of 150,000. Mayor Johnny Isbell, who won re-election by an overwhelming margin, attributed the paltry turnout to public satisfaction with "the direction the city is headed." Four years later, there is ample reason to question that sanguine assessment. But history suggests that turnout will again be low as voters in Pasadena, Pearland and other Houston-area communities choose mayors, council members and school trustees. Early voting started Monday, and election day is May 6. Scolding reminders of our duty to exercise our precious right to vote can be tiresome. And notwithstanding the admonitions of your high school civics teacher, you still can complain even if you don't vote. Still, sheer self-interest compels us to remember that elections have consequences. The news over the past few months has provided daily reminders of this truism on the national level, but it applies at least as much in local elections. In Pasadena, for example, the mayor who was returned to office by 3,599 voters was the driving force behind a change in the City Council structure that a federal judge found intentionally diluted the influence of the city's Latino majority. And reporting by some of my Houston Chronicle colleagues will provide new details about the inequitable allocation of city services on Isbell's watch. Low turnout in local elections is not limited to Pasadena. A year ago, just 2,744 Pearland residents - 4.3 percent of the fast-growing city's registered voters - cast ballots in an election that included three City Council seats and three school trustee positions, according to the Community Impact newspaper. In Friendswood, 9 percent of voters - 2,422 residents - cast ballots for two city council seats and two sales tax increases. Election fatigue The timing of the elections may be a factor in the turnout. With certain exceptions, Texas law permits elections on the first Saturday in May or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. (This doesn't include party primaries, conducted in March.) If the goal is high turnout, the choice between spring and fall is not as simple as it might seem. More people are off work on a Saturday than a Tuesday, obviously, a factor that argues for the May date. But state and national general elections happen in November, and interest may lag without the drama of a contest for governor, Congress or the presidency. And in the aftermath of an intense presidential campaign laden with emotion, like the one last year, politics may be the last thing people want to think about six months later. "Election fatigue is a factor in Texas because we elect absolutely everything down to the dogcatcher," said longtime Houston political consultant Nancy Sims. (She was exaggerating a bit, but until 2007 Texas ballots included the position of "hide inspector," a job created in the 19th century to thwart cattle rustling.) People who are not deeply engaged with politics tend to think of fall as election season, consultant Keir Murray noted. A May election, he said, "reduces the voter pool down to the people who pay attention to those more localized issues, and it may be more likely to preserve the status quo." Indeed, conventional wisdom holds that low turnout benefits incumbents, conservatives and Republicans. And while party affiliation might not be officially acknowledged in nonpartisan local elections, its influence is increasingly apparent. Tipping the balance On Wednesday evening, about 40 people sat on folding chairs in the Area 5 Democrats' office in a Pasadena strip center to hear remarks from candidates. One wall was covered with photos of party luminaries: Lloyd Bentsen, Lyndon B. Johnson, both Kennedy brothers, Hillary Clinton and many others. It's often said that the tasks of local government - paving the streets, picking up the trash - don't recognize party labels. But when low turnout is all but taken for granted, party messaging on hot-button social issues can fire up the base and tip the balance in a close race. Consider the reaction, which I explored in a recent column, to a Pearland voter's concerns about "liberal gay rights Democrats" running for office in that community. "The first step in changing reality is to accept reality," Pasadena council candidate Oscar del Toro told the party faithful at the gathering Wednesday evening. "This is a partisan election." It remains to be seen whether increased party efforts to organize, mobilize and engage voters in local elections result in higher turnout. But you might give a thought to the pothole in front of your house, and the cost of a front-end alignment, when you consider how to spend your Saturday. While North Carolina legislators and Gov. Roy Cooper haven't yet received the report on state income taxes paid or refunded by the April deadline, they shouldn't count on a positive "April surprise" to make fiscal decisions for them. There are some very real and very important choices ahead regarding state taxes and expenditures.As of the end of March, growth in state General Fund revenues for the 2016-17 fiscal year is solid but not spectacular, up 3.7 percent over last year. General Fund expenditures are up 4.1 percent over the same period. That's not necessarily a cause for alarm - state government is still running a cash surplus, and the differential will likely change by the end of the fiscal year in June - but it may be an argument for caution as lawmakers finalize their budget for the 2017-19 biennium.Here's another argument for caution. While recent growth in North Carolina's gross domestic product has been impressive, other indicators such as job creation and per-capita income growth place our state close to the national and regional averages, not above them. That's a bit of a deceleration, though again nothing that ought to provoke panic. These numbers tend to bounce around throughout the year.House Speaker Tim Moore, Senate leader Phil Berger, and their colleagues have signaled clear priorities for the 2017 legislative session. On the budget, they want to continue their multiyear plan to boost teacher pay - which emphasizes performance, not just across-the-board raises - while providing additional pro-growth tax relief and building up more savings reserves to hedge against recession in the short run and to offset the state's unfunded liabilities in the long run.These fiscal priorities can be met, but not without disappointing some other political constituencies and spending lobbies. Fiscal conservatives embrace the reality of tradeoffs. We recognize that the political temptation to say "yes" to everyone is both strong and dangerous.Since the Republicans won their majorities in the North Carolina legislature in 2010, they've largely resisted the temptation. They've stuck to their priorities. The state tax burden is substantially lower than it was in 2010. The state's savings reserves are substantially larger, including nearly $1.5 billion in the rainy-day account and another $400 million in Medicaid reserves. And expenditures are up markedly in high-priority areas.Inevitably, then, state expenditures haven't grown much in other areas. In fact, as a share of GDP, state spending in North Carolina has gone down during the past few years, and is now at its lowest point in recent history.I've noted this trend before, prompting some critics to observe that looking at state spending alone is insufficient. They're right about that. States can make their budgets look artificially low, for example, by moving some programs off-budget or by transferring funding responsibilities to local governments.In response to this concern, I recently pulled data for all 50 states that includes both state and local spending. In 2014, the last year for which all the data are available, state and local expenditures made up a combined 9.17 percent of GDP in our state. That's the lowest rate of government spending in North Carolina in many decades, and is down more than 10 percent since 2010.Most states have also seen their government expenditures drop as a share of GDP since the end of the Great Recession. But North Carolina's drop exceeds the national and regional averages. Because our state's economy grew faster than government spending did in 2015 and 2016, as well, this trend will only look better - from a conservative perspective, of course - as more years of data are reported.If Congress does its job of reforming the federal tax code, repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, and pruning back the regulatory thicket, North Carolina will benefit from the resulting economic tailwind. But the effects won't be immediate, just as most of the benefits of North Carolina's own pro-growth reforms have yet to be fully realized.In the short run, then, fiscal caution is warranted. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg on Friday dismissed charges against a Houston doctor accused of molesting a child patient in 2014, formally clearing his name after courts found blatant misconduct by previous prosecutors. The move officially ends all criminal proceedings against Dr. Robert Joseph Yetman, who was facing up to 20 years in prison after being charged with indecency with a child under Ogg's predecessor, Devon Anderson. BACKGROUND: License of Houston doctor accused of child molestation suspended Yetman, 56, and his attorney Stan Schneider, vehemently denied any wrongdoing and went to trial in 2015. At the end of a two-week trial, the prosecutors, who were losing, purposely sabotaged the proceedings by claiming that child, who is black, was victimized by the white doctor because of his race, a judge ruled. Yetman was granted a mistrial and the trial judge issued a blistering order slamming the prosecutors. UNEXPLAINED: 219 students stay home from Humble elementary after illness In December, an appeals court agreed that the sabotage was intentional and ruled that Yetman could not be prosecuted again, because of the constitutional protections against double-jeopardy. On Friday, the district attorney's office said they would not appeal that ruling and dismissed the charges against Yetman. "We do not tolerate professional misconduct, lapses in discipline or excessive zeal to win a case at all costs," Ogg said in a press release. "A prosecutor's special responsibility is to see that justice is done, not simply to win, and never do so illegally." GROSS: Walking barefoot at gym led to gross foot infection After she was elected, Ogg fired the two trial prosecutors, with about 40 others. When Yetman was arrested, Memorial Hermann and University of Texas Health Science Center, where he is a professor, suspended him. Several top administrators testified on his behalf at trial where the evidence showed that he was never alone with the young patient; he was accompanied by other medical personnel during his rounds at a hospital. Yetman returned to his job in December when the appeals court agreed that he could not be retried. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Ryan Pelham Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Ryan Pelham Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Ryan Pelham Show More Show Less 5 of 5 GALVESTON A Galveston County judge on Friday lifted a stay claimed by the Gilchrist Community Association, clearing the way for the famed fishing spot Rollover Pass to be demolished in the future, an attorney for Galveston County said. County-Court-at-Law Judge Barbara Roberts on Friday lifted a stay that the association claimed was automatic after it appealed Roberts' decision last week granting Galveston County the power to exercise eminent domain to seize Rollover Pass, said Ken McKay, outside counsel for the county. The Houston Housing Authority is closing its voucher program to new families through the end of the year amid uncertainty about federal funding, dimming housing prospects for thousands of low-income families. The freeze announced Wednesday hobbles one of Houston's largest affordable housing programs and means more than 28,000 families on the voucher waiting list will not be offered a subsidy for at least nine months. The city agency also plans to revoke vouchers from another 900 families whose chosen homes have yet to pass inspection. The cuts are not expected to impact the roughly 18,000 Houston families whose homes already are subsidized through the Housing Choice Voucher Program. "It's awful news," housing agency President Tory Gunsolley said, adding that he does not know how long the pullback will last. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ordered the freeze last Friday to help close a projected $9 million shortfall in the local voucher program, which is federally funded. "Your housing authority is expected to take every possible action to reduce costs," HUD analyst Karen Schleper wrote in a letter to Gunsolley. Housing agencies nationwide potentially are facing similar constraints as rents rise - making the voucher program more expensive - and federal funding remains stagnant. Congress last year extended funding through Friday at 2016 levels. By continuing to fund the voucher program at that rate through the end of the fiscal year, Congress would leave more than 100,000 vouchers unfunded, 7,210 of them from Texas, according to the Washington, D.C-based nonprofit Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "People had hoped it would not come to this," said Madison Sloan, who specializes in fair housing for the advocacy group Texas Appleseed. "In the face of such overwhelming need, this is awful." Beyond the families on the Houston Housing Authority's waiting list, roughly 400,000 low-income Harris County families were spending more than 30 percent of their earnings on housing as of 2013, according to the most recent federal data, up from 250,000 in 2000. The voucher program is designed to assist those earning less than 50 percent of the area's median income - $24,250 for an individual and $34,600 for a family of four. Families who receive a voucher typically put 30 percent of their earnings toward rent, and the voucher covers the gap, usually about $620 per month in Houston. The freeze also hinders local efforts to reduce homelessness, as many of those who recently received a voucher were chronically homeless. Eva Thibaudeau, director of programs for the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, said she no longer expects Houston to be able to meet Mayor Sylvester Turner's pledge to house 500 chronically homeless people by September. At most, Thibaudeau said, she thinks the city will be able to house another 100 people, on top of the 100 housed since March. "We're devastated," she said. "It really puts the brakes on the great strides that we had been making." Marc Eichenbaum, special assistant to the mayor for homeless initiatives, echoed Thibaudeau. "The inability to issue vouchers could severely impact the region's ability to reduce homelessness," he said. Gunsolley said the housing authority plans to begin Thursday notifying the 900 families whose vouchers it is rescinding. Beyond that, he's waiting on more concrete federal budget news. "We still don't know what the target is that we're shooting for, and yet we're driving down the road and running the program," Gunsolley said. "If the budget that comes in winds up being significantly different in one direction or another, that will change our plans." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Texas high school student is facing charges after allegedly peeing in his teacher's drinking cup. The cruel prank took place in Moody, Texas, a small town Southwest of Waco. According to KTWX, the teacher asked the student to refill her drinking cup at a water fountain. Another student who was going to the bathroom saw the accused student enter the restroom instead. REPORT: Ex-Texas kindergarten teacher had sex with 4 high school students, 2 at the same time According to Moody Police Chief Roger Kennedy, when the 16-year-old returned to the classroom, he handed the teacher her pink Yeti cup and asked her "how far she would go and what she would drink if she was out somewhere trying to survive." After taking a few sips from the drink and noting the water tasted funny, she poured out the liquid. Local authorities have charged the student with assault on a public servant, harassment of a public servant and obstruction/retaliation. RACIST AD: Florida high school student posts Craigslist ad selling "slave" classmates Moody High School Superintendent Gary Martel told KTWX that students "students will make poor decisions at times" and that the school will "follow district policy so there are consequences and punitive results for those who choose to make bad decisions at school." Click through above to see strange reasons that students got suspended. A law professor and former White House ethics lawyer, Richard W. Painter, has taken to Twitter to call for President Donald Trump's impeachment if he doesn't release documents concerning former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2007, said in a tweet that the U.S. House of Representatives should subpoena documents related to payments Flynn allegedly received from the governments of Russia and Turkey and did not disclose. 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. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. All-Conference WEC teams The All-Conference teams for the War Eagle Conference have been announced with multiple MMCRU and South OBrien volleyball players making... Crane signs off, for now I miss my ol' buddy, sportscaster Keith Crane on the sidelines. I miss his friendly smile, his dedication to his... Raptors end season in regional finals CHEROKEE - The Ridge View volleyball team faced Hinton in Cherokee last Wednesday for the Class 2A Region 2 championship... Canada Abolishes Conditional Permanent Residence Provision for Spouses and Partners CIC News Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Spouses and common-law partners sponsored to immigrate to Canada will no longer experience a period of conditional permanent resident status. Instead, they will have full permanent resident status upon landing. The removal of the conditional permanent residence provision was confirmed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on April 28, 2017. By eliminating the condition, the Liberal government said that it was addressing concerns that vulnerable sponsored spouses or partners may stay in abusive relationships because they are afraid of losing their permanent resident status, even though an exception to the condition existed for those types of situations. Abuse may be physical, sexual, psychological, and/or financial. The condition had originally been introduced by the previous Conservative government in October, 2012 as a means to deter people from seeking to immigrate to Canada through non-genuine relationships. While the current government admits that cases of marriage fraud may exist, it also states that the majority of relationships are genuine and most spousal sponsorship applications are made in good faith, adding that eliminating conditional permanent residence upholds the Governments commitment to family reunification and supports gender equality and combating gender violence. The elimination of the condition had been expected for some time. In its Forward Regulatory Plan released in October, 2016, IRCC stated its intention to [change] those provisions with the objective of addressing concerns that have been identified, such as the vulnerability of sponsored spouses. At that time, IRCC stated that On balance, the program integrity benefits of conditional permanent residence have not been shown to outweigh the risks to vulnerable sponsored spouses and partners subject to the two-year cohabitation requirement . . . The proposed repeal of conditional permanent residence recognizes that the majority of relationships are genuine, and the majority of applications are made in good faith. Eliminating conditional permanent residence would facilitate family reunification, remove the potential increased vulnerability faced by abused and neglected spouses and partners, and support the Governments commitment to combating gender-based violence. The governments action today, and over recent months, says to new immigrants and Canadians alike that they are trusted. It also reaffirms the governments belief that the existing legislation is robust enough to be able to deal with any possible case of abuse without recourse to a conditional permanent residence provision, says Attorney David Cohen. The safety and well-being of all residents of Canada is paramount, and by eliminating this provision, the government will allow more newcomers to settle and integrate, knowing that Canada is their long-term home. Overall, it helps to build a stronger society for all. What to do if youre in an abusive situation The government provided the following advice for persons in abusive situations: In Canada, abuse is not tolerated. If you are a sponsored spouse or partner and are experiencing abuse or neglect by your sponsor or their family, you do not have to remain in that abusive situation. Find out how to get help. Find out more about spousal/common-law sponsorship. To find out if you are eligible to sponsor your spouse/partner for Canadian permanent residence, fill out a free assessment form today. 2017 CICNews All Rights Reserved She's a Tamil girl but proved her dancing mettle in Telugu TV channels. Then she debuted with a Malayalam film and became a star there. Finally, she's entering Telugu films too. What about her native Tamil industry? Seems like offers are coming till her mouth and then shying away. We are talking about the talented actress, dancer and a Doctor by degree, Sai Pallavi. After making debut with super hit Premam she has no looking back in terms of a film career. However, her Tamil debut is not happening as she has missed her third flick as well post signing it Actually, Sai Pallavi was supposed to debut with Mani Ratnam's "Cheliya" movie in Tamil but after shooting for a couple of days she stepped out of the project. Later Aditi Rao Hydari replaced her. And then we have Vikram's "Sketch" that has Sai Pallavi in the lead all these days. Suddenly milky beauty Tamanna has joined shooting of the film and rumours are being heard that Sai Pallavi was dropped from the project. Also, another film, remake of Malayalam movie "Charlie" with Madhavan and Sai Pallavi in the leads, is not happening for now. With three films going from her pocket in one way or the other, when will troubles to debut in native industry fade out from Sai Pallavi's career? Let's see!! More than 3,000 petroleum wells are being shut down in Colorado as a precaution after a house explosion killed two people, an oil and gas company said Wednesday. Anadarko Energy said it operated a well about 200 feet (60 meters) from the site of the explosion in the town of Firestone, a community of about 10,000 people 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Denver. In a written statement, the company did not say whether the well was believed to be a factor in the explosion, or whether it produced oil, gas or both. Anadarko spokesman John Christiansen said he could not comment further. Fire officials had no immediate comment. The proximity of subdivisions and wells is a source of contention in Colorado, where fast-growing cities sometimes overlap with lucrative oil and gas fields. Conflicts have generated lawsuits and attempts to overhaul state rules, and the Legislature killed a proposal this year that would have increased the minimum distance between schools and new oil and gas facilities. The April 17 explosion killed Mark Martinez and Joseph William Irwin III. Erin Martinez, who was married to Mark Martinez, was badly burned. Irwin was her brother. Anadarko called the explosion a tragedy and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. The company said it is cooperating with fire investigators and state regulators. The company said the well was drilled 24 years ago by another operator, which it did not identify. The company said the house was built recently, but the year of construction wasnt immediately available. Anadarko said it will lose the equivalent of 13,000 barrels of oil a day while the 3,000 wells are turned off. A barrel is 42 gallons (151 liters). Christiansen declined to disclose the estimated value of the product. The wells being shut down and the one near the site of the explosion are all vertical, Anadarko said. Newer technology allows drilling rigs to bore vertically and then horizontally to reach oil or gas some distance away. All the wells being shut down are about the same age as the one near the home, the company said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Akron police car 2.png An Akron fire union treasurer was indicted after being accused of stealing union funds. (File photo) AKRON, Ohio -- The former treasurer of Akron's fire union has been indicted on charges that accuse him of stealing more than $600,000 from the union, officials said. Joshua Ruhlin, 40, is charged with aggravated theft, tampering with records, theft in office and telecommunications fraud, according to Summit County Common Pleas Court records. The city has placed Ruhlin on unpaid leave as a fireman, and he is no longer the union's treasurer, Akron Fire Local 330 President Russ Brode said. "It's a staggering amount (of money)," Brode said. "It's not a fun amount to report." Authorities arrested Ruhlin last month in Charlotte, North Carolina, police said. He has not yet been extradited to Ohio. Ruhlin is accused of taking money from the union from January 2011 to March 2017, police said. The money was the union's private money, and not city or county funds, Brode said. "We're going to come out of this mess," he said. "We have a lot of support from our state and international organizations. When you go through a situation like this you have support and help from a lot of people." Akron Fire Local 330, which is located on Massillion Road south of East Market Street, reported the thefts March 27. The union will elect a new treasurer in May, Brode said. "This is a very horrible situation we are going through, but we are going to get through it," he said. "It will take time, but we will recoup as much loss as we can." Safeguards are being put in place in response to the thefts, Brode said. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comment section. cleveland.com is a partner of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Every dollar buys four meals for the hungry. Click here to donate. launchtownwinners.jpg University of Akron students take top prize for 3-D cellular technology used for cancer treatments at idea competition for new businesses, products or services. (LaunchTown Entrepreneurship Awards) AKRON, Ohio -- Three student-led teams from the University of Akron won the top three prizes at the 11th annual LaunchTown Entrepreneurship Awards. The winners were chosen from more than 30 teams and received a combined $10,000 in prize money from The Burton D. Morgan Foundation. The LaunchTown Entrepreneurship Awards is an idea competition for new businesses, products or services. The awards were presented at The Bit Factory in downtown Akron on Thursday. The winners are: First Prize, $7,000: OncoSolutions, led by Stephanie Ham, UA, doctoral biomedical engineering student OncoSolutions uses a special 3-D cellular technology to evaluate new medicines for cancer treatment. This technology provides greater reliability in preliminary testing, saving up to six months of research and hundreds of thousands of dollars in research costs. Second Prize, $2,000: Cool-Aid, led by Harry Harris, UA undergraduate aerospace systems engineering student Cool-Aid's technology is used in helmets to help keep users cool in very hot conditions. The technology is being used in motorcycle helmets and will help keep riders safer by making it more comfortable to wear a helmet in warmer months. The goal is to extend the technology to other applications where helmets are used. Third Prize, $1,000: HungerPerks, led by UA undergraduate student co-founders Sam Borick (computer science), Kyle Flynn (marketing and sales management) and Julia Mallinak (marketing and sales) HungerPerks is a fast-food marketing app that uses geo-fencing to offer free food to people who take surveys from restaurants. As users walk into an area of a restaurant, they are able to answer questions on the app and get free food or food specials in exchange for answering surveys. Restaurants benefit by driving traffic and getting marketing results in real time. "Every year it is really encouraging seeing the great business ideas and technologies coming out of our area universities," Anthony Margida, CEO of the Akron Global Business Accelerator and leadership chair of LaunchTown, said in a news release. "Through this competition, we are trying to offer college students real-life experience in bringing ideas and technologies to market while giving them chances to pitch their ideas and get valuable feedback from professionals." Margida has served as the LaunchTown leadership chair for the past seven years. The leadership team consists of regional professional and university leaders who volunteer their time to manage the competition and advise the teams. The team includes: Julie Messing, Kent State University, executive director for entrepreneurship initiatives James Keszenheimer, The University of Akron, biomedical engineering Brian L. Davis, The University of Akron, biomedical engineering, department chair Tom Barratt, LaunchTown founder, angel investor and entrepreneur Mark Weisman, Navidar Group, managing director Barry Rosenbuam, UA Research Foundation, senior fellow Mark Dobeck, Cleveland State University, management Robert Sopko, Case Western University, director of LaunchNet Gopal Nadkarni, The University of Akron, mechanical engineering LaunchTown Entrepreneurship Awards competition is open to all students, majors, colleges and universities. In addition to the cash prizes, winners receive mentor and advisory services. With the support of the "Business Idea" competition and connections to professional, technological and financial collaborators, LaunchTown intends the entrepreneurial activity will lead to continued new business creation. CLEVELAND, Ohio - If joy could be distilled in art, it might look like the 1950s paintings of New York artist Alex Katz, on view in a luminous, well-timed exhibition for spring and summer opening Sunday at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Entitled "Brand-New & Terrific: Alex Katz in the 1950s," the show radiates the brilliant light and salty air of a day at the beach in Provincetown, Massachusetts, or Down East Maine, locales where the artist - born in Brooklyn, New York, to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents in 1927 - seemed to find liberation and a sense of life's possibilities. The exhibition's title, redolent of martini-swilling "Mad Men" salesmanship, comes from a 1961 essay in which Katz branded his artistic project as an effort to combine traditional art-historical concepts with an up-to-the-minute understanding of the avant-garde. Landscape, flowers, intelligentsia The show is filled with vibrantly abbreviated scenes of shorelines and orchards, and compellingly bold portraits of Katz's friends among the New York intelligentsia, including the art critic Irving Sandler, poets Frank O'Hara and Edwin Denby, and photographer Rudy Burkhardt. Freshness and discovery permeate the show, which is a prelude of sorts. It focuses on the formative years after Katz graduated from the highly selective Cooper Union School of Art in lower Manhattan in 1949, and before he invented his suave, mature style more than a decade later. The show also demonstrates how two summers at the prestigious Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Skowhegan, Maine, made the state for him what the French Riviera was to Henri Matisse - a place of endless inspiration. Beautiful people Katz has been known for decades for colorful but austere portraits of fashionable city dwellers free of neuroses and bulging waistlines, on vacation in New England or dressed for exclusive parties. His portraits emanate effortless grace and elegance as a visual metaphor for life well lived. What gives them wall power and saves them from being an apologia for wealth is that they eschew prettiness in favor of a ruthless, graphic simplicity and refinement. Curated by Diana Tuite of the Colby College Museum of Art in Waterville, Maine, which holds a large collection of the artist's work, the exhibition takes you through the years leading up to Katz's arrival at his mature style. Seeking subjects that would match his "brand-new and terrific" goals, Katz used "found" photographic portraits as raw material. Developing chops His early mark-making with a brush could look brusque and awkwardly matched to the size of his small paintings, but it also revealed an effort to channel the vigorous action of Abstract Expressionism, the dominant style of American painting in the 1950s. Review What's up: "Brand New & Terrific: Alex Katz in the 1950s." Venue: Cleveland Museum of Art. Where: 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland. When: Sunday, April 30 through Sunday, August 6. Admission: $12. Go to www.clevelandart.org or call 216-421-7340. Instead of heaving gobs of paint on wall-size canvases, Katz painted on small Masonite panels, often because that's all he could afford at the time, according to Tuite. The early paintings show how Katz worked out fundamentals he would later refine: the establishment of an image through roughly brushed outlines, filled in with patches of somber hues. The process of refinement is visible in "Four People," of 1953-54, which depicts two anonymous couples standing in overcoats in front of a white clapboard house on what appears to be a winter landscape. A gift to CMA Katz donated the painting in 1991 to the Cleveland museum in honor of its 75th anniversary, and Tuite was inspired by that gift to ask the museum to host the current show. Also in 1953-54, Katz developed a high-pitched palette of citron and pale blue, green and fuchsia, which make paintings of that time pop off the walls. Summery, mid-'50s landscapes such as "Camden, Maine" or "Pink Sky,'' produce the effect of stepping outside on a hot, hazy morning and blinking from the brightness before putting on your shades. Katz also developed a way of painting influenced by the speedy, "don't think - just paint" manner of Abstract Expressionists such as Willem de Kooning, to paraphrase an essay in the show's catalog by Richard Shiff of the University of Texas at Austin. Katz filled his surfaces with high-speed brushwork and drips that give images such as "Blueberry Field" (1955) and "Gold Earrings," of the same year, a portrait of the New York painter Anne Arnold, an appealing, unfussy directness. No sweat Such paintings also convey a sense of Katz as an artist skilled at capturing visual essences without working up a sweat. Also in the middle of the decade, he developed a style of portraiture influenced by the studio portraits of 19th-century photographer Matthew Brady, otherwise best known for his grisly Civil War battlefield scenes. Katz liked the flat backdrops and standard poses Brady used for his studio shots, in which he positioned sitters against featureless gray backdrops. Using Sani-Flat, a type of commercial wall paint, along with traditional oils, Katz portrayed numerous subjects, including his wife, research biologist Ada Del Moro, who was born to Italian immigrant parents in the Bronx. Cut outs and seeing double Resembling flat cutouts, the portraits evolved into actual freestanding, cutout panels, examples of which in the show include Katz's portrait of O'Hara, the poet. Katz also began exploring double images of subjects including Ada and Robert Rauschenberg, the up-and-coming Pop artist, in ways that anticipated Andy Warhol's multiple portraits. In the show's penultimate room, Katz fuses portraiture and landscape in paintings such as "Bather," from 1959, which depicts Ada standing in a white bathing suit against a deep blue background signifying both ocean and sky. Across that blue background, Katz extended a distant arm of the Provincetown shoreline, a slender line of land that injects a sudden accent of deep space into an otherwise flat and poster-ish scene. Measuring 4 feet high by 6 feet wide, "Bather" signified Katz's desire to move up to bigger scales than those at which he painted at the opening of the decade. A CMA masterpiece And it presaged later works in which he further developed his style, such as "Impala," a 1968 painting in the museum's permanent collection that depicts Ada viewed in the passenger seat of a car with a pink interior and a scene of Western red-rock country out the window. Mark Cole, the museum's curator of American art, who organized the local presentation of the show, hung "Impala" at the show's end as a coda and as a point from which Katz pivoted to his grand manner. Katz would move on to bigger things, but as "Brand New & Terrific" proves, his paintings in the 1950s were in certain ways some of his best and most exciting work. AVON, Ohio -- A distraught woman told an Avon police dispatcher that she was on the phone with a Technifab employee when her estranged husband shot him. The friend told the police dispatcher that she was speaking to her 37-year-old friend when he was shot Thursday in the tech company's parking lot, according to 911 recordings released by the Avon Police Department. "I wasn't even there; I was on the phone with him when it happened," the friend told the dispatcher. An edited version of the 911 call has been included in this post. Joshua Avalos, 28, of Lorain, is charged with aggravated felonious assault and vehicular assault in the incident. Avalos remains in custody at the Lorain County Jail. Investigators have not offered a motive for the shooting that happened in a parking lot on Chester Industrial Parkway. The friend was shot in the upper back just before 8:30 a.m., police said. He underwent surgery at MetroHealth and has since been released, police said. The friend drove away after being shot, and Avalos followed in his own car, police said. The friend told the police dispatcher that her friend was in a tan Buick Lacrosse, and that she believed Avalos was in a black Mazda 6. Both cars crashed a short time later at Colorado and Carlee avenues, police said. Several witnesses also called 911 to report the shooting. One man reported that a man shot at someone moments before a "major accident," and a woman called police to report a road rage incident in which one car rammed another vehicle. The Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Avon Lake Police Department assisted at the crime scene. Technifab previously declined to comment on the shooting. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comment section. cleveland.com is a partner of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Every dollar buys four meals for the hungry. Click here to donate. Corporate Park Drive - Beachwood.jpg The owner of Corporate Park is seeking to extend its drive from Richmond Road, through to Enterprise Parkway to the east. It is a plan similar to the one the city of Beachwood nearly undertook in 2016. (Jeff Piorkowski/special to cleveland.com) BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- Three times before the city's Planning & Zoning Commission has approved preliminary development plans for the very visible, well-trafficked northwest corner of Richmond Road and Chagrin Boulevard. On Thursday night, the commission did so again, this time to a developer known as Manna Isle Ohio, which is planning to build a medical center on the property. In the past, City Planner George Smerigan recounted, approval was given to developers seeking to build a hotel, and to another group looking to build an office building. Most recently, a developer who planned a three-story office building and restaurant on the property was also granted approval. Those plans all fell through for a variety of reasons. Smerigan said that the developers of what would be called the Encore Medical Center may have a better chance than previous developers to follow through in that, unlike office buildings, they won't have to seek a building-full of tenants. Chad Costello, of the firm Hasenstab Architects, told commission members that plans call for construction of a two-story building measuring 68,000 square feet. The facility would have orthopedic surgery and radiology components, and a patient care wing on the second floor. "Because it is smaller than the three-story office building that was previously approved by this commission, and because there won't be a restaurant, there should be less intrusion for residents," Smerigan said. The property would feature an exit onto Bryden Road. Also reducing intrusion on nearby residents are the landscaping and mounding planned, and the fact that the developers want to land bank 187 of the 391 parking spaces required for such a building by city code, meaning there would be but 204 spaces on the six-acre site. The building's footprint would take up 40,400 square feet of the property. In all, 20 doctors would work at the facility, and a total staff of 150, or 75 on each of two shifts. The annual payroll for the first five years of operation is estimated at $9 million-$10 million. Costello said the building would also contain medical offices and an ambulance drop-off area. Doctors who work at the facility would be affiliated with several area hospitals. Plans call for 24 patient beds. The developer has a purchase agreement to buy the property, contingent upon final city approval When asked by commission member Rochelle Hecht if the developer has a similar facility, Costello replied that there is one other, in Oklahoma. The commission must also give final site plan approval and council must give its approval before the project moves forward. -- Also on the commission's agenda Thursday was a request for preliminary approval of a plan by property owner Equity Beachwood to extend the driveway at Corporate Park, off Richmond Road and north of Chagrin Boulevard, from Richmond Road through to Enterprise Parkway to the east. It is a request similar to a plan Beachwood City Council approved last October that would have made the Corporate Park drive a dedicated street. Corporate Park owner Bonnie Reinberg, who spoke at Thursday's commission meeting, had donated the drive to the city in hopes of increasing traffic through the park. The city was interested in alleviating traffic on Richmond Road by sending some of it to Enterprise Parkway. In December, council changed its collective mind and voted against the cut-through idea. The main reason was that what was once estimated as an $800,000 project, had grown into a $1.25-million project. "It's a re-branding," architect Mark Fremont said of the proposed new look for Corporate Park. "We would add a new lot for 30 cars in the northwest part of the property and another 25 spaces (In cut-in parking along the drive). "It wouldn't be called Corporate Park Drive anymore." Reinberg, who still hopes to increase traffic flow within Corporate Park, said she would continue to use the lighting that is now up. When the city had proposed making it a dedicated street, it was set to install new lighting and a road surface that would meet city standards. No road improvements were mentioned as part of the new, private plan. Where the drive would connect to Enterprise Parkway grading would have to take place, as the lot is on higher ground than the parkway. Smerigan said Reinberg would also need to get council approval to build the entrance/exit at Enterprise Parkway as the right-of-way where connection be made is owned by the city. "It would help traffic on Richmond Road," Smerigan said of the plan, noting that traffic snarls often emanate from southbound cars on Richmond Road attempting to cross traffic while making a left-hand turn to enter the Corporate Park's current lone entrance/exit. Further, more detailed plans are forthcoming before the project can get a go-ahead. -- The commission also unanimously approved the final plans for the new Green Road Synagogue building, at 2437 S. Green Road. StudioTechne architect Marco Ciccarelli said the plans were very similar to the preliminary plans which the commission approved last year. Construction on the new, 38,300-square-foot building, which will be built in front of the current building, is expected to begin in mid July, and be completed by June, 2018. Shortly after completion, the current synagogue building, built in 1972, will be demolished. Discharging a firearm-disorderly conduct, West Fifth Street: A Cleveland man, 20, was arrested at about 4:30 p.m. April 22 after shooting at least two children with a BB gun. According to the police report and witness statements, which were unclear and lacked detail, three boys - 13, 11 and 10 - were playing in a yard on West Fifth. One of the children was hurt during play and entered the house. The Cleveland man stepped out of the house with a BB gun and started shooting at the boys. One of the boys was cited for disorderly conduct but it wasn't clear why. Operating a vehicle under the influence-child endangerment, West Bagley Road: A Berea man, 45, was arrested at about 5:30 p.m. April 21 after police found him high on heroin, with a 5-year-old girl in his car, in the drive-through lane of McDonald's, 350 West Bagley. A McDonald's manager called police and said the man's Honda Civic was in the drive-through lane. The man was yelling out his car window but had failed to pull up to the drive-through window. Then he tried to back up his car. The girl was screaming in the backseat. When police arrived, the man was backing up his car. He stopped just before hitting a vehicle behind him. The girl in the backseat was crying, and a small dog was also in the car. The man had difficulty understanding what the officer was telling him. When the officer ordered the man to place the car in park, he said, "I got it under control there, bud." He moved the gearshift around several times before finally placing the car in park and turning off the engine. When the officer asked for the man's keys, the man tried to shake the officer's hand. The officer asked the man where he had come from, and the man replied, "Sounds good, everything is good to me, partner." The man initially denied ingesting drugs. Paramedics arrived and escorted the man to an ambulance. They administered Narcan, a heroin-overdose antidote, and the man became alert. He admitted snorting heroin at home about an hour earlier. Police talked to the girl and calmed her. They gave her a stuffed animal they had kept in their cruiser. They called Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services. Underage liquor consumption, North Rocky River Drive: An East Amherst, New York man, 20, was arrested at about 2:45 a.m. April 22 after stealing and eating a cheeseburger inside Speedway, 880 North Rocky River. The man, a Baldwin Wallace University student, was drunk. An officer on patrol saw him run into the Speedway lot. He was unsteady on his feet. The man walked into Speedway, grabbed a cheeseburger for which another customer had paid and started eating it while walking around the store. Bits of food fell from the man's mouth. He tripped over a crate. The man told store workers he wanted more food but refused to pay for the cheeseburger. The man took two bottles of water to the checkout counter. After he paid, the officer arrested him. Police later found a small bag of marijuana in his backpack. Attempted vehicle theft, Sunset Drive: Someone tried to steal an unlocked car between 7:30-9:15 p.m. April 24 from outside a house. The victims found the car's emergency lights flashing and alarm sounding. The ignition had been turned to the on position. Nothing was missing from the car. Petty theft, Adalbert Street-Daisy Avenue-Berea Street: A Daisy woman called police at about 11 p.m. April 21 after seeing a group of people take down street signs at Adalbert and Daisy. Officers checked the area but didn't find anyone. They noticed that street signs at Adalbert and Berea Street had also been stolen. Brackets were broken to remove the signs. About an hour later, the Daisy woman called police again and said she had found one of the signs in her front yard. Petty theft, West Bagley Road: Police hope to identify and arrest two boys who stole a bottle of Captain Morgan Long Island Iced Tea at about 6 p.m. April 21 from CVS Pharmacy, 212 West Bagley Road. One of the boys paid for a drink at the sales counter while the other boy walked out with the alcohol. Their images were captured on surveillance video. Suspicion, Prospect Street: A woman walking her dog called police after finding bones at about 9 p.m. April 24 on Prospect. Police recovered two bones about 2-inches long and one bone 6- to 8-inches long. The larger bone included a joint and had small pieces of flesh attached. Detectives will investigate. Operating a vehicle under the influence, Riveredge Parkway: A Berea man, 48, was arrested at about 3 a.m. April 23 after police saw his Mercury Sable drive left of center on North Rocky near Depot Street. The man failed field sobriety tests. Overdose, Pearl Street: A Parma woman, 25, was taken to Southwest General Health Center at about 8:15 p.m. April 21 after she overdosed on heroin in a Pearl home. Police revived the woman by administering Narcan. A 30-year-old man who lived in the home said the woman was his girlfriend. He was arrested because he was wanted by Berea police and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section. cleveland.com is a partner of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Every dollar buys four meals for the hungry. Click here to donate. Perry nuclear The Perry nuclear power plant would get a consumer-paid subsidy if a proposal by its owner FirstEnergy is approved by Ohio lawmakers. The company is also hoping the Trump administration will re-design regional wholesale power markets to give more money to companies with large coal and nuclear power plants, even if the power the generate is more costly than that of wind and gas turbine plants. (JOHN KUNTZ) AKRON, Ohio -- The electric company that championed competitive electricity markets less than a decade ago is now banking on a federal shakeup of those same markets, as well as a handout from Ohio lawmakers. FirstEnergy's top executive today said the outcome of a 60-day U.S. Department of Energy study into whether the emphasis on the lowest price in regional wholesale power markets is driving old coal and nuclear plants into retirement will be critical to whether FirstEnergy's power plant subsidiary continues to generate power. FirstEnergy Solutions, the power plant subsidiary, is losing money because its coal and nuclear plants cannot generate power as cheaply as new gas turbine plants can. Wind farms also, at times, out compete them. "I have been in D.C. and talked to both people at DOE and in the administration," Chuck Jones, CEO, told analysts during a teleconference today to discuss the company's latest financial results, which were hurt by FirstEnergy Solutions problems ending old railroad coal contracts. "They are going to have to do something to make sure there is a financial incentive for these plants to not close," he said of the large coal and nuclear power plants that run around the clock but are more expensive to run than gas and wind. Energy Secretary Rick Perry two weeks ago ordered the agency to look into whether federally controlled wholesale markets recognize the importance of the old "baseload" coal and nuclear plants for the reliability of the high-voltage grid. The study is also supposed to determine whether federal policies boosting renewable energy, particularly wind turbines, have potentially hurt the reliability of the grid. The study follows President Trump's earlier executive orders aimed at derailing the Obama-era Clean Power Plan, which would have forced the closing of many more coal-fired power plants. "If their position is to keep these plants from closing, they will have to make sure there are financial incentives to keep them operating," said Jones. "I am sure this ties into on of the president's initiatives to protect coal natural resources and the mining that goes with it." Jones stuck with his position, however, that the company's goal is to operate as a completely regulated business without any exposure to the price of commodities such as coal and gas. At the same time, FirstEnergy is looking for a financial boost from state lawmakers with a proposed law that would create "zero emission credits" for its Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear plants in Ohio, and if state regulators were to approve, for its two reactors in Pennsylvania. That program is designed to raise $300 million a year in additional funding for the company's nuclear fleet. Rate increases would be limited to 5 percent. FirstEnergy meanwhile has been trying to distance itself from its FirstEnergy Solutions subsidiary, which is the legal owner of its power plants. Solutions now has a separate board of directors, though it is still a subsidiary. Solutions had a major impact on the company's first quarter financial results. Its efforts to get out of a long-term contract with three railroad companies cost the parent more than $100 million. The rail companies were unhappy that FirstEnergy Solutions no longer needed coal delivered to power plants it shut down in 2015 rather than upgrade. To avoid a breach of contract ruling from an arbitration panel -- that could have pushed Solutions into bankruptcy -- the company agreed to pay two of the rail companies $109 million in three annual installments, beginning in May. Negotiations are on-going to end a second contract at a cost of about $50 million. FirstEnergy, as the corporate parent, guaranteed the payment, even though Solutions has its own board of directors. Jones said the railroad demanded that guarantee. That settlement had an impact on first quarter financial results, trimming $164 million or 23 cents per share from the bottom line. The company late Thursday reported that in the first quarter it earned $205 million, or 46 cents per share, on sales totaling $3.6 billion. In comparison, during the first three months of 2016, the company reported that it made $328 million, or 78 cents per share, on total sales of $3.9 billion. Jones told the analysts during Friday's teleconference that without the negotiated settlement with the railroads, the company's liability for the old 11-year rail contracts would have amounted to $600 million to $1 billion, so large that FirstEnergy Solutions would have had to file for bankruptcy protection. The company reported this earlier this week in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing noted the potential bankruptcy without the negotiated settlement. On Friday, Jones said FirstEnergy Solutions is expected to be "cash flow neutral" in the coming 12 months. Solutions does have access to borrow from a FirstEnergy corporate fund, like any of the corporation's other subsidiaries. Any loans from that money pool must be paid back, with interest, within one year. The reaction of investors to the earnings news and update on FirstEnergy Solutions was a flurry of trading on the New York Stock Exchange, driving down the company's share price to as low as $29.33. The share price ended the day at $29.94, down 58 cents from Thursday's close of $30.52 as more than 9.1 million shares traded hands, more than twice the typical volume. 28DARCY-TRUMP1.jpg White House press secretary Sean Spicer suggested any inadequate vetting of Michael Flynn by the Trump administration was the fault of former President Barack Obama. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The whiteboard in Steve Bannon's office, which he dubbed the "war room," is filled with more than 200 of President Trump's campaign promises, according to Politico. "Deport 2 million criminal illegal immigrants," reads one pledge, Politico reports. "Others call for all of President Obama's executive orders to be reversed and for the U.S. to exit the North American Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. A few have large check marks next to them. Another sign notes 11 have been delayed." Exiting NAFTA won't get a check, for now. But reversing Obama's regulation preventing coal waste being dumped into Ohio's waterways can be checked off. As can not funding Great Lakes Restoration efforts, which Brent Larkin addressed in his column posted on Cleveland.com Thursday. Don't any of those Trump voters in Ohio like to fish, swim and drink water that doesn't look like it came from Flint, Michigan? The newest objective to earn a check mark, is the Trump administration blaming President Obama over the vetting of Michael Flynn. In his daily press briefing Thursday, Sean Spicer suggested any inadequate vetting of Flynn by the Trump administration was the fault of Obama, because Flynn had security clearance while serving during Obama's term. It was announced this week that the Pentagon's inspector general is investigating payments Flynn received from Russia, and other foreign groups, and whether he filled out the paperwork such payments require. House Oversight Committee Chairman, Rep. Jason Chaffetz said it appears Flynn accepted payments from Russian entities without getting required approval from the Pentagon and State department. "As a former military officer, you simply cannot take money from Russia, Turkey or anybody else. And it appears as if he did take that money. It was inappropriate, and there are repercussions for a violation of the law." Rep. Elijah Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the Committee, released a 2014 letter from a Pentagon lawyer warning Flynn about accepting money from foreign entities. Retired officers like Flynn are subject to the emoluments clause because they can potentially be called back into service. The clause prohibits government officials from receiving payments from foreign governments. Flynn is in potential legal jeopardy not only if he failed to get proper permission, but also if he mislead or lied to government officials about it when interviewed. It's absurd for the White House to blame Obama for their failure to properly vet Flynn, or to have done so, and ignored the warning signs. In the Obama administration, Flynn received his security clearance from a career civil servant reviewing his application, not Obama. Having a security clearance is not the same as being vetted, especially if you're set to become the National Security Adviser. Having security clearance wouldn't absolve you from also being vetted in any competently run White House administration. There were plenty of red flags raised about Flynn long before he was named National Security Adviser, that signaled he should be vetted again. Obama had fired Flynn. The issue of Flynn speaking at a Russian event, and dining with Vladimir Putin, was being discussed back in July, 2016. The event, and Flynn's speaking fee, was sponsored by RT, the Russian government owned television network that also serves as its propaganda arm. President Trump had been warned by then Deputy U.S. Attorney General, Sally Yates, and the Intel agencies, that Flynn misled Vice President Mike Pence, and may be compromised by the Russian government. Despite this, Trump fired Flynn only after the information had been leaked to the press. Had that not occurred, Flynn may still be National Security Adviser today. Trump was well aware of Flynn's Russian dealings. Just as he was well aware that his former campaign manager Paul Manafort made $millions working for Putin's puppet president in Ukraine. The Trump administration may not have properly vetted Flynn due to pure incompetence. But it's just as likely that Trump signed off on Flynn because they shared the same opinion on what the White House's relationship with Putin should be. While the White House is trying to distances itself from Flynn, it's also remaining tied to the Flynn controversy with its refusal to release relevant documents about Flynn's activities. Which just makes the Trump administration look like they have something to hide. The White House's lack of transparency, and the Pentagon and House Oversight Committee's recent revelations, just offer more hints as to why Flynn may be seeking immunity. Cleveland.com is a partner of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Every dollar buys four meals for the hungry. Click here to donate AX017_1146_9.JPG The 2017 Solstice will be held Saturday, June 24. (David Brichford, Cleveland Museum of Art) CLEVELAND, Ohio - Tickets for the biggest party of the year go on sale Monday, May 1: the Cleveland Museum of Art Solstice. The ninth annual Solstice will celebrate the start of summer on Saturday, June 24, with a festival of cutting-edge world music, art and an evening-long party on its stunning terrace, in the airy atrium and galleries. Tickets, $75, go on sale to members at 9 a.m. Monday. Any remaining tickets, $90, will go on sale to the general public at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 2. Member households are limited to two member tickets and two regular-price tickets. The party, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., will feature artists from around the world, including Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez; the mind-bending electronic music of Botany; RAM, Haiti's top voodoo-rock ensemble; Third Coast Percussion playing the music of Steve Reich; Angolan-Portuguese producer Batida; the electronic looping mastery of Bayonne; and a late DJ set by modern funk pioneer Dam-Funk. Solstice, which has become the hottest ticket of the year in Cleveland, sold out in less than a day last year. Since its inception, it has regularly been a sold-out event, attracting upward of 6,000 revelers to the museum and its grounds. "The popularity of Solstice is a confluence of a few things," Tom Welsh, director of performing arts, told The Plain Dealer last year. "It's definitely a symptom of Cleveland being on the rise; it's a city on the move. And we have managed to put together a music fest that is unlike anything else." Tickets to members will be available at http://www.clevelandart.org/events/special-events/solstice-2017 or by calling 216-421-7350. The museum staff recommends checking your member status at the same link prior to Monday morning. CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio -- If the walls could talk at the residence known as the Gardner House, named for the original owner, a mill owner, the stories they would tell. 161 years worth of stories, to be precise. Built in 1856, the classically styled home on South Franklin Street is on the market for $885,000. It boasts five bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms in more than 3,300 square feet. "It's a rare opportunity to find such a historically charming home in the Village of Chagrin Falls that has been architecturally preserved and yet features the best of modern amenities," listing agent Heather Price with Howard Hanna said. "From the large wrap around sandstone porch to the finished basement with exposed stone walls, this home truly brings you back in time." Historical architectural details can be found throughout the house, from the exquisite crown molding, beautiful millwork around the windows and doors, and the two ornate fireplaces-- one of which gives the formal dining room a stately touch. The renovated eat-in kitchen is modern, yet rustic with its rich, wood-beamed ceiling, hardwood floors, white cabinets and high-end appliances and countertop. A grand staircase leads to the second level's bedrooms. The amenities in the newly renovated master bath include a subway tile shower, marble double vanity and exposed brick. Outside, the classic wraparound porch is the perfect place to unwind, perhaps sip some lemonade as you gaze out at the wooded .63-acre lot. The patio off the kitchen is made for summer barbecues. An attached garage has space for three cars. See the full listing here. Address: 210 S. Franklin City: Chagrin Falls Price: $885,000 Square footage: 3,305 Year built: 1856 No. bedrooms: 5 No. bathrooms: 3 1/2 Lot size: 0.63 acres School district: Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools Other notable attributes: Security system, updated utilities including central air, newer roof, Real estate agent and contact info: Heather Price with Howard Hanna/Cleveland Heights/University Circle phone: (216) 526-4402 email: heatherprice@howardhanna.com cleveland.com is a partner of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Every dollar buys four meals for the hungry. Click here to donate. On April 26, former legislators and well known pro-independence activists Yau Wai-ching and Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang were charged with unlawful assembly and attempted forced entry for attending Legislative Council (LegCo) meetings last year after they were disqualified from office. Hong Kong appears to be intensifying its crackdown on political dissent following the arrest of 11 pro-democracy advocates over two days. Pro-independence lawmakers Baggio Leung (L) and Yau Wai-ching (R) speak to the press outside the High Court in Hong Kong on November 30, 2016. Leung and Yau lost their appeal on November 30 against a ban preventing them from taking up their seats in parliament as Beijing faces accusations of stepping up interference in the city's politics. Nine more people were arrested on Thursday and charged with participating in unlawful assembly, obstructing police, and inciting disorderly conduct in a public place for their participation in a November protest. Among them were chairman of the League of Social Democrats Avery Ng Man-yuen as well as Derek Lam Shun-hin and Ivan Lam Long-yin from the Demosisto Party. All eleven have been released on bail, but they face prosecution and possible prison sentences, according to Human Rights Watch. "The repeated use of vague charges reeks of an orchestrated and retaliatory campaign by the authorities to punish those that advocate for democracy," said Mabel Au, director of Amnesty International Hong Kong. "The government should be protecting freedom of expression and peaceful assembly but instead it appears intent on intimidating people who are challenging the authorities." As many as 11,000 demonstrators took to the streets in November after China banned Leung and Yao from LegCo in a judicial review that was Beijing's most significant form of legal intervention since Hong Kong's sovereignty was transferred from the U.K. to the mainland in 1997. The European Union will agree on its common position for negotiations with the U.K. government at a summit on April 29. The 27 countries want, above all, to show they are united in the process that will see the U.K. leave the EU. However, countries do have specific concerns about the exit process and what it means for them. CNBC takes a look at what the main concerns are for each of the 27 countries ahead of negotiations. European Budget Countries concerned: Austria, Germany, Lithuania, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Sweden Money, money, money. Many of the 27 members are concerned that the U.K.'s departure will mean higher contributions to the European budget. The U.K. is currently one the bloc's biggest economies and a net contributor to the EU budget. In 2014, the U.K. was the fourth largest national contributor, after Germany, France, and Italy. It paid a total of 11.34 billion euros ($12.24 billion) to a budget of 116.53 billion euros. Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern said in early April that the EU should seek to limit any extra costs in the next budget, the Austrian Press Agency reported. Ministers in Germany and Denmark have made similar comments. watch now Danish Minister of Finance, Kristian Jensen, told the economic newspaper Borsen that Denmark will not pay more into the EU budget after Brexit and the EU budget should, in fact, be cut. As a result, the lack of U.K. contributions to the EU budget is also a concern for net receivers. For example, the Lithuanian government has said that the U.K. needs to honor the budget commitments that it has made to the several EU programs, including the dismantling of a nuclear-power plant in Lithuania, even after it left the bloc. Trade Countries concerned: Belgium, Hungary, Czech Republic, the Netherlands The front covers of London newspapers reporting Britain's entry into the Common Market. Frank Barratt | Stringer Trade is the big elephant in the room given the strong links between British and EU-based businesses that could be damaged as the U.K. leave the EU's single market. To compensate, the U.K. wants to negotiate a free-trade deal with the EU during Brexit talks, but the EU is only willing to do it after they've established "divorce" proceedings. In Belgium, the northern region of Flanders is responsible for 87 percent of Belgium's exports to the U.K., Politico reported, and as a result, it is pushing for an agreement with the U.K. on trade. However, Belgium's southern region of Wallonia is famous for delaying trade deals. It recently blocked the approval of a trade agreement with Canada on concerns that it would impact its agricultural industry. The Czech Republic wants the EU and the U.K. to keep current economic ties intact, as much as possible and has spoken against imposing tariffs on British products. Borders Countries concerned: France, Croatia, Ireland December 1972: Residents of Belfast queuing up at a checkpoint leading out of the city's shopping area. Such checkpoints enable British soldiers to search local shoppers and their bags. Keystone Features | Stringer | Getty Images Britain's departure from the EU raises many questions regarding the future of current borders. The most obvious one is the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Both the EU and U.K. agree that they need avoid a hard border in the region due to its history. In Calais, the problem is similar. The French town is the first point of entry for many U.K. goods as they try to reach Europe. Furthermore, thousands of migrants and refugees occupy the area as they try to enter the U.K. by stowing away on lorries, cars, and trains. Croatian officials are relieved that they joined the EU at the right time, but they are concerned about the future of neighboring countries. Croatian Foreign Minister Miro Kovac said Brexit would delay the entrance of new members to the bloc as the EU focuses on its inner problems first. The Balkan countries of Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia are at different stages of their accession to the EU. If the EU sends any signs that their accession is compromised, they might turn their back on the EU. Citizens' rights Countries concerned: Poland, Portugal, Italy, Czech Republic, Spain, Estonia, France, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia Justin Tallis | AFP | Getty Images One could nearly include all 27 countries in the list above. According to 2014 figures, the U.K. had a population of 63.7 million, of which 2.9 million are from Europe. The number isn't significant in the grand scheme of things, but it was the main argument that pro-Brexit campaigners used. European officials made this issue their priority and wanted reciprocal guarantees for EU nationals living in the U.K. to make sure they are not affected by Brexit and British citizens living in EU countries will not be impacted either. The issue is so important that Milan Chovanec, the Czech interior minister, said in January his country would seek an agreement on this issue even if that means doing so bilaterally. The U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May has agreed to strike an agreement on this "early" in the process. Financial services Countries concerned: Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, Ireland Clouds over the City of London Gregory Warran | Flickr | Getty Images It is uncertain what will happen to the City of London, including how much of the industry will want to move to Europe. Either way, EU capitals are hoping to host them. Xavier Bettel, the prime minister of Luxembourg, said recently that some firms had shown interest in moving operations to his country. Luxembourg is also hoping to host the European Banking Authority, which is currently in the U.K. Gibraltar Countries concerned: Spain watch now This is perhaps the only issue in Brexit talks that only one EU country is worried about, but it has already raised anger between the U.K. and EU - even before negotiations have started. The EU has written in its draft guidelines that there cannot be any deal between the EU and the U.K. that applies to Gibraltar without the consent of Spain. The sovereignty of Gibraltar has been a contentious issue between the U.K. and Spain for centuries. The territory is self-governed in all matters excluding foreign policy and defense, which are decided in the U.K. Fabian Picardo, chief minister of Gibraltar, told CNBC earlier this month that Spain has behaved in a "quite abominable" way. Unity Countries concerned: Germany, Finland, Malta, Sweden The main aim of European officials is to keep the 27 EU nations together throughout the Brexit process. The European Commission, which is the main negotiator on behalf of the 27, has a clear mandate: leaving the bloc needs to be worse than being part of the European Union. Michel Barnier, the EU's lead negotiator, said earlier this month: "Unity is essential, for our Union but also for our British partners: at the end of the day if the Union is disunited, there simply will not be an agreement." As Amazon and Google-parent Alphabet shares continue their climb to all-time highs on Thursday, the "Fast Money" traders discussed whether these stocks too expensive. Amazon shares traded above $950 in after-hours trading after the company reported an earnings beat after the bell. Alphabet shares traded around $929 in extended trading, after the company beat analyst expectations as well. Trader Tim Seymour said Alphabet's stock price is where it should be because of the company's large size. He said the Google-parent is recording impressive numbers across its business metrics and its core search business continues to improve. Trader Dan Nathan said he likes Alphabet, because of the tech names massive growth and its significant investments in itself, which shows confidence its own business. Trader David Seaburg said Alphabet is worth the high price as well. He also said Amazon and Facebook as other companies to buy into in the technology space, possible as alternatives. He said he favors Amazon over the Alphabet because of its European antitrust issues and he likes Amazon's platform and its investment strategy. Disclosures: Tim Seymour is long ABX, AAPL, APC, AVP, BAC, BBRY, C, CLF, CVX, DO, DVYE, EDC, EWN, EWZ, F, FB, FCX, FXI, GM, GOOGL, GE, INTC, LQD, MOS, MCD, MUR, OIH, PG, RACE, RAI, RH, RL, SINA, SQ,T, TWTR, VALE, VZ, XOM. short: EEM, SPY, XRT; Tim's firm is long ABX, BABA, BIDU, CBD, CLF, EEM, EWZ, F, KO, MCD, MPEL, NKE, PEP, PF, TCEHY, SAVE, SBUX, SINA, VALE, VIAB, WMT, WEN, X, YHOO, short EWG, HYG, IWM Carter Worth: No disclosures. "Opinions expressed by David Seaburg are solely his own and do not reflect the views and opinions of Cowen Group, Inc. David Seaburg and Cowen have a financial interest in EDIT. Diamond Offshore: an employee of Cowen and Company, LLC serves on the Board of Directors of Diamond Offshore" Dan Nathan is long GE, SPY May put spread, XLV long June put, XLI long June put spread, XRT long June put U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple U.S. presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasizing by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said. A sales assistant watches TV sets broadcasting a news report on North Korea's nuclear test, in Seoul, January 6, 2016. Kim Hong-Ji | Reuters In other highlights of the 42-minute interview, Trump was cool to speaking again with Taiwan's president after an earlier telephone call with her angered China. He also said he wanted South Korea to pay the cost of the U.S. THAAD anti-missile defense system, which he estimated at $1 billion, and intends to renegotiate or terminate a U.S. free trade pact with South Korea because of a deep trade deficit with Seoul. Asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the pact, Trump said: "Very soon. I'm announcing it now." Trump also said he was considering adding stops to Israel and Saudi Arabia to a Europe trip next month, emphasizing he wanted to see an Israeli-Palestinian peace. He complained that Saudi Arabia was not paying its fair share for U.S. defense. Xi "trying very hard" Trump said North Korea was his biggest global challenge. He lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in Pyongyang. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month. "I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesn't want to see turmoil and death. He doesn't want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. "With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he can't," Trump said. Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed U.S. lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority." It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbor and ally, and remained open to negotiations. U.S. officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct U.S. military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among U.S. forces in both countries. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA). KCNA | Reuters "I hope he's rational" President Donald Trump said that he will either renegotiate or terminate a "horrible" trade deal with South Korea, Reuters reported late Thursday. The president also said he wants South Korea to pay for the $1 billion THAAD missile defense system, Reuters said. Responses to Trump's comments soon arose, with an official from South Korea's automakers association telling Reuters that the group is now concerned about "the uncertainty" of the free trade agreement. Shares in Hyundai Motor fell as much as 2.4 percent following Trump's comments. South Korea's won turned weaker on the comments. Khoon Goh, head of Asia research at ANZ, told CNBC such a reaction is expected given " massive amounts of foreign inflows" into Asia, particularly Korea and Taiwan, over the last month "as trade tensions between the U.S. and China have eased off." "So investors are thinking that perhaps the worst on trade tensions with Asia is not going to happen," he said. "And all of a sudden, this has come from a bit of a left field, so I think what we're going to see now is markets perhaps need to start pricing a little bit more potential of trade tensions between the U.S. and Korea." Still, he added that Trump's comments were likely "just a negotiating tactic." An official from South Korea's Finance Ministry said that the U.S. administration had not yet requested anything on the free trade agreement. And on the issue of THAAD payment, a foreign policy advisor to South Korea's presidential front-runner, Moon Jae-in, said that Seoul shelling out for the missile defense system is an "impossible option," according to Reuters. "It reverses the previous administration's Arctic leasing ban. So, you hear that? It reverses the previous administration's Arctic leasing ban," he said before signing the order. Trump put particular emphasis on one aspect of the order: rescinding Obama's executive action that aims to indefinitely place off limits to drillers much of the Arctic waters off Alaska's shores, as well as parts of the Atlantic Ocean. The actions, spelled out in a new executive order, mark Trump's latest effort to lift limits on oil and gas drilling and coal mining put in place by his predecessor. The move sets in motion a potential reversal of President Barack Obama 's last-minute attempts to withdraw vast swaths of U.S. waters from lease sales to fossil fuel companies. President Donald Trump on Friday instructed his Cabinet officials to take actions that will potentially open new areas of federally administered waters to energy development. That move probably tees up a legal challenge because Obama used a novel interpretation of a provision in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Obama's supporters and critics disagree on whether the provision gives Trump the authority to override his ban, and environmentalists are likely to sue over Trump's order. "Trump's short-sighted order reverses climate progress and imperils coastal communities, irreplaceable wildlife and our shared future. It is also against the law. We will go to court to enforce the law and ensure President Obama's protections remain in place," Earthjustice President Trip Van Noppen said in a statement. The America First Offshore Energy Executive Order instructs the Interior Department to revise the current-five year schedule for leasing blocks of the U.S. outer continental shelf, the waters off the U.S. shore that the federal government governs. That process, which includes conducting environmental impact studies and taking public comments, takes at least two years. U.S. outer continental shelf Revisions happen regularly when a new president takes office; Obama initiated a new five-year planning process in his first term. In its plan for 2017-2022, the Obama administration offered a conservative selection of leases in the western and central Gulf of Mexico and Alaska's Cook Inlet, leaving contested areas like the Atlantic, Pacific and eastern Gulf of Mexico off the table. The White House suggested it would prefer to expand its options, stressing in a fact sheet that most of the outer continental shelf is not currently available for development. "Past administrations have been overly restrictive of offshore energy exploration and have taken off the table hundreds of millions of offshore acres for development. As a result, 94 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf is off-limits to responsible energy development," the administration said in a statement. To be sure, and a host of factors play a role in whether or not territory is put up for lease, including local support, industry interest, oil prices and availability of current geological data. But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce applauded the action Friday, saying past management of offshore U.S. assets has deprived consumers and businesses of "vast opportunities." "We are hopeful that this evaluation will lead to opportunities for production in the Mid-Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, including the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and expanded access in Alaska," Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the chamber's Institute for 21st Century Energy, said in a statement. Marcus Garrett is a natural spender. Saving money, on the other hand, was more of an acquired skill, the importance of which the 34-year-old audit manager learned only after getting into $30,000 worth of debt. Despite having dug himself into a hole, he managed to claw his way out. Whether you're saving money to eliminate debt or for a different reason, Garrett's process could work well for you. Driven into debt The SparkNotes version of Garrett's spending spree goes like this: After graduating from college with $9,000 in unpaid credit card balances, he turned to a large national bank for a debt consolidation loan. But instead of using his $10,000 loan to eliminate his debt, he spent most of that money elsewhere. "There were a lot of bottles bought, several parties thrown, and when it was all said and done, I bought a car," he says. "With rims, of course I had my standards." Garrett's debt skyrocketed. It wasn't until several years had passed and an offer for a second debt consolidation loan that Garrett had a financial epiphany. He tried negotiating with the bank for a better deal. "You're going to take this offer or not," Garrett recalls the loan officer telling him. The bank knew he needed the money and was not willing to budge. General Motors CEO Mary Barra unveiled the Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle during the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Autonomous cars from General Motors will come sooner than people think, says Mary Barra, the CEO of the Detroit automaker. Speaking on a conference call with analysts on Friday, Barra said GM is making fast progress as it tests its cars in various cities around the country. General Motors released quarterly earnings that beat estimates by a wide margin on Friday morning. Much of the attention on autonomous driving has centered around efforts from Silicon Valley companies, such as Apple , Google and Tesla , but established automakers have been making investments to beef up their own efforts. "We continue to make very strong progress with Cruise Automation," Barra said referring to the autonomous technology company GM acquired in 2016. She added that GM is running Cruise "as a startup," and giving the team responsibility not only for developing the technology but also strategies for commercializing it. The markets are near historic highs, and earnings are rebounding nicely. There is one fly in the ointment: Energy stocks, which as a group are down more than 10 percent this year. This, while the is up almost 7 percent. It wasn't supposed to be this way. This was supposed to be the "Year of the Turnaround" for big oil, but it's not turning out like that. The spoiler are the commodities: oil down 9 percent year-to-date, and natural gas down 12 percent. The global energy market is undergoing a massive transition, from a Middle East focus to a North American focus. It's a huge help to consumers, and a headache for big oil. The result: the investor love affair with Energy, so evident toward the end of last year, is over. Oil stocks don't just lose on a fundamental level, they lose as a relative value play. Think about it: you have the rest of the market at or near historic highs, with energy stocks the worst performing group year to date. Take ExxonMobil , which reported earnings this morning. The good news: they beat earnings expectations, and overall earnings more than doubled, from $1.8 billion a year ago to $4.0 billion in the first quarter of this year. They doubled largely because oil prices improved, from roughly $31 a barrel average in the first quarter of 2016 to roughly $51 a barrel in the first quarter of 2017. Here's the bad news: 1. The price of oil is trending down. 2. Capital and exploration expenditures are down 19 percent from a year ago. 3. Production is down: on an oil-equivalent basis, production decreased 4 percent from the first quarter of 2016. Bottom line: they are getting less for oil than the first quarter, and they are producing less of it. This is one of several reasons oil stocks are trading near their lows for the year. Is it any surprise oil stocks have been for sale for months? Any surprise that every major oil index (XLE , OIH , XOP ) are sitting at or near lows for the year? Any surprise investors are now asking, why should I be in oil stocks when the broader market is screaming? Any surprise that only 3 of 25 analysts tracked by CFRA have a Buy recommendation on ExxonMobil? How did this happen? Toward the end of last year, the analyst community bought into two ideas: 1) the reflation trade, the idea that global commodity prices would rise as the global economy improved, a bet that looked pretty good when the Trump victory turbocharged the whole idea, and 2) that oil would gradually recover due to OPEC collaboration to cut production and the relentless cutting of capital spending by big oil. This magic combination was supposed to drive oil to $60 and beyond. With this in hand, analysts handily modeled a turnaround in oil company profits, particularly big oil. Chevron , for example, was going to go from $1.07 in profits in 2016 to $4.72 in 2017, according to Factset. And Chevron was one of the lucky ones that still made money: most of the smaller companies were still losing money. Lots of it. In theory, these were not crazy ideas. The global economy was getting better, and commodity prices were rising. And OPEC did cut production, and big oil did indeed cut capital expenditures. A lot: ExxonMobil went from $34 billion in capital spending in 2012 to a projected $18 billion this year. What screwed the whole thing up, of course, was shale production. Even if OPEC continues to cut, how can oil move up when you have the enormous open faucet that is North American shale? Here's the irony: big oil is seeing reduced production, but the shale producers are seeing increased production. Big oil is still marginally profitable, but the shale producers, for the most part, are not. Look at Whiting Petroleum: they had good operating results. But they lost money! So why don't the shale producers just stop producing? You'll notice the rig counts keep going up. Are they just stupid? No, they are desperate. Here's my old friend Fadel Gheit, oil analyst at Oppenheimer: "Their attitude is, 'We can't control the price, so we might as well keep producing because we desperately need the cash flow.'" The result? Slow but steady haircuts for big oil. Chevron's expected profits of $4.61 in 2017 have now been whittled down to $4.42, and are still dropping. ExxonMobil, which was expected to make $4.21 in 2017, was at $3.88 last night and still dropping. Expect them to drop even more. Is there any hope at all? Sure, the bulls never go away. The big hope is that eventually oil prices will rise again, partly because capital spending keeps lagging. The decline rate requires you to invest large amounts of money to get new oil. No money investing, less production. What about some good old fashioned M&A play? You notice we are not seeing any of that either? Here's Fadel again: "The bids and asks [between buyers and sellers] have never been wider, because a few years ago we had $110 oil, and last year we had $27 oil. Which is the real price? They can't agree." Following is the transcript of a CNBC interview with Allan Zeman, Founder & Chairman, of Lan Kwai Fong Group. The interview was broadcast on CNBC on 28 April 2017 at 09:40AM SG/HK Time, during CNBC's "Hong Kong versus Singapore" theme week. All references must be sourced to a "CNBC Interview". Interviewed by Emily Tan, Reporter, CNBC. Allan Zeman: Last year was a tough year for Hong Kong. Obviously, majority of our tourists come from the Mainland and since the economy in Mainland took a nosedive for a while and so tourism, I think that it seems to have bottomed out in Hong Kong at the moment. Tourism seems to be rising a little bit, slightly, it's not running away but it is rising a bit. I think that, obviously, Singapore reinvented itself when they got gaming, everything changed, they opened up dramatically. But that's not to say, think about Hong Kong in the future, we have the bridge between Hong Kong, Macau, Zhuhai which hopefully will be ready end of this year, early next year. The whole area joins up and so I think that Hong Kong still is a very, very good attraction. The night life is still very, very buoyant. You have new districts opening up all the time. Tourists love that. Emily Tan: Now the worst is over, you mentioned, and Hong Kong has a solid foundation in terms of the tourism industry. But what more can we do, what more can we expect from Hong Kong? Zeman: We have a tremendous harbor, at the moment we keep people away from the harbor, the harbor is right in the heart of Hong Kong. I think it's really, really important where we develop things around the harbor, you know we have the Rugby Sevens which has become one of the major events, tourist attractions in Hong Kong, I think we need more of those kind of events. I think we need to look at having an event a month and if we can, become the event capital of Asia. Emily: Is China going to be continuing to be the backbone of Hong Kong's tourism industry and with the slowdown in the Chinese economy that everybody's bracing for, how will that impact Hong Kong? Zeman: I think China is the backbone, whether we like it or not. Last year, 130 million Chinese tourists went abroad, all over the world including Hong Kong. They've become the tourist of choice, everywhere. Everyone else catering to, whether in Paris, London, New York, wherever you are on the street, you see Mandarin-speaking people. I think Hong Kong, being part of China, the one country two systems, I think it's really, really important for Hong Kong to grasp on to that. I think that will continue, I'm not that concerned, I don't think there will be that slowdown that everyone is talking about in China. But I think that in general, I'm pretty confident that that will continue. I'm also, you know, vice-chairman of Wynn in Macau and I can see that the VIP business has come back very strong. Emily: Hong Kong will have a new chief executive come July 1st, Mrs Carrie Lam whom you've backed during her campaign. Are you working with her in terms of any tourism initiatives or policies and what would you like to see from her? Zeman: I think that she's got many, many fish to fry at the moment. Education being one, housing problems another, tourism is a third thing. I think at the moment, Carrie's putting the team together, that will really help Hong Kong to go into the next five years and make it a very, very successful five years. I will help Carrie, I've worked with her so many years, whenever it's required of course, when it's tourism we're always thinking about different ways, I work pretty closely with tourism commission. I'm still an advisor for Ocean Park. And we're always thinking of different ways, of different things that can attract, make Hong Kong attractive to tourism. If Congress enacts a similar tax holiday, the prior example suggests that up to $1.7 trillion could be repatriated by U.S. companies. The trouble is, it's unknown how much of the funds are in foreign bank accounts or short-term investments, though estimates suggest that around half of the $2.6 trillion is held in cash. The rest is likely held in other, more illiquid assets like factories and equipment, the note said. Earnings on those resources would be much harder to repatriate. At a 5.25 percent tax rate, that $1.3 trillion would raise only about $60 billion or $70 billion in tax revenue. Hunter notes that a tax holiday could actually reduce the amount of revenue collected, since companies could take advantage of the lower tax rate on funds they would have repatriated anyway. A further concern is the suggestion made in the tax plan of shifting to a territorial tax system. That would end the country's taxation of profits from abroad and bring the U.S. closer to other nations, Hunter wrote. "The upshot is that a tax on reinvested foreign earnings won't come close to paying for the $6 trillion to $7 trillion cost of the massive cuts to individual income and corporate taxes that Trump is proposing," Hunter wrote. "Accordingly, this doesn't change our view that Trump's plan will never make it through Congress in its current form." The top companies in terms of overseas holdings are Apple, Pfizer and Microsoft, according to a report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. General Electric and IBM round out the top five. Watch: Who gains the most from Trump's tax holiday? that Didi was in talks to raise a new round of money on Wednesday. On Friday, a source familiar with the matter told CNBC that the latest funding round values Didi at $50 billion. Didi said the round will be used "to support its global strategy and continued investments in AI-based technologies," in a statement. Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing , the company that bought Uber's China business last year, has closed a $5.5 billion funding round, valuing the company at over $50 billion, making it one of the world's most valuable private technology companies. This makes it on of the largest private technology companies behind Uber which is worth around $66 billion and Alibaba's payment affiliate Ant Financial, which is worth $60 billion. Didi declined to disclose the investors in the latest round or its valuation when contacted by CNBC. But sources told CNBC that previous backers Softbank , Bank of Communications, China Merchant Bank are involved, with Silver Lake being a new addition. Uber and Didi were in an intense battle in China until last year when the Chinese firm bought the U.S. ride-hailing app's business in the world's second-largest economy. At the time, this valued the company at $35 billion. The latest valuation is significantly higher. Uber has a roughly 20 percent stake in Didi as a result of the transaction. Didi founder and chairman, Cheng Wei, holds a non-voting seat on Uber's board. The company has some high-profile investors including Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba , iPhone maker Apple and venture firm DST Global. Didi has been expanding aggressively and has even invested more than $1 billion in U.S. Uber rival Lyft. Didi's president Jean Liu has said the company is "definitely going global" and that inevitably means challenging Uber in other markets (like Brazil, where it announced a "strategic investment" in ridesharing startup 99 in January). Didi's latest mega-round would give the company more firepower to boost its presence in China and beyond. The start-up has also been investing in new technology, particularly artificial intelligence. In March, it launched Didi Labs in Mountain View, California a research and development center aimed at boosting its AI capabilities. The latest funding round will help Didi in its AI efforts. "Building on its competitive AI-based analytics capabilities, Didi is working towards systemic breakthroughs in intelligent driving technologies and smart transportation architecture," the company said in a statement. CNBC's Deirdre Bosa and Sally Shin contributed to this report. watch now It only took one winter night for a Chinese mother to make the decision to leave her country. In the following two months' time, she rushed to prepare $500,000 in cash, trying to submit all her application documents ahead of April 28 the expiration date for the current U.S. EB-5 immigrant investor visa program. "My child had been sick for the entire winter and the whole family got respiratory infections due to Beijing's haze weather," said Liu, 33, who requested not to share her full name for privacy reasons. "When I was pregnant, the government promised to treat air pollution. Now, my son is already three years old, but Beijing's haze has only become worse," she told CNBC over the phone. "I need a backup plan." Liu's plan is to obtain U.S. green cards for her family through the EB-5 program, which is often called the "Golden Visa" by immigration lawyers because it provides a fast path for rich foreign investors to "buy" residency or even citizenship in the U.S. The "Golden Visa" Firstly introduced as part of the 1990 Immigration Act, the EB-5 program allows foreigners, who invest between $500,000 and $1 million in qualified projects in the U.S., to apply for permanent resident status for themselves and their families. Generally, the money will be returned to investors within a few years' time. Initially, the visa program wasn't popular during the first 18 years, it had always fallen short of the program's annual ceiling of 10,000 quotas. In 2003, for example, the government only issued 65 EB-5 visas to foreign investors. watch now However, the 2008 financial crisis was a game changer. With liquidity squeezed and few banks willing to lend, developers found the EB-5 program a convenient way to raise cheap capital. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, between fiscal years 2012 and 2013, more than 11,000 immigrant investors provided a combined $5.8 billion in capital through the EB-5 program and supported 562 projects, which generated about 174,000 jobs in the U.S. Growing demand from China In recent years, the EB-5 visa program has seen growing interests from Chinese millionaires, with as much as 85 percent of the program's applicants coming from mainland China, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "Children's education, less pollution and transferring assets overseas are three top reasons why U.S. green cards are so attractive to many Chinese investors," said Law, an EB-5 immigration agent based in Los Angeles, who declined to share his full name for professional reasons. Law's view was echoed by Liu. "Many of my friends have already submitted applications for EB-5 visas. A few years ago, only the Chinese super-rich were applying; but now, middle-class families are starting to apply as well," Liu told CNBC. "Some even sell their apartments in order to raise enough money." Potential policy changes Despite strong demand from Chinese clients, Law predicted limited room for further growth, pointing to potential policy changes under President Donald Trump's administration, stricter capital control by the Chinese government and the backlog of the EB-5 program itself.. Critics have called for the program's termination, arguing that it has been plagued by widespread fraud and political corruption, which might facilitate money laundering, investment fraud or even terrorist travel. The current program is up for renewal on Friday, and its fate now rests with the new administration and Congress. Although the White House has not provided any official statement on the program, Trump's earlier immigration actions have stirred fear among EB-5 visa applicants. Getty Images "Many clients urged us to file their applications by the April 28 deadline because they are worried that the government will tighten visa rules, or even terminate the program altogether," said Law. In January, the Department of Homeland Security proposed to increase the minimum investment amount required for the EB-5 program from $500,000 to $1.35 million for projects in rural or high-unemployed areas; from $1 million to $1.8 million for developments in low-to-average unemployment areas. The increase in capital requirement, if approved, would immediately cool down Chinese investors' demand, according to Law. "Most applicants just can't afford that much money," said Law. "Among my clients, nine out of 10 are investing in the $500,000 program. They are staying in China and are totally thrown into passivity. EB-5 projects are not risk-free investing more money means higher risks." Stricter capital control And stricter capital control measures by the Chinese government might make money transfer more difficult. In China, the currency exchange quota for individuals remains $50,000 per person per year, but most Chinese EB-5 visa applicants use two ways to avoid currency restrictions. The first is to transfer through underground banks, and the other is called "Ants Moving House," which means to recruit friends or family members to exchange currency and transfer funds overseas. "Now, you only need 10 people for an amount of $500,000, but you might need to find another 17 people if the new policy increases capital requirement," said Law. "The Chinese government is going after such transfers and will impose stricter control." Law told CNBC that his company plans to slowly withdraw the EB-5 visa services on the concern that tightening immigration policies under the Trump administration will cool down the visa business. 'The long wait' might be shorter Timing was a major factor in Expedia's first-quarter earnings miss, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told CNBC on Friday. "The biggest issue there was Easter. ... Last year, Easter was in the first quarter. This year Easter is in the second quarter," he said on Squawk on the Street." "Stays came in lower, but it was purely due to a timing shift. When you look at the booking volume of the business, it's growing at very, very healthy levels and continues to accelerate." Expedia shares were dropping about 2 percent in midday trading on Friday. The online travel company reported, after the bell Thursday, first-quarter earnings of 5 cents per share, a penny shy of estimates. It did, however, beat expectations with $2.19 billion in revenue. Expedia also reported gross bookings, a key metric, were up 14 percent year over year. But its marketing expenses also rose, up 22 percent year over year. In addition to the Easter timing, Khosrowshahi said terrorism had a somewhat negative impact on travel. "We saw London growth get a little bit weaker after the Westminster tragedy over there, but it seems to be coming back." The Expedia CEO said there have been "spot disruptions" among some of its partners as a result of President Donald Trump's travel ban, which has been put on hold by the courts. In fact, "the biggest issue that we see has to do with currency," he said, noting the weaker euro aided the amount of travel from the United States to Europe. "The macro which is more and more people are traveling, more people are coming online, and more people are using their phone to book travel that remains a pretty significant tailwind for us." Khosrowshahi ended Expedia's fourth-quarter earnings call in February by saying, "Hopefully we will all be alive to see the end of next year." The company refused to elaborate at the time. On Friday, Khosrowshahi spoke about Trump's administration, telling CNBC, "I think 100 days is early, you know. We took action, and we spoke when travel ... [felt] threatened and our travelers were thrown off by the travel ban, so we took a position there." But he added, "We want the U.S. to succeed. We want this president to succeed because he's the leader of our country." In January, the Iranian-American businessman, who once was a refugee, tweeted a New York Times story about Expedia supporting a lawsuit against the Trump immigration ban. "Standing up for our travelers and our immigrant roots." Where did America's productivity growth go? Some of the missing gains can be found overseas, along with the diverted profits of U.S. corporations, according to recent research. American companies have become adept at stashing their earnings in foreign countries. Legal tax avoidance practices have not only allowed companies to shortchange the IRS, but they have also depressed official labor productivity growth statistics, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper. That lost economic output has cut almost 0.1 percent each year from productivity growth rates a small but not insignificant change for rates averaging less than 2 percent a year. "The current international accounting system allows a lot of flexibility you might say too much flexibility which allows companies to shift their profits to low-tax jurisdictions," said Fatih Guvenen of the University of Minnesota, one of four authors on the working paper. "A lot has been written about that in the context of taxation, but the same problem also matters for how we measure GDP in official statistics." The study is another piece of evidence to help explain one of the biggest economic mysteries of our time: Why do official figures show slowing productivity growth when innovation by U.S. firms seems as strong as ever? Profit shifting has ramped up over the last two decades, the same period over which productivity growth has declined. With many wanting picture-perfect experiences to share on social media, some were willing to pay top dollar. Tickets cost up to $49,000 per person, according to the website, a price which included round-trip flights from Miami to the festival, staying on a VIP Island with performers, backstage access and entrances, and a dinner with an artist. Day passes started at $450. The Fyre Festival was billed as "your secret hideaway in the Exumas" and "a departure from the familiar" in Great Exhuma , Bahamas. The supposedly high-end festival was put together by Fyre Media, which was co-founded by rapper Ja Rule (real name is Jeffrey Atkins) and tech entrepreneur Billy McFarland. Artists including Blink 182, Migos, Lil Yachty, Matoma , Claptone , and Le Youth were scheduled to perform. People who paid for a "luxury" concert called Fyre Festival in the Bahamas that cost up to $49,000 a ticket are angry that the pop-up tents, band cancellations and sliced bread with cheese are not what they expected. The event was heavily promoted with highly produced Instagram and Twitter imagery featuring models like Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski, although the website did note the pictures and videos were "conceptual" and "the actual site layout may vary." "This is a world of surreal experiences and inspired curiosity that touches the sweet spot between imagination and possibility," said a statement on the website, which has since been replaced with an apology. "A place where the tropical sun shines all day, and our celebrations ignite the night. This is an invitation to unplug, connect with something deeper, and hunt for something bigger." But, festival goers are saying the reality was very different. Twitter Twitter Twitter Twitter Reddit users claimed instances of looting and theft, as well as being kicked out of their accommodations. The Fyre Festival Team posted an apology on its website saying "due to circumstances out of our control, the physical infrastructure was not in place on time and we are unable to fulfill on that vision safely and enjoyably for our guests." The team is working on getting flights to get people off the island and to Miami, and is postponing the festival until a later date, they added. However, some festivalgoers on Twitter said authorities have chained the doors of the local airport to prevent people from leaving. Twitter Twitter Twitter The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism said on Twitter it was "extremely disappointed" in the way Fyre Festival was organized, and apologized to tourists. It reiterated it was not an official sponsor of the event, but its Ministry of Tourism lent support to the organizers. Tweet Ja Rule said in a statement on Twitter he was "heartbroken" over how the event turned out, and stated the event was "NOT A SCAM," as well as "NOT MY FAULT." Tweet General Motors ' first-quarter earnings rose 34 percent, topping Wall Street estimates by a wide margin, as strong pickup truck and SUV sales in the U.S. helped the company shrug off weaker sales in other regions. Here's what the company reported versus what the Street was expecting: EPS: $1.70 a share, versus $1.48 a share expected by Thomson Reuters analysts' consensus. Revenue: $41.2 billion, versus $40.75 billion expected by Thomson Reuters. Shares were trading up 1.3 percent before the market's open. Net income in the latest period climbed to $2.6 billion from $2 billion a year earlier, while revenue rose 11 percent to $41.2 billion from $36.27 billion in revenue a year ago. The automaker posted particularly strong sales of trucks and SUVs, matching a trend seen elsewhere in the industry. "Our first-quarter results reflect our resolve to grow profitably and demonstrate the strong earnings power of this company," said Chairman and CEO Mary Barra, in a press release. "More importantly, we advanced our strategic plan to transform GM for the long term and unlock more value for our shareholders." Performance in North America was especially strong. North America generated $3.4 billion in adjusted earnings before interest and taxes with 11.7 percent margins, both first-quarter records for the company, said GM Chief Financial Officer Chuck Stevens, on CNBC's "Squawk Box"Friday morning. Stevens attributed the performance to the strength of the company's product launch cadence, the strength of its truck line, and GM's "intense focus" on costs. Stevens said GM is "very optimistic" about the vehicles it will release later this year as well. Last year the company released the crossover SUV's Cadillac XT5 and the GMC Acadia, and it will further refresh the line later this year with the Chevrolet Equinox, the GMC Terrain, the Buick Enclave, and Chevrolet Traverse. North American performance offset slight losses in both Europe and South America. The company blamed foreign exchange impacts in both cases. The company cited broader economic challenges in South America, and Brexit-related currency impacts in Europe. In China, retail deliveries fell 5.2 percent to 913,442 vehicles, due to a reduction in the country's vehicle tax purchase incentive. GM said in March it will sell its Opel and Vauxhall European brands, as well as its GM Financial European operations to French carmaker PSA Group . The deal will allow GM to reduce its cash balance by $2 billion, which it plans to use to accelerate share buybacks. Correction: This story has been corrected to reflect that GM earned $1.70 a share in the first quarter. The London skyline at night, with Blackfriars Bridge visible in the foreground "Over $100 million has been invested in insurance technology (InsurTech) companies that have gone through Startupbootcamp's (SBC) financial technology (FinTech) accelerators," said program managing director, Sabine VanderLinden, at its second dedicated Demo Day held on Wednesday in London. Ten new startup companies that want to use InsurTech to disrupt the sector gathered at the Indigo O2 venue in London on 26 April to pitch to a roomful of investors, mentors, insurers and technologists. Some of the FinTech companies were no doubt looking for another new vertical market to infiltrate, using many of the same artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, data analytical and risk tools that have already been successfully deployed in the retail or investment banking arenas. Other newcomers were targeting the insurance market specifically. Both types of pitchers were evident at the second SBC Demo Day in London. There were attendees from South Africa, Sweden, U.S., U.K. and elsewhere, and much talk about the sharing economy and on demand insurance via mobile phone apps. End uses on display included experience days at music gigs (Sharenjoy) or for hard to insure activities like surfing (Tikkr), which are typically excluded from most traditional policies. "On demand insurance is expected to be worth $600bn by 2025," claimed Hitesh Saini, founder and CEO of the pitching Tikkr start-up, without attributing the research. He added that, "there are 25 million uninsured surfers globally." There is, therefore, potentially a niche market to exploit. Tikkr has signed up 30 surf clubs to try to do so. They plan other on demand insurance offerings in the future. "We're looking to raise $300,000 in our upcoming seed fundraising effort," said Saini. The full line-up of pitching InsurTech companies included: Adapt Ready Aerobotics AIMO Emerge Insure A Thing NuvaLaw Port Sharenjoy Tikkr Track Active. There was also one mature startup in residence CBien, which was there to offer advice and share knowledge with their peers. CBien is a digital asset management platform that can value items and offer traditional coverage and/or help users to manage claims. It can also provide niche on demand insurance options for unusual or expensive personal items, such as cameras, antiques, watches and so forth, offering real-time market value pricing. David Gascoin, CEO and co-founder of CBien, described the start-up as "a digital inventory platform that enables the sharing economy". It counts Sebastian Preel of BlaBlaCar, a 1.4bn unicorn among its mentors. CBien also has backing from Thomas Ollivier, head of sharing economy and emerging practises at French mutual insurer MAIF, which has offered a 125 million avenir (future) fund over the last two years to promising start-ups, as part of its effort to encourage InsurTech. Ollivier also gave a speech at SBC's 2017 InsurTech Demo Day in London advising attendees how his MAIF fund operates and providing tips about how to proceed along the development path. An alumni from last year's show was also present in London to offer advice and give a speech. Becky Downing, founder and CEO of BuzzVault, another digital asset vault that uses blockchain technology, advised attendees to "embrace the new digital reality" that emerging technologies such as AI-inspired machine learning techniques, blockchain and other new innovations were bringing to the insurance sector. BuzzVault raised 6 million from White Mountains Insurance Group in August 2016 the largest such seed investment in Europe at the time. Talking to CNBC exclusively afterwards, Downing explained that she'd been circling huge insurance companies for six months in the early stages of BuzzVault's development before realizing that it was "futile" to approach them directly "as so many others were trying to do the same thing. Startupbootcamp gave me a way to get in front of large insurers and pitch my ideas." The SBC InsurTech event is supported by Zurich, Allianz, Admiral, Swiss Re, the Confused.com aggregator website, PwC, Old Mutual and many others. "We empower entrepreneurs to explore their original idea, and test and design sustainable business models. We then enable corporate innovation via our partnerships," VanderLinden explained. Critics from both sides of the aisle say President Donald Trump's tax plan is going to blow up the deficit because there's no way to pay for the tax cuts. They're trying to present themselves as the sober critics who are simply being fiscally responsible. But what they really are is a group of folks who don't even have their priorities straight and don't really have the guts to admit it. Because the Republican and Democratic Party intelligentsia, (such as it is), believes that raising revenue is the primary job of the government when it comes to tax policy. After all, running the government is an expensive proposition and our debt is already at $20 trillion and growing. Don't we need more cash from the taxpayers, and fast? No we do not. And even though the real debt in America is more like $100 trillion when you count all our unfunded liabilities coming due in the future, the answer is still no. That's because the only real solution to our debt and cost of running the government is to make spending cuts. And the reason why we keep hearing about raising more revenue and not focusing on real cuts and spending reform is because both the Republicans and Democrats in Congress are too cowardly to make those cuts and reforms. Besides, getting on their high horses about how the Trump plan is fiscally irresponsible is a lot easier than being taken to task for getting us into this budget mess and never doing anything meaningful to fix it for all the decades before Donald Trump was even a candidate. Andrew Hallam became a millionaire at 36 years old. By 40, his savings had grown even more, granting him financial independence. A middle and high school teacher, Hallam didn't inherit wealth and never won the lottery. So how did he become a millionaire on a teacher's salary? For Hallam, everything clicked when he was just 19 years old. While working at a bus depot to save money for college, Hallam met Russ, the spot's head mechanic, who asked him, "What would you do if I gave you $10,000?" "I was really excited because I thought, 'Oh man, he likes me, he might give me some money!'" Hallam explained to Paula Pant on her Afford Anything podcast. "But I thought about it and said I'd put it toward my schooling." Andrew Hallam Russ didn't dole out any cash, but he deemed Hallam worthy of help based on that answer. "Later, he said that if I told him I'd buy a new car or a new stereo, or I'd go on a flashy trip, that he probably wouldn't talk to me again unless he had to," Hallam says. Russ took the 19-year-old on a tour of his neighborhood and showed him how he built wealth through investing. Having proven to Hallam that he was the real deal, Russ taught him that becoming financially literate makes it possible to achieve financial freedom early a principle Hallam took to heart. When Hallam protested that he didn't have enough to begin investing himself, Russ pointed to the bus depot's vending machine. He asked if Hallam had enough to buy, say, a muffin and a chocolate bar every day. "Sure," Hallam replied. Andrew Hallam Well, Russ reasoned, if he could spare that $3 a day for junk food, he could stand to invest $100 a month instead. "If you start investing $100 a month right now, you could retire as a millionaire," he said. So Hallam started investing. He held various jobs throughout college, and he continued to put every spare cent he could into the market. At one point, he chose to take out a loan to help with tuition so he could put the money he earned working into his investment accounts. Hallam graduated with around $12,000 in student loans, which he became determined to pay off within a year. Straight out of school, he worked as a middle school teacher in Comox, British Columbia. His take home pay amounted to around $28,000 a year. Andrew Hallam In order to become debt-free and get back to investing whatever he could, Hallam resorted to being as frugal as possible a lifestyle choice he doesn't necessarily recommend. "I probably went a little bit too far," he tells Pant. "You have frugal, and then you have crazy ambitious. I was a frugal weirdo. It's not something I would end up recommending to people, but when I look back on it, it was a fun time." Hallam spent his first year as a teacher house-sitting to avoid paying rent. When he did end up settling into his own place during his second year on the job, the rent was cheap for a reason. His apartment was located in Campbell River, British Columbia, about 34 miles (55 kilometers) from the school where he worked. Unwilling to waste money on gas, Hallam biked, choosing to shower and shave in the teachers' room at the school each morning. Andrew Hallam For food, Hallam subsisted on heaps of pasta and potatoes. He splurged on vegetables but decided to pick his own clams for protein. "I was definitely a healthy eater, so I was getting vegetables, I did have salads most nights. But to keep that bill down, I was getting clams from the beach," he explains. "They were free. There was an old guy named Oscar, and he and I would go out there with a bucket, and he would turn them into delicacies, and I would just toss my clams in with a bunch of pasta or baked potatoes." Though Hallam doesn't recommend the crazy-frugal lifestyle "I was a fruitcake, there's no doubt about it," he says he's living proof that it works: Despite his meager teacher's salary, Hallam was able to pay off his student loan debt within nine months of graduation. From there, Hallam continued to invest. He started off with actively managed funds and moved to index funds and individually managed stocks. From there, he eventually condensed his entire portfolio into index funds, which give him a better chance at earning consistent returns. Andrew Hallam "By the time I was in my mid 30s, I'd read more than 400 books about personal finance and investing money, and there were a lot of common denominators there," he says. "The one thing that struck me was that you do end up getting the odd person who ends up beating the market, or the odd mutual fund that ends up beating the market, but invariably, the market typically comes back to beat them." By 36, Hallam had become a millionaire. And by 40, he was comfortably financially independent. Hallam met his wife Pele, who's also a teacher, in Singapore in 2003. The pair married in 2008 and quit their jobs in 2014. Hallam, now 46, and his wife currently spend their days traveling the world and enjoying their financial freedom. Over the past five months, they've been giving free talks at international schools and businesses, in places such as Dubai, Jordan, Egypt, Kenya and Thailand. As Donald Trump's first 100 days in office comes to a close, the president will have to work on bringing others to the table to find solutions, President George W. Bush's former chief of staff said Friday. "Overall, I'm giving him a strained B-plus," Andrew Card said on "Squawk Box," a day before Trump's 100th day. Card said the president's communication has been "outstanding" and has certainly woken Americans up. "He wants to be a different kind of leader in Washington, and he wants Washington to respond in a different way than they have in the past," Card said. Card added the president will have to work on developing a more efficient process for forming policy that will turn into results. The former chief of staff's comment came after Trump reflected on his 100-day milestone in an interview with Reuters. The president gave a somewhat longing look at his life before entering the White House. "I loved my previous life. I had so many things going," Trump told Reuters. "This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier." The president has struggled to get some of his proposed policies off the ground, including the repeal and replacement of Obamacare and tax relief. The White House outlined the president's tax plan on Wednesday. Tweet 1 Trump plans to hold a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night, celebrating his 100th day in office. Reuters contributed to this report. The growing threat of nuclear North Korea will be the focus on Friday as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson chairs a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council. It will cap a week of high-profile engagements for the Trump administration, intended to signal a willingness to exhaust all economic and diplomatic options to denuclearize North Korea before pursuing a military solution. The president aims to pressure North Korea into dismantling its missile and nuclear programs by "tightening economic sanctions and pursuing diplomatic measures with our allies and regional partners," read a joint statement Wednesday from Tillerson, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coat. The statement followed an unusual briefing to both full chambers of Congress on the increasing urgency of the threat and the administration's plan to confront it. All members of the U.N. Security Council traveled to Washington, D.C., on Monday for a similar briefing from President Donald Trump, who told them the status quo in North Korea is unacceptable. More from NBC News: Trump warns of possible 'major, major conflict' with North Korea Promises, promises: What Trump said he would do but hasn't Utah Rep. Chaffetz reveals 'screwy' reason for missing work "The council must be prepared to impose additional and stronger sanctions on North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile programs," the president said. Under young dictator Kim Jong Un, North Korea has greatly increased its missile tests and conducted two nuclear tests last year alone. The U.S. has grown particularly concerned about the country's progress towards developing a nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching U.S. shores. Tillerson has previously said that military action was "on the table" and Mattis said the regime "has got to be stopped." The U.N. Security Council has already imposed stringent sanctions against the North Korean regime but the State Department said that part of Friday's meeting will be looking at ways to fully enforce those measures already in place. "It is incumbent on every member of the U.N. to carry out or to enforce those sanctions to the utmost," Mark Toner, the acting State Department spokesman, told reporters this week. "That is something we have been conveying to allies and partners in the region. That is something that we have obviously been conveying to China." Trump administration officials say they are confident discussions with Chinese leaders have convinced them that the situation is urgent. Trump has said the Chinese have already shown a willingness to increase pressure on Pyongyang but few specific examples been provided. Additional economic pressure could come from targeting those banks that finance North Korea and building an international sanctions regime that would financially isolate Pyongyang in a manner similar to the pressure put on Iran before the nuclear deal. Outside of economic measures, one option for applying pressure diplomatically would be to further isolate North Korea from the world stage. This could involve nations universally choosing to shutter the regime's few remaining diplomatic outposts as well as sidelining or eliminating their positions in international organizations. "What this week will hopefully accomplish is an opportunity for us to sit around the table with other members of the U.N. Security Council and talk about other possible next steps," Acting State Department Spokesperson told reporters Monday. Still, it is unclear whether any of these measures will ultimately drive North Korea to negotiate and, despite the renewed focus on diplomacy, all options remain on the table. "We are engaging responsible members of the international community to increase pressure on the DPRK in order to convince the regime to de-escalate and return to the path of dialogue," the Joint Statement Wednesday from Secretary Tillerson, Secretary Mattis and DNI Coates read. "However, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our Allies." "This is about math, not mystery and magic," said Mr. Simpson, who was a chairman of President Barack Obama's bipartisan commission on the federal debt in 2010. "It's madness to think that you can have a tax cut without some reduction in spending or some increase in revenue." Some Republicans are rallying around the idea that less taxation is more important than less debt, just as they did during the Republican presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. That shift is a break with the die-hard hawks of the anti-deficit industrial complex, who have long warned of calamitous consequences to the American economy. But when Republicans take charge, their fiscal rectitude sometimes starts to waver. The broad Republican support this week for President Trump 's plan to sharply reduce taxes suggests that those who hang on to austere concerns about debt will now be facing former allies who want to chase economic growth. From an office high above Manhattan, the billionaire Peter G. Peterson has warned for years that the federal government is borrowing too much money. So have other Republican grandees, like former Senator Alan K. Simpson, who made dire predictions about the federal debt in a 2010 report. Republicans in Congress have been eager to sing from the same hymnal so long as a Democrat was in the White House. Mr. Trump's proposal, while short on details, calls for cutting taxes on corporations and individuals, including reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 15 percent and doubling the size of the standard deduction for individuals. Analysts estimated that it could add as much as $7 trillion over a decade to the federal debt, depending on what Congress eventually packs into a tax bill. That is particularly notable because the debt has already increased sharply over the last decade, growing from 34.8 percent of the nation's annual economic output at the end of 2006 to 76.5 percent at the end of 2016. Prominent figures like Janet L. Yellen, the chairwoman of the Federal Reserve and a Democrat, have urged lawmakers to curb that growth. The prospect that the debt might balloon again instead is stirring anxieties within a range of well-financed groups that have long regarded Republicans as their natural allies. "Right now, we are all about trying to figure out how to offset the cost of this framework and coming up with pro-growth tax reform ideas that won't worsen our really dire fiscal situation," said Maya MacGuineas, president of the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. "If the president pursues this proposal of seeing through the largest-ever tax cut rather than reform, he will also be the president who oversees the largest expansion of our country's debt and that's probably not the legacy he's looking for." Ms. MacGuineas said that her group had already started pulling together specific proposals to make the tax legislation less costly. The White House plan, for example, has thus far only made passing reference to proposals for closing loopholes and broadening the tax base, she said. "It will be all hands on deck to try to come up with ideas," Ms. MacGuineas said. Mr. Peterson created the Peterson Foundation in 2008, with an endowment of $1 billion, to raise public awareness of what he saw as an alarming increase in federal borrowing. The federal debt increased sharply during the early years of the Obama administration, largely because of programs that automatically disburse more money during economic downturns. When unemployment increases, so does federal spending on unemployment benefits. Michael A. Peterson, the chief executive of the foundation and the son of its founder, warned lawmakers against forgetting that the nation is already deeply in debt. "Reforming taxes in a way that worsens our fiscal condition is counterproductive because adding to our national debt hurts economic growth," he said in a statement Wednesday. "Tax changes that increase the deficit would harm the economy by raising interest costs, reducing wages and crowding out public and private investments in our future." Conservative lawmakers, advised by conservative economists, once regarded government debt as a public health problem. The government is borrowing money that might otherwise be available to private businesses, which is bad for economic growth. The money must be repaid eventually, which requires higher taxes, which is also bad for economic growth. And higher debt leaves less room for government borrowing during a genuine emergency. But Reagan, advised by economists like Milton Friedman, argued that taxation was a more important economic problem, and Republicans began to prioritize tax cuts. This was, at the least, very good politics. President George H. W. Bush was not re-elected in 1992 in part because he did not join the revolution. He continued to advocate fiscal rectitude, famously agreeing to raise taxes because he wanted to reduce the federal debt. His son did not repeat that mistake during his presidency, and passed a tax cut. The nation's financial situation was markedly different in 2001. The government was running a hefty annual surplus; it was actually on course to pay off its debts completely. Democrats have been quick to accuse Republicans of ideological inconsistency. "The Republican plan is just steeped in hypocrisy," Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, said Thursday. "For the last eight years, all we heard from our Republican colleagues was that Obama was raising the deficit, and we need to cut programs that benefit the poor and middle class," Mr. Schumer said. "All of a sudden, now, with a Republican president and a proposed tax cut for the wealthy, we're hearing from the other side of the aisle, 'Deficits don't matter.'" Others still hold the view that deficits matter. Josh Gordon, the policy director of the Concord Coalition, another group that advocates fiscal discipline, said it was heartening that Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, have expressed a commitment to changes that are "revenue neutral." Representative Peter Roskam, the Illinois Republican who is chairman of the Tax Policy Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, warned that his party should resist taking the easy route and passing temporary tax cuts in favor of making deeper changes to the tax code. "The best thing to do is to create a tax policy that's permanent, and permanent means paid for," Mr. Roskam told MSNBC on Wednesday. "So that's the new fault line that is developing." But some Republicans see an important difference between deficits caused by more spending and deficits caused by tax cuts. They insist that tax cuts will encourage economic growth sufficient to compensate for lower rates. The government will get a smaller piece of a larger pie. Senator Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, said that he was committed to balancing the federal budget and that tax cuts could help achieve that goal. "I'm a supply-sider. I recognize the dynamic value of the nature of some tax cuts," Mr. Flake said. "Not all tax cuts are created equally. Corporate tax cuts should be very stimulative." Representative Dave Brat, Republican of Virginia, who spent most of his career as an economics professor, said, "You've got to come clean with people that this is not optimal, but tax cuts are a way to drive productivity." The pain of a short-term increase to deficits, he said, was pain worth enduring for the sake of growth. "The one thing you make an exception for is tax cuts." When former stay-at-home mom Lori Hill decided to return to work after 22 years, she knew it would be a challenge. But she wasn't prepared for just how hard it would be. On job interviews, most of the hiring managers she found herself sitting across from were men half her age. "I would walk into some interviews and I would get the impression [of], 'Oh, what's my mom doing here?'" says Hill, who worked as a software developer for 10 years before taking a career break. More from NBC News: 6 ways to test drive a potential career path The ridiculously simple way to save money 7 questions to help you decide if a job is right for you Hill felt a double stigma around being both female and older in an industry with few women, and which seemed to prefer younger employees. "The interviewers didn't know what to do with me," Hill told NBC News BETTER. After she explained to one interviewer that she left the workforce to raise her kids, he responded, "Are you sure you want to work full time?" The question angered Hill. "If I wasn't looking for a full-time job I wouldn't be putting myself through all that pain of interviewing," she says. Squaredpixels | Getty Images Explaining the resume gap Hill's job search started in 2011 and lasted a frustrating four years. She became self-conscious about the long gap on her resume, and left out specifics like dates and the names of employers that would reveal her age. "I was really sensitive to my age being the disqualifier," she says. Resume gaps are damaging even if a job seeker has only been out of work for a year, according to New York City executive recruiter Rick Aronstein, who heads product recruitment at AC Lion. "The lower the technology threshold is for the job, the easier it will be to reenter," Aronstein says. "The more qualified your skill set is, it should be easier, but technology skill sets can atrophy if you're not using them all the time." But concealing a resume gap can be self-sabotaging, explains Aronstein. He says candidates are better off using the gap to explain why they left work, especially if they had a good reason for it. "[Recruiters] are always looking for a narrative that is understandable that doesn't raise a lot of eyebrows," he says. Skill sets change, but aptitude stays the same Employers worry that return-to-work employees don't have the latest technical skills, according to Carol Fishman Cohen, CEO of career reentry firm iRelaunch. "I argue that it's a temporary condition," Fishman Cohen says. "It's just a matter of updating yourself, and once you learn it, you're caught up and you're using these technologies just like everyone else." In Hill's case, the technical skill set required in her industry had transformed greatly from when she left in 1993, but she knew her aptitude hadn't changed. She took courses at a local college to learn mobile app development and picked up freelance projects to apply her skills. But working alone kept her out of the loop on the industry's ever-changing lingo, which made interviews challenging. "Quite often someone would ask me a question during an interview and I would be like, 'I don't really know what that is'" Hill remembers. "And then I'd go home and Google it and I'd be like, 'Oh, not only do I know what that is, but I actually used it.'" The interview process had also changed from when Hill was right out of college. For example, many of her interviews involved solving formulas on a whiteboard. "You never can predict what the problem will be," Hill says. "It's kind of nerve-racking." Catching up with a fast-changing industry In 2015, Hill landed a job at NBC News in Seattle after a friend who worked there advocated for her to get an interview. The mother of three was faced with a new work environment that tested her confidence. She was older than most of her co-workers, including her boss. Email and instant messaging made the pace of communication much faster. Even the out-dated tradition of putting two spaces after a period a rule she learned in high school seemed to reveal her age. "The engineer I was working with, he was really , really specific about how everything needed to be formatted in the code," Hill says. When the engineer was reviewing a comment she put in her code, he saw two spaces after a period and wrote "not necessary." "I feel like people judge you on that," Hill says. "It's not necessarily being a mom and being female, but it's being older and not with the times." Reza Estakhrian | Getty Images Montana State University Billings will host two drone classes this spring and summer for beginner and intermediate skill levels. The university announced an initial beginners' class in May and a more focused class in July. Registration is open for both. "We're excited to offer this program series to a wide variety of individuals interested in drones," said Kevin Nemeth, director of Extended Campus at MSUB, in a release. The small, buzzing contraptions have become popular in activities like recreational videography and official search-and-rescue operations. The Extended Campus office, a community outreach department for the university, was behind the brewing course that began earlier during the academic year. The first class, scheduled for May 20, is called "Drones for Dummies" and, as the name implies, is geared toward novice users. The university says drones for use in the class are included in the fee. The instructor for that class will be Aaron Wilson, who run a drone sales company and is "knowledgeable about the legalities of drone usage," according to an MSUB release. Each graduate of the class will be certified with the Federal Aviation Administration as a drone hobbyist. The second class, scheduled for July 8, is called "Droneography" and focuses on the photography and videography aspects of the craft. Theodore Hampton, an independent filmmaker, will lead that class. MSUB suggests that people who sign up for this class already own their own drone. Registration and fees are required for each class, all of which can be found at the Extended Campus website at www.msubillings.edu/extendedcampus. It's that job interview question you'd love to dodge: What's your current, or most recent, salary? A low figure could limit your starting pay. A high number might make you seem expensive. Now, several states and cities are banning the question as part of efforts to ensure pay equity for women, but some companies say the new laws represent yet another intrusion into their businesses. This week, the city of Philadelphia said it will hold off on enforcing the legislation until a federal judge rules on a petition to block it from the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. A federal court already had temporarily stayed the law, which was to take effect May 23. And Connecticut recently dropped the "salary history" prohibition from its bill to ensure gender pay equity. More from USA Today: The future of jobs: More men doing 'women's work' Yes, there's sexism in tech. Women should go into it anyway. Low-paid workers are leading in wage gains Philadelphia joins New York City and Massachusetts, where legislation was passed this month and last year, respectively, in barring employers from asking job candidates about their salary history or benefits. The laws are scheduled to take effect in New York later this year and in Massachusetts in July 2018. At least eight other states are considering similar measures Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, according to law firm Fisher & Phillips. The bills are aimed at closing a long-standing gender-based pay gap that, according to the Census Bureau, has women earning about 80 cents for every dollar earned by men. (Studies that compare men and women in similar occupations and control for other factors, such as experience, find much narrower pay disparities.) By basing future salaries on previous wages, employers can perpetuate the earnings divide, advocates for women say. Sean Gallup | Getty Images "We know that when employers see some past salary, they're likely to take that into account" in setting the employee's starting pay, says Emily Martin, general counsel for the National Women's Law Center. As a result, "Too often, when women are paid less than men, that pay disparity can follow them from job to job." In fact, she says, the gender pay gap widens as women age, supporting the theory that employers are relying too heavily on previous salaries. The salary history bans generally are part of, or addenda to, broader laws that prevent employers from underpaying women. The legislation in Massachusetts and some other areas also prohibit employers from instructing employees not to discuss their wages. Such conversation is often needed so a female worker can file a challenge. Generally, the laws allow firms to rely on salary information if the job candidate volunteers it. More broadly, compensation experts say the measures also address the fundamental unfairness of shackling a new employee to a prior salary. "Our advice to organizations is that they should price the position, not price the person," says Lydia Frank, vice president of Payscale, a compensation consulting firm. "You're trying to fill a certain role. What you should be doing is understanding the market rate for that role." But Cheryl Behymer, a labor lawyer for Fisher & Phillips who represents employers, says many companies use salary history to set pay and manage their costs. "It's hard to figure out how to pay somebody a fair amount," she says. "You're looking at getting the best employee you can but there's nothing wrong with trying to save the company money." The prohibition against asking candidates for their prior salaries follows the passage of "ban the box" laws in nearly half the states barring employers from requiring job seekers to acknowledge on applications if they have a criminal record. "Here's another point where the government is dictating to an employer how to conduct its business and employers resent that," Behymer says of the new salary history laws. While both the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and Comcast, which is headquartered in the city, oppose the new law, neither would comment. But in a statement in January, chamber President Rob Wonderling said, "Tragically we are finding that when global enterprises are looking to locate their business in America, Philadelphia is quickly falling off the list." He said various new restraints are "having a negative impact on job growth." The chamber also argues the salary-history law violates companies' free speech rights, and there's no evidence it promotes wage equity At a city hearing, Wonderling said a prior salary provided an employer "a better understanding of whether a candidate is worth pursuing based on previous compensation levels as well as the market value or salaries for comparable positions." Michael Aitken, vice president of government affairs for the Society for Human Resource Management, says a current or previous salary can indicate whether a job candidate's current high pay is above the employer's range, avoiding wasted time and resources. But he says firms can address that issue by including a salary range in a job posting or telling a job candidate early on. And while a salary history provides some companies a better understanding of pay for comparable positions, Aitken says many firms conduct their own market surveys anyway. Still, for small businesses that can't afford such surveys, the new laws pose a more formidable hurdle, he says. It's news that will have Apple fans in the region rejoicing: The tech giant's first store in Southeast Asia is expected to open in May, according to CNBC sources. The launch of the Singapore store has been shrouded in the company's usual veil of secrecy. Nearly two years ago, word of the addition to the company's beloved retail empire leaked in an email sent by the gym Pure Fitness to its clients, announcing it was leaving its sprawling space in a mall on Orchard Road. Since then, the project has been beset by problems related to the construction in a busy part of central Singapore. A sign outside the building site originally said the expected completion date was October 31, 2016. Then it was changed to January 30 of this year. And then the date was wiped off completely. A sign previously indicating when the Apple store expected to open has had that section blanked out (circled). CNBC | Craig Dale The reasons for the apparent delay are somewhat opaque. Singapore's Ministry of Manpower issued a stop work order to the contractor for the worksite, Legend Interiors, an interior fit-out specialist. According to a statement sent to CNBC by MOM, that stop work order was issued "for unsafe conditions relating to work at height, traffic management, scaffolding, electrical installation and lifting operations that were observed during an inspection at the worksite." The order went into effect on October 24, 2016 and was lifted on November 16, 2016. Someone who answered the phone at Legend Interiors which says its clients include Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, Marriott, Credit Suisse, and Cathay Pacific said they were uncomfortable answering questions about any issues that may have come up with the Apple store, especially a query about whether there had been any legal wrangling between Legend and Apple. That person said discussing any issues would be "treading on dangerous ground," and referred all questions to project manager Madeline Tan. Reached by phone, Tan declined to comment on the project and even refused to give her exact title. The S&P 500 could be back to an all-time high soon, possibly today. Ahead of the final trading day of April, the S&P and the Dow were less than 1 percent from records, as Dow stocks Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) report earnings this morning. General Motors (GM) reported better-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue. (CNBC) Investors get the first reading of first quarter GDP at 8:30 a.m. ET. Growth is expected to be below 1 percent. The employment cost index is also out at 8:30 a.m. ET, with Chicago PMI for April at 9:45 a.m. ET and final April consumer sentiment at 10 a.m. ET. (CNBC) U.S. stock futures were mixed this morning, even as after-the-bell earnings from Alphabet (GOOGL) and Amazon (AMZN) sent those stocks surging in the premarket. The Nasdaq closed at another new high on Thursday. (CNBC) Amazon reported first-quarter sales and earnings that topped estimates, as the company's e-commerce and cloud-computing businesses continued to take share from rivals. (CNBC) Google-parent Alphabet managed to buck backlash over its ad platform in the first quarter, reporting better-than-expected quarterly earnings and revenue. Hardware and cloud also grew substantially. (CNBC) Microsoft's cloud business is growing almost twice as fast as Amazon's, with Google far behind. However, Microsoft blamed Surface sales for its revenue miss. Earnings beat expectations. (CNBC) Intel (INTC) reported lower-than-expected quarterly revenue due to an unexpected slowdown in growth in its data center business. The chipmaker, however, did beat estimates on earnings. (CNBC) Qualcomm cut its Q3 fiscal guidance today, noting that Apple has informed the company that it will withhold future royalty payments "until its dispute with Qualcomm is resolved." (CNBC) Starbucks (SBUX) reported earnings that matched expectations but revenue and same-store sales that missed forecasts. Kevin Johnson became CEO earlier this month, taking over from longtime chief executive Howard Schultz. (CNBC) Oil prices were higher this morning after falling as much as 2 percent on Thursday. according to one trader who closely follows the charts, there could be even more pain to come. (CNBC Trading Nation) Tesla's biggest competitors are likely not auto companies, but well-funded tech companies, according to Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas. Though its cars are often often billed as electric versions of high-end sedans, Tesla's total addressable market in fact overlaps with several companies outside the automotive space, particularly when it comes to autonomy and other cutting edge areas. For example, out of 30 companies with permits to test autonomous driving technology on California roads, only 11 are established automakers, Jonas said in a note Friday. The eight most recent permits issued went to firms outside the auto industry, he added. Large automakers have invested in alternative fuel-based vehicles, but many have suggested that executives at these companies might naturally be reluctant to spend cash from sales of profitable internal combustion vehicles on money-losing electrics. "We are not convinced that the shareholders of typical auto companies will reward those firms for deploying capital to develop technologies and business models that may be diametrically opposed to their prevailing and profitable businesses," Jonas said. Moreover, a "typical economic downturn" can deplete an automaker's cash pile within 6-8 quarters, Jonas said. Established auto players have made investments in autonomy and electrification already. For example, Ford recently announced a $1 billion investment in Argo AI, which makes technology for autonomous driving, and GM bought an autonomy technology firm called Cruise Automation in 2016. But large, stable, technology firms such as Apple , which has a massive pile of cash, are involved in developing many of the technologies that could either directly compete with Tesla's present or future products, or sit adjacent to them. These include "artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, robotics, virtual reality, facial recognition, energy storage ... even satellites and space exploration," Jonas said. These firms have already demonstrated the ability to build teams and attract top talent in the autonomous area, Jonas noted. Tech companies with deep experience in monetizing data could also offer products or services similar to Tesla's at a loss, in order to access valuable vehicle user data. Jonas has written previously that Tesla's addressable markets can be valued in the trillions and extend far beyond selling cars. There is tremendous potential upside for investors, but there are many players that could just as easily crowd new opportunities. "Time will tell if there is room for coexistence, but Tesla investors must understand that as the addressable market expands, the company runs the risk of encroaching deeper into hallowed and competitive turf," Jonas said. While President Trump's sometimes volatile actions have lead to poor poll numbers and bipartisan division on Main Street, his promises for lower taxes and deregulation have Wall Street enjoying quite a smooth ride. On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn outlined Trump's tax plans for both individuals and corporations. Pegged as "maybe the biggest tax cut" in history, the plan if enacted would lower companies' tax burden from 35 percent to 15 percent. One would think Trump's foreign policy missteps and the failure of the House GOP to bring the American Healthcare Act to a vote in late March would have led to some more trading swings. But it hasn't. It turns out that the first 100 days could be used as an indicator for the rest of a president's term, at least in terms of stock-market movement. The trend shows that the more upward momentum in the market during the first 100 days of an administration, the higher it's climbed by the time the term ends. But it's not a perfect correlation: The S&P 500 climbed almost 80 percent during President Bill Clinton's first term, after going up less than 2 percent in his first 100 days. Sometimes outside factors throw off the trend. President Gerald R. Ford's first 100 days after President Richard M. Nixon resigned saw an 11-percent drop in the market, which recovered for a 29-percent gain four years later. The market has advanced about five percent since Trump's inauguration, which puts him in the upper half of recent presidents for the first 100 days. If history is anything to go on, the market could continue to see moderate growth over the next few years. President Donald Trump arrives onstage to deliver remarks at the National Rifle Association (NRA) Leadership Forum at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., April 28, 2017. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters watch now The influential lobbying group endorsed Trump early on during the Republican 2016 primaries a backing he often reminded his crowds about during his long shot bid for office. He drew cheers from supporters amid frequent promises to "save" the Second Amendment, which he said was under siege from opponents, like Hillary Clinton. During one August campaign rally in North Carolina, Trump raised eyebrows when he suggested that "Second Amendment people" could do something if Hillary Clinton were elected and got to pick anti-guns rights Supreme Court justices. "By the way, and if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know." The campaign defended the comments then as a reference to gun rights group's lobbying power. The NRA, for their part, helped bring Trump's pro-gun message to the airwaves, spending three times as much for Trump as it did for Mitt Romney in 2012, a Washington Post analysis found. Once in office, Trump quietly signed a bill in February rolling back an Obama-era regulation that made it harder for people with mental illnesses to purchase a gun. The now-rescinded rule added people receiving Social Security checks for mental illnesses and people deemed unfit to handle their own financial affairs to the national background check database. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with leaders of conservative groups, including Wayne LaPierre (R), executive vice president of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images The NRA, among other pro-gun groups, supported the move, with NRA-ILA executive director Chris Cox saying the executive order "marks a new era for law-abiding gun owners, as we now have a president who respects and supports our arms.". Had the regulation fully taken effect, the Obama administration predicted it would have added about 75,000 names to the background check database. Gun control advocates worry about Trump's relationship with the gun lobby. Ahead of the president's remarks, Shannon Watts of Moms Demand Action said in a statement that "NRA leaders are hoping their investment in the election will help them pass dangerous legislation that would enrich gun manufacturers while endangering Americans. This includes dismantling the criminal background check system, making gun silencers more accessible, and - their ultimate goal - passing 'Concealed Carry Reciprocity." Watch: Sperling's honest assessment of Trump's tax plan Renegotiating a trade deal with Mexico will be difficult, considering President Donald Trump's planned wall along the border, President Bill Clinton's former Commerce secretary told CNBC on Friday. In an interview on "Squawk Box," Bill Daley, who helped lead the fight to pass NAFTA in 1993, said Trump's sweeping changes to the trade deal are likely to be minor. "Trade is an integral part of our foreign policy," Daley said. "Obviously, the president wants to build a wall, he wants to deport all sorts of people back and blah, blah, blah." Daley said those actions will influence Mexico's position on renegotiation. "You can't separate it," he said. Daley, a White House chief of staff under former President Barack Obama, said he thinks it's time for the North American Free Trade Agreement to be updated. However, he said a Trump "update" to the trade deal would be a step back from his tough campaign talk on withdrawing from the agreement. "Obviously, in a campaign people say lots of things that they find, when they get in the office, life's a little different," he said. "I think it's a good sign that Wilbur Ross is there trying to renegotiate it." The Trump administration had been mulling an executive order on withdrawing from the trade pact with Mexico and Canada. Despite earlier assertions to pull out, Trump backtracked on Wednesday, saying he would seek to renegotiate NAFTA. The reversal came after he spoke by phone with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. On Thursday, Commerce Secretary Ross told CNBC that Canada and Mexico are ready to start negotiations. "If we could only get Congress to release the 90-day letter, we'll be going on our side as well," he added, referring to the 90 days notice that must be given before beginning formal talks on NAFTA. CNBC's Matthew J. Belvedere contributed to this report. Importantly, to fix the disastrous Obama Arab Spring Middle East policy, Trump has reached out to the Sunni Arabs: Prince Muhammad bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia emerged beaming from his recent White House meeting. King Abdullah II of Jordan has visited twice, and President al-Sisi of Egypt has been in town to repair frayed ties. Pro-Western authoritarians from the Gulf to Morocco can now sleep better. And speaking of repairing important ties, Binyamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, who was grilled and shunned by the Obama administration, seems to be feeling better. Obama's parting shots in the final days of his administration included a nasty speech by Secretary of State John Kerry after the U.S. abstained in a UN Security Council vote on a resolution on settlements that pilloried Israel without even mentioning continued Palestinian terrorism, advocacy of violence, and sabotage of the peace process. However, to say that everything has been sweetness and light in the Trump foreign policy shop would be premature. While the meeting with Theresa May, the British prime minister, went smoothly, and our special relationship with the UK was reconfirmed, the talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany were more difficult. Allegedly, Mr. Trump presented her with a $300 billion "bill" for defense and security services rendered. Merkel is facing a tough re-election battle in the fall, and Germany is the leader of the fourth largest economy in the world, and a pivotal NATO member. Another often-quoted complaint is the lack of nominations in the State Department and Department of Defense. Both the President and Secretary Rex Tillerson need experienced hands to help steer the ship of state in today's choppy international waters. The future of the TTP and TTIP trade agreements looks grim, and trade renegotiations will be tough. On the brighter side, the Trump National Security Council team is outstanding, with Gen. H.R. McMaster getting highest plaudits, Deputy National Security Advisor Nadia Shadlow steering the national security strategy shop, and two experienced women, Lisa Curtis and Fiona Hill, in charge of the crucial South Asia and Russia portfolios, respectively. Trump's foreign policy will face tough tests: in the South China Sea, in Eastern Europe from the Baltics to the Black Sea, and in the Middle East. Trump likes to keep his adversaries off balance and his friends guessing. He has strong ideas about American interests, but is also non-ideological and flexible. watch now U.S. President Donald Trump's move to chuck the trade rulebook for a maverick style has been "a step back" for global commerce, said Steve Okun, vice chairman for the Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce. "[For] the four presidents preceding Donald Trump, we had a focus on a multi-lateral system that was rules based, and that evolved over time and it went from FTAs (free-trade agreements) and WTO (World Trade Organization) and up to the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership)," Okun told CNBC's "Street Signs" on Friday. "The Trump administration seems to be shifting that from a multilateral to a bilateral and from a rules-based to a transactional," Okun said. "It is certainly a step back." As an example, Okun cited Trump's indication that China's help with North Korea would lead to changes to any bilateral investment treaties or trying to use foreign policy over the THAAD missile defense system to pressure South Korea on trade. Okun compared bilateral trade deals to a spaghetti bowl in their complexity. "The U.S. has 14 different FTAs right now. The U.S.-Singapore FTA has slightly different provisions than the U.S-Korea FTA, which has slightly different provisions than the U.S.-Australia FTA, but that doesn't include countries like Malaysia and Vietnam," he said. Shipping containers are offloaded from a cargo ship at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Getty Images "If you're a business and you have a global supply chain and you trade across borders, how are you going to put all this together to take advantage of those bilaterals? You can't," Okun said. "The multilateral system eliminates the spaghetti bowl problem. And it also brings a set of rules that you can craft your business around and you can craft your supply chain around." The Trump administration has created an eventful week on the trade front. Late Thursday, Trump said he will either renegotiate or terminate a "horrible" trade deal with South Korea and he wanted the country to pay for the $1 billion THAAD missile defence system the U.S. deployed there, according to a Reuters report. Trump also told Reuters on Thursday that he had been "psyched" to terminate the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, between the U.S., Mexico and Canada, but that he had reconsidered. Multiple media reports had circulated Wednesday saying Trump was considering an executive order to remove the U.S. from NAFTA, but later Wednesday evening, Trump agreed in phone calls with the leaders of Mexico and Canada that he wouldn't terminate the treaty and would re-negotiate it instead. The U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross seconded plans to tinker with NAFTA. watch now watch now UBS said on Friday net profit rose 79 percent in the first-quarter of this year boosted by its investment bank business and cost-reduction program. Net Profit: 1.3 billion Swiss francs ($1.3 billion) versus a 919 million average in a Reuters poll. The largest bank in Switzerland beat analysts' expectations reporting a net profit of 1.3 billion Swiss francs ($1.3 billion), up from 707 million francs a year earlier. However, the bank cautioned geopolitical and macroeconomic concerns are affecting global markets. "The geopolitical and macroeconomic issues that we've been facing in the last 3, 4 years are still there and are still posing a lot of risks to client activity and client sentiment," Sergio Ermotti, chief executive officer of UBS, told CNBC. He added that first-quarter results showed that "all business divisions, all geographies have been contributing to this positive developments on a year-on-year basis." watch now "We have seen some confidence by clients although it is still uneven, if you look at private clients and wealth management clients have been a little bit more constructive, while if you look at institutional investors they've been clearly affected by the global activity in financial markets," Ermotti said, explaining that "there's a difference between client confidence and then their willingness to translate confidence into actions." The company's stock rose 3 percent in midday trading on Friday. At its global wealth management arm adjusted profit before tax rose 19 percent to 1.1 billion Swiss francs. And it reported adjusted profit before tax at its investment banking division climbed 51 percent to 558 million Swiss francs. According to Ermotti, one of the factors affecting client participation is the uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration. "In general, people are waiting to see what the new administration is really going to deliver. They are really positive and willing to consider investment in financial markets and in their own business but they want to see concrete action," he said. French election watch now Reese Witherspoon is best known for being an Oscar-winning actress and Hollywood producer. But the Nashville native is also the founder of a Southern clothing and lifestyle brand, Draper James, which she named after her adored grandparents. And just like any other entrepreneur getting a start-up off the ground, Witherspoon had to seek out and pitch venture capitalists for funding. "Going around and asking for VC for money is like an audition," said Witherspoon, speaking on a panel with Kirsten Green, a VC and Draper James investor, at the Vanity Fair Founders Day conference in New York City. When Witherspoon's Draper James CEO asked how she thought a VC pitch went, she replied, "'I think I got the part! I think they want me!'" recalled Witherspoon, smiling. "And then, I was shocked when they didn't." Actor and producer Reese Witherspoon (L) and founder of Forerunner Ventures Kirsten Green. Photo by Andrew Toth Her name and track record in Hollywood didn't automatically open investors' wallets. "I had to go into lots of different meetings with lots of different venture capitalists and I [had] to pitch the company," said Witherspoon on the TODAY show. "That was a scary time because they don't care who you are. It's whether your business is viable and it's robust." "That was kind of the performance of my life," she said. Going around and asking for VC money is like an audition. Reese Witherspoon Oscar-winning actor Even as she was talking to many VCs, Witherspoon set her sights on Green, the founder of Forerunner Ventures, known for investing in e-commerce behemoths Dollar Shave Club and Jet.com. Retail leaders including Birchbox, Bonobos, Glossier, Hotel Tonight and Warby Parker are all part of the Forerunner Venture portfolio. "I really sought out Kirsten. I heard about Kirsten, people were talking about Kirsten," said Witherspoon at Founders Fair. "It was like I was dating her. I was, like, trying to land the guy." In 2015, Forerunner Ventures led a $10 million investment in Draper James, according to investment database Crunchbase. (Private-equity firm JH Partners and investment company Stone Canyon Industries also participated in the round.) Photo by Anthony Harvey The relationship seems to be thriving. On the panel, Witherspoon remembered calling Green with a question: "Hey, what is EBITDA? You sent me this whole long email about EBITA, and I don't know what that is." (EBITDA stands for "earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization" and is an indication of a company's performance.) Green answered kindly and without judgement, said Witherspoon. The respect is mutual. "Reese is so extraordinary in so many ways," said Green. "You're also an ordinary founder," she said, turning towards Witherspoon at Founders Fair. "She loves her business. She's trying really hard to make it work." While Witherspoon had a lot to learn about being a successful entrepreneur, some of her experience as an actor and producer in Hollywood translated. "By the time I was 14 years old starring in movies, bearing the weight of a production that's a $30 million movie or a $50 million movie that's a lot of pressure," she said. "But I have learned over the years, I will not stop until I make my investors their money back, because that is my responsibility." Witherspoon credited her success to her intuition. "I know a movie is a great idea or a company is a great idea when I can't stop thinking about it. And I think, 'Oh my god, I have to tell that story! Oh my god, I have to sell that dress!'" said Witherspoon. "If they have infinite possibility and I am excited about them, it's going to be a win-win." Everybody is waiting to see if House leadership and the White House can convince enough Republican moderates to support the American Health Care Act and get the bill out of the lower chamber. If you remember the slog to pass Obamacare, you might be feeling some deja vu. In both cases, the centrist wing of the party in power proved to be the final barrier to passing a health care plan in the House. In 2010, it was the Blue Dog Democrats. Today it's the Tuesday Group. More from Vox: This voting reform solves 2 of America's biggest political problems He can't pass it. He can't abandon it. Donald Trump has walled himself in. Is Singapore's "miracle" health care system the answer for America? The similarities are striking. In 2010, about 50 Democratic lawmakers were part of the Blue Dog Coalition. The Tuesday Group, composed of the moderate House Republicans, also claims about 50 members. Winning the centrist vote was crucial to Obamacare's passage, though 34 Democrats still voted against it. This time around, House leaders are also likely to lose moderate votes but they can live with that, as long as they can corral the 216 votes they need to pass the bill. When it comes to the centrists, a holdover argument from the Obamacare debate could work for the AHCA but there's also an important difference between the two scenarios. As then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi sought to bring centrist Democrats in line, she had a pretty compelling message: We've been talking about health care reform for decades. This is our one chance to do it. Here's how Brendan Daly, who was a Pelosi aide at the time, described the pitch to me: "If not now, when are we ever going to do this?" "It's the only time we can actually get this done," he said. "That's what drove a number of the members to support it." If you listen closely, you can hear Republican leaders applying the same pressure publicly. It's the inverse of Pelosi's pitch: We've been talking about repealing Obamacare for years. If not now, when? "We promised that we would do this," House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday. "If you violate your promise, if you commit the sin of hypocrisy in politics, that's the greater risk." That was a popular sentiment around the Capitol, as leadership scrounges for the final votes it needs to pass the AHCA. "This is my great concern: that if we don't get this done now, we may be losing our last chance," Rep. Tom MacArthur, the moderate Republican from New Jersey who negotiated a deal with the conservative Freedom Caucus that gave the bill new life, said. I asked him if that was the pitch he's been making to his peers. "Of course," he said. "That's been the whole motivation for me in proposing a solution." The conventional wisdom is moderate House Republicans could lose their seats if they back the AHCA, and that's holding them back. But Ryan tried to turn that logic around when he was asked about that risk on Thursday. "I think people's seats are at risk if we don't do what we said we'd do," he said. But that brings us to the crucial difference between the ACA and the AHCA, which could make it more difficult for the Republican bill to win over centrists. Last time, we were talking about expanding health coverage to millions of Americans. This time, millions of Americans could lose coverage. You can have philosophical problems with Obamacare, and many Blue Dogs clearly did. But they were being asked to vote on a bill that the Congressional Budget Office estimated would lead to 32 million fewer Americans being uninsured (a rosy estimate, but that was the figure at the time.) Moderate Republicans, on the other hand, are being asked to vote for legislation that CBO says would lead to 24 million more Americans being uninsured. It's clearly weighing on many of them, which is why my colleague Andrew Prokop dubbed these lawmakers the Coverage Caucus. Much of the movement on Thursday seemed to be moderates coming out against the new bill for this reason. "I think that is the absolute difference here," Daly said. "This has real consequences for people." Again, one could make the philosophical argument that a freer market is worth the trade-off. But you often hear this folk wisdom in Washington for a reason: It's harder to vote to take a benefit away from people than it is to give them one. That's the obstacle the AHCA has to clear that Obamacare never did. Thirty years ago, most Americans could not tell the difference between a latte and a cappuccino. Then a little coffee shop in Seattle decided it was going to bring gourmet coffee to the masses and today Starbucks is a $22 billion company, McDonald's serves caramel mochas and 59 percent of coffee cups consumed daily in the U.S. are gourmet coffee. Few could have predicted in the early 1980s that premium coffee would become such a bona fide phenomenon and a standard part of our everyday life. It proves the old adage "you don't know what you don't know." Nowhere is that truer than in today's booming cannabis industry. This is what we do know. Medical marijuana is now legal in 29 states West Virginia just joined the ranks, recreational use is legal in eight and about two thirds of Americans live in a state with some form of legal cannabis. State legal sales reached an estimated $5.9 billion last year, and Wall Street analyst Cowen and Company predicts sales of $50 billion in the recreational market alone within a decade. This is the fastest growing industry in our economy. I spent 20 years in asset management, most recently as chief investment officer of $115 billion of fundamental equity assets at BlackRock and was a member of its Global Operating Committee. I live to find undervalued assets. Many cannabis assets in the private market are cheap relative to their business potential because while most acknowledge the huge growth in the industry, relatively few are willing to invest. It's a buyer's market. Consider that state legal sales only account for about a tenth of the total cannabis consumed in the U.S., the rest is still illicit. As consumers gain greater access to government regulated marijuana products with mandated quality and safety standards, there will be very little incentive to buy pot from drug dealers. When was the last time you heard of someone buying moonshine? The nations largest collector coins series largest in terms of the physical size of the coins will get its newest addition May 2 with the release of the Uncirculated 2017 Frederick Douglass National Historic Site 5-ounce silver coin. The coin, denominated as a quarter dollar, is the latest issue in the America the Beautiful series of 5-ounce silver coins. It is a numismatic companion piece to the purely bullion version of the coin, which is already available. As of the April 12 U.S. Mint sales report, the Mints authorized purchasers bought 17,600 of the 5-ounce bullion coins. The two versions share a common design and both are struck on the same press at the Philadelphia Mint, but there are differences between the two versions. The bullion version has what amounts to a standard Uncirculated finish, while the Uncirculated numismatic version has a finish that is applied post-striking. In addition, the numismatic version bears a P Mint mark on the obverse, while the bullion version does not. 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. The reverse of what the U.S. Mint formally calls the 2017 America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated CoinFrederick Douglass National Historic Site depicts Frederick Douglass seated at a writing desk with his home in Washington, D.C., in the background. Inscriptions are FREDERICK DOUGLASS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 2017, and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The obverse features what the Mint calls a 1932 restored portrait of George Washington. Made of .999 fine silver, both types of America the Beautiful 5-ounce silver coins are 3 inches in diameter, making them the largest coins the U.S. Mint has ever struck. These Uncirculated coins are encapsulated and placed in a presentation case with a Certificate of Authenticity. Pricing for the Uncirculated 2017 Frederick Douglass National Historic Site 5-ounce silver coin is set at $149.95. As with all products sold by the United States Mint containing precious metals, this price is subject to change in reaction to changes in the price of silver. The current authorized combined mintage limit for both numismatic and bullion 2017 Frederick Douglass National Historic Site 5-ounce silver coins is 150,000 units. An announced maximum potential mintage limit of 25,000 coins is set for the Uncirculated version. However, based on demand, the United States Mint may mint and issue more than 125,000 of the bullion coins as long as the 150,000-coin limit is not exceeded (in effect, reducing the maximum mintage for the numismatic coin). Connect with Coin World: Sign up for our free eNewsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter If sales of the Uncirculated Frederick Douglass coin follow recent trends, it is unlikely that they will reach the 25,000-coin maximum. Since 2015, with the exception of the first coin offered for that year, sales of the Uncirculated America the Beautiful 5-ounce silver coins have remained below the 20,000-coin level, with many sales ending in the 17,000- to 19,000-coin range. Earlier releases often had sales totals of more than 20,000, with the first five coins, from 2010, reaching the 26,000 to 27,000 level. Sales of two 2014 coins topped 28,000 pieces each, the highest thus far for the series. Orders for the Frederick Douglass coin will be accepted at the U.S. Min'ts website, and at 800-872-6468. The Mint of Finland scrapped designs for a program of coins marking the nations centennial after an uproar over this coin image showing an execution during the Finnish Civil War. The Mint of Finland has scrapped designs for a five-coin set honoring the nations independence. The decision came within 24 hours of the designs release, after an outcry against two of the designs rippled across social media and gained traction in the news cycle. The program of ringed-bimetallic noncirculating commemorative 5 coins was set to honor five periods from independence in 1917 to today. The first design, marking 1917 to 1939, depicted a civil war execution scene and bore text meaning Civil War. The design represented the bloody conflict in the country between the Soviet-backed Reds and the conservative Whites. Minister of Finance Petteri Orpo said: I did not give sufficient attention to the visual designs and relied instead on the proposals put forward by the Collector Coin Committee. I would like to express my sincere regret over what has occurred. The decree will be overturned and we will start again from the beginning. 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. The Mint of Finland said that it deeply regrets all the bad feeling caused by the images in the collector coin series. Mint of Finland Communications Director Henna Karjalainen told Coin World that no coins had been struck. The coins were to be put on sale on May 4, with an official release date of May 18. Connect with Coin World: Sign up for our free eNewsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter The Decades of Independence collector coins series was intended to present information about the first 100 years of Finnish independence, noting achievements and difficulties that have been overcome. The series was researched and designed by Ilkka Suppanen. In designing the first coin, Suppanen chose the civil war theme, as the Finnish Civil War was the most significant challenge the country overcame during the period, he said. Obverse images for the series were intended to display challenges from respective eras, while reverse images would show achievements and triumphs of the era. Another design that also drew negative feedback represented the period from 2000 to 2017 and was called Global Justice. It was based on a photograph of a Turkish police officer carrying a lifeless body of a child in 2015 after a boat carrying refugees capsized while trying to reach Greece from Turkey. Critics questioned the relationship between events in Turkey and Finlands independence. The North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition and its partners are seeking nominations in cooperation with the Sand County Foundation, for the Leopold Conservation Award Program in North Dakota. The award will be to a North Dakota farmer, rancher or other private landowner who exemplifies voluntary, responsible stewardship and management of natural resources. Recipients of the award receive $10,000 and a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold. Any person or organization can submit applications before the deadline of June 15. The award will be presented this fall, and full application details can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/uploads/ND-2017-Call-for-Apps-FINAL.pdf. This is the second year a North Dakota farmer or rancher will receive this award given in honor of conservationist Aldo Leopold. The Leopold Conservation Award recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. It inspires other landowners through these examples and provides a visible forum where farmers, ranchers and other private landowners are recognized as conservation leaders. North Dakotas inaugural award was presented to Jerry and Renee Doan and family and the Black Leg Ranch, McKenzie, in November at the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts convention. Applications for the award must be postmarked by June 15, and mailed to North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition, P.O. Box 325, Mandan, N.D. 58554. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Indian couple face tragedy in Dubai In a tragic incident, a newlywed Indian man attempted to commit suicide after he found the body of his wife hanging from a ceiling fan in his Dubai flat, said Dubai Police. Both the husband and wife had an altercation over some issue after which the latter committed suicide. When the husband returned home, he found a suicide note scribbled with a parting message - I will leave you forever and will not be back in your life again. An Indian couple face a tragic fate in Dubai. Photo courtesy: igberenews Unable to bear the pain, the husband too slashed his wrists to end his life. However, he was rescued by paramedics and rushed to Rashid Hospital. Major-General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant to the Dubai Police Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, said the police found the note inside the flat written by the woman who got married only three months before her death. He added, She hanged herself after a dispute with her husband and left a note that she was leaving him forever. The husband was shocked and tried to put an end to his life, too, by cutting his arteries, but he survived. It was a suicide and there is no criminal suspicion in the case. Giving details about the incident to a Dubai-based newspaper, Lieutenant-Colonel Abdullah Al Hafeet, deputy director of Al Ghusais police station, said they responded to a call about a suicide in a flat in the area. The woman was a 27-year-old identified as KK, and she hanged herself from the ceiling fan using a piece of cloth. Her husband was transferred to Rashid Hospital to recover from the injury after he slashed his wrist, Lt-Colonel Al Hafeet said. Police went to the hospital and questioned the husband who claimed the couple had an argument after which his wife locked herself in the bedroom. He said he left the house to give her a chance to calm down around 1.30 pm. When he returned, the door was still locked and he broke it open to find his wifes body hanging from the ceiling fan. He cut the cloth and gave her first aid in a bid to revive her. The husband said he was in a state of shock, and that he walked into the kitchen and cut his arteries using a knife. He is now in a stable condition but he will be referred for prosecution on the charge of attempting suicide, Lt-Colonel Al Hafeet said. Indian-Origin doctor to use USD 1million TED prize money in rural healthcare Dr Raj Panjabi, an Indian-origin doctor who just won the USD1 million TED prize, intends to use the money to train medical staff to cater to the world's most isolated communities. Dr Raj Panjabi is a physician at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Photo courtesy: Twitter Dr Panjabi, 36, is a physician at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. He received the TED annual award at the TED conference in Vancouver, Canada this year. His only aim is to build the largest army of health care workers that the world has ever known. Dr Panjabi plans to use the money to create the Community Health Academy, which will be a global entity that trains and equips lay healthcare workers with real life-saving skills, whether that's giving vaccines or testing for malaria or treating pneumonia. In a single backpack, the worker has the tools and medicines to employ 30 different life-saving services, Panjabi said. Photo courtesy: LinkedIn According to reports, Dr Panjabi fled to the United States to escape the civil war in his native Liberia. But when he returned home he was shocked to witness the deplorable plight of healthcare for rural people in his native state. This isn't just a story in Liberia, it's the story in rural south Dakota, in Appalachia, it's the story of folks in rural Alaska, and it's the story of various rural people throughout the world, Panjabi told media. So, if there are a billion people on the planet who live in these remote communities, how do we solve that issue? The idea is that help for these communities might not come from places we expect. It may not come from the outside - it may actually come from within. Dr Panjabi has built a nonprofit, The Last Mile Health, that trains community health workers in Liberia to administer simple health care procedures in places where treatment is hard to come by. The TED annual award is given to people who have 'a creative and bold vision to solve a timely, pressing problem. Sushmas active intervention rescues Indian woman from Saudi Arabia Indian Minister for External Affairs (MEA) Sushma Swaraj has become a beacon for the distressed members of the Indian diaspora trapped abroad. In another case, her active intervention helped in rescuing an Indian woman, Salma Begum, who was reportedly sold and tortured in Saudi Arabia. Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj. Photo courtesy: madad.gov.in Sushma Swaraj commended the Indian Embassy in the Saudi capital for ensuring Salma's expeditious repatriation since she'd raised the issue with them on April 24. "I appreciate the efforts of Indian Embassy in Riyadh for resolving this in just 72 hours," she tweeted. I appreciate the efforts of @IndianEmbRiyadh for resolving this in just 72 hours. /2 Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 27, 2017 An Indian newspaper, The Times of India, had first reported the plight of Salma Begum, who had been tricked and sold to her kafeel (sponsor) in Saudi Arabia after she had gone there on a migrant worker visa. While informing her daughter about her precarious condition through an audio message, Salma said that the agents who had arranged her visa had sold her to the kafeel for INR3 lakh. Moreover, the kafeel was pressuring her for marriage and when she refused, he subjected her to mental and physical harassment. Salma had also appealed to the Indian government to bring her back to India in the message. Earlier, Sushma Swaraj spread the message of her rescue through Twitter. Indian national Salma Begum has been rescued. She is reaching Mumbai by flight G9406 at 04.15am on 28 April 2017, Swaraj said in a tweet. Indian national Salma Begum has been rescued. She is reaching Mumbai by flight G9406 at 04.15 am on 28 April 2017. https://t.co/f4lfiu2JYg Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 27, 2017 Sushma had also asked Protector General of Emigrants M C Luther on April 24 to take action against the agents who sent Salma to Saudi Arabia. I have asked @ProtectorGenGOI to proceed against the agent who sent her to Saudi Arabia. /3 Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 24, 2017 Two agents, Akram and Shafi, had reportedly arranged for Salma to travel on a housemaid maid visa in January this year. Agree when you can, disagree when you have to but most of all do your best to walk away friends. When I had the privilege of representing Mandan in the Legislature my mentor was this wonderful lady named Brynhild Haugland. When I met her she was in her 48th year of representing Minot. She retired after 52 years of service, and to say the least, she seemed to enjoy sharing her political wisdom with those around her. I cant adequately express my gratitude for her friendship. You see Haugland was a Republican and I was a Democrat and she taught me that until one fully appreciates any given issue one should remain in the radical middle. This kind of thinking dovetailed nicely into my fathers admonition, "You have two ears and one mouth, guess which one God wants you to use most." As both my loyal readers know, none of that seems to have stopped me from expressing my opinion. First off, I have no idea how I got onto the Republican National Committees survey list and Id really appreciate it if you wouldnt tell any of them because of that radical middle thing I told you about. Anyway it was official and since I had just returned from a family wedding I couldnt come up with a $25 donation they wanted to tabulate my answers. So here are some of the questions: Should we build a border wall? Reverse Obamas executive orders? Withhold federal dollars from Sanctuary Cities? Cut corporate tax rates? Encourage domestic coal and oil production? Renegotiate trades deals (NAFTA)? Should President Trump issue an executive order to suspend government unions? Should Common Core education be eliminated? Should the Republican Congress take whatever steps necessary to confirm President Trumps court nominees? Do you believe that Democrats have any intention of working with Republicans on the pressing issues facing our nation? Do you believe the so called Main Stream media will give President Trump, fair, unbiased coverage of his policy proposals and leadership? Here are my answers: As Ive stated her before, I dont think we should build a wall. No, the data shows that despite Donald Trump saying we have the highest corporate taxes it turns out our corporate taxes are way lower than some 36 other developed nations. No, I dont believe that executive orders should be reversed just because they have Barack Obamas name on them. Ive always thought we should encourage domestic energy production but not at the expense of our environment. NAFTA has been very good for us and our neighbors, TPP would have been great for our farmers but thats gone now so I think cutting off free trade will have too many unintended consequences. Should Trump suspend government unions? No, how else will the little guy at the end of the public servant line be able to get a fair shake under this administration? Should Common Core be eliminated? Its gone and, thanks to an intense study by the Department of Public Instruction, North Dakota recently adopted its own standards. No Congress should not be allowed to give lifetime judgeship by a mere majority vote; justice deserves better vetting and approval. Yes, I believe that Democrats have great hopes that they will be included on the pressing issues of the day after all, Haugland always told us that "Its the opposing wind that makes the kite fly high." Our elected leaders need to quit worrying about who gets the credit and seek the radical middle partisan gridlock needs to cease. Yes, I do believe the "mainstream media" will give Trump a fair shake. As I recall, the term "mainstream media" comes from Rush Limbaugh and its been a great marketing ploy for his show. This feeds into the "fake news" were all struggling with. I cant help but wonder if too many of us are taking opinions as facts. It seems to me that we have way too many talking heads and too few journalistic reporters. One side seems to like conjecturing about what might happen because something happened and the journalistic side's task is to report on whats happening. Rush Limbaugh is not a journalist but he is opinionated. So theres my answers to those questions, heres hoping that we can remain friends. Iain Dale is Presenter of LBC Drive, Managing Director of Biteback Publishing, a columnist and broadcaster and a former Conservative Parliamentary candidate. The idea that Theresa May would seek to hide Boris Johnson away during the election is preposterous. I yield to no one in my admiration for the election coverage of The Times. Its the one newspaper I buy every day. However, the paper seems this week to have developed somewhat of a schizophrenia about Boris Johnson. On Wednesday, the Matt Chorley, of the papers Red Box, reported breathlessly: The Times reveals today that Theresa May is being urged by senior ministers to keep Johnson out of the spotlight, suggesting that he be kept busy with lots of important meetings in various foreign capitals instead. One minister, fearing that his Vote Leave role is a liability, asks witheringly: What are we going to put on the side of his bus? But a mere day later, Francis Elliott, the papers Political Editor, wrote an article below the headline: Boris to be TV poster boy. The Foreign Secretary seems to have some very powerful enemies in the Cabinet, who think nothing of spilling their thoughts to political journalists. It has to be said that weve seen less of this during Mays premiership than under David Cameron, but during an election journalists will jump on bitchfighting because they have acres of newsprint to fill. It surely wouldnt make any sense to keep Johnson under lock and key, just because at one point in the campaign hes bound to drop a bollock. You dont keep your star player off the pitch. And lets remember who is in charge of the Conservative campaign one Sir Lynton Keith Crosby. Let us not forget that he was the man behind Johnsons two mayoral election wins. He knows what his strengths and weaknesses are, and is a huge fan of the Foreign Secretary. He will deploy him at times when letting Johnson be Johnson can be a huge advantage to the campaign. Just as it should be. Last week, I wrote some words in this column which I might have had reason to regret. Heres a quick reminder: If Im honest, this is the first time for many years where Ive thought Id like to be a candidate again. Who wouldnt want to be in Parliament over the next five years? But it was a fleeting thought and I dismissed it almost as soon as I had had it. At the age of 54 my time in politics has been and gone, and why would I give up the best job I have ever had? Then at 2pm on Tuesday, I saw that Sir Alan Haselhurst had announced he was standing down as MP for Saffron Walden. This is where I grew up and where my parents lived all their lives. My dad died a few months ago, and Ive been thinking about moving back to live on the family farm. For 24 hours, my mind was a turmoil. Im normally very swift to make decisions like this, but I kept swinging from one extreme to the other. But the stars werent aligning. The negatives outweighed the positives. It would have been very difficult to force my way onto the shortlist but, in addition, I kept coming back to what I wrote last week: Why would I give up the best job I have ever had? So decision made and absolutely no regrets. Whoever gets the seat will be very lucky indeed. It seems an odd thing to write, but being 20 points ahead in the polls can be a dangerous place to be. Theres only one way to go from there and thats down. But in the end, there is only so far Labour can fall in the polls and I reckon weve reached that point now. Each of the two main parties has a core vote of about 25 per cent of the electorate. The Conservative campaign reeks of safety first and thats quite understandable if rather dull for those of us who have to cover the campaign. OK, political campaigns are aimed at voters and not the media, but I worry that turnout at this election may be very depressed if the campaign goes on as it is. There will be no head to head debates, and people are already tiring of Conservative sloganizing. On my radio show this week Maria Caulfield, the Lewes MP, trotted out the usual coalition of chaos and strong and stable government to such an extent that I had to interrupt her and suggest we start a drinking game whenever these phrases are used. Its boring. It insults the intelligence of the electorate, and does a disservice to our democracy. Ive now predicted the results of 107 seats in my Seat by Seat general election prediction series. As I go through the different geographical areas, its amazing how many Labour seats could be in play. Even Tony Blairs seat of Sedgfield could fall to the Conservatives if the stars align. If youd like to follow my predictions as I add to them every day click on this link. Candidate selections are a complete lottery. You can give the greatest speech of your life, but if your face doesnt fit, youre toast. I was told about one recent selection where two of the candidates gave out-of-their-skin performances and yet the candidate who was weak and hapless won on the first ballot. Dont you just love the unpredictability of Conservative Associations? Next weeks local elections are going to be a challenge for Jeremy Corbyn. Hes likely to lose dozens of county council seats in England, and have a lot of explaining to do in Scotland, where Labour is polling at 14 per cent. Quite what will happen in Wales in anyones guess. I supposes he will have to adopt the mantra of Keep Calm & Carry On. Ill be hosting a special LBC local elections show with Shelagh Fogarty and Gareth Knight, our resident psephologist, from 10pm-1am. If youre at a County Council count please do tweet me any developments to @iaindale. If there is indeed a Conservative landslide, which I think at this stage is far from guaranteed, expect Corbyn to hark back to 1987, and argue that he should be allowed to stay on as Labour leader, just as Neil Kinnock did. He and his allies are desperate to stay in position until the Labour conference, since that is when they will try to push through rules changes for electing a new Labour leader. At the moment, to stand an MP has to get 15 per cent of the parliamentary party to sign their nomination paper. The left want to reduce that to five per cent, so whenever Corbyn does decide to go, a representative of the hard left will automatically get on the ballot paper, and, given the hard left make-up of Labours current membership, would more than likely win. John McDonnell has said he wont stand, so could it be Diane Abbott who rushes forward to take up the mantle? Or will it be one of the young turks that Corbyn has promoted to his shadow cabinet? All this just goes to show that, even once the election is over, politics is unlikely to get any quieter over the summer months. In one sense, this Government is the most centralised in recent history, perhaps ever. Theresa May, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill her two co-Chiefs of Staff keep a tungsten grip on Whitehall. Little happens without their approval. Nothing much lasts of which they disapprove. And lurking in the wings is the Prime Ministers most important adviser of all Philip May. In another, it is far more collegiate than any since John Majors, and is arguably better set up for consultation and discussion. A mass of Cabinet committees and sub-committees provide the means in particular, three of the former that May chairs herself: those on Brexit, social reform and, perhaps above all, the economy and industrial strategy. That last has offered a way for the free marketeers in the Cabinet to seek to amend, water down and in some cases block interventionist ideas favoured by the Prime Minister herself. Previously unaware Westminster-watchers first came across these in the major speech she made to ConservativeHome four years ago the address that made her leadership ambitions evident and began to set out a personal programme. May spoke of taking on vested interests in the private sector. She criticised businesses that abuse their market position to keep prices high, companies at the less scrupulous end of the credit industry, and selfish bank and big company executives. The then Home Secretary set out a programme for dealing with Britains over-reliance on financial services and the inequality between London and the rest of the country. The Government should, she said, expand our nascent industrial strategy the first time she is recorded to have used the phrase. And during her leadership campaign launch speech in Birmingham, she put more flesh on the bones of what it might look like. A proper industrial strategyshould be capable of stepping in to defend a sector that is as important as pharmaceuticals is to Britain, she said, complaining of Pfizers bid for AstraZeneca. I want to see changes in the way that big business is governed, she went on. If Im Prime Ministerwere going to have not just consumers represented on company boards, but employees as well. (Her ConservativeHome speech had referenced the publics anger about companies that evade taxes and excessive corporate pay). Fixed items of spending like energy bills have rocketed, she said, presaging her later support for price caps. Once she became Prime Minister, the new economy and industrial strategy committee provided the main means by which free marketeers in Cabinet fought back against what they consider this distinctly non-Thatcherite programme. The charge was led by Philip Hammond, supported by Liam Fox, Sajid Javid, Michael Fallon (from time to time) and Justine Greening who, one Minister told this site, has strong free market sympathies. Over in the interventionist corner, meanwhile, were Greg Clark (who since he leads the industrial strategy more or less has to be) and most of the rest of the members of the committee Damian Green, Karen Bradley, Jeremy Hunt, Chris Grayling, Andrea Leadsom and Patrick McLoughlin. Most of them are less concerned, according to ConservativeHomes sources, with ideology than frankly, not getting on the wrong side of the Prime Minister. Hammond and company succeeded in getting May to water down her enthusiasm for putting workers on boards. They also fought back over foreign takeovers, though it was reported recently that a Green Paper may include a proposal that foreign bidders for stakes over a certain size in critical national infrastructure assets should be subject to government scrutiny. That the Prime Minister favours an energy price cap is plain: Clark recently pledged muscular and strong action to protect consumers. Ministers with particular free market sympathies are concerned that the manifesto will deploy tough language about foreign takeovers, and revive plans to put workers on boards from their unquiet sleep. The point about manifestos is that Cabinet committees cant probe them, one said to ConservativeHome. As we have previously written, the main members of the team shaping the manifesto are John Godfrey, the head of the Downing Street Policy Unit; George Freeman, who chairs the Downing Street Policy Board; Ben Gummer, the most important Minister youve never heard of, and Timothy which returns us to where we started. Our former columnist has strong interventionist views: see here. This sites leitmotif is that everything in the Governments programme must be subject to the requirements of Brexit: Britain needs what we call an Open Brexit to make leaving the EU work well for the economy. It follows that before making any manifesto commitment, Downing Street should ask itself: will this proposal help to attract investment? And Will it reassure business, or alarm it? If for that reason only, our sympathy is with the free marketeers. Nokia announced that it is conducting a live trial in China Unicom's commercial network using the Nokia Virtualized Services Router (VSR) and involving more than 5,000 residential subscribers, designed to enable China Unicom to simplify and accelerate the delivery of broadband utilising a new flexible network based on virtualised network functions (VNFs). The initial trial with China Unicom is being carried out in the Chinese province of Shandong, with plans to expand to the other parts of the country over the next two years as it moves to the next phase, which will include delivery of IPTV services. Nokia noted that China Unicom is adopting software defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualisation (NFV) to enhance efficiency and increase flexibility, openness and scalability as it evolves to a cloud-ready network. The trial of the Nokia VSR platform is designed to demonstrate improved operational efficiency and faster creation and delivery of new services. The China Unicom trial involves using the VSR solution as a next-generation, virtualised broadband network gateway (BNG) to support residential subscriber management functions and advanced service capabilities. As part of its initiative to transform its metro service edge, China Unicom plans to migrate BNG services to the virtualised platform to gain the benefits of a cloud environment. The trial specifically includes Nokia's field-proven VSR designed for x86 server environments, with the vBNG functionality based on the Nokia Service Router Operating System (SR OS). Nokia VSR is designed to deliver a range of BNG service functions for an enhanced end-user experience, as well as providing high throughput. For the trial Nokia's VSR is also being used to deliver functions, such as network address translation (NAT) to facilitate the migration to IPv6. WILLIAMSTOWN, Ontario Ah, young love. A time of innocence, excitement and complicated situations. From this evening until Saturday, Apr. 29, Char-Lans spring production, Love Sick, will come to life at Char-Lan District High School. The musical comedy was written and produced by grade nine student, Emma Charpentier, and puts a comical spin on the trials and tribulations of relationships. Its a love story that will make you laugh everything about it is wild, said Charpentier. The play goes a step above love triangle with its series of intertwined romances. Its more like a love square, laughed Charpentier. Having first sat down to write the play in the summer, rehearsals began in Sept. Much like high school, audiences are going to have to really pay attention if they want to keep up. For instance, Tommy and Billy are best friends, and Billy has a crush on a girl named Mary. However, Tommy also likes Mary, and their friend, Stephanie has a crush on Billy. Still with me? There are a lot of little stories within the play, said Charpentier. Its one thing to write a play, but to see it come to life is the most exciting part for me. While tonight is the plays official opening night, students had the chance to perform a sneak peak for their peers at lunch, as well as a full performance to students at Williamstown Public School. Were all so excited to show the audience what weve been working so hard on, said Charpentier. I never would have had this chance if I would have gone to any other school, and I think thats really exciting. Love Sick runs from Apr. 27-29 at Char-Lan District High School and begins at 7:30. A free event offering donated prom dresses, hair styling and makeup to Native American students will be held Saturday at the Sacred Pipe Resource Center in Mandan. Prepping for Prom event organizers Dakota Eagle and Cheryl Kary, executive director of the Sacred Pipe Resource Center, partnered with two high schools that have prom this weekend: Bismarck High School and Solen High School. This first public event aims to help young Native American women feel special for prom, an important and expensive occasion many students look forward to throughout their high school years. Because both schools have prom on the same day, and Kary is originally from Cannon Ball, Kary reached out to Solen's prom coordinator, who told her some girls would definitely be interested. "(Solen's prom coordinator) said it would be so awesome for those girls, because a lot of them barely can afford a dress, much less all the extras the hair, the makeup and the nails," Kary said. Eagle also usually does nails at a monthly Sacred Pipe Resource Center event, where Native American women can get free hair, nail and makeup services. Several years ago, Eagle worked as a paraprofessional at Cannon Ball Elementary School. Last year, a group of girls, whom she had worked with at the Cannon Ball school, had their turn to go to prom. So, she helped those girls get ready. "I asked Cheryl if she knew of any girls in the area who were needing help, to let me know," Eagle said. Instead, Eagle and Kary decided to make it a bigger event in order to reach more girls. Kary created a Facebook event page and put out a call on social media for volunteers in the community. "We got responses right away," Kary said, including from a Minnesota make-up artist who is driving to Mandan this weekend. Veronica Mahpiya, a Native American makeup artist from Minneapolis, said she learned about the event after seeing the Facebook post seeking volunteers. Mahpiya said she had wanted to do a similar event, empowering Native American women and making them feel pampered, in her own state. When I found out they were doing something like this, I got really excited, Mahpiya said. I want to help these girls feel beautiful. Mahpiya works for a cosmetics company in Bloomington, Minn., and has been doing makeup professionally for about six years. She said she hopes the event will help give the girls confidence. I feel like indigenous beauty isnt recognized enough," she said. Mahpiya didn't have a chance to go to prom, because she had her daughter when she was 17. Mahpiya, now 26, said she hopes Saturday's event will also show the students there are successful Native American women, like herself, to whom they can relate. More than a dozen sparkly and bedazzled gowns have been donated to the Sacred Pipe Resource Center. About 13 girls have RSVP'd to the event, mostly from Solen, but Kary said last week she contacted Bismarck Public Schools' Johnson O'Malley program for Native American students, and she hopes more students will come now that the word is getting out. There are about 10 volunteers for the event, including a woman who will braid hair and a photographer who will take photos of the girls standing in front of a twinkly backdrop. The Prepping for Prom event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at the Sacred Pipe Resource Center, 400 W. Main St. For more information or to volunteer, contact Kary at cheryl@sacredpipe.net. ALEXANDRIA, Ontario On April 28, 2017 at approximately 2:59 a.m., Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry (SD&G) Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers responded to a report of a break-in in progress at a business on Main Street in the Town of Alexandria, North Glengarry Township. Investigation indicated that a male had forcibly entered a building and stole a quantity of assorted jewellery. He then fled south of the scene in a vehicle driven by a female. Officers intercepted the vehicle on Highway 401, South Glengarry Township and arrested the occupants. The stop revealed that the female driver was under the influence of alcohol. The stolen goods were recovered. Philippe ST-AMAND (38) and Angela MCHALE (27) both from Montreal, Quebec are each charged with; Break, Enter a Place and Commit an Indictable Offence MCHALE is further charged with; Driving a Motor Vehicle While Ability Impaired Driving a Motor Vehicle With More Than 80 Milligrams of Alcohol in Blood Both were held in custody pending a court appearance (bail) at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cornwall. Close Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO and director, Dr. Mary Beckerle is back in the organization a week after she was ousted because of controversy. Get to know more details, here. The Huntsman Cancer Institute This cancer research center is located in South Lake Utah and was founded by a philanthropist, Jon Hunstman Sr. Dr. Mary Beckerle has been the CEO and director of the research center since 2009 but was fired last Apr.17. Controversy Involving Beckerle The Salt Lake Tribune reported that State administrators are expected to investigate the procedures within the University of Utah in the consequence of the ousting and reinstatement of Mary Beckerle, as CEO at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes said in a statement late Tuesday (Apr. 25) that legislators then had grounds to investigate the university. This was after allegations that funds donated by medical expert, Patrick Soon-Shiong to the Huntsman Cancer Institute were used to pay one of the establishments owned by the billionaire physician. Although, Beckerle was fired with no stated reason. There are reports that the alleged misuse of funds can be one of the reasons why she was ousted as CEO. Changes After Mary Beckerle Reinstatement The CEO of the Huntsman Cancer Institute will now communicate directly with David Pershing, the University of Utah president - in an arrangement that limits her off from Vivian Lee, senior vice president for health sciences and CEO of university health care department, per Inside Higher Ed. The publication also added that as per a statement from Kathy Willets, the spokesperson of the university, the only change in the cancer institute now that Beckerle is back in the reporting structure. The institute will still continue to provide excellent studies and research on cancer. They will also continue on utilizing an integrated system on future reseach. Stay tuned for more updates on the cancer institute of Utah and Dr. Mary Beckerle. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Mandan High Schools Health Occupation Student of America club members have quickly fashioned themselves as community volunteers. The 24-member club is made up of seniors and juniors who have an interest in the health sciences field. HOSA adviser Constance Keller said she wrote a grant to fund the new club at MHS this school year. Keller added that members have already given back to the community including to law enforcement, volunteering at nursing homes, donating to the Children's Advocacy Center, assisting in putting together Christmas baskets for needy families, selling first aid kits as a fundraiser, assisting in a blood drive and participating in state and national conferences. According to its website, HOSA is an international student organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education Division of the Association for Career and Technical Education. Its purpose is providing programs of leadership development, motivation and recognition exclusively for secondary, postsecondary, adult, and collegiate students enrolled in health science education and biomedical science programs or with interest in pursuing careers in health professions. The state HOSA conference was held March 5-6 in Jamestown with 10 Mandan health science students attending and competing in Health Care Poster and Health Education. Members Shantell Frank and Kyllie Trenda placed first in Health Education and will compete at the national conference June 21-24 in Orlando, Fla. On Monday, eight HOSA members aided residents at Edgewood Vista, an assisted living facility in Mandan, in an afternoon game of bingo. When they see all the students they get so excited, said Jessie Wolff, the Life Enrichment director at Edgewood Vista, about the residents when the HOSA members arrived. "It's really good, we appreciate it," said Edgewood resident Kaye Westin, 83, about the HOSA students' visit. Westin added bingo was her favorite activity to do during the day. With our organization it gives us a chance to go out there and do something good for the community, said Mandan HOSA president Brady Bohl, a senior who plans to become a firefighter and EMT. Bohl encourages other students who are interested in helping the community to join HOSA; the club accepts all students who are interested in joining. Proposals that tend to draw passionate testimony at the North Dakota Legislature are never in short supply: Hot-button topics return like old friends to fire up a party yet fail to solidify on paper. Reasons for their doom vary: The climate may not yet be right for passage or a strong barrier of lawmakers or interest groups block approval. Three pieces of proposed legislation were resurrected during the past session at the North Dakota Capitol, exemplifying a strategy of "if at first you dont succeed, try, try again." Concealed firearms in schools Allowing school staff to carry concealed firearms fired up debate in the Legislature, reigniting a gun battle that began in 2013 then flared again in 2015 and 2017. Despite being shot down again, Rep. Dwight Kiefert, R-Valley City, says support for the idea is growing. The failure of House Bill 1310 leaves rural schools vulnerable if someone were to walk in and open fire on students and staff, according to Kiefert. Response times are very lengthy, 30 minutes or more in some cases, in rural districts without a school resource officer, he said. To spend $80,000 for a resource officer for an event that may never happen (is tough), Kiefert said of the alternative, which many smaller rural districts likely cant afford. HB1310 passed the House by a 73-19 vote but later died in the Senate by an 18-27 vote a near repeat of a similar attempt in 2015. Kiefert said North Dakota has been lucky to not have any mass shooting incidents, but hed prefer the Legislature be proactive. I hate to say what itll take for them to wake up, Kiefert said. HB1310 would have allowed a member of a schools staff with a Class 1 concealed carry firearms license to carry on school grounds with the permission of the schools board. A limit of 10 schools would have been permitted to implement the program, which would have required reporting procedures to the state. However, Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, countered that the failure of HB1310 was a positive development to multiple education organizations. Not the only thing we can do, Archuleta said of ensuring school safety. We share with Rep. Kiefert and others the desire to keep kids safe." The state can increase funding for mental health to help identify troubled individuals before they decide to shoot up a school, suggested Archuleta, adding that finding money to pay for additional school resource officers and beefing up entrance security are other options. Were willing to work with anyone on school safety, Archuleta said. I would be very surprised if we didnt see another gun bill next session. LGBT discrimination Legislation of protections for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community died in February, after the Republican-dominated House killed House Bill 1386 by a 22-69 vote. The bill would have banned discrimination in North Dakota based on sexual orientation. It was the fourth time in the past five sessions the LGBT community was dealt that hand. The lead proponent of such legislation maintains the days of disappointment will eventually be over. North Dakotas first openly gay lawmaker, Rep. Joshua Boschee, D-Fargo, said the pursuit of LGBT rights will continue. Ill work with anyone whos willing to discuss it. It comes down to finding people, opponents, to get them to the table," said Boschee, adding that the foundation will need to be built brick-by-brick, but the bills day will come. Debate, year after year, has been heated and sometimes tearful. Members of the LGBT community and their supporters have argued over the lack of protections and that passage would ensure the state is welcoming to all people and no one should be at risk for being fired or losing housing because of sexual orientation. Opponents bristle at placing such protections in state law, saying it creates a special class and that it would infringe on some people's religious freedom. Christopher Dodson, executive director of the North Dakota Catholic Conference, said the legislative route isnt the right way for the LGBT community to reach its goal. Lets consider trying to change culture. I do see culture being more embracing," said Dodson, who has testified in opposition to LGBT legislation in recent sessions over concerns of religious liberty. By its nature, it creates problems." Theres a push every two years to get everyones vote on the topic on record for political reasons, according to Dodson. No one should feel we have to introduce such a bill, he said. Efforts at compromise during the past legislative session were rebuffed, according to Boschee, who noted that important keys to success is to reach out to opponents and build relationships with the small number of GOP supporters, then build from there. Each of the states 11 public colleges and universities have banned such discrimination, according to Boschee. Some cities in North Dakota have taken more proactive stances. Grand Forks and Fargo have ordinances banning discrimination of public employees based on sexual orientation. Bismarck city commissioners last fall passed a resolution discouraging discrimination in employment and housing. Sunday blue laws Another familiar face in recent sessions has been the effort to repeal state blue laws, which keep most businesses closed on Sunday mornings. House Bill 1163 failed in the Senate by a 22-25 vote after narrowly passing the House. HB1163 primary sponsor Pamela Anderson, D-Fargo, said the changing demographics across the state and in the retail industry are key arguments for letting the blue laws die. As a Legislature, we just dont get the demographics of the state, Anderson said. I think it was a disappointment for a lot of North Dakota residents. Many in the business community are willing to open, according to Anderson, who said a number of residents simply want to shop, whether its to get material for home improvement projects or other goods. Some form of HB1163 may return in 2019. However, Anderson said a constituent in her district is also considering working on a ballot measure. Sen. Dick Dever, R-Bismarck, countered the proposal this year with a lengthy and passionate floor speech in the Senate. I think its a just a matter of having that time for family and time for church, Dever said. I see it as state, church and family, and its a balance I think is healthy to society. Dever said his position wont change if its brought back in 2019. I dont see the harm in setting aside a time to reflect on your values, Dever said. Some loosening of blue laws did take place during the 2015 session: Restaurants were permitted to begin serving at 11 a.m. rather than noon. Channel programs News Solution Providers Pledge To Add Staff, Boost Technology Investment If Trump's Tax Cuts Go Through Michael Novinson Share this Solution providers said they'd add salespeople and redouble investments in cutting-edge software and services if the Trump administration's business tax reform succeeds. President Donald Trump's tax plan,released this week, calls for cutting the 35 percent corporate income tax rate to 15 percent to stimulate small business growth. The cuts would need to pass through the U.S. Congress to be enacted. DSA Technologies would add to its professional services team or pre-sales engineering staff if the corporate tax rates are ultimately cut, President Michael Pearson told CRN. The Oak Grove, Calif.-based company would also pursue new software investments and ways to automate and do things better, Pearson said. [RELATED: President Trump Set To Sign H-1B Executive Order, Tata, Infosys, Cognizant In Crosshairs] "A tax break would help us advance some of the things we're currently doing," Pearson said. "Is there additional software we should invest in in our ConnectWise [management software deployment]? Is there a better tool for network monitoring and remediation?" Atrion Communications Resources had already begun scaling up its salesforce following Trump's election, and that process will only accelerate if the corporate income tax cuts goes through, President and CEO Pat Grillo told CRN. The Branchburg, N.J.-based company had added one salesperson in the past month in response to the friendlier regulatory environment, Grillo said, and plans to add two more. As the 100-percent owner of a privately-held company, Grillo said he would typically convert profits into bonuses for himself and his employees to avoid the high corporate tax brackets. With a lower tax rate, Grillo said he would be able to keep the money in his company and increase the cash flow of his business. "Right now, we try to take a lot of money out so that we don't have to pay the higher tax amounts on it," Grillo said. "But this would mean I could keep my money in and know I'm not going to be clobbered." Atrion would additionally add more resources and materials to its Center of Excellence, Grillo said, which allows Fortune 500-sized customers to do proof-of-concept work around holistic solutions. "I'm very excited to see this proposal," Grillo said. "I hope it goes through." Las Vegas Med I.T. expects to see its customers spend more on IT if there's a lower corporate tax rate, which in turn would allow Founder and President Leo Bletnitsky to add personnel. Bletnitsky specifically said the Las Vegas-based company would be interested in adding staff to enhance customer service and refreshing some of the company's internal technology. "This is really positive," Bletnitsky said. "We're always telling our clients to refresh technology, but the shoemaker's kids go barefoot." Big Sur Technologies had been tightening its belt under the Obama administration since it didn't know what the lending environment would look like for banks, CEO Sam Sandusky told CRN. But Trump's proposed corporate income tax rate cut has engendered optimism, Sandusky said, which in turn will spur more action from businesses. "Since 2008, we've had to take the position that we better be financially independent and stable," Sandusky said. "So this is really interesting. It almost allows you to exhale a little bit." Matt Brown contributed to this report. Channel programs News Crossing the Pond: PCM Set to Expand Into Europe To Better Serve Multinational Firms Michael Novinson Share this PCM will launch a new United Kingdom and European practice Monday and has tapped the man who helped bring CDW into Europe to spearhead its operations. The El Segundo, Calif.-based company, No. 28 on the CRN Solution Provider 500, said its expansion into Europe comes on the heels of its successful 2015 launch into Canada through the acquisitions of Acrodex and the Systemax's TigerDirect business. PCM said it expects its U.K. subsidiary to employ 90 people by the end of 2017. "The [Canadian] strategy has played out exactly as we had anticipated and we believe the U.K. expansion is a continuation of that approach," CEO Frank Khulusi told Wall Street analysts during an earnings call Thursday. "We're being methodical about our approach." [RELATED: PCM Hires CompuCom, SHI Sales And Services Superstars As The Company Chases More Growth] Having a brick-and-mortar presence in Europe will raise PCM's image and credibility in the eyes of global customers, Khulusi said, as well as giving the company capabilities it didn't have previously. PCM also plans to pursue opportunities with customers based in the U.K. and across the European Union, Khulusi said. PCM brought in Donavan Hutchinson on Feb. 1 to be its UK managing director, where he will be responsible for creating, developing and executing the company's European game plan. Hutchinson previously created, brokered and helped define strategy for the collaboration between CDW and U.K.-based Kelway, generating the foundation for CDW's full acquisition of the firm in August 2015. "I am excited to bring my experience and track record of successfully growing global sales of IT solutions to the PCM family," Hutchinson said in a statement. "We have already built an incredible management team to lead the operation, and I'm confident we will be able to expand the successes of PCM to the U.K. and across Europe." PCM could have also gotten into the U.K. by making an acquisition of significant size and cost, Khulusi said, but opted not to do so. "We can get much better results with an exponentially lower price tag doing it organically, with perhaps some tuck-in acquisitions over time," Khulusi said. The bulk of PCM's European expansion efforts will focus on the U.K., Khulusi said, since the regulatory environment, ease of transactions and level of the market is most similar to North America. But the company nonetheless has plans to drive sales outside of the U.K. into the rest of Europe, Khulusi said. PCM said it spent a great deal of time during the first quarter setting up its European operation, Khulusi said, hiring a managing director and various other leadership roles to ensure the success of its international expansion. The company said it expects to spend $4 million launching its U.K. business in 2017, and expects the operation to be profitable by 2018. The company said it is hiring for U.K.-based positions in sales, vendor management, purchasing, marketing, IT, finance and a variety of other business roles. PCM will face competition in Europe from direct market reseller powerhouses CDW and Insight Enterprises, as well as locally-based competition, Khulusi said. PCM saw sales in the quarter ended March 31 climb to $524.4 million, up 5 percent from $498 million during the year-ago quarter. Analysts expected PCM to report revenue of just $520.3 million, so the company enjoyed an upside surprise. The company reported net income of $4 million, or 30 cents per diluted share, crushing net income of just $156,000, or 1 cent per diluted share, last year. On a non-GAAP basis, net income jumped to $3.6 million, or 26 cents per diluted share, up 46 percent from $2.4 million, or 20 cents per diluted share, the year prior. That, too, handily beat analysts expectations of 14 cents per share. PCM's stock plummeted $4.65 (15.42%) to $25.50 in after-hours trading Thursday. Even with the latest decline, PCM's stock price is up more than two-and-a-half fold since the start of 2016. PCM saw sales in its commercial segment climb to $408.5 million, up 6 percent from $384.4 million last year due to investments in the company's advanced solutions business for both enterprise organizations as well as small and medium-sized businesses. Public sector sales tumbled to $67.3 million, down 7 percent from $72.5 million the year prior due to a reduction in spending from a large customer in PCM's state, local government and education business. And Canada sales leapfrogged to $48.7 million, up 18 percent from $41.2 million last year due to the December 2016 acquisition of Microsoft Gold partner Stratiform and higher product and services sales. PCM's strongest product categories included networking where sales grew by 18 percent and notebooks and tablets, where sales climbed by 10 percent. The company's top vendors are Microsoft, HP Inc., Apple, Dell, Cisco Systems, Lenovo and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which collectively represented 60 percent of PCM's gross billed revenue in the quarter, said CFO Brandon LaVerne. For the coming quarter, PCM expects adjusting earnings of between 44 and 49 cents per share on revenue of between $580 million to $600 million. Analysts from Thomson Reuters were projecting earnings of 53 cents per share on revenue of $604.8 million. Cloud News Fortinet Top Execs Say North American Sales Growth In Q1 "Validates" Sales Structure Revamp Sarah Kuranda Share this A little more than a year after Fortinet revamped its sales structure in the region, company top executives said the security vendor's growth in North America in Q1 validates the company's reorganization after many months that were slow to show progress. Fortinet announced in January 2016 that it was reorganizing its U.S. enterprise sales team, redistributing it into two groups focusing on either global strategic accounts or regional territories. The changes were slow to show results as the changes took hold, creating some "execution challenges" and causing the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based vendor to lower its sales and earnings expectations last fall. However, Fortinet started to see gains last quarter from the changes, and now in its first quarter earnings call Thursday, CEO Ken Xie said the company's growth in North America "validates the sales structure revamp" and the company's continued focus on productivity and efficiency. Billings growth in the U.S. was about 31 percent, CFO Andrew Del Matto said. [Related: Fortinet CFO Says Sales Reorg Is Working: Stock Soars After Strong Q4 Earnings And Forecast] Xie said that is a different approach from the company's competition, which has "aggressively [gone] to market in sales and this has failed to sustain over the long term," he said, alluding to Palo Alto Networks' recent sales misstep in its recent quarterly earnings. He said the security industry is looking for companies to have a "more efficient and healthy model to sustain for the long term." "We are very pleased with the first quarter results and progress Fortinet is making," Xie said on the earnings call. "The Fortinet Security Fabric is winning in the marketplace and we are gaining market share against our competition. We believe over the long term the operating model will bring the best value to our shareholders." Fortinet sales overall for the quarter, which ended March 31, were up, rising 20 percent year over year to $340.6 million. Billings were up 22 percent year over year to $403.3 million. Earnings for the first quarter were $10.7 million, up from $2.1 million in 2016. Fortinet executives said the company continues to push to improve its margins, looking to hit 25 percent margins by 2022 and remain between 25 and 30 percent margins after that. To get there, CFO Del Matto said on the call that the company has "carefully considered our investment strategy" and is making critical investments in sales and marketing. The company is also maintaining a flat organization, has made productivity improvements, is scaling out administrative functions, is training for higher productivity, and is hiring very carefully. He said Fortinet is also focused on topline growth, focusing particularly on driving higher-price recurring revenue streams. "We are seeing the benefits of our focused efforts and strategy," Del Matto said. "We're very focused and committed to driving the higher margins. We're trying to ramp there in a productive way. We feel like we have done a very good job building the model we want in terms of our go-to-market strategy adjustments we have made and now we're very focused on the higher margin recurring revenue streams that are coming in," he said. Del Matto said Fortinet is also being careful to make sure the improvements to drive better margins and improve productivity don't disrupt the company overall. CEO Xie said Fortinet is also focused on driving its Security Fabric vision, which pushes a platform security strategy and integrates the company's broad set of security solutions. Xie said Fortinet is seeing strong traction with customers for the Security Fabric, saying customers are looking to consolidate the number of vendors they work with. Del Matto said this was evidenced in the numbers by growth in large multi-product deals and sales of non-FortiGate products to enterprises. "I think the consolidation theme remains profound out there," Del Matto said. "The Fabric is clearly resonating in the larger deals we do. It's a common theme. I think thats very consistent in what we saw in Q4 and what we see moving forward." Fortinet said it expects second quarter billings between $425 million and $432 million and sales between $357 million and $363 million. The company said it expects quarterly earnings per share between $0.19 and $0.20. Fortinet also updated its guidance for the full year to reflect the current quarter performance, now expecting billings between $1.77 billion and $1.792 billion and sales between $1.485 billion and $1.495 billion. The company now expects earnings per share between $0.89 and $0.91. Has The Restructuring Paid Off? About a year ago, during Intel's first quarter earnings call in 2016, CEO Brian Krzanich announced the company would cut 12,000 jobs as part of an initiative to "intensify focus in high-growth areas where it is positioned for long term growth." The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company said that it would move its focus beyond its traditional PC market into new areas, like the Internet of Things and cloud services. Today, Intel is announcing its first quarter earnings in 2017 and partners are wondering if the company is on track to capitalize on these changes. As the company reports earnings, Intel is expected to post earnings of 65 cents a share, about 20 percent higher than the same quarter a year ago, according to analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. Following are five of the biggest questions Intel partners have as Intel reports its first quarter earnings tonight. The Meeting And The Message Lenovo's Accelerate partner conference rolled into Orlando, Fla., this week bigger than it's ever been. This year's show attracted 1,280 partners, a record, and Lenovo had so many sponsors interested in the show that it had to turn some of them away. Despite the party atmosphere and enthusiasm among Lenovo executives and partners, the main message of the show was deadly serious: The turmoil of recent years is over. The company's North America leadership team has finally reached stability. It is keenly focused on growth in PCs, the data center and mobility and it has arranged its channel program to drive rapid, substantial growth across those businesses. North America President Emilio Ghilardi provided a good demonstration of the juxtaposition of serious messaging and fun-loving shenanigans when he implored partners to "stay with us" to spur growth and minutes later led the crowd through a few rounds of the wave. Here are 10 scenes from the event. FARGO When most of us imagine a police car, we might think of a Hollywood car chase, or a worrisome situation down the street, or the anxiety of seeing one in our rearview mirror. But its much simpler for police. For an officer, its their office. Yes, its an office that carries stop strips and something called a hooligan tool. Its an office with a siren that sometimes has to go exceptionally fast or contain a particular individual in the back seat. But its also just as likely to be the place where an officer eats lunch. Fargo Deputy Chief Joseph Anderson estimates that an officer spends roughly 75 percent to 80 percent of their shift in their cars. That could be 6-8 hours a day. After all that time spent in their cars, officers get a bit attached to them, says patrol Sgt. Clint Stephenson of the Moorhead (Minn.) Police Department, but not in a sentimental way. Its more of a practical thing. Its hard to jump into someone elses car, he says, because another officer might not have it set up quite the same way. Specializations In addition to the long hours and lunches, police cars also bear the hallmarks of the specific needs of police. There are the lights and sirens, of course, as well as a radar gun (which faces both to the front and to the rear) and an onboard computer for running license plates or filling out reports, Stephenson says. There are cameras that record all the activity in the car and a beefed-up alternator and battery to help power it all. The more extreme aspects of police activity become more apparent as you move back in the vehicle. Stephensons car has thick plexiglass separating the front seat from the back to protect officers from potentially violent arrestees in the back seat, as well as bars on the back windows to prevent them from getting broken. The back doors cant be opened from the inside. The contents of trunk, too, tell you this isnt your everyday office. Stephenson carries a medical kit, a battering ram, a bolt cutter and that hooligan tool, which can be used to pry or break through many types of barriers, including car doors and windows. In addition, Stephenson carries a ballistic vest and helmet as well as an active shooter kit, which includes a long gun and extra ammunition. A conversation starter Police cars need to be visible, an aspect of police work that Stephenson has gotten used to in his 20 years as an officer. When he rolls into a neighborhood, he isnt bothered that he is likely to become the center of attention. In fact, he welcomes it. We might come into a neighborhood, and the kids like to come over and well turn on the lights for them, he says. The adults end up coming over, too, and will ask questions. Then, he says, they might share a concern about something happening in their neighborhood. Thats part of being a police officer, he says. The cars attract attention, and thats an easy way to start a conversation. The latest 'version' of cyber resilience includes "testing", according to a new report published by Cybersecurity Ventures. (Disclaimer: Steve Morgan is the CEO and founder of Cybersecurity Ventures.) At a recent cyber resilience 'Think Tank' held in San Francisco during RSA Conference 2017, the heads of IT security, CISOs, cybersecurity industry experts, and vendor executives gathered to come up with a new definition of an old term. The report states that cyber resilience is an organizations capacity to adapt to adverse cyber eventswhether the events are external or internal, malicious or unintentionalin ways that maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of whatever data and service are important to the organization. The definition combines five key elements: 1. The psychological definition of resilience, or the notion of bouncing back from adverse events. 2. The CIA triad confidentiality, integrity, and availability prized by cybersecurity experts, is a model designed to guide policies for information security within an organization. 3. The recognition that adverse cyber events sudden events threatening the organizations computing resources dont always come from the outside and arent necessarily malevolent. 4. The idea that confidentiality, integrity, and availability mean different things to different organizations and may include services that are not digital. 5. The embodiment of preparedness. Not only do organizations need to plan and be prepared, they need to thoroughly test their plans. Cyber Resilience 2.0: Testing The fifth element, the embodiment of preparedness - including thorough testing - was the dominant theme at the Think Tank. When I asked the Think Tank participants 'How many have incident response plans', most, if not every hand in the room, went up, says Ari Schwartz, the Think Tank Moderator, former director of cybersecurity for the White House, and currently the managing director of cybersecurity services for Venable. When I followed up by asking them 'How many of you test your plan regularly and update it accordingly?' the majority of hands went down", adds Schwartz. "This is consistent with anecdotal evidence that I have seen in the field that many companies draft a plan and do not exercise it and, many of those who do regular exercises, do not update their incident response plan based on what they learn. The Think Tank participants, even those that have not updated their plans recently, agreed that planning is essential to improve resilience. It is important to regularly exercise the plans and update them based on lessons learned from that exercise. The worlds most famous hacker shares the potentially catastrophic consequences of not planning and testing, and of not involving all of an organizations employees in their so-called cyber resilience strategy. Can your business be hacked by a 14-year-old with a lot of time? asks Kevin Mitnick, chief hacking officer at KnowBe4, a leading security awareness training provider. One sure way to find out is to actually test your security controls, but not limiting the test to only your technology. In my experience, people have always been the weak link when it comes to security. A simple spear phishing attack can compromise your assets, or worse, lead to watching your companys security incident on the headline news. Its a no-brainer to build a resilient security program, your people need up-to-date security training and most importantly, to be inoculated by experiencing the types of tricks the bad guys use first hand. Thats why its important to test your employees by hacking them. The quest for cyber resilience is aptly summed up by a CISO at one of the worlds largest banking and financial services corporations, echoing the Think Tanks sentiment. Cybersecurity touches every facet of an organization today; consequently, cyber resilience can no longer be something that is done as a secondary feature of an organizations strategy, says Rich Baich, CISO at Wells Fargo. With customer expectations of constant online access only rising, resiliency considerations are transforming the traditional cybersecurity defensive mindset into one focused on business enablement as it becomes part of an organizations DNA. Baich has held several executive security positions within the public and private sectors, including Deloitte and Touche, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, ChoicePoint, and the FBI, and previously served in the United States Navy for 20 years as an information warfare officer, cryptology officer, and surface warfare officer. On May 22, Randall (Randy) J. Arvay, will become the University of Utahs new chief information security officer (CISO). Arvay is currently CISO at Mississippi Medical Center. Arvay is a certified information systems security professional, project management professional and has top-secret Department of Defense clearance. Earlier, Arvay was chief of the cybersecurity and quality assurance in the Joint Spectrum Center for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), where he was accountable for all cyber operations in all technical and non-technical aspects of cyberspace and overall information assurance, risk management and regulatory compliance. Dr. Arvay comes to the university with a wealth of IT experience in cybersecurity and many accomplishments in computing, said Stephen Hess, chief information officer for the University of Utah, in a press release. He understands the issues, policy, technology and risks and has the ability to explain them in simple terms. He will be a good addition to lead our already excellent information security team and will reach out to the campus community to raise our level of IT security. During his career, Arvay has been a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, with an exemplary educational background in computer science, information systems and software engineering. He also has served as an assistant professor at the United States Naval Academy and as an adjunct instructor with the University of Miami. With his unique professional background, which includes information security leadership for a medical center, in addition to technical and faculty experience, were extremely pleased that Dr. Arvay will assume the role of CISO for University Health and the main campus, said James Turnbull, chief information officer, University Health, in a press release. Im excited for the opportunity to join the UIT leadership team and work with the well-established group of professionals on the security staff as we refine the enterprise security strategy and continue to support operational security for the University of Utah and University Health, Arvay said in a press release. What do you think of this move? Head to Facebook to let us know. DERBY While his lawyer and college-aged daughter spoke against his pending deportation at a press conference in Hartford, Guatemalan immigrant Luis Barrios was doing a dirty job. Hes literally cleaning the septic tanks of Fairfield county, attorney Erin ONeil-Baker said of her client, who has lived in the U.S. without legal permission since 1992, according to court documents. Barrios, of Derby, supports his Guatemalan wife and four American children working for a sewage removal service. Decades of hard work, his family says, have allowed him to buy a home and send his daughter to college. But Barrios may have to wake up from his American Dream. He has been ordered to be deported to Guatemala next week, a country where he fears being murdered by enemies of his wifes family, according to ONeil-Baker. She has appealed his rejected request for asylum from 2013, but he could be deported before a new hearing. In tandem, officials and activists are lobbying regional immigration authorities to stop his deportation, at least temporarily. I am deeply concerned about this situation, as Mr. Barrios and his family are my constituents and his children are United States citizens, said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, in a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. In her letter, DeLauro cited Derby constituent contacting her, all of whom attest to his moral character, his work ethic, his integrity ... (a) worthy role model for his children and the community. My dad is the one who pays for my college education, said daughter Jessica Barrios, 19, a criminal justice major at Bridgeport University, in a sworn affidavit to the Immigration Review Board of Appeals. If he is deported I would have to stop going to college and (support) my mother. Department of Homeland Security officials, who oversee ICE, acknowledged receiving DeLauros letter, but did not respond to it publicly. Luis Barrios, an unlawfully present citizen of Guatemala, was ordered removed by an immigration judge in 1998 a ruling that was uniformly upheld after multiple reviews before the immigration courts, ICE spokesman Khaalid Walls said Friday in a statement. Meanwhile, Friday afternoon, Barrios toiled emptying septic systems in New Canaan and Norwalk. He could have been behind bars in an immigration jail. In an exercise of discretion, ICE has allowed Mr. Barrios to remain free from custody while finalizing his departure plans, Walls said. The agency will continue to closely monitor his case to ensure his timely departure in compliance with the 1998 final order of removal. According to his attorney, since Barrios was pulled over for a broken taillight in 2011, he has met regularly with ICE agents check-ins, meetings that allow officials to keep tabs on low-priority offenders, according to his attorney. In February, he was denied the type of stay of his deportation hed received continually for six years. That action followed a decision by President Donald Trump reclassifying all immigrants who have committed crimes including crossing the border without permission as priorities for deportation, The Associated Press reported. Barrios has no criminal convictions, according to his attorney. According to his own affidavit, Barrios came to the U.S. in 1992 after his father warned him of a death threat. His father was murdered shortly after, and his brother was killed in 2004, the affidavit stated. Barrios wife has had numerous family members murdered in Guatemala, including as recently as 2016, because of a perceived propensity to report crime, according to his lawyer. Luis, and so many other immigrants like him, came to our country fleeing violence and persecution in hopes of living in a free and safe society, DaLauro said, in an email to Hearst Connecituct Media. How can we turn our backs on him and send him back to Guatemala when members of his family have been kidnapped and murdered? This is unconscionable. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HARTFORD There are so many budgets floating around the Capitol that it seems like theres something for everyone. But with sharply declining tax revenues adding up to $450 million to the projected $1.7 billion deficit for the first year of the upcoming biennium there will be little money for anybody. Stick these bleak fiscal prospects into the caldron of partisan politics in the divided state Capitol, and theres a recipe for legislative failure while lawmakers and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy scramble to agree on a two-year, $40 billion spending plan before July 1. Malloy has asked Republican and Democratic leaders to meet with him early next week. That request follows the collapse of a $41.03 billion spending package in the Appropriations Committee, a bare-bones revenue bill raising no taxes from the Finance Committee, and detailed GOP proposals totaling $40.3 billion. The Republican plan would increase education funding, but end the states nationally recognized public election-funding program for statewide and General Assembly races. The governors own $40.6 billion plan, which called for cities and towns to pick up $400 million in teacher-retirement costs, and includes $700 million in union concessions, will be outdated when April taxes are added up. He plans to present a revised budget proposal. I think there is a recognition that this is not about raising taxes, Malloy told reporters on Friday afternoon. Its about finding a way to live within the means that we have. Clearly the Appropriations Committee is not in agreement with the Finance Committee and we have a long ways to go. Malloy expects it to be a tough slog. I certainly want to say that I appreciate that they are finding it very difficult, he said of state lawmakers. Over the last two years, income taxes fell $850 million below budgeted projections. We are one of the most-dependent states on the highest income-earners, Malloy said. I understand its difficult for people to broaden the tax base. They find it politically difficult, but we have a very narrow, self-made tax base. In the financial services, in particular in the hedge fund industry even more particularly theres been a lot of change. The Connecticut Conference of Muncipalities, which is trying to retain aid to cities and towns while reducing costly mandates, called for both sides to join together and take the best proposals, along with the CCMs own plans. The CCM praised Democrats and Republicans for allowing towns and cities to diversify their revenue, preserving local aid and rejecting Malloys plan to force local teacher-pension payments. The municipal organization approves Malloys plan to focus on helping cities such as Bridgeport. The group also believes more towns and cities have to consider collaborating on some services. A three-way collaborative for a state budget agreement is the best avenue for bringing about a balanced state budget and a budget that also reduces over-reliance on the states largest, most regressive tax - the property tax, the CCM said in a news release Thursday. Brian Flaherty, senior vice president for public policy at the Connecticut Business & Industry Council, said Friday that to create more revenue, the state needs more job opportunities. We need to grow and we need a budget for (business) to grow on, said Flaherty, a former Republican member of the House. Flaherty said that even though there are various plans now out for public consumption, drastically falling tax revenue is making them all irrelevant. The CBIA, he said, wants to hold the line on taxes, and not raise the costs of creating jobs. He said big savings can result as the state closes more prisons and transfers some state services to community non-profit providers. With the budget failing at this point, now is the time to find innovative ideas that were overlooked in the past, Flaherty said. kdixon@ctpost.com; Twitter: @KenDixonCT This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD As the city prepares to seek new bids on the next phase of the Strawberry Hill school build-out, officials are moving ahead with a change expected to generate more interest in the project. A Board of Representatives committee approved advancing a change that would no longer require contractors who bid on city jobs to self-perform 30 percent of the work. The mayors office blames this rule for the lack of bidders in the biggest construction phase at Strawberry Hill. The project received two bids, both well over the citys estimate. Over the course of decades weve seen changes in the construction industry and one of those changes was highlighted in the recent bid we received, said Michael Pollard, the mayors chief of staff. Thirty years ago, those contractors self-contained many of the sub-contractor trades. Today, while they do a substantial amount of contract work on site, they primarily outsource. The Legislative and Rules Committee voted unanimously this week to nix the requirement, sending the ordinance amendment to an upcoming public hearing. Mayor David Martins office had proposed relaxing the rule by obligating contractors to self-perform 20 percent of the first $1 million of work and 5 percent of the remainder. But Pollard told the committee that Martin also supported eliminating it entirely. Many cities dont have a self-performance requirement, he said. Wed prefer to do it on a case by case basis like other surrounding towns do, Pollard said. The policy was originally created to assure that contractors who bid on municipal projects had boots on the ground and were compelled to use local workers, he said. But construction companies no longer employ the staff to install masonry, dry wall and concrete themselves, experts say. Most contractors, with few exceptions, are acting as managers right now. The construction industry has radically changed, Lewis Finkel, president of Professional Construction Services, told the committee. My own company went from 112 employees to 12, said City Rep. Harry Day, a rules committee member. (The city) pays so much more for our projects than the private sector does, and this is barrier no. 1. The 30-percent rule may have benefited the city on small jobs, but it was seen as an obstacle for large ones, like the Strawberry Hill school. The third phase of the project, estimated at $50 million, entails a new wing with classrooms, a gym and cafeteria. The bids for the work came in closer to $70 million, sending officials back to the drawing board. Strawberry Hill opened last year to kindergarten and first grade at the historic school building on the corner of Strawberry Hill Avenue and Fifth Street, with plans to expand up to eighth grade as construction advances. Once the city had received the bids for Strawberry Hill, a trade group, the Associated Builders and Contractors of Connecticut, blamed the union-only project labor agreement for high bids. City officials said this issue is separate from the 30-percent requirement. While it limits competition, the 30-percent rule helps assure that qualified companies are bidding on jobs, Director of Administration Michael Handler said. If you swing the pendulum and have no requirement, then were going to have to do some pretty good due diligence to make sure they have the assets and they can achieve, he said. eskalka@stamfordadvocate.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SEYMOUR-There was a public hearing April 27 but no residents showed to speak out against the towns proposed $56 million budget which calls for no mill rate increase. As a result, it quickly got sent by the Board of Finance to the Board of Selectmen who within minutes unanimously approved sending it to a town vote May 11. To speak at the public hearing a person had to be a town resident with at least $1,000 in property values. But First Selectman Kurt Miller said the absence of speakers didnt concern him. He said there havent been any in years. Were putting together a Charter Revision Commission where one of the proposed changes would be once the Board of Finance approves the budget it goes directly to the people for vote, he said. That would mean bypassing a final public hearing and final approval by the Board of Selectman before sending it to a vote. Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Seymour Community Center, 20 Pine Street on May 11. Registered residents will be asked to vote yes or no on two ballot questions. The first is Shall the town general government budget, as recommended by the Board of Finance, of $23,269,300 for the fiscal year 2017-18 be adopted? Line two will read: Shall the Board of Education budget, as recommended by the Board of Finance, of $32,974,308 for the Town of Seymour for the fiscal year 2017-18 be adopted? Only a simple majority is required to pass either question. The budget projects town revenues of $56,243,608 and two expenditures of the same most of which is the Board of Education budget. The revenue section includes a $42,326,298 in property tax collections as well as the questionable estimated $10,128,492 in state education funding and tuition and another $1,245,501 in other state funding. At this point there is no state budget and there may not be one for months. I was up in Hartford on Tuesday, Miller told Hearst Connecticut media, and neither the Democrats or Republicans have the appetite to place the full burden of teacher retirement funding on the towns or cities. But Miller also got the impression that the state budget wont be finalized anytime soon. Were okay, Miller said. Weve got $5.5 million in our fund balance that will help carry us through until the state finally decides what they will do. But that couldnt carry us an entire year. He said the town has worked hard to build up the fund balance. If we get into the fall without a budget that will create challenges for many municipalities, he said. BRIDGEPORT In just over a week by May 9 the City Council must submit a new municipal budget to Mayor Joe Ganim. He presented the council with a $542 million, no tax-increase plan in early April. Council members 20 of them, all Democrats like the mayor do not want to increase taxes. This is an election year for them, and last years city budget already hiked the tax, or mill rate, from 42 mills to 54 mills. Ganim, too, will be loathe to again hike taxes. He just announced he is exploring a run for governor. At the same time, education officials and their allies claim they need $11 million more total from the state and city to operate Ganim flat-funded the schools last year and, critics say, his budget reduces education cash by $2.7 million. So that was the backdrop when the councils eyes and ears at the state Capitol mayoral adviser Av Harris and lobbyist Kevin Reynolds huddled with the budget committee Thursday for an update on what Bridgeport can expect in terms of state cash. We have no idea right now what the state budgets going to look like, Harris said. Its possible we will be going through summer into the fall and not have a state budget yet. Its a mess. Its like a horror movie, added Reynolds about Connecticuts ever-growing deficit. What the council can count on, Harris said, is that outgoing Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloys proposed budget the one Ganim used as the basis to craft the citys is not going to survive as proposed. That potentially leaves an $18 million hole in the mayors plan. What is your gut telling you guys? Council President Thomas McCarthy asked. Tom, its tough to see too good of a turnout right now with those numbers, Reynolds said. He and Harris did offer a little positive news. A bill allowing Bridgeport to trim the interest on municipal pension payments owed the states plan has bipartisan support. The legislation will save the city around $2.8 million annually. And Reynolds reported a compromise may be in the works on Malloys controversial proposal to tax hospitals. Bridgeport is home to two big ones Bridgeport Hospital and St. Vincents Medical Center. They would not make it a tax, said Reynolds. A fee assessment or something else worth possibly $10 million for Bridgeport. Harris and Reynolds also told the budget committee that Connecticuts largest city and one of its bluest, politically could have an unlikely ally: Senate Republican President Len Fasano, R-North Haven. Republicans have made gains in legislative elections to the point where the Democrat-controlled General Assembly is tied in the Senate and the GOP is down by a handful of votes in the House. And while that could be seen as a strike against the big blue cities, Harris said Fasano really believes in having Bridgeport succeed. ... Amid all the rhetoric, weve got friends. Reynolds agreed Fasano is a very reasonable guy and perhaps should be invited down to meet with the Bridgeport Council. Hes got the invitation, McCarthy said. The close votes in the Senate and House also mean, Harris said, No budget will pass without urban votes. We have just as much power as anyone else and, unfortunately, we have to be willing to use it. In other business, the budget committee, for the second year in a row, hired an outside numbers cruncher to help them grapple with Ganims budget in these final days. Andrew Campbell is a Branford-based attorney and a self-described retired municipal Democratic politician. He will earn $5,400. Campbell said he has done municipal budget consulting in the past, but Bridgeports is the biggest he has tackled. Im a little concerned, Councilwoman Milta Feliciano said. But Campbell assured her he was up to the task. Councilman John Olson said the budget committee should have a full time independent budget expert, rather than always relying on the mayors experienced staff. Youre seven amateurs, Olson said. None of you have financial training. Much has changed since 2008 when Ankur Jain founded the Kairos Society, a diverse community of power players brought together to connect young entrepreneurs with expertise and opportunity. Back then, the Great Recession was in full swing and Jain was just 22 and a student at the University of Pennsylvania. In the near decade since, global interest in entrepreneurship has exploded. Meanwhile, the Kairos Society has expanded to 55 countries and helped launch more than 100 companies working toward big solutions such as clean water and mobile healthcare. Its top companies have raised up to $600 million in capital reaching a combined $2.5 billion valuation. Jain has been busy too, graduating from Whartons business school and founding Humin, a technology company acquired last year by Tinder. Hes currently Tinders vice president of product. Jain says those experiences have given him a full and nuanced understanding of entrepreneurships role in problem-solving -- and refine how he thinks about it. Kairos is always bridging that gap between these governments, CEOs and these young entrepreneurs," he says. "But its not just about solving impact problems. Its about identifying where are these fundamental market failures and can we innovate there, since thats where youll really make an impact. Related: Tinder Aims to Make Matching More 'Humin' With New Acquisition Kairos held its first major summit since 2013 last week in a three-day gathering that kicked off with helicopter rides from Manhattan to the Rockefeller Estate. The kickoff drew a diverse group ranging from Casey Neistat to former CIA director Mike Hayden to Amazons chief technology officer Werner Vogels. At the invite-only summit, 250 young entrepreneurs from across the globe networked with big names. In a flip on the Shark Tank script, these innovators got pitched big problems to solve by CEOs and former world leaders such as Vincente Fox, the former president of Mexico, and George Papandreau, the former prime minister of Greece. We caught up with Jain to talk about whats changed since he founded the society and how thats shaped how he thinks about opportunity for entrepreneurs. This interview has been edited and condensed. How is opportunity evolving? Theres been this massive shift where capital is going. Its become very bifurcated. For so many years, the business was "displace the Silicon Valley leader. So Alta Vista would go after Lycos and Yahoo would go after AltaVista and Google would go after Yahoo. For the first time, Silicon Valley is now a mature market, so youve got these massive incumbents: Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Facebook. Youre not just going to displace them in a year because youve got a scrappy startup. And so whats happening is that the ability for venture money to fund those kinds of businesses has changed, so youre seeing all these feature companies get started just with the goal of getting acquired. That doesnt really drive the world forward. You cant just build another Google because competing against an incumbent with so much technology prowess is just not fair. So you look at these old industries that are failing to innovate. Theres massively more capital than even the Valley, very little innovation and massive customer pain points. The more we can try and solve those kinds of issues, theres a double win. You drive massive impact and you have the biggest chance to actually displace incumbents the way Silicon Valley has historically done. How has the summit evolved? Weve doubled down on the thesis on where real impact can be made. Its not just about young entrepreneurs building cool tech or solving problems. Its getting the right leaders to help us identify market failure. And thats a big part of the summit. Because you can say youre going after healthcare, but if you dont know where to focus, it wont do you much good. Bringing in the right young talent from around the world who can tackle that market failure with a fresh perspective and say, "What if we built this technology solution?" and then bringing it to market both with our capital and these partners to scale these businesses. Do you feel theres been a larger shift in how entrepreneurs are approaching problem-solving in general? Like an acknowledgement that disruption had its moment, but that we can break as well as build? We dont ask entrepreneurs, "What are you disrupting?" We ask, "What is the market failure that you're rethinking? How are you rethinking it so that now you can go to a consumer? Related: How Dollar Shave Club's Founder Built a $1 Billion Company That Changed the Industry Whats an example of a company rethinking a market failure? Well, this even applies to things like Dollar Shave Club. The market failure was that it was a duopoly. Youd go in to buy the whole razor with the handle and it was like $8. To get new cartridges it was $20. And so it was a clear market failure. Instead of kind of creating revolutionary technology, [Dollar Shave Club] said, "Let's just rethink this model and in a consumer-friendly way with a new perspective." Disease prevention is another example. Currently, a majority of our health care costs go into disease management and there's been very little in the prevention space and the stuff that is out there is not sticky. There's very little adoption from a behavioral standpoint. So a new company PlateJoy focuses on that market failure. It learns about your body and your genetics and creates weekly meal plans with a grocery list. If you eat this way, the research is there, the nutrition will help you prevent certain chronic diseases. PlateJoy says personalized nutrition is the key to chronic disease prevention and insurance companies should pay for that. So it's rethinking the insurer/patient model. How should networks evolve to help people think differently about how to get things done and find opportunity? The key to a lot of what Kairos has done is recognize that the real big opportunity to drive impact is done by working across sectors. And so you have the Silicon Valley world and all that one thinks about is Silicon Valley. You have the Hollywood bubble and all anyone thinks about is that world. Surprisingly, even though we're so connected through the media and social networks today, there's very little overlap from a professional standpoint. When you're trying to think outside the box of your industry, the fundamental problem is that you already know what the box is. So you're only incrementally able to think ahead. When you work across sectors, you're able to think about problems with a different box. And so when the financial sector looks at a science and engineering problem, a Silicon Valley person might look at that same market failure as a product experience problem. How else are partnerships critical to really finding solutions for the long term? I think a lot of people have this assumption that industries and governments aren't innovative because they're just stupid. And therefore its simple and you can just come in and redo it all and "disrupt." And thats obviously not quite right. There are a lot of institutional barriers that drive these market failures. Legacy companies have these insights. These guys know better than anyone in the world where the market failures are. They're just not sure what the solutions look like. And so creating that partnership instead of almost dismissiveness from entrepreneurs I think also been critical. Theres big opportunity in traditional sectors. Whats something that people need to keep in mind? In traditional sectors it's very hard to identify the simple problem because where do you even begin with airlines? With news media? With retirement? Where is the problem? Is it education? Is it just basic product experience? And I think if you look at the people who have succeeded in these traditional industries like Uber they didn't start by trying to change the entire transportation network. They just said the market where you can rent cars for hours on end or a four-hour minimum didnt make sense. So they said, "Book on demand like a taxi. They made that first thing accessible. And then they solved the next market failure and the next market failure. So, smaller hills, not larger mountains. Exactly. But knowing what those are is very difficult. Related: For Real Impact, Entrepreneurs Must Do More Than Solve Big Problems OLN Founder And CEO Rudolf Jabre On Building A Successful Digital Business Doha Festival City CEO Kareem Shamma On What The New Mall Will Bring To Qatar Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved WESTPORT For the past couple years, Westport police have been revamping their governing policies and procedures to make them as current and accessible as possible. They became all-electronic for the ease of officers and the community, creating searchable guidelines. They worked to ensure the departments policies are current with state law, federal law, best practices and how officers already do their jobs. Now, they are finishing the process and aiming to garner accreditation from the state, according to Deputy Chief Vincent Penna. Its a completely voluntary thing that were doing, Penna said. Were doing it in order to be more transparent and have other people view how we do things that are in the same professional realm that we are. The states accreditation process causes a department to ensure it follows best practices and self-assess during the initial and future checks, said William Tanner, Connecticut Police Academys accreditation manager and field program consultant. Most insurance carriers will take into account accreditation when setting a departments premiums, he said, so taxpayers might see some cost savings. In Connecticut, 37 police departments are accredited with the Police Officers Standards and Training Council, whose standards run close to international accreditation requirements. Tanner said while problems could still arise, systemic problems with a police department should be less common when they have procedures meeting the state or international bar. Most times, the agencies that are in the news are not on those lists, he said. Systemically, it should solve a lot of problems. For the first level of accreditation, which focuses on the highest liability incidences, a team of council assessors will visit the department May 10 to examine the rewritten policies and procedures. High-liability elements include prisoner transport, pursuits, traffic accidents, arrest procedures, use of force and other parts of policing that more commonly lead to trouble or lawsuits for agencies, Tanner said. Accredited departments are reviewed every four years to keep them current, at the risk of losing their status. After the first accreditation level, Westport police will likely aim to garner two more and be fully accredited within one to two years. The primary expense for the process outside of staff time was contracting Daigle Law Group to assist in the legal aspect of the policy rewrite and ensure compliance with state and U.S. laws, according to Penna. The expense was at no cost to the town, paid for by its Assets Forfeiture Fund, consisting of money made from criminal arrests. Police department employees and community members can submit feedback as part of the accreditation process. Penna encouraged community members and employees to provide any feedback good or bad. The councils decision on whether or not Westport is awarded its initial accreditation will likely come in September. Submit feedback to Tanner at 203-427-2602 or 285 Preston Ave., Meriden CT 06450 . Feedback can also be directed to accreditation. compliance@ct.gov. lweiss@hearstmediact.com; @LauraEWeiss16 Tito's Tacos Mexican Restaurant is the proud recipient of the 2017 Restaurant Neighbor Award recently presented to them by the California Restaurant Association Foundation (CRAF) for their exceptional charitable giving efforts and their unwavering commitment to giving back to the community in good times and bad. Tito's Tacos has been serving their award-winning Mexican Food cuisine prepared fresh daily in Culver City since 1959. "We work with the best restaurant and hospitality companies in the world," CRAF Executive Director Alycia Harshfield said, "And, this Award recognizes and honors the generosity and diversity of our industry. Each award winner enriches their community in meaningful ways and we are proud to honor them."In just the past year alone Tito's Tacos has contributed in a variety of ways to a large number of local community groups and non-profit organizations which include some of the following entities: The Arthritis Foundation, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Culver City Centennial Celebration, Culver City Homeless Count, Culver City Public & Private Schools, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, Fiesta La Ballona, Culver City & Los Angeles (Pacific Division) Police Officer Associations, Saint Augustine Catholic Church, Toys for Tots and the Veterans Administration for Greater Los Angeles, etc. "Tito's Tacos is sincerely honored to have been recognized by the California Restaurant Association Foundation for our ongoing efforts to help make our beloved community an even better place for our customers and employees to raise their growing families," remarked Tito's Tacos Owner Lynne Davidson, "And, what really makes this accolade even more special is the fact that Tito's Tacos was nominated for this Award by a longtime Culver City resident, Ms. Andi Philips, who also happens to be an acclaimed ProStart Culinary & Hospitality Management Instructor with the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies"The California Restaurant Association Foundation (CRAF) sponsored ProStart Program is a two-year program for highly motivated high school juniors and seniors which helps them prepare for future careers in the ever-changing and rewarding Restaurant industry. In California, the ProStart Program is operated by the CRAF in 127 public high schools, reaching over 9,000 students from Redding to San Diego, with local restauranteurs such as Tito's Tacos donating precious time and resources to help the students succeed in whatever role they are best suited for in the exciting food service industry. 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. What of Prince Charless prediction, made in Brazil in March 2009, that there were only 100 months left to prevent irretrievable climate collapse? What of Prince Charless prediction, made in Brazil in March 2009, that there were only 100 months left to prevent irretrievable climate collapse? Charles Moore reminds readers of The Spectator that the deadline runs out next month, adding: So it looks as if we are all doomed. 'The Prince is rightly concerned about the future of the yellow-footed rock wallaby and the golden-shouldered parrot, but is notably more reticent about exactly when the end is nigh. We can breathe again. Was Jeremy Corbyn too quick to take offence at Boris Johnsons description of him as a mugwump? Originally a Native American word for important person and kingpin, it flatters Jezza. Might he focus any whingeing on being called mutton-headed? During Jeremy Clarksons long stewardship of Top Gear, BBC management received frequent official complaints over use of the p-word at centre of a furore currently engulfing the broadcaster. On one occasion, co-presenter Richard Hammond wanted to apply the term to a car he was reviewing. Rather than incur further reprimands from his bosses, he simply placed a pie and a key on the bonnet. A small irony: On Newsnight Peter Mandelson, 63, sabotaged Sir Keir Starmers carefully constructed Labour policy on Brexit. Starmer is Mandys constituency MP in Holborn and St Pancras. As a peer, Mandy cant even vote for him. The least he could do is get Brazilian lover Reinaldo da Silva, 43, pictured, to put a Vote Keir sticker in the window of the 12.5million house they share in Regents Park. One of the pleasures of being a Knight of the Garter is the yearly lunch in June with the Queen at Windsor. But not this summer. The timing of the general election means that the Queen must now open Parliament on that day. No doubt the Knights, who include Sir John Major and Field Marshal Lord Bramall, will be disappointed. One of the pleasures of being a Knight of the Garter is the yearly lunch in June with the Queen at Windsor. But not this summer Less so, the Duke of Edinburgh. Reflecting on the annual procession of the Order of the Garter through the castle in velvet robes and ostrich-plumed caps the Duke observed: Rationally its lunatic. But in practice, everyone enjoys it I think. John Bercows determination to hold on to the speakership will be good news for his chaplain, Rose Hudson-Wilkin, 56. Rev Rose, who depends on the Speakers patronage, had a whirlwind rise to fame, becoming the first black female Chaplain to the Queen in 2008. In 2009 Bercow broke with convention and appointed the East End vicar. Until then, one of the clergy at Westminster Abbey undertook the duties. Hudson-Wilkin, who once staged a rooftop protest about her Haggerston churchs state of decay, has even had the ultimate honour: an appearance on Desert Island Discs. North Korea on Saturday launched a missile that blew up over land, a US official said. The missile failed to reach the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, the official added. A US military assessment found the main part of the missile landed approximately 35 kilometers from Pukchang airfield, the official said. The test-fired missile probably was a medium-range ballistic missile called a KN-17, the US official said. The KN-17 is a land-based solid-fuel missile fired from a mobile launcher. There has been no announcement on North Korean state television, CNN's Will Ripley in Pyongyang reported. It is the ninth attempted missile launch -- by CNN's count -- since Donald Trump became US President in January. The launch came hours after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson addressed a special meeting at the United Nations, calling for increased pressure on North Korea. "All options for responding to future provocations must remain on the table," Tillerson said. "Diplomatic and financial leverage or power will be backed up by willingness to counteract North Korean aggression with military action, if necessary." Uruguay UN Ambassador Elbio Rosselli condemned the apparent missile test. The ambassador, who sits on the UN Security Council, said, "That's very disgraceful." He said that it was "against international law and humanity." CNN's Richard Roth contributed to this report. The arrest of the terror suspect in Whitehall is both deeply reassuring and profoundly alarming. If a murderous attack was prevented by yesterdays action, it illustrates the heroic determination of the police and security services but also the scale of the deadly threat we face. One of the worst nightmares of our security agencies is indiscriminate attacks on the public by loners armed to the teeth and inspired by a warped ideology. And that dark prospect is increasingly becoming a grim reality. Only last month, Khalid Masood used knives and a car to inflict carnage on Westminster. Now another suspected terrorist has apparently travelled to the same vicinity armed with deadly weapons. At this point, we do not know whether the man arrested is guilty of any offence. But the circumstances bear all the hallmarks of jihadism. This is the face of a terror suspect tackled to the floor today in Whitehall, where knives were seen strewn across the floor Police say the man was detained after a stop and search in an 'ongoing operation'. The suspect is now being questioned If the crimes of Masood represented a disturbing failure by the intelligence and security community, yesterdays arrest looks like an extraordinary success and may have saved the lives of scores of innocent civilians. The suspect, thought to have been born abroad, was apparently followed from his south London home by counter-terrorism police, who will have been working very closely with MI5. Officers were last night said to have acted on a tip-off from a family member. It is almost certain the operation was the culmination of weeks of work. MI5 officers are likely to have kept the suspect under surveillance, probably from a white van disguised as an ordinary commercial vehicle. The surveillance would have to have been carried out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week any gaps in coverage would have rendered the operation useless. Pictures of forensics officers show at least three knives, a small flick knife, a large one on the ground and another being held The man is then led around to the other side of a waiting unmarked police car, in which he was driven to a nearby police station for questioning All this would have led to todays climax, when security agencies decided they had to intervene. Because MI5 does not have powers of arrest, the detention of the suspect had to be carried out by police. To take someone like this alive involved huge risks, but now he is in custody, it could yield a treasure trove of intelligence. The cost of an operation on this scale will have been significant, stretching to several million pounds and requiring between 20 and 25 officers working round the clock. But consider the colossal bill we face if we are to properly deal with the vast Islamist menace in our midst. About 1,000 young British Muslims have left the freedom of the UK to travel to the Middle East and become murderous foot soldiers of Islamic State. Of that large group, 400 are believed to have returned. Only a tiny fraction fewer than ten have ever been brought to justice for their treachery. Yet the returning jihadists are just one element. According to Andrew Parker, director general of MI5, there are at least 3,000 committed Islamists in the UK. And those are just the ones we know about. The real number could be anything between 6,000 and 10,000. Police around the Houses of Parliament are on high alert after a terrorist killed five in a car and knife attack five weeks ago In an ideal world, every single one would be put under surveillance. In reality, it would be impossible. The Government simply does not have the resources or the personnel. So what should be done? The fact that there has been no repeat of mass killings since the London bombings of July 2005 is largely because Intelligence, Special Branch and MI5 have been able to break sophisticated Al Qaeda-style networks that featured large numbers of trained operatives armed with guns and bombs. Communicating with each other online or by mobile phone generated a large amount of chatter that could be accessed by intelligence officers. But the phenomenon of the lone killer is much harder to combat as it leaves a much less accessible electronic trail. There are steps that can be taken, however. One is to ramp up legal action against returning jihadists. Another is to increase resources. The 3,800 officers in the security service should be expanded to at least 10,000. And, unpalatable as it might seem, there should be extra cash to pay agents in the Muslim community. In addition, GCHQ should be given new powers to intercept the electronic communications of suspects. It is outrageous that internet giants can deny MI5 access to terrorists messages. Above all, the Government needs to introduce a much tougher surveillance regime, including electronic tagging for extremists. Labour tried this with Control Orders, but they were scrapped by Theresa May in 2010, under pressure from her Lib Dem Coalition partners and the civil-liberties lobby. Mrs May, then home secretary, brought in Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures, which proved useless, as did their successor, the supposedly enhanced electronic TPIMs. It is time to bring back Control Orders in even tougher form. If every suspect is aware their every move is potentially monitored, it makes it less likely they will be able to perpetrate atrocities. The self-indulgent civil-liberties movement wont like it. But the publics right to live in peace should come before those who want to destroy our society. Anthony Glees is director of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham Childhood friends who set up a company making soup from wonky veg rejected by supermarkets are now on course to make millions. Michelin star-trained chef Michael Beckett who has cooked for Elton John and members of the royal family and his best friend Andrew Watmuff has been planning to go into business together since their school days. And in 2012, the pair, both 36 from Frome, Somerset came up with an idea for making soups and risottos by using the best and otherwise unloved wonky veg from UK farmers that typically goes to waste. 'My grandfather was a farmer and I saw the passion and effort he put into growing the best produce he could,' Andrew told Femail. 'We then realised how much of this amazing produce potentially goes to waste because it does not meet the exacting criteria required by supermarkets. So we thought - why not use it chopped up in soups?' The pair received a boost earlier this year when they received a 75,00 investment from Moonpig founder Nick Jenkins after appearing on Dragon's Den. Watmuff & Beckett is now worth 750,000 and it's predicted to be valued at in excess of 4 million in two years' time. Michael Beckett (left) and Andrew Watmuff, both 36, from Somerset, established a soup brand using wonky veg rejected by supermarkets, and they're now on course to make millions Michael as a child whipping up some delicacies in the kitchen. He grew up to become a Michelin star chef Andrew spent his summers on his grandfather's farm in Northumberland where he learned all there is to know about fresh produce The pair first met when they were 11-years-old when Andrew was at secondary school and spend most of his summer holidays working on his grandfather's farm in Northumberland. 'Beckett loved to cook, and was always coming up with new weird and wonderful recipes in his mums kitchen,' he recalled. 'We always knew we wanted to start a business together even at school and one day we went to a "business guru" and he said we should get a career background in our own respective areas of the business before setting up our own. 'That turned out to be some really sound advice, Beckett furthered his career as a chef in the Michelin starred restaurant The Putney Bridge, London and I developed a career in fashion retail and ended up working for Donna Karan and Ted Baker within their respective buying teams.' The pair received a huge boost this year when Andrew appeared on Dragons' Den and secured a 75,00 investment from Moonpig founder Nick Jenkins In 2012, the pair decided to finally take the plunge and set up a business together, in what Andrew describes as a 'now or never' moment. 'We had built up knowledge from our respective careers and we were ready to go it alone,' he said. They knew they wanted to draw on Michael's background in food, and were inspired by Andrew's grandfather. 'Using wonky veg is a real win-win,' Andrew explained. 'Not only are we able to use vegetables that would otherwise go to waste it also means we can promote this modern phenomenon as an issue. The pair had been planning to set up a business together since their school days and even sought the advice of a career guru on how to plan their future accordingly 'If you have ever tried to grow vegetables at home you will know they grow in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways but this is part of the fun. By purchasing wonky vegetables and letting people know about it, were saying "Hey, if theyre good enough for Watmuff & Beckett, they should be good enough for everybody, every day". 'Using wonky vegetables that are blended into our soups and risottos also allows us to produce a competitively priced product, which is important when you are on the supermarket shelf.' The first step was to visit a number of factories where their soup could be produced, but it quickly became apparent that it wasn't going to work. Before going into business himself, Andrew developed a career in fashion retail with Donna Karan and Ted Baker 'They did not meet Becketts exacting standards or let us use produce from our own chosen UK farmers,' Andrew recalled. 'So we scrabbled together any savings we had and persuaded the bank to give us a small loan. We blew it straight away on huge boiling pan and a lease on an industrial unit. Our friends thought we were mad.' 'But we knew we had to really specialise to make a difference. We have very different passions of food and farming, so Beckett handles the cooking and I make sure he has the best ingredients. However, in the early days of their business Andrew admits it wasn't all plain sailing. 'It was really difficult setting up the business in such a competitive market; it took many long days and nights in the kitchen together perfecting recipes,' Andrew said. Michelin star-trained chef Michael Beckett has catered for Elton John and members of the royal family 'A low point was after many hours cooking I remember giving out our first taste testing soups to friends and family only for them to individually phone us up and tell us the pots had exploded in their fridges at home - embarrassing! 'However its all worth it when you see your product on the shelf for the first time, its an amazing feeling. Their efforts certainly paid off as they landed a very prestigious first stockist in the form of Selfridges. 'They loved the concept of using UK farmed ingredients and loved the taste even more so, they took the decision to launch our soups in January 2010,' Andrew said. Watmuff & Beckett has been snapped up by retailers such as Selfridges and Ocado and the company has been given a boost by securing investment on Dragons' Den 'Customers like ASDA, Tesco and Ocado came along later as we provided a track record in making great product consistently. 'My main tips would be "never give up" and "enjoy the journey". If you can do both those things you cant fail, you just gain more experience.' The pair received an invaluable boost this year when they went on Dragons Den to secure funding to allow them to expand. The pair make soups and risottos from the wonky veg that doesn't meet the exacting requirements of UK supermarkets 'When we went on Dragons Den we werent a start up. We had been going nearly five years,' Andrew said. 'But it was a great way to raise investment and get some real experience into the company. Nick Jenkins is an amazing business partner and his experience in building and growing businesses is proving invaluable for us. 'Since Dragons Den we have launched into Tescos stores throughout the South West and we have some delicious new summer soup and risottos launching in the spring.' Andrew believes that the close relationship with the pair will help the business go from strength to strength. 'We occasionally have disagreements but they rarely turn into arguments,' he said. 'It is brilliant working with your best friend. You each know what the other is thinking practically before they say it! It also helps we each look after very different areas of the business, I trust Beckett to get on with developing amazing recipes and he trusts me to deal with the supermarkets and marketing. The secret is neither of us could do it without the other! When Sarah Murnane made a call out for breast milk donations to help her cancer-stricken friend, the response was remarkable. The Geelong-based photographer received a heartbreaking call from her close friend on Monday - who had been diagnosed with breast cancer just hours earlier. For Ms Murnane's friend, the worrying diagnosis was coupled with her anxieties about how she would feed her six-month-old baby boy. 'She was obviously devastated. She has to stop breastfeeding to start treatment and she wants her child to have breast milk,' Ms Murnane, 25, told Daily Mail Australia. Sarah Murnane (pictured), from Geelong, made a call out for breast milk donations to help her cancer-stricken friend on Monday. She could never have imagined the response Ms Murnane, a mother-of-two, is founder of the Australian Breastfeeding Project. Pictured, just some of the donated breast milk Luckily for her friend, Ms Murnane, who has two children of her own, is the founder of the Australian Breastfeeding Project. 'She asked if I could help her to feed her bub - and we did,' Ms Murnane said. In a heartfelt Facebook post, Ms Murnane asked local mothers to donate milk to feed her friend's baby. 'It is with tears in my eyes that I put a call out to help of my close friends find donor milk for her little boy as she has been diagnosed with breast cancer,' she wrote. In a heartfelt Facebook post, Ms Murnane asked local mothers to donate milk to feed her friend's baby 'It is with tears in my eyes that I put a call out to help of my close friends find donor milk for her little boy as she has been diagnosed with breast cancer,' she wrote 'The project will be donating a deep freezer which I am hoping we can fill with donor milk.' In just over 48 hours, Ms Murnane had received around 45 litres of breast milk from generous mothers in the local area. 'The response has been amazing - it's been huge... and there's still more coming,' she said. 'She wants to feed for another six months so we will need more. But this is going to get her through the first couple of months at least. Ms Murnane and the Australian Breastfeeding Project also donated a freezer to store the milk In just over 48 hours, Ms Murnane had received around 45 litres of breast milk from generous mothers in the local area 'We're hoping to have some regular donors that will donate on a regular basis.' Ms Murnane set up the Australian Breastfeeding Project in 2015, aiming to generate a greater acceptance of the benefits of breastfeeding. 'It started off with a photo that I had an idea for. I wanted to represent the sisterhood of breastfeeding mothers,' she said. Ms Murnane said: 'We're hoping to have some regular donors that will donate on a regular basis' 'It started off with a photo that I had an idea for,' Ms Murnane said of the Australian Breastfeeding Project. 'I wanted to represent the sisterhood of breastfeeding mothers' She said the movement has struck a chord with mothers across the country. 'The support group can mean so much... People have asked me to go to their cities and I have. I travelled and I've photographed in every state in Australia now. 'It just got so big and it's got us to where we are now.' Everyone loves to cut corners here and there, but some will go to greater lengths than others to save a few quid. Frugal mothers have been revealing their most extreme money saving tactics on Mumsnet, and examples ranged from the ingenious to the downright bizarre. Mums told how they bought clothes knowing they would return them - simply so they could keep the hangers for free, while others shared tales of watering down milk and re-using tea bags. People have revealed the extreme lengths they go to in an effort to save money in a Mumsnet forum (stock image) The answers ranged from the silly to the ingenious in the thread - and included hanging teabags up to dry so that they can be re-used Somebody else said their father would help himself to the free newspapers left out for customers in cafes. With the discussion veering from cost-cutting to petty theft, someone admitted that their ex-partner would always take an entire roll of toilet paper from the bathroom whenever they visited McDonald's. Another told how a family member would take a penknife to the supermarket to cut the extra stalk off heads of broccoli before weighing and paying. One person admitted they buy clothes, ask for a coat hanger and then return them but leave the hanger at home (stock image) Adam was brought up in this house with his three older sisters and took over his dad Joe's tenancy in 2003 1 MY DADS ANIMAL MAGIC I was brought up with my three older sisters in this house. My dad Joe took on the farm tenancy in 1962 and I succeeded him in 2003. So this has been my home pretty much all my life. This photo is of me and Dad at a cattle market. I loved spending time with him sharing our passion for farming. Because of his collection of rare farm animals he ended up working on Animal Magic with Johnny Morris, and I followed in his footsteps when I joined Countryfile in 2001. 2 A VERY SPECIAL ALBUM This is me, my partner Charlie and our children Ella, 19, and Alfie, 14, at the Olympics in 2012, and the Specials LP below has its place in our story too. The Butcombe beer that Adam sells in his farm shop Its one of the first albums I bought and Charlie borrowed it when we were at school together but never gave it back. When we got together again in our twenties and Charlie moved in with me, the LP returned to its original owner. 3 SHEAR GENIUS Shepherds have used crooks to catch sheep and lambs for generations and this one was made for me by wonderful crook-maker Derek Deans, complete with a rams horn handle. Its lovely and tactile and I use it a lot on the farm when working the sheep. We shear our sheep as a demonstration in front of the public with most of our rare-breed wool sold to local spinners and weavers. 4 KING'S CUFFLINKS My grandfather Leslie Henson entertained the troops during the war and appeared on the bill at various Royal Variety Performances. King George VI couldnt give him a knighthood because he was divorced, which was taboo in those days, so he presented him with these platinum shirt studs with diamond inlays and cufflinks as a thank you for all his work. Lesley gave them to Dad, who then gave them to me. I had lunch with the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2015 and I told her the story behind the cufflinks. 5 OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS Our Hungarian wire-haired Vizslas Boo and Olive share the kitchen with us. Theyre easy to train, great with children and good guard dogs. Weve had Vizslas since the children were young. I also have two working sheepdogs who live in the kennels outside. Dogs have always been part of my life. If people ask me what my favourite animal is Ill say a dog, and if they ask what my favourite farm animal is Ill say a sheepdog! 6 BANGERS AND BEER On the table you can see rapeseed oil that our neighbour Hamish Campbell cold-presses from our oilseed rape crop. We also grow Marris Otter malting barley and work closely with the local Butcombe Brewery who make this beer called Rare Breed. I run the farm with my friend Duncan Andrews and we support local businesses by selling their produce in our farm shop as well as our own meats like bacon and sausages. We also run the rare breeds Cotswold Farm Park here, which my dad started in 1971. Adams book Like Farmer, Like Son (BBC Books) is out now in paperback. For details of Adams farm visit cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk A young boy who had started walking just days earlier was left immobile and wrapped in bandages in hospital after pulling a boiling kettle on himself. The Hall family, from Rockhampton Queensland, were just three months into a caravan trip around Australia when the devastating accident pulled the plug on their adventure. Hunter, who is 17 months old, was rushed 22 kilometres to the nearest hospital with burns to 12 per cent of his body and was transferred to Brisbane's Lady Cilento Children's Hospital soon after. He has received multiple surgeries to treat the burns on his head, chest, right leg and his feet, according to the family's GoFundMe. Hunter Hall, 17 months, was hospitalised with burns to 12 per cent of his body after pulling a boiling kettle on himself just months into his family's year-long caravan trip around Australia Earlier this month, the toddler had four skin grafts on his right leg and foot. He has lotion applied to his burns eight times a day, undergoes regular physio and is checked by nurses every six hours. For Queensland parents Kerrie and Mick, it has been heartbreaking to watch their son lose his ability to walk and talk. 'He learned to walk three or four steps three days before the accident,' Mrs Hall told 7News. 'Before the accident he spoke all the basic words... but now all he could do is grunt.' The young boy had started walking just days earlier, and his mother Kerrie says while he had been speaking well before, now he could only grunt Hunter is recovering well from his accident. Many of the burns on his head and face have cleared, and he no longer requires a drip. The family will undergo a trial treatment to help heal the rest of his body, which involves a special gel and a made-to-order pressure garment. But the scarring on his leg remains quite bad, and Mrs Hall knows her son has a long road ahead of him. 'This will affect his whole life,' she said. Hunter (pictured centre with his three brothers) has had four skin grafts to help heal his right leg and foot, which is very badly injured The young boy will require treatment until he stops growing, and continuing Hunter's medication after the trial will be very costly. The pressure garments currently included in the trial cost $500 each, while the gel is $100 a tube. Hunter will also require special items to help protect him from the sun - such as a $300 pram, protective clothing and shoes. From a young age, Jane Ann McAllister was 'obsessed' with babies. Little did the 59-year-old know that she would eventually end up with fourteen of her own - and a whopping 23 grandchildren. From cooking and grocery shopping in bulk to managing 'at least' four washes each day, Ms McAllister, from Auckland, spoke to FEMAIL about her motherhood secrets. 'Kids keep you young!,' she laughed. 'I love being around people and don't think they'll ever be a moment when it's just me and my husband left at home. I never know how many will be coming for dinner on Saturday night until the last minute!'. Jane Ann McAllister, 59, from Auckland, has fourteen children and 23 grandchildren (pictured) - she never thought she would have so many kids From cooking and grocery shopping in bulk to managing 'at least' four washes each day, Ms McAllister (pictured second from right with some daughters), from Auckland, spoke to FEMAIL about her motherhood secrets 'Kids keep you young!,' she laughed - revealing to FEMAIL that she has always been 'obsessed with babies' (pictured: Ms McAllister's grown-up children) 'I loved being pregnant, I love being a mum and I've loved developing relationships with each and every one of my children,' Ms McAllister said (pictured: Ms McAllister and some of her family in the past) THE MCALLISTER FAMILY CHILDREN * Andrew, 43 * Marcus, 42 * Felicity, 41 * Chris, 38 * Emma, 36 * James, 34 * Victoria, 31 * Isaac, 29 * Rebecca, 27 * Elizabeth, 25 * Nicholas, 22 * Charlotte, 20 * William, 17 * Hamish, 14 Advertisement Ms McAllister confessed that while she never thought she would have as many children as 14, she wouldn't change it for the world: 'I loved being pregnant, I love being a mum and I've loved developing relationships with each and every one of my children,' she told Daily Mail Australia. That doesn't mean it hasn't come without its challenges - and a need for a strict routine. 'I had my first child at 16 and my last at 43; the maximum I've had under one roof at any one time is nine kids - this means I've learned to be incredibly organised,' the mother-of-fourteen said. For Ms McAllister, washing was the biggest task: 'I had to put on at least four washes each day - and that's just a normal none sheets or towels day!,' she said. 'I would do it each morning and spend every single night folding clothes.' The 59-year-old also had to rigidly plan meals and do one huge grocery shop each week. 'We'd go through two loaves of bread a day and copious litres of milk so you can imagine how much I needed to buy. I have got pretty good at cooking in bulk now though - lots of spaghetti bolognese, chicken stews and things. 'I actually find it pretty difficult to cook unless it's in bulk and for ten people plus! I mean, what's the point in cooking for four?'. For the mum-of-fourteen, washing has always been the most difficult task - she said she would put on at least four washes each day (pictured: some children and grandchildren) 'We'd go through two loaves of bread a day and copious litres of milk so you can imagine how much I needed to buy. I have got pretty good at cooking in bulk now though,' she said (pictured: the boys) 'I actually find it pretty difficult to cook unless it's in bulk and for ten people plus! I mean, what's the point in cooking for four?' (pictured: the girls) While many of Ms McAllister's children are now grown up and have children of their own - making her also a grandmother of 23 - the mother still has four kids under one roof, spanning between 14 and 23 (pictured: three grandchildren) Ms McAllister's home in Auckland features four big bedrooms, which many of her children shared over the years. She also has a huge loft space which sleeps three or four, and an extension in the basement. 'That's always been challenging - putting the kids together to sleep in their bedrooms and things,' she said. 'I used to take them to school in this big van when they were young,' she added. 'I like being busy. I like being around people. Sometimes I like being alone, yes, but I go to bed really late - at like 1am - and knit to get my alone time,' she explained (pictured: some grandchildren) Recently, the McAllisters celebrated Christmas en masse (pictured) - which Ms McAllister said was an impressive feat BEST PARTS OF RAISING 14 CHILDREN * Getting to see their personalities develop and looking after them. * Cooking for them can be enjoyable if you get into bulk cooking. * Learning to stop sweating the small stuff and prioritising what's important. Advertisement WORST PARTS OF RAISING 14 CHILDREN * Making the packed lunches for school - a mammoth task! * Potty training 14 children is hard work. * Getting the kids to go to bed; it gets harder the more you've got. Advertisement While many of Ms McAllister's children are now grown up and have children of their own - making her also a grandmother of 23 - the mother still has four kids under one roof, spanning between 14 and 23: 'I like being busy. I like being around people. Sometimes I like being alone, yes, but I go to bed really late - at like 1am - and knit to get my alone time. 'It's important to get that time to yourself however you can.' Though Ms McAllister started out knitting outfits for her kids as a hobby, these days she runs a hugely successful business - Dimples Babywear - which sells stylish baby clothes to families. 'The business has been a huge help financially - it meant the budget didn't have to be quite so strict after child four,' she confessed. Ms McAllister now runs a babywear business on the side, developed from her late night knitting project (pictured: her grandchildren) 'The business has been a huge help financially - it meant the budget didn't have to be quite so strict after child four,' she confessed (pictured: the kids in the past) 'Don't sweat the small stuff. Concentrate on what's important,' Ms McAllister offered as a tip to other huge families (pictured: the family at a wedding) 'Try to understand all of your kids - as hard as it is when you've got loads - as individuals. I've got friendships with mine now, I'm not just their mum,' she said (pictured: Ms McAllister with her firstborn at age 16) 'People sometimes ask whether I'd have done anything differently had I done it all over again and I say: "Absolutely no way",' she said (pictured: Ms McAllister's husband and two children, and Ms McAllister and two children) With regards to tips for other mothers in big families, Ms McAllister has many: 'The main one would be: Don't sweat the small stuff. Concentrate on what's important,' she said. 'Try to understand all of your kids - as hard as it is when you've got loads - as individuals. I've got friendships with mine now, I'm not just their mum.' Don't sweat the small stuff. Concentrate on what's important She said that after going through three stages of parenting - the over the top protective style, the natural way and the best of both - she's also learned that the best of both is best: 'You do get less strict as they get older, but you also learn to value what's important and you parent not too right and not too left. 'I've also learned to get organised and plan shopping lists, washes and things. Find your own personal space and make the most of it and enjoy your kids while they're young as it's so fleeting. 'People sometimes ask whether I'd have done anything differently had I done it all over again and I say: "Absolutely no way". 'I was mesmerised by babies as a kid and I'm still mesmerised by babies now.' For more information about Dimples Babywear, click here. You can follow them on Instagram here. It might be assumed that being a nanny is an occupation that would appeal to women more than men. But according to Annie Merrylees, the founder of male nanny company, My Big Buddy, her agency in Melbourne has 50 'mannies' and it's a growing trade. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Merrylees, 35, said male nannies are often hired to families with boys and single parent families in need of a 'male influence'. Josh (left) has been a 'manny' for two years now and says the job has given him a 'close relationship' with the families 'It's generally families who have boys or who need a bit more balance. Fathers might work long hours or it might be a single parent household, so they need male influence and a good role model,' Ms Merrylees said. 'Often children have female teachers and then go to the park and their friends' mums will be there and they don't have much interaction with guys.' The challenges of modern life often means one parent is constantly working and misses out on spending time with their children. 'Women cannot model maleness and that is where My Big Buddy can double up in providing a care giver as well as meeting that need for doing boy stuff with a fun, active guy,' Ms Merrylees wrote on her blog. My Big Buddy began in the UK in 2006, and grew to now include a list of high profile clientele. Josh has years of experience with children, having been a scout in his teenage years 'In the UK almost 40 per cent of our client base are high profile celebrities,' Ms Merrylees said. 'We're much bigger in the UK than we are in Australia so we only have about 50 mannies in Melbourne.' The male nannies are mainly students, studying everything from teaching and drama to graphic and industrial design. 'Guys interact differently with children and children are often active and want to play, and the male nannies are the same,' Ms Merrylees said. Fathers might work long hours or it might be a single parent household, so they need male influence and a good role model,' Ms Merrylees said (stock image) Josh Wait, a 23-year-old RMIT student in Melbourne, has been a male nanny for two years now. He spoke to Daily Mail Australia about his role as a male nanny with the families he works for. 'Most of my time is spent on weekdays picking up the kids, taking them to sport and helping with homework, making them dinner and the like,' he said. 'If I work on the weekends I'll take them to the zoo or to the park.' Josh has years of experience with children, having been a scout in his teenage years. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Merrylees, 35, said male nannies are often hired to families with boys (stock image) 'I only look after boys and the families say the boys get something from having an older male around,' he said. 'It's not a big brother relationship as much, but it is a close relationship. Especially when I've gotten to see the little ones grow up.' Ms Merryless said having male nannies allows families a few different options. 'It makes the job varied and families recognise it's a viable option these days,' she said. A young professional triathlete has been left paralysed from the waist down after she slammed into a rail guard following a horrific bicycle accident. Lauren Parker was training when she fell off her bike after the two tyres popped at the same point on April 18 - two weeks from competing at the Ironman Australia. The 28-year-old, from Newcastle, north of Sydney, suffered serious injuries, including broken ribs, a scapula, a vertebrae, a punctured lung, shattered pelvis, and spinal cord damage. Triathlete Lauren Parker (pictured in hospital) has been left paralysed from the waist down after she slammed into a rail guard following a horrific bicycle accident The 28-year-old woman was training when she fell off her bike after the two tyres popped 'All I remember after that was laying on the ground in excruciating pain with someone holding my neck - I could hardly breathe,' she told 9 News. And it wasn't until she was rushed to The John Hunter Hospital to undergo an emergency spinal surgery, she realised she couldn't feel her legs. 'That was the first time I felt that but after the operation I knew it was gone,' she said. Two days later, she was airlifted to the Royal North Shore Spinal Cord Injury Unit in Sydney for further treatment and ongoing rehabilitation. The Newcastle athlete (pictured) said she feels determined to defy the odds of walking again It wasn't until she was rushed to hospital to undergo a spinal surgery, she realised she couldn't feel her legs (pictured at the Ironman World Chanpionships in Kona, Hawaii in 2015) Ms Parker, who was an elite swimmer for 12 years, previously trained up to 35 hours a week Ms Parker, who was training up to 35 hours a week, was left reeling after being told she only has a one per cent change of ever walking again. But the woman, who was an elite swimmer for 12 years, said she's not letting the chances bring her down as she feels determined to defy the odds of walking again. 'I hated hearing that obviously but I know there are people out there who have had similar injuries and have been able to walk some steps and improve - it will be a long journey,' she said. Her mother Anne has taken time off her two jobs to be by her daughter's side during her rehabilitation in Sydney. Family and friends have set up a GoFundMe campaign called 'We are with you Loz' in an effort to raise money for her travel and medical expenses. The athlete was left reeling after being told she has a one per cent change of walking again The suffered serious injuries just two weeks from competing at the Ironman Australia 'For anyone that has ever had anything to do with Lauren, you will know that she is incredibly humble and kind, has a smile that just warms your soul and is one of the most consistent and committed athletes there is,' the page said. 'Although Loz has faced setbacks in her life and as an athlete, through patience and sheer determination, Loz has always conquered any obstacles in her path. 'The many communities that Lauren is a part of are in absolute shock at the news of Laurens accident. At a time when the pain of looking forward probably seems too great for Lauren, we ask Loz to look beside her because we are here. 'We are here in the hundreds and thousands, we are here from all over the world from all different walks of life and we are all rallying for such an incredible [Iron]woman.' 'We know that whatever the future holds for Lauren, she will be brilliant and we would like to play a small part in Loz's journey to recovery by donating whatever we can to help her cause. Even the smallest amount will help.' A great-grandmother of 68 has posed in seductive lingerie for a new campaign celebrating ageless beauty. 'Lina is a great grandmother, and we asked her to model for us as she appeared so playful, which perfectly encompasses our brand,' founder of London-based lingerie brand Playful Promises, Emma Parker explained. 'I love this. Just because youre getting older doesnt mean you dont have a playful side. 'She still works full time at the front of house in a City bank, despite being 68. She was initially quite shy, but when she posed she really got into role and modeled just how girls a fraction of her age do - the beauty shone through.' Great grandmother Lina, 68, is starring in a campaign for London-based lingerie brand Playful Promises, posing confidently in playful bunny ears The campaign sees Lina confidently pose in a red cut out bra and slip skirt with suspenders and playful bunny ears. In another shot, she looks the epitome of a blonde bombshell in a black bustier, complimenting the look with a classic red lip. Lina, 68, looks every inch a blonde bombshell as she strikes a post in a black bustier and suspender belt Emma set up Playful Promises when she was 28 and said her own experience of ageing inspired her to create the campaign, saying she's only now beginning to understand the power of lingerie for older women. 'At 41 I dont have the power of youth that I once had,' she explained. 'At 28 I couldnt really imagine a 41 year old woman having sex or being interested in lingerie, but alas I have arrived at 41 and dont feel that differently sexually than I did at 28. 'I have slowed down a bit, which is only natural as my hormones are changing. This has led me to reconsider how I relate to my own brand. I suddenly realised how much I had been participating in our cultures obsession with youth as the ideal. Pam models a black embroidered dressing gown from Playful Promises' Juliet range 'I am sorry that I didnt realise this sooner, and that it is only my own experience that has widened my horizons.' The campaign is the latest sign that after decades of being ignored by the fashion and advertising industries, increasing numbers of mature models are gracing the catwalks and pages of glossy magazines as marketing companies have woken up to their vast commercial potential. Women who are 50-plus, trim and attractive can earn anything from 200 to thousands of pounds for a couple of days work. The question of how to make history programmes more entertaining without being accused of dumbing down has long been pondered by broadcasters. But Channel 5 thinks it has the answer with its docu-drama series fusing historical fact with sumptuous reconstructions of the key events and no shortage of good-looking people either. Following its acclaimed Henry VIII And His Six Wives series last year, the latest looks at Elizabeth I, focusing on the many enemies who wanted her dead during her life. Lily Cole has swapped the catwalk for a prestigious new role playing Elizabeth I in an all new Channel 5 drama Again presented by Dr Suzannah Lipscomb, the stunning Oxford-educated Tudor expert, and cool Cambridge-educated historian Dan Jones, this one also stars former supermodel Lily Cole, another Cambridge alumnus, as the Virgin Queen. History TV is littered with terrible dramatic reconstructions, says Dan. Whats great about our series is were as serious about the drama as we are about the history. 'Aspects of these stories are better related through drama such as peoples connections, their disagreements and their foibles. 'When we heard Lily had agreed to be Elizabeth we had to pinch ourselves. Its an amazing coup and shows people are beginning to take this type of show seriously. In the three-part series, Lily plays Elizabeth from the age of 20 when she narrowly escaped execution for treason by her half-sister Mary I until, at the age of 53, she signs the death warrant of her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. Lily, who gained a double first in history of art while modelling, has remained a history buff and did lots of research for the role. Lily, who gained a double first in history of art while modelling, has remained a history buff and did lots of research for the role Her life was so peculiar, having so many family members try to kill her, she says. A hell of a lot of things happened, and the conflict on the continent was intense. But the impression I got was that she always tried to bring unity to the country. 'I tried to think about her from her perspective. I dont think she would have thought of herself as a feminist but I do think she felt capable, smart, sure of her own merits and anxious not to be put into a submissive position just because she was a woman. As well see, Elizabeth was fighting battles all her life. People think of her as this great Gloriana who reigned successfully because we have hindsight, says Suzannah. We know she saw off the Armada and reigned for 45 years, but when you go back to the beginning you see that even before she became queen she was under threat. Elizabeths first battle began when her father Henry VIII had her mother Anne Boleyn executed on charges of adultery and conspiracy. Its not a great start in life when Daddy lops Mummys head off before youve reached the age of three, says Dan. The marriage was annulled and Elizabeth was declared illegitimate. She was isolated and had a traumatic upbringing. The show moves on to Thomas Seymour, who married Henry VIIIs last wife, Catherine Parr, after Henrys death. She was Elizabeths mentor and Seymour was known to be over-affectionate towards Elizabeth, then a young teenager, regularly visiting her bedroom at night. When Catherine died in 1548 he plotted to marry Elizabeth and seize the throne from her younger half-brother Edward VI, whod acceded aged nine. In 1549 Seymour was arrested for treason and beheaded; Elizabeth escaped with her life. When Edward died in 1553 and Elizabeths Catholic half-sister Mary Tudor became queen, the Protestant princess became a focus for English Protestants rebelling against Marys bloody rule with her Spanish husband Prince Philip. Lily confronting her older self in one of the scenes in the new historic drama Elizabeth was put under house arrest for a year, says Suzannah. Theres this idea that Mary and Philip were simply unhappy with Elizabeth, but we show it was far more serious than that. There are begging letters from Elizabeth to her sister asking for her life to be spared. In 1558, when Elizabeth became queen after Marys death, she turned down a marriage offer from her brother-in-law, now King Philip II of Spain, and made an enemy for life. The show looks at the Armada in 1588 from Elizabeths point of view as she waited for news. As it happened, luck was on her side. The Armada was to pick up the Duke of Parma and his troops from the Netherlands, go to London and kill Elizabeth, says Suzannah. But the troops werent ready so they had to wait. Then they were affected by bad weather. We use a reconstruction here to show her tension as she waits. But even after the Armada Philip tried to invade throughout the 1590s. And when he died his son Philip III tried to invade through Ireland. Then there was her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, considered the legitimate sovereign of England by many English Catholics. Even though Elizabeth had her incarcerated for 18 years, she became the figurehead for several Catholic rebellions until Elizabeth reluctantly signed her death warrant in 1587. She was aware Mary was a real danger, but recoiled at the idea of having a queen killed, says Dan. Accounts from her ministers make it clear she didnt intend the warrant to be used. She was furious when Mary was killed. Even before she died in 1603 Elizabeth was fighting off coups, including one by her favourite the Earl of Essex. He raised troops against her in London, but they deserted him and he was arrested and beheaded. Once again she was genuinely under threat, says Dan. Even Tudor buffs will be surprised by some of the revelations. This is the Elizabeth people dont know, says Dan. She was seriously under threat at least a dozen times. We hope it will fascinate people because the Elizabethan age really is the start of the modern age. Elizabeth I starts on Tuesday 9 May at 9pm on Channel 5. She was spotted signing on at the job centre last week after a seemingly endless holiday in the Spanish sun. But Michaella McCollum - one half of the infamous 'Peru Two' - looked ready to continue the party when she landed back in Marbella this week. The one-time drugs mule looked delighted to be swapping freezing temperatures for sunnier climes when she touched down in the Costa del Sol with a blonde friend on Thursday. Dressed in a leather biker jacket, knee-high suede boots and a vest emblazoned with 'No limits', Miss McCollum, 24, looked happy and carefree as the pair waited for a car outside Malaga airport. What job centre? One-time drugs mule Michaella McCollum, right, looked ready to continue the endless holiday when she landed back in Marbella this week with a female friend What a difference a week makes! Last week, Michaella was spotted signing on at her local job centre in Dungannon, County Tyrone - but she appears to be back on holiday The duo were both spotted with large suitcases, while Michaella, who is currently unemployed, was carrying a 340 Michael Kors bag. The one-time drugs mule from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, hit headlines when she was jailed in Peru in 2013 for attempting to smuggle 1.5 million of cocaine out of the country to Spain with friend Melissa Reid. In recent months she has been rumoured to be working on a tell-all book, while reports have also suggested she will be making a reality TV appearance. Last week she was spotted signing on at her local job centre in Dungannon, Northern Ireland - suggesting she was on the hunt for a nine to five. But now Michaella appears to be embarking on her third Spanish sojourn this year. She recently enjoyed a stint in Ibiza, her first visit since she and Reid agreed to try and bring in the drugs. The glamorous blonde, pictured in Ibiza earlier this month, has been enjoying an endless holiday in the sun with a friend. It is not clear who is funding her sun-kissed jaunts The one-time drugs mule, who is unemployed, wore knee-high boots, a cropped leather jacket and a skimpy vest emblazoned with the logo 'no limits' for her latest jaunt Michaella looked delighted to be swapping freezing temperatures for sunnier climes when she touched down in the Costa del Sol this week with her blonde friend Moving on: Michaella, right, hit headlines when she was jailed in Peru in 2013 for attempting to smuggle 1.5 million of cocaine out of the country but she has put her troubles behind her Michaella, along with Melissa Reid, was caught and arrested at the beginning of August 2013 - just two months after she arrived on the Balearic party isle to work as a dancer in a bar. For the past few months, Michaella has been spotted in Ibiza on an almost daily basis in a seemingly endless array of skimpy swimsuits, sunbathing and sipping cocktails. McCollum and Reid were each sentenced to six years and eight months in jail after admitting to trying to smuggle cocaine out of the country. The pair, who initially protested their innocence, were found in possession of 11kg of cocaine hidden inside food packets in their luggage as they prepared to board a flight from Lima to Madrid. What's next? In recent months Michaella has been rumoured to be working on a tell-all book, while reports have also surfaced of a possible reality TV appearance In for the long haul: The duo were both spotted with large suitcases, while Michaella, who is currently unemployed, was carrying a 340 Michael Kors bag Michaella she has clearly been enjoying her newfound freedom since her release, after a holiday earlier this year to Marbella Miss McCollum appeared to be calling a cab on her phone after touching down in sunny Malaga this week. The pair were both carrying expensive designer bags Despite putting her troubled past behind her, Michaella couldn't help attracting attention as passersby stopped and stared at her as she left the airport this week The party continues: For the past few months, Michaella has been spotted in Ibiza on an almost daily basis in a seemingly endless array of skimpy swimsuits, sunbathing and sipping cocktails McCollum was released on parole in March 2016 after serving less than half of her sentence but was initially required to stay in Peru, where she carried out voluntary work. Reid was released from prison in June last year, flying back to Scotland shortly afterwards. Her holidays in the Spanish sun comes after she was reportedly offered 250,000 to reveal her prison hell in a tell-all book. Meanwhile, Celebrity Big Brother producers have slammed suggestions she has been invited to appear on the show. The blonde duo looked to be in good spirits as they left the airport together, both carrying large suitcases alongside their designer handbags - suggesting a long stint in Spain We ask a celebrity a set of devilishly probing questions and only accept THE definitive answer. This week its investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre Investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre is in this week's hot seat for the definite article The prized possession you value above all others My seven-year-old Chihuahua Louie. Hes got an amazing personality. I named him after the dancer Louie Spence, whos a friend. The biggest regret you wish you could amend I wish Id discovered ski-jumping in my teens. I learnt when I did Channel 4s The Jump in 2014 and found my appetite for flying on skis. The temptation you wish you could resist... Tayto salt and vinegar crisps. When I was an altar boy in Ireland our reward for serving at Mass was a bag of those. If I had to order a last meal, Id have a giant bag of Tayto and die a happy man. The priority activity if you were the Invisible Man for a day Id infiltrate and destroy Boko Haram, the most heinous terror group in Africa. Their cruelties are unimaginable. The film you can watch time and time again Babe. Despite my occupation I dont like movies with violence or horror. Im a country boy at heart and that movie always makes me smile. Donal can't resist a packet of salt and vinegar Tayto crisps The pet hate that makes your hackles rise... Umbrellas. Theyre weapons of war, which should be banned. Im 5ft 9in, the perfect height to be poked in the eye. The book that holds an everlasting resonance The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame. I first read it when I was eight, living by the River Liffey. Toad is such a rascal. The person who has influenced you most Peter Salmon, the former controller of BBC1. He brought me to the BBC in 1993 and was a wise counsel. It was his vision to send me in undercover. The figure from history for whom youd most like to buy a pie and a pint Grace OMalley, one of the most powerful women of 16th-century Ireland. She was an infamous pirate who had an extraordinary meeting with Elizabeth I and Id love to witness it. The poem that touches your soul Digging by Seamus Heaney resonates deeply because its a poem for writers. My father Tom, whos 85 now, is a poet and it reminds me of him. The misapprehension about yourself you wish you could erase People still think I work undercover, but I havent done that for 13 years. Im typecast! The piece of wisdom you would pass on to a child You can do anything you want, all you have to do is unlock your potential. The unlikely interest that engages your curiosity I have a new-found interest in punctuation. My current obsession is the em dash []. Its wonderfully useful the Swiss Army knife of punctuation. The treasured item you lost and wish you could have again Im not materialistic but my memories are precious, so to lose those through illness or dementia would cause me pain. One of Donal's favourite movies is Babe as he says that it always makes him smile The event that altered the course of your life and character When the first film Id directed, A Very British Gangster, was selected for the Sundance Film Festival in 2007. It brought me into the world of cinema and directing and it woke up creative juices I didnt know I possessed. The crime you would commit knowing you could get away with it Id hack into the computers of local authorities and cancel all the parking tickets then re-assign them to the jobsworths who issued them. The song that means most to you Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel. It was written against the backdrop of the Nixon White House and the Vietnam war. Its a song of protest and resignation and tears well up whenever I hear it. The unending quest that drives you on Im driven to help underdogs or the oppressed who cant get justice. The way you would spend your fantasy 24 hours, with no travel restrictions... Id wake up in the Arctic to a glorious pink sky. Ive spent over three months there in total and its an extraordinary place. Id then go for a geothermal spa in Iceland to thaw out, before brunch in New York with strong coffee. After that Id go for a walk in the desert of Sharqiya Sands, Oman. I lived with the Bedouin tribe there and the people are wonderful. Id eat fresh dates in the shade. Id spend the afternoon sailing off Belize, dropping anchor to snorkel over coral reefs. At sunset, Id drink whiskey on the banks of the Mississippi in Louisiana while listening to Cajun music and enjoying home-cooked food. My evening would be spent on the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea, staring at the Southern Cross constellation in a clear sky. Id return home to Ireland to bed and sleep to the purr of the Liffey. The happiest moment you will cherish forever I always hope my happiest days are ahead of me. The saddest time that shook your world I once investigated the trafficking of women for the sex trade in London. Women were offered for sale at 7,000 each it was shocking. The unfulfilled ambition that continues to haunt you Never making it as an Olympic canoeist. I was in two Ireland canoe teams in my 20s, but failed to make the grade. The philosophy that underpins your life Be brave and never dwell on what can go wrong because it will hold you back. Nervousness is dangerous. The order of service at your funeral Im too much of an optimist to really consider this, but Id like a quick funeral and a long wake. It would be a simple Catholic service with the hymns Be Thou My Vision and Abide With Me. The way you want to be remembered He lived his own life and a few others as well. The Plug Donal presents various crime programmes on CBS Reality and has two new series beginning this autumn. For details visit cbsreality.tv. Alexander McQueen has been accused of 'cultural appropriation' for designing a jacket that looks remarkably similar to a ceremonial gown from the Horn of Africa. Hundreds of people from the Habesha community - who come from Eritrea and northern Ethiopia - have reacted in fury on social media after the fashion house posted a picture of a 4,895 black velvet jacket covered in gold embroidery on Instagram. They say the jacket is almost identical to the gowns traditionally worn by Habeshas on their wedding day. The 4,895 embroidered jacket is part of Alexander McQueen's Spring 2017 collection. It has Zardozi embroidery and gold bullion embroidered sunflowers Calkidan Fisseha's parents (pictured) wore the traditional Habesha ceremonial black-and-gold kaba for their wedding. She shared a picture of them on Twitter in response to the row They are now demanding the fashion house gives credit to the Habesha community and acknowledges that it was inspired by the a ceremonial gown of the Horn of Africa, called a 'kaba'. In the Instagram post by Alexander McQueen, there is no mention of the Habesha community. It reads: 'As featured in H magazine, the Alexander McQueen black velvet ceremonial jacket with Zardozi embroidery and gold bullion embroidered sunflowers.' H magazine is an international men's magazine from the Middle East. The ceremonial kaba gown is also worn by priests from Ethiopia and Eritrea (pictured, a cleric from an Ethiopian monastery) Hundreds of people from the Habesha community reacted in fury to the Alexander McQueen jacket as they said it didn't credit the traditional kaba gown, which they say obviously inspired it What is a kaba? These are black gowns capes or jackets which have gold embroidered detailing on the lapels and down the front on each side of the garment. They are worn at Orthodox Habesha wedding ceremonies, traditionally. Many Habesha brides choose to wear white gowns these days but some still opt for the traditional black and gold caped gown for the ceremony. Advertisement The post has now been flooded with furious messages after Instagram account Habeshacomedies urged people to comment on the picture with emojis of the Eritrean and Ethiopian flags. Several people have also uploaded photos of members of the royal family as well as relatives who have worn the black-and-gold kaba at wedding ceremonies. They include Calkidan Fisseha, from Washington, whose parents wore the kaba at their wedding. She wrote: 'Like my parents weren't rockin' it!' The Habesha community say the jacket is a flagrant example of 'cultural appropriation'. MailOnline has asked Alexander McQueen for a comment. It may be April, but according to Camilla it is perfect weather for ice cream - even in the highlands. The Duchess of Cornwall was seen tucking into scoop of the frozen dessert today as she and the Prince of Wales toured the area of Ballater in Aberdeenshire. Camilla, known as the Duchess of Rothesay while in Scotland, seemed to be especially pleased with her choice in flavour, grinning as she took a spoonful. The Duchess of Cornwall, known as the Duchess of Rothesay while in Scotland, tries ice-cream during a visit to Shorty's Ice Cream Parlour in Ballater She and Charles spent the afternoon touring the small town where they stopped in several local shops. Stepping into Deeside Books the royal was immediately drawn to the book shelves containing tomes on members of the royal family. Camilla could be seen inspecting several volumes on her mother-in-law the Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge. The shop had recently reopened following severe flooding in the town in September last year. She and Prince Charles spent the afternoon touring the local shops of the town in Aberdeenshire While Charles abstained from a dairy treat, Camilla couldn't help but tuck in The royal couple then moved onto a clothes shop named Wilkies where it appeared that the Duchess really was in a summer mood as she was seen eyeing up pairs of sandals. Charles wasn't without temptations either as a shop assistant showed him to the men's clothing section. Next on their shopping list were greetings cards as Camilla perused the aisles of a card shop perhaps looking for one to send to her relatives back in London. Stepping into Deeside Books the royal was immediately drawn to the book shelves containing tomes on members of the royal family The shop had recently reopened following severe flooding in the town in September last year Camilla could also be seen perusing the greeting cards aisle - perhaps looking for one to send back to relatives in London While neither Camilla nor Charles walked away with any purchases they did not walk away empty handed. Camilla could be seen clutching a posy of flowers given to her as a gift by a kind-hearted local. Their visit to the village today drummed up plenty of attention with many locals lining the streets to witness their visit. In Wilkies it seems that Camilla was certainly in a summer vibe as she checked out the sandals on offer Charles wasn't without temptations either as a shop assistant showed him to the men's clothing section The royal couple were even spotted posing for a woman who had stepped outside her door to capture the pair on her camera phone. Charles and Camilla have spent the past four days in the region of Aberdeenshire and on Monday the Prince was seen hopping aboard a steam train. Charles wore a kilt and a specially-monogrammed overall to drive the steam engine on a line in Aberdeenshire he used to travel on as a child. The prince stepped in with a 'significant' donation through his charitable foundation after hearing vandals had smashed windows on a 1965 railway carriage. The Duke and Duchess received a right royal welcome from locals on Friday She's renowned for her glowing beauty and impeccable fashion, and Crown Princess Mary continued to shine as she visited the Red Cross of the Capital in Copenhagen. The Australian mother-of four who is married to Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, visited the workshop with the Mary foundation. Princess Mary looked elegant in a royal blue overcoat with flowing black and white pants with black shoes. Crown Princess Mary was snapped looking radiant in Copenhagen, Denmark Princess Mary (pictured) received flowers from a young sweetly dressed girl who also wore flowers in her hair The glamorous royal donned a natural look with minimal make-up accompanied with a pair of pretty droplet earrings. She carried a black handbag to add to her fashion-forward look that she kept over her left arm. Her charming look was completed with her brown locks freely flowing, parted down the middle. She was attending an event for her collaborative project between the Mary Foundation and the Danish Red Cross. he mother-of-four was visiting the Red Cross of the Capital workshop The Australian beauty was visiting the Mary Foundation project Vaerket Upon arrival, the Crown Princess was gifted a bunch of flowers from a sweet young girl who wore flowers in her hair also. She attended the event to meet with those involved in her project Vrket which assists those who feel isolated learn to meet new people. Chrissy Teigen has a well-documented love of food - and the model knows exactly what her preferences are, whether she's looking to assuage a hangover or selecting pizza toppings. The 31-year-old detailed her favorite food picks in a new interview with Refinery29 Thursday, during which she also revealed she, unlike many people bracing themselves for rose season, doesn't enjoy drinking that type of wine. 'I like the taste of it, but I don't feel great [after I drink it]. I've never been good with Champagne, rose, or brown alcohol,' she told the website. Not team rose! Chrissy Teigen revealed in a new interview Thursday that, unlike many people bracing themselves for rose season, she doesn't enjoy drinking that type of wine Last word: The 31-year-old model (pictured with husband John Legend) also gave her opinion on a hotly-debated pizza topping: pineapple, which in her opinion is perfectly acceptable Banned: The only toppings she will not consider putting on her pizza are sun-dried tomatoes, which she 'really hates'. Chrissy is also not a fan of capers and fennel Blacklist: The model also admitted she isn't a fan of innards, adding: 'Even if it's fried and delicious I'm not doing liver or bone marrow. I don't need to pretend that I have taste' However, if she ever does consume a drink that doesn't agree with her, Chrissy knows how to handle the situation the next morning. Asked what her favorite hangover cure was, she replied: 'Ramen and ramen. Ramen and pho, I'll say. Pho is like an amazing hangover cure and then ramen for like that milky Tonkotsu very porky broth.' The model also gave her opinion about Starbucks' Unicorn Frappuccino, which flooded social media last week when it became available for a limited period of time. Chrissy did try to get her hands on the Instagram-worthy drink - but made it clear she isn't on board with the unicorn craze as a whole. 'I tried to get it the other day,' she said about the Frap. 'We walked in and they said it was sold out. I just don't get this whole adults liking unicorns thing. I'm tired of adults liking unicorns, I'm tired of adults liking vampires, I'm tired of adults liking zombies. It's just, it's getting to be too much for me. It's like we're so sad in this world today that we like need to see glitter and sparkles as adults.' Food is medicine! Asked what her favorite hangover cure was, Chrissy replied: 'Ramen and ramen. Ramen and pho, I'll say. Pho is like an amazing hangover cure' Stance: The model did try to get her hands on the Instagram-worthy Uncorn Frappuccino - but made it clear she wasn't on board with the unicorn craze as a whole Opinion: 'I'm tired of adults liking unicorns, I'm tired of adults liking vampires, I'm tired of adults liking zombies,' Chrissy (pictured with daughter Luna) said The model also gave her opinion on a hotly-debated pizza topping: pineapple, which in her opinion is perfectly acceptable. 'I love pineapple on pizza. I have no shame about it, either,' she said. 'I obviously feel like it should be paired with Canadian bacon, ideally, but I think the best part about a pizza is you can do whatever you want with it and it doesn't make it any less of a pizza. You just get to enjoy it.' The only toppings she will not consider putting on her pizza are sun-dried tomatoes, which she 'really hates'. Also on the list of food she doesn't love are capers, fennel and innards. 'I'm not a big innards person, like even if it's fried and delicious I'm not doing liver or bone marrow,' the model added. 'I don't need to pretend that I have taste.' A California gym that caters exclusively to the LGBTQ community wants to change the way the gay community works out by offering at truly judgement-free zone. Simply stepping foot in a gym can make you feel self-conscious enough as it is. But when you're transgender - or express your gender in a 'nontraditional' sense - the politics of gym culture can be even more of a struggle to navigate. It is this struggle that inspired personal trainer and lesbian Nathalie Huerta to found The Queer Gym in Oakland, California - which, as the name suggests, acts as a workout haven for the LGBTQ community. Everyone's accepted! In 2010, Nathalie Huerta (front center) started The Queer Gym, a workout space exclusively for the LGBTQ community A serious philosophy: The Queer Gym prides itself on being a completely open-minded, judgement-free zone Don't hate, meditate! At the beginning of every class, members of The Queer Gym are required to say their name and preferred pronouns The concept for the Queer Gym - formerly known as The Perfect Sidekick - was born when founder Huerta was met with hostility at the gym because of her self-proclaimed 'butch lesbian' appearance. Though many gyms themselves, such as Planet Fitness, advocate for a 'judgement-free zone,' that doesn't prevent the actual clientele from making disparaging remarks or serving up cruel looks. Huerta began to realize that this type of treatment likely holds back many in the LGBTQ community from joining a gym. The need for LGBTQ workout spaces was seemingly confirmed when Huerta began to advertise herself specifically as a 'lesbian personal trainer' and received five new clients in just one week. Huerta's clientele continued to grow and she soon realized she needed more space; thus, The Queer Gym was officially born in 2010. The fitness center is now housed in a 2,000 square foot space in trendy Oakland. Though the gym aims to serve its members with compassion in all areas, that doesn't mean they don't also have a sense of humor, particularly when it comes to class names. A safe space: Huerta says she was inspired to found The Queer Gym after being faced with hostility at a 'regular' gym for her masculine appearance Focus on yourself: In addition to its other many body-positive elements, The Queer Gym does not have a single mirror in its workout rooms Keeping it in the community: The Queer Gym has a 175 member maximum to keep the close-knit attitude alive At The Queer Gym, you can indulge in such courses as Hard Core Homo, Oakland Booty, and Cardi-OH-F***! In addition to physical training, the Queer Gym serves up educational workshops, such as 'Queer 101' - an discussion-based class that is open to community members hoping to learn more about the LGBTQ world. Huerta tells Self that a 'Trans 101' workshop is upcoming. At the beginning of every class, students are required to introduce themselves by name, and also tell their classmates what pronouns they prefer. Additionally, the gym has no mirrors on site to 'boost body positivity.' The Queer Gym currently has 150 members, and Huerta tells Self that she plans on capping that number at 175, so as to better serve the tight-knit clientele. Though a membership at The Queer Gym may be out of your reach, they still represent a larger trend towards inclusivity that is sweeping fitness culture. Who knows? Perhaps The Queer Gym will someday open a location near you. She may only just be turning two, but Princess Charlotte already seems strong-minded. During a recent church sermon, she appeared impatient for the vicar of St Mary the Virgin, the parish church close to her grandparents home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, to bring the service to an end. She gave the impression that it was going on a little too long, said one member of the congregation who observed the chubby-cheeked princess there with her protective big brother, Prince George, sitting good as gold in his pew. Charlotte certainly has got a good voice. Since Georges birth, there has been talk of grumblings from the Prince of Wales over access to his grandchildren. Pictured at Trooping the Colour in June 2016 Churchgoers report a few noisy interludes from the youngest and as we will see, maybe most determined member of the Royal Family. As is often the case when it comes to the Cambridges children, doting granny Carole Middleton was there to soothe Charlotte, whose birthday is next Tuesday. It is a big milestone for the Princess who, has not been seen by the wider public at all since last year. Both Charlotte and George are frequent visitors to the Middletons 4.7 million home, Bucklebury Manor (it is Charlottes maternal grandparents who play the biggest role in her life). It is a haven of tranquillity for the children, who can run around the 18-acre grounds, dip their fingers in the pond teeming with frog spawn, or collect eggs from the chicken coop. None of it compares with the cosy familiarity of their own home, Anmer Hall, on the Queens Sandringham Estate, where Charlotte and three-year-old George live and that William and Kate insist will remain their principal home, despite a move to London later this year. (As if to emphasise the point, theyve just employed a second full-time housekeeper.) Nevertheless, this summers relocation to Kensington Palace in time for George to start at Thomass School in Battersea, London, in September will signal a big change for Charlotte. Such complaints are not unfounded. But it would be unfair, it should be stressed, to suggest there is a permanent rift. Pictured at a church service at Bucklebury, Berkshire, in December 2016 George attends a Montessori nursery in Norfolk, but the Princess will start her education in the capital. It is anticipated she will follow her brother and go to Thomass Kindergarten later in the year. The royals chose the school, in the heart of Batterseas affluent Nappy Valley, as it reminded Kate of her own village upbringing in Berkshire. Its sister school in Kensington had too many oligarchs and celebrities as parents, it was thought. Thomass kindy is located in the crypt of Grade I-listed St Marys Church in Battersea. Fees range between 1,950 per term for three mornings a week to 2,445 for five with an extra 440 per afternoon per term. Charlotte who has distinctive, dark Middleton eyes according to her mother seems to have a sparkly nature. Kate recently told a well-wisher: She is very cute but has quite a feisty side. George has turned out to be a lovely little boy. I hope he will keep Charlotte in order! Thats quite a transformation. As the Duchess herself hinted just last week when she referred to how lonely and overwhelming becoming a parent can be, she found motherhood the first time round a difficult experience. George wasnt the easiest of babies not only did she struggle to feed him but he was not a good sleeper. There were early reports of his boisterous nature. But things are easier now. At a childrens party on their visit to Canada last autumn, George appeared a much shyer, more hesitant child, who frequently looked to his mother and father for encouragement. Charlotte, by contrast, wrestled herself out of her mothers arms and toddled to a balloon display, uttering her first words in public. Pop! she squealed. Pop! Lively Charlotte a second child like Princess Anne and Aunt Pippa is proving to be a chip off the block when it comes to her adored Gan-Gan, her great-grandmother, the Queen, who sees the youngest member of her family regularly. It was certainly no coincidence that William chose to live close to his adored grandmother in Norfolk, rather than his father in Gloucestershire. Charlotte has also taken to horse-riding, having none of the alleged allergies to horses that her mother has. A beach which borders the Sandringham Estate is a favourite place for Charlotte, who has also been taken to International Horse Trials and a Georgian market town for shopping trips. Mother and daughter have also been spotted at a discount chain store where they bought arts and crafts supplies after Christmas. Arty Kate is keen on her children getting their hands messy. Both Kate and William, who does his best to be home from his job as an air ambulance pilot for bath-time, are hands-on parents. The Prince has said having a daughter was a game-changer for him, not just because he is one of two boys. It has made him, he says, more vulnerable. Charles is far more pragmatic than many give him credit for and while he may rant and rail about the situation in private, more often than not he caves in to his notoriously truculent eldest son over everything from his career decisions to money. Pictured in September 2016 on the royal tour in Canada Their Spanish Norland nanny, Maria Borrallo, who has been with the family since 2014, is an important influence on Charlotte. Kates habit of dressing her daughter in Spanish brands such as Pepa & Co and M&H is down to Marias guiding hand. But what of Charlottes other grandparents, Prince Charles and Camilla? How much influence do they have on her life? Since Georges birth, there has been talk of grumblings from the Prince of Wales over access to his grandchildren. Such complaints are not unfounded. But it would be unfair, it should be stressed, to suggest there is a permanent rift. Charles is far more pragmatic than many give him credit for and while he may rant and rail about the situation in private, more often than not he caves in to his notoriously truculent eldest son over everything from his career decisions to money. But the sad truth is, like many grandparents who dont have the easiest relationship with their offspring, he is also nervous of provoking a situation where he never gets to see his grandchildren at all. Indeed, a member of his inner circle told me that the number of times he has seen Charlotte since her birth was nowhere near what most grandparents would hope for or expect. This couldnt be more different from the access enjoyed by the Middletons, who, as one who knows them well says, are virtually part-time nannies to the children. I understand that after Charlottes birth, the Middletons were encouraged to pop in to see her whenever they liked including coming to the hospital when she was born. Charles and Camilla, it seems, were not given the same freedom. They have had to drop everything on several occasions to go to see the baby at short notice. William chose the Middletons as his surrogate family long ago, even before the children were born. He has nailed his colours to the mast in that respect, says one who has observed the family at close hand. It would be inconceivable for the Cambridges to leave their children with Charles and Camilla when they go on a foreign tour, as they do with Carole and Michael. The already delicate situation is exacerbated by the fact that while Charles has many official commitments almost 600 public engagements a year and a growing number of duties on behalf of the elderly Queen Carole and Michael, by contrast, have the luxury of being able to help with the children whenever needed. But the sad truth is, like many grandparents who dont have the easiest relationship with their offspring. Pictured: Princess Charlotte in Canada in September 2016 And it is made more difficult by the fact that while Charless own schedule is arranged meticulously six to seven months in advance William and Kates office at Kensington Palace is notoriously tardy in confirming their diary (unusually for a royal household). This has resulted in the frustrated Prince having to turn down last-minute family invitations as he is already scheduled to attend a public event that day. Whether any of this is likely to change when the Cambridges move to London is not clear. Having based themselves close to the Queen in Norfolk (a four-hour one-way trip from Highgrove and a six-hour round trip from his London home, Clarence House) for the past few years, Charless opportunities to see Charlotte and her brother have been limited and even then very much on William and Kates terms. Lets just say they havent really done anything to make it easy for him, said one familiar with the set-up. Charles does the best he can, but there are constraints. Its a shame as the Prince is far better with children than people might realise and clearly adores Charlotte (he and Diana longed for a daughter when they were married) and her brother. Both have handmade wooden swings at Anmer, carved with their names, courtesy of their grandpapa. Charles visibly melts at the mention of Charlottes name. As for the Duchess of Cornwall being a step-grandmother is never an easy line to tread at the best of times. A doting grandmother herself five times over (her own grandchildren often visit her Wiltshire country home, Ray Mill, and enjoy annual bucket and spade holidays and trips to the theatre with their Gaga), Camilla simply does her best not to upset the apple cart. The truth is she doesnt come into the equation much. If shes asked to be there, shell be there, but otherwise she has her own family and does her best to support her husband, says a friend. When asked about how much the prince saw his grandchildren, Cla-rence House said they would never comment on private arrangements regarding family visits. Sources close to Charles didnt dispute the suggestion that he would like to see more of his grandchildren, but implied he was now more pragmatic about the situation than he may have been. Does every grandparent want to see more of their grandchildren? Of course they do. But the Prince understands that mothers naturally gravitate towards their own families. And he acknowledges that he is in a unique position which means his time is not often his own, said one. Its not clear whether Charles will even see Charlotte for her birthday on Tuesday hes in Scotland all week and the Cambridges are unlikely to travel to Birkhall. One things for sure, though, he will send a thoughtful, if slightly quirky gift to mark her big day (no doubt helped by Camilla). As for the Middletons, without the rigours of a royal schedule, they are more than likely to see the Princess blow out her candles. Women are being denied antibiotics for the misery of cystitis because of imprecise tests at GP surgeries, research has found. Up to one in 20 doctors appointments for women is for suspected cystitis or similar urinary tract infections (UTIs). Their study found more than 98 per cent of women who believe they have a UTI or cystitis are in fact right. But using the traditional British test, a third of those with an infection did not show up as having one. Women are being denied antibiotics for the misery of cystitis because of imprecise tests at GP surgeries, research has found (file image) They said this was because testing in Britain is not sensitive enough to pick up the bacterial infection causing the problems, so women are often turned away without the antibiotics they need. Using the same threshold for detecting bacteria as the British test, the study found 62.3 per cent were positive for an infection. However a more sensitive test found 98.2 per cent in fact did have unhealthy bacteria in their urine. The research, published in the journal Clinical Microbiology and Infection, involved 220 women suffering pain when urinating or frequent and urgent trips to the loo. Lead author Dr Stefan Heytens from the University of Ghent, Belgium, said: A substantial percentage of women visiting their GP with symptoms of a UTI are told they have no infection and sent home without treatment. Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, has called for a second national referendum on independence from the UK. Fleeing Westminster is to her Scottish National Party (SNP) as leaving the EU was to UKIP: its all-encompassing passion and the partys raison detre. However, should Scotland leave the UK, it could prove troublesome for a nation that is already struggling. Significant obstacles could leave its economy stagnant. Simply put, Scotland is in poor fiscal shape, and leaving the UK could remove its lifeline to sane fiscal policy. Part of the problem is beyond Scotlands control. During the last independence referendum on September 18, 2014 which was billed as a once-in-a-generation event North Sea oil sold at $91 a barrel. Last month, the price plummeted to $48, with production costs of $44 a barrel. Scottish oil revenue in 2015-2016 was just one-third what it had been the previous year. Other troubles, though, are the nations own making, such as Scotlands problem with profligate spending. The Guardian reports: The Scottish and UK governments spent 1,200 a head more on public services in Scotland, and on Scotlands share of UK and overseas spending, while overall tax receipts fell by 400 a head. Compared with spending at UK level, that led to a gulf of 1,600 a head between what was raised in taxes and spent in Scotland. Overall government spending as a share of the economy increased again to reach nearly 44% of Scotlands GDP, compared with 40% at UK level. Losing its stipend from Westminster is part, but only part, of the damage independence would do to Scotland. If it forced the government to live within its means, that would be a benefit rather than a liability. However, belt-tightening has not been a major feature of Western democracies in far too long. Instead, left to its own devices, the SNP would likely make the nation even less competitive. Scotland recently used its devolved powers to keep taxes higher than in the rest of the UK, rejecting a tax cut that will increase the tab for 350,000 Scottish taxpayers. Since Edinburgh does not have devolved powers in other areas, the result is the peculiar outcome that people who make 43,000 pay a 10 percent higher tax rate than those who make 45,000. Scottish independence is pegged to the hope of somehow retaining the EU membership that belongs to the UK as a whole something already ruled out by leading EU authorities. Instead, Scotland would first have to obtain independence, then go through the application process, which its present economic condition makes it unlikely to pass. The EU wants member states to keep their deficit-to-GDP ratio at 3 percent. Last year, Scotland ran a deficit of 15 billion, or 9.5 percent of GDP compared to 3.8 percent for the UK as a whole. As an independent nation, thats worse than any other EU member state including Greece, Spain, and Portugal. Leaving the UK would mean cutting ties with its largest trading partner. Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of Scottish exports go to the rest of the UK, as opposed to 16 percent to the EU. Thats as a current member of the EU with no tariffs, a privilege it would not enjoy during the interim period between independence and accession to the EU. Simon Wren-Lewis, professor of economics at Oxford University, estimates that Scottish independence would decrease the average Scottish income by as much as 10 percent by 2030. In the unlikely event that Scotland becomes the new 28th member of the EU, it would then be subject to the significant regulatory and tax liability placed upon member states. (The UK shouldered an undue level of the latter.) Although the Great Repeal Bill would codify EU regulations into British law, there is at least the glimmer of hope that some of these regulations may be repealed or modified to better suit the needs and peculiar situation of UK citizens. Remaining, or becoming, an EU member extinguishes the prospect of subsidiarity altogether. Finally, as Simon Constable notes at Forbes, The EU might not even exist in a few years. Such an implosion seems extraordinarily unlikely. However, should Marine Le Pen pull off an upset in France, it is difficult to envision the EU, as currently constituted, surviving that nations exit. It is hard to find the economic upside for the citizens of Scotland if their government maintains its present course, cuts ties with its largest trading partner, and pays an excessively heavy tab in order to struggle under the burden of regulations by Euro-socialists from afar. (Photo credit: fw42. CC BY 2.0.) A woman had maggots burst out of her skin in a scene that would fit right into the popular sci-fi film 'Alien'. Known only by her surname Gu, the 28-year-old was backpacking around South America at the end of March with her friends. While in a Brazilian rainforest, she was bitten by a 'peanut-sized insect' on her right leg. After returning home to Shanghai, she noticed the lump left by the bite had split open and was itching intensely. Gu was horrified when larvae, the 'grub' stage of an insect, burst out from beneath her skin. Gu, 28, was horrified when larvae burst out of her leg after being bitten by a 'peanut-sized insect' while backpacking with friends in South America. She was likely bitten by a botfly Gu was most likely bitten by an insect that was carry the eggs of a human botfly, which is scientifically known as Dermatobia hominis. Initially, the fly left three lumps on her leg and itched for several hours. Gu was able to complete her trip, visiting Bolivia and other Amazonian countries without further incident until she returned home. The lump itched intensely before bursting, with examinations revealing more larvae lay buried beneath the skin, yet to emerge. These have since been removed and Gu is recovering well After the sci-fi inspired outburst, Gu's family took her to Longhua Hospital where doctors examined her leg. They found two more larvae were lying buried beneath the skin, yet to emerge. These have since been surgically removed. Gu is stable and recovering well with antibiotics. If you're someone who worries a lot, this will be great to hear. Concerning yourself about the smallest things in life isn't as bad for your health as first thought, a psychologist claims. Instead, it may keep you happy by acting as a motivator - despite years of research showing it makes the body weaker. By bracing yourself for the worst in any scenario, you are often protected when what you were worried about doesn't happen. This allows you to stay positive and even motivates you, says Professor Kate Sweeny, of the University of California, Riverside. Worrying may help you to recover from stressful experiences, prevent a range of illnesses and may even keep you happy, a psychologist claims She said: 'Despite its negative reputation, not all worry is destructive or even futile. It has motivational benefits, and it acts as an emotional buffer. 'Worry can motivate proactive efforts to assemble a ready-made set of responses in the case of bad news. 'I don't intend to advocate for excessive worrying. Instead, I hope to provide reassurance to the helpless worrier.' YES, YOU CAN WORRY YOURSELF TO DEATH People who fret about their health really are at risk of worrying themselves sick, researchers found in November. The 'worried well' those who needlessly agonise about their health are more than twice as likely to develop severe heart problems later in life. Those with the highest levels of 'health anxiety' were the most at risk of a potentially fatal heart attack or angina, a study of more than 7,000 people found. Norwegian scientists said hypochondriacs put their body in a state of high alert in which it is constantly on guard for any symptom of illness. This incessant checking and the resulting stress puts them at high risk of heart problems. Advertisement Writing in the journal Social and Personality Psychology Compass, Professor Sweeny noted three possible explanations for worry's motivating effects. People use their emotions when making decisions, and worry serves as a cue that the situation is serious, she said. While it also keeps a stressor at the front of their mind, prompting them into doing something about what's bothering them. The third reason could be due to the unpleasant feeling it creates pushing people to find ways to reduce their worry. Worry can also benefit one's emotional state by serving as an emotional bench-mark, Professor Sweeny added. Compared to the negative feelings of worry, any other feeling is deemed pleasurable by contrast. In her paper, she likened worry to that of using a seat belt in terms of its preventative health benefits. She pointed to a previous study that found those who worry about skin cancer were more likely to use sunscreen. While other research has found women worried about breast cancer reported self-examining themselves more often. Asthma attacks kill three people in the UK every day, but a new smartphone app may help sufferers to dodge their deadly symptoms. The app, called MyAsthma, allows patients to monitor their condition and avoid life-threatening triggers. By tracking the users' location, MyAsthma provides information on the weather and pollen count of their surrounding area, as these can set off wheezing and breathlessness. The free device also allows users to track any previous attacks and medication use. Around 5.4 million people in the UK are diagnosed with asthma, with a life-threatening attack occurring every 10 seconds. 'MyAsthma' helps sufferers to monitor their condition and avoid life-threatening triggers WHAT IS ASTHMA? Asthma is a lung condition that can cause breathing difficulties. It occurs when the breathing tubes to the lungs become inflamed and narrow. Symptoms include wheezing, breathlessness, coughing and a tight feeling in the chest. It may be triggered by exercise, cold air or cigarette smoke. There is no cure. Inhalers relieve symptoms and reduce inflammation. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement The app's appointment planner also allows patients to record any upcoming visits to the doctor. Once a user has gathered their 'asthma profile' this can be shown to their doctor or synced with other health apps. The app, created by GlaxoSmithKline, is the first pharma-supported service of its kind available on a smartphone, The Express reported. It won the AXA PPP Health Tech & You Awards 2017 last night, which were created to promote awareness of health technology. Other winners included a finger prick blood test monitor that allows chemotherapy patients to monitor their treatment. Kay Boycott, chief executive of Asthma UK, told MailOnline: 'New technologies offer great hope for people with asthma to help manage their symptoms and monitor their health. 'Just like every other part of our lives, the use of technology to help people with asthma ensure they are taking their medication as prescribed is likely to become the norm. 'With the support of doctors, new technologies could support people to seek help when their asthma is not under control.' An asthma attack occurs when a sufferer's symptoms worsen and their inhaler fails to provide any relief. The app tracks weather and pollen counts in the user's area, and records doctor appointments Patients may also be too breathless to speak, eat or sleep and feel like they are unable to catch their breath. Sufferers are advised to sit down and stay calm. They should use their inhaler as prescribed and call an ambulance if their symptoms do not improve after 10 puffs. This comes after researchers from McGill University, Montreal found asthma patients who use an inhaler have an 83 per cent higher risk of being hospitalised with pneumonia. Breathing in the steroids in the inhalers is thought to be to blame. When Bhoomi Manjunatha was born with cerebral palsy, doctors warned she would probably never walk independently. Now five years old, the little girl from Ohio has relied on a walker or a wheelchair to move around. But surgeons at the state's top-ranked Nationwide Children's Hospital saw things differently, and said had devised an operation that could help Bhoomi walk. She underwent the rare and complex procedure on her spine in November, followed by intense physical therapy. Six months later, she is learning to stand on her own two feet, walking with nothing but a pair of light crutches. Experts believe that, with continued physical therapy, Bhoomi will never have to use a wheelchair again. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Bhoomi Manjunatha, five, from Ohio, was born with cerebral palsy and spasticity, leaving her muscles stiffened and confined to a wheelchair. But, thanks to a new surgery, she's starting to walk At Nationwide Children's Hospital, doctors told her parents of a rare procedure, called selective dorsal rhizotomy, during which the nerves on the lower spinal cord are separated and identified via electrical stimulation. The nerves that lead to too much muscle tone are then cut Bhoomi was born with cerebral palsy and spasticity, a condition in which certain muscles are continuously contracted. Spasticity affects more than 12 million people worldwide, including 80 percent of people with cerebral palsy. The disorders had confined Bhoomi to a wheelchair, with the occasional use of a walker. When doctors at Nationwide Children's Hospital, in Columbus, Ohio, heard the story, they told her parents they could help her with a procedure performed by only a few surgeons in the world. The surgery is known as selective dorsal rhizotomy and is performed on the lower spinal cord. WHAT IS CEREBRAL PALSY? Cerebral palsy is the umbrella term for a number of brain conditions that affect movement and coordination. Specifically, it is caused by a problem in the parts of the brain responsible for controlling muscles. The condition can occur if the brain develops abnormally or is damaged before, during or shortly after birth. It's estimated that 764,000 children and adults in the US have one or more symptoms of the disorder. The CDC says that about 10,000 babies born every year will develop cerebral palsy. There's no cure for cerebral palsy, but some treatments are available to ease symptoms, such as physiotherapy. Life expectancy is usually unaffected, however, the emotional and physical strain can put a great deal of stress on the body which can cause further problems in later life. Advertisement Spinal cord nerves are separated, then identified via an electrical stimulation. Following identification, certain sensory nerve fibers in the spinal cord are cut. The nerves that lead to too much muscle tone, which is a condition of cerebral palsy and spasticity, are then cut. In November, the surgical team determined which rootlets were abnormal and divided about 60 percent of the stimulation to prevent the tightening and stiffness that Bhoomi experienced. 'The surgery went well, but the parents sort of look at me funny when I say, "My part is actually kind of easy",' said Dr Jeffrey Leonard, who led the surgery. 'The child has over six months of hard work in their physical therapy.' Bhoomi has been undergoing months of inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient physical therapy and occupational therapy to strengthen her muscles so she can take advantage of her newfound mobility. 'She was so excited about this surgery thinking it is going to be a magical cut and she'll be all good, but it took a lot of effort from her to get where she is today,' her mother, Sushma, said. In the four months since the surgery, doctors say Bhoomi is continuing to progress. She is out of her wheelchair and now using crutches to help her move around. In November, the surgery team determined which nerves were abnormal and divided about 60 percent of the stimulation to prevent the tightening and stiffness that Bhoomi experienced What has followed for Bhoomi is four months of inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient physical therapy and occupational therapy to strengthen her muscles so she can take advantage of her newfound mobility Bhoomi's now able to stand up on her own and her legs are straightening. Lead surgeon Dr Jeffrey Leonard predicts her posture will improve and that she will require less orthopedic procedures in the future (Bhoomi pictured with her mother, Sushma) The next step is for Bhoomi to straighten out her legs so that she can support her upper muscles. Dr Leonard predicts her posture will improve and that she will require less orthopedic procedures in the future. 'Bhoomi is bright and energetic, you can see that from her smile,' he added. 'She is motivated and did everything that the therapist asked of her, working really hard in rehabilitation. 'I think she is going to be dramatically effected in a very positive manner after having undergone the rhizotomy.' People who donate a kidney to a complete stranger are motivated by their love of the human race, scientists claim. They hold the welfare of those they have never even met in the same regard than their family and friends, a study shows. The findings shed light on the growing phenomenon - and suggests 'altruistic living donors' do not think they will be paid back somehow. Researchers have long pointed to a belief that they will receive something in return for their selfless sacrifice. Living kidney donors hold the welfare of those they have never even met in the same regard than their family and friends, a study shows Now, in the first study of its kind that compared the actions of donors with ordinary members of the public, psychologists have shown the opposite. One psychologist described the finding, published in Nature Human Behaviour, as news that 'inspires hope for the future'. Dr Tobias Kalenscher, of Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, said: 'In today's Zeitgeist of nationalist protectionism and populist individualism, this news inspires hope for the future.' In the Georgetown University study, 60 participants, including 21 who had donated a kidney, performed a money allocation task. They asked to determine how close they considered themselves to be towards computer avatars representing different social relationships - including blood relatives, unrelated family, friends, neighbours and strangers. There was no difference between the groups in how closely related they felt to others - known as 'social distancing' to measure someone's acceptance of people. The findings shed light on the growing phenomenon - and suggests 'altruistic living donors' do not think they will be paid back somehow KIDNEY DONATIONS: THE FACTS In Britain and the US, the number of people choosing to donate an organ anonymously is growing year on year. Altruistic living donors do not have a recipient in mind but volunteer to donate a kidney to someone who is need of a transplant. In September, the NHS announced more than 500 people had helped save the life of stranger by sacrificing their organ while still alive. Changes in the law eleven years ago made it possible for individuals to become living donors to people in need of a transplant whom they do not know and have never met - a behaviour known as 'non-directed altruistic donation.' In years past, willing altruistic donors were often turned away because hospitals assumed that they were mentally unwell. It can be hard to understand why a person would sacrifice an internal organ for someone they may never meet. Advertisement But a dramatic difference emerged when it came to another trait called 'social discounting', according to the researchers. This is known as the diminishing value that someone places on others' welfare the more removed from their circle they are. In each round, the participants could either behave selfishly by keeping a large sum of money to themselves, or generously by sharing it with the other individual. The selfish choice ranged from keeping $155 (120) to $75 (58). The generous choice always stayed the same - keeping $75 or sharing $75. While controls showed social discounting as observed in many previous studies, the donors' generosity toward others decreased only minimally with larger social distance. The value donors placed on the financial welfare of a complete stranger was identical to controls placed on the welfare of a good acquaintance. Lead author Kruti Vekaria said these people display empathy, but they are unsure as to why they are willing to risk their own health for strangers. Donors are warned of the long-term risks of giving up one of their organs before undergoing the procedure. Scientists have previously found that donating a kidney may lead to high blood pressure in the future. Women suffering from premenstrual tension (PMT) could ease their pain and mood swings with yoga. A scientific review has found the stretches beloved by yummy mummies may actually help with period pains. The exercises and breathing techniques are believed to cause brain changes that improve peoples tolerance to stress and cramps. According to instruction manuals, head and shoulder stands, beloved by celebrities including Naomi Campbell and Sadie Frost, are not the best poses during a womans time of the month. Yet, a review of 15 studies found cobra, cat and fish poses appear to make symptoms better. Women suffering from premenstrual tension could ease their pain and mood swings with yoga IS YOGA THE SECRET TO A SHARPER MEMORY OVER 50? Tai chi and yoga could be the key for over-50s who want to boost their brain power, researchers claim. Experts at the University of Canberra found taking part in a 45-minute session at least once a week helped to improve thinking, attention and memory skills. Other forms of exercise also help improve cognition, including aerobic activities such as swimming, and resistance and weight training, which the researchers found were all similarly effective. But they said tai chi an ancient Chinese exercise based on slow, flowing movements and balance was particularly useful because it could be adopted by older people unwilling or unable to take on vigorous exercise. Advertisement The review, conducted at Kings College London, found every relevant study of yoga over 20 years demonstrated improved PMT, and irregular and painful periods in women aged 13 - 45. The participants also saw a reduction in back ache, cramps, anxiety, stress and anger. They even found themselves better able to concentrate afterwards. Author Dr Jennifer Oates, said: This is so interesting because yoga is a form of exercise which most people have access to through lessons or online tutorials. 'They can practice it anywhere, without needing specialist equipment, and it doesnt need to cost money. The research covered quite intensive yoga regimes, but it can make us optimistic that this may offer potential hope to people with PMT, irregular or painful periods. Yoga was found to change hormone levels in the body, which may affect womens periods. It may also make people better able to deal with stress and mood swings through forcing them to focus on their breathing and poses. Previous studies have shown yoga cuts levels of the stress hormone cortisol and limits the inflammatory responses in the body, which may leave people better able to tolerate pain. The reviewed studies, taking in women aged 13 to 45, rated their pain according to a scale and asked them how they felt. Practising yoga may also cause reduction in back ache, cramps, anxiety, stress and even anger Yoga teachers recommend the downward dog for women during their time of the month, as well as the bridge and bound angle pose, where they angle their legs at 90 degrees, with bent knees so that the soles of their feet touch. But the scientific evidence, from studies looking at the cobra, cat and fish pose, found these also worked for menstrual problems. The cobra involves arching the back like a snake, while the cat requires exercisers stretch the body into a table-top shape. The fish involves bending the torso back to rest your head on the floor while sitting. The length of the yoga practice sessions differed from 10 to 90 minutes across the studies, lasting from two to 16 weeks. The study, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, concludes: The reduction of menstrual disorder symptoms (as reflected in pain or wellbeing scores) may be due to a generic effect of yoga on pain tolerance and stress reduction, rather than an impact on underlying causes of menstrual disorder, such as hormone imbalance, for example. It offers a potential new strategy for women, often reliant on painkillers and hot water bottles to ward off the period pain, which affects up to 91 per cent of females. The study states: Yoga practice is growing exponentially, particularly in the population most likely to experience menstrual distress - women of childbearing age. The Summer House Party by Caro Fraser (Head of Zeus 18.99) THE SUMMER HOUSE PARTY by Caro Fraser (Head of Zeus 18.99) Its 1936 and a group of bright young people gather at an idyllic country house party. For beautiful Meg, meeting charismatic Dan marks the start of a lifelong passion. But can she resist the proposal of rich but patronising Paul? For poor relation Madeleine meanwhile, silver-fox artist Henry is one temptation too far. Fraser skilfully combines many narrative threads to build a great big satisfying saga full of passionate love, ghastly betrayal and, as Britain tips inexorably into conflict, thrilling drama. Not all the characters develop in the way you expect. There are twists and surprises, plus the odd red herring, and its all quite sexy, too. OOLA by Brittany Newell (Borough Press 7.99) When Leif, a Wasp-y New England teen, meets kooky Californian pianist Oola at a London party, the attraction is instant and violent. They tour Europe and America, housesitting rich peoples holiday homes and becoming increasingly deranged and divorced from reality. The balance of power shifts constantly between them, and their obsessional love is powerfully conveyed. I also liked the sharp social detail. But its quite creepy, amoral and promiscuous, and some of the sex is graphic, so maybe not one for your mother-in-law. If youre looking for a wildcard read this summer, however, this is definitely a contender. We All Begin as Strangers by Harriet Cummings (Orion 14.99) WE ALL BEGIN AS STRANGERS by Harriet Cummings (Orion 14.99) Books about people disappearing in the villages of the recent past are tres a la mode at the moment. They allow a piquant mix of rural Gothic with amusing Seventies and Eighties style. This dazzling debut mines the same seam, but to better effect than most. A scary intruder known as The Fox is stalking the village. Is he responsible for the apparent abduction of shy, quiet Anna? Answering this question opens local cans of worms, and those pulled into the mystery embark on a journey of self-discovery. These include skittish Deloris, frustrated in her marriage to carpet king Harvey, and lonely policeman Brian, held back by his disabled brother. Beautifully plotted, fantastically written and compellingly strange. Hurry, the closing date for our fantastic First Novel competition is next Friday, May 5, at 5.30pm so get typing! Just to remind you this is your chance to win a 20,000 publishing deal with one of the worlds biggest and most respected publishers, Penguin Random House. Last year, our winner Amy Lloyd (below) scooped the prize with her disturbing crime thriller, Red River, which will be published here in January 2018, and has already been sold to publishers in the U.S., Canada, Poland, France, Turkey and Holland. Last year, our winner Amy Lloyd scooped the prize with her disturbing crime thriller, Red River, which will be published here in January 2018, and has already been sold to publishers in the U.S., Canada, Poland, France, Turkey and Holland Delve into the deepest, darkest corners of your imagination because we are looking for a brand new crime novel which can be a detective story, spy thriller or psychological chiller. You must confirm that you have read and agreed to the full terms and conditions which can be found at dailymail.co.uk/crimenovel and entrants must be aged 16 or over but there is no upper age limit. We dont need to see the finished novel, just the first 5,000 words and a synopsis, 600 words, of the complete work. TOP TIPS FROM OUR JUDGES Create a distinctive voice, open with an intriguing premise, develop a strong central character, and finish with a powerful ending so the reader feels satisfied. Try to write every day and if you hit a wall, go for a walk or take a break, but dont give up. This competition could change your life... Advertisement The competition is open only to first-time novelists who have never had a novel published before in any format, including self-published or an ebook. If you entered last year, you can enter again but NOT with the same book. The judges will be best-selling crime writer Simon Kernick, leading literary agent Luigi Bonomi who will represent the winner, top publisher Selina Walker who will publish the book and Daily Mail Literary Editor Sandra Parsons. Entries are to be posted or couriered (not emailed) to Daily Mail First Novel Competition, c/o Penguin Random House Group, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA by 5.30pm on May 5, 2017. Entries received after this time will not be judged. (DO NOT SEND YOUR ENTRY DIRECTLY TO THE DAILY MAIL). Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir banned 22 social media sites in an effort to calm tensions in the disputed region after videos depicting the alleged abuse of Kashmiris by Indian forces fuelled protests. But the sites remained online Thursday as the local telecom company struggled to block them and defiant Kashmiri citizens continued to post their discontent with the climate in the region. The government said Wednesday that the one-month ban was necessary for public safety because social media were being 'misused by anti-national and anti-social elements.' The government has often halted internet service in the region in the past in an attempt to prevent anti-India demonstrations from forming. But this is the first time authorities have shut down social media following the circulation of videos of alleged abuse by Indian soldiers Kashmir has been plagued with violence and protests in recent weeks, though the problems go back decades Youths have been clashing with government forces in recent protests after more than 60 students were injured in clashes earlier this month 'It's being felt that continued misuse of social networking sites and instant messaging services is likely to be detrimental to the interests of peace and tranquillity in the state,' the public order said. However, residents of Srinagar, Kashmir's main city, woke up to internet access on Thursday morning and continued to broadcast their dissent. 'It was a welcome surprise,' said Tariq Ahmed, a 24-year-old university student. 'It appears they've hit a technical glitch to block social media en mass.' Others mocked the government. A Facebook post by Kashmiri writer Arif Ayaz Parrey said the ban showed 'the Indian government has decided to take on the collective subversive wisdom of cyberspace humanity.' The separatist leader of thousands of Muslims in the Kashmir valley, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, also managed to get his message out on Twitter, despite the blackout. While the government has halted internet service in Kashmir in previous attempts to prevent anti-India demonstrations, this is the first time they have done so in response to the circulation of videos and photos showing alleged military abuse. A Kashmiri shopkeeper browses internet on his mobile phone as he waits for customers outside his shop in Srinagar Indian police and paramilitary officials accuse agitators of using social media to instigate violence. An official with Kashmir's state-owned telecom company, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, said engineers were still working on shutting down the 22 sites, including Facebook and Twitter, but so far had been unable to do so without freezing the internet across the Himalayan region. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to give technical details of the effort to the media. Meanwhile, 3G and 4G cellphone service has been suspended for more than a week, but slower 2G service is still available. Kashmiri man Farooq Ahmed Dar, right, who was tied to the front of an Indian Army jeep, sits as his mother displays a muddy and torn out robe that Dar was wearing on the day of his alleged abuse at his residence in Chill village A viral video that showed the young shawl weaver Dar strapped to a patrolling Indian army jeep as a human shield against stone-throwing protesters incensed Kashmiris and sparked region wide debate A 2016 report from the U.S. think tank the Brookings Institution saying that India blocked access to the internet in various regions to prevent demonstrations 22 times in the 12 months starting in July 2015, 'more often than Syria, Pakistan and Turkey combined.' Kashmiris have been uploading videos and photos of alleged abuse for some years, but several recently posted clips, captured in the days surrounding a violence-plagued local election on April 9, have proven to be especially powerful and have helped to intensify anti-India protests. One video shows a stone-throwing teenage boy being shot by a soldier from a few metres away. Another shows soldiers making a group of young men, held inside an armoured vehicle, shout profanities against Pakistan while a soldier kicks and slaps them with a stick. The video pans to a young boy's bleeding face as he cries. Yet another clip shows three soldiers holding a teenage boy down with their boots and beating him on his back. The video that drew the most outrage was of young shawl weaver Farooq Ahmed Dar tied to the hood of an army jeep as it patrolled villages on voting day. A soldier can be heard saying in Hindi over a loudspeaker, 'Stone throwers will meet a similar fate,' as residents look on aghast. Protests and clashes are an almost daily occurrence in Indian-administered Kashmir, where anti-India sentiment runs deep among the mostly Muslim population after decades of military crackdowns. Disputes over control of the Kashmir region, claimed by both India and Pakistan, have sparked two wars between the nations since 1947. After being rejected by Delhi voters in this month's municipal elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is battling to stay united and stay relevant. While buzz about a possible split is growing louder, the victorious Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says it has shut its doors to defectors. Highly placed BJP sources told Mail Today on Thursday that at least six AAP MLAs approached the party's Delhi leadership immediately after the MCD poll results, but were turned away. Down but not yet out: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addressing press conference The Arvind Kejriwal-led party stormed to power in Delhi two years ago as it buried the BJP and Congress under a landslide. But it stood a distant second in the civic elections with the Bharatiya Janata Party riding the Narendra Modi wave one more time to a thumping win. 'Six AAP MLAs had approached the party leadership, seeking time to meet Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari,' a BJP leader said. 'They wanted to discuss the political developments in the wake of the civic poll results. They said they were also willing to join the BJP. But the party leadership has refused to meet them.' City BJP leaders said the party was averse to take any AAP legislator to its fold primarily for two reasons. Solidarity: AAP MLA Somnath Bharti , Madan Lal Khufiya, Naresh Yadav at Arvind Kejriwal's home in New Delhi on Thuresday First, the BJP has gained immensely on the development plank of PM Narendra Modi and there was no need to rely on support from AAP defectors. Secondly, AAP has been extremely critical of the BJP and its top leaders including Modi and party president Amit Shah. 'With the BJP riding high on a Modi wave, entry of AAP leaders in the BJP camp would dampen the spirit of the party cadre,' BJP leaders said. 'We cannot take leaders from a party which has been bitterly critical of our top leaders.' 'The BJP is firm on its stand. No defector will be allowed in the party after the election results lest we should be accused of hatching conspiracies or poaching,' said the BJP leader. No one home! The deserted AAP office The party has decided to wait and watch the situation in the AAP. Meanwhile, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday called a meeting of all party MLAs and the newly-elected 48 MCD councilors, and congratulated them on their win. The developments emerged amid reports that embattled AAP convener Kejriwal told his partymen 'not to lose heart' from the embarrassing loss and 'get back to serving the people of Delhi the way they were doing.' 'Be vigilant, be honest, be brave. Also be sure to secretly record any offers made by the BJP to switch sides,' he says in a video posted on YouTube. Kejriwal concludes his address by leading his audience in an oath which amounts to, 'With God as my witness, I pledge never to ditch this pure party or betray the (anticorruption) movement.' The rift within AAP is palpable after the election results. While there has been no vocal protest so far, a number of party leaders have been questioning Kejriwal's style of functioning. 'AAP contested all elections with Kejriwal as its face. But responsibility has to be fixed for repeated electoral defeats. 'At the same time, the party organisation should be strengthened instead of creating a personality cult,' said some leaders, requesting anonymity. Senior Punjab AAP leader Sanjay Singh resigned on Thursday along with his deputy Durgesh Pathak. 'I have submitted my resignation as the party in-charge of Punjab to AAP's national convener Arvind Kejriwal. Durgesh (Pathak) has also submitted his resignation as co-incharge,' Singh said in a tweet. Another senior leader in Delhi, Ashish Talwar, also resigned from his post. The party made transport minister Gopal Rai the Delhi convener on Thursday following Dilip Pandey resigning from the post immediately after the MCD poll debacle on Wednesday. After the meeting at the CM's residence, AAP legislator Vishesh Ravi said, 'It's been decided that the MLAs will go back to the people and try to find out where the communication gap between the legislators and them has occurred.' Ravi, MLA from Karol Bagh, said that in the meeting, the EVM manipulation issue also came up for discussion. 'AAP will soon decide its future course of action on this issue. At present, related evidence (pertaining to EVM manipulation) is being gathered,' he said. The President of the United States makes an annual salary of $400,000 a year for doing one of the toughest jobs in the world. While the pay may seem relatively low compared to CEOs of major corporations, the real payoff for presidents comes once they exit the White House. President Obama, for example, has been out of office for exactly 99 days an has already earned at least $800,000two years worth of a presidents salaryfor giving one speech and one interview. Most of the reaction to Obamas speaking fees has broken out along typical partisan lines. Fans of the former president merely shrug while his long-time critics feign outrage (even if they dont know why they are mad). But many conservative critics of the president think the new money-making ventures are much ado about nothing. Some even say this is how the market works. They are wrong. Such speaking fees are (at least potentially) a form of corruption. Heres why. The decisions and choices we make today can affect the options that become available to us in the future time. For example, I may spend less money today in order to be able to spend more at a future point in time, such as during retirement. The name for this economic concept is intertemporal choice. What we expect or desire to happen in the future can affect the choices we make now. While this concept may appear obvious, it can have significant implications when we apply it to certain groups, such as politicians and government leaders. Consider the problem of cronyism. Cronyism is a form of corruption that occurs when an individual or organization colludes with government officials to create legislation or regulations that give them forced benefits they could not have otherwise obtained voluntarily. But such cronyism doesnt have to occur directly. Intertemporal choices, as economist Bryan Caplan explains, can lead to intertemporal corruption: If a major corporation gives a U.S. Senator a ten-million-dollar gift, its likely to be punished as corruption. It doesnt matter if the corporation protests, Were only expressing our affection for this fine Senator or if the Senator bellows, How dare you claim my vote is for sale! However, if the same Senator retires, and the major corporation gives him a ten-million-dollar sinecure on its Board of Directors, its perfectly legal and few demur. The painfully obvious flaw with both norms: Intertemporal corruption is a wonderful substitute for ordinary corruption. A professor is unlikely to give an F to his current girlfriend; but hes also unlikely to give an F to his future girlfriend. A Senator is unlikely to vote against a corporation that gives him millions of dollars; but hes also unlikely to vote against a corporation thats going to give him millions of dollars. What comes around, goes around. If President Obama had collected a $400,000 fee from the founders of Solyndra, the failed energy company that left taxpayers liable for $535 million in federal guarantees, the corruption would be obvious. But because he is taking money from companies that benefited from his policies in less obvious ways, we assume no corruption has occurred. And maybe it hasnt. Maybe Obama never made a decision while he was president in which he considered how it would affect his future finances. But even if he didnt, hes sending a signal to future presidents (just as Bill Clinton did) that if you play your cards right, your tenure in the White House is an assured path to multi-millionaire status. This is also why former U.S. military generals should not be accepting speaking fees from foreign countries. Even if Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn did nothing wrong in collecting $45,000 for giving a speech to a Russian propaganda outlet, he set a standard for those who will come after him. If you believe theres the potential to someday get rich off your countrys adversaries, then you may be tempted to promote policies that are in their interest and not in the national interest of the United States. The signals we send matter, especially to politicians and government leaders. And if we signal to them that intertermporal corruption is a shrug-worthy offense, we should expect to see more of this type of cronyism in the future. An unconscious Hameed Mohammad was brought to Safdarjung Hospital following complaints of severe stomach pain, breathlessness and vomiting after landing at Indira Gandhi Airport. Doctors scanned the 19-year-old Afghanistan national's abdomen hoping to find answers. They found the cause of his discomfort: 61 capsules containing heroin worth about Rs 8 crore (960,000). Indira Gandhi International Airport: An unconscious Hameed Mohammad, 19, was brought to Safdarjung Hospital following complaints of severe stomach pain, breathlessness He was then rushed taken to the forensic unit at Safdarjung Hospital where he died during treatment. A doctor told Mail Today: 'The Afghan national fell unconscious at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Heroin pellets: 61 capsules containing heroin worth about Rs 8 crore (960,000) were recovered During treatment we found that his stomach was very tight and during the rectal examination, some pellets came out of his body Dr Mohit Gupta, associate Professor at Safdarjung Hospital 'Security personnel brought him here for treatment where we got to know that he was smuggling contraband.' Experts say Afghan smugglers often travel to India under the guise of seeking medical care. Here, they sell the heroin to dealers, who then sell the drug through networks to neighbouring countries. Afghanistan produces 90% of the world's opium. According to officials, the smuggler had crossed the security check at Delhi airport without getting detected, but the matter came to light when some of the pouches containing contraband burst inside his stomach and he fell ill. Heroin, like opium and morphine, is made from the resin of poppy plants. Milky, sap-like opium is first removed from the pod of the poppy flower. This opium is refined to make morphine, then further refined into different forms of heroin. Observers say the incident also raises security concerns at India's airports. Dr Mohit Gupta, associate Professor at Safdarjung Hospital, told Mail Today, 'We are seeing such a case for the first time. We suspected that the Afghan national lodged some foreign bodies in his abdomen but we were not sure if it was drugs. Poppies are farmed to make heroin in Afghanistan 'During treatment we found that his stomach was very tight and during the rectal examination, some pellets came out of his body.' It was only after an X-ray that doctors found the 61 capsules. Hameed must have consumed the pouches orally as no surgical marks were seen on his body, they said. 'These were 2-3 centimetre long capsules filled with heroin, each wrapped with a plastic sheet. Normally, a person cannot swallow such large capsules. 'As per estimates, in international market the drugs would be worth nearly Rs 8 crore,' said Gupta. Doctors said Hameed died because a few of the packets were not sealed properly and ruptured in his stomach. Thereafter, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was informed and officials confirmed that the drug was heroin, said a doctor. Security agencies say more and more such cases are coming to the fore where foreign nationals try to smuggle drugs to India by hiding them inside their bodies. In March, a 57-year-old Afghan national was brought to Metro Hospital in Noida where doctors found seven plastic pouches containing heroin in his stomach. Milk of the poppy: Sap-like opium is first removed from the pod of the poppy flower. This opium is refined to make morphine, then further refined into different forms of heroin Abdul Ali Noori was brought to the institute by a relative and a guide. Noori was in a critical condition and remained admitted in the intensive care unit for a few days. He was arrested by the police after recovery. In another case, a man carrying 1.2 kg of gold in his rectum was intercepted by officials at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in February. They also found 800 gm of gold in the LED lamps he was carrying in his bags. Former DGP KPS Gill has offered some strong words to India's military leadership Former DGP KPS Gill has offered some strong words to India's military leadership after the massacre of 25 CRPF jawans in Chattisgarh earlier this week. Gill served as the security advisor to Chattisgarh government in 2006 and was tasked with getting rid of the naxal menace in the state by the then Raman Singh-led government. However, Gill was forced to quit the job midway having accused the Raman government of not doing enough to thwart the naxal menace. KPS Gill spoke exclusively with India Today TV on the Sukma attack on CRPF jawans which resulted in the death of 25 jawans. Gill told India Today TV, 'I had submitted proposals to the Chattisgarh government when I was there. 'In my one-year stint a lot was discussed, with nothing being implemented.' He said it will be wrong to single out anyone for what has happened and that it's a collective responsibility and needs involvement of all parties. 'The CRPF men killed last week were guarding a crucial road project.' Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh paying tribute to CRPF jawans killed in the naxal attack in Chhattisgarh Gill said 'failure in governance' has resulted into such an incident. This under-construction highway in jagargonda is strategically very important. 'It was under construction back when Gill was the advisor in 2006 and it is yet not complete. He also questioned why the SOP was not put in practice. 'The battalion was 90 km away from the HQ. In such a difficult terrain you can't afford to keep forces at such a distance,' he said. Injured CRPF being brought to Raipur for treatment on Monday follwing a Maoist attack at Burkapal Gill said that mere appointment of a full-time DG is not enough and officers should have the experience of leading forces in such conditions. He also said 'talk of resource crunch, lack of anti-mine vehicle for the security forces are rubbish'. He added: '[the suggestion] that the Maoists are better-equipped is rubbish. They are a bunch of untrained men. 'A weapon which fires straight is of no good.' He trashed the idea of deployment of Army/Air Force for anti-naxal operations and said it is not a solution. 'Better co-ordination between the state police and central agencies is required. 'A special force to tackle the naxal menace should be raised. SPOs should be best utilised, Gill insisted. In an intense 5-hour chase, wildlife department of Gurugram has managed to rescue an adult leopard from Durga colony in Sohna, some 25km from the district head quarter, on Thursday. With water bodies and pits dried up due to the intense heat this summer, a four-year-old male leopard wandering in search of water and food, was strayed into the area. It was the fourth incident of its kind in last six months. Local residents claim to have sighted the wild cat at around 9am, when it was running into a narrow lane. The leopard is said to be safe and suffered no injury. It is under observation and will be released in the Aravalli once declared fit Local people perched on the roofs of buildings with batons in their hands. The leopard attacked one Ajay Sharma, 40, standing by his window. The animal scratched him on the nose. 'Residents of the area started attacking the animal with batons when it tried to escape. 'The leopard tried to jump inside a house and then climbed onto a roof of another and then went on jumping from one roof to another due to the constant chase by local people. Gurugram: Local people perched on the roofs of buildings with batons in their hands. The leopard attacked one Ajay Sharma, 40, standing by his window 'It finally ended up in the narrow lane again,' said Naveen Bhardwaj, a youth from the locality. Unlike recent Mandawar incident, the situation quietened quickly with local people having followed the instructions of wildlife officials and policemen. Since, the leopard was isolated for some four hours, it looked relaxed. 'We have to understand the nature of wild animals and should act accordingly. 'The isolation of the leopard in a corner helped us to calm it down. It was easy to tranquilise the animal,' said Shyam Sunder Kaushik, divisional forest officer, Gurugram range. Wildlife officials have tranquilised the big cat at the fourth attempt and got it unconscious shortly. 'The leopard is safe and suffers no injury. It is under observation and will be released in the Aravalli after doctors declare it fit,' Kaushik added. Before finalising the chargesheet on the JNU sedition row, the Delhi Police Special Cell has summoned 30 students of Jawaharlal Nehru University to join probe. The students, including Shehla Rashid, former vice-president of JNUSU, are not named on the chargesheet that is to be filed soon, sources said. The students have been given three days time - April 27, 28, 29 - and have been asked to be present at the administrative block, JNU from 12 noon afterwards. JNU student Kanhaiya Kumar addresses students inside the university campus after being released on bail in 2016 The summoned students also include Aparajitha Raja, daughter of CPI leader and Rajya Sabha MP, D Raja. Aparajitha also stays at room number 261 of the Koyna hostel even though her father has been allotted a bungalow on the posh Rafi Marg in Lutyens Delhi. The name of Rajas daughter and other activists of Left-wing students organisation came up after BJP east Delhi Lok Sabha member Maheish Girri wrote a letter to the Delhi Police claiming that members of the groups were indulging in anti-national activities on JNU campus. Meanwhile, highly-placed sources told Mail Today, that the officials of Special Cell are all set to file the charge sheet related to the sedition case involving Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya. Jawaharlal Nehru University students shout slogans as they hold placards during a protest demanding the release of Kanhaiya Kumar In the ongoing probe, no concrete evidence has been found against Kanhaiya Kumar that he had raised anti-national slogans. He is likely to be given a clean chit in the case, sources claimed. If sources are to be believed, the officials are at their final stage of investigation. They are likely to file the charge sheet by May end or June first week. Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya and Kanhaiya Kumar are being prosecuted by the Delhi Police for allegedly raising anti-India slogans on the JNU campus at a meeting organised on February 9 last year in memory of perpetrator of the 2001 Parliament attack, Afzal Guru. In an exclusive India Today TV interview that touched on everything from cow vigilantes to triple talaq, BJP national president Amit Shah expressed grave concern over the escalating tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, but did not divulge their future strategy. 'Security forces are working very well,' Shah said. Under fire for ostensibly going soft in the Valley, owing to compulsion of the coalition with PDP, Shah said, 'It is not the right time to analyse the coming together with Mehbooba government. 'If people are attacking, the forces have to fight it out. There are talks and diplomatic channels for further progress.' BJP President Amit Shah at the inauguration of 29th Savarkar Sahitya Sammelan in Thane BJP national president Amit Shah has expressed grave concern over the brewing trouble in Jammu and Kashmir He also spoke on triple talaq, a highly-contentious issue that has hogged the national limelight lately and for which the orthodox Muslim elements have accused the BJP of 'making political'. Not all (gau rakshaks) are associated with BJP. There are all kind of elements in the party BJP President Amit Shah Shah said: 'We want women to stop suffering. I believe women should get their deserved rights.' Shah rejected all talks of EVMs having been tampered for orchestrating BJP's victories. 'Election winning machine. It is easy to speak in an interview but it is the hard work on ground that is showing. There is no anti-incumbency in the state. Opposition should also work instead of bayanbaazi. We are working in an expansion mode and it makes us believe we can win.' Talking about 2019 general elections, Shah exuded confidence in BJP victory. 'We will win with a big mandate. We are working together with Modi-ji working tirelessly.' He also spoke about BJP's stand on gau rakshaks: 'Not all are associated with BJP. There are all kind of elements in the party. 'There are many changes and messages in the party. 'We will take action. No one will be allowed to take law in his hands.' Taking potshots at Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, Shah quipped: 'Kejriwal had always said right to recall. It is time they realise.' 'The BJP is not trying to take any MLA from AAP,' Shah said. Shah added that people in Bengal had decided that 'BJP are the only Opposition in the state.' 'Lok Sabha seats will be won in highest numbers in Bengal,' he added. On Naxalism, Shah, who recently made quite an impressive journey in the naxal heartland, said: 'Naxalbari was selected as it was where violence began and thus could change the political scenario in the country.' Shah called Sukma the 'reflection of the suppression of Maoists and Naxalism.' Shiv Sena acticvists burn a Pakistani flag during a protest over terrorist attack on Army camp at Kupwara 'This is the best way of tackling them. It is a fight and both sides are fighting. The martyrdom will not be wasted. We have made a position strong enough to gain faith of people.' 'When leaders are caught on camera taking money what will you explain? CBI was not sent by Modi government. It is and was done by the apex court and the Calcutta high court. 'If the TMC leaders are caught on camera taking money then they are the ones taking money. How can she (WB CM Mamata Bannerjee) deny that? Saradha scam has been in news since two and a half years. We are here to highlight the corruption and problems. Controlling corruption is Mamata's responsibility as she is the CM and party chief too,' he said on the Shardha scam. The newly-appointed chief minister Adityanath Yogi is planning to give a bond of Rs 50,000 on the birth of a girl child and Rs 5,100 to the mother. Those living below the poverty line and those earning less than Rs 2 lakh per annum will be eligible for the scheme. The women's welfare department is finalising the blue print under the Bhagya Laxmi Yojana. 'As the girl grows, her parents will start getting the money. Like, when a girl reaches Class 6, the parents will get Rs 3,000 followed by Rs 5,000 in Class 8, Rs 7,000 in Class 10 and Rs 8,000 in class 12. Subsequently, parents will receive Rs 2 lakh by the time, the girl reaches the age of 21 years,' Sharma said. UP CM Adityanath Yogi The CM is also set to present a progress report after his government completes 100 days in office. 'The presentation of all the departments ended today and the CM has directed all the ministers concerned to release a white paper. All the ministers have been made district in-charges who will make ground level assessment in connection with the 100-day agenda regarding the schemes of the state and the central government,' cabinet minister Shrikant Sharma said. The main focus will be on electricity, roads, health, education and agriculture issues. 'Every minister has been given the responsibility of two districts and have been instructed to pay surprise visits to their departments concerned. Negligence will not be tolerated and erring officers will be sent to jail under our zero tolerance policy. The ministers will hand over their reports after 100 days following which, the government will presents its report card,' Sharma said. 'The CM could make a surprise call to any of these officers between 9am to 6pm. If the officer has to leave the district for any work, he or she will have to inform the CM office in advance,' he added. Kumar Vishwas, once a close confidante of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and among the most popular faces of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), is not singing in tune with his leader any longer. The National Executive member of AAP gave a fiery interview to Aaj Tak on what went wrong in the Punjab and Goa Assembly elections and the MCD polls and slammed Kejriwal for his negative campaigning strategies. He said that the party may have to decide on new leadership if it still wants to provide an alternative to BJP and Congress. Kumar Vishwas who attacked his party leader On top of his don't list for the CM was 'attacking PM Modi' and 'questioning the surgical strikes.' Vishwas said Kejriwal 'shouldn't (have) attack(ed) the PM as he holds a constitutional post' and his 'stand on surgical strikes was wrong.' Kejriwal has openly been at loggerheads with Prime Minister Narendra Modi since the former became Delhi chief minister in 2015. The Delhi CM in fact released a video asking the Centre for 'proof' that surgical strikes took place on terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied- Kashmir last September. Vishwas also spoke against raising the issue of tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs), which even Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has raked up time and again along with party leaders Ashutosh and Gopal Rai. Vishwas said, 'We did not lose the elections because of EVMs. People did not vote for us in enough number. There is mistrust among the people for us.' 'Blaming EVMs is not good. That can be a factor but we failed to reach out to the voters and volunteers,' he countered. The statements have laid bare the rift in AAP, with more leaders questioning Arvind Kejriwal after assembly and MCD poll debacles Others like minister Kapil Mishra and MLA Alka Lamba have also blamed the EVM malfunction theory for the debacle. Instead, the leader born out of Anna Hazare's 'India Against Corruption' movement, called for 'radical reforms' in AAP. He said, 'We will discuss this (the need to change the leadership) in the party soon. We didn't sit at Jantar Mantar to fight against Congress, Modi, BJP or EVM. We must understand the original objective of providing an alternative stream of politics in the country.' Lok Sabha MP Bhagwant Mann has already found fault with AAP's Punjab electoral strategy. Mann also said that it is wrong to blame EVMs for the party's defeat. 'Instead of finding faults with EVMs, it is time to start finding faults in the party,' he had said. Vishwas blamed the loss in Punjab assembly election on wrong ticket distributions and strategies. 'People from the Congress and the Akali were given tickets. Many decisions were taken inside closed door,' he said. The MCD electoral loss is our sixth defeat because we were disconnected with volunteers. EVMs should not be blamed solely. We lost because people did not vote for us,' he added. The Delhi police is planning to integrate over 1.8 lakh privately owned CCTV cameras to its armada to ensure they can keep a watch over the city, after they and the AAP government failed to add enough of their own. The cameras have been installed by resident welfare associations, housing societies and market associations. The Delhi Police has only added 87 surveillance cameras in the last year, despite the crime rate rising by nine per cent in the same period. Adding CCTV cover over the capital was a big poll promise of the Aam Aadmi Party government - which so far it has failed to fulfill. Police plan to link the privately owned cameras to a central monitoring cell Police sources said CCTV cameras have been helpful in cracking a number of complex robbery cases and murders where there was initially no solid evidence, so they are now mulling how privately owned cameras can be linked to police stations. A study was also conducted recently after Delhi Police chief Amulya Patnaik held a meeting with the senior officials to discuss preventive methods that can be taken to curb crime in the city. 'Once all the private cameras are connected with the monitoring rooms of the local police stations, then concerned officials of that police station will be dedicated to keep a tight vigil on the footage 24/7,' a police officer said. Special officers will also be shortlisted by SHO of each station and will be trained to scan CCTV footage in an effective manner, the officer added. They will be provided data about prisoners out on parole, bail or recently released so that their movements can be tracked, the cops said. Another senior officer requesting anonymity said: 'Since Patnaik became the commissioner, he is putting his best efforts to curb crime and special focus has been put in solving cases quickly.' According to Delhi Police officials, till now CCTV cameras have helped the cops in solving the cases. Meanwhile, all the police stations have been asked to analyse the crime trends in their respective jurisdiction. This analysis could become fruitful for the cops to keep a tab on particular locality to avert the crime. So far, CCTV cameras have been installed by Delhi Police in the Supreme Court, Delhi high court, five district courts, VP House, L-G's House and thehome minister's residence. The police has also sent a proposal to allocate Rs 1,225 crore from the 'Nirbhaya fund' for installation of 10,000 CCTV cameras across the city. After making a pitch for an observer status during this year's Malabar trilateral naval exercises scheduled to be held in July, Australia has indicated that it is keen to have a logistics support agreement with India on the lines of the one concluded with the US. This comes at a time when there is a lot of hue and cry in India about Australia scrapping its skilled visa programme the employer-sponsored temporary work visas, popularly known as the 457 visa. While the Malcolm Turnbull government may have taken a short-sighted approach in its engagement with India by moving ahead with its new visa restrictions, New Delhi would be equally short-sighted if it just focuses on this issue at the expanse of larger issues in regional balance of power. Modi (R) shakes hands with New South Wales State Premier Mike Baird during the Indian leader's visit to Sydney in 2014 Transition The current transition of power in the Asia-Pacific region, underlined by America's relative decline and China's growing power, has significant implications for most Asian states. Though the uncertainty around the future of international politics, norms and institutions does impinge upon all members of the international society, the Asian states find themselves at the forefront of this transition. For them the current transition of power is not only an ideological contest over the form and nature of the international political system but is also inextricably linked to their own national security imperatives in a number of ways. India, Japan and Australia are at the centre of this strategic flux in the Indo-Pacific. The level of strategic convergence between Delhi and Tokyo can be gauged from the fact that India, in 2014, invited the Japanese navy to participate in the annual Malabar exercises with the US navy in the Pacific waters, reviving an earlier practice of joint India-US-Japan trilateral exercises. This was a significant move considering the fact that India had earlier capitulated to China's reservations when the naval forces of India, US, Australia, Singapore and Japan had conducted joint exercises in the Bay of Bengal in September 2007. Australian Navy Rear Admiral Nigel Coates (left), Japan Naval chief Yogi Koda, Indian Navy Rear Admiral RR Suthan, US Seventh Fleet commander William Crowder and Singapore Fleet Commander Colonel Tan Kai Hoe during a photo shoot on the US super-carrier USS Kitty Hawk in the Bay of Bengal, during the Malabar exercise After China made its displeasure clear, India refused to be a part of these exercises from 2008. With the coming of the Modi government, Japan's participation in Malabar has been institutionalised. Both Japan and the US have repeatedly expressed their desire to expand the scope of the Malabar exercise. The vision document, signed by PM Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in September 2014, called out for 'regularisation of bilateral maritime exercises as well as to Japan's continued participation in India'. During the seventh round of the trilateral strategic dialogue between the three countries held in Honolulu in June 2015, India agreed to Tokyo's participation in the 2015 series of Malabar exercises. India and Japan have an institutionalised trilateral strategic dialogue partnership with the United States. Initiated in 2011, maintaining a balance of power in the Asian-Pacific as well as maritime security in Indo-Pacific waters became an important element of this dialogue. Dialogue A similar dialogue exists between the US, Japan, and Australia. Under Modi, such security trilateralism in Asia has received not only new momentum but also is being expanded to incorporate other regional powers: in June 2015, India, Australia and Japan held their first ever high-level dialogue in New Delhi. These trilateral initiatives have a serious potential to transform into a 'quad' of democracies in the Indo-Pacific region. The roots of this potential partnership were laid in late 2004 when navies from the US, India, Japan and Australia collaborated in tsunami relief operations all across the Indian Ocean. Japan has been the most vocal supporter of such an initiative. In 2007, Abe, in his earlier stint as Prime Minister, lobbied for Asia's democracies to come together. This was also actively supported by the US. Such an initiative resulted in a five-nation naval exercise in Bay of Bengal in September 2007 codenamed Malabar 07-02. However, perceiving a possible ganging-up of Asia's democracies, China issued demarches to New Delhi and Canberra, causing this initiative to lose steam, since both Australia and New Delhi felt it unwise to provoke Beijing. However, as China becomes more aggressive in the region, there are signs that India and Australia may be warming up to the idea again. Modi signs the visitors book at the Australian War Memorial in 2014 Assault India and Australia are wary of China's assault on maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region. These common concerns have strengthened the need for greater maritime cooperation between the two nations and the two have started conducting joint naval combat exercises. During Modi's visit to Australia, a security framework agreement was signed by the two countries, further underscoring the importance of defence cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. Shri Narendra Modi arrives in New Delhi, after a 10-day visit to Myanmar, Australia and Fiji in 2011 India and Australia are leading powers in the Indian Ocean region. The two countries are also at the helm of Indian Ocean Regional Association (IORA), a formal grouping consisting of the Indian Ocean Littoral States. Australia is also a permanent member of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium which brings together the local navies of the Indian Ocean region. However, the extent of their regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean can also be ascertained by their annual trilateral dialogues with countries like Japan and Indonesia. The need of the hour is to push for greater engagement with such like minded nations. Australia has been long keen on joining the Malabar exercises along with the US and Japan. India should favourably consider this request as the idea of an Indo-Pacific democratic quad needs resurrection at the earliest. Tame by HBOS standards: Leonardo di Caprio in the Wolf of Wall Street The story of how bankers at HBOS 'financially raped' small businesses to the tune of 1billion, now subject to an independent inquiry, is compared to the 2013 Leonardo DiCaprio film The Wolf Of Wall Street. Might the HBOS scandal, a heady tale of drugs, prostitutes and ill-gotten cash, be worthy of the Hollywood treatment itself? John Malkovich could pass as disgraced boss James Crosby. Hispanic heartthrob Antonio Banderas was born to play his sultry namesake Antonio Horta-Osorio, who's had to clear up the mess after HBOS was later bought by Lloyds. What a pity Sir John Gielgud isn't around to play Lloyds' creaky chairman, Lord Blackwell. Veteran private equity tycoon Guy Hands says the industry is now in 'uncharted waters' thanks to recent political events, remarking: 'I started in 1982. 'This is the most difficult investing environment I have seen in my lifetime as an investor.' No doubt bouffant-haired Hands, 57, said to be worth 250million, will battle on with customary aplomb. He likes to conclude meetings by crooning Frank Sinatra's My Way. The 750-odd staff at City Lawyers Mishcon de Reya each received an envelope recently containing a crisp 20 note. The firm say it was 'just a small gesture, intended to bring a big smile'. They might have warned its over-worked lawyers. Many mistook the gift for their annual pay rise. Sainsbury's neatly pressed boss Mike Coupe is reportedly penning an autobiography. Last week, Virgin Money's vivacious Jayne-Anne Gadhia released her own bittersweet memoir, The Virgin Banker. Shareholders would be forgiven for wondering where their well-remunerated chieftains find the time. Nobby bankers Coutts & Co are to host a party at their swank offices overlooking the Strand for customers who've remained banking with them for more than 50 years. Cue collective molar-grinding among scores of long-serving Coutts clients who've recently ditched their accounts in protest at the lender's exorbitant 900-a-year banking charges. Short call: Wall Street trader Eric Yip is betting shopping malls will collapse Eric Yip spent his childhood working in his parents' store at a shopping mall in a small New Jersey town. The family sold homewares and T-shirts from the Burlington Center. In the early 1980s, the 103,000 sq ft retail complex had more than 100 stores and was the heart of the community, credited with creating a development boom in the town. Today, though, just a handful of shops remain and it is virtually silent. The fate of his home mall has prompted Yip, now a hedge fund boss in New York, to make one of the most talked-about trades on Wall Street. With echoes of The Big Short the Oscar-winning movie about how a few finance gurus got rich betting the US sub-prime mortgage market would collapse Yip is gambling that the US is facing a retail apocalypse. Using a previously little-known index, he is betting that bonds containing mortgages paid by shopping malls will fail to be repaid as stores go bust. He is so convinced that it is thought up to half his 155million fund at Alder Hill Management is invested in these bonds, known as CMBX 6. It's a gigantic stake on just one asset. He is trying to encourage other investors to take a punt, too, having written a dossier which he sent round Wall Street outlining what he believes is the bleak outlook for US shops. Yip suggested that more than two dozen malls in the US could default, and that bankruptcies were likely to be 'just a matter of timing'. Russ Mould, from the British broker AJ Bell, said: 'Investors are sensitive at the moment. If the Fed raised rates too quickly, or rolled up quantitative easing, there could be problems. For a hedge fund prepared to sit and wait, possibly for years, they could be proven correct.' Born in Hong Kong, Yip, 42, moved to New Jersey at five. He studied accounting and became an analyst with legendary hedge fund boss Carl Icahn. In 2014, he started work for Alder Hill. A year later it lost 13.6 per cent, and Yip became convinced that all was not well with US shopping malls. So he began to visit shopping centres across the country. He noticed many seemed poorly maintained and outdated. A high number had family-run businesses which he realised probably weren't paying much rent. He began to cast a critical eye on shop debt, looking at the CMBX 6 index. He noticed it had been trading well with few defaults, and predicted this would not continue. So he made a large bet. Film: Christian Bale stars as Michael Burry in the Big Short. Burry made millions betting that mortgage-backed securities would fail. Could the same thing happen with shopping malls? At the start of 2016, the index plunged 20 per cent. It rose a little, but has since fallen. Meanwhile, Alder Hill gained 7 per cent last year. It is a move that has drawn comparisons with the actions of Michael Burry, the real-life hedge fund guru depicted by Christian Bale in The Big Short. Before the financial crisis, Burry bet that mortgage-backed securities would fail because thanks to the US banks' reckless lending homeowners would not be able to afford to repay their home loans. Burry shocked the financial world, and many of his investors, by acting at a time when all the big banks were denying there were problems with their mortgage books. But after Lehman Brothers collapsed, Burry was to be proved right and made millions. Yip's bet is similar. The CMBX index was largely ignored by mainstream investors. It is a credit-default swap that bets on whether mortgages for shops will be repaid. Yip looked in detail at this swap and discovered 40 of the 1,500 loans it contained were shopping malls. Looking further he discovered that around half of them had weak sales data. If most of these weaker malls began defaulting on their loans and were liquidated, investors would stand to make a killing. It's a bet that has paid off so far. Concerns about stores are mounting. And fears are growing that these property groups could struggle as they find themselves saddled with more and more empty units they can't rent out. Analysis has shown a 50 per cent drop in visits to US malls over the past three years and that there were more retail bankruptcies in the first three months of the year than in the whole of 2016. It has been suggested 3,500 shops in US malls could close in the next couple of months, forcing many malls themselves to shut. Yip's bet against the retail market has seen his fund gain 8 per cent in the first three months of the year. Bets against the owners of big shopping malls in the US are now rising steadily. About 5 per cent of the shares of the biggest real estate investment trust around 770million are held by short sellers, and most are betting on a fall in smaller malls. Shares in these are down as much as a third this year. By contrast, the shares of larger malls have been doing well, although many expect this will not last. But there are critics who believe that Yip, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, may have made the wrong call. Mark McAllister, of the US fund Clearbridge Investments, said: 'There have been closures and bankruptcies. Most are retailers which have too much debt, don't have the right products or are bad merchants. 'Over time, good companies will do well. I think this shorting phenomenon is overblown and a harsh judgment on the mall industry.' Only time will tell whether Yip's giant bet foretold the beginning of the end for US mall retailers. Customers of Lloyds Bank, Halifax, RBS and NatWest were up in arms after an online glitch saw many lose access to their accounts and payments disappear. The glitch, which affected the banks' online service, occurred on what is payday for most of the British workforce. All the banks said the issue had been resolved, with 'missing' transfers to reappear in customers' accounts by the end of today. However punters still took to social media to fret over the issue, with many expressing their concerns at hundreds of pounds disappearing from their accounts ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend. The screen greeting many NatWest customers. The glitch, which affected the banks' online services, occurred on what is payday for most of the British workforce On the NatWest Twitter account, customers complained about transfers 'vanishing' while others were having problems using its app One wrote: 'Brilliant - down on payday/bank holiday weekend. Money I transferred from one account to the other has vanished???' Another added: 'Day before the Bank Holiday weekend and no money because I bank with Natwest. Absolute shambles.' One user told the NatWest Twitter help feed: 'Your app's not working ...... neither is your online banking. Just transferred money bet [sic] my accounts and it has disappeared!' Another added: 'Me too, 650 has not been transferred and has gone missing!!' In a statement, NatWest told the MailOnline: 'Our mobile apps and online banking are now running as normal and delayed payments are starting to credit customer accounts. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.' For many who usually get paid on the 1st day of the month, today is payday given the fact Monday is a Bank Holiday and is May 1st. One customer called Danielle posting on the website downdetector which tracks problems on the web said: 'What an absolute joke of a bank! Absolutely fuming. 'Arguments with hubby as he thought I overspent. Not the case.. Money is just disappearing! Where is this money. 'Also I was waiting for live chat. Was at position 34 then got kicked out and now at 264!!' @AskLloydsBank whats going on with internet banking! I need to make an important payment "There's a problem.1400004" keep getting that Martin (@MartyJDOfficial) April 28, 2017 Hi @AskLloydsBank. Any chance you can sort out your online banking? Need to pay some invoices today & my nearest branch is over the border kaskwhisky (@kaskwhisky) April 28, 2017 @AskLloydsBank why do a major release for online banking on pay day??? It's terrible, won't load properly, just lines of text! #ITFail Carrie W (@MissCarrieW) April 28, 2017 Another NatWest account holder Mark Johnson added: 'Just been told that if it's not working by 6.00pm then it won't be fixed until Tuesday next week.' Thousands of customers have taken to Twitter to complain all reporting similar faults and saying they were unable to get a response from customer services. Jo Simpson tweeted 'Sick of @NatWest-Help not responding to messages tweets or phone calls!!!' Another customer Laura posted: 'I can't log in and my money has completely vanished. Please sort this as soon as possible.' NatWest said they were currently unable to confirm how many customers were currently being affected and how long the issues would take to resolve. @NatWest_Help Same issue of money transferred out & not showing up anywhere. Been on hold for 25mins & just cut off. What's going on? Myia Fray (@FrayMyia) April 28, 2017 @NatWest_Help where's my money that I transferred? Has it disappeared? Been on hold for 30 mins now... jordan gibbs (@JordanGibbs92) April 28, 2017 @NatWest_Help @bysshecoffey Please can you guarantee that our money is safe? This is highly worrying and I - and many others - are utterly distressed and upset Alex de Lacey (@deLaceyMusic) April 28, 2017 It comes in a week in which both banks have announced results. Lloyds revealed it made 1.3billion in the first quarter of 2017 almost twice the amount a year earlier. Meanwhile, RBS made 259million profit in the first three months of the year, compared with a 968million loss in the same quarter last year. Online banking: Customers with Lloyds are struggling to access their accounts on what is payday for many Today's outage is one in a long line of problems various banks have had with IT systems over the years. One of the most serious cases was in June 2012 when RBS suffered technical problems which saw customer payments disrupted. It was fined 56million for the incident in 2014. A Lloyds Banking Group spokesman said: 'We are aware that some of our customers are experiencing issues logging on to internet banking and our mobile apps across all Lloyds Banking Group brands. 'We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and apologise for any inconvenience caused.' An RBS spokesman said: 'We are aware that some customers are currently experiencing issues with our mobile app and online banking running slowly. 'Some customers are also seeing issues completing transfers on accounts. We are working hard to resolve this and apologise for the inconvenience caused. 'Our NatWest and RBS apps and online banking are operating, but some customers are experiencing slowness trying to access them. 'Telephony and branch banking are both available. We are seeing that some customers are having issues with their transfers being delayed.' Ian Paterson faces a potential life sentence for giving 10 patients unnecessary operations, disfiguring their bodies and causing huge trauma A rogue surgeon with a 'God complex' has been found guilty of wounding breast cancer patients with 'completely unnecessary' operations. Ian Paterson left one woman looking like she'd been in a 'car crash' after undergoing an mastectomy she didn't need. Other victims included a mother who agreed to two unnecessary operations leaving her unable to breastfeed. Another woman ended up with 'significant deformity in her cleavage area' after two needless operations on her left breast. One victim said today that she had been left 'mutilated' by a 'money making machine' Paterson lied to his victims, 'exaggerating or inventing the risk of cancer', his trial heard. Prosecutors believe the 59-year-old - who operated on NHS and private patients in the West Midlands - was motivated by the extra money he could earn. It can today be revealed that the victims dealt with in the criminal trial are just the tip of the iceberg of those affected by Paterson's negligence - with around a thousand people potentially impacted. Scottish-born Paterson, of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, was today convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court. Wearing a black suit, blue shirt and red tie, he sobbed as the foreman of the jury returned the guilty verdicts. He faces a potential life jail term when he comes back before a court for sentence. Debbie Douglas, a former patient of Paterson, hugs a friend outside court after the verdicts were returned today. She said she had been 'mutilated' by a 'money making machine'. Ms Douglas, who was not one of the victims in the case but was given a risky 'cleavage-sparing masectomy' by Paterson, said his victims had waited a long time for justice Patricia Welch and Frances Perks said Paterson enjoyed playing God with patients' lives Paterson was able to own a luxury home in Birmingham's Edgbaston, had numerous properties in Cardiff and Manchester and also had a US holiday home. After the verdicts were returned it can be revealed: As well as the 10 victims in the criminal case, Paterson's methods have impacted up to 1,000 other NHS and private patients. The NHS has already paid nearly 10million in taxpayer-funded compensation to 250 of his patients and paid 8million costs - with the bill set to rise further. Another 350 people are continuing compensation claims over treatment at private hospitals. A report found the NHS could have stopped Paterson seven years before he was finally prevented from carrying out any more operations. A former patient told MailOnline how she was given just two years to live when her cancer returned after one of his negligent operations. At least 68 women who underwent one of Paterson's 'cleavage sparing mastectomies' developed a recurrence of breast cancer. Outside court today, Debbie Douglas, who was not one of the victim in the trial but underwent one of his risky operations, said she had been left 'mutilated' by a 'money making machine'. The mother of three, 58, said: 'I'm just so relieved that justice has finally been done. It's been a really traumatic journey not just for our families, the victims but for the ladies who are no longer with us. 'He has finally been brought to justice. We have waited so long for this. It's been years. Hopefully now we can move on. 'I told everyone I had the best consultant. I told everyone I was lucky to be in Spire and Bupa so I could go straight in and get treated. 'And then all those years down the line I find all that has been betrayed. I've been left physically damaged. I feel like I've been mutilated.' Marian Moran (left) and Judith Conduit (right) were the women whose lives were ruined by unnecessary operations carried out by the rogue Dr Rosemary Platt (left), a GP, was among those wounded by the surgeon. John Ingram (right) was the only male victim in the trial During the trial, prosecutor Julian Christopher QC had said the operations carried out by Paterson were ones which 'no reasonable surgeon at the time would have considered justified'. He said: 'The principle issue in this case is likely to be whether (the patient) was harmed lawfully or whether the prosecution are right that what Mr Paterson did fell quite outside the realms of reasonable surgery. 'Because firstly it was completely unnecessary and no reasonable surgeon would have carried it out. Paterson outside court during the trial. Prosecutors were unsure of his motives but said the operations could have been carried out so that he was paid more money 'And because, the prosecution suggest, Mr Paterson was carrying it out not because he thought it was in the best interests of the patient, but for his own perhaps obscure motives. 'Whether to maintain his image as a busy successful surgeon in great demand and at the top of his game, whether to earn extra money by doing extra operations and follow up consultations ... or because Mr Paterson enjoyed the responsibility that came with helping people.' In court, Paterson claimed his patients' memories of what they claimed happened had become faded and confused with time. He told the jury of six men and five women: 'I'm not calling any of these patients liars, I just think they remember what they remember now.' Paterson said his notes made at each patient's consultation were 'a much more reliable record of what happened'. Jurors also heard Paterson speak of his innocence at a police interview relating to the allegations on January 8 2013. In a statement read by prosecutors, he said: 'All surgical procedures taken by him were appropriate and necessary and he denies any allegations of unnecessary surgery or bad faith.' He denied the operations were carried out 'for the purpose of financial gain or any other purpose', describing suggestions he carried out the operations for money as 'abhorrent'. DS Dale Robertson, who has been investigating the case since November 2012, said: 'Ian Paterson's motivation has remained obscure throughout we've considered elements, financial being one, and we're confident that that does form part of his motivation. 'But then it's unclear we can speculate with regards to hubris over-confidence in his own status as a top breast surgeon, his excessive pride in his work, playing God with people's lives enjoying being able to tell someone that he's saved their lives. Paterson worked for the NHS but treated the patients in the criminal case through two private Spire hospitals. Pictured: Little Aston private Hospital All of the victims in the criminal case were treated at the private hospitals. Pictured: Parkway hospital DS Robertson added: 'It remains obscure and has never truly been established throughout this case. 'Only Ian Paterson would be able to tell us his motivation, and he hasn't. 'The victims have been traumatised they have been subjected to a very uncomfortable experience, they have found the whole experience very harrowing, compounded by what had actually happened to them and what they learnt Ian Paterson had done to them.' A Spire Healthcare spokesman said: 'What Mr Paterson did in our hospitals, in other private hospitals and in the NHS, absolutely should not have happened and today justice has been done. 'We would like to reiterate how truly sorry we are for the distress experienced by any patients affected by this case. 'We can say unequivocally that we have learned the lessons from these events. We commissioned a thorough independent investigation and have fully implemented all of the recommendations.' Rogue surgeon has cost taxpayers 18MILLION in compensation to NHS patients as it's revealed he could have been stopped SEVEN YEARS earlier and may have up to 1,000 victims Ian Paterson's treatment is thought to have affected over 1,000 people - the NHS has already paid out more than 9.5million in compensation, with some claims ongoing Up to 1,000 patients have been affected by rogue surgeon Ian Paterson - whose dangerous cancer-treating methods have already cost the taxpayer nearly 10million in compensation to victims. The criminal case against the surgeon has centred on 10 cases in which he was accused of carrying out unnecessary operations on patients who feared they had cancer. But the victims in the trial are just the tip of the iceberg of up to 1,000 patients thought to have been affected by his negligence. More than 600 having since launched civil claims for compensation - with the NHS having settled over 250. The repeated failures of a West Midlands NHS Trust and the private hospitals where he worked to stop him earlier have also been slammed in two damning reports. Hundreds of women who thought they had beaten cancer were put through the heartache of returning to hospitals as part of a huge review of patients he had treated. Some of his former patients later died when their cancer returned, Thompsons solicitors, who is handling the civil case confirmed to MailOnline. Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, where Paterson worked from 1998 to 2011, says it has paid out 9.5million to more than 250 claimants. The public have also covered paid 8.2 million in costs. Victims previously held a protest outside Parkway private hospital over Paterson's actions More than 250 people who were treated by Paterson on the NHS have already received compensation with a further 350 involved in a lawsuit centred on his private hospital work Another 350 people are still suing the NHS and Spire Healthcare over referrals to and treatment at private hospitals where Paterson also practiced. Two reports into how the NHS and the private healthcare firm handled him show there was a seven-year delay in stopping him operating on women with breast cancer. A review of the Heart of England NHS trust - which runs Solihull hospital - found that a senior clinician raised concerns about Paterson's mastectomies in 2004. Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, who looked into the case, found: 'If [the concerns] had been taken seriously, a proper analysis of Mr Paterson's performance would have been instituted. 'It is very likely that the result would have been that Mr Paterson would have been required to stop operating on women with breast cancer by the end of 2004 at the latest.' Mother-of-two Michelle Flavelle is one of a number of Paterson's former patients who have died since his controversial treatment Instead, 'secrecy and containment' in the NHS trust meant a 'blanket of confidentiality' was thrown over the case, Sir Ian found. This meant Paterson continued to operate at both NHS and private hospitals until the middle of 2011. One of the charges in the case against him related to a 'totally unnecessary' operation he carried out on Rachel Butler in January 2011 - seven years after concerns were first raised. Another six of the 10 complainants in the trial were given life-changing but unnecessary operations after initial concerns were raised in 2004. Ms Flavelle's friend have previously told of their anger that she was never recalled and so they do not know if Paterson's actions led to her death As well as carrying out unnecessary operations on women who didn't need them, Paterson also performed so-called 'cleavage sparing mastectomies', which left tissue behind and increased the risk of cancer returning. His methods meant the woman he treated had double to chances of suffering a cancer relapse within five years. One of his patients, Michelle Flavelle, died after her cancer spread to her liver five years after she was treated by Paterson. Her friends previously told of their sadness that they will never know whether Paterson's treatment led to her death. The private hospitals involved in the criminal case against Paterson were criticised by an independent report in 2014. It found Spire Parkway was notified about NHS investigations into Paterson in December 2007, but he continued to treat patients until August 2011. The report stated: 'If more people had been told that Mr Paterson's practice was under review in January 2008 and systems put in place to monitor his performance, it would have been harder for him to continue to carry out inappropriate treatment.' In March it emerged hundreds of women who went under the knife privately at Spire Hospitals in Little Aston, and Solihull, may miss out on any pay out after his insurance company withdrew their cover for him. Medical Defence Union are disputing some of the compensation claims because some of the procedures Paterson carried out may be illegal and therefore not included in his cover. In July 2013, Paterson and his physiotherapist wife Louise, sold their 1.25million Grade II listed, eight-bedroom, four reception Georgian home in Edgbaston, Birmingham. It is believed he has now moved to the South West. Timeline of failures: The missed chances to stop rogue surgeon 1981 Paterson qualifies and starts treating patients in Bristol. 1993 Paterson starts working at Spire's Little Aston Hospital private hospital. 1997 Carried out first 'unnecessary' procedure on GP Rosemary Platt. 1998 Appointed surgeon by Heart of England NHS trust in the West Midlands after investigation by former employer, Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield. In the same year he began carrying out work for Spire Parkway private hospital. It was also in this year that he carried out an 'unnecessary' incision on Marian Moran. An investigation by senior lawyer Sir Ian Kennedy found a series of failings by the NHS trust involved 2001 Carried out operations on Judith Conduit and Patricia Welch. 2002 Paterson operated on complainant Carole Johnson. 2003 Concerns first raised about his methods by staff at Heart of England NHS trust, leading to a report to bosses the following January. 2004 Recommendations about Mr Paterson's work was not acted upon by NHS bosses. 2006 Complaints first made to the General Medical Council. In the same year, Paterson carries out 'unnecessary' operations on John Ingram and Leanne Joseph, who is left unable to breastfeed. 2007 A new surgeon is appointed who raises fresh concerns about Paterson. Some conditions are imposed on Paterson's practice but he 'did not observe them', a report later found. Also in 2007, the NHS informed Spire private hospital of its investigation into Paterson, but few people at the private healthcare organisation are informed. 2008 Victim Frances Perks is operated on. 2009 A recall of some of Paterson's NHS patients begins. One of his private patients raised concerns to Spire, but he was 'given the benefit of the doubt' by bosses. In the same year, alleged victim Joanne Lowson was operated on. 2010 The media begin to report the scandal, prompting concerns to become more widely known among NHS chiefs. Senior managers at Solihull hospital were criticised for 'weak and indecisive leadership' 2011 Despite the scandal now developing, victim Rachel Butler is operated on. He is later suspended by the NHS trust and, in August, finally suspended by Spire. The General Medical Council (GMC) then imposed restrictions on his practice. 2012 He is suspended by the GMC. In November, his NHS pay is finally stopped. 2013 A report by Professor Sir Ian Kennedy slams 'weak and indecisive leadership' and 'secrecy and containment' at the NHS trust. Paterson is first interviewed by police. 2014 A report into the private hospitals handling of Paterson finds a 'collective failure to manage him' and 'long periods of no communication' with the NHS trust. 2016 Paterson is charged with maliciously wounding patients. Advertisement 'He's a psychopath with a God complex': Rogue surgeon's victims say they 'hate him with a passion' after needless operations left them scarred Francis Perks says she hopes Paterson has a 'dreadful time' in prison A surgeon who ruined hundreds of lives with unnecessary operations enjoyed playing God with people's lives, victims say. One of his victims, Frances Perks, went through nine operations including a mastectomy and reconstruction. She said: 'I hate Ian Paterson hate him with a passion. When you're told that the all the operations you've had, you didn't need it's such a shock. 'I feel lots of different emotions anger, disbelief. I trusted that person I saw him for a number of years, and thought the operations that I was having were for a reason. 'He had such a lovely bedside manner, you felt that he was genuine and caring, and he just wasn't like a normal consultant he was very down-to-earth and you trusted him. 'He seemed very caring and put us at ease, that wasn't any reason to distrust what he was telling you. 'I still can't accept that what I've had done, I didn't need. I don't know why he did this I think he's a psychopath. 'Why would anybody in their right mind do operations on people, knowing that they don't need them? 'I just think it's dreadful words fail me. He's probably thinking in his own little world that he's not wrong. 'I hope he has a dreadful time in prison and I hope he rots in hell.' Patricia Welch say she doesn't know how Paterson can live with himself after what he did Another of Paterson's victims, Patricia Welch, had seven unnecessary operations - one of which involved a mastectomy and reconstruction. She said: 'I haven't got any words to describe what Ian Paterson is to me he's just despicable. He just thinks he can play God with people's lives. 'We were led to believe he was a wonderful man, and he was at first we thought he had our best interests at heart. 'It was such a shock when we found out what he'd been doing was all completely wrong. I really don't know how he can live with himself.' Ian Paterson's treatment is thought to have affected over 1,000 people - the NHS has already paid out more than 9.5million in compensation, with some claims ongoing Up to 1,000 patients have been affected by rogue surgeon Ian Paterson - whose dangerous cancer-treating methods have already cost the taxpayer nearly 10million in compensation to victims. The criminal case against the surgeon has centred on 10 cases in which he was accused of carrying out unnecessary operations on patients who feared they had cancer. But the victims in the trial are just the tip of the iceberg of up to 1,000 patients thought to have been affected by his negligence. More than 600 having since launched civil claims for compensation - with the NHS having settled over 250.T wo reports into how the NHS and the private healthcare firm handled him show there was a seven-year delay in stopping him operating on women with breast cancer. Hundreds of women who thought they had beaten cancer were put through the heartache of returning to hospitals as part of a huge review of patients he had treated. Some of his former patients later died when their cancer returned. Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, where Paterson worked from 1998 to 2011, says it has paid out 9.5million to more than 250 claimants. The public have also covered 8.2 million in costs. Another 350 people are still suing the NHS and Spire Healthcare over referrals to and treatment at private hospitals where Paterson also practiced. Patricia Welch and Frances Perks said Paterson enjoyed playing God with patients' lives Dr Rosemary Platt (left), a GP, was among those wounded by the surgeon. John Ingram (right) was the only male victim in the trial Marian Moran (left) and Judith Conduit (right) were the women whose lives were ruined by unnecessary operations carried out by the rogue The repeated failures of a West Midlands NHS Trust and the private hospitals where he worked to stop him earlier have also been slammed in two damning reports. A review of the Heart of England NHS trust - which runs Solihull hospital - found that a senior clinician raised concerns about Paterson's mastectomies in 2004. Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, who looked into the case, found: 'If [the concerns] had been taken seriously, a proper analysis of Mr Paterson's performance would have been instituted. 'It is very likely that the result would have been that Mr Paterson would have been required to stop operating on women with breast cancer by the end of 2004 at the latest.' Instead, 'secrecy and containment' in the NHS trust meant a 'blanket of confidentiality' was thrown over the case, Sir Ian found. This meant Paterson continued to operate at both NHS and private hospitals until the middle of 2011. More than 250 people who were treated by Paterson on the NHS have already received compensation with a further 350 involved in a lawsuit centred on his private hospital work Mother-of-two Michelle Flavelle is one of a number of Paterson's former patients who have died since his controversial treatment One of the charges in the case against him related to a 'totally unnecessary' operation he carried out on Rachel Butler in January 2011 - seven years after concerns were first raised. Another six of the 10 complainants in the trial were given life-changing but unnecessary operations after initial concerns were raised in 2004. As well as carrying out unnecessary operations on women who didn't need them, Paterson also performed so-called 'cleavage sparing mastectomies', which left tissue behind and increased the risk of cancer returning. Ms Flavelle's friend have previously told of their anger that she was never recalled and so they do not know if Paterson's actions led to her death His methods meant the woman he treated had double to chances of suffering a cancer relapse within five years. One of his patients, Michelle Flavelle, died after her cancer spread to her liver five years after she was treated by Paterson. Her friends previously told of their sadness that they will never know whether Paterson's treatment led to her death. The private hospitals involved in the criminal case against Paterson were criticised by an independent report in 2014. It found Spire Parkway was notified about NHS investigations into Paterson in December 2007, but he continued to treat patients until August 2011. The report stated: 'If more people had been told that Mr Paterson's practice was under review in January 2008 and systems put in place to monitor his performance, it would have been harder for him to continue to carry out inappropriate treatment.' In March it emerged hundreds of women who went under the knife privately at Spire Hospitals in Little Aston, and Solihull, may miss out on any pay out after his insurance company withdrew their cover for him. Medical Defence Union are disputing the compensation claims because some of the procedures Paterson carried out may be illegal and therefore not included in his cover. In July 2013, Paterson and his physiotherapist wife Louise, sold their 1.25million Grade II listed, eight-bedroom, four reception Georgian home in Edgbaston, Birmingham. It is believed he has now moved to the South West. Kenneth Williams, 38, was put to death in Arkansas on Thursday. He was able to see his daughter, 21, and three-year-old granddaughter the day before he died The family of a man killed by death row inmate Kenneth Williams bought plane tickets for his daughter and granddaughter so they could see him before he was executed. The 38-year-old was put to death in Arkansas on Thursday. But the day before he died, Williams was able to see his 21-year-old daughter Jasmine Johnson - who he hadn't seen in 17 years - and meet his three-year-old granddaughter for the first time. They were flown over to Arkansas from Washington state by the family of victim Michael Greenwood. Greenwood, then aged 24, was killed in a 1999 car wreck caused by Williams, who had escaped from prison, where he was serving a life sentence for killing 19-year-old cheerleader Dominique Hurd. Williams was on death row for killing another man, Cecil Boren, while he was on the run. Greenwood's daughter, Kayla Greenwood, told the Springfield News-Leader that she only learned a few days ago that Williams had a daughter, and a granddaughter he had never met. Kayla was five at the time her father was killed and her mother Stacey was pregnant with twin boys Michael and Joe. Michael Greenwood, pictured with his wife Stacey and daughter Kayla in the late 90s, was killed in 1999 when escaped prison inmate Kenneth Williams crashed into him while on the run Greenwood's daughter, Kayla Greenwood (left), arranged for Williams' daughter Jasmine Johnson and his granddaughter (right) to see him on Wednesday Williams was able to see his 21-year-old daughter Jasmine (above) - who he hadn't seen in 17 years - and meet his three-year-old granddaughter for the first time Kayla's mother Stacey, who remarried four years after Greenwood's death, bought the plane tickets for the killer's family. Kayla, along with her brothers, their mother and stepfather, picked up Jasmine and her child from the airport and drove them to the prison. 'I told him we forgive him and where I stood on it,' said Kayla, who sent a message to Williams through his attorney. 'When he found out that we are bringing his daughter and granddaughter to see him and that my mom and dad bought the tickets, he was crying to the attorney.' Kayla (right) went to the airport on Wednesday with her brothers Michael and Joe (left and back) to meeting Jasmine and her daughter Kayla, as well as other members of Greenwood's family, had urged for clemency for Williams and she wrote to Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson before the execution asking him to spare his life. 'We are in no way asking you to ignore the pain felt by the victims of Mr Williams' other crimes. We know what they are going through but ours is a pain that we have decided not to try and cure by seeking an execution,' Kayla Greenwood wrote. 'His execution will not bring my father back or return to us what has been taken, but it will cause additional suffering.' Kayla Greenwood had urged for clemency for Williams and she wrote to Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson (above) before the execution asking him to spare his life Williams' first victim was 19-year-old student and cheerleader Dominique Hurd (left and right). He escaped from prison while serving a life sentence for her murder Williams killed Cecil Boren, 57, (above) on his farm after escaping from prison. His killing led to Williams' death sentence Family members of Boren, whose killing led to Williams' death sentence, told the Arkansas Parole Board that the execution should go forward. Williams was given the lethal injection on Thursday after legal motions delayed the procedure for more than two hours. The executed murderer was the fourth and final inmate to be put to death by the state in eight days. Williams began 'coughing, convulsing, lurching, and jerking with sound' for about 20 seconds before his time of death at 11.09pm CT. After the jerking, Williams breathed through his mouth and moaned or groaned once - during a consciousness check - until falling still seven minutes into the lethal injection. The killer had asked for forgiveness in his final statement. Williams decided against having a last meal, and opted for a communion instead, according to a witness. The parents of two-year-old Jiang Kaijian were running out of hope of having the abscess on his brain removed. However thanks to kind-hearted strangers, little Kaijian, from China's rural Hunan province, is finally able to undergo life-saving surgery and fight for a chance at a normal life. The boy's head has continued to grow due to fluid on the brain leaving him unable to move. Jiang Kaijian's head has continued to grow due to excess fluid leaving the child unable to move The boy's family did not have money to pay for his treatment so brought him back home Devastating condition: Two-year-old Kaijian suffers from Hydrocephalus, a swelling of fluid Distraught parents: The two-year-old has an abscess on the brain causing his head to swell Shortly after the child was born, he was diagnosed with with severe Hydrocephalus - an abscess on the brain causing his head to swell. Because the family had no money, they had no choice but to take him back home with them without getting him treated. In th hospital: Two-year-old Kaijian suffers from Hydrocephalus, a swelling of fluid Tragic story: His family had no money to pay for the two-year-old's treatment His mother Jiang Meili used a syringe to extract some of the fluid. On April 21, a local newspaper published a story on the child, and within just five hours over 10,000 people donated cash to the family. Donations totalled some 350,000 yuan (39,365). On April 21, a local newspaper published a story on the child and his family's plight. Within five hours, 10,000 people had donated money via a page setup online Hope for the future: Donations allowed the boy's parents to seek treatment for him in Shanghai Donations from members of the public totalled some 350,000 yuan (39,365) Doctors told the boy's parents that the abscess may have caused serious damage to the brain On April 25, Jiang Kaijian's parents took him to a specialist hospital in Shanghai for his treatment. Doctors told the parents: 'The abscess will have caused serious damage to the brain. He will most likely not be able to walk or take care of himself.' However the parents are hopeful with Jiang Meili vowing to take care of her son for the rest of his life if she has to. It's thought that the child is set to undergo the surgery in the coming days. The child's mother Jiang Meili has vowed to take care of her son for the rest of his life no matter what the outcome of the surgery is This week, Jiang Kaijian's parents took him to a specialist hospital in Shanghai for his treatment A local newspaper published a story on the child and within just five hours over 10,000 people donated to help pay for his surgery Heavily armed Metropolitan police threw Jewish activists out of an event hosted by a Labour MP at Parliament this week after they asked 'disruptive questions', MailOnline can reveal. Mark Hendrick, MP for Preston, chaired the pro-Palestinian event which was organised by the controversial Palestine Return Centre (PRC). The group has been accused of links with Hamas, though a spokesman denied this. One of the speakers at Tuesday's event which was held to discussIsraeli conduct in Jerusalem was Kamal Hawwash of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, who used his speech to accuse Israel of being 'an expert at inciting hatred'. At a previous Labour event, he said he considered a man who knifed two Israeli men to death, and injured a woman and toddler, a 'martyr' carrying out an 'act of revenge'. If people found his actions 'unacceptable', he said, 'that's up to them'. The Jewish activists listened quietly to the speeches but then strongly challenged the presentations during the question-and-answer session. Mr Hendrick summoned police armed with machine guns to eject them, leaving them 'shaken and upset'. It comes as MailOnline has learnt that Labour Against Anti-Semitism has reported at least 500 cases to party officials since Christmas an average of 125 a month raising questions about anti-Semitism in the party weeks before the election. Labour MP Mark Hendrick directs armed officers towards Jewish audience members, left, and the policeman approaches to throw the Jewish activists out, right Mandy Blumenthal, 52, one of the Jewish activists thrown out of the event by armed police Kamal Hawwash, second from left, who has called a murderer a 'martyr', sits beside Labour MP Mark Hendrick, third from left, and Penny Green, who has suggested Britain bomb Israel, right Titled 'The Question of Jerusalem: Occupation, Discrimination and Displacement', the event offered Palestinian perspectives on the conduct of Israel in the city. No pro-Israeli speakers were on the panel. In a recording of the question-and-answer session, passed to MailOnline, one Jewish contributor can be heard saying: What I find very concerning is the bias of a panel in the House of Commons. 'It's particularly sickening that in half an hour we didn't hear one reference to [Israel's] safety and security.' This Labour MP wanted it to be an echo chamber, not a debating chamber Mandy Blumenthal, Jewish activist Another added: 'Hamas is a terrorist organisation that murders people in the same way that innocents were murdered outside our houses of Parliament here.' Mr Hendrick MP responded to the first questioner: This is a Palestinian Return Centre meeting. It is not supposed to be a cross-section of views. There followed a heated exchange, during which the Labour MP accused the activists of being disruptive. Mobile phone footage obtained by MailOnline shows Mr Hendrick MP demanding that armed officers take them out of here, while a Jewish audience member protests, I asked a question, I didn't say anything wrong. Four Jewish activists were thrown out of Portcullis House by seven officers armed with machine guns, who then took their details before releasing them without charge. The activists told MailOnline they were left 'shaken and upset'. 'I was thinking, oh my God, I feel it's really wrong to be told to leave for just giving my opinions,' said Mandy Blumenthal, 52, a member of West Midlands Friends of Israel. 'But I saw a policeman with a machine gun and I didn't want to argue.' She added: 'The House of Commons is supposed to be the heart of free speech. But this Labour MP wanted it to be an echo chamber, not a debating chamber.' Kamal Hawwash, who has called a murderer a 'martyr' and said his acts of killing two men, injuring a woman and shooting a toddler were not terrorism but 'revenge' Mark Hendrick, the Labour MP for Preston, chairs the controversial event at Parliament Another activist, Jonathan Hoffman, said: 'The evening was peppered with false facts, innuendo and downright lies. Parliamentary facilities were being used to create a platform for hate and anti-Semitism. They came intentionally to make trouble PRC Spokesman A spokesman for the PRC said: 'We have always denied having a connection with Hamas. We have met with them, but we meet all Palestinian stakeholders. We do not condone violence and anti-Semitism. 'These four activists have been going to every single meeting, always causing disruption, barring civilised debate and discussion. They came intentionally to make trouble. They coordinated their shouting and disruptive questions together.' He added that some of the Jewish activists were taking pictures and video footage inside the venue, which was against Parliamentary rules. Penny Green, another speaker at the event in Parliament on Tuesday Penny Green's tweet that was perceived by some to be hostile to Israel After the incident, a spokesman for Labour Against Anti-Semitism, which reports instances of anti-Semitism in the party, told MailOnline: We have collected huge amounts of evidence of a deep-rooted problem with anti-Semitism within the hard Left of Labour. Across social media, we are seeing again and again the same recurring anti-Semitic tropes and instances of outright hate speech. We do wonder if complacency is actually evidence of complicity. I regret hosting the meeting because it turned out the way it did Mark Hendrick MP When questioned by MailOnline, Mr Hendrick MP said: 'I didn't know the views of the [pro-Palestinian] speakers when I agreed they could speak. I was not aware of the comments they had made in the past. 'The Palestine Return Centre approached me and asked me to host the meeting, and I agreed. I was under the impression the speakers were respected academics. 'I was aware of the allegations that the PRC was linked to Hamas, but the organisation has been recognised by the United Nations as doing a lot of good work. 'I regret hosting the meeting because it turned out the way it did.' When asked whether he regretted working with the PRC, he said: 'Don't put words into my mouth. Those people were being deliberately disruptive, asking disruptive questions.' Mr Hawwash, a British-Palestinian engineer who has referred to a murderer as a 'martyr' carrying out an act of 'revenge', was denied entry into Israel over Easter and was unable to see his family as a result. He told MailOnline he does not condone terrorism and that 'killing people will never be the way forward for peace'. Uber has finally agreed to give tens of thousands of its drivers sick pay for the first time amid an employee rights row - but says it will cost workers 2 a week. The taxi hailing firm is responding to critics by offering its workers various benefits including injury cover, which it claims is the first of its kind for self-employed drivers. Active drivers who have completed at least 500 trips will be able to access the benefits - which also include jury service cover - but must pay 2 a week. Uber: The taxi hailing firm is responding to critics by offering its workers various benefits including injury cover, which it claims is the first of its kind for self-employed drivers Uber has drawn protests from traditional taxi drivers, including this one in London on April 6 Uber's growth in the so-called 'gig economy' has come with controversy, drawing protests by traditional taxi drivers, lawsuits from its drivers and regulatory bans. But the firm says its partnership with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE) will bring a string of benefits to its 40,000 drivers. Those who join the scheme will have sickness and injury cover, free advice on personal finance issues and occupational accident cover. Uber said it was the first time a UK operator had made such an offer for self-employed drivers. Jo Bertram, regional general manager of Uber, said drivers have 'told us they want more security if something unexpected happens' Jo Bertram, regional general manager of Uber, said: 'Drivers who make money through Uber tell us they love the freedom of being their own boss and choosing if, when and where they drive. Uber's legal wrangles San Francisco-based Uber, which allows users to book and pay for a taxi via a smartphone app, has faced legal challenges over the way it treats its staff. The company is appealing a British tribunal ruling that it should treat drivers as employees and pay the minimum wage and holiday pay. It ruled in October that Uber was acting unlawfully by treating them as self-employed and not providing certain rights. The firm has also faced other rulings over issues such as the standard of English its drivers must meet and the licence fees it must pay, as regulators seek to rein in a firm that has shaken up the traditional taxi industry. Advertisement 'But drivers have also told us they want more security if something unexpected happens. That's why we're really pleased to offer drivers this package with IPSE so they have more support in case of illness or injury.' Chris Bryce, chief executive of IPSE, said: 'IPSE is excited to partner with Uber and the thousands of self-employed drivers who use their app. 'In addition to gaining valuable illness and injury cover, drivers will benefit from being part of the UK's largest voice dedicated to supporting the self-employed community. 'It is part of IPSE's mission to represent all self-employed people and welcoming drivers who use Uber into the fold helps us achieve this.' Maria Ludkin, the GMB union's legal director, said: 'It is gratifying to see that Uber has finally acknowledged they have the responsibility of an employer in relation to their drivers, who the courts have already ruled have worker status. 'Therefore it remains puzzling that they are continuing to appeal the employment tribunal judgment of October 2016, where this employment status was confirmed.' An Uber spokesman told MailOnline today that the package is worth 8 a week, adding that the company is making a 'substantial contribution' to the cost. Video footage has captured the dramatic moment a girl trapped in a septic tank for over four hours is rescued by firefighters and her father in Chongqing, China. The six-year-old told her father that she was going to look for her friends in the afternoon of April 24, however she did not return home. With the help of policemen and firefighters, the father managed to find his daughter trapped in a septic tank. A six-year-old girl fell into a septic tank and trapped for over four hours in southwest China Rescuer went down the septic tank by ladder and safely pulled out the girl with a rope Pear uploaded a video yesterday showing the rescue of the young girl from a septic tank near a public toilet in the Yubei district of Chongqing City. The girl, whose name has not been revealed, suffered minor fractures on her legs and was taken to hospital after the rescue. Yubei policemen and firefighters arrived at the scene after receiving a call for help from the girl's father. They looked through CCTV footage of the father's shop and found that the girl went missing after heading down some stairs towards a public toilet. Firefighters found her by following her crying sound and started the rescue right away She was found to have suffered fractures on her legs and was sent to hospital immediately Her father said the area was not locked and the septic tank was covered by a thin paperboard The rescue team followed the sound of the girl's crying and located her in a septic tank a few metres deep. Yubei firefighters went down the tank using a ladder and tied a rope around the girl's waist before putting her on a stretcher. The girl was saved and sent to a local hospital after being trapped in the septic tank for over four hours. She suffered minor fractures on her legs. Her father told the reporter that the septic tank was located at the attic of the toilet. 'The attic was unlocked and the septic tank did not have any cement covering. There is only one very thin paperboard placed on top,' said the father. He believed his daughter tried to climb over a barrier around the septic tank and step on the paperboard before she then fell into the septic tank. The latest attack on Whitehall follows ISIS instructions for a low-tech terror strikes on the West. Armed police 'swarmed like bees' on a suspected terrorist with a rucksack full of knives' near Parliament Square in London this afternoon - after his concerned family alerted security services. While the 27-year-old man's motive remains unclear- the unsophisticated nature of his alleged plot follows a blueprint that has caused death and devastation around Europe. This is the face of a terror suspect tackled to the floor today in Whitehall, where knives were seen strewn across the floor Pictures of forensics officers show at least three knives, a small flick knife, a large one on the ground and another being held at the scene in Whitehall today The incident comes just five weeks after Islamic fanatic Khalid Masood murdered four people by mowing them down with his car on Westminster Bridge. After crashing his 4x4 Hyundai, he stabbed Pc Keith Palmer to death just inside the grounds of Parliament on March 22. Armed police officers have been more visible patrolling the Palace of Westminster since the attack, which also left Masood dead from gunshot injuries. The heightened level of security resulted in officers foiling the suspected terror attack plot this afternoon. The suspect, allegedly carrying at least three knives in his rucksack, was arrested as part of an 'ongoing operation', Scotland Yard revealed today. It suggests that counter-terrorism officers and MI5 may have been following the 27-year-old before he was held this afternoon. Security sources have said that the suspect was known to the Met before he was pinned to the ground on Whitehall today. Pictured: Khalid Masood is treated by paramedics after he was gunned down by armed officers following his rampage in Westminster Pictured: Islamic fanatic Masood (left) and Pc Keith Palmer (right) who he stabbed to death outside the Palace of Westminster Raffaello Pantucci, Director of International Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute, said that low-tech attacks are becoming the norm as terrorists change their tactics. He told MailOnline: 'It is very typical of what were seeing people trying to do. Considering the number of terrorist convictions and what we saw in Westminster with the earlier attack. 'It is the norm now but it has been the norm for a few years. We saw a similar attack with Lee Rigby. Today's incident, Masood's rampage in Westminster and the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby outside Woolwich Barracks by Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, in May 2013 - all involved in knives. Pictured: The double deckerb bus destroyed during the 7/7 attacks in London, 2005, where four suicide bombers killed 52 people and injured hundreds Pictured: The truck used in the Nice attack on the French Riviera, which left 86 people dead However, unlike the 7/7 bombings, where four men detonated suicide bombs on a bus and on London's underground network - killing 52 people, recent attacks in big cities have shied away from sophisticated explosive devices. Instead vehicular strikes are becoming more common - as they are hard to predict and simplistic to carry out. Earlier this month four people were killed and 15 injured when ISIS attacker Rakhmat Akilov, 39, ploughed a stolen beer truck through crowds of people in one of Stockholm's busiest shopping districts. While on December 19 last year ISIS fanatic Anis Amri killed 12 people and left 56 injured when he stole a truck and drove it into a Christmas market in Berlin. On July 14, 2016, amid Bastille Day celebrations in the Riviera city of Nice, a large truck was driven into crowd. Some 86 people, from around the world, were murdered and the driver, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, was shot dead. 'TOO EARLY' TO TELL IF TERROR SUSPECT IS ISIS FANATIC Ranj Alaaldin, who specialises in Kurdish movements in the Middle East, said it is still too early to tell how 'significant' the man arrested outside Whitehall is. He also added that it is 'difficult' to draw a conclusion as to whether he is a 'fully-fledged member of ISIS'. Speaking to Sky News, Dr Alaaldin said: 'It's often said that the security services, the police, have to get lucky all the time but the terrorists have to get lucky once. 'It is not yet known how this individual came to conduct these activities, it is not yet known whether for example he was radicalised online, whether he has any known links to ISIS or another jihadi organisation. 'It is also unclear whether he is acting alone or whether he is functioning as part of a cell. 'We're not quite sure how significant this individual is, whether he's an opportunistic, narcissistic individual who simply saw an opportunity to attract attention. 'He could be a sympathiser or he could have a troubled criminal past rather than being a fully-fledged member or ISIS. It's difficult to draw that conclusion just yet.' He added: 'As this military campaign progresses, as ISIS starts to lose territory, the focus will have to turn to intelligence gathering and that will be the next phase of this very difficult campaign.' Advertisement Russia accused French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron's campaign team of discriminating against its media on Thursday, saying it had trampled on the freedom of the press by banning Russian news outlets from its events. In Paris, a Macron spokesman confirmed that the Russian state-funded Sputnik news agency and RT TV channel had been barred from having media access to him, describing them as a 'two-headed entity' which issued Russian state propaganda and fake news. Macron, a pro-European Union ex-banker and centrist, is widely seen as favourite to win the French presidency on May 7 by beating far right leader Marine Le Pen. A spokesman for French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the Russian state-funded Sputnik news agency and RT TV channel were barred from having media access to him Macron takes a hard line on EU sanctions imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis, whereas Le Pen, an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is a eurosceptic who backs the lifting of sanctions and takes Russia's side on Ukraine. The Kremlin has been irritated by accusations from Macron's camp that its campaign's networks, databases and sites have come under attack from locations inside Russia, fuelling suspicions that Russia is trying to undermine Macron's campaign in order to help Le Pen. The Macron spokesman referred to the two news outlets' 'systematic desire to issue fake news and false information'. 'Spreading lies methodically and systematically - that's a problem,' he said. 'If this creates problems with the Kremlin, it will be the subject of an open discussion in the event of the candidate (Macron) being elected,' the spokesman said. Moscow has rejected allegations of meddling, and on Thursday Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dubbed 'outrageous' the move by Macron's team to refuse accreditation to Sputnik, RT and the Ruptly video agency last Sunday. Zakharova said Moscow viewed the ban as 'deliberate and bare-faced discrimination against Russian media by the presidential candidate of a state that has historically been vigilant when it comes to free speech.' She called on the relevant French authorities and international organisations to ensure that freedom of the press was upheld in the second round of voting. Macron, a pro-European Union ex-banker and centrist, is widely seen as favourite to win the French presidency on May 7 by beating far right leader Marine Le Pen, who is an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin The Macron spokesman gave no specific examples of Russian media spreading fake news. But a February 4 report by Sputnik quoted a pro-Putin centre-right French legislator as saying Macron was a puppet of US political and financial elites and that revelations about his private life would soon be made public. The report appeared to play a part in Macron being forced on February 7 to deny rumours of an extra-marital gay relationship. Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT, said on social media that the Macron campaign was refusing to accredit her organisation and the others for the second round as well however. 'So this is how gracelessly freedom of speech ends in a country which prides itself on its freedoms almost more than it prides itself on its Camembert and Brie cheeses,' said Simonyan. Last February, when political parties were squaring off for the first round of the election, Richard Ferrand, the head of Macron's En Marche! party, accused Sputnik and RT of spreading fake news with the aim of undermining Macron's campaign. RT has issued several statements denying suggestions that it is part of a campaign to spread fake news in relation to Macron and the French election. Meanwhile, French journalists claim they have been denied access to Le Pen. The Macron spokesman gave no specific examples of Russian media spreading fake news. But a Sputnik news report appeared to play a part in Macron being forced on February 7 to deny rumours of an extra-marital gay relationship. Macron is pictured above with his wife, Brigitte Trogneux Representatives from more than 30 French media outlets signed a petition protesting against what they call restricted access to the far-right presidential candidate. Journalists say they have been excluded from covering campaign events and Le Pen herself. 'For second-round campaigning, the National Front has decided to choose which media are authourised to follow Marine Le Pen,' the petition says, according to The Local. 'Several outlets have had their representatives excluded from any information or any possibility to follow the National Front candidate,' it adds. The petition was signed by representatives for journalists at Agence France-Presse (AFP), as well as editorial staff from Le Monde, Le Figaro, TF1 and BFM. 'We protest in the strongest way against this hindrance to carrying out our duty to inform,' the petition says. 'It is not up to political structures, whatever they may be, to decide on which outlets are allowed to exercise their democratic role in society.' Russia's Putin granted an audience to Le Pen in the Kremlin last month, bestowing a level of international recognition that had until then eluded her in the countdown to the election. But the Kremlin says it is not backing any candidate in the election, which it says is purely a matter for the French people. Google parent Alphabet Inc posted a surge in profit and revenue on Thursday as its core advertising business continued to grow at an extraordinary rate. The huge boost in profits showed that potential problems, such as an advertiser boycott of YouTube, had little impact on business. Alphabet's profit beat Wall Street estimates and rose 29 percent to $5.43bn, a performance that analysts called exceptional for a company so large. 'For a company of Googles size to post the growth that it has is just a testament to the quality and usefulness of the products they make,' said Colin Gillis, an analyst with BGC Partners. 'They are the dominant force in digital advertising.' Shares of the company headquartered in Mountain View, California rose 2.8 percent to $916.80 after the bell on Thursday. Google parent Alphabet Inc had profits of $5.43bn in 2016, a year-over-year rise of 29 percent. Pictured: Google CEO Sundar Pichai Google has shifted its business focus to mobile advertising. Pictured: Google CEO Larry Page The company and Facebook combined account for 99 percent of digital advertising growth in 2016. Pictured: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Like its arch-rival Facebook Inc, Google has aggressively shifted the focus of its business to mobile advertising. The two companies accounted for 99 percent of the industry growth in digital advertising in 2016, Pivotal Research said in a report this week, demonstrating market power that some advertisers complain amounts to a duopoly. 'It underscores a macro theme we are seeing in the internet space, which is that the bigger players are getting bigger and the smaller players are treading water or shrinking,' said analyst James Wang of ARK Investment Management. Google is expected to command a 61.6 percent share of the search ad market worldwide in 2017, up from 60.6 percent in 2016, according to research firm eMarketer. Mobile ads command lower prices than desktop ads, but growing volume is more than making up the difference, Wang said. 'Our great properties -- like Search, Maps, YouTube and Google Play -- are the "prime time" for the mobile world, where people are actively engaged and interested,' Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said during a call with analysts. Google's revenue rose 22.2 percent to $24.75bn from $20.26bn in the quarter ended March 31. Paid clicks, where an advertiser pays only if a user clicks on ads, rose 44 percent. Analysts on average had expected a rise of 29.7 percent, according to FactSet StreetAccount Net income rose to $5.43bn, or $7.73 per share, from $4.21bn, or $6.02 per share, a year earlier. Analysts on an average had expected a first-quarter profit of $7.34 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Page is pictured between Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. To the right are Vice President Mike Pence, President Donald Trump and former PayPal CEO Peter Thiel during a meeting at Trump Tower in December 2016 Google commanded 60.6 percent of the worldwide search ad market in 2016 and is expected to command 61.6 percent in 2017. Pictured: Sundar Pichai Alphabet Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat said during the earnings call that 'YouTube revenues continue to grow at a significant rate,' dispelling concerns about the possible impact of an advertiser boycott of the video service. YouTube had come under fire for ads appearing alongside videos carrying homophobic or anti-Semitic messages, prompting a number of companies to suspend their digital ads on the video service. 'Advertisers can be fickle and certainly the approval of the advertiser is critical, but less so than the approval of the user,' said Phil Bak, CEO of ACSI Funds, an asset manager. Google's non-advertising revenue, which consists mainly of the cloud computing business, the Pixel smartphones and the Play store, also grew dramatically in the quarter, jumping 49.4 percent to $3.10bn. Google has long trailed Amazon.com Inc and Microsoft Corp in the burgeoning market for cloud computing. But since the arrival in late 2015 of veteran enterprise computing executive Diane Greene, who leads the business, Google has begun winning many more major deals, Pichai said during the call. 'Were seeing a meaningful shift, and this momentum is resulting in a fast-growing business,' Pichai said. Analyst Colin Gillis said: 'For a company of Googles size to post the growth that it has is just a testament to the quality and usefulness of the products they make' The strong growth in hardware and cloud computing helps assuage investors' concerns about Google's dependence on search, Wang said. We have wanted to see Google be more than just an advertising company,' he said. 'That is quite an impressive achievement.' On the other hand, Alphabet's 'Other Bets' - separate business units including the Waymo self-driving car business, Google Fiber, thermostat-maker Nest and the life sciences firm Verily - continued to post large losses and modest revenues. Revenues from Alphabets 'Other Bets,' climbed to $244m, up from $165m in the year-ago quarter; Nest, Verily and Fiber accounted for the bulk of that, Porat said on the call. But losses widened to $855m from $774m in the year-ago quarter. Alphabet CEO Larry Page released a letter Thursday defending the two-year-old Alphabet structure, which he said had achieved its objective of giving investors greater visibility into Googles performance while empowering entrepreneurs in other parts of the company. 'With the change to Alphabet, oversight has been easier because of increased visibility,' Page wrote. 'We have streamlined efforts where it made sense and in other areas we have seen places to double down.' Scores of protesters, many wearing masks, broke through a police cordon and entered Macedonia's parliament late Thursday, attacking lawmakers to protest the election of a new speaker despite a months-long deadlock in talks to form a new government. The protesters stormed parliament after the country's opposition Social Democrats and parties representing Macedonia's ethnic Albanian minority voted for a new speaker. Shouting and throwing chairs, the protesters attacked lawmakers, including opposition leader Zoran Zaev, who television footage showed bleeding from the forehead, not long after he announced that the majority coalition led by his party had elected Talat Xhaferi as parliament speaker. Television footage showed Zaev and other Social Democrat lawmakers surrounded by protesters waving national flags, shouting 'traitors' and refusing to allow them to leave. Opposition Social Democrats leader Zoran Zaev bleeds after being injured when supporters of former leading party VMRO-DPMNE entered the parliament following an allegedly unfair vote for a parliamentary speaker in Skopje on Thursday night Television footage showed Zaev and other Social Democrat lawmakers surrounded by protesters waving national flags, shouting 'traitors' and refusing to allow them to leave Scores of protesters broke through a police cordon and entered Macedonian parliament to protest the election of a new speaker despite a months-long deadlock in talks to form a new government A Reuters witness saw nationalist protesters angered over Xhaferi's election beating up another lawmaker in parliament People were seen climbing over a wall in the parliament building to escape protesters on Thursday night A Reuters witness saw nationalist protesters angered over Xhaferi's election beating up another lawmaker in parliament. Broken glass littered the floor and traces of blood were seen in hallways. Some of the roughly 200 protesters inside the parliament were masked. Witnesses said that police entered parliament after the disturbances erupted but did not immediately seek to quell the protesters. EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called for "calm and restraint" "The acts of violence in the Parliament are wholly unacceptable," Mogherini said in a statement. Police said eight people including an ethnic Albanian lawmaker were injured in Thursday's violence. Ten police officers were injured and reinforcements have been sent to assist those inside the parliament building. President Gjorge Ivanov invited leaders of all political parties for a meeting in his office on Friday. Zaev addressed reporters at a news conference along with other members of his party - many of whom were bandaged - on Thursday following the incident Talat Xhaferi, center, a senior official of the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integrations, stands after being elected as a new speaker in the parliament building in Skopje Television footage showed Zaev and other Social Democrat lawmakers surrounded by protesters waving national flags, shouting 'traitors' and refusing to allow them to leave. Macedonia has been without a government since December, when former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's conservative party won elections, but without enough votes to form a government The Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, as the Balkan nation's parliament is known, has been deadlocked for three weeks over electing a new speaker Police try to block protestors as they enter into the parliament building in Skopje on Thursday Macedonia has been without a government since December, when former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's conservative party won elections, but without enough votes to form a government. Elections were held in December 2016 but no government has been formed yet. Coalition talks broke down over ethnic Albanian demands that Albanian be recognized as an official second language. One-fourth of Macedonia's population is ethnic Albanian. Zaev has been seeking a mandate to form a government for months, after reaching an agreement with an ethnic Albanian party, the Democratic Union for Integration, to form a coalition government. However, President Gjorge Ivanov refused to hand him the mandate. The Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, as the Balkan nation's parliament is known, has been deadlocked for three weeks over electing a new speaker. Zaev's parliamentary alliance has triggered daily street protests by Macedonian nationalists in Skopje. Ethnic Albanians comprise a third of the country's population. People react as a stun grenade explodes by a parliament entrance, guarded by police, during clashes with protesters Policemen carry an injured man as protesters clash with police after the governing Social Democrats and ethnic Albanian parties voted to elect an Albanian as parliament speaker in Skopje VMRO-DPMNE lawmakers challenged the legality of Thursday's vote, saying it was not carried out electronically as is the usual case because the parliamentary session had formally ended Macedonian police escort opposition Social Democrats leader Zoran Zaev with his head bandaged after he was injured when supporters of former leading party VMRO-DPMNE entered the parliament following an allegedly unfair vote for a parliamentary speaker Zaev had suggested earlier Thursday that one could be elected outside normal procedures, an idea immediately rejected by the conservative party as an attempted coup. He went ahead with the vote, and a majority in parliament elected Talat Xhaferi, a former defense minister and member of the Democratic Union for Integration. VMRO-DPMNE lawmakers challenged the legality of Thursday's vote, saying it was not carried out electronically as is the usual case because the parliamentary session had formally ended. Talat Xhaferi became the first ethnic Albanian parliament speaker in Macedonia since the small Balkan country won independence from then-Yugoslavia in 1991. Macedonia went to the brink of civil war during an insurgency by minority Albanians in 2001 before international mediation defused the situation. DUI party spokesman Artan Grubi told Telma TV in a telephone interview that Zaev and three other lawmakers had been injured. 'This is a sad day for Macedonia,' Grubi said. Before the protests, Zaev had suggested earlier Thursday that one could be elected outside normal procedures, an idea immediately rejected by the conservative party as an attempted coup Police said about ten officers were injured during the melee and that reinforcements have been sent to assist those inside the parliament building Some of the roughly 200 protesters inside the parliament were masked. Witnesses said that police entered parliament after the disturbances erupted but did not immediately seek to quell the protesters. The protesters who stormed parliament Thursday night were among a group of demonstrators who have been holding protest rallies nightly for the past two months in the streets of Skopje and other cities in the country over the political situation. Many are supporters of Gruevski. The current crisis is the worst since 2001 when Western diplomacy helped drag the country of 2.1 million people back from the brink of civil war during an ethnic Albanian insurgency, promising it a route to membership of the EU and NATO. But Macedonia has made little progress in that direction due to a name dispute with Greece. "I condemn the attacks on MPs in Skopje in the strongest terms. Violence has NO place in Parliament. Democracy must run its course," the EU commissioner in charge of enlargement, Johannes Hahn, said in a tweet. "This is the time for dialogue and not for violence," Mats Staffansson, Sweden's ambassador to Skopje, told reporters on behalf of EU and U.S. legations in Macedonia. European Union Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn condemned Thursday's violence, saying in a tweet that 'Violence has NO place in Parliament. Democracy must run its course'. Sweden's ambassador to Macedonia, Mats Staffansson, speaking on behalf of other European diplomats, reminded the country's politicians of the need for dialogue and said 'it is the responsibility of the police of this country to make sure that this kind of violence does not happen.' The Navy's top officer in the Pacific has warned that the North Korea crisis is real - and the US must assume Kim Jong Un intends to launch nuclear attacks on America and its allies. Admiral Harry B Harris Jr, Commander of US Pacific Command, said on Thursday that the crisis in the Korean Peninsula is the worst he'd since he began serving in 1978. 'There is some doubt within the intelligence community whether Kim Jong Un has that capability today or whether he will soon, but I have to assume he has it, the capability is real, and that hes moving towards it,' Harris said, according to Fox News. Scroll down for video Danger: The top Navy official in the Pacific says that North Korea is deadly serious about firing nukes at the US and its allies (pictured: DPRK military drill on Tuesday) Concerned: Admiral Harry B Harris Jr (left) says the US needs to assume Kim Jong Un has nuclear capabilities, or will soon. The DPRK said on Wednesday it would keep building nukes 'The North Korean crisis is the worst I've ever seen,' he said. Harris was speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee when he made the remarks. He recognized that there were multiple possible threats in the Pacific theater - including the possibility of ISIS being pushed into the area from the Middle East. But he said that North Korea remained the most urgent threat, as it is 'vigorously' pursuing the capacity to bomb the US, South Korea and Australia. 'Kim Jong Un is making progress and all nations need to take this seriously because their missiles point in all directions,' said Harris, who has overseen operations in the Pacific since 2013. 'If left unchecked, they will match the capability of his hostile rhetoric.' Harris refused to compare the growing tensions to the Cuban Missile Crisis, but said he had 'no doubt' that North Korea would, if attack its enemies if allowed to. However, he said that he has confidence in the plans laid out by Donald Trump and Defense Secretary James Mattis, and the positive noises made by China after their meeting with Trump. He added that de-escalation was the primary focus: 'We want to bring Kim Jong Un to his senses - not to his knees,' he said. However, he warned, 'I have the forces in place to fight tonight if necessary.' And in the next few days South Korea will begin to play host to US THAAD anti-ballistic missile systems, which he characterized as 'an umbrella to protect South Korea'. But an immediate response wasn't the only thing on Harris's agenda for the meeting: He also pushed the government to increase spending and provide for 'the long run'. Live fire: This undated picture from the North Korean Central News Agency shows rockets being fired by the DPRK army. The US says it can protect South Korea from ballistic missiles Sok Chol Won, director of North Korea's Institute of Human Rights at the Academy of Social Sciences said on Wednesday that the country would not stop building bombs. 'As long as America continues its hostile acts of aggression, we will never stop nuclear and missile tests,' he told CNN. His remarks came the day after the 85th anniversary of the creation of the DPRK's military. The same day, the entire Senate was invited to a briefing in the White House from the Trump administration on the North Korea situation. Sennator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, told the Washington Post: 'There was very little, if anything new' in the meeting. 'I remain mystified about why the entire Senate had to be taken over to the White House rather than conducting it here,' he said. A woman has expressed angry relief after her brother was found in the Tasmanian wilderness after two nights lost with his young son in a makeshift bush shelter. Belinda Ward was elated when rescuers announced her brother John Ward, 42, and nephew Stephen, 13, were found by a search party about 1pm on Thursday. 'John Ward you are an idiot and a fool and stupid,' Ms Ward wrote on Facebook. John Ward (pictured) was treated for hypothermia after he and his son were found on Thursday after two nights lost in the Tasmanian wilderness 'I love you so much you stupid boofhead. Don't you ever ever do that s*** again. 'I'm so glad you and Stephen are found. And sucked in because mum is at your house and your're in trouble lol. Love ya mate.' Mr Ward and his son were flown to safety by helicopter when they were found by a search party near a track at Nine Mile Creek on Thursday. The police said the pair were lucky to be found alive. Mr Ward's sister Belinda took to Facebook on Thursday to express her relief after her brother was found safe with his young son Mr Ward's sister Belinda (pictured) expressed her angry relief, calling him a 'stupid boofhead' after he was found safe on Thursday The police said it was most likely a makeshift bush shelter that saved their lives. 'They'd built a small shelter and have been able to protect themselves somewhat from the heavy rain that we had,' Senior Constable Chris Williams said on Thursday from Strathgordon, where the search party was based. 'They had the smarts to build something like that and keep themselves out of the weather and that is more than likely what saved their lives.' Stephen (pictured) is said to be in good condition while Mr Ward is being treated for mild hypothermia They also managed to find some food, most likely from a supplies pack, which are often left along the track by walkers, police said. The pair were reported missing on Tuesday after failing to return from a Lake Pedder camping trip. Stephen is said to be in good condition while Mr Ward is being treated for mild hypothermia. John Ward (right) and his son were reported missing on Tuesday after failing to return from a Lake Pedder camping trip Sen Const Williams said it was a special moment when Mrs Ward, who had travelled to Strathgordon, embraced her husband and son after three worrying days. The pair wrote in a log book at their campsite they were walking the Western Arthurs Traverse, which is described as 'one of the most hazardous walks you can do in Tasmania'. Police on Wednesday found the pair's tent, car and wet weather gear, and said they had grave concerns for their safety without protection from the elements. Two Queensland tradies have been charged with assault after wolf whistling at a 15-year-old girl walking past their building site, and then attacking her father when he came to her defence. Brothers Bodie and Kai Lajunen were working at a site in Bundall, on the Gold Coast, when the 15-year-old neighbour walked past, reported Nine News. CCTV footage shows the father walk up to one of the brothers in an attempt to defend his daughter, before the second brother joins and the two men attack him, breaking his hand and leaving it in a sling. Queensland tradies Bodie (left) and Kai Lajunen (right) have been charged with assault after wolf whistling at a 15-year-old girl walking past their building site, and then attacking her father when he came to her defence On Tuesday, the brothers were found guilty of assault but were pictured laughing at cameras as they left court, and giving the double thumbs up. The pair have insisted to Nine News that they did nothing wrong. Bodie Lajunen said: 'He didn't need to defend her, she wasn't in any danger.' 'I had a little whistle at the girl walking past,' he said and then shrugged his shoulders. 'I know I'm not a sleazebag and that I'm not going to be whistling and doing that to a minor so it didn't really phase me too much.' The brothers were working at a site in Bundall on the Gold Coast, when a 15-year-old neighbour walked past. They later attacked her father leaving him with a broken hand (pictured) When challenged about what he said he replied: 'No, I didn't wolf whistle at her' 'She (the girl) yelled out, do you guys want some hot chips and I said yes please and her boyfriend just told me to f**k off, he yelled it out at me, and I just laughed and did the same gesture to him. In the footage, it shows the girl's father then stepped in to have words with Bodie. 'He kept saying that it was a sleazy thing to do and I basically laughed at him, I just said f**k off and leave me alone mate.' CCTV footage (pictured) shows the father walk up to one of the brothers in an attempt to defend his daughter, before the second brother joins and the two men attack him. Despite the charges, the brothers have maintained they are innocent Bodie's brother Kai Lajunen admitted to Nine News that he pushed the girl's father. 'I pushed him, I had a rum in one hand so it wasn't an aggressive push.' But at one point in the CCTV footage, Kai is seen slapping the girl's father in the face. Despite the footage and witnesses, Bodie and Kai maintained their innocence. 'I would be sorry if I had done it to a 15-year-old girl and she was offended by it, like, I don't even think she was offended by it,' Bodie Lajunen said. Fighting prison inmates have been hospitalised after a brawl broke out at a Queensland prison on Thursday. Queensland Corrective Services said the fight involving several prisoners happened at the Maryborough Correctional Centre, north of Brisbane, about midday. Two inmates were taken to hospital but no staff were injured in the fight, a Queensland Corrective Services spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. Fighting prison inmates have been hospitalised after a brawl broke out at Maryborough Correctional Centre (pictured) on Thursday Meanwhile another Queensland prison was placed in lockdown on Thursday night in a separate incident. A group of prisoners barricaded themselves inside an exercise yard at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre in Brisbane's west about 4.15pm. They damaged equipment and light fixtures in the yard during a five-and-a-half hour stand-off with prison guards. Corrective Services said they were forced to 'lock down' the centre due to the 'disturbance'. A group of prisoners barricaded themselves inside an exercise yard at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre (pictured) in Brisbane's west in a separate incident The prisoners were 'peacefully' returned to their cells about 9.40pm, a Queensland Corrective Services spokesperson said. Police are investigating both incidents. 'Any incident that may threaten correctional centre security is taken very seriously,' the spokesperson said. 'All safety and security incidents are referred to the Queensland Police Service for investigation.' United CEO Oscar Munyos has admitted that a lack of 'common sense' in his company's policies and procedures was responsible for the violent ejection of Dr David Dao from one of its planes on April 9. He told NBC News's Lester Holt that the company had stopped putting its customers first when it ejected Dao so that staff members could board the overbooked flight. 'We make sure half a million people every single day get to somewhere safely,' he said. 'When you have a complicated process like that the operation mindset becomes front and center and we forget sometimes that the people you're carrying are human and have interests and have desires.' 'Sorry': United CEO Oscar Munoz (pictured) said Thursday that it was his fault staff put airline's operation ahead of the welfare of its customers and he would introduce 'common sense' Injured: Dr David Dao (left and right) was violently ejected from an overbooked United plane because staff wanted his seat. Munoz said new policies would put customers first Munoz took responsibility for the ejection - which left Dao bloody and mumbling, and he says caused him to lose teeth - and the corporate culture that led to it. When asked by Holt if United couldn't have used hire cars to ferry its staff around rather than the seats of paying customers, Munoz said: 'Absolutely, and that's the common-sense process that I failed our company to provide. 'We should have done that immediately, it just wasn't embedded in the policies and procedures.' Those policies and procedures are now being overhauled, including better training for staff to develop creative solutions and an increase in compensation paid to those who give up their seats on overbooked flights. Munoz promised that in the future United would 'put the customer at the center of everything we do.' He added: 'We breached public trust and in a serious breach and we're profoundly sorry for that.' Training: Munoz said staff would be trained to come up with creative solutions to issues; more money would be given to people to give up seats; and there would be fewer overbooked flights Munoz's contriteness is likely an attempt to claw back credibility after bungling his initial response to the event, when he released a statement to employees, one of which said Dao brought it upon himself for being 'belligerent'. 'Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this,' Munoz said in a statement to employees that was leaked after the incident. 'While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right.' HOW WILL UNITED FIX ITS POLICIES? An internal report by United has highlighted a series of 'failures' in the Dao incident, NBC reported. Those failures were: Calling law enforcement even though there was no security threat Booking off-duty flight crew at the last minute on an already oversold plane Not offering enough compensation to entice passengers to give up their seats. The company is now implementing a series of new procedures that it hopes will stop anything like this happening in the future: More staff training for difficult and unusual situations New team training to help staff develop creative solutions to issues Fewer overbooked flights Raising compensation paid out to customers to encourage them to give up their seats - the airline will now offer up to $10,000 Advertisement In the furor after Dao's ejection from the plane, United's stock plummeted and it lost almost $1 billion in days. Munoz had been on track to become chairman until the incident, but will remain CEO for the foreseeable future. He told Holt that was his choice. 'I don't think it's the right time, A; and B... there needs to be actions, proof that I am sorry,' he said. In the wake of the incident, several airlines - as well as United - said that they were altering their policies regarding issues such as overbooking and compensation. Dao's lawyer, Thomas Demetrio told NBC his client had become 'an unintended champion' for the changes. It was announced on Thursday that Dao had reached a settlement with the airline, but the exact figure was not made public. Demetrio is also representing a woman who was allegedly hit in the head with a metal stroller after an American Airlines attendant tried to drag it out of her hands on Monday. The incident, which was recorded by other passengers last Friday, saw the woman weeping while clutching one of her two babies at her side. That child was almost hit as well, witnesses said. When asked about the American Airlines incident, Munoz said: 'The industry is getting a black eye... you've caught all of us at a bad moment.' Sergeant Alexander Blackman, pictured, has finally been freed from prison after being jailed for life in 2013 At long last! More than three years after he was convicted of murder for killing a mortally wounded Taliban insurgent, Sergeant Alexander Blackman will finally be freed from prison today and reunited with his wife Claire. After so many false dawns and setbacks, it is a great day for all those campaigners, MPs and armed forces personnel who called for his release, and for the Mail readers whose generosity made it possible. When the man then known only as Marine A was jailed for life in 2013, the Ministry of Defence and the top brass saw his sentence as a fitting punishment, and were happy to have him rot behind bars. It was only with the tireless efforts of his supporters and of Mail readers who donated 800,000 to fund his appeal, but most of all the determination, loyalty and unstinting love of Claire that his appeal succeeded and his sentence was reduced. The Mail repeats: we never condoned his actions, but argued that the sentence did not fit the crime committed by a soldier with an exemplary record, under unimaginable battlefield pressure on the Afghanistan tour from hell. In the coming days, the lessons of this case must be learned, in particular the actions of senior military figures who suppressed a report on mitigating factors to cover up their own incompetence and leadership failings. But for now Sgt Blackman and his wife deserve some peace and quiet as they adjust to his return. The Mail, on behalf of its readers, wishes them all the best for their future together. Nail the home sharks They just dont get it. In an obscene case of corporate greed, Jeff Fairburn, the chief executive of housebuilding giant Persimmon, is to receive a bonus totalling 112million. If that wasnt offensive enough, his firms profits are built on the taxpayer-funded Help to Buy scheme and on exploiting buyers who desperate to get on the ladder purchase homes on leasehold contracts. Under these outdated arrangements, owners pay an annual fee to the freeholder which can double every decade, often making the homes impossible to sell. To its credit, another housebuilder, Taylor Wimpey, has listened to criticism and yesterday announced 130million in compensation for its customers. But Persimmon and others have their fingers in their ears, refuse to apologise and worse, carry on selling toxic leaseholds. Rightly, ministers have pledged to confront this scandal, which has strong parallels to the banks fleecing of their PPI customers. The day of reckoning for the leasehold sharks cannot come soon enough. Just yards away from where Khalid Masood killed and maimed last month, a potential terror attack was averted yesterday. It appears the suspect, armed with at least five knives, was under surveillance at the time. When someone like Masood slips through the net, the police and security services inevitably face questions about whether he could have been stopped. But after yesterday, and in the knowledge that more than a dozen plots have been thwarted in the last few years, and that hundreds of Islamist fanatics walk the streets after returning from Syria and Iraq, we should pay tribute to the quiet heroism of those who work tirelessly day and night to keep us safe. As the man who asked Brussels for next to nothing, and came back with even less, David Cameron is hardly well placed to advise Theresa May on the right approach to Brexit. But off he goes, telling Mrs May she should roll over to EU demands and write a cheque for tens of billions of pounds before starting trade talks. Did this second-rate statesman not learn anything from his failed negotiation? Sean Hannity has launched a passionate defense of Fox News' co-president Bill Shine amid speculation his time at the network could be coming to an end. The polarizing host fired off a series of tweets on Thursday afternoon amid rumors Shine was potentially losing support from the Murdochs - particularly James and Lachlan. New York Magazine cited a source close to Shine - who has been with Fox News since its inception - as saying he is 'expressing concern about his future at the network.' The magazine's writer, Gabriel Sherman, claimed in the piece James and Lachlan Murdoch have refused to publicly back Shine. They also ignored his request to release a statement supporting him. Sean Hannity has launched a passionate defense of Fox News' co-president after it was reported his time at the network could be coming to an end Responding to the article, Hannity tweeted at Sherman: 'Gabe i pray this is NOT true because if it is, that's the total end of the FNC as we know it. Done. Best Sean.' The host then continued to discuss the story, even going as far as to claim Shine was being sabotaged by someone within Fox News. 'Somebody HIGH UP AND INSIDE FNC is trying to get an innocent person fired. And Gabe I KNOW WHO it is. Best Sean. 'I'll change it. #Istandwithshine.' Hannity fired off a series of tweets on Thursday afternoon amid rumors Bill Shine (pictured on April 13) was potentially losing support from the Murdochs - particularly James and Lachlan Hannity posted his series of tweets on Thursday night in direct response to the New York Magazine article Shine was elevated to the position of co-president after Roger Ailes was ousted last year. He is also one of the executives named as a defendant in former host Andrea Tantaros' lawsuit claiming she was, 'sexually harassed by Ailes and Bill O'Reilly... through illegal electronic surveillance.' That 'surveillance' according to the filing involved 'the hacking of her personal computer' and 'the use of "sockpuppet" social media accounts to stalk Ms. Tantaros.' 'I pray this is NOT true because if it is, that's the total end of the FNC as we know it. Done,' Hannity (pictured) wrote in response to an allegation Shine could be on his way out Rupert Murdoch, second from left, leaves a Manhattan restaurant with Fox News co-presidents Jack Abernethy, second from right, and Bill Shine, right, on Monday, April 24 Shine was seen leaving pricey Manhattan eatery Marea with Rupert Murdoch and Fox News co-president Jack Abernethy on Monday. Fox News said in a statement to DailyMail.com on Monday: 'Fox News and its executives flatly deny that they conducted any electronic surveillance of Ms. Tantaros. Shine has also been accused in the past of helping cover up Ailes conduct towards Fox News employees by 'silencing and smearing women who complained', Media Matters reports. DailyMail.com contacted Fox News for comment. Controversial plans to close dozens of tax offices will not save as much money as predicted and could lead to poorer customer services, MPs have warned. The public accounts committee attacked plans to replace 170 tax offices with 13 regional 'hubs' in city centres such as Leeds, Cardiff, London and Glasgow. HM Revenue & Customs had claimed the move would save 300million by 2025 and 80million a year after that. Headquarters: At 100 Parliament Street in London, lies the headquarters for HMRC while there are dozens of other tax offices around the country The union representing staff said the Government should now halt the closure plans and properly resource HMRC. The MPs said they were concerned that HMRC had not thought through all the negative costs to the wider economy of its approach, as well as the impact on local employment. But MPs said they did not believe the claim after finding that the cost of the relocating had risen by at least 150million. The report warned of a high risk that the plan, which will see 38,000 staff move to new offices, would disrupt tax collection and the service given to customers. We do not believe that the plan will save as much money as HMRC has predicted and we are concerned that it has not thought through all the negative costs to the wider economy of its approach and the impact on local employment, the report said. An HMRC spokesman said: We are considering the committees report and will respond in due course. HMRC is one year into a 10-year plan but the MPs noted it has already changed, setting up a large office in Stratford, east London. Efficiency savings were estimated to be 300 million by 2025/26 and 80 million a year after that, with 38,000 workers needing to move and 5,000 possibly leaving. Efficiency savings were estimated to be 300 million by 2025/26 and 80 million a year after that, with 38,000 workers needing to move and 5,000 possibly leaving The MPs concluded that HMRC had yet to show it had a 'realistic and affordable' plan to deliver such a radical change. The report said: 'We do not believe that it needs to be based in expensive cities across the UK. 'In re-working its business case, HMRC should reconsider whether moving to major city centres is the optimal way to deliver its objectives and achieve value for money.' The scale of the relocation plan carried a 'high risk' of disruption to tax collecting and serving customers, said the report. The MPs called on HMRC to compare the costs and benefits with alternative sites. Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Mark Serwotka said: 'This report confirms what we have been saying since these plans were announced 18 months ago, that closing this many offices poses a significant threat to the operation of HMRC, its service to the public and the working lives of staff. 'Cutting thousands of HMRC staff in recent years has hit the services it provides to the public, yet the department and this Tory Government are ploughing ahead with poorly thought through plans that would mean thousands more job cuts.' A toddler born with three legs is able to walk and run again after undergoing life-saving surgery. Choity Khatunto, three, was born as a conjoined twin with the extra working leg in Bangladesh, but despite efforts to remove the limb by doctors in Dhaka, the toddler still could not walk. But after an eight-hour-long operation to reroute her organs and remove tissue at Melbourne's Monash Children's Hospital, the little girl is now finally able to return home after 10 long months. Choity Khatunto, 3, is able to walk and run again after undergoing life-saving surgery in Melbourne to remove her third leg The toddler was born as a conjoined twin with the extra working leg in Bangladesh, but despite efforts to remove the limb by doctors in Dhaka, the toddler still couldn't walk Choity Khatun (left) with her mother Shima (right) in hospital in Melbourne after she had life saving reconstructive surgery Head of surgery Professor Chris Kimber says Choity was amazingly lucky to have survived her first two years of childhood with her condition - known as cordial twinning. 'This is very rare. Many of these children die in the womb, or they die soon after birth,' he told the ABC. 'Everything was connected in the wrong place... [and in the long term], she was highly likely to get overwhelming infections and die from those.' Choity was taken from her village to a children's hospital in Bangladesh when she was just a few weeks old, where doctors were mystified on how to treat her. As well as removing most the third leg, they decided to open her stomach and attach her bowel to her skin to prevent the young girl dying from a bowel obstruction. But the now three year-old was still at risk from a fatal infection and unable to walk, so she was brought to Melbourne last year with the Children First Foundation. Choity was taken from her village to a children's hospital in Bangladesh when she was just a few weeks old, where doctors were mystified on how to treat her Head of surgery Professor Chris Kimber (pictured operating on the 3-year-old) says Choity was amazingly lucky to have survived her first two years of childhood with her condition It took doctors three months of planning, before Choity's eight-hour-long surgery in November Choity will fly home to Bangladesh with her mum in the coming days where she will be reunited with her dad, who she hasn't seen in nearly a year Choity will have to return to Melbourne in the future, as doctors will monitor her condition It took doctors three months of planning before her eight-hour-long surgery in November. Doctors rerouted her organs and remove the excess tissue in the reconstructive surgery. 'We're amazed, we weren't sure what would happen but she's now able to walk and run and go to the toilet and this is going to make a big difference to her life back in Bangladesh,' Dr Kimber told The West Australian. Choity will fly home to Bangladesh in the coming days where she will be reunited with her dad, who she hasn't seen in nearly a year. But she will have to return to Melbourne in the future, as doctors will monitor her condition. European Council president Donald Tusk has warned the issue of Ireland must be settled before Brexit trade talks The EU was condemned for 'meddling' today after raising the prospect that Northern Ireland could stay in the bloc if it merges with the Republic. The hugely controversial issue will be raised at a crucial Brussels summit this weekend, where leaders will agree their Brexit negotiating demands. They are expected to approve a text making clear that a united Ireland would be welcome to stay in the club. But former Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson condemned the move, telling MailOnline the EU was interfering in issues that were 'none of their business'. And DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said he believed there was 'no chance' Northern Ireland would want to abandon the UK and join a 'struggling' EU. The row erupted as European Council President Donald Tusk issued a warning that Theresa May will have to settle issues around Ulster's future before talks on a Brexit trade deal can begin. Nearly 56 per cent of Northern Ireland voters supported remaining in the EU in the historic referendum in June last year. The Good Friday agreement of 1998 currently allows for a ballot on reunification should there be feeling that it would pass. However, a poll in Northern Ireland last year found only 22 per cent backed a united Ireland, with 63 per cent happy to remain in the United Kingdom. The Irish government has been pushing for the EU to adopt a position similar to the GDR arrangement, which allowed East Germany to enter the European Community after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Enda Kenny, the Irish Taoiseach, is said to be confident of securing agreement on the principle this weekend. Although the clause is not expected to feature in the formal negotiating guidelines, it would carry political weight and could encourage those trying to break up the UK. But Tory MP Mr Paterson said: 'The UK voted democratically to leave the EU last year. It is very unwise for the EU to meddle in the integrity of the UK in the negotiations to follow. He added: 'It is worse than unnecessary. It is none of their business.' Lagan Valley MP Sir Jeffrey told MailOnline: 'None of this changes the reality that Northern Ireland remains part of the UK and I believe it is likely to do so in the lifetime of every single person alive today. 'What the EU is doing is little more than clarifying a legal position. No person in their right mind would want to give up British citizenship to join an organisation that is seriously struggling. It's not going to happen. 'This is no more than the Irish government trying to lay down a marker that there wouldn't be a problem. DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson told MailOnline he believed there was 'no chance' Northern Ireland would want to abandon the UK and join a 'struggling' EU 'There is more chance of the Irish Republic wanting to rejoin the UK... given its huge dependence on the UK for trade.' A UK government source told the Financial Times: 'Northern Ireland's constitutional position as part of the UK is based firmly and clearly on the freely given consent of its people. 'The UK government has consistently upheld the principle of consent regarding Northern Ireland's future. 'It is clear that the majority of the people of Northern Ireland continue strongly to support the current political settlement, including Northern Ireland's continuing position within the UK.' Nicola Sturgeon was quick to call for a second referendum on Scottish independence as Brexit negotiations got underway, but the idea has been rubbished by the UK Government. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, left, shake hands at a meeting earlier this month The summit this Saturday will see the 27 leaders put the final stamp on the Brexit negotiation guidelines. In a letter to leaders ahead of the gathering, Mr Tusk said that 'before discussing our future, we must first sort out our past'. He said the key issues in the first phase would be the fate of three million EU citizens living in Britain and one million Britons resident in the EU, demands for the UK to pay a huge divorce bill, and the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. 'This is not only a matter of tactics, but - given the limited time frame we have to conclude the talks - it is the only possible approach,' Mr Tusk wrote. 'I would like us to unite around this key principle during the upcoming summit, so that it is clear that progress on people, money and Ireland must come first. 'And we have to be ready to defend this logic during the upcoming negotiations.' After 2019 the line between Northern Ireland and the Republic will be the only land border between the UK and EU. But Mrs May has insisted she is determined to avoid the re-introduction of a 'hard' border - which could potentially undermine the Good Friday agreement. A British woman who fled Syria after spending two years in Islamic State-held territory must face justice on her return to the UK, her father said yesterday. Kolsoma Begum, 22, and her Muslim convert husband Stefan Aristidou, 23, were arrested after surrendering to authorities in Turkey last week. The British-born couple, who joined Islamic State in 2015, were held on suspicion of terror offences in Kilis, a Turkish town three miles from the Syrian border. Begum who gave birth to a girl in the war-torn country and Aristidou have been trying to return to the UK since last September. Kolsoma Begum, 22, was an 'angelic schoolgirl' (left) before she decided to leave Britain to live under Sharia law in Syria. Kolsoma (right) now wants to return back to the UK They claim they joined IS to live under Sharia law and not to fight, and that they went into hiding after learning of the terror groups murderous regime. In November, while on the run from IS, Aristidou sent the Daily Mail a message in which he said: My wife is nine months pregnant and this a confirmation of me being alive and in good health. Last night Begums father Ahmed Ali, 47, said his daughter needs to face the law if she wants to return to England. He said: I would say give them a lesson so they can realise their mistakes, he said. They have to face the law. The law will decide what punishment to give them. But, as a father, Im saying everybody deserves a second chance. Theyve already damaged their lives. They were very young. If they come back, then maybe theyve learned their lesson. Theyve seen what IS is doing. Maybe because of that they didnt want to stay. Theyve realised what IS is doing is inhumane. Every father will support their daughter, but if you break the law thats something different. If I could talk to her, I would say: Come back and face the law. You know you made a mistake and this is where you belong. You should protect your own country, this is where youll be living, and your children will be living and studying. Begum disappeared in April 2015, just weeks after telling her father she wanted to marry Aristidou. Mr Ali disapproved as she was only 20 years old and was studying to become a midwife. Aristidou (pictured above) sent the Daily Mail a message in which he said: My wife is nine months pregnant and this a confirmation of me being alive and in good health' The pair argued and her father assumed she had gone to stay with a friend when she did not come home for a few days. He was not aware she had left the country until his flat in Poplar, East London, was raided by counter-terror police. Bangladesh-born Mr Ali, an unemployed chef who has nine children, said: They told me Kolsoma had gone to Syria but I still cant believe it. Aristidous family reported him missing after he ceased contact with them a week after he travelled to Larnaca, Cyprus, on Easter Sunday in 2015. Up until his disappearance, he lived in Enfield, North London, with his mother and sister. The family are of Greek heritage. In a telephone interview in March, Aristidou told Sky News that living under IS was like being in a prison and he had gone into hiding. Im just trying to get my life back, he said. So be it if I have to go to prison in order to do that. Im prepared to do that. Im not here to harm anybody, Im just here to look after my family and live my life. The Turkish authorities are said to be seeking to jail him for up to 15 years. He could face further prosecution under anti-terrorism legislation if he returns to the UK. It is unclear if Begum is still being detained or what has happened to the couples child, but Turkish authorities said Aristidou is suspected of being a member of IS. Mr Ali believes his daughter and son-in-law became radicalised over the internet as home life was westernised. Whoever radicalised my daughter is dangerous, he said. Its like a disease. She was a child, studying. If I knew this was happening, she wouldnt have stepped outside the door. This is our country, we live here, of course she would be desperate to come back. A Foreign Office spokesman said officials were in contact with the Turkish authorities. An x-ray shows a troll doll in a two-year-old girl's stomach after she swallowed and choked on the toy. Eloise Huggett and her sister, Millie, were ready for bed last Wednesday when parents Melanie and Justin heard their toddler struggling to breathe in her bedroom in Townsville, Queensland. 'We didn't know Eloise actually had the troll in her hand, and the next minute we heard her choking and we were trying to figure out what it was,' Mrs Huggett told Daily Mail Australia. She had the head of the Mandy Sparkledust troll in her hand, and the parents realised Eloise had swallowed the troll's 6cm long and 2cm wide plastic body. An x-ray shows a 6cm long and 2cm wide troll doll in a two-year-old girl's stomach The parents realised Eloise had swallowed the body of the troll doll because she had Mandy Sparkledust's head (pictured) in her hand 'I initially panicked, I was very obviously concerned for her,' Mrs Huggett said. 'My husband was the calm one in the situation.' Mr Huggett began administering first-aid in an attempt to dislodge the doll from Eloise's throat, with his hand on her back. 'We needed to get it out of her airways, that was the most critical point. She was struggling to breathe at that stage,' Mrs Huggett said. 'We leapt into action pretty quickly to get it out.' The parents credit their knowledge of first aid for a thankful outcome. 'She ended up swallowing it down and she let out a big cry; it was a relief because we knew she was breathing again. It was pretty scary. It was awful.' Eloise was taken from the Alice River home to Townsville Hospital, where an x-ray showed the doll had made its way to her stomach and was safely and gradually making its way through her body. Doctors told the family Eloise did not require surgery and the troll doll would make its way out naturally. Eloise was playing with the doll last Tuesday when she began choking 'Over the next 24-hours, she was experiencing some level of discomfort. She knew something wasn't right,' Mrs Huggett said. The mother said Eloise wasn't vomiting or acting out of character. 'She was just a bit uncomfortable. 'We knew the troll was making its exit from the body. 'We're lucky it ended the way it did, and it came out the other end with minimal discomfort.' Dreamworks animation Trolls is one of Eloise's favourite movies. 'Some days it can be watched two or three times,' Mrs Huggett said. But the ordeal hasn't ruined the two-year-old girl's love for the 2016 animation. 'We actually watched it the other day, she was quite happy to dance along with the trolls.' The Trolls movie features characters that swallow trolls. Mrs Huggett said the outcome might not have been so lucky had the parents not known first-aid. The Townsville mother said other parents who've been putting off doing a first-aid course should try to make the time. 'It's such an important skill to have.' Pictured: Greg Floyd, 43 who shot his wife Ora Holt, 39, before turning the gun on himself on Anzac Day The neighbour of a man who shot his wife dead on Tuesday before turning the gun on himself has described his chilling final encounter with him. Deer hunter and K-Mart worker Gregory Floyd shot his wife Ora Holt dead in neighbour Luke's home in Wangaratta, Victoria, before turning the gun on himself. Luke says as Floyd's wife and children were running through his home in search of safety, he made the decision to go and speak to the 43-year-old, who was holding a rifle. 'I just did what any else would have done I said 'just put the gun down mate, let's talk,' he told the Border Mail. 'There was no response.' Luke said Floyd wore a blank expression on his face as he moved towards the home holding a high-powered rifle. He managed to flee the home with his own wife and family as well as Ora's four young children - but the 39-year-old mother was shot and killed by Floyd, her husband. Luke says his family have no immediate plans to move back into their home, which became a crime scene after the apparent murder-suicide. The neighbour of Gregory Floyd, who murdered his own wife Ora on Tuesday before turning the gun on himself, has described their chilling final conversation (pictured: the home Ora and her husband died in) The tragic incident took place at neighbour Luke's house after 39-year-old mother of four Ora fled there with her children, reportedly after a fight with her husband But eager to see a positive to an otherwise grim situation, the man says he is thankful he was able to help the children. 'My family is safe and we got all four of their kids out,' he said. 'They can grow up and do what they want to.' The incident sent shockwaves through the local community. Relatives and friends have since described Floyd as 'very caring', 'normal' and a 'loving father'. The apparent murder-suicide has sent shockwaves through the community (pictured: a neighbour breaking down after the tragedy in Wangaratta) But domestic violence campaigner Phil Cleary said people shouldn't be speaking like that. 'Would we ever say that about a person who shot a stranger and then shot himself,' he asked. 'Would we say it about a man who we claim was a terrorist and shot a policeman? 'We wouldn't ever.' Mr Cleary said it was 'perfectly reasonable' for people to show compassion about death. 'However, this is not suicide. It is murder,' he said. Domestic violence advocate Phil Cleary (pictured left) said people should 'hold their peace' and not publicly praise the killer. He lost his sister Vicki to family violence in 1987 (right) 'If I were Ora's (sibling), I would be outraged at thought of someone praising him in the context of him murdering my sister. 'I would expect that people show far more constraint and understand that there is one primary victim here - the woman who is dead. 'She didn't choose to take her life. He chose to take her life.' He said there was 'bucketloads' of sympathy for violent men in Australia, something which has existed for generations. People also never know what's going on behind closed doors. But he asked people to put themselves in the shoes of the wife's family. Pointing to a remembrance card laid out the front of the Wangaratta home which said 'RIP sorry mate', Mr Cleary said if it was addressed to Floyd, his response was: 'Sorry for what? Police cordoned off the area and told neighbours to remain inside their houses with the doors locked during the siege on Tuesday 'Sorry that you're dead? Sorry you had to kill your wife? Sorry you couldn't control yourself? Sorry you couldn't just shoot yourself and not shoot your wife?' 'All those people who say that ought to put themselves in the shoes of the woman's family'. He said people should hold their peace instead. 'I need to say to people: you shouldn't be speaking like this. 'You should hold your peace. 'Let's just say to people hold your peace for fear of saying something inflammatory and genuinely hurtful to the family of the dead woman.' Police were called to the Wangaratta property about 12.50pm on Tuesday after reports of a gunshot A neighbour earlier told 7 News: '(The family) were normal... outside, he was playing with the kids, we never saw him yell at them or anything.' The incident is believed to have started after a heated argument between Floyd and Ms Holt at their home. His brother, Neville Floyd, described him as an 'incredible, loving' person who loved his family, according to the Herald Sun. 'He was a very caring father who loved his children and loved his partner. His kids were his whole life,' Mr Floyd said. He declined to comment to Daily Mail Australia. Ms Holt's former housemate, Luigi Bonacci, said Mr Floyd was a long-time retail worker and there had never been outward signs of trouble. 'He used to go deer hunting... as far as I know, he was a hard-working man. 'He'd been there (at K-Mart) a long time.' Officers entered the Wangaratta property about 5.10pm on Tuesday and found the pair dead Ms Holt, originally from the town Bright in Victoria, was a keen volunteer at her children's school. 'A special thanks to Ora Holt and Kristie Meggs who have been there every Tuesday, rain hail or shine,' the school wrote in a recent newsletter. She grew up in Bright, where she would horse-ride and motor-bike ride with friends. Her parents owned a caravan park in nearby Freeburgh and her children went to school with the children of family friends. Floyd's sister Trudi wrote to Facebook that is was a 'sad day' to lose two of her family members. 'It is a very sad day for myself and my family to lose my brother and his partner may god give a strength to cope,' she said. More than $8000 has been raised by the local community for the parents' funerals. Counselling will be offered at a community gathering on Thursday. Homicide police have reportedly joined the investigation. Supermarket specials are set to be scrapped by Coles in order to boost customer service and lower everyday prices. The announcement comes as the supermarket giant attempts to find a way to regain the initiative in its fight with rivals Woolworths and Aldi. Wesfarmers chief Richard Goyder said he expects customers to return in numbers to their flagship brand after sales fell for four consecutive quarters. Mr Goyder said the decision to scrap specials to fund lower everyday prices was about rebuilding trust with the consumer, according to Sydney Morning Herald. Supermarket specials are set to be scrapped by Coles in order to boost customer service and lower everyday prices Wesfarmers chief Richard Goyder said the decision to scrap specials to fund lower everyday prices was about rebuilding trust with the consumer 'There are more [promotions] than we would like ... because it ultimately breeds distrust,' Mr Goyder told the newspaper. 'We can't move the entire range of every-day low prices ... but there are some products that move around dramatically and we would like to move away from that.' Key items including mince, chicken and cheese are set to have their everyday prices cut, Coles boss John Durkan said. 'This is a proactive decision to invest in price and service, the cost savings will come later,' Mr Durkan told Sydney Morning Herald. Pressure has mounted on Coles after Aldi expanded into South Australia and Western Australia, and Woolworths invested $1bn to lower prices for consumers. Mr Goyder said he is confident the strategy change will lead to sales growth after a period of being 'promotionally heavy'. 'All things being equal we expect to see a rebuild in the sales momentum,' he said. A right-wing leader once dubbed the 'most hated man in Britain' has claimed Australia is at risk of extremist acts by Muslims unless changes are made to the prison system. Tommy Robinson rose to prominence in the British leader of right-wing group the 'English Defence League', which he founded after witnessing first hand the rise of radical Islam in prisons while serving a sentence. Talking in the wake of last month's deadly Westminster terror attack, the 34-year-old has issued a dire warning for Australia, telling Sydney radio that unless Muslims and non-Muslims are separated in prison, extremism will only continue to rise. Tommy Robinson (pictured) a right wing leader dubbed the 'most hated man in Britain' has claimed that Australia is at risk of extremist acts by Muslims unless changes are made to the prison system Robinson issued a dire warning for Australia, telling Ben Fordham on radio station 2GB that unless Muslims and non-Muslims are separated in prison extremism will only continue to rise and more Australians like Mohammed Elomar (pictured) will join extremists groups like ISIS Talking with Ben Fordham on 2GB, Robinson claimed while serving his sentence for assaulting a police officer, he often witnessed 'weak' prisoners being radicalised. 'I've been in the prison system, there's radicals on each wing and they're radicalising and converting,' Robinson said. 'We are in a war and they've signed up against us, and you're allowing them to use our prison system to radicalise the most vulnerable and weak people in society.' Speaking of his own experiences inside the English prison system, Robinson claimed Australia needed to be aware of the threat prisons posed as extremist breeding grounds. Robinson pointed out many terrorists convicted of attacks in Europe over recent years - including Westminster attacker Khalid Masood - had spent time in jail. Claiming segregation alone would not work, Robinson told Fordham the only way to limit the radicalisation was with separate Muslim and non-Muslim prisons. Robinson pointed out that many terrorists convicted of attacks in Europe over recent years - including Westminster attacker Khalid Masood - had spent time in jail Speaking of his own experiences inside the English prison system, Robinson claimed Australia needed to be aware of the threat prisons pose as potential extremist breeding grounds 'I'd advocate for separate prisons for anyone involved in ISIS, extremism and terrorism,' he said. 'And then we need separate prisons for Muslims and non-Muslims.' When Robinson mentioned he believes a growing problem in the UK is non-English speakers rising into positions of power, Fordham pointed out Australia's Grand Mufti Ibrahim Abu Mohamed does not speak English. While claiming he is not against 'all Muslims', Robinson said it was the responsibility of everyone to stop the spread of extremism and potential for terrorism. 'Many Muslims come to our countries for the freedom we have, so don't allow that freedom to be taken,' he said. Having left the EDL because of its 'extremist elements', Robinson has regularly been bashed and received death threats over his outspoken views. Khaled Sharrouf (pictured with his children) is one of a number of Australians to join extremist group ISIS in recent years Mentioning that he believes a growing problem in the UK is non-English speakers rising into positions of power, Fordham pointed out that Ibrahim Abu Mohamed (pictured), Australia's Grand Mufti, also doesn't speak English When asked by Fordham what else Australia could do to stop the spread of radical extremists, the right-wing leader and father-of-two had a number of simple answers. 'End the funding coming into your country from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran. End it tomorrow,' Robinson said. 'Stop Muslim immigration and stop building mosques, not forever, but until we get control of this system.' Robinson's claims were supported by controversial Australian politician Pauline Hanson, with the One Nation leader sharing his comments on her Facebook page. Brisbane Broncos prop Joe Ofahengaue has allegedly been caught cheating at a casino. The 21- year-old will front Brisbane Magistrates court on Friday charged with cheating by fraudulent act, practice or scheme. The charge is believed to relate to an incident at a blackjack table at 5.45am on Saturday April 8th. Brisbane Broncos prop Joe Ofahengaue has allegedly been caught cheating at a casino A police spokesman told the Sydney Morning Herald that the incident occurred in Brisbane's Treasury Casino at 5.45am on April 8. Broncos CEO Paul White confirmed the club was aware of the charge and would act accordingly. 'The club is aware of the matter and has notified the NRL Integrity Unit about it,' White said. 'We will allow due course to run and then determine if any further action is to be taken.' The 21- year-old will front Brisbane Magistrates court on Friday charged with cheating by fraudulent act, practice or scheme The North-South property price divide appears to be narrowing, according to research published today. House price growth in cities in the North and Midlands has surged at levels not seen for 12 years. But rises in property values across parts of the South including London have slowed to the weakest rates in five years, according to Hometrack, which monitors house price movements across the UKs 20 biggest cities. Northern strength: Manchester saw the strongest growth, with prices rising 8.8% in the year Manchester led the way for house price growth in March, with values up 8.8 per cent compared with a year ago, while prices also surged in Newcastle (5.6 per cent) and Birmingham (8 per cent). These are levels not seen since 2005 and are being driven by greater affordability together with record low mortgages, according to Hometrack. By contrast, house price growth in London, Oxford and Cambridge had slowed to less than 5 per cent for the first time in five years. Hometrack said affordability pressures, as well as tax changes for investors, with a recent stamp duty hike for buy-to-let landlords, had constrained demand. Hometrack director Richard Donnell said: Buyers outside the South of England appear to be shrugging off concerns over Brexit and a squeeze on real incomes to take advantage of low mortgage rates. This is shifting the dynamics of the housing market. A woman claims she was removed from a United Airlines flight last month after staffers refused her request to move a cat seated nearby, it was reported on Thursday. Donna Wiegel boarded a flight in Baltimore bound for Chicago on the afternoon of March 4 of this year, according to NBC Chicago. All was fine until Wiegel noticed that a fellow passenger at the gate was boarding with her cat. Wiegel notified airline staff that she needed to be seated at a distance from the cat due to health reasons. 'I have a lot of respiratory problems and asthma,' she said. 'And cats are a trigger that I have to avoid at all costs.' Donna Wiegel (above) boarded a flight in Baltimore bound for Chicago on the afternoon of March 4 of this year All was fine until Wiegel noticed that a fellow passenger at the gate was boarding with her cat. Wiegel notified airline staff that she needed to be seated at a distance from the cat due to health reasons After boarding, Wiegel says that the woman with the cat was seated just a few rows away. 'I said, "Oh, that is way too close",' she said. So the flight attendants told her to swap with another passenger in the back of the plane. Wiegel initially refused. 'I still balked at that and said why do I have to move? Why can't the cat move?' she said. After Wiegel swapped seats with another passenger, as she had been told, she was then confronted by three crew United crew members who asked her to leave the plane. A United Airlines passenger jet is seen landing above at Chicago's O'Hare Airport on April 11, 2017 'We can't move the cat,' she says she was told. After Wiegel swapped seats with another passenger, as she had been told, she was then confronted by three crew United crew members. 'They said you'll have to come with us - the crew is not comfortable having you on the flight,' she recalled. 'I've never been kicked off a plane, and I was just so stunned that this would happen to me.' When she reached the gate area, she was met by TSA agents. Airline officials told her that she was removed because they feared she would have a medical emergency on the flight. Wiegel said that the removal from the plane and the treatment she received from United personnel caused her distress. 'You know, I'm hyperventilating at this point,' she said. 'Almost in a full blown asthma attack.' After she was taken off the flight, United arranged to have her driven from the airport in Baltimore to Washington Dulles, where she was put on a United flight to Chicago at 10:30pm five hours after she was supposed to depart. 'We're disappointed anytime a customer has an experience that doesn't measure up to their expectations,' United said in a statement. 'We reached out to Ms. Wiegel today to apologize and find out more about what happened. 'We are working with our partner on this flight, GoJet Airlines, who operated this flight, to get more details.' United on Thursday announced that it had agreed to a financial settlement with Dr. David Dao, the Kentucky man who was filmed earlier this month being violently dragged off a flight Earlier this week, United faced another controversy after a 'fit and healthy' giant rabbit expected to become the world's biggest died suddenly on one of its planes United on Thursday announced that it had agreed to a financial settlement with Dr. David Dao, the Kentucky man who was filmed earlier this month being violently dragged off a flight. The footage of Dao's removal was shared via social media, where it quickly went viral. The reaction generated a public relations nightmare for the airline, whose commitment to customer service was called into question. Earlier this week, United faced another controversy after a 'fit and healthy' giant rabbit expected to become the world's biggest died suddenly on one of its planes. Simon, a ten-month-old 3ft continental giant rabbit expected to weigh more than 2st 5lbs when fully grown, was bought by a mystery US celebrity buyer who paid more than $2,500 to fly him from Heathrow to Chicago. Had he lived Simon was expected to outgrow the world's biggest rabbit - his 4ft 4in father Darius. But his devastated owner Annette Edwards from Stoulton in Worcester claims he died in the cargo hold of United Airlines flight from Heathrow Airport to Chicago on April 19. Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has warned there is a realistic threat of North Korea launching a nuclear attack on its neighbouring nations. Speaking in the wake of North Korea's call for help from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over rising tensions with the United States, Mr Turnbull called the country 'reckless and dangerous'. Talking on Melbourne radio station 3AW on Friday morning, the prime minister said the chance of a nuclear attack is real and claimed the Chinese government needs to apply more pressure on Kim Jong-un's regime. Malcolm Turnbull has warned there is a realistic threat of North Korea launching a nuclear attack on its neighbouring nations, labelling Kim Jong-un 'reckless and dangerous' The comments came in the wake of North Korea's call for help to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) over rising tensions between Kim Jong-un's (pictured) regime and the United States Talking with Neil Mitchell, the prime minister said that China is the 'key' to ensuring tensions along the Korean peninsula don't continue to intensify. 'There is the possibility and the risk that North Korea could launch an attack on its neighbours,' Mr Turnbull said. 'It is a very tense time on the Korean peninsula, extremely tense time. 'The government above all that has ability to bring (North Korea) to its senses... is China.' Just days after warning of a 'nuclear holocaust' with the United States, Mr Turnbull said the threat of North Korea shouldn't be dismissed. Mr Turnbull said his government would not be taking the threat of Kim Jong-un's rogue state lightly. A photograph released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Wednesday shows aircrafts flying during the combined fire demonstration in celebration of the army's 85th anniversary What the North Korean news agency called a 'combined fire demonstration' is pictured on Wednesday 'Their threats can appear sometimes to be theatrical and over the top and they have been the subject of satire but I can assure you that my government takes ... the threat of North Korea very seriously,' the prime minister said. Defence specialist Andrew Shearer 'They are a real threat to the peace and stability in the region and to the whole world.' It comes a day after an expert claimed Australia needed to 'get much more serious' about building a missile defence system to guard against North Korea's missile development. Defence specialist Andrew Shearer, who worked for former prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard, said the rogue regime has rapidly developed its missile technology so fast it has sometimes taken western analysts by surprise. Mr Shearer told Fairfax Media Australia has to 'get much more serious, potentially quite quickly given the looming North Korea threat, about missile defence for deployed forces'. North Korea held a 'combined fire demonstration' on Wednesday Mr Shearer said systems like South Korea's Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (left) could be considered. SM-3 missiles (a U.S. Navy Standard Missile-3 is pictured right) could intercept missiles Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is pictured last Thursday at Parliament House in Canberra 'The problem is that North Korean and Chinese missile development has been accelerating very rapidly, particularly over the past few years, to the extent it has often taken western analysts by surprise,' said Mr Shearer, who is based at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Mr Shearer suggested upgrading the navy's Air Warfare Destroyers so they could intercept missiles with SM-3 missiles, Fairfax Media reports. He said systems like South Korea's Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) or the U.S. PAC-3 Patriot should be considered. North Korea's army fired rockets and torpedoes at mock enemy warships in its 'largest ever' live-fire artillery drills on Wednesday. President Donald Trump believes ally Saudi Arabia was not treating the United States fairly and Washington was losing a 'tremendous amount of money' defending the kingdom. Trump confirmed his administration was in talks about possible visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel in the second half of May during an interview on Thursday. He is due to make his first trip abroad as president for a May 25 NATO summit in Brussels and could add other stops. 'Frankly, Saudi Arabia has not treated us fairly,' Trump said about the oil rich nation 'Frankly, Saudi Arabia has not treated us fairly, because we are losing a tremendous amount of money in defending Saudi Arabia,' he said. Trumps criticism of Riyadh, the worlds top oil exporter, was a return to his 2016 election campaign rhetoric when he accused the kingdom of not pulling its weight in paying for the U.S. security umbrella. 'Nobodys going to mess with Saudi Arabia because were watching them,' Trump told a campaign rally in Wisconsin a year ago. 'Theyre not paying us a fair price. We're losing our shirt.' Trump met with Saudi Defense Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the State Dining Room of the White House on March 14, it signaled 'a historical turning point' relations between the two countries Saudi Arabias powerful deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Trump last month in a meeting that was hailed by a senior Saudi adviser as a 'historical turning point' in relations. The talks appeared to signal a meeting of the minds on many issues, including their shared view that Iran posed a regional security threat. Riyadh and other Gulf allies see in Trump a strong president who will shore up Washington's role as their main strategic partner and help contain Riyadh's adversary Iran in a region central to U.S. security and energy interests, regional analysts said. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Trump last month and the country sees Trump as an ally against Iran A visit to Israel would reciprocate a White House visit in February by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to meet Trump next Wednesday in Washington. Trump has set a more positive tone with Israel than his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, who often clashed with the right-wing Israeli leader, and has raised concerns among Palestinians that their leaders may not get equal treatment. Trump has also asked Israel to put unspecified limits on its building of Jewish settlements on land the Palestinians want for a state, and has promised to seek a Middle East peace deal that eluded his predecessors. However, he has offered no new diplomatic prescriptions. 'I want to see peace with Israel and the Palestinians,' he said. 'There is no reason there's not peace between Israel and the Palestinians - none whatsoever.' Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island has been restored to its former glory after the splendid coastline was ravaged by tropical Cyclone Debbie. Tonnes of white sand were excavated to rebuild the flawless beach after the cyclone severely eroded the coast off North Queensland and littered it with broken trees last month. The seven-kilometre stretch of beach was almost unrecognisable following the powerful tropical cyclone - and local crews have worked tirelessly to repair the pristine shoreline. Slide me Tourists flock to the beautiful coastline to witness the pristine sand and crystal-blue water (pictured left before) but the beach was devastated after the raging cyclone hit North Queensland (pictured right after) The splendid Whitehaven coastline (pictured after storm cleanup) has bounced back to its former glory After Cyclone Debbie the beach (pictured here before the clean-up) was littered with trees and debris from the tropical storm Tourists and locals alike have shared stunning snaps of the picturesque shoreline on Whitsunday Island after the clean-up of Cyclone Debbie Intensive repair work - involving hundreds of tonnes of sand and the clearing of debris and trees - began at the southern tail of the beach and is almost complete. Before and after photos show how crews have worked around the clock to clear the broken flora and restore the tourist hot spot to its original splendour. Beach-goers are enjoying Australia's last minute sunshine as winter slowly approaches and have taken to Whitehaven Beach to celebrate the restoration and take stunning snaps of the picturesque shoreline. Breathtaking shots of the crystal blue water and flawless sand show how quickly the beach has bounced back from the devastating cyclone. National Parks Minister Steven Miles said Whitsunday Island took a particularly savage hit from Tropical Cyclone Debbie and was suffering significant vegetation damage and beach erosion. The iconic Whitehaven Beach has been restored to its original splendour after the cyclone (pictured after) Hundreds of broken trees and debris littered Whitehaven Beach following Cyclone Debbie (pictured before cleanup) Crews have worked tirelessly to reshape the beach and clear the broken trees (pictured before) 'Once the beach shape has stabilised we expect the white silica sands will naturally redeposit due to the geometry of the beach in relation to local currents,' said Minister Miles. 'We also expect the island to green up over the next couple of months, as much of the vegetation is very hardy.' He also said experience had shown that nature and natural ecosystems around the beach are resilient and could bounce back from these types of major environmental disturbances. 'QPWS and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) will also work with the tourism industry and our tourism partners to find effective ways to assist with the recovery of marine and island ecosystems,' Minister Miles said. Dry and broken shrubbery covered the edge of the beach (pictured) after the devastating cyclone Whitsundays Tourism created a welcome back message in beach towels after the beach reopened following the cyclone (pictured after storm) A wheelchair-bound four-year-old boy who was snatched from hospital by his anti-vaccine parents has been found safe, police said. The boy was taken from the Lady Cilento Children's hospital in Brisbane about 12.30pm on Thursday by his parents. His father, Marc Alexander Steven, 28, and mother, Jacinda 'Cini' Walker, 26, were seen taking him from the hospital because they believed his condition was caused by vaccines and fear hospital food will kill him. However, police said no charges would be laid against the couple. Scroll down for video Ms Walker and the childs father Marc Alexander Steven (L), 28, were seen taking him from the hospital because they believed his condition was caused by vaccines Police located the boy's mother in Newcastle, northern NSW, about 4pm on Friday after a member of the public spotted her, but the boy was not with her. He was located after 5pm on Thursday in Newcastle after police made contact with Mr Steven through Ms Walker. He returned to where the mother was waiting with police and handed the boy over, who was then taken to John Hunter Hospital by ambulance. Acting detective inspector Grant Ralston said the couple had not yet said why they snatched the boy from hospital and took him to Newcastle. He said the boy was still in the custody of his parents who were in hospital with him and were cooperating, and no charges would be laid against them 'at this stage'. 'It always safer to listen with medical experts who deal with young children and babies every day of the week,' he said. 'It could have gone bad but fortunately it hasn't. 'We will look at what we have at the end of tonight but at this stage i'd say no [charges will be laid].' Ms Walker posted on April 26, one day before his disappearance, that they stopped vaccinating their son at age two because it gave him seizures. She also alleged it caused him to develop 'spastic, quadriplegic cerebral palsy and undiagnosed, uncontrolled epilepsy'. Staff and experts at the Brisbane hospital said the child needed medical attention and requested he be returned immediately, according to the police. Ms Walker posted a video on Facebook on January 18 that stated her son would be taken by the Department of Child Safety if they did not take him to the hospital that night. The boy was located after 5pm on Thursday in Newcastle after police made contact with Mr Steven through Ms Walker It was shared again on April 26. Ms Walker questioned whether she even owned her son any more. 'How much more do we have to prove that we love our kid?' she said to the camera. 'He needs to get better and they're destroying that.' Ms Walker said the boy did not need or want to be back in hospital. She believed medication would harm her son and hospital food would kill him because of his allergies. 'I hate watching my son being drugged up and he doesn't wake up because he's in a coma because of the medications they give him,' she said. 'I've also told the doctors and the child services that I will not feed my son any of their stuff and I will fight for him not to have it. 'That will be the last thing he has because I believe he's allergic to it and he will seizure and he'll seizure to the point he'll die.' Police said the boy was still in the custody of his parents who were in hospital with him and were cooperating, and no charges would be laid against them 'at this stage'. 'They still think that they have the right to feed my son this formula synthetic s**t. 'They're going to kill my kid with food and they don't care.' Ms Walker said her son's health improved after he went off medication, started eating organic food and took medicinal marijuana. 'He's happy, he's stopped seizuring (sic), he's coming back and still it's not good enough,' she said. Ms Walker said she would take him to hospital but would insist he be given medicinal marijuana to keep him alive. 'I will be doing this and if they choose not to do it.... I'll walk out of that hospital,' she said. They are believed to be travelling in a dark blue 2002 Honda CRV Wagon with Queensland Registration 785-WSL Police believe the man and woman may frequent South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Pictured is another photo of the car Ms Walker said her son had up to 100 seizures each day. Police held serious concerns for the boy's wellbeing because he suffers from a serious medical condition, which requires urgent and ongoing medical attention. They are believed to be travelling in a dark blue 2002 Honda CRV Wagon with Queensland Registration 785-WSL. Police believe the man and woman may frequent South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Ring 131 564 to provide information about this incident After almost 100 days in office, it seems like the luster has well and truly worn off for Donald Trump. He's failed to get his healthcare act passed; his travel ban has been stopped at every turn; he's lost a slew of allies to claims of collusion with Russia; his wall isn't any closer to being built and now war with North Korea looks like a real possibility. So it's little surprise that the president is looking back on his days as a globe-trotting businessman and host of The Apprentice with fondness. 'I loved my previous life. I had so many things going,' Trump admitted Thursday. 'This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier.' Sad: Donald Trump misses his old life, when he had 'so many things going.' '[Being president] is more work than in my previous life,' he said Thursday. 'I thought it would be easier.' Although he said he was accustomed to not having privacy in his 'old life,' Trump expressed surprise at how little he had now. And he made clear he was still getting used to having 24-hour Secret Service protection and its accompanying constraints. 'You're really into your own little cocoon, because you have such massive protection that you really can't go anywhere,' he said. When the president leaves the White House, it is usually in a limousine or an SUV - and only in the back seat. 'I like to drive,' he said. 'I can't drive any more.' It's a much sadder tone than might be expected of Trump, who spent his time on the stump looking thrilled as he clawed his way to the front of the race, first for Republican ticket, then for president. Those happy days still seem to be on his mind. Midway through a discussion about Chinese President Xi Jinping, the president paused to hand out copies of what he said were the latest figures from the 2016 electoral map. 'Here, you can take that, that's the final map of the numbers,' the Republican president said from his desk in the Oval Office, handing out maps of the United States with areas he won marked in red. 'Its pretty good, right? The red is obviously us.' He had copies for each of the three reporters in the room. Many aspects of Trump's character have not changed from his days as a wheeler-dealer executive and former celebrity reality show host who worked the phones incessantly. He frequently turns to outside friends and former business colleagues for advice and positive reinforcement. Senior aides say they are resigned to it. And he doesn't appear to take criticism well. After a combative relationship with many news organizations since his election campaign, he decided not to attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington on Saturday. He felt he had been treated unfairly by the media, but said that he 'would come next year, absolutely.' Advertisement A celebration of the new Kosciuszko Bridge lit up the New York City sky on a misty Thursday night. The completion of the first span of the new Brooklyn-Queens connector is the first bridge built in the city for 53 years. Despite a soft haze of fog, the $550 million bridge's spectacular light show called 'New York Harbor of Lights' could be seen on both sides of Newtown Creek, which flows out from the East River, flashing in blue, purple, pink, and red. Scroll down for video Spectators gawked at the colorful light show display at the grand opening of the Kosciuzko Bridge New York Governor Andrew Cuomo arrived to the new Kosciuszko Bridge opening in style, invoke the spirit of Franklin Delano Roosevelt by bringing along the former president's 1932 Packard The bridge's high tech LED lighting system will be coordinated with that of the Empire State Building's lighting system, and eventually that of all the bridges in the city, said Governor Andrew Cuomo, who jauntily arrived at the grand opening in Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1932 Packard, which he recently had removed from a museum and restored. 'Welcome all to the new Kosciuszko Bridge. Now the old structure, 78 years old, did its job well but it is structurally and operationally obsolete and it has been for a long time,' said Cuomo at the opening ceremony. 'Building a bridge is not easy and it's not fast and doing it on time, doing it on schedule, doing it on budget means you have to work at it every day.' Assistant project manager Jessica Miller said the new bridge is 30 feet lower than the old Kosciuszko, which was built in 1939. She said that would make traffic move along at a faster clip. In the summer, the old bridge will be imploded and replaced with a second span that will open in 2020. When they are both done, one will solely serve Brooklyn-bound traffic, the other Queens bound. Cuomo said this will cut delays by 65 percent. The bridge connects the newly hip neighborhoods of north Brooklyn and South Queens. The bridge has a high-tech LED lighting system that can coordinate with the lights of the Empire State Building The pretty bridge overlooks Newtown Creek, which splits off from the East River The bridge is the first built in the city for 53 years, because the old bridge's technology was outdated Despite it being a somewhat foggy night, the orange, blue, yellow, red, pink and purple lights were a sight to behold The bridge connects north Brooklyn and south Queens, which have seen its neighborhoods become in-demand places to live in recent years A photographer pauses to take pictures during the grand opening of the new Kosciuszko Bridge span connecting Brooklyn and Queens after a performance of the 'New York Harbor of Lights' The bridge (here during the day) was a $550 million project, the first bridge built in the city in 53 years Anthony Mundine, 41, has come out in support of controversial Muslim activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied by agreeing with her that Islam is the most feminist religion. The professional boxer sat down with Mark Latham and Ben Fordham for Mr Latham's Outsiders program this week to discuss his perspective on Islam, and what it means to be a Muslim. In the YouTube video which was posted online on Wednesday, Mundine said men could beat their wives as long as it did not cause 'any injury or any bruising'. Scroll down for video Mundine (centre) sat down with Mark Latham (right) and Ben Fordham (left) in the most recent installment of Mr Latham's Outsiders program this week to discuss his perspective on Islam 'You know the Arab toothbrush, little stick, that is a beating, but you cannot harm the lady, cause any injury or any bruising,' he said. 'God created two creatures different, different in stature and different roles to play in society. For me all the answers are in the Quran, the holy Quran. When Mr Fordham asked Mundine if he thought Islam was feminist, the famed boxer said he did. Yassmin Abdel-Magied made a comment on Q&A couple of weeks ago where she said Islam is the most feminist religion, tell me as a Muslim man whether or not that sits true with you,' Mr Fordham said. Yeah for me it does,' Mundeen said. Mr Latham questioned Mundine and asked whether he thought beating women was 'feminist'. 'Isn't the Quran a worry, it teaches followers that men are in charge of women and good women are obedient, that doesn't sound very feminist,' the former politician said. 'It goes on to say, for women that might disobey its recommended to admonish them, leave them alone in their sleeping places and to beat them.' Mr Latham questioned Mundine and asked whether he thought beating women was 'feminist' Mundine used a pen and tapped Mr Latham's arm to enact what 'beating' meant in the Quran Mundine defended the holy book and said the word 'beat' was not correctly translated from Arabic to English. 'That word "beat", in the Arabic language, it isn't really "beat",' he said. 'With the toothbrush, that's the beating, DV [domestic violence] is totally unacceptable.' Mundine appeared to backtrack and say all physical violence was condemned in Islam. 'It doesn't promote physicality - that's the whole point you cannot beat your woman or anybody by beating them physically,' the boxer said. Controversial Muslim activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied, 25, came under fire in February when she said Islam was a feminist religion. During an appearance on the ABC's Q&A program, Ms Abdel-Magied said it was 'all about fairness and equality'. She was publicly condemned for her opinion. Controversial Muslim activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied, 25, came under fire in February when she said Islam was a feminist religion During an appearance on the ABC's Q&A program, Ms Abdel-Magied said Islam was 'all about fairness and equality' Two Muslim women made headlines in April when they demonstrated how men were allowed to hit their wives with a 'sivaak'. Sydney primary school teacher Reem Allouche told the women's arm of hardline political group Hizb ut-Tahrir that men are permitted to hit women with sticks. During the 30-minute discussion at a meeting in Sydney's west, Ms Allouche and fellow panellist Atika Latifi - who are both wearing headscarves - describe how beating women is a 'symbolic act'. At one point they demonstrated how to use a small stick called a 'sivaak' to hit 'disobedient' women. When Mr Latham asked Mundine if he thought the Quran should be 'modernised' to make the scripture more clear to prevent people from taking the scripture literally, he disagreed. 'It's not backward, the author is God, it cannot be backward. Allah knows his creatures better than anybody, he's the author,' he said. Mundine converted to Islam in 1999 and has been outspoken about his faith since. Speaking with Mr Latham and Mr Fordham this week, Mundine said all Indigenous Australians were Muslim. 'It turns out we're all Muslims somebody that submits to the one creator, no partners, that's what a Muslim is,' he said. 'We were already Muslims as Aboriginals.' Speaking with Mr Latham (right) and Mr Fordham (left) this week, Mundine (centre) said all Indigenous people were Muslim Mundine also said his religion together with his heritage as an Aboriginal person meant he did not agree with homosexuality Mundine also said his religion together with his heritage as an Aboriginal person meant he did not agree with homosexuality. 'I believe it should be forbidden,' he said. 'Along with all things that poison our society like alcohol and drugs.' But Mundine said his belief did not prevent him from having gay friends. 'Some of my best mates are gay, that's their life, that's their prerogative, but for me as an indigenous man, in our culture, our faith, it's forbidden,' he said. Mr Latham's chat with Mundine and Ben Fordham was the fourth installment of his program called Mark Latham's Outsiders. Mr Latham has been fiercely criticised for the program because it is in direct competition with his former employer Sky News which relaunched its program Outsiders without him. Mr Latham was publicly sacked from Sky News in March following a number of controversies. Australian boxer Anthony Mundine arrives to fight in a cruiserweight bout with Danny Green at Adelaide Oval on February 3, 2017 A university student who received a letter from Centrelink riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes - including spelling the agency's name wrong - has hilariously graded the letter with an 'F'. Last week, Ben Klein opened up his mail to find a letter from the government agency advising him Austudy payments he is receiving would come to an end next February. But on closer inspection of the letter Mr Klein, from Melbourne, noticed a number of major mistakes, including that the letter had come from 'Cedntrelink'. In shock at the level to which the note was laden with errors, the student decided to go through with a red pen and hilariously correct all mistakes and also give it a mark, the ABC reports. A university student who received a letter (pictured) from Centrelink riddled with spelling and grammar errors - including spelling the agency's name wrong - has graded the letter with an 'F' 'The only reason I realised it was legit was because all my details were on it,' Mr Klein said. 'It's so bad, it looks like a scam.' Among the errors made in the letter were typos, the incorrect use of a law and also a failure to list who the letter is from or sign the note. Although Mr Klein is single and doesn't have any children, the letter also said he was about to stop being paid under 'paid parental leave law'. Hilariously, after underlining, crossing out and inserting corrections through the note Mr Klein channeled his inner teacher and gave it a final grade. 'F. Very poor. See me!' he wrote at the bottom of the letter. In addition to typos and grammatical errors, the letter said Ben Klein was about to stop being paid under 'paid parental leave law' - although he's single and doesn't have any children In a statement, Department of Human Services manager Hank Jongen confirmed the letter was not done by a computer, and said they'd apologised to Mr Klein In a statement, Department of Human Services manager Hank Jongen told Daily Mail Australia the letter was not written by a computer. 'This particular letter was created from a manual template which is only designed to be used in situations where a system-generated letter does not appropriately reflect the recipient's circumstances,' Mr Jongen said. 'The mistakes in this letter are the result of human error.' The Department of Human Services has apologised to Mr Klein over the letter. One's a bustling road at the heart of a large Australian city, while the other's a dirt track through a jungle in western Africa. But it seems it's easy to confuse Melbourne's Collins Street with the Ghanaian wilderness, as Google Maps has discovered in unfortunate circumstances. People typing 'Collins Street, Melbourne' into Google in recent days have found they have instead been directed to a jungle in Ghana. People typing 'Collins Street, Melbourne' into Google in recent days have found they have instead been directed to a jungle in Ghana instead Collins Street appears to be a dirt road in the middle of woodland near a small Ghanaian town Searching for Collins Street does not actually take you to a different Collins Street in Ghana, but it does drop users into woodland near a dirt track next to Lake Volta in the east of the country. The nearest town, Donkorkrom, lies approximately 10km to the north west and is the capital of Ghana's Kwahu North District. A Google Streetview of a nearby road is lined with tin-roofed huts, with children playing at the side of the street. The road is somewhat different to Melbourne's Collins Street, which according to Google is 'known for its grand Victorian architecture, prestigious boutiques and high-end retailers'. The busy street is renowned for its high-end retail offerings, with Louis Vuitton, Emporio Armani, Prada, Ralph Lauren and Gucci among dozens of expensive stores filled with shoppers on a daily basis. Google's glitch does not appear to occur if users search for a specific address on Collins Street, and the issue does not affect all users. A Google Streetview of a nearby road is lined with tin-roofed huts, with children playing at the side of the street The road is somewhat different to Melbourne's Collins Street, which according to Google is 'known for its grand Victorian architecture, prestigious boutiques and high-end retailers' The bug appears to be a problem with the search engine's 'Knowledge Graph', which collates information about different subjects. Google told Daily Mail Australia that they were working on repairing the defect. 'We want the Knowledge Graph to be as useful and accurate as possible,' a spokesman said. 'If something appears to be wrong, users can give feedback by clicking on the feedback link at the bottom of the Knowledge Graph. 'Thanks for pointing this out - we are Ghana look into fixing it.' Republican legislators in the House of Representatives have pushed back a vote to repeal Obamacare until next week, it was reported on Thursday. That means President Donald Trump's hopes for a major legislative 'win' before the expiration of his first 100 days in office appear to be on life support. Trump was eager to resuscitate an earlier Republican bid to pass a health care bill that would have replaced the Affordable Care Act, the signature piece of legislation passed by his predecessor, Barack Obama. But House Speaker Paul Ryan and his senior GOP colleagues failed to muster the necessary number of votes to ensure the bill's passage. With Democrats united in opposition, the Republicans can ill afford to have more than 22 of its House members oppose the bill. House Speaker Paul Ryan (right) and his senior GOP colleagues failed to muster the necessary number of votes to ensure the passage of an Obamacare repeal - denying President Donald Trump (left) a legislative 'win' in his first 100 days in office US Rep. Mike Coffman (left), a Republican from Colorado, and Rep. Ryan Costello (right), a Republican from Pennsylvania, are two centrist Republicans who say they would oppose the revised health care bill if it were brought to a vote So far, 15 Republicans insist they are solidly opposed, while another 20 are either undecided or leaning no, Politico is reporting. 'We are not voting on health care tomorrow,' Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, told reporters on Thursday after a series of meetings on Capitol Hill. 'We're still educating members.' Last month, Trump and the Republicans suffered an embarrassing legislative defeat when the more conservative members of the party refused to back a repeal-and-replace health care package put together by Ryan and endorsed by the White House. But GOP hopes for a renewed push were revived on Wednesday when the conservative House Freedom Caucus announced its support for a revised health care bill. Now it appears the changes made to the original bill are being balked at by the more moderate Republicans who represent districts whose constituents largely support Obamacare. Other centrist Republicans, including Reps. Jamie Herrera Beutler (far left); Pat Meehan (center); and John Katko (far right) also announced their opposition to the bill Critics of the revised legislation say that Freedom Caucus support was won at the expense of allowing states to opt out of an Obamacare provision that mandated coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, according to The Hill. 'Protections for those with pre-existing conditions without contingency and affordable access to coverage for every American remain my priorities for advancing health care reform, and this bill does not satisfy those benchmarks for me,' said Rep. Ryan Costello, a centrist Pennsylvania Republican. Costello voted for an earlier version of the bill in committee. 'I remain a no vote on this bill in its current form,' he said. Joining Costello in opposing the bill are Rep. Charlie Dent, a Republican from Pennsylvania; Dan Donovan, a Republican from New York; and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican from Florida. A conservative Republican who was opposed to the original bill but is now favoring the revised edition said that 'getting the prices and the premiums down, that was the big deal.' Rep. Mike Coffman, a Republican from Colorado, is officially undecided, though he told Politico that if the vote were held today, he would vote no. Other centrist Republicans, including Reps. Pat Meehan of Pennsylvania; Jamie Herrera Beutler of Washington state; and John Katko of New York announced their opposition to the bill. A jury has stripped right-wing radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones of having primary custody of his children and awarded joint custody to his ex-wife. State District Judge Orlinda Naranjo also announced Kelly Jones will decide where their three children will live, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The details of the conspiracy theorist's visitation rights are not yet known. The Travis County jury deliberated all Thursday afternoon and late into the night before returning its verdict, 10-2. Scroll down for video Alex Jones, pictured on April 19, was stripped of primary custody of his children aged 9, 12 and 14 and will now share joint custody with his ex-wife, Kelly, who will now be able to decide where the children live Jones had hoped to remain the sole caregiver of Rex (left, with Jones), 14, and his two daughters. Kelly Jones' attorney told jurors that Alex is a 'cult leader' who was 'emotionally, sexually, physically abusive' In closing arguments, Kelly Jones' attorney, Robert Hoffman, told jurors the radio personality is a 'cult leader' who's turning their children against his ex-wife. He told the court that his client's marriage was 'emotionally, sexually, physically abusive.' Hoffman had told the jury: 'Nobody can stop this man except the 12 of you.' Earlier, Alex Jones' attorney told the jury the children, ages 9, 12 and 14, are thriving under Jones' care and he should remain the sole caregiver. They had argued that Kelly Jones was emotionally unstable, while her lawyers argued that her emotional dysregulation was 'natural' in the face of 'parental alienation,' the process by which Jones allegedly brainwashed his children into hating her. The custody trial was notable for the extent to which Alex Jones' controversial back story as a conspiracy theorist radio host played out in his personal life. In the past, Jones has claimed the Sandy Hook murders of 20 children and six adult staff members was fabricated. In a pretrial hearing, one of Alex Jones' lawyers, Randall Wilhite, said that his client is a 'performance artist' who is just 'playing a character' on Infowars. 'He's playing a character,' he said, according to myStatesman . 'He is a performance artist.' Kelly Jones, her lawyers said, was the victim of 'parental alienation,' or the process by which Alex Jones allegedly brainwashed his children into hating her However, Jones walked back those claims in an Infowars broadcast, in which he said he '110 per cent' believed the things he said in his show, according to The Daily Beast. They've got articles out today that I say I'm a fake... total bull! ... I 110 per cent believe what I stand for. They've got articles out today that I say I'm a fake, all of this other c**p. Total bull!' he said. 'The media is deceiving everywhere. I 110 per cent believe what I stand for. Were changing the world with you.' He also released an Infowars show in the midst of the dispute in which he alleged that by 16 years old, he'd slept with 150 women - and that's a 'conservative' number. 'When I was 16, I didnt want to party any more. I didnt want to play games any more,' he says in the video. 'I grew up. Id already been in the fights, all the big rituals. Id already had probably I hate to brag, but Im not bragging, its actually shameful probably 150 women, or more, thats conservative. Id already had over 150 women.' He also claims he'd been in fights with 'full grown men' and was dating college girls by 15. 'I was already a MAN!' he says in the video. Jones, pictured during an Infowars broadcast in which he claims to reveal the existence of 'Sandy Hook vampires' was the subject of scrutiny during the trial Jones is a conspiracy theorist who claimed the Sandy Hook massacre at a Connecticut elementary school was fabricated. In court, his lawyers argued that he is a 'performance artist' He also gave himself kudos for having children earlier than most men, saying he'd had a son by 24. However, his son is 14, and if he'd had him by 24, the son, Rex, would be 18 or 19, said the Austin-American Statesman. 'So, if Jones had a son when he was 24, that was another son. Thats completely possible. 'And, he is, of course, under no obligation to tell writers when they are doing profiles of him that he has another son. 'Its just that its not something thats been mentioned in anything Ive read about Jones,' wrote Jonathan Tilove in his Austin-American Statesman blog. Jones smoked pot on Joe Rogan's podcast, but since it was in California it was legal. Video of the act was one of two videos allowed in court evidence Jones has stripped down to his boxers for his radio show - in the above case, to demonstrate a 'body building' supplement 'You're supposed to have children by 16 in every culture biologically,' Jones said in the video. 'You're not having them 16, there's something wrong with you.' Yet despite this apparently quite vigorous sex life, in a 2010 interview, he had described himself as 'socially oblivious,' said the outlet. Despite this apparent active teenage sex life, Jones testified last week during his trial that he couldn't remember if he'd ever cheated on his fiancee, Erika, now his eight months pregnant wife. The conspiracy theorist also testified that he smoked marijuana, breaking the law in Texas, but only did it to 'test out its strength.' Jones, pictured in Watford, England during 2013's Bilderberg conference, said under cross-examination that Texas chili caused him to forget details of the lives of his children The InfoWars host admitted during cross-examination to smoking the drug during the last two-and-a-half years, but compared himself to a law enforcement officer testing out the strength of the drug, according to the Austin-American Statesman. 'Thats what police do. They smoke it once a year too,' he said. He added that his smoking it led him to believe it was too strong to be legalized and he talked about the experiment on his show. Judge Naranjo allowed two videos of Jones' on-screen persona as evidence: the clip of him smoking marijuana on Joe Rogan's television show and another of a drunken Jones on inauguration night, the Daily Beast reported. While being cross-examined, Jones spoke about a range of topics including George Soros and Texas chili. He blamed the latter for his inability to remember details of the lives of his children. The Taliban has vowed to target foreign forces in Afghanistan with a mixture of guerrilla and suicide attacks as part of a 'spring offensive'. The attack, dubbed Operation Mansouri after former leader Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, comes a week after one of the most devastating attacks on Afghan forces in 15 years. 10 suicide commandos killed at least 135 Afghan soldiers on a base in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. The Taliban have vowed to target foreign forces in Afghanistan with guerrilla and suicide attacks a week after at least 135 Afghan soldiers were killed in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Pictured, locals the day after the attack The attack, dubbed Operation Mansouri after former leader Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, is part of the insurgents' 'spring offensive'. Pictured Afghan National Army troops in Mazar-i-Sharif The operation forced the defence minister and army chief of staff to resign, and shows how Afghan forces are struggling to contain Taliban insurgency since Nato troops left in 2014. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, who visited Afghanistan with National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster this month, warned of 'another tough year' for the country in 2017. At the moment, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is working on developing a strategy for the region. Afghan security forces are believed to control less than 60 percent of the country, although the insurgents have so far been unable to capture any major provincial centres. In a statement on Friday, the Taliban said government forces would be 'targeted, harassed, killed, or captured', although it promised to minimise civilian casualties. It said: 'The main focus of Operation Mansouri will be on foreign forces, their military and intelligence infrastructure and in eliminating their internal mercenary apparatus.' In a statement on Friday, the Taliban said government forces would be 'targeted, harassed, killed, or captured'. Pictured Afghan National Army soldiers outside the targeted army base The facility in Balkh province is home to the Afghan army's 209th Corps. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis warned of 'another tough year' for Afghanistan in 2017 Operations would include 'conventional attacks, guerrilla warfare, complex martyrdom attacks, insider attacks, and use of IEDs [improvised explosive devices]'. In February, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Nicholson said he needed a few thousand more international troops to break a 'stalemate' with the Taliban. The U.S. currently has around 8,400 troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led Resolute Support training and advisory mission, as well as a separate counterterrorism mission that mainly targets Islamic State and al Qaeda fighters. There are currently around 8,400 U.S. troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led Resolute Support training and advisory mission. This month, three U.S. soldiers have died in operations against ISIS The costs of that mission have been highlighted this month by the deaths of three U.S. service members in operations against ISIS along the border with Pakistan. U.S. officials say a solution to the conflict can only come through a political settlement which includes the Taliban, who have rejected peace talks while foreign forces remain in Afghanistan. But there is as yet no clarity on Washington's broader strategic objectives for the region, including its approach to nuclear-armed Pakistan, which has long been accused of aiding the insurgents, a charge Islamabad denies. Arkansas has executed murderer Kenneth Williams - the fourth inmate to be put to death by the state in eight days A man put to death in Arkansas over the murder of a cheerleader and two others was left lurching and convulsing on the execution gurney before he died. Kenneth Williams, 38, was given the lethal injection on Thursday after legal motions delayed the procedure for more than two hours. The executed murderer was the fourth and final inmate to be put to death by the state in eight days. Williams began 'coughing, convulsing, lurching, and jerking with sound' for about 20 seconds before his time of death at 11.09pm CT. After the jerking, Williams breathed through his mouth and moaned or groaned once - during a consciousness check - until falling still seven minutes into the lethal injection. The killer had asked for forgiveness in his final statement. Williams decided against having a last meal, and opted for a communion instead, according to a witness. In his last words, Williams said: 'I was more than wrong; the crimes I perpetrated against you all was senseless.' 'I'm not the person that I was, but I have been transformed when I gave my life to Christ.' Williams was serving a life sentence for the 1998 murder of 19-year-old student and cheerleader Dominique Hurd when he escaped the penitentiary on October 3, 1999 by hiding in a tank used to carry kitchen scraps. A witness reported that the lethal injection was first administered to Williams at 10:52pm. He was pronounced dead at 11:05pm Williams was 'coughing, convulsing, lurching, and jerking with sound' for about 20 seconds at approximately 10:55, according to a witness The daughters of one of Williams' victims said witnessing the execution wasn't about pleasure but about 'not enduring this anymore,' according to a witness He came upon Cecil Boren, 57, on his farm not far from the prison, shot and killed the man and stole his truck. Williams drove north to Missouri where he led police on a chase that caused the death of 24-year-old delivery driver Michael Greenwood. In 2005, he also confessed to killing Jerrell Jenkins. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected appeals from Williams, allowing officials to proceed with plans to put the condemned killer to death. The state had initially held off on executing Williams, who was scheduled to die at 7pm, as officials awaited word from the high court. His death brought Arkansas' execution spree to an end. They planned to kill eight inmates in 11 days before their execution drug ran out, but legal blocks meant only four died on the gurney. Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson released a statement, saying: 'The long path of justice ended tonight and Arkansans can reflect on the last two weeks with confidence that our system of laws in this state has worked. 'Carrying out the penalty of the jury in the Kenneth Williams case was necessary. There has never been a question of guilt. Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson (seen in the above January 2017 file photo) released a statement, saying: 'The long path of justice ended tonight and Arkansans can reflect on the last two weeks with confidence that our system of laws in this state has worked' Williams' first victim was 19-year-old student and cheerleader Dominique Hurd (left and right). While serving a life sentence for her murder he escaped and killed three more people Hours ahead of his execution, Greenwood's daughter sent a letter to Hutchinson asking the governor to spare the life of her father's killer. 'We are in no way asking you to ignore the pain felt by the victims of Mr Williams' other crimes. We know what they are going through but ours is a pain that we have decided not to try and cure by seeking an execution,' Kayla Greenwood wrote. 'His execution will not bring my father back or return to us what has been taken, but it will cause additional suffering.' She said her family, upon learning that Williams has a daughter as well as a granddaughter whom he's never met, bought the pair plane tickets to Arkansas so they could visit him one last time. They even picked up the woman and child at the airport and drove them to the prison. Meanwhile, the Boren family said it would be relieved to know Williams had been put to death. 'We've been waiting a long, long time for this,' Boren's widow Genie told local news station Fox 16. 'People have to be punished for things they've done.' After his escape, Williams came upon Cecil Boren, 57, (above) on his farm not far from the prison, shot and killed the man and stole his truck Williams drove north to Missouri, where he led police on a chase that caused the death of 24-year-old delivery driver Michael Greenwood (pictured left with his wife Stacey) His lawyers have argued, among other things, that Williams should be spared because he is intellectually disabled. Hutchinson has said the accelerated execution timetable was necessary because the state's stock of a sedative, midazolam, used in lethal injections will expire at the end of the month. Many of the legal clashes focus on midazolam, which is meant to render a condemned person unconscious before other drugs induce death. Critics say it does not always adequately sedate prisoners, potentially causing undue suffering. The state carried out its first execution since 2005 last Thursday, putting convicted murderer Ledell Lee to death at its Cummins Unit, near Varner, Arksansas. Jack Jones and Marcel Williams, convicted separately of rape and murder in the 1990s, were executed on Monday in the nation's first double execution in nearly 17 years. Jack Jones (left) and Marcel Williams (right), convicted separately of rape and murder in the 1990s, were executed on Monday in the nation's first double execution in nearly 17 years Arkansas set off a legal battle when it announced plans to execute eight death row inmates, pictured here, in 11 days. Kenneth Williams, bottom row, third from the left, was executed Thursday This winter could be the warmest in years, with an Indian summer stretching on as far as July, forecasters have said. With an El Nino brewing over the Pacific Ocean, the east and south of Australia could be in for a particularly dry and hot winter, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). With the west of Australia also set for a balmy few months, there is a slim chance that this could be a record-breaking winter. This winter could be the warmest in years, with an Indian summer stretching on as far as July, forecasters have said. Pictured, the morning sun at Bondi Beach in Sydney With an El Nino brewing over the Pacific Ocean, the east and south of Australia could be in for a particularly dry and hot winter. A graph shows the chances of average temperature being higher between May and July An El Nino could form in the east of the Pacific and forecasters say this is likely to lead to drier and warmer conditions in eastern Australia. Senior meteorologist Paul Gregory told Daily Mail Australia this means temperatures are likely to be a few degrees higher than usual, potentially topping 17C in Sydney. There is up to a 30 per cent chance of less rainfall than average in Sydney, with an 80 per cent chance of it being warmer than usual during the early stages of winter. 'It could be one of the warmest winters in a while. One of the warmest mid-winters certainly,' Mr Gregory said. An El Nino could form in the east of the Pacific and forecasters say this is likely to lead to drier and warmer conditions in eastern Australia. Pictured, women on a beach in Brisbane 'It could be one of the warmest winters in a while': There'll be no need to wrap up like these women in Fitzroy Park, Melbourne, with any luck 'There are very long odds of a record breaking winter but it's certainly going to be hotter than usual,' he added. Mr Gregory said there was a 50 per cent chance of an El Nino this winter. 'It looks like there might be a small chance of El Nino - which makes things warm and dry. 'What happens in the eastern seaboard largely affects the east and central Australia, but it's possible we'll have dry conditions in western Australia too.' While most of us will enjoy the warmer weather, El Ninos can cause issues for farmers. 'It can be harder for the farmers,' Mr Gregory said. 'It can bring an abrupt end to winter and you can get a very warm spring, which is what happened in 2015 and it can affect crops.' Despite the warmer weather, there will still be the occasional cold snap too. Canberra and southern New South Wales are predicted to record subzero temperatures in May, June and July, although this is not unusual. The BOM added that it was too early to know if there would be enough snow for a decent ski season, but said there would definitely be some cold nights across south east Australia. The forecast comes back on a particularly cold spell for south east Australia caused by an Antarctic blast. More than 5cm of snow fell in some areas as temperatures plummeted to -6C, with some towns hit by their lowest temperatures in eight years. Pictured, Perisher after snow fell An Antarctic blast has smashed the nation overnight, with large swathes of Australia feeling the chill as temperatures plunged below zero. Pictured, Perisher after snow fell Temperatures plummeted below zero in parts of New South Wales and Canberra and up to 5cm of snow fell in the Snowy Mountains. Weatherzone meteorologist Graham Brittain told Daily Mail Australia that the colder conditions would come to an end on Friday evening ahead of a warmer weekend. 'It will warm up this weekend in Sydney,' he said. Tomorrow it will be warmer, but expect showers for coastal parts on Sunday. 'Saturday's the day to have the last BBQ of the year. It's going to be sunny so make the most if it on Saturday before the rain sets in.' In Canberra it will be 19C and dry on Saturday, with Sunday also set to be warm. Brisbane will bask in 26C heat on both Saturday and Sunday, Mr Brittain added. Police have released a composite image of a man they believe broke into a woman's home before sexually assaulting her as she slept. The man broke into the 55-year-old's bedroom on Numbat Place in Doolandella, in Brisbane, about 1.15am on Thursday, police said. He began touching the woman inappropriately, but ran off when she woke up and started screaming, alerting her son. Police have described the man as Caucasian in appearance, around 40-years-old with blond hair and weathered features. Scroll down for video Police have released a composite image of a man they believe broke into a woman's Brisbane home before sexually assaulting her as she slept The woman who was sexually assaulted spoke out about her horrifying ordeal on Thursday He was wearing a blue shirt at the time of the sexual assault, and a car was heard speeding away from the scene. The woman who was sexually assaulted spoke out about her horrifying ordeal on Thursday. 'I was asleep on my side and I felt someone essentially brushing up against me and I realised that someone was in my room and I screamed out straight away for my son,' she told 7News. The man reportedly got into the house by jumping over a back fence and breaking in through the back door. Police said the intruder broke into the home in Doolandella through the back door (above) at around 1.15am on Thursday '[The door] is probably not in pristine condition because it's an older door and I think now would be a good time to replace it,' she said. She was not physically injured in the attack. The perpetrator hid in the home, before he was confronted by the woman's two adult sons - then fled on foot, Nine News reports. Police officers spent the morning talking to residents in the area. They believe the incident was a random attack. Forensic officers are examining items they believe the suspect may have dropped. The suspect, described as blond with weathered features, climbed over a fence to get in The police chief who led the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance has claimed the probe was tainted when it was deemed an 'abduction' The police chief who led the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance has claimed the probe was tainted when it was deemed an 'abduction'. Goncalo Amaral claimed that Maddie's parents Kate and Gerry received special treatment from British authorities because they were upper-middle class GPs. The former detective said interference from the UK was detrimental to the investigation, claiming Portuguese prosecutors felt intimidated by the British. Mr Amaral, 56, has always maintained his belief that Maddie's parents were involved in the three-year-old's disappearance from the Paria da luz resort in 2007, despite police in Portugal ruling them out as official suspects in 2008. He told Portuguese magazine Sabado: 'They belong to the upper-middle class and the British do not like their doctors to mess up abroad and get convicted for it. 'It is not normal for an ambassador from a foreign country to come to the place to push in the sense that "this has to be quick". 'If the ambassador and even the consul had not appeared, the investigation would have been directed to what is normal - to suspect those who have responsibility for the custody of the child.' He added: 'The mistake was the statement about the abduction. It was almost a lack of respect to make the decision and to make it public. Scroll down for video Goncalo Amaral (pictured) claimed that Maddie's parents Kate and Gerry received special treatment from British authorities because they were upper-middle class GPs Controversial figure Mr Amaral, 56, has always maintained his belief that Maddie's parents Kate and Gerry (pictured) were involved in the three-year-old's disappearance in 2007 'When the couple left, the British police who were here to cooperate and help also left. The feeling was that the British police were here to protect the couple.' Mr Amaral worked on the case when Maddie went missing from the apartment the McCanns were staying in in Praia da Luz as Kate and Gerry ate dinner with friends. He was moved off the case and resigned six months later but wrote his book using police files as he put forward a theory she had died in the apartment. The McCanns took legal action, saying there was no evidence and his work was defamatory. The appeal hearing in Lisbon which ruled against the McCanns was held in private. The apartment block in Luz in the Algarve, Portugal, where Madeleine McCann went missing Mr Amaral, 56, who the McCanns first sued for libel in June 2009, won the lengthy legal fight after judges decided he had the 'right to freedom of expression'. Earlier this week, British detectives announced they had a 'significant' line of inquiry in the case, ten years after the youngster went missing. Scotland Yard chief Mark Rowley said there are still 'critical' leads that are of 'great interest' in the investigation. He also ruled out that Gerry and Kate McCann were involved in her abduction and said she could still be alive. But described the possibility of a 'burglary gone wrong' as a 'sensible hypothesis' which has not been 'entirely ruled out'. The man designated to replace French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen as head of the far-right National Front party has refused the job and will focus on defending himself against allegations he made questionable comments about the Holocaust, National Front member Louis Aliot said. Jean-Francois Jalkh, a hitherto little-known vice-president of the party, did not want to take up the post in the current climate, Aliot, Marine Le Pen's partner in private life, announced in television interview with BFM TV on Friday. Aliot said Jalkh would file a legal complaint over what he called totally unfounded accusations of ambiguous stances on the mass killing of Jews during World War Two. Jalkh is also among seven people called to trial in an alleged illegal financing scheme for the party - one of the other challenges facing Le Pen's campaign. Jean-Francois Jalkh (right), a hitherto little-known vice-president of the National Front, turned down the role of the party's leader days after Marine Le Pen (left) stepped down. He will instead focus on defending himself against allegations he made questionable comments about the Holocaust Aliot said Jalkh will be replaced as party leader by Steeve Briois, mayor of Le Pen's electoral fiefdom of Henin-Beaumont in depressed northern France. Now reports have claimed they have evidence showing Mr Jalkh, 59, once questioned the historical fact of Zyklon B being used to exterminate Jews in German concentration camps. Mr Jalkh said in an interview that was published in 2005: 'I believe we should be able to discuss this issue.' Speaking about the chemical agent with a scientist, Mr Jalkh said: 'I consider that from a technical standpoint it is impossible and I stress, impossible to use it in mass exterminations. 'Why? Because you need several days to decontaminate a space...when you use Zyklon B.' This is an argument regularly use by Holocaust deniers, who say it could not have been used by the Nazis to kill people in gas chambers installed at camps such as Auschwitz-Birkenau. Mr Jalkh's views were resurfaced this week by Laurent De Boissie, a journalist with La Croix newspaper, and they were immediately published by other French media, including Le Monde. Magali Boumaza, the PhD student who interviewed Jalkh for her dissertation on the National Front that was published in the French research journal Le Temps des savoirs in 2005, confirmed to Buzzfeed that Jalkh did make the remarks. On Monday, Ms Le Pen stepped down as FN leader, saying she wanted to be the leader of all France, and not just the party which her father founded in 1972 Thousands have gathered in Paris and several major French cities to protest against the results of the first round of the French presidential election She said she recorded the interview, which lasted for three hours at the National Front headquarters. She said that during the conversation, 'there was this revisionist release which lasted two or three minutes at the most'. 'Nothing has been falsified. I confirm the words are as they were written down,' Boumaza told BuzzFeed News by phone from Istanbul. FN chiefs immediately insisted that the interview had never in fact taken place, and that political enemies fabricated the row. Mr Jalkh himself said: 'It's the first time I've heard of this rubbish. I have no memory of this. I may have given an interview but these are not my preferred subjects.' He added: 'It's possible that I saw these people in 2000, but I can see students who show up wanting to talk about Zyklon B coming. 'I'm no FN novice, I' ve been here since 1974: I challenge anyone to say they've heard me talk about these matters.' Florian Philippot, Le Pen's closest adviser, also dismissed the accusations as 'a campaign polemic'. Le Pen is taking on Emmanuel Macron (centre), head of the political movement En Marche!, or Onwards!, in the presidential election on May 7 It comes after Ms Le Pen herself this month denied that the French were responsible for rounding up Auschwitz-bound Jews in Paris during the war. This prompted fierce criticism around the world, including from the government of Israel, who accused Ms Le Pen of historical revisionism. Recent French presidents have all admitted that many of their fellow countrymen collaborated with the Germans in the Holocaust. Ms Le Pen's own father, the FN father Jean-Marie Le Pen, is a convicted anti-Semite and Holocaust denier. One of his most recent convictions was for describing the mass murder of millions of Jews as 'a detail of history'. Despite claims by Ms Le Pen that she has 'detoxified' the party, Mr Le Pen remains its honorary chairman, and is funding her presidential election campaign to the tune of millions. On Monday, Ms Le Pen stepped down as FN leader, saying she wanted to be the leader of all France, and not just the party which her father founded in 1972. Ms Le Pen won through to the second round of the presidential elections last Sunday, and will now go head-to-head with independent candidate Emmanuel Macron on May 7th. Opinion polls suggest Mr Macron is the overwhelming favourite to beat Ms Le Pen by more than 60 per cent of the vote. A Brisbane teenager who brutally tortured a possum and uploaded a video of its suffering to Snapchat is a 'serious danger to the community', a court has heard. Hunter Lawrence Jonasen could be heard 'jeering and cheering' with a 17-year-old man as they ran over the animal on Christmas Day in 2015. Jonasen was not convicted over the incident but was given a probation order meaning he had to keep out of trouble for one year or he would be re-sentenced. Hunter Lawrence Williams arrived at Holland Park Magistrates Court after breaching his initial one year probation for torturing a possum and uploading it to Snapchat The 18-year-old breached his probation by punching a stranger in the face and was branded a 'serious danger to the community' That order was due to expire next month but the 18-year-old found himself back in court on Friday for assaulting a man while on probation. Holland Park Magistrates Court heard Jonasen punched a stranger in the face outside a nightclub so hard that part of the victim's lip was missing. Magistrate Sheryl Cornack said studies showed young men who are cruel to animals subsequently go on to hurt other people. Ms Cornack said Jonasen was on 'trajectory' and needed psychiatric help. 'He's got a severe defect that the rest of the community needs to be protected from,' Ms Cornack said. 'He should have an order that he never own an animal. 'He shouldn't be near any dogs, cats or birds.' The RSPCA Queensland released a screenshot of the original Snapchat video which shows Jonasen posing next to the dead possum Jonasen was sentenced to a new two-year probation order, banned from owning an animal for two years and ordered not to interfere with native wildlife. That punishment was on top of another one-year probation order Jonasen was given for the assault in January 2017. RSPCA prosecutor Tracey Jackson said the organisation was pleased with the outcome. 'There's an undeniable correlation between people who offend against animals and people who offend against people,' Ms Jackson said. 'Whether or not you care about animals, you need to care about animal welfare and about how our society and our community deals with it.' Jonasen's defence lawyer said the teenager was 'extremely remorseful' for his actions, which would 'dog him' for the rest of his life. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sigmar Gabriel refused to take his call when he tried to apologise for cancelling talks during the German Foreign Minister's trip to Israel. Netanyahu cancelled his planned talks with Gabriel on Tuesday after the minister met group 'Breaking the Silence', which is critical of Israel's treatment of Palestinians. The dispute threatens to widen a rift between Israel and Germany over the Palestinian issue. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sigmar Gabriel refused to take his call after he cancelled talks during the Foreign minister's visit to Israel Berlin has been increasingly critical of the settlement policies of Netanyahu's right-wing government in occupied territory Palestinians seek for a state. Netanyahu, who is also Israel's foreign minister, said he had tried to patch things up with Gabriel. He told Bild: 'I wanted to telephone Foreign Minister Gabriel to explain my position and to clear things up, but he would not take the call.' 'I hope Gabriel meets me on his next trip to Israel rather than a radical fringe group that undermines Israel's security.' On Monday an Israeli official had said Netanyahu would not see Gabriel if he went ahead and met the Israeli group 'Breaking the Silence'. Gabriel had met with 'Breaking the Silence', a group which is critical of Israel's treatment of Palestinians. Netanyahu said relations between Israel and Germany were 'extraordinarily strong' The organisation, a frequent target of criticism by the Israeli government, collects testimony from Israeli veterans about the military's treatment of Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. 'I do not welcome diplomats from other countries who visit Israel and meet organisations that call our soldiers war criminals. That is the reason why the meeting did not take place,' Netanyahu told Bild in an interview. He added that relations between Israel and Germany were 'extraordinarily strong' and that Israelis were thankful for Germany's help in maintaining Israel's security. During his trip to Israel, Gabriel still met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. Berlin has been increasingly critical of the settlement policies of Netanyahu's right-wing government in territory Palestinians seek for a state Germany regards itself as one of Israel's closest allies and the cooperation and trade links are extensive. However, the legacy of the Nazi-era Holocaust, in which six million Jews were killed during World War Two, means relations are highly charged. Gabriel, a Social Democrat who has spoken publicly about his rift with his late father, a convinced Nazi, visited the Middle East to press for a two-state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. In March Germany cancelled an annual meeting of German and Israeli leaders planned for May amid rising frustration in Berlin with settlement activity in the West Bank. More than 10,000 supporters of Humane Society International/Canada have signed a letter to British Columbia premier Christy Clark, asking her to ban the grizzly hunt. Photo by Ray Rafiti 897 shares Its an image that millions of people whove watched it wont soon forget: a majestic grizzly bear thrashing in confused agony as she tumbles down a hill, her blood smearing the snow, while the men who shot her cheer at the misery and suffering theyve delivered. An investigator might have filmed the horrible spectacle to expose it and remind regular citizens what some people are capable of doing. But they filmed the bleeding animals themselves, as some sort of Kodak moment, which theyd presumably watch for pleasure in the years ahead. Its become all too commonplace in the Canadian province of British Columbia, where the government allows trophy hunters to slaughter hundreds of grizzly bears a year the biggest toll of grizzlies in all of North America. But according to reputable polls, more than 90 percent of B.C. residents oppose the trophy hunt of the provinces grizzlies. Because of that nearly unanimous opposition to this government-sanctioned policy, it may be the next thing that comes crashing down. B.C.s provincial election is on May 9th, and the New Democratic Party, which is neck and neck with the governing Liberals in the polls, has promised to ban the trophy hunt of grizzly bears across the province if elected. Even the Liberals have made vague promises to look into ending the hunt in a portion of the grizzlies range in the Great Bear Forest in the west of the vast province. More than 10,000 supporters of Humane Society International/Canada have signed a letter to B.C. premier Christy Clark, asking her to ban the hunt. And along with partner groups Pacific Wild, LUSH Cosmetics, and Wildlife Defence League, HSI/Canada participated in the delivery of over 70,000 signatures to the B.C. legislature this week, calling for a ban on grizzly bear trophy hunting. Many shot bears dont succumb quickly to the hunters bullets. All too often, injured bears run off, suffering for hours before blood loss or shock or sepsis overcomes them. Perhaps most tragic is the fate of the countless bear cubs who slowly starve to death while they wait in their dens for their slaughtered mothers who will never return. British Columbia is home to the second largest grizzly bear population in the world, and grizzlies are an iconic species for both the province and for all of Canada. Every year, tourists from around the world flock to B.C.s lush forests to participate in bear viewing expeditions, which have been shown to bring in up to 10 times more direct revenue to the province than trophy hunting. Bear viewing is a much larger industry than bear killing, and the latter business threatens the former. Bear viewing operations have noted that demand for bear viewing has grown to the point where theyre reaching capacity, but they cannot access the vast majority of grizzly bear territory, because most of it is set aside for trophy hunters. Furthermore, they point out that nobody wants to view a bear that they know is likely to be slaughtered for head and hide. The provincial government estimates that the grizzly populations number up to 15,000, but leading scientists from the University of Victoria and Simon Frasier University have been critical of the methods used to census bears. The actual count may be half the current estimate. Those same scientists also found that hunters were exceeding their kill quotas in half of the populations they studied. But even with current government estimates, we know that at least nine of the provinces 57 grizzly populations are threatened. Its clear that this trophy hunt is not just poorly monitored and managed, but that theres no compelling rationale for it whatsoever. From every angle one looks at the issue whether it is animal welfare, conservation, or economics its clear that there is no good reason for this hunt to continue. Lets hope that after May 9, the party that commands the majority makes the decision that more than 90 percent of British Columbians polled want them to make: putting an end to the grizzly hunt, thereby reversing the damage done to the provinces economy and reputation. Tia Lucock was last seen on Tuesday, April 15 Police are searching for a schoolgirl who is missing. Tia Lucock, 13, was last seen on the evening of Tuesday, April 15 at her home address in Sydenham, south London. She is described as black, around 5ft 5in tall, with black hair worn in a bun. At the time of her disappearance she was wearing a dark red-coloured jacket, an orange hooded top, blue jeans, and black hi-top style trainers. Tia is known to visit south London and Margate in Kent. A spokesperson for Lewisham Police said they were growing increasingly concerned for her well-being. Anyone who has seen Tia, or knows or her whereabouts is urged to contact Met Police via 101 or by tweeting @MetCC. As President Obama came under fire for scheduling a $400,000 speaking gig at a Wall Street firm next fall, he pocketed the same amount for a speech Thursday night for A&E Networks. During the speech at the Pierre Hotel in New York City, Obama delivered a sly dig at his successor's prolific tweeting. Obama was asked how he coped with frustrating moments as president, and responded: 'By not having a Twitter account.' Barack Obama said he coped with frustration 'by not having a Twitter account' at an event last night. He's pictured above in July President Trump has been a prolific Twitter since arriving in the White House, and has often stoked controversy on social media President Donald Trump has repeatedly come under fire for comments posted on Twitter, while Obama was considerably more restrained. He made the comment in an interview with historian Doris Kearns Goodwin at the event last night. President Abraham Lincoln used to vent his frustration by writing angry letters, but did not send them Goodwin observed that Abraham Lincoln used to write angry letters when he needed to vent his frustration, but would not send them. Obama said that the things he most misses about living at the White House included sitting on the Truman balcony on summer nights, a source told the New York Post. He said he also missed being able to look at the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. Obama has come under fire over the fees he receives for speaking engagements. He is set to be paid another $400,000 at an engagement sponsored by Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald LP in September. Earlier this week Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said she was 'troubled' by the fees the former President can command. Southeast Asian countries are to express 'grave concern' over North Korea's nuclear weapons tests and ballistic missile launches despite Kim Jong Un's appeal for the region to join forces and fend off a 'nuclear holocaust'. In a rare move, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho wrote to the ASEAN bloc's secretary general appealing for backing in its row with the United States. But Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers meeting in Manila today are expected to criticise North Korea for its two atomic weapons tests last year and subsequent launch of ballistic missiles, according to a draft of their statement. 'ASEAN expresses its grave concern over the escalation of tension in the Korean Peninsula,' said the draft, which is due to be released after the ministers end their meeting today. Scroll down for video Southeast Asian countries are set to slam North Korea's double atomic weapons tests last year and call for peace in the region ASEAN has snubbed North Korea's plea for regional unity against the United States as tensions rise. Above, North Korean artillery demonstrate their firepower on Wednesday to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the founding of the country's army 'ASEAN is mindful that instability in the Korean Peninsula will have serious impact to the region and beyond.' The ministers will 'strongly' urge North Korea 'to fully comply' with UN Security Council resolutions and international laws, according to the draft. However, ASEAN will also urge 'all parties concerned' to 'cease all provocative actions and exercise self-restraint to de-escalate the tension and refrain from actions that may aggravate the situation'. Diplomats in Manila said the other parties apparently refer to the United States and regional powers China, Japan and South Korea -- all key strategic players in the region. North Korea's Kim Jong Un had hoped to draw the region's countries together as tensions rise over its nuclear weapons programme ASEAN also criticised 'provocative actions' by countries including the United States and China. Above, the American aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, which was sent to the Korean peninsula as the situation escalates Mobile missile launchers on display in Pyongyang, North Korea, on April 15 as the country celebrated the 105th anniversary of the birth of founding leader Kim Il Sung ASEAN leaders are then due to meet tomorrow, when the situation on the peninsula is also expected to be discussed. In his letter to ASEAN, North Korean foreign minister Ri warned the situation on the Korean Peninsula was 'reaching the brink of war' because of Washington's actions. Ri urged the ASEAN chief to inform the ASEAN foreign ministers 'about the grave situation' on the peninsula 'and give them a proper proposal', while criticising at length US-South Korean military exercises. Tensions have soared in the region in recent weeks in the wake of a series of North Korean missile tests and tough rhetoric from Washington on the isolated nation's rogue weapons programme. Washington has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the Korean peninsula amid signs the North could be preparing for a sixth nuclear test, and US officials have said all options were on the table. Mounting frustration with the sterile election campaign was laid bare last night as politicians were berated on live TV for trotting out 'repetitive cliches'. The audience on the BBC's Question Time railed at the buttoned-down public events and appealed for parties to be more 'grown up'. The backlash comes amid complaints about Theresa May's refusal to stray from the Tory slogan of 'strong and stable' leadership. One audience member on Question Time last night summed up the weariness of voters, barely a week into the campaign, saying: 'If we're going to have an election, can we at least have a grown-up election?' The BBC programme was coming from Oxford last night and gave a flavour of the public's response to the campaign so far One audience member summed up the weariness of voters, barely a week into the campaign, as he hit out at Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green during the BBC show last night. 'If we're going to have an election, can we at least have a grown-up election?' he said. 'I bet my wife 10 that Damian (Green) would say 'coalition of chaos' and 'strong and stable government' as his first contribution.' In a reference to Mrs May's relentless message discipline, he man added: 'Has he caught the repetitive cliche virus from his boss? 'Please let's have a more grown-up debate where we use the language of Shakespeare with a bit more flexibility.' The PM used the phrase 12 times in a stump speech lasting just 10 minutes earlier this week. Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn has repeatedly deployed the phrase 'bargain basement Brexit'. Mrs May was asked on BBC Radio Derby yesterday if she knew what a 'Mugwump' was, after Boris Johnson deployed the term to condemn the Labour leader. She replied: 'What I recognise is that what we need in this country is strong and stable leadership.' The frustrated voter said he had bet his wife 10 that Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green would say 'strong and stable' during his first contribution on the BBC show The flagship BBC show last night featured, pictured from left to right, ex-Cameron adviser Baroness Cavendish, Labour's Clive Lewis, Lib Dem Jo Swinson and Mr Green The intervention came after Mr Green stressed the importance of having a 'strong and stable government' to get the best possible Brexit deal. 'It seems to me unarguable that if you have a strong elected PM with a new elected mandate Britain's position will be put better in those vital negotiations,' he said. He also used another buzz phrase for the Conservative compaign - warning that the other members of the panel were being a 'coalition of chaos' by ganging up against him. Mr Green was appearing on the flagship BBC show alongside Labour's Clive Lewis, the SNP's Stephen Gethins, Lib Dem Jo Swinson and ex-Cameron adviser Baroness Cavendish. At a campaign rally in Bridgend earlier this week, Mrs May said 'strong and stable' 12 times in a 10 minute speech - despite viewers already complaining that they are tired of it. Twitter have been moaning that repetition of the phrase is making them 'cry', while another wag joked: 'Whoever has 'strong and stable leadership' in the 2017 election drinking game is absolutely screwed.' Theresa May, pictured in Leeds yesterday, has been deploying the phrase 'strong and stable' leadership in almost every sentence during her election appearances Divers have found the wreck of a Nazi ship that may contain valuable stolen artworks. The Boy Federsen, which was torpedoed in 1943, was found 15 miles off the coast of Yevpatoria in the Crimean Peninsula, south-west Russia. The cargo ship is believed to have been carrying stolen artefacts when it was targeted by a Soviet D-4 submarine. Scroll down for video Divers have found the wreck of a Nazi ship, the Boy Federsen, which was wrecked off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula, in south-west Russia. The ship is believed to have been sunk by a Russian submarine The cargo ship is believed to have been carrying priceless artwork looted from Russia when it was targeted. The Boy Federsen was originally named the Anhalt when it was built in 1914 The ship, which was built in 1914, passed through British, Spanish and Russian hands before it was reclaimed by the Nazis. Shipbuilders Bremer Vulkan, of Bremen, were forced to build battleships during both world wars. During the Second World War, they built 74 U-boats for the German navy and were targeted by allied bombers. When the Boy Federsen was built during the Great War, it was named the Anhalt and was given to the British in 1919 as part of reparations made by Germany. Pictured, the researchers who found the German ship. Between 1914 and 1943, the ship was owned by Britain, Spain and Russia, before it was reclaimed by the Germans in the war Divers were looking for a Russian submarine D-4 when they found the ship. It is believed that the Boy Federsen was sunk by a D-4 in August 1943. The submarine sank in December that year When the ship was owned by the Soviet Union, it was named the Kharkov and was badly damaged in the port city of Mykoliaiv in southern Ukraine during the Second World War The British then sold it to a Spanish company that re-named the ship Aya-Mendi. Shortly after that, the ship was returned to Germany. The ship was bought by the Soviet Union in 1931 an was re-named the Kharkov. The Kharkov was almost destroyed in a huge storm travelling from Britain carrying grain. Soviet soldiers damaged the ship in 1943 when the port of the city of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine was occupied during the Second World War. Nazi engineers managed to repair the ship and renamed it one more time, this time the Boy Federsen. It is believed that around 650,000 pieces of art were looted by the Nazis around Europe during the Second World War. Around 173 Russian museums reported stolen artwork Pictured, the equipment used to find the Boy Federsen. Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of art was taken from Russia during the war. Information on lost Russian art is now available online It is believed that the SS could have been using it to ship artworks and other cultural items stolen from the Soviet Union when it was sunk on 10th August 1943. It is believed that some 650,000 pieces of European art were taken by the Nazis during the Second World War. In Russia, hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of art was taken from around 173 museums. It is still unknown how many items were looted from Russia by the Nazis. The ship was discovered off the coast of Yevpatoria, in the Crimean peninsula, at a depth of 295 feet. It is still unknown how many pieces of art were looted from Russia by the Nazis The ship was found 15 miles from the city of Yevpatoria in the south-western part of the Crimean Peninsula, at a depth of 295 feet. Lead diver Roman Dunaev and his team from the Russian Underwater Research Expedition discovered the ship while looking for a Soviet D-4 submarine that sank in the same region. Mr Dunaev said: 'During the search for a D-4 submarine, we found a large vessel in the same square of its alert duty.' It is believed that a D-4 submarine sunk the Boy Federsen in August 1943. A woman has revealed how she was kidnapped from her Eastern European parents by the Nazis to be brought up as 'Aryan'. Ingrid von Oelhafen was taken as a baby from Sauerbrunn, Yugoslavia, in 1942 as part of the controversial Lebensborn scheme. She was given a new name and was adopted by German parents in a bid to increase the Aryan population. Scroll down for video Ingrid van Oelhafen was kidnapped from Sauerbrunn, Yugoslavia, in 1942 and was adopted by German parents as part of the Lebensborn scheme. She was renamed and only discovered her true identity aged 58. She is pictured holding a vaccination certificate issued by Lebensborn The Lebensborn scheme aimed to increase the Aryan population for Hitler's Reich by rehoming children with German parents. Pictured left, aged eleven at Bad Salzuflen. Pictured right, Ingrid with her foster mother's son Huberus Lebensborn, which translates as the 'fountain of life', was a state-sponsored scheme which aimed to raise a 'Master Race' of Aryan children to populate Hitler's 'Thousand Year Reich'. While Lebensborn was founded as a way for single mothers to give birth anonymously, the SS started to kidnap Eastern European children they deemed to be racially pure. Pictured, Ingrid with foster parents Hermann and Gisela von Oelhafen. Ingrid found out her birth parents had been given a substitute baby who grew up under her real name, Erika Matko When the children were taken away from their families, they were classified and adopted into a suitable household. The first children's home was set up in Munich, Bavaria, in 1935 and soon expanded into several European countries during the Second World War. Ingrid has now written a book about her experiences as a Lebensborn child. Co-author Tim Tate said: 'At the age of nine months Ingrid von Oelhafen was kidnapped by the SS into Lebensborn program.' 'For most of her adult life she knew almost nothing about it or where she had come from. 'Only at the age of 58 was she able to begin investigating her origins: her remarkable detective quest would lead her to discover the truth about Lebensborn, and how she came to be a part of it. 'Ingrid's investigation helped uncover the truth about the Nazis' kidnapping of up to half a million babies and young children from Eastern European countries occupied by Hitler's troops.' Ingrid found out her birth name was Erika Matko and her biological family now live in Slovenia. Pictured Ingrid, aged nearly three, (left) with her adoptive brother Dietmar. Up to half a million Eastern European children were taken by the Nazis under Lebensborn. The scheme was initially set up to tackle the abortion rate and help single mothers give birth anonymously Mr Tate said: 'Lebensborn handed Ingrid over to the care of suitably-Aryan foster-parents.' 'They never told her where she had come from and took the secret of her real identity to the grave. 'Then, when she finally tracked down the remnants of her birth family, she discovered that the Nazis had given her parents a substitute baby. 'This child had grown up under Ingrid's real name, essentially living her life.' The Nazi experiments to create Aryan children Pictured a Lebensborn home in Sonnenwiese in 1942. The scheme was founded in 1935 to help reduce abortions in Germany. But four years later, the SS started kidnapping children from Eastern Europe Lebensborn was founded in 1935 to help reduce abortions in Germany. Single mothers were encouraged to come to the maternity homes to give birth anonymously. Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, encouraged his officers to have children with other Aryan women in order to create the 'Master Race'. He was convinced the breeding of chickens could be applied to humans and was obsessed with developing a pure Aryan race. But in 1939, the SS started taking children from their parents in Eastern Europe as part of the programme. They picked children with classic Aryan blonde hair and blue eyes. The children were taken from their families to Lebensborn homes, where they were to be classified and 'Germanised'. Nurses at the children's homes put the children through stringent medical tests to evaluate the child's racial type. They were categorised into 11 groups and their physical appearances were scrutinised to make sure they were pure. Pictured, a racial identification chart from 1935, showing the differences between Germans, 'crossbreeds' and Jews. According to the chart, those considered 'German' had to have four German grandparents In the programme it was believed some nurses exposed children to UV light in a bid to make their hair fairer and more 'Aryan'. Children who resisted the nurses attempts to make them forget their families were often beaten. The children were split into three categories; 'desired', 'acceptable' or 'undesireable'. Those who were deemed racially pure were given German names and adopted by an Aryan family. But those who were 'unwanted' were sent to a concentration camp to work or be killed. An estimated 10,000 Polish children were kidnapped by the SS under the Lebensborn programme. Only 25,000 Lebensborn children were reunited with their families after the Second World War. After the war, the children associated with the programme were ostracised and many turned to drink and drugs. The Norwegian government tried to send 8,000 Lebensborn children to Australia in a bid to get rid of them. Advertisement Up to half a million children were kidnapped by the SS under the Lebensborn programme. Under the Lebensborn programme, children from Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Norway were taken from their families. If they were deemed racially 'desirable', they would be given a German name and adopted Children were snatched from Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Norway. In 1947, the leaders of the Lebensborn organisation were tried in Nuremberg. The four leaders were found not guilty and were not responsible for the kidnapping of the children. Despite its widespread nature there is very little public awareness or understanding of Lebensborn. Mr Tate said: 'This is partly because the organisation itself destroyed most of its records just before the end of the war.' 'But it is also because German governments have been reluctant to help the survivors of the experiment, often obstructing their attempts to discover where they came from. 'Because of the reluctance within Germany to acknowledge or help the survivors of experiment, Lebensborn remains an unresolved legacy of the Nazi era. The children taken from Eastern Europe by the SS usually matched the Aryan ideal and had blonde hair and blue eyes. When they were taken to the children's home they had to undergo 'Germanisation' and were forced to forget their birth families Ingrid's parents never told her she was adopted or that she was from the Lebensborn scheme. Lebensborn children were classified and those who were racially pure were adopted. Those who were deemed 'unwanted' were sent to concentration camps to work or be killed At the end of the war, the organisation destroyed most of its records. Pictured, three of the most senior Lebensborn officials before their trial in Nuremberg in 1947. The four leaders were found not guilty and were not deemed responsible for the kidnapping of the children Lebensborn was the brainchild of Heinrich Himmler, the head of the SS, who encouraged his officers to have children with other Aryan women. It wasn't until 1939 that the SS started kidnapping Eastern European children At the children's home, they were categorised into 11 groups and their physical appearances were scrutinised to make sure they were racially pure. They were then categorised into three groups; 'desireable', 'acceptable' and 'undesireable' 'Throughout her investigation, Ingrid met many other Lebensborn children (as did I when researching my film and this book): most describe experiencing lifelong feelings of shame and rejection. 'Now, perhaps more than at any time since World War Two, national identity, race and creed have become major issues throughout Europe and beyond. Ingrid's story is, in the end, a plea to reject this narrow and dangerous nationalism.' Donald Trump has said that the US could 'absolutely' go to war with North Korea over its continuing nuclear missile program. 'There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely,' Trump said ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. Nonetheless, he said he wanted to peacefully resolve the crisis by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions - but added that he would not take the military option off the table. Conflict: Donald Trump said Thursday that it was 'absolutely possible' that the US and North Korea may end up coming to blows - but that he was seeking a nonviolent solution Rational? Trump said that he hoped Kim Jong-un was 'rational' enough to negotiate with, and that it must have been 'hard' for him to take over the country aged 27 Escalation: North Korea has vowed that it will continued to build ballistic missiles such as these (undated picture released in March) so long as America maintains its 'aggression' 'We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult,' he said. Trump spoke on Thursday, just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed US lawmakers on the North Korean threat. They said that North Korea was 'an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority.' It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbor and ally, and remained open to negotiations. Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. Danger: The top Navy official in the Pacific says that North Korea is deadly serious about firing nukes at the US and its allies (pictured: DPRK military drill on Tuesday) Concern: Admiral Harry B Harris Jr (pictured), the US Navy's top man in the Pacific, says that the situation in North Korea is 'the worst' he's 'ever seen' 'He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. 'I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do.' He perhaps felt some empathy towards the dictator given his own experiences giving up his old life in the White House. 'As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it,' he said. 'I hope he's rational.' On Friday secretary of state Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. Among those in attendance will be Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Tillerson said he wanted China - North Korea's only ally, albeit an increasingly strained one - to take the lead in diplomacy to resolve the crisis. 'We are going to test their willingness to help us address the serious threat,' he told Fox News on Thursday. He said China said it had already stepped in and 'requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test' to no avail. Incoming: North Korea could be just two years away from developing a nuclear warhead that could read the US, experts warn He added: 'We are going to be discussing what steps may be necessary to increase pressure on Pyongyang to have them reconsider their current posture.' US officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct US military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea, and among US forces in both countries. However, on Thursday the top US Navy official in the Pacific theater said that he would be ready to fight 'tonight'. Admiral Harry B Harris Jr, Commander of US Pacific Command, said that he would prefer a diplomatic end to tensions, and that he was confident in the leadership of Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. 'We want to bring Kim Jong-un to his senses - not to his knees,' he told the Senate Armed Services Committee. However, he warned that the US needs to treat Kim as though he has the capability and intention to launch missiles at America or its allies, South Korea and Australia. 'The North Korean crisis is the worst I've ever seen,' he said. The Tory surge in Scotland is set to oust Nicola Sturgeon's Westminster deputy from his seat, a new poll has found. Angus Robertson is on course to lose his Highlands constituency of Moray in the vote on June 8, according to the YouGov poll for The Times Scotland. He leads the SNP in the House of Commons and it would be a humiliating defeat for the party if he is booted out. Nicola Sturgeon, pictured last week with her deputy Angus Robertson. He faces losing his seat to the Tories on June 8 in what would be a humiliating defeat for the SNP The poll is another election boost for Theresa May, who is predicted to lead the Tories to their biggest victory in Scotland in 25 years. The Times YouGov poll found the Tories are on course to pick up another seven seats in Scotland bringing their total up to eight. And it put support for the Conservatives on 28 per cent - far ahead of Labour at 18 per cent - while the SNP are on 41 per cent. Meanwhile, the poll dealt a fresh blow to Ms Sturgeon's attempts to hold a second independence referendum. It found that just 45 per cent of Scots back independence while 55 per cent are in favour of the Union - the same result as recorded in the 2014 referendum. While 42 per cent said they wanted another vote on independence to take place against 51 per cent who are against it. Another seven per cent said they did not know. Nicola Sturgeon, pictured out on the campaign trail today, faces losing nine of her MPs when Britain goes to the ballot box on June 8, according to a new poll Ms Sturgeon adjusts a bicycle as she continues her tour of Scotland to drum up support Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said the polls shows Mrs Mayis proving a hit with Scottish voters. She said: 'This poll reveals Theresa May is more in touch with people in Scotland than Nicola Sturgeon. 'Last month, Alex Salmond, Angus Robertson and Nicola Sturgeon all arrogantly declared that opposing a second referendum would stoke support for independence. 'In fact, most people in Scotland see the common sense in saying now is not the time for yet another divisive referendum campaign. 'The SNP should show some humility and take its unwanted plan for a referendum off the table immediately.' Meanwhile, the SNP are set to be toppled from nine seats in the General Election, according to the analysis. Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, pictured yesterday, said the polls shows that Theresa May is more in touch with Scottish voters than the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon Among those facing defeat is Callum McCaig, who won almost 42 per cent of the vote in Aberdeen South in 2015. The poll puts the Tories up to eight seats in Scotland, with the Lib Dems on three and Labour with just one, while the SNP will keep 47 seats. While the Lib Dems are polling at seven per cent, the Greens on three per cent and Ukip are on 2 per cent across Scotland. Ms Sturgeon hit the campaign trail again today, trying to drum up support in East Renfrewshire, on the outskirts of Glasgow. She said: 'A free hand for the Tories would mean even more cuts, more attacks on low-income families and a hard Brexit. 'The SNP is the only party that can stand up to the Tories and, working with the Scottish Parliament, SNP MPs will fight these devastating policies.' Douglas Ross, a Tory member of Scotland's Parliament, is hoping to defeat Mr Robertson in the General Election as the Tories hope to snatch seven seats from the SNP Alex Salmond has said SNP would use a big victory north of the border to try to push through their attempts to have another independence referendum. He told his LBC Radio show Scots 'will know that they are voting to support the right of the parliament to decide on the holding of the Scottish referendum'. Meanwhile, Labour figures are reportedly planning for a worst case scenario in which they are reduced to just 110 seats in the election. Private party polling found the party could be reduced to just a rump, losing more than half of its 229 seats, according to a report in The Times. A 'tired' mother whose car ploughed into a freight train with her three children in the back after she failed to stop at rail tracks has avoided jail. The mother, then 30, who cannot be named for legal reasons, drove directly into the path of the oncoming train near Taree on the NSW mid-north in June last year. The mother and one five-year-old child escaped uninjured, but her seven-year-old was left disabled with brain injuries and another two-year-old was left in a critical condition. Nail-biting new footage from a camera on the front of the train captures the moment of impact when the car was sent flying into an embankment. New footage from a camera on the front of the train captures the moment of impact before the car was sent flying into an embankment On Friday a Newcastle District Court judge spared her from a jail term so she can continue to care for her children and sisters. '(The children are) victims of this offence, to send their mother into jail at this moment will make them victims of this sentence, ' Judge Roy Ellis said. Two of the girls suffered critical injuries in the crash, with one needing CPR to be revived at the scene by a passing police officer. 'There are some cases that call for mercy,' Judge Ellis said. 'This offender has punished herself immensely everyday since the accident.' The single mother had pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm after the June 2016 accident. The then 30-year-old-mother (pictured) escaped uninjured but her seven-year-old was left disabled and another two-year-old was left in a critical condition The single mother had pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm after the June 2016 accident The mother drove directly into the path of an oncoming freight train near Taree on the NSW mid-north in June last year 'A split second can just change your life,' the woman said as she left the court. Judge Ellis on Friday sentenced the woman to 15 months and 18 months in jail for each child that was critically injured but suspended the sentence given her need to care for them. One daughter still requires 24-hour care due to a brain injury suffered in the accident, the judge said. The mother barely manages to communicate with her through a series of hand squeezes. The judge said the daughters had suffered enough by the outcome of the crash, and to jail their mother would make their life even harder. 'If I take this lady away, what happens to these children? They go into state care ... it is likely that they will be separated.' the judge said. 'Is that what the community wants?' Images show the Commodore station wagon upturned after the devastating impact of the crash A judge showed the mother mercy by sparing her from a jail term so she can continue to care for her and her sisters In a video of the incident taken from onboard the train and played to the court, the woman's car can be seen slamming on the brakes and skidding into the path of the oncoming train. The train driver blows a horn shortly before impact, and debris can be seen flying into the air as the train's brakes screech. The woman covered her eyes and ears as the video was played, sobbing through the ordeal. The woman's car can be seen slamming on the brakes and skidding into the path of the oncoming train The judge described the crossing where the accident occurred as 'rather dangerous' The impact sent the car rolling down an embankment, the court heard. Judge Ellis described the crossing where the accident occurred as 'rather dangerous'. He said there were no boom gates, no lights and grass two to three metres in height along the side of the road. 'It is a tragic situation without a shadow of a doubt,' he said. The woman, who was 30 at the time of the accident, was also suspended from driving for five years. Two teachers from the same school have been arrested over separate classroom sex incidents with a schoolgirl. The pupil, 17, said she twice performed oral sex on 27-year-old Chad Coy and once on Ryan Kirkpatrick, 22. They also reportedly touched her private parts at Ocoee High School near Orlando, Florida. But the girl did not think either of them knew that the other was also intimate with her. Chad Coy (left) was arrested and faces three charges of sexual activity with a student, while Ryan Kirkpatrick faces two (right) She said in court documents: 'Kirkpatrick told me I was just a nice little escape from reality.' And Coy reportedly told her he loved her and wished he could wake up with her when he spoke to her at the school. The teen told investigators she was 'scared' of Coy and said: 'He's an older man who was much bigger than me.' He would keep her after class where he would kiss her on the lips, touch her inappropriately and do other things, officers said. The girl admitted she was attracted to Kirkpatrick and would harmlessly flirt with him, according to court files. She would ask for help on her homework and he would ask her if she wanted to do other things besides study. Coy faces three charges of sexual activity with a student and Kirkpatrick two between September 25 and October 21 last year. They also reportedly touched her private parts at Ocoee High School near Orlando, Florida (pictured) Both teachers have been on admin leave since November 1 after a probe was launched when the girl's father contacted the Department of Children and Families. Schools spokeswoman Shari Bobinski said: 'It which means they have not been on any Orange County Public Schools campus in that time. 'The district has been co-operating fully with law enforcement and will continue to do so. 'We take these allegations very seriously.' Coy is being held in Orange County Jail while Kirkpatrick was released after posting a $50,000 bond. A 66-year-old school teacher who was injured in the April 7 terror truck attack in Stockholm has died, raising the death toll to five. Mother-of-two and grandmother-of-one Marie Kide had been receiving treatment at Karolinska University Hospital for three weeks. She was a victim of 39-year-old Uzbek national Rakhmat Akilov's terror attack after he rammed a truck into a crowd on a main pedestrian shopping street in the Swedish capital. School teacher Marie Kide (pictured above) died after a three-week stay in hospital following the terror truck attack in Stockholm on April 7 Tribute has been paid to the widow, who lived near Gothenburg in Trollhattan, with her Green Party colleagues saying Ms Kide has 'left a big gap'. Esther O'Hara, local leader of the party where Ms Kide was a member, added: 'It is with great sadness that we have received the message that our beloved companion and colleague Marie Kide has disappeared after being hurt very seriously during the terrorist attack in Stockholm on April 7. 'Marie has left a big gap after herself, she was a woman with a big heart and moral courage. 'Marie, who was also the member of the Green Party in Trollhattan's Education Board, always stood up for the children, and for those exposed to problems in society. 'She spread warmth and love around her and it was a privilege to work with her. We miss her deeply. Our thoughts are with Marie's family in this difficult moment.' Scroll down for video The terror attack unleashed a wave of mourning across the Scandinavian nation, with crowds coming to the site of killings to place flowers Police have not disclosed a motive for the attack and no extremist group has claimed responsibility for it. Akilov's Swedish residency application was rejected last year but police said there was nothing to indicate he might plan an attack. After the rejection, Akilov had been been ordered to leave Sweden in December. Instead, he allegedly went underground, eluding authorities' attempts to track him down. Rakhmat Akilov pleaded guilty to the terrorist crime of ramming a truck (pictured above alongside Swedish police officer) into a crowd on a main pedestrian shopping street in the Swedish capital Chris Bevington (pictured left) was also killed in the Stockholm terror attack. Uzbek national Rakhmat Akilov (right) pleaded guilty to a terrorist crime after five people were killed in the busy shopping street Other victims of the attack include an 11-year-old Swedish girl, a 31-year-old Belgian woman, and a 69-year-old Swedish woman. Above, a woman lays flowers in Stockholm on April 10 Akilov was caught in a northern suburb of Stockholm, hours after he drove the stolen beer truck into the crowd of afternoon shoppers outside the upmarket Ahlens store. Other victims of attack were an 11-year-old Swedish girl, a 31-year-old Belgian woman, a 69-year-old Swedish woman, and a 41-year-old Briton whom the British government identified as Chris Bevington. Fourteen others were injured in the attack. Fourteen other people were injured in the attack, which shocked Sweden - a country known for its welcoming policy toward migrants and refugees The attack had shocked Sweden, known for its welcoming policy toward migrants and refugees. In 2015, a record 163,000 asylum-seekers arrived in the country - the highest per-capita rate in Europe. The government responded by tightening border controls and curtailing some immigrant rights. Facebook, Twitter and other social media companies should face fines if they fail to protect children's online safety, the head of the NSPCC has said. Peter Wanless, who leads Britain's largest child protection charity, called for the next government to clamp down on online bullying and porn by introducing cinema-style age ratings for websites. He claimed that regulating the industry in the same way as traditional media would help safeguard youngsters who use websites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Peter Wanless, who heads up Britain's largest child protection charity, called for the next government to introduce a cinema-style age rating system for websites In a letter to The Times, Mr Wanless described online safety as 'one of the biggest risks facing children today' which the government needs to tackle 'head on'. He said: 'We already protect children from viewing inappropriate or violent content at the cinema and on television. 'Given that today's children spend their free time online, why do we not afford them the same protections in this sphere?' He added: 'It is high time for online companies to come under robust scrutiny from an independent regulator with bite and to face fines when they fail to keep children safe.' Mr Wanless, who worked alongside Theresa May when she was home secretary, commented on The Times investigation that revealed Facebook hosted possibly illegal child abuse images even after its moderators were alerted. The charity boss called for more regulation in light of the findings. The NSPCC boss claimed that regulating the industry in the same way as traditional media would help safeguard youngsters who use websites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Pictured : Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg) 'A regulator must require social networks to display clear age ratings to reflect the kind of content displayed on their sites,' he said. The television and radio industries are regulated by Ofcom, but social media sites and apps are currently unregulated. Many websites have age restrictions but these are rarely enforced and easily dodged. However, the Digital Economy Act, passed by parliament on Thursday, introduced a new code of conduct for companies and increases enforcement for illegal conduct online. But, it does not go as far as to threaten fines for putting children in harm's way. The television, radio and film industries are regulated, but the social media sites and apps are currently unregulated. Many websites have age restrictions but these are rarely enforced and easily dodged The Conservative and Labour parties have implied they would support potential fines. A spokesman for told MailOnline: 'We care deeply about protecting people's safety on Facebook. 'That is why we provide easy ways for everyone to report content to us and simple privacy settings to control sharing. 'Over recent years we have worked with the government and with charities and experts across the UK, including the UK Safer Internet Centre and Childnet 'International, to improve our safety features and help educate young people about how to stay safe online.' Fabian Picardo, pictured in London earlier this month, says he is confident the British Government will stand up for Gibraltar in Brexit talks Gibraltar's chief minister has said he is confident that Prime Minister will stand up for 'the Rock' as the UK embarks on Brexit negotiations. Fabian Picardo said Gibraltar's interests must play a central role in the exit talks, which are continuing apace despite the looming General Election. And he said that he is sure that whatever the vote on June 8, Britain will stand up and ensure the territory 's interests are protected. Theresa May has repeatedly made it clear she will not let Gibraltar be used as a political pawn in the talks - despite the EU handing Spain an effective veto over the Brexit deal. Mr Picardo said that while Gibraltarians did not vote for Brexit, he is sure that whatever the result of the election that British government stands full square behind the territory. He said: 'We will not be let down at five minutes to midnight.' He said that Gibraltar's voters 'chose to remain (in the EU) and should not become the first or last victim of Brexit'. But in a vote of confidence in British politicians, he said: 'The next prime minister of the United Kingdom ... will continue to stand by the people of Gibraltar and continue to ensure that the sovereignty of Gibraltar is secure.' Mr Picardo added: 'The British people would judge very harshly a prime minister or any other minister in the British cabinet who at the last minute lets down the people of Gibraltar'. Gibraltar is a tiny British enclave on Spain's southern tip dubbed 'the Rock' because of its famous cliff-faced mountain. But Spain claims it should have control of the territory - despite overwhelming opposition from Gibraltarians. Theresa May, pictured at a campaign rally in Leeds last night, said vowed to stand up for the interests of Gibraltar in the talks Brussels chiefs sparked a diplomatic feud yesterday after including a veto for Madrid over the Rocks future in their list of Brexit negotiating demands. UK politicians accused the EU of orchestrating a shameful attempt to inflame the historic territorial wrangle. And Mrs May has told MPs the UK stands firm in its commitment to the Rock. She has said: 'We have been firm in our commitment never to enter arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their wishes, nor to enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.' Residents of the territory voted overwhelmingly to remain part of the EU in last year's Brexit referendum. Gibraltar wants London to negotiate a 'special status' with the EU for it after the British exit. Russian women are being urged to emblazon Vladimir Putin on their chests in a new range of revealing patriotic shirts. With an election due next year, the designs are aimed at boosting support for the Kremlin strongman. The initiative is from a patriotic youth group called Project Set. Some designs expose the cleavage in a love heart which Putin holds in his hands. Scroll down for video Russian women are being urged to emblazon Vladimir Putin on their chests in a new range of revealing patriotic shirts (pictured) With an election due next year, the designs are aimed at boosting support for the Kremlin strongman Others use a profile of the president to show admiration for Putin (pictured). Another design uses a Russian map to ram home the patriotic message Others use a profile of the president to show admiration for Putin. Another design uses a Russian map to ram home the patriotic message. Fabrics used are all Russian and the garments are made in the country too. Ilya Sadalskikh, designer and pro-Putin activist, said: 'Putin is a long term famous brand and not just a politician. 'Just a portrait of the President on a T-shirt is not surprising anymore. Putin is widely expected to declare his intention to seek another six year term as Russian president in the 2018 election The initiative is from a patriotic youth group called Project Set. Some designs expose the cleavage in a love heart which Putin holds in his hands Support: Fabrics used are all Russian and the garments are made in the country too 'Many young designers who are working in the field of patriotic fashion are looking for their own unique angle or a fresh idea. 'We think we have found one. Time and demand will prove if we are right or not.' Putin is widely expected to declare his intention to seek another six year term as Russian president in the 2018 election. President Donald Trump revealed his U-turn over plans to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came after frantic pleas from his close advisers. Trump had pledged during his election campaign to end US participation in the agreement, which he branded 'one of the worst deals ever'. But Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Agricultural Secretary Sonny Perdue - who showed the President a map showing the areas which would be badly affected - talked him out of the move. President Donald Trump said he was persuaded not to withdraw from NAFTA after listening to members of his team Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross talked Trump out of the move to withdraw from the world's largest trading bloc Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue (pictured alongside the President at a roundtable with farmers earlier this week) brought maps showing the places which would be worst affected He had also spoken to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who warned him that withdrawal would lead to massive job losses. In an interview in the Oval Office, the Washington Post reports, Trump said: 'I was all set to terminate. I looked forward to terminating. I was going to do it.' After being shown the impact the move would have on farmers in areas which supported him in the election last year, the President agreed to listen. Trump was warned that agriculture and manufacturing would be heavily hit if the US withdrew. He said: 'It shows that I do have a very big farmer base, which is good. They like Trump, but I like them, and Im going to help them.' Trump told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto (right) he was sticking with the deal on Wednesday amid renegotiation talks Instead he vowed to renegotiate the agreement, but left the door open to pulling out at a later date. Trump said: 'We're going to give renegotiation a good, strong shot. If I'm unable to make a fair deal for the United States, meaning a fair deal for our workers and our companies, I will terminate NAFTA.' Trump's unrelenting back-and-forth has kept Washington's two closest trade partners on edge as they move to revamp one of the world's biggest trading blocs. While most of his fire has been directed at Mexico, Trump abruptly shifted course this week to pick fights with Ottawa over softwood lumber and dairy products. US media reported on Wednesday that he was likely to give formal notice of pulling the United States out of NAFTA - and then came the White House announcement that the US would renegotiate the agreement after all. In Mexico, Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray warned yesterday that the end of NAFTA was 'a real possibility'. 'We've confirmed it was something under consideration,' he told Mexico's Radio Formula. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said that while Trump is open to renegotiation, he is serious about a possible exit from the trade deal. 'The president... made it clear that if the parties are unable to agree on a deal that is fair for American workers and companies, after giving renegotiation a good shot, he will move forward with termination,' Spicer told reporters. He revealed that talks about NAFTA would begin that day. Twice over a 24-hour period, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reached out to Trump by telephone to extoll the virtues of NAFTA and warn that its demise would lead to massive job losses in both countries. The sister of a woman whose husband shot her dead before turning the gun on himself said she died heroically saving her four children. Deer hunter and K-Mart worker Gregory Floyd, 43, shot his wife Ora Holt, 39, dead in neighbour Luke's home in Wangaratta, Melbourne, on Anzac Day. Ms Holt and her children Daeja, nine, Aniston, seven, Urban, five, and Koda, four, raced to the house pursued by Floyd and the brave mother tried to hold him off. 'She was the best mum. She did everything for her children,' her sister Brenna Dunne told 9 News, crying as spoke of the final moments of her 'best friend'. Four children (L-R) Koda, four, Aniston, seven, Daeja, nine, and Urban, five, will grow up without parents after their father Gregory Floyd (R) shot wife Ora Holt (L) in a murder-suicide Ms Holt's sister Brenna Dunne said Ms Holt died heroically saving her four children when Floyd came after the family with a high-powered rifle 'I would have wanted to be the one who took the bullet for her.' When Floyd approached the house brandishing the high-powered rifle on Tuesday, Luke tried to reason with the father-of-four, but said he wore a 'blank expression' and did not respond. 'I just did what any else would have done I said 'just put the gun down mate, let's talk,' Luke told the Border Mail. Ms Dunne said Floyd tried to get in the back door while Daeja and Ms Holt blocked it with their bodies. 'The oldest was helping her mum hold the back door to keep their dad from coming inside to hurt them,' she said. 'She was the best mum. She did everything for her children,' Ms Dunne said of her sister, pictured with her two sons 'I would have wanted to be the one who took the bullet for her,' she said of her sister (pictured together) Then they, along with Luke, his wife, and two children ran for their lives - but Ms Holt had to make sure her kids were safe, even if it put her life in danger. 'The kids said once they were out she went back, and I think that was probably to give them more time to run,' Ms Dunne said. Floyd, 43 shot his wife Ora Holt, 39, before turning the gun on himself on Anzac Day That was when Floyd gunned her down in the home before turning the gun on himself. Ms Dunne had no idea why her brother-in-law snapped and decided to kill Ms Holt, as she spoke to them at Easter just nine days earlier and 'she seemed happy'. 'They seemed like they were ok, maybe had a little tiff which all couples have,' she said. 'I'll never be able to get over this experience.' Ms Dunne said the children's grandparents would likely take care of them, and family and friend set up two GoFundMe pages that have raised almost $20,000 so far. 'We will do anything to keep them safe and to make sure they have the best opportunities in life,' she said. The neighbour of Gregory Floyd, who murdered his own wife Ora on Tuesday before turning the gun on himself, has described their chilling final conversation (pictured: the home Ora and her husband died in) The tragic incident took place at neighbour Luke's house after 39-year-old mother of four Ora fled there with her children, reportedly after a fight with her husband The incident sent shockwaves through the local community. Relatives and friends have since described Floyd as 'very caring', 'normal' and a 'loving father'. A neighbour earlier told 7 News: '(The family) were normal... outside, he was playing with the kids, we never saw him yell at them or anything.' The incident is believed to have started after a heated argument between Floyd and Ms Holt at their home. His brother, Neville Floyd, described him as an 'incredible, loving' person who loved his family, according to the Herald Sun. 'He was a very caring father who loved his children and loved his partner. His kids were his whole life,' Mr Floyd said. The apparent murder-suicide has sent shockwaves through the community (pictured: a neighbour breaking down after the tragedy in Wangaratta) Police cordoned off the area and told neighbours to remain inside their houses with the doors locked during the siege on Tuesday He declined to comment to Daily Mail Australia. Ms Holt's former housemate, Luigi Bonacci, said Mr Floyd was a long-time retail worker and there had never been outward signs of trouble. 'He used to go deer hunting... as far as I know, he was a hard-working man. 'He'd been there (at K-Mart) a long time.' Ms Holt, originally from the town Bright in Victoria, was a keen volunteer at her children's school. 'A special thanks to Ora Holt and Kristie Meggs who have been there every Tuesday, rain hail or shine,' the school wrote in a recent newsletter. Police were called to the Wangaratta property about 12.50pm on Tuesday after reports of a gunshot Officers entered the Wangaratta property about 5.10pm on Tuesday and found the pair dead She grew up in Bright, where she would horse-ride and motor-bike ride with friends. Her parents owned a caravan park in nearby Freeburgh and her children went to school with the children of family friends. Floyd's sister Trudi wrote to Facebook that is was a 'sad day' to lose two of her family members. 'It is a very sad day for myself and my family to lose my brother and his partner may god give a strength to cope,' she said. More than $8000 has been raised by the local community for the parents' funerals. Counselling will be offered at a community gathering on Thursday. Homicide police have reportedly joined the investigation. Ukip leader Paul Nuttall (pictured today) has confirmed he will run for a seat on June 8, but not which one Paul Nuttall has announced that Ukip will not stand candidates against true Brexit-backing MPs in the latest General Election pact. The Ukip leader said the party had decided to take up the tactic to help stop remainers ousting the politicians on June 8. he denied claims that Ukip will only field 100 candidates on June 8, and insisted the party would fight tooth and nail in the snap election. But the party leader refused to confirm speculation that he will mount a challenge in Boston and Skegness - the most Eurosceptic seat in the country. Ukip confirmed it would step aside in Kettering to give Tory MP Philip Hollobone an easier run. And they will not put up a candidate against the Brexit-backing Labour MP for Vauxhall, Kate Hoey. Mr Nuttall told the Birmingham Mail: 'If there is a Brexiteer with a slender majority and there is the opportunity that they will lose the seat to a remainer, then the UKIP branch will indeed be asked if it is a good idea to stand aside. 'We are talking tens of seats, not hundreds.' He added: 'Someone like David Nuttal in Bury North. I think it would be counterproductive if UKIP stood and stopped David Nuttall from being re-elected, or indeed someone like Kate Hoey.' Ukip will not field a candidate in Vauxhall in south London against Labour Brexiteer Kate Hoey The comments came after he formally officially launched the party's election campaign. The event in central London was briefly disrupted by protesters who managed to get inside the venue and shouted condemnation about Ukip's attitude to Muslims. Taking to the stage after they had been ejected, Mr Nuttall insisted Brexit was a job 'half done' and declared 'we are only half way through the war'. Accusing Mrs May of 'flagrant opportunism' in calling a snap election, he insisted the Ukip would fight it with 'vigour'. 'We also believe that a whopping Conservative majority will only serve to put Brexit in peril,' he said. 'Hordes of Tory lobby fodder will allow the Prime Minister to backslide safe in the knowledge that she has the votes banked. 'We are not convinced that the Prime Minister, who campaigned to Remain in the referendum, will get the deal the British people want. 'She is already beginning to backslide on immigration, with the Government now telling us that immigration will run at today's level for the next decade. 'She has said nothing to guarantee our waters and protect our fishermen and she will not rule out paying a huge divorce bill once we have left the European Union.' Stating that his party will fight to put Ukip MPs into the House of Commons, he said: 'Anyone hoping that Ukip is going to fade away from the political scene is going to be bitterly disappointed over the next few weeks and, I predict, confounded over the next few years. At the launch in London today, Mr Nuttal dismissed claims that Ukip will only field 100 candidates on June 8 - but admitted that it would stand aside in seats where there was already a strong Brexiteer in the running 'We have a great opportunity in this election because it is an election on Ukip's turf. It is a Brexit election.' Setting out details of what will be in Ukip's 'bold and radical' manifesto, Mr Nuttall said the party would be fighting for 'the kind of Brexit people voted for', involving regaining control of borders, freedom to strike trade deals and a refusal to pay any 'divorce bill' to the EU. Ukip will promise to cut the foreign aid budget and plough the proceeds into the NHS, with a commitment to keep the health service in public hands and free at the point of delivery. The party will campaign for an English Parliament, the abolition of the House of Lords and the scrapping of the first-past-the-post voting system in favour of proportional votes for Westminster elections. And it will tackle the 'repulsive' practice of female genital mutilation and insist that people must not cover their faces in public places - effectively a ban on Muslim women wearing the burka. Mr Hollobone welcomed the news that Ukip would not be standing against him. 'I share Kettering UKIP's desire for a clean Brexit and am delighted that they will not be running a candidate against me,' he said. 'We all worked hard together for Brexit, being jointly committed to this as being in the best long term interests of the country. 'As this has become a Brexit election, I pay tribute to Jonathan Bullock and Kettering UKIP's integrity in making this decision.' The event in central London today was briefly disrupted by protesters who managed to get inside the venue and shouted condemnation about Ukip's attitude to Muslims Ukip officials struggled to eject the protesters before Mr Nuttall took to the stage today Melbourne's Immigration Museum is facing criticism for supporting an insulting Anzac Day post by ABC host Yassmin Abdel-Magied. Ms Abdel-Magied, who is also a Muslim activist, has been slammed for her controversial Anzac Day Facebook post: 'LEST. WE. FORGET. (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine...)'. The Muslim activist quickly deleted the post and said: 'It was brought to my attention that my last post was disrespectful, and for that, I apologise unreservedly.' On the taxpayer-funded museum Facebook page a link was posted to a Junkee piece by Osman Faruqi called 'These Anzac Day "Controversies" Reveal The Huge Hypocrisy of Australian Conservatives'. Scroll down for video 'Lest we forget (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine),' Yassmin Abdel-Magied (pictured) said Melbourne's Immigration Museum made a post that appeared to allegedly support Ms Abdel-Magied's words regarding Manus, Nauru, Syria and Palestine In the article Mr Faruqi talked about 'refugees our government has locked up on Manus Island and Nauru', and touched on the continuing struggles Syrians and Palestinians face. 'The idea that we can somehow excise discussion around these wars and the refugees they produce, on a day that is supposed to be about reflecting on war and its consequences, doesn't make much sense,' the piece stated. Institute of Public Affairs spokesman Simon Breheny was amazed that a Victorian taypayer-funded entity would 'double down in support of Yassmin Abdel-Magied's offensive Anzac Day Facebook post,' the Herald Sun reported. The Immigration Museum appeared to endorse her words in another post to their Facebook page 'The Immigration Museum should not be given public funding to push a radical left wing agenda,' he said. 'Sharing left-wing Junkee articles on Facebook is an activity expected from undergraduates, not taxpayer-funded museums.' The Facebook post was immediately removed following enquires from media. Real Housewives of Sydney's Lisa Oldfield weighed in on Ms Abdel-Magied's statement labelling her a b**** A spokesperson for Immigration Museum told Daily Mail Australia: 'The Museum is unequivocally not seeking to promote a particular viewpoint. The Museum aims to be a place where the diversity of Australian voices can be represented, heard, considered and discussed. 'The article shared on the Museums Facebook page was not intended to promote any particular individual or group. The post has been removed,' she said. Spokesman Rod Macneil from Museums Victoria said the museum sought to be a home for contrasting Australian voices. Located in Old Customs House, the museum is running the exhibition Stories From Detention, which explores 'personal stories from people who have sought or are seeking asylum and refuge in Australia', according to the Museum Victoria website. Yassmin Abdel-Magied was slammed on social media as ignorant and offensive The Immigration Museum's show of support for Yassmin follows revelations Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is considering removing Ms Abdel-Magied from her taxpayer-funded position on the council for Australian-Arab Relations. The ABC has faced widespread calls for her to be sacked, including from One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and 2GB broadcaster, Alan Jones. On Wednesday Real Housewives of Sydney's Lisa Oldfield lashed out at Muslim activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied, calling her offensive and a 'b****.' Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has said the ABC's decision not to take action against her was 'exceedingly difficult' to justify increased taxpayers' funding of the national broadcaster. A six-year-old boy in China had a seed removed from his ear after he complained of pain. His mother, Ms Peng, discovered a bean-like object inside the ear of her son while she tried to clean it yesterday. Doctors at the hospital confirmed that the object was a bean seed and it had started to sprout in the boy's ear canal. A seed had dropped into a six-year-old boy's ear and was discovered by his mother in China Doctor said the seed that dropped into the boy's ear appeared to be a broad bean Haohao, six, said he started to feel the pain in his ear since Monday, the 24th April A news report from Chongqing News Channel stated that the six-year-old nicknamed Haohao, was in pain when his mother cleaned his ear on Monday April 24. Ms Peng then took Haohao to Nanchuan Hongren Hospital in Chongqing City for inspection. Doctor Zhang XiaoChun, a specialist in ear, nose and throat told reporters that he located the object using an otoscope. He told reporters: 'It looks like a broad bean and the seed can be seen starting to sprout already.' The doctor added that the seed must have gotten in his ear without the child noticing. The warm and moist ear canal provided a suitable environment for the seed to sprout Dr Zhang said the seed could have gotten in Haohao's ear while playing sandpit in playground The sprouting bean was successfully removed during a 30-minute-long surgery. The doctor suggested that the seed could have gotten into Haohao's ear when he was playing with other children or other children put the seed in when he was not paying attention. 'Haohao might also have gotten the seed in his ear while playing in a sandpit in a playground. Sometimes seeds such as a sicklepod can get into sandpits,' said Dr Zhang. But how did the seed sprout? The ear canal is around 37 degrees Celsius and with the moisture in the ear canal, it's a suitable environment for the seed to grow. Haohao is now recovering from the surgery at the hospital. Maximum security H.M. Prison Barwon has been placed in lockdown after a prisoner was stabbed and taken to hospital. Ambulance Victoria attended the north Geelong penitentiary soon after 2.30pm after being alerted to the knife attack. A spokesperson for Corrections Victoria told ABC police were investigating however was unable to comment further. 'The normal security response applied, with the prison placed in lockdown,' he said. Ambulance Victoria attended the maximum security prison shortly after 2.30pm when they received reports of a prisoner suffering stab wounds Inside the notorious prison which was the scene of intense riots from prisoners in 2015 The condition of the inmate or the severity of the injuries sustained is unknown. Opposition spokesman Edward O'Donohue has had his say on prison culture and its supposed issues. 'Hardly a week goes by and there's another report of a serious incident at one of our prisons where either prison officers are injured, or prisoners themselves are injured,' he said. 'Prisoners must comply with the rules of the prison, prison authorities must have the authority to ensure the good order and management of the prison and at the moment that appears to be sadly lacking.' The incident comes after a long line of high profile incidents at the prison including the shocking 2015 riot where inmates rammed tractors into walls and fences as well as starting fires inside the maximum security unit. A handyman has admitted to killing and dismembering a pregnant TV chef and her husband before burning their bodies in a wood stove. In a vain effort to make it look like a robbery gone wrong, Robert Jason Owens stole items belonging to his victims - Cristie Schoen Codd, her husband Joseph 'JT' Codd, and their unborn child Skylar - and sold them. He used the proceeds to buy gas, and took his wife out for dinner, a court in North Carolina heard on Thursday. Scroll down for video Robert Jason Owens admitted to killing Cristie Schoen Cobb, her husband Joseph 'JT' Codd and their unborn daughter Skylar in court on Thursday Cristie Schoen Codd, her husband Joseph 'JT' Codd and their unborn child, Skylar, were killed by Owens in 2015 While their deaths were undiscovered, Owens sent messages from Cristie's phone to family members claiming she and JT were unwell, WDAM reports. Cristie, 38, had been a contestant on season eight of The Next Food Network Star, while her husband worked in the film industry. The newlywed was five months pregnant when she was killed. Her family described her as 'much more than some Hollywood type'. Owens (pictured in court on Thursday) later disposed of the couples' bodies and then sold their possessions. He used some of the money to treat his wife to dinner Above, the Codd's home is taped off for investigators after their murders in 2015 He claimed to have accidentally run over the couple with a truck, but opted to cover his tracks because he was banned from driving and did not want to be jailed. The killer claimed they were trying to help him after his vehicle became stuck in a creek, and he accidentally hit the accelerator. He claimed to have tried to save Cristie's life before she died, but found JT was already dead. It still unclear what caused Owens to murder the couple. He claims to have accidentally ran them over with his car when they stopped to help him with a car issue Cristie, left, was five months pregnant at the time of her death. Her husband, right, worked in the film industry The couple were reported missing on March 15, 2015, and investigators learned that Owens had been dumping items belonging to the couple in a dumpster Owens burned JT's body in a wood stove in his double-wide trailer, but returned Cristie's body home, where he cut her up in the shower, placing the parts in plastic bags before burning her as well. Addressing the killer, WLOS reports, Cristie's brother said: 'You robbed our family - you robbed future generations.' In a statement after Owens' guilty plea, District Attorney Todd Williams said the murders 'are among the most disturbing killings in Buncombe County history'. He continued: 'Because there are no surviving witnesses and Jason Owens had exclusive control of the crime scene for several days, and he had nearly completed the gruesome project of cremating his victims remains, we will never know many of the facts surrounding the Codds deaths.' Cristie, 38, had been a contestant on season eight of The Next Food Network Star, and was five months pregnant when she died He said the pleas amounted to a punishment 'tantamount to a sentence of death in prison'. Owens admitted three counts of second-degree murder and two of dismemberment Owens admitted three counts of second-degree murder and two of dismemberment. He was sentenced to a minimum of 59.5 years in prison. The couple were reported missing on March 15, 2015, and investigators learned that Owens had been dumping items belonging to the couple in a dumpster. He had also sold the couple's possessions at a pawn shop and flea market. Owens, who is understood to have told police he was 'not a bad guy', told the families of his victims: 'I want you to know that I am sincerely sorry because of the loss of you love ones, the pain and suffering that has caused you.' Owens has also been linked by police to the disappearance of an 18-year-old man, Zebb Quinn, in Ashville in 2000. A two-year-old boy has defied doctors and relearned to walk after surviving third degree burns inflicted by his mother's ex-boyfriend. Korbin Edwards was forced into a bath of scolding water at his home in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2013 by Daniel Rose, 32, as a punishment for soiling himself. After being rushed into hospital with aggressive burns from his waist down, the two-year-old was not expected to make it through the night. When Korbin Edwards was rushed to hospital with aggressive burns from the waist down (pictured, left) he was not expected to survive the night. But he has slowly recovered and is now able to walk again (right) The burns severely damaged his stomach and bowels forcing him to use an N-tube, a catheter and an IV for several weeks. After surviving the worst of his injuries, doctors warned his mother he probably would not walk again because of the severe damaged to his skin. But miraculously Korbin, who is now six, has learned to walk with the encouragement of his mom, DJ Gilbert. Daniel Rose (pictured) rang Korbin's mom and lied to her, claiming he had developed a diaper rash. Last year Rose was jailed for 12 years for first degree assault Ms Gilbert said: 'I was really scared when I first saw his skin. It was bright red and white from where it was peeling off, large chunks of skin where missing. 'I found out he had third degree burns across half of his belly, all his waist, his genitals, butt and most of his legs.' She said: 'Doctors told me there was a chance he wouldn't make it and that that if he did, he would need major skin grafting, as well as it being unlikely he would ever walk again. DJ Gilbert with Korbyn (left) and his older brother Raedyn. She said: 'He had night terrors for such a long time, now he only has one or two a year opposed to every night before' 'They thought it was a miracle that he had made it through and survived. 'But due to the severity of his burns, his bowels and stomach were messed up. 'He couldn't eat, drink, go to the bathroom on his own or anything - it was very hard to watch.' But she said Korbin was a 'very strong little boy' and he had proved the doctors wrong. Korbin's mom said: 'For a long time he didn't want to go into the bathtub, he was in therapy for a couple of years and we've worked really hard with him. Now he has no problem at all' Korbin's mom said: 'Other than the fact that I have to put more sunscreen on him and have him wear white pants to avoid burning his skin he is a great, perfectly normal kid' His mom said: 'Because of all the medication he was on at the time he doesn't remember the attack, Korbin is like any normal little boy now.' Ms Gilbert said: 'I had known Daniel for 15 years, we had been dating for several months and he was taking care of Korbin when it happened. 'He called me at work to say that Korbin had a rash, I asked him to send me a picture and when I received it, Korbin was red from the mid belly down to his feet. 'When I got home he was lying on the couch, his skin was falling off, so I wrapped him in a blanket and drove him to hospital.' Prosecutor Eric Zahnd said of Korbin (pictured): 'He will carry the physical and emotional scars of this awful crime for the rest of his life' Detectives eventually worked out that Rose had put Korbin in a bath of scolding water after he soiled his clothes. Rose was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of first degree assault by Platte County Circuit Court in August last year. Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said: 'This is a truly heart-breaking case of child abuse. 'This child was undoubtedly screaming in pain when dunked in scalding water, but instead of immediately calling for medical attention, this defendant tried to cover his tracks. 'This young child will carry the physical and emotional scars of this awful crime for the rest of his life.' Darryl Ingram, 49, was arrested and charged with child abuse after staff from his 11-year-old son's school in Goodyear, Arizona reported the alleged abuse last week An Arizona man allegedly tasered his 11-year-old son as a form of punishment for not finishing his homework. Darryl Ingram, 49, was arrested and charged with child abuse after staff from his son's school in Goodyear, just outside Phoenix, reported the alleged abuse last week. School staff are said to have spotted abrasions on the boy's body while he was sitting in class. The boy told police that Ingram had allegedly used the Taser on his shoulder, arm, and legs several times over the past year when he didn't do his homework, ABC15 reports. He claimed his father told him 'it was like a toy and wasn't charged all the way'. The child told police he chose the Taser as a form of punishment when his father would give him a choice between the stun gun or being 'whooped' 40 times with a metal cane. Police later located the Taser gun in Ingram's home. The boy told police that Ingram (above) had allegedly used the Taser on his shoulder, arm, and legs several times over the past year when he didn't do his homework The boy claimed his father told him the stun gun 'was like a toy and wasn't charged all the way' (file photo) when he allegedly used it Ingram, a former army veteran, has since been charged with child abuse and the boy has been removed from his care. The 49-year-old father told ABC15 outside his home that the Taser was meant to be a scare tactic and not for discipline. 'I was telling him this is a toy compared to what police use,' Ingram said. 'If your behavior and the way you're doing things continues on, somewhere down the line, this is something that is going to be used on you. You have to be obedient.' Two Australian women are among panic-stricken crowds left stranded on an island in the Bahamas after a 'luxury festival' plunged into chaos. The boutique Fyre Festival, due to start on Friday and run over two weekends, was billed as a 'cultural moment created from an alchemic blend of music, art, and food'. But Perth friends Shakira Richardson, 22, and Alanna Baldwin, hopped off a plane to find half-built tents, feral dogs, mountains of rubbish and thugs looting alcohol. The women paid $7000 for tickets to the event, which was advertised by a host of A-list models and including Emily Ratajkowski, Bella Hadid, and Hailey Baldwin. Perth friends Shakira Richardson (left) and Alanna Baldwin are among the guests left stranded on a remote island in the Bahamas Ms Richardson sent an image from outside her tent showing piles of waste among shipping containers. One Twitter user, Lamaan, posted a picture of a row of white tents in the darkness along with the message: 'Stuck at #fyrefestival trying to leave for the last 8 hours. barely any food or water or security or electricity' Speaking to Daily Mail Australia from the squalid camping grounds, Ms Richardson said festival-goers are being kept in the dark by staff. 'People are upset and confused. We keep asking organisers but they won't tell us anything.' She said some revellers have abandoned the camp site to haul their luggage around desperately asking locals for an escape route. 'There is rubbish everywhere, the place is a mess. People are definitely not happy,' she said. Ms Richardson's family are currently seeking help from the Australian Embassy to arrange a flight out. 'My family is worried and doing everything they can do try and get me and Alanna out of here.' Ms Richardson's sister took to Facebook to say she is desperately contacting the Australian Embassy to help her sister get off the island On arrival, revellers found half-built tents, unopened boxes, piles of rubbish and an empty 'concierge' hut Models (left to right) Elsa Hosk, Emily Ratajkowski, Bella Hadid, Lais Ribeiro, Gizele Oliveira and Rose Bertram were invited to the island in December 'to give feedback' on the festival launch Some revellers said they had been left stranded at Exuma International Airport after opting to return home having seen the festival site and demanded a refund. The festival's homepage features a host of top models including Emily Ratajkowski, Bella Hadid, Alessandra Ambrosio, Hailey Baldwin and Joan Smalls relaxing on the beach and swimming through crystal clear waters. While the website promised 'chef-curated culinary pop ups' one reveller posted a picture of a plastic cheese sandwich served out of a polystyrene box. Paying guests were told they could expect to stay in 'modern, eco-friendly, geodesic domes.' But some online likened the 'cabanas' to disaster zone relief tents. Model Bella Hadid was among the models who promoted the event, which was due to take place this weekend and next weekend While the website promised 'chef-curated culinary pop ups' one reveller posted a picture of a basic cheese sandwich served out of a polystyrene box One person, who has already demanded a refund, said: 'Megan, Tobi and I get on our bus to go to what we think will be the ultimate glamping experience - king sized beds, solar powered lightbulbs, furniture, etc. 'What actually happened is that we go to a semi-constructed tent, a tiny stage and a huge line of very worried looking people who needed to check in to find their bags.' One Twitter user, Lamaan, posted a picture of a row of white tents in the darkness along with the message: 'Stuck at #fyrefestival trying to leave for the last 8 hours. barely any food or water or security or electricity.' Others reported seeing piles of rubbish and an empty 'concierge' hut in front of piles of unopened boxes. Pictures emerged online of the 'luxury food court' with people sitting on folding chairs next to a school bus. Ticket prices ranged from $400 for a day pass to $12,780 for a VIP package including flights from Miami, ocean view accommodation in a 'rustic tent' and four festival passes The festival's homepage features a host of top models including Emily Ratajkowski (left), Bella Hadid, Alessandra Ambrosio, Hailey Baldwin and Joan Smalls relaxing on the beach and swimming through crystal clear waters. Elsa Hosk is pictured, right The boutique Fyre Festival, due to start today and run over two weekends and promoted by A-list models (pictured), was billed as a 'cultural moment created from an alchemic blend of music, art, and food' with revellers flown in by a 'VIP configured Boeing 737' The festival's website included maps of the camping ground and event area, tabbed up to show its 'concierge' 'art installation' and stage Luxury: Guests were given the option of staying on a range of yachts with packages costing more than $100,000 A performance line-up over two weekends boasted the likes of Pusha T, Tyga, Blink 182, Major Lazer, Skepta and Disclosure. But last night Blink 182 pulled out of the event. The band said in a message to fans: 'Regrettably and after much careful consideration, we want to let you know that we won't be performing at Fyre Fest in the Bahamas this weekend and next weekend. 'We're not confident that we would have what we need to give you the quality of performances we always give our fans.' One Twitter user described the festival as 'Rich Kids of Instagram meets Lord of the Flies'. Festival-goers were promised luxury accommodation with packages costing up to $12,780. Pictures show security lockers at the site which one reveller said did not have any locks Pictures emerged online of the 'luxury food court' with people sitting on folding chairs next to a school bus One festival goer said luggage was 'dropped out' of a shipping container. At night. With no lights' Video of the Fyre Festival site appeared to show piles of rubbish (left) next to tents One Twitter user described the festival as 'Rich Kids of Instagram meets Lord of the Flies' A statement on an Instagram account purported to belong to the festival said: 'Things got off to an unexpected start at day one of Fyre Festival. For those currently on Great Exuma we are working to comfortably accommodate guests and deliver a great experience. If you have needs, please head to the 'Blue House' on the main festival site. 'Security, first aid, and Fyre Festival staff are here to assist immediately, 24/7. For those with pending travel to the Exumas tomorrow due to circumstances beyond our control, and in line with a culture of safety, all inbound charter flights to the Exumas have been canceled. 'Your ticket and any funds uploaded to your RFID band will be refunded. Thank you for bearing with us as we work through the growing pains that every first year event experiences. 'Revised itinerary information will be shared soon for the remainder of this weekend and weekend two.' MailOnline has attempted to contact Fyre Festival for further comment. The widow of a Uber engineer who committed suicide last year is suing the company after they denied her and her two young sons workers' compensation. Zecole Thomas argues in her lawsuit that she deserves the approximately $722,000 payout because it was the San Francisco start-up's toxic work culture that caused her husband Joseph, 33, to kill himself in August. Mrs Thomas says that her husband was happy when he left LinkedIn to start at Uber last April. He even turned down a job at Apple because he thought he would have more opportunity to grow at a younger company and profit from stock options when it went public. Zecole Thomas (back row left) is suing Uber, claiming her husband Jopseph (back row right) committed suicide because of the stress of his job as an engineer at the San Francisco start-up. The couple picture above with their sons Joseph, 9 (center), and Ezekiel, 8 (left) The $170,000 a year salary also helped the childhood sweethearts buy their very first home, a Spanish style dream house in Pittsburg, California where they moved with their two young sons Joseph, 9, and Ezekiel, 8. But soon, Mrs Thomas started to see the toll her husband's work was taking on him. 'Ubers culture was different,' Mrs Thomas told USA Today. 'Here was a man who was very good at what he did, who took care of his family. But within months, he started to tell me that he ruined our life. That he was broken.' Uber's culture was different. Here was a man who was very good at what he did, who took care of his family. But within months, he started to tell me that he ruined our life. That he was broken. Zecole Thomas, widow of Joseph Thomas Mrs Thomas says her husband, a self-taught engineer, started coming home, complaining about how his supervisors were constantly calling his skills into question. 'He would say, "I feel stupid, theyre all laughing at me," and yet this was a guy who was as hardworking, driven and focused as there ever was. 'He only had one year of college, but if there was a coding language he didnt know, hed study hard and three months later get certificates saying he knew them. Its all very heartbreaking,' Mrs Thomas said. When her husband grew depressed, Mrs Thomas went with him to see a psychiatrist who recommended he quit his high-stress job. But by then he was so run down at work that he couldn't muster the effort. 'The sad thing is this place (Uber) has broken me to the point where I dont have the strength to look for another job,' Mr Thomas wrote a friend about a month before his suicide. Joseph Thomas (right) committed suicide a little less than five months after joining Uber. His wife claims he was happy before the job, but quickly became depressed One morning in late August, Mrs Thomas had just returned home from dropping her sons off at school when she noticed her husband sitting in his car in the garage. She got into the passenger's seat to talk to him, and then noticed the blood - he had shot himself. He was pronounced at the hospital two days later, a week before he would have turned 34. After his death, the company denied Mrs Thomas' claim for her husband's workers' compensation. Under California law, such insurance doesn't cover psychiatric issues if they occur under six months into employment, and Mr Thomas had only been working at the company a little less than five months when he died. But there's also an exception to the rule that Mrs Thomas and her lawyer think gives them a case. The law doesn't apply if the 'psychiatric injury is caused by a sudden and extraordinary employment condition'. 'We think it was stress and harassment induced by his job, between him being one of the few African Americans there, working around the clock and the culture of Uber,' Mrs Thomas' attorney Richard Richardson told the San Francisco Chronicle. 'And he couldnt talk about it to anyone because of nondisclosure agreements.' If she wins the lawsuit, Mrs Thomas will receive about $722,000 - part of it in lump sum and the other part in weekly checks of $1,100 until both of her sons are 18. Mrs Thomas says she also hopes her lawsuit will draw attention to the terrible work-life balance that start-ups force upon their tech employees. The way these companies work is they want you to love your job more than your families, with breakfast, lunch and dinner and places to sleep at work. But people in IT want to have families, too. Zecole Thomas 'The way many of these companies work is they want you to love your job more than your families, with breakfast, lunch and dinner and places to sleep at work,' Mrs Thomas said. 'But people in IT want to have families, too.' Since her husband's death, Mrs Thomas sold their dream home and moved her kids to North Carolina, where she is working as a project coordinator with a small company. She was close to finishing her master's degree in computer science but said she is struggling due to her husband's sudden death. 'Im trying to rebuild my life and generate enough income to provide for my two children. 'I just dont understand it. He was young, successful, smart; he had everything going for himself. I never in my life thought I would be without him. Its devastating,' she said. Uber has refused to comment on the lawsuit, but they did released a statement saying: 'No family should go through the unspeakable heartbreak the Thomas family has experienced. Our prayers and thoughts are with them.' This is far from the first time that details of Uber's work culture have cast a dark light on the ride-sharing company. The company has been the center of a string of scandals - from CEO Travis Kalanick storming out of an Uber when a driver questioned his business practices to former employee Susan Fowler writing a scathing blog post in February about the company. In the blog post, Fowler described the start-up as a toxic and sexist work place. For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here They may be an unusual match but this dog and duck are the best of friends. Four-year-old Pekin Andy and golden retriever Barclay are inseparable despite their love/hate relationship. Proud owner Pam Ishiguro, from Orange County, California, says the animals always call for each other whenever they are apart. She said: 'The animals are much like my two boys - they have a love-hate relationship. Inseparable: Any and Barclay often snuggle up to one another as they play at their home Birds of a feather: They may be an unusual match but this dog and duck are the best of friends Relaxing: The two animals often enjoy their down-time together on the floor or the sofa 'When they are together, somebody is always chasing or jumping on someone else, but when they are apart, they're always calling for each other. 'Barclay loves to eat duck chow - actually he just likes to eat and knows there's always food in the coop, so whenever he gets a chance, he'll sneak into the coop and eat their food. 'He also likes to drink their bath water and, if he happens to be stealthy enough, he loves to sniff a little duck butt.' But the dog and duck pairing was not always so friendly. At first Rudy enjoyed chasing Barclay away whenever he tried to approach any of the ducks in the group. Miss Ishiguro explained: 'Rudy is our alpha duck. He is in charge of everyone and everything. Best pals: Four-year-old Pekin Andy and golden retriever Barclay are inseparable despite their love/hate relationship Cute: The unlikely couple even sleep together, as Barclay puts his arms around Andy The best of friends: The pair often cuddle on the sofa and sometimes Andy nestles up to Barclay 'When Barclay tries to sniff any of the other ducks, Rudy is there to stop it. Rudy used to chase Barclay away, and for a long while, Barclay would run away. 'Just recently, however, Barclay has decided that he's no longer afraid of the ducks, or perhaps the appeal of getting a bite of their food is so strong that it's given him more courage. 'Now Rudy has to 'claim' Barclay every once in a while by climbing on top of him. Barclay doesn't seem to mind terribly because that gives him the opportunity to sniff Rudy's butt - win-win!' However, the family's other dog Izzy - a chihuahua and terrier cross - has never been on very friendly terms with the ducks. Proud owner Pam Ishiguro, from Orange County, California, says the animals always call for each other whenever they are apart It mutt be love: Andy and Barclay share a moment of affection by the window of their home Sleepy heads: The inseparable pair are often seen getting some shut eye together on the floor Miss Ishiguro added: 'Barclay was afraid of the ducks when they were ducklings. We even tried showing the ducklings to him, but he wouldn't even look in their direction. I think he had always been scared of the ducks until just recently. 'It's possible that he learned that behaviour from watching our other dog, Izzy, who actually stalked the ducklings. 'We were afraid that Izzy might try to eat one of them so we were always correcting Izzy's behaviour when he would lurk in the corners and Barclay must have picked up on it. 'That all changed when the ducklings grew up and became larger in size than Izzy. It only took one time for the ducks to chase Izzy to get the message across. Now Izzy is pretty well afraid of the ducks.' Cuddles: The pair are often seen lounging on their sofa, making themselves right at home Watching the rain: Andy and Barclay stare at outside at their home in Orange County Miss Ishiguro explained: 'Rudy is our alpha duck. He is in charge of everyone and everything' Smile for the camera: Andy and Barclay pose for photos on the grass of their California house Although the unconventional family has a few conflicts, Rudy and Barclay continue to spend as much time as possible cuddled up in each others' fur and feathers. 'Rudy is our official toe biter if anyone gets too close. The other ducks know that Barclay is his best friend, if anyone gets too close they better watch out, Rudy will attack without warning. 'Rudy and Barclay need each other - I think that's why they have such a strong bond, they're like the oddballs on the playground. No one else will play with them, so lucky for them, they found each other.' Separated: The pair look dismayed as they are kept apart by a window with the duck inside look at his friend Shocking footage has emerged of a pro-Palestinian protestor claiming 'all Jews are cowards' during a rally against the Israeli ambassador's visit to a London University. The clip shows a well dressed man saying: 'Why did six million Jews go into Hitler's gas chambers? Like lambs for the slaughter, naked? Because you Jews are cowards!' The vile anti-Semitic rant was caught on camera outside the School of Oriental and African Studies in London during a rally protesting against Israeli ambassador to the UK, Mark Regev, speaking at the university last night. Shocking footage has emerged of a pro-Palestinian protestor claiming 'all Jews are cowards' during a rally against the Israeli ambassador's visit to a London University The unnamed man is not a member of staff or a student at SOAS, a spokesman told MailOnline. He made the vile comments after he was asked by UCL student Sol Schlagman, 20, to define Zionism. Mr Schlagman, who studies history, politics and economics, told MailOnline: 'He was the first person I spoke to at the 'Israeli Apartheid Rally' said this in answer to 'What is Zionism?' 'People still believe this conflict has nothing to do with anti-Semitism. I think it might have.' He added that there are long-running tensions on both sides and that some students feel intimidated by the atmosphere on campus at times. Mr Regev still spoke at the event, organised by SOAS Jewish Society, last night despite the presence of around 200 protestors outside. The vile anti-Semitic rant was caught on camera outside the School of Oriental and African Studies in London during a rally protesting against Israeli ambassador to the UK, Mark Regev The protest, which was called Apartheid Off Campus by organisers online, described Mr Regev as 'the public face of Israeli barbarism.' A counter-protest was also held. The Jewish News website reports that as the protestors outside could be heard chanting 'Free Palestine, free Palestine', Mr Regev told the audience of 60: ''I would like to tell them a secret. Israel is not going away. Israel is not going anywhere.' SOAS Registrar Paula Sanderson said: 'There is no place for hate speech on the SOAS campus and freedom of speech does not permit the expression of racist or anti-Semitic views. 'We condemn unreservedly the comments that were made by the person shown on the video he is not a student or staff member at SOAS. Some of the protestors outside could be heard chanting 'Free Palestine, free Palestine' The protest, which was called Apartheid Off Campus by organisers online, described Mr Regev as 'the public face of Israeli barbarism.' A counter-protest was also held 'If there is any report of hate speech or anti-Semitism by any member of the SOAS community we will investigate that and take action.' Students and staff at SOAS and other universities had called for the visit by Mr Regev to be called off. More than 150 academics from Soas and other British universities wrote to the institute's director Valerie Amos urging her to cancel the event. The letter said: 'We fear that if this provocative event proceeds as planned, it will cause substantial distress and harm to many of our students and staff who are, have been or will be affected by the actions of what a recent UN report refers to as the Israeli 'apartheid regime'. 'The event could further cause serious tension on campus and result in a charged atmosphere that will be detrimental to the wellbeing of all faculty, staff and students. Victor Walker, 52, faces charges of attempted murder after allegedly trying to shoot a woman, 39, during a Brooklyn carjacking A woman in Brooklyn shot at point-blank range during a carjacking was shielded from the bullet by her purse. Victor Walker, 52, allegedly ran up to the 39-year-old woman early Wednesday morning in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood and demanded her car keys. The New York Daily News reports that the woman fought back and the ex-con whipped out a .40-caliber pistol. Walker fired a round at point-blank range, it is claimed. Police say the bullet tore through the victim's purse, wallet and clothes, but stopped short of actually hitting her body. The man allegedly pistol-whipped her, took her keys and drove off in her Jeep. Police later found him nearby in the vehicle and arrested him on attempted murder, robbery and assault charges. Walker allegedly approached the woman in Patchen Ave in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood and threatened her with a gun Wednesday morning Police also found 2oz of heroin in the passenger's seat. The woman was taken to Woodhull Hospital to get stitches to the gash in her head. Walker is being held on $25,000 bail. Walker admitted to opening fire in a Chelsea nightclub in 2011, killing one. However, he was never charged according to DNAinfo New York. He has a criminal history including 22 arrests dating back to 1982. He served three years in prison after being convicted of attempted robbery in 1986. Google and Facebook were conned out of $100million (77.3million) in a phishing scam that involved sending emails to employees at the companies and asking them to wire money. Last month it was revealed that two major tech companies were tricked by a Lithuanian man into sending him $100million each as part of a scheme in which he impersonated a Taiwanese electronics manufacturer. The tech companies involved weren't named at the time. Evaldas Rimasauskas was arrested this month in Lithuania at the request of US authorities and is currently in jail on wire fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft charges. Evaldas Rimasauskas was arrested this month in Lithuania at the request of US authorities and is currently in jail on wire fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft charges after after allegedly conning Facebook and Google out of $100million each Rimasauskas' alleged scheme involved sending emails to employees of the tech giants asking them to wire money that they actually owed to the Asian hardware vendor to the accounts of companies in Latvia and Cyprus that carried the name Quanta. In order to conceal his fraud from banks that handled the transfers, Rimasaukas forged invoices, contracts and letters purportedly signed by executives of the two victim companies, according to prosecutors. An investigation by Fortune published on Thursday revealed that the two major tech companies affected were Google and Facebook, who both paid out more than $100million. A Facebook spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Facebook recovered the bulk of the funds shortly after the incident and has been cooperating with law enforcement in its investigation.' Google, too, said it had 'detected this fraud against our vendor management team and promptly alerted the authorities. We recouped the funds and we're pleased this matter is resolved'. In a statement last month to Reuters, Quanta spokeswoman Carol Hu said the company had been 'impersonated' as part of the fraud. 'Quanta did not suffer from any financial harm from this incident,' she added, calling the matter 'unfortunate'. Rimasauskas' alleged scheme involved sending emails to employees of Google and Facebook asking them to wire money that they actually owed to the Asian hardware vendor to the accounts of companies in Latvia and Cyprus that carried the name Quanta Quanta, with a market capitalization of $8.4 billion, is a supplier of servers and other hardware to major technology companies. It is part of the Open Compute Project, an initiative launched by Facebook Inc to share server design technology. In 2011 Amazon.com Inc outsourced the assembly of its Kindle Fire tablet to Quanta. Rimasauskas, through his lawyer, confirmed he was the owner of a Latvian company with the same name as Quanta from 2013 to 2016, the time frame in which the fraud occurred, according to the indictment. 'Rimasauskas did buy the Latvian company, because he was going to develop a business,' the lawyer, Linas Kuprusevicius, told Reuters in an email. Rimasauskas strongly contests the charges presented by US authorities, the lawyer said. He has a construction engineering degree and was working at a construction business in Lithuania prior to his arrest, he said. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation said last year that US and foreign victims had made 22,143 complaints since October 2013 about so-called business email compromise scams involving requests for more than $3 billion in transfers. A US extradition request for Rimasauskas is expected by late May, Lithuanian prosecutors told Reuters. He is charged with wire fraud and money laundering, which each carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, and identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years. Despite falling for the fraud, and an advertiser boycott of its video platform YouTube, Google has raked in huge profits this year. The internet giant's parent company Alphabet boasted a 'terrific start' to 2017 despite more than 250 companies pulling adverts from its video sharing site. Sales leapt 22% to 19.1 billion in the first three months of the year, compared to the same period the year before, while advertising sales climbed 19% to 16.6 billion. YouTube faced a torrent of criticism earlier this year after brands found their adverts were being shown alongside jihadist, white supremacist and rape apologist videos. BT, Waitrose, Cancer Research UK, the Co-Op Group and Mercedes Benz were just a few of the firms that joined the boycott. Alphabet's profits also climbed this year, reaching 4.1 billion, compared to 3.2 billion last year. Divisive University of Sydney lecturer Tim Anderson has accused Australian soldiers of murder in Syria in a series of Anzac day Twitter posts. Dr Anderson described Anzac Day as a celebration of 'the failures of our collaboration in imperial war'. In the controversial posts Dr Anderson was referring to a 2016 airstrike that killed nearly 100 Syrians fighting against ISIS. Divisive University of Sydney lecturer Tim Anderson has accused Australian soldiers of murder in Syria in a series of Anzac day Twitter posts Dr Anderson described Anzac Day as a celebration of 'the failures of our collaboration in imperial war'. On Anzac day he took to social media to say 'this crime should NOT be swept under the table'. His post included a graphic with the words 'Lest We Forget: Australian military involvement in the 17 Sept 2016 murder of almost 100 Syrian soldiers, as they were fighting ISIS terrorists.' Mr Anderson has since defended his statements. 'Lest We Forget is a very important saying,' he told The Sydney Morning Herald on Friday. 'The worry is that we don't learn lessons from these wars. It's very important that we use those days that are focused on our military to remember the victims of those wars.' A University of Sydney spokesperson told the publication the university was committed to free speech, including 'unpopular or controversial' views but did not endorse Dr Anderson's posts. A University of Sydney (stock image) spokesperson said it was committed to free speech, including 'unpopular or controversial' views but did not endorse Dr Anderson's posts Anzac day freedom of speech also came under question when ABC presenter Yassmin Abdel-Magied took to Facebook on Tuesday invoking the phrase 'Lest we forget.' She wrote: 'Lest we forget (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine)'. The post incited outrage from her followers and prompted calls by members of both major political parties to sack or censure the controversial presenter. Anzac day freedom of speech also came under question when ABC presenter Yassmin Abdel-Magied took to Facebook on Tuesday invoking the phrase 'lest we forget' Yassmin Abdel-Magied wrote: 'Lest we forget (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine)' Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce called on the ABC to condemn the Muslim activist, claiming she made it 'exceedingly difficult' to justify increased taxpayers' funding of the national broadcaster. Real Housewives of Sydney's Lisa Oldfield also lashed out at Ms Abdel-Magied, calling her offensive and a 'b****.' Ms Oldfield discussed the ABC broadcaster, who drew criticism this week for her 'disrespectful' comments about Anzac Day, during the Paul Murray program on Sky News on Wednesday. Two online petitions with more than 20,000 signatures are calling for Ms Abdel-Magied, 26, to be sacked from her role with ABC following the post. But the network defended the activist, saying: 'Her views and opinions in that capacity are her own and do not represent those of the ABC'. Real Housewives of Sydney's Lisa Oldfield also lashed out at Ms Abdel-Magied, calling her offensive and a 'b****' With summer on its way in the Northern Hemisphere, many travelers are dreaming of relaxing vacations in tropical landscapes. While Central America offers amazing beach resorts this time of year, its actually wintertime in South America. Both are worth visiting this time of year though. Whether you want to have fun in the sun, see awe-inspiring natural attractions or explore the rich culture of Latin America, youll find a variety of unforgettable experiences now through September. Relax on one of Mexicos many white sand beaches. Discover unique wildlife with a cruise around the Galapagos Islands. Experience the worlds largest complex of waterfalls in Brazil. Journey to the ancient city of Machu Picchu in Peru. Or, trek through Costa Ricas lush and diverse rain forests. Below are some of the top destinations in Latin America that are well worth a visit this season. Mexico & Central America If youre looking for a warm beach vacation this season, this region is your best bet. Even better, youll find great deals on a variety of tours and vacation packages. While Mexico is considered part of North America, the seven countries south of it comprise Central America. These include Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Panamaall of which offer a variety of unique worlds to uncover. Mexico Cancun beachside resort Cenote near Cancun Land's End Arch near Los Cabos Lover's Beach near Los Cabos Tourist cruising along Caribbean Sea Renowned for its stunning beaches, Mexico is one of the best countries to visit in summer. While you might expect massive crowds in summer, its relatively quiet compared to Spring Break or Christmas/New Years. Discover beachside resorts in Cancun and Los Cabos, enchanting wilderness along the Yucatan, rich culture in Merida and Mexico City, and Mayan ruins in Chichen Itza. Mexico also offers stunning wildlife encounters, especially in the Yucatan. If youre staying in Cancun, youll have the chance to spot whale sharks off the coast. Many of its popular beach resorts feature the opportunity to go swimming with dolphins. Summer is also nesting season for sea turtles, and most hotels offer turtle rescue programs where visitors can help protect the eggs from harm and release the hatchlings into the sea. Costa Rica La Fortuna Waterfall Monteverde Cloudforest Spider monkey in Arenal National Park Butterfly in Costa Rica Though Costa Rica will be in its wet season, this time of year is generally called the green season for the lush vegetation and vistas. You may not get your suntan with a beachside summer vacation on the Caribbean coast, but youll save a ton on hotel prices and activities. Additionally, the rainfall breathes life into the landscape, making it one of the best times to explore the countryside, which is the real reason youre heading to Costa Rica. (You can also dodge the rain for a brief period in July and August.) Try a six-day tour that will take you on a boat tour of the Tortuguero Canals, hike up close to waterfalls, see the cloud forest of Poas Volcano, go tropical birdwatching in Arenal Volcano National Park and more. Thrill seekers will love flying over the rain forest on a zipline or going on a guided whitewater rafting adventure on the Pacuare River. No visit to Costa Rica would be complete without a tour of one of its renowned coffee plantations. South America Further south, the temperatures are a mixed bag this time of year, as Argentina, Chile, and the parts of southern Peru and Brazil become cold. South America destinations closest to the equator will be warmer. Brazil Sunset over Maceio Praia do Forte beach - day trip from Salvador Sea turtle hatchling near Praia do Forte Cumbuco Beach near Fortaleza The famous Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro Northern Brazil is pristine in summer, especially along its coast. Spend time in the lesser known cities such as Salvador, Maceio or Fortaleza, which offer a variety of memorable Brazil day trips to the beaches and lower hotel rates. Rio de Janeiro is also lovely, but hosts cooler temperatures near 70F/22C. That being said, you can simply enjoy the day at Copacabana with a good dip in what the locals call the Princesinha do Mar. It is one of the most touristy places in Rio but retains the charm that makes it unique. If you get tired of being in the sun, venture into the bohemian streets of the neighborhood to enjoy a refreshment or taste the Brazilian gastronomy in one of its many restaurants. Without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro. Iguazu Falls Devil's Throat - most famous cascade Sunset over Iguazu Iguazu Falls, view from Brazilian side Cascades along the lower fallls Mist and rainbow over the falls Iguazu adventure cruise Located on the border of Brazil and Argentina, Iguazu Falls is a must for any visit to South America, rain or shine. That being said, April to June is the dry season, which means you can enjoy the stunning cascades with clear blue skies. Iguazu is made up of dozens of cascades, and even at its lowest water levels, it easily dwarfs Niagara. Experience it from either Foz do Iguazu on the Brazilian-side or Puerto Iguazu from Argentina. Which ever you choose make sure to get a VISA for both countries to truly experience the majesty of the falls. Argentina Quebrada de Humahuaca - mountain valley near Jujuy Salinas Grande Salt Field Cerro de los Siete Colores Church in Salta With how massive Argentina is you can bet each region will have its own climate. If you dont want to feel the cold of winter, the general rule is to avoid the south and stick to the northern cities, which also include Buenos Aires, the capital of Tango. However, if you dont mind the cold, Patagonia is equally as beautiful during Argentinas winter. Try a vacation in Salta, an inland city that offers day trips to Jujuy, Salinas Grandes Salt Fields, Purmamarca (shadowed by the Hill of Seven Colors), and Cafayate. Bolivia Couple having fun at sunset True mirror lake in Uyuni Sunset over Salar de Uyuni Travelers posing atop the mirror Salt piles along Uyuni Bolivias high season runs from June to September, when theres less rainfall, dryer days and colder nights. The highlands get the brunt of the latter, making nights in June and July freezing, however the lowlands stay relatively pleasant. The real question is Salar de Uyuni, that massive sky mirror in Potosi. The largest salt flat in the world, this stunning landscape is a must for travelers to South America, and creates a great contrast to Iguazu. July to October is the prime time to visit, with plenty of sunshine and little to no rain, letting you visit the famous Incahuasi Island. Ecuador Bartolome Island in the Galapagos Equator Monument marking the line between hemispheres Evening in Quito's city center Plaza Grande in Quito Ecuadors peak and low seasons correspond to vacation times in North America and Europe so, summer and winter vacation basically. During summer hotel and cruise prices will go up, so youll want to book well in advance. This also corresponds to the dry season, running from May to September, when rainfall drops. The Galapagos is by far the most popular part of the country this time of year as tourists join cruises between the islands while on vacation. Youll find higher prices for accommodation and activities, but its well worth it to see the rich biodiversity. The highlands experience the driest, most balanced weather compared to the other regions. Take advantage of this chance to visit Quito, the capital, and enjoy the local culture without getting poured on. Here you can see the Equator Monument, which marks the line between the hemispheres, and snap a pic of yourself hopping across the line. Peru Camping on the Inca Trail Hiker following the Inc a Trail to Machu Picchu Scenic Salkantay Trek Lares Valley Trek Perus dry season runs from May to October, offering the most pleasant weather to visit Machu Picchu and trek the Inca Trail. However, it is also the most popular time to visit meaning there will be crowds. The Inca Trail will be also most likely be fully booked for the summer. (Generally, it is always booked 5 months out from when you want to purchase and youll want to plan well in advanced.) However, if you planning a round-about trip through Latin America and dont want to miss Peru, then youll still have the chance to join one of the alternative routes to Machu Picchu, such as the Salkantay Trek, Lares Valley Trek, or the 2-day Inca Trail Trek. This is just a few of the wonders to experience in Latin America this season. If youre looking for more summer travel ideas, click here. A former Mississippi police officer has been arrested after allegedly crashing his car while drunk and hitting five children as they got off their school bus on Thursday afternoon in central Florida. One of those children, 13-year-old Jahiem Roberterson has since died of his injuries. The driver, 48-year-old John Camfield, also reportedly struck Ryan Pryse, 12, who was hit in the arm and Jonte Robinson, 15, who were treated at the scene. Another child, Juan Mena, 14, also suffered life-threatening injuries and is said to be in critical condition after being air lifted to Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital in Orlando. Former Mississippi police officer John Camfield, left, allegedly struck five children who were getting off a school bus while he was drunk driving, killing 13-year-old Jahiem Robertson, right A pregnant woman was injured in the crash when Camfield hit her car around 5pm on Allegheny Road near Athabasca in Poinciana after striking the children. Camfield was reportedly so drunk after that he had no idea the accident had even taken place. His blood alcohol content measured at .14 seven hours after his arrest - still almost double the legal limit, according to Florida Today. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd described Camfield hitting the children and 'scattering them like a bowling ball through bowling pins.' The arresting officer, Deputy J.J. Quintana, was on the phone with his daughter who was at the bus stop when the deadly crash took place The arresting officer, Deputy J.J. Quintana, was on the phone with his daughter who was at the bus stop when the deadly crash took place. He found his daughter safe, but immediately saw the carnage left when Camfield hit five of her fellow Dundee Ridge Middle Academy students as they were walking home from the stop. 'I've been in this job for four years and I've seen a lot,' Quintana said. 'Nothing compares to hearing your daughter and not being able to help.' He ran barefoot to the crime scene and arrested Camfield, who had stumbled out of his car down the street. Camfield, of nearby Davenport, worked for 10 different agencies in Mississippi - including Yalobusha County Sheriff's Office, Tunica County Sheriff's Office, Oxford Police Department and Hernando Police Department - before moving to Florida in 2012. Judd said a sheriff in Mississippi who Camfield once worked for described him as 'one of the very best detectives we've ever had, but he had a problem - alcohol, the bottle.' Camfield was reportedly so drunk after that he had no idea the accident had even taken place. His blood alcohol content measured at .14 seven hours after his arrest - still almost double the legal limit Speaking at the press conference Friday, Judd said Camfield refused to take a breath test after his arrest and made comments about the deputies who were processing his case. 'He was critiquing the steps they were taking and complimenting them,' Judd told reporters on Friday. 'He said, "You guys know what you are doing around here." ' Camfield made a first appearance in court Friday afternoon. He faces 11 charges, including DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. He was being held on $600,000 bail. A Georgia woman has been accused of threatening to blow up daycare centers where she's been employed in the past. Jasmine Jaquel Bradley, 26, of Macon, Georgia has been charged with making interstate bomb threats, threatening interstate communications and conveying false information and perpetuating a hoax against Child Care Network School, Federal prosecutors said Friday. Bradley was arrested Thursday outside of the Childcare Network, where she had been working, according to the Bibb County Sheriff's Office. Scroll down for video Jasmine Jaquel Bradley, 26, of Macon, Georgia has been charged with making interstate bomb threats, threatening interstate communications and conveying false information and perpetuating a hoax against Child Care Network School, Federal prosecutors said Friday Bradley was arrested Thursday outside of the Childcare Network, where she had been working, according to the Bibb County Sheriff's Office The FBI began investigating similar bomb threats at local daycare centers, which led to Bradley's arrest according to US Attorney GF Peterman III, as reported by WMAZ. Bradley texted employees of Bright Star Learning Center in Macon multiple times in January, telling them a bomb would go off if they opened the facility, prosecutors said. On Monday, a Facebook user wrote on the Child Care Network School's page that a bomb was planted underground and vowed to 'blow up every little face in that center,' prosecutors said. That threat was later traced to Bradley through her cell phone number, prosecutors said. Bradley had worked at both daycare centers, they said. The FBI conducted their investigation jointly with the Bibb County Sheriff's Office. 'The arrest of Jasmine Bradley is proof that bomb threats against our children or hoax threats against places of business will not be tolerated in Bibb County. I commend the immediate action of our deputies, including the bomb unit, and Macon-Bibb fire personnel at the time the threat in Macon-Bibb was originally called in. We can all be proud of the diligent work of Bibb investigators and FBI agents which resulted in an arrest in this case,' Sheriff David Davis said. The penalty if Bradley is convicted could be up to 10 years in federal prison. As of Thursday even, she was being held at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center without bond. It wasn't immediately known whether Bradley has a lawyer who could be reached. Two pen pals who have been sharing handwritten letters back and forth for 42 years met for the first time in person earlier this month. New York's George Ghossn, 56, and California's Lori Gertz, 54, finally saw each other face to face in Westbury, New York on April 11, according to ABC News. The two have been trading notes since they were 15 and 12, respectively. Scroll down for video New York's George Ghossn (R), 56, and California's Lori Gertz (L), 54, finally met in real life in Westbury, New York on April 11, after trading handwritten letters back and forth for 42 years 'We started writing through a chain letter,' Ghossn said. 'It said to send out five letters, and you were supposed to receive thousands back. I got four letters back... One was from Lori.' Ghossn, who lives in East Islip, New York, and Gertz, who calls San Diego home, came together over Gertz's 18-year-old son's college visit to Hofstra University in Hempstead. When the two met, it was an emotional moment. Ghossn, who lives in East Islip, New York, and Gertz, who calls San Diego home, came together over Gertz's 18-year-old son's college visit to Hofstra University in Hempstead They first laid eyes on each other in the lobby of a Red Roof Inn, and instantly embraced They first laid eyes on each other in the lobby of a Red Roof Inn, and instantly embraced. Ghossn gave Gertz three enthusiastic kisses on the cheek and they both had wide smiles plastered across their faces. The lobby attendant caught the entire thing on camera. 'We just hugged, and we cried ... and it was very emotional after all the years,' Ghossn said. 'It was my childhood crashing with my adulthood. It was glorious,' Gertz said. 'When we met, he was sobbing. I was so gloriously happy. I didn't cry until hours later. The emotion hit me then.' Ghossn, whose brothers have all passed away, has no living family members, but said Gertz is like a sister to him. Gertz, a married mother of two, had been wanting to meet for some time but her counterpart wasn't necessarily keen on the idea. 'He was superstitious. He never wanted to do it,' Gertz told ABC. 'I was always curious.' But after spending nearly their whole lives writing a letter a month to each other, it finally happened. 'When we were young, we painted idyllic pictures of our lives,' Gertz said. 'It was almost cursory, but as the years went on, it became more mature in what we discussed in the letters.' 'I had a lot of loss in my family, so I had a lot to write about,' Ghossn said. When his mother died in 2006, he even wrote a note to Gertz on an airplane napkin on the way to her funeral. Both Ghossn and Gertz have kept all of the letters they've written each other over more than four decades, with no plans to stop. Gertz (L) is seen here with her husband in August 2013 Gertz said she vividly remembers receiving that letter. In fact, she said she recalls feeling humbled that he thought of her in that moment. 'It blew my mind,' Gertz said, humbled that he had thought of her in that moment. 'That just blew my mind. [It signaled] a loyalty and a deep abiding commitment to our relationship that I'd never had with anybody. Anybody,' she said. 'I love George. George is a staple in my life. My whole family knows George ... It's my longest relationship that I've had with anybody. It's beautiful.' Both Ghossn and Gertz have kept all of the letters they've written each other over more than four decades, with no plans to stop. 'She's a darling. She's the sweetest person,' Ghossn said. 'This is so beautiful ... It doesn't have the weight of all the s--- that's happened to us in our lives,' Gertz said, describing their friendship. 'It has the lightness of what a true connection really is.' A mother pulled a gun out on a barber who was taking too long to cut her seven-year-old son's hair - telling them 'for a $6 haircut, you're doing all this?' Police are now desperately looking to trace the woman who was seen on CCTV footage removing the pistol from her handbag. She was waiting at The AllState Barber College in Cleveland, Ohio, but took exception to the time it was taking, according to a witness. The mother (left) took an exception to how long it was taking the barber to cut her son's hair After the disagreement, she grabbed her purse and pulled out a black Glock 9mm pistol, according to News 5 Cleveland. Marilyn Medina, a barber college instructor, said: 'I was afraid. You never know the intention she had, if she was really going to shoot, if she was really going to do something.' She added that the woman - who has not been identified - told staff members: 'For a $6 haircut, you're doing all this?' Police are still trying to locate the woman who eventually left the barber shop with her son. She became annoyed and pulled out a gun from her purse and appeared to point it at staff members Police fear a San Diego woman and her boyfriend who were charged with molesting two seven-year-old girls on video while she babysat them may have other victims. Brittney Mae Lyon, 23, was arrested in Carlsbad in July last year after advertising her babysitting services on websites like care.com, sitter.com and sittercity.com. She is accused of taking the two girls she was looking after to the home of her boyfriend, Samuel Cabrera Jr., where she allegedly videotaped him molesting them multiple times. Detectives investigating the sexual assaults are now urging any families that may have previously hired Lyon as a babysitter to come forward. Brittney Mae Lyon and her boyfriend Samuel Cabrera Jr., both 23, were arrested in July last year for allegedly molesting two seven-year-old girls she was supposed to be babysitting Carlsbad Police captain Mickey Williams said it was possible Lyon used the alias Lauren Allen to advertise her services online. He said Lyon may have also used the names and photos of strangers from Facebook to get babysitting work. 'There may be additional children who had been molested by Samuel Cabrera and Brittney Lyon, but trying to identify who those children are is very difficult,' Williams said. Investigators believe the other potential victims could be spread across other parts of California, including San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles. Lyon and Cabrera were both arrested last year on suspicion of eight counts of lewd and lascivious acts on children. They remain behind bars on $2.6 million bail. Authorities discovered 'a ton of recorded material' when they arrested the pair. A search of Cabrera's home uncovered camera equipment, computers, hard drives and video sticks. Lyon is accused of taking the two girls to the home (above) of her boyfriend, Samuel Cabrera Jr., where she allegedly videotaped him molesting them multiple times Carlsbad Police captain Mickey Williams is now urging any families that may have previously hired Lyon as a babysitter to come forward to help identify other potential victims Lyon allegedly took the two girls to her boyfriend's house on multiple occasions over several months after promising them they would be doing something fun. She is accused of videotaping Cabrera while he allegedly molested the girls. The little girls were not related and lived in different towns. One of the alleged victims was developmentally delayed in speech and was unable to communicate. The allegations were uncovered when the other girl told her mother of the alleged abuse, prompting her mom to call police. Anyone who had used Lyon as a babysitter or knows someone who did was asked to call Carlsbad Police on 760-931-2293. A father is suspected of murdering of his 13-year-old son after family members found a nearly skeletal body that had been left decomposing for months. Paul Darell Jones, 33, who was already in jail for an unrelated child abuse case in 2015, has been named as a suspect in the death of his son, Aaron Jones. Two cousins searching for Aaron, who was last seen on December 31, found human remains wrapped up and covered with large rocks in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday. While the decay made it difficult for police to determine the gender or approximate age, they announced on Thursday the 'small framed body' may belong to Aaron. Paul Darell Jones, 33, (left) who was already in jail for an unrelated child abuse case, has been named as a suspect in the death of his son, Aaron Jones, who went missing in December Paul Jones, who told the Las Vegas Sun he had nothing to do with his son's disappearance, was charged in connection to Aaron's murder on Thursday. The 33-year-old claimed he went looking for the teen when he disappeared, but Aaron was not reported missing until April 14 - four months after he was last seen, police said. Paul Jones said he didn't report that his son had run away from home because there was a warrant out for his arrest at the time, the Sun reported. The teen's grandmother sent two cousins to Siegel Suites, where Aaron had been living with his father, police said. They canvassed the area with his missing persons poster and began searching for Aaron in the area near the 3600 block of Boulder Highway on Tuesday. They found some of his clothes in an empty lot, and uncovered human remains wrapped in a blanket and tarp with rocks placed over it, FOX5 reported. The body had been left for months, and detectives said it appeared to be the size of a small teenager. The Clark County Coroner's Office has not identified the body yet, but both police and family members believe it belongs to the missing teen. Two cousins searching for Aaron found a nearly skeletal body wrapped up and covered with large rocks in Las Vegas on Tuesday Family members did not report that Aaron had gone missing until April 14 - four months after he was last seen on December 31, 2016, police said Aaron's father was already held at the Clark County Detention Center after he pleaded guilty in a February 2015 child abuse case involving his step-daughter and son, aged 14 and 3. She told school officials she was being abused, and showed them marks on her body claiming Paul Jones had hit her with a cable. The three-year-old was also found with marks on his body, according to court records. When officials arrived at the home, they found 10 children at the 33-year-old's home, although Aaron was not listed among them, according to court records. Paul Jones pleaded guilty and was sentenced to up to two years of probation. But it was revoked following a violation and he was sentenced to serve a year in county jail on Monday, just one day before the body was found. Police said the 33-year-old could face additional charges in the death of his son pending a review by the Clark County District Attorney's Office. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to roll back Arctic drilling restrictions and revisit President Obama's actions to protect large swaths of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans from drilling. 'Today, we're unleashing American energy and clearing the way for thousands and thousands of high-paying energy jobs,' Trump said at a White House ceremony, where he was joined by Republican lawmakers who had pushed for the reversal. As part of the order, Trump said Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke would be 'reconsidering burdensome regulations that slow job creation.' In addition to reversing the Arctic drilling ban, Trump said the order would 'allow responsible development of offshore areas that will bring revenue to our treasury and jobs to our workers.' President Donald Trump signed an executive order to roll back Arctic drilling restrictions and revisit President Obama's actions to protect large swaths of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans from drilling 'It's going to lead to a lot of great wealth for our country and a lot of great jobs for our country,' he said. The move is likely to provoke a swift legal challenge and opposition from environmental groups and other opponents of new coastal oil leases. 'California will fight this every step of the way,' Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said late Thursday, the LA Times reported. 'We do not want oil drilling off our coast. Period,' she said. Added Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council: 'We'll fight this move to sell out our children's future for big oil and gas. Trump hailed the pro-energy development lawmakers who joined him, and took another shot at the media. 'I'm very proud of the people standing behind me. I'm far less proud of the people standing in front of me, the media,' he said. The order also reverses a drilling ban in the Arctic's Beaufort and Chukchi seas. The move is just the latest effort by Trump to try to tear up Obama's environmental legacy. Trump was joined by pro-coastal drilling lawmakers, including Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, who got the pen after the signing Earlier this week, Trump signed an order to examine federal lands that Obama and his predecessors had designated as national monuments under the Antiquities Act as a way to protect them from development. After signing the order, he gave the pen to Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, who backs oil development and exploration, but who voted against Betsy DeVos to be Trump's Education Secretary. The order also directs his energy secretary to review regulations overseeing drilling and former President Barack Obama's five-year drilling plan. It's Trump's latest move to undo his predecessor's environmental protection efforts in his first 100 days in office. He thanked Zinke and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who had also counseled Trump on his last-minute decision not to pull out of NAFTA. The order seeks to expand offshore oil and gas drilling to areas currently off limits, in the Trump administration's latest move to expand domestic energy production. The order could lead to a reversal of bans on drilling across swathes of the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico that former President Barack Obama sought to protect from development. Pennzenergy Company Oil Exploration Drilling Rig In The Gulf Of Mexico During Sunset President Donald Trump waves as he walks across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday as he headed to address the National Rifle Association in Georgia 'It is better to produce energy here than be held hostage by foreign entities,' Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told reporters on Thursday in a briefing about the executive order, which will be called the America-First Offshore Energy Strategy. Trump campaigned on a promise to do away with Obama-era environmental protections that he said were hobbling energy development and undermining U.S. national security without providing any tangible benefits. Industry cheered but environmental advocates were enraged. Zinke said the order will require him to review and replace the Obama administration's most recent five-year oil and gas development plan for the outer continental shelf, which includes federal waters off all U.S. coasts. The order will also reverse Obama's move to place parts of the Arctic permanently off limits to drilling, and encourage more seismic surveying to determine which areas are likely to hold rich reserves of oil and gas. In addition, under the order Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will review previous presidents' designations of marine national monuments and sanctuaries under the 1906 Antiquities Act over the last 10 years. Weeks before leaving office, Obama banned new oil and gas drilling in federal waters in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, protecting 115 million acres (46.5 million hectares) of waters off Alaska and 3.8 million acres in the Atlantic from New England to the Chesapeake Bay. On Wednesday Trump signed a separate order to examine areas of federally managed land to determine if they were improperly designated as national monuments by former presidents, rendering them off limits to development. Environmental groups, including Oceana and the Center for Biological Diversity, criticized the new executive order and promised to fight it in court. They pointed out the order comes seven years after a large oil spill from a BP platform in the Gulf of Mexico, which had prompted them to urge a slowdown in offshore oil development. Democratic senators also opposed the order, saying it could threaten the fishing and tourism industries. (Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Jeffrey Benkoe) A doctor in Spain accused of telling a patient she was suffering dizzy spells because she was not getting good sex has been banned from the industry for two years. Spanish GP Ramon Gallego was named and shamed after allegedly telling the woman she was 'mal follada' - which in English means 'badly f*****.' The patient who complained, known only as Patricia, also claimed the doctor had smoked in front of her, asked her if she or her mum were better-looking and refused to prescribe her pills because they would make her fat and she had a great body. The incident occurred at a doctor's surgery in the village of Llanos de Brujas, just outside the Murcia's capital. On Friday it emerged the health service covering Spain's south-east region of Murcia had decided to suspend Mr Gallego for two years without pay. Spanish GP Ramon Gallego has been suspended for two years without pay after telling a patient she was suffering dizzy spells because she was not getting good sex, which happened in the village of Llanos de Brujas, just outside the Murcia's capital. The patient who complained, known only as Patricia, also claimed the doctor had smoked in front of her, asked her if she or her mum were better-looking and refused to prescribe her pills because they would make her fat and she had a great body The GP, who has posted a picture of himself on social media flexing his muscles and showing off his overweight stomach in a mini life-vest, has already appealed and will keep his job while the appeal is being decided. The GP has posted a picture of himself on social media flexing his muscles and showing off his overweight stomach in a mini life-vest Patricia, who had gone to hospital about her dizzy spells before being told to visit her GP, took to social media afterwards to complain: 'It was the first time I'd seen this GP. 'He offered me a cigarette and I turned it down and he started smoking in the surgery. 'The worst thing was when he told me he was not going to prescribe the pills they'd told me to take at the hospital because they were going to make me fat and according to him I had a great body.' Claiming he had gone on to ask her if she was sexier than her mum, she added: 'On top of everything else he came to the conclusion my problem was that I was badly f*****, as simple as that. 'I came out of the surgery, walked to my house assimilating what had happened and suddenly felt really down. 'How is it possible that people like this are in posts like these?' The regional health authority is understood to have decided its sanction after ruling Mr Gallego was guilty of two counts of misconduct. He is currently working out of a health centre in Alhama de Murcia which is around 25 miles from his old surgery. No-one was picking up the phone at the health centre on Friday afternoon. Gallego is currently working out of a health centre in Alhama de Murcia which is around 25 miles from his old surgery. Local papers say they have tried to contact him but failed to get any response. A colleague, writing in defence of the under-fire GP, insisted: 'I have the pleasure of knowing Ramon Gallego and as a professional I can say that this doctor has always been greatly-loved and much appreciated by his patients. 'He's possibly one of the few professionals that really sits with his patients to listen to them and look them in the face. 'Nobody in their right mind can believe that someone would have come up with a diagnosis like that.' Another woman, describing herself as a patient of nearly three decades, added: 'Doctor Ramon is a good doctor. 'I've been his patient for 26 years and I've never doubted his opinion. 'He dedicates more time than he's got to seeing people and he throws himself into his job with total devotion.' A terrified couple thought it was 'the end' when they saw an avalanche hurtling towards them while trekking at the bottom of a steep valley near Everest. Holly Cowie, from London, and Axel Haudiquet, from France, were hiking near Langtang Village in Nepal when they were caught in the avalanche trigged by an earthquake. As the pair ran under a tree for safety, they captured terrifying footage showing the earth shaking and a cloud of dust rising into the sky before the avalanche hit. Couple Axel Haudiquet and Holly Cowie were on a three-month trek when they were caught in an earthquake and avalanche on Everest, near Langtang Village, Nepal. Pictured, they captured terrifying footage of a cloud of dust rising into the air during the earthquake Speaking to the Smithsonian, two years after the incident, Holly said: 'There was a loud roaring. 'I looked back up the valley towards Langtang, the village itself, and could see a big cloud approaching. 'Amongst this, the roar of the wind. It then went dark.' The couple's footage shows the mountainside shaking violently as the earthquake got worse. Holly, from London, said: 'I looked back up the valley towards Langtang, the village itself, and could see a big cloud approaching.' The pair scrambled to hide behind a tree for protection Axel said: 'I couldn't see Holly and I had no idea where I was. That's it. It's the end. I was terrified.' The earthquake, on April 25 2015, killed about 9,000 and destroyed Langtang village Looking up the mountain, a large cloud of smoke rises through the trees and rocks fall down the crags. Holly and Axel scrambled behind a tree and clung on to the branch in a bid to protect themselves. The couple were submerged in dirt and debris when the avalanche hit and the pair feared for their lives. Axel said: 'I remember seeing the leaves of the trees shaking. 'I didn't know what it was. And then the earth moved. 'For a second I thought "oh cool, it's an earthquake." First time in my life I experienced an earthquake. 'We were probably in the worst place you want to be for an earthquake because we were at the bottom of a steep valley. In the video, a cloud of dust rises through the tree line on the trail and the mountainside starts to rumble. The couple didn't know if they were going to survive the natural disaster 'Then I realised something was coming towards us. 'I couldn't see Holly and I had no idea where I was. That's it. It's the end. I was terrified.' Holly and Axel had arrived in Nepal ten days earlier and were caught in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake. The earthquake and avalanche killed around 9,000 people on April 25 2015, destroying Langtang Village. Rocks fell down the side of the mountain as the rumbling grew more intense. The pair survived because they hid behind a tree and clung on to a branch She told MailOnline in 2015: 'I didn't think earthquake, I don't know what I thought it was. We ran a bit left and then right, it was hard to know where to go as we couldn't see anything coming for us. 'Luckily my boyfriend twigged what was happening and we ran for a bush and knelt behind it. 'It was really noisy and things were falling all around us. A big stone fell next to us and split in two. 'It was really calm when the earthquake stopped shaking but we knew we weren't safe and ran to a bigger tree. Holly and Axel were buffeted by wind and sleet as they ran for cover in the middle of the earthquake. Pictured, an ominous cloud of dust rises over the top of the mountain 'When I looked up the valley there was a billowing brown cloud coming straight for us down the valley. I had no idea what it could be.' After the the couple found their guide, they made their way down the mountain and found other tourists who were badly injured, including an Australian believed to ahve broken her back. Holly said she burst into tears when she was offered a chocolate bar and when they reached the British Embassy in Kathmandu. The couple had planned to spend a few weeks in India but cut their trip short because of the earthquake. Holly said she had a white scarf given to travellers for luck tied to her backpack also survived the quake. A murder suspect who was on the run for more than four decades was finally apprehended while hiding out in a tent deep in the woods. David Lee Edds, 61, was wanted for a 1976 stabbing in Harris County, Texas - which was reopened in 2014 when DNA linked him to the crime scene. The final break in the case came when a car connected to Edds was spotted on a wooded road in Wayne County, Mississippi. David Lee Edds, 61, was wanted in a 1976 stabbing in Harris County, Texas - which was reopened in 2014 when DNA linked him to the crime scene He was on the run for more than four decades and was finally apprehended on Thursday while hiding out in a tent deep in the Mississippi woods He was camping out in a small tent about 1,000 yards from where the car was parked when he was arrested on Monday. Wayne County Sheriff Jody Ashley said Edds was likely familiar with the area because it was formerly a popular deer hunting location. Edds' arrest in this case adds to a lengthy criminal history, including charges filed a year after Guillotte's murder after he allegedly assaulted a man with a knife at a Houston bar Upon realizing that Edds was taking shelter in the wilderness to evade authorities, Ashley warned his men that the situation could turn violent, and that Edds could be armed and desperate, The Clarion-Ledger reported. 'I just prayed that none of my guys would get hurt and that this guy wouldn't get hurt,' he said. However, Edds was arrested without any gunfire or physical altercations at his tent off of Strengthford Cooley Road. Ashley said that all things considered, it was a good day for the justice system. 'You are worried, you are going into an area where this guy could be armed. It's hard to approach and get up close, not sure where he was in the tent. 'We got up, set a perimeter. As the team moved in, some prayers were said and he was taken without incident.' His alleged victim was Rene Anthony Guillotte, 28, who was found on a private oilfield road naked with stab wounds to his head, neck and torso on May 11, 1976. When the Cold Case Unit reopened the case in 2014, they reviewed the DNA evidence in the case and later discovered that Edds lived close to the crime scene at the time of the murder. Authorities located and interviewed Edds earlier this year, who denied to police that he ever knew Guillotte, and said he was unaware that he'd been murdered. He was indicted for the killing last week, which is why police believe he fled to the woods. Upon realizing that Edds was taking shelter in the wilderness to evade authorities, Ashley warned his men that the situation could turn violent, and that Edds could be armed and desperate. However, Edds was arrested without any gunfire or physical altercations at his tent off of Strengthford Cooley Road He also was not able to answer police's questions as to why physical evidence would have linked him to the crime. Police believed he ended up in the rural Mississippi wilderness because he has family in nearby Waynesboro. Edds' arrest in this case adds to a lengthy criminal history, including charges filed a year after Guillotte's murder after he allegedly assaulted a man with a knife at a Houston bar. He also has previously faced charges relating to burglary, robbery, and various drug, alcohol, weapons charges. Edds is now being extradited to Texas to face the charges in Guillotte's murder, and is expected in court within the next week, authorities told DailyMail.com. By Alyson Klein A new evaluation of the nations only federally funded private school voucher program finds that students math achievement was negatively impacted by participating in what is known as the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program. The vouchers also appeared to have no impact on parents overall satisfaction with their childrens schools. But the same studydone by the research arm of the U.S. Department of Educationfound positive impacts on parents perception of school safety for those whose children participated in the voucher program. President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos are major supporters of the D.C. voucher program, and school choice in general. And legislation reauthorizing the voucher program is pending in Congress, which is controlled by Republicans. Congressional critics of the program were quick to cite the report in explaining why the D.C. vouchers shouldnt be renewed, as well as to throw cold water on the Trump administrations school choice agenda . The report comes on the heels of other evaluations of voucher programs in Louisiana and elsewhere showing negative impacts on student achievement. The D.C. programcreated by Congress in 2004provides vouchers to low-income families to send their children to private schools that agree to accept them. Private school voucher programs for some groups of students also exist in 13 states, but those do not receive federal funding support. Diane Stark Rentner, the deputy director of the Center on Education Policy, said the studys findings fit with a 2011 voucher research review conducted by CEP. That review found that vouchers have little to no impact on student achievement, but can boost parent satisfaction and graduation rates, Renter said. She doesnt expect the new federal report to dampen the Trump administrations enthusiasm for vouchers. But she said it could give opponents some more data to draw on when encouraging Republicans who are on the fence to oppose vouchers. Indeed, Rep. Bobby Scott, the top Democrat on the House education committee, said the report is a sign that Congress should not renew the voucher program. We know that these failed programs drain public schools of limited resources, only to deliver broken promises of academic success to parents and students, Scott said in a statement. Congress must end this failed program and support the more than 90 percent of students nationwide who are enrolled in public schools. And Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on the Senate education committee, had a similar take. When Secretary DeVos own Departments independent research office tells her that siphoning taxpayer dollars into private schools has a negative impact on students, its time for her to finally abandon her reckless plans to privatize public schools across the country, Murray said. But Jeanne Allen, the CEO of the Center for Education Reform, which supports vouchers, questioned the reports findings, in part because it only looked at student performance over one year. Its a ridiculous study, lacking in what most authentic scholars would call rigor, she said. The gold standard, she explained, would be following students in a randomized control trial for a decade. Some of their findings arent even backed up by any explanation, she said. The report looked at 995 students who were selected through a lottery to receive scholarships through the program, as well as 776 students who applied for scholarships, but werent chosen. It considered student performance in reading and math, as well as parental satisfaction and general feelings about their childrens schools after the first year of enrollment. Math achievement for students who used a tax-payer funded voucher to attend private school was 7.3 percent lower than for students who did not participate in the program, the study found. It also found a difference of 4.9 percentage points in reading achievement between students who used the vouchers and those who did not, but researchers didnt consider those results to be statistically significant. The report also found that parents of children in grades six through 12 reported higher instances of academic engagement at home. But the program did not have a significant impact on parent involvement. And it found no statistically difference between students who received vouchers and those who did not when it comes to parents overall satisfaction with their childs school. A former Coles employee who fell off a stool while organizing shelves has been awarded an eye watering $1 million in compensation by the supermarket giant. The 34-year-old had only been working at the Canberra store a matter of weeks before she fell from the safety step in 2009. After falling on her right side, the store worker injured her hip and underwent a series of medical treatments for her injury, ABC reported. A former Coles employee has been awarded over $1 million in compensation after falling off a stool while sorting out stock on supermarket shelves Yet they were to be unsuccessful as the woman eventually had to receive a hip replacement, the ACT Supreme Court heard. She told the court there was no prior training to using the safety step and had to rely on observing other workers on how to use the apparatus correctly. Lawyers for Coles told the court that such stools were in widespread use across Australia and training for such a simple piece of equipment was not necessary. A type of safety step stool common in supermarkets across Australia. It was found Coles did not supply sufficient training on how to use such a piece of equipment. However Justice Linda Ashford disagreed and left Coles facing a hefty payout. 'The plaintiff was not trained, or properly trained, in the use of the step,' Justice Ashford noted. 'Calling a step a safety step does not make it so,' she added. Coles also argued over the severity of the woman's injuries, yet were again rebuffed. 'I did not believe the plaintiff to be other than straightforward in her evidence,' Justice Ashford stated. She found that the supermarket chain was solely responsible for the accident. The huge compensation package of just over $1.08 million reflects the complainants significant loss of earnings as well as previous and forecasted medical costs. President Donald Trump jumped on the latest bash-Obama bandwagon Friday morning, retweeting a Fox News Channel video segment about Sen. Elizabeth Warren's criticism of the former president's gargantuan speaking fees. 'Former President Obama's $400K Wall Street speech stuns liberal base; Sen. Warren saying she "was troubled by that",' the cable news network tweeted during the second hour of 'Fox & Friends.' Trump quickly retweeted it to his personal Twitter account's 28.4 million followers. President Donald Trump threw an elbow at his predecessor Barack Obama on Friday, sharing on Twitter a Fox News video segment about liberals' discontent with Obama's speaking fees The Fox News package featured far-left senator Elizabeth Warren complaining about big-money in Washington being 'a snake' Warren, a far-left Massachusetts Democrat, had taken issue with Obama's decision to ink a $400,000 contract to speak at a big-money Wall Street firm. 'I was troubled by that,' she said during a SiriusXM interview about her latest populist-politics book. 'One of the things I talk about in the book is the influence of money,' Warren explained. 'I describe it as a snake that slithers through Washington. And that is shows up in so many different ways here in Washington.' Obama's payday for the September speech to a Cantor Fitzgerald conference will equal the salary he earned for an entire year as president. Trump is not afraid to tweak Obama even with a subtle retweet The former president, who once lashde out at 'fat cat' Wall Street bankers, is now agreeing to cash $400,000 checks from them in exchange for private-event speeches It also puts him on the payroll of an industry he regularly mocked while he was the nation's community-organizer-in-chief. 'I did not run for office to be helping out a bunch of fat cat bankers on Wall Street,' Obama said in 2009, while the country was still in the grip of a financial crisis that many blamed on Wall Street's freewheeling money-management practices. On Thursday night it emerged that Obama had already delivered a separate speech in exchange for a $400,000 check this one at an A&E Networks event held at New York City's posh Pierre Hotel. Trump may have been throwing an elbow at his predecessor on Friday because of something he said on stage Thursday evening. Obama was asked how he coped with frustrating moments as president. He responded: 'By not having a Twitter account.' Five seminary professors in Texas wore bandanas, hoodies and gold chains, and one held what appeared to be a gun close to his chest in an effort to dress up like rappers as part of a going away celebration for one of their own. But several people didn't find the 'joke' funny when Barry McCarty shared the photo of himself, David Allen and three of their colleagues from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Forth Worth to social media on Tuesday. Allen first tried to provide context to those who accused the men of being racist in their stereotypical representation of what rappers look like, but then promptly apologized and McCarty deleted the photo. Scroll down for video Barry McCarty, David Allen and three of their colleagues from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Forth Worth, Texas wore bandanas, hoodies and gold chains, and one held what appeared to be a gun close to his chest in an effort to dress up like rappers as part of a going away celebration for one of their own in a photo shared to social media on Tuesday; the image has since been deleted The words 'Notorious S.O.P' were scrawled behind the men in the photo, in a play on the famous rapper's name, Notorious B.I.G., and presumably meant to stand for 'Notorious School of Preaching.' McCarty, Allen and the three other men took the photo as part of a going away celebration for Dr. Vern Charette, who has been known to rap as part of his sermon. Charette can be seen in a video posted on YouTube dedication his lyricism to 'all my pimps, players, thugs and hustlers, all my boys that are in lockdown.' 'I want you know there is an answer,' he rapped. 'His name is Jesus Christ. And that's why I'm here tonight.' Charette was the inspiration for the photo which missed the mark, according to critics on Twitter. 'This is a going-away picture we gave to one of our faculty members today at lunch, Dr. Charette, who is himself an excellent rapper,' Allen tweeted. Allen (L), who apologized on behalf of the men, and McCarty (R), who initially shared the photo publicly, are seen here Allen first tried to provide context to those who accused the men of being racist in their stereotypical representation of what rappers look like# Charette would soon be leaving the team to become the new pastor at Trinity Baptist in Yukon, Oklahoma, according to another tweet by Allen. Allen quickly realized, however, that their joke had fallen flat when people started calling the image 'tone-deaf,' 'offensive' and 'racist.' 'I apologize for a recent image I posted which was offensive.' he tweeted later. 'Context is immaterial. [Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's] stance on race is clear as is mine.' Allen quickly realized that their joke had fallen flat when people started calling the image 'tone-deaf,' 'offensive' and 'racist' The tweet caught the attention of New York Daily News' senior justice writer Shaun King and Religion News Service columnist Jonathan Merritt, to name a few. 'It's not just that you posted it,' King tweeted to Allen. 'It's that you dressed up for it and took it and never had the thought, "yeah, this might be racist."' 'Grateful that [Barry McCarty] deleted this offensive tweet,' Merritt wrote. 'Southern Baptist can do better.' The tweet caught the attention of New York Daily News' senior justice writer Shaun King and Religion News Service columnist Jonathan Merritt, to name a few A statement posted to the seminary website included its own apology from Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, who did not appear in the photo. 'The president encourages our people to laugh at each other rather than to risk taking ourselves too seriously,' he wrote. 'But, as all members of the preaching faculty have acknowledged, this was a mistake, and one for which we deeply apologize. Sometimes, Anglo Americans do not recognize the degree that racism has crept into our lives.' President of the Southern Baptist Convention's National African American Fellowship, The Rev. Byron J. Day, said the image is offensive because it plays into the stereotype of black people as gangsters. Even so, he was satisfied with the seminary president's apology, he said. 'I believe there was no intent by this faculty to be racist, just bad judgment,' Day said. He is a pastor in Maryland. Pilgrims in Venezuela were shocked when they spotted a rare cloud in the sky they say looked like the Virgin Mary. The cloud phenomenon was seen by people participating in the traditional pilgrimage of Divina Misericordia (Divine Mercy) that was held on Sunday in the city of Maracaibo, in the north-western Venezuelan state of Zulia. Several people took photos posted them online saying the cloud clearly resembled the Virgin Mary, although other people believed looked like was God or Jesus Christ. The cloud phenomenon was seen by people participating in the traditional pilgrimage of Divine Mercy on Sunday in the city of Maracaibo, in the north-western Venezuelan state of Zulia In one video clip, it appears as though a 'hand' reaches out from the cloud, making the vapour mass look even more human-like In one video clip, it appears as though a 'hand' reaches out from the cloud, making the vapour mass look even more human-like. Video of the moment when pilgrims spotted the cloud shows several people, mostly wearing white T-shirts, looking at the sky. The person recording the scene can be heard in the background saying: 'Look at this miracle, the Virgin is here, pray for the Virgin, the Virgin protects Venezuela.' People took to social media to discuss the video, with some agreeing that it looked like the Virgin Mary, while others said it was simply a cloud. Several people took photos posted them online saying the cloud clearly resembled the Virgin Mary, although other people believed looked like was God or Jesus Christ. People took to social media to discuss the video, with some agreeing that it looked like the Virgin Mary, while others said it was simply a cloud Social media user mary_paris57 who wrote on a post of the video: 'Venezuela needs your lovely intervention, my Virgin. Mariadeuztariz2 said: 'Thanks mother, keep intervening for Venezuela and for the entire world.' Adadiazestilo wrote: 'It was a beautiful spiritual experience' Nurysmilagros added: 'This is a sign that we are going to get out of this nightmare', a reference the current situation in the country with a lot of protest against the current government and the shortage of basic products in the majority of shops. Others, however explained that the cloud was caused by humidity and hot air in the atmosphere rather than a religious miracle. College students at the University of California Davis can now get emergency contraception from a vending machine on campus. The 'Wellness To Go' vending machine was installed in a study room on the campus earlier this month. As well as the morning after pill, the vending machine is stocked full of condoms, pregnancy tests, tampons and Advil. Each box of emergency contraception from the vending machine costs $30, compared to about $40-$50 at a drugstore. The 'Wellness To Go' vending machine was installed in a study room at the University of California Davis earlier this month after two years of lobbying by student Parteek Singh The machine was installed after two years of lobbying by former UC Davis student Parteek Singh. He turned his focus to public health after an incident where one of his friends went to a pharmacy on a Friday night but they had sold out of emergency contraception. 'The more skeptical and negativity I got from other people like, "Oh it's not gonna happen", kind of pushed me more,' Singh told KRON4. 'I feel like every college should have this.' Singh posted on Facebook about the installation of his Plan B vending machine platform on April 3. 'The Health and Wellness Machine sells over the counter medicines, including pregnancy tests and emergency contraception,' he wrote. The emergency contraception from the vending machine costs $30, compared to about $40-$50 from the drugstore As well as the morning after pill, the vending machine is stocked full of condoms, pregnancy tests, tampons and pain killers 'UC Davis is one of the few college campuses to sell emergency contraception out of a vending machine.' He is now in discussions with other university campuses to introduce the vending machine elsewhere. While students can get emergency contraception pills and condoms from the student health center, the facility is closed on the weekends and after 5.30pm on weeknights. Many are praising the vending machine saying it is great for women, but others have criticized the concept. 'It is promoting like "oh hey, go and have unsafe sex because then you have a backup option and its gonna be cheaper,"' one student said. The New Jersey mother who was stabbed to death by her mentally ill son son last week had exhausted her health insurance trying to get him the help he so desperately needed. Michael Litwornia, 27, attacked his adopted parents Helen and Stephen, both 61, at the family's Bridgewater home on April 18. Stephen survived but his wife died of her injuries. Now co-workers are speaking out to detail the wonderful mother that Helen was, and how she worked tirelessly to help her son, who struggled with Asperger's and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Ellen Taranto sat across from Helen at Mauro CPA for the past decade and heard about the family's struggles. Co-workers say Helen Litwornia, 61 (left), exhausted her family's health insurance trying to get help for her mentally ill son Michael, 27 (right), before he murdered her last week She told NJ.com that Michael was on the Dean's List in college, but really struggled when he left the routine of school life. 'Helen and Stephen fought for years, even when Michael was a child, to get him help,' she said. 'They worked hard to put him through college so he could live a productive life. The state felt that since he graduated from college, he should be able to support himself, but that wasn't the case.' At some point, he stopped taking his medications and was hospitalized. Helen and Stephen fought of years, even when Michael was a child, to get him help. They worked hard to put him through college so he could live a productive life. The state felt that since he graduated from college, he should be able to support himself, but that wasn't the case. Ellen Taranto, former co-worker of victim Helen Litwornia Taranto says the couple exhausted their health insurance paying for Micheal's needs and spent thousands of dollars out of pocket on his care. His parents wanted to place Michael in a supervised live-in facility, but couldn't do it without financial help. So they applied to the New Jersey Division of Developmental disabilities for help. The couple reportedly went through a lengthy court and appeals process, but had just been approved and were in the process of putting their son on an emergency placement list when the attack happened. 'I just think the system failed them,' said Taranto, who is talking with co-workers to decide how to honor Helen Litwornia. 'Coming to work was her escape. We're going to miss her so much.' Nicole Brossoie, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Human Services, refused to comment on the specific case to NJ.com, citing privacy laws. Michael attacked both of his parents at their Bridgewater, New Jersey home last week. His father Stephen survived, but his mother died of her injuries But she said that 'generally speaking, applicants/clients must meet certain criteria to be determined eligible for specific programs'. Michael has been charged with first-degree murder and second-degree aggravated assault in the attack that killed his mother and injured his father. His father Stephen underwent a third surgery on Monday and was released from the hospital on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a former classmate of Michael's has spoken out to detail the disturbing behavior he exhibited as a teen. Glenn Papp, who was a year ahead of Michael at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, said Michael was 'infamous' for swinging a rolling backpack and hitting other students' in the legs. 'Everybody in the school knew him because of that. As a result, people would start making fun of him and kicking his backpack. One day, I took a video of him and took it to the vice principal, but he reprimanded me, saying I wasn't allowed to take video of students,' Papp recalled. Papp said he didn't know that Michael had mental issues at the time but it makes more sense now. 'How can you not be surprised by something like this? But, I went to school officials and tried to warn them,' said Papp. 'Ten years later, he snapped. It's almost like "I told you so."' Michael attacked his parents last week and tried to kill himself before police intervened. Police arrived at the home around 8.20pm after a 911 call reported that someone had been stabbed outside the house on Washington Valley Road in Bridgewater. Authorities found Litwornia's 61-year-old father with stab wounds outside, trying to escape. He told police that his son was responsible. The incident led to a three-hour long stand off with Bridgewater Police and Somerset County SWAT and Hostage/Crisis Negotiators, who eventually sent in a robot to communicate with Michael. The device showed Michael laying on a couch inside the home. When authorities eventually entered around 11pm, he tried to grab a 'sharp force instrument,' but was quickly apprehended. When they entered, they found Helen with significant injuries. She was later pronounced dead at the scene. A fun-loving policeman has become an online star after he was caught on camera dancing with children. The Dutch policeman joked with the youngsters as they celebrated the King's Day in Almere, the Netherlands. Witness Jaimy-Lee Walter filmed the officer after seeing him bust his moves. She was sitting at a restaurant in the city centre when a group of police officers marched into a nearby square. Ms Walter said: 'Suddenly a little girl started to dance in front of the police officer. And he immediately starting dancing with her.' Her video shows the officer showing off his moves, moving his hands energetically up and down in the air, as he dances with a group of three children. The youngsters are clearly enjoying the attention of the policeman who gives one of them a high five before walking off with his colleagues at the end of the dance. The video is proving popular after Ms Walter shared it on social media, writing: 'Applause for this police officer. Sharing is allowed, let everyone see how it can be.' The Dutch policeman joked with the youngsters as they celebrated the King's Day in Almere, the Netherlands One viewer commented: 'This is just fantastic, isn't it? Not just because he is a police officer, but it is just fun to watch.' Another joked: 'You can clearly see that the white cop also wants to join in but that he clearly can never match the dancing skills.' King's Day is a major national holiday in the Netherlands. It marks the birthday of King Willem-Alexander who became 50 this year. Grant McPherson, 37, had sex with student Jessica Lorenzin, 20, at hotels and they even had a threesome in a spa A married detective constable who had sex with a suspect at a police station during an eight-month affair was jailed for four months today. Grant McPherson, 37, had sex with student Jessica Lorenzin, 20, at hotels and they even had a threesome in a spa. McPherson gave her his number after interviewing her at Charing Cross police station in London in October 2015 for allegedly causing criminal damage to the door to her home in Earls Court. She said he encouraged her to take a white powder she thought was cocaine, which made her feel like a 'zombie' - but McPherson insisted he had only given her herbal Viagra and legal highs. The detective from Glasgow was given four months in jail for one count of misconduct while in a public office. Snaresbrook Crown Court heard the pair embarked on a series of secret trysts fuelled by legal highs and herbal Viagra, all during McPherson's working hours, Over the eight months he met her for sex in three hotels on five occasions, once at Notting Hill police station, and they had sex involving a third person in a spa. The Scottish officer kept the fling secret from everybody including his wife until his increasingly erratic behaviour gave him away. McPherson gave her his number after interviewing her at Charing Cross police station in London in October 2015 He was caught by colleagues after he being reported as missing by his partner in the early hours of August 8, 2016. According to his partner, McPherson said he was popping out to take the work car back to the police station, but had not returned. He eventually returned drunk and gave the interviewing officer at his home an inconsistent account of where he had been. An internal investigation was launched in August 2016 into another matter in which his phone was seized. On his phone they found the incriminating messages on his WhatsApp with Lorenzin. When they interviewed him about the messages McPherson admitted he had driven her home that morning, but that she was no longer a suspect at the time. He pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public officer in March, and was nearly denied bail after turning up drunk at the court. Madeleine Wolfe, prosecuting, said McPherson engaged in a sexual relationship with the student after she was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in October 2015. She said he encouraged her to take a white powder she thought was cocaine, which made her feel like a 'zombie' 'He took Jessica from her cell at 1.30am to interview her. At that interview there was no second officer or solicitor. 'She was then returned to the cell by McPherson and the CPS advised no further action, and she was released. 'Jessica Lorenzin said DC McPherson had in fact driven her home that night, and on that occasion, gave her his personal phone number, inviting her to discuss any problems with her mother. 'She sent him a WhatsApp message on November 4, saying 'Hi, sorry for disturbing, I'm Jessica, I want to ask if it's possible to drink something and talk about an important topic, thanks'. 'He got back to her and they arranged to meet on WhatsApp. They got involved talking about sex reasonably quickly. 'He told her that he had been in a seven year relationship which finished a year ago, and was only interested in a casual relationship. But he actually had a partner and a small child. 'She described having sex with him at her home, in a spa with another man, and three hotels and once at a Notting Hill police station, all while he was on duty. 'She described him providing her and encouraging her to take a white powder she said was cocaine. 'She had not taken drugs before and in her statement she described it as making her feel like a zombie. 'The defendant maintained he hadn't given her illegal drugs, but herbal viagra and legal highs. 'During a conversation having taken these substances in February 2016, she said "I'm sorry I thought we were in a dating process, not a drug and f***, everything I don't want to do".The relationship continued until July 2016.' David Hughes, defending, said: 'This is about the fact that he continued a sexual relationship while he was working. 'He has had 16 years of police service, 13 years with the Metropolitan Police. This defendant was under considerable pressure at work due to cuts to the police force. McPherson gave her his number after interviewing her at Charing Cross police station (pictured) in London in October 2015 for allegedly causing criminal damage 'In typical male reaction and perhaps in the atmosphere of the Met Police he didn't do anything about it, because he didn't wish to be seen as weak by his colleagues in seeking help. So instead it gets worse manifesting itself in alcohol problems.' Judge Martyn Zeidman QC told McPherson: 'You counsel rightly described your conduct as utterly deplorable behaviour. It really is a breach of public trust and confidence in a public office. 'It's right that there has been a consensus that this offence is so serious that it manifestly warrants a prison sentence. 'This is a court of law, not a court of morals, the fact that you have behaved so badly to your wife is not my business. You drove her home and gave her your number. 'The first suggestion of sex came from her and thereafter during work while you were on duty, paid by the public, you engaged in consensual sexual activity with her. 'On five occasions you went to three different hotels and on each occasion when you should have been doing your job you were with her. 'I don't accept that the sentence should be suspended, this was not a one off act of misconduct, you did it more than once. 'This conduct needs to be marked by a prison sentence, and I give you one of four months in jail.' Stephen Belafonte's ex-girlfriend is being investigated by police over an alleged $1million extortion plot after she made a foul-mouthed phone call threatening to 'bury' him in negative press coverage unless he paid up. DailyMail.com has listened to the shocking audio recording of the call - where real estate agent Nicole Contreras can also be heard claiming to Belafonte that she had teamed up with his estranged wife Mel B to 'take him down' in the media, in a bid to help the former Spice Girl win a favorable divorce settlement. Belafonte, 41, has since filed a police report with Los Angeles Police Department, now believed to be investigating the claim. According to the LAPD investigative report, obtained by DailyMail.com, Contreras made the call to Belafonte at 10pm on March 20 - the day Mel B filed for divorce. Battle of the exes: Stephen Belfonte filed a police report accusing his ex Nicole Contreras, 41, of trying to extort him for $1million in an alleged plot to 'take him down' Documents exclusively obtained by Dailymail.com show Belfonte filed the report with LAPD on Thursday - detailing the time Contreras called him 'demanding $1million' According to Belfonte's complaint, Contreras called him on March 20 at 11pm, - the day Mel B filed for divorce The report states: 'Sups called victim and demanded $1million deposited into her account or she would disclose personal information to media' In the report Belafonte alleged extortion and the reporting officer wrote: 'Susp called victim and demanded $1million deposited into her account or she would disclose personal information to media.' The police report was filed on Thursday. In the recording, which Belafonte has handed over to police as evidence, Contreras is heard saying: 'Mel called me, her people called me, they said they want to take you down, they asked me if I could take you down. Oh it's so easy to take him down, so easy, what an easy request. 'I want a million bucks in my account in two days otherwise you're f***ed, it's your choice, I swear to God I'm gonna talk so much sh*t about you, you have no idea, it's your choice. And it's gonna be really really bad.' Contreras, 41, continued: 'We're gonna bury you. I have decided I'm gonna bury you,' she said. 'You do as much money as you can cause I'm done b**ch, I'm gonna take you down.' Belafonte, pictured with Mel B last July, has been at the center of a nasty - and rather public - divorce involving accusations of domestic abuse and infidelity Threesome: Mel B reportedly accused the family's nanny Lorrainne Gilles (pictured) of ruining her marriage after Belafonte and Gilles became a 'two-way' during their seven-year tryst. But Gilles has countered those claims in court papers In another exchange Contreras, who is the mother of Belafonte's daughter Giselle, 12, hints that Mel B's team had put her up to it. 'Actually Mel's crew is asking me for the story because they want to give you less money, it's up to you what you wanna do,' she is heard saying. Earlier in the late night call Contreras had asked for $500,000 from Belafonte before upping the figure to $1million. She said: 'You actually have one day to do it, if not I'm selling my story. And my story is so ugly, it's so bad, it's really bad.' At the end of the phone call, Contreras told Belafonte she would text him the exact amount of money she wanted and if it didn't hit her account the next day she would go to the press. 'That's the choice,' she said, taunting her ex by adding: 'By the way the press loves me and they want my story, they love to hear about you and how sh***y you are. 'It's actually kind of better for me, it's kind of fun. We'll see. I'd almost just rather bad mouth you for a while because you're such a s***head, so we'll see I don't know what I want to do.' Belafonte didn't send any money to his ex and Contreras was true to her word. Within days she allegedly began contacting media organizations looking for the highest bidder. Nicole had stopped to talk to reporters following her dinner at the LA eatery on Thursday and hitting out at Belafonte's claims Mel has set up a 'smear campaign' against him, she remarked: 'That's b******t' Contreras's accusations that Belafonte does not pay child support reportedly 'really upsets him' sources said. Belafonte apparently deposits $3,800 into Nicole's bank account every month She eventually gave a damning interview to The Sun newspaper, echoing the allegations of abuse and violence made by Mel B against her husband, by also claiming Belafonte beat her up and was 'evil'. The former bikini model, who now works for high end real estate company Nourmand & Associates in LA, said she feared the film producer would kill her in a brutal 'choke' attack and accused him of allegedly bedding up to 12 women, including Mel B, behind her back. Testimony from Contreras could help prove Mel B's claims and prevent him from taking part of her $60million fortune. Contreras said Belafonte also attacked her in 2003 four years before he married the pop star, adding there is no lid to his fury. Belafonte was charged with battery and pleaded no contest. But he later claimed he did not realize he was admitting battering his girlfriend saying he was 'confused and stressed'. But his plea was rejected. He received a suspended jail term and was ordered to attend a year-long domestic violence program and stay away from his ex. Belafonte, however, lost his battle to regain contact with Mel's daughter Angel, who was born three months before their wedding - but is fathered by actor Eddie Murphy Threesome: Lorraine Gilles (right) claims that Mel B (center) and then-husband Stephen Belafonte (left) met her at a bar and took her home for a threesome before hiring her as a nanny Yet the couple got back together even after the attack. They separated for good in spring 2005. In the recent phone conversation Contreras - who branded Belafonte a cheater and a player in the hour-long phone call - didn't once mention anything about Belafonte being physical violence or abusive. Contreras even threatened to set high powered LA divorce lawyer Laura Wasser on Belafonte, who she claims represents her. 'My attorney is called Laura Wasser, she will f***ing take you down, simply as that...she is not nice. So it's coming down for you and Mel, it's gonna be strong and crazy so I hope that you survive,' she said. Wasser specializes in celebrity divorce and has represented dozens of A-list stars. She is often described as 'America's most feared divorce attorney'. It's not clear whether Wasser actually represents Contreras or not. During the phone call an allegation Contreras has made repeatedly in public against Belafonte that he doesn't pay child support for their daughter Giselle was brought into question. In an exchange Contreras said she wants $500,000 in her account in two days. Belafonte, sounding angry, replied: 'Alright so, tell me your f***ing account.' She replied: 'You know my account, you put it in every month.' He said: 'Okay well I didn't know you wanted it in that account.' A source close to Belafonte told DailyMail.com that this shows Contreras has been lying about the child support to embarrass him. The source said: 'Stephen deposits $3,800 into Nicole's bank account every month for their daughter. He has been doing that for 12 years voluntarily without any court order. 'The fact she is going around telling the media he doesn't pay child support really upsets him.' When contacted by DailyMail.com Contreras denied that she tried to extort Belafonte, saying he's 'bull*****ing' and that he'd 'conjured it up.' She said: 'That's ridiculous, he's full of it. I'm not going to give any comment I don't know what he's been recording, but obviously it's not true. 'I don't believe it. It's not me, he conjured it up. He's capable of all kinds of stuff. I think he's pulling up straws... I have no idea what you are talking about.' 'It's pretty clear who he is as a person. He's the father of my child and it's sad for my daughter. I haven't been contacted by the police yet. Obviously I'll have to respond if that's the case.' Dailymail.com also reached out to Mel B reps for comment. In an interview with TMZ on Wednesday Contreras was asked if it's true that Belafonte had asked Mel for a cash advance, she responded: 'Well I haven't had child support. Just cause you had a divorce you have to figure out paying for your child, that's how it works.' According to The Sun, the producer's lawyers had asked the former Spice Girl, 41, for a cash advance to fund his 'living expenses' during their messy divorce battle. However, the mother-of-three has reportedly refused his request, and instead accuses Belafonte of owing her $1million - a claim he has vehemently denied.' Happier times: The singer and Belafonte had married in June 2007 following a whirlwind romance that began in the February of that year The claims came after reports that Mel had blocked her estranged husband from accessing her $60million fortune. The real estate professional admitted she has been following the furor surrounding the couple since they filed for divorce and claimed she has been 'left concerned for her daughter' following the allegations filed at Belafonte. Mel had claimed in court papers that she was the victim of 'multiple physical beatings' at the hands of Stephen and that he threatened to 'destroy' her career by releasing sex tapes of her. She had been granted a temporary restraining order against him, over claims of domestic abuse, and had alleged Belafonte was a danger to her children due to 'criminal connections' and his links to the porn industry. 'Thankfully it's supervised, after the allegations I was very concerned for my own child...it's a very scary situation. 'I have Mel's side, I believe in Mel, I believe probably she's gone through hell, it's sad. Unfortunately she surrounded herself with people that didn't have her back.' Last week Belafonte regained his visitation rights to five-year-old daughter Madison - who he shares with Mel - but will only be allowed to see her with heavy supervision. Appearing at Los Angeles Superior Court, a judge ruled that he can see his daughter, but only in the confines of a counseling center with a court monitor present. The judge ruled that the visits will occur twice a week for four hours, but he must attend alone. Belafonte, however, lost his battle to regain contact with Mel's daughter Angel, who was born three months before their wedding - but is fathered by actor Eddie Murphy. Two drones were less than ten seconds from a potentially catastrophic crash with a passenger jet approaching Heathrow, investigators have found. The Airbus A320, which can seat 150 passengers, was flying at 5,500ft over east London when its crew spotted two white, orb-shaped drones less than 500 yards away. It was flying at an estimated 150mph at the time meaning it would have taken just seven and a half seconds to close the distance between it and the gadgets. It was the UKs first near-miss between an aircraft and multiple drones. Two drones narrowly missed hitting a passenger plane as it approached Heathrow airport (pictured, stock image) in the first case of its kind in the UK If a drone collides with a plane it can cause serious damage or even total engine failure should it be sucked into the engine. Less than half an hour after the incident, a second passenger jet flew within 50 yards of what is believed to be one of the drones. It is against the law to fly drones above 400ft or near airports or airfields. The incident is understood to be the first time an aircraft has come close to hitting more than one drone at once, according to the UK Airprox Board (UKAB). It comes at a time when close calls are becoming increasingly common, with one drone recently coming within 75ft of a plane in Edinburgh. During the drama over London, the pilots remained in constant visual contact with the drones to ensure they did not hit the airliner as it passed alongside them. The investigation found the distraction had compromised the safety of the aircraft, and if the jet had been on a different approach path there would have been a significant risk of collision. The pilot on the Airbus A319 (similar to the one pictured) had no time to react and the near-miss over Edinburgh last November was avoided only 'by providence' The A319 Airbus was descending over the Scottish capital at 12.09pm when the pilot said they came 'very close' to what appeared to be a drone The Metropolitan Police were made aware of the near-miss, which took place on November 20 last year, but the drone operators could not be traced. There were five near-misses between aircraft and drones in the latest monthly UKAB report, bringing the total over the past 12 months to 62. A similar incident took place last November near Edinburgh Airport. An Airbus A319 came within just 75ft of a potentially deadly collision with a drone as it came in to land. The official report found the pilot of the jet was left with no time to take avoiding action during the incident, and a collision was only avoided by providence. Pilots believe a collision with an airliner could be catastrophic and the impact of a drone strike on a light plane or helicopter would almost certainly bring it down (file photo) Ministers are considering measures to enforce registration of all new drones so they can be better monitored UKAB rated the incident as Category A, its highest level in which serious risk of collision has existed. Yesterday Jim Morris, an aviation law specialist and former RAF pilot, said: Drone incidents are becoming more common and they pose a significant safety threat to airliners and other aircraft. If an airliner collided with a drone it could cause serious damage to the airliner if the drone entered an engine it could cause a full engine failure or significant loss of power at a crucial stage ... Catastrophic engine failure and wing fire could lead to a serious aircraft accident that could result in death or injuries. Earlier this month, police revealed a dramatic surge in drone incidents, such as smuggling packages into prisons, with 3,456 episodes last year up from 283 in 2014. San Antonio As information about the academic struggles of Pennsylvanias cyber charters has become more accessible, the full-time online schools have increasingly enrolled students from the states least-educated communities and most-disadvantaged school districts, according to a new study to be presented here Sunday as part of the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. The result, according to researcher Bryan Mann of Penn State University? Cyber charter have become an inequitable corner of Pennsylvanias school-choice system, leaving the states neediest students with another bad option that their peers from better-off school districts largely avoid. This may be the educational policy equivalent of asking someone in a food desert to pick between two fast food restaurants and hoping they make a healthy choice, Mann wrote in a pre-conference email interview. In Pennsylvania and across the country, full-time online charter schools have come under withering scrutiny. Studies by the Center for Research on Educational Outcomes at Stanford University have found at both the national and state level that students in the schools learn at a dramatically slower pace than their peers in traditional brick-and-mortar schools. Last fall, Education Week published a major investigation into the sector , highlighting concerns about students not using the schools educational software and about extensive lobbying efforts by the for-profit management companies that dominate the industry. The paper Mann will present at AERA takes a somewhat different tack, analyzing the flow of students (and money) to cybers from Pennsylvanias traditional school districts between 2002 and 2014. During those years, the number of students attending the states cyber charters grew dramatically, to more than 36,000 total children. Based on a review of media coverage and public data, Mann divides the period into three distinct eras: An early phase, in which there was little information about cybers, which then had high-tech cachet;" A second phase, driven by the federal No Child Left Behind act and aggressive media coverage, in which cybers academic struggles became well-known, and; A more recent period in which some students and their families have become more sophisticated consumers in Pennsylvanias school-choice marketplace. From there, Mann combined state data on school district enrollments with federal data on the demographics in each districts surrounding community. That allowed him to look for changing patterns in where Pennsylvania cybers drew their students from over time. Initially, Mann found, the schools drew students evenly from across the state. Early enrollment growth was not concentrated in any geographic area. Students from more highly educated communities (as measured by the percent of the adult population with a bachelors degree or higher) chose to attend cybers, too. But as knowledge about cybers academic shortcomings spread, the flow of students from those parts of the state slowed significantly. That trend strengthened over time, Mann found. Enrollment in Pennsylvania cyber charters now comes heavily from the states least-educated communities and worst-performing schools. If cybers were better than those schools academically, the expansion of the sector might be considered a policy win. But most available research suggests that is not the case. A 2011 CREDO study of Pennsylvanias sector, for example, found that 100% of cyber charters perform[ed] significantly worse than their traditional public school counterparts in both reading and math. (Cyber charter operators generally argue that most available measures and accountability systems arent appropriate for online schools.) The net effect, Mann contends, is that the states worst-off traditional public schools are sending the most money to the states cybers, thanks to the way Pennsylvanias charter funding system works. Educationally and financially disadvantaged school districts were more likely to experience student flows to low-performing cyber charters, forcing these districts disproportionately to fund these programs, Mann wrote in his paper for AERA. Like other researchers, Mann notes that cybers are a good fit for some children. CREDO, for example, has said that the schools in general work for at most 15 percent of their students. Mann also notes that his findings in Pennsylvania may not be generalizable to other states. But the takeaway from his analysis is that choice in Pennsylvanias cyber sector has been plagued by some of the same dynamics that affect other markets, especially differential access to quality information and quality options. Contrary to policy intentions, the cyber charter movement exacerbated inequality and had dubious impact on academic quality, Mann wrote. See also: for live coverage from AERA 2017. The Tennessee teacher who went on the run with his 15-year-old student for more than a month spent part of the time feeding the pair with wildflowers, the girl's family attorney has revealed. Elizabeth Thomas lost a significant amount of weight while holed up in a Cecilville, California cabin with teacher Tad Cummins, 50, and has been left 'very, very fragile' by the ordeal, Thomas family attorney Jason Whatley says. Whatley told People that both Elizabeth and Cummins ate wildflowers at times to survive in the bare-walled shack where police found them in hiding on April 20. Cummins took out a $4,500 loan before fleeing with the girl, and purchased chocolate, cheese cubes, and KY Jelly at an Oklahoma Walmart on March 16, according to police. Whatley blasted any assertion that Elizabeth willingly ran away with her teacher as 'amazingly absurd'. 'This is classic grooming and manipulation,' said Whatley. 'And I predict this case will be studied years in the future about how authority figures like Tad Cummins can mess up young children who believe their lies and are manipulated into doing things they would never do.' Scroll down for videos Thomas family attorney Jason Whatley, seen in a previous interview, says Elizabeth Thomas and her teacher Tad Cummins ate wildflowers to survive while on the run for 39 days Tad Cummins, 50, (left) disappeared with 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas (right) last month and was on the run for 39 days before police caught up with them in a California cabin The northern California cabin where they were found had no heat, water or electricity According to an inventory of items confiscated from the cabin by the FBI, there were four bedrolls, two vacuum filters, coconut oil, and socks. The FBI also confiscated beer cans and tissues Cummins was arrested last week in the California cabin, where he was hiding out with Elizabeth after the pair vanished from their hometown of Columbia, Tennessee, on March 13. Their disappearance sparked a nationwide manhunt and Amber Alerts in several states before they were finally tracked down. Cummins 'treated her like a child at times,' said the lawyer Whatley. 'I think most people would agree that the combination of treating her like a child and an adult woman in the same relationship, like a light switched [and] turned it on and off, [is] damaging.' The teacher has not yet entered a plea to the charges he faces in the case. His lawyer on Monday released a statement saying he has 'no history of violence and no criminal history whatsoever'. The statement added that Cummins 'surrendered without incident and has been cooperative with investigators.' Whatley says that Elizabeth has been 'quiet' since being reunited with her family in Columbia, Tennessee. 'Shes had moments of being carefree and fun, but shes very, very fragile and thats something the family is watching very carefully,' he said. The cabin in California was the final stop on a cross-country, 39-day life on the run for Cummins and Elizabeth, which also saw them staying in Motel 8s and a nudist commune. The pair disappeared from Columbia, Tennessee, on March 13. They traveled to Alabama the next day then on to Oklahoma where they were spotted on March 15 before dropping off the radar until April 20 when they were found in a cabin in northern California Last sighting: The pair's last sighting before the arrest was at an Oklahoma Walmart on March 15 (pictured). They had dyed their hair to help evade capture DailyMail.com revealed that the pair had previously spent ten days hiding at a hippy commune near the cabin where Cummins was arrested, the Black Bear Ranch, where they posed as a married couple and were seen 'making out' like lovers by a camp fire While at the commune the pair frequently spending entire days in bed in this attic, even though the group expects at least four hours of work a day from everyone According to an inventory of items confiscated from the cabin by the FBI, there were four bedrolls, two vacuum filters, coconut oil, and socks. The FBI also confiscated beer cans and tissues. Police got a tip about Cummins' whereabouts the night before his arrest from the caretaker of the cabin, 29-year-old Griffin Barry. Barry, who is originally from Nashville, said he let the couple stay in the cabin in exchange for work and realized who the two were when a neighbor showed him a picture of Elizabeth's missing person poster. That's when it all came together for Barry and he called to tip off police. Looking back, he said there was something suspicious about the couple. Barry is set to receive $10,000 reward for his role in Cummins' arrest. Barry says the two first came through the area two weeks ago, looking for the Black Bear Ranch Commune, and were going by the names John and Joanna. The couple, claiming to be 38 and 24 years old, had run out of gas and Cummins told a sad story about how they lost all of their possessions in a house fire in Colorado and didn't have any money left. So Barry decided to be a Good Samaritan, and gave Cummins money, gas and directions to the commune. 'I put some gas in his car and gave him $40 dollars and said if it doesnt work come back Ill feed you, you know what I mean?' Barry, 29, told WKRN. Police say Cummins (left) switched the license plates on his car several times and disabled its GPS system to avoid detection as he fled with Thomas (right) This cabin in California was the final stop on a cross-country, 39-day life on the run for Cummins and Elizabeth According to an inventory of items confiscated from the cabin by the FBI, there were four bedrolls, two vacuum filters, coconut oil, and socks Cummins and Elizabeth did in fact make it to the commune, where they spent 10 days sleeping on a filthy mattress in the attic of a communal building. But the members of the nudist colony sensed something was off with the two and decided against letting them into the group permanently. After getting kicked out of the commune, Cummins and Thomas returned to Cecilville on April 18, and Barry offered to let them sleep in one of his unfinished cabins in exchange for work. 'In my head I'm thinking he had a house fire and lost everything,' Barry said. 'I came out here on a prayer and people helped me out and got me on my feet and hopefully I can pass it on.' On Thursday, Cummins' wife claimed he had admitted he's slept with the teen and begged her forgiveness after he was caught. Jill Cummins, who filed for divorce from Tad Cummins after he ran off with Elizabeth Thomas five weeks ago, said her husband made the confession during a phone call from jail. Jill Cummins told Inside Edition she had asked him straight out; 'did you sleep with her?' 'Yes I did,' he replied, according to his wife who said she hadn't wanted to hear any details of their relationship, but she had already known the truth. 'I just wanted to hear it from him to me.' Jill Cummins, the wife of Tad Cummins, who went on the run with his 15-year-old student claims he admitted he's slept with the teen and begged her forgiveness after he was caught Prosecutors in Sacramento claimed on Monday that Tad Cummins changed his license plates, paid in cash and even planned to take a boat from San Diego to Mexico, to keep one step ahead of the police. Once across the border, he may have been planning to take her even further in to South America, they said. The documents, filed in federal court on Monday morning ahead of his first hearing claim he admitted to switching license plates on his car several times and disabling its GPS system to avoid being caught. He paid for essentials, including chocolate for the teenager, with cash and only took back roads to avoid roadside surveillance, they claim. 'The defendant had plans to attempt to escape across the United States border to Mexico. He then planned to seek passage to countries further south of Mexico. 'In furtherance of this plan, the defendant procured a small watercraft and conducted a test run to cross into Mexico across the water from San Diego. 'The defendant also considered the feasibility of a land crossing into Mexico,' they said. Cummins appeared in court for his first hearing on Monday. According to the prosecutors, he planned to take Thomas to Mexico, and then on to countries further south Cummins spoke only briefly in court to confirm his identity, and agreed to be returned to Tennessee to face trial there, according to WAAY TV. Judge Kendall Newman agreed that Cummins should not be allowed any release terms after being told by the prosecution's claims that he had played a 'cat and mouse game' with officers who were hunting him. Assistant US attorney Jason Hitt added that Cummins had used 'his position of trust as a school teacher' to commit the alleged crime. That - and Cummins allegedly having two guns in the vehicle when he and the missing girl were found Thursday - make him a danger, he said. He also had at least seven pills of erectile dysfunction drug Cialis, they said. 'During his flight, the defendant engaged in a daring cat-and-mouse run from law enforcement in order to further his own prurient desires while engaging in a number of sophisticated maneuvers to avoid being caught,' prosecutors said in the documents. 'His actions in evasion were criminal.' Most parents often wonder what their children are up to during the school hours. Now concerned parents in China can check in on their sons and daughters by logging onto a live broadcast from their child's classroom. The service provided by a company called Shuidi Zhibo has had mixed reviews with some people saying that it goes against the childrens' privacy. Big brother is watching you: Live-streaming classrooms is an increasing trend in China Parents can check in to see their children in the classroom and even during nap time Live streaming sites have become incredibly popular in China and it has now extended into the classroom. Shuidi Zhibo has hundreds of streaming channels from schools across China including kindergartens. Primary schools and even high schools are joining in on the new trend which has spread country-wide. And in some it extends beyond the classroom - corridors, the canteen and in some rare cases dormitories. Tuning in: The video streams are in kindergartens, primary schools and high schools The service provided by a company called Shuidi Zhibo has had mixed reviews The Paper reported schools in Beijing along with Shandong, Henan and Anhui provinces. There have been multiple cases in Chinese media recently of teachers abusing children. Because of this some people find the idea of being able to tune in and watch their child to be comforting. Zhou Ming, a lawyer at a Shanghai law firm said that there are security risks including when dealing with videos of children. Ming told The Paper: 'Something that happens in school should not appear on an open platform. It is also legally a violation of personal privacy, data security and personal safety.' A parent with a student at a kindergarten in Henan province told Huanqiu she supported the ability to watch online. However she was not comfortable with it being open as everyone in the world would be able to see them at all times including nap time. Many people have said they feel uncomfortable with the world being able to see the students A lawyer at a Shanghai law firm said that there are some risks involved in these streams Many people believe that live streaming is a violation of the students' privacy Following reports in Chinese media, Shuidi Zhibo released a statement online explaining their mission with the company. The statement wrote: 'It's up to the teacher to purchase, install and use the camera. It's a voluntary operation. 'Many parents want to understand their children in the classroom performance and learning situation. Schools and teachers understand the demands of parents and understand they want to see their child's classroom performance. 'As of today, we have not received complaints by parents or students.' The streaming site released a statement saying that they provide a good service for parents The statement said: 'As of today, we have not received complaints by parents or students' However online people have been debating whether the live streaming should be allowed. One user commented on The Paper's story: 'A student under such as weird education system will have psychological problems.' While another said: 'Live streaming a dormitory...for those who have their daughter staying there, have you ever thought that men can get access to watch your daughter all the time?' And one user wrote: 'Installing cameras at school is pretty common, which I can understand. But livestreaming is completely over the top. 'If parents are to care about their children, they can go to school and watch over the CCTV. Do you think this is the right thing to do by exposing children's privacy to the public?' Mohamed Amrani (pictured) was accused of raping a woman in his Harefield office while still wearing his theatre scrubs One of Britains top heart surgeons faces a possible retrial after jurors failed to decided whether he was guilty of raping a woman at work. Yesterday, Mohamed Amrani was convicted of groping two women. The Old Bailey heard Amrani thought no one would complain about his behaviour because of his international reputation as a consultant at Harefield Hospital in west London. His wife Clare, who worked at the same hospital, silently wept in court as she heard that jurors could not reach a verdict on a charge of rape. Amrani, internationally renowned for his specialist knowledge of keyhole surgery techniques, was suspended in 2015 when a woman made a formal complaint that the surgeon attacked her in his Harefield office while still wearing his theatre scrubs. He claimed the rape allegation was 'pure fantasy'. A jury deliberated for 20 hours to find him guilty of twice indecently assaulting a woman by groping her breasts through her clothes between 2003 and 2004. Yesterday, he was also convicted of sexually assaulting another woman in 2014. The court had heard how one victim complained to the hospital about being indecently assaulted and was allegedly told to 'just ignore him, he does it to everyone'. Her husband described it as 'a pretty devastating event' in her life. He told the court she came home and was 'very very upset', adding: 'My wife told me she had been groped and I understood that to be touching her over her clothing in a sexual manner.' Amrani was acquitted of four counts of indecent assault, two of assault by penetration and one of sexual assault. The consultant has performed a string of life-saving operations around the world and hit the headlines in 2007 when he performed the UK's first double heart valve replacement using keyhole surgery. This is the moment a woman in a burka was dragged off a packed bus by undercover police in the same operation that led to another young female Muslim being shot streets away. Exclusive MailOnline footage shows the bus passenger in Muslim dress, believed to be in her early 20s, screaming as at least five officers snatched her off public transport on Willesden High Road last night. She was bundled into a doorway next to a convenience store, forced to lower her veil to show her face and had her bags searched after being trailed by undercover police. Scotland Yard told MailOnline that she has not been arrested - but it is understood that she was grabbed while with a 20-year-old man who was. Video of the bus raid shows it was pre-planned with more than a dozen officers grabbing and swamping the woman, including some who were travelling on public transport with her. The man also on board is understood to have run off but was quickly arrested by more police nearby. Drama: This is the moment a woman in a burka was dragged off a packed bus by undercover police in synchronised terror raids Drama: This is the moment a woman in a burka was dragged off a packed bus by undercover police in synchronised terror raids Orders: Undercover police in balaclavas flooded Willesden High Road and moved the bus the woman was on away In a separate raid a woman, also in a burka, was wrestled by police in Willesden High Street She had got off the 266 bus, which was quickly waved on by counter-terror officers at the scene. Officers went through her bags but she was released after being 'spoken to', the Met said. Witness Eddie, who filmed the arrest, said: 'They pulled her off the 98 bus, it comes from Oxford Street. 'They were searching her bags. They made her take the veil off while they searched her in a doorway. 'As she came off more police came off directly behind her. About five minutes before a guy was standing directly next to the bus stop with an ear piece. 'I thought he was lost but he was obviously orchestrating the entire operation.' Robert Murphy, 43, a bookmaker said the cops had suddenly put balaclava masks on moments before detaining the suspect. He said: 'I was outside the pub having a cigarette and it was obvious that something was going to happen. 'The police were dressed like normal fellas and then all of a sudden they put on balaclavas and they rushed at the woman. 'They kicked the door in and burst inside with her. 'They wouldn't let any busses stop afterwards, the woman was being searched for about half an hour. 'Then a black Range Rover pulled up and they put her inside and took her away.' Several people filmed the operation in Willesden High Road (pictured) last night - but the woman pictured was not arrested Officers went through her bags (pictured) but she was released after being 'spoken to', the Met said Police sent in this black Range Rover and the woman was put in the back and swept her away Woman arrested in third operation A woman was arrested by police in east London in a third separate operation across the capital in 24 hours. The 47-year-old was held at an address in east London on Friday morning on suspicion of conspiring with others to fund and support terrorism as part of an ongoing investigation into the funding of terrorism in Syria. The Met Police said her arrest was not linked to the counter terror raid in Willesden, north west London, on Thursday night in which a 20-year-old woman was shot, or the arrest of a 27-year-old in Westminster on Thursday afternoon. A Met Police spokesman said: 'Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command have this morning arrested a 47-year-old woman at a residential address in east London on suspicion of conspiring with others to fund and support terrorism as part of an ongoing investigation into the funding of terrorism in Syria. 'She remains in custody in a south London police station at this time. She has been detained under PACE. Inquiries continue.' Advertisement Half a mile away in a near-simultaneous raid more elite Met officers smashed through the door, ran up to the first floor flat and then threw in CS canisters before 'at least six' shots rang out including two that shattered an upstairs window. The 20-year-old Muslim woman shot by police as they foiled an 'active terror plot' was taken away on a stretcher in her blood-soaked burka yelling: 'Don't touch my body'. The suspect screamed 'get off - do not touch me' as they tried to strip off her clothes and treat her wounds after the raid in Willesden, north London, at 7pm last night. Neighbours heard a woman 'screaming' inside before the young suspect lay on the pavement bleeding from her arm and stomach while still wearing her burka. One said: 'Doctors were trying to help her. She was shouting: 'Do not touch me, do not touch my body'.' Another witness who saw the raid's aftermath said: 'They brought down a lady in a black burka. She had been shot the paramedics stripped off her clothing to get access to the wounded areas.' Pictured: This is the moment the 20-year-old woman shot by police was taken away on a paramedic's gurney covered in blood and still wearing her burka Raid: This is the moment anti-terror police stormed a house and shot a woman in her 20s in Willesden north London last night Bullet holes in the upstairs window of a property in Willesden, North London which was raided by anti-terror police yesterday The woman - believed to be the first female terror suspect in UK history to be shot by police - was rushed to hospital where she remains in a serious but stable condition and is too unwell to be arrested under the terrorism act. A 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman were arrested inside the Willesden house and a man, 20, was arrested nearby. A couple, both 28, were held last night as they arrived home. Simultaneously a woman, 43, was arrested at an address in Kent. Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu said today that the raids meant an 'active' terror plot had been foiled - but had nothing to with the arrest of a 27-year-old with a 'rucksack of knives' grabbed on Whitehall yesterday. Residents of Harlesden Road say that the property was being watched on the morning of the raid and MI5 were also 'heavily' involved in the operation, a security source told MailOnline. A 16-year-old boy and and a 20-year-old woman were arrested inside the Willesden house and a man, 20, was arrested nearby. A couple, both 28, were held last night as they arrived home. Simultaneously a woman, 43, was arrested at an address in Kent. All were held on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of terrorist acts - but the shot woman is currently too ill to be arrested. Allegations that a Fox News boss employed longstanding friends as consultants earning up to $10,000 are being investigated, a rival network has claimed. A report by CNN alleges that fraud experts from the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) have joined a Justice Department probe into business practices. CNN reports that four sources connected to the investigation have confirmed USPIS officers are working on the case, and former staffers are among those interviewed. Former Fox News boss Roger Ailes employed several of his longtime friends as consultants on up to $10,000 a month, it is claimed The USPIS is responsible for investigating mail fraud and wire fraud cases. The report claims they are looking at whether former boss Roger Ailes employed longtime friends as consultants, with one reportedly earning $10,000 a month. An insider told CNN Money last August: 'Longtime friends of Roger's dating back to the '70s are beginning to exit the building.' In February it emerged that the Justice Department investigation into Fox News was focusing on whether the network properly reported sexual harassment settlements to shareholders. The allegations were made against Ailes, who left the network in July last year, and investigators were said to be examining who knew about the payments, and who should have known. All parties have thus far declined to comment on the fresh claims. The investigation has been carried out by the Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, formerly led by US attorney Preet Bharara. In March Bharara was ousted from office by US President Donald Trump, and this has sparked speculation about whether he will act on any findings, CNN states. Sean Hannity has launched a passionate defense of Fox News' co-president after it was reported his time at the network could be coming to an end The news comes after Sean Hannity launched a passionate defense of Fox News' co-president Bill Shine amid speculation his time at the network could be coming to an end. The polarizing host fired off a series of tweets on Thursday afternoon amid rumors Shine was potentially losing support from the Murdochs - particularly James and Lachlan. New York Magazine cited a source close to Shine - who has been with Fox News since its inception - as saying he is 'expressing concern about his future at the network.' The magazine's writer, Gabriel Sherman, claimed in the piece James and Lachlan Murdoch have refused to publicly back Shine. They also ignored his request to release a statement supporting him. Responding to the article, Hannity tweeted at Sherman: 'Gabe i pray this is NOT true because if it is, that's the total end of the FNC as we know it. Done. Best Sean.' The host then continued to discuss the story, even going as far as to claim Shine was being sabotaged by someone within Fox News. 'Somebody HIGH UP AND INSIDE FNC is trying to get an innocent person fired. And Gabe I KNOW WHO it is. Best Sean. 'I'll change it. #Istandwithshine.' Marine Le Pen is closing the gap between rival Emmanuel Macron in the latest French election poll after the centrist was accused of taking victory for granted. Macron is still predicted a win on May 7, but his share of the vote could be 59 per cent, down four points, according to an Odoxa survey. Marine Le Pen is on 41 per cent, up four points from earlier in the week. Marine Le Pen is predicted to gain 41 per cent of the French election vote, up four percent from earlier this week, according to a poll. She is closing the gap with centrist rival Emmanuel Macron Mr Macron is seen here signing the guest book during a campaign to visit the ruins of the village of Oradour-sur-Glane, whose inhabitants were massacred by the Nazi SS Emmanuel Macron is predicted to win the election with 59 per cent of the vote, but has been criticised for taking victory for granted after he won the first round of voting Mr Macron, centre right, listens to the mayor of Oradour-sur-Glane Philippe Lacroix, during a campaign visit to the ruins of Oradour-sur-Glane Mr Macron lays a bouquet of flowers with Robert Hebras, one of the survivors of the massacre at the village The poll also showed 40 per cent of supporters of the defeated first-round French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon would vote Emmanuel Macron, while half of Francois Fillon voters would do the same. More than 40 percent of Melenchon voters plan to abstain. An opinion poll on Friday predicted Macron would beat Le Pen by 60 percent to 40 percent in the run-off vote. Mr Macron pictured with his wife Brigitte, second from left, and survivor Robert Hebras, centre left Mr Macron at the municipal cemetery, in Oradour-sur-Glane, where people who died in the massacre are buried The poll comes after the former National Front leader hijacked Macron's visit to a Whirlpool factory in his hometown of Amiens by visiting the plant earlier in the day Macron was criticised for taking victory for granted after he hosted a celebratory dinner when he won the first round of voting. He celebrated at Paris's upscale Rotonde restaurant and was accused of 'speaking as if he had won already' by Florian Philippot, deputy leader of the National Front. The poll comes after the former National Front leader hijacked Macron's visit to a Whirlpool factory in his hometown of Amiens when she went to see them earlier in the day. Macron was forced to make a detour and visit a factory several miles away, where he was booed and heckled by workers. When Le Pen visited Whirlpool workers in the northern French city, she said: 'I am for French workers. 'When I heard that Emmanuel Macron was coming here and did not plan to meet the workers, did not plan to come to the picket line but would shelter himself who knows where in the chamber of commerce ... I considered it was such a sign of contempt for the Whirlpool workers that I decided to ... come here and see you.' Macron celebrated his first round win at Paris's upscale Rotonde restaurant and was accused of 'speaking as if he had won already' by Front National deputy leader Florian Philippot Macron was forced to make a detour and visit another factory several miles away, where he was heckled by workers. They were protesting over their jobs being moved to Poland next year Whirlpool staff have been protesting over their jobs being relocated to Poland and were outraged when Macron said he could not guarantee their jobs. He said: 'I'm not telling you that I'm going to save your jobs, because nobody can do it.' Macron is due to visit a village that has been preserved as it was when SS soldiers killed nearly all of its inhabitants in 1944. He will visit Oradour-sur-Glane, a village in central France, which is a 'frozen-in-time' memorial to the 642 men, women and children killed in the space of a few hours in June 1944. Le Pen said she wanted to replace the 'grey' EU with a 'happy Europe'. Macron is expected to visit a village where almost everyone was killed by the SS in 1944 On Thursday, Le Pen said she wanted to replace the 'grey' EU with a 'happy Europe', in a speech that focused on her plans to build back border checks, but she did not mention her anti-euro stance. Macron is in favour of closer European integration, although in interviews on Thursday he sought to present a tough position on countries he felt do not play by the rules. Germany's Europe Minister Michael Roth said a victory for Le Pen, 'Would be the end of the EU as we know it. 'I don't want to speculate but of course this would have massive consequences for a united Europe,' he said. 'It would be a clear signal that things cannot go on as they are.' 'I am pleased that Macron is in first place and has a good chance to win the election.' Hollywood director Joss Whedon has inadvertently trolled a group of teenage cancer survivors while trying to make fun of House Speaker Paul Ryan. The Avengers director, who also co-wrote Toy Story, took to Twitter and ended up ridiculing their 'not a 10' looks when Ryan met them in Washington DC. The Republican, 47, uploaded a photograph of him meeting the Wisconsin teens and added that they shared their 'powerful stories about battling cancer'. But Whedon's attempt to mock Ryan backfired when stunned Twitter users noticed that he was commenting on the appearance of a group of cancer survivors. Director Joss Whedon (pictured) has come under fire for commenting about the appearnce of teenage cancer survivors House Speaker Paul Ryan met the group of teenage cancer survivors in Washington DC and added that they shared 'powerful stories' with him His original tweet, which has now been deleted, read: 'Tonight on White House Wife Hunt, Donny makes host P. Ryan give 2 more contestants the 'Not a 10 card'.' However, the message was immediately criticised with social media users suggesting his comment was 'cruel' and 'sexist' and showed him being 'out of touch'. Whedon, 52, who created the hit television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, removed the tweet and issued an apology. He said: 'So I tweeted something that inadvertently offended everyone except the people I was trying to offend. I'm sorry. I'll be quiet for a bit.' After deleting his tweet from his feed, Whedon tweeted an apology and said he was 'sorry' for tweeting something 'that inadvertently offended' people Twitter user Anita Anderson could not believe that he was 'mocking' children who are cancer victims 'because of the election result' People on Twitter were outraged after he posted the message to his 179,000 followers. Others questioned his apology and author Mark Dice wrote: 'You made fun of kids who survived cancer you Satanic scumbag.' Anita Anderson added: 'Mocking children who are cancer victims all because you can't grow up and accept the result of an election that happened over five months ago? Wow.' Even fans of his work slammed his message and asked why he was commenting on the girls' looks and appearance. Theresa May today branded North Korea 'a risk to global peace and security' as she held talks with the Japanese PM on the growing threat of war in the region. The Prime Minister met with Shinzo Abe at Chequers, where they vowed to work together to stand up North Korea in the wake of a series of ballistic missile tests by the rogue power. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was at a UN summit where world leaders discussed introducing a fresh wave of sanctions on the authoritarian regime. The world is on heightened alert amid fears that the US and North Korea are heading for nuclear war. Theresa May today welcomed Shinzo Abe to Chequers, where they talked about the growing threat of war with North Korea The pair took a stroll through the grounds before holding a press conference where they pledged to uphold democracy around the world Donald Trump has warned the US could 'absolutely' go to war with the dictatorship, while US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson today told the UN that 'all options are on the table'. Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Mrs May said post-Brexit Britain will 'step up' and be counted on the world stage. Mrs May said: 'We have also highlighted our opposition to any actions on the South and East China Seas likely to increase tension. 'Stability in this region is of global concern and we encourage all parties to resolve their disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law. 'As we meet today, North Korea continues to take provocative action in the Asia-Pacific region. And the United Nations Security Council is meeting to discuss this very issue. 'In the face of this belligerence we stand steadfast in our condemnation of such destabilising activity. The two leaders also discussed trade and investment in the high-level talks Mrs May hailed Japan as Britain's closest Asian security partner and vowed to stand up to North Korean aggression - which she branded a risk to global peace and security The two leaders took a tour of the grounds at the PM's country residence as they held talks The PM and her Japanese counterpart then addressed the press, where they pledged to stand up to North Korea and promote peace in the region 'Their nuclear and missile tests are a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and international obligations, and a risk to global peace and stability.' The PM said the two leaders have agreed to work together to 'deepen our strong and vital partnership'. Boris Johnson shakes hands with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the UN today. The US used the meeting to call for fresh sanctions against North Korea The Foreign Secretary met with politicians around the world to discuss imposing fresh sanctions on North Korea in an attempt to bring the dictatorial regime to heel Mr Johnson, pictured today at the UN Security Council, urged China and Russia to use whatever influence they have over North Korea to ease tensions The Foreign Secretary told the UN Security Council that North Korea 'must obey the UN and halt its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes' immediately She said the two leaders have agreed to work together and with other allies 'to maintain pressure on North Korea and counter the security threat posed by its illegal pursuit of nuclear weapons and work towards a peaceful solution'. The US president has been ratcheting up pressure Kim Jong Un amid fears the regime is on the verge of developing long-range ballistic missiles that could hit the States. Mr Trump has deployed an anti-missile system and sent American troops to participate in military exercises with South Korea. And Mr Tillerson used a meeting at the UN today to call for China to do more to bring the dictator who they have supported to heel. He also called for fresh sanctions to be imposed on North Korea. He was backed by Mr Johnson who accused North Korea of issuing 'blood-curdling threats' during the UN Security Council meeting. The Foreign Secretary called on China and Russia to use their influence with Pyongyang to 'restrain' the regime. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, pictured earlier this month, has vowed to continue with his missile tests amid fears it is heading for nuclear war with the United States He said: 'There could hardly be a clearer threat to world peace more demanding of a unified response than the activities of one member of the United Nations, North Korea breaking its treaty obligations, ignoring the will of this council, and making blood-curdling threats to inflict grievous harm on peoples of other countries. 'We urge other partners with direct influence on North Korea to use their leverage to the full with the aim of easing tensions and ensuring compliance with the express will of the UN. 'There is a vital role for China and Russia, both of whom are neighbours of North Korea with influence on Pyongyang, and as permanent members of this council, a special responsibility they have for preserving international peace and security. 'The UK calls on Russia and China, and other member states, to use whatever influence they possess to restrain North Korea and guide its leaders towards a peaceful settlement. 'Britain stands alongside our allies in making clear that North Korea must obey the UN and halt its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes - disarming in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.' Meanwhile, Mrs May also stressed her determination to keep post-Brexit Britain the best destination for trade and investment in Europe. She said: 'During our discussions I updated Prime Minister Abe on our plans for Brexit and reiterated our determination to make sure that the UK remains the best place in Europe to run and grow a business, whether it is operating at home or abroad. 'And we are building from a position of strength.' The PM hailed a string of recent investments by Japanese firms in the UK, including Toyota which last month announced it is pumping another 240million into its Derbyshire car plant. North Korea says it is 'on the brink of nuclear war' as the United States stages military drills with South Korea. The country labeled the United States a 'blackmailing gangster' holding North Korea at 'knifepoint' by supporting its enemies and imposing economic sanctions. The comments come as tensions between the North and United States continue to escalate and leader Kim Jong Un vows to continue nuclear missile tests. North Korea, technically still at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, regularly threatens to destroy the United States and says it will pursue its nuclear and missile programmes to counter perceived US aggression. Scroll down for video North Korea regularly threatens to destroy the United States and says it will continue to test its nuclear and missile programmes to counter perceived US aggression. Pictured above, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un Fiery explosions are pictured during a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) on Tuesday 'It is just the U.S. which has pushed the situation on the peninsula to the brink of nuclear war by staging the largest-ever aggressive joint military drills against the DPRK for the past two months after bringing all sorts of nuclear strategic assets to south Korea,' the North's KCNA state news agency said in a commentary. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The agency continued: 'No one in the world welcomes a gangster blackmailing the owner with a dagger. 'It is an entirely legitimate right to self-defence for the DPRK to further increase its war deterrent to cope with the prevailing grave situation on the peninsula. 'The present reality clearly proves that the DPRK was so right when it made a crucial decision to strengthen its nuclear force in quality and quantity. 'The nuclear force of the DPRK is a treasure sword of justice and reliable war deterrent to defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country and global peace from the nuclear war threat posed by the US.' President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he wanted to resolve the crisis in North Korea peacefully, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option was not off the table Also on Friday, US President Donald Trump said a 'major, major conflict' with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while China said the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control. Trump, speaking to Reuters on Thursday, said he wanted to resolve the crisis peacefully, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option was not off the table. 'There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea,' Trump said in an interview at the Oval Office. 'We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult,' he said, describing North Korea as his biggest global challenge. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was a danger that the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control, his ministry said. Wang made the comments in a meeting at the United Nations with a Russian diplomat on Thursday, the ministry said in a statement. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was a danger that the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control, his ministry said China, the only major ally of North Korea, has been increasingly uncomfortable in recent months about its neighbour's pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles in violation on UN resolutions. The United States has called on China to do more to rein in Pyongyang and Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for his efforts, calling him 'a good man'. 'I believe he is trying very hard. I know he would like to be able to do something. Perhaps it's possible that he can't. But I think he'd like to be able to do something,' Trump said. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that China had asked North Korea not to conduct any more nuclear tests. Beijing had warned Pyongyang it would impose unilateral sanctions if it went ahead, he added. Margaret Fleming, 36, was at a family event on December 17, 1999 The disappearance of a vulnerable woman last seen in public more than 17 years ago may be down to something 'more sinister' than originally thought, police have said. Margaret Fleming, 36, from Port Glasgow in Inverclyde, was reported missing by her carers six months ago but the last independent sighting of her was at a family event on December 17, 1999. Officers have attempted to contact every Margaret Fleming across the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands since carers Edward Cairney, 75, and Avril Jones, 56, reported her missing on October 28 last year. More than 1,700 people and agencies have been contacted as part of the effort to trace Ms Fleming but an exhaustive search has so far yielded no results. A thorough examination of documents and the grounds at her home in Inverkip, Inverclyde, has finally been completed. But officers are still no closer to finding out what happened to Margaret ahead of a scheduled briefing with the Crown Office to discuss the inquiry. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Livingstone said it would be 'foolish' to rule out the possibility of something sinister happening. More than 1,700 people and agencies have been contacted as part of the effort to trace Ms Fleming but an exhaustive search - including at her home (pictured) has yielded no results Her carers Edward Cairney, 75, and Avril Jones, 56, (right) reported Margaret (left) missing on October 28 last year Her carers - who told police that they last saw Margaret at 5.40pm on October 28 last year - have so far declined to issue a public appeal to help find her. Detective Chief Inspector Livingstone said: 'It would be foolish not to consider that something sinister has happened. 'That is still a consideration and has been a consideration from day one but there is no evidence to suggest anything other than this is a missing person situation. 'We have finished our examination of the house and grounds and we are now poring over a number of documents to establish anything that can point us in the right direction. 'We've been in touch with over 1,200 different persons and agencies to ascertain information and, frankly, verify if Margaret is still alive. We await some 200 outstanding responses in this regard. 'Over and above that we have taken statements from 500 people, including Margaret's extended family in the United States and we have three more people to speak to there. 'Once we have everything we will review the situation and then have a discussion with the procurator fiscal office to see if they consider that there is anything further that we should do. 'If there are no further avenues we work on the premise that Margaret is still alive and this remains a missing person inquiry. 'We can all have our thoughts about this case but if you go down that track then focus could be lost and something missed.' Police forensic officers begin excavating the garden of Margaret Fleming in December 2016 A thorough examination of documents and the grounds at her home in Inverkip, Inverclyde, has finally been completed Before Margaret started living with her carers, she had lived with her father Frederick in Port Glasgow until his death in 1995. She then lived with her grandparents and mother Margaret until moving in with her carers in 1997. She is believed to have attended John Watt College in Greenock between 1996 and 1998. Apart from her carers, the last independent sighting of Margaret was on 17 December 1999 at a family gathering. Police said they remain in contact with Ms Fleming's mother, who 'understandably is shocked and distressed at her disappearance'. Margaret is believed to have learning difficulties. She is described as around 5ft 5 inches in height with a heavy build, with collar length black hair and brown eyes. When reported missing on October 28, she was carrying a handbag and wearing a green tartan fleece, dark trousers and dark Karrimor boots. An Illinois judge on Friday denied the Chicago school districts request to halt funding to all districts unless the state can pay for schools in a way that does not discriminate against the citys predominantly poor, Hispanic, and black students, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Cook County Judge Franklin Ulyses Valderramas ruling was a win for the state of Illinois, which had asked for the case to be dismissed. But Valderrama will allow the district to file an amended complaint by May 26. Gov. Bruce Rauners administration hailed the ruling in a statement. With this distraction behind us, we can move forward on working with the General Assembly to fix our states school funding formula, Education Secretary Beth Purvis said. Governor Rauners bipartisan commission has recommended changes that will create an equitable school funding formula to better meet the needs of each student within every school district in our state. Instead of pointing fingers and blaming decades of fiscal mismanagement on a governor who has been in office for two years, CPS should be urging lawmakers to pass a balanced budget that includes changes to our education system that will better meet the needs of every student. With Fridays decision, CPS will have to make some financially wrenching spending decisions before the school year ends. In earlier court filings, the financially-strapped district said that without court action, it would be forced to end the school year earlier than planned and that it would have to cut some summer school programs. The district, along with five parents, sued Rauner, the state board of education, the chairman of the state board of education, the state schools superintendent, and the state comptroller in February alleging that the way Illinois funds its schools is discriminatory towards Chicagos students and has led to the creation of two separate and unequal school systems. The lawsuit asked the court to declare the state school funding formula and the Chicago districts pension obligation unlawful and to bar the state from disbursing education funds unless a more equitable method was developed. The district used the states 2003 Civil Rights Act as the basis for its funding challenge. Under the law the district does not have to prove that the state intentionally discriminates against its students, but that the result of state policies disproportionately affected a protected class based on race, color, gender, or national origin. The district, which has lurched from one financial crisis to the next , has had to make mid-year cuts to make up for $215 million it had expected to receive from the state, but which Rauner vetoed in December. The governors team has said that the money was always contingent on larger pension reforms in Illinois. In addition to making millions of dollars in cuts, the districts $715 million payment to the Teachers Pension Fund is due at the end of June. The teachers union, which did not support the lawsuit, said the district cannot legitimately claim to defend minority students after laying off minority educators and closing schools in predominantly Hispanic and black neighborhoods. With fewer than 30 instructional days to go before the end of the school year, the lawsuit wasted taxpayers time and money, the union said in a statement. Instead of a Hail Mary lawsuit built for PR purposes, the mayor and his handpicked board of education and CPS CEO should have immediately guaranteed school for the month of June through sensible use of tax-increment financing and the corporate head tax, the CTU said. Yet they chose to use our students and their families as pawns in a prolonged fight with the governor. Related stories: Long Building, Chicago Schools Fiscal Crisis Reaches Boiling Point In Chicago School Funding Battles, Human Costs Are Steep Chained to a tiny plank of wood in a family's kitchen, this baby orangutan led a life of misery. The 18-month-old ape, named Bonika, was discovered last November shackled so tightly in the West Borneo home she could scarcely move from side to side. But Bonika has gotten a new lease on life after she was taken into care by the International Animal Rescue Orangutan Centre (IAROC) in Ketapang. Images show Bonika looking far removed from her life of captivity as she swings from trees with a healthy glow. Bonika swings from trees with a healthy glow inside the Animal Rescue Orangutan Centre The baby ape was chained to a tiny plank of wood in a family's kitchen in West Borneo Heribertus Suciadi, a staff member from the IAROC, said Bonika was on the right track to be released into the wild. Bonika loves to observe the world from the top of a tree, therefore whenever the babies arrive at school she will climb up high then swing from tree to tree. She is showing all the signs of becoming the perfect candidate for eventual release back into the forest. The story grabbed headlines last year after it was revealed Bonika was captured by Bapak Hendrigus, who found her in the middle of a palm oil plantation. Bonika was set free briefly each morning and evening to play with his daughter, but was chained up the rest of the time. When IAR's Human-Orangutan Conflict Team (HOC) was visiting Sandai district, they heard about Bonika rushed to the animals aid. She has has gotten a new lease on life after she was taken into care by rescuers Rescuers say she is showing the signs needed for eventual release into the wild The story grabbed headlines last year after it was revealed Bonika was captured by Bapak Hendrigus Bonika was shackled so tightly in the West Borneo home she could scarcely move from side to side Fighters aligned with Islamic State said sorry to Israel after firing on its troops, a former Israeli defence minister has revealed. Moshe Ya'alon was apparently referring to a clash in the Golan Heights - where Israel and Syria have a border - last November in which four fighters from the IS-affiliated Khalid ibn al-Walid Army were killed. During the attack, IDF soldiers exchanged fire with the terrorist group but the battle was soon over when Israeli tanks and planes crushed the jihadis. Scroll down for video Not so tough: Former Israeli defence minister said IS-affiliated fighters said sorry after a skirmish in November According to a German man who visited the Islamic State in 2014, the only country in the world the terrorists fear is Israel. Pictured above, smoke caused by shelling along in the Golan Heights Speaking to reporters in Afula, northern Israel, the Times of Israel quoted Mr Ya'alon as saying: 'There was one case recently where Daesh [IS] opened fire and apologized.' He did not expand on his remark and the Israeli army refused to comment. Under Israeli law, it is technically illegal to communicate with a terrorist group because they are classed as 'enemy agents' - raising questions as to how exactly the apology was delivered. But a clue might be found in the testimony of Jurgen Todenhofer, the German man who spent 10 days inside the Islamic State in 2014. During the fighting in November last year, four fighters from Khalid ibn al-Walid - aligned with Islamic State - were killed by Israeli tanks and planes He told the Jewish News the only country IS fighters feared is Israel. 'They told me they know the Israeli army is too strong for them,' he said. He added: 'They are not scared of the British and the Americans, they are scared of the Israelis and told me the Israeli army is the real danger.' Mr Ya'alon's comment about the apology was related to his country's strategy in the Syrian Civil War. Israel has adopted a policy of non-intervention in Syrian Civil War, but has defended its borders when fighting spilled over in the past. Above, Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi adopts an unapologetic stance Just yesterday Israeli planes bombed an Iranian-supplied arms depot near the Syrian capital, Damascus They have remained out of the fight for the most part, but have hit back hard when fighting spills into the Israeli Golan Heights - land Israel took from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. Yesterday Israel bombed an Iranian-supplied arms depot near the Syrian capital, Damascus. Speaking in Moscow on Wednesday, where he was attending a security conference, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Israel 'will not allow Iranian and Hezbollah forces to be amassed on the Golan Heights border'. An assistant principal at a Pennsylvania magnet school has been placed on administrative leave after a video caught him yelling at pro-life teenagers protesting on campus. The video, posted on YouTube by one of the protesters, shows a heated argument between STEM Academy assistant principal Zach Ruff, 16-year-old Conner Haines and his 19-year-old sister Lauren over abortion. Conner and Lauren Haines are standing on a sidewalk outside of STEM Academy in Downington, Pennsylvania, last Friday, both holding pro-life signs, as Ruff appears to be directing traffic away from the school at the end of a school day. Scroll down for video STEM Academy assistant principal Zach Ruff was caught on video yelling at pro-life teenagers The incident took place on the Downington, Pennsylvania, campus sidewalk last Friday (above) Ruff walks toward the siblings and threatens to call the police unless they leave campus. Connor Haines refuses to move, telling Ruff they are standing on a public sidewalk and inviting him to call the police. Ruff stands in front of them in an attempt to block students from seeing their signs. Connor Haines tries engaging Ruff in a conversation about abortion, telling him, 'Sir, these are image bearers of God'. In response, Ruff turns around, points at their sign of what appears to be an aborted fetus and says, 'You can go to hell, where they are, too'. When one of the teens declares, 'Innocent children are being murdered in our society', Ruff gets physically angrier. He yells, 'Theyre not children, theyre cells! Youre at a science-based school, those are cells.' Ruff repeatedly tells the protesters, Conner and Lauren Haines, to leave and curses at them Lauren Haines attempts to interject, but Ruff interrupts her and says, 'Then take it out, and if it can live on its own, its friggin awesome'. The argument escalated when Connor Haines told Ruff to turn to 'Jesus Christ' for th forgiveness of his sins. 'Listen here, son. I am as gay as as the day is long. I dont give a f*** what Jesus tells me about what I should and should not be doing. You are harassing public school students and I will call the police if you dont shut up.' Ruff went on to call the Bible a 'work of fiction' and told Haines that he and Trump 'can go to hell'. Ruff attempts to grab Haines's sign and yells at the siblings, 'Stop harassing my children'. This apparently incites one witness to get out of his vehicle and confront Ruff on the sidewalk. A man confronts Ruff for telling the protesters to leave and calls him a 'loony, wacko liberal' 'You got a f***in problem?,' an unidentified man yelled in Ruff's face. 'He's on public property,' he said, pointing at Haines. 'Hes not allowed to yell at my students,' Ruff replied. 'He can do whatever the f*** he wants,' the man said. When Ruff told the man that he was holding up traffic, the man told him he 'didn't give a s***'. Ruff then threatened to call the police and the man walked back to his vehicle, saying, 'Another loony, wacko liberal'. For the rest of the 18-minute video, Ruff tries to block out the protesters cries by singing loudly at the passing vehicles. The video, which has more than 11,000 views, prompted the Downingtown Area School District to place Ruff on leave pending a formal investigation. 'We do not condone or support the conduct expressed in the video and are deeply disappointed that this incident occurred. His conduct does not represent the values of the school district or the respect we expect our employees to show for the civil rights of others,' the district wrote in a statement on its Facebook page. Downingtown Area School District placed Ruff on leave pending an investigation into the video A Facebook user who identified themselves as a STEM Academy student said the siblings were blocking traffic and distracting drivers with gruesome images of aborted fetuses. 'Mr Ruff had every right to defend his students. What they are not showing in this video is what the posters actually depicted. There was a horrendous image of a dead baby covered in blood. This image distracted me and I almost rear-ended the person in front of me,' they wrote. Connor and Lauren Haines are part of the Christian activist network Project Frontlines. Members speak out against abortion on school campuses nationwide. It is unclear why the siblings, who do not attend STEM Academy, were protesting at the school and on that day. A machete-wielding man grilled people about their political affiliation before attacking them and leaving at least two students injured at a central Kentucky university's coffee shop today. The attack took place about about 9.00am this morning at Jazzman's Cafe coffee shop on the Transylvania University campus in Lexington, Kentucky. Witnesses said that a man entered the cafe and demanded the political affiliation of those inside before attacking them. Alleged Transylvania University campus machete attacker Mitchell Adkins dropped out in 2015. Witnesses said he grilled coffee shop patrons about their political affiliations, before attacking students with a machete. Charges against him include first-degree assault Police have since identified the man as former student Mitchell Adkins and said that he was armed with a machete and knives. Current Transylvania student Tristan Reynolds told the Lexington Herald-Ledger that he saw the man, Adkins, enter the coffee shop. 'A guy came in, banged something, a hatchet or an ax, on the table and said, "the day of reckoning has come," ' Reynolds recalled. 'He asked somebody what their political affiliation was, they said "Republican" and the guy said "you are safe." And then I realized what was going on and started getting people out.' 'We started to scatter and then very, very quickly, campus security was getting everybody sheltered and secure,' Reynolds said. Fellow Transylvania student Michael Soder, who also witnessed the attack, confirmed Reynolds' account of what Adkins said. Campus machete attack witnesses Tristan Reynolds (left) and Michael Soder (right) said that Adkins asked coffees hop patrons about their political affiliation before starting the attack Police secure Transylvania's campus Friday morning, after subduing machete-wielding Adkins Police officers and Transylvania University President Seamus Carey (in white) pictured outside Jazzman's Cafe after Adkins had been subdued and the injured student was taken to hospital Soder told Lex 18 that Adkins was dressed like a contractor and carrying what looked like a tool bag. 'He just pulled out the hatchet and just kind of hit it on the table and we all just looked over there,' he said. 'The biggest shock was just students didn't know what was going on, didn't know if this was something serious, you just never expect something like that to happen on your campus.' Campus security officers were able to quickly subdue Adkins, which prevented further injury, Lexington Police Chief Mark Barnard said. One female student was injured in the attack and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Fire department Battalion Chief Joe Best. She was 'safe and her family is with her at UK Hospital,' Transylvania University President Seamus Carey told the Herald-Ledger. Transylvania University officials said Adkins dropped out in 2015. Another female student was apparently injured as well, but she was treated on site at the campus. Alleged attacker Adkins was taken to the hospital to be evaluated, but is now in police custody, facing charges of first-degree assault, three counts of wanton endangerment and fourth-degree assault. Police said that Adkins' wounds were self-inflicted. Transylvania's spokesperson Michele Sparks told BuzzFeed News that at the time of the attack, there were about 30 people inside Jazzman's Cafe and that a staffer alerted campus police by pushing a silent alarm. 'Our DPS staff was on site within minutes and apprehended the suspect very rapidly,' Sparks said. 'He actually cooperated with our DPS at first. When they came into the room, he dropped his weapon pretty quickly, but then there was a minor struggle and he was taken to the ground and handcuffed.' Sparks also said that Adkins dropped out of Transylvania in 2015. BuzzFeed News reports that Adkins wrote a community post on the site, titled 'Discrimination Of Conservatives In Liberal Arts,' in November 2015. In the post which he subtitled 'How a fight for equality has resulted in discrimination on a whole new level' he wrote that 'I am proud of who I am, but this school has shown me that it's not okay to be a Republican anymore.' Adkins added, 'All of these people who are all about non-discrimination and against bullies and all for equality, are more than happy to turn around and scream at someone for being different, kick him to the ground, and leave him there. 'I am not the bigot at this school, it is those who go back on their beliefs in order to encourage them.' Four months later, Adkins updated the post, stating that he had dropped out of Transylvania due to 'the constant bullying and lack of friends,' which he claimed 'drove me to an overdose, a trip to the hospital, and two trips to a mental hospital. The constant thought of knowing I'd never fit in was too much for me to bear.' School officials cancelled classes today and area roads were blocked as police investigated. Victoria's disgraced former deputy Speaker Don Nardella has agreed to repay $98,000 he claimed in parliamentary allowances to live by the seaside. He has struck a deal to repay the money in instalments, Fairfax Media reports. However, Mr Nardella maintains he broke no rules in claiming the allowance. Disgraced Don Nardella says he did nothing wrong with claiming the second residence allowance It's understood Mr Nardella will repay the money by taking a pay cut between now and the November 2018 election. He will pay a further $16,000 as a lump sum by November 24 next year. The deal comes after months of Mr Nardella refusing to pay back the money he claimed to live in the seaside town of Ocean Grove instead of his St Kilda apartment. The second residence allowance was originally designed to help country MPs keep a second home in the city when parliament sits. The idyllic seaside town of Ocean Grove where Don Nardella stayed using parliamentary allowances instead of residing in his St Kilda apartment However, Mr Nardella, along with former Speaker Telmo Languiller, used a loophole in the system to claim the perk. Mr Languiller quickly agreed to repay the almost $40,000 that he had claimed. Premier Daniel Andrews announced earlier this week parliament would force Mr Nardella to repay the money "whether he likes it or not", and was seeking the best mechanism to do so. He told reporters he hoped Mr Nardella would agree to pay rather than parliament needing to resort to measures to enforce repayment. Mr Andrews also this week announced a sweeping overhaul of the parliamentary allowances system, including restricting the second residence allowance to those representing regional seats. John Ray warned Sarra Gilbert would kill again after a jury found her guilty of second degree murder A woman who brutally murdered her mother 'will kill someone in prison', her own lawyer has warned. John Ray, who represented Sarra Gilbert, said his client was 'extremely psychotic' and said she had been 'repeatedly homicidal'. Gilbert, 28, was yesterday convicted of second-degree murder for killing her mother Mari, who she stabbed 227 times in a frenzied attack in Ellenville, New York. Mr Ray warned that she would kill again, Record Online reports. He said: 'Because Sarras insane. Sarras insane. Sarras violent. Sarras psychotic. 'She is extremely psychotic, and in her psychosis, she has been repeatedly homicidal,' he told the Daily Freeman. Victim: Mari Gilbert was stabbed 227 times by her daughter Sarra in the frenzied New York attack He said Gilbert had attacked nurses and other patients since her arrest, and continued: 'She killed her mother. She was going to kill her son. She was going to kill her sisters. Gilbert's sister Shannan, 24, was murdered in 2011 in New York 'The chances that Sarra, in a prison, even on meds, will not commit another homicide are very slim. She will kill again.' Proscutor Emmanuel Nneji agreed, stating: 'I wouldnt be surprised that she killed again not because of her mental illness but because she is a sociopath.' In court, Mr Ray argued that Gilbert was criminally insane when she carried out the attack on July 23 last year. Gilbert's mother, 52, had been campaigning to find the murderer old her oldest daughter, sex worker Shannan Gilbert, who died in 2011. Shannan, 24, was a Craigslist escort from Jersey City, who was believed to be the final victim of a still unknown Long Island serial killer, who is also suspected of killing 11 other people. Gilbert is set to be sentenced on August 4. The former girlfriend of a murderer who posted a video on Facebook of himself shooting dead an elderly man says she still loves him despite what he did. Steve Stephens, 37, killed himself last week after police eventually hunted the fugitive down at a McDonald's near Erie, Pennsylvania. Three days earlier, Stephens shot dead 74-year-old Robert Godwin in Cleveland in a random act of violence after breaking up with his girlfriend of three years Joy Lane. Scroll down for video Joy Lane, the former girlfriend of Facebook killer Steve Stephens said she was devastated that the murder of a 74-year-old man in Cleveland on April 16 was carried out in her name Moments before Stephens shot Godwin, he could be heard asking the victim to repeat the name 'Joy Lane' before saying that 'she's the reason that this is about to happen to you'. In an interview with Inside Edition, which will air in full on Friday, Lane opened up for the first time saying she was devastated the murder was carried out in her name. 'I still love him. I miss the Steve that I knew, not the Facebook killer,' Lane said. 'I think of him as a good guy who did something really wrong. I believe Steve loved me probably like no man has ever loved me before. 'I didn't fall in love with that person, I fell in love with the other guy.' She said Stephens had a gambling problem and she told him to choose between his addiction or her. Stephens went on the rampage after his girlfriend, Joy Lane, broke up with him earlier in the day. The former couple pictured above Stephens was wanted on aggravated murder charges for killing 74-year-old Robert Godwin and then posting video of the shooting (above) to Facebook Lane told the program they were still living together days before the shooting and she had no idea he was going to snap. Stephens took to Facebook on Easter Sunday to share footage of the horrifying moment he drove up to his elderly victim, got out of his car and opened fire. Godwin, who had nine children with various partners and a number of grandchildren, was on an afternoon walk when he was approached by Stephens. 'Finally found somebody I'm going to kill, I'm going to go kill this old dude,' Stephens could be heard saying in the Facebook video. Godwin could be seen trying to shield himself with a plastic bag just seconds before he was shot. Shortly after the murder, Stephens' cellphone pinged in Erie. It seems he had stayed put in the town - located 100 miles east of Cleveland - since then Police were tailing Stephens' white Ford Fusion (above) on April 18 when he shot himself Stephens shot himself in Erie, Pennsylvania on April 18 after shooting dead Godwin in Cleveland, Ohio on Easter Sunday His girlfriend at the time and mother of two of his children, 34-year-old Angela Smith, told DailyMail.com Godwin was out collecting soda cans and had promised to return home soon. 'He said "I love you girl" as he left. He always said that. He was looking forward to the lunch I was cooking,' Smith said. 'He said "Call me when the food done" and I was laughing as I said "Ok I'll call you. I got you". 'He loved my chicken and dressing and couldn't wait to eat it.' She said their children, aged 11 and eight, were devastated by their father's death, but could not fathom why he had been gunned down. This is the shocking moment three prisoners punched and kicked two prison guards in the maximum security section of Cook County jail in Chicago. The policy chief for Sheriff Tom Dart said it appeared the prisoners planned the attack on Wednesday night. The officers were left with serious injuries. The sheriff's office is looking to charge all three with attempted murder for the attack. Two of the three were in prison awaiting trial for attempted murder after allegedly shooting an off-duty cop. The third is accused of shooting a six-year-old girl and her aunt according to the Chicago Tribune. Video captures the moment prisoners swarm the two prison guards. One man seems particularly aggressive and starts punching one of the guards after a few of the others fall away. A second joins in and punches the officer in the stomach and he folds over in pain. The three inmates attacked the two prison guards leaving them with serious injuries One officer storms out of the patio area and summons more guards who rush to his aid. A dozen guards run into the patio area, the prisoners hit the ground and the officers puts handcuffs on the three attackers. The culprits are aged 19, 20 and 21. The ages of the prison guards are not known. Tobacco tycoon Travers 'Candyman' Beynon has enjoyed a night out for dinner with four of his new girlfriends. The Gold Coast millionaire was spotted being hand-fed by a bevy of women as he enjoyed dinner at Hellenika Restaurant in Broacbeach, Queensland on Thursday. Beyon posed for pictures in a black three piece suit, with his four girlfriends and his wife, who were all dressed in black. In one image Beyon is holding an issue of Ocean Road Magazine, in which he features on the cover The Gold Coast millionaire was spotted being hand-fed by a bevy of women as he enjoyed dinner at Hellenika Restaurant in Broacbeach, Queensland Tobacco tycoon Travers 'Candyman' Beynon has enjoyed a night out for dinner with his new girlfriends Three of the women had Louis Vuitton handbags. In one image Beyon is holding an issue of Ocean Road Magazine, in which he features on the cover. Hellenika is a Greek restaurant specialising in sharing plates and has an extensive wine list. Born in Melbourne in March 1972, Beynon is the heir to the FreeChoice tobacconist retail empire. The 45-year-old lives in an extravagant home with Taesha Beynon, who he married in 2011, his girlfriend Nisha and his four children. Beyon posed for pictures in a black three piece suit, with his five girlfriends, who were all dressed in black, three of them wore Louis Vuitton handbags Beynon (centre) is seen posing with his wife of six years (left) and his former girlfriend Kirsty Engelmann (right) Beynon, the so-called 'Dan Bilzerian of Australia,' recently said bed-time with his myriad of women is often a 'hurdle'. 'When you've got one girl, that's one thing. When there's multiple, there's so much going on in my mind,' he told Ocean Road magazine. 'In bed, there's four girls as an average. I often don't get much sleep... I think I come up with a new position every week. 'Bedroom time isn't for me; it's to stimulate the girls. To be good in bed it's not about you.' Beynon is renowned for holding extravagant parties at his Gold Coast mansion Darren Heywood, 46, pictured arriving at Durham Crown Court A man who turned up to meet who he thought was a 13-year-old girl for sex has been jailed after he was greeted and filmed by paedophile hunters. Darren Heywood, 46, contacted the Facebook profile of 'Becka Johnson', believing she was a young teenager. But the account had been set up by paedophile hunters Guardians of the North in an attempt to snare those seeking sexual activity with children. Durham Crown Court heard how Heywood messaged 'Becka' to say she was his 'special girl' but told her to keep it secret. David Lamb, prosecuting, told the court how Heywood told Becka that he would love to be the first person to make love to her. Mr Lamb said: 'He went on to ask if she's ever had sex before and asked her if she would ever sleep with an older man if he has protection. 'He suggested kissing may lead one thing into another and again suggested that if he had protection would Becka sleep with him. 'He indicated to her that he would show her every sexual position possible and treat her like a woman, calling her his sexy baby, adding she had one sexy little body.' Durham Crown Court heard how Heywood messaged 'Becka' to say she was his 'special girl' but told her to keep it secret Mr Lamb told the court how Heywood started talking to the profile on January 15 and organised to meet the 'girl' 16 days later on January 28. Heywood bought a train ticket from his home in Stockton-on-Tees and travelled to Seaham, County Durham, where he was confronted by members of Guardians of the North and later arrested by police. Mr Lamb said: 'He admitted being responsible for talking to the Facebook account of Becka Johnson. 'He agreed, following suggestions from the police, he called her 'babe', 'gorgeous' and 'sexy'. His explanation for that at the time was he was just being polite.' Mr Lamb told the court that Heywood said he travelled to meet the girl as he didn't believe the account to be genuine, curiosity had got the better of him and he found it exciting. He initially ran away from Guardians of the North before being detained by them. Heywood admitted attempting to meet a child under 16 following grooming. Heywood turned up to meet who he thought was a 13-year-old girl for sex but was greeted and filmed by paedophile hunters Maria Tempow, defending, told the court Heywood married young and was in a violent relationship whereby he was the victim. She said this had led to him living in Stockton alone in shared accommodation where he became involved in this offending. Ms Tempow said: 'He's very remorseful, this was out of character for him. He says he was in a dark place, he was taking some drugs.' Judge Christopher Prince said he did not accept Heywood was remorseful. He said: 'You engaged in a period of 16 days attempting to arrange a meeting and have sex with what you believed to be a 13-year-old. 'How can you express remorse if you don't admit there is sexual motivation behind this offending?' Judge Prince sentenced Heywood to 16 months in prison. He also ordered him to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and and abide by a sexual harm prevention order. Editors Note: Lately, I have been seeing an increase in educators asking for help in connecting their classrooms to others around the world. So I asked Pernille Ripp , a seventh grade English language arts teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, and author of the new book, Reimagining Literacy Through Global Collaboration , to share her story of how she connects her students to the world. The best ideas often start with silence. At least, thats how it is for me. A quiet moment in my classroom on the final day of school made me realize that I needed to change as a teacher. A quiet moment with my own thoughts made me start a blog , and a quiet moment in the car on a warm summers eve is what started the Global Read Aloud . Who knew? It turns out that sometimes our best ideas just need silence to be heard. Creating My Own Global Project I never intended to create a project that would connect millions of students. I knew that I had to bring the world in, that I had to connect my own class of 26 students with others so that they could understand not just each others differences, but the similarities between us all. I knew that, in this ever-expanding world, I needed to help my students realize the immense power of the technology they were using. So seven years ago I asked the world if anyone would be interested in doing a global read aloud with our respective students? I proposed we pick the same book to read aloud in our classrooms, follow a schedule so no class gets ahead, and then use whatever tools we have to connect as we worked our way through the book. Would anyone be interested? Yes! Three hundred students around the world took part. And since then, it has only grown. More than one million students participated in the Global Read Aloud in 2017. We use whatever tools we have access toSkype, Twitter, Padlet, blogging, and even mailand now we are connected across six different continents. Use What You Already Know Within our literacy curriculum, and yours, lies one of the largest opportunities we can give students to connect with others, to explore the world, and to understand how their work can impact others. As global educators, we often speak of how this generation of children must adapt to a rapidly changing world, of how we are preparing children for futures that have not even been imagined yet. We can accomplish much of this through our literacy explorationswe can bring the world to our students through our read alouds, projects, and collaborations. My students now know that the global world is within our reach, that we are not alone when we ask our questions. They know that when they post their work online, others will be impacted by it. They know that there is no sense in fearing others, and that technology can help us understand the things we may fear. So as you ponder your own journey toward more connected teaching, one that expands beyond the walls of your school and perhaps even your own own imagination, do not be afraid of the journey ahead. While it may sound like a lot of work, there are ways to keep it not only meaningful, but also manageable. Getting Started Start within the work you already do with students: find a unit, a lesson, or a project that would benefit from global collaboration. Would it be changed if an audience were added and that audience provided feedback in some way? Could your students collaborate with others? Could their work somehow be shared to have an impact on others? Could they in turn be impacted by others? When you plan for global collaboration but use the curriculum you already know, it works as a natural extension of what is already in place. And start small. Seek out pre-existing collaborative projects and dip your toes in. See the difference that it makes with the learning process in your community. This will help you find the courage to do more and to try other things. Seven years ago, I asked the world my question and could never have imagined how the world would answer. Now I cannot imagine teaching without the help of others, without the significant impact global collaboration has had on me, and the very students I get to teach. Other resources for finding global connections can be found here . Connect with Pernille and Heather on Twitter. Image courtesy of Pablo.com . Someone is mysteriously shaving cats in a small Virginia town and feline owners aren't too happy about it. A small city in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley called Waynesboro is the scene of a strange wave of cat shaving. Someone has been taking roaming pet cats and shaving their underbellies or legs. It's happened to seven cats since December. Police Capt. Kelly Walker said Friday that all the cats have been returned otherwise unharmed. Scroll down for video An unidentified pet owner holds her cat, who was apparently shaved against its will by a stranger Maia Oden showed a TV station how her cat had had his belly shaved by a mysterious cat-shaving stranger Walker says all the cats clearly had owners - they were well-groomed and wearing collars. He says police aren't sure what crime has been committed, but the owners 'would just like it to stop.' 'Yeah, someone needs to be caught and people are more aware so they can watch for it and keep it from happening in their neighborhood,' said Maia Oden, who showed WHSV how her ginger cat had has his groin shaved. Walker says he learned of the feline barbering spree this week when a resident asked if he could post notices asking anyone with information to contact police. Since the shaved areas were the cats' underbellies and groins, this would seem to indicate that someone concerned about stray kittens is shaving the felines to check for a spay scar or to spay or neuter the cat. But police say they don't think that's the case, as some of the same cats were shaved more than once, reported NBC 29. Police in Waynesboro allowed neighbors to put up this sign hoping to track down the mysterious cat shaver Cat owner Mary Sproles Martin said on Facebook that her cat had been shaved three times, even though her pet had a visible scar from her spay. Another person, Sarah Dawn Norris, said her friend's cat had been catnapped and shaved three times as well. It's unclear how a cat could have been shaved multiple times in the same area or if the cats were being shaved in different areas. Martin also said her cat's leg had been shaved. A shaved leg could indicate that the cat had been put under anesthesia, but again, the motive remains unclear. Another person pointed out that it would be very difficult for one person to hold a cat down for a shave, so multiple people are probably involved. Other residents found the mysterious shaving creepy, but also a bit amusing. 'Could be ALIEN Abductions!? Just sayin...' asked Drew Tedesco on Facebook. 'Keep an eye out for someone wearing a genuine cat hair sweater,' snarked Johnny Stoll. Former president George H. W. Bush has been discharged from hospital after being treated for pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. Bush, who is the oldest living president at 92, was admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital earlier this month because of a persistent cough. Doctors treated him for a 'mild case' of pneumonia for the second time this year. A family spokesman confirmed the 41st president was released from the hospital on Friday. Former president George H. W. Bush (pictured last week with son President George W. Bush) was discharged from a Houston hospital on Sunday after being treated for pneumonia and chronic bronchitis 'President and Mrs Bush are very pleased to be home spending time with family and friends and grateful for the outstanding care provided by his doctors and nurses,' a statement read. His doctor released a statement on Tuesday saying while President Bush had recovered from pneumonia, he was still dealing with the effects of chronic bronchitis - a condition more prevalent with age. Dr Clint Doerr and his team continued to monitor Bush's breathing throughout the week before he was discharged. 'Once President Bush is home, we will continue aggressive respiratory treatments to help minimize the effects of the chronic bronchitis.' The 92-year-old (pictured in February at the Super Bowl) was admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital earlier this month because of a persistent cough George and Barbara Bush were both hospitalized with pneumonia earlier this year and had to skip Donald Trump's innauguration Bush's son former President George W. Bush visited him in the hospital last week and tweeted: 'Big morale boost from a high level delegation. No father has ever been more blessed, or prouder.' In January, George and Barbara Bush had to skip President Trump's inauguration when they were both hospitalized for pneumonia. The former president said in a note to Trump: 'Barbara and I are so sorry we can't be there for your inauguration on January 20th. My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under. Same for Barbara. So I guess we're stuck in Texas.' 'But we will be with you and the country in spirit. I want you to know that I wish you the very best as you begin this incredible journey of leading our great country. If I can ever be of help, please let me know.' The letter was written before he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia. A small terrier was rescued from abusive owners this week after it was believed to have been shot in the chest with a bow and arrow. The dog, now named Jude, suffered a seven-inch long and four-inch wide laceration to its tiny body from the weapon. Workers from the Southern Cross Animal Rescue who saved the dog said he'd been injured for more than 24 hours at the home in Laurel, Mississippi. A small terrier was rescued from abusive owners this week after it was shot in the chest with a bow and arrow When they arrived on the scene, the owners said that the only action they were willing to take to put the dog out of its misery was to shoot it. The group filed animal cruelty charges against the dog's owners on Thursday, after they admitted to knowing that the dog was injured but refused to get him help. Jude was stitched up at the Parkside Animal Hospital, where his medical bills have already amounted to over $1,000. The dog, now named Jude, suffered a seven-inch long and four-inch wide laceration to its tiny body from the weapon A PayPal account has been established to help the Animal Rescue team fund his rehabilitation. Jude is expected to make a full recovery, but unfortunately the horrific experience has left him emotionally damaged. The Animal Rescue team said in a Facebook post that Jude is frightened by people. The group filed animal cruelty charges against the dog's owners on Thursday, after they admitted to knowing that the dog was injured but refused to get him help 'Unfortunately, his physical wounds will probably heal faster than the emotional wounds,' they said. 'He's very scared and unsure of people. We can only imagine how he must have been treated to be so fearful.' Donations in support of Jude can also be mailed to PO BOX 2007 Laurel, MS 39442. Cleared: Giacomo Marcolin, 21, was accused of boasting about wanting to kill people but was cleared during a hearing A Harrods salesman accused of harassing a female colleague and threatening to 'slit her throat' has been cleared by magistrates. Giacomo Marcolin, 21, worked in the prestigious Knightsbridge department store alongside Tabitha Gray, who claimed he enjoyed boasting about wanting to kill people. Italian Marcolin, who lives in Tottenham, always insisted his comments were in fun and a shoe murder clip was from a popular movie. He was found not guilty of the harassment between July 1 and September 27, last year of Tabitha Elise Gray by repeated contact, making threats to kill others and her and showing her violent video clips. He is now a sales consultant and style advisor at Liberty, having previously worked for luxury brand Kurt Geiger. He claimed he was innocently quoting lines from U.S. television show 'American Horror Stories' and the shoe murder clip was from horror movie 'True Blood'. Ms Gray told Hammersmith Magistrates' Court: 'On the first day I met him I sensed there was something different. He's an interesting character, not like anyone I've met before.' Afraid: Colleague Tabitha Elise Gray, pictured, claimed he showed her violent clips and spoke to wanting to conduct a mass murder She said: 'We were in the back of house at Louis Vuitton and he expressed he wanted to commit the crime of killing people. 'He knew that I was someone who was frightened easily and took advantage of that. He said he would slit my throat last so he could see my reaction. She told the court Marcolin also showed her a violent horror movie clip on the department's computer. She said: 'It was someone being beaten with a heel and that made me uncomfortable and he knew it made me uncomfortable. 'I left the stock room and from that moment onwards we did not remain the friends we were prior to that. 'He showed me a photo on his phone he had taken of a dead fox in the road. He showed no remorse he was enjoying he had this dead fox to show people. 'I believe he enjoyed it. It was something he liked looking at.' Different: Ms Gray told Hammersmith Magistrates' Court: 'On the first day I met him I sensed there was something different. He's an interesting character, not like anyone I've met before' Not funny: Ms Gray claimed Marcolin was not saying it as a joke and his comments left her shocked and afraid Ms Gray said she reported him to management after he told her: 'You will be', when she said sorry for stepping on his foot. 'He said: 'It's not a threat, it's a promise,' and that was the final straw,' she told the court. Prosecutor Mr. Robert Simpson told the court: 'The conduct is making various threatening comments about slitting peoples throats and showing two clips. 'One was of a fox lying dead in the road and the other was a girl being beaten to death with a shoe.' In her statement to police Ms Gray reported Marcolin saying: 'I would like to kill everyone.' 'He was not saying it as a joke,' she told the court, 'I was shocked that he would say that.' After reporting Marcolin, he was suspended and she told police: 'I have not been able to sleep well since he was suspended in case he wanted to hurt me.' She told the magistrates: 'I was genuinely worried he would come back with a vengeance. That he would have more anger. 'I started using different doors at Harrods, coming and going from work. I was on high alert.' Marcolin told the court he accidentally revealed the dead fox image when showing Ms Gray pictures of his new studio flat and was not seriously making death threats Ms Gray's Louis Vuitton colleague Asim Shuja told the court he overheard Marcolin chatting to her. 'It was along the lines of Giacomo committing mass murder, which got my attention. 'It was really uncomfortable for me to hear someone talking like this. I was shocked and Tabitha was very shocked as well.' Marcolin told the court he accidentally revealed the dead fox image when showing Ms Gray pictures of his new studio flat and was not seriously making death threats. He said: 'I said it not in a way I meant it. I have not killed anyone up to now and see no reason why I should. 'She never gave any sign of her feeling harassed. She did not seem shocked or anything, I thought she understood I was joking.' He showed her the shoe clip because the murder weapon was similar to footwear they sold at Harrods, said Marcolin and he joked about Tabitha doing the same thing to her ex-boyfriend's new girl. 'Her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend was on Italian Big Brother and she obviously wasn't over it. 'The girl that killed the other girl is blond and I said: 'Imagine you doing that to her.' 'I don't spend my time talking about killing people or dead people,' he insisted. Cornell University's oldest a cappella group has been permanently disbanded after a review found over a decade of 'severe' hazing, including the forced application of Icy Hot to prospective members' genitals. The ruling, revealed Wednesday in a report from the Ithaca, New York university, puts an end to the Cayuga's Waiters, a prestigious all-male a cappella group with a 68-year history. An administrative review of The Waiters found that 'new members and non-senior members of the organization were subjected to systematic hazing activities.' The hazing included 'requiring new members to: sit naked in an ice bath in a bathroom during an organization trip; apply Icy Hot to their genitals; and, race up and down a street and then consume foods,' the report said. Scroll down for video The Cayuga's Waiters, a prestigious all-male a cappella group with a 68-year history at Cornell, have been disbanded in the wake of serious hazing allegations stretching back over 10 years Administrators found a record of even 'more severe' hazing, which they declined to describe, stretching back for more than 10 years. University alumni who had previously sung in the group also returned to participate in the hazing, the report found. Not including the Cayuga's Waiters, Cornell has at least 13 other a cappella groups, including the Class Notes, Hearsay, and the Hangovers. The Waiters were said to be the oldest though, founded in 1949 as a subset of the Cornell Glee Club. They likely take their name from the Cayuga people, a Native American tribe from the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York. The group has released 25 albums over the years, including 2010's Stripped, 1999's Clothing Optional, and their 1959 debut album as an independent group, Cocktails for Twelve. The Waiters are seen in a file photo from earlier days. The group was founded in 1949, and was the oldest a cappella group at Cornell until they were disbanded over hazing allegations The 1961 album Goodnight Little Girl is one of 25 the a cappella group put out over nearly seven decades. The ruling announced Wednesday puts a permanent end to the group The group's permanent disbanding comes after a temporary suspension instituted in September. Responding to the group's final appeal of the ruling, Cornell Interim President Hunter Rawlings said in a statement that he agreed with the ruling 'that the hazing violations in this case are "extremely serious".' 'This behavior has no place at Cornell, and I agree with the [review board] that dismissal of the organization is appropriate,' the statement added. Boris Johnson today accused North Korea of issuing 'blood-curdling threats' amid growing fears it will drag the world into nuclear war. The Foreign Secretary demanded that Kim Jong Un's backers, China and Russia, do more to bring the tyrant to heel. He said the rogue nation is a 'threat to world peace' and must immediately stop its ballistic missile tests. Scroll down for video Boris Johnson urged tougher action on North Korea during a UN Security Council meeting He spoke out at the UN Security Council amid escalating tensions in the region. Mr Johnson, who warmly greeted his US counterpart Rex Tillerson at the meeting, called on China and Russia to use their influence with Pyongyang to 'restrain' the regime. He said: 'There could hardly be a clearer threat to world peace more demanding of a unified response than the activities of one member of the United Nations, North Korea breaking its treaty obligations, ignoring the will of this council, and making blood-curdling threats to inflict grievous harm on peoples of other countries. 'We urge other partners with direct influence on North Korea to use their leverage to the full with the aim of easing tensions and ensuring compliance with the express will of the UN. The Foreign Secretary looked deep in thought as he met with foreign leaders to discuss hte growing threat posed by North Korea 'There is a vital role for China and Russia, both of whom are neighbours of North Korea with influence on Pyongyang, and as permanent members of this council, a special responsibility they have for preserving international peace and security. 'The UK calls on Russia and China, and other member states, to use whatever influence they possess to restrain North Korea and guide its leaders towards a peaceful settlement.' Donald Trump has warned that the US could 'absolutely' go to war with the power amid fears the regime is on the verge of developing long-range ballistic missiles that could hit the States. mr Johnson warmly greet US Secretray of State Rex Tillerson at the UN. They both urged tougher action against tyrant Kim Jong Un Mr Johnson the UK will stand up to Jong Un despite warnings form the despot that his country will 'never stop' nuclear and missile tests. Mr Johnson said 'Britain stands alongside our allies in making clear that North Korea must obey the UN and halt its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes - disarming in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.' And he urged other countries to toughen up and properly implement the sanctions against Pyongyang. 'The United Kingdom believes it is vital for this council to stand ready to take further significant measures to bring about a peaceful resolution', he said. 'And sooner or later the North Korean regime must realise that their isolation not only holds back their own people, if the regime really cares about their own people, but also weakens their own grip on power. The UN discussion is happening as the White House has declared that all options, including a targeted military strike, are on the table to stop North Korea. US President Donald Trump has said he wants to see a diplomatic resolution to the crisis but fears 'we could end up having a major, major conflict'. The Pentagon on Friday said it was investigating whether two U.S. special operations commandos who were killed in Afghanistan this week had been struck by friendly fire. Army Ranger sergeants Joshua Rodgers, 22, of Illinois, and Cameron Thomas, 23, of Ohio, died in a raid overnight Wednesday-Thursday as they helped attack a headquarters compound of the Islamic State group in the eastern Nangarhar province. 'We are investigating the circumstances of the combat deaths of the two Army Rangers in the beginning of what was an intense three-hour firefight,' Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said. 'It is possible the Rangers were struck by friendly fire.' Army Ranger sergeants Joshua Rodgers, 22 (left), and Cameron Thomas, 23 (right), died in a raid overnight Wednesday-Thursday as they helped attack a headquarters compound of the Islamic State group in eastern Afghanistan A formal probe was underway to determine whether the bullets came from U.S., Afghan or jihadist gunfire. Another U.S. commando was wounded in the raid. Davis said about 50 U.S. special forces and 40 Afghan commandos had been choppered in to the Mohmand Valley late Wednesday near the compound used by Abdul Hasib, whom the Pentagon called the ISIS leader in Afghanistan. That local jihadist group is affiliated with ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and the U.S. military calls it Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K. 'Within a few minutes of landing, our combined force came under intense fire from multiple directions and well-prepared fighting positions,' U.S. Forces-Afghanistan said in a statement. 'Nevertheless, our forces successfully closed on the enemy, killed several high-level ISIS-K leaders and upwards of 35 fighters.' The compound was located near the tunnel complex where the U.S. military on April 13 unleashed the 'Mother Of All Bombs' - a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast device that the Pentagon said was the biggest non-nuclear weapon it had ever used in combat. The Pentagon on Friday said that Rodgers (left) and Thomas (right) may have been hit by friendly fire Vice President Mike Pence stands with his hand over his heart as U.S. Army soldiers carry the flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of U.S. Army Ranger Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base on April 28 in Dover, Delaware Davis said officials suspected Hasib was killed in Wednesday's raid, but it had not been confirmed. In a statement, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis paid tribute to the two dead Rangers. 'Fighting alongside their Afghan partners, Josh and Cameron proved themselves willing to go into danger and impose a brutal cost on enemies in their path,' Mattis said. 'Our nation owes them an irredeemable debt, and we give our deepest condolences to their families.' The Pentagon estimates that about 1,000 ISIS fighters remain in Afghanistan. The jihadists established a foothold there in early 2015 and their numbers now are about half what they were at their peak. 'If confirmed, the death of the emir (Hasib) and his associates will significantly degrade ISIS-K operations in Afghanistan and help reach our goal of destroying them in 2017,' US-Forces Afghanistan said. President Donald Trump is blaming his predecessor President Obama for failing to property vet Gen. Mike Flynn, who Trump hired as his national security advisor only to force him out weeks later over his Russia ties. 'Well, let me just tell you, I do feel badly for him,' Trump said of Flynn, speaking to Fox News host Martha MacCallum a day after it was revealed a Pentagon inspector general was looking into Flynn for his income from overseas sources. 'He served the country. He was a general,' Trump noted. 'But just remember, he was approved by the Obama administration at the highest level. And when they say we didnt vet, well Obama I guess didnt vet, because he was approved at the highest level of security by the Obama administration, for a short period of time.' Trump was referencing Flynn's security clearance, which as White House press secretary Sean Spicer said on Thursday, got renewed on a rolling five-year basis in 2016. 'He came in, he was already approved by the Obama administration and he had years left on that approval,' Trump said. President Donald Trump said Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn's security clearance was 'approved by the Obama administration' a day after it was revealed an inspector general was probingT rump's ousted security advisor Flynn referred to Obama as a 'weak, spineless president' at the Republican National Convention, where he also led cheers of 'Lock her up!' in reference to Hillary Clinton. The president was picking up a line of argument put forward by Spicer on Thursday, when the press secretary tried to blame Obama for the Flynn fiasco. Obama fired Flynn years ago, only to see Flynn emerge as one of Trump's key advisors during the campaign. The approval of Flynn's clearance allowed him to continue to have access to classified information, although it was Trump who brought Flynn into the White House as his national security advisor, a pivotal post. He did so despite public press reports before the election about a paid speech he made for the anniversary of Kremlin-backed Russia Today. He was seated next to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 2015 event. Flynn traveled with Trump all over the country during the campaign, advising Trump and regularly tearing into Hillary Clinton at public rallies. Scroll down for video In the crosshairs: Michael Flynn was sacked by Trump in February and now faces the disclosure he may have broken federal law over his dinner attended by Vladimir Putin in 2015 'His clearance was last reissued by the Obama administration in 2016, with full knowledge of his activities that occurred in 2015,' Spicer said when pressed repeatedly about Flynn at the White House press briefing. Asked whether the White House had properly vetted Flynn before bringing him on, Spicer repeatedly returned to the process whereby career officials run background checks on high level officials. 'If you have a top security clearance, you fill out a form, there's an investigation done. You are reinvestigated every five years if you are able to maintain that clearance,' he said. 'All of that clearance was made during the Obama administration,' Spicer said, repeatedly bringing up the Obama administration. At one point, Spicer got personal with CNN's Jim Acosta, bringing up White House activities for a special day where people were encouraged to bring their kids to work. 'Calm down. The kids have gone,' Spicer said. Flynn resigned under pressure after it was revealed he hadn't disclosed to vice president Mike Pence that he had met with Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak. AM I CLEAR? EX-National Security Adviser Mike Flynn listens to President Trump during a listening session with cyber security experts in the Roosevelt Room the White House in Washington, DC on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017 President Trump spoke about the Flynn case in an interview with Fox News host Martha MacCallum House Oversight and Government Reform Committee ranking member Representative, Elijah Cummings (D-MD) accused the White House of 'covering up for Michael Flynn' Obama dismissed Flynn as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency after clashes over what Flynn believed to be his own tougher posture on battling Islamic extremism. Asked about Trump's decision to fire Flynn and about whether in hindsight it was a mistake to bring him in, Spicer said: 'The president made the right call at the right time and it's clearly paid off.' A Pentagon inspector general is launching its own investigation into whether Flynn took payments from foreign entities without approval, according to a letter released by House Democrats on Thursday. The inspector general of the Department of Defense is probing whether Flynn had 'failed to obtain required approval prior to receiving any emolument from a foreign government,' according to the April 11 letter to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Documents released by the IG reveal that when he left the Army, Flynn received a 'post-government employment' letter that advised him explicitly of the 'legal restrictions concerning foreign compensation and instructed to report any potential receipt of compensation in advance to the Department of the Army.' Flynn had been the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, retiring in 2014. Nevertheless, the DIA 'did not locate any records' of Flynn 'seeking permission or approval for the receipt of money from a foreign source.' House Oversight and Government Reform Committee ranking member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) slapped at the White House at a press conference where he released the documents, going after Press Secretary Sean Spicer for saying the White House had done what it could to comply with document requests. 'Come on, man,' he said. 'I honestly do not understand why the White House is covering up for Michael Flynn, after the president fired him for lying,' Cummings said. The White House declined a request to turn over documents from Flynn's security clearance application. 'It makes the American people think the White House has something to hide. There is obviously a paper trail that the White House does not want our Committee to follow,' Cummings said. 'There is not one shred of evidence that Gen. Flynn got permission to receive this foreign money or that he acknowledged receipt of it,' Cummings said. 'These guys are playing games. And when you see Mr. Spicer you can tell him I said that todya.' Cummings noted that he and Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz had made a bipartisan document request, and said he didn't think Chaffetz' departure for foot surgery would slow down further requests. Verdict: Democrat Elijah Cummings (left) and Republican Jason Chaffetz (right), the leaders of the oversight committee, said there was no evidence Flynn complied with federal law Flynn's lawyer, Robert Kelner, responded in a statement, 'We respectfully disagree with Representative Cummings' characterization of the April 7, 2017 letter from DIA to the Committee. DIA's letter actually confirms, in a terse section that is partly redacted, that General Flynn provided information and documents on a thumb drive to the Department of Defense concerning the RT speaking event in Moscow, including documents reflecting that he was using a speakers' bureau for the event.' According to a statement from Cummings's office: 'The new DIA letter counters the suggestion by Flynn's attorney on Tuesday that Flynn followed appropriate procedures for accepting foreign funds for his trip to Moscow in December 2015 when he dined with Russian President Vladimir Putin.' If no other documents turn up, that would mean Flynn did not get advance permission to accept $45,000 from Kremlin-backed Russia Today for a 2015 appearance in Moscow where he was seated next to Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the DIA, the Army wrote that it 'had located no records pertaining to a possible violation of the Emoluments Clause' by Flynn. The White House had distanced itself on Tuesday from allegations of illegal conduct against Flynn. Senior members of Congress on the House Oversight Committee say classified military documents show Flynn did not ask permission for or inform the U.S. government about payments he received for appearances before Russian organizations in 2015 and for lobbying that helped Turkey's government. Flynn's failure to obtain permission from military authorities for the payments raises concern whether the retired general violated a constitutional ban on foreign payments to retired military officers. Scroll down for video Handshake: Flynn was paid $45,000 for the speech at this dinner which saw him shake hands with Russian president Vladimir Putin Republican Congressman from Utah Jason Chaffetz (R) and Democratic Congressman from Maryland Elijah Cummings (L), both with the House Oversight Committee, announce that President Trump's former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn did not disclose payments from Russia for a 2015 speech The two leaders of the oversight committee said there was no evidence Flynn complied with federal law. They said Flynn could be criminally prosecuted, and they said Flynn should surrender the money he was paid. The Kremlin TV channel RT paid Flynn $45,000 to give a speech in Moscow at a dinner celebrating its tenth anniversary. He sat beside Vladimir Putin for the dinner, and was photographed shaking the Russian strongman's hand. The White House has been accused of refusing to provide lawmakers with information and documents related to Flynn's security clearance and payments from organizations tied to the Russian and Turkish governments. The committee made six requests, and the White House cited reasons it could not comply with each of them. Trump's spokesman said 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue had complied with Congress to the best of its ability at a Tuesday briefing. 'The documents in question the Department of Defense possessed and sent over to them. The documents that occurred before he worked here, it will be up to him to turn over,' Sean Spicer said. Of their requests for White House records, he contended, 'Every document that they asked for, my understanding is that they've gotten.' The only ask they made that the White House did not cooperate with was a request for 'every call and contact that he made - which is an extraordinary number.' 'That's a very unwieldy request,' he contended. Trump has said he fired Flynn because of misleading comments he made to the vice president about his discussions with the Russian ambassador during the transition. Flynn is among the Trump associates being investigated by Congress and the FBI for possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. Former acting attorney general Sally Yates is scheduled to appear at a congressional hearing next month on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Yates is to appear May 8 along with James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence. The hearing before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee was announced Tuesday morning. It will mark her first appearance on Capitol Hill since she was fired in late January after refusing to defend President Donald Trump's travel ban. The hearings are part of an overlapping series of investigations being held by the House and Senate. Republican leaders in the U.S. Congress refused Democrats' calls for a special prosecutor or select committee to investigate possible Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, including possible links between Trump's campaign and Moscow, saying investigations by congressional committees are sufficient. Inner sanctum: Flynn was a key member of Trump's team in his first days in office as National Security Advisor until he was sacked for lying Question time: James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence, is to given evidence to the Senate judiciary committee on Wednesday about questions over Putin's interference in the election U.S. intelligence agencies said in January that Putin had ordered hacking of the computers of the Democratic National Committee as well as the chairman of Hillary Clinton's campaign in order to influence the election on Trump's behalf. Russia has denied this. Clinton has claimed it was part of the reason she lost. The Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department all launched investigations into the matter under President Barack Obama. The following are some of the ways congressional committees, whose investigations are expected to last for many months, are looking into the matter: The House Oversight Committee made six requests for documents on Michael Flynn and the White House cited reasons it could not comply with each of them Marc Short responded to the requests saying Flynn's activities and payments in question 'predate' the former national security adviser's service at the White House, therefore they could not accommodate the requests HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence began its investigation of potential Russian influence on the 2016 presidential race before Trump took office on Jan. 20. The panel's chairman, Republican Representative Devin Nunes, a close Trump ally, recused himself from the investigation last month. Before he stepped aside, Democrats had questioned whether the committee could conduct a credible investigation after Nunes received information at the White House about surveillance and discussed it with Trump before briefing Democrats on the committee. Nunes was replaced as leader of the House investigation by Republican Representative Mike Conaway, an intelligence panel member. The committee held a high-profile public hearing on March 20 with testimony by FBI Director James Comey and NSA director Admiral Mike Rogers. But Nunes canceled another planned public hearing, with former Obama administration officials James Clapper, who was director of national intelligence, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and ex-CIA Director James Brennan, causing committee Democrats to accuse him of political motivations. The two parties reached a solution last week, announcing a closed hearing with Comey and Rogers for May 2, and a public one with the Obama administration officials for an as-yet-to-be-determined date. SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is conducting its own investigation, which also started before Trump took office. Staffers have begun interviewing intelligence analysts involved in the report announced in January that charged Russia with seeking to influence the election on Trump's behalf. Its chairman, Senator Richard Burr, was re-elected in November in the Republican sweep that carried Trump into office and preserved Republican control of Congress. He and Senator Mark Warner, the committee's Democratic vice chairman, have pledged that their investigation would be bipartisan despite questions over Burr's close ties to the White House. But far fewer staff members have been assigned to the panel's investigation than previous high-profile intelligence probes in Congress, according to sources and a Reuters review of public records. Witness: Sally Yates, ousted deputy attorney general, will testify to the judiciary committee on Wednesday SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, chairman of the panel's subcommittee on crime and terrorism, and Sheldon Whitehouse, the subcommittee's ranking Democrat, are looking into Russian attempts to influence the election. The subcommittee announced on Tuesday that it would hold a public hearing on May 8 with testimony by Yates and Clapper. Its chairman of the full Judiciary Committee, Chuck Grassley, and top Democrat Dianne Feinstein also have had officials brief panel members. SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE The Appropriations subcommittee that oversees U.S. government spending for the State Department and Foreign Operations, which is also chaired by Senator Graham, has also held hearings on Russian attempts to influence elections. HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Representative Jason Chaffetz, the committee's Republican chairman, has resisted calls to investigate the Trump administration. After Flynn resigned as Trump's national security adviser because of his calls to Russia's ambassador, Chaffetz said his panel would not look into the issue. Chaffetz announced last week that he would not run for re-election in 2018, and said he might leave office even before the end of his term. Hany Saad, 46, sued the high street chain for 125,000, claiming harassment, bullying and overwork left him 'rotting in the workplace' Coffee shop chain Pret a Manger has been cleared of overworking an ambitious young assistant store manager almost to the point of suicide. Hany Saad, 46, sued the high street chain for 125,000, claiming harassment, bullying and overwork left him 'rotting in the workplace'. As an assistant manager at a short-staffed branch in Guildford in 2011-12, he found himself working up to 15-hour days, he said. The store's manager had left, meaning he was effectively an interim general manager and had to be there from opening to closing time. His commute from Kingston to Guildford was long and complex, resulting in painful infections in his feet and lack of sleep, he claimed. Transferred to a Wimbledon branch, he then found himself scapegoated for poor performance of the store and racially abused by a senior boss, he said. His ordeal led to severe depression, a mental breakdown and hospitalisation due to a 'serious suicide risk', he told Central London County Court. Pret denied the allegations of harassment, bullying and negligence and today a county court judge cleared the chain of all of Mr Saad's claims. Judge Murray Rosen QC said Egyptian-born Mr Saad had been an ambitious employee, intent on making it to management level. 'There is no doubt at all that he worked very hard and had very considerable responsibility,' the judge added. 'His efforts to work as hard as he could and impress his employers were obvious.' However, his expectation of promotion to general manager level was 'exaggerated' and he was 'extremely disappointed and no doubt angry'. He had an 'inflated perception of his importance' within the workplace, added the judge. Contesting Mr Saad's claim in a four-day trial, Pret argued that he had never been encouraged to work over-long hours. When senior staff learned of him working into the evening, he was told immediately to stop, the company said. He had never been an effective interim general manager, because a more senior area manager had been at the branch to take charge, it said. As an assistant manager at a short-staffed branch in Guildford in 2011-12, he found himself working up to 15-hour days, he said Although Mr Saad had been placed on the 'pathway' to a potential general manager role, he had not made it. And he had shown a 'slightly distorted perception of his own thwarted ambition', added the company's barrister, Steven Snowden QC. Ruling against Mr Saad, the judge said he had not been able too put forward any evidence of the overwork he claimed was forced on him. There were no written records of excessive working hours or any complaints made by him at the time, he said. The claims of bullying and of racist abuse on one occasion were also 'extremely serious' and he had not proved that they occurred, he added. 'I have expressed my sympathy to Mr Saad for his illness,' the judge added. 'I believe that I have understood some of the concerns that have driven matters this far and I regret that he is in the predicament he is. 'But I have no alternative but to dismiss the claims that he makes. 'In my judgment, he was not, to the legal standards required, the subject of harassment, bullying and negligence as alleged.' People who thought they were heading to Fyre Festival in the Bahamas got a rude awakening at Miami International Airport on Thursday. Cell phone footage caught a flight attendant reading a statement to passengers who had already boarded a flight to the tropical destination, letting them know they weren't going anywhere. 'Due to overcapacity on the island we need to cancel the flights to ensure the safety of our guests,' the flight attendant read over the on-board speaker. 'Fyre will reach out to every passenger individually to sort details. Phone (401) 753-3973.' The few people in view on the plane took the news calmly, possibly because they may have already heard what a fiasco the festival had turned out to be for those who did make it to the planned site. The Bahamas festival backed by a host of A-list models and with packages costing up to $13,000 has descended into chaos amid reports guests have been stranded at an unfinished site overrun by feral dogs. The boutique Fyre Festival, due to start Friday and run over two weekends, was billed as a 'cultural moment created from an alchemic blend of music, art, and food'. But on arrival revellers reported finding half-built tents, rat droppings, dogs wandering around the site, mountains of rubbish and thugs looting alcohol. Cell phone footage caught a flight attendant reading a statement to passengers who had boarded a flight letting them know they were not heading to Fyre Festival in the Bahamas from Miami International Airport on Thursday Festival organisers said today that the event had been 'fully postponed' due to 'unforeseen and extenuating circumstances' while Bahamas tourism bosses have today offered 'heartfelt apologies'. Many revellers say they have been left stranded at Exuma International Airport after opting to return home having seen the festival site. The homepage for the festival, co-organised by rapper Ja Rule, featured a host of top models including Emily Ratajkowski, Bella Hadid, Alessandra Ambrosio, Hailey Baldwin and Joan Smalls relaxing on the beach and swimming through crystal clear waters. The Bahamas festival backed by a host of A-list models and with packages costing up to 10,000 ($13,000) has descended into chaos amid reports guests have been stranded at an unfinished site overrun by feral dogs. Models (left to right) Elsa Hosk, Emily Ratajkowski, Bella Hadid, Lais Ribeiro, Gizele Oliveira and Rose Bertram were invited to the island in December 'to give feedback' on the festival launch Reality: A barren field littered with trash greeted festival goers expecting a week of luxury Model Bella Hadid was among the models who promoted the event, which was due to take place this weekend and next weekend On arrival, revellers found half-built tents, unopened boxes, piles of rubbish and an empty 'concierge' hut While the website promised 'chef-curated culinary pop ups' one reveller posted a picture of a basic cheese sandwich served out of a polystyrene box A British woman has told MailOnline how she and 30 others had spent 1,000 each on flights believing they were about to enjoy the experience of a lifetime. But a friend who travelled out early described the site as 'worse than a refugee camp.' While the festival website had promised 'chef-curated culinary pop ups' one reveller posted a picture of a basic cheese sandwich served out of a polystyrene box. Paying guests were told they could expect to stay in 'modern, eco-friendly, geodesic domes' while the super-rich had the option of upgrading to hire yachts for more than $100,00. However, people arriving on site last night expecting to be pampered with luxurious VIP service likened the 'cabanas' accommodation to disaster zone relief tents. Others reported seeing piles of rubbish and an empty 'concierge' hut in front of piles of unopened boxes. Pictures emerged online of the 'luxury food court' with people sitting on folding chairs next to a school bus. Instagram influencers Allie Holton (center) pictured in a life boat coming from the cruise boat they were temporarily housed in during the disastrous Fyre Festival in the Bahamas NOT MY FAULT: Rapper Ja Rule claims Fyre Fest, which he organized, was not a scam Guests arrived to a disorganised mess which bore no relation to their Coachella-tinged festival dreams. Some guests paid $13,000 for a trashy unfinished site and canceled performances Many guests were stranded on the island after the festival was suddenly cancelled. Some 'revellers' complained about lack of food and accommodation when they arrived on site Ticket prices ranged from $400 for a day pass to more than $12,750 for a VIP package including flights from Miami, ocean view accommodation in a 'rustic tent' and four festival passes. A performance line-up over two weekends boasted the likes of Pusha T, Tyga, Blink 182, Major Lazer, Skepta and Disclosure. But last night Blink 182 pulled out of the event. The band said in a message to fans: 'Regrettably and after much careful consideration, we want to let you know that we won't be performing at Fyre Fest in the Bahamas this weekend and next weekend. 'We're not confident that we would have what we need to give you the quality of performances we always give our fans.' One Twitter user described the festival as 'Rich Kids of Instagram meets Lord of the Flies'. Ticket prices ranged from $400 for a day pass to $12,780 for a VIP package including flights from Miami, ocean view accommodation in a 'rustic tent' and four festival passes The festival's homepage features a host of top models including Emily Ratajkowski (left), Bella Hadid, Alessandra Ambrosio, Hailey Baldwin and Joan Smalls relaxing on the beach and swimming through crystal clear waters. Elsa Hosk is pictured, right The boutique Fyre Festival, due to start today and run over two weekends and promoted by A-list models (pictured), was billed as a 'cultural moment created from an alchemic blend of music, art, and food' with revellers flown in by a 'VIP configured Boeing 737' Revelers anticipating luxury were expected to stay in these flimsy tents akin to trashbags The festival's website included maps of the camping ground and event area, tabbed up to show its 'concierge' 'art installation' and stage Luxury: Guests were given the option of staying on a range of yachts with packages costing more than $100,000 Briton, Tilly Smith, has revealed she was planning on fly to the Fyre festival this week with 30 friends who had spent over 1,000 each thinking they were going to enjoy an experience of a lifetime. Miss Smith was named the 'Angel of the Tsunami' as a ten-year-old schoolgirl when she saved her family and hundreds of Thai people by warning a Tsunami was about to hit the beach. The 22-year-old and her friends had been lured into shelling out a total of 12,000 on tickets alone for the festival by promises of flights on a private jet to the festival site and photos of supermodels frolicking in the warm Bahamas sea. She said: 'The Fyre festival homepage made it seem so amazing. It was being hailed as the festival of the year with loads of A-list celebs supposed to be going and a line up of really good musical stars. 'We thought it was just going to be out of this world. The photos on the Fyre homepage were sensational, lots of famous models like Bella Hadid playing in the sand and sea, promises of five-star boutique camping with even waiter service and gourmet food. 'Worse than a refugee camp' One festival-goer mocked the flimsy tents at Fyre Fest NOT A SCAM: People started claiming the 'luxury' sell on the festival was a way to swindle people out of money; Ja Rule took to Twitter to deny this 'We were even going to be whisked from Miami by private jet to the festival, it just seemed like a once in a lifetime thing that was going to be fantastic. 'There was stuff about it all over social media with celebs talking about it and stars posting about it on their Instagram. We thought we were going to be living it up in luxury instead of slumming it like you normally do at a festival. 'All of us were so excited, we all fell for it and decided we'd go as a big group. It's all we've been talking about for weeks.' Miss Smith and her group were due to jet out this week to Miami where they were going to enjoy a couple of days in the sunshine before being taken by private jet to the Bahamas where the festival was due to take place over two weekends. But in the early hours of Friday morning Tilly, who works for a Yacht chartering company in London, received a phone call from a friend who had gone ahead of the group and had already arrived at the festival. One Twitter user, Lamaan, posted a picture of a row of white tents in the darkness along with the message: 'Stuck at #fyrefestival trying to leave for the last 8 hours. barely any food or water or security or electricity' Festival-goers were promised luxury accommodation with packages costing up to $12,780. Pictures show security lockers at the site which one reveller said did not have any locks Pictures emerged online of the 'luxury food court' with people sitting on folding chairs next to a school bus She said: 'He was absolutely gutted. He said the place was a complete dump, just a rain soaked mud bowl. There was basically nothing there. The boutique tents hadn't been put up, The stages were tiny. He said there was filth everywhere and more worryingly really fierce dogs running about. He said angry locals had started threatening people as well. 'He said basically it was worse than a refugee camp.' She added: 'I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was so upset, we all are. We just feel we've all been victims of one big scam. 'How can they have posted glamorous photos like that and promised all the stuff they did and then it turn out the way it has? The organisers can't have had anything properly in place for this to happen.' 'But they just seemed to carry on taking the money right up until the day it opened.' Her group is still intending to go to Miami. Miss Smith said: 'We've already paid for the flights and booked holiday off at work so we might as well go but now we need to pay for hotels for a week and food on top. One friend had paid for all our festival tickets on his Amex card - 12,000 - and he's just praying that he'll be able to get that cash back because it seems he has been defrauded.' Her package was due to include the private jet ride to the Bahamas from Miami, entry to festival for the whole weekend, gourmet food and accommodation in 'lodges' - luxury tents - which would have proper beds instead of camping ones. She said: 'Some people might think spending a 1,000 to go to a festival is expensive but you can spend 600-700 Glamping at Glastonbury. One festival goer said luggage was 'dropped out' of a shipping container. At night. With no lights' Video of the Fyre Festival site appeared to show piles of rubbish (left) next to tents One Twitter user described the festival as 'Rich Kids of Instagram meets Lord of the Flies' 'Stars were still posting on Instagram on Friday morning that they were off to the festival. They were in for a shock if they arrived.' Another guest revealed revellers started arriving at the 'tent village' only to find it had not been finished and that there seemed to be 'no-one in charge'. People who had spent thousands for luxury services and VIP treatment were being fed street food after the caterer quit, the festival-goer claimed. One group of performing artists were said to have been placed in a house for lodging, but had to leave because it was allegedly over run with rats and rat droppings. They were then moved to an elementary school where bunk beds had been set up for them instead, he claimed. There were also reports in the festival grounds that booze was being looted while others said up to $60,000 of alcohol had been given away to 'keep people happy'. So-called 'influencers' brought in to raise the profile of the event were reportedly promised free food and drink - but were instead told to pay for everything. Tents were supposed to be reserved but many of them were simply 'claimed' for themselves by revellers as they arrived on site. This afternoon, the festival had replaced its website - earlier showing models posing on the beach and glamorous revellers dancing into the night - with a short statement. 'Fyre Festival set out to provide a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience on the Islands of the Exumas,' it said. 'Due to circumstances out of our control, the physical infrastructure was not in place on time and we are unable to fulfill on that vision safely and enjoyably for our guests. Revellers were seen boarding planes back to Miami having arrived to find 'chaos' at the festival site Festival-goers were pictured waiting around for news in darkness. Organisers said there had been some 'growing pains' Revellers reported being lured into buying tickets by the promotional material, which included A-list models on jet-skis and palm-fringed beaches 'At this time, we are working tirelessly to get flights scheduled and get everyone off of Great Exuma and home safely as quickly as we can. We ask that guests currently on-island do not make their own arrangements to get to the airport as we are coordinating those plans. 'We are working to place everyone on complimentary charters back to Miami today; this process has commenced and the safety and comfort of our guests is our top priority. 'The festival is being postponed until we can further assess if and when we are able to create the high- quality experience we envisioned. 'We ask for everyone's patience and cooperation during this difficult time as we work as quickly and safely as we can to remedy this unforeseeable situation. We will continue to provide regular updates via email to our guests and via our official social media channels as they become available.' Last year it was reported that the festival was due to include activities ranging from yoga on the beach, water trampolines and seabobbing to a $1 million real treasure hunt. According to Elle, models Elsa Hosk, Emily Ratajkowski, Bella Hadid, Lais Ribeiro, Gizele Oliveira and Rose Bertram were among those invited to the island in December for photo shoots and to 'give feed-back' for the festival launch. A Twitter account believed to belong to the Fyre Festival said this afternoon that the event had been 'fully postponed' The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism offered its 'heartfelt apologies' to those affected and said it was doing what it could to help people back to the airport MailOnline has attempted to contact Fyre Festival for further comment. This afternoon, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism offered its 'heartfelt apologies' to those affected and said it was doing what it could to help people back to the airport. 'We are extremely disappointed in the way the events unfolded yesterday with the Fyre Festival,' said the statement. 'We offer a heartfelt apology to all who travelled to our country for this event. Tourism is our number one industry and it is our aim to deliver world class experiences and events. 'Hundreds of visitors to Exuma were met with total disorganisation and chaos. The organisers of Fyre recently asked the Minister of Tourism for support for their private event. 'The Ministry of Tourism is not an official sponsor of Fyre Festival. Given the magnitude of this undertaking, the MOT lent its support as we do with all international events. 'We offered advice and assisted with communications with other government agencies. The event organisers assured us that all measures were taken to ensure a safe and successful event but clearly they did not have the capacity to execute an event of this scale. 'A team of Ministry of Tourism representatives is on the island to assist with the organisation of a safe return of all Fyre Festival visitors. 'It is our hope that the Fyre Festival visitors would consider returning to the Islands of the Bahamas in the future to truly experience all of our beauty.' Dozens of revellers have been sharing their experiences online. One person, who has already demanded a refund, said: 'Megan, Tobi and I get on our bus to go to what we think will be the ultimate glamping experience - king sized beds, solar powered lightbulbs, furniture, etc. 'What actually happened is that we go to a semi-constructed tent, a tiny stage and a huge line of very worried looking people who needed to check in to find their bags.' One Twitter user, Lamaan, posted a picture of a row of white tents in the darkness along with the message: 'Stuck at #fyrefestival trying to leave for the last 8 hours. barely any food or water or security or electricity.' Another festival-goer, William Finley, from North Caroline, paid $2,700 for a pass he believed would entitle him to food, an open bar and overnight villas which he said turned out to be tents. He charted his experiences in a string of Twitter pictures and messages. Promo shots of well-known models frolicking on a Bahamas beach have contrasted sharply with the cold stark reality of the festival, which unfortunately for festival-goers include dirty toilets. Debates over perceived teacher shortages often conflate different problems and make it more difficult to find sustainable ways to get every student a good teacher. That was the consensus at one of the opening symposiums of the American Educational Research Associations annual conference on Thursday. Linda Darling-Hammond, founder of the Learning Policy Institute, a think tank, led researchers debating how educators and policymakers can better understand what influences teacher shortages from state to state. Different studies have measured teacher staffing issues differentlyfrom reported district vacancies or the number of applicants per position, to overall teacher-student ratios, to the rates of new teachers entering or leaving the professionin ways that can conflict with each other or obscure other district policies. Just a few years ago, there were layoffs of teachers all over the country in many states and communities, Darling-Hammond said. Does that mean the demands for teachers was low and there were surpluses, or was there just not enough money to fulfill the districts need for teachers? ... Is supply the number of teachers who are prepared and in the market, or simply those who are still breathing? Moreover, educators and policymakers have worried about the lack of enough high-quality teachers going back at least as far as the 1500s, according to Ellen Behrstock-Sherratt, the deputy director of the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders at the American Institutes of Research. Rather than a general staffing shortage, Behrstock-Sherratt argued teacher shortages often differ dramatically from district to district and across courses, with math, science, foreign language, special education, and career-tech education the main subject areas with regular shortages. Richard Ingersoll, an education and psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said he considered teacher staffing a leaky bucket. He and Henry May, the director of the Center on Research in Education and Social Policy, analyzed data from the federal Schools and Staffing Survey and found teachers are actually growing at a faster clip than the student population. (See chart, left.) Teachers from minority backgrounds more than doubled since the late 1980s, including black and Hispanic male teachers. However, teachers from racial and ethnic minorities are still vastly underrepresented in the teaching force; they made up little more than 17 percent of all U.S. teachers, as of 2011-12, while 44 percent of public school students are members of racial minority groups. That may be because even with increases in recruitment, teachers of color are leaving the profession faster than they come in, Ingersoll said. For example, while more than 47,000 minority teachers entered the workforce in 2003-04, by the next year, roughly 56,000 left the profession. Since the early 1990s, teachers of color have had higher attrition than their white peers (See chart, right.) State pay differences can exacerbate those problems, according to LPI researcher Leib Sutcher. For example, Arizona, where teachers earn 62 percent of what non-teachers earn in the same subjects, has a 19 percent teacher attrition rate. By contrast, Oregon teachers earn 75 percent of what non-teachers earn in the same subjects, and the state has only 7 percent attrition. The Royal Marine was reunited with Claire after 1,277 days behind bars and said: She has saved me. Her determination to keep on fighting for me has been nothing short of incredible' Sealed with a hug from his wife in a million, Alexander Blackman finally savoured freedom yesterday. The Royal Marine was reunited with Claire after 1,277 days behind bars and said: She has saved me. Her determination to keep on fighting for me has been nothing short of incredible. Released from prison in the early hours of yesterday, he described waking up as a free man to the sound of glorious birdsong. It was the moment the couple have dreamed of since the commando was jailed for life in December 2013 for shooting a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan. Top brass and the Establishment left him to rot in prison but Sergeant Blackman known as Marine A at his military trial was saved by a campaign for justice spearheaded by his loyal wife. Daily Mail readers raised 810,000 to fund a fresh legal challenge and last month he won a stunning victory at the Appeal Court which dramatically slashed his sentence. Now released on licence from HMP Erlestoke Prison in Wiltshire half way through his revised jail term Sergeant Blackman, 42, said: I will be eternally grateful to Claire and I cannot put into words how wonderful she is. She is a wife in a million. Other inmates often said how lucky I was to have her fighting so hard for me. Sealed with a hug from his wife in a million, Alexander Blackman finally savoured freedom yesterday It was the moment the couple have dreamed of since the commando was jailed for life in December 2013 for shooting a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan 'I dont think there is anybody who has witnessed the effort she has gone to who will doubt how she feels about me, and thats beyond words really. You just cant imagine anyone cares for you that much. I also want to thank the Daily Mails readers with all my heart. Without their amazing support, I would still be behind bars. Sgt Blackman added: Being out of prison is an immense feeling, but I am very conscious that my sentence is not complete. I have been released on licence, and there are certain conditions which I must and I will respect. But it is the little things I can enjoy. Suddenly I can sleep when I want, eat when I want, go for a walk... this freedom of choice over basic things is going to take some getting used to. In Afghanistans Helmand Province, Sgt Blackman and his troops endured harsh conditions to man an outpost deep in hostile territory. They patrolled twice a day carrying 100lb of equipment in stifling 50C (122F) heat under intense psychological pressure, knowing every step might trigger a landmine. It was described as the most dangerous square mile on earth. In Afghanistans Helmand Province, Sgt Blackman and his troops endured harsh conditions to man an outpost deep in hostile territory At their squalid, insect-infested post, the 16 exhausted commandos went to sleep every night fearing Taliban maniacs could slaughter them in their camp beds. Following his conviction, Sergeant Blackman spent three-and-a-half years on a prison cell bunk. But all that changed yesterday as he was whisked from jail to a beautiful house deep in the countryside. The sumptuous property arranged for the couple by the Daily Mail has Hungarian goose-down duvets, roaring fires and roll-top baths. The veteran commando said: It is fair to say this is a massive contrast to what I have been used to. Just to wake up to glorious birdsong this morning was pretty surreal. Mrs Blackman, 45, added: He deserves a bit of luxury. She told the Mail: I spent all day yesterday grinning like a Cheshire cat. I watched the clock all afternoon. Al finally arrived in the middle of the night, and I felt such a surge of happiness. Now it is daylight, it still feels like a dream. We have spent so long on this rollercoaster ride and have always steeled ourselves for the worst-case scenario. Now we have got Al out, the result we always hoped for, it is taking time to sink in. It will take some time to adjust to life. His dismissal with disgrace from his beloved Royal Marines was revoked by judges after Mrs Blackman told the court it had been the cruellest part of his punishment. But he is still dismissed from military service, and will now look for a civilian job. Former Royal Marine John Davies, who has been a key supporter, has offered him work as an instructor with his maritime training business. Mrs Blackman has stood by her husband ever since his shock arrest on suspicion of murder in 2012. Later, when he was in custody, the distraught serviceman phoned her from Colchester military jail while she was shopping in Somerset. Top brass and the Establishment left him to rot in prison but Sergeant Blackman known as Marine A at his military trial was saved by a campaign for justice spearheaded by his loyal wife WILL HIS STORY BECOME A HOLLYWOOD FILM? Alexander Blackmans ordeal could be made into a Hollywood film starring Tom Hardy, the Marines lawyer said last night. A number of offers might be on the table including a book deal and a movie, said Jonathan Goldberg QC. He revealed he had been invited to Hollywood to meet a famous producer in which they discussed a major movie. He said Kate Winslet could play Sgt Blackmans devoted wife Claire, with Al Pacino as Mr Goldberg who led the commandos successful appeal. Despite his newfound freedom, Sgt Blackman may also have to stay in hiding for life amid fears he could be on a hit-list for a revenge attack by jihadis. Lord West, a former counter-terrorism minister, said: In light of all the publicity in this case, a revenge attack of some kind cannot be ruled out. A friend told The Sun: It might be that Al has to change his identity to feel safer. Advertisement She recalled: He was in a terrible state. He said he had been charged with murder. He kept saying, Im sorry, Im sorry, Im sorry, Ive wrecked our marriage. I told him, Dont say or think that, and dont apologise to me ever again. I have never doubted him. Mrs Blackman, the daughter of a GPO engineer who grew up in Kent and Somerset, has never wavered in her determination to see justice for her 6ft 3in Big Al. She said the world is not a better place with Al in prison, and took to the witness stand at the Royal Courts of Justice to tell judges about her incredibly kind, thoughtful and generous husband. The couple wed in 2009, but have only spent just over three years of their seven-and-a-half-year marriage together. In their first years as newlyweds, Sgt Blackman was overseas on three separate tours of duty and then he spent more than three years behind bars. Pictured: Alexander Blackman takes part in Operation Safe Sword 2 in the Omani desert in 2001, left, and Claire outside the High Court in London Sgt Blackmans court martial was the most controversial episode of the Afghan war and the first time a soldier had been convicted of murder on the battlefield Sgt Blackmans court martial was the most controversial episode of the Afghan war and the first time a soldier had been convicted of murder on the battlefield. But a Mail investigation revealed vital evidence had been deliberately withheld from his trial. We received huge support for our campaign for justice, and last month Sgt Blackmans conviction was reduced from murder to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility. Agreeing he had combat stress, appeal judges cut his sentence from life to seven years, paving the way for his release. ORDEAL THAT PUT HIS LIFE ON HOLD FOR THREE YEARS SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 Sergeant Alexander Blackman shoots dead a fatally injured Taliban fighter during hellish six-month tour of Helmand in Afghanistan DECEMBER 7, 2013 The Daily Mail reports how the commando, named only as Marine A at his trial, was jailed for life for murder SEPTEMBER 11, 2015 We uncover crucial evidence that was deliberately withheld from court martial SEPTEMBER 11, 2015 Sgt Blackman tells the Mail one mistake under extreme stress made him the fall guy SEPTEMBER 12, 2015 The Ministry of Defence is accused of cover-ups, including trying to censor an internal report casting doubt on the conviction SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 The report is leaked to the Mail and reveals commanders failed to notice psychological strain and fatigue OCTOBER 5, 2015 In less than a month, 30,000 Mail readers raise 750,000 to fund a team of lawyers and pursue a new appeal OCTOBER 28, 2015 Commandos past and present rally in Parliament Square. An emotional Claire Blackman called the protest phenomenal DECEMBER 12, 2015 We expose a leaked document that reveals the determination of senior officers to block efforts to overturn the conviction DECEMBER 16, 2015 Accompanied by 500 green beret-wearing supporters, Claire Blackman delivers dossier to the Criminal Cases Review Commission SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 A year after campaign launch, we reveal bureaucratic delays to fight for justice DECEMBER 6, 2016 Fresh appeal is granted at last and CCRC says real possibility conviction will be quashed FEBRUARY 9, 2017 At appeal, prosecutors accept Marine was unequivocally suffering mental disorder MARCH 15, 2017 Murder conviction is finally overturned and sentence later cut to seven years APRIL 28, 2017 Out of jail.. and hes reunited with his determined wife Claire Advertisement Last night thriller writer Frederick Forsyth, a staunch supporter, said: It has been a long, hard slog to get justice for Marine Sergeant Al Blackman. A vengeful military judicial Establishment fought tooth and nail to keep in jail as long as possible this fighting soldier who had laid his life on the line for this country more times than his chair-bound persecutors had had lunch at their Mayfair clubs. He also praised Daily Mail readers, saying: Once again it was the great British people who secured justice at last, despite the fat cats. So to all of you: well done. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is proposing to eliminate 2,300 jobs from his agency, officials said Friday. It's part of Tillerson's plan to cut more than a quarter of the State Department's budget for the next fiscal year. The plan will almost certainly meet resistance from lawmakers opposing President Donald Trump's proposal to shrink the size of the federal government by cutting $54billion from agencies to bolster the defense budget. Tillerson's proposal reduces the number of new diplomats being hired and includes the State Department and US Agency for International Development's possible consolidation, according to officials briefed on the proposal. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (above) is proposing to eliminate 2,300 jobs from his agency The staff cuts would amount to about 3 per cent of the department's roughly 75,000-strong workforce. The proposal is a response to the Office of Management and Budget's call to slash the State Department and USAID budgets by 31 per cent through deep cuts to foreign aid and other programs, said the officials, who weren't authorized to speak publicly about the as-yet unreleased plan and requested anonymity. Tillerson's plan would entail a 26 per cent budget reduction, they said. In an interview with NPR that aired Friday, Tillerson said he intended to reorganize the department to make it more efficient and focused. 'What we really want to do is examine the process by which the men and women - the career foreign service people, the civil servants, our embassies - how they deliver on that mission,' he said. 'We want to hear from them, we're just about to embark on a department-wide listening mission,' he said, adding later: 'I look forward to hearing their ideas. Because I know there's going to be opportunities to allow them to be more effective. Now, out of that we'll determine what the State Department looks like.' Activists attend a rally demanding that the Trump administration abandon proposals to cut the Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) budget on April 20 in New York City Cutting more than a quarter of State Department's current $50.1billion budget would require dramatic reductions in programs and staffing, cuts that many in Congress and elsewhere oppose. Tillerson's proposal includes 700 job cuts through buyouts and 1,600 from attrition. The job cuts were first reported by Bloomberg. Buyouts would be offered first to staffers over the age of 50 with at least two decades of government service, the officials said. The State Department declined to comment on the job reductions, and officials cautioned that plans are tentative until the budget is submitted to Congress next month. But Tillerson has spoken publicly of the need to streamline the agency. He will outline plans to State Department staffers next week, officials said. Tillerson hasn't addressed State Department workers since his first day on the job in February. As part of the plan, a high-level panel will explore the consolidation of USAID into the State Department this summer, officials said. An outside consultant will be brought in to survey staffers about additional areas where savings might be found. The officials briefed on Tillerson's proposal this week said the plan also calls for cutting back on hiring new diplomats, from as many as five classes of incoming foreign service officers per year to one or two. The plan will almost certainly meet resistance from lawmakers opposing President Donald Trump's proposal to shrink the size of the federal government A person close to Tillerson said the secretary of state was shocked at how much the State Department was spending on housing and schooling for the families of diplomats living overseas, Bloomberg reports. His proposal also envisions less hiring of civil service employees, who comprise about 15 per cent of the department's workforce. Numerous members of Congress as well as current and former senior military officers have said they are opposed to massive cuts to the diplomatic budget, which accounts for just over 1 per cent of the total federal budget. On Thursday, a bipartisan group of 43 senators urged 'robust funding' for the State Department and USAID. 'At a time when we face multiple national security challenges around the world, deep cuts in this area would be shortsighted, counterproductive and even dangerous,' they said in a letter to Senate appropriators. David M. Watson, 28, was being transported to the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Howard County, Maryland on Friday morning for psychiatric evaluation when he escaped A Maryland prisoner serving a 106-year sentence for the attempted murder of police officers has escaped from custody while being transported to a mental hospital. David M. Watson, 28, was being transported to the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Howard County on Friday morning for psychiatric evaluation. Watson escaped from officers in the parking lot at about 9.30am and fled into a wooded area. He was being escorted to the hospital by the guards from the Wicomico County Detention Center. Authorities said Watson fled after pushing one of the guards just after they had opened the door to the van. Handcuffs and Watson's waist chain were found near where the van was parked. Police do not believe the inmate is armed given the guards' weapons were secured in lock boxes inside the van. Police are currently scouring the area looking for Watson after he escaped and ran off into a wooded area on Friday morning Officers are searching on the ground and via helicopter to locate the inmate. He hasn't been spotted since he vanished Watson is described as a white male, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds. He was wearing white prison clothing at the time. He was sentenced in 2013 to 106 years in jail for shooting at the houses of three police officers from Delaware and Maryland. Police are conducting a search of the area with patrol officers, K9 units and a police helicopter. Watson has not been sighted since he vanished on Friday morning. Authorities say anyone who sees Watson should call 911. The millionaire who damaged Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame logged in his community service hours with the president's name branded on the back of his orange jumpsuit. James Otis, heir to the Otis Elevator Company fortune, was pictured along Interstate 10 in California, wielding a hoe and a broom for the state's Department of Transportation on Friday. The 53-year-old, who smashed Trump's star with a pickaxe and sledgehammer in October 2016, avoided jail time after pleading no contest to the felony vandalism charge, which could have led to a three-year jail sentence and a $10,000 fine. Otis, who will be on probation for three years, was fined $4,400 instead and ordered to complete 20 days of community service. James Otis logged in his community service hours along the Santa Monica Freeway on Friday wearing an orange jumpsuit with the president's name branded on the back The 53-year-old smashed Trump's star with a pickaxe and sledgehammer in October 2016 Otis (left outside court in November) avoided jail time after pleading no contest to the felony vandalism charge. Pictured right, Trump's star, which was reduced to rubble Otis tried to remove the star to protest Trump in the pre-dawn hours of October 26. The millionaire wore construction gear while going about his task, and used a sledgehammer and pickax to try and remove the tribute from the ground. He later stated that he had hoped to sell it off and give the money he received to the 11 women who had publicly accused President Trump of groping them in the past. But Otis failed to remove the star and instead smashed it to rubble, later saying that he underestimated how difficult it would be. He turned himself into police the following day and was released on $20,000 bond. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, who presented President Trump with his star in 2007 for his work on the popular reality show The Apprentice, responded to Otis' actions in an angry statement at the time. 'When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California State landmark,' said Leron Gubler, the head of the group. 'Our democracy is based on respect for the law. People can make a difference by voting and not destroying public property.' Gubler also urged the court to punish Otis to the 'full extent of the law' while the Chamber of Commerce set about repairing the damage star at a cost of approximately $2,500. Otis hoped to sell the star and give the money he received to the 11 women who had publicly accused President Trump of groping them in the past. Pictured, the star being repaired But Otis failed to remove the star and instead smashed it to rubble, later saying that he underestimated how difficult it would be. Pictured, Trump receiving his star in 2007 After turning himself in, Otis said he was prepared to accept any consequences he might face. He then apologized after his first hearing, telling reporters outside the courtroom: 'Upon reflection after my arrest, I had said I was proud and felt very good about destroying Mr. Trumps star. 'However, now I realize I was wrong, that I shouldnt have done it.' Otis went on to say that 'non-violence is the way to protest Trump', adding: 'By destroying that star, it was wrong and I apologize for that, and I hope no one else will affect and hurt the Hollywood Walk of Fame stars.' Just a few days after that appearance, the Chamber of Commerce debuted President Trump's repaired star on the Walk of Fame. A high school student has been suspended after posting an ad to Craigslist selling two of his black female classmates as 'slaves' A high school student has been suspended after posting an ad to Craigslist selling two of his black female classmates as 'slaves'. All three attend Fleming Island High School in Florida, where the ad quickly went viral and was circulated among the student body before being removed by the site. The posting was titled in bold, 'TWO SLAVES FOR SALE - $470' and listed the location as 'Fleming Island Plantation'. The description continued: 'Two healthy negro slavegals for sale. Good condition and hard work ethic! If you need another pair of hands around the farm/house, you're in luck!' One of the young women pictured in the photo, Skye Fefee, said she first learned of the ad when another student posted it on her Facebook page, and others began tagging her in it when they recognized her. 'I'm a little disappointed, because I didn't realize that racism was still in our school to this day,' said Skye, who is also senior. 'I don't wish that upon anyone, and I felt really discouraged that people are still like that today.' One of the young women pictured in the photo, Skye Fefee, said she first learned of the ad when another student posted it on her Facebook page, and others began tagging her in it when they recognized her However, this is not the first time even this school year that Fleming Island has had instances of racial harassment, Skye continued. 'I was really upset about it because Fleming Island is known for racial slurs. This school year someone wrote on the toilets... "whites only",' she said. The student who posted the advertisement has not been named, but is said to be a male senior who has since been issued a 10-day suspension. The school district superintendent is recommending he be transferred to an alternative school to continue his education. A decision will be made in two weeks during a disciplinary hearing with the student, to decide whether he will be expelled just weeks before graduation. However, this is not the first time even this school year that Fleming Island has had instances of racial harassment, Skye continued Both students in the photo and their parents met with school officials on Thursday. The Fleming High School superintendent released a statement condemning the post and promising to take proper action against the perpetrator. It read: 'We do not tolerate this type of behavior and we are disheartened that any of our students would be subject to discrimination. 'Fleming Island High School administration and district leadership are working together to create a school-wide plan of action to strengthen the climate and culture while celebrating the schools diversity. 'We encourage parents and guardians to take the time to talk to their child about this important matter.' An 18-year-old man has been arrested in the brutal beating death of an 86-year-old woman, and is suspected of attacking a 92-year-old on the day of the murder. Neven Glen Butler was arrested Wednesday in Sacramento, California on charges, unrelated to the murder, of assault and elder abuse. He is now being held without bail on suspicion of murder. On Wednesday morning, murder victim Fusako Petrus was on her daily morning exercise walk at the Highlands High School track with a friend, 61, when the two women were assaulted. Neven Glen Butler, 18, has been arrested in the sexual assault and murder of Fusako Petrus, 86, and is also facing charges in a separate attack on a 92-year-old woman Police say Butler beat an 86-year-old woman to death in a random attack as she walked around a high school track in Northern California on Wednesday Butler first attacked Petrus' friend, according to police. The older woman heard the commotion and tried desperately to intervene, brandishing her walking stick. Butler subdued the two women and sexually assaulted both of them before fatally beating Petrus, police said. Cops got the 911 call and rushed to the scene, where Petrus was found dead despite lifesaving measures by first responders. The 61-year-old woman was treated for her injuries and is expected to recover. The savage assault drew national attention as police launched a dragnet for the killer. Later Wednesday afternoon, police responded to an assault on a 92-year-old woman about nine miles from Highlands High. They found Butler at the scene and arrested him on charges of assault and elder abuse. The woman had injuries to her face, and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Sacramento County Sheriff's Sgt. Tony Turnbull said Petrus and her friend routinely walked around the track Homicide detectives with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department say they can connect Butler to the scene of the sexual assaults and murder at Highlands High. On Friday, police booked Butler on a murder charge, and he is not eligible for bail. The brutal, unprovoked attacks on elder women shocked both the high school community and surrounding neighborhoods. Petrus' neighbour, Julia Ortiz, told KCRA that she was a 'very sweet person' and was 'always smiling'. She said: 'Who would think that somebody in their right mind would wake up in the morning and say "I'm going to harm people" - that's just not normal.' 'She was just a very sweet person, she was friendly and was always smiling and waving.' A former Cleveland police officer suspected of assaulting two women with a sex toy during an illegal traffic stop has pleaded not guilty to charges including gross sexual imposition and abduction on Thursday. Kenneth Bolton, Jr, 49, of Middlefield, Ohio also faces misdemeanor civil rights charges. Bolton's case will be the first taken on by Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley's civil rights unit. The unit was established to probe cases involving allegations of civil rights violations. Former Cleveland police officer, Kenneth Bolton, Jr, 49, is suspected of assaulting two women with a sex toy during an illegal traffic stop and has pleaded not guilty to charges including gross sexual imposition and abduction on Thursday The now-former East Cleveland officer was arraigned Thursday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Bolton is free on bond, according to Cleveland.com. Judge John Sutula set Bolton's bond at $5,000. Bolton immediately posted the 10 percent required in cash and was released. Bolton is accused of illegally pulling over two women, ages 22 and 23, in February and using a sex toy he found in the back seat to rub against their genitals over their clothing while they were seated in the vehicle, prosecutors said. The East Cleveland Police Department conducted an internal investigation into the traffic stop and fired Bolton in March, within two weeks of the incident. Bolton made a statement to the county prosecutor's office 'admitting to numerous misdemeanor and felony laws that [he had] recently violate,' according to his letter of termination from East Cleveland Police Chief Michael Cardilli's letter of termination to Bolton. Bolton was a 16-year veteran of the force. His attorney, Fernando Mack, said he's reviewing the case and has no immediate comment. Bolton's listed phone number was disconnected. His case has been assigned to assigned to Judge Nancy R. McDonnell and his next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday. A Connecticut man who police say gave an account of his wife's death that differed from information on her Fitbit has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges. Richard Dabate, 40, appeared Friday at a hearing in Rockville Superior Court, where his lawyer entered the not guilty pleas on his behalf. Free on $1 million bail, he did not comment afterward. Connecticut State Police allege Richard killed 39-year-old Connie Dabate at their Ellington home two days before Christmas in 2015, while their two young sons were in school. Richard claimed a man who sounded like Vin Diesel had broke into his house, tied him up and shot dead his wife Connie, before he burned the intruder with a torch. Authorities responded to a burglary alarm at the home and found Richard with superficial knife wounds, with one arm and one leg zip-tied to a folding chair. Connie was found dead at their home in Connecticut by police. Richard Dabate, 40, appeared on Friday at a hearing in Rockville Superior Court in Connecticut Richard (left) told police an intruder who sounded like Vin Diesel had killed his wife. His lawyer Hubert Santos (right) entered not guilty pleas on his behalf at a Friday hearing Richard Dabate, right, claimed an intruder shot dead his wife Connie, left, in December 2015 Police examined Mrs Dabate's FitBit which seemed to contradict Richard's version of events Dabate said his wife arrived home as he was struggling with an intruder who incapacitated him But police said evidence contradicted Richard's story and timeline of events, including information from Connie's Fitbit that showed she was still moving around the house an hour after Richard said she was shot. As police investigated the case, they discovered that Richard had been having an affair with a woman he knew since childhood who became pregnant and wanted him to leave his wife. In text messages, he told his lover that he and his wife were 'on the same page' for an divorce. However, weeks before the murder, the Hartford Courant found messages between Richard and his wife. One in November 2015 - a month before the murder - read: 'I'm ready for u big boy.' An electronic trawl through the couple's lives found a file on his wife's phone dated December 2014, 'Why I want a divorce.' Police records show Richard had obtained a secret card from which he spent $1,200 at a strip club and stays at a local hotel. He also used the credit card to pay for flowers for his girlfriend. Richard had a secret pregnant mistress and also spent more than a $1,000 in a strip club without his wife, right, knowing according to documents submitted to the court Richard Dabate, center, appears with attorneys Hubie Santos, left, and Trent LaLima, right, while being arraigned on April 17 The records on Connie's FitBit showed she had been moving more than an hour after Richard claimed she had been murdered by an intruder. According to district attorney Craig Stedman: 'To say it is rare to use FitBit records would be safe. It is an electronic footprint that tracks your movements. It is a great tool for investigators to use. We can also get the information much faster than some other types of evidence such as DNA tests.' Police studied CCTV footage from the gym and saw Connie leaving at 9.18am. Her FitBit was idle for nine minutes as she drove home. She then posted two videos to Facebook using her cellphone. At 10.05am, her FitBit stopped moving after she traveled 1,217 feet inside her home. At 10.11am the alarm went off at their home and at 10.16am the alarm company rang the state police. At 10.20am, Richard called 911 to report the murder. He told police his wife had been killed an hour earlier, however detectives believe the CCTV footage from the gym, data on Connie's FitBit and her Facebook posts prove otherwise. He was found by police tied to a chair on the kitchen floor, and said the masked home invader had shot his wife dead in the garage during a chase through their home. Richard claimed he was tied to the chair after the man had murdered his wife, but he scared the intruder off by kicking a blowtorch at his head. State police said the gun used to shoot Connie was bought by her husband two months before the killing, and police search dogs only picked up Richard's scent at the scene. There also were no signs of a struggle in the house, troopers said. A US warship is heading towards North Korea after Kim Jong Un carried out yet another failed missile launch. The USS Carl Vinson, US super aircraft carrier, was spotted sailing north offshore Nagasaki, Japan on Saturday local time, in a show of force after North Korea's latest test-fire flop. A US official said the ballistic missile, thought to be a mid-range KN-17, was fired from a location in the South Pyeongan province in the early hours of Saturday morning local time. It blew up over land before it ever reached its target of the Sea of Japan, landing around 22 miles from Pukchang airfield, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. It flew for several minutes and reached a maximum height of 44 miles before it apparently failed. The launch comes just hours after the country announced it was 'on the brink of nuclear war' as the United States stages military drills with South Korea. So far, there has been no comment on the failed test-fire from North Korea. But the failure would be a huge embarrassment to leader Kim Jong-un who has a history of humiliating military misfires. Earlier this month, there were claims a failed North Korean missile launch may have been 'thwarted by cyber attacks from the US'. It is not known whether Saturday's launch was disrupted by America. President Donald Trump has responded saying that North Korea had 'disrespected the wishes of China' with the missile test. Scroll down for video The USS Carl Vinson is heading towards North Korea after Kim Jong Un carried out yet another failed missile launch The Nimitz-class U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson sails offshore Nagasaki prefecture, southern Japan, heading north in this aerial view photo taken by Kyodo April 29 North Korea has carried out yet another failed missile launch, according to the Pentagon. Pictured, a file photo released on 24 April 2016 by North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows an 'underwater test-fire of strategic submarine ballistic missile in North Korea A PAC-3 Patriot missile unit is deployed against the North Korea's missile firing at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo, Saturday, April 29, after the test fire The launch comes just hours after the country announced it was 'on the brink of nuclear war'. Pictured above, North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un The reported launch hours came after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on China, and the rest of the world, to help force the dictator-led country to give up its nuclear weapons, during his address to the UN Security Council. Earlier this week, Jong-un's army showed they were ready for war as they fired rockets and torpedoes at mock enemy warships during North Korea's 'largest ever' live-fire artillery drills on Tuesday. Hundreds of tanks were lined up along the eastern coastal town of Wonsan in a show of military strength to celebrate 85 years since the North Korean army was created. Then on Wednesday, South Korea conducted joint military live-fire drills with the US at Seungjin fire training field in Pocheon, South Korea, near the border with North Korea. Today's action by Jong un is only likely to escalate the increasingly tense relations between the US and North Korea. Earlier Friday, North Korea's KCNA state news agency blamed America for pushing the situation to 'the brink of nuclear war' while Jong unlabeled the United States a 'blackmailing gangster' holding North Korea at 'knifepoint' by supporting its enemies and imposing economic sanctions. On Thursday, President Trump warned a 'major, major conflict' with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, while China said the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control. President Donald Trump has responded saying that North Korea had 'disrespected the wishes of China' with the missile test President Donald Trump (pictured today stepping off Marine One at the White House) said he wants to resolve the crisis in North Korea peacefully but a military option was not off the table Trump said he wanted to resolve the crisis peacefully, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option was not off the table. 'There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea,' Trump said in an interview at the Oval Office. 'We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult,' he said, describing North Korea as his biggest global challenge.' Today's launch is thought to have been a more medium-range ballistic missile, the sold-fuel KN-17 fired from a mobile launcher, according to US officials. It broke up a couple minutes after the launch, and the pieces fell into the Sea of Japan. Analysts say the KN-17 is a new Scud-type missile developed by North Korea. The North also test-fired the missile earlier this month; U.S. officials called that launch a failure. North Korea routinely test-fires a variety of ballistic missiles, despite U.N. prohibitions, as part of its weapons development. While shorter-range missiles are somewhat routine, there is strong outside worry about each longer-range North Korean ballistic test. US supercarrier, the USS Carl Vinson, is heading towards North Korean shores to conduct drills in nearby waters as an act of defiance after the country's missile testing The efforts are the latest in long line of failed missile launches by North Korea - at least nine since Trump's inauguration in January. Earlier this month, the country attempted to fire a missile, which had just been unveiled as a game-changer' intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in a show of military might - only for the weapon to blow up four or five seconds after being launched. THE USS CARL VINSON The USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) is the Navy's third Nimitz-class supercarrier. It is named after Georgian Congressman Carl Vinson in honor of his support of the US Navy including his Two-Ocean Navy Act of 1940, which provided for the huge shipbuilding effort in World War II. Since its launch in 1980, the ship has been deployed in Operation Desert Strike, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Southern Watch, and Operation Enduring Freedom. Most notably, Carl Vinson was the location from which the body of Osama bin Laden was buried at sea in 2011. The supercarrier also hosted the first NCAA basketball game on an aircraft carrier on Veterans Day, 2011. Advertisement The South Korean defense ministry said it had detected the failed launch from Sinpo - where North Korea's biggest submarine base is located. It was 'presumed to be a new ICBM' as it was longer than the existing KN-08 or KN-14 missiles. Defense secretary James Mattis said Donald Trump was 'aware' of the launch which took place just as Vice President landed in South Korea ahead of his 10-day Asia tour. North Korea had another failed missile launch in mid-March, when the missile exploded within seconds of being launched, US officials say. North Korea is banned from any missile or nuclear launched by the United Nations but that has not stopped it carrying out repeated tests as it attempts to improve its nuclear technology. Friday's launch, or Saturday local time, landed near Pukchang, just north of Pyongyang, which isn't far from where the North earlier this year tested new midrange solid-fuel missiles. The launch raised concerns because they could be quickly fired from land-based mobile launchers and are harder to detect before launch. North Korea has also test-fired from inland a powerful liquid-fuel midrange missile, which outside experts call the Musudan and which has the potential to reach U.S. military bases in Guam. Leader Kim Jong-Un saluted his military from the top of a private car as they drove through the demonstration More than 300 large-calibre artillery pieces were fired in the drill on Wednesday, called a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' The exercises involved submarine torpedo-attacks on mock enemy warships, causing huge explosion It was not clear how far the ballistic missile traveled, but a US government source told Reuters the test-fire had failed. Pictured, an undated picture released by KCNA on March 7 showing the launch of four ballistic missiles An undated file photo made available by the North Korean Central News Agency on 07 March 2017, that shows four projectiles during a ballistic rocket launching drill of Hwasong artillery units of the Strategic Force of the Korean People's Army (KPA) at an undisclosed location North Korea, technically still at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, regularly threatens to destroy the United States and says it will pursue its nuclear and missile programs to counter perceived US aggression. But tensions between the North and United States have recently escalated with both North and South Korea conducting military exercises. Trump took an initial hard line with Pyongyang and sent a nuclear-powered submarine and the USS Carl Vinson aircraft supercarrier to Korean waters. His diplomats have since pivoted and are now taking a softer tone. Meanwhile, North Korean state news agency blamed the US for the increasingly strained relationship, saying: 'By staging the largest-ever aggressive joint military drills against the DPRK for the past two months after bringing all sorts of nuclear strategic assets to south Korea.' DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The agency continued: 'No one in the world welcomes a gangster blackmailing the owner with a dagger. The US has looked to China, North Korea's biggest ally to interject in the situation. Before meeting Chinese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the beginning of the month, Trump said if China did not intervene in North Korea, the US would 'take care of it'. But Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said this week there was a danger that the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control. On Friday the United States and China offered starkly different strategies for addressing North Korea's escalating nuclear threat as Trump's top diplomat demanded full enforcement of economic sanctions on Pyongyang and urged new penalties. Stepping back from suggestions of U. S. military action, he even offered aid to North Korea if it ends its nuclear weapons program. Earlier this month, North Korea unveiled 'game-changer' ballistic missiles during a display of the country's military might. This launch was also a failure Two of the missiles thought to be dubbed North Korea's 'game changing' weapons are paraded through Kim Il-Sung square on April 15. Those same missiles exploded within seconds of being launched The range of Tillerson's suggestions, which over a span of 24 hours also included restarting negotiations, reflected America's failure to halt North Korea's nuclear advances despite decades of U.S.-led sanctions, military threats and stop-and-go rounds of diplomatic engagement. As the North approaches the capability to hit the U.S. mainland with a nuclear-tipped missile, the Trump administration feels it is running out of time. Chairing a ministerial meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Friday, Tillerson declared that 'failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences.' Tillerson said all options 'must remain the table,' while emphasizing the need for diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea. His ideas included a ban on North Korean coal imports and preventing its overseas guest laborers, a critical source of government revenue, from sending money home. And he warned of unilateral U.S. moves against international firms conducting banned businesses with Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, which could ensnare banks in China, the North's primary trade partner. 'We must have full and complete compliance by every country,' Tillerson said. Yet illustrating the international gulf over how best to tackle North Korea, several foreign ministers on the 15-member council expressed fears of a conflict on the Korean Peninsula, which was divided between the American-backed South and communist North even before the 1950-53 Korean War. The conflict ended with no formal peace treaty. And while danger always has lurked, tensions have escalated dramatically as the North's young leader, Kim Jong Un, has expanded a nuclear arsenal his government says is needed to avert a U.S. invasion. No voice at Friday's session was more important than that of China, a conduit for 90 percent of North Korea's commerce and a country Trump is pinning hopes on for a peaceful resolution to the nuclear crisis. Trump, who recently hosted President Xi Jinping for a Florida summit, has sometimes praised the Chinese leader for a newfound cooperation to crack down on North Korea and sometimes threatened a go-it-alone U.S. approach if Xi fails to deliver. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China would adhere to past U.N. resolutions and wants a denuclearized peninsula. But he spelled out no further punitive steps his government might consider, despite Tillerson's assertions in an interview hours ahead of the council meeting that Beijing would impose sanctions of its own if North Korea conducts another nuclear test. North Korea's ballistic missiles being displayed during a military parade in Pyongyang marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader and the nation's founder Kim Il-Sung earlier this month Wang put forward a familiar Chinese idea to ease tensions: North Korea suspending its nuclear and missile activities, if the U.S. and South Korea stop military exercises in the region. Washington and Seoul reject the idea. Amid signs of a possible North Korean nuclear test, the U.S. recently sent a group of warships led by an aircraft carrier to waters off of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea this week conducted large-scale, live-fire exercises on its eastern coast. The U.S. and South Korea also started installing a missile defense system that is supposed to be partially operational within days. Tillerson said the US does not seek regime change in North Korea, and he signaled American openness to holding direct negotiations with Pyongyang. The US also could resume aid to North Korea once it 'begins to dismantle its nuclear weapons and missile technology programs,' he said. Since 1995, he added, Washington has provided more than $1.3 billion to the impoverished country. But the prospects for any more U.S. money going there appeared bleak. Even negotiations don't seem likely. Tillerson said the North must take 'concrete steps' to reduce its weapons threat before talks could occur. Six-nation nuclear negotiations with North Korea stalled in 2008. The Obama administration sought to resurrect them in 2012, but a deal to provide food aid in exchange for a nuclear freeze soon collapsed. 'In a nutshell, (North Korea) has already declared not to attend any type of talks which would discuss its nuclear abandonment, nuclear disbandment,' Kim In Ryong, North Korea's deputy U.N ambassador, told The Associated Press. His government declined to attend Friday's council meeting. The intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), which Pyongyang claim could travel thousands of miles, have increased concerns that the secretive state is preparing for a possible attack on Washington after they were paraded during the country's Day of the Sun celebrations on April 15. The two new kinds of ICBM were enclosed in canister launchers mounted on the back of transporter erector launcher trucks as they were paraded in front of crowds during today's festivities. Pyongyang has yet to formally announce it has an operational ICBM but experts believe they the new rockets could be liquid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missiles, or an early prototype. Submarine-launched ballistic missiles were also among the military hardware on show for the first time. The smirking terror suspect seized by police yards from Downing Street had spent several years in Afghanistan, a former friend said yesterday. Somali-born Khalid Mohammed Omar Ali, 27, travelled to the war-torn country after being refused permission to stay in the Gaza Strip by the territorys government, run by Hamas which is on the EUs terrorism blacklist. Ali went to Afghanistan without telling his family, and had little contact with friends at home until he returned to the UK late last year. Aid mission: Khalid Mohammed Omar Ali during one of his trips to Gaza. He is wearing a Palestinian flag as a headscarf He was also on a ship raided by Israeli soldiers as it challenged a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip in 2010. The electrician, who followed the hardline Wahabi Islamic doctrine, was arrested on Thursday with a rucksack full of knives on Whitehall, close to Parliament. Officers were lying in wait for the suspect, whose movements were being tracked by a joint police and MI5 operation after they were tipped off by his family. Yesterday as police searched his familys 400,000 terraced home in Edmonton, North London, details emerged of a charismatic and academically gifted boy who became increasingly obsessed by hardline religious views in his teens. Ali was on board the Mavi Marmara, part of a flotilla which was challenging an Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip when it was intercepted by the Israeli Defence Forces in May 2010. Nine Turkish activists were killed in the raid. Khaid Ali was tackled to the floor in Whitehall and at least three knives were seen strewn across the floor Later that year he took part in an aid mission to Gaza called Road 2 Hope, which made headlines on the BBC after a Greek naval captain briefly held the group hostage in a dispute over money. Another member of the aid mission said last night: Khalid stood out from the crowd. He was very loud and confident and always talking about fighting for Muslims who were oppressed. He had this zeal about him. Photos of him during the ten-week trip to the self-governing Palestinian territory show him making a one-fingered salute and wearing the Palestinian flag as a headscarf. The source said: There were about 100 people in the convoy. They used to talk about the non-Muslims taking part really badly. They came from all over the country and I didnt know what they were like until I was with them. Police say he was detained after a stop and search in an 'ongoing operation'. Ali is now being questioned Khalid had this Saudi Wahabi ideology. It was all fundamentalism and jihad and the romance of it. He was like a coiled spring who referred to non-Muslims as dirty kuffars (non-believers). When the group arrived in Gaza, Ali disappeared and only met up with the group as they prepared to leave a few days later after dropping off clothes, medicines and other items. He was very vague about where hed been but he had a brother who was working there, as a medic I think, and I think he was with him, he added. His plan was not to come back but the government wouldnt let him stay. They said that if anything happened to him they would be held responsible. Footage taken when the group met at Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire before setting off shows Ali sitting behind the wheel of a support van. He says: For all the brothers who stayed behind... youre going to see us in action, doing our thing all day long, as usual... taking it to the limits. You feel me? One love. The group were due to have a reunion in London in January 2011 after their return but Ali failed to attend. They later discovered he had gone to Afghanistan. The friend said: I heard his mother didnt know where he was and was worried sick. She didnt know hed gone to Afghanistan. No one heard from him for years and I thought he was dead. Then, last November, he was back. At least three knives were seen laying on the floor after a team of officers swooped and tackled Ali to the ground When I saw him on the news on Thursday, I recognised him straight away, although hes put a bit of weight on. Hes got that same smirk. Markaiu Mason, a classmate of Alis at Northumberland Park Community School in Tottenham, North London, said: At school he was a very popular person, he was very charismatic. Everybody generally really liked him. And he was super smart. He was in the highest classes with me in most of our joint sessions at school. But as Ali became a teenager, his attitude changed. He would often have heated discussions about religion and started preaching more. Mr Mason said: I could see that he was starting to slowly change... his attitudes were starting to change and he was becoming more religious and I thought theres something not quite right here. Scotland Yard said the Whitehall suspect was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terror. Brian Calley, Michigans lieutenant governor, says the U.S. Department of Education should send back the states plan created under the Every Student Succeeds Act because it doesnt have high enough standards for students with disabilities. Michigan is among 12 states that submitted their ESSA plans to the Education Department earlier this month. Calley, a Republican and rumored candidate for governor, posted on his Facebook page April 20 a letter he sent to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. In the letter, he noted that the state has set inconsistent standards for the minimum number of students needed for accountability purposes, also known as an n-size. The number of students needed for subgroup accountability is 30, except for English-language learners, who have an n-size of 10. The upshot, Calley said in his letter, is that 61.5 percent of Michigan schools will not have to account for the performance of students with disabilities, because those schools enroll fewer than 30 students in special education. This is an unacceptable outcome that will negatively impact many of our most vulnerable students, Calley wrote. He also said that Michigans ESSA plan needs further refinement to make sure that students with disabilities have access to high-quality instruction, and that there needs to be a public comment period that results in careful, meaningful discussion and consideration of public feedback. Calley has a daughter with autism. In 2015, he led a task force that that recommended reforms for the states special education system. One of the outcomes of the task force was legislation, signed in 2016, that prohibits restraint and seclusion unless a student is a danger to self or others. Though Calley says the state should get another shot at revising the plan, Michigans education department said it should stand. In a statement, the department said that the governor, Rick Snyder, also a Republican, signed off on the plan as submitted. While the federal law did not require the governors signature, we took that in good faith as the administration supporting the plan submitted to the U.S. Department of Education, knowing that the state legislature still could weigh in on the issue of a possible A-F school accountability system. That was acknowledged in the submitted plan, said department spokesman William DiSessa. We expect every school district to have the best interest of each child as its core mission, and that they work diligently to offer a quality education to every child every day with positive outcomes. The ESSA plan that was submitted followed many months of public input, including the Lt. Governors, and is a balanced reflection of thousands of voices across the education spectrum, DiSessa said. He has floated some conspiracy theories for years, but now President Donald Trump will get to play a crucial role in the long-running saga over the government's Kennedy assassination records. The 1992 JFK Assassination Records Collection Act, signed by President George H.W. Bush, set a 25-year timetable for declassification of assassination records dealing with President Kennedy. The law set up a single collection of records at the National Archives, and set up a process for declassification. The law required the release of all government records dealing with the assassination within 25 years with the exception of those the president certifies for postponed release. That timeline will technically be reached on Oct. 26 of this year, but some of the estimated 3,600 still-classified records could come out sooner. Relevant agencies are already poring over records for possible release. Scroll down for video President Trump has sole authority to determine whether to postpone the release of classified government documents on the Kennedy assasination A White House official told Politico that the White House is 'familiar' with the law's requirements and working with the archives 'to enable a smooth process in anticipation of the October deadline.' National Archives official Martha W. Murphy told the publication the government is preparing to release the information in batches, perhaps as soon as this summer. The situation puts Trump in a unique position to influence a historical event that has consumed the nation as well as conspiracy theorists ever since Kennedy was gunned down in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. A majority of Americans have consistently believed that Kennedy was killed in a conspiracy, according to Gallup polling, notwithstanding the conclusion of the Warren Commission that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Trump revealed a belief in multiple conspiracy theories during the presidential campaign, and became the nation's most prominent purveyor of the theory that President Obama might not have been born in Hawaii as his birth certificate said. Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961. Trump admitted in September that 'President Barack Obama was born in the United States.' Bystanders look on as Jacqueline Kennedy reaches over to help her husband, American President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) who lies on the rear of a car after being struck by an assassin's bullet as his motorcade travels through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas on 22nd November 1963 A majority of the American public has consistently expressed a view that there was a conspiracy to assassinate President Kennedy. Picture dated 22 November 1963 of US President John F. Kennedy's murderer Lee Harvey Oswald during a press conference after his arrest in Dalla A National Enquirer story printed the above photo and claimed the man circled is Rafael Cruz, father of Sen. Ted Cruz. The man on the far right is Lee Harvey Oswald, who is seen distributing propaganda about Fidel Castro's communist regime in New Orleans in 1963 Trump repeated the information about Rafael Cruz shortly before the Trump Indiana primary victory that knocked Ted Cruz out of the race Donald Trump referenced the National Enquirer's Kennedy assassination story during the campaign, and gained prominence touting a conspiracy theory that President Obama wasn't born in the U.S. Shortly before the Indiana primary, Trump brought up a National Enquirer story about Rafael Cruz, the father of his chief opponent, Texas Senator Ted Cruz. The story featured a hazy photograph that it claimed might show Rafael Cruz standing next to JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. 'His father was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswald's being you know, shot. I mean, the whole thing is ridiculous,' Trump said told Fox News. What is this, right prior to his being shot, and nobody even brings it up. They don't even talk about that. That was reported, and nobody talks about it,' Trump said. The records that are still classified are mostly FBI and CIA records, and were gathered by a Assassination Records Review Board. Congress enacted the law calling for the ultimate release of records following public interest around the 1991 Oliver Stone film 'JFK,' which heavily promoted the theory that Oswald didn't act alone. Among the documents that could get released is a file on CIA-backed Cuban exile group that Oswald may have tried to infiltrate. An idyllic seaside village home to rare wildlife could be disfigured beyond recognition if plans to build at least 1,200 houses are approved, locals say. Developers are closing in on the medieval settlement of Pagham in West Sussex, which currently has just 3,500 homes. Campaigners say the village is one of many facing mutilation from needless growth, based on inflated housing targets. Pagham campaigner Cynthia Weeks dressed as an undertaker in her campaign to halt a large housing development which some locals fear will disfigure' their village 'beyond recognition Retired IT manager Alan Pivett said the plans would block views of Chichester Cathedral and the South Downs. He added: People love Pagham because it is idyllic. The beauty of being able to look at these features that have been there for hundreds of years will be lost. People feel it would be disfiguring a beautiful village beyond recognition. Gill Homer, who founded the Pagham and Aldwick Greenfield Action Movement with husband Albert, said the extra homes would spell ruination, adding: I have never seen a threat as big as this to our way of life. It is going to completely transform a little country village into a nightmare. The group is most concerned by a 250-house Taylor Wimpey proposal and a 300-home bid by Hallam Land Management. Locals say the roads and sewers would not cope, and fear for Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve. Close to 2,000 protest letters have been sent to Arun district council over three developer bids in the village. Pagham council chairman Ray Radmall said: What has been a nice seaside rural holiday venue is not going to be the same at all. Local residents are campaigning to halt a planned housing development in their medieval village Pagham in West Sussex. Pictured left to right, Mick Lovell, Ivan Brenton, Mary Brenton, Pamela Hickey, Jackie Lovell, Gill Homer, Alan Pivett, Giles Binyon and Albert Homer Even parish priest the Rev Mark Eminson wrote to district council official Karl Roberts saying he hoped he would be inspired by the common good as opposed to targets of developers greed. The village is home to a popular holiday park, and the reserve receives many visitors in autumn when rare migrating birds are seen. Village district councillor Dawn Hall said: There is too much at risk. Pagham is also a centre of food production as it gets more sunlight than anywhere else in the UK, an average 1,902 hours a year. The medieval village of Pagham in West Sussex where the development is planned. Locals fear that it would permanently change the character of the village and damage its beauty A district council spokesman said the areas housing needs had risen sharply due to national figures from the Government, adding: A total of seven additional sites are included within the plan to meet these increased requirements. But Paul Miner, of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said Government-imposed targets were inflated and unrealistic. The housing minister yesterday pledged to keep vital protections for the precious green belt. Gavin Barwell told BBC Radio 4s Today, if the Tories are elected, ministers will do more to develop brownfield sites land in towns which has been built on before. Advertisement For a century its secrets have lain undisturbed along with large amounts of live ammunition and a surprisingly large stash of empty whisky bottles. But in recent days they have been uncovered, from old tins of tobacco and boot polish to names etched into walls by men who wondered if they would ever see home again. Many did not. This is also a reminder of savage games of subterranean cat and mouse in which the loser would be blown to pieces or buried alive. Such was life in the trenches of the Western Front during World War I. And it is astonishing to look inside these tunnels and read the names of their previous occupants scratched into the rock and chalk. For a century its secrets have lain undisturbed along with large amounts of live ammunition and a surprisingly large stash of empty whisky bottles. This is also a reminder of savage games of subterranean cat and mouse in which the loser would be blown to pieces or buried alive. Such was life in the trenches of the Western Front during World War I For here, in crumbling shafts and murky passages, we find the handiwork of young men preparing for battle. And when they werent hacking through the chalk, they did what bored soldiers always do enjoy a smoke, make a meal, etch their name on something. But this network of pristine Great War trenches and tunnels is nowhere near the Somme. It is on a building site just off the A303 in Wiltshire though not for long. By this morning it will all have been filled in and buried for ever as work starts on 400 new homes. So I have come to take a first and final look at the chalk labyrinth where so many brave young men learned the battle skills which would, ultimately, win the war. It is a misconception that troops from Britain and her Empire were simply handed a uniform and a rifle, shipped across the Channel and sent to die in the mud. Its the old lions led by donkeys narrative, perpetuated by lazy history teachers and Blackadder. This network of pristine Great War trenches and tunnels is nowhere near the Somme. It is on a building site just off the A303 in Wiltshire though not for long It neglects facts which surprise most people. First, most men who went off to war at least four in five came home again. Second, many had a fair idea of what to expect in the trenches, thanks to intensive training at sites like this one at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain. None, however, has been found preserved as well as this. Larkhill, in Wiltshire, has been a garrison town since late Victorian times and is about to get a lot bigger. When the MoD announced that Britain was closing its bases in Germany by 2020, it had to plan new homes for those troops and their families. So a 13-acre site outside Larkhill is being developed as part of the 1.1 billion Army Basing Programme. But before the builders could move in, the site had to be inspected by archaeologists. Given that this has been an Army training base since the Boer War, it was highly likely that there would be a few bits of military detritus that needed clearing up. Additionally, it sits on a famously historic and prehistoric patch of the English countryside. Stonehenge is less than two miles away. Other ancient gems, including Avebury and Old Sarum, are near by. The whole patch is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So there was a chance ancient fragments might be revealed, too. Even so, the results were astonishing. We had no idea we were going to find such a plethora of extraordinary archaeology, says Si Cleggett, of Wessex Archaeology. After removing the topsoil, his team had soon unearthed Bronze Age burial sites and traces of Iron Age and Roman life. Even more significant were the remains of a Neolithic causeway, part of a giant enclosure built in 3700BC. When the MoD announced that Britain was closing its bases in Germany by 2020, it had to plan new homes for those troops and their families. So a 13-acre site outside Larkhill is being developed as part of the 1.1 billion Army Basing Programme Then the historical discoveries leapt forward to the early 20th century. There was plenty of junk, of course. The archaeologists uncovered one pit for a World War II anti-aircraft gun into which someone had dumped an old MG and a motorbike. But just below the surface of what had been grazing land for as long as anyone could remember, the excavation team found a clearly defined line of zig-zagging trenches. Six feet deep, they were straight out of the World War I training manual. Next, they uncovered an entrance to a tunnel. We thought: OK. This is all quite interesting, recalls archaeologist Martin Brown. But we were amazed by what came next. But before the builders could move in, the site had to be inspected by archaeologists. Stonehenge is less than two miles away. Other ancient gems, including Avebury and Old Sarum, are near by. The whole patch is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Because the more earth they shifted, the more they found five miles of trenches in all. Suddenly, we realised they had recreated an entire length of the Western Front, says Martin. Here were British lines, German lines and No Mans Land in between and exactly the same sort of tunnel networks as those being dug in France and Flanders. And the top brass were clearly in deadly earnest about this training, because the soldiers were using live ammunition. Yet, come the end of the war to end all wars, the site had been abandoned. Some trenches had been used as a garrison rubbish dump hence the hundreds of empty bottles of whisky, jam jars and tins. Then they were just backfilled and the grass grew again. Everyone forgot about the replica Somme on the edge of town. Suddenly, we realised they had recreated an entire length of the Western Front, says Martin. Here were British lines, German lines and No Mans Land in between and exactly the same sort of tunnel networks as those being dug in France and Flanders. A century later, the inspection of the site became a lengthy process. Every piece of soil had to be scanned for unexploded ordnance, and there was a lot of it. More than 200 grenades, bombs and shells came to light, 100 of them still live. As a result, the bomb disposal teams have been extremely busy in recent months. The MoD and the developers were in no hurry to publicise their discovery, for fear of souvenir-hunters. So once the archaeologists had recorded all their finds in a particular area, every noteworthy item was logged and bagged and the bulldozers were then ordered to cover it all up again. I have come to see the last remains of the tunnel network before it is filled in for ever. Yet, come the end of the war to end all wars, the site had been abandoned. Some trenches had been used as a garrison rubbish dump hence the hundreds of empty bottles of whisky, jam jars and tins. Then they were just backfilled and the grass grew again. Everyone forgot about the replica Somme on the edge of town One corner of a field remains fenced off, with good reason. There is a huge hole, 12ft deep, with archways leading off in different directions through the chalk. This is where an excavator has dug down and found a warren of interconnecting tunnels and shafts high and wide enough for a man to squeeze through bent double. We scrabble down to peer inside. Its too dangerous to start crawling off up blind passages which might cave in at any minute (some already have). But I can poke my head in to find names and dates scratched on the walls. I spot one left by a chap called Sharpe, along with a faded date which ends in 1917. Much clearer is the name Private A Fleming of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Engineering geologist Steve Dixon explains that these tunnels are at the farthest extremes of the trench networks. They are listening posts where a soldier might lie in silence for hours, monitoring enemy digging. Steve points to a small hole at the far end where an engineer would pack a charge. When the tell-tale sounds of the approaching enemy could be heard close at hand, he would retreat to safety and detonate it. Engineering geologist Steve Dixon explains that these tunnels are at the farthest extremes of the trench networks. They are listening posts where a soldier might lie in silence for hours, monitoring enemy digging. When the tell-tale sounds of the approaching enemy could be heard close at hand, he would retreat to safety and detonate explosives The same soldier would then head back up another tunnel in the same network, listen for the rescue party coming to help the victims of his original explosion, and plant another charge to blow up the rescuers, too. To a 21st-century civilian, these might sound like terror tactics. But, as the tunnels show, this was standard practice, as taught to British and Empire troops here on Salisbury Plain. They did it to us and we did it right back. There has been this long-held belief that training was pretty limp-wristed and haphazard, yet we can now dispense with that idea, says Si Cleggett. For proof of that, he cites one of the most significant discoveries, a tunnel wall on which someone has scribbled a list of Australian names. One is LC Weathers. Lawrence Weathers was an undertaker from Adelaide. A New Zealand-born father of two, he had enlisted in early 1916 following the death of his brother at Gallipoli. He arrived in Britain, trained at Larkhill and, later that year, arrived at the Western Front soon after the first battle of the Somme. Hospitalised many times, he was back with his unit two months before the end of the war, as the second Battle of the Somme unfolded. Near Peronne, he was ordered forwards with an advanced bombing party. Once again, his Larkhill training kicked in. The attack having been held up by a strongly held enemy trench, Weathers went forward alone under heavy fire and attacked the enemy with bombs, his commanding officers wrote later. The same soldier would then head back up another tunnel in the same network, listen for the rescue party coming to help the victims of his original explosion, and plant another charge to blow up the rescuers, too. To a 21st-century civilian, these might sound like terror tactics. But, as the tunnels show, this was standard practice, as taught to British and Empire troops here on Salisbury Plain. They did it to us and we did it right back Then, returning to our lines for a further supply of bombs, he again went forward with three comrades and attacked under very heavy fire. Regardless of personal danger, he mounted the enemy parapet and bombed the trench, and, with the support of his comrades, captured 180 prisoners and three machine guns. His valour and determination resulted in the successful capture of the final objective. Promoted to temporary corporal a few days later, on his fifth wedding anniversary, Weathers fought on but on September 29 he was mortally wounded by enemy artillery and, tragically, never learned that his heroics had earned him the Victoria Cross. His valour made news all over again last year when his VC came up for sale at auction, fetching more than 300,000. The anonymous purchaser then donated the Weathers VC to the Australian War Memorial, where it will remain on display in perpetuity. Corporal Weathers is buried in the Commonwealth cemetery at Vendhuile in northern France. His headstone is identical to hundreds scattered around Larkhill. Some may wonder why we cannot preserve the Larkhill tunnels for posterity, but a lot of the site is unsafe. Besides, the Army urgently needs homes to be built. All the artefacts have been labelled and stored by Wessex Archaeology, pending transfer to local museums and schools. On one shelf sits a bag full of grenade pins, on another a collection of tin mugs I visit the cemetery at Durrington. Here lie more than 200 soldiers who, like Weathers, came to learn their battlecraft on Salisbury Plain but never made it any farther. Some died in training accidents, others from illness. Like Weathers, many were Australian. Every war grave is immaculate, but there is something particularly poignant about those of men who had travelled right round the world to fight for a motherland they had never known, and who would never see home again. There lies Private John Jenkins of the Australian 26th Battalion, who was only 18 when he died here in February 1917. A Loving And Only Son Called Home, reads the inscription on his headstone. Near by lies Private Arthur Brown, of the Australian 9th, who died in the same month, aged 25: Oh Could We Have Had One Look At His Dear Face, reads his headstone. Thy Will Be Done. Some may wonder why we cannot preserve the Larkhill tunnels for posterity, but a lot of the site is unsafe. Besides, the Army urgently needs homes to be built. All the artefacts more than a ton of them have been labelled and stored by Wessex Archaeology, pending transfer to local museums and schools. On one shelf sits a bag full of grenade pins, on another a collection of tin mugs. Here, too, in an airtight container, is a slab of chalk from a tunnel. It is that piece etched with the names of those bored Australian recruits. And there, in pencil, we see the name: LC Weathers. It is, surely, a slice of history as important as any Neolithic causeway or Bronze Age arrowhead. On stage in a stadium in Soweto, the township at the heart of the uprising against apartheid, South Africas president, in a green and gold leather jacket, was dancing a Zulu war jig. A court order against hate speech meant Jacob Zuma, a former cattle herder, was banned from singing his favourite liberation songs, including Bring Me My Machine Gun and Shoot The Boer. But, after listening to speeches in which a succession of obsequious cronies described him as a giant alongside African leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Zuma delighted supporters at his 75th birthday celebrations a few days ago with fiery rhetoric instead and in doing so sounded the death knell for the Rainbow Nation. On the Attack: Jacob Zuma has vowed to take back land from white South Africans In front of more than 20,000 people party loyalists and others bussed in with the promise of free food and Zuma T-shirts he warned the white population he was coming for their land. As armed bodyguards, in black suits and sunglasses, scanned the crowds from the stage, Zuma attacked his white opponents, saying: They are telling us that we will be breaking the law when we take the land but they broke the law first by stealing our land! As cheers rang out, he added: No normal person would sit idly by after his land has been stolen from him. Why should I keep quiet about the land issue? [Whites] hate me because I touched a raw nerve by talking about the economy that all should share in. He also attacked his critics among the black population, branding them back stabbers and cowards. Anyone opposing him was a racist. Zuma had earlier informed the South African parliament that he planned to introduce a new law allowing land seizures to go ahead without compensation, saying all blacks should unite to take back the land. Mzwandile Masina, a prominent member of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), made his own incendiary contribution, warning that we will crush anyone who stands in the way of nation building. Training: Volunteers in the Kommandokorps are in the bush preparing for bloody conflict Whites, who comprise four million out of a total South African population of 50 million, should expect that things will be very, very rough for them, Masina warned. He told the crowd that while the white population is small in number, we are many. I want to say to our white counterparts in South Africa, they must be very, very careful, Masina added. This thing of being shown the middle finger by white people because they have gained a new confidence must come to an end. We are not monkeys, we are people. Zumas decadence and defiance at his party earlier this month which cost 1m to stage comes as South Africa lurches ever closer towards the abyss of a Zimbabwe-style collapse and possible violence as black and white factions prepare themselves for conflict. A man, wearing a T-shirt with a photo of Zuma on it, laughed bitterly when I asked him if he had come to the celebrations to support his leader. Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters prepare to march in protest at the Government My friend, I have three children I can barely afford to feed, there is no work, so how do you think I can support this crook, he hissed. I only came to see if there was food. Expressing sentiments I heard repeatedly from other impoverished black South Africans, the 49-year-old added: At least the whites (under apartheid) gave us jobs. Mandela tried to get rid of black and white and make us grey. This clown is dragging us down and down. To underline the scale of the countrys woes, 23 years after apartheid ended, business leaders have just taken out an extraordinary advert on page three of the South African Sunday Times newspaper, warning that the State has been captured. South Africa is in crisis, it said, blaming Zuma for the illegitimate acquisition of South Africas natural and financial assets. The government was guilty of propaganda, slogans, racism and lies to silence criticism. The economy is undoubtedly in peril after government bonds were downgraded to junk status. Once a net exporter of food as neighbouring Zimbabwe was before Robert Mugabe seized land from whites in a programme of racial transformation the country is now forced to rely on imports to feed the population. Unemployment is 90 per cent in some townships, and riots described as service delivery protests by the ANC are so widespread and frequent they barely get reported. Once a net exporter of food as neighbouring Zimbabwe was before Robert Mugabe (right) seized land from whites in a programme of racial transformation the country is now forced to rely on imports to feed the population Crime is rampant with more than 50 murders a day, many sadistic and barbaric while South Africa is shamed by an appalling record on rape, with a woman sexually assaulted every 23 seconds. Now, many have had enough. Black opposition leaders and a coalition called Save South Africa are staging protests, calling for Zuma to quit. Certainly, Jacob Zuma does not inspire confidence when it comes to running what has long been regarded as Africas superpower. Born in Nkandla in 1942, the site of famous battles with British forces in the late-19th century, he was raised in a traditional village. His father, a policeman and village chief, was an adviser to a local Zulu king. As a boy, Zuma herded cattle, collected wild honey and hunted small animals with a spear. Aged 11, he was circumcised with a traditional stone implement after a period learning about Zulu tradition at camps run by elders in the bush. It was there, too, that he was taught about sex, a subject he has taken a close interest in ever since. I was told to be a man among men, he said once. Zuma left home at 16 with no qualifications and one year later joined the ANC, becoming a foot soldier for Umkhonto We Sizwe Spear Of The Nation, the armed wing of the liberation movement which carried out a bombing campaign in a bid to end white minority rule. He was arrested aged 21 for conspiring to overthrow the government and served ten years on Robben Island alongside Mandela in the infamous jail. Zuma was arrested aged 21 for conspiring to overthrow the government and served ten years on Robben Island alongside Mandela (right) in the infamous jail. Upon release, he travelled to ANC bases in neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, Zambia and Botswana, and became head of the ANCs internal intelligence wing known as Mbokodo, or the stone that crushes. When Nelson Mandela was released in 1990, after 27 years in prison, Zuma returned to South Africa and became deputy president under Thabo Mbeki, from 1999, until being forced out amid corruption allegations in 2005. He became the nations fourth black president in 2009. Zuma has had six wives and 22 children and has been linked with numerous other women. In 2005, when he was accused of raping the daughter of an ANC friend, he denied the charges, claiming it was consensual and it was his duty as a Zulu warrior to have sex with a woman if she wore a short kanga an African wrap and he could not leave her unfulfilled. In the Zulu culture, you cannot just leave a woman if she is ready, he told the court. To deny her sex, that would have been tantamount to rape. Despite knowing that the woman was HIV positive, in a country where one in three carries the virus, Zuma was unfazed by criticism that he hadnt used a condom. I had a shower afterwards, he said, cheerfully. Eventually Zuma was cleared, but it is his financial rather than his sexual activities that are the cause of the greatest fears for the future of South Africa. Zuma is now fabulously rich, with a personal fortune estimated at between 15 million and 100 million. How he has acquired this wealth is of particular interest to his opponents. He has been accused of taking huge bribes in an arms deal, and could face up to 783 charges. The real evidence of just how far Zuma has come is at Nklanda, the sprawling palace he built using taxpayers funds near the rural home where he grew up. In the style of a Zulu kings kraal, he has homes here for four of his wives, reportedly connected to his own grander house by tunnels, as well as two helicopter landing pads, and an area for cattle. In a scathing report last year by the public prosecutor, he was ordered to pay back some of the costs of upgrading the presidential palace, including the price of a swimming pool he claimed was needed for water in case of a fire. As Zumas wealth and power have grown, the parallels with the collapse of Zimbabwe are ever more striking. Military veterans, who answer only to Zuma and who served in the ANCs military wing, have paraded on the streets. They formed a guard of honour at Zumas recent party. Prince Harry meets South African President Jacob Zuma at his Official Residence on the last day of his tour of South Africa on December 3, 2015 Zimbabwes despotic president, Mugabe, also used military veterans to seize white farms in 2000, tipping the country into years of decay by following the policies now being proposed by Zuma. Not surprisingly, some white South Africans are taking extreme measures in response. Where once ANC guerrillas camped in the bush, plotting against white rulers, now it is white militias training at secret camps. These are run by leaders of the Kommandokorps, a volunteer force who wear the brown military uniforms of South Africas old apartheid-era forces. On remote farms, recruits are being trained with pistols, pump-action shotguns and 303 rifles. More than 2,500 volunteers, aged from 14 to 38, have been drilled. Their leader is Colonel Franz Jooste, a former officer in the old South African army, who fought what he calls black terrorists in secret operations in Mozambique, Angola and Zambia. We are in a heightened security situation, he told me. We have to prepare for anarchy and how we can protect ourselves. The ANC is also training thousands of national rural youth service corps at military bases. There are reports that volunteers on the two-year programmes have been promised land. (The ANC denies they are trained as soldiers, but admits they are exposed to military discipline so they become better and more patriotic citizens.) So deep is the crisis that Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the face of opposition to apartheid while Mandela was in jail, has joined anti-government protests, and described Zuma as disgraceful. I am warning you that we will pray as we prayed for the downfall of the Apartheid Government, the 85-year-old says. We will pray for the downfall of a government that misrepresents us. Many believe the country is doomed even the black leader of one opposition party Former president F.W. de Klerk, who, in 1993, was awarded a joint Nobel Peace prize with Mandela, believes thieving from state coffers will spell disaster. Corruption is a deadly threat to South Africa, he told me. It has enriched the leadership group but will make it difficult for the great majority of South Africans to escape from poverty. Most seriously, it has corrupted the values for which leaders like Nelson Mandela struggled. President Zuma is dangerously stoking up racial animosities. The ANC claims that it does not want to repeat the mistakes of Zimbabwe but it is difficult to see how it would avoid this if it proceeds with expropriation [land grabs] without compensation. We hope that the world will condemn growing institutionalised racism against (white) minorities with the same vigour with which it condemned apartheid. Then, if all this were not grim enough, there is Julius Ju Ju Malema, a former ANC youth leader tipped as a future South African president, before he fell out with Zuma and created his own anti-white party called the Economic Freedom Fighters. Self-styled Commander in Chief Malema has attracted millions of supporters. He has a penchant for fast cars and expensive Breitling watches and makes Zuma seem like a moderate. He has urged blacks to illegally seize white land wherever they see it. We are not calling for the slaughter of white people at least for now, he said in a recent speech. The rightful owners of the land are black people. No white person is a rightful owner of the land here in South Africa and the whole of the African continent. Demonstrators take part in a protest calling for the removal of South Africa's President Jacob Zuma in Durban Many believe the country is doomed even the black leader of one opposition party. Jacob Zuma is dangerous for South Africa, said Mumusi Maimane, leader of the Democratic Alliance. He is running a project of destroying South Africa. A few days ago, the more apocalyptic warnings about South Africa seemed false as I watched blacks and whites enjoying the Easter break. But when I first visited Zimbabwe 20 years ago, I would never have believed the tranquil breadbasket of Africa would become an economic basket case and a place of horrors, nor that in 2008 I would see millions of worthless bank notes blow through the capital Harare. And I have never forgotten an exchange with one of Mandelas advisers after I moved to live in Johannesburg 20 years ago. He was shocked when I said I didnt own a gun. Youd better get one, he warned. Africa is a rough continent anything can happen. I didnt buy a weapon then. I might now if I lived there. For, if Zuma and his cronies choose to follow this corrupt, ruinous and racially destructive path, it wont matter who ends up president of this magical, troubled country. They will be fighting to be King of the ashes. Advertisement Furious demonstrators marched on the home of Brazil's under-fire president, as police officers opened fire on rioters in violent clashes during a public strike. More than 35 million people stayed away from work during the nationwide strike in Brazil yesterday, as anger boiled over around controversial government austerity measures. Protesters lit flares outside the home of President Michel Timer, throwing rocks at police in clashes which saw stun grenades fired at those who attempted to break through barriers. In capital Rio de Janeiro, after hours of clashes with police in front of the legislative building, several buses were torched. Scroll down for video Riot police fire their weapons during a protest in the Pinheiros neighbourhood in Sao Paulo, as widespread riots broke out over government austerity measures Military police on a motorcycle fire at protesters in Rio de Janeiro during violent clashes as thousands took to the streets during a nationwide strike Demonstrators lit flares outside the home of Brazilian president Michel Temer in Sao Paulo, as angry protests were held across the country and more than 30 million people went on strike A man smashes the windscreen of a truck belonging to a subway maintenance crew during clashes with police at a general strike in the Brazilian capital yesterday A man covers his face during last night's protests in Rio de Jeneiro as buses burn behind him in a huge wave of government opposition A riot police officer fires tear gas toward demonstrators amid violent scenes in Rio de Janeiro during anti-austerity protests across the country Riot police fired their weapons during a protest in Sao Paulo yesterday, as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in opposition to the president's plans Thousands flooded the streets in anger against labour law and pension reforms, raising questions about whether President Temer will be able to push his proposals through Congress. Temer's administration argues that more flexible labor rules will revive a moribund economy and warns the pension system will go bankrupt without changes. Unions and other groups called for the strike, saying that the changes before Congress will make workers too vulnerable and strip away too many benefits. Buses burned and roads were blocked in a raw demonstration of anger against corruption, and the strike was called as Brazilians worry about the future amid a deep recession and rising unemployment. In a statement last night, Mr Temer characterised the protesters as 'small groups' that blocked the roads and streets. He said his administration was working to help Brazilians workers overcome the country's economic malaise. Buses burn after protesters set them alight during the strikes called by unions against austerity measures brought in by President Michel Temer Thousands took to the streets to protest on a day when 35 million Brazilians took part in a strike to show their opposition to President Temer's proposals Large crowds filled the streets of Sao Paulo to demonstrate against under-fire president Michel Temer's controversial labour reforms Demonstrators and police clash during a strike in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. Millions stayed home, but thousands flooded the streets in anger Demonstrators held running battles with police throughout the night as scenes of violence broke out following a national strike across Brazil Two buses alight following violent clashes between police and anti-austerity protesters in the Brazilian capital last night Performance artists take part in a demonstration against under-fire Brazilian president Michel Temer in Sao Paulo, the city where he lives, last night A riot police officer fire tear gas toward demonstrators during the protest, which raises questions about whether President Michel Temer will be able to push his proposals through Congress A military police officer throws a tyre out of a burning barricate during the protest against President Michel Temer's proposals Demonstrators set barricades on fire in Vale do Anhangabau in Sao Paulo. Unions and other groups called for the strike, saying that the changes before Congress will make workers too vulnerable and strip away too many benefits Demonstrators stand near a burning barricade on BR-116 road A bus burns. Public transport largely came to a halt across much of Brazil on Friday A policeman gestures as members of Brazil's Movimento dos Sem-Teto (Roofless Movement) try open the front door of a vacant building during an occupation in the centre of Sao Paulo Another officer lets off tear gas (right). Firefighters arrive to control a burning barricade on Dutra roa (right) Demonstrators clash with riot police in a protest against President Michel Temer's proposal reform A demonstrator walks past a barricade which was set alight during yesterday's fierce protests in Rio de Janeiro Flares were lit during a protest in the Pinheiros neighbourhood in Sao Paulo as protests were held across the country over controversial new labour laws The burned out shell of a bus in Rio de Janeiro, where angry protesters set light to vehicles in a night of violence in protest over government plans A bus burns in Rio de Janeiro after being set alight during the country-wide demonstrations yesterday In one the largest demonstrations Friday, thousands of protesters gathered in front Rio de Janeiro's state assembly in the afternoon and were fighting pitched battles with police who tried to remove them. Police fired tear gas while protesters threw stones and lit small fires in the middle of streets around the legislative building in downtown. A few hundred more protesters massed on a major avenue in Sao Paulo, where police told downtown shopkeepers to close early, apparently out of concern that protesters might head there. Throughout the day, 21 people were arrested in Sao Paulo, according to military police. Earlier in the day, most commuter trains and metro lines were stopped in Sao Paulo during the height of morning commute, and all buses stayed off the roads. Buses ran partial service during the morning in Rio de Janeiro but later began returning to normal. The metro was closed for the day in the capital of Brasilia. Some protesters also set up barricades and started fires in the streets, including on roads heading to the main airports in Sao Paulo. In Rio, protesters created confusion by running through Santos Dumont Airport, and others blocked a major road. A man takes a selfie in front a burning bus in Rio de Janeiro during the protests yesterday, which saw a national strike descend into violence A demonstrator hurls a rock at a burning car during the general strike in Rio de Janeiro yesterday, which 35 million people took part in Demonstrators prepare barricades during the protest against under-fire Brazilian president Michel Temer's plans A demonstrator is detained by riot polic. Throughout the day, 21 people were arrested in Sao Paulo, according to military police A man smashes the window of a Burger King. Police told downtown shopkeepers to close early, apparently out of concern that protesters might head there A bus burns during clashes between demonstrators and riot police in a protest against President Michel Temer's proposal reform of Brazil's social security system Protesters lit bonfires outside the House of Representatives in Rio de Janeiro yesterday as they made their opposition to the measures clear A man covered in skeleton-like face paint stands on the streets during the protests, which turned ugly all over the country The CUT union said around 35 million Brazilians didn't show up for work on Friday, more than one-third of the working population Police spray water from cannons at demonstrators next to the Sao Paulo's University Some plane mechanics joined the strike, according to the National Aeronautic Union, but the impact was minimal, with only a handful of flights canceled or delayed at the two cities' airports. 'We are demanding our rights, as workers, because the president of the country proposed a law for people to work more and live less, so you will only receive your pension when you die,' said Edgar Fernandes, a dock worker who was protesting in Rio. The CUT union said around 35 million Brazilians didn't show up for work on Friday, more than one-third of the working population. But the government downplayed the strike, insisting that many Brazilians were still at work. 'We don't have a strike, we have widespread riots,' Justice Minister Osmar Serraglio said on Joven Pam radio. Office furniture was set alight by protest groups in the streets of Rio de Janeiro during the demonstrations yesterday A masked demonstrator holds his arm aloft after protesters set a bus alight in the Brazilian capital yesterday A woman stands injured with blood on her forehead after being struck by a projectile A masked demonstrator exits an office that protesters ransacked after clashes with police broke out Thousands of protesters march in Brasilia during the union-backed strike across the South American country yesterday Firefighters were called into action as buses were set on fire during furious protests over the government proposals A line of military police walk across the street as citizens rose up against the controversial plans put forward by President Temer A woman is covered in blood after getting injured by a rubber bullet Demonstrators take part in a national strike against the labour and social welfare reform bill. The government downplayed the strike, insisting that many Brazilians were still at work An angry protester throws a stone amid clouds of tear gas during clashes with the police next to Sao Paulo's University A demonstrator kicks a vehicle in. Earlier in the day, most commuter trains and metro lines were stopped in Sao Paulo during the height of morning commute, and all buses stayed off the roads A protester throws a can of tear gas back at police. Brazil's economy is in a deep recession, and many Brazilians are frustrated with Temer's government Police officers stand guard as protestors demonstrate at Ipiranga Ave. in Sao Paulo Brazil's economy is in a deep recession, and many Brazilians are frustrated with Temer's government. Temer has argued that the proposed changes will benefit Brazilians in the long run. But with so many out of work, many feel they can ill afford any cuts to their benefits. Underscoring the economic malaise, the IBGE statistics agency announced on Friday that unemployment had jumped to 13.7 percent in the first quarter of the year, up from 12 percent. The anger over the proposed changes to benefits shows that Temer's government has failed to convince the people that the moves are necessary, said Oliver Stuenkel, who teaches international relations at the Fundacao Getulio Vargas university in Sao Paulo. And yet, the proposed laws have been moving fairly easily through Congress, and had been expected to eventually pass. 'This is a peculiar government that has low approval and still gets work done in Congress,' he said. 'But lawmakers also think of their re-elections next year. After today, there could be a bigger risk for Temer in getting any meaningful bills passed.' Members of Brazil's Movimento dos Sem-Teto (Roofless Movement) shout slogans to Police as they try open the front door of a vacant building during an occupation of an empty building in the centre of Sao Paulo Windows were smashed outside stores during the protest made by groups angry over the government proposals Brazilians angered at the government proposals turned out in their thousands during the widespread protests against austerity measures British Airways has put back the date for ending free food and drink on short-haul flights after being threatened with legal action. Last year, thousands of passengers bought flights from the airline on the basis that drinks, a sandwich and snacks were included in the fare. However, in January, BA dropped these on most short-haul flights in favour of Marks & Spencer food, which must be paid for. British Airways has put back the date for ending free food and drink on short-haul flights after being threatened with legal action (Stock image) The controversial change was not due to come in until August on flights using Londons City airport. But now, the date has been pushed back to late September or even October at the airport after one family lodged a claim for compensation in the small claims court. Consumer campaigners say the case was likely to have succeeded and so opened the door to thousands of similar claims. The claim was brought by John Barber, who last September bought eight tickets for himself, wife Claire, their three children and his wifes family to fly from City Airport to Majorca in August, costing a total of 2,000. He booked two weeks before BA announced the change, and felt it was wrong it was no longer providing what he had paid for. Last year, thousands of passengers bought flights from the airline on the basis that drinks, a sandwich and snacks were included in the fare (Stock image) The same group took the equivalent BA flights last year when the fare included a bottle of water, a small bottle of wine for adults, soft drinks, a sandwich and crisps. Mr Barber calculated that buying the same products this year from BAs M&S menu would add up to 156.80 for the group. As a result, he lodged a case with the small claims court, asking for 316.80 to reflect his added costs and the time spent trying to resolve the situation. After Mr Barber complained, BA offered him 2.50 per passenger per flight, adding up to 40 for eight people on a return trip. IT SPOILS OUR ANNIVERSARY TREAT... Barbara and Keith Workman booked flights to Cyprus to mark their golden wedding anniversary. They made the reservations last May months before BA announced it would end free food and drink. However their celebration has been tainted by BAs retreat on its promise to include refreshments. Barbara and Keith Workman booked flights to Cyprus to mark their golden wedding anniversary Mrs Workman, 70, from Lincolnshire said: The way that BA has handled this has left a very nasty taste. I rang to complain, but frankly they were very rude. We had a booking that made clear the food was included. One of the reasons people booked with BA was because of the food. I used to like what they offered as it helped to pass the time. It seems to me that thousands of people have been let down. Advertisement It was only after the Daily Mail took up the case that BA decided to move the date of the change for flights out of London City Airport to late September or October. This means anyone travelling in August, like the Barbers, will now get free food and drink. Mr Barber, 40, from Peterborough, said: I suspect the only reason they changed the cut-off date is because they did not want to go through a court case and open the door to lots of other claims. However, that doesnt mean they are in the clear. We also need BA to make absolutely clear to everyone...exactly when this change is going to come into effect. Marc Gander, of the Consumer Action Group, said: BA was clearly in the wrong. It acted very unfairly and in breach of contract. Anybody who brings a small claim like this should be congratulated. We need more of the same for all of these companies because it is the only way that they will start to treat customers with respect. BA could not give a reason for changing the date for ending free food, other than to say the cut-off had slipped. A spokesman said: We now offer a range of M&S sandwiches and salads for under 5, and snacks from 1. Customers say they prefer the new selection. Video footage has caught the horrifying moment an SUV slams into a security guard before crashing through an office in Beijing. The incident took place just after 5pm on April 26 in the Huamao Shopping Centre in Beijing. Footage posted to the People's Daily Online's Youtube page shows the moment the vehicle smashes through the wall of the office which was located next to the shopping centre's car park. Shocking: The vehicle careered into a wall and smashed into an office injuring three people Horrifying: According to witnesses, the driver was wearing high heels causing obstruction Surveillance footage caught the vehicle mowing a woman down before then crashing through the wall of an office. It was going at full speed before it hit the woman. The video then cuts to three people sat in an office next to the car park. All of a sudden, the vehicle comes smashing through the wall. According to police, the woman hit by the vehicle was killed on the spot. All of a sudden, the vehicle comes smashing through the wall belonging to an office Horrifying: According to police, the woman hit by the vehicle was killed on the spot The three in the office survived. Two of them were diagnosed with a head trauma The three in the office survived. Two of them were diagnosed with a head trauma. Witnesses said the driver of the car was a woman and she was wearing two-inch-heels which caused difficulty when turning. It's thought that she may have got stuck on the accelerator causing the vehicle to go out of control. Harvesting Washington state's vast fruit orchards each year requires thousands of farm-workers, and many of them work illegally in the US. Two of the biggest orchards could soon replace the majority of these workers with robots that don't get tired and can work 24 hours a day. But experts have expressed their concerns over the robotic fruit pickers, claiming they will displace valuable members of the Washington community. Scroll down for video Harvesting Washington state's vast fruit orchards each year requires thousands of farm-workers, and many of them work illegally in the US ROBOTIC FRUIT PICKERS FFRobotics is developing a machine that has three-fingered grips to grab fruit and twist or clip it from a branch. The machine would have between four and 12 robotic arms, and can pick up to 10,000 apples an hour, Mr Kober said. One machine would be able to harvest a variety of crops, taking 85 to 90 percent of the crop off the trees, Mr Kober said. Humans could pick the rest. Abundant Robotics is working on a picker that uses suction to vacuum apples off trees. Advertisement 'Human pickers are getting scarce,' said Gad Kober, a co-founder of Israel-based FFRobotics. 'Young people do not want to work in farms, and elderly pickers are slowly retiring.' FFRobotics and Abundant Robotics, of Hayward, California, are racing to get their mechanical pickers to market within the next couple of years. Harvest has long been mechanised for large portions of the agriculture industry, such as wheat, corn, green beans, tomatoes and many other crops. But for more fragile commodities like apples, berries, table grapes and lettuce - where the crop's appearance is especially important - harvest is still done by hand. Members of the annual Washington agriculture industry have long grappled with labour shortages, and depend on workers coming up from Mexico each year to harvest many crops. President Donald Trump's hard line against immigrants in the US illegally has many farmers in the country looking for alternative harvest methods. Some have purchased new equipment to try to reduce the number of workers they'll need, while others have lobbied politicians to get them to deal with immigration in a way that minimises harm to their livelihoods. 'Who knows what this administration will do or not do?' said Jim McFerson, head of the Washington State Tree Fruit Research Centre in Wenatchee. For farmers, 'it's a question of survival.' Washington leads the nation in production of apples and several other crops. The work is hard and dangerous, and has long drawn Mexican workers to central Washington, where several counties near the Canadian border are now majority-Hispanic GETTING ORCHARDS 'ROBOT-READY' For the machines to work, apples and other crops must be grown in new trellis systems that allow robots to see and harvest the fruit, she said. 'We are evolving the tree architecture and apple placement to be compatible with robotics,' Ms Lewis said, a process called 'robot-ready.' Large farming operations likely will be first to adopt the machines, but it might be decades before their use is widespread. 'I think for the next 10 to 20 years, they will be used by some growers to supplement regular picking crews and to serve as a backstop for picker shortages,' said Mike Gempler of the Washington Growers League in Yakima. Reliability and cost will determine if their use expands. Advertisement Harvest starts in the spring with asparagus and runs until all the apples are off the trees in late fall. The work is hard and dangerous, and has long drawn Mexican workers to central Washington, where several counties near the Canadian border are now majority-Hispanic. Experienced pickers, who are paid by the bin, can make more than $200 (155) a day. Advocates for farm-workers say robot pickers will have a negative effect. The eventual loss of jobs for humans will be huge, said Erik Nicholson of Seattle, an official with the United Farm Workers union. He estimated half of the state's farm-workers are immigrants who are in the country illegally. But many of them have settled in Washington and are productive members of the community, he said. 'They are scared of losing their jobs to mechanisation,' Mr Nicholson said. 'A robot is not going to rent a house, buy clothing for their kids, buy food in a grocery and reinvest that money in the local economy.' While financial details are not available, the builders say the robotic pickers should pay for themselves in two years. That puts the likely cost of the machines in the hundreds of thousands of dollars each. FFRobotics is developing a machine that has three-fingered grips to grab fruit and twist or clip it from a branch. FFRobotics is developing a machine that has three-fingered grips to grab fruit and twist or clip it from a branch. The machine would have between four and 12 robotic arms, and can pick up to 10,000 apples an hour (stock image) The machine would have between four and 12 robotic arms, and can pick up to 10,000 apples an hour, Mr Kober said. One machine would be able to harvest a variety of crops, taking 85 to 90 percent of the crop off the trees, Mr Kober said. Humans could pick the rest. Abundant Robotics is working on a picker that uses suction to vacuum apples off trees. Plans for the robotic harvesters - including a goal of getting them to market before 2019 - were discussed in February at an international convention of fruit growers in Wenatchee. WILL A ROBOT TAKE YOUR JOB? While there are many who fear robots are on the verge of stealing our jobs, it seems they have a weak spot - flat packed furniture. Much like stairs posed a problem for the Daleks in Doctor Who, the Achilles Heel of modern intelligent robots appears to be the baffling world of Ikea furniture. A group of engineers set themselves the goal of developing a robot capable of undertaking this baffling task by getting one to assemble a chair from the Swedish furniture store. Francisco Suarz-Ruiz and Quang-Cuong Pham, from the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, are using two robotic arms equipped with grippers to assemble the Ikea chair. Yet despite being some of the most advanced robotic equipment around, assembling a full chair still seemed beyond the robot. The furthest the scientists managed to get is to insert a piece of doweling into the end of one of the legs something that takes the technology a minute and a half to achieve. The same task would take the average homeowner seconds when they are assembling their own chairs. However, there are a growing number of robots now taking on roles performed by humans. An office in Milton Keynes is using a robot office manager to monitor staff and keep the office tidy. Other offices in California have begun using security robots to patrol their premises while droids capable to delivering room service are now being used in several hotels. A survey conducted last year found that 70 per cent of office managers would consider using a robot on their team and half would not feel bad about replacing human employees with a machine. Advertisement The two robot makers are likely to hit their production goals, said Karen Lewis, a Washington State University cooperative extension agent who has studied the issue. 'Both of them will be in the field with prototypes this fall,' Ms Lewis said, calling the robotic harvesters a 'game changer.' But for the machines to work, apples and other crops must be grown in new trellis systems that allow robots to see and harvest the fruit, she said. 'We are evolving the tree architecture and apple placement to be compatible with robotics,' Ms Lewis said, a process called 'robot-ready.' Large farming operations likely will be first to adopt the machines, but it might be decades before their use is widespread. 'I think for the next 10 to 20 years, they will be used by some growers to supplement regular picking crews and to serve as a backstop for picker shortages,' said Mike Gempler of the Washington Growers League in Yakima. Reliability and cost will determine if their use expands. Dan Newhouse, whose family owns a large farming operation in Washington's Yakima Valley, said the industry is deeply interested in alternatives to human labour. 'We are absolutely looking at ways we can increase our efficiency,' said Newhouse, adding his family's farm each year employs some 120 farmworkers, many of them picking cherries and nectarines. The industry has no choice but to embrace mechanisation, said Mark Powers, president of the Northwest Horticultural Council, a trade group for farmers in Yakima. 'We don't see some miraculous new source of labour appearing on the horizon,' Mr Powers said. 'We think labour will continue to be a scarce resource.' From Elizabeth I of England to Isabella I of Castile, many of the most memorable rulers across Europe over the last 500 years have been female. But far from being wallflowers, a new study suggests that these female rulers may have been feistier than their male counterparts. Researchers found that over the past 500 years, queens have been more likely to wage war than male rulers and were more likely to win new territory. From Elizabeth I of England to Isabella I of Castile, many of the most memorable rulers across Europe over the last 500 years have been females. Pictured is an artist's impression of Elizabeth I riding into Tilbury camp on hearing the news of the coming of the Spanish Armada A team of researchers from the University of Chicago studied the European rulers between 1480 and 1913. Their findings suggest that Europe's queens were 27 per cent more likely than its kings to wage war. And married queens were found to be especially war-like. For example, Isabella I of Castile launched the rise of Spain as the first global superpower in 1476, leading to the country's dominance of Europe for more than a century. Queen Isabella proved her abilities as a powerful ruler on her own, riding to Segovia when rebellion broke out to negotiate with rebels. Queen Isabella proved her abilities as a powerful ruler on her own, riding to Segovia when rebellion broke out to negotiate with rebels (artist's impression) FAMOUS FEMALE RULERS Elizabeth I of England The defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 has long been held as one of England's greatest military achievements. The successful defence of the kingdom against invasion on such an unprecedented scale boosted the prestige of Queen Elizabeth I and encouraged a sense of English pride and nationalism. Isabella I of Castile Isabella I of Castile launched the rise of Spain as the first global superpower in 1476, leading to the country's dominance of Europe for more than a century. Queen Isabella proved her abilities as a powerful ruler on her own, riding to Segovia when rebellion broke out to negotiate with rebels. She was successful, and the rebellion was quickly brought to a standstill. Boudicca Boudicca was the Celtic Queen of the Iceni tribe of modern-day East Anglia, who led a revolt against Rome in 60/61 CE. The revolt left the ancient Roman cities of Camulodunum, Londinium and Verulamium in ruins and over 80,000 Roman citizens of Britain dead. Catherine II of Russia Catherine II, often called Catherine the Great, became the Russian empress in 1762. Under her reign, Russia expanded its territories and modernized, following the lead of Western Europe. Advertisement She was successful, and the rebellion was quickly brought to a standstill. And Catherine II of Russia, who is often called Catherine the Great, led Russia as it expanded its territories and modernised in 1762. The defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 has long been held as one of England's greatest military achievements. Queen Maria Theresa (pictured right) successfully defended her rule over most of the Habsburg empire, while Queen Mary of Burgundy (pictured left) relied heavily on her husband Maximilian for leading successful military campaigns against the French The successful defence of the kingdom against invasion on such an unprecedented scale boosted the prestige of Queen Elizabeth I and encouraged a sense of English pride and nationalism. WHY WERE FEMALES MORE LIKELY TO GO TO WAR? The researchers believe that the territorial success of female rulers was largely down to their style of management. Married queens who were especially war-like often waged war alongside their allies, and tended to get their husbands to help them rule. And while husbands managed the state, queens were left in charge of foreign and war policy. Advertisement In their paper, published in the US National Bureau of Economic Research, the researchers, led by Ms Oeidrilla Dube and Mr S P Harish, wrote: 'A common perspective posits that women are less violent than men, and therefore states led by women will be more peaceful than states led by men.' The researchers believe that the territorial success of female rulers was largely down to their style of management. Married queens who were especially war-like often waged war alongside their allies, and tended to get their husbands to help them rule. And while husbands managed the state, queens were left in charge of foreign and war policy. The researchers wrote: 'Greater division of labour under queenly reigns could have enabled queens to pursue more aggressive war policies.' The researchers add that queens did not simply wage war to follow the decisions of their husbands. Instead, they looked at 'solo queens' whose spouses didn't hold the title of co-regent, and found that they were just as aggressive warmongers as others. A devastating Australian volcanic eruption may have lived on in Aboriginal stories for thousands of years. New research shows that a volcano in northeastern Australia last erupted around 7,000 years ago. Stories passed down through as many as 230 generations of the Gugu Badhun Aboriginal people suggest they were there to see it happen. If true, this means the stories go further back in time than even the oldest written historical records of Egypt or Mesopotamia. Scroll down for video New research shows that a volcano in northeastern Australia last erupted around 7,000 years ago. The devastating Australian volcanic eruption may have lived on in Aboriginal stories for thousands of years (stock image) THE VOLCANO STORY The team's exploration of the Gugu Badhun people uncovered a recording, made in the 1970s of an Aboriginal elder discussing an event that sounds very much like a volcanic eruption. The elder described a time when a pit was made in the ground with lots of dust in the air, and that people got lost in the dust and died. He also described an occurrence when the earth was on fire along the watercourses. These stories are plausible descriptions of a volcanic eruption the Kinrara volcano has a very prominent crater, which produced volcanic ash and lava fountains. The lavas from the volcano flowed 34 miles (55km) down the surrounding river valleys, and would have looked like the earth burning. Advertisement Geologists based in Scotland and Australia used a sophisticated rock dating technique to determine when the eruption occurred. In their paper they also describe a potential link between the volcanic eruption and stories from Aboriginal verbal traditions. The team, from the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC), the University of Glasgow, the University of St Andrews, the Australian National University, and James Cook University, examined rock samples from long lava flows around the Kinrara volcano in Queensland. The flows, which are up to 34 miles (55 kilometres) long, are still clearly visible across the landscape around the volcano. 'When people think of Australia, volcanoes are probably not the first thing that springs to mind, but they are actually more common than many people realise,' said Dr Benjamin Cohen of the University of Glasgow. 'For example, there are nearly 400 volcanic vents in north Queensland, which erupted over the last few million years, and Kinrara is one of the most recent.' Stories passed down through as many as 230 generations of the Gugu Badhun Aboriginal people suggest they were there to see it happen. If true, this means the stories go further back in time than even the oldest written historical records of Egypt or Mesopotamia (stock image) THE GUGU BADHUN PEOPLE The Gugu-Badhun are a tribe of indigenous Australians who traditionally lived for thousands of years in Queensland, northwest Australia. It is estimated there are less than 100 of the tribe left alive today and they make up less than one per cent of the total aboriginal population in Australia. Gugu Badhun means proper speech in the group's traditional Warrongo language. New research puts the origin of this tribe to at least 7,000 years ago. Stories from a volcanic eruption around this time have been passed down for 230 generations. Advertisement Dr Cohen's exploration of local histories from the Gugu Badhun people uncovered a recording, made in the 1970s, of an Aboriginal elder discussing an event that sounds very much like a volcanic eruption. The elder described a time when a pit was made in the ground with lots of dust in the air, and that people got lost in the dust and died. He also described an occurrence when the earth was on fire along the watercourses. Dr Cohen said: 'These stories are plausible descriptions of a volcanic eruption the Kinrara volcano has a very prominent crater, which produced volcanic ash and lava fountains. The Kinrara volcano is located in Kinrara National Park in the Minnamoolka, Queensland KINRARA VOLCANO Kinrara erupted in the last 10,000 years, making it one of the youngest volcanoes in Queensland. Its cone is 1,300 feet (400 m) in diameter. The steep crater is 1,000 feet (300m) in diameter and 200 feet (60m) deep. The lava deposits that make the Kinrara cone indicate fountaining eruptions during its history. Horizontal layers of rock seen at the site probably formed when a lava lake occupied or overflowed the crater. Advertisement 'The lavas from the volcano flowed 55 kilometres (34 miles) down the surrounding stream and river valleys, and would have looked very much like the earth burning. 'The volcanic eruption of Kinrara adds to a growing list of geological events that appear to be recounted in Australian Aboriginal traditions, including sea level rise around 10,000 years ago and other volcanic eruptions elsewhere on the continent. The researchers used a technique known as argon-argon geochronology to learn more about the age of the volcano. Using a noble gas mass spectrometer, they could measure the amount of argon built-up from natural radioactive decay of potassium, allowing them to determine how much time has passed since the volcano erupted. The team's measurements allowed them to date the Kinrara eruption to around 7,000 years ago, with the possibility that it may have been up to 2,000 years further back or forward in time. 'The argon-argon technique we use has improved considerably in the last few years, allowing us to view the past through a sharper lens than ever before,' said Dr Cohen. 'Without those improvements, we would not have been able to determine the age of the Kinrara volcano.' Kinrara erupted in the last 10,000 years, making it one of the youngest volcanoes in Queensland. Its cone is 1,300 feet (400 m) in diameter. The steep crater is 1,000 feet (300m) in diameter and 200 feet (60m) deep. The lava deposits that make the Kinrara cone indicate fountaining eruptions during its history. Horizontal layers of rock seen at the site probably formed when a lava lake occupied or overflowed the crater. This week, the North Carolina Senate passed unanimously a bill that would allow community college and university professors to work as adjunct instructors in K-12 classrooms without teaching licenses. The bill, called Professors in the Classroom , is one of several proposed by the Senate education committee aimed at alleviating teacher shortages in math, science, and special education across various grade levels. Professors who venture to teach in public elementary, middle, and high schools would have to undergo criminal background checks as well as training in classroom management and how to identify and teach students with disabilities. The training, provided by either a local ed-prep program or the school district, also would have to cover effective communication for defusing and de-escalating disruptive or dangerous behavior and safe and appropriate use of seclusion and restraint. The bill also stipulates that the professors couldnt work more than 20 hours each week, or longer than six months if theyre filling full-time positions. As adjunct teachers, they wouldnt be eligible for health benefits, paid leave, or participation in the retirement system. The North Carolina Association of Educators in an emailed statement to Education Week allowed that the bill has its merits, but that it would not be needed if elected leaders would return respect back to the teaching profession. Ultimately, NCAE president Mark Jewell said, the groups goal is to put a full-time qualified teacher in every classroom. Until that happens, having an educator with content knowledge is important, so in that regard having an adjunct professor in the classroom would meet that criteria and would be better than a long-term substitute with limited content knowledge, Jewell wrote in the email. He also called critically important the requirement for training in classroom management and teaching students with disabilities. The bill would still need to pass in the House and be signed by the governor. In Other North Carolina Education News On Thursday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed a bill providing relief for school districts scrambling to recruit and pay for the teachers they will need to hire to meet the lower class-size requirements the state legislature passed in 2016. The move extends the deadline to the fall of 2018 and restores a 24-student cap. Had lawmakers not agreed to the change, school districts said they would have had to lay off music, physical education, and art teachers in order to reduce class sizes to between 19 and 21 students, depending on the grade. Cooper, a Democrat, reprimanded Republican lawmakers in a statement, calling on them to invest more money in education. While this legislation addresses immediate concerns, the failure of legislative Republicans to properly fund our schools has risked the jobs of educators and jeopardized our childrens future, Cooper said. Its imperative that we quit kicking the can down the road. Republican Sen. Chad Barefoot, for his part, vowed that lawmakers will dedicate funds to pay for the teachers needed to reduce class size in the 2018-19 school year. But he said the legislature first needs more information about how districts are spending around $70 million each year that is supposed to be dedicated to class-size reduction in grades kindergarten through 3rd. The compromise bill that was just passed requires districts to report on this money more often and in more detail, reports the Citizen-Times . In other action, Senate Bill 462 , called the UNC UTeach Program, has also passed the Senate unanimously, but has yet to be passed in the House. The bill calls on the University of North Carolina system to evaluate the University of Texas at Austins UTeach Program, which recruits STEM majors into the teaching profession by allowing them to earn a teaching certificate concurrent with their degree. If the program passes muster, it would be added to course offerings at North Carolina University. In the days since Samsung released its highly-anticipated Galaxy S8 model, the devices have been plagued with problems, ranging from red-tinged displays to issues with the Bixby home button. Now, hundreds of users are reporting that their phones are repeatedly restarting by themselves. Samsung is yet to comment on the issue, or release an update to prevent it from happening. Scroll down for video Hundreds of users are reporting that their Samsung Galaxy S8 devices are repeatedly restarting by themselves RED SCREEN ISSUES South Korean customers were the first to get their hands on the Galaxy S8. Some have found that their devices displayed a peculiar red tinge. The fault is believed to be the result of the design of the Super AMOLED screens. Samsung says that the problem can be easily corrected, by switching off automated colour balance and adjusting this manually. It is not yet clear whether this solution has worked for everyone affected. Advertisement The problem was first picked up by an anonymous user called 'Lazazy' who posted her complaint on the Samsung community website. Her post read: 'So I picked up my Galaxy S8 and everything seems to be working well except the phone keeps restarting itself. 'I have had it for about 10 hours now and it has already restarted seven times while I was using it. 'It happens when I'm using an app like the camera or Samsung Themes and it doesn't matter if the phone is charging or not. 'All of a sudden the app freezes, the screen shuts off, and a few seconds later it restarts.' So far, her post has had 181 replies from users who are facing similar problems. While it is common for new phones to require a restart when they're fresh out of the box, this doesn't appear to be the cause of the automatic restart problem. Samsung is yet to comment on the issue. The restarting issue follows problems reported earlier this week with red-tinged screens, causing Samsung to offer an early software update. South Korean users who pre-ordered the phones complained their screens displayed a reddish hue. The restarting issue follows problems reported earlier this week with red-tinged screens, causing Samsung to offer an early software update Online images of their phones went viral on social media but Samsung denied a hardware flaw and maintained that users could manually adjust the colour range according to their preferences. As more users voiced doubts, Samsung said that a software update would fix the problem by allowing them to readjust colours over a wider range than normal. 'Samsung...has decided to release a software update starting from this week which will provide consumers with a further enhanced ability to adjust the colour setting to their preference,' the company said in a statement. The fault is believed to be the result of the design of the Super AMOLED screens. They use two types of joint pixels, red-green and blue-green - according to reports in Endgaget. SAMSUNG DISASTER TIMELINE August 2, 2016 - Samsung unveils the Galaxy Note 7 at a New York media event. August 19, 2016 - Samsung starts Galaxy Note 7 sales in 10 markets including United States and South Korea. August 24, 2016 - Report of a Note 7 explosion surfaces in South Korea. September 2, 2016 - Samsung announces global recall of 2.5 million Note 7 phones, citing faulty batteries. September 8, 2016 - U.S. Federal Aviation Administration advises passengers to not turn on or charge Note 7 smartphones aboard aircraft or stow them in plane cargo. September 9, 2016 - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges Galaxy Note 7 users to stop using their phone. September 15, 2016 - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission formally announces recall of about 1 million Note 7 phones. October 6, 2016 - A Southwest Airlines plane in the United States evacuated due to smoke from a Note 7 device on board. October 10, 2016 - Samsung says it is adjusting Note 7 shipments for inspections, quality control due to more phones catching fire. October 11, 2016 - Samsung asks customers to stop using all Note 7 smartphones, halts production, sales and exchanges of the device globally. April 12, 2017 - Samsung delayed the launch of its Bixby voice assistant with the roll out of the Galaxy S8 April 18, 2017 - Samsung ships Galaxy S8 to customers in South Korea with faulty screens, which display a peculiar red tinge. Advertisement Samsung was forced to roll out a software update for its new Galaxy S8 model just days after its release to fix the red tint issue Because both contain an element of green, Samsung strengthened the red component in an attempt to balance the colour out. But it seems that they may have overcompensated, with the red colour shining through more strongly. Disgruntled fans quickly took to social media to vent their frustration, with 'Samsung red screen' quickly becoming a trending topic. Twitter user thaqiphilosophy said: 'I wasn't a big fan of Samsung until they released Samsung S8. 'But then there are complaints about red hue screen.' 'User Kris added: 'I am gonna stick with my iPhone for now, samsung has been having lots of problems.' Samsung - the world's largest maker of smartphones - has pinned its hopes on the Galaxy S8 to compete against arch-rival Apple's iPhone after last year's Note 7 disaster. The recall debacle cost Samsung billions of dollars in lost profits and hammered its global credibility, forcing it to apologise to consumers and postpone the S8 launch. From 'Sorry, I have a boyfriend' to 'I'm not interested in men', women often come up with elaborate excuses to avoid the unwanted advances of men. But when it comes to dodging unsolicited suitors, it seems that dragonflies take things one step further. A new study has found that female dragonflies drop out of the sky and pretend to be dead in the hopes of avoiding males. Scroll down for video A new study has found that female dragonflies drop out of the sky and pretend to be dead in the hopes of avoiding males WHY DO FEMALES FAKE THEIR DEATH? Female moorland hawker dragonflies are often harassed by males when they lay their eggs, because they aren't guarded by their male mates. A sexual encounter with a new male could fertilise all eggs, and mating again could cause damage to her reproductive tract. The researchers also found that females tend to retreat to areas of dense vegetation near ponds at this time probably to hide. Advertisement Researchers from the University of Zurich witnessed the behaviour for the first time in moorland hawker dragonflies in the Swiss Alps. While collecting dragonfly larvae, the researchers witnessed a female crash-dive to the ground while being chased by a male. The female then lay on her back, motionless, until the male flew away, at which point the female then took off once again. Dr Rassim Khelifa, lead author of the study who has studied dragonflies for 10 years, told New Scientist: 'I was surprised. 'It's likely that females expanded its use to overcome male coercion.' Female moorland hawker dragonflies are often harassed by males when they lay their eggs, because they aren't guarded by their male mates. A sexual encounter with a new male could fertilise all eggs, and mating again could cause damage to her reproductive tract. The researchers also found that females tend to retreat to areas of dense vegetation near ponds at this time probably to hide. Female moorland hawker dragonflies are often harassed by males when they lay their eggs, because they aren't guarded by their male mates In the study, the researchers observed 27 out of 31 females playing dead to avoid males 21 of which were successful. This isn't the first time that scientists have seen animals faking death to put off suitors. Similar behaviour has been seen in spiders, robber flies, and a type of mantis. The researchers now hope to study the dragonflies further to understand whether the behaviour is unique to species that lay eggs alone, or is more widespread. Astronauts might not have been first to get to the moon, if these images are to be believed. A UFO hunter claims he has found a passageway hidden beneath the lunar surface which could be the stairway to extraterrestrial life. The strange picture reveals a rectangular shape on the moon, prompting alien enthusiasts to speculate it could be the entrance to a secret tunnel. Scroll down for video The photo of the strange structure was brought to light by Tyler Glockner, who runs a UFO hunting YouTube channel called SecureTeam 10 The photo of the strange structure was brought to light by Tyler Glockner, who runs the UFO hunting SecureTeam 10 YouTube channel. The image was captured by the Apollo 15 space craft on its sole expedition to the moon between July and August 1971. 'These features may be of artificial origin, meaning someone built and put them on the moon,' said Mr Glockner, who is based in Cleveland, Ohio. 'These things look like buildings, they look like installations and they were originally discovered in an Apollo image which you can actually find online. Mr Glockner, who specialises in UFO related sightings, said this shape was not like anything seen before on the moon and said it was of 'artificial origin' 'We are looking at the original photograph and you almost immediately will be able to detect these things from shadows and shapes,' he said. Mr Glockner, an avid believer in extraterrestrial life, added this shape was not like anything seen before on the moon. 'They do not blend in with the regular surface features and this image is the closest we can get,' he said. The strange image captured by Apollo 15 revealed a rectangular shape on the surface of the moon, prompting UFO hunters to speculate that it could be the entrance to a secret tunnel Earlier this year Mr Glockner and his team claimed to have spotted a hidden alien ship in a cave in the South Pole. Their 'discovery', made from what they claim are Google Earth satellite images, was described as 'final proof of secret technology' on Antarctica. They zoomed in on a mountainous region of the South Pole and found what they believe to be a disc in a cave. LINKS BETWEEN CONSPIRACY, NARCISSISM AND SELF-ESTEEM Over the course of three online-based studies, researchers at the University of Kent showed strong links between the belief in conspiracy theories and these psychological traits. The results showed those people who rated highly on the narcissism scale and who had low self-esteem were more likely to be conspiracy believers. However, while low self-esteem, narcissism and belief in conspiracies are strongly linked, it is not clear that one - or a combination - causes the other. But it hints at an interesting new angle to the world of conspiracy and those who reinforce belief. Advertisement Earlier this year Mr Glockner and his team claimed to have spotted a hidden alien ship in a cave in the South Pole (pictured) 'This is a bombshell discovery and one of the most obvious unnatural and anomalous structures we have found at the South Pole,' SecureTeam 10 said. This follows another disputed claim earlier this year that there is a giant staircase in Antarctica. An image, alleged to be a satellite image of the Antarctic, sparked alien believers to claim it could prove aliens are visiting Earth. The picture was posted on a UFO and conspiracy theory forum. Interruptions in the workplace are estimated to cost the US economy some $588 billion a year, but a software engineer believes to have a solution that will cut the number of disruptions in half. Called FlowLight, the desk-mounted traffic light is capable of measuring the person's productivity and uses different colors to indicate four states: available as green, busy as red, do not disturb as pulsating red and away as yellow. The technology uses the user's mouse and keyboard interactions to see if they are working hard or hardly working it also logs the person's work calendar to stop their co-workers from intruding during meetings. FlowLight is desk-mounted traffic light is capable of measuring the person's productivity and uses different colors to indicate four states: Available as green, busy as red, do not disturb as pulsating red and away as yellow FLOWLIGHT FEATURES FlowLight is an LED light mounted onto the cubicle wall or outside an office. It is is capable of measuring the person's productivity and uses different colors to indicate four states: Available as green, Busy as red, Do Not Disturb as pulsating red, and Away as yellow The system uses three components to decide what color the traffic light should be. There is a tracker that gathers data about how much the person uses the mouse and keyboard. And it also logs calendar events to determine meetings and the user's Skype status. There is also a status analyzer that uses what has been logged by the tracker to predict when the person is usually available or unavailable this component harnesses its power from specific algorithms to form the calculations. FlowLight is also equipped with a status manager to manage the user's current status, propagating it to the LED light and other applications, in particular instant messaging clients. Advertisement FlowLight was conceived by David Shepard, lead software engineering researcher for ABB, who collaborated with the University of Zurich in Switzerland to turn the idea into a working device. 'We developed the FlowLight approach, an approach to reduce the cost of in-person interruptions by combining a physical interruptibility indicator in the form of a traffic light like LED (light emitting diode) with an automatic interruptibility measurement based on a user's computer interaction,' the team shared in the study. 'Over the course of the study, we collected a rich set of quantitative and qualitative data, including self-reported interruption logs of 36 participants, survey responses of 183 participants that used the FlowLight for at least 4 weeks, and in-depth interviews of 23 participants.' The LED light is mounted onto the person's cubicle wall or outside of their office. And the system uses three components to decide what color the traffic light should be. There is a tracker that gathers data about how much the person uses the mouse and keyboard. This part of the system monitors mouse clicks, movements as pixels moved, scrolling as pixels scrolled and keystrokes. And it also logs calendar events to determine meetings and the user's Skype status. There is also a status analyzer that uses what has been logged by the tracker to predict when the person is usually available or unavailable this component harnesses its power from specific algorithms to form the calculations. Finally, FlowLight is equipped with a status manager to manage the user's current status, propagating it to the LED light and other applications, in particular instant messaging clients. The LED light is mounted onto the person's cubicle wall or outside of their office. And the system uses three components to decide what color the traffic light should be - a tracker, status analyzer and status manager The team noted that 'the application was implemented to be compatible with the Windows operating system, Skype for Business, an IM and video-conferencing system, and Office 365, a software suite that provides email and calendaring services, amongst others'. To put FlowLight to the test, the team conducted a study with 449 workers and installed the traffic light in over 15 locations in 12 countries. Following an analysis of the data, the team discovered that those who used the device experienced 46 percent less interruptions. Most participants, 82.6 percent of the 23 interview participants stated their intention to keep using the FlowLight even after the pilot period. INTERRUPTIONS CAN WIPE YOU SHORT-TERM MEMORY A study has found that if you are bothered for 60 seconds while trying to focus on something then you will have to start afresh because you cant recall what you were doing. The researchers said that their findings should be a warning to anyone with a smartphone as users check the devices around 125 times a day. George Mason University researchers asked test participants to outline an answer to an exam and then write their response under three conditions. Firstly they had to write uninterrupted, secondly they were disrupted three times whilst writing the outline and thirdly they were interrupted three times whilst writing the answer. During each of the one-minute interruptions, the test subjects had to do maths problems. The findings showed that the breaks caused 95 per cent of people taking part to write poorer quality answers. They also wrote less - for those planning to write a paragraph with five points, they only managed to include three even if they did not realize. Advertisement 'It brings more awareness to what people are doing. Sometimes people take it for granted that people are always interruptible,' one of the participants said after using the FlowLight. 'But there is actually a cost or a penalty when you interrupt someone.' 'So, I think just the concept is good because it reminds people that there is sometimes a good time and a bad time to interrupt people. So, I think just from an awareness campaign, it's valuable as well.' Apple has asked the state of California to make changes in its proposed policies on self-driving cars, the latest sign the technology giant is pursuing driverless car technology. In a letter made public Friday, Apple made a series of suggested changes to the policy that is under development and said it looks forward to working with California and others 'so that rapid technology development may be realized while ensuring the safety of the traveling public.' Waymo, the self-driving car unit of Google parent company Alphabet Inc, Ford Motor Co, Uber Technologies Inc, Toyota Motor Corp, Tesla Motors Inc and others also filed comments suggesting changes. Scroll down for video Bloomberg journalist Alex Webb tweeted this gif of Apple's self-driving test car yesterday evening. The images were captured by a passerby as the car emerged from a Silicon Valley research facility California said on Tuesday it would review comments before deciding whether to make changes to the policy that aims to allow companies to test vehicles without traditional steering wheels and controls or human back-up drivers. The state is at the center of a crowded race to develop self-driving vehicles and the proposed changes from companies help provide insight into their current efforts. Apple said California should revise how companies report self-driving system 'disengagements.' California currently requires companies to report how many times the self-driving system was deactivated and control handed back to humans because of a system failure or a traffic, weather or road situation that required human intervention. Apple said California's rules for development vehicles used only in testing could 'restrict both the design and equipment that can be used in test vehicles.' Apple secured a permit earlier this month to test autonomous vehicles in California. Although it has never openly acknowledged it is looking into building a car, Apple has recruited dozens of auto experts. APPLE'S SELF DRIVING CAR SPOTTED IN SILICON VALLEY Apple officially secured a permit to test autonomous vehicles in California on April 14. And, on April 28, one of Apple's fleet of self-driving test vehicles has been captured emerging from a Silicon Valley research facility. The kitted-out white Lexus RX450h SUV was snapped by a passerby. The vehicle was dotted with an array of sensors and other equipment, according to the person who saw the vehicle and provided photos to Bloomberg. The sensors used by the vehicle appeared to be bought off the shelf rather than custom-made by Apple, according to an industry expert who saw the photos. Bloomberg journalist Alex Webb tweeted this gif of Apple's self-driving test car in April. The images were captured by a passerby as the car emerged from a Silicon Valley research facility They included Velodyne Lidar's top-of-the-range 64-channel sensor for obstacle detection, at least two radar and a series of cameras. Cameras can be seen at the back, top, front and sides of the car. Rumours began sweeping the web last year that Apple was toying with the idea of developing its own self-driving car. But Apple executives have been coy about their interest in the vehicles. Chief Executive Tim Cook has suggested that Apple wants to move beyond integration of Apple smartphones into vehicle infotainment systems. Advertisement The company declined to comment on Friday. Tesla said California should not bar testing of autonomous vehicles that are 10,000 pounds (4,535 kg) or more. It said such a move could 'stifle innovation' and bar a company from testing a heavy autonomous vehicle that might be used to haul parts on private property rather than on public roads, pushing developers in this sector out of the state. Elon Musk, chief executive of electric vehicle pioneer Tesla, announced plans last year for new electric vehicles, including a commercial truck called the Tesla Semi and a public transport bus. The company said earlier this month it plans to unveil a commercial truck in September. Tesla also said California should not prohibit the sale of non-self-driving vehicles previously used for autonomous vehicle testing. Tesla said that under the proposal if it loads a vehicle with autonomous testing software and then replaces it with conventional production software it could be barred from selling the vehicle. Uber said California should allow paying members of the public to ride in autonomous vehicles with drivers, saying 'There is no reason to deny those riders an opportunity to travel in an autonomous test vehicle and provide honest feedback.' Rival Lyft Inc asked the state to remove a requirement that it notify local authorities of autonomous vehicle testing. Pictured is one of Apple's self-driving vehicles snapped at the Las Vegas Convention Centre in 2013. A monitor in the top right shows the image made by a 360 degree laser scanning device that creates a 3D image around the vehicle Waymo asked California to remove its liability proposal. On Tuesday, General Motors Co said the state's proposed liability rules could make automakers liable regardless of fault for any crash. GM also said in its letter that automakers should be allowed to reuse autonomous vehicles and parts after testing or if it scraps the vehicle. Volkswagen AG and Daimler AG submitted joint comments seeking changes to the extent of data required to be retained in crashes involving self-driving cars. A number of automakers have said they plan to begin deploying self-driving vehicles, some in commercial fleets, by 2020-2021. A drone could soon explore the skies and surface of Saturn's moon Titan. The eight-bladed 'dragonfly' drone would fly from one region of Titan to the next, recharging while landed using its own electric generator. It could investigate potentially habitable sites on the moon, which has methane and ethane lakes and rivers. Scroll down for video The eight-bladed 'dragonfly' drone would fly from one region of Titan to the next, recharging while landed using its own electric generator 'It's such a rich place to be able to explore in situ, and then it hands us the way to explore it,' Dr Elizabeth Turtle, Dragonfly's main investigator, told Space.com. Dr Turtle, a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Research Laboratory in Maryland, is leading the team that's proposing an in-depth exploration of Titan for NASA's New Frontiers mission program, a competition which funds midsize missions to explore the solar system. Researchers want to take advantage of this opportunity to study Titan, as its methane and ethane chemistry could potentially lead to the rise of life. It's Titan's thick atmosphere that would make such a mission possible. Dragonfly wouldn't just fly from site to site, it could also drill and take samples, and examine the moon's surface. Sensors would allow it to track Titan's atmosphere and weather which has a methane cycle instead of Earth's water cycle Titan's environment was first discovered by the Cassini-Huygens mission in 2005, when it discovered that Methane rained into lakes and seas. Over the years, it has revealed chemical environments with the potential to lead to life as it did on Earth. 'The kind of prebiotic chemistry that we're looking at, these are things we can't do in the lab the timescales are too long to do these experiments in the lab but Titan has been doing them for ages,' Dr Turtle said. 'The results are just sitting on the surface. This NASA image shows Saturn's moon, Titan, in ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths. The Cassini spacecraft took the image while on its mission to gather information on Saturn, its rings, atmosphere and moons. The different colors represent various atmospheric content on Titan 'If we can get to these different places on the surface of Titan, we can pick up the results of the experiments. THE 'DRAGONFLY' The eight-bladed 'dragonfly' drone would fly from one region of Titan to the next, recharging while landed using its own electric generator. The lander would use use two rotors at each of its four corners to fly from one region of the moon to the next, and recharge using a multimission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) it would carry with it, which converts the heat from decaying radioactive plutonium-238 into electricity. Dragonfly could also drill and take samples, and examine the moon's surface. Sensors would allow it to track Titan's atmosphere and weather which has a methane cycle instead of Earth's water cycle. Titan's thick atmosphere and low gravity make the mean that flight on Titan is easier and require less energy. Advertisement 'They're just waiting for us,' she said. To explore Mars, researchers used rovers. Each one could travel tens of miles over their lifetime, and as of April 2017 NASA's Opportunity Rover has travelled more than 27 miles. But instead, Dr Turtle wants to use drones to travel in Titan's thick atmosphere, which is four times more dense than Earth's and would make drone flight easier. Another feature that makes Titan appealing to explore with drones is its low gravity environment its gravity is only a tenth as strong as Earth's. This means that flight on Titan is easier and the drone could move by a few tens of kilometers in one flight. Other Titan missions suggestions have included balloons and airships, but these always need to remain in the air which uses more power and don't allow for exploring the ground surface. But the Dragonfly lander would use use two rotors at each of its four corners to fly from one region of the moon to the next, and recharge using a multimission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) it would carry with it, which converts the heat from decaying radioactive plutonium-238 into electricity. A giant of a moon appears before a giant of a planet undergoing seasonal changes in this natural color view of Titan and Saturn from NASA's Cassini spacecraft. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images) This could allow the Drangonfly to fly for decades potentially, especially considering Titan's thick atmosphere would also block out radiation which could harm the drone. If NASA chooses to fund Dragonfly, it could launch in the mid 2020a and arrive in the 2030s. While data from Cassini could provide potential landing locations, the drone could also scout them out. Titan's dunes are gigantic, reaching, on average, 0.6 to 1.2 miles (1 to 2 kilometers) wide, hundreds of miles (kilometers) long and around 300 feet (100 meters) high After landing it could map potential sites to explore, or sit tight and wait for researchers to decide where it should go next. But Dragonfly wouldn't just fly from site to site, it could also drill and take samples, and examine the moon's surface. Sensors would allow it to track Titan's atmosphere and weather which has a methane cycle instead of Earth's water cycle. The Cassini aircraft made its 127th and final close approach to Titan on April 21, 2017. On April 26, the spacecraft made the first in a series of 22 dives through the gap between Saturn and its rings as part of its mission's grand finale. Cassini will end its expedition on September 15, 2017, with a final plunge into the gas giant The moon's giant sand dunes could be a good potential exploration target as they may consist of a variety of materials from across Titan's surface. Impact craters also might be interesting exploration sites, as they may have melted ice in the crust and put liquid water in contact with organic materials. The drone, which would cost $1 billion, would arrive during Titan's northern hemisphere winter, so it would start in the south. NASA's Huygens probe descended onto the mysterious world of Titan 12 years ago. Because Titan is smaller than Earth, its gravity does not hold onto its gaseous envelope as tightly, so the atmosphere extends 370 miles (595km) into space. The NASA New Frontiers competition, which selects a new mission every five year, has six themes, including sample-return missions from comets or the moon, an ocean worlds explorer, a probe to Saturn, exploration of the Trojan asteroids and a Venus in-situ explorer. The deadline for this round of proposals is April 28 and Dragonfly is one of the candidates. NASA will narrow down suggestions in November, and make a final selection in July 2019. Advertisement If you think the skyscrapers of today are impressive, then look at these gravity-defying designs of the future. For eVolo Magazine's 2017 Skyscraper competition, architects have re-imagined skylines all over the world from London to Antarctica. One group of designers from Spain even created a living space for Mars, which has a malleable frame that can 'grow larger as the population increases'. Haseef Rafiei from the UK came up with a vending machine skyscraper, capable of automatically 'printing' apartments and dropping them into place according to demand. However, the overall winners were Pawel Lipinski and Mateusz Frankowski from Poland for their project Mashambas Skyscraper, which is a movable structure that can act as an educational centre and marketplace for new agricultural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. In total, Evolo Magazine received 444 submissions, with the jury announcing three winners and 22 honourable mentions. The publication's awards were established in 2006 to recognise 'outstanding ideas for vertical living'. The High Density Urban Order skyscraper complex was designed by Lisa Albaugh, Ben Bourgoin, Jamie Edindjiklian, Roberto Jenkins and Justin Oh from the U.S. It features a 'field of pencil towers that blend seamlessly between one another' The Heal-Berg - Reverse Climate Changing Machine was designed by Luca Beltrame and Saba Nabavi Tafreshi from Italy and Austria in a bid to help combat climate change (left). It is set in the icy waters of Antarctica. Meanwhile the Data Cemetery Skyscraper by Joanna Targowicz and Mateusz Binkowski from Poland consists of a 'cloud-like structure filled with diamond data storage particles made from ashes of the dead' (right) The Mountain Skyscraper in Yosemite was designed Ryan Ibarra from the U.S. (left) while the Espiral 3500 was imagined by Javier Lopez-Menchero Ortiz de Salazar from Spain. The tower came third place in eVolo's contest (right) The Flexible Materials Skyscraper designed by Fu Hao, Zhang Yunlong and Yang Ge from the U.S. features a malleable exterior that can be 'arbitrarily folded, cut, enclosed, sewed and turned over' Tianshu Liu and Linshen Xie from the U.S. said of their design 'this is the vision we have for the cities of tomorrow - factories will be dissolved into small pieces and then be stacked together into high-rise vertical factories' The Genesis Mars skyscraper, proposed by Arturo Emilio Garrido Ontiveros, Andres Pastrana Bonillo and Judit Pinach from Spain, is a tent designed to 'grow larger as the population increases' The Mashambas Skyscraper designed by Pawel Lipinski and Mateusz Frankowski from Poland won first place in the competition The architects behind Mashambas wanted to build a movable educational centre that could be toured around Africa, to provide training on agricultural techniques, cheap fertilizers, and modern tools. It also creates a local trading area The Giant Sequoia Skyscraper by Ko Jinhyeuk, Cheong Changwon, Cho Kyuhyung and Choi Sunwoong from South Korea 'quietly takes place in the empty void of trunks, without hindering the breathtaking landscape formed by the giants' Catherine He and Celia He from Canada designed Earth Port One, which is designed to be built in Antarctica to transport goods between Earth and space (left), while In Two Minds: Magnetic Cemetery, by French-Canadian duo Marine Joli and Judith Haggiag France, 'represents the image of the evolution of manners with respect to death, body and spirit' (right) The Scaffold of Babel, designed by a Chinese group of architects, is designed to be placed on top of pre-existing skyscrapers, to 'allow construction workers to create their own society in [the] city centre' and 'exist as a memorial of a group of hard workers' Adaptive Capacity - A Socio-ecological Vertical Community in Tanzania was dreamed up by Adriann Jeevananthan from the UK. The colourful tower aims to provide a 'higher quality of life' to the inhabitants by 'eliminating unsanitary conditions' Tamin Song, Jin Woo Kuk, Sun Hee Yoo, Bruce Han, Gangmin Yoo and Jun Sun Baek from New Zealand say their design, the Human Castell, 'flips the typical building inside out' The Sustainable Urban Mining Factory was designed by Maciej Kasperek from the UK. She envisaged a vertical recycling factory in the heart of New York The Arch Skyscraper, inspired by Gothic and Chinese Buddhist architecture, was designed by Wenjia Li, Ran Huo and Jing Ju from China The Pod Vending Machine Skyscraper was designed by Haseef Rafiei from the UK. It is designed to automatically 'print' pod-like houses according to demand in the city The Wind Skyscraper from a Chinese design team features a main building and two frames, designed for holding a 'number of devices for energy collection and typhoon intervention' Designed by Jitendra Sawant from India, the City Skyscraper is made from the merger of the existing 64 commercial buildings in the cyber city part of Gurgaon in India. It would be capable of housing 35,000 to 45,000 people Advertisement Today Bali is a magnet for backpackers and party-goers alike, with congestion and dumped rubbish a mounting problem. But rewind 40 years and the picture was much different, with the Indonesian island encompassing a quiet calm. A fascinating photo album reveals what the untouched spot looked like, with pristine beaches, quiet dirt track roads and no Westerners in sight. Before the tourists arrived: Australian surfer and photographer Clifford White, 62, travelled to the virtually unknown island when he was 20 in 1975 with several friends (above, Sanur beach, which is now a popular resort town) Making a splash: During his stay, White shot images of the rural landscape and a number of Balinese locals who had never even met Westerners before Jungle trek: White said some people paid a small fee to have their surf boards carried out to the ocean. He added that the man in the foreground of the above shot, barefoot under the straw hat, is former Australian politician Ian Cohen Flashback: White said he found Jalan Tegal Wangi (above) such a 'nice sleepy small street' when he visited Bali in March 1975 but today it is one of the busiest parts of Kuta beach, with modern buildings and a tarmac road Australian surfer and photographer Clifford White, 62, travelled to the virtually unknown island when he was 20 in 1975 with several friends. He returned again in 1977 to document more footage of the untouched surf paradise. During both stays, he shot images of the rural landscape and a number of Balinese locals who had never even met Westerners before. Just a few years later tourism took off, with the scenery changing forever. Thanks to cheaper flight deals and media exposure, the destination exploded in popularity with hundreds of hotels, bars and shops being built. The island - which is now drowned in a tide of more than four million foreign tourists a year - is unrecognisable from White's early shots. Authentic: Kuta beach is now a bustling tourist spot flooded with sightseers. When White visited in the late 70s, he said he encountered small markets, 'selling only local products, long before the days of fake products' Still undiscovered: White notes that a large resort now sits off the road where he took this shot (left), meanwhile on the beach he was happy to pay locals a small fee to carry his surf board through the wild terrain (right) Relaxed pace of life: A quiet road leading down to the now wildly-popular Kuta beach (left) and local girls carrying food supplies down to the beach ahead of a day of surfing (right) Dying businesses: White returned to this store in 2011 but he found it had disappeared, with lots of tourist stores in its place and a Hard Rock Cafe within walking distance They show empty golden beaches, deserted roads and children innocently playing in streams. Two particularly poignant shots show a farmer walking his ducks and women carrying baskets of food on their heads through fields. Reminiscing about his early travels, White, from Sydney, said: 'Back then we were some of the first Australians to visit Bali. 'It was totally unspoiled. The island has developed a lot since then and Kuta beach now has hotels and resorts the length of it. 'It was every surfer's dream and and the locals were the friendliest people you could ever meet.' BALI: A TROPICAL PARADISE GONE TO RUIN? With the rise of cheaper international air travel, tourism took off in Bali during the 80s and 90s. The destination was marketed as a 'tropical paradise' in glossy tourist brochures and travel websites. It soon became known as the 'Mexico of Australia', with flights from Sydney taking around six hours. In 2000, the island's main airport carried 4.4 million passengers and by 2011, this number had exploded to 11.1 million. Today Bali's economy is heavily dependent on tourism. Many travellers to the region are young backpackers, flocking to the multiple bars and clubs to drink and party in the lively tourist towns of Kuta and Seminyak. The volcanic outcrop also became a must-visit destination for soul-searchers, after it was featured in Elizabeth Gilberts memoir, Eat Pray Love, which was made into the 2010 movie starring Julia Roberts. The island bounced back after the deadly terrorist bombings of 2002 and 2005 and it managed to weather a public relations storm in 2015 when two Australians were executed for drug trafficking. Indonesian tourism expert Nyoman Sukma Arida, of Udayana University, has been warning for more than a decade that Bali's situation is approaching saturation, pointing to signs of environmental stress all over the island. In a bid to curb tourism and for religious reasons, there is a proposed alcohol ban that could impose sentences of up to 10 years in prison for producing, selling or consuming alcohol. As of yet, no measures have been passed. The island is predominantly Hindu, while the rest of the country is Muslim with one of the world's largest populations of Islam followers. Advertisement Self-portrait: White sits to have his photo taken while a small monkey perches on his shoulders Catching some waves: White says he remembers catching some 'nice, clean' barrels during his trip to Bali in April 1977 (above, pictured in the waters off Uluwatu) At your service: Some of White's fondest memories involved surf trips in the Nusa Dua area of southern Bali. He said they would 'park in a field with no buildings except the small shack that served drinks and snacks. The drivers would wait for hours while we surfed, and they were very honest - I would leave my camera with them' No cares in the world: White said he was struck by the 'happy and smiling faces of the beautiful children' (left), he was also enthralled by a coastal cave he discovered during a return trip to the Indonesian island in April 1977 (right) Chilled vibe: White said he would see this 'very laid back' fortune teller just about every day on Jalan Pantai Kuta - a road close to Kuta beach White recently shared the pictures of his early Balinese trips on social media and one of the boys in the shots recognised himself and got in touch. Touching on the unexpected reunion, White added: 'One of the children in the pictures is now in his 40s. 'He recognised the shots from when he was younger and got in touch. That was pretty incredible.' Bali, in South East Asia, is one of the world's most popular tropical holiday spots. In 2000, the island's main airport carried 4.4 million passengers and by 2011, this number had skyrocketed to 11.1 million. The region is popular with backpackers, couples and surfers drawn by the large, powerful and clean waves. All green and then it was gone: White captured this view as he came in to land at Denpasar International Airport in March 1975. It was his first trip to the 'beautiful unspoilt island'. Today, monster resorts are peppered along the coast line Country walks: White came across a farmer casually walking ducks, somewhere close to the town of Ubud, in the uplands of Bali Footsteps in the foam: A group of local surfers head out to the water to catch some waves on Kuta beach, widely considered one of the best ocean fronts in Bali Group outing: White met a local man called Wayan Dartayasa and his family at their home in Kuta beach. It appears that they are sourcing fresh water from a well Hustle and bustle: White took a photo capturing the first time he arrived in the Indonesian capital of Denpasar via a local bemo bus. He said he found it 'scary' how busy the place was even then Rise in popularity: Bali was marketed as a 'tropical paradise' in glossy tourist brochures and travel websites during the 80s and 90s. It soon became the 'Mexico of Australia', with flights from Sydney taking around six hours Smiles all round: White appears to be surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women as he heads to the water to surf Passengers were 'left in tears' at Barcelona Airport on Thursday evening after 'chaos' at a security checkpoint caused them to miss their Ryanair flight. It's claimed that the 7.30pm flight to Liverpool - the final service of the day - took off without them. But the airline is blaming passengers for not arriving at the airport early enough to negotiate security. Passengers say that the situation was made worse by Spanish police refusing to allow the use of mobile phones. Scroll down for video There was chaos at Barcelona Airport on Thursday evening with delays at a security checkpoint reportedly causing a large number of Ryanair passengers to miss their plane Mobile phone footage taken at the airport shows the group of Ryanair passengers gathered on the concourse Ken Flaherty, from Childwall, told The Liverpool Echo: Two hundred passengers have been told they cant get on the Ryanair flight. There is no information, it is chaos. The Garda (Spanish police) wont let us use our phones and they are threatening to remove them. He said that a lack of security staff caused a bottleneck. Another passenger, Gary Jones, tweeted that over 100 people had missed the flight, according to the Echo. One passenger said that a lack of security staff caused a bottleneck (file image) However, Ryanair is adamant that the numbers being quoted were 'untrue' as the flight had 189 seats and was not fully booked. It said in a statement: It is each customers individual responsibility to ensure they arrive at the gate in time for their flight. Over 145 customers boarded this flight and travelled to Liverpool. While we regret any inconvenience, Ryanair is not responsible for airport security delays. Barcelona is currently trying to curb tourism numbers after it was flooded last year with 32million visitors. Passengers at Barcelona Airport (pictured) say that the situation was made worse by Spanish police refusing to allow the use of mobile phones The citys mayor, Ada Colau, has set out a new policy with measures to curb tourism, following on from a ban to stop any new hotels from opening. And in a bid to curb tourism, the city's mayor Ada Colau has set out a new policy following on from a ban to stop any new hotels from opening. Her Strategic Plan For Tourism 2020, presented in February, lays out a number of measurements aimed at deterring the masses. Charges for day-trippers will be ramped up, parking rates will increase and there are plans to limit the number of Segways and electric scooters in the more touristic parts of the city. Vacation apartments will also be slapped with the highest property tax rates and the city will not provide licenses for new tourist accommodation. Many locals, tired of being outnumbered by cruise-goers and day-trippers, have given Colau's new measures the thumbs up. Janet Sanz, a deputy mayor in charge of urban planning and a close aide of Colau's, told the Associated Press: 'We have to stop this free-flow that operates without any control in the city.' Boozed-up Brits tempted to have sex in the nooks and crannies of a busy tourist resort in Mallorca could be hit with a 3,000 euro fine. A tough penalty of 1,500 euros will also be imposed on anyone flouting the 'no boozing from bottles in the street' rule as Llucmajor becomes the latest place to get tough on rowdy revellers. The popular area of El Arenal or s'Arenal, in the south of Mallorca, says it is fed up with noise and bad behaviour during the summer months and is clamping down, just like Magaluf. Brits tempted to have sex in the nooks and crannies of Llucmajor resort, pictured, in Mallorca could be hit with a 3,000 euro fine A new raft of bylaws has been approved by the local council as the new tourist season begins, with 'very serious' breaches punishable with the maximum fine of 3,000 euros. The new regulations are 'brief and very practical and reflect the complaints that we have received basically in summer in El Arenal and the coastal area such as noise, alcohol consumption and the concentrations of people on the street,' said the councillor for police and citizenship, Gori Estarellas. The council has described the measures as 'very necessary' and the Mayor, Bernadi Vives said they would be adapted as the summer progressed. The 3,000 euro fines will be slapped on anyone found drinking in the street, especially during bottle parties, and if they are disturbing the peace of the resort. A tough penalty of 1,500 euros will also be imposed on anyone flouting the 'no boozing from bottles in the street' rule Other sanctions include 50 to 750 euro fines for minor offences and 750 to 1,500 euro fines for serious infringements. The very serious category includes 'offering, soliciting, negotiating and accepting sexual services in public spaces', 'acts of exhibitionism, proposition or provocation of a sexual nature' or 'performing sexual acts in public spaces', among others. There will also be a general crackdown on noise and ball games in the street. For reasons of public order, between midnight and eight in the morning alcohol will not be sold, except in establishments in the hotel and catering sector 'provided it is consumed in the same premises'. The federal Government Accountability Office is calling for more oversight for 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Weve written a lot about 21st CCLCs recently since President Donald Trump released his proposed budget that called for eliminating the program , which provides after-school and summer learning opportunities for students in low-income communities. Trumps proposal was roundly criticized by after-school program advocates such as the Afterschool Alliance, STEM Next, and some members of Congress, who argued that the program provides much-needed support for students and their parents. Now a new GAO report entitled, Education Needs to Improve Oversight of Its 21st Century Program, is raising questions about the how much the U.S. Department of Education knows about the effectiveness of the program. To learn more about the report and read reaction from Afterschool Alliance, check out this story by my colleague Andrew Ujifusa . Related stories: They'll celebrate their 29th wedding anniversary on the 30th of April. And it seems Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson are quite excited to mark the big day, as they shared with E! News at The Circle premiere on Wednesday night. The 60-year-old Forrest Gump actress looked visibly giddy as he stood next to his second wife on the red carpet. Quite an accomplishment! It seems Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson are quite excited to mark their pending 29th wedding anniversary Rita, 60, was the first to respond when asked about the big milestone. 'I'm not going to say,' said the mother of two nervously with a big smile. She shares Chet, 26, and Truman, 21, with her famous actor husband. Tom then jumped in, sharing 'we have top secret plans that are going to set the world on fire.' The multiple Oscar winner was then asked about his newest movie The Circle, which is about a monolithic company and its questionable use of user data. Mysterious: Tom then jumped in, sharing 'we have top secret plans that are going to set the world on fire' 'It sells the glory of Internet informational monopolies,' he replied with a chuckle, adding, perhaps somewhat facetiously, 'as soon as you embrace the relentlessness and inevitability of it all, the happier you will be.' He also had nothing but good things to say about co-star Emma Watson, 27. 'She's driven,' he started, 'she has these notebooks that she is just listening to everything you say and everything that is said and writing it down.' Life imitating art? The multiple Oscar winner was then asked about his newest movie The Circle, which is about a monolithic company and its questionable use of user data 'She ends up filling up an entire one after you've had about four or five afternoons chit-chatting. It's a work ethic that's pretty stunning.' The Saving Private Ryan star couldn't praise the Harry Potter actress enough, saying that she possesses a 'bit of an Einstein quality.' The discussion then took a more sober tone when the conversation turned to the death of friend and director Jonathan Demme, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 73. Dynamic duo: Hanks also had nothing but good things to say about co-star Emma Watson, 27 (pictured together at The Circle premiere) 'This is is a horrible day. Jonathan taught I think both of us a lot about how to be artists and how to be in showbiz and also how to be the people with both feet on the ground.' Rita then stepped in to add 'He was so inclusive. While working on Philadelphia he would invite anyone to see dailies. Directors just don't do that. He felt it was a valuable quality to be part of the community.' Tom then recalled that he had taken Rita to Demme's concert film Stop Making Sense for their first date, and that 'he had a real key place in our life.' They're the Hollywood power with some of the busiest schedules in the industry. But Chris Hemsworth, 33, made sure to find time to check out his stunning wife Elsa Pataky's latest photo shoot, in which she appears topless. Taking to Instagram, the Thor actor was pictured reclining on a chair as he perused a copy of the blonde bombshell's Elle spread. Keeping up with the Hemsworths! Chris Hemsworth posted a picture of himself checking out his stunning wife Elsa's raunchy ELLE photo shoot on Thursday Looking especially suave with a recently clipped beard and dark-rimmed sunglasses, the hunk intently studies his better half's racy shoot. 'Probably gonna use my special powers to track down this wild beauty,' he wrote in the caption, tagging his stunning wife. On the cover of the magazine he held, the mother-of-three proves why her raunchy photo shoot was commanding so much of his attention. Tracking her down! 'Probably gonna use my special powers to track down this wild beauty,' the 33-year-old wrote in the caption, tagging his stunning wife in the snap Dressed in nothing but a tiny, tight black crop top and skimpy briefs, the 40-year-old flaunts her stunning frame in a side-profile snap. With her hair styled out-and-up, the blonde bombshell shoots an alluring gaze to camera. Chris' Spanish wife recently revealed some details about the hunk's lesser qualities. Revelations: And while he was looking nothing but loved-up on Thursday, Chris' Spanish wife recently revealed some details about the hunk's lesser qualities '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 told the Herald Sun, after admitting he could be 'annoying' at times. '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.' 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. She is about to host her annual 'In Conversation With...' seminar. And Roxy Jacenko has certainly made sure all eyes will be on her at the event. The PR maven showed off her outfit for the day on Instagram, a low-cut black top teamed with a leather and suede mini skirt and stunning Azzedine Alaia T-bar heels. That will get them talking! Roxy Jacenko donned a black mini skirt and low-cut top for her 'In Conversation With...' seminar on Friday Held at the prestigious Westin Hotel, this will be Roxy's third sold-out 'In Conversation With...' seminar. The public relations maestro will 'share her insights on using PR and social media to build both personal and business brands' with her audience. Meanwhile, on Thursday Roxy revealed one lucky attendee will win a diamond ring worth over $13,000. Who will be the lucky one! On Thursday, Roxy revealed one lucky attendee will win a diamond ring worth over $13,000 She uploaded an image of the sparkler in its simple black case along with its certificate of authenticity. With a $13,800 price tag attached, the impressive piece of jewellery has been provided for the event by local designer and her personal favourite, Nicholas Haywood. 'For one of my guests to go home with tomorrow,' the Sweaty Betty PR founder tagged the photo, describing the ring as being 3.13 carats. Fans of the busy mother of two flocked to the capture's comments section to ogle over the prize. 'Wish I could afford to go to you seminar,' wrote one. 'Next year I'm definitely going!' 'I've never been so jealous to go to an event in my life,' gushed another. Candice Swanepoel was noticeably not wearing her engagement ring after grabbing lunch from Manhattan brasserie The Smith on Thursday. The 28-year-old IMG Model then curiously tried to hide her hand beneath the bandana around her neck. The South African stunner flaunted her post-baby waistline in a white crop-top, light blue mom jeans, a matching jean jacket, and white high-tops. Single? Candice Swanepoel was noticeably not wearing her engagement ring after grabbing lunch from Manhattan brasserie The Smith on Thursday Headed for a split? The 28-year-old IMG Model then curiously tried to hide her hand beneath the bandana around her neck Double denim: The South African stunner flaunted her post-baby waistline in a white crop-top, light blue mom jeans, a matching jean jacket, and white high-tops Ever since they welcomed their first child on October 5, Candice and her fiance Hermann Nicoli have only been photographed separately cuddling son Anaca. Swanepoel hasn't publicly posted about her 34-year-old babydaddy since sharing a 2007 throwback snap for Valentine's Day. The Victoria's Secret Angel was the tender age of 17 when she met the Brazilian male model on assignment in Paris back in 2005. Hermann eventually popped the question in August 2015, but no wedding date was ever set for the New York-based couple. Co-parenting: Ever since they welcomed their first child on October 5, Candice and her fiance Hermann Nicoli have only been photographed separately cuddling son Anaca 'Before selfies existed': Swanepoel hasn't publicly posted about her 34-year-old babydaddy since sharing a 2007 throwback snap for Valentine's Day 'All you need is love': The Victoria's Secret Angel was the tender age of 17 when she met the Brazilian male model on assignment in Paris back in 2005 Last sighting on May 23: Hermann eventually popped the question in August 2015, but no wedding date was ever set for the New York-based couple The 5ft10in catwalker teamed up with Mara & Mine designers Jasmine Yarbrough and Tamie Ingham for a collection of four vegan sandals (retailing between $210-$285), which will be released on May 6. 'Im a very creative person and am always looking for opportunities to explore that. So during the time off [from modeling] during my pregnancy, I needed a project to work on,' Candice told Footwear News on Monday. 'The inspiration came from my love of the summer months, travel and my bohemian and minimalist style. I wanted to create a summer collection that is flattering, simple and ethical, to show people that vegan accessories can be just as beautiful and luxurious as leather accessories...I will definitely be sharing the collection with my girls [in Victoria's Secret].' Swanepoel's first post-pregnancy modeling gig was 'braving the cold' water to shoot a sultry campaign for cosmetics company, Biotherm. Launching May 6! The 5ft10in catwalker teamed up with Mara & Mine designers Jasmine Yarbrough and Tamie Ingham (pictured) for a collection of four vegan sandals She's known for parading her sensational curves all over social media. And on Friday, it was just another day at the office for Chloe Lattanzi, who took to Instagram to flaunt her enviable cleavage in a plunging tank top. The 31-year-old's latest racy display comes just days after she urged her followers to judge her on her successful career achievements instead of her 'sexy modelling pics on Instagram.' Out of control cleavage! Chloe Lattanzi showed off her finest assets on Instagram on Friday The singing sensation and aspiring actress shared an Instagram video, explaining that she was responding to a negative comment she read online. The anonymous troll reportedly told her to 'do something with (her) life' and criticised her choice of acting projects. But Chloe hit back, saying: 'Just because I do sexy modelling pics on Instagram, somehow that insinuates that I'm not intelligent?' Where to look? The 31-year-old posed in a way to highlight her small waist and bulging bust She's not happy! Olivia Newton-John's daughter took to Instagram last week to criticise a fan who insulted her intelligence and acting ability She cited her many projects as evidence she wasn't stupid, including her plan to establish a marijuana farm in Oregon with her fiance. 'I've got a business that I am starting as a botanist, I am an actress, I released an album,' she explained. Chloe said negative comments made her feel 'tired of social media' and admitted she often felt 'so misunderstood'. Busy lady! Chloe cited her many projects as evidence she wasn't stupid, including her plan to establish a marijuana farm in Oregon with her fiance Considering leaving Instagram? Chloe said negative comments made her feel 'tired of social media' and admitted she often felt 'so misunderstood 'It's really f**ked up - I'm this woman with depth and heart and ambition... don't judge me by my Instagram,' she said. The busty model also claimed in video's caption that she 'ran away' from music and acting because of 'all the judgement that comes along with it'. Chloe has overcome her fair share of demons, telling The Mail On Sunday in 2013 she battled a cocaine addiction and eating disorder in her early twenties. Her latest project sees her starring in the reboot of famed television series, Twin Peaks. And Naomi Watts shared a stunning behind-the-scenes snap to Instagram on Friday, while on the promotional trail. 'Fresh haircut,' the 48-year-old captioned the image, which saw The Ring star debuting shorter blonde locks and stylised bangs. Fringe benefits! Naomi Watts, 48, debuted a 'fresh haircut' and stylised bangs, in a behind-the-scenes snap for upcoming television series Twin Peaks, to Instagram on Friday 'Behind the scenes today got me a fresh #haircut with #bangs,' Naomi captioned the image, alongside the additional hash-tags #twinpeaks, #gypsy and #idontknowwhoiam. Standing in front of the door to her suite and sporting a strapless black frock, the mother-of-two positioned her hands on her delicate decolletage and gazed to the side, allowing the camera a close-up of her new locks. With her tresses cut slightly below the jawline and falling in stylised waves, Naomi opted for a fringe that was parted in the centre. Mane appeal: The new style marks a change for the mother-of-two, who regularly sports longer blonde locks and a lack of fringe The personality's striking facial features were enhanced with defined brows, lashings of mascara and a soft pink lip. Naomi will next star on US screens on May 21st, in Showtime's highly-anticipated reboot of Twin Peaks. The series which originally premiered in 1990, will return with 18 new episodes, detailing the investigation into the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer. Big break: David Lynch's next installment of Twin Peaks, sees the director team up with Naomi again. The actress got her big break in David's 2001 film Mulholland Drive. Naomi is pictured with co-star Laura Harring Proving to be a hit, the original series garnered three Golden Globes, two Emmy Awards and a Grammy. David Lynch's next installment of Twin Peaks sees the director team up with Naomi again. The actress got her big break in David's 2001 film Mulholland Drive. The film detailed the story of aspiring actress Betty Elms (played by Naomi), who arrives in Los Angeles and befriends a woman with memory loss, who is hiding in an apartment owned by Betty's aunt. Plot: The film detailed the story of aspiring actress Betty Elms (played by Naomi), who arrives in Los Angeles and befriends a woman with memory loss Her last visit to the Gold Coast ended in criminal charges after she illegally brought her dogs Pistol and Boo into Australia. But there seems to be no hard feelings between Amber Heard, 31, and the flashy seaside city - as the actress was seen enjoying a series of dates there with new boyfriend Elon Musk, 45, this week. The Gold Coast Bulletin reports that Amber - who is in Australia filming scenes for Aquaman - has been 'really bubbly' while spotted at several local restaurants. No hard feelings! Amber Heard and new boyfriend Elon Musk have been spotted enjoying a series of dates on the Gold Coast - after her 2015 stay ended in controversy over her pet dogs Amber has been happy to stop and chat with fans during her stay, posing for photos as she stays in the Gold Coast. On Monday, Amber and Elon enjoyed a brunch date at the Broadbeach Shingle Inn Cafe. Staff member Dakota Williams told News Corp that 'gorgeous' Amber was in high spirits throughout the meal. Catching up with her fans! The Gold Coast Bulletin reports that Amber - who is in Australia filming scenes for Aquaman - has been 'really bubbly' while spotted at local restaurants Making headlines: Amber's last trip to the Gold Coast ended in controversy when it emerged she had brought along her pet dogs without going through Australia's quarantine procedures 'They were really bubbly. I kind of left them to it, they had a nice little date together,' Dakota said. The next day, Amber posed for photographs while grabbing some food at O Sushi Coolangatta. Staff told The Gold Coast Bulletin that Amber seemed 'happy and friendly' at the Japanese eatery. Earlier this week, Amber and Elon confirmed they were an item after months of speculation. Charged: In April 2016, Amber pleaded guilty to falsifying quarantine documents for her two dogs and was handed a one-month good behaviour bond and fined $1000 The couple were first linked last July when Amber and Elon were spotted leaving each other's hotel rooms. Amber was last on the Gold Coast in 2015, visiting then-husband Johnny Depp as he filmed a Pirates Of The Caribbean sequel. But her trip ended in controversy when it was discovered she had brought along her pet dogs Pistol and Boo without going through Australia's strict quarantine procedures. In April 2016, she pleaded guilty to falsifying quarantine documents and was handed a one-month good behaviour bond and fined $1000. Kenya Moore lost her temporary restraining order against ex-boyfriend Matt Jordan after a Fulton County Superior Court judge revoked it when the reality star didn't show up at a Wednesday hearing. The Real Housewives of Atlanta beauty was not able to serve Jordan with the court order (which was issued last month) because she couldn't locate him, her lawyer told TMZ. Moore did not show up to court knowing the judge would revoke the order - which forced Jordan to keep 200 yards away from the reality star - after it wasn't served, according to her attorney. The latest: Kenya Moore, 46, lost a temporary restraining order she had against ex-boyfriend Matt Jordan after a Georgia judge revoked it when she didn't show up to court Wednesday The Bravo star, 46, intends to refile for the restraining order, according to her lawyer, after telling the court last month that Jordan called her number as many as '30 times a day between September and February,' even after she blocked his number. She said that Jordan vowed he would 'get' her and give her 'what she deserves.' The 5ft10 stunner, who captured the Miss USA crown in 1993, took to her Bravo blog last month after a scene aired on the Real Housewives of Atlanta showing the duo embroiled in an explosive argument. Hard to find: Kenya was unable to find Jordan to serve him with the papers, her lawyer told TMZ. The two were seen bickering in a RHOA episode last month Lesson learned: Kenya implored her fans to run from abusive relationships they're in Moore said that the sequence had been shot 'nearly six months ago;' and was 'painful to watch' in hindsight. She was 'ashamed' she put up with 'such foolishness from anyone,' as she continually gave Jordan the benefit of the doubt when she shouldn't have. Her ex had also racked up four arrests in six months last year, according to the outlet. Troubled times: Kenya, in hindsight, said she 'should have run away as fast as humanly possible' from Jordan 'I focused so hard on breaking old habits of not running away when things get tough,' she said. 'Yet, this relationship was the exact scenario. I should have run away as fast as humanly possible.' She said she wouldn't 'ever have any communication with' Jordan in the future, hoping 'that he can move on with his life and leave me completely alone.' Timeless beauty: Kenya looked amazing as she attended the Unforgettable premiere in Atlanta earlier this month Beauty queen: Moore recently shared a shot of her Miss USA pageant win from 1993 She said that her experience Jordan should serve as a lesson on when to abandon ship on a toxic relationship . 'If a man is capable of damaging your property, calling you out of your name, threatening you, tells you that you will die unhappy and alone - but in the same breath begs you to stay with him - RUN,' she said. 'I pray that other women take away that reprehensible behavior from a man is never acceptable. There is no excuse for abuse.' The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays on Bravo at 8/7c. Husky-voiced broadcaster Mariella Frostrup caused a furore when she borrowed a pals boyfriend to go on a boating holiday as her own husband was unavailable Husky-voiced broadcaster Mariella Frostrup caused a furore when she borrowed a pals boyfriend to go on a boating holiday as her own husband was unavailable. Now, she has disclosed that she has invited a girlfriend to share her marital home. Mariella, 54, explains that the unusual arrangement keeps her husband, human rights lawyer Jason McCue happy because it means there is now a woman, named only as Natalie, in the house who treats him with more respect and courtesy. She says: The return of my best friend to the UK after 20 years in Europe and an empty bedroom in our London flat has led to finding ourselves back sharing the contents of the fridge and managing the supply of loo paper. Natalie and I may seem a bit long in the tooth to be co-habiting, but why should living under the same roof as your friends be the sole domain of the young? Having a pal in the vicinity eases domestic tension, halves the burden of stocking up on household essentials and comes with the added bonus of someone to share a gripe and a glass of wine with at the end of the day. She adds: Even my husband sees its advantages: Company when Im not around, food in the fridge and a woman in easy reach who treats him with a greater degree of respect and courtesy than his own wife! Mariella and McCue, who have a 13-year-old daughter, Molly, and son, Danny, 12, also own a country home in Bruton, a fashionable corner of Somerset. Were both in London only when were working, so were not completely in each others pockets, she adds of their arrangement. Flatshares in my 20s were the cause of endless friction from returning to ashtray and bottle-strewn living rooms with a drunken stranger passed out on your bed to endless negotiation about cleaning, food bills and rent demands. Mariella, 54, explains that the unusual arrangement keeps her husband, human rights lawyer Jason McCue happy because it means there is now a woman, named only as Natalie, in the house who treats him with more respect and courtesy Middle age seems in every way far better suited to the compromise of sharing a living space with personal responsibility and compromise at far elevated levels. I like to think of my pal and I as pioneers on a practice run or at the very least, inspiration for a sitcom along the lines of The Odd Couple meets Friends. Playing George VI in hit Netflix drama The Crown has been marvellous for Jared Harriss ego. The former husband of Silent Witness star Emilia Fox says: People have always been very polite with me. One of the funniest occasions was at the premiere for The Crown. I signed something for someone and, when the exchange ended, they curtseyed. Off with his head! Joely Richardson showed off her stylish new hairdo at a party in London Joely plays it straight with a radical bob Film star Joely Richardson might have been hoping to show off her stylish new hairdo at a party in London, but it was her daring choice of attire that received all the attention. The 52-year-old daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave and director Tony Richardson unveiled her glamorous new look having chopped her blonde hair to above her shoulders and styled it into a poker-straight bob. However, guests eyes were drawn to the navy jump suit she was wearing, which stole the show thanks to her perilously low, plunging neckline. Sofia Vergara is fully embracing spring fashion. The Modern Family actress looked stunning in floral when she stepped out for lunch in Beverly Hills on Thursday. Dressed in a long, flowing pale pink dress, the 44-year-old was spotted chatting on her cell phone as she left a restaurant. Flower power: Sofia Vergara looked stunning in floral when she stepped out for lunch in Beverly Hills on Thursday The flattering outfit was printed with pastel-colored flowers and featured ruffle detailing. And the low-cut neckline emphasized the voluptuous star's cleavage. Sofia finished her look with a pair of dusty pink cut-out stilettos and carried a matching handbag on her arm. The Hot Pursuit star's long balayage hair was worn loose, and she was also wearing a pair of hoop earrings. Shoe-in: The actress finished her look with a pair of dusty pink cut-out stilettos and carried a matching handbag on her arm Something to talk about... Dressed in a long, flowing pale pink dress, the 44-year-old was spotted chatting on her cell phone as she left a restaurant It appears the bombshell actress had enjoyed a lunch date with her longtime friend, Beverly Hills realtor Barry Peele. Sofia shared a selfie with her friend from their lunch on Instagram. 'Same place for lunch for the past 15yrs,' she captioned it. 'I u @barrypeele' Details: The Hot Pursuit star's long balayage hair was worn loose, and she was also wearing a pair of hoop earrings Friends in high places: The bombshell actress had enjoyed a lunch date with her longtime friend, Beverly Hills realtor Barry Peele And in an interview with HOLA! USA in January, the Colombian-born actress addressed criticism that her Modern Family character, Gloria, is a stereotype of Latina women. 'What's wrong with being a stereotype?' she declared. 'Gloria's character is inspired by my mom and my aunt. They are both Latina women who grew up in Colombia, like me. They love color, prints and shoes. I'm like that too: a voluptuous, intense, happy woman, who wants to get involved in everything with her partner to help.' Facebook and Google Hit in $100M Scam If you thought email phishing scams only targeted consumers and athletes looking for things in all the wrong places, think again. Online scammers look for money wherever they can find unsuspecting victims. That includes mega companies, like Facebook and Google. According to a criminal indictment, a Lithuanian named Evaldas Rimasaukas swindled more than $100 million by using forged email addresses, invoices, and corporate stamps to impersonate a manufacturer and bill purchasers in the United States. Fortune, in an exclusive, learned that those buyers were Facebook and Google. Accounting Departments "Over a two-year span, the corporate imposter convinced accounting departments at the two tech companies to make transfers worth tens of millions of dollars," according to the report. "By the time the firms figured out what was going on, Rimasauskas had coaxed out over $100 million in payments, which he promptly stashed in bank accounts across Eastern Europe." U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said the government recovered much of the stolen funds, which had been wired to accounts in Latvia, Cyprus, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary and Hong Kong. The defendant was arrested in Lithuanian, where he awaits extradition. "This case should serve as a wake-up call to all companies - even the most sophisticated - that they too can be victims of phishing attacks by cyber criminals," Kim said. "And this arrest should serve as a warning to all cyber criminals that we will work to track them down, wherever they are, to hold them accountable." Business Phishing According to reports, Facebook and Google approached the U.S. Attorney's Office about the scam and asked for help to recover money paid for fake invoices. An anonymous source told Fortune that the office "regularly hears from companies that are victims of similar phishing swindles." "There's a plague of these kind of companies [that operate business phishing scams]," the source said. SiliconBeat contacted Google and Facebook and asked why investors were not notified of the theft. The companies responded that they had reported the crime to authorities, and recovered their funds. Criminal investigators generally do not discuss pending cases, and typically ask victims to keep communications confidential so they won't compromise the investigations. Related Resources: WHAT: Launch of The Ned, Soho Houses 200 million City hotel. WHO: Socialite Jemima Goldsmith, stylist Martha Ward, model Laura Bailey and entrepreneur Dame Natalie Massenet. The Duchess of York arrived with her daughters Princesses Bea and Eugenie, who dined with billionaire Ron Burkle WHO: Model Laura Bailey and entrepreneur Dame Natalie Massenet AWKWARD ENCOUNTER: Actress Sadie Frost took her boyfriend Darren Strowger, but bumped into her ex-husband, Gary Kemp, who was there with his much younger wife, Lauren. TALKING POINT: Eddie Redmayne missed a party for a watchmaker, for which he is brand ambassador, to be at the do with wife Hannah. SURPRISING MOMENT: TVs Gareth Malone led a choir and got the whole party to sing along. FAMILY AFFAIR: The Duchess of York arrived with her daughters Princesses Bea and Eugenie, who dined with billionaire Ron Burkle. Feet on seats: Jemima and Martha, left, and Eddie Redmayne and her wife Hannah After ending her six-year relationship with her Slumdog Millionaire co-star Dev Patel and later being linked with polo player Ronnie Barcardi, actress Freida Pinto has revealed that she is now very single and very happy. Dates are fun, she says. You meet new people and sometimes you become good friends and other times pfft! you think I never want to see that crazy person again. But she insists she doesnt use the Tinder dating site: I meet people the traditional way. A cosy cuddle for Harry's ex Cressie Prince Harry says he is now in a good place after admitting mental health issues had severely affected his private life. Also in a good place is his ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas, 28, who was spotted snuggling up to her boyfriend Harry Wentworth-Stanley in Notting Hill this week. Cressida Bonas, 28, who was spotted snuggling up to her boyfriend Harry Wentworth-Stanley in Notting Hill this week Cressie dated Old Harrovian Wentworth-Stanley, 27-year-old son of Clare Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven, for two years before she met Prince Harry. Wentworth-Stanley, who grew a beard during his 3,000-mile charity row across the Atlantic to Antigua last December, still seems to favour the hirsute look. Unlike Harry, who has reportedly waxed his chest to impress new love Meghan Markle. During her glorious 65-year reign, the Queen has been awarded myriad titles, but yesterday she added yet another: Londoner of the Year. Prince Andrew collected the prize on his mothers behalf at the London Press Club Awards at the Corinthia Hotel, where he told the assembled journalists: Even though we get criticised, keep doing what you do. He added of the Press: You are so important to democracy. Let's hope Kevin Foster, the Tory MP for Torbay, is re-elected on June 8, or his wedding will be more of a wake. For Foster, 38, who captured the seat from the Lib Dems in 2015, had booked his nuptials for June 10. You cant take anything for granted, admits the MP. To make matters worse, his fiancee, Hazel Noonan, volunteers as his assistant, so they might have suffered two redundancies in their household by the time they tie the knot. Cate Blanchett will deliver one of the most memorable lines of movie dialogue Fasten your seatbelts. Its going to be a bumpy night! when she plays Margo Channing, a legendary Bette Davis role, in avant-garde director Ivo van Hoves stage version of All About Eve. I can exclusively reveal that van Hoves adaptation of Joseph Mankiewiczs 1950 film (featuring delicious backstage shenanigans, it won six Academy Awards, including best picture) will open in London in the spring of 2018. The plays producers are engaged in negotiations to secure a West End theatre which, frankly, shouldnt be too problematic considering the names involved plus the fact that its being produced by multi-Olivier-award-winner Sonia Friedman, with Fox Stage Production representing the studio behind the movie. Hollywood star Cate Blanchett (left) will play Margo Channing, a legendary Bette Davis (right role, in avant-garde director Ivo van Hoves stage version of All About Eve The prospect of double Oscar-winner Blanchett and man-of-the-moment van Hove teaming up on a project involving one of the best films ever made is spine-tingling. Blanchett and van Hove share a similar artistic sensibility, in that both disdain artistic safety nets. Blanchetts best roles court danger: the gender-switching parts in Im Not There and in Todd Hayness under-appreciated masterpiece Carol are just two that spring to mind. And Blanchett recently praised van Hove for refusing to shy away from the ugly or the profane. On celluloid, the part of Margo revitalised Bette Daviss career. Her portrait of a faded Broadway stage star who is on her guard as an aspiring actress (the eponymous Eve, played by Anne Baxter) tries to usurp her has not dated. Mankiewicz packed his award-winning screenplay with venomous epigrams which have become classic movie quotes. I like this one from Margo when she begins to realise the depth of Eves treachery: Nice speech, Eve. But I wouldnt worry too much about your heart. You can always put that award where your heart ought to be. When someone informs Margo that a Hollywood star has just arrived, she spits out: Shucks, and I sent my autograph book to the cleaner. A predatory drama critic by the name of Addison DeWitt (George Sanders, who won an Oscar for the role) also got his fair share of delicious bon mots. If youve never watched the film, its well worth buying or renting. Blanchetts best roles court danger: the gender-switching parts in Im Not There and in Todd Hayness under-appreciated masterpiece Carol spring to mind (pictured) The rest of the movie cast includes Celeste Holm, Thelma Ritter, Gary Merrill (Davis fell for him the moment she saw him at an eve-of-shooting party . . . and married him!), Hugh Marlowe and Marilyn Monroe, playing a dim-witted ingenue. All About Eve is the latest classic film that van Hove and his chief collaborator, the scenic and lighting designer Jan Versweyveld, have taken from screen to stage. Their adaptation of Luchino Viscontis Obsession, starring Jude Law, has just opened at The Barbican. Others to get the treatment include Ingmar Bergmans Cries And Whispers and Scenes From A Marriage. In November, Bryan Cranston will lead van Hoves vision of Paddy Chayefskys explosive satire Network into the National Theatre. Im looking forward to that bumpy night! Corsets are a crushing bore, says Florence Florence Pugh gives an extraordinary performance in director William Oldroyds Lady Macbeth Florence Pugh likes women who have something to say. Not for her the part of a girlfriend, standing around with nothing to do. Although to be honest, theres not much chance of that these days. The 21-year-old has not stopped working since director Carol Morley cast her in The Falling three years ago; and she has rapidly become one of the best film actresses of her generation. I was watching her recently on the set of Fighting With My Family, in which she portrays Norwich-born WWE wrestling star Paige, who now lives (and fights) in the US. Pugh still had bruises from a scene in which she and actor Jack Lowden threw each other around a ring. I had a great stand-in but I still wanted to be thrown about a bit, to make it look real, she said. But its another movie Lady Macbeth that has the film world from Soho to Hollywood talking about her. She gives an extraordinary performance in director William Oldroyds powerful picture, loosely based on Nikolai Leskovs novella Lady Macbeth Of The Mtsensk. The tale has been moved from Russia in 1865 to the north of England. Pugh plays Katherine, a young wife held captive by her sexually repressed husband and her father-in-law. Until, that is, she decides that up with this she will not put. Katherine breaks free, takes a lover and commits some bloody deeds as the price of her lust. During rehearsals, I was trying to think what she reminded me of, Florence admitted. A child most of the time. And an animal, in the way she watches and waits. She waits for her prey; and she sucks and licks her lover Sebastians (Cosmo Jarvis) wounds. Its all very earthy. She bristled when a young man asked her why Katherine has an affair. If the story were the other way round, and it was a man having an affair, you wouldnt bat an eyelid. But because shes this confident teen who decides that maybe she does like sex; and maybe she does like eating and drinking suddenly its seen as a very shameful thing to do. When the film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, audiences were struck by how modern it seemed. Pugh thinks thats partly down to the way that Katherine sits and eats and sleeps, and gets out of bed naked. I think its a very easy watch, because we recognise it. Florence was born and raised in Oxford by her dance teacher mother and restaurant owner father, along with her three siblings. My parents have always been very open people, and weve always been a loud family, she laughed. Sunday lunch is a noisy affair. She told me it was having to don a corset and crinoline in Lady Macbeth that really brought home to her the way women were treated back then. You become imprisoned in your own clothing. Although the corset gives me great posture, and I walk with authority, essentially what it does is make a woman quieter and quieter. The moment that corset came off I was so much happier. As soon as Katherine is ruling her own house, she starts to wear less and less, and the corset goes. And as for the crinoline! Parts of it even look like a prison. And what of the sex scenes in the film, which are breathtakingly intimate? I dont mind sex scenes as long as they make sense to the story, she said, adding that she had trusted the director completely. At no time did I feel we were getting naked just because they needed that in the film. She added that she liked it when the nudity in a film felt honest. If you see someone on the big screen getting out of bed wearing a bra or a pair of knickers...then theyve failed. She took to the stage at her 'In Conversation With' seminar in Sydney on Friday to share her 'tips and tricks'. But Roxy Jacenko gave the audience more than they bargained for. The PR maven accidentally flashed her underwear at the crowd as she sat on a chair in a black leather miniskirt. 'Thank god I am wearing full briefs!' Roxy Jacenko accidentally flashed her underwear to the crowd at her sold out seminar on Friday in Sydney Making light of the wardrobe malfunction, Roxy joked with the crowd: 'Thank god I am wearing full briefs!' The gaff was brought to her attention by an audience member in the front row, who was later addressed directly. 'You can see up my skirt? Thanks! she said, 'Luckily my mum's in the front.' Awkward: The PR maven was awkwardly seen fixing her miniskirt as she got up from her chair Attention: The gaff was brought to her attention by an audience member in the front row, who was later addressed directly For the event, Roxy looked stunning in a low-cut black top teamed with a leather and suede miniskirt and stunning Azzedine Alaia T-bar heels. Distracted, but not embarrassed by the incident, she made sure to insist to her mother Doreen, who was sitting in the crowd, that 'It IS a full brief!' Joking about potential fan commentary that will stem from the flashing, she joked: 'Roxy had no briefs on? I can handle that.' 'The fashion police are in the front row,' she added. Stunning: For the event, Roxy wore a low-cut black top teamed with a leather miniskirt and stunning Azzedine Alaia T-bar heels 'Thanks!' 'You can see up my skirt? Thanks! she replied to the news of her accidental flash Lucky! 'Luckily my mum's in the front,' she added, appearing distracted but not embarrassed Get a grip! 'Joking about potential fan commentary that will stem from the flashing, she joked: 'Roxy had no briefs on? I can handle that' 'Don't uncross my legs? Sorry what was I thinking, enjoying myself, getting comfortable.' Held at the prestigious Westin Hotel, this is Roxy's third sold-out 'In Conversation With' seminar. The public relations maestro planned to 'share her insights on using PR and social media to build both personal and business brands' with her audience. Meanwhile, on Thursday Roxy revealed one lucky attendee would win a diamond ring worth over $13,000. 'Fashion police': 'The fashion police are in the front row,' she added Response: 'Don't uncross my legs? Sorry what was I thinking, enjoying myself, getting comfortable' she replied Laughs: The 36-year-old quickly laughed-off the gaff Addressed: She showcased her trademark honesty during her response to the crowd member who informed her She uploaded the image of the sparkler in its simple black case along with its certificate of authenticity. With a $13,800 price tag attached, the impressive piece of jewellery has been provided for the event by local designer and her personal favourite, Nicholas Haywood. 'For one of my guests to go home with tomorrow,' the Sweaty Betty PR founder tagged the photo, describing the ring as being 3.13 carats. Fancy footwear: Roxy wore a pair of stunning Azzedine Alaia shoes at the event Fans of the busy mother of two flocked to the capture's comments section to ogle over the prize. 'Wish I could afford to go to you seminar,' wrote one. 'Next year I'm definitely going!' 'I've never been so jealous to go to an event in my life,' gushed another. Diamonds are a girls' best friend! Meanwhile, on Thursday Roxy revealed one lucky attendee would win a diamond ring worth over $13,000 She's a first-time mother and Amanda Seyfried held her precious bundle of joy close as she took a stroll in Los Angeles on Thursday. The Mama Mia! star announced the arrival of her baby daughter with actor husband Thomas Sadoski on March 24. Amanda, 31, stepped out in a pair of black shorts and white t-shirt with her child snuggled in a baby carrier strapped to her chest. New mom: Amanda Seyfried held her month-old baby daughter close as she took a stroll in Los Angeles on Thursday The actress kept her arms around the carrier that cradled the infant in a position facing her. She is getting support and no doubt some parenting advice from her mother Anne who was with her on the walk. The two chatted away as Anne walked alongside her daughter carrying a coffee mug. Three generations: The first time mother is getting support and no doubt some parenting advice from her own mom Anne who was with her on the walk Looking great: Amanda, 31, stepped out in a pair of black shorts and white t-shirt with her child snuggled in a baby carrier strapped to her chest Natural beauty: She wore her long hair tied back into a ponytail and covered up with a pair of tortoiseshell-framed sunglasses. She went bare-legged in a pair of boots The blonde beauty looked in great shape just four weeks after giving birth. She wore her long hair tied back into a ponytail and covered up with a pair of tortoiseshell-framed sunglasses. The actress went bare-legged in the spring sunshine in a pair of shearling-lined boots. Bounced back: The star looked in great shape just four weeks after giving birth Close: Amanda and her mom chatted away as Anne walked alongside her daughter carrying a coffee mug Before her relationship with The Newsroom star Thomas, 40, Amanda had a two-year romance from 2008 to 2010 with her Mama Mia! co-star Dominic Cooper. She also dated actor Justin Long for two years from 2013 to 2015. She and Thomas worked together on Broadway in the spring of 2015 and also co-star in the upcoming comedy The Last Word. They wed in a private ceremony in March just ahead of the birth of their daughter. Thomas was previously married for eight years to Kimberly Hope. He filed for divorce in August 2015. Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 (12A) Rating: When a film with the word 'galaxy' in its title arrives as part of a franchise comprising the word 'universe', you know someone is thinking big. But the summer of 2014 was enriched by the first Guardians Of The Galaxy film not because of its size or scope, but its humour. It was a genuine hoot. And the folk behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe carried on laughing all the way to the bank. At the last count, the movie had made well over three-quarters of a billion dollars at the global box-office. Things turn hostile when troublesome raccoon Rocket (voiced as before by Bradley Cooper) pinches prized batteries I don't expect this sequel, again written and directed by James Gunn, to take the planet by storm quite as spectacularly. Partly this is because it strains so hard to be as wackily irreverent as the first film, and this time the effort shows. Nonetheless, it is full of pleasures from the very start, when a startlingly young, digitally enhanced Kurt Russell appears in the guise of a lovestruck earthling. Further pleasures include tongue-in-cheek cameos from Sylvester Stallone and David Hasselhoff, and a performance by Elizabeth Debicki the willowy Australian actress who turned heads in last year's BBC drama The Night Manager that is pure gold in more ways than one. She is hilariously po-faced, and indeed gold-faced, as High Priestess Ayesha, the leader of an alien race called the Sovereign. They have hired Peter Quill (the excellent Chris Pratt) and his posse of squabbling, wise-cracking mercenaries, but turn hostile when troublesome raccoon Rocket (voiced as before by Bradley Cooper) pinches their prized batteries. Why batteries? You don't need to know, which is just as well, because I wasn't sure, either. Anyway, chased by Ayesha's remote-controlled spaceships, Quill pilots his craft pell-mell through the galaxy with Rocket and the rest of his gang. These are again green-hued warrior Gamora (Zoe Saldana), the jolly non-green giant Drax (Dave Bautista) and Groot (voiced, or rather squeaked, by Vin Diesel). Last time Groot was a fully-grown tree, but here he's little more than a twiglet. They have hired Peter Quill (the excellent Chris Pratt) and his posse of squabbling, wise-cracking mercenaries Also along for the ride is a captive, Gamora's hate-filled sister Nebula (Karen Gillan), who has vowed to take sibling rivalry to a deadly extreme. Actually, while it's perhaps a little fanciful to look for profound messages in this film, Gunn does have valid things to say about the importance, or otherwise, of family ties. Quill pilots his craft pell-mell through the galaxy with Rocket and the rest of his gang, including green-hued warrior Gamora (Zoe Saldana) Mostly, this applies to Quill, who after crash-landing on another planet, finds a fellow who claims to be his lost-long father Russell again, this time in more familiar form, grizzled and hirsute. He seems like a decent sort of cove, delighted to have found his son, but worryingly his name is Ego, and he is a god. So who is the caring father-figure in Quill's life? Is it Ego, or is it Yondu (Michael Rooker), back again as leader of a rebel pack of space pirates known as Ravagers (think really, really angry Hell's Angels, as if they've all just had their motorbikes stolen)? We already know from the first film that Yondu abducted Quill as a child, but might not be the gruesome baddie he appears to be. Either way, he has other issues to deal with. He's been cast out by his chieftain (Stallone), and now some of his thugs are questioning his leadership credentials. All this facilitates lots of good fight sequences, leading up to a momentous scrap for the very future of the galaxy, but again the emphasis is on silliness and fun. And retro music. Last time, Quill cherished an old cassette, a gift from his earthling mother, and (needless to say, given that the album of the soundtrack went platinum) now he has another one: Awesome Mix Vol 2. Thus, the galaxy is guarded to the strains of Fleetwood Mac's The Chain and Sweet's Fox On The Run, among many other glorious golden oldies, which was more than enough, at least from where I was sitting, to make up for the try-hard lavatorial gags. A KID'S EYE VIEW... Rating: The next Brian Viner? Ellis Barnes-Church has given his thoughts on the film The first Guardians of the Galaxy movie is one of my favourite films every time I watch it, I cant help but fall in love with it all over again. And although this movie could never recapture the magic that made the original so great, it is still thoroughly enjoyable. As they dont give away hardly any of the plot in the trailers, I will tell you what I knew going into the movie, as some of the experience is in the surprises. The Guardians Star Lord/Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) are all wanted dead by the Sovereigns, a group of genetically perfect golden aliens led by Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), and the Ravagers a group of space pirates who also raised Star Lord. So, they, now joined by Yondu (Michael Rooker), Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) must try to fight them off and stay alive, while also dealing with the sudden appearance of Peters long lost dad Ego (Kurt Russell). First off, the performances are amazing Michael Rooker makes Yondu three times more compelling than he was in the first movie, and Star Lords 80s references are funny as ever. On that note, the soundtrack is also brilliant once again in fact, I listened to it while writing this review. Some songs are topical for the movie and the rest are just fun. My personal favourite is Mr Blue Sky. The visuals are a treat to look at, especially the opening credits and the scene on the Ravager ship with Yondu (whose whistling arrow is brilliant). Both were funny and set to good upbeat tunes. There is also a plethora of easter eggs for the fans, which also confirms some fan theories about certain characters. As a huge Marvel fan, I had many moments when my jaw dropped when I saw a certain character from the comics or from another movie. Also, you must stay after the credits as there are a whopping FIVE end credit scenes. This film is also much more emotional than the first, and I did cry at one part. It is about family and the bond between a father and a son, and two sisters, and the family dynamic that the Guardians created both in the first movie and this one work well against all the action. Some of the pacing was a bit choppy and some moments were a bit too surreal (yes, more surreal than a gun-wielding raccoon and a baby tree creature), but Guardians Vol. 2 was great fun and served as a good expansion to the Guardians story. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has seen the first. Guardians and Ant Man are the funny guys of the MCU. I cant wait to see what happens next. ELLIS BARNES-CHURCH, 12 Advertisement Lady Macbeth (15) Rating: There are no laughs of any kind in Lady Macbeth, but what a stunningly accomplished debut feature this is by William Oldroyd, with a remarkably compelling lead performance from Florence Pugh as a young Victorian woman trapped in a dreary and desperately unhappy arranged marriage. First-time screenwriter Alice Birch deserves enormous credit, too. Her dialogue, though sparse, is brilliantly adapted from an 1865 Russian novella, Nikolai Leskov's Lady Macbeth Of The Mtsensk District (which Dmitri Shostakovich later turned into a highly controversial opera that was banned in the Soviet Union for decades). Here, the story is re-set in north-eastern England. We first see Katherine (Pugh) glumly looking sidelong at her dour, middle-aged husband, Alexander (Paul Hilton), in a joyless wedding ceremony. He is the son of an elderly colliery owner who has literally bought Katherine from her father as part of a package deal, together with some land. He fancies her as a brood mare for his boy. However, the joylessness of the wedding soon extends to the marital bedroom. Alexander either can't or won't consummate the marriage, and both men treat her purely as a chattel, denying her even the pleasure of going outdoors. Oldroyd brilliantly conveys the ghastly oppressive atmosphere; when we see Katherine being strenuously laced into a bodice by her maid, Anna (Naomi Ackie), it is a clear visual metaphor for the constrictions of her seemingly privileged yet utterly wretched life. But when Alexander's mixed-race groom Sebastian (Cosmo Jarvis) starts to flirt with her, Katherine suddenly finds a way of loosening her bodice in both senses. She is joyfully lustful and at first we rejoice for her, until we begin to realise that she is not the primary victim in this story. Gradually, shockingly, her true nature begins to emerge. All this is captivatingly done, and exquisitely lit and shot; practically every frame could be a painting. Both Oldroyd and Birch have worked extensively in the theatre, and it shows, yet the film never feels stagey. Its evocative title shouldn't lead you to expect too many parallels with Shakespeare's original Lady M; if anything, it's more like something one of the Brontes might have written, while its message might have come from a twisted fairy tale: those who are treated monstrously, become monsters. Above all, though, the film represents the blossoming of Pugh, a brilliant young actress whose haunting performance in 2014's The Falling, about a fainting epidemic at a girls' school, marked her out as a star of the future. That future just got a lot nearer. Doctor Zhivago it ain't but this shines light on a dark past The Promise (12A) Rating: The Promise is a sweeping period melodrama that takes itself jolly seriously in a (half-successful) bid to evoke the kind of epic pictures David Lean used to make. Set in the early years of World War I, it stars Oscar Isaac as Mikael, a humble but smart Armenian apothecary who yearns to become a doctor. He marries a nice village girl whose dowry enables him to study medicine in distant Istanbul, but there he falls in love with a sexy ballet teacher, Ana (Charlotte Le Bon, pictured with Isaac), who in turn is being courted by Chris, a hot-headed American photo-journalist (Christian Bale). The Promise is a sweeping period melodrama that takes itself jolly seriously in a (half-successful) bid to evoke the kind of epic pictures David Lean used to make How many photo-journalists were knocking around Turkey in 1915, or anywhere for that matter, is open to question. Whatever, as the love triangle develops, Bale's character helps to illuminate a more specific purpose to director Terry George's film: its attempt to educate us about the alleged slaughter of some 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks, the so-called Armenian genocide of 1915 to 1917. George, I might add, comes from Belfast, where in the Seventies he was involved with the Irish National Liberation Army and sentenced to six years in Long Kesh prison. Several of his films, such as Some Mother's Son (1996) about the 1981 hunger strikes in Long Kesh (better known as The Maze), have reflected his Irish Republican leanings and have not, to put it mildly, been notably balanced. That's useful background information when it comes to assessing The Promise, which was bankrolled by the late, U.S.-Armenian billionaire Kirk Kerkorian. The film offers George an opportunity to address what he evidently considers another mighty historical wrong, and it too is tilted only one way, towards the view that the Turks behaved contemptibly and the Armenians nobly. This picture does not wear its sympathies lightly. Of course, there is plenty of objective analysis to show that the numbers of massacred Armenians at that time have not been wildly exaggerated, as Turkey still claims. And it is certainly an atrocity, almost within living memory, that has received strikingly little cinematic attention. But The Promise rather overdoes the background history lesson, to the extent that the foreground romance often looks like what effectively it is: a vehicle struggling under the weight of its own worthy load. Luckily, in Isaac, Bale and Le Bon, and strong support including James Cromwell as the U.S. ambassador, the film has the cast to disguise, if not entirely overcome, its flaws. Doctor Zhivago it emphatically is not, but it still looks great. As history lessons go, at least this one is sumptuously presented. Handsome Devil (15) Rating: Quietly, without too much fanfare, some really wonderful low-budget, big-hearted films have come out of Ireland in recent years. I absolutely loved John Carney's Sing Street (2015), while Peter Foott's The Young Offenders last year was a delight. The Stag (2013), written and directed by John Butler, was another thoroughly engaging comedy, and in his new film, Handsome Devil, Butler reassembles much of The Stag's cast, led by the always-terrific Andrew Scott. He plays a charismatic English teacher in a smart boarding school where homophobia is rampant and homosexuality suppressed. Fionn O'Shea is terrific as Ned, a sensitive lad who ends up, to his initial horror, sharing a room with a rugby-playing hunk, Conor (Nicholas Galitzine). But gradually, encouraged by Mr Sherry (Scott), the pair become close friends. It's very winningly written and acted. Music Line-up with star quality VARIOUS ARTISTS: Awesome Mix Vol. 2 (Hollywood Records) Like the previous volume, the music to the second Guardians Of The Galaxy film is one of those mixed-bag soundtracks that works brilliantly as a Seventies playlist. There are big hits in George Harrison's My Sweet Lord and ELO's Mr Blue Sky, plus the cheesy but evocative songs from American pop's back pages, such as Chicago anthem Lake Shore Drive and Looking Glass's Brandy, deemed appealing enough for a Red Hot Chili Peppers cover. ADRIAN THRILLS Chrissy Teigen suited up in pink for a cocktail party promoting Smirnoff No. 21 vodka soda in Manhattan on Thursday. The 30-year-old presenter - who relies on stylist Monica Rose - donned a dusty rose pantsuit, brown stilettos, and fully contoured make-up for the boozy bash. The SI Swimsuit stunner revealed she's 'never been good with champagne, rose, or brown alcohol,' and her favorite hangover food is ramen. Scroll down for video Brand ambassador: Chrissy Teigen suited up in pink for a cocktail party promoting Smirnoff No. 21 vodka soda in Manhattan on Thursday High-waisted: The 30-year-old presenter - who relies on stylist Monica Rose - donned a dusty rose pantsuit, brown stilettos, and fully contoured make-up for the boozy bash Cheers! The SI Swimsuit stunner revealed she's 'never been good with champagne, rose, or brown alcohol,' and her favorite hangover cure is ramen 'Ramen and pho, I'll say,' Chrissy told Refinery29 at the event. 'Pho is like an amazing hangover cure and then ramen for like that milky Tonkatsu very porky broth.' Taco Bell-loving Teigen also weighed in on Starbucks' 410-calorie Unicorn Frappuccino, which sold in stores from April 19-23. 'I tried to get it the other day. We walked in and they said it was sold out,' admitted the former FABLife food stylist. 'We walked in and they said it was sold out': Taco Bell-loving Teigen also weighed in on Starbucks' 410-calorie Unicorn Frappuccino, which sold in stores from April 19-23 The former FABLife food stylist groaned: 'I just don't get this whole adults liking unicorns thing. I'm tired of adults liking unicorns, I'm tired of adults liking vampires, I'm tired of adults liking zombies' Chrissy continued: 'It's just getting to be too much for me. It's like we're so sad in this world today that we like need to see glitter and sparkles as adults' Here we go again: Starbucks customers are now Instagramming the green tea-based 'Dragon Frappuccinos' popping up at stores in California, New York, Ohio, Florida, and Oregon 'I just don't get this whole adults liking unicorns thing. I'm tired of adults liking unicorns, I'm tired of adults liking vampires, I'm tired of adults liking zombies. It's just getting to be too much for me. It's like we're so sad in this world today that we like need to see glitter and sparkles as adults.' Starbucks customers are now Instagramming the green tea-based 'Dragon Frappuccinos' popping up at stores in California, New York, Ohio, Florida, and Oregon. The half-Thai beauty also has her 17.2M social media followers to thank for her 'Only the Best for Everyone' campaign with the British vodka brand, which launched March 23. Diageo VP Jay Sethi told Adage: 'She's relatable, unapologetic, and retweetable.' 'She's relatable, unapologetic, and retweetable': The half-Thai beauty also has her 17.2M social media followers to thank for her 'Only the Best for Everyone' campaign with the British vodka brand, which launched March 23 Second outfit: Chrissy was later spotted hitting the New York streets in Army-green pants, a black winter coat, and matching stilettos Ample: The 5ft9in stunner's plunging white tank top showcased her surgically-enhanced assets Chrissy was later spotted hitting the New York streets in Army-green pants, a black winter coat, and matching stilettos. The 5ft9in stunner's plunging white tank top showcased her surgically-enhanced assets. Teigen and her husband John Legend will bring their year-old daughter Luna on his 55-date Darkness and Light World Tour, which kicks off May 12 in Miami. 'Yes this is the first time I've gone on tour since we've had Luna, so she's coming with us on the tour bus,' the 38-year-old Oscar winner announced on LIVE with Kelly Wednesday. Kicks off May 12 in Miami! Teigen and her husband John Legend will bring their year-old daughter Luna on his 55-date Darkness and Light World Tour (pictured Tuesday) The 38-year-old Oscar winner announced on LIVE with Kelly Wednesday: 'Yes this is the first time I've gone on tour since we've had Luna, so she's coming with us on the tour bus' 'We're going to have a crib and do the whole thing.' Chrissy currently provides 'color commentary' for the third season of Lip Sync Battle, which airs Thursdays on Spike TV. The M.I.L.F. $ video vixen is also developing recipes for the follow-up to her NY Times-Bestselling Cravings cookbook from last year. Roxy Jacenko, 36, has spoken of the difficulties of raising her two children Pixie, 4, and Hunter, 2, alone as her husband Oliver Curtis continues to spend time in jail for insider trading. Speaking at her 'In Conversation With...' Seminar in Sydney on Friday, the PR maven told the crowd: 'I have to struggle because there is no one else.' Having previously indicated that stress and pressure fuels her, the blonde beauty responded in a much more vulnerable fashion onstage at the packed-out event. Struggles: Roxy Jacenko, 36, has spoken of the difficulties of raising her two children Pixie, 4, and Hunter, 2, alone as her husband Oliver Curtis continues to spend time in jail for insider trading 'I am the sole provider for my children, and I have 20 plus staff who want their wages every week,' she said. 'I don't think about what I must do, I just do it.' Having turned her Sweaty Betty PR agency into a multi-million dollar behemoth, Roxy stated that juggling work and her family can be tough at times. 'Sole provider': 'I am the sole provider for my children, and I have 20 plus staff who want their wages every week,' she said, detailing the struggle she faces as Oliver Curtis (R) serves a insider trading conviction She told the crowd: 'Yes I want to bang my head on the desk more often than not, and there are many days I need a Nurofen Plus.' 'There is a struggle every f**king day!' Regardless, the driven diva insisted that her aim above all else was to 'deliver' to her children and 'make sure they have money in the bank.' Turning tables: She told the crowd: 'Yes I want to bang my head on the desk more often than not, and there are many days I need a Nurofen Plus' Not wanting to separate herself from other busy mums, she added: 'It's the same for everybody, you just power through it.' 'The harder it is, the more it makes me want to succeed.' Roxy's last statement closely echoed the clapping she gave to critics earlier in the month. 'There is a struggle every f**king day!': The 36-year-old's confession was a rare showing of vulnerability for the driven PR maven Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, she threw down the gauntlet to 'cruel' critics, but warned them to 'leave the kids alone.' In an impressive show of force, Roxy launched an attack upon of a group of haters she insisted was getting far too big. 'We have this really strange mentality in Australia that if you work hard, if you succeed if you push the boundaries if you take risks theres something sinister about it,' she claimed. Fighting back: Earlier this month, she threw down the gauntlet to 'cruel' critics, but warned them to 'leave the kids alone' 'And Im like "You know what? I p**s you off that f**king much just by trying to do the best I can, well watch me push even harder watch me want to achieve more."' Oliver's one-year conviction is currently being served at Cooma Correctional centre. Despite rumours Roxy might be having second thoughts, she's expected to be waiting at the prison gates for his expected December release date, with the kids in tow. She's the former Biggest Loser star who is known for her stunning curves. And on Thursday, Fiona Falkiner put on a busty display at the launch of new Japanese restaurant Tokyo Laundry hosted by The VIP Sydney. While the 33-year-old was all smiles as she dressed up in a low-cut number, she was seen sporting a mysterious bruise on her leg. Ample assets: Fiona Falkiner put on a busty display at the launch of new Japanese restaurant Tokyo Laundry in Sydney The model looked radiant as she stepped out at the event, donning a figure-hugging ebony dress with matching feather jacket. She teamed the ensemble with a pair of strappy heels that brought attention to a large ageing bruise on her right leg. It comes after the reality star attended the Logie Awards on Sunday in a glamorous embellished Rachel Gilbert gown, which covered her pins. Glamorous! The model looked radiant as she stepped out at the event, donning a figure-hugging ebony dress with matching feather jacket What's with the bruise? She teamed the ensemble with a pair of strappy heels that brought attention to a large ageing bruise on her right leg Keeping her accessories simple, Fiona opted for a plain black belt and clutch, which she coordinated with a classic banded choker. The beauty glowed under natural make-up and a nude lipstick, pulling her hair off her face in a loose bun. Fiona wasn't the only personality to attend either, with Real Housewives of Sydney star Athena X Levendi also taking to the purple carpet. Frocking up: It comes after the reality star attended the Logie Awards Sunday in a glamorous embellished Rachel Gilbert gown, which covered her pins The socialite rocked a kooky style, donning an emerald sequin dress and black, feathery arm warmers. She tied her look together with a silk black belt and geometric patterned high heels, flaunting her trim pins as posed for the camera. Wearing her hair back in a tight bun the 41-year-old also opted for a face full of make-up, including smokey eyeshadow and a bright red lipstick. Birds of a feather! Fiona wasn't the only personality to attend either, with Real Housewives of Sydney star Athena X Levendi also taking to the purple carpet Adding some sparkle: The socialite rocked a kooky style, donning an emerald sequin dress and black, feathery arm warmers Having fun at the opening, Athena X even took a moment to pose alongside two traditionally dressed women wearing robes. The new restaurant, created by David Loh, aims to deliver traditional Japanese flavours but use modern techniques. As guests, the girls were treated to plenty of delectable treats, with freshly shucked oysters, sashimi demonstrations and free-flowing champagne. A devoted Naomi Watts fan has had the actress's steamy same-sex Mullholland Drive scene tattooed on his chest. The 48-year-old Hollywood star came face to face with her admirer in Los Angeles, and shared the encounter on her Instagram story. In the video, Naomi is seen pulling down the man's top for the camera to reveal the sultry artwork. Tatt's devotion! A devoted Naomi Watts fan has had the actress's steamy same-sex Mullholland Drive scene tattooed on his chest The mustachioed male raised his eyebrows, looking equal parts surprised and delighted about the exposure. Naomi captioned the playful post 'Tatt that!' A close-up image gave fans a good look at the detailed tattoo, inked in solid black with heavy shading and a solid border. Detailed! A close-up image gave fans a good look at the detailed tattoo, inked in solid black with heavy shading and a solid border Raunchy recreation! The artwork was a recreation of the 48-year-old's raunchy scene from cult classic Mulholland Drive. Naomi is pictured (L) with co-star Laura Harring (R) The piece didn't appear to be fresh, showing clear signs that it had already healed. The blonde bombshell also a recorded a video that showcased the eerie hotel she was visiting. Earlier, it was her new hair that got the debut treatment, after Naomi shared a stunning behind-the-scenes snap to Instagram. 'Fresh haircut,' the actress captioned the image that appeared to be taken from the set of upcoming sequel series Twin Peaks. Fringe benefits! The actress also debuted a 'fresh haircut' and stylised bangs in a behind-the-scenes snap for upcoming television series Twin Peaks, on Instagram Friday 'Behind the scenes today got me a fresh #haircut with #bangs,' Naomi captioned the image, alongside the additional hash-tags #twinpeaks, #gypsy and #idontknowwhoiam. Standing in front of the door to her suite and sporting a strapless black frock, the mother-of-two positioned her hands on her delicate decolletage, and gazed to the side, allowing the camera a close-up of her new locks. With her tresses cut slightly below the jawline and falling in stylised waves, Naomi opted for a fringe, parted in the centre. Mane appeal: The new style marks a change for the mother-of-two, who regularly sports longer blonde locks and a lack of fringe The personality's striking facial features were enhanced with a porcelain complexion, defined brows, lashings of mascara and a soft pink lip. Naomi will next star on US screens on May 21st, in Showtime's highly-anticipated reboot of Twin Peaks. The series which originally premiered in 1990, will return with 18 new episodes, detailing the investigation into the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer. Big break: David Lynch's next installment of Twin Peaks, sees the director team up with Naomi again. The actress got her big break in David's 2001 film Mulholland Drive Proving to be a short-lived hit, the original series garnered three Golden Globes, two Emmy Awards and a Grammy. David Lynch's next installment of Twin Peaks, sees the director team up with Naomi again, after he gave the star her big break in his 2001 film Mulholland Drive. The film detailed the story of aspiring actress Betty Elms (played by Naomi), who arrives in Los Angeles, and befriends a woman with memory loss, who is hiding in an apartment owned by Betty's aunt. Plot: The film detailed the story of aspiring actress Betty Elms (played by Naomi), who arrives in Los Angeles, and befriends a woman with memory loss, who is hiding in an apartment owned by Betty's aunt Lil' Kim donned a bizarre bridal-style ensemble for the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Can't Stop, Won't Stop: The Bad Boy Story in Manhattan on Thursday. The 42-year-old Grammy's winner white-lace jumpsuit featuring a tied-on tulle train and gold thigh-high boots were selected by her stylist Jeremys Image. There's little doubt the flamboyant hip-hop diva has undergone a Michael Jackson-style surgical transformation (as well as a wig upgrade) since 1997. Scroll down for video Work! Lil' Kim donned a bizarre bridal-style ensemble for the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Can't Stop, Won't Stop: The Bad Boy Story in Manhattan on Thursday Sheer: The 42-year-old Grammy's winner white-lace jumpsuit featuring a tied-on tulle train and gold thigh-high boots were selected by her stylist Jeremys Image Makeover: There's little doubt the flamboyant hip-hop diva has undergone a Michael Jackson-style surgical transformation (as well as a wig upgrade) since 1997 Kim (born Kimberly Jones) later changed into a black jumpsuit for a concert onstage the Beacon Theatre alongside her Bad Boy Family Reunion tourmates. Director Daniel Kaufman's documentary centers on the 20th anniversary shows honoring the late Biggie Smalls, who was gunned down in 1997 at the tender age of 24. The Notorious B.I.G. (born Christopher Wallace) helped launch the career of his 4ft11in ex-girlfriend, then 19, by inducting her into the Junior M.A.F.I.A. The Brooklyn-born ex-con was certainly a sight for sore eyes for her old friend Diddy, who sweetly held her hands on the red carpet. Guests enjoyed signature CIROC Vodka cocktails, DeLeon Tequila and American Cut's specialty menu items. Yes! Kim (born Kimberly Jones) later changed into a black jumpsuit for a concert onstage the Beacon Theatre alongside her Bad Boy Family Reunion tourmates Dynamic duo: Faith Evans joined Lil' Kim on the stage at the Beacon Theatre Spirited performance: Lil' Kim gave a spirited performance at the premiere Behind-the-scenes: Director Daniel Kaufman's documentary centers on the 20th anniversary shows honoring the late Biggie Smalls, who was gunned down in 1997 at the tender age of 24 'Still missing you 20 years later': The Notorious B.I.G. (born Christopher Wallace) helped launch the career of his 4ft11in ex-girlfriend, then 19, by inducting her into the Junior M.A.F.I.A. The 47-year-old music mogul (born Sean Combs) wore a blue silk Mandarin-collared top with black pants and a glittering time piece. Both the three-time Grammy winner and Lil' Kim appear on her former rival Faith Evans' new duet album The King & I, which drops May 19. The Lady Marmalade hitmaker has also been hard at work recording her fifth studio album and second Datpiff mixtape. The Queen Bee's 12-year career hiatus had everything to do with having two-year-old daughter Royal Reign with rapper Mr. Papers. Reunited: The Brooklyn-born ex-con was certainly a sight for sore eyes for her old friend Diddy, who sweetly held her hands on the red carpet Longtime pals: The 47-year-old music mogul (born Sean Combs) wore a blue silk Mandarin-collared top with black pants and a glittering time piece Biggie's other ex: Both the three-time Grammy winner and Lil' Kim appear on her former rival Faith Evans' new duet album The King & I, which drops May 19 In a Vogue interview this month, Lil' Kim took credit for the scantily clad, outrageous style of millennial Insta-celebs such as Kylie Jenner. 'Imitation is the best form of flattery,' the former DWTS contestant told the mag. 'Kylie Jenner, who is basically my extended family, once said publicly that I inspire her and I love how she gave me props. I thank people like her for always acknowledging and admitting that they base some of their style off of mine.' 'Putting that work in': The Lady Marmalade hitmaker has also been hard at work recording her fifth studio album and second Datpiff mixtape Easter outfit: The Queen Bee's 12-year career hiatus had everything to do with having two-year-old daughter Royal Reign with rapper Mr. Papers 'Imitation is the best form of flattery': In a Vogue interview this month, Lil' Kim took credit for the scantily clad, outrageous style of millennial Insta-celebs such as Kylie Jenner Meanwhile, Diddy also eagerly posed with his on/off girlfriend of six years, Cassie Ventura, as well as nineties supermodel Naomi Campbell. The British beauty easily defied her 46 years in a plunging white blouse and black flared pants, but the lace-front of her signature middle-parted hairpiece was visible. Former America's Got Talent host Nick Cannon rocked one of his many turbans with a motorcycle jacket, while Fab 5 Freddy sported a pink top beneath a vest. Lovely ladies: Meanwhile, Diddy also eagerly posed with his on/off girlfriend of six years, Cassie Ventura, as well as nineties supermodel Naomi Campbell Oops! The British beauty easily defied her 46 years in a plunging white blouse and black flared pants, but the lace-front of her signature middle-parted hairpiece was visible Daring duo: Former America's Got Talent host Nick Cannon rocked one of his many turbans with a motorcycle jacket, while Fab 5 Freddy sported a pink top beneath a vest Rapper French Montana kept his shades on, despite the premiere being held at night, and wore a PVC vest over a black top. Joining the nostalgic squad on the red carpet were Derek Luke, Andre Harrell, Justin Combs, and Christian King Combs. When industry icon Clive Davis turned up in his sleek suit, the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy embraced him with open arms. Can't Stop, Won't Stop: The Bad Boy Story will also screen Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the New York festival. Khloe Kardashian's ex-boyfriend: Rapper French Montana kept his shades on, despite the premiere being held at night, and wore a PVC vest over a black top Attendees: Joining the nostalgic squad on the red carpet were Derek Luke, Andre Harrell, Justin Combs, and Christian King Combs Birds of a feather: When industry icon Clive Davis turned up in his sleek suit, the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy embraced him with open arms Thousands of people from Myitkyina and Waingmaw church groups joined with residents of internally displaced persons camps in a march to Manau Park on April 25. The anti-drug demonstrators carried placards with slogans like, We Dont Want Drugs and, We Need to Protect Youth from Drug Threats. Around 8:30am the crowd held a prayer service at Manau Park, followed by personal testimonies from people who quit drugs, songs and announcements by leaders of Pat Ja San. Labeled vigilantes by some and grassroots campaigners by others, Pat Ja San has been active in clearing poppy fields and running detention sites to try to wean substance users off of drugs since 2014. Their militia-inspired tactics wearing camouflage gear and vowing to use violence where necessary has earned them a reputation as a hardliners. Health organizations have slammed the group for practices like detaining drug users against their will, flogging drug users and forcing people to quit cold turkey. Pat Ja San leaders say they aim to rid Kachin and northern Shan States of the scourge of a drug addiction that has come hand-in-hand with a booming poppy trade. We have destroyed over 4,000 acres of poppy farms from 2015 to 2016. We have achieved success in providing rehabilitation for drug users. Over 7,000 people have gone through our drug rehabilitation centers, said Sayar Nhkum Tang Goon, secretary of Pat Ja San in Myitkyina. We will continue to carry out drug awareness programs and to arrest drug traffickers. We will continue to protect the drug users and to destroy poppy farms, he said. During the praying ceremony, Pat Ja San leader Lungjung Tu Raw claimed that Pat Ja San has successfully reduced drug use and curbed the illicit drug trade. However, according to a 2016 report from the UN Office for Drugs and Crime, opium poppy cultivation in the Golden Triangle area, including Myanmar, has tripled over the past ten years. Translated by Thida Linn Edited by Laignee Barron It was a night all about the music. But that did not stop Eva Longoria from making an ambitious bid to steal the show by going braless and wearing an open-fronted jacket at the Billboard Latin Music Awards in Florida on Thursday. The Latina lovely took great delight in flaunting her modest curves in the revealing outfit as she posed on the red carpet with her Bra-vo: Eva Longorio neglected to wear a underwear as she flaunted her figure at the Billboard Latin Music Awards in Florida on Thursday The 42-year-old Desperate Housewives star was looking great for her age in the revealing white coat, which was had revealing cut strips in the arms, and matching trousers. Her media mogul husband Jose Baston, 49, had opted to skip the event, so she was escorted down the red carpet by her Low Riders co-star Demian Bichir in his stead. And the lucky Weeds favourite certainly looked like a man who had won a prize as he stared admiringly at the actress. Earlier this month the brainy beauty, who has a degree in Chicano studies, spoke out to shoot down rumors she was pregnant after being snapped in a bikini in Hawaii. Naked ambition: Her flesh-flashing was an audacious attempt to steal the thunder of the music stars at the event Trophy partner: Her red carpet escort Demian Bichir looked like a man who just won a prize Just nipping out: But thankfully the Latina lovely did not suffer an wardrobe malfunction Desperate Housewife: And her bid to win attention certainly paid off in style By royal appointment: Her 7th great-grandfather received almost 4,000 acres along the Rio Grande in a land grant from the King of Spain The actress, whose 7th great-grandfather received almost 4,000 acres along the Rio Grande in a land grant from the King of Spain, explained it was her appetite rather than a baby that was responsible for her fuller stomach. Eva said: 'I saw some pictures of myself really fat on a boat. I have to tell you all I did was eat cheese,' Eva said. 'Everybody's is saying I'm pregnant and I'm not I was just lactose intolerant apparently. 'I just had to share because my whole family is calling me asking me if I'm pregnant. Yes I look pregnant, but it was just a ball of cheese, a ball of cheese in my stomach.' Full of cheese: Eva took to Snapchat to reveal her fuller stomach was caused by her appetite rather than pregnancy Aaron Taylor-Johnson and wife Sam cozied up on the red carpet as they attended the world premiere of the actor's new film The Wall. The May-December couple - he's 26, she's 50 - kept their arms wrapped around each other as they posed for photos at the New York screening on Thursday night. Aaron, who won a Golden Globe in January for his performance in Nocturnal Animals, stars as one of two American soldiers pinned down by a ruthless sniper in the Doug Liman-directed thriller that opens May 11. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and wife Sam cozied up on the red carpet as they attended the world premiere of the actor's new film The Wall in New York on Thursday night The British actor looked dapper in a tailored black suit with a shirt and tie. He opted to go sockless in shiny black loafers with gold buckles. His director wife of five years chose a full-length boldly-patterned gown. The black number featured large gold flowers and had a bright pink bow at the neck. Going strong: The May-December couple - he's 26, she's 50 - kept their arms wrapped around each other as they posed for photos. They wed in 2012 and have two children The British actor looked dapper in a tailored black suit with a shirt and tie and went sockless in black loafers with gold buckles. His director wife chose a full-length boldly-patterned gown The loved up couple met on the set of the 2009 film Nowhere Boy, that Sam directed and Aaron starred in. They share two children together - Wylda Rae, six, and Romy Hero, four. The 26-year-old is, in fact, so besotted with his family that he says he is tempted to give up his career in order to focus on being a dad to his young daughters. In an interview with Mr Porter magazine, Aaron claimed he gets 'more fulfillment from being a father.' 'I'm still constantly wanting to give [acting] up,' he revealed. As for his marriage, he revealed:'I just feel secure and loved and safe. We have this very deep connection. We're just in sync.' A contestant on the upcoming series of The Bachelor reportedly dated a former Bachelorette star, Daily Mail Australia can reveal. Model and promotions girl Jen Hawke - who is vying for the heart of Matty J on The Bachelor - enjoyed a 'brief romance' with Jake Ellis. A source alleged the pair struck up a friendship at a party last year, months before she began her reality TV love quest in February. She's well connected! The Bachelor contestant Jen Hawke (right) reportedly enjoyed a 'brief romance' with former Bachelorette star Jake Ellis (left) Jake was a fan favourite from The Bachelorette last year, but the sales representative sadly did not win journalist Georgia Love's heart. He placed third in the Channel Ten dating show, behind current Bachelor Matthew 'Matty J' Johnson and eventual winner Lee Elliott. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Jake's representatives and Network Ten for comment. Getting close? A source told Daily Mail Australia the pair struck up a friendship at a party last year, months before Jen began her reality TV love quest in February Back in March, Daily Mail Australia revealed Jen Hawke was one of the 22 beautiful women looking for love on The Bachelor. She had recently deleted all her social media accounts, a tell-tale sign she had been signed up to appear on the program. Her Star Now profile also described her as a 'part-time model' who had done 'paid commercial work' in the past. Jen was previously signed to agency EDGE Models and had also been pictured with Bachelor 2014 star Zilda Williams. Unlucky in love? Jake was a fan favourite from The Bachelorette last year, but the sales representative sadly did not win journalist Georgia Love's (left) heart Heartthrob: Jake (pictured) placed third in The Bachelorette 2016, behind current Bachelor Matthew 'Matty J' Johnson and eventual winner Lee Elliott Zilda was unable to confirm if Jen was a Bachelor contestant but nonetheless spoke highly of her 'strong personality'. 'I knew I would know at least one girl this season!' she previously told Daily Mail Australia. 'We aren't close friends, just friendly acquaintances. 'I see her round from time to time. She's a nice girl, easy to get along with, a strong personality and well-presented,' Zilda added. 'I have no idea if she is Matty J's type. Let's hope for her sake she is. Matty is hot!' She's one of the most successful Australian actresses in Hollywood. And Rebel Wilson is expected to return home in the coming weeks to participate in her legal action against magazines that she claims 'ruined her career' and caused her to miss out on lucrative movie roles with suggestions she lied about her age. According to The Daily Telegraph, the 37-year-old's lawyer Renee Enbom told the court on Friday that 'Ms Wilson will give evidence that after the articles, her contracts were terminated. She was told she was too divisive ... it's destroyed (her) reputation as a fair and honest person.' Scroll down for video Heading home: Rebel Wilson is expected to return home in the coming weeks to participate in her legal action against magazines that she claims 'ruined her career' and caused her to miss out on lucrative movie roles with suggestions she lied about her age Rebel is suing Bauer Media over articles published in 2015 claiming she lied about her age. Bauer Media is the publisher of Women's Weekly, Woman's Day and OK! Magazine. Rebel and her legal team are particularly focused on one particular article from one of the media company's titles with the headline: 'Just who is the REAL Rebel?' Fighting back: The 37-year-old is suing Bauer Media over articles published in 2015 claiming she lied about her age The piece claimed the actress was a serial liar who 'invented fantastic stories in order to make it in Hollywood'. The comedienne claims multiple stories accused her 'of lying about her age and background' and 'creating stories to make it in Hollywood'. She also stated she hadn't been contacted for comment before the issues were published and the stories cost her future big-screen opportunities. Contention: The comedienne claims multiple stories accused her 'of lying about her age and background' and 'creating stories to make it in Hollywood' Her lawyer told the court her client was set for big roles after the success of Pitch Perfect 2 in 2015, including a role in Kung Fu Panda 3. She stated that the articles in question halted that career trajectory. If Bauer Media and the actress fail to reach an agreement Rebel is expected to give evidence in the Supreme Court in the case which is set to commence on May 22. While Ryan Reynolds was among Time's list of 100 most influential people, his wife Blake Lively was more interested in seeing another man named on the list. The gorgeous and quirky actress posted a photo of Ryan's head blocking the stage at the Time 100 Gala with a sweet caption poking fun at her husband. Blake joked: 'Congratulations to the most influential person in my life. The best man I know... you deserve this @time 100 honor ... If only my husband wasn't blocking you in this shot. I'm so sorry @johnlegend'. Jokester: While Ryan Reynolds was among Time's list of 100 most influential people, his wife Blake Lively was more interested in seeing another man named on the list The photo certainly captured the unique banter and lightheartedness one would expect in a marriage that included funnyman Ryan. During the evening Reynolds and his wife were pictured spending time with Legend and his own gorgeous wife Chrissy Teigen. Blake met her husband Ryan when they starred together in Green Lantern in 2010. The couple married in an intimate ceremony in South Carolina in September 2012. All in good fun! During the evening Reynolds and his wife were pictured spending time with Legend and his own gorgeous wife Chrissy Teigen Ryan recently declared his delight at receiving praise from none other than Dame Helen Mirren. Helen congratulated Ryan on making Time's 100 Most Influential People list and singled out the star's name for praise. 'Can the name be real?' Helen wrote in the magazine. 'It is such a perfect movie-star name, like something that could be on a 40s marquee. So in love: Blake met her husband Ryan when they starred together in Green Lantern in 2010 and the couple married in an intimate ceremony in South Carolina in September 2012 'How fitting, then, that Ryan Reynolds has the same loose-limbed charm as Carey Grant and Jimmy Stewart.' Ryan took to Twitter to express his glee at the compliment. 'What in the...?' The Deadpool star wrote. 'Thanks #Time100 - and Helen Mirren for the kindest words. My real name is Summershank Melon-Wad.' He continued his thanks on Instagram, telling the star: 'I thank you from the heart of my bottom for the kindest words ever. They will be sung by a children's choir at my extravagant funeral.' He's already a doting uncle to sister Connie's children Willoughby, 10, and Hamilton, nine. But Samuel Johnson revealed to TV WEEK magazine, that he has no desire in starting a family of his own. 'There's no chance of kids,' the 39-year-old Gold Logie winner told the publication. 'There's no chance of kids': Gold Logie winner Samuel Johnson, 39, revealed to TV WEEK magazine that children aren't on the cards 'I've had kids in my life my whole life. I don't really need to squeeze my own out to have them,' Samuel shared. 'I'm going to be 40, I'm too old,' the Molly star continued lightheartedly, adding: 'I've moved out to the bush. I've retired. There's no chance of kids.' Instead sister Connie's children are his main priority, telling the title: 'Connie's got some pretty important jobs for me when it comes to her kids once she's gone.' Priorities: Instead sister Connie's children are his main focus, telling the title: 'Connie's got some pretty important jobs for me when it comes to her kids once she's gone' Sharing her journey: Connie, who opted to go public with her cancer diagnosis, recently made the heartbreaking decision to end all treatment after battling the disease for years Connie, who opted to go public with her cancer diagnosis, recently made the heartbreaking decision to end all treatment after battling the disease for years. The choice brought Samuel and Connie closer together, with the actor admitting he did not understand how important his family was in the past. The retired actor previously told TV WEEK: 'I just don't think I fully understood the importance of family. I was too busy being a 'delebrity' (d-list celebrity). I feel like my sister's cancer helped pull my head out of my a***.' Reflection: The retired actor previously told TV WEEK: 'I feel like my sister's cancer helped pull my head out of my a***' During Sunday night's Logies, Samuel took home the Gold statuette and dedicated his win to his sister, choking back tears as he collected his award for his role on mini-series Molly. During his speech, he urged viewers to support or donate money to the charity he created with his sister, Love Your Sister. Samuel explained that his terminally ill sibling was making a giant love heart out of coins, which she is planning to donate to cancer research. Emotional: During Sunday night's Logies, Samuel took home the Gold statuette and dedicated his win to his sister, choking back tears as he collected his award for his role on mini-series Molly Heartfelt: During his speech, the star urged viewers to support or donate money to the charity he created with his sister, Love Your Sister 'My sister is succumbing finally to the perils of cancer after a three decade long tussle and rather than rolling over, she's going out blazing with an attempted world record for the longest line of coins absurdly,' he said. He added, 'Connie, who I dedicate this award to, I would like to urge any family watching affected by cancer or not to join us in our quest to keep our families safe from the terrors of cancer. Love your sister.org.' Connie and Sam have raised $2.1 million towards cancer awareness and have one 'last hurrah' planned with the hopes of raising another million dollars. Stunning model Elyse Knowles, 24, and boyfriend Josh Barker were recently announced as surprise contestants on the upcoming season of The Block. Having previously focused on everyday Australians, images of the high-profile couple on-set emerged on Friday, and the response from fellow-contestants appeared to be mixed. Rugged-up for a chilly Melbourne day, the pair exchanged pleasantries with fellow contestants, and looked daunted after coming face-to-face with the property they'll be tasked to renovate in Elsternwick, Victoria. Ruffling? Model Elyse Knowles and her boyfriend Josh Barker were pictured on the set of The Block on Thursday, after it was initially revealed the high-profile pair were set to 'ruffle feathers' as contestants Looking flawless, the former Miss Universe Australia snuggled into a tan suede jacket, layering a thick grey scarf over the top of the winter warmer. A casual white-shirt and skinny jeans completed the carefree ensemble, as the beauty wore her blond tresses down. Hunky beau Josh looked slightly more look-book-ready, rocking a sheraling-lined acid wash denim jacket over the top of a flannel button-up and simple white tee. He tucked his shoulder-length surfer locks in a tight-fitting lime green Carhartt beanie. Pleasantries: Rugged-up for a warm Melbourne day, the pair exchanged pleasantries with fellow contestants Familiar face? At one point, Elyse, 24, appeared to spot a familiar face All smiles! The pair looked all-smiles in the company of what appeared to be other cast and crew Strolling! With Elyse leading the charge in decidedly more bubbly fashion, she was later spotted taken a stroll around the filming suburb of Elsternwick, Victoria The pair looked all-smiles in the company of what appeared to be other cast and crew. With Elyse leading the charge in decidedly more bubbly fashion, she appeared to spot someone she knew, quickly reconciling with her friend and later joining her on a stroll. Josh was spotted looking slightly out of place, content to hang in the background, before eventually easing into the groove and reclining against someone's car for a chat with fellow cast mates. Out of place: At times, Josh was spotted looking slightly out of place, content to hang in the background Easy does it! He eventually eased into the groove, spotted reclining against someone's car for a chat with fellow cast mates After exchanging pleasantries, the lovers got a good look at a shabby-looking wood-paneled home that was raised slightly off the ground by slats. Pictured leaving the entryway of the unappealing home, the pair were spotted with less-than-impressed looked painted across their faces. This comes after The Daily Telegraph claimed the Aussie model and her boyfriend Josh Barker may 'ruffle some feathers' as a source says the pair 'could be given special treatment'. The publication went on to speculate that the pair would not be living with other contestants. Not impressed? Pictured leaving the entryway of the unappealing home, the pair were spotted with less-than-impressed looked painted across their faces Downcast: The pair looked fashionable and carefree, with Elyse snuggling into a suede jacket and grey scarf, while Josh went for a layered look with acid wash denim and a flannel shirt Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Elyse for comment. Speaking to the publication, host Scott Cam divulged some details of the upcoming series. 'There could have been 50 town houses on this block, so the residents I think are well behind us,' he said. 'Because we are putting five homes there.' Unexpected pair: This comes after The Daily Telegraph claimed the Aussie model and her boyfriend Josh Barker may 'ruffle some feathers' Controversy: The Daily Telegraph also claimed an unnamed source said the pair 'could be given special treatment' and potentially would not live with other contestants She lost a huge 100,000 followers after her fans protested against her unairbrushed bikini snaps. And it appears Kim Kardashian is doing all she can to claw back her followers as she posed a very sexy picture of herself on Instagram on Friday morning. The 36-year-old looked incredible as she posed in her white thong bikini while on holiday in Mexico, flaunting her toned abs for the camera. Scroll down for video 'Hey!' (...anyone there?) Kim Kardashian attempted to claw back her social media followers with a very sexy snap on Instagram on Friday after losing 100,000 fans on the site She wore a plunging vest top which was cut down the front to reveal her ample assets, tying the top at the front to reveal further skin. With her hair tied up in plaits and wearing designer shades, the defiant reality star turned her head to the side in a coy fashion. Proving the recent backlash against her unairbrushed bikini snaps hasn't fazed her in the slightest, she captioned the image with one simple word: 'Hey!' Kim is the fifth most popular celebrity on Instagram with almost 98.7million followers, just behind Ariana Grande, Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez. Many claim that the recent unflattering paparazzi snaps are proof that Kim has been Photoshopping her social media snaps images for years. Backlash: Kim has lost 100,000 Instagram followers after paparazzi pictures of her natural backside led fans to accuse the mum-of-two of turning to surgery and Photoshop to maintain the social media image of her flawless body Kim was enjoying a girls' holiday in Mexico to celebrate her sister Kourtney Kardashian's birthday this week when photographers snapped her in a variety of skimpy bikinis. The pictures showed off Kim's natural figure and revealed her curvaceous behind which was a little dimpled with cellulite. But fans have seized on the difference between the paparazzi pictures and the snaps Kim posts on social media herself, claiming that Photoshop and even plastic surgery are behind the difference. The mum-of-two was blasted on Twitter and Instagram with former fans declaring her 'fake'. Photoshop? Kim pioneered the 'belfie', a bum selfie, but now fans are accusing her of turning to photoshop to get that luscious derriere One Instagram user told Kim that there was 'nothing real' about her. Geegeelove1 wrote: 'Kim you make me feel sick talking about your flawless body when you run to the plastic surgeon for everything. There is nothing real about you.' Another joined in the chorus of criticism writing: 'Nothing natural about years of botox'. While one former fan, whose handle on Instagram is christian.telleria, wrote: 'Your body is completely fake'. Another user, Hey_Kendi, commented underneath a picture of Kim with sister Kourtney: 'The natural one. Kimmy would look that good too if she stayed away from all that plastic surgery. Injections, implants, shots; just say no.' Undeniable difference: Kim's backside certainly does look smoother in her own Instagram snaps Another fan blamed Kim for allegedly airbrushing her photographs. Ray Sanders tweeted: 'Absolutely unbelievable. Wake up and face reality. Photoshop is your best friend @KimKardashian.' Some fans came to Kim's defense with Susanna Reid arguing with Good Morning Britain co-host Piers Morgan about the pictures. Piers said: 'The air brushing is in your face... This is what she really looks like.' But Susanna declared that Kim 'looks fantastic' and 'very slim'. Kim is famous for thrilling fans with bikini selfies and is even partial to the odd nude shot. Infamous: Kim famously caused a controversy when she posted a naked selfie of herself with the caption: 'When you're like I have nothing to wear LOL' She famously courted controversy when she shared a naked selfie with the caption: 'When you're like I have nothing to wear LOL'. And now fans are claiming that Kim's body is very different from the perfectly voluptuous one she has revealed to fans on Instagram. However Kim clearly didn't give a jot about the backlash and firmly reminded her critics that she was the one with the 'flawless' figure, luxuriating on a beach in Mexico. The beauty tweeted on Wednesday: 'Oh and as for me you ask? ...I'm just sitting here on the beach with my flawless body.' Actor Anthony LaPaglia, 58, announced his engagement to fiancee Alexandra Henkel, 30 years his junior, in Melbourne on Thursday. They first started romancing each other in 2015, when the beauty was 26 and a brunette. Alexandra, now 28, showed off a revamped sex-appeal style as she excitedly flaunted her giant sparkler at the YSL Beauty Club event. Scroll down for video Congratulations! Alexandra Henkel confirmed her engagement to actor Anthony LaPaglia by flashing her diamond ring at a red carpet event in Melbourne on Thursday night Keen to flaunt their ongoing romance to the waiting media, the pair kissed in front of photographers, while Alexandra made sure the ring was clearly in view. Alexandra, whose exact profession is unclear, highlighted her youthful figure in a tight black frock with silver zipper detailing that pushed up her busty cleavage. The Without A Trace star's fiancee also showcased her pert derriere in the frock, as the body-hugging ensemble clung to her frame. Alexandra made sure her ring was in view at every opportunity, even when leaning in towards her fiance for a kiss. They look happy! The Without A Trace star, 58, and his fiancee share a 30-year age gap - but they both appeared in high spirits when confirming the news of their engagement The pair went public with their budding romance by attending the LA premiere of Mad Max: Fury Road together in May, 2015. Over the past two years, Alexandra's style has noticeably altered from what was once quite conservative to more provocative. She was often seen in pant-suits or chic frocks with hemlines at-or-below the knee while on the arm of her Lantana star beau. My, how you've changed! The pair went public with their budding romance by attending the LA premiere of Mad Max: Fury Road together in May, 2015 New look: Alexandra's style has noticeably altered from what was once quite conservative to become more provocative and edgy Sex appeal! Alexandra's hair has also changed over the years, now sporting a more peroxide blonde look, which she chooses to style in messy beach waves over her signature neat bun and straight sleek hairstyles in the past Her latest appearance, and images on her Instagram account, shows a revamped style with tight fabrics and plenty of cleavage. Alexandra's hair has also changed over the years, now sporting a more peroxide blonde look with undertones of brunette on the lower layers. Her signature hairstyle at events was once a neat bun or straight sleek look, whereas now she favours it down in messy beach waves. At the YSL event, and many other occasions on social media, she has taken to applying heavier eyeliner and eye-makeup to compliment her fare complexion. In the past?Alexandra was often seen in pant-suits or chic frocks with hemlines at-or-below the knee while on the arm of her Lantana star beau in the past Anthony called it quits with his wife-of-17-years Gia Carides in March 2015, and announced he was dating Alexandra three months later. Anthony and Gia put their exclusive Brentwood family home on the market for $15 million after separating, and now share custody of 15-year-old daughter Bridget. Last year, the television actor spoke to The Herald Sun about his split, saying: 'People say "It's failed"... My attitude is that it didn't. Former flame: Anthony called it quits with his wife-of-17-years Gia Carides in March 2015, and announced he was dating Alexandra three months later 'Twenty years is a long time for any relationship and so many positive and great things came out of it my daughter being one of them. 'It's an emotionally tough thing to go through but it happens and its about adjusting to the fact that people change, life changes.' The Frasier star and his fiancee share a 30-year age gap - but they both appeared in high spirits when confirming the news of their engagement on Thursday. Unable to contain their affection for each other, the pair packed on the PDA in front of the event photographers. Flashing her bling! Alexandra made sure her ring was on display at every opportunity Anthony, known for his silver fox looks on screen, also debuted a new look with peroxide blonde hair. His beard and shorter haircut, which he styled with gel, appeared lighter than previous public appearances. Posing alongside his fiancee, he wore a black suit with a grey silk tie. Hiding the greys? Anthony, known for his salt-and-pepper appearance on screen, also appeared to debut his new peroxide blonde look on the red carpet Anthony is best known for portraying Jack Malone on drama series Without A Trace, a role which won him a Golden Globe Award in 2004. The South Australian-born talent also won an Emmy in 2002 for playing Simon Moon on the long running program, Frasier. His recent engagement to Alexandra sets the actor up for his third wedding, after already proceeding with two divorces from previous wives. He is the Peckham-born star who shot to fame in Star Wars: The Force Awakens back in 2015. And John Boyega has revealed fellow British actor Orlando Bloom, 40, imparted a few wise dating tips on him; namely advising he should 'secure the love of his life' before super-stardom hit. Speaking during an appearance on Friday night's The Graham Norton Show, the star, 25, admitted the advice didn't work out, as one date in New York ended their relationship after he pointed himself out on a Star Wars billboard. Scroll down for video Advice: John Boyega said fellow British actor Orlando Bloom, 40, imparted a few wise dating tips on him; namely advising he should 'secure the love of his life' before super-stardom hit The accomplished thespian, who will appear in the next Star Wars installment, The Last Jedi, laughed as he recounted stories with the Pirates of the Caribbean star. The BAFTA winner disclosed that Orlando warned him about the perils of dating as a celebrity, advising him to try to find love immediately. John explained: 'He told me to try and secure the love of my life before all the fame stuff starts.' The star said the start of his dating experience as a celebrity has also not been smooth - despite the fact that he is not immediately recognised by everyone. Unlucky in love: The star, 25, admitted the advice didn't work out, as one date in New York ended their relationship after he pointed himself out on a Star Wars billboard He revealed that once dates discover he plays a Star Wars hero, some of them want nothing more to do with him. John said: 'It was perfect. I went on a date in New York City and as we were driving through Time Square and she asked, "What do you do for a living?". 'I just pointed up at the Star Wars billboard that showed me with a lightsaber and said, "That!"' He lamented: 'That was the end of the relationship the poster really affected her.' John said he chose to act on stage in 'deep, dark' Cold War-set play, Woyzech, at London's Old Vic in the coming months as a break from the 'colourful Star Wars stuff' he has been doing. Words of wisdom: The BAFTA winner disclosed that Orlando warned him about the perils of dating as a celebrity, advising him to try to find love immediately He explained: 'It is a deep dark play I wanted to do away from the colourful Star Wars stuff. 'Growing up I loved going to the theatre but The Old Vic was somewhere I never related to. For me it wasnt real or gritty enough but now they are trying to expand their audience and pump in diversity and I am all about that.' Orlando, who is about to reprise his role as Will Turner in the latest installment of the lucrative Pirates of the Caribbean franchise alongside Johnny Depp for the first time, said his son is 'desperate' to see him in it. He said: 'My six year old is desperate to see me in it. Im not in it much but I dont care that I just book-end it.' Hollywood dream: Orlando was married to Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr for three years from 2010 to 2013 (pictured in February 2013) Orlando has had a chequered dating past since he soared into the international limelight in 2003 after starring as sexy elf Legolas in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The star had an on/off relationship with Kate Bosworth from 2003 until 2006, before marrying the mother of his son Flynn, six, the supermodel Miranda Kerr, in 2010. But within three years the pair announced they were divorcing, and Orlando then enjoyed a romance with superstar diva Katy Perry - though they broke apart in March this year. John put in a stylish appearance on the popular British chat show in a black, polo neck, livened up with a white striped jacket. Caring: John also revealed how 'strange' it feels to talk about his pal and humorous co-star Carrie Fisher, who died in December, as he appeared on Good Morning Britain on Friday Looking as if he had worked out to fulfill his latest role, the actor sported short hair and his trademark, winning smile. The now-sought after star - who has met Princes William and Harry on the set of Star Wars - did not become a household name until two years ago. He said of his royal encounter: 'I dont remember what I said to William I was just talking nonsense but I had a good chat with Harry. Hes down with the lads. John is one of the many high profile stars whom Carrie Fisher touched with her humorous character and stunning intellect. Impressive: The talented young star he spoke to the nation against the backdrop of The Old Vic theatre in London, where he is about to tread the boards in complex Cold War play, Woyzeck The actor made friends with the franchise legend on set, and revealed how 'strange' it feels to talk about his pal and humorous co-star, who died suddenly in December last year, as he appeared on Good Morning Britain on Friday. John, who will appear in The Last Jedi alongside Carrie in scenes shot before her untimely death, said Carrie's presence and 'oomph' lives on in the film, and gives it 'heart'. The talented young star spoke to the nation against the backdrop of The Old Vic theatre in London, where he is about to tread the boards in complex Cold War play, Woyzeck. He discussed the bittersweet nature of Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, because of the 60-year-old star's untimely death. Carrie died suddenly just two days before Christmas last year after suffering a stroke on a flight between London and Los Angeles. She survived the flight but passed away on December 27 at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, sparking a worldwide outpouring of grief. Heartfelt: John, who grew up in Peckham, discussed the bittersweet nature of Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, because of the 60-year-old star's untimely death Friendly: The star said: 'It's strange to talk about her because the last time I saw her she was fine and we were having laughs and having great conversations.' He explained how he pictures her full of life, as she was the last time they met. The star said: 'It's strange to talk about her because the last time I saw her she was fine and we were having laughs and having great conversations.' And he believes the iconic actress' 'truth' lives on in the next movie - and even gives it 'an extra oomph of heart' 'Carrie lives her truth in life as well as in and death, which is very significant to me and adds a boost of positivity to what we created, because it just gives the movie realistically an extra oomph of heart, which does us justice.' After life: Carrie is set to make short appearances in scenes in The Last Jedi, shot last year The star looked relaxed and stylish as he donned a cream bomber jacket and on-trend trousers to chat to Good Morning Britain. John will reprise his role as Finn in the next installment of the Star Wars Saga - The Last Jedi - which hits UK cinemas in December. And just this week the following installment, Episode IX, was given a release date of May 24, 2019. Though it is not yet known if the British star will also appear in the film. The studio has revealed little about about the long-awaited ninth installment of the iconic space opera, except that Colin Trevorrow wrote the script with Derek Connolly, his co-writer on Jurassic World and its forthcoming sequel. Speaking at an interreligious peace conference in Yangon, Cardinal Charles Bo told leaders from Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism, that the wish for peace needs to shine through every word and deed, and solutions must be found through "dialogue and mutual understanding." According to the report. The cardinal stressed the importance of the Panglong conference which seeks to bring together the country's diverse ethnic groups to discuss how to end conflict and negotiate a permanent solution. "Peace and harmony at the grassroots level will help all the future Panglong peace conferences. Religious people have a role in dialogue and peacemaking," Cardinal Bo said in his keynote speech while addressing some 200 participants, including delegates from civil society sectors. Organized by the Catholic church, the two-day conference has as its theme, "The role of religions in building a nation of peace and development: Peace is possible, peace is the only way." She's been enjoying a romantic honeymoon in the Maldives one year on from tying the knot with husband Gary Clark Jr. And as the getaway continued so did the lovebirds social media shots, with Nicole Trunfio sharing a racy photo of her in a sheer lace one-piece swimsuit. The 31-year-old posted the mirror selfie on Friday of her flaunting her curvy figure in the revealing swimwear. Scroll down for video Swim good: Nicole Trunfio sharing a racy photo of her in a sheer lace one-piece swimsuit while on her honeymoon in the Maldives Nicole took a mirror selfie showing off the low-cut lace one-piece swimsuit by the brand For Love And Lemons. The black swimwear had a plunging neckline and sheer panels at the waist while having a high-cut bikini line. Her brown hair was pulled loosely over her right shoulder and she accessorised with a pair of cat-eye style sparkly sunglasses. Behind the mirror of the Maldives villa showed a clear, picturesque ocean and Nicole captioned the snap with: 'Swim good'. Steaming! Nicole Trunfio shared a racy photo of herself in a jungle shower while on her honeymoon with husband Gary Clark Jr On Thursday, she shared another racy photo of herself in a jungle shower. The photo, taken by the model's husband Gary, showed the 31-year-old posing in a bikini and showing off her very pert derriere. It was shared with Nicole's 212,000 Instagram followers on Thursday, and amassed more than 1500 likes, as people commented that she was 'beautiful' and gorgeous'. Long time coming: The holiday marks the couple's long-overdue honeymoon, having exchanged vows last April in a lavish Palm Springs ceremony Romantic getaway: Another photo was taken by the model's husband Gary Clark Jr, and showed the 31-year-old posing in a bikini and showing off her very pert derriere Nicole and her new husband have been busy snapping shots from their picturesque holiday since arriving earlier in the week. The holiday marks the couple's long-overdue honeymoon, having exchanged vows last April in a lavish Palm Springs ceremony. Jetting to the popular Maldives islands for the escape, the duo have been staying at the Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani resorts at a cost $2504 AUD a night. Soapwatch has just celebrated its 20th anniversary, so Im pondering how much has changed in the two decades since I started writing about what remain Britains most popular drama series. Ive seen births, marriages and deaths; stolen babies, murders and explosions; car, bus and train crashes; hold-ups, robberies and kidnappings (most of the latter in Emmerdale they really love their car boot body sales). Florists have made a fortune from funerals; cops have learnt nothing about how to track down the right criminal, nor about how to order a drink (theyve clearly not watched enough Inspector Morse). Louise, Alexandra and Madison do their best to sabotage Michelles first day of Community Service in this week's EastEnders Doctors, on the other hand, have conducted most of their diagnoses in the pub instead of their surgeries. Still, nobody in EastEnders has a washing machine, and nobody, anywhere, has a dishwasher not even Coronation Streets Gail, who was married to a kitchen fitter, for goodness sake (one of many men she saw off). And Emmerdales Lisa has yet to use a hairbrush. Also, 17 years since his first appearance, I still have the hots for Emmerdales Cain Dingle. Maybe most things never change. EASTENDERS: HUBBLE, BUBBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE The efforts to turn the show into a sub-standard Grange Hill gather pace this week as Louise, Alexandra and Madison (The Witches of Eastb****) do their best to sabotage Michelles first day of Community Service. In what is possibly Louises worst week since emerging from the womb to discover that Lisa and Phil were her parents, she is horrified when Michelle and Sharon return home drunk. Will Michelle respond to the cruel jibes of the teenagers as she attempts to clean up her act Haunted by Phils alcoholic past, what effect will this have on the youngster? Send her running straight to the liquor cabinet, probably. Next plot bubbling at the covens cauldron is a plan for a relaxed girls night for Madisons birthday. We all know that a relaxed night in Walford makes the Texas Chainsaw Massacre look like the Teddy Bears Picnic, so it should be no surprise to Louise when her quiet evening turns into anything but. Will Louise be able to keep the situation under control when more guests arrive? From where are these extra nobodies coming, by the way? Enough young people, EastEnders! Nobody cares! Lock them in a vault and bring them out when theyre 30. CORONATION STREET: RUNAWAY FLORIST WILL NEVER BE A MOVIE What on Earth is the thinking behind this ludicrous storyline to bring back Rob and have Tracy decide to run away with him, with Amy in tow? Its as if aliens landed at Granada TV, drugged everyone involved, and experimented for reasons even they dont understand. Preposterous. Implausible. Senseless. And it gets worse when the three go on the run. Amy is unimpressed to find herself staying at a cottage in the Peak District with Tracy in this week's Corrie Lets hope that when Amy makes it to a phone box (remember those?), Steve can work out where they are, Rob clears off, and Tracy sees sense. Somebody has to because it sure aint happening in the production room. The grooming of Bethany continues to be the strongest storyline and, unlike everything about Barlowgate, is completely believable. After yesterdays horrifying scenes, Nathan tortures Bethany with his coldness, before luring her even more into his web by making her believe he wants to marry her. But when Neil suggests Nathan throw another party and invite Ian, will Bethany agree? These are extraordinary performances from Lucy Fallon (Bethany) and Christopher Harper (Nathan). The grooming of children is a despicable act; Fallons portrayal of the victim who blames herself is frightening and totally accurate. How will the vicar Harriet react to her kiss with Cain in this week's Emmerdale EMMERDALE: HOT UNDER THE (DOG) COLLAR Another day, another vile attack after last weeks assault on Rhona on her wedding night, Eric gets beaten up during a robbery. Thank goodness Cain adopts the lesser of all evils by locking Emma in a church cupboard, leaving Harriet to let her out. But how will the vicar react to his kiss? Thats one interpretation of Holy Communion. The problem is, they havent closed the vestry curtain, but have they been seen? (God sees everything, Harriet!). Elsewhere, theres a lot of farm stuff Moira rambling on about guarding the herd (yawn), and Charity chasing a lamb for dinner. Oh, come on! There are a dozen Tescos in Leeds. He's the comedian, radio host and television presenter who towered over the stars as he hosted the opening of the Logie Awards on Sunday. But Dave Hughes, 48, has been 'busted' by one eagle-eyed follower for apparently embellishing his height in a photo he posted online, by standing on tip toes. Appearing alongside the women of the Melbourne Vixens netball team on Thursday, the comedian's heels were clearly lifted off the floor. Making a heel of himself? Dave Hughes 48, has been 'busted' by one eagle-eyed follower, embellishing his height, by standing on his tippy toes Well spotted: Eagle-eyed follower @acejays noticed that Dave had raised his heels off the ground, seemingly in an effort to appear taller The drive time radio host posted a photo to Twitter on Thursday in which he was surrounded by the Melbourne Vixens netball team after their appearance on Thursday's AFL Footy show, captioning the pic: 'great to have the @melbournevixens superstars at @AFLFootyShow tonight.' However,eagle-eyed follower @acejays noticed that Dave had raised his heels off the ground in an effort to appear taller. 'Someone's got their heels raised,'@acejays' commented on the photo. Detective work: Twitter follower @acejays noticed that Dave had raised his heels off the ground in an effort to appear taller Apparently seeing the funny side and appreciating the fan's astute detective skills, Dave gave the comment a 'thumbs-up'. It didn't end there, however, with his KIIS FM colleagues re-posting the photo to the Hughesy and Kate Instagram page, with Dave's offending heels blown up for all to see. The post was captioned: ''Poor @dhughesy has been outed online for standing on tippy toes in this photo with the Melbourne Vixen Netballers!'' Big man on TV: He's the comedian, radio host and television presenter who towered over the stars as he hosted the opening of the Logie Awards on Sunday Some gentle ribbing from fans ensued, with one writing: 'Tippy toe and still short..poor Hughesy,' Another added: 'Mayb a fan of romper room from back in the days...stand on tippy toes oh so high or just a ballerina at heart.' However not all fans were quick to judge, with one offering a message of support, commenting: 'Well it's fair enough, the girls are wearing heels!!' Viral: It didn't end there, however, with the photo re-posted to the Hughesy and Kate Instagram page, with Dave's offending heels blown up for all to see Hosting the Logies on Sunday, the funnyman caused some controversy with an opening monologue that poked fun at Olympic swimmer Grant Hackett's mental health issues, saying that Grant had been 'a bit whingy', Still on Grant, Dave also singled-out Gold Logie nominee Grant Denyer, congratulating him for his recovery after being injured in a car accident last month. 'Good on you, Grant,' Dave said. 'Not like Grant Hackett. Grant Hackett, 'I'm going to rehab again.' Well, listen this time, right.' Too far? Hosting the Logies on Sunday, the funnyman caused some controversy with an opening monologue that poked fun at Grant Hackett's mental health issues She's usually dressed to the nines and is never seen without a full face of make-up. But Kady McDermott was embracing a more natural look when she sunbathed by the pool in Marbella, Spain, going make-up free. The Love Island star stunned in a bright blue bikini, showing off her fantastic, toned figure in the bright two-piece. Scroll down for video Bikini beauty: Kady McDermott was embracing a more natural look when she sunbathed by the pool in Marbella, Spain, going make-up free Kady untied the halterneck top, risking spilling out of her swimwear as she bronzed poolside. The reality TV star's petite frame and toned stomach were on display as she holidayed with a gal pal. Sipping on iced water, the beauty was the picture of relaxation during her getaway. Bold in blue: The Love Island star stunned in a bright blue bikini, showing off her fantastic, toned figure in the bright two-piece Plump pout: Kady displayed her voluptuous lips without a trace of make-up No tan lines here: Kady untied the halterneck top, risking spilling out of her swimwear as she bronzed poolside Girls' getaway: The reality TV star's petite frame and toned stomach were on display as she holidayed with a gal pal There was no sign of the brunette's boyfriend Scott Thomas, with whom she has just jetted off to a romantic Maldives break. The 21-year-old star revealed she can't wait for her man to propose in a recent interview with OK! magazine. Speaking about her dream proposal, the TV star said: 'I wouldnt want it to be in front of anyone because Id get embarrassed. Checking in: The girls were poring over something on their phones Shady lady: Kady accessorised with a large pair of tinted shades Loved-up: There was no sign of the brunette's boyfriend Scott Thomas, with whom she has just jetted off to a romantic Maldives break 'Id want it just us two, preferably in a hot country, on the beach with rose petals and candles everywhere! Romantic, cute and private would be perfect. Scott added: I think it will have to involve towels again like when I asked her to be my girlfriend on Love Island! For now, the pair are content with their new life together, living in their rented three-bedroom house in Cheshire. Getaway: The pair, who met on Love Island last summer, live in their rented three-bedroom house in Cheshire Keeping covered up: Kady slipped into a sheer black kimono by the poolside Sir Mick Jagger has remembered his ex-girlfriend LWren Scott on what would have been her 53rd birthday. The rock star, 73, posted a photograph of the late fashion designer on his Instagram page on Friday, alongside a caption: 'Thinking of you on your birthday.' L'Wren looked lovely in the picture as she looked coyly at the camera, while smelling a beautiful white rose. Scroll down for video 'Thinking of you': Sir Mick Jagger, 73, remembered his late girlfriend L'Wren Scott on her 53rd birthday with a touching Instagram post on Friday US-born Scott sadly took her own life while in her Manhattan apartment on March 17 2014. Her high-end fashion label was a favourite among Hollywood stars such as Nicole Kidman, Olivia Wilde, Tina Fey, Sarah Jessica Parker and first lady Michelle Obama. But following news of her death, it emerged her eponymous fashion label had been experiencing financial problems. Tragedy: US-born Scott sadly took her own life while in her Manhattan apartment on March 17 2014. She had been dating the Rolling Stones frontman since 2001 (pictured in 2010) Still on his mind: Sir Mick also shared this stunning image of L'Wren on social media on her birthday the year before L'Wren had been dating the Rolling Stones frontman since 2001. Mick took to Facebook just a day after her passing to share his sadness over the news. He wrote: 'Im still struggling to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way. 'We spent many wonderful years together and had made a great life for ourselves. I will never forget her.' Jagger is now in a relationship with ballerina Melanie Hamrick. She welcomed her first child with the Rolling Stones rocker in December. It was later revealed that the duo had first met backstage at a Rolling Stones concert in Tokyo on March 6, two weeks before Scott's death. After her passing, Mick wrote on Facebook: 'Im still struggling to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way' (pictured in 2006) She's the blonde beauty who first made waves on Home and Away. But now Samara Weaving is swimming in some real Hollywood success, with her first Hollywood feature film The Babysitter set to premiere on Netflix soon and her first feature, Australian lesbian thriller Bad Girl set just released in cinemas. The 24-year-old told the Sydney Morning Herald she drew upon her 'intense' relationships with friends in school to understand her complex character and avoid 'bratty' teen stereotypes. Scroll down for video Blonde bombshell: Samara Weavingdrew upon her 'intense' relationships with friends in school to understand her complex character and avoid 'bratty' teen stereotypes From TV to film: Samara first hit the screens as Indigo Walker in Home and Away in 2009 The thriller Bad Girl was Samara's first experience with feature-length films as she had come to the set fresh off Home and Away. She said: 'How refreshing it was to do something that someone had really poured their heart into.' 'Working with someone who's really passionate about it is great, because you become passionate, and then it's fun, it's not work any more.' Hollywood calling: In her first feature role, thriller Bad Girl saw Samara play the role of troubled lesbian teen Chloe Known for being the niece of Aussie acting legend Hugo Weaving, Samara first came to Summer Bay in 2009 as Indigo Walker and played the much-loved character for five years. After leaving Home and Away, which Samara describes as 'the hardest job in the world', she struggled with the shift from TV to film. 'It's the hardest job in the world': Samara played Indigo in Summer Bay for five years In the film Bad Girl, Samara's character Chloe is a stark contrast to her bubbly Home and Away character Indigo. The film, which shows the complicated relationship between Chloe and adopted outcast Amy, was an opportunity for Samara to broaden her acting skills and really become enthralled in the character. She said: 'I really wanted to steer away from the stereotype of the annoying, bratty teenager. I wanted to make her mature and a bit more calculating so that the ending paid off and made sense.' Troubled teen: Samara said she drew inspiration from her teenage high-school years and applied that to developing her character in Bad Girl Drawing form her own high-school experiences as a teenage girl, Samara used her knowledge and applied it to her troubled character. She said: 'I remember at that age in high school, you did have these fierce relationships with other girls, and if they lied to you or if they hurt your feelings it felt like a betrayal.' She continued: 'I really had a sense of that, this intense friendship that's almost like a lovers' relationship even though there's nothing sexual, but all those same intensities are there.' The shoe designer has been enjoying a blossoming romance with successful TV host Karl Stefanovic in recent months. But Jasmine Yarbrough has also been focusing on her professional life, announcing an exciting collaboration with Victoria's Secret angel Candice Swanepoel this week. The 33-year-old Mara & Mine co-founder detailed the exclusive footwear partnership with Footwear News on Monday. Fancy footwear! Shoe designer and Karl Stefanovic's new squeeze Jasmine Yarbrough debuts collaboration with Victoria's Secret angel Candice Swanepoel (pictured) Successful AND stylish! Since launching their footwear brand five years ago, Australia-born, L.A.-based designers Jasmine (R) and Tamie Ingham have developed a strong A-list following Since launching their footwear brand five years ago, Australia-born, L.A.-based designers Jasmine and Tamie Ingham have developed a strong A-list following. The exclusive bohemian range of four stylish sandals will be available for purchase on May 6, retailing from $210 to $285. 'The inspiration came from my love of the summer months, travel and my bohemian and minimalist style. I wanted to create a summer collection that is flattering, simple and ethical,' South African supermodel Candice Swanepoel said of the vegan handmade leather sandals. 'This is also different from our brand because its vegan': Jasmine, who has been linked to Karl Stefanovic in recent months, revealed the choice to go vegan was a new one for the brand Jasmine revealed it was a first for the company: 'This is also different from our brand because its vegan... This is also different from our brand because its vegan.' Jasmine and Tamie told the publication they had first met Candice in New York and had kept a personal Pinterest board that all three used to brainstorm ideas. Tamie added: 'And when she was visiting L.A., she came to our office, and we put all of out collective images together and started sketching out ideas.' The collection will raise funds for an Africa-based charity close to Candices heart - mothers2mothers. Getting closer: New intimate pictures of Karl and his new girlfriend Jasmine have surfaced over the last week, following a trip Karl made to the US and Mexico to meet Jamine's family Today host Karl Stefanovic, 42, began dating Jasmine, nine years his junior, after splitting with estranged wife Cassandra Thorburn, 45, last year. Following his split from Cassandra in September last year, Karl moved out of their family home in Lindfield after 21 years of marriage. During his 21-year marriage to Cassandra he welcomed three children, Jackson, 17, Ava, 11, and River, 10. She's appeared nude as fearless heroine Daenerys Targaryen in Game Of Thrones. And Emilia Clarke has now stripped off on the big screen, appearing nude in her new thriller, The Voice From The Stone. The star, 30, will no doubt shock audiences with her racy sexy scenes as she romps with her co-star Martin Csokas. Scroll down for video Nude scenes: Emilia Clarke has stripped off on the big screen, appearing nude in her new thriller, The Voice From The Stone In the 1950s set movie, Emilia plays a nurse named Verona who is hired to look after a troubled boy who refuses to speak following the death of his mother. She becomes romantically involved with his father Klaus (Csokas), but chilling surprises are afoot. Emilia, who has received rave reviews for her performance ahead of the film's release, can be seen topless as she romps with her on-screen love interest. Racy: The star, 30, will no doubt shock audiences with her racy sexy scenes as she romps with her co-star Martin Csokas Thriller: In the 1950s set movie, Emilia plays a nurse named Verona who is hired to look after a troubled boy who refuses to speak following the death of his mother The British beauty's star has been on the rise since she was cast in HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, appearing in romantic drama Me Before You. Emilia has had a busy 2017 so far as she is also set to appear in the untitled Star Wars prequel about Han Solo. It's set for release in 2018 and no word yet on who she will play, but she did appear in a promotional shot for the film released in February. Romance: She becomes romantically involved with his father Klaus (Csokas), but chilling surprises are afoot Cheeky: Emilia, who has received rave reviews for her performance ahead of the film's release, can be seen topless as she romps with her on-screen love interest An announcement on StarWars.com read: 'Emilia Clarke is heading to a galaxy far, far away and shes going to meet Han and Chewie. 'StarWars.com is excited to announce that Clarke will join the upcoming untitled Han Solo Star Wars movie.' Discussing her upcoming role, Emilia was full of praise for actor Alden Ehrenreich as young Han Solo. She told the Los Angeles Daily News: 'I genuinely cant tell you anything other than Alden is magnificent, and it's a delight to do something on that level with really cool actors and nice people. 'But it's even scarier talking about that than Game of Thrones' Hollywood favourite: The British beauty's star has been on the rise since she was cast in HBO fantasy series GoT, appearing in romantic drama Me Before You New role: Emilia has had a busy 2017 so far as she is also set to appear in the untitled Star Wars prequel about Han Solo She's spent a blissful week soaking up the sun in the Maldives with her husband. And Ola Jordan set pulses racing as she travelled to the second destination on her holiday, posing in a skimpy bikini as she hit the pool at the at the Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort in Dubai on Friday. The former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 34, looked incredible as she showcased her peachy posterior in a tiny blue and white patterned two-piece. Scroll down for video 'I don't want to leave': Ola Jordan posed in a skimpy bikini as she hit the pool at the at the Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort in Dubai on Friday The ballroom beauty tamed her golden locks in cute french plaits as she basked in the baking heat. Ola - who is married to fellow professional dancer and ex Strictly star James Jordan, 39 - went make-up free to showcase her naturally pretty features. She captioned the snaps: 'Loving the heat. I don't want to leave.' And Ola's 137,000 Instagram followers were quick to heap praise on the genetically-blessed dancer. Bottoms up: The former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 34, looked incredible as she showcased her peachy posterior in a tiny blue and white patterned two-piece Sizzling: Ola wowed as she slipped into yet another bikini as she took a dip in the pool on her final day in the Maldives on Saturday Ola and James spent a week soaking up the sun in the Maldives, before travelling to Dubai en route home to the UK> The TV personality wowed as she slipped into yet another bikini as she took a dip in the pool on her final day on the island on Saturday. Ola put on a busty display in a plunging white halterneck bikini as she posed in front of the setting sun. Wearing her hair slicked back off her face, the former Strictly Come Dancing dancer wore minimal make-up, showing off her sun-kissed complexion. Loved up: James also shared a cute couple selfie showing him and Ola in their swimwear while posing on the beach during the romantic getaway Red hot! The TV personality showed off her tan in a sizzling scarlet bikini 'Last day in paradise': Ola also posted a Snapchat-filtered selfie in which she put her ample assets on full display as she topped up her tan on the beach Clearly missing the bliss of the Maldives, her husband James, 39, posted the snap on Tuesday, writing: 'This was our last day @kandima_maldives 'I think I should become a photographer. Little @olajordan at sunset'. The couple have been filling their Instagram pages with envy-inducing snaps while soaking up the rays on the island. James shared a cute couple selfie showing him and Ola in their swimwear while posing on the beach. Ola also posted a selfie in which she put her ample assets on full display as she topped up her tan on the beach on her final day on the island, captioning the Snapchat-filtered picture: 'Last day in paradise'. Soaking up the sun: She shared yet another scintillating selfie from her sun-soaked getaway to the Maldives on Wednesday So cool: Ola also took to the image-sharing site to show a snap of herself enjoying a cockail Busty display: A day before, the beauty sizzled in another holiday selfie that flaunted her more than ample assets in a turquoise blue halter-neck bikini Enviable frame: The dancer showed off her womanly curves in her vibrant swimwear as she hit the beach during her romantic getaway with her husband The couple made the trip to the Maldives to mark James' birthday and have been making sure to document their holiday on social media for their fans to see. James joked that he had only just caught up on the selfie stick craze while sharing a photo he had taken of himself and Ola on the beach. He said: 'Selfie stick!!! Im only about 5 years behind the times @kandima_maldives #kandimamaldives #mykindofplace #justplay #anythingbutordinary 32 [degrees] in the [sun] @olajordan is loving life.' James turned 39 last Thursday and to mark her beau's special day, Ola delighted fans by posting a jaw-dropping throwback of the couple. Tucking in: When she wasn't sunbathing, Ola made sure to cool off from the soaring temperatures with an ice cream Soaking up the sun: Ola's holiday snaps have been turning her Instagram followers green with envy, thanks to its dreamy setting And action: James joked that he has jumped on the selfie stick craze late, after playing around with his new toy on the beach While Ola is sporting brunette tresses in the image, James looked strikingly different with much longer locks of his own. Alongside the treasured snap, his wife penned: 'Happy Birthday to my gorgeous boy @jamesjordan1978 I love you more than anything in the world.' Ola and James had married in 2003 and both went on to star on Strictly Come Dancing, partnering the celebrities as they took part in the show. Throwback: He and wife Ola looked strikingly different in an old photo she shared online to wish James a happy birthday Her divorce with ex-husband Steve Pollock has recently been completed. And speaking to English network BBC Radio 5, radio presenter Mel Greig has suggested that the scandal surrounding the 2012 tragic royal prank call in which she participated was a factor in the end of her marriage. The 34-year-old refused to play the victim however telling Radio 5 host Emma Barnett 'I'm not going to sit here and go poor me because the Saldanha family lost a mother, a wife' Scroll down for video Split by scandal: Speaking to English network BBC Radio 5, radio presenter Mel Greig has suggested the scandal surrounding the 2012 tragic royal prank call in which she participated in ended her marriage. Mel made international headlines along with 2DayFM co-host Michael Christian in 2012 when they phoned the King Edward VII Hospital in London pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles. Nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who took the call took her own life three days later. Mel told Radio 5 the ensuing scandal 'was a huge part in our marriage not being successful. 'We weren't living a normal life for two years and I was battling major depression.' 'This deserves a divorce party': Mel Greig, 34, revealed on Friday's The Daily Edition that she's headed to Las Vegas for a girls' trip, after the breakdown of her marriage to Steve Pollock The blonde beauty was careful to note the scandal was one of several factors, saying 'there was more at play but this played a huge part, absolutely.' Reflecting on the tragic impact on the Saldanha family she added 'if this is what I have to sacrifice then that's how it is.' During a recent appearance on Seven's The Daily Edition, Mel revealed she's taking the marriage breakdown in her stride. Announcing she's headed to Las Vegas for a girls' trip, the 34-year-old shared: 'This deserves a divorce party.' Quizzed on her mental state following her marriage breakdown, Mel provided a candid response: 'It's mixed emotions because there is sadness there but it's not for him (Steve). 'But when you get married, you want it to last forever. You think you're doing it once, so it's sad in that sense. 'You almost feel like you've failed but I'm not going to see it that way. I'm going to look at the positives, okay well this deserves a divorce party,' she continued. Revealing her holiday plans on-air, Mel began: 'I'm going to combine a friend's wedding. Do a single girl's holiday at the start. Revealing her holiday plans on-air, Mel began: 'I'm going to combine a friend's wedding. Do a single girl's holiday at the start. I'm going to go to New York by myself, then we're going to (Las) Vegas. We've booked in to see the Magic Mike strip show' 'I'm going to go to New York by myself, then we're going to (Las) Vegas. We've booked in to see the Magic Mike strip show. I feel my future husband could be there,' the radio personality joked. Admitting she's ready to find a new man, Mel stated: 'It's not too soon (to date). No, absolutely not.' However, feeling slightly rusty at the dating world, the star candidly added: 'Do you just hang out at bars and go, hey? I'm so out of touch.' The former Celebrity Apprentice star has been in the process of finalising her divorce with estranged husband Steve Pollock. Ready to mingle: Admitting she's ready to find a new man, Mel stated: 'It's not too soon (to date). No, absolutely not' The pair were wed in November 2014, however, the couple had separated by April 2016. Appearing on Channel Ten's Studio 10 program that same month, Mel revealed the break-up news when asked by show host Sarah Harris. 'I am separated from my husband now,' she candidly confessed before adding that Steve needs time 'to rediscover himself as an individual.' The letter accuses the NLD government of abusing its substantial parliamentary majority to ram through an insensitive and unnecessary bill renaming the Mon State bridge for General Aung San. Even though the winning party has the right to form a government and to dominate parliament, the party must respect the Right of Ethnic Minorities. However, the acts of the NLD parliament do not seem to indicate that they respect these rights. The group specifically alleges that the governments decision to rename the bridge for General Aung San violates laws that enshrine the political and cultural rights of the countrys 135 minority ethnic groups, including the 2015 Ethnic Rights Protection Law. Many in Mon state want the name to reflect Mon heritage, rather than General Aung San, who came from the majority Burman ethnic group. The letter was sent to the American, French, Norwegian, British, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese and European Union Embassies in Yangon (Rangoon), and was emailed to many others, as well as NGO and United Nations offices. In part, the committee sought to broaden the conflict, arguing that the government is in violation of not just Myanmar, but also international principles human rights. According to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the Mon ethnic people have fully the right to exercise their rights to self- determination and to preserve their national symbols. Neglecting the voices of the indigenous people is a violation of the Minorities Rights that have been approved by the International Community and upheld in international law. The committee listed three recommendations and demands for the international community:The international community must pressure the NLD government to respect Ethnic Minorities Rights and to listen to the voices of the indigenous people during this period of democratic transition and Nation-building. To facilitate local transportation, the bridge must be opened as soon as possible with a name that is amenable to the local people. The international community must pressure the government to organize a dialogue between government officials and local representative. The international community must pressure the elected NLD government to respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Ethnic Minorities Rights. Min Aung Mon is a member of the executive committee of Public Movement for Thanlwin Bridge (Chaung Zone). He says that even as the committee works to build international support in the fight against the name change, it is also pursuing a petition campaign to try to sway the government. We formed the Committee of Public Movement for Thanlwin Bridge (Chaung Zone) after the protest in March and we are also collecting the signatures of Mon people throughout Mon State, he told the Mon News Agency on April 26. The controversy surrounding the bridge has been a major thorn in the side of the NLD, which was once popular throughout Mon State. But since the NLD-controlled parliament voted in March to rename the bridge over local objections, the partys support has been slipping. In an April 1 parliamentary by-election in Chaungzone township, voters rebuked the NLD by awarding the seat to its main national rival, the Union Solidarity and Development Party. As of April 25, the committee has collected more than 120,000 signatures in support of changing the name back to Than Lwin Bridge (Chaung Zone). By the following night, though, workers were affixing the name General Aung San to the bridge under cover of darkness. They are about to appear in action thriller Snatched as a generation-spanning dynamic blonde duo. And Goldie Hawn, 71, has revealed she considers Amy Schumer, 35, as more than a co-star and even a friend. Speaking during an appearance on Friday night's The Graham Norton Show, the Hollywood legend said she 'feels maternal' towards the comic - who in turn quipped that she 'would loved to have come out' of the star's age-defying body. Scroll down for video Family: Hollywood legend Goldie Hawn, 71, has revealed she 'feels maternal' towards Snatched co-star Amy Schumer, 35, saying she thinks Amy 'could be my very troubled daughter' The pair, who spent time drinking together and getting to know each other during filming, ended up becoming close. And when asked by the chatty talk show host if, because of their significant age gap, the duo felt more like a mother and daughter, Goldie replied: 'I dont feel the age difference between us but sometimes I do feel maternal towards Amy. 'As I watch her I think she could be my daughter my very troubled daughter!' True to form, the comedienne Amy interjected: 'Id loved to have come out of you!' Amy then explained how she became so close to the private star, despite having separate trailers on set. More than friends: The pair, who spent time drinking together and getting to know each other during filming, ended up becoming close (pictured with Graham Norton, Orlando Bloom and John Boyega on Friday's episode) Goldie gushed: 'I dont feel the age difference between us but sometimes I do feel maternal towards Amy as I watch her I think she could be my daughter my very troubled daughter!' The star, who works to promote positive body image among young women through her comedy and writing, explained: 'We were staying in different places during filming but we still wanted to drink together every night so we would via FaceTime!' Goldie replied: 'It was the next best thing to being together.' But although Goldie 'loves' the New York native, Amy appears to have made less of an impression on her long time partner, The Hateful Eight star Kurt Russell, 66. Drinking buddies: Amy added: 'We were staying in different places during filming but we still wanted to drink together every night so we would via FaceTime!' Amy said: 'I went to dinner at their house and Kurt answered the door and was so sweet and he gave me the warmest hello, saying, Its so great to finally meet you, Goldie loves you and I love you". 'It was so warm and I was like, Thank you Kurt, we sat next to each other at the Golden Globes! He had no idea and nobody in this family remembered meeting me!' The blonde also shot down speculation that fame has led to her receiving plenty of male attention - saying she frequently gets 'friend zoned'. She's back! Goldie, who took a 14-year acting break before signing up for Snatched, headed across the Atlantic this week to promote the pair's new comedic and action venture She scoffed: 'No! Believe me, comedy does not lead to sex. For women I dont think it really helps. 'Men say they love a funny girl but they are lying! They like to hang out with a funny girl but thats it.' Goldie, who took a 14-year acting break before signing up for Snatched, headed across the Atlantic this week to promote the pair's new comedic venture. In the film, Schumer's character's boyfriend dumps her before their exotic vacation. Active action heroes: The escapade involved a lot of physical work, in which Goldie proved she was flexible beyond her years And in order to try and overcome the heartbreak, she persuades her ultra-cautious mother to travel with her to paradise, with unexpected results. The ensuing escapade involves a lot of physical work, in which Goldie proved she was flexible beyond her years. The youthful star said: 'I move around quite a lot. Action movies are really fun you dont know where youll end up but youre having a ball. I am fit I know Im not as fit as a flea but I am a runner up to a flea!' While Amy, who has shed the pounds in recent years, interrupted with: 'Goldie is in really good shape I was the one in the full body sling!' Beauty: Goldie, 71, oozed timeless glamour as she left London celebrity haunt The Chiltern Firehouse on Thursday evening after promoting new movie Snatched During her stay in London, Goldie headed to favourite celebrity haunt The Chiltern Firehouse for a meal. The star looked to be animated and mid-conversation as she left the upscale eatery on Thursday evening and headed to her car. Goldie was kitted out in a gorgeous flowing black sequin dress and matching duster coat, and finished her outfit with a pair of strappy heels and a killer scarlet pedicure. In vogue: Goldie looked animated and mid-conversation as she left the upscale eatery and headed to her waiting car Smoking: The eternal actress, who sported sexy smoky eyes, wore her iconic blonde tresses in shining loose curls which fell around her shoulders Elegant: The star was kitted out in a gorgeous sequin black dress and matching duster coat, finished with a pair of strappy heels and a killer scarlet pedicure Sporting sexy smoky eyes, the mother of Kate Hudson wore her iconic blonde tresses in shining loose curls, which fell around her shoulders. Goldie eschewed accessories with her high-necked, sequinned gown, and toted just a simple black clutch. The triple threat screen presence last appeared on the silver screen in The Banger Sisters in 2002, but filmed Snatched last year. Interview me, honey: The star explained her 14-year break from acting to her daughter Kate Hudson this week as she quizzed her for a magazine interview The star finally explained her long time break from acting to her daughter Kate Hudson this week. The 38-year-old interviewed her own mother in a rare format for Interview's May issue. And, when asked why she took the extended hiatus, the Oscar winner explained that it was because she wanted to do something different for a while in order to grow as a person. The star said the move was triggered after she turned 50 and felt her roles in Hollywood movies were no longer going to be the same. Goldie explained: 'Because I believe that life is about doing. It's about changing. It's about transitioning. I can't imagine, as a human being, not being able to grow. 'When I turned 50, I asked some of my girlfriends, all actresses of the same age, "What are we going to do now?" 'I wanted to go live somewhere for a while, learn archaeology, or take part in healing the world on some level. I wanted to dig deep and say, "Who am I now? What do I have to offer? What do I have to learn?''' Amy had previously said how thrilled she was to be acting alongside Hollywood royalty. She couldn't help but gush about Goldie at last month's CinemaCon event in Las Vegas: 'Goldie Hawn is up here,' she said. 'She is such an inspiration to me, I love the way you live. I hope I can be you, well, double of you. Do I look like a fat girl going to temple?' And the feeling appears to be mutual. Goldie echoed the maternal comments she made to Graham Norton, replying: 'I saw your face and you said I really want you to do this movie and I said I would love to work with you. 'I hadn't worked for 14 years, so after coming back, you were my girl and you were my baby,' she concluded. It was reported last month that she was banned from Pippa Middleton's impending nuptials to her beau's brother amid fears she could 'outshine' the beautiful bride. Despite the furor, Vogue Williams, 31, ignored the recent debacle as she appeared wedding guest ready, stepping out in a swinging sixties inspired ensemble for Ireland's Punchestown Races on Friday. The Irish presenter - who is currently dating former MIC star Spencer James - looked sensational in her Needle And Thread embellished number which highlighted her endless pins as she attended one of the biggest events in the Irish horse racing calendar. Scroll down for video Hats off! Vogue Williams, 31, ignored the recent debacle as she appeared wedding guest ready, stepping out in a swinging sixties inspired ensemble for Ireland's Punchestown Races on Friday Still recovering from knee surgery, her empire waist dress showcased her slender figure while she arrived at the Kildare based venue wearing a pair of dusty backless loafers. Equipped with a pillarbox hat fit for a wedding, the model's choice of Anthony Peto headgear paid tribute to yesteryear and was reminiscent of style icon Jackie Onassis. Adding to her vintage look, Vogue - who was forced to drop out of reality series The Jump after she dislocated her knee earlier this year - draped a number of gold necklaces and earrings by Tower Jewellers around her frame to make her outfit pop. Amplifying her retro inspired ensemble, she had pal and hairstylist Matthew Feeney work her tresses into a soft curl while make-up artist Rebecca Todd tended to her glamorous beauty look. Wedding ready: The Irish presenter - who is currently dating former MIC star Spencer James - looked sensational in her Needle And Thread embellished number which highlighted her endless pins as she attended one of the biggest events in the Irish horse racing calendar Style star: Equipped with a pillarbox hat fit for a wedding, the model's choice of Anthony Peto headgear paid tribute to yesteryear and was reminiscent of style icon Jackie Onassis Retro vibes: Amplifying her retro inspired ensemble, she had pal and hairstylist Matthew Feeney work her tresses into a soft curl while make-up artist Rebecca Todd tended to her glamorous beauty look Vogue's vintage appearance comes after she was spotted in Dublin on Thursday loading up her car with a number of purchases in a chic tiered polka dot dress. She was sure to cut the spring chill as she wrapped a chic army inspired jacket over her slim frame while she animatedly chatted on the phone. Teaming her look with a pair of Adidas trainers, she draped a soft leather bag over her shoulder while her golden tresses tumbled down her back. Spot the difference: Vogue's vintage appearance comes after she was spotted in Dublin loading up her car with a number of purchases in a chic tiered polka dot dress Covering up: She was sure to cut the spring chill as she wrapped a chic army inspired jacket over her slim frame while she animatedly chatted on the phone Meanwhile, the TLC host's Instagram snaps have landed her in hot water with the Duchess of Cambridge's sister, Pippa Middleton, 33, who is due to wed Spencer's brother James, 41, in May this year. The socialite has imposed a 'no ring, no bring' policy to her wedding to her hedge fund manager beau, making it unlikely that Prince Harry can bring girlfriend Meghan Markle, 35, to the big day either. The couple will tie the knot on Saturday May 20 at the 12th-century St Marks Church in Berkshire, six miles from Bucklebury where Pippa grew up, with Prince George, three, a page boy and Princess Charlotte, who will have just turned two, a flower girl. Working it out: Teaming her look with a pair of Adidas trainers, she draped a soft leather bag over her shoulder while her golden tresses tumbled down her back Stepping out: Vogue held onto a number of purchases as she stepped out in Dublin on Thursday Despite Vogue dating James' former Made in Chelsea star brother, Pippa is adamant that the relationship is too fresh for her to be present at the wedding. A wedding insider told The Sun : 'Pippas view is that Vogues relationship with Spencer is still very new. It wouldnt be appropriate for her to be there after just a few months of dating. 'But some people in the circle are pretty shocked because this is her future brother-in-law whos going to end up attending on his own. Its certainly raised eyebrows.' Not happy: The Irish model's scintillating snaps are said to have landed her in hot water with Pippa Middleton, 33, as she plans her upcoming society wedding to James Matthews, 41 The source also added: 'Its clear Pippa doesnt want to be outshone by any TV babes on her big day.' Pippa's millionaire banker fiance popped the question last summer with a dazzling diamond ring worth an estimated 200,000. James reportedly asked Pippa's father for permission for his daughter's hand before getting down on one knee. 'James is a traditionalist and very much wanted to do things properly. That meant getting his future father in law's consent,' a friend of the couple told the Daily Mail's Richard Kay. No ring, no bring: Pippa has imposed a 'no ring, no bring' policy to her May wedding No distractions: Sources have claimed former party planner Pippa doesn't want to be 'outshone' at her May 20 wedding Spencer appears to be totally loved-up with Vogue, writing a gushing post about her in an Instagram post in which he compared her to supermodel Cindy Crawford. The charmer wrote the caption: 'I'm dating a younger, better looking, Cindy.' Vogue is also very taken with Spencer, as she sang his praises for supporting her after she injured her knee on the ski slopes, where the two first laid eyes on each other for Channel 4's The Jump. Earlier this month, she wrote on Instagram: 'Big thank you to this boy @spencermatthews for looking after me for the last two months. She has been posting a number of titillating bikini selfies in recent weeks, to hit out against claims she had ballooned to a size 14-16. But Vicky Pattison proved her chic sense of style away from swimwear on Friday, as she embarked on a busy day of errands in London. The 29-year-old looked both sophisticated and stylish in a green palm print midi dress as she arrived for a meeting in Soho Square - before reuniting with her boyfriend John Noble for a romantic lunch. Scroll down for video Green dream: Vicky Pattison proved her chic sense of style on Friday, as she embarked on a busy day of errands in London in a stunning palm print dress The former Geordie Shore star looked stunning in the A-line number, which saw her embrace the sunnier London climes with its green and white palm print. Remaining demure with a high neck, the dress then cinched in at her toned waist with a ribbon belt before extending down into a soft midi skirt, to make for an utterly feminine look. She effortlessly tied her look together with a pair of suede tan heels, and a coordinating shoulder bag, adorned with Western-style fringing. Gorgeous: Remaining demure with a high neck, the dress cinched in at her toned waist with a ribbon belt before extending down into a soft midi skirt, to make for an utterly feminine look Styling her hair into big and bouncy waves, and adding glowing, bronzed make-up to her face, the TV presenter exuded glamour as she embarked on her busy day. Happily posing for cameras, Vicky was the picture of confidence - despite being left disappointed by claims she had piled on the pounds last week. With a nutritionist claiming she had 'ballooned to a size 16', the I'm A Celebrity Extra Camp star immediately blasted the accusations to MailOnline - declaring she is proud to be a normal twenty-something woman whose body changes. She explained: 'I am a size 10 and have been all year. 'Reunited with this stud': After an exciting meeting in London, the star then took to Instagram to reveal she had finally reunited with her beau John Noble for lunch with a cute selfie (above) 'I work really hard to keep my figure fit, strong and healthy, but I'm a real woman and occasionally my weight fluctuates.' She went on to explain that balance is key to staying healthy and happy, adding: 'I train hard, I eat right but most of all I enjoy life & urge all women out there to do the same.' After an exciting meeting in London, the MTV star then took to Instagram to reveal she had finally reunited with her beau John Noble for lunch, after time apart. Posting a sweet selfie of the pair at their table, she captioned the snap sweetly: 'Reunited with this stud... @johnnoblejn' Hitting back: Vicky was forced to blast claims she had put on weight last week, explaining: 'I work really hard to keep my figure fit... but I'm a real woman and occasionally my weight fluctuates' The pair's relationship appears to be going from strength to strength, after they were recently spotted shopping for their first house together. The couple were spotted house hunting in her native Newcastle last week - stealing a few quick kisses after embarking on a lengthy chat with their estate agent. While she only confirmed her romance with John in October, the Ex On The Beach babe recently explained the duo developed romantic feelings when they were a much younger age. She told Closer magazine: 'We actually went out when I was 20. I knew he was the right person, but it was the wrong time. 'Now it works. He's recycled, not shiny new. It's the best thing I ever did.' She's undergone a body transformation over the past year. And now, it would seem, the time's right for Scarlett Moffatt to have a hair makeover. Taking to her Instagram account, the Gogglebox star-turned-I'm A Celeb winner-turned TV presenter unveiled her new silver-tinted tresses to the world on Friday. Scroll down for video Scarlett goes silver! Miss Moffatt debuts shimmering new hair do... as she gears up to film rebooted series of Streetmate for Channel 4 'Silver Scarlett' - as she called herself - showed off her new do to her 1.3 million followers. 'Love it - really suits you!' commented on fan of the TV personality, as another gushed: 'Stunning colour...it really brings out your blue eyes!' Another fan simply wrote 'Streetmmmmmmattttee [sic]' referencing her new show, currently in production. Scarlett, 26, has taken the reins of the dormant Channel 4 dating series that partly launched the career of Davina McCall. Silver tipped: Taking to her Instagram account, the Gogglebox star-turned-I'm A Celeb winner-turned TV presenter unveiled her new silver-tinted tresses to the world on Friday Taking the reins: Streetkmate appears to be in full swing, as casting calls have gone out, the most recent one taking place in Bristol The series appears to be in full swing, as casting calls have gone out, the most recent one taking place in Bristol. After being crowned queen of the jungle in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, dropping 3 stone, relocating to London and nabbing a regular slot on Saturday Night Takeaway, Scarlett Moffatt is reportedly set to pen another book. The reality star is said to be in talks with publishers after the success of her last book Scarlett Says. As she was: After being crowned queen of the jungle in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, dropping 3 stone, relocating to London and nabbing a regular slot on Saturday Night Takeaway, Scarlett Moffatt is reportedly set to pen another book New look: She's undergone a body transformation over the past year. And now, it would seem, the time's right for Scarlett Moffatt to have a hair makeover A source told The Sun: 'Scarlett has been in talks with several publishers to write a new book. 'She knows that some of her ideas from her previous book have changed and she wants to get them down on paper. 'It has been a rollercoaster few months for Scarlett and she can't believe how fast things are moving.' The I'm A Celeb winner shocked fans when she dropped from 11st 5lbs to 8st, swapped her usual size 18 for a petite size 8. 'She can't believe how fast things are moving:' The reality star, 26, is said to be in talks with publishers after the success of her last book Queen of the jungle: Since her jungle win, the star has been offered a plethora of other TV work, including her new Streetmate gig and her new role on Saturday Night Takeaway Scarlett's star being on the rise since her I'm A Celebrity win means it was inevitable she'd get snatched away from the show that made her famous, Gogglebox, for other projects. The funny brunette replaced Ashley Roberts on Saturday Night Takeaway, and revealed the experience of presenting on live TV has been invaluable. And she has been making the most of her time on the show to learn from the best, fan favourite presenters Ant and Dec. Scarlett recently said: 'Ant and Dec have given me a lot of confidence, they keep telling me to be me and it's so nice to hear my heroes say that.' She is currently starring in Guerrilla, a gritty six-part Sky Atlantic drama about racial struggle and the Black Power Movement in 1970s London. And stunning Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto has now revealed that she decided she 'did not want to play the pretty girl', and insists on going for acting roles which she considers 'worth her time'. Speaking to Red magazine for their June issue, the actress, 32, discussed her relationship with former long-term boyfriend and Slumdog Millionaire co-star, BAFTA winner Dev Patel, 27. Scroll down for video Serious: Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto, 32, has revealed she decided she 'did not want to play the pretty girl', and insists on going for acting roles 'worth her time' The Rise of the Planet of the Apes star said she wants to be seen for more than her appearance. Freida said that before filming for Guerrilla, being seen as a pretty face was preventing her reaching her potential. She told the publication: 'I enjoyed the films I made, but my full potential wasnt explored. I didnt want to play the pretty girl. I was fed up of playing those little roles. I didnt relate to them. 'I have no problem with supporting characters, but I wanted one worth my time, that moved the plot around.' Worth more: The star said that before filming for Guerrilla, being seen as a pretty face was preventing her reaching her potential The Immortals actress also spoke about her ex Dev, 27, who is now dating Lion co-star Tilda Cobham-Hervey, 23. The pair met on the set of Danny Boyle's hit 2008 movie Slumdog Millionaire, before continuing to date for nearly six years. But despite the break up, the former couple have remained friends, and the talented actress is 'proud' of her super successful ex. She said: 'At the end of the day hes a fellow actor and my friend. Ive seen the hard work hes put in, and seeing it pay off [by winning the BAFTA] is the most beautiful thing. 'How could I not feel proud? He was fantastic in that film [Lion].' Former flames: Freida also discussed her relationship with former long-term boyfriend and Slumdog Millionaire co-star, BAFTA winner Dev Patel, 27 (pictured 2009) Long-term couple: The pair met on the set of Danny Boyle's hit 2008 movie before continuing to date for nearly six years The star, who has previously said the pair broke up after she had a 'quarter life crisis', said she learned from the relationship. She said: 'People come and go and everyone teaches you something. You need to embrace the good and bad, the ugly and beautiful. 'Im not a love guru. I dont have any tips on how to keep a break-up friendly. Just be open and honest.' And when asked about impact of the six year age gap between the former couple, she responded: 'When youre in a relationship, youre in a relationship. Youre in it because you love the person. 'Things like age and wealth, none of it matters. You make it work, thats it.' Quarter life crisis: Freida split with Slumdog Millionaire co-star Dev in 2014 after a long term relationship and is currently single Freida discussed the new series, which is set in London in 1971 and based around characters and events in the British Black Power movement during the 1970s. Her series co-stars include James Bond favourite Idris Elba and his fellow British star Babou Cessay. The trio address current hot topics of race, identity and political violence in the six-part drama. The star told Red magazine she did everything she could to get the part opposite acting idol Idris. She explained: 'I said, "No-one else can play this part. It is going to be me". Idris is fearless, and I want to work with fearless people. 'Hes generous with his talent. When hes on set, everyone is enamored by him, but he never acted starry.' Read the full interview in the June issue of Red magazine, on sale May 3 Freida, who currently lives in the US, is not just passionate about playing earthy, substantial roles on screen, but takes great interest in current events. The star said that with Donald Trump in charge, America does not feel like the same country to which she emigrated after her Slumdog success. She said: 'I am opinionated about the things I believe in. 'Sometimes people who dont like confrontation find it hard to be around me. 'Whats happening right now isnt just political, its inhumane. Its divisive. 'I have friends in the Muslim nations affected by the travel ban. This is not the US I came to. 'I was accepted after arriving from India and being in one film.' Read the full interview in the June issue of Red magazine, on sale May 3. For further exclusive content, please go to www.redonline.co.uk It was recently revealed that they have been sharing pregnancy tips while filming on their Channel 4 soap. Now Hollyoaks co-stars Chelsee Healey, 28, and Jennifer Metcalfe, 34, compared their ever-growing bumps as they settled into a day of filming on Friday. Former Strictly star Chelsee shared the image on her Instagram to her 188,000 followers as she lovingly held Jennifer's blossoming stomach while resting inbetween takes on set. Scroll down for video Bump buddies: Hollyoaks co-stars Chelsee Healey and Jennifer Metcalfe compared their ever-growing bumps as they settled into a day of filming on Friday Clad in matching black dresses, the former Waterloo Road star wrapped a red longline jacket around her frame while accessorising her ensemble with a leopard print scarf. The beauty - who plays Goldie McQueen on the Channel 4 soap - worked her red hot tresses into a soft curl while styling her mane at the top of her head with a complementing leopard print scrunchy. While Jennifer - who announced her pregnancy in February - relaxed on a chair in her olive coloured duster coat, cradling her eight-month bump and looking lovingly at her ever-growing stomach. The soap star - who plays Mercedes McQueen - appeared radiant as she filmed a number of scenes before she goes on maternity leave to welcome her first child with partner Greg Lake in the pic captioned: 'on set with our baba Bumps @missjenjomet'. Blossoming: While Jennifer - who announced her pregnancy in February - relaxed on a chair in her olive coloured duster coat, cradling her eight-month bump and looking lovingly at her ever-growing stomach Recently, Jennifer revealed that she has been sharing pregnancy tips with her fellow mother-to-be Chelsee. 'We have a little chat now and again, we're as bad as each other though,' she said in an interview with Channel 4. 'She's got the same attitude as me, we're both going to take it in our stride and see how it goes each day. 'The odd time one of us will find something out that the other one doesn't know we'll help each other out, we've had some emotional moments, it doesn't take much.' Adding: 'It's quite nice really because we're both going "What the hell is going on?"' A first: The soap star - who plays Mercedes McQueen - is set to she go on maternity leave to welcome her first child with partner Greg Lake Meanwhile, Chelsee - who soared to huge fame in 2006 when she starred as Janeece Bryant on Waterloo road - first announced that she was expecting with ex-jailbird boyfriend Jack Malloy in January. The Hollyoaks star split from beau and father-to-be Jack in July 2016 as she struggled to cope after he was jailed in November 2015. He was given 12 months for dangerous driving, using a vehicle without insurance and driving while disqualified. However, the two lovers quickly reconciled, and although Chelsee's pregnancy wasn't planned, she and Jack are thrilled about their upcoming arrival. Speaking to OK! magazine, Chelsee revealed: 'When I saw the test was positive I started crying, but they were happy tears. It wasnt something wed planned but now we are having a baby we couldnt be happier.' Expecting: Chelsee - who soared to huge fame in 2006 when she starred as Janeece Bryant on Waterloo road - first announced that she was expecting with ex-jailbird boyfriend Jack Malloy in January Jack, who Chelsee has been with (aside from the brief split) for three years, added: 'I can't wait to be a dad.' Chelsee is working with Hollyoaks producers to ensure that she will be able to juggle motherhood and playing the role of Goldie McQueen, which she took on in November 2016. A source told The Sun: 'This does not mean she will be leaving Hollyoaks. In fact, it signals a much more mature Chelsee, in a stable acting job in a long-running soap. 'Exec producer Bryan Kirkwood knew about her pregnancy very early on and plans are in place in terms of storylines and writing her in and out.' She has played a number of varied roles over the last few years, starring as both Disney princess Cinderella and a 19th century lady in a zombie apocalypse setting. But for her latest project, Lily James immersed herself in a WWII setting as she filmed new scenes for Guernsey in an impressive replica of a famous military aircraft. The actress, 28, was seen emerging from a Douglas C-47 Dakota jet in her period ensemble as she filmed a number of dramatic scenes on a desolate Devon beach on Friday. Scroll down for video In character: For her latest project, Lily James immersed herself in a WWII setting as she filmed new scenes for Guernsey in an impressive military aircraft Exciting: The actress, 28, was seen emerging from a Douglas C-47 Dakota jet in her period ensemble as she filmed a number of dramatic scenes in Devon on Friday (above) The War and Peace star looked very excited about the day ahead as she first watched the jet make a smooth and impressive landing on the desolate Devon beach. Emerging from the plane as her character Juliet, the British beauty looked worlds away from her usual glamorous self and instead in the throes of her convincing war-based role, as she shot a number of scenes from the airliner. First waving to the people on the beach in character, Lily was then seen exploring the jet during her break - laughing excitedly as she clambered down the steps from on board. Here we go: The War and Peace star looked very excited about the day ahead as she first watched the jet make a smooth and impressive landing on the desolate Devon beach Impressive: Emerging from the plane as her character Juliet, the British beauty looked worlds away from her usual glamorous self and instead in the throes of her convincing war-based role Let's go: She was first seen waving to the people on the beach in character Standing in the doorway and looking out at the stunning beach horizon, the actress happily chatted to the crew from the prop - expressing interest in the plane as she explored its details. With Lily later disembarking the aircraft, director Mike Newell then embarked on a number of stunning shots of just the plane itself landing on the beach. Dramatically taking to the skies, the aircraft soared high in the air as it circled the sands of the South West Coast, making for undoubtedly spectacular moments in the flick. Wow: Standing in the doorway and looking out at the stunning beach horizon, the actress happily chatted to the crew from the prop Interesting: She later expressed interest in the plane as she explored its details - matching the true facts of the original aircrafts Helping hand: A member of the production crew helped Lily get out of the plane as she took a break while director Mike Newell captured shots of just the plane itself Impressive:Dramatically taking to the skies, the aircraft soared high in the air as it circled the sands of the South West Coast, making for undoubtedly spectacular moments in the flick The original Douglas C-47 Skytrain was a transport aircraft used by the Allies of World War II - finding particular success in their campaigns in the jungles of New Guinea and Burma. The jet marked a progression from previous war planes, with a cargo door, strengthened floor, a hoist and an astrodome fitted, for better navigation and protection. More than 10,000 were produced in California at the time, and many were converted for civil airline use after the war - with some still being flown in 2012 - while others were converted into private modes of transport. Fascinating: The original Douglas C-47 Skytrain was a transport aircraft used by the Allies of World War II - finding particular success in their campaigns in New Guinea and Burma Covered up: Lily was later seen wandering her set location with a black puffer jacket layered on top as she protected herself from the chilly weather Lily was later seen wandering her set location with a black puffer jacket layered on top as she protected herself from the chilly weather. Wearing her 1940s costume underneath, Lily's tailored grey skirt could be seen peeking beneath her coat, teamed with a brown corduroy jacket and pale blue shirt. In a bid to keep warm, the brunette beauty also sported a pair of grey leggings and brown Ugg boots as she walked around the set. Wearing her long tresses pinned off her face in a hair net, the Downton Abbey star displayed her glowing complexion with minimal make-up. Keeping warm: The actress, 28, also sported a pair of grey leggings and brown Ugg boots as she walked around the set Period drama: Wearing her 1940s costume underneath, Lily's tailored grey skirt could be seen peeking beneath her coat Lily was seen stepping out of a replica World War II plane, which landed on the beach during filming on Friday. She appeared to be in good spirits despite the chilly weather, beaming as she took a stroll on the beach accompanied by a member of the production crew. The film, set after the Second World War, is a book adaptation and follows the story of journalist Juliet Ashton - played by Lily. Racy: The Downton Abbey star strips off completely in a steamy bedroom scene in her new movie The Exception Juliet decides to document the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a book club formed on Guernsey Island in the English Channel during the wartime. She then receives a letter from a farmer Dawsey, and after becoming pen pals, travels to the island to meet the members and write a book about the group. The film is based on the 2008 best-selling novel of the same name by Annie Barros and Mary Ann Shaffer, which was a New York Times bestseller list. High spirits: Lily beamed as she took a stroll on the beach, despite the chilly weather Natural beauty: Wearing her long tresses pinned off her face, the Downton Abbey star displayed her glowing complexion with minimal make-up It comes as a sneak peak of another historical movie The Exception starring Lily shows her going completely naked. She strips off for a steamy bedroom scene with co-star Jai Courtney, wearing nothing but a silver pendant. The World War II drama tells the story of German Nazi Captain Stefan Brandt, played by actor Jai. In character: The film, set after the Second World War, is a book adaptation of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and follows the story of journalist Juliet Ashton (Lily) Focused: In the flick, Juliet decides to document the society - a book club formed on Guernsey Island in the English Channel during the wartime - in her own novel Success: The film is based on the 2008 best-selling novel of the same name by Annie Barros and Mary Ann Shaffer, which was a New York Times bestseller list He tries to determine if the Dutch resistance has planted a spy to infiltrate the home of Kaiser Wilhelm in Holland at the onset of World War II. During his investigation, he falls for a young Jewish Dutch woman called Mieke de Jong, played by Lily. And it looks like she falls for him too if these latest images are anything to go by. The film, directed by David Leveaux, is scheduled to be released in June. Cute: Lily was seen giving a young co-star an embrace while on location in Devon Larking around: She appeared to be having a ball on the beach with her fellow castmates Time to leave: She was later seen getting back into the WWII replica plane while on set It was screened in the Special Presentations section at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. Lily notably garnered praise for her turn as Natasha Rostova in the acclaimed BBC adaptation of Tolstoy's War and Peace. She has also admitted that she would like to reprise her role as Lady Rose Aldridge (MacClare) in a big screen adaptation of Downton Abbey. Tag: Lily was seen running around with her fellow co-stars, including Glen Powell Fun: The actress seemed to be in very high spirits while on location for the 1940s movie Co-star: Lily was seen with fellow actress Jessica Brown Findlay while on location Looking the part: Jessica wore full period costume while on location in Devon Crew: Production team members were seen sitting on deck chairs as filming took place Enjoying herself: Lily seems to enjoy historical projects, starring in another war drama The Exception Describing her time playing Lady Rose as 'incredible', she revealed that she missed her costume - in particular the accessories. The actress is set to star in action thriller Baby Driver later this year, as well as the Winston Churchill movie Darkest Hour. Meanwhile Lily fellow actor Matt Smith for three years, with the former Doctor Who star most recently gaining praise for his appearance in the Netflix drama The Crown. He also has a busy schedule at the moment, with Matt set to star in new biopic Mapplethorpe. Another world: Lily is perhaps best known for playing quaint characters, such as Lady Rose MacClare in Downton Abbey She jetted off to the Maldives with boyfriend James Dunmore three weeks ago and shared every moment with her one and half million Instagram followers. And returning to the UK hasn't stopped Lucy Watson flaunting her idyllic getaway as she shared a throwback snap on Friday. The former Made In Chelsea star, 26, showed off her spectacular figure in the picture which showed her lounging on a rock clad in a tiny black bikini. Scroll down for video 'Missing da island life': Lucy Watson showed off her incredible bikini body in a throwback snap to her idyllic Maldives getaway with beau James Dunmore on Friday Lucy looked lithe as she posed with one leg raised, the other dangling off the rock and her head turned to the camera as she surveyed the white sandy beach. She donned a black bikini with a halterneck top and bottoms secured with side ties. The reality star displayed her glowing tan in the throwback snap and rocked a beachy hair style with her raven locks flowing down her shoulders. Instagram queen: The former Made In Chelsea star delights in sharing bikini snaps with her one and a half million followers, such as this one where she shows off her toned midriff and perky bust in a black halterneck bikini top and bottoms secured with side ties Lucy wore a pair of retro round lens sunglasses in the holiday picture which she captioned: 'missing da island life' (sic). The brunette beauty and her Made In Chelsea co-star James have been an item for two years. They began dating in early 2015, after meeting on the London-based show. Two years together: Lucy marked her two-year anniversary with former co-star James Dunmore by posting a sweet picture of the pair aboard a boat And the pair celebrated their two-year anniversary in the luxurious Milaidhoo island, a tiny tropical island in the Maldives. Lucy marked the occasion by sharing an Instagram photo of the loved up couple beaming aboard a boat. She looked predictably glamorous in the snap with her dark locks slicked back into a chic ponytail and showed off her sculpted shoulders and glowing tan in a patterned black-and-white camisole. Jealous much? In one envy-inducing snap, she posed thigh-deep in the beautiful azure waters of the Indian Ocean Her hunky boyfriend gave the camera his best Blue Steel gaze in the romantic picture. The pair share a love of exotic holidays and have travelled to Australia, Barbados and Spain together. Lucy posted a stream of envy-inducing snaps of their most recent break to the Maldives on Instagram, ensuring that her followers did not miss out on a moment of her sun-soaked, beach-lounging, bikini-wearing getaway. Kim Kardashian said she's thrilled she has lost 10lbs before the big 2017 Met Gala event that will take place in New York City on Monday. And it's obvious the 36-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star is excited to attend the splashy party held at the Metropolitan Museum Of Art. On Friday the wife of Kanye West shared on kimkardashianwest.com three behind-the-scenes shots from her appearance at the 2015 Met Gala. A new look at an old look: Kim Kardashian shared never-seen-before behind-the-scenes photos from getting ready for Met Gala 2015 on her website Clever: The Selfish author added: 'I was two months pregnant with Saint at the time, so I was trying to hide it' 'For the 2015 Met Gala, I wore a custom Roberto Cavalli gown by Peter Dundas,' the siren began. 'It was the first dress Peter designed for Roberto Cavalli!' The Selfish author added: 'I was two months pregnant with Saint at the time, so I was trying to hide it.' But it worked! 'For my glam, Mario Dedivanovic did my makeup and Peter Savic did my hair. At first, we did a Samurai bun and then switched it up to a sleek ponytail' The finished look: Kim and Kanye on the steps of the Met Gala in 2015; she is expected to be at the event in NYC on Monday The cover girl also said: 'My inspiration for the dress came from Chers look at the first-ever Met Gala. I was surreal to meet her later that night.' Cher wore the look in 1974. The dress was created by Bob Mackie, best known for his work with Joan Collins on TV's Dynasty. 'For my glam, Mario Dedivanovic did my makeup and Peter Savic did my hair. At first, we did a Samurai bun and then switched it up to a sleek ponytail.' Kim is expected to pull off another showstopper on Monday. What made it happen: Kim said she was inspired by Cher's Bob Mackie gown in 1974; here the singer is seen with friend Paulette Betts The theme is Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between, an exhibit that examines the work of the famed 74-year-old Japanese fashion designer over the span of 40-some years. Katy Perry is one of the hosts. 'People always think that shes a postmodernist because she uses what appears to be deconstruction,' said Andrew Bolton, the head curator at the Costume Institute, told The Cut. 'But her constant search for originality or newness is the defining feature of her work.' More from the photo booth: Kim posed with blonde stylist Simone Harouche on Friday while shooting a special for the 10 year anniversary of KUWTK The clothing is from Kawakubos archive, and according to the Met, 'objects will be organized into eight aesthetic expressions of interstitiality in Kawakubos work: Fashion/Anti-Fashion, Design/Not Design, Model/Multiple, Then/Now, High/Low, Self/Other, and Clothes/Not Clothes.' Also on Friday, Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner took to Snapchat to celebrate a decade on the air with KUWTK In one post, the 19-year-old cosmetics queen said 'Oh my God!' as she flashed an image with Khloe, 32, where she was licking her chest. The photo was hung up on a wall. Bad girl: Kylie Jenner shared this Snapchat on Thursday while in a studio to take the 10 year anniversary of Keeping Up With The Kardashians The image was taken from a photo booth. Kim and blonde stylist Simone Harouche are also seen in the same booth where they flashed peace signs. Also on Snapchat Khloe shared a photo of 40-ounce bottle of rose wine. The girlfriend of Tristan Thompson was then seen eating a slice of cake. The ladies appeared to be in a photo studio with their glam team. All made up: Khloe puckered up as she posed in front of hair stylist Jen Atkin Party on: Khloe Kardashian shared a photo of a 40 ounce bottle of rose It was hinted that they are filming a 10-year anniversary special to air on E! The special most likely will be a part of the regular show which is now on season 13. Kim, Khloe and Kylie were all styled and glammed to the nines, so it was obvious they were taping something. Back in the day: In 2007 when the show launched. (L to R) Bruce, Kris, Kourtney, Kim and Khloe The start of something crazy: Here the family posed in front of their more modest Calabasas home; Kris has since upgraded to a mansion Yes, she used to dress this way: Kim, now 36, in 2007 at a fashion event The show launched in 2007 after Kris Jenner created the series along with Ryan Seacrest and Eliot Goldberg. Kim was hot after the release of her sex tape with Ray J. Soon after, the Calabasas native posed for Playboy magazine. Soon after the show debuted: Kris, Bruce, Khloe, Kourtney and Kim in 2008 The series proved successful for E!, and has led to the creations of spin-offs including Kourtney And Kim Take New York and Kourtney And Kim Take Miami as well as Dash Dolls and Rob & Chyna. The current season of KUWTK has been focusing on the stress Kim feels after her Paris jewel heist in October 2016. It also takes a look at Rob Kardashian troubled engagement to Blac Chyna. Together they have daughter Dream, who was born in November. Keeping Up with the Kardashians airs Sundays (9 p.m. ET) on E! Growing pains: Here Lamar Odom was in the picture in 2013 as well as Scott Disick Kourtney Kardashian had a blast during her booze-fueled trip to Mexico with sister Kim. And it seems the 38-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star is already missing the getaway. On Friday the mother-of-three shared an image where she was lounging by the pool in a red swimsuit that had Mamacita written on the front. This comes the day after she was seen back to the grind at a studio in LA filming a 10-year-anniversary special for her hit family reality series. Hot stuff: Kourtney Kardashian shared on Friday an old image from her trip to Mexico Just the girls: The 36-year-old stunner had a blast while going wild with her female friends Mamacita means 'hot mama' in Spanish. It also was the nickname of Joan Crawford's maid, who became a popular character on Ryan Murphy's Feud: Bette And Joan 10-episode series. Kourtney added a large pair of pink-tinted aviator sunglasses. Magic hour: The reality beauty shared a shot of her enjoying a beautiful sunset, which she captioned 'cielo magico,' meaning 'magic sky' Tender is the night: Kourtney captioned this evening shot of her and pal Nicole Reda 'en la noche' The star was not just sunbathing but also texting. In her caption the eldest Kardashian daughter wrote, 'Multitasking.' Sharing more images of the idyllic vacation, the starlet posted two more captions en Espanol. A picture of the black haired beauty in front of a pink sunset read, 'Cielo Magico', which means 'magic sky.' Girl time: The ladies held hands as they stood side-by-side in this image shared by a friend Life's a beach: The star snapped her gorgeous beachfront digs Back in LA on Thursday filming her show Another picture of the reality starlet shows her enjoying the nighttime with pal Nicole Reda and is captioned 'en la noche.' Sadly, the trip is over. On Thursday the star looked grumpy as she headed into a studio to shoot more scenes for her E! show. She was covered up, but all made up. Kourtney shared several bikini snaps while on her trip. The most dating was shared on Wednesday when she wore a sexy black two piece. The Instagram snap Kourtney posted was of her and her pals flashing peace signs as they posed beside their beachfront resort's pool. Wow: Kourtney shared several bikini snaps while on her trip. The most dating was shared on Wednesday when she wore a sexy black two piece Kourtney's girlfriends wore matching violet sunglasses and blue bathing suits that read SPF 1942 and showed off plenty of skin. 'Calabasas Mom Crew,' the snap was captioned. In a second snap, Kourtney played with her ponytail as she gave a puckered up expression for the camera while resting with her friends. Making a run for it! The mom shared a snap video of herself dashing towards the water while clad in an especially cheeky black bikini Making waves: The mother-of-three looked incredible in her tiny black two piece But it wasn't all just fun at the pool for Kourtney. The mom shared a snap video of herself making a run for it towards the water while clad in an especially cheeky black bikini. Kourtney is currently with sister Kim Kardashian, and several other girl friends, including Larsa Pippen. Red hot! The star sizzled in an itty bitty bikini Showing off what she's got: Here she pulled up her red top to show off her underboob Kim has been keeping fans up-to-date on their ridiculous antics on Twitter, revealing Kourtney 'threw up in her bed' and even 'slept in it.' The reality star tweeted: 'So I'm gonna give u guys a play by play of the trip so far. '@kourtneykardash threw up in her bed 4 times and slept in it.' She later added: 'Oh and @kourtneykardash won't stop doing naked cart wheels.' Kourtney's been in Punta Mita, Mexico these last few days with her girlfriends for her 38th birthday, which she celebrated on April 18. Single ladies: Here the star pouted as Larsa Pippen was seen behind her Also on Friday Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner took to Snapchat on Thursday to celebrate a decade on the air. In one post, the 19-year-old cosmetics queen said 'Oh my God!' as she flashed an image with Khloe, 32, where she was licking her chest. The photo was hung up on a wall. The image was taken from a photo booth. Kim and blonde stylist Simone Harouche are also seen in the same booth where they flashed peace signs. With Kim: The reality star, seen here with her sister, said she drank too much Bottoms up: The beauty also said she three up three or four times in her bed Also on Snapchat Khloe shared a photo of 40-ounce bottle of rose wine. The girlfriend of Tristan Thompson was then seen eating a slice of cake. The ladies appeared to be in a photo studio with their glam team. It was hinted that they are filming a 10-year anniversary special to air on E! Pal: Here Kourtney pouts as she poses with two pals on the trip The special most likely will be a part of the regular show which is now on season 13. Kim, Khloe and Kylie were all styled and glammed to the nines, so it was obvious they were taping something. The show launched in 2007 after Kris Jenner created the series along with Ryan Seacrest and Eliot Goldberg. So 10 years ago! Keeping Up With The Kardashians hit the airwaves in 2007 Kim was hot after the release of her sex tape with Ray J. Soon after, the Calabasas native posed for Playboy magazine. The series proved successful for E!, and has led to the creations of spin-offs including Kourtney And Kim Take New York and Kourtney And Kim Take Miami as well as Dash Dolls and Rob & Chyna. The current season of KUWTK has been focusing on the stress Kim feels after her Paris jewel heist in October 2016. It also takes a look at Rob Kardashian troubled engagement to Blac Chyna. Together they have daughter Dream, who was born in November. Keeping Up with the Kardashians airs Sundays (9 p.m. ET) on E! Tim Wu, the Colombia University law professor and anti-trust/competition expert who coined the term "Net Neutrality," has published an open letter to Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the web and director of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Wu wrote to Berners-Lee to thank him for his yeoman duty in fighting for net neutrality a live issue that has acquired a new and regrettable urgency thanks to the Dingo Babysitter that Trump put in charge of the FCC. But Wu goes on to draw a connection between the problems of DRM and the problems of network discrimination: DRM is wrapped up in a layer of legal entanglements (notably section 1201 of America's Digital Millennium Copyright Act), which allow similar kinds of anticompetitive and ugly practices that make net neutrality so important. This is a live issue, too, because the W3C just held the most contentious vote in its decades-long history, on whether to publish a DRM standard for the web without any of the proposed legal protections for companies that create the kinds of competing products and services that the law permits, except when DRM is involved. As Wu points out, this sets up a situation where the incumbents get to create monopolies that produce the same problems for the open web that network neutrality advocates like Berners-Lee worry about. It's impossible to overstate Wu's standing and credibility in the area of network neutrality and anti-competitive conduct as someone who's played a role as both scholar and regulator, he understands the issues from many sides. The decision on whether to allow the W3C's large corporate members to use its process to acquire new, dangerously anticompetitive tools is in Berners-Lee's hands. Let's hope he make the right call for all our sakes. Tim Wu Professor Columbia University School of Law New York City April 27, 2017 Dear Tim, Forgive my writing to you out of the blue, but I was moved to write by your vocal and welcome support for net neutrality, to comment on one particular aspect of the ongoing EME debate. I wanted to write to you and respectfully ask you to seriously consider extending a protective covenant to legitimate circumventers who have cause to bypass EME, should it emerge as a W3C standard. My reasoning is as follows. I read your thoughtful blog post written in February of this year, and I agree that the challenge here is not an easy one. DRM is out of sync with the way the web is, but will nonetheless be relied upon by many content providers no matter what the web does. And as you put, "it is good for the web to be able to include movies, and so for that, it is better for HTML5 to have EME than to not have it." And EME does ease the burdens of today's browser vendors and media companies if they want ensure that their products and services interoperate. But my concern is different than some of those I've been reading about. I think more thinking need be done about EME's potential consequences for competition, both as between browsers, the major applications, and in ways unexpected. Control of chokepoints has always and will always be a fundamental challenge facing the Internet as we both know. That's the principal concern of net neutrality, and has been a concern when it comes to browsers and their associated standards. It is not hard to recall how close Microsoft came, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, to gaining de facto control over the future of the web (and, frankly, the future) in its effort to gain an unsupervised monopoly over the browser market. EME, of course, brings the anti-circumvention laws into play, and as you may know anti-circumvention laws have a history of being used for purposes different than the original intent (i.e., protecting content). For example, soon after it was released, the U.S. anti-circumvention law was quickly by manufacturers of inkjet printers and garage-door openers to try and block out aftermarket competitors (generic ink, and generic remote controls). The question is whether the W3C standard with an embedded DRM standard, EME, becomes a tool for suppressing competition in ways not expected. Here's an example. Let's say a teacher or book publisher depends on accessing public domain materials, such as are widely available on the web, but for whatever reason those materials are being locked, by default, by EME so that the freedoms even afforded by copyright become unavailable, including use of public domain works or fair use. My larger point is that I think the history of the anti-circumvention laws suggests is hard to predict how no one quite predicted the inkjet market would be affected. But given the power of those laws, the potential for anti-competitive consequences certainly exists. I also think we need to remember the lesson from the 1990s: we can't afford to allow browsers or the web to serve as the lever for anti-competitive behavior the web is so important that it will always be a target. The question is whether EME, instituted without any protection for legitimate circumvention, makes it easier to use a browser as an anticompetitive tool. I think some kind of covenant certainly makes it less likely that it will be abused, and that's why the idea should be taken seriously, Thank you and best wishes, Tim Wu Dear Tim [Tim Wu/Columbia University Law School] (Images: Teachout/Wu for New York, CC-BY-SA; Paul Clarke, CC-BY-SA) Oscar Isaac and his girlfriend Elvira Lind have welcomed their first child together. And this happy news comes after Elvira's documentary Bobbi Jene won three awards at the Tribeca Film Festival this week, including Best Documentary Feature. The 35-year-old sent a video acceptance speech, which showed her cradling the newborn in her arms on Friday. Arrived: Oscar Isaac, 38, and his girlfriend Elvira Lind, 35, have welcomed their first child together on Friday; (pictured April) What a day: Elvira's documentary Bobbi Jene won at the Tribeca Film Festival and Elvira gave the acceptance speech via video holding the newborn In the video, posted on Twitter by @cinespons, she said: 'I am so grateful to you all and thank you to the jury. I'm beyond words, it's amazing. If I could, I would be dancing, I would be jumping with joy all week long. Thank you, thank you.' And Elvira later added on Twitter: '..what a week it has been. A little lost for words.' The couple have not released any details about the baby but Star Wars: The Force Awakens star Oscar, 38, previously revealed they were expecting a boy. Meanwhile, Oscar recently spoke about how fortunate he feels that he got to spend as much time as possible with his own mother before she died. Together: The couple met in 2012, one month before he began shooting his critically acclaimed Inside Llewyn Davis; (pictured September) The actor's mother Maria discovered she was suffering from a serious illness last October, so Oscar shelved as many of his work commitments as possible to be with her. During the final months of her life before she passed away in February, Oscar did as many special things as he could with Maria, including taking her to the Golden Globes. He also flew her to Madrid, Spain, so she could see his latest movie The Promise being made and showed her a cut of the film, and he is grateful for all the moments they shared. Reveal: Isaac only confirmed he was dating filmmaker Lind when they arrived at the Golden Globes together in January 2016 The 38-year-old Hollywood star said: 'I was really fortunate to be able to just be with her the entire time and not be off on some set somewhere.' 'At first, we didn't know how ill she was, and she didn't either, but as things progressed, it was much easier to say no to things.' 'At a certain point, it was like, clearly, "I'm not going to be doing anything."' Secrets: The couple have not released any details about the baby but Oscar previously revealed they were expecting a boy Ex On The Beach stars Jordan Davies and Joshua Ritchie were said to be arrested while shopping in Birmingham on Friday for presumed disorderly behaviour. However, both West Midlands Police and British Transport Police have since said on Saturday that they had not made any arrests at that specific location or at that time on Friday. On closer inspection, the police officers that executed the arrest were not wearing uniforms with the appropriate West Midlands Police insignia on it, further adding to the confusion. Scroll down for video Arrested: Ex On The Beach stars Jordan Davies and Joshua Ritchie were arrested in Birmingham on Friday The officers' walkie talkies also appeared to have stickers stuck to their screens, rather than an actual functioning LED display. It has since been said that this was in fact a PR stunt, supported also by Geordie Shore star Sarah Goodhart, who was also there but not 'arrested'. This marries up to the fact that paparazzi were on the ready for the supposed arrests; and it has since come out that the reality trio had attempted to shoot a PR stunt in the new Bullring shopping centre, but were refused permission. It seems that they were left with nowhere to do it but outside on the street, where the whole scenario drew attention from by-passing shoppers. Fake? The officers' walkie talkies also appeared to have stickers stuck to their screens, rather than an actual functioning LED display Led away: Jordan was seen being led away by a policeman while in handcufffs Smiling: Josh was also taken away in handcuffs outside the Bullring in Birmingham A spokeswoman for the Bullring has told the Birmingham Mail: 'We are aware that a PR stunt was carried out in the vicinity of our Birmingham centre yesterday afternoon. 'All people involved were actors and the activity was carried out by a third party agency without our prior approval.' It is also said that permission by Digbeth Police Station had been granted for the publicity stunt to take place in the city. Jordan, 24, and Joshua, 22, had posted on social media about their Birmingham trip ahead of the situation on Friday afternoon. Amused: Joshua was dressed in a black bomber jacket and ripped jeans when he was led away by an officer Big smile: Joshua appeared to be laughing as he was taken away in handcuffs Handcuffed: The pair were taken away by police. It is not clear what they were arrested for Not amused: Joshua was seen pulling a face as he was taken away in handcuffs by police Both men were seen being led away by police in handcuffs outside the Bullring. In video footage, Joshua is seen being arrested first, with Jordan arrested afterwards after being given a 'final warning' by police. Sarah was sure to play the role of roving reporter, over-compensating for the action on her Twitter account: 'F**kin absolute joke this. Just been to the station with @JordanWeekender and @ritchie_joshua. Poor b******s still in there!! Fuming! [sic]' Laying it on thick, she added: 'Honestly you couldn't write it, I don't even know where to start.' Protestations: The group were heard protesting in a video as the police made the arrests Stopped: The duo were stopped by police while out shopping in Birmingham on Friday Disbelief: Geordie Shore's Scotty T later took to Twitter to say he 'can't believe' the pair were arrested Although it now appears you could, in fact, write it. Sarah tweeted aware over the course of nearly a day, with no explanation as to where her friends were of what they were doing. A representative for the pair told MailOnline that they understood the pair had been arrested, but nothing further. They have now been re-approached for comment. The trio are believed to have been shopping in the city centre when the suppposed arrests were made. First arrest: In video footage, Joshua is seen being arrested first. It is not yet clear why he was arrested Also arrested: Jordan was seen being arrested afterwards after being given a 'final warning' by police Onlookers: Fellow shoppers were seen watching as the pair were taken away by police Taken away: A representative for Jordan and Joshua said they understood that the pair had both been arrested, but were unable to provide any more details One of the officers appears to tell Jordan he is being arrested under Section 5 of the Public Disorder Act, which is for disorderly behaviour. In the footage, Jordan - who is Megan McKenna's ex-boyfriend - is heard describing the incident as a 'joke'. The pair were both seen smiling as they were led away by officers - further adding to the suggestion that this is in deed a stunt. Dramatic: Onlookers captured the moment Joshua was stopped by an officer and arrested Eventful day out: Joshua appeared to be bemused by the whole situation as he was taken away Bewildered: Sarah and Joshua are seen laughing, apparently bewildered about what was happening Reality stars: Joshua rose to fame on Love Island and starred on Ex On The Beach earlier this year Grimace: A shopper is seen capturing the moment Joshua was taken away on her phone Not in the script: Social media users tweeted their amazement at the pair being arrested Earlier in the day, Jordan wrote: 'Bit of shopping & food in Bull ring in Brum with @ritchie_joshua [sic].' Joshua retweeted his pal's post, adding: 'Yes yes'. Geordie Shore's Scotty T later took to Twitter to say he 'can't believe' the pair were arrested. Trio: Jordan, Joshua and Sarah are believed to have been shopping in the city when the arrests took place Discussion: The trip were seen talking to police while near the Bullring in Birmingham Unclear: It is not yet known what Jordan and Joshua were arrested for or whether they remain in police custody 'Joke': In a video showing the arrest, Jordan is heard describing the incident as a 'joke' City centre: Onlookers were seen capturing the dramatic scenes on their phones as the police spoke to Joshua and Jordan Jordan soared to fame on Magaluf Weekender and previously dated TOWIE star Megan during their first stint on Ex On The Beach in 2015. They fell in love on the show before returning last year, when he popped the question. Joshua meanwhile rose to fame on Love Island and starred on Ex On The Beach earlier this year. Warning: In video footage showing the incident, an officer is heard giving Jordan a 'final warning' before he is arrested Lost? The trio were seen looking at a map while in Birmingham city centre prior to the arrests Casual: Jordan was earlier seen looking on his phone as he stood next to a map of the city Looks like this model was one of the lucky ones to get the call that the Fyre Festival was a bust. As hundreds of festival goers, who shelled out thousands of dollars, battled to get home from the Fyre Festival, Bella Hadid spent the day in the lap of luxury on Friday. Many shelled out up to $13,000 to party alongside the 20-year-old and her model mates but she never left Miami to join them. What drama? As hundreds of festival goers who shelled out thousands of dollars battled to get home from the Fyre Festival, Bella Hadid spent the day in the lap of luxury on Friday No sweat off her back: A number of A-listers, Bella included it seems, got the heads up early that the supposedly luxury festival location in the Bahamas was not up to scratch A number of A-listers, Bella included it seems, got the heads up early that the supposedly luxury festival location in the Bahamas was not up to scratch. So instead of flying out from Miami - which served as the travel base for those headed to the festival - Bella kicked back by the pool. Getting a chance to catch some rays in a tiny weeny bikini was obviously a very different experience to those left at the festival site or sleeping in the airport trying to get home. While those at Fyre battled over water and were fed cheese sandwiches - if they were lucky - the model had drink and food waiters ready to fetch her whatever her heart desired. Just chilling: Many shelled out up to $13,000 to party alongside the 20-year-old and her model mates but she never left Miami to join them As Bella stretched out on her crisp white high thread count towel-covered pool chair, festival goers were lining up for hours to get a flight home or facing another night on wet mattresses in FEMA-style tents. It is also safe to say that the beauty did not have to worry about hoards of feral dogs as she and her friend Fanny Bourdette-Donon relaxed. If she was concerned about her name being connected to one of the most poorly executed festivals in living music memory, Bella was not showing it. Nice spot: So instead of flying out from Miami - which served as the travel base for those headed to the festival - Bella kicked back by the pool Different vine: Getting a chance to catch some rays in a tiny weeny bikini was obviously a very different experience to those left at the festival site or sleeping in the nearby airport trying to get home No tents here: As Bella stretched out on her crisp white high thread count towel-covered pool chair, festival goers were lining up for hours to get a flight home or facing another night on wet mattresses in FEMA-style tents It's tough: It is also safe to say that the beauty did not have to worry about hoards of feral dogs as she and her friend Fanny Bourdette-Donon relaxed She and Fanny chatted away and checked out their phones poolside. Ready to beat the Miami heat before it became too unbearable, Bella popped into the pool. The catwalk star gingerly walked down the luxury hotel's pool stairs before putting her shoulders under the cool waters. Not worried: If she was concerned about her name being connected to one of the most poorly executed festivals in living music memory, Bella was not showing it Almost got uncomfortable: Ready to beat the Miami heat before it became too unbearable, Bella popped into the pool That's better: The catwalk star gingerly walked down the luxury hotel's pool stairs before putting her shoulders under the cool waters For her pool day, Bella showed off her famous frame in a cheeky white bikini. The white swimsuit featured a white fixed triangle bra which was classic and understated. But the model turned up the heat thanks to her daring bottoms which were a Brazilian, almost thong, cut. White hot: For her pool day, Bella showed off her famous frame in a cheeky white bikini That's a bit cheeky: The model turned up the heat thanks to her daring bottoms which were a Brazilian, almost thong, cut Topping it off: The white swimsuit featured a white fixed triangle bra which was understated The brief bottoms left her derriere exposed and she wore the adjustable straps up and over her hips. Aside from the barely-there bathers, Bella kept the sun off her face with a straw fedora. The 20-year-old also added some bling wearing a gold chain and some crucifix earrings. Hike it up: The brief bottoms left her derriere exposed and she wore the adjustable straps up and over her hips As Bella tanned and relaxed, the festival which she helped to promote was due to start - if it had not been cancelled on Friday morning. Bella along with Elsa Hosk, Emily Ratajkowsk, Lais Ribeiro, Gizele Oliveira and Rose Bertram were invited to the island in December 'to give feedback' on the festival launch. Their visit was video tapped and used to encourage people to buy tickets to the music festival. Pre-party: Bella along with Elsa Hosk, Emily Ratajkowsk, Lais Ribeiro, Gizele Oliveira and Rose Bertram were invited to the island in December 'to give feedback' on the festival launch Join us? Their visit was video tapped and used to encourage people to go to the music festival Bella also posted numerous social media shots of herself enjoying her vacation in the Bahamas. It is not known if the star and her beautiful pals actually visited the private island located in Exumas that the festival was held on or another one in the cay. Bella's and the other models' Instagram snaps certainly did not look like those being posted by those who arrived early at the festival. Looked nice! Bella also posted numerous social media shots of herself enjoying her vacation in the Bahamas Pictures on social media by those at Fyre showed half-built tents, wet mattresses, mountains of trash. Those on site claimed there was rat droppings everywhere dogs wandering around, thugs looting alcohol and no electricity. Some claim there was not enough water and despite the promise of gourmet food there was little more than sad sandwiches for a lucky few and chips for the rest of the crowd. Red alert! Hailey Baldwin was another star who plugged the event on social media, however, she was pictured while strolling through Soho in scarlet on Friday Lady in red: The 20-year-old strode through Soho in an all-scarlet outfit of a Givenchy sweatshirt and Danielle Guizio tracksuit pants Gorgeous: Tying her long blonde hair back, she showed off a pair of large golden hoops and minimal make-up Writer William Finley, who paid $8,999 to attend the festival, expected to spend the weekend in 'the lodge' package, complete with four king beds and all-inclusive meals. 'A three-to-four-night stay in a four-room lodge, youre seeing A-list acts and youd get there by private jet, its a steal,' said Finley to the LA Times. After arriving to tents that were used by FEMA for disaster relief, Finley said that the grounds reminded him more of an apocalyptic movie. 'It looked like the set of Outbreak. There were hundreds of tents. Beds everywhere. Nothing was finished,' said Finley. Not so exclusive: Pictures on social media by those at Fyre showed half-built tents, wet mattresses, mountains of trash Nom, nom: Some claim there was not enough water and despite the promise of gourmet food there was little more than sad sandwiches for a lucky few and chips for the rest of the crowd While the website promised 'chef-curated culinary pop ups' one reveller posted a picture of a basic cheese sandwich served out of a polystyrene box Festival organizers said Friday that the event had been 'fully postponed' due to 'unforeseen and extenuating circumstances' while Bahamas tourism bosses have today offered 'heartfelt apologies'. Ticket prices ranged from $400 for a day pass to more than $12,750 for a VIP package including flights from Miami, ocean view accommodation in a 'rustic tent' and four festival passes. According to Page Six A-listers - which may have included Bella - were warned not to head to the site. All over: Festival organizers said Friday that the event had been 'fully postponed' due to 'unforeseen and extenuating circumstances' while Bahamas tourism bosses have today offered 'heartfelt apologies' A source told Page Six: 'They called all the A-list names and the modeling agencies and told them not to come. They were just like, ''Oh, come next weekend when all the kinks have been worked out.'' This was before the chaos even started.' Co-organizer Ja Rule took to Twitter to apologize for Fyre Fest saying it was: 'NOT A SCAM. We are working right now on getting everyone of[f] the island SAFE that is my immediate concern... I will make a statement soon I'm heartbroken at this moment my partners and I wanted this to be an amazing event it was NOT A SCAM as everyone is reporting. 'I don't know how everything went so left but I'm working to make it right by making sure everyone is refunded... I truly apologize as this is NOT MY FAULT... but I'm taking responsibility I'm deeply sorry to everyone who was inconvenienced by this...' While the festival website had promised 'chef-curated culinary pop ups' one reveller posted a picture of a basic cheese sandwich served out of a polystyrene box. Paying guests were told they could expect to stay in 'modern, eco-friendly, geodesic domes' while the super-rich had the option of upgrading to hire yachts for more than $100,00. However, people arriving on site last night expecting to be pampered with luxurious VIP service likened the 'cabanas' accommodation to disaster zone relief tents. Others reported seeing piles of rubbish and an empty 'concierge' hut in front of piles of unopened boxes. Pictures emerged online of the 'luxury food court' with people sitting on folding chairs next to a school bus. Festival-goers were pictured waiting around for news in darkness. Organisers said there had been some 'growing pains' Revelers reported being lured into buying tickets by the promotional material, which included A-list models on jet-skis and palm-fringed beaches A performance line-up over two weekends boasted the likes of Pusha T, Tyga, Blink 182, Major Lazer, Skepta and Disclosure. But last night Blink 182 pulled out of the event. The band said in a message to fans: 'Regrettably and after much careful consideration, we want to let you know that we won't be performing at Fyre Fest in the Bahamas this weekend and next weekend. 'We're not confident that we would have what we need to give you the quality of performances we always give our fans.' Pictures emerged online of the 'luxury food court' with people sitting on folding chairs next to a school bus One Twitter user described the festival as 'Rich Kids of Instagram meets Lord of the Flies'. One festival go-er, Tilly Smith, has revealed she was planning on fly to the Fyre festival this week with 30 friends who had spent over $1,300 each thinking they were going to enjoy an experience of a lifetime. Miss Smith was named the 'Angel of the Tsunami' as a ten-year-old schoolgirl when she saved her family and hundreds of Thai people by warning a Tsunami was about to hit the beach. One Twitter user, Lamaan, posted a picture of a row of white tents in the darkness along with the message: 'Stuck at #fyrefestival trying to leave for the last 8 hours. barely any food or water or security or electricity' The 22-year-old and her friends had been lured into shelling out a total of $15,500 on tickets alone for the festival by promises of flights on a private jet to the festival site and photos of supermodels frolicking in the warm Bahamas sea. She said: 'The Fyre festival homepage made it seem so amazing. It was being hailed as the festival of the year with loads of A-list celebs supposed to be going and a line up of really good musical stars. 'We thought it was just going to be out of this world. The photos on the Fyre homepage were sensational, lots of famous models like Bella Hadid playing in the sand and sea, promises of five-star boutique camping with even waiter service and gourmet food. 'We were even going to be whisked from Miami by private jet to the festival, it just seemed like a once in a lifetime thing that was going to be fantastic. 'Worse than a refugee camp' One festival-goer mocked the flimsy tents at Fyre Fest Revelers anticipating luxury were expected to stay in these flimsy tents akin to trashbags 'There was stuff about it all over social media with celebs talking about it and stars posting about it on their Instagram. We thought we were going to be living it up in luxury instead of slumming it like you normally do at a festival. 'All of us were so excited, we all fell for it and decided we'd go as a big group. It's all we've been talking about for weeks.' Sorry: Co-organizer Ja Rule (pictured Tuesday) took to Twitter to apologize for Fyre Fest saying it was, 'NOT A SCAM' Miss Smith and her group were due to jet out this week to Miami where they were going to enjoy a couple of days in the sunshine before being taken by private jet to the Bahamas where the festival was due to take place over two weekends. But in the early hours of Friday morning Tilly, who works for a Yacht chartering company in London, received a phone call from a friend who had gone ahead of the group and had already arrived at the festival. She said: 'He was absolutely gutted. He said the place was a complete dump, just a rain soaked mud bowl. There was basically nothing there. The boutique tents hadn't been put up, The stages were tiny. He said there was filth everywhere and more worryingly really fierce dogs running about. He said angry locals had started threatening people as well. 'He said basically it was worse than a refugee camp.' She added: 'I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was so upset, we all are. We just feel we've all been victims of one big scam. 'How can they have posted glamorous photos like that and promised all the stuff they did and then it turn out the way it has? The organisers can't have had anything properly in place for this to happen.' 'But they just seemed to carry on taking the money right up until the day it opened.' Toilet troubles: This is a picture of the toilet facilities at the 'luxury' Fyre Festival in the Bahamas. Some guests paid up to guests who paid 10,000 to soak up the festival experience There were also reports in the festival grounds that booze was being looted while others said up to $60,000 of alcohol had been given away to 'keep people happy'. So-called 'influencers' brought in to raise the profile of the event were reportedly promised free food and drink - but were instead told to pay for everything. Tents were supposed to be reserved but many of them were simply 'claimed' for themselves by revelers as they arrived on site. This afternoon, the festival had replaced its website - earlier showing models posing on the beach and glamorous revelers dancing into the night - with a short statement. 'Fyre Festival set out to provide a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience on the Islands of the Exumas,' it said. 'Due to circumstances out of our control, the physical infrastructure was not in place on time and we are unable to fulfill on that vision safely and enjoyably for our guests. Hovering in the air to the amazement of onlookers, British inventor Richard Browning proves jet packs are no mere sci-fi flight of fancy. The City trader and engineer, 38, built the 40,000 ultra-lightweight exoskeleton inspired by the Marvel comic book superhero Iron Man in his spare time. Yesterday, he demonstrated the Iron Man-style suit to a stunned crowd at the TED Conference currently being held in Canada. Scroll down for video Richard Browning, an inventor from Wiltshire, has created a human propulsion jet suit that could re-imagine manned flight THE SUIT British inventor Richard Browning formally debuted his technology in March, with an early-version suit called Daedalus. The technology combines body mounted miniaturised jet-engines, with a specially designed exo-skeletal suit, allowing the pilot to vertically take off and fly using the human body to control the flight. The four arm-mounted gas turbine engines and two hip-mounted gas turbine engines provide enough lift to enable a person capable of holding their body weight for long periods of time to fly. In demonstrations, the suit has hovered just above the ground at low speed. But Mr Browning says it is capable of propelling users even higher and at greater speeds, potentially flying at several hundred miles per hour and reaching thousands of feet above the ground. Advertisement Pointing down creates what Mr Browning calls a teepee of thrust vectors. He went airborne on the shores of Vancouver Harbour to demonstrate his flight suit at the Ted (Technology, Entertainment and Design) conference which is currently being staged in the Canadian city. His performance captivated attendees at the conference, organised by a media group dedicated to sharing 'ideas worth spreading'. The Royal Marines reservist, from Wiltshire, said he had long been fascinated by the possibilities of human flight propulsion and had been working on his flight suit for almost three years. Many compared the 38-year-old to Tony Stark's character in Iron Man. The personal flight suit is capable of propelling its users even higher and at greater speeds, according to its creator, flying at several hundred miles per hour, and reaching thousands of feet above the ground. 'The hypothesis was that the human mind and body, if properly augmented, could achieve some pretty cool stuff,' the extreme athlete and engineer said at the gathering. Mr Browning spoke about his early experiments with various numbers and arrays of essentially miniature jet engines on his limbs. And along the way there were more than a few crashes to the ground. 'The whole journey was about trying and failing, and learning from that,' he said. The first reasonably stable, six-second flight with the gear inspired his team to press on. Richard Browning (pictured) wowed crowds at the prestigious TED Conference in Vancouver, Canada, in in his personal flight suit, with many comparing him to Tony Stark's character in Iron Man His startup, Gravity, formally debuted about a month ago with an early-version suit called Daedalus. A 55-second video clip of the suit in action has logged more than a million views since being posted on YouTube about three weeks ago. Mr Browning said he is already getting interest from investors and some in the British military who told him they had given up on the flight feature of an 'Iron Man' suit until seeing his human-propulsion gear. 'I don't think anyone is going to be going down to Wal-Mart with it or taking anybody to school for quite a while, but the team at Gravity is moving it along,' he added. He dreams of a flight suit that one day will allow its wearer to launch from a beach, soar along the coast and then perhaps hop into a helicopter in the air to continue their journey. Using thrusters attached to his arms and back (pictured), Richard Browning flew in a circle and hovered a short distance from the ground Richard Browning has already seen the early-version flight suit compared to 'Iron Man' armour (left) worn by Marvel Comics character Tony Stark. The flight suit (right) allows the pilot to vertically take off and fly using the human body to control the flight And despite the comic book allusions, Mr Browning stressed that his goal is firmly rooted in the real world. He also described the project as part of a personal journey, inspired by an engineer father with a love for flying machines, but who died when he was just a teenager. Speaking a the launch of the Daedalus suit, he said: 'This is a momentous point in aviation history. Daedalus is simply the beginning of a core technology that has endless potential in aviation, commercial and entertainment applications. 'I have aeronautics in my blood. My grandfather instructed on WW2 Hurricanes, and the other was Chairman of Westland Helicopters. 'My father was an aeronautical engineer and an innovator, too. 'We've already had a few comparisons to Tony Stark, but this is real-world aeronautical innovation.' He named the personal flight suit Daedalus after the great inventor in ancient Greek mythology. Despite the possibilities his suit offers, Mr Browning added: I dont think anyone is going to be going to Walmart with it for quite a while. Tight security is in place for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in the Philippines Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war is part of a worrying assault on human rights and democracy across Southeast Asia, activists said as regional leaders gathered in Manila on Friday. Duterte has been condemned in the West for the crackdown, which has claimed thousands of lives since he took power last year, but he is expected to enjoy the support of most of his guests as he hosts the heads of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This is partly because the leaders of most other countries in the region have few democratic credentials themselves, or have human rights clouds hanging over them, according to Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division. "Human rights is in a precipitous downward spiral in every ASEAN country except perhaps Myanmar, and thats only because military rule in that country was so horrible for so long," Robertson told AFP. "By just about every measure -- freedom of expression and peaceful protest, religious tolerance, non-interference in civil society, respect for democratic principles, fair treatment of refugees and migrants -- the region is falling deeper into dictatorship, repression, and rights abuse." Amnesty International called on the ASEAN leaders to consider whether the drug war killings were a "serious breach" of the provision in the group's charter to protect human rights. Here are the leaders of ASEAN nations and issues surrounding their rule: - Brunei - Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (C) caused controversy in 2014 when he introduced sharia law to the tiny, oil-rich nation Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 70, is one of the world's richest men thanks to his 49-year absolute rule over tiny, oil-rich Brunei. He caused controversy in 2014 when he introduced sharia law, which on paper includes severing of limbs and death by stoning. - Cambodia - A former Khmer Rouge soldier who defected from the brutal regime, Hun Sen, 64, has been in power for more than three decades. The shrewd politician claims to have brought stability to an impoverished nation ravaged by war. But he is also regarded as a strongman who has leveraged control over the country's security forces, judiciary and economy to block any challenges to his rule, while allowing corruption and rights abuses to flourish. - Indonesia - Joko Widodo, 55, is the first elected leader from outside the political and military elites. His 2014 presidential victory was seen as a sign that Indonesia's democratic institutions were in good health, after emerging from three decades of iron-fisted rule under dictator Suharto in 1998. But he has struggled to push through reforms in a country still dominated by figures from the Suharto era and analysts say old establishment forces may be moving to retake power. - Laos - Thongloun Sisoulith, 71, rose to the premiership last year after serving as the communist state's top diplomat. He has trumpeted an anti-graft campaign in the impoverished nation. But scrutiny of his opaque administration remains all but impossible under a regime that bars international media and brooks no dissent. - Malaysia - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (L) has long been accused of repressing dissent Najib Razak, 63, has since 2009 been leader of Malaysia's ruling coalition, which in nearly six-decades in power has overseen rapid economic growth. But its policies favour the Malay majority and it has long been accused of repressing dissent. With elections due next year, Najib has cracked down on his opponents and sacked critics within his party. - Myanmar - Aung San Suu Kyi's reputation as a democracy icon and human rights defender has been tarnished by her first year in office. The 71-year-old has alienated many of her international backers for not speaking out against a bloody army crackdown on Rohingya Muslims. At home, poor progress on legal and economic reforms, a stalling peace process and a surge in online defamation cases have left many disillusioned with Myanmar's first civilian government in generations. - Philippines - A crackdown on drugs that has claimed thousands of lives has been the defining theme of Duterte's first year in office. Human rights groups warn he may be orchestrating a crime against humanity. But the 72-year-old lawyer insists he is "happy to slaughter" millions of addicts to end the drug menace, and that he does not care about the criticism. - Singapore - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 65, the elder son of late founding father Lee Kuan Yew, has led the affluent city-state since 2004. His Peoples Action Party was in 2015 returned to power in a landslide election win, extending the partys uninterrupted rule spanning nearly six decades. But rights groups have criticised the government for clamping down on political freedoms. - Thailand - Prayut Chan-O-Cha, a 63-year-old career soldier who toppled an elected government while army chief in 2014, heads a junta that has clamped down on dissent and stripped Thais of political rights. The ultra-royalist has promised an eventual return to democracy, but the dates for polls keep slipping and critics say the new junta-drafted charter will solidify the army's role in government. - Vietnam - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, elected last year by the rubber-stamp parliament, is seen as a competent technocrat and a sturdy apparatchik in the conservative communist leadership. The party has little tolerance for internal dissent and routinely jails critics. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (R) walks past honour guards during a visit to the Russian Guided Missile Cruiser "Varyag" docked at the Port of Manila on April 21, 2017 Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte hosts Southeast Asian leaders this week, and there is much interest in how the popular politician who boasts about not being a statesman will handle the event. Many Filipinos love Duterte, 72, for his man-of-the people habits, such as eating food with his hands, wearing casual clothes even in formal situations and lacing his language with street-level curses. After meeting on Thursday with Brunei's Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, he showed he would not hold back when he told reporters that The New York Times newspaper was an "asshole" for criticising his deadly drug war. Ahead of his meetings on Saturday with nine other Southeast Asian leaders, here are five of Duterte's most unstatesmanlike moments since assuming the presidency last year: - Obama slur - Duterte sparked a diplomatic firestorm when, just before flying to last year's Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Laos, he launched an unprecedented verbal assault on then US president Barack Obama. Many Filipinos love President Rodrigo Duterte for his man-of-the people habits, such as eating food with his hands, wearing casual clothes even in formal situations and lacing his language with street-level curses "You must be respectful. Do not just throw away questions and statements. Son of a whore, I will curse you in that forum," Duterte said, warning Obama not to raise human rights issues with him. Obama joined a long list of international figures and organisations Duterte had cursed, including Pope Francis, former United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon and the European Union. - Fiery tirade - During the Laos summit, Duterte surprised diplomats by veering off his prepared speech and launching a tirade against US military killings in the Philippines when it was an American colony from 1898 to 1946. "They invaded this country and made us their subjugated people. Everybody has a terrible record of extrajudicial killings," Duterte said as he sought to fend off US criticism of his deadly drug war. One delegate said those in the audience were "quiet and shocked" while another described it as "normal Duterte". - Sockless host - Duterte was relaxed hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in his southern city of Davao in January, wearing casual pants, shoes, a checkered shirt but no socks. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hands a gift to Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte during the visit to Duterte's house in Davao City in January 2017 Duterte also decided to take Abe to his home for breakfast where he took his guest into his bedroom to show him his "old and favourite mosquito net". - Chewing gum - Duterte's casual demeanour and attire while on overseas trips have made international headlines. While in Beijing last year, Duterte chewed gum and walked with hands in his pockets during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. A photo of his meeting with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni last year showing him with rolled-up sleeves and an open collar also prompted social media comments that he was rude and a "culture shock", according to Cambodian press. - 'Happy to slaughter' - Duterte caused a global furore last year for drawing parallels between his drug war and the Holocaust, drawing condemnation from Jewish groups. "Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now there are three million drug addicts (in the Philippines). I'd be happy to slaughter them," Duterte said. Duterte later apologised to the Jewish community but said he was "emphatic" about being to happy to kill drug addicts. An unprecedented ban on Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter in Indian Kashmir has highlighted social media's role in energising an insurgency that has roiled the disputed Himalayan region for decades An unprecedented ban on Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter in Indian Kashmir has highlighted social media's role in energising an insurgency that has roiled the disputed Himalayan region for decades. Authorities in the Kashmir valley this week ordered internet service providers to block 15 social media services for at least one month, saying they were being misused by "anti-national and anti-social elements". The move followed an upsurge in violence in the region, where authorities say social media are being used to mobilise stone-throwing protesters behind increasingly frequent civilian attacks on government forces. Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the predominantly Muslim Kashmir valley, one of the world's most heavily militarised spots, where most people favour independence or a merger with Pakistan. One senior police officer said the power of social media to mobilise large groups of civilians was "worrying the security forces much more than the armed militants". "Social media is misused to mobilise youth during anti-militant operations," said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces in Indian Kashmir for decades. But the violent civilian protests, which often mobilise around the anti-militant operations conducted by government forces, are a relatively new phenomenon. The local government already frequently blocks mobile internet services in the volatile Kashmir valley, but it is the first time they have banned specific social media services in the interests of public order. The Kashmir valley has been tense since April 9, when eight people were killed by police and paramilitaries during election day violence. Since then, students angered by a police attempt to detain suspected protest ringleaders on college grounds have held regular demonstrations, frequently clashing with police. Kashmir's tech-savvy young -- 70 percent of the population is under 35 -- have increasingly turned to social media to express their anger as well as to mobilise demonstrations. Authorities in the Kashmir valley this week ordered internet service providers to block 15 social media services for at least one month, saying they were being misused by "anti-national and anti-social elements" "If they (the government) take away our means of communication and protest we will keep finding new ones," said Asim, a university student who gave only his first name. Political scientist Noor Ahmed Baba told AFP the conflict was now "playing out in the social media space". "The present government wants to silence the people. The violence of suppression will generate more violence," said Baba, a political scientist with the University of Kashmir. - 'Shooting the messenger' - Young Kashmiris have also used their mobile phones to record videos of killings and other rights abuses by government forces and upload them on Youtube. One video circulated online this month depicted a Kashmiri man tied to the front of an army jeep, apparently as a human shield against stone-throwing protesters. Indian police took the rare step of registering a criminal case after the footage went viral, sparking outrage in India. But no arrests have yet been made and India's Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi even appeared to support the use of a human shield, saying "if it has to be done again, it should be done again". Another video showed an Indian paramilitary soldier being heckled and slapped by protesters outside a polling station. But security expert Ajai Shukla said banning social media was "unlikely to control or diffuse the situation". "It is at best a temporary solution, but also means shooting the messenger," he told AFP. "It indicates poor security management. Politically it is a double disadvantage and from a strategic and technical (military) operations point of view it achieves nothing." Kashmir's armed insurgency in has significantly weakened since its peak in the 1990s. But dozens of Kashmiri youths have joined its ranks since last July, when security forces killed the popular young leader Burhan Wani. The death of the charismatic rebel -- himself a social media sensation who regularly uploaded video messages -- also sparked a wave of popular protest. More than 100 people died and thousands more were injured in clashes between protesters and government forces last year, the worst violence to hit the Himalayan region since 2010. One student activist said the ban on social media would remove one of the few remaining outlets for peaceful protest in Kashmir. The ban follows an upsurge in violence in the region, where authorities say social media are being used to mobilise stone-throwing protesters behind increasingly frequent civilian attacks on government forces "Social media is our media, everyones media. We're in it to show the world what is done to us generation after generation," said the activist, who asked not to be named. "Indian politicians and media misrepresent us. This has to end. How else do we protest without being called terrorists?" Washington has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the Korean peninsula amid signs the North could be preparing for a sixth nuclear test, and US officials have said all options are on the table. Southeast Asian countries on Friday expressed "grave concern" over North Korea's nuclear weapons tests and ballistic missile launches, despite Pyongyang's appeal for support in its tense standoff with the United States. In a rare move, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho wrote to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations appealing for backing in its row with Washington to prevent what it warned could be a "nuclear holocaust". But regional foreign ministers meeting in Manila on Friday issued a stand-alone statement criticising North Korea for its two atomic weapons tests last year and subsequent launch of ballistic missiles. "ASEAN expresses its grave concern over the escalation of tension in the Korean Peninsula, including the DPRK's two nuclear tests in 2016 and subsequent ballistic missile launches," said the statement using North Korea's formal name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The bloc "is mindful that instability in the Korean Peninsula seriously impacts the region and beyond". Tensions have soared in the region in recent weeks in the wake of a series of North Korean missile tests and tough rhetoric from the administration of President Donald Trump on the isolated nation's rogue weapons programme. Washington has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the Korean peninsula amid signs the North could be preparing for a sixth nuclear test, and US officials have said all options are on the table. The ASEAN ministers "strongly" urged North Korea "to comply fully" with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and international laws aimed at curbing its nuclear programme, and called for the resumption of negotiations on the issue. The North quit six-nation talks aimed at ending its nuclear ambitions in 2009. ASEAN in its statement, however, also urged "all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint in order to de-escalate the tension and refrain from actions that may aggravate the situation". Diplomats in Manila said the other parties apparently refers to the United States and regional powers China, Japan and South Korea -- all key strategic players in the region. Southeast Asian leaders are then due to meet on Saturday, when the situation on the peninsula is also expected to be discussed. - 'Brink of war' - In his letter to ASEAN, a copy of which was obtained by AFP on Thursday, North Korean foreign minister Ri warned the situation on the Korean Peninsula was "reaching the brink of war" because of Washington's actions. One diplomat said it was the first time, as far as he could recall, that North Korea has written to ASEAN to seek support on the issue. Ri had urged the bloc's chief to inform the group's foreign ministers "about the grave situation" on the peninsula "and give them a proper proposal", while criticising at length US-South Korean military exercises. He said the exercises were justification enough for the North to develop atomic weapons and warned that Pyongyang also had the capability to carry out a preemptive nuclear strike against its enemies. North Korea is known to have close ties with some ASEAN members, including Cambodia and Laos. Pyongyang's relations with ASEAN member Malaysia were seriously damaged with the assassination in Kuala Lumpur in February of Kim Jong-Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. South Korea has blamed Pyongyang for the killing, accusing its agents of using a banned nerve agent. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will chair a UN Security Council meeting on Friday to push for a tougher response to North Korea and pile pressure on China to rein in its ally. Supporters of former British soldier Alexander Blackman, react outside The Royal Courts of Justice after his sentence was reduced from murder to manslaughter A British soldier jailed for killing an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan was freed on Friday after his sentence was reduced from murder to manslaughter, his lawyer said. Former Royal Marine Alexander Blackman was jailed for life in 2013 for shooting the fighter at close range in Helmand Province on September 15, 2011, after the man was injured by helicopter fire. The sentence was later reduced to eight years but a judge in March reduced this further to seven years, quashing the murder conviction and replacing it with one of manslaughter by diminished responsibility. Blackman's lawyer Jonathan Goldberg told AFP that he was released overnight, while a statement from his campaign Facebook page said he was now in a "safe/private location with Claire", his wife. In footage captured by a camera on another soldier's helmet, Blackman was heard to tell the injured Afghan fighter: "There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil" -- paraphrasing Shakespeare. "Obviously this doesn't go anywhere, fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention," he told his fellow marines, a reference to international laws governing the treatment of prisoners of war. His wife led a campaign to free him, saying he was suffering from combat stress disorder at the time, although the case has divided the country and the military. Speaking to the Daily Mail newspaper while waiting for his release, Claire Blackman said: "I haven't slept all week. I feel like a child waiting for Christmas. "We have had so many setbacks over the years that I almost cannot believe it is really going to happen this time. I can't wait to see him and spend some quality time together." South Africa's former finance minister Pravin Gordhan, who was dramatically fired by President Jacob Zuma, has warned that the ruling ANC party could lose power in the next election. Gordhan -- widely seen as a bulwark against government corruption in South Africa -- also appeared to back deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa to succeed Zuma. "I think there are many of us who are extremely worried that if we continue as we are in the African National Congress (ANC), we are likely to lose the 2019 elections," Gordhan told CNN late Thursday. "If we, like any business organisation or political organisation, fail to muster the right leadership, stick by the right kind of values and do the right thing... then of course we will, as an organisation, fail." The party slipped to 55 percent of the vote in last year's local elections -- its worst-ever result. The ANC will hold a conference in December to pick a new party leader who will be its candidate for the 2019 elections -- and Gordhan gave his clearest indication yet that he will back Ramaphosa to succeed Zuma. "Mr Ramaphosa has been extremely brave. He has spoken truth to power at difficult times," said Gordhan. "He has demonstrated that he is a leader of great mettle that would serve South Africa well into the future." At a meeting late Friday Ramaphosa said that the ANC was facing a "decisive" and "critical moment" and that it must work hard to root out graft and regain its "integrity and dignity". "Unless we restore the ANC to its stature of being the leader of the society ...2019 will be a very difficult election of us," Ramaphosa warned in a speech in Newcastle, a city in KwaZulu Natal, a Zuma stronghold. "We must make sure that we have leaders who are going to take the country forward," he said. Zuma, 75, is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, and as president ahead of the 2019 general election. Among many corruption scandals, he has been accused of being in the sway of the wealthy Gupta business family, allegedly granting them influence over government appointments and contracts. His midnight cabinet reshuffle last month unleashed a rebellion within the ANC with senior party figures, including Ramaphosa, speaking out against Gordhan's sacking. The cabinet overhaul cleared out many of Zuma's critics and placed loyalists in key positions. "We have had a report... last year which mapped out some of the kind of corruption between certain families and certain state institutions it would appear is taking place," said Gordhan. A child receives treatment following a suspected chemical attack in Khan Sheikhun, a rebel-held town in Syria's the northwestern Idlib province, on April 4, 2017 Experts from the world's watchdog tasked with destroying chemical weapons are probing reports that toxic arms have been used 45 times in Syria since late last year, the body's chief said Friday. Director general Ahmet Uzumcu said there was "a huge list of allegations" of the use of toxic arms reported to the operations hub of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). In the "second part of 2016, 30 different incidents, and since the beginning of this year, 15 separate incidents, so 45," he told a reporters, brandishing a list of several pages which he chose to keep confidential. They include the April 4 sarin gas attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun that was reported to have killed 88 people, including 31 children. "All these allegations are recorded by our experts, who follow this every day from our operations centre," Uzumcu said. The OPCW is currently trying to ensure it is safe enough to deploy its fact-finding team to the town for further analysis, after Uzumcu said last week that "incontrovertible" test results from OPCW-designated labs on samples taken from victims showed sarin gas or a similar substance had been used. The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has "already stated that they would support this mission, actually they have invited us to go via Damascus," he said. "The problem is that this area is controlled by different armed opposition groups, so we need to strike some deals with them to ensure a temporary ceasefire, which we understand the Syrian government is willing to do," he added. "If we can put all this together then we will deploy. The team is ready, and we have the volunteers." However, it is not yet mandated to also visit the Shayrat air base in the central Syrian province of Homs. The base was the target of a US strike launched in the wake of the Khan Sheikhun attack, and Russia has called for the allegations that it was stocking chemical weapons to be investigated. Uzumcu also confirmed that the OPCW, based in The Hague, believed jihadist rebels from the so-called Islamic State group had used "sulphur mustard" near Iraq's second city of Mosul last week. The Iraqi military said some security personnel were injured in the April 15 attack as part of the operation to recapture Mosul. The OPCW has offered to help Iraqi forces investigate, but "they have not yet requested any assistance," Uzumcu said. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in Washington on April 19, 2017 The United States is not ruling out direct dialogue with North Korea on its nuclear program, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an interview with National Public Radio broadcast Friday. "Obviously, that would be the way we would like to solve this," he said, when asked whether Washington seeks direct talks with Pyongyang. "But North Korea has to decide they're ready to talk to us about the right agenda -- and the right agenda is not simply stopping where they are for a few more months or a few more years and then resuming things." Tillerson has previously said "the era of strategic patience is over." He stressed in the NPR interview that what Washington now seeks is dialogue. "Our approach to North Korea is to have them change their posture towards any future talks," he said. "I think when we say the era of strategic patience is over -- in the past I think we have always negotiated our way to the negotiating table... We don't have the running room left to do that now, given how far advanced their program has become. "So this is an approach that is to put pressure on them through implementation of all the sanctions, as well as other diplomatic pressures, and calling on others to cause them to change their view of what will really allow them to achieve the security that they say they seek." The United States has called for stronger UN sanctions on North Korea, but wants China to take the lead in diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. Tillerson's interview came ahead of a UN Security Council meeting chaired by Tillerson, to push for a tougher response to North Korea and pile pressure on China to rein in its ally. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the meeting that follows weeks of warnings from the US administration that it will no longer tolerate North Korea's missile launches and nuclear tests. Taiwanese trekker Liang Sheng-yueh (C), who was rescued alive after being stranded in the Himalayas for 47 days, marks his 21st birthday in a hospital in Kathmandu A Taiwanese trekker who was rescued on a Nepal mountainside seven weeks after going missing marked his 21st birthday in a Kathmandu hospital Friday, recovering from an ordeal that left his girlfriend dead. Liang Sheng-yueh survived in the wilderness despite losing 30 kilos (66 pounds) but his girlfriend Liu Chen-chun, 18, died just three days before a team rescued the couple in northwest Nepal. A severely malnourished Liang was airlifted from the remote region after 47 days, during which he initially survived on potatoes and noodles, then on nothing except salt and water. It was a sombre birthday celebration for the young hiker, who was served cake in the ward where he was slowly regaining strength. "I'm sorry that everyone had to worry about me and be concerned for me. In future I think I will consider being more careful. I will live my life when back in Taiwan," he told reporters in broken English. The pair followed a river downstream after becoming lost, but became stuck after reaching the edge of a waterfall and were unable to climb back up. Dawa Tamang, a local man who helped the search team, said he followed the river alone until he spotted some bags by the bank. He called over rescuers after spotting the pair taking shelter inside a nearby cave, where they were using their tent as a blanket. "I thought they were dead," Tamang said. "I told others they were in there in a loud voice, and he threw the tent off and looked out like a frog. He joined his hands when he saw me. "We asked how his friend was, and he said that she died (three) days ago." Liang had explained how he placed salt on his tongue and drank water to last the cold stretch, Tamang said. The area the pair was located was so steep and narrow a long line was needed to airlift them out. Doctors treating Liang said that as well as his extreme weight loss, maggots had infested his right leg and he was extremely weak. Liang's doctor Chakra Raj Pandey said his condition had improved since and he was walking Friday morning, but he was still deeply troubled by Liu's death. "He is pained by the loss of his girlfriend. When he was rescued... he didn't want (to) come back alone," Pandey told reporters. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (R) welcomes Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) at Chequers, the prime minister's official country residence, near Ellesborough, northwest of London, on April 28, 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May assured Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe on Friday that the UK remains "steadfast" in its condemnation of North Korea as the two met at her country residence of Chequers. "As we meet today, North Korea continues to take provocative action in the Asia-Pacific region," May said during a joint news conference. "In the face of this belligerence we stand steadfast in our condemnation of such destabilising activity," she said. The visit, Abe's first since May took office in July 2016 after the Brexit vote, comes as the UN Security Council gathers in New York to discuss the situation in North Korea. Condemning North Korea's nuclear and missile tests as a "violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and international obligations", May vowed to continue to "maintain pressure on North Korea". The two leaders also agreed to "stand firm in the face of destabilising Russian activity" in Ukraine and Syria through the use of sanctions. Abe's visit to the UK follows a visit to Russia on Thursday where he met President Vladimir Putin for talks on a decades-old territorial dispute over an island chain. The Soviet Union seized the islands off Japan's northern coast -- called the Southern Kurils by Moscow and the Northern Territories by Tokyo -- in 1945 in the closing days of World War II. Abe and Putin also sought to boost trade and economic ties hit by Japan joining sanctions on Russia over the crisis in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the British prime minister sought to secure investment and trade with Japan, the fourth-biggest source of foreign direct into the UK, according to statistics agency ONS. "The UK remains the best place to in Europe to run and grow a business," she said. Abe was quite critical of Brexit ahead of the June 2016 referendum, saying during his last visit to the UK a month before the vote that Britain would become "less attractive" for Japanese companies if it chose to exit the bloc. But on Friday, Abe told May that he continues "to have confidence in the economy of the UK". US President Donald Trump arrives to address the National Rifle Association (NRA) Leadership Forum in Atlanta, Georgia on April 28, 2017 Ninety-nine days into office President Donald Trump rallied his "friends" from the National Rifle Association on Friday, telling the hugely powerful US gun lobby the "assault" on their right to bear arms is over. "You have a true friend and champion in the White House," he told a cheering crowd in Atlanta, Georgia at the annual convention of the NRA, which pumped cash into his maverick election campaign in 2016. "I will never, ever infringe on the right of the people to keep and bear arms," Trump vowed. Using the speech to vaunt his record after a string of domestic policy setbacks, Trump highlighted his appointment of a conservative judge, Neil Gorsuch, to the Supreme Court. And he raised again the issue of illegal immigration, repeating his pledge that "we're going to build a wall" on the border with Mexico. "The world is getting the message" that America will deport or arrest people illegally crossing its borders, he said, declaring immigration control crucial to keeping "radical Islamic terrorists" out of the country. US President Donald Trump stands with National Rifle Association (NRA) President Wayne LaPierre (R) and NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox (L) during the NRA Leadership Forum in Atlanta, Georgia on April 28, 2017 The Republican president, repeating his "Make America Great Again" slogan to cheers of "USA! USA!," cast gun ownership as a constitutionally protected freedom that needed no additional restrictions. "Freedom is not a gift from the government. Freedom is a gift from God," he said. He added: "The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end." That referenced a failed attempt by his Democrat predecessor Barack Obama to pass minor gun control legislation following the Sandy Hook School massacre that killed 26 people in 2012. The effort to rein in what an angry Obama called an "epidemic" of US gun violence foundered on Republican resistance. - Guns 'save lives' - Trump declared that armed Americans prevented overreach by the federal government, and were a boon for law enforcement. "The right of self-defense is essential to public safety," he said, asserting that police believed that "gun ownership saves lives" and "these are dangerous times." NRA spending: how the gun lobby seeks to sway US politics The NRA -- which claims five million members including many white, rural voters -- was one of the most steadfast supporters of Trump's against-the-odds presidential bid. The gun lobby has given the president high marks for the opening 100 days of his presidency, and the 80,000 of its members gathered for the four-day event in Atlanta made clear they remain his biggest fans. In a short video previewing the speech, the NRA drew a parallel between Trump and former Republican leader Ronald Reagan -- the last sitting president to address the lobby's members, nearly 35 years ago. Reagan famously told the group in 1983: "The constitution says 'The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.'" The former actor was careful to cite the constitutions Second Amendment verbatim -- but only part of it. The full sentence stipulates that "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." - Debate on gun control - That formulation has prompted many different interpretations depending on views and politics. Although no elected official today advocates confiscating Americans' firearms, Democrats disagree with Republicans over the degree of regulation needed for weapons sales and permits. US President Donald Trump addresses the National Rifle Association (NRA) Leadership Forum in Atlanta, Georgia on April 28, 2017 After his campaign-style address to the NRA, on Saturday Trump will travel to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to tout his achievements at a rally of supporters. Pennsylvania is one of three swing states -- including Michigan and Wisconsin -- that proved crucial for Trump's surprise victory in November, thanks in no small part to support from the NRA's millions of members. The six candidates standing in Iran's May presidential election face off in their first live TV debate on April 28, 2017 The six candidates standing in Iran's presidential election squared off in their first ever live television debate Friday, with moderate President Hassan Rouhani coming under fire from a key rival. 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. Ahead of the May 19 poll, the interior ministry had announced a ban on live television debates, triggering an outcry that prompted a reversal of its decision. Three live debates are now expected to take place. Rouhani, who is hoping for a second term in office, and conservative rivals Ebrahim Raisi and Tehran mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf all rejected the ban. On Friday, during the first live debate, Ghalibaf hammered Rouhani and his confidant and first vice-president, Eshaq Jahangiri, with both sides trading accusations of "lies" and making "insincere" comments. Ghalibaf berated Rouhani for failing to make good on a promise "to create four million jobs", saying unemployment was Iran's "biggest problem". Rouhani riposted by saying: "I never promised to create four million jobs. That's a lie." Unemployment, which stands at 12.4 percent, the lack of social housing and government aid to the underprivileged were the issues that dominated Friday's debate. Ghalibaf also accused Rouhani and his government of "bad management" and of "repeatedly saying that the government does not have the means" to solve the Islamic republic's problems. He also took a poke at Jahangiri, whose candidacy was a surprise entry at the last minute, saying the vice-president threw his hat in the ring only to back up Rouhani and help him in the debates. According to several reformists, Jahangiri is expected to pull out of the race after the three live television debates in order to support Rouhani. Jahangiri dismissed the attacks against himself and accused Ghalibaf of running the capital "with the mentality of a military man". A war veteran, Ghalibaf is a former Revolutionary Guards commander and police chief. This is his third run at the presidency. The other three candidates -- Raisi, a hardline judge and close ally of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, conservative Mostafa Mirsalim and reformist Mostafa Hashemitaba -- kept a low profile during the first debate. SpaceX on Sunday is scheduled to make its first military launch, with a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, which makes and operates spy satellites for the United States. No details were made public about the payload, known only as NROL-76, which was first announced last year. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is poised to blast NROL-76 into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida during a two-hour launch window which opens Sunday at 7 am (1100 GMT). A Falcon 9 similar to this one, seen launching in 2014, will blast off from Cape Canaveral Sunday at 7 am (1100 GMT). No details were made public about the payload, known only as NROL-76, which was first announced last year.classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, which makes and operates spy satellites for the United States. About 10 minutes after launch, the tall portion of the rocket, known as the first stage, will power its engines and fly back toward Earth to make a controlled landing on solid ground at SpaceX's Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral. The attempt is part of SpaceX's effort to make rocket parts recyclable, rather than jettisoning the costly components after each launch. The California-based company, headed by internet entrepreneur Elon Musk, has already made several successful landings on solid ground and on platforms floating in the ocean. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is poised to blast NROL-76 into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida during a two-hour launch window which opens Sunday at 7 am (1100 GMT) Until now, the US military has spent billions per year exclusively with United Launch Alliance, a joint operation of aerospace giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin, to launch government satellites. SpaceX in 2014 filed suit against the US Air Force, saying it unfairly awarded billions of dollars to a single company for national security launches. SpaceX also has a pair of launch contracts coming up for the Air Force to send GPS satellites into orbit. If Sunday's launch is postponed for any reason, another launch window opens on May 1. US army soldiers walk in the Khogyani district in the eastern province of Nangarhar, where two Rangers died in an overnight raid on April 26-27, 2017 US and Afghan troops likely killed the leader of the Islamic State group's Afghanistan affiliate in a raid this week, the Pentagon said Friday. US officials also said they have opened a probe into whether two US Army Rangers killed in the assault had been struck by friendly fire. The raid, which occurred overnight Wednesday-Thursday in Nangarhar province, targeted Abdul Hasib, whom the Pentagon called the IS leader in Afghanistan. "The thought is we got him, but we are not certain," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said. Davis said about 50 US special forces and 40 Afghan commandos had been choppered in to the Mohmand Valley late Wednesday near the compound used by Hasib. His group is affiliated with IS in Iraq and Syria, and the US military calls it Islamic State-Khorasan, or ISIS-K. The troops' arrival was met with immediate and ferocious opposition, and early on the two Rangers, sergeants Joshua Rodgers and Cameron Thomas, were shot and killed. "We are investigating the circumstances of the combat deaths of the two Army Rangers in the beginning of what was an intense three-hour firefight," Davis said. "It is possible the Rangers were struck by friendly fire." A formal probe was underway to determine whether the bullets came from US, Afghan or jihadist gunfire. One other US commando was wounded in the raid. "Within a few minutes of landing, our combined force came under intense fire from multiple directions and well-prepared fighting positions," US Forces-Afghanistan said in a statement. "Nevertheless, our forces successfully closed on the enemy, killed several high-level ISIS-K leaders and upwards of 35 fighters." US-Forces Afghanistan said that if confirmed, the death of the Hasib and his associates would "significantly degrade ISIS-K operations in Afghanistan and help reach our goal of destroying them in 2017." The compound was located near the tunnel complex where the US military on April 13 unleashed the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast device that the Pentagon said was the biggest non-nuclear weapon it had ever used in combat. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis paid tribute to the two dead Rangers. "Fighting alongside their Afghan partners, Josh and Cameron proved themselves willing to go into danger and impose a brutal cost on enemies in their path," Mattis said in a statement. "Our nation owes them an irredeemable debt, and we give our deepest condolences to their families." The Pentagon estimates about 1,000 IS fighters remain in Afghanistan. The jihadists established a foothold there in early 2015 and their numbers now are about half what they were at their peak, the Pentagon says. Baghdad's Karrada neighborhood, pictured on July 31, 2016, has been a repeated target for bombings, with the most deadliest occuring in July 2016 when a suicide truck killed more than 320 people A car bomb attack on a traffic police compound in central Baghdad Friday killed at least three people and wounded seven, security and medical sources said. The blast took place in Karrada, a neighbourhood that has been repeatedly targeted in recent years. "At least three people were killed and seven wounded," a hospital official told AFP. The toll was confirmed by a police official who said several policemen were among the victims. One of the deadliest bombings to hit Karrada occurred in July 2016, when a suicide truck bomb explosion set teeming shopping arcades ablaze and killed more than 320 people. Nearly all suicide attacks are claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group, which is defending its last major Iraqi bastion of Mosul against a massive operation launched by security forces last October. It was not immediately clear however whether Friday's attack, which occurred shortly before 11:00 pm (2000 GMT), was a suicide blast. A rocket-themed float moves through Kim Il-Sung square during a mass rally marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung, in Pyongyang North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile Saturday in apparent defiance of a concerted US push for tougher international sanctions to curb Pyongyang's nuclear weapons ambitions. The latest launch, which South Korea said was a failure, came just hours after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned the UN Security Council of "catastrophic consequences" if the international community -- most notably China -- failed to pressure the North into abandoning its weapons programme. Military options for dealing with the North were still "on the table", Tillerson warned in his first address to the UN body. The launch ratchets up tensions on the Korean peninsula, with Washington and Pyongyang locked in an ever-tighter spiral of threat, counter-threat and escalating military preparedness. US President Donald Trump, who has warned of a "major conflict" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's regime, said the latest test was a pointed snub to China -- the North's main ally and economic lifeline. "North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!" Trump tweeted. North Korean missiles The US is deploying a naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier to the Korean peninsula, and a missile-defence system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) that officials say will be operational "within days". North Korea recently conducted its biggest-ever firing drill and has threatened to "bury at sea" the US aircraft carrier, amid signs it could be preparing for a sixth nuclear test. South Korea's defence ministry said it suspected Saturday's missile test had failed after a brief flight, while the US military's Pacific Command confirmed the rocket did not leave North Korean territory. South Korea condemned the launch, with foreign ministry spokesman Cho June-Hyuck saying that if the North continued to "play with fire", it would "face strong punitive steps in various levels", including from the UN Security Council. Japan has lodged a "serious protest and criticism" to the North, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters after a national security council meeting. - Risk of nuclear attack 'real' - US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (R) shakes hands with South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se after a security council meeting on North Korea China pushed back at Tillerson's call at the UN Security Council for it to do more to rein in Pyongyang, arguing that it was unrealistic to expect one country to solve the conflict. "The use of force does not solve differences and will only lead to bigger disasters," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. His country, he said, should not be "a focal point of the problem on the peninsula" and stressed that "the key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side". Russia joined China in appealing for a return to talks and de-escalation. A joint US-Japan strike group headed by the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson transits through the Philippine Sea on April 28, 2017 Military action was "completely unacceptable", Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told the council, and a miscalculation could have "frightening consequences". But Tillerson argued that diplomacy had to be backed with credible muscle. "Diplomatic and financial levers of power will be backed up by willingness to counteract North Korean aggression with military action, if necessary," he said. "The threat of a North Korean nuclear attack on Seoul or Tokyo is real, and it is likely only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the US mainland." - Key powers divided - The meeting of the top UN body on Friday laid bare major differences among key powers over the way to address the North Korea crisis. Over the past 11 years, the Security Council has imposed six sets of sanctions on Pyongyang -- two adopted last year -- to significantly ramp up pressure and deny the North Korean regime the hard currency revenue needed for its military programmes. But UN sanctions experts have repeatedly told the council the measures have had little impact because they have been poorly implemented. Tillerson called on all countries to downgrade or sever diplomatic relations with North Korea and impose targeted sanctions on entities and individuals supporting its missile and nuclear program. The United States is ready to impose sanctions on third countries where companies or individuals are found to have helped North Korea's military programmes, he said. China instead wants Pyongyang to freeze its military programmes in exchange for a halt to US-South Korean annual drills. "Now is the time to seriously consider talks," said Wang. But Tillerson was blunt in saying it was up to North Korea to take the first concrete steps. "We will not negotiate our way back to the negotiating table," he said. "We will not reward their bad behaviour with talks." The United States, Russia and China took part in six-party talks on North Korea's denuclearisation from 2003 to 2009, along with Japan, South Korea and Pyongyang. Under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, it is allowed to scoop up a US citizen's emails or texts with someone outside the country if those merely mention a specific NSA surveillance target -- so-called "about" collection The National Security Agency announced Friday it would end its controversial practice of sweeping up any email or text message an American exchanges with someone overseas that makes reference to a real target of NSA surveillance. The powerful US spy agency said that although it has the legal power to continue scooping up such communications, it would halt the practice to protect the privacy of US citizens. "NSA will no longer collect certain internet communications that merely mention a foreign intelligence target," it said in a statement. The NSA, the country's premier signals intelligence body, is permitted to collect communications of any foreign target, but not that of Americans except in certain situations, or if it gains a warrant to do so. Under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, it is allowed to scoop up a US citizen's emails or texts with someone outside the country if those merely mention a specific NSA surveillance target -- so-called "about" collection. The practice has sparked heavy criticism from civil liberties advocates, who say it violates constitutional protections. Many have threatened to try to block the renewal of Section 702 at the end of this year if the law is not tightened. But the country's intelligence community wants the law to be renewed unchanged. The NSA said it would voluntarily end "about" collection even if it means that it might lose access to other important information in the fight against cyber threats and terrorism. Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, praised the move but said that Section 702 needs multiple changes. "To permanently protect Americans' rights, I intend to introduce legislation banning this kind of collection in the future," he said. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on Veterans Affairs (all times EDT): 5 p.m. President Donald Trump is creating an office at the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve accountability and protect whistleblowers. President Donald Trump signs an Executive Order on "Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protection" at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Trump says the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection's creation sends "a strong message: Those who fail our veterans will be held, for the first time, accountable." Trump signed an executive order creating the office during a visit Thursday to the VA. The office's eventual head will report directly to VA Secretary David Shulkin. He says the office will help identify "barriers" that make it difficult to fire or reassign employees who are no longer considered fit to work there and serve veterans. In 2014, as many as 40 veterans died while waiting months for appointments at the VA's medical center in Phoenix. ___ 3 a.m. President Donald Trump is signing an executive order to create an accountability and whistleblower protection office at the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Secretary David Shulkin says the eventual head of the office will report to him and help identify "barriers" hindering the department's ability to reassign employees who are no longer deemed fit to work in service of the nation's veterans. The House has passed a bill to make it easier to fire VA employees. Shulkin says Trump's decision to create the office by executive order speaks to his commitment to accountability at the VA. The office is a byproduct of a 2014 scandal in which as many as 40 veterans died while waiting months for appointments at the VA's medical center in Phoenix. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's plan to overhaul the nation's tax code could provide significant tax cuts for the working-class voters who elected him, but the unknowns could end up hurting many of these core supporters of the president. A look at how Trump's tax plan could affect families at different income levels: ___ Rick McVey, owner of Dilly Lily, works at his shop Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Chicago. If the Trump administration's plan to lower tax rates becomes law, it will likely benefit McVey. The florist has a range of possibilities, not just from the prospect of lower taxes, but that he'd get more business from customers who have more money to spend. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford) THE WORKING CLASS These are the people who have been left behind by an increasingly globalized economy. Trump's proposal, a one-page outline short on detail, says he would double the standard tax deduction, which could provide significant relief to working-class families. But Trump's top economic adviser used some bad math to describe the proposal, raising questions. Gary Cohn said the standard deduction for a married couple would be doubled to $24,000. But that's not double. The standard deduction for a married couple is $12,700, so double would be $25,400. Cohn said the deduction would create "a zero tax-rate for the first $24,000." That sounds great, but very few families making $24,000 a year pay federal income tax, said Roberton Williams, a fellow at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. In fact, 44 percent of all U.S. households pay no federal income tax, though most pay other taxes. Trump's one-page sketch is silent on whether the tax code would still include the personal tax exemption, which allows most families to exempt $4,050 in income for each spouse and dependent child. In big families, this tax exemption can add up. During the campaign, Trump released a tax proposal that would eliminate the personal exemption. Also during the campaign, Trump proposed getting rid of the "head of household" filing status, which is mainly used by single parents. This filing status provides a lower tax rate and a higher standard deduction than filing as a single person. Trump's new plan is silent on this issue as well. ___ THE MIDDLE CLASS The median household income in the U.S. is about $55,000, though people living in high-cost areas can make much more than that and still feel like they are in the middle class. Doubling the standard deduction - or at least raising it to $24,000 - could provide significant tax relief to middle-income families. But whether they pay more or less depends largely on details that have yet to be released. One of those pesky details is how Trump will structure the tax rates on individual income. Trump has proposed reducing the number of tax rates from seven to three - 10 percent, 25 percent and 35 percent. But the administration has yet to determine the income levels for people who would be put in each bracket. ___ HIGH-INCOME FAMILIES Trump's plan has the potential to provide big tax cuts to high-income families - unless you live in a state with high state and local taxes. Trump calls for eliminating the Alternative Minimum Tax, which was enacted in 1969 to prevent high-income people from paying no income tax. It has evolved over the years and now impacts about 5 million households, most of them making between $200,000 and $1 million a year. In 2005, Trump himself paid $36.5 million in taxes, mostly because of the AMT. Without it, he would have paid just $5.5 million, according to a leaked copy of that year's return. On the flip side, Trump wants to eliminate the deduction for state and local taxes, a big tax break that benefits millions, especially people living in Democratic-controlled states with high local taxes such as New York, New Jersey and California. Last year, more than 43 million families claimed the deduction, saving them nearly $70 billion. ___ THE SUPERRICH These are the 1 percenters, people like Trump who make millions a year and are worth even more. Trump is proposing big tax cuts for the superrich, including repealing the estate tax. The federal estate tax is widely misunderstood. The fact is it affects very few estates. If your parents' estate is worth less than $10.9 million, you don't have to worry about this tax. This year, about 5,200 estates will pay the tax, according to the Tax Policy Center. Trump also wants to reduce the top income tax rate from 39.6 percent to 35 percent. But perhaps the biggest windfall for rich people could come from Trump's plan to lower the top tax rate for small business owners from 39.6 percent to 15 percent. Rich people, including Trump, tend to report a lot of business income, Williams said. But the true effect of this tax cut will depend on how the Trump administration defines a small business owner. If the tax cut applies to all business income reported on individual tax returns, it would be a huge windfall for many rich families. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said Trump will propose safeguards that would prevent rich people from taking advantage of the tax cut, but he provided no details on how that would work. ___ Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephenatap Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin takes a question in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, where he discussed President Donald Trump tax proposals. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) WASHINGTON (AP) - Students attending private schools in the nation's capital through a federally funded voucher program are doing worse in math compared to their peers, according to a government study released Thursday. The findings added fuel to one of the most heated debates in the education community: whether taxpayer money should be used to pay for private schools. Critics jumped on the study to reiterate that vouchers don't work. Proponents stressed that test scores are not the only way to measure school quality. The study, conducted by the Education Department's Institute of Education Sciences, looked at students who enrolled in the program in the years 2012-2014 and compared them to their peers who applied for the vouchers through a lottery, but were not selected. The study evaluated students one year into their study, President Donald Trump greets Education Secretary Betsy DeVos before signing the Education Federalism Executive Order, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) The analysis revealed that students who attended private schools with voucher money scored 7.3 percentage points lower in math compared to those students who didn't get in. The study did not find any statistically significant differences in reading skills. But among students who had attended low-performing schools, the key targets of the voucher program, the study did not reveal any significant change in either math or reading. At the same time, the program positively affected perceptions of school safety. Some 72 percent of parents in the program ranked their school as very safe, compared to 56 percent among those parents whose children didn't get into the program. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., said the findings are proof that voucher programs don't help students and waste public resources. "D.C. students using vouchers actually lose learning; they performed significantly worse on math in the first year they used the voucher," Scott said in a statement. "We know that these failed programs drain public schools of limited resources, only to deliver broken promises of academic success to parents and students." Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who has spent more than two decades advocating for charter and private schools, said the one-year study was not enough to make long-term conclusions about school choice programs. She also said that offering parents choices benefited the whole system. "When school choice policies are fully implemented, there should not be differences in achievement among the various types of schools," DeVos said in a statement. "D.C.'s traditional public schools have not suffered as a result of being part of a system that allows choice; rather, they have greatly improved." The District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program was created by Congress in 2004 and was reauthorized in 2011. It currently serves more than 1,100 mostly low-income students. Families get up to $8,400 for elementary and up to $12,600 for high school students. Lindsey Burke, director of education policy studies at the conservative Heritage Foundation said the results can be explained by the fact that public schools in the district may have improved because of competition inserted into the system by vouchers. She also cited a previous iteration of this study, which showed that using the voucher increased the graduation rate by 21 percentage points. Samuel Abrams, director of the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, said voucher programs have not proven to improve academic results. "They provided choice, which is itself an objective for many parents, but they have not generated the academic outcomes that advocates and parents have expected," Abrams said. He added that merely putting low-income students into private schools while they continue to live in unsafe, high-need neighborhoods will not solve the problem and that more needs to be done to bridge income inequality and improve access to health care and early childhood education. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Dozens of Rio Olympics standouts will return to the track this weekend for the Drake Relays. The conditions won't feel anything like sunny Brazil. Stars like LaShawn Merritt, Omar McLeod, Jenny Simpson, Kristi Castlin and others will be greeted with temperatures in the upper 40s, steady wind and good chances for rain during Friday and Saturday's sessions. But that's the risk elite athletes take when they commit to Drake, which has been held during the last week of April for decades. Alysha Newman competes in the women's pole vault at the Drake Relays athletics meet, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Fans brave enough to endure the weather will get to see plenty of high-quality events, with 68 Olympians - including 10 gold medalists - committed to competing in Des Moines as of Thursday. Here are some of the events to watch: MEN'S 400 METERS The marquee race on Friday's schedule will feel like a reunion of the American gold medal-winning 1,600-meter relay team, with Merritt, Tony McQuay and David Verburg highlighting the field. But they might all be chasing Grenada's Kirani James. He won silver in Rio in this event after taking gold in London at the 2012 Olympics - and in last year's race in Des Moines, he held off Merritt for the win. MEN'S 110-METER HURDLES The last two Olympic champions, Jamaica's McLeod (2016) and Aries Merritt of the U.S. (2012), headline Saturday's most high-profile race. McLeod, who also won at Drake last year, is the runner most likely to crack 13 seconds, provided he's in good form and the conditions aren't too poor. Andrew Riley, the former Illinois star who competes for Jamaica, is among three other Rio Olympians in the field. WOMEN'S 100 HURDLES Former Kentucky star Keni Harrison, the current world record holder, will be the runner to watch in an event once dominated by hometown star Lolo Jones. Harrison set the world mark in July, just weeks after failing to qualify for Rio, and 2017 could be the year she emerges as one of the bigger stars in track. The weather and the early timing of Drake will likely keep her from topping that 12.20, but Harrison's performance in Des Moines could be a harbinger of things to come. WOMEN'S 1,500 METERS Simpson, an Iowa native, became the first American to win an Olympic medal at this event in Rio, where she took bronze. As the only runner in the field with a personal best under 4 minutes and tons of experience at Drake, Simpson will be heavily favored to repeat as meet champion. FIELD NOTABLES American Christian Taylor, a two-time defending Olympic champion, tops the list of entrants in the men's triple jump, while Canada's Derek Drouin, a 2016 Olympic champion, is the favorite in the high jump. ... Sandy Morris, who took silver in Rio, will look to defend her meet title in the women's pole vault. ... Brittney Reese, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist and a meet favorite because of her enthusiasm for Drake's blue oval, will took to upend England's Lorraine Ugen after finishing second to Ugen in Des Moines in 2016. ... Alex Gochenour, who won the heptathlon Thursday, was the first athlete to survive this week's conditions. "I kind of had decided (Wednesday) after the hurdles ... I could tell the weather wasn't going to cooperate. (I said): 'You know what? Let's just go out and have fun and try to get the win.'" LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The Latest on state regulators' efforts to close four beer stores in Whiteclay, Nebraska, near the officially dry Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (all times local): ___ 4:40 p.m. Four Nebraska beer stores that sell millions of cans annually near South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation may have to close, at least temporarily, while a case against them works its way through the courts. The stores in Whiteclay scored a legal victory Thursday when a judge overturned a state commission's decision not to renew their liquor licenses. But hours after the ruling, the Nebraska attorney general's office filed a notice of appeal. The appeal supersedes the judge's ruling, which would have allowed the stores to stay in business. Their licenses are set to expire Sunday, at which point their attorney says they'll have to close. Whiteclay has drawn criticism for selling alcohol so close to the reservation where alcohol is banned. ___ 10:20 a.m. A judge has overturned a decision to bar four Nebraska beer stores from selling next to an American Indian reservation in South Dakota that struggles with alcohol-related problems. The ruling on Thursday was a setback for advocates who want to close the stores in Whiteclay, an unincorporated village with nine residents that sells millions of cans each year next to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Lancaster County District Court Judge Andrew Jacobsen agreed with the stores' arguments that the decision by state regulators was arbitrary and unreasonable. The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission ruled last week that it would not renew the stores' licenses, citing a lack of adequate law enforcement in the area. Whiteclay is known as a spot where people drink, sleep and sometimes fight in public. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump on Thursday created an office at the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve accountability and protect whistleblowers, calling it a "bold step forward." Trump, who made improving veterans' care a prominent issue in his presidential campaign, said the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection will make clear "that we will never, ever tolerate substandard care for our great veterans." VA Secretary David Shulkin said the office will help identify "barriers" that make it difficult for the department to fire or reassign bad employees. Another function of the office will be to help shield whistleblowers from retaliation. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, right, as he prepares to sign an Executive Order on "Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protection" at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) "With the creation of this office, we are sending a strong message: Those who fail our veterans will be held, for the first time, accountable," Trump said at the VA before signing an executive order to create the office. "And at the same time, we will reward and retain the many VA employees who do a fantastic job, of which we have many." The move follows Trump's signing last week of a bill that extends a VA program that allowed some veterans to seek medical care outside of the department's troubled health system. In 2014, as many as 40 veterans died as they spent months waiting for appointments at the VA medical center in Phoenix. Officials there were found to have manipulated appointment data and engaged in other schemes in an attempt to cover up the backlog. Trump also joined veterans' groups in calling on the Senate to pass a pending accountability measure. The House has already passed a bill to make it make it easier for the VA to fire, suspend or demote employees for poor performance or bad conduct, but the Senate continues to work on its version of the legislation. Shulkin said Trump's decision to create the office even before Congress sends him a bill speaks to his commitment to accountability at the VA. "He's asking through his executive order for VA to do everything that it can internally," Shulkin said Wednesday at a White House briefing. "But we know that that's not going to be enough to get done what I want to get done, which is to be able to, once we identify people that need to leave the organization, to get them out quickly. So I do need legislative help as well." Veterans' organizations also want the Senate to act soon. "Secretary Shulkin's hands will be tied until Congress passes strong accountability legislation," said Mark Lucas, executive director of Concerned Veterans for America. Lucas said the office was a "positive first step" but not enough to fix the culture at the VA. The new office will also investigate reports of retaliation against VA employees who expose illegal or unethical conduct, Shulkin said, adding that "we will take actions" if it is determined that an employee whistleblower has been subjected to retaliation for coming forward. No new hiring will be done for the office. Existing VA employees will be transferred, despite department-wide employee shortages and a decision to leave thousands of VA positions unfilled. Shulkin said he didn't have dollar figures for how much the office would cost, but said it will require a "substantial commitment." The executive order is one of several Trump is signing this week as he seeks to score accomplishments before Saturday, his symbolic 100th day in office. ___ Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap President Donald Trump, accompanied by Vice President Mike Pence, left, and Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, right, speaks before signing an Executive Order on "Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protection" at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) President Donald Trump holds up an Executive Order on "Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protection" after signing it at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. diplomats used a meeting with their Iranian counterparts to press the release of Americans being detained in Iran, the Trump administration said Thursday. It is the first public acknowledgment of direct U.S.-Iranian discussions since President Donald Trump took office. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the talks occurred on the sidelines of a meeting in Vienna this week that focused on implementation of the Iran nuclear deal. Trump has railed against the seven-nation accord that President Barack Obama's administration led to completion in 2015. But Trump's aides recently certified that Iran was upholding its commitment to not advance its nuclear program toward weapons capability. Although Trump and his top advisers have publicly criticized Iran for its support of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Yemeni rebels and militant groups throughout the Middle East, American officials haven't spoken about any continuation of U.S.-Iranian conversations that became routine under the Obama administration. FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2016, file photo, Iranian lawyer Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabei, who represents dual U.S.-Iranian citizens Siamak Namazi and his father Baquer works at his office in Tehran, Iran. U.S. diplomats used a meeting with their Iranian counterparts to press the release of Americans being detained in Iran, the Trump administration said April 27, 2017. State Department spokesman Mark Toner cited the detentions of Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father, Baquer Namazi, who are serving 10-year prison sentences for "cooperating with the hostile American government." The younger Namazi has been detained since October 2015 and his father was taken into custody in February 2016.(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) At Tuesday's meeting in Austria, Toner said, "the U.S. delegation raised with the Iranian delegation its serious concerns regarding the cases of U.S. citizens detained and missing in Iran, and called on Iran to immediately release these U.S. citizens so they can be reunited with their families." Toner cited the detentions of Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father, Baquer Namazi, who are serving 10-year prison sentences for "cooperating with the hostile American government." The younger Namazi has been detained since October 2015 and his father was taken into custody in February 2016. Their supporters deny the charges and say the two are being held as leverage against the United States. Iran has detained dual nationals to use as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West, most notably in a controversial 2016 prisoner swap with the U.S. that coincided with American sanctions being removed as part of the nuclear deal and a $1.7 billion payment by Washington to settle a decades-old dispute with Tehran over a frozen Iranian account. Both Namazis appear to be ensnared by hard-liners within Iran's security services who oppose Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the nuclear deal he struck with world powers. Toner also noted it has been more than a decade since the disappearance of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, a CIA contractor in 2007 traveling on an unauthorized mission to collect intelligence. The only photos and video of Levinson emerged in 2010 and 2011. He appeared gaunt and bearded with long hair, and was wearing an orange jumpsuit similar to those worn by detainees at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay. "Iran committed to cooperating with the United States in bringing Bob home and we call on Iran to fulfill this commitment," Toner said, though Tehran has been providing such commitments previously. "The United States remains unwavering in its efforts to return Bob to his family." Toner made no mention of an Iranian-American who was recently released on bail from his long prison sentence in Iran for "collaboration with a hostile government." While Robin Shahini of San Diego was let go from prison, it was unclear if he would be permitted to leave Iran. Shahini traveled to Iran to see his mother, who has Alzheimer's disease, and was detained last July. In December, a human rights group reported that Iranian-American art gallery manager Karan Vafadari and his Iranian wife also were detained. BREINIGSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - Police say a pit bull mix killed its owner during an attack on the deck of the woman's Pennsylvania home. Police say they were called to the home in Upper Macungie Township Thursday afternoon by neighbors who reported hearing screaming and a dog barking. Police say the dog was still attacking the woman when officers arrived. They managed to put the dog in the home so responders could treat the woman's severe injuries. She was taken to a hospital where she later died. The name of the woman, who was in her 30s, is being withheld until family members are notified. Police say the 3-year-old male pit bull-boxer mix was tranquilized on the scene and taken to the Lehigh County Humane Society where it will be euthanized. TOKYO (AP) - Sony Corp. reported Friday a January-March profit of 27.7 billion yen ($250 million) on the back of healthy sales of image sensors, PlayStation 4 game software and batteries for mobile devices, marking a recovery from its red ink a year ago. Tokyo-based Sony had an 88 billion yen loss in the same period last year, although that was a fraction of the red ink it had posted in years before as it contended with competition from rivals like Apple and Samsung in smartphones and other electronics devices. Quarterly sales rose 4.4 percent to 1.9 trillion yen ($17 billion). People walk out from the headquarters of Sony Corp. in Tokyo Friday, April 28, 2017. Sony has reported a January-March profit of 27.7 billion yen ($250 million) on the back of healthy sales of image sensors, PlayStation 4 game software and batteries for mobile devices, marking a recovery from its red ink a year ago. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) For the fiscal year through March, Sony's profit fell 50 percent to 73.3 billion yen ($660 million) from 148 billion yen, partly because of costs related to repair of damage from a major earthquake that hit southwestern Japan in April 2016. The quake shut down Sony's semiconductor manufacturing facility. An unfavorable exchange rate also damaged Sony's results. Sony is projecting a three-fold recovery for the fiscal year through March 2018, because of the absence of quake-related negatives, at 255 billion yen ($2.3 billion), although it warned currency fluctuations could hurt results. Sony has been reshaping its business by focusing on high-end cameras and video games. It has already sold some assets, including its Vaio personal computer business. Its TV division lost money for years but has recently recovered. In its movie business, "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter," released in the January-March quarter was one of its biggest successes in recent quarters, especially with the international box office. Best-selling titles for the year in its music division included Beyonce's "Lemonade" and Sia's "This Is Acting." ___ Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/yuri-kageyama SYDNEY (AP) - Rebel Wilson is suing an Australian publisher for defamation over a series of magazine articles the actress says cost her movie roles by painting her as a serial liar. Wilson's lawyer, Renee Enbom, said during a court hearing on Friday that the Australian-born actress would present evidence that the articles published by Bauer Media in 2015 led to her film contracts being terminated. Wilson's lawsuit, filed last year, accuses Bauer of damaging her reputation by printing articles that alleged she had used a fake name and lied about her age and upbringing in Australia. The articles appeared online and in print in several Australian magazines including Woman's Day and The Australian Women's Weekly. FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2016, file photo, Rebel Wilson attends the 5th Annual Australians in Film Awards held at NeueHouse Hollywood in Los Angeles. Wilson is suing an Australian publisher for defamation over a series of magazine articles the actress says cost her movie roles by painting her as a serial liar. Wilson's lawyer, Renee Enbom, said during a court hearing on Friday, April 28, 2017, that the Australian-born actress would present evidence that the articles published by Bauer Media in 2015 led to her film contracts being terminated. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) The lawsuit claims that Wilson was humiliated and lost out on roles because of the stories. On Friday, her lawyer told the Victoria state Supreme Court in Melbourne that the articles tarnished Wilson's reputation in Hollywood as a fair and honest person. Justice John Dixon ordered Wilson to provide the court with her film contracts and evidence of all her earnings since 2011. The actress, known for her roles in comedies such as "Pitch Perfect" and "Bridesmaids," is seeking unspecified damages from the publisher. She did not appear in court on Friday but is expected to give evidence at the trial, which is scheduled to begin on May 22. Bauer Media did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) - The Latest on the political crisis in Macedonia (all times local): 4:40 p.m. Macedonia's foreign minister is calling for demonstrators who ran riot in the country's parliament to be brought to justice, and is advocating dialogue to overcome the current crisis. Police officers arrive by busses at the parliament building in Skopje, Macedonia, Friday, April 28, 2017. More than 100 people were injured Thursday evening including protestors, policemen and lawmakers, after protesters broke through a police cordon and entered Macedonian parliament to protest against the election of an ethnic Albanian Talat Xhaferi as new speaker, despite a months-long deadlock in talks to form a new government. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) Nikola Poposki added, however, that Thursday's vote in Macedonia's parliament for a new speaker was not in line with the country's laws. "I don't think we need any more unilateral moves," he said Friday. "We have to come back to respect of legal procedures, laws, because this is the only way we can preserve peace and stability." Poposki argued that Macedonia would benefit in terms of stability from closer ties with the European Union, which it is seeking to eventually join. He spoke to journalists on the sidelines of a European foreign ministers' meeting in Valetta, Malta. ___ 3:25 p.m. The NATO alliance has warned Macedonia, a candidate country, not to let similar violence happen again after protesters stormed parliament and assaulted opposition lawmakers. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says that authorities have a "solemn responsibility to uphold the rule of law, and ensure the security of Parliament and its members at all times." He added that "acts of violence like those we saw yesterday (Thursday) must not be allowed to happen again." Stoltenberg called "on all political actors to show calm, restraint, and respect for the democratic process." ___ 2:35 p.m. Hungary's foreign minister says that foreign intrusion is to blame for the political crisis in Macedonia. Peter Szijjarto says that far-away foreign countries, which he didn't name, decided the country's voting timetable. He also accused unnamed groups tied to billionaire George Soros of financing "anti-government actions." Szijjarto, attending a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Malta, said that "Macedonia's example clearly shows the dangers of external intervention in the life of a country." Hungary's position on Macedonia seems to follow the Russian view, as Moscow says the European Union and the U.S. are to blame for the turmoil. Hungary says that Soros is working against Hungarian interests because of his support for migration, fervently opposed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Soros earlier dismissed similar accusations against him. ___ 2:25 p.m. Macedonia's interior minister has offered his resignation a day after protesters stormed the country's parliament. Protesters attacked legislators over disagreements in the election of a new parliamentary speaker. More than 100 people were injured in the violence. The resignation of Agim Nuhin, interior minister in the caretaker government, has to be approved by the head of the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration party. Macedonia has been without a government since elections in December were won by former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, but without enough votes to hold a majority in parliament. Coalition talks with an ethnic Albanian party have failed over the latter's demand that Albanian be named an official second language in the country. The ethnic Albanian minority makes up about a quarter of Macedonia's population. ___ 1:20 p.m. The Russian Foreign Ministry is blaming the European Union and the United States for the turmoil in Macedonia. In a statement issued Friday, the ministry said the West's "gross interference" in the internal affairs of Macedonia was the main reason for the political crisis and described it as the "unceremonious manipulation of the will of the citizens with the aim of removing the legitimate government from power." Demonstrators in Macedonia's capital, Skopje, late on Thursday stormed the legislature and attacked lawmakers to protest the election of a new speaker despite a months-old deadlock in efforts to form a new government. The ministry said the West's quick welcoming of the new parliament speaker showed that the step had been coordinated in advance. ___ 1:05 p.m. A party official says Macedonia's opposition leader will not attend emergency talks aimed at defusing tension after opposition lawmakers were assaulted when demonstrators invaded parliament. The official in the opposition Social Democrat party did not provide further details on why Zoran Zaev will not go to the talks called by the president and initially scheduled for later Friday. The party official spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. -By Konstantin Testorides ___ 11:15 a.m. Turkey has expressed "deep concern" over violence in Macedonia's parliament and the political crisis in the country, urging the creation of a new government within democratic principles. The Turkish presidency said in a written statement Friday that it hoped "differences in opinion" in Macedonia would soon be solved through dialogue and tolerance. "Macedonia holds key significance to establish lasting peace in the Balkans," the statement read, adding that Turkey would continue to support the country. Demonstrators in Macedonia's capital, Skopje, late on Thursday stormed the legislature and attacked lawmakers to protest the election of a new speaker despite a months-old deadlock in efforts to form a new government. ___ 10:30 a.m. The head of Macedonia's dominant conservative party has condemned overnight violence against opposition lawmakers in parliament, but says opposition leaders provoked the attack. Nikola Gruevski is accusing the Social Democrats of consciously breaching the country's law and constitution by electing a new parliament speaker - an ethnic Albanian politician. "I want to condemn the violence and those individuals who have attacked and injured lawmakers," Gruevski said at his party headquarters early Friday. Gruevski said the Social Democrats also bear responsibility for the violence, as their "greed for power at any cost" was its "direct cause." ___ 10:20 a.m. Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has called emergency security consultations over political turmoil and unrest in its southern Balkan neighbor, Macedonia. The meeting of Serbia's bureau for coordination of security services will be held later on Friday. Belgrade leaders have warned that any instability in Macedonia reflects on the entire Balkans. Demonstrators in Macedonia's capital, Skopje, late on Thursday stormed the legislature and attacked lawmakers to protest the election of a new speaker despite a months-old deadlock in efforts to form a new government. Vucic says incidents in Macedonia "present a problem for all of us who live here and it is better to stop all the problems and secure peace and stability for our children." Local media say Vucic has discussed the situation with some regional leaders. ___ 9:45 a.m. Macedonia's president has called an emergency meeting of political leaders, hours after demonstrators - mostly supporters of the country's dominant conservative party - invaded parliament and assaulted opposition lawmakers. Police said 77 people, including opposition Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev, the head of a small ethnic Albanian opposition party and 22 police, were injured in the overnight riot. It was unclear whether opposition party leaders would heed President Gjorge Ivanov's call to attend the meeting to defuse the tension. Late Thursday, demonstrators stormed the legislature and attacked lawmakers to protest the election of a new speaker despite a months-old deadlock in efforts to form a new government. ___ 9:10 a.m. The European Union has condemned the violence that swept Macedonia's parliament and said that the cornerstones of democracy should be respected. EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said Friday that "violence is unacceptable, even more so when it happens in the house of democracy." On Thursday, demonstrators stormed the legislature and attacked lawmakers to protest the election of a new speaker despite a months-old deadlock in efforts to form a new government. Clashes over several hours injured 77 people, including 22 police officers and several lawmakers, authorities said. Mogherini, attending a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Malta, called the incident a "serious crisis that can be dangerous." People pass along the scattered protective fence in front of the parliament building in Skopje, Macedonia, Friday, April 28, 2017. Above 100 people were injured Thursday evening including protestors, policemen and lawmakers, after protesters broke through a police cordon and entered Macedonian parliament to protest against the election of an ethnic Albanian as new speaker, despite a months-long deadlock in talks to form a new government. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) Protestors clash with police to enter into the parliament building in Skopje, Macedonia, Thursday, April 27, 2017. Chaos swept into Macedonia's parliament Thursday as demonstrators stormed the building and attacked lawmakers to protest the election of a new speaker despite a months-old deadlock in efforts to form a new government. (AP Photo/Dragan Perkovski) Protestors enter into the parliament building in Skopje, Macedonia, Thursday, April 27, 2017. Scores of protesters have broken through a police cordon and entered Macedonian parliament to protest the election of a new speaker despite a months-long deadlock in talks to form a new government. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) A police officer helps an injured protester during clashes in front of the parliament building in Skopje, Macedonia, Thursday, April 27, 2017. Chaos swept into Macedonia's parliament Thursday as demonstrators stormed the building and attacked lawmakers to protest the election of a new speaker despite a months-old deadlock in efforts to form a new government. (AP Photo/Dragan Perkovski) MIDDLETOWN, Del. (AP) - About 20 hours after he fatally shot a state trooper, a Delaware man was shot to death after an overnight standoff with police, but authorities haven't given a motive for his actions. Law enforcement officers shot Burgon Sealy Jr. when he emerged from his home armed Thursday morning and "engaged police," state police Superintendent Col. Nathaniel McQueen said. He declined to say if Sealy fired a gun at that time. After shooting the trooper Wednesday afternoon, the 26-year-old Sealy had fled in a car and holed up inside the home, refusing to surrender despite being surrounded. Police used explosives to blow open the home's door and windows. This undated photo provided by the Volusia County Corrections shows Burgon Sealy Jr., suspected of fatally shooting a Delaware state trooper, before he was shot and killed by officers after an overnight standoff, Thursday, April 27, 2017. Sealy Jr., walked out of a home in Middletown, Del., where he had been holed up since the fatal shooting of the trooper a day earlier, "engaged officers" and was shot by law enforcement and died at the scene, police said in a statement. (Volusia County Corrections via AP) On Wednesday, Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard encountered Sealy in the parking lot of a Wawa convenience store near Bear. Ballard had noticed something suspicious about two men in a car when Sealy, the passenger, shot him with a handgun. Ballard, wounded, sought shelter behind a parked car, but Sealy chased after him and fired again, McQueen said, including several shots that he fired "at close range" when the officer was already on the ground. Sealy then fled in another car he had driven to the store. The driver of the first car was questioned and released without any charges, police said. Ballard, 32, died that afternoon at a hospital. His survivors include a wife and daughter, Gov. John Carney said Thursday. Scott Adkins, 24, grew up on the same street as Sealy and went to middle school and high school with him. He remembered him as being fond of paintball and airsoft guns as early as middle school. "Multiple times, we would tell the (school) bus driver he was talking about guns and stuff like that, but nothing ever came of it," Adkins said. Records show Sealy was arrested in 2013 in Florida on gun and drug charges. In January 2011, he was convicted of resisting arrest after being taken into custody by Delaware State University police in 2010 on charges that also included offensive touching, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. Those charges were dropped. Carlos Holmes, a spokesman for DSU, said Sealy had attended the historically black school from fall 2010 to fall 2011 but did not graduate. Cpl. Ballard also attended DSU, studying sociology and criminal justice before graduating in 2007, Holmes said. McQueen declined to answer questions about Sealy's possible motives, including whether investigators had discovered any links to terrorism. He also wouldn't say whether Ballard might have been targeted, either individually or as a police officer. "That investigation is still unfolding, and as those facts become available, we'll certainly make them available," he said. After shooting the officer, Sealy called relatives and told them what he'd done, McQueen said, and they reported that to police. Sealy then drove about 15 miles (25 kilometers) to his home in a subdivision near Middletown. Alone in the house, Sealy refused to leave and repeatedly fired at the officers who surrounded him. None was hit. Police warned nearby residents to stay inside and lock their doors, and hostage negotiators established contact, trying to get Sealy to surrender peacefully. With no quick resolution, they blew the door of the house off its hinges shortly after 8 p.m. About eight hours later, after officers again came under fire, police again used explosives to blow off windows. Hours more passed before Sealy came out armed and was killed. Ballard had been on the force for more than eight years, state police spokesman Sgt. Richard Bratz said. "This is a very sad day," Gov. Carney said. "I stand before you with an aching heart, a heart that aches for Cpl. Ballard, his wife, his daughter, his family, a heart that aches for the Delaware State Police who served with him." ___ Associated Press writers Ben Nuckols and Sarah Brumfield in Washington contributed to this report. This undated photo released by the Delaware State Police shows Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard, who was killed in a shooting at a convenience store parking lot near Bear, Del. on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. Police say the man who shot him was killed by law enforcement on Thursday, April 27, 2017, after a 20-hour standoff. (Delaware State Police via AP) Authorities inspect a house after a standoff, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Middletown, Del., between law enforcement and a man police say shot and killed Delaware State Trooper Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard. The unidentified suspected was shot and killed by officers after a 20-hour standoff at his home, state police said Thursday. (AP Photo/Randall Chase) In this Wednesday, April 26, 2017 photo, police investigate at the scene after a Delaware state trooper was shot and killed in the parking lot of a WaWa convenience store near Bear, Del. A man suspected of the shooting and killing the trooper remained barricaded early Thursday inside his house, where he fired shots at officers as they tried to negotiate a peaceful surrender, police said. (William Bretzger/The Wilmington News-Journal via AP) This Dec. 3, 2010, photo provided by the Delaware State Police shows Burgon Sealy Jr. Delaware State Trooper Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard had approached a suspicious vehicle with Sealy and the driver inside before Sealy shot him, authorities said. The driver was arrested Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at the scene and Sealy, who fled, was fatally shot by police Thursday after a lengthy standoff. (Delaware State Police via AP) Authorities investigate the scene of a shooting, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Bear, Del. Delaware State Police say a trooper has been taken to a hospital after being shot at the convenience store. The trooper, who was on duty at the time, was taken to Christiana Hospital. (Damian Giletto/The News Journal via AP) In this Wednesday, April 26, 2017 photo, police investigate at the scene after a Delaware state trooper was shot and killed in the parking lot of a WaWa convenience store near Bear, Del. A man suspected of the shooting and killing the trooper remained barricaded early Thursday inside his house, where he fired shots at officers as they tried to negotiate a peaceful surrender, police said. (William Bretzger/The Wilmington News-Journal via AP) Residents look on from a park near the scene of a standoff, Thursday morning, April 27, 2017, in Middletown, Del., between law enforcement and a man police say shot and killed Delaware State Trooper Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard. The unidentified suspected was shot and killed by officers after a 20-hour standoff at his home, state police said Thursday. (Daniel Sato/The Wilmington News-Journal via AP) An armed Delaware State Police trooper walks near the scene of a standoff, Thursday morning, April 27, 2017, in Middletown, Del., between law enforcement and a man police say shot and killed Delaware State Trooper Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard. The unidentified suspected was shot and killed by officers after a 20-hour standoff at his home, state police said Thursday. (Daniel Sato/The Wilmington News-Journal via AP) The Delaware State Police mobile command unit stationed near the scene of a standoff, Thursday morning, April 27, 2017, in Middletown, Del., between law enforcement and a man police say shot and killed Delaware State Trooper Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard. The unidentified suspected was shot and killed by officers after a 20-hour standoff at his home, state police said Thursday. (Daniel Sato/The Wilmington News-Journal via AP) Law enforcement personnel load into a waiting helicopter before leaving the scene of a standoff, Thursday morning, April 27, 2017, in Middletown, Del., between law enforcement and a man police say shot and killed Delaware State Trooper Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard. The unidentified suspected was shot and killed by officers after a 20-hour standoff at his home, state police said Thursday. (Daniel Sato/The Wilmington News-Journal via AP) A Pennsylvania State Police armored front-end loader is trucked away from the scene of a standoff, Thursday morning, April 27, 2017, in Middletown, Del., between law enforcement and a man police say shot and killed Delaware State Trooper Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard. (Daniel Sato/The Wilmington News-Journal via AP) PARIS (AP) - The Latest on the French presidential election (all times local): 9:05 p.m. French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has vowed to keep up France's operations against extremists in Iraq and Syria within a U.S.-led coalition. French independent centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron, center, listens to Robert Hebras, right, last living survivor of the 1944 Oradour-sur-Glane massacre, during a campaign visit of the ruins in the village of Oradour-sur-Glane, central France, Friday, April 28, 2017. France's troubled wartime past is taking center stage Friday in the country's highly charged presidential race, as centrist Emmanuel Macron visited the site of France's worst Nazi massacre and Marine Le Pen's far-right party suffered a new blow over alleged Holocaust denial. (Pascal Lachenaud/Pool Photo via AP) During a political rally in the rural town of Chatellerault on Friday night, Macron said the aim of France's military intervention is to "eradicate Islamist terrorist movements" in both Mideast countries. He added that France must intervene "against those who are using chemical weapons," specifically citing Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime. Macron also said that if elected, he would launch an international diplomatic initiative to "stabilize the region." Answering a young child's question about the threat of terrorism in France, Macron said he wants to boost intelligence services within the country to prevent potential attacks. Macron, a centrist candidate, is facing far-right Marine Le Pen in a presidential runoff on May 7. ___ 8:45 p.m. French presidential hopeful Emmanuel Macron has promoted his vision of an "open, liberal, generous France" during a rally in a rural area of western France. Macron, speaking in the town of Chatellerault, said about the nationalist views of far-right rival Marine Le Pen's party: "No, the National Front is not a party like any other." He says fellow politicians who refuse to call on voters to block Le Pen from the presidency "are making a deep, serious, moral and political mistake." During his rally focusing on the issues facing rural France, the pro-European, pro-free market Macron promised 5 billion euros ($5.5 billion) to help modernize French farms facing European and international competition. He also advocated providing high-speed internet access and encouraging more doctors to work in small towns and villages, while promising not to close public schools in rural areas. ___ 8 p.m. French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has promised that if elected, he will come back to a village for the June commemoration of the largest massacre in Nazi-occupied France. Oradour-sur-Glane is today a ghost town, with burned-out cars and abandoned buildings left as testimony to its history. Macron met with the last living survivor of the massacre, 91-year-old Robert Hebras, who accompanied him for one hour at the site. He laid a wreath at the village's cemetery. On June 10, 1944, four days after the Allied D-Day landings in Normandy, an SS armored division herded villagers into barns and a church, blocked the doors, and set Oradour-sur-Glane ablaze. A total of 642 men, women and children died. Only six people survived. ___ 7:45 p.m. French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen says she "abhors" Holocaust doubters amid a scandal involving a senior official in her party. Le Pen has made the comment after allegations that a vice president of her National Front party expressed skepticism about Nazi gas chambers. Le Pen has worked to clean up the image of her National Front party to make it an acceptable alternative, and noted in an interview on BFM-TV that in 2015 she forced her father out of the party he founded and led for 40 years after he repeated a statement diminishing the Holocaust, for which he had been convicted. Le Pen said that today "there is no one in the direction of the National Front who defend these theses." ___ 6:30 p.m. French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has paid homage to Nazi victims, urging voters not to repeat "the darkest page" of modern French history by forgetting the horrors of World War II. Macron walked slowly through the site of the deadliest massacre in Nazi-occupied France, the village of Oradour-sur-Glane in western France. In 1944, an SS armored division herded villagers into barns and a church, blocked the doors, and set the village ablaze. A total of 642 people died, and only six survived. The town's ruins are preserved as a testimony to Nazi horrors. Macron warned that "to forget ... is to take the risk of repeating history and these errors." He is trying to distinguish himself from far-right rival Marine Le Pen, whose party's past is stained by anti-Semitism. ___ 5:55 p.m. French far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon is suggesting he will vote against nationalist Marine Le Pen in the May 7 presidential runoff - but is refusing to endorse her centrist rival, Emmanuel Macron. Melenchon came in a close fourth place in Sunday's first-round election, and told his 7 million voters Friday in a YouTube video: "You don't need me to tell you who to vote for. I'm not a guru." Instead of lining up behind Macron as other leading candidates have done, Melenchon wants to maintain his independence and to capitalize on his strong showing in the presidential race for a parliamentary election in June. He warned that both Macron and Le Pen would lead to instability in France and "divide everyone." Le Pen appealed Friday to Melenchon's voters to block Macron from the presidency. Both Le Pen and Melenchon led populist campaigns against the so-called globalized elite. ___ 5:35 p.m. German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that she hopes French centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron wins the presidential runoff, but rejected suggestions he would heed Germany's bidding. Asked in an interview with German media group RND whether Macron needed to prove he's not a "German poodle," Merkel said the term was "simply absurd." In the interview published Friday, Merkel said she didn't have "the slightest doubt that Emmanuel Macron, if he's elected, which I hope, will be a strong president." Merkel declined to say whether Germany would be willing to provide the European Union with further funds to support economic stability in France. She said: "We will see, I can't anticipate the discussion with the next French president." ___ 4:15 p.m. French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen is reaching from her far-right base across to the far left, urging voters who chose communist-linked Jean-Luc Melenchon in the first-round vote to support her in the runoff election. Le Pen issued a video via Twitter on Friday urging Melenchon's voters to "block" her centrist rival Emmanuel Macron, arguing that the former banker and government minister represents the status quo and "arrogant finance." Le Pen and Melenchon won a combined 40 percent of the vote in the first round after populist campaigns that tapped into widespread frustration with mainstream politics. While they hold opposing views on immigration and social issues, Melenchon and Le Pen are both skeptical of the European Union, hostile to free-trade deals and promised to help workers hurt by globalization. Melenchon is the only leading candidate from the first round who has not given guidance to his voters for the May 7 runoff. ___ 3:35 p.m. Soccer great Zinedine Zidane says that the French should do anything they can to avoid having far-right candidate Marine Le Pen win the presidency. Referring to Le Pen's party, the Real Madrid coach and former France international says that he is "far from all these ideas, from this National Front. So we need to do everything to avoid this." Zidane, who was born in Marseille and comes from Algerian descent, took a similar stance when Jean-Marie Le Pen - Marine's father - made it to the second round of the 2002 presidential election. A former World Cup and European Championship winner, Zidane remains highly popular in France. He says the message "is the same, the one from 2002." Le Pen faces centrist Emmanuel Macron in the presidential runoff on May 7. ___ 1:35 p.m. French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen is painting herself as David against rival Emmanuel Macron's Goliath as she tries to overcome a poll gap and broaden her support base ahead of a May 7 runoff. In an interview Friday with regional broadcasters France Bleu and France 3, Le Pen accused pro-business centrist Macron of being the candidate of the "oligarchy" and the elite. Le Pen described Macron and France's employers' lobby, leading trade union and media magnates as "Goliath." She added that "the love that we have for this country is the stone that David used against Goliath" to kill him in the biblical tale. Le Pen has been courting the blue-collar vote, while Macron argues that France needs to make it easier for companies to hire. ___ 11:30 a.m. Polish officials have dismissed as "populist" recent comments by French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron who said he will press for European Union sanctions on Warsaw if he is president. Macron spoke with French regional daily "La Voix du Nord" after visiting a house appliances factory that is scheduled to move to Poland, where labor costs are cheaper. He said he would take action on Poland, saying it infringes fundamental EU values and uses fiscal differences to its favor. Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Konrad Szymanski said Friday Macron's words were "pure populism" and violated the EU's idea of a common market. Government spokesman Rafal Bochenek said Poland objects to being used in France's campaign ahead of the May 7 runoff between Macron and far-right Marine Le Pen ___ 9:30 a.m. French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen's far-right party is in new turmoil - its temporary leader is stepping down over allegations he expressed doubt about Nazi gas chambers. National Front vice president Louis Aliot said on BFM television Friday that interim party leader Jean-Francois Jalkh is leaving his post because of comments reported in a 2000 interview. Jalkh took over this week after Le Pen said she would step aside to concentrate on her campaign. Aliot said that Jalkh is contesting allegations of Holocaust denial, a crime in France. Le Pen has worked hard to detoxify the party, tainted by racism and anti-Semitism in the past. She faces centrist Emmanuel Macron in a highly charged presidential runoff May 7. Macron is visiting the site of a Nazi massacre later Friday. French far-right leader and presidential candidate Marine Le Pen addresses supporters during an election campaign rally in Nice, southern France, Thursday April 27, 2017. After "the battle of Whirlpool," when Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron both went hunting for France's blue-collar vote at a threatened home appliance factory, the presidential candidates clashed over fish as Le Pen boarded a fishing trawler, in a return to more traditional campaigning on Thursday. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) FILE - This Jan. 1, 1953 aerial file picture shows the destroyed Oradour-sur-Glane, central France. French centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron will visit later Friday to Oradour-sur-Glane, a ghost town left behind after the largest massacre in Nazi-occupied France seven decades ago. The town is today a phantom village, with burned-out cars and abandoned buildings left as testimony to its history. (AP Photo,File) French presidential election candidate Emmanuel Macron signs autographs during a campaign visit to Sarcelles, north of Paris, Thursday, April 27, 2017. French presidential hopeful Emmanuel Macron has visited a sport complex in a working-class immigrant suburb of Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) French far-right leader and presidential candidate Marine Le Pen addresses supporters during an election campaign rally in Nice, southern France, Thursday April 27, 2017. After "the battle of Whirlpool," when Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron both went hunting for France's blue-collar vote at a threatened home appliance factory, the presidential candidates clashed over fish as Le Pen boarded a fishing trawler, in a return to more traditional campaigning on Thursday. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) A text reads "Choose France" as French far-right leader and presidential candidate Marine Le Pen addresses supporters during an election campaign rally in Nice, southern France, Thursday April 27, 2017. After "the battle of Whirlpool," when Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron both went hunting for France's blue-collar vote at a threatened home appliance factory, the presidential candidates clashed over fish as Le Pen boarded a fishing trawler, in a return to more traditional campaigning on Thursday. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Alarm over North Korea's nuclear ambitions and its intensifying standoff with the United States, and tensions over China's assertive territorial claims in the South China Sea are under the spotlight at an annual summit of Southeast Asian nations in Manila. Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met under extra heavy security in the Philippine capital on Friday, the eve of the summit of the 10-nation bloc, to discuss regional security and efforts to integrate their economies in response to growing Chinese clout. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is also under the limelight as he hosts his first regional summit amid sharp criticism by Western governments and human rights groups of his bloody crackdown on illegal drugs that has left thousands of suspects dead. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte addresses the media during his joint press statement with Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo following their bilateral meeting at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines Friday, April 28, 2017. When Duterte hosts a summit of Southeast Asian leaders this weekend, the spotlight will be on him. Just less than a year in power, Duterte faces a mass murder complaint before the International Criminal Court and an impeachment bid at home as bodies continue to pile up in his war on illegal drugs. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) The ASEAN foreign ministers issued a statement expressing "grave concern" over North Korea's nuclear missile tests, despite a plea from the North not to be subjected to such pressure. They said instability on the Korean Peninsula "seriously impacts the region and beyond." ASEAN also urged North Korea and all parties concerned "to exercise self-restraint in order to de-escalate the tension and refrain from actions that may aggravate the situation," adding its voice to growing international alarm over the crisis involving the North and its rivals, led by the United States. President Donald Trump's administration has declared that all options, including a targeted military strike, remain on the table. But a pre-emptive attack isn't likely, U.S. officials have said, and the administration is pursuing a strategy of boosting pressure on North Korea with assistance from China, the North's main trading partner and economic lifeline. North Korea has been reaching out to other nations to ease criticism amid the U.S. threats, according to a Philippine official. North Korea sent its Thailand-based ambassador to Manila recently "to suggest that North Korea not be put under pressure" during the ASEAN meetings hosted by the Philippines, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the matter with the media. The ASEAN foreign ministers also discussed long-simmering territorial disputes in the busy South China Sea involving ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The most powerful claimant, China, is pressuring ASEAN not to mention an arbitration decision last year that invalidated Beijing's claims to most of the disputed waters, according to three Philippine officials who spoke to the AP on the issue. A draft of an ASEAN communique to be issued by Duterte at the end of the summit on Saturday does not mention the Philippines' arbitration victory but calls for "full respect for legal and diplomatic processes," which the Chinese also wanted removed because they believe it referred to the ruling, the officials said. The three officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Chinese Embassy officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Duterte told reporters Thursday that he would not raise the arbitration ruling at the summit, a stance critics say is subservient to Beijing. Duterte, who has reached out to China to boost trade and seek infrastructure funding, said the ruling is an issue between China and the Philippines and does not concern other ASEAN member states. Duterte, 72, will also be under the summit spotlight. Just less than a year in power, he faces a mass murder complaint before the International Criminal Court and an impeachment bid at home as bodies continue to pile up in his war on illegal drugs. Duterte, however, is likely to find solace from the storm of criticism during ASEAN, which has a bedrock policy forbidding member states from meddling in each other's domestic affairs. That has fostered the 10-nation bloc, founded half a century ago, as it evolved into an unwieldy collective of dictatorships, authoritarian states and a monarchy, along with fledgling democracies. "The ratbag of dictators, autocrats and juntas that dominate ASEAN's ranks perceive transparency, accountability and rule of law as existential threats rather than foundations of good governance," said Phelim Kine of the U.S.-based group Human Rights Watch. "Expect ASEAN leaders to yet again throw the human rights of an Asian country under the bus by remaining silent about Duterte's abusive drug war by implicitly or explicitly invoking the organization's 'non-interference' principle,'" Kine said. Once a government prosecutor who fought outlaws and insurgents, Duterte became a longtime mayor of southern Davao city, where he received the nickname "Duterte Harry," after Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry movie character, for his deadly anti-crime campaign. Since becoming president last June, his crackdown on suspected drug dealers and users has left nearly 2,800 people dead purportedly in gunbattles with police. Another 6,000 deaths are being investigated. ISTANBUL (AP) - An American and a British man, allegedly members of the Islamic State group, were arrested in Turkey after crossing the border from Syria and handing themselves over to the authorities, officials said Friday. A Turkish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government protocol, said American Kary Paul Kleman and Briton Stefan Aristidou arrived at Oncupinar border crossing in Kilis province on April 20 and were arrested four days later. Kleman was traveling with his Syrian wife and four children. His family was put under administrative detention to be deported to the U.S. in order to keep them together, according to the official. A British Foreign Office official said British authorities are in contact with Turkish authorities "following the detention of a British man on the Turkey/Syria border." Aristidou's British wife and child would be deported to the U.K., according to the Turkish official. Turkey's official Anadolu news agency reported Friday that the men were detained and later arrested on suspicion that they are members of the extremist Islamic State group. Anadolu said two Egyptians and four more children were also traveling with the group and will be deported. ___ Paisley Dodds contributed from London. CAIRO (AP) - The Latest on Pope Francis' visit to Egypt (all times local): 7:45 p.m. The spiritual leader of Egypt's Orthodox Christians has told Pope Francis that recent attacks targeting churches in Egypt have laid bare the resilience of Egyptians who remain united in the face of terror. Pope Francis hugs Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Al-Azhar's grand imam, at Cairo's Al Azhar university, Friday, April 28, 2017. Francis is in Egypt for a two-day trip aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front that repudiates violence committed in God's name. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP) Pope Tawadros II's comments came in a ceremony held at Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral, seat of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which was attended by the Catholic pontiff who is on a historic visit to Egypt. Since December, at least 75 people have been killed in three bombings targeting churches - one in Cairo and two in cities to the north. The local affiliate of the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Tawadros also said that "our predicament is that of an integrated nation whose hearts will not be separated by those who have ulterior motives. This sets an example to all generations." ___ 7:25 p.m. Pope Francis has praised Egypt's Coptic Christians who have died rather than renounce their faith, saying that "their innocent blood unites us" and is helping heal the historic divisions between Catholics and Orthodox. The Catholic pontiff spoke at the Coptic Orthodox cathedral on Friday, the first day of his two-day trip to Egypt, telling the Egyptian Copts that "your sufferings are also our sufferings." Francis is making the trip to Egypt to comfort the Christian community, after a December suicide bombing outside cathedral killed 20 people. More recently, twin Palm Sunday attacks in churches in Alexandria and Tanta killed at least 45. Francis asked: "How many martyrs in this land, from the first centuries of Christianity, have lived their faith heroically to the end, shedding their blood rather than denying the Lord." "Even in recent days tragically, the innocent blood of defenseless Christians was cruelly shed; their innocent blood unites us." Francis has frequently spoken of the "ecumenism of blood" - a reference to the way Christian leaders have united to denounce the indiscriminate attacks on Christians of all denominations from Islamic extremists in Iraq, Syria, Egypt and elsewhere. ___ 6:30 p.m. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi says Islamic militants committing acts of terror in the name of religion cannot claim to be Muslims. The general-turned-president spoke on Friday alongside Pope Francis on the first day of the Catholic pontiffs' historic visit to Egypt, a trip primarily designed to forge a united Christian-Muslim front to defeat religious militancy. El-Sissi also called for a comprehensive strategy to defeat terror and said Egyptians are made to pay an "exorbitant price" but that they were determined to defeat it. The president said that "true Islam does not command the killing of the innocent." Egypt has for years been battling an insurgency by Islamic militants centered in northern Sinai and led by a local affiliate of the Islamic State group in northern Sinai. ___ 6 p.m. Pope Francis is strongly backing Egypt's efforts to crack down on Islamic militancy, saying the country has a special role to play in forging regional peace and in "vanquishing all violence and terrorism." During a speech in Cairo on Friday to Egyptian officials and diplomats from around the world, Francis also praised Egypt's president, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, for repudiating religiously-inspired attacks, while also insisting on the "unconditional respect for inalienable human rights." Previously, popes have called on foreign leaders to address the underlying social and economic injustices that can breed terrorism. But Francis is taking that call further, encouraging el-Sissi's efforts to break an Islamic State insurgency that is increasingly targeting Egypt's Coptic Christian minority. The pontiff says that "Egypt, in the days of Joseph, saved other peoples from famine; today it is called to save this beloved region from a famine of love and fraternity." "It is called to condemn and vanquish all violence and terrorism. ... Egypt, in building peace and at the same time combatting terrorism, is called to give proof that religion belongs to God and the nation to all." ___ 4:55 p.m. Pope Francis is urging Egypt's leading imams to teach their students to reject violence in God's name and preach peace, dialogue and reconciliation - not instigation to conflict. Francis made the remarks on Friday during a landmark visit to Egypt's Al Azhar university, the revered, 1,000-year-old seat of learning in Sunni Islam that trains clerics and scholars from around the world. Francis recalled that Egypt's ancient civilization valued the quest for knowledge and open-minded education, and that a similar commitment is required today to combat what he called the "barbarity" of religious extremism. Francis spoke to the grand imam, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, and other clerics on the first day of a two-day visit to Cairo. He says religious leaders were obliged to "expose attempts to justify every form of hatred in the name of religion, and to condemn these attempts as idolatrous cariacatures of God." Francis was interrupted with applause several times. While el-Tayeb has strongly condemned Islamic extremism, Egypt's pro-government media has accused Al-Azhar of failing to do enough to reform the religious discourse in Islam. ___ 4:45 p.m. Speaking alongside Pope Francis, Egypt's top imam and the head of the world's primary seat of Sunni Islamic learning, Al-Azhar, says the ground has been paved for "monotheistic" religions to play their role in realizing equality, justice and the human rights. Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb says there are more "barbarian" attacks in today's world than at any time in history. He says Egypt's Al-Azhar was working on reinforcing a culture of co-existence and respect for dialogue. El-Tayeb chairs the Al-Azhar. Francis arrived in Egypt earlier on Friday. -Corrects that el-Tayeb said "monotheistic," not "monolithic." ___ 4 p.m. Pope Francis has arrived at Al-Azhar, the world's primary seat of Sunni Islamic learning, on the first day of a historic visit to Egypt designed to forge a united Christian-Muslim front against religious militancy. The Catholic pontiff headed to Al-Azhar on Friday after meeting President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who briefly hosted his guest at the presidential Ittihadya palace, giving him an official welcome, complete with a military band playing the national anthems of the Vatican and Egypt. The Pope is scheduled later to attend and address an international peace conference hosted by Al-Azhar and chaired by its grand imam, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb. He will also meet Pope Tawadros II, spiritual leader of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, followed by the majority of Egypt's estimated nine million Christians. ___ 2:45 .m. Pope Francis has met Egypt's president at the start of a historic, two-day visit to the Muslim majority Arab nation fighting an insurgency by Islamic militants. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Friday received the Catholic pontiff at his opulent Ittihadya palace, where a military band played the national anthems of the Vatican and Egypt as both leaders stood in attention. Francis departed Cairo airport with the window of his blue fiat rolled down, in keeping with his wishes for a normal car and not an armored motorcade. The Pope's visit is designed to forge a united Christian-Muslim front against religious militancy and it is toward that aim that he will attend later Friday an international peace conference organized by Al-Azhar, the world's primary seat of Sunni Islamic learning. ___ 2:20 p.m. Pope Francis has arrived for a historic visit to Egypt, where he was received at Cairo airport by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and top Christian clerics. Members of Egypt's Presidential Guard lined up along the red carpet laid at the foot of his Alitalia plane and stretching all the way to the presidential lounge at one side of the airport. Two children, a girl in a white dress and a boy in a black tuxedo, presented the Catholic pontiff with bouquets of flowers. The Pope was scheduled later Friday to meet with President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Pope Tawadros II, spiritual leader of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church. He will also participate in an international peace conference organized by Al-Azhar, the world's primary seat of Sunni Islamic learning. ____ 2 p.m. Pope Francis has arrived in Egypt for a historic, two-day visit to show a united Christian-Muslim front against religious militancy. The Catholic pontiff will hold a series of deeply symbolic meetings with Egypt's religious and political leaders and participate in an international peace conference organized by Al-Azhar, the world's primary seat of Sunni Islamic learning. He will also show solidarity and bring a message of peace to a country that has for years endured an increasingly emboldened insurgency led by a local affiliate of the extremist Islamic State group. The pope's Friday-Saturday visit will also lift the spirits of Egypt's large Christian community after three suicide bombings since December hit their churches, killing at least 75 people. IS claimed responsibility for the attacks. ___ 12:15 p.m. In Zamalek, an upscale neighborhood on a Nile River island where Pope Francis will overnight in Cairo, streets that will be used by the pontiff's motorcade have been emptied of parked cars. Some nearby side streets have been blocked for Francis' two-day visit that starts Friday afternoon. Security has also been visibly tightened in the neighborhood, with uniformed and plainclothes police deployed along routes expected to be used by Francis and his entourage. The pope's visit, however, is unlikely to cause much disruption to the city of some 18 million people as it falls on the Muslim, Friday-Saturday weekend when the usually congested traffic is significantly lighter. Francis is brushing off security concerns to forge ahead with a two-day trip to Egypt aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front that repudiates violence committed in God's name. ___ 11:55 a.m. Security men are posted every hundred yards or so along the 20-kilometer (12-mile) stretch between the airport and central Cairo in anticipation of Pope Francis' arrival in Egypt. Armored cars are stationed in front of the presidential palace, where Francis makes his first stop Friday. Banners in the Zamalek neighborhood welcomed Francis, with one from a private company saying "1,000,000 workers of Sharm el Sheikh welcome the pontiff." Francis is brushing off security concerns to forge ahead with a two-day trip to Egypt aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front that repudiates violence committed in God's name. ___ 8:40 a.m. Pope Francis is brushing off security concerns to forge ahead with a two-day trip to Egypt aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front that repudiates violence committed in God's name. Three weeks after Islamic militants staged twin Palm Sunday church attacks, Francis lands in Cairo on Friday for a series of deeply symbolic encounters with Egypt's religious and political leadership. He will meet with Egypt's president, patriarch and the "other" pope, Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and pray for victims of the attacks. Most importantly, he will also visit Al-Azhar, the revered 1,000-year-old seat of learning in Sunni Islam. There, he will meet privately with grand imam Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, and participate in an international peace conference Friday afternoon. Pope Francis delivers his speech at an International peace conference, in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, April 28, 2017. Pope Francis is on a two-day pilgrimage to Egypt aimed at lifting the spirits of Christians in the Middle East, whose numbers have rapidly dwindled in recent decades due to war, displacement and emigration. Sitting at right, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the pre-eminent institute of Islamic learning in the Sunni Muslim world, listens. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) Pope Francis, flanked by Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, right, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the pre-eminent institute of Islamic learning in the Sunni Muslim world, greets participants in an International peace conference, in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, April 28, 2017. Pope Francis is on a two-day pilgrimage to Egypt including a meeting with Egypt's president and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar as well as a Mass in a stadium on the outskirts of Cairo. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) Pope Francis meets Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Al-Azhar's grand imam, at Cairo's Al Azhar university, Friday, April 28, 2017. Francis is in Egypt for a two-day trip aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front that repudiates violence committed in God's name. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP) Pope Francis delivers his speech at an International peace conference, in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, April 28, 2017. Pope Francis is on a two-day pilgrimage to Egypt aimed at lifting the spirits of Christians in the Middle East, whose numbers have rapidly dwindled in recent decades due to war, displacement and emigration. Sitting at right, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the pre-eminent institute of Islamic learning in the Sunni Muslim world, listens. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) Pope Francis listens to speeches during a courtesy visit to the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, in Cairo Egypt, Friday, April 28, 2017. Francis is in Egypt for a two-day trip aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front that repudiates violence committed in God's name. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Pope Francis, right, meets Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi, in Cairo, Friday, April 28, 2017. Francis is in Egypt for a two-day trip aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front that repudiates violence committed in God's name. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP) Pope Francis meets Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Al-Azhar's grand imam, at Cairo's Al Azhar university, Friday, April 28, 2017. Francis is in Egypt for a two-day trip aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front that repudiates violence committed in God's name. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP) Pope Francis, right, arrives with officials to meet with Sheik Ahmed el-Tayyib, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, at the al-Azhar Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, April 28, 2017. Pope Francis came to Egypt on Friday for a historic visit to the Arab and Muslim majority nation aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front to repudiate violence committed in God's name. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Pope Francis arrives to meet with Sheik Ahmed el-Tayyib, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, at the al-Azhar Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, April 28, 2017. Pope Francis came to Egypt on Friday for a historic visit to the Arab and Muslim majority nation aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front to repudiate violence committed in God's name. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Pope Francis, center, arrives with officials to meet with Sheik Ahmed el-Tayyib, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, at the al-Azhar Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, April 28, 2017. Pope Francis came to Egypt on Friday for a historic visit to the Arab and Muslim majority nation aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front to repudiate violence committed in God's name. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Pope Francis, center, arrives to meet with Sheik Ahmed el-Tayyib, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, at the al-Azhar Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, April 28, 2017. Pope Francis came to Egypt on Friday for a historic visit to the Arab and Muslim majority nation aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front to repudiate violence committed in God's name. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Pope Francis arrives to meet with Sheik Ahmed el-Tayyib, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, at the al-Azhar Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, April 28, 2017. Pope Francis came to Egypt on Friday for a historic visit to the Arab and Muslim majority nation aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front to repudiate violence committed in God's name. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Pope Francis is welcomed upon his arrival at the Cairo international airport, Egypt, Friday, April 28, 2017. Francis is in Egypt for a two-day trip aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front that repudiates violence committed in God's name. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP) Pope Francis, right, and Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, hug each other, in Cairo Egypt, Friday, April 28, 2017. Francis is in Egypt for a two-day trip aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front that repudiates violence committed in God's name. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) Pope Francis, right, meets Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi, in Cairo, Friday, April 28, 2017. Francis is in Egypt for a two-day trip aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front that repudiates violence committed in God's name. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP) Pope Francis is flanked by Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Al-Azhar's grand imam, at Cairo's Al Azhar university, Friday, April 28, 2017. Francis is in Egypt for a two-day trip aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front that repudiates violence committed in God's name. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP) ROME (AP) - Italian police said Friday they have arrested a Congolese man suspected being part of a Berlin-based terror cell and of having had contacts with the man who drove a truck into a Christmas market in the city, authorities said Friday. Police said Lutumba Nkanga, 27, a resident of Germany, was arrested in early January at a refugee center in Brindisi, southern Italy. Authorities announced the arrest on Friday to allow time for international aspects of the investigation, Italian media reported. Nkanga is suspected of having been in contact with the driver in the Berlin attack, Anis Amri, who was slain in a shootout with Italian police near Milan a few days after the December attack that killed 12 people. Police said Nkanga was arrested in Brindisi on a warrant accusing him of belonging to an association with the aim of international terrorism. Brindisi Police Chief Maurizio Masciopinto told Sky TG24 TV that investigators were able to trace internet communications by Nkanga and others allegedly linked to a Berlin-based terror cell, said to number about 11 members, despite members' sophisticated efforts to cover their traces. As part of the probe, a Moroccan man was expelled from Italy, in line with a strategy to rid the country of those suspected of advocating Islamic extremism. Investigators said that the Moroccan and Nkanga had been spotted by police in the Adriatic port of Ancona in late December. Police suspected they were planning to travel to Syria to fight along with Islamic State group sympathizers, possibly by taking a ferry to Albania or by traveling to Turkey. Expulsion is a now common tactic, reflecting Italy's determination to spare the country from terror attacks. Since the first such expulsion in January 2015, 170 foreigners suspected of advocating or planning religious extremist attacks, have been put on flights abroad. Among them were a Tunisian man, 32, and an Egyptian man, 27, who were expelled on Friday for "reasons of social dangerousness," the Italian interior ministry said. The Tunisian, who had been living in Sicily with an expired work permit, used his Facebook profile to publish content justifying Islamic violence and had contacts with extremists, authorities said. The Egyptian, who worked in a fresh produce store, allegedly had expressed support for the Berlin market attack and expressed hope similar massacres would be carried out, the ministry said. JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli media are reporting that police have questioned an American businessman as part of a corruption probe involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Haaretz newspaper reports that officers took testimony recently from Spencer Partrich over alleged "gifts and favors" given to the prime minister over the years. Neither Netanyahu's spokesman nor Israeli police had immediate comment to Friday's report. Netanyahu has dismissed the allegations as baseless and portrayed the investigation as a witch hunt by a hostile media. The investigation, dubbed "File 1000," reportedly concerns claims that Netanyahu improperly accepted lavish presents from wealthy supporters, including Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer. Police have questioned Netanyahu several times. 260417MEMBER APPROVES MAURUSI REQUEST By Aloysius Laukai The member for South Bougainville TIMOTHY MASIU last Saturday agreed to support the Maurusi community with a Sawmill and Chain saw and two Grass cutters. He made these commitment after visiting their village which a model village under the Community Health Program. The village was organized after one of their youths attended a healthy community workshop earlier motivating the entire village to work on their project. A Impressed member had not hesitation after visiting the village and learning how the people were cleaning their communities. Ends BEIJING (AP) - Beijing's most wanted may be holed up in a Staten Island cul-de-sac or a suburb of California's Inland Empire. Others could be hiding in a waterfront condo in the Carribbean or the east end of London. Chinese state media on Friday published the names and addresses of 22 people overseas who are being sought by Chinese anti-corruption investigators in an unusual name-and-shame campaign. China Daily, the government-run English-language newspaper distributed in China and overseas, featured a full-page spread with photos, allegations and addresses - minus the street numbers - of people accused of corruption and white collar crime. The notice appeared to be ramping up pressure on both the suspects themselves and the countries where they are living. The 22 people were said to be in the United States, Canada, Australia and other Western countries that have largely been reluctant to sign extradition treaties with China, citing its opaque justice system. The ruling Communist Party's anti-corruption watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, released the information about the suspects so that the public might provide clues or drive them away from their residences, an agency official said. It said it was searching for a total of 946 people overseas. "We hope the public will provide clues about the fugitives, as well as report corrupt officials who intend to flee," Liu Jianchao, director of the CCDI's International Cooperation Bureau, was quoted by China Daily as saying. Liu said corrupt Chinese officials often flee to the U.S. or Canada because those countries do not have extradition treaties with China. He called on countries harboring the fugitives "to adhere to international conventions on fighting corruption," China Daily said. The Communist Party has vowed to hunt down corrupt officials no matter where they are as part of an operation called Sky Net. President Xi Jinping has called corruption one of the gravest threats to the party. Xi's far-reaching campaign has been popular with a Chinese public fed up with endemic corruption but has also been criticized by political dissidents and scholars, who say it has been used as a tool by party factions looking to eliminate political enemies and settle scores. In some cases, China's overseas manhunts have appeared to blur the line between law enforcement and politics. China announced last week it had asked Interpol to issue a "red notice" seeking the arrest of Guo Wengui, a billionaire who has been accused of bribing a former intelligence official. Guo told the AP he was targeted by Beijing because he pledged to expose personal secrets about top party leaders. In 2015, China launched an international manhunt for Ling Wancheng, a businessman and brother of a former top presidential aide who was convicted on charges of corruption and leaking state secrets. Ling was widely reported to have information that would have deeply embarrassed top party leaders had he defected to the United States. Guo, Ling and other high-profile fugitives were not among the 22 people on China Daily's list, which included a utility company executive suspected of embezzling public funds and a village chief allegedly involved in bank fraud. DETROIT (AP) - People are buying more SUVs and trucks and paying General Motors handsomely for them, pushing the company's first-quarter net income up 34 percent to a record $2.6 billion. U.S. sales of large truck-based SUVs such as the Chevrolet Tahoe rose nearly 15 percent for the quarter to almost 54,000. Pickup truck and van sales were up 1 percent to 238,000, and sales of smaller SUVs rose 16 percent to nearly 219,000, according to GM. Analysts say GM makes $10,000 or more on each big SUV and pickup as people load them out with options. This Monday, April 24, 2017, photo, shows the Chevrolet emblem on the grill of an Equinox compact sport utility vehicle at Quirk Auto Dealers in Manchester, N.H. General Motors Co. reports financial results, Friday, April 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) The average Tahoe, for instance, sold for more than $58,000 in the past quarter, up slightly from a year ago, according to Kelley Blue Book. Top-line versions with leather seating, sunroof and advanced safety electronics, sell for more than $65,000. That helped drive up GM's average vehicle sale price to over $34,000, beating the industry average by $3,000, the company said. "All of our facilities, full-size SUVs and the three truck plants, are running full-on, three shifts, to meet demand," Chief Financial Officer Chuck Stevens said. GM's earnings and revenue soundly beat Wall street expectations. Earnings of $1.70 per share shattered the $1.47 predicted by analysts polled by FactSet. Revenue was up 11 percent to $41.2 billion, exceeding estimates of $40.6 billion. Despite the strong performance, GM shares rose less than 1 percent to $34.71 in Friday afternoon trading. Investors, analysts say, are concerned that auto sales have peaked and so have the stocks. "It's not fair, as we believe GM deserves to be better rewarded for overall strong results and execution," Barclays analyst Brian Johnson wrote in a note to investors. "Unfortunately sometimes the prevailing market sentiment can be overly difficult to fight." GM made $3.4 billion before taxes in North America, up almost 50 percent, or $1.1 billion, from a year ago. Stevens attributed $400 million of the increase to better prices on trucks and SUVs, and $500 million in cost cuts. GM's U.S. sales rose just under 1 percent in the quarter while the whole industry was down 1.5 percent. Stevens expects the pickup market to remain strong through the year largely because the average age of a U.S. truck is 14 years, above the overall fleet age of about 11.5 years. Also, gas prices should remain low, and any infrastructure spending that comes from President Donald Trump will increase construction and raise pickup demand. GM lost $200 million in Europe for the quarter because of the falling British Pound due to the vote to exit the European Union. That loss won't be a drag in the future because GM is selling its European Opel and Vauxhall brands to French carmaker PSA Group for roughly $2.33 billion (2.2 billion euros). GM expects to take a $4.5 billion charge when the sale closes, perhaps as early as the second quarter. The company favors Trump's proposed corporate tax rate cut, but its impact would be limited for the next five years. That's because GM still has $34 billion worth of deferred tax assets and net operating losses to be used as write-downs. Those came mainly from before GM's 2009 bankruptcy, and they reduce its corporate tax rate to under 10 percent, Stevens said. Trump's tax plan would slash the corporate rate from 35 percent to 15 percent, a boon to most companies even though many don't pay the full tax now. With tax credits and other loopholes, most corporations pay closer to 20 percent, according to calculations by JPMorgan. GM also made other news during Friday's conference call with analysts: - Stevens indicated that GM is looking at white-collar cost cuts as it simplifies its business after the exit from Europe. Simplification "will allow us to take significant structure out of the business, whether it's corporate staff, whether it's engineering staff," he said on a conference call. - CEO Mary Barra shot down speculation that she may go to work in the Trump administration. "I'm 150 percent committed to General Motors," she said, adding that she wants to lead GM in transforming transportation. "So that's where my focus is and will be going forward," Barra said. In this April 25, 2017, photo, a GMC truck sits in a General Motors dealer's lot in Nashville, Tenn. General Motors Co. reports financial results, Friday, April 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) WAYNESBORO, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi authorities have arrested a man wanted in a 1976 slaying in Texas. WDAM-TV reports (http://bit.ly/2qaAr1q ) 61-year-old David Lee Edds was arrested Thursday by U.S. marshals and Wayne County sheriff's deputies. They found Edds living in a tent in the woods after locating his truck. Edds was jailed in Wayne County. Sheriff Jody Ashley said the suspect will be extradited to Texas. The arrest came three days after the sheriff of Harris County, Texas, announced a warrant had been issued charging Edds with murder in the May 1976 stabbing of Rene Anthony Guillotte of Houston. Texas authorities said cold-case investigators linked DNA evidence to Edds, who lived near the road where the victim's body was found. CETINJE, Montenegro (AP) - The Latest on Montenegro and NATO membership (all times local): 4:55 p.m. Montenegro's former prime minister Milo Djukanovic says the approval of NATO membership is the most important decision the country has made in recent history. Djukanovic said Friday after parliament voted to ratify the accession treaty that membership in NATO presents an honor for Montenegro and its history. Djukanovic was the head of government in October when pro-Russian plotters allegedly planned his assassination as part of an attempted coup to thwart Montenegro's NATO bid. Djukanovic also led Montenegro to independence from Serbia in 2006. He says that "after long suffering and roaming through history, (Montenegro) is finally in the position where it logically, historically, civilization-wise and culturally belongs." ___ 4:05 p.m. Lawmakers in Montenegro have ratified the membership treaty with NATO, taking a historic turn toward the West despite protests from Russia and the pro-Russian opposition. All 46 lawmakers present at the session voted in favor of Montenegro becoming a NATO member. The parliament has 81 seats but pro-Russia opposition lawmakers boycotted the session in the historic capital of Cetinje. Prime Minister Dusko Markovic said earlier in a speech that NATO membership will present a guarantee for Montenegro's future security, economic progress and regional stability. Several hundred pro-Russia opposition supporters rallied in protest of the vote. Demonstrators burned a NATO flag and chanted "Treason" before peacefully dispersing. Russia has been angered by NATO expansion in Montenegro, Moscow's traditional zone of interest. Montenegro has accused Russia of being behind a foiled election-day coup in October allegedly designed to throw the country off its path toward NATO. Russia has denied this. ___ 3:05 p.m. Montenegro's prime minister has urged lawmakers in to support NATO membership, saying that it will present a guarantee for Montenegro's future security, economic progress and regional stability. Dusko Markovic has told lawmakers during a speech in parliament that "this assembly and its members have a historic privilege to make a decision that will be remembered as long as there is Montenegro and Montenegrins. He says that "this day will be marked among the brightest in our history." Pro-Russia opposition parties are boycotting the session and have held a demonstration instead. Anti-NATO demonstrators chanted "Treason!" and "Thieves!" and burned a NATO flag during a protest before peacefully dispersing. A banner read: "NATO murderers, your hands are bloody!" ___ 11:25 a.m. Montenegrin lawmakers are set to ratify the Balkan country's membership in NATO and make a historic turn toward the West despite protests from traditional ally Russia and pro-Russian opposition. The Montenegrin parliament will convene later on Friday to ratify the accession treaty with the Western military alliance. Opposition parties say they will boycott the session and hold a demonstration instead. Montenegro's pro-NATO government has urged lawmakers to approve the entry protocol. Officials have said that joining NATO will bring stability and economic benefits after centuries of turmoil. The government says: "In the current geo-political environment, Montenegro must rationally look at all options and make a decision that will best protect its national, security and economic interests." Russia has been angered by NATO expansion in Montenegro, Moscow's traditional zone of interest. BERLIN (AP) - German authorities arrested a 54-year-old Swiss citizen on suspicion of spying Friday, but declined to say who he allegedly worked for. Federal prosecutors said the man, identified only as Daniel M. in line with German privacy rules, was detained Friday in Frankfurt, the country's financial capital, on the basis of an arrest warrant issued Dec. 1. In a statement, prosecutors said M. is "suspected of working for the intelligence agency of a foreign power since the start of 2012." Markus Schmitt, a spokesman for the prosecutors' office, declined to say which foreign power was allegedly involved. Prosecutors said M. would appear before a judge Friday. Switzerland's foreign ministry said it had "taken note" of the arrest of a Swiss citizen but declined to comment further, citing privacy rules. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) - The final person associated with a multi-state jewelry store heist scheme is going to prison. A judge in Panama City sentenced 36-year-old Lewis Jones III on Thursday to 32 years in federal prison for taking part in the robberies across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas. The News Herald (http://bit.ly/2pG8uBC ) reports Jones could have faced life in prison for his convictions, but District Judge Robert Hinkle said he thinks the sentence is "sufficient." Jones, along with brothers Larry and Michael Gilmore, were convicted on conspiracy charges connected to the robberies. All three men are from Atlanta. Abigail Kemp, who testified she was recruited to carry out robberies, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years. The Gilmores each received 32-year sentences. AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - Labeling Israel's treatment of Palestinians as "apartheid" is like flinging a burning match into spilled gasoline - so combustible are the passions on both sides. Rima Khalaf did just that when a report commissioned by her U.N. agency at the request of 18 Arab member states accused Israel of having established an apartheid regime designed to dominate the Palestinian people as a whole. In a swift outcry, Israel slammed the 65-page document as anti-Semitic. The U.S. demanded its removal and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ordered it taken off the agency's website, saying it did not reflect his views. Rather than comply, Khalaf resigned as head of ESCWA, a Beirut-based agency, one of several U.N. regional bodies dealing with economic and social issues. In this Wednesday, April 19, 2017 photo, former veteran U.N. official Rima Khalaf speaks in Amman, Jordan about her decision to resign as head of a U.N. regional agency, ESCWA, after refusing to withdraw an agency report that labeled Israel an apartheid state. Khalaf says the issue deserves serious study, while official Israel and its supporters label the apartheid charge as anti-Semitism and an attempt to single out Israel. (AP Photo/Sam McNeil) (AP Photo/Sam McNeil) More than a month later, Khalaf has no regrets. The report's charge of apartheid - a "crime against humanity" in the eyes of the International Criminal Court - deserves serious examination, she said in an interview. "We are not here for defamation," Khalaf said. "We are here for solving the problem." The former U.N. undersecretary general said the international community has failed the Palestinians and must sanction Israel if it wants to regain credibility. Israeli government official Michael Oren disputed the apartheid charge as a "big lie," portraying the report as the latest attempt to "apply a completely unique standard to Israel which by definition is anti-Semitic." Official Israel and its supporters are outraged at comparisons to apartheid-era South Africa, pointing to the many differences: Unlike disenfranchised blacks in segregated South Africa, Israel's Arab citizens, about 20 percent of the population, can vote, are represented in parliament and on the Supreme Court, and easily mingle with Jewish Israelis in daily life. "There are no separate bathrooms, there is no apartheid here," said Oren, a deputy minister of diplomacy. "It's not just deeply offensive to Israelis. It is deeply offensive to the real victims of apartheid." The report says apartheid is more than an exact replica of conditions in pre-1994 South Africa. It notes that international conventions and the ICC define it more broadly, as "inhumane acts" committed in the context of institutionalized and systematic oppression of one racial group by another, with the intention of maintaining that regime. Such expanded parameters could conceivably apply at least in some of the Israeli-controlled territories, according to critics of Israeli policy. In the West Bank, military rule has sharply curtailed Palestinian movement, trade and access to resources, while Jewish settlers in the same territory enjoy full rights of Israeli citizens. Jews and Arabs in the West Bank live under different legal systems, with Jews having far more protections. A Palestinian state carved from the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967, has been touted as the redress. But 50 years on, a partition deal appears distant, even as President Donald Trump says he'll try to broker one. Israel has said it is willing to negotiate, blaming Palestinians for past failures, but a majority in Israel's Cabinet opposes Palestinian statehood, some seek partial annexation of the West Bank, and settlement construction continues unabated. The report describes a "regime that dominates the Palestinian people as a whole" in complex ways that it says include a calculated fragmentation. Divided into groups- citizens in Israel, permanent residents in east Jerusalem, stateless occupied subjects elsewhere - Palestinians are prevented from effectively resisting Israeli control, it says. But the report goes well beyond past warnings by some, including former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, that an apartheid-like situation could emerge unless a two-state solution is reached. It suggests that beyond the question of the occupied areas, Israel itself must eliminate laws that discriminate among Jewish and Arab citizens. Israel "can be a Jewish state" provided all citizens enjoy equal rights, according to Khalaf, who is of Palestinian origin. "If this is the case, then the label really doesn't matter," she said in the interview in Jordan, where she once held senior Cabinet posts and where she now lives again. Detailing the most controversial charge of apartheid in Israel itself, the report argues that voting rights of Arab citizens lose significance because Israel's Basic Law bars any political parties that deny Israel's identity as both Jewish and democratic. This prevents Arab citizens from "challenging laws that perpetuate inequality," it said. Arab politicians in Israel appear divided on the issue. Some avoid using seemingly provocative terms like apartheid. They prefer to work within the system to try to alleviate what has been widely acknowledged as longstanding official discrimination, such as preferential state spending on Jewish communities. Others, like parliament member Jamal Zahalka of the Joint List, an alliance of four Arab-dominated parties, say Israel has created a version of apartheid, including discriminatory rules on immigration and land use, even if it differs from the former South African system. He noted that Jews from anywhere in the world can claim Israeli citizenship while Arab citizens are barred from bringing Palestinian spouses from the occupied territories to live with them in Israel. Oren said fast-tracking Jewish immigration is a "correction to a terrible historic injustice of 2,000 years of statelessness for the Jewish people." He also argued Israel is one of many nation-states, and pointed to other countries with preferential immigration rules, such as Germany which repatriated large numbers of ethnic Germans. "While we recognize the Palestinians as a people, endowed with the right of self-determination in what they regard as their homeland, that recognition is not reciprocated," Oren said, reflecting the widespread view in Israel that those making apartheid claims want to delegitimize and eliminate Israel as a Jewish state. Many Israelis feel singled out because only their country has suffered the apartheid allegations so far, despite the fact that there are many cases of discrimination elsewhere, including in the Arab world. Legally, the crime of apartheid is still largely uncharted territory, said Sari Bashi, the Israel/Palestine advocacy director of the international group Human Rights Watch. So far, the ICC has not made such a charge, and evidence of racial discrimination is not sufficient to make the case. "The broader question is whether taken as a whole the entire system constitutes apartheid," Bashi said. "It's a question that certainly has not been adjudicated, and we don't have judicial rulings from other parts of the world that would provide a clear answer." U.N. chief Guterres hasn't discussed the substance of the report despite appeals by Khalaf. But in a recent speech to the World Jewish Congress, an umbrella group of Jewish communities, he suggested he was siding with some of the complaints, saying that "the state of Israel needs to be treated as any other state." He stuck by his principles even when it required decisions that "create some uncomfortable situations," he said an apparent reference to ordering the report removed from the ESCWA website. "As far as we are concerned, it was not published by ESCWA," said Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Khalaf, who resigned two weeks before her scheduled retirement, believes Guterres was pressured by the U.S., Israel's strongest ally, at a time when the Trump administration is threatening to cut U.N. funding significantly. Dujarric declined comment. President Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian government in parts of the West Bank, has praised Khalaf for "courage and support" for the Palestinian people. Khalaf rejected allegations of bias by those who produced the report. One author is Richard Falk, a former Princeton University professor who published blistering critiques of Israeli policies in his former role as U.N. special rapporteur on Palestinian human rights. "Let's not focus on the messenger," Khalaf said. "Let's focus on the facts." She said she hopes the debate started by the report will continue. "This is not a verdict by a court," she said. "It is a scholarly work. We want to make sure everyone has a chance to look at it and discuss it openly, because we want a solution." ___ Mohammed Daraghmeh contributed from Ramallah, West Bank. BRENTWOOD, N.Y. (AP) - The latest on efforts to thwart violence by the street gang MS-13, which has been blamed for 11 deaths on Long Island since last year (All times local): 2:40 p.m. The parents of two Long Island teenagers slain in a suspected MS-13 gang killing say they're pleased with their meeting with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2016 file photo, a poster featuring photos of Nisa Mickens and Kayla Cuevas is part of a memorial near the spot where their bodies were found in Brentwood, N.Y. The girls, who were best friends, were found murdered. In the months leading up to her death, Kayla was involved in a series of disputes with members and associates of the MS-13, prosecutors said. (AP Photo/Claudia Torrens, File) Evelyn Rodriguez's 16-year-old daughter, Kayla Cuevas, was killed last September near her home in Brentwood. She says the attorney general listened intently as she and others expressed concerns for their children's safety. Killed with Kayla was her 15-year-old friend Nisa Mickens. Sessions visited Long island on Friday after a spate of suspected gang violence in Brentwood and neighboring Central Islip (EYE'-slip). The bodies of 11 people have been found in parks, local streets and vacant lots since last September. Police believe the killings are the work of MS-13, a gang believed to have been founded in Los Angeles by immigrants from El Salvador. ___ 11:20 a.m. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has talked tough on immigration enforcement and cracking down on the MS-13 street gang in a speech to law enforcement officials on Long Island. The attorney general's appearance Friday comes amid a spate of violence in two communities near the federal courthouse where he spoke in Central Islip. The bodies of 11 people have been found in parks and vacant lots since last September. Police believe the killings are the work of MS-13. Sessions said the Trump administration is standing firm on its commitment to enforce immigration laws. He also said he is committed to helping law enforcement battle the street gangs. He said the killings on Long Island are an assault on law and safety "and we're not going to let it happen." ___ 9 a.m. Dozens of people who support immigrants are protesting outside a New York courthouse where U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will be discussing the violent street gang that's gripping a suburban area with fear. A Catholic nun from Brentwood, Long Island, Sister Catherine Fitzgibbon, says area's "very good" and "hardworking" residents fear both the MS-13 gang and immigration enforcement. Security was extremely tight around the courthouse Friday. The gang has been blamed for the deaths of 11 mostly young people in blue-collar Brentwood and Central Islip (EYE'-slihp) since last year. Some parents fear letting their children go to school. Teens say any perceived slight to a gang member can mean death. President Donald Trump says the killings are the result of immigration policies that let too many criminals slip through. MS-13 has Central American ties. ___ 12:40 a.m. Attorney General Jeff Sessions plans to visit one of the suburbs on New York's Long Island that is in the grip of fear from a violent street gang with Central American ties, MS-13. The gang has been blamed for the deaths of 11 mostly young people in blue-collar Brentwood and Central Islip since the school year began. Some parents say they are afraid to let their children go to school. Teens say any perceived slight to a gang member, particularly a refusal to join, can mean death. President Donald Trump says the killings are the result of immigration policies that let too many criminals slip through. Sessions plans to discuss the issue with law enforcement officers at the federal courthouse where some of the suspects are facing possible death penalty sentences. FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2016 file photo, a memorial to best friends Nisa Mickens and Kayla Cuevas is seen near the spot where their bodies were found in Brentwood, N.Y. Two suburbs on New York's Long Island are in the grip of fear from a violent street gang with Central American ties, MS-13. The gang has been blamed for the deaths of nearly a dozen young people in blue-collar Brentwood and Central Islip since the school year began. (AP Photo/Claudia Torrens, File) FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2016 file photo, Abraham Chaparro, holds a photograph of his murdered stepson, Miguel Garcia-Moran, outside his home in Brentwood, N.Y. The remains of Garcia-Moran, who was reported missing in February, were found in September. Two suburbs on New York's Long Island are in the grip of fear from a violent street gang with Central American ties, MS-13. (AP Photo/Claudia Torrens, File ) FILE - In this April 19, 2017 file photo, the casket of Justin Llivicura is carried from St. Joseph the Worker Church after Llivicura's funeral in East Patchogue, N.Y. Llivicura, 16, was one of four young men found slain in a suspected MS-13 gang killing in a park in Central Islip, N.Y., on April 12. The gang has been blamed for the deaths of nearly a dozen young people in blue-collar Brentwood and Central Islip since the school year began. (AP Photo/Frank Eltman, File) In this Monday, April 24, 2017 photo, Evelyn Rodriguez listens during a news conference by Suffolk County officials in Hauppauge, N.Y., discussing a recent spate of killings suspected to be the work of the MS-13 street gang. Rodriguez's daughter, Kayla Cuevas, and her best friend, Nisa Mickens, were killed Sept. 13, 2016, in what prosecutors said was one of those killings. (AP Photos/Frank Eltman) In this Monday, April 24, 2017 photo, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone speaks at a press conference in Hauppauge, N.Y., where he vowed to take action against the MS-13 street gang. MS-13 has been blamed for a trail of nearly a dozen corpses of mostly young people discovered in woods and vacant lots in Brentwood and neighboring Central Islip since the start of the school year. At right is Evelyn Rodriquez whose daughter, Kayla Cuevas, was killed in September 2016 in what prosecutors said was one of those killings. Central Islip School District Superintendent Dr. Howard Koenig is at center. (AP Photo/Frank Eltman) FILE - In this April 13, 2017 file photo, emergency personnel walk near a crime scene where four bodies, believed to be the victims of the brutally violent MS-13 street gang were found in Central Islip, N.Y. Two suburbs on New York's Long Island are in the grip of fear from the MS-13 gang with Central American ties. The gang has been blamed for the deaths of nearly a dozen young people in blue-collar Brentwood and Central Islip since the school year began. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) FILE - In this April 13, 2017 file photo, William Tigre talks to reporters at a crime scene where the bodies of four men were found in Central Islip, N.Y., after Tigre said an acquaintance told him that his 18-year-old brother, Jorge, was one of the victims. Tigre's body, along with three others, were found cut, with torsos exposed and hands bound, just steps from a playground. Investigators believe they were latest killings by the brutally violent MS-13 street gang. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2014 file photo, a family walks by a wall covered by a symbol from the Mara Salvatrucha, of MS-13 gang in Ilopango, El Salvador. In communities across El Salvador, the Mara Salvatrucha and their arch rivals, the 18th Street Gang, are de facto rulers. Two suburbs on New York's Long Island are in the grip of fear from the violent street gang with Central American ties, MS-13. The gang has been blamed for the deaths of nearly a dozen young people in blue-collar Brentwood and Central Islip since the school year began. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix, File) FILE - In this March 26, 2012 file photo a gang member of MS-13 attends mass at a prison in Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador. MS-13, or the Mara Salvatrucha, is believed by federal prosecutors to have thousands of members across the U.S., primarily immigrants from Central America. It has a stronghold in Los Angeles, where it emerged in the 1980s as a neighborhood street gang. (AP Photo/Luis Romero, File) MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama's governor has rejected a request for a DNA test in the case of a death row inmate who's scheduled to get a lethal injection next month after evading seven previous execution dates. Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday turned down a request from Tommy Arthur's legal team for additional testing of a wig prosecutors say he wore during a 1982 murder. Arthur's attorney says the wig is the only piece of physical evidence that can exonerate him. The governor's office says the wig was tested in 2009 and no DNA was found. Lawyers for Arthur, who maintains his innocence, have successfully delayed his execution seven times. He is now scheduled to be put to death May 25 for the slaying of Troy Wicker as the victim slept inside his home. BAGHDAD (AP) - A car bomb at a police station in central Baghdad killed four people and wounded eight late Friday night, according to Iraqi police and hospital officials. Saad Mann, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry and Baghdad Operations Command, told the Associated Press the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber and only three were killed in the blast. He said all those killed were policemen and did not offer any information as to the number of injured. The differing accounts could not be immediately reconciled. A fire erupts as smoke billows from the site of a car bomb, Friday, April 28, 2017, in Baghdad. Iraqi police and hospital officials said a car bomb at a police station in central Baghdad killed four and wounded eight late Friday night. The attack comes as Iraqi forces struggle to push back Islamic State group militants in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the last pocket of major urban territory the group holds in Iraq. (AP Photo/Susannah George) The explosion targeted an entrance to the traffic police station in Baghdad's Karrada neighborhood. Moments after the attack the burning shell of a car could be seen sending up a plume of thick black smoke as police fired into the air to disperse a small crowd. Hospital and police officials - who gave the death toll of four - spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. The attack comes as Iraqi forces struggle to push back Islamic State group militants in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the last pocket of significant urban territory the group holds in Iraq. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but IS has carried out similar attacks targeting Iraqi security forces in the past. Iraqi and coalition officials have warned that as IS loses ground in Iraq the group will increasingly return to its insurgent roots. In July of last year a massive truck bombing in the same Baghdad neighborhood killed more than 300 people on a busy street lined with shopping malls. The attack was the deadliest single bombing in Baghdad since U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. 260417ONE WOMAN AGAINST ALL MALE CANDIDATES By Aloysius Laukai Only one female candidate has nominated to contest the South Bougainville Open seat today in Buin. The former ABG Minister for Community Development and member representing women of South Bougainville, ROSE PIHEI was brought by women supporters and male carrying a live Pig to the nominating arena. MS PIHEIs women KIAKU called on the voters to look at empowering a woman to lead South Bougainville into the future. They said that candidate PIHEI knows the issues that is affecting Bougainville today and also can steer the ship past Referendum. Candidate RAYMOND KAKAPONI came with supporters in one vehicle and nominated as an Independent candidate. Nominations will close at 4pm tomorrow afternoon. Ends WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - The Latest on the Medicare fraud conviction of Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen, who also awaits trial with Sen. Bob Menendez on charges of bribing the New Jersey Democrat. (all times local): 5 p.m. A lawyer defending Sen. Bob Menendez against political corruption charges says he's spoken with the New Jersey Democrat following the Medicare fraud conviction of Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen. Dr. Salomon Melgen holds hands with his wife, Flor, as he leaves the federal courthouse with family and friends after arriving for a jury question Friday, April 28, 2017. Melgen, a prominent Florida eye doctor accused of political corruption was convicted of Medicare fraud Friday, increasing the odds that federal prosecutors could pressure him to testify against New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez. (Lannis Waters /Palm Beach Post via AP) Defense attorney Abbe Lowell says Menendez told him he's "saddened for his long-time friend and is thinking of his family." Melgen and Menendez await a joint trial in New Jersey on charges the doctor bribed the senator for favors, including help with a Medicare billing issue. But Lowell's statement says the Florida fraud case has no bearing on the bribery allegations and will have no impact on the senator. Lowell says the fraud case was about how the doctor ran his medical practice, something the Senator has never been involved with. He says the senator has always acted legally and is confident a jury will vindicate him. ___ 2:40 p.m. A prominent Florida eye doctor accused of political corruption was convicted of Medicare fraud Friday, increasing the odds that federal prosecutors could pressure him to testify against New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez. Dr. Salomon Melgen faces 15 to 20 years in prison on 67 counts, including health care fraud, submitting false claims and falsifying records in patients' files, if he doesn't offer or accept a deal before his sentencing, scheduled for July 14. The senator denies any wrongdoing. The doctor, 62, collected more money from Medicare than any other physician in the nation - $21 million - at the height of the fraud in 2012. He showed no reaction when the verdict was read and was immediately taken into custody. Several of his family members burst into tears outside the courtroom. WASHINGTON (AP) - One of the two remaining members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission says she will not seek a second term, a move that could leave the five-member panel with a single commissioner and further hobble its ability to make decisions. Democrat Colette Honorable said Friday she will not seek reappointment after her term expires in June. Honorable has served on the energy panel since 2014. President Donald Trump tapped Democrat Cheryl LaFleur to lead the commission but has yet to fill three Republican vacancies. The vacancies have left the agency without a quorum and prevent it from making high-profile decisions on interstate pipelines or proposed mergers. Honorable did not say when she will step down. An agency spokeswoman says Honorable could stay on until a new commissioner arrives or until Congress adjourns next year. At least a half-dozen natural gas pipeline projects totaling more than $10 billion have been in limbo since Democrat Norman Bay stepped down from the panel in February. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed alarm at the prolonged vacancies. Senate Energy Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has pressed the White House for months on the issue to no avail. Murkowski called Honorable "a true champion of the increasingly important work of this independent agency," adding that her expertise has strengthened the commission. "FERC has now been without a quorum for nearly three full months, and it is imperative that a quorum is restored as expeditiously as possible. This continues to be a top priority for me, and a hearing will be scheduled as soon as we receive nominations and the proper paperwork," Murkowski said. LOS ANGELES (AP) - Former U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd is stepping down as chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America. The MPAA said Friday that their board will gather Saturday to name Charles Rivkin as successor to Dodd, who is resigning Sept. 4. Rivkin was previously the U.S. assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs and a U.S. ambassador to France and Monaco. Dodd led the MPAA for six years, and one of his main concerns was preventing digital piracy and protecting copyrights. He also helped expand the presence of U.S. films in the Chinese market and revise the revenue-sharing model to benefit Hollywood studios. Disney Chairman Alan Horn said in a statement that Dodd transformed the MPAA into a global association for the digital era. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - The Latest on North Korea test-firing a missile Saturday (all times local): 1:05 p.m. One of Tokyo's major subways systems says it shut down all lines for 10 minutes early Saturday after receiving warning of a North Korean missile launch. The USS Carl Vinson sails offshore Nagasaki prefecture, southern Japan Saturday, April 29, 2017. The USS Carl Vinson is heading north toward the Korean peninsula in a show of force after satellite images suggested North Korea may be preparing to conduct a nuclear test. A North Korean mid-range ballistic missile apparently failed shortly after launch Saturday, South Korea and the United States said, the third test-fire flop just this month but a clear message of defiance as a U.S. supercarrier conducts drills in nearby waters. (Kyodo News via AP) Tokyo Metro official Hiroshi Takizawa says the temporary suspension affected 13,000 passengers. Service was halted on all nine lines at 6:07 a.m. It resumed at 6:17 a.m. after it was clear there was no threat to Japan. Takizawa says it was the first time service had been stopped in response to a missile launch. Train service is generally suspended in Japan immediately after large earthquakes. Tokyo Metro decided earlier this month to stop for missile launch warnings as well. ___ 11:35 a.m. North Korea's state media has reiterated the country's goal of developing a nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental United States on the same day rivals Washington and Seoul detected a failed missile launch from an area near Pyongyang. The Rodong Sinmun newspaper also said Saturday that the North revealed two types of new intercontinental ballistic missiles in an April 15 military parade honoring its late state founder, Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. The parade featured previously unseen large rocket canisters and launcher trucks. It said: "The large territory that is the United States has been entirely exposed to our pre-emptive nuclear strike means." Referring to the United States sending the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to Korean waters, the newspaper said that "rendering aircraft carriers useless is not even a problem" for its military. The newspaper says that the North displayed three types of ICBMs during the parade, including two new types that were inside the canisters. Analysts say the North's existing liquid-fuel ICBMS, including the KN-08 and KN-14, are potentially capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, although the North has never flight tested them. ___ 10 a.m. Japan's government spokesman says the missile launched by North Korea is believed to have traveled about 50 kilometers (30 miles) and fallen on an inland part of the country. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga (yoh-shee-hee-deh soo-gah) said the ballistic missile was fired to the northeast around 5:30 a.m. from an area in the vicinity of Pukchang, north of Pyongyang, the capital. He spoke at a news conference following a meeting of Japan's National Security Council. ___ 9:45 a.m. France's U.N. ambassador says the U.N. Security Council is "mobilized" and unanimous on the need to denuclearize North Korea. Francois Delattre said at the United Nations after North Korea's apparently failed missile launch Saturday that while there were "nuances" on policy to be worked out among council members, there is unanimity on the need for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. North Korea fired the missile hours after the Security Council held a ministerial meeting on Pyongyang's escalating weapons program. North Korean officials boycotted the meeting, which was chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Delattre says the council must be "very firm" implementing sanctions, adopting new ones if necessary and denouncing North Korea's human rights record. ___ 8:50 a.m. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff says a North Korean missile flew for several minutes and reached a maximum height of 71 kilometers (44 miles) before it apparently failed Saturday. The joint chiefs said in a statement on Saturday that the missile was fired 49 degrees northeast from an area near Pukchang, just north of the capital Pyongyang. It didn't immediately provide an estimate on how far the missile flew. South Korea says it's still analyzing what type of missile the North fired. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said the missile was likely a medium-range KN-17 ballistic missile and that it broke up a couple of minutes after launch. ___ 8:38 a.m. President Donald Trump says North Korea "disrespected" China with its most recent ballistic missile test. South Korea's military said in a statement Friday afternoon that North Korea had fired the missile from an area near the capital of Pyongyang, but provided no other details. U.S. and South Korean officials say the launch apparently failed. Trump did not answer reporters' questions about the missile launch upon returning to the White House from a daytrip to Atlanta. But he commented on Twitter, saying, "North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!" ___ 8:30 a.m. Japan has protested the latest missile launch by North Korea. Japanese government spokesman Yoshihide Suga (yoh-shee-hee-deh soo-gah) said Saturday that a ballistic missile firing would be "a clear violation of U.N. security council resolutions." He added that Japan "cannot accept repeated provocation by North Korea" and had "lodged a strong protest against North Korea." Japan has become increasingly concerned in recent weeks about the possibility of a North Korean missile attack targeting Japan or U.S. forces stationed in Japan. ___ 8:15 a.m. Japan's public broadcaster NHK has aired footage of a U.S. aircraft carrier sailing off the coast of Nagasaki prefecture in southern Japan. The USS Carl Vinson is heading north toward the Korean peninsula in a show of force after satellite images suggested North Korea may be preparing to conduct a nuclear test. NHK said it shot the footage Saturday morning from a helicopter. Nagasaki is in Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands. The Vinson conducted joint training Friday with two Japanese destroyers and two Japanese F-15 fighter jets in waters further south off the Japanese island of Okinawa. ___ 7:35 a.m. The White House says President Donald Trump has been briefed on North Korea's most recent ballistic missile test. South Korea's military said in a statement Friday afternoon that North Korea had fired the missile from an area around the capital of Pyongyang, but provided no other details. U.S. and South Korean officials say the launch apparently failed. Trump returned to the White House from a trip to Atlanta shortly after the news broke. He did not answer reporters' questions about the missile launch. Trump has threatened military action if North Korea continues its pursuit of a nuclear weapons program. He has also said he would prefer to resolve the issue through diplomacy. __ 7:12 a.m. A U.S. official says North Korea has tested what was likely a medium-range ballistic missile. The official says the missile broke up a couple minutes after the launch and the pieces fell into the Sea of Japan. The official was citing an American assessment and says it appeared to be a medium-range KN-17 ballistic missile. The official wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity. -Lolita C. Baldor in Washington ___ 6:23 a.m. South Korea's foreign minister is warning that if the international community doesn't respond to North Korea's repeated provocations now, "we will only further feed the appetite of the trigger-happy regime in Pyongyang." Yun Byung-se told a ministerial meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Friday that it should take additional punitive measures before North Korea launches more ballistic missiles or conducts a new nuclear test - not afterward. He proposed "potent measures" including halting the export and supply of crude oil to North Korea, completely cutting off its hard currency earnings by suspending all coal imports from the country, downgrading diplomatic relations, "and seriously considering whether North Korea, a serial offender, is qualified as a member of the U.N." Yun said South Korea's goal "is not to bring North Korea to its knees but to bring it back to the negotiating table for genuine In this Tuesday, April 25, 2017 photo released by the U.S. Navy, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer, left, is underway alongside the Republic of Korea multirole guided-missile destroyer Wang Geon during a bilateral exercise. Wayne E. Meyer was on a scheduled western Pacific deployment with aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelsey L. Adams/U.S. Navy via AP) In this Wednesday, April 26, 2017 photo released by the U.S. Navy, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, center, leads the U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain, right front, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Atago-class guided-missile destroyer JS Ashigara, left front, and the JMSDF Murasame-class destroyer JS Samidare during a transit of the Philippine Sea toward the Korean Peninsula for an exercise with South Korea. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sean M. Castellano/U.S. Navy via AP) The USS Carl Vinson sails offshore Nagasaki prefecture, southern Japan Saturday, April 29, 2017. The USS Carl Vinson is heading north toward the Korean peninsula in a show of force after satellite images suggested North Korea may be preparing to conduct a nuclear test. A North Korean mid-range ballistic missile apparently failed shortly after launch Saturday, South Korea and the United States said, the third test-fire flop just this month but a clear message of defiance as a U.S. supercarrier conducts drills in nearby waters. (Kyodo News via AP) The USS Carl Vinson sails offshore Nagasaki prefecture, southern Japan Saturday, April 29, 2017. The USS Carl Vinson is heading north toward the Korean peninsula in a show of force after satellite images suggested North Korea may be preparing to conduct a nuclear test. A North Korean mid-range ballistic missile apparently failed shortly after launch Saturday, South Korea and the United States said, the third test-fire flop just this month but a clear message of defiance as a U.S. supercarrier conducts drills in nearby waters. (Kyodo News via AP) South Korean Foreign Ministry's spokesman Cho June-hyuck speaks to the media during a briefing at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 29, 2017. A North Korean mid-range ballistic missile apparently failed shortly after launch Saturday, South Korea and the United States said, the third test-fire flop just this month but a clear message of defiance as a U.S. supercarrier conducts drills in nearby waters. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) South Korean Foreign Ministry's spokesman Cho June-hyuck speaks to the media during a briefing at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 29, 2017. A North Korean mid-range ballistic missile apparently failed shortly after launch Saturday, South Korea and the United States said, the third test-fire flop just this month but a clear message of defiance as a U.S. supercarrier conducts drills in nearby waters. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) FILE - In this April 15, 2017 file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves during a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. A North Korean mid-range ballistic missile apparently failed shortly after launch Saturday, April 29, South Korea and the United States said, the second such test-fire flop in recent weeks but a clear message of defiance as a U.S. supercarrier conducts drills in nearby waters. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File) MENA, Ark. (AP) - The Latest on two relatives found dead and missing children in Arkansas (all times local): 6:15 p.m. Investigators say one of two Arkansas children reported missing after their mother's body was found in a creek has been found dead, and teams are still searching for the other child. Polk County Sheriff Scott Sawyer says the body of 2-year-old Acelynn Wester was found in a heavily wooded area Friday near the town of Cove, not far from where her mother's body was located earlier this week. The children's great-uncle was found dead Thursday at his home in a nearby town. The deaths are being investigated as homicides. Sawyer says the girl's 9-year-old brother, Reilly Scarbrough, is still missing. The sheriff says officers from eight agencies are searching for him. The children hadn't been seen since at least Sunday. ___ 3:45 p.m. Arkansas authorities say the great-uncle of two missing children has been found dead in his home not far from where the body of the children's mother was found in a creek earlier this week. The Polk County Sheriff's Office says 66-year-old Steven Payne was found dead Thursday in his home in Hatfield in far western Arkansas. Hatfield is about 4 miles southwest of where the body of Payne's niece - 43-year-old Bethany Jo Wester of Mena - was found this week. Sheriff Scott Sawyer told reporters the deaths are being investigated as homicides and the search continues for Wester's two children, 9-year-old Reilly Scarbrough and 2-year-old Acelynn Wester. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says the children were last seen late last week. Authorities say they're considered endangered. Royal Marine Alexander Blackman, who had his sentence for shooting dead an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan reduced, has been released from prison. The commando, who spent more than three years in jail for killing the insurgent in 2011, left Erlestoke Prison just before 12.20am on Friday. I'm at Erlestoke Prison where Royal Marine Sgt Alexander Blackman was released at 12.18am. He was driven away in an unmarked police car pic.twitter.com/3LkdL9MH1Y Claire Hayhurst (@clairehayhurst) April 27, 2017 Blackman hid from cameras as he was driven away from the prison near Devizes, Wiltshire, in the back of a dark Audi estate. He was originally convicted of murder but this was quashed by the Court Martial Appeal Court and replaced with diminished responsibility manslaughter last month. Five judges ruled that Blackman was suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning at the time of the incident, when he was serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando. His sentence was reduced to seven years, meaning he would be freed within weeks a decision his wife Claire Blackman described as the moment that we have all been fighting hard for. Alexander Blackman (PA) Speaking to the Daily Mail while awaiting her husbands release, she said: I havent slept all week. I feel like a child waiting for Christmas. We have had so many setbacks over the years that I almost cannot believe it is really going to happen this time. I cant wait to see him and spend some quality time together. Blackman was convicted of murder at Bulford Court Martial in 2013 and jailed for life, with a minimum term of 10 years. This sentence was later reduced to eight years. Royal Marine Alexander Blackman, who shot dead an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan, crouches down in the back of a car as he leaves Erlestoke Prison His wife Claire led a campaign for Blackman to be released, which was taken up by the Daily Mail. In March, his conviction for murder was quashed and replaced with manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. During the original trial in 2013, Blackman was known only as Marine A. His identity was made public after his conviction. North Koreas deputy UN ambassador has warned that US efforts to get rid of his countrys nuclear weapons through military threats and sanctions are a wild dream. Kim In Ryong said North Koreas nuclear weapons are never part of political bargains and economic deals. He said: In a nutshell, DPRK (North Korea) have already declared not to attend any type of talks which would discuss its nuclear abandonment, nuclear disbandment. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson participates in a trilateral meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Kishida and Korean Foreign Minister Yun at the United Nations (Bryan R. Smith/AP) Today at @UN Security Council meeting, Secretary Tillerson outlined actions to counteract North Korean aggression.#DPRK pic.twitter.com/5u3S9YEIK4 Department of State (@StateDept) April 28, 2017 He reiterated North Koreas longstanding contention that its nuclear programme is the product of the United States hostile policy towards DPRK. He said: That is why every solution will be possible when the United States hostile policy is withdrawn in advance. Mr Kim categorically rejected Fridays UN Security Council meeting on the North Korean nuclear issue which his country declined to attend as another abuse of the councils authority, acting on instructions of the United States which is a veto-wielding member. The United States holds the council presidency this month and organised the ministerial session that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson chaired. Secretary Tillerson: We ask members of this Council and all other partners to implement a new strategy to denuclearize North Korea.#DPRK pic.twitter.com/Z4aUnSWhUQ Department of State (@StateDept) April 28, 2017 Mr Tillerson called for new sanctions on North Korea and urged all countries to exert pressure on Pyongyang and implement the six UN sanctions resolutions. He also stressed that the Trump administration will only engage in talks with Pyongyang when it exhibits a good faith commitment to implement Security Council resolutions and their past promises to end their nuclear programmes. In response, Mr Kim said: As we expected, (the) US has taken issue with self-defensive nuclear deterrent of the DPRK, and not only to justify their anti-DPRK aggressive war racket but also to create atmosphere for sanctions against DPRK at any cost. He said the United States is wholly to blame for pushing the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war by staging the largest-ever joint aggression military drills against the DPRK for the past two months and deploying nuclear strategic assets to South Korea. Secretary Tillerson: North Korea must understand that respect will never follow recklessness.#DPRK Department of State (@StateDept) April 28, 2017 While the United States once talked about nuclear disarmament, Mr Kim said it is spending a trillion dollars in a bid to secure a nuclear edge and he said this issue should be addressed before tabling the denuclearisation of the DPRK. The nuclear force of the DPRK just serves as a treasured sword of justice and creditable war deterrent to protect the sovereignty and dignity of the country and global peace from the US threat to ignite a nuclear war, he said. Ukip could be prepared to stand aside in dozens of constituencies in order to help sitting MPs who are real Brexiteers hold on to marginal seats. Party leader Paul Nuttall said that while Ukip candidates would contest the vast majority of seats, local branches have been urged to stand aside to give a free ride to MPs who share their views on the European Union. Ukip top targets Mr Nuttall also defended his partys controversial integration strategy, insisting Ukip was not at war with Muslims. The Ukip leader has sparked widespread controversy with his proposal to outlaw the full-face veil worn by some Muslim women, as well as banning sharia law and forcing girls at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) to face regular medical checks. Ukip is launching its general election campaign and Mr Nuttall has confirmed he will do his duty as leader by standing for election to the Commons, although he has refused to say which seat he will fight. Paul Nuttall Setting out the partys approach, Mr Nuttall said he had asked a number of branches to consider standing aside in favour of Leave-supporting incumbents from all parties, although the majority of pro-Brexit MPs are Conservatives. Im not talking about five-to-midnight Brexiteers, or people who have just come to this opinion recently, Im talking about people who have campaigned with us for many years, whether thats on platforms with Vote Leave or Leave.EU or GO, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. He insisted that we are not talking hundreds, we are talking tens of seats where such an arrangement could be put in place. General Election poll of polls Ukip will be standing in the vast majority of the country, but in a small number of seats where you have real Brexiteers of all political affiliations sitting on slender majorities, I think it would be best if the Ukip branches stood aside to allow them a free ride to get back into the House of Commons. The burka-ban policy has seen West Midlands MEP James Carver quit as foreign affairs spokesman, describing the policy as incompatible with his desire to represent all of his constituents and to seek a global perspective for the United Kingdom, while former donor Arron Banks accused Mr Nuttall of going to war with Muslim communities. Mr Nuttall said: We are not at war with Muslims. What we want to see is equality, we want to see integration. A general view of a Muslim woman in Bradford The Ukip leader said integration was getting worse and communities are becoming more divided. He said: If you want to really enjoy the full fruits of British society you have to show your face. Ill give you an example 58% of Muslim women in Britain are economically inactive. If you arent prepared to show your face it precludes you from lots of streams of employment. Mr Nuttall said it was his duty to lead the party into battle at the June 8 General Election, but refused to comment on speculation that he would fight the Boston and Skegness seat. Robert Huth has had a playful dig at Alexis Sanchez in the wake of Leicesters clash with Arsenal on Wednesday. Arsene Wenger defended the striker after he fell down theatrically after a throw-in from Christian Fuchs hit him on the shoulder. Feliz por la victoria pero termine con el labio hinchado happy for the victory but ended up with a swollen lip pic.twitter.com/0y301Ztnp9 Alexis Sanchez (@Alexis_Sanchez) April 26, 2017 Sanchez went down holding his face before being booked for not retreating far enough and the Chilean received condemnation online, especially after posting a photo on Twitter holding an ice pack to a swollen lip. Alexis Sanchez holds his face after being hit from the throw in by Leicester City's Christian Fuchs (John Walton/Empics) Arsenal great David Seaman called the incident embarrassing and Huth, whose own goal gave the Gunners a 1-0 win, clearly feels the same. Just about recovered from the arsenal battle the other night #playon pic.twitter.com/YS2cxSjN3s robert huth (@robert_huth) April 28, 2017 Tweeting a photograph of a minor cut on his finger, he said: Just about recovered from the Arsenal battle the other night #playon. Defending champion Dominika Cibulkova and 2017s leading player Karolina Pliskova have both signed up for this summers Aegon International in Eastbourne. The pair, ranked fourth and third in the world respectively, will be joined by former Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska at Devonshire Park. "I'm really looking forward to defending my title this year in Eastbourne." Watch @Cibulkova in action https://t.co/jxtFMTXlTQ pic.twitter.com/vkgWuHmdli LTA (@the_LTA) April 28, 2017 British number one Johanna Konta had previously committed to the tournament in her home town, meaning four members of the top 10 are already in the field. Dominika Cibulkova (Anthony Devlin/PA) Cibulkova beat US Open finalist Pliskova in the battle for the trophy last year, with the latter having defeated Konta in the semi-finals. "I got to the final in Eastbourne last year. My goal now is to go one better & win the title. Watch @KaPliskova https://t.co/jxtFMTXlTQ pic.twitter.com/7XfZntoG07 LTA (@the_LTA) April 28, 2017 Cibulkova said: Winning here in 2016 was a special moment for me, my first title on grass. Its a tournament with great tradition and there are some great names entered for this year. The tournament takes place the week before Wimbledon, running from June 25 to July 1. 260417TOKE WELCOMES SOM PARTY By Aloysius Laukai The ABG member for BAUBAKE and Minister for Community Government, JACOB TOKE today welcomed the newly established SOM party to Buin, South Bougainville. Minister TOKE said that as a local member for Buin town he was priviledged to welcome the delegation led by the President of SOM Party Allan Nakin. He said SOM party was a local Bougainville party registered under the Papua New Guinea constitution to endorse candidates for the Papua New Guinea General election 2017. MR. TOKE said as a local party it needs support from all Bougainvilleans. The SOM Pioneer Party was officially launched after the nomination of their two candidates contesting the South Bougainville Open seat. The two candidates are KIASON POTOURA from Oria in Buin and former senior public servant, PATRICK HEROMATE. SOM Party also had candidates for North, Central and the Bougainville Regional seat. Ends A whopping Tory majority at the General Election would allow Theresa May to backslide on Brexit, Ukips leader has said. Paul Nuttall claimed the Prime Minister was already rowing back on immigration promises and had refused to rule out paying a huge divorce bill from the EU. The party leader insisted Brexit was a job half done and declared we are only half way through the war. Mr Nuttall said the party is prepared to stand aside in dozens of constituencies in order to help sitting MPs who are real Brexiteers hold on to marginal seats. Accusing Mrs May of flagrant opportunism in calling a snap election, he insisted the Ukip would fight it with vigour. In a speech in central London, he said: We also believe that a whopping Conservative majority will only serve to put Brexit in peril. Hordes of Tory lobby fodder will allow the Prime Minister to backslide safe in the knowledge that she has the votes banked. Paul Nuttall We are not convinced that the Prime Minister, who campaigned to Remain in the referendum, will get the deal the British people want. She is already beginning to backslide on immigration, with the Government now telling us that immigration will run at todays level for the next decade. She has said nothing to guarantee our waters and protect our fishermen and she will not rule out paying a huge divorce bill once we have left the European Union. Despite widespread expectation that he will fight the strongly pro-Brexit constituency of Boston and Skegness for Ukip on June 8, Mr Nuttall declined to confirm his plans. He has already confirmed he will stand in the election and promised to reveal his chosen battleground on Saturday. Stating that his party will fight to put Ukip MPs into the House of Commons, he said: Anyone hoping that Ukip is going to fade away from the political scene is going to be bitterly disappointed over the next few weeks and, I predict, confounded over the next few years. We have a great opportunity in this election because it is an election on Ukips turf. It is a Brexit election. .@paulnuttallukip re-affirms UKIP's commitment to #ProportionalRepresentation. FPTP does not belong in a 21st Century functioning democracy! pic.twitter.com/X96kYroFtk Make Votes Matter (@MakeVotesMatter) April 28, 2017 Setting out details of what will be in Ukips bold and radical manifesto, Mr Nuttall said the party would be fighting for the kind of Brexit people voted for, involving regaining control of borders, freedom to strike trade deals and a refusal to pay any divorce bill to the EU. Ukip will promise to cut the foreign aid budget and plough the proceeds into the NHS, with a commitment to keep the health service in public hands and free at the point of delivery. The party will campaign for an English Parliament, the abolition of the House of Lords and the scrapping of the first-past-the-post voting system in favour of proportional votes for Westminster elections. A terror suspect arrested in Whitehall on Thursday has been named as Khalid Mohamed Omar Ali. The 27-year-old is believed to be a British national who was born overseas and went to school in Tottenham, north London. Map locates terror arrest near Houses of Parliament. In a separate operation, an active terror plot was foiled after police launched an armed raid in north London in which a woman was shot and injured. Ali was detained by armed officers after a stop and search as part of an intelligence-led operation. He remains in custody, having been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Terrorism Act and possession of offensive weapons. Police recovered knives during the swoop, which took place yards from the scene of last months deadly attack by Khalid Masood in Westminster. DAC Neil Basu provides an update on the 2 separate unconnected & ongoing counter terrorism investigations that happened yesterday in #London pic.twitter.com/76VRRZEgoR Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) April 28, 2017 Reports suggest the suspect was arrested after a concerned family member contacted authorities. Detectives are continuing to question him, while two searches are being carried out at addresses in London. Meanwhile, six people were in custody after a team of specialist firearms officers stormed an address in Willesden, north London, on Thursday night. A woman in her 20s who was shot during the swoop remains under police guard after being taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition. Elite armed officers carried out a specialist entry into a terraced property in Harlesden Road shortly before 7pm on Thursday night. Police fired CS gas into the address, which had been under observation as part of a current counter-terrorism operation. Neighbours recalled hearing at least six shots and screaming as police entered the address. Ruth Haile, who lives in the road, said she heard shots and saw an injured woman being treated. Cordon remains in place in Willesden, London, where a woman was shot and injured by police who believe they foiled an active terror plot pic.twitter.com/HZiG1rBrhc Harriet Line (@HarriLine) April 28, 2017 Ms Haile said: She shouted Dont touch me, my body, dont touch my dress. Alexandra Sabanov, a mother-of-one who lived next door to the raided house, saw officers with gas masks and snipers. We heard bang, bang, bang, bang, went to the window and just saw a number of armed police just there with their guns pointing at our next-door neighbours window. She said the woman was screaming really loud and described her neighbours as a standard Muslim couple of whom she never suspected anything at all. Locates Willesden anti-terror operation Giving an update on the two operations, Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said on Friday: Due to these arrests that have been made yesterday, in both cases I believe that we have contained the threats that they posed. Mr Basu said an armed entry was necessary in Willesden due to the nature of the intelligence that we were dealing with. He said: During the course of that operation, one of the subjects of that operation a woman was shot by police; she remains in hospital. Alexandra Sabanov Her condition is serious but stable. Because of her condition she has not yet been arrested. We are monitoring her condition closely. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed of the incident, as is routine for police shootings. Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu A total of six people were arrested in connection with the raid, including five at or near the address in north London and one in Kent. Two of the arrests were made when a man and a woman, both aged 28, returned to the address later that night, Mr Basu said. Searches are continuing at three London addresses. Meanwhile in a separate raid on Friday, a 47-year-old woman was arrested at an east London address on suspicion of conspiring to fund and support terrorism. She was taken for questioning at a south London police station as part of an ongoing investigation into the funding of terrorism in Syria, the Met said. World number one Andy Murray had to dig deep to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open with a hard-earned 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7/4) win over Spains Albert Ramos-Vinolas. The number 10 seed, who had knocked Murray out in Monte Carlo last week, took the opening set in 41 minutes before the British top seed, continuing his return from an elbow injury, produced a trademark recovery and eventually progressed following a tie-break decider after more than three hours on court. Fourth seed Dominic Thiem stands between Murray and a place in the final after the Austrian beat Japans Yuichi Sugita 6-1 6-2. Rafael Nadal also eased into the semi-finals with a 7-6 (7/1) 6-2 win over Hyeon Chung of South Korea. Nadal was tested by the world number 94 in the opening set, in which he was broken before winning it comfortably on a tie-break, but stepped up to finish the match in style. Nadals last four opponent will be Argentinas Horacio Zeballos, who was a 6-4 6-1 winner over Karen Khachanov of Russia. At the Hungarian Open in Budapest, top seed Lucas Pouille secured his place in the semi-finals, but number two seed Ivo Karlovic is out. Andy Murray plays a return to Albert Ramos-Vinolas (Manu Fernandez/AP) Frenchman Pouille saw off the challenge of Slovakian Martin Klizan 6-4 6-3, while Croatias Karlovic was defeated 6-4 6-3 by British number four Bedene. Italys sixth seed Paolo Lorenzi set up a semi-final against Pouille when he beat Russian Andrey Kuznetsov 6-4 6-4. Bedene, who is closing in a return to the top 50, will play Laslo Djere after the Serbian pulled off an unexpected 2-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 win over Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, the number four seed. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has accused North Korea of issuing blood-curdling threats as it threatens world peace over its nuclear weapons programme. Addressing the UN Security Council, Mr Johnson called on China and Russia to use their influence with Pyongyang to restrain the regime. He said: There could hardly be a clearer threat to world peace more demanding of a unified response than the activities of one member of the United Nations, North Korea breaking its treaty obligations, ignoring the will of this council, and making blood-curdling threats to inflict grievous harm on peoples of other countries. "The situation on Korean Peninsula is 1 of longest-standing & most serious issues before the UN" - @AntonioGuterres https://t.co/qq6HgmxMRS https://t.co/KqS8bd17wP United Nations (@UN) April 28, 2017 Mr Johnson went on: We urge other partners with direct influence on North Korea to use their leverage to the full with the aim of easing tensions and ensuring compliance with the express will of the UN. There is a vital role for China and Russia, both of whom are neighbours of North Korea with influence on Pyongyang, and as permanent members of this council, a special responsibility they have for preserving international peace and security. The UK calls on Russia and China, and other member states, to use whatever influence they possess to restrain North Korea and guide its leaders towards a peaceful settlement. Britain stands alongside our allies in making clear that North Korea must obey the UN and halt its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes disarming in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner. Boris Johnson addresses the UN Security Council (Mary Altaffer/AP) Mr Johnson said many countries were not implementing already agreed sanctions against Pyongyang. The United Kingdom believes it is vital for this council to stand ready to take further significant measures to bring about a peaceful resolution. And sooner or later the North Korean regime must realise that their isolation not only holds back their own people, if the regime really cares about their own people, but also weakens their own grip on power, the Foreign Secretary said. The UN discussion is happening as the White House has declared that all options are on the table to prevent North Korea from carrying out threats against the US and its allies. US President Donald Trump has said he wants to see a diplomatic resolution. The Security Council gathering came as Prime Minister Theresa May hosted her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe at Chequers. Prime Minister Theresa May welcomes Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Chequers (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA) Mrs May said: As we meet today, North Korea continues to take provocative action in the Asia-Pacific region. In the face of this belligerence we stand steadfast in our condemnation of such destabilising activity. Their nuclear and missile tests are a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and international obligations, and a risk to global peace and stability. Prime Minister Abe and I have agreed that we will continue to work with our international partners to maintain pressure on North Korea and counter the security threat posed by its illegal pursuit of nuclear weapons and work towards a peaceful solution. A woman in her 60s who was injured in the April 7 truck attack in Stockholm has died, Swedish authorities said, raising the death toll to five. A political party in Trollhattan, near Gothenburg, identified the woman as Marie Kide, 66, an elected member of the city council. It is with sorrow that I have received the message that another person died, prime minister Stefan Lofven said. The aim of this kind of attack is to spread terror and hatred, he told Swedens news agency TT. We will do everything in our power so people can be safe in Sweden. Stockholm truck attack, route of the truck graphic A 39-year-old Uzbek man, Rakhmat Akilov, has pleaded guilty to a terrorist crime for ramming the truck into a crowd on a busy pedestrian shopping street in the Swedish capital. Police have not disclosed a motive for the attack and no extremist group has claimed it. Akilovs Swedish residency application was rejected last year but police said there was nothing to indicate he might plan an attack. After the rejection, he was ordered to leave Sweden in December. Instead, he allegedly went underground, eluding authorities attempts to track him down. He was caught in a northern suburb of Stockholm, hours after he drove the stolen beer truck into the crowd of afternoon shoppers outside the upmarket Ahlens store. Others killed in the attack were an 11-year-old Swedish girl, a 31-year-old Belgian woman, a 69-year-old Swedish woman, and a 41-year-old Briton the UK Government identified as Chris Bevington. Fourteen other people were injured. A man in his 20s has died after he was found with stab wounds in what was the latest in a series of stabbings in London this week. Police were called at 3.15pm on Friday to reports of an altercation in Peckham Rye, south-east London, Scotland Yard said. London Ambulance Service (LAS) and officers found a man, believed to be aged in his 20s, with stab wounds and he was pronounced dead at 3.51pm. Chaos in Peckham rye. Being told somebody has been stabbed. pic.twitter.com/7EGG756qbI Ryan Riley (@RyanRileyy) April 28, 2017 Video footage and pictures posted on social media show four police cars and sirens blaring following the incident as people looked on in the aftermath in broad daylight. One witness, who posted a video, described the scene as chaos. Meanwhile, a murder investigation was launched after a man with a fatal stab wound was found on a bus in Marylebone. Police were called by LAS at around 12.10am on Friday to a 48-year-old man with a stab wound on the Route 189 bus in Gloucester Place near the junction with Dorset Square, north-west London. The scene in Peckham Rye, south east London (Chad O'Carroll/PA) On Thursday, police were called just after 1pm to reports of a stabbing at Dulwich Park, south-east London. A 31-year-old-man was found at the scene with a stab wound to his head, and he was taken to a south London hospital where his condition is described as critical. The suspect is described as a light-skinned black male, aged in his 20s, about 5ft 10in, and wearing dark clothing. Police said he made off from the scene on a pedal cycle in the direction of Forest Hill Road. (Jon Vella/PA) Also on Thursday, police were called at 6.55pm to Herbert Road, south-east London, to reports of a man stabbed. Officers found an 18-year-old man suffering from stab wounds, and he was taken to a south London hospital where his injuries are being treated as life-threatening. On Sunday, police were called at around 11.20pm to reports of an injured man in Bow Common Lane, east London. Officers found a 54-year-old man suffering a head injury and a stab wound. He was taken to hospital where his condition is stable, and not life-threatening. (Chad O'Carroll/PA) Before going to hospital, the man indicated that another man was seriously injured inside a flat in Bow Common Lane. Officers found a 60-year-old suffering stab injuries, and they administered first aid until the arrival of the LAS, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.06am on Monday. He was named as Keith Sinclair from Bow. On Wednesday, a 19-year-old man was arrested at an address in Wandsworth on suspicion of murder following the stabbing of a 17-year-old male in Ingrave Street, south-west London, on Sunday. Police and the LAS were called to the scene at 1.25am to reports of a disturbance and a male stabbed. The victim was taken to a south London hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2.50am. The leader of a Donald Trump campaign group has called on the president to remove North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un from power over his next 100 days in office. Peter Boykin, president of Gays For Trump, said complete regime change in North Korea should be a priority for the US because of the threat posed by the country. He told the Press Association: We cannot have crazy people holding the world hostage. Kim Jong Un (AP) That guy is so close. Even if, lets just say, Iran had the money, theyd create a weapon, theyd hand it to him, hes going to shoot it because hes that nuts. We cannot allow that to happen in the world. Mr Boykin said he believed the US could launch a strike on North Korea with minimal casualties. I think they should go after any kind of military stronghold they have there, he added. I believe, if they had to, they might have to bomb the palace or wherever the guy is. I know there are rules about assassinations of other countries leaders so I think theyll end up having to figure out a way to internally get him. Theyre going to have to capture him or something. Mr Trump has faced criticism from LGBT groups over his decision to revoke guidance to US public schools that allowed transgender students to use toilets matching their gender identity. But Mr Boykin, 39, said he did not feel he represented transgender people. Im not transphobic Im fine with that but I actually dont believe they belong in the same sector as the LGB, he said. Most transsexuals are actually trying to be a male or a female and when they become male or female they actually try to have a straight relationship. Peter Boykin, president of Gays For Trump (Handout/PA) They have their own movement. They have their own thing which is fine. I dont represent them. I dont endorse them or condone them. I just feel like they have their own thing. Equality California, which campaigns for LGBT rights, said Gays For Trump was far out of step with the vast majority of LGBT community members. The groups executive director Rick Zbur said: Transgender people have always been part of our communitys struggle for civil rights, even before the famous example of Stonewall. Lennox Lewis has urged Anthony Joshua to capitalise on the support of the British public by fulfilling his undoubted potential as a fighter. The promising heavyweight, 27, makes the latest defence of his IBF title and hopes to win the WBA belt last held by Tyson Fury when he fights Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night. A 90,000-strong crowd, a post-war record for a fight in the United Kingdom, is expected to be present in the latest demonstration of his popularity, and also of the significance of their match-up. Anthony Joshua during the Weigh In at Wembley Arena, London (Nick Potts/PA) To my supporters, I thank you for your part in my journey. God bless pic.twitter.com/Vao15HbGfj Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) April 26, 2017 Joshuas reputation has become increasingly high-profile since he won Olympic gold at London 2012, and he is the favourite to beat the 41-year-old Klitschko and then reign as the worlds leading heavyweight. Lewis, 51, was also an Olympic champion, and after turning professional dominated the division throughout his peak. However, because of his Canadian accent and the fact he represented Canada when he won gold, he was also rarely widely adored in Britain. It is his rival Frank Bruno, an inferior fighter to Lewis, who has long been held in greater affection; David Haye was also at one point more popular despite never being the best heavyweight in the world. Talk The Talk & Walk The Walk #PressConference pic.twitter.com/Jte7zfuVTV Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) April 27, 2017 The controversial Fury defeated Klitschko to establish himself as the divisions leading fighter, but has not fought since while he battles depression, and it is Joshua who Lewis believes can prove the best of both. The fact that the British people are really behind Anthony Joshua is great, Lewis told Press Association Sport. Its great for him. He needs that. Hes got a whole country behind him, and its for him to really enhance his ability, and try and get better and better. Its important, because hes got the whole of the British Empire looking at him, and looking at him as being the leader: hes the one thats going to get all the belts out there, and hes the one who represents them. And he represents them well, too. A big, strong, powerful guy, Olympic champion, world champion, soon to be much more than that. Next Stop The Ring pic.twitter.com/5cdYmKCVe1 Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) April 28, 2017 For me, I never really had that. Lewis popularity grew the longer he succeeded. His final fight was a victory over Klitschkos older brother Vitali in 2003, but he believes it is crucial Joshua is already so admired and that his focus only needs to be on what happens in the ring. I actually liked fighting, and changing peoples view of me, I liked that about it, he added. If I went to fight in America, for instance, Id walk into an arena, and people would be booing me. Id be like Yeah? Youre booing me? Alright, dont worry, Ill beat up your guy. So I went in there, beat up their guy, and usually people clapped or cheered me after, which was a better feeling. Nearly a quarter of Donald Trumps tweets have contained unproven or disputed claims since the businessman became president, an analysis by the Press Association has found. The study looked at whether statements made in tweets from the presidents @realDonaldTrump account could either be backed up by publicly-available evidence, or had been disputed by other news outlets. It found that, of 447 tweets sent from the account since he took office, 108 contained claims that were either unproven or disputed a total of 24.2%. President Donald Trump (Carolyn Kaster/AP) The presidents penchant for questionable claims appeared to peak around the middle of February, a month in which a series of damaging reports emerged relating to his teams alleged communications with Russia during the election campaign. In that month, President Trump tweeted 37 disputable claims, according to the PA analysis including 12 in the week of security adviser Michael Flynns resignation over suggestions he covered up talks with Kremlin officials. Of those, six appeared to directly defend his teams conduct in the Russia scandal, while five specifically contained the phrase fake news. This Russian connection non-sense is merely an attempt to cover-up the many mistakes made in Hillary Clintons losing campaign, he tweeted on February 15, just hours after Mr Flynns departure. He added two days later: At the start of April, amid further pressure over the Russia allegations, the Press Association noted 13 questionable claims in Mr Trumps tweets the highest week of his presidency. All but two of these related either to Russia or to unproven allegations of surveillance against the president and his team. Another peak came as President Trump tweeted unfounded claims that he had his wires tapped by predecessor Barack Obama in the run-up to the election. In a string of four tweets sent in the early hours of March 4, Mr Trump made the claims which he later disowned telling a press conference two weeks later that he was merely quoting a very talented Fox News reporter, Andrew Napolitano. Mr Napolitano had cited three unnamed sources claiming that the surveillance had been carried about by British intelligence agency GCHQ, at the request of President Obama. Fox later said it had no evidence of any kind that President Trump had been subject to such surveillance. The only week during which the PA analysis found no questionable claims was between April 8 and 14 the seven days following his decision to launch air strikes on a Syrian air base in retaliation for a chemical gas attack that had been launched there by the countrys government. January 20-27: 4, January 28-February 3: 11, February 4-10: 10, February 11-17: 12, February 18-24: 6, February 25-March 3: 10, March 4-10: 12, March 11-17: 5, March 18-24: 9, March 25-31: 9, April 1-7: 13, April 8-14: 0, April 15-21: 5, April 22-25: 2. Theresa May will make a direct pitch to Scottish unionists on her first trip of the General Election campaign north of the border. The Prime Minister will tell a rally that a vote for the Tories will strengthen the union and allow the UK and Scotland to flourish, as she seeks to capitalise on the partys growing support in the nation. Scotland: how the polls have changed Mrs May has turned down First Minister Nicola Sturgeons call for a second independence referendum to try and protect Scotlands status in the European single market, and will reiterate her insistence that voting Tory will bolster her hand in Brexit negotiations due to begin after the June 8 election. In east London, Jeremy Corbyn is expected to make his most personal speech of the campaign so far and urge young voters, who could hold the key to his electoral prospects as they are more likely to back him, to step up and vote for Labour. Theresa May will visit Scotland on the campaign trail (Anthony Devlin/PA) But in Leeds, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron will reiterate his claim that he could replace Mr Corbyn, who he has described as demonstrably the worst leader in British political history, as leader of the official opposition. While the opposition leaders battle it out in England, Mrs May will seek to exploit apparently growing levels of support for the Tories in Scotland. A YouGov poll of Scottish voters released on Friday suggested the Tories are the leading unionist party north of the border, up 13 points on 28%, behind the SNP on 41% but ahead of Labour on 18% and the Lib Dems on 7%. Latest Westminster voting intention (SCOTLAND) SNP 41% Con 28% Lab 18% LD 7% Oth 6% Fieldwork 24-27 Aprilhttps://t.co/it4JBJooKF pic.twitter.com/dPClttA2uR YouGov (@YouGov) April 28, 2017 The PM will visit a business to discuss the Governments industrial strategy before being introduced at a rally by Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, where Mrs May is expected to say: My message to the people of Scotland today is clear: if you vote for me it will strengthen my hand in the Brexit negotiations. It will strengthen the union, strengthen the economy and together the UK and Scotland will flourish. Because when Scotland is flourishing, the rest of the United Kingdom is flourishing too. Mr Corbyn will make a direct plea to young potential voters, who he will tell to overcome apathy and resignation because it only favours the Tories. Jeremy Corbyn is expected to make an appeal to young voters (Stefan Rousseau/PA) He will highlight figures showing 2.4 million young people are missing from the electoral register and a turnout rate of just 40% among 18 to 24-year-olds as he urges them to claim your future. The Labour leader is expected to say: Dont let the Conservatives hold you back. Dont let the Conservatives hold Britain back. Quite simply, only the Labour Party can deliver a Britain for the many, not the few. 280417MOMIS WANTS SOUTH TO RETURN NORTH SUPPORT By Aloysius Laukai ABG President, CHIEF DR. JOHN MOMIS yesterday called on all South Bougainvilleans to return North Bougainville support by voting for PATRICK NISIRA for the Bougainville Regional seat this election. He made these comments at the launch of campaign for the sitting member for South Bougainville, TIMOTHY MASIU who is running under the National Alliance Party ticket. National Alliance Party is endorsing former ABG Vice President, PATRICK NISIRA to challenge the current Regional member and Bougainville Affairs Minister, JOE LERA. President MOMIS said that the people of North Bougainville have supported him in politics without change and wants his people to return that favour by voting for PATRICK NISIRA this time round. He said that Bougainville needs to unite and create that solidarity that can move Bougainville forward. National Alliance Party is endorsing, Businessman, WILLIAM NAKIN for the North Bougainville Open seat and long time ABG member for Kongara, DOMINIC ITTA. Ends Caption President Momis talking to the Crowd in Buin by Aloysius Laukai By Michael Shields ZURICH, April 26 (Reuters) - Swiss voters look set to decide for a second time whether to impose curbs on immigration from the European Union after the cabinet proposed on Wednesday allowing a straight yes-or-no referendum on an issue that still bedevils ties with the EU. In a 2014 referendum, voters narrowly backed upper limits and quotas to reduce immigration from the EU, amid concerns that foreigners who already make up a quarter of Switzerland's population were continuing to flood into the country. The quotas were then enshrined in the Swiss constitution. But pro-Europe activists, worried about ending free movement of EU citizens -- a condition for enhanced Swiss access to the single market -- countered with an initiative called 'Raus aus der Sackgasse' (RASA), or "Out of the Cul de Sac", that would gut the 2014 vote by removing the quotas from the constitution. The government opposes the RASA initiative because it still wants a constitutional mandate to steer immigration. But it was unable to forge an alternative to RASA that it could push through parliament and win public support under Switzerland's system of direct democracy, which gives voters final say in major matters. That means the RASA initiative is set to go to voters after parliament takes its stance on the issue by an April 2018 deadline. BILATERAL ACCORDS Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga told reporters in Bern that RASA had already met its goal of preserving the patchwork of bilateral accords Switzerland has knitted with the EU. The Swiss parliament passed a law in December that gives local people a first crack at jobs that come up, skirting the demand of voters for hard limits on the foreign influx and enraging far-right activists who said the people's will expressed in the referendum was being ignored. The debate in non-EU member Switzerland mirrors in many ways the situation in Britain, where voters decided last year to quit the EU as a way to control immigration, which critics said was putting too much strain on public services. But, unlike in Britain, Swiss officials are determined to uphold the free movement of people, a prerequisite for full access to the EU single market of 500 million consumers. Losing bilateral accords that ease access to the EU market could cut Swiss output by as much as 7 percent of national output by 2035, and business leaders decry the impact on finding qualified staff. Still, the EU's faltering reputation could make the second referendum a close call. Sommaruga said net immigration from the EU and EFTA countries had fallen from nearly 61,000 in 2013 to 38,000 last year and to about 8,560 in the first quarter of 2017, the lowest in a decade. (Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Gareth Jones) By Robin Emmott VALETTA, April 27 (Reuters) - Estonia's defence minister said on Thursday that Russia may use large-scale military exercises to move thousands of troops permanently into Belarus later this year in a warning to NATO. Russia and Belarus aim to hold joint war games in September that some North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies believe could number more than 100,000 troops and involve nuclear weapons training, the biggest such exercise since 2013. Defence Minister Margus Tsahkna said Estonia and other NATO governments had intelligence suggesting Moscow may leave Russian soldiers in Belarus once the so-called Zapad 2017 exercises are over, also pointing to public data of Russian railway traffic to Belarus. Tsahkna cited plans to send 4,000 railway carriages to Belarus to transport Russian troops and gear there, possibly to set up a military outpost in its closest ally. "For Russian troops going to Belarus, it is a one-way ticket," Tsahkna told Reuters in an interview in Malta. "This is not my personal opinion, we are analysing very deeply how Russia is preparing for the Zapad exercises," he said before a meeting of EU defence ministers. Russias Defence Ministry did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment on the subject. Moscow denies any plans to threaten NATO and says it is the U.S.-led alliance that is risking stability in eastern Europe. The Kremlin has not said how many troops will take part in Zapad 2017. "We see what they are doing on the other side of the EU-NATO border. Troops may remain there after Zapad," Tsahkna said, saying that Tallinn had shared its concerns with Baltic and NATO allies. He put the number of potential troops in the thousands. Such a move could see Russian troops on the border with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia just as the U.S.-led NATO alliance stations multinational battalions in the Baltic region in response to Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea. "QUESTION OF TRUST" The scale of this year's Zapad exercises, which date from Soviet times when they were first used to test new weapon systems, is one of NATO's most pressing concerns, as diplomats say the war games are no simple military drill. Previous large-scale exercises in 2013 employed special forces training, longer-range missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles that were later used in Russia's annexation of Crimea, its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine and in its intervention in Syria, NATO diplomats said. Russia, bridling at NATO's expansion eastwards into its old Soviet sphere of influence, says its exercises are a response to NATO's 4,000-strong new deterrent force in the Baltics and Poland that will begin to rotate through the region from June. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in January the scenario for the Zapad 2017 exercises would "take into account the situation linked to increased NATO activity along the borders of the Union state," Russian media cited, in a reference to the union of Russia and Belarus. The exercises, to be held simultaneously on military training grounds in Russia and Belarus, aim to focus on joint planning, command tactics and joint troop formations, he said. "In the future we plan to strengthen the practical nature of such exercises, taking into account the emerging foreign policy realities," Shoigu added, in an apparent reference to the expansion of NATO, which is soon to include Montenegro. The U.S. Army's top European commander has called on Russia to open its exercises to observers to calm Baltic concerns. Asked about Moscow's possible motives for leaving troops in Belarus, Tsahkna said it was likely about President Vladimir Putin's image as a strong leader at home, as well as cementing ties with Belarus, which was alarmed by the Crimea annexation. "Russia has presidential elections next year and Putin needs to show strength to the Russian people," Tsahkna said. "It's also a question of trust with Belarus." The West has sought to improve ties with Belarus over the past two years, lifting some sanctions in an overture to the country's President Alexander Lukashenko, the man the West calls Europe's "last dictator." But Belarus remains Russia's ally and a member of Putin's Eurasian trade bloc. Belarus Defence Minister Andrei Ravkov has echoed Russia's position that NATO is a threat, also accusing Ukraine of raising tensions by aligning itself with the West. (Additional reporting by Dmitry Solovyov in Moscow; Editing by Toby Chopra) By Eric Knecht and Khalid Abdelaziz CAIRO/KHARTOUM, April 27 (Reuters) - When Egyptian media began making Sudan and its smaller if more numerous pyramids the subject of jokes on nightly talk shows recently, Sudanese were not amused. Commodity traders weren't either. They say growing tension between the neighbouring states, deepened by a recent media spat, has led to mounting trade restrictions that are now throwing their businesses into disarray. "They say those are pyramids. Don't laugh. Those are cheese triangles," said an Egyptian pundit describing Sudan's ancient Meroe pyramids. The comments were prompted by Sudan's decision to place a blanket ban on all Egyptian agricultural goods last month, ramping up restrictions it first imposed in September to block Egyptian fruits, vegetables and fish on health concerns. Hany Hussein, executive director of Egypt's Agricultural Export Council, says that seven months after the initial import restrictions, Sudan has yet to provide any explanation as to what is actually wrong with the Egyptian goods. "We want to keep working with Sudan as it's a very important market, but we're waiting to know what the issue is." Traders say the media war of words has suddenly made the situation worse, with guidelines on what products can be sold over the border increasingly unclear and no resolution in sight. "It's a big mess..trucks have been waiting outside Sudan carrying Egyptian goods unable to enter," said one Egyptian trader with business in Sudan. Analysts say the trade restrictions are largely political and tied to a litany of Sudanese grievances, from disputed land in Egypt's south to Egypt's refusal to drop strict visa requirements on Sudanese nationals while granting residency to opposition figures. "When there's tension, Sudan of course uses what tools it has to create pressure," said Attia Essawy, an expert on African affairs. Sudan, its economy shaken by the 2011 secession of the south, finds itself in confrontation with a neighbour far wealthier and more powerful. Its population a bit less than half of Egypt's 92 million, it has relied on Egypt as a top import destination for many food items. Sudan imported about $591 million worth of goods from Egypt in 2016, most of which were food items like vegetables, fruit and biscuits, said Ahmed Hamid, a director at Sudan's Ministry of International Cooperation. Egypt's agricultural exports have surged since it floated its currency in November, allowing it to roughly halve in value and making its goods instantly more attractive on world markets. CAUGHT IN CROSSFIRE Recent actions can rebound on Sudanese businessmen. Sudanese importer Babkir Adam Wali said his 12 million Sudanese pound($1.8 million) shipment of Egyptian biscuits and sweets has been stuck since March 10. "I'm paying 30,000 Sudanese pounds per day for trucks carrying these goods inside Sudan, and I have bank loans guaranteed by these goods. If they don't enter before their expiry date, I'll have a financial crisis," said Wali. Even larger companies have been caught in the crossfire, like the Saudi Arabian Savola Group, which will have to re-route much of its Egypt-based sugar production that is normally sold to Sudan, according to a company source. Savola imports raw Brazilian sugar and refines it in Egypt for export to other destinations, meaning the banned sugar is not even Egyptian. "The guidelines are not clear at all, so at the moment we might consider fulfilling our Sudan contracts from our Saudi-based plant," the company source said. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry paid a rare visit to Khartoum last week to smooth over relations. Sources close to the visit said the trade issue was at the top of the agenda, but comments by Shoukry and his Sudanese counterpart offered no mention of a resolution. Instead, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour reiterated concerns that " campaign by Egyptian media against Sudan exceeded what is reasonable and conventional. It went beyond criticism to abuse of the Sudanese people," he said. (Additional reporting by Maha El Dahan in ABU DHABI and Arwa Gaballa in CAIRO; editing by Ralph Boulton) By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA, April 27 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is distributing life-saving assistance throughout Yemen, including in the hard-hit areas held by Iran-allied Houthi rebels, sometimes by donkey or camel, a top Saudi aid official said on Thursday. Riyadh has faced mounting accusations a Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen's civil war in 2015 to back its government against the Houthi movement has been responsible for many of the estimated 10,000 deaths - mostly civilians - in the conflict and created obstacles to getting humanitarian aid to famine-threatened regions. Yemen has been shattered by the conflict, in which the Saudi-led coalition has carried out almost daily air strikes in support of Yemeni government efforts to recover large swathes of territory including the capital Sanaa taken by the Houthis. "Our programmes have been reaching all regions of Yemen, I want to emphasise all regions, irrespective of who controls it," Abdullah Al Rabeeah, supervisor general of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, told a news conference. "As much as we have been in the south, we have been in the in north, our programmes are also active in Houthi-controlled areas such as Sadaa, Hajja, Amran, and Sanaa," he said. Al Rabeeah, asked about civilian casualties, said "we are very conscious about the Yemeni civilians". "If you look at what we do as a humanitarian agency, I think it's way beyond any damage that is caused by any attacks," he said, noting its projects provided food, health, education and water and sanitation. Referring to the southern governorate of Taiz, where high rates of acute malnutrition have been reported, he said the Centre had used coalition air planes to drop medicines and food supplies to keep the four main hospitals functioning. "For the oxygen supply for the ICUs, intensive care units... we used animals to carry oxygen cylinders, we used donkeys and camels to carry oxygen cylinders through the mountains." ACCESS U.N. emergency relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien told Reuters this week that access remained a major problem in Yemen given bureacratic restrictions and demands for "taxes, levies, bribes and fines" to be able to reach the sick and hungry. Al Rabeeah, a former health minister, backed a proposal for independent monitoring of the rebel-held Yemeni Red Sea port of Hodeidah to ensure that commercial and aid goods enter freely. "We would love to see that the access will have a neutral monitoring system that will allow the access of commercial and non-commerical items, and especially humanitarian," he said. The Yemeni government has proposed to the United Nations that it monitor the Hodeidah port to ensure that no arms are smuggled through it by the Houthis, Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr told Reuters in Geneva on Wednesday. "The deployment of monitors to the port requires the full consent of all parties and firm security assurances are needed for such monitors to be able to operate," U.N. humanitarian spokesman Jens Laerke told Reuters on Thursday in a first comment after talks between bin Daghr and Guterres this week. (Reporting and writing by Stephanie Nebehay; additional reporting by Tom Miles; editing by Ralph Boulton) By Anna Pujol-Mazzini LONDON, April 27 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - "How did you leave Syria?", "Is your family still in Aleppo?", "How do you move forward after fleeing Syria?" At a museum in the heart of London, visitors from across the globe were invited to sit down with Syrian refugees and aid workers to ask any questions in a bid to convey the complexity of the Syrian conflict, now in its seventh year. The pop-up Conflict Cafe at the Imperial War museum kickstarted a string of exhibitions on the conflict, weeks after a chemical attack brought renewed international attention to the plight of civilians in the country. Ammar Al-Saker, a 21-year-old refugee from Damascus, told a small crowd of museum visitors gathered around a table about his journey from Syria through Lebanon, Macedonia and Spain until he was recently granted asylum in Britain. "For the first time, it feels like I'm an important person," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Saker and other Syrians now living in London shared stories of surviving without electricity during the war, military conscription at home and leaving their families behind. Two exhibitions will be on display at the museum until September, including a photography display showing daily life in Syria and the journeys undertaken by Syrians to Europe as well as a film installation explaining the conflict. "The main idea was to try and give the public a basic introduction to what is a very complicated conflict," Christopher Phillips, a curator for one of the exhibitions told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "A lot of the time people use simplistic explanations and stereotypes: a religious war between Sunnis and Shias or a proxy war between the United States and Russia. That doesn't do the reality of the conflict justice," he added. Syria's war began in 2011 after a popular uprising against the Assad family's more than four-decade rule, inspired by the Arab Spring revolts. The war, pitting rebels mostly from Syria's Sunni majority against a minority rule rooted in President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite community, has killed more than 400,000 people and created the world's worst refugee crisis since World War Two. (Reporting by Anna Pujol-Mazzini @annapmzn, Editing by Astrid Zweynert. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit http://news.trust.org) By Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON, April 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while China said the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control. Trump, speaking to Reuters on Thursday, said he wanted to resolve the crisis peacefully, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option was not off the table. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea," Trump said in an interview at the Oval Office. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said, describing North Korea as his biggest global challenge. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was a danger that the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control, his ministry said. Wang made the comments in a meeting at the United Nations with a Russian diplomat on Thursday, the ministry said in a statement. China, the only major ally of North Korea, has been increasingly uncomfortable in recent months about its neighbour's pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles in violation on U.N. resolutions. The United States has called on China to do more to rein in Pyongyang and Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for his efforts, calling him "a good man". "I believe he is trying very hard. I know he would like to be able to do something. Perhaps it's possible that he can't. But I think he'd like to be able to do something," Trump said. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that China had asked North Korea not to conduct any more nuclear tests. Beijing had warned Pyongyang it would impose unilateral sanctions if it went ahead, he added. Tillerson did not say when China made the threat. He is due to chair a meeting with U.N Security Council foreign ministers on Friday, where he said he would stress the need for members to fully implement existing sanctions as well as possible next steps. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, asked about Tillerson's remarks, would not say what actions China might take if there were a new nuclear test and would not comment directly on what Tillerson had said. "We oppose any behaviour that goes against Security Council resolutions. I think this position is very clear. This is what we have told the United States. I think North Korea is also very clear about this position," Geng told reporters. China banned imports of North Korean coal in February, cutting off its most important export, and Chinese media this month raised the possibility of restricting oil shipments to the North if it unleashed more provocations. Geng said Friday's UN meeting should not fixate on new sanctions. "If the meeting only focuses on increasing sanctions and pressure, I think this will not only lose a rare opportunity, it may also exacerbate the confrontation between all sides and may damage efforts to promote peace and talks," he said. MISSILE DEFENCE, CARRIER GROUP In a show of force, the United States is sending the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula, where it will join the USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in South Korea on Tuesday. South Korea's navy has said it will hold drills with the U.S. strike group. Admiral Harry Harris, the top U.S. commander in the Pacific, said on Wednesday the carrier was in the Philippine Sea, within two hours' striking distance of North Korea if needs be. Harris also said a U.S. missile defence system being deployed in South Korea to ward off any North Korean attack would be operational in coming days. China has been angered by the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), complaining that its radar can see deep into China and undermines its security. Trump said in the interview he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the THAAD, which he estimated at $1 billion. South Korea, one of Washington's most crucial allies in the region, said the United States would have to bear the cost, pointing to possible friction ahead. Trump's remarks came as South Korea heads into a presidential poll on May 9 that will likely elect liberal frontrunner Moon Jae-in, who has said the next administration in Seoul should have the final say on THAAD. Trump has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile, a capability experts say Pyongyang could have some time after 2020. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests and numerous missile tests, including one this month, a day before a summit between Trump and Xi in Florida. North Korea, technically still at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, regularly threatens to destroy the United States and says it will pursue its nuclear and missile programmes to counter perceived U.S. aggression. "It is just the U.S. which has pushed the situation on the peninsula to the brink of nuclear war by staging the largest-ever aggressive joint military drills against the DPRK for the past two months after bringing all sorts of nuclear strategic assets to south Korea," the North's KCNA state news agency said in a commentary. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "...The nuclear force of the DPRK is a treasure sword of justice and reliable war deterrent to defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country and global peace from the nuclear war threat posed by the U.S." Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on North Korea and other countries on Thursday to avoid behaviour or rhetoric that could increase tension. (Additional reporting by Phil Stewart, Matt Spetalnick, Eric Beech and Patricia Zengerle in Washington, Denis Pinchuk and Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow, Ben Blanchard and Vincent Lee in Beijing and Ju-min Park in Seoul; Writing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Nick Macfie; Editing by Robert Birsel) By Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales MANILA, April 28 (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday warned that Southeast Asian countries needed to ensure their economic growth was inclusive, or risk marginalized populations turning to violent extremism or even overturning political systems. Speaking at an event for entrepreneurs during the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila, Najib said the region was posting strong growth that could see ASEAN become the world's fourth-largest economy, but that growth needed to be equitable. "We do not want our citizens to be marginalized in the age of extremism and radicalisation," he said. "We know that those who see no hope in their own societies are more prone to the siren calls of terrorists who can and exploit their vulnerability and fill them with their lies." Islamist extremism is expected to be high on the agenda during this week's meetings, with fears for Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines about piracy and the rising threat of Islamic State. Of particular concern is the ease in which militants can acquire weapons, seek refuge with existing rebel groups and move between the many islands between the three countries. Najib lauded the success of ASEAN, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, in expanding its collective GDP to about $2.7 trillion now, from $87 billion four decades ago. ASEAN has 10 members: Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. He warned that economic disparity was dangerous at a political level too, fuelling anger and populism that was causing problem in Western Europe. "The neglected underclass of those who felt left behind by economic growth, prosperity and globalisation can overturn elections and political systems," he said. Economists frequently point out huge income gaps among the 620 million people of Southeast Asia, a region that has one of the world's largest concentrations of billionaires, according to Forbes Magazine. Najib said awareness of ASEAN needed to be better promoted among its citizens to "make it feel real, relevant and tangible". Trade integration was lagging, he said, with too many trade tariffs still in existence. Their removal, and harmonised customs standards, needed to be "vigorously pursued", he said. Philippines Vice President Leni Robredo echoed Najib's call for leaders to pay more attention to their poor. "For many years, many thought income inequality was alright. But the voiceless and the powerless are now raring to be heard, and with technology and social media, their frustrations are being felt on a global scale," she said in a speech. "They are rejecting globalisation, democracy, traditional media." (Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) PARIS, April 28 (Reuters) - Markets are not pricing in a significant political risk linked to the French presidential elections because the probability that the centrist Emmanuel Macron does not win the second round due on May 7 is very low, Amundi said on Friday. "We think that probability that Mister Macron is not elected in the second round is very very low," Amundi's chief executive Yves Perrier told journalists. "Markets today are not pricing in a significant political risk". Emmanuel Macron would win the run-off in France's presidential election on May 7 against far-right leader Marine Le Pen with 61 percent of the vote versus 39 percent, a Harris Interactive poll for parliamentary TV channel LCP showed on Thursday. Financial markets have been nervous about the possibility of a president Le Pen, whose policies they see as likely to lead to a break up the European Union. (Reporting by Maya Nikolaeva) PRAGUE, April 28 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial markets on Friday. ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 2 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA========================== Real-time economic data releases.................... Summary of economic data and forecasts........... Recently released economic data.................. Previous stories on Czech data............. **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/2E/events-overview =========================NEWS=================================== O2 CR: Czech telecoms group O2 Czech Republic reported on Friday a 3 percent year-on-year rise in first-quarter net profit, boosted by higher mobile revenue. Story: Related stories: Czech utility CEZ's supervisory board has put off until May taking a decision on selling the 1,000 MW Pocerady coal-fired power plant to rival energy group Czech Coal, putting the sale in doubt after the buyer set an April deadline. Story: Related stories: GOVERNMENT: Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka on Thursday called on his powerful finance minister Andrej Babis to explain his past use of tax-free bonds and other business activities, as an escalating row rattles the government before elections. Story: Related stories: CEE MARKETS: Hungarian government bond prices jumped at an auction on Thursday, with demand driven by a combination of loose monetary policy and expectations euro zone debt prices will fall. Story: Related stories: =======================PRESS DIGEST============================ HACKING: Russian citizen Yevgeni Nikulin was approached by FBI agents, who asked him to admit to taking part in hacking the servers of the Democratic National Committee in exchange for a deal with the authorities, Nikulin's attorney said. Nikulin is accused of hacking servers of LinkedIn and other companies in the United States. Czech police have arrested him last October and a court is expected to rule about the extradition request on May 11. Russia has also filed for Nikulin to be handed over to its authorities. Hospodarske Noviny, page 4 (Reuters has not verified the stories, nor does it vouch for their accuracy.) For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX For updates on CEE currencies TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets Prague Newsroom: +420 224 190 477 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (Reporting by Prague Newsroom) By Robin Emmott and Gabriela Baczynska VALLETTA, April 28 (Reuters) - The European Union will seek to end an ugly spat with Turkey on Friday despite deep unease about Ankara's future under President Tayyip Erdogan, whose sweeping new powers and crackdown on opponents appear to have ended the country's EU ambitions. Meeting in Malta, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his EU counterparts aim to try to defuse a crisis in relations that has pushed the European bloc towards a formal halt to Turkey's long-stalled talks to join. Erdogan's referendum victory that granted him greater powers, his crackdown on perceived opponents and comments comparing some EU governments to Nazis have alienated many in the bloc, but it still needs to maintain cooperation with Turkey, a strategic NATO ally. "Business as usual is not an option," said the European Union's enlargement chief, Johannes Hahn, who manages Turkey's membership bid and will attend the Malta meeting. "Let's keep a cool head and devise a package that enables us to work with Turkey," Hahn said, in a signal that the EU may downgrade ties with Ankara but seek to maintain a relationship based on trade and security cooperation. Turkey's membership talks, launched in 2005, have been de facto frozen by political obstacles over Cyprus and resistance in some EU states to let in the majority Muslim country of 80 million people, even before the most recent events. While Austria is adamant Turkey is no longer fit to even be considered an EU candidate, many other governments fear being seen as rejecting Turkey. That is partly out of concern for a deal with Ankara that has stopped the flow of refugees in Europe from Syria's civil war. "It is not for the EU to walk away," said one senior EU diplomat. "It should be Turkey's choice." Erdogan told Reuters that Turkey would reconsider its position on joining the European Union if it was kept waiting much longer, but also that Turkey was still committed to negotiations. Given that neither side may want to be seen as formally ending the membership process aimed at helping modernise Turkey's economy and strengthening its judiciary, one EU official said the priority was "to get out of a blind alley". The EU is Turkey's biggest foreign investor and biggest trading partner, while Turkey's border with Iraq, Syria and Russia in the Black Sea make it an important ally. Erdogan supporters say the president is cementing his powers to strengthen the country after a failed coup last July, NATO's chief stressed the need to respect democracy. "Turkey has the right to prosecute those who were behind the failed coup attempt," NATO head Jens Stoltenberg said. "But that has to take place based on the rule of law." (Additional reporting by Tom Koerkemeier; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) SOFIA, April 28 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. -- Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov has asked the parliament to lift the immunity of three deputies, so they can be brought to justice in different probes. (24 Chasa, Standart, Monitor, Trud, Duma) -- Chief Prosecuror Sotir Tsatsarov told the Supreme Judicial Council he had not inserted pressure on Bulgarian businessman and media owner Sasho Donchev at a meeting in an office of another Bulgarian businessman. The council declined to open a probe in the case following Donchev's statements that he had been pressured by the chief prosecutor. (24 Chasa, Duma, Sega, Standart, Trud) 24 CHASA - Centre-right GERB party will call the interim defence minister Stefan Yanev in parliament to explain the decision to rank Sweden's offer for 8 new SAAB's Gripen combat jets first in the tender to buy new military aircraft for the Bulgarian army. By Jesus Aguado and Angus Berwick MADRID, April 28 (Reuters) - Spanish banks outstripped first-quarter profit forecasts on Friday and Caixabank improved its income from loans, a key revenue driver which remains a concern for Bankia. Caixabank, Bankia and Banco Sabadell all recorded lower bad loan ratios at the end of March and increased fees from the sale of financial products, such as insurance. A solid economic recovery in Spain and a property rebound has allowed most Spanish lenders to reduce toxic balance sheets faster than peers in Italy, boosting investor confidence as Spanish bank shares trade at close to year-highs. Caixabank, Spain's third largest lender, posted a near 50 percent rise in profit from a year before in its first results to include Portugal's BPI, which it bought in February to offset falling profitability in its main Spanish market. Its net interest income (NII), a key measure of earnings on loans minus deposit costs, was 1.15 billion euros ($1.25 billion), up 13 percent from a year ago and 7 percent from the previous three months, bucking the trend of shrinking margins. "Retail banking activity has fallen but corporate banking is allowing us to compensate for other trends, above all lower interest rates which have affected our mortgage loan book," Caixabank CEO Gonzalo Gortazar told reporters in Barcelona. Profit at state-owned Bankia rose by 28 percent as the hit to its lending income, which fell both against the previous year and quarter, was outweighed by a jump in trading gains. Caixabank shares were up 2.3 percent at 1135 GMT having risen 16 percent over the last three months. Bankia and Sabadell shares were flat after both hitting year-highs this week. EARNINGS FROM LOANS Banco Sabadell, Spain's fifth largest bank, also topped forecasts although its profit fell by 14 percent from the year before on higher provisions for bad loans. Its NII shrunk 1 percent from the year before. Earlier this week, larger peers Banco Santander and BBVA notched up healthy profit gains in what analysts have a called a good quarter for Spanish banks, though they cautioned that problems remain. "All three Spanish banks have delivered bottom-line beats but helped by large trading results and one-off gains," Jefferies analyst Benjie Creelan-Sandford wrote in a note. "NII is the key focus and while numbers here were broadly in line, the continued decline in asset yields should be cause for concern for future expectations." Bankia still has 2 billion euros of unproductive assets on its books, CEO Jose Sevilla told reporters in Madrid, and it expects to reduce them by 20 percent each year. In March, the Spanish government gave the green light to merger talks between Bankia and fellow nationalized lender Banco Mare Nostrum (BMN), and it plans to privatize both by 2019. Caixabank's takeover of BPI, Portugal's second largest listed lender, contributed to a 90 basis point drop in its capital ratio, while Bankia's rose to 13.37 percent, the highest among Spain's large banks. CEO Gortazar said on Friday the bank was not considering any more acquisitions and would continue with its cost cutting plan. ($1 = 0.9200 euros) (Editing by Alexander Smith and Elaine Hardcastle) MOSCOW, April 28 (Reuters) - The following are some stories in Russia's newspapers on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. VEDOMOSTI www.vedomosti.ru - Denis Sugrobov, a former senior anti-corruption officer in Russia's Interior Ministry, has been jailed for 22 years after he was convicted of organising a criminal group, the daily reports. - The attitude of Russian citizens to migrant workers from the countries of the former Soviet Union has worsened over the past 10 years, according to a survey conducted by pollsters from the Levada Center. Sixty-seven percent of those polled said they believed the government should limit migrant numbers. - Mid-sized Russian oil producer Transneft has accused the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS)of unlawful interference in its work in the interests of third parties. - Japan's Mitsui & Co will buy 10 percent in R-Pharm, one of Russia's largest manufacturers and distributors of medicines. The value of the deal might reach $200 million, the paper writes. KOMMERSANT www.kommersant.ru - The former owner and president of Fundservicebank, Alexander Volosnikov, and the bank's First Vice-President, Peter Ladomirov, have been arrested and accused of stealing 1.38 billion roubles ($24 million) from state space agency Roscosmos, the daily writes. IZVESTIA www.izvestia.ru - More than two million Russians may not be officially allowed to travel abroad this year because of their outstanding debts to banks and other financial obligations. This compares to 1.2 million people who could not travel abroad last year, the daily reports. KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA www.kp.ru - In Russia's westernmost city of Kaliningrad, the FSB security service has arrested a 12-member group of "extremists" from Central Asia with direct links to Syrian "terrorists", the newspaper writes. ($1 = 56.9707 rub) (Reporting by Margarita Popova; Editing by Dmitry Solovyov/Andrew Osborn) By Igor Ilic ZAGREB, April 28 (Reuters) - The junior partner in Croatia's ruling centre-right coalition on Friday quit the government over a row with the prime minister, raising the prospect of a possible snap election. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Thursday fired three cabinet ministers from the Most (Bridge) party after they failed to follow him in rejecting opposition demands for the finance minister to resign. Most said on Friday all four of its ministers would quit. "By this we show that our primary goal is not keeping posts, but to prevent a constitutional crisis," said Most party leader Bozo Petrov, who is also the speaker of parliament. Plenkovic said on Thursday he would seek a new parliamentary majority but that he was ready for a snap poll if the talks on forming a new coalition failed. The conservative HDZ party, which leads the cabinet, said it had collected enough signatures from parliamentary deputies for the removal of Petrov as parliament speaker. Petrov said he would put the party's request on the agenda after a parliamentary debate about the finance minister. Analysts believe the growing tension between the coalition partners stems from competition for voters ahead of municipal elections to be held on May 21. "A new stable cabinet is unlikely to be formed before municipal elections, and then a lot may depend on the results of those elections," political analyst Zarko Puhovski said. A previous coalition, comprising the HDZ and Most, collapsed last June after just six months. That led to a snap election in September. The Most party has backed opposition calls for Finance Minister Zdravko Maric to step down because of a financial crisis at Croatia's biggest private firm, Agrokor. Maric was a senior executive at the ailing company until 2016. Plenkovic said Maric was not responsible for Agrokor's financial results. Parliament is due to discuss the opposition demand against Maric next Wednesday. The government adopted measures this week to boost the investment climate, employment and fiscal sustainability in one of the weakest European Union economies. A snap election would delay those efforts and could have a negative impact on Croatia's standing in the financial markets. (Reporting by Igor Ilic; Editing by Janet Lawrence) By Elisabeth O'Leary EDINBURGH, April 28 (Reuters) - Trade between the United Kingdom's four nations could be disrupted if Scotland wins a different divorce deal with the European Union, a letter from Brexit minister David Davis published by the Scottish government said on Friday. Scotland, where a majority voted to stay in the EU though the United Kingdom as a whole voted to leave at a June referendum, last December proposed a separate trade carve-out for itself in London's upcoming divorce talks with the EU. The core of Scotland's proposal is for it to remain fully within the EU's single market for goods and services, whereas British Prime Minister Theresa May wants to take the UK out of it to restore control over immigration. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says May's government has not taken the proposals seriously, and she wants a new vote on independence from Britain before its expected March 2019 exit from the EU. "There are clear barriers to making your proposals a reality," Davis said in a photocopy of the letter dated March 29 and addressed to Michael Russell, the Scottish minister for UK negotiations on Scotland's place in Europe. Russell published the correspondence despite a request from May's government not to do so. "Scotland's accession to the EFTA and then the EEA would not be deliverable and, importantly, would require the consent of all EFTA and EU member states," Davis wrote. The European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area include non-EU states Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. "Any divergence between EU and UK law - as a result, perhaps, of new EU regulation - could lead to the creation of new barriers to trade within our Union," Davis said. "DISRUPTION" He added that it could create potential "significant disruption to the internal UK market". The letters offer some insight into the British government's thinking on a separate deal for Scotland after its vote to remain in the EU, as well as the strained relations between London and Edinburgh. "There is every reason to suggest that with the necessary political will and commitment, these issues could have been addressed," Russell said. He said he had "repeatedly expressed disappointment that the substance of (joint) meetings has not enabled proper discussion or engagement on the strategic choices we face. "The result is a negotiating position set out solely by the UK government rather than what was set out in the terms of reference, namely to agree a UK approach." Russell said his government's aim of keeping Scotland in the single market was distinct from the May government's goal of "access or partial access" to the single market which would, he said, undermine Scotland's economy and society. Sturgeon says Scotland needs a new referendum on secession to avoid being dragged out of the EU against its will, and she has secured Scottish parliamentary approval for that course. This has been rebuffed by May's government. Polls show that while support for independence stands at around 45 percent, nearly half of Scots do not want another vote on secession to be held between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019 - the timetable Sturgeon has proposed. Scots rejected independence by a 10-point margin in 2014. Davis said that, with more powers from Brussels to be repatriated to the UK after Brexit, "the outcome of this process will be a significant increase in the decision-making power of each devolved administration", boosting the role of the assemblies in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Britain hopes to continue collaboration with the EU on security and environmental issues and major science, research and technology initiatives to mutual benefit, Davis said. (Reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary; editing by Elizabeth Piper and Mark Heinrich) MILAN, April 28 (Reuters) - Saipem has teamed up with Italy's state railways to bid for work on a Russian high-speed train project as the Italian oil engineering and contracting firm seeks new business to offset an ongoing slump in the energy industry. Oil service groups like Saipem have been hit by a sharp fall in oil prices since mid-2014 that has led energy majors to cut billions of dollars in costs and delay investments. Oil and gas exploration and development firms spent just 400 billion euros ($436 billion) on projects last year compared to 700 billion euros in 2014, according to Saipem CEO Stefano Cao. "We've signed a memo of understanding with Ferrovie dello Stato (Italy railways) to make a joint bid for a part of the Moscow-Kazan project," Cao told shareholders at a meeting on Friday. The Moscow-Kazan project, first proposed in 2009, is a 770-km (480-mile) high-speed rail link between the two Russian cities. If the bid with Ferrovie was successful, the work could be worth a total of about $3 billion, Cao said. To offset the slump in the oil and gas sector, Saipem has said it plans to grow business lines in areas like engineering, renewable energy and energy platform dismantling. But Cao said no talks with the Russians were underway yet about the rail project and he did not expect the work to be booked in the company's backlog in the short term. Italy's state railways, which has plans to list on the Milan market, is looking to expand its business abroad. It has operations in Germany and Greece and is looking to bid in tenders in the Britain. ($1 = 0.9177 euros) (Reporting by Stephen Jewkes; Editing by Edmund Blair) By Robin Emmott and Gabriela Baczynska VALLETTA, April 28 (Reuters) - France and Germany sought a new deal with Turkey on Friday to repair relations with President Tayyip Erdogan but would not say whether the Turkish leader's new powers and his crackdown on opponents had ended the country's EU ambitions. Worried by what the European Union sees as Erdogan's growing authoritarianism, EU lawmakers called this week for a formal suspension of Turkey's long-stalled EU bid, saying it does not meet democratic standards. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who held talks in Malta with his EU counterparts and with Turkey's top diplomat Mevlut Cavusoglu, said he was "strictly against" annulling Turkey's decade-long bid for EU membership. But after a day of talks, he said the real issue was to ensure the bloc had a new, looser agreement to offer Turkey before ditching the EU accession process. Since its launch in 2005, the entry process has helped Turkey win foreign investment and become the world's 15th largest economy, EU officials say. But talks have since stalled. "It does not improve things by cancelling something before we have something new to offer," Gabriel told reporters. "We can try to open new channels for negotiations," he said, referring to an idea to broaden the European Union's trade ties with Turkey, giving Turkish companies greater tariff-free access to the bloc's 500 million citizens. That could soften any political blow from a formal suspension of accession talks, EU officials said. Austria has led calls to abort the process, which has been frozen by political obstacles over Cyprus and resistance in some EU states to let in the majority Muslim country, even before this month's referendum. "It would be absolutely wrong to stick to the illusion of accession (to the EU)," Austria's Sebastian Kurz said. Ending Turkey's five-decade-old dream of joining the European Union is sensitive because the West worries about isolating an important NATO ally that straddles Europe and Asia. The European Union is Turkey's biggest foreign investor and biggest trading partner, while Turkey shares a border with Iraq, Syria and with Russia in the Black Sea. "DISTURBING" POLITICAL SITUATION France's Jean-Marc Ayrault said the tone of the private meeting was more measured than ministers' public comments. During a part of the meeting broadcast to reporters, a confident-looking Cavusoglu embraced a number of foreign ministers. He appeared to put aside weeks of insults in the run-up to this month's referendum in which Erdogan narrowly won a mandate to implement the biggest overhaul of Turkey's political system since the modern state was established nearly a century ago. "How can we ignore Turkey? We have to fight terrorism, we want Turkey to respect the migration deal with have," Ayrault said, referring to last year's agreement with Turkey to stop the flow of Syrian refugees to Europe in return for EU money. "Nobody wants a break-up with Turkey. It is up to them to say what they want," he said. Supporters of Erdogan's decision to create an executive presidency with few checks and balances say it will give Turkey stability. EU officials and Turkey's opposition say it is the beginning of one-man rule. Erdogan's security crackdown following a failed coup last July, his 'Nazi' jibes against Germany and the Netherlands, and what the bloc sees as persecution of dissenting voices, provoked a crisis in relations. Erdogan told Reuters in an interview this week that Turkey would reconsider its position on joining the European Union if it was kept waiting much longer. (Additional reporting by Tom Koerkemeier; Editing by Ralph Boulton) JERUSALEM, April 28 (Reuters) - A Swiss court has rejected an appeal by Egyptian energy companies after a French court last year ordered them to pay $2 billion in compensation to state-owned Israel Electric Corp (IEC), the Israeli utility said. An IEC statement on Friday said that Egyptian Natural Gas (EGAS) and Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) were liable because they were unable to fulfil their commitment to provide it with natural gas for its power stations. The Egyptian petroleum ministry was not immediately available for comment. Egypt sold gas to Israel under a 20-year agreement that collapsed in 2012 after months of repeated attacks by insurgents on a pipeline serving Israel in Egypt's remote Sinai peninsula. In 2015, an international arbitrator said Egypt should pay nearly $2 billion in compensation because of the halt in the gas supply, leading to tensions between the two neighbours. The breakdown in supply had forced IEC to revert to using more expensive diesel and fuel oil to drive its generators, which also raised pollution levels in the country. (Writing by Ori Lewis; Editing by Mark Potter) By John Irish CHATELLERAULT, France, April 28 (Reuters) - French presidential hopeful Emmanuel Macron launched a scathing attack on Friday against politicians who have failed to endorse him against far-right rival Marine Le Pen, saying they were making France "morally weak" and pandering to extremists. Having been caught on the hop by Le Pen since the start of the second round campaign this week, and with just over a week to go until the May 7 runoff vote, the independent centrist who is tearing up France's political rule book took his campaign to the countryside. His aim was to appeal to disgruntled farmers who have shied away from politics and turned to the far-right following years of crisis. But with Le Pen winning the endorsement of defeated sovereignist Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, and with failed far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon refusing to back him, Macron began his rally in Chatelleraut, central France, on the defensive. "I hear some saying they are preparing for the legislative elections ... they have not understood. The National Front is not a party like any other. Those people are not only making an error, but a deep and serious mistake," he told a rally of about 3,000 flag-waving supporters. Macron was referring not only to Melenchon, who garnered one in five first-round votes, but also to France's two main traditional political groupings, conservatives on the centre-right, and the Socialist party on the left. Both were blown away by a first round vote that catapulted Le Pen, backed by her anti-immigrant National Front party, and the 39 year-old independent with his En Marche! political movement, into the run-off for the presidency. "That I hear some political leaders comparing us to the National Front, shows that the country has weakened morally. We cannot accept that," he said. The pro-Europe, pro-business Macron, a minister in the outgoing Socialist government until last summer but who has never held elected office, is still expected to beat the anti-globalisation, anti-EU Le Pen on May 7. But having see his poll lead narrow in recent days to show him winning with 60 percent of the vote or less, he attacked Melenchon's stance. Melenchon's 'France Unbowed' movement has a similar anti-globalisation, pro-worker protection message to Le Pen's, but is sharply opposed to her position that immigration and radical Islam are at the root of France's problems. "We share one thing, and that is to be attached to debating our disagreements within a republican framework, and that is our main difference with the National Front and he has forgotten that," he said. "I will not leave France to this Right." RURAL VOTE Though only a fraction of the population still works in the farm sector, voters remain attached to the country's agrarian roots, making the agricultural heartlands a key battleground. Key to victory for 39 year-old ex-investment banker Macron will be getting support from across the political spectrum after an election race that has alienated millions of voters. In Chatelleraut, a town of about 35,000 with an industrial base but surrounded by fields, Macron came out top in the April 23 first round of voting, but only just. Nationally, the four top candidates were also close, fewer than five percentage points from each other. After years of crisis in agriculture and perceived indifference from other candidates, Le Pen's anti-EU, anti-globalisation rhetoric strikes a chord with many farmers, once faithful voters for mainstream conservatives. A Cevipof poll for Le Monde newspaper in February showed that 35 percent of voting farmers would back Le Pen. By contrast, Macron was on only 20 percent. The same poll also showed 51 percent of 300 farmers surveyed saying they would not vote. With his detractors accusing him of being the candidate of wealthy France, Macron shot back. "I hear that France is divided into the France of the cities that supports me, and the France of the heartlands that supports Mrs Le Pen. Thank you for being here to prove the opposite," he said to cheers. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Andrew Callus) U.S. President Donald Trump said a major, major conflict with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while China said the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control. Trump, speaking to Reuters on Thursday, said he wanted to resolve the crisis peacefully, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option was not off the table. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea, Trump said in an interview at the Oval Office. Wed love to solve things diplomatically but its very difficult, he said, describing North Korea as his biggest global challenge. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was a danger that the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control, Chinas foreign ministry said. Wang made the comments in a meeting with a Russian diplomat on Thursday at the United Nations, the ministry said in a statement. China, the only major ally of North Korea, has been increasingly uncomfortable in recent months about its neighbours pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles in violation on U.N. resolutions. The United States has called on China to do more to rein in Pyongyang and Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for his efforts, calling him a good man. REUTERS, 28th APRIL, 2017 Appe Lanka will be hosting a concert themed Music for Unity as part of a long-term fundraising effort to support its projects in the north of Sri Lanka. A variety of musicians and school bands have pledged to perform at the event, which is set to take place on April 29 at the CR & FC grounds from 5 pm onwards. The concert will feature a diverse line-up of artists such as Magic Box Mix-up, En Route, Circus Cult, Kingdom Life, The Bakery, Slips, Neptune, D&D, Encore, Kryptonite, Diarra, Guest Stars, Melissa and Rapti. The concert is being hosted to bring youth and family members of all ages and from all walks of life together and to raise funds and awareness about Appe Lankas work in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Appe Lanka was initiated to continuously uplift and look in to the specific needs of community members in Poonakary, who were adversely affected by the civil war. The project primarily aims to promote the welfare of individuals in northern villages who are struggling to regain a sense of normalcy after the war. Additionally, the project offers psycho-social support to the youth of the community by inspiring schoolchildren and encouraging them to embrace an attitude of resilience and hopefulness. Commenting on the concert, Shaan Corea Founder, Appe Lanka said: We always strive to support communities who live in outlying northern districts such as Poonakary. This concert is one of many fundraising events that will be held this year, to help us create awareness about our work in Poonakary and to raise funds for our projects. This months event is yet another important milestone that will enable us to continue our work. I would like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to all the musicians, organizations, corporates and individuals, who came forward to contribute towards this initiative. Appe Lanka recently celebrated the successful completion of its pilot project last December and assisted schoolchildren who needed a safe and reliable mode of transport to travel to school. It raised funds for a total of 75 bikes so that the children in Poonakary could safely travel to and from school. In January, the organization hosted a fun fair in collaboration with DS Poonakary and the Sri Lanka Army, which was attended by 400 people and featured traditional dances and performances by the army calypso band. The official Appe Lanka soundtrack will also be launched at the event. When we were political cubs, we knew of Chelvanayagam as one who was the father figure of Tamil nationalism. He was a Tamil political leader who was affectionately called Thanthai meaning Father Chelva. Samuel James Velupillai Chelvanayagam dominated Tamil politics in the first three decades of post independent Ceylon. I would say Chelvanayagam was fortunate as he did not live to witness the agony of the Tamil people and of Sri Lanka that got dragged into a long, brutal war. He was fortunate to be absent to shoulder the heavy responsibility that his most-favoured political recruit, R. Sampanthan, is now burdened with as TNA leader. Chelvanayagam was a man of principles who never compromised on his convictions and values. He was different from leaders like G.G. Ponnambalam Snr. in the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) and C. Suntharalingam on the issue of disfranchising the Indian origin Tamil labour. He stood by their rights consistently, as Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole recently confirmed. Like both Sampanthan and Sumanthiran today, Chelvanayagams conviction that the Tamils needed to be treated as equals made him give up a very lucrative legal profession. This was a political position he was determined to work towards. He became a full-time politician on his convictions. It was the issue of the rights of Plantation Tamils that led to his exit from ACTC in 1950 to form the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK), popularly known as the Federal Party. A Federal State was the fundamental Tamil political demand that Chelvanayagam stood for. How he defined Federalism was written in the resolution adopted at the first national convention of ITAK in 1951 in Trincomalee. The ITAK recommends to the Tamil-speaking people the feasibility and desirability of establishing the autonomous Tamil linguistic State within the framework of a Federal Union of Ceylon, as the rational and natural culmination of centuries of close association between these two nations it is their common motherland and with a view to promoting and maintaining national goodwill and close co-operation with the Sinhalese people. There is nothing about a separate State. Nothing about an Eelam. It is about living harmoniously in a single country, a Federal Union of Ceylon. What is Federalism? Federalism is the most democratic form of power-sharing within a single united country. It allows people in different regions to take care of their day-to-day responsibilities including their cultural life, while acting together as a single Nation State. Chelvanayagam was a man born for peace. He was ever-ready to sit and talk through issues, and to negotiate too. He proved his willingness to be flexible, as long as it did not hurt the dignity of the Tamil people, when he signed the Bandaranayake-Chelvanayagam Pact in 1957. It was far less than Federalism. It was for regional councils. Chelvanayagam dropped his idea of a merged North-East Federal Government for Tamil people in accepting regional councils. Regional councils were clusters of 22 administrative districts then in Ceylon. Members of all local government bodies within a territory were to elect regional councillors. Certainly, Chelvanayagam went a long way to settle the issue with dignity. Having been very badly let down in 1957, he was once again prepared to engage with Dudley Senanayake in 1965 to sign the Dudley-Chelvanayagam Pact. Instead of regional councils, the compromise in 1965 was to establish district councils vested with powers over subjects to be mutually-agreed upon between the two leaders. The two main Left political parties -- Sama Samaja and Communist -- also played a racist role in 1968 to undermine the DC Pact. The First Republican Constitution in 1972 was also a bad let down for the Tamils. This compelled Chelvanayagam to consider the option of a Separate State. After 30 years in active Tamil politics from 1944, after he resigned his KKS parliamentary seat in 1972 as a protest against the 72 Constitution, the coalition government postponed the due by-election for two years and finally held it in February 1975, where Chelvanayagam polled over 72% -- the highest ever percentage a candidate polled. He declared to the Tamil people that this was a mandate for a separate Tamil Eelam: I wish to announce to my people and to the country that I consider the verdict at this election as a mandate that the Tamil Eelam nation should exercise the sovereignty already-vested in the Tamil people and become free. So, to cut short a long history of promises, negotiations, agreements, abrogation of pacts and a brutal war, we still remain without a decent, feasible, power-sharing system to allow peaceful and productive living in this country. Who is to be blamed? Both major political parties and the two traditional Left parties have to be held responsible for this catastrophe. That does not leave me out. I am also part of mainstream politics in the South. In the 80s, we were in a different political formation and sacrificed many lives in Kurunegala, Moneragala, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Kalutara, Galle, Hambantota and Matara - all Sinhala leaders who stood for power-sharing within Provincial Councils. Vijaya Kumaratunga was the popular political icon to have lost his life over Provincial Councils. Thanks to the JVP, I still carry shrapnel in my nape as proof of our commitment to have provincial councils established. I suffered this not because I raised my voice on behalf of my own community, but for the rights of the Tamil people. I consider this an honour. I have always stood for the rights of the Tamil people. And the longer I stood for this, the more my vote-bank in the South increased. That is because we have stayed consistent in our position, and the people trust us because of this. We have failed despite all those sacrifices to convince the Sinhala South to agree to power-sharing. My question is, where did we go wrong? I firmly believe, we in the South have approached the issue of Federalism in a very wrong way. We were only supporting Federalism as a demand by the Tamils. Therefore, the Sinhala South was made to understand that Federalism was a path to a separate State. We have to talk of Federalism as a democratic model for national development. We should have asked, Why only for Tamils? We in the South too need Federalism. We need it because centralised power from the Parliament of 1947 to that of 2017 - for 70 years - has failed to develop the rural Sinhala society. Every Constitution - the Soulbury, the First and the Second Republican Constitutions - have centralised power in Colombo. The poor rural South has been left out. Even my district, Kalutara, though within the Western Province, is lagging behind Colombo and Gampaha Districts. We have not been telling the South they are poor because political power is centralised in Colombo. According to the Central Bank, in 2012/2013, the per capita income in the Western Province was Rs.16, 124. But in the South, it was Rs.10, 973, in the North Central Province it was Rs. 9, 877 and in Uva it was Rs.9, 382. The per capita GDP in the Western Province in 2015 was Rs.771, 117 when it was Rs.453, 714 in the South, Rs.446, 138 in Uva and Rs.392, 913 in Sabaragamuwa. This disparity can be seen in all Sinhala rural areas. For 70 years with a centralised power structure, rural society both in Sinhala and Tamil areas have not gained any economic benefit and social development. It is therefore time, I believe, that we change our approach in politics to achieve national development within a stable and peaceful Nation State. It is time for the South to go with Chelvanayagams formula - to have provinces within the framework of a Federal Union of Sri Lanka. That, I think, is how we in the South can respect and honour this great democratic Tamil leader - S.J.V. Chelvanayagam - in post independent Sri Lanka. Access Engineering PLC, the pioneers in the flyover construction in Sri Lanka, is speeding up the construction work of the Rajagiriya flyover, a reliable solution to lessen the heavy traffic congestion at the Rajagiriya junction along the A0 road, Sri Jayawardanapura Mawatha. The construction work of the flyover project was initiated last year by the Road Development Authority under the Higher Education and Highways Ministry due to the heavy traffic congestion, which has long been a point of contention among the daily commuters. The project is funded by the Government of Spain and the design and supply of the superstructure are entrusted to Centunion S. A. of Spain as the main contractor and the design and construction of the substructure, onsite fabrication, installation and erection of the steel superstructure are subcontracted to Access Engineering PLC. The Rajagiriya town, administered by the Kotte Municipal Council, is situated about 10 kilometres away from the capital of Colombo. Rajagiriya is identified as one of the heavy-traffic areas in the suburbs of the city and three closely situated road intersections in Rajagiriya create highly saturated continuous traffic congestions towards Battaramulla, Parliament Road, Kalapaluwawa, Borella and Nugegoda. More than 75,000 vehicles ply daily through Rajagiriya inclusive of a large number of public transport busses. The flyover under construction is of 363 metres length and is to accommodate four traffic lanes built on two individual decks, where the width of a lane will be 3.5 metres. The flyover is to be built following the horizontal alignment of the existing Sri Jayawardenapura Mawatha with two horizontal curvatures of 257 metres and 128.5 metres in radius, respectively and a vertical alignment with a minimum 5.2 metres vertical clearance for traffic flow underneath the flyover structure. Currently, the project has achieved 50 percent of physical progress, with a partial completion of the substructure. The erection work of the structure has already been started along with the erection of steel tubular Y-shaped piers. Additionally, 20 of bored piles are installed and completed for the construction of retaining walls. Once completed, the flyover will take the daily commuters amassed at 4+800 kilometres near Victoria Home up and over the flyover to be connected to the Sri Jayawardenapura Mawatha at 5+570 kilometres close to the Buthgamuwa Road junction near the fuel filling station. The location of the project being as one of the most transit areas of the capital of Colombo, the flyover is designed to blend into the city architecture and future development plan. The construction team of Access Engineering PLC is executing a comprehensive traffic management plan onsite with the provision to the traffic to flow on all six lanes as it usually does. While the project operates in full swings, the target completion is scheduled for December 2018. We anticipate to see this project comes to fruition as this project will contribute for better transportation, for the economy as well as for the quality of life, said Rajagiriya Flyover Project Manager Jeewaka Dahanayake. The name Atlas, conjures much nostalgia, many memories and so much love amongst young and not so young homes, schools, offices and communities across Sri Lanka. Many a successful professional and entrepreneurs looks back in life to acknowledge that Atlas played a critical and inspirational role in their journey of success. It is therefore a fitting accolade that Atlas, the market leader in school and office stationery in Sri Lanka, has been conferred with the honour of being ranked No 1 as Sri Lankas Most Loved Brand amongst a plethora of brands across multiple categories in 2017. This ranking and compilation was based on a research carried out by Brand Finance and presented by Media Services, Publisher of the business magazine LMD. As stated in the LMD, The research study involved 1700 respondents in Colombo and Gampaha and the survey was conducted in October and November 2016. We are simply thrilled and overwhelmed by this honour, said Muhammad Hamza commenting on this achievement. He also went on to state that all we have achieved is as a result of children, mothers and the people of Sri Lanka who have chosen to use Atlas every day. We are equally aware of the responsibility and accountability we carry to continue to delight and nurture success in all spheres of life. It is an honour and we are humbled by the people who have chosen us to be the number one most-loved brand. Atlas has continued to build on its strong equity, design centred portfolio of products and relentless pursuit of quality to climb from number 21 in rankings in 2015 to number four in 2016 and to reach the top at number one in 2017. Atlas is the only stationary company within the first 50 ranks and it is the only brand in the top 10 ranked brands to climb up in the ratings from last year to this year. The brand which began close to 60 years ago with a simple pencil, has grown to be present across many sub categories from books, pens, pencils, colour pencils, pastels, clay, glue, water bottles, lunch boxes, back packs, office stationery, sporting items and markers with a portfolio of over 350 products. Each product is designed with care to ensure in use delight and maximum performance. The brand is nurtured by a group of passionate professionals who believe in democratizing fun and design, and go to much length to ensure the brand continues to inspire creativity and innovation amongst all who use the brand, providing them necessary and fun tools for success in life. Atlas believes in nurturing holistic individuals and seeks always to innovate by adapting to changing consumer lifestyles and environment. The brand has been able to win the hearts and minds of users across all social strata and age groups as it weaves the magic of creativity and fun through colours and products that allow everyone to have a better life and a greater opportunity to be successful in their chosen careers and walks of life. For over five decades, Atlas has been committed to providing the highest quality stationery products, combining cutting-edge technology with the highest levels of quality and innovation to deliver superior products that enhance the learning experience. As a reputed brand, the cornerstone of our success has been our customer-centric approach, which gives us the insight to move forward. We believe that this is a stepping stone to make ATLAS a truly world-class brand. Blue Mountains latest and most iconic real estate project to date Achilleion is two weeks ahead of its piling schedule and is well on track to meet its target completion date in 2020. The company recently completed its 50th piling, and the balance 50 piles are scheduled as part of the construction process. Piling is integral to the overall construction process and provides the essential support that buildings require. Piling ensures the structural strength of a building and is a technique that helps to set deep and sturdy foundations. The piling for Blue Mountains Achilleion is being done by San Piling (Pvt) Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Sanken Construction (Pvt) Ltd, one of the leading piling companies in Sri Lanka which has a strong reputation for delivering excellence and being a trusted partner in the development of mega real estate developments. Commenting on the project, Dr.Hiran Hettiarachchi (MBBS-Colombo & MBA-Australia) Group Chairman of Blue Mountain, said: I would like to take this opportunity to reassure our valued clients and investors that Achillieon is well on track for completion in 2020. We are well ahead of our schedule and have put all of the measures and protocols in place to ensure that the construction process continues in a seamless and organized manner, adhering to all key targeted deadlines. We are proud to be building this iconic 7-star luxury residence in Sri Lanka and we look forward to it transforming Colombos rapidly evolving skyline. Also commenting on the projects progress on the ground to date, Prabath Raveendra - Civil Engineer, SAN Pilling (PVT) Limited, said: Its always great when we youre two weeks ahead of the schedule and our team is committed to keep this great momentum by our side. We recently acquired a BAUER GB 40 Hydraulic Grab, the largest and the most powerful machine in Sri Lanka to work on this iconic project. Following the completion of the next 50 piling sessions, we will move on to completing the diaphragm walls, the retaining walls that will ensure that Achilleion remains a safe structure that can support the weight of 50 floors and two underground floors. Upon its completion, Achilleion will offer residents the epitome of luxury living in the heart of Colombo. State-of-the-art features and facilities will be incorporated into the structure and residents will have full access to a private helicopter and helipad, a fleet of Mercedes Benz luxury cars and an advanced 24-hour medical centre. The property will also has the countrys tallest sky bridge and other features that will be available include a library, a private theatre and beautifully appointed rooms and interiors that have been tastefully designed by Singapore based design consultancy, Index. Achilleion is a Blue Mountain development that is being constructed in partnership with world renowned property developer, the P&T Group. Richard Pieris & Company PLC Managing Director Local Manufacturing and Distribution Sector Sunil Liyanage, Director Manufacturing Lalith Wijeyesinghe, Director Shantha Kularatne and Group Chief Financial Officer Shiron Gooneratne at the launch of Englander mattresses in Sri Lanka Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana Englander, the world-renowned mattress brand based in Chicago, USA, made its debut at the new flagship store at Arcade Independence Square in Colombo on April 26, 2017. As a top international brand with over a 100-year heritage, Englander has remained as one of the most innovative mattress brands in the world. In a reality where most consumers find hotel beds and mattresses comfortable and think that they are good for back support, Englander has understood the yearning of consumers to have a hotel-grade mattress in their homes. With a heritage of almost 85 years, we have been providing innovative solutions to the ever changing needs of multiple generations of consumers and now we are proud to introduce one of the worlds finest brands in sleep technology to Sri Lanka, said Richard Pieris and Company PLC Chairman, Managing Director and CEO Dr. Sena Yaddehige. The Englander mattresses are featured in an array of the finest hotels around the world, namely The Hilton, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton Hotels, etc. The Englander products are known for their cooling and comfortable features, which provide a relaxing sleep supported by the natural rubber/premium PU foams that give the right amount of firmness and coolness. For over a century, Englander has been trademarked for the support, durability and the deep restful sleep that every customer enjoys through their products. At Englander, weve spent decades mastering the art and science of sleep and we design that experience into every mattress we make. Though over the years the technology behind the Englander has evolved, the vision has always remained the same. We are proud to have Richard Pieris & Co. PLC as our partner in Sri Lanka, said Englander Sleep Products President and CEO Kevin Toman. The exclusive range is now available in Sri Lanka from Rs.50,000 upwards and is now showcased at the Arcade Independence Square showroom. The number of showrooms is to expand further into a few other exclusive locations of Arpico Supercenters from June onwards. With the electoral manifesto of current President, Maithripala Sirisena, which promised the formulation of a national policy that could face modern ecological challenges, the countrys drive towards sustainable development was instated. Further policy, action and activities carried out under the Maithripala regime since 2015, consolidated the nations position on sustainability and ecological awareness. Importantly, the governments vision for a sustainable era was launched on the 2nd of January targeting the achievement of 2030 sustainable development goals according to the declared objective of the Government on poverty elimination. Sri Lankas commitment to environmental treaties Sri Lanka is a signatory to key international climate treaties and is a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol since 1993 and 2002, respectively. The Climate Change Secretariat, under the purview of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment acts as the national focal point to both the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. The country also signed the Paris Agreement in 2016 with consequent ratification on the 21st of September 2016. As part of the national commitments to these treaties Sri Lanka has also developed the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Sri Lanka 2011-2016 in 2010 and the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) in 2012. The country prepared its national adaptation plan for climate change impacts in Sri Lanka in 2015 and submitted its Nationally Determined Contributions to the UNFCCC in September, 2016. In addition, the inception of the Blue-Green Era in 2016, an initiative taken by the government, marks the adoption of a blue-green development strategy for the sustainable development of Sri Lanka. These national and international frameworks work to ensure that development in Sri Lanka takes place in an ecologically sustainable manner. The sustainable development pathway would ensure the sustainable consumption and production patterns which protects our natural resources and the environment as well as ensuring preparedness and resilience building for the escalating impacts of climate change. Development and the expansion of the key economic sectors that contribute to the countrys GDP growth such as energy, tourism, agriculture and urban development are bound by these national commitments to reevaluate its expansionary pathway and adhere to the measures put in place for the protection of environment. Role of climate literacy in sustainable development Climate and environmental literacy are the foundation needed to build knowledgeable citizens, well versed in the scientific concept of climate change and its potential threat on the planet as well as to ensure environmental justice is carried out. Therefore, dissemination of knowledge and education on topical climate and environmental issues are imperative to safeguard the motives behind Sri Lankas sustainable development pathway. As part of addressing the need to increase climate literacy in Sri Lanka, for Earth day 2017 the Climate Change Secretariat of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development & Environment, in collaboration with SLYCAN Trust enunciated the need for environmental and climate literacy in order to ensure the effective implementation of the blue-green initiative. A workshop for journalists and communicators was organised with the aim of partnering with multiple stakeholders to increase climate literacy in Sri Lanka. Speaking at the event, Secretary to the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Udaya Seneviratne highlighted several key initiatives and policy decisions taken by the government to ensure a climate resilient nation. He stressed the need for climate literacy among all stakeholders including the policy makers and the general public. The development projects undertaken due to purely pecuniary reasons have a detrimental impact on the ecosystems of the country. The construction of tourist hotels that is taking place in Batticaloa is largely destroying the mangrove cultivation. This shows the lack of climate and environmental literacy amongst people, said the Secretary. Waste and energy sectors Unsustainable consumption patterns and inefficiency of the waste management system leads to the waste sector being a key contributor to GhG emissions in Sri Lanka. Commenting on this regard, Seneviratne pointed out that the disasters that we are experiencing now, like the Meethotamulla landslide, is a consequence of the illiteracy on environmental concern amongst the public and the authorities. Seneviratne also commented on the sector based measures undertaken by the government in order to address the impacts of climate change as either mitigation or adaptation actions. Accordingly, targeting the energy sector of Sri Lankan, the secretary indicated the need to shift from using fossil fuel and coal power energy, towards more sustainable renewable energy sources. The need to shift from fossil based fuels to renewable is echoed in the countrys commitments, as by 2030. Thee GhG emissions related to energy is to be reduced by 20 percent and more interest being invested in the alternative energy sources, he said. He also mentioned that the government is undertaking a new project for energy generation in reservoirs. One such project being the 100 Mw floating solar power plant on Maduru Oya utilising 4 percent of the Maduru Oya Reservoir. Increasing awareness on climate change Also speaking at the event, Dr. Sunimal Jayathunga, director of the Climate Change Secretariat of Sri Lanka highlighted the importance of climate literacy and educating the public on the environment impact of their actions. As part of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment annual Earth Day celebrations, we are striving to create citizens who are sensitive to the environment, he said. Vositha Wijenayake, presenting on the role of communication in climate awareness further pointed to the need for climate literacy and effective communication on environmental and climate change related issues. She highlighted that communicators and journalists could play a key role in increasing climate literacy. How one speaks of climate change and its impacts play a key role in how we react to it. If we want to make people react positively and take action to address climate change, then actions need to be taken to increase awareness on this issue. Also, messaging on climate change needs to be positive, and highlighting what we could do as solution, and not creating doom and gloom she said. BERLIN, rt.com, April 27, 2017- A German Army officer arrested on suspicion of plotting an attack had procured a firearm and registered himself as a Syrian refugee, prosecutors said. He may have attempted to put the blame for the possible assault on migrants, local media reported. The arrest was accompanied by searches at 16 locations across Germany, Austria, and France, according to the prosecutors office. The officer is stationed in France but was assigned to a military facility in Hammelburg for qualification courses, where he was arrested. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Nadia Niesen of the Hessen prosecutors office said , the 28-year-old was first detained by Austrian police when he attempted to conceal a 7.65mm pistol at a lavatory inside Vienna International Airport. The use of the weapon was part of his plot to commit a serious act of violence in the form of an attack, Niesen stated. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is likely to release the US$ 168 million third tranche for Sri Lankas US$ 1.5 billion 3-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) by mid-June, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. Although the third tranche was scheduled to be released by April 20, belligerent Karunanayake said the development should not be described as a delay. Its not a delay. Its coming. There were some things of technical nature that were there and it is being looked at some time in June, he said. Karunanayake noted that these technical aspects include the modernization of the Inland Revenue Act and other legislation, although the government was looking at them from a different approach. The minister this week returned to Sri Lanka from Washington D.C. after taking part in the G24 Finance Ministers meetings and the semi-annual World Bank/IMF meetings. He said that the IMF was attempting to make matters difficult for Sri Lanka as a part of continuing the EFF. Our duty is to provide the largest benefit to our citizens. They (IMF) are putting pressure and giving us their ideas. We are determined and we want to protect our citizens. So we expressed our views aggressively. Thats the only thing the Prime Minister and President advised me to do, Karunanayake said. IMF gives petty cash and tries to get the maximum out, but we respect them for one thing. They have helped us to show that we are financially well run. That is the only dividend that we get. We dont want the petty cash, he added. He said he had told the IMF to either agree to Sri Lankas terms or to cancel the current arrangement. We said if we cant have it on our terms, if it cant benefit our country, we dont want it. I am pleased to say that they have accepted that and that there have been improvements in the situation here. So on their meeting on June 14, everything that is supposed to get approved will be approved, he said. He further added that both IMF and the World Bank had acknowledged the improvements in Sri Lankas fiscal policy, but had called for further improvements in Sri Lankas monetary policy. Sri Lanka had met most of the required indicators during the review of the second tranche of the EFF, except for net foreign reserves. The EFF, which is tied to a host of reforms, includes opportunities for additional funding worth US$ 650 million, which are being undertaken by other multilateral agencies in exchange for further reforms. The Central Bank this week said Sri Lanka requires major reforms to enter a trajectory of sustainable high growth. PARIS AFP April27, 2017 French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen hopped on to a fishing boat at dawn on Thursday as she pursued a guerrilla-style campaign that has upstaged frontrunner Emmanuel Macron. It was still dark when Le Pen boarded the trawler at the small port of Grau-du-Roi on the south coast for a four-hour trip out to sea, seeking to portray herself as the protector of small businesses against the man she says embodies unbridled globalisation. Le Pen stole a march on 39-year-old Macron on Wednesday by making an unannounced visit to a Whirlpool factory in northern France where the US appliances giant is threatening to partially outsource production to Poland. Her brief visit to pose for selfies with workers forced Macron, who was visiting the town where the factory is based, to hastily change his plans and also go to the site. Le Pen, 48, was back on the attack on Thursday saying her rival, a former banker, supported an ultra-liberal economy and total deregulation. Macron hit back in a Twitter message that reminded voters of the National Front (FN) candidates pledge to pull out of the Eurozone and hold a referendum on Frances membership of the European Union. Madame Le Pen has gone fishing. Have a good trip... News / Africa by Agencies Lusaka - A court on Wednesday refused a request to drop treason charges against Zambia's main opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema after he allegedly blocked the president's motorcade earlier this month.Hichilema was arrested two weeks ago for allegedly obstructing President Edgar Lungu's official limousine as both men travelled to a traditional event in Zambia's Western province.He is accused of endangering Lungu's life when Hichilema's own convoy allegedly refused to give way to the presidential motorcade in the high-speed incident on a main road on Saturday April 8.Hichilema's lawyers had asked the court to throw out the treason charges.But magistrate Greenwell Malumani ruled that he did not have the power to dismiss treason charges which can only be handled by the High Court."The law does not place power in the subordinate court to quash the indictment. The motion to quash the treason charge is untenable," he told a packed court in Lusaka.Hichilema, 54, a wealthy self-made businessman, has been in custody since police raided his Lusaka home on April 11.He made a fifth bid for the Zambian presidency last year and has sought to challenge the legality of the most recent election which he narrowly lost to Lungu.That campaign was marked by clashes between supporters of Lungu's Patriotic Front (PF) party and Hichilema's UPND. May Day was born in 1884, flagged by blood-splattered clothes of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for a worthy cause in Illinois, Chicago, USA The Blues and Greens here in Sri Lanka with lost memories of a proletariat struggle have vandalised the consecrated concept turning it into a disgusting political extravaganza. The 1960s marked the GREEN and BLUE revolution which replaced the RED flags from May Day in Sri Lanka. Today, after 50 years, a section of the gullible masses will be loaded into buses like collecting garbage to be dumped at several venues on May 1, under the guidance of corrupt dealmakers and looters of State coffers. Following the collapse of the Meethotamulla garbage dump, the government and opposition politicos have found three new venues at Getambe in Kandy, Campbell Park and Galle Face for this purpose. People indeed witnessed a host of protests by concerned residents around Dompe, Wattala, Muthurajawela and Karadiyana dumping sites, refusing to entertain Colombos waste in their neighbourhood. We are not bothered about the number of buses ordered into the venues, but how many tons of garbage would be added onto the Kandy and Colombo cities on May 1. One positive aspect of this exercise is the opportunity it allows for the city residents to reciprocate with a demonstration, objecting to outstation garbage being dumped at their Megapolis; undeniably, there will be no politicos to back them, as they too are busy collecting the material. International Workers Day International Workers Day in Sri Lanka has become an empty political exercise where a few workers, largely hired men, flatterers, boot-lickers, sycophants and village-level party rank and file who blindly but proudly claim our party or my party are exploited by the cronies and henchmen guided by their leaders now split into three contemptible parties parading the streets in a [Boru] Show of Strength. May Day is the hallowed commemoration of those heroic leaders who sacrificed their precious lives to the course of eight-hour working day and is dedicated to those who shed blood, sweat toil and tears in their gallant struggles of the past. It is also to commemorate those heroes for the successes they achieved on behalf of the working masses. If the two ruling parties are interested in a show of strength or checking the pulse of the people, they should hold polls elections to the local bodies which are being delayed deliberately for reasons best known to them. A.E. Goonesinghe, the pioneer in worker struggles in Sri Lanka, held our first recorded May Day rally in 1927; but the first organised rally was held in 1936 by the Ceylon Federation of Labour (CFL) affiliated to LSSP. The International Workers Day was declared a public holiday in Sri Lanka after the SLFP-led coalition of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike came to power in 1956. A united Red May Day was held at Galle Face in 1963, the first and the last of its kind by the red comrades who always shouted from different platforms, Workers of the world unite! However, since mid-sixties, massive blue/green rallies and demonstrations were planned and controlled by the UNP and SLFP. They lured supporters and workers from nations poorest income factions to participate by offering free transport, food and spirits and added musical shows with Indian artists participating in them. It was a strategy adopted by egotist self-interested men for furthering their own political agendas. Haymarket mayhem on May Day International Workers Day was called for May 1 by Marxist organisations in order to commemorate the Haymarket tragedy in Illinois, Chicago, USA on May 4, 1886. Some 180,000 workers in the Chicago District became openly-involved in the struggle for an eight-hour work day, where an unidentified man threw a bomb at the police. The police reacted by opening fire on protesters, killing four of them instantly. Nine leaders were indicted on suspicion during the riots. The Jury sentenced them to death and the four leaders were hanged. The Federation of Trades and Labour Unions held its national convention in Chicago in 1884. This pressure group which later evolved into American Federation of Labour, declared that eight hours shall add up to a legal working day. The very next year, many Labour locals repeatedly stated that their proclamations by stating agitations would be propped up by work stoppages and display of arrogance. A year before the Haymarket mayhem, Labour leader Samuel Fielden wrote in socialist newspaper, The Alarm; whether a labour works eight hours a day or ten, he is yet a slave. May Day tragedies in the past Assassination of President Premadasa - 1993 Just a week prior to the 1993 May Day, popular politician Lalith Athulathmudali who was sacked by President Premadasa was gunned down by an LTTE figure at a rally held in Kirulapone. Lalith supporters suspected a government hand in the slaying. The infamous Indian star studded Galle Face Green pageants of 1978-92 by the governing UNP ended with the tragic and unfortunate death of President Premadasa which occurred on May Day in 1993. R. Premadasa, who began his long and illustrious political journey under nations pioneering labour leader A. E. Gunasinghe, died on Workers Day by a LTTE suicide bomber, while he was participating in a UNP demonstration in Colombo. Although no one claimed responsibility for the dual assassinations, the government attributed them to LTTE who used suicide bombers to kill many VIPs in the past. A carefree relaxed president greeting people lined-up the streets when the cyclist bomber rode towards him with explosives. May Day ban 30 years ago and murder inside temple An LTTE car bomb explosion near the Pettah Bo tree killed 122 and severely injured another 200 persons on April 21, 1987. The following day, the Inter University Students Federation backed by JVP staged a demonstration opposite the Ward Place residence of President Jayewardene, calling for adequate security for the ordinary citizen. Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha and Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Theras led the Bhikkhu section of the march. The government feared anticipating a worst situation a week later on May Day and decided to ban all rallies and meetings scheduled for May 1 under emergency laws. Suggesting an alternate day on May 22 for the event, the government as a further precautionary measure, imposed a full day curfew on first of May as well. The Leftist parties and trade unions were determined to defy the ban and commemorate a Red-only May Day after the lapse of two-and a-half decades. The Maubima Surakeemay Vyaparaya [MSV] led by Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera, President of the United Government Services Nurses Union, Ven. Hedigalle Pannatissa Thera of the Agrasharavaka Dharma Faculty and Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Naga Viharaya, Kotte, too decided to join the fray and hold a rally and procession at the famous Abhayaramaya in Narahenpita. The traditional Marxists, LSSP and CP encouraged trade unions affiliated to them to assemble at Union Place, opposite LSSP headquarters for a demonstration. Later, they too joined a discussion that was held at the Abhayaramaya, Narahenpita, on how to defy the May Day ban. The participants included MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardene, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva and a host of Left oriented TU leaders. However, the LSSP, Communists, SLMP of Vijaya K. and Vasu-Bahu led NSSP too had separate discussions on defying the ban and holding a joint rally opposite the LSSP headquarters. Several other small groups too had decided on a similar course of action. On May 1, over 2,000 people attended the Abhayaramaya by 2 p.m. Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera, Ven. Hedigalle Pannatissa Thera, Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera and MP Dinesh Gunawardana addressed the meeting. A ten-point May Day resolution was adopted at the meeting after which the organising committee appealed to the participants to peacefully disperse. Radical sections among the gathering took to streets defying curfew in spite of heavy presence of armed security men around the place. The participants walked out of the temple premises on to the main road carrying placards and shouting slogans. The police responded with a baton charge followed by teargas and rubber bullets which failed to bring the situation under control and finally decided on live bullets. Shooting continued within temple premises too. The policemen walked in search of curfew violators inside temple buildings; later, a dead body was recovered from inside the main worship area [Buduhuge]. The two died of shooting included Kithsiri Ranawaka, an undergraduate, and a son of lawyer Ranawaka, the Vice President of MEP. I would like to remind everyone, especially governments engaged in boosting the worlds economic and social assets, that the primary capital to be safeguarded and valued is man, the human person in his or her integrity: Man is the source, the focus and the aim of all economic and social life. -- Pope Benedict XVI, Charity in Truth The NCE commends the unity government on its success in regaining the GSP Plus facility after overcoming the final hurdle in the EU Parliament. This will undoubtedly provide the much needed impetus to Sri Lankan exports to facilitate accelerated economic development. The GSP Plus Preference would entail the full removal of duties on 66 percent of tariff lines, covering a wide range of products including textiles and garments, fisheries products, rubber products, and machinery. Since the EU consisting of 27 countries is the biggest export market for Sri Lanka accounting for 1/3 of total global exports of the country, the concessions can make a significant contribution to Sri Lankas economic development by increasing exports to the EU market especially by the apparel sector which accounts for 46 percent of Sri Lankas exports. In 2015 EU imports from Sri Lanka amounted to 2.6 billion Euros which highlights the significance of the concessions that will be available. There are eight GSP Plus beneficiaries among developing countries. In this context the Chamber notes that Sri Lanka will have a particular advantage over competitor countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Philippines for exports especially in the textiles and garments sector. GSP Plus currently covers 13 beneficiaries: Armenia, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Mongolia, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and the Philippines. Sri Lanka was a beneficiary country since 2005 to 2010. The Chamber notes with satisfaction the focus of the Government and its efforts since assuming office in January 2015 to regain the facility, which has now borne fruit, after its initial success in lifting the ban on fisheries exports to the EU market. The Chamber is conscious of the fact that Sri Lankan exporters will undoubtedly face certain challenges, in regaining the hitherto lost markets related to the EU. Additionally another challenge will be the withdrawal of the UK from the EU or Brexit, since the UK is the main EU country for Sri Lankan Exporters. With a view to educate exporters on the benefits related to the GSP Plus facility, the rules and regulations pertaining to exports to the EU, quality requirements of the Products and Services, and measures to overcome the challenges when exporting to the EU to derive maximum benefit, the Chamber will conduct a Forum during the last week of May 2017. There will be relevant ministers, and Ambassadors invited to provide an overview on the issues and benefits related to the GSP Plus facility. Additionally officials from the Department of Commerce and the Export Development Board will also be invited to make presentations on specific issues related to the facility. The forum is expected to immensely benefit exporters. The deadline to apply for over 1,500 vacancies to the Sri Lanka Police has been extended to June 2, the Police Media Division announced today. Police headquarters called for applications several vacancies including Police Constables (PC), Women Police Constables (WPC) and Police Constable (Drivers) for police stations spread across the island, especially in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Police Media said that Tamil speaking persons applying for jobs in police stations in the North and East, would be given preference over those who do not. For further information on vacancies that exist in the police, prospective candidates are requested to refer to the gazette notification number 2013 issued on March 31, 2017. (Thilanka Kanakarathna) Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday called for the worldwide banning of firearms highlighting that it is the main cause for conflicts around the globe in the current scenario. The President made this point at the opening of the International Islamic Conference organized by the Sri Lanka Islamic Centre and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Islamic Affairs Dawath in Colombo last morning. In my opinion we will be able to build a conflict-free world if the manufacturers of firearms take up a different line of business to earn a living. It is the manufacturers of firearms that should be brought to the negotiating table, he said. Besides, he said the solutions to worlds conflicts should come through those who strive to uphold moral values and not from the politicians. Any sacred writings, be it the Tripitaka, Bible, Quran or the Bagawath Geetha teach the mankind how to uphold moral values and live a peaceful lives. It is these teachings which could bring solutions to the global conflicts, the President said. Focusing on the Sri Lankan scenario, he said it was sad that leaders of all ethnic groups in this country who struggled together to gain independence from Britain had got into conflicts with each other after gaining independence in 1948. The President therefore called for the support of Islamic religious leaders who participated in the conference to support the governments efforts to bring in peace and reconciliation. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said the efforts of Islamic leaders who participated in the conference was important in resolving the tension that had arisen in the world today. He said the theme of the conference Islamic Reality and Contemporary challenges was very valuable. Further he told the international Islamic leaders that Sri Lanka was a multi religious and multi ethnic country which respect each other. Posts and Muslim Religious Affairs Minister M H A Haleem and state Minister A H M Fowze who also spoke at the conference stressed that Islamic leaders would have to counter the Islamophobia that is prevailing in the globe which has emerged as a result of false ideologies on Islam. (Yohan Perera) The Indian Ocean is the third largest water-body on planet earth. There are two billion people living in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This ocean has played a strategically significant role in the history. Its strategic significance has now become even more important in this Asian century. The IOR connects the world through an extensive shipping network that links Asia, Oceania, Africa and the rest of the world. Hence, the developments in the IOR do not only affect the regional countries, but also the world at large. The IOR has gained importance as the worlds Energy Highway and an area of emerging economic and military power rivalry. The economic interactions across this ocean have increased in the recent past and there is a new world economic order shaping upon its waters. The IOR has attracted attention of major naval powers of the world and this ocean has now become the most militarized ocean in the contemporary world. In about 2009, piracy in the Horn of Africa compelled major naval powers to come to this ocean to safeguard their merchant marine from this menace. Piracy, which threatened the maritime commerce in the Western Indian Ocean has declined over the years, but not been completely eradicated. Yet, international navies are still there. There is an unofficial maritime cold war brewing up in the Indian Ocean. However, confrontations involving major maritime powers are unlikely at this juncture. Nonetheless, threats to freedom of maritime commerce can come from a variety of non-state actors. Violent extremist groups; human smugglers; illegal weapon and narcotic traders, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishermen as well as pirates are focusing their attention on IOR to carry out their illegal activities. Therefore, guaranteeing freedom of the high-seas and maritime security has become a critically important factor governing international maritime activities. Potential flash points and choke points Maritime security in the IOR has now become a dynamic and multifaceted concept due to the complex nature of players, their networks and motives. There are few unstable states within the IOR. These potential flash points pose a serious threat to the freedom of maritime commerce in this ocean. There are also several choke points at key entrances/exits to and from the Indian Ocean. The choke points at Bab-El-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz in the middle-east have the potential to seriously impact on the freedom of navigation. Further, as the connector to the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean is not totally immune from the developing security situation in the Western Pacific Ocean and the spillover effect of that is clearly seen here. Japan and the Indian Ocean Japan has become a major Asian naval power in the Indian Ocean and the presence of Japanese Maritime Self Defence Forces (MSDF) can be mainly attributed to the need to enhance security for the Japanese as well as international merchant shipping. When analyzing the country of origin of foreign warships visiting the Port of Colombo from 2008 to 2017, it is observed that 65 Japanese MSDF ships have arrived in Sri Lankan ports, mainly the Port of Colombo. This is rather a high number and second only to Indian warships visiting Sri Lanka. Although this figure is not a scientific derivative of the presence of warships in the Indian Ocean, it provides an indication as to who is there. A paradigm shift has taken place in the Japanese foreign policy in the recent past. In September 2015, Japan amended its constitution to allow its military forces to play a more effective role in maintaining world peace and a more robust role in the maritime domain to ensure the safety and freedom of maritime commerce. This change has paved the way for the Japanese MSDF to participate in number of overseas operations in the recent past. This is a move away from the mere protection of homeland role for MSDF. Japan has a greater dependency on the Indian Ocean for its energy supplies to maintain its economy and industrial capacity. Although Japan is dependent to a large extent on nuclear and alternative energy sources, the mainstream of energy requirement still comes across the Indian Ocean. Japanese foreign policy has a special focus on the long-term stable supplies of energy. Japan is the worlds third largest consumer of crude oil after the USA and China. Compared with other large consumers of crude oil, Japan possesses virtually no indigenous energy resources. Hence, Japan is dependent on the supply of more than 80 percent of its energy requirement from abroad and virtually all its crude oil requirement is from overseas, specially from the Middle East. This situation makes Japan as one of the most energy insecure states in the world today. As such, the increased Japanese MSDF activities in the Indian Ocean can be attributed to their heavy dependency on crude oil. Japans strategic focus on Indian Ocean Although Japan is a major economic power in the world, it did not pay much attention to the Indian Ocean till about year 2000. Reforms in Japanese national security policy since the Persian Gulf War since 1990 allowed the Japanese MSDF to participate in many overseas operations. Japans concern over the Western Pacific Ocean involving Chinese military activities and Chinas People Liberation Army (PLA) Navys increased presence in the Indian Ocean compelled the MSDF to venture in to and carry out operations in the Indian Ocean. Japan also found that India and the USA having similar interests in the IOR and established closer ties on the maritime domain with those countries. This trinity of maritime forces found convergence in their maritime strategies and over a period enhanced tri-lateral cooperation to a new level. Japan established close ties with India by concluding several security agreements and treaties including Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between Japan and India in 2008 and now participates in several multi-lateral and bi-lateral naval and coast-guard exercises involving India. These exercises include Malabar and JIMEX. Japan- Sri Lanka maritime cooperation Japan has been a major bilateral aid donor for development of Sri Lanka. Japan has now expanded its cooperation in maritime activities with the Sri Lankan Navy and the Coast Guard. Sri Lankas geo-strategic location, situated just 12 nautical miles North of the busiest East-West shipping lane in the Indian Ocean has attracted Japanese attention significantly expanding the economic cooperation to military sphere as well. Japan considers the Port of Colombo as a convenient transit and rest and recuperation harbour for their counter piracy operations. This is the reason for the visit by a largenumber of MSDF ships to this port. Japan has now stationed a Defence Attache in Colombo, who is coordinating visits of MSDF vessels and other military cooperation with Sri Lanka. When the Japanese Prime Minister visited Sri Lanka in 2014, recognizing islands enormous potential as a maritime nation in the Indian Ocean, the two leaders expressed their determination to elevate Japan-Sri Lanka relations, which have matured and diversified based on the long-standing friendship, into a new partnership between maritime countries; and further strengthen cooperative relations to play significant roles in the stability and prosperity of the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. Prime Minister Abe expressed his gratitude to Sri Lanka for facilitating port calls by MSDF ships. The two leaders welcomed the cooperation between two coastguards in the fields of maritime law enforcement, Search and Rescue (SAR), disaster risk reduction and environment protection. Sri Lankan President expressed his appreciation for the dispatch of Japanese experts to assist Sri Lanka Coast Guard and expressed the hope for further assistance for capacity improvement through provision of patrol vessels. Prime Minister Abe reaffirmed the importance of capacity building on maritime safety in Sri Lanka, and stated that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would conduct a survey and will coordinate the projects. The joint statementnoted the strategic geographical location of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean straddling Asia and Africa. Japan also expected Sri Lanka to enhance cooperation not only with limited number of countries but also with other countries as well. Later, in 2015, when the Sri Lankan Prime Minister visited Japan, both leaders reaffirmed that strengthening partnership between the two countries can contribute to prosperity of the two countries as well as the Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region. The two leaders also reaffirmed the importance of the freedom of navigation and overflight of the high-seas. Prime Minister Abe assured that Japan would continue to extend its cooperation to contribute to capacity building on maritime safety of Sri Lanka in such fields as maritime law enforcement, Search and Rescue (SAR), mitigation of disaster risks and environment protection, including examining the feasibility for providing patrol vessels. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe welcomed this initiative and both leaders recognized the importance of cooperation and exchanges between the two defense establishments on maritime security, including through port calls byvessels of MSDF. In May 2016, the Sri Lankan President and the Japanese Prime Minister met in Japan and recognized the importance of port development and mutual cooperation for development of maritime capabilities of Sri Lanka. In 2016, The Government of Japan granted 1,830 million Japanese Yen (approximately Rs. 2.4 billion) to the Government of Sri Lanka for implementation of the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement project. This project aims at contributing to the improvement of maritime safety capability of Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) by enabling SLCG to procure two petrol vessels to help safe navigation and freedom of merchant ships, counter-piracy operations, prevention of transnational crime and protection of marine environment and resources. This grant aid will be utilized for procurement of two 30-meter patrol vessels, including construction of vessels, sea transportation from Japan to Sri Lanka, and familiarization training for coast guard personnel. These two vessels will certainly enhance organic capabilities of SLCG in discharging its duties. Until now the SLCG totally depends on seconded vessels provided by the Sri Lanka Navy(SLN), other than having a few small boats on their own. This project is coordinated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Beginning of 2017, the SLCG also placed an order for construction of two 85-meter Offshore Patrol Vessels(OPV) with the Colombo Dockyard (Pvt.) Ltd. (CDL)to enhance its capabilities in deep sea surveillance. This project too will be undertaken by a loan provided by the Japanese government. These two OPVs will have the capability to launch and recovery of helicopters and small utility boats at sea. These two ships when completed, will be the biggest ships of the SLCG and will enhance its capability to a higher level. Building of these two OPVs by CDL is also a boost for the local ship building industry in Sri Lanka. The two ships will be based on a European design and SLCG and SLN marine and electrical engineers and ship building architects will be able to gain valuable practical experience by engaging in this project. Further, SLN and SLCG will be able to utilize their experiences in countering maritime terrorism in the construction of these two ships. CDL is having more than 40 years of experience in ship building and has already built two OPVs, two Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) and large number of Ultra-Fast Attack Craft (UFAC) for the Sri Lanka Navy and the Maldivian Coast Guard. If this project succeeds and it should, there is a possibility to construct the same model of ships for other international navies as well. There had been many high-level visits by Japanese maritime delegations to Sri Lanka and SLCG has benefitted immensely from these visits and is receiving higher level of training and skills development on maritime disaster measures, particularly on oil spill combat skills, from the Japanese Coast Guard. Japanese marine environment protection and oil spill measure experts have been conducting regular courses and drills with the SLCG to enhance the latters level of competency in emergency response procedures in maritime pollution activities. Japan has also donated equipment along with skills training. The Japanese training squadron has been visiting the Port of Colombo at regular intervals and engage in bilateral passage exercises with the SLN and SLCG. These exercises provide much needed international exposure to SLN and SLCG. The last such visit was in October 2016 by MSDF ships Kashima, Setoyuki and Asagiri. The MSDF also participated in Pacific Partnership 2017, a multilateral exercise with the participation of military and non-military personnel from the USA, Australia and Sri Lanka. This is the 12th year of this exercise and the first time it was conducted in Sri Lanka. The aim of this exercise was to enhance regional cooperation in the fields of medical readiness and preparedness for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) situations. Conclusion The maritime relations between Japan MSDF and SLN and SLCG have moved to a new height in the recent past. Japan is focusing on their maritime interests in the Indian Ocean and is keen in protecting its energy supplies, specially crude oil and maintaining freedom of navigation for maritime commerce and over flight in the Indian Ocean. Japan has focused its strategic attention on the geo-strategic location of Sri Lanka and is keen to in partnering the island nation to ensure maritime security as well as maritime safety. The major beneficiaries of this renewed Japanese commitment and interest are the SLN and SLCG. Japan has pledged to build ships and craft for the SLCG to perform its role in maintaining a rule based maritime order in the Indian Ocean and to respond to possible disasters in the region. Japanese and Sri Lanka maritime cooperation is riding very high in the present context, mutually benefiting both nations. (The writer is the Director Centre for Indo-Lanka Initiatives, Pathfinder Foundation. Readers comments are welcome at www.pathfinderfoundation.lk ) Sri Lanka and Iran called for expansion of all-out defence cooperation between the two countries, Iranian news agency Mehr news reported today. This was discussed during a meeting held between Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan with Additional Secretary to the Sri Lanka Ministry of Defense Sarath Kumara on Thursday in Moscow. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 6th Conference on International Security currently underway in Moscow. The 6th Moscow Conference on International Security began on Wednesday (April 27) and it was attended by high-ranking defense delegations and experts from various countries. The conference would provide defense officials of participating countries with the opportunity to consult on defense and security issues. Sri Lanka has appointed seven lead managers for a sovereign bond worth up to US$1.5 billion and could tap the capital market as soon as next month, a source close to the deal said this week. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said the government was looking to issue a bond with a term of more than 15 years. The banks are Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Morgan Stanley and two Chinese institutions, the source, who has direct knowledge of the deal, told Reuters. A government source who also has knowledge of the deal confirmed the seven banks. Karunanayake also said inflows from the bond, another US$1 billion from two syndicated loans, and US$500 million from Sri Lanka Development Bonds would be used to boost foreign reserves. We expect see a double-digit (billion dollar) reserves this year with the flows from asset leasing and some divestment from state assets, Karunanayake told reporters. Sri Lankas foreign exchange reserves were at US$5.6 billion by end-March compared to US$6 billion at the end of last year. Sri Lanka missed the reserves target set under the terms of a US$1.5 billion International Monetary Fund loan. The IMF last month urged Sri Lankas Central Bank to rebuild foreign reserves while maintaining exchange rate flexibility. - REUTERS The aim of Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) is to eradicate extreme poverty and to reduce all forms and dimensions of poverty, at least by half, by the year 2030. As such, this article looks at the status of poverty in Sri Lanka, based on different poverty lines, both national and global. The estimates are based on the Household Income and Expenditure Survey-2012/13 (HIES-12/13), conducted by the Census and Statistics Department, the latest data set available at present. The analysis examines the status of poverty at national, sectoral and district levels, as well as by different population groups based on the occupation or activity of the head of the household (groups are given in Table 2). Information on poverty estimated using different poverty lines, which measures income poverty, multidimensional poverty, extreme poverty based on global poverty lines, etc., could be useful to those involved in developing strategies to achieve SDG 1. It is important to note that both the poverty headcount (or the percentage of poor within a region/population group) and share (out of the total) in each region/population group, need to be considered when developing strategies to reduce poverty everywhere in the country. Status of poverty based on different measures of poverty The income poverty (IP), which is measured using the national poverty line (NPL), declined from 26.1 percent in 1990/91 to 6.7 percent (or 1.34 million persons) in 2012/13 (columns 2 and 3, Table 1). Although Sri Lanka has made considerable progress in reducing the IP, estimates show that a large number of persons are living just above the NPL. For example, if the NPL (which was Rs.3,624 per person per month in 2012/13) is increased by 10 percent, the poverty headcount will increase to 9.9 percent, which accounts for 2.0 million persons, indicating that there are more than 620,000 persons within the 10 percent above the NPL. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) measures acute poverty and the overlapping deprivations faced by the members of the households in relation to education, health and living conditions. Analysis show that 791,874 (or 4.0 percent) of the people in Sri Lanka are in multidimensional poverty (columns 4 and 5, Table 1 and 2). Another 2.2 million (or 11.2 percent) people are near multidimensionally poor (columns 6 and 7, Tables 1 and 2). This indicates that quite a large number of persons are still at risk of slipping back to poverty. As the poor and near poor could easily get affected due to various economic shocks and/or weakening of any of the other three dimensions, education, health and living conditions, it would be more appropriate to look at persons who are in income poverty and/or multidimensional poverty, which covers all dimensions of poverty. This is especially important, as SDG 1 also envisages reduction of all forms and dimensions of poverty, everywhere. There are 1.8 million persons (or 9.3 percent) who are in IP and /or multidimensional poverty (columns 8 and 9, Tables 1 and 2). To measure extreme poverty, the global poverty line US $ 1.25 a day (2005 PPP) was being used until October 2015. Since then the World Bank and United Nations agencies have introduced a new poverty line US $ 1.90 a day (2011 PPP) to measure extreme poverty, soon after the declaration of SDGs in September 2015. They also changed the lines used to measure moderate poverty, from US $ 2.00 a day (2005 PPP) to US $ 3.10 a day (2011 PPP). The World Bank claims that poverty headcounts computed using these new poverty lines, should not make much of a difference, compared to those estimated using the previously used lines for extreme poverty and moderate poverty. However, it does not seem to hold true for a country like Sri Lanka, which is getting closer to transforming into a upper-middle-income country (columns 10 and 12, Tables 1 and 2), as the extreme poverty headcounts have almost halved under the new poverty line (US $ 1.90 a day), compared to the previous poverty line (US $ 1.25 a day). Similarly, based on US $ 2.00 a day, 3.9 million (or 19.6 percent) persons were in moderate poverty in 2012/13, while the corresponding estimate based on the new poverty line US $ 3.10 a day, is 2.9 million (or 14.6 percent). These differences are too large to be disregarded. Due to this reason and the fact that these global poverty lines do not take the multiple dimensions of poverty into consideration, it is far more appropriate to use the combination of the IP measured using the NPL and multidimensional poverty (Columns 6, fig. 1 and 2), which covers income, as well as other dimensions of poverty, when developing strategies to reduce poverty in the country. Regional variations and variations between population groups The two tables provide a clear picture of the variations, between regions, as well as between the different population groups. However, only the highlights are given in this short article. Out of the IP persons, nearly 87 percent and out of extreme poor persons (US $ 1.90 a day, poverty line) almost 90 percent are in the rural sector. On the other hand, the poverty headcount is highest in the estate sector. For example, poverty headcount within the estate sector (column 8, Table 1), for income poverty and/or multidimensional poverty, is high (25 percent), because MDP is high (17.9 percent) in this sector (column 4, Table 1). This is mainly due to inadequate access to safe drinking water and safe sanitation, in the estate sector. Out of the districts, Batticaloa is the poorest, in terms of both poverty headcount and share of poor, followed by Monaragala. Other districts with high shares of poor persons are Badulla, Ratnapura, Kurunegala, Kandy, Galle and Nuwara Eliya. Although the Mullaitivu District has the highest incidence of poverty (or poverty headcount), followed by Mannar District, the shares of the poor persons (out of the total), in these districts are very low, due to low population densities in these districts. Among the population groups, persons living in households headed by Agricultural, forestry and fishery labourers are the poorest, followed by those in households headed by Non-agricultural labourers and similar workers, Those unable or too old to work and Skilled agriculture, forestry and fishery workers (Table 2). Out of those who are in income poverty and/or multidimensional poverty, 70 percent are in households headed by the above four groups. Summary and broad recommendations This analysis clearly shows that there are considerable regional variations and variations between population groups. To eradicate extreme poverty and to reduce poverty in all its dimensions, effective strategies will have to be developed, which will ensure that those who manage to escape poverty, will not get slipped back to poverty. Those in extreme poverty and most vulnerable may need to be supported through precisely targeted social protection programmes, until they are in a position to stand on their own. If the programmes like Samurdhi are not properly targeted to cover the most deserving and vulnerable, it will not be possible to eradicate extreme poverty. When developing strategies to reduce poverty, the highest priority need to be given to, elimination of child poverty, which could lead to intergenerational poverty cycle, as it is necessary to break the poverty trap. The results of the HIES-2016 will provide the latest estimates on income poverty. An indepth analysis of the new survey data could provide the latest estimates of poverty based on different poverty lines. Such estimates will be extremely useful as the baseline information required to monitor the progress of SDGs, which came into effect in January 2016. (Wimal Nanayakkara is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS). To view this article online and to share your comments, visit the IPS Blog Talking Economics - http://www.ips.lk/talkingeconomics/) The CID yesterday informed court that it had deployed special investigative groups to examine the facts obtained from individual informants regarding a few suspicious persons in connection with the murder of Wasim Thajudeen. The prosecution was of the view that based on the informants revelations, the investigations are being conducted more towards the suspicious phone conversations of those identified persons and their unusual behaviour after the victim was killed on May 17,2012. Meanwhile, acceding the prosecutions request, the Court issued directions to Genetech Institute to send the 19 femur bone pieces and seven bone pieces of chest area recovered earlier at the SAITM to the Court to name them as case productions in the inquiry. Earlier those 26 bone pieces were tested with the DNAs of Thajudeen's mother to verify if there were any victims body parts among the recovered bones. However, the test was negative. The CID also filing a further report informed court that it had recently recorded statements from 25 officials, who were attached to the former Presidents Security Division, over the improper removal of pages from the Daily Duty Information Book of the Presidents Security Division pertaining to the time period of May 10 to 22, 2012, which was the period when Wasim Thajudeen was killed. They also said that a broad investigation was being conducted over the suspicious removal of pages and that 14 more security officials have been summoned to the CID in order investigate the matter. The prosecution also said it had initiated an investigation to observe all phone conversations between May 16 and 17, which took place in the region where Thajudeen was killed. Former SDIG Anura Senanayake and former Narahenpita Crimes OIC Sumith Perera had been charged under Sections 113 (Conspiracy) and 32 (Liability for act done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention) of the Penal Code by the prosecution. They were also charged with causing the disappearance of evidence, fabricating false evidence, using it to shield the offender and conspiring under Clauses of 189,198 and 296 of the Penal Code However, first suspect, Sumith Perera was granted bail by the Colombo High Court on an earlier occasion following a revision application filed on behalf of the suspect. Considering that the suspect, Anura Senanayake had already filed revision bail applications in the High Court, Acting Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala re-remanded the suspect till May 4 and also directed the other suspect to appear in court on the date. (Shehan Chamika Silva) News / National by Staff reporter VICE Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko yesterday toured stands at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) and said they were impressed with the quality of exhibitions.Visiting Namibian President Hage Geingob is set to officially open ZITF today. VP Mnangagwa, who is in charge of the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs portfolio, was accompanied by his wife and MP for Chirumanzu Zibagwe constituency Auxilia Mnangagwa, Secretary Virginia Mabhiza, Minister of State in his office Clifford Sibanda, senior Government officials and ZITF general manager Mrs Nomathemba Ndlovu.The VP visited his ministry's stand in Hall 4, which is exhibiting different services that include processing of deeds, company registration procedures under the Companies Act, protection of intellectual property and the ease of doing business.He also visited the Namibian stand, United Refineries, National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and the Command Agriculture stands.At the Command Agriculture stand, VP Mnangagwa viewed different aspects of agriculture such as tillage and planting, crop maintenance, marketing and harvesting.Companies supporting the programme were also exhibiting their products at the stand.The Vice President proceeded to the Zanu-PF stand, where senior officials took him through the party's different departments including the Ministry of Welfare Service for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees.The Zanu-PF stand is also exhibiting ethnic wear, accessories and value added agricultural products under the party's empowerment programme.VP Mnangagwa also met the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Walter Chidhakwa, after the launch of the $50 million facility for small-scale miners where he was shown mining equipment that would be provided to miners under the scheme.He proceeded to the Alpha and Omega Dairy stand before visiting the Great Zimbabwe University, the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) and the Inter Ministerial Task Force. The VP also visited the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) stand.He said he was impressed by the degree of innovation exhibited by universities and other exhibitors."I'm delighted and impressed by the level of innovation and value addition that is being exhibited at the various stands especially the universities.There are a lot of ideas being brought up by the students in our universities and this is a positive development."It's unfortunate that these innovations are being taken away by other people, which gives us a reason to come up with laws to protect them," said VP Mnangagwa.He added that cluster systems introduced by the OPC were also a welcome development.VP Mphoko later on visited the Turnall stand before proceeding to ZimTrade, South Africa, Namibia, Command Agriculture and Zanu-PF stands.He was accompanied by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Dr Mike Bimha, Minister of State in his office Tabetha Kanengoni Malinga, senior Government officials and ZITF general manager Mrs Nomathemba Ndlovu.From the Zanu-PF stand VP Mphoko visited the Ministry of Industry and Commerce where he met Scout Aerial Africa, which manufactured drones, where officials demonstrated how they use technology for surveys, anti-poaching, media, mapping inspections and security.He proceeded to the Alpha and Omega Dairy stand, Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development and the Bulawayo Agricultural Society, Motovac and Mineral Lab Zimbabwe.VP Mphoko said products and services showcased at the ZITF showed that the people of Zimbabwe have enthusiasm and commitment in developing the country."I'm impressed by what I saw, especially at the Bulawayo Agricultural Society, where they're showcasing cattle. I noticed that the exhibitions have improved," said VP Mphoko. I and a number of security analysts have been guilty of falling for Pakistans carefully crafted propaganda. We have been gullible enough to call attackers who struck an Army camp near Kupwara on April 27, 2017, as fidayeen. This description is exactly what terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) want us to use. And there is a historical backdrop to this fight for influencing strategic communications in this regard. It is time we understood it and learnt from history, lest we fall for the narrative propped by terrorists. In 11th century Iran, atop the mountainous areas of Alborz, missionary Hassan-i-Sabbah challenged the authority of the state through a series of assassinations undertaken by a select group of faithfuls, brainwashed to accomplish the task with clinical precision. The group was termed fidais, or fidayeen. This group was exploited under the effect of hashish and promised heavenly pleasures. A glimpse of the same would be given, only to be withdrawn on the promise of similar eternal bliss. The drug-induced killers, instead of being seen as suicide attackers, were termed fidayeens. Suicide is considered a sin in Islam, as is the case with most Abrahamic religions. Religious fanatics misled the attackers by describing them as soldiers in the service of God. They were trained to undertake suicidal attacks against important personalities with knives in pursuit of the diktats of their leader. The adversaries of these killers instead termed them as hashishins, on the basis of their mental condition when they undertook deadly attacks. This also became the genesis of "assassins", the word commonly used for such attackers. The insistence of terrorist groups like LeT to call their terrorists fidayeen is unsurprisingly part of a similar attempt at providing an honourable tag to terrorists who operate as suicide attackers. Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark write that Qahafa and his trainers, who were responsible for preparing the 26/11 attackers, continuously distinguished between fidayeen and suicide missions. The latter was considered unthinkable. "Suicide is to kill oneself in desperation after one fails to achieve that goal which has been set," Ajmal Qasab, the villain of the 26/11 attack in Mumbai was told. A fidayeen squad "died trying to achieve a virtuous goal". They fought to attain victory, and in their death as well was the achievement of victory. There is adequate evidence to suggest that terrorist groups operating from Pakistan are in part funded by drugs, extracted from the AfPak region. Photo: Reuters If the use of the term fidayeen is part of strategic communications and psychological warfare of terror states like Pakistan and their client terrorist groups like the LeT, then it is important to call the terrorists for what they are and what they stand for. There is adequate evidence to suggest that terrorist groups operating from Pakistan are in part funded by drugs, extracted from the AfPak region, under the control of terrorist groups and their masters like the ISI. There is also proof of terrorists undertaking suicidal missions under the influence of drugs. There have further been cases wherein drugs have been found on their person. The terrorists fighting in J&K are paid for the violent tasks they undertake, including bonuses for striking against senior security forces commanders. Their families are compensated and monetarily looked after as well. This is a description that best describes mercenaries and not jihadis or mujahideen as they are touted to be. Pakistan and ISI-bred terrorist groups have carefully orchestrated a narrative to consistently find brainwashed recruits. They are fed contrived religious interpretations and the benefits of drug-induced or drug-generated money. There has also been an attempt to create an irrepressible and indefatigable quality around these terrorists through half-truths and plain lies. However, the reality is that they are nothing more than brainwashed cadres who, guided, controlled and supported by the Pakistan army, have exploited weaknesses carefully observed by the professional assessment of an inimical state. Just as they have been successful in a number of cases to cause casualties, they have also been neutralised when security forces have countered them through drills and procedures that outwitted them at their own game. Unlike the mythical narratives circulated to gullible consumers through social media, the very same hashishin have also surrendered rather than fighting till their death, as was the case with Qasab. Given this reality, the world at large, which has adopted a liberal order supported by democratic and pluralistic principles, must reject the propaganda of terror states like Pakistan and their clients like LeT and JeM. 1) Europe is very critical of your government. The Council of Europe has recently re-opened the monitoring procedure against Turkey due to serious problems with fundamental rights in the country. There is a growing consensus in the US as well to review its policy towards Turkey due to differences on numerous issues. To all these criticisms, your government responds by saying it is because of your courageous stand on issues like Palestinian rights, Syrian refugee crisis, etc. that the world is up in arms against you. Do you really want us to believe that the only government which is righteous and principled in this world is Turkeys Justice and Development Party (AKP) government and the rest of the international bodies and foreign governments are mere conspirators? 2) The so-called Islamic State is an increasing threat to the world, including to countries like India. One of the disturbing facts about the ISIS militants who have carried out attacks in European cities like Stockholm, Brussels, St Petersburg and Paris is that they had all stayed in Turkey. We may have accepted this as a terrific coincidence, had Turkey not have facilitated safe passage to foreigners wanting to join the ranks of the brutal terrorist group. But given Turkey has done that - at least in the past - should India not be careful in its relations with your government? 3) We must form an alliance with China and show to the West that we can stand on our own feet is what Yigit Bulut, your chief adviser who is accompanying you on your visit to India, once said on a television talk show. Does this mean that we are looking at a Turkey which in the coming days will cease to be the "gateway to Europe" and become a country which is officially at odds with the Free World? 4) Before and after the April 16 constitutional referendum, senior AKP members, including Yigit Bulut, have used inflammatory rhetoric against European countries. Mr Bulut has recently said you [Europe] will be praying for every second you breathe. Dont you think such rants encourage hatred against the people of a particular region at a time when radicalism is already a big problem for the world? 5) One of the attractive factors for the Indian business community about Turkey is its proximity to Europe. If Turkey moves away from Europe, don't you think the country will attract less investment from India? 6) Ilnur Cevik, one of your senior advisers, who is also on a visit to India, said at an event at the India International Centre (IIC)on Wednesday that there is great potential for India-Turkey relations because "India has a huge Muslim population". Immediately after the coup attempt of July 15, 2016, the erstwhile Turkish ambassador to India, Mr Burak Akcapar, was seen seeking support of Indian Muslim clerics for you. This raises eyebrows particularly because many AKP members and supporters see you as a future Caliph of the Muslim world. Is there a well-thought out Turkish strategy to appease the minority Indian Muslim community and ignore the majority non-Muslim community? And dont you think it is a divisive policy? There is hardly any buyer of your claims outside Turkey regarding Gulen and the social movement he has inspired. Photo: Reuters 7) The British Parliament foreign affairs committees report on UKs relations with Turkey says that the Turkish governments account of the Gulenists and the coup is not substantiated by hard, publicly available evidence. The US House Intelligence Committees chairman Devin Nunes has also said he hasnt seen any evidence to prove that Fethullah Gulen was behind the attempted coup in Turkey. So has been said by the head of German Intelligence Agency (BND), Bruno Kahl. Clearly, there is hardly any buyer of your claims outside Turkey regarding Gulen and the social movement he has inspired. Yet, here in India you are distributing brochures making the same unsubstantiated claims. Dont you think your government has lost credibility internationally because of your false propaganda? 8) According to some reports, a secretly issued order by you bans Turkish weapon manufacturing companies like ASELSAN and others from selling lethal weapons to India. This of course is a measure to appease our regional rival Pakistan. Should the Indian government trust you when your government clearly doesnt trust India? 9) Indias vice-president Hamid Ansari was given an honorary doctorate by Mevlana University, Konya, in 2011. Now the university is among the list of 15 universities which have been shut down by the government after the attempted coup last year. What has changed so radically that a university which was once allowed to honour one of Turkeys state guests has now been completely shut down? 10) Many Indian students and academicians were part of the 15 foundation universities that have been shut down by your government in the aftermath of the coup attempt. Some of those students had to come back to India without completing their education as they were left helpless. They were on scholarship in these universities but when the Council of Higher Education (Yuksekogretim Kurulu) transferred them to state universities they were asked to pay fees according to their original universities, which were much higher than that of the state universities. The academicians of course have lost their jobs and their bank accounts were earlier blocked as your government also took over Bank Asya - the bank with which most of these universities were working. What link did these students and academicians have with the attempted coup that they had to suffer from all these? And as you try to build friendly relationship with India, would you begin by apologising to these Indians? 11) As a matter of fact, 231 journalists are currently languishing in Turkish prisons. The Turkish government however refuses to recognise them as journalists and therefore rejects the fact that it is the worst jailer of journalists in the world. Irrespective of that, the world knows how difficult it is for journalists to work in Turkey. Can any journalist who is critical of you be free in Turkey? 12) Turkeys ranking has slipped to 155 on World Press Freedom Index this year. It was of course expected given your government has shut down 149 media outlets and jailed 231 journalists in the post-coup purge. Interestingly, Turkey ranked 99 on the same index in 2002 when your AKP assumed power. You obviously claim to have advanced Turkeys democracy over the years but the facts and figures suggest just the opposite. How do you respond? 13) According to a human rights monitoring website, turkeypurge.com, 1,34,194 officials, teachers, bureaucrats and academics have been sacked from state institutions; 1,00,155 people have been detained; 2,099 educational institutions have been shut down; 7,317 academics have lost their jobs; 4,317 judges and prosecutors have been dismissed under the sweeping crackdown that your government has launched since last July. Recently, some purge victims have reportedly been abducted. At least 50 detainees who were put behind bars after the attempted coup have died in suspicious circumstances or due to torture and harsh treatment. The only point of intersection between my previous job as a journalist in India and the present one in Canada as a facilitator helping immigrants settle is that in both cases the need of the community has driven the outcomes. Speaking lightly, I have literally been in the middle of something "new" every day addressing the want of "new"comers in the present position and writing for a 'new'spaper in the previous one. On a more serious note though, what I like best about the present job is that after being guided, advised and mentored, "thank you" and gratitude, in unstructured accented English that emanate from these fresh-off-the-plane are palpably genuine. They come straight from the heart. No dismissive "appreciate it" from them. Landing in a new country is like rebooting one's life. An immigrant doesn't quite know where to start. Witnessing newcomers trying to develop roots afresh is truly a life-changing experience. To be an immigrant in a country that is culturally, linguistically and geographically diverse, can be an unequal mix of awe, excitement and intimidation. Recreating and redefining can be quite a task. The whole thought process towards life, belief and value system undergoes a sea change. Being raised as a "majority" in one's home country, an immigrant may become an inconsequential minority on foreign soil, thereby losing the sense of entitlement that he or she grew up with. This also makes immigrants connect closely with the injustices that minorities around the world face. For example, those communal slurs that took place very recently on the Delhi Metro, where an elderly couple of a particular religion was asked to go to Pakistan. Try explaining this to immigrants who already face backlash in Western countries because of the colour of their skin and diverse looks. The Western world doesn't know the differences among religions, races and ethnicities around the world. For it, one is either a gora or an "alien". Yes, alien. That's the word that department of homeland securities uses for all non-Americans. An eye-opener Being an immigrant can be a humbling as well as a learning experience. Stepping on foreign soil can be an eye-opener and makes a person appreciative about dignity of labor. An immigrant also realises that no job is good or bad so long as it keeps the home and the hearth warm. The job search starts right from the day a person puts one's foot down on foreign soil. He or she then wades through a pile of recruitment notices only to be turned back because one doesn't have the all-so-important "western experience" and the much-sought after "soft skills". The bills pile up, meanwhile. To address those, an immigrant takes up what is called "survival job" in local parlance, even as the search for a job that more matches his/her core and transferrable skills continues. To add to the woes, societal discrimination comes into play. How do you rationalise the assault on Nigerians and Kenyans in India labelling them 'drug dealers' with the single stroke of brush? Photo: Reuters One's thoughts then go back to how we treat domestic help in India and what social hierarchy we place them on. Also, reflective minds do stop, pause and think hard about Indian provinces like Maharashtra, where Bangladeshi and Nepalese job-seekers are beaten black and blue just because jobs are being snatched from the natives of the soil. Try justifying it in perspective. The value of such jobs and the hypocrisy surrounding Indian food habits is visible in front of the odd burger chain during lunch hour, when the line-up of South Asians, irrespective of the caste they belong to, says it all. There is no need for me to elaborate on this. Just for the record, some farms in Canada specifically raise Indian Ongole and Zebu bulls for quality beef, of which some burgers are made. But let's briefly reflect on the workers in the meat factories and fast food joints, who are from all cultures and faiths, including the ones to which cow vigilantes belong to. I have never heard an immigrant worker, on a survival job abroad, giving up his source of livelihood just because it doesn't gel with his/her religion. Definitely, food for thought for those back home. On a neutral territory, immigrants soon realise that those whom they were groomed to hate could be their best buddies, for they may share same bonds, pangs, ties and emotions. Try talking to a Pakistani about Partition and they may have some poignant stories to narrate. This regimented hate in India is directed towards a person from some hostile nation or from a country where the colour of a fellow human is visibly darker. How history is taught or who writes it can change the whole perception. How else can one rationalise the taking down of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi the messiah of non-violence and Father of the Nation from Ghana University campus, ostensibly because he was a "racist" in that country's eyes? Or for that matter, the assault on Nigerians and Kenyans in India labelling them "drug dealers" with the single stroke of brush. Give me a break. Go on a dope quest in Canada and you'll realise which ethnicity rules the drug streets. Suffice is to say, the Indo-Punjabi mafia has given Mexican cartels a run for the dough. Being an immigrant makes you introspect. Just the other day, I saw a fellow Indian clinging to his cellphone, listening to a desi FM channel (minus earplugs). My thoughts immediately went to the days when migrant labourers from UP and Bihar, condescendingly called bhaiyaas in Punjab, were lampooned for lugging on to their "raidooa (radio)" while doing farm and other jobs. On the foreign land, most of the immigrants now try to find solace in those FM frequencies. Of course, the shape of the "raidooa" has changed, yet the way it cuts down the daily drudgery and monotony remains the same. Social isolation can be a great leveller on a distant land. Today, the whole globe seems to be riding a wave of nationalism. Nationalism is good, but those being discriminatory towards a diverse population need to step out of their microcosm. Also, hypocrisy needs to be shelved. How can one act in a certain way in India and in an entirely different way abroad? Step into an immigrant's shoes. Or just travel and walk a few steps away from home. I bet it can make many a lot wiser, saner and empathetic. News / National by Staff reporter SEVEN immigration officers stationed at Victoria Falls International Airport have appeared in court charged with fraud after they allegedly altered visas for visitors from different countries and pocketed varying amounts of money.Promise Miti (37), Maboreke Enock Takura (29), Nonhlanhla Nyathi (39), Aron Mamvura (40) and Patience Chivi (31) as well as Kushinga Goremusandu and James Marowa whose ages were not given were arrested on Sunday.They have since separately appeared before Victoria Falls resident magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa charged with fraud.Allegations are that the seven, acting separately, attended to British, American and Canadian visitors who should pay $55, $30, and $75 respectively for a single entry visa.The immigration officers recorded lesser amounts on receipt books and pocketed the difference.Their actions allegedly prejudiced the State of varying amounts of money. Through their lawyer, Mr Thulani Nkala, the seven indicated that they will plead not guilty to the charges and were each released on $200 bail.They are expected back in court on May 10.As part of their bail conditions, the accused were ordered to reside at their given addresses and not to interfere with witnesses.Prosecuting, Mr Takunda Ndovorwi was opposed to the granting of bail saying the accused were a flight risk as they were facing serious charges likely to cause their dismissal from work."The accused forged nationalities on visa stickers. On April 22, the accused attended to a British tourist and treated her as Japanese. He made her pay for a British visa of $55 but didn't remit the money," said the prosecutor in respect of Goremusandu.As for Miti, Mr Ndovorwi said on Monday last week he allegedly attended to four Canadians and treated them as Americans who pay less for single entry visas."They paid $75 and on the book he booked $30 while converting $45 to his own use thereby prejudicing the State of $180 for the four visitors," said the prosecutor.The court heard that Takura allegedly cleared two British and three Canadians on April 17 but booked them all as Americans to appear as if they had paid $30 for a single entry visa, thereby pocketing $185. The prosecutor said Nyathi cleared five British and 15 Americans and Canadian visitors between April 19 and 21 but booked them as German and American nationals who pay $30 each. By so doing, Nyathi prejudiced the State of $800. News / National by Staff reporter DAGGERS have been drawn against the Undenges in Manicaland, with some members accusing the Zanu-PF provincial chairman of failing to rein in his wife who is allegedly causing divisions in the province.However, Dr Samuel Undenge who is also the Minister of Energy and Power Development, has poured cold water on the allegations, saying: "Someone is trying to pursue a vote of no confidence against me after being disappointed that the Provincial Executive Committee and Provincial Co-ordination Committee did not pass it. It is now personal and not constitutional."Following last Friday's PEC and PCC meetings where the issues of allegations being levelled against the Undenges were raised, a Press Conference was called after the PCC meeting where provincial vice-chairman, Joseph Mujati who was flanked by women's league's provincial vice-chairperson and youth league chairman, Mubuso Chinguno announced the vote of no confidence on Dr Undenge.Among the allegations being levelled against Dr Undenge are that he was creating parallel structures in the province by imposing shadow members of National Assembly in constituencies where there are legitimate Zanu-PF MPs.A petition was also drafted which tabled the allegations and some of them read: "He is highly incompetent in that he failed to conduct meetings as set out in the party constitution."He has been denying (sic) provincial members from holding meetings during his absence."He has allowed a situation to prevail (sic) whereby his wife Lettina Undenge has been interfering with the day to day running of the province."Undenge and his wife have been firing and imposing preferred members to further their personal interests."Undenge and his wife have been using money to divide the PCC."In response, Dr Undenge said: "Zanu-PF has a constitution and procedures which guide its conduct."There are specific guidelines for the passing of a vote of no confidence against someone. When a vote of no confidence is passed by the PEC, it must be endorsed by the PCC."Allegations were raised in both the PEC and PCC and were discussed in both meetings. They were discussed after a few individuals had proposed a vote of no confidence in me."When they were discussed the PEC and PCC did not pass a vote of no confidence on me."This was only done outside both meetings which is unconstitutional."On allegations being levelled against his wife, Dr Undenge said: "Mai Undenge attends PCC meetings in her capacity as national secretary for administration in the Women's League."She does not attend PCC meetings in her capacity as my wife and those saying that are misguided."We are not using money, but these people peddling falsehoods against us should tell us their source of money which they are using to accommodate people in hotels here in Mutare and Harare."Meanwhile, Zanu-PF youths in Manicaland have embarked on a gap filling exercise in its structures starting with Mutare.The Mutare exercise will start today (Friday) and is being led by the wing's provincial secretary for commissar, Rinesu Chinamasa.Provincial youth secretary for administration, Victor Saunyama confirmed the development and said the move was also meant to prepare for President Mugabe's meeting with youths in the province this year. News / National by Staff reporter GOVERNMENT has embarked on a massive recruitment exercise despite committing to a freeze on new public service employment in a bid to woo voters ahead of the 2018 general elections.Treasury is operating in constrained fiscal space characterised by staggered civil service salary dates and little capital and social spending. Official figures show that salaries account for 93% of government revenues.The Zimbabwe Independent has learnt this week that government, which wants to give the impression it was fulfilling an election promise announced in the run-up to the 2013 polls, is on a drive to recruit police officers, soldiers, nurses and teachers in an attempt to save face.This came after the ruling Zanu-PF undertook to create 2,2 million jobs after being voted into power in 2013.The Independent understands that government is on a drive to recruit up to 10 000 police officers before the polls.The proposed recruitment is in line with the Zimbabwe Republic Police's request to the Police Service Commission for an upward review of its human resource requirement from the existing 50 000 to 75 000.The ZRP argued the recruitment of 25 000 officers would address the "manpower deficit emanating from the dynamic police environment and increased demand of police service in the country".Government officials say the proposal has been forwarded to cabinet for approval.Government has also unfrozen over 2 000 nurses and 250 doctors' posts while next month it will be recruiting 2 300 teachers who are going to be the first batch of the "urgently required" personnel to offset a 7 000-vacancy deficit.Minister of Public Service Prisca Mupfumira yesterday said she could not comment on any issues as she was outside the country on government business.However, in a in a recent interview with state media Mupfumira said the 2 300 teachers will be recruited ahead of the opening of schools for second term to enable the full implementation of the new curriculum recently introduced by the Education ministry.In June last year, Education minister Lazarus Dokora, indicated that about 10 000 teachers and headmasters could be recruited as a move to address the shortage of educators in schools.While independent estimates show that over 80% of the population is unemployed, critics say this plan could hamper Treasury's plan to comply with recommendations from the International Monetary Fund.Sources said this was a counter-strategy to a ploy by the opposition MDC to widely criticise government's failure to deliver jobs ahead of next year's general elections.Thousands of workers have been thrown onto the streets after several firms closed shop while many others became jobless after companies scaled down operations following the July 17 2015 Supreme Court ruling which allowed employers to dismiss workers on three-month notice.Trade unions have estimated that around 30 000 workers were dismissed using the ruling while employers armed with a survey have argued that 9 115 workers were affected. News / National by Staff reporter AN AFFAIR between a married man and his colleague has ended in nasty fashion amid reports of violence.Since the collapse of their affair, Catherine Muwi and Basilio Zibwowa, who are both employees at the Central Vehicle Registration have been making counter violence accusation against each other.The collapse has dragged in another employee Nyasha who is also said to be having an affair with Basilio.H-Metro is in possession of WhatsApp and audio messages which reveal that Basilio and Catherine broke up when Basilio started having an affair with Nyasha.In an interview, Basilio said he is living in fear of Catherine's violence tendencies."If there is one thing I regret in my life, it is the decision I made of being in an affair with this woman because it has created a lot of problems for me right now."When we parted ways, she has been perpetrating all kinds of violence towards me. A few days ago she smashed my car's windscreen and whenever she sees me she insults me with obscenities."I ended the affair after realising that I wanted to focus more on my studies and also that I wanted to commit to my two wives whom I am married to."I also called it quits when Catherine had developed a habit of calling one of my wives insulting her as well as demanding money from her,' he said.Apart from violence accusations, Basilio said Catherine was also fabricating stories to have him arrested."I am having sleepless night at home because this woman is also making false criminal accusations against me."Police have contacted me over different allegations which Catherine would have forged just to get me arrested."There is a rape case where she influenced a young woman whom I see as my own daughter to lie to the police that I had raped her."The young woman later confessed that she had been influenced to say it by Catherine."She also gave a tip off to the police accusing me of reselling command agriculture inputs which I received from the government."The police later found out her claims were not true when I showed them the inputs," he said.Catherine said Basilio was bitter because she is claiming maintenance for the upkeep of their child."I sired a child with him and what is troubling him is the fact that the court awarded me US$50 as maintenance from him for the upkeep of our child."We have both been violent towards each other but I have never lodged any false accusations against him with the police."The woman whom he raped was the one who came to me and opened up about what he was doing to her," said Catherine. Each month, a University of Virginia Health System geriatrician will discuss common health questions and challenges faced by seniors. This months topic: Delirium. There are many different causes and types of memory loss. Over the next few months, well explore different types of memory loss, including depression, dementia and delirium. Q. What is delirium? A. Delirium is a type of sudden change in cognition, or mental functioning, that can occur in people with acute medical illness or who are in the hospital. The risk for delirium increases as we age, or if we have had any previous brain injuries. People with delirium have decreased attention spans and new or worsened memory issues over hours or even days. Q. How do we fix delirium? A. Scientists and physicians dont know exactly what causes delirium. We know it occurs frequently in older patients, with increased risk during hospitalization. The main treatment for delirium is to fix the illness that first led to the delirium. For example, if someone becomes ill with pneumonia and develops delirium, then the best treatment is to treat the pneumonia while also not making the delirium worse. Talk with your doctors about minimizing medications that can worsen delirium, making sure you are well-hydrated and eating well, are not constipated, have good pain control and are getting regular sleep. These sound simple, but are very important to decrease the duration of delirium. Q. How long does delirium last? A. Delirium is usually a reversible cause of memory loss. However, after treating the other illnesses, delirium can last anywhere from days to months. Delirium typically improves over a few days, but there can be effects that can linger for months. Its important to talk with your doctor about any lasting effects of delirium and what changes may need to be made to help with your daily activities. Q. How can we prevent delirium? A. While we cant completely prevent delirium, there are ways to make it less likely when we get sick or go into the hospital. Talk to your doctor about your current medicines to make sure none of them put you at risk for delirium and other ways to prevent delirium. If you are noticing signs of delirium in yourself or a loved one, talk with your doctor or a geriatrician to learn more. Next months topic: Depression. Dr. Laurie R. Archbald-Pannone is a geriatrician and assistant professor of medicine at University of Virginia Health System. To schedule an appointment with a UVa geriatrician, call (434) 964-1333. Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA offers Puppy Kindergarten from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays through June 12, Dog Obedience 101 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays from May 11 to June 15, Junior Volunteer Training on the first Saturday of the month, Adult Volunteer Training on the first and third Saturday and third Wednesday of the month, Foster Training on the second Saturday of the month and Rummage Store Volunteer Training on the fourth Wednesday of the month. 3355 Berkmar Drive. (434) 973-5959. Gordon Avenue Library presents Whats in Your Attic? with the staff of Quinns Auction Gallery at noon Monday. (434) 296-5544. Orange County holds a Contractor Workshop for Responsible Land Disturbers and Erosion Control Inspectors from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Town of Orange Public Works building at 235 Warren St. in Orange. Register in advance at (540) 825-8591. Piedmont Virginia Community College accepts registration for the KidsCollege at CATEC, PVCCs summer STEM technical academies, which will meet in June. Details are available at pvcc.edu/kidscollege. (434) 961-5354. Piedmont Virginia Community College offers Getting Started information sessions for prospective students from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Buckingham County High School, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 6 during Old Farm Day at Pleasant Grove Park in Palmyra and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 6 at the Annual Community Extravaganza at Betty J. Queen Intergenerational Center in Louisa. Additional sessions will be held in May. pvcc.edu/outreach. (434) 961-5275. Piedmont Virginia Community College offers information sessions for veterans and service members interested in attending PVCC and registering for summer and fall semester classes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 11, 18 and 25 at 501 College Drive. pvcc.edu/veterans. (434) 961-5282. Senior Center holds a seminar on long-term care insurance from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday and begins square dancing lessons for beginners from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays. 1180 Pepsi Place. (434) 974-7756. News / National by Staff reporter The Namibian president Dr Hage Geingob, praised President Robert Mugabe for spearheading the adoption of the industrial trade policy during his tenure as SADC chairman."Namibia is making efforts to eradicate barriers in conducting business. Furthermore we have also adopted plans on the ease of doing business to make it simple for investors to open businesses in our country," added Dr Geingob.Dr Geingob said this while officially opening the 58th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) currently underway in Bulawayo.He said the good rains in the entire SADC region are going to improve economies adding that Zimbabwe is poised for bumper harvest.Dr Geingob highlighted that there is need to break barriers to the movement of goods in SADC, remove barriers in the movement of people adding that in Namibia, they have scrapped Visas for all Africans holding official diplomatic passports and ordinary visitors will get their visas on arrival in the country."It must be noted that no country will ever be able to address industrialisation on its own and we must therefore embrace regional economic development breaking down barriers within SADC and Africa to foster development in areas which can bring about an improvement in our economies," he says.He also said there is need to deal with diminishing levels of trust between governments and the people as well as businesses and customers.Doctor Geingob said Namibia is an attractive investment destination describing it as a gateway to Africa through the Walvis Bay adding that his country is also a gateway to Southern Africa."Namibia is making efforts to eradicate barriers in conducting business. Furthermore we have also adopted plans on the ease of doing business to make it simple for investors to open businesses in our country," added Dr Geingob.President Geingob said there are many reasons why Namibia is a favourable investment destination and has invited Zimbabweans to visit his country to hear and see for themselves."Namibia is making efforts to eradicate barriers in conducting business. Furthermore we have also adopted plans on the ease of doing business to make it simple for investors to open businesses in our country," added Dr Geingob.Dr Geingob has commended the Government of Zimbabwe for the sterling effort in encouraging people to invest in the neighbouring countries. A Petersburg man is in Charlottesville police custody in connection to a shooting near Water Street this past weekend. Kevin Lee Grace, 22, faces charges of brandishing a firearm, discharging a firearm in or around a school and possession or transport of a firearm by a convicted felon. Police said Grace was charged with discharging a firearm near a school because the incident occurred within 1,000 feet of the Jefferson School City Center. City authorities said officers responded to a disorder between two men at 9:30 p.m. April 22 in the 200 block of West Water Street. One man brandished a firearm at the other, who then walked off. At some point during the exchange, the man fired his weapon into the air. No injuries or damages were reported, but one spent cartridge was recovered from the scene. Grace is currently being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. RICHMOND Dominion executives are confident the Atlantic Coast Pipeline is headed to federal approval and the beginning of construction by fall, but opponents are sounding a new alarm about potential dangers to mountain ridges in the project's path through western Virginia. The contrasting narratives collided on Thursday, as leaders of the company proposing to build the 600-mile natural gas pipeline held a news conference touting its benefits an hour before a coalition of environmental groups publicly warned of dire effects on the mountain ranges it would cross. Diane Leopold, president and chief executive officer of Dominion Energy, said the $5.1 billion project "continues to move forward on all fronts." Leopold cited as examples "favorable" assessment of the project by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in its draft environment impact statement, as well as preliminary endorsement by the U.S. Forest Service of a plan to drill through the Blue Ridge Mountains beneath the Appalachian Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway. "We believe the process has worked and it will lead to final approval this fall," she said. But environmental groups contended less than an hour later that construction of the 42-inch-wide pipeline would partially remove mountaintops along 38 miles of ridges in Virginia and West Virginia, creating the equivalent of 247,000 truckloads of leftover rock and dirt, called overburden, and causing damage to slopes that the company cant repair. "Dominion plans to build its pipeline right along the ridge lines of some of the steepest mountains in the Appalachians, says the report, by the Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition, Appalachian Mountain Advocates, the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and the Friends of Nelson. That work will require creating a wide and flat surface for earth moving and trenching machines, a process the groups likened to decapitating the mountains. When youre blasting and breaking up all the rocks on these mountains it really expands greatly in volume, said Ben Luckett, an attorney with Appalachian Mountain Advocates. You cant just stack it back up. Its not stable at all. What you have is an incredible amount of excess spoil. Dominion spokesman Aaron Ruby pushed back against the assertion that the project would require "mountaintop removal," a term usually applied to strip mining for coal and other minerals. "These groups have grossly exaggerated what our construction activity is going to look like on ridgetops," Ruby said. "They deliberately use loaded terms like 'mountaintop removal' to mislead the public about what we're doing." Dominion officials said they plan to temporarily flatten steep terrain for work areas and then use the spoil primarily to restore the land to its original contour, an assertion that doesn't comfort Joyce Burton, a board member of the Friends of Nelson. Its not practicable to do it, Burton said. I dont think its at all likely that things are going to be returned to the way they were. The environmental groups estimated that construction of the pipeline would create "millions of cubic yards" of excess debris, which they say could increase the potential for landslides and wash sediment into streams. Rick Webb, coordinator of the Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition, said the analysis shows that pipeline construction would remove 19 miles of mountain ridge in Virginia, including 2 miles in the George Washington National Forest in Highland County that he said "will directly affect two of Virginias remaining native brook trout streams." The groups base their estimate of damage on the entire 125-foot-wide right-of-way for the pipeline corridor, as well as data on elevation, slope steepness and ridge line width. Dominion officials say they would blast only in a trench 8 feet wide and deep, as well as clearing for temporary work areas that later would be restored with the rock and other debris from construction. "There will not be '247,000 dump truck loads' of construction debris removed from the mountains," Leslie Hartz, Dominion's vice president for pipeline construction, said. Opinion / Columnist The City of Harare will with effect from 30 April 2017, cancel odious debt on fixed water charges accruing on rights-holders' water accounts for a period spanning July 2013 up to February 2017. The total amount that each household will be credited amounts to US$138-00. This development was announced by Mr Mwaziya at a community meeting organized jointly by Community Water Alliance and Zimrights yesterday 26 April 2017 at Area D Community Hall in Mabvuku.The long time efforts by Community Water Alliance on debt justice in the water sector had found policy backing through the October 2014 City of Harare Full Council Resolution to write-off fixed water charges for households that have not received water for a period of four consecutive years and more.Some households in Mabvuku had already been issued with summons and were likely to lose property due to "purported" debt that is not audited and inclusive of the scrapped fixed water charges. The timely intervention of Community Water Alliance para-legal committee helped in entering of an Appearance to Defend and Defendant's Pleas. Zimrights' engagement will help relieve rights-holders who have been issued Assumption of Agency papers by Alec Muchadehama and Partners who is now representing the City of Harare. There are other households in Mufakose, Budiriro, Kambuzuma, Glen-View whose water meters have been removed more than four years ago as "punishment" for non-payment and have also lost private property as a result of ignorance on responding to summons issued by the Local Authority.Mabvuku residents experience un-availability of potable water with some households enduring water cuts from 1994 to date. Section 77(a) of Constitution Amendment No. 20 accords the citizens of Zimbabwe the human right to water. Zimbabwe is a signatory to General Comment 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which states that every person has a right to accessible, available, acceptable and quality potable water.Community Water Alliance celebrates the precedence set in Mabvuku and will engage Harare Water to ensure that isolated households in Mufakose, Budiriro, Kambuzuma, Glen-View, Hatcliff and Borrowdale benefit from the exercise. The Alliance implores City of Harare to consider cases where residents lost property through Messenger of Court Writ of Execution of Judgment, especially on households without water for decades and where the US$138.00 fixed water charges contributed to odious debt birthing legal action. Restorative justice should not be ignored. Opinion / Columnist Zimbabwe is in a serious economic and political mess brought on by nearly four decades of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption by this corrupt and tyrannical Mugabe led dictatorship. And, it must be said, we, the people of Zimbabwe, have allowed the tyrant to destroy the country's economy and riding roughshod over our rights, dreams and human dignity. If there is one common thread that Zimbabweans have in common, it is so strong and deeply embedded in our psycho it might as well be in our DNA, it is our defeatist inaptitude.Although there was all the evidence than Mugabe is an incompetent, corrupt and murderous tyrant by the mid 1980s; the national economy was already in decline because of his failed "scientific socialism" policies of reckless spending. By 1987 the tyrant has murdered over 20 000 innocent Zimbabweans in his single-minded drive to completely destroy PF Zapu, the only other political party of note in the country, to create his de facto one-party (Zanu PF) cum one-man (Robert Mugabe) dictatorship. And yet the people still did nothing to remove this corrupt and murderous tyrant from power because they had convinced themselves that they are totally helpless to do so.It was not until the late 1990s that a national political consensus finally emerged, demanding democratic change; changes designed to uproot the country's tyrannical dictatorship and replace it with a democratic system and restore individual freedoms and rights.The people risked life and limp to elect Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends on the ticket they will bring about the democratic changes the country so desperately needed. Hundreds of thousands if not millions were beaten and/or raped and over 500 murdered by Mugabe party and state sponsored thugs in 2008 alone; collective punishment for voting for MDC.In the last 20 years, MDC have had many opportunities, with the golden opportunity being during the GNU, to deliver on the democratic changes. MDC failed to get even one reform implemented in 5 years of the GNU.SADC leaders, who were the guarantor of the agreement that produced the GNU, tried their best to remind Morgan Tsvangirai to implement the reforms but were ignore. After Zanu PF rigged July 2013 election, the regional leaders castigated Tsvangirai & co. for "enjoying themselves whilst they were in the GNU and forgetting why they were there!" in sheer frustration.If the first 20 years of our independence was characterised by our defeatist indifference then the years that followed can be characterised by our knack to waste time and treasure on "puny dog's fart" trivia, as the late Chinua Achebe would put it, while ignoring the real big life and death problems destroying the people and the country."What kind of power was it if everybody knew that it would never be used? Better to say that it was not there, that it was no more than the power in the anus of the proud dog who tried to put out a furnace with his puny fart." Advised the great African intellectual Chinua Achebe in his book Arrow of God.Of course, Tsvangirai's "puny dog's fart" has failed to bring about any meaningful in the country. If the people of Zimbabwe were diligent and not in a comatose of the living dead then they would be joining Zimbabwe's musical guru, Thomas Mapfumo, and asking Tsvangirai how much longer is the nation going to wait for the democratic changes?"Kwapura makore mangani, takamira zvakatuura? Haridzo yenyu, zviroto kani? (How many years have passed, whilst we continue to wait for what you promised? Are your promises day-dreaming?) sang Mapfumo.Sadly, it is not just Tsvangirai who is given to waste time and treasure in applying puny dog's fart to put out the country's raging political inferno. Stopping Zanu PF rigging the next elections and make sure they are free, fair and credible is the biggest challenge the country is facing right now.Some people have wasted a lot of time talking about the proposed Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) system. These people accept that ZEC itself has failed to deliver free and fair elections because it is corrupt to the core. What these people failed to get into their thick heads is the futility of concentrating on the new BVR kits whilst doing nothing to reform ZEC itself. The system is only as good as the people operating.Events on the ground are already confirming futility of concentrating on the BVR kit whilst doing nothing to stop the regime's many vote rigging tactics; Zanu PF operative are reportedly telling the rural people the party will know how they voted using the new BVR system."While Zimbabwe Yadzoka is doing its part in educating people on BVR, our efforts alone are not enough and need to be complemented. We call upon all civic movements as well as opposition parties under the banner of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA) to quickly work on this situation. Failure to do so, Zanu (PF) will steal the 2018 elections through misinforming people," said Dr Victor Chimhutu, leader of the pressure group Zimbabwe Yadzoka/Mayibuye iZimbabwe.Zanu PF has total control of every aspect of the whole voter registration, the voters roll, knows the names of all who voted in each polling station, votes in each polling station are counted there, etc. One does not have to be a rocket scientist to that how someone voted under these conditions. Our Dr Victor Chimhutu and all his NERA friends' voter education is the self-indulgence of the boastful dog!"You have stolen elections before but not now, not ever. We challenge ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) and Rita Makarau to urgently implement electoral reforms," NERA Youth Forum chairperson, Tawanda Kalonga said.All stupid grand standing talk. Zanu PF bigwigs have already made it clear that the party was not going to "reform themselves out of office". So Tawanda is instructing Rita Makarau to implement reforms is total defiance of Zanu PF and Mugabe himself.So, the rural populous finally sleep ease, the days of being frog marched are over. Zanu PF thugs, wherever they are shaking in the boots because the great Tawanda, chairperson of NERA youth forum has spoken: "You have stolen elections before but not now, not ever"! Yeah right!Zimbabwe is not going to get out of this political and economic hell-hole by trusting the proverbial puny dog's fart to put out the forest fire. Zimbabweans earn a misery $200 per year according to recent AfrAsia report making us the poorest people in Africa. If people think we have hit rock bottom, things can get even worse; we soon run out of goats to pat school fees, prostitution and crime are going up and threat of street protest and worse are hanging over the nation's head.We are in this mess because we have always sort the easiest solution to our problem of bad governance; the defeatist indifference and now the puny dog's fart. Meanwhile the Mugabe dictatorship has grown in strength and influence and with each lost opportunity to end the dictatorship the task has become that much more difficult. Getting Zanu PF to accept democratic reforms is today a monumental task, there is no question about that; what matters here is accepting that there is no other way out but to grasp the thorny bush or drown! I learn of another black-on-black murder along with the reality of drug sales in predominantly black neighborhoods, which rob parents of their parenthood and children of their childhood, not to mention the domino effect it has on society as a whole. These actions appear to be accepted by us black people. Yet when an offensive statement is made by a white restaurant owner, or a statue of nearly 100 years old offends some of us, or blacks are killed by someone of a different race, we appear to pull together. I dont see the marches for the young black man who was murdered by another black man. I dont see the marches for predominantly black neighborhoods that are being flooded with drugs by black drug dealers. How can we as black people say black lives matter when it appears we are doing the majority of the killing of one another? Are we sending a message that says its alright for us to kill one another, along with selling drugs to one another? It is my belief that people are individuals and do what they feel in order to get ahead. In some cases, we use our race to decry any type of unfair treatment when it actually has nothing to do with our race. It could be individual attitude or conduct (this goes for any race). Now we argue about a man and a horse, talking about the destruction that he brought forth more than 150 years ago. Where are the arguments for the destruction that we as a people are bringing on ourselves today? All lives matter, and until we pull together as the human race and show love and concern for one another, we will always be looking to point the finger of blame elsewhere. Ryal Thomas, Charlottesville Opinion / Columnist WATCHING President Robert Mugabe ungainly walking in public or labouring through some turgid and soporific prepared text - often with slurred speech - evokes different emotions ranging from sympathy, astonishment to ridicule.For some his old-age frailty arouses some pity, yet for others shock and derision.Eyewitnesses who saw Mugabe arrive in Bulawayo for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair this week spoke of a tired and frail president who now carries himself around, with the help of his wife or aides, in a laboured way; suggesting declining years and old age complications have now really caught up with him.Even though Mugabe - a vociferous and sabre-rattling strongman in his heyday - lives in denial and wants to pretend he has the endurance of immortality, the rules of biology in the end will prevail. So instead of feigning indestructibility, Mugabe should be retiring for his own good; that of his family and the nation.It is now embarrassing for him to be wobbling around claiming to be resilient and immortal when everyone can see that he is no longer managing. He is struggling badly with old-age problems and ill-health; he is now clearly too frail and unfit to govern. No one can defy the laws of nature.Picture this: last week's Independence Day commemoration in Harare was supposed to be the most important occasion on Zimbabwe's annual political calendar, but for thousands who attended the sorry spectacle of an ailing Mugabe is what would have remained etched on their minds. He battled to move around and even struggled to light the Independence flame. It was a pitiful sight for many.A video demonstrating Mugabe's frailty went viral on social media platforms.Mugabe has dismally failed to resolve not only the national crisis, but also his succession conundrum. Zanu-PF is currently in turmoil because the centre can no longer hold.I read an interesting op-ed piece last year in the Washington Post by Erica Frantz and Andrea Kendall-Taylor about dictators becoming incapacitated or dying in power.Their research showed there are 55 authoritarian leaders in power throughout the world. Eleven of them are 70 years old or above, and they are in varying stages of declining health. Most of these ageing dictators, including Mugabe (93), have been in power for decades.They said on the face of it this paints a hopeful picture for democracy advocates, who have recently documented a slow but steady authoritarian resurgence. Surely, they said, the fact that 20% of the world's autocracies face the spectre of succession provides an opportunity for new democracies to emerge - or does it?Alternatively, they added, perhaps the number of ageing and ailing dictators is a cause for concern. Some fear the deaths of these longtime leaders will spark deadly succession infighting or instability that could plunge their countries into chaos.The fact that most of this ageing cohort, such as Algeria's Abdelazziz Bouteflika, Cameroon's Paul Biya, and Sudan's Omar al-Bashir, has yet to identify a political successor, seems to give credence to these concerns.The authors said both perspectives seem plausible - but their research shows that there is little merit to either of them. In a review of 79 dictators who have died in office from 1946 to 2014, they found that the death of a dictator almost never ushers in democracy. Nor does it typically bring down the regime. Instead, in the vast majority (92%) of cases, the regime persists after the autocrat's death.The deaths of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela in 2013, Meles Zenawi in Ethiopia in 2012, and Kim Jong Il in North Korea in 2011, illustrate this trend. Compared with other forms of leadership turnover in autocracies - such as coups, elections, or term limits - which lead to regime collapse about half of the time, the death of a dictator is remarkably inconsequential. Worrying, isn't it? Opinion / Columnist Scores of Zimbabweans have reacted angrily to South Africa (SA)'s Police minister Fikile Mbalula's statement that Zimbabwean soldiers were the ones perpetrating most crimes in his country.Politicians and the generality of the people fear Mbalula's remarks could trigger xenophobic attacks against fellow citizens living in the neighbouring country.Early this week, Mbalula claimed soldiers leave the military in Zimbabwe and find their way to SA where they commit crimes, rob, terrorise and kill."Yes, they are from Zimbabwe. There are people who come from Zimbabwe, who run away from the military and they come and promote criminality in South Africa," he said."That is the truth. Why shouldn't I tell that truth? There are Zimbabwean ex-soldiers who are in this country, robbing banks, promoting criminality," he went on."They come into this country - they rob, they terrorise, and they kill. That's what they do. So we arrest them. We have got them." Mbalula said, urging members of the South African Police Service to toughen their stance against criminals in the country.He further said: "They (soldiers) are running away from uncle Bob (Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe) there"."Zimbabweans are working for us in this country. Very good Zimbabweans. They are working in our kitchens, they are everything, highly educated people. If there is anything that . . . Mugabe did was to educate his people. The people working in your kitchens are doctors. They are more educated than you. They are from Zimbabwe."This has since sparked a diplomatic row. In reaction, Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo described Mbalula's statement as disturbing."Quite concerning, to say the least. Sadly, the unhelpful language used smacks of pub talk with all the tragic trappings of afrophobia!" Moyo wrote on his Twitter account.Opposition People's Democratic Party leader and former Finance minister Tendai Biti said the blame falls squarely on Mugabe's shoulders and his Zanu-PF government, which he accused of ruining the lives of Zimbabweans."It is Zanu and not SA that has created the mess in Zim. Collective anger must thus be directed at #Mugabe and the predatory State he has created," Biti - a lawyer by profession - said on Twitter.Zimbabwe Congress of Teachers Union Raymond Majongwe weighed in saying: "Comrade Fikile Mbalula. Hau baba. Ummm is that fact or fiction?"Respected civil society leader Brian Kagoro said Mbalula's statement were reckless."Every country in the world has criminal elements. Statistically, it is not correct that the majority of robbers in SA jails are Zimbabweans," he said.Another citizen Tamara Mutowa said: "Collective anger of any sensible Zimbabwean must be directed at @fikilembalula right now, ndookufarisa chaiko uku (that's unacceptable)".Lawyer Munyaradzi Bwanya also took to Facebook saying Mbalula's statements lacked objective interrogation."Once the tantrums are over, Mbalula's position deserves objective interrogation. I am of the view that every Zimbabwean knows at least one person who is legally in SA and lawfully plying a trade in SA."Every Zimbabwean also knows at least one person who is in SA illegally and cannot account for their survival in that country; that relative or friend who cannot come home for funerals or Xmas because mapepa haana kumira mushe (the papers are not in order) Is Mbalula the problem . . .?"The South African government, through its Twitter account said it was wrong to assume the foreign nationals were responsible for the crimes in SA."The stereotype that foreign nationals perpetrate crime is not only wrong but also dangerous as it only inflames tensions," the South African government wrote. Opinion / Columnist AFTER being in power for 39 years, the Kenya African National Union (Kanu) was defeated in the 2002 elections after opposition parties formed the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc), an electoral pact to rally behind one presidential candidate Mwai Kibaki.Kibaki defeated Daniel arap Moi's preferred successor, Uhuru Kenyatta, ending almost four decades of rule by Kanu - a former liberation war movement.The idea of an electoral pact among opposition political parties in Kenya was necessitated by the electoral experiences of 1992 and 1997. In 1992, Moi polled a paltry 36,6%, but still cruised to victory because the opposition had split the vote. The opposition had a combined vote of 63,4%.In 1997, again Moi romped to victory after polling 40,4%, while the opposition again shared 59,6% of the total vote.In both elections the opposition parties lost to Kanu even though it was evident that the former liberation movement had become unpopular. The opposition parties realised that a coalition could easily dislodge Kanu from power given its numbers in previous elections.Zimbabwean opposition parties seem to be following in the footsteps of their Kenyan counterparts, after failing to defeat Zanu-PF in polls since independence in 1980, except in 2008 when MDC-T won by one seat.Kenya and Zimbabwe share a similar political history where the two nations were born out of a liberation struggle.Kenya's independence came after the Mau Mau led a liberation struggle against British colonialism, while Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF and Zapu also fought for independence from Britain.After close to four decades under Zanu-PF rule, opposition political parties are on the verge of forming a coalition to rally behind one presidential candidate, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, in a watershed 2018 election.The coalition comes in the backdrop of the opposition's lack of appetite to unite in previous elections despite public demands and pressure.Had Tsvangirai formed a coalition with Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn leader Simba Makoni ahead of the 2008 polls, the opposition could have easily defeated President Robert Mugabe in the first round of the presidential election.Tsvangirai polled 47,9%, Mugabe (43,2%), Makoni (8,3%), while an independent candidate Langton Towungana polled 0,6%.The opposition had a combined vote of 56,8% which would have been enough for a coalition candidate to win the presidential election outright, avoiding a run-off.Tsvangirai has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with National People's Party (NPP) leader Joice Mujuru and the MDC's Welshman Ncube to pave way for coalition negotiations.Addressing journalists after signing the agreement with Mujuru, a former Zanu-PF heavyweight who at one time was favourite to succeed Mugabe, Tsvangirai said his party would sign similar deals with other opposition parties."We have chosen this day to take the first step to bring all Zimbabweans under one roof so that we can work together to remove this unmitigated repression and misgovernance that pervades our lives," he said."I am pleased to inform the nation that today we have signed a memorandum of understanding with Joice Mujuru of the NPP to establish a pre-election alliance en route to the establishment of a coalition government, which shall drive a comprehensive democratisation and transformation agenda. "This is just the beginning of the building blocks towards establishing a broad alliance to confront Zanu-PF between now and the next election in 2018. Similar arrangements will be entered into with other political formations and we will inform you as it happens, as we have done today."Questions are being raised whether Zimbabwe has reached its Kenya moment. There are also questions as to whether the coalition would be able to defeat Zanu-PF, considering the party's use of state instruments, particularly the military, to remain in power.Political analyst Vince Musewe said Zimbabwe has reached its "kairos moment" (God's appointed time to act)."There is no doubt that we have all now accepted that we need a different approach to our elections," Musewe said. "A coalition is not the panacea, but a critical step to begin to create a different formula. After all, we all want the same thing and if we have unity of purpose and critical reforms we can certainly see the change we want to see in this lifetime."A united front against Zanu-PF has its advantages insofar as avoiding splitting the vote is concerned. The 2008 experience in which an opposition coalition could have easily won the presidential elections has been a learning point.In 2013, opposition parties expended a lot of energy fighting amongst themselves rather than uniting to fight for electoral reforms. Zanu-PF won the disputed elections, but analysts believe the opposition made it easy for it to steal the vote by fighting each other while the rigging machinery was at play.Analyst Rashweat Mukundu said while a coalition is a progressive idea, the opposition needs to push for electoral and security sector reforms so that the electoral victory can translate to a takeover of power."A coalition may get the numbers, but that is not equal to assuming power as we saw in 2008," Mukundu said."The security sector is a key determinant of electoral outcomes in Zimbabwe. In Kenya, the military has no influence in electoral processes and outcomes yet in Zimbabwe the security sector is a stumbling block that opposition groups need to deal with before elections."Mukundu said the military factor is a key determinant in electoral victory because the army and other security forces have perennially campaigned for Zanu-PF and Mugabe.Although this has been happening since 1980, the military's deployment on political campaigns intensified when Mugabe and Zanu-PF began facing serious problems beginning 2000 following the emergence of the opposition MDC.During the inclusive government era between 2009 and 2013 the need for security sector reforms loomed large, although Zanu-PF vehemently resisted it until it won the controversial 2013 elections."Any coalition has also a big task of handling the military whose relationship with Zanu-PF dates back to the liberation struggle," Mukundu said.Despite the need to deal with the repressive state apparatus, the coalition has a challenge in ensuring that it does not become what Mugabe calls "a pile of zeros". New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today rejected the RBI's intervention plea in the Tata-Docomo case while taking on record the terms of consent of the settlement between Japanese telecom major NTT Docomo and Tata Sons over the payment of USD 1.17 billion damages to the former. Justice S Muralidhar in his verdict rejected the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) intervention plea opposing the settlement as well as the damages awarded to Docomo by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). The court said it has given detailed directions in its judgement and disposed of the plea by Docomo seeking enforcement of the LCIA award. The court had reserved its verdict on March 15. Docomo and Tata had gone for arbitration as the Indian company was not able to find a buyer for the Japanese telecom major's 26.5 per cent stake in their joint venture, Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL), when it exited from it. Under the shareholding agreement between them, on Docomo's exit from the venture within five years, Tata was to find a buyer who would purchase the Japanese company's stake at minimum 50 per cent of the acquisition price, which came to around Rs 58.45 per share. The other option was Tata purchasing the shares at the fair market value, which was Rs 23.44. However, this was not acceptable to Docomo and it had opted for arbitration. Thereafter, the LCIA in June 2016 awarded damages of USD 1.17 billion in favour of Docomo for Tata's inability to find a buyer as per the shareholding agreement. Docomo had moved the Delhi High Court for enforcement of the award after Tata cited refusal of permission by the RBI to make the payment. The RBI, during the proceedings, had contended that once it had denied permission for transferring the money overseas, the issue had attained finality. It had said that till date, its decision has not been challenged. The RBI, in its intervention application, had contended that the shareholding agreement was illegal and objected to the award of damages. It had said that Docomo's shares in TTSL be purchased only at the fair market value. The Indian central bank had later also opposed the settlement arrived at between Tata and Docomo. Under the settlement agreement between the two companies, Tata and Docomo had decided to settle their two-year-old dispute regarding TTSL with the Indian company withdrawing its objections to the enforcement of the award. Tata had already deposited USD 1.17 billion with the high court. The Japanese company in turn had said it will "suspend its related enforcement proceedings in the United Kingdom and the United States" for a period of six months. Revenue is expected to grow 5.2 per cent to eight trillion yen. Tokyo: Sony said Friday it expects net profit in the current fiscal year to more than triple owing mainly to gains in its smartphone component business, while the PlayStation console division also boosted its fortunes. The company said it is on track for a net profit of 255 billion yen ($2.3 billion) in the year beginning April 1, well up from 73.29 billion yen from the just-ended period. Sony's annual operating profit was on track to hit 500 billion yen, surging about 73 per cent from a year ago and closing in on a record hit in the late nineties. Revenue is expected to grow 5.2 per cent to eight trillion yen, backed by strong sales of image sensors which are key components in smartphone cameras as well as other electronics. Sony has struggled through a painful restructuring that has included layoffs and asset sales after years of huge losses. New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today promised not to spring any surprises in fixing tax rates under the new GST regime, saying they will not be "significantly different" from current levels. He, however, said companies should pass on to consumers the benefit of reduction in taxes under GST which will eliminate the current compounding effect of different central and state levies. The GST Council, headed by Jaitley and comprising representatives of all the states, is scheduled to meet in Srinagar on May 18-19 to finalise tax rates on different goods and services after unifying at least 10 indirect taxes into the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Speaking at CII's Annual Meeting, he said rules and regulations governing GST have all been framed. "We are now in final stages of fixing tariffs for different commodities. "The formula under which it is being done has also been explained and therefore nobody is going to be taken by surprise, it's not going to be very significantly different (from present)," he said. The GST Council has finalised four rate categories of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent after unifying levies like central excise, service tax and VAT. Fitment will be done by adding the total incidence of current taxation (central plus state levies) and then putting the good or service in the tax bracket closest to it. Jaitley said the GST Council has so far had 13 meetings and has never had to resort to voting to decide on any issue. "And therefore all states representing different political complexions, have all agreed (on GST structure)," he said. The Finance Minister said the Council is of the opinion that any benefit accruing from lower tax rates under GST should be passed on to consumers. "Profit is not a bad word...but unfair enrichment is. And therefore the benefit of reduction in taxation is a benefit that consumers are entitled to. And that's not a principle that can be seriously contested," he said. The GST laws approved by Parliament have incorporated an anti-profiteering provision to ensure that the reduction of tax incidence is passed on to the consumers. Mumbai: Accused for plotting the murder of director Madhur Bhandarkar against whom she had earlier filed a rape case, the city civil and sessions court today convicted model Preeti Jain to three years in jail and also imposed a fine of Rs10,000. She has been accused of hiring gangsters to eliminate director Bhandarkar in 2005. She was convicted along with other two other accused. Immediately after the ruling, Jain sought suspension of sentence. She had allegedly given a 'supari' of 75, 000 rupees to a gangster of the Arun Gaali gang in September 2005 to eliminate Bhandarkar. A case was registered on September 10, 2005. Jain had earlier in July 2004 lodged a complaint alleging that Bhandarkar had raped her several times between 1999 and 2004 under the pretext of marrying her and casting her as an actress in his movies. Mumbai: Rishi Kapoor, who is known for his outspoken nature, went on a Twitter rant to show his displeasure over current ' generation stars' not attending the funeral of yesteryear's superstar Vinod Khanna. In a series of tweets, the 64-year-old-actor showed his disappointment at the film fraternity for attending the funeral in such small numbers. He started his rant by saying, "Shameful. Not ONE actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect." He did not stop there and said that he is very angry at today's "so-called stars" for attending Priyanka Chopra's event on Wednesday night in big numbers, but not Vinod Khanna's funeral. The veteran actor tweeted, "Why this? Including mine and thereafter. When I die, I must be prepared. None will shoulder me. Very very angry with today's so called stars. Angry. Met so many chamcha people last night at Priyanka Chopra's do last night. Few at Vinod's. So fuckn transparent. So angry with them. (sic)" When asked about his son Ranbir Kapoor and wife Neetu Kapoor, who are currently not in the country he said, "Yes it has been expressed earlier on social media my wife and Ranbir are out of the country. Would never had been reason not to be there. (sic)" The B-Town celebrities who attended the funeral ceremony include Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Jackie Shroff, Dia Mirza, Arjun Rampal, Randeep Hooda and Chunkey Pandey among others. Bollywood icon Vinod Khanna breathed his last on Thursday. The veteran actor was hospitalised and later discharged from HN Reliance Foundation and Research Centre in Girgaum, Mumbai due to severe dehydration. He was also reportedly battling cancer for years. Mumbai: After working together on numerous projects, a strong tie of friendship was bound to build between Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna and, going by the blog Big B wrote in honour of his now deceased friend of 48 years, it definitely had. The legendary actors, who worked in Amar Akbar Anthony, Parvarish, Khoon Pasina, Muqaddar Ka Sikander and a few more, bonded over late night drives to Juhu beach, booze and passion for cinema. In a heart-wrenching blog post, the Shahenshah of Bollywood reminisced the time he had spent with his swagger friend. First, he described how a chanced meeting with the late actor paved the path for a lifelong friendship and went on to narrate tales from their good old days. I first saw him entering the Ajanta Arts office in Bandra, of Sunil Dutt, where I was making my way to seek a job .. a most good looking handsome young man .. a body in elegant frame .. a swagger in his walk .. and a gentle smile as he looked towards me .. it was 1969 .. he was working in the Ajanta Arts film, Man ka Meet .. I was struggling to get a role, any role, anywhere ..In time we met again within the same precincts .. he and I were working in the same film of Dutt Saheb, Reshma aur Shera .. look trials in the office of the film .. travel and sittings on the story .. Thapa saheb, Ali Raza, Sukhdev and those all night meets, most novel for me .. my first brush with the way the film industry functioned .. the time for the shoot and the excitement of travel on a location in Jaisalmer .. the months we spent together and after .. driving in the scorching heat of the deserts of Rajasthan to the location, Pochina, in the sands of nowhere near civilisation .. living under one tent Vinod, Ranjit, Thapa Saheb, Ali Raza saheb about seven of us in the same tent .. then similar number at a make shift residence in the city of Jaisalmer Amrish Puri joining us in that room filled with all of us, living laughing, working .. carefree days .. the rigors of that location and its environs .. On return from the location his continued connect with me .. he a big star .. but always most humble with selfless concern for others .. the rides he would take me on, in his recently acquired Beetle VolksWagen, yellow in color .. his generosity in smuggling me into the only Disco Club in the city at the Taj, where he was a member, and I not even remotely in any state to become one .. his marriage to Geetanjali, whom he and we all fondly called Gitly .. the birth of his sons, Rahul and Akshay, whom he often brought on to the sets of AAA .., wrote Bachchan. The superstar also used an anecdote to describe their camaraderie and how he lent his support when Khannas father died. an incident at a restaurant in SoBo, where someone made a snide remark, and he took him on, getting knifed in the arm during the scuffle, but being victorious .. The sudden passing of his Father soon after our work together in Reshma .. I being with him in his hour of grief .. and then .. the amazing chemistry of the several historic films that we did together .. an association that was so loveable and considerate .. spending time in each others make up rooms, sharing our lunch, just biding time and talking of all kinds of talk .. the late shoot pack ups and the beyond midnight drives to Juhu Beach, to just sit with our directors and he to have a drink, and I mine ( I used to in those days ) .. A visibly hurt Bachchan went on to describe that one time he regrets injuring his dear friend in an unforgiving accident. He wrote: That guilt ridden incident when I had to fling a glass in a scene towards him and it accidentally hitting his chin, cutting him open right through to his teeth .. the remorse regret and guilt within me to date for that unforgiving accident .. rushing him to his doctor, late at night, getting stitched up, driving with him to his house to settle him in and to just keep apologising for this horrific accidental slip Towards the end, Bachchan winded up singing praises for the man who was more a friend than colleague to him. And this afternoon that association of 48 years came to an end This manthis body of enthused energy and giving .. this friend .. this colleague .. this ever smiling swagger infested individual, lay motionless ..No one walked the way he did .. no one had the presence he had in a crowded room .. no one could lighten up the surroundings he was in, like him ... no one .... Hurt, the megastar indeed is, for he left a promotional event midway when news of the yesteryear actors death broke. Here is what he wrote in his blog: Mumbai: On Wednesday, the Disneyland Resort in California just got more magical, thanks to Johnny Depp. The actor went to the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' ride at the resort dressed as his famous character Captain Jack Sparrow! Everyone was surprised, shocked and excited to see him. He acted exactly like his character in the movies, an eyewitness informed E! News. It was a surreal moment for everyone on our boat! Crazy experience, another person added. Depp repeated lines from the movie and also interacted with his fans. The fifth installment of the franchise, 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales', is set to release next month. New Delhi: Depression is world's leading illness and is one of the major reasons for suicides globally, says the World Health Organization (WHO). The story in India is no different. Everyone gets depressed at some point or other in life. On this note, there is a difference between feeling low for a short period and clinical depression. The good news is, clinical depression can be treated. Hence, according to Smita Sundararaman, the founder and managing director of NatureHealz, it's time to talk it out, instead of brushing it under the carpet. Sundararaman further explained that the stages of depression are not scientifically agreed upon. However, it is true that there are stages a depressed person goes through. This is the pattern they generally follow: - Depression is first characterized by denial followed by anger. People do not accept that they suffer from depression; they brush it off as just a low point in their life. Then they feel angry at the world and its injustices. They question why are they the ones picked to go through this suffering? - This stage is followed by personifying the depression and confronting it. This can include trying to strike bargains with it to make it leave or negotiating with it to leave you alone. - After this comes the lowest of the low - feeling so depressed that getting out of bed is a chore, getting dressed and going to work is impossible. You may keep thinking of death and how welcome it may be. At this stage, family members are genuinely worried and push you to take psychiatric treatment. - Acceptance is the last stage when you truly acknowledge that you have an illness and need to be treated. A life spent in this condition seems to be agony, and you know you need help. Mental illness is no longer a taboo word, but something to absorb, accept and treat. Diagnosing Depression- Various signs to look out for include: - Feeling depressed for almost the whole day, especially in the mornings after waking up - Feeling tired and low on energy daily - Indecisiveness - Low concentration - Feeling guilty and/or worthless constantly - Sleepless nights or too much sleeping almost daily - No pleasure or interest in any activities - Feeling restless or bogged down - Repeatedly thinking of dying and suicide - Marked increase or decrease in body weight Treating Depression: Most treatments like Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) or prescription drugs treat the symptoms of depression, not the cause. Relief is short-lived, and patients often relapse after some period. The only way to cure depression is 'naturally,' says Smita Sundararaman. Depression can be treated from the root by bringing about some lifestyle changes. Psychiatrists and therapists act as enablers in this process by helping you talk through the problems you face. Here is what you can do: - Reach out to people who matter and involve them in your cure. Suffering from depression is much harder when alone. Having trusted family and friends by your side can go a long way in speeding up your recovery. - Exercise regularly to boost secretion of feel-good hormones like serotonins and endorphins. Exercising also increases the growth of brain cells and synapses which are the connections in the brain. This helps you to fight out of depression. Aim to do at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, even if it just means going for a brisk walk. Getting your body moving may seem like the hardest thing in the world, but stick to it. - Sleep for at least seven to nine hours every night. This is the amount of sleep you need to rest your brain and body. Sadness, mood swings, fatigue, and irritability all increase if you are sleep-deprived. Sufficient sleep is an effective weapon to combat depression. - Take care of your nutrition. Eat small-sized balanced meals at regular intervals instead of a big, heavy meal. Avoid sugary foods even if they make you feel good momentarily. Complex carbohydrates are a better choice for gaining higher energy levels in the long run. Skip the coffee. Replace it with tulsi tea or infused water. - Natural anti-depressants like cashew nuts, turmeric in milk or food, bananas, whole grains, leafy vegetables should be considered before popping any prescription drugs. - Get plenty of sunlight. This ensures you get enough Vitamin D and helps you feel more cheerful too. Eliminate stress creators from your life, whether they exist in your work or personal life. - Naturopathy Therapies like foot bath and certain yoga asanas along with Pranayam can help you release the stress in your mind and body. - Try and relax after a day's work. Find your "me" time to connect with self. Spend time in nature away from gadgets. Do things you enjoy - get a massage, listen to music, play a sport, or spend time with your loved ones. It's all about finding the calm in the chaos! The boy from Udaipur scored 360/360 in the IIT JEE exam which is also the first time it has happened in the history of the exam. (Photo: Facebook/Twitter) Indian parents have always believed that academics is all that is required for their children to become successful. While high scores are really difficult to get for most children, some barely even pass their exams. An Udaipur boy has put everybody to shame by scoring the highest ever marks in the JEE exam that Pappu can only dream of and Sharmaji ka ladka will get jealous about. Kalpit Veerval became the first person ever to get a full score in the IIT JEE exam to get into an IIT in India. While high scores have been achieved previously, this feat certainly beat all of them including the famous fictional Sharmaji Ka Ladka and Twitter couldnt handle it so they came up with all sorts of funny reactions that cannot be ignored if you are pressured right now. When Sharmaji's son has got some serious competition Kalpit Veerval, the guy who has officially beaten "Sharmaji ke ladke ko" New benchmark set by parents shall be Veervalji ka ladka#JEE #IIT ilopamudra (@ilopamudra) April 27, 2017 When Sharmaji's son is still better than Veerval Kalpit Veerwal scored 360/360 i.e., 100% in JEE mains, creating a record. His parents: Woh dekho Sharma ji ke bete ki taraf. He scored 361. Furquan Moharkan (@imFmoharkan) April 28, 2017 Active participation in deciding the future wonder kid of India 2 mins for Sharma ji as he ll be replaced with Veerwal ji Congs Kalpit #JEEMain2017 Urbi Pal (@OnlyUrbi) April 28, 2017 Some even compared him to Akbar's favourite Veerval is this gen's beerbal .. :D Tarun Gaba (@TarunGaba4) April 27, 2017 And some just expressed the feelings of every non-performer in India Lt Col Prasad Purohit is an accused in bombing in Malegaon area of Maharashtra on September 29, 2008. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Malegaon blasts accused Lt Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit on Friday moved the Supreme Court for bail, after the Bombay High Court order rejecting it. While rejecting his bail on Tuesday, the High Court had said there are grave charges against Purohit and there is prima facie evidence against him. Purohit was arrested in November 2008 and was accused of helping in the formation of a right-wing outfit, Abhinav Bharat. According to National Investigation Agency (NIA), Purohit had allegedly taken part in conspiracy meetings and even agreed to arrange for the explosives to be used in the Malegaon blast. But Purohit claimed the NIA had dropped the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against him and those witnesses who gave statement under the MCOCA should not be considered while deciding the bail application. Purohit had argued that the NIA was selective in exonerating some accused persons and that the agency made him a scapegoat in the case. The court observed, At this prima facie stage, Purohits arguments that provisions of Unlawful Activity Prevention Act and conspiracy not applicable to him is not accepted. The court considered that the nature and gravity of the charges that were leveled against Purohit were serious and grave in nature. The court said that even if MCOCA had been dropped, the gravity of other charges like waging war against the country and charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Explosive Substances Act and Arms Act couldnt be ignored. The court considered that the punishment to which Purohit will be liable, on conviction, may extend to death or imprisonment for life. While rejecting the bail, the court said that already some of the witnesses had retracted the statements they had made before the ATS. Therefore, apprehension of tampering of evidence and threatening witness also cannot be called as unreasonable or groundless, it said. The court also rejected Purohits contention that he should be released on bail because the trial got delayed for eight years. Vadodara: Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia on Friday demanded that the government carry out "carpet bombing" in Kashmir Valley to stop the attacks on security forces by militants. "After attacks on Army camps in Uri and Kupwara, our government should carry out carpet bombing in Kashmir Valley area to stop such attacks. The attacks on Army camps and the incidents of stone-pelting should be considered as a war and the government should carpet bomb these areas," Togadia said on the sidelines of an event here on the occasion of Lord Parshuram Jayanti. Togadia, the international working president of VHP, urged the government to crack down on the militants who were "at war" with security forces. He said hostility between the civilians and Army personnel was on the rise in Kashmir. "It was time that we should not show any leniency and carpet bomb them, or else the enemy will spread to other states and talk of breaking the country into pieces," he said. He demanded review of the Rs 80,000 crore special development package for Jammu and Kashmir, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015. "This money should be used for welfare of farmers in the country as the condition of farmers in several states is very bad. Farmers are holding protests seeking waiving of farm loans. They are committing suicide," Togadia said. New Delhi: Keep your phones on "recording mode", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday advised the Aam Aadmi Party's newly-elected municipal councillors and warned them against "betraying the party" by falling into the BJP's trap. Addressing the councillors at his residence, Kejriwal administered them a pledge of "loyalty", a day after the BJP gained a decisive mandate in the Delhi civic polls and the AAP received a drubbing. "No anti-defection law governs the corporations. So the BJP will try to lure you away. Always keep your phones on recording mode so that you can expose such attempts later. They may even offer you Rs 10 crore as they have a lot of money," he said. The AAP chief said betraying the party and the movement, of which it is a product, would be tantamount to "betraying God". On Wednesday, the BJP retained control of all the three corporations, bagging 181 wards while the AAP could win just 48 wards. The national capital has a total of 272 wards. His repeated emphasis on loyalty comes at a time when voices of dissent are getting louder within the party against its official line on alleged manipulation of electronic voting machines being the sole reason behind its recent poll upsets. Flanked by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Dilip Pandey, who quit as the party's Delhi convenor on Wednesday, he stressed on the need for the councillors to maintain good rapport with volunteers and MLAs. He said volunteers are the backbone of the AAP and they should not be "turned away" when they come with requests to get things done. "Keep in mind that they come with requests of the people of their respective areas," the AAP chief said. Importantly, Kejriwal also advised them to take good care of the sanitation workers of the three civic bodies, describing them as an "exploited lot". The sanitation staff have repeatedly struck work over the last few years demanding timely payment of salaries from the cash-starved civic bodies, especially the East Delhi Corporation. AIADMK (Amma) leader TTV Dhinakaran was brought to Chennai on Thursday, two days after he was arrested by Delhi Police in connection with an alleged bribery case. (Photo: PTI) Chennai: AIADMK (Amma) leader TTV Dhinakaran, arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with a bribery case, was on Thursday brought to Chennai and searches were conducted at his residence in the city as part of the probe. Delhi Crime Branch police personnel led by Assistant Commissioner Sanjay Sherawat searched the residences of Dhinakaran and that of his associate Mallikarjuna, police sources said tonight. The police had secured warrants from a Delhi court to conduct the searches which were part of efforts to gather "further evidence" in the alleged attempt by Dhinakaran to bribe EC officials, they said. However, they did not state whether any seizures were made. Besides the two, others connected to them were also questioned over illegal channels and conduits used for sending money to Delhi from Chennai, the sources said. Earlier, the two were brought to Chennai by a flight around 1 pm by the Delhi police team, two days after their arrest in the case. Dhinakaran's supporters Pugazhenthi and Nanchil Sambath were at the airport when Dhinakaran arrived. Dhinakaran was arrested on the night of April 25 in Delhi following four days of questioning for allegedly attempting to bribe an unidentified EC official to get the undivided AIADMK's 'Two Leaves' election symbol for his faction. Police had earlier said alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrasekar, who was the first to be arrested, had struck a deal for Rs 50 crore to help the AIADMK (Amma) faction keep the 'two leaves' symbol. They had seized Rs 1.30 crore from Chandrasekar when he was arrested from a five-star hotel in Delhi on April 16. Dhinakaran has been accused of allegedly arranging the amount from undisclosed sources and getting it transferred from Chennai to Delhi through illegal channels. Mallikarjuna was arrested for allegedly helping Dhinakaran transfer this money from Chennai to Delhi, police had said. Police are also verifying whether Chandrasekar had approached any EC official for getting a favourable verdict for Dhinakaran's faction. Dhinakaran, who was appointed deputy general secretary by jailed AIADMK chief V K Sasikala, is facing a revolt by influential section of state ministers who have decided to keep the two out of party affairs. Kumar, who was on sentry duty, was hit by a bullet in the head but escaped death because of his protective gear. (Photo: PTI/Representational Image) Srinagar: Escaping death twice, he displayed exemplary bravery as he prevented three terrorists from causing greater damage after they stormed an army camp in Kupwara on Thursday. Gunner Rishi Kumar stopped the advancing terrorists, who had already killed a Captain and two other soldiers, from penetrating deeper into the camp which is located about 100 kms from Srinagar. Kumar, who was on sentry duty, was hit by a bullet in the head but escaped death because of his protective gear. Undeterred, the gunner of the Field Artillery Regiment, engaged the terrorists, killing two of them before he was injured by the third one who fled afterwards. "Gunner Rishi Kumar was on sentry duty when the fire fight (with militants) started. He observed the terrorists approach and waited for them to come within close range," the spokesman said while giving details of the 35-minute encounter this morning. "He then engaged them and was hit on his head but was saved by bullet proof patka," the spokesman said here. However, the whiplash of the impact caused the soldier to fall down, he said. "He immediately recovered and fired back to kill the two terrorists. Running out of ammunition, he moved out of his bunker and tried to pick the weapon of the slain terrorists to engage the third, who fired and injured him, thus managing to escape," the spokesman said. "During the incident, Rishi Kumar has shown the indomitable spirit of Indian soldier," he added. Interacting with media persons from his hospital bed in Srinagar, Kumar said, "When I saw the terrorists approaching me while firing, I took position, fired at them and killed two terrorists." Kumar, who hails from Ara in Bihar, has eight years of service in the army. In the attack, Captain Ayush Yadav and two soldiers were killed while five other soldiers were injured. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades during his ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades today held detailed discussion on bilateral and regional issues and agreed on the need for all countries to decisively act against states that shelter and sustain violence factories in their regions. After the meeting between their leaders, the two sides signed four pacts, including one for air services and cooperation in merchant shipping. At a joint media event with the Cypriot leader, Modi said India has always stood with Cyprus on crucial issues and firmly supports its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Noting that they had "detailed discussion" on bilateral as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest, the prime minister said, "We agreed on the need for all countries to decisively act against states that generate, support, shelter and sustain violence factories in our regions." The two sides also agreed on the need of early reforms of the UNSC, Modi said and expressed India's appreciation for Cyprus' support to India's bid for inclusion in it as a permanent member. Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the Cypriot president, and discussed areas of bilateral cooperation. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (JKHCBA) to take to various stakeholders and consider their opinion in connection with the plea against the use of pellet guns in the state. The apex court asked the association leaders to get names of the people, who can hold talks with the Centre for the resolution of the present situation in the state. JKHCBA was also asked to assure the top court that no stone pelting would be committed in the future if they wanted prohibition against the use of pellet guns. The apex court had earlier asked the Centre to consider effective means other than use of pellet guns to quell stone pelting mobs in Jammu and Kashmir as it concerns life and death. The Kashmir High Court Bar Association (KHBA) had earlier alleged that the pellet guns were being 'misused'. The case was filed in the wake of the several lives lost during last year unrest in the Kashmir Valley. Around 78 people lost their lives and over 100 people were injured, several critically, in Jammu and Kashmir last year due to the use of pellet guns, JKHCBA claimed in its petition. The division bench of the Supreme Court had, in December last year, admitted the petition for hearing and directed the Central Government to submit the report of the team of experts constituted on the use of pellet guns before the court. Earlier in July 2016, the Centre constituted a team to recommend suitable replacement for the pellet guns. A seven-member expert committee set up for exploring other possible alternatives to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons submitted its report to Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi in August. New Delhi: Joining the debate on taxing agriculture income, chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian on Friday said states, which have the option to levy the tax, should make a distinction between rich and poor farmers. The legal situation is... nothing prevents state governments from taxing agriculture income. The constitutional restriction is on central government taxing agriculture income. There too, one could make a case that this is a choice open to 29 state governments and if there are willing takers, all power to them, he said. Subramanian also stressed that there is a need to make a clear distinction between poor and rich farmer. Why is it that it is very difficult to make a distinction between a poor farmer and a rich farmer... When you say farmer, people think that you are going after the poor farmer... So what is it about political discourse that does not allow these distinctions to be made? Why cant we say, rich regardless of where they get their income, should be taxed, he said. A controversy erupted after NITI Aayog member Bibek Debroy suggested that the agricultural income should be taxed. However, finance minister Arun Jaitley later clarified that there was no such proposal and the Centre has no power to impose tax on agricultural income. New Delhi: A six-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar on Friday dismissed the curative petition filed by the government of Kerala in the Soumya rape and murder case. The state government had filed a curative plea in apex court challenging the earlier order of a three-member top court bench quashing of death sentence awarded to the accused. The trial court and the Kerala High Court had awarded death sentence to the accused Govindaswamy in the case. However, the apex court bench set aside the murder charges against him and commuted his death penalty to a seven-year imprisonment while also upholding life imprisonment in rape charges. A review petition was filed against the order of the bench on September 15, which was dismissed by the court on November 11 after an open court hearing. Consequently, the state filed a curative petition on January 7. The state government has sought an open hearing on the curative petition, which is drafted by Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi. If the bench decides to dismiss the petition prima facie, there will not be a chance for open hearing. Earlier, quashing his death penalty, the apex court had noted that there were no direct evidences to conclude that Govindaswamy killed Soumya by pushing her off the train. The government, in its petition, has pleaded not to give a benefit of doubt to Govindaswamy since all other evidences are against him. Soumya was allegedly raped and then pushed out of the train by Govindaswamy on February 1, 2011 while travelling on Kochi-Shoranur Passenger train. She succumbed to her injuries at Thrissur Medical College on February 6. Raipur (Chhattisgarh): The Dand Karanya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) claimed in an audio clip on Thursday that the massacre of 25 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans in Sukma on Tuesday was a response to sexual violence by security forces against tribal women, and murder of villagers. According to reports, taking responsibility for the attack, DKSZC spokesperson Vikalp said in the audio clip, The PLGA (CPI (Maoist)s military wing Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army) launched the Chintagufa-Burkapal to give an answer to Mission 2017 and the fake surrender campaign. We congratulate the PLGA, its leadership, commanders and the people of Dand Karanya for their active support. This attack was just an extension of the Bhejji attack (on the CRPF in March 2017). These attacks are retaliatory, defensive, to defeat anti-people policies and to take forward the pro people struggle. "These attacks should be seen as retaliation against the sexual atrocities that are being committed by the security forces against the tribal women and girls in the conflict zone. It should also be seen as an answer to the countless incidents of sexual violence which is a blot on any civilized society. Bhejji and Chintagufa-Burkapal attacks should be seen as (retaliatory) attacks for the dignity and respect of tribal women. These attacks are being carried out to liberate the tribal people in conflict areas from the inhuman atrocities they facing from the security forces, he added. Vikalp also reiterated his partys opposition to road construction projects in the area, claiming that under the garb of development, the government intended to loot people through these projects. The spokesperson denied that dead bodies of CRPF jawans were mutilated by the Maoists, a claim corroborated by CRPF. However, Vikalp claimed that it was the security forces which usually mutilated bodies of PLGA personnel. He also alleged that objectionable pictures of our women killed in fighting were clicked by CRPF, who then spread them on social media. Accusing the Central and state governments of undemocratic practices, DKSZC said, These attacks are in opposition to the exploitation of the Dalits, the Tribals and the minorities and the attacks on their culture and economic lifestyle by the Brahmanic, Hindutva, Fascist, Sanghi, and the BJP governments and the direct involvement and active protection of the police and security forces. Claiming that the Maoists were not the enemies of jawans, the spokesman in the audio clip asked them to give up government jobs and participate in the peoples struggle. Reacting to the Maoists statement, Chhattisgarhs Special Director-General of Police DM Awasthi said that he will look into it and check its authenticity, said reports. Lucknow: A BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh has been caught on camera, threatening to skin alive a police officer, who had allegedly misbehaved with her regarding a murder investigation. Priyanka Singh Rawat, the MP from Barabanki, did not show any remorse and went on to justify her action when asked to clarify, according to a report in NDTV. "I will get all the malai out, khaal bhi khichwa lungi (I will get all the illegal wealth seized, will skin you alive)," Rawat, 31, allegedly shouted at police officer, Gyananjay Singh, for "misbehavior" on the phone. When questioned about the alleged threat to Singh, an Additional Superintendent of Police at Barabanki, Rawat remained unwavered and did not take back her words. "They have reaped enough under the previous government. Khaal utaar denge if they do not work properly," Rawat told reporters. Rawat said Singh had displayed poor attitude when she called him about a murder investigation he was supervising. An argument broke out between the two during the phone conversation and the officer allegedly told the MP that he was the police and he knows what he is doing. Rawat named the officer at a press conference and warned that the country has Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government at the Centre and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's government in Uttar Pradesh. She also went on to say that only those who perform will stay in the district and strict actions will be taken against those who dont improve their conduct. Since the BJP government has taken charge in UP, many lawmakers have been accused of taking law into their own hands under the pretext of following Adityanaths orders of clean and efficient governance. Bengaluru: Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president BS Yeddyurappa on Thursday lashed out at senior party leader KS Eshwarappa for creating ruckus in the party, asserting that rebel leaders will be given an appropriate answer. "The senior leadership, as well as the people, is witnessing all that is happening. The rebel leaders will be given an appropriate answer. Had Eshwarappa sat down and discussed his concerns, the party would not face such a situation," said Yeddyurappa. Yeddyurappa further stated that while Eshwarappa was defying the senior leadership by calling for such meetings, BL Santosh was the mastermind who engineered the rebellion. This is the first time, the leader has launched a full-fledged attack against B L Santosh, an RSS man, who enjoys considerable clout with national president Amit Shah. Earlier, Yeddyurappa had accused Eshwarappa of 'creating problems' in the party. Eshwarappa earlier on Thursday held a convention to "save" the party in defiance of its state president BS Yeddyurappa's warning against it. At the convention, he questioned why Yeddyurappa did not call meeting of 'disgruntled' party leaders as directed by BJP national president Amit Shah. "...you call us anti-party or whatever you want, but our blood won't change... we will not go to any one at any cost, we will not join another party or form another party," he said adding that those who had gone out of the party are now warning of action. The remarks were aimed at Yeddyurappa who had quit the BJP and formed Karnataka Janata Paksha which fared badly in the 2013 polls. Later, he had returned to the BJP. The rebel leaders' meeting in Bengaluru came months after both, Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa were called to Delhi to sort their differences. Both leaders were pulled up by the senior leadership and Eshwarappa was asked to refrain from all independent activities of the Sangolli Rayanna brigade. New Delhi: Ahead of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans visit to New Delhi that begins on Sunday, India has sent a strong signal that it will not abandon its friends like Cyprus. While Turkey is a close friend of Pakistan, Cyprus and Turkey have an history of animosity after Turkey invaded the island nation in 1974. India has always stood by Cyprus on all crucial issues. In 1974, India took a firm stand in support of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in the presence of visiting Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades. I know that India has enjoyed a special place in the heart of every Cypriot President. Almost all of them have visited India. So, it is indeed an honour for me to welcome such a great friend, the PM said. Meanwhile, in a veiled attack on Pakistan in the presence of the Cypriot President, PM Modi said the two countries agreed that there is an urgent need to decisively act against those states who generate, support, shelter and sustain these factories of violence. Anantapur: The bodies of 13 persons, including five children and seven women, were pulled out of the irrigation tank YT Cheruvu in Guntakal mandal on Friday after the fishing boat they were travelling in capsized in the middle of the irrigation tank. Rescue teams managed to rescue a three-year-old girl and four others. The relative of one of the victims had a cardiac arrest on hearing the news. Close relatives of YT Cheruvu area had attended a function for the erection of a dwajastambam at Lord Sriram temple in the village. Later, 18 persons, including women and children, boarded a fishing boat and were rowed onto the YT Cheruvu tank, which was filled with HNSS water recently. The small boat had a capacity of around seven and was clearly overloaded. After proceeding for about 10 metres, the boat capsized. All those on board were expert swimmers but they got stuck in the silt and mud in the tank and could not break free. Other villagers tried to mount a rescue operation but came up with three dead bodies. Rescue teams that arrived later retrieved another 10 bodies from the tank. A search is on for the missing others. The victims were residents of Guntakal, Rajapuram, Gandhinagar and YT Cheruvu. The bodies were shifted to Guntakal hospital for post-mortem. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and ministers Kamineni Srinivas, Kaluva Srinivasulu and Paritala Sunitha expressed their shock at the mishap. Hyderabad: The Telangana state government has put inter-state transfers of staff between AP and TS on spouse case considerations on hold. TS Chief Secretary S.P. Singh issued orders on Friday, stating that the government is in the process of evolving guidelines for transfers and the process will be on hold till then. He directed secretaries/HoDs of all departments not to accept any transfer applications from staff till the government evolves a uniform policy on inter-state mutual transfers. In undivided AP, staff were appointed in state, zonal, multi-zonal and district cadres. While the state-cadre was distributed between AP and TS by the Kamalnathan Committee, the staff in other cadres are still working at their old offices despite the state's bifurcation. While TS-native staff in these cadres are working in AP, AP-native staff are working in TS. These employees have been demanding inter-state and mutual transfers between TS and AP to enable them to work for their native states. Both state governments had earlier agreed to take up inter-state and mutual transfers. Several working couples applied for inter-state transfer after husband and wife were posted in different states after the state bifurcation. While AP-native husband/ wife of state-cadre were posted in TS Secretariat, their spouse in zonal, multi-zonal or district cadres continue to work in AP and vice-versa. These couples applied for inter-state and mutual transfers to work together for any state. However, TS Employees associations have been objecting, alleging that several AP-native staff are trying to secure postings in Hyderabad on consideration of spouse. They want the government to allow transfers on these grounds only if either husband or wife is a native of Telangana. Stands reversed on bonds While AP is demanding the sharing of assets of Schedules IX and X institutions on population basis, Telangana has been opposing the argument. However, regarding the sharing of Power Finance Corporation bonds issued in the undivided state, the stands of both the states are reversed. TS has been demanding sharing of PFC bonds on population basis while AP wants them shared on the basis of power consumption. TS officials said due to delay in sharing of PFC, they have paid Rs 300 crore more to AP so far, as payment of bonds issued by the PFC in the undivided state. Much before bifurcation, the AP government had issued orders on May 30, 2014 for sharing of bonds between the two states. In undivided AP, the AP Power Finance Corporation issued the bonds to raise funds to the tune of `5,894.60 crore. There were four Discoms in undivided AP, and after bifurcation each state got two. The outstanding bonds were allocated between the two states at the rate of 59.54 per cent to TS and 40.46 per cent to AP. This means that of the total outstanding bonds worth Rs 5,894.6 crore, Ts got Rs 3,509.60 crore and AP Rs 2,385 crore on the basis of power consumption. However, TS is not happy, and has demanded sharing of the bonds on the basis of population. If this is done, TS will get 42 per cent and AP 58 per cent. The TS government's argument is it has been allotted 17.54 per cent more. TS energy department official said that they have paid Rs 300 crore more to AP. Meanwhile TS has urged the Sheela Bhide Committee to complete the sharing of PFC assets on the basis of population. Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court has directed the TS government to initiate disciplinary action against former collector Naveen Mittal, former joint-collector V. Durga Das, former special tahsildar V.V. Venkat Reddy, senior draftsman P. Madhusudhan Reddy and one P. Babu Rao for issuing no-objection certificate for a disputed property. Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao, while allowing two petitions by one Shanti Agarwal a resident of the city observed: In my opinion, members of the NOC Committee clearly did not act in a bona fide manner and seemed to believe that they have no responsibility to check even the genuineness of the documents produced before them by the applicant for NOC. The petitioner claimed she had purchased 5,262 sq. yd at Nanal Nagar in Gudimalkapur area of the city. This was originally an evacuee property and was purchased by one Prem Malhotra in an auction conducted by the Managing Officer, Regional Settlement Commission, Bombay. The land changed hands and she purchased it from K. Devi and Basanth Devi in 1965. She said one Syed Abdul Rab and two others had in 2009 applied for NOC from the committee, headed by the collector, to obtain permission from GHMC to construct sheds claiming that they were owners. When this came to her notice, Shanti Devi filed objections, complaining that the documents produced by Abdul Rub and others were fabricated. After perusing documents, the judge noted the counter-affidavit filed by the district collector on November 19, 2011. It was clearly stated that the joint sub-registrar, Hyderabad, had addressed a letter to the collector on September 3, 2011, stating that the documents produced for NOC did not tally with their records. The judge held that the conduct of the NOC Committee members and of P. Babu Rao, respondent No. 11, needs to be probed by the Chief Secretary and appropriate disciplinary action needs to be initiated. While declaring the NOCs issued by the committee null and void, the judge directed Mittal, Das, Reddy and Madhusudhan to pay `25,000 jointly to the petitioner. Abdul Rab and two others were also told to pay `25,000 as costs to the petitioner. The judge ordered the Chief Secretary and Secretary of Revenue to initiate prosecution against Abdul Rab and two others for producing fabricated/forged documents before the NOC Committee. The Chief Commissioner of Land Administration has been told attach the property till the dispute is resolved. The judge dismissed a petition by one Hussain Bee and 11 others challenging the cancellation of NOCs in November 2015, claiming that they were property owners. The judge directed the petitioners to pay Rs 10,000 to Shanti Devi. KOZHIKODE: The state has wasted ten years without tapping the 30- TMC water allotted by the Cauvery tribunal from the river basins of Kabani (Wayanad), Bhavani ( Palakkad) and Pambar (Idukki), according to noted surface water scientist E.J. James, former director of the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM). Sharing his views over the extreme drought faced by the state and raising doubts on the efficacy of the water conservation, sanitisation and management systems, Mr James told DC that it was high time we came out of the lethargy. We fought a prolonged legal battle in the Cauvery tribunal demanding a significant share of the water. As the expert witness of the state, I had to fly to New Delhi 33 times and we also spent huge sums. At last, even after the tribunal sanctioned our demands, we failed to make use of even a drop of water for the last ten years, he said. We only cry for water. But we are unable to use it while Tamil Nadu and Karnataka utilised the water from Cauvery. Except for two, all other irrigation proposals we submitted were sanctioned by the tribunal, he pointed out. In his opinion, the state needs improved water conservation, treatment, storage and sanitisation facilities. In the USA, water conservation per person is 5,000 cubic litres (1 cubic litre is 1000 litres) whereas in China it is 1000 cubic litres. Here we have no such conservation culture, he said. Mr James also said that the state was utilizing only 15 percent of its water potential. We need more reservoirs. Constructing dams may cause ecological issues. But in an era of technological advancement, we can achieve things with the lowest ecological impact, he said. Suppose we store 3,000 million cubic litres for irrigation, only 40 percent has been used effectively. So we waste 60 percent of the water we harnessed, he said. On the drinking water supply network also we have been wasting a lot of money. We have three million (30 lakh) households without drinking water and we have 66 lakh open wells. Why not the government help the citizens to improve the wells and share the water? It is only Kerala that is not helping the citizens to improve their water systems by conserving the open wells, improving water quality through sanitisation and better water management, he said. Sanitisation is not mere dumping of bleaching power into the water sources, he said and added that the local administrative bodies should ensure that the sewage water is treated and the water sources are bacteria-free. Mr James is of the opinion that the high ranges and coastal regions are facing acute water shortage. In high ranges, you can tap the springs on hills using simple methods like check dams for better utilization. Wayanad, Attappady and Idukki are to be focussed. In coastal regions, we have the successful water conservation techniques with which drinking water can be ensured, he said. The government should not allow the citizens to use water lavishly. Each drop of water is precious. We should learn to conserve water and not to waste it, he said. TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy interacts with farmers as former minister Sunita Laxma Reddy looks on, in Narsapur on Friday. (Photo: DC) Hyderabad: The state Congress leadership on Friday lashed out at Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for calling party leaders useless, with senior leaders N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and K. Jana Reddy saying that the TRS chief was afraid of the Congress coming to power in next polls and hence resorting to mudslinging. Congress Deputy Leader in the Legislative Council Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy went a step further and urged the TPCC chief to boycott Saturdays Business Advisory Committee meeting and the one-day special session of both the Houses on Sunday to adopt the amendments to the Land Acquisition Act. Why should the Congress cooperate with the government when the CM is openly calling our leaders waste and useless fellows (Daddamma, Chavata, Sanyasis)? he asked. When he has been criticising Congress leaders non-stop and belittling them, why should we attend the session when we can boycott it, Mr Sudhakar Reddy asked. However, Mr Jana Reddy said though the suggestion appeared to be good, a final decision would be taken by the party on Saturday. Bowing to pressure, Mr Jana Reddy pre-poned the CLP meeting slated for Sunday morning to Saturday to take a decision on boycotting the session. In a related development, Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy, participating in 10 km padayatra organised by former minister Sunitha Laxma Reddy in Narsapur Assembly constituency of Medak district, said that the Congress was set to come to power in 2019 and no one, including Mr Rao, could stop it. He said that the CM has become anti-farmer which is evident by the fact that the government was releasing thousands of crores for contractors but failing to pay farmers who are reeling for want of remunerative prices for their produce. He accused the CM of not visiting even one family of farmers who committed suicide. Earlier this week was the 44th anniversary of the most seminal event in Indian jurisprudence. On April 24, 1973, the basic structure doctrine of the Indian Constitution was midwifed into life by the largest-ever bench of the Supreme Court of India to be constituted till date. A doctrine conceptualised by the Supreme Court to restrain the constituent powers of Parliament, with regard to which articles of the Constitution the supreme legislative body in India could amend and which were beyond the scope of its ability to amend, delete or add. A bench of 13 judges of the Supreme Court by a majority of seven judges to six, decided that the Constitution could not be amended in a manner that distorted its basic structure. Intriguingly, 12 of the 13 judges didnt say a word about the basic structure, in their pronouncements. While six ruled that there were implied limitations on the amending power of Article 368 of the Constitution, and the other six held that the power was unlimited. The law of the basic structure came from the pen of one judge, Hans Raj Khanna, and which was adopted by the court through a judicial order entitled the View of the Majority, a document in the form of a order of the court signed only by nine judges out of 13 on the bench. An unfortunate fallout of the judgment was the supersession of Justices Amar Nath Grover, Jayanti Manilal Shelat and Kawdoor Sadananda Hegde because they had batted on the side of the basic structure. A.N. Ray, who was fourth in the order of seniority, was made the Chief Justice of India. The question of the legitimacy of the basic structure doctrine was raised immediately thereafter, and critics refused to recognise the order signed only by nine of the 13 judges to be the law laid down by the court. By a quirk of fate the doctrine got further legitimacy after the Allahabad high court set aside the election of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the then government amended the Constitution to introduce the 39th Amendment, by which the election of the Prime Minister and some other high dignitaries could not be called into question before a court of law. When the amendment was challenged before the Supreme Court on the ground that it violated the basic structure of the Constitution, the then attorney-general conceded the doctrine. The amendment was struck down on the basis of the basic structure doctrine. Soon thereafter, an aborted attempt was made to review the basic structure doctrine but after two days the review bench, again of 13 judges, was dissolved abruptly, never to reconvene. Thus, the basic structure doctrine got consecrated as the holy grail of jurisprudence. One can only wonder what would have happened if the attorney-general had not conceded the doctrine, but challenged its very existence during the 39th Amendment to the Constitution, specially since the entire court at that point had only one judge who had subscribed to the doctrine, namely Justice Khanna. To get over the bar of the Kesvananda Bharti judgment, the 42nd Amendment was enacted into law by Parliament in 1976. It added to the amending power of Article 368 of the Constitution Clause 5, which read For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that there shall be no limitation whatever on the constituent power of Parliament to amend by way of addition, variation or repeal the provisions of the Constitution under this article. Evidently, the language employed by the draftsman of this clause had a single agenda to declare that the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution was unlimited and unfettered. Since its discovery by Justice Khannas pen, the basic structure doctrine has been employed five times to strike constitutional amendments down the 39th Amendment tailored to insulate the Prime Ministers and other high constitutional dignitaries election from legal challenge, the refusal to the vital right of judicial review in the cases of Minerva Mills, Kihoto Hollohon and L. Chandra Kumar. More recently, the court struck down what is popularly referred to as the National Judicial Commission Amendment because it fell foul of the independence of the judiciary, a basic feature of the Constitution. What started as a struggle between the court and the government on property rights expanded into a battle for the soul of the Constitution. It became a confrontation between the judiciary and the legislature that the Constitution not be so altered that it loses its fundamental identity. The Kesvananda Bharti case happened at a point in time when many of the eminences in the current Central government were apprehensive of India becoming a one-party state a fear that turned out to be unfounded. However, in a reversal of fortune the spectre of totalitarianism, fear of intolerance and India morphing into a one-party state hangs low over this country from the very ones for whom Kesvananda Bharti had come as a sigh of relief in 1973. As institutions are openly being subverted from within and without, as fundamental freedoms of thought, expression, worship are sought to be bludgeoned into conformity, as culinary choices are now the staple of lynching, mobocracy and vigilantism, as substantial sections of the so-called free media are behaving like pet performing poodles of the rulers and as even the legitimacy of democratic outcomes is the subject matter of substantive skepticism, if not outright derision, one cannot help but salute those nine wise men specially Chief Justice Sikri, who devised the instrument of the order of the majority and breathed life into a Constitutional fiat called basic structure. Should we say may God bless them? It may just be the only safeguard left to protect, preserve and uphold the founding vision of India if the Opposition does a humpty-dumpty on the nation. Pakistans irregular forces, in the guise of its anti-India terror outfits, on Thursday attacked the Armys artillery base close to the northern town of Kupwara in North Kashmir, not far from the Line of Control. Yet again, the heavily-armed terrorists were able to breach the perimeter defence by the simple expedient of snipping fencing wires. Exactly the same deficiency was seen in the recent attack on the 16 Corps headquarters at Nagrota near Jammu, as well as the terrorist assault on the brigade headquarters at Uri in northwest Kashmir on September 18 last year, that was followed by Indias so-called surgical strike across the LoC as a retributive measure. A young Army captain died in his sleep in the pre-dawn Kupwara raid, while two soldiers laid down their lives while engaging the three-member assault team, two of whom were killed. But shortly after, residents of a nearby village began stone-pelting the troops, seeking to disrupt the Armys action, and demanding the bodies of the slain terrorists. This is the variant of a theme that has played out time after time in the past year, and encapsulates the story of the political and security scene that has emerged in Kashmir in the past year New Delhi failing totally on the political front in winning the confidence of the civil population, every section of which stands thoroughly alienated due to the ostrich-like refusal of the BJP at the Centre to engage Kashmiris in any kind of conversation. Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti visited New Delhi last weekend to plead with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate political steps, but was rebuffed. The time was not now, she was told. The CM was also advised to let the state police play a more proactive part in dealing with the renewed and reinvigorated militancy (presumably so that the Central forces come in the line of fire as little as possible). This was a bit rich. The police is already heavily deployed. It is possibly because of this that their homes are under attack, and their families are being repeatedly warned by extremist outfits to quit service. Failure on the political front has gone in step with a glaring deterioration in the security outlook. In 2016, as many as 88 Army personnel were killed, the highest in 10 years, and already in 2017 the figure stands at 17. In case the authorities havent yet noticed it, when the political atmosphere nosedives, the security situation destabilises. Those in charge of national security appear not to have understood this. This is the context for the state government ordering the shutting down of 22 social media sites. The order has been flouted. May be it is technologically not feasible, or perhaps there has also been some sabotage. Neighbours build fences Lovers past tenses Liars their defences The play commences From The Son-In-Law Also Rises by Bachchoo The May election takes place in June. My friend Clive James once wrote a book about Cambridge called The May Balls Are In June and I thought it was an accurate way to herald the coming UK general election. Theresa May has called the election for two principal reasons. The Labour Opposition is in complete disarray and the opinion polls show that her Tory Party is about 23 per cent ahead of them. Moreover, 60 per cent of the polled electorate thinks she would make the best Prime Minister, ahead of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyns 20 per cent. So why would she not call an election and increase her partys majority from 12 to perhaps 50, 60, or as some Tory optimists predict, even 100? Things may not work out that way. Other commentators, including myself, can see the gamble that Ms May is taking. Her second reason, apart from the lead in the polls, is that she wants a longer time to negotiate Britains departure from the European Union. If she wins the election, which seems almost certain, she will still be in power in 2020 and have two more years before the deal she gets from the EU can be challenged. So what then are these risks she is taking? One mustnt forget that 48 per cent of the British electorate voted to remain in the European Union. The 52 per cent that voted to leave were passionate about the UKs independence from the European regulation-makers and from the EUs absolute inflexibility on restricting the free movement of labour, which naturally gives rise to immigrant workers going from the poorer countries of Europe to the richer ones. The people who voted to remain were just as passionate about staying in the single EU market, which imports 40 per cent of all British exports. They may even have a liberal instinct to keep the door open to immigrants without whom Britain would be denuded of 10 per cent of its doctors, a larger percentage of its nurses and over 25 per cent of workers in its catering, hotel and fruit and vegetable harvesting industries. Ms Mays own constituency voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union. The one UK party that still opposes Britains exit from the EU, and would press and vote for a second referendum to reverse the Brexit decision, are the Liberal Democrats. It would be ironic but vastly welcome if they put up their strongest candidate in Ms Mays constituency and manage to bring out the remainers vote as a majority and defeat Ms May. It would be the most dramatic reversal since the referendum and could be seen as divine retribution for Ms Mays hypocrisy in switching from being a Remainer to a Brexiteer in order to replace David Cameron as leader. The Lib-Dems suffered heavily in the 2015 election. Their parliamentary seats were reduced by fifty to eight. Three or four of their stalwarts, such as Vince Cable who had represented Twickenham in London for three decades and Simon Hughes who had represented Bermondsey in London were unseated. They have now declared that they will stand in June and with 60 per cent of London opting to stay in the EU, they and the other Lib-Dems in remainer majority seats stand a good chance. Again it would be ironically just if Ms Mays June election brought back even more Lib-Dems to Parliament than there were before their nearly annihilating losses of 2015. The problem with this prospect for the Lib-Dems is their present leader Tim Farron, characterised by the media with near contempt. One columnist called him whats-his-name consistently. Another said his demeanour was more that of an assistant rat-catcher in some remote rural district and not that of a potential Prime Minister. The attacks are unfair. Mr Farron has been consistent in leading his party to signal clear opposition to leaving the European Union and has set out in clear terms the disaster of doing so. Nevertheless, journalists have repeatedly attempted to trap the devoutly Catholic Farron by asking him if he supported same-sex marriage. He said he did, much to the relief of his liberal-minded members. The media wouldnt let it rest there. They persistently challenged him to say if he thought gay sex was a sin. Whatever his personal adherence to the doctrines of the Catholic Church or his own convictions, Mr Farron came out, after the election was announced, saying in so many words that he didnt consider it a sin. Sigh of relief from the Lib-Dem membership. The Labour Party is caught in deeper dilemmas in this election. Its leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has over the years as a backbencher and swinging politico declared his opposition to nuclear weapons. Now he finds himself the leader of the Labour Party and has to say whether he supports the nuclear component of Britains armed forces, namely the Trident submarines. Thousands of trade-unionised workers are dependent on jobs related to the renewal and modernisation of these nuclear-carrying submarines. Whats Mr Corbyns attitude? Does he support Trident and the trade unions that pay for the Labour Party and whose members are dependent on Trident for their jobs? Or is he going to stick to his laudable moral stance on nuclear weapons and oppose the development of Trident? Because Britain is primarily, as Napoleon dubbed it, a nation of shopkeepers, albeit in this age of weapons of mass destruction, any principled reservations about shopkeeping will inevitably conflict with its economic prosperity. The Labour heartlands of Britains north suffer from the decline of industry and, through collective perception or being misled by a biased media, blame the decline and fall on the presence of immigrants. They consequently support Brexit. Labours dilemma is how to keep them and its southern liberal support for staying in Europe happy and voting for the party. Thats the problem with democracy people follow their material interests as they see them and not the principles we want them to espouse. Where did it all go wrong? Scientists said Thursday that they have manufactured tiny bricks out of artificial Martian soil, anticipating the day when humans may construct colonies on the Red Planet. Remarkably, the technique requires only that the red-hued building blocks be compressed in a precise way -- no additives or baking required. "The people who will go to Mars will be incredibly brave, they will be pioneers and I would be honoured to be their brick maker," said Yu Qiao, a professor at the University of California San Diego and lead author of a study in Scientific Reports. Structural engineers used a dirt mixture concocted by NASA that mimics Martian soil to make hundreds of 3 millimetre-thick (0.1 inch), disc-shaped bric By accident, they had discovered that high-pressure compression hardened the artificial soil into rock-solid structures stronger than steel-reinforced concrete. Once the stuff of science fiction, human habitation of Mars has captured the collective imagination, and inspired governments and billionaires to explore the feasibility of making the Red Planet a home away from home. In March, the US Congress passed a bill -- signed by President Donald Trump -- directing NASA to send a manned mission to Mars in 2033. Qiao believes real Martian soil could be compacted layer by layer to form a wall or shaped into larger bricks. Previous ideas for how to make construction materials on Mars involved building nuclear plants to fire bricks, or hauling large quantities of polymer -- a kind of glue -- from Earth. Professor Qiao's proposed masonry, on the other hand, would be 100 percent made-in-Mars and require minimal resources. "All the previous methods involved energy intensive heating or pretty significant space transportation from Earth for additives," the researcher told AFP. Iron oxide -- the component that gives Mars its reddish hue -- is thought to be the "cementing agent" that makes the soil so malleable. Whether real Martian soil would react in the same way is still uncertain, Qiao concedes -- only on site tests would tell for sure. But he hopes his approach will be given a hearing. Qiao initially set out to use lunar soil to make cement. When he applied the same technique to Martian-like soil, he discovered its exceptional properties. NASA's Curiosity rover collected samples of Martian dust and sand for the first time in 2012, analysing its composition in a laboratory inside the mobile robot. The soil was found to contain a complex chemistry of water, sulphur, and chlorine substances but no traces of organic carbon compounds that could indicate signs of life. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Supreme Court of Florida. JOSHUA LEE ALTERSBERGER, Appellant, v. STATE OF FLORIDA, Appellee. JOSHUA LEE ALTERSBERGER, Petitioner, v. JULIE L. JONES, etc., Respondent. No. SC15-628 Decided: April 27, 2017 James Vincent Viggiano, Jr., Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, and Julie A. Morley and Mark S. Gruber, Assistant Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, Middle Region, Temple Terrace, Florida, for Appellant/Petitioner Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, Tallahassee, Florida; and C. Suzanne Bechard, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, Florida, for Appellee/Respondent Joshua Lee Altersberger appeals an order of the circuit court denying his motion to vacate his conviction of first-degree murder and sentence of death filed under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.851 and petitions this Court for a writ of habeas corpus. For the reasons that follow, we vacate the death sentence and remand for a new penalty phase. I. BACKGROUND On direct appeal, this Court described the facts as follows: Late in the morning of January 12, 2007, the [d]efendant drove to a friend's home in Highlands County. Also at the home was Quentin Kinder, who was in Florida to avoid arrest for violating his Georgia probation. After drinking and playing videogames, Altersberger left the home with Kinder. Kinder testified that, at this point, Altersberger was not so affected by the alcohol that his speech was impaired but was buzzing a little bit. Later that afternoon, around 3:00 p.m., Altersberger drove with Kinder to a restaurant in Lake Placid in an effort to meet a girl whom he believed to be working there. Upon learning that the girl was not at work, Altersberger drove with Kinder to a nearby convenience store so that he could buy a cigar. As Altersberger and Kinder were walking out of the store, the two noticed a deputy sheriff in a marked patrol car stopped at a red light. Kinder then heard Altersberger state, as though he was speaking to the deputy, You better not stop me or I'm going to shoot you. Altersberger left the store with Kinder and drove north on Highway 27 out of Lake Placid. Altersberger's driving was aggressively erratic, and he swerved several times in and out of heavy afternoon traffic. At one point, Altersberger had to swerve in the midst of a lane change in order to avoid striking another car. This attracted the attention of Florida Highway Patrol Sergeant Nick Sottile who had been travelling in the opposite direction and who turned to pursue. Kinder saw Sergeant Sottile turn around and notified Altersberger. Altersberger responded by saying that he was going to push it, or speed up to flee. Kinder told Altersberger not to try to flee and also said that, because of his Georgia probation violation, he was going to run from the car once Altersberger pulled over. As he was pulling over, Altersberger cut sharply from the left lane across the right lane, cutting off and nearly striking a semi truck. And, as Altersberger pulled off the roadway, he stated to Kinder that he was going to shoot Sergeant Sottile. Kinder told Altersberger not to shoot the officer, and then got out of the car and ran into a nearby orange grove. Intending to complain to Sergeant Sottile about Altersberger's driving, the semi truck driver pulled over behind the trooper's patrol car. The truck driver then got out of his truck and walked toward Sergeant Sottile, who ordered him back to his truck. From the elevated cab of his semi truck, the driver was able to observe the events that followed. Sergeant Sottile approached Altersberger's driver's side window with his hand resting on his gun. Altersberger raised his hands as Sottile approached and kept them raised while he spoke with Sottile for a short time. Sottile, appearing to be more comfortable with the situation, took his hand from his gun. After Sottile took his hand off his gun, Altersberger lowered his hands and pulled a gun. Sergeant Sottile raised his hands and started to back away from Altersberger's window when Altersberger shot him. Sergeant Sottile was hit near his left collar bone and fell backward to the ground. Altersberger then reached out the window of his car to aim his gun at Sergeant Sottile and tried several times to shoot him in the head, but his gun would not fire. Altersberger then rapidly drove away. Sergeant Sottile died shortly thereafter as a result of internal bleeding from the gunshot wound. Altersberger pled guilty to first-degree murder on March 13, 2009. At the penalty phase, the State presented testimony regarding the murder of Sottile. The defense presented laywitness testimony of Altersberger's mother and aunt, one of his mother's friends, and the testimony of former teachers and health department employees who remembered Altersberger as a child. These witnesses testified that Altersberger had an impoverished and unstable upbringing and a history of anger problems. They also testified that his mother had very poor parenting skills, did not make good decisions regarding the men that she brought around her children, did not treat or discipline Altersberger appropriately, and did not display affection toward him. Altersberger also presented the testimony of two mental health experts. The first, Dr. Krop, a forensic psychologist, testified that Altersberger has anger issues that stem from his dysfunctional relationship with his mother and the insecurity caused by her poor parenting and decision-making throughout his childhood. Dr. Krop also explained that, despite his 103 IQ, Altersberger has problems with planning and impulse control and was extremely immature for his age, both socially and developmentally. Dr. Gur, a neuropsychologist who specializes in neuroimaging, testified that the orbital frontal and amygdala regions of Altersberger's brain are significantly undersized and that such a condition would result in impaired ability to control and regulate emotions and impulses, an impairment that would be exacerbated by drug and alcohol use or abuse. However, Dr. Gur stated that, because he had never met Altersberger and was not familiar with the facts of the case, he could not connect his findings to the crime itself. The jury recommended the death penalty by a vote of nine to three. After a Spencer[N.1] hearing, the trial court followed the jury's recommendation and sentenced Altersberger to death. In so doing, the trial court found the following aggravators: (1) the victim was a law enforcement officer engaged in the lawful performance of his official duties (great weight); and (2) the murder was committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner (CCP) without any pretense of moral or legal justification (great weight). The trial court also found the following mitigators: (1) Altersberger was 19 years old at the time of the murder (slight weight); (2) Altersberger's capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of law was substantially impaired (moderate weight);[N.2] (3) the offense was committed in an unsophisticated manner (very, very slight weight); (4) Altersberger was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offense (little weight); (5) Altersberger had a long-term history of substance abuse from age 15 (very slight weight); (6) Altersberger was brought up in a dysfunctional family and home environment (moderate weight); (7) Altersberger loves and is valued by his family (very slight weight); (8) Altersberger loved his grandfather and was devastated by his death (very slight weight); (9) Altersberger was the victim of racial discrimination within his own family (little weight); (10) Altersberger maintained good behavior throughout the proceedings (very slight weight); and (11) Altersberger [pled] guilty and took responsibility for the offense (little weight). In weighing the aggravators and mitigators and determining death to be the appropriate sentence, the trial court specifically stated that the aggravating circumstances in this case far outweigh the mitigating circumstances and that either aggravating circumstance alone would outweigh all of the mitigating circumstances. [N.1] Spencer v. State, 615 So. 2d 688 (Fla. 1993). [N.2] The trial court merged the following nonstatutory mitigating circumstances into this one statutory mitigator: (1) Altersberger did not fully develop emotionally; (2) Altersberger did not fully develop cognitively; (3) Altersberger has brain deficiencies that reduce his ability to control impulse behavior; (4) Altersberger has brain deficiencies that reduce his capacity to make reasoned decisions; (5) Altersberger suffered significant emotional deprivation while he was growing up that adversely affected his psychological development; and (6) Altersberger's dysfunctional family life prevented healthy psychological development. The court then explained that it gave each mitigator slight weight, individually, but moderate weight when merged and considered collectively. Altersberger v. State, 103 So. 3d 122, 124-26 (Fla. 2012). This Court affirmed Altersberger's conviction and death sentence on direct appeal. Id. at 131. On direct appeal, Altersberger argued that the trial court erred in finding the CCP aggravator. Id. at 126. And this Court also reviewed whether Altersberger's plea was knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made and whether his death sentence was proportionate. Id. at 128-31. For preservation purposes, Altersberger also argued on direct appeal that (1) the use of hearsay evidence during the penalty phase violates the Confrontation Clause; (2) Florida's death penalty statute violates Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584 (2002); (3) Florida's death penalty statute and jury instructions unconstitutionally shift the burden of proof to the defendant to show why death is not the appropriate sentence; (4) the CCP aggravator is unconstitutionally vague and overbroad; (5) victim impact evidence violates defendant's due process rights; and (6) execution by lethal injection is unconstitutional. Id. at 126 n.4. This Court reject[ed] each of these arguments as contrary to this Court's well established precedent. Id. Altersberger filed a motion for postconviction relief on November 13, 2013, and filed an amended motion on March 7, 2014, which the trial court denied after holding an evidentiary hearing. Altersberger appeals the trial court's denial and also petitions this Court for a writ of habeas corpus. II. POSTCONVICTION MOTION A. Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel Altersberger argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to adequately advise Altersberger, during the time frame between the entry of his guilty plea and the trial court's sentence of death, about the different legal standard that applies to a motion to withdraw a guilty plea depending on whether the motion is made prior to or after sentencing. However, we affirm the trial court's denial of this claim. Following the United States Supreme Court's decision in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), this Court explained that two requirements must be met for ineffective assistance of counsel claims to be successful: First, the claimant must identify particular acts or omissions of the lawyer that are shown to be outside the broad range of reasonably competent performance under prevailing professional standards. Second, the clear, substantial deficiency shown must further be demonstrated to have so affected the fairness and reliability of the proceeding that confidence in the outcome is undermined. Bolin v. State, 41 So. 3d 151, 155 (Fla. 2010) (quoting Maxwell v. Wainwright, 490 So. 2d 927, 932 (Fla. 1986)). Regarding the deficiency prong of Strickland, there is a strong presumption that trial counsel's performance was not ineffective. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. Moreover, [a] fair assessment of attorney performance requires that every effort be made to eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight, to reconstruct the circumstances of counsel's challenged conduct, and to evaluate the conduct from counsel's perspective at the time. Id. The defendant carries the burden to overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the challenged action might be considered sound trial strategy. Id. (quoting Michel v. Louisiana, 350 U.S. 91, 101 (1955)). Regarding the prejudice prong of Strickland, the defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, absent the [deficient performance], the factfinder would have [had] a reasonable doubt respecting guilt. Henry v. State, 948 So. 2d 609, 617 (Fla. 2006) (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 695). A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Id. (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694). Because both prongs of Strickland present mixed questions of law and fact, this Court employs a mixed standard of review, deferring to the trial court's factual findings that are supported by competent, substantial evidence, but reviewing the trial court's legal conclusions de novo. Dennis v. State, 109 So. 3d 680, 690 (Fla. 2012). Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.170(f) provides the legal standard that applies to motions to withdraw plea agreements made prior to sentencing: The court may in its discretion, and shall on good cause, at any time before a sentence, permit a plea of guilty or no contest to be withdrawn and, if judgment of conviction has been entered thereon, set aside the judgment and allow a plea of not guilty, or, with the consent of the prosecuting attorney, allow a plea of guilty or no contest of a lesser included offense, or of a lesser degree of the offense charged, to be substituted for the plea of guilty or no contest. The fact that a defendant may have entered a plea of guilty or no contest and later withdrawn the plea may not be used against the defendant in a trial of that cause. Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.170(f). Under this provision, a trial court has broad discretion in determining motions to withdraw a plea, although it must permit withdrawal upon good cause. State v. Partlow, 840 So. 2d 1040, 1042 (Fla. 2003). Rule 3.170(l) provides the standard that applies to motions to withdraw plea agreements made after sentencing: A defendant who pleads guilty or nolo contendere without expressly reserving the right to appeal a legally dispositive issue may file a motion to withdraw the plea within thirty days after rendition of the sentence, but only upon the grounds specified in Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.140(b)(2)(A)(ii)(a)-(e) except as provided by law. Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.170(l). According to this Court's case law, pursuant to rule 3.170(l), once a sentence has been imposed, a defendant must demonstrate manifest injustice or prejudice in order to withdraw a guilty plea. Campbell v. State, 125 So. 3d 733, 736 (Fla. 2013); Partlow, 840 So. 2d at 1042. [A] court does not enjoy broad discretion as to motions filed after sentencing. Griffin v. State, 114 So. 3d 890, 898 (Fla. 2013). In this case, Altersberger has not demonstrated deficiency. Regarding Altersberger's plea and including the time period between the entry of his guilty plea and the trial court's sentence of death, trial counsel discussed with Altersberger the importance of prevailing at the penalty phase and had explained to him that entering a plea would be a good strategic decision. Altersberger, 103 So. 3d at 128. The decision to enter a guilty plea was a difficult decision for Altersberger to make, and it took him a while to make the decision to enter a plea. However, as this Court noted on direct appeal, the decision to enter the plea was ultimately made by Altersberger, it was knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made, Altersberger was not forced or coerced into entering his plea, and he was not promised anything in return for his plea. Id. at 130. This Court also noted that the trial court, after holding a Nelson hearing on March 11, 2009, denied Altersberger's motion to discharge his attorneys on the grounds that they were improperly attempting to force him to plead guilty because there was nothing presented to indicate that counsel was ineffective or had performed incompetently. Id. at 129. After entering the plea on March 13, 2009, and a lengthy plea colloquy, the judge inquired even further, and Altersberger told the judge that he had been fully advised by his attorneys that pleading guilty would be in his best interest. Id. at 129-30. One of Altersberger's trial counsels, Deb Goins, testified at the evidentiary hearing that, to her knowledge, they did not talk to Altersberger about the specific subtleties between filing a motion to withdraw a plea prior to sentencing versus filing a motion to withdraw a plea after sentencing. And trial counsel Peter Mills testified at the evidentiary hearing that he probably covered the issues with him generally, but did not get into specifics. Nevertheless, trial counsel's advice to Altersberger that it was better to wait until after sentencing to move to withdraw his plea was reasonable trial strategy. See Occhicone v. State, 768 So. 2d 1037, 1048 (Fla. 2000) ([S]trategic decisions do not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel if alternative courses have been considered and rejected and counsel's decision was reasonable under the norms of professional conduct.). Specifically, trial counsel was weighing the decision to wait until after sentencing to withdraw the plea so that their deal with the State to keep out damaging testimony from the penalty phase would not be impacted against filing the motion to withdraw the plea before sentencing where a different standard would apply. As this Court discussed on direct appeal: Altersberger's attorneys testified that they knew the prosecution had as many as twenty witnesses who could provide highly damaging testimony as to Altersberger's acts and admissions following the shooting and that this testimony would make obtaining a life sentence extremely difficult. They believed, therefore, that the best trial strategy was to agree with the prosecution that Altersberger would plead guilty in return for the prosecution not calling those witnesses at the penalty phase. They also explained that when Altersberger asked them what his odds of getting a life sentence would be, they told him that they could not guarantee anything, but his chances would greatly improve if he were to enter a plea so as to limit the prosecution's introduction of evidence at the penalty phase. As to his desire to withdraw his plea prior to sentencing, Altersberger's attorneys testified that they explained Altersberger's rights regarding plea withdrawal and advised him against withdrawing the plea but would have filed the motion to withdraw the plea if they had been directed to do so. Altersberger, 103 So. 3d at 129. And in denying Altersberger's motion to withdraw his plea that was filed after sentencing, the trial court explained that, based on the testimony given by Altersberger and his attorneys, [i]t is clear that the [d]efendant in agreement with his attorneys made a tactical decision that it was in his best interest in the hopes of obtaining a life sentence to enter a plea of guilty and proceed directly to the penalty phase. Id. at 130. Additionally, Altersberger has not demonstrated prejudice from trial counsel's decision to advise Altersberger to move to withdraw the plea after sentencing rather than before sentencing and from failing to specifically explain the different standards. After holding a hearing, Altersberger's motion to withdraw his plea, which was filed after sentencing, was denied. The trial court in this case actually did review Altersberger's plea and the circumstances surrounding his plea before sentencing when Altersberger filed a motion to discharge his attorneys on the grounds that they were improperly attempting to force him to plead guilty. And, at the hearing on this motion, Altersberger also complained about his attorney's advice regarding the plea. Altersberger cannot show that the trial court would have granted a presentence motion to withdraw his plea. Moreover, as this Court's review of Altersberger's plea on direct appeal demonstrates, Altersberger would not have been able to offer proof that his plea was not knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. See id. at 128-30. Accordingly, Altersberger has failed to demonstrate how he was prejudiced by trial counsel's advice or lack of advice regarding when to file the motion to withdraw his plea. Therefore, because Altersberger has failed to establish deficiency and prejudice, we affirm the trial court's denial of relief. B. Hurst Next, we consider whether Altersberger is entitled to relief after the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016). Because the jury recommended the death penalty by a vote of nine to three, we conclude that Altersberger's death sentence violates Hurst. See Kopsho v. State, 209 So. 3d 568, 570 (Fla. 2017). We must then consider whether the Hurst error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt: The harmless error test, as set forth in Chapman[v. California, 386 U.S. 18 (1967),] and progeny, places the burden on the state, as the beneficiary of the error, to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the error complained of did not contribute to the verdict or, alternatively stated, that there is no reasonable possibility that the error contributed to the conviction. Hurst v. State, 202 So. 3d 40, 68 (Fla. 2016) (quoting State v. DiGuilio, 491 So. 2d 1129, 1138 (Fla. 1986)), petition for cert. filed, No. 16-998 (U.S. Feb. 16, 2017). Because the jury in this case recommended death by a vote of nine to three, we cannot determine that the jury unanimously found that the aggravators outweighed the mitigation. Kopsho, 209 So. 3d at 570. We can only determine that the jury did not unanimously recommend a sentence of death. Id. Therefore, because we cannot say that there is no possibility that the error did not contribute to the sentence, the error in Altersberger's sentencing was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, we vacate the death sentence and remand for a new penalty phase. See Hurst, 202 So. 3d at 69. III. HABEAS PETITION Altersberger argues that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise a claim on direct appeal regarding the voluntariness of Altersberger's guilty plea. In this case, because the conviction for which the death penalty was imposed was the result of Altersberger's guilty plea, this Court's [mandatory] review shifts to the knowing, intelligent, and voluntary nature of that plea. Barnes v. State, 29 So. 3d 1010, 1020 (Fla. 2010) (quoting Tanzi v. State, 964 So. 2d 106, 121 (Fla. 2007)). This Court held on direct appeal that Altersberger's plea was knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entered. Altersberger, 103 So. 3d at 130. Because this Court actually reviewed this claim on direct appeal, we deny relief. See Wheeler v. State, 124 So. 3d 865, 889 (Fla. 2013) (denying habeas relief for claim that appellate counsel were ineffective for failing to make more specific claims regarding victim impact photographs because this Court already reviewed the photographs on direct appeal); Messer v. State, 439 So. 2d 875, 879 (Fla. 1983) (Habeas corpus is not a vehicle for obtaining a second determination of matters previously decided on appeal.). IV. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the denial of Altersberger's postconviction guilt phase claims, deny his guilt phase habeas claim, vacate his death sentence, and remand for a new penalty phase. It is so ordered. NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND IF FILED, DETERMINED. I concur with the majority's decision except its vacating of the death sentence pursuant to Hurst. FOOTNOTES . We have jurisdiction. See art. V, 3(b)(1), (9), Fla. Const. . Altersberger also argues that trial counsel was ineffective during the penalty phase and that there was reversible cumulative error. Because we remand for a new penalty phase, we do not address these claims or the summarily denied claims related to the penalty phase. . Nelson v. State, 274 So. 2d 256 (Fla. 4th DCA 1973). . Because we remand for a new penalty phase, we do not specifically address the penalty phase claim Altersberger raised in his habeas petition. PER CURIAM. LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, and QUINCE, JJ., concur. POLSTON, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with an opinion, in which CANADY and LAWSON, JJ., concur. CANADY and LAWSON, JJ., concur. Vietnam's government said Facebook has committed to work with it to prevent content that violates the country's laws from appearing on its platform. In February, communist Vietnam complained about "toxic" anti-government and offensive content on Facebook and Google's YouTube and pressured local companies to withdraw advertising until the social media firms found a solution. Facebook's commitment came during a meeting between its head of Global Policy Management Monika Bickert and Vietnamese information and communication minister Truong Minh Tuan in Hanoi on Wednesday, a statement on the government's website said. "Facebook will set up a separate channel to directly coordinate with Vietnam's communication and information ministry to prioritize requests from the ministry and other competent authorities in the country," the statement said. The firm will also remove fake accounts and fake content about senior government officials, it said. Facebook did not respond to a request for comment. Facebook's website says that governments sometimes ask for the removal of content that violates local laws but does not violate its own Community Standards. "If after careful legal review we find that the content is illegal under local law, then we may make it unavailable only in the relevant country or territory," it says. Vietnam's government tolerates little dissent and human rights groups and western countries have criticised its arrest of anti-government bloggers. While Vietnam makes up a very small part of the business operations of companies like Google and Facebook, it is one of Asia's fastest growing economies and a hot investment target for global consumer brands. Within Vietnam itself, YouTube and Facebook account for two-thirds of digital media market share in Vietnam, according to local agency Isobar Vietnam. Facebook has faced an unrelated challenge this week in nearby Thailand, where a man broadcast himself killing his 11-month-old daughter in a live video on Facebook that stayed on the platform for 24 hours before being removed. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Dina Mitchell was left with second degree burns on her wrist after the device combusted. It seems Samsung isnt the only company to have dealt with exploding device. A Wisconsin woman has told a news website that her smart wearable, the Fitbit Flex 2 activity tracker has exploded on her wrist. Dina Mitchell was left with second degree burns on her wrist. After the device blasted, Mitchell was quick to remove it from her wrist. The Doctors have reportedly removed all the rubber and plastic pieces from her wrist. Mitchell received the Flex 2 on her birthday and used it for about two weeks before it combusted. Fitbit knows about the incident and offered Mitchell a free replacement device. Fitbit provided Ars its full statement: We are extremely concerned about Ms. Mitchells report regarding her Flex 2 and take it very seriously, as the health and safety of our customers is our top priority. Fitbit products are designed and produced in accordance with strict standards and undergo extensive internal and external testing to ensure the safety of our users. We have spoken with Ms. Mitchell and are actively investigating this issue. We are not aware of any other complaints of this nature and see no reason for people to stop wearing their Flex 2. We will share additional information as we are able. Fitbit also faced some heat when about two per cent of its users suffered from skin rashes after using its Force tracker. The company recalled that device and put a halt at its production. The company launched the Flex 2 last year for $99, and it was companys first waterproof tracker that was capable of extracting users swimming data. Analysts believe that this isnt Fitbits "Samsung Note moment," but the seriousness of the issue will only be identified after full investigation of the case is done. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Search engine giant Google India has been named as the country's most attractive employer brand, followed by Mercedes-Benz India at the second place, a survey says. The sectoral specific winners for the most attractive employers this year are Amazon India for e-commerce, ITC Ltd for FMCG and Philips India for consumer and healthcare. According to the Randstad Employer Brand Research 2017, competitive salary and employee benefits continue to be the top priority among the Indian workforce while choosing an employer, followed by good work-life balance and job security. However, for the IT professionals, good work-life balance emerged as the top priority while choosing an employer. "Employer branding continues to be of strategic importance influencing the talent agenda, particularly so in an economy that's driven by knowledge workers," Randstad India MD and CEO Moorthy K Uppaluri said. According to the survey results, large and multinational corporations emerge as the preferred workplace for employees across all profiles. However, IT professionals indicated that they would rather work in the dynamic start-up ecosystem over the SME sector. On the other hand, engineering talent prefer working in startups over the public sector companies, reveals the survey. Sectorwise, Indian workforce prefers to work for companies operating in sectors like IT, followed by BFSI and retail & FMCG. "Organisations have come to realise the value of employer branding and the return from such investments, both in terms of attracting new talent and retaining," Uppaluri added. The survey further noted that 31 percent of employees, said they are not loyal to any one industry or sector and are open to shift industries and compensation remains a key driver in determining employee loyalty to a sector. The Randstad Award, instituted globally by Randstad, is hosted each year to encourage best practices for talent attraction and to identify the best 'Employer Brand' in the country based on perceived awareness and attractiveness of a company. In India this year, the Randstad Employer Brand Research captured the views of around 3,500 respondents, who chose the nation's most attractive employer brand for 2017. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The phones are claimed to be tested extensively by Samsung and are supposed to be issue free regarding its display. Samsung recently told at a press conference that the red tint on the Galaxy S8 is not a result of any hardware failure. The phones are claimed to be tested extensively by Samsung and are supposed to be issue free regarding its display. Samsung stated that the red tint is a natural to Super AMOLED displays and is completely normal. There is no issue or glitch regarding the display or the GPU on the Galaxy S8. Samsung had said previously that the S8 and the S8+ will receive software updates to balance the colour tone of the screen. The company has already started releasing the updates to the S8 and S8+ units in Korea. The update provides additional settings under the Adaptive Display screen mode. The new options will allow S8 and S8+ users to balance the red tint according to their individual preferences. Samsung will roll out the fix to the phones in other regions as well very soon. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The new law entered into force after being signed by President Salvador Sanchez Ceren (Photo: AP) San Salvador: El Salvador has became the first country in the world to ban the mining of metals in what campaigners called a landmark move for environmental protection. The law bans "prospection, exploration, exploitation, extraction or processing of metallic minerals in El Salvador," according to the text published yesterday in the official journal. "This is more than just a novelty," the president of the Salvadoran Ecological Unit, Mauricio Sermeno, told AFP. "It is a law that is necessary in the face of an industry which, far from bringing any benefit to communities, brings serious pollution to water sources and the environment." When lawmakers approved the bill in March, non-government campaign group Mining Watch Canada said El Salvador had "made history, becoming the first country to ban metal mining outright." Some Latin American countries thrive on mineral exports but local communities complain of environmental risks from toxic metals used in the process. The new law entered into force after being signed by President Salvador Sanchez Ceren. El Salvador says it will protect poor rural communities threatened by proposed mining projects. The country has had disputes with powerful foreign mining firms in the past. Mining Watch has said it hopes the Salvadoran legislation will set an example for other countries in the region. This month it seized assets belonging to an Australian-Canadian gold mining group, OceanaGold, for legal fees the company owed after losing a lawsuit over mining permits. In neighboring Guatemala, rural communities are challenging mining projects by Goldcorp of Canada and two US firms, Tahoe Resources and Kappes, Cassidy & Associates (KCA). Nicaragua has rejected projects by Canadian company B2 Gold. Central American countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are among the poorest in the region. But mining accounts for a minimal portion of their economies and jobs, a recent study by various NGOs showed. Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple US presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasizing by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said. In other highlights of the 42-minute interview, Trump was cool to speaking again with Taiwan's president after an earlier telephone call with her angered China. He also said he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the US THAAD anti-missile defense system, which he estimated at $1 billion, and intends to renegotiate or terminate a US free trade pact with South Korea because of a deep trade deficit with Seoul. Asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the pact, Trump said: Very soon. Im announcing it now. Trump also said he was considering adding stops to Israel and Saudi Arabia to a Europe trip next month, emphasizing that he wanted to see an Israeli-Palestinian peace. He complained that Saudi Arabia was not paying its fair share for US defense. XI Trying Very Hard Trump said North Korea was his biggest global challenge. He lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in Pyongyang. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month. "I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. "With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he cant," Trump said. Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed U.S. lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority." It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbor and ally, and remained open to negotiations. US officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct US military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among US forces in both countries. 'I Hope Hes Rational Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. "He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. "I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational," he said. Trump, sipping a Coke delivered by an aide after the president ordered it by pressing a button on his desk, rebuffed an overture from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who told Reuters a direct phone call with Trump could take place again after their first conversation in early December angered Beijing. China considers neighboring Taiwan to be a renegade province. "My problem is that I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi," said Trump. "I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him. "So I would certainly want to speak to him first." Trump also said he hoped to avoid a potential government shutdown amid a dispute between congressional Republicans and Democrats over a spending deal with a Saturday deadline looming. But he said if a shutdown takes place, it will be the Democrats' fault for trying to add money to the legislation to "bail out Puerto Rico" and other items. He also defended the one-page tax plan he unveiled on Wednesday from criticism that it would increase the US deficit, saying better trade deals and economic growth would offset the costs. "We will do trade deals that are going to make up for a tremendous amount of the deficit. We are going to be doing trade deals that are going to be much better trade deals," Trump said. New York: The explosive dawn of the Donald Trump presidency is energizing comedians and satirists as TV ratings boom, shows proliferate and top talents vie to portray the commander-in-chief as a buffoon. Into the crowded market dives a new offering -- "The President Show," starring Trump impersonator Anthony Atamanuik as the Republican leader broadcasting his own reality show from the Oval Office. The weekly program, which made its debut Thursday on Comedy Central, caricatures Trump as a child-like fool bent on bypassing the mainstream media, spliced with advice from a liberal pundit and a trip to New York where wife Melania has changed the locks. "I have the power to destroy any country on earth, but I promise you it'll be America First," says Atamanuik in character, repeating Trump's campaign slogan and reinforcing the liberal stereotype of the president as an ignorant blowhard. But to win the ratings war there's stiff competition. In the weekly market there is "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" on TBS, the first feminist political satire show on mainstream US television; "Last Week Tonight" with John Oliver on HBO; and the long-running and most-widely watched comedy show "Saturday Night Live" on NBC. Weeknights there is "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on CBS, whose satirical tone has overtaken rival NBC entertainer Jimmy Fallon in the ratings; and "The Daily Show" with Trevor Noah on Comedy Central. "Right now satire sees itself as more important than it has been in a very long time," says Dannagal Young, associate professor communication at the University of Delaware. "In recent memory I don't think that we have seen a time that is as frightening, especially for the left, as this moment." If ratings and advertising sales are up, so too are career fortunes. Alec Baldwin has swapped headlines about tussling with paparazzi for rave reviews for his Trump impersonation on SNL that portrays the president as an idiot or a pawn. Melissa McCarthy's impersonation of the White House spokesman, also on SNL, reportedly riled the president and has driven headlines. Comedians say there are rich pickings in an administration has defied so many norms, from Trump refusing to fully divest from his businesses to concerns about nepotism and Russian meddling in the election. That Trump is notoriously thin skinned makes him more fun to goad. Satire "has the ability to help people cope," said Stephen Groening, assistant professor in the department of comparative literature, cinema and media at the University of Washington. The ability to laugh, get perspective and enjoy the fact that other people find times "challenging and absurd, has value," he says. Bee, Oliver and Noah take a more nuanced, issue-driven approach, woven with righteous anger and a call to arms that urges viewers to call their senator, protest or to donate to organizations. "Stand-up comedians are increasingly taking a political activist, public intellectual role," says Maggie Hennefeld, who teaches cultural studies and comparative literature at the University of Minnesota. "American satire had the reputation for being less pointed, less dark, less confrontational," she said. "That's changing." But if satire is predominantly left-leaning in a divided country where few Trump supporters tune in to watch Bee or Oliver, that is something Trump impersonator Atamanuik hopes to change. His show "is not about catering to the right, but it is not about catering to the left either," he told reporters this week. "This nation needs severe couples' therapy, let's just put it that way. And it doesn't happen by just fighting with each other." Groening however doubts the "The President Show" will tackle what he called Trump's "overt appeals to sexism, misogyny, racism and homophobia." He said too much US presidential satire was caricature rather than a look at policy or the state of the country in general. Groening believes the booming market has more to do with the growth of channels and the digital era than Trump specifically. "I'm not confident this is a seismic shift," he said. "You see in the ratings how wonderful Trump has been for TV," he said. "So I don't see them doing anything differently." Washington: US diplomats used a meeting with their Iranian counterparts to press the release of Americans being detained in Iran, the Trump administration said Thursday. It is the first public acknowledgment of direct US-Iranian discussions since President Donald Trump took office. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the talks occurred on the sidelines of a meeting in Vienna this week that focused on implementation of the Iran nuclear deal. Trump has railed against the seven-nation accord that President Barack Obama's administration led to completion in 2015. But Trump's aides recently certified that Iran was upholding its commitment to not advance its nuclear program toward weapons capability. Although Trump and his top advisers have publicly criticized Iran for its support of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Yemeni rebels and militant groups throughout the Middle East, American officials haven't spoken about any continuation of US-Iranian conversations that became routine under the Obama administration. At Tuesday's meeting in Austria, Toner said, "the US delegation raised with the Iranian delegation its serious concerns regarding the cases of US citizens detained and missing in Iran, and called on Iran to immediately release these US citizens so they can be reunited with their families." Toner cited the detentions of Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father, Baquer Namazi, who are serving 10-year prison sentences for "cooperating with the hostile American government." The younger Namazi has been detained since October 2015 and his father was taken into custody in February 2016. Their supporters deny the charges and say the two are being held as leverage against the United States. Iran has detained dual nationals to use as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West, most notably in a controversial 2016 prisoner swap with the US that coincided with American sanctions being removed as part of the nuclear deal and a $1.7 billion payment by Washington to settle a decades-old dispute with Tehran over a frozen Iranian account. Both Namazis appear to be ensnared by hard-liners within Iran's security services who oppose Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the nuclear deal he struck with world powers. Toner also noted it has been more than a decade since the disappearance of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, a CIA contractor in 2007 traveling on an unauthorized mission to collect intelligence. The only photos and video of Levinson emerged in 2010 and 2011. He appeared gaunt and bearded with long hair, and was wearing an orange jumpsuit similar to those worn by detainees at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay. "Iran committed to cooperating with the United States in bringing Bob home and we call on Iran to fulfill this commitment," Toner said, though Tehran has been providing such commitments previously. "The United States remains unwavering in its efforts to return Bob to his family." Toner made no mention of an Iranian-American who was recently released on bail from his long prison sentence in Iran for "collaboration with a hostile government." While Robin Shahini of San Diego was let go from prison, it was unclear if he would be permitted to leave Iran. Shahini traveled to Iran to see his mother, who has Alzheimer's disease, and was detained last July. In December, a human rights group reported that Iranian-American art gallery manager Karan Vafadari and his Iranian wife also were detained.272210 GMT Apr 17 The profusely bleeding Mark was helped by his friends. (Photo: Pixabay) Iloilo: A 32-year-old woman chopped off her husbands penis with pair of scissors for allegedly being a womaniser. The incident took place in Iloilo City of Philippines on April 22. According to report in Daily Mail, the womans husband, Mark, who went out for drinks post office, had fallen asleep at a friend's house, when Liezel Betitta stormed the friends place grabbed his penis and cut off it two inches from the base with scissors. An angry Liezel, who fled the scene after her act, was later arrested by police. Stating that she had no regrets about her action, Liezel said: I don't regret cutting off his penis. It's his punishment for being a womanizer. I am ready to face the dire consequences of my action. She also added, I am tired of his womanizing. He got a new girlfriend lately. Meanwhile, the profusely bleeding Mark was helped by his friends. They admitted him to the Jesus Colmenares Memorial Hospital in the Balasan Town district. Parents of twins and a daughter, Liezel and Mark were always seen arguing, Marks friends said in a statement to police. Though the cut off portion of Marks penis was reattached, doctors werent sure how effective the operation would be. Physicians also said in a statement that because the major nerve has been detached, tissue from the part cut off had already died. Alexis Bataga from Carles Police, who is investigating the case, said that Mark wanted to press charges against his wife. There was only one incident of armed robbery in Indian waters as of March this year. (Photo: DC/File/Representational) Singapore: The Indian Coast Guard has been praised at a regional conference on maritime safety in Singapore for making Indian waters safe and free of piracy. There has been a remarkable decrease in piracy and armed robbery in Indian waters, said Lee Yin Mui, assistant director for research at the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP). There was only one incident of armed robbery in Indian waters as of March this year. "There was also a remarkable decrease in the number of incidents of armed robbery in Indian waters," said Lee. She highlighted the continuous efforts of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) towards deployment of the operational units at sea/air in the region. "The real time quick action has resulted into on-site apprehensions of the culprits thus making the Indian waters a safe place for the mariners," said Lee at a conference organised on Thursday by the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC). "We are pleased to note the significant decrease of the number of incidents last year, but we should not be complacent to think that this is the long-term trend, cautioned Masafumi Kuroki, Executive Director, ReCAAP ISC. "When you see the resurgence of piracy in the waters off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden after five years of absence, unfortunately, the piracy and sea robbery do not disappear so easily, he noted. He also pointed out the frequently changing modus operandi of piracy and sea robbery. "The perpetrators are looking for an opportunity for any mode of piracy and sea robbery, as far as it is lucrative. Therefore, we need to be prepared for different types of maritime crimes, said Kuroki. International organisation, law enforcement agency and shipping associations shared their views at the conference. ReCAAP is the first regional government-to-government agreement to promote and enhance cooperation against piracy and armed robbery in Asia. So far, 20 countries have become Contracting Parties to the group. United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. CHEIKHNA ABDOULAYE NDONGO, Petitioner, v. JEFFERSON B. SESSIONS III, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL, Respondent. 15-3326 Decided: April 26, 2017 PRESENT: ROBERT A. KATZMANN, Chief Judge, BARRINGTON D. PARKER, DENNY CHIN, Circuit Judges. FOR PETITIONER: Andy Wong, Washington, D.C. FOR RESPONDENT: Benjamin C. Mizer, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General; Jeffrey R. Leist, Senior Litigation Counsel; David Schor, Trial Attorney, Office of Immigration Litigation, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. UPON DUE CONSIDERATION of this petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) decision, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the petition for review is DENIED. Petitioner Cheikhna Abdoulaye Ndongo, a native and citizen of Mauritania, seeks review of an October 1, 2015, decision of the BIA, affirming a May 1, 2014, decision of an Immigration Judge (IJ) denying Ndongo's application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). In re Cheikhna Abdoulaye Ndongo, No. A087 799 442 (B.I.A. Oct. 1, 2015), aff'g No. A087 799 442 (Immig. Ct. N.Y. City May 1, 2014). We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history in this case. Under the circumstances of this case, we have reviewed both the IJ's and the BIA's opinions for the sake of completeness. Wangchuck v. Dep't of Homeland Sec., 448 F.3d 524, 528 (2d Cir. 2006). The applicable standards of review are well established. See 8 U.S.C. 1252(b); Xiu Xia Lin v. Mukasey, 534 F.3d 162, 165-66 (2d Cir. 2008). For asylum applications like Ndongo's, governed by the REAL ID Act, the agency may, [c]onsidering the totality of the circumstances, base a credibility finding on the inherent plausibility of the applicant's account and on inconsistencies in an applicant's testimony and evidence, without regard to whether those inconsistencies go to the heart of the applicant's claim. 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii). We defer to an IJ's credibility determination unless, from the totality of the circumstances, it is plain that no reasonable fact-finder could make such an adverse credibility ruling. Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167. A petitioner must do more than offer a plausible explanation for his inconsistent statements to secure relief; he must demonstrate that a reasonable fact-finder would be compelled to credit his testimony. Majidi v. Gonzales, 430 F.3d 77, 80 (2d Cir. 2005) (internal quotation marks omitted). The threshold question is whether there is a credibility determination to review here. An IJ must decide explicitly whether an applicant's testimony is credible. Diallo v. INS, 232 F.3d 279, 290 (2d Cir. 2000). We conclude that there is a sufficiently explicit determination in this case. The IJ cited the REAL ID Act, noted the serious inconsistencies among Ndongo's statements and evidence, and concluded that, [b]ased on the inconsistencies, Ndongo had failed to meet the burden of proof of establishing past persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. Special App. 10, 12; see also Zaman v. Mukasey, 514 F.3d 233, 237-38 (2d Cir. 2008). Turning to the denial of relief, the agency's adverse credibility determination is supported by substantial evidence. The essence of Ndongo's claim is that he was born into slavery in Mauritania and that he fears that his master, who exercised strict control over his movements, will harm him and his family. As discussed below, the inconsistencies call into question the veracity of Ndongo's claim. First, the agency reasonably relied on inconsistencies concerning Ndongo's wife's place of birth and her current location, as those inconsistencies called into question whether Ndongo's wife and, thus, Ndongo, was a slave. See 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii). Ndongo testified that his wife was born into slavery in Mauritania under the same slave master he was. But his application reports that his wife was born in Senegal. The IJ was not compelled to accept Ndongo's explanation that he was confused. See Majidi, 430 F.3d at 80. And the inconsistency was compounded by another concerning his wife's current location: Ndongo's application reported that his wife lived in Senegal, but he testified that she lived in Mauritania. The IJ also reasonably found Ndongo's testimony concerning his wife implausible. See Yan v. Mukasey, 509 F.3d 63, 66 (2d Cir. 2007). In addition to being inconsistent, Ndongo's ultimate testimony that his wife was born in Senegal but went to Mauritania at age 20 raised doubt as to how she came to be a slave in Mauritania. Ndongo's explanationthat he and his wife had not met before their marriagefailed to clarify this issue. See Majidi, 430 F.3d at 80. Moreover, Ndongo's application lists his wife's ethnicity as Bidane, which, as the IJ noted, is generally a group that holds slaves in Mauritania, not a group that is subject to slavery there. Second, the IJ also reasonably relied on an inconsistency concerning Ndongo's ability to marry. In a supplemental affidavit to his asylum application, Ndongo stated that, as a slave, he was not permitted to marry. Ndongo argues that he meant he was not permitted to marry absent his master's consent. While a plausible explanation, Ndongo has not demonstrated that a reasonable fact-finder would be compelled to accept it. See id ; Chen v. U.S. Attorney General, 454 F.3d 103, 106-07 (2d Cir. 2006). Third, the adverse credibility determination is further bolstered by inconsistencies concerning Ndongo's escape from Mauritania, Ndongo gave no explanation for his testimony that a merchant named Mustafa Wood was the only person who helped him escape, while his supplemental affidavit reflected that Oula Bass helped him flee. Given the inconsistencies that called Ndongo's claim into question, the agency did not err in finding that Ndongo's lack of reliable corroborating evidence was insufficient to rehabilitate his testimony. See Biao Yang v. Gonzales, 496 F.3d 268, 273 (2d Cir. 2007). The IJ reasonably gave diminished weight to letters from Ndongo's brother and a psychologist. The letter purportedly from Ndongo's brother does not identify the drafter by name, was not notarized, did not describe how Ndongo escaped Mauritania, and listed an inconsistent return addressee. See Matter of H-L-H- & Z-Y- Z-, 25 I. & N. Dec. 209, 215 (B.I.A. 2010) (agency can give little weight to document drafted by interested witness not subject to cross examination), rev'd on other grounds by Hui Lin Huang v. Holder, 677 F.3d 130 (2d Cir. 2012). And while the agency credited the psychologist's diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, it reasonably gave diminished weight to the historical facts the psychologist's letter recited because the psychologist had no independent knowledge of events. See Y.C. v. Holder, 741 F.3d 324, 334 (2d Cir. 2013) (We defer to the agency's determination of the weight afforded to an alien's documentary evidence.). Given the multiple inconsistencies, the implausible testimony, and Ndongo's lack of reliable corroboration, it cannot be said that no reasonable fact-finder could make such an adverse credibility ruling. Xiu Xia Lin, 534 F.3d at 167. Because asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief were all based on the same factual predicate, the adverse credibility determination is dispositive. Paul v. Gonzales, 444 F.3d 148, 156-57 (2d Cir. 2006). For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED. As we have completed our review, any stay of removal that the Court previously granted in this petition is VACATED, and any pending motion for a stay of removal in this petition is DISMISSED as moot. Any pending request for oral argument in this petition is DENIED in accordance with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34(a)(2), and Second Circuit Local Rule 34.1(b). FOR THE COURT: Catherine O'Hagan Wolfe, Clerk The fatwa, which has no legal force but is influential, urges the government to amend a 1974 Law on Marriage to raise the minimum marriage age for women to 18. (Photo: Twitter) Jakarta: Indonesia's main Muslim women's group has issued an edict against child marriage, urging the government of the world's most populous Muslim nation to increase the legal minimum age for females to marry from 16 to 18 years. The Congress of Indonesian Women (Ulema) said in a statement Friday that the religious edict, or fatwa, was decided at a three-day meeting in the West Java town of Cirebon. The fatwa, which has no legal force but is influential, urges the government to amend a 1974 Law on Marriage to raise the minimum marriage age for women to 18. UNICEF, the UN children's agency, welcomed the edict, describing it as a landmark moment in efforts to end child marriage in Indonesia, where one in four women marries before age 18. Trump also said he will either renegotiate or terminate what he called a "horrible" free trade deal with South Korea. (Photo: AP) Seoul: US President Donald Trump's suggestion that South Korea could pay for an advanced US missile defence system could test the strength of the alliance between Seoul and Washington at a time of rising tensions with North Korea, analysts said on Friday. In an exclusive interview, Trump said on Thursday that he wants South Korea to pay for the $1 billion Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system. The remarks come as South Korea heads into a presidential election that will likely elect liberal front-runner Moon Jae-in, who has said the next administration in Seoul should have the final say on the deployment of THAAD. Moon's campaign office said the deployment of THAAD should be immediately suspended until then. "This almost certainly will become another self-inflicted wound for the alliance and for US foreign policy," said Daniel Pinkston, a Troy University professor and expert on North and South Korea based in Seoul. Moon, who said in a book published in January that South Korea should learn to "say no to Americans", is leading polls by a wide margin ahead of South Korea's May 9 election to replace impeached former President Park Geun-hye, whose government agreed with Washington last year to deploy THAAD. If elected, Moon would end nearly a decade of conservative rule in South Korea, which has regarded the alliance with the United States dating back to the 1950-53 Korean War as a cornerstone of its defence against the threat of North Korea. Moon advocates dialogue with North Korea and has criticised the conservative government and its hawkish stance for failing to stop Pyongyang's weapons development. The Trump administration said on Wednesday it wanted to push North Korea into dismantling its nuclear and missile programmes through tougher international sanctions and diplomatic pressure -- but remained open to negotiations to bring that about. Kim Ki-jung, a top foreign policy adviser to Moon, said the suggestion that South Korea pay for the system was an "impossible option". "Even if we purchase THAAD, its main operation would be in the hands of the United States," said Kim. "So purchasing it would be an impossible option. "South Korea has never considered buying the system, partly because the cost involved was deemed prohibitive. Some liberal politicians have argued South Korea should develop its own indigenous missile defence system. THAAD's job is to intercept and destroy a ballistic missile in its final phase of flight. A battery comprises four parts: the truck-mounted launcher, eight anti-missile "interceptor" missiles, a radar system and a fire control system connecting it to US military commanders. Seoul said the decision to deploy THAAD was ultimately a military decision taken by the United States. "He's using THAAD as a guinea pig to test the relationship," said Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Kyungnam University's Institute of Far Eastern Studies in Seoul. "Trump seems to be testing South Korea's commitment to the Korea-US alliance. I wonder if Trump's saying this because he already thinks Moon will win," Kim added. In an interview with Reuters, Trump also said he will either renegotiate or terminate what he called a "horrible" free trade deal with South Korea. A second top foreign policy adviser to Moon said Trump's comments about the cost of THAAD poses fundamental questions about where the alliance may be headed. "This is a new dimension," said Chung Eui-yong, a former South Korean ambassador to Geneva who leads a team of foreign policy advisers for Moon. "Our position has been that we should review THAAD even if we are not paying for it, but his comments on the cost have changed the fundamental aspect of this issue," Chung told Reuters. "We will have to choose what is best for our national interests." The US military started deploying THAAD in early March, despite strong opposition from China, which says the system's radar can be used to spy into its territory. The deployment also sparked protests from residents in Seonjgu in the southeast, where the system is being deployed, and prompted a North Korean warning of retaliation. China has imposed some restrictions on South Korean companies in China, which many in South Korea perceive as retaliation for deployment of the missile system. Under the Status of Forces Agreement, which lays out conditions under which US forces are stationed in Korea, the two countries should mutually agree if South Korea wants to take back the land which has been allocated to the U.S. military for the deployment of THAAD. South Korea said on Wednesday major elements of the system have been moved into the site and it would be fully operational by the end of this year. The top US commander in the Pacific, Admiral Harry Harris, later said the system would be operational "in coming days." and suggested Beijing should focus on influencing North Korea rather than worrying about a purely defensive system. Brussels: European Union foreign ministers were seeking a way out of a stalemate on membership talks with Turkey on Friday, as ties between the two have sunk to their lowest level in years. EU ministers also will meet with their Turkish counterpart in Valletta, Malta, for the first high-level meeting since the divisive referendum in Turkey that gives more powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his stinging criticism of several EU nations, some of which he compared to Nazis. "The current situation as it is, is definitely not sustainable and this in a way frustrating for both sides," EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said. While some ministers are calling for sustained relations with a pillar of the NATO alliance and a major partner in controlling the flow of migrants into the EU from Syria and beyond, others are calling for change. "There are so many areas where we need a correct, friendly and productive cooperation that we have to see, together with our Turkish colleagues, how we can improve the situation," Hahn said. Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has been at the forefront in calling for a fundamental reset of relations, and claims Turkey has thwarted fundamental EU values. "The path cannot be membership," he said. He insisted that Erdogan had crossed many "red lines" that would bar membership, including the imprisonment of journalists, undue pressure on the opposition, and the referendum which will bring more powers to the president. "I would like to see a clear, courageous EU stand. 'Yes' to contact with Turkey. 'No' to accession," Kurz said. Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak questioned Turkey's credentials to join the EU, saying that EU "values must be underpinned by concrete steps and you must not be saying one thing and marching in a different direction." In the wake of the referendum victory two weeks ago, Erdogan has been talking about the reinstatement of the death penalty, which is outlawed in all EU nations and is a key moral benchmark of the bloc. Turkey applied to join the EU three decades ago, and they started negotiating in 2005. But of the 16 negotiating chapters on issues as varied as capital movement and food safety, only one has been provisionally closed: science and research. There has been no progress in recent months. Even though the Netherlands was one of the nations that Erdogan compared to "Nazis," Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said he would still try to end the war of words. "Our bilateral relationships have been difficult, but my plan is to deescalate tension," he said. Le Pen also addressed anxiety among voters about her plans to pull France out of the European Union and replace the bloc with a club of independent nations. (Photo: AP) Nice (France): France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen faces the biggest test yet of her six-year drive to improve the image of her party as she seeks to entice new voters needed to make her president. Her task was underlined on Friday when her National Front (FN) party removed its interim leader Jean-Francois Jalkh after reported comments about a Holocaust denier. To stand a chance of winning, Le Pen will need to convince people like pensioner Jacques Villain and student Marina Campana ahead of the final round of the presidential election on May 7. Both of them backed defeated candidates in the first round last weekend and now face a choice between Le Pen and pro-European centrist Emmanuel Macron in the run-off. Villain, a retired pensioner in Nice, supported defeated conservative Francois Fillon while Campana, a 19-year-old who attends university in the southern city, voted for far-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon. But both ruled out a vote for Le Pen, saying the main reason was her association with racism which she attempted to erase when she took over FN in 2011. Villain, out for a walk on the famed waterfront promenade in Nice that was the scene of a deadly Islamist-inspired truck rampage last July, said he would vote for Macron out of duty, not conviction. "The National Front is not a normal party," he said. "It brings back bad memories" of France's past. Campana said ahead of a campaign rally by Le Pen in Nice on Thursday: "There are things she says on immigration and security and I just don't agree." Their views are far from universal -- some voters encountered in the traditionally right-wing city said they would switch to Le Pen -- but there remains wariness among a large part of the electorate. This explains in part why polls show Le Pen would lose the second round by a large margin, 40 percent to 60 percent for Macron, if it were held today. One in four Fillon supporters and fewer than one in five Melenchon voters currently plan to vote for her, according to an Ifop poll released Thursday. This dynamic gives the 48-year-old Le Pen a tricky balancing act ahead of the runoff: keeping her core far-right supporters happy, while appealing to a wider electorate who need to be reassured. She gave a hint of this on Thursday evening as she addressed the rally in Nice that mixed attacks on Macron -- the candidate of the banks and "oligarchs" -- with messages to moderate voters. The tone was markedly different from her speeches of the last fortnight which dwelt extensively on immigration, the threat from radical Islam and the perceived loss of French identity. She quoted Jean Jaures -- a famed former Socialist leader beloved on the left -- and namechecked Charles de Gaulle, the founder of the French republic and hero on the right. "I don't look at your origins, your religion, your sexual orientation, or the colour of your skin. That doesn't interest me. What interests me is you," she said at one point. Le Pen also addressed anxiety among voters about her plans to pull France out of the European Union and replace the bloc with a club of independent nations. "I've heard the fears expressed," she said, explaining how she would invite European leaders immediately after her election to talks to repatriate powers to national capitals. The former lawyer would then call a referendum on the deal. "Nothing will be done without you, nothing will be done against you," she said. Notably absent was her proposal to withdraw France from the eurozone and return to the franc -- one of her signature policies backed by only a minority of voters, polls show. Herve Le Bras, a veteran sociologist and expert on the far-right in France, says conservative voters, particularly the elderly, are still wary of the FN which they view as too radical. "They are in favour of changing things, but not for turning the table upside down," he said. He said he thinks Le Pen was disappointed by her first-round score of 21.3 percent and says the FN has progressed slightly nationwide, "but it's not a tidal wave". "I think she was very disappointed and is hoping to make up for it with a bigger score in the second round," he said. Le Pen had announced Monday she was stepping aside as FN leader in order to focus on the presidential campaign. On Friday, her stand-in Jalkh was hastily replaced by Steeve Briois, mayor of an FN-controlled town in northern France, after Jalkh was accused of praising the work of a convicted Holocaust denier. The party says Jalkh denies calling academic Robert Faurisson's research "rigorous". The bearded suspect was seen in pictures as calm and smirking into cameras as he was handcuffed. (Photo: AFP) London: Scotland Yard on Friday identified the 'knifeman' arrested near the UK Parliament on terrorism charges as Mohammed Khalid Omar Ali, a foreign-born British national. The 27-year-old suspect went to school in Tottenham in north London and remains in custody at a south London police station. He was arrested on Thursday in a very public operation near Parliament Square as part of an intelligence-led operation after a concerned family member contacted police. The arrest was made a month after a lone wolf attack left five people dead near the highly guarded Westminster. Khalid was known to the police and the security service MI5 and searches at addresses linked to him are ongoing and therefore more information on his background remains withheld. The Metropolitan Police said Thursday he had been arrested in Parliament Street, at the junction with Parliament Square, "following a stop and search as part of an ongoing operation". A Met Police statement said: "The man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. Knives have been recovered from him. "Detectives from the counter-terrorism command are continuing their investigation, and as a result of this arrest there is no immediate known threat." A witness described having seen two knives on the ground, one of which he described as a large bread knife. Security services were reportedly tracking the suspect in a covert operation over some time, hoping to gather as much intelligence as possible before swooping on him. The bearded suspect was seen in pictures as calm and smirking into cameras as he was handcuffed. Sokolovsky's harsh treatment has drawn comparisons with the jailing of the Pussy Riot performance artists after they staged a punk performance in a Moscow cathedral in 2012. (Photo: Representational) Moscow: Russian prosecutors on Friday called for a three-and-a-half year jail sentence for a blogger who hunted Pokemons in church, in a case that has drawn ire from rights activists. Ruslan Sokolovsky posted a YouTube video in August 2016 showing him playing Pokemon Go on his phone in a Russian Orthodox Church in the central city of Yekaterinburg that was viewed more than 1.7 million times. The militant atheist -- dubbed a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International -- was detained and charged under controversial legislation for "inciting hatred" and "insulting the feelings of religious believers" before being put on trial. "There are no grounds to let the defendant go unpunished," Russian news agencies quoted a prosecutor as saying in court. "I ask for a punishment of three years and six months of imprisonment for all crimes." Sokolovsky's harsh treatment has drawn comparisons with the jailing of the Pussy Riot performance artists after they staged a punk performance in a Moscow cathedral in 2012. The case has once again highlighted the power of the Russian Orthodox Church under the conservative rule of President Vladimir Putin. The court said the verdict in Sokolovsky's case will be delivered on May 11, agencies reported. President Erdogan praised Donald Trump for showing a 'more determined' approach than Obama against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad after the air strikes this month that followed a suspected chemical attack. (Photo: AP) Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday expressed confidence he would be able to open a "new page" in troubled relations with Washington at a meeting next month with his counterpart Donald Trump. The summit between Erdogan and Trump in the United States in mid-May will be their first face-to-face encounter as heads of state and a chance to progress a relationship that became mired in a series of disputes under former president Barack Obama. "I believe that we will open a new page with Mr Trump in Turkey-US relations," Erdogan told the Atlantic Council Istanbul summit. Erdogan made clear he expected a turnaround from Trump on the use of the Syrian Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) as the chief US ally on the ground in Syria in the battle against Islamic State (IS) jihadists. Turkey says the YPG is merely the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) separatists inside Turkey, who have waged an insurgency since 1984 that has left tens of thousands dead. "There are still sensitive aspects in our bilateral relations that we want to bring to the position we are looking for," said Erdogan. "We expect our American friends to better understand the threats our country is facing and to show the solidarity that we need." Of the US alliance with the YPG in Syria he said: "We can never accept cooperation with a terror organisation that is aiming at the lives of our people on the pretext of fighting against Daesh (IS)." He said that "concrete support" given to the YPG by the United States in Syria was "harming the spirit of alliance and partnership". His comments came after Turkey angered the United States this week by bombing YPG positions in Syria. There have also been successive clashes between the Turkish army and the YPG over the border in the last days. Erdogan praised Trump for showing a "more determined" approach than Obama against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad after the air strikes this month that followed a suspected chemical attack. "It was late coming but something that we welcomed," he said of the US air strikes. "The Assad regime has seen for the first time in six years that there will be no silence to the massacre of innocents." Emmanuel Macron with his girlfriend, who is his former teacher (Photo: AP) Beijing: China is closely following France's presidential election, but web users appear less interested in the politics than the unusual marriage between moderate candidate Emmanuel Macron and his former teacher. Comparisons with the characters of a popular Chinese television drama called "In the Name of the People" -- which also happens to be the slogan of French far-right candidate Marine Le Pen -- have flooded China's Twitter-like Weibo. The main villain of the ripped-from-the-headlines show, which follows the exploits of an anti-corruption squad tackling graft at the highest levels of government, is a dodgy official who marries a woman 10 years his senior in a bid for power. Posts using a hashtag about the French politician's much-discussed marriage -- which translates into English as "Marrying his teacher 24 years his senior" -- have been viewed more than nine million times on the social media site. Despite the seemingly unfavourable comparison to a corrupt official, social media commenters have been largely supportive of 39-year-old Macron's relationship with his 64-year-old wife Brigitte. "Taking a high school teacher and mother as his wife, you can only call this French man a romantic," one web user said. "Age isn't distance," said another. "Please don't make malicious assumptions about others." Islamabad: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif are engaged in secret talks, Pakistan media reports claimed on Thursday. Pakistani television channels reported that an Indian delegation, led by industrialist Sajjan Jindal, met Sharif this week and flew back to India. The Indian delegation conveyed the message of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to PM Sharif, claimed a Pakistani TV channel. Pakistans Opposition party, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, raised the issue in Parliament. Jindal, JSW chairperson, spent some hours in Pakistan and then returned to India. The three-member delegation went to Murree where they had lunch with Sharif, Dunya News reported. The secret meeting comes amid efforts to pave the way for a meeting between Sharif and Modi on the sidelines of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), an emerging economic and security alliance. The reports of talks come amidst a diplomatic tussle between India and Pakistan over the death penalty awarded to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Yadav. Imran Khans Opposition party, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), expressed reservations over the arrival of an Indian delegation and submitted a resolution in Punjab Assembly and raised the issue in Parliament. PTIs leader in Punjab Assembly, Mehmoodur Rasheed, tabled a resolution stating that the Indian delegation flew to Pakistan to rescue a beleaguered Sharif amid calls for his resignation after a split decision of the Supreme Court in the Panama leaks case. The PTI resolution demanded the House and people be apprised of the motives behind the visit of the Indian delegation, which was not confirmed by the foreign ministry. Voicing reservations, PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said, We are concerned over the visit. PM Sharif has business relations with Indians. Modis surprise stopover in Lahore in December 2015, on Mr Sharifs birthday, was also allegedly facilitated by Mr Jindal. The Indian government had denied that Jindal had any role in the back channel talks between the two countries. Pakistan has announced its intention to declare the disputed Gilgit-Baltistan as its fifth province. (Photo: AFP) Karachi: The Pakistan government has barred foreign tourists from visiting the disputed region of Gilgit-Baltistan without obtaining the no-objection certificate from the Interior Ministry. According to the ARY news, it is reported that the Interior Ministry had imposed a ban on visits of foreign tourists who don't carry NOC with them at the time of visit. The Gilgit-Baltistan government recently received a letter from the ministry saying that foreigners were frequently visiting Gilgit-Baltistan without obtaining an NOC or security clearance from the ministry, which is against the rules. The letter asks the authorities concerned to take concrete measures to curb the practice. The Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO) has opposed the government move and said the order was tantamount to the "economic murder" of GB. Gilgit-Baltistan is a disputed area in Pakistan's northernmost administrative territory that borders the disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Recently, Pakistan has announced its intention to declare the region as its fifth province. However, India flatly rejected this move claiming that Gilgit-Baltistan is an integral part of its territory. United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. JAVIER TOSCANO-SERRANO, Defendant - Appellant. No. 16-4558 Decided: April 27, 2017 Before MOTZ, DUNCAN, and AGEE, Circuit Judges. Ray Coit Yarborough, Jr., LAW OFFICE OF RAY COIT YARBOROUGH, JR., Florence, South Carolina, for Appellant. John David Rowell, Assistant United States Attorney, Columbia, South Carolina, for Appellee. Javier Toscano-Serrano pled guilty, pursuant to a written plea agreement, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. 846 (2012). The district court sentenced Toscano-Serrano to 72 months' imprisonment, within the 70- to 87-month advisory Sentencing Guidelines range. On appeal, counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), stating that there are no meritorious grounds for appeal, but questioning the district court's compliance with Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the reasonableness of the sentence. Toscano-Serrano was advised of his right to file a pro se supplemental brief, but has not filed one. The Government declined to file a brief. Because Toscano-Serrano did not move in the district court to withdraw his guilty plea, we review the guilty plea hearing for plain error. United States v. Martinez, 277 F.3d 517, 525 (4th Cir. 2002). To establish plain error, [Toscano-Serrano] must show that an error occurred, that the error was plain, and that the error affected his substantial rights. United States v. Muhammad, 478 F.3d 247, 249 (4th Cir. 2007). Even if Toscano-Serrano satisfies these requirements, correction of the error remains within our discretion, which we should not exercise unless the error seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Id. (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Our review of the record leads us to conclude that the district court substantially complied with Rule 11 in accepting Toscano-Serrano's guilty plea, which Toscano-Serrano entered knowingly and voluntarily. Turning to Toscano-Serrano's sentence, we review a sentence for procedural and substantive reasonableness under a deferential abuse of discretion standard. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). We must first ensure that the district court did not commit any significant procedural error, such as failing to properly calculate the applicable Guidelines range, failing to consider the 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) (2012) sentencing factors, or failing to adequately explain the sentence. Id. If we find the sentence procedurally reasonable, we then consider its substantive reasonableness. Id. at 328. We presume on appeal that a sentence within the properly calculated Guidelines range is substantively reasonable. United States v. Dowell, 771 F.3d 162, 176 (4th Cir. 2014). Such a presumption is rebutted only when the defendant shows that the sentence is unreasonable when measured against the 3553(a) factors. United States v. Montes-Pineda, 445 F.3d 375, 379 (4th Cir. 2006). Upon review, we discern no procedural or substantive sentencing error by the district court. The district court correctly calculated Toscano-Serrano's advisory Guidelines range, heard argument from counsel, provided Toscano-Serrano an opportunity to allocute, and considered the 3553(a) sentencing factors. We have reviewed the record and conclude that Toscano-Serrano's within-Guidelines sentence is both procedurally and substantively reasonable. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court. In accordance with Anders, we have reviewed the record in this case and have found no meritorious issues for appeal. This court requires that counsel inform Toscano-Serrano, in writing, of the right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further review. If Toscano-Serrano requests that a petition be filed, but counsel believes that such a petition would be frivolous, then counsel may move in this court for leave to withdraw from representation. Counsel's motion must state that a copy thereof was served on Toscano-Serrano. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process. AFFIRMED PER CURIAM: Kulbhushan Jadhav, the 46-year-old former naval officer, has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage and subversive activities. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday said that it will decide "on merit" the request made by India for consular access to its citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a military court on spying charges. Pakistan's assertion came a day after India handed over an appeal by the mother of Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by the Field General Court Martial, to the appellate court, initiating a process to get his conviction overturned. Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that India has sought consular access to 46-year-old Jadhav. "We have made it clear time and again that Pakistan and India have signed an agreement on consular access in 2008, and according to clause VI of that agreement, decision to grant consular access in cases where detentions and arrests relate to political or security matters, the request of consular access will be decided on merits of the case", he said. Referring to Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale's demand for consular access to Jadhav during a meeting with Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua on Wednesday, the spokesman said that the Indian diplomat had submitted a request for an appeal "which will be examined by experts." Zakaria's statement differs from that of army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor who had said last week that Jadhav was a spy and consular access cannot be given to spies. Similarly, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua was quoted by local media as saying yesterday that consular access agreement was related to prisoners and not spies. Pakistan has rejected India's request for consular access to Jadhav 15 times. Zakaria alleged that Jadhav was a serving commander of Indian Navy, working for Indian intelligence agency RAW and was caught red-handed. India acknowledges that Jadhav had served with the navy but denies that he has any connection with the government. Jadhav made confessions, and was tried for espionage activities, Zakaria said, adding that his trial was conducted according to the law of the land in a transparent manner. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy." The Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. However, India denied Pakistan's contention and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistan's agencies. "Pakistan has always highlighted to the International Community that India uses Afghan soil against Pakistan and it has been repeatedly stated by those in India in position of authority and responsibility that their effort is to squeeze Pakistan from the eastern and western borders," he alleged. He urged the international community to take note of "Indian state sponsorship of activities of subversion, terrorism and financing of terrorists against Pakistan." Beijing: China has urged the European Union (EU) to stop interfering in Hong Kong and Macao affairs after the European Commission and European External Action Service issued their 2016 reports on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Macao SAR. "We urge the EU to halt interference in Hong Kong and Macao affairs, and contribute more to the China-EU relations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing on Thursday. He added that it is well known that "one country, two systems" has made remarkable achievements as he said that the SAR system has been effective under the Constitution and the basic law of the two SARs. "China will stick to 'one country, two systems', 'Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong,' 'Macao people governing Macao' and 'a high degree of autonomy', said Geng. European Commission in its report said, 2016 was a politically challenging year for the Hong Kong SAR and for the functioning of the 'one country, two systems' principle. It also highlighted the case of the five book publishers who went missing in 2015, which according to the report, the EU regards as the most serious challenge to the Basic Law and the 'one country, two systems' principle since the 1997 handover, continued to unfold, and the circumstances of their disappearance have yet to be clarified. "The EU hopes that the Hong Kong SAR and China's central government will resume electoral reform in Hong Kong in line with the Basic Law and reach an agreement on an election system that is democratic, fair, open and transparent," the report stated. Last month Bangladesh police conducted series of large-scale operations against militants, in which at least 17 suspected militants were killed.(Photo: AP/Representational Image) Four militants blew themselves up in Bangladesh after a 24-hour standoff with the security forces which raided their den, the latest such incident amid an intensified nationwide crackdown on Islamist militants, police said on Friday. An injured pregnant woman, who is the wife of one of the slain militants, and her six-year-old daughter were brought out from the house as siege ended at the den of Neo Jamaat- ul-Mujahideen, a spokesman said. Last month Bangladesh police conducted series of large-scale operations against militants, in which at least 17 suspected militants were killed. China has warned North Korea of sanctions if the reclusive nation went ahead with another nuclear test, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said. "They (Chinese) confirmed to us that they had requested that the regime conduct no further nuclear test. In fact, we were told by the Chinese that they informed the (North Korean) regime that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions action on their own," Tillerson told Fox News in an interview aired last night. The US Secretary of State appeared to be praising China of its role in North Korea. "We're asking a lot of the Chinese. I think in the past, the assumption has been the Chinese would only take limited action. We're going to test that assumption," he said in response to a question. Tillerson, however, said he does not seek a regime change in North Korea. "We do not seek regime change in North Korea. We're not seeking a collapse of the regime," said the top American diplomat. Meanwhile, a top American admiral told lawmakers that the goal of the North Korea's leader is to have nuclear weapons. "There is no doubt in my mind," Admiral Harry Harris, Commander of the US Pacific Command, said when Senator John McCain Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said it is clear that his goal is a nuclear weapon and the means to deliver it to the US. Harris said China has the capability to influence in effect North Korean behavior for a number of reasons. "It had chosen not to exert the full range of its influence. I think we're in a different place now. I think the jury's out its early days. We'll have to see if China has changed its view of its willingness to influence Kim Jung Un," Harris said in response to a question. North Korea, he said, remains the most immediate threat to the security of the US and its allies in Japan and Korea. "North Korea has vigorously pursued a strategic strike capability with nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, which it claims are intended to target the US, South Korea, Japan and, just earlier this week, Australia," he said. He said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is making progress on his quest for nuclear weapons and a means to deliver the intercontinentally and all the nations need to take this "threat" seriously beacause North Korea's missiles point in all directions. Noting that North Korea's capabilities are not yet an existential threat to America, but if left unchecked, it will eventually match the capability to hostile rhetoric, Harris warned. He called on China to exert its considerable influence to stop Pyongyang's unprecedented weapons testing. While recent actions by Beijing are encouraging, the fact remains that China is as responsible for where North Korea is as North Korea itself, he observed. "In confronting the reckless North Korean regime, it's critical they were guided by a strong sense of resolve both privately and publicly, both diplomatically and militarily. As President Trump and Secretary Mattis have made it clear, all options are on the table. We want to bring Kim Jong Un to his senses and not to his knees," Harris said. US has already sent aircraft carrier-led strike group to the Korean peninsula to step up pressure against North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un to refrain from developing a nuclear- tipped ballistic missile capable of reaching mainland US. The Afghan Taliban launched their "spring offensive" today, heralding fresh fighting in the drawn-out conflict as embattled security forces struggle to recover from a devastating attack on a military base one week ago. Operation Mansouri -- named after the group's former leader, who was killed in a US drone strike in May 2016 -- will target foreign forces with tactics including "conventional attacks, guerrilla warfare, complex martyrdom attacks, insider attacks", a statement from the insurgents said. "The enemy will be targeted, harassed, killed or captured until they abandon their last posts," it continued. The annual spring offensive normally marks the start of the "fighting season", though this winter the Taliban continued to battle government forces, most successfully in last week's attack on the military base outside the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. The assault last Friday, in which militants dressed in Afghan army uniforms and with valid passes to the installation slaughtered at least 135 young recruits, is believed to be the deadliest by the Taliban on an Afghan military target. It sparked widespread anger and led to the resignations of the defence minister and the army chief of staff, along with a reshuffle of army corps commander, leaving security forces facing disarray as fear and suspicion grew that the militants had inside help. Authorities have arrested at least 35 soldiers over the incident so far, ranked from foot soldier to colonel. So-called insider attacks -- when Afghan soldiers and police turn their guns on their colleagues or on international troops -- have been a major problem during the war, which began in 2001. Afghan forces saw soaring casualties in 2016, up by 35 percent with 6,800 soldiers and police killed, according to a US watchdog. Already beset by killings, desertions, and struggles over leadership and morale, they have been straining to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014. With more than one third of Afghanistan outside of government control, civilians continue to bear a heavy brunt, with thousands killed and wounded each year. A UN report for the first quarter of 2017 showed children are paying an increasingly disproportionate price, with 210 killed from January to March, up 17 percent from the same period last year. The Taliban announcement comes days after Pentagon chief Jim Mattis visited Kabul as the Trump administration seeks to craft a new strategy in Afghanistan. Mattis warned that 2017 would be "another tough year" for Afghan security forces, but would not be drawn on recent calls by the US commander of NATO forces in the country, General John Nicholson for "a few thousand" more troops to break the insurgency. The Afghan conflict is the longest in US history -- US- led NATO troops have been at war there since 2001, after the ousting of the Taliban regime for refusing to hand over Osama bin Laden following the 9/11 attacks in the United States. The US has around 8,400 troops in the country with about another 5,000 from NATO allies, as efforts to negotiate a lasting peace settlement between Kabul and the Taliban have repeatedly fallen through. They are largely conducting a training, advise and assist mission aimed at supporting Afghan forces. Western instructors, likely German and American, were on the 30,000- strong base outside Mazar when it was attacked, but were not involved in repelling the assault, security sources have told AFP. Earlier this month, the American military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on Islamic State group hideouts in eastern Afghanistan, killing nearly a hundred militants, according to unverified figures from Afghan officials. The bombing, the first time the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast -- dubbed the "Mother of All Bombs" -- had been used in combat, triggered global shockwaves. But it was criticised by observers who questioned its use against a group that is that is not considered as big a threat as the resurgent Taliban. Some analysts even argued the strike could boost the Taliban, who had been fighting a turf war with IS in Nangarhar province near the border with Pakistan, where the bomb was dropped. Two US troops were killed Wednesday and one was wounded while fighting IS militants near where the bomb was dropped, the Pentagon has said. The HC had refused to accept Purohit's contention that he had attended the meetings as part of a "covert military intelligence operation." The court pointed out the statements of the witnesses that it was Purohit who said their right-wing group Abhinav Bharat should not be just a political party but should work as an organisation of extremists, having the capacity to eliminate persons opposing the same. According to the investigating agencies, the blast was allegedly carried out by right-wing group Abhinav Bharat. The NIA had opposed Purohit's bail plea and argued that there was evidence in the form of audio and video recordings, call data records and the statements of the witnesses which prove his involvement in the case. According to the NIA, Purohit had allegedly taken active part in the conspiracy meetings and even agreed to arrange explosives to be used in the blast. Purohit had argued that the NIA was "selective" in exonerating some accused persons and that the agency made him a "scapegoat" in the case. Malegaon blast accused Shrikant Purohit today moved the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order rejecting his bail plea in the case. A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar said that the petition will come up in regular course while rejecting the former lieutenant colonel's plea for an urgent hearing.The Bombay High Court had on April 25 granted bail to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, accused of plotting the September 2008 Malegaon blast, but rejected the bail plea of co-accused Purohit saying the charges against him were of grave nature. Six persons were killed and nearly 100 others injured when a bomb strapped to a motorcycle had exploded in Malegaon town of Nashik district on September 29, 2008.Sadhvi Pragya and 44-year-old Purohit were arrested in 2008. While Sadhvi Pragya, 44, who is suffering from cancer, is undergoing treatment a Madhya Pradesh hospital, Purohit is lodged in Taloja jail in Maharashtra. The High Court had said that prima facie no case was made out against Pragya and asked her to furnish a cash surety of Rs five lakh and surrender her passport to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).The NIA, which was handed over the probe from ATS, had given a clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya but had opposed Purohit's bail plea noting that the charges levelled against Purohit are of serious and grave nature. Referring to the report filed by the NIA, the HC had said, "Purohit was the one who prepared a separate 'Constitution' for 'Hindu Rashtra' with a separate saffron colour flag. He also discussed about taking revenge for the atrocities committed by the Muslims on Hindus." Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today pitched for setting up an independent Lok Pal at the Centre to check corruption in Union Territories like Puducherry or other UTs as these areas do not have independent vigilance officers. Establishing it would act as a big deterrent to curb corruption and nepotism in Union Territories such as Puducherry or other UTs, as people would be able to approach Lok Pal directly with their complaints, she said in a WhatsApp message. "An independent Lok Pal would be an easily accessible venue where complaints of corruption and nepotism can be sent for expeditious investigation to prevent diversion of precious funds and check financial wastage," she said. Pointing out that the Union Territories do not have Independent Vigilance officers, she said that in many cases they (vigilance officers) themselves need to be investigated as there was a 'clear conflict of interest'. Bedi also said Puducherry has had a history where some public officials, including a Chief Secretary and a senior Police officer had gone to prison. She did not elaborate. She said Lok Pal would also be able "to look at the way people are recruited -whether within rules or by back door entries to meet vested interests in violation of all norms of administration and Union Public Service Commission." The Supreme Court on Friday said it cannot order withdrawal of pellet guns till violence, agitation and stone throwing are on in Jammu and Kashmir. The government, for its part, asserted it cannot talk to any separatist. It also maintained the security forces cannot be withdrawn from J & K because of it being a border state. If confrontation continues, no conversation can continue. If you keep throwing stones and burning down schools, nothing would happen. If we direct withdrawal of pellet guns, you tell us what are the steps that you are going to take, a three-judge bench presided over Chief Justice J S Khehar asked the J&K Bar Association. The court said the Bar Association can't say that the problem is complex, it is the minor player and the whole state is involved into it. The Bar Association has moved the court for direction to the security forces to stop use of pellet guns. This is (going to create) history. You can play a role and you will be remembered for times to come, the bench, also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul told a host of counsel, representing the state bar. The Bar Association contended the Union government was not ready to talk and put a number of leaders in confinement. It said the government has to withdraw security forces from Srinagar and stop the use of 5000 pellets guns. The counsel demanded unconditional and uninterrupted dialogue to diffuse the situation in the state. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, representing the central security forces, took strong objection to an affidavit filed by the association, terming the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India as controversial. He also questioned their stand that all elections in the state were rigged. You are Bar Association but talk of separatists. They can't say that the entire nation (J&K) is under state terrorism, he said. He also asked how they can talk of people but at the same time maintain that they can't represent anybody. The court, however, told the top law officer that it would stop hearing the matter immediately if the Centre felt that it could not play any role. If you feel, we have no jurisdiction, we will close the file, the bench said. Let them make a statement, we will respond to it. Let them clarify whom they want to meet and who are the people they want to discuss, he said. Rohatgi also pointed the state has a duly-elected government and its chief minister Mehbooba Mufti recently met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his invitation. Why can others also not meet the CM and the PM, he asked. The court then asked the Bar Association to come back on May 9 with a road map to end the crisis. United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff Appellee, v. JEFFREY GRANT PRYSOCK, Defendant - Appellant. No. 16-7153 Decided: April 27, 2017 Before GREGORY, Chief Judge, and DUNCAN and WYNN, Circuit Judges. Benjamin T. Stepp, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Greenville, South Carolina, for Appellant. Leesa Washington, Assistant United States Attorney, Greenville, South Carolina, for Appellee. Jeffrey Grant Prysock seeks to appeal the district court's orders denying relief on his 28 U.S.C. 2255 (2012) motion and denying his motion for reconsideration. The orders are not appealable unless a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability. 28 U.S.C. 2253(c)(1)(B) (2012). A certificate of appealability will not issue absent a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right. 28 U.S.C. 2253(c)(2) (2012). When the district court denies relief on the merits, a prisoner satisfies this standard by demonstrating that reasonable jurists would find that the district court's assessment of the constitutional claims is debatable or wrong. Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000); see Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 336-38 (2003). When the district court denies relief on procedural grounds, the prisoner must demonstrate both that the dispositive procedural ruling is debatable, and that the motion states a debatable claim of the denial of a constitutional right. Slack, 529 U.S. at 484-85. We have independently reviewed the record and conclude that Prysock has not made the requisite showing. Accordingly, we deny a certificate of appealability and dismiss the appeal. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process. DISMISSED PER CURIAM: The IMF is "closely" following the implications of some of the major policy changes initiated by the Trump administration that has resulted in "considerable uncertainty," a top IMF official has said. "Our latest World Economic Outlook assumes fiscal expansion by the US will carry momentum forward, raising US economic growth from 2.3 to 2.5 per cent in 2018, which is positive for the global economy," Tao Zhang, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, told PTI in an interview. "At the same time, there is considerable uncertainty on specific policies. We are following policy developments closely, and we need to see details of the various proposals to better understand their implications," the top IMF official said when asked about the economic policies of the US President Donald Trump. In recent weeks, Trump has decided not to label China a currency manipulator and said he would cut a favourable trade deal with Beijing if it agreed to help him with North Korea. The administration has also indicated that it will not seek sweeping changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement, which the president called the "worst trade deal". Immigration was the centerpiece of his campaign. Trump signed an executive order on January 27 barring people from the seven countries from entering the United States for 90 days. The order was blocked by federal courts and the Trump administration replaced it with a revised, narrower travel ban effective March 16 which dropped Iraq from the list. Courts have also halted parts of the second order. Meanwhile, Zhang said although the global growth is picking up, the world economy still faces many challenges, and risks remain skewed to the downside. "These risks include an inward shift in policies and elevated policy uncertainty; an aggressive rollback of financial regulation; and a faster-than-expected tightening of financial conditions. These are risks, not yet certain. We have to see whether they come to pass," he said. "As our Managing Director Christine Lagarde said during the Spring Meetings, we are seeing the global economy picking up momentum," he added. "Despite some improvement for the US and other advanced economies, most of the global pick-up stems from emerging markets, including India. "The outlook for the Asia Pacific region remains robust the strongest in the worldand recent data point to a pickup in momentum," he said. Responding to a question, Zhang said the IMF is now starting to discuss next phase of quota reforms. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had articulated about it in his address to the IMF last week here. "There is a general recognition by the Fund's membership that the IMF's governance should evolve, as the global economy evolves. "We can never be complacent, and I would expect that the IMF's governance will continue to evolve to reflect the shifting global economic landscape," he said. "The Executive Board will also start discussion on the next review of our quotas, including a new quota formula that allocates the voting power in the IMF Executive Board, in the second half of this year," Zhang said. "An historic reform of our governance came into effect last year, bringing a shift of influence in favour of emerging market and developing countries. The Fund and its membership recognise the growing role of the dynamic emerging market countries in the global economy," said the top IMF official. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades today held detailed discussion on bilateral and regional issues and agreed on the need for all countries to decisively act against states that shelter and sustain violence factories in their regions. After the meeting between their leaders, the two sides signed four pacts, including one for air services and cooperation in merchant shipping. At a joint media event with the Cypriot leader, Modi said India has always stood with Cyprus on crucial issues and firmly supports its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Noting that they had "detailed discussion" on bilateral as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest, the prime minister said, "We agreed on the need for all countries to decisively act against states that generate, support, shelter and sustain violence factories in our regions." The two sides also agreed on the need of early reforms of the UNSC, Modi said and expressed India's appreciation for Cyprus' support to India's bid for inclusion in it as a permanent member. Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the Cypriot president, and discussed areas of bilateral cooperation. Security forces foiled an attempt by militants to rob a bank in Anantnag district of Kashmir and arrested one ultra today, police said here. Two armed men entered into a branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank on the Tehsil office premises in Mehandi Kadal in Anantnag this afternoon. Security personnel deployed there tried to apprehend the militants, but they opened fire, a police official said. He said a CRPF head constable sustained bullet injury in his right hand. One of the militants, who was carrying a weapon, managed to escape. However, his accomplice was apprehended by police and CRPF personnel, the official said, adding he has been identified as Muneeb Ahmad Malla, a resident of Reshipora in Shopian district. Further details were awaited, the official said. The Indian Coast Guard has been praised at a regional conference on maritime safety here for making Indian waters safe and free of piracy. There has been a remarkable decrease in piracy and armed robbery in Indian waters, said Lee Yin Mui, assistant director for research at the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP). There was only one incident of armed robbery in Indian waters as of March this year. "There was also a remarkable decrease in the number of incidents of armed robbery in Indian waters," said Lee. She highlighted the continuous efforts of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) towards deployment of the operational units at sea/air in the region. "The real time quick action has resulted into on-site apprehensions of the culprits thus making the Indian waters a safe place for the mariners," said Lee at a conference organised yesterday by the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC). "We are pleased to note the significant decrease of the number of incidents last year, but we should not be complacent to think that this is the long-term trend, cautioned Masafumi Kuroki, Executive Director, ReCAAP ISC. "When you see the resurgence of piracy in the waters off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden after five years of absence, unfortunately, the piracy and sea robbery do not disappear so easily, he noted. He also pointed out the frequently changing modus operandi of piracy and sea robbery. "The perpetrators are looking for an opportunity for any mode of piracy and sea robbery, as far as it is lucrative. Therefore, we need to be prepared for different types of maritime crimes, said Kuroki. International organisation, law enforcement agency and shipping associations shared their views at the conference. ReCAAP is the first regional government-to-government agreement to promote and enhance cooperation against piracy and armed robbery in Asia. So far, 20 countries have become Contracting Parties to the group. US President Donald Trump's proposed changes to the H-1B visa programme may end up benefiting Indian IT professionals in terms of higher wages, the founder of a leading asset management company has said. The new rules for the visas could raise labour costs for both technology companies and businesses using outsourcing services in the US, said Ignatius Chithelen, founder and managing partner of Banyan Tree Capital Management in an op-ed at the Wharton website. "These extra costs are estimated to be about USD 2.6 billion a year. The assumption is that the visa holders will be paid USD 100,000 in annual wages, around the average at major companies based on online job postings, while the number of visas issued remains the same," he said. Chithelen said the new visa policy is expected to be announced around November. From next year, the visas could go to applicants with the highest wages and skills, and the number of H-1B visas issued may also be reduced since the focus is to "hire Americans", he said. The large supply of technologists from India, eager to work in the US, has kept technology wages in the US from surging too high, especially when demand rises sharply as in the current social media boom and during the Internet bubble of the late 1990s, Chithelen said. "If, starting in 2018, H-1B visas are issued to those with the highest wages and skills, Indian professionals could benefit. Indians graduating with advanced degrees in the US and highly skilled professionals in India applying for H-1B jobs should then be able to find jobs with higher wages and better working conditions," he said. According to a survey released by Harvey Nash Pulse, six in 10 US IT leaders with large development teams say Trump's proposed changes to the H-1B programme will make skilled IT talent more scarce and increase the cost to hire skilled IT talent. Almost two-thirds of companies with more than 50 developers said they believe the current H-1B visa programme as it stands has helped businesses successfully access highly skilled IT talent, it said. Meanwhile, in an op-ed, Republican Congressman Dave Brat said H-1B visa programme does not put America first. The current system for H-1B visa workers does not put the interests of our country first, and rampant abuses to the system leave American workers standing on the sidelines and often underemployed. "During a time of heightened political divides, this is an issue both Democrats and Republicans in Congress can agree needs to be addressed," he wrote in The Hill Newspaper. "Too often, companies capitalise on the loopholes in our immigration system to displace high-skilled American workers in search of cheap labour," said Brat, who is one of the co-authors of a bill proposing changes to the H-1B visa program. Trump has signed an executive order that seeks to make changes to a H-1B visa programme that brings in highly skilled foreign workers. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today sounded a note of caution on protectionism, saying the world should debate whether it would make the global economy more efficient or sluggish. The minister, however, took comfort from the fact that voices of protectionism are not heard in India. "...You suddenly found a contrarian trend now moving in the developed economies itself. The reasons would be different in each economy and the trend really is can we reverse this whole process. And that's a little worry which does exist," Jaitley said while referring to the growing voices of protectionism especially in the United States. Increasing protectionism in the US like tightening of visa regime and insistence on using American products may adversely impact global trade and investments. "In the US, a question has already arisen that whether US corporations would be compelled to buy products, which are costlier. Whether they would be compelled to hire professionals or engage services which are relatively costlier. "What would then be the plight of the economy? will it be more efficient or will it be more sluggish? I am sure that this debate will continue in each of the countries where debate on protectionism has begun," he said at the CII annual session here. Referring to the developments in the United Kingdom, he said the British leadership is insisting that Brexit should not be construed as any form of protectionism and instead they want to engage more with European Union as well as India. India, he said, over the last few years have shown a greater ability to reform and undertook courageous and structural reform. "We have benefited both from domestic liberalisation and also where we integrated ourselves. Our ability to provide services is certainly unquestioned, it is certainly better than most other economies. Can we improve our ability on manufacturing, that is where we have a lot of distance to cover," he said. A CBI special court on Friday rejected the CBIs plea, seeking cancellation of bail granted to YS Jaganmohan Reddy in the disproportionate assets (DA) case. Citing an interview of former Chief Secretary Ramakanth Reddy, telecast in Sakshi television owned by Jaganmohan Reddy the CBI alleged that the accused was influencing witnesses and tampering with evidence. In his counter Jaganmohan Reddy submitted that he is not involved in the day to day operations of the channel and the interview is the subject matter of the concerned reporter who has presented the interview in Sakshi. The Court which has opined that an officer of Ramakanth Reddys stature who is a witness in the case should have resisted from making certain observations, about the DA case. The court further adjourned the hearing on the case to May 9. Providing further relief to Jagan, the court allowed him to leave the country along with his family for a fortnight, anytime from 15 May to 15 June. YSR Congress cadre which has gathered for a prayer meeting at the Lotus Pond residence on Friday prior to CBI Courts verdict expressed happiness over the judgment. However the CBI counsel has hinted that the agency might appeal to High Court against the special courts verdict. It was on 23 September 2013 after almost sixteen months in Jail Jaganmohan Reddy, got conditional bail in the disproportionate assets case. He was arrested on 27, May 2012 by CBI after prolonged questioning at the lake View Guest House here and remanded to custody in the Chanchalguda prison. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. IRMA MIRTALA RODAS LOPEZ, Petitioner, v. JEFFERSON B. SESSIONS III, Attorney General, Respondent. Nos. 11-70271 Decided: April 27, 2017 Before: THOMAS, Chief Judge, MURGUIA, Circuit Judge, and BAYLSON, ** District Judge. MEMORANDUM* In 1992, Irma Mirtala Rodas Lopez and her husband fled guerrilla forces in Guatemala and arrived in the United States seeking asylum. Lopez separated from her husband in 1993 because he had been abusive throughout the entire marriage. Lopez then filed a separate asylum claim, alleging fear of the guerrilla forces, after she left her husband. In 2002, an Immigration Judge denied Lopez's asylum claim, and both the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and this court affirmed. See Rodas Lopez v. Ashcroft, 120 F. App'x 156 (9th Cir. 2005). In 2009, Lopez experienced a sudden change in her personal circumstances when she learned that her ex-husband had returned to their native country of Guatemala. She also received reports from family members in Guatemala that her ex-husband was actively looking for and threatening her. Lopez then filed a motion to reopen her removal proceedings based on changed country conditions, namely the return of her abusive ex-husband to Guatemala. In 2010, the BIA denied Lopez's motion because, among other things, Lopez had submitted a seemingly speculative declaration and an unsworn affidavit from her daughter. Lopez corrected these deficiencies and filed a new motion supplemented with a more thorough declaration, four sworn affidavits from family members in Guatemala, and reports documenting the inadequate protection from domestic abuse in Guatemala. In 2012, the BIA denied Lopez's second motion to reopen and held that: (1) Lopez failed to present previously unavailable evidence, and (2) Lopez failed to establish a prima facie case of eligibility for asylum because she did not show an objective fear of future harm if returned to Guatemala. We review the BIA's denial of a motion to reopen for abuse of discretion, Valeriano v. Gonzales, 474 F.3d 669, 672 (9th Cir. 2007), and we grant the petition for review and remand. An alien generally may file only one motion to reopen removal proceedings, and such motion must be filed no later than ninety days after the date on which the final administrative decision was rendered. 8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(7)(A), (C)(i). The time and number limits may be excused for asylum applications if the petitioner can show: (1) previously unavailable evidence of changed country conditions, and (2) a prima facie case of eligibility for asylum. Toufighi v. Mukasey, 538 F.3d 988, 996 (9th Cir. 2008). 1. A petitioner filing a motion to reopen must establish changed country conditions showing that circumstances have changed sufficiently that a petitioner who previously did not have a legitimate claim for asylum now has a well-founded fear of future persecution. Malty v. Ashcroft, 381 F.3d 942, 945 (9th Cir. 2004). This court has held that if there is sufficient evidence of changed conditions in the receiving country, there is nothing in the plain language of the regulation that prevents a petitioner from referring to his personal circumstances to establish the materiality of that evidence. Chandra v. Holder, 751 F.3d 1034, 1037 (9th Cir. 2014) (emphasis added). Lopez pointed to a change in her personal circumstancesthe return of her abusive ex-husband to Guatemala in 2009to establish a change in country conditions. The BIA erred in concluding that this evidence was previously available at Lopez's 2002 hearing because her ex-husband had not yet returned to Guatemala at that point. Therefore, Lopez has presented material, previously unavailable evidence of changed country conditions. See Salim v. Lynch, 831 F.3d 1133, 1137 (9th Cir. 2016) ([T]he changed country conditions exception is concerned with two points in time: the circumstances of the country at the time of the petitioner's previous hearing, and those at the time of the motion to reopen.). 2. A petitioner filing a motion to reopen must also establish a prima facie case of eligibility for asylum. Ramirez-Munoz v. Lynch, 816 F.3d 1226, 1228 (9th Cir. 2016). To demonstrate prima facie asylum eligibility, Lopez must present evidence showing a well-founded fear of persecution in Guatemala. 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(42). At this stage, Lopez's showing need not be conclusive but need suggest only that it would be worthwhile to reopen proceedings. Albillo-De Leon v. Gonzales, 410 F.3d 1090, 1094 (9th Cir. 2005). Lopez presented evidence, in the form of her declaration and sworn affidavits from family members, indicating that her ex-husband stopped abusing her in the United States because he feared law enforcement. She also introduced evidence that her ex-husband is actively threatening her in Guatemala and that Guatemala does not have adequate protection from domestic abuse. Despite this evidence, the BIA held that Lopez does not have an objective fear of future harm because her ex-husband has not abused her since 1993 when she separated from him. In so holding, the BIA failed to consider evidence indicating that the primary reason Lopez's husband stopped abusing her was because he feared law enforcement in the United States, not because Lopez separated from him. This failure to consider all the evidence presented constitutes an abuse of discretion. Mohammed v. Gonzales, 400 F.3d 785, 792 (9th Cir. 2005). PETITION GRANTED and REMANDED. The army today paid floral tributes to three of its personnel, including an officer, who laid down their lives while repulsing a militant attack on their camp in Kupwara district of Kashmir. Wreaths were laid on the coffins of the three soldiers -- Captain Ayush Yadav, Subedar B S Gujjar and Naik B V Ramana -- at a ceremony held at the headquarters of the 15 Corps here, a defence spokesman said. He said Corps Commander Lt Gen J S Sandhu led the officers and other ranks of the army in paying floral tributes to the three soldiers before their mortal remains were flown to their native places. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Khan, Inspector General of Police S J M Gillani and senior paramilitary officers were also present at the wreath-laying ceremony, he added. Captain Yadav, Subedar Gujjar and Naik Ramana were killed in the militant attack on an army camp in Panzgam area of Kupwara yesterday while five other soldiers were injured. Captain Yadav, who hailed from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, had joined the service some three years ago. Naik Ramana (38) hailed from Visakhapatnam and served in the army for the last 18 years while Subedar Gujjar (46) had put in 26 years of service. Two unidentified militants were killed in the retaliatory action by the army while one militant managed to escape from the scene in an injured condition. Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia today demanded that the government carry out "carpet bombing" in Kashmir Valley to stop the attacks on security forces by militants. "After attacks on Army camps in Uri and Kupwara, our government should carry out carpet bombing in Kashmir Vally area to stop such attacks. The attacks on Army camps and the incidents of stone-pelting should be considered as a war and the government should carpet bomb these areas," Togadia said on the sidelines of an event here on the occasion of Lord Parshuram Jayanti. Togadia, the international working president of VHP, urged the government to crack down on the militants who were "at war" with security forces. He said hostility between the civilians and Army personnel was on the rise in Kashmir. "It was time that we should not show any leniency and carpet bomb them, or else the enemy will spread to other states and talk of breaking the country into pieces," he said. He demanded review of the Rs 80,000 crore special development package for Jammu and Kashmir, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015. "This money should be used for welfare of farmers in the country as the condition of farmers in several states is very bad. Farmers are holding protests seeking waiving of farm loans. They are committing suicide," Togadia said. Cell phones will no longer be able to bail out bureaucrats in Uttar Pradesh if they were not physically present in their offices during the time fixed for meeting common people. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath could call them on their landline numbers to check if they were physically present there or not. The officials, who fail to answer their calls on landline, would have to explain their absence and it ''better be good'' lest ''punitive action'' should follow. ''The chief minister has asked the police and civil administration officials to sit in their offices between nine and eleven and meet the common people without fail.....he (CM) may call the officials on their landline numbers to check their presence,'' said an official spokesman here on Friday. The spokesman warned that punitive action would be taken against the officials, who were found to be absent. ''There must be proper explanation for their absence,'' he added. The spokesman said that if the number of complaints received from a district increased, it would mean that the officials there were not performing their job efficiently. ''Such officials may be asked to explain their conduct,'' he added. The measure has been taken in view of reports that the district officials often reached their offices late as a result of which the common people have to face a lot of problems. ''The officials remain at their homes and use their cell phones to give the impression that they are present in their offices,'' said a senior minister here. The new directives were likely to put the bureaucrats, who had complained they were not getting enough time to sleep as the chief minister worked late into the nights, further on their toes. Since assuming charge of the state, Adityanatah has kept the officials busy with preparation of presentations of their respective departments to be shown to the chief minister. UP deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also recently told the officials that Yogi had a dream and dreams came true only when they did not allow us to sleep. Birth or death anniversaries will not be public holidays from now on in Delhi with the Aam Aadmi Party-led government deciding to follow the footsteps of Uttar Pradesh. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced the decision on Friday through Twitter but did not forget to credit the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government's decision for giving them the idea. "The Delhi government will cancel holidays on birth and death anniversaries of eminent people. I have issued instructions to the Chief Secretary in this regard," Sisodia tweeted. Lauding the UP government, he said, the dispensation in the neighbouring state has taken a "good initiative" and "we should always be ready to learn from other states". He also said the acceptance for the AAP government's decision to set up 'mohalla' (local) clinics and scrap use of red beacons have given more encouragement to them. The Uttar Pradesh government on April 25 decided to cancel 15 holidays in educational institutions, saying students would now be taught about these great personalities on these days. The AAP government's decision on holidays and public acknowledgement of its rival for the inspiration comes at a time it is facing criticism over its style of functioning, which a section claims resulted in the recent electoral debacle that included the Delhi civic polls. The move is seen as AAP's attempt to recalibrate its functioning and be seen as an accommodative dispensation rather than confrontational. Though the decision would not touch the 18 scheduled holidays, the list of 34 restricted holidays for 2017 could see a pruning. A Pakistani flier from Dubai on Friday created a flutter when he approached a help desk at the Delhi airport and identified himself as an ISI agent who wanted to settle in India. Muhammad Ahmad Sheikh Muhammad Rafiq, a Pakistani passport holder, had arrived from Dubai and had an onward booking to Kathmandu. At the airport, he walked up to a woman passenger service executive and sought help. Hello, I am an ISI agent. But I dont wish to continue any further and want to remain in India, 38-year-old Rafiq was quoted by PTI as telling the executive. The staffer was stunned at the request, but immediately retained her composure and informed security personnel, who rushed to the desk to detain him. Rafiq repeated to the security personnel that he was an ISI agent and wanted to call it a day. He said he did not want to return to Pakistan or work for the ISI, and would like to remain in India. Officials of the central intelligence agencies had arrived at the spot by then and took him into custody. He chose not to board his connecting flight to Kathmandu, official sources said. The intelligence officials whisked him away to an undisclosed location where he is being questioned. According to airport officials, Rafiq had to go to the transit area upon landing in Delhi, but chose to head towards the help desk instead. Sources said they are yet to ascertain the veracity of Rafiqs claims, and investigations are on. It is also not clear whether Rafiq has made an official request to stay in India. The baffling request comes at a time India and Pakistan are locked in a battle of wits following a military court in the neighbouring country sentencing businessman and former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on espionage and sabotage charges. As it unfolded Rafiq chose not to board his connecting flight to Kathmandu Intelligence officials whisked him away to an undisclosed location where he is being questioned A Dalit man riding a mare during his wedding procession was forcibly made to dismount, attacked with beer bottles and dragged along the road allegedly by a group of upper caste men in Rajasthan's Udaipur district. The assailants were apparently infuriated to see the Dalit man riding the mare, a practice which is still considered an exclusive privilege of the upper castes. The groom lodged a police complaint following which one of the accused has been detained. A hunt for the others is on, police said today. Police booked a case against four people under sections of the SC/ST Act late last night. The incident happened in Jhalo Ka Dhana village in Udaipur where Kailash Meghwal (25) was taking out his marriage procession. According to the Ghasa police station SHO Ramesh Kavia, the complainant claimed that around five to six people, armed with beer bottles, rods and other sharp-edged weapons, attacked the people in procession. Meghwal suffered injuries to his body and head, and had to get stitches. "We have booked a case against four people under sections of the SC/ST Act and investigation is on. To provide protection to the victim family, we have deployed policemen to avoid any untoward incident," Kavia said. Senior IPS officer Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar took charge as the new Director General (DG) of the CRPF today, days after the paramilitary force lost 25 of its men in a deadly Naxal ambush in Chhattisgarh. The 1983-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer spelled out his priorities soon after taking charge and said it was important for the paramilitary force to strategise, plan and implement at "all levels". He told PTI that his immediate priority would be to review operational and logistical issues and challenges being faced by the force and find solution to them. Bhatnagar, 57, reached the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters at Lodhi Road here in the morning and took charge after he was accorded the ceremonial guard of honour. The government had issued an order appointing Bhatnagar as the new full-time DG of the force on April 26. The post had been lying vacant for close to two months after K Durga Prasad retired on February 28. Acting DG Sudeep Lakhtakia handed over the baton to Bhatnagar, who returned to India last night after attending a conference in Jakarta. Bhatnagar was till now serving as the DG of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). He will have a 32-month-long stint as the head of the about three lakh personnel-strong force as he is due to retire in December, 2019. Soon after taking charge, he asked his officers to give him a briefing on the recent incidents in Chhattisgarh that claimed the lives of 37 troops. On March 11, twelve men were killed in a Naxal ambush in the Bheji area in Sukma. He also reviewed the CRPF operations in Jammu and Kashmir with a special focus on Kashmir Valley which has been witnessing incidents of terrorist attacks, stone-pelting and civilian protests. A senior officer said the new DG asked senior officers and commanders that operational lessons learnt in the field should be factored in while planning for training and amending standard operating procedures (SOPs). "There is a need for the force to become a learning organisation and we must improve as we go along. Grievance redressal and welfare of men, camaraderie and close interaction with them is essential for all officers. "There is a need to have appropriate technology to support our operations," Bhatnagar told officers in his first meeting with them. An MBA from IIM-Ahmedabad, Bhatnagar has served in various capacities in his cadre state of Uttar Pradesh and is also an alumnus of the National Defence College. The CRPF is the country's largest paramilitary force and is deployed as the lead force for conducting anti-Naxal operations and to render a variety of roles in the internal security domain. The United States is not ruling out direct dialogue with North Korea on its nuclear programme, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an interview with National Public Radio broadcast today. "Obviously, that would be the way we would like to solve this," he said, when asked whether Washington seeks direct talks with Pyongyang. "But North Korea has to decide they're ready to talk to us about the right agenda -- and the right agenda is not simply stopping where they are for a few more months or a few more years and then resuming things." Tillerson has previously said "the era of strategic patience is over." He stressed in the NPR interview that what Washington now seeks is dialogue. "Our approach to North Korea is to have them change their posture towards any future talks," he said. "I think when we say the era of strategic patience is over - in the past I think we have always negotiated our way to the negotiating table... We don't have the running room left to do that now, given how far advanced their program has become. "So this is an approach that is to put pressure on them through implementation of all the sanctions, as well as other diplomatic pressures, and calling on others to cause them to change their view of what will really allow them to achieve the security that they say they seek." The United States has called for stronger UN sanctions on North Korea, but wants China to take the lead in diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. Tillerson's interview came ahead of a UN Security Council meeting chaired by Tillerson, to push for a tougher response to North Korea and pile pressure on China to rein in its ally. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the meeting that follows weeks of warnings from the US administration that it will no longer tolerate North Korea's missile launches and nuclear tests. United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit. SKEDCO, INC., AN OREGON CORPORATION, Plaintiff-Appellant v. STRATEGIC OPERATIONS, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellee 2016-1349 Decided: April 24, 2017 Before PROST, Chief Judge, SCHALL, and CHEN, Circuit Judges. BRIAN CHUNG PARK, Stoel Rives LLP, Seattle, WA, argued for plaintiff-appellant. Also represented by STEVEN T. LOVETT, NATHAN C. BRUNETTE, KASSIM M. FERRIS, Portland, OR. GARY LEE EASTMAN, Eastman & McCartney LLP, San Diego, CA, argued for defendant-appellee. Also represented by KENNY NGUYEN. DECISION Skedco, Inc. (Skedco) is the exclusive licensee of U.S. Patent No. 8,342,852 (the '852 patent). The '852 patent is directed to a system for simulating trauma with lifelike mannequins. The system is used in the training of medi-cal personnel. '852 patent, 1:1924, 3:2941. Skedco sued Strategic Operations, Inc. (StOps) in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon for infringement of claims 18, 19, and 20 of the patent. On December 8, 2015, the district court granted summary judgment of noninfringement, both literal and under the doctrine of equivalents, and entered judgment dismissing Skedco's complaint. See Skedco, Inc. v. Strategic Operations, Inc., 154 F. Supp. 3d 1099 (D. Or. 2015). Skedco now appeals from that judgment. We vacate and remand. DISCUSSION I. Claim 18 is the sole independent claim of the asserted claims. It reads as follows: 18. A trauma training system for replicating at least one hemorrhage, said system comprising: a collapsible reservoir having a capacity capable of storing fluid, a pump in fluid communication with the cavity of said reservoir, at least one valve in fluid communication with said pump, a controller connected to said pump and said at least one valve, and at least one wound site detachably in fluid communication with said valve, wherein fluid is provided to said wound site to simulate a hemorrhage. '852 patent, 14:314. Two limitations of claim 18 are pertinent to this appeal. The first is the requirement of at least one valve in fluid communication with said pump. The second is the recitation of a controller connected to said pump and said at least one valve. Relevant to the first limitation, the district court construed valve as a device that regulates, directs, or adjusts the flow of fluid through a passageway by opening, closing, or restricting the passageway. It also construed pump as a device that moves or transfers fluid by mechanical action. Skedco, 154 F. Supp. 3d at 1102. Relevant to the second limitation, the court construed controller connected to as an activation mechanism joined, united, or linked to. Id. In granting summary judgment of noninfringement in favor of StOps, the district court ruled that StOps's accused Blood Pumping System (BPS) did not literally meet the limitation of at least one valve in fluid connection with said pump. The court arrived at this conclusion because certain valves in the BPS are not physically separate from the pump. Id. at 1112. Instead, these valves reside within the pump housing. Id. at 1108, 1112. The court also ruled that the BPS did not literally meet the limitation of a controller connected to said pump and said at least one valve. Id. at 110506, 1108. In the BPS, manually adjustable valves are not connected directly to a controller. Id. at 1107. Nor does the controller activate these manual valves. Rather, they are adjusted through manual rotation of the valve handle. Id. at 1104. Thus, reasoned the district court, the BPS does not have direct, independent, and physical connections between the controller and the valve such that the valve is controlled by the controller. Id. at 110506, 1108. The court also ruled as a matter of law that claims 18, 19, and 20 were not infringed under the doctrine of equivalents. Having granted summary judgment of noninfringement, the court dismissed Skedco's complaint. This appeal followed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1295(a)(1). II. On appeal, Skedco focuses on the district court's construction of the two claim limitations discussed above. As far as the first limitation is concerned, Skedco urges that the district court erred when it required the valve and pump in the BPS to be physically separate. As to the second limitation, Skedco disagrees with the district court's construction of connected to as joined, united or linked to. In Skedco's view, connected to should be construed to mean interacts directly or indirectly with. In the alternative, Skedco contends that the district court erred when it required direct, independent, physical, and separately controlling connections between the controller and the pump and valve structures in the BPS. For these reasons, Skedco argues, the district court erred in granting summary judgment of no literal infringement by StOps's BPS. StOps responds that the district court properly construed both claim limitations. With respect to the first limitation, StOps urges that the intrinsic record requires the claimed pump and valve to be physically separate structures. Turning to the second limitation, StOps contends that the district court correctly construed connected to as requiring direct connections between the claimed components. III. A. We review a district court's grant of summary judgment de novo. Dynacore Holdings Corp. v. U.S. Phillips Corp., 363 F.3d 1263, 1273 (Fed. Cir. 2004). Summary judgment is appropriate when no genuine issues of material fact exist and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). Claim construction is a question of law with underlying questions of fact. Teva Pharm. U.S.A., Inc. v. Sandoz, Inc., 135 S. Ct. 831, 83738 (2015). We thus review a district court's ultimate claim construction de novo and any underlying factual determinations involving extrinsic evidence for clear error. Power Integrations, Inc. v. Fairchild Semiconductor Int'l, Inc., 843 F.3d 1315, 1326 (Fed. Cir. 2016). If, as in this case, the intrinsic record fully governs the proper construction of a term, we review the district court's claim construction de novo. Shire Dev., LLC v. Watson Pharms., Inc., 787 F.3d 1359, 1364 (Fed. Cir. 2015). B. 1. The district court construed at least one valve in fluid communication with said pump to require the pump and valve to be physically separate structures. Skedco, 154 F. Supp. 3d at 111112. We hold that this was error. Claim construction must begin and remain centered on the claim language. Brookhill-Wilk 1, LLC v. Intuitive Surgical, Inc., 334 F.3d 1294, 1298 (Fed. Cir. 2003); Storage Tech. Corp. v. Cisco Sys., Inc., 329 F.3d 823, 830 (Fed. Cir. 2003). Words of a claim are generally given their ordinary and customary meanings. Philips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc). A patent's specification is also highly relevant to claim construction because it aids in the analysis and may reveal whether the patentee has used a term in a way different from its plain meaning. Brookhill-Wilk, 334 F.3d at 1298. Absent a clear disavowal or lexicography by a patentee, however, he or she is free to draft a claim broadly and expect the full claim scope. Thorner v. Sony Comput. Entm't Am. LLC, 669 F.3d 1362, 1367 (Fed. Cir. 2012). In this case, nothing in the claims requires the pump and valve to be physically separated. The claimed valve need only be in fluid communication with the claimed pump. '852 patent, 14:9. Nothing prevents a pump from being in fluid communication with an internal valve. See Powell v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 663 F.3d 1221, 1232 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (declining to construe in fluid communication as requiring separate structures). In fact, the claims expressly contemplate this possibility. See Philips, 415 F.3d at 1314. Independent claim 1 recites a pump in fluid communication with [a] reservoir wherein said pump is in a cavity of said reservoir. '852 patent, 11:4647 (emphasis added). This passage expressly envisions one device in fluid communication with another inside of it. Claim 18 contains no other limitation governing the structural relationship between the pump and the valve. Nor has StOps alleged that the intrinsic record provides an express definition or disavowal that would limit the terms pump and valve to separate structures. Our construction is also consistent with the district court's constructions of the individual terms pump and valve. To paraphrase the district court, a pump moves fluid and a valve regulates fluid flow. See Skedco, 154 F.3d at 1102. Skedco and StOps agree with these constructions. J.A. 200911. We see no reason why a device that moves fluid cannot contain another device that regulates flow within it. A pump does not cease moving fluidi.e., being a pumpjust because an internal valve adjusts fluid flow. Indeed, the specification of the '852 patent explains why it would be natural to have such an arrangement. The patent teaches that [e]xemplary valves 124 include a check valve that can prevent fluid backflow when the direction of the flow for the fake blood is up from the check valve. '852 patent, 4:6467, 7:678:1. In short, we agree with the district court that a pump is not a valve, id. at 1108, but nothing in the claims or specification prohibits a valve from residing within a pump. StOps maintains the separateness of the pump and valve by pointing to various figures of the '852 patent and concluding that they would be rendered nonsensical if the valve were integral to the pump. Appellee Response Br. 2021. This approach gets our precedent backwards. [I]t is the claims, not the written description, which define the scope of the patent right. Laitram Corp v. NEC Corp., 163 F.3d 1342, 1347 (Fed. Cir. 1998). Patents do not need to include drawings of particular embodiments in order to claim them. See CCS Fitness, Inc. v. Brunswick Corp., 288 F.3d 1359, 1367 (Fed. Cir. 2002). For this reason, a claim is not limited to inventions looking like those in the drawings. MBO Labs., Inc. v. Becton, Dickinson & Co., 474 F.3d 1323, 1333 (Fed. Cir. 2007). This guidance is especially apt here because the patent refers to the drawings to which StOps points as exemplary embodiment[s]. '852 patent, 2:423:15. StOps also relies on Becton, Dickinson & Co. v. Tyco Healthcare Group, LP, 616 F.3d 1249 (Fed. Cir. 2010), for the proposition that separately listed claim elements are presumptively distinct, but Becton is distinguishable. There, we held that a hinged arm was distinct from a spring means because we specifically construed the terms as requiring separate structures. Becton, 616 F.3d at 1254. Here, nothing in the agreed-upon constructions of pump and valve forbids a pump from housing an internal valve. See ante, at 67. Becton's holding was also premised on the notion that an alternative construction would have rendered the claims nonsensical and would have rendered them obvious over the prior art. 616 F.3d at 1255. This case implicates neither of these concerns. We therefore hold that the district court erred in construing the limitation at least one valve in fluid communication with said pump as requiring a physically separate pump and valve. We turn now to the second limitation of claim 18 at issue in this case. 2. Claim 18 recites a controller connected to said pump and said at least one valve. '852 patent, 14:1011. The district court construed this limitation as an activation mechanism joined, united, or linked to [said pump and said at least one valve]. Skedco, 154 F. Supp. 3d at 1102. During its infringement analysis, however, the court further required the controller to have direct, independent, and physical connections to the pump and valve so that the pump and valve were controlled by the controller. Id. at 110506, 1108. We hold that it was error for the district court to have included some of these additional limitations into claim 18. The district court's added requirements of direct and independent connections conflict with the '852 patent's specification. The patent routinely uses the verb connect to denote both direct and indirect linkages. See '852 patent, 5:2832, 5:626:4, 7:4446. In one passage, for instance, the patent teaches how valves 12411246 connect either directly to the manifold 128' or through a conduit 150. Id., 6:3336 (emphases added). Sweeping both direct and indirect connections into the verb connect suggests that the term can embrace either meaning. See Johnson Worldwide Assocs., Inc. v. Zebco Corp., 175 F.3d 985, 991 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (Varied use of a disputed term in the written description demonstrates the breadth of the term rather than providing a limited definition.). This teaching also extends to the controller context. The patent describes activating valve 124 though a controller (or remote control switch) 126 despite a lack of direct connection between the controller and the valve. See '852 patent, 5:4852, fig. 3. Using connected to to cover indirect connections is also more consistent with the term's plain meaning. See Douglas Dynamics, LLC v. Buyers Prods. Co., 717 F.3d 1336, 1342 (Fed. Cir. 2013) (The ordinary meaning of connected to encompasses indirect linkages.). For these reasons, we hold that the term connected to in the context of the '852 patent contemplates both direct and indirect connections. As far as the district court's physical limitation is concerned, we see no reason to import such a requirement into claim 18. The claimed controller is merely an activation mechanism, 154 F. Supp. 3d at 1102, and nothing limits this activation to physical channels. Indeed, the '852 patent includes several embodiments where a remote controller 160 activates a valve. See '852 patent, 5:4045; 5:4652, 6:5557, 9:2325. This activation must occur at least in part through a nonphysical connection. See id., figs.3, 9A, 9C. We therefore hold that it was error to limit the claimed connection to physical connections. With respect to the requirement that the valve and pump must be controlled by the controller, we think that the district court's analysis is essentially correct. In the context of claim 18, the controller is an activation mechanism for controlling the components connected to it. Skedco, 154 F. Supp. 3d at 1102. Skedco agrees, acknowledging that claim 18 necessarily calls for the interaction in the form of activation of the pump and valve by the controller. Appellant Opening Br. 35 (emphasis added). As it did before the district court, Skedco urges that connected to means interacts directly or indirectly with. We agree that claim 18 expects interaction between the controller and the components connected to it, but we do not agree with Skedco's proposed verbiage. The '852 patent describes the relationship between the controller and the pump and the valve as being one of control or activation, not interaction more generally. See '852 patent, 4:4244, 5:4851, 6:2629, 8:12, fig. 2B. Skedco itself recognizes that the controller interacts with the pump and valve in the form of activation. Appellant's Opening Br. 35 (emphasis added). Nor does Skedco's proffered terminology find support in the specification. The patent uses the verb interact only once, to discuss a user interact[ing] with a training mannequin. '852 patent, 1:3739. We therefore opt to construe this phrase with greater precision and more in keeping with the term's plain meaning. In view of the foregoing, we think that the correct construction of a controller connected to said pump and said at least one valve is an activation mechanism configured to control a pump and a valve to which it is directly or indirectly joined, united, or linked. This construction reflects the parties' agreement that controller means an activation mechanism. See Appellant Opening Br. 78; Appellee Response Br. 26. It is consistent with the plain meaning of connected to as joined, united, or linked to. See Markman Order, Skedco, Inc. v. Strategic Operations, Inc., 2014 WL 4385752, at *1415 (D. Or. 2014). It also incorporates the specification's envisaged indirect connections. Finally, this construction integrates the activation operation of the controller that the district court identified, StOps seeks, and Skedco acknowledges must exist. See 154 F. Supp. 3d at 110708; Appellee Response Br. 35; Appellant Opening Br. 35. 3. In sum, we hold that the district court erred in its construction of the limitation at least one valve in fluid connection with said pump and the limitation a controller connected to said pump and said at least one valve. We therefore vacate the district court's grant of summary judgment of no literal infringement of claims 18, 19, and 20 and remand the case to the court to conduct analysis based upon the claim constructions articulated in this opinion. In so doing, we express no views on the issue of literal infringement. 4. Skedco also appeals the district court's grant of summary judgment of noninfringement of claims 18, 19, and 20 under the doctrine of equivalents. Our rulings on claim construction and resulting vacatur of the grant of summary judgment of no literal infringement render this issue moot. We therefore vacate the district court's grant of summary judgment of noninfringement under the doctrine of equivalents and remand the case to the court for further proceedings on this issue as may be appropriate. As with literal infringement, we express no views on the issue of infringement under the doctrine of equivalents. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, the judgment dismissing Skedco's complaint is vacated. The case is remanded to the district court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. VACATED AND REMANDED COSTS No costs. FOOTNOTES . As the district court observed, during the relevant time period, the BPS used four different types of pumps. See Skedco, 154 F. Supp. 3d at 1104 n.4. We will refer to these variations collectively as a singular pump because no issue in this appeal turns on the differences among the pumps. . Claim 18 does recite a controller that is connected to said pump and said at least one valve, '852 patent, 14:1011, but we read this limitation as governing the connectedness of the pump and valve to the controller, not the connectedness of the pump to the valve. SCHALL, Circuit Judge. The Tamil Nadu government today told the Supreme Court that a total of 30 farmers have committed suicide across the state in 2016-17 and it was taking appropriate measures to deal with the situation. An affidavit filed by the state government before a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and A M Khanwilkar said the kin of 82 farmers, including the 30 farmers who have committed suicide, have been give Rs 3 lakh each as ex-gratia from Chief Minister's Relief Fund. It said as per the reports compiled from information given by different district collectors, 52 of the listed 82 farmers had died of various other reasons, but not committed suicide. The affidavit filed by state government's standing counsel M Yogesh Kanna said the state government was taking several measures to dissuade farmers from taking the extreme step, including collective farming and introduction of dip irrigation for which more than Rs 2000 crore has been sanctioned. Kanna said the state government was also considering waiving loan of farmers taken through cooperative banks, in order to provide relief. The affidavit said the state has faced the most severe drought in over 100 years and was adopting a proactive approach towards farmers it extended crop loans to the tune of over Rs 4000 crore to over 7 lakh farmers in 2016-17. "In the previous year of drought in 2012, the Government of Tamil Nadu sanctioned relief to the extent of Rs 1377 crore to help the drought affected population. Likewise, consequent to the floods of 2015-16, the government disbursed Rs 407.57 crore as relief to 7.62 lakh farmers in order to enable them to get out of their misery as 8.67 lakh acres of their crops were affected," the affidavit said. The bench said a three-judge bench will take up the matter for hearing. The apex court had earlier this month rapped the state government over farmers' suicides and said it cannot leave the poverty-struck agriculturalists at the mercy of their fate. It had also sought government response within two weeks on the plea filed by Tamil Nadu Centre for Public Interest Litigation (TNCPIL). It also appointed appointed advocate Gopal Shankar Narayan as the amicus curiae to assist it in the case. Noting that the state government was in a position of a "loco parentis (role of a parent) to the citizens", the bench said when there were so many farmers' deaths in Tamil Nadu, "it becomes obligatory on the part of the state to express concern and sensitiveness to do the needful and not allow the impecunious and poverty stricken farmers to resign to their fate or leave the downtrodden and the poor to yield to the idea of fatalism. "As is manifest from the assertions and the grievances that have been agitated, deaths are due to famine backdrop and other natural causes and also due to immense financial problem. The State, as the guardian, is required to see how to solve these problems or to meet the problems by taking curative measures treating it as a natural disaster. Silence is not the answer." The top court had also asked the state government not to treat the plea filed by TNCPIL as an adversarial litigation and take up ameliorative measures to address the agony faced by the farmers. The affidavit of the state government holds importance as farmers from the state are organizing protests at Jantar Mantar in national capital and had also resorted to stripping outside Prime Minister's Office to press for their demands of loan waiver and drought-relief package. The farmers from the southern 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 drought-hit farmers have been protesting in the city adorning human skulls around their necks and eating rats, trying to grab the attention of the authorities towards their condition. In what appears to be a truce, the five-month-long protest of Diddalli tribals ended with the displaced 528 tribals agreeing to abide by the words of the district administration. The apparent truce followed the tough stance taken by Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa, who took stock of the situation by visiting the disputed site at Devamucchi forest in the district recently. The minister, who had alleged a political conspiracy behind the contentious issue, had refused firmly to rehabilitate the tribals in the forest area. Kagodu had, instead, instructed the tribals to relocate to sites identified at three places in Virajpet and Somwarpet taluk in the district. Change of stand Intermittent rainfall, accompanied by winds and lightning, also had smoothened the hard stand of the tribals, who were forced to spend days make-shift tents with rainwater seeping in. Buoyed by this, Deputy Commissioner Richard Vincent DSouza has also promised to distribute title deeds within a week to the beneficiary tribals for sites identified at Basavanahalli, Byadagotta and Kedamullur. The deputy commissioner instructed officials to make arrangements to provide additional toilets and bathrooms for now, and also collect photographs of the beneficiaries to facilitate distribution of title deeds. Following a demand from tribals to continue distribution of rice, DSouza ordered the officials to forward a proposal in this regard. Reservation One of the tribals, Swamy, however, expressed his reservation over the site identified at Kedamullur, while the tribals had no issue with shifting to other sites at Basavanahalli and Byadagotta. Another member of the struggle committee, Anitha, also expressed similar opinion, with the intention of rehabilitating all the tribals at one site. Prakash, from Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) said, A total of 528 sites have been allotted through lottery. It includes 181 at Basavanahalli, 171 at Byadagotta and 176 at Kedamullur. The works on providing drinking water facility and electricity are on. External support The houses will be built under the aegis of the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation and the Department of Scheduled Classes Welfare, after erecting temporary sheds for the purpose. The issue had only garnered attention for the tribals protest for five months. Two of the tribals had also staged nude protest. The tribals movement received an overwhelming support with actor Chetan of Aa Dinagalu fame jumping into the movement. He also joined them for talks with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru recently. Freedom fighter H S Doreswamy had attended a meeting convened in front of Maldare Gram Panchayat office to extend support to the demands of tribals displaced from Diddalli to get sites and rehabilitation facilities. Earlier, Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya too had put in effort to convince the agitating tribals, and promised to arrange a meeting with the chief minister. However, it materialised only recently, when the tribals launched a jatha to Bengaluru with dalit activist from Gujarat Jignesh Mevani flagging off the same. The jatha had to be cut short after reaching Periyapatna, following a call from chief ministers office promising to have a dialogue with them. The state government has nominated Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs son Dr Yathindra for the post of chairman to the Varuna Assembly constituency Housing Programmes Awareness Committee. The move comes in view of giving sanctity to Dr Yathindra chairing meetings of government officials. His public appearances and issuing directions to officials has now got a legal sanction. The post is usually adorned by MLAs as he or she is responsible for implementing all housing schemes and projects in the respective constituency. However, there have been examples of MLAs asking the government to nominate somebody close to them if they are not able to monitor the activities of the committee regularly. Following the directions of the Governor on April 24 itself, an order to this effect was issued by Housing department Under Secretary-II C S Shivakumaraswamy. The same day an attempt was made during the meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee chaired by MP R Dhruvanarayan and a proposal was placed to nominate Yathindra to the committee in place of a Grama Panchayat member. It was also said that he would be nominated to the Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) review committee which meets under the chairmanship of District in-charge Minister. Siddaramaihas elder son Rakesh passed away on July 30, 2016 due to multiple-organ failure at the University Hospital in Brussels, Belgium during his visit to the Tomorrowland Fest. Since then Siddaramaiah has been trying to groom his younger son Dr Yathindra to become a politician. Rakesh had politics in his blood. Without any official designation, he knew how to handle both politicians and officials. He had high ambitions in politics and was nurturing the Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency which was earlier represented by Siddaramaiah. He had even raised a farm at T Katur near Udbur under the constituency and had constructed a ultra-modern house there. He used to spend half his time in Varuna Assembly constituency represented by his father and half his time in Chamundeshwari, said an insider in the Congress. He said that, Dr Yathindra however, lacks that acumen. He is being taken for a ride by both partymen and officials. How far this official position will help him evade exploitation is yet to be seen. But some senior Congress leaders, one of them a think-tank, have been taken into confidence to teach him the ropes of the trade. Since the death of his elder son, Siddaramaiah has been trying to consolidate his position in both the Congress party and in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts with more vigour so as to provide a strong foundation for his son. In the 2018 Assembly elections, the father-son duo are likely to share Varuna and Chamund- eshwari constituencies on Congress tickets. Siddaramaiah is most likely to choose Chamun- deshwari which is comparatively a difficult terrain, said a BJP leader. A toddler died after falling from the fourth floor of a residential building in Rajajinagar, E Block north Bengaluru, on Thursday even as his parents were busy preparing for his second birthday party. R Manish sneaked out of the familys third-floor house and climbed the stair railings to go to the fourth floor to play. But he slipped and fell down. Nobody noticed him falling though, police said. This happened around 4.30 pm. It was Lakshmi, a tenant living on the ground floor, who got alarmed by a loud thud and rushed out. She was stunned to find the child lying on the ground and bleeding. She screamed and alerted everyone. Manishs parents Ramesh and Savitha and some neighbours took the child to St Theresa Hospital in Rajajinagar but it was too late. The child was declared brought dead. The body was turned over to the family on Friday after the post-mortem was conducted at the Victoria Hospital. The Subramanyanagar police have registered a case of unnatural death and are carrying out further investigation. Manish was the only son of Ramesh and Savitha, who hail from Nagamangala town in Mandya. He had turned two on Thursday and his excited parents were so engrossed in organising his birthday party that they left him unattended while he was playing with other children in the building. The parents had invited friends, neighbours and relatives for the party. Ramesh and Savitha are married for more than seven years now. Savitha works in the accounts department at MS Ramaiah Hospital while Ramesh is a car driver. A City Civil and Sessions court on Friday sentenced a construction worker to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him of Rs 5,000 after convicting him of raping a 13-year-old mentally challenged girl. In August 2014, the convict Shanmugam went to the house of the victim in Srirampuram after her mother and grandmother had left for work and, raped her. Her family members who returned home found the girl disturbed. On questioning, the victim narrated the ordeal. Following a complaint by the victims family, the police arrested Shanmugam and filed a charge sheet against him. Judge Rajeshwari N Hegde directed the legal services authority to discuss the matter with the state government and take measures to rehabilitate the victim. Hospitals across the city have started seeing a spurt in the number of gastroenteritis cases. It is mostly from the pockets where the urban poor reside, explain doctors. On average, hospitals are seeing 15-20 cases in their out-patient departments. City doctors warn that hygiene be given prime importance while consuming food this season as the risk of gastroenteritis (stomach flu) is high. Soaring temperatures have led to an increase in the number of cases. While the soaring temperatures push people to drink a good amount of water, consumption of pure water is important, says doctors. Dr Ansar Ahmed, medical superintendent, Epidemic Diseases Hospital (Isolation Hospital), said that the hospital has seen 160 cases of acute gastroenteritis in April alone. While there is no big epidemic, cases are being reported in small numbers. There are about seven to 10 cases in a given area, said Dr Ahmed, adding that gastroenteritis peaks during the summer. Most patients who are being attended to in the hospital are senior citizens or those from slums. Dr Ahmed said that lack of access to potable water could be one of the primary reasons. Gastroenteritis could be caused by food poisoning as well, he said. It is important to cook food well. Also, it should be stored at a temperature of less than three degrees Celsius, he said. He warned that one maintain good hand hygiene before consuming food, ensure scientific storage of food and handle food with hygienic hands. Even biting nails and eating from the food left over by others could lead to gastroenteritis, he said. In KR Puram General Hospital, 27 cases of acute gastroenteritis were seen this month. Dr Asha Benakappa, director, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, said that gastroenteritis is caused by a viral infection. During the summer, food is usually unsafe beyond two hours even if it is refrigerated. In summer, consumption of fluids increases. If there is insufficient intake of clean water, it leads to infections, Dr Asha added. DH News Service The High Court of Karnataka on Friday granted conditional bail to Rajajinagar corporator G Krishnamurthy who was accused of demanding bribe from a BBMP contractor. Two BBMP engineers Arun Kumar and K M Krishna, who were also accused of demanding bribe from a contractor to get their bills cleared, were also granted bail. The three were caught red-handed by the Anti Corruption Bureau and arrested. A contractor was entrusted with renovating the RTO complex at Rajajinagar at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore by the BBMP. He completed the work by the end of 2015, but his bills were not cleared for more than a year. Krishnamurthy and other BBMP officials had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 38.5 lakh from the contractor to get his bills cleared. This included Rs 23.5 lakh for the corporator and Rs 15 lakh for the engineers. The three were trapped when they were allegedly accepting the partial bribe amount. Justice Rathnakala granted them conditional bail and directed them to deposit a bond of Rs 1 lakh each with an equal amount as surety. They were directed to co-operate in the investigation and not to tamper with evidence. Raj Kumar and Vinay Ranganathan, who had embarked on a mission to spread the message of peace across the world, shared their experiences during the trip. As part of the Road to Peace project, the duo visited 20 countries covering over 16,000 km in 40 days. The trip began in December 2016 and ended in February 2017. After Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda flagged off their trip, the duo set off in a car named Selfie. The duo travelled across Italy, Germany, Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Herzegovina, Bosnia, Slovenia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Turkey and other countries and shared the message of peace and harmony during their interaction with locals. I have always loved travelling and wished to travel the world. But I wanted my travel to have a purpose and this gave birth to Road to Peace. Our mission was to spread the message of friendship and love across borders, said Kumar. One of the moving experiences we encountered during the journey was when a Bosnian lady saw our car and came to speak to us. On knowing about our trip and its purpose, she shared a Bhagwat Gita and said she was very inspired by India and its varied culture and religions, said Kumar. The two plan to travel to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore on the next leg of their trip. DH News Service Public representatives and members of various citizens groups on Friday took an oath to protect water bodies in Bengaluru. Launching their campaign, Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar, BJP MP P C Mohan and BJP MLA Aravind Limbavali along with a few corporators visited Bellandur, Varthur and Rampura lakes. During the inspection, citizens and politicians discussed the governments inaction in protecting lakes and deliberated over the need for civic agencies and citizens to collectively take the onus of restoring the lake ecosystem. Chandrasekhar said, What we see today is clear evidence that there has been corruption in the state. Corruption is a culture that is now all-pervasive in the current government. N S Mukunda, founding president of Citizens Action Forum hailed the initiative of building a strong group of people from every section of society to preserve the lake ecosystem. Naresh Narasimhan of a citizens group Naagarika blamed the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for failing to stop sewage from entering lakes despite spending crores of rupees. He opined that the BWSSB must be restructured and brought under BBMPs ambit with one common commissioner to ensure accountability and transparency. All those who were part of the delegation were unanimous that a fresh survey should be conducted using historical data and modern GIS technology to fix the boundary of the lake. DH News Service The State Congress will embark on a five-day introspection exercise from May 22 in Bengaluru to strengthen the party and improve the organisational structure. Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Friday, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president Dinesh Gundu Rao said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC chief G Parameshwara, district unit presidents, MPs, legislators AICC representatives among others will participate in the meeting. The chief minister has said that he will dedicate all the five days to discuss party affairs and strategies to be adopted for the 2018 Assembly poll, Rao said. He said an action plan to publicise the achievements of the state government, during the last four years, to the people will be drawn. He rubbished the allegations made by certain BJP leaders from the B S Yeddyurappa camp that the Congress is instigating former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa to rebel against the party. Infighting is nothing new in the BJP. Why should we interfere in the affairs of the BJP? he asked. He said Yeddyurappas admission that RSS functionary B L Santhosh is the mastermind behind the rift in the party was an admission that the RSS controls the party. BJP leaders have been misleading the people by stating that the RSS does not interfere in the affairs of the BJP, he pointed out. To a question whether the Congress is going to benefit because of the rift the BJP, Rao replied in the positive. He said, Why not? They are offering it on a platter with their infighting. The BJP's central leadership has decided to step in to contain a fresh bout of intense infighting in the partys Karnataka unit, which is threatening to cast a shadow on next years Assembly polls. BJP sources in New Delhi said the top brass is concerned over the rift between the warring camps led by sate BJP president B S Yeddyurappa and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa playing out in public again. This despite the fact that party president Amit Shah had mediated in January to work out a patch-up formula to end the factional feud. Yeddyurappa flew down to the national capital on Friday night armed with "series of reports" on rebel activities of Eshwarappa and his supporters. BJP sources said he has sought time from Amit Shah and general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal to present his side of the feud, which he says is damaging the organisation ahead of elections and, seek action against Eshwarappa. BJP sources said that it is unlikely that Shah will meet Yeddyurappa since he is scheduled to tour Jammu for the next three days as part of the party's expansion programme. Yeddyurappa is expected to meet Ram Lal or BJP general secretary in-charge of Karnataka P Muralidhara Rao on Saturday to press for action against the dissidents, who had held a convention in Bengaluru on Thursday and publicly criticised him for his dictatorial style of functioning. Sources close to Yeddyurappa said that except for one or two, every demand of the rival faction has been met. For instance, the partys women cell chief and some district presidents were removed owing to reservations expressed by Eshwarappa. Before leaving for New Delhi, Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bengaluru that he has sent a report to the partys central leaders on the convention organised by Eshwarappa on Thursday. Yeddyurappa said he is ready to discuss any issue within the party forum. We could have sorted out all issues, he said using past tense in his speech indicating that the rift in the party had reached a point of no return. Replying to queries, Yeddyurappa said RSS functionary B L Santhosh had been given responsibility at the national level and he should not interfere in the affairs of the state unit. On Thursday, Yeddyurappa had blamed Santhosh for creating the rift in the party for his personal gains. BJP legislators from the Yeddyurappa camp have sought that Eshwarappa should step down as the leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council as he is misusing his position to carry out a campaign against the party state president. KSE performs Ashlesha pooja K S Eshwarappa, who slammed Yeddyurappa at the Save Party Organisation convention in Bengaluru on Thursday, was busy performing Ashlesha Pooja (Naga pooja) with his family members at his residence at Malleshwaranagar in Shivamogga on Friday. Several religious rituals were performed as part of the event and food was served to a large number of people. BJP leaders who have identified with Eshwarappas faction and party workers attended the programme, reports DHNS from Shivamogga. The state government is all set to bring public sector hospitals under the revised Karnataka Medical Establishments Act. The decision, however, has not gone down too well with several activists and volunteers. The government has now decided to include government hospitals under the same Act which was hitherto known as the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act. This would mean a change in the nomenclature of the Act. The previous Act laid down certain conditions on private hospitals like compulsory registration and display of price list. This was among the primary announcements made at a joint press meet addressed by K R Ramesh Kumar, minister for health and family welfare, and retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Vikramjit Sen, on Friday. The state government had constituted an expert committee with representatives from public and private sectors with Justice Sen as its chairman to amend the KPME Act. The committee has recommended that government hospitals also be monitored by the same Act. Akhila Vasan, member, Karnataka Janaarogya Chaluvali, said that it was unfair to weigh both public and private hospitals by the same measure as they function differently. Members of other voluntary organisations were of the opinion that such a measure would weaken the public healthcare system. If we expect government hospitals to work on the same lines as that of private hospitals, then their performance is bound to be affected. This would drive more people to the private sector and hence lead to a closure of government hospitals, said another activist on condition of anonymity. Among the other issues that were discussed are the need to bring all institutions that provide healthcare services in all streams of medical practice under the Act and provide a single window for registration. The committee also recommended that a Grievance Redressal Body be set up and state and district authorities be created to look into issues. The need for having a patient charter to look into patients rights and responsibilities were also discussed. The Department of Health and Family Welfare, which has a copy of the recommendation, will put up the amended Act before the Cabinet for discussion and approval. The government will table the Bill in the next legislature session, Kumar said. Favours private sector Organisations including the Karnataka Janaarogya Chaluvali, Karnataka Jana Shakti, Mahila Munnade, Swaraj Sanghatane, Swaraj Abhiyan, Sangama and Safai Karmachari Kavalu Samiti in a statement said: The fact that final deliberations were held with only representatives of the private health sector exclusively illustrates how vested interests are allowed to dictate terms to the government. Therefore, it is no surprise that the drafting committee has decided to drop the very word private from the Act thereby bringing in the government health system also under the ambit of the said Act. This move by the drafting committee is not to rein in and regulate the private health sector or protect the citizens interests and protect citizens rights as the government claims to, but to bolster the private sector and further weaken the government health system. Requests to include representatives of various peoples movements, workers unions, farmers movements, womens groups, sexual minority communities, PLHIV forums went unheeded. India is in an advanced stage of developing a policy to encourage domestic defence manufacturing to reduce armed forces dependency on import, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said. India is the worlds largest arms importer, spending some 1.8% of its GDP on defence. It imports about 70% of defence equipment, a proposition the government wants to change, Jaitley told a meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industry here on Friday. The policy would make India a manufacturing economy instead of being a mere buyer, Jaitley said. The defence minister was also silent on the status of the much-touted strategic partnership his predecessor Manohar Parrikar spoke about to rope in private companies into the defence business. Parrikar had finalised a new defence procurement policy and changed the blacklisting rules. But without the strategic partnership model in place, India is unlikely to see a major Make in India thrust in the defence sector. The strategic partnership model plan envisaged forming a business venture between a foreign vendor, an Indian private company and a defence public sector unit. Each of the combined entity would then receive long-term orders from the government to make aircraft, warships, submarines and artillery guns. While two expert panels have already reviewed the idea, the ministry is continuing its internal consultation to find out whether the idea is legally tenable in the existing format. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Friday rubbished charges that the report of the Justice S N Dhingra Commission on inappropriate land deals in Gurugram, including the land deal between Robert Vadras company and DLF, was leaked. We dont have the habit of leaking out. This government believes in transparency. We dont run after individuals. They (Congress) may be speaking of their own past experiences, the minister said in Chandigarh on Friday after presiding over a meeting to review various urban development schemes. The report is yet to be made public by the Khattar government in Haryana. The Delhi Police on Friday arrested a suspected hawala dealer here in connection with the Election Commission bribery case involving AIADMK (Amma) leader T T V Dhinakaran. Nathu Singh was apprehended from the Indira Gandhi International airport for his involvement in the illegal transfer of money to Sukesh Chandrasekhar, a suspected middleman, whose arrest led to the unravelling of the case. With this, four people have been arrested in the case. According to investigators, Singh was given Rs 1 crore to hand over to Chandrasekhar. Singh was produced before a local court later in the day, and remanded to police custody for two days. Chandrasekhar was also produced before the court, which sent him to judicial custody till May 12. Investigators had earlier claimed that Dhinakaran, who was arrested along with his aide Mallikarjun on April 25, arranged the money from undisclosed sources and used illegal channels to transfer it from Chennai to Delhi. Dhinakaran struck a deal with Chandrasekhar for Rs 50 crore to ensure that his faction gets the AIADMKs two-leaf symbol. Earlier, police sources had said that the money reached Chandni Chowk from Kochi through the hawala network. When arrested, Chandrasekhar was in possession of Rs 1.3 crore. Investigators also said that Dhinakaran was desperate to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, and admitted to meeting Chandrasekhar. However, Dhinakaran told the police that Chandrasekhar was introduced to him as a high court judge, but no money was exchanged. The police took Dhinakaran and Mallikarjun to Chennai on Thursday where sleuths searched their residences. In Chennai, the Delhi Police also questioned a man suspected to have helped Dhinakaran transfer the funds. DH News Service The government on Friday told the Supreme Court that it would not hold any dialogue with those seeking to break away from India. However, it said it was willing to talk to legally recognised stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi submitted before a bench, headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar, that the government could not consider withdrawing its forces from the border state as it would endanger national security. The government would come to the negotiating table only if legally recognised stakeholders participate in the dialogue, and not with separatist elements who rake up the issue of accession or azadi (freedom) in Kashmir, he said. He was responding to a plea by the Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association to withdraw the use of pellet guns in the Valley. When the counsel representing the association complained the government was not holding any talks with detained Hurriyat leaders, Rohatgi took objection. The case of the bar here is different, but they (lawyers for the association) talk about Geelani and the separatists. What is going on? Ten times they say release them, he said, emphasising that the government would absolutely not hold talks with separatists. The governments assertion comes four days after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who told her talks cannot happen amid stone-pelting and firing of bullets. Why cant others also come and meet the chief minister and the prime minister? Rohatgi said, referring to the meeting. The bench told the top law officer it would stop hearing the matter if the Centre felt the judiciary had no role to play. If you feel we have no jurisdiction, we will close the file, it said. Let them make a statement, we will respond to it. Let them clarify who they want to meet, Rohatgi said. The court then asked the bar association to come back on May 9 with a roadmap to end the crisis. The bench, also comprising Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, also said it could not order withdrawal of pellet guns while violence and stone-throwing were on. DH News Service Bring students back, appeals SC The court asked the Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association, petitioners in the case, to take at least one positive step to defuse the crisis. Students must return to their colleges as education can empower them, it said. This is (going to create) history. You can play a role and you will be remembered for times to come, it advised. With all the precipitation, records for rainfall and runoff have been broken, and TVA is racing to outpace the water and manage flooding across the system. Much hydropower generation is happening throughout the Valley, and many dams are spillingthat is, releasing water through the top of the dam to move it downriver. Dams routinely spill at rates of around a million gallons per second; Kentucky Dam today is spilling a rate of 2.3 million gallons per second. This creates hazardous conditions for recreational lake usersparticularly those who willfully ignore horns and lights and signs meant to warn them away from certain danger and even potential deadly situations. (To read more about the warning systems in place near dams, click here.) There is a lot of water moving through the system at a pretty good clip now, and I think that many people just dont understand the tremendous power that water has, said Todd Peney, director of TVA Police. Were seeing situations in which people are ignoring our warning systems, thinking that they can handle the water or that they know better, and that can lead to disaster. Officials said, "What does disaster look like? Think boats pulled over spillways and plunging hundreds of feet into roiling water. Think fishermen on banks losing their footing and getting sucked under the surface by the whirl created during generation. Think kayakers in lifejackets losing control and submitting to strong undertows. It aint pretty." When the water is like this, you just cant winno boat engine can overcome the force of a dam spillway, said Mr. Peney, who has seen more than his fair share of drownings. I advise people to not only stay away from the dams, but to stay off the river right now, period. Were seeing a lot of debris throughout the system, which is another danger. You can easily encounter a log thats been swept out of someones yard or away from a dock, and that, too, can capsize a boat or knock a fisherman off his feet. In his mind, theres no reason to tackle a raging river, period. There is no fish in the world worth taking the risk for, he said. Thats a dangerous gamble youre taking. Be smart, be safe. Pay attention to water warnings. And always heed alarms when you are in the water near dams. The Georgia Department of Labors (GDOL) LaFayette Career Center will help Express Staffing recruit 100 automotive production employees to work for Nissin Brake in Rock Spring. The recruitment will be held on Friday, May 5, from 10 a.m. Due to U.S. Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) regulations, all applicants must be at least 18 years old. Applicants are required to have at least six months of manufacturing experience. All chosen applicants must be able to pass a criminal background check and a drug screening exam. Salaries will range from $10.10 to $10.60 an hour. It is required that applicants can work over time. For more information about the jobs, or to apply online, visit employgeorgia.com to create an account and upload, or prepare, a resume. Having an Employ Georgia account expedites the interview process. For more information about the recruitment, contact the GDOLs LaFayette Career Center at (706) 638-5525. The career center is open to serve the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Applicants are encouraged to bring a resume and dress appropriately to improve their opportunities for employment. Visit dol.georgia.gov to learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers, and to connect with us on social media. Baahubali 2: Fans In Hyderabad Queued Up In Front Of Multiplexes From 6 am To Buy Tickets! See Pics The Producer Of Baahubali Accuses Emirates Airline Of Rude & Racist Behaviour! Why Katappa killed Baahubali? Five Crazy Fan theories we found on Quora TechStyle Gets NICE with Its Employees Growing companies encounter many challenges. For TechStyle Fashion Group in El Segundo, Calif., one early hurdle was managing its expanding workforce. While still a start-up, TechStyle brought on powerhouse brands like Kate Hudsons Fabletics, ShoeDazzle, and FabKids. It already had a system to coordinate staff, but Shannon Nowell, senior manager of workforce management (WFM) systems and analytics at TechStyle, soon realized that it needed something more robust to help manage and optimize the schedules of its more than 650 customer-facing agents around the world, in locations as diverse as Los Angeles, Barcelona, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, and Serbia. Changing the status quo required a thoughtful approach. We had been stuck in an eight-hour-block phase for a couple years, she explains. Our tenured employees were used to that schedule, and it was going to be disruptive for them to get anything different, such as a program of four tens or a flex schedule. TechStyle was keen to find a WFM system that could balance both employee schedule preferences and expanding business needs. Nowells team interviewed stakeholders, identified their needs and expectations, explored the products available, and compared them against the companys requirements. When we did that, NICE came up on top, she says of the unified cloud WFM platform she ultimately selected. The rollout took just six weeks and was completed in September 2016. Among the factors NICE had in its favor was its ability to integrate with the Customer Interaction Cloud solution that TechStyle had already deployed from inContact, which NICE acquired in mid-2016 for $940 million. Together, the two systems can track real-time data around agent and call activities and forecast and generate schedules for multiple sites. It has had a trickle-down effect. When we improved the forecast, we scheduled people better, and they were more aligned with our call arrival patterns, which allows for a better member experience, Nowell says. The dynamic and more precise scheduling has enabled the company to better empower its agents, too. Agents have more control of their scheduling via NICEs Webstation, a single portal for managing personal-time-off (PTO) requests, vacation requests, and shift bids. With that, we found we could offer more PTO opportunities for agents, Nowell says. Also, if theyre high-performing agents, we have a ranking for them, and they can choose the schedule they like based on their higher preference, she explains. Using the platforms modeling functionality, the team has run scheduling scenarios where we were actually so efficient we cut operating costs by at least $700,000, Nowell says. Thats money the company plans to reinvest in its workforce. The member experience has improved, too. Our answer rates before the NICE rollout were 92 percent. At the close of 2016 they were up to 97 percent, Nowell says. Our speed of answer also improved, dropping from a minute and 15 seconds down to 30 seconds. Call wrap-ups also saw a 38 percent reduction. In addition, though attrition rates among agents were already low, Nowell says, We definitely saw a decrease in attrition when we implemented NICE and began offering those agent empowerment tools, she says. Agent productivity has seen a 25 percent increase as well. Nowell finds the advantages offered by cloud services, such as the adaptive, flexible nature of the NICE platform, very exciting. It was one of the main factors her team considered during system selection. Were a technology company, and we want to stay innovative, she explains. We want partners that are innovative as well. Looking ahead, TechStyle might consider leveraging NICEs robotic automation capabilities, too. Its an opportunity to take repetitive processes and have a macro on steroids do them as opposed to a person, she says. This would also enable the company to free up workers, who could then be used in more strategic ways. Its been a great relationship with NICE, and we hope to keep it strong and expand upon it, Nowell says. The Payoff Since deploying NICE's WFM solution with its inContact Customer Interaction Cloud, TechStyle Fashion Group has seen the following results: Kingsman: The Golden Circle Kingsman is back and boy! does it have a packed star cast this time. Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges and yes, Colin Firth too. Didnt he die in the first one? American Assassin Okay, watching this trailer is like watching the entire film in two and a half minutes. Who cuts these trailers? Anyhow, American Assassin is the story of a very troubled young man named Mitch Rapp (Dylan O'Brien of Maze Runner, Teen Wolf) and his quest to assassinate the terrorists who killed his girlfriend. Michael Keaton plays counter-terrorism expert Stan Hurley, who then trains Rapp to fight like...well...an assassin. We must say, Keaton can pull off some serious moves at 65. At least from the looks of the trailer. Star Wars: The Last Jedi Teaser Trailer What the cojones is happening? Why does Luke Skywalker want an end to the Jedi? After reading the script for the forthcoming sequel, The Last Jedi, Mark Hamill apparently told director Rian Johnson: I fundamentally disagree with virtually everything youve decided about my character. May we suggest that you watch this one on repeat? Atomic Blonde Oh man! Charlize Theron can kick up a storm and look super sharp doing it! She plays a MI6 agent tasked with the responsibility of finding and killing those out to destroy agency operatives. We really hope this one is as action packed as it looks in this new trailer. Cars 3 Youve seen the teaser and heres the trailer. Lightning McQueen is off his game and a new competitor threatens to erase his legacy forever. Can McQueen redeem himself and get back in the race? The Wizard of Lies He is Guilty! Guilty! Guilty! Robert De Niro plays Bernie Madoff, the famous American fraudster who orchestrated one of the biggest Ponzi Schemes in the history of the United States! This is his story... Baywatch A new week, a new Baywatch trailer. We think by the time the movie releases on June 2, we would have seen most of it in parts through the trailers. Nevertheless, heres another one showing a bit more of Priyanka Chopra in her Hollywood avatar. Colossal Anne Hathaway plays Gloria, a jobless party girl forced to leave her life in NY and move back home. But, wait! Is she a robot also? Or is she just controlling one with an iPad? All we know is that two giant robots are fighting and they are somehow connected to Hathaway. Take a look Official Call of Duty: WWII Reveal Trailer Over two years in the making and we finally have a reveal trailer for Sledgehammer Games Call of Duty: WWII. You will get to play through the story of ordinary men turned soldiers in the 1st Infantry Division as they fight to preserve freedom in the face of tyranny. Further, the government is also looking to introduce a regulatory regime for internet based messaging and voice call platforms In a Supreme Court case regarding WhatsApp's revised privacy policy, Facebooks counsel reportedly told the court that users were free to quit the platform if they felt WhatsApps policies violated their fundamental rights. While WhatsApps counsel, Kapil Sibal told the court that the encryption policy used by Facebook ensured privacy, the contract between the user and WhatsApp was in the private domain, hence it cannot be tested constitutionally by the Supreme Court. Facebooks counsel, K K Venugopal was more straightforward and said those who find the new privacy policy irksome or violative of their fundamental rights, can quit. We've given full freedom to users to withdraw from Facebook and WhatsApp. To recall, the case is the result of a petition filed by two students. However, the constitutional bench, consisting of Justices Dipak Misra, A K Sikri, Amitava Roy, A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar, replied stating that this would be akin to forcing users to make a negative choice. Harish Salve, who is appearing for the petitioners, said that users unwillingly gave consent to Facebook to read messages privately circulated between users of WhatsApp. We reached out to WhatsApp and Facebook regarding the ongoing case and a spokesperson who said that the company cannot comment on a matter that is sub judice, but shared two pieces of information. The first piece of information was a quote from their blog which stated, Your messages are encrypted by default, which means you're the only people who can read them. Even as we coordinate more with Facebook in the months ahead, your encrypted messages stay private and no one else can read them. Not WhatsApp, not Facebook, nor anyone else. We wont post or share your WhatsApp number with others, including on Facebook, and we still won't sell, share, or give your phone number to advertisers. However, WhatsApps terms and conditons and privacy policy states that the company is working with Facebook to "improve our services and offerings, like fighting spam across apps, making product suggestions, and showing relevant offers and ads on Facebook." The spokesperson also said that the company had given people a choice on how Facebook could use their data. [Existing WhatsApp users] can choose not to share your account information with Facebook to improve your Facebook ads and products experiences. It should be noted that they only way to make the choice was by heading to Settings > Account > Share my account info. Further, the paget still mentions that "Facebook family of companies will still receive and use this information for other purposes regardless of their choice. During the court case, the Center also weighed in and said that the government was planning a regulatory regime for internet based messaging and voice call platforms. It also noted that it was committed to protecting the freedom and fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. Weve reached out to WhatsApp and facebook for further comments and will bring you an update as soon as possible. Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ users in South Korea getting a new software update that offers full-screen colour balance Samsung may be in the process of releasing a fix for the red tint issue in the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. Sammobile reports that a new software update is currently being rolled out in South Korea and changes the firmware to G950NKSU1AQDG on the Galaxy S8 and G950NKSU1AQDG on the S8+. The update brings an additional setting in the Adaptive Display mode that allows users to adjust the full-screen colour balance as per their preference. The new update comes after early adopters started complaining about a reddish tint on their smartphone's display. Samsung claimed the issue is not hardware related, but caused by the nature of AMOLED displays. Samsung had recently stated the update will arrive before the end of this month. The company has reportedly informed its service centres about this update fixing the red tint issue. The update is also said to fix Wi-Fi connectivity issues observed by some S8 users in the Korean market. There are also reports suggesting Samsung plans to replace the affected devices if their owners are not satisfied with their colour reproduction after this update. The update is only rolling out to Korean consumers and the company might release this update to other markets in the coming days. The Samsung Galaxy S8( 38000 at amazon) and Galaxy S8+ were officially announced on March 29, and was unveiled in India on April 19. The two devices are priced at Rs. 57,900 and Rs. 64,900 respectively. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Stantec buys Inventrix, 22-person Seattle firm The mechanical engineering firm was founded in 2005 by Jason Smith, who will become a Stantec principal. Journal Staff Reporter By LYNN PORTER Journal Staff Reporter Smith Overton Stantec said it has acquired Inventrix Engineering, a 22-person Seattle mechanical engineering firm, so it can do more projects for Northwest clients who want more services under one roof. Terms were not released. Stantec has over 22,000 employees worldwide. It provides engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management and project economics. In December, Stantec hired Orion Morrissey, who has 20 years of experience in the industry, to head its new mechanical practice in the Northwest. The goal is to complement Stantec's electrical engineering practice in the region. Eric Overton, vice president and regional business leader for Stantec Buildings, said the Inventrix acquisition offers clients an integrated engineering approach to building system design. Inventrix was founded in 2005 by Jason Smith, who will become a Stantec principal. Smith said he had been with Spokane-based MW Consulting Engineers as a partner working in Seattle before starting Inventrix. The firm has worked with clients in the Northwest and elsewhere on projects that include data centers, commercial, civic, health care and education. Those projects include: Lakefront Blocks in Seattle, which will have four buildings with 638,000 square feet of office space, 150 apartments, 10,000 square feet of retail and 788 parking stalls Infomart Data Center in Hillsboro, Oregon, a new 7.8 megawatt wholesale data center Microsoft Buildings 16 & 17 in Redmond University of Washington Bagley Hall abatement and renovation project, which has 28,000 square feet of new instructional and research labs in the chemistry building Seattle Central College Wood Technology Center. It replaced seven obsolete buildings with a 57,300 square-foot academic and industrial learning center. Smith said Inventrix was started as a single-discipline rather than a multi-discipline firm because we consider ourselves to be craftspeople that what we do is mechanical engineering rather than business people. All of the Inventrix staff will move to Stantec. Smith said the acquisition gives them the chance to work with the electrical engineers at Stantec, who are also craftspeople. While Smith's firm has worked on some high-profile projects, it has not received a lot of press. Our ability to serve projects outpaced our ability to market, he said. The firm also has done design-build projects in a partnership with mechanical contractors. So while Inventrix designs the mechanical systems, the contractors' names are mentioned in the press. Smith said that as buildings become more complicated, it's better to have coordination between mechanical and electrical disciplines under one roof to improve efficiency and sustainability. Lynn Porter can be reached by email or by phone at (206) 622-8272. Research by a De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) postgraduate into an emerging field of photographic history will be delivered to experts from all over the world. Catherine Troiano has been invited to deliver a paper at the Shaping Identities: Challenging Borders conference, being held at the Institute of Art History in Pragues Czech Academy of Sciences. Dr Gil Pasternak (left) with Catherine Troiano A follow up to the highly successful international conference Discovering Peripheries: Photographic Histories in Central and Eastern Europe, which was held by Warsaws Polish Academy of Sciences in 2016, the conference in Prague will continue to elaborate the study of photography in Central and Eastern Europe. Scholars from around the world as well as museum curators and art gallery professionals will examine how photography has been used to construct, reflect and record the history of former communist and other countries in these regions. Catherine, who is studying alongside her job at Londons Victoria and Albert Museum, said: "In my paper I will address the idea of national photography in Hungary since the late 1980s. "I will analyse a series of exhibitions in order to understand how definitions of national photography change based on context and circumstance. I hope to shed light on how photography and politics intersect in Hungarian cultural institutions, whilst contributing to an under-researched area of scholarship. Despite interest in earlier Hungarian photographers, contemporary photography from Hungary remains largely unexplored. Dr Gil Pasternak, Catherines supervisor in DMUs Photographic History Research Centre and one of the contributors to the organisation of the 2016 and 2017 conferences adds: "The study of photography in Central and Eastern Europe is a relatively new area for photo historians. We have some understanding of dominant artistic and propagandistic photography from these parts of the continent. But scholars are now keen to understand the role photography has played in private and collective experiences of the regions turbulent histories, and analyse the impact photographs have made on peoples everyday life, whether in the course of war or during peace. "Catherines conference paper is one rich example of research that helps us tap into the sociocultural implications of Central and Eastern European political histories." RELATED NEWS: DMU academic brings photographic research into focus with new book DMU student's photo chosen as one of the best of the year Look around our campus with this virtual tour Catherine joined DMUs world-renowned Photographic History Research Centre in 2016. Undertaking innovative research on photography and its practices from the early 19th century to the present day, the Centre attracts scholars and practitioners from a range of fields including history, anthropology and cultural studies. Catherine said: "My research more broadly addresses photographic societies, competitions and regional institutions in Hungary. I hope to build a picture, through both state-funded and independent activities, of how photography is adopted in the construction of a Hungarian national and cultural identity. The conference in Prague provides a great opportunity to discuss my work and other regional photographic histories with many academics in the field." DMU is contributing to the success of the conference alongside the Institute of Art History of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague, Humboldt University in Berlin, Liber pro Arte Society in Warsaw, and Photoinstitute Bonartes in Vienna. Almost 10,500 asthmatics in Donegal are not using their inhalers correctly, leaving them at risk of a serious asthma attack and even death, according to the Asthma Society of Ireland. There are 15,894 people with asthma in Donegal and two thirds of those dont use their inhaler correctly, the society says. The society has teamed up with Boots Ireland for World Asthma Day, which is May 2nd 2017, and Asthma Week, May 1st to 8th. To mark the awareness week, Boots is providing free Let's Breathe Easy asthma consultations and support packs in its 83 pharmacies throughout the country during the month of May. CEO of the Asthma Society of Ireland, Averil Power said: Up to 60 per cent of all asthmatics dont use their inhalers correctly and so dont have their asthma under control. As a result, someone ends up in A&E every 26 minutes with a serious asthma attack and 50 people die each year from the condition. Tragically, the vast majority of these deaths could be prevented through proper asthma management. This partnership with Boots will provide asthmatics of all ages with an excellent opportunity to discuss their asthma with a pharmacist and get advice on how to manage it better. Susan ODwyer, Healthcare Development Manager with Boots Ireland said: Throughout the month of May, asthma patients can avail of a free Lets Breathe Easy consultation in their local Boots pharmacy. These consultations are designed to provide advice and support to patients with asthma, helping them to better manage their condition. They can discuss their current use of medication with a pharmacist and have their inhaler technique checked to ensure they are not wasting their medicine by using their device incorrectly. Minister for Health Simon Harris, is also encouraging people to take the opportunity to have their asthma management checked this World Asthma Day. According to the Minister, With proper management, people with asthma can live full lives, symptom-free. However, poor asthma control leaves them at risk of having a serious attack at any time. I would encourage everyone with asthma to avail of the advice of their pharmacist to ensure they are taking their inhalers correctly and managing their asthma to the best effect. It is also worth reminding parents that, since 2015, all children under the age of six are entitled to a free annual asthma check with their GP. This has proven extremely helpful to parents in managing their childrens asthma so it's important that everyone is aware of this entitlement. The 1billion Irish fishing industry must be made a top priority for our Government as Ireland faces the enormity of Brexit, according to the Killybegs Fishermen Organisation. They say Irish and British fishing industries occupy a unique space in that they are entwined like no other sector in sharing a limited resource as well as grounds and markets. The level of uncertainty and the scale of the challenge facing Irish fishermen is causing the industry major concern according to the CEO of the Killybegs Fishermens Organisation (KFO), Sean ODonoghue. The snap election on June 8th further obstacles and challenges have been put in the way of immediate negotiations around the form which Brexit will take, a statement from the organisation says. Mr ODonoghue stated: Brexit is potentially disastrous for the Irish fleet in particular in concerning three key issues of access to waters, quota share and trade. Our two biggest fisheries, mackerel and nephrops are inextricably linked to Britain. He added: Already Theresa Mays Government is advocating calls to repair what went wrong in 1973 which means Britain will be fighting for higher quotas and endeavouring to take the metaphorical fish off our plate. We believe that there is no justification whatsoever for any such move and would implore the Irish Government not to allow fisheries to become a bargaining chip in the high-level negotiations to follow. There is of course, also the level of seafood which we export to Britain. In 2015 alone, our total value of seafood exported to the UK stood at 71million. While our counterparts in Europe are understandably concerned about the ramifications of Brexit, our geographic location, existing arrangements and high dependency on Britain means that we are perilously positioned if our Government dont negotiate extremely effectively on our behalf, concluded Mr ODonoghue. According to Mr ODonoghue, the fleet in Killybegs and the wider Irish industry face devastating consequences if fisheries arent made a top priority by the Irish Government. 11,000 jobs are sustained in coastal areas by the Irish seafood industry which is worth just over 1billion. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. The scene plays out like this: An unhappy woman turns to a man to help get rid of her mob boyfriend. Choreographer Ryan Wagstaff offered a hint: Pay attention to the color red and its use will provide clues to the storys outcome. Red, as the dance number is titled, is just a portion of the latest offering from Patti Rutland Jazz. With Studio to Stage, the Dothan dance company will give audiences an intimate setting with its own black box theater, which is theater parlance for an unadorned performance space usually with black walls and flooring. Performances will be May 3-6. The dance company will transform its main rehearsal space into a black box theater with risers for seating. The approach places the audience close to the dancers. You really get to see the effort that goes into each piece, said Falin Williams, the media and marketing representative for Patti Rutland Jazz. You get to see their hard work, their sweat, their tears, everything that goes into it. Patti Rutland Jazz did a similar production with Fright Night back in October, utilizing multiple rooms at the studio, located on Main Street next to Rudd Furniture. Performances of Fright Night sold out. And while Studio to Stage will be performed in one room seating about 100 people, Williams said its the intimate setting that appealed to Fright Night audiences. We saw how much of a success it was, Williams said. Nowhere in the Wiregrass or in Dothan is there such an intimate, small theater. That was one of the audiences favorite things they were up close and personal with the dancers. They could hear them breathing and they could really see their emotion. So thats why we wanted to give them this experience again was so that they could really get into the pieces and actually see it up close. Different dancers choreographed the pieces for Studio to Stage, and will provide the back story before each piece is performed. Williams said dance styles will range from classical ballet to jazz, contemporary and hip hop. The dance studio will also have a separate space set up for appetizers and drinks prior to performances. Williams said the company hopes to make Studio to Stage an annual event. For Wagstaff, the chance to both choreograph and dance means a lot. Wagstaff, 28, has been dancing seriously since high school and has danced with Patti Rutland Jazz for two years. His primary dance style is hip hop. Its very rough to go to different companies and be able to express your own art and express your own artistic vision, Wagstaff said. For us to have a show like this once a year where we can actually show our own art and what we can create and our creativity, it means a lot. Alabama lawmakers, having been preoccupied with turmoil in the executive branch in the early part of the legislative session, have had to get back to business, and among those tasks is the revision of 12 legislative districts struck down by a three-judge panel appointed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Lawmakers redrew legislative districts in 2012, and that map passed muster with the U.S. Justice Department, which has had oversight of Alabama legislative districts since passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1965. However, the Legislative Black Caucus and the Alabama Democratic Conference filed suit in federal court, and ultimately the panel appointed to review the plan charged the Legislature with the task of revising a dozen districts it found packed African-American voters into existing minority-majority districts. Lawmakers have been working on a solution; Democrats have drafted a plan, as have Republicans, and the two parties must now hammer out a compromise. Thats the hard part, and the biggest disagreement comes down to revision of the Birmingham area. Democrats favor a plan that would split partisan control. Republicans want to maintain the GOPs majority. Failure to reach an agreement could have a negative effect on the 2018 election. Lawmakers must dust off their diplomacy and statesmanship skills, and find an acceptable middle ground. Carlingford has been named as one of the ten most beautiful towns in Ireland by international travel website culturetrip.com The Louth town is in great company on the list with the likes of Kinsale, Westport and Gweedore in Donegal. Here's what the website said about Carlingford: "The name of the town Carlingford is derived from the Old Norse meaning narrow sea-inlet of the hag. Over the years, the town has managed to maintain its Viking heritage, with many of the towns streets showing evidence of the medieval age. One example is the Tholsel or town gate, which is the one of the very few left in Ireland. "The gate was originally taller than it is now, but there is still evidence of its original function as a town gaol and toll. The heritage centre displays the history of the town, from the Viking and Norman days to the present. "The town itself is located between Carlingford Lough and Slieve Foy, and as a result, has a spectacular panoramic view. Carlingford is also known for its fishing, as oysters and crabs are often the catch of the day from the nearby harbour. There is also an annual Carlingford Oyster Festival which celebrates the towns sea cuisine." Your Guide To May Day Rallies And Actions Citywide By aaroncynic in News on Apr 28, 2017 6:40PM Haymarket Statue, 2014 (Photo: Aaron Cynic) Thousands of demonstrators are expected to hit the streets for multiple rallies and marches on Monday in honor of May Day, International Workers Day. This years demonstrations could be some of the largest the city has seen in more than a decade, when some 400,000 people took to the streets in 2006 to protest Bush-administration immigration policies as well as call for comprehensive immigration reform. Traditionally, marches and other May Day actions in Chicago are centered around immigrants and other marginalized peoples; and considering the policies and rhetoric the current administration has directed toward undocumented immigrants, Mondays main demonstration could see many thousands. The march will be focused on protecting communities that are under attack by the Trump regime and highlight the need to rebuild community and define what community safety means to us, said the Chicago May Day Coalition in a statement. The coalitionwhich is made up of more than 100 community, labor, political and other activist groupsis calling for the legalization of undocumented workers, an end to raids on the homes and workplaces of undocumented immigrants, and a stop to the criminalization, mass incarceration and deportation of Black, Latinx, migrant, Arab, Muslim, and communities of color. Additionally, the coalition says the marches are to defend workers rights, the rights of women, people with disabilities, transgender, LGBTQ and gender non-conforming people, and a call to action on both climate change and fully funding public services. Just as Chicago workers struggled for the 8-hour day in 1886, today we are marching for freedom from criminalization and fear at home and at work," said Lucia Wrooman, a domestic worker and member of the Latino Union of Chicago. "As an immigrant, I brought my values and abilities to the U.S. in hopes of contributing to a healthy society. My life has been a struggle to adapt to many things - a new language, a new culture, and a new type of work. But we should never adapt to fear." May Day March, 2016 (Photo: Aaron Cynic) While the main rally and march will begin at 1 p.m. in Union Park, concluding around with another rally at 4 p.m. in Daley Plaza, actions throughout the city will begin as early as 6:30 a.m., with the Chicago Teachers Union holding five different rallies at neighborhood public schools. Together on International Worker's Day we will resist the rise of racist attacks, defend our immigrant communities against deportation, demand funding for public services including education, and fight to rebuild our communities, said the union in a statement. At 11 a.m., tthe R3 Coalition will rally at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center and local FBI field office to underscore connections between racial justice and economic justice. That march will feed into the rally at Union Park. "Chicago is still a segregated but a new generation of activists are building unity across community lines, inspired by the election of Donald Trump, the persistent budget crisis in Illinois, the continued lack of police accountability, and the crisis of public education in Chicago, disproportionately impacting Black and Latinx youth," wrote the R3 coalition in a statement to Chicagoist. Whether youre a seasoned activist or a first time demonstrator, its important to remember to properly prepare for protests, particularly those that go long in both time and distance. Remember to dress for multiple types of weather, bring extra batteries for your mobile phones and cameras, keep people you trust informed of your whereabouts, and know your rights. It's also a good idea to write the number of the National Lawyers Guild (312-913-0039) on your body should you or your companions be arrested. For a full guide with tips and other helpful information, head over here. Full schedule of events and actions CTU School Rallies 7:15 a.m. - Seward Elementary 4600 S. Hermitage 7:25 a.m. - Hubbard High School 6200 S. Hamlin 7:30 a.m. - Roosevelt High School 3436 W. Wilson 8:15 a.m. - Mollison Elementary 4415 S. King 8:30 a.m. - Hanson Park Elementary 5411 W. Fullerton 10:00 a.m. - All out for May Day - Pilsen March to Union Park Plaza Tenochtitlan - 1519 W. Cullerton 10:30 a.m. - Lucia Gonzalez Parsons Way Sign Unveiling Kedzie and George St - 3200 W. George St. 11 a.m. - Resist.Reimagine.Rebuild Coalition May Day Morning March to Union Park Roosevelt and Ogden - March to Union Park for Citywide march 11:30 a.m. - SEIU Local 73 rally outside UI Hospital 1740 W. Taylor 11:30 a.m. - SEIU Local 73 rally on the UIC quad 750 S. Halsted 11:30 a.m. - Loyola Speak Out! Morning Rally Meet at the Loyola Red Line Stop. Leave to Union Park afterwards 12 p.m. - Illinois Labor History Society May Day Celebration Union Park - Haymarket Martyrs Memorial With guest speaker Pinar Ozcan, representing the Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions 1 p.m. - Rally for Immigration Justice Union Park, 1501 W Randolph St 2 p.m. - March from Union Park to Daley Plaza (route map) 4 p.m. - Rally at Daley Plaza Believing the traditional law firm model to be ill-suited to the needs of entrepreneurs, Demetrio Zema founded legal practice start-up Law Squared, determined to offer a better client experience. Since launching out of Cluster, a co-working space in Central Melbourne, in March 2016, the firm Zemas sixth business has been named Australias most innovative law firm by the Huffington Post and grown to a team of eleven people across offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. In addition, Zema was named one of the LexisNexis 2016 Legal Innovation Index winners and, more recently, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Top 10 Rising Stars, which will be announced during next months Victorian Legal Awards. As well as being the director of Law Squared, Zema is an active participant in the not-for-profit (NFP) community as director for the Centre for Multicultural Youth, Board Sub-Committee Member of VicDeaf and co-founder of If Not Now Then When Foundation. The serial entrepreneur an Australian delegate to the upcoming G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance Summit in Berlin spoke to Dynamic Business about the state of the legal industry, his motivation for launching Law Squared and his greatest challenge in business to date. DB: What is Law Squareds origin story? Zema: Ive been involved in number of businesses, including start-ups, since the age of 21, when I launched my first venture. Outside the legal industry, Ive had businesses in the consulting, technology, transport, food and hospitality sectors, all of which come with their own unique challenges. Owing to these experience, Ive become acutely aware of the barriers entrepreneurs face when seeking to access legal help, including education, and the degree to which they are dissatisfied with lawyers, primarily due to poor communication as well as the expense and inefficiencies. After a five-year stint with two traditional mid-tier law firms, which provided invaluable learnings, I decided to combine my entrepreneurial and legal skills to create a legal firm that operated in the SME space. With Law Squared, I was motivated to support budding and established entrepreneurs with an accessible, holistic service. To ensure clients understood the value we could add to their business and that we had an ongoing understanding of their legal and commercial needs, I wanted the focus to be on education and being personable. In addition, I wanted to create a positive, nurturing work environment for lawyers. DB: What is the firms point of difference? Zema: Law Squared is built on NewLaw philosophies that incorporate elements of the traditional law firm model that arent at odds with todays technology-driven world. Whereas many law firms charge by time and their fee earners are kept accountable by budgets, weve created a different business model with a focus on outcomes (not revenue) and creating value, both for our clients and the firm. In this way, weve sought to remove the monetary element of engagement. DB: What has driven Law Squareds growth? Zema: Our growth and success have been based on a number of factors. Firstly, weve assembled a team of people who believe in our vision, mission and philosophies and have provided them with a positive, vibrant environment where they can flourish. Weve also focused on building meaningful partnerships with likeminded businesses and entrepreneurs, and have been received support from family, friends, colleagues and, importantly, other lawyers. Critically, we have a high referral rate (>95%) from our growing client base they have not only provided us with the opportunity to showcase our difference but have embraced and trusted our firm to act as advisors to and counsel in their businesses. DB: Is the legal sector ripe for disruption? Zema: Despite the dominance of millennial clients, and the fact that technology has become increasingly indispensable, the legal industry is still frozen in time. In a world where email and instant messaging is a key aspect of daily life, law firms lamentably remain stuck in the traditional mechanics of client engagement. With their dictaphones, typists and word-processing pools, they sit awkwardly in todays business world, which is populated by FinTech and millennial businesses that require lawyers to be present, adaptable, relevant and, of course, personable. Numerous legal tech products and services are coming to market or already exist, all of which benefits the industry. The focus of disruption needs to be on enabling lawyers to become better communicators, more accessible and more efficient. There are many examples of products which are enabling lawyers to disrupt the industry, just as there are firms, like Law Squared, offering a different service model. DB: What has been your greatest challenge to date? Zema: With Law Squared, my greatest challenge has been time management. With numerous ongoing projects, along with a rapidly expanding team, three offices and a growing client base, time management is critical. I try my best to overcome this challenge by prioritising my team. This means ensuring they are well supported and have the tools and resources necessary to carry out their day-to day-tasks, which in turn equips them to support our clients in achieving their desired outcomes. Early in my entrepreneurial journey, I struggled to find likeminded entrepreneurs who had experienced or were experiencing similar pain-points to me. I was quite young setting out to start my first business, so I only ever had older mentors to turn to. Since establishing Law Squared, I have built a fantastic network of like-minded entrepreneurs who provide me with support and guidance, and, in this way, make me a better business person Running and growing a business is far from easy but most people only look at (and talk about) the success. Very few talk about the sacrifices and struggles (personal and professional) or the highs and lows that come with running a business, particularly for a sole founder. I have been extremely lucky to be well supported, not only by family and friends but also by a wider entrepreneur network and community. DB: How has your NFP work helped you? Zema: Ive been involved in the not-for-profit sector since high school and due to my legal knowledge and experience have had the opportunity to serve three NFPs as a board member. These experiences have enabled me to develop my skills in governance, which is a key part of any business. Also, being able to influence the direction of the NFPs and have high-level discussions with my fellow board members has helped me better relate to my clients and their businesses. DB: What plans do you have for future growth? Zema: This is such a difficult question. Twelve months ago, I wouldnt have thought Law Squared would be where it is today, yet here we are! With offices in three capital cities and a team of eleven, we have seen tremendous growth and uptake. There really are no boundaries to what we can achieve as a firm; however, sustainability, remaining agile, and staying true to our purpose, including our NewLaw philosophies, will be key to our future strategy and growth. See also: Two brands are better than one when theres a fair exchange of assets: Collabosaurus CEO In recent times, Australian businesses with global ties have experienced a prolonged period of uncertainty, riding out everything from Trumps unpredictable administration to Theresa Mays shock call for a snap election. The French election for presidency is no exception, with Marine Le Pen now through to the second round of voting. The far-right candidate is clear on her position: if she wins the vote, she will move to withdraw France from both the EU and the single currency. As a result, a Le Pen victory in the French election would have a significant impact on the euro making this vote one to watch for any Australian business trading with Europe. Though a Le Pen victory isnt now looking likely, the past year has shown that its always worth having a plan ready for a shock result. Heres how to get a solid foundation in place, ahead of any potential hit to the currency markets: Pay attention to key dates, and keep an eye on the news 2016 showed us that opinion polls cant always be relied on for an accurate prediction of election results. But theres still much you can gain from following the headlines, keeping your eye on developments as they unfold. This is particularly true for key dates in the two-round French election. Plugging these into your calendar will give you the breathing space to make smart, relevant decisions ahead of time, rather than being backed into a corner by an unforeseen turn in the tide. Market experts have suggested that we may see capital flight from France during voting, as investors move their money away from political risk and towards safe-havens. If this happens, the euro would be left exposed. Of course, if Le Pen wins the vote, we are likely to see the euro take a plunge. For Australian importers buying from Europe, this would be positive news but it could throw up problems for those exporting to the single market. If the National Front candidate is knocked out of the running, the euro would likely rebound as confidence returns to Europe. A robust currency strategy is essential to protecting your business from either outcome. Build a strong, defensive strategy The French election will likely affect the Euro no matter who wins, though a Le Pen victory would lead to a more dramatic outcome. As a result, any Australian business trading with Europe should act now to build a strong currency strategy that protects their bottom line from either outcome. Typically, a robust strategy involves a combination of the following currency tools: Limit orders This is a good choice for businesses that can wait for the current exchange rate to move in their favour. With this tool, businesses nominate a preferred exchange rate, and wait for their funds to be automatically transferred as soon as it is reached by the market. Forward contracts Forward contracts offer businesses the chance to limit their exposure to future shocks to the market valuable when volatility looks set to hit. This is done by locking in todays exchange rate for transfers up to a year in the future, which means you can build a barrier between your business and any unfavourable moves in the market. Spot transfers Spot trades are made on the day, at the current exchange rate. They can be a great addition to a currency strategy for businesses with an appetite for risk by reserving some funds for on-the-spot transfers, you wont miss out if the market does end up moving in your favour. Its not a case of one size fits all, so you need to do your research or bring in a specialist to help design the ideal strategy. All the same, its highly likely that a combination of the options above will offer you peace of mind. Consider partnering with a specialist Businesses with little experience of foreign exchange should seek advice beyond their bank provider, from an expert who can tailor a currency strategy that meets their companys specific needs and appetite for risk. Tailored currency strategies are useful in uncertain times, particularly when political risk is on the cards. Dont assume youre covered If you dont trade directly with France, it could be easy to assume that none of the above will affect your business. But if youre involved in any kind of European trade, a Le Pen victory could have ripple effects that hit you hard. If youre not sure how youd be affected, its worth seeking the advice of an expert who can assess your exposure to risk and help you decide whether youd benefit from building a personalised currency strategy. As they say, its better to be safe than sorry. Doing your due diligence now will help you put your energy where its needed continuing to build a strong, successful business, and not fighting the fallout of a political shock. About the author Jake Trask is FX research director at OFX , a specialist international transfer company with individual and corporate clients. China's top graft buster said on Thursday that 946 corrupt fugitives are still at large in foreign countries, and China hopes those nations will support its war against corruption. Thursday's disclosure was the first time China has released the exact number of corrupt fugitives abroad. Of the 946, most of whom are corrupt officials, Chinese law enforcement officers have a good idea of where 365 are. But the whereabouts of the other 581 are unknown, according to the Communist Party of China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. "These corrupt fugitives used illegal means to grab a large amount of public funds and escaped abroad to avoid punishment, which has seriously harmed people's interests and undermined our credibility and social justice," said Liu Jianchao, director of the CCDI's International Cooperation Bureau. "We hope the public will provide clues about the fugitives, as well as report corrupt officials who intend to flee," he said. Liu also called for countries harboring such fugitives to adhere to international conventions on fighting corruption and actively assist Chinese law enforcement authorities. Feng Jingyou, a senior official in the CCDI's International Cooperation Bureau, said China respects different legal systems in other countries, but hopes that such countries would not shelter corrupt Chinese fugitives, nor facilitate their asset transfers. "We urge some individual countrieswhich have ignored the suspects' corruption crimes and issued them visas under investment immigration policies in return for economic benefitsto tighten the management of visas and revoke the visas already issued," Feng said. Liu said the fugitives should return to China to confess their crimes and seek lenient punishment as soon as possible. "We have the resolve and ability to uphold the law, ... and we'll make every effort to bring them back to face justice, and never will allow them to get away with no legal penalty." In recent years, a large number of corrupt Chinese officials have escaped abroad, especially to the United States and Canada, because of a lack of extradition treaties and legal differences, Liu said. Some of them have obtained permanent residence in those countries, he said. "We hope that overseas Chinese and foreign friends recognize the nature of these fugitives and expose them to drive them away," Liu said. China launched a massive crackdown on corruption in November 2012 and in 2014 started an operation called Sky Net to hunt for corrupt fugitives abroad. In April 2015, Interpol issued "red notices"requests to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending repatriationfor the 100 most-wanted corrupt Chinese officials. So far, 40 have returned from more than 16 countries and regions, while half of the remaining fugitives are still on the run in Western countries, CCDI figures show. On Thursday, the CCDI also made public detailed information about 22 high-profile Chinese fugitives, 15 of whom are in the US and Canada. The information included suspects' photos, ID numbers, passport numbers, suspected crimes, the date they fled China and their suspected current location. The 22 people are considered high priority cases because of the difficulty that Chinese law enforcement authorities have encountered in their attempts to locate and return them, according to the CCDI. French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron addresses a campaign rally in Lyon, France, Feb. 4, 2017. [Xinhua file photo] It is interesting that no candidate from the established political parties reached the second round of French elections. Centrist Emmanuel Macron who is a former banker and finance minister has surprised many experts who were betting on the chances of Francios Fillon to emerge as the leading contender through the first ballots. In fact, both conservative and far-left candidates were eliminated in the hotly contested first round on Sunday. Far-right nationalist leader Marine Le Pen was expected to be among the leading candidates and hence not a surprise. She has capitalized on anti-immigrants sentiments and increasing threats of militants' attacks. The victory of newcomer Mr. Macron, 39, is also a wakeup call for the traditional political establishment in France and elsewhere in Europe. It shows that people are fed up with the way politics have been run in the mainland European countries. They are ready for out of box choices. Post-war Europe has been ruled in turns by conservatives, Christian democrats and social democrats. It worked well for decades, as Europe remerged out of the decapitations and ravages of the world wars and repositioned itself as a main force in the international affairs. The experiment of the EU was quite successful. It helped to remove differences and integrate the people for a shared prosperity and economic progress. But for common people, something vital is missing in the entire phenomenon of progress. That is why questions are being asked about the EU and national identity being reasserted, as the case of Brexit shows. The new realities are more formidable. For the ordinary people, traditional politicians have failed to provide reliable solutions. The threat posed by immigrants and extremism is not being responded to effectively. It has been evident by the wave of terrorist attacks in Europe. When threatened, people either embrace new leaders and ideas, or take refuge in closed ethnic groups. The nationalist parties and far-right groups also exploit the situation. Hence, Marine Le Pen is using in her favor the prevailing psycho-social and politico-economic contradictions and challenges. The first round shows that opinions are divided. Both contenders need to make extraordinary efforts to convince the people that they have the right answers for the problems and the challenges confronting the men and women on the streets. The run-off on May 7 is not far away. The difference between Mr. Macron getting 23.8 percent of votes in the first round and Ms. Le Pen's 21.5 percent is not big and can swing in either direction. Mr. Macron has some early advantages as already centre-right Francois Fillon with 19 percent vote in the first round has urged supporters to line up for Mr. Macron. Benoit Hamon, the candidate of President Hollande's Socialist Party has also done the same. His youth and energy are other advantages as at the age of 39, he would be the youngest president of France if elected. He would also be the first president in the Fifth Republic who is not from a major political party. It showed his determination and raw appetite for taking risks and finding solutions. Being a supporter of the EU is also an advantage and Mr. Macron is reaping the dividends. He has got support from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, EU President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini after winning the first round. Ms. Le Pen's Front National (FN), a party set up by her father Jean-Marie Le Pen in 1972, has come closer to the goal post. After taking over the leadership of the party in 2011 from her father, Marine Le Pen has made substantial gains in regional polls. Her popularity has thrust her forward into the final round. She has her brand of supporters on the continent and has been congratulated by anti-EU politicians like Dutch MP Geert Wilders who, with his Freedom Party, is a leading anti-immigration voice in Europe. The prevailing environment is on her side due to radical tendencies in the country and elsewhere in the neighborhood, but history is not. Previously, when her father ran for office in 2002 and achieved an unexpected second position in the first round, he was overwhelmingly defeated by Jacques Chirac. Jean-Marie Le Pen got 16 percent in the first round against Chirac's 19 percent. But in the run-off, Chirac swept away the polls with 82 percent of the votes against less than 18 percent by Le Pen. Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a meeting in Maximos Mansion on Sunday, April 23. [Photo: Eurokinissi/Stelios MIsinas] Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi recently visited Athens to attend the First Ancient Civilizations Forum. This was a Greek initiative with China as co-organizer to foster dialogue among countries representing major ancient civilizations. Other participants included Bolivia, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Mexico and Peru. The Athens Declaration outlines the will of delegations headed by foreign ministers to put emphasis on the omnipresence of their ancient civilizations and the need to protect cultural heritage. It also reflects the urgency for joint action in the fight against illicit trafficking and better coordination with international bodies such as UNESCO. Foreign ministers acknowledged in Athens that cultural diplomacy is a soft and smart power and a major component of international relations. Here, the role of China is critical as long as it is being involved in new economic and investment activities all over the world in its attempt to revitalize the ancient Silk Road. So, in their Athens Declaration foreign ministers referred to how the Belt and Road policy can promote relevant dialogues and increase people-to-people bonds. The current juncture is not particularly encouraging for world civilization. The Islamic State has shown an unprecedented appetite in destroying the treasures of the ancient world in the Middle East with its boastful videos shocking viewers. Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, for instance, condemned in Athens the terrorist organization for devastating the cultural heritage of his country. It is certainly a failure of the international community not only that it did not prevent the destruction of antiquities but also that it allowed the emergence of the Islamic State which still remains active. Peace is therefore a prerequisite for civilization to be preserved. And it is perhaps the most important challenge for China to safeguard peace in regions where the Belt and Road initiative is realized and beyond. This goes hand in hand with the concept of its "peaceful development" and can bring the country even closer to Greece. Greece - in spite of its existing economic difficulties - has been remarkably stable in a turbulent neighborhood, where wars, terrorist actions, high tensions and internal cleavages are not a rare phenomenon. The Athens Declaration reminded us of the significance of the Olympic Ideal and the idea of Olympic Truce. Taking into account that three consecutive Olympiads will take place in Asia - the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China - this message has a powerful resonance. While the U.S. is abandoning its "strategic patience" dogma vis-a-vis North Korea, all scenarios seem to be on the table, even that of pre-emptive action against Pyongyang. The bombardment of Syria and Afghanistan could be a model according to some observers. However, as President Xi Jinping told his American counterpart Donald Trump during their telephone conversation, it is wise for all sides to keep calm. During his press conference in Athens, Foreign Minister Wang also commented on China's position on the North Korean issue. He urged for peace, stability and reason without ignoring his country's major responsibility. It is indicative of China's new international role that Wang was asked by the media on North Korea during a European visit with another purpose. In the U.S. and recently in Europe more and more journalists understand the changing dynamics of world politics. Going back to culture, it is positive when political elites pave the way for more cooperation in this field. However, the main challenge is not only to remember the past but explore how it could be the beacon for the present and the future. The younger generation - often suffering by unemployment and job insecurity - is interested in combining culture with day-to-day activities. The foreign ministers agreed in Athens that culture "can and must be further deployed as an agent of economic growth." This observation needs to be specified in order for policy recommendations to be made. At the first stage, the idea could be the steady public support for cultural and creative industries in participant countries and the giving of incentives for the creation of relevant consortia. Subsequently, the mobilization of the society will be beneficial. Perhaps the best way to approach another culture is via tourism. Tourism has to be combined with modern technologies in order to facilitate exchanges, offer convenient choices to visitors and overcome language barriers. China's technological innovation could be a model to be used by young entrepreneurs investing in new online methods. The next Ministerial Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum will be held next year in Bolivia. Until then, high level representations will deal with important political and economic themes. Working groups should be established in participant countries to catch the good momentum, locate interested participants, help communication, monitor common actions and measure results. All in all, the Athens event was a good beginning. But it needs continuity for it to be established as a successful institutional network. George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Flash A fleet of ten giant panda-themed campervans has begun an epic journey from Sydney which will see them circumnavigate the Australian mainland promoting China as a tourist destination. The fleet of "Pandavans" will cover more than 30,000 kilometers over eleven weeks around the entire Australian coastline from North Queensland to Darwin and inland from Adelaide, via Alice Springs across Central Australia and through the outback to the Far North of Queensland to Townsville. Luo Weijian with the China National Tourist Office in Sydney outlines the route of the Panda Explorer Trek at the official launch ceremony for the fleet of 10 panda-themed vans in Sydney, Australia on April 27, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Zhang Qizhi] "This is a first for China Tourism anywhere in the world," says Mr. Luo Weijian, Director of the China National Tourist Office in Sydney. Of the more than one million Chinese visitors to Australia each year, most will visit cities and popular tourist destinations but few will have the chance to experience local life throughout the continent. Mr. Luo says the "Pandavans" program, known as the Panda Explorer Trek, aims to take China to hundreds of towns and regional communities across Australia, while at the same time give Chinese people an insight into the diverse Australian landscape and cultures. One of the ten vans on display. [Photo: China Plus/Zhang Qizhi] The fleet is expected to make one of the most significant stops in South Australia at Adelaide Zoo, home to Australias only giant pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni. One of the ten vans on display. [Photo: China Plus/Zhang Qizhi] The trek is being staged as part of the 2017 China-Australia Year of Tourism, a year-long promotion of tourism cooperation between Australia and China, which sees the implementation of joint initiatives by both governments to further improve tourism exchange and cooperation. Luo Weijian (left) with the China National Tourist Office in Sydney, Yang Zhi(center), Minister Counselor (culture) from the Chinese Embassy in Australia and Tony South, Chairman of Tourism Australia at the launch ceremony of the Panda Explorer Trek in Sydney, Australia on April 27, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Zhang Qizhi] At hundreds of stops along the way the "Pandavans" will act as travelling information booths on China and its many wonders, handing out panda-themed giveaways. Along the route, the Panda Explorers will be capturing images and videos from across Australia to be uploaded on several Chinese online and social media platforms. Mr. Luo from the China National Tourist Office in Sydney says they expect well over one hundred million Chinese people to see the images and read the great stories from the Panda Explorer Trek. "But this trek is just as much about promoting Chinese tourism and the many incredible experiences China has to offer Australian tourists, from spectacular mountains and rivers, to ancient wonders and the finest cuisine from the many rich and diverse regions of China; and our modern and vibrant cities," he says. Luo Weijian (left) with the China National Tourist Office in Sydney, Yang Zhi(center), Minister Counselor (culture) from the Chinese Embassy in Australia and Tony South, Chairman of Tourism Australia at the launch ceremony of the Panda Explorer Trek in Sydney, Australia on April 27, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Zhang Qizhi] Among other highlights of the China-Australian Year of Tourism, 1000 Australian tourists will be hosted at an official welcoming ceremony in the ancient Chinese capital of Xian on September 14. The guests will take part in a special Tang Dynasty Grand Ceremony staged exclusively for Australian visitors. Last year saw more than 670,000 Australian tourists travelling to China, an increase of 5.6% over 2015. Flash Former U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn [Xinhua] The Pentagon's inspector general has already opened an investigation into whether former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn received foreign payments without Pentagon's approval, according to a newly released document. "This office has initiated an investigation to determine whether Lieutenant General (LTG) Flynn, U.S. Army (Retired) failed to obtain required approval prior to receiving any emolument from a foreign government," according to a letter by the inspector general's office of the Pentagon to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The letter was released on Thursday by Democrats in the House committee. Also on Thursday, Elijah Cummings, ranking member and a Democrat in the House committee released documents which showed that Flynn was warned on October 8, 2014 by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) that he was prohibited by the Constitution from receiving payments from foreign sources without advance permission. "Accordingly, if you are ever in a position where you would receive an emolument from a foreign government or from an entity that might be controlled by a foreign government, be sure to obtain advance approval from the Army prior to acceptance," Flynn was then told in a DIA letter. In 2015, Flynn reportedly received about 34,000 U.S. dollars for a speech at an event in Moscow, Russia and he was also under media scrutiny for his past lobbying on behalf of Turkey. In a statement released on Tuesday, Flynn's attorney said that Flynn briefed the DIA "extensively" on his 2015 overseas trip to Moscow and he answered questions that were posed by DIA on the trip. However, another DIA letter released by Cummings appeared to counter Flynn's team's defense. "DIA did not locate any records referring to LTG Flynn's receipt of money from a foreign source... DIA did not locate any records of LTG Flynn seeking permission or approval for the receipt of money from a foreign source," said the DIA letter. Flynn was forced to step down in February after it was revealed that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about his telephone conversation with the Russian Ambassador to the United States, in which he made comments about U.S. sanction on Russia. Flash Argentine Ambassador to China Diego Guelar hailed bilateral ties as being at a "historic moment," according to an article published on Thursday. In an interview with financial daily El Cronista Comercial, Guelar also said President Mauricio Macri's upcoming visit to China in May could lay the foundation for the future of bilation ties in coming decades. "Expectations are very high among both the government and local public opinions" concerning Macri's China trip, said Guelar. Asked how he would describe the bilateral ties, which celebrated their 45th anniversary on Feb. 19, Guelar said they are "at a historic moment, because we are building a mature, long-term relationship based on national interests, and disconnected from any ideological banner." "In China, we find an essential player on the world stage (that is) complementary with our country and interested in continuing to consolidate bilateral ties, in other words, a partner that we have chosen, that we value and that we look after," he said. The envoy underscored "advances in investment projects in housing, roadway infrastructure, energy and mining" by Chinese companies in Argentina. Guelar also expressed admiration for China's recent development, saying: "They have transformed their country with an astonishing speed." China is Argentina's second largest trade partner, leading export market for agricultural goods, and third biggest foreign investor. PRESS RELEASE Statement by the staff of the European Commission and the European Central Bank following the seventh post-programme surveillance visit to Spain Staff from the European Commission, in liaison with staff from the European Central Bank (ECB), carried out the seventh post-programme surveillance visit to Spain on 24-26 April 2017. The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) participated in the meetings on aspects relating to its Early Warning System. Real GDP growth continued to exceed expectations in 2016. Economic activity expanded strongly, by 3.2%, the same rate as in the previous year and well above the euro area average. Domestic demand, and especially private consumption, remained the main driver of growth. Net exports contributed positively to growth, also thanks to increased competitiveness. The financial sector is benefiting from the economic recovery. Ample access of banks to liquidity and low funding costs facilitated new bank lending, in particular to households and SMEs. This in turn supported economic activity. At the aggregate level, the banking system comfortably meets the regulatory capital requirements and the quality of banks' assets has further strengthened, with the non-performing loan ratio continuing its downward trend. Nevertheless, NPLs are still high and some banks may need to reinforce their balance sheets in order to deal with their real estate legacy assets. Overall, the Spanish banks continued to be profitable in 2016, but, as for other European banks, their profitability was squeezed. This was due to subdued lending activity and ongoing provisioning efforts, also to cover for the European Court of Justice ruling from December 2016 on the Spanish mortgage floor clauses. Against this background, and in light of the challenges posed by the EU-wide bank restructuring and regulatory changes, some Spanish credit institutions will need to adapt further their business models. The implementation of the restructuring plans of the Spanish banks that have received state aid is well advanced and should be completed by the end of the year. The Fund for Orderly Bank Restructuring (FROB) has given the green light for the merger of state-owned Bankia and Banco Mare Nostrum, following a two-year extension for completing its divestment from the two banks. Continued restructuring of these banks, also after the merger, and their subsequent privatisation will strengthen the stability of the banking sector. Equally, the swift and full implementation of the reform of the savings bank sector, in line with the original plan, is important. While the asset management company SAREB has been instrumental in the restructuring of the banking sector and in 2016, it continued the divestment of its portfolio, there was no improvement in its financial results. Advancing the divestment of its portfolio in a profitable manner represents a challenge, in particular due to the slower than expected and uneven recovery of real estate prices. Against this background, further sustained efforts are needed to optimise SAREB's operations and reduce its costs. Robust economic growth continues to support the rebalancing of the Spanish economy. Private sector debt reduction has progressed at a fast pace, converging to the euro area average. However, deleveraging needs are still present in some parts of the economy. The still high level of private and public debt is reflected in a sizeable amount of external liabilities. Low productivity growth, in particular total factor productivity growth, makes competitiveness gains hinge upon cost advantages. The decrease in unemployment has been remarkable over the past three years, also thanks to the labour market reforms undertaken in recent years, but at 18.6% of the labour force in the last quarter of 2016, it remains among the highest in the EU, especially among youth and low-skilled workers. Overall, achieving higher productivity and ensuring a balanced, durable and inclusive growth path over the long term will require further reforms and avoiding any backtracking on past reforms. Regarding the public finances, notified data show that the headline deficit in 2016 reached 4.5% of GDP, slightly below the target of 4.6% set by the Council in its August 2016 decision to give notice to Spain (in the context of the Excessive Deficit Procedure). Based on these data, as well as the forthcoming Commission 2017 Spring forecast and Spain's Stability Programme, the Commission will assess Spains compliance with the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact in May. The mission would like to thank the Spanish authorities for their constructive and open discussions. The next post-programme surveillance mission will take place in autumn 2017. In the past couple of days Ive seen a number of troubling statements about education and policy-related issues, like standardized testing, from a variety of political leaders. And I keep coming back to the same word to describe how I feel after reading their ideas about the state of public education. Disappointed. One of these statements was from a hopeful for governor of our state, and although there were some encouraging bits about supporting teachers scattered throughout the piece, the overriding concerned seemed to be a focus on increased accountability. In an era in which teachers are scrutinized, measured, prodded, and poked like pieces of meat, it is simply beyond comprehension that any reasonable person would suggest that whats need to make things better iswait for itmore accountability. Even worse, this accountability is only ever available in one-size-fits-all standardized teststests that do not provide any sort of meaningful feedback to students so they can improve their learning, or to teachers so they can improve their teaching. Which is..you knowkind of the whole point of evaluation. Instead, the tests are used to rank and sort schools so that some person in a state school reform office that has never taught can decide what schools to closewithout ever setting foot in those schools, meeting the students, or observing the teachers. While these tests are a colossal waste of time for the subjects they are allegedly designed to measure, such as math and reading, they are even more ridiculous in subjects like music, which is part of the 70% of academic disciplines that make up whats known as untested subjectsand that form the majority of the school curriculum. But perhaps the most disturbing thing Ive read recently is this piece, American teenagers remain behind on music and visual arts, study says. The article describes the results of a nationally-administered music exam taken by nearly 9000 eighth-grade students last year, and the news is not good, according to Peggy Carr, Acting Commissioner of the National Center for Educational Statistics: When I saw the results, clearly there is room for improvement, because clearly there is a lot of content that students werent able to interact with correctly, Carr told The Associated Press. What caused Ms. Carr such alarm? Were the students uninterested in music? Were they unable to carry a tune, or keep a steady beat? Uh, not exactly When asked to listen to George Gershwins Rhapsody in Blue, only about half of the students were able to identify that the opening solo is played on a clarinet. Students who scored 182 were able to label all the eight notes in C major, students who got 150 were able to label one note. Lets get something straight: These tests are a joke. Im a musician and a teacher. Ive got several degrees in music and in education, and have been teaching music since 1980. Ive dedicated my entire professional life to helping kids play, sing, and learn about music, and as a college teacher, I help my students become music teachers themselves. Ive taught band, orchestra, choir, elementary music, instrument lessons, and music theory. Ive also helped develop music tests in 3 different states, and have written scholarly articles on assessment for professional journals, so I understand evaluation, and have no problems with the idea of assessment in music and I dont care one bit if a kid doesnt know that the clarinet plays the opening riff of Rhapsody in Blueany music teacher can teach them that if its important for the kid to know. Same with recognizing the notes in a scale. For a music test to have any relevance or meaning it needs to engage students in actively creating music. In actively listening, not playing instrument detective. In improvising an answer to a musical question. Not in spelling a scale. Im betting that those same kids who couldnt recognize the clarinet in Gershwin know a whole lot of stuff about music that the test makers have no idea about: like who influenced Kendrick Lamar; how to construct a playlist; how to make beats using a sampling program; how to choose tunes that work together for a mash up, and a lot more. But these things arent on the test, either because the folks that designed the test dont know what music the kids like and enjoy, or arent familiar with music technology applications, or dont hold the same musical values as the kids for whom they have created this test. Or perhaps they havent figured out how to force the beauty of a melodic line in a Bach chorale, or the genius of an Eric Clapton solo, into a multiple choice exam sheet that can be scored by a Scantron machine. More disappointing is the realization that even our supposed supporters dont get it when it comes to the limitations of testing, and the real value of music and the arts to childrens learning. Consider this quote from Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers: visual arts help develop a childs creative and critical thinking, and exposure to music can boost students graduation rates or academic results. No, Randi, just no. First, exposure to music does no one any good. Whats needed is active engagement and participation, not exposure. We are exposed to the flu. We create music. More to the point, the goal of learning music is not to boost graduation rates or increase test scores in math, science, and reading. Music teachers get their kids once a week in elementary school; let them just teach musiclets not make them responsible for graduation rates and SAT scores. And enough with the college and career ready stuff, ok? So, who cares how the kids do on this test? Not the kids. Not their parents. And probably not their music teachers, either. Who does that leave? The test companies. And the policy makers who know so little about music that they think it can be tested like it was the flu. The following essay was written by my friend Desiree Cooper. Desiree is the author of Know the Mother, a freelance writer, and the former Communications Director for Planned Parenthood of Michigan. Enjoy. Birth control is a no-brainer. Americans have agreed that family planning is a good thing as far back as 1936, when Gallup first asked whether Americans favor the birth control movement (which, at that time, was still largely illegal and underground). Sixty-one percent said, yes. So how did we become a society which stages an annual budget showdown over funding family planning and Planned Parenthood, the one organization that does more than any other single provider to give women access to birth control? If you think that abortion is the wedge, think again. Planned Parenthood is under rabid, near-constant assault by right-wing extremists not because of abortion, although abortion certainly continues to be a divisive issue in America. It is under attack because, as Republican Rep. Steve King of Iowa tweeted in March 2017, We cant restore our civilization with somebody elses babies. The truth is that the war on women has always been, at its root, a war to preserve white supremacy. Planned Parenthood is the lightning rod, with its commitment to helping women decide whats best for them, not best for their race. This isnt an abortion war. Its a fight to preserve whiteness. When birth control went bad Gallup started asking Americans a new question in 1938: Would you like to see a government agency furnish birth control information to married people who want it? Sixty-two percent of respondents answered affirmatively, a level of support that grew to 67 percent over the next decade. Despite popular support for safe, reliable and affordable contraception, the nations laws banned birth control as obscene and immoral. In fact, it wasnt until 1972 when the U.S. Supreme Court decided Eisenstadt v. Baird that every adult, whether married or unmarried, was finally accorded the legal right to contraception. It was against this landscape that Congress enacted the Family Planning Services and Population Research Act of 1970, designed to pay for education, counseling, and the provision of low-cost contraceptives and related medical services to those who could not afford it. That bill wasnt signed into law by left-wing liberals promoting free love. It was signed by Republican President Richard M. Nixon. In his statement about the bill, President Nixon said: It is noteworthy that this landmark legislation on family planning and population has had strong bipartisan support. I am confident that by working together at federal, state, and local levelswe can achieve the goal of providing adequate family planning services within the next 5 years to all those who want them but cannot afford them. Federally-funded family planning through Title X (and Medicaid) continues to serve about 7.8 million low-income women per year with services including affordable birth control, cancer screenings, breast health, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and other routine reproductive health care. None of these funds has ever been used for abortion care, except in extreme cases. Funding for Title X peaked in FY 2010, when it received $317.5 million. But in the aftermath of the Great Recession, there was a major push by Tea Party conservatives in 2011 to reduce the federal deficit by slashing programs across the board. For the first time since Title X began, the House voted in 2011 to wipe out the program, and to bar Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal funds for any reason. They drew a line in the sand over the issue, threatening to bring the entire government to a standstill and precipitating 800,000 federal worker furloughs, delaying tax refunds, and withholding paychecks for American soldiers. For most Americans, the shutdown show down over family planning was perplexing, especially since Title X and Planned Parenthood comprised a miniscule portion of the $1 trillion-plus federal budget. I am really stunned, and I am angry as a woman, that we have come to this after weeks of negotiating on numbers, mused Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) in an interview with ABC News in April 2011, that there those in the Republican Party in the House who are willing to shut down the government, take peoples paychecks away from them because they want to deny women access to health care in this country. At the time, Planned Parenthood urged the media to be clear about what Congress was fighting over: Whats at stake is not abortion funding, the organization said in a statement to the media that was published by NPR. Abortion services are not covered by Medicaid or any other federal program. The Hyde amendment settled that issue more than 30 years ago. The truth is that the rider regarding Planned Parenthood would bar Planned Parenthood from being paid by Medicaid and other federal programs for providing women with birth control, cancer screenings, HIV testing, and testing and treatment for other STIs. (In fact, in 2011, Planned Parenthood was providing affordable birth control to 2.5 million patients annually.) In the last hours before the shutdown, Republicans blinked and the budget passed with funds for both Title X and Planned Parenthood still intact. But to have to relitigate the value of birth control a half century after the pill was approved by the FDA was ridiculous. A protest sign at a Michigan rally spoke for countless women when it read, Its 2011. WTF? The racist roots of the War on Women As men shipped off to join the allied forces in World War II, women entered the workforce to fill the void. But as the war drew to an end, a new problem emerged: How would they stuff those millions of Jeannies back into the bottle? In 2012, the Atlantic wrote about the genesis of the term War on Women. The article attributed the first use to noted sociologist Willard Waller. In February 1945, Waller wrote an editorial in The San Francisco Chronicle Magazine issuing this warning: When our soldiers get through fighting the Germans and the Japs, they will have to fight their own women. And the impetus for the impending war at home? No, it wasnt about those sassy gals who had gotten too big for their britches: If we are to have an adequate birth rate, we must hear less talk about womens rights and more about their duty to the race, Waller wrote. The plain fact is, women do not produce children under the conditions of freedom and equality that have existed in the United States since the last war. The birth rate among educated, emancipated women is very low indeed, since few women manage to compete with men and, at the same time, produce their due number of children. Waller concluded that a womans ownership of her body should be subordinate to her obligation as the trustee of the race. Here we find the intersection of sexism and racism at its hideous apex. The white womans duty ahead of her duty to her man, her country and her god was to have as many white babies as possible. In public, politicians and pundits felt comfortable calling emancipated women sluts. (Exhibit A: In 2012, when the Affordable Care Act mandated that insurance policies cover birth control without a co-pay, conservative shock jock Rush Limbaugh asked, Why do they want the government to pay for pills that make it easy for them to whore around?) But in private, they were called something equally as sinister: Race traitors. The time-honored tactic of shaming women who refused to procreate within marriage wasnt working. A new weapon had to be deployed. Blessed are the baby bumps I was born in 1960, and grew up in an era where pregnant women quietly left their jobs before they started showing. There was no such thing as a visibly pregnant teacher. Even the word pregnant was verboten. Decent women were expecting or with child. By the time my daughter had her first child in 2013, stomachs were out of the closet. There wasnt a Hollywood magazine cover that didnt have a celebrity white woman with tight fabric stretched across their swollen bellies. Baby bump entered the lexicon, and everyone was showing theirs off. We became a culture obsessed by white women and their growing families. We watched teen moms forge their way on MTV. We saw white celebrity women at the beach wearing bikinis at seven months. The maternity fashion silhouette went from tent to tight. On television, we loved Kate and her eight. We hailed the Duggars, the evangelical royal couple who begot 19-plus children and earned a reality show for their obedience to divine law. While popular culture was pushing pregnancy to the masses, the Quiverfull movement has also begun to gain traction among evangelicals and white supremacists. Quiverfull adherents do not use birth control, believing that only God opens and closes the womb. The name comes from Psalm 127, 3-5: Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in ones youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. (Notably, the movement sees family planning as the hallmark of selfish feminists and birth control as the gateway drug to abortion.) Why do white evangelicals need scores of babies in their quivers? Ask Nancy Campbell, a Quiverfull leader and author of Be Fruitful and Multiply. In a 2009 NPR interview she explained that we look across the Islamic world and we see that they are outnumbering us in their family size, and they are in many places and many countries taking over those nations, without a jihad, just by multiplication. The womb is the incubator for tomorrows army of white Christians. Thats a powerful weapon, and the need for deployment could not be more urgent. Somebody elses babies The candidacy and presidency of Donald J. Trump ushered in an era of overt racism that has bested the Reagan Era. Anti-immigration rhetoric and the quest to make America great again has invited the honest airing of the white supremacist philosophy that undergirds the attacks on Planned Parenthood: We cant restore our civilization with somebody elses babies. That was a tweet from Republican Rep. Steve King of Iowa on March 2017. When rebuked for his statement, King doubled down on CNN: Ive said the same things as far as 10 years ago to the German people and to any population of people that is a declining population that isnt willing to have enough babies to reproduce themselves, and Ive said to them, You cannot rebuild your civilization with someone elses babies, youve got to keep your birthrate up, and that you need to teach your children your values. When Congress dug in to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Republicans hastened to assuage the surprise backlash by keeping the most popular aspects of the law, including coverage of pre-existing conditions, and allowing young adults to stay on their parents insurance until the age of 26. But the House plan to repeal and replace Obamacare continued to target Planned Parenthood, making it ineligible for Medicaid reimbursements or federal family planning grants under Title X. Since none of those funds can be used to pay for abortions, the ban would have put at risk Planned Parenthoods ability to provide birth control and preventive services to patients who needed it most. This in spite of the fact that a March 2017 Kaiser Health Tracking Poll found that 75 percent of Americans (including a majority of Republicans) support continuing current federal Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood to cover non-abortion services for low-income women and families. The profoundly unpopular replacement healthcare bill was withdrawn on March 24, 2017 rather than risk an ignoble defeat. But that didnt stop President Trump from making good on his promise to defund Planned Parenthood. On April 13, 2017, behind closed doors and without any media fanfare, he signed a bill allowing states to withhold Title X funding from agencies like Planned Parenthood which also provide abortions. At present, it is unknown how the measure will affect Planned Parenthoods 800 health centers across the United States. At worst, it could threaten the 1.5 million low income women who come to Planned Parenthood every year for birth control and preventive health care (almost one-third of the entire population that is now served under Title X). Its also not clear that they will stop at defunding Planned Parenthood, which has always been the standard bearer for birth control. In 2014, the Guttmacher Institute assessed the impact of publicly funded birth control services through Title X. According to the report, without Title X, the rates of unintended pregnancy, unplanned birth and abortion might have been 33 percent higher. In fact, without publicly funded family planning services from all sources (including Medicaid), there would have been nearly one million unintended births. As long as a good chunk of them are white, thats exactly what right wing extremists are hoping for. 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A total of 41 humpback whales died in the waters off Maine to North Carolina since January 2016, including 15 that washed up dead this year. Thats about three times more than the regions annual average of just 14 humpback deaths. The increased numbers of mortalities have triggered the declaration of an unusual mortality event, or UME, for humpback whales along the Atlantic Coast, said Mendy Garron, stranding coordinator at the NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region, on Thursday. A UME is issued whenever there is an unexpected, involves a significant dieoff of any marine mammal population, and demands immediate response, she added. So far, NOAA has examined 20 of the whales that died last year and determined that 10 of the mammals had evidence of blunt force trauma or pre-mortem propeller wounds likely from marine vessels, the agency said. The whales may be moving around in search of prey, exposing themselves to shipping traffic, researchers suggested. Its probably linked to resources, Greg Silber, the large-whale recovery coordinator for NOAA fisheries, told reporters. Humpback whales follow where the prey is. The other half of the whales that were examined had no obvious signs of what caused their demise. Whales tested to date have had no evidence of infectious disease, Garron said. The scientists stressed that they are unsure about what is causing the spike in humpback deaths. The answer is really unknown, Silber said. By Dave Anderson Rick Perry said Tuesday that the Trump administration is having very classified conversations about preempting state and local support for renewable energy under the pretense of national security. Perrys remarks came during an on-stage interview at the 2017 Bloomberg New Energy Finance Summit. As Bloomberg reported: During an on-stage interview, Perry was asked if the administration would interfere with state policies requiring utilities to get power from renewable sources. Such a move would potentially destroy efforts by California, New York and other states to fight climate change by encouraging the growth of clean power. Perry didnt rule it out, saying the reliability of the grid was a matter of national security. Thats a conversation that will occur over the next few years, Perry said. There may be issues that are so important that the federal government can intervene. And according to Times Justin Worland: During a question and answer period, Perry also suggested that increased reliance on renewable energy sources like wind and solar might make the grid unreliable given they only work when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing, creating national security concerns. The Trump administration might try to preempt state and local governments that use policy to encourage clean energy to address those concerns, Perry said. Theres a discussion, some of it very classified that will be occurring as we go further, Perry said. The conversation needs to happen so the local governors and legislators, mayors and city council understand whats at stake here in making sure that our energy security is substantial. Saqib Rahim of E&E News provided a slightly different quote from Perry: Theres a conversation, theres a discussion, some of it obviously very classified, that will be occurring as we go forward, to make sure that we have the decisions made by Congress, in a lot of these cases, to protect the security interests of America, he said at BNEFs The Future of Energy Summit, and that states and local entities do in fact get preempted with some of those decisions. Perrys remarks re-sparked earlier concerns that the Trump administration could seek to preempt renewable energy standard policies that are now in place in 29 states, as well as renewable energy goals adopted by another nine states. The growing number of local communities that have committed to transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy could also come under fire from the Trump administration. Renewable Energy Is Reliable and Makes America SaferJust Ask the Department of Energy Rick Perry is also facing scrutiny for ordering a study examining electricity markets and reliability that was tasked to his Chief of Staff Brian McCormack, who previously played a central role in attacks against rooftop solar for the Edison Electric Institute. Also named to lead work on the study is political appointee Travis Fisher. Fisher previously worked for the Institute for Energy Research (IER) and American Energy Alliance (AEA), which have received ample funding from the Koch brothers and coal industry. IER and AEA have long sought to undermine renewable energy standards in states like North Carolina, a national leader in solar energy. Christian Roselund of PV Magazine responded to Perrys study order by pointing out that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)one of the Dept. of Energys 17 National Laboratorieshas already written studies that show we can rely on renewable energy to provide much more of our electricity than it does today. In fact, one 2012 NREL study found that we could get 80 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2050 using existing technologies. Other studies by states and grid operators confirm that renewable energy is reliable. Another NREL study documented the significant health and environmental benefits generated by the state renewable energy standards that the Trump administration could try to preempt. In short, these policies make Americans safer by reducing harmful pollution emitted when we burn fossil fuelsespecially coalto produce electricity. Other reports by clean energy experts have documented the economic security benefits of these state renewable energy standards, which have supported the growth of jobs in the booming solar and wind power industries. Real world experience also shows that renewable energy is working just fine. Texas, the state where Rick Perry was governor, actually leads the nation in wind energy generation. In fact, nearly a quarter of the electricity generated in Texas during the first quarter of 2017 came from wind. Ask the Department of Defense, Too The Dept. of Defense does not appear to share the Trump administrations concerns about renewable energy. In fact, the military has made significant investments in renewable energy in order to enhance national securityan investment that continues with Trump in the White House. The U.S. Navy just recently refuted misleading claims that a new wind farm could interfere with a radar system made by some Republican lawmakers in North Carolina who wrote a letter to the Trump administration. Climate Change Is a Real Threat to Energy and National Security In 2015, the Dept. of Energy released a report that documented the threat climate change poses to energy securityand by extension national securityin every region of the U.S. The Dept. of Defense has also documented the national security risks posed by climate change risks James Mattis acknowledged during his confirmation as Trumps Secretary of Defense. Trumps efforts to rollback limits on carbon dioxide pollution from power plants and his embrace of the so-called clean coal put the nations energy and national security at further risk from climate change. Preempting state and local support for renewables would only increase those risks. Rick Perry Could Support Renewable Energy by Working for a Smart Grid Greentech Media reported that Perry made only sparse mention of renewable energy at the Bloomberg New Energy Finance Summit, but did say he wants to help renewable energy make its way to the grid Preempting local and state support for renewable energy would only ensure that less renewable energy makes its way to the grid. Perry could instead take positive steps to support integration of renewable energy by working to build a smart grid, the topic of a Dept. of Energy website. He could also support the energy storage revolution that is now underway, thanks in part to earlier investments by the Dept. of Energy. Unfortunately, the Trump administrations energy policy seems to more squarely align with fossil fuel and utility interests who seek to undermine state and local support for renewable energy. The Trump Team Is Full of Opponents of State and Local Support for Renewable Energy Travis Fisher is not the only political pick by the Trump administration that comes with a history of attacking state and local policies that have fueled the growth of renewable energy to benefit funders in the fossil fuel or utility industry. Trump tapped Thomas Pyle, also of the Institute for Energy Research (IER) and American Energy Alliance (AEA), to run his Dept. of Energy transition team. IER and AEA have targeted state renewable energy standard policies with misleading attacks for years. During the 2016 election, Trump responded to an AEA questionnaire with pledges to review key U.S. clean energy and climate change policies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Clean Power Plan and science-based endangerment finding for greenhouse gas emissions. Trump has already fulfilled part of that pledge by beginning the process of rolling back the Clean Power Plan. Trump similarly chose climate denier Myron Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute to lead his Environmental Protection Agency transition team. Like Fisher and Pyle, Ebell has attacked renewable energy standards in states like Ohio. Greentech Media recently took a rather revealing look at the backgrounds of some other members of Trumps energy beachhead team. No Uncertainty About State and Local Support for Renewable Energy At this point, it remains unclear how exactly the Trump administration would use the pretense of reliability concerns to preempt state and local support for renewable energy. If it does seek to preempt state and local control, it will certainly face significant opposition from states and local communitiesincluding those led by Republicansthat are already leading the way on renewable energy. (REUTERS/Osservatore Romano)Pope Francis talks with Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed el-Tayeb (L), Egyptian Imam of al-Azhar Mosque at the Vatican, May 23, 2016. Pope Francis is visiting Egypt on a visit aimed at improving Christian-Muslim dialogue, three weeks after bombings at two Coptic churches killed 45 people and he has delivered a strong peace message at a key center for Islamic learning. He was greeted by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at his palace in Cairo on April 28, and is also meeting Muslim and Christian leaders, The Associated Press reported. Religious leaders must denounce violations of human rights and expose attempts to justify violence and hatred in the name of God said Francis' message at the International Peace Conference at the Al-Azhar conference center in Cairo. The Pope's words came at the start of his two day trip to Egypt, following a courtesy visit to President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. The pontiff told reporters his trip would be a "journey of unity and fraternity," the BBC reported. Security is high for the 27-hour visit, but Pope Francis is not using an armored car. Later the 80-year-old head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics visted al-Azhar University, a key center of Sunni Islamic learning where he attended the inter-faith and ecumenical peace conference. "Egypt lifted the lamp of knowledge, giving birth to an inestimable cultural heritage, made up of wisdom and ingenuity, mathematical and astronomical discoveries, and remarkable forms of architecture and figurative art. "The quest for knowledge and the value placed on education were the result of conscious decisions on the part of the ancient inhabitants of this land, and were to bear much fruit for the future," said Francis in his address. Before the visit - the first papal trip to Cairo in 20 years - he said he was travelling as a "messenger of peace". It comes as Egypt's Coptic Christians - who make up 10 percent of the country's mainly Muslim population - face increased threats. The majority of the Copts are Orthodox, with less than 150,000 of them who are Catholic. Speaking at the same conference as Pope Francis the Eucmenical Patriarch Bartholomew, considered by many to be the spiritual head of Eastern Orthodox Christians, said protecting human freedom and dignity is a vital contribution to peace-building by religious communities. "During the last two decades, humanity has experienced continuous terrorist attacks, which are the cause of death and hurt of thousands of people, and which are becoming the greatest threat and source of fear for contemporary societies," he said. "Since then, religions have been often suspected or openly accused for inspiring terrorism and violence." Religion is a vital factor in the peace process, Bartholomew said. "Religion can, of course, divide by causing intolerance and violence. But this is rather its failure, not its essence, which is the protection of human dignity." Interreligious dialogue recognizes the differences of religious traditions and promotes peaceful coexistence and cooperation between people and cultures, he continued. "Interreligious dialogue does not mean to deny one's own faith, but rather to change one's mind or attitude towards the other." In a common declaration, signed by Pope Francis and Coptic Pope Tawadros II, Catholics and Copts declared for the first time that they will recognize each other's sacrament of baptism. In recent months, the opportunities for students with learning disabilities have been simultaneously affirmed and threatened. In March, the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District upheld our nations commitment to support the academic achievement of children with disabilities. The courts decision makes clear that educators canand shouldexpect all children, including those with disabilities , to make meaningful academic progress. This welcome decision comes not long after Januarys contentious confirmation hearing for Betsy DeVos, the current U.S. secretary of education, in which DeVos publicly admitted confusion about the federal laws that protect public school students with disabilities. In her first months leading the Department of Education, DeVos has supported drastic budget cuts that would significantly undermine public education. Washingtons mixed messages are causing confusion and concern for the families and teachers of children with learning disabilities, who represent nearly 40 percent of all school-aged children in special education. The Trump administrations budget proposal would cut roughly $9 billion from federal education funding. It also fails to give a needed boost to funding for special educationmaintained at $13 billionunder the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the law that guarantees students with disabilities access to public education and the accommodations necessary to support their learning. But the proposal would put an additional $1.4 billion toward school choice, including funding for private school vouchers. If modeled on existing state programs for choice, families of children with learning disabilities would need to relinquish some of their legal rights under the IDEA including access to special education services or an individualized education planin order to receive voucher funding. The options on the table leave many families and educators wondering: Do federal policymakers truly value the education of children with learning disabilities? While the Supreme Courts decision affirms long-standing momentum toward better educational support for children with disabilities, the administrations actions to date have done little to ensure schools are positioned to maintain this progress. Advocates of students with learning disabilities want to ensure that we build on existing progress." As the administration contemplates the way forward, it would be wise to begin with some important background information. For instance, making cuts to public education would affect the 2.3 million U.S. public school students ages 6 to 21 who have identified learning disabilities. The administration should also know that parents, educators, and advocacy organizations are ready to engage in a thoughtful discussion about what is best for these students. First and foremost, advocates of students with learning disabilities want to ensure that we build on existing progress. In the 2013-14 school year, high school graduation rates for students with learning disabilities climbed to 71 percent , up from 68 percent in 2010-11, according to a forthcoming report by the National Center for Learning Disabilities. But challenges persist. Students with learning disabilities are still three times more likely to drop out of high school than their peers without learning disabilities, in part because early warning signs of their struggles in reading, writing, and math often go undetected by educators. We can and must do better. To that end, the National Center for Learning Disabilities (of which I am the president and CEO) stands ready to work with leaders at the Department of Education and with Congress to ensure smart investments in education for students. To start, we ask policymakers to support a federal budget that invests in general and special education. They should also prioritize funding for professional development to help all educators recognize signs of learning disabilities in a students early school years and give them the tools to appropriately intervene. Because most students with learning disabilities spend the majority of their school day in general education classrooms, all educators must have the training and resources to support them. The actions of policymakers, advocates, and educators must match their words. Only by redoubling our nations commitment to the rights of children with disabilities can we hope to ensure that all students receive the high-quality public education they deserve. To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020. Luciano Dorigo was with three friends in a petrol station in Portoviejo. Suddenly, the ground started wobbling and the buildings shook tremendously. We got out of the car and crawled to shelter nearby, he remembers. The earthquake lasted for one seemingly endless minute. When the rumbling was over, Luciano dusted himself off. Somehow, he and his friends were alive. Not everyone was so fortunate. On 16th April 2016, the 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed more than 670 people and destroyed the lives of thousands in Ecuador. Portoviejo, the capital of Manabi Province, was hit particularly hard. I feel a great responsibility towards my region, says Dorigo who was born and raised in Manabi and is a civil engineer at Ecuador Estrategico, the company appointed by the Ministry of Finance to implement the reconstruction and recovery. Reviving the local economy and peoples livelihoods after disaster requires know-how and money. The European Investment Bank (EIB) provides both to this project. Understanding the challenges of recovery after disaster is crucial, but finding the right tools to tackle them is equally vital, says Fernando Camano, the Banks engineer who dealt with this operation. An experienced EIB team was on the ground just a few days after the earthquake. Restore and improve The economic center and downtown of Portoviejo, a city of 300,000 people, was badly damaged in the earthquake. We want to bring order out of disorder in the urban scene. It is an opportunity for Portoviejo to reinvent itself and become more resilient, says Patricia Cobos, an economist at Ecuadors Ministry of Finance whos working on the rebuilding scheme. The reconstruction programme in the province of Manabi will be fully financed by an EIB multi-sector framework loan and cover two phases: restoring the affected infrastructure, schools, hospitals and roads, and repairing water and power supply facilities enhancing the urban space, including installation of underground cables, recycling waste, and creating social and inclusive neighborhoods. The two-phase reconstruction is backed by the Banks USD 175 million loan signed in November 2016. The project will also benefit from a EUR 7 million grant from the European Commissions Latin America Investment Facility. Improving the public spaces also means providing quality public services, and refurbishing them, to promote the return of business and tourism, explains Dorigo. Its the return of life. Pedestrians will be a priority in the new Portoviejo centre and as such they will have plenty of space doubled from the 1.2 hectares to 2.4 hectares in which to walk and cycle. This will result in half the space for cars, so the urban space will be cleaner and greener. The number of trees in the centre will be six times as much as at present. Green space per inhabitant will rise to around 16 square metres. We estimate that nearly 6 000 people will directly benefit from this project and a further 228 000 will benefit indirectly, says Cobos. Its rather impressive. An innovative training Camano has worked on several post-disaster reconstructions across the world. The Bank has a long track record in managing disaster risk and post-conflict related operations, backing 78 projects in the past 15 years. Disaster prevention and post-disaster recovery operations inside the European Union focus primarily on flood and storm, with some earthquake, oil-spill and forest fire. Outside the EU, earthquake prevention and response account for over half of the Banks post-disaster lending followed by flood and storm response and forest fire prevention. Coordination to identify needs and to rebuild will be vital in the long-term reconstruction process. Camano knows this well. He is behind the innovative idea of providing training to the projects leaders. It is the first time that the EIB has pulled together the know-how from 15 Banks experts for such an intensive training. But building on the successful experience this will probably be replicated for other projects inside and outside Europe. We wanted to pass hands-on knowledge on key aspects and we wanted to do it in the most effective way, he says. Having the full implementation team here maximises the benefit. The European Investment Bank gave us the chance to come to Luxembourg and be trained at the EIB headquarters by the Banks experts on how to best unroll the project together, says Cobos. We got so much knowledge in just one week. And it is also great to give faces to names. It makes us feel so connected and taken care of. Sara Jo Schneider and Hickle, along with fellow Girl Scouts Jayna Kelley and Autumn Helgeson, were killed when a pickup truck crashed into them as the scouts cleaned up debris on the west side of Highway P at about 11 a.m. Nov. 3, 2018. All four were killed at the scene. A fifth girl was injured but later recovered. The girls attended Southview Elementary and Halmstad Elementary in Chippewa Falls. On Wednesday, a 20-foot-tall memorial was dedicated at the crash site, honoring the three scouts and mother killed that day. 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Madison School District officials informed Black Hawk families of Walkers departure Friday morning, spokeswoman Rachel Strauch-Nelson said. Alex Fralin, the districts chief of secondary schools, also said Friday that an ongoing external review of financial procedures at the school which began the same month Walker left on leave and included some staff and parent concerns about reportedly missing money is nearing completion. Results from the review are expected to be shared publicly within the next week, Fralin said. Please know that we are also working with (acting principal) Jamie Sims to ensure that students are not impacted, through things like end-of-the-year field trips, while the review has taken place, Fralin said. The process of replacing Walker is starting now, with plans to place an interim principal for next school year this summer and then launch a full principal screening and selection process with school community input. Through the end of this school year, Sims, who is the schools dean of students, will continue acting as principal at Black Hawk, according to the school district. District officials told the State Journal that Walker was granted a medical leave at her request in late January, with an initial plan to return in March. She then requested and was granted an extension into April, but did not return, prompting the district to reach out to her this week. Walker, 45, had earned $106,466 annually. Her leave has not been connected with the financial review by Fralin, who described the probe as starting due to some questions about the use of financial vehicles at the school and broadening into a thorough review of the schools financial protocols and procedures, including concerns parents had about money they believe is missing from a donation fund for Fun Run T-shirts for students. Walker had been principal of Black Hawk, located at 1402 Wyoming Way on Madisons North Side, since July 2015, with prior work there as an assistant principal. Opened in 1990, Black Hawk is in the East High attendance area and enrolls nearly 400 students in grades six through eight. Third nominee for LegCo vacancy A third nominee has been put forward for the vacancy on the Legislative Council. Former police officer Alan Wright works for the Government's Land Registry. Mr Wright was nominated by Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot and seconded by Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer, with support from Education Minister Graham Cregeen and Ayre & Michael MHK Tim Baker. Paul Beckett and Jane Poole-Wilson, who have both worked in the legal sector, have also been put forward for the seat. MHKs can put names forward until Wednesday next week. Pattern Energy Group has acquired interests in the two wind projects that comprise the 324MW Broadview Wind power facilities (Broadview) and associated independent 35-mile 345 kV Western Interconnect transmission line (Western Interconnect) from Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Development 1.0) for $269 million, consisting of cash consideration of $215 million and an assumed project loan of $54 million. Broadview, which is located 30 miles north of Clovis, New Mexico, commenced commercial operations in late March. Highlights Broadview and Western Interconnect have completed construction and commenced commercial operation All of Pattern Energy's 18 wind power facilities are now fully operational, with total operational owned capacity of 2,644 MW Pattern Energy acquired Broadview and Western Interconnect for $269 million, which consisted of cash consideration of $215 million and an assumed project loan of $54 million secured by Western Interconnect The cash consideration was funded from available corporate liquidity Pattern Energy expects Broadview and Western Interconnect to generate cash available for distribution (CAFD) of approximately $18 million in 2018, increasing each year by approximately $2.5 million per year generating an average of $23 million per year in CAFD over the five-year period starting in 2018, which results in a CAFD multiple of 9.3x, after taking into consideration the Western Interconnect loan "This extraordinary project brings inexpensive renewable power from eastern New Mexico, one of the highest wind areas in the west, using dedicated transmission capacity from several transmission systems into California. Broadview's production complements production from California's domestic renewable resources helping California transition to a carbon-free, low-cost, renewable grid," said Mike Garland, President and CEO of Pattern Energy. "We are especially excited to bring this project on line because Pattern Development is actively developing several significant opportunities in New Mexico and the southwest U.S. as part of the region's increasing demand for low-cost, renewable energy. These new opportunities will be subject to our ROFO as part of our relationship with Pattern Development." Pattern Energy has acquired from Pattern Development 1.0 an 84% initial cash flow interest in Broadview and a 99% ownership interest in Western Interconnect. Institutional equity investors have acquired from Pattern Development 1.0 a 16% initial cash flow interest in, and a 99% initial taxable income allocation from, Broadview. Following the acquisition, based on its initial cash flow share, Pattern Energy retains an owned interest of 272 MW in Broadview. Pattern Energy's commitment to own and operate the facility was a core component of securing high-quality institutional equity investors for the project financing. Pattern Energy acquired Broadview and Western Interconnect for $269 million, including cash consideration of $215 million and an assumed project loan of $54 million secured by Western Interconnect. The cash consideration was funded from available corporate liquidity. The Western Interconnect loan commitment was originally secured at the time of the agreement to acquire Broadview in June 2016. The interest on the debt is 90% swapped over the 19-year amortization term. The debt has a maturity of 10 years. Broadview will begin receiving both pay-as-you-go ("PAYGO") contributions from Broadview's tax equity investors and certain New Mexico production tax credits starting in 2018. Based on the expected timing of these cash flows and assuming normal wind conditions, Pattern Energy expects the CAFD contribution, after deduction of Western Interconnect financing costs, to be $18 million in 2018 and to increase approximately $2.5 million per year thereafter through 2022. This results in a five-year average CAFD of $23 million per year and a 9.3x CAFD multiple, based on the cash consideration of $215 million paid to acquire Broadview and Western Interconnect. Broadview consists of 141 Siemens 2.3 MW wind turbines and has the capacity to generate 324 MW of energy, the power equivalent to the annual energy usage of approximately 180,000 California homes. Broadview is limited to 297 MW of injection capacity at Broadview's transmission interconnection point. Broadview has entered into two 20-year power purchase agreements ("PPAs") with Southern California Edison ("SCE"), which has a BBB+/A2 credit rating, for sale of 100 percent of the output, up to a total of 297 MW, which has been factored into Broadview's economics. Broadview interconnects to the Western Interconnect transmission project, a 345 kV transmission line, approximately 35 miles in length. To wheel the output from Broadview to the California Independent System Operator system where it is delivered to SCE, Broadview has entered into long-term, firm, point-to-point transmission service agreements to move the output through the Western Interconnect, Public Service of New Mexico and Arizona Public Service transmission systems. (Photo: Pattern's Gulf Wind Farm in Armstrong, Texas; Source: Pattern Energy) China has launched its first aircraft carrier that was made and designed domestically last Wednesday; April 26. According to CNBC, China's first domestically built aircraft carrier has been unveiled during the latest display of Beijing's growing naval power. The vessel was launched into open water from a dockyard in the port of Dalian, northeastern Liaoning province, on Wednesday morning. The said release of China's first homegrown aircraft carrier took place three days after the 68th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army Navy which was held on Sunday. It was also noted that against the backdrop of a rising China, the vessel was released to project its power over the regional naval security outline. Furthermore, CNN noted that aircraft carrier that was built by China is yet to be named. It was also mentioned that the new vessel still has gaps behind its US counterparts when it comes to technology. But then, the high-ranking fellow at Sydney's Lowy Institute Sam Roggeveen told in an interview with the news outlet that it is just a "stepping stone" to China's next generation of aircraft carriers. "It's probably been designed to just get China in the aircraft carrier game, and while this design was just an incremental advance (on the country's first carrier), with the next carrier, which could already be under construction, it will be much closer to a US carrier," Roggeveen stated during the interview. It was also noticed that the news about the launch originates as pressure mount over North Korea, which was China's unruly neighbor and collaborator. Nevertheless, the carrier isn't anticipated to enter active service until 2020. The same news outlet also stated in its article that a ship is launched when it is first placed into the water, but then the aircraft carrier still needs significant work to complete it. Once it was active, the new carrier will likely be formally appointed in a distinct ceremony. For reference, the construction of China's first aircraft carrier has started November 2013The construction took just over three years later the main exterior has been finished, as well as a number of the vessel's main systems that included the power supply. Tom Cruise and Henry Cavill have started filming the much-awaited "Mission: Impossible 6." According to Daily Mail, "Mission: Impossible 6" actors Tom Cruise and Henry Cavill have started filming thrilling scenes in Paris. Cruise is wearing his navy leather jacket as he strolled around on the movie set. Cruise inspected the set and appears to be in deep discussion with crew members as they worked out how to maneuver the scene. Upon filming some parts of "Mission: Impossible 6", the actor has sported his character Ethan Hunt's signature all-black ensemble and he also wears heavy black boots. The same news outlet has learned that the "Mission: Impossible 6" actor appeared to be shooting a chase sequence with Superman star Henry Cavill, as the two maneuvered a heavy truck. The two are driving the truck into another large truck, in what appears to be a thrilling action scene in the movie. Meanwhile, keen observant fans had spotted Cavill had grown a thick handlebar mustache for his role in the movie, which is a far appearance from his typical clean-cut look. For reference, Metro stated in its article that Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt, while Cavill has also signed on in an unspecified role. Nevertheless, it was figured that his character will perhaps be substituting Jeremy Renner's departing William Brandt. It was also mentioned that it was 21 years since Cruise's Impossible Missions Force (IMF) agent Ethan Hunt first fought his way through what was measured as an 'impossible mission.' Even though specifics are still under wraps for the "Mission; Impossible 6," it was known that the production in Paris will move to New Zealand and London. "Mission: Impossible 6" is being directed by scriptwriter Christopher McQuarrie. He previously worked with Cruise on movies "Jack Reacher," "Edge Of Tomorrow" and "Valkyrie." Additionally, Alec Baldwin and Rebecca Ferguson will both reappear on their roles from "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" as Alan Hunley and Ilsa Faust correspondingly. A dramatic incident which involved the United Airlines and a passenger have sent chaos to many people worldwide. However, the controversial airline had already settled with the victim, Dr. David Hao, after the injuries and humiliation he has received. Apparently, United Airlines has given an "amicable settlement" to Dr. Hao after forcibly dragging him out of the plane. According to his attorney, the airline has provided a confidential amount to his client. Dr. Hao, who was a Kentucky physician, has suffered several injuries that result to the lost of his two teeth, broken nose, and concussion. Apparently, the airline was overbooked last April 9 and the victim was asked to give his seat for airline employees. However, the doctor refused, making the airport police at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport drag him out of his seat. The Chief Executive of the airline, Oscar Munoz, has repeatedly asked for an apology, assuring everyone about the carrier's improvement. As LA Times reported, the major changes involve reducing the use of the authorities on carriers, giving up to $10,000 to those who will voluntarily provide their seats, and not force any of the passengers to give their seats up. Meanwhile, Dr. Dao's attorney, Thomas Demetrio, has commended the airline's executive for the immediate settlement. He praised Munoz for doing the right thing and the airline for taking full responsibility for the incident. Both parties, as reports suggest, were satisfied with the settlement. As for the officers of the Chicago Department of Aviation, Dr. Dao's attorney said that his client will not sue them nor anyone anymore. United Airlines' action to compromise with their victim has lessened the further damage that may have occurred in case the civil lawsuit continued. Nevertheless, the airline has received criticisms that would mark the traveler's memory. One passenger even shared a sentiment after Dao's incident, saying: "I wouldn't fly United if they gave me a free pass to fly first class to anywhere for the rest of my life." More than 52 years ago, on 24 December 1964, members of the Rajya Sabha were asked to consider a bill that would lead to the creation of another university in Delhi. Moving it as the Jawaharlal Nehru University Bill in December 1964, the education minister and a former Justice of the Bombay High Court, Mahommedali Currim Chagla, made a passionate plea for considering this university as a memorial to Nehrus life, work, and ideals, and a promise that this university would be different. But parliamentarians were dissatisfied with what Chagla had to offer, both with the fact that it was to be named after Jawaharlal Nehru and the relatively tepid blend of uniqueness that was being proposed. The Bill was therefore referred to a Joint Select Committee in the next session. Inspired by Love and Guided by Knowledge: Parliament imagines a new kind of university The Joint Select Committee submitted its report on 3 November 1965, and created the context for the stimulating discussion that was to follow. What would be the role of the state vis-a-vis the university and vice versa, what would make it truly Indian, relevant, excellent? Two notes of dissent to the report of the Joint Committee, both of which objected mainly to dedicating the university to fulfilling the ideals of Nehru, initiated a process of fashioning in the mind what a truly radical conception of an Indian university would be. A university, H N Mukherjee and P K Kumaran said, must be a space for systematic thought, free of partisan pressure which might stifle intellectual creativity; it must create a communitya continuing membership of minds devoted to the tasks of learning and of the good lifeinspired by love and guided by knowledge. It cannot ever be a church or caged in the cult of a prophet or any great man, M B Lal and H Barua said, because it must represent all of India in its totality. When the Joint Select Committees report was tabled in the Rajya Sabha on 1 December 1965, Chagla informed the House that discussions on the Bill from the Select Committee had led to them to conceive this to be a university of an entirely different and new type, quite distinct from the 70-odd universities in India at that time, and one which, if it functioned properly, would be a real memorial to Jawaharlal Nehru. This university would work to promote social justice and secularism, social responsibility, the composite culture of India, scientific temper, and international understanding, and would teach students sensitive to the social needs of the country. Nothing in this university would be a replica of existing universities, it would teach all that had not made it into university syllabi yet for most other universities, making special provision for integrated courses in humanities, sciences and technology in the educational programmes of the University (because knowledge is one and it should be integrated, and a man should be an all-round man.) It would establish departments for the study of languages, literatures and the life of foreign countries to inculcate in students a world perspective and international understanding, and its doors would be forever open for students and scholars from outsideso that there should be an international atmosphere in this University. No old models of university structure and hierarchy were to be replicated in this university being fashioned in the mind of the parliamentarians, and so that it could define its own higher standards, JNU was not to be, as originally proposed, the southern sister of the Delhi University. It would not be made to carry a terrible burden from the old University by affiliating the 17-odd colleges south of Ajmeri gate; rather, its relationship with other institutions would be based on collaboration and mutual exchange. A large part of the debate that followed the revised Bill was about the wisdom of naming it after Nehru and whether the institution should be committed to fulfilling his ideals. That point was both won and conceded ultimately, as while the universitys name remained as such, the First Schedule that was ultimately enacted referred only to how the university would endeavour to promote the study of the principles for which Jawaharlal Nehru worked during his lifetime. For the intent, Chagla said, was never "to propagate Nehruism, or to set up Nehru as a prophet. I do not want the students to go to this University to pay respect to those ideals merely because Nehru believed in them but to consider those ideals as part of our national legacy, to criticize in them, if necessary, to suggest changes in them, or as I said, to give a new life to them. But beyond the name, every aspect of the Bill was queried was the envisaged structure of the university not too radical? Interdisciplinary Schools as the statutory bodies rather than disciplinary faculties departments? Why was there no important role for a registrar? Wasnt the proposal that the vice-chancellor would be appointed even before the university began too radical, and that he could handpick an academic advisory committee with whom he would work to conceptualise the university too rash? Wouldnt allowing students representation in a joint council with teachers too bold a move? Was there any point in having both a chancellor and a visitor? How could the university be guaranteed enough autonomy if it were to have a chancellor? Most of these queries were addressed by Chagla alone, readily agreeing to legitimate objections and amendments, patiently explaining away misunderstandings, because he was certainly not in favour of making the university a department of the state, and the cause of education would be lost in the country if the autonomy of the universities is undermined. In the debate, the aspect in which other parliamentarians had the greatest role was in deciding who would be the students that come to study to this university. Most of the passionate advocates of setting up a unique historical experiment were Oxbridge trained, but they were also attracted to the curricular, and pedagogical innovations of emerging British universities like Sussex. Their education in England and Europe had led them to ascribe a high value to university autonomyas a legacy from the good lifeof being students therebut their political commitment convinced them that in India,all education but particularly higher education had to playa socially transformative role. As G Ramacandran argued, in the Rajya Sabha on 2 December 1965, this would only be possible if Let education in this university be one hundred per cent free for a thousand of the best young people we can select; make education completely free....Instead of asking talented boys to pay to sustain the university, the university will pay the highest talent in this country to come and make what you wish it to be. So what should this university be? Post-graduate; no under-graduate in the campus a residential university restricted to one thousand students of the highest calibre, learning and working and pledge to carry out ideals which Nehru stood for. Chagla, and the rest of the Parliament concurred, with members in both Houses repeatedly stressed the necessity of a residential postgraduate and research character for the university. In the words of Chagla, on 16 November 1966: This university will not be intended for children of the rich. We have provided for entrance examination and I hope we will get the most talented boys and girls from all over the country, however poor they may be and by a system of scholarships we will see to it that the poorest boy and the poorest girl, if he or she is talented, will have an opportunity to study in this university. This understanding, though never inscribed explicitly in any statute or rule of the university has guided the policies on fees, scholarships, and cost of living estimates in JNU ever since. How did the parliamentarians feel the need to imagine the university anew? A large part of the answer comes from the debates around the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, passed ten years before the JNU Act. The voluminous discussions around the Bill made MPs think closely about the nature of the relationship between the state and higher education in a young decolonised nation, the social mission that university education had to play in forming a new future for its citizens. Another part of the answer comes from the years following the formation of the UGC itself, when via the presentation and debates around the UGC annual reports, the Parliament came to understand the true state of higher education and research in the country. The UGC Act Debates and What They Taught Parliamentarians The Bill had a rough ride through the Parliament, made even worse by the apparent lack of interest that Maulana Azad, the Education Minister, had in it. Introduced in the Lok Sabha on September 30 1954, as a Bill for "the coordination and determination of standards in universities and for that purpose, to establish a University Grants Commission, the Bill was greeted with all round hostility for its encroachment on university autonomy through both its financial powers and its mandate to determine standards. On 22 February 1955, RenuChakravartty said in the Lok Sabha: Autonomy for free scope for the development of university education, according to the needs and traditions of a particular university must not be interfered with. For instance, there are the words"determination of standards.This a very vague term and it may even become dangerous.For instance, the Lucknow University may say that it would like to specialise in sociology, or may decide to have a special type of education most suitable to women. The Calcutta University, for instance, may like to lay special stress on domestic science; or some other university may choose to specialise in some other subject. Standardisation must not lead to stereotyping. Speaking in the Lok Sabha on 22 and 28 February 1955, S S More also protested: This country is a vast country. Different States have different difficulties, different problems, and the educational development of all states is not even. Therefore in assessing what should be the proper standard , or in their efforts to co-ordinate the work of the different Universities, the peculiarities of the states, the social conditions prevailing in all the States and the particular classes of society which are trying to take advantage of this University education must be deciding factor, and some dead bureaucratic attempt to create uniformity which will yield to the same yardstick is not and could not be the objective of this University Grants Commission. The pervasive anxiety about the Bill in the Lok Sabha led it to be referred to a Joint Select Committee. On its returnand even though M M Das saw the changes effected as having virtually reduced the University Rights Commission into an advisory, recommendatory body the Parliamentarians remained highly sceptical of the governments intent, seeing it as a naked attempt by the government to school universities in India, and to erode their autonomy.The specific provision that the UGC must be guided bydirections from the Central government attracted a great deal of ire: I should have thought that universities are constituted under a charter or under and enactment of the legislature and once they have been so constituted under an enactment of the legislature, the purpose which they are expected to fulfil are absolutely national. It is therefore unconstitutional, apart from its being improper on the part of an outside authority, to tell the universities that there are national purposes other than those in enactments for them to fulfil. (Krishnaswamy, Lok Sabha, 24 November 1955) Others spoke out sharply against the idea of uniform standards, and the very idea that the UGC could claim to have the expertise to set these standards. This country has now got about 31 Universities and in each of these Universities there are efficient groups of teachers who take care of education. There are also different faculties and Boards of studies in these Universities and I think they are the best persons in whose care we can entrust the cause of education. In all the Universities at the present moment there exist not only Boards of Studies but also Academic Councils and Senates where we have not only the officers of the University but also distinguished persons who are educationists or who have got high distinctions in various spheres. There are also at the same time representative leaders of public opinion in many of the controlling authorities of these Universities.The people who serve you in the colleges, in the universities, in the laboratories, and in the different research institutes. Ultimately, they are the persons who have been working there all the timewho have got the experience and who will be able to tell you exactly what is needed if you want to improve the standards of education in our land (Satyendranath Bose, Rajya Sabha, 21 March 1955). Eventually however, the UGC Bill was passed more or less as it was, because the constitution empowered the union under Entry 66 of List 1 to enact legislation for "the coordination and determination of standards in universities. The parliamentarians would also have been convinced by the logic provided by interventions such as that of Syamnandan Sahaya in the Lok Sabha on 23 November 1955: Standardisation need not necessarily mean a particular standard from Cape Comorin to the Himalayas in any subject. Standardisation would be based on certain standards which may be different, for different areas, and different subjects....A second class MA from one university is one who secures 50 percent marks or 55 percent marks. In another university he who secures 45 percent marks is placed on the second class. When applications are called for stating that second class MAs are required, the one securing 45 percent in a university where 55 percent is required for a second class becomes a third class. So, some kind of all-around standardization in such directions is certainly called for. But Parliaments assent did not come before the government had to give detailed clarifications that it had no intention to undermine university autonomy. As Deputy Education Minister,K L Shrimali assured the Rajya Sabha on 7 December 1955, the intention was to combine freedom with planning: I would only like to say that there is nothing in the University Grants Commission Bill which makes any attempt and the Government has also no intentionto encroach upon the autonomy of the Universities. But the Government has a certain duty to perform the duty of reorganising the Universities and putting these houses of learning in order. It is the duty of the Government to see that these Universities perform the social functions and they realise these social ideals which we all cherish. And I would like to say that it is in that spirit that we should approach the question. I can assure you that the autonomy of the Universities will be secure. UGC in Action Through the annual reports of the UGC from 1958, the Parliament was made painfully aware that the coordination and determination of standards in universities was no simple task. There were several kinds of degrees handed out, and several standards of qualification. Respect for university autonomy and the fact that education was not yet a subject on the concurrent list, entailed that a major task of the institution was to persuade the Indian universities to accept the three year bachelor degree as the standard, with eleven years of schooling as the eligibility. By 1965, only 46 of the 71 universities in the country had been successfully cajoled. During the UGC Act debates, more than occasional mention was made of how expansion and innovation of university education should be one of the prime duties of the UGC, and perhaps parliamentarians had hoped that with the formation of the UGC, beginnings would be made in both directions. By the time the first annual report of the UGC was presented in April 1958, it became clear however that neither would be on the agenda any time soon. In response to the popular demand for college education, a number of state and private universities had, and continued to mushroom all over the country, and there was very little the UGC could do to coordinate with them, given that education was not on the concurrent list. Let alone innovation and expansion in a manner that made education accessible to the poorest, the UGC had its hands full awarding recognition to these universities, and determining minimum standards for awards of degrees, infrastructure, determining teachers eligibility and their salary scales. In response,the UGC operating then (as now, in straitened circumstances) could ultimately come up with only two recommendations by the early 1960s: please stop opening new colleges and universitiesand reduce the number of students enrolling in higher education (even then, the excuse cited wasindiscipline). Members of parliament (MP) were in quite a despair that nothing new was being attempted, and that the UGC policy had to be solely dictated by the emptiness of its coffers. While MPs agreed that there was indeed overcrowding in universities, and that standards of education were falling as a result, they felt that the solution was to spend more, rather than less, on education. Over the next few sessions, they protested more and more asserting that access to education, and especially for research degrees, was limited to the rich, as poor and rural students simply screened themselves out. Bhupesh Gupta and Govinda Reddy angrily demanded that there should be no restriction of admissions to universities; Rukmini Devi Arundale and Rajkumari Amrit Kumar wanted expansion of the university system into residential universities which were set away from the cities, to which yet others added the demand of freeorfully financed education for the poor and rural students. What led to the Jawaharlal Nehru University Bill was then the combined effect of both the discussions around the UGC Act and its reports and the desire to innovate, to create a place of excellence where standards could be evolved without reference to existing priors. The policy masterstroke lay in recognising that educational innovation and excellent standards were inextricably linked to equity of access and democratisation of university structures. That the JNU experiment was to be a success became evident by the early 1970s itself, as by 1974 even as the university was beginning to make a name for itself, 20% of its students were drawn from the Scheduled Castes alone. (The Times of India, 25 September1974) Even today, the university is as rural as urban, has more women than men, with socially and economically backward students forming the overwhelming majority. It is also a place of excellence, not as conveyed by ranking systems, but by the value its research holds for its peers across the world. And certainly before February 2016, it was usually a place inspired by love and guided by knowledge most of the time. Successive generations of JNU students and faculty have prided themselves on their commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry, rigorous questions that have relevance both to the world of knowledge and the worlds their holders inhabit, and for persistently striving for greater social inclusion and democratisation of university policies and structures. That a large part of this comes from kernels sown in the debates in the Parliament around the JNU Act, and which is not part of the discourse (any longer), must not be regretted, because it is merely indicative of the robustness of the universitys foundations, that these commitments can be rediscovered afresh by each generation that passes through. Not JNU Exceptionalism but an Exception Although it was the UGC that had recommended setting up another university in Delhi in 1960, once the Joint Select Committee had woven its magic, it was no longer in the loop. Nevertheless, its chairperson conveyed support for its success to the Rajya Sabha, despite the fact that the UGC, its standards and coordination, never once find mention in the intense discussion on the JNU Bill. In the years after the JNU Bill became an Act, the UGC Annual Reports faithfully recorded the growth of the universitys innovative programmes, the acquisition of the land for its campus, and its own disbursal of grants to it. JNUs experiments with knowledge and standards were never interfered with, and JNU was listened to patiently. In fact, the UGC often, without attribution, borrowed from JNUs precise formulations ironically both the 2009 and 2016 version of the UGC Regulations on award of MPhil and PhD degreesdraw in part from the JNU Ordinances. For many recommendations made by the UGC, including the UGC Regulations onPrevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions (published in the Gazette of India of 2 May 2016, but whose binding nature no university is likely to be held to), the JNUs experiences have been drawn upon by the commission. In fact, even as late as 2009-12, when JNUs research student-to-supervisorratio shot up because it had faithfully implemented the Central Educational Institutions Reservations Act, UGC did not penalise the university for not being able to adhere to the limit of five MPhil and eight PhD students per faculty member, accepting the logic that in a research university with a multitude of departments that do not have BA or MA programmes, this ratio would just mean a waste of resources. Was JNU treated with laxity by the UGC because of its left-liberal ethos and proximity to those in power? Quite the contraryJNU students certainly have not been the friends of any regimeit was because its research standards, programmes, and outputs have consistently been judged to be quite excellent by its peers, including by the metrics that a hostile government has decided to institute. The fact that JNU has done well is a testament to how right the Parliamentarians of 50 years ago were when they decided that plans of academic excellence are best built on the bedrock of democracy and justice. While JNU struggles every day to making sure that the small and successful experiment it is survives, it is the UGC that has strayed far away from the object behind its creation, which in the words of the then Deputy Minister for Education K L Shrimali, was an attempt to build a kind of partnership between the government and the universities, and that there is no rivalry between the universities and the government. It is definitely time that the UGC revisit its own legislative history, and to recognise the role that it must play. The words of S S More are as good a place as any to begin: Prior to the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, Bombay Tobak, the maker of the MBombay brand of cigars announced an all-new brand known as Gaaja (pronounced : Gaa-ya). Released originally in a Toro, the Gaaja would be the first box pressed offering from Bombay Tobak. From a tobacco standpoint, a unique feature of this cigar is that it uses tobaccos from Paraguay, a country not known for producing tobacco for premium hand-rolled cigars. Fast-forward a few weeks to the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, and Bombay Tobak owner Mel Shah had more plans for Gaaja. He would unveil a Box Press Torpedo to the existing (natural) line and add a Maduro counterpart. Today we take a closer look at the Gaaja Torpedo. The Gaaja Toro made a big impression on me last year. With the Gaaja Toro, things do not disappoint. As for the name Gaaja, it traces back on the Sanskrit name Gaja (pronounced guy) which means elephant. Gaaja was a project that Shah worked on for four years and one where he took a slow and patient process to develop the cigars in the brand, thus the connection with the elephant. Without further ado, lets take a closer look at the Gaaja Torpedo and see what the cigar brings to the table. Blend Profile Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut desflorado, Variety Hybrid Mejorado 2004 Binder: Ecuador HVA Seca Mejorada Filler: Seco: Peru Hybrid Habano Viso: Ecuador criollo 98, Paraguay Hybrid Habano 2000, Dominican criollo 98. Ligero: Dominican HVA Mejorado The hybrid wrapper is a combination of a Connecticut Seed crossed with Cameroon grown in Ecuador using the Desflorado technique. This is a technique that involves removing the tobacco flower resulting in nutrients being passing to the leaves; which in turn results in more flavor. There were three vintages of the wrapper produced. Vintages from 2002 and 2003 were considered until finally the 2004 vintage was selection. The Paraguayan viso is definitely something different. For the most part, Paraguayan tobacco is used in cigarettes. The flavor imparts of an herbal note with less spice. In terms of the Peruvian tobacco, that is a staple across the whole MBombay portfolio as it also is found in the other five lines. Vitolas Available Gaaja is now available in two box press sizes. The Gaaja Torpedo is packaged in 10 count boxes. Toro: 6 x 54 Torpedo: 6 1/2 x 54 Appearance Like the Toro, the wrapper of the Gaaja Torpedo is exquisite. It is a very smooth wrapper with a light brown color to it. There was a light amount of oil on the surface that enhances the color a little more. There were a couple of thin visible veins and any wrapper seams are on the thin side. The box-press is firm with no soft spots. The band was designed by Shahs wife (who designed the other MBombay bands). With the Gaaja band, it is a departure from the Indian mosaic style band found on the other five MBombay lines. The band features colors to represent the four elements: Red (Fire), Gold (Earth), Green/Blue (Water), Dark Blue Swirls (Wind). The left and right side of the band is gold with blue trim. On the left side of the band is the text Bombay Tobak in red cursive font. The right side has the text GAAJA: in red print font. Preparation for the Cigar Experience As I do with all figurado cigars, I went with a straight cut to remove the tip of the Gaaja Torpedo. It is now standard practice for me to use my Credo Special T cutter with the 36 ring gauge hole to get an ideal cut of a figurado. This allows me to get a smaller ring gauge cut an to take advantage of the tapering of this cigar. I then proceeded with the pre-light draw. The dry draw delivered a mix of cream, floral, and a subtle cedar note. Overall I considered the pre-light draw of this cigar to be satisfactory. At this point I was ready to light up the Gaaja Torpedo and see what the smoking phase would have in store. Flavor Profile The start to the Gaaja Torpedo had a mix of herbal, fruit, cream, and generic wood notes. The herbal, fruit, and cream notes quickly moved into the forefront. The wood notes settled into the background and quickly took on a more multi-dimensional quality as it transitioned into a cedar note. While some of these notes might seem a bit exotic, this is a cigar that very much had a tobacco taste as well. Meanwhile the retro-hale delivered an additional layer of black pepper, herbal, and cedar notes. During the first third, the fruit, herbal, and cream notes remained in the forefront. While there was a creamy texture on the Toro, I found it to be more prominent on the Torpedo. At times, I also detected a slight amount of white pepper on the tongue as well. As the Gaaja Torpedo moved into the second third, the herbal notes became more prominent and the fruit notes diminished into the background. Simultaneously, there was a gradual increase in the spices in particular the cedar spices. The creamy texture in the forefront was still present, but it had also diminished slightly. The last third saw the herbal and cedar notes primary. I still detected a touch of pepper in the background as well as a slight mineral note in the background Meanwhile, most of the fruit and creamy notes were no longer present. This is the way the Gaaja Torpedo came to a close. The resulting nub was firm to the touch and cool in temperature. Burn and Draw The burn of the Gaaja Torpedo maintained a straight burn path from start to finish. There was a slight amount of jaggedness along the burn line, but this was a burn that stayed on track and wasnt in danger of meandering. The resulting ash had a salt and pepper color. This ash wasnt overly tight, but it wasnt loose or flakey either Meanwhile the burn rate and burn temperature were both ideal. The draw to the Gaaja Torpedo also performed quite well. I didnt it too tight, nor too loose. However I did like how the draw of this box pressed wasnt loose. I also found the torpedo tip held up well during the smoking experience. Strength and Body With the Gaaja Torpedo, I found this cigar to start out medium strength and medium-bodied. The cigar increased in intensity gradually and by the last third, both the strength and body had just enough depth to make it into medium to full territory. Throughout the smoking experience, I found the strength and body balanced each other nicely. I did find the Torpedo to be slightly stronger and fuller than than Toro. It wasnt a huge gap, but it was still enough for me to notice. Final Thoughts When it comes to different vitolas, size and shape matter. Last year, my experiences were extremely high with the Gaaja Box Press Toro, so I was unsure what the Gaaja Torpedo would bring to the table. The good news is the Toro brings an equally impressive. Even better is the Torpedo brings its own qualities to the table including a more refined sweetness, a smoother / creamier smoke and some extra strength and body. Like the Toro, I think the Paraguayan tobacco adds an X factor to this cigars unique flavor profile. As I said with the Gaaja Toro, the Gaaja Torpedo is the type of cigar that you want to smoke uninterrupted to get the most out of it. Its a cigar I could recommend to either a novice or experienced cigar enthusiast. As for myself, its one I would smoke again and one that earns the prestigious Chuck Norris rating. Summary Key Flavors: Herbal, Cedar, Fruit, Cream, Pepper Burn: Excellent Draw: Excellent Complexity: Medium to High Strength: Medium (1st 2/3), Medium to Full (Last Third) Body: Medium (1st 2/3), Medium to Full (Last Third) Finish: Very Good Rating Assessment: 4.5-Fight Chuck Norris for Them Score: 94 References News: Bombay Tobak Releases Gaaja Torpedo and Gaaja Maduro Price: $15.50 Source: Bombay Tobak Brand Reference: Bombay Tobak Berlin became the venue of the Women20 Summit earlier this week where female leaders from around the world discussed economic empowerment of women. The event was organized by the German Womens Council and the Association of Female Entrepreneurs and was attended by high-profile female leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, IMF boss Christine Lagarde and Bank of America Vice-President Anne Finucane. Ivanka Trump, daughter of US President Donald Trump, also joined the event in her role of a special advisor to the president, although when asked by the moderator in what capacity she was attending, she said as an entrepreneur. The audience booed when Mrs. Trump spoke of her father as a tremendous champion of supporting families. A global network of female entrepreneurs and businesswomen called for social acceptance and political implementation for better access to education and jobs. According to German Startup Monitor, 2016 saw a steady increase in the number of female founders but the number is still only 13.9%. Germany is no exception to the rule Queen Maxima added that only a third of Dutch firms are led by women, saying that job market and financial resources access are still a major obstacle for women. Financing today needs more financial security. That is one of the obstacles facing women, Queen Maxima also said and stressed that it is now a simple matter of fact that more and more women are being denied access to all-important financing. IMF chief Christine Lagarde added that a diverse global economy free of inequality and discrimination could yield many macro- and micro-benefits. It is estimated that, for example, in the United States, closing the gender gap could lead to a growth increase of 5%. In Japan, this number could be 9%, while in India it could reach up to 23%. This domain was recently registered at Namecheap.com. Please check back later! Even veteran Fiesta hagglers won't be able to collect this century-old medal San Antonio historians believe is the genesis in the event's history of pinable flair. The words "San Antonio Spring Carnival Apr 1905" are embossed on the 2-inch, pressed-bronze medal alongside the profile of a masked person wearing stacked sombreros that surfaced at The Coppini Academy of Fine Arts in 2016. "Fiesta medals are such a rich part of San Antonio culture now," Sean Knoll, who found the artifact, told mySA.com. "Anyone can individually make their mark on Fiesta to be able to see the very first one is very special." RELATED: 21 things to know about Fiesta medals for rookies and vets alike Now Playing: 'Floats dazzle in floral fete, San Antonio - Colorful array of entries competes in annual Battle of Flowers parade' These clips from Pathe Newsreel ran in theaters around the world in 1930. Video: San Antonio Express-News Knoll was working at the academy transferring artifacts of Italian-born, world-renowned sculptor Pompeo Coppini into digital files when he was "totally" taken aback by the discovery. "It was a holy grail moment, being born and raised in San Antonio," Knoll said. The medal was found the bottom of a box along with Coppini's Order of the Cross medal that the sculptor received upon being knighted by the king of Italy in 1931 for his artistic contributions to the U.S. San Antonio Express-News The Institute of Texan Cultures, which has displayed King Antonio medals from the 1920s, called the Coppini Academy's new discovery "genuine." Coppini was a leader of the Knights of Omala (Alamo spelled backward,) a group consisting of "up-and-coming-men of San Antonio," according to San Antonio Express-News archives. Also known as the "Phunny Phellows," Coppini and his organization were instrumental in the early years of Fiesta, which was established in 1891 and then known as the San Antonio Spring Carnival. The medal was created during the group's inaugural year. They hosted their own events throughout their 1905 to 1911 run including the Knights of Omala Grand Spectacular Torchlight Parade, described as a "blazing spectacle of electric lights and fire," by Laura Hernandez-Ehrisman said in "Inventing the Fiesta City. Back then, the carnival was "the parade of parades," which observed more than one a day. The itinerary included the Battle of Flowers, Mystic Order of Shriners, Civic and Trade and Illuminated Automobile parades. The Phunny Phellows often dressed in masquerade costumes and carnival masks for the festival, which may be what the profile on the 1905 medal depicts. RELATED: The jaw-dropping gowns of the Coronation Court Fiesta medals were called "badges" during their inception years. They were originally distributed at Knights of Omala meetings, then mailed to members who had paid "subscriptions." By 1907, the badges were sold to the general public, according to San Antonio Express-News archives. "It is expected that hundreds of San Antonians will be wearing them," says the Express, March 1, 1908. If only they could see us now. MEDAL MANIA: Photos show 450 Fiesta medals sent to the Express-News Coppini went on carve his mark into the cityscapes of the San Antonio and other U.S. cities with 36 public monuments, like the 60-foot-tall granite Alamo Cenotaph titled "Spirit of Sacrifice." He created the frieze which adorns the entrance of the San Antonio Express-News building as well as the bronze front doors of the Scottish Rite Cathedral. The Coppini Academy, a non-profit which operates out of the artist's old studio, is in the process of finding a way to share the piece of Fiesta history with the city, Coppini President Charlotte Cox told mySA.com. The Fiesta Commission was not immediately available to comment on the discovery. Staff writer Paula Allen contributed to this report. mmendoza@mysa.com Twitter: @MaddySkye This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate One of the most valuable pieces of equipment ever donated to the Alamo Colleges arrived under a blazing sun this week at St. Philips College Southwest Campus. Aviation technology students took a break from diagnosing faulty engines on propeller planes to stare as a CFM56 jet engine rolled over to their hangar on the bed of a truck. Large enough for a person to stand inside, the engine contains a giant fan that propelled a Southwest Airlines jet for 20 years. Still fully functional, the engine was in use until last week. Its worth $7 million new, officials said. Rod Cotter, director of the aviation technology program at St. Philips, estimated its worth half as much now. The students watching Wednesday had already completed their turbine classes with smaller engines, but Katherine Talamantez, 21, said a larger engine will offer better experience. This is more like a realistic scale of what were going to be working on, Talamantez said. Airlines tend to destroy engines after 20 years, Cotter said. Southwest chose to donate 10 of its decommissioned engines to schools around the country. When Francisco Armstrong, a St. Philips alumnus who is now a technical writer for Southwest Airlines, heard about the donations, he connected his alma mater with the company. Were very privileged to be getting it, Cotter said. Its a very valuable piece. ... This way, here theyll have a little bit of experience on a large engine. Working on the Southwest Campus, part of the former Kelly Air Force Base facilities, the aviation technology students are all earning licenses issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. They will begin using the donated engine this summer, learning to remove and replace its components, Cotter said. Local companies that fix such engines could also use it to train their employees, Cotter said. The FAA has designated St. Philips as a general aviation school for aircraft weighing less than 7,500 pounds. That means the community college only needs small engines for its classes, and Wednesdays new arrival is only different in size, Cotter said. However, many students go on to work with the larger engines after graduation, he said. More than 80 students are enrolled in the aviation technology program at St. Philips. All are working toward the required industry certifications, but some are also taking academic classes at the colleges main campus on the East Side to earn associates degrees. amalik@express-news.net Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN The Southside Independent School District is working to close a budget gap of about $4 million for this school year, caused in part by miscalculations made last summer when the budget was being developed. The executive director of finance at the time, Jose Keubke, failed to budget about $3.1 million for 68 positions that were then vacant, said Fred Hayes, deputy superintendent of business and operations. Hayes said Keubke made assumptions based on incorrect information that he was given. Keubke also overestimated district revenues by about $1 million, in the face of declining property tax values for oil and gas companies that make up 72 percent of the district's tax base, administrators said. The state allocates money to districts based on the previous years budget, so the states share also decreased because property values rose last fiscal year, Hayes said. Through its hold harmless provision, the state will make up for any losses Southside incurs based on property value, but not until next fiscal year. Hayes said he thought Keubke, who resigned in January, was doing his best. School finance is an incredibly difficult and complex thing, Hayes said. There was just a miscalculation there. Keubke could not be reached for comment. Southsides overall maintenance and operations budget this year is $20.8 million. It maintains a $15 million unassigned fund balance. Fluctuating property values have made budgeting a difficult endeavor in Southside, Hayes said. The districts tax base essentially tripled in three years, rocketing from $482 million to $1.4 billion before dropping this fiscal year by $218 million, or nearly 16 percent, Hayes said. The district last year hired Richard Lane, an Austin-based consultant, to complete a staffing review, which was presented this month to the board of trustees. The audit listed ways the district could save more than $5 million, primarily by cutting at least 69 positions through attrition. Recommended vacancies to absorb included 21 professional support positions, 10 noncampus clerical positions, nine custodians, eight middle school teachers and seven high school teachers.. Southside ISD is operating conservatively at, or below, statewide staffing averages in many programs, the audit states. Trustees voted this month to close the districts Discipline Alternative Education Program, located on a campus of portable buildings near Heritage Elementary School, and to bus students to Floresville ISDs alternative school instead. Fewer than a dozen teachers worked for the DAEP, and they will be reassigned, said Sylvia Rincon, district spokeswoman. Outsourcing the program will save Southside $500,000 in maintenance and technology costs, and Floresvilles program has very impressive results, Rincon said. We know that we dont want kids on long bus rides, Rincon said. Well try the program out and see how it is. Every year, well reassess these types of decisions. To close the budget gap, the district has also cut its budgets for out-of-district travel and consultants, administrators said. Because of the savings achieved through other cuts, Southside might not eliminate all the positions identified in the audit, administrators said. However, the district has small class sizes to start with, so even if Southside does cut seven teaching positions at Matthey Middle School, each teacher would still have a smaller-than-average load of 120 students, Hayes said. The district will weigh in July whether a transfer from its fund balance is needed to cover the shortfall, Hayes said. It is healthy enough to do that once, Hayes said. You dont want to do it often. But thats why you have it there, in case situations like this were to arise. By the summer, the Texas Education Agency plans to replace the current school board with a board of managers because of an investigation last year that concluded that trustees were unable to govern the district, were acting individually on behalf of the board and failed to comply with state contract procurement requirements. Trustees decided to put a bond issue before the voters on the May 6 ballot after determining that the district will be 800 students over capacity next year. The bond would increase taxes by $7.25 per month for the district's median home value of $63,000. The owner of a $100,000 home would see a tax increase of about $14.30 per month. The bond would fund several projects, including a new campus for prekindergarten and kindergarten students, the conversion of Losoya Intermediate into a middle school, and high school projects including renovated fine arts facilities and a new agricultural barn. The tax increase would go into Southsides debt service budget, which is separate from the maintenance and operations budget experiencing the shortfall. Hayes said the operations budget will be balanced by next fiscal year. We as an administration, as a school district, are aggressively addressing this issue and dont project that it will happen again in the future, Hayes said. amalik@express-news.net Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN As Texans we strive to both understand our diversity and appreciate its potential. Diversity enriches the total cultural heritage and can strengthen and unify a people when common understanding and mutual respect replace ignorance and prejudice. San Antonians are people of amazing diversity in culture and heritage, bound together by their shared experiences and a common stake in our citys future. And the Texas Folklife Festival has been the most successful vehicle of telling the story of our Texan diversity. It has served to create a better understanding of who we are as Texans and has promoted good will among our many communities who live in San Antonio and throughout our state. Since its inception, the home of the Texas Folklife Festival has been San Antonio. People who are not from Texas often ask, What makes Texas so great? The Texan proudly responds, Its the people, the food, the music, the cultural traditions and the rich spirit. And theres only one event that celebrates everything that makes the Lone Star State so unique the Texas Folklife Festival. The festival embodies the mission of UTSAs Institute of Texan Cultures: We give voice to the experiences of people from across the globe who call Texas home, providing insight into our past, present, and future. When people of all communities come together to have fun, sharing their foods, music, dance and ceremonies, an environment is created and our visitors cant help but see the overall message of unity. In 1972, a team of passionate Texans embarked on creating a festival that celebrated our treasured Texas traditions. Forty-six years later, we are gearing up once again to host the Texas Folklife Festival. One of my greatest joys in coordinating this annual three-day festival is knowing we are helping preserve skills and traditions that might otherwise be lost. We make it possible for many of our ethnic and cultural groups to continue their work year-round through the monies they derive at the festival. Some 75 percent of food and drink sales goes back into their communities to assist in perpetuating those traditions that built and continue to sustain Texas. Unfortunately, many of the wonderful faces and talents we celebrated with in the early years are no longer with us. We have lost many of our most treasured crafters. Skilled artisans who kept alive the spirit and life ways of Texas have slowly passed away. I worry, as each year passes, that we not only lose these incredible community leaders and artisans, but the traditions they embody. As the director, I have seen this firsthand. Many of our earlier immigrant groups cannot continue their traditions as there is no one to take their place. One example of this lost heritage is our Czech community in San Antonio, which is no longer able to participate with a food and craft booth. As Texans, we must preserve the traditions of the original people and early settlers that created our great history, while providing a platform to reach new generations of Texans. More than 40 ethnic groups that participate in the Festival have the opportunity to share their culture and be part of a much larger community. The festival provides a setting for cultural expression and preservation of culture. As we continue to revitalize and reinvigorate the festival, we seek out new groups settling in and around the San Antonio area and provide them an opportunity to introduce and engage in their cultural traditions with their fellow Texans. From the Belgian Farmers, the Greek community of St. Sophia, the Lebanese community of St. George, the Italians, the Filipinos, Poles, Alsatians, Mexicans, African American, Germans, Ukrainians, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Scots, Brazilians, Chileans, Hawaiians, Native Americans, Irish, Indians, Peruvians, Puerto Ricans, Spaniards, Turks and Wends what a wonderful rainbow of our city. It has been and continues to be a privilege and an honor to have been given the opportunity to work with so many incredible people who honor their traditions and give so much to preserve our uniquely Texan cultural heritage. I invite you to join us to share this experience June 9-11 at UTSAs Institute of Texan Cultures. For more information visit www.texasfolklifefestival.org. Jo Ann Andera is director of the Texas Folklife Festival. COMING SUNDAY: The San Antonio Polo Club has been playing for more than 100 years. A former Val Verde county commissioner admitted Thursday in a Del Rio federal court to taking money from developers in San Antonio and New Braunfels as part of a plea agreement on tax charges. According to an indictment against 64-year-old Ramiro Ramon, the former commissioner, who also served as the manager on the developers real estate project, took bribes in exchange for casting votes in their favor on the commissioners court and arranging meetings with local officials. He served from 2003 until this January. AUSTIN The Texas Houses approval Thursday of a so-called sanctuary cities bill drew widespread condemnation from critics and law enforcement including San Antonios police chief who said the measure will lead to racial profiling and is almost certain to enmesh the state in years of costly litigation. Senate Bill 4 would force police to honor all federal requests to detain people suspected of being in the country illegally until immigration authorities can investigate the persons status. It also grants sweeping new powers to officers by allowing them to question a persons immigration status if they have been stopped with reasonable suspicion. If I stopped you on the street, Tony, and I talked to you, I might ask you for your papers, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said in response to Univision reporter Antonio Guillen during a news conference Thursday. You have an accent, youre darker-complected than I am. Does that mean youre not legal? According to the bill, it might. It absolutely is profiling. SB 4, priority legislation for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott that passed 94-53 on a party line vote, also would prohibit local jurisdictions from passing or enforcing ordinances that prohibit police officers from inquiring about a detained persons immigration status. San Antonio currently prohibits officers from asking suspects about their immigration status, a policy that would be reversed under the law. A sheriff, police chief, constable or jail administrator who fails to detain a suspect at the request of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, a maximum $4,000 fine, or both. Once the bill gains Senate approval, it will head to Abbotts desk. RELATED: Trump's moves on immigration Former Housing Secretary and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro said the bill will prompt law enforcement to be more aggressive in asking for documentation papers. If the bill is signed into law, Castro hopes San Antonians will work with the City Council, Bexar County commissioners and law enforcement agencies to create as much trust as possible. I dont want my daughter, in years to come, because she has brown skin, to get profiled because of legislation like this, he said. An estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants live in the state, 71,000 of whom reside in Bexar County, according to the Migration Policy Institute. San Antonio officers would have to undergo immigration law enforcement training to comply with the law, something McManus said could take more than a year to do. Meanwhile, a representative from the states leading business group said she worried that the bill could damage some of the Texas economys most important industries, including construction and agriculture, which rely heavily on the labor of immigrants. It could reduce the labor supply and have a negative impact on public safety, because fewer crimes may be reported, said Cathy DeWitt, the Texas Association of Business vice president of governmental affairs. We hope that lawmakers and Gov. Abbott will keep those concerns in mind and try to mitigate them as much as possible as this bill continues to move through the process. SB 4 also drew early and sustained opposition from top law enforcement officials in many of the states largest cities, including McManus, Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez and Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, who said Thursday that the bill would redirect his departments limited crime-fighting resources to immigration-related actions. We dont have the resources, nor do we have the bandwidth nor the desire to be ICE agents, Acevedo said, referring to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency charged with deporting undocumented immigrants. If I wanted to work for ICE, I wouldve applied for ICE. The House-approved bill also attracted immediate threats of a legal challenge focused on whether the bill, should it become law, would lead to racial profiling complaints similar to those in Arizona after that state passed what then was known as the harshest anti-immigrant law in the nation. Legal experts compared the Texas bill to the 2010 Arizona measure, commonly referred to by opponents as the show me your papers law, which required police officers to make a reasonable attempt to determine someones immigration status if they suspected the person was in the country illegally. The U.S. Supreme Court gutted much of the law in 2012, ruling that Arizona could not overstep the federal governments immigration enforcement authority. However, the top court allowed the show me your papers provision to stand. While SB 4 does not require officers to inquire about a persons citizenship during police interactions, it does enable officers to ask under almost any circumstance. Terri Burke, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said the bill in its current form invites police officers to engage in racial profiling and could lead to the unlawful detention of immigrants and natural-born citizens alike. She cited a 2015 Supreme Court ruling that said extending detention by as few as eight minutes beyond what is reasonably required could violate the Constitution. Her counterparts in Arizona have documented traffic stops there and found clear and potential constitutional problems in more than 75 percent of such encounters in Tucson, she added. We, along with many of our partners, will be studying this bill, and were going to compare it to Arizona, Burke said. We will be ready, as necessary, once this is signed into law. The Thursday afternoon House vote sends the bill back to the Senate, which approved its own slightly stiffer version in February. The Senate can agree with the Houses version or request a conference committee to iron out differences. The Senate bill, for example, bars local governments from receiving state grant funds if a judge finds them to be in violation of SB 4, but the House version does not. Both chambers must agree on identical language before sending the bill to Abbott by the end of the legislative session May 29. A 16-hour House debate, which ended at 2:58 a.m. Thursday, fractured many friendships between lawmakers, at least temporarily, in the usually amiable 150-member House. In the most charged moment of the night, the GOP majority unexpectedly approved a major revision to the House bill, allowing police officers to inquire about the immigration status of someone they have detained but not arrested. In tearful speeches before the final vote, Democrats acknowledged that they did not have enough votes to defeat the bill and chastised their Republican colleagues for what they called a win-at-all-costs strategy to please their base. If your goal was to use immigrants for political gain, you have succeeded, Rep. Rafael Anchia, a Democrat from Dallas, said before final passage of the bill Thursday. As the vanquished in yesterdays battle, I say congratulations, and I hope youre satisfied. House Republicans defended their support of SB 4, casting it in a caucuswide statement as a necessary measure to ensure that all law enforcement agencies in Texas have the same standard regarding the detainment and questioning of immigrants who are not authorized to live in the country. The purpose of this legislation is to protect Texans from criminals who are here illegally, said GOP Rep. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth, who authored the House bill. We are trying to make sure those bad actors are detained until we can determine their status. This bill will not affect law-abiding citizens, only those that are in trouble with the police. Mexicos diplomatic mission in San Antonio has the most diverse profile of any of the consulates in the U.S., newly arrived Consul General Reyna Torres Mendivil said. For the most part, Mexicos consulates across the U.S. provide services to its citizens living here, while taking on some duties of cultural outreach and economic development. San Antonio, with its long-standing ties to Mexico and large numbers of Mexican businessmen and investors, is a unique posting, Torres said in an interview Thursday. I served the central part of California some years ago, and the profile of what we do from that consulate is oriented toward the protection of the Mexican nationals there, and here of course we have that component but many others, as I said the promotion of tourism and investment and culture, said Torres, a career diplomat. And the timing of my arrival, to me its fascinating. Torres, who arrived in San Antonio earlier this month after her predecessor Hector Eduardo Velasco Monroy returned to Mexico City after less than a year as consul general, takes on her new job at a time when the proposed policies of President Donald Trump have created an unprecedented level of uncertainty about the future of the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. Torres said her arrival on the eve of San Antonios tricentennial celebration is for her an opportunity to promote Mexico beyond, as she said, mariachis and tequilas and even Frida and Diego, a reference to the internationally known artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. There are many other things going on in Mexico, Torres said. Mexico is really well-known in robotics, for example. We have high school kids developing really interesting things and winning international contests in physics. Torres acknowledged Trumps immigration and trade policies have created new challenges, and Mexicos consulates in the U.S. have expanded their legal orientation and other services for Mexican citizens moving here. Consular officials are helping those who might face deportation build contingency plans, including care for their children and protection of their property in the U.S. Mexico and the U.S. have traded threats about the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was signed in San Antonio in 1992, but the rhetoric has softened in recent days with both countries suggesting theyre willing to renegotiate the treaty. Meanwhile, reports have circulated that the Trump administration will not pursue a new tax on imports. Torres said shes found civic leaders in San Antonio, which is home to a Toyota manufacturing plant that relies on the delivery of parts from Mexico, have a good grasp of NAFTAs importance to the regions economy. NAFTA was born here so there is support, she said. We should protect all the benefits and all the accomplishments since NAFTA, and there is awareness of that, of course. What were looking to do, and that is something that our minister of foreign affairs said yesterday, is construct from that and to see how we can update the treaty, to make it better, to serve everybody. Given the political climate in Washington, D.C., I think the consul generals role is to stabilize things, said Richard Perez, the president and CEO of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. It seems weve turned a quarter at least from D.C.s standpoint, on the border adjustment tax, and I think her role will be keeping us in the dialogue. jbuch@express-news.net Twitter: @jlbuch AUSTIN The franchise tax on business would be phased out, costing the state billions of dollars for public education and other programs in the future, under a bill given preliminary approval Thursday by the Texas House. The 98-45 vote came despite concerns that lawmakers, who face a tough revenue picture this legislative session, are digging a bigger hole that will be difficult to fill down the road. Those worries are heightened since lawmakers current revenue difficulty is due largely to their past decisions to cut taxes and earmark billions of dollars for transportation. Revenues also have been dampened by the oil-and-gas industrys struggles. But tax relief is a priority for Republican leaders and the GOP-dominated Legislature even in these tight times, and the franchise tax is widely despised even by a number of Democrats. The Senate has passed a similar measure to phase out the tax. This is the appropriate thing to do, to eliminate this bad tax, said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton. Among other points, Bonnen cited the frequent complaint that businesses have to pay it even when they lose money. That feature keeps it from being characterized as an income tax. But rather than simply aiming to eliminate the franchise tax, Rep. Donna Howard said, Lets find something thats fair. It is bad policy. It is a bad bill, Howard, D-Austin, said of Bonnens measure. Were talking about tax cuts when we do not have sufficient money to cover what we currently want to cover in our budget in areas including education and health care. Opponents of the bill said it could put a greater burden on local property taxpayers to fund public education, which is financed by state aid, local school property taxes and some federal funds. A portion of the franchise tax goes directly to help pay for public education. The House vote for the measure came after a series of amendments were killed that would have put restrictions on the phaseout. One, by Rep. Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, would have made the phaseout contingent on ensuring the states large pension funds for teachers and state government employees are actuarially sound. The franchise tax is estimated to bring in $7.82 billion in the next two-year budget period. Thats after lawmakers voted to cut the tax by $2.6 billion in 2015. GOP leaders including Gov. Greg Abbott have promised to keep targeting it, and both the House and Senate are following through. House Bill 28 would allow up to $3.5 billion to be used each two-year budget period to buy down the franchise tax, using funds left over after the budget is written. It would take effect after the next two-year fiscal period, so it wouldnt affect the spending plan that lawmakers currently are working on. This is priority one, but it is only if we have those dollars sitting in the account, available, Bonnen said. There would, however, be no replacement for the revenue thats currently brought in by the tax, even if the economy is in bad shape. Once the tax was eliminated, it wouldnt return. After another House vote, which could come as early as today, HB28 will go to the Senate for consideration. Senators earlier approved Senate Bill 17, which would phase out the franchise in a different way. It provides that if state general revenue is projected to grow more than 5 percent in future budget periods, half of that money would be dedicated to cutting the tax. Business groups have pushed for the franchise tax cut. Will Newton, executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business/Texas, said the House bill in combination with President Trumps tax relief proposal, will supercharge the small business sector of the economy and set Texas on a path to unprecedented job growth, investment in new construction and stimulate capital investment. But advocates for core state programs expressed concern. It is short-sighted for the Texas House to consider House Bill 28, a bill to cut an important source of state revenue for education and many other critical programs, without providing a funding alternative, said Texas State Teachers Association President Noel Candelaria. Unfortunately, the business communitys support for the gradual franchise tax repeal, without an alternative funding source for public education, is a short-sighted approach for businesses whose success depends on a well-educated labor force in the 21st century economy. Senior fiscal analyst Dick Lavine of the Center for Public Policy priorities, which advocates for programs that help lower- and moderate-income Texans, said the legislation would guarantee future headaches for our state budget. pfikac@express-news.net Twitter: @pfikac This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacquelyn Callanen seemed pleased to learn Thursday that a federal trial over the constitutionality of Texas 2013 redistricting maps might take place over the summer but started to worry when the states lawyers defending the maps said they might not be ready for trial until August. Elections officials have deadlines to meet, Callanen told a three-judge panel at the hearing in San Antonio. By early October, they must mail out voter registration cards more than 1 million in Bexar County alone. People who want to run for party precinct chairs must file by Sept. 12, and candidates for the 2018 party primaries begin filing on Nov. 18. County officials need to be able to tell them where their districts are, Callanen testified. First, we were happy because they were talking about (a trial in) June, then it was July 4 and then they moved it to August, Callanen said outside the courtroom. Theres a number of things that must happen, and we have these consecutive deadlines; so obviously we would like to start the earliest possible. The judges set no trial date but announced they would issue an order on Monday that might answer that question and others, including whether the state can appeal a pair of rulings that found the Legislatures 2011 maps violated federal law, even as the case is not yet final. The state has been operating under temporary court-ordered maps drawn in 2013. As a trial over them looms, elections administrators around the state hope not to repeat the confusion in 2012 when Texas was forced to delay primary races in the wake of the legal challenge by civil rights groups and minority advocates to the congressional and the Texas House districts drawn in 2011. In a 2-1 ruling on March 10, the judicial panel ruled that the GOP-controlled Legislature knowingly discriminated in 2011 when it drew three of the states 36 congressional districts: District 23, represented by Will Hurd, R-Helotes; District 27, held by Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi; and District 35, represented by Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin. And last week the same judges found lawmakers in 2011 redrew state House districts to intentionally dilute the clout of minority voters, both statewide and in districts that included Bexar, El Paso, Nueces, Harris, Dallas and Bell counties. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons office, citing 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jerry Smiths dissent in the rulings, has argued that questions about 2011 are moot since the 2011 maps are no longer in effect. On Thursday, the plaintiffs told the judges that the discrimination in the 2011 maps carried over to the 2013 maps currently in use, with boundaries identical for two of the congressional districts, the 27th and 35th. Voters should not be required to vote in unconstitutional and illegal plans for a third election cycle, said Jose Garza, a San Antonio lawyer representing the Mexican American Legislative Caucus. The hearing was called by Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez and Judge Smith to get an idea of the evidence and witnesses plaintiffs might present and how long the trial might last. Assistant Texas Attorney General Patrick Sweeten told the judges he believed the case could be tried in a week, although one of his colleagues pressed the panel for permission to appeal the recent rulings now to the U.S. Supreme Court, rather than wait for the case to conclude. The judges will rule on that request on Monday. After the hearing, Garza and other plaintiffs lawyers accused the state of delay tactics. Those maps are going to be drawn, probably, by the court, Garza said. Its unlikely that the state will do it. ... (T)he state has had an opportunity to take a shot at this, and they havent come through with anything, except to say that these plans are going to be defended and the opinions are going to be appealed. Former State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio, who was chairman of the caucus when the suit was originally filed, said the trial wouldnt be needed if the Legislature had fixed the maps. The big question is: Why hasnt the state of Texas, after all these years and after all these rulings, why have they hesitated to come up with a remedy? Martinez Fischer said outside court. gcontreras@express-news.net Twitter: @gmaninfedland This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate It started with a few tiaras. Every year, Paula Gallegos-Denton and her friend Marci Aguirre would snag a couple tiaras and wear them to the annual Night in Old San Antonio fundraiser, the signature Fiesta event that celebrates the citys diverse cultural history. Each year, the friends and a third friend who has since passed away would add more ornamentation to the tiaras and their ensemble: Flowers, glitter, anything to make it a bit more festive. It kept growing and growing, Gallegos-Denton said. We kept looking for ways to outdo the year before. Finally, the friends decided they would have to ditch the tiaras and settle for hats instead. So for the last five years, they have gathered at one of their homes, spending a day drinking sangria and carefully placing, gluing and painting large flowers onto their big, colorful hats. (Sometimes, they admit, there is more drinking than decorating.) The friends call themselves the Petite Flowers, and for the last four years theyve also had Fiesta medals produced to celebrate their nickname and friendship. This year, the pink and blue medal shows three women in big colorful hats, smiling above a drawing of the Riverwalk. On Tuesday, Gallegos-Denton and Aguirre started the evening at Durty Nellys Pub for a couple drinks before heading over to the event to enjoy the food, drinks and hoopla. The 69th annual four-day festival started Tuesday and continues until Friday. This is the mother of all events, Aguirre said. Its a fun time, its safe and its family-oriented. We love it. NIOSA, which was initially dubbed The Indian Festival, commenced in 1938 as a one-night street fair. In its first year, it netted $336 for the San Antonio Conservation Society, one of the oldest and most active community preservation groups in the United States. The group still sponsors NIOSA today. The event evolved over the years, eventually becoming A Night in Old San Antonio in 1948. Today, the eating and drinking extravaganza is one of Fiestas trademark events, drawing around 85,000 visitors every year, according to event organizers. NIOSA raises roughly $1.4 million for restoration and preservation of historic properties and parks throughout the city, as well as education and advocacy programs. Since 1959, roughly $600,000 has been raised from the sale of cascarones alone. This year, partygoers can enjoy several new foods, including fried Oreos, fried dill dippers, funnel fries and a flaming Cheetos concoction made with chamoy and diced pickles. Theres also new drinks, including local craft beers on tap. But those who enjoy the classics including tortillas from Marias Tortillas and chicken on a stick need not worry. There are 200 food and drink booths scattered between the themed sectors, which sell everything from egg rolls to elotes to escargot to frog legs. Food and drink are purchased with tickets, which are sold at separate booths that only accept cash. Around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Pauline Siebart and her friends got in line at Marias Tortillas. Its been 25 years since the Dallas resident has attended a Fiesta event, and her friends insisted she try one of NIOSAs most famous foods, a grilled corn tortilla buttered and filled with cheddar cheese and homemade salsa. Already, dozens of people had congregated in the line, which wrapped around the square. Ive never stayed in line this long for a tortilla, Siebart said. It better be good. Nearby, you could hear the crack of a cascarone and the distinct clinking of Fiesta medals. A group of friends walked by wearing flower crowns, the obligatory Fiesta wardrobe accessory, while another woman juggled a marinated steak shish-kabob and sangria. I didnt realize this was such a big thing, one Fiesta-goer said as he walked into the event. And its just getting started. NIOSA runs through Friday from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the gate. Children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. eeaton@express-news.net Along with long rifles that gave Alamo defenders more long-range accuracy than muskets carried by a much larger Mexican force, the former mission also was equipped with 21 mounted cannons that played a key role in the 13-day siege and battle for Texas independence in 1836. Today, several cannons believed to have been fired during the siege, as delegates gathered 100 miles to the east to declare independence from Mexico, are on display at the state-owned Alamo complex. One was reportedly melted decades later into a bell for a nearby church downtown. Another was sent to Boston and recast into replicas. In books and even movies that have retold the tale of the famous Alamo siege, the firing of cannons on either side punctuated dramatic moments during the siege and were used to torment the opposition often with deadly results. The siege began with a cannon shot, fired under orders from Alamo commander William Barret Travis, across the river toward the village of San Antonio de Bejar, in response to a red flag of no quarter over San Fernando Church, author Stephen L. Hardin wrote in his book, Texian Iliad. Travis informed the enemy courier that a response would be forthcoming. And it was a single shot hurled from the eighteen-pounder. There could be no mistaking the meaning of such a succinct reply, Hardin wrote. The next day, in his famous Victory or Death letter, Travis himself wrote, I have sustained a continual bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. On the eve of the early morning battle, ending in the deaths at least 189 known Alamo defenders, the Texian and Tejanos would notice a decrease in shelling from the Mexican troops, who had gradually moved their cannons closer each day, coming within 200 yards of the mission fortress, Walter Lord recounted in A Time to Stand. The Mexican fire tapered off sharply in the late afternoon, and at 5 p.m. the Texans puzzled over the sight of several columns of troops filing out of the town, Lord wrote. William R. Chemerka, a New Jersey resident and founder of the Alamo Society, an international group of Alamo enthusiasts, said he marvels at the number of cannons the defenders had, and how hard it must have been to defend the 3-acre compound, even with estimates there could have been up to 250 men or more inside the walls, including up to 60 not listed on muster rolls. The most interesting thing about it is the number of guns that they had, the minimum number of men needed to fire them, and as a result the few number of riflemen there must have been at the Alamo, Chemerka said. It took at least four men to load and fire, or three in an emergency, leaving up to 84 men on cannons when the Alamo was under attack, he said. The most definitive source today on use of the Alamo cannons in the siege and battle is The Illustrated Alamo 1836, by Georgia artist Mark Lemon, Chemerka said. The best current research on how the cannons got to the Alamo and where they are now has been done by James Woodrick of Austin, author of Cannons of the Texas Revolution, Chemerka added. Woodrick, who presented his work at the Alamo Societys annual symposium in March, wrote in a recent article in the groups newsletter that the famous iron eighteen-pounder used to deliver the defiant opening volley of the siege and denoted by the weight of the ball or canister it typically fired arrived in San Antonio in late 1835, likely after the Texans won the Battle of Bejar, seizing the Alamo in a Mexican surrender. By the end of December, there were 32 cannons in San Antonio in the Texans possession. Eight soon ended up in Goliad or Gonzales. Three others were not mounted at the Alamo for the siege and battle, according to Woodrick. In 1852, 13 cannons were found near todays Houston and Alamo streets, as workmen dug a trench for a fence on property owned by Samuel Augustus Maverick, a prominent businessman and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. All of them had been rendered inoperable, likely by Mexican troops who drove a spike into the touch hole at the rear of the gun, used to ignite it. They also typically broke off the cascabel, a rear protruding knob, and short side axles, known as trunnions, used to aim the weapon. In 1858, the celebrated eighteen-pound cannon was unearthed, near its 1836 location at the southwest corner of the Alamo compound, and was moved around 1870 to San Pedro Park, where it was on public display at least until 1917, Woodrick wrote in his book. Some have speculated that it was melted down as scrap iron in World War I, or buried in the park. Five more cannons were initially discovered during excavation for an office building in 1889, just east of the 1852 site. In the mid-1880s, two swivel guns were found in the yard of a residence in the area of todays Emily Morgan Hotel. Alamo cannons on outdoor display today at the battle site include an iron sixteen-pounder, measuring more than 8 feet; an iron twelve-pound gunade; and an iron four-pounder and two iron three-pounders among the 13 guns found in 1852, according to Woodrick. Two identical iron nine-pounders are on display in La Villita. Another one is owned by local businessman B.J. Red McCombs. One of four bronze guns found in 1852, possibly a six-pounder, was donated by Mary Maverick in 1874 to St. Marks Episcopal Church, then recast as a bell, weighing 526 pounds, that still hangs in the church belfry, according to Woodrick. Another of the bronze guns found on the Maverick property was sent to Boston and turned into three replicas. In 2010, the San Antonio Express-News reported the return to the Alamo of a four-pound bronze cannon, also found on the Maverick site. It had been sent in the 1880s to Philadelphia as debt payment, and displayed for decades as the Alamo cannon on the front yard of a family estate, according to news archives. Collector J.P. Bryan of Houston bought the nearly 400-pound piece in 1986 and shipped it to Texas. Bryan later sold the cannon at an auction to John Alexander McRae, who kept it on his family farm north of Dallas. After McRae died in 2000, Alamo researcher Rick Range of Dallas discovered the cannon. Sue McRae Stover, in keeping with her fathers wishes, donated it to the Alamo. The San Jacinto Battleground Conservancy raised $5,000 to restore the cannon, which had been badly weathered and oxidized. With services donated by Texas A&M Universitys Conservation Research Laboratory, which treated the cannon for two years in a vat of base solution, and the labor and support of volunteers, it was returned to the Alamo. The cannon, bearing a Spanish royal crest, was dedicated in a 2015 ceremony at the Texas shrine. By Susan Crowell / editor@farmanddairy.com Fake meat is now a thing. Im not talking about Tofurky, that tofu-based vegetarian turkey replacement. Im talking about cultured meat that is being produced in a laboratory through cell replication. Meat grown from animal cells in vats much like the equipment used in breweries. I guess fake is the wrong word, since creators say it comes from animal cells and is still technically meat. Some call it lab-produced meat; others, cultured meat; still others, clean meat. The startup Memphis Meats concocted a beef meatball last year and earlier this year debuted its chicken and duck. In fact, theres a venture capital fund, New Crop Capital, set up specifically to invest in clean meat. The funds cofounder Bruce Friedrich, who is also the CEO of the Good Food Institute, was recently interviewed by the student newspaper at Stanford University, and emphasized, This is real meat, except its meat thats produced in a cleaner, more environmentally friendly way. No bacterial contamination, no antibiotics, created with less energy and less land use. Clean meat will also, he said, help us feed 9.7 billion people by 2050. And all those reasons craft Memphis Meats mission, too. We need to completely change the way meat gets to the plate, said Memphis Meats cofounder and cardiologist Dr. Uma Valeti. We believe this to be one of the biggest technological leaps for humanity, he added during a video of the chicken unveiling in March. Its a foodie world Were all foodies now, in a world where social media has accelerated an obsession with food choices. (Cmon, you know youve been at a meal when someone has snapped a photo of their plate of food.) Food became another avenue to expressing that you cared about making the world a better place, restaurateur and Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer recently told Inc. editor-at-large Bo Burlingham. The choice of food was a political choice. Outside of the lab, at Bauhaus Atlas Meat-Free Delicatessen in Miami, Ryan Bauhaus is part chef, part chemist, part plant butcher. He experiments with plants to create faux meats, using techniques like smoking and aging to achieve his desired tastes. You know, the taste of meat. Without the meat. Some entrepreneurs and some consumers make these choices for health reasons, some for profit reasons. But for others, there is still an underlying animal activist reason for their business or their purchases. The brother-sister team behind the Herbivorous Butcher in Minneapolis told the Associated Press they opened their shop as a platform for animal activism. Lest you think the vegetable-based meats or the lab-produced meats are just fleeting fads, think again. They may seem far-fetched, but Ive seen more articles and information on cultured meats in the past six months than any other food-based fad Ive witnessed. Farmers, meet your new competitors. As for me, they may try to sell me clean meat, but all I really want is a juicy burger or steak. From the farm, not the flask. Thats my political choice. (Next week: Silicon Valleys interest in agriculture and the big bucks being invested.) IF you were in Brunswick last week you might have seen the fantastic sight of more than 90 children of all ages and from all sorts of backgrounds milling around the showgrounds, learning all there is to know about cattle handling. That said, new restrictions would require applicants to have two years of work experience and higher proficiency in English language skills, amongst other requirements, so we do not want capable workers being disqualified from the new program just because they do not come from farming backgrounds. The future of Fauquier Times now depends on community support. Your donation will help us continue to improve our journalism through in-depth local news coverage and expanded reader engagement. Support My first book What The Queen said to me is a collection of anecdotal stories told by some lovely people who have had that very rare opportunity to meet and speak with The Queen. Chilli Brener A witty, charming and interested woman, The Queen, in my humble experience, tailor makes every conversation and talks relevantly to people from all walks of life. Her Majesty has made many people feel incredibly special just by the few words she says and that is what I wanted to get over to the not so lucky ones amongst us who have not had that experience. The list below are snippets from the book and include extracts one wouldnt expect to hear from Her Majesty 10 things The Queen has said that one wouldnt expect: 1. The Mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead was told that in the last 12 years whenever The Queen was asked if she would like a cup of tea, the answer was always a categorical NO - The Queen always declines a cup of tea, fact! Not on this occasion though. Without any contingency plan in place The Queen said YES to the tea question. Startled, like a deer in headlights, the search was on for some fine china and some tea bags! 2. In Great Windsor park for a number of years, amongst many other children, a little girl waved her schools red beret at The Queen. A few years later at a walkabout this little girl, very excitedly and in a very high pitched voice, squealed and squeaked at The Queen. Do ya, do ya remember me?, do you, I was in the park and waving at you, Do you remember? The Queen, very calmly, bent down to the girl and said Do you know, I think I do Charming and considerate. This reply made the girls day, month and year. 3. So I see you two are still friends This was said to Olympic rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning when they received their MBEs after winning gold in London. 4. Gremlins at Buckingham Palace! This is a story that needs to be read. 5. You must have a lot of puff to blow them The Queen talking of the bagpipes to piper Bernie. 6. I rather think you have done me before The Queen talking to Charles Burns, the most amazing silhouette artist ever. 7. Talking of the difficultly in recruiting new leaders to the Girl Guides. The Queen clearly understood and had heard the complaint before, she replied with Thats what they all say. 8. Holding a Union flag on The Queens trip to Thailand, The Queen very gently informed a young lad that she was very happy for the warm welcome but they were holding the flag upside down. Ooops. 9. Good jump This was the only thing that Sophie could remember the year The Queen shouted this at her whilst show jumping in Windsor. All other memories erased but this one still like it was yesterday. It was in the 1980s! 10. Lastly but by no means least. When The Queen was wafting smoke away at the 1979 celebrations for the UN International Year of the Child and the children started singing in time to her wafting and out of time with the band, The Queen said afterwards: I think it was all my fault. I think they thought I was conducting them. According to those few people who have met and spoken with The Queen, she is Charming, Witty, thoughtful and stoic. She listens intently and everyone I have met feels very special and privileged to have had that moment. Happy 91st Birthday Your Majesty. Chilli Brener and on behalf of all my contributors. Theres nothing secret about the way in which Ricky Whittles time on The 100 came to an end, with the actor accusing the series showrunner Jason Rothenberg of bullying. Despite the darkness of the situation, Whittle says hes learned from it and moved on. Ricky Whittle at the American Gods UK premiere Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he explained: We all know how I left The 100 with Jason Rothenberg. But without the darkness, I wouldnt really appreciate the light. Im a very happy and positive person, which is why I hated that negative situation, because it wasnt my own doing. I pulled myself out of a negative situation and removed myself from a negative person. He then went on to praise the showrunners hes currently working with on American Gods; Bryan Fuller and Michael Green, adding: Ive replaced this negativity with two of the most incredible showrunners Ive ever had the honour of meeting, both professionally and personally. Together you have two incredible writing stars who have created this monster of a project, and theyre the nicest people youll ever meet. Its not often you get that package in the same person, but you do in Bryan and Michael. Whittle returns to the small screen at the end of the month and the beginning of May with American Gods in the lead role of Shadow Moon; a recently released ex-convict whos employed by a mysterious man known only as Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane). Based on the Neil Gaiman novel of the same name, the author also serves as an executive producer on the series, which is already gaining critical acclaim in early reviews. American Gods premieres in the US on Starz on April 30 and begins in the UK on May 1 on Amazon Prime Video. by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala, who made her debut with Subhash Ghai's 'Saudagar' informed media that she will be celebrating 5 years of her cancer-free life soon. "I will soon complete 5 years of cancer-free life, which I will be celebrating," said Manisha at an event on Tuesday where she was spreading awareness about Yoga and how to fight diseases with Yoga. Manisha was reportedly diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012 and was operated immediately. After that the actress flew to New York for chemotherapy. "God has been kind to me. I had great doctors, teachers and family support, so a combination of everything worked well," the "Ilu Ilu" girl added. The actress, who was last seen in 'Chehere : A Modern Day Classic' is all excited about her role in the Sanjay Dutt biopic and hopes she does justice to the character. "The whole film is between a father and son, I have a small role and I hope I do justice to that," said Manisha who will seen portraying the role of Sanjay Dutt's mother Nargis Dutt. The film also stars Dia Mirza, Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal in pivotal roles. Speaking about Yoga and its importance in our daily life, the 'Mann' actress said," It's extremely important to give your 100 per cent, be it studies, work or any profession and to achieve that solidity we need to do yoga." Other than the biopic, Manisha will be seen in a drama film 'Dear Maya'. The countervailing duty (CVD) that was imposed on Nepali jute products exported to India has been lifted by the Indian government. The exemption of CVD is likely to enhance the export of these jute products to India substantially, thus proving beneficial for the jute sector of Nepal. The notification has been issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. "The Government of India has abolished imposition of CVD on the Nepalese jute products," reads the notification. The Government of Nepal had requested the Indian government to lift CVD as the Nepali jute industries was already suffering from constraints of various kinds and imposition of CVD on Nepali jute products completely halted the export of the Nepali jute products to India. The countervailing duty (CVD) that was imposed on Nepali jute products exported to India has been lifted by the Indian government. The exemption of CVD is likely to enhance the export of these jute products to India substantially, thus proving beneficial for the jute sector of Nepal. The notification has been issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.# The Government of India favourably considered the request of the Government of Nepal and issued a notification to lift the duty. "The abolition of CVD is likely to substantially enhance export of Nepalese jute products to India and thereby help the people engaged in the jute industry of Nepal," added the notification. Indian government had imposed an excise duty of 12.5 per cent on Nepali jute yarn, fabric and jute bags. The restriction had attracted a lot of criticism from the private sector and the Government of Nepal, who believed it violated the Nepal-India Trade Treaty that offers duty-free access to Nepali jute products to India. (KD) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The Woolmark Company has introduced a new innovation award to celebrate outstanding creative and innovative fabric or yarn in wool. The award aims to inspire finalists to be more experimental and creative when developing fabric or yarn for final collections and can be given to any of the 12 global finalists. The winner will be granted AU$ 100,000. The Woolmark Company has introduced a new innovation award to celebrate outstanding creative and innovative fabric or yarn in wool. The award aims to inspire finalists to be more experimental and creative when developing fabric or yarn for final collections and can be given to any of the 12 global finalists. The winner will be granted AU$ 100,000.# The winner of the innovation award will be presented with commercial opportunities. The textile mill responsible for the exciting development will be promoted via the Woolmark Company's global trade promotional programme with benefits including global trade advertising, featuring in The Wool Lab and being highlighted within the Woolmark Company's stand at global trade shows. The Woolmark Company has introduced a new innovation award to celebrate outstanding creative and innovative fabric or yarn in wool. The award aims to inspire finalists to be more experimental and creative when developing fabric or yarn for final collections and can be given to any of the 12 global finalists. The winner will be granted AU$ 100,000.# The company has also enhanced the prize money for the prestigious International Woolmark Prize. The Woolmark Company has introduced a new innovation award to celebrate outstanding creative and innovative fabric or yarn in wool. The award aims to inspire finalists to be more experimental and creative when developing fabric or yarn for final collections and can be given to any of the 12 global finalists. The winner will be granted AU$ 100,000.# The Woolmark Company has commissioned Australian-born, Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary artist Jonathan Zawada to create the trophies for this year's regional and final events, each crafted from marine debris bakelite. Developed by Ocean Collection, marine debris bakelite is a product created entirely from recycled plastic collected from Australian shorelines, and is characterised by a marbled quality. The Woolmark Company has introduced a new innovation award to celebrate outstanding creative and innovative fabric or yarn in wool. The award aims to inspire finalists to be more experimental and creative when developing fabric or yarn for final collections and can be given to any of the 12 global finalists. The winner will be granted AU$ 100,000.# Each of the recently announced 65 global nominees competing in this year's regional events will receive AU$ 2,000 to assist in the development of their submission piece, ahead of the regional finals to be held in Dubai, London, Milan, New York, Seoul and Sydney throughout July. In addition, each regional menswear and womenswear winner will this year receive AU$ 70,000 to go towards their final collection. Prize money for the two eventual winners has increased, with the global menswear and womenswear winner each receiving AU$ 200,000. The Woolmark Company has introduced a new innovation award to celebrate outstanding creative and innovative fabric or yarn in wool. The award aims to inspire finalists to be more experimental and creative when developing fabric or yarn for final collections and can be given to any of the 12 global finalists. The winner will be granted AU$ 100,000.# "Due to increasing pressures on young designers, we have restructured our programme spend with a greater focus on the design talent and our partners," explains the Woolmark Company's managing director Stuart McCullough. The Woolmark Company has introduced a new innovation award to celebrate outstanding creative and innovative fabric or yarn in wool. The award aims to inspire finalists to be more experimental and creative when developing fabric or yarn for final collections and can be given to any of the 12 global finalists. The winner will be granted AU$ 100,000.# "Each year, I am truly amazed with what our finalists present to the judges. Just when you may think you've seen it all, along comes an exciting new fabric or innovative new yarn, and that's why we have established the Innovation Award. It not only keeps competition fierce but it also allows for our prestigious trade partners to get global recognition and ultimately increases the market share of wool. The Innovation Award also provides The Woolmark Company with another opportunity to engage and celebrate the work of our trade partners," McCullough said. (SV) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The organisers of Shah Rukh Khan's Ted Talk were taken aback by the sheer number of people that stalked outside the convention center and crowded together to watch SRK's speech or at least catch a glance of their favourite superstar. Well, that's SRK's charisma for you. It was Shah Rukh's evening and needless to say, he was at his charming, wittiest and intelligent best as he became the first Indian actor to give a Ted Talk. The event was perfectly timed as the idea-sharing platform will make its TV debut in India and the actor will be playing curator. As for the speech, it was a well-rounded talk where SRK spoke about losing his father at the age of 14, his journey to superstardom, the digital world, dreams and hilarious one-liners about everything under the sun. The audience was charmed and as will you after checking out these top 10 moments from his speech... Ive been made to understand there are lots of you here who have never seen my work, and I feel really sad for you. That doesnt take away from the fact that Im completely self-obsessed, as a movie star should be. I sell dreams and I peddle love to millions of people back home in India who assume that I am the best lover in the world. By the time I was 40, I was really flying. I had done 50 films by then, and 200 songs and Id been knighted by the Malaysians and given the highest civil honor by the French government. Humanity was soaring with me, we were both flying off the handle, actually. Everything I said took a new meaning; everything I did good, bad, ugly was there for the world to comment upon and judge. Everything I didnt say or do was also met with the same fate. The present you is brave. The present you is hopeful. The present you is innovative and resourceful. And, of course, the present you is annoyingly indefinable. Humanity is a lot like me. It's an aging movie star, grappling with all the newness, wondering whether she got it right. On the internet: "We had expected an expansion of ideas and dreams; we had not bargained for the enclosure of judgment. It has to be you who creates a world that is its own best lover, that should be the future you. You can use your energy to spread the darkness of destruction or you can use it to spread the joy of light to millions. I looked at my face and realized I am starting to look more and more like my wax statue at Madame Tussaud. I want to tell the other TED Talks speakers - they paid me for this and they're not paying you. The yesteryear actors were almost in full attendance to pay their final respects to Vinod Khanna and sadly only a handful of current generation stars were present at his funeral. An enraged Rishi Kapoor took it all out with his Twitter rant and pointed fingers at the current generation of actors for being so disrespectful. He even called them "Chamcha" and was surprised that they were in full attendance in Priyanka Chopra's party last week and not at the funeral yesterday. Check out Rishi Kapoor lashing out at the current actors (Chamchas) below. SHAMEFUL It's shameful that only a few younger actors were present to pay their respects at Vinod Khanna's funeral. Only Party, No Funeral For the younger generation of stars, attending parties is cool but showing their respects at a funeral is not. Sad! So Called Stars Rishi Kapoor vented out his anger at "today's so called stars" and "chamchas". Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Bachchan along with his son Abhishek Bachchan were the first to arrive and the last to leave at Vinod Khanna's funeral. Jackie Shroff Jackie Shroff attended the final rites of veteran actor Vinod Khanna in Mumbai. Kavita-Gulzar Gulzar consoles Vinod Khanna's wife at the cremation. Rahul Khanna Vinod Khanna's son Rahul Khanna at the cremation in Mumbai. RIP Akshaye Khanna stands by the pyre of his father Vinod Khanna. Only On Twitter The current generation of stars paid their respects to Vinod Khanna only on Twitter. Shameful. Not ONE actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Angry. Met so many chamcha people last night at Priyanka Chopra's do last night. Few at Vinod's. So fuckn transparent. So angry with them. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 When Vinod Khanna Revealed The Big Truth The daily stated about the media interaction Vinod Khanna had in his constituency Gurdaspur early this year. There Vinod was asked why he had been away for a long while. It was then that Vinod revealed the big truth: He was suffering from cancer. The Actor Got To Know About His Cancer Six Years Ago ''The actor said he would not have revealed his illness if he was not a politician. He said that he got to know he had cancer six years ago.'' He Kept It A Secret Because Of His Daughter ''At that time, his daughter was giving an important school exam and needed her parents support. The actor-politician said he kept the cancer secret from everyone due to this." Vinod Khanna Had Thought That He Had Won His Battle With Cancer ''Vinod also said that he felt he has finally won this battle and even doctors considered him 80 percent cured.'' Vinod Tried To Fight The Cancer ''Vinod had said that he had used various alternative medicine methodologies in the fight against cancer and in the last one year, he had to travel to Germany a number of times in this regard.'' The Actor Underwent A Surgery ''He said he has not been through heavy chemotherapy but had to undergo surgery and that was the reason why he was not in his constituency when Pathankot attack happened.'' The Hospital's Statement The hospital where he had been admitted released a statement after his death, "Veteran actor and Member of Parliament Mr. Vinod Khanna, who was admitted to the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital breathed his last at 11.20 am due to advanced bladder carcinoma." Vinod Khanna's Funeral.. Vinod Khanna's funeral was held at Vaikunth Dham in Worli, on 27th April. Celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor and many others from Bollywood were present to pay their last respects to the late actor. The Actor Is Survived By.. Vinod Khanna is survived by his wife Kavita Khanna and sons Rahul, Akshaye and Sakshi, and daughter Shraddha. Vinod Khanna was married to Geetanjali before marrying Kavita. He divorced Geetanjali and then got married to Kavita. You may have heard about some of the actors being perfectionists and passionate about their work for which they can endure all difficulties. Then there is Gal Gadot who has redefined passion for work and perfection to a new level. The celebrated Hollywood actor has shot for her upcoming solo film Wonder Woman carrying her child Maya in her womb. This instance of dedication for work has not only surprised the director Patty Jenkins but also made her a huge fan of Gal Gadot. "She's pregnant during part of the movie, in a suit out in a field in the freezing cold in others. There are so many things we asked her to do: Now do it on one foot. Now shout while you're doing it. Now it's raining in the freezing cold and you've lost your voice, go." Said Jenkins. "Everyday it was a hilarious gauntlet and she would do it. Now, at least, we will be able to tell her [new] daughter Maya that she's in her mom's stomach right then, in the middle of that battle scene." Jenkins added. Even producer Charles Roven was all praises for the actor and said he has never seen an actor that dedicated towards the work. "Part of what we were doing was augmenting some of the final action piece. She couldn't do a huge amount of physical activity but she was being aggressive. She still had to be fierce. That was special. I've been doing this for awhile but I've never that had that experience before." Said Roven. Dulquer Salmaan, the young superstar of Mollywood is considered to be the most grounded and down-to-earth celebrities of Mollywood. He has a huge fan base within and outside Kerala. Here is one such instance, which proves that he is really a sweet guy. Recently, the actor attended the Lulu Fashion Week, held in Kochi. The actor was there to receive the Kerala Pride award. After taking the stage, Dulquer Salmaan sang a few lines of the song 'Vaanam Thila Thilakkanu..', from his upcoming film Comrade In America - CIA. 'Isnt My Voice Really A Boring One?', asked Dulquer Salmaan on a funny note after singing the first few lines of the song. On a continued note, he thanked each and every one especially for appreciating his bad singing. Well, this is what makes this young star different. At a time, when stars boast about themselves, here is a man who is humility personified. Meanwhile, the actor is all set for the release of his upcoming film Comrade In America - CIA. The film will make a grand release on May 5, 2017. The movie marks the second association of Amal Neerad and Dulquer Salmaan. Director - SS Rajamouli Hats off to this man, who has yet again proved why he is one of the best film-makers of current day Indian cinema. He is in complete control of the product and he has the knack to keep the viewers glued to their seat. There isn't a single moment in the film, where one would think of taking a yawn. Credits to this man who has shown Indian cinema that such big products are feasible in our market, as well. He rightly knows the pulse of the audiences and delivers mass, class, emotional and comical sequences in the right proportions, remaining well within the demands of the storyline. For eg, you ought to watch the portions before the interval punch. The way Rajamouli has conceptualised those scenes is incomparable. Cast Baahubali 2: The Conclusion retains almost the entire cast from its prequel. Prabhas is in top gear as Amarendra Baahubali and it is this character that rules most of the portions of the movie. More importantly, he has been able to make both Amarendra Baahubali and Mahendra Baahubali distinct characters, with his performance. Ramya Krishnan once again proves why she is one of the best acting talents of Indian film industry. We simply couldn't think anybody other than her in the shoes of Sivagami. Anushka Shetty gets has got more number of scenes in this sequel and she has done a brilliant job. Sathyaraj takes forward his brilliant act from the first part and this time, we can see the actor's comical side, as well. Rana Daggubati & Nasser too, score high with their antagonistic acts. Tamannaah doesn't have much to do in this part. Music & BGM MM Keeravani BGM of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is the soul of the film. It gels well with the mood of the movie and takes forward the viewers with full thrill. Songs of the film are decent, with Bali Bali Baahubali being the pick among the lot. But, the dubbed versions of the songs are disappointing with the direct translation of lyrics to Malayalam, playing the spoilsport. Production Designer Sabu Cyril Sabu Cyril, the man from Kerala is the prime architect behind the huge and breath-taking sets, which you could see in the film. The sets and the entire design are completely believable and due credits must be given to this man. Cinematographer KK Senthil Kumar KK Senthil Kumar, once again, has done a neat job with the cinematography department. Some of the visuals are breath-taking, especially the frames that he set for certain sequences in the first half of the movie. SALABERRY-DE-VALLEYFIELD, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 04/27/17 -- Noranda Income Fund (TSX: NIF.UN) (the "Fund") today reported its financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2017. All amounts are in Canadian currency unless otherwise stated. Q1 2017 Financial and Operating Highlights -- Glencore Canada and the Fund reached an agreement whereby Glencore will supply all of the Fund's zinc concentrate requirements for its processing facility located in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec (the "Processing Facility") and will purchase all the zinc metal production for the 12-month period ending April 30, 2018. -- On February 12, 2017, unionized workers initiated a strike at the Processing Facility. In response, management secured operations and resumed partial production with eligible staff. The production of zinc metal is currently at 50% to 60% of normal operating levels. -- Adjusted Net Revenues(1) were $43.9 million, down 45% from $80.4 million in Q1 2016. -- Earnings before income taxes were $5.4 million, up 23% from $4.4 million in Q1 2016. -- Zinc metal production decreased 26% to 50,048 tonnes from 67,627 tonnes in Q1 2016. -- Zinc metal sales totaled 49,516 tonnes, down 32% from 72,639 tonnes in Q1 2016. -- By product revenue from the sale of copper in cake and sulphuric acid was $2.3 million, down from $6.3 million for Q1 2016. -- Production costs before changes in inventory declined 16% to $39.7 million. -- Non-cash working capital grew by $64.3 million as a result of increased inventory and a reduction in accounts payable. (1) Adjusted Net Revenues means revenues less raw material purchase costs ("Net Revenues") excluding unrealized concentrate settlement adjustments and after foreign currency gain/loss and derivative financial instruments gain/loss. Adjusted Net Revenues is reconciled to Net Revenues below. CEO Commentary "In a few days, we will begin to purchase concentrate on market terms. This transition requires that we operate as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible in light of tight zinc concentrate supply conditions and low treatment charges," said Ms. Eva Carissimi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Electrolytic Zinc Limited. "Within this context, we are disappointed that we have been unable to settle the dispute with the unionized employees." Ms. Carissimi added, "Our Q1 financial and operating results were impacted by the effects of the strike initiated by unionized workers at our Processing Facility. We are very happy to report that staff have sustained an operating rate of 60% of normal levels in March and that we have been able to re-establish the supply of metal to customers." Q1 2017 Financial and Operating Results The Fund reported earnings before income taxes of $5.4 million in Q1 2017, up from $4.4 million for Q1 2016. The year-over-year increase was largely due to higher processing fees, reduced production costs, the impact of inventory margin during the quarter and lower depreciation costs. These gains were partially offset, however, by lower sales volumes, lower by-product revenue and by the impact of a stronger average Canadian dollar compared to the US dollar. In Q1 2017, realized zinc prices were US$1.33 per pound and zinc premiums were US$0.07 per pound. These compare to US$0.83 and US$0.07, respectively, for Q1 2016. Through its Processing Facility, the Fund produces refined zinc metal and various by-products from zinc concentrates purchased from mining operations and sells refined zinc products to customers in the open market. The Fund earns a processing fee from transforming zinc concentrate into zinc metal and earns additional revenue from premiums, by-product sales and metal gains. Production costs before changes in inventory for Q1 2017 were $39.7 million, down 16%, or $7.6 million, from the $47.3 million recorded in the same period of 2016. The decrease was due to a number of factors, including lower labour, energy and supplies costs, as well as the lower zinc metal production volumes in the quarter. Adjusted Net Revenues(2) for Q1 2017 were $43.9 million, down 45% from $80.4 million for the comparative period of 2016. The decline was due to a number of factors, including lower sales volumes and the impact of inventory margin during the quarter. Zinc metal production in Q1 2017 declined 26% to 50,048 tonnes from 67,627 tonnes in Q1 2016. The reduced metal production was due to the strike initiated by unionized workers at the Fund's Processing Facility. Partial production resumed once the Processing Facility was secured, and production has since been stabilized at 50% to 60% of normal operating levels. Zinc metal sales in Q1 2017 were 49,516 tonnes, down 32% from 72,639 tonnes in Q1 2016. The lower sales totals were consistent with reduced production totals for the quarter. Cash used in operating activities totalled $62.7 million and included a $64.3 million increase in non-working capital due to an increase in inventories and a decrease in accounts payables. In Q1 2016, cash provided by operating activities totalled $69.4 million. Cash used in operating activities in Q1 2017 was funded by the Fund's asset-backed credit facility. The Fund declared cash distributions of $0.9 million in Q1 2017 or $0.025 per unit. In Q1 2016, the Fund declared distributions of $4.7 million or $0.125 per unit. In light of prevailing market conditions and the need to be prudent with cash reserves, the Fund's Board of Trustees suspended monthly distributions to unitholders following the distribution paid on February 27, 2017. There is no assurance that monthly distributions will resume in the future. As at March 31, 2017, the Fund's debt was $129.5 million, up from $64.0 million as at December 31, 2016. The Fund's cash as at March 31, 2017 decreased to $0.5 million from $2.6 million as at December 31, 2016. The Fund's debt increased primarily as a result of the increase in working capital during the period. Zinc metal inventory will be sold to Glencore Canada under the one year contract that comes into effect on May 1, 2017. Outlook for the Fund The main challenge facing the Fund is the ability for the Processing Facility to continue to operate profitably once the fixed processing fee available during the initial term of the Supply and Processing Agreement ends on May 2, 2017 and the Fund is required to purchase concentrates on market terms. The Fund's results after May 2, 2017 will be impacted by market treatment charges, as well as greater sensitivity to zinc price and the Canadian exchange rate, resulting in more variable operating results. In light of the strike by unionized workers at the Fund's Processing Facility and the uncertainty about its duration, the Fund has deferred providing guidance for zinc metal production and sales targets for 2017 until an appropriate time. First Quarter 2017 Results Conference Call: When: April 28, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. E.T Dial in number: 647-788-4919 or Toll-free North American number: 1-877-291-4570 To access the webcast and view the slide presentation from the Noranda Income Fund website: http://www.norandaincomefund.com/investor/conference.html or click on this link: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/brftjcsu. Conference Call Replay: Dial in number: 416-621-4642 or Toll-free North American number: 1-800-585-8367 The conference ID is 9088200 and you will be prompted to provide your name and company. The recording will be available until midnight on May 12, 2017. A full version of the Fund's Q1 2017 Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) and unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements will be posted on http://www.sedar.com and on the Fund's website at http://www.norandaincomefund.com/investor/financials.html later today. Readers should be advised that the summarized communication presented in this press release is limited in its disclosure. It is not a suitable source of information for readers who are unfamiliar with the Fund, and it is not in any way a substitute for reading the unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and MD&A because a reader relying on this summary alone might overlook decision critical information. Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events, results or performance to be materially different from any future events, results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, and as a result, the Fund cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statements or information will materialize. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the effect of general business and economic conditions, the Fund's ability to operate at normal production levels, the demand and price for zinc concentrate, zinc metal, sulphuric acid and copper in cake, the dependence upon continuing supply of zinc concentrate and the terms of that supply, the Fund's capital expenditure requirements and other general risks and uncertainties set out in the Fund's continuous disclosure documents on available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on, among other things, management's current estimates, expectations, assumptions, plans and intentions, which management believes are reasonable as of the current date, and which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Except as required by law, the Fund does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements or information, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Fund or on the Fund's behalf. Noranda Income Fund is an income trust whose units trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "NIF.UN". Noranda Income Fund owns the electrolytic zinc processing facility and ancillary assets (the "Processing Facility") located in Salaberry de-Valleyfield, Quebec. The Processing Facility is the second-largest zinc processing facility in North America and the largest zinc processing facility in eastern North America, where the majority of zinc customers are located. It produces refined zinc metal and various by-products from sourced zinc concentrates. The Processing Facility is operated and managed by Canadian Electrolytic Zinc Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Glencore Canada Corporation. Except where otherwise indicated, all amounts in this press release are expressed in Canadian dollars. Further information about Noranda Income Fund can be found at www.norandaincomefund.com Key Performance Drivers The following table provides a summary of the performance of the Fund's key drivers: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended March 31 2017 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zinc concentrate processed (tonnes) 117,892 135,727 Zinc secondary feed processed (tonnes) 4,165 1,237 Zinc grade (%) 52.1 51.6 Zinc recovery (%) 96.9 97.5 Zinc metal production (tonnes) 50,048 67,627 Zinc metal sales (tonnes) 49,516 72,639 Processing fee (cents/pound) 41.4 41.0 Realized zinc price (US$/pound) 1.33 0.83 Average LME zinc price (US$/pound) 1.26 0.76 By-product revenues ($ millions) 2.3 6.3 Copper in cake production (tonnes) 494 702 Copper in cake sales (tonnes) 328 796 Sulphuric acid production (tonnes) 98,066 111,925 Sulphuric acid sales (tonnes) 94,427 105,978 Average LME copper price (US$/pound) 2.65 2.12 Sulphuric acid netback (US$/tonne) 7 28 Average US/Cdn. exchange rate 1.32 1.37 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i) 1 tonne = 2,204.62 pounds SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended March 31, ($ thousands) 2017 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Statements of Comprehensive Income Information Revenues 181,989 172,581 Raw material purchase costs 134,374 112,541 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenues less raw material purchase costs 47,615 60,040 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other expenses: Production 30,143 49,510 Selling and administration 8,180 6,264 Foreign currency gain (1,502) (13,452) Derivative financial instruments (gain) loss (1,327) 4,188 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 5,282 7,580 Rehabilitation expense 122 590 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings before finance costs and income taxes 6,717 5,360 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Finance costs, net 1,363 1,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings before income taxes 5,354 4,360 Current and deferred income tax expense 1,599 473 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings attributable to Unitholders and Non-controlling interest 3,755 3,887 Distributions to Unitholders 937 4,687 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Increase (decrease) in net assets attributable to Unitholders and Non-controlling interest 2,818 (800) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other comprehensive loss (15) (3,955) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comprehensive income (loss) 2,803 (4,755) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Statements of Financial Position Information March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash 494 2,567 Inventories 284,112 242,585 Accounts receivable 93,054 103,280 Income taxes receivable 6,206 5,000 Property, plant and equipment 133,181 138,309 Total assets 542,057 516,014 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 133,702 175,521 ABL revolving facility 129,523 63,987 Total liabilities excluding net assets attributable to Unitholders 302,781 279,541 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended March 31, Statements of Cash Flows Information 2017 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash provided by operating activities before cash distributions and net change in non-cash working capital items 2,608 28,106 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash distributions (937) (4,687) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net change in non-cash working capital items (64,328) 45,999 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash (used in) provided by operating activities (62,657) 69,418 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash used in investing activities (4,952) (3,916) Cash provided by (used in) financing activities 65,536 (64,663) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net (decrease) increase in cash (2,073) 839 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contacts: Michael Boone, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of Canadian Electrolytic Zinc Limited Noranda Income Fund's Manager 416-775-1561 info@norandaincomefund.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/27/17 -- All amounts in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated Emerald Expositions Events, Inc. ("Emerald Expositions") announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 15,500,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $17.00 per share. Emerald Expositions is selling 10,333,333 of those shares and Onex Corporation ("Onex") (TSX: ONEX) and its affiliates (the "Onex Group") are selling 5,166,667 shares. The underwriters were granted a 30-day option to purchase up to 2,325,000 additional shares of common stock from the Onex Group. Emerald Expositions' common stock is expected to begin trading on April 28, 2017 on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "EEX". The offering is expected to close on May 3, 2017, subject to customary closing conditions. At the offering price, proceeds to the Onex Group will be approximately $85 million of which Onex' share will be approximately $22 million, including carried interest of $2 million. The Onex Group continues to hold approximately 56.1 million shares of Emerald Expositions for an economic interest of 78%. Onex continues to hold approximately 13.6 million shares for a 19% economic interest. A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2017. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Onex Onex is one of the oldest and most successful private equity firms. Through its Onex Partners and ONCAP private equity funds, Onex acquires and builds high-quality businesses in partnership with talented management teams. At Onex Credit, Onex manages and invests in leveraged loans, collateralized loan obligations and other credit securities. Onex has approximately $24 billion of assets under management, including $6 billion of Onex proprietary capital, in private equity and credit securities. With offices in Toronto, New York, New Jersey and London, Onex invests alongside its fund investors and is the largest limited partner in each of its private equity funds. Onex' businesses have assets of $44 billion, generate annual revenues of $29 billion and employ approximately 161,000 people worldwide. Onex shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the stock symbol ONEX. For more information on Onex, visit its website at www.onex.com. Onex' security filings can also be accessed at www.sedar.com. This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations and are subject to known and unknown uncertainties and risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Onex is under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein should material facts change due to new information, future events or otherwise. Contacts: Onex Corporation Laura Carrigan Director, Investor Relations 416.362.7711 VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/27/17 -- Uniserve Communications Corporation (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: USS) is pleased to announce the 3rd quarter 2017 financial results. Year to date revenue increases by 20%. The Company finished the quarter with: -- Gross revenues for the 2017 year to date of $5.64M vs 2016 year to date of $4.68M representing an 20% increase -- Year to date operating expenses decreased to $2.2M from $2.6M or 15.4% -- A positive 2017 year to date EBITDA of $256K vs 2016 loss of ($296K) Three Months Ended Year To Date February 28 and 29 February 28 and 29 2017 2016 2017 2016 $ $ $ $ Revenue 2,208,138 1,624,190 5,638,938 4,680,024 Cost of Revenues 1,325,702 809,613 3,186,674 2,348,867 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 882,436 814,577 2,452,264 2,331,157 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Expenses Operations and Service Delivery Expenses 587,948 772,845 1,923,941 2,251,725 Sales and Marketing 87,171 124,914 271,500 375,996 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBITDA 207,317 (83,182) 256,824 (296,564) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amortization of Property and Equipment 92,495 93,207 242,643 259,011 Operating Profit/(Loss) 114,822 (176,389) 14,181 (555,575) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Expenses (Income) Finance Charges 67,275 15,061 374,189 263,708 Foreign Exchange 10,026 (2,667) 18,850 7,030 Gain on Settlements and Reversals of Debts (326,296) (555,232) (326,296) (555,232) Gain on Disposal of Property and Equipment (2,397) - (2,397) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (251,391) (542,838) 64,348 (284,494) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) 366,213 366,449 (50,167) (271,081) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A significant part of third quarter results can be directly attributed to the Company's 29% reduction in operating expenses. Uniserve continues to focus on strengthening its infrastructure, its leadership group and its investment in new business products as well as interprovincial data storage redundancy. With the recent introduction of Nicholas Jeffery as the new CEO, several new key board members, new branding, new website and product lines, the company will continue to focus on accelerating sales growth, in both its business and residential product offerings. With the successful January private placement completed, the company is in a secure financial position for strategic acquisitions, partnerships and growth. Uniserve's CEO, Nicholas Jeffery: "The company is now in a great place for substantial growth, particularly with the recent launch of our 'Transit' small business bundles, as well as new residential internet pricing." About Uniserve Uniserve (TSX VENTURE: USS) is a unified communications company delivering integrated voice, data and media services to over 13,000 customers within the residential, business to business and enterprise IT markets, currently focusing on Western Canada. The company has been in existence for almost 28 years and has a client base across three sectors selling directly and through the wholesale channel. The recent corporate restructuring has resulted in the majority of the board and management team being replaced, culminating in the hiring of Nicholas Jeffery the new CEO from Europe, who has a wealth of internet service provider and managed service company experience. Uniserve prides itself on delivering world class customer services. They believe when all else is equal you can trust the company to offer highly competitive pricing and cutting edge technology bundles, all underpinned by an exemplary customer service team based in Canada. This news release was prepared on behalf of the Board of Directors, which accepts full responsibility for its contents. Learn more at www.uniserve.com or at www.sedar.com. Michael C. Scholz, Chairman of the Board Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Management has prepared this release and no regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. The statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements. Such statements are based on management's estimates, assumptions and projections using available information. Uniserve cautions that actual financial results could differ materially from the current expectations due to a number of factors. Contacts: Uniserve Communications Corporation Mr. Mark Stanton 604-395-3908 mark.stanton@uniserveteam.com www.uniserve.com MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 04/27/17 -- Garda World Security Corporation (the "Company" or "GardaWorld") announced today the pricing of the private offering (the "Offering") of US$500 million aggregate principal amount of 8.75% Senior Notes due 2025 (the "Notes") by GW Honos Security Corporation (the "Escrow Issuer"), an affiliate of the Company. The Offering is expected to close into escrow on or about May 8, 2017. The Offering is part of the financing of the previously announced stock purchase agreement entered into on March 23, 2017 by an entity held by affiliates of Rhone Capital L.L.C., Stephan Cretier and an affiliate of Apax Partners LLP pursuant to which the 29.4% equity interest in the GardaWorld business currently owned by an affiliate of Apax Partners LLP will be purchased for cash consideration (the "Stock Purchase"). Upon the consummation of the Stock Purchase, the Escrow Issuer will amalgamate with the Company, the Company will assume the obligations of the Escrow Issuer under the Notes and the related indenture and the Notes will be guaranteed by each of the Company's existing and future subsidiaries that guarantee the Company's new senior secured credit facilities. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Notes offering, together with borrowings under its new senior secured credit facilities, the proceeds from certain equity contributions and, if necessary, the net proceeds from the incurrence of additional unsecured indebtedness, to (i) fund the Stock Purchase, (ii) fund the previously announced cash tender offers (the "tender offers") for any and all of its 7.25% U.S. dollar denominated senior notes due 2021 (the "2021 notes"), (iii) refinance its existing credit facilities and (iv) pay related fees and expenses. The Offering will be made in a private transaction in reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), in the United States only to investors who are "qualified institutional buyers," as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and pursuant to the prospectus exemption of section 12 of the Securities Act (Quebec) for distribution of securities to persons established outside Quebec, or outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act and upon reliance on the accredited investor exemption in Canada. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The Notes mentioned herein have not been and will not be qualified for sale to the public under applicable Canadian securities laws and, accordingly, any offer and sale of securities in Canada will be made on a basis which is exempt from the prospectus and dealer registration requirements of such securities laws. The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States or Canada without registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements or an applicable exemption from the prospectus requirements of Canadian securities legislation. About GardaWorld GardaWorld is one of the world's largest privately owned security services providers, offering a range of highly focused business solutions including cash services, protective services and aviation services. GardaWorld's more than 62,000 highly trained, dedicated professionals serve clients throughout North America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. GardaWorld works across a broad range of sectors, including financial services, infrastructure, natural resources and retail, and services Fortune 500 companies, governments and humanitarian relief organizations. For more information, visit www.garda.com Cautionary Statement on Forward Looking Statements Information provided and statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the applicable securities laws. Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to GardaWorld's future outlook and anticipated events, business, operations, financial performance, financial condition or results and, in some cases, can be identified by terminology such as "may"; "will"; "should"; "expect"; "plan"; "anticipate"; "believe"; "intend"; "estimate"; "predict"; "potential"; "continue"; "foresee", "ensure" or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In particular, statements regarding the company's future operating results and economic performance and its objectives and strategies are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain factors and assumptions including expected growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities, which GardaWorld believes are reasonable as of the current date. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to the company, they may prove to be incorrect. The company cautions the reader that the current economic conditions make forward-looking information and the underlying assumptions subject to greater uncertainty and that, consequently, they may not materialize, or the results may significantly differ from the company's expectations. It is impossible for GardaWorld to predict with certainty the impact that the current economic may have on future results. Forward-looking information is also subject to certain factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what GardaWorld currently expects. These factors include growth management, market competition, cost of financing, key personnel, government regulations, standard customer service contracts, insurance, strikes and other labor protests, information technology systems, operations outside Canada and the United States, currency fluctuations, credit risk, reputational risk, and financial covenants risk. Therefore, future events and results may vary significantly from what management currently foresees. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. We will not update these statements unless applicable securities laws require us to do so. The reader should also take knowledge of the GardaWorld's Annual MD&A and audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2017. Contacts: GardaWorld Media Relations media@garda.com MORRISTOWN (dpa-AFX) - Activist investor Third Point LLC has urged Honeywell International Inc. (HON) to spin off its aerospace division. Responding to Third Point's letter, Honeywell said it intends to take the time necessary to ensure a comprehensive, informed and objective review of the potential separation of the Aerospace business. In the investor letter, Daniel Loeb's Third Point disclosed that Honeywell's stock is trading 'at a substantial discount to its industry peer group. Third Point believes that a separation of the aerospace unit via a spin off transaction would result in a sustained increase in shareholder value in excess of $20 billion.' Meanwhile, Honeywell noted that it will continue executing its 2017 plan, delivering on itsfinancial commitments as it has done for over a decade and as it did in the first quarter, and remain focused on effectively deploying capital to generate consistently outstanding returns. It is performing well and remains committed to the long-term financial goals outlined at its March investor day. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. SHANGHAI, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/27/17 -- For the first time in Shanghai, Teledyne e2v has been a Bronze Sponsor at the world famous EDI CON China and presented 2 key topics, discussing key design solutions and interfacing FPGAs and data converters in high performance applications. Teledyne e2v's Field Application Engineer for the Asia Pacific region, Marc Stackler, presented two papers at EDI CON this week to an audience of over a hundred electronic design specialists during the event's technical conference. Discussing key system design points and the benefits of the two main high-speed interfacing techniques, Mr. Stackler gave the audiences a deeper understanding of the benefits and limitations of both parallel and serial interfaces using real-time examples of high performance applications. The evolution of ultra-wideband (UWB) data converter technologies continues to attract more applications that are looking to them as a solution to improve, by an order of magnitude, the performance and capabilities of their systems; including military, industrial, test and measurement and earth observation applications. Each of these application domains brings its own constraints and requirements, so choosing the right interface is critical to achieving the highest possible system performance and Mr. Stackler elaborated on each interface and their most suited applications. Parallel interfaces benefit low latency applications, historically best serving electronic warfare applications where a few nanoseconds can mean the difference between being identified or remaining undetected by enemy radars. Today, parallel interfaces are being replaced by serial interfaces due to the improved bandwidth capabilities and PCB board space savings they provide, but due to required encoding/decoding stages, have a higher latency than parallel interfaces. Mr. Stackler's papers and presentations dug deeper into the technical setup and benefits to both parallel and serial interfaces and the applications they best serve, all of which can be found on EDI CON's website. Teledyne e2v are a world leader in UWB data converter technologies, most recently boasting the development of the world's first K-band capable Digitial-to-Analog Converter, and have an extensive portfolio of other world-class signal processing solutions, including microprocessors, data converters, memory, PLLs, DC-DC converters, digitizers and more. For more information on UWB data converters, visit www.e2v.com/semis. Both presentations from EDI CON can be found here. Notes to Editors About Teledyne e2v: Teledyne e2v's innovations lead developments in healthcare, life sciences, space, transportation, defence and security and industrial markets. Teledyne e2v employs approximately 1750 people worldwide, has design and operational facilities across Europe, North America and Asia, and has a global network of sales and technical support offices. Teledyne e2v has annual sales of GB236M as at 31 March 2016. For more information www.e2v.com. About Marc Stackler: Marc Stackler received a Bachelor's in Electrical and Network Engineering from Grenoble Institute of Technology (ESISAR), France in 2011, and a Masters in Embedded Systems in 2013. He has been with Teledyne e2v for four years as an Applications Engineer for the Semiconductor business and recently relocated to Shenzhen, China to support the company's growing customer base in Asia Pacific. About EDI CON: EDI CON uniquely brings together RF, microwave, EMC/EMI, and high-speed digital design engineers and system integrators for networking, training, and learning opportunities. Attendees come to EDI CON to find solutions, products, and design ideas that they can put into immediate practice for today's communication, radar, consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace, and medical industries. Drawing attendees from both the analog and digital spheres, EDI CON enables designers to see techniques and technologies used in other applications that could be applied or adapted to solve their latest design challenges. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3133973 Teledyne e2v Email Contact + 852 3679 3652 BEIJING, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- China's largest internet and mobile video service provider iQIYI has reached a content licensing agreement with leading American video streaming company Netflix, which would give iQIYI the streaming rights in China to Netflix's popular dramas, cartoons, documentaries and reality shows. The deal covers Netflix's premium shows such as sci-fi series Black Mirror and Stranger Things for simultaneous premier in China. "Though our expectations of this deal remainmodest, we are delighted that consumers will be able to enjoy these highly-popular series on iQIYI, the leading media platform in China," said Jessica Lee, VP, Communications - Asia,Netflix. The partnership marks a new milestone for iQIYI as it strives to provide its subscribers with greater variety of high-quality shows from across the world. The deal is also expected to help drive out pirated contents in the Chinese market by feeding local viewers with copyrighted contents of high definition. "We commit ourselves to making more original contents and high-quality shows from around the world accessible to our viewers in China," said Yang Xianghua, senior vice-president of iQIYI. "In teaming up with important content providers such as Netflix, iQIYI is capable of keeping abreast of latest trends and development in the industry around the globe." Founded in Beijing in April 2010, iQIYI is the top online video platform in China to stream both licensed and original movies, television series, variety shows, cartoons and other content. Last year, iQIYI became the first video streaming company from Asia that entered the top revenue ranking of global Apps, along with Netflix, HBO Now and Hulu, according to American mobile analytics specialist App Annie. iQIYI is in seventh place and Netflix came third worldwide in terms of revenue. Latest statistics from Chinese internet research unit iResearch show that iQIYI's App is active on 474 million mobile devices during January of 2017 and users spend a total of 5.02 billion hours on it over the month. Meanwhile, iQIYI has also taken a leading position in paid subscription business, announcing the total number of its paid subscribers exceeding 20 million as of June, 2016. Contact: Celine Sun Marketing Department iQIYI.com, Inc. Email: celinesun@qiyi.com 200 students from upper secondary schools all over Denmark today meet in the final of Lundbeck's Drughunter natural sciences competition. Minister of Education and Research, Sren Pind, will attend the final, which will be won by the students with the best proposals for research in treatment of brain diseases. Valby, 2017-04-28 08:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) today welcomes 200 students from upper secondary schools all over the country to its headquarters in Valby, where the students will present their ideas for development of new and better treatments for diseases like depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. The presentations will take place in the final of the Drughunter Competition, Lundbeck's national natural sciences competition for upper secondary school students. In total, 1,100 students from 55 classes in 36 schools have over the last four months participated in the competition as part of their studies of chemistry, biology and biotechnology. Today, as part of the Festival of Research, nine students will be awarded winners of this year's competition and thereby claim the unofficial title as Denmark's most talented young researchers. With the brightest scientific minds gathered from the country's upper secondary schools, the bar is set high and not only the students will learn something. "Our researchers are often inspired by the creativity and curiosity of the students when working with the biological, chemical and biotechnological problems. The competition is a great way of getting the students interested in natural sciences and the role as a scientist. We hope to inspire many to pursue a career within science as this is a prerequisite for Denmark to maintain and grow our strong life science industry," says Anders Gersel Pedersen, Executive Vice President, Research & Development at Lundbeck. Minister of Education and Research, Sren Pind, will attend the final and among other things get a presentation of the scientific posters prepared by the students. These are based on the knowledge about the brain and its diseases acquired by the students over the course of the competition. A jury consisting of Lundbeck researchers will evaluate the many posters and select the winners of this year's Drughunter Competition. "Research help improve our lives and bring Denmark forward. Therefore it bodes well for the future to have so many students conducting research into the treatment of complex brain diseases. Denmark needs talents who have the desire to ask questions and find answers," says Sren Pind. Facts about the Drughunter Competition -- A natural sciences competition for upper secondary school students. It combines classroom learning within biology, chemistry and biotechnology (at the Danish A and B levels) with practical insight into research and development of pharmaceuticals. -- The competition takes its starting point in drug development as it is practiced today. Students have the opportunity to choose between projects that have a chemical, biological or biotechnical approach. -- Students were handed their assignments in December 2016. During the competition, students have the opportunity to meet Lundbeck researchers through lectures at participating secondary schools; they gain insight into the working methods of a researcher; and they gain insight into how academic subjects can be applied to solve real issues related to the development of new drugs. -- Students present their scientific posters at the finale held on the day of the Danish Festival of Research. At the end of the day, the winners are announced. -- The Drughunter Competition celebrates its 10 year anniversary this year. Over the years more than 400 classes from 80 different schools have participated. Contacts Mads Kronborg Senior Director, Corporate Communication Phone: +45 36 43 40 00 E-mail: mavk@lundbeck.com About Lundbeck H. Lundbeck A/S (LUN.CO, LUN DC, HLUYY) is a global pharmaceutical company specialized in psychiatric and neurological disorders. For more than 70 years, we have been at the forefront of research within neuroscience. Our key areas of focus are depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. An estimated 700 million people worldwide are living with psychiatric and neurological disorders and far too many suffer due to inadequate treatment, discrimination, a reduced number of working days, early retirement and other unnecessary consequences. Every day, we strive for improved treatment and a better life for people living with psychiatric and neurological disorders - we call this Progress in Mind. Read more at www.lundbeck.com/global/about-us/progress-in-mind. Our approximately 5,000 employees in 55 countries are engaged in the entire value chain throughout research, development, production, marketing and sales. Our pipeline consists of several late-stage development programmes and our products are available in more than 100 countries. We have research centres in China and Denmark and production facilities in China, Denmark, France and Italy. Lundbeck generated revenue of DKK 15.6 billion in 2016 (EUR 2.1 billion; USD 2.3 billion). For additional information, we encourage you to visit our corporate site www.lundbeck.com and connect with us on Twitter at @Lundbeck. Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=626766 Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de On 28 of April 2017 at 9:00 (EET) AB Klaipedos nafta (hereinafter - the Company) holds a conference webinar for its shareholders, investors, mass media representatives and other stakeholders. The presentation is held in English. The webinar is hosted by KN General Manager Mindaugas Jusius and Director of Finance and Administration Department Marius Pulkauninkas who introduce the Company's financial results for the first quarter of 2017 and will answer the participant questions. Webinar presentation is enclosed. Indre Miliniene, Chief Communications Officer, tel.: 8 46 391 772 Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=628213 Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Destatis will release German retail sales for March at 2:00 am ET Thursday. Sales are forecast to remain flat on month, following a 1.8 percent increase in February. Ahead of the data, the euro traded mixed against its major rivals. While the euro held steady against the greenback and the yen, it rose against the franc. Against the pound, it declined. The euro was worth 1.0863 against the greenback, 120.75 against the yen, 0.8415 against the pound and 1.0809 against the franc as of 1:55 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/announcements-2017.html 29th APRIL 2017 AURA ENERGY LIMITED ("Aura" or the "Company") MARCH QUARTERLY REPORT KEY POINTS: TIRIS PROJECT (Mauritania) Tiris Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) has progressed strongly in all areas Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) largely complete Tiris Shareholders Agreement with Mauritanian Government currently under negotiation Tiris Project Water Study approaching drill testing phase Tiris Resource Upgrade drilling to commence in May Metallurgical test work to commence in June Mining Lease Application to be lodged in May TASIAST SOUTH GOLD PROJECT (Mauritania) Planning continued for exploration of Aura's gold tenements Strong regional drill results continue by Algold Resources (TSX) Finalisation exploration permits expected soon Cobalt and other base metal potential reviewed AMARE LITHIUM AND SODA ASH PROJECT (Mauritania) Results from initial sampling are being analysed to determine next steps HAGGAN PROJECT (Sweden) Diamond drilling program was undertaken on two areas aimed at establishing a Measured Resource in this area Work continues on the Community Engagement brief Desktop study of Haggan metal content undertaken to highlight the significant polymetallic potential of the project CORPORATE Key shareholders exercised unlisted options early unlocking $1.84M for the company which will be used to explore the gold and base metal prospects Aura instituted a Sale Facility for shareholders who hold unmarketable parcels of shares in the Company Quarterly Overview During the March Quarter Aura Energy focussed significant effort on advancing the Tiris Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) with strong progress achieved across many areas. Aura continues to maintain that its ability to get Tiris into production is the main near-term driver of shareholder returns. Work on the Tiris DFS centred around the submission for the Mining Lease Application which entails a range of other activities to be completed. Substantial work on the EISA was completed including the Flora, Fauna and Archaeology Studies etc and community consultation meetings are scheduled to occur in early May. Other areas including resource drilling and upgrade, water search and metallurgical test work progressed past the planning phase. Aura also maintained a strong focus on exploration on planning for exploration on its significant Tasiast South gold and base metal prospects whilst noting further gold drill results on the adjacent tenements of Algold Resources (TSX). Final granting of the permits to allow commencement of field exploration has been slower than expected however this is expected shortly. Drilling was undertaken at two resource areas on the Haggan Project in Sweden and discussion on the Community Engagement Program has continued. Significantly Aura has conducted a desktop review of the polymetallic aspects of the project which has highlighted possible project upside given the recent increase in base metal prices. The commodity backdrop in uranium continues to be buoyant for the term uranium price series and the sentiment in the sector is solid. The company remains in a well-funded position. Tiris Project, MAURITANIA (Aura 100%) Tiris Project Overview Aura is conducting a Feasibility Study on its 100% owned 49 million pound U?O? calcrete uranium project in Mauritania (See Figure 1). The project has low operating costs and low development capital with strong financial returns under long-term pricing scenarios. To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/announcements-2017.html Figure 1: Location of Aura's Tiris Project Uranium Resources Tiris Project Definitive Feasibility Study Update The DFS for the Tiris Uranium Project in Mauritania recommenced in late 2016 following a successful funding and listing of the company on the London AIM market. The critical areas of the Tiris project study have been; The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Preparation for the Mining Lease Application Resource validation mainly on Hippolyte Resource evaluation for the Resource upgrade to Measured and Indicated category Detailed planning for the metallurgical test work Water Study including geophysics, geological reconnaissance and drilling of targets Negotiation of the Tiris Shareholders Agreement - 10% Government interest The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) has been a major area of work and its main component parts have been; Scoping Report and Terms of Reference for the ESIA Review of Technical Studies Air quality, noise and vibration study Surface water and groundwater study Soils and geomorphology study Waste rock and tailings geochemical assessment Ecology and biodiversity study - Flora and Fauna Socio-economic study Archaeology and cultural heritage study Transportation route study Health impact assessment Management Plans Environmental and Social Monitoring and Management Plan (ESMMP) Rehabilitation and Conceptual Mine Closure Plan (RCMCP) Radiation Management Plan (RMP) Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) Impact Assessment Community and Government consultation Assessment of Project alternatives Impact assessment Cumulative impact assessment Much of this work is now complete with no major issues identified. An important intermediate step was the acceptance by the Government and associated Environmental Departments of Aura's EISA Terms of Reference. Public Consultation Meetings are to be held in early May for completion of the process. The Mining Lease Application for all the key project areas is due to be submitted in the coming weeks and all materials are in the process of being finalised for this documentation. As highlighted in a market release on the 19th April (Strong Hippolyte South Uranium Survey) Aura has conducted important Hippolyte Resource Validation work and enabled greater understanding of the mineralisation. This is a key step towards the upgrade of the Tiris Resource. The process of drilling, sampling and downhole gamma logging of the Hippolyte mineralisation to upgrade the Mineral Resource to the Measured and Indicated categories is expected to commence in the next 2 weeks, with the sourcing of a specialist rig for triple tube drilling finally achieved. This will also involve an additional series of disequilibrium measurements across the orebody. Disequilibrium is an imbalance between the uranium content and the radioactivity emitted by a given volume of mineralized rock. This imbalance is caused by either differential mobilization of the more soluble uranium from the deposition site, relative to its daughter isotopes, or by a lack of time for the accumulation of the daughter isotopes to reach a state of equilibrium after the uranium has been deposited. Hence in a geologically young environment, a deficiency of daughters relative to uranium will cause an underestimation of uranium content based on radiometric methods. This will be an important factor in the final Mineral Resource estimate for Tiris. As a prudent cost/capital efficiency measure Aura will progressively convert the Tiris Resource to the Measured and Indicated category with an initial target for approximately 5 years of production. This will be sufficient for the DFS and the associated financial study. During operation, using cashflow it is envisaged the remainder of the Mineral Resource will be converted to the Measured and Indicated category. The Metallurgical Test Work program will commence in June 2017 when sufficient material has been generated from the planned drill campaign. The program which will be conducted principally by ANSTO Laboratories and will focus on the various mineralised domains to further assess; 1. Beneficiation response 2. Leaching response 3. Solid liquid separation and 4. Impurity issues, including effect of recirculating load on metal recovery. This test work is a critical path item and is targeted for completion in January 2018; however, it is expected to generate sufficient information to allow the majority of engineering to be complete in 2017. An extensive Tiris Project Water Study has been underway for over 3 months including a program of water geophysics focussing principally on the basal sedimentary units of the Taoudeni Basin to the south of the Tiris project area. These basal units are known to host substantial water supplies elsewhere in the region. A few favourable sites on Reguibat Shield rocks, closer to the project site will also be tested in this program. The geophysics is now complete and has been reviewed with site reconnaissance underway to assess the target sites before final drill testing of the targets is undertaken. Drill testing is expected before mid-year. The negotiation of the Tiris Shareholders Agreement, which covers the 10% Government interest in the Project, has been drafted and is currently under negotiation with the Government. Finalisation of this agreement is required for the Mining Lease application and is expected to be completed in May 2017. Other areas that will be commenced following the submission of the Mining Lease Application include; Mining Study Detailed Engineering included package cost estimates Infrastructure Study These areas are expected to be completed before calendar year end. Aura continues to target the end of 2017 for the completion of the majority of the Tiris DFS, however, it envisages some elements of the Tiris DFS will still be outstanding at this point. As such, the full DFS is likely to be completed early in 2018. This slight delay is not expected to impact project implementation and financing, as a number of parallel activities are planned to be conducted near the end of the Tiris DFS. Tiris Resource Upgrade Drilling and Validation As part of the program to increase the proportion of Indicated and Measured Resource ultra-detailed ground radiometric surveying was conducted over the key resource zones to establish more precisely the outlines of, and zonation within, mineralisation across the major resources. This also added considerably the understanding of geological controls over the mineralisation. Detailed ground radiometric survey work was continued over the Hippolyte South prospect, currently under application, which hosts extensive and strong radiometric anomalies south of the main Hippolyte resource. The survey clearly defined several strongly mineralised zones and will greatly assist in defining drill targets for future resource drilling on this very prospective target. Hippolyte Downhole Logging Success Additionally, a program of downhole gamma logging was conducted on 63 drillholes in the key Tiris Resource zone, Hippolyte Zone 1 and has validated previous drilling and sampling of the project. This coverage is shown in Figure 2. The downhole gamma logging indicated U 3 O 8 grades that compare well with grades determined by chemical assay. Aura will proceed to utilise downhole gamma logging in its next resource upgrade drilling which will commence next month aimed at converting more of the Tiris Resource into Measured and Indicated categories. To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/announcements-2017.html Figure 2: Hippolyte Zone 1 showing drillholes logged To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/announcements-2017.html Figure 3: Hippolyte Zone 1 showing detailed ground radiometric survey results Hippolyte South Ultra-Detailed Ground Radiometric Survey In May 2015 Aura announced that it had made an application for a mineral exploration permit over an area of 224 km2 adjoining to the south of its important Hippolyte uranium resource. The Hippolyte South permit area had indicated strong uranium responses in regional airborne radiometric data, similar in strength and size to those over Aura's nearby resources. The anomalies within this new tenement extend for more than 15 km and cover an area of approximately 10 km2. In 2011, Aura carried out a brief reconnaissance drilling programme over these radiometric highs as part of a possible JV arrangement over the area. This drilling was broadly spaced with holes 200 metres apart on lines 800 metres or more apart. More than 25% of these reconnaissance holes intersected ore-grade mineralisation (i.e. at least one metre at 100 ppm U3O8 or greater) with values ranging up to 646 ppm U 3 O 8 (see Figure 5). Details of results are set out in Table 1. This latest survey is the first more detailed testing of the broad mineralised zones following the initial reconnaissance drilling and has confirmed the confidence in the prospect and indicated large zones of continuous uranium bearing mineralisation with strong similarities to Aura's key Hippolyte uranium deposit. To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/announcements-2017.html Figure 5: Hippolyte South area showing reconnaissance drill results. Background image shows airborne radiometric response. Figure 6: Location of Hippolyte South ground radiometric surveys in relation to the Hippolyte resources Figure 7: Ground radiometric anomalies at Hippolyte South. In the Hippolyte Resource 6 km to the north, 1 km2 of mineralisation contains on average 3.2 million lbs U 3 O 8 in Inferred Resource. Tasiast South gold Project, MAURITANIA (Aura 100%) Aura Energy Limited announced in late 2016 that it has secured rights to acquire 175 km2 covering two under-explored mineralised greenstone belts in Mauritania (See Figure 8). The areas lie along strike from Kinross' giant Tasiast Gold Mine and from Algold's Tijirit gold deposits. The two areas are currently held under exploration permit applications and are expected to be granted in the near future. These highly prospective gold areas represent an excellent opportunity in lightly explored Archean greenstone belts and will leverage Aura's extensive operating experience in this part of the world. The project is favourably located 200 km from Aura's Nouakchott office, 60 km from the coast, and can be managed efficiently within the company's existing management resources without distraction from Aura's core uranium focus. To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/announcements-2017.html Figure 8: Location of Aura areas in relation to known mineralisation Future Work Program and Other Opportunities Next steps envisaged at Tasiast South are; Ground electrical geophysics to locate the strongest zones of disseminated sulphide development for drill targeting Additional bedrock sampling by air-core or auger-drilling to better define the high nickel ultramafics and zones of copper/nickel for follow up drilling Deep drill testing (RC and DD) of gold and nickel/copper targets defined Aura's timing for this work is dependent on granting of the permits. Final granting of the permits to allow commencement of field exploration has been slower than expected due to departmental procedures in the Mines Ministry however this is expected shortly. Cobalt Values in Tasiast south Prospects During the quarter a review of the base metal potential on these tenements has highlighted several significant cobalt drilling results. The best results included: 1 metre at 0.58% Co 4 metres at 0.48% Co 1 metre at 0.46% Co The Tasiast South project tenements are highly prospective for gold but previous work also indicated anomalous occurrences of nickel and copper. In a review of two prospects, Bella and Taet, the elevated cobalt values were identified. Importantly sampling for cobalt was sporadic and only 1 in 10 samples assayed for cobalt. Of the high Co values 14 samples exceeded 0.1% Co, 6 samples exceeded 0.25% Co and 3 samples near or above 0.5% Co. These results found over a 1.6 km long drill line (Bella) and with strong nickel and copper values in ultramafic rocks within 30 metres of the surface, and at Taet where the high copper values are possibly indicative of sulphides. Drilling to date has tested only a small part of the ultramafic body and the drill lines were possibly parallel to strike. The base metal targets have been considered as secondary targets in the Tasiast South and very little targeted or comprehensive base metal exploration has been carried out in these areas. However, considering the range of metals encountered, the broad areas covered by the base metals and the fact that these having largely been incidental results achieved via gold exploration Aura now considers these areas to be highly prospective for base metals. The range of cobalt values is shown below however it should be reiterated that cobalt has not been targeted or broadly assayed for and as such Aura will be reviewing where re-assays for cobalt can be conducted on previously drill holes. The results are as follows; Prospect Name Hole ID Easting Northing Depth From Depth To Interval Co_% Ni_ppm Cu_ppm HADEBET BELAA 11HBAC031 466697 2219203 7 8 1 0.581 5300 488 TOUERIG TAIEUH 12TGAC198 445378 2219429 24 28 4 0.484 9140 400 HADEBET BELAA 11HBAC030 466598 2219199 16 17 1 0.445 4190 259 HADEBET BELAA 11HBAC030 466598 2219199 17 18 1 0.357 3840 259 HADEBET BELAA 11HBAC033 466900 2219203 9 10 1 0.273 3010 247 HADEBET BELAA 11HBAC033 466900 2219203 10 11 1 0.260 5250 270 TOUERIG TAIEUH 11TGAC013 444700 2218702 34 35 1 0.218 5650 354 HADEBET BELAA 11HBAC031 466697 2219203 6 7 1 0.150 3090 276 HADEBET BELAA 12HBRC007 467373 2219200 22 23 1 0.149 6530 114 HADEBET BELAA 11HBAC030 466598 2219199 18 19 1 0.142 7770 238 HADEBET BELAA 12HBAC073 463432 2217212 4 8 4 0.128 15 28.4 TOUERIG TAIEUH 11TGAC033 431000 2212800 52 53 1 0.111 38 120 TOUERIG TAIEUH 11TGAC053 430997 2210803 53 54 1 0.103 11 31 HADEBET BELAA 11HBAC033 466900 2219203 11 12 1 0.102 5110 208 AMARE LITHIUM AND SODA ASH PROJECT (Mauritania) Aura sampled and assayed the two large Sabkhas (salt pans) in the region of its Tiris Uranium Project with a view to a source of soda ash for the Tiris Project and other minerals. Soda ash is the leach agent proposed for Tiris and if the source were confirmed it would provide significant benefits to the Tiris Project economics. The Sabkha's which are 165 km from Hippolyte are large on a relative basis covering an area of over 85 km2 (See Figure 9). Sabkha is an Arabic name for a salt-flat that has come into general use in sedimentology. They are also known as "Salars" in South America and generically as salt pans or flats. The valuable salts can occur in the Sabkha environment either in clays at or near surface or in brine reservoirs deeper in the lake sediments. The location of the Sabkha between Aura's Tiris Project East and West tenements provide a favourable location should a source of soda ash (Na 2 CO 3 ) be identified. Initial sampling of the Amare lithium and soda ash prospect was undertaken late last year and the results are now being assembled and analysed to assist planning the next phase of work in this area. To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/announcements-2017.html Figure 9: Location of the Sabkha targets relative to the Aura Uranium Exploration Licences HAGGAN PROJECT, SWEDEN (AURA 100%) Haggan Exploration Three diamond drill holes totalling 570 metres were completed during the period. Two of the holes were within the Haggan Resource within a pattern of closely spaced holes (100 metres x 100 metres) aimed at establishing a Measured Resource in this area. As expected mineralised Alum Shale was intersected at shallow depth in both holes (18 metres and 29 metres) One hole was drilled into the Marby Permit aimed at establishing the extent of mineralised Alum Shale in this area. Assays for all holes are awaited. To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/announcements-2017.html Figure 10: Location of drilling at Haggan Haggan Development The Haggan Project has an Inferred Resource of 803 million pounds of U 3 O 8 . Scoping studies previously completed by Aura have indicated that the Haggan Project has the potential be a very large low cost uranium producer. Work and discussions with relevant Swedish groups continued regarding a community engagement program for the Haggan Project. The key aspects of the community liaison program are twofold; Recruitment of an appropriate representative Further the education and understanding of Aura's project in those areas Completion of an economic development study to outline the benefits of the project in terms of direct and indirect jobs, capital outlay and broader contribution to the local and regional economy Aura continues to press the Haggan project as a unique and strategic energy source in Europe which the European nuclear energy sector is beginning to realise can play an important role as a uranium source in the future. Aura believes Haggan is a 5-7 year proposition as a development project and is scoping it work program around that time frame. Haggan Polymetallic Attributes Aura has commenced a desktop study of Haggan metal content to highlight the significant polymetallic potential of the project and to illustrate the balance of this base metal value of the deposit against the uranium value. External interest has been expressed in Haggan as a polymetallic deposit and the recent rise in the prices of the base metal suite has highlighted the shift of Haggan to a polymetallic with uranium as opposed to mainly uranium. The potential for base metal streaming from this deposit to aid the development is under review and a future development focussed on the benefits of the base metal production from Haggan. This approach allows a broader appeal of the project in Sweden with strong industrial spin-off benefits for the local community such as local manufacturing and valued added metal work industries. This work will continue over 2017. URANIUM SECTOR AND PRICE The price of uranium has recovered from its recent lows however since the recent improved sentiment the spot price has remained volatile. The current price series is as follows: Spot Price - US$22.85 /lb Mid Term - US$27.25 /lb Long Term - US$35.00 /lb Key points of interest to note from the uranium sector have been: The spot price in Aura's opinion is largely irrelevant and is a thinly traded series not indicative of the real market The mid and long-term price series recovered well at the beginning of 2017 and despite the volatility in the spot price both the mid and long price series have remained stable The stability in these series is indicative of building interest in utilities looking to fix material on term contracts Over the next 2-3 years, many of the long-term supply contracts will expire requiring renegotiation at prices unlikely to be done at current midterm or long-term pricing A key point worth repeating and highlighting is the lack of term contracting in 2013, 14 and 15 as shown in the chart below. This remains a key risk for utilities going forward and will need to be filled at some stage. This contracting phase will strongly impact the Long-Term price as evidenced in the chart below between 2004 and 2007. To view this release as a .pdf complete with referenced images please click the following link: http://www.auraenergy.com.au/announcements-2017.html Figure 11: Spot vs Long Term pricing CORPORATE Strategy Update Aura's clear strategy was again outlined in a recent Hong Kong Conference and is restated here and is as follows; - Tiris Uranium Project into production 2018/19 - Gold and base metals exploration to bridge Tiris development phase - Success in gold and metals exploration to assist Tiris development funding - Haggan Uranium Project study work over next 2 years - Potential to create significant uranium price option value - All against the background of rising uranium price 2018 and beyond - Aura's Position in 2019/20; - Cashflow from Tiris as uranium price recovers - Exploration success aiding funding and growth - Create new gold/ base metal projects - Haggan work program adds significant asset value Conversion of Options - Gold Exploration Funding A key group of shareholders have opted for early exercise of unlisted options unlocking $1.84M for the company which will be dedicated to the exploration of these gold and base metal prospects. As such this exploration project is now well funded and the company will soon begin an aggressive drilling program. Unmarketable Parcel Sale Process Aura instituted a Sale Facility for shareholders who hold unmarketable parcels of shares in the Company. Under ASX Listing Rules an unmarketable parcel is defined as: (i) a shareholding with a market value of less than A$500, and therefore (ii) any shareholding of 13,513 shares or less based on the closing share price of 3.7 cents on the Record Date (6 February 2017) is an unmarketable parcel The Company has 528 shareholders with unmarketable parcels with the total number of shares impacted being 2,715,812. These shares will be sold shortly. Aura Energy Directory ASX Code: AEE AIM Code: AURA Shares on issue: 716,401,571 Options on issue: 185,643,069 Board of Directors: Peter Reeve Executive Chairman Bob Beeson Non-Executive Board Member Brett Fraser Non-Executive Board Member Jules Perkins Non-Executive Board Member Website: www.auraenergy.com.au For further information contact: Aura Energy Limited Peter Reeve(Executive Chairman and CEO) Telephone: +61 (3) 9516 6500 Email: info@auraenergy.com.au WH IrelandLimited Adrian Hadden James Bavister Telephone:+44 (0) 207220 1666 Yellow Jersey PR Limited Felicity Winkles Joe Burgess Telephone: +44 (0) 7748 843 871 +44 (0) 7769 325 254 Competent Persons The Competent Person for the Tiris Metallurgical Testwork is Dr Will Goodall. The information in the report to which this statement is attached that relates to the testwork is based on information compiled by Dr Will Goodall. Dr Goodall has sufficient experience that is relevant to the testwork program and to the activity which he is undertaking. This qualifies Dr Goodall as a Competent Personas defined in the 2012 edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Dr Goodall is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM). Dr Goodall consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. The Competent Person for the Tiris and Haggan Resources is Mr Neil Clifford. The information in the report to which this statement is attached that relates to the resource is based on information compiled by Mr Neil Clifford. Mr Clifford has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking. This qualifies Mr Clifford as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Mr Clifford is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM). Mr Clifford consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. Top 20 Shareholders 26 April 2017 Rank Name Units % of Units 1. COMPUTERSHARE CLEARING PTY LTD 245,012,306 30.90 2. HSBC CUSTODY NOMINEES (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED 98,750,518 12.46 3. CITICORP NOMINEES PTY LIMITED 64,094,142 8.08 4. PRE-EMPTIVE TRADING PTY LTD 36,250,000 4.57 5. SAMBOLD PTY LTD 15,364,895 1.94 6. BNP PARIBAS NOMINEES PTY LTD 13,939,258 1.76 7. PASAGEAN PTY LIMITED 13,094,558 1.65 8. MR MARTY HENG LAU 10,000,000 1.26 9. MR PETER DESMOND REEVE 9,718,304 1.23 10. BUSHELL NOMINEES PTY LTD 6,292,542 0.79 11. MR PIETER HOEKSTRA + MRS RUTH HOEKSTRA 5,300,000 0.67 12. YARANDI INVESTMENTS PTY LTD 4,754,793 0.60 13. MS MICHELLE ANNE PAINE 4,700,000 0.59 14. MRS KERRYN PATRICIA DELEN 4,358,840 0.55 15. MS CHUI YING CHAN 3,600,000 0.45 16. MR LUKE PETER DALE + MRS MARIEANNE ERIKA DALE 3,496,659 0.44 17. M & K KORKIDAS PTY LTD 3,400,000 0.43 18. MR HENDRIK JACOBUS DELEN + MRS KERRYN PATRICIA DELEN 3,179,142 0.40 19. DR ROBERT BEESON 3,129,071 0.39 20. MRS JENNY LEE BUSHELL 3,091,182 0.39 Total Top 20 Shareholders 551,526,210 69.57 Remaining Shareholders 241,281,914 30.43 GRAND TOTAL 792,808,124 100.00 Top 20 Shareholders 30 January 2017 Rank Name Units % of Units 1. COMPUTERSHARE CLEARING PTY LTD 263,692,309 36.81 2. BNP PARIBAS NOMINEES PTY LTD 59,514,268 8.31 3. HSBC CUSTODY NOMINEES (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED 58,785,060 8.21 4. PRE-EMPTIVE TRADING PTY LTD 35,900,000 5.01 5. ABN AMRO CLEARING SYDNEY NOMINEES PTY LTD 14,063,092 1.96 6. SAMBOLD PTY LTD 13,764,895 1.92 7. PASAGEAN PTY LIMITED 12,313,946 1.72 8. MR PETER DESMOND REEVE 9,718,304 1.36 9. MR MICHAEL BUSHELL 5,474,903 0.76 10. CITICORP NOMINEES PTY LIMITED 5,296,852 0.74 11. MR PIETER HOEKSTRA + MRS RUTH HOEKSTRA 4,800,000 0.67 12. YARANDI INVESTMENTS PTY LTD 4,754,793 0.66 13. MS MICHELLE ANNE PAINE 4,150,000 0.58 14. MRS KERRYN PATRICIA DELEN 3,333,840 0.47 15. MRS LINDA YE + MR DAVID XIAO DONG YE 3,160,000 0.44 16. DR ROBERT BEESON 3,129,071 0.44 17. MRS JENNY LEE BUSHELL 3,091,182 0.43 18. MR PETER ROBERT OTTON + MRS CAROLE ANNE OTTON 3,000,000 0.42 19. MR HENDRIK JACOBUS DELEN + MRS KERRYN PATRICIA DELEN 2,914,492 0.41 20. MR JULIAN CHRISTOPHER PERKINS + MS MARGARET SU-PING FONG 2,861,990 0.40 Total Top 20 Shareholders 513,718,997 71.71 Remaining Shareholders 202,682,574 28.29 GRAND TOTAL 716,401,571 100.00 About Aura Energy's Projects Tiris Project, MAURITANIA (Aura 100%) The Tiris Uranium Project is based on a major greenfields uranium discovery in Mauritania, with 49 Mlb U 3 O 8 in current resources(1) from 66 million tonnes @ 334 ppm U 3 O 8 . The project has several natural attributes which result in low capital and operating costs. These attributes are: Shallow flat-lying surface mineralisation (only 1-5 metres deep) within unconsolidated gravels Low cost mining with no blasting and negligible overburden Uranium ore can be simply (wash and screen) upgraded by up to 700%; from 335 ppm to 2500ppm Leads to a very small plant, small footprint and minimal supporting infrastructure Leach feed grade 2,000-2,500 ppm U 3 O 8 with 94% leaching recovery in 4 hours The conceptual 1 Mtpa mine and plant project described in the Scoping Study(2) was designed to take full advantage of these unusual characteristics, whilst providing a low capital cost and rapid project development and construction. Significantly, a water study by Golders has indicated that potential sources of water in the immediate vicinity will satisfy the demands of the project. The Study, which indicates 11 million pounds of uranium will be produced over an initial mine life of 15 years, only utilises 20% of the known Global Mineral Resource resulted in the following outputs; Low capital cost - US$45 million Low operating cost - A$30/lb Easily scalable Mining at ~120 tph (1.0 Mtpa) Small 25 tph leach facility Mined grade >420ppm U 3 O 8 for 15 years Produce 0.7-1.1 Mlbs U 3 O 8 per year Expand project from cashflow HAGGAN PROJECT, SWEDEN (AURA 100%) Haggan is located in central Sweden and is one of the largest undeveloped uranium projects in the world. The project has a resource of 803 million pounds(3) uranium with significant base metal by-products. Sweden remains a nuclear friendly jurisdiction with 10 operating nuclear power reactors. In 2013, Sweden generated 152.5 TWh, of which 65.8 TWh (43%) was from nuclear and 61.3 TWh (40%) from hydro. Sweden imports most of its nuclear fuel, including all enrichment. It is one of the few countries that has the opportunity, within its sovereign borders, to be vertically integrated from nuclear power generation down to the U3O8 fuel source. Public opinion polls in the last few years had shown steady majority (over two-thirds) support for nuclear power(4). The Haggan project is located in a sparsely populated area of swamp and forest used mainly for commercial forestry. Sweden's has a current and active mining industry, with a clear regulatory position and a well-established path from exploration to production. A Scoping Study(5) suggests that the Haggan Project has excellent potential to become a major, low cost producer of uranium, with by-product nickel and other metals. Aura's discovery that the mineralisation is ideally suited to bioleach metal extraction was the major breakthrough to creating a robust and economic project. Bioleaching, including bioheap leaching, is a proven technology widely used in copper and gold industries with some application to the uranium industry. The Haggan Inferred Resource contains 2.35 billion tonnes at the grades shown in the table below. Metal content is also shown. Metal Grade (ppm) Content (Mlbs) U 3 O 8 155 803 Ni 316 1640 Zn 431 2230 Mo 207 1070 V 1519 7870 The project contemplated in the Scoping Study was a large-scale heap leach with recovery of base metals as separate and high purity sulphide precipitates. The Scoping Study outcomes were as follows; Capital cost - US$540 million Low operating cost - A$13.50/lb U 3 O 8 Mining rate 30 Mtpa Mined grade 160 ppm U 3 O 8 for 30 years Production 7.8 Mlbs U 3 O 8 per year NOTES TO PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS (1) There is a low level of geological confidence associated with inferred mineral resource and there is no certainty that further exploration work will result in the determination of indicated measured resource or that the production target will be realised. (2) The Company released to the ASX the Tiris Project Scoping Study on 16 July 2014 and the Company believes that no material change to forecast capital and operating costs and forecast production rates have occurred since the release. (3) There is a low level of geological confidence associated with inferred mineral resource and there is no certainty that further exploration work will result in the determination of indicated measured resource or that the production target will be realised. (4) http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-O-S/Sweden (5) The Company released to the ASX the Haggan Project Scoping Study on 7 February 2012 and an updated study on 29 May 2014. The Company believes no material change to forecast capital and operating costs and forecast production rates have occurred since the releases. Vilnius, Lithuania, 2017-04-28 08:40 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The resolutions of the General Shareholders Meeting of Invalda INVL, AB that was held on 28 April 2017: 1. Presentation of consolidated annual report of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL. Shareholders of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL are presented with the consolidated annual report of Invalda INVL for 2016 (There is no voting on this issue of agenda). 2. Presentation of the independent auditor's report on the financial statements of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL. Shareholders of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL are presented with the independent auditor's report on the financial statements of Invalda INVL for 2016 (There is no voting on this issue of agenda). 3. On the approval of the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2016. To approve the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2016 of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL. 4. Regarding the distribution of profit of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL. To distribute the profit of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL for 2016 as follows (thousand EUR): 1) Retained earnings (loss) at the beginning of the financial year of 28,642 the reporting period; -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Net profit (loss) for the financial year; 4,770 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Profit (loss) not recognized in the income statement of the reporting 0 financial year; -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Transfers from reserves; 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) Shareholders contribution to cover loss (if all or part of loss is 0 covered by the shareholders) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) Distributable profit (loss) in total; 33,412 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) Profit transfers to the legal reserves; -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) Profit transfers to the reserves for own shares acquisition -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) Profit transfers to other reserves; 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) Profit to be paid as dividends; 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) Profit to be paid as annual payments (bonus) and for other purposes; 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) Retained earnings (loss) at the end of the financial year. 33,412 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Election of the Board members for the new term of office. To re-elect Alvydas Banys, Indre Miseikyte and Darius Sulnis to the Board of Invalda INVL for the new 4 (four) years term of office. 6. Regarding approval of the Regulations of the Audit Committee of Invalda INVL. To approve the regulations of the Audit Committee of Invalda INVL (enclosed). 7. Election of the Audit Committee members for the new term of office. To elect Dangute Pranckeniene and Tomas Bubinas - 2 (two) independent members - to the Audit Committee of Invalda INVL for the 4 (four) years term of office. 8. Regarding approval of the remuneration for the Audit Committee members. To set a rate not higher than EUR 145 per hour for a work in the Audit Committee of Invalda INVL. To delegate to the Board of the Company to determine the remuneration payment procedure for the Audit Committee members. 9. Regarding the specific number of ordinary registered shares of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL for which during year 2017 employees shall be offered options contracts and regarding the price of the shares. It is offered for the employees of Invalda INVL and of the companies, in which Invalda INVL owns 50 per cent or more of shares, during the year 2017 to make stock options contracts, on the basis of which according to the procedures and terms established in stock options contracts in year 2020 employees will be able to exercise the right to acquire up to 130,000 ordinary shares of Invalda INVL of EUR 0.29 nominal value, by paying for every acquired share 1 (one) euro. The acquisition price of shares is fixed; it does not change depending on performance results of the company and / or other companies' of the group or on ordinary registered share price of Invalda INVL on a regulated market. 10. Regarding purchase of own shares of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL. Until the day of the General Shareholders meeting the reserve for the purchase of own shares which is equal to EUR 10,013 thousand is not used. To use the reserve (a part of it) for the purchase of own shares and to purchase shares in Invalda INVL under these conditions: 1) The goal for the purchase of own shares - to ensure shareholders a possibility to sell company's shares. 2) The maximum number of shares to be acquired - the nominal value of own shares may not exceed 1/10 of the share capital. 3) The period during which the company may purchase its own shares - 18 months from the day of this resolution. 4) The maximum and minimal one share acquisition price: the maximum one share acquisition price - value of consolidated equity per one share calculated according to the last publicly announced data of the consolidated equity of Invalda INVL before the decision of the Board; minimum one share acquisition price - EUR 1. 5) The conditions of the selling of the purchased shares and minimal purchase price: Purchased own shares may be cancelled by the decision of the General Shareholders Meeting or sold by the decision of the Board upon the condition that minimum sale price for one share isn't lower than value of consolidated equity per one share calculated according to the publicly announced data of the consolidated equity of Invalda INVL before the decision of the Board, and the sale procedure will ensure equal possibilities for all shareholders to purchase these shares. The Board of Invalda INVL, AB is delegated on the basis of this resolution and the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania to organise purchase and sale of own shares, to organise purchase and selling procedure of own shares and to determine an order and timing for purchase and sale of own shares as well as the amount of shares and shares' price, and to complete all other actions related with purchase and sale procedure of own shares. From the date of this resolution the resolution of the General Shareholders Meeting on 29 April 2016 on the acquisition of own shares expires. The person authorized to provide additional information is: Darius Sulnis, President of Invalda INVL E-mail: Darius.Sulnis@invl.com Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=628139 Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (RBS, RBS.L) reported that its profit attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first-quarter of 2017 was 259 million pounds or 2.2 pence per share compared to a loss of 968 million pounds or 8.3 pence per share in the same quarter last year. The prior year quarter result included payment of the final Dividend Access Share or DAS dividend of 1.193 billion pounds. Operating profit for the first-quarter was 713 million pounds compared with 421 million pounds in the prior year. An adjusted operating profit of 1.371 billion pounds was 931 million pounds higher than last year. Adjusted income of 3.239 billion pounds was 425 million pounds, or 15.1%, higher than the previous year. Restructuring costs were 577 million pounds in the quarter, an increase of 339 million pounds compared with the prior year, and included a charge of 235 million pounds relating to the reduction of property portfolio. Total operating expenses of 2.453 billion pounds were 33 million pounds, or 1.4%, higher than the prior year, reflecting a 339 million pounds increase in restructuring costs and a 23 million pounds increase in litigation and conduct costs, partially offset by a 329 million pounds, or 15.3%, reduction in adjusted operating expenses. Net interest income of 2.234 billion pounds was 78 million pounds, or 3.6%, higher than the first-quarter of 2016 principally reflecting higher volumes in UK PBB, up 92 million pounds or 9.0%, and Commercial Banking, up 31 million pounds or 5.8%. Partially offsetting, Capital Resolution reduced by 53 million pounds in line with the planned shrinkage of the balance sheet. Non-interest income was 978 million pounds, an increase of 70 million pounds, or 7.7%, compared with last year. RBS said it is progressing with its plan to build a strong, simple, fair bank for customers and shareholders. CET1 remains ahead of its 13% target at 14.1%, a 70 basis point increase on the fourth-quarter of 2016 driven by a 6.5 billion pounds reduction in RWAs and the 259 million pounds attributable profit. RBS said it retains the 2017 full year guidance and medium term outlook it provided in the 2016 Annual Results document. In addition, and subject to providing fully for remaining significant legacy issues in 2017, its expectation remains that it will be profitable in 2018. The company anticipates that adjusted operating profit will be lower in the second-quarter of 2017 compared with the first-quarter of 2017 reflecting expected reduced income in NatWest Markets, coupled with increased adjusted operating expenses, in part due to the absence of the the forst-quarter 2017 VAT recovery in the second-quarter 2017. Separately, it expects to recognise a gain on the sale of RBS's stake in Vocalink of approximately 160 million during the quarter. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Aerospace & Defense company Ultra Electronics Holdings plc (ULE.L) Friday said its expectations for the full year remain unchanged. In its annual general meeting trading update, the company said for the period January 1 to April 27, conditions in Ultra's markets have remained as noted in its March statement. The Group's trading and cash performance in the period is as expected at this stage of the year. As previously stated, the company's performance for the year will be more weighted to the second half than normal due to the current six-month Continuing Resolution to US Federal funding. The company said its next scheduled update to the market will be the announcement of Ultra's interim results on 7 August 2017. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Fujitsu Limited Public and Investor Relations Tel: +81-3-3215-5259 URL: www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/ TOKYO, Apr 28, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today reported profit for the year attributable to owners of the parent was 88.4 billion yen, representing an improvement of 1.7 billion yen from fiscal 2015.Consolidated revenue for fiscal 2016 was 4,509.6 billion yen. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange movements, revenue was essentially unchanged from the previous fiscal year. Revenue in Japan was essentially unchanged from fiscal 2015. Revenue from LSI devices used in smartphones declined on weak demand. On the other hand, revenue in the Services sub-segment remained strong, both in system integration and infrastructure services, and there was an increase in revenue from enterprise PCs and the Mobilewear sub-segment. Revenue outside of Japan fell 13.2%. Results were significantly impacted by foreign exchange movements, and, in addition, there was a decline in revenue from infrastructure services in Europe and from network products in North America. Compared to the prior fiscal year, the appreciation of the yen against the US dollar, euro, and British pound served to reduce revenue by roughly 200 billion yen.Fujitsu recorded an operating profit of 128.8 billion yen, up 8.2 billion yen from fiscal 2015. In the Ubiquitous Solutions segment, in addition to the beneficial impact of higher revenue from enterprise PCs and from the Mobilewear sub-segment, operating profit also improved on cost reductions and cost efficiencies in PCs and mobile phones. Fujitsu recorded 44.7 billion yen in business model transformation expenses in fiscal 2016, an increase of 3.1 billion yen from fiscal 2015. Of that amount for fiscal 2016, 34.0 billion yen was for structural reform expenses outside of Japan for greater efficiencies and a shift toward digital business (of which 29.4 billion yen was for a shift toward digital business in Europe), 3.9 billion yen was for restructuring expenses for datacenters in Japan, and 6.6 billion yen was for restructuring expenses for production facilities both in and outside of Japan.Net financial expenses were 0.6 billion yen, representing an improvement of 6.5 billion yen from the prior fiscal year. Income from investments accounted for using the equity method was 6.9 billion yen, representing a decline of 11.5 billion yen from fiscal 2015.Profit for the year before income taxes was 135.1 billion yen, an increase of 3.3 billion yen over the previous fiscal year.Business Segment Financial ResultsRevenue in the Technology Solutions segment amounted to 3,126.6 billion yen, a decrease of 4.8% from fiscal 2015. Revenue in Japan rose 3.0%. In systems integrations services in the Services sub-segment, there was an increase in revenue from customers in the manufacturing and services fields as well as from telecommunications carriers. In addition, revenue from infrastructure services rose, primarily in outsourcing services. In the System Platforms sub-segment, revenue from network products rose on sales of mobile phone base stations to a telecommunications carrier. Revenue outside Japan fell 17.7%. In addition to the impact of foreign exchange movements, revenue in Europe from infrastructure services fell compared to the prior year because some large-scale public sector businesses ended, and revenue also declined because of weak sales of network products in North America. The segment posted an operating profit of 190.7 billion yen, up 4.5 billion yen compared to fiscal 2015, primarily due to the effects of higher revenue in the Services sub-segment in Japan and from the impact of cost reductions in system products stemming from the lower cost of purchasing US dollar-denominated components, owing to the strong yen. Business model transformation expenses were essentially unchanged from fiscal 2015.Revenue in the Ubiquitous Solutions segment was 1,025.7 billion yen, down 1.5% from fiscal 2015. Revenue in Japan rose by 1.8%. Revenue from mobile phones declined because of lower shipments as a result of the lengthening of the replacement cycle in the smartphone market. For PCs, revenue rose on the back of continuing strong sales of enterprise PCs. Revenue from Mobilewear in car audio navigation devices also rose. Revenue outside Japan fell by 7.6%. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange movements, revenue was essentially unchanged from the previous fiscal year. The Ubiquitous Solutions segment posted an operating profit of 28.7 billion yen, an improvement of 36.4 billion yen over fiscal 2015. In addition to the beneficial impact of higher revenues from PCs in Japan, both PCs and mobile phones benefited from cost reduction and further progress in cost efficiencies. In addition to lower procurement prices for components, the cost reductions also include the impact of lower procurement costs owing to the stronger yen. Operating profit increased in Mobilewear because of higher revenue.Revenue in the Device Solutions segment amounted to 544.3 billion yen, down 9.9% from fiscal 2015. The segment posted an operating profit of 4.2 billion yen, down 26.1 billion yen from fiscal 2015. In addition to the impact of lower revenue from LSI devices, particularly for use in smartphones, because of weak demand, operating profit declined for both LSI devices and electronic components due to the impact of lower revenue as a result of the continuing strength of the yen against the US dollar.Fiscal 2017 Consolidated ProjectionsThe revenue and operating profit of FUJITSU TEN (in the Ubiquitous Solutions segment), whose shares Fujitsu today (April 28) decided to sell, are not included in fiscal 2017 forecasts. For comparative purposes, actual revenue and operating profit (including business model transformation expenses) for fiscal 2016 are also presented to reflect this change.For fiscal 2017, Fujitsu is projecting revenue of 4,100.0 billion yen. Excluding the impact of the loss of approximately 50 billion yen in revenue from the sale of Nifty Corporation, revenue is projected to be essentially unchanged from fiscal 2016. The forecast for operating profit is 185.0 billion yen, an increase of 67.5 billion yen over fiscal 2016. One factor contributing to this anticipated improvement is the elimination of 42.0 billion yen in business model transformation expenses that were recorded in fiscal 2016. In contrast to the past two fiscal years, in which there were upfront expenses, under fiscal 2017 business model transformation plans expenses and profits are expected to offset one another, thereby having no impact on profit and loss. The projected profit for the year attributable to owners of the parent is 145.0 billion yen, up 56.5 billion yen from fiscal 2016.Assumptions on exchange rates for fiscal 2017 are 105 yen for the US dollar, 115 yen for the euro, and 130 yen for the British pound.About Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 159,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702; ADR:FJTSY) reported consolidated revenues of 4.7 trillion yen (US$41 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.* Please see this press release, with images, at:http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/Source: Fujitsu LtdContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - PZ Cussons Plc (PZC.L) announced that the overall performance of the Group has been in line with expectations in respect of the year ended 31 May 2017. The Group said its balance sheet remains strong with cash generation for the period also in line with expectations. PZ Cussons said the final results for the year ended 31 May 2017 will be announced on 25 July 2017. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, honoured 10 winners from 8 countries at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Award, which is worth USD 1 million. Also present was HH Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Award was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to encourage research centres, individuals and innovators from around the world to find innovative and sustainable solutions for clean-water scarcity around the world, using solar power. The award is overseen by the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. It has three main categories: Innovative Projects Award, Innovative Research and Development Award, and the Innovative Youth Award. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170428005143/en/ Category Innovative Research Development Award National Institutions 3rd Place Petroleum Institute in Khalifa University, UAE (Photo: ME NewsWire) The first place in the Innovative Research and Development Award National Institutions category, was jointly-shared by Khalifa University for a dual-disinfection-modified biosand filter, coupled with a solar pasteuriser system, and Masdar Institute at Khalifa University for a solar desalination process using a perforated black fabric under a solar collector. The first place in the Innovative Research and Development Award International Institutions category, went to the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), in cooperation with the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA), for a solar-powered desalination technology based on TNO's high-efficiency membrane distillation concept. The first place in the Innovative Projects Award went to the Elemental Water Makers from the Netherlands, for a solar-powered Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant to produce drinking water. Dr Marta Vivar from Spain won the Innovative Youth Award for a hybrid solar photovoltaic-photochemical system for water disinfection and electricity generation. Al Tayer noted that hundreds of millions of children won't have access to clean water in the future, and that girls now spend 200 million hours a day collecting water, which affects their education, according to UNICEF. *Source: ME NewsWire View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170428005143/en/ Contacts: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority Ribal Dayekh or Iman Saeed +971-4-307-2006 or +971-4-515-0512 ribal.dayekh@dewa.gov.ae, iman.saeed@dewa.gov.ae or Hattlan Media Nabil Khoury or Eman Hussein +971-56-114-1177 or +971-50-736-6990 nabil@hattlan.com, eman@hattlan.com Bond issue of VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT EUR 500,000,000 1.59 per cent bonds due January 10, 2028 (ISIN FR0012663169) Regulatory News: Holders of bonds issued by VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT (the Company ) (Paris:VIE) under its base prospectus registered with the AMF on July 3, 2014 under the visa number 14-354, as supplemented by a first supplement registered with the AMF on January 16, 2015 under the visa number 15-023 and a second supplement registered with the AMF on March 20, 2015 under the visa number 15-100, pursuant to a bond issue of EUR 500, 000,000 due January 10, 2028 (ISIN Code FR0012663169) (the Bonds ), are summoned by the representative of the bondholders BNP Paribas Securities Services represented at the date hereof by Mr Pierre Jond, at a general meeting (the General Meeting ) on Tuesday 16 May 2017 at 10 a.m. at the administrative office of the Company located at 30, rue Madeleine Vionnet Aubervilliers (93300), in order to deliberate on the following agenda: Appointment of a new representative of bondholders and a new alternate representative of bondholders to replace the resigning representative and alternate representative of bondholders; Authorisation to perform legal formalities. _________________ TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION Any holder of Bonds, irrespective of the number of bonds that he or she holds, may either attend the General Meeting in person or vote by proxy or by post. If the bondholder cannot attend the General Meeting in person, he or she may: either be represented by the President of the General Meeting or by another person of his or her choice, with the exception of the persons referred to in articles L. 228-62 and L. 228-63 of the French Commercial Code; or complete and return to BNP Paribas Securities Services, CTS Assemblees on behalf of the Company a voting by post form. It is recalled that the voting by post prevents any voting by proxy. In accordance with the applicable regulatory provisions, only holders of Bonds who have proven their capacity by registering the Bonds in their name (or in the name of a financial intermediary registered on their behalf) and submitting to the Company a certificate issued by an authorised intermediary evidencing the book entries of the Bonds at least two (2) days prior to the General Meeting, may attend the General Meeting, be represented or vote by post. Such certificate will be presented on the day of the General Meeting or submitted to BNP Paribas Securities Services, CTS Assemblees on behalf of the Company attached to the voting by post form or the voting by proxy form. A single voting by post form and voting by proxy form will be made available to the holders of Bonds at the registered office of the Company located at 21, rue La Boetie Paris (75008) and at the administrative office of the Company located at 30, rue Madeleine Vionnet Aubervilliers (93300), or may be requested by ordinary post or electronic mail as of this notice. All requests received at least six days before the General Meeting will be satisfied. The voting by post form or voting by proxy form with the certificate of book entries must be received by BNP Paribas Securities Services, CTS Assemblees at Les Grands Moulins de Pantin, 9 rue du Debarcadere, 93500 Pantin, France at least three (3) days prior to the General Meeting. Bondholders who already have voted by post or sent a proxy may nonetheless dispose of all or part of their Bonds at any time. In the event of disposal before the day of the General Meeting, the Company cancels or amends accordingly, before the opening of the General Meeting, the votes by post or by proxy of the relevant bondholders. As the case may be, the account holder intermediary notifies the Company or its representative of the disposal and submits the necessary information. The Company does not offer the possibility to vote by electronic means at the General Meeting. This notice of meeting is published on the website of the Company: http://www.veolia.com/. The text of the proposed resolution is made available to the bondholders at the registered office of the Company located at 21, rue La Boetie at Paris (75008) and at the administrative office of the Company located at 30, rue Madeleine Vionnet at Aubervilliers (93300). In the event that the General Meeting is not validly held on first notice due to the absence of quorum, it will be held on second notice in order to deliberate on the same agenda at a later date. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxies and votes by post received for the first General Meeting shall remain valid for any later General Meeting held on the same agenda. Representative of the bondholders, BNP Paribas Securities Services represented by Mr Pierre Jond VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT French public limited company (societe anonyme) with a share capital of EUR 2,816,824,115 Registered office: 21, rue La Boetie 75008 Paris Registered with the Corporate and Trade Registry of Paris under number 403 210 032 View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170428005041/en/ Contacts: Veolia Environnement PARIS (dpa-AFX) - France's consumer spending decreased for the second straight month in March, defying economists' expectations for an increase, figures from the statistical office INSEE showed Friday. Consumer spending dropped 0.4 percent month-over-month in March, following a 0.7 percent drop in February, revised from a 0.8 percent fall reported earlier. Meanwhile, it was forecast to rise by 0.1 percent. Energy consumption continued to decline in March, but at a slower pace of 1.8 percent after a 10.9 percent sharp fall in the prior month. Consumption of food products edged down 0.3 percent over the month. On a yearly basis, consumer spending slid 1.0 percent yearly in March, confounding economists' forecast for an increase of 0.9 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Pendragon PLC: Transaction in Own Shares Pendragon PLC (the "Company") announces that it has purchased for cancellation (through Jefferies International Limited) the following number of its ordinary shares of 5p each on the London Stock Exchange. Date of purchase: 27 April 2017 Number of ordinary shares purchased (aggregated volume): 21,903 Highest price paid per share (pence): 34.50p Lowest price paid per share (pence): 34.50p Volume weighted average price paid per share (pence): 34.50p Following the purchase of these shares, the Company has 1,429,632,035 ordinary shares in issue. All of the shares have equal voting rights and there are no shares held in treasury. This figure 1,429,632,035 represents the total voting rights in the Company and may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they can determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. The schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Jefferies on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme. RICHARD MALONEY COMPANY SECRETARY 27 APRIL 2017 Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions Number of shares purchased Transaction price (pence per share) Time of transaction Trading venue 1885 34.5 08:26:10 London Stock Exchange 1919 34.5 08:26:10 London Stock Exchange 1598 34.5 08:30:57 London Stock Exchange 1581 34.5 08:36:19 London Stock Exchange 249 34.5 08:36:35 London Stock Exchange 7487 34.5 08:40:32 London Stock Exchange 1870 34.5 08:57:14 London Stock Exchange 3380 34.5 11:41:54 London Stock Exchange 304 34.5 11:41:54 London Stock Exchange 1630 34.5 11:56:21 London Stock Exchange -ENDS- Tallinn, Estonia, 2017-04-28 10:12 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The general meeting of shareholders of AS Merko Ehitus was held on April 28th 2017 and the following decisions were made: 1. Approval of the annual report of the year 2016 and overview of the financial results and the prospective of the on-going year The general meeting of shareholders decided to approve the annual report of the year 2016 and take note of the Management Board's overview of the financial results and prospective outlooks of the on-going year. 2. Decision on distribution of profits The general meeting of shareholders decided to: 1. approve the net profit for the year 2016 as EUR 6,121,804; 2. pay the shareholders the total amount of EUR 7,257,000 as dividends from net profit brought forward, which totals to EUR 0.41 per share; -- shareholders, entered into the share register of AS Merko Ehitus on May 24th 2017, at 23.59, will be entitled to dividends; -- dividends will be paid to the shareholders on May 26th 2017 by transferring the amount concerned to shareholder's bank account, linked to security account; 1. the outstanding net profit will not be distributed. 3. Deciding on the number of members of the Supervisory Board Pursuant to the Articles of Association of AS Merko Ehitus, the Supervisory Board of the company has 3 to 5 members. The general meeting of shareholders decided that the Supervisory Board will have 3 members who will be elected for the term of next 3 years. 4. Extension of powers of members of the current Supervisory Board The general meeting of shareholders decided to: 1. extend the terms of office of members of the Supervisory Board Toomas Annus, Teet Roopalu and Indrek Neivelt until April 28th 2020, i.e. for a period of three years from the moment of deciding the extension; 2. continue remuneration of members of the Supervisory Board based on terms and conditions approved at general meeting of shareholders of AS Merko Ehitus, held on October 31st 2008. The presentation used by the Mangement Board of AS Merko Ehitus at the general meeting of shareholders is enclosed to the current announcement. Andres Trink Chairman of the Management Board AS Merko Ehitus +372 650 1250 andres.trink@merko.ee AS Merko Ehitus (group.merko.ee) group consists of Estonia's leading construction company AS Merko Ehitus Eesti, the Latvian-market-oriented SIA Merks, UAB Merko Statyba that is operating on the Lithuanian market, construction company Peritus Entreprenr AS in Norway and the real estate development business unit along with real estate holding companies. As at the end of 2016, the group employed 797 people and the company's 2016 revenue was EUR 252 million. Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=627807 Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de LEVERKUSEN (dpa-AFX) - Der Chemie- und Pharmakonzern Bayer hat fur sein Krebsmittel Stivarga (Regorafenib) eine weitere Zulassung in Japan erhalten. Die japanische Gesundheitsbehorde habe das Mittel nun auch als Zweitlinienbehandlung bei Patienten mit Leberzellkarzinom genehmigt, wie der Konzern am Montag mitteilte. Stivarga kann nun bei Patienten eingesetzt werden, die zuvor bereits mit anderen Krebsmedikamenten behandelt wurden, bei denen ein Therapieerfolg aber ausblieb. Die Zulassung ist die dritte fur Stivarga in Japan. Im April hatte Bayer die Zulassung als Zweitlininenbehandlung in den USA erhalten. Weitere Antrage in China und der EU sind eingereicht. Das Mittel gehort zu den wichtigsten funf neuen Medikamenten von Bayer, zu denen auch der Blutgerinner Xarelto zahlt, und die im laufenden Jahr zusammen einen Umsatz von uber 6 Milliarden Euro erzielen sollen./she/stb ISIN DE000BAY0017 AXC0056 2017-06-26/09:37 Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- Southern Home Medical, Inc. (OTC PINK: SHOM), a leading developer in the Healthcare industry has announced that it will be engaging in groundbreaking research with various Medical Research facilities located in China regarding the effects of the Antrodia fungi on combating cancer. For new formulations, innovative research, development, and nutrition in the healthcare industry, the advanced concept of preventive medicine supplemented by pharmaceutical standards leads to the development of a series of nutritional health products, specializing in medical grade active ingredients. In accordance with this, a raw material extraction technology and process is scheduled to be setup in 2017 with the artificial cultivation and production of plants and raw materials. According to domestic and foreign research reports and related literature, the most functional areas of medicinal mushrooms is in its active ingredients such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, adenosine, germanium compounds and selenium, with anti-cancer, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, immune system and other effects. SHOM will work with three different Medical Research facilities and formulate drugs utilizing these ingredients to great effect. George Chang, Chief Executive Officer of SHOM, commented: "The cooperation behind this drug research along with the new process will definitely prove to be very fruitful. In this respect, SHOM will continue to leverage the success of their businesses and expand opportunities of sales, while servicing the needs of the Healthcare Industry." About Southern Home Medical, Inc.: Southern Home Medical, Inc. is a Holding Company with a focus on servicing the needs of the Healthcare Industry. SHOM will continue to leverage the success of their businesses in order to expand sales opportunities in other locations throughout the country with health, medical and equipment needs. Websites: www.southernhomemedical.com http://twitter.com/southernhomemed http://www.facebook.com/southernhomemedical Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of the Company. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or to persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors other than as required under the securities laws. The Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements. US CONTACT INFO: Southern Home Medical Inc. (SHOM) NEWS RELEASE DEPARTMENT 646-206-5353 Panevezys, Lithuania, 2017-04-28 12:01 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AB "Linas" General Meeting of Shareholders didn't take place on April 28, 2017 because there was no quorum. Repeated General Meeting of Shareholders of AB "Linas" (company code 147689083, address S. Kerbedzio str. 23, Panevezys) will be held on May 16, 2017 acc.to the decision and initiative of the Board. Date of the meeting - May 16, 2017, Tuesday. Time of the meeting - 12:00 a.m. Registration of participants from 11:00 a.m. till 11:45 a.m. Place of the meeting - AB "Linas" premises, S. Kerbedzio str. 23, Panevezys. Agenda of the meeting: 1. The conclusion of the auditor about consolidated and Company's annual financial reports set of year 2016 and annual report. 2. Confirmation of consolidated and Company's annual financial reports set of year 2016 and presentation of consolidated annual report. 3. Company's allotment of profit (loss). 4. Cancellation of Company's members of the Board. 5. Election of the members of audit committee. 6. Election of the audit company. 7. Formation of the Company's Supervisory Council. 8. Election of Company's members of the Supervisory Council. 9. Confirmation of company's statute of new edition and authorization. The accounting date of Repeated General Meeting of Shareholders is May 09, 2017. In the Repeated General Meeting of Shareholders have the right to participate and vote persons who were company's shareholders at the end of accounting date (May 09, 2017), personally or their authorized persons, or persons with whom voting right transferring contract is signed. The Company doesn't form the right to participate and to vote in the meeting with the help of electronic communication equipment. Decision projects on the agenda, documents which will be presented for General meeting of Shareholders will be announced in company's web page http://www.linas.lt . Company's shareholders have the right to acquaint with this information on working days from 9:00 a.m till 16:00 a.m. at company's premises S. Kerbedzio str.23, Panevezys. Shareholders the shares of whom provide not less than 1/20 of all votes, can offer new decision projects for the questions which are included or will be included into the agenda of the meeting. Offers can be presented in written form or by e-mail. The offers in written form can be taken till May 16, 2017, 10:00 a.m. (on working days) to the company's premises or sent by registered letter to address S. Kerbedzio str.23, LT-35114, Panevezys. Offers by e-mail are sent to address office@linas.lt . During the meeting there will be discussed only offers received in the company till May 16, 2017, 10:00 a.m. Shareholders have the right to provide questions in relation with agenda of the meeting in advance. Shareholders can provide questions by e-mail office@linas.lt not later than 3 working days till the meeting. The company will present answers by e-mail till the meeting. The company has the right not to give answers to shareholder's questions if they are in relation with company's commercial (production) or confidential information. All the persons who are participating in General Meeting of Shareholders and have the right o vote have to present the document certifying person identification. Representative of the shareholder for the meeting has to present the original of authorization acc.to law indicated form and content. The company doesn't indicate special form of authorization. The shareholder has the right with the help of electronic communication equipment to authorize other natural or legal person to participate and to vote in the meeting in the name of shareholder. The shareholder has to inform the company about the issued authorization by e-mail office@linas.lt not later than till the last working day 16:00 p.m. to the meeting. In the report the shareholder has to indicate web page from which the shareholder's electronic signature checking program could be sent for free. It would be able to vote on the Repeated General Meeting of Shareholders questions completing the general voting bulletin in written in advance. Printed general voting bulletin is available at company's premises, address S. Kerbedzio str.23, Panevezys. If the shareholder requires, then the company is sending general voting bulletin by registered letter or handle with written confirmation not later than 10 days till the meeting. Shareholder or his authorized person has to sign general voting bulletin. If the general voting bulletin is signed by the representative, then the document confirming his right for voting has to be added to the bulletin. Properly completed voting bulletins with the attached documents should be presented to the company personally, through authorized person or by registered letter to the address S. Kerbedzio str.23, LT-35114, Panevezys, not later than the last working day to up to the meeting. AB "Linas" director Daiva Minkeviciene +370 45 506100 Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Panevezys, Lithuania, 2017-04-28 12:07 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Draft Resolutions suggested by the Board of AB "Linas" for the Repeated Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on 16 May 2017: 1. Audit conclusion regarding the consolidated and Company's Annual Financial Accountability and Annual Report of year 2016. Project of resolution: to pay attention to the auditor's conclusions confirming AB "Linas" consolidated and Company's financial accountability of year 2016 and to agree to the consolidated annual report of the company of year 2016. 2. Confirmation of consolidated and company's annual financial accountability of year 2016 and presentation of consolidated annual report. Project of resolution: to confirm AB "Linas" consolidated and company's annual financial accountability and to agree to consolidated annual report of year 2016. 3. Company's profit (loss) allocation of year 2016. Project of resolution: to confirm AB "Linas" profit (loss) allocation: 1) retained loss of the previous financial year at the end of the accounting year - 638.262 EUR; 2) net profit of the accounting year 442.399 EUR; 3) profit (loss) of the accounting financial year unrecognized in the statement of comprehensive income - 0 EUR; 4) transfers from mandatory reserve 0 EUR; 5) transfers from reserve for business projects 0 EUR; 6) transfers from reserve for the support 0 EUR; 7) transfers from profit for dividend paying 0 EUR; 8) shareholders contributions to cover company's looses 0 EUR; 9) allocated loss totally 195.863 EUR; 10) share of profit set for the mandatory reserve 0 EUR; 11) share of profit set for the reserve for purchase of own shares 0 EUR; 12) share of profit set to other reserves 0 EUR; 13) share of profit set for dividend paying 0 EUR; 14) share of profit set for annual allowances (bonuses) for the members of the board, for the employees premiums and other purposes 0 EUR; 15) retained loss at the end of the financial year transferred to the next financial year 195.863 EUR. 4. Cancellation of Company's members of the Board. Project of resolution: to recall Ramunas Lenciauskas, Daiva Minkeviciene and Gintare Lenciauske from the Company's members of the Board. 5. Election of the members of audit committee. Project of decision: the Company's audit committee members to propose to elect Lina Liesyte and Justina Ryskiene. 6. Election of the audit company. Project of resolution: to elect audit company UAB "Audito sprendimai" to the position of the auditors of AB "Linas" for year 2017-2019. 7. Formation of the Company's Supervisory Council. Project of resolution: to form a collegial supervisory body of AB "Linas" - Supervisory Council - consisting of 3 (three) Supervisory Council Members. 8. Election of Company's members of the Supervisory Council. Project of resolution: to propose to elect to the Supervisory Council of the Company Gintare Lenciauske, Darius Burba, Virginijus Kundrotas, Darius Kazlauskas, Eimantas Lenciauskas . 9. Confirmation of Company's statute of new edition and authorization. Project of resolution: to confirm statute of new edition and to authorize company director Daiva Minkeviciene to sign them. AB "Linas" director Daiva Minkeviciene Tel.: +370 45 506100 Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=628452 Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Host Hotels & Resorts (HST) announced a profit for first quarter that retreated from last year. The company said its profit came in at $158 million, or $0.21 per share. This was down from $182 million, or $0.24 per share, in last year's first quarter. Analysts had expected the company to earn $0.15 per share, according figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. The company said revenue for the quarter rose 0.7% to $1.35 billion. This was up from $1.34 billion last year. Host Hotels & Resorts earnings at a glance: -Earnings (Q1): $158 Mln. vs. $182 Mln. last year. -Earnings Decline (Y-o-Y): -13.2% -EPS (Q1): $0.21 vs. $0.24 last year. -EPS Decline (Y-o-Y): -12.5% -Analysts Estimate: $0.15 -Revenue (Q1): $1.35 Bln vs. $1.34 Bln last year. -Revenue Change (Y-o-Y): 0.7% Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- The Mint Corporation (TSX VENTURE: MIT) ("Mint" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into a non-binding term sheet (the "Term Sheet") with Gravitas Financial Inc. ("GFI") and the holders (the "Senior Debentureholders") of substantially all its Series A debentures and all of its Series C debentures. The Term Sheet provides for a restructuring of the debt owing to the Senior Debentureholders, and that restructuring is conditional upon the holders of the Series B debentures agreeing to the terms of a proposed restructuring of their debentures on substantially similar economic terms (pro rata) as the restructuring agreed with the Senior Debentureholders. Background Mint has three outstanding debenture series. The amount owing on the Series A debentures is $49,019,962 in principal plus accrued interest (of which, $48,979,520 in principal plus accrued interest is owed to the Senior Debentureholders). The amount owing on the Series B debentures is $3,452,000 in principal, plus accrued interest and bonus interest totalling $1,170,464 as of the maturity date. The amount owing on the Series C debentures is $10,000,000 in principal plus accrued interest. The Series A debentures were issued under a trust indenture secured by a security interest in the assets of Mint and its 51% subsidiary Mint Middle East LLC ("MME"). That security interest ranks in priority to the Series B and Series C security against those assets. The Series B debentures were issued under a trust indenture secured by a security interest in the assets of Mint and MME ranking in priority to the Series C security against those assets. The Series C debentures are secured against the assets of Mint and by a first position security interest in the assets of Mint Capital LLC (including its 49% legal interest in Mint Gateway for Electronic Services LLC ("Mint Gateway")). Mint has announced its inability to make payments on the Series A, Series B and Series C debentures. Series A and Series C Debt Restructuring Under the Term Sheet, the debt under the Series A and Series C debentures owed to the Senior Debentureholders is to be replaced by $20 million of debt (the "New Debt") secured by a first position security interest in the assets of Mint, MME and Mint Capital LLC. The Senior Debentureholders will also receive (a) 17,300,000 common shares of Mint, (b) 11,700,000 common share purchase warrants of Mint, and (c) subscription receipts to acquire 16,000,000 common shares of Mint for no additional consideration. Each warrant will be exercisable after two years and on or before the maturity date of the New Debt for one common share of Mint at an exercise price of $0.10. The subscription receipts will automatically convert into 2,000,000 common shares of Mint, without payment of additional consideration, at the end of each of the first eight three-month periods following the issuance of the New Debt (subject to adjustment if any of the New Debt is prepaid prior to that conversion date). The New Debt is to mature on December 31, 2021 and bear interest at 10% per annum, commencing on the 2nd anniversary of the issuance of the New Debt, and payable quarterly thereafter. If Mint does not have sufficient funds to pay cash interest when required, the shortfall will be paid by the issuance of common shares of Mint, priced at the greater of a 5% discount to the 10 day volume-weighted average price of Mint's common shares and the minimum price permitted by the TSX Venture Exchange. The New Debt and any accrued interest will become due and payable in cash within 30 days following a change of control of Mint (other than through a treasury issuance). Series B Debt Restructuring The restructuring of the Series A and Series C debentures held by the Senior Debentureholders is conditional upon a restructuring of the Series B debentures on the following terms, which reflect substantially similar economic terms (pro rata) as the restructuring agreed with the Senior Debentureholders: a) For every $1,000 of principal and interest (including bonus interest) owing to a holder when the Series B debentures matured on March 7, 2017, the holder will receive $340 principal amount of new Series B debentures (the "New Series B Debentures") and 750 common shares of Mint. b) The New Series B Debentures will mature on December 31, 2021. The New Series B Debentures will become due and payable within 30 days following a change of control of Mint (other than through a treasury issuance). c) The New Series B Debentures will bear interest at 10% per annum, commencing on the 2nd anniversary of the issuance of the New Series B Debentures, and payable quarterly thereafter. If Mint does not have sufficient funds to pay cash interest when required, the shortfall will be paid by the issuance of common shares of Mint, priced at the greater of a 5% discount to the 10 day volume-weighted average price of Mint's common shares and the minimum price permitted by the TSX Venture Exchange. Acquisition of a UAE Financial Company On March 21, 2017, Mint announced that GFI and Global Business Services for Multimedia ("GBS") had each agreed to provide USD $7.5 million to acquire 97.22% of a UAE Central Bank licensed financial company (the "Financial Company Interest") and another USD $7.5 million each to satisfy ongoing UAE Central Bank capital reserve requirements. Ownership of the Financial Company Interest was to be divided 25% to GBS, 25% to GFI (through a subsidiary, the "GFI Subsidiary") and 50% to Mint Gateway. Mint owns, indirectly, a 51% beneficial interest in Mint Gateway and GBS owns the remaining 49% beneficial interest. Under the Term Sheet, ownership of the GFI Subsidiary is to be transferred to Mint in exchange for a secured promissory note of Mint in the principal amount of up to US$7.5 million bearing interest at a rate of 6% per annum. GFI is a related party of Mint under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). Mint is exempt from the formal valuation and shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101. Conditions The Term Sheet also provides that ownership of Mint Gateway will be transferred to MME, in order to consolidate all Mint operations under one corporate entity. The Term Sheet is non-binding and any restructuring of the Series A and Series C debentures held by the Senior Debentureholders is conditional upon entering into a definitive agreement acceptable to Mint, GFI and the Senior Debentureholders. The restructuring of the Series A and Series C debentures held by the Senior Debentureholders is also conditional upon the holders of Series B debentures approving an amendment to the terms of their debentures as described in this news release. Mint intends to enter immediately into discussions with the holders of Series B debentures for that purpose. In order to transfer Mint Gateway to MME, Mint will require the agreement of GBS, which Mint expects to receive. The restructuring of the three series of debentures and the transactions described in this news release will require the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. As a result of the issuance of shares, warrants and subscription receipts described in this news release, the Senior Debentureholders, who are acting jointly, will collectively hold approximately 25% of the common shares of Mint, on a partially diluted basis. The TSX Venture Exchange will require approval of this issuance of securities by the holders of a majority of the shares of Mint. GFI has indicated that it will provide written approval, thereby satisfying the stock exchange requirement. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. More particularly, this press release contains statements which include the terms of the restructuring of the outstanding debentures of Mint and certain transactions described under the heading "Acquisition of a UAE Financial Company". The forward-looking statements are based on certain expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that those expectations and assumptions are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Investors should consider the conditions described under the heading "Conditions" as the failure to satisfy those conditions will prevent the debt restructuring from being completed. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws. General Disclosure Statement Investors are encouraged to read the Management Discussion and Analysis Documents filed on SEDAR for a description of additional risks associated with investing in the Company. The following statement is only intended to inform investors on certain of the many risks associated with investing in the Company. The Company operates predominantly in the Middle East. It is exposed to significant political, legal and regulatory risks associated with operating in this emerging and volatile market. The key management personnel and operations of the Company are based in countries which do not have strong and reliable judicial enforcement. This results in additional risk with respect to the enforcement of legal and contractual rights, including, for example but without limitation, the enforcement of the rights of creditors, the protection of intellectual property rights, the enforcement of joint venture arrangements, and binding key employees with non-compete agreements. Since inception, the Company has not reached profitability. The Company relies heavily on debt financing to fund its business plan. This has exposed the Company to unique financial risks associated with significantly higher than normal debt levels. Investors in the company are strongly encouraged to be aware of the significant risks of the Company, to conduct additional due diligence and to seek the help of a licensed investment advisor before investing in securities of the Company. Moreover, investors must be aware that the purchase of the Company's securities involves a number of additional significant risks and uncertainties, as disclosed in the Management Discussion and Analysis reports filed on SEDAR by the Company. Investors considering purchasing securities of the Company should be able to bear the economic risk of total loss of such investment. About The Mint Corporation Established in 2004, Mint is a vertically integrated prepaid card and payroll services provider with its own processing platform, ATM network and proprietary branded card products delivered to unbanked workers in the United Arab Emirates. Mint operates as a payroll card and processing services provider in the UAE through its ownership in Mint Middle East LLC and Mint Gateway for Electronic Payment Services LLC. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: The Mint Corporation Kym No Interim CFO 647-252-1664 www.themintcorp.com AB "Rokiskio suris", Pramones str.3, Rokiskis, Lithuania, 2017-04-28 13:01 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The approved resolutions of the 28 April 2017 General Meeting of Shareholders: 1. Auditor's findings regarding the consolidated financial reports and annual report. Debriefed. 2. The Audit Committee report. Resolution: To endorse the report of the Audit Committee. (attached). 3. The Company's consolidated annual report for the year 2016. Debriefed with the consolidated annual report for the year 2016 of Rokiskio suris. 4. Approval of the consolidated and company's financial accounting for the year 2016. Resolution: To approve the audited consolidated and company's financial statements for the year 2016 (attached). 5. Allocation of the profit (loss) of the Company of 2016. Resolution: To approve the following profit (loss) distribution of the year 2016: Title kEUR -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Non-distributable profit (loss) at beginning of year 52,078 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Approved by shareholders dividends related to the year 2015 (2,342 ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Transfers from other reserves 2,297 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Non-distributable profit (loss) at beginning of year after dividend 52,033 payout and transfer to reserves -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Net profit (loss) of the Company of fiscal year 12,551 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Distributable profit (loss) of the Company 64584 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. Profit share for mandatory reserve - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. Profit share for other reserves - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Profit share for dividend payout * (3,228 ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. Profit share for annual payments (tantiemes) to the Board of 1,076 Directors, employee bonuses and other as accounted by Profit (loss) statement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. Non-distributable profit (loss) at end of year transferred to the 61,356 next fiscal year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *it will be allocated 0.10 eur per ordinary registered share. In total to the dividends payout EUR 3,228,117.30. Persons entitled to receive dividends are those who are actual shareholders of the Company at the end of the tenth day after approval of the resolution for dividend pay-out by the general meeting of shareholders (shareholders proprietary right accounting day), i. e. May 15, 2017. Pursuing the Laws of the Republic of Lithuania, dividends paid to physical bodies resided in the Republic of Lithuania as well as in foreign countries are subject to 15 per cent of residential income tax; Dividends paid to juridical bodies of the Republic of Lithuania as well as foreign countries are subject to 15 per cent of profit tax, unless it is stated differently the law. 6. Election of the Company's Audit Committee. Resolution: For the subsequent 4 year term of office at the Audit Committee the following persons shall be elected: Kestutis Kirejevas, Director Baltijos Enzimai, UAB (independent member), Kestutis Gataveckas, Director Perlo paslaugos, UAB (independent member) and Rasa Zukauskaite (Finance department employee of Rokiskio suris, AB). Remuneration for the independent members of the Audit Committee shall be identified by the Board of Directors. The Company's manager is authorized to sign an agreement with the independent members of the Audit Committee. 7. Election of the Company's auditor and establishment of payment conditions. Resolution: To appoint an audit company PriceWaterhouseCoopers, UAB to perform the audit of annual consolidated financial statements of the Group of Rokiskio suris, AB and the mother Company as well as evaluation of the consolidated annual report for the year 2017. The Board of Directors is authorized to establish reimbursement for the completed work of audit company. The Company's Chief Executive Officer shall sign a contract with the audit company. Dalius Trumpa Board Chairman +370 458 55200 Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=628475 Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de GOTEBORG, Sweden, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --The Swedish Patent and Market Court of Appeal has today announced its judgment in a case concerning a subcontracting agreement, related to a public procurement of clinical physiology services. The Patent and Market Court of Appeal dismissed the Swedish Competition Authority's request for fines and acquits Capio S:t Goran's Hospital (CStG). The judgment sets aside a previous District Court judgment from 2015. The procurement at issue, for clinical physiology services such as physiological tests for sleep apnea and stress echocardiography, took place during 2008 and was completely separate from the hospital's main contract with the Stockholm County Council (SCC). At the relevant time, CStG's primary aim was to secure the direct award of a contract for physiological services from SCC, in the same way as the other emergency hospitals in the Stockholm area, in order to ensure expertise and availability for medical examinations of this kind. Since SCC deemed this not to be possible, CStG was instead encouraged to participate in the tender and enter into the subcontract that was later contested in this case. In order to provide a competitive and separate tender in full competition, and to ensure good availability for our patients, CStG entered into a subcontracting agreement with Aleris. The agreement was expressly mentioned in CStG's tender, and was also approved by SCC in connection with the award of the contract. In November 2012, this agreement was also extended by SCC to June 2014. In 2013 the Swedish Competition Authority filed a claim with the Stockholm District Court to contest the subcontract. The District Court's judgment was delivered in December 2015. The court partially upheld the Competition Authority's claim and ordered Capio S:t Gorans Sjukhus to pay a fine of 1.1 MSEK. CStG did not share the views of the District Court and appealed the judgment. Hearings in the Patent and Market Court of Appeal took place during 2017. The Patent and Market Court of Appeal's judgment means that the court does not share the Competition Authority's view that the subcontracting agreement could restrict competition. This ruling cannot be appealed, and thus the case is closed. "We entered into this agreement with the patients' best interests in mind, and with the conviction that the agreement was in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Now the court has dismissed the Competition Authority's request for fines. Naturally, we consider it positive that this issue has finally been settled," says Sofia Palmquist, CEO of Capio S:t Goran's Hospital. For more information please call: Sofia Palmquist CEO, Capio S:t Goran's Hospital Phone: +46-858-701-588 Anders Persson Communications Officer, Capio S:t Goran's Hospital Phone: +46-739-012-699 Capio AB (publ) is a leading, pan-European healthcare provider offering a broad range of high quality medical, surgical and psychiatric healthcare services through its hospitals, specialist clinics and primary care units. Since the Danish operation was acquired at the beginning of 2017, Capio operates in five countries; Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France and Germany. In 2016, Capio's 12,435 employees provided healthcare services during 4.7 million patient visits across the Group's facilities, generating net sales of MSEK 14,069. Capio operates across three geographic segments: Nordic (54% of Group net sales 2016), France (38% of Group net sales 2016) and Germany (8% of Group net sales 2016). For more information about Capio, please see www.capio.com. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/capio-ab/r/capio-s-t-goran-s-hospital-wins-competition-law-case-in-patent-and-market-court-of-appeal,c2253537 The following files are available for download: DUBLIN, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Satellite Telephones Market, By Satellite Type, By End User, By Region, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2011 - 2021" report to their offering. The global market of satellite telephones is anticipated to cross $5.5 Billion by 2021. On the basis of satellite type, global satellite telephones market has been broadly segmented into Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). Among these categories, geosynchronous orbit dominated global satellite telephones market in 2015, and the segment is expected to maintain its dominance over the next five years as well. North America is the largest consumer of satellite telephones across the globe. Moreover, growing satellite industry coupled with increasing defense expenditure is also aiding global market of satellite telephones. Furthermore, increasing ship and aircraft movements across various regions of the globe coupled with growing oil & gas production are expected to positively influence global satellite telephones market in the coming years. However, increasing government regulations over the use of satellite phones in various countries across the globe is expected to boost the sales of satellite telephones across the world in the coming years. Global Satellite Telephones Market report discusses the following aspects of global satellite telephones market: Global Satellite Telephones Market Size, Share & Forecast Segmental Analysis - By Satellite Type (Geosynchronous Vs. Low-Earth Orbit), By End User (Defense, Maritime, Aviation, Energy, Government & Others) Regional Analysis - North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , Middle East & Africa and South America , , , & and Changing Market Trends & Emerging Opportunities Competitive Landscape & Strategic Recommendations Market Trends & Developments Advent of Hybrid Satellite Telephones Increasing Satellite Launches Surging Shipbuilding Industry and Seaborne Trade Developing Disaster Management Control Systems Booming Adventure Tourism Market Growing Satellite Industry Key Topics Discussed: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Analyst View 4. Global Satellite Telephones Market Landscape 5. Global Satellite Telephones Market Outlook 6. Regulation Standards 7. North America Satellite Telephones Market Outlook 8. Europe Satellite Telephones Market Outlook 9. Asia-Pacific Satellite Telephones Market Outlook 10. Middle East & Africa Satellite Telephones Market Outlook 11. South America Satellite Telephones Market Outlook 12. Market Dynamics 13. Market Trends & Developments 14. Competitive Landscape 15. Strategic Recommendations Companies Mentioned Globalstar Inmarsat Iridium TerreStar Thuraya For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/k97p2k/global_satellite Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (EEP) announced it has concluded the strategic review and taken several comprehensive actions to strengthen the partnership's financial position and outlook. EEP said no further restructuring actions are contemplated. Enbridge Energy Partners has entered into a definitive agreement with its general partner, Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. (ENB), pursuant to which EECI will acquire all of EEP's ownership interests in the Midcoast Gas Gathering and Processing business. EECI will acquire EEP's 48.4 percent limited partner interest in Midcoast Operating, L.P., EEP's 51.9 percent limited partner interest in Midcoast Energy Partners. L.P., and EEP's 100 percent interest in MEP's general partner for $2.15 billion which includes cash consideration of $1.31 billion and outstanding indebtedness at MEP (which was $840 million as of March 31, 2017). The Board of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (EEM), the delegate of Enbridge Energy Partners's General Partner, has declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.35 per unit, or $1.40 per unit on an annualized basis, on all of the Partnership's outstanding units for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. The distribution is payable on May 15, 2017 to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 8, 2017. The Joint Funding Arrangement for the Bakken Pipeline System investment was finalized with EEP's initial ownership at 25 percent, and includes an option for EEP to purchase an additional 20 percent from Enbridge at net book value. EEP has redeemed all of its Series 1 Preferred Units which are held by EECI for $1.2 billion with proceeds from the issuance to EECI of $1.2 billion of Class A common units. The accrued distributions balance in respect of the Series 1 Preferred Units (Deferred Distribution) of $357 million will be repaid in full to EECI with a portion of the cash proceeds from the Midcoast Sale. EEP has simplified its capital structure and modified its incentive distribution mechanism to better align limited partner and general partner interests. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de SWINDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwired - April 28, 2017) - Carlton James Group ("Carlton James"), a private Investment group specializing in diversified portfolios including hospitality, land, and technology projects, today announced it has named Anthony Moore and Dr. Umair Mehmood to its Board of Directors. Moore will serve as Chairman of the Board, and along with Dr. Umair, joins current members Ryan Whitefield, and Carlton James CEO Simon Calton to form a four-person board. Moore brings more than 40 years of experience in the global financial services industry to his role as Chairman of the Board. He has previously served in high profile management roles for Banque Nationale De Paris, Bankers Trust, Barclays de Zoete Wedd, and Goldman Sachs. Moore has transacted business in more than 20 countries across the globe during his career, which includes work in capital markets financing, equity fund raising, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and real estate and fund management. Dr. Umair is a renowned precognition strategist and consults for several clients as an Investment Advisory Specialist. He currently serves as Chairman of a private equity syndicate, and sits on the Management Board for Aspire World Investments LLC, a Dubai-based investment conglomerate. Dr. Umair brings a wealth of business contacts throughout some of the most prominent institutional investment firms in the United Arab Emirates, a region in which Carlton James will be strategically active in the future. "It's my pleasure to join Carlton James as Chairman of the Board during this time of growth for the company, and I look forward to working with Dr. Umair, Joe, Simon, and the rest of the dynamic team to build an innovative investment platform and continue our exciting trajectory," said Moore, Chairman of the Board, Carlton James. The Company also announced today it has named Joe Kelly as its new chief operating officer. Kelly has more than 25 years of business experience within banking and financial services. He started his career at Citi Bank, later worked as a manager of a hedge fund where he oversaw investment strategy, risk, and operational integrity, and most recently served as managing director of his own private investment company, Mollitium Capital Ltd. Kelly is also a member of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland. "It's an exciting time for Carlton James as we continue to expand our investor-base and build new product offerings that provide the level of return our clients are seeking," said Calton, CEO of Carlton James Group. "To be able to add Tony, Dr. Umair and Joe to our team -- all individuals who are highly respected and have been incredibly successful in our industry -- is a terrific achievement for our Company and strengthens our position moving forward as we look to grow our fund and further penetrate the market." To learn more about Carlton James Group and our investment strategy, please watch our video. About Carlton James Group Carlton James Group is a private funding group that specializes in real estate, land and technology with the goal of investing in a diverse portfolio projects with the potential to generate higher returns and secure their capital against global financial upset. Carlton James offers a compelling investment vehicle that provides individuals the opportunity to invest in the company as preferred shareholders with a fixed return on investment and fixed term of investment. Carlton James invests its energy and expertise in exceptional businesses across industry sectors where it believes there is the potential for significant capital growth and market opportunity. For more information, please visit our website at www.carltonjamesgroup.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Company contact: Carlton James Group info@carltonjamesgroup.com Media contact: Matt Bretzius FischTank Marketing and PR matt@fischtankpr.com CEL-SCI Corporation (NYSE MKT: CVM) today announced that it has been notified that it will be granted a new patent on Multikine* (Leukocyte Interleukin, Injection), its investigational cancer immunotherapy, from the European Patent Office. The patent is titled: A METHOD FOR MODULATING HLA CLASS II TUMOR CELL SURFACE EXPRESSION WITH A CYTOKINE MIXTURE. The patent relates to a method for altering the composition of tumor infiltrating mononuclear cells, increasing CD4+/CD8+ ratio, increasing tumor stroma/epithelial ratio, and modulating HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) class II expression on a tumor cell surface with Multikine. CEL-SCI believes that this will result in the tumor becoming "visible" to the immune system, culminating in a more robust and sustainable anti-tumor immune response. Geert Kersten, CEL-SCI Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our patent portfolio for Multikine consists of multiple patents issued in the United States, Europe, China and Japan. In addition to these patents that offer certain protections for Multikine, the method of manufacture for Multikine held by CEL-SCI as trade secret offers additional protections." About Multikine Multikine is designed to be a different type of therapy against cancer: one that appears to have the potential to work with the body's natural immune system in the fight against tumors. Multikine is an investigational immunotherapeutic agent that is being tested in an open-label, randomized, controlled, global pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial as a potential first-line treatment for advanced primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The Phase 3 study with Multikine, which remains on partial clinical hold for the enrollment of additional patients, has 928 patients enrolled. Multikine is also being tested in a Phase 1 study at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), as a potential treatment for peri-anal warts in HIV/HPV co-infected men and women. Dr. Joel Palefsky, a world-renowned scientist and Key Opinion Leader in human papilloma virus (HPV) research and the prevention of anal cancer, is the Principal Investigator at UCSF. About CEL-SCI Corporation CEL-SCI's work is focused on finding the best way to activate the immune system to fight cancer and infectious diseases. The Company has operations in Vienna, Virginia, and in/near Baltimore, Maryland. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. When used in this press release, the words "intends," "believes," "anticipated," "plans" and "expects," and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the terms, expected proceeds, use of proceeds and closing of the offering. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, an inability to duplicate the clinical results demonstrated in clinical studies, timely development of any potential products that can be shown to be safe and effective, receiving necessary regulatory approvals, difficulties in manufacturing any of the Company's potential products, inability to raise the necessary capital and the risk factors set forth from time to time in CEL-SCI's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to its report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended September 30, 2016. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revision to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect the events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. * Multikine (Leukocyte Interleukin, Injection) is the trademark that CEL-SCI has registered for this investigational therapy, and this proprietary name is subject to FDA review in connection with the Company's future anticipated regulatory submission for approval. Multikine has not been licensed or approved for sale, barter or exchange by the FDA or any other regulatory agency. Similarly, its safety or efficacy has not been established for any use. Moreover, no definitive conclusions can be drawn from the early-phase, clinical-trials data involving the investigational therapy Multikine. Further research is required, and early-phase clinical trial results must be confirmed in the Phase 3 clinical trial of this investigational therapy that is in progress and that is currently subject to a clinical hold on enrollment of additional new patients. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170428005105/en/ Contacts: CEL-SCI Corporation Gavin de Windt, 703-506-9460 www.cel-sci.com Acquisition will join leading minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic solutions provider with systems integration pioneer CENTER VALLEY, Pennsylvania, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --On April 28, 2017, Olympus Corporation of the Americas (OCA) based in Center Valley, PA signed a definitive agreement to acquire Image Stream Medical, Inc., a healthcare systems integrator based in Littleton, MA. Olympus is a leading precision technology provider, designing and delivering innovative solutions for medical and surgical procedures, among other core businesses. This acquisition will further enable both companies to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs and enhance quality of life for patients. Image Stream Medical's technology and know-how has made sophisticated visualization and healthcare environment integration for their customers simple and intuitive. Image Stream Medical's unique expertise includes a deep knowledge of IP-based image management solutions, the ability to offer superior end-to-end workflow for every clinical specialty, an approach to IT backbone technology which unifies separate clinical areas allowing complete enterprise-wide access to critical data and media, and the proven experience leveraging Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to provide new, value-added services for healthcare facilities. "We are very happy to welcome Image Stream Medical to the Olympus family," said Nacho Abia, OCA President and CEO. "Image Stream Medical is a top tier integration provider that continues to experience consistent market growth on the strength of its products and operational excellence. This relationship provides us with an exciting opportunity to enhance the continuum of care throughout the healthcare enterprise. We believe the acquisition of Image Stream Medical will accelerate our progress in achieving the universal goals of healthcare reform and furthers our ability to achieve our mission of contributing to society by making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling around the world." "Image Steam Medical was founded with the vision of solving the key clinical and business challenges for healthcare systems by facilitating collaboration across their enterprises. By connecting clinicians with the visual insights they need, and with each other no matter where they are, we help teams work more efficiently and effectively," said Eddie Mitchell, Image Stream Medical CEO. "I couldn't be more excited today as we move forward to join Olympus to help better realize that vision. The combination of Olympus' unparalleled imaging and surgical technology, together with the innovative and customer-focused solutions we have cultivated at Image Stream Medical, will allow our customers to provide improved care for their patients." "The synergy between Olympus and Image Stream Medical is unprecedented," said Todd Usen, President of the Medical Systems Group at OCA. "Combining Olympus' global reach and expertise, world class support infrastructure, and market leadership with Image Stream Medical's innovative products, will result in superior work flow and patient care and safety enhancements for healthcare enterprises. We are thrilled to soon create better platforms to provide patients with increased access to more advanced procedures, such as minimally invasive surgeries." The acquisition will initially benefit the business and customers in the U.S. and it will help Olympus to subsequently create a leading global Systems Integration platform. Olympus and Image Stream Medical customers will experience no immediate changes in resources, services or contacts. Over time, customers will have the opportunity to enhance their systems integration implementation based on an expanded and enhanced portfolio and expertise. Image Stream Medical will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary under the existing name for the foreseeable future. More details on the acquisition will be available in the future. About Olympus Corporation of the Americas Olympus is a global precision technology, designing and delivering innovative solutions in its core business areas of Medical and Surgical Products, Scientific Solutions, and Cameras and Audio Products. Through this technology, Olympus contributes to society every day by making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. Olympus Corporation of the Americas - a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Corporation in Tokyo, Japan - is headquartered in Center Valley, Pa., employs more than 5,000 people, and manages the Company's operations and business activities throughout North and South America. For more information, visit Olympus at www.olympusamerica.com. About Image Stream Medical Image Stream Medical is a leader in clinical visual collaboration solutions and focused on a single mission: to improve healthcare by connecting providers with the visual information and collaborative insight they need to deliver exceptional patient care. Since founding in 1999, Image Stream Medical has achieved that goal by innovating healthcare environment integration solutions that make powerful capabilities easy to use. The result is a clinical workflow experience that is more intuitive, natural and efficient. For more information, visit Image Stream Medical at www.imagestreammedical.com. Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/495545/Olympus_Corporation_of_the_Americas_Image_Stream_Medical_Logo.jpg Release no. 17/2017 With reference to release no. 16/2017 of 25 April 2017, changes in Columbus A/S' Articles of Association as a consequence of the decision made by the Annual General meeting to amend the authorizations in Art. 5.1 have today been registered in the Danish Business Authority. New Articles of Association are attached. Ib Kune Thomas Honore Chairman CEO & President Columbus A/S Columbus A/S For further information, please contact: CEO & PresidentThomas Honore, T: +45 70 20 50 00. Translation: In the event of any inconsistency between this document and the Danish language version, the Danish language version shall be the governing version. Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=628552 Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Shin Kong Financial Holding Co. Ltd Company code: 2888 No: 1 Subject: Supplementary information on the convening of the 2017 Annual General Shareholders' Meeting To which item it meets--article 4 paragraph xx: 17 Date of events: 2017/04/28 Contents: 1. Date of the board of directors resolution: 2017/04/28 2. Date for convening the shareholders' meeting: 2017/06/16 3. Location for convening the shareholders' meeting: Conference Room, 16F., No.123, Sec. 2, Nanjing E. Road, Taipei 4. Cause or subjects for convening the meeting (1)Report Items: (1) The company's 2016 business reports (2) Audit Committee's review of 2016 CPA audited financial statements (3) Report on distribution of employees' compensation in 2016 (4) Report on distribution of directors' remuneration in 2016 (5) Reasons and related matters for the Company's first issue of unsecured corporate bonds in 2017 (6) Reasons and related matters for the Company's fourth issue of domestic unsecured convertible corporate bonds (7)Report on amendment to the Company's Code of Ethics 5. Cause or subjects for convening the meeting (2)Matters for Ratification: (1) The Company's 2016 CPA audited financial statements (2) The Company's 2016 earnings distribution 6. Cause or subjects for convening the meeting (3)Matters for Discussion: Amendment to the Company's Procedures Governing the Acquisition and Disposal of Assets 7. Cause or subjects for convening the meeting (4)Elections: Election of the Company's Directors and Independent Directors of the Sixth Term 8. Cause or subjects for convening the meeting (5)Other Proposals: None 9. Cause or subjects for convening the meeting (6)Extemporary Motions: None 10. Book closure starting date: 2017/04/18 11. Book closure ending date: 2017/06/16 12. Any other matters that need to be specified: (1) A same person or same concerned person who singly, jointly or collectively holds more than 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the Company (Shin Kong Financial Holding Co., Ltd.) shall register at the Competent Authorities within 10 days after the first holding day. Shareholders holding more than 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the Company shall also register if the shares of the same person or same concerned person cumulatively increase or decrease by more than 1% thereafter. A same person or same concerned person intends to singly, jointly or collectively acquire more than 10%, 25%, and 50% of the outstanding voting shares of the Company (Shin Kong Financial Holding Co., Ltd.) shall apply for prior approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) and notify the Company. (Please refer to Articles 4, 5 and 16 of the Financial Holding Company Act) (2) Shareholders may exercise their voting rights by way of electronic transmission during the period of May 17, 2017 to June 13, 2017. Please log onto the "Stockvote Platform" of the Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation and proceed with the provided instructions. Website: http://www.stockvote.com.tw/ (3) Conversion of the third issue of domestic unsecured convertible corporate bonds shall be suspended during book closure period. (2017/04/18~2017/06/16) SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - April 28, 2017) - eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI) (the "Company"), the holding company for eXp Realty LLC, The Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage, announced at its annual shareholder event in San Diego, that two eXp Realty agents will join the Company's Board of Directors, furthering the Company's objective of building the most agent-centric real estate brokerage company in the industry. "Agent ownership is one of the primary reasons why eXp is growing so rapidly. As a publicly-traded national real estate brokerage company, we are only as good as the agents and brokers who are also its shareholders," said Glenn Sanford, Founder, CEO and Chairman of eXp World Holdings, Inc. "Agent ownership should come with leadership and it's a huge win that we will now be able to have the "Voice of the Agent" on our Board, engaging with our senior leadership, and providing valuable feedback and insight at the highest level in the organization." To make room for these two new positions, Directors Jason Gesing and Gene Frederick have volunteered to transition off the Board over the next year. The new Board members will be selected through an inclusive nominating process tied to the launch of the new eXp Agent Advisory Council. New Board members will receive orientation training time to enable them to succeed in these important new roles. The Agent Advisory Council will be made up of 12 eXp agents/brokers. Mr. Frederick has been named as the Council's Founding Chair. The Council will have a strong voice in advising management on a wide range of broker and agent priorities. About eXp World Holdings, Inc. eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI) is the holding company for eXp Realty LLC, the Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage. As a full-service real estate brokerage, eXp Realty provides 24/7 access to collaborative tools, training, and socialization for real estate brokers and agents through its 3-D, fully-immersive, cloud office environment. eXp Realty, LLC and eXp Realty of Canada, Inc. also feature an attractive revenue sharing program that pays agents a percentage of gross commission income earned by fellow real estate professionals who they attract into the Company. Related Posts As a publicly-traded company, eXp World Holdings, Inc. uniquely offers real estate professionals within its ranks opportunities to earn company stock for production and contributions to overall company growth. For more information, please visit the Company's Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, or visit www.eXpRealty.com. Safe Harbor Statement The statements contained herein may include statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update them. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company's management and the Agent Advisory Council. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in forward-looking statements include changes in business or other market conditions; the difficulty of keeping expense growth at modest levels while increasing revenues; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K. CONTACT INFORMATION Investor Relations Contact: Greg Falesnik Managing Director MZ Group - MZ North America 949-385-6449 Email contact www.mzgroup.us AerCap Holdings N.V. ("AerCap") (NYSE: AER) has announced it has signed a lease agreement for an Airbus A319 with German carrier, Germania. The aircraft was delivered to the airline on April 19, 2017. The 2003 vintage aircraft was recently redelivered to AerCap from a South American customer. AerCap President and Chief Commercial Officer Philip Scruggs said, "We welcome our new customer airline, Germania. This transaction demonstrates the continued appeal of used A319 aircraft to quality airlines such as Germania. We are pleased to support the management team with their ambitious fleet expansion plan and we wish them every success." About AerCap AerCap is the global leader in aircraft leasing with, as of March 31, 2017, 1,541 owned, managed or on order aircraft in its portfolio. AerCap has one of the most attractive order books in the industry. AerCap serves approximately 200 customers in approximately 80 countries with comprehensive fleet solutions. AerCap is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (AER) and has its headquarters in Dublin with offices in Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Shannon, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Singapore, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Seattle and Toulouse. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements, estimates and forecasts with respect to future performance and events. These statements, estimates and forecasts are "forward-looking statements". In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negatives thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements and are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. As a result, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate or correct. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future performance or events described in the forward-looking statements in this press release might not occur. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to, and will not, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For more information regarding AerCap and to be added to our email distribution list, please visit www.aercap.com and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/aercapnv. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170428005418/en/ Contacts: AerCap Holdings N.V. For Media: Gillian Culhane, +353 1 636 0945 Vice President Corporate Communications gculhane@aercap.com or For Investors: Brian Canniffe, +353 1 418 0461 Head of Investor Relations bcanniffe@aercap.com DUBLIN, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Europe: Biosimilars Market - Forecast to 2025" report to their offering. The study analyzes the supply market dynamics and forecasts future revenues for key biosimilars in the European region. It also identifies the six key issues to determine the strategic imperatives for success and growth in this market. Moreover, it includes an in-depth analysis of the biosimilar value chain and the payer and regulatory environment. By assessing the impact of trends, disruptive technologies, and new business models, the study arrives at key visioning scenarios for the biosimilars market in Europe. These will help market participants make strategic decisions, stay ahead of their competitors, and gain a significant share in the market. The study also sheds light on strategic partnerships among companies in the European biosimilars market. About 30 companies are actively developing biosimilar medicines and are researching on the biosimilar versions of 16 distinct molecules that will lead to greater competition by 2020, with 8 major biologic medicines expected to lose exclusivity by 2020. The next five years are going to be an interesting period in the biosimilars market as a number of biologic drugs are going to lose their exclusivity. On the one hand, this will significantly reduce costs for patients and health systems, on the other, it will pose challenges for regulators to confirm the similarity of the biosimilar to the original biologic in terms of efficacy and safety. The experience of European healthcare companies has been encouraging in the 10 years since the endorsement of the first biosimilar in the EU. Pricing and physician awareness and support from the regulatory agencies are expected to be key factors driving success in the biosimilars market. Europe is expected to remain the largest contributor to biosimilars revenue worldwide for the next 5-7 years. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Dashboard 2. Growth Environment 3. Drivers and Restraints - Total European Biosimilars Market 4. Growth Opportunity and Market Forecast - Total European Biosimilars Market 5. Growth Opportunity and Market Forecast of Key Biosimilars - Oncology 6. Growth Opportunity and Market Forecast of Key Biosimilars - Diabetes 7. Growth Opportunity and Market Forecast of Key Biosimilars - Rheumatoid Arthritis 8. Market Challenges - Biosimilars 9. Supply Market Dynamics - Europe 10. Strategic Imperatives and Critical Success Factors for Europe 11. Conclusion 12. Appendix 13. Introduction to Biosimilars For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bnjm2c/europe Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 28, 2017) - Austral Gold Limited ('the Company') (ASX: AGD) (TSXV: AGLD) is pleased to report results for quarterly activities for its third fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2017. Fiscal Third Quarter Highlights: (All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted) Combined attributable Quarterly production of 12,307 Au oz and 180,488Ag oz (1) A 17% increase in quarterly production gold production from Guanaco mine compared to same quarter in the previous year. Guanaco mine production was 10,299 Au oz and 12,711 Ag oz in the March quarter 2017. The average cash cost for the quarter was US$924/AuEq oz; AISC was US$1,066/AuEq oz, and, The average realised gold and silver selling prices were US$1,254/Au oz and $US18/Ag oz respectively. Quarterly production for the past three quarters are in line with the full year guidance of 45,000-50,000 AuEq oz annual production total from the mine. Casposo production for the March 2017 quarter, was 3,487 Au oz and 288,327 Ag oz (100% basis); Cash cost was US$1,058/AuEq oz; AISC was US$1,353/AuEq oz, and, The average realised gold and silver selling prices were US$1,214/Au oz and US$17/Ag oz respectively. Casposo production attributable to Austral Gold was 2,008 Au oz and 167,777 Ag oz. Stabro Kasaneva, CEO, said, "This quarter has been a challenging one, with solid results and progress from Guanaco offset by continued challenges at Casposo. At Guanaco growth in production relative to the same quarter last year was due to slightly higher mining rates and higher gold grades. The new plant at Guanaco is almost complete, with finalization of the grid interconnection required to test the grinding circuit before commencing ramp-up testing. At Casposo we increased our ownership to 70% of the operation. For the quarter we fell behind on our forecasts, mainly due to operational issues underground combined with mechanical issues. Despite these issues we are still expecting to reach forecasted annual production as we continue to implement changes we expect to improve operations." Guanaco Mine Production from underground operations using the heap leach process generated 10,299 Au oz and 12,711 Ag oz during the quarter. Production for the quarter concentrated in the Dumbo and Cachinalito extensions. Slightly higher grades and higher mine production resulted in an increase in 17% of gold produced for the quarter compared to the previous year. On a 9 months to date basis the higher production and principally higher grades have resulted in a reduction in cash cost and AISC per ounce versus the previous year. Guanaco Mine 3 months ending 31 March 9 months ending 31 March 2017 2016 2017 2016 Total Material Processed (t) 145,456 135,236 427,304 366,336 Average Plant grade (g/t Au) 3.47 3.3 4.23 3.05 Average Plant grade (g/tAg) 7.6 9.90 8.39 8.92 Gold produced (oz) 10,299 8,801 36,865 31,454 Silver produced (oz) 12,711 13,548 43,181 34,357 C1 Cash Cost (US$/AuEq oz) 924 917 685 729 All-in Sustaining Cost (US$/Au oz) 1,066 1,096 835 881 Realised gold price (US$/Au oz) 1,254 1,147 1,274 1,136 Realised silver price (US$/Ag oz) 18 15 17 15 Casposo Mine Production at Casposo for the quarter was impacted underground operation challenges and some mechanical issues. The company is working through these and hopes to meet production guidance for the year, despite this impact on production. The lower production has resulted in higher cash costs and AISC for the quarter on a per ounce basis. Casposo Mine March Quarter 2017 December Quarter 2016 Total Ore processed (t) 48,602 66,328 Gold recovery (%) 89% 91% Silver recovery (%) 86% 84% Average Plant Grade (g/tAu) 2.5 2.3 Average Plant Grade (g/tAg) 217.75 241.37 Gold produced (oz)* 3,487 4,489 Share of Gold produced (oz)** 2,008 2,289 Silver produced (oz)* 288,327 434,607 Share of Silver produced (oz)** 167,777 221,650 C1 Cash Cost (US$/AuEq oz) 1,058 969 All-in Sustaining Cost (US$/AuEq oz) 1,353 1,200 Realised gold price(US$/Au oz) 1,214 1,212 Realised silver price (US$/Ag oz) 17 16 *Production on 100% basis ** Calculation of production on a prorata basis following the % ownership interest of Austral Gold in Casposo: March 2017 quarter production (51% share to 5 March; 70% share to 31 March) and December 2016 quarter production (51% share) Summary of Financial Performance Austral Gold had a cash balance of US$4 million as of 31 March 2017. Main highlights related to cash flows during the quarter are as follows: Cash proceeds from the sale of gold and silver during the quarter were US$29.8 million of which the Guanaco mine contributed US$16.1 million and the Casposo mine contributed US$11.8 million. Recovery of VAT from Casposo operations contributed an additional US$2.9 million. A further 19% interest in the Casposo mine was acquired in early 2017 for US$1 million in addition to the payment of a further US$1 million related to the collection of VAT credits outstanding. During the quarter, Austral Gold loaned a further US$1.8 million to Casposo to finance capital purchases and working capital. A total of US$4.3 million has been loaned to Casposo since the acquisition in March 2017. A final payment of deferred consideration of US$92k was paid in relation to the 51% acquisition of the underground mining contractor Humberto Reyes. The Company is analysing the acquisition of the remaining 49%. Austral Gold held 2,312,000 warrants related to its 2013 purchase of an equity stake in Goldrock Mines Corp. These warrants converted to Fortuna Silver warrants when that company acquired Goldrock in August 2016 (converted at the acquisition ratio of 0.133133). For the quarter ended 31 March 2017, the Company exercised 238,515 warrants (US$1.1 million) and subsequently sold 730,985 shares of Fortuna Silver shares for proceeds of US$4.6 million (C$6.1 million) with a ~40% realised return (pre-tax). 344,463 warrants remain outstanding as of 31 March 2017. The loan receivable from Inversiones Financieras del Sur SA with a balance of US$2.7 million was fully repaid to Austral Gold on 1 February 2017. Austral Gold declared a A$0.009/share dividend in December 2016 for a total dividend of US$3.6 million. The dividend was paid on 1 February 2017. Staff costs increased for the March quarter mainly due to annual bonuses paid in Chile and Argentina. As scheduled, the legal process of collective bargaining with the union was started at the Guanaco mine during the period. Outlook Guanaco Production of gold equivalent ounces for the calendar year 2017 from the Guanaco mine is projected to be in the range of 45,000-50,000 ounces. Construction of the new agitation leach plant (Merrill-Crowe circuit) at Guanaco was largely completed (99.6% complete), with finalisation of the filters, minor piping and electrical connections to be finished. Wet testing of all tanks has been completed. Testing of the grinding circuit is pending, and will commence when the electrical grid interconnection to the national grid is finalized, both expected during the June quarter, 2017. Amancaya Site preparations at Amancaya have been advanced during the quarter, and onsite facilities and road works to the site are well advanced. Roscoe Postle and Associates (RPA) have been working on a prefeasibility study for the mining of Amancaya and treating of production at the new Guanaco agitation leach plant. This study should be completed during the June quarter, 2017. In anticipation of a favorable result, pre-stripping of the Central Vein has commenced. Casposo The Company paid $1 million to Troy Resources in March 2017 to acquire an additional 19% of Casposo Mine to increase ownership interest to 70%, as well as $1m from a VAT refund of $2.9m that was received. Expected production for the calendar year 2017 is 50,000 gold equivalent ounces with a goal of reaching an AISC of US$957 per ounce, as per the Casposo Gold-Silver Mine Technical Report, dated 7 September 2016, with an effective date of 30 of June 2016 and available on SEDAR under the Company's profile. Exploration Activities In February and March 2017 exploration drilling was conducted at the San Guillermo properties to the immediate south of the Central Vein at Amancaya. This area had been historically drilled by the previous owner with sporadic high grade gold grades reported (such as SG-051: 4m @ 10.6 g/t Au). A total of 4,331 metres in 16 holes were drilled (combined RC and DHH drilling). Results indicate the presence of up to four mineralized structures, mainly in the form of steeply dipping narrow quartz veinlets with some quartz stockworking, striking NNE. Whilst gold mineralization was intersected, given the true widths these are not considered significant. With this program the US$500k work commitment for first year exploration activities was satisfied, as per the agreement with Revelo Resources. For further information refer to the press release from 9 February 2016 at www.australgold.com. Further details can be found in the Company's Quarterly Activity Report filed at www.australgold.com, http://www.asx.com.au and on www.sedar.com. * Non-IFRS Measures The Company has included certain non-IFRS measures including "Cash cost per gold ounce sold" and "All-in sustaining cost per gold ounce sold" in this press release. Cash cost per gold ounce sold is equal to production costs less silver sales divided by gold ounces sold. All-in sustaining cost per gold ounce sold is equal to production costs less silver sales plus general and administrative expenses, exploration expenses, accretion of reclamation provision and sustaining capital expenditures divided by gold ounces sold. The Company believes that these measures provide investors with an improved ability to evaluate the performance of the Company. Non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS. Therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical content of this news release has been prepared by, or under the supervision of Michael Brown, MAIG, and has been reviewed and approved by him. Mr Brown is a Geologist and Member of Australian Institute of GeoScientists and an employee of Austral Gold Limited. Mr Brown is a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Austral Gold Austral Gold Limited is a growing precious metals mining, development and exploration company building a portfolio of quality assets in Chile and Argentina. The Company's flagship Guanaco project in Chile is a low-cost gold and silver producing mine with further exploration upside. The Company is also operator of the underground silver-gold Casposo mine in San Juan, Argentina. With an experienced local technical team and highly regarded major shareholder, Austral's goal is to continue to strengthen its asset base through acquisition and discovery. Austral Gold Limited is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV:AGLD), and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: AGD). For more information, please consult the company's website www.australgold.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. On behalf of Austral Gold Limited: "Stabro Kasaneva" CEO For Further Information Please Contact: Alison Crealy info@australgold.com.au +61 (2) 9380 7233 Mike Brown Mike.brown@australgold.com +1 604 568 2496 Forward Looking Statements Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical, and consist primarily of projections - statements regarding future plans, expectations and developments. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "potential", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import tend to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include; the Company's expectation that it will reach forecasted annual production as it continues to implement changes expected to improve operations at Casposo; the Company's production projection for Guanaco for calendar 2017 of 45,500-50,000 ounces of gold (AuEq oz), the Company expects to commence testing of the grinding circuit when the electrical grid interconnection to the national grid is finalized, both expected during the June quarter, 2017, expectation that a prefeasibility study for the mining of Amancaya and treating of production at the new Guanaco agitation leach plant should be completed during the June quarter, 2017 and its expectation that production for the calendar year 2017 at Casposo will be 50,000 gold equivalent ounces with a goal of reaching an AISC of US$957 per ounce. All of these forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied, including, without limitation, business integration risks; uncertainty of production, development plans and cost estimates, commodity price fluctuations; political or economic instability and regulatory changes; currency fluctuations, the state of the capital markets, uncertainty in the measurement of mineral reserves and resource estimates, Austral's ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and management, potential labour unrest, reclamation and closure requirements for mineral properties; unpredictable risks and hazards related to the development and operation of a mine or mineral property that are beyond the Company's control, the availability of capital to fund all of the Company's projects and other risks and uncertainties identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed on S EDAR. You are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Austral cannot assure you that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Austral's forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and Austral does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Elektrenai, Lithuania, 2017-04-28 15:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lietuvos Energijos Gamyba, AB, legal entity code 302648707, the registered office address is Elektrines st. 21, Elektrenai (hereinafter - the Company). Overall number of ordinary registered shares is 635 083 615, ISIN code - LT0000128571. The Company presents preliminary, non-audited financial indicators for January-March period of 2017: -- The preliminary Company's sales revenue of the January-March period of 2017 are EUR 31.79 million and are 5 percent smaller than the revenue of the January-March period of 2016 (EUR 33.46 million). -- The preliminary Company's profit of the January-March period of 2017, excluding interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) reaches EUR 14.50 million and is 52 percent bigger than the profit of January-March period of 2016 (EUR 9.56 million). -- The preliminary Company's net profit of the January-March period of 2017 reaches EUR 3.97 million and is 72 percent smaller than the net profit of January-March period of 2016 (EUR 13.96 million). The main reason for the loss of sales revenue is a huge decrease of electricity production in Elektrenai Complex, which produced only 6 GWh of electricity during the first three months of 2017. The electricity production units in Elektrenai were not generating electricity due to fairly smaller prices of electricity in exchange, which were smaller than the prices at the beginning of 2016. As a result, the combined cycle gas turbine unit in Elektrenai Complex could not operate competitively, hence, it was activated only once. Last year in the same period it was activated nine times and produced nearly nine times more electricity (34 GWh). The generation of Kruonis pumped storage power plant produced was by third smaller during the January-March period of 2017 compared to the same period of 2016 (104 MWh and 153 MWh respectively). One of the major reasons for the increase in EBITDA earnings is the flood, which made the Kaunas Algirdas Brazauskas Hydroelectric Power Plant generate a greater amount of energy. During the January-March period of 2017 this power plant produced 132 GWh of electricity, i. e. 12 percent more than in the same period in 2016 (118 GWh). Overall, the power plants of the Company produced 242 GWh of electricity during the January-March period of 2017 - 21 percent less than during the same period in 2016 (305 GWh). The increase in EBITDA is also stimulated by the fact that in 2017 Company's revenue from regulated activities was not reduced due to the regulation of commercial production and inspection of the Company's activity in 2010-2012. As a result of the decisions of The National Commission for Energy Control and Prices, financial reports of the Company in 2016 January-March did not acknowledge a part of regulated activity income and this had a negative impact of EUR 5.8 million on the EBITDA indicator of the Company. The change in the Company's net profit (compared to the results of January-March period of 2017 and January-March period of 2016) emerged due to the effect of one-off factors - the selling result of the business part, which was calculated in early 2016 (EUR 19,5 million). If the sale of the part of the business was excluded, the Company would be experiencing an increase in net profit. "The changing market conditions imply that our power plants face a greater rivalry. We take this challenge seriously, therefore, we effectively manage our costs. In addition, we support the availability of operating facilities in order to be able to start producing electricity in time and contribute to a proper supply of electricity to customers and to the stabilization of electricity prices on the market. We are also actively implementing the Company's strategy which is aimed at making our employees dedicate their competency and time to delivering new services - in March we provided the first maintenance services to external customers", - chairwoman of the Company's board and CEO of the Company Egle Ciuzaite points out the most important activity issues for 2017. Interim financial statements and the interim report of the Company for the three month period of 2017 will be published on 15 May 2017. Valentas Neviera, Head of Communication Division, tel. +370 670 25997, e-mail. valentas.neviera@le.lt Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius AB (hereinafter - the Company or ESO), identification code 304151376, registered office placed at Aguonu str. 24, Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania. The total number of registered ordinary shares issued by company is 894 630 333; ISIN code LT0000130023. Electricity and natural gas distribution company ESO during the three months of 2017 earned EUR 28.5 million net profit - 7.5% less compared to January-March of 2016. Net profit decreased due to lower revenue. ESO revenue during January-March of 2017 amounted to EUR 168.5 million and, compared to the same period of 2016, decreased by 7.6%, when it totalled EUR 182.5 million. Revenue decreased due to lower electricity and natural gas distribution service prices to the customers. During January-March of 2017 ESO EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) amounted to EUR 45.1 million - 7.8% less compared to the same period of 2016, when EBITDA was equal to EUR 48.9 million. Adjusted EBITDA* on a comparable time increased by 9.7% to EUR 46.9 million due to implemented investments of the Company. "Since 2017 we have reduced the prices of services to our customers - since January electricity prices for residents decreased 5% on average. This year we are continue to seek further measures to increase efficiency and ensure favourable prices to our customers. To that end, we started Operational Excellence Program, and to improve the quality of customer service we launched a Unified customer service standard. During the first quarter we have continued our consistent invested in upgrading the electricity network and developed our services cart," - said Chief Executive Officer of ESO Mrs. Dalia Andrulioniene. ESO interim report for the three months of 2017 is due to be published on 15 May. *The Company adjusted EBITDA due to: -- The National commission for Energy Control and Prices (hereinafter - the Commission) recounting on the return of investment during the reporting period which is related to the Company's profit, which excessed Commission's allowable return on investment during previous periods; -- Profit earned during reporting period which excess the Commission's allowable return on investment. The Company does not evaluate the Commission's established incentive mechanism to influence adjusted EBITDA, according which return on investment for 2016 and 2017 can be increased due to operational efficiency, which the Company will have to justify to the Commission. Representative for Public Relations Martynas Burba, tel. (8~5) 2514516. Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de The following decisions were taken at the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Vilkyskiu pienine AB which was held on the 28 April 2017: Item 1 of the Agenda: Approval of Company's consolidated annual report for the year 2016. Resolution: Company's consolidated annual report for the year 2016 has been approved. Item 2 of the Agenda: The announcement of Auditor's Report regarding the Company's Financial Statements for the year 2016. Heard. Item 3 of the Agenda: Approval Company's annual and consolidated financial statements of the year 2016. Resolution: To approve of Company's annual and consolidated financial statements of the year 2016. Item 4 of the Agenda: Profit (loss) appropriation for the year 2016. Resolution: To approve the non-appropriated profit (loss) appropriation as follows under IAS: thousan d EUR -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Non-appropriated profit (loss) at the end of the year 2015 9,681 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Approved by shareholders dividends of the year 2015 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Transfers to reserves provided by law 0,454 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Portion of the profit allocated to the reserve for the purchase of - own shares -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) Non-appropriated profit (loss) at the beginning of the current 9,681 financial year after dividends payout and transfer to reserves -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) Net profit (loss) of the reporting period 6,991 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) Transfers from reserves 150 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) Total profit (loss) to be appropriated: 16,822 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - portion of the profit allocated to the legal reserve - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - portion of the profit allocated to the reserve for the purchase of - own shares -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - portion of the profit allocated for payment of the dividends 1,433* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - portion of the profit allocated to the other reserves - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) Non-appropriated profit (loss) at the end of the current financial 15,389 year carried forward to next financial year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *it will be allocated 0.12 eur per ordinary registered share. In total to the dividends payout Eur 1,433,160 eur. Item 5 of the Agenda: A decision on the purchase of own shares. Resolution: A decision with regard to the purchase of own shares has been approved: a) To purchase up to 10 percent of the Company's shares. b) The purpose of acquisition of own shares - to maintain and increase the price of the Company's shares. c) Period during which the Company may acquire own shares - until 27 April 2018. d) To set the maximum price per share of own shares to be acquired - at 2.10 EUR, at the same time setting the minimum acquisition price per share equal to the nominal value of a share, i.e. 0.29 EUR. e) To commit the Board to organize the purchase of own shares, to determine the procedure for purchase and sale of shares, time, number of shares and price, as well as to perform other actions relating thereto in compliance with the terms set in this resolution as well as in accordance with the requirements established in the Republic of Lithuania Law of Companies. Item 6 of the Agenda: Election of the independent member of Audit Committee. Resolution: To elect the independent member of Audit Committee Vilma Morkaitiene, the accountant of the Company "Bonus modus", UAB Item 7 of the Agenda: Election of the Company's Audit firm and setting the conditions of payment. 1) To elect "PricewaterhouseCoopers", UAB as the Company's Audit firm for the year 2017, 2018 and 2019. 2) To authorize Mr. Gintaras Bertasius, the Company's General Director, to contract with "PricewaterhouseCoopers", UAB and to set the conditions of payment for the services. Vilija Milaseviciute Economics and Finance director phone +370 441 55102 Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX VENTURE: CXB) (the "Company" or "Calibre") announces results on the Company's 100% owned Monte Carmelo Gold Project (the "Project") located within the 876 km2 Borosi Concessions, Northeast Nicaragua. Highlights -- The maiden drilling program on the 100% owned Monte Carmelo Gold Skarn Project consisted of 8 holes for 2100 metres and is now completed. -- All holes intersected skarn mineralization with variable anomalous in gold, silver, copper, and iron. -- Results include; 29.5 m grading 0.58 g/t Au, 4.9 g/t Ag and 0.22 % Cu from surface including 10.5 metres grading 1.43 g/t Au and 7.5 g/t Ag and 0.32 % Cu (0 - 10.5m). -- Additionally, the maiden drilling program on the 100% owned Santa Maria low sulphidation epithermal gold-silver project will commence in the near term. President and CEO Greg Smith stated: "Calibre continues to aggressively advance the Company's 100% owned gold projects in the Borosi District. The Phase 1 drilling at Monte Carmelo tested one of several targets within the Project which hosts additional potential for high grade gold skarn mineralization. This initial eight hole drill program intersected the targeted gold-silver-copper-iron skarn mineralization but we have yet to find the source for the high grade gold samples from the surface and auger drilling work. The Monte Carmelo diamond drill rig has now been moved to the 100% owned Santa Maria gold-silver project to initiate a minimum 2,500 m drill program." 100% Owned Monte Carmelo Gold Skarn The maiden drilling program at the 100% owned Monte Carmelo Gold Skarn Project consisting of eight diamond drill holes totalling 2100 metres has been completed and all assay results have been received. The drilling targeting high-grade gold skarn mineralization exposed on surface and tested by an extensive program of auger drilling. All drill holes intersected skarn mineralization consisting of garnet and magnetite skarn developed in calcareous sediments, limestone, and intrusives. Mineralization consist of massive and veined zones with anomalous levels of gold and silver with variable copper associated with iron and lesser amounts of zinc, lead, and arsenic. Drill hole MD17-006 intersected a broad iron rich zone from surface with 29.5 m grading 0.58 g/t Au, 4.9 g/t Ag and 0.22 % Cu from surface including 10.5 metres grading 1.43 g/t Au and 7.5 g/t Ag and 0.32 % Cu (0 - 10.5m). Drill hole MD17-007 intersected a highly mineralized iron rich zone consisting of magnetite skarn averaging 0.28 g/t Au, 6.34 g/t Ag, 0.33 % Cu, and 0.20 % Zn over 14.5 metres (83.8 - 98.3 m). Additionally the hole intersected 0.36 g/t Au, 65.8 g/t Ag, and 3.51% Cu over 1.53 m (74.72 - 76.25m) and a third intercept from surface of 7.0m grading 0.45 g/t Au, 1.9 g/t Ag, and 0.11% Cu. Diamond drill hole MD17-001 intersected 2.1 metres grading 0.36 g/t Au (36.6 - 38.7m) and a second intercept of 1.1m grading 0.16 g/t Au and 3.62 % Zn (127 - 128.1m). Drill hole MD17-002 intersected 2.0 metres grading 0.10 g/t Au and 0.48 % Cu (120.25 - 122.25m). MD17-003 intersected a narrow zone of weakly to moderately anomalous mineralization which included 331 ppm Mo (molybdenum) over 3.71 metres (110.66 - 114.37m). Drill hole MD17-004 intersected a near surface, broad mineralized zone with low grade gold and silver values grading 0.22 % Cu and 0.51 % Zn over 47.28 metres (7.62 - 54.9m). MD17-005 contains a narrow zone grading 1.19 g/t Au over 1.15 metres (50-45 - 51.6m). Drill hole MD17-008 intersected a near surface zone of 9.4 metres grading 0.15 g/t Au (0.0 - 9.4m) and a second intercept of 4.95m grading 0.14 g/t Au (63.05 - 68.0m). Overall the intercepts define a variably mineralized flatly dipping zone consisting of broad anomalous zones with irregular higher grade structures related to the contact of two intrusive phases (granite and granodiorite) and the calcareous sediment and limestone host rocks. 100% Owned Santa Maria Gold-Silver Project The maiden drilling program, consisting of a minimum of 2500 metres of diamond drilling, is expected to commence in the near term. Calibre is committed to best practice standards for all exploration, sampling and drilling activities. Drilling is being completed by independent firm Kluane Drilling Ltd. Analytical quality assurance and quality control procedures include the systematic insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates into the sample strings. Samples are placed in sealed bags and shipped directly to Acme Labs (a Bureau Veritas Group Company) in Managua, Nicaragua for sample preparation and then to Acme Labs in Vancouver, Canada for 50 gram gold fire assay and ICP-MS multi element analyses. The technical content in this news release was read and approved by Gregory Smith, P.Geo, President and CEO of the Company who is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. About Calibre Mining Corp. Calibre owns a 100% interest in over 413 km2 of mineral concessions in the Mining Triangle of Northeast Nicaragua including the Primavera Gold-Copper Project and Monte Carmelo Gold Project. Additionally the Company has optioned to IAMGOLD (176 km2) and Centerra Gold (253 km2) concessions covering an aggregate area of 429 km2 and is party to a joint venture on the 33.6 km2 Rosita D gold-copper-silver project with Rosita Mining Corporation. Major shareholders of Calibre include gold producer B2Gold Corp, Pierre Lassonde and management. Calibre Mining Corp. Greg Smith, P.Geo. President and CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or does not expect", "is expected", anticipates" or "does not anticipate" "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results " may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Safe Harbor Statement under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements including but not limited to those with respect to the price of gold, potential mineralization, reserve and resource determination, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of the Company involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Atlas to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements Contacts: Ryan King 604 628-1012 www.calibremining.com RIO DE JANEIRO, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Spanish resort Barcelo Bavaro, located in a heavenly place of Dominican Republic, is hosting Zumba week June 11-18th. Barcelo, in its policy of annual activities around its resort of Playa Bavaro, call to action to all Brazilians who practice zumba or would like to learn this discipline. Zumba mixes fitness and dance and attracts millions of people around the world. "...for that reason we call all followers to join the week of the Zumba that will take place in a great location", says Barcelo Zumba Week organisers. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/487281/Barcelo_Hotels_Logo.jpg ) The Zumba classes available during this week include Zumba Sentao, Zumba Beach, Aqua Zumba, Zumba Fitness and Zumba Step. The week ends with a Dance for Life Zumbathon. According to resort management, this is will be a great week because "if you like to practice Zumba, this is the place. Seven days in June in which to tone your body and enjoy fun choreographed routines with certified instructors in an incomparable framework that is the Caribbean". Barcelo Bavaro Grand Resort Hotel, in Playa Bavaro, Punta Cana, offers more than a week of Zumba by including: "numerous activities, different thematic weeks during the year, shops, casino and a first-rate spa to complete the experience in a leisurely and relaxed atmosphere." Alfonso Lopez alopez@3aww.com +34-626-00-35-71 TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- SelectCore Ltd. ("SelectCore" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: SCG) is pleased to announce that it was able to settle debts of $2,749,000 related to its telecommunication business for an aggregate amount of $478,000 net. The Company has successfully negotiated the discount and terms on the mentioned debt, and has funded the necessary payments. The full settled amount of $478,000 has been paid in full, with the last tranche was recently funded. "The Company has strived to cleanse its balance sheet and will continue to do so, as a stronger balance sheet will enable SelectCore to achieve more corporate and governmental business," stated Mohammad Abuleil, President of SelectCore. About SelectCore Established in 1999, SelectCore is a leading prepaid financial services provider and transaction processor for under-banked and underserved markets. From prepaid mobile top-up to stored-value cards and remittance solutions, SelectCore services a market of millions of under-banked consumers through its technology platforms and extensive retail distribution network. SelectCore is a publicly traded company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "SCG" (TSX VENTURE: SCG). SelectCore was ranked by Profit100 as one of Canada's fastest-growing companies in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. SelectCore was also ranked one of North America's fastest growing companies on Deloitte's 2011 Technology Fast 500. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions, uncertainties and management's best estimates of future events. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements are detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Ontario Securities Commission and other regulatory authorities. The Company has no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contacts: SelectCore Ltd. Mohammad Abuleil (866) 825-1267 ext. 246 mabuleil@selectcore.com www.selectcore.com NEWARK, NY--(Marketwired - April 28, 2017) - IEC Electronics Corp. (NYSE MKT: IEC) today announced that it will host a conference call on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss its financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended March 31, 2017. The conference call may be accessed in the U.S. and Canada by dialing toll-free (877) 407-9210. International callers may access the call by dialing (201) 689-8049. A replay of the teleconference will be available for 30 days after the call and may be accessed domestically by dialing (877) 481-4010 and international callers may dial (919) 882-2331. Callers must enter conference ID: 10352. To access the live webcast, log onto the IEC website at http://www.iec-electronics.com. The webcast can also be accessed at http://www.InvestorCalendar.com. An online replay will be available shortly after the call. About IEC Electronics IEC Electronics is a provider of electronic manufacturing services ("EMS") to advanced technology companies that produce life-saving and mission critical products for the medical, industrial, aerospace and defense sectors. The Company specializes in delivering technical solutions for the custom manufacture of complex full system assemblies by providing on-site analytical testing laboratories, custom design and test engineering services combined with a broad array of manufacturing services encompassing electronics, interconnect solutions, and precision metalworking. As a full service EMS provider, IEC holds all appropriate certifications for the market sectors it supports including ISO 9001:2008, AS9100C, ISO 13485, and Nadcap. IEC Electronics is headquartered in Newark, NY and also has operations in Rochester, NY and Albuquerque, NM. Additional information about IEC can be found on its web site at www.iec-electronics.com. Contact: Audra Gavelis Director of Marketing & Investor Relations IEC Electronics Corp. (315) 332-4559 agavelis@iec-electronics.com Vilnius, Lithuania, 2017-04-28 15:23 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For 3 months of 2017, the unaudited consolidated net profit of the INVL Baltic Real Estate group was EUR 360 thousand, revenue was EUR 1,669 thousand (for 3 months of 2016 consolidated net profit was EUR 341 thousand, revenue was EUR 1,618 thousand). Additional information: The real estate investment company INVL Baltic Real Estate had consolidated net operating income from properties it owns of EUR 586 000 in the first quarter of this year, which was 10.9 per cent less than in the same period last year due to investments in the renovation of properties. The company's consolidated revenue in the first quarter was EUR 1.67 million and increased 3.15 per cent from the same period of 2016. It included EUR 934 000 of consolidated leasing income from owned properties, which grew 3.78 per cent. INVL Baltic Real Estate's equity value at 31 March 2017 was EUR 31.4 million, or EUR 0.48 per share. The company had a first-quarter consolidated net profit of EUR 360 000, which is 5.57 per cent more than in the first quarter last year. "We continue actively working with the properties we own, especially the newest acquisition -the Vilnius Gates complex- where we've further enlarged the circle of tenants. Based on a lease agreement signed in March, Xcelsior Vilnius, which represents well-known modern furniture designers and manufacturers, will be moving in here, so we'll be able to offer visitors to the business centre a chance to get acquainted with their creations," said Vytautas Baksinskas, a real estate fund manager at INVL Asset Management, which manages INVL Baltic Real Estate. On the basis of the lease agreements signed as of the end of the first quarter, occupancy of the premises which INVL Baltic Real Estate owns at Vilnius Gates according to the lease agreements exceeds 90 per cent. The 'Rise Vilnius' innovation and IT startup space and one of Swedbank's non-financial service departments have already moved in, and they will be joined in the middle of this year and early 2018 by companies that INVL Technology owns. With the new tenants at the Vilnius Gates complex, the average occupancy of the company's property holdings at the end of the first quarter was 85 per cent and was up 7 percentage points from a year earlier. INVL Baltic Real Estate manages 58 000 square meters of real estate at strategically attractive locations in Vilnius and Riga valued at EUR 52 million: office and commercial premises at the Vilnius Gates complex in the Lithuanian capital, the IBC Business Centre near Konstitucijos Avenue, office buildings in the Old Town on Vilniaus Street and in Siaures Miestelis, office and warehouse premises in Kirtimai, and the Dommo Business Park manufacturing, warehouse and office complex beside the Riga bypass. Since 22 December 2016, INVL Baltic Real Estate has operated as a closed-end investment company. Management of the company has been assumed by INVL Asset Management, one of Lithuania's leading asset management firms. The company will operate as a closed-end investment company until 2046, with extension possible for another 20 years. The person authorized to provide additional information: Real Estate Fund Manager of Management Company Vytautas Baksinskas E-mail vytautas.baksinskas@invl.com Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=628632 Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Tomislav Babic M.D., Ph.D., and Miroslav Backonja, M.D., to discuss disease-modifying drug development in Alzheimer's disease and central neuropathic pain in MS and NMO Two leading central nervous system (CNS) experts from Worldwide Clinical Trials (www.worldwide.com) will present at the 6th Adriatic Neurology Forum (ANF), being held 3-7 May in Opatija, Croatia. Tomislav Babic, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President of Neuroscience, who also supported the organization of this year's ANF sessions, will discuss "Disease Modifying Drug Development in Alzheimer's Disease" on Friday, 5 May at 9:50 a.m. CEST. Dr. Babic will cover diagnostic and methodological challenges in early and preclinical Alzheimer's disease. On Saturday, 6 May at 11:25 a.m. CEST, Miroslav Backonja, M.D., Senior Medical Director of Neuroscience, will make a presentation titled "Central Neuropathic Pain in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)." Dr. Backonja will review clinical presentations of central neuropathic pain in MS and NMO, and the role of central pain mechanisms. "Over the course of the forum, attendees will hear from speakers on a wide range of topics. In our sessions, Dr. Backonja and I will be touching on the pharmacotherapy and non-pharmacological approaches to the treatment of neuropathic pain, failures in Alzheimer's disease clinical research, and our personal recommendations for study designs," commented Dr. Babic. "The ANF has become a traditional gathering of leading neurologists and neuroscientists from across the globe, and is a fantastic platform for both leading experts in the field and newcomers to meet, learn and network." The ANF is a joint annual conference of Croatian and Serbian neurologists, dedicated to discussing and exploring emerging trends in the fields of epilepsy, MS and neurodegenerative diseases. Attendees will benefit from scientific exchange during the formal activities and informal meetings with colleagues, with the chance to hear talks from experts from across the world. To register for this event and to find out more information, please visit www.neuronet.hr. Connect with Worldwide Clinical Trials: Tweet: @worldwidetrials experts to present at Adriatic Neurology Forum 2017 @worldwidetrials experts to present at Adriatic Neurology Forum 2017 Follow us on Twitter: @worldwidetrials @worldwidetrials Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/worldwide-clinical-trials-inc- About Worldwide Clinical Trials Worldwide Clinical Trials employs more than 1,400 professionals around the world, with offices in North and South America, Eastern and Western Europe, Russia and Asia. One of the world's leading, full-service contract research organizations (CROs), we partner with sponsors in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to deliver fully integrated clinical development and bioanalytical services, extending from first-in-human through phase IV studies. Grounded in medicine and science, we help sponsors move from discovery into clinical development and commercialization across a range of therapeutic areas, including neuroscience, cardiovascular diseases, immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (IMID), and rare diseases. For more information, visit worldwide.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170428005501/en/ Contacts: Worldwide Clinical Trials LuJean Smith, 610-329-2056 lujean.smith@worldwide.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Donald Trump has warned the U.S. could face a major conflict with North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs. 'There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely,' Trump said in an interview with Reuters on Thursday. Trump said he wants to resolve the standoff with North Korea peacefully but argued a diplomatic solution is 'very difficult.' Administration officials have declared an end to the 'strategic patience' previous presidents have shown toward North Korea and said the use of military force against the communist nation is 'on the table.' In the interview with Reuters, Trump praised the efforts of Chinese President Xi Jinping in trying to rein in North Korea. 'I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesn't want to see turmoil and death. He doesn't want to see it,' Trump said of Xi. 'He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well.' 'With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China,' the president added. 'I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he can't.' Trump met with Xi at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida earlier this month and has had subsequent phone calls with his Chinese counterpart. A White House statement on a call between Trump and Xi earlier this week said the two leaders reaffirmed the urgency of the threat posed by North Korea's missile and nuclear programs. Trump and Xi also committed to strengthen coordination in achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the White House said. Regarding other issues on the Korean Peninsula, Trump told Reuters he intends to renegotiate or terminate a free trade agreement with South Korea because of the deep U.S. trade deficit with the country. Trump also said he wants South Korea to pay the estimated $1 billion cost of the THAAD missile defense system. (Photo: Gage Skidmore) Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- Tauriga Sciences Inc. (OTC PINK: TAUG) ("Tauriga" or "the Company"), a Company engaged in the building of businesses in the life sciences space, has today announced that a court date had been set for 1:30pm EST Tuesday, May 23, 2017 in the Federal District Court - New Jersey. At this hearing, there will be oral arguments required for the Motions to: Set Matter for Trial ("Assignment of Trial Date") and Trial By Jury ("Assignment of Jury Trial"). The Company will be represented in person by its lead litigation counsel, Mr. Paul K. Silverberg, and its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Seth M. Shaw. The Company will update shareholders, via a press release, as to the disposition(s) of the May 23, 2017 court date. The Case Name is: "Tauriga Sciences, Inc. v. Cowan, Gunteski & Co. P.A. et al" (Case No. 3:16-cv-06285-PGS-DEA). Tauriga's CEO Mr. Seth M. Shaw expressed, "The Company continues to work diligently to effectively prosecute this lawsuit and protect the long term interests of its many shareholders. The Company is highly confident in the merits of its case and looks forward to trying this lawsuit in New Jersey Federal District Court." ABOUT TAURIGA SCIENCES, INC. Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (OTC PINK: TAUG) is a fully reporting life sciences company engaged in the development, marketing, distribution and potential licensing of a broad array of products and technologies that may help individuals who are affected by muscle tension. The Company has already identified potential products and technologies of interest and is actively working towards the goal of creating an innovative product line to launch the business activities of ColluMauxil Therapeutics LLC (The Company's previously announced new planned wholly owned subsidiary). The Company believes that one of its most important strengths is its access to and relationships with potentially substantial distribution systems and networks. The Company intends to capitalize on distribution opportunities and will continually update shareholders on such developments. The Company is also prosecuting (as Plaintiff) its ongoing malpractice lawsuit against its predecessor audit firm, for which it's seeking monetary damages in excess of $4,500,000 USD. NON SOLICITATION: This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted. Any securities offered or issued in connection with the above-referenced merger and/or investment have not been registered, and will be offered pursuant to an exemption from registration. DISCLAIMER: Forward-Looking Statements: Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation: expectations, expects, anticipates, believes, hopes, beliefs, plans and objectives regarding the development, use and marketability of products as well as the attainment of certain corporate goals and milestones (i.e. SEC Periodic Filings, Filing of Proxies, etc.). Such forward-looking statements are based on present circumstances and on Tauriga's predictions with respect to events that have not occurred, that may not occur, or that may occur with different consequences and timing than those now assumed or anticipated. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include general economic and business conditions, the ability to successfully develop and market products, consumer and business consumption habits, the ability to fund operations and other factors over which Tauriga has little or no control. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release, and Tauriga assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed in documents filed from time to time by Tauriga with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release does not and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy any of the securities, nor shall there be any sale of the securities, in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. The securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration, or an applicable exemption from registration, under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Tauriga Sciences, Inc. Mr. Seth M. Shaw Chairman & Chief Executive Officer email: sshaw@tauriga.com cell # (917) 796 9926 fax # (514) 221 3336 WINNIPEG, MANITOBA and THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- The North West Company Inc. ("North West") (TSX: NWC) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire North Star Air Ltd. ("NSA"), a Thunder Bay based airline, providing cargo and passenger services within northwestern Ontario. "North West is a great fit with NSA," said NSA President & CEO, Frank Kelner. "We pride ourselves on being the very best community and customer-driven northern airline. North West has a long history of operating in the north and is committed to improving a vital part of the supply chain to better serve its communities and customers. We look forward to working with the new ownership in taking this airline to the next level." "Moving goods is critical to our success and NSA is a proven, superior performer," said North West President & CEO, Edward Kennedy. "We expect to continue to rely on third party carriers in many regions, but with NSA we will have options to compete and deliver faster, more consistent service to our customers where the opportunity or the need arises." North West will acquire NSA for approximately CAD$31 million (subject to customary closing adjustments) plus closing expenses. North West also expects to make immediate follow-on investments of approximately CAD$14 million for additional airplane and hub capacity. In aggregate, these investments are expected to deliver approximately $8 million of annualized earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") plus approximately $2 million in avoided carrier cost increases. North West will pay for the purchase price and follow-on investments in cash, financed through existing credit facilities. In connection with the acquisition and in order to hold licenses necessary to operate an air carrier, North West is required to comply with Canadian ownership rules under the Canada Transportation Act. North West will be seeking shareholder approval to create a variable voting share structure similar to that of other Canadian airlines subject to these regulations at its Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders on June 14, 2017. Closing of the acquisition, which is expected to occur in June, 2017, is subject to North West shareholder approval of the proposed variable voting share structure, Toronto Stock Exchange approval, and other customary closing conditions. Investor Conference Call North West will host a conference call to discuss the acquisition on April 28, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. (Central Standard Time). To access the call, please dial 416-641-6150 or 866-696-5894 with a pass code of 8878724. The conference call will be archived and can be accessed by dialing 905-694-9451 or 800-408-3053 with a pass code of 6624943 until May 28, 2017. About NSA and North West NSA is a privately-held airline that was founded in 1997. It has grown rapidly over the past three years and today operates a fleet of 11 aircraft providing cargo and passenger services, primarily within northwestern Ontario, with bases in Thunder Bay, Pickle Lake and Red Lake. The North West Company Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading retailer of food and everyday products and services to rural communities and urban neighbourhoods in Canada, Alaska, the South Pacific and the Caribbean. North West operates 241 stores under the trading names Northern, NorthMart, Giant Tiger, Alaska Commercial Company, Cost-U-Less and RiteWay Food Markets and has annualized sales of approximately CAD$1.8 billion. The common shares of North West trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "NWC". Forward Looking Information and Non-GAAP Financial Measures Certain information included in this press release is forward looking, within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In particular, North West's expectations regarding the benefits to be achieved by the acquisition constitute forward looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. There is no assurance that this transaction will close. North West does not intend to provide further updates regarding this transaction unless and until there are material developments, in which case North West will disclose those developments in accordance with its disclosure obligations under applicable law. Additional information on North West and other risks can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on North West's website at www.northwest.ca. This press release refers to "EBITDA", which is not a recognized financial measure under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). North West's method of calculating EBITDA may differ from other companies and may not be comparable to measures used by other companies. See the "Non-GAAP" measures section of North West's MD&A for further information. Contacts: Contact for NSA: Frank Kelner President & Chief Executive Officer (807) 474-2895 fkelner@cargonorth.ca Contact for North West: Edward Kennedy President & Chief Executive Officer (204) 934-1482 ekennedy@northwest.ca PORTLAND, Oregon and PUNE, India, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Aircraft Cabin Lighting Market by Type, Fit, and Aircraft Type: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014-2022," the global aircraft cabin lighting market is estimated to reach $2,033 million by 2022, registering a CAGR of 5.3% from 2016 to 2022. In 2015, the wall, floor, and ceiling lights dominated the global aircraft cabin lighting market, in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue during the forecast period. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140911/647229 ) Summary of the Aircraft Cabin Lighting Market Report can be accessed on the website at:https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/aircraft-cabin-lighting-market The installation of aircraft cabin lighting systems is enhanced, owing to increase in air travel. Airline operators are replacing old traditional lights with LED lights to reduce aircraft weight, reduce fuel cost and increase in efficiency. Traditional lighting equipment consumes more power, thereby increasing the overall operational cost. The global aircraft cabin lighting market is driven by factors such as increase in air travel, growth in use of energy-efficient lighting systems, rise in demand for retrofit lighting systems, upsurge in competition among existing aircraft operators, increase in focus on enhancing travel experience for passengers, and high demand for aftermarket and maintenance of aircraft. However, high costs hamper the market growth. Furthermore, growth in demand for air travel across emerging countries, such as Asia-Pacific and LAMEA, with heavy government investments is expected to present lucrative opportunities for the aircraft cabin lighting market growth. The wall, floor, and ceiling lighting systems accounted for major market share in 2015, generating $855 million by 2022, registering a CAGR of 6.1%, owing to availability of innovative and energy-efficient lighting systems. Technological advancements in LED and organic LED lighting systems further drive the adoption of these lighting systems. The wall, floor, and ceiling lighting systems market is expected to generate $855 million by 2022, registering a CAGR of 6.1%. Get Customized Market Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/2134 The retrofit lighting system market accounted for the highest share in the global aircraft cabin lighting market in 2015. Retrofit lighting, increases energy savings, improves safety, and offers increased productivity while reduces operation & maintenance costs, decreases heat emission of LEDs, and reduces light pollution. The aircraft cabin lighting system is installed in aircraft such as wide-body aircrafts, narrow-body aircrafts, very large aircrafts, and regional jets. In 2015, wide-body aircrafts accounted for the highest share in the global aircraft cabin lighting market, and is estimated to reach $808 million by 2022, registering a CAGR of 5.2%. The increase in air traffic in emerging economies of Asia-Pacific and LAMEA drives the wide-body aircraft market. The growth in usage of energy efficient lights in aircraft and high maintenance of the aircraft supplement the growth of wide-body aircrafts. The innovation in design & technology by key players provides the wide-body aircraft market an opportunity to strengthen their market position. According to Seapee Bajaj, Research Analyst, Aerospace & Defense, Allied Market Research, "Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period, owing to growth in aviation industry, privatization of airline operators, and increase in investment initiatives by the government." North America generated the highest revenue in the global aircraft cabin lighting market in 2015, accounting for $500 million, and is projected to reach $676 million by 2022, registering a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period. This is attributed to increase in air traffic and rise in competition among existing aircraft operators and increase in inflow of investment in the defense sector and technological advancements. Check offers and discount on Aircraft Cabin Lighting Market report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/get-discount/2134 KEY FINDINGS OF THE STUDY In 2015, wall, floor, and ceiling lighting systems accounted for the major share in the global market, in terms of revenue, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period. The retrofit lighting system accounted for the highest share of around 56% in 2015. In 2015, North America generated the highest revenue, accounting for around 35% of the global market. generated the highest revenue, accounting for around 35% of the global market. Asia-Pacific aircraft cabin lighting market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 6.6%. The renowned companies profiled in the report include Diehl Aerospace GmbH, STG Aerospace Ltd, United Technologies Corporation, B/E Aerospace, Inc, Astronics Corporation, Zodiac Aerospace, Honeywell International Inc., Soderberg Manufacturing Company Inc., Aveo Engineering Group, and Cobham PLC. These companies have consistently launched new products and introduced novel technologies to cater to the requirements of consumers. A significant increase in inflow of investments was observed for R&D activities among private and public organizations to facilitate product innovation and develop customized solutions. Read similar market research reports on Aerospace & Defence at:https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/aerospace-&-defence/space-market-report About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions". AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: Pankaj Kumar 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 UK: + 44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: + 852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-855-550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com https://blog.alliedmarketresearch.com TORONTO, ONTARIO and NUCLA, COLORADO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- Western Uranium Corporation (CSE: WUC)(CSE: WUC.CN)(OTCQX: WSTRF) ("Western" or the "Company") announces that the management team will be attending the Mines and Money New York conference to be held from May 3-4, 2017 at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City. Western's Chief Executive Officer, George Glasier will be presenting on Thursday May 4th and the team will be participating in uranium roundtable discussions and available for investor meetings throughout the conference. Mines and Money sponsors a series of international investment conferences focused on mining, which bring together natural resources investors with a broad range of public mining companies. Mr. Glasier will be available for one-on-one meetings and to schedule a meeting, please contact Mr. Glasier using the details below. About Western Uranium Corporation Western Uranium Corporation is a Colorado based uranium and vanadium conventional mining company focused on low cost near-term production of uranium and vanadium in the western United States and development and application of ablation mining technology. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND CAUTIONARY NOTE This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Contacts: George Glasier President and CEO Mobile: 970-778-9195 gglasier@western-uranium.com Michael Skutezky Chairman of the Board Office: 416-564-2870 mskutezky@western-uranium.com FORT LAUDERDALE, FL and DAVIE, FL--(Marketwired - April 28, 2017) - Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world and Broward County, Florida ranks among the highest incidences in the nation. Nova Southeastern University is making a concerted effort to increase awareness of the problem. As part of that initiative, Greg Wright, a multimedia producer in NSU's Office of Innovation and Information Technology, created a public service announcement (PSA) that was recognized recently with a Telly Award, one of the most sought after honors in the TV industry. The four-minute PSA, titled "Human Trafficking - Modern Day Slavery," features two faculty members from the NSU College of Health Care Sciences who founded Coalition for Research and Education against Trafficking and Exploitation (CREATE), a program that teaches South Florida health care professionals about the signs of human trafficking. "The goal is to help health workers at all levels in our community detect human trafficking and, hopefully, intervene to help stop this terrible cycle," said Fred Lippman, R.Ph., Ed.D., chancellor, NSU Health Professions Division. "I'm honored to have played a role in winning this award," said Wright. "Within the process of working on this message, my own awareness of human trafficking has increased. I now hope other universities and communities will follow NSU's leadership on this growing epidemic." The award-winning PSA can be viewed on NSU's YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnALMAegWZ8&t=15s CREATE, was developed in 2014 by Brianna Black Kent, Ph.D., associate chair, Department of Health Science, and Sandrine Gaillard-Kenney, Ed.D, assistant dean, College of Health Care Sciences. The two-pronged goal includes; human trafficking prevention through education and research as well as improvement of the quality of life for victims and communities at the local, national and international levels. For more information, go to: http://www.nova.edu/create/index.html Be sure to sign up for NSU's RSS feed so you don't miss any of our news releases, guest editorials and other announcements. Please sign up HERE. About Nova Southeastern University (NSU): Located in beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and first-professional degree levels. A private, not-for-profit institution, NSU has campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Miramar, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Tampa, Florida, as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico, while maintaining a presence online globally. For more than 50 years, NSU has been awarding degrees in a wide range of fields, while fostering groundbreaking research and an impactful commitment to community. Classified as a research university with "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU is 1 of only 50 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie's Community Engagement Classification, and is also the largest private, not-for-profit institution in the United States that meets the U.S. Department of Education's criteria as a Hispanic-serving Institution. Please visit www.nova.edu for more information about NSU and realizingpotential.nova.edu for more information on the largest fundraising campaign in NSU history. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/4/28/11G137292/Images/Gregory_Wright_-_NSU_Telly_Award-1ffc37190f8ab30687fa8a4e6e06244e.jpg Marla Oxenhandler Office of Public Affairs 954-262-5315 (office) 954-770-9204 (cell) marla.oxenhandler@nova.edu www.nova.edu SOUTHFIELD, Michigan, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), a leading global supplier of automotive seating and electrical systems, today announced the completion of its acquisition of Grupo Antolin's automotive seating business. Grupo Antolin's seating business has annual sales of approximately 300 million with operations in five countries in Europe and North Africa. Grupo Antolin's seating business is comprised of just-in-time seat assembly, seat structures & mechanisms and seat covers, and is well positioned among the largest European automakers, including Daimler, Peugeot Citroen, Renault Nissan and Volkswagen. The transaction is valued at 286 million on a cash and debt free basis and is forecasted to be accretive to 2017 earnings per share. Lear will update its 2017 financial outlook to include Grupo Antolin's seating business on July 26th when the Company announces its Second Quarter 2017 financial results. "The Grupo Antolin seating business is an excellent fit for Lear and is consistent with our strategy to invest in our core business, accelerate our growth and deliver superior value to shareholders," said Matt Simoncini, Lear's President and CEO. "This business has an excellent reputation for quality and customer satisfaction as well as a strong market position in Europe with leading customers," added Simoncini. Grupo Antolin's seating business has an experienced management team, modern facilities and a reputation for lean manufacturing, superior quality and innovation, including high-functionality and light weight seat designs. "We are very pleased to add Grupo Antolin's strong capabilities to Lear's global seating business. This acquisition will further strengthen and diversify Lear's seating business, improve the overall value we are able to offer our customers and provide additional opportunities to grow our market share," concluded Simoncini. Grupo Antolin's seating business is headquartered in France and it includes 12 manufacturing facilities, 2 technological centers and 2,273 full-time and contract employees. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding anticipated financial results and liquidity. The words "will," "may," "designed to," "outlook," "believes," "should," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates," "forecasts" and similar expressions identify certain of these forward-looking statements. The Company also may provide forward-looking statements in oral statements or other written materials released to the public. All statements contained or incorporated in this press release or in any other public statements that address operating performance, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and its other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Future operating results will be based on various factors, including actual industry production volumes, commodity prices and the Company's success in implementing its operating strategy. Information in this press release relies on assumptions in the Company's sales backlog. The Company's sales backlog reflects anticipated net sales from formally awarded new programs less lost and discontinued programs. The calculation of the sales backlog does not reflect customer price reductions on existing or newly awarded programs. The sales backlog may be impacted by various assumptions embedded in the calculation, including vehicle production levels on new programs, foreign exchange rates and the timing of major program launches. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update, amend or clarify them to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date hereof. About Lear Corporation Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA) was founded in Detroit in 1917 as American Metal Products. In 2017, the Company will celebrate its 100th year anniversary. Lear is one of the world's leading suppliers of automotive seating systems and electrical distribution systems (E-Systems). Lear serves every major automaker in the world, and Lear content can be found on more than 400 vehicle nameplates. Lear's world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by a diverse team of approximately 150,000 employees located in 37 countries. Lear currently ranks #154 on the Fortune 500. Lear's headquarters are in Southfield, Michigan. Further information about Lear is available at http://www.lear.com or follow us on Twitter @LearCorporation. About Grupo Antolin's Seating Business Grupo Antolin's seating business is well positioned among major European automakers, including Peugeot Citroen, Daimler, Renault Nissan and Volkswagen. The Company has annual sales of approximately 300 million; 12 manufacturing facilities (7 in Spain, 2 in France, 1 in the Czech Republic, 1 in Portugal and 1 in Morocco); 2 technological centers (in France and Spain) and 2,273 full-time and contract employees in 6 countries. Grupo Antolin's seating business headquarters is located in France. Valmieras stikla skiedra JSC consolidated net turnover reaches 35.7 million euro The consolidated net turnover of Valmieras stikla skiedra JSC and its subsidiaries (hereinafter - Valmiera Glass Group or the Group) in the three months of this year reached 35.7 million euro according to the unaudited consolidated Valmieras stikla skiedra JSC Q1 2017 financial information. The net turnover increased by 2.58 million euro, or 8%, compared to the same period in 2016, marking the best Q1 of the Group sales so far. The Group's EBITDA grew by 13% or 667 thousand euro, compared to the 1st quarter in 2016, reaching 5.67 million euro. Also the EBITDA margin grew by 0.8% year-on-year from 15.1% to 15.9%, accordingly the EBIT grew from 7.4% to 8%. The Group's unaudited consolidated net profit reached 2.36 million euro, which is a 296 thousand euro year-on-year growth. The 1st quarter of 2017 was strong, and the Group continued to strengthen its positions in the current markets and raised its turnover. From a product segment perspective, sales volumes increased for high added-value products such as high-concentration SiO2 glass fibre products with temperature resistance of 1000+C and E-glass fabrics with temperature resistance of 600C. In the first 3 months of 2017, the total sales of these products grew by 15% on average compared to the same period in 2016. In other product segments, sales volumes were stable or increased a bit. "The results of the first quarter are of course gratifying; however, we need to continue to work to sustain the growth and reach better and better business results. In order to develop, we are currently focusing on the construction of the new glass fibre furnace and glass fibre production plant in the United States with a capacity of 50,000 tons of dry yarn per year; it will increase the total production capacity and ensure higher production stability. The new modern production infrastructure with the area of 34,000 square metres will be alongside the existing plant with the area of 7,400 square metres," said Andre Schwiontek, Board Chairman of Valmieras stikla skiedra JSC. About Valmiera Glass Group: Valmieras stikla skiedra JSC and its subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to as the Valmiera Glass Group or the Group) is one of the leading glass fibre manufacturers in Europe. Valmiera Glass Group companies operate in three countries on two continents: Latvia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Valmieras stikla skiedra JSC production facilities have more than eighty years of experience in textile processing, and their products are aimed at various industrial markets. The Group consists of four companies: the parent company Valmieras stikla skiedra JSC and its three subsidiary companies - Valmiera Glass UK Ltd. in the United Kingdom, P-D Valmiera Glass USA Corp. and Valmiera Glass USA Trading Corp. in the United States of America. Contacts: Marika Nimante JSC "Valmieras stikla skiedra" marketing project manager Phone: +371 64202276, +371 26635509 Fax: +371 64281216 E-mail: Marika.Nimante@valmiera-glass.com More information about company: www.valmiera-glass.com Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=628733 Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de LONDON, October 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The global petrochemicals sector is faced with unprecedented levels of disruption due to multiple factors such as globalisation, declining demand, technological development and an unstable political climate. Unexpected events, such as the recent Hurricane Harvey in Texas, have significant impact at a global level. Converters, producers and distributors are having to navigate volatile markets, declining industrial production and minimal growth. As market intelligence needs are becoming increasingly complex, ICIS is responding by adding diagnostic capabilities to its existing analytics solutions for petrochemicals markets to help decision-makers respond more effectively to market changes. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160408/353056LOGO ) ICIS has already established itself as a trusted source of analytics solutions for power, carbon and LNG markets. Building on the experience of developing analytics solutions for energy industries, ICIS is now applying its analysis-led approach to petrochemicals markets, combining technology with knowledge from its extensive team of markets experts, along with a deep understanding of what its customers need to help them navigate obstacles and find opportunities in a shifting petrochemicals landscape. "ICIS is committed to providing our customers with a new range of tools and insights to allow them to make faster and more accurate business decisions. As our customers face increasingly more complex challenges, we strive to keep pace, evolving first-class analytics in order to give decision-makers a real edge in an ever-changing competitive environment," said ICIS Managing Director Rob Kolkman. The new Petrochemicals Analytics Solutions will deliver a whole-market perspective as well as robust analytical tools that look below the surface to show the true impact of change as it happens. Some of the unique features include real-time updates on plant outages with precise calculations on capacity disruptions, interactive visualisation, a global view of outages, and impact analysis. ICIS Petrochemicals Product Director Charmaine Chew said these enhanced tools will help petrochemical decision-makers to respond more confidently to changing market conditions and thereby increase their competitive advantage. "Too much narrative, data that is not updated fast enough, not easy to read or interpret - these issues are common and can cloud clear thinking, especially under time pressure. We are addressing these practical problems head-on with real-time quantitative data updates, interactive visuals and impact analysis to make information quick and easy to understand - and then to act on. We combine the strengths of our global editors and market experts, who stay on top of the global market 24/7, with our extensive pricing data and supply and demand databases to deliver live analytics solutions," she said The ICIS Petrochemicals Analytics Solutions will deliver unique benefits, including quantitative data on plant outages alongside current, historical and forward-looking viewpoints, all backed up by a team of experts 24/7. This will help ensure ICIS customers retain their competitive edge in the face of challenging market conditions and unexpected disruptions. Find out more about the most important petrochemical market trends and how ICIS can help you keep up with these developments. About ICIS ICIS is the world's largest petrochemical market information provider, with divisions spanning energy and fertilizers.Our aim is to give companies in global commodities markets a competitive advantage by delivering valuable information and analytics tools which enable our customers to identify and react to opportunities in markets which are constantly evolving.We have more than 30 years' experience of providing pricing intelligence and news, forecast data, market analytics and independent consulting to buyers, sellers and analysts. With a global staff of more than 600, ICIS has employees based in London, Houston, New York, Singapore, Dubai, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Mumbai, Tokyo, Karlsruhe, and Milan. ICIS's team of journalists is engaged in reporting market prices and news, and ICIS is fully committed to upholding the highest journalistic principles of verification, corroboration and authentication. ICIS has a compliance framework that along with its methodologies and business processes adheres to the requirements of the IOSCO PRA Principles. ICIS is a division ofReed Business Information, part ofRELX Group. About Reed Business Information Reed Business Information provides information, analytics and data to business professionals worldwide. Our strong global products and services hold market-leading positions across a wide range of industry sectors including banking, petrochemicals and aviation where we help customers make key strategic decisions every day. RBI is part of RELX Group, a globalprovider of information and analytics for professional customers across industries. http://www.reedbusiness.com About RELX Group RELX Group is a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. The Group serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs approximately 30,000 people of whom almost half are in North America. RELX PLC is a London listed holding company which owns 52.9% of RELX Group. RELX NV is an Amsterdam listed holding company which owns 47.1% of RELX Group. The shares are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX and RENX.33.6bn, 37.7bn, $44.3bn. www.relx.com Media contacts: Arina Popa Digital Marketing Executive Email: arina.popa@icis.com Direct:+44-207-911-1473 Copenhagen, 2017-04-28 17:22 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- No. 9/2017 ISS (ISS.CO, ISS DC, ISSDY), a global leading facility services provider, announced the acquisition of the leading US food services company Guckenheimer on 4 April 2017 (Company Announcement No. 6). The acquisition has now been completed. Jeff Gravenhorst, ISS Group CEO, said: "I'm proud to welcome all customers and employees of Guckenheimer to ISS. This is a very important acquisition for ISS. We are instantly growing our North America business by 50% and we are increasing our global food service and catering business by 20%. We will now commence the process of making Guckenheimer a part of the ISS family." The acquisition will not impact ISS' previously communicated outlook for the financial year 2017. For investor enquiries Nicholas Ward, Head of Group Investor Relations, +45 3817 6251 Martin Kjr Hansen, Senior Investor Relations Manager, +45 3817 6431 For media enquiries Lena Stennicke, Global Media Relations Manager, +45 38 17 65 03 About ISS The ISS Group was founded in Copenhagen in 1901 and has grown to become one of the world's leading Facility Services companies. ISS offers a wide range of services such as: Cleaning, Catering, Security, property and Support Services as well as Facility Management. Global revenue amounted to DKK 79.1 billion in 2016 and ISS has approximately 500,000 employees and activities in 74 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America and Pacific, serving thousands of both public and private sector customers. For more information, visit www.issworld.com. About Guckenheimer Guckenheimer is a premier on-site corporate restaurant management and food services company. Our clients include many of America's most respected corporations and institutions. For more than fifty years, our talented Guckenheimer chefs have created delicious delicacies for America's greatest companies. Our innovative menus are uniquely designed for each site, promoting creativity in our clients and our chefs alike. We select only the freshest ingredients with the most extraordinary and authentic flavors. For more information, visit www.guckenheimer.com. ISS A/S, ISIN DK0060542181, ISIN US4651472056 ISS Global A/S, ISIN XS1145526585, ISIN XS1330300341, ISIN XS1145526825 Attachment: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=628726 Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- Teranga Gold Corporation ("Teranga" or the "Company") (TSX: TGZ)(ASX: TGZ) announced today that it will host Teranga's Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. ET at the TMX Broadcast Centre in The Exchange Tower located at 130 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario. Those wishing to listen to the live event can access the conference call and webcast as follows: Date & Time: Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. ET Telephone: Toll-Free: +1 (877) 291-4570 Local or International: +1 (647) 788-4919 Please allow 10 minutes to be connected to the conference call. Webcast: The webcast can be accessed on the Company's website at www.terangagold.com/AGM2017 Replay: The conference call replay will be available for two weeks after the call by dialing +1 (416) 621-4642 or toll-free at +1 (800) 585-8367 and entering the conference ID 16172333. Note: The slide presentation will be available for download at http://www.terangagold.com/ for simultaneous viewing during the call. About Teranga Teranga is a multi-jurisdictional West African gold company focused on production and development as well as the exploration of more than 5,000km(2) of land located on prospective gold belts. Since its initial public offering in 2010, Teranga has produced more than 1.2 million ounces of gold from its operations in Senegal. Following its recent acquisition of Gryphon Minerals, the Company is fast-tracking the completion of a feasibility study for the Banfora Project. Concurrent with its production and development activities, exploration programs are underway to seek to increase the Company's reserve base through resource conversion and making major new discoveries. Teranga has a strong balance sheet and the financial flexibility to continue to grow its business. Steadfast in its commitment to set the benchmark for responsible mining, Teranga operates in accordance with the highest international standards and aims to act as a catalyst for sustainable economic, environmental, and community development as it strives to create value for all of its stakeholders. Teranga is a member of the United Nations Global Compact and a leading member of the multi-stakeholder group responsible for the submission of the first Senegalese Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative revenue report. The Company's 2015 responsibility report, which is available at www.terangagold.com/2015responsibilityreport, is prepared in accordance with its commitments under the United Nations Global Compact and in alignment with the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines. Contacts: Teranga Gold Corporation Richard Young President & CEO +1 416-594-0000 ryoung@terangagold.com Teranga Gold Corporation Trish Moran Head of Investor Relations +1 416-607-4507 tmoran@terangagold.com EDMONTON, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- Hundreds of worker delegates attending the Alberta Federation of Labour's convention in Edmonton erupted in applause, tempered by some tears, after news was announced that the Alberta government has made a commitment to more aggressively pursue employers and managers under the Criminal Code if their negligence leads to the injury or death of employees. "We've been saying for years that sometimes fines aren't enough," said AFL president Gil McGowan. "If we really want to make sure workplace safety gets the kind of priority it deserves, employers and managers have to know they could go to jail if their decisions or negligence result in serious injuries or fatalities. The prospect of real, personal consequences will ensure that employers don't treat the health and safety of their workers lightly." Every year on April 28 we remember the thousands of workers who have been killed, injured or suffered illness as a result of work-related incidents, and we re-commit to working towards ending workplace deaths and injuries. This year, the focus of the Day of Mourning across Canada is on enforcing the Westray Law. "Today we remember all workers who have been injured or killed on the job, including the 26 men who needlessly lost their lives a quarter century ago in the Westray mine disaster," said Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, "and we honor the many families and friends who have been deeply affected by these tragedies." Next month will mark the 25th Anniversary of the Westray mine disaster which sparked a decade-long campaign by unions to change the law. In 2004 the Government of Canada changed the criminal code so that employers who endanger the health and safety of workers would face criminal penalties. Unfortunately, until today's announcement of a memorandum of understanding, that law hasn't been properly enforced in Alberta. By bringing together the crown prosecutor, occupational health and safety investigators, and the largest police forces operating in the province, the Government of Alberta is putting in place a system that will ensure all serious workplace incidents are viewed and investigated through a criminal lens. "The Government of Alberta's leadership today in announcing a new memorandum of understanding is an important step forward in ensuring that we properly enforce our laws and that every worker will return home safe at the end of each work day," said McGowan. "While not every workplace fatality is caused by employer negligence, now those who are negligent in protecting their employee's safety will finally face real consequences." In Canada, roughly 1,000 workers die every year because of something that happened to them at work, and thousands more are seriously injured. By working together, we can prevent worker injuries and deaths before they occur. Delegates attending the AFL Convention will take part in a Day of Mourning event at Borden Park Amphitheatre (Borden Park Road & 75 Street) at 12:15 p.m. today. Contacts: Media Contact: Alberta Federation of Labour Chris Gallaway Director of Government Relations 587-984-7569 cgallaway@afl.org According to the latest market study released by Technavio, the global marine insurance marketis projected to grow to USD 39.75 billion by 2021, at a CAGR of nearly 3% over the forecast period. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170428005613/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global marine insurance market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) This research report titled 'Global Marine Insurance Market 2017-2021' provides an in-depth analysis of the market in terms of revenue and emerging market trends. This market research report also includes up to date analysis and forecasts for various market segments and all geographical regions. Marine insurance policies protect businesses against legal liabilities, equipment and cargo, and any transport or cargo by which property of the marine company is transferred or acquired, during any calamity. The increase in premium contribution from emerging economies is expected to boost the growth of the marine insurance market. Looking for more information on this market? Request a free sample report Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Based on the product type, the report categorizes the global marine insurance market into the following segments: Cargo Hull Offshore energy Marine liability The top three revenue-generating product segments in the global marine insurance market are discussed below: Cargo Cargo insurance represented the largest segment of the market in 2016, occupying over 50% of the overall shares. The market segment is expected to continue its dominance through the forecast period, driven by recovering trade volumessays Jhansi Mary, a lead analyst at Technavio for logistics research. The decline in global trade values and imports and exports, coupled with slow economic growth in 2015-2016 are major factors, which have impacted the conditions for marine cargo insurance companies. The projected rise in trade volumes post-2018 will increase the demand for cargo loading and inspection services, also increasing the demand for cargo insurance companies. Hull Marine insurance by the hull segment is projected to be worth USD 9.04 billion by 2021, its growth resulting from the constant increase in vessel fleets. The stabilizing oil economy will result in high crude oil production, directly impacting the marine insurance for hulls. Exploration and production activities in EMEA and North America will lead to a rise in offshore drilling, requiring marine fleets and equipment. The vessel fleet owners and vessel operators provide technologically advanced fleets with value-added services, which will propel the growth of the market during the forecast period. Offshore energy "Marine insurance against offshore energy is a small but important segment of the market, where an increased market capacity has intensified the price competition. The increasingly popular offshore energy and related products will have a direct positive impact on the market segmentsays Jhansi. The offshore energy insurance market segment is currently witnessing oversupply of market capacity, with the low oil prices leading to less drilling activities. However, during the 2017-2018 period, various offshore projects are expected to experience a sharp growth and will require innovative insurance products. The top vendors highlighted by Technavio's research analysts in this report are: Allianz American International Group Aon AXA Marsh Browse Related Reports: Cold Chain Market in China 2017-2021 Global Cash Logistics Market 2017-2021 Barge Transportation Market in Europe 2017-2021 Become a Technavio Insights member and access all three of these reports for a fraction of their original cost. As a Technavio Insights member, you will have immediate access to new reports as they're published in addition to all 6,000+ existing reports covering segments like packagingtags and labels, and transportation and distribution. This subscription nets you thousands in savings, while staying connected to Technavio's constant transforming research library, helping you make informed business decisions more efficiently. About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies. Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, resellers, and end-users. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170428005613/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 630 333 9501 UK: +44 208 123 1770 www.technavio.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - With a midnight deadline looming, members of both houses of Congress voted Friday to approve a temporary spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. The Senate approved the spending bill by voice vote not long after the House voted 382 to 30 in favor of the legislation. The bill, which now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature, funds the government through Friday, May 5th. The extra week is expected to give lawmakers time to negotiate a longer-term bill that funds the government for the remainder of the fiscal year. The Democratic support for the stopgap spending bill came as they backed down from a threat to oppose the bill unless there was a deal on a long-term measure. An agreement on a longer-term spending bill is being held up by disputes over policy issues unrelated to government funding. Democrats are opposed to certain policy riders Republicans want to include in the bill on issues such as abortion, the environment, and financial regulations. A dispute over a Democratic request to provide aid to Puerto Rico has also held up a deal, with Trump describing the assistance as a 'bail out.' Another potential roadblock to a long-term agreement was lifted after Trump backed off demands over the proposed border wall and Obamacare payments. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Former President George H.W. Bush was discharged from Houston Methodist Hospital on Friday after being treated for a mild case of pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. Bush was admitted to the hospital for observation earlier this month due to a persistent cough that prevented him from getting proper rest. 'President and Mrs. Bush are very pleased to be home spending time with family and friends and grateful for the outstanding care provided by his doctors and nurses,' Bush spokesman Jim McGrath said in a statement. Bush was previously admitted to the intensive care unit at Houston Methodist Hospital in January to address an acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Focus on "true process optimisation" potential for maximising process economics At the 2017 Advanced Process Modelling (APM) Forum in London this week, companies from across the process industries presented on topics ranging from accelerating development of the next generation of drugs to identifying millions of dollars per annum in operational savings. Organised and hosted by Process Systems Enterprise (PSE), providers of the gPROMS APM platform, the two-day conference is a key annual event for process industry organisations focused on creating sustainable value through the application of high-accuracy predictive process modelling and optimisation. Keynote speaker Jan van Schijndel of VS Strategic Consulting, formerly head of GTL development at Shell, outlined a vision for Operational Excellence capable of bringing $40-80m per annum improvements in process economics for large-scale petrochemical plants. Brian Henry, Vice President for Drug Product Design at Pfizer, described how digital design techniques that draw on technologies developed and proven in other areas are changing the way the industry develops and manufactures drugs, based on a fundamental understanding of process and product performance. In the formulated products sessions, aimed at the pharmaceuticals, food & beverage and consumer goods sectors, presentations from GSK, Roche, AstraZeneca, Dr Reddy's, Eli Lilly, Procter Gamble, Danone and FrieslandCampina described the application of advanced mechanistic modelling in improving drug product manufacture, increasing food product throughput and reducing energy costs and CO 2 footprint. New technologies such as global system analysis are now allowing manufacturers to systematically explore the decision space to an unprecedented degree. This accelerates innovation and significantly decreases time-to-market for new formulations. It also reduces process uncertainty, resulting in more robust processes. Also at the Forum, PSE and Dutch food research organisation NIZO announced the formation of a Centre of Excellence for Food Product Process Modelling, and PSE provided a preview of the all-new gPROMS FormulatedProducts environment for integrated design and optimisation of formulated products and their manufacturing processes, scheduled for release in May. In the chemicals, petrochemicals and energy environment sessions, where presenters included Shell, Sabic, SCG Chemicals, DSM, Primetals and Velocys, the focus was again on the application of large-scale optimisation techniques to reduce operating costs or enhance product values to the tune of millions or tens of millions of dollars per year. The Oil Gas session similarly focused on new multi-site and integrated asset optimisation approaches for maximising asset utilisation. Conference organiser Mark Matzopoulos, PSE Marketing Director, said "a key takeaway of the conference is that the maturing of advanced process and materials modelling techniques and tools is making it increasingly easy for process organisations whether pharma, food manufacture or petrochemicals to deal with systems of enormous complexity. The increased understanding enables them to make better-informed decisions faster, resulting in competitive advantage and accelerated innovation". View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170428005849/en/ Contacts: Process Systems Enterprise Kate Burness +44-20-8563-0888 k.burness@psenterprise.com Editors: www.psenterprise.com/news/pr170428.html Opdivo is the first and only Immuno-Oncology agent to receive European approval for the treatment of squamous cell cancer of the head and neck in adults progressing on or after platinum-based therapy Opdivo is now approved by the EC for seven indications in five distinct tumor types This is the first approval in Europe of a treatment for squamous cell cancer of the head and neck in more than a decade Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) today announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved Opdivo (nivolumab) as monotherapy for the treatment of squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN) in adults progressing on or after platinum-based therapy. Opdivo is the first and only Immuno-Oncology (I-O) treatment that demonstrated in a Phase 3 trial a significant improvement in overall survival (OS) for these patients. "Adult patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck that progresses on or after platinum-based therapy are fighting a debilitating and hard-to-treat disease that is associated with a very poor prognosis," said Kevin Harrington, M.D., Ph.D., professor in Biological Cancer Therapies at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and a consultant clinical oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London. "As an oncologist who helps patients deal with this terrible disease, I hope that nivolumab will now be made available as widely as possible, offering this group of patients a new treatment option that can potentially improve their overall survival." The approval was based on results from CheckMate -141, a global Phase 3, open-label, randomized trial, first published in The New England Journal of Medicine last October, which evaluated Opdivo versus investigator's choice of therapy in patients aged 18 years and above with recurrent or metastatic, platinum-refractory SCCHN who had tumor progression during or within six months of receiving platinum-based therapy administered in the adjuvant, neo-adjuvant, primary or metastatic setting. Investigator's choice of therapy included methotrexate, docetaxel, or cetuximab.The primary endpoint was OS. The trial's secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR). "The European Commission's approval of Opdivo marks not only the first new treatment option in 10 years for patients with advanced cancers of the head and neck, but also the first Immuno-Oncology treatment for SCCHN," said Murdo Gordon, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "Bristol-Myers Squibb remains committed to redefining survival for patients with cancer, and now that Opdivo is approved in Europe, we will work collaboratively with EU health authorities to ensure it is available for these patients as quickly as possible." In the interim analysis of the pivotal trial, Opdivo demonstrated statistically significant improvement in OS with a 30% reduction in the risk of death (HR=0.70 [95% CI: 0.53-0.92; p=0.0101]), and a median OS of 7.5 months (95% CI: 5.5-9.1) for Opdivo compared with 5.1 months (95% CI: 4.0-6.0) for the investigator's choice arm. There were no statistically significant differences between the two arms for PFS (HR=0.89; 95% CI: 0.70, 1.13) or ORR (13.3% [95% CI: 9.3, 18.3] vs 5.8% [95% CI: 2.4, 11.6] for Opdivo and investigator's choice, respectively. The EC approval was based on updated study results, which will be presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Patient reported outcomes (PROs) were evaluated using the following European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Assessment: EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-H&N35, and 3-level EQ-5D instruments. Patients treated with Opdivo exhibited stable PROs, while those assigned to investigator's choice therapy exhibited significant declines in functioning (e.g., physical, role, social) and health status as well as increased symptomatology (e.g., fatigue, dyspnoea, appetite loss, pain and sensory problems). The safety profile of Opdivo in CheckMate -141 was consistent with prior studies in patients with melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.Serious adverse reactions occurred in 49% of patients receiving Opdivo. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in at least 2% of patients receiving Opdivo were pneumonia, dyspnea, aspiration pneumonia, respiratory failure, respiratory tract infection, and sepsis. About Head Neck Cancer Cancers that are known as head and neck cancers usually begin in the squamous cells that line the moist mucosal surfaces inside the head and neck, such as inside the mouth, the nose and the throat. Head and neck cancer is the seventh most common cancer globally, with an estimated 400,000 to 600,000 new cases per year and 223,000 to 300,000 deaths per year. The five-year survival rate is reported as less than 4% for metastatic Stage IV disease. Squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN) accounts for approximately 90% of all head and neck cancers with global incidence expected to increase by 17% between 2012 and 2022. Risk factors for SCCHN include tobacco and alcohol consumption. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is also a risk factor leading to rapid increase in oropharyngeal SCCHN in Europe and North America. About Opdivo Opdivo is a programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor that is designed to uniquely harness the body's own immune system to help restore anti-tumor immune response. By harnessing the body's own immune system to fight cancer, Opdivo has become an important treatment option across multiple cancers. Opdivo's leading global development program is based on Bristol-Myers Squibb's scientific expertise in the field of Immuno-Oncology and includes a broad range of clinical trials across all phases, including Phase 3, in a variety of tumor types. To date, the Opdivo clinical development program has enrolled more than 25,000 patients. The Opdivo trials have contributed to gaining a deeper understanding of the potential role of biomarkers in patient care, particularly regarding how patients may benefit from Opdivo across the continuum of PD-L1 expression. In July 2014, Opdivo was the first PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor to receive regulatory approval anywhere in the world. Opdivo is currently approved in more than 60 countries, including the United States, the European Union and Japan. In October 2015, the company's Opdivo and Yervoy combination regimen was the first Immuno-Oncology combination to receive regulatory approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and is currently approved in more than 50 countries, including the United States and the European Union. U. S. FDA APPROVED INDICATIONS FOR OPDIVO OPDIVO (nivolumab) as a single agent is indicated for the treatment of patients with BRAF V600 mutation-positive unresectable or metastatic melanoma. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on progression-free survival. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. OPDIVO (nivolumab) as a single agent is indicated for the treatment of patients with BRAF V600 wild-type unresectable or metastatic melanoma. OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on progression-free survival. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving OPDIVO. OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have received prior anti-angiogenic therapy. OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) that has relapsed or progressed after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and post-transplantation brentuximab vedotin. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) with disease progression on or after platinum-based therapy. OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION WARNING: IMMUNE-MEDIATED ADVERSE REACTIONS YERVOY can result in severe and fatal immune-mediated adverse reactions. These immune-mediated reactions may involve any organ system; however, the most common severe immune-mediated adverse reactions are enterocolitis, hepatitis, dermatitis (including toxic epidermal necrolysis), neuropathy, and endocrinopathy. The majority of these immune-mediated reactions initially manifested during treatment; however, a minority occurred weeks to months after discontinuation of YERVOY. Assess patients for signs and symptoms of enterocolitis, dermatitis, neuropathy, and endocrinopathy and evaluate clinical chemistries including liver function tests (LFTs), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level, and thyroid function tests at baseline and before each dose. Permanently discontinue YERVOY and initiate systemic high-dose corticosteroid therapy for severe immune-mediated reactions. Immune-Mediated Pneumonitis OPDIVO can cause immune-mediated pneumonitis. Fatal cases have been reported. Monitor patients for signs with radiographic imaging and for symptoms of pneumonitis. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or more severe pneumonitis. Permanently discontinue for Grade 3 or 4 and withhold until resolution for Grade 2. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, fatal cases of immune-mediated pneumonitis have occurred. Immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 3.1% (61/1994) of patients. In patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY, immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 6% (25/407) of patients. In Checkmate 205 and 039, pneumonitis, including interstitial lung disease, occurred in 4.9% (13/263) of patients receiving OPDIVO. Immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 3.4% (9/263) of patients receiving OPDIVO: Grade 3 (n=1) and Grade 2 (n=8). Immune-Mediated Colitis OPDIVO can cause immune-mediated colitis. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of colitis. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 (of more than 5 days duration), 3, or 4 colitis. Withhold OPDIVO monotherapy for Grade 2 or 3 and permanently discontinue for Grade 4 or recurrent colitis upon re-initiation of OPDIVO. When administered with YERVOY, withhold OPDIVO and YERVOY for Grade 2 and permanently discontinue for Grade 3 or 4 or recurrent colitis. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune-mediated colitis occurred in 2.9% (58/1994) of patients. In patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY, immune-mediated colitis occurred in 26% (107/407) of patients including three fatal cases. In a separate Phase 3 study of YERVOY 3 mg/kg, severe, life-threatening, or fatal (diarrhea of =7 stools above baseline, fever, ileus, peritoneal signs; Grade 3-5) immune-mediated enterocolitis occurred in 34 (7%) patients. Across all YERVOY-treated patients in that study (n=511), 5 (1%) developed intestinal perforation, 4 (0.8%) died as a result of complications, and 26 (5%) were hospitalized for severe enterocolitis. Immune-Mediated Hepatitis OPDIVO can cause immune-mediated hepatitis. Monitor patients for abnormal liver tests prior to and periodically during treatment. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater transaminase elevations. Withhold for Grade 2 and permanently discontinue for Grade 3 or 4 immune-mediated hepatitis. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in 1.8% (35/1994) of patients. In patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY, immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in 13% (51/407) of patients. In a separate Phase 3 study of YERVOY 3 mg/kg, severe, life-threatening, or fatal hepatotoxicity (AST or ALT elevations >5x the ULN or total bilirubin elevations >3x the ULN; Grade 3-5) occurred in 8 (2%) patients with fatal hepatic failure in 0.2% and hospitalization in 0.4%. Immune-Mediated Neuropathies In a separate Phase 3 study of YERVOY 3 mg/kg, 1 case of fatal Guillain-Barre syndrome and 1 case of severe (Grade 3) peripheral motor neuropathy were reported. Immune-Mediated Endocrinopathies OPDIVO can cause immune-mediated hypophysitis, immune-mediated adrenal insufficiency, autoimmune thyroid disorders, and Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hypophysitis, signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, thyroid function prior to and periodically during treatment, and hyperglycemia. Administer hormone replacement as clinically indicated and corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater hypophysitis. Withhold for Grade 2 or 3 and permanently discontinue for Grade 4 hypophysitis. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 3 or 4 adrenal insufficiency. Withhold for Grade 2 and permanently discontinue for Grade 3 or 4 adrenal insufficiency. Administer hormone-replacement therapy for hypothyroidism. Initiate medical management for control of hyperthyroidism. Withhold OPDIVO for Grade 3 and permanently discontinue for Grade 4 hyperglycemia. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, hypophysitis occurred in 0.6% (12/1994) of patients. In patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY, hypophysitis occurred in 9% (36/407) of patients. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, adrenal insufficiency occurred in 1% (20/1994) of patients. In patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY, adrenal insufficiency occurred in 5% (21/407) of patients. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, hypothyroidism or thyroiditis resulting in hypothyroidism occurred in 9% (171/1994) of patients. Hyperthyroidism occurred in 2.7% (54/1994) of patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy. In patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY, hypothyroidism or thyroiditis resulting in hypothyroidism occurred in 22% (89/407) of patients. Hyperthyroidism occurred in 8% (34/407) of patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, diabetes occurred in 0.9% (17/1994) of patients. In patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY, diabetes occurred in 1.5% (6/407) of patients. In a separate Phase 3 study of YERVOY 3 mg/kg, severe to life-threatening immune-mediated endocrinopathies (requiring hospitalization, urgent medical intervention, or interfering with activities of daily living; Grade 3-4) occurred in 9 (1.8%) patients. All 9 patients had hypopituitarism, and some had additional concomitant endocrinopathies such as adrenal insufficiency, hypogonadism, and hypothyroidism. 6 of the 9 patients were hospitalized for severe endocrinopathies. Immune-Mediated Nephritis and Renal Dysfunction OPDIVO can cause immune-mediated nephritis. Monitor patients for elevated serum creatinine prior to and periodically during treatment. Administer corticosteroids for Grades 2-4 increased serum creatinine. Withhold OPDIVO for Grade 2 or 3 and permanently discontinue for Grade 4 increased serum creatinine. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune-mediated nephritis and renal dysfunction occurred in 1.2% (23/1994) of patients. In patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY, immune-mediated nephritis and renal dysfunction occurred in 2.2% (9/407) of patients. Immune-Mediated Skin Adverse Reactions and Dermatitis OPDIVO can cause immune-mediated rash, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), some cases with fatal outcome. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 3 or 4 rash. Withhold for Grade 3 and permanently discontinue for Grade 4 rash. For symptoms or signs of SJS or TEN, withhold OPDIVO and refer the patient for specialized care for assessment and treatment; if confirmed, permanently discontinue. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune-mediated rash occurred in 9% (171/1994) of patients. In patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY, immune-mediated rash occurred in 22.6% (92/407) of patients. In a separate Phase 3 study of YERVOY 3 mg/kg, severe, life-threatening, or fatal immune-mediated dermatitis (eg, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, or rash complicated by full thickness dermal ulceration, or necrotic, bullous, or hemorrhagic manifestations; Grade 3-5) occurred in 13 (2.5%) patients. 1 (0.2%) patient died as a result of toxic epidermal necrolysis. 1 additional patient required hospitalization for severe dermatitis. Immune-Mediated Encephalitis OPDIVO can cause immune-mediated encephalitis. Evaluation of patients with neurologic symptoms may include, but not be limited to, consultation with a neurologist, brain MRI, and lumbar puncture. Withhold OPDIVO in patients with new-onset moderate to severe neurologic signs or symptoms and evaluate to rule out other causes. If other etiologies are ruled out, administer corticosteroids and permanently discontinue OPDIVO for immune-mediated encephalitis. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, encephalitis occurred in 0.2% (3/1994) of patients. Fatal limbic encephalitis occurred in one patient after 7.2 months of exposure despite discontinuation of OPDIVO and administration of corticosteroids. Encephalitis occurred in one patient receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY (0.2%) after 1.7 months of exposure. Other Immune-Mediated Adverse Reactions Based on the severity of adverse reaction, permanently discontinue or withhold treatment, administer high-dose corticosteroids, and, if appropriate, initiate hormone-replacement therapy. Across clinical trials of OPDIVO the following clinically significant immune-mediated adverse reactions occurred in <1.0% of patients receiving OPDIVO: uveitis, iritis, pancreatitis, facial and abducens nerve paresis, demyelination, polymyalgia rheumatica, autoimmune neuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, hypopituitarism, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, gastritis, duodenitis, sarcoidosis, histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi lymphadenitis), myositis, myocarditis, rhabdomyolysis, motor dysfunction, vasculitis, and myasthenic syndrome. Infusion Reactions OPDIVO can cause severe infusion reactions, which have been reported in<1.0% of patients in clinical trials. Discontinue OPDIVO in patients with Grade 3 or 4 infusion reactions. Interrupt or slow the rate of infusion in patients with Grade 1 or 2. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, infusion-related reactions occurred in 6.4% (127/1994) of patients. In patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY, infusion-related reactions occurred in 2.5% (10/407) of patients. Complications of Allogeneic HSCT after OPDIVO Complications, including fatal events, occurred in patients who received allogeneic HSCT after OPDIVO. Outcomes were evaluated in 17 patients from Checkmate 205 and 039, who underwent allogeneic HSCT after discontinuing OPDIVO (15 with reduced-intensity conditioning, 2 with myeloablative conditioning). Thirty-five percent (6/17) of patients died from complications of allogeneic HSCT after OPDIVO. Five deaths occurred in the setting of severe or refractory GVHD. Grade 3 or higher acute GVHD was reported in 29% (5/17) of patients. Hyperacute GVHD was reported in 20% (n=2) of patients. A steroid-requiring febrile syndrome, without an identified infectious cause, was reported in 35% (n=6) of patients. Two cases of encephalitis were reported: Grade 3 (n=1) lymphocytic encephalitis without an identified infectious cause, and Grade 3 (n=1) suspected viral encephalitis. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) occurred in one patient, who received reduced-intensity conditioned allogeneic HSCT and died of GVHD and multi-organ failure. Other cases of hepatic VOD after reduced-intensity conditioned allogeneic HSCT have also been reported in patients with lymphoma who received a PD-1 receptor blocking antibody before transplantation. Cases of fatal hyperacute GVHD have also been reported. These complications may occur despite intervening therapy between PD-1 blockade and allogeneic HSCT. Follow patients closely for early evidence of transplant-related complications such as hyperacute GVHD, severe (Grade 3 to 4) acute GVHD, steroid-requiring febrile syndrome, hepatic VOD, and other immune-mediated adverse reactions, and intervene promptly. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Based on their mechanisms of action, OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with an OPDIVO- or YERVOY- containing regimen and for at least 5 months after the last dose of OPDIVO. Lactation It is not known whether OPDIVO or YERVOY is present in human milk. Because many drugs, including antibodies, are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from an OPDIVO-containing regimen, advise women to discontinue breastfeeding during treatment. Advise women to discontinue nursing during treatment with YERVOY and for 3 months following the final dose. Serious Adverse Reactions In Checkmate 037, serious adverse reactions occurred in 41% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=268). Grade 3 and 4 adverse reactions occurred in 42% of patients receiving OPDIVO. The most frequent Grade 3 and 4 adverse drug reactions reported in 2% to <5% of patients receiving OPDIVO were abdominal pain, hyponatremia, increased aspartate aminotransferase, and increased lipase. In Checkmate 066, serious adverse reactions occurred in 36% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=206). Grade 3 and 4 adverse reactions occurred in 41% of patients receiving OPDIVO. The most frequent Grade 3 and 4 adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients receiving OPDIVO were gamma-glutamyltransferase increase (3.9%) and diarrhea (3.4%). In Checkmate 067, serious adverse reactions (73% and 37%), adverse reactions leading to permanent discontinuation (43% and 14%) or to dosing delays (55% and 28%), and Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions (72% and 44%) all occurred more frequently in the OPDIVO plus YERVOY arm (n=313) relative to the OPDIVO arm (n=313). The most frequent (=10%) serious adverse reactions in the OPDIVO plus YERVOY arm and the OPDIVO arm, respectively, were diarrhea (13% and 2.6%), colitis (10% and 1.6%), and pyrexia (10% and 0.6%). In Checkmate 017 and 057, serious adverse reactions occurred in 46% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=418). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in at least 2% of patients receiving OPDIVO were pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, dyspnea, pyrexia, pleural effusion, pneumonitis, and respiratory failure. In Checkmate 025, serious adverse reactions occurred in 47% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=406). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients were acute kidney injury, pleural effusion, pneumonia, diarrhea, and hypercalcemia. In Checkmate 205 and 039, among all patients (safety population [n=263]), adverse reactions leading to discontinuation (4.2%) or to dosing delays (23%) occurred. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =1% of patients were infusion-related reaction, pneumonia, pleural effusion, pyrexia, rash and pneumonitis. Ten patients died from causes other than disease progression, including 6 who died from complications of allogeneic HSCT. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 21% of patients in the safety population (n=263) and 27% of patients in the subset of patients evaluated for efficacy (efficacy population [n=95]). In Checkmate 141, serious adverse reactions occurred in 49% of patients receiving OPDIVO. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in at least 2% of patients receiving OPDIVO were pneumonia, dyspnea, respiratory failure, respiratory tract infections, and sepsis. In Checkmate 275, serious adverse reactions occurred in 54% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=270). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in at least 2% of patients receiving OPDIVO were urinary tract infection, sepsis, diarrhea, small intestine obstruction, and general physical health deterioration. Common Adverse Reactions In Checkmate 037, the most common adverse reaction (=20%) reported with OPDIVO (n=268) was rash (21%). In Checkmate 066, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) reported with OPDIVO (n=206) vs dacarbazine (n=205) were fatigue (49% vs 39%), musculoskeletal pain (32% vs 25%), rash (28% vs 12%), and pruritus (23% vs 12%). In Checkmate 067, the most common (=20%) adverse reactions in the OPDIVO plus YERVOY arm (n=313) were fatigue (59%), rash (53%), diarrhea (52%), nausea (40%), pyrexia (37%), vomiting (28%), and dyspnea (20%). The most common (=20%) adverse reactions in the OPDIVO (n=313) arm were fatigue (53%), rash (40%), diarrhea (31%), and nausea (28%). In Checkmate 017 and 057, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=418) were fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, cough, dyspnea, and decreased appetite. In Checkmate 025, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) reported in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=406) vs everolimus (n=397) were asthenic conditions (56% vs 57%), cough (34% vs 38%), nausea (28% vs 29%), rash (28% vs 36%), dyspnea (27% vs 31%), diarrhea (25% vs 32%), constipation (23% vs 18%), decreased appetite (23% vs 30%), back pain (21% vs 16%), and arthralgia (20% vs 14%). In Checkmate 205 and 039, among all patients (safety population [n=263]) and the subset of patients in the efficacy population (n=95), respectively, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) were fatigue (32% and 43%), upper respiratory tract infection (28% and 48%), pyrexia (24% and 35%), diarrhea (23% and 30%), and cough (22% and 35%). In the subset of patients in the efficacy population (n=95), the most common adverse reactions also included rash (31%), musculoskeletal pain (27%), pruritus (25%), nausea (23%), arthralgia (21%), and peripheral neuropathy (21%). In Checkmate 141, the most common adverse reactions (=10%) in patients receiving OPDIVO were cough and dyspnea at a higher incidence than investigator's choice. In Checkmate 275, the most common adverse reactions (= 20%) reported in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=270) were fatigue (46%), musculoskeletal pain (30%), nausea (22%), and decreased appetite (22%). In a separate Phase 3 study of YERVOY 3 mg/kg, the most common adverse reactions (=5%) in patients who received YERVOY at 3 mg/kg were fatigue (41%), diarrhea (32%), pruritus (31%), rash (29%), and colitis (8%). Checkmate Trials and Patient Populations Checkmate 067 - advanced melanoma alone or in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 037 and 066 - advanced melanoma; Checkmate 017 - squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); Checkmate 057 - non-squamous NSCLC; Checkmate 025 - renal cell carcinoma; Checkmate 205/039 - classical Hodgkin lymphoma; Checkmate 141 - squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; Checkmate 275 - urothelial carcinoma. Please see U.S. Full Prescribing Information for OPDIVO and YERVOY, including Boxed WARNING regarding immune-mediated adverse reactions for YERVOY. About the Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Collaboration In 2011, through a collaboration agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (Ono), Bristol-Myers Squibb expanded its territorial rights to develop and commercialize Opdivo globally except in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, where Ono had retained all rights to the compound at the time. On July 23, 2014, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ono further expanded the companies' strategic collaboration agreement to jointly develop and commercialize multiple immunotherapies as single agents and combination regimens for patients with cancer in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. About Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol-Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. Bristol-Myers Squibb Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Bristol-Myers Squibb's business, particularly those identified in the cautionary factors discussion in Bristol-Myers Squibb's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Bristol-Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170428005855/en/ Contacts: Bristol-Myers Squibb Media: Audrey Abernathy, 919-605-4521 audrey.abernathy@bms.com or Investors: Tim Power, 609-252-7509 timothy.power@bms.com or Bill Szablewski, 609-252-5894 william.szablewski@bms.com Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recentglobal metal material-based 3D printing marketreport. This research report also lists three other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170428005712/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global metal material based 3D printing market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) By revenue, the global metal material-based 3D printing market is expected to reach USD 1,534.9 million by 2021, posting a staggering CAGR of over 25%. The global 3D printing materials market is expected to grow at a rapid rate during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the increasing demand from the aerospace, automobile, and healthcare industries. Products such as fuel nozzles and guide vanes are being produced using 3D printing technique in the aerospace industry. Competitive vendor landscape The global metal material-based 3D printing market has many prominent vendors, offering plastics, steel, nickel, cobalt-chrome, titanium, and aluminum 3D printing materials. However, they are focusing on increasing their portfolio to cater to the growing demand and survive in the competitive market. "The materials used in 3D printing play a crucial role in the selection of the technology. As 3D printing technology is used to produce complex shapes, accuracy becomes a key factor. Customers give priority to accuracy and diversity of material used in choosing the 3D printing technology," says Chandrakumar Badala Jaganathan, a lead metals and minerals research analyst from Technavio. Looking for more information on this market? Request a free sample report Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Top five metal material-based 3D printing market vendors Arcam Arcam operates in the metal powders segment through its subsidiary AP&C in Canada and contract manufacturing through DiSanto in the US. Arcam provides services and products to the implants and aerospace industry. It manages these businesses through its sales organizations in the UK, the US, China, Italy and the Nordic region. It also works with agents in Asia and the rest of the Europe. EOS EOS is a pioneer and the world leader in direct metal laser sintering. It offers 3D printing solutions for engineering, design, business, and innovation. The company provides solutions and systems for metal manufacturing, including materials, systems and equipment, part property management, material management, and quality assurance. Hoganas Hoganas provides metal powders for different 3D printing applications such as plasma welding, pressed and sintered components, laser surface cladding, and brazing paste printing. It provides 3D printing materials for the medical, aerospace, industrial, and fashion designing sectors. Sandvik Sandvik operates in the 3D materials business through its Sandvik Materials Technology business area. In FY2016, Sandvik Materials Technology generated revenue of 81,553 million SEK (USD 9,054.9 billion, 1 SEK USD 0.11) and had 6,500 employees. The company provides a wide range of gas atomized metal powders for 2D printing applications in medical, aerospace, and rapid tooling areas. SLM Solutions SLM Solutions is involved in metal-based additive manufacturing technology solutions. It operates through two segments: Machine sales and after sales. The company serves the automotive, aerospace, energy, tool and mold making, medicine, and dental sectors through a distribution network in Germany and internationally. Browse Related Reports: Global Biomedical Metal Market 2017-2021 Global Supplementary Cementitious Materials Market 2017-2021 Global Cement Additives Market 2017-2021 Become a Technavio Insights member and access all three of these reports for a fraction of their original cost. As a Technavio Insights member, you will have immediate access to new reports as they're published in addition to all 6,000+ existing reports covering segments like glass and ceramicsolefins, and industrial gases. This subscription nets you thousands in savings, while staying connected to Technavio's constant transforming research library, helping you make informed business decisions more efficiently. About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies. Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170428005712/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 630 333 9501 UK: +44 208 123 1770 www.technavio.com DUBLIN, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Building Automation and Control Systems Market 2017-2021" report to their offering. The global building automation and control systems market to grow at a CAGR of 9.52% during the period 2017-2021. Global Building Automation and Control Systems Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the Key vendors operating in this market. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of building automation and control systems. Most building automation and control systems are incorporating the Internet of things (IoT) within their devices, which is aiding to improve the efficiency of the building. The connection to IoT enables the collection of real time data, which is used in creating dashboards that reflect the energy use in each area. Using this data, energy audits can be conducted to improve the efficiency. IoT in building automation systems help in streamlining the operation of all devices like HVAC, lighting, safety and security, and access controls. Data collected with the help of IoT help in analytics and energy management system. With the help of IoT, the installation, monitoring, and control of building automation and control systems becomes an easy and manageable task. According to the report, utility bills are a major contributor to the total operational costs of office buildings. Reducing energy use will help companies make significant costs savings. Due to the rise in infrastructural developments, more commercial and office buildings are expected to come up. Fire and safety control, surveillance systems, and HVAC and lighting systems are needed to be installed in these buildings to improve the infrastructure and reinforce safety and security, therefore requiring the installation of building automation and control systems to achieve operational efficiency. Further, the report states that most of the solutions offered by the vendors are exorbitantly priced. The prices vary depending on the building size and the customizable options that the end-user chooses. High market price is one of the reasons that dissuades many end-users from installing automation and control systems, especially in residential buildings. Vendors like Johnson Controls and Honeywell charge the customers on a per square foot basis. For a large building type, it might take end-users a long time to recover the cost of installation. A technician might be needed to control and monitor the overall functioning of the building. For instance, in 2016, Johnson Controls signed a contract worth $12.9 million with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Tennessee, US to modernize its facility. The amount reflects the level of investment that is required to completely automate the healthcare facility. Key vendors Automated Logic Honeywell Johnson Controls International Schneider Electric Other prominent vendors ABB Beckhoff Automation Bosch Sicherheitssysteme GmbH CONTROL4 DELTA CONTROLS Distech Controls Dwyer Emerson Electric Evon Technologies Itron Legrand Lutron Siemens Key Topics Covered: Part 01: Executive summary Part 02: Scope of the report Part 03: Research Methodology Part 04: Introduction Part 05: Market landscape Part 06: Market segmentation by solution type Part 07: Market segmentation by end-user Part 08: Geographical segmentation Part 09: Decision framework Part 10: Drivers and challenges Part 11: Market trends Part 12: Vendor landscape Part 13: Appendix For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/h65ksd/global_building Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- TIMIA Capital Corporation ("TIMIA" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: TCA) is pleased to announce its Q1 results for 2017 show continued strong revenue growth in comparison to 2016. Total revenue for Q1, 2017 was $208,879 vs. $105,542 in the same quarter last year, an increase of 98%. The increase is due to the substantial growth of TIMIA's portfolio over the period. Q1 2016's revenue included $20,000 of advisory income in addition to $85,542 of interest income, while Q1, 2017 was comprised solely of interest income. The Company had a cash balance of $967,391 at the end of Q1, 2017, and expects to utilize those cash resources in the near term via investment into new portfolio companies. As these investments are completed, both interest income and advisory income will be earned. Total payments received from portfolio companies is another key measure of the Company's progress. These payments comprise both interest and principal repayments, and for Q1 2017 these payments totalled $234,968 vs $86,328 in Q1, 2016. Chart 1 below summarizes TIMIA's annualized cash payments received from our revenue finance investments. To view Chart 1, please visit the following link: www.marketwire.com/library/20170428-tca0428chart_full.jpg. All portfolio companies are current in their payments. TIMIA's non-GAAP measure Adjusted EBITDA(1) improved as well, seeing an increase to $4,138 in Q1, 2017 from ($15,963) in Q1, 2016. The Company expects to see continued improvement in this measure as the portfolio and related interest revenue scale up at a greater rate than operational costs. Cash-based operating expenditures, not including interest expense and non-cash items such as loan loss provision and share-based compensation increased to $204,727 in Q1, 2017, vs. $121,505 in Q1, 2016. This increase of 68% same quarter, year over year, reflects the addition of a 3rd senior team member, the opening of an office in Waterloo, Ontario, the installation of back office systems, and increased expenditures on brand building and investor relations. TIMIA's net loss increased in Q1, 2017 was ($133,108) vs. ($86,945) in Q1, 2016. This increased loss reflects increased interest expense and operating expenses, offset by the increase in interest revenue earned. 2017 Outlook As TIMIA Capital's portfolio matures, the Company looks forward to having a portion of its portfolio companies exercise their buyout options from their revenue finance facilities due either an acquisition or other refinancing. Management expects, that while difficult to forecast, these events will result in an accretive cash event for TIMIA and its shareholders. The Company also looks forward to continuing to grow its portfolio with new investments. These new investments will allow for both an increase in interest income as well as intermittent advisory income, both of which are expected to move the Company closer to cashflow breakeven. Annual General Meeting - The Company's Annual General Meeting is scheduled for May 10th at 10am at the University of British Columbia Robson Square Facility, Room C150. The Company will also be broadcasting the AGM on Facebook Live through the TIMIA Capital Facebook page. Management will provide a full update on the business at that meeting. About TIMIA Capital Corporation TIMIA Capital Corporation is a specialty finance company that provides revenue financing to technology companies in exchange for a royalty stream on revenue. The alternative financing option complements both debt and equity financing, while allowing entrepreneurs to retain control of their business. TIMIA's target market is the fast-growing business-to-business software-as-a-service (SaaS) segment. TIMIA is managed by a seasoned investment team with a track record of originating and managing debt and equity investments, as well as monitoring, compliance and workouts. For more information about TIMIA Capital Corporation, please visit www.timiacapital.com. (1) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure comprising EBITDA - non-cash items such as Share Based Compensation and Loan Loss Provision +/- equity related realized and unrealized gains/losses. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. The Company disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements except as required by law. Contacts: TIMIA Capital Corporation Mike Walkinshaw Chief Executive Officer (604) 398-8839 marketing@timiacapital.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- Nevada Copper Corp. (TSX: NCU) ("Nevada Copper" or "Company") is pleased to announce the results from its 2017 Annual and Special Meeting (the "Meeting"), held on Friday, April 28th in Vancouver, B.C. Shareholders holding a total of 57,983,165 common shares of the Company attended the meeting in person or were represented by proxy, representing 65.7% of the total 88,168,125 common shares of the Company outstanding as of the record date. Shareholders voted in favour of all items of business before the Meeting: 1. Appointment of Auditor Smyth LLP was appointed as the Company's auditor and the directors were authorized to fix the auditor's remuneration. 2. Determination of the Number of Directors The number of directors was determined at five. 3. Election of Directors The following persons were elected as Directors of the Company until the next annual shareholder meeting of the Company, with the voting results shown below: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Votes Director Votes For % For Against % Against ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Giulio Bonifacio 54,782,383 98.18 1,014,462 1.82 Michael Brown 54,777,433 98.17 1,019,412 1.83 Raffaele (Lucio) Genovese 55,679,374 99.79 117,471 0.21 Stephen Gill 54,768,433 98.16 1,028,412 1.84 Evgenij Iorich 54,768,433 98.16 1,028,412 1.84 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nevada Copper wishes to thank Mr. Myckatyn, who did not stand for re-election at the Meeting, for his knowledge and insight he provided the Company over the last year. We wish Mr. Myckatyn all the best in his future endeavours. 4. Unallocated Options under the Company's Stock Option Plan An ordinary resolution to approve the unallocated options under the Company's Stock Option Plan was passed. The ordinary resolution was approved by the shareholders of the Company with the following results: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Votes Votes Total Shares For Against Voted ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares Voted 54,694,672 1,102,173 55,796,845 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- % 98.02 1.98 100 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Conversion Right Under Convertible Loan Facility Amendment A ballot was conducted with respect to the ordinary resolution to approve the conversion right under the convertible loan facility amendment with Pala Investments Ltd. ("Pala"), as announced in the Company's news release of February 24, 2017. According to the ballots cast, the ordinary resolution was approved by the shareholders of the Company, other than Pala and its affiliates, with the following results: Disinterested Shareholder Vote Summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Votes Votes Total Shares For Against Voted ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares Voted 15,321,575 186,132 15,507,707 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- % 98.80 1.20 100 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Shares for Debt Transaction to Settle Deferred Share Unit ("DSU") Liabilities A ballot was conducted with respect to the ordinary resolution to approve the issuance of Common Shares in settlement of the DSU Liabilities. According to the ballots cast, the ordinary resolution was approved by the shareholders of the Company, other than the Former Directors and Mr. Myckatyn, with the following results: Disinterested Shareholder Vote Summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Votes Votes Total Shares For Against Voted ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares Voted 55,695,763 101,082 55,796,845 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- % 99.82 0.18 100 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEVADA COPPER CORP. Giulio T. Bonifacio, President & CEO Contacts: Nevada Copper Corp. Eugene Toffolo VP, Investor Relations & Communications 604-683-8266 or Toll free: 1-877-648-8266 etoffolo@nevadacopper.com Nevada Copper Corp. Robert McKnight, P.Eng., MBA Executive Vice President & CFO 604-683-1309 bmcknight@nevadacopper.com HANGZHOU, China, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Last Saturday, the fourth episode for Born U5, the large-scale motivational and dream-focused girl growth reality show, produced jointly by Zhejiang TV, Leisure Studio and Authrule Media and supported by the sole title sponsor, JD, was broadcasted. Born U5 invites the versatile performer Show Lo as the key instructor to guide the girls in the path of becoming qualified performers. The show applies the brand-new and original model to present to the audience with comprehensive, transparent and positive performance. The learners, which means the U5 girls, start as a team. This is different from the former model. There are no competitions for selection or knockout within the team. The team members will get continuous progress under the guidance of the only instructor. Meanwhile, they will perform together with excellent groups and performers from all over the world so as to learn from each other in a part called "Sparkles between Six Countries". In this innovative way, the U5 girls are seeking future development around the world. The first foreign girl group in the "Sparkles between Six Countries" is the SEREBRO from Russia. The SEREBRO has drawn much attention with their great figures at the beginning of the show, winning the scream from the audience. Throughout the show, their passion on stage has affected all the audience. Even the guest performers and consultants danced along their singing. Their sexy and confident style on the stage is very attractive. They performed the "brainwashing" and popular song "Mi Mi Mi" in group. Also they sang "Zoom" and showed their singing techniques. These were all impressive. In response, the U5 girls performed the classic "Jing Wu Men" with singing and dancing in group and sang "Katyusha+ Drunk Days". Their performance has earned the appreciation from the SEREBRO. The audience and the judges all spoke highly of them and thought they had much potential. Even though there is still a gap between the U5 girls and the mature girl group like the SEREBRO, people still think that U5 girls will have a bright future. Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/495686/Born_U5_SEREBRO.jpg Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/495690/Show_Lo_And_U5_Girls.jpg LONDON, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Canadian philanthropist Victor Dahdaleh was a guest at a unique event in London this month, which brought together academics and business leaders to discuss innovation, automation and the future of work. Hosted by Canada's York University and the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce and held at Pewterers' Hall in the City of London, the event featured experts from a variety of disciplines to discuss how academic and business institutions can embrace change and respond to societal needs. Victor Dahdaleh, whose charitable foundation supports a wide range of causes across education, healthcare and social and economic development, is both a York alumnus and Honorary Doctor of Laws and a past president of the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce. Discussing the issues, Dr Dahdaleh stressed the need for business and academia to work more closely together to meet the evolving needs of the modern workplace. "We know from our work giving young people from underprivileged backgrounds access to higher education that the business world is often an unknown quantity to them. And yet these young people have such unique skills - particularly when it comes to digital - and I would love to see more business leaders engaging with them to get their insights on the modern workplace," he said. Also at the event were York University President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri and York alumna Moya Greene, CEO of the Royal Mail Group, who offered the keynote speeches. Greene discussed the impact of automation on the private sector, drawing on her role at Royal Mail Group to highlight the innovations that have transformed the postal service in recent years. York University is one of a number of academic organisations partnered with the Victor Dahdaleh Foundation to deliver cutting-edge research programmes. In late 2015 the Foundation funded the York University Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health, a state-of-the art facility made possible by a record $20million donation to York. The new institute works with a network of global and local partners to reframe the ways in which high- and low-income countries collaborate on global health challenges. Also in Canada, Dr Dahdaleh is an active supporter of McGill University in Montreal, one of the world's leading centres of medical-doctoral research. In 2007, the Victor Dahdaleh Foundation established an endowment in perpetuity for 16 annual scholarships at the university, which in 2016 was doubled to fund 32 scholarships, also in perpetuity. The awards are aimed at outstanding full-time undergraduates from low-income countries. Expanding on this support for McGill, the Victor Dahdaleh Foundation last year made a donation to found a new Chair in Neuroscience at the university. The new Chair will build on McGill's world-class research in the field to develop an integrated approach to the study of chronic brain disease. Both contributions were matched dollar-for-dollar by McGill and other funders. In the UK, the Victor Dahdaleh Foundation last year partnered with the British Lung Foundation to launch a new programme of research into mesothelioma. Research teams from the University of Leicester, Imperial College London and the Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust came together under the initiative, which aims to find new treatments and, ultimately, a cure for the killer disease. The Foundation's 5 million donation matched UK government funding announced earlier in the year. Also in the UK, Victor Dahdaleh is an Honorary Fellow at London School of Economics, where he has funded a range of new schemes and backed a scholarship programme to enable disadvantaged students from overseas to study at the school. The Victor Dahdaleh Foundation's support for education extends to Africa, where it is a donor to the Ethiopia-based Northwood African Educational Trust, which manages a school for orphans in the northwest of the country. St George's School in the Azezo area of Gondar province provides free, high quality education for 200 of the area's most vulnerable children. Alongside these charitable roles, Dr Dahdaleh is a Fellow of the Duke of Edinburgh Award World Fellowship, a global network of supporters established in 1987 to extend the Duke of Edinburgh Award to young people around the world. Victor Dahdaleh is the owner and chairman of Dadco, a privately owned investment, manufacturing and trading group established in 1915. For more information on the Victor Dahdaleh Foundation, visit victordahdalehfoundation.com. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- Opawica Explorations Inc. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: OPW) announces that pursuant to its news releases dated August 2, 2016 and January 30, 2017, the Company has exercised its option to acquire 100% interest in the Bazooka West property located in Beauchastel Township, Quebec, from Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. ("Globex"), for consideration of a final option payment of $30,000 cash and 500,000 common shares of the Company which are subject to a four month hold period expiring August 22, 2017. Globex retains a 3% Gross Metal Royalty ("GMR") with the Company retaining the right to purchase 1% of the GMR for $1,000,000 within five years. The Bazooka East and West gold properties combine for a total strike length of approximately seven kilometres along one of the most prolific auriferous structures in the world, the Cadillac Larder Lake Break ("CLLB"). Opawica's collective 100% ownership, subject to various underlying royalties, of these properties will now be referred to as the Bazooka Gold Property (the "Property"). To date only 800 metres of strike length has been tested by limited shallow drilling and small mining activities undertaken in the early 1950's through a 115 metre deep shaft on the Bazooka Gold Property. This outlines approximately six kilometres of untested strike length and the entire seven kilometres of the Bazooka Gold Property is open to depth for gold exploration. The eastern border of Opawica's Bazooka Gold Property adjoins Yorbeau Resources Inc.'s ("Yorbeau") Rouyn Property that is currently under option for Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross") to purchase a 100% interest for consideration that includes C$12 million in certain exploration expenditures and a single cash payment of US$25,000,000, plus 2% of the prevailing gold price multiplied by the number of ounces in measured, indicated and inferred resources identified in a resource estimate to be completed on the Rouyn Property (see Yorbeau press release dated October 25, 2016). In addition, the western border of the Bazooka Gold Property adjoins Richmont Mines Inc.'s Wasamac gold property (approx. 3 million ozs Au resources). All of these properties are within 10 kilometres of the Rouyn-Noranda mining camp and are located on, or near, the CLLB. The 220 kilometre length of the CLLB, and areas in general proximity thereto, between Matachewan, Ontario to Val D'Or, Quebec have yielded over 125 million ounces of gold from production and existing gold resources. SHARES FOR SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH AGORACOM The Company has entered into an online marketing and advertising agreement (the "Agreement") with Agora Internet Relations Corp. ("AGORACOM") for a one year term ending April 30, 2018. The Company expects to receive significant advertising exposure over the next 12 months through many content brand insertions on the AGORACOM network and extensive search engine marketing. As compensation for the services to be provided, AGORACOM will receive $45,000 plus applicable HST and payment will be made by the issuance of common shares at a deemed price per share to be determined after the date the services are provided during the year. AGORACOM will be paid $9,000 plus applicable HST in value of shares upon commencement of the Agreement on May 1, 2017, and thereafter will receive $9,000 plus applicable HST in value of shares at the end of each quarter with the final share payment to be made on April 30, 2018. The shares issued to AGORACOM will be subject to a four month hold period from the date of each issuance of shares. The Agreement and all securities proposed to be issued thereunder are subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. Mr. Yvan Bussieres, P.Eng., is the Qualified Person who has prepared or supervised the preparation of the information that forms the basis for the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.opawica.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release. Forward-looking Statements Certain statements in this press release relating to the Company's exploration activities, project expenditures and business plans are approximate and are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities legislation. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements represent management's best judgment based on current facts and assumptions that management considers reasonable, including that operating and capital plans will not be disrupted by issues such as adverse market conditions, mechanical failure, unavailability of parts, labor disturbances, interruption in transportation or utilities, or adverse weather conditions, that there are no material unanticipated variations in budgeted costs, that contractors will complete projects according to schedule, and that actual mineralization on properties may not achieve any category of resource(s). The Company makes no representation that reasonable business people in possession of the same information would reach the same conclusions. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, fluctuations in the price of gold, equity markets or in currency markets could prevent the Company from achieving its targets. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There is no guarantee that drill results reported in this news release or future releases will lead to the identification of a deposit that can be mined economically, and further work is required to identify resources and reserves. We seek safe harbour. Contacts: Fred Kiernicki President and Chief Executive Officer Opawica Explorations Inc. 604-681-3170 604-681-3552 (FAX) TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- UpSnap Inc. (CSE: UP) ("UpSnap" or the "Company"), a leading provider of mobile advertising solutions, today announced the resignation of board member Trish McLean effective immediately. "We would like to thank Trish for her time and dedication to UpSnap," said Bruce Howard, CEO of UpSnap. "We wish her the best of luck moving forward and we have immediately commenced a search for her replacement." About UpSnap UpSnap provides highly-targeted, data-driven mobile advertising to attract the ideal audience for brands big and small. Combining first-party proprietary data and real-time analytics, UpSnap goes beyond location to deliver site agnostic and results-driven campaigns that produce qualified, engaged customers. UpSnap tailors each campaign to align with unique business goals, delivering the right customers for more meaningful exposure and better business results. Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information Certain information set out in this News Release constitutes forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "hope", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "scheduled", "believe" and similar expressions. The forward- looking information set out in this News Release relates to future events or our future performance and includes: (i) information concerning the positive effect of new sales staff on revenue growth; (ii) the effect of new products like Facebook advertising on revenue growth; (iii) the Company's ability to grow average spend and succeed in the mobile advertising market by focusing on the underserved small and medium sized business market. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which cause actual results to vary from those express or implied by such forward looking statements. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and based on what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or publicly revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws. Furthermore, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward looking statements set out in this news release. The Company's forward looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release. Contacts: Alex Pekurar, CPA, CA Chief Financial Officer UpSnap Inc. 416-619-3903 apekurar@upsnap.com Babak Pedram Investor Relations Virtus Advisory Group Inc. 416-644-5081 bpedram@virtusadvisory.com CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/17 -- Canadian Equipment Rentals Corp. ("CERC" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: CFL) is pleased to announce that it has closed the previously announced $20.4 million loan transaction (the "Loan Transaction") between CERC and Maynbridge Capital Inc. ("Maynbridge") and repaid the existing syndicated lenders in full. The Company is also pleased to announce that it has completed the conversion of $2.5 million of debt owing to a company controlled by Mr. Dean Swanberg in exchange for 10 million common shares of the Company, representing a price of $0.25 per share. Concurrently with the closing of the Loan Transaction, the directors of CERC have appointed Mr. Swanberg and Mr. Dean Shillington, CEO of Maynbridge, to the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Swanberg's experience and reputation as a veteran oilfield executive in Western Canada and Mr. Shillington's business and finance expertise are expected to be of great value to the Company. About Canadian Equipment Rentals Corp. Canadian Equipment Rentals Corp. is a Canadian public corporation and parent company to Zedcor Energy Services Corp. ("Zedcor"). Zedcor is engaged in the rental of surface equipment and accommodations to the Western Canadian Oil and Gas Industry. The Company trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "CFL". About Maynbridge Capital Inc. Maynbridge Capital Inc. (www.maynbridge.ca) is a boutique lender that specializes in equipment and property financing to companies across Canada. With offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, Maynbridge is an asset-based lender that assists companies through periods of transition in all economic climates. Forward-Looking Statements and Information Certain statements included or incorporated by reference in this press release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements or information may contain statements with the words "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "budget", "should", "project", "or similar words suggesting future outcomes or expectations. In particular, forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release, include, but are not limited to, expected benefits of the appointment of new directors of the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations implied in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements or information are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of assumptions about the future and uncertainties. Although management believes these assumptions are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will be proved to be correct, and actual results will differ materially from those anticipated. For this purpose, any statements herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new contrary information, future events or any other reason, unless it is required by any applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: Ken Olson Chief Financial Officer (403) 930-5434 kolson@cercorp.ca Changzhou National Hi-Tech District, one of Chinas leading high-tech industrial development zones located in the Yangtze River Delta, and Shenzhen Capital Group Co., Ltd., a venture capital firm specializing in seed, early stage and later stage investments, signed a strategic cooperation agreement to enhance resource integration and jointly set up a new talent investment fund. Under the agreement, the fund will invest in privately-held high-growth technology companies and startups led by entrepreneurs with established track records in the intelligent manufacturing, energy conservation, environmental protection and new materials industries, as well as in other emerging sectors. A key goal of the fund is to enhance the appeal of Changzhou National Hi-Tech District as a location choice for entrepreneurial businesses and their owners, with the expectation that a large number of those businesses will apply for consideration in the talent plan and choose to settle in the district. In addition, the two parties plan to explore further areas of cooperation including assistance that can be offered to manufacturers in terms of facility upgrades, development and popularization of a standard for enterprise management policies and practices, as well as integration of Chinese and international capital markets, among others. FinSMEs 28/04/2017 Me.me, a San Francisco, CA-based meme search engine, raised $1.5m in funding. Backers include Arjun Sethi from The Social+Capital Partnership, Peter Rojas from Betaworks Ventures, Danhua Capital, Mirarmar Ventures, etc. The company will use the funds to expand operations. Led by CEO Shane Walker, Fariz Chowdhury, and Jim Hefner, Me.me operates a search engine that makes memes searchable and shareable and an API. In Q4 2016, the platform grew 225% to serve over 700m memes. FinSMEs 28/04/2017 From 15 17th June 2017, the city of Paris is hosting Viva Technology 2017, a tech event co-organized by Publicis Groupe and Groupe Les Echos with thousands of emerging startups and global businesses participating. The second edition of VivaTech: The Rendezvous For Game Changers aims to celebrate innovation, along with tech-lovers, innovators, entrepreneurs and pioneers of the future. During the event, 100 free, open-innovation challenges for startups held by top business leaders spanning major industries and sectors. Of those registered (more than 5,000 to date), 1,000 startups will be awarded a stand at one of the 20 open-innovation labs, hosted by VivaTechs Platinum Partners (BNP-Paribas, Google, La Poste and Orange) and designed to encourage co-working and open innovation. Young businesses can receive exposure to an array of opportunities, such as partnerships, investments and building relationships with major companies and venture capitalists VivaTech will bring together more than 500 speakers from around the world to debate and discuss the impact of digital technologies on a diverse range of industry sectors. Speakers include Isabelle Kocher (CEO Engie), Gillian Tans (CEO Booking.com), Yuanquing Yang (Chairman & CEO, Lenovo), Jeff Immelt (Chairman & CEO, GE), David Kenny (Senior Vice President, IBM Watson & IBM Cloud), Eric Schmidt (Executive Chairman, Alphabet Inc), Tim Armstrong (CEO, AOL), Daniel Zhang, (CEO, Alibaba), Bertrand Piccard (Chairman SolarImpulse Foundation), John Collison (Cofounder & president, Stripe),Stephane Richard (CEO Orange), Jean-Laurent Bonnafe (CEO BNP Paribas), and more. Robots, drones, 3D printing, virtual and augmented reality and self-driving cars, will be exhibited in the Hall of Tech while tech companies such as Alibaba, Cisco, Ericsson, Facebook, Google, IBM Watson, Orange, SAP, Groupe Bouygues, EDF, JC Decaux, LOreal, Unibail Rodemco, Cerevo (Japan), Flytrex (Israel), Icaros (Germany), Qwant (France) and XXII (France) will showcase their latest developments, In addition, a Deep-Tech Hackathon will bring together developers in a 17 hour hacking challenge. Hundreds of incubators, accelerators and project holders including AfricanAngels, Chinaccelerator, Numa, PlugandPlay, SeedCamp, Tekes, and The Family, will participate. FinSMEs 28/04/2017 Value4Capital, the Poland and Central Europe focused mid-market private equity firm, is preparing to launch its next fund, with a 150m target size. V4C Poland Plus is expected to target private equity investments in SMEs and small mid-cap companies, particularly in service industries, where organic growth and consolidation opportunities provide the potential for the target company to become a leader in its segment. The fund will be anchored by a 35m commitment from the European Investment Fund (EIF) and a commitment of up to 25m from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), each subject to certain conditions precedent. EIFs commitment also includes the indirect commitment of the PGFF (Polish Growth Fund-of-Funds) (PolskiFundusz-funduszy Wzrostu (PFFW) in Polish), an initiative created by cooperation between BGK Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego and EIF. EBRD has been an investor with V4C since 2006 when it committed to the V4C Eastern Europe Fund (which at the time was named SGAM Eastern Europe). Led by Bill Watson, Jacek Pogonowski and Piotr Misztal, V4C is a private equity firm focused on investments in mid-market Polish and Central European companies. They target investments in established small and mid-cap companies focusing on service businesses. Their current fund, V4C Eastern Europe, was raised in 2006 / 2007 with 156m of committed capital. It was invested in mid-market companies in Poland and Romania, most of which are now exited. These exits include: the December 2016 sale through a Bucharest Stock Exchange initial public offering of our stake in Romanias largest private healthcare provider, MedLife S.A., the December 2015 exit of Polish web hosting company, home.pl to a European strategic investor, and a March 2017 conditional sale agreement for Polish security services company Konsalnet Holdings S.A., with an Asian strategic investor. FinSMEs 28/04/2017 The one attraction that refuses to wane or pale with us Indians is the love for gold. The glittering metal in all its forms, matte finish, lustrous or white gold is irresistible. Most of us buy it because we like to wear gold jewellery on our person and some buy it as a form of investment. With Akshaya Tritiya, buying of gold gets a 'holy' backing with the day considered auspicious for gold purchases. Most jewelers are optimistic that there will be a high demand for gold jewellery this time around as the challenges of the regulatory policies that were introduced by the government over the last few years coupled with demonetisation announced on November 8, has had its impact on the trade. To get more footfalls, most jewellers are luring customers with schemes like discounts on diamond jewellery, no making charge on gold jewellery and other freebies upon purchase of a certain quantiy of gold today. The broad spectrum is bullish on gold, say Aurobinda Prasad Gayan, VP Research at Kotak Commodities. With the safe haven appeal and attractive asset to accumulate on Akshaya Tritiya, gold is expected to hover in the upper trajectory of Rs. 30,000 mark in the domestic market, he said. Backing Gayans outlook, Vijay Jain, CEO and director, Orra Fine Jewellery, says compared to the previous year, the consumer sentiment is on an upswing so far this year. We are offering 50 percent off on making charges of gold jewellery and no making charges on gold coins and gold bars. He is optimistic this will lead to increased purchases today. The government's Sovereign Gold Bonds issued by the central bank which permits buying bonds worth 500 grams of gold per year at 2.75 percent interest has not garnered much interest. This despite the bonds making it possible to take loans against them. One of the reason being cited is because most people, especially women don't want a piece of paper in hand instead of the real precious metal. You cant wear a certificate around your neck, can you? is the oft-repeated query of women. Currently, the country purchases an estimated 300 tonnes of gold bars and coins every year for investment purposes. Most of this comes through imports. According to a World Gold Council study, the biggest high for a bride is gold and consequently more than half of the gold imported in India is used for wedding purposes. Of this, a significant chunk is used to make ornaments. Though as a country we are the largest consumers of gold, we rank 10 among countries with the largest gold holdings. According to Forbes, India has 557.7 tonnes of the precious metal. The United States tops the list with 8133.5 tonnes followed by Germany at 3381 and Italy at 2451.8 tonnes. Why is gold such a precious commodity that most Indians, even the poor have or aspire to buy at least a gram of gold? Primarily, it is because holding gold in the family is a tradition in India that also marks most joyous ceremonies in ones life. Some parts of the gold owned by an individual are heirlooms that are passed down through generations. It is also the only asset a woman can call her own. Gold is the womans property that she can wear, pawn or sell in times of need. It is a personal asset and also fulfills a social, cultural and economic need. Women dont buy gold as an investment. It is a security and status symbol for most women, says Nitin Khandelwal, Chairman, Gems and Jewellery Foundation. A gold bond is a piece of paper. It does not have the same effect as holding physical gold. That is one of the reasons women balk at the suggestion of investing in bonds or any other such instruments where gold is only a notional value, he says. Think about it. If, for whatever reason, a woman wanted to get money for an emergency, where would she turn to without worrying about pride or honor? The only thing she can be sure of getting money in exchange of a commodity immediately is the gold in her possession. A bank with its timings and holidays is not really helpful in such situations, says Khandelwal. Gold is bought largely by two segments of the population. One section buys it for self-use and makes its purchases with that in mind. When the government comes out with gold bonds, it is catering to the second segment which buys gold for investment purposes. That is a very small segment, says Jain of Orra Diamonds. World over, gold bars and coins are considered an instrument of currency that protects an individual in times of need and also works effectively as an investment for some. The reason why women still prefer to go to a store and buy gold than walk into a bank and buy a gold bond is because they like the anonymity of buying gold from a store. It also is familiar ground in some cases, of knowing a trusted jeweler the family has been dealing with through generation, says Somasundaram PR, Managing Director, World Gold Council. Sovereign gold bonds, ETFs, etc., are for people who understand the stock market, mutual funds and other such instruments. For them, these schemes are very, very helpful, he says. The gold bond scheme is available at an attractive interest but that does not make it popular with the public. You dont buy the cheapest mobile available in the market, do you, asks Somasundaram. You always have a brand that you aspire to buy when you have the money. That is the case with gold too. You wait and buy the precious commodity as it is aspirational and serves so many purposes for the buyer you can wear it, use it for special occasions and sell it in troubled times. No paper or bond can replace that feeling, he says. Also, the bond price is a mismatch, says Kishore Narne, Head- Commodity and Currency, Motilal Oswal Commodities. A bond is not gold and is lending money to government without any real gold being bought or sold. The bond value will come down if import duty comes down. Who will bear that loss but the consumer? Why should an investor bear that loss, at all. Whereas EFT has expense issues, the returns are not compatible to physical gold, he says. Gold sales are largely driven by women in the rural areas. They are not fascinated by the stock market. Also, most people are not aware of how to liquidate a sovereign bond and borrow against it. It is not something most have heard about, says Somasundaram. Gold coins were a major draw for consumers until a few years ago, says Khandelwal. In 2013, the UPA government, faced with the high gold imports that widened the country's current account deficit, increased the import duty on gold to 10 percent, put in an 80:20 rule stipulating 20 percent of the gold imported has to be re-exported; and asked banks to strictly follow guidelines restricting inward shipments of the metal. This was a dampener for most consumers. The customers havent gone back to buying coins like they used to earlier since then, Khandelwal says. It also works for the government as it is happy when consumers buy jewellery as there is tax collected on every purchase, he said. Indians usually buy gold in large quantities during weddings. Akshaya Tritiya, though considered auspicious, is not an indicator of the buying trend, said a jeweler. However, the trade is expecting good sales today unlike last year when during Akshay Tritiya was hampered by the long strike by the trade. Consequently, sales were muted then, says Somasundaram. The price of gold has now gone up only 2.5 percent in India unlike 8.5 percent globally due to the appreciation of the rupee. That itself is a great incentive to buy, he says. Gold is only bought in small value for Akshaya Tritiya as it is mere tokenism to the festival made more popular by advertisements and discounts offered by the trade for the day. Jewellers have stocked up this year too, and there is a huge optimism in the trade as the repercussions of GST are not known yet, said Somasundaram. The other rules such as mandatory quoting of PAN card number by the customer while buying gold have already been factored in by the consumers. As Somasundaram says, "People typically tend to make small purchases over a period of time instead of one large purchase to avoid giving PAN. Another small big day for consumers and hopefully a big, if not bumper day for the trade. (Data support Kishor Kadam) China's multinational conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group may be looking at pulling out of its $10 billion real estate project in Haryana, a report in The Economic Times said. As per the report, the Wanda group's investment plan, including construction of five industrial and theme parks besides shopping malls, has hit a deadlock after the state government insisted that it be given higher equity ownership in the project. While Wanda group is not willing to offer more than 9 percent stake to the Haryana government, the latter wants 26 percent ownership in the proposed project. The matter of equity sharing is a major bottleneck... As per our company law, 26 percent share will give us controlling rights and an opportunity to be on the board of directors, a senior Haryana government official has been quoted as saying in the ET report. As a result, the Wanda group has threatened to move out of the proposed project in the wake of the lingering dispute over the equity ownership issue with the Haryana government. The group had recently announced it would start work on a 13 sq km park in Sonepat. On worries over the scrapping of the project, the ministry of external affairs and the department of industrial policy and promotion are holding talks with both the parties to find a solution. The Chinese group's investment plan is much higher than the entire FDI flow from China between 2014 and 2016, which stood at $956 million, the ET report said. Apart from its unwillingness to offer higher equity to Haryana state government, the Chinese group has also asked for several relaxations applicable to special economic zones. In February, representatives of Dalian Wanda met DIPP officials to press for certain concessions as well as relaxation in some regulatory norms. The worlds largest property developer said it wants to bring $10 billion into India as external commercial borrowings (ECBs) as against the $750 million limit permitted by RBI. The company officials are also understood to have sought concessions for the industrial park that the firm is planning to develop in Haryana and other investments including breaks on corporate and service tax besides customs and import duties similar to special economic zones. The Chinese real estate major is also seeking permission to sell plots that are underdeveloped or only partially developed in its proposed industrial park in Haryana. The Supreme Court on Thursday said it was "alive" to its earlier orders which had held that Aadhaar should be "voluntary" even as petitioners against the linking of Aadhaar to PAN card termed it an "electronic leash" and dubbed the government a "totalitarian state". "We are alive to the orders passed by this court which says it should be voluntary," a bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said. The apex court made these observations while hearing the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of section 139AA of the Income Tax (IT) Act, which was introduced through the latest budget and the Finance Act 2017. Section 139AA of IT Act provides for mandatory quoting of Aadhaar or enrolment ID of Aadhaar application form for filing of income tax returns and making application for allotment of PAN number with effect from July 1 this year. Senior counsel Shyam Divan, representing the petitioners, argued that section 139AA was unconstitutional and it was in "direct collision" with the Aadhaar Act. "The entire Aadhaar Act is voluntary. It creates a right in favour of citizens. It does not create a duty. The Act is entirely voluntary. How can they make it mandatory under the Income Tax Act? The scheme under the Aadhaar Act is in direct collision with the provision of section 139AA," he said. He also argued that there was no question of forcing a person to give his consent for Aadhaar and this was an issue which "alters the relationship of Republic of India with its citizens". However, the bench observed, "we have to interpret a statute as per the objective with which it has been framed." Referring to the earlier orders passed by the apex court, Divan said a five-judge bench had in October 2015 said that Aadhaar card scheme was voluntary and not mandatory till the matter was finally decided by the apex court. He said in that order, the court had also said that a larger bench was required to be set up for final disposal of the petitions but it has not been constituted till now. The senior counsel also argued that a bench headed by then Chief Justice of India (CJI) H L Dattu had passed that order and after him, the apex court has seen two CJIs -- former CJI T S Thakur and incumbent CJI J S Khehar -- but a larger bench has not been set up to adjudicate the matter. Questioning the governments move, Divan said it was like a "bargain" that government was asking for finger prints and other details of an individual, which were required for making Aadhaar, for extending benefits of welfare schemes. However, the bench said, "As far as privacy issue was concerned, it has been referred to a larger bench so we cannot decide it here. ... Your privacy issue that you do not want to give your finger prints will be heard by a larger bench." The petitioner also argued that a law abiding tax payer cannot be forced to give his Aadhaar while filing income tax return and this was like an "electronic leash" as government would keep a tab on its citizens. "Nowhere in the world there is such biometric system which can track a person 24X7. They (government) are doing it even before the age of consent," he said during the arguments which would continue tomorrow. "We (citizens) are not servants of the state. We are independent citizens. They cannot invade my body and if they will invade it, then it would be a totalitarian state," he said. The apex court had yesterday put a poser as to why there was no objection from lawmakers on the governments decision to make Aadhaar mandatory for making PAN cards. Defending the Centres stand to make Aadhaar mandatory for filing of Income tax returns and to apply for PAN, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had referred to around 10 lakh fake permanent account number (PAN) cards in the country and said that Aadhaar was the only system which could prevent duplication or fake cards. Rohatgi had also clarified that nowhere in section 139AA of IT Act, was it mentioned that it would be effective with retrospective effect. The government had earlier told the apex court that fake PAN cards were being used to "divert funds" to shell firms. The Supreme Court on Thursday extended until 19 June the parole of Sahara chief Subrata Roy with a warning that failure to meet the deadline of 15 June for the payment of Rs 1,500 crore would land him in prison once again. Roy, who in compliance with the last order appeared before the court, was told by the apex court that he has to frequently make the payment as per the roadmap approved by the court or face further imprisonment. The Sahara chief gave an undertaking to a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra that he would deposit Rs 1,500 crore by 15 June and another payment of Rs 552.22 crore by 15 July in the Sebi-Sahara account and filed an affidavit. The apex court warned Roy that he may be sent to jail again if amount is not paid. "We are warning you today, if cheques are not realised, amount does not come, we will be compelled to send you to Tihar Jail straight away from here," the bench told Roy asking him to be present on the next date of hearing on June 19. Roy was present in the court in pursuance to April 17 direction to be present in the court in person. Seeking some more time to pay the money, he told the court that he would pay Rs 1,500 crore by June 15, another Rs 552 crore by July 15 and Rs 3,000 crore by October 30. The bench, which also comprised Justices Ranjan Gogoi and A K Sikri, also ordered the arrest of Chennai-based Prakash Swamy, who failed to deposit Rs 10 crore as per the last order. He will serve one month-jail for contempt of court. Swamy had filed an affidavit on behalf of a foreign firm expressing his intent to buy Sahara's New York-based hotel. He had failed to comply with the apex court's direction to show his bonafide by depositing the amount in court to establish his intention to buy the property. The bench allowed the Sahara group to make electronic payment through RTGS in the Sebi-Sahara account on or before June 15. Sahara has still to pay balance Rs 11,169 crores of the principal amount of Rs 25,781 crore to the investors from whom two group companies - SIRECL and SHICL - had illegally raised funds in 2008 and 2009 through OFCDs. Asking Roy to be present in the court on June 19 when court would hold further hearing in the matter, the bench in the meanwhile asked the official liquidator of Bombay High Court Vinod Sharma to proceed with the preparation of the terms and conditions for the auction of Sahara's Aamby valley property. The court said that the reserve price for the auction of Aamby Valley would be Rs 37,392 crore. The terms and conditions would be placed before the court on June 19 for it consideration and approval. The official liquidator of Bombay High Court in a report on the worth of the Aamby Valley by an evaluator said that the market value of Aamby Valley is Rs 37,390 crore and the fair value is Rs 43,000 crore. Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for Roy, too quoted a price that was little more than the one quoted by the evaluator but said that the enterprise value of the property was Rs 1 lakh crore. With inputs from PTI, IANS The government of India is rooting for digitisation and financial transparency. Both are laudable objectives. Almost every government department has been exhorted to enable online payments. That helps the government entity immediate feedback on the amounts received. It cuts down paperwork, cash receiving clerks at payment windows, serpentine queues, and a great deal of heartburn. Prima facie, there is no reason why anyone should be against epayments. But it is quite possible that the government has not reckoned with clever people within the government itself who have learnt ways to turn epayments into a gigantic scam. The amounts look small. The fact that this is being done through banks gives the modus operandi a great deal of respectability. But the fact remains this could be a scam involving thousands of crores of rupees. This correspondent may have discovered just the tip of the iceberg. And even as we speak, both HDFC Bank and the Municipal Corporation of Great Mumbai (MCGM) have launched their own investigations into one such operation. Part of the blame should fall at the governments doorstep. It has rushed India into digitisation without first comprehending the issues involved. It has looked at what is possible, without looking into what can go wrong, and how the system can be subverted. And, most important, the government has failed to put in place a regulator for epayments. It has also failed to put into place the penalties that must be levied on fraudulent transactions. Ideally the penalty should be (at the very least) a multiple of the amounts skimmed. This is because unless the cost of compliance must be made to look cheaper than the cost of non-compliance, the incentive to defraud the system will always be there. The modus operandi So what exactly is the modus operandi that was adopted by MCGMs finance and information technology departments? Take the story of 28 December 28. This correspondent wanted to pay his water bill a similar story may be relevant for property tax payments, for vendor payments and for all other payments which together account for thousands of crores of rupees. First, you cannot enter the payment portal till you submit your bills consumer number, and must have a pending bill to pay. Thus, once you have paid, you cannot revisit the website to see how it works, unless of course you have another pending bill to work with. Hence the chances of detection are quite remote. In December 2016, the only credit card company promoted on the MCGM website was American Express. There was no mention of RuPay, Mastercard or VISA or any of the nationalised banks. A few private sector banks were listed. Yet completing the transaction was difficult, and the process got aborted a couple of times. Finally, the attempt to epay succeeded. And this is where the first inkling of a scam came to light. The MCGM bill was for Rs.737. That was the amount authorised to be paid. The receipt issued by the MCGM was also for Rs 737. But when the bank confirmation came through, you found that the payment debited to your account was for Rs 745.11. Someone has skimmed off Rs.8.11 on this transaction. Even more interesting was the notation from the bank. It stated that the payment had been made to : INB/461776876/PAYU.IN/. So who is payU.in? This is a private player whose ownership details are not given on its website, though details of its management team can be found at https://corporate.payu.com/leadership-team). According to informed sources, it is owned by a South African conglomerate, which also owns several other companies in the country. It is not known if there is a political godfather behind this group. What is known is that PayU.in has similar arrangements with other government establishments and municipalities, and is a big player in the financial intermediary segment. Now compare this to a transaction made to pay MTNL through its website. The bill was for Rs. 1,735, the receipt was for Rs 1,735 and the amount debited to the account was also Rs 1,735. The MCGM website appears to have changed since December 2016. Rupay is now shown. And so are other banks. But one does not know how payments through Rupay work, because this correspondent does not have a Rupay card. Nor can one re-visit the website a second time, unless one has a second bill which has to be paid. Hence, getting screen snapshots of all the banks and the permutations and combinations offered by the website become quite difficult. Like last time, this correspondent opted for the HDFC gateway. This time the transaction was smoother. The bill was for Rs 111, and the receipt too was for Rs 111. But the debit to the bank was for Rs 116.75. And this time the confirmation from the bank mentioned that the money had been paid to PUR/TimesOfMoney/SBIPG/TimesOfMoney/Seq No 706912041079. Nobody seems to know who TimesOfMoney is. The MCGM was duly alerted, and an enquiry is underway. HDFC Bank was approached, and its people have denied involvement stating that the payment was not done through its gateway. Questions galore This raises several questions: 1. Could it be possible that the web-designers of the page have put in HDFCs name, but have directed the payment to another party? In that case, is this not fraudulent practice? 2. Normally, merchant discount rates are paid by the merchant, not by the customer. Remember how petrol pumps went on the warpath when MDR was to applied to them after demonetisation was announced? Finally, the petroleum ministry asked the oil marketing companies to pay the MDR instead of the petrol pumps. So why is the MCGM portal charging customers? 3. But a bigger problem exists. Even if the MDR is charged to customers, shouldnt it be shown on the receipt? The law requires every item of billing to be shown on the vendors receipt. Why has the MCGM receipt been issued without the debit charges? This leads one to the conclusion that the perpetrators of the scam did not want the debit entries to come on the MCGM entries. If it had, the audit team of the MCGM would have to enquire about who was taking the money and who was being paid for services. By keeping the amount off the receipt, the amount is kept out of the purview of MCGMs auditors. This means that there is a collusive arrangement between the financial intermediary (in this case TimesOfMoney). MCGMs money managers must have agreed to give business to TimesOfMoney only if the amount were shared with someone else. If this is indeed the case, a full fledged police investigation is called for. Both the web-site designer, the person who wrote the script authorising payments, and TimesOfMoney should be hauled up for questioning. This also raises a bigger question why is the government going ahead with epayments without first putting a regulator in place, and ensuring that any such attempt to defraud customers invites severe penalties? Surely if the MCGM scam could amount to a few hundred crore of rupees, at the state level the scam could be a few thousand crores. At the national level, the scam could be monumental. Not many know how to interpret bank debits, or scripting on web-pages. Why has the government ignored the Watal committee report on epayments? Is the government abetting frauds? (Part II of the article will be on the Watal Committee. In December 2016, the Finance Ministry of the Union government appointed Committee on Digital Payments submitted its report on Digital payments and made its medium term recommendations for strengthening trhe Digital Payments Ecosystem. The Committee was known as the Rajan P. Watal committee. Why have its recommendations not been implementeds? Firstpost investigates.) New Delhi: Two in three Indians are below 35 years of age and about a million more Indians need employment every month some estimates peg this number to 1.5 million or 15 lakh. And how many jobs is Modi government helping generate each month? According to governments own data, in the nine months till December 2016, only 2.31 lakh new jobs were created across eight labour intensive sectors. This averages to 0.26 lakh new jobs a month (against at least 10 lakh needed), not even a 1,000 jobs a day, or just about 840 new jobs on an average each day of the nine months under review. Remember, the Labour Bureau which tracks employment generation across select sectors quarterly has smartly altered the sample size and the sample itself, now terming the data released for calendar 2016 as new series. This implies one cannot compare job generation data which was released for earlier years, where too, there was a huge gap between how many jobs were needed and how many were actually created. The latest data shows that 1.32 lakh new jobs were added in the October-December period of 2016, far more than the 32,000 added in the immediate previous quarter and 77,000 in the April-June quarter of 2016, The Hindu report said. This means the Labour Bureau is stressing on the fact that demonetisation, which led to large scale job losses in the unorganised and labour intensive sectors, had little impact on the sectors covered by the Bureau under its quarterly survey. But even if one were to agree with the Labour Bureaus findings about the quarter when demonetisation wreaked havoc, a cursory study of the previous, old series data by the same Labour Bureau, makes it clear that job generation has been at pathetic levels under the Modi government since it assumed office in the summer of 2014. As per the Bureau, no new jobs were created but there was actually a decline of 20,000 jobs across eight labour intensive sectors in the December quarter of 2015. Remember, the September quarter of the same year had added 1.34 lakh new jobs across the same eight sectors and was still the slowest quarter in the previous six years (barring 2012 where quarter wise data was not available). So total number of new jobs created across the eight sectors between January-December 2015 stood at just 1.35 lakh, making it the slowest pace of new jobs being created since 2009. Here's some easy math for grasping the enormity of this slowdown in jobs under the NDA: The Modi government took charge in mid-2014 and for that full year, 4.93 lakh jobs were added across these eight sectors. So job addition in the first full year of this government fell to just a fourth of 2014 and was only a tenth of the growth seen in 2009, when the UPA was in power. The government seems to be seized of this imploding jobs crisis. The Business Line report quotes Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya saying the Centre will ensure jobs for 5 crore unemployed people in the country by 2020 and that this target will be achieved by a combination of measures such as digital solutions and regular job melas. Is this a concrete roadmap for job creation? This reply by the minister in Rajya Sabha shows that unemployment rate among the youth (aged between 18-29 years) was over 30 percent in Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim in 2015-16 though the national average is 3.7 percent. Not everyone is pessimistic about our job creating abilities. Rituparna Chakraborty, Executive VP of Teamlease, said the hiring scenario is improving month on month now. A million people are joining the workforce but we are not creating new million jobs each month. But we are doing better than previous years. Are these new job seekers skilled enough to get the jobs? .. No one has a magic wand to create a million jobs but we are in the right direction. Can we do it in next one year? No. But in the next 5-6 years it is possible. But D K Joshi, Chief Economist at Crisil, pointed out that the governments ability to create jobs, in the sectors it operates in, is anyway very limited. The rural job guarantee scheme MNREGA is a safety net, not a long term employment generator. In the public sector, no new jobs are being created. What the government needs to focus on is skilling people and ensuring an uptick in economic activity through policy interventions, getting incremental investments etc. so that job creation gets accelerated. Joshi pointed out that the manufacturing sector which the labour bureau survey says employs about half the workforce in this country is not only growing fast enough, its labour intensity is also falling thanks to new phenomena like automation. But Chakraborty of TeamLease said hiring outlook has turned positive now, driven by a positive sentiment some driven by positive impact of demonetisation, some by coming of the GST regime and that government policies are spreading a positive outlook. Rising domestic consumption is where jobs are bouncing back in sectors such as E-commerce, consumer durables, FMCG, fintech, pharma and healthcare. Automobiles was hit briefly due to demonetization but this has also now bounced back. Some badly hit sectors such as construction, jems and jewellery will take a while to bounce back because there is a lot of informal labour employed here. Informal sector employment is Indias biggest problem with jobs data and any kind of mapping of job creation. Almost 85% of the workforce is employed by the unorganized sector, making any credible data generation an insurmountable problem. It is this unorganized sector which saw the maximum debilitating impact when demonetization shrunk jobs in the last quarter of calendar 2016 and this is perhaps why the impact has not shown up in the government data unorganized sector is hard to map. So whats the prognosis going forward? As Chakraborty said, bridging the employment gap would be a gradual process and may not be achievable unless there is a significant uptick in the economy. Friday, 28 April 2017, 9 am. SS Rajamoulis epic Baahubali 2: The Conclusion theatrical screenings have started all over the world, including in the US, where paid premieres are being held. But not yet in Tamil Nadu. The reason? Baahubali 2 producers Arka Media have not issued he mandatory KDM licences to theatres in the state as the local distributor K Productions' Raja Rajan has defaulted on his final settlement. Baahubali 2 Movie Review: SS Rajamouli's epic drama evokes a sense of wonder Shows planned for as early as 4 am on Friday in the Chennai suburbs of Tambaram (Vidya Theatre), Poonamalee Sundar and Porur GK had been cancelled. Huge crowds which had gathered early in the morning to catch the fist screenings of Baahubali 2, had to go back disappointed. Early morning show ticket rates were being sold at Rs 500, to take advantage of the FDFS (first day first show) craze. Meanwhile the Tamil Nadu distributor of the film Raja Rajan is in Hyderabad, trying to sort the issue out. As per trade sources, he is waiting for banks to start their business day, after which he hpes to get some funds from his overseas partners and settle the issue. Rajan had initially also got the overseas rights of Baahubali 2. In Tamil Nadu, however, there is seething rage among fans and theatre owners. It is not the first time a big film release has run into trouble, but Rajan's handling of he situation has caused a huge loss to the trade. The first day collections are going to be badly affected with a large number of shows getting cancelled. Follow updates through the day here: Baahubali 2 LIVE updates: First show in Tamil Nadu at 11:30 am; minute-long interval only 14:12 (ist) For those of you who're just joining us, here's a quick recap: SS Rajamouli's magnum opus Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (also spelt as Bahubali) opened across theatres in India and the world on Friday, 28 April 2017. A few previews were held on Thursday evening in select cities as well. The film which continues the story Rajamouli charted in 2015's Baahubali: The Beginning seems to have met the massive fan expectations that had built up around it. After seeing phenomenal advance bookings, opeining day for Baahubali 2 did have a few glitches: For one, early morning shows in Tamil Nadu (especially in the Chennai area) were called off, leavings hundreds of fans disgruntled, as the local distributor had not settled his dues with Arka Media the producers of Baahubali. Shows only commenced closer to noon. How this will affect the day 1 box office collections from TNB at this point is not known. In Kerala too, there were issues with some multiplexes not starting their screenings till they had settled terms with the distributor in the state. Meanwhile, there were reports of minor setbacks in other locations the wrong language version of the film (Hindi instead pof Telugu) being played at a Bengaluru theatre, and also the movie being exhibited in inverse order (second half screened before the first). In both instances, the audiences called out theatre management for the mistake, and requested re-screenings. At the moment, shows are progressing smoothly across India and overseas, and trade experts are already predicting record-breaking collections for Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. The question now is will it cross the rather intimidating seeming number of Rs 1000 crore? As Baahubali 2 mania sweeps the country, the answer, overwhelmingly, seems to be yes. Soon after watching SS Rajamouli's epic drama Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (also spelt as Bahubali), when you sit back to recount what you went through while watching the film, you're likely to ask yourself a fundamental question why did we forget to be in awe of things around us? In an age of instant gratification and momentary pleasures, is it even possible that a work of art (a film in this case) could remind us of what we've long forgotten? Over the years, we've built fences in our minds and now, we tend to look at every story with some sort of skepticism. We try to be as rational and want to quantify everything because the lack of it scares us. But how do you even quantify a sense of wonder? That's what makes Baahubali 2: The Conclusion what it is. It's the sheer magic of terrific storytelling combined with a visual grandeur rarely seen in Indian cinema that turns it into an experience that'll be hard to forget anytime soon. Like everyone else, I went to watch why Kattappa killed Baahubali, but theres lot more to the film than just that. Rajamouli takes us on a roller coaster ride which makes the burning question a footnote in the larger picture. Yes, everything in the film leads up to that moment, but the strength of Baahubali 2 lies in its characters and how far they can go for what they believe in. We have Amarendra Baahubali (Prabhas) who is willing to take on anyone because he believes that dharma is bigger than any individual, then there is Devasena (Anushka Shetty) who'll stand up for what's right. We also discover that the mighty Sivagami (Ramyakrishna) is, after all, human and is susceptible to fallacies of human nature. Bijjaladeva (Nassar) turns out to be far more cunning that we thought he was in Baahubali: The Beginning, and in his thirst for power Bhallaladeva (Rana Daggubati) turns into a personification of evil who plays mind-games to get what he wants. All this and the conflict between the characters makes Baahubali 2 a spectacle which will hook you right from the word go. Talking about 'spectacle', SS Rajamouli treats every frame with so much attention and care that I didn't want to blink my eyes, many-a-times, for the fear of losing out on a jaw-dropping moment in the story. In one particular sequence, Baahubali teaches Devasena the art of archery and it's so poetic that it makes you want to scream with joy. Rajamouli takes the visual treatment of the film a notch higher in 'Hamsa Nava' song, which is surreal to say the least. And the interval twist in itself is bang for the buck. Oh, boy! There's so much to love about the film, even though your mind tells you that you've already come across stories like this in the past. Its beauty lies in the way the story is told and Rajamouli knocks it out of the park yet again. If Baahubali : The Beginning gave us a glimpse of Mahishmathi, the second part focuses on exploring psyche of its characters and how clash of ideologies can lead to devastating results. Every expression, even if its a tear drop, is highlighted and the camera holds still to make us sympathise with the characters even more. Truth be told, its hard to translate the experience of watching Baahubali: The Conclusion into words. We could talk about everything that we loved and didnt like about the film in great detail, but still not come close to the effect film has on us. The film makes us want to be part of its world. Period! Baahubali 2 LIVE updates: First show in Tamil Nadu at 11:30 am; minute-long interval only Amarendra Baahubali is easily the role of a lifetime for Prabhas and the actor brings a lot of panache to essay the lead character. And Rajamouli elevates Prabhas to a level where its hard not to root for him throughout the film. Rana Daggubati is terrific as the tyrant king Bhallaladeva. The film explores sibling rivalry in great detail and Ranas confrontation with Prabhas is a delight to watch. Perhaps, the biggest revelation in the film is Anushka, who delivers one of the best performances of her career as a rebellious, warrior princess Devasena. Her face-off with Ramyakrishnas Sivagami gives a high and rarely has there been a film where two female characters steal the thunder from the men around them every single time they come face to face. The others Ramyakrishna, Sathyaraj and Nasser live their roles to an extent that the next time you meet them in person, youre more likely to address them with their onscreen names in Baahubali than their real names. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is also a film where you can rave about single out every aspect be it cinematography, VFX, production design, costumes and still fall short of words. Yes, there are certain portions in the films climax that could have looked better visually and the VFX more refined, but its so fast-paced and well designed that it doesnt really matter in the end. In his attempt to make Indias biggest motion picture, Rajamouli has also given the audience a reason to be in awe of films, or rather his films. For that matter, no review would come close to explaining the high that one will experience throughout the film. It has to be experienced to be believed. Theres a dialogue in Inception which goes like: It doesnt hurt to dream big. Maybe thats what Rajamouli told himself before making the film. And after watching it, we couldnt help but be on the same page. Two big thumbs up for this epic drama. But did it really have to end? Because it clearly leaves you wanting more by the time the end credits roll. Katrina Kaif was recently approached by well-known photographer Mario Testino to be part of his iconic 'towel' series. Testino posted a black-and-white picture of the actress dressed in a towel to Instagram. TOWEL SERIES 135, KATRINA KAIF. #TowelSeries #MarioTestino @KatrinaKaif A post shared by MARIO TESTINO (@mariotestino) on Apr 27, 2017 at 4:59am PDT The series was originally meant only for Instagram and has gained popularity for portraying celebrities in a manner that they have never been seen before. Katrina Kaif joins Kate Moss, Kristen Stewart, Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, Blake Lively, Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner in the league of celebrities photographed by Testino in the signature white towel. Kaif was challenged by her friend and designer Anaita Shroff Adjania to post a picture in a towel. In response to this, the actress posted this picture with the caption, "Thank you @mariotestino for the wonderful experience of shooting for the legendary #TowelSeries ... You must come see us again soon . Here u go @anaitashroffadajania" Kaif's photograph is the 135th in the series, and she is the first Bollywood actress to be featured in it. When the Peruvian photographer visited India in February this year, the actress praised him highly. "I think he does just the most beautiful, personal work. You can always tell a picture of his, I don't even have to read the credits. 95% of the time I see a picture and I know if Mario Testino has shot it because there is a certain eye to his work, certain beauty, certain delicateness," she said to News 18. Kaif was last seen in Baar Baar Dekho directed by Nitya Mehra, where she starred opposite Sidharth Malhotra. Her upcoming releases include Anurag Basu's Jagga Jasoos which also features Ranbir Kapoor in a lead role. The film's release was considerably delayed because certain parts had to be re-shot. It is set to hit screens on 7 April, 2017. A host of Hindi film celebrities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Subhash Ghai, Arjun Rampal, Jackie Shroff and Abhishek Bachchan showed up at veteran actor Vinod Khanna's funeral to pay their last rites to the departed screen icon. However, the funeral ceremony remained devoid of any of the actors of the young generation. This enraged Khanna's contemporary and his co-star from Manmohan Desai's 1977 action comedy Amar Akbar Anthony and Yash Chopra's 1989 romantic drama Chandni, Rishi Kapoor. The senior actor lashed out at the present generation of Hindi film stars and lambasted them for turning up at Khanna's funeral ceremony but swarming to Priyanka Chopra's bash, held to celebrate the National Film Awards to her debut Marathi production, Rajesh Mapuskar's comedy ensemble Ventilator. Rishi also clarified that both his wife Neetu Kapoor and son Ranbir Kapoor are out of the country, so failed to make it to the funeral ceremony. He termed this act of the young lot not showing up as 'shameful' and also said that he should start preparing himself to die a similar death. Hindustan Times quotes the actor as saying, "I was angered, not disheartened. What does an actor work for? Its his last journey and you cant come to pay [your] respects to man who has worked in over 150 films and been there for over four decades, and even has worked with you? Sad that a respected senior actor was sent away by not actually having a lot of people with him wishing him adieu." He sarcastically adds that he expects more young stars to show up for the prayer meet, "Because thats more of a fashion parade and you want to be in the comforts of air conditioned premises. Why were you not there for this [funeral] event?" Rishi also points out that Khanna's leading ladies were not there as well. "Even many actors from my generation were not there. You just needed to give him respect for his contribution to cinema and love that hes spread. No one is expecting you to make a dramatic entry at the funeral. Kapoor was probably hinting at Varun Dhawan who recently acted with Khanna in Rohit Shetty's 2015 family drama Dilwale; Sonu Sood who collaborated with Khanna in Arbaaz Khan's 2012 action comedy Dabangg 2; Sonam Kapoor, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Sikandar Kher who shared screen space with Khanna in Abbas-Mustan's 2012 thriller Players. Only Abhishek and Hooda made it to the funeral ceremony. Im not naming any one person. Im just saying that this generation actors, filmmakers, producers none of them came. Ive seen this happen at Feroz Khan and Rajesh Khannas funeral also. It seems these actors have troubled this generation [so] that they dont really care. I am compelled to think in this manner," explains Rishi, as per the same report. He welcomed Karan Johar's decision to cancel the premiere of SS Rajamouli's war epic Baahubali 2: The Conclusion as a 'justified tribute'. He also said that even if the young stars were shooting, they could have managed to make it to the funeral. "Just a night before, I saw the most profound people from the film industry and the following morning, barring a few, none was there at his funeral. You could be out of town but the very fact that most of these shootings and most of whatever so called activities were going on were cancelled [after Vinods demise], you cant tell me that didnt know about it. Knowing that he passed away at 11 in the morning, you had the whole day to plan. All TV channels and radio [stations] were blaring about it, yet it was such a poorly attended funeral," says Rishi. He also expressed his disappointment that it has become a trend since Rajesh Khanna and Feroz Khan also met the same fate. Shameful. Not ONE actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Why this? Including mine and thereafter.When I die, I must be prepared.None will shoulder me. Very very angry with today's so called stars. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Yes it has been expressed earlier on social media my wife and Ranbir are out of the country. Would never had been reason not to be there Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Angry. Met so many chamcha people last night at Priyanka Chopra's do last night. Few at Vinod's. So fuckn transparent. So angry with them. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Rishi also called out some of them as 'chamchas' for showing up for Priyanka's bash but choosing not to pay their last rites to the respected actor. Kapoor himself paid tribute to his contemporary when he changed his Twitter profile picture to that of Khanna. Hours after Khanna's demise, Rishi tweeted a still from Amar Akbar Anthony, bidding him a nostalgic goodbye. Khanna passed away on 27 April due to cancer and breathed his last in the HN Reliance Hospital. Strange coincidence. Friends Vinod Khanna and Feroz Khan die the same day 27th April. Khan sahab passed away 27th April 2009 Bangalore. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Remembering the good times with you,Vinod. Thank you for being my friend. pic.twitter.com/hvZoYeQMEF Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Lahore: Remembering Vinod Khanna as a proud Peshawari, people in his birth place here today paid tributes to the veteran Hindi film actor and said the Cultural Heritage Council will organise an event in his honour. "Khanna was born in Peshawar on 6 October, 1946 at Sardar area in Cantonment jurisdiction. His father Mehr Chand Khanna was a prominent businessman and former Minister in Congress," said Muhammad Ibrahim Zia, a renowned film historian in Peshawar. Zia is also the author of Peshawar the Funkar (Artists of Peshawar), highlighting the actors who belonged to Peshawar and worked in different film industries in the last 100 years. Zia said he met Khanna in 2014 during a visit to India as part of a delegation to meet legendary actor Dilip Kumar who also belonged to Peshawar. "During our meeting with Khanna, he was very happy over reunion with people of his birth place Peshawar." His father Mehr Chand was a well-off person in Peshawar and migrated to India in 1947 when Khanna was an infant. In the late 1990s during a function in Dubai, Khanna "proudly announced on stage that he is a Peshawari", Zia said, adding that his ancestral home in Peshawar is intact and being used by All Pakistan Women's Association. During the meeting with Khanna, the delegation presented him with gifts including Peshawar Chappali (footwear) and a traditional dress which he accepted happily. Zia said he also presented a copy of his book to the star. "In his autograph, Khanna extended his good wishes to people of Peshawar and expressed desire of visiting his ancestral city," said Shakeel Waheedullah, General Secretary Cultural Heritage Council Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was also in the delegation which met Khanna in 2014. Khanna wanted to visit Peshawar to see the area where his parents and forefathers lived. He had sent a request for his visit to Pakistan, but could not succeed, Shakeel said. Shakeel said the Cultural Heritage Council Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will soon hold an event in honour of Khanna. Khanna passed away at HN Reliance Hospital in Mumbai on the morning of 27 April. He was 70. The veteran Hindi film actor breathed his last at 11:20 AM due to advanced bladder carcinoma. In a career spanning five decades, Khanna starred in over 140 films. When the news of screen icon Vinod Khanna's death broke, late in the morning on Thursday, 27 April 2017, Amitabh Bachchan was in the midst of interviews promoting his upcoming film Sarkar 3. Khanna had been battling cancer for while, as per reports. A visibly disturbed Bachchan Sr immediately left the venue, abandoning the interview mid-way, as he rushed to pay his condolences to his former co-star. Later that same day, as the funeral procession for Vinod Khanna wound its way to the Worli Hindu Crematorium in Mumbai, Bachchan walked alongside to pay his last respects, along with son Abhishek. That Bachchan Sr was shaken by his friend and contemporary's death couldn't have been more obvious. But in a poem he shared for Khanna on Twitter, Amitabh shared just how devastated he was by the loss. "(With) respect and affection," Bachchan Sr began his message. "Today, I've seen a relationship of 48 years go up in ashes in the flames (of the pyre)." He then requested permission from poet Prasoon Joshi to share his verses on social media. This is the poem Bachchan Sr shared: Amitabh and Vinod Khanna starred in hits like Reshma Aur Shera, Kunwara Baap, Hera Pheri, Amar Akbar Anthony, and Muqadar Ka Sikandar to name just a few. When reports that Khanna's condition had deteriorated (he had been hospitalised since 31 March 2017), Bachchan Sr had put up a tweet that many believed was meant for his former co-star: "Strange is it not, that the passing of the near and dear and colleagues, coerces one to start questioning one's own longevity!" New Delhi: L'oreal Paris brand ambassadors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone will be joining their international counterparts Julianne Moore and Eva Longoria at the 70th Festival De Cannes, taking place in May. L'Oreal Paris celebrates 20 years of partnering with the prestigious Film Festival as its official makeup brand and for Cannes 2017, the iconic ambassadors of the brand and many others will be seen joining in the festivities on the French Riviera in May this year. They will showcase the transformational power of make-up and a kaleidoscope of styles. Also this will be Deepika's first year representing L'Oreal Paris as an ambassador at Cannes. Known as the red carpet expert, L'Oreal Paris has introduced many beauty trends at this glittering festival and this year for Cannes 2017, the brand plans to introduce looks created with their exclusive collection of products - 'The L'Oreal Paris Cannes Collection 2017'. "We're happy to announce that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor will be representing L'Oreal Paris and India at the Cannes Film Festival this year. This year is very special to us as L'Oreal Paris celebrates two decades of being the official makeup partner for Cannes. This year, the brand is not only introducing an innovative and phenomenal collection of products but plans to bring Cannes closer to our consumers through the hottest new makeup and fashion trends, and also giving them a unique experience of #LifeatCannes," Raagjeet Garg, General Manager, L'Oreal Paris said in a statement. The Cannes Film Festival is set to commence on 17 May and will conclude on 28 May. By Ben Blanchard and Philip Wen | BEIJING BEIJING U.S. President Donald Trump's warm words for Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as a "good man" will reassure Beijing that he finally understands the importance of good ties, but risks leaving America's regional allies puzzling over where they fit into the new order.The budding relationship between the two leaders appeared highly unlikely when Trump was lambasting China on the campaign trail for stealing U.S. jobs with unfair trade polices.In December, after winning office, he upended protocol by taking a call from the president of self-ruled Taiwan, which China regards as its own territory.A few months on, after meeting Xi at his Florida residence earlier in April, Trump appears to have done a complete volte-face, praising Xi for trying hard to rein in nuclear-armed North Korea and rebuffing Taiwan's president's suggestion of another call.But the big question is whether the rapprochement will last. Trump also expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2016 presidential campaign, but that relationship has since chilled.Chinese officials will no doubt be pleased by Trump's overtures, said Jia Qingguo, a leading academic who has advised the government on foreign policy."People will say that the only thing we know for sure about Donald Trump's administration is uncertainty and unpredictability," said Jia, dean of the School of International Studies at the elite Peking University."But judging from what he has been saying and doing, it's quite reassuring as far as China is concerned. Certainly I think people have developed more positive views about the Donald Trump administration here and we have a lot of expectations that we can work together constructively."For China's neighbours, it is a little more complicated.On one level, a healthy relationship between the world's two biggest economies suits everyone."It's hugely positive that there's been a reasonably constructive start to the bilateral dialogue between those two countries," Tom Lembong, Indonesia's investment chief and close aide to President Joko Widodo, told Reuters.But long-time allies may also be wondering just how far Washington still has their back. Shashank Joshi, senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said countries such as Japan and South Korea could lose influence if Trump's focus on enlisting Xi's help over North Korea creates a "sort of U.S.-China G2"."There are competing instincts within Trump pushing him in opposite directions," said Joshi."His nationalism pushes him towards competition with China, but his deal-making instinct, his openness to personal influence, and his affinity for strongmen pushes him towards Xi, especially if he can show results on North Korea."But Trump, who has long touted his deal-making ability as a real estate developer, has also made clear his approach to China is transactional. He is so focused on securing cooperation against North Korea, his top national security priority, that he has even publicly promised to go easier on Beijing over critical trade issues in return.Some of Trump's aides doubt, however, that China will do enough to restrain North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes. Some experts believe the thaw between the economic rivals could be fleeting if Xi fails to come through on the North Korean issue.SOUTH CHINA SEA Singapore-based security expert Ian Storey said he believed Trump's remarks would be closely scrutinised by Southeast Asian leaders looking for signs of an emerging Asia strategy."Most would welcome a calm, co-operative relationship between China and the U.S., but they will be deeply concerned at anything that looks like Trump will give Xi a free hand over the South China Sea dispute, or elsewhere," said Storey, who is based at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute.The administration has so far sent out mixed rhetorical signals over the hotly disputed South China Sea. China's extensive claims to the vital global trade route are challenged by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan.The U.S. has increased naval deployments in the South China Sea in recent years amid roiling tensions and extensive island-building by China but, under Trump, its warships have yet to challenge China with a so-called freedom of navigation patrol close to disputed islets and reefs.A Trump administration official has told Reuters the United States wants to avoid antagonizing China on sensitive issues like the South China Sea for now while waiting to see how far Beijing will go tightening the screws on North Korea. But the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said this did not mean abandoning efforts to counter China's growing military and economic might in the Asia-Pacific region.Admiral Harry Harris, the chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, told the U.S. Congress this week that he expected to be carrying out such patrols in the South China Sea soon, and repeated earlier concerns at China's continued militarisation of the area. "Given Trump's newfound friendship with Xi Jinping, it might make it significantly harder for the Pacific Command to get its plans approved for the next freedom of navigation patrols," Storey said.UNPREDICTABLE In Japan, often at odds with China over what Beijing views as Tokyo's failure to properly atone for World War Two, a Japanese government source sought to downplay any impact the burgeoning Trump-Xi friendship might have on Japan-U.S. ties. "Trump's softened approach to Xi may seem to be some kind of shift in the balance of power but security cooperation between Japan and the United States is extremely stable and has been confirmed in the face of the current crisis situation in North Korea," the source told Reuters.The tricky issue of Taiwan has not gone away either, and is one of several that could upset relations.Democratic Taiwan has many friends in Washington who will not want to allow autocratic China to get its way with the island, and the United States is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. Wang Dong, associate professor of international studies at Peking University, said China would remain on alert for another change of direction by Trump."There are reasons for optimism, but we are still being realistic. There are still issues out there, from Taiwan to the South China Sea," he said. One Beijing-based Western diplomat told Reuters that, while China might be pleased to see Trump hang ally South Korea out to dry with his criticism of their free trade deal and demand Seoul pay $1 billion to host a U.S. anti-missile system China has strongly opposed, China should not have any illusions. "He's so unpredictable who knows what he'll say next week or next month?" said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. "His mood turns on a pin." (Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Beijing; Linda Sieg in Toyko; Kanupriya Kapoor and Karen Lema in Manila; Sanjeev Miglani in New Delhi; Greg Torode in Hong Kong; Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Alex Richardson and Frances Kerry) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Stephen J. Adler, Steve Holland and Jeff Mason | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute."There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday.Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedevilled multiple U.S. presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasizing by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said.Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in North Korea. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month."I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. "With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he cant," Trump said. Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed U.S. lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs.The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority." It said it was focussing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbour and ally, and remained open to negotiations.U.S. officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct U.S. military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among U.S. forces in both countries.Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age."He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. "I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational," he said.Trump, sipping a Coke delivered by an aide after the president ordered it by pressing a button on his desk, appeared to rebuff an overture from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who told Reuters a direct phone call with Trump could take place again after their first conversation in early December angered Beijing.China considers neighbouring Taiwan to be a renegade province."My problem is that I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi," said Trump. "I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him.""So I would certainly want to speak to him first." (Editing by Ross Colvin) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Alan Baldwin | SOCHI, Russia SOCHI, Russia Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya is upbeat about the future despite facing potential extradition from Britain to India after his arrest last week, the Formula One team's Mexican driver Sergio Perez said on Thursday."I think Vijay himself is happy that finally action has been taken because then the decision will be quite soon and he is very optimistic that he will be OK," Perez told Reuters at the Russian Grand Prix."So we look forward to having him back at the track," he added.Perez keeps in close contact with Mallya, who attended only the British Grand Prix at Silverstone last year after his Indian diplomatic passport was revoked with a judge in Mumbai issuing a non-bailable warrant for his arrest. Pursued by Indian authorities over unpaid loans tied to his defunct Kingfisher Airlines, Mallya was arrested in London last week and appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court for an extradition hearing before being granted bail.A source close to Mallya told Reuters at the time that the 61-year-old had attended a police station voluntarily in an arranged visit and the arrest was a technical procedure..India has asked Britain to extradite Mallya to face trial after the liquor and aviation tycoon fled there in March last year. Banks are seeking to recover about $1.4 billion that the Indian authorities say Kingfisher owes. Mallya has repeatedly dismissed the charges against him and defended himself in messages on Twitter and rare interviews.Mallya has a base in London and a lavish country home bought from Anthony Hamilton, the father of triple Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton. The Indian has installed a control centre in the country house, allowing him to keep in close touch with the Silverstone-based team in real time during races and have access to data feeds.Deputy principal Bob Fernley and chief operating office Otmar Szafnauer run the team, which finished a best-ever fourth overall last year, day-to-day at the circuit in Mallya's absence."I think the team is in a good position," said Perez. "Nothing changes." (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ken Ferris) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The Maoist cadre that attacked and killed 25 CRPF personnel at Burkapal in Sukma district on 24 April in an ambush, has justified its action by releasing a purported audio on Thursday, mentioning the reasons for the gruesome killing of security force personnel. The audio clip allegedly released by the political outfit of the Maoists the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoist) has claimed that they unleashed attacks on CRPF personnel on 11 March and 24 April in order to give a befitting reply to the government, its 'fascist forces' and Operation Green Hunt. In the 16 minute 42 second audio clip in Hindi, the spokesperson of the banned CPI (Maoist), Vikalp has hailed the commanders of the Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), foot soldiers, party cadre and all those who helped in unleashing the attack in the form of ambush. And while the CPI (Maoist) claimed to have no enmity with Central para-military forces, it justifies the killing of jawans by stating that the latter were a part of the government machinery and acted as an obstacle in the path of revolution. "In 2016, the government had led barbaric attacks on our cadre and killed nine of our people and villagers in Chhattisgarh and 21 in Odisha. The ambush and attacks (on CRPF) at Chintangufa should be seen in light of these barbaric killings and sexual violence against tribal women. As a mark of protest we were compelled to take action," claimed Vikalp. PLGA (Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army) is the armed wing of the CPI (Maoist), which aims at overthrowing the government by raging peoples war. Its this wing of the Maoists cadre that has been attacking CRPF personnel and the police. The CPI (Maoist) has tried to justify its killing of security force personnel to protect 'national property from being looted by the government and its agencies'. "Our party has been actualising incidents like the ones at Chintangufa in the interests of the people, who have been suppressed, exploited and targeted by government machinery," the spokesperson said in the audio file. After the clip was released on Thursday, it went viral on social media, which is precisely what the Maoists set out to do. While after the 11 March attack, the Naxals remained silent and didnt own up to the action, they have now justified their barbaric acts by calling the government 'fascist', which according to them is guided by imperialists, foreign MNCs, corporate houses and capitalists. The veracity of the purported audio and the claims made by the CPI (Maoist) could not be confirmed. However, a senior official of the Chhattisgarh Police told Firstpost that they have found out about the audio being released by the Maoist outfit in Bastar. At the end of the audio clip, the Maoists have appealed to the jawans of the para-military forces and lower-ranked police personnel not to serve the government-guided police and para-military forces who have been targeting social activists, journalists, NGOs and even Opposition parties. In the audio clipping, the Maoist outfit attacked the BJP government alleging that the police force under the protection of BJP government unleashed atrocities and oppression on tribals and Dalits, gangraped women and killed villagers in encounters. "Instead they should target the government. To oppose this anti-democratic and fascist environment created by the government, we were compelled to take action like the ones at Chintagufa," claimed Vikalp, the official spokesperson of Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoist) while signing-off. Highlights of the audio text transcribed from Hindi to English -Hail the PLGA and revolutionary masses for defeating Mission 2017 (Mission 2017 ko parasth karne keliye PLGA aur Krantikari Janata ki Jai Jaikar). -Chintagufa incidents (Maoist attacks) are a befitting reply against the actions taken by the fascist forces to curb revolutionary mass movement and Operation Green Hunt. -Red Salute (Lal Salaam) to PLGA commanders, comrades and to the active public who helped in actualising the Chintagufa incident. -The present ambush (at Burkapal on 24 April) is a continuation of the 11 March attack to protect our revolution. -We dont subscribe to violence per se, and are not against the jawans of the para-military forces. But we stand by those who are being exploited by the government that represents imperialist forces, MNCs, large corporate and capitalists. Were compelled to take action against them. -It is at the behest of the fascist government that the para-military forces have been killing our cadre. They have taken photos of our martyred women comrades who got killed during an encounter, made obscene videos out of them and released them on the internet and mobile phones. -Roads and rail tracks are being laid in this region to loot the minerals and natural resources belonging to tribal by the government agencies. -We appeal to the policemen, CRPF jawans and junior officers to stop serving the exploiters, foreign MNCs, corporate houses, capitalists, big contractors, businessmen and big traders, goons, mafias and Brahmanical Hindutva Fascists who are anti-poor, against the tribal, backward castes, Dalits and women. -Dont lose your lives protecting these people. Personally, these jawans are not our enemies, but as they are a part of the oppressive government machinery, which is an impediment to the path of our party and the PLGAs revolution, they are being attacked. Instead of targeting innocent and exploited people, we appeal you to give up your government job and target the exploiters. What security experts say? Defence analyst Colonel (retd) Jaibans Singh said, "The Maoists in their flush of victory, have made some loose statements in the audio clip. It stands proved that they have little knowledge of history and even weaker ideology, otherwise, they would not look at a very popular democratically elected government as Fascist. They apparently do not know what Fascism stands for and how different it is from the political environment in India. They are grossly underestimating the resilience of the Indian security forces that have met far greater internal security challenges and emerged victorious. The unfortunate incident of 25 brave soldiers dying will only strengthen the resolve of the CRPF to finish off this menace soonest. They would be well advised to leave the path of violence and join the nation in its endeavour to develop into a strong global power." Counter-terrorism analyst Anil Kamboj said, Maoists dont believe in the Indian Constitution and democratic system. They are always looking to grab power by hook or crook. Reading between the lines, it has been exposed that they have links no matter how loose with Islamic fundamentalists. Similar to Al-Qaeda, they too have been releasing audio and video messages, which also shows that they are being guided by external forces. They are claiming themselves as a revolutionary force and are against the established government. Its like Islamic militants and extremists not following any government establishment." "They have also tried to justify their killings by saying that they have been protecting minerals from being looted by the government agencies. Minerals belong to the nation and not to any particular individual or government. Who are they to decide on the nations treasure? They dont want any development and thats why they attacked the road opening party of the CRPF. The sad part is that there is no national strategy to combat them and ultimately the Central forces who are at the forefront are getting killed," added Kamboj. New Delhi: A special court on Friday said the Election Commission bribery case involving AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran was the result of a conspiracy to undermine the sanctity of the electoral process through corrupt means. The court remanded alleged hawala operator Nathu Singh to two-day police custody after the Delhi Police Crime Branch argued that an unaccounted amount of Rs 1 crore was given to him to be handed over to alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrashekar for bribing EC officials. It also sent Chandrashekar, who was produced on the expiry of his police custody, to judicial custody till 12 May after the police said he was not required for further custodial interrogation. The court, which perused the FIR in the case, in which Dinakaran, Mallikarjuna, Chandrashekar and Nathu Singh have been arrested, was apparently in agreement with the investigators' allegations that the entire money trail has to be ascertained to unearth the conspiracy which was aimed at undermining the sanctity of poll process. "As per allegations in the FIR, accused Dinakaran and Mallikarjuna were in conspiracy with others and had struck a deal with Chandrashekar to obtain favourable order in favour of Sasikala, Dinakaran faction of AIADMK from the Election Commission of India in a matter pending before it. As the money trail has to be ascertained and the allegations are grave in nature and there was a conspiracy to undermine the sanctity of the electoral process through corrupt means, I accordingly grant two days of police custody of Nathu Singh," Special Judge Poonam Chaudhry said. During the hearing, advocate Maheen Pradhan, appearing for Chandrashekar, said they will soon file a bail application of the accused. Seeking two-day custody of Singh, prosecutor Balbir Singh argued the man, a Delhi-based hawala operator who was arrested on Thursday, was involved in transfer of unaccounted money. The prosecutor contended that Rs 1 crore handed over to Chandrashekar by Singh was to be paid as bribe to the EC officials to get an order in favour of Sasikala-Dhinakaran or Amma faction AIADMK in the pending matter relating to the 'two leaves' party symbol. There was no advocate to represent Singh, who was apprehended at the IGI Airport. Dinakaran was arrested on 25 April night here after four days of questioning for allegedly attempting to bribe an unidentified EC official to get the undivided AIADMK's 'two leaves' election symbol for his faction. The AIADMK (Amma) faction leader has been accused of allegedly arranging the amount from undisclosed sources and getting it transferred from Chennai to Delhi through illegal channels. The court had on 26 April remanded Dinakaran to five days custody of Delhi Police which said it needed to unearth the money trail and the entire conspiracy in the case. It had also sent Mallikarjuna, an associate of Dinakaran who was arrested along with the politician, to police custody till 1 May. Police has conducted searches at the Chennai residences of Dinakaran and Mallikarjuna after securing warrants from the court as part of its probe. Mallikarjuna, who had been accompanying Dhinakaran everywhere ever since Chandrasekar's arrest on 16 April, was arrested for facilitating an alleged Rs 50-crore deal between the leader and Chandrasekar. The case pertains to an alleged attempt to bribe an EC official by Dinakaran to try to get the party's poll symbol of 'two leaves' for a by-election to the RK Nagar Assembly seat in Tamil Nadu which was later cancelled by the EC. The EC had frozen AIADMK's 'two leaves' symbol after two factions led by Sasikala and former chief minister O Panneerselvam staked claim to it. Twitter can be a wonderful thing. It gives people like you and me the chance to have our issues personally resolved by the likes of Narendra Modi and Sushma Swaraj. Unless, of course, you are this guy. But if you thought the rest of Twitter would learn from these failed attempts at stoking a diplomatic row by invoking the foreign minister in what is clearly a matter for the friendly neighbourhood refrigerator mechanic, you'd be mistaken. You have Nitin Varma, by all accounts a perfectly nice man, and one who was only introduced to Twitter last month. Clearly getting a hang of the social networking platform, he was still in the testing waters stage, when on Thursday, he boarded a flight from Mumbai to Delhi. Maybe he wasn't a fan of delays that are an inevitable part of air travel, maybe he was sitting next to a man who forgot to shower that morning, or maybe he had an appointment to keep in Delhi but the delay was making him antsy. So he did what any normal person would do: He tweeted about it. Except he decided to be a bit dramatic about it. Instead of launching into a frustrated emoji overdose like the normal person would, he hinted at a possible hijacking attempt. We have been in jet flight for past 3 hrs, look like hijacked, Can I get an update from authority what is the exact reason. pic.twitter.com/bGNrq7GX5e Nitin (@nitinvarma5n) April 27, 2017 He then sat back, and waited for the flight to take off. For four minutes. When, after the four-minute wait, the flight still didn't take off, he decided to take it up a notch. Or several notches. His next tweet tagged the prime minister of the country himself. @narendramodi sir we have been in jet airways flight for past 3 hrs , looks like hijacked, pl help 9W355,. pic.twitter.com/bcRXcCLgic Nitin (@nitinvarma5n) April 27, 2017 At least now, he thought, the flight would take off. Modi would yell at the stupid pilot who was needlessly refusing to fly, and all would be well again. He may have even texted his family in Delhi, telling them his wait was over, and he would be home soon enough. Except that it didn't quite take place that way. Because of further delays in Delhi, the flight was diverted to Jaipur. And because he had tweeted using the hijack reference, he was even taken into custody. According to a report in The Times of India, a case would be registered against Varma. "Since he created panic, a case will be registered against him," MP Bansal, officiating airport director, Jaipur, was quoted as saying in the report. DCP (East) of Jaipur Police, Kunwar Rastradeep, told the report that a case of criminal intimidation under sections 503 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, and Verma would be produced before a magistrate on Friday. We would say 'look before you tweet', but it's not like anyone will pay heed. Lucknow: A private school in Meerut city of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday allegedly issued a diktat to its students to sport 'Yogi-style' haircut, raising the hackles of shocked parents who protested. The worked up parents alleged that Rishabh Academy School in Sadar area had warned students they will not be allowed to attend school till they got the buzz haircut, akin to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's. The school denied the charge. As the news spread, dozens of angry parents reached the school and protested. Finally, the police mediated and pacified the irate parents before getting children entry to the school premises. Students of a Meerut school allege they were asked to get 'Yogi haircut' and not get non-veg food, else would not be allowed to enter school pic.twitter.com/cZclzpfJQs ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 28, 2017 The students also accused school management of banning consumption of non-vegetarian food during recess. The management, however, denied the allegations and said its Secretary Ranjeet Jain had merely asked students to be properly dressed and sport a "decent" haircut while attending school. "The idea is to ensure that children lead a disciplined school life. As for the ban on non-vegetarian food, that has been the case always. It is unfortunate that a communal colour is being given to a trivial issue," a school management official said. Panaji: In the backdrop of allegations that the state government was singling out a particular community for creating nuisance on Goa beaches, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar has said that all those operating illegally in the coastal destination, would face action. The state government will crack down on all those involved in illegal activities on the shoreline. Everyone who is creating nuisance for tourists would be taken to task," Ajgaonkar told reporters yesterday on the sidelines of an annual wine festival. The government will take action against everyone involved in illegal activity. Even if we find Nigerians trafficking drugs, we will deport them back to their country," he added. The minister's recent remarks against Lamanisa nomadic tribe from neighbouring Karnataka which has made Goa their home for ageshad raised eyebrows. Ajgaonkar, had earlier this month, said that Lamanis were creating nuisance along beach stretches in Goa. He had alleged that Lamanis were illegally vending on the beaches and troubling tourists especially foreigners while roaming around in groups. The minister had also warned his department officials of suspension, if they fail to clear the states beaches of the nomadic tribe by forming special squads. Ajgaonkar said the state government agencies have already initiated action on those illegally operating in Goa. "Those working with valid permission will be given protection and those who are here illegally would be acted upon," he said. By Maya Palit Isn't it ridiculous how there are endless euphemisms for menstruation? A study conducted by The International Womens Health Coalition, received over 90,000 responses, spanning 190 different countries found that there are 5,000 different slang terms for the word period". Its no wonder then that menstruation is still a taboo in some parts of the world, including India. While the dialogue on period taboo and breaking the silence around it is crucial, measures for sustainable disposal of sanitary waste cannot be excluded from these conversations. Thiruvananthapuram has recognised this need by introducing the sustainable menstruation project, Green the Red. Green the Red is a straightforward campaign launched earlier this year by women who participated in the Bengaluru Pinkathon. The campaign attempts to spread information on alternatives to sanitary pads like the menstrual cup. According to J Devika, a professor at the Centre for Development Studies in Thiruvananthapuram, the drive (which has taken off in Karnataka as well) is being promoted by the citys civic authorities, and the Thiruvananthapuram-based NGO Thanal is suggesting kickstarting the composting of sanitary waste. Thiruvananthapuram is also introducing various measures to create awareness that more needs to be done to encourage women to use eco-friendly alternatives to regular napkins. These include putting in place vending machines with cotton pads (three for Rs 10) in public spaces. Women having access to disposable pads is still a recent phenomenon, as they have traditionally recycled cloth scraps, and last year reports claimed that only 12 percent of the countrys menstruating women have access to pads. A serious discussion concerning waste management has always brought the spotlight on the need for an effective and environment-friendly disposal system for sanitary pads, because unsanitary disposal of menstrual waste regularly leads to the clogging of landfills, drainage and sewage systems. Talking about the sanitary pad waste footprint also leads us to focus on those handling it, like waste pickers, who tend to contract hepatitis, bacterial and other infections from handling pads that are wet, and occasionally, not covered. Last year, #PeriodofChange, a campaign created by the Kachra project (a socio-environmental movement around waste management in India) that held online seminars about sustainable menstrual hygiene and biodegradable alternatives to disposable sanitary pads, estimated that 150 kg of non-biodegradable absorbents from sanitary material are thrown in the trash by women every year. Environmental activists also reported that gel-based disposable sanitary napkins, which use super-absorbent polymers (a material, also known as slush powder, which can absorb large amounts of liquid) could take up to 500 years to decompose. The methods used to dispose sanitary waste vary across the country. Although technically, items containing blood or body fluids should be categorised as biomedical waste, used sanitary napkins are most often mixed with regular waste and collected by municipal corporations. So the government turned to incineration of menstrual waste that was heavily promoted by Swachh Bharat and Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, its sanitation drives. And the incineration of pads through mini incinerators was initially promoted in Tamil Nadu. But states and environmental activists remain divided about whether incineration is the answer. For instance, the Kerala government banned the installation of mini incinerators because they didnt comply with the Central Pollution Control Boards directives this included the fact that they burnt sanitary waste at temperatures lower than that recommended by WHO guidelines, which suggest that health waste be burned at over 800 degrees. Incineration also leads to the emission of toxic fumes, which could trigger respiratory diseases. Shradha Shreejaya, an ecologist with the Kerala-based NGO Thanal, who is also part of the Sustainable Menstruation Collective in Kerala (a group of activists associated with various gender rights and environmental campaigns) says that sanitary waste is a particularly huge issue in the state. Sanitary waste is not collected using a door-to-door system in Kerala. So women either burn or bury their waste in their backyards. Some flush it down the toilet, which also creates sewage problems, and, of course, complications arise because of manual scavenging. When they are burnt, it is just as bad, because the pads contain approximately 90 percent plastic, as well as gel and chlorine, which means we inhale these harmful dioxins. While she agrees that campaigns like Green the Red are showing great promise by creating awareness about reusable menstrual products, Shreejaya maintains that there is still a long way to go to encourage women to switch to eco-friendly products. This is particularly because of the drawbacks that accompany environmental-friendly products: At the moment, banana fibre pads and organic pads for instance, are expensive, so no organisation is being able to create a profitable model. The pricing isnt competitive yet either, and would need government subsidies or similar endorsements to make them more accessible. Another hitch that Shreejaya points out is that the health, quality, and hygiene standards for pads are still dictated by industrial standards, and often influenced by the research and development wings of multinational companies like Kimberly-Clark or Procter & Gamble. The companies disqualify biodegradable and reusable products, (which have, in the past, been less than forthcoming about discussions on managing menstrual waste management) so that even gynaecologists are reluctant to refer them to their patients. But theres an eco-friendly alternative that has been steadily doing the rounds on both social media and in the news the reusable menstrual cup. Bharti Kannan, an activist for the menstrual cup with Boondh, an organisation that sells the cup for Rs 500 and provides subsidies in marginalised communities in Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and others, says that reusable pads are not affordable for everyone. While she applauds Thiruvananthapurams efforts to promote eco-friendly alternatives, she wishes more options, from period panties to cloth pads and the cup were also endorsed by the scheme, so that women with different lifestyles can choose from a combination of products. What about other Indian cities? Some have witnessed a renewed interest in an attempt to start conversations about increasing access to low-cost sanitary pads Tamil Nadu-based entrepreneur Arunachalam Murugananthams low cost sanitary pad machine was a particularly notable innovation and changing the way we dispose of our sanitary waste. In February, the Red Dot campaign was launched in collaboration with Punes waste-picker cooperative and trade unions, and demanded that people mark their sanitary waste with a red dot to identify it. But while this initiative could well make a tangible difference to the workers handling sanitary waste, other campaigns like research associate Deane de Menezes efforts in Mumbai schools, tend to fall back on the pad-dispenser-and-incinerator model, which brings you back to square one as far as environmental concerns go. Its too early to tell whether the campaign in Thiruvananthapuram will see enormous success. For now, its prioritisation of environmental concerns by making sure women have access to eco-friendly napkins (rather than solely promoting incineration), and its sensitivity to consumer needs through its focus on cheap alternatives, appears to be a move in the right direction. One that perhaps, Indias other metros can emulate. The Ladies Finger (TLF) is a leading online womens magazine delivering fresh and witty perspectives on politics, culture, health, sex, work and everything in between. On Thursday, the Justice SN Dhingra Commission concluded that businessman, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and brother-in-law of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Robert Vadra made illegal profits of Rs 50.5 crore from a land deal in Haryana in 2008 without spending a single penny. The Economic Times reported that the commission's report has demanded an inquiry into the properties bought by Vadra. The commission was constituted in 2015 to investigate a mutation of land deal between Vadra's firm Skylight Hospitality and realty major DLF. The Dhingra Commission had submitted its 182-page report to Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar in Chandigarh on 31 August, 2016. The content of the investigation, which looked into nearly 250 land deals struck by the then Bhupinder Singh Hooda's Haryana government, was not made public then. "I have named each and every person involved, whether private or government, he said, adding that had there been no irregularity, I would have submitted a one-line report. My report has 182 pages," Dhingra had said at a press conference in August 2016. The state government sent the report, which was in a sealed cover, to the Supreme Court last week. The commission was constituted under Section 3 of The Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952. The one-man commission was probing the grant of licences for change in land use (CLU) in four villages of Gurgaon, including the licence granted to a company (Sky Light Hospitality Private Limited) owned by Vadra. The Dhingra-led commission got three extensions since it was set up in May 2015. The commission had the mandate to investigate the circumstances of the grant or rejection of the licences for the development of colonies, group housing societies and commercial complexes in those sectors of Gurgaon for which lands in the areas of Shikohpur, Sikanderpur, Badah and Kherki Dhaula were used. It had investigated whether the transfer of licence by the original licencee within a short period of time was in violation of the law and caused a loss of revenue to the state government. Vadra has been accused of transferring his licence to DLF in violation of the law and causing a huge loss to revenue. Initially, the commission was given time of six months to submit its report, however, its tenure was extended for another six months till 7 June, 2016, with same terms and conditions. Priyanka says her property in Haryana has no links with husband Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday said that agricultural land bought by her in Haryana's Faridabad district or other property acquired by her had no links to finances of her husband, his Skylight Hospitality or reality major DLF. In a statement issued by her office following queries by a journalist, Priyanka said that six years prior to the alleged "land deal involving Skylight Hospitality" on 28 April, 2006, she purchased 40 kanal (five acres) agricultural land in Amipur village of Faridabad. She said the land was purchased for Rs 15 lakh through cheque, which comes to Rs 3 lakh per acre. The statement said the funds for the purchase came from rental income of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from property inherited by her from her grandmother Indira Gandhi. "The source of funds for this or any other property acquired by Priyanka has no relationship whatsoever with Robert Vadra's finances and/or Skylight Hospitality and no relationship whatsoever with (reality firm) DLF," the statement said. The statement said the collector rate for agricultural land in Amipur for 2006-07 and as of 28 April, 2006, (date of purchase) was Rs three lakh per acre. "Priyanka paid stamp duty of four percent (applying to women purchaser of rural agricultural land) totalling Rs 60,000," the statement said. It said Priyanka resold the said land to the original vendor pursuant to a right of first refusal on 17 February, 2010, (four years later) for Rs 80 lakh through cheque, that is Rs 16 lakh per acre and the prevailing market rate at that time. The statement said any allegations that besmirch her reputation will be based on certain questionable documents and represent a deliberate, politically motivated and malicious campaign to besmirch and destroy her reputation. They will be entirely false, utterly baseless and defamatory, it added. Dhingra panel report leaked: Hooda claims in high court According to a report in Hindustan Times, Hooda told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that either the state BJP government or some of its officers have leaked the Dhingra panel report. In the application, which he later withdrew, Hooda had alleged that "reliable sources" told him "that an English business daily was about to publish a news report on the basis of the probe report." "It will result in irreparable loss to the petitioner (Hooda), hence the newspaper be made as party and restrained from publishing contents of the report," Hindustan Times quoted senior advocate ML Sarin, who appeared for Hooda, as saying. Spotlight on shady deals since 2012 The case came into public sphere in October 2012 when then activist and now Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal accused Vadra of buying 31 properties in and around New Delhi from DLF's unsecured loans at prices which were much lower than the prevailing market rate. There were also allegations that DLF enjoyed a quid pro quo arrangement with Vadra which helped the ma get prime land in Haryana. The Robert Vadra-DLF link just got murkier when another deal came to light. Vadra's company Skylight Hospitality is accused of buying a 3.5 acre plot in Shikohpur village near Manesar for Rs seven crore and then selling it to DLF for Rs 58 crore. The Haryana government, then headed by the Congress, was accused of tweaking rules and regulations to favour Vadra. Ashok Khemka, an IAS officer, repeatedly raised concerns over the land deal. He also set aside the mutation of the property sold by Vadra to DLF. Mutation is very important as that changes the title ownership of property from one entity to another. But the Congress government gave a clean chit to Vadra after a probe by Khemka found no irregularities in the land deal. Later, when the Comptroller and Auditor General report for 2013-14 was tabled in the Haryana Assembly, the audit body slammed the Congress government for making exceptions for Vadra's land deals. BJP-led government spearheaded investigation The Congress has been alleging that the case against Vadra is merely a political ploy and a case of political vendetta by spearheaded by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government. Hooda, who was summoned to appear before the commission, had failed to appear on two occasions. He had termed the move 'politically motivated'. It was during Hooda's tenure that Vadra is alleged to have received favours for his land deals. He has also claimed the constitution of the commission to be illegal as it was done without cabinet approval. Even Vadra has always denied every allegation made against him. The businessman, in the past, has said that he is the victim of a political witch-hunt. His lawyers have said the accusations are part of a wider attempt to malign Vadras image. With inputs from agencies New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Friday questioned at least four of the 30 JNU students who were asked to join a probe into a 2016 sedition case involving former student leader Kanhaiya Kumar. The JNU students who came to record their statements before the Special Cell officers included Shehla Rashid, Mohit Pandey, Chintu Kumari and Kaushik Raj. The statements were recorded at the administrative block of the Jawaharlal Nehru University. The probe by the Delhi Police Special Cell relates to the anti-India slogans raised on the JNU campus in February last year. "The students had been directed to be present at the administrative block from 12 p.m. onwards between 28 April and 30 April," a senior police officer said. "These 30 students are being asked to join investigation after police scanned a video footage of February 9, 2016, on the JNU campus. Their statements will play a major role in police investigation to establish charges against (JNUSU President) Kanhaiya Kumar, Omar Khalid and Anirban Bhattachaya and others for sedition," a senior police officer told IANS. A copy of the notice was also sent to the JNU vice chancellor. Their statements were recorded as the Investigating Officer had been directed by the Delhi Police top brass to start the probe afresh after going through the draft chargesheet prepared by the Special Cell. The Legal Wing, which also got to study the draft, found that the issue needed to be probed more, the officer said. "The draft report said there is enough evidence to prosecute Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya for sedition. It also identified nine 'outsiders' who raised anti-India slogans," the officer said. The case was transferred to the Special Cell in March 2016. Khalid, Anirban and Kanhaiya are accused of raising anti-India slogans on the campus at a meeting organised on 9 February, 2016 in memory of 2001 Indian Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Outside the Womens Degree College on Maulana Azad Road in Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, as the college closed, after a relatively peaceful day on Thursday, students gathered outside the main gate chatting mostly about the events of the week gone by events that have shaped the new fault lines in the Valley. Red bricks and stone strewn outside the college main gate are the remnants of Mondays clashes between teenage girl students and the forces that have shaken not just the system, but people too. There is no event in recent memory that saw girls coming out on the streets the way they did in the past week and fighting pitched battles with the police on the streets, that too in the heart of In the middle of April, a clash at a degree college in Pulwama left dozens of students injured, it was a tipping point. Since then anger has been simmering and every now and then clashes are reported between students and forces in Srinagar city. "We came on the streets to register a simple protest against what happened in the Pulwama college," Afsha Anjam, a third year commerce student told Firstpost, "The forces outside abused us and slapped one of our girls, then we threw whatever we could lay our hands on, at them." Firstpost could not independently verify the incident with police "Why would a girl wearing a school ID card, with a basketball in one hand, throw stones? Until and unless she is forced to do so, why would she?" Anjam asked. April can be a cruel month, and it had proved to be so for Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who unlike any other chief minister in recent memory, is facing a revolt on the streets by students. And, to be specific, by teenage girl students, wearing white uniforms and identity cards. Most of them have their heads and faces covered. Their school bags slung over their shoulders and stones in their hands. They chase vehicles, the policemen and raise pro-freedom slogans. "We have seen blood of our brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers running through the streets like that of sheep when butchered. How long do you think one would remain indifferent?" Syed Marosha Muzafar, another student, asked as more students joined in the conversation. "They used to say boys who pelt stones are paid Rs 500 a day. Now I have this iPhone that cost Rs 70,000. Do you think I will throw stones and be prepared to be blinded by a pellet for Rs 500? They (those who claim this is being done for payments) are either blind or pretending to be," she added. The sporadic, but intense, wave of student protests in the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley, and with equal participation by girl students, has taken every one by surprise, even the mammoth intelligence-gathering apparatus of the state. Everyday, since last Monday, if it's not in Srinagar that students are protesting, they are doing so in the streets of north or south Kashmir. A picture of a teenage student in a black burkha wearing white fleets, kicking an armoured police vehicle, has become the defining image of the girls uprising in the Valley. Her friend was injured on 21 April in Srinagars Old City when they were peacefully protesting. It is the sort of defiance the Kashmir Valley has not witnessed in a 27-year-long history of brutal conflict. "I knew my kick wouldn't change anything but I felt some sort of satisfaction for the first time in my life," Saba (name changed) told Firstpost on the phone, "I never knew this image would go viral on social networking websites," she added. "It was a peaceful day in Srinagar, but that doesnt mean we are stopping the protests. They will start again and we wont be mute spectators now," Monisa Haji, another students told Firstpost, "There were student protests in Handwara today. This government thinks by banning social network website they will get away, but they are wrong." "They can call boys 'paid stone-pelters', but what will they call us?" Saima Rashid Sheikh, a second year student asked. It is an unfamiliar sight witnessing this version of outrage against the State. Earlier it was among the young males, but now it has surprisingly seeped into the girls. The fear of death and getting injured in the clashes is nonexistent. These young women have become the new face of protests in the Valley. And even those, who have been injured, are not scared anymore. Iqra Siddiq, a first year BCom student of Government College for Women, Nawa Kadal, is lying on a hospital bed inside Srinagars SMHS Hospital. Her head fractured, wrapped in gauze and her eyes half open. "I want the forces who did this to me to be booked. We were peacefully protesting when we reached Eidgah Chowk (in Srinagar). The policemen allowed us to move forward, but a stone was thrown from a bunker of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) that hit my head," she said softly. "If I recover soon, I will be part of every student protest. I have a reason now to be involved," she added resolutely. Back at the college, the girls said their priority was never politics, but studies. However, the recent events the killings in Budgam and the forces shelling the students inside the Pulwama college have forced them to come out into the streets. "In the evening when eight people were killed in Budgam, instead of showing the killings, the TV news channels showed a small group of boys beating soldiers. Do the lives of eight people matter more or the thrashing of soldiers, which we also condemn?" Sehar Nabi, a first year science student said. On Monday, even stun grenades, PAVA and teargas shells did not deter them from hitting the streets. They hit the streets more than eight times a day despite teargas shelling. Our concerns are not political, but they have to do everything with politics. Kashmir is 'political' and politicians politicise even educational institutes to score brownie points, they said. "This college (MA College) used to be a platform for politicians to get publicity, now it will soon become a model for other students to learn how to protest," Mehreen Fayaz, another student in the group said. "How cheap is our life for India that we are made human shields? When girls go out to school, soldiers stares at us, as though they plan to rape us," Saiqa Khan, a second year arts student told Firstpost, adding, "If this situation continues, I think this year will be the year of students and especially of women students. It will change Kashmir for ever. We will forces the rulers to either resign or will shame them in public. We will keep this doing in uniform because this is our identity." Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has decided to transfer money directly into the bank accounts of students studying in ashram schools for purchasing the items of their daily needs. The move is aimed at checking corruption in the contracts awarded to provide stationery and other daily use items to the tribal students of the residential ashram schools. The students can use the money to buy items of day-to-day use on their own instead of the government allotting contracts to private firms to provide these things, an official from the tribal development department said. A pilot project in this regard will be started from the upcoming academic year in 133 government-run ashram schools, he said. There are over 500 government-run ashram schools in the state where nearly 2.4 lakh students are enrolled. The government provides items of daily use to the students by allotting contracts worth around Rs 700 crore per year. The government makes available stationery items like text books, note books, school uniforms, pen-pencils, slate and also things like bathing soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, raincoats, blankets, coconut oil, etc. "However, the government has now decided to pay the students by directly transferring money into their bank accounts so that they can buy their own stuff," the official said. The tribal development department officials have worked out an average yearly expenditure for the students of classes I to XII. The students studying in classes I to IV will be given Rs 7,500 each annually. The students from classes V to IX will be given an annual amount of Rs 8,500 each, the official said. Those studying in classes X to XII will be eligible to get Rs 9,500 each annually, he added. New Delhi: Male chauvinism has no room in a civilised society and the "obnoxious" act of eve-teasing affected justice and the rights of a woman, the Supreme Court has held. The apex court made this observation while dismissing a plea filed by a man who was sentenced to seven years in jail by the Himachal Pradesh High Court for teasing and compelling a girl to take the extreme step of committing suicide. Observing that "egoism must succumb to law", a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra asked why women in this country cannot be allowed to live in peace and lead a dignified life with freedom. "It has to be kept in mind that she has a right to life and is entitled to love according to her choice. She has an individual choice which has been legally recognised. It has to be socially respected. No one can compel a woman to love. She has the absolute right to reject. "In a civilised society, male chauvinism has no room. The Constitution of India confers the affirmative rights on women and the said rights are perceptible from Article 15. When the right is conferred under the Constitution, it has to be understood that there is no condescension," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar, said. In its verdict, it observed that they were at pains to state that in a civilised society, eve-teasing was causing harassment to women in public places which showed that requisite sense of respect for women has not been socially cultivated. "A woman has her own space as a man has. She enjoys as much equality under Article 14 of the Constitution as a man does," it said. "A man should not put his ego or, for that matter, masculinity on a pedestal and abandon the concept of civility. Egoism must succumb to law. Equality has to be regarded as the summum bonum of the constitutional principle in this context," the apex court said in the detailed order. Referring to the facts of the matter, it said the man had played an active role in tarnishing the self esteem and self respect of the victim, which drove her to commit suicide. "The right to live with dignity as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution cannot be violated by indulging in obnoxious act of eve-teasing. It affects the fundamental concept of gender sensitivity and justice and the rights of a woman under Article 14 of the Constitution. "That apart, it creates an incurable dent in the right of a woman which she has under Article 15 of the Constitution," the bench said. Dealing with the questioning of her dying declaration by the man on the ground that she had suffered 80 percent burns, the apex court said "a certificate of fitness is not the requirement of law". "It is worthy to note that there cannot be an absolute rule that a person who has suffered 80 percent burn injuries cannot give a dying declaration," it said. 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. New Delhi: "Hello, I am an ISI agent. But I don't wish to continue any further and want to remain in India," said a passenger after he got off an Air India flight from Dubai at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday. Muhammad Ahmad Sheikh Muhammad Rafiq, a Pakistani passport holder, approached a help desk at the airport and conveyed to a lady at the counter that he wanted to share information about Pakistan's snooping agency, ISI. Taken aback by his statement, the lady quickly informed security officials who detained him immediately and informed the central intelligence agencies. 38-year-old Rafiq had arrived here by Air India's flight from Dubai and was further booked for Kathmandu. However, he did not take the next flight and decided to break journey and walked up to the help-desk counter at the airport. During questioning, Rafiq said he was connected with the ISI but had decided to call it a day and remain in India, officials said. He was whisked away to an undisclosed destination where he was being questioned by sleuths from various central intelligence agencies, they said, adding his claims were being verified. By Ila Ananya "Her dress sense was objected (to) by the accused. She used to party at home and (has) also taken inappropriate photographs of herself in 2005, and she has also taken nude photographs when her husband was not at home and the accused was not happy with her behaviour." It's hard to believe that these are lines from the recent Bangalore District Court's verdict on the case against former French diplomat Pascal Mazurier, accused of child sexual abuse. Suja Jones (the 'she' referred to above) was not the accused. She had filed the case against Mazurier, her husband, in June 2012 for sexually abusing their daughter. She said the abuse went on for two years, from when her daughter was one-and-a-half years old. But after a five-year court trial, Mazurier was acquitted last week in an extremely problematic and shocking verdict that evidently focused on Jones' personal life more than the accused. The case was heard by Judge BS Rekha, who said that Jones had used her daughter as a "weapon" to make Mazurier a scapegoat, to stop him from leaving India. Apart from insinuating that the child hadn't been abused at all, and that it was a urinary infection that had caused the pain, the verdict brought up unnecessary details about Jones' life. As is often the problem with court judgments on cases of sexual abuse, nobody paused to wonder why any of the moral judgment was necessary. Even if you skim through the 36-page verdict, what will immediately jump out at you are the long recurring diversions about how Jones went to clubs in France and Bangalore with male friends, spent a lot of money, and how unhappy Mazurier was with the clothes she wore. Some paragraphs are even dedicated to questioning Jones about the nude photographs she took of herself (and one with her friend), ending nonchalantly with, "This shows that this complainant is in the habit of leading her life by spending her time in parties." Since the court thought it necessary to make these extensive detours, it would only be fair to assume that the same discussion would take place about Mazurier as well. But it's shocking how little the court goes into this there's nothing in the verdict except for cursory references to the countries he was posted in, and sympathetically, his "problems" with Jones. Instead, the judge thought it important to note, that "if at all she (Jones) is being a dutiful mother, she ought not to have left the home by leaving the responsibility on her husband for shopping". Referring to Jones as a "bad mother" is only the most convenient way to push women into either of the all-too-familiar "good character-bad character" binary. Anybody's immediate reaction to all these unwanted questions should have been that it was none of their business, and that it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that a child was abused for two years. Unsurprisingly, the logic in the district court's verdict on sexual violence, especially against a girl of "such tender age" (as the court notes), is itself downright absurd. Its reasons for suspecting Jones of filing a false case included that she and Mazurier had sex, and that he hadn't even "misbehaved with the house maid". The judge said, "It is undisputed that the accused and the complainant were having regular sexual intercourse. Then what was the necessity for the accused to have sexually abused his own child (sic)?" If this clueless idea were true, we wouldnt have half the number of cases of sexual assault in courts today. Jones is determined to challenge what she calls a "shocking and disappointing" verdict in the Karnataka High Court. She says her daughter, who was coming out of her trauma with the help of therapy over the last five years, is now terrified of being abused again. In the last five years, Jones has had to deal with botched DNA tests, her phone being tapped, and the Child Welfare Committee questioning her, because the French Consulate (not knowing what was going on) complained that she was neglecting her children. As Jones says, "(It's) One thing for the system to want to prove the accused is innocent, but it's another thing for the system to go so far as wanting to prove the child's mother is the accused." The sexist verdict reminds us of how survivors of assault are often blamed for being abused except this time, Jones, as the minor girl's mother, has been pushed into the deep end. According to both Jones and her lawyer BT Venkatesh, the defence did accept assault during the proceedings, before they changed their position. (Several attempts to speak to Mazurier's lawyer advocate Mahesh about the case were unsuccessful). Five years ago, when Jones first filed the case, the media had done the same thing the court did last week. They analysed Jones' relationship with her husband down to the last detail, while also playing up the X-factor, focusing on a mysterious Mr X who they claimed was Jones' lover and the "real" perpetrator of the abuse. As Jones points out, it came up because Mazurier had filed a police complaint against this supposed Mr X when he was released on bail. The case was subsequently closed because there were no suspects. In 2015, Mazurier was roped into being a part of a Father's Day event that demanded the "rights of the father" and celebrated "fatherhood". It had been organised by the Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting and Save Indian Family Foundation, and Mazurier came wearing a T-shirt bearing the words, 'Papa Loves You'. For unbelievable reasons, it seems like the courts love papa too. The Ladies Finger (TLF) is a leading online womens magazine delivering fresh and witty perspectives on politics, culture, health, sex, work and everything in between. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India appreciates Cyprus' support for its permanent membership of the UNSC and called for early reform of the Security Council. "India and Cyprus share the common objective of bringing about an early reform in the United Nations Security Council. Both of us believe that a reformed Security Council will be reflective of the world as it is, and not as it was (earlier)," Modi said while addressing the media after the delegation level talks with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades. "It is necessary to address the range of challenges facing the world today," the Prime Minister said. On terrorism, Modi said that being part of a neighbourhood facing threats of terrorism, Cyprus agreed that there was an urgent need for creating a comprehensive mechanism against terrorism. Both nations called for early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. Modi also expressed support for the territorial integrity of Cyprus and said that both the leaders held detailed discussions which covered the full range of bilateral issues. Last year, a revised double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) was signed between the two countries. The provisions of the new DTAA came into force on 1 April. Earlier, President Pranab Mukherjee and Modi received Anastasiades who was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The visiting guest was given a ceremonial guard of honour at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Anastasiades, who arrived in Mumbai on 25 April, will depart from New Delhi on Saturday. This is his first visit to India. Modi and Anastasiades also held talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in September 2015. New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday said that agricultural land bought by her in Haryana's Faridabad district or other property acquired by her had no links to finances of her husband, his Skylight Hospitality, or to reality major DLF. In a statement issued by her office following queries by a journalist, Priyanka said that six years prior to the alleged "land deal involving Skylight Hospitality" on 28 April, 2006, she purchased 40 kanal (five acres) agricultural land in Amipur village of Faridabad. She said the land was purchased for Rs 15 lakh through cheque, which comes to Rs 3 lakh per acre. The statement said the funds for the purchase came from rental income of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from property inherited by her from her grandmother Indira Gandhi. "The source of funds for this or any other property acquired by Priyanka has no relationship whatsoever with Robert Vadra's finances and/or Skylight Hospitality and no relationship whatsoever with (reality firm) DLF," the statement said. The statement said the collector rate for agricultural land in Amipur for 2006-07 and as of 28 April, 2006, (date of purchase) was Rs 3 lakh per acre. "Priyanka paid stamp duty of four per cent (applying to women purchaser of rural agricultural land) totalling Rs 60,000," the statement said. It said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra resold the said land to the original vendor pursuant to a right of first refusal on 17 February, 2010, for Rs 80 lakh through cheque, that is Rs 16 lakh per acre, and the prevailing market rate at that time. The statement said any allegations that besmirch her reputation will be based on certain questionable documents and represent a deliberate, politically motivated and malicious campaign to besmirch and destroy her reputation. They will be entirely false, utterly baseless and defamatory, it added. The Justice SN Dhingra Commission, which probed grant of licences for change in land use in four villages of Gurgaon, including licence granted to Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, pointed to irregularities in the grant of licences. The Congress had then contested these claims, saying the Dhingra Commission is illegal and has compromised itself. With inputs from IANS Pune: A parcel containing suspected explosive material, detonator, batteries and a threat letter was received by the office of Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Pune. CPM city president Ajit Abhyankar told PTI that the parcel was received on Wednesday, but it was opened by one of the office-bearers late Thursday evening. It contained a plastic box. "While opening it, we sensed something suspicious and immediately alerted the police and bomb detection and disposal squad," he said. ACP Sharad Ugale said the box was found to contain a detonator, batteries and some white powder. "Besides, there was a threat letter which said the CPI(M) office will be blown off," he said. Identity of the sender was not known, he said, adding that investigation was on. Last year, the city-based Film and Television Institute of India and a journalism college had received similar parcels. Phagwara: The activists of the Shiv Sena allegedly burnt a Pakistani flag on the National Highway 1 on Friday to protest against terror attacks on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Led by Sena's state Vice-President Inderjit Karwal, the protesters began the march from Hanumangarhi temple and came to NH 1, converging at sugar mill crossing. Sporting Sena's flags, they allegedly raised slogans against Pakistan and also targeted the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government, officials said. They allegedly burnt an effigy of the BJP-led NDA government at sugar mill crossing. The protesters alleged that Pakistan's ISI was "sponsoring terror attacks" on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir while the Union government was "soft-pedalling" over it to save the state government in which the BJP was a coalition partner. "Our army and paramilitary jawans are being targeted by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in order to destabilise India and create a fear psychosis but Modi the government is doing precious little to control the situation," he alleged. He claimed that a fear-psychosis was being created ahead of the annual Amarnath yatra. "Amarnath pilgrimage will be held at every cost for which foolproof security arrangements should be made," he demanded. Karwal batted for Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir and also demanded snapping of all ties with Pakistan, including discontinuation of the Indo-Pak bus service. Meanwhile, Phagwara SP Harwinder Singh Sandhu, who was present at the protest site, said the agitation had no effect on the movement of Indo-Pak international buses which cross through the town. "Both the buses from Delhi to Lahore and vice-versa had crossed Phagwara smoothly a little before the protest had started," he said. Editor's note: Firstpost will cover various aspects of the near-calamitous situation in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This is the seventh article from a nine-part series of ground reports on the ongoing water crisis in south India. In this piece, the author writes about the Kerala governments long-term vision to make the state drought-free. When drought, the worst in 115 years, hits a state, steps taken to fight it should also be unprecedented. Not only should the present crisis be mitigated, steps have to be taken to ensure not to return to the brink again. The state government in Kerala is now on such a mission to ensure that future generations are saved from having to put up with such an acute crisis where the availability of water is not a distant dream even when temperatures soar. Titled as the Haritha Keralam Mission (HKM), this flagship effort, the first-of-its-kind in the country in terms of its widespread reach, is an attempt to protect, revive and rejuvenate all kinds of water bodies across localities that fall under each and every local body in the state. The aim is to make every village, city, district in the state self-sufficient and ensure that water the most precious commodity is readily available. Launched just a few months ago as a pet project of the Left government, the mission which is now in the training period is slowly taking wings across the state. "We are just beginning, but our aim is to ensure that we get maximum participation from all quarters. From what I see on the ground, this is slowly becoming a peoples movement where people from all ages and backgrounds are coming together to ensure that drought goes away from our lives," TN Seema, chairperson, Haritha Keeralam Mission told Firstpost. From churning out an integrated water security plan to recharging of wells, canals and ponds to conservation of wetlands to rainwater harvesting to afforestation, Haritha Keralam is giving people a lot to do to make lives better. Although food security and waste disposal are the two other core motives of the mission, the main onus at the moment is on water conservation and getting the state up and ready to fight the future droughts. Our main objective is to ensure that the state is well prepared to face future droughts. This is just a beginning and its effect will only be seen in years to come. By the scale of it, it is perhaps the first-of-its-kind in the country where the future is the focus, added R Ajayakumar Varma, technical advisor to HKM. A Revolution Across 1,200 Local Bodies The state has around 1,200 local self government bodies, including 941 grama panchayats, ranging from the district panchayats, municipalities and corporations. Haritha Kerala Mission would spread across all these bodies with active participation from various self-help groups (SHG) including Kudumbashree which is a state-supported women-based SHG, residence associations and other organisations. Since most of the work would also come under the National Rural Employement Guranantee Programme (NREGP), the mission also provided employment to the locals. A stand out example of the missions work is at Kattakada, a sleepy village in the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, which Firstpost visited for a ground report. In spite of being sandwiched between two major water bodies the Neyyar and Karamana rivers the drought is extreme in this area. The decreasing groundwater situation due to over-exploitation was also not helping the cause. It is here that Haritha Keralam is striving to make a difference with its ambitious Jala Smrithi programme. The starting point was a detailed study to collect data on the existing water bodies in 120 wards across six panchayats. It should be noted that this process had been a truly scientific one based on satellite images and terrestrial maps relating to water bodies, geology, geomorphology, land use, slope and watersheds in the area. This revealed a reality check for the people who now know how and where to save water. This mission is a reality check on where we stand and what we need to do. All this time, we used to take some emergency steps in case of a drought, and then forget about it and wait for the next. But now we know how to be prepared, says IB Satheesan, Kattakada MLA to Firstpost. Once the whole data arrived, an action plan, also called the Water Security Plan was developed which would work over the next few months. The primary plan is to tap the next incoming monsoon expected in June. Around 10,000 rain pits are being made which would collect all the water that otherwise do not get retained in the soil. Not just for Kattakada area but this is being implemented in all of Kerala. Because of the unique topography in the state, water retention is less and a lot of it flows into the Arabian Sea. Though every year, the state gets 43,000 million cubic metres (mcm) of water through the monsoon, only 37,000 mcm is the actual requirement during these months. But in the non-monsoon period, when the state needs 30,000 mcm, only 17,000 mcm is available which shows how much water is lost to the sea without retention in the soil, even when the rains are fairly good. (Data from HKM) Hence one of the missions key elements is to retain this water through various watershed management methods and involve rainwater harvesting from house to house. In Kattakada, the mission then focuses on recharging of wells which is now introduced as a pilot project across two panchayats in the area. A third project again aimed at the future is The one lakh tree programme as part of which 150 selected houses in every ward will plant the seeds, sow the saplings and plant them in and around the house. A target of 20,000 tree saplings is planned for 5 June the World Environment Day. As part of the water literacy programme, 35 people from each of the three panchayats are being trained on water quality check. Our plan is to have a total water literacy programme which will cover everything from water conservation to the proper use of water. Most people never took this seriously till now, added Satheesan. Around 150 kilometres away in central Kerala, at Koyippuram block panchayat in Pathanamthitta district, another success story has just evolved. Varachal had been a floodplain system which had been feeding off the Pampa River. But neglected for the last 30 years, the water body had dried up with weeds and other vegetation filling up the ponds bed. Thanks to the efforts of the HKM, the Pathanamthitta panchayat has revived it to its past glory. Varachal is now back as a shinning example of how a water body can be revived from near extinction. Varachal now supports the water needs of not only the 1,000 odd families in the locality but also provides direct irrigation to 1,500 hectares of paddy field. This was a dream for us. Since it was a pioneering effort of the mission, it was imperative that we pull it off at any cost. We did and with immense pride we can say that we have revived the cultivation of vegetables also in our area with Varachals return, Annapoorana Devi, Pathanamthitta district panchayat chairperson, told Firstpost. Kattakada and Pathanamthitta are case studies that the HKM hopes to replicate across the state on a war footing. In north Kerala, where the drought is at its peak, HKM is intervening in every village and block panchayat and replicating its work down elsewhere. The Wadakancherry panchayat is another example where the target is to reclaim more than 200 odd ponds and small water bodies in the next few months. Recharging of the wells and cleaning the existing water body beds to enable them retain water is also being done at a fast pace before the monsoon arrives. "This is a great investment for the future. Its early days but then we have never done something like this before, something that is of such dimension," says Anoop Kishore, Wadakancherry panchayats vice-chairman. Environmentalists Still Doubtful But not everyone is over the moon about the missions work. Environmentalists feel that what is being done is without addressing the root cause of the groundwater depletion in the state, the primary reason for drought in the state for years. Harish Vasudevan, a lawyer and a well-known environmental activist in the state, says that climate change as such has not affected the state. But its the micro climate change which is the real villain caused by the misuse of land. Vasudevan points out that rampant use of land for all activities including unabashed construction that has reduced the wetlands from around 8 lakh to 2 lakh hectares in the state. These mitigating measures will have a meaning only if we ensure that further damage is not done to the land. Without addressing the issue we are going in for a solution which is not sustainable, Vasudevan told Firstpost. State To Run Dry In May Meanwhile, as the drought continues unabated in the state, most parts are set to run out of drinking water in the next few weeks. The district administration has openly said that there is only enough water to sustain Thiruvananthapurams needs till 15 May. Almost all the other 20 major reservoirs in the state have an all-time record low of water level pushing the state to the edge. The only hope now is on a timely arrival of the monsoon in June. Part 1: Five states face severe water crisis made worse by the onset of summer Part 2: Chennai slum dwellers forced to beg for water, authorities remain helpless Part 3: Parched lands in Nagapattinam lead to distress migration Part 4: Water crisis in Tamil Nadu is a manifestation of climate change, say experts Part 5: As Karnataka reels under severe water crisis, residents brace unofficial rationing Part 6: Parched rural Karnataka sees mass migration but officials stay in denial On Friday, Sukma police released posters declaring they would reward money those who could provide information about the Maoists behind the Sukma attack and that the perpetrators of the attack were wanted dead or alive , ANI reported. Chhattisgarh: Police in Sukma releases posters declaring prize money for those who give information about Naxals behind #Sukma attack pic.twitter.com/1KH3c64CfP ANI (@ANI_news) April 28, 2017 #Sukma attack perpetrators wanted dead or alive, says Police in posters released declaring prize money for giving info about these Naxals pic.twitter.com/Xlf4iAbhAT ANI (@ANI_news) April 28, 2017 This comes on the heels of the Maoist cadre that attacked and killed 25 CRPF personnel at Burkapal in Sukma district on 24 April in an ambush, attempting to justified its action by releasing a purported audio on Thursday. The audio clip, allegedly released by the political outfit of the Maoists the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoist) claimed that they unleashed attacks on CRPF personnel on 11 March and 24 April in order to give a befitting reply to the government, its 'fascist forces' and Operation Green Hunt. In the 16 minute 42 second audio clip in Hindi, the spokesperson of the banned CPI (Maoist), Vikalp has hailed the commanders of the Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), foot soldiers, party cadre and all those who helped in unleashing the attack in the form of an ambush. "In 2016, the government had led barbaric attacks on our cadre and killed nine of our people and villagers in Chhattisgarh and 21 in Odisha. The ambush and attacks (on CRPF) at Chintangufa should be seen in light of these barbaric killings and sexual violence against tribal women. As a mark of protest we were compelled to take action," claimed Vikalp. Meanwhile, the CRPF has decided to enhance the number of lethal counter-insurgency operations in the worst Naxal hit south Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. Acting Director General (DG) of the CRPF, Sudeep Lakhtakia said the ambush has "naturally called for the revision of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)" in these areas. He said the force has decided to undertake these new measures as it will continue to secure the road construction work that helps to bring development to these remote areas of central India. "We have decided to change the strategy. We have learnt some lessons. While I cannot go into the details, I can tell you that we will undertake re-deployment of our forces and will also enhance the quantity and quality of special counter-insurgency operations," the DG told PTI, a day after he visited the ambush site in Sukma's Burkapal. The force will have to ensure that the enemy does not attempt any surprises on it. "We track and engage them well before," he said. So, while half of the personnel will do road construction security and other similar tasks, the other half will do special counter-insurgency operations, the acting DG said. The director general of the CRPF, which has deployed a total of 28 battalions in Chhattisgarh with ten being only in the Bastar region, said the new action plan of the force will be to effectively dominate the area. A regular Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalion comprises about 1,000 personnel. Lakhtakia, however, said in such operations where the troops have to be out in open for long and the terrain is treacherous, the SOPs and strategies have to be "revised as and when required" and that is what they were doing. He said a preliminary analysis of the ambush spot, where 25 men were killed on April 24, indicates that four sections of the CRPF men were separated by a distance of about 600-750 metres with bullets flying around. "The Naxals were tracking the troops... They attacked the men after deciding the time and place of the attack. They used human shields of local villagers," the DG said, adding it apparently the personnel were having their lunch when the first assault took place. "The sequence of the events will take some time to construct... An inquiry is already in progress and that will tell us more," he said. Establishing if any violation of SOPs took place or any other lapses occurred will only come forth after the inquiry completes, he said. Lakhtakia said the reports of possible mutilation of bodies of some jawans is yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile, senior officials engaged in anti-Naxal operations said some special operations, under the command of the elite jungle warfare unit of the CRPF CoBRA will soon be launched in the south Bastar region including Sukma, Dantewada, Kondagaon, Bijapur and Jagdalpur areas. The troops will be serviced with a dedicated air support of at least four choppers based in the vicinity of these areas and a fleet of three Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The UAVs undertake long haul sorties from their base in Bhilai in the state over the forests of Bastar and around the southern tip of the state that borders Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With inputs from agencies The ambush by Naxals militants on a CRPF battalion in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on 24 April was one of the deadliest in recent years. It was also the second major attack this year carried out by the Naxals. As expected, social media was flooded with anti-Naxal sentiment, messages condemning the attack, criticising the government, and demanding revenge. The government too reacted predictably, with Home Minister Rajnath Singh terming it "cold blooded murder" and vowing to review the country's anti-Naxal strategy. The entire situation is now like a ritual. A few days ago, when a video from Jammu and Kashmir surfaced showing CRPF personnel being attacked by local youth, we wrote on our Facebook walls, we condemned the assaulters, we praised the patient and tolerant jawans, we criticised the government, and then we forgot all about it. We forgot that the country is facing an extremely grave situation on the internal security front. From Kashmir to Chhattisgarh, our soldiers are working in hostile conditions. If the question is over what went wrong in the last seven decades, I feel we have failed in countering the "isms". In Kashmir, we have a long list of entities to blame including history and an entire nation so we can blame Kashmiri separatism on our colonial past, but what about Naxalism? The history of Naxalism is just 50 years old. It was a small uprising in a small village, and it's only our consistent mishandling of the problem that has converted this "small uprising" into a big "ism". We came down heavily against the Naxals; from Operation Steeplechase to Salwa Judum, to Operation Green Hunt, we relied solely on the security forces. But it was always wrong to think that the problem will end once the cadre on the ground is caught. According to South-Asia Terrorism Portal, in the last 12 years (2005 to 2017), 2,571 Maoists have been killed, while 1,885 security personnel and 2,994 civilian casualties were also witnessed. On the other hand, we gave a free run to the Naxal ideologues to infiltrate the institutions, be it the media, universities, NGOs or any other. Despite recognising that "some sections of the society, especially the younger generation, have romantic illusions about the Maoists and these ultras are being able to float front organisations to facilitate mass-mobilisation in semi-urban and urban areas through ostensibly democratic means", as mentioned by the Left-wing extremism division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, we gave them a free run. They used the opportunity wonderfully and established themselves in the mainstream discourse. They took control over the academic spaces in universities, journals, seminars and conferences and established themselves as intellectuals. Even the government look hegemonised by them. The Ministry of Home Affairs makes a mistake when it says that "most of the (Maoist) front organisations are led by well-educated intellectuals with firm belief in the Maoists insurgency doctrine. These ideologues functions as masks to cover the violent nature of CPI (Maoist) ideology". At one moment, it was thought that we can counter the Left-wing extremism by development. We came out with an integrated development plan, but even that failed. While developmental projects, especially roads, feature high on the State's priority, development doesn't exist anywhere on the Naxals' agenda; they don't even talk about this. And yet, as we witness the rise of Naxalism in urban centres and cities, we realise it's not the result of uneven development, but a design of anti-India forces who declared war on the State. Now that we've lost approximately 15,000 of our own people (security forces, civilians as well as Naxals), we will have to understand that we cannot win the war against an "ism" be it casteism, communalism, separatism, etc. without having an "ism" that can bind us together. And it's not very difficult to find one, as we have demonstrated in the past while fighting with imperialism; that in spite of having such a large diversity, there is an "ism" which can tie all the Indians together nationalism. The author is a post-graduate student, Centre for Informal Sector and Labour Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University Washington: The US should review its options for dealing with Pakistan, including taking unilateral actions against terrorist safe havens in the country, if it does not cease its support to the militant outfits attacking neighbours like India, eminent experts told American lawmakers. Seth G Jones, director International Security and Defence Policy Centre RAND Corporation, in his testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Congress has reduced its military assistance to Pakistan in recent years and curtailed Pakistan`s access to foreign military financing. "But even today's reduced amounts of US assistance could be cut further," he said, adding that targeted economic sanctions could be selectively applied against specific organisations and individuals. Washington could encourage other countries to consider similar steps. "The United States should review its options for dealing with Pakistan. For example, the United States could take further steps to pressure Taliban sanctuaries within Pakistan, with or without the support of Islamabad," he said. Washington could sketch out a vision of an improved relationship with Pakistan if Islamabad cuts its ties with militant groups attacking both Afghanistan and India, Jones said. "This outcome would be highly desirable for broader American interests, given Pakistan`s central role in the stability of the entire region and its ability to upend that stability," he said. Vanda Felbab-Brown, senior fellow at the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence in the Foreign Policy Programme at the Brookings Institution, said Pakistan's unwillingness to cease its support for the Taliban also reflects its uncertainties and internal limitations. "More than a decade after 9/11, Pakistan's military-intelligence establishment remains preoccupied with India's ascendance at a time of Pakistan's own stagnation and atrophy. Afghanistan has repeatedly been a prime theatre for Indian and Pakistani rivalries," Brown said. Fearing encirclement by India, Pakistan has been greatly reluctant to suppress Afghan militant groups using Pakistan for sanctuary, he said. "Pakistan's continuing support for these groups, despite pressure from the United States and NATO, reflects the persistent view of the Pakistani military-intelligence establishment that the jihadi groups are critical assets in preventing threats on Pakistan's western flank from an India-friendly regime in Kabul and in securing access to Central Asia's trade routes," the expert said. Bill Roggio, editor, Long War Journal, Foundation For Defence Of Democracies said that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is a dangerous jihadist group that is backed by Pakistan`s military and Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate. "The LeT is known to operate training camps in Afghanistan and attacked the Indian Consulate in Herat in 2014...The US has also listed several senior LeT operatives, including Hafiz Saeed, the group`s emir, as Specially Designated Global Terrorists," he said. Roggio said the Islamic State has established a small, but significant, foothold in the country. Vadodara: Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia today demanded that the government carry out "carpet bombing" in Kashmir Valley to stop the attacks on security forces by militants. "After attacks on Army camps in Uri and Kupwara, our government should carry out carpet bombing in Kashmir Vally area to stop such attacks. The attacks on Army camps and the incidents of stone-pelting should be considered as a war and the government should carpet bomb these areas," Togadia said on the sidelines of an event here on the occasion of Lord Parshuram Jayanti. Togadia, the international working president of VHP, urged the government to crack down on the militants who were "at war" with security forces. He said hostility between the civilians and Army personnel was on the rise in Kashmir. "It was time that we should not show any leniency and carpet bomb them, or else the enemy will spread to other states and talk of breaking the country into pieces," he said. He demanded review of the Rs 80,000 crore special development package for Jammu and Kashmir, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015. "This money should be used for welfare of farmers in the country as the condition of farmers in several states is very bad. Farmers are holding protests seeking waiving of farm loans. They are committing suicide," Togadia said. New Delhi: An alleged hawala operator was arrested in Delhi on Friday in connection with the Election Commission bribery case in which three persons, including AIADMK (Amma) leader TTV Dinakaran, were in police custody. Naresh was apprehended at the Delhi Airport for his alleged involvement in "illegal transfer" of money to arrested middleman Sukesh Chandrasekhar by Dinakaran, said a senior police officer. Praveer Ranjan, joint commissioner of police (crime), confirmed the arrest but did not elaborate. On Thursday, Dinakaran was taken to Chennai and searches were conducted at his residence in the city as part of the probe. Delhi Crime Branch police personnel led by Assistant Commissioner Sanjay Sherawat searched the residences of Dinakaran and that of his associate Mallikarjuna, who has also been arrested. Police had secured warrants from a Delhi court to conduct the searches as part of efforts to gather "further evidence" in the alleged attempt by Dinakaran to bribe EC officials. However, it is not known whether any seizures were made. Besides the two, others connected to them were also questioned over "illegal channels" and "conduits" used for sending money to Delhi. Dinakaran was arrested on 25 April night here following four days of questioning for allegedly attempting to bribe an unidentified EC official to get the undivided AIADMK's 'two leaves' election symbol for his faction. Police had earlier said Sukesh Chandrasekar, who was the first to be arrested, had struck a deal for Rs 50 crore to help the AIADMK (Amma)faction keep the two leaves symbol. They had seized Rs 1.30 crore from Chandrasekar when he was arrested from a five-star hotel in Delhi on 16 April. Dinakaran has been accused of allegedly arranging the amount from undisclosed sources and getting it transferred from Chennai to Delhi through illegal channels. Mallikarjuna was arrested for allegedly helping Dinakaran transfer this money from Chennai to Delhi, police had said. Police are also verifying whether Chandrasekar had approached any EC official for getting a favourable verdict for Dinakaran's faction. Dinakaran, who was appointed deputy general secretary by jailed AIADMK chief V K Sasikala, is facing a revolt by an influential section of state ministers who have decided to keep the two out of party affairs. With inputs from PTI Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court, on Friday, put a stay on the bail given to former Uttar Pradesh minister Gayatri Prajapati in a rape case by local court, reported ANI. Lucknow bench of Allahabad HC stays bail given to former UP Minister Gayatri Prajapati in a rape case by local court (file pic) pic.twitter.com/dmbqhOLeGY ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 28, 2017 The Uttar Pradesh government had sought to move the Allahabad High Court to seek cancellation of bail granted to Prajapati, on Thursday. Prajapati and two of his alleged accomplices were granted bail on Tuesday by special judge of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court Om Prakash Mishra in Lucknow in connection with the rape case that had rocked the state some months back during the Samajwadi Party rule. The BJP had accused Akhilesh of shielding his tainted minister, a charge refuted by the Samajwadi Party. According to reports, a woman from Chitrakoot had approached Gautampalli police station on 17 February alleging that she was gang-raped by Prajapati and two more men forcibly for several months before she alerted the police. She had also alleged that the three had also sexually assaulted her minor daughter at Prajapati's residence. After being on the run for nearly a month, Prajapati was arrested from the Aashiyana area in Lucknow on 15 March and was sent to jail for allegedly raping the woman and attempting to rape her minor daughter in 2014. The six others had been arrested earlier. Prajapati had approached the Supreme Court to get a stay on his arrest. But the apex court asked him to approach the court concerned. At the time of his arrest, Prajapati had claimed that he was innocent and the charges were a conspiracy to malign him. Two old cases come back to haunt Prajapati Though Prajapati got a bail in the rape case, his reprieve proved to be shortlived as a local court on Wednesday remanded him in judicial custody in two separate cases even before he could walk out of jail. Prajapati was sent back to Gosainganj prison in Lucknow on Friday after the city police dug out old cases and convinced the bench to send Prajapati back to judicial custody. They produced case diaries of two FIRs registered at Gautampalli and Gomtinagar police stations in Lucknow against Prajapati in order to convince the court that letting him out on bail can jeopardise the ongoing investigations in the two criminal cases. Case 1: Chief Judicial Magistrate Sandhya Srivastava sent the ex-minister to judicial custody in connection with a case lodged by social activist Nutan Thakur, wife of senior IPS officer Amitabh Thakur. Nutan had lodged the FIR on 20 June 2015 at Gomtinagar police station in which she alleged that Prajapati had used his undue political and administrative clout to conspire with the then chairperson of state women commission Zarina Usmani and others to frame her and her husband in "completely false" rape charges and other allegations. Police initially did not take action claiming that it was a false case intending to malign the minister. But subsequently, it was reopened on the orders of the chief judicial magistrate, Lucknow in September 2015. The CJM court has now remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days till 10 May for interrogation. Case 2: In one of the other two old cases, Meerut resident Rakesh Prajapati had lodged FIR against Prajapati on 21 March 2017 alleging that he had given Rs 6 Lakh to him for procuring government service for his brother-in-law. But, when he did not get a job, he asked Prajapati to return his money. At this, Prajapati abused him and also threatened him to implicate him in a false case. The case is registered for the offences of cheating and threat to life and an investigation is going on. On an application moved before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ritish Sachdeva by Gautampalli police, the court accepted the request sending him to judicial custody in the case till 9 May for the purpose of interrogation. Prajapati will now have to obtain bail in these two cases also for securing his release from jail. With inputs from PTI Editor's note: This is the second and concluding part of a series on Amit Shah's three-day tour of West Bengal, a visit that coincides with an inflection point in Bengal politics and promises to redraw the state's political landscape. This part deals with TMC and Mamata Banerjee's counter moves to checkmate BJP's rise. You can read the first part here. Media reports emerged on Friday that Mamata Banerjee has threatened to "capture Delhi" in response to Amit Shah's slogan of "ebar Bangla (Bengal next)". Readers may remember that she had issued a similar threat when CBI filed an FIR against 13 Trinamool Congress leaders and ministers - virtually the party's entire top leadership (except Mamata) in connection with the Narada scam. "They are harassing our leaders because we raised our voice against anti-people policies of the BJP government. How many leaders will you put in jails? I dare you to arrest all our MPs, Ministers, MLAs. If you send our leaders to jail, we will also send you to jail," she was quoted as saying to party workers at a meeting in Kolkata last Friday, even adding a filmy touch: "Jo hamse takraye ga... chur chur ho jayega (those who will try to harm us... will be finished)". It is easy to dismiss West Bengal chief minister's words as mere rhetoric. After all, her earlier forays into national politics have been quite disappointing. The 2014 joint rally with Anna Hazare proved a major embarrassment as the veteran social activist stayed away leading to empty seats at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. Mamata's efforts to cobble up a mahagathbandhan of Opposition parties around demonetisation also remained a non-starter. So far, the All Indian Trinamool Congress has achieved little on the national stage beyond headlines through shrill anti-BJP invectives. Her words, therefore, may appear as signs of paranoia. There is, however, a method to this 'madness'. Mamata's rhetoric should be interpreted more as a vocal tonic for party workers instead of a 'threat' against BJP. She needs to pep up her troops at a time when BJP seems to have turned its full focus on Bengal. BJP's national leaders are flying in with greater frequency, the local leadership appears to be in battle mode and there is an urgency in expanding the party's footprint. Amit Shah's three-day tour, for instance, leave no space for doubt about BJP 'focus east' strategy. As discussed in the previous article, BJP feels Bengal may provide it a valuable cushion as the party gears up for 2019 general elections. Since meeting the enormous pressure of expectation is likely to be BJP's biggest challenge, Bengal remains one of the last few states where BJP's ambition and space for growth have been stunted by lack of leadership and organisational strength. Shah therefore, set some very clear goals during his latest foray. One, he urged workers to expand the party's footprint. If need be, by poaching disgruntled rival candidates and workers. This is a tactic Shah has employed successfully in the past. We saw prominent leaders from Congress or other regional outfits cross over into BJP ahead of the Assembly elections. Shah, according to reports, apparently wants the party membership to touch one crore ahead of Bengal panchayat polls and made it clear during a meeting on Thursday with booth-level workers that voters must be identified and door-to-door campaign launched to get across the Prime Minister's message of development. Along with this intense grassroot focus, which Shah named 'booth chalo abhijan', the second goal was to test the waters of support. From various meetings, party programs and media interactions, it became quite clear that BJP is planning to take a two-pronged strategy in Bengal. Focus on development with consolidation of Hindu votes remaining a strong undercurrent. Speaking to party workers on Thursday in Rajarhat, Kolkata's satellite township, he said: "The atmosphere I have seen in the past three days has made me confident that next time, BJP will form the government in West Bengal. It will be a government for the people, which will make sure that you do not have to move court to carry out the immersion of Durga idols. Once a BJP government is formed, Bangladeshi infiltrators will be stopped at the border and youth will get employment." Now, contrast this statement with the interaction he had on Wednesday with the urban middle class in a meeting in Kolkata's Mahajati Sadan where the focus was on development and BJP's inner democracy. Audience of that meeting, which The Indian Express notes were a cross section of lawyers, accountants, doctors and engineers, were subjected to statistics on BJP's achievements in the fields of cashless economy, growth in agriculture sector and GDP, employment, nutrition and LPG subsidies to the poor. Amit Shah's third goal was to raid Mamata's backyard and throw a symbolic challenge at TMC's hegemony. The voter interaction at Chetla Lockgate slum in her constituency that included a snack of mishti doi and roshogolla was meant more as an audacious announcement that 'BJP is here'. It can't be a coincidence that Shah's visit comes in the backdrop of intense CBI heat on TMC leaders. The BJP, under Shah, is a lean election fighting machine. It will be a disservice to Mamata's intelligence to suggest that she is not seized of the threat. Since returning to power last year, the TMC supremo has been fast revising the party strategy to counter BJP's rise. The series of steps on display has been interesting to note. It shows that Mamata is not blind to her areas of weakness and has enormous confidence in her party's organisational strength and people-to-people connect. To begin with, Mamata has urged party workers not to go for large-scale poaching of Left or Congress workers because these two fading political outfits now pose little threat to TMC's hegemony. It cannot have escaped her notice that BJP's recent upsurge- the party posted a 22 per cent rise in vote share in Kanthi Dakshin bypoll - has come entirely at the expense of the Left, a political force which has been greatly weakened and broken due to TMC's aggressive tactics. Left leaders in the state openly acknowledge that there has been a mass erosion in party base in favour of TMC and more recently, BJP, as the saffron unit is consolidating the anti-incumbency votes and emerging as the stronger Opposition force. In the rural badlands of Bengal politics where party affiliation provides immunity from political violence, the Left has no appeal left. Shoring up the Left's once-vaunted organizational structure and not letting it weaken to a point where workers en masse leave for BJP seems to be TMC's recent gameplan. The irony of this move is staggering. Mamata's second move has been to indulge in soft Hindutva, of a kind that would throw a spanner in BJP's hopes of a larger Hindu consolidation in Bengal. The BJP had remained bitterly divided over importing in Bengal the contours of hard Hindutva strategy believing that it runs antithetical to the ethos of Bengali Hindus who have historically kept their cultural identity ahead of their religious identity. That the BJP now feels confident of taking out more than 150 Ram Navami processions replete with swords and sticks and chants of Jai Sriram points to a decisive change in state's cultural fabric. This behavioural shift in Bengal politics has been triggered by Mamata Banerjee's blatant indulgence in identity politics in the hope of locking down 27 per cent Muslim votes. 'Appeasement of minorities' isn't just a political accusation, it has been noted by even the Calcutta High Court which has on several occasions rebuked the state administration for its 'bias'. Read here and here. The resentment among a large section of Bengali Hindus has been tapped by the BJP which now finds the occasion fit for a larger consolidation around victimhood narrative. This has placed Mamata in a quandary. While publicly she has castigated BJP for trying to "harm communal harmony in state", she has simultaneously moved to show that she isn't 'anti-Hindu' by tweeting on Hanuman Jayanti (unprecedented in her previous public utterances). Greetings to all on Hanuman Jayanti. Jai Bajrangbali Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 11, 2017 While the police has slapped non-bailable cases against state BJP leadership under Arms Act "for carrying weapons above nine inches (in length) during the procession of Ram Navami", at the same time Trinamool leaders - as Hindustan Times points out in a report - in Birbhum, Howrah, West Midnapore and West Burdwan districts "were seen competing with the saffron camp in organising Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti." The symbolism behind Mamata's recent visit and offering of Puja at Puri's Jagannath Temple - a move that sparked controversy due to a section of priests objecting to her visit - hasn't gone unnoticed. Mamata seems to have decided that while she would use administrative powers to prevent BJP from indulging in 'politics of religion', TMC wouldn't shy away from carrying out such programs. Whether it's a reflection of TMC's inner dichotomy or an evolved strategy to beat BJP at its own game is a moot question. Mamata has also moved with alacrity in stitching a subaltern alliance against BJP, possibly to dent the saffron party's effort to woo the Rajbanshis and Kamtapuris. During a recent rally in Cooch Behar, she asked members of Kamtapur People's Party or Rajbanshi Unnayan Board to stay clear of BJP, as The Times of India notes in a report. "None of you should support BJP. It's a party that wants to drive a wedge between Bangladeshis (refugees) and Rajbanshis (sons of the soil). They want to divide people on the basis of religion. Come to us if you face any problem." At the ground level, the TMC supremo has asked party workers to go all out against BJP's booth-level organisational activities. It won't be easy, at least in the medium to short term, for BJP to achieve the very ambitious targets it has set for 2019. New Delhi: BJP president Amit Shah sets off on a 95-day all-India tour on Saturday during which he will strategise on ways to win the 2019 Lok Sabha election, with focus on clinching 120 seats where the party had lost in 2014. A day ahead of his visit to Jammu as part of his odyssey that will take him to all states, Shah told reporters he would spend one to three days in each of them, depending on their electoral significance. The states have been divided into three categories in accordance with their electoral importance. "We have also set a target of (winning) 120 seats where we had lost in 2014. My tour will focus on taking stock of our organisational strength, and further expansion of ideology and electoral appeal across the country," he said. Shah is particularly focusing on states like West Bengal, from where he returned last night after spending three days, Odisha, Telangana and Kerala. The BJP had managed to win just four Lok Sabha seats out of the 102 in these states in the 2014 election. He also hinted at a reshuffle in the organisation as several office-bearers are now serving as ministers in the Uttar Pradesh government. Shah downplayed reported concern among some BJP allies over the saffron party's expansion plans, saying it is his job to ensure growth of the outfit everywhere, but added that the 120 seats targeted by him did not include those won by other NDA constituents. The party has graded the states into A, B and C category in order of their electoral significance, and he will spend three, two and one day there respectively. Shah's voyage will end by 25 September, the 101th birth anniversary of Jana Sangh ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay. The BJP has roped in around 3.52 lakh volunteers who would work full-time for the party for anywhere between 15 days and a year. It has also enrolled another 600 full-timers, Shah said. He said each full-timer will be assigned one Lok Sabha seat where he would supervise strengthening of the party till 2019 election. There would be one more tasked with the overall electoral responsibility of groups of five constituencies each where the party has traditionally been weak. The party, he said, would also reach out to 11 crore members enrolled during the 2015-16 drive, and seek to involve them in booth-level activities. Apart from his 95-day tour, Shah has also chosen five states where he will spend three days each. His recent visit to West Bengal was part of this programme. Besides West Bengal, he will visit Odisha, Telangana, Lakshadweep and the poll-bound Gujarat. Hyderabad: BJP president Amit Shah would visit Telangana and interact with party leaders and activists, including booth-level functionaries, as part of efforts to come to power in the state after the 2019 Assembly polls, said a party leader. Shah would undertake a three-day visit and interact with polling booth committee members, state-level leaders, MLAs, prominent personalities of a particular district to strengthen the party, state BJP president K Laxman told reporters in Hyderabad. The exact dates of Shah's visit and other details would be announced after confirmation, he said. Shah would also take part in a parliamentary constituency convention during his visit, he said. BJP has already organised Lok Sabha constituency-level conventions at different places in Telangana which were attended by union ministers Parshottam Rupala, Prakash Javadekar and others. Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, M Venkaiah Naidu, Nirmala Sitharaman would attend the conventions in other places, Laxman said. Alleging that the TRS government in Telangana has disappointed people from all sections, he said the recent public meeting organised by the ruling party was far below expectations. Observing that the students of Osmania University had played a crucial role in the struggle for separate Telangana, Laxman claimed that chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao disappointed the students and alumni by not speaking at the inaugural event of the institution's centenary celebrations. Rao was expected to give a befitting speech to highlight the efforts of students and by announcing plans for their welfare, Laxman said. Kolkata: The CPM on Thursday said it was not averse to joining hands with the Congress and other secular forces to forge a broad-based unity in combating the attack on democracy and secularism in West Bengal. Communist Party of India-Marxist state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra said a joint struggle was needed to fight the poison of communalism being spread by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the autocratic attitude of the Trinamool government in the state. "We Leftists, the parties within the Left Front, and those Left forces outside the Left Front, can take the responsibility of leading the struggle against the attack on life and livelihood in the state and the anti-people economic policies of the BJP government at the centre and the Trinamool regime in the state," Mishra said. "But in the specific situation that is emerging in West Bengal, we need a broader unity of political forces by including the Congress and other democratic and secular parties to fight the attack on democracy and secularism in the state," Mishra told media persons after a two-day CPM state committee meeting. However, he said the call was not for any electoral alliance or understanding. "That we will decide at the time of elections. Here we are giving a call for a joint struggle," he added. Mishra said the Trinamool could not be a part of the unity visualised by his party. "Because the existence and the policies of the Trinamool government in the state has helped the BJP's rise. We ran the government in the state for 34 years; during that time the BJP could not raise its head," he said. "Had there been no Trinamool, the BJP would not have gained in strength in the state. To fight the BJP's divisive policies, one has to combat the Trinamool's autocratic rue. Similarly, it is not possible to take on the autocratic rule of the Trinamool by shutting one's eyes to the BJP's divisive policies," he said. Mishra said his party's call for roping in the Congress for a joint struggle in the state does not militate against the CPM central committee's stand of not getting into any electoral understanding with the country's oldest political party. The CPM-led Left Front and the Congress had forged an electoral understanding in the state for last year's Assembly polls, but the alliance came a cropper. "We are not talking of any electoral alliance. But we welcome all secular forces including the Congress who want a joint struggle. Let them build a platform, we will be there. Things like who will provide the leadership is not important, considering the crisis in the state," Mishra said. He said an effort was on to convert communal polarisaiton into political polarisation in the state. "Efforts are on to create a perception that the BJP, and not the Leftists, can provide an alternative to Bengal's dictatorial regime. The BJP is playing Ram, while the Trinamool is playing Hanuman. This is a dangerous game," he said. He said the CPM state committee has instructed the entire party to go all out in making the March to Nabanna (state secretariat) call given by the Leftist peasant organisations on 22 May a success. In the Kashmir Valley, the return of normalcy after last years unrest following Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wanis killing has proved to be superficial. The violence that rocked Srinagar and Budgam during 9 Aprils Lok Sabha by-election and the subsequent student protests across the major towns last week have again made the situation volatile. The intensity of the student protests forced the state government to temporarily shut down educational institutions across the state. But that has not brought calm. Worried by further flare-ups, authorities have now imposed internet restrictions and a month-long ban on social media websites. Such large-scale mobilisation of students has jolted the PDP-BJP coalition government. There were also some rumblings within the coalition on the governments inept handling of the student protests. Amidst this chaos, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti rushed to New Delhi on 24 April to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the security situation in the Valley. After the meetings, Mehbooba assured them that the situation in the Valley would improve in the next two to three months.While Mehbooba appeared to be optimistic about getting a handle on the present situation, ground realities were playing out differently. And while she was holding meetings in New Delhi, students in the Valley had again taken to the streets demanding an apology from the security forces for beating students in a college in Pulwama, a week earlier. In Srinagar, protests spilled out into the citys commercial hub Lal Chowk, where the agitating students blocked roads and held up traffic. The students are still clearly in no mood to relent. The deteriorating situation has caused worries among locals. "People wanted the PDP-BJP government to look at the Kashmir issue, the way Atal Bihari Vajpayee had looked at it," Sameer Ahmad from Anantnag told Firstpost. He believes that the present government has lost ground by using "excessive force to quell the protests". The perception that mainstream politics is losing ground in the Valley is also gaining traction evident in the seven percent voter turnout in Srinagar coupled with the violence in various places in Budgam. A PDP cadre from Anantnag, who wished not to be named, is worried about his party. "People have lost trust in mainstream politics, which was evident in the low voter turnout and violence in the Srinagar bypolls. The PDP made a mistake by forming an alliance with the BJP," he told Firstpost, adding, "Now, they should implement a sustainable strategy by bringing all the stakeholders to the table something they had discussed before the 2014 Assembly election." Engineer Abdul Rashid, the firebrand MLA from Langate in north Kashmirs Kupwara district, while speaking to Firstpost, expressed his anger at the previous governments in Kashmir. He said, "They (governments) did nothing. They have been representing New Delhi in Kashmir, rather than representing Kashmir in New Delhi." He reiterated the idea that people have lost trust in mainstream politics. "The only way to win the trust back is by resolving Kashmir issue as per the UN Resolution," he claimed. Looking at the situation in Srinagar, the Election Commission has now postponed the Anantnag Loksabha bypoll to 25 May, but the PDP is less than confident that the situation will improve by then. Despite Anantnag being the party's bastion, it is demanding that the by-election be deferred further. PDP general secretary Nizamudin Bhat said, "The space has shrunk for the mainstream politics for the time being. It has happened in the past as well," He pointed out that earlier election boycotts have been far more serious than the present one. "There are historical reasons for the low voter turnout, like continued mis-governance, trust deficit and Delhis (Central governments) apathy towards Kashmir," he said. Many in the Valley are of the opinion that people feel betrayed by the PDP joining hands with the BJP. Abdul Majeed Larmi, the National Conferences MLA from Homeshalibugh constituency in Kulgam told Firstpost, "Kashmirs new generation has realised that the Indian government has only betrayed the people till now. They have completely lost trust in mainstream politics and politicians." He believes that there is no space left for mainstream politics. "The situation is not going to be normal until some concrete solution is found," he added. For some Kashmiris, until the PDP parts ways with the BJP, the situation will not normalise. "Mehbooba is simply whiling away her time in power. She cant bring the situation under control because the Modi-led government is reluctant to engage the Hurriyat and Pakistan the main parties of this conflict," said Ishaq Beigh, a writer and political analyst, "Mehbooba should surrender before the people and break the coalition with the BJP, which is not paying any attention to her genuine demands," he said. The recent statements by the BJP leaders against the stone-pelting youth, by terming them 'traitors' and suggesting that 'they can only be dealt with using bullets' have only made matters worse. Reacting to it, Bhat said, "Statements are not the real cause of anger. The reason for anger lies in history, lack of leadership and the loss of society." Clearly the task is cut out in the months ahead for the governments in New Delhi and Srinagar to restore trust in mainstream politics in the Valley, while keeping the unrest and protests at bay. The results of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi election are out and Congress supporters see the partys performance as a revival of sorts. The party bagged 30 seats with a 21 percent vote share. This is a significant improvement over its 2015 Assembly election, performance where it failed to open its account. However, if we compare the 2017 MCD results to the 2012 polls, the Congress tally is down by more than half (from 77 to 30 seats) and its vote share by around 10 percent (from 30.5 percent to 21 percent). The Congress has conceded space to AAP even at the municipality level after surrendering its space to AAP at the state (Assembly) level. The contest in Delhi is mainly between BJP and AAP now with Congress in third position. It appears highly unlikely that party will be able regain its pole position. There is significant factionalism in the state unit, some top-level leaders have left and the party doesnt have anything new to offer to voters. The Congress dire state was aptly described by KC Tyagi of the JD(U) after the MCD results, "The Congress cannot win elections on its own and does not look open to alliances. Such politics will not work now." In Delhi, the party needs to ally with AAP if it wants to revive its position in the Lok Sabha in 2019 and the Assembly in 2020. Otherwise it has no chance. Five factors why Congress needs an alliance with AAP 1. AAP plus INC is greater than BJP The combined vote share of AAP and Congress (47 percent) was greater than what the BJP recorded in the MCD elections (36 percent). Critics could argue that full transferability may not happen and there could be leakages. Even if 20 percent of the aggregate votes of AAP and Congress are lost in translation, the bloc will have a similar vote share to that of the BJP and will be in a position to give it a tough challenge. The two parties on aggregate got a larger vote share than the BJP even during the Narendra Modi wave of 2014. 2. To prevent split of anti-BJP vote BJP has a core vote share of 32 to 37 percent in Delhi. Even when it received a drubbing in 2015, it recorded a 32.3 percent vote share. In the 2012 MCD elections, it received 36.7 percent of the votes. In the Lok Sabha polls, the party received a 46.1 percent vote share, however, if you adjust it for the Modi factor, the number reduces to 35 percent. On a pan-India basis, BJP received around 25 percent votes due to the Modi factor. This factor was mostly absent and didnt work in front of the Arvind Kejriwal factor in 2015, resulting in a humiliating loss for the BJP. In the 2017 MCD polls, BJP received 36.2 percent of the votes in line with the trend. The moral of the story is that the BJP received more or less similar numbers of votes in line with its historical trend. The anti-BJP votes were split between a spirited Congress (which wanted to make a comeback) and AAP (which lost some of its mojo). Others also recovered from the 2015 shock; BSP bagged 4.4 percent of mostly Purvanchali voters who had fully backed AAP in 2015. 3. AAP and INC have the same anchor voting segments Even when the Congress was ruling the state from 1998 to 2013, the BJP enjoyed better support from upper castes and Jats. The OBC and Sikh vote was split almost equally. The Congress enjoyed more support from Dalits, Muslims and Gujjars. In terms of class, Congress enjoyed better support among the poor and lower classes, while the BJP found its support among upper and middle class. Today, the vote base of AAP consists of the poor, downtrodden, Dalits, Muslims and Gujjars, same as the Congress. Nearly the entire bloc voted for AAP in 2015 resulting in its emphatic win. In the 2017 MCD polls, these votes were split between AAP and Congress. This is an anti-BJP vote which most likely will stay with these two parties. This indicates AAP and Congress are natural allies at least in Delhi. 4. AAP has worked for the poor, hence their support remains Despite the loss in the MCD election, the poor have remained with AAP as visible from its vote share of 25.8 percent as upper and middle classes remained with the BJP. The party has reduced electricity rates by 50 percent, provided free water, established mohalla clinics and improved education levels in municipal schools. All these steps have made this segment of voters stick with AAP. For Congress to do well, it needs the 'gharwapsi' of this voting segment. This is unlikely in the near to medium term. 5. Dearth of strong leaders in Delhi The Congress is struggling with leadership issue in the state. After Sheila Dikshit was defeated at the hands of Kejriwal in 2013, she has been kept out of state politics. The party has tried Arvinder Singh Lovely (who joined the BJP recently) and Ajay Maken, both young leaders, but this has not worked. Dissent is the norm in the Delhi Congress. AK Walia, an old warhorse, left the party before the polls. Sheila and her son Sandeep have been critical of Makens style of functioning. Maken, born out of student politics, lags behind Kejriwal and even Manoj Tiwari in leadership ratings. As per a NDTV report, the Congress has already reached out to Opposition and regional parties including AAP, asking them to end their "anti-Congress" stance and focus on the BJP if they want to survive the BJP juggernaut. To sum up, an alliance with AAP is the only way forward for Congress in BJP. It does entail a risk of transfer of Congress vote bank to AAP (as in 2015), but is a risk worth taking. The party has done well in states like Bihar and West Bengal due to this alliance strategy. To prevent or at least hope to prevent anti-BJP votes from splitting, the Congress needs to extend the hand of friendship to AAP. AAP is also down at this moment and it may be a good time to bargain as equals. New Delhi: Congress on Friday accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Haryana of "deliberately" leaking the SN Dhingra Commission's report to "d**n" Robert Vadra out of vendetta, despite a court injunction against its publication. The Congress said the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued injunction twice in November last year and earlier this week restraining release of the content of the report of the commission which probed alleged irregularities in grant of land licences to a firm owned by Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi alleged that the BJP-led governments were in the habit of deliberately leaking reports as the party believed in the politics of vendetta. "Some very strange things are happening. Both the central and the state governments and the ruling party are steeped in vendetta and blinded by rage and are deliberately leaking the so-called Dhingra Commission report," he told reporters. Singhvi came out in the defence for Vadra a day after Priyanka Gandhi Vadra issued a statement, saying her finances had nothing to do with that of her husband Robert Vadra or his company Skylight Hospitality, which is under the scanner of the Haryana government over its land deals with realty major DLF. Singhvi also expressed surprise at Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu's remark that their government did not leak the report, and said if it was not the government the only other persons who could have leaked it were Justice Dhingra himself or Vadra. "Who are making these selective, opportunistic, planted and directed leaks for what is known as damnation by innuendo and insinuation," he said. The Congress leader asked under which rule of law a report can "d**n" anyone without even calling or giving a notice to the person concerned. He claimed that no notice was sent to Vadra or former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of the Congress, during whose tenure these land deals took place. As per law, such a notice needs to be issued eight weeks before, he said. "Can you have a report to say Vadra did this and that or the other without a notice to him?" he asked. Singhvi cautioned that no one is allowed to publish the Dhingra Commission report in view of an injunction in this regard by the high court. He said if anyone published the report, technically he would be committing contempt of court. "I am saying that you cannot examine the contents of the report at all," he said. Asked to comment on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's statement yesterday, Singhvi said, "That statement is self-explanatory. I am adding something more to it." Asked why she reacted in the matter, the Congress leader said she was "pained" with the report. Priyanka had also said that any insinuation made about a five-acre piece of land she purchased in Faridabad were "false, baseless and defamatory" and represented "a deliberate, politically motivated and malicious campaign to besmirch and destroy her reputation", as the land was purchased from her own rental income coming out of inherited property. London: Amnesty International held a protest with 100 'Statues of Liberty' on Thursday, to mark US President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office . The protesters gathered outside the US Embassy holding placards with the words 'No ban', 'No wall' and 'Refugees welcome'. Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty's Northern Ireland programme director, hand delivered a dossier addressed to US Consul General Daniel Lawton, Daily Mail reported. The document points out 100 ways "in which President Trump has threatened human rights in his first 100 days in office". President Trump finishes the 100 day mark on Saturday. Manila: Southeast Asian nations expressed "grave concern" on Friday over North Korea's nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches despite a plea from Pyongyang not to be subjected to such pressure. Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations issued their statement Friday on the eve of an Asean leaders' annual summit in Manila, saying the instability on the Korean Peninsula "seriously impacts the region and beyond." The 10-nation regional bloc also urged North Korea and all parties concerned "to exercise self-restraint in order to de-escalate the tension and refrain from actions that may aggravate the situation," adding its voice to a growing international alarm over the crisis involving the North and its rivals led by the United States. President Donald Trump's administration has declared that all options, including a targeted military strike, are on the table to block North Korea from carrying out threats against the United States and its allies in the region. But a pre-emptive attack isn't likely, US officials have said, and the administration is pursuing a strategy of putting pressure on Pyongyang with assistance from China, North Korea's main trading partner and the country's economic lifeline. North Korea has been quietly reaching out to other nations to ease criticism amid the barrage of US threats, according to a Philippine official. Pyongyang sent its Bangkok-based ambassador to Manila recently "to suggest that North Korea not be put under pressure" during the Asean meetings hosted by the Philippines, said the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to discuss the matter with the press. One such meeting is the Asean Regional Forum, or ARF, in August, which is attended by the foreign ministers including those from the US and North Korea. It is one of Asia's most high-profile security forums. Canberra: Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Friday said it is an extremely tense time on the Korean peninsula but dismissed the idea of deploying an anti-missile system in the country. "We have extensive arrangements with our allies, in particular with the US, but we do not deploy in Australia a missile defence system like the Thaad system that Washington is deploying in South Korea at the moment," Turnbull said. He said Australia's responses would evolve as nuclear threats increase. He noted that North Korea had not yet carried out its threats of launching a nuclear attack, Efe news reported. "What we are doing in terms of stopping North Korea is continuing our pressure on the regime through extensive... economic sanctions, which are designed to bring North Korea to its senses," Turnbull said. He said it was key for China to use its influence and leverage over the Kim Jong-un regime to calm tensions and stop its "reckless and dangerous conduct". Turnbull's comments coincided with the release of an Australian Defence Force report that urges the military to develop a better understanding of ballistic missile defence and increase participation in high-intensity military drills with the US and South Korea. North Korea warned Australia on 23 April that it could be the target of a nuclear weapons strike if it continued to "blindly" follow the US, after which authorities said Pyongyang posed a grave threat to the region. Washington: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that China has threatened to impose sanctions on North Korea if it conducts further nuclear tests. "We know that China is in communications with the regime in Pyongyang," Tillerson said on Fox News Channel on Thursday. "They confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test." Tillerson said China also told the US that it had informed North Korea "that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own." Earlier on Thursday, the senior US Navy officer overseeing military operations in the Pacific said the crisis with North Korea is at the worst point he's ever seen, but he declined to compare the situation to the Cuban missile crisis decades ago. "It's real," Adm Harry Harris Jr, commander of US Pacific Command, said during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Harris said he has no doubt that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un intends to fulfil his pursuit of a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the United States. The admiral acknowledged there's uncertainty within US intelligence agencies over how far along North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are. But Harris said it's not a matter of if but when. "There is no doubt in my mind," Harris said. The Trump administration has declared that all options, including a targeted military strike, are on the table to block North Korea from carrying out threats against the United States and its allies in the region. "But a pre-emptive attack isn't likely, US officials have said, and the administration is pursuing a strategy of putting pressure on Pyongyang with assistance from China, North Korea's main trading partner and the country's economic lifeline. With international support, the Trump administration said Thursday it wants to exert a "burst" of economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea that yields results within months to push the communist government to change course from developing nuclear weapons. Susan Thornton, the acting top US diplomat for East Asia, said there's debate about whether Pyongyang is willing to give up its weapons programs. She said the US wants "to test that hypothesis to the maximum extent we can" for a peaceful resolution. But signalling that military action remains possible, Thornton told an event hosted by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies athe Washington think tank has advocated tougher US policies on Iran and North Korea that the administration treats North Korea as its primary security challenge and is serious that "all options are on the table." "We are not seeking regime change and our preference is to resolve this problem peacefully," Thornton said, "but we are not leaving anything off the table." Tillerson took a similar stand in the Fox News interview Thursday, saying: "We do not seek regime change in North Korea. ... What we are seeking is the same thing China has said they seek a full de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula." In a separate interview with National Public Radio, Tillerson said the U.S. remains open to holding direct negotiations with North Korea. "But North Korea has to decide they're ready to talk to us about the about the right agenda, and the right agenda is not simply stopping where they are for a few more months or a few more years and then resuming things," he said, according to excerpts of an interview that will air Friday morning. "That's been the agenda for the last 20 years." Multi-nation negotiations with North Korea on its nuclear program stalled in 2008. The Obama administration attempted to resurrect them in 2012, but a deal to provide food aid in exchange for a nuclear freeze soon collapsed. After weeks of unusually blunt military threats, President Donald Trump's national security team briefed lawmakers Wednesday on North Korea's advancing nuclear capabilities. A joint statement from agency heads made no specific mention of military options, though it said the US would defend itself and friends. Harris told the committee that the financial sanctions imposed against the North Korean regime by the US and other countries have done nothing to slow North Korea's quest for weapons of mass destruction. He also said he's been skeptical of China's willingness to exert its influence over Pyongyang. But Harris said he's become "cautiously optimistic" following recent talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "It's only been a month or so and it's too early to tell," Harris said. "I wouldn't bet my farm on it." In a show of military might, the US has sent a massive amount of American weaponry to the region. A group of American warships led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is in striking range of North Korea "if the president were to call on it," Harris told the committee. A US missile defence system called Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense is being installed in South Korea. Harris said he has adequate forces to "fight tonight" against North Korea if that were to become necessary. But the admiral also said he lacks all the attack submarines he needs and has no capable defence against the thousands of artillery pieces North Korea has assembled near the Demilitarised Zone separating North and South Korea. There are about 28,500 US military personnel serving in South Korea. "We do not have those kinds of weapons that can counter those rockets once they're launched," Harris said in response to a question from the committee's Republican chairman, Sen. John McCain of Arizona. New York: The approval rating for US President Donald Trump is at a low 32 percent among young Americans, who gave him a poor score of 27 percent on his race relations, according to a new poll on his first 100-day performance. The national poll by Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics (IOP) said 32 percent of 18-29 year-old Americans approve of Trump's job performance overall. The poll shows that young Americans approval of Trump's handling of the economy is at 37 percent, his dealing with the Islamic State terrorist group at 33 percent, health care at 30 percent, climate change at 28 percent and performance on race relations at 27 percent. "While we spend a lot of time talking about what divides us, younger millennials are seeking leaders who will unite us. This is both good government and good politics, and it is the overarching message from our last year of polling, town meetings and conversations with millennials from across the country," said John Della Volpe, Polling Director at Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics. The survey, which included more than 2,500 responses from 18 to 29-year-olds, found that millennials scored Trump's performance lower than the general public does. With Trump's national approval rating already lower than any modern president, the poll discloses another layer of dissatisfaction with the new administration. On Trump's 100-day performance, 41 percent gave him an 'F' grade (the lowest) while 10 percent gave him an 'A' grade (the highest). The poll found that 59 percent of young Americans agree they want to work towards helping unite and not further divide the country. It said that compared to five years ago, while more young Americans today believe that politics is relevant to their lives, fewer want to work in some form of public service. In 2012, 31 percent of the 18 to 29 year-olds agreed that public service is appealing and today the number has fallen to 25 percent. On elements of Trump's agenda, three-in-five people believe his plan to end unfair trade practices will make America better. When asked about a set of Trump's proposed policies using the administration's policy language, 60 percent of young Americans say that "cracking down on countries" illegal and unfair trade practices that hurt American workers would make America better, while 13 percent responded that it would make America worse. There is less support for "repealing and replacing" the Affordable Care Act for "temporarily banning all refugees from coming into the US and temporarily banning issuance of new visas from 6 predominately Muslim countries in the Middle East", with 28 percent saying it will make America better and 48 percent disagreeing with it. Further, when asked if they believed Trump's use of Twitter is appropriate, 68 percent of young Americans say that his use of the microblogging site is mostly not appropriate for the office. The poll also found that 10 percent of respondents give the mainstream media an 'A' grade for coverage of Trump during the first 100 days. For the survey, 2,650 young Americans between 18- and 29-years-old were interviewed. By Alastair Macdonald | BRUSSELS BRUSSELS European Union leaders at a Brexit summit on Saturday will give a formal undertaking to embrace the British province of Northern Ireland in the EU if a referendum unites the island, diplomats said on Friday.Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has asked fellow members of the bloc to acknowledge that Northern Ireland would, like East Germany in 1990, automatically enter the EU in the event of unification with existing member state, the Irish Republic.The 1998 Good Friday Agreement to end violence in the north foresees the holding of referendums on both sides of the Irish border on uniting the island if London and Dublin see public support for such a change. EU leaders, who will be meeting in Brussels to endorse a negotiating plan for Britain's withdrawal, will give a political endorsement to what Irish and EU legal experts say is the position in international law of such territorial changes."The European Council acknowledges that the Good Friday Agreement expressly provides for an agreed mechanism whereby a united Ireland may be brought about through peaceful and democratic means," diplomats quoted their draft text as saying."The European Council acknowledges that, in accordance with international law, the entire territory of such a united Ireland would thus be part of the European Union." One EU source said the text, to be entered into the formal minutes of the meeting, was a statement of "the obvious" and, along with Irish officials, he stressed the summit was not taking a view on unification or launching any talks on unity."Irish unity is not part of the Brexit negotiations but given the importance of the Good Friday Agreement it will be suitable for that to be acknowledged by the European Council," a senior Irish official in Brussels said."This is not about starting a process but it is important that there be clear acknowledgment that this is the case." EU and Irish officials also stressed that Britain, whose prime minister Theresa May will be absent, has itself taken the same view on EU membership for Northern Ireland. Brexit minister David Davis acknowledged last month that, if it united with the Republic, it would be entitled to be absorbed into the EU. UNIFICATION NOT IMMINENT Calls for a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom have picked up since Northern Ireland, like Scotland, voted to remain in the EU, while the United Kingdom's two other nations, England and Wales, chose to leave in last year's Brexit vote.Elections in Northern Ireland in March denied pro-British unionists a majority in the province for the first time since Ireland was partitioned in 1921, further emboldening Irish nationalists and their main political representatives Sinn Fein. But Kenny has consistently said that now is not the right time for a vote and demographics suggest it could take a generation before Catholics, who tend to back Irish nationalist parties, become a majority among Northern Ireland's population.Northern Ireland's future is part of broader uncertainty for territories of what was once the world's biggest empire.Britain's right-wing press fulminated last month against EU plans to spell out that Spain, which claims sovereignty over Gibraltar, should have a veto over applying any future EU-UK free trade deal to the tiny British enclave.Last week, Argentina said it thought it might gain EU backing after Brexit for its claim to the Falkland Islands, 35 years after losing a brief war there to Britain. Closer to home, Brexit has fuelled calls to break away not only in Northern Ireland but also in Scotland. (Additional reporting by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Catherine Evans) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Brussels: EU leaders are expected at a summit this weekend to back automatic membership for Northern Ireland after Brexit if it ever reunifies with Ireland, sources said on Friday. Ireland will ask the 27 European Union leaders to endorse a text on the issue when they meet on Saturday without Britain to adopt guidelines for Brexit negotiations. While the move could rile London, European sources said it would only "state the obvious" and compared it to the integration of the former East Germany into the EU after the fall of the Berlin Wall. A draft of the summit minutes seen by AFP says the 1998 Good Friday peace accord "expressly provides for an agreed mechanism whereby a united Ireland may be brought about through peaceful and democratic means". "In this regard, the European Council acknowledges that, in accordance with international law, the entire territory of such a united Ireland would thus be part of the European Union," it says. Britain's vote to leave the EU has raised a host of sensitive issues about the future of Northern Ireland, with the EU insisting in the summit guidelines on the need to avoid a "hard border" with Ireland. The historic Good Friday accord, which ended decades of violence in the British province, includes provisions for Northern Ireland to reunify with the Republic in the future if it chooses to. Britain is already highly sensitive to territorial issues in the Brexit talks after the guidelines said Spain should have the final say over whether any eventual trade deal applies to the British outcrop of Gibraltar. The issue of a united Ireland rejoining the EU will not, however, be included in the summit guidelines themselves, an EU Council source told AFP. Brussels insisted that if added on Saturday a so-called "Kenny text" named after Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny would not change the situation of Ireland or Northern Ireland. "It would merely state the obvious, that a united Ireland would continue being a member of the EU," the EU Council source said. "The EU does of course not take a stance on the possibility of a united Ireland." By contrast, the EU has said that Scotland would have to reapply to join the bloc if it voted for independence from Britain after Brexit. The EU says questions about Northern Ireland are among those that must be resolved as part of the Brexit divorce agreement before talks can begin on a future EU-UK trade deal. The other key divorce issues the EU wants to settle are Britain's exit bill estimated by EU sources at 60 billion euros and the fate of three million EU citizens living in Britain, plus a million Britons living in the EU. By Stephen J. Adler, Jeff Mason and Steve Holland | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON President Donald Trump complained on Thursday that U.S. ally Saudi Arabia was not treating the United States fairly and Washington was losing a tremendous amount of money defending the kingdom.In an interview with Reuters, Trump confirmed his administration was in talks about possible visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel in the second half of May. He is due to make his first trip abroad as president for a May 25 NATO summit in Brussels and could add other stops."Frankly, Saudi Arabia has not treated us fairly, because we are losing a tremendous amount of money in defending Saudi Arabia, he said.Trumps criticism of Riyadh was a return to his 2016 election campaign rhetoric when he accused the kingdom of not pulling its weight in paying for the U.S. security umbrella."Nobodys going to mess with Saudi Arabia because were watching them," Trump told a campaign rally in Wisconsin a year ago. Theyre not paying us a fair price. Were losing our shirt.The United States is the main supplier for most Saudi military needs, from F-15 fighters to control and command systems worth tens of billions of dollars in recent years, while American contractors win major energy deals.The world's top oil exporter and its biggest consumer have enjoyed close economic ties for decades, with U.S. firms building much of the infrastructure of the modern Saudi state after its oil boom in the 1970s.Saudi officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Trump's latest comments. But Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir rejected similar comments from Trump during his election campaign, telling CNN during a visit to Washington last July that the Islamic kingdom "carries its own weight" as an ally.Saudi Arabias powerful deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Trump last month in a meeting that was hailed by a senior Saudi adviser as a historical turning point in relations. The talks appeared to signal a meeting of minds on many issues, including their shared view that Iran posed a regional security threat.Riyadh and other Gulf allies see in Trump a strong president who will shore up Washingtons role as their main strategic partner and help contain Riyadh's adversary Iran in a region central to U.S. security and energy interests, regional analysts said.ISLAMIC STATE "HUMILIATION" Asked about the fight against Islamic State, which Saudi Arabia and other U.S. allies are confronting as a coalition, Trump said the militant group had to be defeated. "I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation," Trump said, when asked about what the endgame was for defeating Islamist violent extremism."There is an end. Otherwise it's really tough. But there is an end," without detailing a strategy.A visit to Israel would reciprocate a White House visit in February by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to meet Trump next Wednesday in Washington.Trump has set a more positive tone with Israel than his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, who often clashed with the right-wing Israeli leader, and has raised concerns among Palestinians that their leaders may not get equal treatment. Trump has also asked Israel to put unspecified limits on its building of Jewish settlements on land the Palestinians want for a state, and has promised to seek a Middle East peace deal that eluded his predecessors. However, he has offered no new diplomatic prescriptions.I want to see peace with Israel and the Palestinians, he said. There is no reason there's not peace between Israel and the Palestinians - none whatsoever.Trump brushed aside a question of whether he might use a possible trip to Israel to declare U.S. recognition of the entire city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a reversal of longstanding U.S. foreign policy likely to draw international condemnation."Ask me in a month on that," he said, without elaborating.If Trump ties an Israel visit to next month's Brussels trip, it would be around the time Israelis are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, when Israel captured Arab East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war.Successive U.S. administrations as well as the international community have not recognized Israel's annexation of the eastern part of the city, and the future status of Jerusalem remains one of the thorniest issues in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.Israel claims all of Jerusalem, which contains sites sacred to the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths, as its capital. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state of their own. (Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom; Writing by Yara Bayoumy and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Howard Goller) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Jeff Mason, Stephen J. Adler and Steve Holland | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday spurned the Taiwanese presidents suggestion that the two leaders hold another phone call, saying he did not want to create problems for Chinese President Xi Jinping when Beijing appears to be helping efforts to rein in North Korea.In a White House interview, Trump brushed aside the idea after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen told Reuters on Thursday she would not rule out talking directly again to the U.S. president, an act certain to incense China. The status of self-ruled Taiwan is possibly the most sensitive issue between Washington and Beijing.Look, my problem is I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi. I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation, Trump told Reuters, referring to signs that China may be working to head off any new missile or nuclear test by Pyongyang, Beijings neighbor and ally.So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him, Trump added. I think hes doing an amazing job as a leader and I wouldnt want to do anything that comes in the way of that. So I would certainly want to speak to him first.As president-elect in early December, Trump took a congratulatory phone call from Tsai. It was the first contact between a leader of Taiwan and an incumbent or incoming U.S. president in nearly four decades, and Trump cast doubt on Washington's longstanding policy of acknowledging Beijing's "one China" policy, which asserts that Taiwan is a part of China.The call angered Beijing because it fears contacts between Taiwan and leaders of other countries would confer sovereignty on the island. Democratic Taiwan, self-ruled since 1949, has no interest in being ruled by autocratic China.Trump agreed to honor the "one China" policy in February and then hosted Xi at his Florida resort earlier this month.Trumps dismissal of Tsai's suggestion underscored the importance he is placing on enlisting China's help in defusing tension with North Korea, which has become his biggest national security challenge since taking office in January, 100 days ago come Saturday. On Friday, in response to Trump's remarks, Taiwan's presidential office said it had no plans "at this stage" to hold a call, and that it understood the United States had priorities in handling regional affairs. In a statement, Tsai's spokesman, Alex Huang, said the government would not "overly limit" itself, but would pursue the island's best interest.In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang urged Taiwan to pay attention to the United States' reaction."We consistently oppose countries which have diplomatic relations with China having any form of official exchanges with Taiwan," Geng told a daily news briefing on Friday."This position is very clear and very firm." F-35 REQUEST Tsai told Reuters on Thursday Taiwan's ties with the United States have been improving. She said Taiwan may need to buy from its sole arms supplier the F-35 fighter jet, the most advanced stealth warplane in the U.S. arsenal.We have the opportunity to communicate more directly with the U.S. government," Tsai said. We don't exclude the opportunity to call President Trump himself, but it depends on the needs of the situation and the U.S. government's consideration of regional affairs."Tsai said, We don't rule out any items that would be meaningful to our defense and our defence strategy and the F-35 is one such item. But when told Taiwans president had said the island might want to buy F-35 aircraft, Trump said: Oh, I havent been informed. Id have to think about that. Id have to speak to my people about that. They (the Taiwanese government) do buy a lot of equipment from us.China's Defence Ministry said on Thursday it was resolutely opposed to any country selling arms to Taiwan. U.S. officials told Reuters last month that the Trump administration was crafting a big arms package for Taiwan that could include advanced rocket systems and anti-ship missiles to defend against China, a deal sure to anger Beijing.But one of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at the time the administration was not considering selling the F-35 to Taiwan.The package is expected to be significantly larger than one that was shelved at the end of the Obama administration valued at around $1 billion but completion of a new deal could take months and possibly into next year, the official said.The Global Times, an influential Chinese Communist Party-backed tabloid, called Tsai's government "a naughty child" in an editorial on Friday and said it would "strongly counter" any move to sell Taiwan advanced fighter jets. Each time the Tsai Ing-wen authorities step out of line they will pay the price, like a naughty child in class getting a stern reprimand for shouting out or smashing the glass at school, it said. (Additional reporting by Jean Yoon and J.R. Wu in Taipei; Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Howard Goller and Clarence Fernandez) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Berlin: Members of Germany's lower house of parliament have approved a law that partially bans the full-face Islamic veil or the burqa, the media reported on Friday. The bill will now go to the upper house. Right-wing parties want Germany to emulate France where a total ban on wearing burqas in public places as has been in force since 2011. Last December, Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a ban on full-face veils wherever legally possible, saying they were not appropriate in her country. In February the state of Bavaria announced plans to ban the full-face veil in government workplaces, schools, universities and while driving, reports the BBC. More than a million migrants including many Middle Eastern Muslims have entered Germany over the last 18 months. The move follows several terror attacks, including one on a Berlin Christmas market that claimed 12 lives. France, Austria, Belgium and Turkey have all imposed a ban in certain public spaces. Legislation supporting a ban is in progress in the Netherlands, while local bans apply in other nations including Denmark, Russia, Spain and Switzerland. BERLIN Germany's Bundestag lower house of parliament agreed to a draft law on Thursday that will prevent civil servants, judges and soldiers in Germany from wearing full-face veils at work.The move comes after Chancellor Angela Merkel called in December for a ban on full-face Muslim veils "wherever legally possible". There are five months to go before a federal election, and her conservatives lost some support to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) during the migrant crisis.. More than a million migrants, many of them Muslims from the Middle East, have arrived in Germany over the last two years, and concerns about integration are widespread. "Integration also means that we should make clear and impart our values and where the boundaries of our tolerance towards other cultures lie," German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said. "The draft law we have agreed on makes an important contribution to that." In February, the southern state of Bavaria, ruled by the Christian Social Union (CSU) - the Bavarian sister party to Merkel's conservatives - said it would ban the full-face veil in schools, universities, government workplaces and polling stations. (Reporting by Michelle Martin, editing by Larry King) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By James Oliphant | CLEARWATER, Fla. CLEARWATER, Fla. Some of his supporters fret that President Donald Trump is backing himself into a corner with promises that cant be kept. Others lament he is not pulling America from international conflicts as he vowed or say he should get off of Twitter.Those grumbles are early warning signs for Trump as he marks his 100th day in office on Saturday. They were heard in Reuters interviews with Trump supporters in swing counties that went for Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 but then flipped for Trump last year a slice of the electorate dominated by white voters that is crucial to the Republicans re-election hopes and that Democrats want to win back.Reuters visited the same four places - Pinellas County in Florida, Northampton County in eastern Pennsylvania, Macomb County outside of Detroit, Michigan, and Gates County in rural North Carolina - right after the Nov. 8 election.What reporters found this time in more than two dozen interviews is that Trump voters are largely standing with their man but with signs of restlessness, mainly over foreign policy, concerns over getting legislation through Congress and some skepticism that he wont be able to follow through with promises from building a wall along the Mexican border to repealing Obamas signature healthcare law.But rather than bash Trump, many largely blamed Democrats and Republicans alike, a fractured Congress, the federal judiciary, and what they see as a hostile news media. (Graphic on how Americans rate Trump's performance: tmsnrt.rs/2q96hym)They showed a willingness to trust the president almost implicitly, saw him as a tireless worker, and appreciated his efforts to secure the border and curb immigration. They had little interest in the in-fighting between his senior aides in the White House.Maybe sometimes I question whats going on, said Karen Mayer, 47, an attorney in Clearwater, a west coast Florida city in Pinellas County, where the majority of its 500,000 voters went for Obama in 2008 and 2012 but then flipped for Trump last year. He prevailed over Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton by slightly more than 1 percent of the vote there.But at the same time, I have faith that he has a strong team, Mayer said. In a statement touting Trumps record in the first 100 days, the White House highlighted, among other things, his attempts to streamline government by proposing a lean budget, and his aggressiveness in foreign affairs, particularly with regard to challenging Russia and Iran. If Trump has reason to worry about his re-election prospects, it should be because of supporters like Brian McCann, 48, who owns a real estate firm in Northampton, Pennsylvania. I think hes finding out that he cant follow through on all his talk, he said. Internationally, I think hes creating more tensions than solutions.That was the main reason that Holly Peseski, 46, a legal assistant in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, graded Trumps tenure as a B-minus so far. I dont like the recent bombings hes done, Peseski said, referring to U.S. missile strikes on a Syrian airfield and a huge bomb dropped on a militant hideout in Afghanistan. He was a little too quick to act."Peseski had another complaint about Trump: I wish hed get off of Twitter.NOT PICKING UP NEW SUPPORTERS The counties Reuters visited reflect the rural, suburban and largely white coalition that carried Trump to the White House. Trump was able to flip these counties and dozens more like them powered by an enthusiastic voter base that included many people who had not cast ballots in years, as well as some Democrats who crossed over largely because of their dislike of Clinton. An analysis of Reuters/Ipsos polling data shows slippage in Trump's approval ratings, with lower enthusiasm among white men without a college degree, the core of his political base. (Graphic on Trump's popularity: tmsnrt.rs/2oQlz7n)In comparing Trumps approval rating in the first 20 days of his tenure to a 20-day period in April, Reuters also found a rise in disapproval among independents, college-educated adults, people with below-average incomes, white women and white Millennials.Those women voters were important to Trumps victory. He beat Clinton 53 percent to 43 percent among white women, who comprise 37 percent of the electorate. In Pinellas County, for instance, white women are by far the largest demographic among its more than 275,000 registered voters. Trump beat Clinton there by a little more than 5,000 votes.David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who lost his Pinellas-based seat in November in part, he said, because of his criticism of Trump, has seen few signs that the presidents support is fading, but at the same time, hes not picking up new supporters.Trumps overall approval rating in Reuters/Ipsos polling has declined steadily over the past two weeks and is now at its lowest level since he took office, with 40 percent of Americans now approving of his performance in office. HEALTHCARE CONCERNS Some voters interviewed in the swing counties identified the struggling effort to replace Obamas healthcare law as an early worry about Trump.Walter Watson, 62, a retired art teacher in Gatesville, a town of about 320 people in rural Gates County, North Carolina, said he did not like the way Trump and Republicans tried to rush through a new healthcare plan without giving it what he thought was proper consideration.You got to be careful, because this is a life and death issue for a lot of people, Watson said. His sparsely populated county backed Obama with 52 percent of the vote in 2012, but Trump won it with 53 percent in 2016.Congress is the biggest hindrance to Trump's success, many of those interviewed said.I dont think hes going to be able to do even half of what he claimed, said Bob White, 71, a retired finance worker in Clinton Township in Michigan. I dont think Congress is going to go along with him."But even as they express skepticism that Trump can achieve all of his campaign promises, his supporters are sticking with him for now.I think hes trying, said Watson. But he probably overstated what he could do, because even a president has limits. (Additional reporting by Laila Kearney in Northampton, Pennsylvania; Gary Robertson in Gates County, North Carolina; Tim Branfalt in Macomb County, Michigan, Howard Schneider in Washington and Chris Kahn in New York; Editing by Jason Szep and Ross Colvin) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Phil Stewart and Yara Bayoumy | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON When U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis greeted Saudi Arabia's foreign minister at the Pentagon last month, the first thing he did was joke about the time "the Iranians tried to murder you."Mattis' reference to a foiled 2011 plot, denied by Iran, was a telling sign of how much more aligned President Donald Trump's administration is with Gulf allies about what they perceive to be the Iranian threat, a shift that seems to be setting the stage for greater U.S. involvement in Yemen, in particular.After long seeking to distance itself from Yemen's brutal civil war, the United States under Trump now appears increasingly to see the conflict through the Gulf's prism of Iranian meddling, even as Washington prioritises a parallel fight against al Qaeda.Detailed discussions are under way within the Trump administration that would offer greater aid to Gulf allies fighting Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. Officials say that could included expanded sharing of U.S. intelligence.In Saudi Arabia last week, Mattis compared Tehran's backing for the Houthis to its support for Shi'ite ally Lebanese Hezbollah, a view long espoused by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states who see links between the two groups."Everywhere you look, if there is trouble in the region, you find Iran," Mattis told reporters in Riyadh.Iran rejects Saudi accusations that it is giving financial and military support to the Houthis in the struggle for Yemen.Cooperation between the United States and the Gulf is already on the rise in the fight against America's top priority there: al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. U.S. officials see that broader civil war as an obstacle to a sustained military campaign against the militants, as well as a threat to the Bab al-Mandab strait, a strategic waterway.IRAN MUSCLES INTO YEMEN For many U.S. and Gulf observers, the role of Iran is clear in the increasing sophistication of Houthi forces.The United States launched cruise missiles at Houthi targets last year after a U.S. warship came under fire off Yemen, and a remote-controlled boat laden with explosives rammed a Saudi frigate on Jan. 30, the first known strike by a "drone" vessel. "These weapons didn't exist ... before the war. There was no explosive boat that existed in the Yemeni inventory," Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan told Reuters in an interview.Donegan, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, also said ballistic missiles fired into Saudi Arabia had several times the range of missiles the Yemenis had before the conflict."When you have a non-nation-state with nation-state-like weapons that can reach into the maritime (area), it has my attention," Donegan said.A senior UAE official also compared the Houthis to Hezbollah, and said growing Iranian support had helped shield them from pressure to enter political talks."We are seeing UAVs, anti-tank and anti-ship missiles, as well as land and sea mines," the official told Reuters.Mattis has publicly backed a political solution to the conflict. But U.S. officials have also acknowledged that Saudi-led coalition military pressure could help create the conditions for that negotiated solution.Still, the Yemeni government and the Gulf-led coalition have been preparing for a possible assault on Hodeidah port, the entry point for nearly 80 percent of Yemen's food imports, because they say the Houthis use it to smuggle weapons and ammunition. The Yemeni government has proposed to the United Nations that it monitor Hodeidah.Trump administration officials have not ruled out U.S. assistance should the coalition move ahead, but U.S. officials said Washington is not considering strikes on Houthi targets or deploying ground forces.Eric Pelofsky, who helped craft Yemen policy for Obama, warned an assault risks tipping Yemen into a terrible famine and has proposed that coalition forces perhaps instead strengthen their offensive near Kitaf to increase pressure on the Houthis.AQAP FIGHT The United States has carried out more air strikes this year in Yemen than in all of 2016, in a clear sign of growing U.S. concern and focus on AQAP and deepening involvement in Yemen.Largely unseen, however, is the partnership with the United Arab Emirates that is helping guide that increased activity. UAE-backed forces have captured al Qaeda operatives, and while a January raid in Yemen was Trump's first and so far only one since he took office, UAE-trained local Yemeni forces have carried out more than 250 raids in and around Aden, a senior coalition military commander told Reuters.The port of Mukallah was similarly retaken last year with 10,000 troops, largely Yemenis trained by the coalition."We are encouraged by U.S. support and the change from a drone policy to greater engagement. We can't really defeat and dislodge al Qaeda with a drone policy," the senior UAE official said. Intelligence gleaned from UAE-backed operations has been shared with the United States, which is rebuilding its knowledge about the group since the war forced the pullout of its personnel in 2015."In terms of the U.S. supporting us or the coalition supporting the U.S., its really mutual," the senior coalition military commander said, adding that the coalition has strong human intelligence, complemented by Washington's strong intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance abilities.Still, U.S. officials acknowledge there is a lot they don't know. Even the presumption about AQAP's size, seen in the low thousands, is a very low-confidence estimate.Beyond things like increasing intelligence sharing, U.S. officials are moving closer to approving a sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia blocked under Obama.A recent meeting between Trump and Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman was dubbed a turning point in relations which had been frosty under Barack Obama, but some cautioned against too cosy a relationship.Anne Patterson, former deputy assistant secretary of state for near east affairs under Obama, and who advocated selling the munitions, said the United States should also help Riyadh improve its targeting.But some have expressed caution."It makes the U.S. complicit again in Saudi actions that are causing great suffering over which we have insufficient control," said Tom Malinowski, the state department's top human rights official during the Obama administration. (Additional reporting by Idrees Ali, Editing by James Dalgleish) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. New York: A 56-year-old Indian man has been killed after getting caught in a crossfire outside a motel in the US state of Tennessee, becoming the fifth from the community to be killed in the country since February. Khandu Patel, a father of two, worked as a housekeeper at Americas Best Value Inn and Suites in Whitehaven, a report in Fox13Memphis said. The incident occurred on Monday when about 30 shots went off. Investigators say one of those bullets hit Patel. He was standing at the back of the motel when he was shot and later died at the Regional Medical Center. Khandu had worked at the inn for about eight months. His wife and children lived at the motel with him. "He finished his days' work and was out walking around the property. Next thing you know he hears some gunshots flying around and one caught him in the chest," Jay Patel, the victim's nephew, was quoted as saying by the report. "He didn't even make it to the hospital to be saved." He added that the family was ready to shift to another location for a new job. "He was ready to get out of there," said Jay Patel. "Just trying to put food on the table so he had to take what he had at the time." Investigators have put up flyers all over the motel asking for information about the killer, which notes there is a Crime Stoppers reward. The report added that Patel's nephew is asking anyone with information to come forward help the family get justice. On 22 February, Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla was killed when a US Navy veteran opened fire at him and his friend before yelling "get out of my country" in Kansas. Harnish Patel, a 43-year-old Indian-origin store owner, was found dead of gunshot wounds in the front yard of his home in Lancaster, South Carolina, in early March. On 23 March, Sasikala Narra (38) and her son Anish Narra (6) were found dead inside their apartment in New Jersey. Beirut: Syria's military said Israel struck a military installation south-west of Damascus International Airport before dawn Thursday, setting off a series of explosions and raising tensions further between the two neighbours. Apparently seeking to interrupt weapons transfers to the Hezbollah group in Lebanon, Israel has struck inside Syria with increasing frequency in recent weeks, making the war-torn country a proxy theatre for Israel's wider war with Iran. The increasing tempo of attacks risks inflaming a highly combustible situation drawing in Israel, Syria and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, a staunch ally of President Bashar Assad's government with thousands of fighters in Syria. Israel's military said later Thursday that its Patriot Missile Defence system intercepted an incoming projectile from Syria over the Golan Heights. An Israeli defence official said the Patriot hit a drone, and the military is checking if it was a Russian aircraft that entered the Israeli side by mistake or if it was Syrian. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with protocol. Both the Syrian government and Hezbollah, however, are mired in the country's 6-year-old civil war and are unlikely to carry out any retaliation that may ignite a bigger conflagration with Israel. "Iran and Hezbollah are overstretched, and it's not clear they can afford to gamble with a direct showdown with Israel now," said Maha Yahya, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center. "Iran knows no matter how powerful they've become, they can't be fighting on two fronts at the same time." Israeli Minister of Intelligence Yisrael Katz would not comment directly on the incident but said any similar strike would be in line with established policy to interrupt weapons transfers. "It absolutely matches our declared policy, a policy that we also implement," Katz told Israel's Army Radio. Just before the apparent Israeli missile strike, at least three cargo jets from Iran probably landed at the Damascus airport, said Ian Petchenik, a spokesman for the flight-tracking website FlightRadar24. They include an Il-76 flown by the Iranian cargo company Pouya Air that "was last tracked over Iraq headed towards Damascus," he said. It's unknown what they were carrying. Passenger flights and civilian cargo jets continue flying into Damascus, although there's suspicion that some commercial flights serve as cover for weapons transfers from Iran. The Washington-based Foundation for Defence of Democracies, a right-leaning think tank that has criticised the nuclear deal Iran struck with world powers, has said Pouya Air is the latest name for a long-sanctioned airline. It also has accused Pouya Air of funnelling arms from Iran into Yemen's capital of Sanaa to supply Shiite rebels there. Emanuele Ottolenghi, a senior fellow at the foundation, said he tracked a fourth cargo flight from Iran to Syria on Wednesday night, an Airbus A300 operated by Mahan Air, which is suspected of ties to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. He also called one of the cargo flights, a Qeshm Fars Air Boeing 747, especially suspicious because the airline stopped operating in 2013, only to resume flights to Damascus three weeks ago. "We don't know for sure, but let's say that we can fairly safely assume that the weaponry and fighters reach Damascus through these daily flights," Ottolenghi told The Associated Press. The explosions near Damascus reverberated across the capital, seat of Assad's power. Syria's state-run SANA news agency said Israel had fired several missiles from inside the occupied Golan Heights, 60 kilometres (37 miles) south of Damascus, striking a military installation south-west of the airport that serves both military and civilian flights. It reported damage but no casualties. "The buildings shook from the force of the blast," said a media activist who goes by Salam al-Ghoutawi of the Ghouta Media Center in the opposition-held northeastern suburbs, about 15 kilometres (9 miles) from the airport. He said he heard the roar of jets in the distance. Explosions were silhouetted against the night sky in a video published by the centre. Debris was seen flying out as the explosions illuminated a sizeable cloud nearby. Hezbollah's al-Manar media station reported a blast at fuel tanks and a warehouse next to the airport, which is 25 kilometres (16 miles) east of central Damascus. The Syrian military said in a statement the attack sought to "raise the morale of terrorist groups" the government maintains are fighting Assad's forces. It made no mention of whether it would respond. Israel is widely believed to have carried out airstrikes in recent years on advanced weapons systems in Syria including Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles and Iranian-made missiles as well as on Hezbollah positions. It rarely comments on such operations. Last month, Syria fired missiles at Israeli jets after they struck targets in Syria, in a rare military exchange between the two adversaries. Hezbollah is an avowed enemy of Israel, and the two sides fought a monthlong war in 2006. Tensions between them along the Lebanon-Israel border have risen in recent weeks, with each side warning of a much more serious confrontation. Some Israeli officials have also recently been threatening grave damage to the Lebanese civilian infrastructure in case of a new conflict with Hezbollah, apparently, in hopes the country can somehow rein in the militia. Yahya, the analyst, said Israel is increasingly worried about the potential arsenal that Hezbollah's could acquire and the weapons already available in Syria. "Most likely they see a window of opportunity where their intervention can degrade Hezbollah's military power," she said. The conflict in Syria, which pits Assad and his regional allies against local and foreign opposition forces, has killed more than 400,000 people since it began in 2011. The civil war is further complicated by militant factions such as Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria and the even more powerful Islamic State group, which in 2014 seized a large chunk of territory but lately has been losing ground in the face of a campaign by a US-led international coalition. Russia, another key Assad ally, denounced what it called an act of "aggression" against Syria. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova did not directly blame Israel for Thursday's explosion, but she cited Syrian media as saying Israel was responsible. In other developments, at least 19 people were killed in air raids across rebel-held Idlib province in the north-west. Some appeared to target ambulances and medical centres. The Civil Defence, a search-and-rescue organisation, said four medical staff were killed in an attack on a university hospital in the town of Deir Sharqi, and four paramedics or ambulance operators died in an airstrike on an ambulance service in another town, Maarzita. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 19 civilians, including nine children, were killed around the province. The Civil Defence reported the same overall death toll. The activists believe Russia or the Syrian government launched the raids. US jets also are known to strike in Idlib province, targeting Al-Qaeda-linked fighters. Kathmandu: Nepal is set to sign an agreement with China to be part of the One Belt One Road Conference, a pet initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, officials said Friday. Nepal is sending a high-level delegation to China to attend the One Belt One Road Conference (Obor) which will be held on 14 May. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara will lead the delegation which includes Physical Infrastructure Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Communications Minister Surendra Karki. The Obor Conference will kick start on 14 May, when Nepal conducts the first phase of its local elections. "The Nepalese side on Thursday informed the Chinese authorities that Kathmandu is sending a high-level delegation to the conference," Risi Raj Adhikari, foreign relations adviser to Prime Minister Prachanda was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post. Though Prime Minister Prachanda had received an invitation to participate in the conference, the government has decided to send Mahara owing to the clash of local elections dates clash with the conference. Nepalese officials are making preparations to sign an agreement with China during the conference for Nepal to become a part of Obor, a flagship foreign policy initiated by Chinese President Xi. During his recent visit to China, Prachanda had assured Chinese authorities that Nepal would be a signatory to the initiative. Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat and Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi are holding a series of meetings with Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong in order to narrow down the differences for allowing Nepal to sign in the Obor at the conference. The Obor initiative aims to link the economic circles in East Asia and Europe, connecting China on land and over water to partners in Asia, Europe and Africa. The initiative, known as the revival of the ancient Silk Road trading route, would link Asian markets with economic groups in Europe. Islamabad: Opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has moved a resolution in the Punjab assembly airing its concern over the meeting between Indian businessman Sajjan Jindal and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Jindal, who is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and now on a visit to Pakistan, met Sharif at the hill resort town of Murree on Thursday. The meeting triggered speculations in Pakistan with several politicians and analysts suggesting it could be the precursor to a possible meeting between Modi and Sharif in the near future, Dawn News reported. The opposition parties were angry over the government's decision to keep Jindal's visit as well as the meeting a "secret". A PTI resolution expressed grave concern over the meeting which was mentioned by the media but got official confirmation only when Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz tweeted about it. "Jindal is an old friend of the prime minister. Nothing 'secret' about the meeting and should not be blown out of proportion. Thank you," she wrote. Mr. Jindal is an old friend of the Prime Minister. Nothing 'secret' about the meeting & should not be blown out of proportion. Thank you. Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 27, 2017 According to analysts, the visit by Jindal, who also has friendly relations with Sharif, could be part of backchannel contacts to improve relations between the two countries. Informed sources said it was not possible for the head of the JSW Group to visit Pakistan without prior knowledge of Indian intelligence services. Former foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri described the controversy stirred up by the visit as unfortunate, saying that just because it was part of some backchannel diplomacy, it should not be rejected outright. He said that some of the best results were achieved due to backchannel contacts between India and Pakistan. According to the media, Jindal and his delegation arrived at Benazir Bhutto International Airport on Wednesday morning and were received by Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz's son-in-law Raheel Munir. The resolution said a three-member delegation led by Jindal was taken to Murree under official protocol. It said the timing of the meeting was a cause of concern as relations between the two nations dipped further in the wake of the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav. "In these circumstances, Modi's close aide's (Jindal) meeting with [the] Pakistani prime minister has sent a wave of restlessness among [the] masses," the resolution said. By Philip Pullella and Mahmoud Mourad | CAIRO CAIRO Pope Francis, making a two-day visit to Egypt, urged Muslim leaders on Friday to unite in renouncing religious extremism at a time when Islamist militants are targeting ancient Christian communities across the Middle East.Francis's trip, aimed at improving Christian-Muslim ties, comes just three weeks after Islamic State suicide bombers killed at least 45 people in two Egyptian churches."Let us say once more a firm and clear 'No!' to every form of violence, vengeance and hatred carried out in the name of religion or in the name of God," the pope told a peace conference at Egypt's highest Islamic authority, Al-Azhar."Together let us affirm the incompatibility of violence and faith, belief and hatred," he said at the 1,000-year-old Sunni Muslim seat of learning.Francis headed straight to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after landing in Cairo, driving through heavily guarded streets but eschewing an armoured motorcade and instead using a normal car with his window wound down."Pope of Peace in Egypt of Peace," read posters plastered along the road leading from the airport to central Cairo.He is due to give three speeches on Friday and will celebrate an open air Mass on Saturday at a military arena. His visit comes at a time of high tensions in Egypt, the most populous Arab nation. Besides the Palm Sunday bombings, Islamist militants last week attacked a police checkpoint close to St. Catherine's monastery at Mount Sinai.The pope referred to Mount Sinai, where the Prophet Moses received the 10 biblical commandments, and specifically invoked the famed injunction "thou shalt not kill".The pontiff has repeatedly said that Christian-Muslim dialogue is the only way to overcome Islamist militants who have persecuted Christians and driven them from their 2,000-year-old communities in Iraq and Syria and are now hitting them in Egypt. His message carried special resonance inside Al-Azhar, where he is a guest of its Grand Imam, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, widely considered among the most moderate clerics in Egypt.OSSIFIED In his speech, Tayeb said militants had "carelessly" and "ignorantly" misinterpreted religious texts. "Islam is not a religion of terrorism," he said.Tayeb has faced criticism from within Egypt's parliament and sections of the media, who say Al-Azhar is an ossified institution whose clerics have resisted pressure from Sisi to modernise their religious discourse. Francis stressed the importance of strong education. "To counter effectively the barbarity of those who foment hatred and violence, we need to accompany young people," he said.Tayeb visited the Vatican last year, restoring relations with the Roman Catholic Church after they had been cut in 2011 in protest at what Egyptian Muslim leaders said were repeated insults directed at Islam by Francis's predecessor, Pope Benedict.The pope has been applauded by moderate Muslims for his efforts to improve relations. He has washed the feet of Muslims during Holy Week ceremonies and last year brought Syrian Muslim refugees back to Italy with him from a Greek migrant centre.His visit to Cairo is also aimed at bolstering sometimes frosty relations with Coptic churches, and he will meet Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church who narrowly escaped a church bombing in Alexandria this month.He will also go to Cairo's largest Coptic cathedral to pray for the 28 people killed in a Christmas season blast last year and lay flowers in their memory. Copts represent about 10 percent of Egypt's 92 million population. (Additional reporting by Eric Knecht; Writing by Lin Noueihed and Crispian Balmer; Editing by Richard Lough and Giles Elgood) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Colombo: The father of the murdered Maldivian blogger Yameen Rasheed pleaded for an international investigation Friday, saying he had no confidence in the government to deliver justice. Hussain Rasheed, 54, was speaking in neighbouring Sri Lanka where he is meeting foreign diplomats to put pressure on the Maldives government to carry out an independent investigation. A tearful Rasheed described seeing the body of his 29- year-old son, who had been murdered hours earlier at his home by unidentified attackers. "His throat was slit, there were 14 stab injuries that I counted, but later we saw he had been stabbed in 35 places and part of his skull was missing," Rasheed told reporters in Colombo. The government has promised an investigation, but Rasheed said he could not trust them to deliver justice. "I heard about 18 people have been killed in the Maldives like this in the past three years, but no one has been prosecuted." Yameen Rasheed, who poked fun at the nation's politicians on his blog The Daily Panic, was found in the stairwell of his Male apartment with multiple stab wounds to his chest and neck. He died in hospital. He had lodged complaints with the police about death threats he had received in December, but they were not taken seriously. On Friday his father said Maldives police had acted suspiciously, washing down the scene of the crime and having the blood-splattered wall repainted. They also prevented anyone from taking pictures. The United Nations has already called on the Male government to order an independent investigation into the killing of Rasheed, the third media figure to be targeted in the troubled archipelago nation in the last 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. The Maldives regime has already faced censure from the UN over the arrest and jailing of a former president and a former defence minister Bhutan has announced that it would not be able to ratify the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal motor vehicles agreement for the time being and asked the other stakeholders to go ahead with the plan without it. "While the other three countries have already ratified the agreement, the Royal Government of Bhutan is in the process of completing its internal procedures for ratification, to address the concerns raised by the domestic stakeholders," a Foreign Ministry statement said on Thursday. To facilitate the early implementation of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement (BBIN MVA), the Bhutan government has decided to give its consent for the entry into force of the agreement among the three member states without any obligation to it, the statement said. "The agreement will enter into force for Bhutan after its ratification process is completed," it said. The Bhutan government said it views the BBIN as a platform, encompassing key areas such as energy, trade, information, communication and technology. "Strengthening regional cooperation is especially significant for a landlocked country like Bhutan and the Royal Government remains fully committed to the BBIN process including the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement," it added. Recognising the importance of connectivity for expansion of economic cooperation, the Transport Ministers of the four countries signed the agreement for regulation of passenger, personal and cargo vehicular traffic on 15 June, 2015. Right from the time the BBIN MVA was tabled for ratification, the draft legislation faced opposition in Bhutan. There have been fears of vehicular pollution and environmental degradation if trucks from neighbouring countries are given access to Bhutan. To boost trade relations, India had proposed a regional cooperation pact in 2014 which entailed building a freight corridor connecting the south Asian nations with each other. The MVA was proposed to reduce transport costs drastically and and foster development of multi-modal transport facilities for a better connectivity between the four countries. In November last year, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay had allayed "misunderstandings" that the pact will lead to vehicular pollution and garbage in the Himalayan kingdom. He said if Bhutan were to opt out of the agreement, it would stand to lose as "it is not just about motor vehicles but about energy, trade, information, communication and technology, and other forms of regional cooperation." Asserting that there is a misunderstanding on what BBIN means, he had said the agreement would actually regulate traffic. India brought Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal on board for the pact signed in June last year in Thimphu to remove restrictions on vehicular movement in the subcontinent. The agreement will allows for the regulation of passenger, personal and cargo vehicular traffic among the four countries. Damascus: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Damascus is negotiating with regime ally Moscow to buy the latest Russian anti-missile system to repel Israeli and American attacks. "It's natural that we should have such systems," he said, quoted by Syria's official Sana agency on Thursday, the same day as Damascus accused Israel of firing several missiles at a military position near its international airport. "Israel has been committing aggressions on the Arab states surrounding it since its creation in 1948," Assad said in the interview with Venezuelan channel Telesur. "It is natural for us to negotiate with the Russians now with a view to strengthening (our) systems, whether to face any Israeli threats from the air or the threats of American missiles." "That has become a real possibility after the recent American aggression on Al-Shayrat air base in Syria," he added. The US military fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at the base overnight on April 6-7 following a suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town in Idlib province that left 87 dead, including many children. Washington said the regime base was the launchpad for the attack, a charge Damascus denies. Russia's military said a day after the attack that Syria's air defences would be boosted. "To protect Syria's most sensitive infrastructure, a complex of measures will be implemented in the near future to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of the Syrian armed forces' air defence system," said spokesman Igor Konashenkov. For its part, Israel has carried out multiple air strikes in Syria since the country's civil war erupted in 2011, most of which it has said targeted arms convoys or warehouses of its Lebanese arch-foe Hezbollah, a key supporter of Assad's regime. Assad also said that no country which had aided the Syrian opposition should be allowed to take part in Syria's post-war reconstruction. "All the states which stood against the Syrian people and took part in the destruction and sabotage will never take part in rebuilding Syria. That is final," he said. International organisations estimate that reconstructing Syria, devastated by a six-year war that has left over 320,000 dead, will cost upwards of $300 billion (275 billion). By Lawrence Hurley | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON A U.S. appeals court on Friday granted a Trump administration request to put on hold a legal challenge by industry and a group of states to former President Barack Obama's regulations aimed at curbing greenhouse emissions mainly from coal-fired power plants, rules that the Republican president is moving to undo.A 10-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted the request to put the litigation involving the regulations, known as the Clean Power Plan, in abeyance for at least 60 days while the administration plans its next steps.The court also asked the administration and other parties to file briefs on whether the case should be sent back to the Environmental Protection Agency. The Supreme Court last year put the regulations on hold pending the outcome of the case.In a separate order issued on Friday, the same court put on hold a case challenging another set of Obama climate regulations aimed at new power plants. Twenty-seven states, led by coal-producer West Virginia and industry groups, challenged the Obama regulation. Other states and environmental groups backed the former administration.New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who sided with the previous administration's EPA to defend the Clean Power Plan, brushed off the court's move, saying it simply puts the litigation on hold for 60 days. Todays temporary pause in the litigation does not relieve EPA of its legal obligation to limit carbon pollution from its largest source: fossil-fueled power plants," Schneiderman said. "I will continue to fight in court to ensure EPA fulfills its legal responsibility." West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who led the challenge against the rule, said Friday's decision signaled that the court has acknowledged the change in the political landscape "and that a decision on the merits is not appropriate at this time."Trump's executive order was part of his effort to cut federal environmental regulations to revive the energy drilling and coal mining industries, a promise he made during the 2016 presidential campaign. Energy analysts and executives have questioned whether Trump's broad moves against environmental regulations will provide a big benefit for their industries, and environmentalists have called his actions reckless.The Clean Power Plan was designed to lower carbon emissions from existing U.S. power plants by 2030 to 32 percent below 2005 levels. It was seen as the main tool for the United States to meet the emissions-reduction target it promised to reach at U.N. climate talks in Paris in December 2015. Power plants are the largest source of U.S. carbon emissions. The fate of the Clean Power Plan was first thrown into question in February 2016 when the Supreme Court made a surprise 5-4 decision to grant a request by the challengers to put the rule on hold while the appeals court considered the matter. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley and Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Dan Grebler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump said a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while China said the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control.Trump, speaking to Reuters on Thursday, said he wanted to resolve the crisis peacefully, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option was not off the table."There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea," Trump said in an interview at the Oval Office."We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said, describing North Korea as his biggest global challenge.Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was a danger that the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control, his ministry said.Wang made the comments in a meeting at the United Nations with a Russian diplomat on Thursday, the ministry said in a statement.China, the only major ally of North Korea, has been increasingly uncomfortable in recent months about its neighbour's pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles in violation on U.N. resolutions.The United States has called on China to do more to rein in Pyongyang and Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for his efforts, calling him "a good man"."I believe he is trying very hard. I know he would like to be able to do something. Perhaps it's possible that he can't. But I think he'd like to be able to do something," Trump said.U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that China had asked North Korea not to conduct any more nuclear tests. Beijing had warned Pyongyang it would impose unilateral sanctions if it went ahead, he added.Tillerson did not say when China made the threat. He is due to chair a meeting with U.N Security Council foreign ministers on Friday, where he said he would stress the need for members to fully implement existing sanctions as well as possible next steps. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, asked about Tillerson's remarks, would not say what actions China might take if there were a new nuclear test and would not comment directly on what Tillerson had said."We oppose any behaviour that goes against Security Council resolutions. I think this position is very clear. This is what we have told the United States. I think North Korea is also very clear about this position," Geng told reporters. China banned imports of North Korean coal in February, cutting off its most important export, and Chinese media this month raised the possibility of restricting oil shipments to the North if it unleashed more provocations.Geng said Friday's UN meeting should not fixate on new sanctions."If the meeting only focuses on increasing sanctions and pressure, I think this will not only lose a rare opportunity, it may also exacerbate the confrontation between all sides and may damage efforts to promote peace and talks," he said. MISSILE DEFENCE, CARRIER GROUP In a show of force, the United States is sending the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula, where it will join the USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in South Korea on Tuesday. South Korea's navy has said it will hold drills with the U.S. strike group.Admiral Harry Harris, the top U.S. commander in the Pacific, said on Wednesday the carrier was in the Philippine Sea, within two hours' striking distance of North Korea if needs be.Harris also said a U.S. missile defence system being deployed in South Korea to ward off any North Korean attack would be operational in coming days.China has been angered by the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), complaining that its radar can see deep into China and undermines its security.Trump said in the interview he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the THAAD, which he estimated at $1 billion. South Korea, one of Washington's most crucial allies in the region, said the United States would have to bear the cost, pointing to possible friction ahead. Trump's remarks came as South Korea heads into a presidential poll on May 9 that will likely elect liberal frontrunner Moon Jae-in, who has said the next administration in Seoul should have the final say on THAAD.Trump has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile, a capability experts say Pyongyang could have some time after 2020. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests and numerous missile tests, including one this month, a day before a summit between Trump and Xi in Florida.North Korea, technically still at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, regularly threatens to destroy the United States and says it will pursue its nuclear and missile programmes to counter perceived U.S. aggression. "It is just the U.S. which has pushed the situation on the peninsula to the brink of nuclear war by staging the largest-ever aggressive joint military drills against the DPRK for the past two months after bringing all sorts of nuclear strategic assets to south Korea," the North's KCNA state news agency said in a commentary.DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."...The nuclear force of the DPRK is a treasure sword of justice and reliable war deterrent to defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country and global peace from the nuclear war threat posed by the U.S."Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age.In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on North Korea and other countries on Thursday to avoid behaviour or rhetoric that could increase tension. (Additional reporting by Phil Stewart, Matt Spetalnick, Eric Beech and Patricia Zengerle in Washington, Denis Pinchuk and Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow, Ben Blanchard and Vincent Lee in Beijing and Ju-min Park in Seoul; Writing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Nick Macfie; Editing by Robert Birsel) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Michelle Nichols and Lesley Wroughton | UNITED NATIONS UNITED NATIONS U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned on Friday that failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and missile development could lead to 'catastrophic consequences,' while China and Russia cautioned Washington against threatening military force.Washington has recently lavished praise on Beijing for its efforts to rein in its ally Pyongyang, but Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made clear to the U.N. Security Council it was not only up to China to solve the North Korean problem."The key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side," Wang told the 15-member council in remarks contradicting the White House belief that it does wield significant influence.The ministerial meeting of the council, chaired by Tillerson, exposed old divisions between the United States and China on how to deal with North Korea. China wants talks first and action later, while the United States wants North Korea to curtail its nuclear program before such talks start."It is necessary to put aside the debate over who should take the first step and stop arguing who is right and who is wrong," Wang told the council. "Now is the time to seriously consider resuming talks."Tillerson responded: "We will not negotiate our way back to the negotiating table with North Korea, we will not reward their violations of past resolutions, we will not reward their bad behavior with talks."North Korea did not take part in the meeting. In Tillerson's first visit to the United Nations he scolded the Security Council for not fully enforcing sanctions against North Korea, saying if the body had acted, tensions over its nuclear program might not have escalated. "Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences," he said.The United States was not pushing for regime change and preferred a negotiated solution, but Pyongyang, for its own sake, should dismantle its nuclear and missile programs, he said. "The threat of a nuclear attack on Seoul, or Tokyo, is real, and it's only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the U.S. mainland," Tillerson said.Tillerson repeated the Trump administration's position that all options are on the table if Pyongyang persists with its nuclear and missile development, but Wang said military threats would not help.'FRIGHTENING' CONSEQUENCES Wang said dialogue and negotiations were the "only way out." "The use of force does not solve differences and will only lead to bigger disasters," he said.U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with Reuters on Thursday that a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov cautioned on Friday that the use of force would be "completely unacceptable." "The combative rhetoric coupled with reckless muscle-flexing has led to a situation where the whole world seriously is now wondering whether there's going to be a war or not," he told the council. "One ill thought out or misinterpreted step could lead to the most frightening and lamentable consequences."Gatilov said North Korea felt threatened by regular joint U.S. and South Korean military exercises and the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula.China and Russia both also repeated their opposition to the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea. Gatilov described it as a "destabilizing effort," while Wang said it damaged trust among the parties on the North Korea issue. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told the council that to bring North Korea back to the table the international community "must send a strong message that provocation comes at a high price.""There is no doubt that dialogue is necessary ... however under the current situation where North Korea continues to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, meaningful dialogue is clearly not possible," he said.The Trump administration is focusing its North Korea strategy on tougher economic sanctions, possibly including an oil embargo, a global ban on its airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang, U.S. officials told Reuters earlier this month.Since 2006, North Korea has been subject to U.N. sanctions aimed at impeding the development of its nuclear and missile programs. The council has strengthened sanctions following each of North Korea's five nuclear tests. (Editing by Frances Kerry and James Dalgleish) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Girish Gupta | LOS TEQUES, Venezuela LOS TEQUES, Venezuela Hundreds of activists marched on Friday to the hilltop jail of Venezuela's best-known detained opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez in the latest of a month of protests against the socialist government.Security forces blocked access to the decrepit-looking penitentiary next to a slum in Los Teques, an hour's drive from the capital Caracas, as the demonstrators shouted "Leopoldo!" and held signs reading "No To Dictatorship!"This month's wave of protests against President Nicolas Maduro's government has led to at least 29 deaths in the worst unrest since 2014 rallies championed by Lopez, who was arrested then and convicted of instigating violence.Venezuela's opposition is demanding elections, autonomy for the legislature where they have a majority, a humanitarian aid channel from abroad to alleviate an economic crisis, and freedom for more than 100 jailed anti-Maduro activists.Supporters say Lopez, the U.S.-educated leader of hardline Popular Will party, and others are political prisoners who symbolize Maduro's lurch into dictatorship. Maduro says all are behind bars for legitimate crimes, and calls Lopez, 45, a violent hothead intent on promoting a coup."This shows yet again the fear Nicolas Maduro has of people in the street," said Popular Will legislator Juan Mejia at the National Guard barriers outside Ramo Verde jail. Some inhabitants of a nearby slum came out of their homes to cheer as the protesters marched by. "We would never have marched here before because it was very dangerous and pro-Chavista," said demonstrator and marketing consultant Kailee Shima, 36, referring to the ruling "Chavista" movement named for Maduro's predecessor Hugo Chavez.Elsewhere, relatives of imprisoned activists and supporters turned up at other jails, including the Caracas headquarters of the state intelligence service Sebin. "We are opposite one of the dictatorship's iconic prisons where they keep dozens of political prisoners, opposite the biggest torture centre in the land," said another opposition lawmaker Gaby Arellano. Government officials accuse the opposition of inventing torture stories to sway international opinion against the Maduro government and create the conditions for a foreign intervention of the South American oil producer. The opposition coalition, which now enjoys majority support after long being in the shadow of "Chavismo" especially during the 14-year rule of Chavez himself, is trying to keep the pressure on Maduro with daily protests. (Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Toni Reinhold) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Theres all of about 55 words relating to the H1B visa in Donald Trumps executive order and about 100 more words on aligning the immigration system in order to Hire American in the Buy American Hire American executive order signed on April 18, 2017. The reason H1B stakeholders are reeling is not because of what Trumps EO says but because of the audit that has informed these 100 odd words. At least three top Indian companies have been stung by remarks of top Trump administration officials accusing them of cornering a lions share of visas and suggesting that they undercut American workers by paying 8 out of 10 workers less than the median wage. Link: Buy American Hire American EO So, where has all this information, the nuancing, the data and the context come from? Our dig shows uncanny symmetry between the White House assault on the worlds most controversial visa program and multiple testimonies on high skilled immigration by a Howard University professor of Indian origin Ronil Hira. We spoke to him on some of his more pointed criticisms of the H1B system which have resonated with the most powerful office in the world. Catch that conversation here. The White House on H1B the H1B program, which was always intended to be a skilled labor program. I think maybe you'd be shocked to know that a full-on eight out of ten H1B workers are paid less than the median wage in their fields. Prof. Ron Hira on H1B employers routinely select the lowest skill levels and pad their profits by hiring H-1Bs at the lowest possible prevailing wage levels. The White House on H1B abuse of the H1B visa program is to bring in a worker not because you need their skills or talent, but for the purpose of undercutting the American worker. That's the definition of abuse that we're using. Prof. Ron Hira on H1B We have overwhelming evidence that many employers hire H-1B and L-1 visa workers not because they have specialized skills in short supply in the U.S., but instead because the H-1B and L-1 workers are much cheaper than Americans. The White House on H1B and those top three companies are companies that have an average wage for H1B visas between $60,000 and $65,000. By contrast, the median Silicon Valley software engineers wage is probably around $150,000. Prof. Ron Hira on H1B Average wage for an H-1B employee at Infosys in FY13 was $70,882 and for Tata it was $65,565. 80% of H1B workers that Tata, Cognizant, Infosys bring into the U.S. hold no more than a Bachelors degree. Its been a while since I updated this page: the crimes and outrages of the Trump administration have been keeping us busy elsewhere. But with all the SJW movies making a splash this awards season, right-wing hackles were bound to be raised, and these indignities were bound to crop up again. Jan 27 2019: Netflix Working to Get Roma Actor to U.S. in Time for Oscars (Variety). Jorge Antonio Guerrero, the Mexican actor who played Fermin in Roma has applied for a U.S. visa three times, and has been denied each time. [He] had been unable to attend the Golden Globes or gala screenings. He said that he had a written invitation from the producers, but that didnt help. Perhaps someone at the State Department saw that, er, remarkable martial-arts demonstration Fermin performs in Roma and figured Guerrero for a threat to national security previous: Attacks on intellectuals are among the first campaigns fascists wage, because they know that knowledge, curiosity, asking questions, and nonconformity are the enemies of authoritarianism. America has long embraced anti-intellectualism, so the cultural ground in the US was already fertile for such an attack before Donald Trump was elected president indeed, he was elected precisely because many Americans are suspicious of intelligence and expertise. Trumps Muslim ban was overtly designed to exclude only certain people from a handful of Middle Eastern nations from entering the US based on nothing but religion and national origin. This is horrendous enough on its own, but it seems to have unshackled immigration agents at US borders in airports and on land, who have been harassing and denying entry to people of all races and religions and from many additional nations including, sometimes, legal American residents and citizens. Not all of these people have been artists or intellectuals or, at least, the stories about their experiences have not mentioned such a connection to their problems at border crossings but many have been. You dont make a nation great by making it difficult or impossible for writers, historians, scientists, artists, and other intellectuals to enter the country to give lectures, perform, do research, teach, or promote their work. This diminishes a nation, and limits its citizens exposure to new ideas which may well be the intent of the Trump administration. Its difficult to see another reason, actually, why the federal government would work to actively discourage creative and free-thinking smarty-pantses from entering the country. So, at the suggestion of reader Danielm80, Im going to start keeping a running tally of all the artists and intellectuals who are either turned around at the US border, hassled when trying to enter the country, or who are denied visas. I hope the list doesnt get too long. Feel free to email me with links to related news stories, or you can leave them in comments. === Jun 17 2017: ACLU Claims Customs Agents Violated Artists Constitutional Rights (Artnet News). [Aaron] Gach was briefly detained at San Francisco International Airport while returning from Belgium, where he had been included in an exhibition at the STUK House for Dance, Image, and Sound. According to the artist, CBP officers conducted a search of his belongings, including searching his phone while it was out of his sight, and questioned him for about 90 minutes about his activities and contacts while he was traveling. Gach claims CBP officers provided no information on why he was detained. === Jun 09 2017: Thanks to Kat Diablo in comments below, I learned of three more exclusions from the US for no good reason (or any reason at all). Icelandic Singer Barred From Entering U.S. (The Reykjavik Grapevine, Mar 01 2017). [The ESTA official] said he wasnt authorised to tell me why I wasnt allowed to come, Julia [Hermannsdottir, singer with Oyama] told RUV, after spending over three hours on hold with US Immigration. [Traveling to the US in the past] has always gone really well. Ive never had any issues in the States before, neither broken the law or been arrested. Spanish Rock Veterans Denied Entry to US (IQ, Apr 13 2017). Veteran Spanish rock band Medina Azahara have become the latest act to fall foul of ever-stricter immigration controls in the US, having been forced to cancel an American tour after their keyboardist was denied entry at the border. According to local daily Diario Cordoba, Manuel Ibanez erroneously answered yes a question on the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) visa waiver form asking if you have ever committed fraud or misrepresented yourself or others to obtain, or assist others to obtain, a visa or entry into the United States. Ibanez, who says he made the mistake when filling in the form on the flight over, sought to redress the error at the consulate but was deported after a two-hour interrogation. Did TRUMPs New Immigration Policies Cause Cancelation Of LOUDNESSs U.S. Tour? (Blabbermouth.net, Apr 20 2017). LOUDNESS frontman Minoru Niihara confirmed in a post on his blog that the tour was scrapped. He wrote: I stayed in Chicago for three hours and returned home. The singer added that neither he nor the band as a whole had ever before been denied entry to the United States. LOUDNESSs agency Katana Music told Japan Today that the band was able to enter the United States in the past with proper invitation letters but that the immigration this time requested visas for the musicians. === Jun 04 2017: UK doom band Warning has had to cancel US performance dates because of immigration hassles. From the bands Facebook page: === Apr 28 2017: Tribeca Film Festivals Top Awards Go to Female Filmmakers (The New York Times). Kaveh Mazaheri is male, though and Iranian. Mazaheris short film Retouch was chosen best narrative short, but the director sent a statement explaining that he could not give his acceptance speech in person because of Mr. Trumps fascinating decisions. Mar 17 2017: Africa Trade Meeting Has No Africans After US Visa Denials (VOA). One of those denied a visa was Prince Kojo Hilton, a Ghanaian artist whose work includes special effects and graphic art. He paid his $500 fee to attend the event and was asked to lead a session on filmmaking. Mar 14 2017: Danish artist traveling to SXSW says hes latest to be denied entry to U.S. (Dallas News). He is Eloq, an electronic dance music artist from Denmark. Mar 13 2017: Three More SXSW-Bound Bands Denied Entry Into The U.S. (NPR Music). This includes musician brothers Yussef, Ahmed, and Kareem Dayes, impacting the duo Yussef Kamaal and the band United Vibrations, both of which are London-based; and the CanadianEgyptian band Massive Scar Era. Mar 10 2017: Italian Band Soviet Soviet Denied Entry To The U.S., Jailed And Then Deported (NPR Music). Mar 02 2017: Owner of NYC design gallery detained at airport, denied re-entry to U.S. (Curbed). He is Juan Garcia Mosqueda, and he is a legal permanent resident of the US. Feb 28 2017: French Holocaust historian detained for 10 hours at US customs (CNN). He is Henry Rousso, and he was going to speak at Texas A&M University. Feb 27 2017: Mem Fox on being detained by US immigration: In that moment I loathed America (The Guardian). Fox is an Australian childrens author who was giving a keynote address at a Los Angeles conference. Feb 26 2017: The White Helmets cinematographer Khaled Khatib had a visa to attend the Oscars. He never made it. (Vox) He is Khaled Khatib. Feb 12 2017: A US-born NASA scientist was detained at the border until he unlocked his phone (The Verge). He is Sidd Bikkannavar, and he works at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Feb 01 2017: British Composer Missing Rehearsals of Her Opera About Immigration Due to Trumps Ban (The Hollywood Reporter). She is Soosan Lolavar. Smartphone vendors shipped a total of 347.4 million smartphones worldwide in the first quarter of 2017 (1Q17), as per the latest International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. In light of what might seem like a slowing market, consumers continue to show demand for smartphones and OEM flagship hype seems strong as ever. Worldwide smartphone shipments grew 4.3% in Q1 17, which was slightly higher than IDCs previous forecast of 3.6% growth. IDC attributed first quarter growth to Chinese OEMs who played catalyst. Huawei, OPPO, and Vivo, outpaced market growth for over a year now. Meanwhile, Samsung continued to lead the market with 22.8% market share in Q1 2017 by shipping 79.2 million units. Apple came in second with 14.9% market share and shipped 51.6 million units. Huawei, OPPO and Vivo took third, fourth and fifth spot respectively. Ryan Reith, program vice president with IDCs Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Device Trackers said, There is no question that 2016 was a pivotal year for the industry as growth dipped to low single digits for the first time. However, we believe the industry will show some rebound in 2017, and the strong first quarter results certainly support this argument. In addition to what shipped in 1Q17, big flagship announcements from Huawei with the P10 devices and Samsung with the Galaxy S8 devices show that innovation is still possible. And despite any formal announcements from Apple it is safe to say the industry is highly anticipating what comes from this years iPhone announcements. Anthony Scarsella, research manager with IDCs Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker said, Although we have seen an abundance of premium redesigned flagships that just entered the market, moving forward, we still expect most of the growth to come from more affordable models in a variety of markets. Despite all the popularity and media hype around premium devices, we continue to witness a shift in many companies portfolios geared towards affordable devices with premium-type styling compared to flagship models. Companies have started to implement a single premium design language that ultimately blurs the lines between the high-end and the low-end, allowing the average consumer to jump on the brand without a hefty upfront investment. Xiaomi has officially forayed into Russian market this week with the launch of three new smartphones Mi MIX, Mi Note 2 and Redmi 4X, six months after it started selling products in the country through a partnership with distributor RDC. Xiaomis Senior VP Wang Xiang attended the Mi launch event in Moscow. Xiaomi started overseas expansion three years ago. The company is already selling its products in over 20 countries and regions, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, UAE and more countries. Back in 2014 it announced plans to expand to several countries including Turkey and Mexico. The Xiaomi Mi MIX 18K (6GB + 256GB), Mi Note 2 (6GB + 128GB) and Redmi 4X are priced at 39,990 rubles (US$ 701 / Rs. 45,059 approx.), 34,990 rubles (US$ 613 / Rs. 39,425 approx.) and 19,990 rubles (US$ 350 / Rs. 22,520 approx.), respectively, available online, with promotions on RDCs official website, as well as stores, with the Redmi 4X also available at operators and stores of major retail partners. Source | Via In the business economy, certain developments stand out as tipping points. Automaker General Motors (NYSE:GM)launch of a subscription service for luxury Cadillac vehicles marks one of these moments: When cars become a monthly service, we can now safely say we are in the subscription era. For the past few years, the subscription economy where consumers and businesses pay for a service monthly that was once bought one transaction at a time has grown at a frantic pace. The average American consumer started with subscriptions like Netflix and Amazon Prime, before the market expanded to include everything from buying razors (Harrys or Dollar Shaving Club) to buying underwear (MeUndies) and beauty products (Birchbox.) Business too have increasingly subscribed to services for everything from software to build apps (Microsoft Azure) to industrial machines being sold as services rather than as assets. Now, you can buy an eye-popping subscription to Cadillacs 10 luxury vehicles from the sporty ATS Coupe to an Escalade ESV that can cost more than $100,000. For $1,500 a month, subscribers can swap cars up to 18 times a year without having to worry about such things as repairs or boredom. This is no fad its the beginning of what promises to be a revolution in how customers (both consumers and businesses) use products and services. Cadillacs move is not the culmination of this cycle, its the start of the coming revolution of how we consume and benefit from products. The subscription economy has grown at an annual average of 15.1% over the past five years. Thats nine times faster than the sale growth among S&P 500 companies, which have averaged growth of 1.7% annually, and four times faster than overall U.S. retail sales, which have grown by 3.6% annually, according to Zuoras Subscription Economy Index. In this new economy, companies will still have to focus on the quality of their products and services as well as such things as cost, features and customer service. But new factors will determine which businesses thrive and drive value in this exploding trend. One differentiating factor that will be especially important in the subscription economy is the customization of features and billing options down to the individual customer. Historically, subscribers have been offered limited pricing plans and options. Netflix (NYSE:NFLX), for example, has three streaming plans based on the subscribers number of devices. Now, new options are popping up. Time Warner's (NYSE:TWX) HBO unit, for example, was once only offered as part of a cable TV bundle of stations but now is available as a stand-alone HBO Go product, costing $15 per month, that can be streamed across any device, including a TV. Such fracturing is just beginning and the companies that will succeed are those that make a variety of offers based on price and service level that will appeal to different demographics. To me as a chief executive of a software-as-a-service company in Boulder, Colorado, the idea of a Cadillac subscription to a variety of vehicles sounds appealing. But, Cadillacs ability to sign and retain me as a subscriber will depend upon its ability to do two things: customizing my experience and pricing the service in a way that works for me. Customers like their cars a certain way. I would want my Cadillacs My-style black cars with winter snow tires (because I live in Colorado), a concierge service for car washes, car seats for my kids and a ski rack. Thats just for starters, I would also want each car to download all my radio, Bluetooth, seating and mirror settings too. In the subscription economy, the companies that yield the highest margin and prices are those that fine tune the experience to what the customer wants. To make sure I am charged a price that works for me, Cadillac would have to use A/B testing to drive optimized customer outcomes a metric that will be important for subscription-based sales models. Smart companies will hone and perfect pricing, product and service offerings by testing multiple offers and interaction points with thousands of customers, constantly honing and tweaking offer to optimize the customer experience. Will customers in a certain demographic profile pay a little extra for preferred color in their car, and if so, how much? Will understanding that differentiation change subscription retention rates? Will offering service upgrades at an additional cost, such as concierge delivery service or detailing service, boost profits? Such optimization improves customer satisfaction and the overall profitability of subscription models. A subscription program can be more lucrative and drive greater loyalty than a standard buying experience, but companies must always keep in mind that their competition is other subscription programs PLUS an outright purchase. After all, even if Cadillac is the only company that offers a subscription service for a while, I can still go to Audi, Mercedes, Lincoln, BMW, etc. and BUY a luxury vehicle, in black, with snow tires, and ski rack and childrens seats. Its a competition matrix that a subscription plan must attack and conquer and A/B testing and personalization is what will drive growth in market share and customer loyalty. Whether or not Cadillac succeeds with its new service will largely be determined by whether it is flexible enough to adapt to the needs of the new economic order. Getting marketing right in the subscription economy requires following a new formula offer, test, analyze, modify and repeat. Companies that follow that path will optimize customer outcomes and will become niche-winning, highly profitable leaders in the subscription era. Blair McNea is co-founder and chief executive of RevGuard and was an early pioneer in subscription technology. IBM CEO Ginni Rometty said the U.S. is facing a big workforce development problem and they are doing something about it. "There are over 5 million jobs open in this country," said Rometty during an exclusive interview with the FOX Business Network's Maria Bartiromo. "The reason they are not filled is skills." That's why IBM and the White House are working together to build what she calls "new collar" skills. "We are in an era now, it doesn't mean you have to have an advanced degree and so it's not necessarily a blue collar job, it's not white collar, we a have a new collar," Rometty said, describing most of these jobs as having two times the median salary. Rometty met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in March to discuss how to create apprenticeships and build these types of jobs skills. She said they were able to come up with three big ideas, but a main focus for the U.S. was an educational program called "Pathway to Technology Schools." "They are public schools. Think of it as a 6 year high school, kind of like a high school working with a community college and really the criteria are just teacher curriculum that businesses will hire," she said. The program is just one of the "practical steps" being taken by IBM and 300 other companies to scale mentorship and apprenticeship across the country according to Rometty. "The graduation and the success rate is eleven times compared to low income, five times compared to regular school and these kids really come out with an associates degree in 6 years," she said. "We will be near 100 of these schools by the end of this year, almost 50,000 kids, we are already hiring them." Rometty added that the problem would need to be tackled by both businesses and the government and pointed out how Education Secretary Betsey DeVos "is very much on top of this." North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on Saturday, South Korea's and U.S. militaries said, defying intense pressure from the United States and the reclusive state's main ally, China. U.S. and South Korean officials said the test, from an area north of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, appeared to have failed, in what would be a fourth successive unsuccessful missile test since March. The test came as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned the U.N. Security Council that failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes could lead to "catastrophic consequences". U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the missile was probably a medium-range weapon known as a KN-17 and appears to have broken up within minutes of taking off. South Korea's military said the missile, fired from the Pukchang region in a northeasterly direction, reached an altitude of 71 km (44 miles) before disintegrating a few minutes into flight. The North has been conducting missile and nuclear weapons related activities at an unprecedented rate since the beginning of the year and is believed to have made some progress in developing intermediate-range and submarine-launched missiles. Tension had spiked on the Korean peninsula over concern the North may conduct a long-range missile test, or its sixth nuclear test, around the time of the April 15 anniversary of its state founder's birth, or the day marking the founding of its military this week. The timing of the launch suggested it was calculated to send a message as North Korea remained under the scrutiny of world powers, said Kim Dong-yub, an expert at Kyungnam University's Institute of Far Eastern Studies in Seoul. It was planned at a complicated timing around the end of the South Korea-U.S. joint military drills, the United States talking about military options and the announcement of North Korea policies and the Security Council meeting, Kim said. South Korean and U.S. forces have been conducting annual military drills since the beginning of March that conclude at the end of April. Kim said North Korea might have obtained the data it wanted with the missile's short flight, then blown it up in the air. U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters in an interview on Thursday North Korea was his biggest global challenge and a "major, major conflict" with it was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Trump said and he praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping for "trying very hard" to rein it in. "North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!," Trump said in a post on Twitter after the launch. In a show of force, the United States is sending the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula, where it will join the USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in South Korea on Tuesday. FASTER SANCTIONS? The Trump administration could respond to the latest missile test by speeding up its plans for new U.S. sanctions, including possible measures against specific North Korean and Chinese entities, a U.S. official told Reuters. "Something that's ready to go could be taken from the larger package and expedited," said the official, who declined to be identified. The launch could also give Trump leverage to press the Chinese to do more to rein in the North, the official added. Earlier, both China and Russia rebuked a U.S. threat of military force at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on North Korea. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the 15-member council it was not only up to China to solve the North Korean problem. "The key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side," Wang told the council in blunt remarks that Tillerson later rebuffed. The U.N. Security Council is likely to start discussing a statement to condemn the missile launch, said diplomats, adding that it was unlikely to be issued on Friday. The Security Council traditionally condemns all missile launches by Pyongyang. Such routine condemnation and a series of sanctions resolutions since 2006, when North Korea conducted its first nuclear test, have done little to impede its push for ballistic missiles and nuclear arms. "It could have happened today exactly because we had the meeting," Italian U.N. Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi, chair of the Security Council's North Korean sanctions committee, told reporters when hearing of the test. "It's illegal, it should not be done, it's another provocative action by North Korea. Japan condemned the launch as absolutely unacceptable and a violation of U.N. resolutions. There was no immediate reaction from China. (Additional reporting by Ju-min Park in Seoul, Idrees Ali in Washington, Malcolm Foster in Tokyo and Lesley Wroughton at the United Nations; Editing Lincoln Feast, Robert Birsel) Working to dismantle his predecessor's environmental legacy, President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order Friday that could lead to the expansion of drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. With one day left to rack up accomplishments before he reaches his 100th day in office, Trump will order his interior secretary to review an Obama-era plan that dictates which locations are open to offshore drilling, with the goal of the new administration to expand operations. It's part of Trump's promise to unleash the nation's energy reserves in an effort to reduce reliance on foreign oil and to spur jobs, regardless of fierce opposition from environmental activists, who say offshore drilling harms whales, walruses and other wildlife and exacerbates global warming. "This order will cement our nation's position as a global energy leader and foster energy security for the benefit of American people, without removing any of the stringent environmental safeguards that are currently in place," Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told reporters at a White House briefing Thursday evening. Zinke said the order, combined with other steps Trump has taken during his first months in office, "puts us on track for American energy independence." The executive order will reverse part of a December effort by President Barack Obama to deem the bulk of U.S.-owned waters in the Arctic Ocean and certain areas in the Atlantic as indefinitely off limits to oil and gas leasing. It will also direct Zinke to conduct a review of the locations available for offshore drilling under a five-year plan signed by Obama in November. The plan blocked new oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It also blocked the planned sale of new oil and gas drilling rights in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas north of Alaska, but allowed drilling to go forward in Alaska's Cook Inlet southwest of Anchorage. The order could open to oil and gas exploration areas off Virginia and North and South Carolina, where drilling has been blocked for decades. Zinke said that leases scheduled under the existing plan will remain in effect during the review, which he estimated will take several years. The order will also direct Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to conduct a review of marine monuments and sanctuaries designated over the last 10 years. Citing his department's data, Zinke said the Interior Department oversees some 1.7 billion acres on the outer continental shelf, which contains an estimated 90 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and 327 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas. Under current restrictions, about 94 percent of that outer continental shelf is off-limits to drilling. Zinke, who will also be tasked with reviewing other drilling restrictions, acknowledged environmental concerns as "valid," but he argued that the benefits of drilling outweigh concerns. Environmental activists, meanwhile, railed against the expected signing, which comes seven years after the devastating 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Diana Best of Greenpeace said that opening new areas to offshore oil and gas drilling would lock the U.S. "into decades of harmful pollution, devastating spills like the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, and a fossil fuel economy with no future. "Scientific consensus is that the vast majority of known fossil fuel reserves - including the oil and gas off U.S. coasts- must remain undeveloped if we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change," she said. Jacqueline Savitz of the ocean advocacy group ocean advocacy group Oceana warned the order would lead to "corner-cutting and set us up for another havoc-wreaking environmental disaster" in places like the Outer Banks or in remote Barrow, Alaska, "where there's no proven way to remove oil from sea ice." "We need smart, tough standards to ensure that energy companies are not operating out of control," she said, adding: "In their absence, America's future promises more oil spills and industrialized coastlines." ___ Follow Matthew Daly and Jill Colvin on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MatthewDalyWDC and https://twitter.com/colvinj Image source: Getty Images. For thousands of years -- since ancient Egypt -- people have been digging gold out of the ground, and it likely will continue to be highly valued for many years to come. Around the world, people have found places to sink their shovels and satisfy their appetites for the yellow stuff. But what are the largest mines producing gold today? The answers may surprise you. The Cortez mine in Nevada. Image source: Barrick Gold. 5. Cortez Located in Nevada, the Cortez mine produced 1.059 million ounces of gold in 2016 -- about 6% more than its gold production from 2015. One of Barrick Gold's (NYSE: ABX) core mines, Cortez has proven-and-probable gold reserves of 10.2 million ounces as of December 31, 2016. Presumably, Cortez will stay among the largest producing gold mines for the foreseeable future -- management estimates gold production between 1.25 million and 1.29 million ounces in 2017. Besides a rise in production, Barrick reported several other successes at the mine in 2016. For one, the company reduced all-in sustaining costs (AISC) by 14% year over year, to $518 per ounce. This, in part, contributed to an increase in profitability compared to 2015. According to Barrick, the mine generated 18% more income and 33% more in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). Additionally, the company has numerous projects in development focused on mine expansion, ensuring gold production will continue for many years to come. One of the more interesting aspects of Cortez is that it's the focus of a collaboration between Barrick and Cisco Systems . Working to digitize the operation, Barrick and Cisco will employ predictive data and analytics, among other things, to further reduce costs, illustrating how the mining industry stands to benefit from the advancement in digital technologies. The Grasberg mine located in Indonesia. Image source: Freeport McMoRan. 4. Grasberg Jointly owned by Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) and the government of Indonesia, the Grasberg minerals district is comprised of three operating mines, which, together, produced 1.061 million ounces of gold in 2016. One of the largest gold deposits in the world, Grasberg has recoverable proven-and-probable gold reserves of 25.8 million ounces.Accounting for 98% of Freeport-McMoRan gold production in 2016, Grasberg generated $1.03 billion in operating income for fiscal 2016 -- about 32% of the total operating income that the company reported from mining operations. It's questionable -- at best -- whether the mine will appear on the list of the largest gold-producing mines in 2017. The company halted operations at the mine in February, due to a disagreement with the Indonesian government regarding concentrate exports and other issues. According to the company's press release, "For each month of delay in obtaining approval to export, [the company's] share of production is projected to be reduced by approximately 70 million pounds of copper and 70 thousand ounces of gold." Prior to the suspension of operations, the company had been engaged in numerous mine-expansion activities, which the company had forecast to total $1 billion in annual capital expenditures from 2017 through 2021. The Goldstrike mine located in Nevada. Image source: Barrick Gold. 3. Goldstrike For the second time, Barrick Gold appears on the list of the top gold-producing mines. This time, it's because of its ownership of the Goldstrike mine -- another of Barrick's core mines. Like Cortez, Goldstrike is located in the Carlin Trend, which Barrick recognizes as "the most prolific gold mining district in the Western Hemisphere." In 2016, Goldstrike produced 1.096 million ounces of gold -- a 4% year-over-year increase -- due, in part, to higher autoclave production. The coming year is not expected to be as productive, though. Management forecasts gold production between 910,000 to 950,000 ounces. However, that's not to say that the future is losing its luster: Goldstrike has 8.08 million ounces in proven and probable gold reserves. Although the company reported a 9% year-over-year increase in AISC, this didn't adversely affect profitability -- Goldstrike reported year-over-year increases of 8% in income and 25% increase in EBITDA. In the years to come, the profitability should improve further as the company unifies operations at Goldstrike with Cortez.On the company's fourth-quarter conference call, management suggested the unification of operations would ideally "secure at least $100 an ounce of [Barrick's] combined all-in sustaining cost there on aconsistent and sustainable basis, primarily due to better planning and capital allocation and enhanced business improvement execution, including the implementation of digital systems." According to Barrick, there's plenty of gold left to strike at Goldstrike. In the company's 40-F filling, the company reported "the expected remaining mine life at Goldstrike extends to 2023 for underground mining, to 2027 for open pit mining and to 2032 for processing operations." The process plant site at Pueblo Viejo where gold, silver and copper will be processed. Image source: Barrick Gold. 2. Pueblo Viejo Located in the Dominican Republic, Pueblo Viejo is a joint venture between Barrick Gold, which retains a 60% interest, and Goldcorp(NYSE: GG), which retains the remaining 40% interest. Pueblo Viejo, an open pit mine, accounted for 1.167 million ounces of gold in 2016. Between Barrick's share and Goldcorp's share, Pueblo Viejo has proven-and-probable gold reserves of approximately 13.48 million ounces. In addition to Barrick and Goldcorp, Royal Gold also has an interest in Pueblo Viejo. In September 2015, Barrick signed a gold and silver streaming transaction with Royal Gold linked to Barrick's 60% interest in the mine. Another of Barrick's core mines, Pueblo Viejo, remains a vital part of its portfolio. The mine holds a prominent position in Goldcorp's portfolio, as well. The company recognizes Pueblo Viejo as playing a key role in its goal of growing gold reserves by 20% over the next five years. The Dormition Cathedral in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Image source: Getty Images. 1. Muruntau Like Barry Bonds' home-run record, Muruntau, the world's top gold-producing mine in 2016, comes with an asterisk. The Muruntau mine is owned by the Uzbekistani government, which is not very forthcoming when it comes to information relating to its mine. Nonetheless, according to mining.com, Muruntau produced approximately 2.15 million ounces of gold in 2014 and 2015. Presuming it produced a comparable amount, the mine retains the title of the top gold-producing mine in the world. In fact, its gold production would have to be nearly cut in half for it to fall behind Pueblo Viejo. Muruntau is the world's largest open-pit mine, by area, and the world's fifth deepest. Again, due to the absence of free-flowing information, it's difficult to be certain, but some estimates place Muruntau's gold reserves as high as 170 million ounces. 10 stocks we like better than Freeport-McMoRan Copper & GoldWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of April 3, 2017 Scott Levine has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold. The Motley Fool recommends Cisco Systems. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Shares in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) tumbled over worry that Opdivo's sales would slow following a failure in a key cancer drug trial last year. However, Bristol-Myers' first-quarter financial results show that demand for Opdivo remains strong despite the setback, and that could make buying Bristol-Myers shares now a smart investment move. Coming up short Opdivo is a checkpoint inhibitor that stops cancer cells from using the PD-1 protein to evade detection by the immune system. The ability to short-circuit cancer cells' use of PD-1 has proven effective in various patient groups, including in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who have seen their disease return following chemotherapy. IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES. Opdivo's ability to help patients in several indications quickly turned it into a billion-dollar blockbuster drug, generating more than $800 million in sales during thesecond quarter of 2016 alone. The potential to expand Opdivo's use led manyinvestors to buy Bristol-Myers shares. However, Bristol-Myers reported last August that Opdivo failed to outperform chemotherapy as a front-line option in advanced lung cancer patients, and thatcast significant doubt on Opdivo's future. Opdivo's failure in first-line advanced NSCLC was particularly disappointing because competitor Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) had reported only a few months prior that a trial of its checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda was effective in this patient group. With Merck set to win approval by the Food and Drug Administration for expanded use in lung cancer patients, and Bristol-Myers' falling short, investors knocked $30 billion in market cap off Bristol-Myers' shares by mid-January. BMY Market Cap data by YCharts. Continuing to climb The outlook for Opdivo sales might not be as bleak as feared. Yes, Keytruda has won FDA approvalas a first-line option in advanced NSCLC patients, and that does give it an advantage over Opdivo, but Opdivo's first-quarter sales were encouraging, andKeytruda's advantage in NSCLC may be only temporary. In Q1, Opdivo's sales at $1.1 billion were 60% higher than a year ago, and while sales slipped from $1.3 billion in Q4, that was due mostly to a tough comparison following one-time catch-up payments in France and Germany last quarter. Opdivo did lose some market share in lung cancer in the quarter, but demand for the drug picked up in kidney cancer, melanoma, head and neck cancer, and bladder cancer, and as a result, U.S. sales grew sequentially In November, Opdivo became the first drug in its class to win FDA approval in head and neck cancer after showing in trials it can improve overall survival. More recently,the FDA approved Opdivo in February for use in patients with previously treated advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Ongoing trials evaluating Opdivo plus Yervoy in kidney cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and small-cell lung cancer are expected in the next 12 months, and favorable outcomes could help drive future sales growth too. Certainly, Opdivo's performance would have been much better if the first-line NSCLC trial had panned out, and management admits that lung cancer market share will be tough to come by in 2017, especially if Keytruda gets approved for use alongside chemotherapy in NSCLC. Nevertheless, Opdivo could start winning back market share in the indication as early as 2018, if things go its way. The company's got a flurry of ongoing lung cancer trials, including studies evaluating Opdivo in combination with Yervoy, Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy, and Opdivo in combination with other novel cancer drugs, such as IDO inhibitors. It's anyone's guess if those trials pan out, but clearly, Bristol-Myers has a lot of shots on goal in the indication that could help it compete with Keytruda in NSCLC in the future. Looking forward Regardless of whether Opdivo can eventually win an OK in front-line advanced NSCLC, the drug is likely to continue driving Bristol-Myers' top- and bottom-line growth for the foreseeable future.The company has dozens of ongoing trials across various cancers that should provide a steady stream of label-expansion opportunities. Since Bristol-Myers shares remain well off their peak prices, and the company has plenty of opportunities to continue growing Opdivo, I think now is a good time to be a buyer. 10 stocks we like better than Bristol-Myers SquibbWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Bristol-Myers Squibb wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of April 3, 2017 Todd Campbell has no position in any stocks mentioned.His clients may have positions in the companies mentioned.The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The most isolated nation in the world, North Korea, has increased aggression to its southern neighbor with nuclear and missile tests. The United Nations Security Council is meeting Friday to discuss toughening sanctions on North Korea amid recent provocations. President Trump has warned that America is facing a major major conflict in the region. FOX Business takes a look at the global implications involved in this volatile region. The Economy North Korea: The United Nations estimates that the nominal GDP per capita in North Korea is among the lowest of any country in the world, ranking it 180th out of 193 countries. Around half of the country's population, or 12 million people, is estimated to live in "extreme poverty." South Korea: South Korea has the 11th largest economy in the world, but the recent impeachment of President Park Geun-hye puts the security of the nations economy in question. The U.S. and South Korea have been allies since the U.S. intervened in the Korean Peninsula in 1950. Political Turmoil North Korea: The country has a centralized government under rigid control of the communist Korean Workers' Party. Current leader Kim Jong-Un, who succeeded his father in 2011, has overseen more than 50 missile tests and three nuclear tests. Many world leaders view him as ruthless and a murderer. South Korea: Last month, South Korea's President Park Geun-hye became the country's first democratically elected leader to be forced from office over a corruption scandal. Park's removal from office comes after months of political turmoil and protests in which three people died. Trade North Korea: China is North Korea's closest ally and largest provider of food, fuel and industrial machinery. In fact, 80% of North Korea's economy is based on trade with China. The Trump administration is pushing China to cut off North Korea's access to oil, money and communication. South Korea: The value of imports and exports equals 85% of South Koreas GDP, making it the fifth largest export economy in the world. South Koreas largest trading partner is China, followed by the U.S. Nuclear Threat North Korea: Its military has conducted five nuclear tests since 2006 and the country could have as many as 100 nuclear warheads by 2020. North Korea has deployed more than 1,000 short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in recent years. South Korea: With the help of the U.S., South Korea is deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system to combat the threat from the north. But China, South Korea's largest trade partner, considers the THAAD system a security threat. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is the prime contractor behind THAAD, while other U.S. companies such as Raytheon (NYSE:RTN), Boeing (NYSE:BA) and Honeywell (NYSE:HON) are subcontractors. Armed Forces North Korea: With 1.2 million active members, the country has the fourth largest armed forces in the world and puts 22% of its GDP toward military spending. South Korea: The country has about 655,000 active duty troops, with roughly 25,000 U.S. troops stationed there for support. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is home to 10 million people and sits just 35 miles from the border with North Korea. Research compiled by FOX News Research, Associated Press New Jersey Rep. Tom MacArthur has experienced personal tragedy and understands the need for health insurance. "I lost my mother at 4 years old. My father had no insurance and I watched him until I was in college pay off medical bills," says the two-term Republican lawmaker. Years later, MacArthur suffered the anguish over the death of his 11-year-old daughter, Gracie. "We had over $1 million of medical bills. I had insurance, but I still had a lot of uncovered expenses, and it's brutal," he says. Yet MacArthur opposes the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama's law that has brought health insurance to millions more Americans. The congressman points out that, in many states, the number of insurers offering coverage is dwindling. He says his one and only goal in offering a proposal to resuscitate the Republican effort to repeal Obama's health care law is to help the individual health insurance market survive. "I'm acting as an individual trying to solve a problem," he says. "That's what I came here to do." His proposal has won over recalcitrant conservatives and pushed the legislation closer to a vote, a long-sought goal of President Donald Trump and GOP leaders. But it has frustrated many of MacArthur's fellow moderates, who complain that the latest repeal iteration would hurt people with pre-existing conditions and deny basic services like maternity and newborn care. And in his swing district that stretches from the Pennsylvania border to the Jersey shore, and voted twice for Obama, some constituents are not happy. Protesters gathered outside MacArthur's district office on Friday. The campaign arm for House Democrats boasts that MacArthur's efforts have been a great recruiting tool in its efforts to take the district in next year's midterm elections. Amid the clamor, the little-known, 56-year-old lawmaker is defending his work. Under his measure, states could get federal waivers to the requirement that insurers charge healthy and sick customers the same premiums and that they cover specified services like preventive care and wellness visits. MacArthur's work has shifted the dynamics in the health care debate. Before conservatives signed on to his proposal, members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus were catching heat for the bill's failure. Now, the pressure is on the moderate members of the caucus known as the Tuesday Group. "Now, the Tuesday Group has the hot potato," said Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y. "It's not the first time we've had to take the tough votes and here we are again." Members of the moderate wing aren't publicly critical of MacArthur, who repeatedly has emphasized he was not negotiating for members of the group, only for himself. Some members have expressed concerns that the bill now will allow states to approve waivers that would make it more expensive for people with pre-existing conditions to obtain health insurance. MacArthur disputes the argument that the bill will hurt vulnerable populations by allowing people with pre-existing conditions to be charged more for insurance. "It doesn't allow a state to do anything with premiums based on health status unless they've created a fund to help those very people," MacArthur said. "And to help the states start them, we have a $130 billion patient stability fund, which is part of the bill. Fifteen billion is targeted just for mental health care and maternity, but the other $115 billion is all available to help the states create these very kinds of pools and make them successful." Before the recent events in the health care debate, Democrats had already targeted MacArthur's district as one of their top priorities in the coming election. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently took out digital ads targeting 30 Republican-held seats on the health care proposal. It spent the most in MacArthur's district. "The energy on the ground is incredible and its' going to help up flip his district," said Evan Lukaske, a spokesman for the committee. About 40 protesters converged on MacArthur's district office in Marlton, New Jersey to protest his work on the health care bill. One sign read "Don't Take Our Health Care," and another "MacArthur's Bill Kills." Laurel Smith, 56, of Medford, New Jersey, says she is concerned because her 26-year-old son, Jamieson Smith, has a rare sickness called mitochondrial disease. The illness can lead to loss of muscle coordination and weakness, and harm key organs. She's concerned repeal of the Affordable Care Act could affect his coverage. Smith said she particularly worried about states' ability to opt out of coverage requirements. "There's lots of opportunities for states to play around with it," Smith said. A former Obama administration official, Andrew Kim, said he's exploring an election bid to unseat MacArthur. ___ Associated Press writer Michael Catalini in Marlton, New Jersey, contributed to this report. ___ On Twitter, reach Kevin Freking at https://twitter.com/APkfreking Sony Corp. reported Friday a January-March profit of 27.7 billion yen ($250 million) on the back of healthy sales of image sensors, PlayStation 4 game software and batteries for mobile devices, marking a recovery from its red ink a year ago. Tokyo-based Sony had an 88 billion yen loss in the same period last year, although that was a fraction of the red ink it had posted in years before as it contended with competition from rivals like Apple and Samsung in smartphones and other electronics devices. Quarterly sales rose 4.4 percent to 1.9 trillion yen ($17 billion). For the fiscal year through March, Sony's profit fell 50 percent to 73.3 billion yen ($660 million) from 148 billion yen, partly because of costs related to repair of damage from a major earthquake that hit southwestern Japan in April 2016. The quake shut down Sony's semiconductor manufacturing facility. An unfavorable exchange rate also damaged Sony's results. Also hurting the annual results was the write-down Sony took earlier this year on its movie division, or what's called "goodwill impairment," stemming from its acquisition of Columbia Pictures in 1989. Sony is projecting a three-fold recovery for the fiscal year through March 2018, because of the absence of quake- and movie-related costs, at 255 billion yen ($2.3 billion), although it warned currency fluctuations could hurt results. Sony has been reshaping its business by focusing on high-end cameras and video games. It has already sold some assets, including its Vaio personal computer business. Its TV division lost money for years but has recently recovered. In its movie business, "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter," released in the January-March quarter was one of its biggest successes in recent quarters, especially with the international box office. Best-selling titles for the year in its music division included Beyonce's "Lemonade" and Sia's "This Is Acting." ___ Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/yuri-kageyama President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order Friday that sets the table for new offshore drilling, although it could take years before oil majors enter the Arctic or Atlantic oceans. In the last days of his tenure, former President Barack Obama imposed what he deemed a permanent ban on oil drilling in sections of the Arctic and Atlantic. Trump will seek to reverse that ban with an executive order that, according to the White House, initiates a review of which offshore locations are open to oil and gas exploration. Estimates show significant untapped production. The American Petroleum Institute says oil and gas development is off limits on 94% of federal controlled offshore acreage in the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management believes 89.9 billion barrels of oil and 327.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas have yet to be discovered on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. But most oil majors such as Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) have focused their resources elsewhere, mainly shale oil in the U.S. What were seeing is [energy companies] are focusing all of their time, energy and assets into U.S. shale. I think for the near term, that would probably continue, said Suzanne Minter, director of client strategy, energy solutions at S&P Global Platts. Minter added that oil and gas producers could reinvest revenues from U.S. shale plays into new offshore projects. Even so, companies are more likely to turn to conventional offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico where the necessary infrastructure is already in place. "We are pleased to see this administration prioritizing responsible U.S. energy development and recognizing the benefits it will bring to American consumers and businesses, said Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute. "We must particularly look to and embrace the future development of domestic sources of oil and natural gas in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Exploration in this area is critical to our national security, and we continue to see our neighbors in Mexico and Cuba pursue these opportunities." In the Arctic, high expectations for crude oil production have yet to pan out. Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDSA) spent $7 billion on a test well there, but it ultimately walked away from the project in 2015. Obamas drilling ban in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas came a year later. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) was invested in the Arctic, too, but suspended its drilling plans in 2013. At the time of its decision, the company cited federal regulations. The Alaskan Arctic is a high-cost operating environment, ConocoPhillips says on its website. The location is remote, the climate is extreme, and the environmental regulations are some of the most stringent in the country. A good resource base exists in the Alaskan Arctic, but the easy oil is gone; getting to the remaining oil will require greater investment and improved technologies. Legal challenges also stand in the way of expanded Arctic drilling. The executive order is expected to ignite a court battle with environmental groups, which have argued that the Obama administrations ban on drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans cant be reversed. With the stroke of a pen, can Trump reverse those determinations that were made? Its not entirely clear at this point, said Brian Scheid, S&P Global Platts senior editor of oil news. A plan by Republican Gov. Phil Scott to have teachers negotiate health care benefits with the state, rather than local school districts, was dealt a major blow Friday after the state Senate effectively voted down the proposal. Republican Minority Leader Dustin Degree offered Scott's plan on the Senate floor Friday morning. Both argue savings would be significant, perhaps up to $26 million overall. School districts have already budgeted for health care, Degree said, so if teachers no longer have to take from their local budget, that money could be recouped by the state and used to lower property taxes. This year all teachers are negotiating with their school boards, making it the right time to implement the plan, Republicans argue. But the plan was rejected in favor of a proposal by Democratic Sen. Philip Baruth to create a study committee to look at how money can be saved through teachers' health care negotiations. "I believe that some of these ideas may have merit. The idea, for instance, that one might look at recapturing a portion of savings from school districts on health care, I think that that's certainly something that could be explored," Baruth said. Degree was buffeted by senators who argued that the plan had not been properly vetted and that having teachers negotiate their benefits with the state instead of their school districts infringes on their collective bargaining rights. "We have a committee process," said Democratic Sen. Jeanette White. "It's our responsibility to craft good legislation." Scott's spokeswoman, Rebecca Kelley, said after the Senate vote that Scott's plan could be brought up again when House and Senate lawmakers meet to hash out the differences in their state budgets. "It's not dead by any stretch," Kelley said. Kelley wouldn't say whether Scott would consider vetoing a budget that didn't include his proposal. She did say Scott and lawmakers have an obligation to realize these savings. "This is $26 million in savings a year. He has an obligation to do the right thing, and the legislature shouldn't need a veto to do the right thing," Kelley said. House Republicans say they will support a gubernatorial veto. "If a budget is sent to the Governor's desk without this common sense proposal, a proposal to save up to $26 million annually, we stand ready to support and sustain a veto," House Republican leader Don Turner said. On April 11, offshore drillerSeadrill Ltd(NYSE: SDRL) announced some very good news for a change. The company said, in a press release, that it had secured 10-year contracts for two offshore drilling vessels, worth $1.4 billion in long-term revenue. And while the company did sacrifice some short-term revenue, since the agreements included reductions in near-term dayrates, the contracts are an unequivocal win for Seadrill. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're a good thing for current Seadrill shareholders. Let's take a closer look at why investors shouldn't count on an upside. Image source: Getty Images. Seadrill's new contract extensions According to the release, Seadrill subsidiary North Atlantic Drillingreached agreement with a subsidiary ofConocoPhillipsto extend the contracts on theWest ElaraandWest Linusjack-ups. The West Elara contract is set to commence in October 2017, under a fixed dayrate term until March 2020. From April 2020 until October 2027, the contract will shift to an indexed dayrate, based on market rates for similar rigs. Combined, this new contract is worth $690 million in backlog, before any performance bonuses. The West Linus contract is set to commence on May 2019, when the current contract was set to expire. The company agreed to reduce the current contract by approximately $58 million, but estimates the extension to add $706 million in backlog before performance bonuses. This new extension is also indexed to market rates for similar vessels. Why the news probably doesn't matter for shareholders At this point, it's a near-certainty that Seadrill will continue to operate as a going concern, no matter how long the downturn in offshore drilling activity lasts. The company owns some of the most capable, safest, and most efficient drilling rigs operating on the water, and while this hasn't made it immune from the downturn, it will allow it to get in the few doors that open for new drilling work. These recent extensions demonstrate the confidence oil producers have in the company, its drillships, and its employees. But there's a significant difference between Seadrill's ability to remain a viable, competitive company, and what happens to common shareholders in coming months. One only has to look at Seadrill's annual report, released on April 26, to realize how likely it is that common shareholders will get, at the very least, severely diluted -- if not completely wiped out -- before the end of 2017 (emphasis mine): Looking ahead: Shareholders are last in line Seadrill's operating assets are a valuable asset, and over the past couple of years management has made significant progress in deleveraging the balance sheet. But the reality today is that the company hasn't been able to reach an agreement with its debtholders and bankers to move forward in a way that won't negatively impact common shareholders. And as owners, shareholders stand last in line -- behind secured debt, bond, unsecured debt, and suppliers -- when it comes to getting a piece of the pie. As things stand today, there's some chance that current shareholders will still own a fraction of the company when restructuring is complete, but it's a risky bet to count on their piece being worth much more than it is today. That downside risk is what investors should probably be paying attention to right now, instead of hoping for a potential upside. 10 stocks we like better than SeadrillWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Seadrill wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of April 3, 2017 Jason Hall owns shares of Seadrill. Jason Hall has the following options: long July 2017 $3 calls on Seadrill. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Trump administration is vowing to bring billions of foreign profits back into the U.S. "We've talked to many of the large corporations and businesses that have money trapped overseas. They've all made pledges to us to bring money back," said the director of the White House National Economic Council Gary Cohn in an interview with the FOX Business Network's Maria Bartiromo. "We have talked to them [about] where it gets tough for them to bring it back on rate. We are continuously having those dialogues." President Trump's team announced a sweeping reform to the current U.S. tax code on Tuesday, but did not break down how it would conquer repatriation. Despite this, Cohn says the administration will top out on the rate. "If its 10%, if it's 8%, if its 12%-- we want that money back. That money will be highly stimulative coming back into the United States. We know the history, if the money doesn't come back into the United States it gets invested overseas," he said. Earlier this month President Trump told Bartiromo there could be up to $5 trillion trapped overseas, in Cohn's opinion, those profits could be used boost U.S. businesses and fuel hiring. People will build manufacturing facilities. When they build manufacturing facilities those will be great paying jobs for American workers," he said. U.S. CEOs have long complained the corporate tax rate, at 35%, is why companies are reluctant to bring funds back to America. President Donald Trump made history Friday by becoming the first sitting president to address National Rifle Association Leadership Forum in more than three decades. aI am also proud to be the first sitting president to address the NRA Leadership Forum since our wonderful Ronald Reagan,a Trump said. In 1983, Reagan addressed the gun-rights group during the third year of his first term. aIt does my spirit good to be with people who never lose faith in America, who never stop believing in her future and who never back down one inch from defending the constitution freedoms that are every Americans birth right,a former President Ronald Reagan said. In an interview on FOX Business Networkas After the Bell, NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch said Trump has already delivered on a couple of promises by reaffirming his commitment to protect the second amendment. aWe saw the pushback on the Obama-era regulation wherein people who were social security beneficiaries without any due process at all and through some bureaucrat, they were having their second amendment rights stripped away from them and those bureaucrats were ignoring the legal process that was already in place,a she said. In Georgia, republican governor Nathan Deal is expected to sign a bill permitting licensed gun owners to carry concealed handguns on college campuses. The NRA spokesperson said the Campus Carry law is very popular among college students as a means to defend themselves from potential acts of violence. aAs I always say, it is easier for people to carry their firearm and take their defense in their own hands then it is to carry a cop,a Loesch said. Georgia is among 17 states that have banned concealed weapons on college campuses. When asked on the timeline for the Campus Carry bill to be passed, Loesch said, aI hope that the governor signs this [bill] without too much delay.a President Trump on Friday vowed to really go after the brutal criminal gangs and drug cartels that prey among Americans and called out one of the most notorious MS-13. For too long Washington has gone after law abiding gun owners while making life easier for criminals, drug dealers, traffickers and gang members - MS-13. You know about MS-13. Its not pleasant for them anymore, Trump said during a speech at the National Rifle Association Leadership Forum in Atlanta. According to the FBI, drug gangs are expanding their networks and posing an increasing threat to U.S. communities nationwide. The FBI also says gangs are more adaptable and organized exploiting new and advanced technology as a means to recruit. The weak illegal immigration policies of the Obama Admin. allowed bad MS 13 gangs to form in cities across U.S. We are removing them fast! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2017 Trump said he plans to combat the increasing gang violence by appointing officials that believe in law, order and justice. For the first time in a long time you have a pro-second amendment, tough on crime attorney general and his name is Jeff Sessions, he said. Earlier on Friday, Sessions visited with law enforcement officials on Long Island, New York. Most recently, the gang was implicated in the murders of four young men whose bodies were discovered on the edge of a town park in neighboring Central Islip this month. MS-13 was blamed for 11 murders last year in Suffolk County. U.S. business developers operating near El Paso, Texas and southern New Mexico said they were relieved to hear President Trump agreed this week to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the leaders of Mexico and Canada, rather than scrapping it, as originally planned. Just two days shy of the end of his first 100 days in office, Trump said on Thursday that he was days away from terminating the deal, but changed his mind after the heads of both countries called and asked him to renegotiate. I received calls from the President of Mexico and the Prime Minister of Canada asking to renegotiate NAFTA rather than terminate. I agreed.. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017 ...subject to the fact that if we do not reach a fair deal for all, we will then terminate NAFTA. Relationships are good-deal very possible! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017 Trump made a campaign promise to repeal NAFTA if it could not be renegotiated. He again said this week that Canada and Mexico benefit disproportionately from the deal. NAFTAs been a horrible deal for the United States. Its been very good for Canada, its been really good for Mexico, but its been horrible for the United States, Trump said about the 23-year-old trade agreement with the two border countries. But some business leaders from Texas and New Mexico credit NAFTA as a top economic driver of their local economies. In fact, Jerry Pacheco, president of the New Mexico Border Industrial Association, described NAFTA as the "end all be all." Jack Brown, a sales manager based in Santa Teresa, New Mexico for Tucson, Arizona-based manufacturer Glaz-Tech industries, said hes seen NAFTA greatly improve the local areas economy. As it improves the economy in the border area, it improves my business, said Brown. "Its created so many jobs and so much opportunity on the border, the robust economy is whats beneficial to my business. Glaz-Tech isnt involved in importing and exporting, but Brown says a new home construction boom resulting from the heavy trade and resulting job opportunities -- near the border has fueled the companys expansion. The area is growing faster than the infrastructure needs can keep up with it, said Brown. He attributes that growth to NAFTA, and said there is more room for businesses to come in. He said the thought of the U.S. backing out of NAFTA spooks him. "It really scares me a lot," said Brown. "It would make it difficult to have any business to do because we are so interdependent with Mexico right now." Pacheco agreed. "We dont live in a black and white world. If you make a move here you have to understand youre affecting the whole industrial sector. And youre affecting American jobs and youre affecting American and foreign investment," said Pacheco. NAFTA has also helped increase household incomes, created jobs and expanded infrastructure in the southwest borderland, according to University of Texas at El Paso economics professor Dr. Tom Fullerton. When NAFTA was enacted in January of 1994, the unemployment rate in El Paso, Texas was 12.1%, according to government data. By the year 2000, the unemployment rate was 6.7% and has continued to drop. El Paso averaged 4.9% unemployment in 2016, the lowest since 1975. In March, the most recent number available, the unemployment rate was 5.3%. "If this is what international trade treaties do, then give me some more international trade treaties," said Fullerton. NAFTA has also had a visible impact on infrastructure in El Paso and the surrounding area. Highway 136/178 which runs from El Paso into New Mexico was described as a glorified cow trail before NAFTA. Now it's a four-lane highway that leads to a sprawling industrial park in Santa Teresa; where companies like Georgia-Pacific, Southwest Steel Coil, Northwire and Interceramic have massive offices (tens of thousands of square feet). Before NAFTA, Santa Teresa was home to four major companies, today there are almost 60. Down the street from those offices is the Santa Teresa Commercial Port of Entry into Mexico. "Thats a consequence of all of the business opportunities that are created by international commerce with Mexico," said Fullerton. In New Mexico, trade with Mexico has increased 3000 percent since 1999, according to Pacheco. He said at a time when New Mexicos main economic drivers of petroleum, government and tourism are weak, trade can offset the drop. "Trade with Mexico is our best hope of diversifying New Mexicos economy," said Pacheco. "If we dont find a way to diversify our economy, New Mexico [which] hasnt been doing so well economically, is going to be in even more trouble in the future." Fullerton and Pacheco agreed if they were the ones deciding how to renegotiate NAFTA, they would expand it or deepen the agreement. They said they hoped Trump would keep the energy sector front of mind during any renegotiations. They also said strengthening the rules of origin regulations for manufacturing would be beneficial, as they said some overseas companies are currently taking advantage of loopholes allowing them to import parts used to manufacture goods. As an example, under NAFTA traded goods are supposed to be made in North America. But while the goods are made in North America, some of the parts used to build them can be imported from other countries. They believe stronger regulations to prevent that would improve NAFTA. They also had their separate ideas. Fullerton thought the deal should be expanded to better include the e-commerce that occurs between all three countries. Pacheco thinks visas for workers going back and forth between the three countries should be improved. Its too complicated to have an agreement in which products flow easily, but then you restrict that labor, said Pacheco. But overall, the reviews for NAFTA in the borderland are positive. It may not be a perfect document, but I think its undeniable that Canada and Mexico are good neighbors, good allies and excellent trading partners, said Fullerton. Chris Soules, a former star of ABCs The Bachelor, has lawyered up, acquiring a high-powered legal team after he was charged with fleeing the scene of a deadly crash in Iowa. Soules was initially represented by attorney Molly Spellman during his Tuesday court appearance, but by Thursday he had switched his representation to high-profile defense lawyer Alfredo Parrish and two colleagues from his Des Moines law firm. Soules is facing a felony charge that carries up to five years in prison for the Monday accident that killed 66-year-old Kenneth Mosher. The sheriff says alcoholic beverages were found at the scene and police are trying to determine who had possessed them. Authorities say that Soules' truck rear-ended Mosher's tractor, throwing him into a ditch. Police audio shows that Soules called 911 to report that he had "rear-ended a guy on a tractor" and sought medical help for Mosher before he left the scene in another vehicle. SOULES' 911 CALL FROM CRASH REVEALED Soules was found at his home about 10 miles away from the scene of the accident, and he initially refused to answer his door for officers. He was arrested five hours after the crash after they obtained a warrant to enter the home. Soules was released on $10,000 bond Tuesday. He spent about 10 hours in the Buchanan County Jail. Soules, who is required to wear an ankle bracelet for monitoring, is due in court next week for a preliminary hearing. He is charged with violating a law that requires drivers involved in fatal accidents to remain at the scene "except to seek necessary aid or to report the accident to law enforcement authorities." Investigators are looking into who drove Soules away from the crash scene and whether alcohol, speed or texting played a role in the crash. 'BACHELOR' STAR ARRESTED FOR LEAVING CRASH SCENE Soules new legal team said the former "Bachelor" star "acted reasonably" by calling 911 and tried to resuscitate Mosher. A statement issued Thursday from the firm and Soules' publicist argued audio of the 911 call showed that initial portrayals of Soules having fled the scene were misleading. The statement noted that Soules identified himself on the call and "explained his role in the terrible accident." It added that he tried to perform CPR on the victim and stayed until emergency medical personnel arrived two facts that aren't clear on the call. The call featured someone performing CPR but it wasn't clear that it was Soules, who told the dispatcher that he didn't know the technique. The call was abruptly ended by Soules, who police say then "took off" in a truck. "His attorneys are confident that once all the evidence is made public, it will show Soules acted reasonably and did everything in his power to provide aid to Mr. Mosher," the statement said, adding that everyone "in this close-knit farming community is mourning Mr. Mosher's passing." On Tuesday, Soules representatives issued a statement that read in part, [Soules] was devastated to learn that Kenneth Mosher, the other person in the accident, passed away. His thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Moshers family." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Rebel Wilson is fighting back. The "Pitch Perfect" star has filed a lawsuit against Bauer Media for defamation, claiming that a series of magazine articles published by the company cost her movie roles by painting her as a serial liar. Wilson's lawyer, Renee Enbom, said during a court hearing on Friday that the Australian-born actress would present evidence that the articles published by Bauer Media in 2015 led to her film contracts being terminated. Wilson's lawsuit, filed last year, accuses the Australian publisher of damaging her reputation by printing articles that alleged she had used a fake name and lied about her age and upbringing in Australia. The articles appeared online and in print in several Australian magazines including Woman's Day and The Australian Women's Weekly. The lawsuit claims that Wilson was humiliated and lost out on roles because of the stories. On Friday, her lawyer told the Victoria state Supreme Court in Melbourne that the articles tarnished Wilson's reputation in Hollywood as a fair and honest person. Justice John Dixon ordered Wilson to provide the court with her film contracts and evidence of all her earnings since 2011. The actress, known for her roles in comedies such as "Bridesmaids," is seeking unspecified damages from the publisher. She did not appear in court on Friday but is expected to give evidence at the trial, which is scheduled to begin on May 22. She's not the first celebrity to go after the magazine publisher. In 2013, Tom Cruise went after Bauer Media and Blake Shelton has also taken legal action against the company. Bauer Media did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. As part of their new #OpenYourWorld ad campaign, Heineken conducted a social experiment that couldve gone horribly, horribly wrong. The beer brand decided to take people with vastly different political and sociological beliefs, put them inside a secluded room with construction tools-- and gave them alcohol. But instead of fighting or removing themselves from the room, each of the participants reacted in a shockingly adult manner and because of that, the ad is earning plenty of accolades online. BUD LIGHT SLAMMED FOR GIVING HOMELESS PEOPLE BEER DURING MARKETING STUNT The commercial begins by introducing three pairs of strangers, and soon, each pair is placed in a room and asked to assemble a few pieces of furniture. At first, the participants do not know the others feelings on issues like climate change, transgender rights and feminism which is good, because Heineken paired a climate change denier with a believer; a transgender woman with a man who thinks that a female should be a female; and a feminist with a man who thinks feminism is akin to man-hating. While assembling the furniture, each pair of participants was then asked to answer specific questions about themselves, and, somewhat surprisingly, all three pairs took a liking to each other. Upon completion of their construction duties, the pairs were asked to sit down at the structure they just built which turned out to be a bar and watch a short film. That film was comprised of the one-on-one interviews that Heineken conducted prior to the experiment, and it revealed that each participant was sitting across from a person of polar opposite beliefs. They were then given the choice of leaving, or staying to share a beer at the bar they just built. Not only did all three pairs decide to relax and discuss their issues like rational adults, but each seemed more open to understanding their partners' points of view. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS The four-minute commercial, Worlds Apart, has already been viewed more than 3.6 million times since debuting on Heinekens YouTube channel on April 20. The ad is also receiving plentiful praise on social media, with many celebrating Heineken for handling a politically charged issues better than Pepsi, which, in early April, debuted a commercial where Kendall Jenner halted a potential riot by giving a cop a can of Pepsi. The commercial, which many saw as insensitive to movements like Black Lives Matter, became a PR nightmare for the soda giant, eventually prompting Pepsi to retract the ad and issue an apology. Hey @pepsi, this is how you make an ad about bridging the political divide. https://t.co/hLtnZkCAos Michelle Ye Hee Lee (@myhlee) April 27, 2017 Wow. Heineken killing it... Absolutely amazing video. https://t.co/4xaEYLywQF Tim Pool (@Timcast) April 27, 2017 @Reuters Has anyone here watched the new Heineken ad? Need more of that. #heineken Charlie Jo (@CharlieJoJo1) April 28, 2017 On the other hand, at least one social media commenter says Heinekens ad was more tone-deaf than Pepsis for ignoring the real problems that minorities, women and trans people face. Others simply still aren't sold on the idea of food industry conglomerates using politics in any way to sell products. Why are we looking to beverage companies for anything? || Heineken Just Put Out The Antidote to Pepsi's Ad https://t.co/zYqA8AiHs4 Kate Gardiner (@KateGardiner) April 28, 2017 WHAT DO #Pepsi & #Heineken have in common? Moral arrogance. Bad ethics. Deception. Only diff is one is more subtle. https://t.co/KQynOa6UmP Alan Kelly (@playmakeralan) April 28, 2017 KENDALL JENNER'S PEPSI AD DIDN'T REALLY HURT PEPSI, SAYS SURVEY Heineken feels their experiment was a success. The result was pretty life-affirming, said Cindy Tervoort, Heinekens marketing director, in a statement to TODAY. "Finding common ground with each other does bring down the preconceived barriers we put up and make us more open." Humpback whales are dying at an alarming rate off America's East Coast with more than 40 washing ashore in little over a year, and U.S. scientists are investigating why it is happening. An unusual mortality event has been declared for East Coast humpback whales, defined as "a stranding that is unexpected; involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate response. Stranding, in this case, means the whale has died. In response to a large increase in the humpback whale death toll along the Eastern Seaboard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced an investigation on Thursday into the deaths, which have been occurring on the Atlantic coast, stretching from Maine to North Carolina. Last week, a dead, decomposing humpback whale washed ashore in Delaware, making it the 42nd death in the region since the beginning of 2016. Jennifer Goebel, a spokesperson for NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region, told Fox News that they would categorize this as unusual. This number is over and above what we would consider normal and expected, she explained. Since 2000, the number of humpback deaths in the Atlantic region has averaged 15 per year. Goebel pointed out that not all of these are known to be human-caused mortalities meaning they were not necessarily killed, adding that whales may die for other reasons. NOAA website names several of the greatest known threats to humpback whales: the entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, whale watch harassment, habitat impacts, and harvest. North Carolina had the highest number of stranded humpbacks, including 5 in 2016, and a total of 6 dead already in 2017. In addition to Delaware and North Carolina, the rest of the 42 deaths occurred in Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia. A newborn humpback whale weights around one ton and measures about 15 feet long. As an adult, the marine mammal can grow to up to 60 feet long and weigh in at 40 tons. Females are larger the males, and the species has a 50 year lifespan. According to NOAAs website, the majestic creatures are considered the favorite of whale watchers, as they frequently perform aerial displays, such as breaching (jumping out of the water), or slapping the surface with their pectoral fins, tails, or heads. Images of the stranded, dead whales are disturbing, and NOAA plans to get to the bottom of the crisis. Goebel said NOAA hopes the investigation will allow experts to gain some insight into the causes and factors that may be contributing to this unusually high number of humpback whale mortalities. We can confirm that 10 of the 20 whales necropsied showed signs of having been struck by a vessel, and that the vessel strike was the cause of death, she shared. However, for the other 10, we don't have definitive causes. That is also the case for the 21 (now 22 as of this morning) that we did not necropsy. We don't have any theories at this time as to why the numbers have increased so dramatically over the last year and four months, but we hope that the UME investigation will shed some light on the causes. The answer may lie in a variety of potential factors. There may be changes in prey distribution that may be affecting where the whales are, and that may be contributing to a change in the whales' distribution, Goebel said. Or there could be some other factors at work. Asked if NOAA expects this alarming trend to continue, Goebel admitted that its hard to say without knowing the cause of the increase in humpback deaths, but they hope not. The human body is not made to sit in an office all day. Not everyone can work at a job requiring manual labor, however, and these sit-down careers often accomplish great things. Those of you not getting enough daily physical activity should focus on exercising more outside of work. In doing so, youll be preventing many health problems, and even treating chronic diseases like diabetes. According to one study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found a direct correlation between diabetes and exercise. Of those who participated in the study, one out of ten diabetics who exercised regularly could forgo his prescribed medications. AVOID TRANS FATS IN FOODS AT ALL COSTS In fact, new guidelines on several chronic conditions recommend trying exercise first. When you think about all the normal benefits of exercise, you can easily understand why it helps. Exercise improves endurance, builds muscle, burns fat, and increases flexibilityall factors that lessen symptoms of certain diseases. Chronic Conditions Although exercise provides a well-rounded arsenal of benefits to everyone, it can prevent and treat several chronic diseases specifically. The following is a list of some of these conditions and how they are improved through exercise: Diabetes In the case of diabetes, diabetics who exercise regularly build muscle, making them less likely to store extra glucose as fat. The exercise also lowers glucose in the blood and improves insulin sensitivity, important factors in helping diabetics control their glucose levels. Diabetics should exercise most days of the week, alternating medium- and high-intensity exercise. Recently, the American Diabetes Association gave new guidelines for diabetics during sedentary periods. Now, the ADA is recommending that diabetics get moving every half hour, doing small exercises like torso twists and arm or leg extensions. This recommendation will help people to still manage glucose levels during times of inactivity. Asthma Another chronic disease that exercise can actually help improve is asthma. Many people have the impression that exercise may cause asthma attacks. However, attacks induced by exercise only happen when people do not understand or manage their asthma properly. THE DUKAN DIET: STAY SAFE WHEN DIETING Also, cold weather does affect the frequency of asthma attacks. Those with asthma may need to move their exercise indoors during the winter months. On the other hand, several small studies have shown that exercise improves asthma symptoms. The exercise can help to strengthen a persons lungs, preventing attacks from happening as often. To find out the effects of exercise on asthma, researchers from the Cochrane Collaboration explored 19 different studies. In each of these studies, participants exercised at least twenty minutes each day for three days per week. As a result, participants experienced fewer asthmatic symptoms than those who did not exercise. Arthritis Again, you may also be surprised that exercise lessens pain related to arthritis. Those suffering from the condition may find movement in arthritic joints difficult. Still, they should make an effort. LOSE WEIGHT NATURALLY WITH THESE FOUR REMEDIES Regular exercise loosens and flexes the joints stiffened by arthritis, making movement easier over time. It also strengthens the muscles around the joint, helping those muscles to provide adequate support. If these muscles do not stay strong, the poor support will worsen the arthritis. The Mayo Clinic recommends performing a variety of exercises, including range-of-motion exercises and strength training. Those with arthritis may also benefit from gentle exercises like yoga. With all the rewards that exercise has to offer, every person should implement a strong workout routine, especially those suffering chronic diseases. They will experience lessened symptoms and may even get to forgo their medications. As a result, these people will find more freedom with these conditions than they ever thought possible. This article first appeared on AskDrManny.com. In a moving essay on the blogging platform Medium, the father of a baby born without a brain whose story went viral explained the devastating moment he and his wife discovered she would be stillborn. We felt cheated, Royce Young wrote. What a total rip-off. The word I still have circling in my head is disappointment. That doesnt really do it justice, because its profound disappointment. Like the kind that is going to haunt me forever. PARENTS WHO CARRIED BABY WITHOUT BRAIN TO TERM SAY HEARTBREAKING GOODBYES Young and his wife, Keri, had shared their story about their unborn daughter Eva, who at 19 weeks was diagnosed with anencephaly. Evas brain was missing the frontal lobe and the top part of her skull. Within minutes, Keri asked her doctor whether carrying Eva to term would mean that her organs could be donated. We decided to continue, and chose the name Eva for our girl, which means giver of life, Young wrote in his latest post. The mission was simple: Get Eva to full-term, welcome her into this world to die, and let her give the gift of life to some other hurting family. It was a practical approach, with an objective for an already settled ending point. The Youngs consulted with LifeShare, and Oklahoma-based organ procurement organization, and arranged for Evas organs to be donated, but she would have to be born with a heartbeat for them to be viable. Keri was scheduled to hit full term on April 16, so doctors scheduled a May 2 caesarian-section birth. Part of the difficulty of the decision to carry on was in the physical pregnancy, and the mental burden of carrying a baby for 20 more weeks knowing she would die, Young wrote. The kicks and punches to Keris bladder serving as a constant reminder of what was inside. Still, Young wrote that they found joy in Evas pregnancy as they began talking to her and telling their son, Harrison, about his baby sister. Along the way, Young said he allowed himself to fantasize about the potential lives that Eva would be saving with her organs. He envisioned attending graduations and weddings of the recipients. We had to make concessions with the transplant doctor, things like agreeing to intubate Eva shortly after delivery. But we were willing, because regardless of our parental instincts to want to love and hold her for as long as we could, we also very clearly understood the inevitable, he wrote. There was no changing the fact that she would die. And we didnt want to let five extra minutes with us get in the way of what could be a lifetime for someone else. However, on April 16, Keri stopped feeling Evas movements. An ultrasound revealed that her heart had stopped beating, and Eva was stillborn. We had tried to do everything right, tried to think of others, tried to take every possible step to make this work, and it didnt, Young wrote in his post. No organ donation. Not even for the failsafe, research. Keri was induced on April 17, and Eva was born minutes later. Though the Youngs were grieving for the potential hope they had found in Evas organ donations, a coordinator at LifeShare was trying to contact them at the exact moment of her birth to let them know she had found a match for her eyes. The occasion marked the first time in the state of Oklahoma that a donor would give two full eyes to a recipient. When nurses handed the Youngs their superhero, her eyes stayed closed, and they fought the urge to take a peek at what color they might be. Young said that while he grieves not having had the chance to meet Eva as her father even just for a few seconds, his new fantasies about his daughter involve imaging what her eyes will see. In some ways, though, Im more excited about her eyes being her living legacy, Young wrote. I keep thinking about looking into them some day, but more than anything, about her eyes seeing her mom, dad and brother. In addition to donating her eyes, LifeSpan is creating a newborn protocol for organ donation with other organizations, and are calling it the Eva Protocol. Young's post appears in full here. As kids, most of us are taught that sharing is a sign of good character, and an important lesson to learn young and carry into adulthood. But in a recent Facebook post, a Missouri mom took the opposite stance on that notion and started an online debate over the real merits of the practice. MY CHILD IS NOT REQUIRED TO SHARE WITH YOURS, Alanya Kolberg, of Springfield, writes in the April 19 post, which had received over 270,000 reactions, nearly 700 comments, and more than 236,000 shares as of Friday morning. 7 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER SAY TO A WOMAN TRYING TO GET PREGNANT Kolberg, a mother of three, recounts taking her son Carson to the park and watching six boys swarm him, demanding that he share his transformer, Minecraft figure, and truck. As she watched Carson clutch the toys to his chest, he shot her a look of worry, and she let him know he didnt have to share if he didnt want to, she writes in the post. You can tell them no, Carson, she recalls telling him. Just say no. You dont have to say anything else. WILL SHOWERING WITH YOUR KID SCAR THEM FOR LIFE? When other parents gave her dirty looks, Kolberg felt prompted to speak out on sharing and the messaging the lesson may send kids. If I, an adult, walked into the park eating a sandwich, am I required to share my sandwich with strangers in the park? No! she writes. Would any well-mannered adult, a stranger, reach out to help themselves to my sandwich, and get huffy if I pulled it away? No again. She wraps up the post by arguing that sharing becomes negative when it means putting others needs and wants before our own. The goal is to teach our children how to function as adults, Kolberg writes. While I do know some adults who clearly never learned how to share as children, I know far more who don't know how to say no to people, or how to set boundaries, or how to practice self-care. Myself included. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS The next time your snowflake runs to you, upset that another child isn't sharing, she continues, please remember that we don't live in a world where it's conducive to give up everything you have to anyone just because they said so, and I'm not going to teach my kid that that's the way it works. In the corresponding comments, some parents have taken issue with Kolberg calling other children snowflakes, but many of the commenters agree with her argument. The recent news that a grand jury in Michigan has indicted three people, including two doctors, for female genital mutilation is a welcome development. As the first ever prosecutions of this crime in the United States, the case shines much needed light on an underground human rights abuse that has been going on for too long. Female genital mutilation has been deliberately covered up by those practicing it here or sending their daughters overseas during summer break to be mutilated outside of the law. Yet, ham-fisted attempts to appear culturally sensitive by the likes of the New York Times reporting on this story will push these issues underground once more. The newspapers Health and Science Editor wrote that referring to female genital mutilation as genital cutting is less culturally loaded and will help to bridge a gap between those who practice FGM and those who campaign against it. In her eyes its a case of Africa vs. the West. As an African who was subjected to FGM, now living in the West, allow me to help bridge that gap by explaining what were really talking about beneath the weasel words genital cutting. There are five types of female genital mutilation performed on girls from as young as five years of age. Four of them are unarguably mutilation, and the other is designed to symbolize mutilation. I will start with the mildest. 1. The nick: The girl is held down, her legs pushed apart and a needle is used to prick her clitoris. The incision is similar to a finger prick test for diabetes, blood comes out and the girl is considered cleansed. Often there is a ritual with a little party to celebrate the procedure. 2. Female circumcision: The second method in terms of severity is often compared to male circumcision. The hood of the clitoris is cut off, in some cases the tip of the clitoris is cut off, known as clitoridectomy. In this form, an otherwise normally functioning body part is sliced off and thrown out. Disfiguring a little girls genitals in this way cannot rationally be considered anything but mutilation. 3. Intermediate infibulation: In the third form of FGM, as much of the clitoris as possible is dug out and removed. The inner labia are cut off and the outer labia are sewn together leaving two small holes for urination and menstruation. In places where this is done without medical intervention girls have been known to bleed to death. After infibulation is done it is imperceptible what has taken place when the girl stands up with her legs together, but in the obstetricians position it is clearly visible that parts of her genitals have been removed and sewn up. Sadly, we are only just past half way and female genital mutilation gets worse. No doubt setting out these practices in detail is disturbing but it is crucial that we speak openly about what is taking place rather than shroud it in euphemism so as not to cause offence. 4. Total infibulation: In the fourth type of FGM the clitoris and inner labia are cut off and the outer labia are cut or scraped off too, then sewn up. When the girl stands, even with her legs closed, her genitals clearly look different. 5. Vaginal fusing: In the fifth type of FGM, which is rarely discussed, all of the fourth type is done and then the inner walls of the vagina are scratched to cause bleeding and the sewing is again done. The girls feet are tied together in an effort to fuse the two sides of the vagina with scar tissue to close it up. Children can die undergoing this. It is hard for people outside of communities practicing FGM to understand what is taking place. One example that has stayed with me over the years was a woman in the Netherlands that I translated for. I accompanied her to visit an obstetrician as she was having great difficulty with urination and menstruation. She showed the doctor her genitals after being subjected to the fifth and most severe type of FGM with her genitals completely removed. The stunned doctor asked if she had been burned. He could not believe that what had been done to her was deliberate, he assumed it must have been a horrific accident. But, it was no accident. Its for women like her that I started the AHA Foundation as a resource to help women and girls who are truly bridging the gap between worlds and cultures. They are living in the United States under the protection of our laws and Constitution but suffering human rights abuses imported from overseas. The aim of FGM in all its forms is to control female sexuality. The clitoris is removed to take physical pleasure from sex and reduce the libido. In its more severe forms, involving sewing the genitals up, the aim is to ensure the girl is a virgin on her wedding night. Many women must be surgically re-opened (or simply with a pen knife or razor blade) in order to consummate their marriage. The consequences of FGM are ongoing psychological and physical harms from infections to fistulas and even death. Even in its most mild form, the nick procedure involves a young girl being held down by her loved ones and a needle poked into one of her most sensitive body parts. The moment this is done the child becomes sexually aware, she can now be a temptation to men, she can destroy her familys so-called honor and must now behave in certain ways around boys to demonstrate her modesty. The debate around nicking, which had been previously settled, was revived again last year by an article in the Journal of Medical Ethics. The authors argued that nicking the vulva or cutting out the hood of the clitoris (FGM forms 1 and 2 above) are less harmful and should be tolerated by liberal societies. These practices, they suggest, are ethically acceptable and not contraventions of girls human rights. Indeed, like the New York Times, these academics argue that referring to modest forms of FGM mutilation is culturally insensitive and demonizes important cultural practices. Yet the meaning of those important cultural practices is not examined beneath their ethical lens. Notoriously academics and politically correct apologists like them assume any claim of culture is by rights a good thing and trumps other considerations. Seeing as they are so reluctant to critique cultural practices, other than those of powerful, white men, I will do it for them. The nick symbolizes and communicates to little girls that their natural state is unclean and that pain must be inflicted on their genitals to make them acceptable to their communities. FGM is the symptom of harmful cultural beliefs that girls and women must be sexually pure, modest and that their bodies exist to breed. Whether its justified by being a Muslim, Egyptian, Indian, Jewish, black, a woman or any other category venerated in the identity politics pantheon, these beliefs are not compatible with liberal societies that profess to ensure the human rights of their citizens. I encourage anyone interested to stop this barbaric practice happening in the United States to contact us www.ahafoundation.org. Its a dark day for free speech in America, tweeted Ann Coulter this week after her talk was canceled at the University of California, Berkeley, following threats of violent protests. Indeed, when it comes to the survival of civil dialogue, ominous signs are on the horizon. Our social media feeds are full of disturbing videos of young campus protesters screaming, breaking glass, starting fires and even engaging in physical attacksall in the name of tolerance and fighting bigotry. Its enough to make the hearts of even the most valiant free-speech advocates sink with dismay. Strangely though, as a former journalism student, it wasnt those inflammatory images that most saddened me. It was a more subtle one the indifferent, blank-faced stares of student protesters who responded with stony silence when a fellow student reporter asked them to explain their perspective. There was no passion for sharing their story, no academic thirst for debate, no intellectual curiosity to hear another viewpoint. Thats because their goal wasnt to start a conversationit was to shut it down, to put in their own shouted words. And that group-enforced silence (which is not an isolated incident) disturbed me more than any issue at stake in the actual protest. It feels like were watching the closing of the American mind in real time. Ironically, liberal campuses once celebrated for birthing the free-speech movement are now birthing a new generation of youth who take pride in efforts to squelch unwelcome viewpointsat almost any cost. Today, those with a socially conservative or faith-based perspective are the ones most passionately calling for a free exchange of ideaswhile many traditionally liberal advocates, with a reputation for being open-minded, are promoting censorship. But we cant blame that on the students they are simply mirroring the actions they see modeled by adults. Case in point: Friday, Focus on the Familys president, Jim Daly, is speaking on building bridges and unity at the Mayors Prayer Breakfast in Fort Lauderdale. The theme of the event is Together. But apparently some sexual advocacy tolerance groups would rather keep people apartthey are asking organizers to disinvite Daly and for others to boycott the event because of Focus biblical based stance on marriage and sexuality. So now a Christian who holds to traditional, biblical beliefs is disqualified from a prayer breakfast? Good grief. But not all is dismal on the free-speech front: Even as campus efforts to silence unpopular ideas reach their boiling point, there is another student movement happening that gives reason for hope: On Friday, April 28, more than 45,000 teens and college students are expected to participate in Day of Dialogue. Annually sponsored by Focus on the Family, the student-led event enables participants to engage in a free exchange of ideas on some of the most sensitive, hot-button cultural issues of our dayincluding sexuality and marriage. Yes, its true, these Christian students often see their viewpoints silenced, or even openly ridiculed. (Thats no surprise when you consider the studies that reveal the preponderance of left-leaning faculty members and professors on college campuses.) But for them, resorting to inflammatory, insulting language to fight censorship is not a viable option. As people of faith, they have a different perspective: They follow the model provided by Jesus in the Bible: He didnt back away from speaking truth, but neither did he hold back from pouring out compassionate love on hurting and vulnerable people. Its that unique perspective that inspired Alicia, a recent Day of Dialogue participant, to respond with courageous grace when high school peers mocked her event with a Satans Not Dead sign. Rather than hysterically demanding that adults censor the offending messages, she responded winsomely, using as it a conversation starter. She explained to the local newspaper that its true, Satan isnt dead, just like Gods not dead, so you have to touch on that too. Undeterred, she hosted four Day of Dialogue discussions during free periods. And she is just one of 45,000. So while I agree it is a dark day for free-speech, I also see signs up of hope in the faces of students like thesewho still have faith in the power of truth to compete in the marketplace of ideas, and most importantly, have the courage to call for more dialogue, not less. The alt-radical left loons continue to expose themselves as out-of-control fascists hell-bent on stifling any speech in America that dares to challenge their politically correct worldview. What happened in Berkeley should trouble all of us, because it's our constitutional right to free speech that's being trampled upon. College campuses in this country are no longer environments for learning, robust debate and the free and open exchange of ideas. Rational thinking has been replaced by safe spaces and micro-aggressions. Campuses are now closely guarded places where holier-than-thou left-wing liberals are indoctrinating our kids. This madness has got to stop. It's time to take a stand with me now before it's too late. In the case of Ann Coulter, all she was going to do Thursday at Berkeley was give a speech about America enforcing immigration laws. She explained this to my colleague, Tucker Carlson. My seditious and hateful speech, the theme of it was going to be -- obviously, it was going to be a searingly brilliant speech on immigration, but the main point of which was federal written law on the books about immigration, developed over generations by both Democrats and Republicans, should be enforced, she said. You weren't going to call for war or violence or anything like that? Carlson pressed. You were just going to say existing laws ought to be enforced? And that was considered too radical? Carlson had it right, Coulter said. She merely intended to tell her audience that local governments ought to respect and help enforce federal law. Snowflake liberals threatened violence and feigned outrage all because Coulter wanted to talk about enforcing laws already on the books. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these snowflake liberals freaking out and shutting down any and all conservative voices. Earlier this month at Claremont McKenna College, agitators cut short a speech from conservative author Heather Mac Donald by using what she called, "brute, totalitarian force." A couple weeks ago at Duquesne University in Pennsylvania, a student group actually protested a proposed Chick-fil-A restaurant -- which I love -- on campus, claiming that it could jeopardize the school's safe spaces. We are dealing with the sick reality that our kids are being subjected to fascism on campuses every day. If you don't subscribe to the rigid, left-wing ideology being pushed by the so-called tolerant, alt-radical left, you're going to be shut down and silenced by any means necessary. Fight back. This madness has to stop. Adapted from Sean Hannity's monologue on "Hannity," April 27, 2017 Marie Harf is a contributor for FOX News Channel (FNC), providing political and national security analysis and insight across FNC and FOX Business Networks (FBN) daytime and primetime programming. She joined the network in 2017.Read More Currently the Executive Director of the Serve America PAC, Harf advises military, intelligence and service-oriented leaders on how to utilize their backgrounds to get involved in politics. Previously, Harf served as Secretary of State John Kerry's Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications and as the State Departments Deputy Spokesperson. In 2012, Harf was in charge of national security and foreign policy issues for President Barack Obama on his re-election campaign. She began her career at the Central Intelligence Agency in 2006, serving first as an analyst on Middle East issues and later as its media spokesperson. Harf received her Masters degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and graduated with honors from Indiana University, earning a Bachelors degree in Political Science with concentrations in Jewish Studies and Russian and Eastern European Studies. She is a native of Granville, Ohio. U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley accused Russia on Thursday of providing cover for the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons and denial of desperately needed aid to hundreds of thousands of besieged people and she urged international pressure on Moscow "to stop this." Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador Petr Iliichev retorted that Russia, Turkey and Iran are working to ensure compliance with a cease-fire in Syria and he pointedly asked why the U.S. and its Western allies didn't say a single word about what they are doing to improve the situation. The sharp exchange took place during the monthly Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria. Iliichev said earlier that, on the whole, the Dec. 30 cease-fire is holding, though there are movements of "terrorists and armed groups" and incidents undermining it that are affecting the delivery of aid. U.N. humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien told the council the already bad humanitarian situation is deteriorating, noting that not a single aid convoy reached a besieged area in Syria this month "due to a lack of authorizations," mainly by President Bashar Assad's government. O'Brien also decried "starve and surrender" tactics being used primarily by the government to arrange local agreements with opposition groups under siege to evacuate people who have had no access to food or medical care. While this has reduced the number of people in besieged areas to just over 620,000, O'Brien stressed that the evacuations "are not in line with humanitarian principles." He said many evacuees were forced to leave their homes and continue to suffer, some in areas which come under regular attack. Haley accused Syrian troops of taking medical supplies, including baby formula and kidney dialysis equipment, off convoys and selling them on the black market at inflated prices, saying "this is a major business in Syria." "Russia must live up to its promise to deliver real peace talks and a real political solution," she said. "The sieges of the Syrian people must be lifted. The war profiteering and the theft of medical supplies must be stopped. The Syrians in desperate need of humanitarian assistance must receive it." Speaking last as this month's council president, Haley noted that many council members had called for pressure on the Syrian regime. But she said Assad who "clearly believes it is necessary to starve hundreds of thousands of people in order to remain in power" is the wrong target. "All eyes and all pressure now need to go to Russia because they are the ones that could stop this if they wanted to," she said, urging council members not to continue "to give Russia a pass for allowing this terrible situation to occur." She said she will continue to press for Security Council action even if Russia keeps vetoing resolutions on Syria, "because it is our voice that needs to be heard, because I can tell you the Syrian people don't care about diplomacy. ... They're just trying to live their very last days." Russia's Iliichev, taking the floor after she spoke, asked Haley: "How are you bringing pressure to bear on your moderate or non-moderate opposition that you have influence on" to try to end the six-year conflict that has killed over 400,000 people. He noted that O'Brien also referred to areas "that are surrounded or controlled by terrorists," where it is exceedingly difficult to deliver aid. In his speech earlier, Iliichev said Russia doesn't share criticism of local agreements stressing that they save lives and avoid further casualties. "The ongoing criticism of the Syrian government and the emotional calls to the country guarantors (of the cease-fire) including Russia don't help anything," he said. "We're carrying out our obligations in good faith," the Russian envoy said. "There are other important players, too, who unfortunately aren't hurrying to meet us halfway. Only a collective approach here can create a positive effect." California Gov. Jerry Brown has unsealed previously secret memos related to repair plans and safety issues at the damaged Oroville Dam, but his administration's alleged refusal to be transparent about the contract bidding process and overall project costs has some state legislators frustrated. In testimony before the state Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee hearing on Tuesday, the acting director of Californias Department of Water Resources (DWR), Bill Croyle, admitted he knew none of the details of the $275 million contract awarded to repair the Oroville Dam, which was damaged in February. I give them credit for opening up the reports and that is good moving forward. But we have to make sure the repairs are done on time and on budget. The acting director could not tell us who was responsible for negotiating the contract. He should know, said State Sen. Jim Nielsen, who sits on the budget subcommittee that oversees the water project, and whose district includes Oroville. The state awarded the $274 million contract to the Nebraska-based Kiewit Infrastructure West, which had proposed the lowest-cost bid among three companies. However, Kiewits offer was $44 million more than a $231.7 million estimated by DWR engineers and almost $100 million more than initial estimates by the state. We need to know more about these contracts and the deliverables. We want to know what benchmarks have been set and what penalties will be enforced if they go over the time or budget, Nielsen told Fox News in an interview after Tuesdays hearing. While the Brown administration did allow some light to be shined on repair plans, state officials continue to cite national security concerns as justification for keeping the veil on the Kiewit contract. David Gutierrez, an adviser to the DWR, told reporters in a Monday conference call that Kiewit would be responsible for rebuilding and stabilizing the dams main and auxiliary spillways before Novembers rainy season but would not address the full scope of their work. Gutierrez is the former chief of the division of safety of dams at DWR, which has the responsibility to ensure safety of the emergency and auxiliary spillway. The actions of the Brown administration have been under scrutiny since Feb. 7, when a crack opened in the main spillway at the dam. As rain poured down on the state, state officials told the public there was no imminent danger. Four days later, water flowed over the emergency spillway for the first time in the states history and one day later officials evacuated almost 200,000 residents. The Brown administrations reluctance to be upfront about the costs is not surprising to Anthony Francois, a senior attorney with public interest group Pacific Legal Foundation. The lack of transparency [about the costs of Oroville] is understandable when you take in the context of the governors other pet project. High-speed rail is coming off the tracks and it is mired in controversy, well off the initial scheduled and facing escalating costs every day, says Francois. In 2014, the foundation went to court to block the sale of $8.6 billion in California High Speed Rail bonds, asserting that the state was attempting to evade statutory and constitutional accountability. The California High Speed Rail Authority was given its latest court victory on Wednesday when a California judge allowed the bullet train project to move forward, but delayed a final ruling on the case. The fear of Nielsen and his colleagues that the costs of Oroville repairs could spiral out of control are well-founded. The high-speed rail project began in 2008 when California voters approved a proposition to direct $9.95 billion in bond seed money with the pledge that construction of the first segment will go forward after the funding was secured. At that time the cost was estimated to be $40 billion, but has escalated to $64 billion and construction is years behind schedule. Brown vetoed efforts to bring accountability to the high-speed rail project, contending the legislation was unnecessary. As with other projects of this magnitude, state law requires strict standards of accountability and transparency, and I have every expectation that the authority will meet these high standards, said the governor in his veto announcement. Brown also vigorously fought to defeat Californias Proposition 53, which would have required voter approval for the state to sell a total of more than $2 billion worth of revenue bonds for large public works projects. In January, the Los Angeles Times obtained a confidential Federal Railroad Administration risk analysis that warned the actual cost could be double original estimates. According to the report, it could cost $9.5 billion to $10 billion, compared with the original budget of $6.4 billion. Two months later, the two firms awarded the contracts to build the high-speed rail requested an additional $300 million on their fixed-price contracts. On April, the Trump administration approved $274 million in federal recovery aid for Oroville, but the funds are directed toward preliminary repairs of the dam and are expected to run out in May. President Trump signed a one-week stopgap spending bill Friday night to avert a governement shutdown that Congress passed earlier in the day, giving lawmakers more time to negotiate a broader budget deal as lawmakers also pushed off talks on a new health care package. The spending measure passed the Senate by voice vote after clearing the House on a bipartisan 382-30 vote. It now goes to President Trump's desk. Lawmakers had been facing a midnight deadline to pass a new funding bill. They will now continue to work on a bigger, $1 trillion budget package, under a new deadline of next Friday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said earlier that bargainers were "very close" to an agreement. But underscoring lingering battles over environmental and financial regulations, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., continued to object to what he called "poison pill riders." But the bipartisan budget talks had progressed more smoothly after the White House dropped a threat to withhold payments that help lower-income Americans pay their medical bills and President Trump abandoned a demand for money for a border wall with Mexico. On the separate health care bill, House Republican leaders are still scrounging for votes from their own rank-and-file. There is no vote planned for Friday, meaning Trump will finish his first 100 days without a major legislative accomplishment. House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions, R-Texas, said its possible they could entertain a health care bill next week. A definite maybe, he said. Republicans have revised an earlier version to let states escape a requirement under President Barack Obama's 2010 law that insurers charge healthy and seriously ill customers the same rates. They could also be exempted from Obama's mandate that insurers cover a list of services like hospitalization and substance abuse treatment and from its prohibition against charging older customers more than triple their rates for younger ones. The overall legislation would cut the Medicaid program for low-income people, eliminate Obama's fines for people who don't buy insurance and provide generally lower subsidies. More than a dozen Republicans, mostly moderates, said they were opposing the legislation. Many others remained publicly uncommitted, putting party elders in a tough spot. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., wants to avoid an encore of last month's embarrassment, when he abruptly canceled a vote because of opposition from moderates and conservatives alike. On Wednesday, conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus announced their support for the revised health legislation. Fox News Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report. The next battle for supremacy between the U.S. and Russia is shaping up to be a lot chillier than the last Cold War with the Soviet superpower. In the Arctic Circle, the Russians are touting a new military base, a development that underscores how woefully behind the U.S. is in the ice race, in the words of former Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert Papp. We've got our minds on a lot of other things around the world, and we're not focused on the Arctic, Papp, who served as the State Departments special representative to the Arctic, told Fox News. Russia, on the other hand, is very connected. It's part of their culture. They appreciate the riches, the oil and gas reserves that they have along that very long coastline, and they are looking to exploit it for their own prosperity. The Arctic is less likely to be the site of a real war, Papp said, as it is the focus of a resource grab by Russia and China. The new Arctic base was unveiled recently by the Russian Defense Ministry, complete with an interactive tour on the ministry's website and photos of armed Russian troops riding reindeers. There's a lot of propaganda involved, Papp said, referring to President Vladimir Putin's visit in March to the Arctic Trefoil built on Franz Josef Land, an archipelago that belongs to Russia. Rather than be critical, and look at Russia and portray it as a Cold War, we ought to wake up and realize we need to be prepared in the Arctic as well, he said. TRUMP FACING PRESSURE TO COUNTER RUSSIA'S ARCTIC FLEET There are trillions of dollars of oil and gas reserves under the Arctic, deposits larger than those of Saudi Arabia. Russia and China are looking at ways to control future sea lanes being opened due to global warming, according to Papp. The Nagorskoye military airfield is 14,000 square miles -- its polar complex can house 150 troops in subzero conditions for 18 months at a time. Russia is clearly flexing its strategic capability in the Arctic, Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska said. The sea routes are opening and President Putin has said himself the Arctic is going to be the new Suez Canal. The Republican senator and Marine reservist has been trying for years to urge the U.S. to position itself in the Arctic. He applauds the Pentagons decision to reverse cuts made during the Obama administration to disband Alaskas 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division, whose specialized skills can be utilized in Arctic conditions. Recently, Chinese research vessels have been seen in the Arctic to explore new sea routes that would save days and money to ship products to Europe. Russia also is investing in ice breakers that will help them navigate through the Arctic waters, vastly outpacing the U.S. fleet development. We have two and one is broken right now, Sullivan lamented. The Russians have 40 and they are planning on building 13 more, including nuclear-powered ice breakers." The Trefoil is Russia's second Arctic base. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates there are 412 billion barrels of oil under the Arctic. Barack Obama, the former president, who has been criticized for taking in $400,000 for a Wall Street-sponsored speech, has reportedly pulled in the exact same amount for another speech in New York. The former president appeared at the A&E Networks advertising upfront at The Pierre Hotel in New York City where he was interviewed by historian Doris Kearns Goodwin for more than 90 minutes in front of the cable networks advertisers, The New York Post reported. Earlier this week, the 44th president came under strong scrutiny after it was learned that he agreed to speak at a health care event in September sponsored by Wall Street Bank Cantor Fitzgerald, a speech that would earn him $400,000. Surprisingly, Democratic Party leaders have come out to the media to harshly criticized Obama. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said she was troubled by that, when asked her opinion on Sirius XMs Alter Family Politics radio show Thursday morning but held back from criticizing the president directly. Obama spokesman Ed Schulz insisted the former president remains true to his progressive values, and said taking money from Wall Street is not the same as being bought by Wall Street. With regard to this or any speech involving Wall Street sponsors, I'd just point out that in 2008, Barack Obama raised more money from Wall Street than any candidate in history and still went on to successfully pass and implement the toughest reforms on Wall Street since FDR, Schulz said. Obama will have an opportunity to reconcile his evolving position on money and politics in his next memoir, for which he has already signed a $60 million deal. A proposal in the GOP-led Legislature in Texas calls for the state to ignore federal law and court rulings and forgo enforcing national regulations. State Rep. Cecil Bell's Texas Sovereignty Act allows for overriding federal laws through the same process as passing a bill. First a legislative committee, then the whole Legislature, would vote for nullification, and then the governor would sign his approval. "If Texas has to live under California's environmental regulations because the court says, 'Oh no, Texas can't be Texas, Texas has to be identical to California,' this would make a legislative process to address that," Bell, a Republican from Magnolia, about 45 miles north of Houston. Bell is "very thankful" Republicans control Washington but says he wants to prohibit future overreach from the federal government. Arizona already has approved a similar policy, and other states want to follow suit, despite the Constitution's Supremacy Clause, which stipulates federal laws and treaties take precedence. One key target could be legalization of gay marriage. In 2015, Bell introduced a bill prohibiting Texas from enforcing court orders sanctioning gay marriage a pre-emptive strike against the landmark Supreme Court decision later that year. The bill died on the last day to pass House legislation, but only amid Democratic stalling tactics. The Texas Sovereignty Act is an even longer shot. Democratic Rep. Chris Turner, Bell's colleague on the committee hearing the bill, said he cannot imagine it even making the House floor because it's "not a serious bill." "It proposes a structure for state nullification of federal laws which is clearly unconstitutional," said Turner. Constitutionality questions haven't stopped the Texas Legislature before. Federal courts have savaged the state's strictest-in-the-nation voter ID law, and the U.S. Supreme Court voided nearly all of its tough 2013 abortion law. But rather than liberal California imposing its will on other states, some have suggested a "Calexit," hoping that state might secede to escape President Trump. The notion of Texas secession has popped up periodically over the years on the far right, but mostly quieted under Trump and Bell isn't looking to go that far. The Arizona law passed in 2014 would allow the state to withdraw its resources from enforcing federal laws it deems unconstitutional, though it has been little used since then and hasn't prompted major legal challenges. Oklahoma, Maine, and Idaho have proposed similar legislation this year. Only Maine's has won significant legislative support, but it is far narrower than Texas' bill. "In the Maine scenario, there is no determination of constitutionality involved, and it probably wouldn't cover something like a Supreme Court ruling," said Mike Maharrey, a spokesman for the 10th Amendment Center, which advocates for states' rights. Maine is also a far cry politically from Texas, which hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1976. Trump snagged one of Maine's four, proportionately awarded electoral votes in November. Maharrey, who has recently seen a flurry of such legislation, said it's grounded in anti-commandeering doctrine, meaning the federal government cannot force states to use their resources implementing federal programs. It's also been used by blue states to promote things such as "sanctuary city" laws excusing police from enforcing federal immigration law. "There are a number of bills based on this same concept, including bills pending in California and New York legislatures to create state sanctuaries," Maharrey said. Sandy Levinson, a University of Texas professor specializing in constitutional law, said that while states have the right to refuse to cooperate with the federal government by reserving resources, the only way they can contest the constitutionality of a federal law is to sue. Texas sued the Obama administration nearly 50 times but has been less-litigious so far under Trump. "What would be special is if the Texas Legislature really and truly believes that Texas can decide on their own, 'this is unconstitutional we're not going to do it,'" Levinson said. "That's just bonkers." The Associated Press contributed to this report Secretary of State Rex Tillerson took the escalating threat of a nuclear North Korea to the United Nations Security Council Friday, urging member countries to financially cut ties with Pyongyang and freeze access to funds that could be used to build up that nations nuclear arsenal. Tillerson called on the international community to fully implement U.N. sanctions and to suspend or downgrade diplomatic ties as well with North Korea. With each successive detonation and missile test, North Korea pushes northeast Asia and the world closer to instability and broader conflict," Tillerson said. "The threat of a North Korean attack on Seoul or Tokyo is real." Tillerson added that it was only a matter of time before Pyongyang takes aim at the United States and said the international community must take concrete steps now in order to prevent North Korea from making good on threats. Business as usual is not an option, Tillerson told 15 top diplomats at the U.N. meeting. The secretary of states comments capped off an intense week in Washington that included closed-door briefings between the Trump administration and U.S. lawmakers over the escalating threat. The Trump administration is hoping to pressure North Korea into dismantling its missile and nuclear programs by tightening economic sanctions and pursuing diplomatic measures with our allies and regional partners. Tillerson said nations should also downgrade their diplomatic relations with North Korea and said the U.S. would not hesitate to sanction third-party countries. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who also joined Tillerson on the decision-making council, condemned North Koreas record of violations of the bodys resolutions over nuclear and missile testing and development. I am alarmed by the risk of a military escalation in the region, including by miscalculation or misunderstanding, he said. Also speaking at the United Nations meeting was Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi who pledged that Beijing would fully implement all U.N. sanctions on North Korea. Due to the recent efforts by [North Korea] to accelerate missile and nuclear development, China agrees to the international community to step up efforts of non-proliferation, Wang said. On Thursday, Tillerson told Fox News he favored diplomatic sanctions as a way to get North Korea to fall in line. Tillersons call for sanctions came as President Trump indicated direct conflict with the rogue regime is possible. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely, Trump told Reuters in a wide-ranging interview. Trumps comments came on the same day Pyongyang released a propaganda video that simulates an attack on the White House. The commander of American forces in the Pacific warned Thursday that China has a huge advantage over the United States when it comes to their stockpile of land-based short- and medium-range missiles some which can carry nuclear warheads. Adm. Harry Harris told senators on Capitol Hill that a decades-old arms treaty between the United States and Russia prohibits the U.S. from building its own arsenal of missiles that can fly between 310 and 3,400 miles. How many missiles do you have that fall into that range? Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., asked. I have none, sir, Harris replied. Harris estimates that 90 percent of Chinas land-based missile forces fall into the category prohibited by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), signed between then-presidents Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan in 1987. Yet last month, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Congress that Russia was violating the treaty. We believe that the Russians have deployed a land-based cruise missile that violates the spirit and intent of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty, Gen. Paul Selva told the House Armed Services Committee. The system itself presents a risk to most of our facilities in Europe, he added. We believe that the Russians have deliberately deployed it in order to pose a threat to NATO. Harris was asked Thursday by Cotton if the United States should withdraw from the treaty because the Russians are violating it, and he kept the door open. I do think we should look at renegotiating the treaty, he said. We should consider that because, as you say, there are only two countries that signed on to and one of them doesnt follow it. That becomes a unilateral limitation on us. The INF Treaty was signed at the time of a bi-polar world occupied by the United States and Russia, according to Harris. Now, other powers are developing their technology and arsenals Iran and North Korea, in addition to China, are free to build thousands of short- and medium-range missiles not bound by the treaty, he said. The INF treaty does not include missiles launched by ships or aircraft. Harris told senators he is worried about the Chinese DF-21 missile and DF-26 missile, with a range of over 2,000 miles. In 1991, the United States removed its land-based nuclear-capable missiles from South Korea. Jeffery Lewis, a missile proliferation expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, Calif., said the problem these missile systems pose relates to warning time. Could you use them to launch a surprise decapitation strike? he said. That's why Gorbachev agreed to the treaty in the first place -- the Russians are much worse off in a world with many capable medium- and intermediate-range ballistic and cruise missiles." While President Trump overcame deep Democratic resistance to install his Cabinet picks in his first 100 days, the former executive has struggled to fill hundreds of other administration posts -- and the vacancies could pose a mounting challenge as his presidency moves into the next phase. Trump has been historically slow in naming people to non-Cabinet posts requiring Senate confirmation. Overall, he's had the fewest nominations and confirmations in his first 100 days of any president in the last 40 years. According to Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit organization that tracks presidential appointments, there are approximately 556 key administration positions that require presidential appointment and Senate confirmation. Of those, 468 are missing a full-time replacement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., claimed this was just another example of an unsuccessful first 100 days. Because of the White Houses glacial pace, there are hundreds and hundreds of Senate confirmable positions without any pending nominee from the administration, and just 7 pending nominees before the Senate, Schumer said. Instead of pointing fingers of blame, the administration ought to roll up their sleeves and send qualified nominees to the Senate. The White House did not respond to Fox News request for comment on the delay in announcing nominees, but just this week, the president told the Associated Press he just never realized how big it was. This is thousands of times bigger, the United States, than the biggest company in the worldthe second-largest company in the world is the Defense Department, the third-largest company in the world is Social Security, Trump told the Associated Press. Its massive, every agency is, like, bigger than any companyso, you know, I really just see the bigness of it all, but also the responsibility. By the 100th day of Barack Obamas first term, he had 69 positions filled and confirmed. As of today, Trump has 25. He's made another 35 nominations; some vacancies are currently being filled by officials serving in an acting capacity. Despite the delay for mid-level posts, Trump just about has his Cabinet in place. This week, Sonny Perdue and Alexander Acosta were confirmed as Agriculture secretary and Labor secretary, respectively. Trump is now waiting only on Robert Lighthizer's confirmation as trade represenative. Trump also was decisive with his February appointment of Judge Neil Gorsuch to take late-Justice Antonin Scalias seat on the bench of the Supreme Court. Democrats attempted to block Gorsuch, which pushed Republicans to go nuclear and change Senate precedent to secure confirmation earlier this month. But among the hundreds of vacancies are 93 unfilled U.S. attorneys posts, after Attorney General Jeff Sessions request for the resignation of holdover U.S. attorneys in March. Sessions told Fox News last week that U.S. attorney nominations and confirmations typically follow other critical appointments. Just this week, Sessions saw his first Senate-confirmed member of the DOJ, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. The new No. 2 is a longtime federal prosecutor and will oversee the federal probe into Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election after Sessions recused himself. Congress is always slowwe are not behind on U.S. attorneysthey have, and always have been late summer, early fall, Sessions told Fox News' "Happening Now." We are moving forward with some really great nomineesU.S. attorneys are critical law enforcement officersthey work with federal agencies, all the state agencies and they provide leadership and drive for those prosecutionswe need great U.S. attorneys. But the responsibility to nominate these attorneys and other key posts falls to the president. Its hard to point the finger at Senate Democrats when there arent very many names before them, Max Stier, CEO of Partnership for Public Service, told Fox News. The Trump team has fallen behind on an essential aspect of running the most complicated, important, diverse organization on the planet and you cant do it properly if you dont have the right people put in place. Stier did, however, sympathize with the president's situation, saying there are too many political appointees and no one has done this process right. If you dont have your top people confirmed quickly, then you cant select people downstream from there, Stier said. Former chief of staff to President George H.W. Bush and former governor of New Hampshire John Sununu gave the Trump administration the school-grade of a C in terms of putting their team in place. They need to be more aggressive on getting their appointments through, even to the point of trying to figure out how to name acting people in the agencies in order to get their policies implemented, Sununu told "America's Newsroom." Bring people up from the bottom of the ranks that they trust, and put them in an acting position and start making the changes that will force the Democrats to start doing the approvals in the Senate. President Trump signed an executive order Friday that could lead to the expansion of drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, saying it will reverse his predecessor's Arctic leasing ban and create "great jobs and great wealth" for the country. Trump said the executive order, titled "Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy," will direct a "review of the locations available for off-shore oil and gas exploration" and related regulations. "Today we're unleashing American energy and clearing the way for thousands and thousands of high-paying American energy jobs," Trump said in his announcement. "Our country is blessed with incredible natural resources, including abundant offshore oil and natural gas reserves," he said. "But the federal government has kept 94 percent of these offshore areas closed for exploration and production." "This deprives our country of potentially thousands and thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in wealth," Trump said. Trump, with the order, is directing his interior secretary to review an Obama-era plan that dictates which locations are open to offshore drilling, with the goal of the new administration to expand operations. The announcement Friday is part of Trump's promise to unleash the nation's energy reserves in an effort to reduce reliance on foreign oil and to spur jobs, regardless of fierce opposition from environmental activists who say offshore drilling harms whales, walruses and other wildlife and exacerbates global warming. The executive order will reverse part of a December effort by President Obama to deem the bulk of U.S.-owned waters in the Arctic Ocean and certain areas in the Atlantic as indefinitely off limits to oil and gas leasing. It will also direct Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to conduct a review of the locations available for offshore drilling under a five-year plan signed by Obama in November. The plan blocked new oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It also blocked the planned sale of new oil and gas drilling rights in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas north of Alaska, but allowed drilling to go forward in Alaska's Cook Inlet southwest of Anchorage. Trump's order could open to oil and gas exploration areas off Virginia and North and South Carolina, where drilling has been blocked for decades. "This executive order starts the process of opening offshore areas to job creating energy exploration," Trump said. "It reverses the previous administration's Arctic leasing ban and directs Secretary Zinke to allow responsible development of offshore areas that will bring revenue to our Treasury and jobs to our workers." The president also said it will allow for Zinke to reconsider "burdensome regulations" that Trump said "slow job creation." The Associated Press contributed to this report. The NRA kicks off its annual meeting in Atlanta at a time Georgia is in the middle of two hot debates one over who will represent the states 6th Congressional District, and another on whether Republican Gov. Nathan Deal should sign a bill allowing registered gun owners to carry firearms on public college campuses. House Bill 280 is a more restrictive version of legislation the governor vetoed last year. State lawmakers modified the bill to prevent the general public from bringing firearms into college sporting events, student housing and shared space with preschool and grade school students, such as daycare facilities. As far as guns on campus, I'm opposed to it, said Bona Allen, a businessman living in suburban Atlanta's hotly contested 6th district. I think that the only guns on campus should be law enforcement. GEORGIA CONGRESSIONAL RACE: DEMOCRAT OSSOFF, REPUBLICAN HANDEL WILL GO TO RUN-OFF But attorney John Monroe, who also lives in the 6th district, disagrees. We're not really talking about students, Monroe said. It's true that a person who's 21 years of age can get a (firearms) license. But for the most part, we're talking about faculty and staff carrying on campuses. Second Amendment issues have yet to take center stage in the 6th District Congressional race, in which Republican Karen Handel faces a June 20 runoff against Democrat Jon Ossoff. However, President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a fundraiser for Handel after delivering a speech at the NRA meeting. The president, who received the NRAs endorsement early on in his campaign, is expected to deliver pro-Second Amendment remarks that resonate with the crowd. But lawyer Larry Rosenbluth, a 6th district Democrat who likes to hunt and considers himself a Second Amendment advocate, told Fox News hed like to see policymakers on both sides of the gun debate seek common ground. "The NRA has always had a policy that if you give an inch, they'll take a mile, Rosenbluth said. I don't think it needs to be that slippery slope where one compromise leads to drastic measures." NRA AFFILIATE SUES CALIFORNIA OVER GUN-CONTROL LAWS THAT 'DEMONIZE' FIREARM OWNERS Amy Jeffs, who lives in 6th district and follows the Georgia legislature for the advocacy group Moms Demand Action, agrees. It's not about taking somebody's rights away, Jeffs said. It is not about inventorying anyone's firearms. It is about preventative measures to help end gun violence. Each day, about 90 people in the U.S. die in gun-related incidents, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Jeffs said commonsense legislation could help curb the numbers without draconian restrictions on guns. But lawyer Monroe said he believes existing laws are enough. "If you accept the premise that it's okay to carry a firearm some places and I think everyone does it's irrational to think that crime won't take place in places if all we do is ban guns in those locations, Monroe said. That's not what stops gun violence. Fox News David Lewkowict contributed to this report. President Trump warned a "major, major conflict" with North Korea could result from the ongoing standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, but he said he hoped diplomacy would prevail. In an exclusive Oval Office interview with Reuters ahead of the 100-day benchmark in his administration, Trump candidly acknowledged that the international situation could go off the rails. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump said. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea." President Trump "We'd love to solve things diplomatically, but it's very difficult," he added. Trump also said South Korea should pay for the $1 billion U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile defense system in place to protect it from an attack from the north. The wide-ranging interview also included Trump's plan to defeat the Islamic State terror network. "I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation," he said, when asked about what the endgame was for defeating Islamist violent extremism. But talk was dominated by the North Korea situation, which has vexed past presidents, but seems to have reached a fever pitch amid repeated threats and new tests of missiles by Kim Jong-un. "He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want, but that is not easy, especially at that age," Trump said. "I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational," he said. Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping is helping to mitigate the issue. "I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man, and I got to know him very well." Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed U.S. lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority." It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbor and ally, and would remain open to negotiations. U.S. officials said military strikes remained an option, but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct U.S. military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea, and among U.S. forces in both countries. Reuters contributed to this report. President Trump's first 100 days in office had all the hallmarks of a chief executive's approach: Busy, brash and bold. As the president hits the benchmark on Saturday, he has compiled a record big on action, but mixed on results. Trump has sought to manage expectations, mocking as "ridiculous" the 100-day yardstick that dates back to Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had signed a staggering 76 pieces of legislation by the time he reached it. FDR's legacy of out-of-the-chute productivity has cast a long shadow over all of his successors, and Team Trump is well aware of it. In office, President Trump has accomplished more in his first 100 days than any other president since Franklin Roosevelt, the White House said in a Tuesday statement accompanied by a list of executive orders and other actions the fledgling administration has taken. Well before he took the oath of office, Trump promised huge changes in the first 100 days of his administration, including repealing and replacing ObamaCare, cracking down on illegal immigration and pursuing a tax overhaul. So how did he do? Fox News takes a look at some of the highlights and lowlights of Trumps first 100 days in office: Supreme Court: Getting Gorsuch confirmed Trumps biggest, cleanest victory to date was getting conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court in the face of deep Democratic opposition. In a fast-paced chain of events, Senate Republicans deployed the so-called nuclear option, changing precedent so that Gorsuch could be confirmed with a simple majority of 51 senators as opposed to 60. At Gorsuchs swearing in, Trump said, A new optimism is sweeping across our land and a new faith in America is filling our hearts and lifting our sights. Congratulations to Justice Neil Gorsuch on his elevation to the United States Supreme Court. A great day for America! #SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/7pjc1UrI8d President Trump (@POTUS) April 10, 2017 ObamaCare repeal: Down, but not out Trump said one of his first priorities as commander-in-chief would be to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare. Not only was he not able to do so within 100 days, it was the conservative faction of his own party that helped stop the Republican bill from moving forward. After the bills defeat, Trump said he learned a lot about loyalty and the vote-getting process. Trump said House Republicans were 10 to 15 votes shy of getting it to pass, at first blaming the Freedom Caucus for the defeat but then pivoting to Democrats. The president added the best thing we can do, politically speaking, is let ObamaCare explode. Its exploding right now. However, congressional Republicans have begun work on a new health care package and Trump continues to voice optimism that -- this time -- they can get it done. Syria strikes: Use of force Though he often urged his predecessor to avoid getting entangled in Syria's ongoing civil war, Trump changed his approach after reports surfaced of a chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians earlier this month. He ordered the launch of 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield in response. The White House was largely praised for the action that it said sent a message to Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Trump administration also has been tough on terror in its first 100 days. And the Department of Treasury has sanctioned 25 entities and individuals involved in Irans ballistic missile program. American energy: Keystone, Dakota pipelines Among his first moves as president, Trump signed a presidential memorandum that cleared the way for two major oil pipeline projects that had been blocked by the Obama administration to move forward. Trump promised American steel would be used in the construction -- a claim the White House had to walk back in late March, explaining it would apply to future construction. Trump also signed an order that would end protracted environmental reviews. Border wall Trump boasted throughout the campaign he was going to build a big beautiful border wall and make Mexico pay for it. That hasnt happened yet, and the administration has struggled to get early funding for it in this week's spending bill. But White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway told "Fox & Friends" Tuesday that the wall is still prominent on Trump's radar. Building that wall and having it funded remains an important priority to him, but we also know that that can happen later this year and into this year, she said. At the same time, the administration has moved aggressively on other fronts -- threatening to pull funding for sanctuary cities (though that is held up in court), moving to speed up certain deportations and trying to suspend immigration and travel from six mostly Muslim countries. The latter, too, has been held up in the courts. The wall, meanwhile, could loom large for Trump throughout his early tenure, amid challenges covering the cost, tricky terrain and manpower. Tax overhaul: In the works With the 100-day clock ticking down, Trump still hopes to score a big victory with a sweeping overhaul of the tax code. He pushed a blueprint this week that would cut the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 15 percent. Hanging over the push is Democrats' continued protest over Trump's refusal to release his tax returns. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer recently reiterated that Trump has no plans to release his tax documents though most presidents before him have. Some Democrats continue to say they won't cooperate on a rewrite of the tax code unless they are told in detail how revisions would benefit Trump, his businesses and family members. The media often portray the Trump White House as being in a state of chaos. And sometimes the Trump team provides ample fodder for that. But there are other times where the press just is out of sync with the presidents unorthodox style. As a dealmaker schooled in the rough world of New York real estate, the president often makes unrealistic demands, pulls back, issues threats, changes tacticsall in service of hammering out an agreement. This is not how Washington, with its culture of cautious calibration, is accustomed to operating. Politicians issue statements that are carefully vetted and everything proceeds incrementally. Donald Trump has Twitter. A classic case unfolded with the reporting on NAFTA. Trump has long bashed the free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, pushed through during the Clinton administration, as a lousy deal for America. And when the AP interviewed him late last week, the president said: I am going to either renegotiate it or I am going to terminate it. He didnt make much news because it sounded like his usual spiel. But things seemed to ratchet up quickly. On Wednesday, Politico reported: The Trump administration is considering an executive order on withdrawing the U.S. from NAFTA, according to two White House officials. A draft order has been submitted for the final stages of review and could be unveiled late this week or early next week, the officials said. And CNN had a similar report: The White House is considering withdrawing from NAFTA in the coming days, though President Donald Trump has not yet decided how to proceed, two senior administration officials confirmed to CNN Wednesday. That, my friends, is an orchestrated leak. And it was head-snapping: Withdrawing from NAFTA? Just like that? By executive order? Would Trump really go that far? Reince Priebus was non-committal that evening on Special Report. The president is talking about renegotiating NAFTA. I'm not going to get ahead of ourselves on where we're at on that, he said. The president called the other two leaders, Justin Trudeau and Enrique Pena Nieto, and the White House issued a statement late Wednesday night: President Trump agreed not to terminate NAFTA at this time and the leaders agreed to proceed swiftly, according to their required internal procedures, to enable the negotiation of the NAFTA deal to the benefit of all three countries. Now some pundits might interpret this as lurching back and forth. But my take is that it was a deliberate strategy. And perhaps the media were used. Hours before speaking to the leaders of Canada and Mexico, Trump sent a signal that he was thinking of unilaterally pulling out of the treaty. The prospect of the United States pulling out obviously alarmed the Canadian and Mexican leaders and prompted their calls to the White House, the New York Times reported. By yesterday, the president was telling reporters: I decided rather than terminating NAFTA, which would be a pretty big, you know, shock to the system, we will renegotiate. Now, if I'm unable to make a fair deal, if I'm unable to make a fair deal for the United States, meaning a fair deal for our workers and our companies, I will terminate NAFTA. And that message will hover over the talks once they begin. In negotiations, it doesnt hurt to have the other side think you might do something crazyeven if that produces negative headlines. From Google Glass to the Apple Newton, a museum in Sweden is shining a spotlight on some of the tech sector's biggest misses. The Museum of Failure as it's known, has products from Apple, Sony, Kodak and Google, as well as several other makers, all of which struggled with consumers. The collection covers over sixty failed products and services from around the world, according to a description on the museums web page. APPLE MAY GO AFTER VENMO, BUT WHY? Samuel West, the museum's curator, advises companies on how to successfully innovate by learning from failure. A lot of tech failures are because immature technology is launched [such as] Google Glass, Apple Newton, West told Fox News in an email. A tech product can be marketed before it actually works and way before it is useful, he said. But thats all part of ultimately coming up with a successful innovation. Innovation always requires an acceptance of failure...if you're afraid of failure, innovation is impossible, West added. Here are some of the notable flops from the exhibition, due to open in June in Helsingborg, Sweden. Kodak DC40 digital camera Innovation doesn't succeed if a company doesnt embrace emerging business models. That happened with Kodak, an early leader in digital cameras and is probably one of the best examples of innovation that failed. The DC40, manufactured by Kodak, was also branded as the Apple QuickTake 100. (Yes, Apple sold a standalone camera once.) [Kodak's] failure was an inability to truly embrace the new business models [that] disruptive change opens up, according to an annotation attached to the Museums DC40 exhibit. Kodak created a digital camera, invested in the technology, and even understood that photos would be shared online. What Kodak failed to do was realize that online photo sharing was a new business, not just a way to expand the [photo] printing business, according to the annotation. AMAZON JUST ANNOUNCED THE ECHO LOOK Google Glass Googles attempt to make smart glasses the next big thing in personal gadgets failed because the technology still didn't have any useful applications, West told Fox News. Privacy concerns, due to the potential for furtive video recording, were also its downfall. Despite the failure with consumers, Google Glass has gone on to have somthing of a second life, resonating in the healthcare and medical professions. Nokia N-gage The combination phone and gaming device failed at both, especially when you tried to put it to your ear and use it as a phone. Poor design and lack of games made it flop. Great idea, lousy implementation, according to West. Orbitoclast Lobotomy This 1948 technology for performing lobotomies was supposed to make them quicker and easier than before. The tool was a success but the lobotomy as treatment was a terrible failure, West said. Harley-Davidson Perfume This was a brand extension failure according to West. Bikers were not impressed. Other notable failures include the Apple Newton, which suffered from poor handwriting recognition, questionable utility, and a high price. (Apple did go on to create the iPhone, however.) Another was the Twitter Peek, the worlds first dedicated Twitter device, as described on the products package. Gizmodo described it as being "so dumb it makes my brain hurt." Last but not least was the Sony Betamax, one of the most oft-cited flops. Sony refused to collaborate with other manufacturers, while JVC focused on building a collaborative ecosystem by licensing the VHS format, according to an annotation attached to the Betamax exhibit. The classic story of tech innovation failure demonstrates that technical excellence and being first to market is not enough. The US Department of Justice last month announced details of a $100 million "fraudulent email compromise scheme" against two unnamed "multinational internet companies." Now, thanks to Fortune, we know the identity of those companies: Facebook and Google. Fortune on Thursday, citing an unnamed person familiar with the investigation, reported that Facebook approached the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan asking for help recovering the millions it lost in the scheme. Facebook in a statement to the news outlet confirmed it was one of the fraud victims. "Facebook recovered the bulk of the funds shortly after the incident and has been cooperating with law enforcement in its investigation," a company spokesperson told Fortune. Google also this week confirmed it was a victim. "We detected this fraud against our vendor management team and promptly alerted the authorities," a Google spokesperson told Fortune. "We recouped the funds and we're pleased this matter is resolved." Neither Facebook nor Google immediately responded to PCMag's request for comment. The new revelations come after the Justice Department last month announced the arrest of a Lithuanian Man named Evaldas Rimasauskas, 48, who is charged with orchestrating an email scheme that tricked two "US-based internet companies" to wire more than $100 million to bank accounts he controlled. According to the indictment, Rimasauskas carried out the scheme from at least 2013 through 2015. The fraudster allegedly registered and incorporated a company in Latvia that "bore the same name as an Asian-based computer hardware manufacturer" with whom the US tech giants did business. He then spoofed emails to look like they were coming from the Asian supplier identified last month as Taiwan's Quinta Computer directing the US tech giants to make payments into his own bank accounts. Over the course of the scheme, he successfully tricked the victim companies into transferring more than $100 million into his own accounts. In other words, even tech giants like Facebook and Google fall for email scams. "This case should serve as a wake-up call to all companies even the most sophisticated that they too can be victims of phishing attacks by cyber criminals," Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said in a statement last month. This article originally appeared on PCMag.com. More than 80,000 Americans are converging in Atlanta for the 146th NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Atlanta, Georgia that kicks off Friday. The NRA describes the event as a four-day celebration of freedom. It combines high-powered speaking events featuring Second Amendment advocates with country music concerts, meetings, workshops, celebrity sightings, parties and acres and acres of guns on display. One of the worlds largest shooting, hunting and outdoor shows, this years event is being held at downtown Atlantas Georgia World Congress Center, with more than one million square feet of exhibit space, next to the Centennial Olympic Park. More than 800 companies are showcasing a wide range of products with something for every budget, every terrain and every purpose. It is a smorgasbord of pistols, rifles, carbines, shotguns, ammo, holsters, optics, hunting gear and much, much more. THESE NEW KINDS OF BULLETS ARE LETHAL UNDERWATER Alongside the NRA members and Second Amendment supporters exploring the weapons and products on offer, a number of celebrities pitch up every year and can be seen walking the floors and signing autographs. What can you see? Among the 15 acres of guns and gear on display, there are well-known large brands, old-fashioned American-founded and run family companies, brand new companies and first-time exhibitors. New reveals for 2017 act like lightning-rods to the attendees navigating their way through the acres of weapons. In addition to innovations for shooters and hunters, there is also a strong showing this year in new options for women, youth and police officers. US MARINES COULD DEPLOY ROBOTS AND 'HYPERSUBS' TO STORM FUTURE BEACHES On the firearms front, brands like Glock, Kimber, Sig Sauer, Colt, Taurus, Remington, FN America, Savage Arms and Ruger are out in full force. Other big names with big displays showcasing their weapons are Browning, C-Z USA Daniel Defense, Beretta, Benelli, Smith & Wesson, Winchester, Weatherby, Walther and Springfield Armory. Learn must-know tips from a top firearms instructor for Special Operations units. Additional titans like Brownells, Magpul, Safariland, 5.11 Tactical and Cabelas drew buzz from the moment the doors opened too. And in optics and scopes, companies like Nightforce, Trijicon, Leupold, Aimpoint and Surefire already began drawing crowds from the word go. HERES HOW 'INVISIBLE ARMOR' COULD DEFEAT BULLETS AND BLADES There is no shortage of ammunition options here, with a wide array of companies in attendance. Winchester, Remington, Hornady, Federal Premium, Noslertheyre all here. Go inside this SEAL Team 6 Snipers Adventures. Big Events The annual event always features a number of high-powered speakers and this year is no exception. The President of the United States Donald Trump is speaking Friday. This will be the first time since President Reagan that a president has appeared at the event. The annual NRA convention is also known for popular country music shows. This year there is a NRA Country Jam: Story Behind the Song featuring Chris Janson, Josh Thompson, Lindsay Ell, and Cary Barlowe. On Saturday night, country superstar Hank Williams, Jr. will be playing with Lee Brice to open the concert. INCREDIBLE TECH DETECTS GUNFIRE ACROSS AMERICA Womens events also feature prominently. On Friday, for example, Counselor to President Trump Kellyanne Conway will deliver the keynote at the Womens Leadership Forum reception, luncheon and auction. Those participating in the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits can carry firearms in the Georgia World Congress Center and the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center in accordance with Georgia law. The NRA has been reminding folks that firearms are not allowed in the remainder of the CNN Center, including the food court and shops. And for President Trumps address, the Secret Service announced a series of restrictions for security purposes and this includes the prohibition of weapons brought into the theatre where he will be speaking. What is the NRA? The NRA is a nonprofit organization with several million members that advocates for gun rights. It supports the American right to bear arms. This is rooted in the Second Amendment in the Constitution of United States of America that states A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. FOR THE LATEST TECH FEATURES FOLLOW FOX NEWS TECH ON FACEBOOK The NRA leads in firearms education for civilians with more than 125,000 certified instructors. These NRA instructors train approximately 1,000,000 gun owners each year. A wide range of courses are available including basic rifle, pistol and shotgun training. There are also courses on safety like Refuse To Be A Victim seminars that more than 100,000 men and women have attended to work on personal safety plans. The organization also works with law enforcement. The NRA became the only national trainer of law enforcement officers with the NRA Police Firearms Instructor certification program in 1960. There are more than 13,000 NRA-certified police and security firearms instructors. Australian newlyweds Brendan and Julia Widdowson were looking forward to their European honeymoon since they booked it last year. The 28-year-olds from Melbourne, who tied the knot at a Victorian winery in February, were set to take off on the trip of a lifetime through Croatia, Montenegro and Albania in May. But the pair was left devastated and bewildered when Virgin Australia said they would have to pay more than $8,500 (over US $6,350) to re-book their trip all because Julia took her new husbands name after the wedding. DELTA PASSENGER KICKED OFF FLIGHT FOR USING RESTROOM We thought it would be a simple process, and we may incur a small fee, to update the name on the ticket, said Brendan, a partnerships manager at a loan provider. But when he contacted Virgin Australias customer service name to change his new wifes reservation from Wallis to Widdowson, he was told their only option was to cancel the reservation and re-book. We were also told that the availability of flights could not be guaranteed and that if we were to re-book, we would need to do so at the current rate 1,321,700 velocity points or $8,590, he explained in a recent Facebook post. Furthermore, we were told that we would incur a cancellation fee. The difficulty in changing the reservation name was due to the flight being a codeshare with Singapore Airlines, Brendan was allegedly told. The couple say they were left devastated and helpless by the news. Scrambling to find a solution ahead of their 14 May flight, the pair looked into options including flying separately several days apart on new flights. I honestly cant believe that it has come to this, says Julia, an environmental scientist at a global consulting agency. It should not be on the customer to suffer at the expense of the airline because their system cannot do the simplest of tasks. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS When she called airlines call center for help, she felt like she was talking to a robot, she says. They show no empathy for your situation and are just reading their scripted lines off a screen. Brendan says he was shocked and bewildered to learn that a well-known organization that prides itself on customer service would not have a system in place to easily accommodate textbook reservation changes like theirs. It is outrageous and seems completely unreasonable that it is on us to cancel our ticket and re-book a flight because Virgins system cannot handle a simple name change, he wrote. After Brendan posted on its public Facebook page, the airline eventually re-booked the Melbourne couple on another flight with Etihad, but not without leaving the couple out of pocket. The Widdowsons still had to pay close to $1000 (almost US $750) in taxes due to a difference in taxes between the two airlines, Julia says. And while the pair are thrilled to be able to travel together on their honeymoon as planned, theyre concerned other young couples may face the same challenge in future. It is great that Virgin has solved our problem. However, it is still crazy that the system will cause others to face the same problem in future, says Brendan. A real resolution would be for them to change the system, as this will keep happening to other people, adds Julia. In a statement to news.com.au Virgin Australia said: Due to security reasons, the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) does not permit any airline to change names on issued international airline tickets. THIS AIRLINE MIGHT HAVE THE MOST DISGUSTING MEAL EVER IATA only allows three letters to be changed in the instance of a spelling mistake. Therefore in order to change a name, an airline must cancel and rebook a ticket. If you are cancelling and rebooking a frequent flyer program redemption ticket close to the date of travel, it is often the case that a redemption seat will not be available and therefore will incur a greater cost to rebook. This story originally appeared on news.com.au. The U.S. House and Senate have just introduced legislation to amend the Death on High Seas Act, an antiquated law that maritime attorneys say enables cruise companies to avoid accountability when there has been negligence that causes a death at sea. It also prevents families from holding companies accountable for various incidents-- or receiving a financial settlement. A year ago, Drs. Larry and Christy Hammer, retirees from Lincoln, Nebraska, were killed in a cabin fire on the first night of their International Expeditions cruise in the Peruvian Amazon. The Peruvian Navy has concluded that gross negligence on the part of the crew and faulty equipment caused the fire and prevented their rescue. Their daughters have been fighting for a change in this legislation. TRAGEDY AT SEA: CRUISE SHIP RESPONSIBLE FOR COUPLE'S DEATH, REPORT FINDS Representatives Doris Matsui, D-Calif., Ted Poe, R-Texas, and Jim Himes, D-Conn., introduced the Cruise Passenger Protection Act (CPPA) to strengthen passenger safety-- and rights-- on cruise ships. According to a press release issued by Rep. Matsui's office, the bill strengthens crime reporting and video surveillance requirements, improves medical standards, and holds cruise lines responsible for deaths at sea. Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Edward Markey, D-Mass., are introducing companion legislation in the Senate. Standards for victims rights should be strong whether on land or at sea, said Rep. Matsui. She continues, "I am grateful to the victims and their families who have come forward and continue to be essential voices in our work to improve cruise safety through legislative reform. When American citizens board a cruise ship, they expect a peaceful escape, Rep. Poe explained. But the reality is that crime does not disappear simply because people are on vacation. Unfortunately, American passengers sometimes go missing or become victims of sexual and physical assault while sailing the high seas." HOW SAFE ARE SWIMMING POOLS ON MEGA SHIPS? Many cruise ships are the size of small towns but with few emergency services and no law enforcement, these vessels are more Wild West than Atlantis, added Senator Blumenthal. And when something goes wrong on a cruise ship, a dream vacation can quickly turn into a nightmare. "Our legislation will ensure that consumers know the risks associated with cruise ship travel before they buy a ticket; and if their rights are violated, this bill." Among several new mandates, the Cruise Passenger Protection Act (CPPA) legislation would require that: --A cruise vessel owner notifies the FBI within four hours of an alleged incident. --Ensure that if an alleged incident occurs while the vessel is still in a U.S. port, the FBI is notified before that vessel leaves the port. --Vessels must have video surveillance equipment in all passenger common areas, and other areas, where there is no expectation of privacy. --Individuals have access to video surveillance records for civil action purposes. --All video records are kept for 30 days after completion of the voyage. --The internet website of alleged crimes on cruise ships indicate whether the reported crimes were committed against minors. --The Department of Transportation to conduct a study determining the feasibility of having an individual charged with victim support services on board each passenger vessel. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS --Ships use the integration of technology that can both capture images and detect when a passenger has fallen overboard. --Medical standards are created requiring that a qualified physician and sufficient medical staff to be present and available for passengers, crew members receive basic life support training, automated defibrillators are accessible throughout the ship, and the initial safety briefing includes important emergency medical and safety information. -- Should a U.S. passenger die aboard a vessel, his or her next of kin could request the vessel to return the deceased back to the United States. --Families of victims are able to pursue fair compensation after a death on the high sea. This gives cruise passengers the same rights as airline passengers. Hundreds of people gathered Thursday near the University of California, Berkeley campus to protest a canceled appearance by conservative speaker Ann Coulter, with at least 6 arrests reported so far. University police erected barricades and refused to let any protesters enter the campus. At least 6 people were arrested one for obstructing an officer and wearing a mask to evade police, and another for possessing a knife, Berkeley police Officer Byron White told the Associated Press. Police in riot gear had prepared for possible violence between supporters and opponents of Coulter, but there were no major confrontations as the raucous rally wrapped up in the late afternoon. Coulter told Fox News' Tucker Carlson on "Tucker Carlson Tonight" on Thursday that Berkeley claimed the threat of violence is what led to the cancellation, but she's not buying it. "There are ways of dealing with violence," Coulter said. "We do have a police force." Several hundred people gathered for the afternoon event supporting Coulter at Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center Park in downtown Berkeley. Berkeley, as you know all along, theyve been changing their position every five minutes, Coulter said to Fox News on Wednesday. Its like a game of musical chairs and whenever the music stops the answer is, no, she cant speak. My allies whom I love are on the same side, they ran away, they gave in. And then there was nothing I could do. ANN COULTER CANCELS HER SPEECH AT BERKELEY AMID SAFETY DISPUTE School officials said that the concerns of potential riots had to be taken into consideration. This is a university, not a battlefield, Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks said in a letter sent to campus on Wednesday. Berkeley student Joseph Pagadara, 19, told the AP he had been worried about violence and added that the university is caught in the middle of the country's political divide. "Both sides are so intolerant of each other. We are a divided country. We need to listen to each other but we're each caught in our own bubbles," he said. While the afternoon rally ended without serious conflict, police at one point formed a human wall in the street separating anti-Trump protesters from the park where pro-Trump groups were gathered. Anti-Coulter protesters at the park held a banner that read: "It's not about 'free speech,' it's about bigots trying to normalize hate." Earlier in the day, dozens of police wearing flak jackets and carrying 40 mm launchers that shoot "foam batons" flanked Sproul Plaza while a small group of protesters condemning Coulter staged a small rally outside campus. Officers took selfies with students in an attempt to lighten the mood. Gavin McInnes, co-founder of Vice Media and founder of the pro-Trump "Proud Boys," spoke at the park gathering later in the day. He said America doesn't have an obligation to take people from other countries. "We are here because Ann Coulter got canceled," he said. "She is one of the most inspiring writers in America today. She is an American hero." Wilson Grafstrom, an 18-year-old high school student from Menlo Park, said it was "a shame" she couldn't speak in the home of the free speech movement. He wore a military grade helmet with a "Make America Great Again" sticker across the back, goggles, gas mask and knee pads. He blamed Coulter opponents for forcing him to gear up for problems. Many at the park rally about a mile from the university's main Sproul Plaza also wore military grade helmets and body armor. Some had "Build That Wall" or Trump stickers across their headgear. One man had duct tape reading "Berkeley" over his mouth. Protesters from the International Socialist Organization held what they called n "Alt Right Delete" rally with signs reading "Refuse Fascism" and "Fascist free campus." The group endorses free speech, and some members oppose the way Coulter and others have co-opted the free speech movement. "I don't like Ann Coulter's views, but I don't think in this case the right move was to shut her down," graduate student Yevgeniy Melguy told the Associated Press, who held a sign that read "Immigrants Are Welcome Here." Although the school is committed to defending free speech, Dirks said, they also need to protect students. The university has two non-negotiable commitments, one to Free Speech the other to the safety of our campus community. Berkeley officials had previously cited very specific intelligence that Coulter and students could be endangered. Im not just some homeless person wondering onto the square, but Id be allowed to speak then too, Coulter said. They (Berkeley) are really outside the mainstream, they are publicly funded, forget this is where free speech movement started, the amount of money they get from the state and federal government. All of the people who should have been standing up for the First Amendment here, all ran away with their tails tucked between their legs. ANN COULTERS BACKERS AT UC BERKELEY FILE SUIT Officials at UC Berkeley said last week they feared renewed violence on campus if Coulter followed through with plans to speak. They cited "very specific intelligence" of threats that could endanger Coulter and students, as Berkeley becomes a platform for extremist protesters on both sides of the political spectrum. Efforts by the university to cancel or delay the Coulter event dealt a blow to Berkeley's image as a bastion of tolerance and free speech. Earlier this month, a bloody brawl broke out in downtown Berkeley at a pro-Trump protest that featured speeches by members of the white nationalist right. They clashed with a group of Trump critics who called themselves anti-fascists. In February, violent protesters forced the cancellation of a speech by right-wing writer Milo Yiannopoulos, who like Coulter was invited by campus Republicans. The Berkeley College Republicans and the Young America's Foundation, a conservative group that had helped book Coulter's campus speaking events, both pulled their support Tuesday citing fears of violence. They blamed the university for failing to ensure protection of conservative speakers. Read more from KTVU. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The family of a 16-year-old Tennessee high school student has filed a lawsuit against Roane County Schools and the contractor who employed a female janitor accused of raping the boy during school hours. Citing the lawsuit filed Monday, the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports (http://bit.ly/2pkq1fR ) that the Midway High School student's family is seeking $4.5 million in damages from the school district and Compass One Services of Tennessee for negligence in allowing the rape to occur. Twenty-nine-year-old Jessica E. Galyon was arrested in February on multiple charges related to the assault. The lawsuit says Galyon's harassment was known throughout the school. The boy dropped out of school after the rape. Galyon was arrested after a faculty member told administration what happened a month later. The school district and contractor couldn't be reached for comment. ___ Information from: Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com The fourth death row inmate executed in Arkansas in eight days lurched and convulsed before he died, witnesses said, prompting critics and the man's legal team to demand an investigation Friday, which the state's governor rejected. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson responded that the execution went according to protocol and there was no reason to conduct anything more than a routine review that takes place after an execution. It was obvious to me there was not any indication of pain, Hutchinson said at a news conference Friday. This ten seconds of movements on his part was described as coughing without noise. The state had sought to carry out as many lethal injections as possible before one of its drugs expires Sunday. The governor did not witness the execution. DELAWARE TROOPER'S KILLER SHOT DEAD AFTER BARRICADING HIMSELF IN HOME About three minutes into the execution Thursday night, Kenneth Williams' body jerked 15 times in quick succession -- lurching violently against the leather restraint across his chest -- then the rate slowed for a final five movements, according to an Associated Press reporter who witnessed it. Williams' attorneys released a statement calling witness accounts "horrifying" and demanding an investigation into what they called the "problematic execution." Hutchinson said that coughing is a possible side effect according to the drugs packaging. People react to drugs in different ways sometimes but that seems to be consistent with the indications on the drug inserts, he said. J.R. Davis, a spokesman for Hutchinson called the movements "an involuntary muscular reaction" that he said was a widely known effect of the surgical sedative midazolam, the first of three drugs administered. PENNSYLVANIA TROOPER'S AMBUSH KILLER SENTENCED TO DEATH "Midazolams well-documented risks and role in numerous botched executions should have given Governor Asa Hutchinson pause. Instead, he ignored the dangers and undermined our states moral standing all to beat the expiration date on a failed drug," Rita Sklar, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas, responded. Williams was sentenced to death for murdering a former deputy warden, Cecil Boren, after he escaped from prison in 1999. At the time of his escape in a 500-gallon barrel of hog slop, Williams was less than three weeks into a life sentence for killing a college cheerleader. Arkansas had scheduled eight executions over an 11-day period. That would have been the most in such a short time since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, but courts issued stays for four of the inmates. The four lethal injections that were carried out included Monday's first double execution in the United States since 2000. Williams read a prepared final statement before the execution began, apologizing to the families he "senselessly wronged and deprived of their loved ones." He also spoke in tongues, the unintelligible but language-like speech used in some religions. But his prayer faded off as the midazolam took effect. He said, "The words that I speak will forever be, will forever ..." before he fell silent. The inmate breathed heavily through his nose until just after three minutes into his execution, when his chest leaped forward in a series of what seemed like involuntary movements. His right hand never clenched and his face remained what one media witness called "serene." After the jerking, Williams breathed through his mouth and moaned or groaned once -- during a consciousness check -- until falling still seven minutes into the lethal injection. A Friday morning tweet from the account of a Republican state Sen. Trent Garner, who witnessed the execution, said Williams did not "seem in pain. ... It was not cruel, unusual, botched or torture." "Any amount of movement he might have had was far less than any of his victims," said Jodie Efird, one of Boren's daughters, who witnessed the execution. State officials have called Arkansas' string of executions a success, declaring justice served and "closure" for victims' families. Some concerns had been raised about Monday's execution of Jack Jones, whose mouth moved after attorneys said he should have been unconscious, though a federal judge determined it did not appear to be "torturous and inhumane." All of the Arkansas inmates -- including Williams -- have died within 20 minutes of their executions beginning, a contrast from troubled midazolam-related executions in other states that took anywhere from 43 minutes to two hours. Though witnesses to those lengthier executions also described hearing inmates breathe heavily, snore or snort or seeing them struggle against their restraints. "The long path of justice ended tonight and Arkansans can reflect on the last two weeks with confidence that our system of laws in this state has worked," Hutchinson said in a statement issued after Williams' execution. Dale Baich, an assistant federal public defender who witnessed a flawed 2014 Arizona execution that took two hours, said in an email early Friday that after reading media reports, "It appears from witness accounts that Mr. Williams was not fully sedated when the paralytic was administered. "At a minimum, this was a deviation from the protocol." Williams' lawyers had said he had sickle cell trait, lupus and brain damage, and argued the combined maladies could subject him to an exceptionally painful execution in violation of the U.S. Constitution. They argued Arkansas' "one size fits all" execution protocol could have left him in pain after a paralytic agent rendered him unable to move. State and federal courts rejected the claims. Williams was sentenced to death for killing Boren after escaping from the Cummins Unit prison in a barrel holding a mishmash of kitchen scraps. He left the prison -- where the execution chamber is located in another part of the facility -- less than three weeks into a life prison term for killing University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff cheerleader Dominique Hurd in 1998. At the conclusion of that trial, he had taunted the young woman's family by turning to them after the sentence was announced and saying "You thought I was going to die, didn't you?" After jumping from the barrel, he sneaked along a tree line until reaching Boren's house. He killed Boren, stole guns and Boren's truck and then drove away to Missouri. There, he crashed into a water-delivery truck, killing the driver. While in prison, he confessed to killing another person in 1998. At the time of Boren's death, investigators said it did not appear Boren was targeted because of his former employment by the Arkansas Department of Correction. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A prominent Atlanta attorney who says he accidentally shot and killed his wife last year has been indicted on murder and witness tampering charges. Claud Tex McIver was charged initially with involuntary manslaughter in the death of his wife Diane McIver last September. The murder indictment was unsealed on Thursday. McIver told police that while sleeping in the backseat of an SUV, a gun he was holding discharged and the bullet went through the seat and struck his wife, Fox 5 Atlanta reports. Family friend Dani Jo Carter was driving the SUV at the time. Prosecutors believe McIver may have killed his wealthy wife for her money, the station reported. Theres no financial motive. Theres no jealousy. Theres absolutely no motive, said defense lawyer Stephen Maples, according to the station. McIver was jailed on Wednesday when authorities found a gun in his home and revoked his bail. The indictment accuses McIver of instructing Carter to tell police she wasnt a witness to the shooting, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. An 18-year-old man has been arrested for the deadly attack that happened Wednesday morning on the track at Highlands High School. The Sacramento County Sheriffs Department arrested 18-year-old Neven Glen Butler for an unrelated assault on an elderly person on Fair Oaks Boulevard. Soon after, he was identified as a person of interest in the Highlands High School assault. Late Thursday, he was formally arrested for Wednesdays attack. According to detectives, Butler sexually assaulted a 61-year-old woman on the track. When the womans friend, later identified as 86-year-old Fusako Petrus tried to fight off Butler, Butler then allegedly attacked her, killing the older woman. Butler is scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon for the Fair Oaks assault, and will be arraigned on the new charges on Monday. Click here for more from Fox 40. A tense standoff with a California murder suspect barricaded in a car finally ended Friday afternoon after 19 hours. INMATE SERVING TIME FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF POLICE ESCAPES CUSTODY The suspect was holed up in a Mercedes sedan in Martinez, and police said they were trying to resolve the situation with no more loss of life, Fox station KTVU reported. The standoff began about 7 p.m. Thursday. The suspect could be seen pointing a gun at his head as he spoke to negotiators with the Contra Costa County SWAT team, according to reports. TENNESSEE MAN CHANGES PLEA IN SHOOTING THAT KILLED POLICE OFFICER "Officers are currently negotiating with him for a peaceful surrender," the Walnut Creek Police Department said on Facebook around midnight on Friday. By early Friday morning the suspect had relinquished his firearm to the SWAT team's remote-controlled robot, NBC San Francisco reported. Walnut Creek police had been searching for the man all afternoon and evening Thursday. Police said he shot and killed a woman near a wildlife preserve in Walnut Creek about 1:30 p.m. Thursday. She was shot at least once. Officer tried to save her but she died at the scene, KTVU reported. Click for more from KTVU. Delaware State Police Corporal Stephen J. Ballard was a husband, a father, and a hero. On Wednesday, April 26, Corporal Ballard was killed in the line of duty while serving the citizens of Delaware. Corporal Ballard, 32, was an eight-year veteran. He leaves behind his wife Louise and 5-year-old daughter. Tonight, the man believed to have shot and killed Corporal Ballard and then barricaded himself inside a Middletown, Delaware home, is dead. The suspect was killed Thursday morning in a shoot out with police outside a home he had barricaded himself inside for nearly 20 hours, repeatedly firing shots at police and keeping a neighborhood in lockdown. MURDERED DELAWARE TROOPER SERVED THE FORCE FOR NEARLY A DECADE Corporal Ballard's cruiser now sits in front of Troop 2, Glasgow, his home base. His hat rests on its hood, along with a flower. Just after noon, in a Wawa parking lot located in Bear, Del., Ballard approached a red Dodge Charger that appeared suspicious. Two men were in the vehicle. Ballard asked 26-year-old Burgon Sealy Jr. to get out of the passenger side. Sealy exited the vehicle. After a struggle between Sealy and Ballard, Sealy pulled a handgun and fired. Trooper Ballard attempted to run for cover behind a parked car. The suspect chased Ballard, shooting him multiple times in his upper body. Click here for more from Fox 29. Sheriff Grady Judd says a drunk driver who hit five teens Thursday afternoon in Florida -- killing one -- is a retired law enforcement officer who, hours after the crash, was still nearly twice the legal limit for driving. He read a 0.14 [BAC] seven hours after the crash. He was drunk. He was very drunk, Judd told FOX 13 on Friday. MARYLAND MANHUNT: INMATE SERVING TIME FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF POLICE ESCAPES The Polk County Sheriffs Office says John Camfield clipped one of the teens along Allegheny Road near Athabasca in Poinciana after they had gotten off the school bus and were walking along the shoulder of the road, and then hit the others while driving away. He mowed them down, ran through them like a bowling ball through bowling pins. Judd said. Its devastating in the greatest sense of the word." One of the victims was the 11-year-old daughter of an off-duty deputy. He ran outside barefoot after getting a frantic phone call from her and assumed the worst as he came upon the injured children. Ive been doing this job for four years and Ive seen a lot. Ive been involved in a lot, Deputy JJ Quintana recalled, fighting back tears. Nothing compares to hearing your daughter ask for help and you cant. Click here for more from Fox 13. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 A military funeral is planned for a New York woman who joined the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II after surviving months of torture by the Japanese for helping Filipino guerrillas. Florence Ebersole Smith Finch will be buried Saturday with full honors in Ithaca, where she died in December at age 101. Finch was born in the Philippines to an American father and a Filipino mother. After the Japanese conquered the Philippines in 1942, she hid her American background and helped funnel supplies to the Filipino resistance and American POWs. Eventually she was caught, imprisoned and tortured before being freed in early 1945. She joined the Coast Guard in the war's final weeks. After the war, Finch was awarded the Medal of Freedom, among the nation's highest civilian honors. Immigrant groups and their allies have joined forces to carry out marches, rallies and protests in cities nationwide next week to mark May Day, saying there's renewed momentum to fight back against Trump administration policies. Activists in major cities including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles expect tens of thousands of people to participate in Monday demonstrations, starting with morning neighborhood protests and culminating in rush hour events downtown. Activists also plan an overnight vigil in Phoenix, a farm workers demonstration outside Miami and a White House rally. In Seattle, pro-immigrant events are expected to give way to rowdier, anti-capitalist marches led by protesters who said they plan to shut down a major freeway through the city. "We're seeing an unprecedented amount of enthusiasm and activity," said New York Immigration Coalition executive director Steven Choi. "It's driven by the fact that Trump administration has made immigration the tip of the spear." Around the world, union members have traditionally marched on May 1 for workers' rights. In the United States, the event became a rallying point for immigrants in 2006 when more than 1 million people marched against a proposed immigration enforcement bill. While the current climate surrounding immigration may be similar to 2006 amid President Donald Trump's hard-line approach to the issue, the immigrant rights movement has changed dramatically since then. Advocacy groups that in 2006 were united in their determination to flood the streets to make a statement have fractured since then and pursued other efforts, such as voter registration, lobbying and fighting deportations. However, activists expect a surge in participation this year, in part because immigrant rights groups have worked with Women's March participants, Black Lives Matter and Muslim civil rights groups who are united by their opposition to Donald Trump. Also, businesses with immigrant ties are closing or allowing employees to take the day off without penalty. Immigrant groups acknowledged there is some fear among people in the country illegally who are skittish about drawing attention to themselves in visible marches. But organizers are reminding them that it's an important cause and there's safety in numbers. "If you are an immigrant in Los Angeles, the safest place you can be on Monday is in the action in downtown Los Angeles," said David Huerta, president of SEIU United Service Workers West. As Trump approaches his first 100 days, he has aggressively pursued immigration enforcement, including executive orders for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and a ban on travelers from six predominantly-Muslim countries. The government has arrested thousands of immigrants in the country illegally and threatened to withhold funding from sanctuary jurisdictions, which limit cooperation between local and federal immigration authorities. In response, leaders in sanctuary cities have vowed to fight back and civic participation has seen a boost, including February's "Day Without Immigrants." The travel ban and sanctuary order were temporarily halted by legal challenges. "We will not be divided," Pastor Don Taylor of an interfaith organizing group told Chicago supporters preparing this week for May 1. "It is a moral issue." Still, while there is opposition to Trump, activists aren't focused on a single course of action. In Illinois, they're pushing legislative plans to essentially extend sanctuary protections statewide. Outside Miami, advocates are calling for an extension of temporary protected status for Haitians displaced by a deadly 2010 earthquake. In Detroit, the push is for immigrants' constitutional rights, including due process. In Los Angeles, organizers expect as many as 100,000. New York could see up to 50,000 participants. Chicago organizers estimate at least 20,000. In Pennsylvania, student groups are calling for strikes to demand a safe place for immigrants on campus, while in Las Vegas culinary workers will take to the casino-lined strip to show support. In the Chicago area, dozens of restaurants and grocery stores planned to either close or allow workers to attend the demonstrations. In Portland, Oregon, unions, immigrants and others are urging people to skip work, school and shopping to highlight the importance of workers and the community's strength. Elsewhere, union leaders have asked employers to let workers participate. Google, for one, asked managers to be flexible in accommodating requests for time-off so employees can join marches. Adonis Flores, an organizer with Michigan United, plans to participate for the first time on what's long been known as International Workers Day. The 28-year-old was brought to the country as a young child from Mexico and doesn't have legal permission to stay. For four years, he's received a work permit through an Obama administration program for young people, and doubts Trump's assurances that his administration won't target people like him for deportation. "I don't believe anything he says and don't believe anybody should," he said. "It's getting to a point where the community is being tired and ready to take action." An Indianapolis man accused of killing three people in a four-day spree modeled on The Purge horror film series has pleaded guilty. Johnathan S. Cruz, 20, faced three murder charges related to the shooting deaths of two people on May 12 and a third person on May 15. He also had robbery, intimidation, and gun charges pending. CALIFORNIA POLICE IN HOURS-LONG STANDOFF WITH MURDER SUSPECT Prosecutors initially were seeking the death penalty in the case but instead came to a deal when Cruz pled guilty on Friday to three counts of murder and one count of robbery. He agreed to three consecutive life sentences without parole in addition to a separate 16 years in prison for the robbery. The murders were designed after the film in which all crime, including murder, is legal for a designated annual 12-hour period, court documents said. Investigators think the crimes, which Cruz labeled a purge, was related to criminal gang activity. Cruz is scheduled to be sentenced by a judge on May 11. Dramatic video shows the moment an ejected driver walked away from a car wreck in Alabama after his Jeep flipped several times. AJ Calvin was on his way to work on Tuesday night when he witnessed the wreck, which was captured on his dashboard camera. HELICOPTER HITS NC HOME, CRASHES; 2 HOSPITALIZED Calvin told Fox 10 he witnessed two cars fly by on Interstate 65 in Mobile. "I said to myself, 'Somebodys going to get in a wreck,'" he recalled. The dashcam footage showed the Jeep clip a red car and flip multiple times before ejecting the driver. Miraculously, the driver got up and walked back toward his car. Witnesses pulled a passenger from the vehicle, Calvin said. Both people in the Jeep were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries, but are expected to survive. The driver of the red car wasn't hurt. Click for more from Fox 10. Kansas City police say thanks to the publics tips they have identified and arrested the man accused of pulling out a gun while ordering a sandwich at a Jimmy Johns. On Thursday police released clear surveillance video of the armed robbery. TENNESSEE INMATES PICKING UP HIGHWAY TRASH FIND WOMAN'S BODY It happened just after 9:00 p.m., Wednesday. The man wearing a light blue hooded sweatshirt entered the restaurant, placed an order, then pulled a gun instead of a wallet out of his pocket and pointed it at the cashier. The cashier handed over the money and then tried to give the robber the whole cash register tray, but he pushed it back. Click for more from Fox 4. An inmate sentenced to over 100 years for crimes including the attempted murder of police officers escaped from the parking lot of a mental hospital in Maryland after he slipped away from his handcuffs in a police van, officials said, sparking a manhunt Friday. INMATES ATTACK CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ON VIDEO David Watson escaped from the custody of the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Jessup, Maryland, where an evaluation was scheduled, according to law enforcement officials. He bolted into the woods, Fox 45 reported. Police immediately launched a manhunt with K-9 dogs and helicopters. The 28-year-old inmate's handcuffs and waist chain turned up near the van, Howard County police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said, adding that Watson had been serving his sentence in Delaware. He's been charged with attempted murder and other offenses on Maryland'sa Eastern Shore related to shootings of police officers' homes. Watson was described as a white male, 5-foot-8-inches tall and 140 pounds. He was wearing all-white when he escaped, Llewellyn said. It was not clear whether his escape was planned or spontaneous, the spokeswoman added. Click for more from Fox 45. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Mississippi authorities have arrested a man wanted in a 1976 slaying in Texas. WDAM-TV reports (http://bit.ly/2qaAr1q ) 61-year-old David Lee Edds was arrested Thursday by U.S. marshals and Wayne County sheriff's deputies. They found Edds living in a tent in the woods after locating his truck. Edds was jailed in Wayne County. Sheriff Jody Ashley said the suspect will be extradited to Texas. The arrest came three days after the sheriff of Harris County, Texas, announced a warrant had been issued charging Edds with murder in the May 1976 stabbing of Rene Anthony Guillotte of Houston. Texas authorities said cold-case investigators linked DNA evidence to Edds, who lived near the road where the victim's body was found. China has threatened Pyongyang with sanctions if the rogue government continues to disregard calls to stop conducting nuclear tests, which are seen as a provocation to its regional neighbors and the U.S, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said. Tillerson, in an interview with Fox News on Thursday, said that Chinas commitment to implement sanctions on their own accord and that North Korea is aware. "We know that China is in communications with the regime in Pyongyang," Tillerson said. "They confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test." KRAUTHAMMER: TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAPPY WITH FREEZE ON NK NUKES (COMING UP: TILLERSON CHAIRS A SPECIAL UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ON NON-PROLIFERATION OF NORTH KOREA LIVE AT 10 AM ET. WATCH LIVE ON FOXNEWS.COM) 'TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT' Conservative commentator Ann Coulter joined Tucker Carlson tonight to react to her canceled speech at the University of California-Berkeley. Coulter confirmed that she was forced to cancel the scheduled Thursday speech on illegal immigration amid threats of violent protests. "They were hoping I would cancel," she said. FOX NEWS OPINION The Berkeley Effect: Christian pastor excluded from prayer breakfast ANOTHER EXECUTION IN ARKANSAS Arkansas has put to death its fourth inmate in eight days, in what is now the most aggressive execution schedule since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Kenneth Williams, 38, received a lethal injection Thursday night at the Cummins Unit prison at Varner for the death of a former deputy warden killed after Williams escaped from prison in 1999; the convicted killer was only three weeks into a life sentence for the death of college cheerleader when he escaped. REGION IN CHINA BARS ISLAMIC NAMES Authorities in western China are prohibiting parents from naming their children Islamic names in the latest effort to dilute the influence of religion on life in the ethnic Uighur minority heartland. "Muhammad," ''Jihad" and "Islam" are among at least 29 names now banned in the heavily Muslim region, according to a list distributed by overseas Uighur activists. COMING UP ON FOX NEWS CHANNEL 10 AM ET: Democratic leaders hold press conference on Trump's first 100 days, called "President Trump's First 100 Days: A Budget of Broken Promises" Watch live on FoxNews.com 1:30 PM ET: President Trump will make remarks at the National Rifle Association's annual convention in Atlanta. Watch live on FoxNews.com and Fox News Channel COMING UP ON FOX BUSINESS "Mornings with Maria": 8:00 AM ET: Gary Cohn, Director Of White House National Economic Council 8:30 AM ET: Ginni Rometty, IBM CEO 9:45 AM ET: Chieh Huang, Boxed CEO, appears on on "Varney & Company" 8 PM ET: Steve Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft, appears on "Wall Street Week" next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 About 20 hours after he fatally shot a state trooper, a Delaware man was shot to death after an overnight standoff with police, but authorities haven't given a motive for his actions. Law enforcement officers shot Burgon Sealy Jr. when he emerged from his home armed Thursday morning and "engaged police," state police Superintendent Col. Nathaniel McQueen said. He declined to say if Sealy fired a gun at that time. After shooting the trooper Wednesday afternoon, the 26-year-old Sealy had fled in a car and holed up inside the home, refusing to surrender despite being surrounded. Police used explosives to blow open the home's door and windows. On Wednesday, Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard encountered Sealy in the parking lot of a Wawa convenience store near Bear. Ballard had noticed something suspicious about two men in a car when Sealy, the passenger, shot him with a handgun. Ballard, wounded, sought shelter behind a parked car, but Sealy chased after him and fired again, McQueen said, including several shots that he fired "at close range" when the officer was already on the ground. Sealy then fled in another car he had driven to the store. The driver of the first car was questioned and released without any charges, police said. Ballard, 32, died that afternoon at a hospital. His survivors include a wife and daughter, Gov. John Carney said Thursday. Scott Adkins, 24, grew up on the same street as Sealy and went to middle school and high school with him. He remembered him as being fond of paintball and airsoft guns as early as middle school. "Multiple times, we would tell the (school) bus driver he was talking about guns and stuff like that, but nothing ever came of it," Adkins said. Records show Sealy was arrested in 2013 in Florida on gun and drug charges. In January 2011, he was convicted of resisting arrest after being taken into custody by Delaware State University police in 2010 on charges that also included offensive touching, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. Those charges were dropped. Carlos Holmes, a spokesman for DSU, said Sealy had attended the historically black school from fall 2010 to fall 2011 but did not graduate. Cpl. Ballard also attended DSU, studying sociology and criminal justice before graduating in 2007, Holmes said. McQueen declined to answer questions about Sealy's possible motives, including whether investigators had discovered any links to terrorism. He also wouldn't say whether Ballard might have been targeted, either individually or as a police officer. "That investigation is still unfolding, and as those facts become available, we'll certainly make them available," he said. After shooting the officer, Sealy called relatives and told them what he'd done, McQueen said, and they reported that to police. Sealy then drove about 15 miles (25 kilometers) to his home in a subdivision near Middletown. Alone in the house, Sealy refused to leave and repeatedly fired at the officers who surrounded him. None was hit. Police warned nearby residents to stay inside and lock their doors, and hostage negotiators established contact, trying to get Sealy to surrender peacefully. With no quick resolution, they blew the door of the house off its hinges shortly after 8 p.m. About eight hours later, after officers again came under fire, police again used explosives to blow off windows. Hours more passed before Sealy came out armed and was killed. Ballard had been on the force for more than eight years, state police spokesman Sgt. Richard Bratz said. "This is a very sad day," Gov. Carney said. "I stand before you with an aching heart, a heart that aches for Cpl. Ballard, his wife, his daughter, his family, a heart that aches for the Delaware State Police who served with him." ___ Associated Press writers Ben Nuckols and Sarah Brumfield in Washington contributed to this report. For U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Adam Wylie, "Emra" -- the 9-year-old Belgian Malinois he was forced to leave behind in South Korea -- was more than a service dog. The canine filled the void of family when Wylie, a 12-year veteran of the armed forces, was deployed from 2012 to 2014 in South Korea where he was stationed around Osan Air Base. "She meant the world to me," Wylie, 33, told Fox News. The two -- separated for three years -- were reunited April 20 in Cincinnati in a heartwarming reunion that at first seemed improbable. Emra had retired as a service dog due to old age and the beginnings of arthritis -- and was living thousands of miles away from her former handler. While in South Korea, Wylie and Emra were responsible for performing several patrol duties, including serving as "listening posts" to deter incursions by enemy personnel. The pair was also responsible for important safety sweeps during visits from top U.S. officials, like President Obama and Vice President Biden. The two last saw each other in 2014. The reunion last week was made possible by American Humane, a Washington-based nonprofit group, which funded the costs of bringing Emra home to retire on U.S. soil. Wylie, his wife, Kelly, and their 4-year-old daughter, Chloe, adopted Emra upon her arrival at the family's home in Bethel, Ohio, 40 miles outside of Cincinnati. "I was overcome by so many emotions, several of which I cannot even put into words," Wylie said of the reunion. "Our reunification was more than just two battle buddies catching up on 'old times,' a part of my family was brought back to me," he said. "Emra and I had such a strong bond in South Korea, but I will admit, my biggest fear was that she would not recognize me," he added. "But then it happened! She looked right at me, nuzzled into my neck, and licked my face. She had not forgotten the long shifts together posted out in the middle of nowhere or the endless hours training together." "We are inseparable now, just like we were for our two years serving together," he said. Wylie, who is currently on leave, plans to retire from the Air Force in May and start a new career as a K-9 handler and security specialist with the U.S. State Department, where he will serve at various undisclosed locations around the world. American Humane, meanwhile, said it was "honored to reunite two American military heroes and best friends," adding that it plans to provide free veterinary care for the dog. "Bringing Emra home to retire on U.S. soil was the very least all of us as Americans could do to express our gratitude for her extraordinary service and sacrifices on behalf of our nation," the group said. A so-called psychic who took more than a million dollars from clients she tricked into financing her extravagant lifestyle is headed to prison. 42-year-old Gina B. Miller was sentenced to eight years behind bars on Thursday following a guilty plea she entered last month on a count of aggravated theft in connection to the scam. OHIO COCAINE OOPS: SUSPECT DROPS BAG OF DRUGS IN COURT Prosecutors said that the Ohio woman would frighten her clients by telling them that they and their families would be hurt or killed if they didnt pay her to change their luck. She told one woman that her grandson wouldnt survive unless the client paid for Millers Cadillac and told another that her horses might die. She also told a separate client that her house was in jeopardy of burning down. KIDNAPPED OHIO WOMAN FOUND TRAPPED IN BACKYARD PIT, POLICE SAY To avoid the bad fortunes, clients paid Miller with a variety of exorbitant items including Rolex watches, diamond rings, cellphones, cars, and more. The scam ran from August 2001 to September 2015 at Gina's Psychic Studio in Mentor, according to Cleveland.com. Miller was able to identify the weaknesses of her clients and then ask for additional money to research the issues, prosecutors said. She would proceed to tell them that they were cursed and that she needed more financial resources to rid them of the curse. Police began investigating the claims after a client reported Millers operation. An Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation agent then went undercover as a potential client to obtain evidence. Miller and her defense attorney asked for leniency from the judge. They claimed that Miller is the primary caregiver for two teenage sons, one of whom has a mental illness. But Judge Vincent A. Culotta hit Miller with the maximum sentence for a second-degree felony at the sentencing. "Quite simply, you don't deserve leniency," Culotta said. "You deserve to be punished." A key leader of the terror group Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Yemen on Sunday, the Pentagon said. Abu Ahmed Al Awlaqi had led operations for the group in the Shabwa province. He also planned external attacks and coordinated the groups movement of weapons and explosives, authorities said. The death of the leader, according to Navy Captain Jeff Davis, was the result of a monthslong campaign designed to kill leaders of the group and other Yemeni operatives. Seven other members of the group were also killed in Sunday's strike, Davis said. The U.S. has completed more than 80 precision strikes against AQAP militants since February 28. That includes strikes against equipment, fighting positions and infrastructure. U.S. forces are completing the operations in the country against AQAP in order to simultaneously determine how the group plans external terror attacks and to degrade the ability of the group to complete those operations. Fox News Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. The steel industry in the U.S. was hoping for a comeback after years of decline. Following the election of President Donald Trump, industry insiders thought his America First focus and pro-steel mantra would give a major boost to the sluggish industry. But on Wednesday, bad news came: U.S. Steel, one of the largest steel companies in the world, got hammered by investors, who slashed 27 percent of its market value, after the company that built Pittsburgh posted a surprising first-quarter loss. The company had seen its stock prices jump after Trump was elected and announced major expansion plans but the losses rattled investors. But thats one company. Look beyond those numbers and you see a bright spot: Minimills are seeing their businesses bounce back. I think the focus this administration has put on manufacturing and on industry as important as steel in particular, creates a bump for us also, said John Ferriola, president and CEO of Nucor, the countrys largest minimill steelmaker, which is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. TRUMP ORDERS PROBE OF FOREIGN STEEL'S IMPACT ON US SECURITY Charles Bradford of Bradford Research, a New York-based research and investment firm, said profits for minimills are up 50 percent to 100 percent compared to this time a year ago. The minimill part of the industry is doing quite well, from a financial standpoint, Bradford said. They were nicely profitable. Amid complaints that foreign governments were subsidizing their steel manufacturing and manipulating prices by dumping cheap steel into the market, Trump invited the heads of the steel industry to The White House recently. Trump launched a trade probe into China and other exporters of cheap steel. He raised the possibility of new tariffs and launched an investigation into dependence on foreign steel for defense. This investigation will look at how steel imports are impacting the United States national security taking into account foreign practices such as steel dumping, Trump said. It's a tremendous problem in this country. They're really hurting not only our country, but our companies. WHITE HOUSE CONSIDERS NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER TARGETING UNFAIR PRODUCT DUMPING Ferriola, Nucors CEO, said all steel manufacturers want is a level playing field to compete against countries like China, which produces half of the worlds steel. The company has beefed up production and moving more steel out the door. Since the company has a pay incentive program that trickles down all the way to the guys on the production line that has a direct impact on the check they bring home. So the more we produce, the greater the bonus, said Lee Huckstep, a strand tender at Nucor. It makes a huge deal to me. File this under a feline fiasco. More on this... WOMAN WANTED FOR ANIMAL ABUSE CHARGES FOUND WITH 42 CATS IN HER CAR Police in Virginia are investigating reports of someone abducting cats and shaving their underbellies or legs. The Waynesboro Police Department said, since December, at least seven cats have been taken and shaved, but have all returned otherwise unharmed. Police Capt. Kelly Walker said Friday that all of the cats were well-groomed, had collars and clearly had owners. He said police are not sure what crime has been committed, but the pet owners would just like it to stop. Police initially believed proactive citizens may have been taking the cats to be spayed or neutered, according to WVIR, but later dismissed those suspicions when the same felines were victims of multiple instances of unwanted grooming. Flyers posted around the Waynesboro area urge residents to call the police with any information about the rouge barbering. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Georgia woman has been charged with threatening to blow up daycare centers where she'd been employed in the past. Federal prosecutors on Friday said 26-year-old Jasmine Jaquel Bradley of Macon is charged with making interstate bomb threats. Prosecutors say she texted employees of Bright Star Learning Center in Macon multiple times in January, telling them a bomb would go off if they opened the facility. Prosecutors say that on Monday, a Facebook user wrote on the Child Care Network School's website that a bomb was planted underground and vowed to "blow up every little face in that center." Prosecutors say they later traced that threat to Bradley. Prosecutors say Bradley had worked at both daycares. It wasn't immediately known whether Bradley has a lawyer who could be reached. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 The Boko Haram militants attacked N'gouboua before dawn, marking the first time the Nigerian extremist group had hit a town inside Chad. Crying "Allahu akbar" or God is Great into the pre-dawn darkness, they opened fire indiscriminately and burned scores of mud-brick houses with gasoline, killing at least eight civilians and two security officers. Nearly six years into its insurgency in Nigeria, the Islamic extremist group is now attacking villages in the other countries bordering Lake Chad Chad, Niger and Cameroon and local officials say the motive is greed, not a drive to establish an Islamic caliphate. Some 3,400 Nigerian refugees had been living in N'gouboua at the time of the Feb. 13 attack and all have since been relocated further inland to a camp jointly run by the U.N. and the government of Chad, a predominantly Muslim country. Journalists who visited N'gouboua on Thursday saw traumatized and scared residents and nearly a dozen destroyed vehicles and motorcycles in the sand-blanketed streets. The extremists had also set the town's sole mosque ablaze. Adam Dogo, a town resident, pointed to the charred woven mats that once formed the mosque's ceiling. The call to prayer is muted now that the mosque's speaker has gone up in flames. The floor where men once prayed is covered in ash. "What kind of Muslim sets a mosque on fire?" he asked. "The Boko Haram are against Islam." During the attack, Dogo's son, Ndingou, fled into a house to hide along with several other children. Boko Haram militants torched their hiding spot and it wasn't long before one of the girls burned to death beside him. Ndingou was afraid of dying or being kidnapped by Boko Haram. "I saw her body and I thought there was no way out," he recalled, his ears and the soles of feet badly burned. "I thought it was the end and I was going to die, but if they took me with them I would die too." Chadian troops have stepped up their patrols though this lakeside community remains vulnerable to further attacks by militants in motorboats. Only the day before, there was another attack on a village just 15 kilometers (nine miles) away. More than 200 Boko Haram militants ultimately were repelled by Chadian forces there, said local police commissioner Idriss Ibrahim. The heavily armed militants arrived in four boats with weapons including AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades he suspects were stolen from the Nigerian military. Some of the militants are now believed to be based on a Nigerian island in the lake though have used several other mostly abandoned islands on the Chadian side to launch their assaults. Authorities suspect some Chadians are giving them information since the highest-ranking local official was among those killed in N'gouboua. "They clearly knew how to enter the village, where the army was based," said Dimouya Souapebe, the chief civil servant in Baga Sola region of Chad. "They knew where to attack, where to hit." Some suspected collaborators already have been rounded up by the local authorities, and police are asking people to report suspicious strangers on the Chadian side. While Boko Haram's leaders says it is attacking Chad and other neighboring countries because they support a regional military effort against the group, local authorities believe the group is motivated by greed. As northeastern Nigeria where Boko Haram has traditionally been based becomes increasingly isolated, the fighters are pillaging wherever they go. "They don't have gas for their boats or medicine so they terrorize people so that they flee and they can take their things," Souapebe says. Piles of burned fabric, tea pots and other destroyed household goods litter the sandy yard in front of El-hadji Mbodou Zezerti's home. The 78-year-old fled N'gouboua when he heard the pre-dawn gunfire. His wife and four of his children made it to safety, though 10-year-old Falmata was missing. When the family finally returned to the village two weeks later, they found her charred body inside their home. Abakar Adoum, 34, lost his oldest brother that day, his throat slit when he encountered the militants while trying to flee. The children aren't sleeping, and there is little to eat in town. "Our wives are afraid to sleep at night," he said. "I never thought Boko Haram would come here, and now we are afraid that they will come back. They must be eliminated." A woman has been shot by police and four people were arrested during an anti-terror operation in north west London and Kent. Armed officers entered a property in Harlesden Road, Willesden, shortly before 7pm on Thursday evening. During the raid the woman, who was among a number of people under investigation, was shot. No other people were injured. In unverified footage from the scene, specialist firearms officers can be seen at the property and a number of loud bangs were heard, which could be gunshots or a battering ram being used. The woman, aged in her 20s, was taken to hospital where she is under police guard. Police said she has not been arrested "at this time" due to her condition, which has not been revealed. As part of the operation, four people have been arrested on suspicion of terror offences. A 16-year-old youth and a woman, 20, were detained at the property, while a 20-year-old man was arrested nearby. A 43-year-old woman was held in Kent a short while later. They are in custody at a south London Police station. Police said the Willesden property and people connected to it had been "under observation by counter-terrorism officers as part of an ongoing intelligence-led operation". Detectives are carrying out searches there as well as other addresses across the capital. Read more from SkyNews. KABUL, Afghanistan Afghans marked the 25th anniversary Friday of their victory over Soviet Russian troops and the birth of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan with parades and speeches. The public holiday celebrates todays date in 1992 when the Mujahedeen rebel forces overthrew Mohammad Najibullah's pro-Soviet Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. The occasion, referred to locally as Hashte Saur, is a day in which former Mujahedeen fighters and present-day soldiers and supporters march on bases or streets, history is recited, national songs traditionally sung by the "holy warriors" in the trenches are brought back, mosque prayers are directed to those who lost their lives and iconic green Mujahedeen flags are flown. "Over 13 years, we lost two-and-a-half million of our people, 7 million refugees fled and many were maimed," Commander Ahmad Muslem Hayat, a former Mujahedeen military chief proudly told Fox News in Kabul. "Today we are celebrating our struggle against and defeat of the communists and Russian occupation." Chaos was kindled in 1978 after Afghanistan's self-proclaimed prime minister, Mohammed Daoud Khan, was assassinated during the Saur Revolution, which was led by the socialist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). The PDPA then promptly seized power. But as more and more groups emerged in opposition to the communist leanings of the leadership, the PDPA government sought help from the U.S.S.R. The following year, the brutal Soviet war started and soon thereafter, the seemingly intractable U.S. involvement in the country started, too, as American officials covertly armed and aided the Mujahedeen against the Cold War enemy. For the soft-spoken and multilingual Hayat, the memories leading up the conflicts outbreak remain vivid. He said growing up his father always feared communism as the "monster of the world," one that would deprive them of their freedom and force them into atheism. At just 17 years old in 1979, Hayat was a student at the military academy in Kabul but a vocal opponent of that monster, the PDPA leadership. After his activism against the regime was discovered, he was expelled. A few days later, forces surrounded Hayat's family home and broke down the door in the dead of the night. He was arrested and taken into a torture cell at Sadarat by the secret spy police, the NDS, where his sternum was shattered by the knee of an interrogator and his body was endlessly barraged by electric shocks that "felt like a thousand bullets," he said. "All day you would hear constant screaming. Dead bodies were everywhere. The rooms were filled with prisoners -- girls and boys -- all educated, professional people," Hayat recalled. "The communists told us that listening to the BBC was a crime. They told us they did not care how many people they had to kill because Afghanistan only needs 3 million, not 30 million, people to keep them in power." Hayat was "luckily" released weeks later when Afghan politician and founding PDPA member Nur Muhammed Taraki was killed. More determined than ever, the young Hayat finished his military training over the border in Peshawar, Pakistan, and joined his distant relative -- the widely hailed hero and perhaps most powerful Mujahedeen leader Ahmad Shar Massoud -- north of Kabul in the north-central Panjshir Valley, by the Hindu Kush mountain range. "Massoud was the true leader of the freedom fighters. He trained fighters but also believed in justice and formed his own council to build schools and roads," Hayat said. But Hayat himself led groups of fighters against the Soviet and communist forces in the Panjshir Valley and other areas of Afghanistan. His efforts are credited with killing more enemy forces than most others rebel groups. He frequently ambushed the feared Spetznaz, Soviet special forces, and even he is still amazed that he survived the war. Two days before Sept. 11, 2001, Massoud, who was deemed friendly to the West and a natural future leader of Afghanistan, was assassinated in a suicide bombing by Al Qaeda operatives. In the view of some regional experts, Massoud was anathema to Usama bin Laden's xenophobic extremism and the then Al Qaeda leader was calculated in ridding Afghanistan of a U.S. ally less than 48 hours before directing planes into New York and Washington buildings. Hayat insisted that such extremists have since corrupted the significance of what it truly means to fight in the name of jihad, which is what mujahedeen literally means. He said it is often the most stable and secure pockets of Afghanistan that are that way because they are protected by devoted, unpaid former Mujahedeen. "Former Mujahedeen are very popular with the people, and the Taliban despises this," Hayat noted. "The Taliban has two enemies: Mujahedeen and the Americans." Over the last decade, the Afghanistan government has been forced to cancel public celebrations of April 28 due to security concerns and Taliban threats. Hayat said this year was no different, but they refuse to be silenced. Even in Taliban strongholds like Helmand Province, smaller-scale celebrations and marching took place before Friday prayers. "We will not let them stop us from celebrating this day," Hayat added with a shrug and a smile. "On this day, we won." Albanian Parliament speaker Ilir Meta is expected to be elected as the country's new president in a parliamentary vote. Meta's nomination on Friday has been formally supported by the main left-wing governing Socialist Party of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Meta, 48, is leader of the junior governing party, Socialist Movement for Integration. Friday's vote follows three failed ones as the governing coalition didn't put up a candidate, wanting to include the center-right opposition in reaching a broader consensus. Albania's president occupies a largely ceremonial role and is limited to two five-year terms. Candidates are proposed by a group of at least 20 lawmakers in the 140-seat Parliament. In the last two rounds a candidate can be elected by a simple majority, or at least 71 votes. A British foreign minister has warned that the Chechen Republic government is planning to "eliminate" its entire gay population by the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. "Human rights groups report that these anti-gay campaigns and killings are orchestrated by the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov," U.K. minister of state for the Foreign Office Sir Alan Duncan said before Parliament, the Independent reported on Tuesday. "He has carried out other violent campaigns in the past, and this time he is directing his efforts at the LGBT community. Sources have said that he wants the community eliminated by the start of Ramadan," he added. UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS AGENCY CONDEMNS ABUSE IN CHECHNYA Duncan further described the reports coming out of Chechnya, a Muslim-majority nation that is a federal subject of Russia, as "utterly barbaric." News agencies around the world, including The Guardian, have shared the stories of gay men who managed to escape Chechnya, and are now speaking out before the world about what they experienced. One man, identified as Adam, said earlier in April that he was rounded up by authorities in the Islamic nation, and tortured in sadistic ways. "At least once a day, Adam's captors attached metal clamps to his fingers and toes. One of the men then cranked a handle on a machine to which the clamps were linked with wires, and sent powerful electric shocks through his body," the Guardian report described. "If he managed not to scream, others would join in, beating him with wooden sticks or metal rods." Click Here to Read the Full Story at ChristianPost.com Authorities in western China are prohibiting parents from naming their children Islamic names in the latest effort to dilute the influence of religion on life in the ethnic Uighur minority heartland. "Muhammad," ''Jihad" and "Islam" are among at least 29 names now banned in the heavily Muslim region, according to a list distributed by overseas Uighur activists. If a parent chooses one of the barred names, the child will be denied government benefits. The names listed on the government document disseminated by Uighur groups include several related to historic religious or political figures and some place names. "Imam," ''Hajj," ''Turknaz," ''Azhar" and "Wahhab" are on the list, as are "Saddam," ''Arafat," Medina" and "Cairo."Judgment calls about which names are deemed to be "overly religious" will be made by local government officials, according to Radio Free Asia, the U.S.-funded radio service which first reported the naming directive. An official at a county-level public security office said some names were banned because they had a "religious background." It is unclear how widespread the ban is or whether it is tightly enforced. The official refused to identify herself, as is common with Chinese officials. The naming restrictions are part of a broader government effort to secularize Xinjiang, which is home to roughly 10 million Uighurs, a Turkic people who mostly follow Sunni Islam. Top officials including Xinjiang's Communist Party chief have publicly said that radical Islamic thought has infiltrated the region from Central Asia, protracting a bloody, yearslong insurgency that has claimed hundreds of lives. Government-linked scholars and high-ranking officials, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, have urged local governments to better assimilate their Muslim minorities into the majority Han Chinese culture, and many ethnic policy hard-liners have decried a trend of so-called "Arabization" affecting China's 21 million Muslims. Aside from the prohibition on Islamic names, local Xinjiang officials have, at times, strongly discouraged or prohibited Islamic veils, while government-linked commentators have called for bans of mosques with domes or other Middle Eastern architectural styles. Uighur activists and human rights groups say that radical thought had never gained widespread traction, but restrictions on religious expression are fueling a cycle of radicalization and violence. For instance, "Mehmet," the widely seen Turkic version of "Muhammad," is considered "mainstream" in Xinjiang and would likely be permitted, RFA reported. Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the overseas World Uighur Congress activist group, called the naming directive a policy bearing a "hostile attitude" toward Uighurs. "Han parents choosing Western names are considered trendy but Uighurs have to accept Chinese regulations or else be accused of being separatists or terrorists," Raxit said. The Associated Press contributed to this report China has threatened Pyongyang with sanctions if the rogue government continues to disregard calls to stop conducting nuclear tests, which are seen as a provocation to its regional neighbors and the U.S, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said. Tillerson, in an interview with Fox News on Thursday, said that Chinas commitment to implement sanctions on their own accord and that North Korea is aware. "We know that China is in communications with the regime in Pyongyang," Tillerson said. "They confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test." Although Chinas foreign ministry did not immediately comment on the secretarys remarks, a spokesman said that Beijing remains committed to employing sanctions imposed under U.N. Security Council resolutions. The potential for joint pressure on North Korea comes just as tensions in the region reach new heights. Earlier Thursday, the senior U.S. Navy officer overseeing military operations in the Pacific said the crisis with North Korea is at the worst point he's ever seen. "It's real," Adm. Harry Harris Jr., commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. He added that although U.S. intelligence agencies are unsure how far along North Koreas nuclear missile program is but he has no doubt that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un intends to fulfill his pursuit of a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the United States. Although China has consistently called for an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons program, it opposes unilateral sanctions imposed without a U.N. mandate. The House GOP leadership announced late Thursday that it would vote next week on new sanctions against North Korea that would target its shipping industry and those who employ North Korean slave labor abroad. "The time for waiting on North Korea to get its act together is over. Congress has led the effort to institute tough and far-reaching sanctions against Pyongyang," said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. In the meantime, the U.S. has sent a massive amount of American weaponry to the region. A group of American warships led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is in striking range of North Korea "if the president were to call on it," Harris told the committee. A U.S. missile defense system called Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense is being installed in South Korea. Harris said he has adequate forces to "fight tonight" against North Korea if that were to become necessary. The Assoicated Press contributed to this report. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 European Union foreign ministers are assessing the bloc's relations with membership candidate Turkey as ties between the two have sunk to their lowest level in years. The meeting comes in the wake of the divisive referendum in Turkey that gives more powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his stinging criticism of several EU nations, some of which he compared to Nazis. While some ministers are calling for sustained relations with a difficult partner who is also a pillar of the NATO alliance, others are calling for change. Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak questioned Turkey's credentials to join the EU, saying that EU "values must be underpinned by concrete steps and you must not be saying one thing and marching in a different direction." German prosecutors say authorities have arrested a 54-year-old Swiss citizen on suspicion of espionage. Federal prosecutors say the man, identified only as Daniel M. in line with German privacy rules, was detained Friday in Frankfurt, the country's financial capital, on the basis of an arrest warrant issued Dec. 1. Prosecutors say M. is "suspected of working for the intelligence agency of a foreign power since the start of 2012." They didn't identify the country he allegedly worked for. Prosecutors say the man will appear before a judge Friday. German authorities have arrested a 23-year-old Syrian on suspicion of membership in a terror organization for allegedly fighting for the extremist Islamic State group in his homeland. Federal prosecutors said in a statement that Emad A., whose last name wasn't released in line with privacy laws, was arrested early Friday in the western state of Baden Wuerttemberg. He's accused of joining the Islamic State group in 2013 and fighting for it in multiple engagements in Syria. Prosecutors did not say when the suspect entered Germany nor how he came to authorities' attention. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 The Latest on Turkey's membership talks with the European Union (all times local): 4:30 p.m. Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz says that for some European Union member states the last threshold to end membership talks with Turkey would be reinstatement of the death penalty by Ankara. Kurz said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Valletta, Malta that for Austria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had already crossed many thresholds by jailing journalists and taking other repressive actions in the wake of a coup attempt last summer. As such, he said, the EU's strategy to keep Turkey in the fold of acceptable democratic practices "was definitely not successful." In the wake of a referendum victory expanding the powers of his office two weeks ago, Erdogan has been talking about reinstating of the death penalty. Capital punishment is barred in all EU nations. ___ 12:27 p.m. European Union foreign ministers are seeking a way out of a stalemate on membership talks with Turkey as ties between the two have sunk to their lowest level in years. EU ministers also will meet with their Turkish counterpart in Valletta, Malta, on Friday for the first high-level meeting since the divisive referendum in Turkey that gives more powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. While some ministers are calling for sustained relations with a pillar of the NATO alliance and a major partner in controlling the flow of migrants into the EU from Syria and beyond, others are calling for change. Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has been at the forefront in calling for a fundamental reset of relations, and claims Turkey has thwarted fundamental EU values. He insisted that Erdogan had crossed many "red lines" that would bar membership, including the imprisonment of journalists and undue pressure on the opposition. In the wake of the referendum victory two weeks ago, Erdogan has been talking about the reinstatement of the death penalty, which is outlawed in all EU nations. ____ 9:40 a.m. European Union foreign ministers are assessing the bloc's relations with membership candidate Turkey as ties between the two have sunk to their lowest level in years. The meeting comes in the wake of the divisive referendum in Turkey that gives more powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his stinging criticism of several EU nations, some of which he compared to Nazis. While some ministers are calling for sustained relations with a difficult partner who is also a pillar of the NATO alliance, others are calling for change. Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak questioned Turkey's credentials to join the EU, saying that EU "values must be underpinned by concrete steps and you must not be saying one thing and marching in a different direction." The Latest on Montenegro and NATO membership (all times local): 3:05 p.m. Montenegro's prime minister has urged lawmakers in to support NATO membership, saying that it will present a guarantee for Montenegro's future security, economic progress and regional stability. Dusko Markovic has told lawmakers during a speech in parliament that "this assembly and its members have a historic privilege to make a decision that will be remembered as long as there is Montenegro and Montenegrins. He says that "this day will be marked among the brightest in our history." Pro-Russia opposition parties are boycotting the session and have held a demonstration instead. Anti-NATO demonstrators chanted "Treason!" and "Thieves!" and burned a NATO flag during a protest before peacefully dispersing. A banner read: "NATO murderers, your hands are bloody!" ___ 11:25 a.m. Montenegrin lawmakers are set to ratify the Balkan country's membership in NATO and make a historic turn toward the West despite protests from traditional ally Russia and pro-Russian opposition. The Montenegrin parliament will convene later on Friday to ratify the accession treaty with the Western military alliance. Opposition parties say they will boycott the session and hold a demonstration instead. Montenegro's pro-NATO government has urged lawmakers to approve the entry protocol. Officials have said that joining NATO will bring stability and economic benefits after centuries of turmoil. The government says: "In the current geo-political environment, Montenegro must rationally look at all options and make a decision that will best protect its national, security and economic interests." Russia has been angered by NATO expansion in Montenegro, Moscow's traditional zone of interest. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 The Latest on the French presidential election (all times local): 11:30 a.m. Polish officials have dismissed as "populist" recent comments by French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron who said he will press for European Union sanctions on Warsaw if he is president. Macron spoke with French regional daily "La Voix du Nord" after visiting a house appliances factory that is scheduled to move to Poland, where labor costs are cheaper. He said he would take action on Poland, saying it infringes fundamental EU values and uses fiscal differences to its favor. Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Konrad Szymanski said Friday Macron's words were "pure populism" and violated the EU's idea of a common market. Government spokesman Rafal Bochenek said Poland objects to being used in France's campaign ahead of the May 7 runoff between Macron and far-right Marine Le Pen ___ 9:30 a.m. French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen's far-right party is in new turmoil its temporary leader is stepping down over allegations he expressed doubt about Nazi gas chambers. National Front vice president Louis Aliot said on BFM television Friday that interim party leader Jean-Francois Jalkh is leaving his post because of comments reported in a 2000 interview. Jalkh took over this week after Le Pen said she would step aside to concentrate on her campaign. Aliot said that Jalkh is contesting allegations of Holocaust denial, a crime in France. Le Pen has worked hard to detoxify the party, tainted by racism and anti-Semitism in the past. She faces centrist Emmanuel Macron in a highly charged presidential runoff May 7. Macron is visiting the site of a Nazi massacre later Friday. There is a renewed focus on the handful of American citizens who remain locked up in Iran, after Politico recently reported that the Iranian prisoners released by the Obama administration last year were set free despite being deemed potential threats to national security. It was in January 2016 that we learned a group of American citizens in Iranian custody were finally being released as part of ongoing negotiations over the Iran nuclear agreement. Their return came in exchange for the release of several Iranians by the U.S., individuals who were described by then-President Obama as "civilians" who had never been "charged with terrorism or any violent offenses." As the president pointed out at the time, however, not every American believed to be trapped in Iran was coming home, and some are still missing to this day. Here is a list of Americans still being held in Iran. The former FBI agent still missing after 10 years Robert "Bob" Levinson, a 20-year veteran of the FBI, disappeared in March 2007 after traveling to Kish Island on the southern coast of Iran. Levinson, working as a private investigator at the time, was said to be attempting to recruit a source for the CIA. The last time Levinson was seen alive was in a 2010 hostage video, though it remains unclear exactly who was holding him. Iran has denied any knowledge of his whereabouts, but then-President Obama suggested in his announcement of the prisoner swap that Iran had "agreed to deepen our coordination as we work to locate Robert Levinson." President Trump spoke of making Levinson's case a priority on the campaign trail, and White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said last month that the U.S. "will spare no effort" in bringing Levinson home. Levinsons wife, Christine, said in an interview on Fox & Friends earlier this week that for 10 years Iran has said they will investigate and get back to us, but never did. She believes President Trump is a deal-maker who can get the job done. The father-son duo arrested just months apart Levinson's family members aren't the only ones hoping President Trump will be able to return their loved ones to them. The family of two Iranian-Americans imprisoned since October 2015 and February 2016 suggest time is of the essence. Siamak Namazi, a businessman and scholar, was arrested just a few months before his father, Baquer, a former representative of the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), was taken into custody. Since then, the pair have been sentenced to matching prison terms of 10 years on charges they had been spying for the U.S. "If we are not able to secure their release very soon, I will never see my father, I will never see Siamak, my brother, my children will not see them, Babak Namazi told Fox Washington correspondent Rich Edson earlier this month. There are concerns about both of the the Namazis' health, as well as the conditions they're being held in. It was in October 2016 that then-candidate Trump tweeted: Well, Iran has done it again. Taken two of our people and asking for a fortune for their release. This doesn't happen if I'm president! Jared Genser, the Namazis attorney, told Fox News that Spicer's recent comments calling for the Namazis' release represent "an important step forward." But, he added, the words from the White House need "to be followed up by immediate and aggressive action." As confirmed in a travel warning from the State Department last year, Americans with dual-Iranian citizenship typically arent afforded any kind of legal protections because "[t]he Iranian government does not recognize dual citizenship." The warning goes on to state that "Iranian authorities make the determination of a dual nationals Iranian citizenship without regard to the dual nationals personal wishes," and that "[c]onsular access to detained U.S. citizens without dual nationality is often denied as well." The couple apparently arrested for alcohol, parties According to the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), a dual-national Iranian-American and his wife have not only been in prison without any evidence of wrongdoing for nearly a year, their initial arrest was apparently based on charges of serving alcohol and holding mixed-gender parties. Karan Vafadari, an art gallery manager, was arrested along with his wife, Afarin Nayssari, by Iran's revolutionary guard back last July. According to a blog apparently run by Vafadari's sister, the couple's charges were recently upgraded to include attempting to overthrow the Islamic Republic and the recruiting of spies. Robert Toscano, the former Italian Ambassador to Iran, defended Vafadari and his wife in an open letter last year. Toscano suggested "[o]ne has to be truly gullible and the easy victim of propaganda in order to believe that they were detained because they were offering alcoholic drinks to their guests." He said that the more-likely reason for their detention was "political blackmail toward the U.S. (of which they are also citizens)." British police carried out a series of raids on Thursday in an attempt to foil a terror plot the second active plot uncovered that day. A woman was shot and at least four people were arrested during Thursday evening raids. LONDON ATTACK: TERRORIST WAS IN DEBT FROM PLAYING LOTTERY SCRATCHCARDS One of the homes had been under surveillance in a counterterrorism operation and police used deadly force due to the nature of the intelligence we were dealing with, according to Sky News. The arrests and the shooting occurred hours after a man carrying large knives was arrested near Parliament. The man is accused of preparing a terror attack. Authorities say the two incidents are not related. POLICEMAN SLAIN IN LONDON ATTACK GETS PARLIAMENT HONOR The two incidents also happened a month after the terror attack near the Palace of Westminster, which killed five and injured more than 50 people. The attacker, Khalid Masood, 52, born in Dartford, England, drove a car into pedestrians, burst through a gate, and then fatally stabbed an unarmed police officer. British police have been on heightened alert since that attack. The evening raids were carried out in London and southeastern England. The unidentified woman who was shot is in serious condition. Police continued to search the house on Friday. Two others were arrested at that address, as was a neighbor. A woman in Kent also was arrested. Police say the four people are being held on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu told Sky News that the arrests "have contained the threats that they posed." Basu said London police have beefed up patrols and remain extra vigilant against the backdrop of a severe terrorist threat." "With the attack in Westminster on 22 March so fresh in people's minds, he said, I would like to reassure everyone that across the country officers are working round the clock to identify those people who intend to commit acts of terror. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Massachusetts high school student is alive after falling more than 200 feet down a mountain on a school trip in Switzerland. LOST NEPAL TREKKER FOUND AFTER 47 DAYS; HIS GIRLFRIEND DIED AFTER 44 A chaperone on the trip just happened to be the Middleboro fire chief and he jumped into action to rescue the unnamed teen. The rescue was even more complicated by a language barrier. The tour guides spoke German and Italian, they had to translate instructions from the chief to get the rescue organized-- all this, after the chief took a fall himself. AUSTRALIA GIRL, 8, SURVIVES CAR CRASH THAT KILLED HER MOTHER AND SIBLINGS All I kept thinking about was it that was my son I would want somebody down there with him as well, Chief Lance Benjamino said. The Whitman-Hanson Regional High School students on the trip were on a mountainside in Lucerne, Switzerland when the boy fell. We couldnt hear him or see him over the edge, Benjamino said. Benjamino knew there wasnt any time to waste. He and a tour guide made their way down, while mountain employees organized the rescue equipment the chief asked for. When I traversed down the mountain I started to lose my footing as well and I slid about 75 to a hundred feet and then I climbed, realistically I crawled down the mountain to find the student who thankfully was conscious and alert. He was banged up pretty bad. Benjamino said. Click for more from Fox 25. North Korea's deputy U.N. ambassador said Friday that U.S. efforts to get rid of his country's nuclear weapons through military threats and sanctions are "a wild dream." Kim In Ryong told The Associated Press that North Korea's nuclear weapons are never part of "political bargains and economic deals." "In a nutshell, DPRK have already declared not to attend any type of talks which would discuss its nuclear abandonment, nuclear disbandment," he said, using the acronym for the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim reiterated North Korea's longstanding contention that its nuclear program "is the product of the United States hostile policy towards DPRK." "That is why every solution will be possible when the United States hostile policy is withdrawn in advance," he said. Kim "categorically rejected" Friday's U.N. Security Council meeting on the North Korean nuclear issue which his country declined to attend as "another abuse" of the council's authority, acting on instructions of the United States which is a veto-wielding member. The United States holds the council presidency this month and organized the ministerial session that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson chaired. Tillerson called for new sanctions on North Korea and urged all countries to exert pressure on Pyongyang and implement the six U.N. sanctions resolutions. He also stressed that the Trump administration will only engage in talks with Pyongyang when it exhibits "a good faith commitment" to implement Security Council resolutions "and their past promises to end their nuclear programs." Kim responded saying: "As we expected, (the) U.S. has taken issue with self-defensive nuclear deterrent of the DPRK, and not only to justify their anti-DPRK aggressive war racket but also to create atmosphere for sanctions against DPRK at any cost." He said the United States "is wholly to blame for pushing the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war by staging the largest-ever joint aggression military drills against the DPRK for the past two months" and deploying "nuclear strategic assets" to South Korea. While the United States once talked about nuclear disarmament, Kim said it is spending a trillion dollars "in a bid to secure a nuclear edge" and he said this issue should be addressed "before tabling the denuclearization of the DPRK." "The nuclear force of the DPRK just serves as a treasured sword of justice and creditable war deterrent to protect the sovereignty and dignity of the country and global peace from the U.S. threat to ignite a nuclear war," Kim said. North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Friday, but the missile "broke up in flight" over the Peninsula and has been deemed a failure, two U.S. officials have confirmed to Fox News. The missile has been assessed to be a KN-17, a former Scud missile that officials believe is being tested to one day target ships. It flew roughly 25 miles and was in the air for about 15 minutes, officials tell Fox News. The KN-17 was launched from Pukchang. A White House official told Fox News that the U.S. is not suprised by this latest test, nor by the fact that it failed. President Trump has been briefed on the test, also, according to a White House statement. The White House is watching the situation closely and consulting with China about Kim's behavior. The U.S. is moving toward pushing for another round of sanctions next week. President Trump responded to the failed launch on Twitter Friday night, calling it a "bad" development. The KN-17 is a single-stage, liquid-fueled missile -- not the three-stage, solid-fuel missile that North Korea successfully tested back in February, which caused more concern among Pentagon officials. North Korea routinely test-fires a variety of ballistic missiles, despite United Nations prohibitions, as part of its push to develop a long-range ballistic missile capable of hitting U.S. shores. Monday, the Pentagon announced it was conducting a new nuclear posture review, two days after North Korea failed to launch a new type of ballistic missile, which exploded four seconds after launch. The latest failed test over the weekend occurred hours before Vice President Pence touched down in Seoul. On Monday, he visited the Demilitarized Zone on the border between North and South and warned the rogue communist regime against conducting further tests. Today's launch comes at a time when the Trump administration is considering how to deal with the threat from North Korea. Several administration officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, have said that the era of "strategic patience" with North Korea is now over. On Friday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told the United Nations to take new sanctions against North Korea. Last year, Pyongyang attempted to launch a Musudan missile on April 15, an auspicious date on which millions celebrate Kim II Sung's birthday. The secretive, isolated regime has already had several missile launch tests this year. Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson, John Roberts and the Asscociated Press contributed to this report North Koreas military may be armed with obsolete conventional weapons, but at 1.2 million men, it poses a very real threat to its neighbor and nemisis to the south. Equipped with 20,000 artillery pieces, 1,000 short- and medium-range missiles, 70 submarines, more than 400 patrol/missile boats and 563 combat aircraft, the Hermit Kingdom's forces are poised to do maximum damage in a sneak attack against South Korea. Its 10 plutonium-based nuclear warheads and evolving missile technology exists to project power beyond the peninsula, but there is little doubt that the rogue nation's first target should it declare war will be South Korea. A strike against Seoul would be devastating. At 25 million people, it is the most densely populated city in the world. Seoul is just 30 miles from the demilitarized zone, the contested boundary between North and South which are still technically at war and restrained only by an armistice in place since 1953. Pyongyang has an estimated 4,000 artillery guns and rockets placed on the heights north of Seoul just across the DMZ, many of them on rails so they can be moved into place in time to avoid detection. Adm. Harry Harris, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, said America needs to wield credible combat power all the time to face whatever threats come out of North Korea, I think the lack of a strong, credible combat deterrence is actually an encouragement to Kim Jong Un to do things that are provocative or dangerous or both that threaten those millions who live in Seoul. The U.S. military regularly conducts combat simulations with experts from the private sector and the Pentagon to determine the outcomes of a North Korean attack on the South. Former Army Intelligence Officer Michael Pregent served in rapid response units that would deploy to Korea in the event of a conflict. Now a fellow at the Hudson Institute, he took part in war games that simulated a North Korean offensive against South Korea when he was with the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions. The first wave is the most destructive one, said Pregent. They have a shock capacity that includes raining down artillery shells and rockets on population centers. Experts say the North Koreans could attack Japan with warheads mounted on medium-range rockets. Harris was asked about possible nerve gas or chemical weapons attacks on its neighbors. I think that's part of the readiness calculus that we have to go through when we consider the threat from North Korea, Harris told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Hundreds of thousands of troops backed by armored vehicles would then be expected to swarm across the border, hoping to take advantage of the brief window of surprise to force a conclusion to the war practically before it started, and a ceasefire that would lead, presumably in the mind of Kim Jong-Un, to reunification. According to Pregent, who took part in the war games, some of the next phase would be predictable, some of it might be surprising to lay observers. The artillery that fire first would be destroyed by U.S. and South Korean air power and counter-artillery, then there would be a second wave of North Korean artillery, and that would be destroyed too. All that would have caused havoc, of course, said Pregent. North Koreas military first policy is intended to blunt the effect of persistent civilian food and fuel shortages on its armed forces. A South Korean lawmaker has asserted that North Korea has about a million tons of wartime food provisions. Enough, he claimed, to feed the million man army for 500 days. But one thing that Pregent says Kim Jong Un must be painfully aware of is the logistical problem facing his ground forces. The regime fears desertion once their forces cross the DMZ, said Pregent. They cant supply their troops with food, fuel, clothes, and ammunition. Every war game that Ive ever been part of, the North Koreans run out of water, food and ammo. Pregent imagines the psychological impact on even the most hardened, elite North Korean shock troops once they cross from a nation that doesnt even have lights on most nights, into a 21st century economic powerhouse. How do you stop a million-man force? You dont, unless they stop themselves sometime between day 3 and day 7, he said. The psychology of the North Korean shock troops, their special operators, is theyve been told they are the best in the world. But the fact is their night vision is 20 years old, their weapons have a tendency to jam, and their boots are worn out. What happens when they see theyve been lied to all their lives? Do they simply look at this as an opportunity to drop their weapons in awe of what doesn't exist in the North? This is how closeted these guys are, said Pregent, the mere presence of a food stand bursting with goods on the side of the road would blow them away, not to mention ipads and iphones. Democrats in successive House and Senate Armed Service Committee hearings this week pressed Harris on the weakness of the North, and whether President Trump was provoking Pyongyang with our B1 and B52 missions in the region and the deployment of a powerful aircraft carrier battle group as well as a guided missile nuclear submarine, the USS Michigan. If you are a weak country, or you have a weak military, then I think that encourages adventurism and puts us in a place with countries like North Korea that we wouldnt want to be in if we had a choice, Harris told Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif. Credible combat power I believe has the effect of ameliorating Kim Jong Uns worst impulses. Admiral Harris explained to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) that if the United States allows North Korea to overcome its inherent weaknesses with a nuclear tipped intercontinental ballistic missile aimed at the United States, then we're going to be in a position to be blackmailed by Kim Jong-Un and I think that's probably a worse place to be. I think that we'll all agree that everything that's been done up to this point has not worked in deterring Kim Jong-Un. So we must stop that, somehow. Asked whether the United States military can take out North Koreas artillery aimed at Seoul with a pre-emptive strike, Harris said, It depends on the level of the pre-emptive strike. A 22-year-old soldier from Illinois and a 23-year-old soldier from Ohio were identified Friday as the U.S. Army Rangers who were killed this week fighting the Islamic State in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers and Sgt. Cameron H. Thomas were killed -- possibly by friendly fire from either U.S. or Afghan forces -- while conducting a raid on an ISIS compound Wednesday night, Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said. The Rangers believe the raid killed at least 35 ISIS fighters -- including the head of ISIS-Khorasan in eastern Afghanistan, Abdul Hasid, the Pentagon added. TALIBAN ANNOUNCE SPRING OFFENSIVE 1 WEEK AFTER AFGHANISTAN MASSACRE The Rangers knew Hasid would be "well-protected," Davis said, adding that a total of 50 Rangers came under fire from all angles within minutes of landing near ISIS-K headquarters via helicopter. Both Rodgers and Thomas were assigned to 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga. 2 U.S. ARMY SOLDIERS KILLED FIGHTING ISIS IN AFGHANISTAN Rodgers and Thomas were on their third deployments to Afghanistan when they were killed. Rodgers was a Ranger Team Leader assigned to Company C while Thomas was an Anti-Armor Specialist assigned to Company D. "Josh and Cameron proved themselves willing to go into danger and impose a brutal cost on enemies in their path," Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said. Rodgers, born in Normal, Ill., enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating from high school. He completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning as an Infantryman and graduated from the Basic Airborne Course. He was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 1, also at Fort Benning. Thomas, born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, enlisted in the U.S. Army from his hometown of Kettering, Ohio, after he graduated from high school. He finished One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning as an Infantryman. He graduated from the Basic Airborne Course and then was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 1 and remained at Fort Benning. The incident, which unfolded close to the site of the recently conducted Massive Ordnance Air Burst Bomb (MOAB) bomb strike, was under investigation. There were no indications any civilians were hurt, according to the Pentagon. The Rangers called in Apache helicopters, AC-130 gunships, F-16 jets and drones when they found themselves surrounded in into the Mohmand Valley, Davis said, adding, "We knew going in this was going to be a very tough fight." Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and Leland Vittert contributed to this report. Poland's ruling party says it is halting a plan to expand the capital city following protests, saying it needs more consultation with the people. The populist Law and Justice party previously had dropped plans to toughen Poland's anti-abortion law and reversed the liberalization of forestry law that had led to excessive logging. The plan to enlarge Warsaw by incorporating 32 neighboring municipalities also provoked protests. Critics said it was aimed at helping Law and Justice win power in Warsaw, where it is much less popular then in the surrounding municipalities. The party argued that it wanted to help the suburbs develop. The plan's author, Jacek Sasin, said Friday it was to be withdrawn from parliament and submitted to extensive public debate. Pope Francis decorated Bolivian Vicente Quispe Chura for having headed a team comprised of Bolivians and Peruvians who translated several liturgical texts from Spanish into Aymara, the Bolivian Catholic Church reported Thursday. The head of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference (CEB), Ricardo Centellas, told media outlets that Quispe was very surprised when he learned that the pontiff had awarded him the "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" decoration for his work. Centellas emphasized that Quispe had provided "great support to the life of the Bolivian Catholic Church" because his work allows indigenous communities to approach the Gospel in their mother tongue. BOLIVIA OPENS 'EVO MUSEUM' DEDICATED TO INDIGENOUS PRESIDENT The bishops presented the decoration to Quispe on Thursday during their assembly in the city of Cochabamba. Quispe, born in the small town of Huatajata on Lake Titicaca, for years headed a team made up of Bolivian and Peruvian Aymara Indians who translated several church texts. According to a statement the pope's recognition highlights a "work of sacrifice that makes possible the enculturation of the Gospel, particularly among the Aymaras of Peru and Bolivia." PASSING OVER US, BOLIVIA NEARLY DOUBLES LAND SLATED FOR COCA PLANTATION Spanish Jesuit Luis Palomera, who works in the Aymara liturgical center, said that Quispe's team translated the missal, canonical texts, three readings for Masses, the Book of Psalms and books discussing ritual and festive celebrations, among others. Quispe expressed his thanks for the recognition and dedicated it to his people, the Aymara communities, the priests of that ethnicity and to the team with whom he worked because they enabled him to carry out the task. SCIENTISTS TO TRANSPORT ICE FROM BOLIVIAN MELTING GLACIER TO ANTARCTICA He said that when he sees church officials using the translated works he feels it was worth the effort. Aymara is spoken among Indians in Bolivia and Peru, as well as in the communities around Lake Titicaca. Pope Francis arrived in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday for a historic visit aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front to repudiate violence committed in Gods name. His visit came after three suicide bombings since December on Coptic churches, including deadly twin Palm Sunday church attacks, killed at least 75 people. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for those attacks. Francis first met with Egypts president, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi who welcomed the Catholic leader at his Ittihadya palace, where a military band played the national anthems of the Vatican and Egypt. The "people's pope" said before his trip that despite security concerns, he would not travel in an armored car -- a decision in line with previous foreign trips, the BBC reported. The pontiff will make an important visit to Al-Azhar, the revered 1,000-year-old seat of learning in Sunni Islam. There, he will meet privately with grand imam Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, and participate in an international peace conference Friday afternoon. After meetings with el-Sissi and the Mufti, Francis will head to the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Francis and the other pope, Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church, will preside over an ecumenical prayer service in St. Peters church, the Coptic cathedral that was the site of a December suicide bombing claimed by Islamic state militants that killed 30 people. The goal of the trip is to bring a message of peace to a country that has been ravaged by Islamic extremist attacks, and encourage a culture of respect and tolerance for religious minorities, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state. "The fundamental issue is education, and educating those of different religious beliefs and especially the young, to have great respect for those of other faiths," Parolin told the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano. "The question of language is fundamental: when you use a violent language, there is the danger that it can result in violent acts." While the pontiff dislikes using the armored popemobile his predecessors used on foreign trips, security in Cairo has been heightened for Francis' two-day trip. Streets that will be used by the pontiffs motorcade around the Coptic Orthodox cathedral and the Vatican Embassy were cleared of cars, and police swarmed the upscale Cairo neighborhood of Zamalek on a Nile River island where Francis will sleep on Friday. The popes visit is unlikely to cause much disruption to the city as it falls on the Muslim Friday-Saturday weekend, when the usually congested traffic is significantly lighter. The visit is the first papal trip to Cairo in 20 years, and comes as Egypts Coptic Christians, who make up 10 percent of the countrys 92 million Muslim-majority population, face increased threats. The Associated Press contributed to this report. South Korea announced Friday that it has no plans to renegotiate a bilateral trade deal with the U.S. or to pay for the U.S. missile defense system being deployed in the region, disputing recent remarks made by President Donald Trump. In an interview with Reuters news agency Thursday, Trump said that he plans to fix the horrible bilateral trade deal with South Korea and that he would also make them pay $1 billion for the THAAD missile defense system. Woo Taehee, South Koreas vice trade minister, said the country was not notified of any trade renegotiation and that there had been no pre-talks with the U.S. regarding the five-year-old trade deal. In a separate statement, South Korea's defense ministry said there is no change in its plan under which the U.S. covers the cost for operating THAAD, now being deployed in the country's southeast. Under an agreement reached during the administration of Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, South Korea offers the land and facilities for THAAD but not the cost of operations, the Defense Ministry said. The U.S. missile defense system, meant to deter North Korean aggression, has become a thorny issue between South Korea and China, which opposes it because its powerful radars can peer through not only North Korean but Chinese defenses. Chinese backlash over THAAD has been hurting South Korean businesses in China, South Korea's largest trading partner, and many in South Korea worry that the issue could damage South Korea's economic recovery. The Presidents remarks could undermine recent attempts by Secretary of State Rex Tillersons to stabilize the region with the help of the Chinese. Tillerson confirmed in an interview with Fox News on Thursday Chinas commitment to implement sanctions on their own accord if North Korea continues to conduct nuclear tests. Some observers said the Presidents remarks could infuriate South Korean voters and spark anti-U.S. sentiment less than two weeks before the country's presidential elections. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Tanzanian President John Magufuli has fired nearly 10,000 civil servants accused of having falsified academic qualifications to get their jobs. The civil servants have been given 15 days to leave their jobs or risk jail terms of up to seven years. Since winning elections in 2015 Magufuli has strengthened his reputation for fighting corruption with decisions many see as aimed at improving service delivery. Corruption is widespread in this East African country. The United States on Wednesday urged Venezuela to release an American citizen, Joshua Holt, on humanitarian grounds, saying he was being held on "questionable charges." State Department officials met with Holt's mother, Laurie, on Tuesday in Washington, spokesman Mark Toner told a news briefing. VENEZUELA DENYING TRIAL TO US MAN HELD SINCE JUNE, CASE GOES TO THE UN He said Laurie Holt was also meeting with members of the U.S. Congress and other U.S. government officials over concerns about her son's health, without giving any details. Holt, in his mid-20s, has been held in a Venezuelan prison since June 30 on weapons charges. "We obviously share her concern for her son, who is a U.S. citizen who has now been detained in Venezuela ... on questionable charges for some 300 days," Toner said. "We again call on the Venezuelan government to immediately release Joshua Holt on humanitarian grounds." The State Department said it had last raised concerns with Venezuelan authorities about Holt's health, conditions of his detention, and his treatment on April 24. In Leah Spruills preschool STEM class at Growing Kids Academy in Spotsylvania County, little fingers tapped at the screens of tablets encased in green protective covers. Sitting criss-cross applesauce on the carpet, the preschoolers were playing with learning apps during technology time. Soon, theyd transition to their next activityfinding numbers inside colorful, squishy sensory bags. Spruill and her 3-year-old son, Shawn, made the bags at home the preceding weekend. They filled vacuum-sealed food saver bags with a mixture of tempera paint and vegetable oil. The children would use their fingers to push the paint around inside the bag until they found the number Spruill had written. So theyre learning numbers and colors and theyre getting one-on-one time with an adult, Spruill said. And its a good stress reliever! Spruill, 37, has been in the preschool/child care business for years and says she has a passion for the work. She said shes also been enrolled at Germanna Community College for years but has struggled to complete a degree. Now, as the recipient of a Project Pathfinders scholarship, she hopes to finally be able to finish her course work and earn her associates degree in education with a concentration in early childhood education from Germanna next year. Project Pathfinders is a program administered by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and the Virginia Community College System. Its goal is to make it easier for early childhood professionals working in preschools or child care centers to access community college educations. It is the first state-funded scholarship program for early education professionals, said Karin Bowles, director of strategy for VECF. Funding began July 1 and the first group of recipients took classes last fall. Bowles said funding is in place through June 30, 2018. The program is the result of a growing recognition that young childrens brains begin to develop at a very young age, prenatally through three years, Bowles said. This is a prime time to influence their development. Two out of three children in Virginia have all parents in the workforce, Bowles said, so they are spending time in a day care setting. Adults who work with young children need to have competency and skills, Bowles said. But many child care workers, like Spruill, encounter barriers in their path to higher education. This is a commuter area, so a lot of child care centers are open up to 12 hours a day, said Carol Clark, executive director of Smart Beginnings Rappahannock Area, a local coalition of agencies, businesses and people working to promote early childhood education. [The teachers] may have a schedule inconsistent with the needs of [school] enrollment. Its very hard work, both physically and mentally. It requires a lot of outside time to ensure that lesson plans are completed and theyre up on the latest trends and materials and practices. Most of the workers are parents and are often single parents, Clark said. Carving time away from parenting for school is challenging. In addition, theres the fact that this is a low-paid profession, she said. The funding and the time are the biggest barriers [to obtaining higher education], not the want. But as studies continue to show the importance of early childhood education to future school and life success, theres a growing awareness of the need to foster the people providing that education. We know through research that the best way to ensure quality in a child care setting is through teacher education, Clark said. And so we look for new avenues to provide scholarships and training opportunities for our workforce. The Project Pathfinders scholarship pays for recipients to take two classes a semestereither online, in the classroom or a combination of bothat a Virginia community college. It also covers textbook costs and fees. Recipients can reapply for successive semesters. The scholarship is available to anyone in Virginia employed in a child care or preschool settingwhether it be full-day, half-day, for-profit, nonprofit, faith-based or in-home. Applicants need a letter of support from an employer and priority is given to applicants working with at-risk children. A LIFE IN CHILD CARE Spruill said she grew up in the business of early childhood education. My experience is pretty much my whole life, she said. Her mother ran an in-home day care at their house in Dale City. The school bus stopped in front of our house and pretty much the whole bus would get off, she said. We were an after-school haven. She said she learned the basics of what is now popularly known as a homegrown curriculumusing the home as a classroom and materials found in the home to create learning toolsfrom her mother. The sensory bags she made at home are an example. Its putting a personal touch on your curriculum, she said. For 10 years, Spruill owned Always Sonshine Learn and Play, a child care facility in Spotsylvania. A little more than a year ago, the building was destroyed in a fire. After that, she worked as a substitute teacher for Spotsylvania County Public Schools. She was able to work in kindergarten and first-grade classrooms, where she could observe children transitioning from the early childhood world she had just left. The experience highlighted for her the importance of early childhood education. If the children went into kindergarten not knowing their basicsletters, numbers and shapestheyre already behind, she said. Early childhood education lays the foundation for all future learning, Clark said. According to the Smart Beginnings website, investing now in early childhood development yields tremendous economic and social benefits by reducing crime and welfare dependency while building a competitive, productive workforce. Its an important job but a demanding one. Spruill said she sleeps well at night. I have parents ask me all the time, How do you do it? she said. The answer is, you have to have a heart for it. Otherwise, theres no rhyme or reason for it. GETTING OUT OF A RUT Spruill said that preschool teachers often find themselves stuck in a rut. In order to maintain their basic qualificationsknown as child development associate credentialsthey must complete 24 training hours annually, she said, and it can be a struggle for educators to find the time and money to do it. Once you do, you kind of feel like, Its so hard to meet the basic requirements, so why go on? she said. She found out about the Project Pathfinders scholarship while volunteering with Smart Beginnings and decided to try it out. She said the process of applying for the scholarship was simple and not intimidating, and everyone she dealt with was friendly. It gave her the motivation to continue. When I saw her name in the list of possibilities, I knew immediately that shed be an excellent candidate, Clark said. Ive been able to work with her on and off for more than two years. Shes so experienced and knowledgeable and a true professional in our field, and not having the education was holding her back. And shes an example of someone who, without some a3ssistance, might not be able to achieve their goals. Spruill said she now feels motivated to pursue a bachelors degree next. Its wonderful for teachers who feel stuck in a rut to know there is a way out there to better themselves, she said. I spent years just maintaining the basics and Im ready for something else. This gives me the inspiration to keep pushing myself. After obtaining her degrees, she might continue teaching, look into owning her own facility again or work in preschool curriculum development. Who knows what the future will hold? she said. The wooden structure with skin of northern white pine and bones of cherry wood started its life in 1894 at the Neafie & Levy shipyard in Philadelphia as the pilothouse of the steamboat Potomac. During 42 years of passenger and freight service on the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers between Baltimore, Fredericksburg and Norfolk, the captain and officers steered the 176-foot steamboat from the structure. They retired to the cabins aft of the wheelhouse after their shifts. The ship, which hauled everything from hogs to elegantly dressed passengers, was sold to a shipyard in Berkley, Virginia, after a collision with a freighter in icy waters in 1936. It was disassembled and made into a barge to haul pulpwood. The seven-room pilothouse was lifted off the damaged steamboat with a huge crane was converted into a summer cottage at White Stone on the tip of the Northern Neck. Having finished its decades-long second life as a cottage, the pilothouseone of few remaining from the steamboat erawas wrapped in plastic in the hope that one day it would be restored to its former grandeur. Thanks to the Steamboat Era Museum in Irvington, that day has come. The museum, led by its board and its determined executive director, Barbara Brecher, has launched an effort to restore the pilothouse for use as a major component of the museum in the Lancaster County town. Weve been working toward this for some time, but we are about to launch a major public campaign to restore the pilothouse, which we plan to use to give visitors an idea what life was like on the Potomac in its day, said Brecher. It helps that the Steamboat Era Museumwhich shares the history of regular steamboat runs up the Rappahannock River to Fredericksburg as part of its lorehas received a $100,000 grant from The Nettie Lokey Wiley and Charles L. Wiley Foundation toward the pilothouse restoration and installation. There was also a $25,000 challenge grant from Marshall Orr, a longtime supporter of the museum. Brecher noted that a wealth of artifacts from the steamboat have been given to the museum by the family of one of the boats early captains, Archibald Long. That family was also instrumental in founding the museum. Thanks to the grants that have already come in, the museum has started the restoration, turning to longtime shipwright and woodworker John Morgenthaler of Ophelia to do the work. I joined Morgenthaler at his shop not long after the Potomacs pilothouse was delivered there. He noted that the restoration will be a big job, but one he relishes because of the history the structure. This pilothouse is more than 120 years old, one of the few structures of its time from the steamboats of its time, he said. He noted that after pulling the shrink wrap off the structure, one of the first things he did before rolling it into his shop atop timbers was to cut two of the cabins off the back. It wasnt going to fit into the museum at 40 feet long, but it will at 27, said Morgenthaler, noting that remaining cabins will be plenty to give visitors an idea of what those berths were like for the captain and other officers who used them. The other plus to taking them off is that I got a lot of good material that I can use to patch and replace the remaining pilothouse, he said. Morgenthaler said his approach to the restoration will be to save everything thats solid and savable, patching or replacing wood only where its cracked or decayed. Its been fascinating seeing how this was built, he noted, saying that it was done by crews who built the structure from the bottom up quickly as the steamboat came together, using tongue-and-groove materials in some spots and wood that stands up to the elements throughout. A fundraising brochure for the effort to Restore the Potomac Pilothouse, which sets out gifts and incentives for levels of giving from $500 to $5,000, notes that theres a specific reason that the pilothouse was saved. When a Chesapeake Bay steamboat was decommissioned, it was typically burned to the waterline, and then used as a barge, the brochure states. It notes that the Potomac survives thanks to a shipyard owner named Captain Ben Colona, who envisioned using it as a summer cottage. He had it removed and transported to Taft Beach, making it the largest surviving section of a Chesapeake Bay steamboat. My hope is to follow the restoration as it proceeds, through the time when visitors can see it at the museum in Irvington. Those interested in contributing to the restoration or learning more about it can contact Brecher at 804/438-6888 or send an email to director@steamboateramuseum.org. India Cyprus inks four agreements Published: April 28, 2017 India and Cyprus have signed four agreements following delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades in New Delhi. The two sides discussed various bilateral and regional issues and agreed on the need on the part of all countries to act decisively against those countries that shelter and sustain violence factories in their regions. The two sides also called for the need for early reforms of the United Nations Security Council . Cyprus reiterated its support to Indias bid for inclusion a permanent member in the UNSC. Cyprus will also award its highest civilian honour, the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III, on President Pranab Mukherjee. Agreements Both the countries signed: An executive programme on culture, education and scientific cooperation for the years 2017 to 2020. A work plan under a programme of cooperation in agriculture for the period 2017-2018. Agreement on cooperation in the area of merchant shipping. Agreement to boost air services between the two countries. India-Cyprus ties Cyprus is the eighth largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative foreign direct investment of about $9 billion in areas such as financial leasing, stock exchange, auto manufacture, manufacturing industries, real estate, cargo handling, construction, shipping and logistics. The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between both the countries was revised in 2016. Diplomatic ties between India and Cyprus were established in 1962. Cyprus got the support of India during its struggle for independence from British colonial rule. Bilateral trade between both the countries stood at EUR 76.5 million in 2015. The major commodities exported by India to Cyprus are organic chemicals, vehicles & accessories and iron & steel. Indias main imports are aluminium and its products, wood pulp, machinery, boilers, engines, and plastic. Month: Current Affairs - April, 2017 Topics: India Bilateral India-Cyprus India-International Relations National Latest E-Books It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Beryl Simms Dickinson announces her passing on April 25, 2017, exactly 18 years to the day of her beloved husband, Ennis on April 25, 1999. Beryl was born June 6, 1929, the youngest child of Henry F. Simms Sr. and Elizabeth Hairfield Simms. She attended Spotsylvania schools and graduated in 1947. She joined Bethel Christian Church in 1942 at the age of 13, where her father served as a deacon. Beryl was blessed to have wonderful family and friends that always made sure her birthday and Christmas celebrations were special occasions. She had a long, full life of 87 years and outlived all of her siblings and their spouses, as well as Ennis siblings and their spouses. She would often refer to herself as the last button on the coat. Beryl would often say, Im not going before my time and we knew Mama did not fear death because she knew that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. She was a member of Travelers Rest Baptist Church, where she joined after her marriage to Ennis on February 28, 1948. To that union three children were born. She is survived by her daughter, June E. Nicholson (Roy); and her two sons, Robert and Phillip; three grandchildren, Wendy Dye (David), Jennifer Holmes (Keith) and Daniel S. Vogt (Michelle); nine great-grandchildren, Derek, Heather, Collin, Autumn, Stephen, Hollie, James, Nick and Ryan; one great-great-grandson, Wilson; her best friend, Dean Wheeler; her dear friend and hairdresser, Janet Brooks; and a host of other family and friends. Family and friends will be received at Travelers Rest Baptist Church on Sunday, April 30 between the hours of 4:00 8:00 p.m. Beryl will be laid to rest by her husband, Ennis, in a private service in the family cemetery. In lieu of traditional forms of sympathy, we ask that you have a meal at Captain Ds or a hot dog at Burger King, two of her favorite places. We leave you with the words of Mother Teresa . . . Heaven is our home. Dying is not the end, it is just the beginning. Dying is a continuation of life. This is the meaning of eternal life. This is where our soul goes to God, to be in the presence of God, to speak to God, to continue loving him with greater love. We only surrender our body in death, our heart and soul live forever. www.storkefuneralhome.com. A week ago, residents from Colonial Beach to King George endured a surprisingly powerful storm that brought driving rain, high winds and hail that caused significant damage in a short period of time. Thankfully, according to authorities, no one was killed or seriously injured. Nevertheless, last Friday nights tempest was a terror, said Emily Hall, co-owner of Halls grocery store near Colonial Beach. With evidence that trees were simply blown over rather than twisted out of the ground, the National Weather Service described straight-line winds of 70 to 75 mph, which compares to a borderline F1 tornado with speeds of at least 73 mph. The fact that the storm caused damage in a relatively compact area, rather than a hurricane or noreaster that leaves destruction over a widespread region, meant that the abundance of local and state police, firefighters, utility workers and cleanup crews were better able to get a grip on what residents faced. All such personnel, including American Red Cross workers, deserve high marks for how quickly and efficiently they responded to the emergency. Residents credit these first responders with ensuring their safety in the aftermath of the storm. Officials reported some 3,000 Westmoreland County customers were left without power and another 770 homes dark in King George. Many homes were damaged, some of them left uninhabitable. Cars and boats were left tossed about and trees were entangled with live power lines. Hail was measured in depths akin to snowfall after a blizzard. One truck driver had to be extricated through the windshield of his overturned rig. An episode that stands out involved a resident with difficulty breathing who was trapped in his home by fallen trees and downed power lines. Chief David Moody of King George Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services said reaching the residents home with vehicles was ruled out. Rescuers instead went in on foot. They then did what they had to docarry the person a half-mile in a rescue chair to safety. The overall remarkable response to the storm was captured in a Facebook post by Thom Savage, a Colonial Beach resident, lawyer and former journalist. Hundreds of trees were blown down and onto power lines and homes. Roads were blocked on our peninsula and power was out. Our little town reacted in the most incredible fashion, he reported. We were flooded with police personnel from our local and state police departments. Electronic signs appeared providing information. Only homeowners were allowed access, he wrote. Our neighborhoods were swarmed with power companies from local talent to Richmond. Chainsaws and generators worked throughout the night. All Friday night and into Saturday morning our home was dark but the trucks and emergency vehicles kept arriving. Savage said town employees along with fire and rescue personnel were ever present, and that not discounting the cleanup and rebuilding that lies ahead, life for many residents was getting back to normal just 48 hours after the storm came through. He offered thanks to all who pulled together to handle this natural disaster ... and thanks to all the neighbors and strangers who stopped to help those in need! The storm was a clear indicator of the planning and practice that emergency responders and crews engage in to be prepared for events such as this. The coordination of all involved was evident to local residents and news reporters alike. Only fools rush in, is how the song lyrics go. But on the Northern Neck Friday night and over the weekend, the throngs of emergency personnel who rushed in were anything but fools. These brave and well-prepared men and women arrived under dangerous circumstances to save lives and help residents make the best of a bad situation. By all accounts, they passed the test with flying colors. First Dates 8 p.m. (4) (NBC) (12) (NBC) Should I Try to Kiss You? One dater comes on strong and proves that age is just a number when it comes to love. Siblings go on our first double date. Meanwhile, the bathroom camera catches an honest reaction. (N) (HD) Undercover Boss 8 p.m. (6) (CBS) (9) (CBS) Taco Bueno The president and CEO of Taco Bueno, goes undercover to be certain everything at his company is bueno. (N) (HD) The Toy Box 8 p.m. (7) (ABC) (8) (ABC) Toy inventors present one-of-a-kind concepts that include a walking dinosaur, slingshot parachute and a plastic-card building system. (N)(HD) Hawaii Five-0 9 p.m. (6) (CBS) (9) (CBS) Weheana Danny protects a coma patient showing signs of waking who was the key witness from his last HPD case before he met Steve. (N) (HD) Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992 9 p.m. (7) (ABC) (8) (ABC) A look back at the L.A. riots that were triggered by the Rodney King verdict. This program delves beyond the conflict between police and the black community and traces the roots of the civil unrest to a decade before the uprising. (N)(HD) Blue Bloods 10 p.m. (6) (CBS) (9) (CBS) Foreign Interference Danny and Baez team up with two Russian operatives to search for a dangerous Russian man who entered the U.S. on a diplomatic visa. Also, Frank gets involved in a sensitive case involving Archbishop Kevin Kearns. (N) (HD) Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. Kazakhstan opens consulate in Chennai Published: April 28, 2017 Kazakhstan has opened its honorary consulate in Chennai. The consulate will cover the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. It will be headed by well-known businessman Suraj Shantakumar. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has expressed confidence that the establishment of the consulate in Chennai, which is a major industrial centre would promote the potential for economic cooperation in a number of areas like IT industry, engineering, tourism, transport infrastructure, as well as agricultural production. Background Among the countries that constituted former USSR, Kazakhstan has emerged as the second largest economic partner for India. Kazakhstan is natural resources, minerals, oil and gas and chemical products. It is the largest exporter of Uranium to India. The prospectus of cooperation looms large in several areas. Recently, there was a meeting between the special working groups on textiles from the two countries in Kazakhstan. The bilateral trade between the two countries was around 618 million USD in 2016. India exports pharmaceuticals, tea, tobacco, and engineering equipment to Kazakhstan and imports oil products, metals and natural minerals from that country. Month: Current Affairs - April, 2017 Category: Places in News Current Affairs Topics: Chennai India Bilateral India-International Relations India-Kazakhstan TNPSC Latest E-Books Plan for common Engineering entrance exam put on hold Published: April 28, 2017 The Ministry of Human Resources and Development has put on hold the plan for conducting a single entrance test for admission to engineering courses throughout the country till a consensus is reached with the states. The ministry feels that without reaching consensus, the purpose of having a common engineering entrance exam would not be served. Also, the ministry wants to discuss the possibility of having common counselling provisions with the states. However, it is not fully clear whether the consultation with the states will delay the implementation of the plan in 2018. As per the sources, as soon as the consensus is built among the states, the centre will work out the modalities of implementing the plan. Contents Background AICTE Background Recently, the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) had passed a regulation to hold a national-level common engineering entrance exam from 2018. But, it was vehemently opposed by states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The Ministry of Human Resources and Development wants to conduct a common test for admission to engineering courses similar to that of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical and dental colleges introduced last year. At present, various exams are held for admitting students to engineering courses. For instance, the CBSE conducts JEE-Mains exam every year, for which over 11 lakh students appear. Several states have their own tests. In addition, several private colleges have their own entrance examinations. In India, there are over 3,300 approved engineering colleges with an annual intake of around 16 lakh students. So, the government feels that there should be a single common entrance examination for admission to engineering courses. AICTE AICTE is a statutory body established in November 1945. It comes under the aegis of Department of Higher Education , Ministry of Human Resources Development. AICTE is a national-level council for technical education responsible for planning and coordination of technical education and management of education system in the country. It accredits graduate and post graduate programs at Indian institutions. Month: Current Affairs - April, 2017 Topics: AICTE Education National TNPSC Latest E-Books EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has backed the EUs procedures for assessing the safety of glyphosate, providing another indication that the weedkiller should have its licence extended later this year. According to Mr Juncker, there is no reason to doubt the scientific evaluations and the conclusions on glyphosate made by the European Union. He said the EUs regulatory system was robust and that it assured high protective norms for humans and the environment. See also: EU scientists reject glyphosate cancer claims Mr Junker was responding to a letter from a coalition of green and socialist MEPs dated 23 March, which complained that unpublished, industry-funded research papers were used in the assessment of glyphosate by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa). Both advisory bodies concluded the product was not carcinogenic. This, said the MEPs, was a matter of deep concern, since some of the key studies were co-authored by a former Monsanto expert. The letter said the commission should investigate the validity of these studies and not re-licence glyphosate until this process was completed. But in reply Mr Juncker said the agencies considered both published and unpublished studies in their deliberations, including those submitted by the applicants, in accordance with international norms. More weight was given to the former, rather than the latter, he added, pointing out that the research paper referred to in the MEPs letter was just one of 700 considered by the EU authorities. Formal report Mr Juncker said that once the ECHA had submitted its formal report expected soon the commission would resume discussions with member states, with a view to taking a decision within six months. At the very latest, it must reach a conclusion on the future of glyphosate by 31 December 2017. Meanwhile, EU farmers group Copa has written to Mr Juncker demanding a 15-year licence extension for glyphosate, as spelled out in EU legislation for pesticides with a clean bill of health. Questioning EU science-based decision-making processes will only have an adverse impact on the credibility of the EU authorities and undermine our high safety standards, said secretary general Pekka Personen. Earlier this month agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan indicated in a speech to the European Economic and Social Committee that he was hoping for an extension of at least the next 10 years. The Sub Deb Club of Gaffney commemorates its 30th Annual Presentation Ball The Sub Deb Club of Gaffney, SC, will present nine seniors and fifteen underclassmen at its 30th annual Presentation Ball on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at the Cherokee County History... Contestants vie for Miss Cherokeean titles Saturday More than 40 Gaffney High students will compete for titles in the 2023 Miss Cherokeean Pageant being held this Saturday, Oct. 22. The pageant will begin at 6 p.m. in... Story Highlights 8% say it is "very" or "fairly" likely they will be laid off this year Down from 15% one year ago and peak of 21% in 2010 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- American workers are less concerned about being laid off in the coming year than they have been in at least four decades. The current 8% of full- or part-time employees who say they are "very" or "fairly" likely to be laid off in the next 12 months is, by one percentage point, the lowest Gallup has recorded since first asking the question in 1975. The latest figure comes from Gallup's annual Economy and Personal Finances poll, conducted April 5-9. This year's poll was conducted as the U.S. unemployment rate dipped to 4.5%, its lowest point in nearly a decade, and as workers report increased hiring at their workplaces. Gallup began asking the "fear of being laid off" question in 1975 and has updated it periodically since then, but has asked it annually since 2012. Across the 42-year span in which Gallup has asked this question, an average of 14% have said they are "very" or "fairly" likely to be laid off, but concerns about layoffs have reached as high as 21% in 2010 as unemployment approached double digits after the Great Recession. The current 8% of employees who say it is "very" or "fairly" likely they will be laid off this year is down seven points from one year ago. U.S. workers are much more likely to say it's "not too likely" they'll be laid off (29%). The majority, 62%, say it is "not likely at all." The full trend and responses are shown at the end of the article. It is not clear from the historical trend how greatly partisan considerations factor into workers' assessments of their job security. However, the percentage of employed adults who are Republicans or Republican-leaning independents are now less likely than they were in 2016 to say it is likely they will be laid off this year. There has not been a meaningful change among workers who are Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents. Bottom Line Roughly one in 12 U.S. workers harbor some concern they could be laid off in the coming year, but that's down from around one in seven last year and around one in five in 2010. Improvements in the overall job market -- based on government statistics and Gallup measures of hiring at workers' places of employment -- have likely reduced workers' concerns about layoffs. In addition to reporting more hiring at their workplaces, U.S. workers are more confident in the economy and are generally spending more. With employees reporting greater job stability and a majority of Americans saying it is a good time to find a quality job, a shift in the employer-employee dynamic could be taking place -- giving workers the upper hand while forcing employers to compete for top talent. Historical data are available in Gallup Analytics. Survey Methods Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted April 5-9, 2017, with a random sample of 547 full-time or part-time employees, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the sample of full-time or part-time employees, the margin of sampling error is 5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting. Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 70% cellphone respondents and 30% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. View survey methodology, complete question responses and trends. Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works. Story Highlights 54% of nonretirees say they will be able to live comfortably in retirement Nonretirees most confident in having enough money for retirement since 2007 54% of U.S. adults say they worry about retirement, down from last year WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Nonretired Americans are more confident now than a year ago that they will have enough money to live comfortably in retirement. The 54% who currently believe this is up from 48% in April 2016 and is the highest in about a decade. Nonretirees' outlook for retirement is a bit less positive today than when Gallup first asked this question in 2002. That year, 59% thought they would have enough money to live comfortably. It remained high until 2005, when the belief dropped to 53%. By 2008, a few months into the Great Recession, nonretirees' expectations for a comfortable retirement fell to 46% and then continued declining until reaching a low of 38% in 2012. Plummeting property and stock values in the country at this time were no doubt a contributing factor, along with the decline in Americans' economic confidence more generally. Younger nonretirees are much more confident than older nonretirees about retirement. Almost two-thirds of U.S. adults aged 18 to 29 think they will have enough money to live comfortably, compared with about half of those aged 30 to 49 or 50 to 64. Younger nonretirees may assume they have plenty of time to save for retirement, while their older counterparts may recognize that the window of opportunity is closing for them to achieve their financial targets. Worries About Having Enough Money for Retirement Down From Last Year A separate question asking all Americans -- retired and nonretired -- if they are worried about not having enough money for retirement also shows less concern this year. Fifty-four percent are now "very" or "moderately" worried about this, down from 64% last year. This is the lowest this measure has been since 2004. As with nonretirees' confidence about living comfortably in retirement, Americans' worry about not having enough money for retirement was highest during the Great Recession years, with the percentage worried consistently above 60%. Of those who are retired, 63% are not worried about having enough money for retirement. This could be because once people are retired they become more confident that their financial resources are sufficient. Or, it could be that today's retirees did an effective job of saving for retirement and are now reaping the benefits of that prudence. Those who are not retired have quite different beliefs. Fifty-four percent of Americans who have not yet retired say they are worried about retirement, which could be attributed to concerns raised in the media about Social Security potentially becoming insolvent in the future, along with concerns about the continued viability of the U.S. economy. Bottom Line Americans feel less concerned about their retirement security than they have in some time. That is evident both in nonretirees' outlook for living comfortably during their retirement and in all Americans' confidence that they will have enough money once they stop working. These trends may be a sign of a somewhat improved economy finally manifesting itself after years of recession and sluggish growth in the labor and housing markets. It may also be a direct function of the continued bull market. According to the Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index, investor confidence in the stock market and economy is up sharply from 2016. The trends also may reflect some confidence that the new presidential administration will champion policies that positively affect Americans' personal finances. Economic confidence spiked after Donald Trump's election, though it has retreated a bit since then. Still, this may translate to less worry and more confidence regarding retirement finances. Historical data are available in Gallup Analytics. Poland supports Indias Permanent membership at UNSC Published: April 28, 2017 Poland has assured its support for Indias bid for membership in the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and a permanent seat in the expanded UN Security Council. This was stated during the visit of vice President Hamid Ansari to the Poland. Apart from discussing various bilateral and multilateral issues, the two countries also signed an agreement in the agriculture sector. It was also agreed upon that there exists scope to increase cooperation in railway, defence, mining, agriculture, civil aviation, as well as in areas like food processing, solar energy, clean coal, treatment of solid waste. Poland is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a group of 48 nuclear supplier countries that seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons through the implementation of two sets of Guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports. Presently India is not a member of the group. Also, the countries acknowledged the need for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN. The Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism is a proposed treaty which intends to criminalize all forms of international terrorism and deny terrorists, their financiers and supporters access to funds, arms, and safe havens. India-Poland ties India and Poland established diplomatic relations in 1954. The two countries share common ideology like opposition to colonialism, imperialism, and racism. Poland is Indias largest trade partner and export destination in the east European region. Investments made by India in Poland are around USD 3 billion and Polish investments in India are around 600 million USD. Indias major exports to Poland include tobacco, processed minerals, chemicals, rubber, plastic, machinery, drugs, transport equipment, and ready-made cotton garments etc. Poland hosts around 3,000 members of the Indian community who are mostly traders who settled in Poland after the collapse of communism. Month: Current Affairs - April, 2017 Topics: India Bilateral India-International Relations India-Poland Latest E-Books April 10, 1921 April 21, 2017 Veronica C. E. Sitton of Corvallis died on April 21, 2017 at 6:30 a.m. as a result of a stroke. She was 96 years of age. She was born in Mitchell, Queensland, Australia, to T. L. Wilton O'Brien and his wife, Emily Isabel Munro O'Brien, of Walgrove Station near Yeulba. She was educated, both academically and musically, by the Sisters of Mercy in Mitchell, Toowoomba and Brisbane. After graduating from the Queensland Teachers College, Brisbane, which is now part of Queensland University of Technology, she was teaching in Rockhampton when she met her future husband, Lieutenant. Gordon Sitton of the United States Army, who was stationed there between campaigns in the Pacific Theater. Veronica and Gordon were married at St. Stephens Cathedral in Brisbane, Queensland, on January 12, 1944. After Gordons return from Japan and Veronicas arrival from Australia on the Matson liner, Mariposa, they began their life together in May 1946 in San Francisco. Many people were not optimistic about wartime marriages but this couple enjoyed fifty-one years of happiness together. They both came from pioneer families on the land and had backgrounds in education. While her husband worked on his doctorate at Stanford University, Veronica was employed at the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace at Stanford as an editor. Her whole life was interwoven with education. As a child, her grandmother told her she should learn something new every day or she might as well be dead. She followed this advice and had a fascinating life. She travelled extensively, worldwide, spending thirty years in countries other than the United States. She promoted international goodwill and understanding whether she was in a primitive hut, a palace or a head hunters longhouse. Many of her interests coincided with her husband's. As a professor of agricultural economics, he worked to improve the world's food supply, an interest she shared. When Dr. Sitton became the first Director of International Education at Oregon State University, from 1963 to 1976, Veronica found joy in welcoming and entertaining people from all over the world. She regarded them as members of the same human family that she belonged to. Wherever she was, her faith was an integral part of her life. In Corvallis, she was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and worked for many years to establish the OSU Newman Center. She believed strongly in exercising her right to vote, which her ancestors had fought and died to obtain. She never failed to vote in an election and took an active part in civic affairs. She came from a country where people were fined for not voting. She recently counted and found that she had played one hundred roles during her life. Chief among them, after wife and mother, were pianist, violinist, conductor, teacher, and author. She did many years of worldwide, historical research and wrote several books and articles about history and the biographies of pioneers in Australia and Oregon. She was dearly loved by her family and many others who met her. She will be missed deeply. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon, who died in 1995; brother Patrick Brian OBrien; sister Colleen Moira OBrien Kamber. She is survived by daughter Ruth Sitton De Maio (Michael) of Corvallis; and son, Patrick Sitton of Corvallis; three grandchildren, Father Dominic De Maio, O.P., Emily Sitton De Maio Fromm (Stephen) of Eugene, Christina Sitton De Maio Leitz (Jay) of Hammond, Louisiana; step-grandson, Michael De Maio III of Portland; two great-grandchildren Lucy Mae Fromm and Michael August Fromm; niece Jacqueline Kamber Hosford (Christopher); nephews Roland and Pierre Kamber; and a multitude of Sitton nieces, nephews and cousins. There will a vigil at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 1 at McHenry Funeral Home, 206 NW 5th St, Corvallis. There will be a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. on May 2 at St. Marys Catholic Church, 501 NW 25th St, Corvallis followed by a reception. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. on May 2 at McBride Cemetery, Carlton, followed by a supper. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Talking Book Services for the Blind, Oregon State Library, Salem, care of McHenry Funeral Home, 206 N. W. Fifth Street, Corvallis, OR 97330. The challenge is to create a skit that involves decoding two messages using separate codes, and also features a character who is in disguise, a gadget the performers made themselves and two elements that show off the talents of the team. Oh, and the entire project cant cost more than $150. So a team of middle school students from Corvallis came up with their own original code to use in a skit in which characters battle a witch by trading original Shakespeare-style insults with her. The witch returns them using a magic broom that generates snappy comebacks. (For effect, the broom lights up as the student playing the witch presses a button.) It all takes place in front of a hand-painted backdrop with moving panels that allow for scene changes and while wearing handmade masks. With this skit, three students from Franklin K-8 School and one student from Cheldelin Middle School took first place in regional and statewide Destination Imagination competitions. Each year, the contest task participants with a series of challenges that draw upon their creativity. Now the students are tasked with a new creative challenge: Raise the $1,400 each of them needs to travel to the Destination Imagination Global Finals in Tennessee in late May. So far, the students have started a clothing drive, set up dine-out nights at Corvallis restaurants and theyre even painting faces and busking at the Saturday Farmers Market by doing improv performances. The group, who style themselves the Masqueteers, includes Arissa Bolster, a Cheldelin seventh grader, and Nariana Aldarondo, Melody Woothtakewahbitty, and Eleanor Nielsen, all Franklin seventh-graders. Nariana said the Destination Imagination project has taught the group members problem-solving, patience, creativity, confidence, and even soldering (a skill she is particularly enthusiastic about). You get to create different things, you can solder together all these different things, she said. We make a lot of new friends, said Melody. Ive always wanted to do theater, but Ive always been too shy to be in a play, said Eleanor, adding that their project has given her a jolt of confidence. Arissa said she participates in Destination Imagination for reasons similar to the ones Eleanor listed. It has helped me become more outgoing, she said. Melody said one of the great things about Destination Imagination, and her team, is that they can be weird together. At school people are really judgy, but here we can be however we want, she said. You can open up and know they wont judge you because they are just as weird, Arissa added. Kids can be mean, but we have a safe haven here, Nariana said. Visit https://www.gofundme.com/corvallismasqueteers to learn more about the team or support their fundraising effort. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe This log includes incidents in which there might have been a public disturbance or a risk to the public. Information comes from the Corvallis Police Department, the Benton County Sheriffs Office and Oregon State Police. It does not include all calls for service. The status of incidents might change after further investigation. Locations are approximate. People arrested or suspected in crimes are considered innocent until proven otherwise. Benton County Sheriff's Office MONDAY, APRIL 24 DUII: 2:07 a.m., 5000 N.W. Highway 20, Albany. A deputy arrested Angel Valentin Sanchez, 32, of Corvallis with DUII following a traffic stop at Hyak Park. Sanchez reportedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.18 percent. SUNDAY, APRIL 23 DUII: 12:38 a.m., Northeast Confier Boulevard and Highway 20. A deputy arrested Vicki Beth Sullivan, 50, of Albany, with DUII following a traffic stop. Sullivan reportedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.02 percent. FRIDAY, APRIL 21 DUII: 10:52 p.m., Northwest Harrison Boulevard and Fifth Street. A deputy arrested Trevor Andrew Thayer, 30, of Bend with DUII, reckless driving and second-degree criminal mischief following a traffic stop. Thayer reportedly refused a breathalyzer. He was booked into the Benton County Jail. THURSDAY, APRIL 20 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: 11:49 a.m., 25000 block Cherry Creek Road, Monroe. A man reported damage to his four-wheeler and that he suspected someone had tampered with it. The man reported that he took a sample of the fuel to a friend who found white pepper and cayenne pepper during testing of the fuel. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19 DUII DRUGS: 11:48 p.m., Northwest Second Street and Polk Avenue. A deputy arrested Cody Allen Lovely, 20, of Corvallis and charged him with DUII (Drugs), reckless driving and driving while suspended following a traffic stop. He had a reported blood alcohol content of 0.0 percent. Time for a survey To the Editor: Its time for a St. Paul survey One of the mistakes of the past with respect to deciding on the future of St. Pauls is that previous... Election for St. Pauls To the Editor: Perhaps someday there will be an election where some folks decide about St.Pauls. If the election is conducted in the most popular way, the outcome might not... Proposal on the ballot To the Editor: On the bottom of your ballot you will be asked to vote yes or no on creating a state bond which will amount to $4.2 billion. Subject coverage should be... Botched RFP process To the Editor: During the last several weeks, village officials sent out RFPs (requests for proposals) seeking candidate firms to provide them with comparative analysis and cost estimates -- ... 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. Chinese language and culture : Bonn gets a Confucius Institute Bonn The new facility in Bonn is meant to promote German-Chinese relations. Chinese General Consul came from Dusseldorf to take part in the opening ceremony held at the University of Bonn. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken A new Confucius Institute was opened on Thursday in a ceremony at the University of Bonn. The purpose of the facility is to help spread the Chinese language and culture. Modeled after the German Goethe Institutes, the Confucius Institutes are not completely without controversy because of possible political orientation. They are currently being developed worldwide in cooperation with prestigious universities. The institute in Bonn is already the 20th in Germany, including facilities which have already been established in Berlin and Dusseldorf. Professor Michael Hoch, Rector of the University of Bonn, held a welcoming speech at the ceremony. General Consul Feng Haiyang came from Dusseldorf to attend the opening and vice president of a Beijing partner university, Zhang Baojun also attended. After unveiling a sign which would be placed in the foyer, Wolfgang Kubin, a member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Confucius Institute in Dusseldorf, spoke to those gathered. He said this was a good occasion to help increase mutual understanding. Concerning criticism about possible political influence, he said the Chinese could also ask themselves whether the Goethe Institutes in Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong were trying to bring western values to the people there. The new facility was set up by the University of Bonn together with the headquarters of the Confucius Institutes in Beijing and the long-standing Bonn partner university Beijing Language and Culture University. The aim of the institute is to strengthen cooperation between China and Germany in the fields of education, culture, economy and science. Bayer Annual Stockholders Meeting at WCCB : Demonstrators protest against Monsanto Bonn Around 250 people are expected to protest as part of the group Stop Bayer/Monsanto on Friday in a demonstration in front of the World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB). Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Demonstrators from the group Stop Bayer/Monsanto are protesting against the Bayer AG acquisition of Monsanto, the controversial American seed and crop protection chemical manufacturer. Leverkusen-based Bayer AG is having its Annual Stockholders Meeting at the WCCB in Bonn. Protestors had originally planned to stand in front of the WCCB entrance but they were turned down by authorities. Stop Bayer/Monsanto then filed an urgent appeal because of the police order banning them from United Nations Place in front of the WCCB. They also appealed the city decision to allow the area to be cordoned off. The Administrative Court in Cologne dismissed both appeals. The demonstrators are protesting against Bayer's business policy and the planned takeover of the controversial American seed and crop protection company Monsanto. About 3,500 Bayer AG shareholders are gathering for their Annual Shareholders Meeting on Friday in the conference hall of the WCCB. Protestors allowed to bring vehicles, banners and loudspeakers Last week, police had informed the group that they would not be allowed to gather at the entrance of the WCCB because of security. At that time, police issued a ban. The reason was because Bayer planned to set up a tent in front of the entrance to carry out security checks on those coming in to the meeting. Because of that, the City of Bonn had granted Bayer permission to block off the public square in front of the WCCB. The protest group was offered by police to take their demonstration a little further south but they rejected this offer and filed a complaint instead. Stefanie Seifert of the Administrative Court in Cologne said the decision of the court was based on, among other things, the security of the shareholders. As well, the demonstrators had been offered an alternative location by the police, and that location was also visible and audible for the shareholders. Bayer CEO talks to shareholders While environmentalists and conservationists demonstrate against the takeover with slogans such as "BaySanto stoppen" (Stop BaySanto) or "Vielfalt fordern und Marktmacht stoppen (Promote Diversity and Stop Market Power", Bayer CEO Werner Baumann justified the 66 billion euro deal on Friday as a long-term measure which would bring value. Baumann explained the advantages of the planned deal to the company's owners: The takeover of Monsanto was a perfect fit for their strategy, he emphasized. Together with the U.S. company, Bayer could help secure the food supply for the growing world population. The planned acquisition is currently in the hands of a large number of antitrust authorities. Bayer plans to submit the application for approval to the EU Commission during the second quarter. GIZ panel discussion on Africa : Private investment and sustainable development Bonn German development agency GIZ hosted a panel discussion Wednesday evening on private-sector cooperation and sustainable growth in Africa. Experts discussed strategy and sustainability. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Old ideas with new packaging - thats how Julia Leininger described intentions that call for for strengthening development in Africa through private investment. The German development agency GIZ hosted a panel discussion on Wednesday evening with the title Old neighbor, new partner - opportunities for growth with Africa. The role of private investments in Africa was the main topic of the evening. It was part of a series of discussions Bonn und die Welt (Bonn and the world). Speaking about the opportunities and risks of such strategies were Julia Leininger of the German Institute for Development Policy (DIE), Amadou Diallo from DHL Global Forwarding, and Gerald Guskowski from GIZ. The evening was moderated by GA political reporter Lutz Warkalla. For Julia Leininger, the key part of the strategy is getting the benefits of investment to the wider society. Private investment is urgently needed in Africa. More important, however, is where those investments are going. Amadou Diallo feels there is not enough incentive for German businesses. Part of the problem is local and regional decision-makers in Africa who dont present their countries in an attractive enough way. Apart from this, it is extremely difficult for African companies to become competitive in the free economy. Organizations can help best by sharing know-how, which enhances the sustainability of the financial cooperation, explained Gerald Guskowski. Through the work of the G20, a good framework of conditions for strengthened financial cooperation has been achieved. Diallo believes it is important to single out the innovators and use their influence, relying on successful countries which have a strong pull. Leininger says the clock is ticking because in addition to the known challenges that are faced, there are new problematic trends such as urbanization, digitalization and climate change. And increasing consumption in Africa creates a dynamic that affects the whole world. As a result, food could also become scarce in Europe and Asia. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Article Protecting the worlds oceans an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs. Google announces the last date for Pixel security updates News oi -Shilpa Turns out to be bad news! We know that Google's Nexus and Pixel phones are the first in the market to always receive the pure Android experience. This extraordinary feature of them grabs the attention of tech-savvy people who always wish to keep updated with the current trend. But recently, the company came up with a bad news for Pixel users. On their support page, it stated that they are going to cease the Android Operating System updates for the current Pixel smartphones in October next year. This made every Pixel users rise their eyebrows since they were not expecting this to happen to their high-end smartphone so early. It is not an end. The Pixel users received another date which turns out to be the important date for their favorite handset. The search giant announced a 'use-by' for the Pixel devices and that date is October 2019. So, after this time period, users will not receive any security updates from the company. We can see the word 'Guaranteed' in both the boxes. But this does not mean that the company will definitely stop this update, there is a possibility where it may still continue its support beyond this time period. Three Google Pixel phones with Snapdragon 835 SoC may launch this year Still, two and half years left for this to happen. So, Pixel lovers can stay calm and make use of the latest update it receives till then. To know more about this, you can visit the Google's support page. Even Nexus devices have to face the similar situation. The company has announced the last date for few Nexus devices as well to receive Android OS and security updates. Best Mobiles in India Google Pixel 2, Pixel XL 2 testing debuts; early release possible News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Google Pixel 2 is already under testing. Previously, we got to know that Google is prepping upcoming Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 smartphones codenamed Walleye and Muskie. As per the rumors, there is a third device carrying the codename Taimen and it isn't clear if it belongs to the Pixel 2 lineup. Earlier this week, we came across rumors that Google is working on three Pixel smartphones likely to be powered by the latest octa-core Snapdragon 835 SoC. A new code spotted in Android Open Source Project (AOSP) suggests that Google could be launching the Pixel 2 smartphone earlier. One of the Google engineers, David Zeuthen, has gained access to a physical handset of the alleged Google Pixel 2 codenamed Walleye. He was able to carry out a manual test on the same. This information tips that Google could be testing the Pixel 2 prototypes with the basic code of the upcoming iteration of Android. Early release possible It was in October 2016 that the first generation Pixel smartphones were launched. While these are hardly six months old, the new finding points that the successors are almost ready with Google. The testing process of the same has also debuted. Also, Google already released the Android O developer preview in March tipping that the Android 8.0 will be launched along with the upcoming 2017 Pixel smartphones. Eventually, there is an increased possibility for Google to announce the Pixel smartphones early this year. Also Read: Three Google Pixel phones with Snapdragon 835 SoC may launch this year Google might avoid clash Given that Samsung and Apple are all set to release their upcoming flagship models such as Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 7s, 7s Plus, and iPhone 8 in August or September, Google could have chosen to release the second generation Pixel smartphones earlier to avoid the clash. Pixel 2 to be made by HTC On the other hand, when Rick Osterloh, the senior VP for Hardware at Google was asked about the Pixel 2 release date, his reply tipped that the smartphones might be launched in October 2017. Though the original Pixel models were sold as made by Google, they were assembled by HTC. The same is expected to happen with the Pixel 2 lineup as HTC has signed a two-year manufacturing deal with Google. Source Best Mobiles in India iPhone 7S: Leaks reveal the problem with Apple News oi -Shilpa You may have to wait some more time to grab this phone. We have seen so many news regarding the launch event of Apple's next flagship phone. The company has delayed the launch of iPhone because of few problems it is facing right now. Nikkei, the world's largest financial newspaper speaks about this issue. It says, "The production of iPhone's 10th-anniversary range has hit a snag as suppliers struggle to perfect key components including a display, wireless charging, and printed circuit boards, people familiar with the company said." This tells how South Korean giant, Samsung is still struggling to supply the OLED panels. Apple has planned to use this OLED panels its next flagship iPhone. Brian Huh, an analyst at research company IHS Markit says,"There might be a one to two months delay in Samsung's production of OLED panels for Apple. Samsung originally plans to begin churning out OLED panels in May but now the schedule will likely be pushed back to the end of June or sometime in July." Apple iPhone 8 alleged schematics leaked: Kind of confirms no rear fingerprint scanner The Arthur Liao of Taipei-based Fubon Securities says that Apple is in trouble to overcome the overheating problem with its wireless charging modules. On the other hand, the IDC analyst Sean Kao says that there are problems with the huge production of the circuit boards. All this adds to the above issues Apple is facing right now. Kao says it's all because of a new design for a much smaller printed circuit board to allow a more powerful battery for the upcoming iPhone. Alleged iPhone 8 blueprint reveals dual vertical cameras and dual batteries The Bloomberg, Kuo, and Nikkei all have something similar to say regarding this situation. They say that the Apple is ready to delay the release date instead of compromising with customers expectations. This delay of up to two months may make the company to release the phone somewhere during Christmas. Though we do not know exactly what will be the name of next Apple phone, we are considering it as iPhone 7s because that matches with the naming convention used by the company. Apple just wants to ensure that the phones being released on its 10th anniversary should be able to make a big change in the smartphone segment. Best Mobiles in India Factors for Global Release While many fans have been wishing for Samsung to launch the 6GB variant in other markets, going by the recent reports it was unclear whether the company would release the same variant to other markets globally or not. The only thing Samsung said was that the availability of the 6GB variant depended on how well the smartphone performed in China and South Korea. Basically, it all depended on the demand and number of sales of the device. So it was and has been kind of a sketchy situation. Good News! Against such backdrop, Samsung held an event in Hong Kong today to announce the launch of Samsung Pay. However, there was a surprise announcement from the company. Samsung confirmed that the Galaxy S8+ with 6GB RAM will also be released soon in Hong Kong as well. Moreover, the company stated that the smartphones sold in Hong Kong will not be locked to carriers. SEE ALSO: Samsung to launch a new flagship smartphone in the second half of 2017 Thus, this is really a good news for people who want the 6GB variant of the Galaxy S8+. Consumers can easily buy a 6GB Galaxy S8+ in Hong Kong and use it elsewhere. Release Date Samsung Galaxy S8+ will be released in Hong Kong on May 25. The price should be revealed in the days to come. Samsung to launch a new flagship smartphone in the second half of 2017 News oi -Samden Sherpa It still remains a mystery as to whether the upcoming Samsung flagship will carry the tainted Galaxy Note branding or not. Most of the companies have disclosed their Q1 2017 earnings and as per the details provided the standings of the companies have been made evident in the smartphone market currently. Some have done well and have managed to get ahead of their competitors. As such, Samsung has also reported a revenue of KRW 50.55 trillion, an increase of KRW 0.77 trillion YoY for the quarter. Further operating profit for the quarter was KRW 9.90 trillion, an increase of KRW 3.22 trillion YoY. SEE ALSO: Samsung to drop treasury shareholdings Well, it seems that the company has done okay despite the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco. Besides, this unfortunate incident has contributed to the decline in revenue from the mobile business for Samsung. And till recently the South Korean giant also didn't have a new flagship smartphone on the market as well. However, looking ahead to the second quarter, the company is putting aside the past and being positive expects to achieve growth with improved earnings from the mobile business following the global rollout of the Galaxy S8 and S8+. But the more interesting thing is that along with the Q1 results the South Korean tech giant has confirmed that it will be launching another flagship smartphone in the second half of this year. Moreover, "Samsung will also look to sustain profitability in the mid- to low-end segment by launching new products and streamlining the lineup," the company said. Buy Samsung Galaxy On5 Pro, Galaxy On7 Pro at discount on Amazon But coming back to the flagship, if you look at the company's history, Samsung has been recorded to launch a new Galaxy Note flagship in the second half of the year. This has been the typical strategy of the company for the past few years. However, analysts are speculating whether Samsung might actually launch a smartphone in the same Galaxy Note lineup or a new handset series. As for us, from the reports that we have been seeing and hearing lately, it looks like Samsung could go ahead with the Note series. The fact that it has reiterated the launch of a second flagship, there are lots of possibilities. In any case, it still remains a mystery as to what Samsung has in mind for the upcoming flagship. Best Mobiles in India Coalition Strikes Target ISIS Terrorists in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, April 27, 2017 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 29 strikes consisting of 56 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. U.S. Central Command continues to work with partner nations to conduct targeted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria as part of the comprehensive strategy to degrade and defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 15 strikes consisting of 17 engagements against ISIS targets: -- Near Abu Kamal, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS vehicle. -- Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes destroyed nine ISIS oil tankers, two ISIS wellheads, an ISIS barge and five ISIS oil refinery equipment items. -- Near Raqqa, four strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed a front-end loader, a fighting position and a mortar team. -- Near Tabqah, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions. Additionally, three strikes that were conducted on April 25 have closed within the last 24 hours. -- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed three ISIS barges. -- Near Tabqah, two strikes destroyed two fighting positions. Strikes in Iraq In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 14 strikes consisting of 39 engagements against ISIS targets: -- Near Huwayjah, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS media center. -- Near Mosul, seven strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed 19 vehicles, eight front-end loaders, two ISIS fortifications, a command-and-control node, a mortar system and an ISIS staging area; damaged seven ISIS supply routes; and suppressed two mortar teams. -- Near Rawah, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two vehicle-borne-bomb storage areas, a tactical vehicle, a vehicle-borne bomb, a weapons cache and an ISIS staging area. -- Near Sinjar, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a command-and-control node and a vehicle-borne-bomb storage facility. -- Near Tal Afar, a strike destroyed a vehicle-borne-bomb facility, a tunnel and an ISIS staging area. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said. The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, they added. A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect. For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said. The task force does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Southcom Official: 'Friendly Network' Critical in Confronting Transregional Threats By Lisa Ferdinando DoD News, Defense Media Activity COZUMEL, Mexico, April 27, 2017 "It takes a network to defeat a network," a U.S. Southern Command official stressed as representatives of 14 nations gathered here to address ways to confront the transnational security threats in Central America. Even though the April 24-25 Central America Security Conference was a military-hosted event, the security threats transcend the defense realm and require a whole-of-government approach, Army Col. Barbara Fick, chief of Southcom's political-military affairs division, J5, said in an interview with DoD News. "With most of the challenges -- be they security, even humanitarian issues or disasters -- you need a network," she explained. "It needs to be across borders and across institutions. It has to be transnational. It has to be interagency. The 'friendly network' is critical for all of the challenges." Fick described CENTSEC 2017, which was hosted by the United States and Mexico, as an "executive-level discussion" to foster dialogue, strengthen cooperation among the allies and promote an interagency approach within and among the partner nations. "We have to collaborate across that whole stretch, and it's not always going to be only military collaboration, because we can't all stretch one entity that thin," she said. "We have to interweave internally and then weave it further another layer externally." Tailoring U.S. Support to the Region In addition to the U.S. and Mexico, representatives from the seven Central American nations attended the conference, plus observers from Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and the United Kingdom. The meeting allowed the U.S. hosts -- Southcom Commander Navy Adm. Kurt W. Tidd and Air Force Gen. Lori J. Robinson, the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command -- to hear firsthand the varied challenges facing the individual nations, Fick said. Those concerns include drug smuggling, human trafficking, violent gang activity and the transnational organized criminal networks that support the illicit activities, she said. "These networks cross through and over Latin America, through and over the United States, and they touch the perimeters of our countries and our regions and our continents," she explained. "If we're not aware of those networks and what they're doing, we can't counter them." The information from the conference will allow the United States to tailor tools in support of a nation's security efforts to that country's specific needs, she said. The U.S. already has a number of initiatives to support security, drug interdiction and building partner capacity in the region, she said. Those efforts, she pointed out, are working to strengthen capabilities and hone skills of the Central American partners as those allies confront the well-financed and well-equipped transnational criminal groups. 'Creative' Solutions Needed for Evolving Threats At the conclusion of the meeting, the Central American participants outlined at a news conference the threats in the region and the points of consensus between their delegations and other participating nations. "The criminal element mutates constantly and stays ahead, so we have to be resourceful and creative, and that's precisely what these meetings aim for," Guatemala's chief of defense, Maj. Gen. Juan Manuel Perez, said. The participants noted the importance of a regional strategy to achieve shared security goals and highlighted the support from the United States in countering the threats, Southcom spokesman Jose Ruiz said. They also stressed the need for holistic regional and government approaches to address social factors allowing criminal networks to thrive, Ruiz added. "Transnational crime has surpassed the capacity of some of [the nations] to counter them due to the many resources, mostly financial, [the networks] have," El Salvador's minister of defense, Lt. Gen. David Munguia said, adding that the countries agreed that they must exhaust all available means to counter the threats. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Better communication with industry key to improving contracting, says ACC commander By David Vergun April 27, 2017 WASHINGTON (Army News Service) -- Warfighters are best supported by giving them what they need to fight in a timely manner, said Maj. Gen. James E. Simpson. To accomplish that takes teamwork from all the contracting organizations as well as the customers, those who write the requirements and industry, he said. Simpson, commander of Army Contracting Command, or ACC, spoke Wednesday at the Association of the United States Army's Institute of Land Warfare Hot Topic: "Army Contracts." CULTURE CHANGE NEEDED Collaboration and communication are critical to efficient contracting, he said, and that requires a culture change. "None of us can do it by ourselves. It's a partnership." In the past, those involved in contracting "waited for requirements to come to us," he said. "We've got to reach out to the requirements activities and involve them early and up front in order to anticipate those requirements." Good requirements are key to getting good contracts, he continued. "Poorly written, incomplete or late requirements directly affect our ability to execute contracts in a timely manner. We can't play ping-pong back and forth on that." One way to ensure good requirements, he said, is by having discussions with industry early on, taking a look at what's available and what's possible. It's important to be transparent. Industry should be involved in the process as much as possible throughout the entire process, he added, noting that protests are increasing in recent years and this results in taking time and resources away from government as well as industry. Protests sometimes occur when a losing industry challenges the Army's decision on awarding a contract to a competitor. PEOPLE KEY Finally, Simpson said, people are key to improved contracting. "My biggest challenge now is hiring, training and retaining the contracting workforce," he said. At one time, workers would stick around for 30 years and learn the ropes. Now, it's about 10, he said. At one time, workers would transfer from ACC Warren, Michigan, to ACC Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, he continued. Now, they're transferring from Army to Air Force or the other way around, and that adds to the training curve. Also, finding the right talent is challenging, he said. ACC is looking for people who have great writing and negotiating skills and who are willing to understand the total acquisition process, even outside their own lane. Contracting itself is complex and takes time to understand, he said. Understanding the big picture is a much greater challenge that probably can't be done during normal working hours. "You have to burn the midnight oil to understand this complex business." Simpson said he's been in contracting since 1992 and understands the importance of what it does for readiness. "We can't do anything without contracting and contracting support." ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE Marie Greening, chief operations officer, Defense Contract Management Agency, or DCMA, said source selections often takes 18 months, a process that needs to be streamlined. She agreed with every recommendation Simpson made for getting that done. DCMA works directly with defense suppliers to help ensure supplies and services are delivered on time, at projected cost, and that they meet all performance requirements, according to its mission statement. "We are the independent eyes and ears of defense, from factory to front line, in locations around the globe," she said. "This is truly a team sport," she said. Bringing industry in early and throughout the process is key. She added that, in order to have more cost-effective contracting, the Army needs predictable funding from Congress, not a series of continuing resolutions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-146-17 April 27, 2017 Navy to Christen Submarine Indiana The Navy will christen its newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine, the future USS Indiana (SSN 789), during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, April 29 at Huntington Ingalls Shipyard in Newport News, Virginia. Vice President Mike Pence, who previously served as the 50th governor of Indiana, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Diane Donald, wife of retired Adm. Kirkland H. Donald, director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion from 2004 to 2012, is serving as the ship's sponsor. "The christening of the future USS Indiana brings this technological marvel one step closer to joining the world's preeminent submarine force," said the Honorable Sean Stackley, acting secretary of the Navy. "Thanks to the hard work, dedication and unparalleled skill of our nation's shipbuilders, who continue to produce the finest submarines in the world, our Navy will continue to dominate the undersea domain long into the future." Indiana (SSN 789) is the 16th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the sixth Virginia-class Block III submarine. This next-generation attack submarine provides the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation's undersea superiority well into the 21st century. The submarine, which began construction in 2012, will be the third U.S. Navy ship to be christened with the name Indiana. The first Indiana (BB-1), the lead ship of her class of battleship, served in the North Atlantic and later participated in the blockade of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish-American War. The second Indiana (BB-58) was a South Dakota-class battleship that earned nine battle stars for her service in the Pacific Theater in World War II. BB-58 fought in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and participated in the invasions of Tarawa, Kwajalein, and Okinawa, and bombarded Saipan, the Palau Islands, the Philippines, and Iwo Jima. Indiana will have the capability to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other sea-based forces. Other missions include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; mine delivery and minefield mapping; and special forces delivery and support. Virginia-class submarines, built under a unique teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News, are 7,800 tons and 377 feet in length, have a beam of 34 feet, and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. They are built with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the shipreducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time. The ceremony will be live streamed on the Navy Live blog at http://navylive.dodlive.mil. Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at 703-697-5342. For more information about the Virginia-class submarines: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4 http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1164331/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the joint press point with the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Paolo Gentiloni NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 27 Apr. 2017 Jens Stoltenberg: Thank you very much Prime Minister Gentiloni, Paolo. We have met many times before, but this is the first time we meet formally in your new capacity as Prime Minister and I really appreciate this opportunity to meet with you, to discuss a wide range of security challenges we face together in NATO. But especially to focus on the preparations for the meeting in May in Brussels, where NATO leaders, heads of state and government, are going to meet. The new US President, the new President of France, but also Montenegro, which is going to be at the next or the new member of NATO we will all be together there and showing the strength and the solidarity of the alliance through being together in Brussels at the leaders meeting. Let me also thank Italy for being such a vital and highly valued NATO ally. You are contributing to NATO missions, operations, activities in many different ways and that is of great importance for our shared security, for our collective defence and for the strength of the alliance. You are on the top when it comes to contributing forces to our mission in Afghanistan. You are in Afghanistan with forces which are of great importance for the mission. I have met them myself in Herat and they are there helping to stabilize Afghanistan and also helping to fight international terrorism in Afghanistan and we thank you for your presence in Afghanistan. You are also present in the Balkans, helping to keep the Balkans stable and to also address the challenges posed by foreign fighters in that part of Europe and we also thank you for being the lead nation, having the leadership in our KFOR mission in Kosovo. Let me also thank you for your contribution later this year to a Canadian-led battle group in Latvia, being part of our enhanced forward presence in the eastern part of the alliance. And Italy will next year lead our High Readiness Joint Task Force or Spearhead Force which is of great importance for the readiness of the alliance and the ability of the Alliance to reinforce if needed. So you are participating and contributing in many different ways to the strength of the alliance. In particular I would like to thank Italy for being the driving force for developing NATO's strategy towards the south. We are now in the process of establishing a Hub for the south in our Joint Force Command in Naples. This will be an important tool in strengthening, enhancing NATO's ability to address the challenges we see emanating from the south, improve our situational awareness and improve our ability to react and to deal with the threats, including working with partners in the south. NATO has been at the forefront of fighting terrorism for many, many years and our biggest military operation ever is in Afghanistan and we have to remember that the reason why we are in Afghanistan is to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists once again. NATO is also contributing to the fight against terrorism in many other ways. We have established a new division for intelligence. Sharing intelligence is key when it comes to addressing the terrorist threat. NATO is also providing support for the Counter-ISIL coalition, training Iraqi officers and providing AWACS surveillance plane support to the Coalition and you are really an important contributor to the Counter-ISIL Coalition and this is important for all of us. We are stepping up our support for Iraq and we have recently included military medicine, courses and training and also stepping up our counter-IED activities when it comes to helping Iraq stabilize their own country and fight, and fight terrorism. NATO is also prepared to help Libya. I spoke with Prime Minister al-Sarraj last week. A NATO expert team will meet with the Libyan authorities in the coming weeks to discuss how NATO can help Libya build institutions, including a modern ministry of defence, joint chief of staff and intelligence serviceshelp to build institutions which are crucial to stabilize Libya. And Italy is once again being a highly valued ally because you are really present, you are really helping to solve the crisis, the problems in Libya through the political process, but also through your presence in Libya. And we all are grateful for what you do there. Let me also underline that NATO and the European Union have stepped up our cooperation which is also important for Italy, being a member of both the European Union and NATO. And we have the NATO maritime security operation in the Mediterranean, Sea Guardian, and we have, currently we have four ships, three maritime patrol aircrafts and some other assets providing direct support to the EU's Operation Sophia, showing how NATO can help support the European Union addressing the challenges, the migrant and the refugee crisis we see in the central Mediterranean and we are also present in the Aegean Sea dealing with the migrant and refugee crisis. As you mentioned we will also address burden sharing at the meeting in May with heads of state and government. Burden sharing is about defence spending and of course when tensions are going up we have to increase our investment in defence. I welcome that Italy has increased. Last year, Italy increased defence spending. And we are following up on the pledge we made together in 2014 to stop the cuts, to gradually increase defence spending and then move towards spending 2 % of GDP on defence within a decade. But burden sharing is about more than spending. Burden sharing is also about the capabilities we are developing and Italy again is contributing with many important capabilities to NATO, to the alliance and the contributions to NATO activities, missions and operations in Kosovo, in Afghanistan but also when it comes to our presence in the eastern part of the alliance. So once again thank you so much for an excellent meeting. Thank you for everything Italy is doing for our alliance and I'm looking forward to seeing you again in Brussels on the 25th of May together with all the other leaders showing the strength and the unity of the alliance. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary General in Malta: NATO is strengthening cooperation with the EU NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 27 Apr. 2017 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with EU Defence Ministers in Valletta on Thursday (27 April 2017) for talks on European defence and strengthening NATO-EU cooperation. Ahead of the meeting, Mr. Stoltenberg stressed that the Alliance is working more closely with the EU, including on cyber defence, hybrid challenges, exercises and maritime security. The Secretary General highlighted that the importance of NATO-EU cooperation can be seen "just off Malta's coast", where NATO's maritime operation, Sea Guardian, is providing support to the EU's Operation Sophia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Jackson Successfully Completes Missile Test Navy News Service Story Number: NNS170427-11 Release Date: 4/27/2017 11:58:00 AM By Fire Controlman 1st Class Christopher Bright, USS Jackson (LCS 6) Public Affairs SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Jackson (LCS 6) successfully fired a SeaRAM missile against an aerial drone, destroying the target in a test off the Southern California coast, April 22. The drone was simulating an anti-ship missile as part of a Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) event to demonstrate the self-defense capability of the ship against an aerial target. "I couldn't be more proud of my crew and all the hard work we have put forth in preparing for and accomplishing the CSSQT events," said Cmdr. Patrick Keller, Jackson's commanding officer. CSSQT events are designed to test the ship's ability to track and disable high-speed maneuvering surface targets and defeat long range anti-shipping air threats. Planned and coordinated by the LCS Shipbuilding Program Office, the CSSQT included firing exercises using the 57mm gun against a fast attack craft. Jackson's crew, along with personnel from Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division, completed each scenario successfully and exercised Jackson's combat systems suite. "It's been a long journey, with a lot of training, effort, and dedication," said Keller. "These events further demonstrate that my team is ready to fight and defend Jackson, and that our ship is ready when called. I couldn't be happier with the results." Constructed by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama, USS Jackson is an Independence variant LCS and the third vessel of the trimaran design. Jackson was christened on March 22, 2014 and commissioned on December 5, 2015 in Gulfport, Mississippi. LCS is a high-speed, agile, shallow draft, focused-mission surface combatant designed for operations in the littoral environment, yet fully capable of open ocean operations. LCS is complementary to the surface fleet, with the ability to counter and outpace evolving threats independently or within a network of surface combatants. Paired with advanced sonar and mine hunting capabilities, LCS provides a major contribution, as well a more diverse set of options to commanders, across the spectrum of operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippine president vows to engage China in talks People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 21:01, April 27, 2017 MANILA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated on Thursday that Manila will continue to engage Beijing through bilateral dialogue, citing that it is the best way to resolve the South China Sea issue. Asked what is the best way to deal with China, Duterte said, "The way we are doing ... talking. That's the only luxury that we have. Talking." Duterte was speaking to the press at the Malacanang presidential palace after delivering his joint statement with visiting Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei. He said that is exactly what he would suggest to his fellow ASEAN leaders when they meet for a summit on Saturday. Southeast Asian leaders will meet on Saturday to discuss how to strengthen ASEAN economic community, and regional and international issues that may affect stability and peace in the region. Duterte also said that he will discuss the ongoing crafting of the framework of a code of conduct in the South China Sea. "At least if there's a conduct and they would agree, so many things will be out," Duterte said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Flynn was warned against accepting foreign payments: Pentagon Iran Press TV Thu Apr 27, 2017 7:3PM Former US national security adviser Michael Flynn was warned by the Defense Department's Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) against accepting foreign payments as he entered retirement. In a letter to Flynn from the DIA in 2014, the agency had advised him that it is illegal for former military officers to accept payment from a foreign government without prior approval, according to new documents released Thursday by the House Oversight Committee in Congress. "Accordingly, if you are ever in a position where you would receive an emolument from a foreign government or from an entity that might be controlled by a foreign government, be sure to obtain advance approval from the Army prior to acceptance," Flynn was told, according to a letter written by the Department of Defense's acting inspector general to the House Oversight Committee. Flynn, a retired US Army lieutenant general and former DIA chief, is under formal investigation by the Pentagon for his apparently undisclosed paid speaking engagements in Russia. On Tuesday, US Representatives Elijah Cummings and Jason Chaffetz, two members on the oversight committee, said Flynn may have broken the law by not disclosing payments he received from Russian entities. "As a former military officer, you simply cannot take money from Russia, Turkey or anybody else. And it appears as if he did take that money. It was inappropriate. And there are repercussions for the violation of law," said Chaffetz. The disclosure forms show that Flynn earned at least $1.3 million in 2016, including more than $827,000 through his consulting firm, Flynn Intel Group. "These documents raise grave questions about why General Flynn concealed the payments he received from foreign sources after he was warned explicitly by the Pentagon," said Cummings. "Our next step is to get the documents we are seeking from the White House so we can complete our investigation. I thank the Department of Defense for providing us with unclassified versions of these documents," he added. Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump's administration denied a request from the House Oversight Committee for more information on payments that Flynn had received from foreign governments. Last month, Flynn filed an amended disclosure of payments for speeches from three Russian-linked companies, including the state-backed network RT, without providing further records related to the payments. The high-ranking official was forced to resign in February from his position as Trump's first national security adviser after it was revealed that he misled Vice President Mike Pence about a conversation he had with the Russian ambassador to the US in late December. Flynn could face criminal prosecution for violating a constitutional ban on foreign payments to retired military officers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US drone strike kills seven in Pakistan's tribal region Iran Press TV Thu Apr 27, 2017 6:5PM At least seven people have lost their lives when a US unmanned aerial vehicle carried out a strike in northwestern Pakistan, security sources say. Local Pakistani security officials said Thursday that the strike had happened on Wednesday in the Lawara Mandi area of North Waziristan, a remote tribal region bordering Afghanistan. "We have received reports of a drone attack in North Waziristan in which some seven militants have been killed," media outlets quoted a security official as saying. Local intelligence officials said drones had been seen in the area before two missiles hit a house believed to be used by the pro-Taliban militant group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). "There are two militant commanders, Abdul Rehman and Akhtar Mohammad among the dead," an unnamed intelligence official said. The strike has been the second drone raid under the administration of US President Donald Trump. In March, the previous US strike under the Trump administration killed two men riding a motorbike in northwestern Kurram Agency, one of tribal districts stretching along the border with Afghanistan. The use of drones has proven extremely controversial with the Pakistani public and rights groups over human rights and sovereignty concerns. In 2013, the UK-based rights group, Amnesty International, said the US could be guilty of war crimes by carrying out extrajudicial killings. The aerial attacks, initiated by former US President George W. Bush in 2004, were escalated during Barack Obama's terms in office. The US carries out drone strikes in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya and elsewhere. The US claims the airstrikes target members of terrorist groups, but according to local officials and witnesses, civilians have also been the victims of the attacks in many cases. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two US troops killed in anti-Daesh operations in Afghanistan: Pentagon Iran Press TV Thu Apr 27, 2017 4:30PM Two US troops have been killed in eastern Afghanistan during a military operation against the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group, according to the US Defense Department. The incident took place on Wednesday in the southern Nangarhar province, Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told reporters. The deaths come just days after US Defense Secretary James Mattis visited Afghanistan as President Donald Trump's administration looks to craft a policy in the war-torn country. It was the third time in 2017 that a member of the US military has died in combat in Afghanistan. In total, 2,217 American soldiers have died in the country since the invasion in 2001 and another 20,000 have been wounded, according to the Pentagon. Currently some 8,400 US troops are stationed in different bases across the country. Earlier this month, the US military dropped its GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), dubbed the "Mother of All Bombs", on suspected ISIL hideouts in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, killing nearly a hundred militants. ISIL is mostly active in Nangarhar and its neighboring Kunar province. There are thought to be between 700 to 1,500 Daesh members operating in the country. Afghanistan is still suffering from insecurity and violence years after the United States and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The military invasion removed the Taliban from power, but their militancy continues to this day. Activists have called on the International Criminal Court to speed up a probe into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Al-Shabab shoots dead senior national security officer in Somalia Iran Press TV Thu Apr 27, 2017 1:25PM Militants from the al-Shabab Takfiri group have shot dead a senior national intelligence officer in front of his house in the capital Mogadishu, officials say. Ibrahim Nur, a police officer, said that the security officer had been sitting in front of his house without his body guards on Thursday when armed militants shot him to death. The officer added that the assailants had managed to flee the scene before security forces arrived. "Police and security forces reached the scene later to investigate and pursue the militants. It is difficult to prevent death -- the officer had no guards with him when he was killed," Nur said. The deceased officer had been involved in conducting security operations against the militant group across the long-chaotic Horn of Africa nation. "We are behind the killing of the national security general called Mohamud Haji Ali," Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabab's military operation spokesman, said. Al-Shabab has stepped up its deadly bombings in Mogadishu since the new president took office in February. Earlier this month, al-Shabab carried out a car bomb attack against senior officials leaving a military base in Mogadishu, killing at least 15 people. On April 6, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared war on al-Shabab but at the same time offered the militants an amnesty. He said that the militants who gave up their arms within 60 days would receive jobs and education. Somalia has been the scene of deadly clashes between government forces and al-Shabab militants since 2006. The Takfiri militant group was forced out of the capital by African Union troops in 2011 but still controls parts of the countryside and carries out attacks against government, military and civilian targets. The group is just one of the challenges facing the new Somali government, which is still struggling to expand its authority beyond the capital. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Suspected militants kill three soldiers in Indian Kashmir Iran Press TV Thu Apr 27, 2017 9:5AM At least three Indian soldiers have been killed in a suspected militant attack on a military airbase in Indian-controlled Kashmir, a military official says. Indian army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the incident occurred in Kupwara district near the de facto border dividing the disputed region of Kashmir between India and Pakistan early on Thursday. He added that two attackers were also killed in the pre-dawn assault after Indian troops returned fire. The army spokesman said that search operations were underway to see if more attackers were hiding in the restive region. Indian authorities had a day earlier ordered internet service providers across Kashmir to block 22 social media networks for a one-month period after several videos and photos purportedly showing brutal abuses by Indian security forces sparked outrage among Kashmiris and fueled massive new protests. A video on social media showed a young Kashmiri man tied to the front of an Indian army jeep to deter protesters from throwing stones at the vehicle. In another video, Indian security forces purportedly torture a Kashmiri youth. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both since the two partitioned and gained independence from Britain in 1947. The two countries have fought two major wars over the disputed territory. The Muslim-majority region has witnessed an increase in mass protests and violent attacks since early July 2016, when Burhan Wani, a top figure in a pro-independence group, was killed in a shootout with Indian troops. More than 90 people have lost their lives and more than 12,000 have been injured in the ensuing crackdown. In the latest surge of violence in Kashmir, at least eight people were killed on April 9, when Indian paramilitary forces clashed with protesters during a by-election in Srinagar. Pro-independence factions in Kashmir had called for a boycott of the vote, resulting in heightened security and a low voter turnout when the polling began. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Estonia Defense Chief Says Russia May Move Troops To Belarus To Challenge NATO April 27, 2017 Estonia's defense minister says Russia may use large-scale military exercises to move thousands of troops permanently into Belarus later this year in a warning to NATO. Russia and Belarus intend to hold joint military exercises in September which some NATO members believe could number more than 100,000 troops and involve nuclear weapons training. It would be the most extensive such exercise since 2013. Defense Minister Margus Tsahkna said Estonia and other NATO governments obtained intelligence suggesting Moscow may leave Russian soldiers in Belarus once the Zapad 2017 exercises are over, also pointing to public data of Russian railway traffic to Belarus. Tsahkna mentioned plans to send 4,000 railway carriages to Belarus to transport Russian troops and equipment, and possibly to set up a military outpost on the territory of its closest ally. "For Russian troops going to Belarus, it is a one-way ticket," Tsahkna told the Reuters news agency in an interview in Malta before a meeting of EU defense ministers. "This is not my personal opinion, we are analysing very deeply how Russia is preparing for the Zapad exercises," he said. Russia's Defense Ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The Kremlin has not said how many troops will take part in Zapad 2017. Based on reporting by Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/estonia-tsahkna- russian-troops-nato-/28455115.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Serbia Outraged By French Court's Refusal To Extradite Ex-Kosovo PM Haradinaj RFE/RL's Balkan Service April 27, 2017 A French appeals court has rejected Belgrade's request to extradite former Kosovar Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to Serbia for prosecution on suspicion of war crimes, ordering his release instead. The move sparked outrage in Belgrade, where Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic called the April 27 ruling "a great victory for criminals." Vucic told a news conference his government "considers that the decision of the court is shameful, scandalous, contrary to the law, and deeply unjust -- and that it is, above all, political." He said Serbia's ambassador to France would be recalled for consultations and Belgrade would complain to the United Nations. Vucic said he also discussed the issue with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an April 27 telephone call after the ruling. A Russian Foreign Ministry statement said Lavrov called the French court ruling "political" and that "Russia shares Serbia's concern" over the decision to turn down Serbia's extradition request. The statement said: "All Kosovo politicians involved in military crimes must receive the punishment they deserve notwithstanding the posts they currently occupy." The Russian Foreign Ministry also accused France of employing "double standards, which shows a policy of connivance" in the face of what Moscow claims are aspirations in Pristina for Kosovo to become part of a "Greater Albania project." The "Greater Albania" charge refers to allegations that some ethnic Albanian politicians want to bring Kosovo and Albanian together into a single unified country. Moscow said such aspirations threaten to "destroy fragile stability and revive the bloody conflict in the Balkans." Haradinaj, upon his release following the ruling, said the procedure is now closed and Serbia's extradition request has been turned down. "I am as of this moment a free man, and I hope I will be able to go back to Kosovo today," Haradinaj told reporters outside the court in the northeastern French city of Colmar. Haradinaj arrived late on April 27 in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, where his family and crowds of supporters greeted him at the airport and continued to the city center to hear him speak at Zahir Pajaziti Square. At the square, Haradinaj told a cheering crowd that justice had won with his release, although he said his detention had been unjust. The speech was followed by a fireworks display. Before the April 27 decision, Haradinaj had been released on bail but told he could not leave France while he awaited the ruling. Haradinaj is wanted in Serbia on suspicion of committing war crimes, including kidnappings and torture, when he was a guerrilla commander during Kosovo's 1998-99 independence war. The public prosecutor in Colmar has five days to launch an appeal. Predominantly ethnic Albanian Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. It is recognized by 114 nations. Unlike France and most other European countries, Serbia does not recognize the independence of its former province. Kosovar President Hashim Thaci said on Facebook that the ruling on Haradinaj was "good news." He said the French court's decision was proof that the "slanders" of Serbia's intelligence services against the Kosovar fighters were "not valid and not taken into consideration by the democratic world." The Kosovar government said in a statement that the French judge's ruling confirmed that Serbian arrest warrants against Haradinaj and other KLA fighters "are political and have low intentions." Haradinaj's lawyer, Rachel Lindon, said on April 27 that the French court ruled against the extradition because he would not have had a fair and balanced trial if sent to Serbia. "He lost 3 1/2 months" of his life waiting for this decision, Lindon told the media, "but happily it's over." She said it is unclear whether he will stay in France. Haradinaj was detained by French authorities on January 4, and the Colmar court the next day ordered him to remain in custody. His arrest had triggered outrage in Kosovo, where the government called the Serbian charges "illegal, unfair, and tendentious." Haradinaj, 48, has been tried twice and acquitted of war crimes at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague. He was elected prime minister of Kosovo in 2004 but resigned after 100 days in order to surrender himself for trial in The Hague. In June 2015, he was arrested in Slovenia on a Serbian warrant but was released two days later under diplomatic pressure. The standoff over Haradinaj's detention in France has prompted calls from some officials and politicians in Kosovo to halt EU-mediated normalization talks with Serbia. Normalized bilateral relations are considered a precondition for Serbia and Kosovo to gain EU membership, which both countries seek. But the EU-brokered deal between Belgrade and Pristina to improve and regulate ties between the two states has only been moderately successful. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-haradinaj-released/28454651.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Anti-Albanian Protesters Storm Macedonia's Parliament, Beat Proposed Coalition Leader RFE/RL's Balkan Service April 27, 2017 SKOPJE -- About 200 supporters of Macedonia's nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party stormed into the parliament in Skopje on April 27 after an alliance of Social Democrats and ethnic Albanian parties approved an ethnic Albanian politician as the speaker of parliament -- despite a monthslong political crisis over the formation of a new government. RFE/RL's correspondents inside the parliament saw protesters severely beat Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev, the head of a proposed governing coalition that includes ethnic Albanian parties, and at least one ethnic Albanian lawmaker. The demonstrators, waving Macedonian flags and chanting "VMRO-DPMNE," had jumped over barriers in front of the parliament after news emerged that Zaev's parliamentary alliance had elected ethnic Albanian lawmaker Talat Xhaferi, of the Democratic Union for Integration, as parliamentary speaker. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn condemned the violence, saying in a joint statement "the Interior Ministry and the police must ensure the security of the parliament and its members." The demonstrators -- some wearing masks -- were not confronted by security as they jumped over the barrier outside parliament. Once they reached the entrance foyer inside the parliament building, they fought against heavily outnumbered police to force their way further inside. Police reinforcements entered parliament after the violence broke out, but authorities did not immediately attempt to suppress the protesters. RFE/RL correspondents report that the demonstrators damaged doors inside, stole the mobile phones and cameras of journalists, and advanced into a press room where Zaev and ethnic Albanian members of his proposed coalition were conducting a press conference after Xhaferi's election as parliamentary speaker. Zijadin Sela, leader of the Albanian Alliance, was among the lawmakers injured in the violence. Blood could be seen streaming down Zaev's face as scuffles broke out between his supporters and those of former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's VMRO-DPMNE party. RFE/RL correspondents inside the parliament also came under attack along with other journalists there. In their joint statement from Brussels, Mogherini and Hahn said they "take positive note of the election of Talat Xhaferi as speaker of parliament" and that "democracy must run its course." "The European Union is convinced that political dialogue in the institutions is the only way forward," the EU officials said. "We urge all political actors to honor the constitution of the country and act in the spirit of democratic principles, decency and common sense." The U.S. embassy in Macedonia said in an April 27 statement: "A majority of MPs elected Talat Xhaferi as speaker of parliament during a regular, continued session of parliament witnessed by members of the public and press." The statement said the United States "will work with him to support democracy and to advance the interests of Macedonia. Sweden's ambassador to Macedonia Mats Staffansson issued a statement on behalf of other European diplomats, saying: "It is the responsibility of the police of this country to make sure this kind of violence does not happen." Macedonia's President Gjorge Ivanov a member of the VMRO-DPMNE -- summoned political leaders late on April 27 for a meeting and called for calm. Meanwhile, Albania's Foreign Ministry said late on April 27 that it was monitoring "the escalation of the situation in Macedonia with great concern." In a statement from Tirana, the ministry said: "Such scenes of violence against the elected representatives of the Macedonian people are unacceptable." Demonstrators have taken to the streets of Skopje repeatedly during the past two months to protest against the proposed governing coalition, saying the inclusion of ethnic Albanian parties is a threat to the country's national unity. The VMRO-DPMNE -- which won elections in December but failed to build a majority coalition -- has, for weeks, successfully blocked Zaev from enacting a coalition deal that he reached with the ethnic Albanian parties to form a new government. The protesters have praised President Ivanov for refusing to give Zaev's coalition a mandate to form a new government, even though it holds a parliamentary majority. Xhaferi is the first ethnic Albanian to be elected as parliament speaker in Macedonia since the country declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. VMRO-DPMNE lawmakers challenged the legality of the April 27 vote, saying it was not carried out electronically because the parliamentary session had formally ended. About one-quarter of Macedonia's population of 2.1 million people is of Albanian descent. Macedonia narrowly avoided civil war in 2001 after an uprising by armed ethnic Albanians who sought greater rights. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/macedonian-parliament- stormed-zaev-injured-beaten-vmro-dpmne/28455833.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghanistan: UN urges protection of civilians as casualties remain high in first quarter 27 April 2017 The United Nations mission in Afghanistan today urged all parties to the conflict to take immediate and concrete measures to better protect civilians from harm, as the latest data for 2017 shows continued high numbers of civilian casualties. "It is civilians, with increasing numbers of women and children, who far too often bear the brunt of the conflict," said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in a press release. "With the so-called fighting season imminent, I appeal to all parties to take every measure possible to prevent unnecessary and unacceptable harm to Afghan civilians." In the first quarter of 2017, UNAMA documented 2,181 civilian casualties 715 dead and 1,466 injured, a four per cent decrease compared to the same period in 2016. Civilian deaths decreased by two per cent while civilian injuries decreased by five per cent. Ground fighting remained the leading cause of civilian casualties, accounting for 35 per cent of all civilian casualties. Anti-Government elements caused 62 per cent of civilian casualties, 447 dead and 906 injured for a combined 1,353, reflecting a five per cent increase compared to the same period in 2016. UNAMA attributed 451, or 21 per cent of, civilian casualties 165 dead and 286 injured to pro-Government forces, a decrease of two per cent compared to the same period in 2016. The mission documented 148 civilian casualties 72 dead and 76 injured from aerial operations, a disturbing increase compared to 29 civilian casualties eight dead and 21 injured in the first quarter of 2016. Improvised explosive devices (all non-suicide switch types) remained the second leading cause of civilian casualties, responsible for 409 civilian casualties 126 dead and 283 injured, a decrease of one per cent compared to the same period in 2016 and comprising 19 per cent of all civilian casualties. Suicide and complex attacks continued to cause record levels of civilian harm. The Mission recorded a five percent increase in civilian casualties from these tactics 374 civilian casualties, 108 dead and 266 injured, accounting for 17 per cent of all civilian casualties. Pressure-plate improvised explosive devices caused 218 civilian casualties, 86 dead and 132 injured, a 12 per cent increase. Civilian casualties from unexploded ordnance increased by one per cent to 203, 50 dead and 153 injured, of which children comprised 81 per cent. UNAMA is extremely concerned by increases in both child and women civilian casualties, particularly deaths. The Mission recorded a 24 per cent increase to 273 women civilian casualties, 88 dead and 185 injured. Also in the first quarter, the mission recorded 735 child casualties, 210 dead and 525 injured, a three per cent increase compared to the same period in 2016. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Records 54% Rise in War-Related Deaths of Afghan Women By Ayaz Gul April 27, 2017 The United Nations says that it has documented a staggering 54 percent increase in Afghan conflict-related deaths of women and a 17 percent rise in child fatalities during the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period last year. U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which released the data on Thursday for overall civilian casualties, said that it was extremely concerned over the increases in both child and civilian women casualties. The report documented a total of 715 civilian deaths since the start of the year, which included 88 women and 210 children. The hostilities injured or maimed 1,466 civilians, including 185 women and 525 children. "With the so-called fighting season imminent, I appeal to all parties to take every measure possible to prevent unnecessary and unacceptable harm to Afghan civilians," said UNAMA chief, Tadamichi Yamamoto. UNAMA said children comprised 34 percent of all civilian casualties during the first quarter. "These numbers represent the lives of 735 girls, boys and infants - 735 stories of death, maiming, physical pain, emotional trauma and grief," said Danielle Bell, UNAMA's Human Rights Director. She also called on Afghanistan's warring sides to ensure protection of children in 2017, saying the increase in child casualties reflected their failure to take adequate precautions to protect civilians. UNAMA blamed ground fighting for being the leading cause of civilian casualties, accounting for 35 percent of all civilian casualties, followed by improvised explosive devices as well as suicide and complex attacks. The province of Kabul had the highest number of civilian casualties "due to suicide and complex attacks" in the the Kabul city, followed by Helmand, Kandahar, Nangarhar and Uruzgan, the report noted. It blamed Taliban-led anti-government elements for causing 62 percent of civilian casualties during the first quarter of 2017, showing a five percent increase compared to the same period last year. UNAMA attributed 21 percent of civilian casualties to Afghan government forces, a decrease of two percent compared to the same period in 2016. But it recorded a substantial increase in civilian casualties from aerial operations. "The mission documented 148 civilian casualties (72 dead and 76 injured) from aerial operations, a disturbing increase compared to 29 civilian casualties (eight dead and 21 injured) in the first quarter of 2016," the report said. A spokesman for Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, when asked for comments on the UNAMA report, said the government agrees with its findings that insurgents through terrorist attacks are responsible for causing most of the civilian casualties. While the UNAMA report has documented a significant reduction in civilian casualties attributed to Afghan forces, the government is working on recommendation by the international mission to further improve the situation, spokesman Mujibur Rahman Rahimi told VOA. UNAMA began documenting civilian casualties in 2009 and has since recorded nearly 25,000 deaths of Afghan civilians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Documents: Ex-Trump Security Chief Took Russian, Turkish Payments After Warning By Ken Bredemeier April 27, 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, took more than $500,000 from Turkey and tens of thousands of dollars from Russian interests after being warned in 2014, when he retired as an Army lieutenant general, not to accept payments from foreign governments, new documents show. "We have no evidence, zilch, that he obtained permission from the secretary of the Army and the secretary of state to accept any foreign government payments as required by law," Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Thursday as he released the documents about Flynn. One document showed the U.S. Defense Department's inspector general's office had opened its own investigation into whether Flynn sought permission to accept the payments from the foreign governments. That investigation is separate from the congressional probe. "These documents raise grave questions about why General Flynn concealed the payments he received from foreign sources after he was warned explicitly by the Pentagon," Cummings said. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the Defense Department probe of Flynn was "appropriate if they think there is wrongdoing." But Spicer said the Trump administration did not review Flynn's security clearance before he was named national security adviser, relying instead on a 2016 renewal of the clearance during the administration of Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, which occurred after Flynn's 2015 trip to Russia. Among other payments, Flynn was paid $45,000 in 2015 to attend the 10th anniversary of the Kremlin-controlled Russia Today television network, sitting next to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a gala dinner. Spicer said Trump "made the right decision at the right time and he continues to stand by it," regarding his firing of Flynn in February after just 24 days on the job. Trump ousted Flynn after it was learned he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence and others about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to Washington in the weeks before Trump assumed power. The retired three-star general was a vocal Trump political supporter during last year's presidential election campaign before Trump named him to the high-level White House job. Flynn's Russian connections are a key component of investigations by the House and Senate intelligence committees and the top U.S. law enforcement agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, into details of the U.S. intelligence community conclusion that Russia meddled in the U.S. election to boost Trump's chances of winning. Congressional requests denied Cummings said the White House had refused congressional requests to turn over its records related to Flynn's hiring at the White House, which could shed light on whether Trump and other officials knew of the Russian and Turkish payments to Flynn when he was named to the key security position. Earlier this week, Spicer said it had turned over Flynn-related documents to congressional investigators. But Cummings disputed that, saying, "I don't understand why the White House is covering up for Michael Flynn after the president fired him. I don't get it." Cummings said Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of the House panel, had not followed up and insisted that the White House release more documents, nor had he called Flynn to testify. On Tuesday, however, Cummings and Chaffetz held a joint news conference in which they said Flynn might have broken the law by not disclosing the payments when he filed paperwork last year to renew his security clearance. "As a former military officer, you simply cannot take money from Russia, Turkey or anybody else and it appears as if he did take that money," Chaffetz said. Flynn was director of the Defense Intelligence Agency under Obama but was forced out because of his chaotic management style. Later, he started advising Trump on foreign affairs and national security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Congress Urged to Make Aid to Egypt More Conditional By Mohamed Elshinnawi April 27, 2017 A bipartisan panel of experts on Egypt-U.S. relations is urging Congress to rethink its annual $1.5 billion aid package to Cairo as the country fails to improve its human rights record. The experts argued Egypt, under President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, is a military-run state, with no respect for human rights and rampant with government-sponsored anti-Americanism. The scholars made their comments at a recent hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Michele Dunne, director of the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, began her remarks by mentioning recently leaked footage that appears to show Egyptian soldiers executing terror suspects in the Sinai Peninsula. Rising repression "Egypt does face a serious threat from terrorism, but the unprecedented human rights abuses and political repression practiced by the government since 2013 is fanning the flames rather than putting them out," Dunne said. "And the U.S., at this point, does not have a way to ensure that our assistance is not making the problem worse instead of better." She commended President Donald Trump's apparent reluctance to give Cairo whatever it wants as a positive sign. During President Sissi's recent visit to the U.S., he did not get a promise from the administration to keep aid coming without questioning conditions in the country, Dunne added. Tom Malinowski, assistant secretary of state for human rights in Former President Barack Obama's administration, focused his testimony on the persistent crackdown and repression in Egypt. "Over the last two or three years, the primary priority of the Egyptian military and General Sissi has not been to fight terrorism or improve governance," Malinowski said. "It has been to make sure that what happened in 2011 -- the Tahrir Square uprising -- can never ever happen again in Egypt, and that the power of the military over the country's politics and economics is not challenged." Malinowski said as a result, the military has concentrated on persecuting political opponents, peaceful protesters, and independent, nongovernmental organizations -- the very people in Egypt who despise jihadis. He criticized Egypt for its attacks on U.S.-funded nongovernmental organizations and urged Trump to adopt an "America first" human rights policy. Such a policy would call for the release of Egyptian-American political prisoners, such as recently freed aid worker Ayah Hijazi, Malinowski said. Hijazi and four other humanitarian workers were released after Trump spoke with Sissi on Hijazi's behalf. Creating more jihadis Elliot Abrams, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, urged Congress to link up to 25 percent of the annual $1.3 billion military assistance package to progress on human rights. Current law only links 15 percent of aid to the issue. Abrams said many of the big-ticket items Egypt is buying with the U.S. aid, such as fighter jets, are useless for battling terrorist threats such as the Islamic State. He also accused Egypt of creating more jihadis through its operations in the Sinai Peninsula. "If you take 60,000 political prisoners, people who have not committed acts of violence, beat them up, toss them into prisons, keep them in for years, incarcerate them with real jihadis; what comes out at the end of that process is more jihadis," Abrams said. He also argued that Egypt has lost the regional influence it had when the United States urged it to make peace with Israel in the late 1970s. The experts urged Congress to retain the Obama administration's plan to end the cash flow to Egypt. Senators of both parties in the committee seemed to agree with much of the testimony offered by the panel. At the end of the hearing, Senator Lindsey Graham, the committee chairman, said, "We need to reshape the relationship in a way that's sustainable. What I see is disheartening, and as to the taxpayer dollars we have, I think we're obligated to spend them wisely, consistent with our values." The Trump administration has proposed replacing military assistance grants with loans for all countries except Israel. And the State Department is seeking a 42 percent cut in economic aid to Egypt, from $143 million to $75 million, according to draft budget documents obtained by Foreign Policy magazine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China voices opposition to THAAD deployment, vows military training People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 19:36, April 27, 2017 BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun said Thursday that China resolutely opposes the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile defence system, pledging to continue real combat-oriented military training and drills to safeguard national security. Yang made the remarks during a press conference when answering a question on the latest development that parts of the THAAD anti-missile defence system were moved to the Republic of Korea (ROK) for deployment. Yang noted that the current situation in the Korean Peninsula was complicated and sensitive and that China had been involved in much constructive work for regional peace and stability. The spokesperson said the Chinese military would carry-out real combat-oriented training and drills, as well as tests on its new-type weaponry to safeguard national security and regional peace and stability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China warns of "necessary actions" as US says THAAD to be operational "in coming days" People's Daily Online By Curtis Stone (People's Daily Online) 12:59, April 27, 2017 Admiral Harry Harris, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, told Congress that the THAAD anti-missile defense system would be operational "in the coming days." Speaking to the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, Admiral Harris said that North Korea remains the most "immediate threat" to the security of the U.S. and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region. The U.S. believes that North Korea is trying to develop a "preemptive nuclear strike capability" against American cities. Admiral Harris said that the U.S. must assume North Korea's claims are true. He added that the U.S. is prepared to fight tonight, if necessary. "That's why the ROK-US alliance decided last July to deploy THAAD," he said. He added that the THAAD system will be operational "in the coming days." China expressed its "grave concern" after parts of the THAAD system were moved to the deployment site in South Korea, which the U.S. claims is "purely defensive." China's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that the deployment of THAAD breaks the strategic balance in the region and ratchets up the tension on the Korean Peninsula. China strongly urged the U.S. and South Korea to cancel the deployment and withdraw the equipment, and sent a strong warning that China will take necessary actions "to safeguard its own interests." Admiral Harris said that the best way to reduce the rising tensions is to provide "credible combat power 24/7." China is concerned that the increasing amounts of hard power and uncertainty in the region aggravate the situation and threaten China's core strategic interests. China is calling for efforts to resolve the explosive situation through dialogue and consultation, and has been working with the U.S. to try to reduce tension. Regarding the North Korea issues, Admiral Harris acknowledged that "China is doing things" and he is "encouraged" by China's actions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's 2-seat FC-1 Xiaolong trainer completes maiden flight People's Daily Online By Sun Wenyu (People's Daily Online) 20:12, April 27, 2017 The two-seat FC-1 Xiaolong trainer, China's latest model of the FC-1 Xiaolong line, completed its maiden flight in Chengdu, Sichuan province on April 27. Developed on the basis of the single-seat FC-1 Xiaolong aircraft, the new model is a lightweight multi-role combat jet that can be used in both battle and training. It is also a cost-effective third-generation trainer able to conduct beyond-visual-range battles and precise attacks. Other countries placed advanced orders for the aircraft even before it was developed, based solely on the performance and value of its predecessors. FC-1 Xiaolong was developed from the platform of J-7, a variant of the former Soviet Union's Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. The J-7 was once popular in many third-world countries, but demand for new models gradually rose as the second-generation aircraft became obsolete. In 1999, China and Pakistan signed an agreement of cooperation, officially embarking on the research and development of FC-1 Xiaolong. Now, after years of good performance, the successful aircraft model has entered rapid development. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Korea, US warn of potential 'punishment' against North Korea Iran Press TV Thu Apr 27, 2017 6:29AM South Korea and the United States have agreed to take "swift punitive measures" against North Korea in the event of more "provocation" on the part of Pyongyang. The agreement came in a telephone conversation between South Korean national security adviser Kim Kwan-jin and his US counterpart H. R. McMaster on Wednesday, the South Korean presidential office later announced. "The two sides pledged to in the event of additional strategic provocation by the North swiftly take punitive measures, including a new UN Security Council resolution, that are unbearable for the North," the office said. The US has long exercised a policy of imposing sanctions and diplomatic pressure to force North Korea into abandoning its missile and military nuclear programs. In recent weeks, the new US administration has adopted a harsher posture vis-a-vis Pyongyang, sending a military strike force to the Korean Peninsula and declaring an end to its "strategic patience" with Pyongyang. Top US officials have described North Korea as an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority. But more recently, US officials have also signaled that they want North Korea to return to dialog over its military nuclear program. US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis pledged on Wednesday to step up pressure on North Korea to force it back to the negotiating table on its military nuclear program. Six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear program collapsed in 2009. Earlier, Admiral Harry Harris, who heads the US's Pacific Command, had said in contradictory remarks, "All options are on the table. We want to bring Kim Jong-un to his senses, not to his knees," referring to the North Korean leader. Last year, the US and South Korea agreed to deploy an advanced US missile system in an attempt to counter potential missile strikes from the North. Early on Wednesday, operations began to transport pieces of the missile system to a planned deployment site, about 250 kilometers south of the South Korean capital. Several hundred South Korean villagers protested near the site, hurling water bottles at vehicles moving the equipment in. Pyongyang has expressed its strong opposition to the installment of the missile system and has said threatened to take strong military action in case it is invaded. North Korea, already under a raft of sanctions for its missile and nuclear programs, also says it is maintaining the nuclear program as deterrence against the US. It has so far conducted five confirmed nuclear tests and numerous missile test-launches, and it is believed to be preparing for a sixth nuclear weapons test. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump weighing military options against North Korea: Ted Cruz Iran Press TV Thu Apr 27, 2017 5:57AM The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering a range of military actions against North Korea, says Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Cruz made the remarks on Wednesday night, after attending a "long and detailed" private meeting at the White House, where all 100 members of the Senate were invited to discuss tensions with North Korea. "The military is obviously planning for a number of options, as they should -- minimal military action to more significant action," said Cruz, who ran a failed presidential campaign against Trump last year. "It's of course the hope of the administration and Congress that military action isn't necessary. If there's a clear and imminent threat to the US, our military needs to be prepared to act and I believe they are prepared to act to keep our country safe," he added. During the meeting, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Joseph Dunford, and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats briefed the senators on the latest developments with regards to Pyongyang. Trump also briefly attended the meeting, which was held upon a request by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Democratic Senator Chris Coons said the session was "sobering," while Republican Senator Cory Gardner said the only takeaway from the meeting was that "we are a long ways away from exercising all of our options on the diplomatic side." The North's development and testing of ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads has drawn warnings from the US, with the White House openly raising the possibility of a military confrontation. The US has recently deployed a naval strike group to waters off the Korean Peninsula. A nuclear submarine is slated to join the strike group, which is currently carrying out joint drills with Japanese forces. Pyongyang, in response, has carried out a large-scale live-fire artillery exercise, threatening the US with a nuclear attack in case of any breach of the country's sovereignty. North Korean leaders have also indicated that weapon tests would continue more frequently. The North has so far conducted five confirmed nuclear tests and numerous missile test-launches, and it is believed to be preparing for a sixth nuclear weapons test. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US to Push China, Others for Maximum Pressure on N. Korea at UN By Margaret Besheer, Jeff Seldin April 27, 2017 U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make his United Nations debut Friday, chairing a high-level Security Council session on the threat posed by North Korea's quest to build a nuclear bomb. No immediate council action is expected, but Tillerson is expected to push for other members to join the U.S. in ratcheting up the pressure on Pyongyang. The top U.S. diplomat for East Asia on Wednesday called it the start of a "last best way to see if we can get a peaceful resolution." "The problem has become a lot more urgent," acting Assistant Secretary of State Susan Thornton told an audience in Washington, adding that the focus will be on economic sanctions. "It's very necessary for the international community to come together and share information and go after some of these companies that are providing either products or equipment that contribute to the weapons program," she said. "We are definitely looking at China and expecting them to really step up and do a lot more than they've done in the past." Trump administration officials have expressed hope in recent weeks that Beijing is willing to do more. Time may be running out Most recently, the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific told lawmakers he is "reasonably optimistic" about China's efforts, although he cautioned that time may be running out. "The crisis on the Korean Peninsula is real as the worst I've seen," Admiral Harry Harris told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, adding "there is no doubt" North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is intent on building the capacity to threaten the U.S. with nuclear weapons. The Security Council meeting will come two days after U.S. President Donald Trump gathered lawmakers for extraordinary classified briefings on the threat from Pyongyang and on his administration's plans to try to defuse the rising tensions. Meeting a critical opportunity Friday's meeting, which will include China's foreign minister as well as his counterparts from Japan and South Korea, will be a critical opportunity for the U.S. secretary of state to lay out Washington's game plan for countries that are on the front line of the North Korean nuclear threat. "Tillerson's appearance before the Security Council is going to be, I imagine, a call for greater focus, greater urgency and greater strength by the Security Council," said David Pressman, former deputy U.N. ambassador from the United States and a partner with Boies Schiller Flexner in New York. He said it also would be a call to China to use its influence on North Korea to have it change course. Last year, North Korea conducted two nuclear tests and 24 ballistic missile launches. Already this year it has carried out ballistic missile tests in February, March and April, and experts believe another nuclear test could be imminent. Strengthening sanctions On Monday, during a lunch meeting with Security Council ambassadors at the White House, Trump said the council must be prepared to impose additional and stronger sanctions on North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Since 2006, the Security Council has imposed five rounds of sanctions on the regime, in an effort to stop it from advancing its nuclear program. Pressman led the U.S. negotiations for the Obama administration on the last and most robust round of targeted sanctions, which the council unanimously approved last November. He says Beijing has demonstrated a willingness to respond strongly to Pyongyang's provocations, but so far, China's engagement has not yielded the necessary results. "Is there more that China can do? There is, absolutely. Are they prepared to do it? I certainly hope so," Pressman said. "Because should they not be willing to do so, then the options for diplomacy to resolve this situation are becoming increasingly limited, and that is obviously extremely concerning when you are dealing with nuclear weapons." Speaking earlier this week in Athens, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that "China is neither the focus of current conflicts nor the holder of the key to solving the Korean Peninsula issue," according to his ministry's website, and he called for a "peaceful and rational voice" on the matter. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi volunteer forces liberate Hatra city southwest of Mosul Iran Press TV Thu Apr 27, 2017 2:56PM Iraqi fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units have managed to gain complete control of the ancient city of Hatra southwest of Mosul, as they are helping government troops with battles to drive Daesh Takfiri terrorists out of their last urban stronghold in the Arab country. The media bureau of the pro-government forces, commonly known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi, announced in a statement on Thursday that fighters from the 2nd and 11th brigades had liberated Hatra, located 110 kilometers southwest of Mosul, and are purging the western outskirts of the city of the Daesh Takfiris. The statement added that Hashd al-Sha'abi forces were currently clearing Hatra of hidden explosive devices laid by the terrorists. 'Daesh holds only four districts in western Mosul' Meanwhile, a high-ranking Iraqi military figure says the Daesh extremists were only in control of four neighborhoods in the western part of Mosul. Sabah al-Nuaman, a spokesperson of the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), said the elite forces had delivered a fairly harsh blow to Daesh by retaking al-Tenek district, where some 500 militants had been killed in security operations. He added that only four neighborhoods were controlled by the Daesh extremists in the western part of Mosul. Furthermore, Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters have reclaimed control over Jadida village on the western outskirts of Mosul. The United Nations says nearly half a million civilians have fled fighting since the offensive to retake Mosul from the Daesh terrorists started on October 17, 2016. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on April 17 that 493,000 people had been displaced from the city, located some 400 kilometers north of the capital Baghdad. As many as 500,000 civilians are still trapped in Daesh-controlled neighborhoods of western Mosul. Iraqi army soldiers and pro-government popular fighters have made sweeping gains against the Takfiri elements since launching the operation to retake Mosul. The Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian ship sinks in Black Sea after crashing into freighter Iran Press TV Thu Apr 27, 2017 6:24PM A Russian naval intelligence ship has sunk off Turkey's Black Sea coast after colliding with a merchant vessel carrying a cargo of livestock. Turkey's coastal safety authority said on its website that the Russian ship, identified as the Liman, hit the Togo-flagged Youzarsif H, some 18 nautical miles (33 kilometers) north of the town of Kilyos in Istanbul's Sariyer district, causing significant damage under the water line. The seventy-eight crew members of the 1,560-ton reconnaissance ship did not manage to keep the vessel afloat, but all were successfully rescued. Turkish authorities dispatched a tugboat and three fast rescue vessels. Turkish coast guard rescued 63 crew members, whereas 15 others were saved by the crew of the cargo vessel. None of the crew members suffered any critical injuries. The Turkish shipping agency, GAC, said the collision was caused due to heavy fog and low visibility. The Russian Defense Ministry said the Liman "sustained a hull breach due to a collision" with another ship, about 40 kilometers northwest of the Bosphorus Strait. It also said that Youzarsif H "didn't get significant damage and continued to move on its route." The Russian military said it was trying to identify the owner of Togo-flagged livestock carrier, which was reportedly built in 1977 and has a capacity of 2,418 tons. Other Russian navy ships and a plane have been dispatched to the area. Turkish Transport Minister Ahmed Arslan said the rescued crew members of the Russian ship were in good health after the collision. The Liman was part of the Black Sea Fleet. It was a former research vessel that the Russian Navy had retro-fitted into a reconnaissance ship. It spent much of the winter in the Mediterranean off the coast of Syria, before returning to the Black Sea to monitor North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)'s naval exercises in February. Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has spoken to his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, by phone over the incident, expressing his sadness. It was not known where the Liman was sailing from or its destination. Russian warships frequently pass through the narrow Bophorus Strait. The 17-mile waterway connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, and is among the world's most important routes for transit of oil and grains. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Spy Ship Sinks After Collision In Black Sea; Crews Safe RFE/RL April 27, 2017 A Russian naval intelligence ship has sunk after a collision with a freighter tore a hole in its hull in the Black Sea off Istanbul, Turkish and Russian authorities say. All 78 sailors aboard the spy ship Liman were safe following the April 27 collision, which occurred about 40 kilometers northwest of the Bosphorus Strait, the Turkish coastal-safety authority said. The crew of the cargo ship was also safe. The coastal authority said 15 Russian sailors had been rescued from the sea after the collision, and the others evacuated from the ship. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that no crew members were killed. The collision, which occurred in a fog that caused low visibility, punched a hole in the Russian vessel, the ministry said. The Togo-flagged freighter Youzarsif H., which was carrying livestock, "sustained almost no substantial damage and continued sailing along its route," the Turkish coastal authority said. Turkish media reports said the freighter was carrying some 8,000 sheep from Romania to Jordan. State-run Turkish news agency Anadolu reported that Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim's aides contacted Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's office to convey his "sadness" over the collision. The Liman belonged to the Russian Black Sea Fleet, whose warships must cross through the Bosphorus for operations anywhere outside the Black Sea. Among other things, Black Sea Fleet warships conduct missions to the eastern Mediterranean off Syria, where the Russian military is backing President Bashar al-Assad's forces in a six-year-old war against rebels -- some of them supported by Turkey. Backing opposite sides in the war in Syria has led to tensions between Turkey and Russia, which spiked when Turkish jets shot down a Russian warplane that Ankara said entered Turkey's airspace in November 2015. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan moved to mend fences last year, and Moscow and Ankara are now co-sponsoring intermittent peace talks held in Kazakhstan. According to state-backed Russian media outlet RT, the 1,560-ton vessel was commissioned in 1970 and is "mostly unarmed" but is equipped with a radar system, sonar, and other equipment designed to track ships and submarines. With reporting by Reuters, TASS, AP, Interfax, dpa, and RT Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ship-liman- collision-rescue/28455210.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin, Abe Vow To Work Together To Ease Korea Tensions RFE/RL April 27, 2017 Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe say they will closely cooperate in an attempt to ease tensions between North Korea and rival nations over Pyongyang's ballistic-missile program. At a joint news conference on April 27 in Moscow, the two leaders also said they would like to see the resumption of six-party international talks to seek a peaceful resolution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. The six-party talks involve Russia, China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea. Putin told reporters, "In my opinion, and in the opinion of the prime minister, the situation on the Korean Peninsula has unfortunately gotten a lot worse." "We call on all governments involved in regional matters to refrain from using belligerent rhetoric and to strive for peaceful constructive dialogue," Putin said. Abe urged Pyongyang to avoid taking any actions that could be seen as provocative by other countries. Tensions have risen on the Korean Peninsula with harsh words between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump over Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic-missile programs, which have been banned by the United Nations. The United States has sent to the region a Navy strike group, which has been joined by Japanese and South Korean warships and which North Korea has threatened to sink. Putin and Abe on April 27 were unable to reach a major breakthrough in the decades-old dispute over a group of islands north of Japan that Tokyo calls the Northern Territories and Moscow calls the Southern Kuriles. The Soviet Union seized the islands off Japan's northern coast during the closing days of World War II. Japan still claims the islands as its territory. The dispute has harmed relations ever since, preventing Moscow and Tokyo from signing a peace treaty to formally end World War II. In a small sign of progress, Putin said he had agreed to start flights for former Japanese residents to travel to the islands in order to "visit graves of ancestors." Putin said the move, which will greatly simplify travel for Japanese citizens, was made to help "create an atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding." Abe also said a Japanese business delegation will visit the islands before the end of May to study the possibilities for cooperation with Russia firms. With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and TASS Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-japan-putin-abe- kuriles-tensions/28455242.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia-West Tensions Exposed at Moscow Security Conference By Daniel Schearf April 27, 2017 Tensions between Russia and the West over security in Europe, the Middle East and Asia have surfaced at an annual defense conference in Moscow. Major flashpoints include the situation in Syria and NATO expansion. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gave a stark warning about the expanding threat of terrorism and conflict across the globe at the opening Wednesday of the two-day Moscow Conference on International Security. "The situation in the world is not becoming more stable or predictable, rather the opposite," he said. "In front of our eyes we see that tension on both global and regional levels is on the rise. Further erosion of international law is obvious, so are attempts to use force to promote personal interests, to strengthen own security at the expense of others' security, to contain by all means the process of a formation of a polycentric world order." Middle East As if to underscore the point, Israeli missiles hit a suspected Iranian arms depot in Damascus just hours after Lavrov and Israel's Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman met on the sidelines of the security conference. Those airstrikes also symbolize the complicated nature of Russia's relationship with Israeli and Iran, says analyst Alexey Malashenko via Skype. "Russia is playing a very difficult game between Israel and Iran," he said. "It creates some problems. I think similar situation will continue. So, Russia will keep the normal relations with both countries." Russia says it wants a global alliance against terrorists and is fighting them in Syria just like a U.S.-led Western alliance has been doing. But Western and Arab states say Russia is defending Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and they accuse him of responsibility for a chemical attack on civilians this month that Moscow and Damascus blame on Syrian rebels. The Western alliance wants Assad out of power, but the Kremlin fears losing its ally in Damascus would mean losing regional influence. "Maybe the problem of Bashar al-Assad, his presidency, is most painful problem for Kremlin because indeed, it has to be replaced, and Putin and in Kremlin they understand it. That's no doubt," Malashenko said. "But, anyway, by whom it's possible to replace him, who will come instead of him? This is a problem." NATO Another problem, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, is the gradual expansion of the NATO Western military alliance into eastern Europe. "NATO is a military and political bloc and not a group of stamp collectors. It follows a course of projecting its power and bringing more and more states into its orbit," Shoigu said at the conference opening. "The recent decision to make Montenegro an alliance member is the latest proof of that. Podgorica's military potential is close to zero, but its geographic location allows [the alliance] to strengthen control over the Balkans." Montenegro's opposition held protests Tuesday against joining NATO. Many fear joining the Western alliance could upset relations with Russia, or even lead to a military clash. Also this week, U.S. fighter jets arrived in Estonia, and British typhoon jets went to Romania, as NATO reassures members concerned about Russian aggression. Trust is almost completely eroded between NATO and the Kremlin, says the Carnegie Moscow Center's Petr Topychkanov via Skype. "It all started from Yugoslavia in 1990s, but then Georgia war, NATO extension, missile defense programs United States and NATO and, of course, the most recent and the most important thing was the Crimea annexation by Russia." On East Asia, Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed North Korea's nuclear program. Russia agrees to pressure Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions, but only through the U.N. Security Council. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Russia condemn Israeli attack on Syria airport Iran Press TV Thu Apr 27, 2017 10:14PM Iran and Russia have condemned an attack by Israel on a major airport in Syria as an act of aggression and a blatant violation of the Arab country's sovereignty. Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan condemned the attack earlier on Thursday on an area near the international airport in the Syrian capital Damascus, saying the aggression was in line with Israel's policy to to help the terrorist groups fighting the Syrian government. "In my opinion, those operations help terrorists," Dehqan said while on a visit to Moscow, adding that the strike was meant to undermine the gains made by the Syrian government against terrorist groups. "When it becomes worse for the terrorists, the strikes follow, bringing them a message saying: 'We are defending and protecting you, so don't worry and if it's necessary we'll intervene," the Iranian defense minister stated. Such strikes "are only aimed at ensuring the survival of terrorists," he added. Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz condoned the Thursday morning attack, saying it was in line with an established policy to target weapons depots belonging to the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, a main ally of the Syrian government in its fight against Takfiri militants. "I can confirm that the incident in Syria completely conforms to Israel's policy," he said. Russia, which has also been assisting Damascus in the anti-terror fight since September 2015, also denounced the attack near Damascus as an act of aggression. "Moscow condemns acts of aggression against Syria and regards them as impermissible and running counter to international law," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday, adding, "We are urging all to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, a UN member-state." Syrian authorities have yet to officially report on the extent of damage suffered in the attack and whether it inflicted casualties. However, the state-run SANA news agency has quoted officials as blaming Israel for the attack. Earlier reports had suggested that the area was hit by missiles fired from the occupied Palestinian territories. Later reports, including one by the al-Aalam news network, said Israeli fighter jets had carried out the attack. There have been numerous reports indicating that militants fighting the Damascus government since 2011 enjoy arms support and medical care from Israel. The Israeli military said on Thursday night that it had shot down what it identified only as "a target" over the occupied Golan Heights. Some media outlets claimed that the object was a drone, but a military spokeswoman refused to comment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Israeli Strike' On Military Site Near Damascus Airport April 27, 2017 An Israeli missile strike has caused a huge blast at a "military position" near Damascus international airport, Syrian state media report. "A military position southwest of Damascus International Airport was targeted at dawn today by an Israeli aggression using several missiles fired from occupied territory, sparking explosions in the area," Syria's state SANA news agency reported on April 27, citing a military source. A fuel tank and warehouses were damaged, SANA said. The pro-government Al-Mayadeen TV network cited sources as saying that missiles had been fired by Israeli jets flying inside the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Syrian rebel sources said the strike targeted an arms depot run by Lebanon's Hizballah movement, which is fighting in Syria as an ally of the government. Israel said the blast was "consistent" with its policy to prevent Iran providing weapons to Hizballah, but it stopped short of confirming it was responsible. Syria is in the sixth year of a civil war pitting the government of President Bashar al-Assad and his allies against opposition forces that has left more than 400,000 people dead. Assad is backed by Russia, Iran and regional Shi'ite militias including Hizballah, which is a close ally of Tehran and an enemy of Israel. Israel, which fought a war with Hizballah in 2006, is believed to have bombed Iranian arms consignments intended for the group several times since the Syrian conflict began. Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and BBC Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/syria-large-explosion- damascus-airport/28454596.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US: More Pressure on Russia Needed to Halt Syrian Conflict By Margaret Besheer April 27, 2017 U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley ratcheted up her rhetoric against Russia on Thursday, saying more pressure needs to be put on Moscow to stop the war in Syria. "Many of you said we need to put pressure on the Syrian regime; that's actually not the case. We need to put pressure on Russia," Haley told her counterparts on the 15-nation Security Council. The council was holding its monthly meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria, where U.N. aid chief Stephen O'Brien told them that at least six hospitals and three schools have been bombed there this month, and a "noose has tightened" around besieged eastern Ghouta, where some 400,000 people have been cut off from U.N. aid convoys since October 2016. "All eyes and all pressure now need to go to Russia, because they are the ones that could stop this if they wanted to," Haley said. The U.S. envoy said the regime of Bashar al-Assad has been emboldened by its continued protection from Moscow. "Because Russia continues to cover for the Syrian regime, Russia continues to allow them to keep humanitarian aid from the people that need it, Russia continues to cover for a leader that uses chemical weapons against his own people, Russia continues to veto and Assad continues to do these things, because they know Russia will continue to cover for him," Haley said. "I will continue to press the Security Council to act, to do something regardless if the Russians continue to veto it, because it is our voice that needs to be heard," she added. Russia has used its veto eight times in the 6-year-long conflict to protect the Assad regime from sanctions and other international action. Russian response "The ongoing criticism of the Syrian government and the emotional calls to the country guarantors, including Russia, don't help anything," Russia's acting ambassador Petr Illichev told council members. "We are carrying out our obligations in good faith; there are other important players who are not hurrying to meet us halfway." Russia, along with Iran and Turkey, led talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, that led to a cessation of hostilities in December that can be described as shaky at best. But the Russian envoy told council members that, "In Syria as a whole, the cessation of hostilities is holding." This despite a poison gas attack earlier this month and ongoing shelling, airstrikes and ground fighting in several parts of the country. Israeli airstrikes Earlier Thursday, the Russian government called on Israel and other countries to avoid any actions that may escalate tension in Syria, after Syrian officials accused Israel of conducting airstrikes against an arms supply hub near Damascus International Airport. "All countries need to refrain from any kind of actions that lead to an increase in tension in this already restive region," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow. Peskov also said Syria's sovereignty should be respected. The arms hub is operated by the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Syrian rebel and regional intelligence sources said the strikes targeted weapons that were shipped from Iran on military and commercial cargo planes. Throughout the Syrian war, which began in March 2011, Israel has made it clear it would not allow shipments of weapons from Iran to Hezbollah units fighting in Syria. Israeli forces have on multiple occasions used airstrikes or other attacks to stop such moves, with the military often declining to confirm it was responsible for the strikes. Hezbollah and Israel fought each other in the 2006 Lebanon War. VOA's Chris Hannas contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan actions 'severely hit' EU-Turkey ties: Merkel Iran Press TV Thu Apr 27, 2017 2:25PM German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed concerns about the latest measures taken by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying they have adversely affected relations between the European Union and Ankara. "The developments over the past weeks have severely hit German-Turkish ties as well as European-Turkish relations," Merkel told the parliament in Berlin on Thursday. She further accused Turkey of holding journalists without grounds, including Deniz Yucel, a Turkish-German national and reporter for Germany's Die Welt newspaper, who was taken into custody in February on charges of spreading "terrorist propaganda." He is currently being held in solitary confinement. The German chancellor said Ankara's arrest and treatment of the journalist was "incompatible with a constitutional state." 'Turkey referendum unfair' Merkel further said that Turkey's recent constitutional referendum, in which voters narrowly approved expanding Erdogan's executive powers, was not held under fair conditions. She also urged Ankara to respect civil rights in keeping with a constitutional state, saying it was "neither in Europe nor Turkey's interest" for either side to turn away from the other. In the April 16 referendum, Erdogan's 'Yes' campaign won 51.36 percent of the votes, while the 'No' campaign gained 48.64 percent. Erdogan declared victory in the vote, but opponents said the referendum was deeply flawed. Germany "will follow very closely how Turkey deals with the reports" by international election monitors about irregularities in the vote, Merkel said. The Turkish government "must answer the questions" raised, the German leader added. Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe have described the referendum as "an uneven contest." The German chancellor stressed that she would use an upcoming summit with fellow EU leaders in the Belgian capital, Brussels, to discuss "which measures would be appropriate" for the bloc to take vis-a-vis Turkey. Respect rule of law: NATO to Turkey Separately on Thursday, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), of which Turkey is a member, called on Ankara to respect due process amid mass arrests over last July's abortive military putsch. "Turkey has the right to protect itself and to prosecute those who were behind the failed coup attempt, but that has to take place based on the full respect for the rule of law," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. The Ankara-EU ties soured following the coup attempt and Turkey's subsequent crackdown on alleged conspirators. The row further deepened in March after several EU member states, notably Germany and the Netherlands, blocked Turkish ministers from holding rallies to secure a 'Yes' vote in the referendum, citing public safety concerns. Erdogan accused the European countries of acting like "Nazis" and giving sanctuary to terrorists, who back Kurdish forces and last July's failed military coup. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey suspends 9,000 police personnel over alleged ties to failed coup Iran Press TV Thu Apr 27, 2017 2:6AM Turkey has suspended over 9,000 members of the country's police force as part of its post coup crackdown. On Wednesday, CNN Turk reported that the law enforcement personnel were suspended for alleged ties to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who, Ankara claims orchestrated the failed putsch last year coup. Turkey witnessed a coup attempt on July 15, 2016, when a faction of the Turkish military declared that the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was no more in charge of the country. A few hours later, however, the coup was suppressed. Almost 250 people were killed and nearly 2,200 others wounded in the abortive coup. Since then, Ankara has been engaged in suppressing the media and opposition groups, who were believed to have played a role in the failed putsch. Over 40,000 people have been arrested and 120,000 others sacked or suspended from a wide range of professions, including soldiers, police, teachers, and public servants, over alleged links with terrorist groups. Earlier in the day, Turkish authorities detained over 1,000 people over suspected ties to Gulen. EU calls for halting turkey's accession talks Meanwhile, an EU parliament member responsible for accession talks with Turkey said the bloc should officially suspended negotiations with Ankara in the wake of this month's constitutional vote. Kati Piri, who was renewing the bloc's calls for the suspension of membership talks with Turkey over its post-coup purges, noted that if Erdogan implemented his new constitutional reforms he would be closing the door on EU membership. "As Turkey with such a constitution cannot become a member of the EU, it also doesn't make sense to continue the discussion on integration with the current government," she said. On April 16, Turkey held a referendum on implementing a series of constitutional reforms that greatly empower Erdogan. Under the new system, the office and position of prime minister would be scrapped in Turkey and the president would be granted executive powers to directly appoint top public officials, including ministers, and assign one or several vice presidents. It further states that Turkey's next presidential and parliamentary elections will be held simultaneously on November 3, 2019 and the head of state would have a five-year tenure, for a maximum of two terms. "The EU should officially suspend the accession talks if the constitutional changes are implemented unchanged," she added. The EU official noted that the talks should be suspended and not halted as the chance for accession should not be taken away from the Turkish population. "Turkey should remain a candidate country but we're negotiating with the government. It's become clear over the last two years that this government doesn't want to meet criteria," she noted. Turkey has been an EU membership candidate since 1987 but the bid has stalled over the years mainly due to issues of democracy and human rights. Relations began to deteriorate last year when Turkey launched a massive crackdown on those alleged to have played a role in last year's coup attempt. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Merkel Says EU-Turkey Ties 'Severely Hit' By Ankara Developments April 27, 2017 EU-Turkey relations have been severely hit by the actions of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government, German Chancellor Angela Merkel says. "The developments over the past weeks have severely hit German-Turkish ties as well as European-Turkish relations," Merkel told parliament on April 27. Merkel voiced concerns that a referendum earlier this month on expanding Erdogan's powers was not held under fair conditions. But Merkel said it was "neither in Europe nor Turkey's interest" for either side to turn away from the other. "We will work towards returning to dialogue," she said. Merkel also mentioned Ankara's arrest and treatment of German newspaper correspondent Deniz Yucel as "incompatible with a constitutional state." Yucel, a journalist for the Die Welt daily, a German-Turkish national, was jailed in February on terror charges and is awaiting trial. He is being held in solitary confinement and Germany has been allowed to make only one consular visit so far. Merkel said she would also use a summit with fellow EU leaders in Brussels on May 29 to discuss "which measures would be appropriate" for the bloc to take vis-a-vis Turkey. Relations between Germany and Turkey have worsened over disputes related to a failed coup in July and a subsequent crackdown on alleged conspirators. More Gulen-Related Arrests Merkel's statements came a day after Turkey detained more than 1,000 people accused of suspected links to U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen whom Erdogan blames for orchestrating the coup. Turkey also temporarily suspended some 9,000 personnel from its police force on April 26. It was one of the largest operations in recent months against the movement that authorities blame for last summer's failed military coup. Police launched simultaneous operations in all of Turkey's 81 provinces, detaining a total of 1,120 people connected to the police force, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. About 8,500 police officers participated in the operation, Anadolu reported. Hours later, 9,103 personnel were temporarily removed from the country's police force while they were being investigated for possible ties to Gulen's movement, the agency reported. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu described the nationwide operations as an important step toward the government's aim of "bringing down" the Gulen movement. The suspects are allegedly Gulen operatives called "secret imams" who are accused of directing followers within the police force. Soylu said the individuals allegedly "infiltrated the police, tried to lead it from the outside by forming an alternative (police) structure." Gulen denies any part in the coup, which was led by military officers. Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/merkel-eu-turkey--ties- arrests-referendum-gulen-coup/28454912.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss the latest local news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter Council landlords of Gloucestershire Airport have agreed to lend it a hefty six figure sum at behind-closed-doors meetings this week. It already owes them 1.5million which it spent on upgrading runway safety. Gloucester City Council and Cheltenham Borough Council will lend the Staverton airport a reported sum of to up to 750,000 after meetings last night and on Monday. The airport, which was had to deal with the sudden closure CityWing, said it remains very much business as usual for the countrys busiest general aviation airport and the money is to allow it to develop further. The airport company is co-owned by both councils and is looking to expand, so asked for a lending facility. Mark Sheldon, director of resources at Cheltenham Borough Council, said: At a meeting held this week, both Cheltenham and Gloucester city councils have agreed a lending facility which will support the delivery of the airports business plan. A Gloucester City Council spokesman confirmed the same. Responding to our request to know how much could be loaned by each council and how much Gloucestershire Airport owes the councils already, Mr Sheldon said: The meetings were confidential and therefore the councils are unable to share details of the discussions which took place. The councils did agree a lending facility which supported the implementation of the airport business plan which was split equally between the two shareholder councils. The airport still owes the councils 1.5million of loans which relate to the previous investment in the safety of the runway. Darren Lewington, operations manager at the airport, could not reveal the sum involved. It is very much business as usual and we continue to be the UKs busiest general aviation airport, he said. Selling off the asset was considered by both councils several years ago and they rejected calls to build houses on what is green belt land between Churchdown and Cheltenham. The airport pays annual rent of around 52,000 to the shareholding councils plus a profit dividend. The sum is a request to the shareholders - both the councils - for a loan facility that will be used to help grow the business. Since the completion of its Runway Safety Project in 2013, the airport has seen business aviation and air taxi traffic grow by 17 per cent, Mr Lewington has said in the past. The airport also owns Meteor Business Park where a number of aerospace companies reside, employing 2,000 people.The airport is home to around 180 aircraft and 40 aviation-related businesses employing more than 500 people. Gloucestershire Airport was identified as a site for potential development of up to 3,500 new houses in the early stages of the Joint Core Strategy a masterplan to bring 35,000 extra homes to the county by 2030. But this was later dropped in favour of development of hundreds of homes in Innsworth, Twigworth and Churchdown. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss the latest local news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter A 27-year-old child sex pervert was caught by adults posing as a 14-year-old Gloucester girl online, a court heard today. Christopher Ogundowoie, of no fixed address, thought he was grooming the girl for sex during a long and detailed online conversation, Gloucester Crown Court was told. But the girl he thought he was talking to did not exist, said prosecutor Janine Wood. Appearing before the court via video link from remand prison, Ogundowoie pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence between March 20 and 26 this year. The charge said he was using social media including WhatsApp to contact the 'girl' with a view to having sexual contact with her. Ogundowoie also admitted possessing a fake Nigerian passport between December 1 2015 and March 31 2017 with intent to put it to improper use. Judge Jamie Tabor QC said: "This is a case where grown-ups were pretending on the internet to be a 14-year-old child. They engaged in text messages etc with the defendant and he thought he was dealing with a 14-year-old girl. "The communication went on for quite a long time. The contents were pretty horrible. "He has been charged with attempting to facilitate sexual contact because, of course, there was no 14-year-old girl." Regarding the passport case, he said: "It is not uncommon for people to come into this country and buy false passports so they can work here, which is what this man has done." He agreed to a defence request for an adjournment so that Ogundowoie can attend court in person for his sentencing. Defence solicitor Sarah Jenkins said it would be easier for her to take instructions from him face to face rather than via video link because although his English is good it is heavily accented. He had come to Britain with a legitimate passport, she said, but then had bought the fake one because it allowed him to get work. Sentence was adjourned until May 19. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss the latest local news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter Police are hunting a gang of balaclava-wearing thieves who tried to steal cash from an ATM in the early hours of this morning. Just before 4am, offenders used a stolen JCB to ram the Lloyds Bank building in Bourton-on-the-Water. After the unsuccessful attempt to rip out the cash machine, the offenders then smashed into a BMW that was in the path of their getaway. (Image: Vortex Content) Other vehicles used during the raid were a stolen Mitsubish pickup and a Land Rover Freelander. The offenders then made off in another high-powered vehicle. A police spokesman said they received many calls from the public about the raid: The offenders have caused substantial damage to the historic stone building but no one was injured. CID officers are currently at the scene making enquiries and taking witness statements, together with forensic officers examining the stolen vehicles for evidence. We are appealing for witnesses, or anyone who has not already spoken to the police, to please come forward. Please call 101 quoting incident number 24 of 28 April 2017. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss the latest local news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter Persuading teenagers to give up social media for a week has earned school pupils a prestigious award and their prize will be donated to a charity helping teenagers in crisis. Sydney McAllister, Charlotte McNeil, Mia Denman and Jessica Hourston went to Gloucester Cathedral to receive the Nairac Group Award from Dame Janet Trotter, Lord Lieutenant for Gloucestershire. The award was given for their work on Social Media Free Week in January 2017, together with a cheque for 200 for Teens in Crisis. Girls and staff at the school were persuaded to give up social media for a week as part of a social experiment that was also raising funds for charity. Sydney gave a presentation to fellow students about how social media had contributed to one girl's anxiety levels. She urged others to join her in a social media detox' for a week. The week aimed to inspire the girls to think about how they use social media and how it impacts on their lives, as well as raise funds for the charity Teens in Crisis. Around 400 people took part, including about 70 staff and parents. This award acknowledges the students' concern for the wellbeing of not just one particular girl but all those who may be affected by social media anxiety. It also recognises their maturity in addressing the issue in a way which not only made everyone at their school think about the use of social media but also raised money for a worthy cause. The annual awards are named in memory of Captain Robert Nairac, from Standish, who joined the Second Battalion Grenadier Guards in January 1973. In 1977, at the age of 28. But during his second tour of duty in Northern Ireland, he disappeared. It later emerged that he had been abducted, tortured and murdered by Irish terrorists. In February 1979 it was announced that the Queen had approved the posthumous award of the George Cross, the highest honour for gallantry in peacetime, to Captain Nairac, whose body has never been found. This is the first time a Nairac Award has been presented to a previous winner in Stroud High The School first won the Award in 2006. "It was a privilege to attend the service at Gloucester Cathedral," said headteacher Mark McShane. I am delighted the girls have been recognised for their hard work. They have galvanised our school community and encouraged a debate about the negative impact unrestricted technology can have on our welfare. We want the girls at Stroud High to have a positive impact upon the lives of others and the Nairac Award is a fitting acknowledgement of the difference Sydney, Mia, Jess and Lottie are making. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss the latest local news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter What is the Duke of Cambridge doing in a field near Stonehouse this afternoon? Prince William was spotted in a field in Eastington this afternoon and it has left many baffled as to why. The Duke of Cambridge was seen without his Duchess as his yellow helicopter was spotted landing in a field in the village. As soon as Prince William had landed he was then taken in black Land Rover to his next destination. When we approached Kensington Palace for a comment they were unable to talk about what he was doing in the area or where he was headed to next. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss the latest local news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter All mums with very young children know how it is. Youre out shopping, or perhaps running some errands. And the baby decides he or she is hungry and starts letting you know about it in the most urgent, and ear-splitting terms. But if youre breastfeeding what do you do. It should be fine to feed your baby anywhere, but some people can be, have been, distinctly unpleasant to nursing mothers. In Hatherley in Cheltenham, at least, help is at hand. Sardar Jalal, who has runs Sardars Cafe in Salisbury Avenue, says any nursing mother is welcome to feed her baby at his establishment. And hell even offer the mum a free cup of tea or coffee while shes at it. Sardar, 40, and the father on a four year old girl said: Im a father and I know how hard it can be for mums to find somewhere to feed their baby. All babies deserve to be fed when they need, so any mum who needs to feed her baby can do so here. We welcome them. Sardar, who came to the UK from Kurdistan in 2001 and to Cheltenham in 2010, said he found people here very welcoming and friendly and he wanted to extend that welcome and friendship to nursing mums. One such who thoroughly approved of his scheme was Lisa Wolf, who was in the cafe with her 10-month-old son, Max. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now Lisa said: Max is my third child, and Im still feeding him, and to be honest Ive never really had any problems. But when I was with my first six years ago, I was more self-conscious about it, and this would have been a real help. If the mother is comfortable then her baby is comfortable. Lisa added: Its important to say that is a mum wants to bottlefeed while shes out or all the time, thats fine as well. Nobody should feel pressured into breastfeeding. Its all about doping what youre most comfortable with but thats what Sardars helping with, here at his cafe. Sardars cafe is at 86 Salisbury Avenue in the middle of a parade of shops and opposite a Co-op supermarket. Your digital subscription allows you to view any content, comment on any issue and submit your own news to our newsroom. Digital subscriptions do not include home delivery of the Tracy Press. To receive the paper at home, sign up for Premium Membership. VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - April 28, 2017) - Maverix Metals Inc. (the "Company" or "Maverix") (TSX VENTURE: MMX) is pleased to announce that Mr. Matt Fargey has joined the Company and will assume the position of Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), effective May 30, 2017. In addition, Mr. Brent Bonney has been appointed as Vice President, Corporate Development of the Company, effective March 3, 2017. Mr. Fargey brings additional experience to the Maverix team having previously served as Corporate Controller for another metal streaming and royalty company. In his previous role, Mr. Fargey was involved in financial reporting, tax compliance, public financings, tax structuring and integration of acquisitions, and managing the day-to-day accounting of the company. Prior to becoming a Corporate Controller, he was a Manager in the Audit and Assurance Group at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Mr. Fargey holds Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst designations and has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Bonney was a member of the investment banking group with Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets specializing in the metals and mining sector. While in investment banking, he assisted clients in assessing and executing on various strategic initiatives including mergers and acquisitions, asset divestitures, strategic investments as well as other forms of equity and debt financing. Mr. Bonney holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Finance from the University of British Columbia. Mr. Fargey will be replacing Mr. Wayne Vincent who has served as Maverix's CFO since the Company's launch into the metal streaming and royalty business last year. Mr. Vincent will continue to work with the Company, on a part time basis, as Senior Financial Advisor. The Board of Directors wish to expressly thank Mr. Vincent for his dedicated efforts in stewarding the financial reporting of Maverix during its inaugural year. Mr. Vincent will resign as CFO on May 30, 2017 following the Company's Annual General Meeting ("AGM"). Retirement of George Brown from the Board of Directors & Nomination of Daniel O'Flaherty for Election Mr. George Brown has informed the Company of his intention to retire from his role as a Director at the end of his current term and as a consequence he will not be standing for re-election at the upcoming AGM on May 30, 2017. The Company would like to extend its thanks and sincere appreciation to Mr. Brown for his leadership and counsel, particularly during the transition from MacMillan Minerals Inc. (predecessor to Maverix). Upon recommendation from the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Board has approved the nomination of Mr. Daniel O'Flaherty and the remaining incumbent directors for election by the shareholders at this year's AGM. The inclusion of Mr. O'Flaherty, the Company's CEO, on the Board will help to ensure continuity and be of added benefit to the strengthened management team as it continues to execute on Maverix's strategy. Mr. O'Flaherty said, "I am very much looking forward to working even more closely with the Board as Maverix continues to grow and create value. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our new team members and to thank George for his many years of dedication and leadership and on behalf of all of us at Maverix we wish him well in his retirement and future endeavors." Grant of Incentive Plan Shares and Options The Company would also like to announce that it has granted to management, pursuant to awards for 2016 under the terms of the Company's long-term incentive plan and annual incentive plan, as well as in conjunction with the hiring of Mr. Fargey and Mr. Bonney; (i) options to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,676,226 Common Shares, exercisable for a period of five years from the date of grant, and having an exercise price of $1.40 per Common Share, and (ii) an aggregate of 113,637 Common Shares. About Maverix: Maverix's primary purpose is to acquire and hold predominantly precious metals streams and royalties, and in so doing provide significant leverage to gold and silver prices for its shareholders. Maverix's mission is to increase underlying per share value by adding high-quality streams and royalties that offer robust returns to Maverix's portfolio. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements This release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and include statements relating to Mr. O'Flaherty's election as a Director of the Company and the timing of Mr. Vincent's resignation and appointment of Mr. Fargey as CFO. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements and information are based on management's expectations and, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies. Maverix undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Apr 28, 2017) - Scorpio Gold Corp. ("Scorpio Gold" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:SGN) announces its operating results for the first quarter ("Q1") of 2017 at its 70% owned Mineral Ridge project, located in Nevada. Gold and silver production in Q1 2017 totalled 5,741 ounces and 2,854 ounces, respectively. The lower metal production in Q1 2017 is attributed to fewer tons being mined and processed from the existing pits, due to higher strip ratios that constrain how quickly benches can be mined. Brian Lock, interim CEO, reports, "The first quarter production at Mineral Ridge was affected by a slowdown in mining and processing while the project awaits approval of the amendment to its revised Plan of Operations, which is pending from applicable regulatory authorities. The Custer pit and other areas for which permitting is outstanding, will be evaluated for economics of associated mining timelines when permits are received." Production in 2017 is scheduled from the Mary LC pit and from the Bluelite and Brodie satellite pits. Key Operating Statistics Q1 2017 Q1 2016 % Change Mining operations Mary LC pit Ore tonnes mined 130,446 146,872 -11.2% Waste tonnes mined 927,786 703,030 32.0% Total mined 1,058,232 849,902 24.5% Strip Ratio 7.1 4.8 47.9% Satellite pits Ore tonnes mined 7,255 103,252 -93.0% Waste tonnes mined 67,208 227,056 -70.4% Total mined 74,463 330,308 -77.5% Strip Ratio 9.3 2.2 322.7% Total producing pits Ore tonnes mined 137,701 250,124 -44.9% Waste tonnes mined 994,994 930,086 7.0% Total mined 1,132,695 1,180,210 -4.0% Strip Ratio 7.2 3.7 94.6% Pits under development Ore tonnes mined 178 - 100.0% Waste tonnes mined 212,595 55,622 282.2% Total mined 212,773 55,622 282.5% Total mining operations Ore tonnes mined 137,879 250,124 -44.9% Waste tonnes mined 1,207,589 985,708 22.5% Total mined 1,345,468 1,235,832 8.9% Processing Tonnes processed 138,392 251,587 -45.0% Gold head grade (g/t) 1.70 1.65 3.0% Ounces produced Gold 5,741 8,508 -32.5% Silver 2,854 3,921 -27.2% Recoverable(1) gold ounces placed on pad 5,175 9,032 -42.7% (1) A weighted average metallurgical recovery factor has been applied to the estimated contained ounces crushed and placed on the leach pad, based on the pit from which the ore was mined. About Scorpio Gold Scorpio Gold holds a 70% interest in the producing Mineral Ridge gold mining operation located in Esmeralda County, Nevada with joint venture partner Elevon, LLC (30%). Mineral Ridge is a conventional open pit mining and heap leach operation. The Mineral Ridge property is host to multiple gold-bearing structures, veins and lenses at exploration, development and production stages. Scorpio Gold also holds a 100% interest in the advanced exploration-stage Goldwedge property in Manhattan, Nevada with a fully permitted underground mine and 400 ton per day mill facility. The Goldwedge mill facility has been placed on a care and maintenance basis and can be restarted on short notice. Scorpio Gold's Chairman, Peter J. Hawley, P.Geo., is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the content of this release. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD SCORPIO GOLD CORPORATION Brian Lock, Interim CEO Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without restriction, any statements regarding the Company receiving approval of its pending amendment to its revised Plan of Operations. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements, including risks involved in mineral exploration and development programs, risks involved in mineral processing; risks related to open pit mining and heap leach processing operations, obtaining the required permits to expand and extend mining activities and the life of mine, the availability of cash flows or financing to meet the Company's ongoing financial obligations and those risk factors outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. The federal government has suddenly announced it may revoke the eligibility of some workers in a decade-old student debt forgiveness program. The decision comes just as the first class is about to fulfill their commitment, and throws more than half a million public service workers into uncertainty over massive financial obligations they had been promised would be fulfilled. Serve the Public, Have Your Student Loans Forgiven? In 2007, as part of a bill to overhaul federal student loans, Congress approved a program that would repay the remaining student loan debts of those who worked in a public service job for 10 years and made regular payments on their federal loans (private loans don't qualify) during that time. Over 500,000 people took advantage of the program, although the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimates that as much as 25% of the nation's workforce would likely qualify. As the program's initial participants near the 10-year mark in October, uncertainty looms. The New York Times recently reported that four lawyers have filed a suit against the Education Department to have their eligibility for the program restored. The plaintiffs contend that they initially received notice that they qualified for the program, only to be told years later they were no longer eligible, even though they were still working the same jobs and had made regular loan payments. The lawyers work for such organizations as the Vietnam Veterans of America and the American Immigration Lawyers Association, where their salaries are much lower than if they had chosen to work in the private sector. Obviously, there are many decisions they might have made differently had they known that their loans wouldn't be paid off as promised. Gov Now Says Eligibility Decisions Were "Not Binding" Meanwhile, the Education Department made a legal filing in response to the suit stating that the approval letters sent by the program's administrator, FedLoan Servicing, are not binding and can be rescinded at any time. Both FedLoan and the Department declined to talk to the Times. With the suit still to be decided and the first repayments to be made, anything could still happen at this point. But the Education Department's lack of transparency is certainly making some 500,000 people very nervous. What do you think readers? Are you or someone you know counting on this program to repay your student loans? Let us know in the comments. No president whether it be Republican or Democrat has any input into investigating someone for a security clearance. Flynn, having been in the military most or all of his adult life has had one kind of security clearance or another from the time he was accepted into OCS or West Point which ever he attended. Even though a security clearance is supposed to be investigated for renewal every five years I doubt if much investigation went into Flynn since he was a career soldier. BUT he was warned by the Pentagon in 2014 NOT to take payments, if that is true then the Pentagon dropped the ball in 2016 when they reissued Flynn's security clearance but that had NOTHING to do with Obama or his admin. Students from abroad have become a rich revenue source for many state colleges and their towns. What happens if the Trump administration's anti-immigration sentiment and policies drive them away? after more than two decades as a gynecologist taking care of low-income women in Texas, Lisa Hollier began to see something unexpected and disturbing. The number of maternal deaths -- women dying in pregnancy, childbirth or the first few postpartum weeks -- was spiking. The numbers were far above those in any other state -- in fact, they were not normal for any country in the developed world.Hollier and a handful of allies began lobbying the state legislature to form a special panel to investigate why this was happening. In 2013, a 15-member task force was put together, with Hollier heading it up. The members knew a few things going in. They knew that maternal mortality had been increasing in Texas for several years. They knew that black women were three times more likely to die from complications of childbirth than white or Hispanic women. But a bigger surprise -- just how many women were actually dying -- was about to come.Maternal mortality rates have been edging up in much of the United States. A study published last year in thefound that the national rate rose 26 percent from 2000 to 2014. Systemic health problems across the country, notably unequal access to care and high rates of chronic illness, seemed to play a key role.But Texas is in a category all by itself. For the first half-decade of the new millennium, maternal deaths were steady, hovering at around 18 deaths per 100,000 births -- not a particularly dramatic number. However, from 2011 to 2014 the number doubled. During those more recent years, more than 600 Texas women died from complications around childbirth. Those figures, the study concluded, didnt make sense in the absence of war, natural disaster or severe economic upheaval.If Texas were a country, it would have the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world and would be on a par with Mexico or Turkey. Were trying to figure out how to get our rate down to a First World country, says Tony Dunn, chair of the Texas chapter of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The question is not just why Texas has this problem, but also why its been getting so much worse and why its more severe there than in other states. There are no clear answers, but there are clues.The state task force published its first significant findings on maternal mortality last July. Cardiac events and hypertension rank as the first and third causes of death, aligning more or less with national trends. But in Texas, to the bewilderment of everyone, drug overdoses ranked second.The entire country has been grappling with an opioid epidemic that is showing no sign of slowing down. Texas is not ground zero -- the Rust Belt and parts of New England claim that title -- but it ranks near the top. And the figures for young mothers are grim. Were they using drugs before they got pregnant? Was it prescribed after they gave birth? We just dont know, says Amy Raines-Milenkov, a member of the state task force. The panel has committed itself to looking at the issue more closely this year.Unfortunately, the data itself isnt very good. In 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised death certificates to include a mortality checkbox to mark whether a woman was pregnant at the time of death, whether she had given birth in the past 42 days, or whether she had done so within the previous year. But as is usually the case with electronic health records, it was a slow-going process. Only four states adopted the new system at the onset, and it took 11 years for the rest of the states to catch up.Even as more states started to get on board, there were discrepancies. Some states just ask if the deceased woman had been pregnant and do not collect information about the expected date of birth. So the detail on the death certificates varies enormously from state to state. Because of this, the federal government hasnt published any significant data on maternal mortality since 2007.Texas was a relatively early adopter of the new system, revising its death certificate in 2006 and collecting data on whether a woman gave birth within the preceding year. Consequently, there was some speculation that the state had always had a high maternal mortality rate and was simply showing the results of better reporting. But the data still raised more questions than it answered. Death certificates dont tell whether a woman had access to care or where she went for care, says Marian MacDorman, lead researcher on the journals study.Health-care experts know the factors that lead to maternal health: good access to care, adequate funding of services and the general health of the larger population. Texas ranks near the bottom on nearly every one of these metrics. It has the highest rate of uninsured residents of any state. Seventeen percent of Texas residents go without health insurance, a full 4 percentage points above the second highest state, Alaska. Women in Texas have not historically had access to health care across their lifespan, so when theyre pregnant and have care, its really hard to treat those things in such a short amount of time, Raines-Milenkov says.Every state offers some Medicaid benefits for pregnant women, even if they arent on Medicaid otherwise. However, Texas program is relatively paltry -- benefits end two months after giving birth. The state also has the second-highest number of undocumented immigrants after California, and those women are not eligible for benefits.Medicaid expansion might have helped ease this problem. Expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act caused many states to see their uninsured numbers drop -- in some instances dramatically. But Texas was one of 19 states that chose not to participate in the expansion. Former Gov. Rick Perry rejected it outright when the Affordable Care Act passed, and current Gov. Greg Abbott also opposes it. Medicaid expansion didnt kick in until 2014, so it wouldnt have stopped the spike that began to gather momentum several years earlier. But health-care advocates insist it would have had some effect.The same year the state saw its first dramatic jump in maternal deaths, the Texas Legislature cut public funding from Planned Parenthood and other clinics that provide abortions. More than half of the states family planning clinics have closed since then, primarily in rural areas. Its likely that some women who became pregnant after the clinics closed would not have become pregnant had they remained open. A study published in thelast year found a significant increase in the number of births in Texas in areas where a Planned Parenthood facility had shut down.Researchers caution, however, that its too soon to say whether defunding Planned Parenthood played a significant role in causing the number of maternal deaths in the state to double. But residents do lose out when clinics shut down without an immediate replacement. In sparsely populated regions, where hospitals are often hours apart, the loss can be especially acute. Low-income women in some parts of the state may not have access to prenatal care until they go to the hospital to give birth. In addition, rural hospitals in Texas have had a difficult time trying to keep up with the record-keeping requirements imposed on them by the Affordable Care Act. In the past four years, 15 rural hospitals have closed in the state. The ones that remain are often short on resources -- including ones that might be required in obstetric emergencies.state to find itself dealing with a maternal health predicament. In the not-too-distant past, California health officials found that their maternal mortality numbers were alarmingly high. They launched an organization known as the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative. Webinars and toolkits were rolled out to hospitals to serve as refresher courses on how to handle problems that can arise in childbirth. Projects targeted specific health metrics that were driving Californias mortality rate, such as preeclampsia and hemorrhages. Women identified as high risk for cardiovascular problems were given resources for managing them during pregnancy and postpartum. The collaborative also decided to target unnecessary caesareans, and the state committed to reducing their use for low-risk, first-time mothers to 23 percent.All of these things made a difference. The study from the journal had to separate Californias numbers from the rest of the data because the states maternal mortality figures had dropped so dramatically as to skew the national picture.Hollier and the team in Texas are hoping to model their efforts off the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative. But theres no way that the initiative can be duplicated exactly. A lot of these factors are localized. Whats driving womens deaths in California is likely not going to be whats driving them in Texas, or in New York, for example, says Elliot Main, medical director of the California program. In Texas, in particular, there will be a need to address drug abuse.Meanwhile, an effort has begun at the federal level. The Preventing Maternal Deaths Act has been introduced in Congress and has attracted some bipartisan support. The legislation would provide states with resources to identify and treat the common causes of maternal mortality. So far, there has been no significant movement on it. But health-care activists are continuing to promote it. This isnt a pipe dream, insists Eleni Tsigas of the Preeclampsia Foundation. We know what can work, because Californias numbers are declining. It starts with identifying all the causes and using that to improve the health-care delivery system.Texas took a step toward addressing the problem last July when it launched the Healthy Texas Women Program, which is aimed at connecting low-income women with health-care services such as free pregnancy tests and immunizations. The program is starting slowly. So far, there has been relatively little communication to residents about what it actually offers. Still, supporters cite it as a step in the right direction.There isnt a clear solution to the maternal mortality problem in Texas because its still hard to say precisely how the state got to this point, and so quickly. But Main, who has overseen the policies that worked in California, believes the tide can be reversed. Maternal deaths are one of the most catastrophic things that can happen in medicine, he says. Its a big deal, and the numbers there catch a lot of peoples attention. But when you improve all-around prenatal care, you can improve the care for multiple health-care issues. A Public Health Squeeze? Legal Uncertainty, And A Broad Impact The Trump administrations tough stance on immigration has some local health department officials worried it could spur cuts in federal funding and complicate a wide variety of programs, from efforts to battle the opioid epidemic to domestic violence initiatives.The Department of Justice (DOJ) sent letters April 21 to nine jurisdictions including the state of California and cities such as Chicago, New Orleans, Philadelphia and New York threatening to deny them agency funding because of their status as sanctuary cities. That federal assistance broadly supports criminal justice initiatives, but it often reaches well beyond police departments and courtrooms to include violence prevention programs and other efforts to address social factors that affect health.These dollars go to everybody. You cut these grants these are grants that protect the whole population, said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association.Local health officials also worry that other federal agencies may follow Justice in stringently implementing a controversial Jan. 25 executive order signed by President Donald Trump that mandates federal agencies take action to ensure localities comply with federal immigration laws and help deport people in the country illegally. That order which has been blocked temporarily by a federal judge could jeopardize a broad swath of vital community health services, not only for undocumented immigrants but for legal residents and citizens, too.The term sanctuary cities describes locales cities, but also states, counties and other community entities with policies known as separation ordinances, which separate local government responsibilities from those of federal immigration authorities.They often direct local police officers not to ask about the immigration status of victims, witnesses or suspects unless it is directly relevant to the case. They also exempt local law enforcement from complying with detainment or notification requests from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. In some circumstances, the local or state agencies declare that they wont meet requirements to ask about immigration status when people apply for benefits.Officials from these jurisdictions say helping federal authorities detain someone especially if that person turns out to have valid documentation could be a violation of due process. The officials say that if they comply, they could be at a legal risk. They also argue that enforcing some of the federal directives is a waste of resources or could deter immigrants from reporting crimes or assisting in investigations because they are afraid of police.But there is no hard-and-fast definition of sanctuary cities or federal delineation of which jurisdictions would be targeted under Justice Department directive.Theres been a lot of rhetoric around sanctuary cities, said Laura Vazquez, a senior legislative analyst at the National Council of La Raza, a Latino advocacy group. That has resulted in cities being confused. Theyre concerned if their city is losing funding.And health officials are already wary.The DOJ has been excellent partners before for many of our efforts, said Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimores health commissioner. It would have a negative impact if we were to lose any federal funds.Whats at risk? Take the opioid epidemic. DOJ has worked hand in hand with the Department of Health and Human Services to spearhead the federal governments response and allocates millions of dollars to local agencies for activities like prescription drug monitoring, helping people access the most effective models of treatment and equipping police officers with anti-overdose medications.This is a big problem. It gets worse if you dont have the resources to address it, Benjamin said.In Baltimore, Wen said, the impact would likely be felt by the citys Safe Streets program, a health department initiative meant to undermine gang violence with an emphasis on curbing shootings. The federal department has over the yearsput millions of dollars toward it, enabling public health officials to work with schools, local churches, community organizations and other groups. And, depending on the jurisdiction, other public health interventions could also be squeezed: domestic violence response programs, drug courts and mental health courts, among other things.Theres also a lack of clarity about which cities might be affected. New Orleans, for instance, doesnt self-identify as a sanctuary city but received the letter from Justice. The source of its scrutiny: Police officers dont routinely question witnesses or victims about immigration status, said Zach Butterworth, the citys director of federal relations. He argued the citys policies are consistent with federal law and have been vetted by legal authorities.A cut in federal funds would be a setback, said Marsha Broussard, who directs the citys health department. Ironically, she added, the citys programs supported by Justice mostly benefit legal residents, since New Orleans has a fairly small undocumented population.Though the idea of losing the Justice grants causes concern, health department heads said the bigger worry is that other federal agencies will follow suit. Losing federal support from HHS, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and others could jeopardize activities ranging from HIV treatment, family planning services and Zika preparedness to routine immunization outreach and screening homes for lead.Obviously it wouldnt be good, and it would hamstring our efforts to lose those funds, said James Garrow, a spokesman for Philadelphias public health department.San Francisco whose health department received at least $68 million in federal funding filed suit in January seeking relief from Trumps executive order, arguing the funding ban is unconstitutional. A federal judge in the city issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday [April 25]. The Trump administration has indicated it will appeal.Other legal challenges are pending in Richmond, Calif., the Massachusetts towns of Chelsea and Lawrence, and Seattle. Theres also interest in Portland, Ore., and New York City. Their legal argument: The sanctuary cities directive is unduly coercive.In addition, the New York attorney general has issued a legal guidance arguing the Trump administration lacks authority to stop sanctuary policies. That has encouraged some municipalities to adopt strategies at odds with the federal stance, such as not asking people about their immigration status and not enforcing civil warrants from ICE.The legal uncertainty makes it harder for health programs planning around what federal defunding might mean in practical terms. And, until then, Benjamin said, they might have to scale back.If Im not sure about a grant thats coming, and Im not sure I can hire people, Im not going to spend the money, he said. The money may not be legally tied up, but you are, financially.Locally, that matters, Wen said.We are on the front lines. We are the ones safeguarding health and wellness of our cities every day, she said. Having our residents suffer is not an option. An employer can pay a woman less than a man for the same work if the man was paid more at his previous job and if the employer had a reasonable policy to justify reliance on past salaries, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.Basing wages on an employee's previous pay level does not violate federal laws against sex discrimination, even though it may have the effect of maintaining a wage gap between men and women, said the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The same policy could also be used to pay women more than men, if a woman's past salary was higher.The ruling, in a case from Fresno County, did not mention a new California law that prohibits paying different wages to men and women with equal qualifications by relying on their previous pay levels. The law took effect in January, and state courts have not yet considered whether it would apply retroactively to cases like this one.The case involves Aileen Rizo, who had worked as a schoolteacher in Arizona for 13 years before being hired by the Fresno County schools in 2009 as a consultant for math teachers in the county. She was paid $62,733, nearly $10,000 more than her previous salary in Arizona but near the bottom of the pay scale for her new job.In 2012, Rizo said, a man who had just been hired for the same job told her he was being paid about $79,000 a year. When she learned that the other consultants, also male, were paid more than she was, she complained to county officials, who said the differences were based on the employees' salaries at their most recent jobs, plus a guaranteed raise of at least 5 percent.When Rizo sued, lawyers for the county offered several justifications for their policy: It was based on objective facts, it was applied consistently and without favoritism, and the minimum 5 percent raise would encourage candidates to apply for employment. The county also said some of its female employees had benefited from the policy.A federal magistrate rejected those arguments and ruled that unequal pay for men and women, based entirely on past salaries, amounted to sex discrimination. The appeals court overturned that ruling and said Thursday that the magistrate should decide whether the county's justifications were reasonable business practices.The federal Equal Pay Act allows differential pay based on "a factor other than sex," and an employee's past salary can fall into that category when it serves the employer's business purposes, the court said in a 3-0 ruling by Lynn Adelman, a federal judge from Wisconsin temporarily assigned to the court. He said the same conclusion had been reached by the Ninth Circuit in a 1982 ruling, whose meaning was contested in Rizo's case.Two other federal appeals courts have interpreted the same law to mean that reliance alone on prior salaries is banned, clearing the way for a possible Supreme Court appeal to resolve the conflict. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sided with Rizo in the case.In anticipation of the new California law, Fresno County changed its salary practices and now pays Rizo as much as her male colleagues, said the county's lawyer, Michael Woods. GhostRider said: Did you not see the graphic of the money trail? Click to expand... Yes, but it does not actually demonstrate that Trump is funneling anything. It looks like pension investments being invested. Also, I saw nothing that indicated that this occurred since he became President. Sorry, I just can not see a scandal with this. There are plenty of states where governors and legislators dont get along. There cant be too many, however, where relations were made worse by a commercial featuring a rap star.That happened in Florida. Visit Florida, the states tourism promotion bureau, paid the rapper Pitbull $1 million to appear in a sexy beaches video and advertise #LoveFL. After news of the agreement broke, Gov. Rick Scott promptly fired Visit Floridas CEO.That move wasnt enough to quell criticism from legislators who would like to eliminate the bureau, along with another agency, Enterprise Florida, which runs the states overall economic development program. Richard Corcoran, the House speaker, says Enterprise Florida engages in pay to play and its funding could better be spent on universities and other government business.Scott has made job creation the top priority of his governorship, and he takes exception to the idea that his economic development arm is a waste of money. In recent months, he has made it his business to show up in the districts of legislators who have sought to eliminate his prize programs, including Corcorans, and call them out by name.Corcoran represents a pretty widespread view among a number of legislators that Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida have been out of control to some degree, says Aubrey Jewett, a political scientist at the University of Central Florida. The level of vitriol has increased over time and neither camp is backing down. I think [the word] feud is appropriate at this point.There is some speculation in Tallahassee that Corcoran is motivated not just by good-government concerns, but also by his apparent desire to reach the governors mansion next year. Scott, who faces term limits, is expected to make a run for the U.S. Senate.Fittingly for Republican politicians these days, both men have engaged in what might be described as Trumpian tactics. Corcoran presents himself as a populist crusader willing to take on big business and call out the governors programs as corporate welfare. Scott has labeled complaints about Enterprise Florida as fake news. (Separately, the governor was delighted when it was reported that Corcorans law firm had done roughly $235,000 worth of business for Enterprise Florida.)Relations between the governor and the legislature had already been strained over the past couple of years. There has been serious intraparty disagreement over Medicaid expansion and Scotts line-item vetoes of hundreds of millions worth of state projects every year. Now, with so much overt political wrangling going on, final deals on the budget and other major legislation will be even harder to achieve. We all understand this is the prerequisite to the political cycle in the next two years, says Pete Dunbar, a former GOP legislator and longtime lobbyist. More [media] coverage might facilitate your next move.It would be premature, Dunbar stresses, to think that Scott and the speaker wont come to terms by the end of the session. He notes that Corcoran engaged in public disputes with the state Senate over budgeting and transparency rules, and that those issues were resolved just before the 2017 session started in March. Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida may be different matters. The governor spent much of his State of the State address touting their successes. It was a surprising amount of attention considering that, between them, they amount to perhaps $200 million out of the states $84 billion budget.But the dispute over their fates is likely to overshadow most other issues in Tallahassee until theres some sort of agreement about how to handle it. With both sides motivated by their own policies and politics, that may be a tough thing to pull off. Last year was the worst relationship weve seen in 20 years between a Republican governor and legislature, Jewett says. We thought the relationship couldnt get any worse, but apparently it can. Sarasota, Fla., is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country. Most visitors see only its wealth -- the high-rise waterfront condos, white beaches and thriving arts district. The wealth is real enough. In recent years, half of all new residents (mainly retiring baby boomers) paid cash for their new housing. But for people working in low-end service jobs, Sarasota is a challenging place to live. Most of the city consists of single-family homes, so rental prices for multifamily working-class units are high and rising. Incomes, in contrast, have stagnated. Fifty percent of families with children in Sarasota County qualify for the reduced-price school lunch program. Ten percent of county families use food banks on a monthly basis. This is the demographic that Harvey Vengroff is targeting.Vengroff, who is 75 years old, came to Florida from Long Island, where he ran a successful debt collection agency, an undertaking that gave him an unvarnished view of human nature. It also led to the realization that many of his employees wanted to live near the places where they worked.Vengroff moved to Sarasota in 1989, after the mayor promised to help him find a waterfront property for his business. He started buying real estate in marginal areas and soon developed a specialty -- converting old motel rooms into small apartments with kitchenettes. These units were affordable -- renting for around $600 a month -- although they werent very nice. They were also entirely unsubsidized and extremely profitable. (Vengroff says his profit margin on such conversions is around 40 percent.)In 2015, Vengroff decided to use his know-how to build Sarasotas first large-scale affordable apartment building complex, one that would also be unsubsidized. He planned to build 398 units in five six-story buildings. The units would be small. Rental prices would range from $640 to $925 a month. Almost immediately, he ran into problems. County commissioners feared that such small, inexpensive units might be substandard. They suggested annual inspections to make sure they were safe. The city also informed him that he could not simply cut down trees on his eight-acre property. The place used to be a lumberyard. Its entirely paved, he says incredulously. Over the years I guess seeds have fallen and grown up through the pavement, but they want us to take a picture of each one and send it to the lab. That would cost a couple thousand dollars to do. Its stupid.Sarasota, he concluded, has a problem with building large-scale housing for the working poor. The city has a feeling that if you put too many poor people in one place -- too many working-class people in one place -- its a ghetto.Eventually, says Vengroff, he just gave up. We spent $175,000 to do an education study, to do a traffic study, to do all the rest of the crap they asked for, and they keep asking us to do more stuff all the time.Not surprisingly, City Manager Tom Barwin has a different take on things. Barwin says the city has worked patiently with Vengroff, doubling the allowable density for the site (and, Barwin notes, its value) and trying to streamline the project at every turn. As for the trees, we had our arborists work with him to show his team how to save the trees and minimize their cost. In fact, both Barwin and Vengroff speak highly of each other. But their world views simply dont align. Barwin operates in a world where developers building big projects comply with complex codes. Vengroff does not. Developing a big affordable housing project from scratch in downtown Sarasota is a different proposition than converting an old motel. It makes sense that that is the case. Its also, in a sense, the problem.Barwin understands that more affordable supply is necessary. Hes aware of the need to have more worker housing near service jobs. The county recently began to explore the ideas other places are trying -- a density bonus (a form of inclusionary zoning), or waiving environmental impact fees for affordable housing. However, until or unless cities such as Sarasota and the Harvey Vengroffs of the world find a way to come together, the affordable housing crisis in Americas fastest-growing cities is likely to continue. Trump Sort of Unveils His Tax Plan Taking the Tampon Tax to Task Pressuring the SEC President Trump unveiled his tax reform plan this week, and the massive cuts it proposes have left many wondering how the government would pay for the plan.Much of the single-page, bullet-pointed statement, whichcalled less a plan than a wish list, contained promises Trump made on the campaign trail: a much lower corporate tax rate, the elimination of the U.S. tax on foreign profits, a reduction in the number of individual income tax brackets from seven to three, a lower tax rate, and the scrapping of most itemized deductions, including one that lets taxpayers deduct their state and local taxes from their declared federal income.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday that economic growth, combined with eliminating deductions, would pay for the cuts. Meanwhile, a Tax Foundation analysis of some of these key ideas shows that the plan would ultimately result in more tax revenue for state governments.The state and local tax deduction is highly valued because it's a perk that, if lost, would make it harder for states to raise their tax rates going forward. Already, government organizations are sounding alarms about that element in Trump's plan.But the larger question here is how the federal government will finance these tax cuts. A look at Kansas tax reform in 2013 shows that relying on tax cuts to spur economic growth is a dangerous game. In Kansas, total employment, private-sector employment and overall economic growth have all lagged significantly behind the national economy. The state has also repeatedly dealt with budget shortfalls, forcing lawmakers to make unpopular spending cuts.As more states consider exempting feminine hygiene products from their sales tax rolls, some policy analysts are crying foul.Last year, 13 states and the District of Columbia considered proposals to exempt feminine hygiene products from the state sales tax. Connecticut, Illinois, New York and the District passed the legislation, bringing the total number of states with an exemption on the books to nine.The main argument for exempting feminine hygiene products is that they are necessary purchases for most women. States already include several exemptions for such items: Of the 45 states that collect a sales tax, 32 exempt groceries, and all but Illinois exempt prescription drugs.Some analysts, however, warn that exemptions are bad policy for a tax that is becoming less and less effective each year. The Tax Foundations Nicole Kaeding notes that as the economy moves away from goods to services, the sales tax base is shrinking. As the sales tax base gets smaller, Kaeding writes, states must raise tax rates on the remaining items to generate the same amount of revenue."Kaeding recommends that states get rid of all exemptions for the sales tax and instead lower the overall tax rate. This idea of exempting necessities is a political one," she says, "not an economic one.Shes right that sales tax exemptions are political. But to be fair, which exemptions arent? Moreoever, taxes themselves are unavoidably political. They speak to the policies and values held by each government.State treasurers are turning to Congress to pressure the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) not to drop a new CEO-to-worker pay ratio disclosure rule that went into effect this year. In a letter sent this week to senior members of the Senate Banking and House Financial Services Committee, treasurers and state officials from California, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island said the disclosure rule will help inform their investments of taxpayer dollars.We want companies in our portfolios to be successful, and research indicates that extreme gaps between CEO and worker pay can reduce financial performance by undermining employee morale, which in turn reduces productivity, the group wrote.The pressure comes after acting chair Michael Piwowar said in February he was considering delaying implementation of the rule to seek input from companies on any unexpected challenges they are facing in complying. Last month, more than 100 unions, pension funds, activist investors, state treasurers and consumer advocacy groups sent Piwowar a letter urging him to go forward with the rule.This debate is more about politics than about the logistics of disclosure. As Reuters noted in March, Piwowars announcement was one of several actions he has taken thats part of a broader push by President Trump's administration to scale back or repeal Obama-era rules they say stifle economic growth. Right-leaning groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce oppose the rule. Left-leaning groups like the AFL-CIO favor it. All five state officials that signed this weeks letter are Democrats.Its also worth noting the irony here. In recent years, the SEC has been pushing governments toward better financial disclosure practices. Last year, for example, it censured 71 local and state governments for failing to disclose certain financial information about bonds they sold to investors. That the commission would now consider backing away from requiring certain disclosures by corporations seems out of step with its recent actions. Description GIS- 28 April 2017 : Enterprise Mauritius is leading from 29 April to 1st May 2017 a delegation of local enterprises to Mahe in Seychelles for a Buyers Sellers Meeting (BSM). The event is organised jointly with the Small Enterprise Promotion Agency (SEnPA) of Seychelles. Some 45 Mauritian companies from various sectors will be participating. The main objectives are to strengthen the visibility of Mauritius as a reliable sourcing partner of quality products , to develop networks, to consolidate domestic exports to Seychelles, and to reinforce friendly ties between the two countries. Mauritius-Seychelles relationship The Mauritius-Seychelles relationship is driven by strong affinities. Both countries share the same ocean, the same language and are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) a s well as the Indian Ocean Commission. Unlike Mauritius, Seychelles is, however, not endowed with a strong manufacturing base. Consequently, Seychelles imports a large share of its consumables and this presents an opportunity for Mauritius to explore the possibility of supplying Seychelles with quality products at duty-free rates and under short shipping time. Between 2012 and 2014, Seychelles was the 3rd export destination of Mauritian products in the region. However, a decline in this market share was noted. Indeed, by 2014, Mauritian exports to Seychelles had declined sharply, from Rs 496.1 million to Rs 395.7 million, representing a fall of 20%. To remedy this situation, a BSM was organised in 2014, following which a substantial increase in exports to Seychelles was recorded in 2015, reaching Rs 416 million. Government Information Service, Prime Ministers Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius. Email: Website: ://gis.govmu.org Description GIS 28 April, 2017: The draft report on the institutional legal aspects as well as policy and the necessary regulatory changes for the implementation of a mercury programme at national level are on the agenda of a two-day validation workshop being held at Intercontinental Resort in Balaclava. According to the World Health Organisation, mercury is one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern. The validation workshop for Legal Gap Analysis Report is part of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Mercury project. This initiative aims at supporting countries in their efforts of preparedness with regard to their future commitments under the Minamata Convention on Mercury so as to phase out and reduce mercury use and releases to the environment. The Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global legally binding treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury, will enter into force 90 days after it has been ratified by 50 nations. Mauritius, which has signed the Minamata Convention on 10 October 2013, has yet to ratify the treaty. The overall coordination of the Mercury Project under the Minamata Convention is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity, and Environment and Sustainable Development. It is being implemented in consultation with representatives of the public and private sectors and non-governmental organisations with the assistance of the University of Mauritius. The UNDP and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research are providing their support. Addressing participants at the opening ceremony, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity, and Environment and Sustainable Development, Mr Ashis Kumar Hoolass, recalled that the Mercury Project in Mauritius builds on the status and awareness of the country with respect to mercury releases and priority actions. He pointed out that the Minamata Convention does not allow for reservations, and that as Mauritius intends to become a Party, it must be prepared to comply with the Convention. The Permanent Secretary also elaborated on the existing legislations dealing with mercury and mercury compounds, even before the conception of the Minamata Convention in 2013. These relate to standards imposing limitations on mercury content in fish and fish products, in drinking water and in effluents; prohibition to import batteries containing mercury; classification of mercury and its derivatives as extremely dangerous industrial chemicals thereby strictly controlling their import, use and disposal; and prohibition of agricultural chemicals containing mercury compounds. In a bid to enable Mauritius meet its obligations under the Minamata Convention Mr Hoolass announced the coming into operation of the interim storage facility for hazardous waste. For his part, the UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Simon Springett, expressed his satisfaction that the Mercury project is advancing quickly and that soon Mauritius will ratify the Minamata Convention. He welcomed the workshop, which he said, provided a platform for participants to express their views on the Legal Gap Analysis Report as well as assess the full implications and benefits of Mauritius ratifying the Convention. The way forward following the workshop is the preparation of the ratification dossier. Agile development methodologies which emphasize iteration and flexibility over holistic delivery are making their way into government technology. But government still has a lot to change.That reality was reflected in initial findings Accenture released during the 2017 NASCIO Midyear conference in Arlington, Va., on April 24. The survey included responses from 53 CIOs and other officials in 32 states and found that, even among agencies that use agile approaches, most havent been doing it for very long and dont use it all that often.Only 31 percent of respondents said they had been using agile methods for more than three years. The bulk of respondents 59 percent said they take an agile approach on 1 percent to 20 percent of their projects.Additionally, the survey found that state IT offices dont have many workers trained in agile methods. Most said that a lack of training is one of the biggest barriers standing in the way of agile.That may be something of a chicken-and-egg problem, as it turns out. At the conference, Nebraska CIO Ed Toner toldabout how using agile methods might actually serve as a way to attract more young people into government IT.The use of agile methods also holds some potential to disrupt traditional tech procurement , resulting in IT buying that works faster, adapts to challenges more quickly and might even cut down on costs. Ann Dunkin, chief information officer of Santa Clara County; Hardik Bhatt, chief information officer of the state of Illinois; Jay Nath, chief innovation officer of San Francisco; Ron Bouganim, founder and managing partner of the Govtech Fund; Venkatesan Ashok, consulate general of India; and Siim Sikkut, chief information officer of Estonia. TiECon, which bills itself as the largest tech-focused entrepreneurship conference in the world, is including a track on government technology for the first time this year and in an effort to get the ball rolling in the new focus area, it's making the track free.That will make TiECon one of only a handful of conferences in the country including a focus on government-facing technology and its business culture. The components of the track, which will happen the morning of May 5 in Santa Clara, Calif., will cover governments needs, the funding and venture capital ecosystem, and the international outlook.Samir Mitra, chair of the gov tech track, said TiECon is interested in including conversations about the space going forward. Thats because of a growing demand in the marketplace driven by the expectations of citizens and advances in innovation in places like Singapore and Estonia."The expectations are focused on convenience, less time and ease of interaction," Mitra toldvia email. "Again, here the mobile phone apps that we use a lot like Uber, Spotify, ApplePay, touch-button [for ID], etc., have changed the bar in peoples minds. My daughter always asks me 'Cant we pay for highway tolls through a mobile phone, when I pay for Uber transport that way?'"Those components will feature some prominent voices in the emerging gov tech space, including: On a refreshingly sunny day in mid-April, government officials and data experts gathered at a newly renovated conference room at the University of Pittsburgh to discuss the citys next catastrophic disaster.The agenda that day addressed the potential for a dense yellow smog cloud to roll into Pittsburgh, as it did in in 1948 in Donora, a small mill town 24 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. That October day, a weather inversion event trapped poisonous gas from nearby steel plants into the atmosphere, awakening residents to burning sensations in their throats, eyes and noses. Patients overwhelmed local hospitals in respiratory distress.By the time the air cleared five days later, 20 people had died. The next time Pittsburgh encounters a severe natural disaster, local emergency response officials will rely on predictive data software to detect early warning signs and guide responsive efforts.Emergency medical services personnel are increasingly adopting predictive modeling software that identifies patterns of geospatial data to predict future events. The automated platforms can call in extra ambulances from neighboring counties and direct the vehicles into areas with the most vulnerable populations before floods of 911 calls begin. Early detection also allows time to set up emergency shelters and overflow hospital rooms.The technology is moving from descriptive analytics (what has happened) and diagnostic analytics (why it happened) to predictive analytics (what will happen). Data industry practitioners say the next wide-scale adoption will be prescriptive analytics, or data that can simulate the outcome of different tweaks to emergency response systems.We are really just at the cusp not just as a company but as a sector. Were getting to a point where we can match those technologies to get to a desired outcome, said Justin Schaper, senior vice president of analytics with Intermedix, a Nashville-based predictive analytics company.Intermedix produces Optima Predict, a suite of software that collects input from emergency response systems in order to optimize ambulance routes and, once the vehicles have entered areas of large medical demand, reduce the response time for checking patients into hospitals.The data can be synced with FirstWatch, an online dashboard for EMS personnel to read information about 911 callers and responder systems in real time. The software can alert key officials to viral outbreaks or crime activity by spotting geographic clusters of reported incidents before humans notice the trend.Just like when grocery stores stock up on flu medicine, its about predicting supply and demand. But this is harder, with a geographic component and people can die, said Todd Stout, founder and president of FirstWatch.The Pittsburgh emergency preparedness workshop in mid-April provided scenario planning to EMS personnel, academics, IT professionals, and local and federal government officials. The seminar centered around emergency response technology was aimed at preparing the region for an equivalent event to the 1948 Donora smog.The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health showcased an online tool that day that uses public health data to simulate the spread of infection across populations within a specific geography.The system, FRED (short for a Framework for Reconstructing Epidemiological Dynamics) pinpoints how different neighborhoods would be affected amid a wave of air pollution, extreme heat or viral pandemic. Researchers have used FRED modeling for influenza, measles, mosquito-borne diseases, HIV and hepatitis C.We can follow the chain of infection from one person to another, from schools into households and neighborhoods, said John Grefenstette, a health policy and management professor at the University of Pittsburgh.FRED data is open source and can map the population of any geographic region in the nation, Grefenstette said. The system is a currently a research tool, but university researchers are building a Web interface and hope to release the website this year.Embracing data analytics may rely on a cultural shift in some public departments that have grown to trust anecdotal experience over computerized systems, said Chris Callsen, a vice president at Intermedix. Putting data to use can represent a difficult shift for experienced industry practitioners, he said.Every organization we encounter in emergency services has huge amounts of data. Theyve been archiving for years most have not made the transition to using it, Callsen said.Anecdotal experience can be augmented by data and you have to trust in that, he added.The value of the day-long Pittsburgh workshop was to bring lots of unlikely actors together around a challenge, said Grant Ervin, chief resilience officer of Pittsburgh.Relationship-building is just as essential as the software on display, he said. Optimal emergency response relies on a talented, cohesive team who can stay nimble and adapt as numbers change on the screen in front of them.The predictive analytics stoke the thinking and guide the mission, but at the end of the day its up to practitioners to work well together, he said. For most emergency managers, I think that a nuclear catastrophe, from any source, is one that most do not really want to contemplate. Evidence of that is in the fact that when designing disaster exercises, the refrain of, "Don't break everything, because it will be too hard for us to respond."See this recent article on the potential for a nuclear attack on the city of Seattle,Of the "experts" quoted in the article, I'd go with Edwin Redlener for his expertise and experience. His point about legislators in the 1980's not having a clue about how deterrence works is right on the mark. One of the components of a nuclear defense strategy is to show the opposing nation/adversary that you mean to survive an attack and will rain retribution from the skies on their nation in retaliation. This was part of the Reagan strategy when he was President.It is unlikely that there would be an evacuation scenario, but there should be a plan for that. As I've written about recently, it would apply to earthquakes as well as nuclear attack. The difference is the need for radiological monitoring of people exiting the blast zone. Yes, even with a nuclear attack, there would be survivors.This is a quote from the article, "A FEMA spokesperson notes the agency does not have the resources for a nuclear attack response [really? I beg to differ. there are national level plans, since a portion of FEMA still plans for continuity of government], and will defer to the state. Banks says the state will defer to the jurisdiction [see my remarks below--not a likely scenario] thats been attacked to take the lead in responding, and will jump in as requested. When its pointed out the jurisdiction will have just been nuked, he says, Wed work with whats left of Seattle, or the jurisdiction impacted.The thought proposed of any surviving and functional level of government in Seattle or perhaps King County, due to their being located in the heart of the city is not a good planning assumption. A better one would be that the State of Washington, under the emergency powers of the Governor, can step in when there is no functioning local government and perform that function. That should be one of the elements that should be planned for. There is also the possibility of the Governor appointing a regional coordinator, post disaster. When has that been exercised and where do you find that in any plan?I'll agree that the idea of North Korea launching a "first attack" with a conventional nuclear weapon (from the Korean homeland) is physically not possible today. What is very doable would be an missile launch and detonation of a nuclear warhead over the United States, high in the atmosphere. The resulting Electromagnetic Plus (EMP) from that would fry most, if not all, electronics here on the ground. Imagine what that would do to commerce and our wired and digital society. Really? Why? I would somehow be LESS dead if I'm shot in the head by an American citizen than if i was shot in the head by a crazed sheep rancher from Australia here in the U.S. on vacation? What...The...****??? (TNS) For both environmentalists and oil companies, last Thursday was a grim anniversary. April 20, 2017 marked the seventh anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which gushed 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf Mexico in the largest accidental marine oil spill in history. Preventing another such spill has been a concern for the industry, environmentalists, and government organizations. Although the goal is clear, the means of achieving it are less so. Fiber optic technology could help the operators of pipelines and oil rigs get valuable real time information about the oil flowing through their pipes, helping to point out potential leaks even before they begin, says David Brower, president of Astro Technology.Astro Technologys monitoring technology began in an unlikely place: missile demilitarization. When Brower began his career, his background was in rocketry and missiles. After the passage of the START treaty in 1991, Astro Technology was one of the firms awarded a contract to assist in the demilitarization an elimination of intercontinental ballistic missiles in the former Soviet Union. Brower describes how many of the missiles were of poor quality and had aged badly, making their demilitarization a touchy process. Any rough handling could set them off.Even twenty-five years ago, fiber optic technology was there to help. Although the sensors were relatively primitive by modern standards, they allowed Astro Technology to safely measure the chemical properties of propellants inside the missiles without needed to open them up.Oil pipelines are another example of a situation in which careful measurements of interior pressure, temperature, and even chemical composition need to be obtained without damaging the exterior structure. Drilling into a pipe in order to install a sensor, for example, weakens the surrounding material, making it more likely to rupture.For Astro Technology this was an opportunity for fiber optics to help.The oil industry isnt particularly known for technology, he says. Problems are often solved by brute force, or just getting a bigger hammer.That doesnt mean that technology cant play an important role, not only in making drilling more efficient, but also preventing the sorts of leaks and spills that hurt the environmental and cost oil companies billions of dollars. Todays sensors are far more sophisticated than those Astro Technology began using in the 1990s and can detect pressure changes and leaks even in harsh environments.About ten years ago, we hit a spot where we were able to implement things for long durations, says Brower, who describes how this allowed the company to dramatically expand its use of the technology. Today, if you have a problem [on a section of pipe] with a sensor, you know exactly where it is.Unlike a tradition sensor, which generally has a lifespan of about one year, fiber optic technology lasts at least eight years.Because the fibers themselves are made of glass, they are immune from the electromagnetic interference that causes problems with traditional sensors and can resist corrosion even in harsh environments such as the deep ocean. Astro has used the technology at a depth of 7,000 feet and found that the sensors were so finely-tuned that they were picking the motion of the waves on the surface more than a mile above.Despite the successes of fiber optic technology monitoring in deep water environments, it has yet to take off with the builders of domestic pipelines. Ironically, working on land is a much easier operating environment than deep water. Brower described pipelines, either buried or above-ground, as being orders of magnitude easier to install technology and to monitor.While Americans generally think about the environmental impact of pipeline leaks, in other countries, a monitoring system helps oil companies avoid losses due to theft. In Mexico, theft from fuel pipelines is major business for cartels. Pemex, the government-owned oil company, says that unauthorized pipeline taps have more than tripled since 2000 and an average of 20,000 barrels are stolen each day.With a more conventional pipeline monitoring system, sensors track changes in the pressure inside of the pipe. Thieves have learned to work around these systems by drilling two holes some distance apart and pumping water back into the pipe to replace the stolen fuel. Catching this type of theft requires a more advanced sensor that can detect shifts in the chemicals the pipe is carrying. Fiber optic technology is capable of supporting these sensors and costs only pennies per foot.However, adding the fiber optic technology to a preexisting pipeline is difficult. In order to add fiber optic sensors to a buried pipeline, operators would need to dig a second trench running parallel to the existing line. Although the fiber optics would not necessarily need to touch the pipe, they would need to be within a few feet of it. Trenching this close raises the risk that digging machinery could rupture the pipe.Now, Astro Technology is hoping that Congressional hearings will help to promote a closer working relationship between the oil industry and government, as well as increase knowledge of how technology can make the oil business safer.Nobody wants to be the first ones to try something, Browner admits and with oil prices low, many companies are trying to avoid unnecessary upfront costs. However, avoiding the sort of costly spill that occurred at Deep Water Horizon is in everyones interest. Hopefully technology can help. Wyoming is getting innovative with energy.Back in January, Gov. Matt Mead shared in his State of the State address that an Integrated Test Center an effort that is part of the states carbon initiative to invest in advanced energy technologies and innovation is currently under construction. And once complete, it will allow for innovation to change the way we use coal, Wyoming CIO Tony Young toldduring the 2017 NASCIO Midyear conference held April 23-25 in Arlington, Va.The states relationship with XPrize is also part of this effort; Young said the innovation engine has assembled a $20 million prize for the team that can figure out how to capture carbon dioxide and turn it into a useful product.Young, who previously served as Meads deputy chief of staff, also toldthat Mead is the only governor in the country who currently is actively engaged with XPrize. The Integrated Test Center, Young said, is key to Wyomings economy. And I think its also key to the economy of this county in terms of energy. (TNS) The Florida Constitution and the states famed Sunshine Law give residents the right to know about and observe meetings held by the elected officials who represent them and make decisions on their behalf.But a bill going to the state House floor on Friday would effectively thwart significant aspects of that constitutional guarantee and potentially render it meaningless by allowing local elected officials from city and county commissioners to school board members to meet behind closed doors and discuss public matters in secret.The proposed law ( HB 843 ) from Naples Republican Rep. Byron Donalds would exempt from open meetings requirements any gatherings between two members of a local, county or state agency board or commission. Those officials wouldnt have to give any notice about their meeting and they wouldnt have to keep any records of what they discuss. (The exemption would apply to boards or commissions with at least five members.)Donalds argues that the Sunshine Law needs to be more practical in letting local elected officials conduct public business.If were going to be honest with ourselves and have a balance between proper governance and transparency, it is incumbent on local officials to be able to talk with each other so they come up with the best solutions possible, said Donalds, whose wife, Erika, is an elected school board member in Collier County.This is where we have to be adults about this, Donalds added. Not every conversation is ready for public consumption.House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land OLakes, had vowed to emphasize and improve transparency in government this session, but Donalds bill was fast-tracked to the floor after just two committee hearings.This is where we have to be adults about this. Not every conversation is ready for public consumption.A companion bill in the Senate ( SB 1004 ) from conservative Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, was not heard, so its unlikely Donalds proposal will become law this year even if it passes the House. A floor vote is expected Monday.Meanwhile, advocates for open government including some lawmakers and the First Amendment Foundation say the proposal raises serious constitutional questions. Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1992 that guarantees the publics right of access to public meetings I understand the Sunshine Law can be inconvenient. It can be uncomfortable, Aventura Democratic Rep. Joseph Geller said. Inconvenient and uncomfortable is not a substitute for the publics right to know the publics business and how the publics business is being conducted.Anything that weakens that, in my opinion, is a terrible mistake and a tremendous disservice to the state of Florida, said Geller, who is a former mayor of North Bay Village in Miami-Dade County.Barbara Petersen is president of the First Amendment Foundation, a non-profit organization that advocates for open government and access to public records.First Amendment Foundation President Barbara Petersen wrote to Donalds that his proposal precludes any meaningful opportunity for public oversight and accountability and invites pernicious mischief by our elected officials. (The Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times are foundation members.)The right of Floridians to oversee their government and hold it accountable for its actions a right imbedded in our constitution far outweighs such minor annoyances as inconvenience, Petersen wrote.Donalds said there are still limits on his bill. The two elected officials meeting privately would be barred from making formal decisions or pledging future votes, and they could not discuss any public spending or contracts.Those are deliberations that should happen in front of the public at all times, Donalds said, but he said on policy matters, its probably a good thing for two elected officials to talk privately and clear up a lot of the misconceptions before you have the real debate in a public meeting.Several local elected officials in South Florida said they dont see a clear need for the change in Sunshine Law.It obviously defeats the entire purpose of government in the Sunshine. ... Im stunned that somebody would propose that.Ive found it sufficient for us to conduct the business we need and to maximize transparency for the public, Miami Commissioner Ken Russell said.North Miami Councilman Scott Galvin said the bill could set a bad precedent for local elected officials. It obviously defeats the entire purpose of government in the Sunshine, Galvin said. Im stunned that somebody would propose that.Other local elected officials say Donalds bill is a good idea.Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy, newly elected in November, said he is in strong favor of amending the law, because restrictions on public meetings cause major dysfunction.Cities cant move forward when their elected officials are forced into a locked-up silo, without the ability to speak with one another on a regular basis, he said. Members of the Florida Legislature and the federal government are permitted to speak with one another and local elected officials need to be able to do the same.In Miami Beach, Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez said she likes the idea because she feels lobbyists, who are paid to speak to several elected officials on any one topic, are able to weave their own narratives in public meetings when commissioners are debating issues for the first time.She feels elected officials should be able to brainstorm with each other without calling public meetings, particularly on heavily lobbied issues. Sometimes you need input from our colleagues without making a public decision, she said.Rosen Gonzalez also pointed to the difficulty of speaking at community meetings where more than one elected official attends.Its stupid that if [Commissioner] Michael Grieco and I are at a meeting with residents, if I say something, then he cant open his mouth, she said. (TNS) CEDAR RAPIDS A Polk County District Court judge affirmed Iowa Department of Transportation orders to turn off or move several speed cameras around Iowa, including in Cedar Rapids where motorists receive more than 100,000 tickets a year and the city splits millions of dollars with a private vendor.The 15-page ruling released on Thursday marks the first setback for traffic cameras in Iowa, where state legislators have threatened unsuccessfully to ban the technology and numerous class action lawsuits have been denied.Around the country, cameras have been a controversial topic with cash-strapped law enforcement agencies leaning on automated traffic camera technology to combat traffic violations and patrol dangerous, hard-to-enforce roads, such as the S-curve in Cedar Rapids. They say the cameras make roads safer, while critics contend they are simply a cash cow.In Iowa, a state versus home rule debate bubbled up as cities installed cameras over the past decade, and the Iowa DOT enacted administrative rules to regulate the cameras in February 2014 as the cameras remained unaddressed in state code.In March 2015, the Iowa DOT ordered nine of 34 camera locations around the state be turned off, and another three moved or modified, stating they didnt improve the safety of the highway system. After losing an appeal to the Iowa DOT director, the cities of Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Muscatine three of six cities in Iowa with traffic cameras on state highways or interstates sued in June 2015 to keep the cameras on.At the heart of the case was whether the Iowa DOT had the final say over tools used on primary highways or if local cities could decide their approach to enforcement.Judge Scott E. Rosenberg ruled on five main arguments , including whether Iowa DOT traffic camera rules were established properly, if they were logical, if the Iowa DOT overstepped the will of the Iowa Legislature, and who has the authority over camera use. Rosenberg sided with the Iowa DOT on all fronts.Based on state law providing the IDOT with the authority to regulate safety on primary highways, the Iowa Legislature has provided the IDOT with the authority to regulate ATEs (automated traffic enforcement devices), Rosenberg wrote.Cedar Rapids, which generated $4.7 million in fiscal 2016 from traffic cameras, has the most prolific traffic camera program in the state and was most impacted by the Iowa DOT order, which called for two of the four cameras on Interstate 380 to be shut off and the other two moved closer in to the S-curve. Furthermore, the traffic camera location at First Avenue E and 10th Street SE, which has speed and red light detection, was to be modified so only a portion of the speed camera remained operational.City officials estimated in 2015 Cedar Rapids would lose $ 2.2 million of the $3 million in net revenue it generated at the time if it complied with the Iowa DOT decision. An executive with GATSO USA, the vendor for Cedar Rapids traffic camera program, estimated it would cost $22,000 per I-380 location to remove and reinstall the cameras elsewhere, and up to $70,000 to erect a new truss to mount the cameras.A key issue in the lawsuit was a so-called 1,000 foot rule, which was created as part of the 2014 rules and forbade speed cameras within 1,000 feet of a speed limit change because it didnt give motorists enough time to slow down. Three locations in Cedar Rapids have been out of compliance with that rule.The cities contended the rule was illogical because the cameras promote safety and reduce crashes and removing the cameras would make the locations less safe. The cities also called the process to create the 2014 rules flawed.The judge sided with the Iowa DOT that the 1,000 foot rule is a logical outgrowth of public input meetings about the traffic cameras, and the cameras so close to speed limit changes could, in fact, increase danger.It is possible that ATEs will result in unfamiliar drivers braking too quickly or frequently, causing greater risk for accidents, Rosenberg wrote.The Iowa DOT applauded the ruling on Thursday.The department has always said automated enforcement is a safety countermeasure that can work effectively in certain locations, and I think this backs it up, said Steve Gent, Iowa DOT director of traffic and safety.Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett said attorneys are going to review the decision before taking any action, but noted the traffic cameras remain on and enforced in Cedar Rapids.This is a joint effort with other cities, Corbett said. Each city will be reviewing and then we will decide next steps. There have been several lawsuits on the issue, not every case goes in your favor. This is the first one that hasnt. My fear has always been the same. Speed kills, but nobody ever thinks it will be them in the accident.Officials in Des Moines and Muscatine did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.The question now is what happens to the cameras and the fines that have been issued since the Iowa DOT ordered the cameras off. Legal scholars have said cities risk having to repay the fines collected by leaving the cameras on after theyve been ordered off. Rosenberg did not address reimbursement in his ruling.Legal experts had predicted, whichever way the judge ruled, that the case would likely be appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court.Iowa DOT spokeswoman Andrea Henry noted the cities have 30 days to file an appeal, but said she didnt know if an appeal is forthcoming. She said she doesnt anticipate cameras being removed before the 30-day appeal window expires.Jim Larew, an attorney who has filed several class action lawsuits calling the cameras unconstitutional, also applauded the outcome of the case.Our clients applaud this ruling, Larew said in an email. They believe that vehicle owners are being wrongfully prosecuted by cities using traffic camera equipment that the IDOT, more than two years ago, properly ordered the cities to remove. (TNS) When police and local residents began squaring off near Mondawmin Mall in West Baltimore two years ago today precipitating widespread rioting, looting and arson in the city it was captured in part by a network of government surveillance cameras in and around the nearby metro station.What the footage shows, however, is still a secret.The Maryland Transit Administration, which operates the station and its camera system, has refused to release any of the footage despite ongoing requests byand questions from city officials, activists and others about the role the MTA and the city police department might have played in escalating the tensions on the day of 25-year-old Freddie Gray 's funeral.The MTA said releasing the footage would present unacceptable security risks by divulging where its cameras are located and how they pan and zoom.It won't say how many cameras it has at Mondawmin, in Baltimore or throughout the state. It said releasing information about the cameras, many of which were funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security , would advantage terrorists looking to attack transportation infrastructure.Civil liberties advocates say that's ridiculous, and possibly illegal."It's completely absurd that two years after Freddie Gray was killed, the video footage of the unrest developing has never been released," said David Rocah, senior attorney with the ACLU of Maryland. "That is insane and totally unacceptable."Rocah said the MTA operating a surveillance system with no public oversight should concern local lawmakers as much as other law enforcement surveillance in recent years, such as the city police department's use of an airplane to conduct covert aerial surveillance last year. MDOT 's Homeland Security advisors and MTA Chief of Police, who counsel us on matters of security to protect Maryland citizens, have advised us it would be a security risk to provide the number of cameras or to release video or still images from these cameras to the public," said Erin Henson, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Department of Transportation, the MTA's parent agency.The confrontation between police and local residents and students near the mall and metro station on April 27, 2015, which followed widespread protests around Gray's death from injuries suffered in police custody, quickly escalated and eventually spread into other areas of the city, leading to a night of rioting, looting and arson. Tens of millions of dollars in damage were done to the city.Since then, the city has released footage from that day from its own vast network of surveillance cameras. City police officers have been equipped with body cameras, and footage from shootings have been released. A broad conversation about transparency and accountability has taken place under U.S. Department of Justice oversight of the police, and legislators in Annapolis have considered mandating disclosure of surveillance techniques by law enforcement across the state.The MTA, however, has largely escaped scrutiny, and the circumstances around the clashes at Mondawmin have remained murky. City and state officials, academics and other outside policing experts, as well as protesters, youths and teachers from nearby Frederick Douglass High School, disagree on the cause.Some say the crowds, including students, were out of control and met with force to prevent looting at the mall. Others say the police showed up en masse and the MTA sent away buses based on rumors, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion that led to the confrontation.When thefirst sought the footage under the state's Public Information Act, it was told by the MTA that the footage couldn't be shared because it was relevant to open criminal investigations by the Baltimore State's Attorney's Office. After a year, thenoted the statute of limitations for bringing charges related to minor offenses had run out, and asked that the MTA redact from the footage any portions that related to felony crimes still under investigation and provide the rest.The MTA then said releasing the footage would facilitate a "terrorist attack" and that it could not be released without the permission of the Transportation Security Administration , under Homeland Security. However, the TSA said it did not have to consider the request because the state had already determined it was not going to release the footage, which the MTA acknowledged.In lieu of the video being released, therequested that a reporter be allowed to view the footage at MTA offices, to gain a sense of how the police had mobilized, how MTA buses came and went, and how crowds at the scene grew over time. The request was denied.Therequested to see a selection of still images from the cameras. That request also was denied.The state's Public Information Act ombudswoman, Lisa Kershner, intervened on behalf of the, but Kershner does not have the power to force a state agency to release information and the MTA did not change its position.The state transportation department said it spent $138 million on security from fiscal 2011 through fiscal 2016, including $26 million from the state's Transportation Trust Fund.In its 2015-2020 Consolidated Transportation Program, it said the "security of customers and highly visible transit infrastructure is the focus of a $102 million anti-terrorism and emergency preparedness program being implemented by the MTA," with enhancements including "improved video monitoring of transit stations and vehicles."Rocah, of the ACLU, said the MTA's refusal to release the footage represents "a flagrant misuse of the security exception in the public records act to deny information that is clearly required to be disclosed." On a heavily protected military base some 15 miles south of Washington, D.C., sits the massive headquarters of a spy agency few know exists. Even Barack Obama, five months into his presidency, seemed not to have recognized its name. While shaking hands at a Five Guys hamburger restaurant in Washington in May 2009, he asked a customer seated at a table about his job. What do you [do]? the president inquired. I work at NGA, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the man answered. Obama appeared dumbfounded. So, explain to me exactly what this National Geospatial he said, unable to finish the name. Eight years after that videotape aired, the NGA remains by far the most shadowy member of the Big Five spy agencies, which include the CIA and the National Security Agency. ...... With the capability to watch an area of 10 or even 15 square miles at a time, it would take just two drones hovering over Manhattan to continuously observe and follow all outdoor human activity, night and day. It can zoom in on an object as small as a stick of butter on a plate and store up to 1 million terabytes of data a day. That capacity would allow analysts to look back in time over days, weeks, or months. Technology is in the works to enable drones to remain aloft for years at a time. James Bamford; The Multibillion-Dollar U.S. Spy Agency You Havent Heard of The Multibillion-Dollar U.S. Spy Agency You Havent Heard ofOn a heavily protected military base some 15 miles south of Washington, D.C., sits the massive headquarters of a spy agency few know exists. Even Barack Obama, five months into his presidency, seemed not to have recognized its name. While shaking hands at a Five Guys hamburger restaurant in Washington in May 2009, he asked a customer seated at a table about his job. What do you [do]? the president inquired. I work at NGA, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the man answered. Obama appeared dumbfounded. So, explain to me exactly what this National Geospatial he said, unable to finish the name. Eight years after that videotape aired, the NGA remains by far the most shadowy member of the Big Five spy agencies, which include the CIA and the National Security Agency.......With the capability to watch an area of 10 or even 15 square miles at a time, it would take just two drones hovering over Manhattan to continuously observe and follow all outdoor human activity, night and day. It can zoom in on an object as small as a stick of butter on a plate and store up to 1 million terabytes of data a day. That capacity would allow analysts to look back in time over days, weeks, or months. Technology is in the works to enable drones to remain aloft for years at a time. Click to expand... 956.The murder of Kim Jong-nang is part of Korea war plan (4/15/2017)The murder of N.Korea's dictator Kim Jong-Uns estranged half brother, Kim Jong Nam, in February in Malaysia was done by the US intelligence. I think. Because N.Korea is a totalitarian country. Where the government rules people with high pressure. They can arrest, detain, kill people in direct way because the system allowed them to do so. When they carry out terrorist activity abroad, same characteristic shown. N.Korea had bombed a S.Korea passenger airplane abroad. It's a direct violence. While the assassination of Kim Jong-nam was a very complex case. Two killers in the final murder stage - two women, were cheated into this case. They thought it was only a prank. Kim Chong-nang was killed by chemical poison - combined by two different chemicals from two women. So the woman could claim innocent because the chemical was unharmful before they reacted into poison on Kim's face. (Kim was killed after two women one after another put chemical on his face, women were told it was a plank.)It was a very intelligent assassination. The chief plotter can never be found.The direct killers are two foreigners: one is a Vietnamese and the other one is an Indonesian. That's not the way N.Korean used to do. Dictators don't trust their own people unless it is deep brain washed, let alone foreign people.US is a said "Democratic country". There is law to restrain its intelligence to act illegally, So they developed a bunch of tactics. To fulfill a mission through the hand of foreign agent is a common method. e.g. Wikileaks is a false flag used to meddle water. Julian Assange is an Australian. To interfere 2016 president election, Russian was bribed to hack Democrat's candidate. In my case, Chinese is bribed to frame drug case. It makes the chief plotter safe with the collaboration of a hostile country.The recent development proves the murder of Kim Jong-nang was a part of a war plan in Korea Peninsula. Kim Jong-nang was under Chinese protection. He and his family lived in Macao (a former colony of Portugal now taken back by China) He is no doubt pro-China.US now openly announces a war plan on N.Korea. I think the core plan is: decapitation of Kim Jong-un. But if Kim Jong-un is dead, in monarch style N.Korea, Kim Jong-nang could succeeds to be the fourth ruler of Kim family. US wouldn't want to see N.Korea fall into the hand of China. Kim Jong-un is not obedient to China anyhow. Then Kim jong-nang's death becomes part of Korea war plan.Though most likely it will be a missile attack on N.Korea like what they had done in this month in Syria and bomb attack in Afghanistan.957. A decapitation strike on N.korea is ready (4/18/2017)US has developed a system of human location. The activity of a target like Kim Jong-un is no doubt under surveillance of high sky drone or space satellite. People know their communication are spied by NSA. Not much people know their activity are spied by NGA.US has prepared a decapitation strike operation already. Though most likely it will be a missile attack on N.Korea like what they had done in Syria and bomb attack (Mother of all bombs) in Afghanistan just several days away. Sergio Perez says he is not worried Force India will be affected by team co-owner and boss Vijay Mallya's ongoing legal troubles. Amid the case relating to the former Indian billionaire's huge Kingfisher airlines debt, Mallya was arrested and bailed in London recently. The Indian government is seeking the 61-year-old's extradition, but Force India driver Perez insisted in Russia: "The team is in a good situation. "Vijay is probably glad about the proceedings -- now there is some certainty and he believes that everything will go in his favour," the Mexican added. "Vijay is optimistic and we look forward to having him back." (GMM) Malaysia grand prix chief Razlan Razali has hit out at former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone ahead of Sepang's last race in October. For cost reasons, the government has decided to stop funding the Malaysian grand prix, which made its F1 bow in 1999. But Razali expressed disappointment in Ecclestone, who negotiated the lucrative race contracts that Malaysia says it can no longer justify paying for. Ecclestone admitted recently that he often over-charged and under-delivered for F1's highest paying promoters. "For him to come out with that statement, we can't help but feel suckered by him in some ways and quite disappointed," Razali told City AM. But he also admitted disappointment with Ecclestone's successors at Liberty Media, alleging they rejected a plan to let Sepang go out on a high in October. "We presented them with what we feel would be a good plan," said Razali. "Unfortunately, it is something that they can't help us with. "We are not so convinced in how they can improve formula one if they can't even help us in our final event," he charged. (GMM) JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser Jeanine Falcon and David Bergens rustic, lakefront home feels remote even though its just minutes from Lawndale Avenue. To get there, you drive through a planned community with few trees and new homes under construction. Their A-frame home is tucked-away on a wooded lot overlooking Trosper Lake, a private, spring-fed lake near Greensboro Day School. There is seating around a fire pit in the front yard, where they have several raised beds filled with flowers, herbs and vegetables. Hops vines meander along a pergola. Throughout, there are camellias, hydrangeas, azaleas, ferns, butterfly bushes, hostas and even palm trees. Falcon, a leadership development consultant, met Bergen when they were doctoral students at UNC-Greensboro. Now, he leads the Human Relations, Sociology & Anthropology and Nonprofit Studies department at High Point University. The couple describes their home as nothing fancy but a place that everyone wants to visit. We love stories. We love friends. And we love cooking, Falcon says. Their home is a place where the doors are always open and there are people, food, music and wine. And dogs. Falcon and Bergen have three large dogs Stella, a Bernese Mountain Dog, Dingo, a Chow-Great Pyrenees mix and Juneau, an Australian Shepherd. Their house has high ceilings and a floor-to-ceiling view of the lake. Theres a stone fireplace and wood beams. Another fire pit on a large deck provides an unobstructed view of the lake. They added a screened porch off the master bedroom. We just love being outside, but when it rained, we had nowhere to go, Falcon says. Now, they can lounge or eat their meals there. By the lake, they have a floating dock. They can fish and swim or paddle around in the kayak, canoe or paddleboard. An A-frame shed stores food for the waterfowl a variety of ducks, Canada geese, herons and a pair of swans. Its very quiet and peaceful there. Its like summer camp, Falcon says. They even call their place Camp J&D. The murder case involving a Russian woman whose body was found outside of Alsea last week is drawing international attention. William Chase Hargrove, a 27-year-old Corvallis man, has pleaded not guilty in connection to the death of 27-year-old Anna Alekseyevna Repkina, whose body was found outside on April 17. Stories about the case have been circulated on People.com, The New York Post and The Daily Mail. On Thursday, Portland-based videographers hired by Russias NTV channel were in Benton County interviewing people about the case. Repkina was born in Russia and had been in Benton County for less than two months before her death, authorities have said. The videographers, from MfStudioArt Photography, said they were hired by Moscow producers for NTV, a Gazprom Media-based Russian channel. The interviewers sat down Thursday with Greg Ridler, undersheriff of the Benton County Sheriff's Office, to ask questions drafted by NTV producers about how Repkina died, who she was, where her body was discovered, how she was connected to Hargrove and whether everyone in the city of Corvallis carried a gun. This was not a typical homicide, Ridler said during the interview. This has been very unusual. Homicides in general are a very rare occurrence for Benton County. Ridler also told the videographers that Corvallis was not known for people carrying firearms. To carry a firearm concealed in the state of Oregon, you have to permission from the sheriff. We do allow people to do that but it is not the majority, Ridler said. I would say its not even larger than 20 percent. Ridler confirmed that Repkina was born in Russia and came to the United States on March 1 through the Los Angeles International Airport with a valid passport issued by the Russian government. Ridler said the fact that Repkina was from Russia created challenges for investigators. The identification made (the investigation) difficult, but also the situation involving not being able to connect with the family, he said. We wanted to let the family know that we cared about what was going on, and we wanted the family to know we were doing our best to get this case solved and hopefully bring justice to the person responsible. Normally we get that opportunity to let the family know we care. Its been difficult not to talk to the family. Ridler said that deputies have been in contact with Repkinas family through social media. He also said that authorities have been able to gather some information about a possible motive in the killing. It was a romantic interest from Mr. Hargrove and that romantic interest was involving another woman, he said. Ridler said previously investigators had heard rumors that Repkina was a mail-order bride but said the office has been unable to confirm if that's why she came to the United States. During Hargroves arraignment last Thursday, assistant district attorney Amie Matusko called the case a problematic love triangle. Hargrove, Matusko said, was living with two women in two different households. One of the women gave Hargrove an ultimatum, Matusko said: Her or me, and the defendant decided to shoot Repkina. Ridler said Thursday that Repkinas body was found in a remote logging area where people have been known to trespass so they could shoot firearms. He added that may have been a reason why no one was alerted immediately to Repkinas death. Repkinas body was discovered by a security representative of a lumber company at around 5 p.m. April 17 on Weyerhaeuser property off a logging road about five miles west of Alsea. Ridler said Thursday that the security representative reported hearing something before going to the location where the body was found. Repkinas body likely was discovered less than 24 hours from the time of her death, Ridler said. She wasnt there for very long, he said. Ridler confirmed that a firearm was used in the death, but he did not disclose what type of firearm was used. Prosecutors have requested that the probable cause affidavit in the case be sealed from the public temporarily while the investigation continues. Ridler said that to his knowledge Thursdays interview was the first time a Benton County murder case had attracted attention from an overseas news organization and it was the first time he had been interviewed for a Russian TV station. The dynamics of the Guilford County Democratic Party meeting Wednesday evening represented, in some ways, a microcosm of what the party faces nationally. The two candidates nominated to fill the District 8 seat of County Commissioner Ray Trapp represented past and present, the old guard and the new generation. There were certainly many other factors at play with these two individuals, but the result reflected in some regards a larger problem with the national Democratic Party. Skip Alston is one of the more divisive figures in local politics, but he is nonetheless the establishment figure in this scenario, having served 20 years as a county commissioner. Some regard April Parker as equally divisive. A librarian and community organizer, she is active in the Queer People of Color Collective, Black Lives Matter and Greensboro Operation Transparency, a police watchdog group. Many people know her as the woman who shouts criticisms from the audience at Greensboro City Council meetings. For those who have only seen her in that context, it was difficult to picture her on a dais, elbow-to-elbow with the even more staid and conservative Guilford County commissioners. She would make it uncomfortable for them, said supporter C.J. Brinson, and thats good. Indeed, she could likely do so just by entering the room. People saw a different side of April Parker on Wednesday night, as she spoke about what she stands for, instead of what she opposes. Positive and passionate, this is the Parker the public needs to see more often. Alston and his supporters spoke of his long experience in county government, particularly with the county budget, which is now being formulated. This is all true. But his experience matters very little as long as Republicans hold a majority on the board. His supporters argued that Alston knew best how to fight back against the Republicans, despite the fact that he sided with Sen. Trudy Wade (R-Guilford) and other Republicans in the legislature on Wades plan to redistrict the Greensboro City Council. He ended by describing himself as your humble servant. Alston has done a lot of good in the community, including saving the Woolworth Building to become the site of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum. But humble, he aint. And although his interests may sometimes dovetail with community interests, first and foremost, Skip Alston serves the interests of Skip Alston. But he represents the old guard, and his old guard cohorts, including current and former Democratic commissioners, lined up to support him. That support helped carry him to a narrow margin of victory among Democrats eligible to vote at Wednesdays meeting. Parker certainly was the more unconventional choice, but she may have been a better one. The Democratic Party scratches its collective head when young voters, minorities, women and the LGBT community dont show up at the polls, but it does very little to cultivate its younger and more diverse members before Election Day. Parkers status as a minority three times over black, female and a member of the LGBTQ community is not a reason to elect her in and of itself. But the party needs to encourage and groom members of those constituencies to take on leadership roles both locally and nationally. Parker said she intends to run for office, and I hope she does. She will need to listen to and represent a broader constituency, just as she has demanded that current officeholders listen to and represent the communities she holds dear. If some in the Democratic establishment are uncomfortable with the way she expresses herself, they should be mentoring her. If they are uncomfortable with who she is, they have a much bigger problem. People who have been critical of Parkers approach in the past myself included also must ask themselves what choice people have but to shout when their voices never are heard. Instead of pushing its diverse members to the margins, party leaders need to listen to their voices. That was Chris Sgros aim when he introduced a motion at last weeks meeting to delay for a week so more candidates could be considered. Look at the young people here engaged in the process, said Sgro, a former state representative from Guilford County and executive director of Equality NC. We as a party should be celebrating the fact that, because we took an extra week, we have the Queer People of Color Collective out here engaged in the mainstream democratic process. The dozens of young, black and LGBT people who attended Wednesdays meeting, many of whom held signs promoting Parker, should be a wake-up call for the party. If these people are not part of the Democrats future, they may not have one. Around 3 p.m., with a bit of rain spitting from a gray sky, Bryan Sutton, David Holt and T. Michael Coleman took their seats on the Watson Stage, instruments in hand, and kicked off the 30th MerleFest, with Way Downtown, a Doc Watson classic. Dressed in rain boots and warm jackets one man wore waders people settled in for a long night of music, highlighted by a headlining performance from North Carolinas native sons, the Avett Brothers. The festival has mushroomed from a grieving fathers tribute concert to his departed son into a four-day happening that draws thousands of people from around the world, many of whom stay for the whole thing, getting little sleep while passing the late-night hours singing I Saw the Light and Will the Circle Be Unbroken? in surrounding campgrounds. The circle always seems intact at MerleFest, a booze-free festival that exudes a family-friendly vibe, where camouflage and tie dye groove side by side. Judi and Darrell Yarborough of Huntersville are diehards, arriving early Wednesday afternoon to set up their tent at a sprawling campground run by the Wilkesboro Fire Department. The campground is on the site of the towns wastewater treatment plant, prompting longtime campers to call it Sewerfest. The Yarboroughs pitch their tent each year at the same spot, and once the festival closes for the night, they head back to their campsite and light a bonfire with some of their neighbors and play and listen to music all night. I had to buy earplugs, Judi said. MerleFest is like Christmas for Darrell. He gets giddy reading the lists of musicians who will play on 13 stages throughout the four days. You tell people about it and they think banjos, violins, mandolins and stand-up basses, Darrell said. But I tell people about who Ive seen here, like Elvis Costello. And theyre like, Really? On these stages, you have the chance to hear the finest musicians in these beautiful settings. Set in the foothills of the Brushy Mountains, the air thick with the sound of banjos and fiddles, the festival has always felt like home to Seth Avett of the Avett Brothers, the Grammy-winning band from Concord. He came to his first MerleFest when he was 15, the year after meeting Doc Watson, a big influence. It felt very welcoming. It felt like North Carolina, he said. The beautiful thing about is that it doesnt feel that much different than it did then. Bob Crawford, the bass player for the band, first came to MerleFest from New Jersey in 1994. I had never experienced anything like it in my life. It was revelatory. It changed my life forever, and after I graduated from college, I moved down here because I thought every day in North Carolina was like MerleFest, he said. Some entered World War II feeling they were born to fly or sail. Lynn Rachel knew he was born to drive a jeep. They made me an ammo carrier at first, but when the opportunity to drive a jeep came up, I jumped all over it! Rachel logged a good number of stateside miles in Army jeeps, but the drive from Normandy to Austria is most memorable. The timeline of his war is marked by jeep events. We had to get our jeeps and trucks all fixed up before leaving the states, I must have fixed 40 flats one day, he said. I shouldnt have worried, because when we got to England, I never saw so many jeeps they were all brand spanking new! We hiked and trained all over England, it seemed, but no one complained we knew we were headed for the war zone soon, Rachel said. In short order, I learned to drive my jeep on the wrong side of the road and to always carry a raincoat it rained almost every day we were there. On a tank landing ship headed to Normandy, sailors got upset because I didnt tie my jeep down; I got upset because I couldnt find any ropes or chains. Fortunately, the seas were calm and my jeep stayed put. The Battle of the Bulge was on the horizon when the 99th Infantry Division made shore. We convoyed 200 miles towards Bastogne, he said. At first, the weather was decent, so we were ordered to drive with windshields down and tops off. The order never changed, even when it rained, and then snowed. I learned that was the Army way. Major Gen. Walter Lauer, their commanding officer, said he knew we could fight and exhorted us to do it, Rachel said. Rachels division manned a 22-mile battle front under trying conditions and unfavorable odds. The Germans stole our uniforms, weapons and even radio frequencies and used them all against us, he said. The Germans made some advances, but the 99th Infantry Division held its sector. With the arrival of better weather and Gen. George Pattons 3rd Army, Allied forces prevailed. The march toward Germany began. Gen. Lauer stood on the hood of a jeep to tell us we did a good job and that the Germans were on the run. Enemy pillboxes along the Siegfried Line impressed Rachel. They were made of steel and concrete 4 feet thick, with steel doors like those on ships, he said. He found a deck of German playing cards in one of the pillboxes, engraved, Rachel. He carries a Rachel card in his wallet to this day. Rachel was up close and personal with the race to the Rhine. After Bastogne we moved north for a while before being ordered south, he said. After almost 300 miles, we came upon the worst traffic jam I ever saw. The 99th Infantry Division was the first complete division to cross the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen. Hitler had ordered the bridge destroyed after German troops withdrew. The bridge withstood attacks from weaponry of all sorts: mortars, mines, howitzers, rockets and Luftwaffe bombers. It collapsed on its own, just days after the last U.S. troops crossed. We proceeded up the Ruhr Valley and across Germany, liberating two concentration camps and collecting over 3,000 German prisoners, Rachel recalled. We were just seven miles from Austria when V-E (Victory in Europe) Day was announced, he said. After the war, a German general said nobody fought harder than the 99th Infantry Division. Before being drafted, Rachel worked at Proximity Mill. He returned to Proximity after the war and retired 40 years later. Insisting that staying busy keeps you young, Rachel worked in maintenance at Four Seasons Mall for 27 years, retiring again this February. At 96, he lives by his stay busy mantra. I go to the mall and walk four or five days a week. The day before I visited, he was busy trimming and mowing his yard. He married Ruth Manuel in 1946; she died 15 years ago. They had one daughter, four grandchildren and two great-grand-children. Rachel and his friends have met for coffee over the past 40 years. At the friends bequest, on Rachels 95th birthday, U.S. Rep. Mark Walker presented him with a flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol and a letter commemorating his service. His friends also donated a copy of Battle Babies, a book written by Lauer about the 99th Infantry Division, to the Virginia Military Institute library in his honor. GREENSBORO Police say a fatal shooting last week stemmed from a plan to rob the victim. All but one of four people charged in the robbery plan also face charges in the death, police said in a news release. Two others are charged with interfering in the investigation, police said. The charges stem from the death of Larry Wayne Pratt, 37, who police found about 8:45 p.m. April 20 unresponsive in the driver's seat of his car in the 3100 block of Utah Place. Police have charged Matthew David Stanford, 22, Jayquan Shaheme Lilly, 19, Taro Michael Isley,18, and Kushaina Leadrienne Shaw, 21, with conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery with a dangerous weapon. Stanford, who lives at 1373 Lees Chapel Road, is being held in the Guilford County jail on $850,000 secured bail. Lilly, no address listed, is being held without bail on a charge of first-degree murder. Isley of 2604 Merritt Drive also is being held without bail. Isley also faces charges of first-degree murder as well as shooting into an occupied vehicle. Bail had not been set for Shaw, who lives on West Terrell Street. She also is charged with first-degree murder. Police also charged Kojo Masaba Kunti Williams, 23, and Quiasha Nichelle Woods, 21, both of 3110 Utah Place, with accessory after the fact in the killing. Williams is held on a $200,000 secured bail and Woods on a $15,000 secured bail. Those with a political bent toward Raleigh will be interested to see the latest installment of the Elon University Poll, scheduled for release Tuesday with a focus on state government and issues before the General Assembly. Early word is that the forthcoming poll of more than 500 North Carolina voters asked their views on such legislative firecrackers as marijuana consumption, the infamous HB2, concealed carry rules for firearms and (perhaps of lesser statewide purview) climate change. Savvy observers may be able to draw some interesting conclusions by comparing whatever respondents say about the GOP-controlled General Assembly with their answers in the new polls first chapter, which was released earlier this week and focused on President Donald Trumps performance in office. Nearly half said Trump is underperforming former President Barack Obama, 60 percent disliked his proposed Mexican border wall and almost 75 percent thought his frequent tweet storms on social media are inappropriate. How will the respondents size up the Republican-led legislature and the issues it faces compared with their take on Trump at the national level? Opportune moment Its not a bad time to size up the General Assembly because last week was the ominous crossover deadline, the witching hour for many pieces of legislation when they either retain the potential to become law during the next two years or perish in committee. Thursday end-of-day was the deadline for most bills to get passed by either the state House or Senate. Policy bills that dont change taxes or require spending are likely dead through 2018 if they didnt clear the House or Senate by then. The predictable result was several long days for legislators. Weve sent a number of matters over to the House. Of course, theyre sending things to us, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Eden) told reporters after the Senate wrapped up its work Thursday. Well figure out which of those bills are things we want to move forward with, and which we want to leave for the short session next year, and which we want to just kind of leave on the table somewhere. Police etiquette Among the bills that just made it through the crossover was one aimed at preventing unpleasant encounters between police and motorists. The measure would use driver education programs to familiarize new motorists with the 411 for a roadside stop. It passed unanimously Wednesday in the House with proposed requirements for driver education materials and school curricula explaining law-enforcement procedures during a roadside stop and the appropriate responses by drivers. State Rep. John Faircloth (R-High Point) is a primary sponsor and state Reps. Cecil Brockman (D-High Point), Pricey Harrison (D-Greensboro) and Amos Quick (D-Greensboro) also have endorsed it. If enacted, the bill calls for the N.C. Sheriffs Association, state Highway Patrol and other law enforcement groups to help develop training materials. Cheers from Moodys Whether or not the guy or gal on the street is a fan of recent events in the state capital, bonds rater Moodys Investors Service thinks highly of the way Republican legislators are watching the states financial condition. The rating house gave a big thumbs up this week to the states new Strengthen Savings Reserve law that envisions a $1 billion rainy day fund for use in tough financial times or in response to disasters. In a fiscal note, Moodys said the new law was credit positive and should better prepare the state for economic downturns and unexpected weather events. Out of my way Dont you hate slow poke drivers who clog up the passing lane on a major expressway? They pose almost as much threat to motorists traveling at or near the speed limit as do speeders. With that in mind, state Rep. Jon Hardister (R-Greensboro) co-sponsored a bill that did not make it out of committee before last weeks crossover deadline, but that still remains viable because it would have an impact on the state budget. The bill would allow law enforcement officers to fine motorists who are impeding the steady flow of traffic in a highways outside lane. Officers could only issue warnings for the first year after it took effect. Suicide, teacher prep and motor coaches By and large, Hardister had a good week as the crossover deadline loomed. The Greensboro Republican saw four bills he sponsored win approval by the full House with bipartisan majorities and room to spare. Each of the four received at least 109 votes and the bill that aroused the most opposition only attracted seven no votes. The measures that now head to the state Senate for further review would: Establish a statewide program to train teachers, administrators and all other school personnel to spot the warning signs that a youth might be contemplating suicide. Help school districts find and attract more lateral entry educators, people who have worked in other professions but are interested in becoming teachers. Let motor coach manufacturers (one located in Greensboro) sell their $500,000-plus commercial buses directly to the customer rather than through a dealership. Make it clear that landlords are not liable if they rent to someone with a criminal record who subsequently commits another crime. Big bucks for school food Brockman also was busy this week tackling the hunger that can make it difficult for students to focus on learning. The High Point Democrat filed three, school nutrition bills that would: Allocate up to $200 million to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students in public schools, including charter schools. In the alternative, allot up to $5 million for free lunches to students who now qualify for the meal at reduced price. And provide $10 million for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program that emphasizes healthy foods. Newspaper battle The newspaper industry continues to battle against a bill sponsored by state Sen. Trudy Wade (R-Greensboro) that would lift its exclusive hold on the publication of legal notices. Wades bill that was approved by the Senate last week would lift the requirement that local governments post legal notices in widely circulated, print publications within their jurisdiction. State Rep. John Blust (R-Greensboro) is among sponsors of a companion version in the House. Instead of requiring print publication, Wades measure would allow local governments to publish such notices on their own websites, with half the money that they make going to boost salaries of local teachers. The industry counters that its print and online publications reach a much wider audience than government websites, noting also that many smaller publications in rural areas could be forced out of business if they lose the legal-notice revenue stream. Print media prefer another House measure that would require newspapers to publish legal notices for free on their websites and give local governments a substantial price break for notices that must appear in print more than once. A former teacher at Henrico Countys Deep Run High School who is accused of sex crimes involving a minor has been arrested. Benjamin Clark Brittain, a 28-year-old resident of Greensboro, N.C., was arrested Tuesday on two charges of exposing himself to a minor while in a custodial role. Hes also facing two charges of using a communications system to undertake sex crimes involving a minor who was at least 15 years old. The charges involve alleged conduct in January and February last year, according to arrest warrants. Brittain was a teacher at Deep Run from August 2013 until June 2016, said Andy Jenks, a Henrico schools spokesman. Jenks wouldnt comment on whether the allegations involve any student at the high school. A juvenile went to police on Jan. 18 this year and said she had received inappropriate communications from Brittain, said Henrico police Lt. Chris Garrett. Ed Riley, Brittains attorney, said he couldnt comment on the specifics of the allegations, noting that he was still familiarizing himself with the case. Brittain, who is being held in the county jail, was arraigned on the charges Wednesday. But Riley emphasized that prior to these charges, Brittain had never been in trouble and had nothing on his record, adding that his client had lived an exemplary life. Brittain, who attained the rank of Eagle Scout, was attending law school at Elon University at the time of his arrest, Riley said. Riley said he was hoping to get Brittain released from jail on bond, so they could explore the charges further. Greater Albany Public Schools will pay slightly more than first anticipated to settle all bills for South Albany High School's new commons after a 2015 arson destroyed the old building. Business Director Russ Allen gave the updated report Monday to the Albany School Board, saying the cost to the district will be about $2.7 million, up from the $2.37 expected originally. The change comes from about $325,000 extra in added scope to the project, charges that either weren't accounted for initially or weren't coded into the correct account, a process flaw Allen said has now been fixed. The 1970 building destroyed in the fire was a single-story structure containing a cafeteria, classrooms and storage space. In replacing it, board members decided to make the new commons two stories, add an elevator and upgrade the kitchen and other features. In a previous report, Allen said the fire's total loss came to $13,627,316 when everything was added up. That includes demolition, the temporary kitchen and classrooms the district had to install, the updates to various building codes and the "soft costs" of an architect and property manager, Allen said. Property and Casualty Coverage for Education, the insurance trust that covers school districts, agreed to pay $13,299,015 to replace the building as it was. Albany agreed to bear the added scope for the project, along with the $50,000 deductible and $278,000 for work excluded under the coverage. That's offset by $468,000 coming from a state facility grant, but the grant is smaller than anticipated, which figures into the $2.7 million total, Allen said. In other business Monday, board members heard reports on a proposed price increase for breakfast and lunch. They also received an update on pre-construction work if voters agree in May to pass a $159 million bond measure. Board members will take up the lunch price question for a vote in May. If they approve the request, lunches will cost a dime more at each level. New prices will be $2.45 for elementary school, $2.65 for middle school and $2.95 for high school. The increase is mandated by the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, which required school districts to phase in price hikes to eliminate the difference between the amount paid by a student for lunch and the reimbursement given by the federal government for the same lunch. Breakfast prices aren't affected by the 2010 mandate, but it's been five years since the district had an increase and costs have risen substantially in that time, Allen said. If the board agrees to add another dime to the costs, they will rise to $1.25 at elementary schools, $1.30 at middle schools and $1.40 at high schools. Neither price change affects students who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Board members voted last July to hire two bond project managers, HMK Co. of Salem and Wiser Construction Management Group of Happy Valley, to do bond work in advance of the May 16 election. The two firms are working on hourly rates and the district has paid $93,000 and $6,500, respectively, to date. Wiser worked with the district on the list of facility and safety upgrades projects to be covered by an estimated $50 million of the $159 million bond. It has completed its pre-bond work, Allen said. HMK's David McKay gave a report Monday on its activities so far, which include sending out requests for qualifications for the four major projects: building a new elementary school, renovating large sections of South Albany High School, beginning the first phase of a total replacement at West Albany High School and adding on to Oak Grove Elementary School. Multiple architecture firms submitted qualifications for all four projects, McKay said. In the first three projects, HMK is finalizing fee negotiations and will have conditional recommendations to present to the board May 8. For the fourth project, Oak Grove, an interview committee has recommended gLAs Architects. GREENSBORO Daymond Johns first job was handing out fliers for a mall being built near his house in New York. John made $2.25 an hour. He was 10. Nearly 40 years later, he has made millions as a clothing mogul, an entrepreneur, an author and a TV star. John, the founder of the iconic FUBU clothing line and one of the stars of ABCs Shark Tank, came to N.C. A&T on Thursday night to talk to students about his wins and his losses in life and business. A close-to-capacity crowd at Harrison Auditorium heard John, who was backed by a slideshow and a soundtrack. For more than an hour, as the A&T students laughed and applauded, John recounted his life from the streets of Queens to the ABC studios, where he and four other celebrity sharks field business pitches from contestants. In the 1980s, John was waiting tables at a Red Lobster restaurant when he noticed a new style of music, hip-hop, and decided he wanted to create the uniform for the musicians and their fans. With the help of his mother, he turned $40 worth of fabric into $800 worth of hats. He used spray paint to make billboards and convinced rappers to wear his brand FUBU in their music videos. He got rap superstar LL Cool J to endorse his shirts, then crashed a fashion conference in Las Vegas, where he collected $300,000 worth of orders. He remembers thinking, Im rich! Then it hit me, he said. Ive got to make $300,000 worth of clothes. Johns journey to success wasnt a straight line. After 27 banks turned him down for loans, his mother mortgaged her house to help him launch his clothing venture. Then he and his partners set up sewing machines in the living room and cranked out the clothes. Ultimately, FUBU was a success. We knew our customers better than everybody else, John said. You see, Im pro black, but Im not anti anything else. You have to understand that thats how the world should be. John said he made some mistakes along the way. He almost lost his mothers house because he was still trying to learn the retail business. He did lose his marriage because he spent too much time working and traveling. I thought success was always a number. I thought success was a car, a corner office, a bank account, size of a house, John said. Its not. A real shark in the ocean if it stops swimming, it dies. His new daughter, born a year ago, showed him that a true successful person keeps testing themselves and keeps learning and keeps growing. Thats exactly what a shark does: keeps learning. Johns lecture was the inaugural event of the Chancellors Speaker Series. A&T said future speakers will be recognized leaders in business, culture, politics, social awareness and other fields. High Points furniture market, which concluded its April run on Wednesday, isnt just a huge business event. Its an artistic showcase. From furniture styles to showroom designs to decorative accessories to paintings, sculptures, tapestries and rugs, the arts are woven into everything on display. That wasnt always the case. The furniture market once focused almost entirely on furniture. It has broadened its horizons in recent years, bringing in exhibitors offering anything and everything that can be found in or outside of a home or adding beauty to a persons life. Much of that is art. The furniture industry isnt alone in using aesthetics to attract customers. Whether its clothing design, brewing beer, creating a gourmet meal, landscaping or making cars, its all done better with visual appeal. So children who study the arts in school arent participating in an expendable frill. They could be training for lucrative careers in business. Which is why its distressing whenever school systems face choices that include eliminating arts instruction. That was a possibility before the legislature agreed this week to moderate a requirement for reducing class sizes in elementary schools without providing the funds to hire more teachers or provide more classroom space. Reducing class sizes is desirable, but hiring classroom teachers at the expense of art teachers gives with one hand and takes with another. Communities are gaining a new awareness of how the arts contribute to economic development as well as quality of life. The arts equal a strong economy, Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday at the ground breaking for the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Greensboro. The facility will be a magnet for Greensboro and the Piedmont Triad, he said. A first-class performing arts center will attract visitors from outside the area who will eat in local restaurants and sometimes stay in local hotels. It can also help draw more business events that will incorporate performances into their activities. Greensboro already enjoys a reputation as a strong community for the arts with its many theaters, galleries, college and university programs, artistic organizations and special events, including the annual Eastern Music Festival at Guilford College and the National Folk Festival downtown. Guilford County Schools Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts and Advanced Technology was just named the best public high school in North Carolina and 39th-best in the country by U.S. News & World Report. All these things make Greensboro a more vital and attractive city. This week, the city launched a task force to create a cultural arts master plan. It will study the viability, synergy and sustainability of local arts groups and the arts within the community, according to a press release. The goal is to develop a road map for sustaining the culture and vibrancy of our arts, one of Greensboros most important assets, Co-Chairwoman Jacquie Gilliam said. Thats important for many reasons. Its always challenging for nonprofit organizations to support themselves, especially when so many exist. So looking for new ways to sustain their work, and securing new revenue sources, is critical. So is continuing to demonstrate, as arts groups in this community have done many times, the contributions they make to the local economy. The arts enrich peoples lives by adding beauty and enjoyment. Arts events draw paying customers whose dollars circulate in the community. And the arts equip people with highly desirable skills for many industries such as furniture. Where the arts flourish, a city will prosper. WENTWORTH A Superior Court judge on Friday dismissed the states appeal of a judges matter-of-death ruling in a Stoneville mans 2015 drowning. The body of George Jeffrey Jeff Tuggle, 41, a sheriffs detective in Henry County, Va., was found in a Stoneville pond in June 2015 less than two hours after Rockingham County sheriffs deputies began searching for him. The sheriffs investigators classified his death a suicide, and the state medical examiner ruled the manner of death as undetermined because investigators couldnt rule out it had been accidental. Tuggles sister, Wendy Tuggle Carpenter, argued he was not suicidal and filed a complaint to overturn the "undetermined" ruling. In March, N.C. Administrative Law Judge J. Randall May ruled that the death was an accident. In Rockingham County Superior Court on Friday, Judge Stuart Albright dismissed without prejudice the states petition to appeal that decision, which means the case could be continued with good cause. The state had argued that Mays findings were not based on evidence and that the decision was arbitrary, capricious, or an abuse of discretion, The Charlotte Observer reported. Albright ruled on a motion filed by attorneys representing Carpenter, who claimed that the appeal was filed in the improper jurisdiction. They argued that a petition of any final decision under judicial review must be filed in the superior court of the county where the person aggrieved by the administrative decision resides. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the medical examiners office, is located in Wake County. The petition in Rockingham County was filed April 17, the deadline for the 30-day window to appeal May had granted in his ruling. After that deadline, the DHHS also appealed in Wake County. A similar hearing is scheduled to take place May 22 in Wake County Superior Court. Federal and state environmental regulators are accepting public comment on a proposal to fill 1.13 acres of wetland for a housing development in southwest Corvallis. Applegate Holdings LLC has applied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a wetland excavation and fill permit for Ashwood Preserve, a 12-lot subdivision on the north side of Country Club Drive east of 45th Street. The site adjoins Dunawi Creek. The company is proposing to purchase 1.13 acres in a wetland mitigation bank to offset the fill required for the project. Written comments on the project must be received by May 18 to be considered. Comments on the wetland permit should be addressed to Benny A. Dean Jr. and must include reference number NWP-2008-00086/2. Comments can be submitted by email to Benny.A.Dean@usace.army.mil (with the reference number in the subject line) or by post to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Benny A. Dean Jr., Eugene Field Office, 211 E. Seventh Ave., Suite 105, Eugene, OR, 97401-2722. Comments on water quality issues should be submitted to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. They can be sent by post to 700 N.E. Multnomah St., Suite 600, Portland, OR, 97232, by email to 401publiccomments@deq.state.or.us or by fax to 503-229-6957. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH Hate in all its forms got a thorough airing Friday at Greenwich Town Hall. YWCA Greenwichs annual Stand Against Racism drew more than 50 people including representatives from the towns government, Greenwich Police Department, the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich and the Connecticut Anti-Defamation League. We are here to raise awareness about institutional and structural racism and build a stronger community among us in fighting against that racism, YWCA Greenwich President and CEO Mary Lee Kiernan said. Citing findings from the non-profit Southern Poverty Law Center, Kiernan said there are 917 recognized hate groups operating within the United States, a number that has risen sharply in recent years with groups aimed at anti-immigration activities and targeting Latinos and Muslims. The police have assured us they think its underreported and this is happening here, Kiernan said. Stand Against Racism is a national YWCA program. This years theme is Women of Color Leading Change. Susan Toliver, professor and chair of Iona Colleges Sociology Department, was the keynote speaker at Greenwichs event. Variables in personal identity, like race and gender, do not exist in isolation, she said, and intersect with and outline the various systems of oppression that are part of the larger system of oppression that characterizes our U.S. society today, even in 2017. Too often women of color have been excluded from the conversations about racism and sexism, Toliver said. Thats because too often the conversation about race excludes women and the conversation about sexism excludes race. Racism, sexism, homophobia, classism and anti-Semitism too often address individual groups separately, Toliver said, when society needs to look at the effect of individual hate collectively if its scourge is to be overcome. Until all women have equality and its extended to diversity in a broader sense and all people in our society and our community have equality, then none of us do, Toliver said. Greenwich resident Dorothy Nins, an activist and CEO of Higher Ground, said she wants to make people uncomfortable by talking about the enormity of eliminating racism and creating social justice; sometimes, its a challenge just to get people to admit racism exists. Whats wrong with America? Americas great, and she said she has been told. She compared the argument to her family, which she believes is great but, like everything, has flaws. Eliminating racism is going to be uncomfortable, Nins said. If somebody is talking about eliminating and dismantling racism and youre not uncomfortable, then theyre not telling the truth. Systematic racism and oppression of people is an uncomfortable topic. Weve been too comfortable with systematic oppression of so many people. Music was provided throughout the event by Dennis Collins. The Stamford resident has performed with James Brown, Bob Dylan, Beyonce Knowles and Celine Dion. Interim Superintendent of Schools Sal Corda presented the 2017 YWCA Racial Justice Scholarship Awards. The awards go to local high school seniors who have demonstrated a personal commitment through their actions to get people to respect differences, promote equality and eliminate all forms of bigotry, bias and racism from their schools. Winners, who will receive $1,000 each, were Tiffany Evangelista and Sam Ryb from Greenwich High School and Dana Wadsorth-Hutton from Greenwich Academy. When I was younger, as a Latina woman, I didnt think I had that many opportunities to make an impact on my community at all, Evangelista said. But when I got to GHS, I had the opportunity to go to the Minority Student Achievement Network in Wisconsin to talk to other students about diversity issues at other schools around the country. I knew if I could make GHS involved with the Minority Student Network, I would make an impact. Ryb grew up in Israel before coming to Greenwich. I feel as the next generation, we have a responsibility to really convey the importance of increasing awareness, especially now in 2017 when people are saying things are no big deal, Ryb said. We really have to be fighting every single piece of bias that people hit at us. For Wadsorth-Hutton, her involvement was helped by her civil rights history teacher, Constance Blunden, who took her on a class trip last year to Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham, Memphis and Atlanta, an experience she repeated it in her senior year as a chaperone for the younger kids. As a young woman of color, its very important for me to be active about the issues that affect me directly, Wadsorth-Hutton said. Now Im working on my independent study, which will culminate in a training session in King-ian non-violence (after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) and reconciliation at Greenwich Academy. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com Oregon has approximately 21,000 children who need placement in foster homes, but only 1,800 foster homes, said state Rep. Andy Olson, during a community meeting in downtown Albany on Thursday night. You can see the problem there, he added. The meeting, held at the Flinn Block Hall, was focused on problems in the foster care system, and about 40 people attended. Olson urged residents to recruit potential foster parents who could provide loving homes for children. Wendy Brownell, former president of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Linn County, wondered why people were no longer interested in being foster parents. Chaundra Carter of Albany, a former foster parent, said that families are being scared away because of false allegations and the Oregon Department of Human Services harsh response to those claims. People are petrified, because anyone can say anything about you as a foster parent and youre guilty, end of discussion, said Rich Ransom of Albany, who was a foster parent for 16 years. Ransom added that hes considering becoming a foster parent again, but there needed to be changes to the system first. Olson said that work was being done to identify standards for how a DHS investigation would be concluded. Duane Stark, a state representative from southern Oregon and a foster parent, told residents to speak up if they see something thats broken with the system and especially if they have potential solutions. He said that a major problem for DHS is that theres a lack of standardization when screening abuse calls, and there needs to be automatic triggers for when a case needs additional attention. Marco Benavides, DHS district manager, said that his agency has a high caseload and a difficult time retaining workers, many of whom are teenagers due to low pay. Our most senior workers have five years of work, he said. Stark said that other states handle foster care different than Oregon and rely more on local control or the religious communities. I think that it is our job as a community to rise up and rally for our children, Stark said. Those who are considering being a foster parent can contact the Oregon Department of Human Services at 1-800-331-0503 or go to http://bit.ly/2ql6Z8g. State Rep. Andy Olson also can direct people to the foster care sources at DHS and can be contacted at 503-986-1415 or Rep.AndyOlson@state.or.us. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WILTON Pamela Graham spent her childhood reading through recipe books, concocting taffy, caramel, cakes with no eggs and other baked goods to little or no avail at first. But her recipes slowly started to get better, and she knew this once her family told her to make something again. My sister said, You always tried to make some recipe work, Graham said. My unrelentless passion. Her passion for baking came from watching her grandmother, who made her favorite blueberry cobblers for dessert on Church Sunday. And that passion followed Graham throughout the years and eventually motivated her to open three bakeries: Pam Ellas Artisan Patisserie in Wisconsin, A Pear Appeal in South Africa, and now, The Pastry Hideaway in Wilton. The bakery will open May 2 at 6 a.m. offering the town its only full-service bakery with coffee, pastries, baked goods and breakfast and lunch items. The menu will have vegan and gluten-free options and some items made with nuts, although never with peanuts, since allergy symptoms can flare from just the smell of it. I feel that there should be something for everyone, Graham said. And I want them to feel comfortable. Graham signed the lease in November and originally hoped to open the bakery in December in time for the holidays, but she met a few surprises along the way that required almost the entire space to be renovated, she said. She replaced the flooring and walls and made repairs to the lighting and electric systems of the unit. It just needed to be loved, Graham said. I came in and could just see so much potential. Although there were difficult times in the past couple of months, Graham said the support of her family and the community helped her push through. Several people would stop by throughout the week, thinking the bakery had already opened, and businesses next door shared how people were looking forward to its opening. Its a labor of love, she said. And I would love for people in the community to feel as though they really have a place thats going to stay and be committed, you know, a full-service bakery that does what it says its going to do. Thats why Graham makes the 30-minute drive to Wilton from Mount Pleasant, N.Y., every day, because the best part about baking is sharing your passion with others, she said. And she hopes those who stop by the small bakery hidden behind Old Ridgefield Road will have that kind of positive experience. When people are happy, I get happy, Graham said. When something tastes good, I even do a little dance. The Pastry Hideaway will be open Tuesday through Sunday, and eventually on Monday. Tentative hours for weekdays are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. The bakery is a family-owned business. skim@hearstmediact.com; 203-354-1044; @stephaniehnkim An impressive spread. Photo: Liz Clayman Meir Adoni is a big deal in Tel Aviv. In Israel, hes known for a PanMiddle Eastern style that incorporates elements of French technique, his own Moroccan heritage, and a global pantry. After studying in Sydney and training in Paris, he returned to Israel to find culinary acclaim with his first restaurant, Catit, in 2002. He opened three more restaurants in Tel Aviv (Blue Sky, Lumina, and the more casual Mizlala), becoming a celebrity chef and food-television personality in the process. And today, after dipping in his toes in international waters, hell open his first restaurant outside of Israel: Nur, here in New York. For the 60-seat restaurant which Adoni closed Catit and Mizlala to focus on hes partnered with Breads Bakery owner Gadi Peleg, who seems to be making a habit of luring stars from the Israeli dining scene to New York. Over the last year, Adoni has been splitting his life, two weeks at a time, between New York and Tel Aviv. But hes also brought along his sous-chefs Gal Michalovich and Ofir Horesh to help open the place and train the American team. Adoni will serve the same style of modern Middle Eastern food he built his reputation on, without making any accommodations to New York. (Check out his dinner and dessert menus.) Take the brain fricassee: A spin on the Tunisian fricassee sandwich, Adoni subs out the traditional fried bread for a butter croissant, and the usual tuna for veal brain. That dish is one of a few signatures hes brought across the Atlantic with him another is his Palestinian tartar with smoked eggplant cream but the menu is largely made up of new dishes. Many have flowery names like the Jordan River, Medjool date doughnuts with smoked trout and curry-citrus vinaigrette, and others are creative interpretations of Jewish dishes like the gefilte shrimp. Unsurprisingly, bread is big here. Theres pita for lamb kebabs, yes, but more excitingly theres also kubaneh, the challahlike Yemenite bread thats a rare find in New York; Syrian pancakes called qatayef; and Israeli sesame bagels. Many of the wines are from Israel and Lebanon, cocktails incorporate ingredients like the licorice-y arak and harissa, and there are bar snacks for those dropping by for a hot second. Jerusalem sesame bagel with zaatar and lima-beans messbaha. Photo: Liz Clayman Kubaneh with zhug and grated tomato. Photo: Liz Clayman The Grand Bazaar: grilled lamb tenderloin, lentil ragout, baby artichokes, and lamb and bulgur-filled onions. Photo: Liz Clayman The Casablanca chraime is a tomato-and-poached-fish stew with mussels and a side of hand-rolled couscous and pumpkin tarsi. Photo: Liz Clayman Damascus qatayef, a crispy Syrian pancake, filled with baharat-spiced lamb and served with a yogurt-ayran chaser. Photo: Liz Clayman Desserts include flavors of Ramallah with candid rose kadaif, buche cream, pumpkin marmalade, pistachios, and honey-sage ice cream. Photo: Liz Clayman Meir Adoni, going for that local look. Photo: Liz Clayman Nur, 34 E. 20th St., nr. Park Ave.; 212-505-3420 The crowds back in the good old pre-Trump days. Photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/UIG via Getty Images Theres never been any love lost between Donald Trump and Starbucks. He glommed onto the 2015 holiday-cup debacle by urging a boycott, while the coffee giant has made a habit of publicly rebuking the sitting president. But now this antagonistic relationship has taken a strange turn: Starbuckss sales in Mexico are down by 9 percent, and the best explanation is that consumers in that market greatly dislike Trump. A variety of American products have been subjected to boycotts since voters elected Trump a man who hates NAFTA and says he wants Mexico walled off while fomenting frankly horrible ideas about the countrys population. Starbucks was maybe hit hardest by protesters on social media, where the hashtag #AdiosStarbucks picked up a fair amount of traction. Starbuckss Mexican stores are run by a large restaurant operator called Alsea. It doesnt list Starbucks earnings separately from the other brands it runs in Mexico, but analysts familiar with the numbers say they reflect the anti-Trump sentiment clearly. Alsea didnt go that far publicly, but it did admit to Bloomberg that Trumps rhetoric has made him into sort of a bad hombre down there. We saw an impact in Starbucks sales in Mexico due to the context, a rep for the company said, adding it was quickly offset by outreach efforts and the fact that Alsea is a 100 percent Mexican company. According to Bloomberg, Starbuckss drop is officially the first Trump-related sales loss for an American brand operating in Mexico. Photo: UCR Strategic Communications. Between insane global demand, climate change, and whatever trade-danger du jour the Trump administrations cooking up, avocados are in jeopardy like never before. To save the beloved ingredient, horticulturists have been working to develop a variety that can grow year-round in California (as opposed to the current season, which runs from February through September), and NPR reports this week that there is now a trio of promising-looking cados that might be able to fulfill the promise of more guacamole. UC Riverside researcher Mary Lu Arpaia has spent 20 years trying to produce an avocado tree that can handle central Californias coldest and hottest months. Shes optimistic about a type called the GEM, which is related to the Hass avocados most people buy in stores. The slightly more ovular GEM grows lower to ground, has a higher yield, and doesnt need much space all great traits for weather resistance. It also beat Hass in a recent series of taste tests. The other two: a small variety called the Lunchbox (a subliminal message about when to consume it), and one that still needs a name, but Arpaia insists that it makes wonderful guacamole. Both supposedly peel nicely, and she adds that the unnamed one doesnt brown, which would be pretty game-changing by itself if true. California grows 90 percent of Americas avocados right now. But Americans eat more than 4 billion of the things every year, and such a colossal number still requires the U.S. to import 85 percent of them, mostly from Mexican farmers. During winters off-months, that amount rises to almost 100 percent. A year-round Golden State supply would obviously lower the price, thereby keeping avocado-toast addicts kvetching at a minimum, and its also a win for farmers because the fruit could theoretically thrive anywhere that growing conditions are similar to Californias. Truly breathtaking cannoli from an Italian-American institution. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz There is a widely held belief that a great cannolo must be filled to order, ideally in full view of the paying customer. This is a food myth that needs to go away. Indeed, no combination of ricotta and impastata automatically makes for soggy cannoli; thats just something that happens as a result of subpar technique. Still, its easy to see that the once-spectacular New York cannoli can be very hard to find these days. Luckily, there are still some places that do this traditional pastry proud here are the absolute best. The Absolute Best 1. Villabate Alba 7001 18th Ave., at 70th St., Bensonhurst; 718-331-8430 Nassau County accents heard on the sidewalk and a gaggle of SUVs with Jersey plates double-parked outside are indicators of this Brooklyn bakerys wide-reaching fanbase. Inside, there are clear signs of its bakers precision, like the display case stocked with a mind-boggling number of flaky, creamy pastries, as well as an easy-to-miss sign announcing that the kitchen uses ricotta imported from Sicily. This makes sense: Modern cannoli can be traced to Palermo, where Villabate Albas cheese is made. In addition to an expected rich, silky texture, their cannoli have a grassy, almost salty flavor that makes for a strikingly elegant contrast with the crisp shell, which is fried until nutty. The bakers dont overdo with the chocolate chips or citron bits in the whipped filling, either. Theres a lone, decorative maraschino cherry on one end, plus a barely candied strip of orange peel on the other, and they alone do most of the pastrys sweet-talking. 2. Julianas Pizza 19 Old Fulton St., nr. Front St., Dumbo; 718-596-6700 Pizza legend Patsy Grimaldis 800-degree coal ovens melt down vast supplies of fresh mozzarella each day, so theres no doubt that the five-year-old shops reliance on top-notch dairy yields the smooth, sweet ricotta the kitchen uses to fill its natty, bow-tie-shaped shells. Served with a (traditional) spoon and a garnish of adorable rainbow sprinkles, these cannoli brighten up the areas permafrost of tourist gridlock, and even add irresistible levity to the blocks fabled and protracted pizza wars. Related Stories Witness the Creation of NYCs Best Cannoli in 60 Delectable Seconds 3. Barano 26 Broadway, nr. Kent Ave., Williamsburg; 347-987-4500 Over by the Williamsburg waterfront, chef-owner Albert Di Meglio takes a minimalist approach, piping just-sweet sheeps-milk ricotta into shells that come apart in a righteous crackle. Small nuggets of dried fruit and morsels of dark chocolate add candied flavors and bitter, floral edges to the mix. (They get bonus points for being perfect, late night, with a glass of Sicilian Marsala at the bar.) 4. Rimini Pastry Shop 6822 Bay Pkwy., at Bay Ridge Ave., Bensonhurst; 718-236-0644 The frenetic atmosphere at Bensonhursts other beacon of Sicilian baked goods sometimes teeters off into a sort of customer-service slapstick, but the unending line is a sign of Riminis vitality. Cannoli here sport standard-issue red cherries and brightly stained citron nubs, but also come with a delicate and inexorable undercurrent of spice, somewhere on the nutmeg-cinnamon spectrum, which culinary seekers have associated with the ideal Brooklyn cannoli. 5. Mamma Guidaras at the NoMad 1170 Broadway, at 28th St.; 347-472-5668 The theatrical red-sauce extravaganza at Mamma Guidaras, this spots Sundays-only pop-up, caps off with a dish of tiramisu and a single, cigarlike cannolo. Mark Welker, the pastry chef, makes a few hundred beautifully cratered shells in the morning, then fills them with strained cows-milk ricotta mixed with vanilla, sugar, and a nudge of salt. One end is dipped in decimated green pistachio, the other in crumbled dark chocolate that scans more like crushed cocoa nibs than standard Italian bakery chips. As much as the weekly pop-up, now a permanent addition to the calendar, emphasizes an unbuttoned nature, these cannoli remain some of the most elegant pastries in town. Honorable Mentions Caffe Roma 385 Broome St., at Mulberry St.; 212-226-8413 Nonstop tourist traffic means you run the risk of getting poked in the eye with a selfie stick anytime you venture to this Little Italy spot. For some, the shell may be too thick and unruly, but the cool, ineffably spicy filling is that cinnamon? at this tin-ceilinged institution (since 1891) remains a powerful draw. Grab an espresso and brag how the old-school signage, today somewhat unchanged, makes an appearance in The French Connection. Cannoli Plus 6903 New Utrecht Ave., nr. Bay Ridge Ave., Bensonhurst; 718-331-1058 Speaking of The French Connection: Not far from where a crucial leg of the iconic chase scene takes place is this tiny cannoli showroom, beneath the elevated subway over New Utrecht Avenue. While individual cannolo are available filled-to-order, Cannoli Plus is a to-the-trade supplier that is open to the public, so anyone can grab a pack of fresh shells from the floor-to-ceiling display, choose a prefilled bag of cream in the back, and go have a cannoli rager. Circos 312 Knickerbocker Ave., at Hart St., Bushwick; 718-381-7199 Circos has been open since 1945, yes, but its not so steeped in tradition that the crew is beyond crafting a fondant-wrapped bong cake for every struffoli platter. Sugar-dusted and decorated with two cherries, Circos cannoli exude a great deal of old-school charm. Court Pastry Shop 298 Court St., nr. DeGraw St., Boerum Hill; 718-875-4820 The bread-and-sweets showroom turns 70 next year, and it (pleasantly, certainly) seems like much is unchanged; sfogliatelle are no doubt as endearingly flaky as they were 21 years ago, when the pastry took top honors in this magazines Best of New York issue. The filling is never too sweet or at all gritty, and shells have a wonderful crunch. La Guli 29-15 Ditmars Blvd., nr. 29th St., Astoria; 718-728-5612 Petite cannoli here brim with an airy, custardlike filling that cant be found anywhere else. The Queens institution opened in 1937, after its Italian-immigrant owners had spent more than a decade opening bakeries in Manhattan. Via special order, customers can still partake in the so-called pregnant cannoli, one of the shops most enduring oddities, which consist of a gaggle of tiny cannoli nestled in a jumbo shell. Santina 820 Washington St., at Gansevoort St.; 212-254-3000 The petite, tricolore cannoli at Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisis sunny High Line restaurant, which have received plenty of high marks in the past, are still loaded with potent dark cherry, smooth coconut, and super-nutty pistachio variations of sheeps-milk ricotta filling. Quality Italian 57 W. 57th St., at Sixth Ave.; 212-390-1111 In a flourish, a server rolls up after dinner with a variety of fillings (chocolate peanut butter, cookies and creme), shells (sugar, glazed, chocolate), and base sauces (caramel, coulis). The table-side ritual is completely over-the-top, and thats the whole point. Vitos Bakery 1916 Ave. U, nr. Ocean Ave., Sheepshead Bay; 718-332-3577 The thick shells pack more of a crunch, and theres more semisweet chips per square centimeter in the filling than pretty much all its major metropolitan-area competitors. None of this bothers the former regulars, who make special visits back to Vitos after theyve moved away. The Nokia 3310 (2017) was expected to hit European shelves next month, but now we have a more specific date to look forward to - May 15. The date was posted by major European retailer Media Markt on its Spanish website along with a 59 price tag. After unveiling the Nokia 3310 at MWC back in February, the announced price of the 2G phone was 49. Later however, several rumors suggested that the final price might actually be higher and the listing by Media Markt confirmed the device will indeed go for 20% more. Previously retailers in Germany and Austria listed the launch date on their websites to May 26. UK retailers and telecoms also confirmed May for the 3310 launch, though they didn't state any specific date. Heres a quick rundown of the phones specs - it comes with a 2MP camera with LED flash, microSD slot for up to 32 GB of storage and FM radio. You will find a microUSB on the bottom to charge the removable 1200 mAh battery. Source (in Spanish) | Via Haiti - Politics : Moise seeks to encourage investment Thursday, President Jovenel Moise went to the Digneron Industrial Park and then to the Caribbean Harvest fish farm https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13270-haiti-agriculture-the-caribbean-harvest-will-double-its-production-of-tilapia.html in the commune of Croix-des-Bouquets both to encourage the development of the country's leading sectors, including the textile sector (second source of currency for Haiti after transfers from the diaspora), promote the fish farming sector in Haiti and reassure and encourage private investors. At the Digneron Industrial Park, he met with Haitian and Korean businessmen, the Board of Directors of the Association of Industries of Haiti (AIDH), the Parliamentarians of the West and the Mayor of the Croix-des-Bouquets, Rony Colin. The Head of State spoke, among other things, of the importance of developing more fiscal and financial incentives to stabilize the development of this sector. Accompanying workers through social programs and creating professional centers with training adapted to the technical infrastructures of the Industrial Parks in Haiti, are all measures that must, according to the Head of State, contribute to the strengthening of the textile sector. Subsequently, President Moise went to Caribbean Harvest where he met, among others, the Board of Directors, Representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID - Haiti), including Robin Padberd and Ken Smarzik and members of the Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Ministries of Agriculture. He inter alia spoke of the reform of the fishing system in Haiti, the development of trades, the strengthening of professional capacities in this sector and finally the provision of financing and an appropriate legal framework for Haitian and foreign investors. The President intends to continue his visits to private companies in the country to give an unequivocal signal of his administration's will to encourage private investment for the benefit of the country's economic development. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Diplomacy : Accreditation of two new ambassadors President Jovenel Moise received this week at the National Palace the credentials of two new Ambassadors accredited to Haiti: Robert J. H. de Leeuw (United Kingdom of the Netherlands) and Jose Antonio Segebre Berardinelli (Republic of Colombia). These new ambassadors renewed the commitment of their respective countries to maintain close ties of friendship and strengthen cooperation between Haiti and their country. President Moise also reassured these ambassadors of his desire to work for the harmonious development of relations between his country and these two friendly countries. Subsequently, the new Ambassadors of Colombia and the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, respectively made a floral offering in memory of the Fathers of the Haitian Fatherland, to the Museum of National Pantheon of Haiti (MUPANAH) before being invited by Michele Frisch, the Director of the Museum to visit with her, the exhibition rooms to discover the history and culture of Haiti. HL/ HaitiLibre Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help Published on 2017/04/28 | Source Added episode 13 captures for the Korean drama "Radiant Office" (2017) Advertisement Directed by Jeong Ji-in, Park Sang-hoon-III Written by Jeong Hee-hyeon Network : MBC With Go Ah-sung, Ha Seok-jin, Lee Dong-hwi, Kim Dong-wook, Lee Ho-won, Kim Byung-choon,... 16 episodes - Wed, Thu 22:00 Synopsis An abrasive marketing director and a female temporary contract worker at the same furniture company. She faces repeat rejection in her job search until despair drives her to attempt suicide. At the hospital, she learns she has a terminal condition, but then, finally succeeds in getting hired. With nothing to lose, she tackles her job and her life with a perspective. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2017/03/15 More Published on 2017/04/28 | Source Added episode 7 captures for the Korean drama "Queen of Mystery" (2017) Advertisement Directed by Kim Jin-woo-II, Yoo Yeong-eun-I Written by Lee Seong-min-II Network : KBS With Choi Kang-hee, Kwon Sang-woo, Lee Won-keun, Shin Hyun-bin, Kim Hyun-sook, Jeon Soo-jin,... 16 episodes - Wed, Thu 22:00 Synopsis "Queen of Mystery" tells the story of a prosecutor's wife who's always dreamed of being a detective. After actually solving a case, she ends up in an unlikely crime-fighting duo with a young police captain. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2017/04/05 More State not exempt from family budgeting principles by Joe Kent, Grassroot Institute, Apr 26, 2017 Most families in Hawaii know that they shouldnt spend more money than they have. But somehow, Hawaii legislators havent gotten the message, as the state budget proposed for next year is unbalanced by millions of dollars. If the general fund were formatted to look like a regular household budget, with five zeroes eliminated, it would look something like this: Obviously, that particular household would be overspending, running a possibly dangerous deficit. For the Hawaii Legislature, the figures look more like this: This means that next year (fiscal 2018), the state is planning to spend $364 million more than it expects to receive in tax revenues. If this planned overspending is not averted, it will eat into the states rainy day emergency funds, depleting all extra monies by fiscal 2019. This could set off an era of deficit spending and fiscal crisis. Making things worse, the state recently granted pay raises to public employee union members, including $100 million for teachers alone. Firefighters, and other government union members also will be seeing handsome raises, which will add even more weight to the sinking ship of Hawaiis budget. Hawaii leaders have popped the cork for more spending, but the party will be over when the bill comes due. Ultimately, taxpayers will be on the hook for the spending spree, and this could eat into the actual household budgets of Hawaii families. Instead of increasing next years budget by over a billion dollars, as is the current plan, Hawaiis lawmakers should practice responsible budgeting and live within their means. If the Legislature wont be responsible with the hard-earned money of Hawaii taxpayers, then Gov. David Ige could be the last hope to dial back the planned spending spree, save the states rainy day funds for true emergencies and make sure Hawaiis budget is balanced like all family budgets should be. Are local families fleeing Hawaii taxes? by Joe Kent, Grassroot Institute, Apr 27, 2017 Its been happening for years, but the phenomenon of locals leaving Hawaii to live on the mainland has been increasing significantly in recent years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Hawaiis cost of living may be a major factor in the reason so many families are choosing to pick up their roots and leave the islands. But taxes are a large part of Hawaiis high cost of living, and this also might be scaring local families away. VIDEO: Are Local Families Fleeing Hawaii Taxes? Most of the outmigration is to states with lower tax burdens, like Washington, Texas, Nevada and Florida, according to IRS migration data. These states also have significantly lower costs of living than Hawaii. Earlier, we wrote about the prospects for a tax revolt in Hawaii, as rising taxes burden island families. However, the real tax revolt might already be underway in the form of locals leaving the islands to find better opportunities and a lower cost of living in various mainland states. Much of the local financial burden comes from the states general excise tax, which mugs taxpayers at every step in the production chain, and sticks consumers with huge final transaction costs. The tax was ranked as the worst sales tax in the nation, by the American Legislative Exchange Council, considering how it pyramids and thus adds to the high price tag of goods sold and purchased in Hawaii. Meanwhile, many of Hawaiis ever heedless state and county lawmakers recently have been calling for increases to the state general excise tax rate to fund the rail project, public education and other pet projects which likely would worsen the problem. Mayor Kirk Caldwell has raised the specter of raising Honolulu Countys property tax rate by as much as 14 percent, if state lawmakers dont extend into perpetuity a GET surcharge intended to help fund the countrys rail project that was supposed to expire in 2027. That certainly is a dim prospect for Honolulu property owners who can barely hang onto their homes as it is. The possible domino effect on renters and others who dont own property seems not to have been considered in these cold calculations. In addition, state lawmakers are on the verge of hiking Hawaiis income tax for high-end earners, which could encourage job-creators to join the exodus from the state as well. Higher taxes and decreased opportunity for island families are a bad combination, and so far the result has more locals picking up stakes and heading to greener pastures elsewhere. It has torn the fabric of our communities, and is heart-breaking for both those who feel compelled to leave and those who stay behind. If lawmakers really want to help local families, they would scale back taxes not raise them. They also would trim the thicket of economic regulations that stymie local businesses and reduce employment opportunities. Together, these actions would lower the cost of living in Hawaii, allowing more islanders to keep their hard earned money, move toward a brighter future and stay in the islands. e than 30% of Australians have experienced age discrimination while employed or seeking work in the past 12 months, claims new research by the University of South Australia.The most common form of discrimination involved negative views about the skills and learning abilities of older workers, according to the national survey of 2100 men and women aged 45 years and over, and 100 telephone interviews.The consequences are that older workers are struggling with limited employment, training and promotion opportunities, said study author Justine Irving.Older adults in our study described a subtle pressure from their colleagues and management to stop working in order to make room for the younger generation. This was regardless of their experience, enduring capabilities or working preferences, said Irving.Workers also found patronising attitudes, where employers or colleagues assumed they would struggle to pick up new technology or work systems quickly due to their age.Irving argued that mature-aged workers bring with them a plethora of positive characteristics such as stability, reliability, loyalty, experience, wisdom and maturity.One way to tackle work-related ageism is to firstly address negative perceptions regarding the competency of older workers, she said.Irving added that age-related discrimination was seen to a worrying degree in all areas of the workforce.Industries where age discrimination was particularly common included construction, administrative services, education, manufacturing, essential services, information technology and professional service industries, she said.Moreover, two-thirds of respondents said they had left the workforce involuntarily, through redundancy and dismissal or feeling they had no choice but to retire."Negative experiences at work, with a colleague, management or client, or dissatisfaction with organisational changes were often the trigger events for retirement," Irving said.Moreover, the findings are backed up by previous research from the Australian Human Rights Commission where 27% of Australians aged 50 years and over had recent experience of age-based discrimination in the workplace.Despite discrimination being prevalent among older workers, HC recently reported that employees aged 70 and over are three times more likely to be happy at work compared to their younger counterparts, according to a study by Curtin University in WA.Report author Rebecca Cassells said employees who worked beyond the age of 70 were likely to do so because they love what they do, rather than out of necessity.Generation X and Generation Y were found to be the least happy, at 28% and 24% respectively, and women are slightly more content than men at work, at 31% compared to 27%. (HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged a vice president in the risk management department of a New York-based investment bank with insider trading on confidential information he learned in advance of a private equity firms acquisition of a publicly-traded technology company. The SEC alleges that Avaneesh Krishnamoorthy learned that Golden Gate Capital planned to acquire Neustar Inc., and he then began trading in Neustar securities. The trading took place in two brokerage accounts that Krishnamoorthy allegedly kept hidden from his employer, which had been approached by Golden Gate Capital to finance the transaction. According to the SECs complaint, Krishnamoorthy made approximately $48,000 in illicit profits. As alleged in our complaint, Krishnamoorthy was entrusted with confidential, market-moving information by his employer and he misused it for personal gain, said Andrew M. Calamari, Director of the SECs New York Regional Office. In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York today filed criminal charges against Krishnamoorthy. The SEC is seeking an emergency court order to freeze the assets in the brokerage accounts belonging to Krishnamoorthy and his wife, who has been named as a relief defendant in the SECs complaint for purposes of recovering allegedly ill-gotten gains in the account in her name. The complaint charges Krishnamoorthy with violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 as well as Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5. The sibling discount will increase considerably. The fee for [the second child] will be no more than 50 per cent of that for the first child, instead of the current 90 per cent, highlights Teemu Lehtinen, the managing director of the Taxpayers Association of Finland (TAF). The Finnish governments decision to lower early-childhood education fees will create genuine cost savings especially for families with multiple children in early-childhood education. TAF has published a series of calculations indicating that the decision will reduce the daycare costs of parents who together earn a maximum of 5,600 euros a month and whose two children are both in day care by 116 euros from 551 to 435 euros a month. The reduction will be 116 euros for families that have paid full [daycare] fees. [...] Thats undeniably a notable amount, a proper reduction in their burden, analyses Lehtinen. The government has found the right remedy for the issue of daycare fees, he adds. The cost savings will be even greater for lower-income families with children. Parents who earn a total of 3,800 euros a month and whose children are both in daycare, for example, will see their daycare bills decrease by over 50 per cent from 262 euros to 128 euros a month, according to TAF. The cost savings would not be as notable for families with one child. The decision will have no impact on the daycare costs of parents of a single child who earn a total of at least 5,400 euros a month: their daycare costs will remain unchanged at 290 euros a month. Parents who earn a total of 2,800 euros a month and whose only child is in daycare, meanwhile, will see their daycare bill decrease from 83 euros to 0 euros a month. Another group benefiting from the changes are single parents especially those with multiple daycare-aged children. A single parent who earns 5,000 euros a month and has two children in daycare, for example, is set to save 173 euros a month in early-childhood education costs. Lehtinen estimates that the decision to cut early-childhood education fees is by far the most impactful and important decision to emerge from the mid-term session held on Monday and Tuesday. Its great that the government recognised that daycare fees have helped create inactivity traps and made some concrete changes. The changes will rectify the biggest problems relatively well, he says. TAF also points out in a press release that the changes in how early-childhood education fees are determined will have no impact on the progressive nature of the fees, a fact that will remain a work disincentive for the parents of young children. Also daycare fees should in the future be a regular service fee, which is reasonable for everyone, says Lehtinen. The reductions in early-childhood education fees will be implemented by revising how the fees are determined, raising the income threshold for eligibility for free early-childhood education and increasing the so-called sibling discounts. An estimated 6,700 families will consequently gain free access to early-childhood education. Orpo: Early-childhood education a means to prevent marginalisation Petteri Orpo (NCP), the Minister of Finance, recently voiced his concern about the relatively low rate of enrolment in early-childhood education in Finland. Fewer than three in four (74%) of four-year-old children in the country are currently enrolled in early-childhood education, compared to more than 90 per cent elsewhere in the Nordics. Whats especially problematic is that those children whod benefit the most from it have the lowest enrolment rate, he said. He drew attention to a recent study indicating that children participating in early-childhood education under the age of three, irrespective of the educational background of their parents, are more likely to continue to upper-secondary and higher education than children not participating in early-childhood education. We already know that developing and raising enrolment in early-childhood education is one of the best measures to prevent marginalisation, added Orpo. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Roni Lehti Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi Something very nice happened in Hartford, Connecticut Tuesday. There was a special election for an open state House seat from which the Democrat, Douglas McCrory, had resigned after winning a state Senate seat. And the winner-- in an overwhelmingly Democratic city-- was not the candidate endorsed by the Democratic Establishment, but a Working Families Party progressive candidate, Joshua Hall, a vice president of the Hartford Federation of Teachers and former treasurer of the state Democratic Party. The Hartford race had the flavor of a Democratic primary, pitting Hall against Rickey Pinckney Sr., the Democratic-endorsed candidate, and a petitioning candidate, former Rep. Kenneth P. Green, D-Hartford. Hall is only the second candidate to win a Connecticut legislative seat as an WFP candidate, the first in the House. A registered Democrat, Hall said he will be a member of the House Democratic majority. Edwin A. Gomes of Bridgeport, who won a special election to the Senate on the WFP line in 2015, is a member of the Senate Democratic caucus... Unofficial results showed Hall with 625 votes to 512 for Pinckney and 367 for Green. The thing for me is to make sure the state budget isnt balanced on the backs of working families, Hall said. I think thats the most critical. thing, not compromsing anything with regard to that. Hall had a narrow lead until the returns came in at 9 p.m. from the Rawson School in Blue Hills, a middle-class neighborhood in the citys predominantly black North End, and cheers erupted at the WFP headquarters. Joshua Halls victory comes at a time when more strong, progressive leaders are sorely needed in Hartford and in our state, said Lindsay Farrell, the executive director of the WFP. The city is in fiscal crisis and without state help, Hartford residents will be hurt by deep cuts, the effects of which will resonate across the region. The Hartford race exposed tensions between Democrats and the Working Families Party, a labor offshoot that fashions itself as the progressive conscience of Connecticut politics. Pinckneys campaign, which had the support of city and state Democratic leaders, hit Hall with a mailer questioning his Democratic bonafides in a city with an all-Democratic legislative delegation. Working Families Party? Not on our watch, said the mailer. There are only 26 registered Working Families members in our district. Only 26. Dont let them steal our seat. Normally the Working Families Party just endorses Democrats , sometimes really unsavory corrupt conservatives, but has been veering in a far more progressive and proactive direction in the last few years. The Working Families Party makes little effort to enroll party members. With rare exceptions, it has existed to push and prod Democrats, rewarding allies with cross-endorsements in general elections, backing progressives in Democratic primaries and, as is the case in the Hartford special election, occasionally directly opposing a Democratic nominee it finds wanting. Ultimately, we are an independent organization, said Lindsay Farrell, the executive director of the WFP. We feel, when the Democratic Party has gotten it wrong, well do our own thing. This is one of those times. I cant speak to whether or not thats going to hurt our relationship. Its up to them whether that hurts our relationship. Thats up to them. Questioning the Democratic bonafides of Hall is misleading, she said, given that all three candidates are registered Democrats who would be a member of the House Democratic caucus. Sen. Edwin A. Gomes, D-Bridgeport, won a special election on the WFP line, then resumed life as a Democrat in good standing. ...Democrats dont own the seat. The voters own the seat, Farrell said of the Hartford race. The voters are allowed to make a choice about issues and the qualifications of the candidates. Marc DiBella, the citys Democratic chairman, said the WFP should not be surprised when Democrats defend their nominee as the only Democratic Party-backed candidate in the race. He said the mailer was accurate and reflects some of the frustration Democrats feel toward the Working Families. They stress their Democratic relationships when it suits them, as it does in solidly Democratic Hartford, he said. They want to have their cake and eat it, too. There is that frustration. You get to have it both ways, DiBella said. There is some bad blood between the Working Families Party and the Democratic Party in Hartford-- and some other places. The WFP and its labor backers opposed the budget deal crafted last year by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the legislatures Democratic majority, who opted for spending cuts, including the elimination of jobs, instead of raising taxes on the wealthy as sought by labor and the WFP. The Working Families targeted House Speaker J. Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, backing a liberal challenger for the Democratic nomination, Joshua Elliott. Sharkey ultimately didnt seek re-election in 2016, sparing Democrats and the WFP a high-profile battle at a time when fractures are evident in the House Democratic caucus on the topic of taxes and spending. Last year, Lori Pelletier, the president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, also urged union members to boycott the Democrats annual fundraising dinner to protest the budget, and she led a demonstration outside the event. Pelletier later was snubbed when she sought a seat as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Nick Balletto, the Democratic state chairman, recently acknowledged in an interview with CT Mirror that he refuses to recommend consultants who work on WFP campaigns to be hired by Democratic candidates. Six years ago, the Working Families played a key role in electing Malloy, who supported the WFPs call for a paid sick days law. The party organized for Malloy and gave him its cross endorsement. Without the 26,308 votes cast for Malloy on the WFP line, the Democrat lost by nearly 20,000 votes to Republican Tom Foley. With those votes, Malloy won by 6,404 votes out of 1.1 million cast, the narrowest gubernatorial victory in Connecticut in 56 years. Malloy delivered on his promise to pass a paid sick days law and also won passage of a $10.10 minimum wage, but he and the WFP have since parted ways over taxes. To pass a budget this year, Democrats can ill-afford disunity. The Senate is evenly split, meaning Democrats only edge is the ability of Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman to break ties as the presiding officer. The new House speaker, Joe Aresimowicz of Berlin, has the smallest working majority in the history of the House. Democrats have a 78-71 advantage, with two vacancies. After two special elections Tuesday, the margin is likely to return to 79-72, the results of the November election. In a chamber where 76 votes is a majority, Aresimowicz can afford only three defections on the budget. And this... Prison officers are using colour-coded cards on cell doors to highlight which gang members must be kept apart. Stock Image Prison officers are using colour-coded cards on cell doors to highlight which gang members must be kept apart. Speaking at the Prison Officers' Association (POA) conference, assistant general secretary Gabriel Keaveney said the number of prisoners on protection is rising. "In some cases it gets so problematic that you have to put a different colour card outside their door," Mr Keaveney told delegates in Galway. "So the reds can mix with the blues and not the yellows. The greens are OK with the blues and not the rest. It's insane. "You also have people who were never in prison before come up to the gate and say, 'I'm with X or Y. I'm from this part of the city'." Mr Keaveney also told of how gang bosses have lieutenants operating on their behalf in prisons. "If you have gang leaders in a place, they will have influence over a wing or a landing or a block," he said. "The influence they have is huge, so you have to segregate them." In response, the Irish Prison Service conceded that the increase in recent years of organised gang activity in the community has had significant implications for the management of prisons. "The people leading or associated to these groups have been identified, targeted and profiled," he said. The POA also raised the issue of having to deal with fights between prisoners, and increasing attacks on officers, with no batons or pepper spray to help them. Blades "When two prisoners are fighting with blades, what do we do?" said Mr Keaveney. "We have to go in with our sleeves twisted up and talk to these people." The Irish Prison Service said the recent State Claims Agency report on assaults on prison staff by inmates did not recommend the issue of batons. The agency said it felt the sight of officers carrying batons in prisons could do more harm than good. However, batons have been issued to staff while on escort duty. Cein Dempsey might have the charges struck out A teenager subjected gardai to possibly "the most foul-mouthed abuse" a judge had heard in 10 years. Cein Dempsey (19) subjected the officers to a tirade that had a "degree of venom" Judge David McHugh said he rarely heard. Dempsey had told a garda to "get into your cop car and f**k off, you d**khead" after he was searched. Judge McHugh adjourned the case at Blanchardstown District Court for a written apology to the gardai, a 100 charity donation and proposals for 50 hours of voluntary work. He said he would strike the charges out if this was done. Dempsey, an apprentice plumber, of Abbeywood Court, Lucan, admitted breach of the peace and failing to obey garda directions. He had no previous convictions. Gda Sgt Maria Callaghan said gardai were investigating a complaint at Castle Road, Lucan, on March 19. Repeated They asked to search the group and Dempsey said: "What the f**k do you want? Do you have nothing better to do?" He appeared irate and, after the search, was told to move on. "I ain't going any f**king where. Get into your cop car and f**k off, you d**khead," he replied. "This is a perfect example to show people never to say anything they wouldn't want repeated back to them in court," Dempsey's barrister said. The accused had been with friends and would have dealt with the situation quite differently if he had met the gardai on his own. He was supported by his mother, who was in court. "I have sat on the bench for 10 years and I have rarely heard such a degree of venom to come from a person's mouth," Judge McHugh said. "This was possibly the most foul-mouthed abuse to a garda I have heard in 10 years." It was made "more disturbing" by Dempsey's age, he added. Former tanaiste Joan Burton felt "terrified" and as if she was "running for her life" as she fled anti-water charges protesters after a graduation ceremony, a court has heard. The former Labour Party leader told a court angry protesters called her a "bitch" and "c***" while she and her special adviser Karen O'Connell were trapped in two garda vehicles. Ms Burton said she eventually escaped following a three- hour ordeal by jumping out of a garda Jeep and running up a hill to a waiting garda car while protesters chased after her. "To be honest, I felt I was running for my life," she told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The Dublin West TD also told prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC that she saw Solidarity TD Paul Murphy holding a megaphone and "looking pretty happy with himself" as she and Ms O'Connell were stuck inside a garda car. Mr Murphy (34) and six other men, including South Dublin county councillors Michael Murphy (53) and Kieran Mahon (39), deny falsely imprisoning the two women at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght, Dublin, on November 15, 2014. Expand Close Defendants in the Jobstown trial (Males from left) Kieran Mahon, Michael Banks, Frank Donaghy, Paul Murphy TD, Scott Masterson and Michael Murphy arrive at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where they appeared on charges of the false imprisonment of then Tanaiste Joan Burton at a water protest in Jobstown in 2014. Photo: Collins Courts / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Defendants in the Jobstown trial (Males from left) Kieran Mahon, Michael Banks, Frank Donaghy, Paul Murphy TD, Scott Masterson and Michael Murphy arrive at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where they appeared on charges of the false imprisonment of then Tanaiste Joan Burton at a water protest in Jobstown in 2014. Photo: Collins Courts During sometimes emotional evidence, Ms Burton described being terrified, afraid, menaced and worried during the events that unfolded that day as she attended a graduation ceremony at the An Cosan further education centre in Jobstown. Judge Melanie Greally heard there was considerable opposition to water charges at the time and significant numbers of people had taken part in nationwide demonstrations. Ms Burton said she saw a small group of people in the distance holding posters as she arrived at An Cosan. After meeting graduates and organisers, Ms Burton took part in a graduation procession to the nearby Catholic church. As she walked along near the back of the procession a number of protesters "crowded around", including a man who put a camera phone up to her face. Banging People shouted "shame on you" and despite being shielded on either side by a man and a garda, Ms Burton said she was struck on the back of the head first by "something like a ball" and then "a water bomb", which drenched her hair and jacket. When they reached the church, Ms O'Connell gave Ms Burton her jacket and she dried her hair as best she could before giving a speech to congratulate the graduates. By this stage gardai were growing concerned about the crowd gathering outside and advised her to leave straight away in an unmarked garda car. Ms Burton and Ms O'Connell ran out of a side door and got into the back of the car, but it could not drive away as it was immediately surrounded. "There was a great deal of noise and also banging on the car," Ms Burton said. "From my point of view, most worrying was that there was an awful lot of children around." Asked by Mr Gillane SC what people were shouting, Ms Burton said: "People were shouting the usual stuff - bitch and c***. "They were being derogatory to me particularly and to Karen." Ms Burton said one woman at the side and back of the car "was beside herself with rage". "She was baying, wishing all sorts of stuff on me - illness and death," she said. "Karen became extremely upset and started to cry." The TD described the banging as "very disturbing" and "extremely intense". Ms Burton told Mr Gillane that at one point she saw Mr Murphy through the back window. "He had a megaphone and he was speaking and using the megaphone." She said she couldn't hear distinctly what he was saying. "He looked pretty happy with himself, I have to say. He was smiling very broadly. He was the man with the megaphone." They were stuck in the car for around an hour before being moved through a human cordon set up by gardai to a garda Jeep. "At that stage it was very terrifying because the crowd surged," Ms Burton said. As she moved towards the Jeep flanked by gardai she was worried she might fall as one of her shoes came loose, she said. When they made it to the Jeep it too was blocked and had to move "inch by inch" out of the car park and towards the N81 Blessington Road. Bottles Ms Burton said the shouting and derogatory name calling continued. Eggs, bottles and other items were pelted at the vehicle and the windscreen "shattered" on the left-hand side. Eventually the Jeep managed to pull onto the N81. Prompted by gardai, the two women jumped out and ran to separate waiting cars. "The crowd was after us," said Ms Burton. "To be honest, I just legged it as fast as I could. "I was very cold and stiff after three hours in the cars. I don't know how I got the energy but I ran as fast as I could." Ms Burton made it to the car and it sped away from the scene. Under cross examination by Mr Murphy's counsel, Sean Guerin SC, Ms Burton accepted that considerable numbers of people were opposed to plans to introduce water charges. Mr Guerin put it to her that water charges had been "a lightning rod" for people dissatisfied with austerity. Ms Burton's cross examination will continue today. As well as the three politicians, four other men face charges. They are Tallaght residents Frank Donaghy (71), of Alpine Rise; Ken Purcell (50), of Kiltalown Green; Michael Banks (46), of Brookview Green; and Scott Masterson (34), of Carrigmore Drive. Mr O'Connell, of Meath Place, Dublin 8, pleaded not guilty to stealing a box of Cadbury Creme Eggs that were worth 3. Stock Image A judge has expressed surprise at the prosecution and trial of a man over the alleged theft of Cadbury Creme Eggs. Judge Anthony Halpin said "you couldn't make it up" when the case came before him at Dublin District Court. He adjourned it for trial on a later date before the non-jury court. The accused, Anthony O'Connell (41), denies stealing the eggs from a city centre super-market. Mr O'Connell, of Meath Place, Dublin 8, pleaded not guilty to stealing a box of Cadbury Creme Eggs that were worth 3. The theft is alleged to have happened at Lidl on Moore Street on March 9. Defence solicitor Claire Barry said the accused was seeking a date for hearing. Judge Halpin read the charge sheet before him and said: "Three state witnesses, him, a judge and a solicitor, for a Cadbury's Creme Egg? "You couldn't make this stuff up. "Is it the chicken or the egg which came first anyway?" The case was adjourned to a date in July and the defendant was remanded on continuing bail. Dublin Lord Mayor Brendan Carr has criticised the "intimidation" felt by a minority of members of the board of the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street who failed to back the controversial move to the St Vincent's campus. The Labour councillor was one of three members of the board who did not re-endorse the agreement to build a new maternity hospital on the St Vincent's site which will be owned by the Sisters of Charity. Reassured Speaking of the four-hour meeting on Wednesday night, he said: "All I wanted to do was express my concerns and there was no attempt to address them." He said he was now considering if he should follow former master Dr Peter Boylan in resigning from the board, but might stay on until his term ends to ensure there are members who speak out. His comments came as the planned move to build the new maternity hospital on the St Vincent's site was back on track last night. St Vincent's Healthcare Group voted to approve the plan after being reassured that an agreement worked out with Holles Street would not be changed. The Sisters of Charity will own the 300m national maternity hospital when it moves to the St Vincent's campus. The reassurance that the controversial deal underpinning the transfer of the hospital remained unchanged was key to the board's support at its meeting. The Sisters of Charity had been urged by critics of the deal to transfer the site to the State. This would mean that the nuns would not be owners of the hospital, removing concerns about the influence of the Catholic ethos on services. Blind The board chaired by James Menton, which was attended by the Sisters of Charity, its main shareholders, said St Vincent's and the board of the maternity hospital in Holles Street would now start the next phase of the project. They will work with Health Minister Simon Harris and officials in translating the agreement into a legal document to secure the clinical and corporate governance structures of the new hospital. "These legal agreements will be effected in accordance with all of the provisions contained in the agreement mediated by Kieran Mulvey and endorsed by both hospitals," a statement said. The agreement, published in recent days, has been criticised by some legal experts as failing to provide watertight safeguards that the new hospital will have clinical independence. In particular, they have drawn attention to the make-up of the nine-person board and the method used to select the international expert who will be a member and have a casting vote. In his letter of resignation, Dr Boylan said he was quitting the board of the national maternity hospital because he could not remain a member of a body which was so "blind" to its actions. "I can't remain a member of a board which is so blind to the consequences of its decision to transfer sole ownership of the hospital to the Sisters of Charity and so deaf to the concerns of the public which it serves," he wrote. While in Indonesia, one of the stops on his recent tour of the East Asia and Pacific region, Vice President Mike Pence visited the Secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations, or ASEAN, and called on Secretary General Le Luong Minh. Speaking before the ASEAN Secretariat, Vice President Pence congratulated the organization on the 50th anniversary of its founding. He also noted the long-term cooperation between ASEAN and the United States, and its importance: This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the United States diplomatic relationship with ASEAN. Our relationship without a doubt has benefitted both ASEAN and America--diplomatically, economically, and from the standpoint of national security, he said. And under President Trumps leadership, the United States is already taking steps to strengthen our [strategic] partnership with ASEAN and deepen our friendship. To reflect the high value the Trump administration places on our relationship with ASEAN, and with the Asia-Pacific region as a whole, President Donald Trump will in November attend the U.S.-ASEAN summit and the East Asia Summit in the Philippines, as well as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC summit in Vietnam, said Vice President Pence. By strengthening our economic ties, the United States and ASEAN member nations can foster jobs, prosperity, and growth in new and unprecedented waysU.S. companies invest more in ASEAN and its members than any other part of Asia, nearly $274 billion, which is more, in fact, than our investment in China, India, and Japan combined. To protect that prosperity and to ensure our continued growth, the United States will redouble our cooperation with ASEAN on issues of regional security, he said. Well continue to work closely with ASEAN to promote peace and stability in the South China Sea by upholding a rules-based order, ensuring the lawful and unimpeded flow of commerce, and encouraging the peaceful and diplomatic resolution of disputes. For 40 years, the United States has worked side by side with ASEAN to foster peace and prosperity on these seas and between our lands, said Vice President Pence. Together we will build on our firm foundation to reach even greater heights in the next 50 years of this great organization. Incumbents appear to be re-elected to school board The three incumbents seeking re-election to the Washington County Board of Education had substantial leads with Tuesday's election results reported. "The Six-Day War" by Tammar Stein In 1967, Israel teetered between existence and annihilation. By winning the Six Day War, it averted annihilation ... and began the modern dilemma of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This summer (June 5-11) marks the war's 50th anniversary. "The Six-Day Hero" is a fast-paced, riveting novel by Tammar Stein that looks at the history of the war through the eyes of the people living through it. It is the first English book for younger readers set during the Six-Day War, giving context and perspective to the complexity the world is still trying to solve. Combining a tight plot, vivid period detail and accurate historical elements, this well-researched novel by the daughter of Israeli Defense Force soldiers will transport young readers to the sounds, sights and events of West Jerusalem 50 years ago. Twelve year-old Motti is a scrappy boy, always looking for mischief and fun. His straight-arrow older brother is now a soldier in the Israeli army and Motti is proud and jealous. Over the course of the next month, everything Motti knows about Israel, his brother and himself will be put to the test. Egypt, Syria and Jordan mobilize their armies along Israel's borders. Israel stands alone, with no one to protect it except itself. Motti dreams of being a hero and he thinks the only way to be one is as a soldier. But heroes can be found in the most unlikely of places, and courage lies in the most unlikely of hearts. The question is, will Motti rise to the harsh challenges ahead and be the hero he always dreamed of? The Six-Day Hero will leave readers exhilarated and moved as they immerse themselves in the complicated history of the Middle East's only democracy. Tammar Stein is the author of "The Six-Day Hero," a historical novel for kids about the Six Day War. It has been named a Junior Library Guild Selection and a PJ Our Way Choice Book. She is the award-winning author of four young adult novels including Light Years, named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a Sydney Taylor Notable Book of Jewish Content, a Virginia Reader's Choice, and a Texas high school summer reading book. Tammar graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in English Literature. She has published essays and reviews in various publications including The Washington Post, The Tampa Bay Times, The San Antonio Express News, and The Stars and Stripes. She has lived on three continents, in four countries and five states. She currently lives in Virginia with her family. "The Crime of Complicity: The Bystander in the Holocaust," by Amos N. Guiora Consider this dilemma: You are a bystander and witness to a crime. Should your intervention in an attempt to prevent that crime be a legal obligation? Or is moral responsibility enough? On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Week, law professor and author Amos. N. Guiora addresses these profoundly important and timely questions in his new book, "The Crime of Complicity: The Bystander in the Holocaust," published earlier this month by Ankerwycke, the trade imprint of the American Bar Association. Guiora, who teaches law at the University of Utah and is a retired lieutenant colonel in the Israel Defense Forces, delves into the bystander-victim relationship from deeply personal and legal perspectives, focusing on the Holocaust and then exploring cases in contemporary society. Sharing the experiences of his parents and grandparents during the Holocaust and drawing on a wide range of historical material and interviews, he studies the bystander during three distinct events: the forcible movement of prisoners in Nazi Germany known as death marches, the German occupation of Holland and the German occupation of Hungary. He explains that while the Third Reich created policy, its implementation was dependent on bystander non-intervention. Guiora then fast forwards decades later to explore sexual assault cases at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and Stanford University in California, as well as other crimes where bystanders had to choose to act or not. Their actions-or non-actions-carried real consequences. "Questions of bystander complicity are, unfortunately, highly relevant to contemporary society," Guiora said. "A casual glance at the daily news sheds disturbing light on the consequences of bystander non-intervention. Drawing on the lessons of the Holocaust is particularly useful in determining the extent of the bystander's complicity in our lives today." Guiora asserts in "The Crime of Complicity" that a society cannot rely on morals and compassion alone in determining obligations to assist another in danger. It is ultimately, he concludes, a legal issue and a society must make the obligation to intervene the law and non-intervention a crime. Avery Friedman, CNN legal analyst, in his review of the book, stated: "Amos Guiora's 'The Crime of Complicity' should make any bystander who sees violence against another and chooses to do nothing about it shudder. He recounts in depth the suffering of his family in Death Marches and concentration camp agony, watched by Eastern Europeans who looked the other way, to campus rape watchers who did nothing... (he) argues that those who watch violence have a greater duty not to remain silent and that legislation imposing that duty to protect the innocent might be necessary." Paul Cliteur, professor of jurisprudence, Leiden University, the Netherlands, and author of "The Fall and Rise of Blasphemy Law," had this to say: "It is very difficult to find the right words to describe the horror portrayed in this book. But Amos Guiora has done this, and he has done this very well. Highly recommended." Besides his teaching duties and lectures around the world, Guiora is involved in the effort to legislate Holocaust-Genocide education in Utah public schools. He is the author of several books, including "Freedom from Religion: Rights and National Security" and "Tolerating Intolerance: The Price of Protecting Extremism." Two non-Jewish minority communities in Israel, the Druze (a deviant Shia Muslim group) and Circassians (Sunni Muslims whose ancestors were exiled to Palestine from the Caucasus), are subject to mandatory conscription to the IDF. Additionally, members of several Bedouin tribes volunteer as well as a growing number of individual Muslim and Christian Arabs. The decision of the first two groups to accept obligatory service in a special minorities unit the Israeli military forces was made at their own request. As early as the summer of 1948, after years of intense pressure by the Palestinian Higher Arab committee to join in the fight to prevent a Jewish state, units of the three groups defected and switched sides to fight with the Jews. Since then, the unit has fought with distinction in every war. Today, the unit is also the natural choice for a growing number of Christian and Muslim Arab volunteers. Since 1987 it has been designated as The IDF Sword Battalion (Hebrew: Gdud Herev). Since the 1980s however, Druze, Circassian and individual Arab and Bedouin soldiers at their own request have joined regular combat units, attaining high ranks and commendations for distinguished service. A small but not insignificant degree of Arab collaboration with the Jews during the Mandate took the form of facilitating the sale of land to Jewish settlers, the provision of vital security intelligence, political propaganda, even arms smuggling and military assistance as well as eventual conscription in the IDF. It is no exaggeration to claim that in the light of these many revelations (supported by investigations into the archives of the Palestinian leadership and Arab press in Mandatory Palestine) to assert that without the invaluable cooperation with dissident Arab elements opposed to the mainstream Arab Executive Committee, the Zionist movement might not have been able to achieve a Jewish state. What is even more amazing is that Palestinian Arab cooperation with Jewish settlers during the Mandate came predominantly from conservative and traditional rural Muslim circles, attracted by economic opportunities, employment, new markets, agricultural techniques, medical care, city life, Jewish girlfriends or simple bribery. It was the Palestinian Higher Arab Committee that willfully misguided, misinformed, and inflamed a large section of public opinion among the Arab community that there could not be any compromise and all who spoke or acted on its behalf were traitors. These traitors who all worked for Jewish-Arab cooperation include such luminaries as the Arab mayor of Haifa. This year is the 75th anniversary of the death of Hasan Bey Shukri, the first mayor of modern Haifa. Shukri was born in 1876 in Jerusalem to a family in the highest levels of Ottoman officialdom. His family moved to Haifa when he was young, and the Turks appointed him mayor in 1914. Throughout his tenure as mayor, Shukri displayed a positive, conciliatory attitude toward the Jewish community and gave them senior posts in the municipality as well as recognizing Hebrew as an official language of Haifa alongside of Arabic in 1927. In 1933, he opened up city tenders to Jewish contractors as well as Arab ones. Shukri was targeted by Arab assassins numerous times. Labor leader Sami Taha and many lesser Arab officials and politicians as well as village chieftains (all assassinated by agents of the Mufti) worked closely with the Histadrut and refused to cooperate with the many strikes called by the reactionary and extremist leadership headed by the Grand Mufti. Many friends of Israel are aware of this past history or that the Druze, Circassian and Bedouin veterans of the IDF have suffered casualties and fatalities in excess of the Jewish population as a percentage of their relative populations. According to IDF statistics more than 80 percent of Druze and Circassians serve in the army. Almost 400 have been killed in combat operations since 1948. The non-Jewish communities The official number of Arab residents and non-Jews in Israel is more than 1,600,000 people - almost 20 percent of Israels population of eight million. This figure includes approximately 300,000 Arabs in East Jerusalem, under Israeli control since 1967. About 82.6 percent of the Arab population in Israel is Sunni Muslim (with a very small minority of Shia), another 9 percent is Druze, and around 9 percent is Christian (mostly Oriental Orthodox and Catholic denominations). The three minority within a minority communities of Druze, Circassians and Bedouins sought alliances with the Jews to afford themselves a counterweight against pressure from the Sunni Arab majority. Strong rivalries among and within clans, regions, villages, religions (Muslim and Christian) and political interests persisted during the Mandate. The growing expansion of Arab industry and agriculture, especially related to the prosperous cultivation of citrus, olives, cereals, and grapes, led to fear by the conservative and moderate religious leadership that extremist politics would jeopardize this prosperity. The Muslim effendi class resented the extremist Muslim forces of the Husseini clan using the ideology of Pan-Arab nationalism Scores of Arab villages signed non-aggression agreements with neighboring Jewish settlements, kibbutzim, and towns not to permit their homes to be used as bases for attacks. Many of the Arab villages where the population objected strongly to the presence of foreign Arab military forces who tried to press-gang them into joining in the hostilities, ejected them or even provided Jewish settlements with important information. The Druze The Israeli government designated the Druze a distinct ethnic community in 1957 at the request of its communal leaders. They number about 150,000 and constitute 2 percent of Israels population. Before the establishment of the State of Israel, the Druze were not recognized as a religious community. They were regarded as a deviant sect by the majority Sunni Muslim religious authorities. They live mainly in the north of the country. Many Druze have attained top positions in the military, Israeli politics and public service, although initially when conscription was first accepted by the communitys leadership in 1956. For regular army service, there was considerable opposition. The Circassians The Circassian community numbers approximately 5,000 and resides primarily in two Galilean villages, Kfar Kama and Rehaniya. Nowadays, the Circassian community in Israel is well integrated into Israeli society, speak their ancestral Turkic language, Adyghe (in addition to learning Hebrew, Arabic and English in elementary school), while cultivating their unique heritage and culture. The Israeli Circassians have had good relations with the Jewish community in Israel since the beginning of the pre-state Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel due in part to knowledge of the Russian language shared with many of the First Aliyah immigrants who settled in the Galilee. They also helped the illegal migration of Jews from Lebanon and Syria into Mandate Palestine. Many in Israel are employed in the Israeli security forces, including in the Israeli Border Police, the Israeli Defense Forces, and the Israeli Prison Service. The percentage of the army recruits among the community in Israel is particularly high. The Bedouin and the Special Tracker Unit Each year, between 5 percent-10 percent of the Bedouin of draft age volunteer for the Israeli army. They are not required by law to do so. Many serve as trackers in the IDFs elite units, securing the border from infiltration. Israels Bedouins number about 45,000 classified into 22 distinct tribes. In recent years, voluntary recruitment has varied from 90 to several hundred men among the 1,500-plus Bedouin eligible to join up each year. By any yardstick you chooseeducational opportunity, economic development, women and gays rights, freedom of speech and assembly, legislative representationIsraels minorities fare far better than any other country in the Middle East Sharona and Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, the longtime OU-JLIC campus educators at UCLA, at the UCLA Hillel with their family on the occasion of their daughter's bat mitzvah, December 2016. CHICAGO-Every Friday morning for a month, rebbetzin Ariel Pardo has been meeting with three female Jewish students at Brandeis University for deep conversations that wind their way from Jewish ritual to intimacy. "Ari is always so open and she makes us feel so comfortable," said Mollie Goldfarb, 19, a first-year student. "She gives off that warm, inviting presence everyone can be around. It's never just her teaching us, but us learning and discussing together." Pardo and her husband, Rabbi David Pardo, are the Brandeis campus representatives of the Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC), a program that places young, married Orthodox male and female educator couples on college campuses to foster and cultivate Orthodox Jewish life. The couples host everything from one-on-one learning and group classes to Shabbat and holiday meals. A unique partnership between the Orthodox Union and the Jewish campus group Hillel, OU-JLIC currently has 60 educators on 22 campuses across North America. These modern Orthodox educators serve primarily Orthodox students, and the average educator couple serves for about four to five years. "We're working with a population that is very intelligent," said Sharona Kaplan, the OU-JLIC educator at UCLA along with her husband, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan. "Our job is to help their relationship with Judaism mature, to help them find value and relevance-and ultimately own their Judaism." When OU-JLIC was launched in 2000, the OU envisioned a program that included female educators as professional counterparts of their rabbi husbands-not in some secondary role. "The OU-JLIC women educators have leadership roles equal to their husbands," said Gideon Black, director of professional recruitment and leadership development for the program and once a OU-JLIC educator at New York University. "Many of our female OU-JLIC educators have graduate degrees in Bible or advanced Talmudic studies, and they've all done significant Jewish learning in Israel and the States. Our female educators are leaders on campus in a way you cannot really match in the synagogue world or within traditional Orthodoxy." Traditionally, rebbetzin was a title applied to any rabbi's wife. It implied no special degree or training and delivered no monetary compensation. Historian Shuly Rubin Schwartz, author of "The Rabbi's Wife: The Rebbetzin in American Jewish Life," says many rebbetzins of old, in fact, were extraordinarily well-educated and indispensable partners for their husbands. They often raised money, spearheaded charitable organizations, taught classes, hosted congregants for Shabbat and holidays, and even helped their husbands write sermons. But their stories largely have been forgotten. "For most of history, women's work was underappreciated, and the options for women's work were limited, so even when women performed important work, it wasn't acknowledged," Schwartz said. But in recent years, OU-JLIC female Torah educators have begun breaking that mold. OU-JLIC female educators are expected to serve with their husbands as equal partners, and they bring to their jobs formal training and expertise. And unlike the rebbetzins of old, they are paid for their work on the same basis as the male educators. Pardo, 30, says she didn't grown up wanting to marry a rabbi. "Once I started dating my husband, I realized I'd be a rebbetzin, and I became determined to redefine the role," she said. Today, young Orthodox women expect to be both compensated and recognized. "We're 21st-century women and educated professionals leading lives that are at once worldly and traditional," said Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt, a young rebbetzin on Manhattan's Upper East Side who writes for Haaretz about her communal role. "We can't be expected to throw our careers to the side for communal volunteer work, like in days of old. But for those of us who want to be seriously involved, as educators and mentors doing pastoral work alongside our husbands, there are so few professional opportunities for which we are compensated and recognized." She added, "Our community desperately needs religious women taking leadership roles, and if couples can do that together, as teams, I think that's the most powerful outreach there is." At UCLA, the Kaplans have been the campus OU-JLIC educators for 13 years-long enough to watch former students grow up, marry, start families and even become JLIC educators themselves. "I always wanted to work in the Jewish community, but I didn't think I would be a campus rebbetzin," said Sharona Kaplan, who has a bachelor's degree from Yeshiva University's Stern College for Women and a master's from Yeshiva's Wurzweiler School of Social Work. "My Jewish life was so rich and so fun and so compelling-and my husband's was, too-that we wanted to pay it forward by trying to replicate what we were gifted through experiential Jewish living for students at UCLA." When they started at UCLA in 2004, they were given free reign and told to serve the community in a holistic way. They began running learning programs with students, including a jointly taught class on Jewish philosophy and law, and hosting large Shabbat meals. Thanks to Hillel, which either caters the meals or pays for them, Kaplan does not have to do much cooking. Like all OU-JLIC educators, the Kaplans started their tenure living on campus, but after five years they outgrew their space on fraternity row and moved to a house nearby. The couple is now expecting their sixth child. Aryeh Kaplan says he's lucky to have Sharona working in partnership with him. "You are not a solo practitioner, and having that person by my side also be my wife is an exceptional thing," he said. "There is this inherent trust with each other because you work together on so many realms. Our communication, our trust, our assurance that we are there for each other is very special." The Kaplans also helped place three more OU-JLIC couples in Los Angeles who serve five area commuter colleges with large Jewish student populations. The Pardos both attended UCLA and were so inspired by the Kaplans, they decided to become OU-JLIC educators, too. Being representatives of Orthodox living on the liberal campus of Brandeis comes with its challenges, Ariel Pardo says. "My husband and I walk a very fine line," Pardo said. "But we are really modeling a life for how to interact in a marriage and how to have a family. When you have a couple that stand for Torah and there is wrong and right, that is tremendously important." Meir Kruter David and Ariel Pardo are the Brandeis campus representatives of the OU-JLIC program, which places young Orthodox educator couples on college campuses to cultivate Orthodox Jewish life. Black says the success of the JLIC educators has led to new leadership opportunities for Orthodox women: A growing number of Orthodox congregations are seeking to hire not just a rabbi but a rabbi along with his educator wife. "We didn't set out to advance the role of women's leadership in the Orthodox community, but that's what is happening," said Sharona Kaplan, who is on OU-JLIC's senior management team and one of two female educators in the six-person OU-JLIC Executive Leadership cohort. "We are thrilled with this positive development." This article was sponsored by and produced in partnership with the Orthodox Union, the nation's largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, dedicated to engaging and strengthening the Jewish community, and to serving as the voice of Orthodox Judaism in North America. This article was not produced by JTA's staff reporters or editors. Oy vay department!... I watched an entire four hours of Nazi stories on television the other day. So much of it reminded me of Twitler... oops, I meant Hitler. Anti-Semitism all over again?... I received a letter from Rabbi MARVIN HIER, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and pass it along in part: "When I delivered an invocation at the presidential inauguration, I hoped to do my share to help begin to unite a divided country. Afterwards, people of all origins, faiths and backgrounds approached me to offer their thanks for the affirmation of our shared values of freedom and democracy. Unfortunately, there were other voices that came directly into our nation's computers and iPhones. Hundreds of vile anti-Semitic messages, Nazi-era caricatures and hate speech flooded social media and the internet, even as I was still speaking. "I know that you, like me, are deeply concerned about the global surge in vicious anti-Semitism, from murderous attacks on Israeli men, women and children, to a rash of bomb threats on American synagogues and Jewish community centers, virulent anti-Israel campus and church-based campaigns, and more. Since the UN Security Council's dangerous vote in favor of a one-sided anti-Israel resolution (and the United States' reckless abstention) Center leaders have been actively defending Israel, and sharing the Jewish peoples' long and storied history in the Holy Land, and in capitals on three continents. You recognize, of course, that the outrageous resolution actually said, in effect, that the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem's Old City stand on stolen Palestinian land. It identifies peaceful Jewish communities in Jerusalem and on the West Bank as the impediment to peace, while omitting any condemnation of Hamas terrorism and the anti-Semitic brainwashing of Palestinian children. "The Simon Wiesenthal Center has led the way in this important fight, collecting thousands of petitions to the new UN Secretary General ANTONIO GUTERRES, welcoming him to his position and urging him to instruct the UN's agencies to stop demonizing the Jewish State and its people and denying the foundations of Judaism and Jewish history." (My spouse and I once visited Israel and were so taken with its beauty and history. I hope to go again one day.) I received a phone call... It was from a lovely lady named BARBARA SNYDER. She wanted me to pass this info on to you: "Is Jewish Broadcasting Service (JBSTV) available amongst your scheduled Cable TV programming channels? JBSTV runs 24/7, it's free, with dedicated programming related to national and international Jewish news, adult and children's studies series, intellectual, educational, and religious programming. For those unable to attend synagogue in person, live Friday night services from Central Synagogue in New York is available and on major holidays. Look at www.jbstv.org, to see in depth programming titles and descriptions. If your local TV Cable provider does not offer JBSTV, call Customer Service and request JBSTV be programmed into your local TV cable service area. Religious Discrimination is Unacceptable. If JBSTV is coming into your home, please ask your friends to follow your lead. There is strength in numbers. Let's bring JBSTV into our homes, to our families, to our brothers and sisters in hospice care, long-term care, nursing homes and those infirmed. Let's work together. One phone call can make change happen and be life altering. I strongly believe we must encourage, provide and nourish our Jewish population for Judaism to remain strong." (If you need further information, you can contact Barbara yourself at 407-788-2055 or .) A Jewish Pavilion Mensch... How about two mensches this time, JEFF GAESER and CHRIS DESOUZA, my publisher and news editor? Here is the email: "Having a guest at the seder table is an important part of our tradition. Thanks to Jeff Gaeser and Chris DeSouza of the Heritage Jewish News, the Jewish Pavilion was excited to have a special guest at their seder. Dorothy had nowhere to go for seder until she read in the Heritage that the Jewish Pavilion was conducting a seder close to her home at the Winter Park Care and Rehab. She joined the residents in the recitation of the Haggadah and enjoyed all the traditional foods associated with the holiday. When the seder ended, the Jewish Pavilion staff had the opportunity to speak with Dorothy and thank her for coming. It is customary to invite guests to the seder, especially strangers and the needy. All of these customs were fulfilled." From Mensch to Music... On Sunday, April 30th, MARK McKEE brings his musical talents to the Altamonte Chapel, beginning at 12:30 p.m. With Mark will be BEN KRAMER on bass and MICHAEL WELCH on drums. Our own ALAN ROCK is emcee. The Altamonte Chapel is located at 825 E. SR 436, Altamonte Springs. The phone number is 407-339-5208. Shout-Out... If you ever find yourself in the Walgreens Drugstore on Aloma Avenue (corner of Lakemont) in Winter Park, ask for staff member ANDY ANTONETTI. He is simply the best, smartest and very kind (and also good looking!) One for the road... As Leah is visiting her late father's grave in the cemetery, she passes close by a woman who is sobbing and wailing at another grave. Leah can easily hear that the woman is saying, "Oh why, oh why did you die? Why did you have to die?" This question is repeated many times. After paying her respects to her father, Leah is leaving the cemetery when she again passes the sobbing woman. She is still wailing, "Why, oh why did you have to die?" Leah feels pity for this woman and walks over to try to comfort her. "Pardon me, I hope you don't mind me coming over, but I heard your cries of pain and anguish. I assume the deceased was a relative of yours?" "No she's not," says the other woman, "in fact I never met her before." "Then why are you so sad?" asks Leah. "Who was she? Who is buried at this grave?" "My husband's first wife," replies the woman. During the spring of 2017, CAMERA sponsored ex-IDF soldier Hen Mazzig to speak on 17 college campuses. On one of his last stops was the University of Central Florida where Knights for Israel hosted Hen to speak about his life, his family, and his service. He began the night speaking about his family background and their journey from Tunisia and Iraq to Israel. His family belonged to the Amazigh tribe in Tunisia and he shared his grandparents accounts of the tiny Jewish community within the tribe. He spoke about how his grandmother fled Iraq during the expulsion and murder of the Jewish community in 1941. We learned about his childhood and his firsthand accounts of terrorism during the Second Intifada. When he was 12, Mazzig walked to an ice cream shop two blocks from his home. As he stood outside the shop, just steps away, a Palestinian suicide bomber blew up the cafe, killing a grandmother and her 2-year-old granddaughter and injuring many others. Hen describes this as the most significant event of [his] life and the event that later inspired him to join the COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories) unit of the IDF. He says that working together and understanding one another is the way to achieve peace. Working as a COGAT soldier, he was directly able to work towards peace. Lastly, Mazzig spoke about his experience as an openly gay commander. He came out during his service to his fellow soldiers and commanding officers. Being an openly gay IDF soldier never got in the way of his work or his experience, and he received nothing but support from his unit. He finished the night fielding questions from the students and answered with care and skill. He answered every question, even the tough; he was candid as he addressed the students. I asked him what the biggest thing he learned from his speaking tour this semester. He answered saying how he was shocked by how polarizing politics, and Israel specifically, is on campus and how he has to deal with students that dont want to listen. He was asked about his well-documented experience at University College London and showed the video and gave a comical play-by-play of what went on that night when anti-Israel protestors barricaded the students and Hen in the classroom and subsequently broke into the space that was guarded by police. Mazzig really connected with the students. He was down to earth, raw, and painted a new and refreshing picture of what it means to be gay, Arab, and a proud Jew in the nation state of the Jewish people. He showed us that everyone has a story and that soldiers are people too with real hardships that we all face. It is that time of year once again when Heritage Florida Jewish News is putting out feelers for one outstanding person in the Jewish community who has given his or her time or talent or monetary gifts to better the Orlando Jewish community. Nominations for the 2017 Heritage Human Service Award are now being accepted and the award will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. For more than 27 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award, said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last years recipient was Susie Bierman. Former recipients have included Loren London (2014) Bob Yarmuth (2004), and Claire Mercer (2003). According Gaeser, Each recipient chose their own path, but made considerable and long-lasting contributions to the Jewish community. Nominees for the 2017 award are individuals who do not look for recognition, but perform tikun olanrepairing the worldout of internal motivation. Nominations should be emailed to news@orlandoheritage.com with the subject Human Service Award, or typed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper and sent by mail to Heritage Florida Jewish News, Human Service Award, 207 OBrien Road, Suite 101, Fern Park, FL 32730. Included should be the name and phone number of the nominee, a documented list of his or her accomplishments, and the name and phone number of the nominator(s). The Heritage is accepting nominations until Friday, June 9. Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, is a moment to pause and honor the six million Jews who lost their lives during the Holocaust and reflect on the ways we carry their memory forward in our own lives. As the late Israeli President Shimon Peres once said at Yad Vashem, "The history of the Holocaust is not just a lesson from the past, it is also a lesson for the future." In this spirit, Central Florida Hillel recently hosted two Holocaust survivors, Henri Goodheim and Helen Greenspun, to meet and converse with students. Their visit was made possible by The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida. "Helen was so sweet. You could tell she wanted to educate us. She saw the importance in that moment in sharing her own stories with a younger generation so we never forget. And, I can promise, we won't."-Brian Schickman "Stories from the Holocaust are all unique, but this also made me see that at the end of the day, we still want to find love, have a family, and universal values don't change with time. Henri is full of life and loved to laugh and share his stories."-Rachel Huss Henri Goodheim lights a candle at the Yom HaShoah ceremony. "Their stories stay with you. At the camps, Helen only got a cup of coffee in the morning and then a piece of bread at dinner. Hearing that puts it in perspective. This was memorable, transforming, and, really, life-changing."-Matt Horn "You hear stories and study it school, but it's different hearing a story and then seeing an artifact-and holding it in your hands. That exact thing that someone had to wear or deal with and it was something that shows you everything you've heard."-Shawn Burns Hillel is grateful to Henri and Helen for sharing their time and themselves with our Hillel students. As Tamara Mann Tweel, director of strategic development for Hillel's office of innovation, said, "It is the bonds between our elders and our students that will sustain the Jewish people." "By connecting the young to the old, our community ignites our most powerful engine, that of Jewish memory and Jewish care-taking." This May, Jewish Academy of Orlando celebrates women at its second annual Lady Luck, A Night Out with the Girls. The school invites all women for a night of fashion, food, wine and live music. "There is no event like this," says Alan Rusonik, head of school. "This event is all about the women." Tuni will be hosting a fashion show featuring local moms. There will be live music playing while the ladies eat, drink, play casino games, pose in the photo booth and shop with some local vendors. "Grab your girlfriends and your favorite 'Derby' hat," said Board Co-President Melanie Brenner. "We welcome the community to this event. It is for all women." The event is Thursday, May 11, from 6:30 p.m. -10 p.m. at the Winter Park Farmer's Market. Tickets can be purchased online at 2ndladyluck.eventbrite.com for $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Brenner adds, "We are so happy with our community support. Tuni, Henri Bendel, Tibby's New Orleans Kitchen and Quantum Leap Winery are sponsoring this year's great event." To sponsor the event or for questions, email Summer Simmons at ssimmons@jewishacademyorlando.org. To further support Jewish education and your local Jewish day school, to get involved or for any questions, please contact Alan Rusonik, head of school, at 407-647-0713. On April 4, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando and Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation were proud to host Eric Ross, Associate Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), for a fascinating and very timely discussion on Anti-Semitism Today, Globally and Locally. After a thoughtful welcome by Rabbi Hillel Skolnik, Ross, a graduate of the Hebrew Day School (now Jewish Academy of Orlando), led a rapt audience through a presentation outlining various contemporary forms of anti-Semitism and how ADL works to protect, investigate, and educate to battle against it. ADL fights for separation of church and state, social justice, and against hate of all kinds, and is particularly proud of its work to pass the landmark 2008 Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expanded the 1969 United States federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victims actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. ADL monitors, researches, and responds to reports of anti-Semitism and acts as a liaison between victims and the media. Ross explained that ADL has a comprehensive information clearinghouse on extremist activities and groups, which is the primary resource for the FBI and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. ADL provides Holocaust education to schools, early childhood programs, and law enforcement. As the single largest non-governmental trainer of law enforcement in the country, ADL has trained more than 100,000 law enforcement officers, including mandatory training for all FBI agents, in how law enforcement was co-opted during the Third Reich. Most recently, it worked with the Tampa Police Department to train all 1,000 of its officers and is now working on a similar program in St. Petersburg. All of these trainings are offered at no cost to participating organizations. ADL also hosts a Cyber-Hate Working Group, to which all major internet companies send senior leadership, and will be opening a new Silicon Valley office to specifically battle online hate. Ross then shared some sobering facts. In ADLs annual audit of anti-Semitic activity, which has been used as a barometer since 1979, there has been an uptick in the reporting of anti-Semitic incidents. In the first few months of 2017, the organization has received around 300 more calls than usual in a similar period, not including calls related to the bomb threats received by The Roth Family JCC and others around the country. Regarding the bomb threats, even though the alleged perpetrator was a Jewish teenager of dual American and Israeli citizenship, the threats are still anti-Semitic, and, since they were effective, may yet lead to copycats. College campuses saw 124 instances of anti-Semitic flyers since the start of the school year, with 85 of those instances just since Jan. 1, and cyber-hate continues to rise. And since leaders have not been quick enough to denounce hate speech, people are feeling emboldened. Florida, as usual, is its own special case. According to Ross, ADL publishes a special guide, Extremism in Florida: The Dark Side of the Sunshine State, which outlines all of the extremist groups that exist side-by-side with us. Stormfront, the primary online clearinghouse for hate groups, bigotry, and anti-Semitism, is headquartered in West Palm Beach. Swastikas have been painted on cars in Miami Beach, spray-painted onto a car in an Orthodox neighborhood in Boca Raton, and, of course, found on campuses here in Central Florida, from Lake Brantley and Winter Park High Schools to a bus en route to Rock Lake Middle School. Families in Orlando and Winter Park have found swastikas on their homes. Flyers for white nationalist organizations were posted at UCF. So, what can we do? ADL offers a best practices guide for responding to cyber-hate, and its Cyber-Safety Action Guide educates users on the best way to advocate on specific websites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) if you see an instance of anti-Semitism. ADL also advises to stand up for the rights of other groups; as Ross noted, The more we care about others, the more they will care about us. Be vigilant about responding to anti-Semitism, even if it seems to be in a joking context, as jokes make it seem acceptable, which then opens the door to bias and eventually to hate. Look clearly at context, and think about using Natan Sharanskys Three Ds of the New Anti-Semitism when listening or participating in discussions about Israel. Though anti-Israel views and remarks do not necessarily mean anti-Semitism, there is a clear line that crosses into anti-Semitism. Sharansky suggests that if a double standard is applied (Israel does something that other nations do as well, but is the only one called out), Israel or Israelis are demonized (Israel is compared to Nazi Germany, politicians supportive of Israel are depicted wearing Nazi uniforms), or Israel is delegitimized (its very existence is stated as problematic), the line has been crossed. The evening ended with the personable and highly informed Ross taking questions from a very engaged and appreciative audience. We encourage everyone to visit the ADL website for additional information on the organizations absolutely crucial work and how you can get involved. A day after convicted Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti wrote a New York Times op-ed that omitted his crimes and terrorist organization membership and sparked scathing rebuke from the international community, the newspaper added a brief editor's note acknowledging the murder and terror-related convictions that led to his imprisonment. The April 16 piece-where the Times referred to Barghouti as a "Palestinian leader and parliamentarian"-was slammed by Israeli officials and Jewish leaders in the U.S. and elsewhere. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday, "I read, on Sunday, the article in The New York Times that presents arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti as a 'parliamentarian and leader.' The paper recanted after we pointed it out to them." "Calling Barghouti a 'political leader' is like calling Assad a 'pediatrician,' Netanyahu added. "They are murderers and terrorists." Barghouti, who used the Times as a platform to accuse Israel of conducting "mass arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners," was convicted in June 2004 for killing five people-including the death of a Christian Greek Orthodox priest that he mistook for a Jewish rabbi-and the attempted murder of another. He is currently serving five life sentences and 40 additional years for the murders. The editor's note clarifies, "This article explained the writer's prison sentence but neglected to provide sufficient context by stating the offense of which he was convicted. They were five counts of murder and membership in a terrorist organization." The Times's public editor, Liz Spayd, criticized the paper's op-ed department for its failure to list the crimes committed by Barghouti,writing that "failing to do so risks the credibility of the author and the Op-Ed pages." The op-ed was also criticized across the political spectrum in Israel. Yesh Atid chairman MK Yair Lapid criticized the article stating Barghouti "was involved in dozens of terror attacks that made people lose family, that maimed innocents, that ruined people's lives. The New York Times 'forgot' to tell its readers that." Bayit Yehudi chairman Naftali Bennett weighed in via Facebook, posting a picture of one of the terrorist's victims and writing, "Marwan Barghouti is a heinous murderer who should rot in jail until the day he dies." Meanwhile, Barghouti, initiated a hunger strike Sunday, following weeks of preparation, that now involves over 1,100 Palestinian prisoners in the Gilboa, Meggido, Nafha, Ketziot, Shikma, Ramon, Hadarim and Nitzan prisons. The prisoners are demanding improved conditions such as the installation of pay phones in all prison wings, as well as allowing more frequent family visits. A spokesperson for the Israel Prison Service told JNS.org, "Hunger strikes in prison endanger the health and life of the prisoners in custody of the state who's in charge of their well-being and are violations of the discipline and order. Organized hunger strikes even more so." Prison officials have started "disciplinary measures towards the striking prisoners and transferring them into separate cell blocks," the spokesman said. These strikes are not new to Israeli prisons and officials do not negotiate with prisoners. Security officials are prepared for the possibility of a strike and coordinate with other organizations such as the IDF, the Ministry of Health and police. In response to the hunger strike, Barghouti has been moved to solitary confinement. Officials are investigating whether Barghouti's op-ed was transmitted to the newspaper through his attorney or if Barghouti's wife penned the article. While Barghouti is affiliated with Fatah, the largest faction of the PLO headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, his hunger strike caused other Palestinian factions to unite behind his effort. Issa Qaraqe, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, said in a statement, "the Palestinian people, in every place where it lives, declared today that the prisoners' issue is sacred to it and that the occupation government will not enjoy quiet and security as long as it violates the rights of the Palestinian people and harms its prisoners." "The Palestinian people declared today an intifada on behalf of the prisoners who are conducting a campaign whose foundation is a hunger strike for their rights and their dignity," the statement said. At the same time, Barghouti's actions may also undermine and threaten Abbas. Despite being imprisoned for over a decade, Barghouti remains a popular figure among Palestinians and is rumored to be a successor to Abbas. As such, Abbas sought to capitalize on the latest efforts, releasing a statement in support of the hunger strike and called on the international community to intervene. Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the Gaza-based Palestinian terror group, Hamas, said Monday that the release of the Palestinian prisoners is a top priority for the organization. Protests in support of the hunger strike were held in several Palestinian areas throughout Judea and Samaria, most prominently in Ramallah, which saw over 2,000 protestors march through the streets waving Palestinian flags and holding pictures of Marwan Barghouti. In response, Israeli Knesset member Osama Saadia (Joint List) said, "We are certain that all of the Palestinian prisoners are united in this campaign, which is a campaign for the liberty of the Palestinian people." Another Joint List Knesset member, Aida Touma-Suliman, applied for a permit to visit Barghouti in prison. WASHINGTON (JTA)The Texas House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill banning state entities from dealing with businesses that boycott Israel or its settlements. The bill approved Thursday follows the state Senates approval of a similar bill in March by overwhelming numbers. Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign a reconciled version of both bills next month. In statements, pro-Israel groups that lobbied for the bills praised its passage. The relationship between the Jewish state and the Lone Star State is built upon shared values, including a rock-solid commitment to standing up for libertyespecially when it is threatened by radical Islamic extremism, Pastor John Hagee, the founder of Christians United For Israel, said in a statement. Josh Block, CEO of The Israel Project, sounded a similar note. The people of the Lone Star State and Israel share an unbreakable bond based upon mutual values, and by passing this legislationensuring that taxpayer dollars do not fund discriminationTexas has reaffirmed this important friendship, he said. The House bill requires that Texas maintain a list of companies boycotting Israel. Civil liberties groups have objected to such provisions in other states, saying they amount to a blacklist. In some cases the lists, drawn from the media and other open sources, have proven inaccurate, including companies not boycotting Israel. Liberal pro-Israel groups say that including prohibitions on boycotting settlements undercuts efforts to combat the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Texas would be the 20th state with laws or executive orders banning state business with BDS-compliant companies. The Tampa Orlando Pinellas Jewish Foundation will honor all those who have remembered a Tampa or Pinellas Jewish organization with a gift in their wills, trusts, retirement accounts, or life insurance policies. This celebration for the Tampa and Pinellas communities will be on Tuesday evening, May 23, from 5:30 until 7 p.m. at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Parkway South, Maitland. At TOP, we believe that philanthropy is a family affair, so weve planned an evening for all generations. Well celebrate with delicious hors doeuvres and Israeli wine for the adults, kid-friendly snacks and tzdakah activities for the young ones, and family photos by Photostages for everyone. While this community celebration marks the end of TOPs formal participation in the Life & Legacy initiative of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the TOP staff looks forward to maintaining our partnerships with all local Jewish organizations as, together, we continue to build a strong, financially stable Jewish community. RSVP for our complimentary Orlando community celebration by Monday, May 15, to 813-961-9090 or natalie@topjewishfoundation.org. Questions? Contact Susan Goldstein, Life & Legacy Program Director, at 813-769-4769 or susan@topjewishfoundation.org. TOP is pleased to underwrite the cost of this training session for representatives of any organization who want to attend. RSVP to Susan Goldstein, TOP Life & Legacy Program Director, at susan@topjewishfoundation.org or 813.769.4769 by Wednesday, March 16. WASHINGTON (JTA)Iran is not living up to the spirit of the nuclear deal, President Donald Trump said, the latest in a flurry of mixed messages on the deal his administration has relayed in recent days. As far as Iran is concerned, I think they are doing a tremendous disservice to an agreement that was signed, Trump said Thursday in a joint appearance at the White House with Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni of Italy. They are not living up to the spirit of the agreement, I can tell you that, and were analyzing it very, very carefully, and well have something to say about it in the not too distant future. Trumps remarks came just a day after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson affirmed in a letter to Congress that Iran was in compliance with the deal. However, in the same letter, Tillerson said the Trump administration would also review the terms of the deal considering Irans leading role in backing terrorism. The deal, reached in 2015 between six major powers and Iran, swaps sanctions relief for a rollback of Irans nuclear program. It does not address Irans backing of terrorism, and the U.S. partners in brokering the dealincluding western Europe, Russia, and Chinawould likely balk at making terrorism an issue after the fact. Later Thursday, Tillerson said the review would also include Irans role in intensifying multiple conflicts, including in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon, and its threats against Israel, as well as its missile testing. And he said the Trump administration sees the Iran deal as part of a failed approach of previous administrations that helped bring about a nuclear North Korea. The deal, Tillerson said at a State Department press availability, only delays their goal of becoming a nuclear state. Trump in his remarks with the Italian prime minister also slammed the deal. It was a terrible agreement, it shouldnt have been signed, it shouldnt have been negotiated the way it is negotiated, he said. Im all for agreements but that was a bad one, as bad as Ive ever seen negotiated. Trump during his presidential campaign criticized the deal relentlessly but stopped short of clearly saying he would scrap it, as most other Republican candidates promised to do. After he was elected, some of his top officialsincluding his defense secretary, James Mattissaid it would be unwise to cancel the deal. Mattis arrived in Israel on Friday to meet his counterpart there, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, and how to contain Iranian influence is likely to be a top discussion item. While U.S.-Israel military ties have long been known for foreign aid packages, intelligence-sharing and jointly developed missile defense technology, veterans affairs could be a major new frontier in that relationship. The seeds of this added dimension to already storied Israeli-American bonds were planted during last year's U.S. presidential election, particularly in the eyes of Israeli government officials tasked with the care of injured and released IDF soldiers. Israeli Defense Ministry officials point out that then-candidate and now President Donald Trump significantly focused on issues pertaining to veterans on the campaign trail and has maintained that focus in the early months of his administration. Another relevant development for Israeli leaders is Trump's selection of Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin, a Jewish doctor and hospital administrator who was unanimously approved by the Senate Feb. 13-no small feat in this hyper-partisan era. Within weeks, Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben-Dahan and his advisers reached out to Shulkin, asking for a meeting. That meeting-the first of its kind between American and Israeli policy officials responsible for the care of injured and released (known as "discharged" in the U.S.) soldiers-took place in late March in Washington, D.C. It also marked Shulkin's first visit with a foreign government official. "The level of anticipated cooperation brings what has long been a productive relationship [on military affairs], in terms of the purchasing of technology and sharing of information, to a whole new level," Idit Druyan, an adviser to Ben-Dahan, told JNS.org. "Shulkin is extremely knowledgeable. He was very welcoming to us and open to listening to our ideas. We were excited by his interest in the work he wants to accomplish as well as his interest in our expertise," she added. In some ways, the systems for working with injured and released soldiers in the two countries are very different. Israeli soldiers' progression from the military health care system to the public system happens at the government level rather than at the individual's initiative, as is the case in the U.S. Yet there are many similarities in the types of medical issues that arise. Treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide prevention are of great interest to both nations, and the leaders have agreed to pursue future cooperation on those fronts. Further, the Israeli leaders have welcomed the idea of the U.S. using Israeli experts for American presentations during international conferences at which Israel itself is not yet participating. Such an opportunity will allow Israelis to showcase their knowledge on a world stage for which they have, until now, largely been denied access. Deputy Minister Ben-Dahan is a rabbi and served as an officer in the IDF. He continued serving in the military reserves until age 60, and currently has several children serving in combat units. Before moving into Israel's Defense Ministry, Ben-Dahan served as deputy minister of religious services. Although Sec. Shulkin is not a veteran, he was born on a U.S. Army base in Illinois, where his father served as a military psychiatrist. Shulkin served in high-level management roles at several major medical facilities, including as the president and CEO of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. "The fact that Shulkin is Jewish did, naturally, come up during our Washington meeting," said Druyan, who noted Shulkin "mentioned that he has been to Israel and that one of his children spent a year in Israel." During the meeting, according to Druyan, Shulkin asked the Israelis about their familiarity with Israel-based ReWalk, a robotics company producing exoskeletons for those with spinal cord injuries. Following the meeting, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs this month purchased 28 ReWalk Personal Exoskeleton Systems to support a national clinical trial. The Israeli and American leaders responsible for caring for their respective nations' soldiers expect to remain in professional contact, and to maintain and increase mutually productive endeavors. Recently, I had a chance to spend a day with one of my closest friends from law school. Near the end of our time together, he shared the story of the passing of his mother whom I had the pleasure of meeting many decades ago. Towards the end the end of her life, she was hospitalized with pneumonia. The doctor told her oldest son that she would not be able regain her strength unless a feeding tube was inserted. Her son decided against the feeding tube on the grounds that his mother had lived a full lifeshe was then 96and that the operation entailed certain risks and might be painful. When my friend went to visit his mother in hospice, he was shocked to find that all her medications had been stopped as well. He asked his brother what was going on, and his brother told him that everything was being done to ensure the smoothest, most painless passage to the next world. But have you asked Mama what she wants? my friend asked. The two brothers agreed that they would put the question their mother together. They sat in her room, one either side of her, each holding one of her hands, while the older son explained the choices that he had made. He concluded by asking his devoutly religious mother, whether she was prepared to meet her Maker. Well, son, I dont think I amat least not quite yet, she replied. My friend related that at that moment he felt like jumping up and cheering. Over the next two months, his mother proceeded to eat herself out of hospice entirely. Why was I so struck by this story? Because it provides a good example of how the societal emphasis on the quality of life has warped our thinking and perverted our most basic moral intuitions. My friends older brother loved his mother dearly. There can be no question of an ill motive in his decisions: Yet so sincerely did he believe that he was acting in his mothers best interests by helping her gently let go of life that he did not even bother to ask her what she wanted. Justice Neil Gorsuch chronicles in his book The Future of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide the slippery slope that inevitably follows when one departs from the traditional view of the sanctity of life. Already 20 years ago, the Second and Ninth Circuits both endorsed a broad constitutional right to assisted suicide for competent, terminally ill persons. Though the Supreme Court narrowly overturned both decisions, a majority of the justices appeared prepared to recognize a right to assisted suicide in particular circumstances. The Netherlands is the country with the longest experience with euthanasia and assisted suicide going back to a 1984 statute. The autonomy argument has now been extended in the Netherlands to non-terminally ill patients and to include forms of suffering that are not physical. In addition, it has been extended to children as young as twelve years old, as long that child possesses a reasonable understanding of his interests and obtains parental consent. By 16, parental consent is no longer required. According to a large survey of Dutch physicians, by 1990 there were already 8,750 deaths, or 7 percent of all deaths in the Netherlands, as a consequence of active intervention to shorten life or withdrawal of medical treatment for the same purpose, without the explicit consent of the victims. In 2015, the Canadian Supreme Court found a constitutional right to physician-assisted suicide and gave the Canadian parliament a year to draft an appropriate statute guaranteeing that right. Though the statute recognized a physicians right not to assist in such a suicide for reasons of conscience, the provincial medical associations were delegated authority to draft regulations concerning the obligations of physicians under the statute. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario issued regulations requiring physicians who refuse to assist in a suicide for reasons of religion or conscience to nevertheless refer the patient to another physician who is prepared to assist the suicide. (Ontario includes Toronto and is home to the largest number of Jewish physicians of any province in Canada.) Failure to do so, according to the regulations, will be considered abandonment of the patient. The College of Physicians and Surgeons has the power to revoke the licenses of non-complying physicians. Providing effective referral, according to the College, is not assisting in a suicide, and therefore cannot be said to violate the conscience of the referring physician Unfortunately, the judgment about whether the referring physician is implicated in the subsequent killing of the patient is not one for the Ontario College of Physicians to make. It is an issue of halacha: Does such a referral violate the prohibition against being mesayeah ldavar aveirah. A number of Catholic doctors and professional organizations representing Christian doctors, Bnai Brith of Canada, and at least one Orthodox physician, Dr. Ellen Warner, a full professor of medicine at the University of Toronto and an oncologist, who deals with many end of life patients, have filed suit to prevent enforcement of the guidelines of the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons, on the grounds that they violate both their religious conscience and their conception of the proper task of a physician as one charged with preserving life. And efforts are underway in parliament to secure physicians an exemption from making referrals. In late December, the Rabbinical Council of America published a resolution, passed at the initiative of Rabbis Chaim Strauchler and Daniel Korobkin, both of Toronto, condemning physician assisted death as forbidden by Jewish law, which views life as a gift of G-d that only He can take away. The resolution points out that such statutes may make it impossible for believing Jews to enter the practice of medicine or to continue as physicians. It also notes, as does Judge Gorsuch, that the so-called right to die often transmogrifies into a duty to die for vulnerable patients who worry about being a burden, financial or otherwise, to their families. And it takes little imagination to see how health care providers, eager to avoid the high cost of late life care, will provide incentives to create something like a duty to kill for physicians who want to work for them. The lifelines story in the Pesach issue, Living with Dignity, illustrates graphically how physician assisted suicide statutes completely transform the mindset of health care providers. (The story was actually sent to me by the narrator/daughter of the patient in question, who heard I was researching the Canadian statute.) Every single physician and nurse in the story, with the sole exception of the Orthodox Dr. Sharon Finer, who insists that the mothers condition is completely treatable, appears to view their duty with respect to a terminally ill patient as to expedite their departure from the world. First, the doctors at the hospital in which the 84-year-old cancer patient is being treated tells her that her cancer has metastasized to her bones and stomach lining, and that she has only a day or two to live. She is sent home to die. By prematurely ending treatment, the hospital caused her needless pain by failing to detect calcium leaking from her bones into her blood. After being admitted to a second hospital via the emergency room, that hospital too soon gives up on medical treatment, and keeps sending teams of palliative specialists to ask whether she would like increased doses of morphine, which can often trigger a fatal heart attack. Those same professionals next recommend cessation of hydration, which will lead inevitably to death. Only after the elderly cancer patient realizes that death is not as imminent as she was told, does she insist on lowering her pain medication so she can resume normal activities. For her efforts, she is visited by a series of psychiatrists who try to convince her to die already. One asks her, Do you have any meaning in life? Even after being assured that she does, he tells her in his most soothing voice, We are here to help you die, if that is your wishand we truly believe it is. Another young resident completely misreads a CT scan and tells her that the situation is hopeless. She then falsely writes on her chart that the patient expressed a desire to cease treatment. Today, more than half a year after the first prediction of death within a day or two, the narrators mother goes to the gym every day to work out on the elliptical machine and lift weights, reads prodigiously, and greets her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with a smile. Sometimes, even under medial regimes, which appropriate to themselves the ability to assess the quality of life, the merchants of death strike out. Jonathan Rosenblum is a columnist for the Jerusalem Post and Israeli director of Am Echad. As Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan assumed near-dictatorial powers following his dubious victory in a constitutional referendum April 16, Andrew Brunson, a Christian pastor from North Carolina, was marking his sixth month of incarceration inside a Turkish prison. Brunson, who has lived in Turkey with his family for the last 23 years, was the head of the Resurrection Church in the coastal city of Izmirthat is, until he was detained last October on the vague and unsubstantiated charge of membership in an armed terrorist organization. In a recent interview with North Carolina-based WTDV, Brunsons daughter, Jacqueline, expressed what many Americans were thinking when she exclaimed, I mean, hes an American citizen. Its kind of outrageous to think that this is happening to an American citizen. While American citizens living or working in the Middle East are no strangers to assassinations, hostage-taking and terrorist acts, what makes Brunsons case doubly outrageous is that his imprisonment is taking place in Turkeytraditionally an ally of the U.S., a member of NATO and widely regarded in the years prior to Erdogans rise as the ideal model for a secular state with a Muslim majority. Turkish officials have remained unmoved by outside pleas for Brunsons release. Binali Yildirimthe prime minister whose position has been abolished as a direct result of Erdogans constitutional overhaultold reporters in March that there was a possibility of putting Brunson on trial sooner rather than later, but he added, As you will appreciate, judiciary matters are not directly controlled by us. The only thing we should appreciate is the irony of a Turkish leader talking about his countrys independent judiciary less than a year after thousands of judges, university teachers, military officers and others were purged following the murky coup attempt against Erdogan. Sadly, Brunsons continued imprisonment has become a card for the Turks to play in negotiations, as Erdogan continues to pressure the U.S. into extraditing the Pennsylvania-based exiled Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom he insists orchestrated the failed coup of 2016. But its easier for Yildirim to pretend Turkish justice follows similar principles to American justice than to admit Brunson is the hostage of a populist tyrant. As for Erdogan, he does not appear to feel obliged to let up on his program of political repression in the wake of the referendum. If anything, the repression is escalating, with hundreds of arrests already reported within three days of the referendum result. Given the slim majority in favor of Erdogans campaign for an executive presidency48.6 percent of Turks voted against, and there were multiple reports of electoral violationsthis was to be expected. Erdogan has the right to feel confident. Yes, he will continue to face widespread internal resistance. Yes, he will be the target of Western, and especially European, condemnation for his actions and statements. But when such challenges arise, he can point to the rest of the Middle East, presenting himself as a bulwark against both the rising Iranian-led Shia crescent as well as Sunni terrorism in the form of Islamic State and other jihadi groups. Of course, the situation is far more complex. Turkey has extensive business relations with Iran, and both countries share the common goal of crushing Kurdish aspirations for independence. As far as Islamic State is concerned, Erdogan sees the group as a subsidiary concern in his brutal war against the Kurds in eastern Turkey and Syria. Yet if any Muslim leader can be considered a bridge, Erdogan can stake a claim to the status. He may be a populist Islamist who delights in crude anti-Semitic and anti-Western rhetoriche has wondered aloud whether Israels government is worse than Hitler, and he has described the current Dutch and German governments as Nazisbut he is also the custodian of a long and complex diplomatic, security and political relationship with Western countries, including the U.S. and Israel. So is Erdoganin words commonly attributed to FDR, talking about Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somozaa son of a b**ch... but our son of a b**ch? Its certainly tempting to understand the current Western view of Erdogan in those terms, particularly as President Donald Trump called him with congratulations after the referendum, apparently without raising the questionable circumstances of the Turkish leaders victory. There is some merit to this judgment. American foreign policy conservatives have often told me that, as deeply unpleasant as Erdogans regime is, undermining him is hardly a priority when you consider what else is going on in the region. As for Israel and the American Jewish leadership, both appear to have unlimited tolerance for Erdogans anti-Semitic outburstscondemning them, certainly, but never severing ties because of them. Again, their reasoning is pretty much the same: Erdogan is a foul character running a nasty regime, but he has been and can continue to be a rare regional partner for Israel. Since Erdogan can now remain Turkeys president until 2029assuming neither his health nor his iron-fisted rule wavers between now and thenthere will be plenty of time to determine whether this realist approach towards him can hold up. Part of the answer will depend on what Erdogan does for the West. I doubt he will moderate his wild rhetoric. Im skeptical of any claim that he can be as reliable an ally of the West as Israel is. I dont see him abandoning the Palestinian terrorists of Hamaswho, incidentally, were delighted by the referendum result. Going forward, Erdogan will be more enemy than friend. For this reason, its an ideal time to test Erdogan willingness to compromise. As Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) recently observed, when discussing Pastor Brunsons imprisonment, Erdogan needs to understand there is a limit to what he can do. Detaining an American cleric on fatuous charges, and then dangling him as bait in an attempt to secure the extradition of a Turkish citizen who legally resides in the U.S., exceeds that limit glaringly. Next time President Trump speaks to Sultan Erdogan, he should make it very clear that America wants Brunson safely reunited with his familyand this demand is unconditional. Ben Cohen, senior editor of TheTower.org & The Tower Magazine, writes a weekly column for JNS.org on Jewish affairs and Middle Eastern politics. His writings have been published in Commentary, the New York Post, Haaretz, The Wall Street Journal and many other publications. What is the one value that the Jewish community should care most about? To listen to many who run Jewish organizations and communal philanthropies, the answer is inclusion. At a time when it is difficult to engage young people, maintaining a big tent is a sacred concept. Drawing a line and declaring those on the other side to be outside the community is not merely seen as divisive, but as antithetical to the preservation of the community. But the left-wing group that calls itself Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) seems determined to prove that inclusiveness can be a highly overrated virtue. Some of JVPs leaders like to describe the group as pro-peace, and agnostic about Zionism. But theres no doubt where the organizations loyalties lie. JVP is an ardent supporter of the BDS movement, which wages economic warfare against Israel. And JVP works with the most virulently anti-Zionist and pro-BDS groups in America, including the openly anti-Semitic Students for Justice in Palestine. JVP also promotes a narrative about the Middle East conflict that treats the creation of Israel as a nakba, or catastrophe, and regards the sole democracy in the region as an illegitimate state. And while it may have started out as a marginal band of leftists, JVPs willingness to openly attack the idea of a Jewish state has enabled it to displace J Street as the primary voice of the Jewish left. Though J Streets stances pit the group against the views of the overwhelming majority of Israelis, it still bills itself as both pro-Israel and pro-peace. In an era when the radical left is gaining strength among those who call themselves progressives, thats enough to make J Street either too moderate or too Zionist for many, such as the JVP, who have bought into the lies about Israel being an apartheid state. While J Streets critics correctly see the groups views as disconnected from realityand often aimed at undermining solidarity with Israelit is still rooted in the Zionist camp, albeit of the leftist variety. JVP is not. Its goal is not to change Israels policies or its borders, but to undermine support for its right to existas the one Jewish state on the planet. Moreover, by allying itself with extremist anti-Israel groups, JVP has put itself in the disgraceful position of providing Jewish cover for organizations that are guilty of flagrant anti-Semitism and incitement against Jewish students. Yet JVP still pretends to be a normative liberal organization. All such pretenses were dropped, however, when JVP hosted Linda Sarsour and Rasmea Odeh at the groups conference in Chicago earlier this month. Sarsour is a Palestinian-American activist who has become a heroine of the anti-Trump resistance. And she has said that Jewish women must drop their support for Zionism if they wish to be feminists. But Odehs presence at the JVP event was far worse. She is a convicted terrorist, who took part in the murder of two Jewish Israelis. She was eventually released from Israeli prison, and found her way to the U.S. She lied on her immigration papers, and is now being deportedbut JVP invited her to their conference, and cheered her speech, in which she pledged to continue fighting Israels existence and for the right of returnwhich Arabs hope will signal the Jewish states destruction. This incident ought to convince even those who worship at the altar of inclusion that there are some lines that must be drawn. Those who advocate for treating JVP as just another Jewish group worthy of a place at the communal table arent just normalizing radicals. They are setting a standard by which it is possible to make common cause with anti-Semites and those seeking Israels destruction, while still demanding the Jewish worlds respect. The applause for Odeh ought to be remembered every time JVP members seek membership in Jewish Community Relations Councils, or seek the right to use JCCs or synagogues to promote their cause. A community that treats inclusion as the most important value is ultimately one that will stand for nothing. A big Jewish tent is a fine thing, but there can be no room in it for the comrades of terrorist murderers. Jonathan S. Tobin is opinion editor of JNS.org and a contributing writer for National Review. Follow him on Twitter at @jonathan_tobin. HICKORY One of only two cases of voter impersonation documented during last year's elections occurred in Catawba County, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections 2016 election audit. The case involved a woman, whose name was redacted, voting in place of her late mother, who died in October before she was able to cast an absentee vote. In a letter the woman wrote to an SBOE investigator, she explained her mother asked her to vote for Donald Trump in her place if the mother was unable to do so, saying the woman had the mothers power of attorney. The woman said she ended up going to a polling place and casting a vote in her mothers name, believing the power of attorney gave her that right. She wrote, My mother at 89 was a tremendous Donald Trump fan. She donated to his campaign, watched all his debates and news involving his campaign on Fox news. She was so excited about voting for him and at every opportunity told everyone else to vote for him to save our country. The improper vote was cast eight days after her mothers death and four days after her funeral, according to a press release from the district attorneys office Wednesday. District Attorney David Learners office sent a letter to the SBOE in March to inform the board of the decision to not prosecute the case, saying it would not "be in the best interest of justice." (The womans) actions were done during a time of grief and mourning and in an effort to honor her mothers dying wish, the letter said. The decision was credited to the fact the woman had a clean record except for minor traffic tickets and the determination the woman made a mistake out of sheer ignorance without any intent to defraud or commit a crime, according to the release. The letter from Learners office also states, Her mother was alive during the absentee period and if she had received the ballot in time she would have been able to legitimately cast her vote. This office consistently demonstrates compassion in dealing with first-time, non-violent offenders, according to the release. Throughout the state, the SBOE reported 508 cases of ineligible voters out of almost 4.8 million ballots cast. The report was a first of its kind for the SBOE, and similar information on past elections is not available, SBOE spokesperson Patrick Gannon said in a phone interview. In Catawba County, six cases of ineligible voters were referenced in the report. In addition to the case of voter impersonation, there also was a case of a double voter and four cases of felons voting. Caldwell County had seven cases: six cases of felons voting and once case of a double voter. There was one case of a felon voting in Lincoln County. No cases were documented in Burke or Alexander counties. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ As a reality TV star, Donald Trump liked to say predictable is bad. The first 100 days of President Trump could carry the motto unpredictable is constant. While the whimsy of the administrations early days is palpably reduced, New Delhi remains uncertain about the strategic bedrock of the relationship. The deciding factors : The trajectory of Trumps relations with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and how Washington sees Afghanistans future. The Indian government has met every star in the Trump constellation. From son-in-law Jared Kushner to ideologue-in-chief Stephen Bannon, from self-effacing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to National Security Adviser HR McMaster, New Delhi has reached out to all and sundry. The Indian government has been strategically reassured, say senior officials, and the atmosphere is positive. But India has yet to really register on the Trump world view. Putting it another way: If Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump were to eventually have their face-to-face meeting, would the agenda have enough positive elements? The Indian interest of past US presidents, notably George W Bush and Barack Obama, was driven by their sense India was an important piece in their strategic jigsaw puzzle. Trump is the first White House resident since World War 1 who has come to office without a geopolitical mural painted in his mind. Which is why Trump got into a catfight with Australia, historically the USs closest ally, over a minor refugee deal and waxed poetic about Vladimir Putin, enemy number two or three for the US security establishment. He was blind to the strategic backdrop. A hundred days since, that is less true. His foreign and defence policy team is cut from establishment cloth. The sole maverick, McMaster predecessor Mike Flynn, was brought down by the anti-Putin blowback that has snuffed out Trumps to Russia with love hopes. India would be pleased if it was certain these known figures were deciding Trumps foreign policy. Many come out of the India-US heyday under Bush. But US actions remain wayward. The decision to drop the mother of all bombs in Afghanistan and the order to send a carrier task force to North Korea, it now seems, were not executive signals. They were acts of local US military commanders. Trump gave a thumbs-up post facto. On the other hand, the Syrian cruise missile strike was an Oval Office order. India has a number of positives to sell to the US: Common views on Islamist terror, broadly similar stance on China and an appetite for low-cost US hydrocarbon exports. But India is a net negative in Trumps anti-immigration narrative while Modi is a climate true-believer. If US-China relations go downhill over North Korea, India will benefit. If a Pakistani jihadi shows up in New York, ditto. The challenge New Delhi feels is for India to find traction with the US president in its own right. That is still a work in progress with the noise over H-1B visas being an unhelpful distraction. The first 100 days have been a lesson in how a superpower functions without a strategy. The next few hundred days will tell us how prominently the word India can be written on the Trump tabula rasa. Politics comes naturally to Sikh religious affairs. But the unceremonious removal of the acting jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib one of the five high priests fits into the pattern of the hire and fire policy religiously practised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) at the bidding of its political bosses. It has raised fresh questions on the erosion in the autonomy, or whatever is left of it, of the apex Sikh religious body that has growingly come to be seen as a subservient extension counter of the Shiromani Akali Dal. An outspoken Giani Gurmukh Singh earned the SGPCs wrath for his carps and charges against his fellow clergymen over the politically stage-managed pardon to the godman of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda who was ostracised for his alleged blasphemous act in 2007. Things came to a head last week when Giani defiantly distanced himself from the Akal Takht jathedars move on handing down religious punishment to political leaders, mostly Akalis, for seeking the controversial deras support in the recent assembly elections. He apparently crossed the red lines when he openly accused former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son and Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal of forcing the Sikh clergy to accept the dera chiefs written apology in 2015. On political cue, the SGPC swiftly cracked the whip against the renegade jathedar lest he emerge a rallying figure for dissenters on the religious turf. The action against Giani underscores the continuing ferment in the Sikh clergy and also puts the spotlight on the politicisation of the SGPC, the root cause of disquiet in the Sikh community and scholars. Religion and politics overlap in the Panthic matrix but undercurrents of the dera deal backlash refuse to die down even after the Sikhs vented their ire against the Akalis in the assembly polls. Notwithstanding the pretensions of aloofness from the SGPC and the Akal Takht, its an open secret that the Badals, when in power, had orchestrated an Akal Takht-stamped apology to dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim without the latter presenting himself before the Sikh clergymen as mandated by the Sikh maryada. The political move backfired on the religious front in the ways the Akalis had scarcely imagined. It sparked a wave of Sikh anger, triggered an unprecedented revolt in the clergy, and even led to the appointment of parallel jathedars by fundamentalists. A beleaguered Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh managed to cling on and was forced to rescind the pardon edict, but not without a serious dent to the exalted position he holds. But the most disastrous consequence for the Akalis was a chain of desecrations of Guru Granth Sahib since 2015 a corollary of the dubious dera deal that lent credence to charge against the Akalis for brazenly misusing both the SGPC and high priests for political ends. The proof of political machinations, if any was needed at all, was evident in the deras unequivocal support to the Akalis, a poll-eve gambit engineered by Sukhbir that, however, failed to save them from the worst-ever drubbing. Badal, as chief minister, is credited for building an array of Sikh memorials, but his legacy stands accused of diminishing the Sikh institutions. The Akalis have totally politicised the SGPC and turned Sikh priests into hand maidens, says Gupreet Singh of Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha, echoing the sentiments of independent Sikh scholars and bodies. Others such as Kanwarpal Singh of Dal Khalsa point to a disconcerting reversal of roles: The SGPC was established as a guiding light for the Akali Dal, but it is now subservient to political masters. Ruing that the SGPCs politically motivated actions have lowered the Akal Takhts aura, scholar Bhai Ashok Singh Bagrian calls for involving the Sikh community beyond Punjab, including the diaspora, on larger Panthic issues. Undeniably, the SGPC, though flush with a Rs 1,100-crore budget, is running short on credibility. Under question is its opaque functioning and arbitrary decision-making on the appointment of Sikh clergymen and their politically influenced hukamnamas (edicts). Before Gurmukh Singhs ouster, his predecessor Balwant Singh Nandgarh was sacked in 2015 after he protested the amendments to the Akal Takht-approved Nanakshahi calendar at the behest of Sikh deras aligned with the Akalis. In recent times, the SGPC has taken to temporary appointments of clergy as acting jathedars and that too from the lower priestly class that being on its pay-roll is deemed more pliable. Such is the crisis of credibility that it has been finding it hard to get credible and pious faces for elevation as head priests. Axing of another head priest is unlikely to stem the rot. The depoliticisation of the SGPC may be asking for too much. But, the mini Parliament of Sikhs can hardly ignore the growing clamour for reforms and transparency in the appointment of high priests and ensuring their independence. Thats the least the SGPC can do to redeem itself and the faith of the faithful. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A few years ago, Id hit ground zero in Chhattisgarhs Bastar and was driven by CRPF men along a slim metalled road. The 21-km road had only just been constructed under the supervision of gun-wielding security personnel and this stretch had its own milestones. Maam, this is what we call ambush point. This is where we lost seven men, said a voice in the dark as we drove down that road where turning on headlights was inadvisable. A little further is where 12 men had been killed in an explosion and just ahead; another milestone: The place where a jawan had died of a heatstroke. The killing of 25 jawans in Sukma on Monday is a stark reminder of how little has changed. The majority of security personnel I spoke to then did not want to be part of the war the same war New Delhi and its ministers have vowed to fight with renewed vigour after the Monday attack. The jawans loyal to their uniform and the country know the ground reality. They desperately want out of this war theatre because as one of them had said, rather succinctly, We dont know who is a Naxal and who is an adivasi. In Sukma, the casualty rate was higher because the soldiers couldnt tell the difference. For too long now, successive governments have only been pumping in more troops, but is more boots on the ground the way forward? Will the additional troops be able to distinguish a Naxal from a tribal? The UPA government had gone hunting for the Maoists as part of a plan theyd unimaginatively codenamed Operation Green Hunt. The CRPF didnt know who they were hunting for then; and years later as Sukma has shown, they still dont know. The men in khaki are well trained. They carry the best automatic weapons, even sleep with loaded guns resting on their chest; but they are drawn from distant Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and know neither the terrain nor the language. A few days at ground zero had made it plainly clear that the Centres paramilitary was trying to do what the local police should have done, but they were either demotivated or too scared or sympathetic of the tribals. Many local police officers have families in the villages of Sukma and Bijapur, and know that if the locals veer towards the Naxals, it is because they want food, clothing, education, health facilities and legitimate rights over the land that is theirs. This is what the state and the Centre need to understand. You cannot deprive the adivasis their due, their minerals, and their land rights through MoU after MoU with mining companies. Importantly, you cannot divide the tribals through vigilante groups. The state received the best intelligence it could have hoped to get through Alex Paul Menon, one of the district collectors who was taken hostage by the Naxals in Sukma in 2012. In the 13 days he spent in their custody, Menon had long conversations with his kidnappers. Of the over 100 armed rebels he had a chance to interact with, 70% told him they had taken to arms in reaction to the Salwa Judum. Home minister Rajnath Singh has vowed that the Sukma attack will be avenged. As he crafts the response, he needs to ask his team what efforts, if any, have been made to wean the tribal from the Naxal. What, if anything, has been done to make the tribal the principal stakeholder? The war ahead lies in the answers. It is imperative for the paramilitary forces to know who they are hunting, or theyll continue to be hunted. Be fair and just by the tribals thats the only starting point for the present and the future. harinder.baweja@hindustantimes.com SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Toh baat hai saat sau saal purani Suno dhyan se pyaare Hamelin namak ek shahar tha Weser nadi kinare Yu toh sheher woh bahut sundar tha Hamelin tha jiska naam Par vahaan ke logon ka Ho gaya tha chain haraam! Fouzia Dastango effortlessly adjusts her tone and pitch: she starts off on a wondrous note, awed by the timeless tale she is about to narrate; and ends emphatically, packing enough vigour into that Haraam! to convey the frustration of the people of Hamelin. Those eights lines are just a peek into an upcoming performance on Sunday for children: a lively retelling of the medieval legend, Pied Piper of Hamelin, but in Hindustani. Fouzia will be narrating the translation by playwright and writer Safdar Hashmi, set to music by Hemant Chakravorty of Trippy Tales, an artists collective. The production will use a variety of instruments from the DJembe, a west African drum to the Cajon, a Peruvian box-shaped instrument, and plenty of ambient percussion to bring the story alive for five-to-10-year-olds. She will also be narrating two other Hindustani short stories - Kijari Gaye and Natkat Gadha. Fouzia Dastango, as her name suggests, is a storyteller of the medieval Urdu tradition of oral storytelling, Dastangoi. But when she narrates the Pied Piper and other stories she will be combining her storytelling skills with plenty of action. She cant stick to a traditional Dastangoi format, she says, because it requires sitting in one spot and relying solely on your voice to convey all the drama. That, she adds, would bore children. Fouzia is among the few women known to practise the craft of Dastangoi. She trained as an educator and worked several years developing curriculums. But she says all it took was one performance in 2006 when she visited Dayal Singh College to watch Dastangoi and she fell in love with the form. Mughal miniatures of Dastan-e-Amir Hamza, a Dastangoi muse (Wikimedia Commons) There was always a storyteller in me, says Fouzia, now 39. Her childhood was filled with tales spun by her grandmother. She and her cousins would huddle together on summer nights on their roof or gather around on winter evenings to hear stories of war (razm), love (ishq) and ayyari (magic) the three essentials, she says, of any dastan or story. And she saw Dastangoi as her calling after all, she had lived most of her life in Old Delhis Pahari Bhojla, which had once been home to Mir Baqar Ali, the last legendary Dastango. But Fouzias productions have gone well beyond the traditional Urdu retellings associated with Dastangoi. She has also produced renditions of material as diverse as the Mahabharata and Gandhis political struggle. Her goal, she says, is to reach a wider audience in vernacular languages such as Urdu and Hindustani, which, she believes, are neglected in the pursuit of English. As someone who studied in an Urdu-medium school, Fouzia says she didnt get the same opportunities as those who were educated in English-medium schools. There was some anger in me, she says. And I thought, Issi zabaan mein kuch karna hai. How does the audience understand her if they dont already know Hindustani or Urdu? The expressions and tone help a lot, she says. Whatever stories I tell I want them to be poetic, she says. I want them to get used to the rhythm, the idea of listening to poetry Shes had some success. After a recent performance at The Doon School, students approached her saying they would learn to love Urdu. You ask me why i do this? Its to evoke that interest, she says. Her favourite dastan to narrate? Ghummi Kebabi, she says without hesitation. Its a sketch of a man who sells kebabs in Old Delhi by Urdu writer Ashraf Sabuhi Dehelvi. What she loves about it, she says, is the kebab seller himself, a stickler for rules. He lets no one, no matter how rich or influential, skip the line, she explains. Fouzia identifies with her craft so closely that its become her last name too: Dastango. She chose it when she tried opening a Facebook account, which required a last name. Whatever my identity is, thats what my surname should be, she says. I consciously want this to be my identity. I feel happy when people identify me as that. What: Storytelling for kids by Fouzia Dastango When: 5 pm to 6 pm, April 30 Where: OddBird Theatre, Dhan Mill Compound, 100 Feet Road, SSN Marg, Chhattarpur Nearest metro station:Chhattarpur Buy tickets on instamojo.com SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON This weekend, when actors Deepti Naval and Shekhar Suman take stage during the Delhi Theatre Festival, they will bring to life the lyrical, unrealised love story of two of Indias greatest poets, Amrita Pritam and Sahir Ludhianvi. The play, Ek Mulaqat, is just what the title promises the story of one fateful meeting between the two poets on Amritas terrace, laced with all the drama of unrequited love, touches of familiarity, a few taunts and a lot of poetry. It is a fascinating journey exploring these two people enamoured by each other, in love with each others work, says Naval. Director Saif Hyder Hasan says that the idea of writing a play on the complex relationship between Amrita, the doyenne of Punjabi poetry and Sahir, the Urdu poet and lyricist struck him when he was looking for a script closer to his roots. Though there were a few scripts on Sahir, his co-writer Somana Ahmed and he wanted to focus on the poets relationship with Amrita she never hesitated to admit her love for Sahir, while he could never commit to her. The result is a play that is carried by the conversation between the two, as they often recite lines from each others poetry in their raillery. Sahir Amrita jahan ho wahan alfaz toh lazmi hai. Na who alfaz se dur reh sakte hain na alfaz unse, Navals Amrita remarks at one point during the play. Initially, both Hasan and Suman wondered whether there was an audience for a play that relied so heavily on Urdu and Punjabi poetry. But the magic of poetry is such that even if you dont understand every word, you get the gist of it, says Hasan. Amrita Pritam (L) and Sahir Ludhianvi (R) (Wikimedia Commons and HT Archives) While the script has essentially remained the same, the only changes have been as the actors discovered more poetry and added it to the play. In fact, Hasans casting is rather inspired while Naval knew Amrita Pritam personally and was familiar with her work, Suman had idolized Sahir since childhood when he was gifted a copy of Parchaiyan, a book of poetry by him. I had read Amrita jis works, but I had always set aside her poetry as too difficult because the Punjabi she uses wasnt familiar to me, says Naval. This play took me deep into her poetry. Naval says she tried to stay with Amritas personality demure on the surface, strong-willed inside. She was so much in love with Sahir and she was always very forthright in expressing this, she says. Suman on the other hand had the tough task of convincing the audience what lay behind the Scotch-drinking, rebellious poets refusal to commit to Amrita Pritam. After one performance, a woman told me that she used to dislike Sahir purely because of how he treated Amrita. But after watching the play, she felt she understood him as a person, says Suman. The play teases all this out slowly, the human drama of two lovers meeting after many years over a game of cards. The poetry is the second-most important feature of the play. The first is the banter and the equation between the two, says Naval. Naval and Suman in a still from Ek Mulaqat. (Courtesy: Panache Media) Ostensibly, the play looks minimal, just two characters on stage at all times. But behind-the-scenes, mood lighting and audio works to create a mesmerising effect. We have retuned not remixed four songs penned by Sahir for the play. My idea is that when the audience fits into a darkened auditorium, they should experience something exquisite acting, sound quality, music, says Hasan. Audiences from Bangalore and Hyderabad to Singapore and London have been wowed by the play Saturdays performance will be the 72nd time Ek Mulaqat is being staged. But both Naval and Suman say they are always on tenterhooks before a big performance. Theatre is the only medium where you have a two-way equation with the audience. You can see how they are reacting, says Suman. This is the first play Naval has ever acted in, so she says she has nothing to compare it against. But the part she finds most rewarding is the space theatre allows you to evolve. I would continue to relive a shot in my mind long after we packed up. But in theatre, if you want to try something out differently, you can try it in the very next performance, she says. As you perform, the play grows on you, you grow into the character, your interpretation changes. Rajit Kapoor (L) and Naseeruddin Shah (R) in a still from A Walk in the Woods, one of the other two plays at the Delhi Theatre Festival this weekend. (HT File Photo) Also at The Delhi Theatre festival: A Walk in the Woods: This Motley production directed by Ratna Pathak Shah is the story of an Indian and a Pakistani diplomat who eschew the formal process of hard negotiations in favour of a walk in the woods to achieve a breakthrough. In this retelling of Lee Besslings original play set in the Cold War era, Naseeruddin Shah plays suave Pakistani diplomat Jamaluddin Lutfullah while Rajit Kapoors blunt, by-the-book Indian diplomat Ram Chinappa is the perfect foil. Barff: Directed by Saurabh Shukla and starring him, Barff is set in wintry Kashmir. A doctor goes to a friends house to treat his daughter but is shocked to discover that it is a doll he has been called to administer to, not a human. While it is not overtly political, Barff challenges the idea that there is only one version of truth. What: Delhi Theatre Festival When: A Walk in the Woods, 7 pm, April 29; Ek Mulaqat, 2 pm, April 30; and Barff, 8 pm, April 30 Where: Siri Fort Auditorium, Siri Institutional Area, Asian Games Village Complex. Nearest metro station: Green Park Buy tickets on bookmyshow.com SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON For Natya Tarangini dance school, its anniversary is a doubly special day, because it always falls on World Dance Day, April 29. The performing arts centre, founded by the renowned Kuchipudi exponents Raja-Radha and Kaushalya Reddy, celebrates its 41st anniversary today. On the occasion, dancers between the ages of five and 40 years will present a Kuchipudi recital choreographed by the Reddys. When children are told that theyll perform on World Dance Day, they feel happy and important. Their ecstasy is visible, says Kaushalya Reddy. I feel happy that the world is celebrating this day and that theres an awareness of one day being celebrated in the honour of dance. Besides the Kuchipudi recital, the students of Natya Tarangini will today present Hindustani and Carnatic vocal music, and a dance performance titled Draupadi Vastrapaharanam. Kaushalya Reddy says, Rajaji has specially choreographed a dance for our youngest students that takes one back to the times of The Playhouse (a theatre), inaugurated by us in Durban, South Africa, after apartheid. When we were in a hotel for five days in South Africa, we couldnt step out because of security problems. At that time, Rajaji came across the song My Heart is a Temple Happy Happy Dance. This dance composition is based on that song. Catch It Live What: Natya Tarangini 41st anniversary Where: Amphitheatre, Natya Tarangini, Plot No 49 & 52, Pushp Vihar, Sector 6, Saket When: April 29 Timings: 7pm Nearest Metro Station: Saket on Yellow Line To celebrate World Dance Day, Bharatanatyam exponent Geeta Chandran has organised a two-day event, including a workshop for one and all its open to you even if you arent an experienced Baratanatyam dancer, or even if you dont have any formal training in the dance form. All you need for participation is an interest in Indian classical dance. Geeta Chandran will conduct a workshop on dance as part of the World Dance Day celebrations. (Rakesh Sahai) This workshop will open the Young Dancers Festival, which goes on for two days. On day one, there will be a Bharatanatyam recital by Aniruddha Knight and a Kathak performance by Gauri Diwakar. The second day will have a Chhau workshop, conducted by Guru Shashadhar Acharya. There is also an illustrated lecture on Health for Dance by Dr Sheela Nambiar, a Manipuri recital by Nandita Devi, and Vilasini Natyam by Purva Dhanashree. Catch It Live What: Young Dancers Festival Where: India International Centre, Lodi Estate When: April 29 and 30 Timings: 10am to 7.30pm Nearest Metro Station: Jor Bagh on Yellow Line TRIVIA World Dance Day was introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute. The date was chosen to commemorate the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre, who was born in 1727, a French dancer and ballet master and a dance reformer. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bhopal: Granted bail in Malegaon bomb blast case Sadhvi Pragya Thakur has locked horns with the Congress on the issue of saffron terror. Pragya who got bail from Bombay high court on April 25 has blamed the Congress for coining the phrase Hindu terrorism without any basis whereas the state Congress has dared her to come forward to have a debate on nationalism, patriotism, Hindutva and saffron terrorism. Talking to newspersons at Pt Khushilal Ayurvedic Degree College premises where she is being treated Pragya Thakur on Thursday said saffron terrorism meant nothing. This was all a Congress conspiracy which had been exposed. The then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had fabricated the story to establish the term saffron terrorism. Targetting the then home minister P Chidambaram she said those who didnt believe in religion didnt see any good in saffron. She said she was implicated under false charges in a bid to eliminate her. The national investigation agency (NIA) was the same now which existed earlier but the result was for all to see. Pragya Thakur blamed the anti-terrorist squad (ATS), Mumbai for her bad health while alleging she was tortured by ATS sleuths for 13 days. I was in good health when I was arrested but now I am dependent on others, she added. In a statement on Friday the state Congress chief spokesperson KK Mishra termed Pragya Thakurs charges against the Congress a result of her frustration. Mishra said Pragya must remember that she was not acquitted. She had just got a bail from the court. He said there were several questions which needed to be answered as to who killed former RSS pracharak Sunil Joshi who was an accused in Ajmer blast and close to Pragya Thakur and under whose pressure the case was closed. If there is no saffron terrorism what Pragya Thakur will say on Babri demolition, Gujarat riots, Malegaon blast, Ajmer and Samjhauta Express blasts and also the bomb blasts at Purna, Jalna, Nanded and Mhow. What she will say on arrest of Aseemanand, Dayanand Pandey, Lt Colonel Shrikant Purohit, Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Ramji Kalsangra, Dilip Patidar, Shayam Sahu, Sandeep Dange and several others in connection with bomb blasts, asked Mishra. After attending the funeral of his Muqaddar ka Sikander co-star Vinod Khanna, a sad Amitabh Bachchan took to his blog to pour out his heart over the loss of a friend. Amitabh Bachchan at the funeral of veteran actor Vinod Khanna, who died in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness on April 27. (IANS) Motionless .. still .. eyes shut in perpetuity .. a form on wooden logs .. covered .. flames about .. and a life turned to ashes, he wrote. Vinod Khanna died at the age of 70 early on Thursday morning in Mumbai, after battling cancer. When Amitabh got the news on Thursday afternoon, he reportedly walked out of an interview to visit the hospital and be with the family. I first saw him entering the Ajanta Arts office in Bandra, of Sunil Dutt, where I was making my way to seek a job .. a most good looking handsome young man .. a body in elegant frame .. a swagger in his walk .. and a gentle smile as he looked towards me .. it was 1969 .. he was working in the Ajanta Arts film, Man ka Meet .. I was struggling to get a role, any role, anywhere , Amitabh wrote. In a long post, Amitabh remembered the good and bad times that the two actors had been together. He wrote, In time we met again within the same precincts .. he and I were working in the same film of Dutt Saheb, Reshma aur Shera .. look trials in the office of the film .. travel and sittings on the story .. Thapa saheb, Ali Raza, Sukhdev and those all night meets, most novel for me .. my first brush with the way the film industry functioned .. the time for the shoot and the excitement of travel on a location in Jaisalmer .. the months we spent together and after .. driving in the scorching heat of the deserts of Rajasthan to the location, Pochina, in the sands of nowhere near civilisation .. living under one tent - Vinod, Ranjit, Thapa Saheb, Ali Raza saheb about seven of us in the same tent .. then similar number at a make shift residence in the city of Jaisalmer - Amrish Puri joining us in that room filled with all of us, living laughing, working .. carefree days .. the rigors of that location and its environs ..On return from the location his continued connect with me .. he a big star .. but always most humble with selfless concern for others .. the rides he would take me on, in his recently acquired Beetle VolksWagen, yellow in color .. his generosity in smuggling me into the only Disco Club in the city at the Taj, where he was a member, and I not even remotely in any state to become one .. his marriage to Geetanjali, whom he and we all fondly called Gitly .. the birth of his sons, Rahul and Akshay, whom he often brought on to the sets of Amar Akbar Anthony. Amitabh and Vinod in a still from Hera Pheri. Amitabh also talked about an incident that has left him guilt-ridden. That guilt ridden incident when I had to fling a glass in a scene towards him and it accidentally hitting his chin, cutting him open right through to his teeth .. the remorse regret and guilt within me to date for that unforgiving accident .. rushing him to his doctor, late at night, getting stitched up, driving with him to his house to settle him in and to just keep apologising for this horrific accidental slip, Big B wrote. Read the entire blog here. Amitabh shared a poem by Prasoon Joshi on Twitter and wrote, Just saw a 48-year-long relationship go up in flames. Allow me to share this poem that reflects the mortal life of humanity. T 2507 - , 48 , (cont) https://t.co/RDcgZmjlc7 Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 27, 2017 Follow @htshowbiz for more Kunal Kapoor has always been known to back a good cause, whether it is raising money for the victims of the Nepal earthquake or people suffering from cancer. The actor has now focused his attention on raising funds for our soldiers. Kunals crowdfunding platform, Ketto had started a campaign after the Uri attacks to raise money for the family of soldiers and had successfully ended up raising over 50 lacs. The actor has now taken his commitment to help soldiers of the army a step further. A source reveals, Kunal has collaborated with the IPL team, Rising Pune super Giants to raise money for the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (PRC) and the campaign is called Shukriyasoldier. PRC is a rehabilitation centre for defence forces that are medically boarded out i.e. retired from service due to spinal cord injury while serving the Nation. Though, wheelchair bound, these soldiers have not let their disabilities come in the way of their achievement. There are paraplegic soldiers that have won medals at national and international events in various sports. Talking about it, Kunal says, I went to the PRC and came back incredibly inspired by the soldiers and the work that the organisation is doing. These soldiers have not let their disabilities and the challenges that they faced, stop them from achieving amazing things. They are real life superheroes and I think its important that their stories reach out to people. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bollywood has a new fadtransforming bodies and investing a lot of time and effort to ensure to look every bit in character. From Randeep Hoodas Sarbjit to Ranbir Kapoor in Sanjay Dutt biopic, we have seen the results of tremendous efforts put in by actors for transformation. However, there are times when prosthetics and make up drastically change the looks of actors. Heres a look at some of the most unrecognisable transformations that actors have gone through for their movies: Rajkummar Rao Rajkummar Rao in Raabta (Left) and Ami Sairabanu. This actor has been picking a wide variety of roles, and proving just how he can do justice to any script or character thats given to him. In Ami Sairabanu,which was supposed to mark Rajkummars debut in Bengali cinema, he plays a transgender. He also plays a 324-year-old man in Kriti Sanon-Sushant Singh Rajput-starrer Raabta. Sayani Gupta Sayani Gupta plays a 14-year-old in Jagga Jasoos. Sayani, who started her film career with Margarita With A Straw playing a blind girl, later essayed the role of a pregnant lady in Jolly LLB. She will soon be seen as a 14-year-old kid in Jagga Jasoos. Ranbir Kapoor Ranbir Kapoor has worked on his body to ensure a surprising similarity to the young Sanjay Dutt. Coming from a distinguished background, this actor has proved himself with every film he has given to his audience. In a recent picture that was leaked, Ranbir Kapoor looks exactly like Sanjay Dutt. Hrithik Roshan Hrithik Roshan in Dhoom 2. The suave Hrithik was seen experimenting with various looks in Dhoom:2as the chharming thief. Kamal Hassan Top two: Kamal Haasan in Dashavatar; bottom left: Kamal in Chachi 420 and Kamal in Hindustani. No one can match Kamal Hassan in acting prowess and make up. In one of the most bold experiments, the actor played not double or triple, but 10 roles in Dasavathaaram, surprising fans and critics alike. Kamal Hassan is not new to playing unrecognisable acts. In Chachi 420, the versatile actor had donned the get-up of a older woman running around in sari, besides playing a host of different characters in films like Appu Raja, Mayor Sahab, Hindustani, Vishwaroopam, Hey Ram, Abhay. Follow @htshowbiz for more Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor is angry, yet again. In a series of tweets, he has lashed out at the so-called stars of this generation for not turning up at Vinod Khannas funeral on Thursday. Khanna died at the age of 70 in Mumbai, after succumbing to bladder cancer. I was angered, not disheartened, Kapoor tells us, referring to the near-total absence of young actors at the funeral except Abhishek Bachchan and Randeep Hooda. What does an actor work for? Its his last journey and you cant come to pay [your] respects to man who has worked in over 150 films and been there for over four decades, and even has worked with you? Sad that a respected senior actor was sent away by not actually having a lot of people with him wishing him adieu, says Kapoor. On whether he expects more people to turn up for Khannas prayer meet, Rishi retorts, Yeah because thats more of a fashion parade and you want to be in the comforts of air conditioned premises. Why were you not there for this [funeral] event? Despite the fact that Khanna earned immense love and adulation from his co-stars, Kapoor adds, Its heartbreaking that none of his leading ladies were there. Even many actors from my generation were not there. You just needed to give him respect for his contribution to cinema and love that hes spread. No one is expecting you to make a dramatic entry at the funeral. On Thursday night, Kapoor posted a series of tweets. Shameful. Not ONE actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Why this? Including mine and thereafter.When I die, I must be prepared.None will shoulder me. Very very angry with today's so called stars. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Saying more about the sparse attendance at Vinod Khannas funeral, Rishi Kapoor points out that it wasnt as if Khanna didnt have any connection with the industry for a long time. Khannas last films are Dilwale (2015) and Ek Thi Rani Aishi Bhi (2017). [Also] he has two kidsRahul and Akhsayewho are part of the industry and his other son, Sakshi, is joining films soon. Theres some human element that you want to share someones grief, says Kapoor. My career has been sprinkled with films with him. I cant say that I shared a great vibe with him, a great chemistry or anything of that sort. It was pure respect. The 64-year-old shares that though he was never overtly friendly with Vinod Khanna, he had no reason to skip Khannas funeral. My career has been sprinkled with films with him. I cant say that I shared a great vibe with him, a great chemistry or anything of that sort. It was pure respect. Ive directed his son Akshaye (in Aa Ab Laut Chalen, 1999) and I remember Vinod was so happy that I had taken his son for my film, and thats the reason for my being there. He was my elder, my senior, my colleague, part of my fraternity and brotherhood. We are all part of one small family of actors who are contributing to cinema and spreading love. Among those whove shared screen space with Khanna in recent times are actors such as Shah Rukh Khan, Varun Dhawan, Salman Khan and Sonu Sood and none of them was there at the funeral. Did Kapoor have any particular names in mind while writing those tweets? He says, Im not naming any one person. Im just saying that this generation actors, filmmakers, producers none of them came. Ive seen this happen at Feroz Khan and Rajesh Khannas funeral also. It seems these actors have troubled this generation [so] that they dont really care. I am compelled to think in this manner. Yes it has been expressed earlier on social media my wife and Ranbir are out of the country. Would never had been reason not to be there Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Soon after Kapoors first few tweets, trolls were quick to react asking him why his son, Ranbir, couldnt attend the funeral. I clarified in my next tweet that hes not in the country and my wife, too, is away. If he was, he 100 per cent would have been there, he says about that. In one of his tweets, Kapoor even attacked those who attended Priyanka Chopras party, a night before Khannas demise. Angry. Met so many chamcha people last night at Priyanka Chopra's do last night. Few at Vinod's. So fuckn transparent. So angry with them. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Why the comparison? He explains, Because just a night before, I saw the most profound people from the film industry and the following morning, barring a few, none was there at his funeral. You could be out of town but the very fact that most of these shootings and most of whatever so called activities were going on were cancelled [after Vinods demise], you cant tell me that didnt know about it. Knowing that he passed away at 11 in the morning, you had the whole day to plan. All TV channels and radio [stations] were blaring about it, yet it was such a poorly attended funeral. The makers of Baahubali 2 cancelled their Mumbai premiere as a mark of respect, and Kapoor calls it a justified tribute and a welcome thing. Follow @htshowbiz for more The Goods and Services Tax (GST), the countrys biggest tax reform, is scheduled to be rolled out from July 1 but India might be running against time to finalise the technology needed to implement it. The success of this complex tax reform will depend on the glitch-free running of the GST-network or GSTN, the technology backbone for the new tax. The flawless GSTN, will capture every sale, purchase, stock pile of every registered business in India, once set in motion, this network will end any possibility of evasion or multiple taxation. But the main problem is implementation, which politicians and experts say, will not be smooth taxpayers, both businessmen and professionals, will have to file as many as 37 forms in a year, said chartered accountants. Though revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia has gone on record to say that the number of forms will be little more than a dozen. Compliance cost will increase, as smaller units will have to buy software and hire professionals to compile the transaction details. For those businesses at remote places, filing returns online will be a challenge in the absence of internet connections. As compliance to GST is portal based, there are bound to be teething issues, given the level of internet penetration as well as familiarity with online tax payment in India, said Priyajit Ghosh, partner, indirect tax in KPMG India. One of the main architects of the GST and former prime minister, Manmohan Singh, has warned that the new indirect tax regime could be a game-changer but fraught with difficulties. Congress leader Veerappa Moily has cautioned the government that the rushed GST rollout from July will make it a technological nightmare for businesses. While a team of experts are working to ensure that the GSTN is up and running in time for the July implementation of the new indirect tax, the onus is also on taxpayers to learn the new system and ensure compliance. The only relief is that businesses with annual turnover of below Rs 20 lakh are exempt from paying GST. In north-eastern and hill states the threshold is Rs 10 lakh. Registration All businesses will have to convert their tax registration into GST registration. For example, if a shop owner in Delhi has a VAT registration then it has to be converted to GST. And a professional will have to transfer her service tax registration to GST. This be done on the GST system portal run by respective states. GSTR The tax returns under GST will be 37 in a year for a company; GSTR-1, GSTR-2 and GSTR-3for each month, and one annual return. For a company with operations in 20 states, it means 740 annual returns. The finance ministry officials said they are trying to further simplify the process so that small businesses are not overburdened with filing returns. Experts point out the huge reporting requirement under GST that has be handled and understood by taxpayers, be it businessmen or professionals. This is in contrast to the half-yearly returns mandated under the present service tax regime. Tracking transactions: A businessman registered under GST, will have to upload all sales and stock transfer details on the GSTN. Every transaction will also have to invoiced. Compliance: Those paying tax under GST, will have to make investments to ensure compliance. Taxpayers will have to raise invoices and bills in the correct format laid down by the GSTN. E-way bills will have to be generated for every stock movement. Debit and credit notes will also have to be maintained along with books of accounts in the approved format. Caveat: GST evasion entails harsh punishment. While many have objected to the provisions of arrest for fraud arguing that many new firms will be using the GSTN system for the first time and are bound to make genuine mistakes. Although finance minister Arun Jaitley has assured that small businesses will not be covered by the harsh provisions, every offence of tax evasion will be compoundable. There will be no arrest for frauds up to Rs 2 crore. For offences between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore, it is bailable. For offences over Rs 5 crore is non-bailable. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON General Motors, the first automaker to set up a plant in Gujarat 21 years ago, shut operations at its Halol factory on Friday even as a stalemate continued over the future of 500 employees, who feel they have been left in the lurch. The workers have been on a strikewithout affecting productionfor 35 days demanding that they be retained by Chinese automaker SAIC which will take over the plant. The consolidation of manufacturing at our Talegaon facility (near Pune) is an important milestone for GM India, Kaher Kazem, GM India president and MD, said in a statement. That said, we are mindful of the impact on our employees at Halol. We have committed to support them through this necessary transition with generous separation payments or the option of continuity of employment at Talegaon, he said. The Indian subsidiary of the Detroit-headquartered automobile giant had in July 2015 announced the closure of the Halol facility by mid-2016, seeking to consolidate India manufacturing operations at its Talegaon plant near Pune in Maharashtra. However, it was decided to continue production till March 2017 to ensure an orderly transition for suppliers and other stakeholders. SAIC, formerly Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, is likely to take over some of the assets of the plant, but the agreement did not mention the plants employees. Workers union leader Ranchit Soni had earlier told HT that the the new employer should not just take over assets, but employees also. GMs offers, including transfer to Pune plant or voluntary separation scheme (VSS), have not been acceptable to us. While at this stage of life, where the average age of a worker here is around 35 years, a relocation is not possible, the sum offered in VSS is also not satisfactory, he had said. After a few of the employees accepted relocation to Pune and many accepted the VSS -- worked out with a formula of 100 days of salary per year of service, uncapped -- around 500 workers were left without a job. We have been protesting, but silently by observing a fast. And, we have not let the issue affect the production in any manner, the union leader said. However, GM Indias Kazem said, Since we first announced in 2015 that we would cease manufacturing at Halol, we have worked with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition. Kazem said a range of additional support measures had been put in place for both the employees who opted for the significantly enhanced separation payments and those who will be transferred, including tax and financial advice and pre-transfer visits to Talegaon. GM India started making Opel cars at the Halol plant in 1996, and Chevrolets from 2003. The facility with an annual production capacity of 110,000 volumes was underutilised over the last few years due to its falling sales and failure to revive with no good product mix. After GM CEO Mary Barras visit to India in 2015, General Motors last year pulled back its $1 billion investment in India and decided to consolidate its production at the Talegaon plant. The company said it will continue making cars at its Talegaon factory near Pune which has an annual capacity of 170,000 units. The Chevrolet India-parent last month also signed a three-year wage agreement with 2,500 workers of the Talegaon plant. Under the wage pact for the period April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2020, the average salaries of the employees will go up by Rs 22,000 at the end of the period. The closure of GM Halol plant comes against the backdrop of most automakers like Maruti Suzuki, Hero MotorCorp, Honda and Ford opening operations in Gujarat. Safety equipment in vehicles only limits the impact of accidental damage, and does not actually prevent the mishap. What if instead we made the roads smarter to prevent accidents? HP Lubricants and Leo Burnett India too thought the same, as they installed the worlds first anti-collision vehicle management system at national highway 1. A pole with an inbuilt incoming vehicle alert mechanism is installed at a hairpin bend along the Jammu-Srinagar highway, which is touted as one of the most precarious highways by National Geographic. The campaign #RoadsThatHonk is a pilot project run by Hindustan Petroleum, under which a SmartLife pole conceptualised, designed and executed by Leo Burnett India helps in warning drivers of another incoming vehicle on a blind turn. (YouTube screengrab) Using radar and wireless technology, two poles installed on a bend detect speeds of oncoming vehicles, then communicate with each other to alert approaching vehicles on either sides with a horn. Announcing the commencement of the project, Rajdeepak Das, chief creative officer, Leo Burnett, South Asia, said, We are confident that #RoadsThatHonk will significantly reduce accidents and save several lives every year. Every life saved is a measure of success and reinstates our belief that #RoadsThatHonk has the potential for further scale on highways across the length and breadth of the country. The entire project from development to installation took approximately 4-5 months. The pilot installed at the location will continue to stay there and regular data monitoring will be undertaken, Das said in an emailed response to HT. The company plans to install the smart pole at 18-20 such dangerous bends across the country and has also identified nine places including Zoji la Pass, Leh - Manali highway and Rohtang Pass. Locations selected for SmartLife pole Zoji la Pass Neral-Matheran Road National Highway 22 Chang La Leh Manali Highway Munnar Road Khardung La Pass Gata Loops Rohtang Pass For the current pilot project, we have partnered with the NHAI and received required approvals to install Smartlife poles at these locations, Das said. Amid regular attempts to make drivers smart and vehicles smarter, such poles could help make roads smart too and improve safety of roads in remote corners of the country. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indian activists who rely on social media to share information in times of tension are being frustrated by a wave of internet shutdowns, with 22 sites closed in Kashmir this week alone. The clampdown in India - only Iraq closes as many sites each year - has hit doctors who treat rural patients via WhatsApp, and silenced journalists covering street protests. It impacts crisis response and fuels rumours that can trigger further violence, said Ramanjit Singh Chima at Access Now, an advocacy group that is backing a global #KeepitOn campaign against the wave of internet shutdowns. At the same time, it prevents journalists from freely reporting, and citizens from sharing information. Chima said a whole new way of information sharing was hit by the clampdown, citing examples of ordinary people offering shelter to their peers or relief agencies sourcing information from the ground during terror attacks and disasters. Human shield This week, the northern state of Kashmir ordered the shutdown of 22 social media sites, mobile phone message applications and video sites following street protests against alleged abuses by Indian forces.. The ban includes Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Skype, Reddit and YouTube. The home ministry says shutdowns help check violence. Messages and images that are spread through social media platforms during communal tension and ethnic conflicts can lead to such situations spiralling out of control. There is no option but to suspend the internet, an official said. Street protests have flared in recent weeks as thousands of Kashmiris vent anger against alleged abuses by Indian forces after a video emerged of a local man tied to the front of an army jeep and used as a human shield. The video circulated widely on social media, as have images of students throwing stones at security forces. While Kashmir has often shut mobile internet services during previous times of unrest, banning social media is a first. Its a dangerous trend, Chinmayi Arun, executive director at advocacy Centre for Communication Governance in Delhi, said. Switch off Besides Kashmir, where shutdowns have sometimes lasted weeks, internet clampdowns have also hit Gujarat, Haryana, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Few countries rely so heavily on the internet, be it to conduct business, share information or socialise. India is the worlds largest internet consumer base after China, and a majority of its 450 million subscribers access the internet through a mobile handset. Along with Iraq, India had the most internet shutdowns in the world last year, according to the U.S.-based Brookings Institution. Economic losses from shutdowns in the year to June 2016 totalled $968 million, the most for any country, it said. But the clampdown also hurts free speech, denies poorer citizens access to health advice and curtails online educational opportunities, said Mishi Choudhary, legal counsel at advocacy Software Freedom Law Centre in Delhi. With an increasing number of services being pushed online, and the preference for a cashless economy, internet shutdowns hurt small businesses and poorer individuals most, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Doctors are cut off from chatting online with patients and are unable to access patient data or seek second opinions on cases, said Lubna Khan, a physician and activist. We are unable to provide care when and where it is needed. We are in a pathetic state, she said. School education minister Arvind Pandey has hinted that he will come up with an Act soon to regulate private schools in Uttarakhand. The Act could tight noose over several schools in Dehradun, Nainital and Mussoorie where several schools are operational. The minister said ground work has started and simultaneously other decisions were being taken to check monotony of private schools. We are planning an Act to regulate private schools, he said during a visit to HT office here on Friday. Parents have often complained that many schools have raised fee by 50 to 100%. The minister said the government was consulting district magistrates that head private school committees. I have already asked DMs to submit their response on regulating private school fee. For primary classes, we have decided annual fee of 15,000, upper primary 20,000 and secondary 25,000. We hope to start this regulation by next year. Most importantly, fee charged on grounds of various other activities will also be scrutinized. This will be done to know whether these activities are provided to students or not, Pandey said. Noting that nearly 2-3% private schools have caucus in the state, he said the Act would help simplify all issues related to private schools. Transportation is one big issue which will also have a component in the Act. He, however, admitted that condition of government schools was not healthy enough. I know government schools do not even have proper infrastructure. Through corporate social responsibility, I have planned to draw funds. I wont ask even a single penny from state government and within a year will change the face of school education, he said. Pandey said the BJP government would try filing vacant post of government teachers through fresh rules-Teachers Selection Rules. These will include all aspects from selection to transfer and service duration in remote areas and others. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Uttarakhand government plans to erect fencing along the boundary of Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR), through which the ambitious Kandi road will be built, to prevent animals, especially tigers, from crossing the border and getting killed by poachers. The road aims to minimise travel time and distance between Garhwal and Kumaon regions. Fencing would block movement of animals, such as elephants and tigers. Our animals cross border and get killed. This effort would help in restricting them to our territory, forest minister Harak Singh Rawat told Hindustan Times two days ago. The CTR boundary adjoins Uttar Pradesh. The governments apprehension stems from last years incident in which five tiger skins were seized from Najbabad border -- four tigers were once photographed in Corbett. Harak Singh Rawat has asked chief secretary S Ramaswamy to speed up the legwork on the project. According to him, fencing will be done on a 10-km patch along Corbett where an elevated road will be built. Watch towers will also be constructed in this patch from where tourists could enjoy the view of Corbett. But, this plan has not gone down well with wildlife enthusiasts who rue over blockage of corridors, which are already threatened because of encroachments and traffic. Already our corridors are strangulated. This effort of government will block another important corridor. If Uttarakhand tigers and elephants are going to UP, then the wild animals from there too are coming to our state, said Dinesh Pandey, a Haldwani-based activist. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has recently come up with a comprehensive publication, giving recommendations on how developmental projects of roads, railways and high-tension power grids could be set up in wildlife habitats. Nowhere does it mention to block the corridors -- long passages for wildlife -- through fencing. The recommendations give an overview of how we could maintain balance between development and conservation, WII director VB Mathur said. A study Right of Passage-Elephant Corridors of India -- conducted by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Asian Nature Conservation Foundation (ANCF) in 2005 -- had listed 12 corridors in Uttarakhand that are marred by encroachments, traffic, agricultural practices and so on. Human-animal conflict is increasing due to shrinking corridors. Elephants and tigers have nowhere to go. Thats why they intrude into human settlements, damaging their property, agriculture and even life, said AK Singh, team leader of Terai Arch landscape (TAL), World Wide Fund. Corbett director Surendra Mehra said, The fence cannot be done along the entire route as there are patches of forests as well. We can put fence near the area adjoining UP where there are villages. The Kandi road project was announced by chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat after the BJP came to power. The announcement that drew attention of locals aimed to reduce distance between Garhwal and Kumaon regions from 162km to 90km and travel time by at least two hours. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Installing CCTV cameras in Delhis buses, one of the key promises of the Aam Aadmi Party, seems to be on the back burner for now. The Delhi government has slashed 98% of the Rs 100 crore-budget meant for the project. An internal audit of expenditures of the transport department till January this year shows that the state fund of Rs 90 crore for the project was revised to Rs 1 crore in January for the 2016-17 fiscal. An additional allocation of Rs 10 crore from the Centre for the same work was cut to Rs 1 crore. Besides, not a single rupee has been spent from the funds for installing CCTV cameras in DTC and cluster buses so far. The reason is the governments own agencies are at loggerheads over the implementation of the project. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) that had executed its pilot project in 200 buses said the work had shifted to the state transport department but the latter insisted the DTC was in charge. The board had decided over five months ago that the transport department issue tenders for all the buses. But, it is yet to do so, a DTC official said. Sources in the government said the transport department, on the other hand, proposed that DTC should get the project done. The cabinet note for this is pending in the general administration department for nearly two months. It got slowed down because of the municipal elections. The budget was slashed because the funds could not be utilised, a source said. Delhi transport commissioner Vikram Dev Dutt refused to comment and instead suggested we should contact the DTC. Asked about the 2017-18 budget allocation for the project, the transport department said money was not an issue as the government could reallocate funds whenever the project begins. The AAPs flagship promises of having cameras in buses and free Wi-Fi found no mention in this years budget. In the 2016 budget, the Delhi government had allocated Rs 200 crore for a new CCTV scheme, which included the ones to be put in buses. In his first budget presentation in 2015, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia had promised to provide CCTV cameras in all DTC and cluster buses. Their combined fleet as of now is over 5,600. From its pilot project, DTC found that cameras in buses acted as a deterrent to crime in buses. It helped in solving crime cases in buses, including harassment of women, theft or damaging of buses. Besides giving a sense of security to commuters, it improves driving habits and helps in accident analysis and monitoring a conductors performance on duty, the DTC official said. The estimated cost of CCTV cameras in 6,655 buses for five years was around Rs 125 crore. After addition of TV screens in each bus, the project cost was pegged at Rs 140 crore. The government while announcing the project had said that installation of CCTVs will help check attempt of violence against women or harassment in buses. But even two years later, the project remains a distant dream. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas on Friday held his party leadership responsible for the defeat in the municipal election in Delhi and the assembly polls in Punjab and Goa last month. In an interview to India Today TV, Vishwas said that instead of blaming the electronic voting machines (EVMs), the party should introspect. He alleged that the party seniors take decisions behind closed doors and even the appointment of labour minister Gopal Rai as the Delhi convener on Thursday was taken without any discussion with other party members. Gopal Rai was given charge of Delhi by Arvind Kejriwal. Nothing was discussed. The decision was told in the PAC (political affairs committee), Vishwas said. Vishwas said that one of the main reasons behind the partys humiliating defeat in MCD elections was that the partys top brass had lost connect with grassroot workers. He pointed out that the party had drawbacks and an overhaul was necessary. Vishwas has been a member of AAP since its inception in 2012. He was an active face of the anti-corruption movement launched by Anna Hazare with Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi at Ramlila Ground in 2011. This is our sixth defeat because we were disconnected with volunteers. EVMs should not be blamed solely. We lost because people did not vote for us, he said. Delhi chief minister and AAPs national convener Arvind Kejriwal had been blaming faulty EVMs since the partys disappointing performance in assembly elections in Goa and Punjab. He had even threatened to launch an agitation over alleged manipulation of EVMs. When questioned about the partys loss in Punjab elections, Vishwas said the problem started with ticket distribution. People from the Congress and the Akali were given tickets. Many decisions were taken behind closed doors, Kumar Vishwas said. Sources in AAP had earlier revealed that Vishwas was upset with the party because he was not named as its star campaigner in Punjab, but he continues to play a critical role in campaigning. Vishwas also criticised his party on other issues, such as its stand on surgical strikes saying it was not right to attack the Prime Minister on the issue of surgical strikes. The Delhi Polices crime branch arrested a hawala operator from the city airport Friday morning for allegedly transferring money for AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran. Naresh, the accused, has been arrested for transferring around Rs 10 crore from Dinakaran to middleman Sukesh Chandrashekhar via hawala channels. An investigating officer said Naresh is a friend of Chandrashekhar and has helped him in transferring money in the past too. Police said they will interrogate Naresh and help identify other accused involved in the case. Police have arrested Dinakaran and his aide Mallikarjun for allegedly paying middleman Chandrashekhar to get the partys disputed two leaves symbol by bribing election officials. Police had recovered Rs 1.30 crore in cash from Chandrashekhars room in a city five star hotel. Chandrashekhar had allegedly assured Dinakaran that he would bribe election official and get a favourable decision in Dinakarans favour. The police team arrested Dinakaran earlier this week after interrogating him for around four days. Police have taken Dinakaran to Chennai for investigation. Police had first arrested Chandrashekhar on April 16. Police have alleged that Dinakaran promised Chandrashekhar Rs 50 crore if he could manage the disputed two leaves symbol. The party symbol has been freezed by the election commission following party supremo and Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithas death which spilt the party into two factions. Chandrashekar cites threat Chandrashekhar, who has in the past been booked in at least 15 cheating cases, told a city court that he was threatened inside the premises. Sources said Chandrashekhar claimed that last week, before the court hearing, a man posing as a journalist approached him in court and warned him not to take names in court. Chandrashekhar has alleged that the man spoke in Tamil because of which others in the court did not understand. Following Chandrashekhars complaint, police on Wednesday increased security outside the court and stopped journalists from being present during Chandrashekhars hearing. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An unemployed man allegedly battered his 76-year-old-mother with a brick, strangled her using a mouldable plastic pipe and then sat beside her body for hours, crying over a crime he repented later, police said on Friday. And all this because she refused her sons demands to leave the house and live at an old-age home as he could not afford to provide for her. The man, identified as Laxman Kumar, 48, then called the police and surrendered after the incident in Sagarpur in southwest Delhi on April 25. The incident underpinned a 2016 study by an NGO which said a majority of older people in India face abuse that include denial of food, medicines, emotional blackmailing, threatening, shouting, and beating. India has more than 100 million people above the age of 60 years who are categorised as elderly. A senior Delhi Police official said Laxman told his interrogators that he was undergoing treatment for depression. Police are yet to verify the claim, which, if proven, could lead to a lesser sentence. He did not wish to keep his mother with him because he was not financially sound. He said he could not afford her, the officer said. In his statement, he said he asked her to leave the house several times, but she refused saying she had nowhere to go. He said he told her to either go to an old-age home or an ashram or to her other son who lives in Faridabad but she refused to leave the house, which angered him. Laxman, who was unemployed, stayed with his mother after his wife left him two years ago. Police quoted neighbours as saying that the accused often fought with his mother and that they could hear her cries. On Tuesday, however, the fight took an ugly turn and Laxman allegedly attacked her with a brick. He said that was the only option he thought was left to get rid of her, the officer added. Laxman told police he realised his mistake and repented. It is then he called the police and informed them. He called us and said maine amma ko maar diya. Activists say that lack of government intervention and support for the elderly made them dependent on their sons and daughters, making them vulnerable to abuse and neglect. Earlier this year, the BJP-led government in Assam made it mandatory for government employees to take care of their parents or face a deduction from their income that would be used for their parents welfare. The move has been hailed by activists. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A short shower that lasted for less than five minutes on Friday afternoon helped the mercury level dip from around 38.6C to around 33C a drop of more than five degrees in less than an hour. The city received just around 0.2 mm of rain. According to officials from the MeT department, it was the cool moist winds which accompanied the rain that helped the temperature to drop drastically. Met officials said that more such showers are expected to hit the national capital region over the weekend, which in turn would help to keep the day temperatures well below 40C. One or two spells of thunderstorms or dust storms accompanied by squally winds reaching 55 kmph or more could hit a few places across Delhi and NCR over the weekend, said a senior official of the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre. MeT officials explained that a western disturbance is approaching the Indian boarder from Afghanistan, as a result of which moisture-laden winds are gushing into the mainland. As it approaches, the western disturbance is helping another wind system a circulation to form over Punjab and Haryana. With winds from the Arabian sea bringing in loads of moisture, these two systems together would help churn out rain in the northwestern states. This is a typical phenomenon which we usually get during this time of the year, said the official. And it wont just be Delhi-NCR alone to get relief from the rising mercury. MeT officials expect almost all states in north-west India including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to receive rain. The hilly regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand would receive fairly widespread rain, while Delhi, along with others states in the plains, would receive scattered and isolated rain. But rain or no rain, the thunderstorm and squally winds would be enough to arrest the rising mercury level at least for a brief period. We expect the day temperature to come down to around 38C over the weekend. This would plummet further once rain lashes the city, said the official. The thunderstorm would cool down the air in the high altitudes and because of the convection current, this colder air mass would come down to lower levels. The mercury had shot up to more than 42C earlier this month resulting in heat waves. Five people were killed on Friday after chemicals stored in an illegal fireworks manufacturing factory exploded in Farrukhnagar-Asalatpur in Ghaziabad. Officials said that the factory continued to operate illegally despite a November 2016 order by the Supreme Court to shut it down. Sources said the factory was operated by one Pappu Kumar, 55, who was allegedly present on the premises with several other persons when the explosion took place on Friday afternoon. Police said Kumar and three others were killed at the spot. The body of a fifth person was recovered from the terrace of the factory. The four other deceased were later identified as Sagir, 40, Rafiq, 60, Ashfaq, 38 and Kutub, 50. The explosion was of such high intensity that many bodies were dismembered. We found body parts strewn in an area of almost 50 metres around the blast site. One body was recovered from the roof later. In all, five people were killed due to the explosion, said Prem Ranjan Singh, subdivisional magistrate, Loni. Officials said fire tenders and police personnel rushed to the spot as soon as they were informed. A number of illegal factories in Farrukhnagar had been shut down by the district administration after a November 2016 order by the Supreme Court. In response to a petition on air pollution, the Apex court had last year also banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi and the national capital region. The factory was operating illegally on a plot of land. We are in the process of lodging an FIR against the land owner who leased out the plot. We have nearly 60 factories in the area that have been sealed. We will check each one of them now to figure out if the owners have been operating it despite the ban, Singh added. The bodies of the deceased were sent for postmortem. Deputy inspector general (Meerut), KS Emmaneul, was also expected to pay a visit to the area and figure out if there was any laxity on part of the police officers. These people were operating the factory even after it was sealed. The factories that have been sealed have no licences now. Incidents of deaths due to blasts is quiet common here, said Pawan Kumar, village head from Asalatpur village. The bang of the explosion was heard for several kilometers. The bodies of the people who were killed were blown into pieces. The scene was heart wrenching. Locals rushed to the spot to help, but five people were already dead by then, said Sanjay Goswami, a local resident. In October last year, a 36-year-old man had been killed and several others had been injured after a similar explosion took place in another factory in the area. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In the aftermath of its poor performance in the municipal elections, Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken along with state affairs incharge PC Chacko on Thursday met party vice-president Rahul Gandhi to tender their resignations. Sources said Gandhi had refused to accept their papers and asked them to continue till a decision is taken in this regard. Gandhi did not accept their resignations. But, Maken and Chacko were not ready to change their decision, so he asked them to wait for a week, a source said. He further said the party will convene a meeting within week to review municipal elections results in which their resignations will also be discussed. Following a crushing defeat in municipal polls on Wednesday, Maken and Chacko had announced their resignation taking responsibility for the defeat. I could not meet my own expectations, so I am resigning. I will not take any post in the party for a year. I will submit my resignation to the Congress President and Vice President shortly, he had said. The party had 83 councillors in three civic bodies however it could manage to win only 30 wards. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has submitted the probe report of the April 9 porn clip incident to the police, identifying three young men as suspects. The police are now tracing the movement of these men by checking footage of the stations where they could have boarded the train. The process, however, will take time as faces of these men are not visible in the CCTV but through appearance and clothes, police is trying to identify them from the cameras installed at other locations. Three young men are seen using their phones as remote and watching the screen. DMRC has told us that Wi-Fi was used to play porn from the phone by one of these passengers. One of them is also seen recording the entire incident. We are trying to identify them through the colour of their shirt and trousers. Apart from the cameras at entry points, the footage of platform cameras are also being checked, said a Delhi Police official, who is part of the investigation. On April 9, a pornographic clip played on one of the LED screens at the busy Rajiv Chowk station. The DMRC has submitted the investigation/facts along with CCTV footage of the incident involving a porn clip played on LED TV at Rajiv Chowk station, to Delhi Metro Rail Police for further investigation into the matter, said a DMRC spokesperson. Preliminary investigation revealed that the incident took place around 5pm on April 9. Following the incident, which left the DMRC red-faced, it has also issued strict guidelines to the contractors, who are handling electronic systems, such as LED screens at stations. These screens are used for advertisements and information dissemination. While there is no penalty in the Delhi Metros rulebook for this particular offence, the DMRC is now considering a specific penalty. For this case, the Delhi Police are working closely with us. Once the culprits are caught, we will impose a penalty and hand them over to the police, an official said. The LED TV system, where the porn clip played on for at least 10 minutes on April 9, had just been commissioned and its Wi-Fi port was accessible. The video continued for several minutes and was stopped only after some commuters brought it to the attention of DMRC officials at the station. The incident was recorded by several commuters on their mobile phones and has been shared multiple times on various social media platforms. Police said that they are also tracking the social media to check, who uploaded the video first. Cyber experts are helping us to trace the user, who first uploaded the video, the official added. A similar incident had been reported from Wayanad district in Kerala in 2015. Hundreds of passengers waiting at a bus stand in Kalpetta then had seen a porn video playing on a television installed to broadcast advertisements. A witness had later shared the video of the spot on social media. The user reported that the clip had played for 30 minutes. Some passengers then had tried covering the TV set with a cloth while women and children chose to walk away from the spot. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON To control the breeding of mosquitoes in and around the public conveniences, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has started a special drive for cleaning and repairing of all existing urinals and toilet blocks in each of the four civic zones. The step has been taken following repeated complaints from residents regarding the poor maintenance of these urinals. Also, during the drive, staff will check leakages in water tanks installed at the top of the toilet blocks to control the breeding of mosquitoes, said senior SDMC official. A team of seven to eight officials have been constituted in each zone to supervise these public conveniences. Based on the report submitted by them, the concerned department will arrange for cleaning and repairing of water tanks, lights and taps. The corporation will use the funds received from the Central government under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. According to an SDMC official, the drive has already started in south zone on April 27 and will continue till May 4. We have 150 urinals and 120 toilet blocks in south zone, out of which 12 have been outsourced to the private concessionaire. Rest will also be outsourced soon, but till that time, we will emphasize on keeping them clean as much as we can, said a senior official from SDMC. Two tankers are engaged to supply water during this period. From May 2 onwards, the corporation will start the repair work at toilet blocks and urinals in central Zone. However, residents gave mixed reaction to the efforts taken by the department. Dev Gupta, former RWA president from Hauz Khas, said, Though the department carried some repair work at urinals in my locality, this should be a regular feature. Half of the time, there is no water supply in public urinals which is why people avoid using them. Also, it is more important to spread awareness among the users to keep them clean. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India has reaffirmed its commitment to the development of Trincomalee port in Sri Lanka during Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghes recent State visit. These plans pale in comparison to the billion dollar investment that China has made to the port of Hambantota. But that may be for the better. The last Sri Lankan government of Mahinda Rajapaksa placed his country into a Beijing debt trap, borrowing $8 billion at absurdly high rates of interest, to build the port. Colombo today struggles to pay this off, largely by being forced to borrow money from more user-friendly sources. Sri Lankans across the political spectrum envision a future in which they become a logistical hub for the Indian Ocean. This has been encouraged by Sri Lankas lucrative role as the major transshipment point for Indian cargo. About a quarter of Indias containerised ocean cargo goes through Sri Lanka. The last Sri Lankan government had an additional vision of becoming a base for Chinese manufacturing and re-exporting as well. However, Sri Lankas grand port strategy has a number of contradictions. The most important is the growing conflict between trying to be the logistics gateway of India as well as an Indian Ocean hub for China. New Delhi inevitably sees Chinese owned and managed critical infrastructure on its periphery in geopolitical and not commercial terms. A concern brought to the fore by Mr Rajapaksas ill-considered decision to allow Chinese nuclear submarines to dock in Sri Lanka. Serving as the southern gateway to India would mean integrating Sri Lanka into the manufacturing supply chains of southern India. A large Chinese presence along such chains would be seen as a potential threat to the Indian economy, something that Sri Lankans, taken up by the money to made from port construction and the fees they believe will follow, fail to understand. Similarly, New Delhi has put plans for a second bilateral free trade agreement on hold because of Colombos attempts to sign one with Beijing. Colombos attempts to play a China card against India will and have spurred New Delhi in an obvious direction build ports at home to reduce Sri Lankas importance as a transshipment point. The planned Enayam port in Tamil Nadu is designed to do exactly that. By the time it is fully completed in 2030, the Enayam port complex should be able to handle 8 million TEUs of containeried cargo. In comparison, Sri Lanka handled about 1.2 million TEUs of Indian transshipment cargo in 2014-15. Serendipity is a selling point for tourists, but it is a synonym for naivete in the realm of maritime geopolitics. To give impetus to research and motivate students to pursue higher studies, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Council has proposed a monthly Rs 75,000 scholarship for select students who are innovative researchers. The IITs will also make short and long-term plans to raise the standards of premium institutes within the next three to four months. Education minister Prakash Javadekar, who heads the council, also announced that the Centre will raise Rs 20,000 crore for the Higher Education Finance Agency (HEFA) in three years through debt instruments. The money will be used to fund research infrastructure in premier institutes. The government, had said in September last year that HEFA would finance the civil and lab infrastructure projects through a 10-year loan. Javadekar said that these measures will help IITs improve their international rankings and will make them more beneficial to students. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Anita Dongre has been showcasing her couture and diffusion lines at fashion weeks for many years, but when Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton wore a georgette dress by her to Oval Maidan in Mumbai in April 2016, it made headlines across the globe. And now, the Mumbai-based designer is in news again, thanks to the launch of two flagship stores in SoHo, New York, making her the first Indian designer to do so. Designer Anita Dongre hit headlines when Kate Middleton wore her design last year. Grassroot, Anita Dongres off-shoot label, which focusses on the craftsmanship of Indian weavers and sustainability, will have a store in Broome Street by end of June. For those aiming to cash in on wedding wear, the Anita Dongre couture store on Wooster Street will come up by mid-July. The aim is two tiered to cater to Indian brides abroad and to also give a glimpse of Indian craft to the global audience. We have a lot of NRI brides who either have online access to the brand or they fly to India for wedding shopping. I believe brides must enjoy bespoke services, and we will be able to offer that experience. Im also excited about showing Indian craftsmanship on a global platform through the Grassroot store. In bringing these crafts to New York, I get greater strength to provide employment to craft villages in India and showcase their relevance in fashion today, says Dongre. Read about Anitas reaction to Kate Middleton wearing her design, here SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON You may want to add yoga to your routine as a recent study has suggested that asanas can help ward off menstrual disorders. The systematic review of the published literature on yoga practice and common menstrual disorders found that all of the studies evaluated reported a beneficial effect and reduced symptoms. Jennifer Oates from Kings College London, UK, assessed the evidence from 15 published studies on the effects of yoga practice on problems such as amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Enhanced mood, reduced pain, increased well-being and a heightened relaxation response were among the improved outcomes reported by women who participated in a yoga intervention. The study is published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. While the heterogeneity of the studies presented the authors with limitations, patients can take solace that the studies uniformly found value regardless of the intensity and type of yoga intervention, commented The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Editor-in-Chief John Weeks. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more Two suspected cases of swine flu in Patel Nagar has sent residents of the area into a state of fear. An eight-year-old girl and her six-year-old brother, residents of Patel Nagar, are suspected to be suffering from swine flu and were treated at the civil hospital. Residents are worried as Patel Nagar is a low-lying area where pigs are in abundance there are several patches where sewage water stagnates. Doctors at the government hospital said that as the area is densely populated, they are concerned about an outbreak. Doctors said that swine flu virus is transmitted from pigs to human beings. While no deaths from swine flu have been reported so far this year, doctors fear a fresh outbreak of the virus. According to sources at the hospital, the siblings were sent home with their parents after they were given Tamiflu, an antiviral medicine used for treating flu. Swine flu broke out in the country in 2009, and since, H1N1 infections have been reported from across the country. Doctors said that the virus can surface any time of the year. Read I Gurgaon civil hospital to set up Swine Flu ward We treated two patients who we suspect might be affected by the H1N1 virus. There is no specific reason or seasonal conditions for the virus to be activated; cases are reported whenever there is a change in the weather conditions. We have set up an isolation ward at the civil hospital and Tamiflu medicines are also available, Ram Prakash, endemic in-charge, civil hospital, Gurgaon, said. Doctors advised residents to take precautions as the conditions are favourable for the virus to spread. This virus was dormant for the last two years and no case of this flu was reported last year. However, it can mutate and multiply once it surfaces, Prakash said. The health department last week issued a circular appealing to residents to take precautions. Doctors said the situation could turn dangerous if the virus is transmitted by human contact, as it can affect more people. Doctors advised residents suffering from body ache, headache, cold and cough for more than four days to consult medical experts. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indicating that inequality in India is increasing, a report released on Thursday said that the richest 1% own 53% of the countrys wealth. It also said that unlike other countries, development in India is not moving across states. Published by Business and Sustainable Development Commission, a non-profit organisation, the report was released at the two-day UN Global Compact (UNGC) conference in New Delhi on Thursday. In terms of wealth inequality, India is second only to Russia, where the richest 1 percent own 53 percent of the countrys wealth, said the report titled The Better Business, Better World at the conference which focusses on how businesses can create solutions and tap new opportunities found within the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through bold innovation. According to Lise Kingo, CEO and executive director of the UNGC, SDGs can open at least $1 trillion of market opportunity for the private sector in India. This is out of a total global value of $12 trillion that could be unlocked by sustainable business models in four key areas, food and agriculture, energy, cities and health, she said. Kingo added that over 72 million new jobs could be created in India by 2030 by adapting a sustainable business model. The report says that to reduce the inequality, India needs a different economic model one that is not only low-carbon but also recognizes poverty, inequality and lack of financial access. As the second largest food producer in the world, India needs a more focused approach to developing and managing its agricultural sector and agri-based industrialisation, it says. Stating that rising inequality leads to slower progress in reducing poverty, the report added that Oxfam has calculated that if India were to stop inequality from rising further, it could end extreme poverty for 90 million people as early as 2019. The UNGC also called for better infrastructure to improve access to proper medical care for Indias rural population. On its current trajectory, India will continue to face enormous challenges in rural development, urban sustainability, national infrastructure, and improved quality of life of its citizens, the report says. Its suggestions included creation of low-income food markets, reducing food waste in supply chains, technological aid in smallholder farms, micro-irrigation programs, resource recovery, remote patient monitoring and preventing catastrophic healthcare costs for the poor. Senior Goa Aam Aadmi Party leader Oscar Rebello hit out at his outfits obsession with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the partys criticism of the demonetisation exercise and the surgical strikes appeared to have had boomeranged. The Delhi chief ministers party was roundly beaten by PM Modis Bharatiya Janata Party in the capitals civic elections this week, less than two months after its ambitious campaign to come to power in Goa and Punjab state assemblies failed. Rebello, in a piece published in a daily here on Friday, said the party shouldnt have criticised the November decision to scrap high-value currency notes and the surgical strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Our mistake was to criticise these moves. Both these events if did not yield utopian results did give a real knock to Pakistan and certainly sent the black economy into mad panic, he wrote in the piece. Rebello was the face of AAP in Goa before Elvis Gomes joined the party. The problem with us was that we went hammer and tong in every situation, be it demonetisation, surgical strike or anything. Who are we to decide whether the step of demonetisation was right or wrong? We should have left the economists to decide on it, Rebello told HT on Friday. Kejriwal, he said, cannot be combative all the time. He heads the government there, he cannot engage the party into conflicts with the Centre every time. As a chief minister he needs to keep his head on his shoulder and work accordingly, he said. In his piece, Rebello said the sacking of former party stalwarts Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan could have contributed to AAPs poor show in recent elections. Bhushan and Yogendra cannot pretend to be angels, as they assiduously tried to sabotage AAP chances in Delhi in 2015. Their ugly public ejection horrified us and did far more damage to brand AK, he said in the piece titled, Oh Arvind, my Arvind drawing on the 19th century . But Rebello hit out at attempts by the sections of media to project Kejriwal and the party as desh-drohis (anti-nationals). He said that partys volunteers were combative, committed and completely convinced by the dream of a better India and were being led from the front by Kejriwal. Of course, he (Kejriwal) could be exasperating and short tempered, he could never suffer fools easily and perhaps suffered from a pinch of paranoia like any leader in the spotlight. But that was because he was human not evil, as the world now seems to suggest. Arvind, like any great leader, has sacrificed so much. Family and career, financial security, even his health, Rebello said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Four vehicles were torched and police were attacked on Friday by students of the Allahabad University who were protesting demanding, among others, an inquiry into allegations of corruption in the institute. Trouble started in the morning when students gathered outside the vice chancellors office to press for their demands and tried to disrupt a meeting of the central universitys executive council, police said. The council was scheduled to open sealed envelopes containing names of persons selected for appointment as registrar, finance officer and deputy registrars. When the agitating students tried to prevent vice-chancellor RL Hangloo from leaving the campus after the meeting, police intervened and detained four protestors. The arrest of their peers further infuriated the students who then tried to put up a road blockade, creating chaos near the district court and university campus at Katra and Bank Road. When police tried to disperse them, they went berserk clashing with police and damaging vehicles. Among the torched vehicles were two buses and two cars. Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Shalabh Mathur said action would be taken against the students involved in the violence. The situation is now under control, Mathur added. Accusing Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of indulging in cheap publicity for himself, Union minister for urban development, housing and urban poverty alleviation and information and broadcasting Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said it was time that all opposition parties, especially the Congress, introspect reasons for their fall. In Chandigarh to chair a meeting with Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on various issues pertaining to urban development and housing for poor in the state, Naidu dismissed Kejriwals allegation of tampering of electronic voting machines (EVM) in the Delhi municipal corporation polls. Aam Aadmi Party was routed in the Delhi polls. Kejriwal is making lame excuses, Naidu said. Same EVMs won Delhi for Kejri He must understand that these are the same EVMs with which he won the Delhi assembly polls two years ago. These are also the same EVMs with which Congress won in Punjab last month. Sometimes he says BJP is dengue and is quick to insult anyone, even the election commission. He is only indulging in cheap prachar (publicity) for himself, Naidu told newspersons. On being questioned about the Modi governments performance, the former national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it was time that all Opposition parties, especially Congress, introspect reasons for their fall. They need to understand why their stature is diminishing while Modis is growing, he said. Modis stable and able government has won over directionless, leaderless and corrupt systems in the polls over the past three years in different states. People are with Modi, he added. Power comes from ballot, not bullet Regarding killing of security personnel by Naxals and militiants in Jammu and Kashmir, Naidu said the government will give a befitting reply. It is unfortunate that so-called human rights activists vanish when security forces are killed but raise a hue and cry when forces act, he said. Naxals, separatists and militants must understand that their ideology that power came from barrel of the gun is outdated. True power comes from the ballot, Naidu said, adding that all political parties should come together on such occasions to isolate separatists and militants. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The killing of 25 CRPF personnel in a militant ambush in south Sukma earlier this week has triggered fresh calls to revive Salwa Judum, the anti-Maoist private militia banned by the Supreme Court. Chavindra Karma, the son of Congress leader Mahendra Karma who had played a key role in raising the militia some 10 years ago before being brutally killed by the Maoists in 2013, is taking the lead in attempting to revive the vigilante group. We cannot reveal the strategy of the movement now, but I can say that we cannot sit like this and must free Bastar from Maoists. I am discussing revival of a Judum-like movement with tribal leaders, he told HT. Emotions are running high in Chhattisgarh a hotbed of Left-wing insurgency following Mondays attack that left 25 security personnel dead and six others injured. It was the worst Maoist attack since 2010 when 75 CRPF personnel were killed in Dantewada. Chavindra is stated to have held several discussions with local leaders, exploring ways to revive the militia accused of rights abuses. Salwa Judum, which in local Gondi dialect means Purification hunt sparked nationwide condemnation as reports of atrocities piled up, eventually prompting the top court to intervene in 2011 and ban the militia. The court declared the milita made up of local youths with government patronage as illegal and unconstitutional and ordered the Chhattisgarh government to recover all the arms and ammunition in its possession. The authorities were also ordered to investigate all instances of criminal activities of the Salwa Judum. Chavindra, however, insisted that reviving an anti-Maoist campaign was imperative under present circumstances. I respect the SC and no violence will be allowed in this movement, but the condition of tribals in Bastar is getting worse and this is correct time to hit-back, he added. However, several senior Chhattisgarh police officials were dismissive of Chavindras efforts. He does not have support of the tribals and I dont think he is capable of reviving the movement, said an officer. Sattar Ali, once a trusted aide of Chavindras father, also remained unconvinced. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Anthropologists have found clinching evidence about the existence of a primitive apePliopithecoidsfor the first time from India. The creatures, scientists said, used to live in the forests of Shivalik Hills in present day Himachal Pradesh around nine million years ago. Fossils of Pliopithecoids, about the size of todays Siamang gibbons weighing around 1215 kilos, had earlier been discovered from Europe, China and Thailand. The discovery will help in finding more about the ancestry of gibbons in India. But this is for the first time that their existence has been confirmed from India or in any south Asian country through fossil records. The fossils were discovered from Haritalyangar in Himachal Pradesh, said Anek R Sankhyan a former scientist with the Anthropological Survey of India and now head of the Paleo Research Society. Sankhyan discovered two infant lower molar teeth that belong to an ape-like creature Krishnapithecus, from Haritalyangar, around 100km northwest of Himachal capital Shimla. The molars are around 89 mm in length. The crowns of both molars are fully formed, but there is no root formation suggesting that they belonged to infants. An image of the two infant lower molar teeth that belong to an ape-like creature Krishnapithecus, found from Haritalyangar, around 100km northwest of Himachal capital Shimla. (Courtesy: AR Sankhyan) Krishnapithecus is a member of the Pliopithecoid family. Scientists knew very little about this creature. The discovery would shed light on the evolution of Krishnapithecus, its habits and the world it lived in, Sankhyan said. The findings have been published in Current Science journal in the April 25 issue and the Journal of Human Evolution. In the 1970s, two researchers SRK Chopra and S Kaul had for the first time discovered a worn-out third upper molar of a Pliopithecoid-like creature from Haritalyangar. It had led researchers to create an entirely new genus and speciesKrishnapithecus. But as the tooth was worn out, it failed to provide much information. No discovery was made in the intervening four decades which could have shed some light on the creature. The evolutionary relationships of Krishnapithecus were unclear until the latest finds. The new finds have clarified its status. It has become clear that they are Pliopithecoids that lived throughout Europe and Asia from about 18 million year ago to 7 million years ago, Terry Harrison, director of Centre for the Study of Human Origins in New York University, told HT over email. Harrison is a co-author of the paper published in the two journals. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Four Congress MLAs joined the ruling BJP in Manipur on Friday, dealing yet another to the party after two others switched sides since the assembly election loss in March. The four -- Y. Surchandra, Ngamthang Haokip, O Lukhoi and S Bira -- were felicitated by chief minister N. Biren Singh and state unit president K. Bhabanada at the BJP office. The first Congress MLA to join the BJP after the election defeat was T. Shyamkumar, who was sworn in as a cabinet minister on March 15. Another MLA, Ginsuanhau Zou, followed him. In the assembly elections, the ruling Congress bagged 28 seats in the 60-member House to finish as the single largest group. But the BJP, which secured 21 seats, joined hands with other parties to form the government. Things have changed after the election. Friends have become foes. There is nothing called principle or ideology. Those who crossed floor are not afraid of disqualification, said state Congress president TN Haokip. Meanwhile, speaker Y. Khemchand is examining two petitions seeking disqualification of Shyamkumar and Zou. 24-year-old Captain Ayush was among the three army personnel killed in the deadly terror attack on a camp in Kupwara on Thursday, and the news has left the young officers family devastated. Trying to hold back tears while speaking to the media in Kanpur, the slain officers father recalled how he sensed something was not right when he saw the news about the attack on Thursday morning. I was watching the news and doubts started creeping in my mind when I heard that an officer was also killed and that his rank was captain from the artillery. Then I got a phone call from an officer informing me about Ayush and that was that, he said. He went on to say that his sons time had come too soon, that he was too young to die. Capt Ayush Yadav's father:We have lost our son,it has happened now but Govt should come up with a concrete policy so that others remain safe pic.twitter.com/vZJ5UJUBMd ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 28, 2017 He also recalled happy moments with his son, especially when they would talk about his marriage. I used to joke to him about his wedding and tell him that we should start looking for girls for him. But he would push the matter away saying he was too young. Nevertheless I would push him saying I wanted to see him settle before I retire from police force, his added. Ayush was more close to his mother, his father said, adding that she had spoken to him the night before the attack, and that he never picked up the phone again when she called on Thursday. Government needs to do something about its policy or else our boys will keep dying like this. But honestly, I have nothing to say to the government nor do I have any hope from them, he added dejectedly. Captain Ayush Yadav, Subedar Bhoop Singh Gujjar and Naik B Venkata Ramanna were killed in the attack on the army camp on Thursday. Gen Bipin Rawat #COAS & all ranks #IndianArmy express heartfelt condolences on the loss of lives of the bravehearts in #Panzgam pic.twitter.com/CeUIRW5PGp ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) April 27, 2017 Condemning the Kupwara attack, deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Nirmal Singh assured that India would give a befitting reply to desperate Pakistan for trying to ruin the atmosphere in the Valley. We condemn this strongly. We pay our tributes to the jawans. Pakistan is trying to mess the situation as much as possible, but that would not be possible. Our jawans are doing their best and will not let them be successful. Their actions will be answered, Singh told ANI. Dubbing it as a coward action, Singh said that Pakistan is desperate to create problems in Kashmir and warned it of severe action. Pakistan is going to suffer. We are going to reply in the same way. The Union government is well prepared, he added. Two terrorists were also neutralised in the attack. In the backdrop of allegations that the state government was singling out a particular community for creating nuisance on Goa beaches, tourism minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said that all those operating illegally in the coastal destination, will face action. The state government will crack down on all those involved in illegal activities on the shoreline. Everyone who is creating nuisance for tourists would be taken to task, Ajgaonkar told reporters in Panaji on Thursday on the sidelines of an annual wine festival. The government will take action against everyone involved in illegal activity. Even if we find Nigerians trafficking drugs, we will deport them back to their country, he added. The ministers recent remarks against Lamanis -- a nomadic tribe from neighbouring Karnataka that has made Goa their home for ages -- had raised eyebrows. Ajgaonkar had said earlier this month that Lamanis were creating a nuisance along the beaches in Goa. He had alleged that Lamanis were illegally vending on the beaches and troubling tourists, especially foreigners, while roaming around in groups. The minister had also warned his department officials of suspension if they fail to clear the states beaches of the nomadic tribe by forming special squads. Ajgaonkar said on Friday the state government agencies have already initiated action on those illegally operating in Goa. Those working with valid permission will be given protection and those who are here illegally would be acted upon, he said. An Ahmedabad-based woman has been provided police protection after she moved the Gujarat high court fearing her honour killing by her father, a local Congress leader, and husband who are allegedly against her profession as a yoga trainer. Rashesha Desai, 35, is the daughter of retired IPS officer VV Rabari, who allegedly did not approve of her leaving her husband to pursue her passion for yoga. Desai has a yoga studio in Thaltej area of the city.Her father is a Congress member since 2012. Killing for protecting a familys honour are common in many states of India and are mostly committed by family members over romantic liaisons or for marrying against set societal norms. Activists have been seeking separate laws to deal with honour killings. They say the crime is under-reported and many such incidents are covered up. In her petition to the HC, Desai said her husband Keyur Desai and father may eliminate her as they are against her wish to live as an independent woman and rather want her to live a life by following traditional values. Desai, in her petition filed through lawyer Sikandar Saiyed, said she has been seeking divorce for two years. She has alleged that her father, who retired as additional director general of police, had forced her to drop her career plan and go back to her husband. Desai said she said the right to live on her own terms as she is capable of earning bread and support myself and nobody should interfere. The HC, apart from ordering security cover for her, has instructed police to look into the matter. Courts in Gujarat, a BJP-ruled state, had last year too provided police protection to several couples who had sought security fearing fatal attacks by their families for allegedly bringing dishonour. US President Donald Trumps proposed changes to the H-1B visa program may end up benefiting Indian IT professionals in terms of higher wages, a US expert said. The new rules for the visas could raise labour costs for both technology companies and businesses using outsourcing services in the US, said Ignatius Chithelen, founder and managing partner of Banyan Tree Capital Management in a op-ed at the Wharton website. These extra costs are estimated to be about $2.6 billion a year. The assumption is that the visa holders will be paid $100,000 in annual wages, around the average at major companies based on online job postings, while the number of visas issued remains the same, he said. Chithelen said the new visa policy is expected to be announced around November. From next year, the visas could go to applicants with the highest wages and skills, and the number of H-1B visas issued may also be reduced since the focus is to hire Americans, he said. The large supply of technologists from India, eager to work in the US, has kept technology wages in the US from surging too high, especially when demand rises sharply as in the current social media boom and during the internet bubble of the late 1990s, Chithelen said. If, starting in 2018, H-1B visas are issued to those with the highest wages and skills, Indian professionals could benefit. Indians graduating with advanced degrees in the US and highly skilled professionals in India applying for H-1B jobs should then be able to find jobs with higher wages and better working conditions, he said. According to a survey released by Harvey Nash Pulse, six in 10 US IT leaders with large development teams say Trumps proposed changes to the H-1B program will make skilled IT talent more scarce and increase the cost to hire skilled IT talent. Almost two-thirds of companies with more than 50 developers said they believe the current H-1B visa program as it stands has helped businesses successfully access highly skilled IT talent, it said. Meanwhile in an op-ed, Republican Congressman Dave Brat said H-1B visa program does not put America First. The current system for H-1B visa workers does not put the interests of our country first, and rampant abuses to the system leave the American worker standing on the sidelines and often underemployed. During a time of heightened political divides, this is an issue both Democrats and Republicans in Congress can agree needs to be addressed, he wrote in The Hill Newspaper. Too often, companies capitalise on the loopholes in our immigration system to displace high-skilled American workers in search of cheap labour, said Brat, who is one of the co- authors of a bill proposing changes to the H-1B visa program. Trump has signed an executive order that seeks to make changes to a H-1B visa programme that brings in highly skilled foreign workers. A special court on Friday dismissed a CBI petition seeking cancellation of bail granted to YSR Congress party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy on the grounds that he was trying to influence a key witness in the alleged disproportionate assets case. The court, not only dismissed the agencys petition, but also allowed Jagans plea seeking permission to go on a holiday with his family for 15 days between May 15 and June 15. In its petition on March 28, the CBI referred to a recent interview given by former Andhra Pradesh chief secretary P Ramakanth Reddy to Sakshi Telugu television channel, promoted by Jagans family. The official is said to have made some critical comments against the functioning of the CBI in Jagans case. Ramakanth Reddy was the chief secretary during the chief ministership of Jagans father Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and the CBI had questioned him as one of the witnesses in the disproportionate wealth case, as it suspected that he was aware of the flow of investments into Jagans companies from other business houses who got benefited from YSR government as part of quid pro quo deal. However, Jagan, in his counter affidavit, refuted the charge, stating that he had nothing to with Ramakanth Reddys interview to Sakshi television channel, which is run by Indira Television Limited, and not Jagati Publications, which has been made party to the disproportionate assets case. As such, I was in no way connected with the interview. Sakshi had conducted the interview as part of its professional duty. All that Ramakanth Reddy had stated was in response to various questions asked by the correspondent, he argued. The court agreed with Jagans contention and dismissed the CBI petition. The CBI had arrested Jagan in the disproportionate assets case on May 27, 2012 and filed 11 charge sheets against Jagan and others. It charged that various companies and individuals had made huge investments in Jagans business empire when his father Y S Rajasekhar Redddy was the chief minister. These investments were as part of the quid pro quo deal with the government for granting favours to the companies in the form of land allotments, granting of licences, etc. Thus, Jagan had amassed huge wealth misusing the office of his late father, the investigation agency alleged. YSR Congress party president was released on bail from Chanchalguda jail on September 25, 2013, nearly 16 months after his arrest. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Uttarakhand high court on Friday issued notice to the Ganga, just over a month after the river was declared a living entity. This is the first time that the river, considered holy by the Hindus, has been served legal notice after the Uttarakhand high court, in a landmark verdict on March 20, granted it and the Yamuna river the legal identity and rights of a person as laid out in the Constitution of India A bench of justices VK Bisht and Alok Singh also issued notice to the state government, state pollution control board, Rishikesh Nagar Palika and Central Pollution Control Board seeking their reply by May 8 on a PIL challenging the government proposal to create a garbage dump in Rishikesh. The PIL, filed by Swarup Singh Pundir, the gram pradhan (village head) of Khadak Maf village, through his counsel Gopal K Verma, claimed that the Ganga flows on two sides of the 10-acre land earmarked for the garbage dump. As per the petitioner, a proposal to create the garbage dump was made in 2015 and after securing the required approvals, including from the National Green Tribunal, a detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared. In his petition, Pundir, said that on one hand, the government was spending crores of rupees to clean the river under the Namami Gange project while on the other hand it was allowing construction of a garbage dump spread over 10 acre land that has Ganga flowing on its two sides. Pundir said the garbage would seep into the river during the rain further polluting it and defeating the very purpose of the Namami Gange project. Hearing the PIL, the bench issued notice to all the respondents, including Ganga (respondent no. 2) asking them to file their replies during the next hearing. The bizarre protests were bound to grab media attention and the protesting Tamil Nadu farmers did precisely that for much of the past month when they descended on Delhis Jantar Mantar to underline their plight back home. They staged sit-ins with human skulls, ate grass, held mice in their mouth and even threatened to drink their own urine as they sought to highlight what they described as dire distress in times of an unprecedented drought ravaging the state. Having shocked and shaken the countrys conscience, the farmers have taken a break in their agitation warning of returning to the Capital later in the month if demand for loan waivers was not immediately met. But there has been no such luck for the family of Palaniswami, an ageing farmer from Tiruchirapalli who hanged himself from a tree in his field of withered crops in January, unable to cope with his mounting debts and growing threats from the local money lender. For his bereaved family, the drought said to be the worst in the last 140 years has been more of an extended nightmare that refuse to end. Apart from its principal bread earner, the family is also without any dependable source of income. To compound their troubles, the family also has to pay back Rs 1.5 lakh and interests on the loan that Palaniswami had taken from the money lender. P Prabhakaran, his 30-year-old son, finds the burden of unpaid loan and the task of looking after two of his mentally-challenged siblings almost unbearable. Whatever I earn as an employee of a private firm, Rs 10,000 goes for repayment of the interest component of the loan. The loan amount is still there and I may have to work till my death and I would still be paying the interest, he complained between shedding tears. Thousands of farming families across Tamil Nadu particularly in the Cauvery Delta are facing a similar bleak future. Not all are strong enough to shoulder the burden and scores of farmers are capitulating under pressure, ending their lives. As crops wither and hopes of repaying loans recede, more farmers are taking the extreme step, points out farmers leader P Ayyakannu. The state government in an RTI reply admitted to 82 farmer deaths since October last year. But farmers organisations say hundreds have actually died, saying 500 would be a more accurate toll. The drive from Chennai to Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, winding through parched fields of wilting sugar cane and withering coconut plantations, is bumpy and distressing. At almost every road, hump and sharp turns, some family or the other has a heart-rending story to narrate. Raju Tirumala narrates the depressing circumstances under which his wife Lakshmi killed herself, becoming the first woman farmer in the state to commit suicide. T Alagesans family recounts that he died a broken man, unable to withstand either the drought or debt. As against the normal rainfall of 440mm during the north-east monsoon which brings the bulk of the rain, the state received a mere 168mm of rainfall this year. The south-west monsoons failed too, leaving TN drier. A beleaguered state government has declared all 32 districts as drought affected and sought Rs 39,565 crore relief package from the Centre. It has been sanctioned only Rs 2,014 crore though, based on recommendations of the inter-ministerial central team. Help isnt forthcoming from the authorities and the farming community is agitated. Farmers are dying everywhere and there is no one willing to stop it, laments Arokya Mary, the grieving widow of Alagesan. Even Palaniswamis son Prabhakaran is livid. The police FIR lodged after Palaniswamis death mentioned suicide as the cause but the state government has so far not bothered to pay any compensation. It seems no one cares for the dying farmers, he said, in between working hard to repay his fathers debt. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A senior IPS officer, who had been facing departmental proceedings for the last 10 years on some very serious charges, including the allegation that he sexually exploited a woman, has forced the Bihar government to fully reinstate him. The revocation of proceedings against 1994 batch IPS officer Amitabh Kumar Das came on Thursday, almost seven months after the supreme court dismissed the charges against him. The apex court passed the order in his favour on September 30, 2016. The truth has prevailed, said Das, who remains in the rank of superintendent of police (SP), after putting in 23 years of service as a Bihar cadre IPS officer. He now wants the government to make up for his lost years and restore his lost seniority through a double promotion. I have written to Bihars principal secretary (home) to directly promote me to the rank of inspector general of police (superseding the intervening rank of deputy inspector general), to which all my IPS batch mates have already been promoted, Das told HT. The Bihar cadre officers travails began in 2007, when a woman brought charges of sexual exploitation against him. Das was commandant of Bihar military police-11 at that time and was posted at Jamui in south-eastern Bihar. At the behest of the state government, an inquiry was conducted against Das by the then superintendent of police (SP) of Vaishali (in north Bihar), Preeta Verma, who found the charges against Das to be false. The government then ordered departmental proceedings against Das, who had charges of indiscipline and conduct unbecoming of an officer, adding, to the original charge levelled by a woman. Again, the then departmental enquiry commissioner and 1974-batch IAS officer S P Keshav gave Das a clean chit after the girl did not appear before him for 18 months, to back up her charges against the officer. Later, in 2009, the government decided to go in for another departmental proceeding, which the officer challenged in the central administrative tribunal (CAT). The CAT, too, ruled in favour of Das and termed the governments move as misuse of procedure. Das had pleaded before the tribunal that the departmental proceedings against him had been started out of vendetta, being pursued, allegedly, by a former union minister from Bihar, after he (Das), as SP, railways, had hinted at wrong-doing in the award of railway contracts. Four years later, in 2013, the government went into appeal against the CAT order, in the Patna high court, which was rejected on October 29, 2015. The Bihar government then moved the apex court, where its SLP was rejected by the double bench of justice R K Agarwal and justice Ashok Bhusan, last year. However, it tookanother seven months for his reinstatement to come about. Das was earlier in the news as SP of Arwal in south-central Bihar, in 2005, when, in a report, he had recommended the slapping of POTA on Ranveer Sena, a private army of landlords, which is now defunct. Das again kicked up a storm in November 2014, when as SP, Bihar human rights commission, he wrote a letter to IG (special branch) Jitendra Singh Gangwar, informing him of the alleged cordial relations between (now union minister) Giriraj Singh and the proscribed Ranveer Sena. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A growing feud between two BJP Karnataka veterans, BS Yeddyurappa and KS Eshwarappa, is threatening to spoil Prime Minister Narendra Modis hopes of conquering the state. Karnataka, the first southern state where the BJP came to power on its own in 2008, is scheduled to go to polls in May next year and the BJP is keen to launch its battle for south India from there. But the party was left red-faced when Eshwarappa and his loyalists held a save BJP convention, taking potshots at Yeddyurappa, a former chief minister also called BSY, over his unilateral style of functioning, saying the dictatorial attitude wont work. We promised Eshwarappa we would take care of his concerns, but he appears to have decided to take on BSY on his own, a BJP leader involved with Karnataka affairs told HT. We will speak to both factions. The BJP is on an election winning spree and plans to wind up this year with victories in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Karnataka will be its first big electoral challenge before Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, all BJP-ruled states. The party won 17 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 and believes the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah was battling anti-incumbency and that the Modi magic will help it clinch Karnataka in 2018. It appointed Yeddyurappa as the state party chief in April last year and later named him the chief ministerial candidate. This, however, triggered a feud within the BJP with Eshwarappa, a loyalist turned detractor, revolting against Yeddyurappa. The feud started after Yeddyurappa appointed his confidant S Rudregowda as the president of the BJP in Shimoga district. Rudregwoda contested the 2013 assembly election on the ticket of Karnataka Janta Party, an outfit floated by Yeddyurappa when he quit the BJP, and secured more votes than Eshwarappa. Yeddyurappa returned to the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha election and his loyalists got prominence after he was appointed Karnataka BJP chief last year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court asked the Union government on Friday to facilitate talks between separatists and Kashmiri lawyers, paving the way for the first attempts to defuse tension in a region where nearly 100 people have been killed in waves of violence since last year. The bench, headed by chief justice JS Khehar, told the representatives of the J&K High Court Bar association to use their influence in the region to open a dialogue with separatist Hurriyat leaders, the first step to bring normalcy to the Kashmir valley. During the hearing, the government ruled out engaging with the Hurriyat leaders, the political face of the anti-India movement in the region claimed by Pakistan as its territory. The meeting, the bench told attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, should be facilitated only if the rules allowed it. The Centre is aware of the situation there and is taking all the measures, Rohatgi told the court, objecting strongly to the HC bar associations arguments that NDA government should hold unconditional talks with the jailed Hurriyat leaders. The AG also said it was not for the court to commence a dialogue, but for the political parties. The SC did not appreciate AGs aggressive stand, saying, what they say is that we are the bar association and we should be allowed to talk to them (separatists). Let them meet and talk. Court can always be a facilitator, though the solutions are somewhere else. The court said if Rohatgi felt the court had no jurisdiction then it would not hear the petition by lawyers body seeking a direction to stop the use of pellet guns by security forces in Kashmir. The leaders are under house arrest by the state government who would be told what the SC has asked for. If a request is made, then the state shall take a decision as per the rules, Rohatgi told HT, when asked about the next step. Allegations of human rights violations including a video of a man tied to an army jeep - have soured relations between locals and security forces in the Valley amid increasing incidents of stone pelting and civilian deaths. The apex court said it was disturbed to see photographs presented by the petitioners of people injured by pellet guns. But it told the Kashmiri lawyers that no progress was possible unless the protests abated. We can put it (pellet firing) off provided there is some reasonableness on both sides. You tell us what you would do if we direct the government not to use pellets for two weeks. Senior lawyers from the association demanded the government hold a dialogue, which the court ruled out for the time being, and also declined their plea to remove the army from the Valley. If we do that everything will finish. Most worrisome aspect is that children are getting involved. Girls are coming on the streets. In this heightened situation one cannot address the core issue. If you want to carry things forward all this must stop. You make a suggestion what you will do and then we can ask the Centre to take a reciprocal step, the bench told the advocates, The court asked the Jammu and Kashmir bar association to come back on May 9 with measures to curb violence if the use of pellet guns was stopped. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Authorities on Friday imposed restrictions on assembly of people in parts of north Kashmirs Kupwara district to maintain law and order after a civilian died in firing by security forces after militants attacked an army installation. The curbs under Section 144 CrPc which prohibits assembly of five or more people have been imposed in Kupwara town, Kralpora, Trehgam and Lalpora Sogam, Ghulam Mohammad Dar, District Magistrate, Kupwara, told PTI. He said the situation in the district was normal and there were no reports of any untoward incident so far. The restrictions were imposed to maintain peace in view of the protests after a civilian Mohammad Yousuf Bhat died in security forces firing on the demonstrators yesterday. The protesters were demanding the bodies of the two militants who were killed in retaliatory firing after they attacked an artillery unit of an army garrison at Panzgam on Thursday. Three soldiers, including an officer, were killed by the militants in the pre-dawn attack before two assailants were killed by the security forces while the third managed to escape in an injured condition. WELLS A man who was asked to leave a truck stop in the early hours of the morning threatened a deputy with two weapons. According to Undersheriff Ron Supp, a deputy was called at around 1:30 a.m. Friday to remove a man from the facility. When the officer arrived, staff advised him that the man had gone into the truckers lounge. The deputy entered the lounge and the suspect advanced toward him with a knife, making stabbing motions. Vincent Paul Gilbo of Colorado fled back into the store. Supp said the deputy pulled out a Taser and followed the subject, who then picked up a 19-inch tire thumper and made threatening gestures toward the officer with both weapons. Supp said the deputy tased the man and as Gilbo was going down he threw the knife at the officer, attempting to strike him. He made the statement that he wanted to kill police officers, said Supp. Gilbo was handcuffed and medical personnel arrived to remove the Taser probes. No other injuries involving the suspect or the officer were reported. Gilbo was booked into the Elko County Jail on three counts of assault with a deadly weapon; two counts of drawing a weapon in a threatening manner; obstructing an officer; making threats to an officer; and disturbing the peace. No bail was listed. An attack on an Indian Army camp in Kupwara on Thursday that killed three soldiers on Thursday exposed, once again, the vulnerability of military camps in north Kashmir. The camps are strategically located to thwart aggression from Pakistan and to guard against infiltration, but have repeatedly been at the receiving end of militant violence. Heres why these sensitive installations are vulnerable to such strikes: *NEAR THE LINE OF CONTROL: The militant attacks on the army camps in Kupwara on Thursday and Uri last September show the attackers made the border bases their targets within days of infiltrating. Instead of moving into the hinterland, they struck the Kupwara camp within 5km of the Line of Control and the Uri camp, which is 6km from the LoC in north Kashmirs Baramulla district. *ISOLATED IN FORESTS: Both attacks on army camps were carried out from the rear. The camps are located on foothills and are isolated. The installations are located in between forests that run into the mountains. *AMMUNITION STORES: The army camps supply men and material to guard the LoC. The camps are heavily guarded with layers of security as they have arms stores. Targeting an army camp is aimed at destroying supplies and arms. By attacking in the early hours of the morning, militants hope to catch soldiers off guard. *GATEWAY OF INFILTRATION: Being a frontier district of Kashmir makes Kupwara the first stop of militants before they venture into the hinterland. *SUMMER HEAT: With summer arriving in the Kashmir Valley, the snow has begun melting along the LoC, making it prone to infiltration bids by militants. More militants are pushed through the LoC by their Pakistani handlers. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Jet Airways passenger tweeted on Thursday that he suspected a Mumbai-Delhi flight had been hijacked, sending security agencies into a tizzy at the Jaipur airport. The Delhi-bound flight 9W355 -- carrying 176 people on board, including 8 crew members -- was diverted to Jaipur due to bad weather in Delhi. Soon after the aircraft landed in Jaipur, security agencies carried out a thorough check and the passenger who tweeted the message was offloaded. The passenger, who was travelling from Mumbai, tweeted in the morning saying, @narendramodi sir we have been in jet airways flight for past 3 hrs, looks like hijacked, pl help 9W355. @narendramodi sir we have been in jet airways flight for past 3 hrs , looks like hijacked, pl help 9W355,. pic.twitter.com/bcRXcCLgic Nitin (@nitinvarma5n) April 27, 2017 In a statement, a Jet Airways spokesperson said a passenger tweeted a message involving a security threat necessitating activation of the security protocol. The information was promptly shared with the concerned authorities including the CISF, and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and local law enforcement agencies in line with Standard Operating Procedures, he said. According to the spokesperson, the concerned guest was subsequently offloaded for questioning by security agencies at Jaipur, owing to diversion of the flight. It could not immediately be ascertained what further action was taken against the passenger. Acting JIA director MP Bansal told PTI that five Jet Airways and one Oman Air flight coming from different locations which were supposed to land in New Delhi were diverted to Jaipur airport due to bad weather conditions. Men should be encouraged to study home science in college and hone their culinary skills, while women should be motivated to take up physical education, especially martial arts, as an effort to banish gender bias from society. The suggestion was made on Thursday by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj at the Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting to review the national policy for women. The policy, which is being revised for the first time in 16 years, will address current and emerging challenges involving women, especially issues related to their health, education and employment. One of the top woman politicians in the country, Swaraj heads the GoM. She told the meeting that encouraging men to study home science will help break the traditional mindset about women. In this way, men can also contribute to making womens life better. Swaraj said though men and women are working, the workload on women is far more, said a government source. For someone who had juggled politics, high office and family duties with finesse, her suggestion gave perspective to a growing call to shut out the age-old stereotypical role women are restricted to. The GoM has 11 members, including commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman, IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu, WCD minister Maneka Gandhi among others. Naidu, also present in the second meeting of the GoM, rooted for reservation for women in educational institutions. This will help women get better opportunities, Naidu said. He also recommended that women starting business should be given more loans, a source said. Another interesting suggestion came from Prasad who said women under-trials, accused of non-heinous crimes, and if convicted, should be released once they have served one third of their time. Commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman wanted women under-trials to be put up in special homes. The WCD ministry, which is anchoring the policy, will go through the suggestions made by the GoM before deciding what all to incorporate. The ministry is also crowdsourcing innovative ideas from citizens to make the policy more contemporary. For the first time, the draft policy has also addressed issues related to single women and widows. With no electricity supply, and the generator back-up system lying defunct for the last one week, this hospital in Balumath in Jharkhands Latehar district, barely 80km from state capital Ranchi, is really in a sorry state. With no other options left, doctors there are forced to use mobile phone flashlights while operating on critical and injured patients in the dark. On Wednesday night, as rescuers rushed two patients -- a mother-son duo -- injured in a bus-van collision, to the Balumath community health centre, doctors had to use mobile phone flashlights to take a look at them. The electric supply line has some faults and the generator needs repair. We have no other option but to somehow attend to the patients, said Dr Purushottam, who attended to the patients. Hospital staff, requesting anonymity said, The medical officer in-charge, Dr Amarnath does not pay heed to the problems plaguing the hospital as he is missing from duty most of the time. We have apprised him about the power crisis in the hospital due to the defunct generator but he doesnt pay heed. It is his duty to get things repaired. Hindustan Times found out that the medical officer doesnt stay in Balumath, but in Chandwa and spends just a few hours in the morning at the hospital before commuting back in the afternoon. The community health centre also faces a crunch of doctors. There are only four doctors posted against the sanctioned strength of seven. Balumath, earlier infamous as a bastion of Left Wing Extremism, has a population of 89,012 with 9,812 people residing in the semi-urban block headquarters. A local journalist, Sachchidanand Jaiswal, who accompanied the victims to the hospital on Wednesday, said, I was shocked to see the patients being treated under mobile phone flashlights. Patients were treated under candlelight in the Latehar hospital around a decade back. But in those days, power was a scarce commodity in this LWE hit area. Today, when the government claims to have provided 24x7 power supply to emergency installations with generator back-up facilities, such a scene was indeed shocking, he said. Latehar civil surgeon A Ekka admitted that there were lapses in the hospitals functioning and attributed this to the lack of a dedicated building to run the hospital. We are somehow managing the Balumath CHC in a temporary shelter. We urgently need a full-fledged building to improve our services there, he said. It was a new high in their otherwise drab lives being the inmates of a childrens welfare home. Teenagers Pooja and Shubham were among the passengers who boarded the first flight from Shimla to Delhi under the UDAN scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. Pooja (15) stays at Bal Ashram, Tutikandi in Shimla, and Shubham (14) at Bal Ashram, Arki in Solan. The selection for the inaugural flight came as a big surprise to them and during their short visit to the national capital, they got to see the PM from a close range, visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate. The children came back to Shimla on Friday morning. Both were taken by surprise when the wardens told them about their air travel. I thought the warden must be kidding, Pooja, a student of Class 11 at government school in Phagli near Shimla, told HT over telephone. Shubham, who studies in Class 9 at Government Senior Secondary School, Arki, said, I was shocked. It took me one full day to believe that I am actually going to Delhi in a plane. Shubham (left) and Pooja (second from right) with flight crew inside the plane. (HT Photo) I always wanted to travel by air but never thought that the dream will come true so early, Pooja said, adding, We visited Rashtrapati Bhawan and clicked pictures. This was their first outing outside the state. I have read about Delhi and always wanted to visit the capital, Shubham says. Pooja wants to visit all historical places as history is her favourite subject. I will study hard and achieve something so that I can visit all places that figure in my history books, she said. I got scared when the plane took off, but did not tell anyone how I was feeling, Shubham said. I was terrified when plane started landing and heaved a sigh of relief when it touched down, Pooja said. The crew showed them every corner of the plane. We saw the cabin where the pilot sits, Pooja said. Before takeoff, when airhostess asked the passengers to switch off phones, Pooja wanted to know why. An airhostess told me that cockpit machinery may get disrupted due to the phone signals, Pooja told HT. Director, woman-child and development Manasi Sahay Thakur said the decision to bring on board the children was taken at a meeting about the inaugural flight of the UDAN scheme. I am told children are excited. It was a good exposure visit for them, she said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Life has changed for 12-year-old Kartikey Raj since he started making waves as Khajur with his perfect comic timing in the popular television programme, The Kapil Sharma Show (TKSS). But, Raj has not let the celebrity status get to his head. The spectacular talent from Patna, who has come a long way after winning the award for best actor in a comic role in India Best Dramebaaz Season 2 finals in 2016, remains humble and says there is now pressure on him to perform better. Coming from a lower middle class family, Raj owes his success to his brother Abhishek and Kilkari Bal Bhawan, a Bihar government initiative to cultivate the creativity among children of 8 to 16 years. I did not have much interest in acting, but Abhishek told me to take admission in Kilkari Bal Bhawan, which offers healthy, tension free and joyful environment for children. There I was trained in acting and groomed as an entertainer for nearly four months before a team of Indias Best Dramebaaz came to Patna in 2013 for audition and selected me. That changed my life. I was taken to Kolkata for shoot and I lodged in big hotels. I have not looked back since then, he said. Rajs mother Kiran Devi is a tailor and his father Moti Prasad a contractor in Patna. Like all other parents, we also wanted Raj to do well in academics. But, we have no regrets. Rajs skills in acting have made him a celebrity. I always accompany him to the sets of TKSS. It is due to Raj that I have got chance to meet many superstars. Earlier, I used to always wonder how cinema works. How do the actors get on the screen? What is shooting and what is camera? said Kiran Devi. I am fond of cinema and love watching movies of Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda. Right now also I am watching Govinda-starrer Naseeb, she added. Talking about his experience at TKSS, Raj said the fun and enjoyment behind the sets had been missing ever since popular stand-up comedians like Sunil Grover (Mashhoor Gulati), Chandan Prabhakar (Chandu) and Ali Asgar (Naani) quit the show following differences with Kapil. I wish they return to the show. The bonding among team members was the strength of the show, he added. Raj is currently working for a comedy serial Appu Ki Duniya, that will be telecast on Big Magic channel very soon. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PATNA The Bihar government is heading for a showdown with the Centre over the latters decision to ban the use of beacon lights atop VIP vehicles, which is slated to take effect on May 1. Bihar transport commissioner RK Mishra said the ban on beacon lights would not be enforced in Bihar till such time as the central government resolved certain objections raised by the state, in the matter at hand. However, it remained open to question whether the defiance by the Bihar government of the Centres decision on beacon lights, was legally tenable, under the applicable laws. When a draft proposal to amend section 108 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (through which it was proposed to abolish the power vested in the state government to determine the dignitaries entitled for beacon lights), was sent to us, we had lodged a protest over the move, Mishra said. Since then, we have not received any letter from the Centre apprising us of its response to our objections or to enforce ban on the use of beacon lights. As such, we are waiting for the resolution of our objections, the transport commissioner told HT. On April 19, the Union cabinet had decided to discontinue the use of beacons atop cars of all ministers, politicians and bureaucrats, seeking to end a privilege that had for long been seen as the ultimate status symbol for the high and mighty. Even the countrys top dignitaries, such as the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India, have not been exempted from the ban. However, ambulances and vehicles of the fire service, police and army have been allowed to use blue flashing beacons, to cut through traffic. Patna high court senior advocate YV Giri said the state government was in no position to defy the central governments fiat, as the rule that delegated to the state the power to decide the norms of usage of beacon lights, had been scrapped. However, the state government has the right to frame its own law to allow the use beacon lights atop vehicles. But until the new legislation is in place, use of beacon lights will be illegal (after May 1), Giri said, adding, the state had acted within its ambit to raise the protest. Justifying the states contention, a senior officer of the state transport department said the central motor vehicles rules were framed with flexibility to cater to needs of state administrations to face emergency scenarios, including law and order issues, which were a state subject. Mobility of civil administration and police officials, besides rescue teams to troubled areas, will be adversely affected if vehicles carrying them dont have beacon lights to identify them as representative of states authority, he added. Some ministers and legislators of the ruling Grand Alliance (GA), who had earlier welcomed the ban, have, of late, shown their reluctance to part with beacon lights on their vehicles. Its a policy matter. Let the transport department come out with clear-cut guideline on beacon lights, said a minister. Before the Centre formally decided to severely restrict the use of beacon lights across the country, the Amarinder Singh government in Punjab and the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, had already decided to do away with the lal batti culture. QUOTE We have not received any letter from Centre apprising us of its response to our objections or to enforce ban on use of beacon lights. We are waiting for resolution of our objections R K Mishra, transport commissioner LAL BATTI CULTURE Officials say central motor vehicles rules were framed with flexibility to cater to needs of state admns to face emergency scenarios, including law and order issues, which are a state subject SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kashmiris are turning to freely available technology to beat a government ban on websites such as Facebook and Twitter, undermining efforts to tamp down on the spread of videos and images that, officials believe, fan tension. Even before the ban was announced, we knew that there are alternative ways of accessing social media. It is common knowledge here as such internet bans were implemented earlier as well, said Kashmir University staffer Zahoor Ahmad, one of many accessing Facebook on Friday, two days after the ban was ordered. The alternative methods Ahmad refers to are virtual private networking (VPN) tools and encrypted messenger services such as Signal, available as open source software on the Internet. VPN applications are gaining popularity in the Valley since the government directed service providers on Wednesday to block 22 websites and services, including popular messaging application WhatsApp. Srinagar-based blogger Muhammad Faysal shared a list of more 12 applications that beat the ban in a tweet. The government said the clampdown was necessary for public safety after several viral videos depicting alleged abuse of civilians by security forces sparked protests. Rather than banning social media sites, the authorities should ensure that large videos or pictures are not shared. A person who cannot share a video on social media in Kashmir can always seek help from somebody sitting outside Kashmir. When you use proxy applications like VPN or Signal amid restrictions, your identity will remain hidden, said Faisal Kawoosa, principal analyst at Gurgaon-based Cyber MediaReserach. Signal is a WhatsApp alternative, but with a heavily encrypted network that is hard to firewall by internet service providers. Kashmir has been on the boil, with nearly 100 killed and thousands injured, since militant leader Burhan Wani was killed last year. Despite calls for resuming dialogue, the government has ruled out any talks with separatist elements. Violence spiked again this month after eight people were killed during an assembly by-election in Srinagar. A video clip from that day of a Kashmiri man being used as a human shield went viral soon afterwards, prompting anger within the people. As the clampdown on social media spread, so did the word about VPNs. My friend downloaded Opera VPN on my phone. I was unable to access the banned sites before I started using the app, said Omar Behzad, an employee at Srinagars Government Medical college. Mohana village in Sonepat was tense on Friday morning after a slaughtered piglet was found inside a recently-built mosque in the village. However, a prompt action by police and long-term Hindu-Muslim communal harmony in the district averted any untoward incident. Imam at the mosque, Noor Mohammad, found the piglet around 7 am, after which he alerted the police. A team of police along with forensic experts rushed to spot for investigation. Mohana station house officer Veerbhan said, It was a 15-20 day old piglet that was slaughtered. There is no tension as such because the Muslim families are satisfied with our action and we will arrest the accused shortly, Veerbhan said, maintaining that no security force was deployed in the village. Villagers said the piglet must have been thrown over the wall as the doors of the mosque were shut in the morning. Veerbhan said a case has been registered under Section 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) of the IPC, and the investigation was on to nab the unidentified accused. Mohana sarpanch Ishwar Singh said around 50 Muslim families live in the area. Everyone in the village has condemned the act and will give full support in investigation, he said. An ambush that killed 25 soldiers in Chhattisgarh this week was in retaliation against incidents of rape and sexual violence against tribal women in the region, a statement purportedly released by Communist Party of India (Maoist) has said. In an unverified audio clip, spokesperson of CPI (Maoist) Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee Vikalp can be heard as saying that the attack on Central Reserve Police Force personnel on Monday was against the brutal attacks on tribal people by security forces. The attack should be seen as a response to the innumerable attacks, murders, sexual violence and gang-rapes by paramilitary personnel and police, and to protect the honour of tribal women, the audio clip said. HT couldnt independently verify the clip. On Monday, suspected Maoist militants killed 25 paramilitary personnel and injured six in Chhattisgarhs south Sukma region, police said, in an ambush possibly to thwart a crucial road link the government believes would break the back of the insurgent group. The midday attack, which occurred between the Burkapal-Chintagufa area in the Maoist hotbed of Bastar, is the worst in seven years. In 2010, rebels killed 75 CRPF troopers in the same region. In the clip, Vikalp is heard as condemning the government for creating a fascist atmosphere and saying that Mondays strike was against growing violence against tribals, Dalits and minorities across the country. He further added that false reports were being published by corporate houses about severing privates of the slain CRPF jawans. We are not extremists and are forced to commit violence by the standing with the people who are the victim of violence by the state and central government, he said. Elko County Commissioner Demar Dahl returned Thursday from Washington, D.C., where he was on hand for President Donald Trumps signing of executive orders dealing with the review of national monuments and federalism in education. Dahl also serves as chairman of the Nevada Lands Council based in Elko and secured a private meeting with then presidential candidate Trump at a gathering in Lake Tahoe last August. He credits that meeting with setting the foundation for the invitation to this weeks signing of the executive orders. NLC is an organization devoted to encouraging legislation transferring control of public lands to the states. As NLC chairman, Dahl also traveled to Washington, D.C., last November to testify in favor of Nevada Rep. Mark Amodeis H.R. 1484, which mirrored state legislation passed in 2015 calling for the transfer. Amodeis bill died with the adjournment of the last congressional session in December. Dahl said he was impressed with Trumps speeches highlighting the importance of local control and input over such things as education and the designation of national monuments. While signing the executive order on education Wednesday, President Trump said, We are empowering those who know our students best I would say, by far the best their parents and the teachers, so that every child has the chance to succeed. In signing the executive order on national monuments, President Trump said the order would end an abuse of power that has resulted in a massive federal land grab. Today, Im signing a new executive order to end another egregious abuse of federal power and give that power back to the states and to the people where it belongs. Today we are putting states back in charge. Its a big thing. In the last two years of President Barrack Obamas term, he designated nearly a million acres in Nevada as national monuments Basin and Range and Gold Buttes. During his eight-year term, President Obama declared 550 million acres across the country national monuments. That represents more than double the amount of President Theodore Roosevelt, who signed the Antiquities Act that enables the designations into law in 1906. Not only are the feds closing off access through these monument designation, Dahl said, but they are also restricting access and uses through a variety of other ways, such as Travel Management Plans and Sagebrush Focal Areas. He pointed out that 16 million acres in Nevada, including wilderness areas, wildlife refuges, national parks and military bases, carry one sort of restriction or another. That acreage represents nearly one quarter of Nevadas land mass. After the signing ceremony Wednesday, Dahl was invited to the Eisenhower Office Building to meet with administration officials to discuss his thoughts on transferring public lands to the states. He said he really stressed the importance of arranging a meeting with Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, and the White House officials assured him they would pass the word along. Secretary Zinke has been an outspoken opponent of the transfer or sale of public lands to the states. But Dahl said Zinke was present at the Congressional hearing he testified at in November, and he seemed receptive to the idea of transferring management, rather than ownership, to the states. Dahl said he looks forward to that meeting with Zinke and finding an arrangement that is agreeable to everyone. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath can call administrative officers, including district magistrates and superintendent of police, on their landline phone to know their location and check on them, the state government said on Friday. Government spokesperson and energy minister Srikant Sharma said officers who operate from camp offices must start sitting in offices to meet people and address their grievances so the public doesnt have to run to Lucknow to meet the CM and ministers for justice. Adityanath has also ordered his ministers to come up with the report card on 100 days of the government in UP. The state government will complete 100 days around mid-June. While the government will issue a white paper on its successes and failures, individual ministers will present their report card on the work of their departments through presentations to the chief minister (CM) after 100 days in office, the spokesperson said. Insisting that the Yogi Adityanath government believed in being transparent, effective and visible, Sharma said the ministers had been asked to work not only in their departments but also supervise work in all the departments in the districts assigned to them as in-charge. All cabinet ministers and ministers with independent charge have been assigned two districts each and all ministers of state have been allotted a district each. The ministers have been asked to conduct surprise inspections in schools, hospitals and other places of public importance, Sharma said. Ministers have also been told to attend tehsil diwas and thana diwas if they are available in that place, Sharma added. Similarly, a minister will sit in the state BJP office for two hours every day as per their turn, which will come in rotation, to meet workers and the public, he said. DMs and SPs have been asked to be available in offices at 6pm, he said. Zero tolerance on corruption The energy minister said officers will be sent to jail and not allowed to walk away with warnings if complaints of corruption against them are found to be true. Sharma also denied oppositions concerns on the law and order situation in the state and said the people of UP had seen the way the government was working. We are doing every possible thing to improve things and change is already evident, Sharma claimed. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has proposed a hefty increase in airport usage charge for the Chandigarh international airport. And remember this charge is directly passed through down to passengers by airlines, so brace yourself to shell out more for air travel. Sources say that the proposal is a charge of Rs 287 per passenger for travel up to 305 km. This would cover flights from Chandigarh to Delhi or Jammu. Flights beyond 305 km will attract of Rs 747 for domestic travel and Rs 1,725 for international tickets. This has surprised Indian airlines for the proposed charges are much higher than other international airports. Chandigarh has just started international operations, a steep airport usage charge will be a disincentive for carriers to introduce flights originating from there, said an executive with one of the largest no-frill airlines. Passenger demand is not very high in Chandigarh, still Indian airlines have introduced flights connecting this airport. But a high usage fee will not be in our interest, said another source associated with the aviation sector. A quick look at the charges in other airports in India explain the outrage among airlines. At the Bengaluru international airport the charges are Rs 352 and Rs 1,501 for domestic and international flights, respectively. At Chennai, the charge is lower at Rs 191 for domestic travel and Rs 859 for overseas, while at Kolkata, it is Rs 517 for domestic and Rs 1,389 on international travel. Government officials explain that states could lower their own levies on airlines to lessen the burden of a rise in airport usage charge on passengers. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Here are the top stories of the day: 1) Parents say Delhi school asked rape survivor not to attend classes as she brings bad name Parents of a rape survivor have alleged that a private school, where their child was studying, asked them not to send her to school as it would tarnish the name of the institute. The Delhi Commission for Women has issued a notice to the education department based on a complaint of the parents, who approached the agency. Parents of the Class 10 student alleged that the school administration has shown gross insensitivity towards the girl. In their accusation, the parents said the school has laid a condition that the victim will be promoted to Class 11 only if she stops coming to school. Read the story here. 2) Modi sir, please help: Jet Airways passengers tweet to PM triggers hijacking scare A Jet Airways passenger tweeted on Thursday that he suspected a Mumbai-Delhi flight had been hijacked, sending security agencies into a tizzy at the Jaipur airport. The Delhi-bound flight 9W355 -- carrying 176 people on board, including 8 crew members -- was diverted to Jaipur due to bad weather in Delhi. Soon after the aircraft landed in Jaipur, security agencies checked the aircraft and offloaded the passenger who tweeted the message. The passenger, who was travelling from Mumbai, tweeted in the morning saying, @narendramodi sir we have been in jet airways flight for past 3 hrs, looks like hijacked, pl help 9W355. Read the story here. 3) Mahesh Bhatt remembers Vinod Khanna: Mothers death had devastated him My earliest memory of Vinod is when I was the third assistant director and the production manager on the legendary Raj Khoslas Mera Gaon Mera Desh. He had just hit the landscape with Mann Ka Meet. I still remember the shot in which, Vinod who played Jabbar Singh comes on a horse into a deserted village. He dismounts from his horse and walks menacingly towards a door and kicks it open. The shot was okayed, when Khosla turned to us and said, This boy is going to be a star. He will set the nation blaze. Read the story here. 4) Regret not visiting Vinod Khanna after learning about his illness: Shabana Azmi We did many films together. He was different from most movie stars.On outdoor schedules its common to have fans shower hospitality on stars, bring home-cooked food and generally be at the stars beck and call etc.We are happy to partake of their hospitality but avoid their phone calls when they come to our city. Vinod would not only be accessible, he would also invite them on the sets and be extremely courteous. It was a rare quality. Read the story here. 5) Funds for my property not linked to husband Robert Vadras finances: Priyanka Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has said her finances had nothing to do with those of her husband Robert Vadras or his company Skylight Hospitality, which is under the Haryana governments scanner over land deals with realty major DLF. A statement from Gandhis office came on Thursday after a media house purportedly made a query to Robert Vadra asking whether a portion of the money he had received from the DLF was used by his wife to buy properties in Faridabad in Haryana. Read the story here. 6) Men should learn to do household work, women martial arts, says Sushma Swaraj Men should be encouraged to study home science in college and hone their culinary skills, while women should be motivated to take up physical education, especially martial arts, as an effort to banish gender bias from society. The suggestion was made on Thursday by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj at the Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting to review the national policy for women. The policy, which is being revised for the first time in 16 years, will address current and emerging challenges involving women. Read the story here. 7) No electricity, doctors use mobile phone flashlights in infra-starved Jharkhand hospital With no electricity supply, and the generator back-up system lying defunct for the last one week, a hospital in Balumath in Jharkhands Latehar district, barely 80km from Ranchi, is in a sorry state. With no other options left, doctors there are forced to use mobile phone flashlights while operating on critical and injured patients in the dark. On Wednesday night as rescuers rushed two patients injured in a bus-van collision to the Balumath community health centre, doctors had to use mobile phone flashlights to take a look at them. Read the story here. 8) Protests after Meerut school asks students to get Yogi haircut, officials deny A number of parents are up in arms against an alleged directive issued by a Meerut school that all students must get haircuts resembling that of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath to enter its premises. However, officials of the school Rishabh Academy denied the charge. They claimed that the parents of some students have hatched a conspiracy against the institution in an attempt to undermine its disciplinary policies. Read the story here. 9) 1% of Indians own 53% of countrys wealth, says UN report Indicating that inequality in India is increasing, a UN report released on Thursday said that the richest 1% own 53% of the countrys wealth. It also said that unlike other countries, development in India is not moving across states. In terms of wealth inequality, India is second only to Russia, where the richest 1 percent own 53 percent of the countrys wealth, according to the report The Better Business, Better World. The report says that to reduce the inequality, India needs a different economic model -- one that is not only low-carbon but also recognizes poverty, inequality and lack of financial access. Read the story here. 10) Germany to ban civil servants, judges, soldiers from wearing full-face veil at work Germanys Bundestag lower house of parliament agreed to a draft law on Thursday that will prevent civil servants, judges and soldiers in Germany from wearing full-face veils at work. The move comes after Chancellor Angela Merkel called in December for a ban on full-face Muslim veils wherever legally possible. There are five months to go before a federal election, and her conservatives lost some support to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) during the migrant crisis. More than a million migrants, many of them Muslims from the Middle East, have arrived in Germany over the last two years, and concerns about integration are widespread. Read the story here. As the US presidential candidate, Donald Trump had said he loved India, that he was a big fan, and vowed to make the two countries the best of friends if elected. However, his 100 days in office although too short a time-frame to judge him raise questions if he had meant a dose of tough love. Since his ascension in mid-January, Indians and those of Indian descent have seen a shocking spurt in hate-crimes, including the killing of Srinivas Kuchibhotla and the assault on Ankur Mehta. Indian tech firms such as Infosys, TCS and Cognizant have come under withering scrutiny, with their H-1B-dependent business model being challenged publicly. Also, Indias trifling trade surplus with the US $24 billion has made it subject to an investigation, along with others like China, Japan, and Mexico, to ascertain if it was due to cheating or other inappropriate behaviour. However, Indian Americans cutting across party affiliations have also noted with a sense of accomplishment the number of community members who have been placed at senior levels in the administration. Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, is the first Indian American ever to occupy a cabinet-rank position. Seema Verma, another Indian American, holds a key post in the health and human services while Ajit Pai heads the Federal Communications Commission. Thats a fairly decent crop. Crowds fill in the National Mall in Washington before the swearing in of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States during the 58th Presidential Inauguration on Capitol. (AP File Photo) There has also been a marked increase in communication between the two governments, starting with Prime Minister Narendra Modis congratulatory call that Indian officials say with smug satisfaction was among the first five that Trump accepted. And the Trump administration appears to have taken a line on Pakistan that New Delhi will approve. During a visit to the region recently, US NSA HR McMaster said Pakistan ought to be less selective than it has been in the past while dealing with terrorists. Do these separate narratives tell a story? I think its highly likely that Trump sees India very favourably, said Alyssa Ayres, South Asia expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. He has some specific economic ideas about what the United States trade ties should look like with all countries including India. But thats definitely not limited to India. India will have to get used to a president who takes a balance-sheet approach like this, she added. However, Milan Vaishnav of Carnegie said the biggest impact of the Trump presidency on India (and Indians) has been a marked increase in uncertainty. Even after 100 days, it is virtually impossible to say anything about the Trump administration with a high degree of confidence. The policy seems fluid, and decision-making not subject to any clearly defined process as yet, Vaishnav added. President Donald Trump will complete his 100 days in office on April 29. (AP File Photo) Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert with Wilson Center, advocated giving Trump some more time. The Trump administration began tightening H-1B visa rules the morning after foreign secretary S Jaishankar had wrapped up a series of meetings with cabinet-level officials, including secretary of state Rex Tillersen, in the United States in March. That didnt look too good for India, especially because officials had reported getting a degree of understanding to their concerns about H-1B restrictions that were widely expected then. But 100 days isnt enough to do everything, right? Racist attacks Barely two weeks after President Trumps election in November, Indian American Ankur Mehta was brutally assaulted at a bar in Pennsylvania by a man who told him, Things are different now I dont want you sitting next to me, you people. The assailant had mistaken Mehta for a Muslim from the Middle East, a demographic that had witnessed increasing hostility due to Trumps anti-Islamic rhetoric as the Republican presidential nominee. Srinivas Kuchibhotla died a few months later at the hands of another man motivated by similar sentiments. A few weeks later, Indian Sikh Deep Rai was shot at and told to return to his country. Indians and Indian Americans were shocked. Democrat Shekar Narasimhan said the President had blood on his hands, blaming his rhetoric for the rise in Islamophobia besides mistrust and suspicion among Americans. If not for Ian Grillot, the man who suffered grievous injuries when he had tried to stop Kuchibhotlas shooter, Trumps America would have seemed every bit the grim place that some feared it may become on his watch. This is the worst face of America the potential for racism and violence, said Ayres. But you also saw some inspirational moments like that of Ian Grillot and the generosity showed by the Houston Indian American community with their fund-raiser and recognition of Grillots courage. The H-1B issue For weeks after the Presidents inauguration, some executives at Indian tech firms said they had been getting up every morning in dread of that one tweet that could change probably for the worse the way they did business in the US. However, the much-feared crackdown on the H-1B temporary visa programme for high-skilled foreign workers came not through one tweet or executive order, but in a steady stream of technical rejigs and upgrades. It had the same effect, though. The administration suspended premium processing of applications, which involves fast-tracking applications for a fee, and changed the definition of speciality occupation to raise the bar to qualify. Employers were warned against fraud, and using the programme to displace American workers as many in the administration, including the President, believed was happening. Then came an executive order instructing federal agencies to review the H-1B programme with the aim of ending fraud and abuse, and ensuring that only the most skilled and highest-paid people were taken in. This was done with the overarching goal of protecting American workers. The war was on. And for those still confused about the objective, the Trump administration couldnt have been clearer when an official named three Indian companies while previewing the executive order. You may know their names well, but the top recipients of the H-1B visa are companies like Tata, Infosys and 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, the official said. New Delhi is worried, of course, and finance minister Arun Jaitley conveyed Indias concerns to the Trump administration in his meetings with secretaries Wilbur Ross and Steven Mnuchin in DC recently. Though some experts have sought to dismiss the H-1B issue as an irritant, Ayres argues it is the manifestation of the administrations focus on reviewing economic ties . G-to-G When Trump called Modi to congratulate him on the BJPs stunning victory in the Uttar Pradesh elections, many wondered if that was routine. President Barack Obama, for one, never called after world leaders over state elections. As German chancellor Angela Merkel also received a call after her partys victory in a provincial election, it could be argued that Modi was no exception. But the call, a White House official insisted, was entirely Trumps idea because he follows news. The two governments have demonstrated a marked inclination to engage frequently, starting with Modis congratulatory call to Trump on the morning of his November 8 victory. That was followed by a series of high-level interactions with the incoming administration meetings with vice-president-elect Mike Pence and then NSA Mike Flynn and another round of meetings after the inauguration. Finance minister Arun Jaitley held the Modi governments first cabinet-level meetings with the Trump administration in the past week. This had followed meetings between NSA Ajit Doval and his US counterpart, Lt General HR McMaster, as and defence secretary James Mattis. Ayres, who once headed the India desk at the State Department, believes these official-level meetings especially Dovals meeting with McMaster and the latters visit to India outline the continued strengthening of the United States-India defence relationship and the reaffirmation of India as a major defence partner. The districts represented by political leaders in Uttar Pradesh fare poorly when it comes to checking open defecation, data by the Union ministry of drinking water and sanitation shows. Earlier this week, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath set an ambitious target of making the state, including its 59,000 gram panchayats, open defecation free (ODF) by October 2018, a year ahead of the national deadline. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritised sanitation since sweeping to power in 2014 and launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India campaign that aims to provide toilets for all and end open defecation in the country by 2019 Mahatma Gandhis 150th birth anniversary. Almost all districts represented by political leaders in the state have the poorest all-India rankings based on individual household latrine (IHHL) coverage. Barring one or two, these VIP districts have less than 50% coverage in the villages. As a result, a majority of the rural population in these districts has no choice but to defecate in the open. Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modis parliamentary constituency, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Amethi, Etawah, Mainpuri, and Gorakhpur which is represented by 5-time Bharatiya Janata Party legislator and chief minister Adityanath, figure in the list. Achieving the target (of making UP open defecation free by October 2018) is not impossible if the agencies concerned work in a mission mode. But the challenge will certainly come from the so-called VIP districts where the individual household latrine coverage is much below the state average of around 50%, an official requesting anonymity said. According to the Union ministry of drinking water and sanitations data on current district-wise all-India ranking, Gorakhpur district holds the 619th rank among the 687 districts in the country. The individual latrine coverage in the district is as low as 30.55%. Rae Bareli and Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituencies of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi respectively, are ranked 543rd and 526th with latrine coverage of 41.78% and 44.43%. Azamgarh, represented by Samajwadi Party (SP) patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, is ranked 606 with 32.42% IHHL coverage. Etawah, the home district of Mulayam and his son and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, has only a slightly better ranking at 457 with latrine coverage of 56.44%. Mainpuri, another SP bastion, is ranked 522 with 44.85% latrine coverage. Varanasi is placed 3 notches below Etawah with a rank of 460 and the IHHL coverage is 55.92%. Lucknow district has an all-India rank of 542 based on 42% rural latrine coverage. Among the regions, Braj in western UP is especially found to have a low IHHL coverage. Mathura, Agra, Aligarh, Hathras, Etah, Kasganj districts in the Braj region have very low ranks. Etah with merely 17.95% IHHL coverage has the lowest all-India rank of 671 within the state and is followed by Sultanpur at 667. Agra, Barabanki and Faizabad come after Sultanpur. According to UP panchayati raj department, there are 99,279 villages in the state of which only 6,952 have been declared open defecation free till April 25, 2017. This is as low as 7% against the national average of more than 31%. Shamli comprising 289 villages in western UP is the only district to have been declared ODF in the state. Ghaziabad, Hapur, Bijnor, Baghpat, Mirzapur, Muzaffarnagar, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Farukhabad, Kannauj, and Auraiyya districts are close to being declared ODF as they have already achieved more than 70% IHHL coverage. The latrine coverage in about 30 districts is over 50%. Nationally, UP with total 47.57% individual latrines, comes among the low IHHL coverage states after Odisha (42.10%), Jammu and Kashmir (38.14%) and Bihar (29.01%). Household coverage across India is 63.72% of total villages and ODF villages (193,078) which is 31.93%. Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Sikkim and Uttarakhand have been declared ODF so far. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Vinod Khanna dies at 70: Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor and others attend funeral Veteran Bollywood actor, politician and former union minister Vinod Khanna passed away in Mumbai on Thursday morning following prolonged illness. He was 70. His funeral took place at a crematorium in Worli, Mumbai, in the evening which was attended by a number of his contemporaries, including Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Ranjit and many others. Khanna was hospitalised over a month ago. In a brief statement, the hospital said Khanna breathed his last at 11.20 am due to advanced bladder carcinoma. Read the story here. Vinod Khanna: The humble MP Pranab Mukherjee couldnt recognise One of the everlasting images of the tall, handsome Parliamentarian was when he came to meet the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee for some work. Mukherjee was returning to his room in Parliament. Khanna introduced himself: Sir, I am Vinod Khanna. Mukherjee, who hardly watched Hindi movies, completely ignored him and continued to walk briskly. Read the story here. Indian steel magnate Sajjan Jindal meets Sharif, sparks speculation of Indo-Pak talks Indian steel magnate Sajjan Jindal met Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad on Wednesday, sparking speculation that he may have been involved in efforts to revive the stalled dialogue between the two countries. Jindal, who flew into the Rawalpindi airport in a private aircraft with a small delegation, was received by Sharifs son Hussain Nawaz and Raheel Munir, a businessman who is the husband of Sharifs granddaughter Mehr-un-Nisa. The Indian delegation then travelled to the Prime Ministers House in the capital for a meeting, sources in Islamabad told Hindustan Times. Jindal reportedly played a key role in facilitating a secret meeting between PM Modi and Sharif on the sidelines of the Saarc Summit in Nepal in 2014. Read the story here. Kupwara attack: Brave sentry kills two militants, saves lives of many soldiers From his bunker at the sentry post, gunner Rishi Kumar of the armys field artillery regiment saw three militants approach his camp in north Kashmirs Kupwara district on Thursday morning. He waited, his finger crooked hard on the trigger of his machine gun. When they were within range, he fired staccato in their direction. The armed militant fired back and a bullet hit his patka or headgearKumar was back on his feet in seconds and started firing at the militants again, ringing two of them with bullets and killing them instantly. Read the story here. Now, Aadhaar must for getting fellowships, scholarships from UGC and AICTE Students seeking government scholarships and fellowships will need to declare Aadhaar numbers by the end of June, the human resources development (HRD) ministry notified on Wednesday, putting yet another of its benefits programme behind the Unique Identity project (UID) wall. Wednesdays order covers fellowship schemes implemented by the University Grants Commission and the All India Council for Technical Education. Read the story here. EC seeks 73,000 central security personnel for LS bypoll in J-Ks Anantnag The Election Commission (EC) has sought around 73,000 central security personnel to conduct the Anantnag parliamentary constituency bypoll on May 25, a demand termed unprecedented by the Union home ministry. To conduct assembly elections in five states recently, the home ministry provided around 70,000 security personnel and we have been asked to provide more than 73,000 personnel for one parliamentary constituency. It is not even logistically possible to send such a large number of personnel to Jammu and Kashmir in a short span of time, said a senior home ministry official. Read the story here. London police arrest man with knives near British PM Theresa Mays home British police said on Thursday a man had been arrested and armed officers were seen on Whitehall, the street home to numerous government ministries in central London, with a BBC reporter saying two knives had been seen. Police said no one had been injured in the incident close to Prime Minister Theresa Mays official Downing Street residence in Westminster but gave no further details. May was not at Downing Street at the time of the incident, a spokesman said. A BBC Home Affairs correspondent said on Twitter that two knives had been seen on the ground including a large breadknife and added a photograph of an officer wearing a blue forensic suit photographing what appeared to be a knife on the sidewalk next to a rucksack. Read the story here. Opinion: Indias polity has shifted from hope to fear, and PM Modi knows it A recent survey found 55% of Indias youth to be highly anxious, and 26% to be moderately so. These numbers have profound implications for the future of Indian democracy. The engine of Indian politics isnt aspiration, it is anxiety and no one recognizes this better than Narendra Modi, who has understood that his followers dont want a Ceo-in-Chief to lead them; they want a parent, or better still, a priest. Read the column here. Opinion: Post-MCD rout, AAP must go back to its roots and be the voice of the voiceless Perhaps the scale of AAPs victory in 2015 along with the failure of the Opposition to throw up a strong alternative to Modi, convinced Kejriwal that he could fill the national leadership vacuum. In the process, he made the strategic mistake of many an ambitious start-up: Attempting to expand without consolidating first. To rediscover itself, AAP must go back to its original identity built during the anti-corruption Anna agitation: A public spirited movement that becomes the voice of those who feel desperately powerless in the India of today. Read the column here. Gujarat Lions heap more misery on Royal Challengers Bangalore with 7-wicket win Riding on Andrew Tyes three- wicket haul and Aaron Finchs whirlwind fifty, Gujarat Lions notched up a comfortable seven-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore to keep alive their IPL 2017 play-off hopes at Bangalore on Thursday. Chasing 135 to win, Gujarat lost both openers -- Ishan Kishan (16) and Brendon McCullum (3) -- to be reduced to 23-2 but Finch blasted 5 fours and 6 sixes in his scintillating 34 -ball 72-run innings as the visitors romped home with 6.1 overs to spare. Read the story here. A youth waved a red cloth to stop the Delhi-bound Sealdah Rajdhani Express near Pora railway station in Uttar Pradeshs Aligarh district in order to take a selfie with the train on Friday morning, police said. The youth fled after taking the selfie, giving the driver, who had applied emergency brakes to stop the train, no opportunity to catch him. A case was registered with the government railway police at Hathras on orders from officials at North Central Railway headquarters in Allahabad. The Rajdhani Express heading for the national capital was slightly behind schedule. The Garib Rath Express and three goods train were halted temporarily following the incident. This is not the first incident of its kind. Three students had placed a stone on a track near Tundla a year ago to stop the Bhubaneswar Rajdhani for a selfie. All three were arrested but released on bail as they were minors. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After Kolkata Knight Riders thwarted Rising Pune Supergiant in their previous match at the MCA Stadium on Wednesday, skipper Steven Smith would look to cash in on a disheartened Royal Challengers Bangalore when they clash in their IPL 2017 match on Saturday. While Smith is still shouldering bulk of the responsibility for Rising Pune Supergiant in the batting department with 275 runs in seven innings, it is their bowling in the death overs, which is a major issue. Of the eight teams, Rising Pune Supergiant have the second-worst performance in the death overs --- they have conceded on an average 12 runs per over. (Read | IPL: Royal Challengers Bangalore lose vs Gujarat Lions, Virat Kohli gutted) The reason Sunrisers Hyderabad won the IPL last season was because of their bowling in the death overs. Against Mumbai Indians in their opening match, RPS conceded 64 runs in the last five overs. Against Kings XI Punjab, 61 runs were given away in the last seven overs as Glenn Maxwell wrapped up the match in the 19th over. Rising Pune Supergiants worst death-bowling performance was against Delhi Daredevils at home when 82 runs were conceded in the last five overs, and they succumbed to a 97-run defeat. Smiths wayward bowlers conceded 79 runs in the last six overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad, while Kolkata Knight Riders went on the rampage in their previous match here where RPS lost the plot between the seventh and 16th overs, as 117 runs were plundered by Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa to comfortably chase down the 183-run target. Only on two occasions have Rising Pune Supergiant done a decent job in the death overs, leading to a positive outcome. RPS gave away only 42 runs in their last five overs against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chinnaswamy Stadium to win by 27 runs, defending a modest 161. RPS again successfully defended 160/6 against Mumbai Indians where they conceded only 44 runs in the last five overs at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday to win by three runs. Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore, who have five matches left, are facing an uphill task to qualify for the playoffs after suffering six losses in nine matches. The crushing defeat by Gujarat Lions at home has further damaged their qualification chances. To make matters worse, RCBs next two matches are away games, against Rising Pune Supergiant and Mumbai Indians. Kohli & Co have won just one away match (against Gujarat Lions) out of four. While RCB have been outplayed in almost all departments on most occasions, their poor show in the batting powerplay -- scoring below seven runs per over -- has done most of the damage. To add to it, they have not been able to capitalise on the first six overs either. It was double bonanza for Suresh Raina on Thursday. He became the first batsman in the history of the Indian Premier League to register 300 runs in each edition of the tournament and saw his side Gujarat Lions beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets to notch up their third win of the IPL 2017 season. (SCORECARD) The stylish left-hander required just 25 runs to reach the feat and Suresh Raina brought it up with a single down to the square region. Congratulations Papa @ImRaina and @TheGujaratLions. You made my first match totally worth it! pic.twitter.com/sj8DypnzP1 Priyanka C Raina (@_PriyankaCRaina) April 27, 2017 Last year, Suresh Raina had aggregated 399 runs with Gujarat Lions during their maiden season. It was his second lowest in the past nine editions after he joined them from Chennai Super Kings, which has been banned for two years. Besides lifting the silverware twice with Chennai Super Kings, Suresh Raina is also the most experienced campaigner in the IPL with 155 games to his name. Raina has managed to score more than 500 runs in a single season thrice -- in 2010, 2013 and 2014; in which Chennai Super Kings had managed to lift the trophy in 2010. His form had however dipped of late, with him failing to cross the 400-mark in the last two seasons. He had scored 374 runs with Chennai Super Kings during their last stint in the competition. But this season, Raina seems to have shrugged the problems aside and averages 61.8 in the eight matches he has played so far. Although Gujarat Lions are far from being in a comfortable position -- sixth with six points from eight games -- Suresh Raina has been leading the side from front. Hes currently the orange cap holder as well but leads Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir by just four runs. (With inputs from S. Pervez Qaiser) Three cattle grazers have been arrested for sawing off the teeth of Prince, the most photographed tiger of Karnatakas Bandipur Tiger Reserve, whose carcass was found on April 2. The accused have been identified as Soma, Bomma, and Siniraja and are residents of villages located on the periphery of the national park, officials said. Three teeth were recovered from them, which are believed to have been removed from the tigers carcass. Officials, however, said the accused had only removed the teeth from the tiger and were not poachers. The accused had seen Princes carcass in the forest and decided to take his teeth to sell to collectors, Bandipur director T Heeralal said. Prince was found dead in the Kundkere range of Bandipur with his snout missing and initial reports from the forest department had suggested that the tiger had died of starvation. Heeralal said the department stuck with the explanation and the accused had only chopped the snout with a sharp object to steal the teeth. The tigers death was seen as a mystery and the forest department was forced to reopen the investigation after activists alleged that it was a case of poaching. The departments explanation for the missing snout had shifted from a crude bomb explosion and the act of scavengers. The number of tigers dead in 2017 has reached 44 - 30 natural deaths and 14 poached, according to data by Wildlife Protection Society of India. God, I hate art, my late friend The Doctor used to say. The man had his reasons, and he was only half kidding. The Doctors first wife had been an artist, and an argumentative one at that. As my friend was also inclined to be rather firm in his opinions, marital debate had a tendency to become spirited. Once a woman had played the art card, hed complain, a man absolutely couldnt win. To persevere rendered him a cad, a bully, and an oaf of deficient sensibility. Particularly when shed started the fight to begin with. I was reminded of The Doctor during the recent absurd public controversy over the Charging Bull vs. Fearless Girl in the New York financial district. Absurd because as in virtually all disputes about public art, inherently subjective differences of opinion led many combatants to become dogmatic and contemptuous toward persons holding different views. What mighty contests, Alexander Pope wrote, rise from trivial things. The whole thing started last month of the eve of International Womens Day, when a statue of a little girl appeared in the New York financial district, boldly confronting a six-ton bronze bull long seen as a global symbol of Wall Street. Hands on her hips, skirt blowing in the wind, the child seems to be staring the bull down exactly as her creator, sculptor Kristen Visbal, intended. Commissioned as an advertising gimmick by State Street Global Advisors, the Boston-based investment giant, and its New York advertising firm, the Fearless Girl statue supposedly symbolizes girl power. A plaque at the childs feet reads: Know the power of women in leadership. SHE makes a difference. What this girl represents is the present, but also the future, a State Street representative told the New York Times. Shes not angry at the bull shes confident, she knows what shes capable of, and shes wanting the bull to take note. Yeah, well at the expense of being a literal-minded bumpkin personally acquainted with a number of actual bulls, let me say this: Bulls do not take note of little girls, big girls nor even Donald Trump. While cattle can be outwitted by people who understand their behavior, you absolutely cant stare them down or outrun them. We used to own a Simmental bull named Bernie that my wife aptly deemed a bold child by nuns at Fearless Girls approximate age would feed apple slices out of her hand (over the fence only). He was a calm, easygoing fellow with big horns, and weighed around 2,300 pounds. One afternoon when Bernie thought I was being too slow bringing his feed bucket, he slipped up behind me, lifted me effortlessly off the ground, carried me about six feet to the trough and carefully set me down. I never turned my back on the big rascal again. It follows that in the artistic scenario as depicted, the child is capable of nothing. What Fearless Girl symbolizes to me is an act of sheer folly. Somebody needs to sculpt an electrified barb-wire fence before the kid gets trampled. Nothing against women, even Wall Street women, but the deep message of female empowerment is lost on me. Your mileage may differ. Of course, bronze bulls cant move at all. Nor is an artist necessarily an unerring guide to his own work. Even so I can sympathize somewhat with Arturo Di Modica, the Italian sculptor who says that the intended meaning of his (to me quite striking) bull statue freedom, peace, strength, power and love has been irrevocably lost by what he sees as an act of aesthetic vandalism. Alleging copyright infringement, he has asked the city of New York to move the smaller statue somewhere away from his work. Mayor Bill de Blasio has instead extended its city permit for a year, tweeting somewhat churlishly that: Men who dont like women taking up space are exactly why we need the Fearless Girl. Im guessing de Blasio, a canny politician, may have glanced at the comment lines in local newspapers, where the debate quickly degenerated into what New York Post columnist Andrea Peyser aptly described as a kind of feminist Rorschach test. Scores of commenters assailed the sculptor for the intolerable offense of being a man, and an old man at that. One Vannessa wrote that: Di Modica like so many men of a certain age wants the girl to sit down and shut up. Not anymore, dude. Not anymore. Another went all Bernie Sanders on the poor guy: Whatever Mr. Di Modica meant the Bull to mean 30 years ago, today it stands a symbol of the corruption, greed and implacable immensity of a destructive financial sector ... The Bull now represents something that is fundamentally evil. The Girl is a response to that, a necessary response and counter. Actually, its more on the order of a successful publicity stunt: a three-dimensional cartoon. Barely two weeks after the CBI registered an FIR in the Narada sting operation case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed another case on Friday to probe its money laundering aspect. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee faced the biggest embarrassment in her political career after a news portal captured footage of 12 leaders from her party MPs, MLAs, ministers and the Kolkata mayor accepting money from the representative of a fictitious finance company. Officials told HT that the CBI has details of the payment, including the number of the currency notes given to each person seen in the footage. The ED will also trace the money trail, which includes information on where the money came from and reached Naradanews.com CEO Mathew Samuel, and what the Trinamool Congress did with the cash. Incidentally, Samuel told the CBI that the entire operation was funded by Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP KD Singh. The faces seen in the video include prominent Trinamool leaders such as Lok Sabha MPs Saugata Roy, Suvendu Adhikari, Sultan Ahmed, Aparupa Poddar, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Prasun Banerjee; ministers Subrata Mukherjee, Firhad Hakim and Madan Mitra; MLA Iqbal Ahmed; Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee; and SMH Mirza, the IPS officer who allegedly took the money on behalf of party MP Mukul Roy. The Trinamool leaders have been booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Banerjee described the Narada sting as a political conspiracy hatched to derail her success in the 2016 Bengal assembly elections. They are letting loose central agencies like the CBI on Trinamool. They want to put our leaders in jail. They are afraid that we might come to Delhi, she said in a public meeting at Alipurduar in north Bengal on Thursday. After the CBI registered a case in keeping with an order by the Calcutta high court, the Bengal chief minister alleged that the Modi government was using the central probe agency against the Trinamool Congress to punish her for opposing the demonetisation exercise. However, BJP president Amit Shah trashed her allegations during his three-day trip to Bengal. Everybody has seen Trinamool leaders taking bribes on television, but they are still saying its a conspiracy, he said. Incidentally, the ED is also investigating a politically sensitive chit fund scam case which involves a number of high-profile commercial entities such as Saradha, Rose Valley and I-Core along with the CBI. Tu shayar hain main teri shayeri.., wrote one student. O kakhono amar katha sune chole na, o sudhu nijer kothai chale (she does not listen to what I say, she follows her own whims), wrote another and proceeded to describe some examples of her whims. When the students of Balurghat Law College in the north Bengal district of Malda were writing their real life break-up stories, they might have thought of attracting appreciation for articulating their anguish. Those who didnt have a heartbreak to share, chose to write lyrics of famous Hindi and Bengali songs. Yet others, who could not remember any romantic lyric, penned down abusive words. Read: Delhis govt-run schools to beat cheating with flying squads But all the 10 students made the mistake of choosing the wrong time and canvas to pour their hearts out -- they wrote on the answer scripts of the universitys fourth semester exams and handed over the sheets to the teachers. The authorities of the university responded sharply to the misadventure of aspiring interpreters of the law. On Wednesday, they suspended the 10 students, including three women, for two years for writing nonsense. They are fourth semester students. Read: Caught on camera: Teacher helping students cheat in Haryana Class 10 board exam As many as 181 students of the law college appeared for the second semester exam and 72 students wrote the fourth semester exam late last year. The results were published on January 15 and it was found that only 25 students cleared the second semester and only one passed the fourth semester exam. A good number of students also scored a perfect zero. Stung by the results, the heartbroken students vandalised the law college and the chamber of acting principal Durjay Kumar Deb alleging their answer sheets were not evaluated properly. The authorities, to say the least, were shocked first at the performance and then defiance. Justifying their decision Gopal Chandra Mishra, the vice chancellor of Gour Banga University, told HT, It is clear from the answer sheets that the students didnt have the foggiest idea of the answers. They wrote nonsense and even abusive language to kill time in the hall. They should have a clear idea what is legal and what is illegal. Vandalising an institution is also illegal. Read: Mass cheating: College principal, teachers fined to set a precedent Mass cheating in exams is not rare in Bengal, but college students writing love stories and lines from songs instead of answers does not have a precedence the authorities could think of. We have decided to suspend the candidature of the 10 students for two years for writing all those in the answer sheets. But we are not cancelling their registration number to give them a second chance. They can take readmission in the same course after two years. If we had left the offenders unpunished more students could have behaved in the same way, added the VC. College sources said, the examination monitoring committee of the university formed a sub-committee to probe the whole matter. The committee found 10 students guilty of writing all that in their answer sheets. The committee summoned the 10 students to record their statement. Eight appeared and admitted their offence. But two never turned up. According to the rules, the students will not get admission to any regular course of any university in the next two years. But they can enrol for distance learning courses. A number of parents are up in arms against an alleged directive issued by a Meerut school that all students must get haircuts resembling that of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath to enter its premises. However, officials of the school Rishabh Academy denied the charge. They claimed that the parents of some students have hatched a conspiracy against the institution in an attempt to undermine its disciplinary policies. School manager Ranjeet Jain said the administration will not succumb to pressure from a handful of parents. We will continue our efforts to maintain discipline in our institution, he added. Parents protesting in front of the Rishabh Academy, which did not allow students to enter unless they had haircuts resembling that of chief minister Yogi Adityanath. (HT Photo) Sources said that while the agitating parents most of whom hailed from the minority community did not mind the schools short-hair policy, they had a problem with comparing it to Adityanaths haircut. They accused the school management of propagating communalism in the guise of disciplinary policy. The school management later allowed the students to enter, after policemen and mediapersons intervened. Ranjeet said the 25-year-old school run by the Jain community had banned students from growing their hair and bringing non-vegetarian food for lunch. However, a few students from the minority community continued to do so in violation of our directives, he added. Terming the protests as a conspiracy by a handful of parents to destabilise the school, he asked, So whats wrong if someone gives Yogijis example for keeping short hair? How does that amount to spreading the BJPs ideology? Baahubali 2: The Conclusion Director: SS Rajamouli Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sathyaraj, Nassar Rating: 3/5 SS Rajamoulis biggest budget adventure, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, comes alive in its colossal and ambitious imagination to complete the unfinished story of Baahubali. It lives and loves in mythical cities that touch the cloud created with awe-inspiring finesse. Most importantly, why Kattappa killed Baahubali has been answered. The question in itself had the audience, catching an early morning show, on the edges of their seats but the fairytale of a story did have more to offer. The imaginary city of Mahishmati now comes across richer and more fantastic with a new waterside view. There is a lot more in this fairytale world: A new city where Baahubali meets his future wife Devsena (Anushka Shetty), splendid views of a moonlit war there where cattle with fire in their horns fight the enemy, eagles carry messages and Disneyesque palatial ships that fly. There is an anthem for Mahishmati as well. Such risk with such extravaganza is that one unconvincing moment fails an entire film. But Baahubalis cinematography and craft leave no gaps. It is fair to say that it creates a new landmark for Indian cinema in convincing special effects. The Conclusion begins seamlessly just where it left in the first movie with Kattappa narrating the story of Mahishmati. The scale rises soon enough as Baahubali enters the screen to tame an elephant gone wild with cheers from the audience as is wont of a superstar. The grim and tight revenge drama, however, slacks in the first half with a long courtship episode with warrior princess Devasena as Kattappa turns into the archetypal comic sidekick for Baahubali. The film gets back its pace with Devasena rejecting the marriage proposal of Bhallaladeva (Rana Daggubati) sent by the queen of Mahishmati - Sivagami. In a quick turn of events, Bhallaladeva becomes the king and Baahubali is made the army chief. Anushka Shetty as the warrior princess Devasena. Baahubalis cast has fit into the narrative so well that it will not be surprising if Daggubati, Sathyaraj or Prabhas are identified as Bhallaladeva, Kattappa or Baahubali for some time to come. Daggubati holds the screen together with his persona of the evil all powerful king and manages to hinge the tension around him. Ramya Krishnan is powerful as queen mother Sivagami. The female characters, however, continue to disappoint as like princess Avanthika (Tamannah Bhatia) in the first part. Devasena too starts off as an ace warrior only to be tamed into someone who has to be protected. Shetty, however, pulls through a strong performance balancing an eerie tortured prisoner and a charming princess. Baahubali is a delight for all those who enjoy cinema as a visual medium, there is not much else, though. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Blue RATING: 4 / 5 WHERE: Shop No 1, Sai Pooja, 16th Road, Bandra (West) WHEN: Noon to 3.30 pm; 7 pm to 11.30 pm COST: Rs 2,500 for two. No alcohol served. CALL: 2600-0888 Have you eaten at The Blue yet? a famous restaurateur whos created many recognisable restaurant brands in Mumbai and known for his impeccable sartorial taste asks me at dinner. You should check them out; theyre doing some fantastic stuff. Its not often that you hear restaurateurs praising another restaurant, and Im intrigued. Opened by two ex-chefs who handled the Japanese and Thai food at San Qi at the Four Seasons, The Blue is extremely tiny. It seats just 14 inside and 8 outside. Its so small that every time the woman behind me adjusts her seat, her elbow digs into my back. This size of restaurant is a popular format in the stretch between Bandra and Khar. One table is occupied by a group of vaguely familiar television actors who bitch about script rehearsals between discussing the culinary delights of Singapore. The mushroom gyoza at The Blue are crisp on the outside and hold an almost mousse-like filling. They go well with the soy-chilli dip. (Aalok Soni / HT Photo) With just two cuisines to choose from, ordering is easy. We start with a plate of nigiri sushi. Thin, bright pink slices of tuna akami that look like slivers of raw steak are draped over sushi rice. The rice is slightly warm, a touch over body temperature. Its unusual, but doesnt detract from the taste or texture of the sushi. Our mushroom gyoza are crisp and brown on the outside with a mousse-like texture to the filling. It tastes even better with the sweet-salty-spicy soy-chilli dip. The soft-shell crab tempura is coated in Japanese mustard. Its one of the popular starters at the Khar restaurant. (Aalok Soni / HT Photo) Im equally impressed by the texture of the Karashi mustard soft shell crab, batter-fried and coated in mildly piquant Japanese mustard. The crab is simultaneously, soft, crisp and crunchy. The salad though seems superfluous. We are quite pleased with all the Japanese starters. For the main course we shift to Thai: a chicken green curry and a serving of crispy pork. Its not easy to get a good green curry at a standalone place in Mumbai. Most use ready-made curry pastes, which flattens the flavours somewhat. What distinguishes The Blues curry is that you can not only taste the spices, but also the flavour of the vegetables. It also has faint citrus aroma which brings a zesty freshness to every morsel. The Blues green Thai curry doesnt taste like the usual pre-made pastes. You can taste the spices and the veggies, and theres a refreshing hint of citrus. (Aalok Soni / HT Photo) Tossed with baby corn and zucchini in a spicy-sweet sauce, each cube of pork has a perfectly crackled skin. Its more crunchy pork than crispy. The only disappointment was the tub tim grob. Served in a glass bowl rather than a coconut shell, it looked rather unloved and the achingly underwhelming coconut milk left you a little heartbroken. The Blue is doing some fantastic stuff indeed; its five-star hotel quality food at about one-fourth the price. HT reviews anonymously and pays for all meals While Mumbai celebrated the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya by buying gold, doctors at Saifee Hospital treating Eman Ahmed were compelled to call the cops after Emans sister allegedly fought with the nurses. Meanwhile, police declared that there was no proof that Salman Khans bodyguard Shera had assaulted a 25-year-old. With the monsoon just a month away, Mumbai is gearing up to face 18 high tide days. Also, former chief minister and BJP hopeful Narayan Rane might have to wait a little longer to be inducted into the BJP. Here are todays top five picks: 1. Akshay Tritiya in pics: Mumbai pays for gold jewellery, gets car, silver coins, phones for free Plan to buy gold jewellery in Mumbai? Akshay Tritiya, which is celebrated today, may be the ideal day. For, it is not just an auspicious occasion, but a day where you will get free silver and gold coins, discounts on making charges, free electronic items. Thats not all, you could also win free cars and mobile phones in lucky draws. 2. Mumbai hospital calls police after Eman Ahmeds sister fights with nurses Doctors at Saifee Hospital, which is treating Egyptian Eman Ahmed to reduce her weight, called the police on Thursday evening after the womans sister allegedly fought with the nurses and violated rules. However, police said enquiries revealed that all was well. 3. No proof that Salman Khans bodyguard assaulted a 25-year-old: Mumbai cops The DN Nagar police, who had registered a first information report (FIR) against Bollywood actor Salman Khans bodyguard Gurmeet Singh, better known as Shera, and three of his aides for allegedly assaulting a 25-year-old, recently termed the case false. They are likely to file a B summary report in the case, which means there is no evidence against the accused. 4. Mumbai to witness high tides on 18 days this monsoon While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has begun unclogging drains and completing road work, its preparedness for the monsoon will be put to test for 18 days when the sea-levels rise beyond 4.5 meters in Mumbai. According to information provided by civic officials, the city will witness high tides on 18 days this monsoon. 5. Narayan Rane may have to wait to join BJP While speculations are rife about Congress leader and former chief minister Narayan Ranes likely induction into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party leaders seem to have put the decision on hold for want of a consensus among other BJP leaders from the state, say sources. The party leadership is also not inclined to take any decision on him till the presidential elections, scheduled to be held in July, are over. While the city civil and sessions court sentenced model Preeti Jain to three years in jail and later released her on bail in connection with the plan to kill film-maker Madhur Bhandarkar, Egyptian woman Eman Ahmeds sister Shaimaa put water in her mouth, despite doctors advising against it. While Radhe Maa may be in for some legal trouble, Salman Khans bodyguard Shera got some relief. Also, your Goa trip may get more exciting, as the ferry services are likely to start by April 2018. Here are our top five picks of the day: 1. Preeti Jain gets 3 yrs in jail for plotting to kill Madhur Bhandarkar, gets bail The city civil and sessions court sentenced model Preeti Jain to three years in jail and fined her Rs10,000 for plotting to murder film-maker Madhur Bhandarkar, against whom she had earlier registered a rape case. Two of her associates Naresh Pardeshi and Shivram Das too were sentenced to three years on charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting crime. The trio was, however, granted bail on cash surety of Rs15,000. They have been given four weeks to file an appeal in the Bombay high court. 2. No proof that Salman Khans bodyguard assaulted a 25-year-old: Mumbai cops The DN Nagar police, who had registered a first information report (FIR) against Bollywood actor Salman Khans bodyguard Gurmeet Singh, better known as Shera, and three of his aides for allegedly assaulting a 25-year-old, recently termed the case false. They are likely to file a B summary report in the case, which means there is no evidence against the accused. Egyptian woman Eman Ahmed. (File) 3. Eman Ahmeds sister goes against docs advice, gives her water to drink Doctors at Saifee Hospital, which is treating Egyptian Eman Ahmed to reduce her weight, called the police on Thursday evening after the womans sister allegedly fought with the nurses and violated rules. However, police said enquiries revealed that all was well. 4. Mumbai court to record Radhe Maas statement in dowry harassment case The Mumbai police has been directed to record a fresh statement of self-styled spiritual leader Sukhwinder Kaur alias Radhe Maa in connection with a dowry harassment case. Niki Gupta, in a complaint filed last year, accused Radhe Maa of instigating her in-laws to harass her for dowry. 5. Road trip from Mumbai to Goa? Make it exciting, ferry your car on a boat to Mandwa by April 2018 Heres some good news for those who love travelling to Alibaug, Konkan or Goa. From April next year, you will be able to take your cars on board special ferries from Ferry Wharf (Bhaucha Dhakka) in Mumbai up to Mandwa, cutting your travel time by almost three hours. The state government is considering setting up a laboratory with American technology that helps cows beget only female calves. The decision is being taken amid rising cases of bulls being abandoned after the beef ban imposed in the state two years ago. The animal husbandry and dairy development department is planning to distribute the sorted semen straws, which will ensure the birth of only female calves. The government is also considering roping in NGOs or social organisations working in the field to get assistance from them. The cost of setting up the laboratory is around Rs8 crore, which will be borne by the state. The Punjab and Karnataka governments have already introduced this technology in their states. The government will produce vials containing 0.25 to 0.5 ml sexed semen to be distributed to the villagers through the veterinary dispensaries. The government claimed that with a success rate of 90%, the technique will help produce cows in big numbers, thereby increasing farmers milk production. We have decided to set up a laboratory at Pune. Our officials with expertise in this sector have been asked to develop the technique. This will help boost farmers income and solve the problem of maintaining bulls, said Mahadev Jankar, animal husbandry and dairy development minister. The farmers and the organisations representing them have been claiming it has become difficult for them to maintain bulls after the government banned their killing. There have been case of bulls being abandoned and killed immediately after their birth. The farmers also say the daily expenditure to maintain the bulls is around Rs150 and the yield from the bulls is too low. While talking about the technique, an official from the department said, The sexed semen is created by separating X and Y chromosomes and by destroying the latter to ensure the birth of female calves. The vials or the straws of the semen are maintained at -196 degrees Celsius and transported to the village-level clinics. The sexed semen is then used for the insemination. Although the charges are yet to be decided for the vials, the government will subsidise it, he said. Animal activists, however, have welcomed the step. Manilal Valliyate, director of veterinary affairs of PETA, said, Most male cows and buffaloes are sent for slaughter or left in a corner to starve or be abandoned. We support any policy decision aimed at saving animals lives. The sexed semen technology will at least save some male calves from abuse. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mumbai The city civil and sessions court on Friday sentenced model Preeti Jain to three years in jail and fined her Rs10,000 for plotting to murder film-maker Madhur Bhandarkar, against whom she had earlier registered a rape case. Here are the five things we know about the case: Jail, but out on bail: While two of Jains associates Naresh Pardeshi and Shivram Das have been sentenced to three years jail on charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting crime, two others from Uttar Pradesh were acquitted for lack of evidence. Jain, Pardeshi and Das have been granted bail on cash surety of Rs15,000. They have been given four weeks to file an appeal in the Bombay high court. No cash back, here: The prosecution claimed Jain approached Pardeshi to eliminate Bhandarkar in 2005, almost a year after she filed a rape case against the filmmaker. She allegedly paid Rs75,000 for the job. However, as the task was not completed, she asked for her money back. The issue reached Gawli, who then sent his men to alert the police. Ending on a sour note: The prosecution claimed Jain-Bhandarkar spat began in 2004, when Jain filed a complaint with the Versova police station alleging the film-maker raped her repeatedly by promising marriage. It said as Bhandarkar got anticipatory bail in the case, Jain plotted to eliminate him. The D connection: The Mumbai police initially dragged gangster Arun Gawli in the case. However, he was let off as there was no evidence against him. Jain allegedly paid Rs75,000 to Pardeshi. Pardeshis aide Das arranged for a man from UP to execute the killing. Moving on: After the court verdict: Bhandarkar tweeted: Somethings are better left unsaid! Somethings are better left as they are. Life moves on, so have I. Somethings are better left unsaid! Somethings are better left as they are. Life moves on, so have I. Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) April 28, 2017 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The city brought in Akshay Tritiya, an auspicious occasion for Hindus, on Friday with pujas and new purchases. According to Hindu mythology, Akshay Tritiya is the day when Lord Parshuram, the sixth incarnation of Vishnu, was born. Veda Vyas began to write Mahabharata. Jains celebrate this day to commemorate the ending of the fast by Tirthankara Rushabhanatha. Most people visit temples on this day, said Ketan Joshi, a priest at a Malad temple. Akshay Tritiya is the day Tirthankara Rushabhanath ended his one-year fast by consuming sugarcane juice poured into his cupped hands. It is called paarana, said Bipin Doshi, a Jain scholar and professor of Jainism at the Mumbai University, adding, The festival basically is about patience and non-violence. People who observe a year-long alternate day fasting, called Varshi-tap, break it on this day by drinking sugarcane juice. The day is considered ideal to start new ventures, said Sanket Shinde, a businessman from Dadar, adding, It is believed that if you do charity on this day you will be blessed. Read more: Akshay Tritiya in pics: Mumbai pays for gold jewellery, gets car, silver coins, phones for free As a longtime PZP contraceptive vaccine researcher and wild horse advocate, I do recognize that treating mares with the PZP contraceptive vaccine makes them a little less wild. And its challenging to ask what wild means on a planet where human impacts are felt from pole to pole, notably so on the western rangelands inhabited by wild horses. The horses, though, care less about philosophy than about remaining free, with their bands, on healthy rangelands. If applied thoughtfully, PZP can help them do that. The city civil and sessions court sentenced model Preeti Jain to three years in jail and fined her Rs10,000 for plotting to murder film-maker Madhur Bhandarkar, against whom she had earlier registered a rape case. Two of her associates Naresh Pardeshi and Shivram Das too were sentenced to three years on charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting crime. The trio was, however, granted bail on cash surety of Rs15,000. They have been given four weeks to file an appeal in the Bombay high court. Bhandarkar reacted to the verdict with a tweet: Some things are better left unsaid! Some things are better left as they are. Life moves on, so have I. Two other aides from Uttar Pradesh were acquitted for lack of evidence. Soon after the courts decision, Jain sought suspension of sentence. Somethings are better left unsaid! Somethings are better left as they are. Life moves on, so have I. Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) April 28, 2017 It was alleged Jain approached Pardeshi to eliminate Bhandarkar in 2005, almost a year after she filed a rape case against the filmmaker, and allegedly paid Rs75,000 for the job. However, as the task was not completed, she asked for her money back. The issue reached Gawli, who then sent his men to alert the police. After a week-long probe, the police registered a case on September 10, 2005. Pardesi was arrested the same day and Jain was picked up while she was on her way to the Versova police station. The police later arrested Pardeshis friend Shivram Das, who allegedly helped him arrange for weapons and shooters. The trial first began in the fast-track court in Sewree, but was later transferred to the sessions court. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Mumbai police has been directed to record a fresh statement of self-styled spiritual leader Sukhwinder Kaur alias Radhe Maa in connection with a dowry harassment case. Niki Gupta, in a complaint filed last year, accused Radhe Maa of instigating her in-laws to harass her for dowry. Gupta alleged soon after her marriage, her in-laws demanded Rs65 lakh. When her parents said they couldnt pay the amount, she was made to forcefully serve Kaur, massage her legs and clean her house, Gupta alleged. Radhe Ma abused and assaulted her on several occasions, Gupta said in her complaint. Gupta was, at the time, permitted to assist the police in its probe into her complaint. Read more: New complaint against Radhe Maa for promoting superstition However, subsequently, the police dropped the case against Radhe Maa. Gupta approached the HC alleging that the police erred in doing so. Justice Sadhna Jadhav of the Bombay high court on April 12 directed the Borivli police to look into the allegations and check if there was a need for further probe. Justice Jadhav held Gupta had a right to demonstrate what she felt were the lacunae in the investigation. The complainant says that the charge sheet is not filed in pursuance to allegations made by her. The police officer concerned thus, is directed to call her and record her statement, Justice Jadhav said. She said that if the police find new facts relevant to the case, they must inform the magistrates court and take further action. Read more: Mumbai court orders FIR against Radhe Maa for flying with Trishul SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Doctors at Saifee Hospital, which is treating Egyptian Eman Ahmed to reduce her weight, called the police on Thursday evening after the womans sister allegedly fought with the nurses and violated rules. However, police said enquiries revealed that all was well. Doctors said Shaimaa put water in Emans mouth directly, despite being told that she must only be fed through a tube. When on-duty nurses tried to stop her, she allegedly pushed them. The nurses complained to the hospitals chief operating officer, Huzaifa Shehebi. On realising that Eman choked each time she tried to consume something orally, we gave her a feeding tube. We saw Shaimaa feeding her water from an injection and asked her to stop. We told her the water could enter Emans lungs and even kill her, said Dr Aprna Govil Bhaskar, section head, bariatric surgery on Thursday. Doctors informed the police saying that Shaimaas actions were putting Eman at risk. The patient is well-cared-for. We have not received an official complaint yet, said a source from V P Road police station. This came against the backdrop of a raging controversy surrounding the health of Ahmed, who weighed around 500 kg when she was brought to Mombais Saifee Hospital. While her sister says Eman has been critical for one-and-half months and she has been put on massive medication to stop her brain activity, doctors claim improvement in her condition. The Egyptian womans doctors have said they would no longer attend to her. A 40-year-old man, who was caught nearly four years ago for smuggling 5kg cannabis or ganja in commercial quantity, has been convicted of the crime by a sessions court and sentenced to eight years of rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. On 16 July in 2013, the convict, identified as Parshuram Premchand Kevat, 40, was arrested by the anti-narcotics cell of the Mumbai crime branch from a foot over bridge on the Borivali railway station. Acting on a tip-off, officials from the Kandivali unit of the ANC laid a trap and nabbed Kevat. Kevat is a resident of Chitrangari compound in Goregoan (East). He was carrying 5 kg of Ganja worth Rs 30,000. He was booked under section 8 (c) and 20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. If Kevat fails to pay the fine of Rs1 lakh, he will have to spend six more months in jail. From June 1, Mumbaiites can call for black-and-yellow taxis at the touch of a button on their mobile phone. Mumbai Taximens Union and Mumbai Taxi Association plan to launch their mobile application Aamchi (Our) Drive for kaali-peelis and Cool Cabs to compete with app-based aggregators like Ola and Uber. Thats not all, unlike Uber and Ola, kaali-peelis wont resort to surge pricing charging extra during peak hours. But the commuters will have to pay Rs5 extra as service charge to avail of the facility. Just like other apps, on Aamchi Drive, you can select the category, AC or non-AC, and check the estimated fare. Once you book a ride, you will receive a one-time password through SMS. The taxi drivers in the vicinity will get an alert, and whoever accepts the request first will get to pick the passenger. Of the 40,000 taxi drivers in the city, 3,000 are likely to sign up for the service. Commuters will be charged according to government rates during peak and non-peak hours, said Ashutosh Vaidya, head, operations of Sun Telematics. According to company officials, passengers will get a bill on their email address at the end of the journey. The app will be available on Android and iPhones and will support 20 Indian languages. Sandeep Kabre, head, operations, Sun Telematics, said, Passengers can select the language as per their convenience. They can pay using mobile wallet. Bank accounts of drivers will be linked to the app, so the amount directly be deposited into their account. Union leaders said every taxi driver signing up for the service will go through a rigorous training on how to conduct themselves in front of passengers. This is the second attempt to get an app for black-and-yellow cabs. In 2005, the unions got an app 9211 Taxi in collaboration with a private firm, but it did not get good response. It was not the right time to launch the app. The service provider was not technologically equipped,said AL Quadros, taxi union leader. Prem Singh, another taxi union leader, By the time the app goes live, new rules to curb surge pricing would come into effect, bringing all of them on a level playing field. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A magistrate court remanded Sunil Kulkarni, alleged leader of the Shifu Sunkriti cult in police custody till May 3. He was charged with cheating and trafficking after the Bombay high court directed the police to register an FIR against him for running an alleged sex and drugs racket. Police officials asked the court for more time to question Kulkarni. They had told the court that Kulkarni sexually exploited his followers. Public prosecutor RY Suryavanshi said Kulkarni would prescribe sedatives to his followers, who were mostly between 18 and 25 years old, on the pretext of treating them. Once they were under the influence of drugs, he would turn them against their parents and then coerce them into sexual activities, Suryavanshi said. The crime branch said two sisters from Malad had left their home after being influenced by Kulkarni. The police said the elder sister, a law graduate, met Kulkarni when he visited her college as a faculty member. She then introduced her younger sister, an architecture student, to him. Suryavanshi said Kulkarni would show his victims obscene pictures and literature. What we know about the case The cult operated from a Facebook page. Joining it was as easy as leaving your number on the forum, said the parents of two women who are members of Shifu Sunkriti. Kulkarni would call those who had left their numbers and brief them about his organisation The cults Facebook page contains provocative and sexually explicit messages. Public prosecutor RY Suryavanshi said several of the youth who were living with Kulkarni are now untraceable. After Kulkarni was arrested, the crime branch recovered a pen drive containing photographs of naked and semi-naked young men and women from his Bandra home. The agency said the people in the photographs were those Kulkarni had lured into his cult. They also found a sex clip in Kulkarnis phone and pen drive and suspect that the man and woman in the clip are residents of Delhi, where the accused lived for a while. A team has been sent to Delhi to investigate further. The police recovered a prescription for abortion pills, written on Kulkarnis letterhead. They said it was written for a woman, whose identity is yet to be established. Kulkarni has not appointed a lawyer and is choosing to argue the case himself. He has denied all the allegations against him in court. The women were abused by their parents. They asked the Borivli police and the womens commission to file a complaint. The court should call them and record their statements. They have not been heard, he said. While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started unclogging drains and completing road works, its monsoon preparedness will be put to test. According to data, the city will witness a high tide on 18 days this monsoon when sea levels are expected to rise beyond 4.5m in the city. The highest, 4.97m, is expected on June 25 (Sunday), around 1.07pm, according to data. Tide levels above 4.5m are dangerous because they could result in heavy flooding if coupled with heavy showers in low-lying areas. Last monsoon, the city witnessed rising sea levels on 24 days, mostly the beginning and end of the four months. In June, the city will witness rising sea-levels from June 23 to 28, followed by July 22-27, August 21-24 and September 19-20, data revealed. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts the country will receive normal rainfall this year. The official date for arrival of monsoon in the city is around June 10. Officials from the disaster management unit of the BMC said they are taking special precautions on high tide days by deploying flood rescue teams, fire brigade personnel, officials from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), lifeguards and police officers at the six beaches Juhu, Versova, Girgaum, Aksa, Gorai and Dadar in the city. A senior civic official from the disaster management unit of the BMC said, On weekends and holidays, we deploy additional lifeguards as the beaches get a lot of visitors on these days. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The DN Nagar police, who had registered a first information report (FIR) against Bollywood actor Salman Khans bodyguard Gurmeet Singh, better known as Shera, and three of his aides for allegedly assaulting a 25-year-old, recently termed the case false. They are likely to file a B summary report in the case, which means there is no evidence against the accused. The report will be filed in the Andheri magistrates court, which will decide if an investigation is to be reopened. If not, the court will admit the report. This seems to be a false case. We did not find evidence against Shera. None of the allegations were found to be true, a police officer told HT. Shera lives at Seven Bungalows on JP Road. The victim, Athar Gulam Ansari, is a resident of Vile Parle (West) and work at a mobile repair store. On October 26, 2016, the DN Nagar police had detained Shera, his driver and two bodyguards for allegedly assaulting Ansari and two of his friends in Andheri (West). They said Ansari fractured his collarbone owing to the assault. Police said the incident took place at 2 am near Indian Oil Nagar on Link Road. Ansari and his friends, identified only as Javed and Valentine, were driving an Audi car. Ansari was on the phone with a man identified only as Ajay bhai. Ansari spotted Shera and informed Ajay that he was in the area. Ansari said Ajay Bhai told him to give the phone to Shera. Ansari parked the car, went up to Shera and gave him the phone. Ajay and Shera allegedly verbally abused each other. Shera confronted Ansari and abused him for giving him the phone. This led to a heated argument and then a physical scuffle between the two. Ansari said Shera pulled out a pistol and hit him on the shoulder with it repeatedly. Sheras bodyguard allegedly hit Ansari on his shoulder with another sharp object, said the officer. Ansari and his aides went to Cooper Hospital seeking treatment. They approached the DN Nagar police station at 5.20 am. Shera and his aides were detained for questioning, but denied all the allegations against them. Shera said Ansari was trying to defame him. Police registered a case against Shera, his bodyguards and the driver under sections 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means),506 (2) ( criminal intimidation), 323 (causing hurt voluntarily), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 3 (license for acquisition, possession of fire arm), 25 (exposes firearm), 27 (using a firearm) of the Arms Act. Medical experts from Abu Dhabi-based VPS Healthcare, who are looking for a chartered aircraft to take Egyptian Eman Ahmed formerly the worlds heaviest woman from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi for rehabilitation, said that they were committed to flying her out on Sunday. We need a chartered aircraft to take her to Abu Dhabi and are analysing the best possible options for her travel, said Sanet Meyer, director of Medevac, VPS Healthcare. She added that a special hydraulic stretcher is being brought from Italy and VPS is looking for an ambulance that can take her from Saifee Hospital to the airport. Meyer confirmed that she would head a team of nine experts to travel with her to Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi. We have a number of specialised rooms at Burjeel medical facility where Eman will be treated for neurological and physiological rehabilitation, she said. Meanwhile, doctors at Saifee Hospital are preparing documents required for the transfer. Emans medical documents, which number around 10,000, will be handed over to VPS Healthcare. Emans security has been tightened since her sister gave her water against the orders of her doctors. Eman had difficulty swallowing and so doctors had advised that she be fed only through a tube. We alerted the police station after the incident and increased security to ensure that in a fit of rage, she does not do anything that may harm her sister. We are happy that Eman is leaving in a much better condition than she was brought in, said Dr Aparna Govil Bhaskar, head of bariatric surgery at Saifee Hospital. Speaking to HT, Shaimaa said that Eman was happy and relieved to meet Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, the founder and managing director of VPS Healthcare Group. Dr Vayalil and his team met Eman on Thursday morning, allegedly without informing Saifee Hospital. Heres some good news for those who love travelling to Alibaug, Konkan or Goa. From April next year, you will be able to take your cars on board special ferries from Ferry Wharf (Bhaucha Dhakka) in Mumbai up to Mandwa, cutting your travel time by almost three hours. The service, which will be introduced from Ferry Wharf to Mandwa and Nerul in Navi Mumbai, is expected to lower the burden on roads and railways. Around 14 lakh people travel from Gateway of India to Mandwa in Raigad district every year. Read more: Ferry tale: The next time you are in Mumbai, try out these rides The work is on at Ferry Wharf and Mandwa. The services between Mumbai and Mandwa will begin by April next year. The Mumbai-Nerul operations would take some more time, said Sanjay Bhatia, chairman Mumbai Port Trust. Around 1.6 hectares will be reclaimed around the existing Mandwa jetty, officials said. A special ferry or vessel can accommodate 300 passenger cars and 100 trucks and tempos. It will save motorists time. It is also an environment-friendly option, said Bhatia. The fares for the service are yet to be decided, they are estimated to be Rs400-500. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Beating up, maiming and even killing a dog is punished with a fine of just Rs50 an amount fixed way back in 1960, when the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was first tabled. Six years ago, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) decided to tighten the law. It drafted the Animal Welfare Bill with stricter fines starting at Rs1,000 and going up to Rs10,000 depending on the degree of cruelty. To date, this draft bill has passed through a number of offices and changed many hands, but has yet to be made law. With deterrents this weak, its little wonder that cruelty to animals, especially pets, is so rampant. Three years ago, AWBI decided to look at more specific ways to tackle pet cruelty. They formulated a draft of guidelines for how pet shops and dog breeding centres should be run. According to AWBI, both are lucrative businesses that account for millions on the black market and result in the mindless breeding, smuggling and selling of animals. The first draft, for pet shops, was submitted to the Union Environment Ministry in 2014; the second one (for dog breeding and marketing) was submitted a year later. Officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) told Hindustan Times the draft guidelines were being compiled by the ministry and were likely to be included in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 by the end of the year. Cruelty to pets is on the rise, not only in Mumbai but across the country. We issued the draft guidelines in the form of a notification on our website in December. After receiving a number of responses, we are compiling the final rules, said a senior official from the ministry. The guidelines will be tabled during the monsoon session of the Parliament this year and is likely to be issued by the year end. The official said the ministry also had discussions in February about raising fines for animal cruelty cases. To improve deterrence, stricter fines have to levied. Owing to problems related to Jallikattu, the decision was deferred. We have plans to meet state government bodies later this year. We will consider raising fines and bringing it at a par with those in the Wildlife Protection Act, the official said. Other top officials from the BJP-led central government, however, said it was too early to comment on the guidelines as they have been delayed time and again. I do not know whether the environment ministry is going to issue the guidelines. They keep putting it off on one pretext or another. So to speak about them would be premature. Once they come in, I will be happy to speak on them, Maneka Gandhi, Union cabinet minister for women and child development told HT. Meanwhile, courts, local authorities and NGOs have been taking steps to curb cruelty to pets. For instance, after a Bombay HC order on April 10, the Mumbai police shut down all pet shops at Crawford Market, Mumbais pet trade hub. We shut 21 shops that were housing exotic pets. Currently, there are no pet shops open at Crawford Market, said Sukhlal Varpe, senior police inspector, MRA Marg police station. There were a few shop owners who tried to argue with us, but when we told them their licenses would be cancelled, they pulled down their shutters. Mumbai is a trade hub for inbound and outbound pet animals, said Jose Louies, head of trade control, Wildlife Trust of India. Turtles, tortoises and exotic birds are traded globally from shops in Crawford market. Shutting down these shops is a welcome move. Cruelty to pets is going unchecked not only because of lax laws, but also their poor implementation. According to the Bombay Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the AWBI, the Maharashtra state animal welfare board, a part of the animal husbandry department, has not met even once in the past decade. State officials, however, denied this. After directions from the Centre, teams have been set up in every district along with animal welfare NGOs to look into specific issues related to animal and pet cruelty, said PM Kamble, regional joint commissioner of animal husbandry, Mumbai. A year-long plan has been drafted to study problems and mitigate them . Experts, however, said there was a long way to go and that the onus lies on citizens to drive the movement. Anybody who has a pet should be absolutely sure they are responsible for it, said Dr S Chinny Krishna, former vice chairman, AWBI. It boils down to one thing dont own a pet because you think it is cute. Protect them like you would protect your family. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Five things we know about the case The spat between Preeti Jain and Madhur Bhandarkar began in 2004, when Jain filed a complaint with the Versova police station, alleging that the film-maker raped her 16 times between 1999 and 2004 on the pretext of marrying her. After Bhandarkar was granted anticipatory bail, Jain feared that she would lose the case. She thus plotted to have the film-maker killed, alleged the prosecution The Mumbai police initially suspected underworld don Arun Gawlis involvement in the case. However, they let him off after failing to find evidence. Jain allegedly paid Gawlis aide Naresh Pardeshi Rs75,000 to kill Bhandarkar Pardeshis friend Shivram Das had arranged for a man from Uttar Pradesh to carry out the murder. They were caught when the conspiracy unravelled. The family members of those who died in the Audi car crash incident met chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday and sought his intervention into the alleged lax and pressured police probe. The family also told the CM about the conspiracies that have come to the fore to protect some beneficiaries. The Audi, owned by Dr Manish Rawat, had crashed into an auto on Hindon canal road in Indirapuram on the intervening night of January 27 and 28 and led to death of four persons Yajuvendra Singh, 40, his cousin Vishal, their family friend Rinku Yadav, a techie with HCL, Noida, and auto driver Sanjeev Kumar. We have forwarded our complaint to the chief minister and also apprised him about the pressure tactics and conspiracies being used to subvert the investigation. We also told him that apart from the four who died, poor people were targeted and made to take the blame in the case. There are several people who are working behind the scenes to protect influential people, Sunita Sengar, mother of Yajuvendra Singh, said. On the night of the incident, Audi owner Dr Rawat fled the spot but turned up a week later before the police. He told them that he was present in the car but the vehicle was driven by his driver Ishaq Ahmad. Ishaq Ahmad from Bareilly surrendered at the court of the chief judicial magistrate in Ghaziabad and obtained bail on January 31. He later turned out to be Syed Imtiyaz Qadri, who had misused the documents of his former co-tenant, Ishaq Ahmad, a truck driver from Bareilly. However, a couple of days later, when Qadri came to know about four persons being killed in the incident, he fled to Maharashtra. He was caught by the Maharashtra police a fortnight ago under Nala Sopara police station in connection with robbery and chain snatching incidents. Upon his arrest, he told the police that three persons had paid him Rs7,000 to appear in the court, in order to claim insurance. Since the conspiracy came to light, the families said that there have been attempts by a group of people to pressurise them and also Ishaq Ahmad, who was told to approach Qadri in Maharashtra in order to convince him to take the blame for being behind the wheels during the accident. We told the CM about people who are working to protect those who are actually involved in the case and also about the conspiracy. A complete file has also been submitted, which details how the conspiracy was planned. We have told that police officers have also been pressurised. The CM has assured us of action and justice, Sengar said. After an initial probe by Indirapuram police, the case was handed over to the crime branch. The police have said that Qadris mobile location was traced to Bareilly during the incident. His wife, Ayesha, turned up in Bareilly on Friday and said that her husband was paid money to appear in court. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The family members of a seven-year-old girl on Friday lodged an FIR alleging rape after the girl went missing from a wedding ceremony on Thursday night. The girl was found in a semi-conscious state from the fields nearby the venue on Friday morning and was rushed to a hospital in Delhi. The girl hails from Punjab and had come to attend a wedding at their relatives place in Ghaziabad. During one of the rituals on Friday, the guests were busy dancing when the girl went missing around 7pm on Thursday. When they realised the girl was missing, family members began searching for her, but could not find her the entire night. On Friday morning, some locals spotted the girl lying in a semi-conscious state in a field, barely 200 metres from the house of her relative. She was taken to the hospital where women police constables and counsellors spoke to her. Her medical examination was conducted and reports are awaited, said Srikant Prajapati, circle officer, Loni. The police said they have lodged an FIR of rape and also under provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act at Loni Border police station on Friday. The family raised the suspicion of rape and we lodged the FIR against unidentified person(s). It is suspected that she was lured away by someone known to the family and taken to the fields. She is being counselled and we are waiting for her to be stable. Once she is able to speak, she will be able to help us out with more details. She is currently in a state of shock and trauma, Prajapati said. The police suspect that the girl was also beaten up during the incident which made her fall unconscious. The officials said they have also collected some evidence from the scene of crime. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In view of the increasing incidents of chain and mobile snatching in Noida, the police have planned to intensify their patrolling and deploy personnel in plainclothes to nab the culprits. Newly appointed senior superintendent of police, Luv Kumar, said on Friday that all efforts will be made to ensure that the people in the district are not hassled by anti-social elements. In my knowledge, several cases of chain and mobile snatching have been reported in Noida and I would like to assure the residents that police will take all efforts to ensure their safety. Places (where these incidents have taken place in the past) will be marked and the police will intensify patrolling of these areas, Kumar said. In the last month, according to details provided by station house officers of police stations across Noida, more than 50 incidents of snatching of chains, mobile phones, purses and bags were reported. Among the 50 incidents, major incidents include robbery of Rs3.5 lakh on April 3, snatching of gold chains from five persons on April 5, forcing a snatching victim to withdraw Rs22,000 from an ATM on April 10 and robbery of a car on April 14. Two incidents of chain snatching and mobile snatching at gunpoint on Wednesday and Thursday have left residents fearful. A gold chain was snatched from a woman near Sector 52 and two men were robbed of their valuables (mobile phone and wallet) and cash at gunpoint near Sector 46. A week ago, two chain snatchers had allegedly fired upon people near Meghdootam Park in Sector 50. In almost all the cases of chain and mobile snatching, the modus operandi has been similar perpetrators on bikes overpowering victims by force or simply snatching valuables and fleeing. Residents of Noida have repeatedly complained to the police and the administration about the rise in such incidents. We have taken this issue to Noida MLA Pankaj Singh, former district magistrate NP Singh and superintendent of police (City) Dinesh Yadav, but, till now, no concrete action has been taken against the culprits. Residents feel unsafe on roads and the police are helpless, Sanjeev Kumar, general secretary, residents welfare association of Sector 51, said. Pankaj Singh also raised this issue in a meeting with residents of various sectors of Noida last Sunday. It is the responsibility of the police to ensure that the public of Noida feels safe while walking on the streets. I will take up this matter with the police and appeal for increased patrolling and deployment of more personnel in affected areas, Singh said. Taking cognizance of the matter, the SSP said that the police will track the activities of history-sheeters in the city and police personnel will be deployed in plain clothes in order to nab the culprits. We will launch a campaign against chain snatchers. Police will now be deployed in plain clothes in marked areas so that they can easily nab such culprits. They will blend in with the crowd without raising any suspicion, Kumar said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nearly 90 specially-abled students of a rehabilitation centre in Ghaziabads Indirpauram had a narrow escape due to timely action by fire officials after a blaze broke out at an electrical panel of the building on Friday noon. The centre named Well Being is located at Gyan Khand I. Fire department officials got a call from school authorities just when the electricity panel on the ground floor caught, causing panic among students and the centres staff. It was a major rescue effort by more than 20 firemen and officials who had to rush inside the building and rescue children as they could not move on their own. They were picked up by firemen and taken out amid fire and thick smoke that engulfed the building. It was due to their efforts that no untoward incident happened and all children were safely rescued from different floors, said Ajay Sharma, fire safety officer, Vaishali. The building has a basement, a ground floor and two upper floors where the children were either attending classes or engaged in activities. The officials said that more than a dozen children trapped in the upper floors were shifted to the roofs of adjacent buildings. Other children were picked up and rushed from the main gate. In all, nearly 90 children were rescued this way. The fire blocked the staircase to the upper floors, Sharma added. Police officials said that the grilles on the upper floor were removed to evacuate the children. Thick smoke came out as the electricity cables got burnt. Smoke engulfed the entire floors when the children and staff were inside, said Anil Kumar Yadav, circle officer (Indirapuram). Officials of the rehab centre said they had fire fighting equipment like fire extinguishers that are refilled and checked as per norms. A total of 90 children were present when the fire took place. We tried to control the fire with fire extinguishers and fire department officials also arrived in a timely manner, said Dr Rita Vatsa, the principal. Sections of Indias middle and upper classes seem increasingly drawn to the idea of using state violence to sort out political questions. This is expressed in many ways. Chander Prakash Ganga, J&Ks industries and commerce minister from the BJP, says that stone pelting youth in the Valley are traitors and that the bullet is the only remedy for them. Social media is rife with calls for ruthless action after 25 CRPF personnel were killed in Chhattisgarh on April 24. State violence as a solution appeals to sections that have an uncomplicated, black and white view of the world. They do not look at social conflict in the context of history or as consequences of acts of State but view problems essentially as the fault of other countries or groups. They tend to believe that unflinching use of armed force is the hallmark of political leadership. The irony, of course, is that these sections professes a love for militarised methods without perhaps being acquainted with the experience of armed conflict and war. In other words, this cohort is happy to volunteer other people for violent quick fixes without understanding how conflict brutalises both the civilian and the soldier. There are reasons for this. For years, people have been exposed to the view that unrest in Kashmir, tribal India and the Northeast are purely the fault of Pakistan, human rights activists and insurgent groups respectively without much reference to the possibility that flawed state policies over decades has bred alienation. Such charged nationalist narratives often lead to calls for harsher methods without considering how such measures affect the ordinary civilian and soldier. The fact that people relate to the military purely through the lens of heroism also obscures its understanding of the lives of security forces. For instance, television channels show soldiers braving the chill of Siachen. Reporters interview families of security forces killed in encounters in Kashmir. These glimpses are compelling but only tell a part of the story. They dont capture what soldiers experience when fighting war on the border or countering insurgencies within. Think of it: Thousands of soldiers and paramilitary personnel have been fighting insurgency in Kashmir for over 28 years and it is striking that we do not have a culture of recording their experience in ways that inform public debate on security policy. One estimate suggests that over 44,200 people have died in Kashmir since 1988, including 6,286 personnel from security forces. India is believed to have maintained about half a million security forces in Kashmir for years but why are there hardly any accounts of soldiers about the insurgency, either through interviews, articles or books? Why is it that defence publications and websites major on combat strategy and have very little on personal experiences of warfare? What do Indian army soldiers and CRPF personnel, many of whom come from marginal backgrounds themselves, really think about Kashmiris and Delhis policies? Is there any ethnographic research that addresses these issues? What do families of soldiers think about the ultimate price they have paid when the conflict seems unending? What do soldiers think about confronting civilian protestors with live ammunition? We dont have such research because secrecy rules prevent scholarly access and, consequently, people do not get to ask questions that complicate our understanding of conflict. We dont have war memoirs of the kind Western soldiers and policymakers produce on Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan for instance, which can provide political support from within the establishment for positions that align with anti-war, human rights critiques as in the West. There is clearly a narrative vacuum and the bureaucratic silencing of soldiers has real policy implications because hawkish elites have moved into spaces where contrarian voices might have been and framed the debate entirely on realist lines where the fates of soldiers and civilians are discussed in bloodless, strategic terms. This ends up creating a public consciousness that is favourably predisposed to militarised solutions and when a middle class is hitching its fortunes to a frenzied, majoritarian nationalism, as is happening now, then that militarism has a particularly nasty edge that adversely affects Kashmiris and other dissenting groups. Sensible voices from the military warn against such approaches, they prefer to speak about winning hearts and minds, realising that societies cannot be pacified by force alone, they are also likely to understand how violent fantasies of the comfortable class can be deeply damaging to the soldier, who has to actually carry out the shooting and killing. To get a glimpse of the psychological toll of war, one may thus have to look elsewhere. One particular work that hardliners among Indian intelligentsia may consider reading before volunteering others is Philip Caputos classic, A Rumor of War a memoir of his time as a US Marine in Vietnam in the mid-1960s. Every war is of course distinctive, Vietnam was a particularly difficult battleground with its incessant rains, muddy terrain, leeches and mosquitoes, disease and an unseen enemy who fought mostly at night in dense forests. But Caputos account of the physical and emotional pressures of guerrilla warfare, the inability to distinguish the combatants from civilians, the executions, the collective punishments to civilians in the heat of battle resonate strongly with the experience of counter-insurgency elsewhere, including in Kashmir, the Northeast and central India. Caputo writes movingly about the highs and lows of fighting wars. He confesses to enjoying the compelling attractiveness of combat. Under fire, a mans powers of life heightened in proportion to the proximity of death, so he felt an elation as extreme as his dread. His sense quickened, he attained an acuity of consciousness at once pleasurable and excruciating. There is a thrill of seeing a platoon perform perfectly under heavy fire under ones command. There are comforting dimensions of comradeship forged by the shared experience of drill, battle, boredom and fear. He writes of the intimacy of life in infantry battalions, where the communion between men is as profound as any between loversIt is, unlike marriage, a bond that cannot be broken by a word, by boredom or divorce, or by anything other than death. Soldiers would die trying to save corpses of friends. Such devotion, simple and selfless, the sentiment of belonging to each other, was the one decent thing we found in a conflict otherwise notable for its monstrosities. But there was the ordeal of fighting a formless war against a formless enemy, the tedium of waiting for long periods without action, the daily night patrols, digging for trenches and bunkers, constant shifts in positions, the dodging of sniper fire, the loss of colleagues in twos and threes all of this demanded of them a hair trigger alertness; the feeling that the enemy was everywhere created emotional pressures which built to such a point that a trivial provocation could make these men explode When soldiers are dropped in unfamiliar terrain, they experience a fear and a blind rage that begins to focus on the men who are the source of the danger, it creates a powerful urge to rid himself of fear by eliminating the source of it. This inner, emotional war produces a tensionit is too painful to endure for long. All a soldier can think about is the moment where he can escape and release this tension. All other considerations, the rights and wrongs of what he is doing, the chances for victory or defeat in the battle, the battles purpose or lack of it, become so absurd as to be less than irrelevant. It is under such conditions when soldiers are scared for their lives or see their friends die that they are prone to resort to ghastly violence. Not all of it linked to battle conditions; there are also clear directives in war to kill as many of the enemy as possible as that is effectively the only measure of success in guerrilla warfare. The fact that such warfare is waged among civilians sets the stage for more moral trauma for soldiers. Caputo writes of marines stunned that they have killed combatants as young as themselves, of not being able to understand how they can shoot someone in the head or torch an entire village. There is also inevitable hazard of watching grievous injuries to friends, limbs hanging on by shards of flesh, windpipes being flooded by blood, exit wounds at the back large enough to fit fists and the look of separation in the eyes of those alone in the world of the badly wounded. Caputo also has an unforgettable description of handling dead bodies that have been mutilated in battle. A soldier patrols during a strike in Srinagar, Kashmir. (AP Photo) All this takes its toll on soldiers. Caputo himself developed a tendency to fall into black, gloomy moods and then to explode out of them in fits of bitterness and rage. The point to underscore here is that sending security forces out to take lives is an act of profound moral responsibility which cannot be taken lightly. Thousands of Kashmiri civilians have died over the years; the shooting and blinding of citizens in the Valley is getting increasingly normalised. In Manipur, citizens are, on the Supreme Courts orders, trying to compile evidence for extra-judicial killings of 1,528 people by security forces. Politicians cannot continue to pursue policies that brutalise civilians and dehumanise soldiers. Of course, a country must defend its borders and take security seriously but leaders should be judged not by their readiness to deploy (ultimately ineffective) force on their citizens but for their ability to create conditions where soldiers and civilians do not live with deep psychological burdens. This is the reason why sensible generals urge governments to find political solutions, saying their job is only to create military conditions for them. Implicit in this is a recognition that stalemates and internal wars of attrition have scarring effects on security forces (and civilians). Politicians must know that they are in the business of enabling human flourishing. Pandering to violent sentiments in the name of nationalism lets soldiers and civilians down. It is time now for Indians to listen to the suffering and stories of soldiers and place it alongside the suffering and stories of countless civilians who find themselves in conflict zones. We need a more compelling picture of the totality of violence rather than simple media spin and armchair hate and anger. Views expressed are personal. The author tweets @SushilAaron SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Criminals shot dead a jeweller and decamped with cash and ornaments worth Rs 3 lakh in Bihars Vaishali district late on Thursday night. Police said jeweller Arvind Kumar Sah was returning home on his motorcycle after closing his shop when he was shot dead at Patepur, 15 km north of district headquarters Hajipur and 36 km north of state capital Patna. Two motorcycle-borne criminals intercepted Sahs two-wheeler and tried to snatch his bag. When he resisted the loot attempt, the criminals fired at Sah and fled with the bag containing cash and ornaments, the police quoted eyewitnesses as saying. Sah was first taken to Patepur primary health centre, which referred him to Patna Medical College Hospital for treatment, the police said, adding the jeweller succumbed to his injuries on way to the state capital. Police said that Sahs wife, Nidhi Devi, had registered an FIR, naming Sanjay Singh of Mukundpur village in the district and his associate as accused. In her complaint, Devi claimed that Singh had recently visited her house and threatened her husband. The body of the victim was handed over to the family after post-mortem examination on Friday, the police added. This is the fourth incident of attack on businessmen in the district within a week. Armed criminals had shot at and robbed a fish trader Vinod Kumar Singh of Rs 4 lakh at Hajipur on April 24, triggering protests by residents. On April 23, jeweller Amit Sah was robbed of cash and ornaments at Belsar, 30 km from Hajipur, when he was heading home after closing his shop. Earlier on April 21, jeweller Pravin Kumar was shot at and robbed of cash and ornaments in Anjan Pir locality of the town. Police have arrested nine persons in a drug smuggling case from Sunam on Thursday. They were allegedly owners of an under-construction bungalow and Bolero cars that were recovered with Proud to be Akali stickers pasted on them. The three alleged smugglers are already facing charges under different Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), one among the accused held is a former sarpanch. They have now been booked under Section 21/61/85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Following a tip-off, cops raided a colony near Truck Union Sunam on Wednesday at around 10.30pm and nabbed nine persons who were allegedly smugglers, consumers and sellers of smack. They tried to fled the spot but police arrested them and recovered 710gm smack and three vehicles, two Bolero cars and a Swift Dzire car from their possession, said senior superintendent of police (SSP) Mandeep Singh Sidhu. Gurmail Singh, 45, of Jakhal; Kuldeep Singh alias Bittu, 28, of Dhuri; and Mani Singh, 19, of Sunam, have been termed as smugglers. While, Gurpal Singh, 23; Balkar Singh, 25; Kulbir Singh, 23 of Sunam; Bhupinder Singh alias Leelu, 26, of Kot Dharmu Mansa; Bhagwant Singh, 40 of Patran Patiala; and Mithu Singh, 45, Dhindian village in Dirba, were accused of being consumers as well as sellers. Mithu is a former sarpach of Dhindian village. It is for the first time that the police have arrested smugglers and consumers in such large numbers, with drugs. Smugglers, Gurmail and Bittu, are relatives and have built a bungalow in a short while in Sunam, which raised suspicion of them being involved in supplying drugs, said Sidhu. As per initial information, the accused collected the smack from Delhi at Rs 250 per gram and delivered it at Rs 700 per gram in areas around Sunam, Sangrur and Mansa. According to accused, their daily income was Rs 35, 000 to Rs 40,000. We are investigating as to who their main supplier was and how they were running this racket, added the SSP. Police sources said that the property and political affiliation of smugglers will be part of investigation and police officials, who were deployed in the area, may have to face probe as the gang was active from the past one-and-half year in Sunam. They have earned a lot in the past and have accumulated a lot of property. We will write to the finance ministry to seize their bungalow, said the Sangrur SSP. Meanwhile, the accused were produced in the court and were sent to two-day police remand. An email that issued a death threat to him purportedly on behalf of terror group Al Qaeda scared an elderly citizen of Chandigarh so much so that he approached the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He had already approached the police, who had were dilly-dallying over registration of an FIR. Heres what the mail to PS Sawhney, reported to be in his seventies, in February 2016 said, demanding $8,000 to spare his life: As you can see we are the members of the Deadly Networks in the world, which is responsible for the bombing of twin towers in America on Sept. 11th and the bombing of London transport services on July 7th (AL-QAEDA NETWORKS WORLDWIDE), I dont have any business with you, my duty as I am mailing you now is just to KILL you and I been paid for that (sic). In his complaint to the police, Sawhney did not name anybody nor did he specify why he was possibly being threatened. The police found that the email was hosted on a New York server; and unsuccessfully tried to contact the agencies concerned. The cops simply told Sawhney that the matter had reached a dead end due to jurisdiction issues. A dissatisfied Sawhney approached the high court in July 2016, arguing that it was mandatory for the police to register an FIR since it was a cognizable offence. As police were dilly-dallying, the matter be handed over to the CBI, he said. The court observed that the authenticity of the email was doubtful. It asked the senior superintendent of police (SSP) to ensure that the life and liberty of the petitioner was protected, but declined to refer the case to the CBI. Not that Sawhneys fears are not understandable. The email warned him against approaching the police and claimed that it was one of his friends who was after him, and even asked him not to step out after 8pm on any day. He was told that his activities were being watched and his mobile was bugged: ...my boys are really on you but I told them not to kill you that I will like to contact you and see if your life is important to you and [...] your family. I called my client back and ask him of your email address which I didnt tell him what I wanted to do with it and he gave it to me and I am using it to contact you now Now do you want to LIVE OR DIE? (sic) It added, Get back to me now if you are ready to pay some fees to spare your Life (sic), asking him to pay $3,000 in advance. It also promised to tell him who exactly was after him. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Multiple rounds of litigations by aggrieved parents before the Punjab and Haryana high court and city district courts have finally bore fruit. The Chandigarh administration on Thursday told the high court that it would adopt the law passed by Punjab government to regulate annual fee hike by private schools and cap the fee hike limit for private schools at 8%. The proposal has been sent to Centre for approval. With certain amendments, the UT will adopt the Punjab Regulations of Fee of Unaided Educational Institutional Act, 2016, the Chandigarh administration told the high court bench of justice SS Saron and justice Darshan Singh during the resumed hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) on Thursday. Several petitions were filed against UT schools this year by parents, opposing the alleged arbitrary fee hikes. Also read | Fee hike by private schools: Punjab cabinet caps yearly fee hike at 8% A petition against Mount Carmel School, Sector 47-B and another petition seeking direction to all schools affiliated to Central Board of School Education (CBSE) are pending in the HC, while 38 parents had moved against St Joseph Senior Secondary School, Sector 44D, 33 parents against Delhi Public School, Sector 40C, and four parents against Chitkara International School, Sector 25, among others, before the district courts. With UT failing to satisfy courts on issues raised in the petitions, the courts had imposed stay on fee hike in several cases. On Thursday, the UTs verbal response came on the petition of Ritesh Pandey, who had approached the HC in February seeking directions to UT to take steps for curbing the alleged arbitrary and illegal fee hikes effected by private schools affiliated to CBSE from time-to-time. Justice Mongia panel did not submit report for three years In 2013, had HC had directed Punjab, Haryana and UT to form separate panels to look into the matter and put in place a regulatory mechanism. The UT had then formed a high-powered committee under the chairmanship of Justice RS Mongia (retd), chartered accountant Vipul Kansal and former UT education department official Prithpal Kaur. However, the panel was able to submit a report at the end of 2016 only, while most private schools kept on hiking fee by 10-15% every year. On the other hand, the UT did not take any measure to regulate the fee. Pending litigation on fee hike against schools A petition against Mount Carmel School, Sector 47B and another petition seeking direction to all schools affiliated to Central Board of School Education (CBSE) are pending in the HC, while 38 parents had moved against St Joseph Senior Secondary School, Sector 44D, 33 parents against Delhi Public School, Sector 40C, and four parents against Chitkara International School, Sector 25, among others, before the district courts. With UT failing to satisfy courts on issues raised in the petitions, the courts had imposed stay on fee hike in several cases. Schools could be fined up to Rs 1 lakh Capping of annual fee hike by private schools at 8% of the previous years fee All other funds charged by the schools will also be covered under these rules. A regulatory authority has been formed at the division level to keep schools in check. Parents and students can register their complaints with the authority which will probe a case within 15 days and take a decision in 60 days. In case of non-compliance of law, primary schools would attract a fine of 30,000, middle schools 50,000, and secondary schools 1 lakh. Private builders in Punjab are offering independent floors in violation of the rules. Builders get building plans approved from a municipal body for plotted development and sell them as independent floors. The violations are taking place within the jurisdiction of different municipal bodies across the state. Under the municipal building bylaws, there are no provisions for independent floors. These building rules, applicable within the jurisdiction of municipalities, set norms for residential categories such as group housing and plotted development. All building plans must comply with these rules otherwise are deemed illegal and unauthorised. How it impacts buyers While the builder saves on building application fee, the buyer can end up paying regularisation/compounding penalty Buyers may not get benefits under different government policies like 'Housing for all' because of discrepancy between building plans approved and the actual structure Buyers end up losing on infrastructure as road width and green spaces are designed for houses and not for floors For buyers of some floors, there is no parking space Benefits for consumers to be accrued under master plan provisions are nullified because of such haphazard constructions Violations galore Builders are not only constructing floors in violation of the regulations, but they are also violating norms laid down for the plotted development in the process of construction of floors. For instance, the rules dont provide for stilt parking under the plotted development category, many builders are still constructing them. Also, builders are not including the stilt parking area within the permissible covered area (FAR floor area ratio). But, in the plotted development category, any space covered for porch or parking is counted under the permissible covered area. Floors can only be constructed on the plot earmarked specifically for floors in the layout plan. (HT File Photo) Zirakpur in SAS Nagar district is the hub of floors in the state. Varinder Jain, executive officer, Zirakpur municipal council, when contacted, said, Municipal rules have no provision for floors, so, we pass the building plans for houses (plotted development). On the question of illegal constructions, including stilt parking, he said, We cant stop people from constructing stilt parking. Anyway these issues are to be dealt at the higher level. Satish Chandra, additional chief secretary, local government, said, We will check the extent of the problem in the state, and undertake a survey of areas under different municipal bodies. On whether the government is planning to make changes in the municipal rules to allow independent floors, he responded in the affirmative. We will look into the matter and do the needful. May be, norms for floors on the pattern of Chandigarh can be also formulated in the state. Advisory: Terms you must know Layout plan: It informs about the total number of units planned, their position, their sizes, and other facilities in the colony. Zoning plan: It tells about the nature of buildings, whether these come under the plotted development or group housing or independent floor and the number of floors that can be constructed in the respective plots. Building approval plan: It should be in consonance with the zoning plan. Building plans includes size of the plot, nature of the plot, permissible covered area, sanctioned covered area, height of the building, number of floors, etc. Completion certificate: It tells whether the building is constructed as per the plan approved by the municipality FLOORS IN PUDA RULES The Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) Building Rules define floors as, a building used or intended to be used for residential purpose, where every floor of the building is separate and independent dwelling unit. Floors can only be constructed on the plot earmarked specifically for floors in the layout plan. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shiv Sena activists allegedly burnt a Pakistani flag on National Highway 1 on Friday to protest terror attacks on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Led by Senas state vice-president Inderjit Karwal, protesters began a march from Hanumangarhi temple and came to NH 1, converging at the sugar mill crossing. Sporting Senas flags, they allegedly raised slogans against Pakistan and also targeted the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government, officials said. They also burnt an effigy of the BJP-led NDA government at sugar mill crossing. Protesters alleged that Pakistans ISI was sponsoring terror attacks on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir while the Union government was soft-pedalling to save the state government in which the BJP was a coalition partner. Our army and paramilitary jawans are being targeted by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in order to destabilise India and create fear psychosis. But the Modi government is doing little to control the situation, Karwal alleged. He further claimed that a fear-psychosis was being created ahead of the annual Amarnath yatra. Amarnath pilgrimage will be held at every cost for which foolproof security arrangements should be made, he demanded. Karwal batted for governors rule in Jammu and Kashmir and also demanded snapping of all ties with Pakistan, including discontinuation of the Indo-Pak bus service. Meanwhile, Phagwara SP Harwinder Singh Sandhu, who was present at the protest site, said the agitation had no effect on the movement of Indo-Pak international buses that cross through the town. Both the buses from Delhi to Lahore and vice-versa had crossed Phagwara smoothly a little before the protest had started, he said. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, the ambitious second part of the Baahubali franchise, has opened in theatres and the first responses are nothing short of magical. Just about anybody who has watched it, cant stop gushing about it. Young Telugu actor Akhil Akkeneni, son of veteran actor Nagarjuna, has been tweeting to express his wonder and amazement after watching the film. Heres what he has to say: Still on a high of what I just saw. Cant believe that Indian cinema has come this far. Now its before #Bahubali and after #Bahubali. Gathering my thoughts again. Anushka was back at her best with such grace and beauty making the romance so enduring. And of course the one and only darling Prabhas. As always hes so Likeable yet heroic with his presence. Truly fit to be #Bahubali. THE KING. Equally stunned is another popular Telugu actor Sai Dharam Tej who said A mans vision, 500 technicians sweat blood and tears, 6 years of perseverance, one miracle #baahubali2 #Bahubali. A mans vision, 500 technicians sweat blood and tears, 6 years of perseverance, one miracle #baahubali2 #Bahubali pic.twitter.com/xz3qxiVmqH Sai Dharam Tej (@IamSaiDharamTej) April 27, 2017 Jr NTR has this say about the film: Kudos to Prabhas, @RanaDaggubati , Anushka and @meramyakrishnan for supporting @ssrajamouli s vision with brilliant performances. A big shout out to @Shobu_ & Prasad who funded this dream & to all other actors and technicians who brought @ssrajamouli s vision to life. Check out more reactions here: #Baahubali2 is EPIC! Best attempt of a grand cinema to ever come out of Bollywood @Me_Prabhas & @RanaDaggubati's BEST @ssrajamouli HATS OFF Being Keeda (@being_keeda) April 28, 2017 Even if you get HD print...Don't watch it at home ....This masterpiece should only be watched in theaters... #Bahubali2 #Baahubali2 # reversesweep (@palashmadhav) April 28, 2017 Intense ending to the first half. Best ever in Indian cinemA #Baahubali2 pic.twitter.com/2uu68UsTC6 nikhil (@johnnykhil) April 28, 2017 #Baahubali2 Is going to break records from it first day RahulR lunatic (@rahulra93398146) April 28, 2017 Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Director SS Rajamoulis magum opus Baahubali 2: The Conclusion opened to a rousing reception in cinema halls in Telangana. As the craze for the film reached a crescendo in the run up to its release, the fans queued up outside the theatres right from the early hours on Friday. I came at 5 am. I got a ticket for the second show (that begins in the night). I wanted a ticket for matinee or first show. But I am happy that I got a ticket, Anusha, a college student, said in Kukatpally area in the city. Frenzied audiences stormed several theatres in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh screening Baahubali 2 on Friday morning, notwithstanding the announcements made by the theatre managements that all the tickets were sold out. While 80% of the tickets were sold online, the remaining 20% tickets were to be sold through current booking, for which enthusiastic crowds stood in long queues since the early hours at several theatres. There were allegations that majority of the tickets that were supposed to have been sold online were actually bought by a select few who later sold them in black. Unable to bear the surging crowds, managements of several theatres in Hyderabad locked the gates. Heavy police bandobust was witnessed at several theatres to avoid any law and order breakdown. There have been tremendous pressure on the theatre managements from political leaders, right from local corporators to even the ministers, besides police authorities and other VIPs to reserve the tickets for them. They are threatening us with dire consequences if they do not provide them with tickets and are not listening to our explanation that all the tickets were already sold online, a theatre manager in Amberpet area lamented. The RTC cross roads in the heart of Hyderabad, where there are as many as six theatres with a total seating capacity of 6,000 and all the theatres have been screening only Baahubali 2 since Friday morning. With thousands of people thronging the theatres, the busy junction has witnessed heavy traffic jams in the morning. The Chikkadpalli police made elaborate arrangements to prevent traffic snarls and prevent breakdown of law and order. Baahubali fans exhibit their tickets in Hyderabad. (HT Photo) Notwithstanding the denial of permission for premier and special shows of Baahubali 2 by the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments, several theatres screened special shows on Thursday night itself for influential people and media, besides fans associations of leading characters Prabhas and Rana Daggubati. This led to clashes at several places like Amalapuram and Rajole in East Godavari district, which are dominated by fans of Chiranjeevi. They damaged the cut-outs of Baahubali 2 and forced the theatres to call off special shows. Similar reports are arriving from other parts of Andhra Pradesh like Kurnool, Chittoor and Nellore. Finally, the secret is revealed as to why Kattappa killed Baahubali. I am lucky to be among the first to know the secret. By and large, it was a wonderful movie - excellent narration, fabulous photography and amazing visual effects, though the second half is a little dragging and boring, commented Y Rambabu, who watched the premier show on Thursday night. Others who watched the film in the early morning shows have applauded its content and the extensive visual effects. Some of the fans even compared the film to Hollywood movies. People have already starting sharing the secret on social media platform, thereby deflating the curiosity. Please dont reveal the story. Let it be a suspense for at least a couple of days, so that we can enjoy the film, posted Kishore Kumar, a film enthusiast, who could not get the ticket. The Telangana government has allowed five shows of the film to be screened following a request from the producers. The fans of Prabhas, who plays the lead role of Baahubali, put up huge cut outs of the popular star to celebrate the release of the film. Meanwhile, in Chennai, Baahubali fans had a disappointing Friday as all early shows of the much-awaited film, were cancelled due to an ongoing dispute between distributors and theatre owners. At one of the theatres in the city, Rohini, located at Poonamali Highway, a mild lathicharge was carried out to disperse angry crowds. Excitement has been building up for the film which released on Friday across India in different languages and Tamil Nadu too is its grip. Similar scenes were witness in Kerala too. For the first-day first-show, young Thiruvananthapuram techie Siddartha has been making preparations for last two days. He shelled out Rs 600 for a front-row seat and reached the theatre at 3 am, at least two hours before the first show began. It is a riveting finale. I turned emotional a couple of times. Stunning performances of Sathyaraj and Ramya Krishnan really moved me, he said after coming out of the theatre. He had to take a leave for the day from work, but added that it was worth the pain. Finally the secret is out. It is hard to translate the experience of watching the movie. Narration is excellent and setting is superb, said another fan. The much-awaited movie Baahubali 2 released in 300 theatres across the state. At least 1000 shows are slated for the first day and box-office watchers say it is expected to cross all records. Despite many theatres putting up big housefull boards, frenzied fans mobbed many movie halls. Some of them alleged that online tickets were booked in bulk and later sold in the black market. Baahubali 2 is the second and final part in the Baahubali franchise. It also stars Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, Sathyaraj, Ramya Krishnan and Nasser in the key roles. (With Srinivasa Rao Apparasu in Hyderabad, KV Lakshmana in Chennai ,Ramesh Babu in Thiruvananthapuram and PTI inputs) Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Television actor Karishma Tanna might have shot to fame with the popular daily soap Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, but she made a lasting impact on the audiences mind with the numerous reality shows that shes been part of. From Comedy Circus, Bigg Boss and Khatron Ke Khiladi to Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Karishma has pulled off roles in a variety of genres. Ask her whats next on the reality show scene, and she says, Id love to host a reality show now, and not be a contestant in it. I want to take a show forward. Actor Karishma Tanna was recently in news for breaking up with Upen Patelthe two started dating after they appeared on reality show Bigg Boss season 8. So does that mean she wont take up daily soaps anymore? Karishma doesnt rule out the possibility, saying, It has to be really interesting for me to perform the same role for 365 days non-stop. She further adds, It becomes taxing for an actor to perform the same character for 12 hours every day and then after a point, theres no growth. Even with films, you work for three to six months and then youre out of the character. But for a daily soap, you dont have that luxury. The 33-year-old actor, who has bagged a cameo in Sanjay Dutts biopic starring Ranbir Kapoor feels that a show not only needs to be interesting but should be convincing enough to make her a part of it. In films, you work for three to six months and youre out of the character. But for a daily soap, you dont have that luxury. So the character has to be convincing. Otherwise, your mind is not in it and youre just working for money, which is a good amount in serials. But I want both, good acting and good money. Crediting her stardom to television, Karishma says that she is not averse to doing daily soaps. TV has made me what Im today. It has given me recognition and a household name status. But now I want something good. A great story and character, which is acting driven and not where Im just there, says Karishma, who is reading scripts and waiting for something apt to come her way. Historic concepts are working with the audience now. I dont mind something of that sort, but it has to be challenging. Something like a Rani Lakshmi Bai what Deepika [Padukone] did in Bajirao Mastani, shares the actor. Follow @htshowbiz for more China will fully fund the $ 8 billion Karachi-Peshawar Railway Line in Pakistan to ensure the smooth completion of the key project, which was earlier to be partly funded by the ADB. China strongly argued that two-sourced financing would create problems and the project would suffer, Pakistan minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal told reporters on Thursday. The project was originally planned to be partly funded by the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Dawn reported. The minister said he would not comment whether the ministry of Railways has resisted the Chinese request for fears of monopoly, but said the entire financing would now come from China. He said the ADB would be accommodated in some other projects, such as those under the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation programme Under the original plan, the ADB had to provide $3.5bn for the 1,700-kilometre-long line considered the backbone of the countrys logistics connecting two major ports with the rest of the country for transporting goods and passengers. The minister said the Chinese government therefore wanted that the project financing should be kept single-sourced. Pakistan and China are expected to sign a formal agreement in this regard next month. The Afghan Taliban will target foreign forces in the country, the group said on Friday, as they announced the start of their spring offensive. The key objective... will be the foreign forces, their military infrastructure and intelligence, and the elimination of their local mercenaries, the extremist group said in a statement. The enemy will be targeted, harassed, killed or captured until they abandon their last posts. Operation Mansouri -- named after the groups former leader who was killed in a US drone strike in May 2016 -- will use strategies from conventional attack to guerrilla operations, the statement said. Followers were told there can be suicide attacks, complex attacks and inside attacks by soldiers or police turning against their peers. The announcement came after the Taliban killed scores of people in a raid on an army base in northern Afghanistan, one of its deadliest assaults on a military installation since the 2001 US-led invasion. Authorities have arrested 35 soldiers who served on the sprawling base, home to the 209th Army Corps, outside the city of Mazar-i-Sharif. The defence ministry says 135 recruits were killed and 64 wounded in the raid. Unofficial sources say the toll was higher. Prosecutors investigating the driver of a car that ran over and fatally injured an Egyptian woman in eastern Germany say they are also now pursuing a man who witnesses say hurled racial abuse at the victim after the accident. The 22-year-old student, identified only as Shaden M, died in hospital on April 18, three days after the accident in the city of Cottbus, and the driver is being investigated for possibly causing death by negligence, Horst Nothbaum, spokesperson for the prosecutors office, said. Two witnesses came forward 10 days after the accident to say that they had heard a passenger in the car that struck the woman yelling insults afterwards, including: Go back to where you came from, then you wont get run over. Damn refugees. Nothbaum said a new investigation of possible incitement to racial hatred was launched on Wednesday. Germany has seen a sharp increase in anti-immigrant rhetoric after the influx of over a million migrants over the past two years, and officials say the growing right-wing extremist scene is also increasingly willing to commit violence. Nothbaum said there was no suggestion that the car had deliberately run over the woman. He said witnesses to the accident said it happened when she stepped off a curb into traffic in the centre of the town, near a streetcar stop. Martina Muench, education minister in the state of Brandenburg that includes Cottbus, welcomed the investigation, and said foreign students, teachers and researchers helped strengthen the competitiveness of the state. It would be a shame if these allegations are proven true, Muench said in a statement. It is unfathomable and appalling that a young, fatally injured woman would be insulted in such a racist and xenophobic way in the middle of Cottbus. The state education ministry said international students accounted for about 7,800, or just over 16%, of the states 48,000 students, and around 620 of the states academic staff came from overseas. Cassandra Vera was convicted in a criminal court for Twitter jokes. Ballesteros (EFE) A one-year jail sentence (which was suspended) and seven years disqualification from holding a public position was the punishment meted out to 21-year-old Spanish college student Cassandra Vera, who tweeted jokes about the 1973 ETA bombing that killed Luis Carrero Blanco, a Spanish Admiral who served as prime minister toward the end of the Franco dictatorship. By the end of March, the Cassandra case had triggered a fierce debate on the boundaries of humor, freedom of expression and the criminal code. The debate is familiar, but the framework the global forum of social media is still very new. Just weeks before Cassandra Vera was sentenced, Cesar Strawberry, the frontman for rap rock band Def con Dos, was nailed when he joked on Twitter about missing GRAPO a defunct Spanish anti-fascist militant group and how he would like to send King Felipe VI a roscon-bomb, alluding to a popular ring-shaped cake eaten on January 6, the Day of the Three Kings of Orient. According to the Audiencia Nacional, Spains High Court, the tweets were an incitement to hatred and legitimized terrorism as a way of solving social conflict. There are more glorifying terrorism cases now than when ETA was active Meanwhile, the issue of free speech also came up during a homophobic campaign carried out by the ultra-Catholic association Hazte Oir, which used a bus to spread their message. Many in favor of punishing Strawberry defended Hazte Oirs constitutional right to free speech, while those against punishing Strawberry demanded the removal of the Hazte Oir bus from the streets, arguing that its campaign was discriminatory and could cause irreparable psychological damage to homosexual and transgender children. A bus with a transphobic message was impounded in Madrid. Victor Sainz Despite the difference in the nature of these cases, all three raised the issue of how to tackle hatred, humiliation and disrespect without being disproportionate and arbitrary. EL PAIS talked to lawyers, academics and sociologists on where the line between free speech and crime should be drawn. When does hatred become terrorism? According to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), hate crimes are crimes motivated by prejudice. In 2015, Spains Popular Party (PP) government used this broad interpretation to reform two articles in its criminal code, extending its scope and stepping up punishments. Article 510 states that comments and behavior that directly or indirectly incite hatred, hostility, discrimination or violence against one or more individuals, or cause disrespect and humiliation, are a punishable offense. Homophobic and xenophobic acts and ideologically motivated attacks are also illegal. The judge who ordered the Hazte Oir bus off the streets, for example, invoked article 510. The crater left behind by the ETA bomb that killed Luis Carrero Blanco in 1973. EFE Alongside article 510 is article 578, created in 2000 when ETA was still active. Article 578 states that praising terrorism and humiliating its victims are both punishable offenses. This is the article that Cassandra Vera and Cesar Strawberry were convicted under. Internet revolution Both articles 510 and 578 were reformed to introduce the aggravating circumstance of an offense committed online, carrying a maximum penalty of four years in jail for hate crimes and three years for praising terrorism. And that opened up a new door just when a large section of the population, particularly youngsters, are literally pouring out their thoughts online. All the legal experts consulted by EL PAIS highlighted the importance of analyzing the context to determine the real intention behind the suspicious comment, while agreeing that this is no easy task. A joke or a crime? While Spanish comedy act Tip and Coll made jokes about Carrero Blanco in the 1980s without any repercussions, todays social networker is closely monitored. These tweeters are at the center of the debate on whether hate comments on social media should be a matter for the criminal courts. How is it possible that Cesar Strawberry and Cassandra Vera have been convicted for a joke I heard my uncle make when I was a boy? asks Manuel Cancio, a professor of criminal law. The only explanation is that something else is going on. Perhaps, since we no longer have ETA, we are making things up. But the magistrate Alejandra Frias takes a hard line on the matter. One thing is humor and another is making fun of someones suffering. We need to take on board the savage consequences of what is said on social media. Sources from the central High Court and prosecutor offices state that jokes in themselves are not being prosecuted as crimes, but that sometimes jokes are used to disguise what really amounts to praise for terrorism. We have returned to the era of the public square, says Santiago Munoz Machado, a professor of law at the Complutense University of Madrid and member of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE). Internet has taken over the media; everyone can take advantage of the freedom that cyberspace offers. And that includes liars and bad guys. Teresa Freixes, a professor of constitutional law at Barcelonas Autonomous University, adds that people should be aware that Twitter and Facebook are not toys. Its communication and it is subject to rules. The data It is difficult to quantify hate crimes partly because they are dealt with in different courts across Spain, and partly because they come under different articles of the criminal code. A report produced by the Interior Ministry states that there were 1,238 investigations into such crimes in 2015, 61% of which involved either xenophobia or ideological motivation. But investigations do not necessarily end up in court. This year, for example, the Prosecutors Report mentions 84 cases still under investigation and 228 offenders who are being tried for hate and discrimination 61 of them under article 510. But, due to the lack of IT resources, reliable statistics are not available. Def con Dos frontman Cesar Strawberry has also been in trouble with the law over Twitter comments. EFE In the case of praise for terrorism, the data is centralized by the High Court and is more accessible. It shows 60 charges brought this year and 32 indictments resulting from these or previous criminal proceedings. Of all these offenses, praising terrorism is the one that has proven most newsworthy and triggered the most controversy, perhaps because convictions have actually climbed since ETA went into decline. According to the database of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), between 2005 and 2011 the High Court handed down 13 convictions and 19 acquittals over praise for terrorism or humiliation of terrorism victims: In the last two years, by comparison, there have been 54 convictions, 51 of which involved social media comments, and 13 acquittals. Arguments against: excessive and ineffective Manuel Cancio, a professor of criminal law at Madrids Autonomous University, believes there is an excessive reliance on criminal proceedings. It is disproportionate and ineffective, he says. The judicial route should only be taken when there is direct incitement to a specific act of violence. For example, when people are actually getting something together, not just spouting off. This business about the climate of hostility that has been inserted into the criminal code What exactly is this climate, and how is it defined? Munoz Machado agrees. It is not the same thing to say, I would kill Trump because he is a fool as actually planning to kill him. The difference between the two is the boundary between what is permissible and what is not, he argues. There are classes of offenses that were previously three lines long, and now their definition runs into three pages. These laws are designed to cover every eventuality but dont allow the judges to take into account the circumstances of each individual case. Both Munoz Machado and Manuel Cancio believe that the toxic atmosphere created on social networks should be dealt with by imposing administrative restraints such as fining the users, closing down chats, and banning the sharing of specific comments, or by applying civil law in cases of slander and libel. ETA vs Jihad Since January 2015, there have been 67 charges brought in Spain for praising terrorism or humiliating victims of terrorism, according to the General Council of the Judiciary. Despite the fact that reforms to the criminal code in 2015 were justified by the need to combat radicalization online, 49 of the 54 convictions were related to the glorification of ETA and only five to the glorification of Jihad although there were also four convictions for indoctrination. None of the offenders have been sent to prison as their sentences were almost all under two years, though they could do in the future if they reoffend. Monica Cornejo, an anthropology PhD at Madrids Complutense University, and Artemio Baigorri, a sociologist at the University of Extremadura, take a similar view. This is not a criminal matter. It is one of self-regulation, says Cornejo. I believe authorities should limit their intervention to awareness and educational campaigns, so that in time the generations coming up will behave differently. If you take the judicial route, its almost as if you are telling people what to think. Baigorri believes that if you applied the criminal code to everything that is said online, 20% of the Spanish population would be facing charges of one kind or another. This is a knee-jerk response to the problem and it will calm down, he says. In the cases that have come to light recently involving Twitter, the problem is one of education. Education is the key. It is an adaptation process and it has just begun, and I believe the next generations will cease to behave as we are doing now. Until then, there is nothing for it but to put up with it and remain collected, as though we were watching a child grow. When it comes to the internet, it is as though society had been returned to its infancy. Arguments in favor: intolerance is poison Taking the opposite view is Miguel Angel Aguilar, a prosecutor and coordinator for services dealing with crimes of hate and discrimination in the province of Barcelona. He believes that while we may focus on anecdotal cases, we are failing to take into account the poisonous effect of intolerance on society. You have to understand that some hate speech leads to crime and poses a threat to many sections of society, he says. When somebody makes xenophobic or homophobic comments, these can have real consequences for people. Often, during the investigation into an extremely violent crime, the suspects computer or cellphone reveals that they had been looking up a lot of hate material. Its important to put things in perspective and look at the circumstances of each case, but criminal proceedings are a vital tool in tackling speech that threatens our democratic coexistence and peoples dignity. Freixes agrees. Freedom of expression is not without its limits and never was, she says. The limits are what protects democracy. Freixes does not believe the convictions of Cassandra Vera and Strawberry to be unconstitutional, although she does believe that in cases like these, it would be more appropriate and effective to impose alternatives to jail such as community service. It is not the same thing to say I would kill Trump because he is a fool as actually planning to kill him Santiago Munoz Machado, law professor According to the magistrate Alejandra Frias, who sits on the National Cybersecurity Council, perhaps it would be effective to update laws such as the law against defamation, adapting it to the new internet reality. That way, we could resolve some offenses with an administrative rather than a criminal response. But the judicial route must remain available. Social networks cant be used as a vehicle for outrageous comments. Philosopher and academic Emilio Lledo, who has 50 years of teaching experience behind him, does not believe in criminal measures for this kind of offense, but says he is astounded by the comments he is told people make on social media which he doesnt use himself. Ignorance and stupidity always end in violence, he says. Inciting hatred is a crime. English version by Heather Galloway. Germanys Bundestag lower house of parliament agreed to a draft law on Thursday that will prevent civil servants, judges and soldiers in Germany from wearing full-face veils at work. The move comes after Chancellor Angela Merkel called in December for a ban on full-face Muslim veils wherever legally possible. There are five months to go before a federal election, and her conservatives lost some support to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) during the migrant crisis. More than a million migrants, many of them Muslims from the Middle East, have arrived in Germany over the last two years, and concerns about integration are widespread. Integration also means that we should make clear and impart our values and where the boundaries of our tolerance towards other cultures lie, German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said. The draft law we have agreed on makes an important contribution to that. In February, the southern state of Bavaria, ruled by the Christian Social Union (CSU) -- the Bavarian sister party to Merkels conservatives -- said it would ban the full-face veil in schools, universities, government workplaces and polling stations. Some of his supporters fret that President Donald Trump is backing himself into a corner with promises that cant be kept. Others lament he is not pulling America from international conflicts as he vowed or say he should get off of Twitter. Those grumbles are early warning signs for Trump as he marks his 100th day in office on Saturday. They were heard in Reuters interviews with Trump supporters in swing counties that went for Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 but then flipped for Trump last year a slice of the electorate dominated by white voters that is crucial to the Republicans re-election hopes and that Democrats want to win back. Reuters visited the same four places - Pinellas County in Florida, Northampton County in eastern Pennsylvania, Macomb County outside of Detroit, Michigan, and Gates County in rural North Carolina - right after the Nov. 8 election. What reporters found this time in more than two dozen interviews is that Trump voters are largely standing with their man but with signs of restlessness, mainly over foreign policy, concerns over getting legislation through Congress and some scepticism that he wont be able to follow through with promises from building a wall along the Mexican border to repealing Obamas signature healthcare law. But rather than bash Trump, many largely blamed Democrats and Republicans alike, a fractured Congress, the federal judiciary, and what they see as a hostile news media. They showed a willingness to trust the president almost implicitly, saw him as a tireless worker, and appreciated his efforts to secure the border and curb immigration. They had little interest in the in-fighting between his senior aides in the White House. Maybe sometimes I question whats going on, said Karen Mayer, 47, an attorney in Clearwater, a west coast Florida city in Pinellas County, where the majority of its 500,000 voters went for Obama in 2008 and 2012 but then flipped for Trump last year. He prevailed over Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton by slightly more than 1 percent of the vote there. But at the same time, I have faith that he has a strong team, Mayer said. In a statement touting Trumps record in the first 100 days, the White House highlighted, among other things, his attempts to streamline government by proposing a lean budget, and his aggressiveness in foreign affairs, particularly with regard to challenging Russia and Iran. If Trump has reason to worry about his re-election prospects, it should be because of supporters like Brian McCann, 48, who owns a real estate firm in Northampton, Pennsylvania. I think hes finding out that he cant follow through on all his talk, he said. Internationally, I think hes creating more tensions than solutions. That was the main reason that Holly Peseski, 46, a legal assistant in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, graded Trumps tenure as a B-minus so far. I dont like the recent bombings hes done, Peseski said, referring to U.S. missile strikes on a Syrian airfield and a huge bomb dropped on a militant hideout in Afghanistan. He was a little too quick to act. Peseski had another complaint about Trump: I wish hed get off of Twitter. NOT PICKING UP NEW SUPPORTERS The counties Reuters visited reflect the rural, suburban and largely white coalition that carried Trump to the White House. Trump was able to flip these counties and dozens more like them powered by an enthusiastic voter base that included many people who had not cast ballots in years, as well as some Democrats who crossed over largely because of their dislike of Clinton. An analysis of Reuters/Ipsos polling data shows slippage in Trumps approval ratings, with lower enthusiasm among white men without a college degree, the core of his political base. (Graphic on Trumps popularity: http://tmsnrt.rs/2oQlz7n) In comparing Trumps approval rating in the first 20 days of his tenure to a 20-day period in April, Reuters also found a rise in disapproval among independents, college-educated adults, people with below-average incomes, white women and white Millennials. Those women voters were important to Trumps victory. He beat Clinton 53 percent to 43 percent among white women, who comprise 37 percent of the electorate. In Pinellas County, for instance, white women are by far the largest demographic among its more than 275,000 registered voters. Trump beat Clinton there by a little more than 5,000 votes. David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who lost his Pinellas-based seat in November in part, he said, because of his criticism of Trump, has seen few signs that the presidents support is fading, but at the same time, hes not picking up new supporters. Trumps overall approval rating in Reuters/Ipsos polling has declined steadily over the past two weeks and is now at its lowest level since he took office, with 40 percent of Americans now approving of his performance in office. Healthcare Concerns Some voters interviewed in the swing counties identified the struggling effort to replace Obamas healthcare law as an early worry about Trump. Walter Watson, 62, a retired art teacher in Gatesville, a town of about 320 people in rural Gates County, North Carolina, said he did not like the way Trump and Republicans tried to rush through a new healthcare plan without giving it what he thought was proper consideration. You got to be careful, because this is a life and death issue for a lot of people, Watson said. His sparsely populated county backed Obama with 52 percent of the vote in 2012, but Trump won it with 53 percent in 2016. Congress is the biggest hindrance to Trumps success, many of those interviewed said. I dont think hes going to be able to do even half of what he claimed, said Bob White, 71, a retired finance worker in Clinton Township in Michigan. I dont think Congress is going to go along with him. But even as they express skepticism that Trump can achieve all of his campaign promises, his supporters are sticking with him for now. I think hes trying, said Watson. But he probably overstated what he could do, because even a president has limits. A Hindu temple was vandalised on Friday by some unidentified persons in Pakistans southern Sindh province. Police said idols of deities were damaged and some of the broken parts were found in a nearby sewerage line. The incident occurred in Thatta districts Gharo town. A case of blasphemy and terrorism has been registered. Investigation is going on but so far no arrests have been made, said Fida Hussain Mastoi, the SSP of Thatta. Local Hindu councillor Lal Meheshwri said he was present in the temple on Thursday night to prepare for the next days service. Dr Khatto Mal, adviser to the Sindh chief minister on minority affairs, said the attackers would be arrested soon. Female Islamic clerics in Indonesia have declared a series of fatwas, including one to tackle child marriage, a rare example of women taking a leading religious role in the Muslim-majority country. The fatwas religious edicts that have no legal force but are influential were issued on Thursday at the end of a three-day congress of female clerics in the country with the worlds biggest Muslim population. The meeting in Cirebon on Java island, billed as the worlds first major gathering of female Muslim clerics, attracted hundreds of participants. Most were Indonesian but there were also clerics from Pakistan, India and Saudi Arabia. They issued a series of fatwas at the end of the gathering, the most eye-catching of which was aimed at tackling child marriage. It urged the government to raise the minimum legal age for women to marry to 18 from the current age of 16. The United Nations childrens agency UNICEF defines child marriage as a formal marriage or informal union before age 18, and says women are most affected. The problem is widespread in Indonesia, with one in four women marrying before 18, according to the agency. Religious affairs minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, who attended the meeting, suggested authorities would examine the proposal: I will take this recommendation to the government. He also praised the gathering: This congress succeeded in fighting for justice in the relationship between men and women. Among the other fatwas issued was one against women being sexually abused; and one against environmental destruction, in a country that struggles every year with huge fires that are started illegally and devastate vast swathes of rainforest. Fatwas are regularly issued in Indonesia but it is usually the male-dominated Indonesian Ulema Council the countrys highest Islamic authority that declares them. While the Ulema Council has issued rulings on environmental protection in the past, it tends to focus on religious topics such as edicts against blasphemy. It has rarely dealt with any issues affecting women. About 90% of Indonesias population of 255 million people are Muslim. British counter-terrorism police said on Friday they had thwarted an active plot after a woman was shot during an armed raid on a house in north London in the second major security operation in the British capital in the space of a few hours. Armed counter-terrorism officers using tear gas stormed a house in Willesden area of the capital on Thursday evening which had been under surveillance, shooting a woman in her 20s. She is said to be in a serious but stable condition in hospital. Asked if police had foiled an active plot, Neil Basu, senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, replied: Yes. In a separate incident only hours earlier, a man was arrested carrying at least three knives near Prime Minister Theresa Mays office in Westminster during another operation by armed counter-terrorism police. The 27-year-old, who was being monitored by British intelligence agents and police, remains in custody. Due to these arrests that we have made, I believe that we have contained the threats that they posed, said Basu, adding it had been an extraordinary day in London. Both incidents occurred just over a month after a British-born convert to Islam ploughed a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four people, before stabbing to death a police officer who was in the grounds of Parliament. The man responsible, Khalid Masood, was shot dead at the scene. Basu said six people had been arrested in the Willesden operation, five at the house and another in Kent in southeast England. The shot woman has not been arrested and Basu said her condition was being closely monitored and the independent police watchdog had been informed. The armed entry was necessary due to the nature of the intelligence we were dealing with and involved armed officers firing CS gas into the address, Basu said. Searches at three houses were continuing, he added. Man in black with knives Meanwhile police are continuing to question the bearded man dressed in black who was detained in a dramatic stop-and-search operation on Parliament Street, a stones throw from the parliament building, Mays office and government departments. No one was injured in the incident and photographs showed three knives on the ground where he was arrested. Basu said the man was being questioned on suspicion of terrorism offences and two properties were being searched in connection with the investigation. A Western security source told Reuters the man, from London, was on the radar of counter-terrorism officers and the domestic intelligence agency MI5 before his arrest. Another source familiar with the investigation said the suspect might have had contacts with militants outside Britain and travelled to meet them, but it was not believed he had been in contact with Islamic State militants. Since August 2014, Britain has been on its second-highest alert level of severe, meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely. Senior officers said the security services had thwarted 13 terrorism attempts in the past four years shortly before the deadly Westminster Bridge incident. Activity continues around the clock to identify and stop these threats and we are making arrests on a near daily basis, Basu said. Frances troubled wartime past is taking centre stage Friday in the countrys highly charged presidential race, as centrist Emmanuel Macron visits a Nazi massacre site and Marine Le Pens far-right party suffers a new blow over alleged Holocaust denial. The two candidates facing the May 7 run-off offer starkly different visions of Frances future Macrons embrace of a globalised, diverse nation within an open-bordered Europe contrasts with Le Pens protectionist, tightly policed France independent of the EU. After courting blue-collar voters earlier this week around the campaigns No. 1 issue jobs the candidates are increasingly focusing on their opposing views of French identity. Railing against mass immigration at a rally Thursday in Nice, Le Pen told supporters, This presidential election is a referendum for or against France. I call on you to choose France. Not Mr. Macron, thats for sure, whose platform is about the dilution of France. On his horizon is the deconstruction of France. Macron, speaking on TF1 Thursday night, shot back with a vigorous defence of the united Europe and institutions built over the past half-century to ensure peace among long-warring neighbours through free trade. He also reminded viewers of the racism and anti-Semitism that still stain Le Pens party despite her efforts to detoxify it and broaden her base, noting offensive statements on our history, on our political life by interim National Front leader Jean-Francois Jalkh. Jalkh, took over as party leader just this week after Le Pen said she would step aside to concentrate on her campaign, has come under fire this week over comments reported in a 2000 interview in which he allegedly cast doubt on the truth of Nazi gas chambers. National Front vice-president Louis Aliot said on BFM television Friday that Jalkh is stepping down to avoid further damage to the party, but that he is contesting allegations of Holocaust denial, a crime in France. Jalkh is also among seven people called to trial in an alleged illegal financing scheme for the party one of the other challenges facing Le Pens campaign. Aliot said Jalkh will be replaced as party leader by Steeve Briois, mayor of Le Pens electoral fiefdom of Henin-Beaumont in depressed northern France. Macron, meanwhile, is taking the moral high ground with a visit later Friday to Oradour-sur-Glane, a ghost town left behind after the largest massacre in Nazi-occupied France seven decades ago. The town is today a phantom village, with burned-out cars and abandoned buildings left as testimony to its history. On June 10, 1944, four days after the Allied D-Day landings in Normandy, an SS armoured division herded hundreds of civilians into barns and a church, blocked the doors, and set the town on fire. A total of 642 men, women and children died. Only six people survived. Pakistans ISI is supporting terrorist organisations inside the country, US lawmakers were told by a newly formed Muhajir (refugee) group which alleged terror outfits like Taliban and al-Qaeda are trying to take control of the port city of Karachi. Nowadays, Pakistan has become a safe haven for extremist groups with full support of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, World Muhajir Congress said in a letter to members of The House Foreign Affairs Committee during a Congressional hearing on Afghanistan here yesterday. Representatives of the World Muhajir Congress met members of The House Foreign Affairs Committee and briefed them on alleged strong connection between the ISI and the terrorist groups. We are afraid as Jihadi outfits are getting stronger with the support of ISI, important port city of Karachi which is the supply line of US and NATO could fall into the hands of these terror groups, the letter said. We fear for the safety of Karachi, Muhajir Nation and especially children, as these jihadi outfits are kidnapping/abducting young poor children and turning them into suicide bombers, jihadis, and religious fanatics, it said. With Karachi being one of the most vital seaports of Pakistan, the letter said, the Taliban/ISIS/AlQaeda, and like minded groups are persistently making every endeavour to capture the control of this city. Such control can open new resources for manpower and finance for their agenda, it said. Alleging that pro-Taliban and Islamic extremist elements are ever increasing in Pakistan especially in Armed forces and ISI, and are heavily supported financially, physically and armoured by ISI, the World Muhajir Congress urged lawmakers to help them in fighting this menace in the port city of Karachi. Rescued 47 days after he went missing while trekking in Langtang region of Nepal, Taiwanese national Liang Sheng-yueh celebrated his 22nd birthday in a hospital in Kathmandu on Friday. Nepals minister of state for tourism Parshuram Tamang was present at the event organised at Grande Hospital to celebrate the birthday. Liang was admitted to the hospital after he was airlifted to the capital from a canyon in Tyangribhir on Wednesday. But his girlfriend Liu Chen-chun, 18, died just three days before the couple was found. Liang and his girlfriend had been missing since March 9. According to trek organisers, Liang and Liu were caught in a snowstorm while making their way along the Ganesh Himal trail on March 9. They slipped over a waterfall at an altitude of 2,600 metres and got stuck. The couple survived on salt and water when their food ran out after two weeks. Liang lost 30 kg and was found with maggots in his foot. When he was taken to Grande Hospital, he told doctors that he felt he had been reborn and wanted to celebrate his birthday. After we came to know of his desire, we organised this function, said Chakra Raj Pandey, medical director of the hospital. Taiwanese national Liang Sheng-yueh cuts a cake while celebrating his birthday at a hospital in Kathmandu. (HT Photo) The hospitals administration arranged for a birthday cake and members of his family too reached Kathmandu on Friday to join the celebrations. Doctors described his condition as normal and said all his vital organs were functioning well. After cutting the cake, Liang told journalists about his experiences over the 47 days and how difficult it had been for him to survive. Liang said he had minimal hope of being rescued. But my willpower was strong and I never felt that I will die in such a state, he added. He entered Nepal with his girlfriend from India. His worried family travelled to Nepal but returned to Taiwan after they were unable to trace him. The family then travelled to Germany to consult fortune tellers, who told his parents that Liang was alive and would return home soon. Indian business magnate Sajjan Jindals surprise meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has triggered intense speculation across the border, with the Pakistani media reporting that it could have been part of back channel contacts aimed at reviving the stalled bilateral dialogue. The meeting was also criticised by Pakistans opposition parties because it came against the backdrop of heightened tensions. Though Sharifs daughter Maryam Nawaz tweeted there was nothing secret about the meeting, parties such as Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf expressed concern over the development. Jindal and a small delegation flew into Rawalpindi from Kabul in a private aircraft on Wednesday. After a brief meeting at the Prime Ministers House in Islamabad, the Indian delegation was driven to the nearby resort of Murree for a meeting with Sharif over lunch. In a front page report headlined PM in hot water over secret meeting with Indian tycoon, The Express Tribune said Sharif had found himself caught in another storm on Thursday, this time over a furtive huddle with an Indian steel magnate which is being labelled as back-channel diplomacy. The report described Jindal, the head of JSW Group, as a close friend of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the meeting was believed to be part of back channel diplomacy to arrange a meeting between Sharif and Modi on the margins of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Astana in June. Screenshot of the front page of Pakistans The Express Tribune newspaper with the report on the meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian steel magnate Sajjan Jindal. (A screen grab of the report in The Express Tribune.) The influential Dawn newspaper said in a front page report that Jinadals visit had triggered intense speculationswith several politicians and analysts suggesting it could be the precursor to a possible meeting between the Pakistani and Indian premiers in the near future. Informed sources point out that its not possible for Mr Jindal to visit Pakistan without prior knowledge of the countrys civilian and military intelligence services, the report added. The front page report in The News daily was headlined Politics or business? Indian steel tycoon Jindal meets PM in Murree. It said the meeting was sought by the Indian delegation supposed to play a role for reduction in tensions. The meeting could also help in paving the way for a meeting between Sharif and Modi at the SCO Summit in Astana. The News quoted its sources as saying that Pakistan has no plan to seek a meeting with the Indian prime minister but could consider if the request was made by New Delhi. Pakistans opposition parties express concern over meeting Angry opposition parties protested against the meeting. The PTI moved a resolution in the Punjab Assembly expressing grave concern over the development. The resolution, submitted by Leader of Opposition Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, said the meeting became a matter of concern since the government tried to keep it secret against the backdrop of unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. In these circumstances, Narendra Modis close aides meeting with (the) Pakistani prime minister has sent a wave of restlessness among (the) masses, the resolution said. Has Sajjan Jindal come to Pakistan to rescue Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is currently embroiled in crisis? Rasheed asked. Senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sherry Rehman was quoted by The Express Tribune as saying: Given that this is yet another meeting held at a high level without the knowledge of the Foreign Office, it is high time that the people of Pakistan are taken into confidence about what transpires in such meetings. Rehman submitted an adjournment motion in the Senate or upper house of Parliament that said: It is widely reported that the prime minister of Pakistan has had an unofficial meeting with Indian steel magnate Sajjan Jindal, who is on some diplomatic mission for Narendra Modi. The matter is of urgent public importance and the House may adjourn other business to discuss vital issues. There has been no official word from the Pakistan government on the meeting. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The United States said on Friday it will continue to keep India on a list of countries it monitors closely for intellectual property rights deficiencies, chiefly in the pharmaceutical and software industries, a longstanding issue between the two countries. Though it noted the issuance of Indias National IPR policy, the US administration said it largely avoids a discussion of specific legal and policy issues that the United States and other stakeholders had suggested that the Modi government address. The US Trade Representatives annual Special 301 report released on Friday, the first under President Donald Trump, named India and China among 11 countries on the priority watch list, a category monitored but not subjected to retaliatory action. It said the report reflected the new administrations resolveto call out foreign countries and expose the laws, policies, and practices that fail to provide adequate and effective IP protection and enforcement for US companies. This annual exercise is a unilateral US action mandated by Congress, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, to monitor trading parter countries and identify those that erect trade barriers for American companies. The US has been mounting pressure on India in recent years and nearly named it to the worst-violator category of priority foreign country in 2014, which would have led to sanctions specially over pharmaceutical and software IP issues. The new report said India will remain on the priority watch list for lack of sufficient measurable improvements to its IP framework on longstanding and new challenges that have negatively affected US right holders over the past year. It added: Despite positive statements and initiatives upon which the Modi administration has embarked, the pace of reform has not matched high-level calls to foster innovation and promote creativity. The report said longstanding challenges include those which make it difficult for innovators to receive and maintain patents in India, particularly for pharmaceuticals and software, enforcement action and policies that are insufficient to curb the problem, copyright policies that do not properly incentivise the creation and commercialisation of content, and an outdated and insufficient trade secrets legal framework. While India has acknowledged the need to step up IP issues relating to the software industry and the need to strengthen enforcement, it differs radically with the US on the issue of patents in the pharmaceutical sector. Specially regarding Section 3(d) of the India Patents Act, under which it grants patents only to what it considers as genuine inventions and innovations and not incremental advancement, the US and drugs manufacturers have been wanting it to. India has taken the lead on this issue and has emerged as something of a frontline nation in keeping drug prices affordable, and that, experts have said, is the real worry for the drugs and pharmaceutical industry of the US and beyond. Among new issues, the report said were draft policies that negatively affect the commercialisation of biotechnology, and the positions that India supports and voices in multilateral forum on IP issues, continue to generate skepticism about whether India is serious about pursuing pro-innovation. Two out of the nine terror suspects arrested on Tuesday in Barcelona province in anti-jihadist raids were in Brussels on March 22, 2016, the day of the attack against the airport and subway system in the Belgian capital. Mohammed Lamsalak and Youssef Ben Hammou have now been placed in provisional detention on orders from Judge Eloy Velasco of the Audiencia Nacional, Spains High Court, along with three other suspects. Police with one of the suspects arrested in Barcelona. Albert Garcia The anti-terrorism operation is one of the largest to have taken place in the northeastern region in recent months. Lamsalak and Ben Hammou arrived in the Belgian capital on March 16 of last year and left on the 23, a day after the attacks that left dozens dead, according to investigators. A third detainee, Ahmed Aafoulah Beliuafz, has been jailed on charges of arms possession and crimes against public health. The other two, whose identity has not been released, are being held in prison for unrelated cases currently underway in the Catalan courts. The Belgian judge and prosecutor in charge of investigating the attacks were present during the interrogation Four other suspects who were detained during the raids have been released, but must show up in court once a month, legal sources have confirmed. The Belgian judge and prosecutor in charge of investigating the Brussels attacks were present during the interrogation in Spain on Thursday. Ben Hammou and Lamsalak are believed to have ties with individuals who were involved in those attacks. Legal sources said that both men admitted that they were inside Brussels Zaventem Airport when the bombs went off, although they denied any involvement in the blasts and claimed that they went to Brussels to purchase a vehicle. Suspects with records R.C. The investigation was triggered eight months ago based on information supplied by members of the public and on preventive work by the regional Catalan police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra. "They have not carried out any actions in Catalonia," explained Josep Lluis Trapero, the head of the Mossos, about the suspects. "They are between 31 and 39 years old, with police records, and several of them have ties to drug trafficking." In an interview with regional channel TV3, Trapero added that the suspects under arrest are Moroccans residing in Catalonia. Investigators are trying to determine whether the money that was allegedly going to be used to buy a car was meant to finance the attack or help with post-bombing logistics. Lamsalak and Ben Hammou have admitted that they spent time with a cousin of the perpetrators two brothers who acted as suicide bombers but denied any personal acquaintance with the latter, according to their deposition. Four days before the attack against the airport in Brussels, Belgian authorities had arrested Salah Abdeslam, a terrorist who fled Paris after participating in the attack against the Bataclan nightclub on November 9, 2015. Investigators believe that this arrest triggered the Brussels attack. Up to 450 citizens or residents of Spain have traveled to Syria and Iraq over the last two years to join the so-called Islamic State (ISIS), according to a study released late last year by a Moroccan think tank. The figure more than doubles the official number of Spain-based recruits estimated by the Interior Ministry, which talks about 190 individuals. Catalonia is considered one of the hotbeds of jihadist activity in Spain. English version by Susana Urra. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely, Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple U.S. presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasizing by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. Wed love to solve things diplomatically but its very difficult, he said. In other highlights of the 42-minute interview, Trump was cool to speaking again with Taiwans president after an earlier telephone call with her angered China. He also said he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the US THAAD anti-missile defence system, which he estimated at $1 billion, and intends to renegotiate or terminate a US free trade pact with South Korea because of a deep trade deficit with Seoul. Asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the pact, Trump said: Very soon. Im announcing it now. Trump also said he was considering adding stops to Israel and Saudi Arabia to a Europe trip next month, emphasizing that he wanted to see an Israeli-Palestinian peace. He complained that Saudi Arabia was not paying its fair share for US defense. Asked about the fight against Islamic State, Trump said the militant group had to be defeated. I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation, he said, when asked about what the endgame was for defeating Islamist violent extremism. XI TRYING VERY HARD Trump said North Korea was his biggest global challenge. He lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in Pyongyang. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month. I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps its possible that he cant, Trump said. Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed U.S. lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority. It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbor and ally, and remained open to negotiations. U.S. officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct U.S. military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among US forces in both countries. I HOPE HES RATIONAL Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. Hes 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. Im not giving him credit or not giving him credit, Im just saying thats a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not hes rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope hes rational, he said. Trump, sipping a Coke delivered by an aide after the president ordered it by pressing a button on his desk, rebuffed an overture from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who told Reuters a direct phone call with Trump could take place again after their first conversation in early December angered Beijing. China considers neighboring Taiwan to be a renegade province. My problem is that I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi, said Trump. I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him. So I would certainly want to speak to him first. Trump also said he hoped to avoid a potential government shutdown amid a dispute between congressional Republicans and Democrats over a spending deal with a Saturday deadline looming. But he said if a shutdown takes place, it will be the Democrats fault for trying to add money to the legislation to bail out Puerto Rico and other items. He also defended the one-page tax plan he unveiled on Wednesday from criticism that it would increase the U.S. deficit, saying better trade deals and economic growth would offset the costs. We will do trade deals that are going to make up for a tremendous amount of the deficit. We are going to be doing trade deals that are going to be much better trade deals, Trump said. President Donald Trump complained on Thursday that the United States was being unfairly treated in the Paris Climate Agreement and told Reuters he would announce a decision in about two weeks on whether Washington would remain in the accord. The Republican Trump, elected in November, had vowed during his campaign to withdraw from the Paris accord within 100 days of becoming president, part of a broader plan to sweep away Obama administration environmental protections he said were hobbling the economy. He has since said he is open to staying in the pact if Washington gets better terms, and scores of large US companies and several Republican lawmakers have urged him to stay in the deal as a way to protect American industry interests overseas. Trump, who will mark the 100th day of his presidency on Saturday, told Reuters in an interview he would announce his decision in about two weeks, but complained that China, India, Russia and other countries were paying too little to help poorer countries battle climate change under the agreements Green Climate Fund. Its not a fair situation because they are paying virtually nothing and we are paying massive amounts of money, he said. Asked for a hint of what his decision might be, he said: I can say this, we want to be treated fairly. An administration source told Reuters earlier that Trump administration officials would likely meet in May to decide whether to keep the United States in the climate deal, having had an initial meeting on Thursday at the White House. The group of advisers, which includes Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and national security adviser H.R. McMaster, was on track to make the decision before a Group of Seven summit on May 26, the source said. Cabinet differences Tillerson, the former head of Exxon Mobil Corp, and Perry have said the country should remain in the agreement. McMaster shares that view, a source outside the administration said. Opponents of the pact include Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt, the former attorney general of oil-producing state Oklahoma, and White House chief strategist Steve Bannon. Nearly 200 countries struck the Paris agreement to limit climate change by cutting carbon dioxide emissions and making investments in clean energy. Many companies such as BP Plc and Microsoft Corp have urged the United States to stay in the agreement to protect their competitiveness. A group of nine Republican lawmakers on Thursday urged Trump to stick to the pact, but to weaken the US pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Congressman Kevin Cramer of oil-producing state North Dakota and eight other Republicans in the House of Representatives sent a letter to Trump urging him to use the countrys seat at the Paris table to defend and promote our commercial interest, including our manufacturing and fossil fuel sectors. If the United States is to stay in the 2015 agreement, Washington should present a new emissions cutting pledge that does no harm to our economy, said the letter from Cramer, who advised Trump on energy and climate during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trumps Democratic predecessor, former President Barack Obama, had pledged a 26% to 28% cut in US greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels, by 2025. Most scientists say the world needs to curb greenhouse gas emissions to limit the effects of climate change, including rising seas, deadly heatwaves, and severe storms and droughts. The Republican lawmakers also said Washington should retain its seat on the Green Climate Fund but not make additional transfers to it. Obama pledged $3 billion to the fund in 2014, and gave $1 billion to it, with the last $500 million payment coming in his last days as president. US President Donald Trump told Reuters on Thursday he will either renegotiate or terminate what he called a horrible free trade deal with South Korea and said Seoul should pay for a US anti-missile system that he priced at $1 billion. Trump called the five-year-old trade pact with South Korea unacceptable and said it would be targeted for renegotiation after his administration completes a revamp of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico. He blamed the US-Korean trade deal, known as KORUS, on his 2016 Democratic presidential election opponent, Hillary Clinton, who as secretary of state promoted the final version of the trade pact before its approval by Congress in 2011. It is unacceptable, it is a horrible deal made by Hillary, the Republican Trump said. Its a horrible deal, and we are going to renegotiate that deal or terminate it. Asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the deal, Trump said: Very soon. Im announcing it now. Trumps comments stunned South Korean financial markets, sending Seoul stocks and the won currency into reverse even as the countrys economic outlook has started to brighten. South Koreas foreign ministry said Seoul would continue to explain to the Trump administration the benefits of the free trade deal. Washington had not officially filed a request to Seoul to renegotiate the agreement, it said. Our government will keep monitoring the situation and continue our efforts to explain to the United States the mutually reciprocal outcome of the South Korea-US FTA, while preparing for countermeasures, the ministry said. With global demand improving, exports of goods such as cars and electronics have been leading a recovery in South Korea and a number of other trade-reliant Asian economies such as Japan and Taiwan, boosting their manufacturing sectors. Talk and actual policy are different, a high-ranking official at South Koreas finance ministry, who declined to be identified as he is not authorized to speak to the media, told Reuters. KORUS was initially negotiated by the Republican administration of President George W. Bush in 2007, but that version was scrapped and renegotiated by President Barack Obamas Democratic administration three years later. The U.S. goods trade deficit with South Korea has more than doubled since KORUS took effect in March 2012, from $13.2 billion in 2011 to $27.7 billion in 2016, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. THAAD PAYMENT Trump said the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system now being deployed in South Korea to defend against a potential missile attack from North Korea would cost about $1 billion and questioned why the United States was paying for it. I informed South Korea it would be appropriate if they paid. Its a billion-dollar system, Trump said. Its phenomenal, shoots missiles right out of the sky. Asked about the remarks, South Koreas defense ministry said in a statement there was no change to the existing agreement that Seoul provides land for the deployment while Washington shoulders the cost of installing and operating the system. Moon Jae-in, the South Korean presidential frontrunner, said the new government should given the choice to decide whether to agree to the deployment. Ill decide after sufficient public consensus and parliamentary approval, he said at a televised presidential debate ahead of the May 9 election. His top foreign policy adviser earlier told Reuters that Trumps suggestion would be an impossible option because the US military operates the system. The US military started the deployment of THAAD in early March, despite strong opposition from China, which worries the systems powerful radar can be used to spy into its territory. Lockheed Martin Corp is the prime contractor for the THAAD system. A former US State Department official estimated the cost of the system at about $1.2 billion but said the United States would not want to sell THAAD to Seoul. We want to retain THAAD in our arsenal, consistent with all other US weapons systems deployed on the Korean peninsula. We own them. We retain them. We have the right to redeploy them, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. United States secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned on Friday that failure to curb North Koreas nuclear and missile abilities could lead to catastrophic consequences, while China and Russia cautioned Washington against threatening military force to solve the problem. While Washington has pressed Beijing to rein in its ally Pyongyang, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the UN Security Council that the key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side. Tillerson urged the 15-member body to act before North Korea does and called on states to sever diplomatic and financial ties with Pyongyang. He said that because China accounted for 90 percent of North Korean trade, its role was particularly important. Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences, Tillerson said in his first remarks to the council as secretary of state. The United States was not pushing for regime change and preferred a negotiated solution, but Pyongyang, for its own sake, should dismantle its nuclear and missile programs, he said. The threat of a nuclear attack on Seoul, or Tokyo, is real, and its only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the US mainland, Tillerson said. While Tillerson repeated the Trump administrations position that all options are on the table if Pyongyang persists with its nuclear and missile development, Yi said military threats would not help. Yi said dialogue and negotiations were the only way out and called on parties to stop arguing over who must take the first step. China wants talks first and action later, while the United States wants North Korea to curtail its nuclear program before such talks start. The use of force does not solve differences and will only lead to bigger disasters, Wang told the council. US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Reuters on Thursday that a major, major conflict with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. FRIGHTENING CONSEQUENCES Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov also said on Friday the use of force would be completely unacceptable. The combative rhetoric coupled with reckless muscle-flexing has led to a situation where the whole world seriously is now wondering whether theres going to be a war or not, he told the council. One ill thought out or misinterpreted step could lead to the most frightening and lamentable consequences. Gatilov said North Korea felt threatened by regular joint US and South Korean military exercises and the deployment of a US aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula. China and Russia both also repeated their opposition to the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea. Gatilov described it as a destabilizing effort, while Wang said it damaged trust among the parties on the North Korea issue. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told the council that to bring North Korea back to the table the international community must send a strong message that provocation comes at a high price. There is no doubt that dialogue is necessary ... however under the current situation where North Korea continues to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, meaningful dialogue is clearly not possible, he said. The Trump administration is focusing its North Korea strategy on tougher economic sanctions, possibly including an oil embargo, a global ban on its airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang, US officials told Reuters earlier this month. Since 2006, North Korea has been subject to UN sanctions aimed at impeding the development of its nuclear and missile programs. The council has strengthened sanctions following each of North Koreas five nuclear tests. Mississippis tortuous terrain fought Grants men at every step. Vicksburg, a strategic, well-fortified hub of the Confederacy, lay squarely in the path of a Union victory. What Union troops discovered when they arrived at Vicksburg and Port Hudson, La., was a landscape arrayed against the Union aims. Each location boasted not only rough terrain that would make frontal assaults perilous but also fortifications that took advantage of those natural lines of defense. While both strongholds would have to be taken to completely free the Mississippi for Union navigation, Vicksburg was arguably the more important because it served as the Confederacys only direct link to the vast resourcesbeef and other kinds of suppliesof the Trans-Mississippi West. The Union attempts to capture Vicksburg began in June 1862 with a naval assault led by two seasoned veterans, Rear Admirals David Glasgow Farragut and Charles Henry Davis. But a direct attack on Vicksburgs bluffs and riverbanks proved a dangerous and potentially fruitless mission. Admiral Farragut and Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler, who headed Union army efforts in the lower Mississippi after the capture of New Orleans, believed that Vicksburg could not threaten the Unions Mississippi Campaign if the city no longer had access to the river. Together they developed a bold plan to cut a canal diverting the river entirely away from the Rebel stronghold. De Soto Point, just across the river from Vicksburg, provided an ideal place for a river cutoff. On June 6, 1862, Butler sent Brig. Gen. Thomas Williams his orders: You will send up a regiment or two at once and cut off the neck of land beyond Vicksburg by means of a trench across [].The river itself will do the rest for us. Winning a war with excavation implements proved more difficult than expected. The soils along the Mississippi River are vertisolsheavy claytopped by silt and loess deposited by flooding. To dig the canal, Union soldiers and more than 1,000 slaves commandeered from surrounding plantations had to contend with clay as well as thick vegetation, unpredictable water levels and mosquito-borne illness. In two weeks, the walls of the excavated area began collapsing, ending the project. But the Union effort to engineer the Mississippi landscape to its advantage had only just begun. To take Vicksburg, Union forces would have to overcome natural assaults of every kind: insects, disease, heat, rainand the mighty Mississippi. In December 1862, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant received orders to capture Vicksburg at once. Relying on established military theory, he believed that taking the city would require two separate armies, one attacking from the west and another from the east. He sent Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman to command the western flank. Grant himself led the eastern column. Grant planned on marching south through northeastern Mississippi from Corinth through Grenada to Vicksburg. He established a stationary base behind his army from which supplies could easily be transported to the moving column. Leaving a garrison to guard the supplies, Grant marched toward Vicksburg. Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn of the Confederate cavalry sneaked to Grants rear, however, and destroyed the supply depot at Holly Springs, Miss., on December 21, leaving Grant and his army in hostile country with no provisions. Grant would later recall the Mississippians reaction to the news: They came with broad smiles on their faces, indicating intense joy, to ask what I was going to do now without anything for my soldiers to eat. Grant informed them that he was collecting all food and forage to be found in a 15-mile area. Countenances soon changed, Grant wrote, and so did the inquiry. The next was, What are we to do? Grant told them, [W]e had endeavored to feed ourselves from our own northern resources while visiting them; but their friends in gray had been uncivil enough to destroy what we had brought along, and it could not be expected that men, with arms in their hands, would starve in the midst of plenty. I advised them to emigrate east, or west, 15 miles and assist in eating up what we left. Unaware that Grants column could not assist him, Sherman marched south from Memphis on December 19 to attack Vicksburg from the northwest, near the confluence of the Yazoo and Mississippi rivers. On December 29, Sherman attacked the heavily fortified Chickasaw Bluffs above Vicksburg. At all points, Shermans army met with resistance. The failure of these operations proved to be a crucial turning point in Grants approach, and he switched to another strategy. The lessons learned in his first attempt at capturing Vicksburg led him to more innovative tactics that targeted not just the military defenses around the city but also the citys landscape. He learned that all elements of a landscape could be used to military advantage, a lesson that he did not soon forget. For the time being, however, Grant had to pull back and adjust his plans for taking Vicksburg. Grants fellow officers recommended that he withdraw to Memphis, regroup and attempt another attack from the north. Grant knew, however, that the Northern people would not stand for an action that resembled defeat. He also knew that he had to keep his men busy. Thus he launched another earth-moving project. Grant sent a joint contingent of Army and Navy to just south of Helena, Ark., to find a navigable route through the Yazoo Pass, which led into the headwaters of the Yazoo River some 300 miles north of Vicksburg and could provide an approach to Vicksburg, the Confederate stronghold. To access the pass, Union troops had to destroy the man-made levee blocking where the Yazoo emptied into the Mississippi. After making two cuts in the embankment 50 feet apart, Lieutenant J.H. Wilson of the Corps of Engineers exploded a mine under the mass of earth between the two cuts, simultaneously, shattering and loosening it so that the rapid rush of water, which ensued, soon carried it entirely away. By 11 that night, a crevasse 40 yards wide allowed the Mississippi to once again connect to Moon Lake, several miles to the east. But Confederate forces cut timber to block Union navigation. Trees were not the only obstacles. Wilson noted that the flow of water submerged all but a narrow strip of land next to the bank, not more than 50 yards wide. Union forces later made a second cut in the levee, in hopes of sending more water to submerge Fort Pemberton, on the Yazoo River about 100 miles north of Vicksburg. This plan, too, failed. Grant ordered another canal excavated near Duckport, La., just east of Millikens Bend, seven miles north of Vicksburg. This canal would run west from the Mississippi to Walnut Bayou, providing a water route to New Carthage downriver from Vicksburg, where Union troops could cross the Mississippi. However, Lieutenant W.L.B. Jenney and his men found themselves threatened by an enemy that did not carry rebel guns poisonous snakes that fell from the overhanging branches onto the rafts holding the men and saws. Moreover, the water had fallen some seven feet, leaving the bottom of the Duck Port Canal some three feet above the surface of the water in the Bayou[,] and had made the bayou so narrow near the Canal as to render it useless. Digging canals was futile, according to Colonel Lucius Hubbard, and it was neither soldierly nor healthy. Smallpox, he added, contributed its quota of horror with which the army had to deal. The death rate was excessive, and the floating hospitals along the river banks constituted a large percentage of the fleet that was held in the vicinity for army use. The Union forces on the project camped on top of the levee endured not only incessant rains but were in direct line of Vicksburgs guns. Building shelters that could draw fire from the enemy was not allowed, but many of the soldiers dug holes in the levee, and covered them with gum blankets, thus living more like wild animals than Union soldiers fighting to maintain the best government on earth. Finally in April 1863, the rains let up and the Mississippi calmed enough so that Grant could make his move. Grants best option was to utilize the narrow roads that ran atop the interconnected levee systemthe only consistently dry land in the region. One of these roads snaked its way south from the Union camps at Millikens Bend and De Soto Point, following the contours of the natural levees along the Roundaway Bayou, and then joined a levee road leading through Hard Times, La., to Disharoon Plantation, where Grant planned to cross the river and enter Mississippi. Though Hard Times was less than 30 miles south of De Soto Point as the crow flies, it could be reached only via a more than 75-mile circuitous march. The route exposed the army to a Confederate attack from the west and stretched the Union supply lines treacherously thin, but there was no viable alternative. As long as the river remained in flood, however, Louisianas geography for once would support Union actions. An early reconnaissance mission showed Grant that the land surrounding the road was so low and wet that it would not have been practicable to march an army across [it]. The levee, on the other hand, afforded a good road to march upon. The road followed the dry, cultivated natural levees, with the flooded and forested back swamps on one side for protection and the bayous on the other. The rains that had plagued Grants army over the winter now proved a blessing, pushing the Mississippis level ever higher and creating a nearly impassable barrier between Grants troops and Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. Kirby Smith in western Louisiana. When Grant finally gave his troops their marching orders on March 29, the levee was a saturated, boggy mess. Manning Force of the 20th Ohio recalled that after six days of plodding they finally reached their destination nearly 70 miles distant. One days march took Force six miles over a road strewn with wrecks of wagons and their loads, and half buried guns. At a halt of some hours the men stood deep in mud, for want of any means of sitting. Yet when we halted at night, every man answered to his name and went laughing to bed on the sloppy ground. Few officers shared Forces amusement, including General Sherman, who wrote to his wife Ellen, I look upon the Whole thing as one of the most hazardous & desperate moves of this or any war, complaining about the narrow difficult Road, liable by a shower to become a quagmire. Grants engineers kept busy improving the route by building bridges and corduroy roads, but persistent rains throughout April made the work slow and difficult. Irritating insects and rising temperatures made matters worse. Manning Force, while serving on a road-building contingent at Millikens Bend, wrote: When the sun set, the leaves of the forest seemed to exude smoke, and the air became a saturated solution of gnats. Force recalled that the gnats invaded every unprotected orifice and any uncovered bit of flesh: They swarmed upon our necks, seeming to encircle them with bands of hot iron. Tortured and blinded, we could neither eat nor see. Attempting to bring some relief, the men put cotton around the perimeter of their camp and set it on fire to repel the annoying insects. The pungent smoke made water stream from our eyes but drove the gnats away, Force wrote. We then supped in anguish, but in peace. Far more threatening was the heat. Force obtained some mosquito netting, hoping it would protect him as he slept that night. Somewhat successful, Force was one of the few who did sleep; more unfortunate soldiers set by the fire all night fighting the gnats, and slept the next day. The gnats the soldiers endured likely were nothing more than a persistent irritation, but the heat posed a real danger. Sherman somewhat sardonically quipped, The weather is becoming hot here, and soon marching will be attended with the risk of sunstroke & fever. The enemy counts on our exhausting ourselves without their taking the trouble to shoot us. At last, on April 28, 1863, Union troops began crossing the river that had kept them at bay for over four months. Charles Wilcox of the 33rd Illinois Volunteers recalled: The sun arose throwing an impressive splendor upon the exciting scenes of the early morn.[]Every heart here is full of anxiety and emotion; wondering eyes and eyes not altogether tearless, gaze ever and anon upon the Father of Waters where lie the formidable fleet of gunboats and rams, transports and barges, the latter heavily loaded with troops whose courage and valor are sufficient when combined with that of the rest of this mighty army, to redeem this lovely valley of the Mississippi from fiends and traitors who are desecrating it. Over the next 24 hours, 22,000 Union troops crossed the Mississippi. I was now in the enemys country, Grant recalled in his memoirs, with a vast river and the strong hold of Vicksburg between me and my base of supplies. The city of Vicksburg, however, lay 30 miles directly north-northeast of Bruinsburg, the plantation community that served as the debarkation point for Grants troops. The most direct route from Bruinsburg to Vicksburg required marching through the swampy lands fronting the Mississippi River, crossing four major waterways, and climbing up and down the continuous line of bluffs edging the rivers banks. No road followed this path. Thus Grant had to take a more circuitous route on existing roads, poor as they were. Grant described the territory as a country that stands on edge, where the roads took the path of the ridges except where they occasionally pass from one ridge to another. Wherever water raced across the loess highlands of Mississippi, it carved into the landscape an irregular system of ridges and deep ravines. Heavy timber, undergrowth and ravines filled with vines and canebrakes created a nearly impenetrable barrier. Unlike the swamps, however, which provided some protection from enemy attack, the erratic terrain of the Mississippis eastern bank made it easy, Grant opined, for an inferior force to delay, if not defeat, a far superior one. Grant set his course toward the state capital, Jackson, over 60 miles to the northeast. He had to act quickly, before Confederate reinforcements arrived to support General Joseph Johnston, who had begun amassing forces near Jackson. Grants men were to carry no more than three days worth of provisions and make the country furnish the balance. Because the higher ground east of the river promised ample provisions, Grant had good reason to be optimistic his plan would work. Sherman had noted early in April that at Haines Bluff, just above Vicksburg, he saw every where cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry and vast cribs of corn. Grant explicitly forbade his troops from molesting private citizens and from requisitioning property with no military potential. Anything that could be used against Union troops, however, was subject to confiscation or destruction. In other words, Grant wrote, cripple the rebellion in every way, without insulting women and children. Moving east from Bruinsburg on the Port Gibson Road, Grants troops clashed with Confederates on May 1, but the topography and vegetation gave no chance for full engagement. Port Gibson ended as a Union victory, however, with Confederate forces falling back toward Jackson. The two armies met next at Raymond, about 15 miles southwest of the capital. The Federal troops won and moved on to destroy the main railroad and war-related industry in Jackson. Then the Union troops again defeated the Confederate forces, pushing them back to the Big Black River, the final obstacle between Grant and Vicksburg. Union and Confederate soldiers collided where the river turned west from a generally southerly direction. Once again victorious, the Army of the Tennessee crossed the Big Black and marched toward the city that had taunted them for months. Yet after crossing the Mississippi and marching 108 miles to Vickburg, the Federals found capturing the city no easy task. Sgt. Maj. E. Paul Reichhelm of the 3rd Missouri Infantry noted in his diary, Vicksburga fortress by naturestrengthened on all in any way accessible points by a years hard and skillful labor of the rebels, may well defy any sort of brilliant dash or sudden attack.[It] can only be taken by means of gradual and skillful siege. One soldier noted, It is certainly the roughest country I ever seen. The hills are not so very high, but the whole country is nothing but a succession of hills and hollows[]. The Rebels have forts thrown up about 200 or 300 yds. apart all along their line, with heavy guns mounted and forts in the rear of these, making the place almost impregnable. On May 19 and again on May 22, Union troops rushed Vicksburgs fortifications, resulting in widespread casualties. Even [t]he heaps of dead and wounded men of themselves formed an obstruction difficult to surmount, Hubbard recalled. The advancing troops eventually were ordered to desist and seek cover, most finding safety among the ravines and behind the felled timber on either side of the road. Reporting to General in Chief Henry Halleck, Grant noted, The nature of the ground about Vicksburg is such that it can only be taken by a siege. Using the ravines as trenches and the ridges as natural earthworks, Grant put all his engineer officersas well as any officer with engineering trainingto work fortifying the Union positions. and directed that all officers who had graduated at West Point, where they had necessarily to study military engineering, should in addition to their other duties assist in the work. The task was dangerous as well as difficult because the Union and Confederate lines were never more than 600 yards apart. Such proximity also presented other engineering opportunities. Given the closeness of the opposing lines and the very hilly terrain at Vicksburg, historian David G. Martin wrote, it is not surprising that enterprising Yankee engineers determined to dig a tunnel (or mine) under Confederate lines in an attempt to blow them up. About 3:30 p.m. on June 25, after a month of digging, the Union forces exploded the mine underneath the Great Redoubt that guarded the Jackson Road. Andrew Hickenlooper, chief engineer of the XVII Corps, recalled: At the appointed moment it appeared as though the whole fort and connecting outworks commenced an upward movement, gradually breaking into fragments and growing less bulky in appearance, until it looked like an immense fountain of finely pulverized earth, mingled with flashes of fire and clouds of smoke, through which could occasionally be caught a glimpse of some dark objects,men, gun-carriages, shelters, etc. Though the explosion destroyed the center of the Confederate fort, it did not open a breach in the larger fortifications, nor did it cause many Confederate casualties. Grants siege operations proved more effective than any of his canal-carving efforts. He ordered troops to scour the countryside for provisions and any outlying Confederate forces. He also ordered the cattle to be driven in for the use of our army, and the food and forage to be consumed by our troops or destroyed by fire; all bridges were to be destroyed, and the roads rendered as nearly impassable as possible. Summing up his plans, Grant wrote to General Halleck, I will make a waste of all the country I can. Despite the Rebels dire predictions, the besiegers fared much better than the besieged. In cooperation with Rear Adm. David Dixon Porters Mississippi fleet, Grant kept up an almost constant shelling and prevented any supplies from reaching the Confederate garrisonand the civilians trapped in the hill city. Many of Vicksburgs civilian residents took refuge in caves carved out of the loess hillsides on which the city was built, but their homes, businesses and material possessions enjoyed no such protection from the mortars and shells pummeling the city. As early as 1862, Confederate troop strength in the city had exceeded 10,000 men. The strain on the citys resources began to take a larger toll than Union shelling. Drinking water and housing became scarce, followed by shortages of food and medicine. The situation grew worse as the siege wore on and additional troopsultimately numbering around 25,000moved behind the citys fortifications. According to Vicksburg historian Pamela Lea Grillis, Diseases ran rampant. Measles, dysentery, lice and horrible skin diseases were epidemic. In mid-July 1863, Sherman commented that he saw dead animals lying unburied and acres of hospital tents, almost all flying the yellow quarantine flag. Starvation, too, took its toll. Harpers Weekly reported that [Confederate Lt. Gen. John] Pemberton had expressed his determination never to surrender the town till the last dog had been eaten and the last man slain. By June 1, the Confederate soldiers rations had been reduced to a mere 14 1/2 ounces of food per day. By the end of the month, again according to Harpers Weekly, the citys beef supply was gone and mule-meat was resorted to as a last expedient. Civilians had to fend for themselves. One woman wrote in her diary on May 28, 1863, that she believed all the dogs and cats must be killed or starved: we dont see any more pitiful animals prowling around. On July 3, she wrote, provisions so nearly gone, except the hogshead of sugar, that a few more days will bring us to starvation indeed. Martha says rats are hanging dressed in the market for sale with mule-meat: there is nothing else. Just seven weeks after the siege began, and one day after the Union victory at Gettysburg, Vicksburg capitulated. The Natchez Weekly Courier reported, In spite of water, climate, disease, and repeated repulses, Grant compelled Pemberton to surrender. The white flag was a glorious sight to officers and soldiers, Grant recalled. The troops felt that their long and weary marches, hard fighting, ceaseless watching by night and day, in a hot climate, exposure to all sorts of weather, to diseases, and worst of all, to the gibes of many Northern papers that came to them saying all their suffering was in vain, that Vicksburg would never be taken, were at last at an end and the Union sure to be saved. In a poignant note to his wife in Iowa, Union soldier Taylor Peirce wrote, To day no sound occurs to break the stillness. All is quiet and it seems as if all nature felt relieved. Excerpted from War Upon the Land: Military Strategy and the Transformation of Southern Landscapes During the American Civil War, by Lisa Brady, (c) 2012 by the University of Georgia Press. Originally published in the August 2013 issue of Civil War Times. To subscribe, click here. Obesity shares a close connection with NAFLD as a study has concluded that excess fat in the body increases the risk of the deadly disease. Obesity does so by enhancing the effects of three gene variants but the most potent of them all is PNPLA3, which is the first established genetic cause of NAFLD. While obesity is notorious for causing a range of diseases, it is said to be the main culprit behind nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and now the connection has got scientific validation as well. According to Science Daily, obesity increases the risk of NAFLD through three gene variants. Of these, PNPLA3, the one that is the genetic cause of NAFLD, was found to have the highest interaction with the environment. It is this very interaction that causes inflammation and fibrosis in people who carry the high-risk PNPLA3 gene variant. The study also found that obesity and genetics seem to share a positive link as they foster fat accumulation in liver and chronic liver disease. Notably, the study was conducted under the title The Dallas Heart Study and was also published this week. So, all it boils down to the fact that those people who have the PNPAL3 gene variant in their body and are also obese are prone to having more fat in their liver. The ones who are thin but do have PNPAL3 are not likely to have excess liver fat as it has a mild effect. Same holds true for the ones who are fat and have PNPAL3 missing in their body. Also, the scientists suggested that obese individuals with the risky gene variant would benefit from weight loss. It is worth mentioning here that NAFLD is one of the most common causes responsible for liver diseases in America. Estimates indicate that around 30-40 percent adults in the USA have a fatty liver which is non-dangerous in nature but 3-12 percent suffer from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a serious type of NAFLD that can result in liver cancer and cirrhosis. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Unites Airlines has agreed to pay for the damages caused to one of its passengers when he was forced out of their plane on flight 3411. The two parties have settled the matter and the lawyer of Dr. David Dao, the victim of the notorious incident, has appreciated the airlines company for handling the matter in a responsible manner. United Airlines received flak from all quarters when one video, showing the cruelty of the crew that was forcing a passenger to vacate his seat, went viral some days back, but now the matter stands settled. According to Business Insider, the airlines company and Dr. David Dao, the 69-year-old-passenger who bore the brunt of the mishandling, have settled the matter out of court. Thomas Demetrio, Dao's lawyer has issued a statement in this regard and applauded Oscar Munoz, the CEO of United Airlines for taking appropriate action. He said that United Airlines should be applauded for accepting their corporate responsibility. However, he did not divulge any details about the amount of settlement agreed between the two parties and said that it is confidential, Los Angeles Times reported. Notably, the incident created a furor on social media when the video showing a bleeding Dr. David Dao being dragged off flight 3411 came to light. In the incident, Dao reportedly lost two front teeth, broke his nose and also suffered a concussion. Though Oscar Munoz tried damage control by offering an apology, it was deemed too late. Nevertheless, the company took note of the incident and made many changes in its policy especially with regard to flight overbooking. United Airlines has now restricted the use of law enforcement on flights and also came up with the idea of offering $10,000 to passengers who leave their seats on their own, instead of being forced to give up. It is worth mentioning here that the rivals of United Airlines have also implemented changes to make air travel passenger-friendly which includes controlling the practice of flight overbooking. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Venezuela is currently facing the adversity of massive anti-government demonstrations which already resulted in 29 deaths. According to a report, the demonstration which now affected the country's stability started early of April this year. It was reported that people in Venezuela most especially the students have been demanding to put an end to the almost decade-rule of socialism. It can be recalled that President Nicolas Maduro is a socialist himself and his people just want him out of his office. Apart from this reason, one of the demonstrators also said that they already want to put an end to all the ills that they are suffering from hunger, poverty, as well as murders. So far, this massive demonstration is the most violent one since 2014 as reported by Huffington Post. The South American country is currently experiencing economic crisis and this adds to the wrath of the people which perhaps led to the demonstration. As told by most of the protesters, they insisted that they will stay on the streets until they will see change. According to the latest reports, a 20-year old demonstrator just got killed last Wednesday after he was being hit by a gas canister. Apart from this, earlier this week, the authorities also reported another two fatalities, a 22-year old that died from a gunshot wound and a 28-year old supporter of the government. On one hand, Reuters reported that some supporters of the Venezuelan socialist president also went out on the streets to show their support to Maduro, a former bus driver who succeeded Chavez. Moreover, reports also claimed that Maduro was blaming his opponents as they are trying to plot a coup against him and to remove him from the office. Lastly, the opponents of President Maduro are also demanding him to release all those who were jailed because of opposing the government. The president was also reported of grabbing his dictatorial powers. Apart from this, they also want to conduct a general election which could someday decide the fate of the people of Venezuela. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS Google Ad There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan I have nothing else to do here: Zurabyan said in Constitutional Court Armenias Constitutional Court continues on Friday the hearing of on an opposition appeal disputing the official results of the April 2 parliamentary elections in the country. The Congress-HZhK alliance demands that the CC annul the results of the April 2 ballot. In his opening remarks at the hearing, Levon Zurabyan, Vice-Chairman of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), said the elections did not reflect the will of the people, therefore must be declared invalid. He stressed that the law enforcement agencies had shown strange tolerance towards large-scale vote-buying, even encouraged it by creating an atmosphere of impunity. With regard to Thursdays question-and-answer session with the Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), Tigran Mukuchyan, Levon Zurabyan said it had left a bad impression on him. I know that the Constitutional Court will not make a fair decision because you are all here to protect and serve the interests of Serzh Sargsyan and his HHK. An entire system to reject justice has been created for that aim. All this is taking you to a dead end. Today we have people who are in fear and do not trust prospects. I know that the truth will win [here], but one day we will win," Mr Zurabyan said. His speech was welcomed with loud applause from the audience. You are not watching a theatrical performance, CC Chairman Gagik Harutyunyan said when Zurabyan ended his speech. Harutyunyan was calling Zurabyan for correctness throughout his speech. I have nothing else to do here, Zurabyan said before leaving the hall. News, events, history, and other mid-week tidbits. Tuesday, October 25, 4:30 7 p.m. Orr Area EMS Open House Brats and burgers will be served. Event includes a new ambulance tour and blood pressure screenings. For more info: 218-780-3798. Orr Fire Hall 4540 Lake St., Orr Tuesday, October 25, 12 6 p.m. Essentia Health Job Fair Talent recruiters and department managers will be on-site at Essentia Health-Virginia. Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to attendnurses, nursing and clinical assistants, surgery technicians, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, human resource professionals, and those interested in environmental services or nutrition services. Essentia staff will greet candidates, conduct an initial screening and filter them to appropriate hiring managers for interviews. Select candidates will be verbally offered a position before leaving. Candidates are asked to bring a resume, but its not required. Attire is business casual. For more info: www.essentiacareers.org. 901 9th St. N., Virginia While hotel lease contracts have traditionally been very popular in Europe and continue to be preferred or required by many institutional investors, management contracts have become increasingly prevalent as many other investors have sought to share further in their hotel's trading profit and, at the same time, most major international hotel operators have become far less willing to offer leases. A hotel management contract is defined as an agreement between a management company (or an operator), and a property owner, whereby the operator assumes responsibility for managing the property by providing direction, supervision, and expertise through established methods and procedures. The operator runs the hotel, on behalf of the owner, for a fee, according to specified terms negotiated with the owner. Negotiating the terms of a hotel management contract should not be approached lightly, as it can characterise the property's identity for decades and produce differing results for owners. A well-negotiated management agreement should align the interests of both parties. As an owner, the major goals should be to select the management company that will maximise profitability and therefore the value of the asset, and to secure the best possible contract terms with that operator, while at the same time ensuring the operator is properly incentivised to maximise profitability. As a result of a gradual shift in hotel investment trends over the past 30 years, owners have generally developed a much greater understanding of hotel operations, and have become more sophisticated in their selection of operators and in the negotiation of contract terms, often with the help of specialist advisory firms. It has become increasingly common in recent years for institutional and financial investors and private equity funds to invest in hotel assets. Such investors typically aim to separate ownership of the physical hotel asset from operation of the business. In addition, the investment interest and associated increase in the amount of capital available for hotel investment from this wider pool of investors has further contributed to the increased sophistication of hotel investors, who often have in-house hotel asset managers or engage speciality consultancies or asset management companies to help monitor and drive peak performance from the operator. The most common of the management contract terms are listed below and described further in the following sections. Term Operating fees Operator performance test Approval rights FF&E and capital expenditure Territorial restrictions Non-disturbance agreements Operator guarantees Operator key money Termination rights Please also refer to the comprehensive 'HVS Hotel Management Contract Survey' article written by Manav Thadani, MRICS, and Juie Mobar, based on a sample of 76 management contracts in Europe totalling 19,200 rooms. This survey is available in the HVS Bookstore. 1. Term The term of a management contract is the duration the agreement is to remain in effect, generally calculated from the opening/effective date until the expiration of a specified number of years. Initial terms typically last between 15 and 25 years, depending on the brand and the positioning of the hotel as well as on the negotiating power between the owner and the operator. More upscale operators, such as Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, may require longer initial contract terms, often ranging from 30 years up to 50 years, or even sometimes longer. As a general rule, the higher the market positioning of the hotel, the longer the initial term. In Europe, the average length of the initial term is 21 years[1]; the average initial term length has shortened in recent years. The following table shows the average length of the initial term for hotel management contracts in Europe by market positioning, according to the HVS Hotel Management Contract Survey. Figure 1: Length of the Initial Term by Market Positioning Photo by HVS Renewal terms are usually based on either the operator having further extension rights, or upon the mutual consent of the owner and the operator. Renewal terms tend to occur in multiples of either five or ten years. Most contracts offer two extension terms (sometimes more) on the condition that six months' written notice is given prior to the end of the current term. For commercial reasons, brand operators prefer longer contract terms with renewal options in their favour, whereas flexibility is likely to be more important for owners and thus there is a preference for a shorter initial term and renewal options ideally only by mutual consent. There has been a noticeable decrease in the average length of initial terms across Europe, which can be attributed to the following factors: The proliferation of private equity vehicles in the hotel investment market in recent years has placed pressure on operators to offer more competitive, shorter initial terms, although these are generally coupled with more renewal options; The increasing competition amongst hotel operators seeking to broaden their distribution network; An increase in hotel investment in emerging markets along with the associated risks in such markets have led both operators and owners to negotiate contracts with shorter terms, to provide the opportunity to exit in the event of disappointing market conditions. 2. Operating Fees Operators are remunerated with fees for the performance of their duties detailed in the contract. These management fees should be structured in such a way that they encourage the operator to maximise the financial performance of the hotel. Fees can be calculated by reference to various formulae. Typically, the operator's fee will be split as follows: A base fee, generally calculated as a percentage of gross operating revenue (ranging typically from 2% to 4%). While many owners would argue that an operator should ideally only receive fees based on the profit, not revenue, that the hotel generates, operators have successfully argued that they need to be protected with a certain amount of virtually 'guaranteed' income in order for them to be able to subsidise the costs of operating their organisations even during a severe market downturn when hotels' operating profits may be significantly reduced or even, in the worst cases, non-existent for a period of time. There is evidence of the base management fee decreasing with a higher market positioning, as highlighted in the table below: Figure 2: Base Management Fee By Market Positioning Photo by HVS An incentive fee based on a percentage of the hotel's operating profit. While the base fee encourages the operator to focus on the top line, the incentive fee ensures that there is also an incentive to control operating costs. Incentive fee structures have a wide variety of forms in practice. These incentive fees are generally based on a percentage of either the gross operating profit (GOP) before the deduction of base management fee or, more usually, the adjusted GOP (AGOP), calculated by deducting the base fee from the GOP. The incentive fee can be structured differently, with examples including: A flat fee structure, where the incentive fee is calculated as a percentage of GOP/AGOP. This percentage may be constant or scaled upwards throughout the term of the contract (usually by way of a 'build-up' in the first few years until the hotel's expected year of stabilisation). A scaled fee based on the level of the GOP or AGOP margin that is achieved. This fee structure certainly rewards the operator for a more efficient performance and is becoming increasingly common. A fee linked to the available cash flow after an Owner's priority return. The Owner's priority return can be a fixed amount or a percentage of the initial (and sometimes future) capital investment. The operator will not receive its incentive fee until the owner's priority return has been achieved for that year. This incentive fee structure is usually accompanied by provisions whereby the operator's incentive fee is not 'lost', but only 'deferred', and then recouped in later years if and when the Owner's Priority is exceeded by a sufficient amount to cover that year's incentive fee as well as some or all of those incentive fees deferred from previous years. As deferred fees can create complications during the sale of a hotel (with purchasers often seeking a price reduction so they can cover this potential future liability that would 'transfer' to them), these types of incentive fee structures are becoming less popular with owners. based on a percentage of the hotel's operating profit. While the base fee encourages the operator to focus on the top line, the incentive fee ensures that there is also an incentive to control operating costs. Incentive fee structures have a wide variety of forms in practice. These incentive fees are generally based on a percentage of either the gross operating profit (GOP) before the deduction of base management fee or, more usually, the adjusted GOP (AGOP), calculated by deducting the base fee from the GOP. The incentive fee can be structured differently, with examples including: Other fees and charges can be claimed by the operator, and are related to items such as centralised reservations, sales and marketing, loyalty programmes, training fees, purchasing costs, accounting or other costs. These fees are often defined as a percentage between 1% and 4% of total revenue or rooms revenue (as applicable, and varying between different operators). There is a rising trend observed in the industry where operators are accepting lower base fees in return for higher incentive fees of up to 15% of GOP, which are designed to more closely align the operator's interests with that of the owner to maximise the operating profit of the hotel, regardless of the revenue. While a fixed incentive fee percentage ranging from 8% to 10% of AGOP was typical, it is becoming increasingly common to have scaled incentive fees. The tendency towards higher or scaled incentive fees versus higher base fees, rewards effective operators but also provides some protection for the owner's cash flow/return in the event of poor operator performance or a market downturn. 3. Operator Performance Test Performance tests allow an owner to terminate the management agreement should the operator fail to meet the agreed performance criteria after a period of build-up (test periods commence in the fourth year on average). Two types of performance tests are typically used, often jointly: Room revenue per available room (RevPAR) as a percentage of a mutually agreed upon competitive set (in Europe, the test is generally set somewhere between 80% and 95% of the weighted average RevPAR of the competitive set); as a percentage of a mutually agreed upon competitive set (in Europe, the test is generally set somewhere between 80% and 95% of the weighted average RevPAR of the competitive set); The GOP level for an operating year should not be less than the mutually agreed budgeted GOP level (usually starts at 80%, up to 90% of the budgeted GOP, depending on the negotiation strength of both parties). As highlighted in the following graph, these two performance tests are often used jointly in European management contracts. Figure 3: Type of Performance Tests Photo by HVS A performance test usually starts from year thee or year four, after stabilisation of the new hotel, generally known as the commencement year. The performance test is usually deemed to be failed if both the RevPAR and the GOP tests have been failed for two years in a row. However, some unscrupulous operators have been known to sometimes artificially inflate RevPAR performance to meet the required standards, so the RevPAR test is not held as a reliable measurement tool by experts. It can also be challenging to agree the right competitive set and sometimes to find reliable RevPAR data for the competitive set. Furthermore, in case of a force majeure event or any peculiar event that is beyond the operator's scope, then the performance test would not be applicable and the right of termination of the owner is not exercisable. Good performance tests are the ones that are enforceable, sensible and that truly reflect the relative position of the hotel. Major operators usually negotiate a clause with a 'right to cure' in the event of a failed performance test, allowing the operator to make a compensation payment to the owner. The typical right to cure usually includes a specific/limited number of times that the operator has the right to cure during the term of the agreement. We have seen recent management contracts which include performance tests based on TripAdvisor ratings and commentaries. However, these ratings are potentially influenceable by non-guests or biased by messaging bots. Other non-financial performance tests include the ones based on the number of materialised reservations generated through the operator's distribution systems versus those that are generated by online travel agencies (OTA) or third parties. For more information on management fee structures and performance clauses, please refer to the HVS San Francisco article 'Hotel Management Fees Miss the Mark' by Miguel Rivera, September 2011. 4. Approval Rights Approval rights define the extent to which the owner's consent is required for decisions impacting the hotel's operation. This allows the owner to remain involved in key decisions regarding cash flow. In addition, if stipulated, an owner can place restrictions on expenditure (that is, purchasing systems, concessions or leases). These owner approval rights generally comprise: Budget the operator should submit an annual budget for the owner's approval, usually 30 to 90 days prior to the start of the fiscal year. Owner approval of the annual budget is usually negotiated, but such approval may depend on the conditions of the performance test, and may therefore exclude certain line items. If both parties do not come to a consensus on a specific line item, an increasing number of agreements have provision for an independent expert to be appointed to adjudicate and provide a determination. In the meantime, the budgeted amount will be calculated using the last year's approved amount, multiplied by the increase in the Consumer Price Index for that year. The annual budgeting exercise is one of the most collaborative activities between the owner and the operator during the life of a management contract; the operator should submit an annual budget for the owner's approval, usually 30 to 90 days prior to the start of the fiscal year. Owner approval of the annual budget is usually negotiated, but such approval may depend on the conditions of the performance test, and may therefore exclude certain line items. If both parties do not come to a consensus on a specific line item, an increasing number of agreements have provision for an independent expert to be appointed to adjudicate and provide a determination. In the meantime, the budgeted amount will be calculated using the last year's approved amount, multiplied by the increase in the Consumer Price Index for that year. The annual budgeting exercise is one of the most collaborative activities between the owner and the operator during the life of a management contract; Employment of key senior management positions the management contract will specify whether the hotel's employees are employed by the owner or the operator. Generally, each party prefers to pass the responsibility of employment to the other, because of liability issues. For most cases in Europe, the staff are officially employed by the owner. However, generally the operator has the responsibility of hiring and training the line-staff personnel. In a significant proportion of management agreements, owner approval is only required for the hiring of certain key management positions (that is, general manager, financial controller and, sometimes, director of sales and marketing and director of food and beverage). With the owner in most cases being the employer of the hotel's staff, this enables continuity of employment and the hotel's operation if and when the contract is terminated. Some senior management may be employed by the operator, with the payroll for those staff being charged back to the hotel operation. By and large, all contracts that require the owner's prior consent for the appointment of senior personnel usually restrict the number of rejections by the owner to two or three candidates presented by the operator each time such a position is to be filled; the management contract will specify whether the hotel's employees are employed by the owner or the operator. Generally, each party prefers to pass the responsibility of employment to the other, because of liability issues. For most cases in Europe, the staff are officially employed by the owner. However, generally the operator has the responsibility of hiring and training the line-staff personnel. In a significant proportion of management agreements, owner approval is only required for the hiring of certain key management positions (that is, general manager, financial controller and, sometimes, director of sales and marketing and director of food and beverage). With the owner in most cases being the employer of the hotel's staff, this enables continuity of employment and the hotel's operation if and when the contract is terminated. Some senior management may be employed by the operator, with the payroll for those staff being charged back to the hotel operation. By and large, all contracts that require the owner's prior consent for the appointment of senior personnel usually restrict the number of rejections by the owner to two or three candidates presented by the operator each time such a position is to be filled; Outsourcing this clause affects the decisions involving the appointment of an external service provider in relation to the hotel's operations, such as engineering services or housekeeping. Usually, the terms of such contracts are no longer than 12 months. Owner's consent is rarely required, unless the contract is significant and above a certain amount (similar to capital expenditure, for which consent is required) or has a duration longer than, say, 12 months; this clause affects the decisions involving the appointment of an external service provider in relation to the hotel's operations, such as engineering services or housekeeping. Usually, the terms of such contracts are no longer than 12 months. Owner's consent is rarely required, unless the contract is significant and above a certain amount (similar to capital expenditure, for which consent is required) or has a duration longer than, say, 12 months; Capital expenditure detailed in the next section; detailed in the next section; Leases and concessions such clauses relate to the leasing out of hotel space to third parties, such as restaurants, spas, gift shops, beauty salons or retail outlets. Most owners will require restrictions on such agreements, as long-term agreements may complicate a future sale and may not always be the most profitable use of the space with the passing of time, or even in the first place. 5. FF&E and Capital Expenditure To maintain the asset in a marketable condition and replace the furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) of a hotel at regular intervals, a 'sinking' fund is created to raise capital for this periodic FF&E replacement, which is usually a percentage of gross revenue and somewhat dependent on the positioning/level of the hotel. Included in this category are all non-real-estate items that are typically capitalised rather than expensed, which means they are not included in the operating statement, but nevertheless affect an owner's cash flow. Generally, management agreements include a reserve for replacement of FF&E of between 3% and 5% of gross revenue per month, with the lower percentage more likely to relate to budget hotels and the higher percentage to upper upscale and luxury hotels. This percentage often increases during the first few years of the hotel's operation, until it reaches a stabilised amount, usually by year five but sometimes not until year ten, as shown in the following table. Figure 4: FF&E Reserve Contribution Photo by HVS In some cases, the amount to be reserved may be dictated by the lenders financing the hotel. Typically, capital improvements are split into two categories: Routine capital improvements : funded through the FF&E reserve account and required to maintain revenue and profit at present levels; : funded through the FF&E reserve account and required to maintain revenue and profit at present levels; Discretionary capital improvements (also called ROI capital improvements): investments that are undertaken to generate more revenue and profit, such as the conversion of offices into meeting rooms. These require owner approval and are in addition to the funds expended from the reserve account. Capital expenditures are typically made in lump sums during hotel renovations. In general, soft goods for a typical full-service hotel should be replaced every six-eight years, and case goods should be replaced every 12-13 years. Within a management contract, the owner is responsible for providing funds to maintain the hotel according to the relevant brand standards. If management chooses to postpone a required repair, they have not eliminated or saved the expenditure, but merely deferred payment until a later date. A hotel that has operated with a below average maintenance budget is likely to have accumulated a considerable amount of deferred maintenance. An insufficient FF&E reserve will eventually negatively impact the property's standard or grading, and may also lead to a decline in the hotel's performance and its value. An Overview of Hotel Management Contracts in Europe | By Dayk Balyozyan, Sophie Perret and Chris Martin Photo by HVS 6. Territorial Restriction An integral component of a market area's supply and demand relationship that has a direct impact on performance is the current and anticipated supply of competitive hotel facilities. By including a territorial restriction (also sometimes referred to as an 'area of protection') in a management contract, an owner is assured that no other property with the same brand is allowed to open within a certain radius of the subject hotel, for a certain period of time (ideally being for the whole duration of the agreement) in order to minimize or even pre-empt any form of cannibalisation from the same brand, or sometimes also from another brand of the same company. Depending on the location, the city size and the type of brand, this clause may vary significantly. Upscale/luxury hotels tend to have a territorial restriction area for a larger radius and for a longer period of time than budget/mid-market hotels. Additionally, operators with a larger portfolio of brands may be more agreeable to a larger period of time, or a shrinking restricted area for the exclusion of certain brands, or the exclusion of all brands. Operators will inevitably seek for a more flexible scheme, so that such a constraint does not interfere with the development of the operators' other brands which are not direct competitors (for example, upscale brands compared to budget brands). Therefore, to define the territorial restriction, the negotiations should be centred around the area of the exclusion clause, the brands that will be included in the clause, the period of time and also the provision of an independent impact study of the development of a similar brand on the subject property's performance. With the recent consolidation of the hotel industry (the Marriott/Starwood merger, the purchase of FRHI by Accor Hotels) negotiations are more and more focused on the risk of chain acquisition carve outs, the prospect for any hotel that is a member of a chain of hotels where it is intended that one or more of the hotels of the chain will be rebranded to the same brand as the subject hotel. An Overview of Hotel Management Contracts in Europe | By Dayk Balyozyan, Sophie Perret and Chris Martin Photo by HVS 7. Non-Disturbance Agreement Hotel management contracts often include a non-disturbance agreement. This is an agreement between the hotel operator, the owner and the owner's lender. In the event of default or the owner's insolvency, the lender takes over the ownership of the hotel, agrees not to terminate the existing management contract and remove the manager after a foreclosure. At the same time, the hotel operator agrees to stay and operate the hotel for the lender in case of insolvency or enforcement. The hotel operator can be confident in keeping the value of the management contract, and in having a direct contractual relationship with the lender. On the other hand, the lender knows the operator can't leave the contract immediately on insolvency or a default, which is potentially disruptive to the business. 8. Operator Guarantees An operator guarantee ensures that the owner will receive a certain level of profit or net operating income. If this level of profit is not achieved by the operator, the operator guarantees to make up the difference to the owner through their own funds. For example, if the contract states a guarantee of 1,000,000 per annum, and the operator only achieves 800,000, the operator will then make up the remaining 200,000 from their own resources. Operator guarantees are not to be confused with an owner's priority return, which reflects the hurdle of a particular performance (such as GOP) before receiving the incentive fee. For example, if the owner's priority return is equal to 1,000,000 and the GOP achieved in a particular year is 800,000, then the operator will not receive an incentive fee. If the GOP in a particular year is 1,200,000, then the incentive fee will be payable. It is typical when such guarantees exist that there is a provision for the operator to 'claw back' any payments made under a guarantee out of future surplus profits. Equally typical is the tendency for the operator to place a limit ('cap') on the total guaranteed funds within a specified number of years. When the operator fails to receive an incentive fee, this is sometimes referred to as a 'stand aside'. Some contracts allow for this to be paid once future profits are earned to cover the shortfall. The current trend is for a shift away from operator guarantees. Over the last 15 years, operators have been placing limits on guarantees to exclude force majeure factors in order to cover their future liability. As such, operators will generally require higher fees in return for an operator guarantee and this may not always be cost-effective for the owner. In addition, most contracts will include a cap on the level of operator guarantee, as noted above. 9. Operator Key Money A more prevalent way to incentivise owners and secure contracts is when operators use their balance sheet to offer either key money or sliver equity. Key money, in the context of management contracts, can be defined as a financial contribution from the operator to the owner's investment cost related to the development of the hotel. Often regarded as an evidence of the operator's genuine interest in the engagement, key money can be a valuable resource to help a brand expand into new markets without the high development costs and to seal the deal for trophy assets. Many operators offer the key money as a 'loan' to the owner, which could be either towards the hotel's development or its preopening, or to cover part or all of a renovation in the case of the re-branding of an existing hotel. However, key money comes at the expense of something else, usually higher fees and/or a longer term. Moreover, almost all operators require the owner to repay a prorated amount of the outstanding key money, with or without interest, if the contract is terminated prior to the end of the term or an agreed part thereof. For existing properties, key money may be offered at the time of signing or after the capital improvements (recommended by the operator) have been completed. Conversely, for new hotels, key money is mostly offered as the last funding available to the owner, paid on the opening of the hotel. According the the HVS Hotel Management Contract Survey, a large majority of the European contracts that offer key money are for upscale/upper upscale/luxury hotels. However, key money does not entitle the operator to an actual equity share in the investment. In today's highly competitive market, some operators now assume an actual ownership position in the hotel. An increasingly common tool is minority equity stake where the operator makes a financial contribution in return of a stake (from less than 5% to 30%) in the ownership of the hotel. Under such an arrangement, if the hotel performs well the operator directly realises a return for the investment. Equity contributions by management companies may help to align the interests of the owner with the management company. The benefit of reducing an owner's need to use their own cash is a powerful incentive. However, owners should also be aware of the potential risks or trade-offs associated with forming equity partnerships with management companies. More partners imply more parties to split the profits, and less owner equity means a higher chance of losing control of the property. In addition, the relationship with the management company as an equity contributor may limit the owner's ability to terminate the management agreement[2]. 10. Termination Rights Each party may choose to terminate the hotel management agreement for a variety of reasons: bankruptcy, fraud, condemnation, unmet performance standards, sale. As hotels are becoming more mainstream assets, owners are getting more mature and vigilant on the conditions for termination and the associated operator fees. Owners can negotiate the right to terminate the contract upon the sale of the hotel to a third party. This clause gives flexibility to the owner or to any potential investor as it allows the owner to realise the investment and sell the hotel unencumbered. The operator is compensated with a termination fee from the owner. The termination fee is usually an amount equal to the average management fees earned by the operator in the preceding two-three years (24 to 36 months) prior to the date of termination, 'multiplied by' either (i) the remainder of the term (years/months) or (ii) a multiple of two, three, five or any other as agreed upon. With a more upscale brand, the operator will be more sensitive to not being 'kicked out' because they have substantially invested in sales and marketing to create an upscale brand. Operators will also argue that an early termination could be damaging to their brand. Termination without cause allows the owner to terminate the contract without any justification. The termination fee under this provision is normally calculated in a similar method as for the termination upon sale. Termination without cause, or on sale, is more common in contracts with independent operators. The operator performance test mentioned earlier allows the owner to terminate the contract if the operator fails to meet the performance expectations and does not use its cure rights. The testing periods for most performance termination clauses begin three years after the opening of the hotel or the inception of the contract to allow the hotel to reach stabilised operating levels, and the performance failure usually has to persist for two consecutive years. An Overview of Hotel Management Contracts in Europe | By Dayk Balyozyan, Sophie Perret and Chris Martin Photo by HVS Other causes for termination consist of operator misconduct, condemnation, bankruptcy and default. We should stress here that management contracts without termination on sale provisions obviously reduce flexibility on exit. It is usually worse when the operator has an equity stake in the property. An owner should always look for the most flexible management contract terms that can be negotiated. Current and Future Trends While owners have become far more knowledgeable in recent years, major global operators have also become larger and more powerful, particularly given the recent consolidation and mergers and acquisition of hotel operators in the industry, and therefore the reduction in competition has made it more difficult to negotiate with them. It is also reasonable to state that there is a move towards agreements with third-party operators. As the hotel is becoming a more mainstream asset and owners are gaining a better understanding and maturity, third-party operators (TPO) are on the rise. Well established in the US market, this model, relatively new in Europe, is now growing rapidly, bringing more flexibility to owners and allowing them in some instances to defer the responsibility of the staff to the TPO's balance sheets. A hotel managed by a TPO is very often combined with a franchise for a major hotel brand. Another trend is the emergence of 'manchises' and hybrid management contracts, whereby hotel owners engage a hotel operating company for an initial period of time, say three to five years, after which the contract transfers to a franchise contract in which the owner assumes management responsibility and retains the operator's brand, in exchange of an annual franchise fee payment. To the outside world, there is no apparent change. This is particularly advantageous to help hotel operating companies launch new brands, enabling strict operating controls to be established in the initial years as the brand is going through its 'ramping up' period. Conclusion Hotel Management contract negotiation can be a long and complex process. This negotiation should satisfy both the operator and the owner to help ensure an effective and trustful relationship between the two parties, while taking into consideration the asset value. On one hand, the operator will require stability in cash flow with a longer-term contract. On the other hand, the owner will primarily look for flexibility from an exit perspective, visibility on the profit and loss of the asset and transparency on the fee structure, and from that goal, the owner may use a third-party operator, which could be more aligned with their interests. The main goal when negotiating is to avoid uncertainty and conflict, and look for clarity and trust in order to maximise each parties'returns. This is critical to ensuring that responsibilities and best practices are met and the business is run successfully. An Overview of Hotel Management Contracts in Europe | By Dayk Balyozyan, Sophie Perret and Chris Martin Photo by HVS Notes: 1) The terms mentioned in this article only cover some of the major characteristics of the contract. Today's management agreements are defined by a variety of formats and level of detail. Some contracts are becoming much more complex and comprise new terms not discussed in this article. It is therefore important to review the contract terms in detail. Each party should be assisted by an external independent legal advisor in order to deal with these complex legal documents. 2) For an overview of the operating models (leases, management contracts, franchises), please refer to ourarticle titled 'Decisions, Decisions... Which Hotel Operating Model is Right for You'. Click here to view. [1] From a sample of 76 management contracts in Europe with results compiled in the following article: Thadani, Manav, mrics & Mobar, Juie. 'HVS Hotel Management Contract Survey'. HVS India. August 2014. [2] Isenstadt, Todd & Detlefsen, Hans. 'Hotel Management Companies and Equity Contributions: Benefits And Risks'. HVS Chicago. August 2014. View source Each year, the ESSEC Hospitality Management programs (MSc in Hospitality Management & ESSEC Global MBA) invites six industry leaders onto the ESSEC campus to meet with students and share their experience. It is the perfect opportunity for students to interact with senior industry leaders and to ask them in a casual setting their own classroom questions about both their careers to date and the sector in general. During 2016-17 the first speaker this year was Mr. Olivier Chavy (Alumni 1988), CEO of Movenpick Hotels and Resorts (MH&R). He took the helm at this Swiss based chain in September 2016, following on from Jean Gabriel Peres (Alumni 1980), another Essec alumnus. Before joining MH&R, his aptitude for brand development, innovative design, personnel management, and client services led him to global architecture and design form Wilson Associates. During his three years with the company, he directed its high-profile resale process, taking Wilson Associates public on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Previously, Mr. Chavy held the position of Head of Luxury & Lifestyle Brands for Hilton Worldwide, managing brand performance for Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts, with responsibility for more than 50 properties and another 25 under construction. Before joining Hilton, he was General Manager and Area Vice President for renowned French luxury hotel and casino operator, Group Lucien Barriere, becoming at 27 the youngest General Manager of a 'Palace' hotel in Europe. During his visit to ESSEC, Mr. Chavy talked about Movenpick Hotels and Resorts' main mission, which is "We make moments". For example, he shared some E-moments that MH&R provides to its guests such as "wifi that is available everywhere in the hotel", or "clients who have the possibility to do their check-in and check-out on the web". He also mentioned special moments from the food and beverage department such as "the chocolate hour, with Swiss moment of joy and life", or "the creation of healthy drink shots". Mr. Chavy also insisted on the importance of brands. He reiterated "brand is not about the number you have, but how strong your brand is - there is nothing more powerful than brands". He added - "it takes 50 years to create a brand and only one year to kill it". He provided good tips such as "try to be loyal to the brand" and "if one day you have a doubt regarding your careers, take a look at Randy Pausch videos". Mr. Chavy also revealed the four pillars of his professional life, which are "Ethic, Loyalty, Honesty, Professionalism". He ended his conference by confessing "at the end of my life, I know I'll be back as a General Manager because it is a drug". The second speaker was Mrs. Aurelie Vermesse (Alumni 2012), General Manager of Clarance Hotel, a 5-star boutique hotel in France. During her conference, she described her journey as a "fairy tale". Before embracing hospitality, she had over 20 years of experience in the retail sector with brands such as Danone, McCain and Auchan, mainly in the marketing field. In 2011 she decided to switch careers to become an hotelier. After graduating in 2012, she worked on her hospitality project for over 3 years, ultimately leading to the opening of the Clarance Hotel in Lille. In February 2016, the hotel restaurant was awarded one star by the Michelin Guide and the Clarance Hotel joined the Relais & Chateaux chain in September 2016. During her visit to ESSEC, students asked her plenty of questions in which she answered with openness. She said that the biggest challenge was "how to manage people which I find the most difficult but also which I love the most". She mentioned the key to succeed is that "you need to find the right team and the right people, that are involved in your company and are willing to give". "Energy" and "motivation" are two key words on which she insisted. She concluded with this positive note "it is a long way to create your own company, you need your own energy but it's worth it". Our third industry leader this year was Mr. Giorgio Manenti (Alumni 2004), Managing Director at Eastdil Secured in London. With over 14 years of experience in hospitality real estate in both investment sales and corporate advisory services, Giorgio has transacted over $20bn of hotels real estate across Europe. His current responsibilities include leading the Hospitality Division for Eastdil Secured and facilitating global cross border capital flows. During his conference, he took the time to speak about his personal career and gave very useful advice to students about what they should do in their near professional future. He said that students need to be able to master two basic but powerful skills in order to succeed in their career being able to use Excel very well, and knowing to speak English perfectly. He also said that "during the darkest moments in your life, don't give up but keep going. It is thanks to these moments in life that you become stronger". He added, "I excelled at my career right after I took the biggest punch in my life". Mr. Manenti honestly and openness was very genuine and this trait of character was greatly appreciated by the students. All ESSEC Hospitality Management students would like to thank Mr. Olivier Chavy, Mrs. Aurelie Vermesse, and Giorgio Manenti for their time. All three graduated from the ESSEC MBA and are a great inspiration and source of motivation for students. Thank you to both these exceptional leaders for accepting to visit us here at ESSEC, and to the academic staff, for helping to make these conferences happening. Joelle Harris ESSEC IMHI It looks like you've reached a page that doesnt exist (anymore). Please use the navigation or search above to find content on Hospitality Net. Go back to home Freedom House says global press freedom declined in 2016 (video) Freedom House, a U.S.-based pro-democracy watchdog organization says only 13 percent of the worlds population live in countries with a free press. In its annual report released on April 28, the U.S.-based democracy monitor says 42 percent of the worlds population has a "partly free" press, while 45 percent live in countries where the media environment is not free. Global press freedom has hit a 13-year low, threatened by US President Donald Trump's media bashing and restrictions pursued by both democratic and authoritarian governments. The nongovernmental group says global press freedom declined in 2016 to its lowest point in more than a decade due to continued crackdowns on independent media in authoritarian states and unprecedented threats to journalists and media outlets in major democracies. The report -- titled Freedom of the Press 2017: Press Freedom's Dark Horizon -- assesses the degree of media freedom in 199 countries and territories to classify each as either "free," "partly free," or "not free." Press freedom was on a modest decline in the United States even before Donald Trump took office because of the industry's financial woes and news organizations' increasingly partisan positions, the report said. But Trump is worsening the situation with his attacks on "fake news" and characterization of the news media as "enemies of the people," according to Freedom House. Such comments suggest a hostility toward the fundamental principles and purposes of press freedom, especially the news media's role in holding governments to account for their words and actions." The attacks on US media also have the effect of giving authoritarian regimes a green light to crack down on their countries' independent press, Freedom House added. "A greater danger is that the United States will stop being a model and aspirational standard for other countries," the report said. "Protection of press freedom in the United States remains vital to the defense and expansion of press freedom worldwide; indeed, it is a cornerstone of global democracy." The report says Russia and China have a negative influence on the world press freedom index. The regimes in these countries are strengthening their influence in their territories and trying to have influence on other countries as well. Russia especially is taking advantage of the situation by seeking to manipulate news and social media content in other countries, Freedom House said. Freedom House ranks Ukraine as "partly free," while Ukraine's Russian-occupied Crimea region is ranked "not free." Countries with notably sharp declines in press freedom included Turkey, due to increased censorship, closures of independent media outlets and a sharp rise in detentions and violence against journalists. Armenia is the only country where the press and the Internet are on the opposite sides. Armenia is ranked not free in terms of press freedom while the the Internet enjoys freedom in the country. Those who like tribute bands are in for a real treat this upcoming May Bank Holiday weekend, as both 'Thin Az Lizzy' & 'Mack Fleetwood' will take to the stage at The Church Bar & Restaurant venue near Jervis St in Dublin between 27-28 April "These great tribute acts usually have a healthy cover charge however the Church Bar has you covered and no tickets are required for these events; they are free entry on a first come basis," says organizer, Stephen Browne. On 28 April, Mick Fleetwood - often described as the premier tribute to the super group Fleetwood Mac - will bring you on a magical musical journey from the Peter Green blues era to the multi-platinum selling Anglo/American band that still tour today. While on 29 April, Thin Az Lizzy, widely regarded as one of reland most sought after tribute act will take to the stage Groups Of 10-plus can reserve an area in the Gallery Restaurant, or to reserve group area to see the Bands contact The Church at [email protected] Or Call (01)8280102 For his latest outing with Gorillaz, Damon Albarn set himself the challenge of making a party record for end of the world. He has succeeded admirably with Humanz which, for all of the anxiety that stalks the album, contains a defiant optimism badly needed in these fraught political times. As ever with Gorillaz, the record is masterfully produced, with Albarn assembling a Galacticos-style array of A-list guest contributors. Vince Staples delivers a wonderful rap on Ascension, which touches on Americas racial tensions; theres a typically attitudinal appearance on Charger from the incomparable Grace Jones; and Danny Brown excels on the atmospheric Submission, which fascinatingly marks the first ever Gorillaz co-write for Albarns Blur bandmate Graham Coxon. At the heart of the album are three surefire hits. Leading the way is Andromeda, which has an irresistible pitch: Albarn has said that its his attempt to write an 80s-style pop classic in the vein of Bille Jean and I Cant Go For That (No Can Do). Remarkably, he has succeeded, with the songs scintillating groove topped off by a memorable chorus (Take it in your heart now, lover). This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Southwest Airlines Co. said it would stop overbooking flights, after the forcible removal of a United Airlines passenger from a packed plane sparked worldwide outrage. Overbooking is tentatively set to end May 8, Southwest said Thursday. That would be about a month after a 69-year-old United customer was dragged from a jet by airport police for refusing to surrender his seat - an incident that left the carrier's image in tatters when videos of the episode circulated on social media. Southwest's move underscored the urgency among carriers to avoid a similar debacle. Delta Air Lines increased payouts to almost $10,000 for passengers who voluntarily give up their places on oversold flights. United Continental Holdings itself followed suit Thursday - both carriers' payouts previously were capped at $1,350 - and announced other policy changes to win back passenger trust. "It's not a topic that is brand new to us," Southwest's chief executive officer, Gary Kelly, said on a conference call to discuss earnings. "That's one of the pain points we'd like to eliminate." He said the airline has been reviewing overbooking policies for a couple of years and indicated that the United incident added urgency. "It puts the question under a bright light. Why not do it now?" Kelly said. Kelly was asked if the move could impact Southwest's results. He said ending overbooking would have a minor impact on revenue but gave no figures. The chief financial officer Tammy Romo said doing away with overbooking would reduce costs - airlines compensate passengers for giving up their seats - which would offset some of the revenue hit. Also Thursday, Southwest said its first-quarter earnings fell 32 percent as it flew more passengers but took in less revenue on average from each one. Rising costs for fuel and labor weighed on the airline. The Dallas company posted earnings of $351 million, down from $513 million in the same period in 2016. Per-share earnings fell to 57 cents from 79 cents. Earnings adjusted for non-recurring costs came to 61 cents per share, a penny shy of Wall Street expectations, according to a survey Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 62 cents per share. The airline posted revenue of $4.88 billion in the period, up 1 percent but also shy of Street forecasts for $4.89 billion. The disappointing quarter dragged down Southwest shares in early trading. They recovered a bit in the afternoon. Revenue for each seat flown a mile by Southwest, a proxy for average fares, fell 2.6 percent in the quarter. The carrier expects that figure to be positive in the second quarter, a sign that a long period of declining fares could be coming to an end for Southwest and the airline industry. Southwest is paying out higher compensation to employees under new labor contracts. Costs for salaries, wages and benefits rose 13 percent to $1.73 billion. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump continues to move quickly on his pledge to expand the U.S. oil and gas industry, preparing to sign an executive order on Friday that would take steps toward opening offshore areas currently off-limits to drillers. At the time of a historic decline in commodity prices that has forced oil and gas companies to largely pull back from expensive offshore projects, Trump is hoping that by shifting course from the environmental policies of the Obama administration he can spur an economic resurgence. Under the order, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said Thursday evening, the White House would reverse an executive action taken in the waning days of the Obama administration that banned drilling along large portions of the Atlantic and Arctic coastlines. In addition, the Interior Department will review a five-year offshore plan that Zinke said puts 94 percent of U.S. offshore tracts off limits to drilling. "I can say up front that if there's areas that are acceptable, that have the resources and going through the process we determine local communities are for it and industry is for it, then that would be a recommendation to include it in the next five-year plan," Zinke said. "This is going to be a multi-year effort." Undoing the drilling bans, however, would entail lengthy regulatory and legal efforts. Environmentalists already are ramping up for a national fight, hoping to again draw on allies in tourism and fishing industries that helped thwart the energy industry's campaign last year to expand drilling into the Atlantic. "The oil industry has never invested as much in safety as they have in exploration. And it shows," said Jackie Savitz, a senior vice president with the environmental group Oceana. "Oil spills happen all the time. They just don't always make the news, like Deepwater Horizon did." Little price incentive Trump's efforts to expand offshore drilling face practical as well as political challenges. With oil prices hovering around $50 a barrel - and not projected to increase significantly until after 2020 - analysts say there is little incentive for oil companies to take on riskier projects in remote waters where the underlying geology is less understood. In the Arctic, for instance, long periods of darkness along with the menacing flows of sea ice turned away the majority of drillers even when prices were double what they are now. In the Gulf of Mexico, where the ready supply of rigs, work crews and other infrastructure, along with recent discoveries, has made it one of the world's more attractive places to drill, the time and expense of developing offshore projects is turning most companies away. "Leasing is looking up lately, but if you compare it to before 2014, it doesn't come close," said Imran Khan, a senior research manager Wood Mackenzie in Houston. "The big projects are still moving forward, but with the caveat they had begun before the price collapse. Exploration is still pretty slow." But that hasn't stopped the oil and gas industry from lobbying to expand their range in U.S. coastal waters. In addition to the Arctic and Atlantic coastlines, their wish list includes the eastern Gulf of Mexico - home to Florida's Everglades National Park - where the state's powerful tourism industry has largely managed to keep drilling at bay. In Washington, oil and gas lobbyists make the case that while the time might not be ripe for drilling right now, who's to say a war in the Middle East or an economic boom in Asia would not change that picture in the years and decades to come? And when that happens, they argue, the U.S. oil and gas industry needs as many options as possible to meet the world's hunger for energy. "We believe the new administration is making a lot of the right move," said Randall Luthi, president of the offshore drilling trade group National Ocean Industries Association. "It's 180 degrees from Obama." If the Trump administration is going to get companies to explore and drill again, however, simply expanding lease sales might not be enough, analysts said. Following the 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf, the Obama administration levied a catalogue of new regulations, from requiring regular inspections of safety equipment like blowout preventers to setting guidelines on how operators manage unexpected spikes in pressure during the drilling of a well. While many of those rules were drawn from the American Petroleum Institute's own guidelines on best practices, the Interior Department is examining them under an order by Trump earlier this year. That order required agencies to review any regulation impeding domestic energy production. "We do need to have smart regulations in place that demonstrate a measurable impact on improving safety, but also make sure we have a vibrant economy in the Gulf," said Kate MacGregor assistant secretary for land and minerals management at the Interior Department. Review across the board A change in policy between administrations is not unusual. When Obama took office in 2009, his administration quickly announced it was holding off on former President George W. Bush's plan to expand offshore drilling, while they gathered more public comment. Now, the Trump administration will look to do the same, embarking on a long process of public outreach and environmental reviews that typically takes at least two years. In the process, Zinke said, he will look at federal offshore drilling policy across the board. One of the topics likely to come up is federal royalties for offshore production, which were raised by Bush. They are about 50 percent higher than onshore rates. "With today's low prices and so little exploration, we certainly don't want to see it raised," Luthi said. "If you're asking companies to go into deeper water, it might make sense for a lower royalty rate for the first period of production." Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it intended to repeal a regulation by the Obama administration updating how federal royalties are calculated, a move that was expected to increase taxpayer revenue from oil and gas production. The robot on an oil drillship in the Gulf of Mexico made it easier for Mark Rodgers to do his job stringing together heavy, dirty pipes. It could also be a reason he's not working there today. The Iron Roughneck, made by Houston company National Oilwell Varco, automates the repetitive and dangerous task of connecting hundreds of segments of drill pipe as they're shoved through miles of ocean water and oil-bearing rock. The machine has also cut to two from three the need for roustabouts, estimates Rodgers, who took a job repairing appliances after being laid off from Transocean. "I'd love to go back offshore," he says. But the odds are against him. As the global oil industry begins to climb out of a collapse that took tens of thousands of jobs, anywhere from a third to half may never come back. More efficient drilling rigs and increased automation are reducing the need for field hands. And therein lies a warning to President Donald Trump, who has predicted a flood of new energy-sector jobs under his watch. Automation, of course, has revolutionized many industries. Energy companies, which rely on large, complex equipment for drilling and maintaining oil wells, are particularly well-positioned to benefit, says Dennis Yang, chief executive officer of Udemy, a company in San Francisco that trains workers who lose jobs to machines. "It used to be you had a toolbox full of wrenches and tubing benders," said Donald McLain, chairman of industrial programs at Victoria College in South Texas. "Now your main tool is a laptop." James West, an analyst at investment bank Evercore IS, said the 2 -year oil bust gave executives time to rethink the mix of humans and machinery in the oil fields. Still, in the current political climate, they're proceeding cautiously. Oil companies probably will frame their cost- and job-cutting technologies as a way to be more competitive, West said. "They'll more likely brag about the automation rather than these head counts," West said. "It's kind of dangerous to talk about jobs in the Trump administration." The industry is acutely aware of the heavy reliance on manpower, after the world's four largest oil services companies spent $3.1 billion in severance costs during the past two years, says Art Soucy, president of global products and technology at Houston energy services company Baker Hughes. Rigs have gotten so efficient that the shale industry can use about half as many workers as it did at the height of the boom in 2014 to pump the same amount of oil, says Angie Sedita, an analyst at UBS. Nabors Industries, an onshore driller, said it eventually expects to cut the number of workers at each well site to about five from 20 by deploying more automated drilling rigs. The impact of technology extends beyond the wellhead. Automation-related jobs for software specialists and data technicians are in demand. "To me, it's not just about automating the rig," says Ahmed Hashmi, head of upstream technology for the British oil major BP. That means engineers designing wells at their desks. With the press of a button, a system would identify equipment needed, create a 3D model and send instructions for building it to the field, Hashmi said. "That is automation." LOS ANGELES - A Southern California offshore oil platform will be decommissioned and its operator is seeking bankruptcy protection, nearly two years after the platform was idled when an onshore pipeline ruptured and spilled a massive amount of oil into the ocean, the state and company said Monday. The State Lands Commission said it received documents from Venoco relinquishing rights to the South Ellwood oil field leases in the Santa Barbara Channel northwest of Los Angeles, including Platform Holly. The platform has not produced since May 19, 2015, when an onshore underground line owned by Houston's Plains All American Pipeline spilled 120,000 gallons of crude. The line, which transported oil produced by Holly, remains shut down, and there is no estimate for when it might reopen. Denver-based Venoco, which acquired the leases in 1997 from Exxon Mobil, simultaneously announced it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and expects its assets to be sold. The State Lands Commission said the relinquishment of claims to the leases effectively ends commercial oil and gas production in state waters at that location in the Santa Barbara Channel and leaves 85 million barrels of oil in the ground. New offshore oil and gas leases are prohibited by California's Coastal Sanctuary Act. The decommissioning of Platform Holly is a "landmark in the evolution of California's energy portfolio," Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the commission's chairman, said in a statement. "As President Trump voices his determination to expand oil drilling and twentieth-century energy policies, California is pioneering the sustainable alternative that protects our coastlines and environment while gaining a strong foothold in the future energy and global economy." Platform Holly is a few miles off Santa Barbara County's coast, part of a series of oil platforms in waters between the mainland and the Channel Islands. The decommissioning decision was celebrated by people who have been working to get rid of offshore drilling since the 1969 blowout of a Union Oil Co. platform in the Santa Barbara Channel fouled 30 miles of beaches, killed thousands of birds and other sea life, and gave rise to the American environmental movement. The commission said it will develop a plan for the costly process of plugging 32 wells in the South Ellwood Field and removing Platform Holly, a process expected to take three years. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A joint venture involving a Texas Medical Center-based startup and a Houston company that specializes in indoor vertical farming is bidding for one of the first licenses to dispense medical marijuana in the state. Approval would make a business group with strong local ties a pioneer in the production of low-THC cannabis under a program that was authorized by the Texas Legislature two years ago but has yet to launch. Though significantly smaller in scope than legalization statutes in other states, the initiative would at least give Texas a toehold in what is expected to be a $20 billion industry within the next three years. The group led by Houston-based engineering and procurement firm Indoor Harvest is among 43 statewide seeking a license to produce a specific strain of cannabis for sale to patients of intractable epilepsy who have a doctor's prescription. The Department of Public Safety has until Sunday to grant provisional approval for dispensary licenses. In preparation, Indoor Harvest is planning to acquire Alamo CBD, a San Antonio company that actually applied for the state license in March. "We're looking at this from a pharmaceutical point of view," said Chad Sykes, chief innovation officer for Indoor Harvest, currently best known for vertical farming projects to supply higher-end restaurants with organically grown fruits and vegetables. The initial phase of the proposed $5 million cannabis project would entail opening facilities in Wilson County, east of San Antonio. Indoor Harvest would provide the high-pressure aeroponic technology that Alamo would use to grow the marijuana plants in a 54,000-square-foot facility without the need for fertilizer or pesticides. Patients could have their prescriptions filled at a 3,600-square-foot dispensary next door. Indoor Harvest and Alamo feel their chances of getting one of the licenses are bolstered because they are partnering with Vyripharm Biopharmaceuticals, which is housed in the Medical Center's incubator for emerging biotech companies, for a strong research component. Vyripharm would take a portion of the cultivated cannabis and its researchers would assess the health benefits of the plants' chemicals through a patented testing method that tracks where the drug metabolizes in the body, and how its effects can differ between individuals, said Elias Jackson, the company's president of research and development. Such methodology would fill in a major gap in the national medical cannabis industry. Currently most evidence in the U.S. on the health benefits of the cannabis' chemicals is anecdotal rather than scientific, said Franklin Snyder, a Texas A&M law professor who studies cannabis policies. "All studies done that are worth anything are currently coming from overseas," he said. The lack of concrete data in the U.S. can be attributed to the Drug Enforcement Administration's continued classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug, along with such notoriously abused narcotics as heroin and LSD. Even though 29 states have legalized some form of medical cannabis, the federal law has deterred broader participation in the market. For the last 50 years, the University of Mississippi has been the only institution permitted by the DEA to grow cannabis for research purposes. National and regional leaders in the legalized cannabis industry say the university's product lacks the quality needed for scientific research. The DEA's reasoning behind limiting registered growers to one entity was that at the time, the national demand for research on cannabis' medicinal properties was low. Yet research groups now value the legal cannabis market at $7 billion as of last year and predict it will grow to $20 billion by 2020. The market value has grown thanks to part to more individual investors and small banking institutions such as credit unions and state banks agreeing to finance legal cannabis businesses. In August, the DEA agreed to expand the number of registered growers that can provide cannabis for research. Should Alamo secure a Texas license, and thereby be acquired by Indoor Harvest, the Houston-based company would apply to join the DEA's registry, with Vyripharm being a key recipient of the product. Though interest in growing over the cannabis industry, just 22 organizations have applied for the DEA registry so far, the agency said. And mainstream banks and major investors continue to opt out for fear of federal retaliation. Even Indoor Harvest, upon acquiring Alamo, will create a separate Harvest Group to continue its vertical farming business to appease investors. The state's Compassionate Use Program, signed into law two years ago by Gov. Greg Abbott, put the Department of Public Safety - a law-enforcement agency - in charge of vetting license applicants and mandated that it grant a minimum of three licenses by September. The deadline for provisional approval is Sunday. After that, DPS inspectors will make site visits before granting final approval. On Friday, the agency said it had received 43 applications but it declined to provide any further information about the applicants or where they are based. Demitri Downing, founder and director of the Southwest Cannabis Conference and Expo, said the narrow scope of the law passed in Texas likely restricted the number of applicants. The expo, which has been held twice in Dallas-Fort Worth, said the number of exhibitors declined for the second event after people had a chance to review the Compassionate Use Program. Downing said many exhibitors felt DPS would limit the state to three licenses - in effect making the legal minimum the effective maximum - and decided their chances at a slot were low. Yet he and others have hope that the Texas program will expand in the coming years once the first licensees are able to impress state legislators and DPS officers in how they serve the community. "Medical marijuana is here to stay," Downing said. Scott Bier, CEO of Green Well, another Texas company seeking one of the first state dispensary licenses, estimates about 146,000 Texans would benefit from cannabis-based medication. The current state program should address the needs of that population, he said. He also predicts more scientific research on cannabis' health properties to come out in the next five to 10 years. Still, others criticized Texas' limited approach. For example, the National Cannabis Industry Association does not even categorize Texas as having legalized medical cannabis because of the narrow scope of its law, deputy director Taylor West said. Snyder, the Texas A&M legal expert, said the originally proposed bill took a broader open-market approach to legalizing medical dispensaries in the state. But the bill Abbott signed was far more conservative, allowing a single chemical strain of cannabis to be developed for a single group of patients, those with intractable epilepsy. He agreed that DPS might consider three dispensaries a maximum. "Three dispensaries in a state the size of half of Europe is not a way to get to kids who need this medication regularly," Snyder said. United States begins delivery of THAAD anti-defense missile system to South Korea Hundreds of protesters in the South Korean town of Seongju clashed with police earlier this week as trailers carrying components of the U.S. advanced missile defense system known as THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) rolled through en route to a nearby installation site. The first elements of the THAAD system were delivered to South Korea in early March. South Korea and the United States said the sole purpose of the advanced THAAD system is to defend against missile launches from North Korea. While China opposes THAAD, calling it a threat to its own security, it has spoken out against North Korea's missile and nuclear tests and has supported U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang. Most recently, on April 16, North Korea conducted a failed missile test in defiance of increased U.S. warnings that there would be serious consequences for such provocative actions, including a possible military response. North Korea also is believed to be preparing for a sixth nuclear weapons test, ignoring Chinas protest and severe economic sanctions by the international community. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump invited all 100 U.S. senators to the White House for a classified briefing that will primarily concern North Korea. While lawmakers often receive classified briefings on Capitol Hill, it is rare for them to take place at the White House and for the entire Senate to be involved in one event. These unusual consultations occurred when the United States and Japan were conducting joint naval exercises in waters west of Korean Peninsula. In theory, Michele LaNoue loves President Donald Trump's proposal this week that would slash tax rates on corporations. The CEO of Headworks International, a Houston company that makes wastewater treatment systems, says she would reinvest the savings in more staff and equipment. But there's a problem. That large of a tax cut, which experts have estimated would cost between $4 trillion and $6 trillion over 10 years, could leave one of her main customers local governments gasping for breath. "If you have less money to spend on infrastructure, it only continues to collapse," says LaNoue, who would have preferred to see the massive infrastructure plan that Trump has long promised but not delivered. "That would have been a way to generate jobs, rather than this trickle-down theory." LaNoue's reaction is just one small example of how Trump's tax cut plan, while generally welcomed by corporate America, would still create winners and losers in the unlikely event that it passed Congress in anything like its current form. A huge corporate tax cut for most The plan offered on Wednesday fits on one page with lots of white space and leaves lots of unanswered questions. But the main parameters a 60 percent cut in the corporate tax rate in exchange for the elimination of most tax breaks amount to a huge windfall for corporations. That's because tax breaks aren't worth as much money as companies would save by going from a 35 percent tax rate to a 15 percent tax rate, under Trump's plan. The oil industry and gas industry, for example, benefits from about $4 billion a year in various tax exemptions by one estimate a fraction of the value of the overall reduction in rates. The plan would be especially lucrative for Houston's multinational businesses, since it includes switching to a "territorial tax," which exempts income generated overseas. Although details have yet to be worked out, according to University of Houston tax law professor Bret Wells, previous proposed versions of territorial taxes have even allowed companies to deduct the cost of workers who support overseas activity. "That would be a huge issue for Houston," Wells says, given the number of global businesses with large offices here. Companies could even end up with a negative tax rate, he says, meaning the government writes them a check instead of the other way around. Getting rid of the tax code's myriad deductions could also disadvantage certain people and priorities. Texas' many oil and gas royalty owners, for example, would lose a deduction that reduces their taxable income by 15 percent. Also, getting rid of the research and development tax credit could diminish the competitiveness of U.S. businesses over time, and scrapping renewable energy tax credits could pose a challenge for the solar industry. Tax breaks complicate the tax code, but each of them was established for a reason and each has constituencies that will fight for them. Getting rid of them is easier said than done. Trickle down in theory, not in practice Despite the popularity of lowering taxes, conservative Republicans may object to the massive cost of the plan and the likelihood of adding to a national debt of nearly $20 trillion. Trump administration officials have promised that the plan will "pay for itself" by stimulating rapid economic expansion, a theory popularized by President Ronald Reagan's economic team. Although economists say that tax cuts over the years have prompted some growth, it hasn't been nearly enough to make up for the lost government revenues. Why is that? In Houston, for example, some businesses would reinvest the tax savings into new staff and equipment, if they're in expansion mode like Headworks International. A one-time low tax on cash brought back into the country from overseas operations could also spur local investment by companies headquartered here. But plenty of companies may choose instead to sock away the cash as a hedge against uncertainty, or distribute it to shareholders. Imtiaz Munshi, an accountant and business advisor in Sugar Land, works with small and medium-size businesses. He says that his clients' decisions are driven by larger factors, such as demand for their products and overall economic conditions, rather than the possibility of a tax break. So, any savings they might realize from Trump's tax plan are unlikely to change decisions to invest, expand or hire. "My struggling clients won't find any change because their profits aren't being taxed at the maximum rate to begin with," says Munshi. "My successful clients will probably just withdraw the extra money from their business to build up their personal savings." Those who would really lose out from Trump's tax plan are those who depend on government programs for housing, health care, and retirement. Lower income families would benefit from a higher standard deduction, but many would be hurt by the repeal of the 3.8 percent tax on high income families that pays for insurance subsidies in the Affordable Care Act. Some businesses are concerned about the consequences of an exploding federal debt. If it gets too much larger, Michele LaNoue fears that international creditors will lose faith in the nation's ability to pay them back, which would in turn make it more difficult for her to import components and borrow money. "The deficit ballooning out of proportion will affect all of our business," LaNoue says. "It's lovely to think about a 15 percent tax, but in the long term, we have to be viable as businesses and the economy." Deputies with the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office will soon have some extra protection on the street thanks to some of their residents. On Friday, the constable's office will be presented with 132 rifle ballistic vests that were paid for by people who live in their precinct. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A lawyer for Dannenbaum Engineering is questioning whether an FBI raid Wednesday of several of the firm's offices was a publicity stunt. Federal agents descended on the Houston, Laredo, San Antonio and McAllen offices of Dannenbaum Engineering, a locally based firm headed by prolific political donor and former University of Texas System Regent James Dannenbaum. FBI officials would not comment on the nature of their investigation into Dannenbaum Engineering, one of the state's premier firms for infrastructure planning and design. In a statement released Friday, Joel Androphy, counsel for Dannenbaum Engineering, accused an "FBI spokesperson" of referring to public safety threats as a way to up the media coverage of the incident. He later clarified he was referencing a statement published Wednesday in the San Antonio Express News from FBI spokeswoman Michelle Lee, in which she told the public there were no public safety threats in the locations the FBI was raiding. "While we can't discuss the nature of the work we are doing, there is no public safety threat at the locations where we are present," Lee wrote in an email. "That's not an appropriate remark to make," Androphy said later to the Chronicle. Androphy also questioned whether federal employees gave sensitive investigative information to news outlets. He added the firm will consider asking for an investigation and federal ethics probe into possible leaks. "The FBI raids on the company offices raise some troubling questions about the government's conduct and intentions in this evolving situation," Androphy wrote in the statement. "The FBI raids appear to have been orchestrated by the government for maximum news coverage in at least four Texas news media markets." A statement issued Friday from the San Antonio FBI office said while it is standard policy for the agency to neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation, FBI and Department of Justice policy allows limited disclosure of information for legitimate law enforcement and public safety purposes. Information about law enforcement activity at Dannenbaum Engineering offices was not "leaked" or released proactively, the statement said. "Rather, it was carefully and thoughtfully provided in response to specific inquiries, some identifying concerns from the community that the 'evacuation' of public buildings, and the presence of the FBI, may indicate a public safety threat," the statement said. Androphy is a legal analyst for ABC13, the news outlet that appears to have been the first to report about the raid in the Houston area. Agents took control of Dannenbaum Engineering's building at 3100 West Alabama on Wednesday morning and told employees to leave. Androphy declined to comment on any connections between his role at ABC13 and his statement about possible leaks. He also declined to elaborate to which news outlets federal employees may have leaked information. Androphy added in his statement he had been in touch with federal authorities for weeks. In that time, federal authorities had not requested any of the company's documents. The firm would have voluntarily given FBI agents all of the records they instead seized, Androphy said. "Lost in the rush of breaking-news TV and website reports was the presumption of innocence for Dannenbaum Engineering management and employees," Androphy wrote. He added that the Dannenbaum firm continues to cooperate with federal authorities regarding the collection of materials at its company offices this week. Dannenbaum, a 77-year-old businessman who was tied to a series of FBI raids in El Paso a decade ago, has a slew of ongoing contracts with Houston and Harris County. The engineering firm currently has offices in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, as well as the locations targeted in Wednesday's raids. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Next week, anchorman Dave Ward will, at long, long, long last, say "Goodnight, friends" and leave Channel 13 after 50 years on the air. Tucked under his arm will be a proclamation from Guinness World Records. "The longest career as a television broadcaster, achieved by Dave Ward (USA), who began working on 9, November 1964 and continues anchoring at KTRK-TV in Houston, Texas USA." Once Ward exits, the new dean of Houston TV news will be Bill Balleza of Channel 2 (KPRC). Amazingly, Balleza has a contract with Channel 2 that will take him past the half-century mark, too. Long live the new king! "My current contract expires in 2021, 50 years after my first job as a TV news reporter in 1971," Balleza said. "I comfort myself with the knowledge that I never expected to do this well in life; neither did any of my teachers in school. Several of them did mention that my voice carries, although I'm not sure they were suggesting it might lead to gainful employment." Here we go: 10 odd questions for Bill Balleza, Houston's new longest-running television newsman. 1. How does it feel to be the dean of Houston anchors? "When Steve Smith (former anchor at Channel 11 KHOU-TV) and I co-anchored in the 1970s, I asked him what he thought about my chances of one day becoming a main anchor. He wasn't optimistic. Dave Ward told me, without me asking him, that it would never happen. "Ron Stone (former Channel 2 anchor) knew I wanted his job, so I didn't dare ask him. But when Stone retired 27 years ago, I became the main anchor at Channel 2. Now that Ward has retired, I feel like the star of 'Survivor.' " 2. What is it about Houston that makes TV anchors stick around so long? "You have to wonder why Houston has had only a handful of main anchors over the past 50 years. Both Stone and Smith left for eastern markets but only briefly. Both returned within two years. Stone used to joke that in Houston, he had reached the peak of a mediocre career. As a group we all clawed our way to the middle and decided this was far enough." 3. Did you ever want to leave Houston and move on up like the Jeffersons to New York, Los Angeles or Chicago? "I actually did have a few offers to leave. Paula Zahn tried to get me to join her in Los Angeles, but when I went to interview for the job, the news director told me he drank four Wink sodas in less than an hour. When I told him I decided to stay in Houston, he said, 'OK, see you on another planet someday.' "I also had a job offer from CNN in 1981, but I was actually making more money at Channel 2 than they were willing to pay." 4. Were you, Ron Stone, Dave Ward and Steve Smith buddies or dreaded enemies with old-fashioned show-business feuds? "We always got along pretty well, but we were all very competitive. Keep in mind I actually co-anchored with both Stone and Ward for a time, but we didn't hang out. It wasn't like the movies. It was like television, if you know what I mean." 5. Do you owe it to young reporters to be a teacher and role model? "I don't think I've ever had, nor been, a role model in this business. But I have mentored quite a few students who wanted to become reporters. It's been rewarding to see those who stuck with it and actually launched careers, which is one of the toughest things in the world to do." 6. You will hit 50 years in TV news at the end of your current contract. Do you stick around after that and pass Dave Ward for longevity? "I will not be able to surpass Dave Ward's longevity in one regard. He spent 50 years at one station. I will have worked at Channel 2 only 41 years when I retire in 2021. But I will have 50 years in the business, and I am the longest-running anchor at Channel 2." 7. If you didn't get into TV news, what do you think you would have done with your life, except for the obvious - rodeo clown? "Had I not gotten into television news, I don't know what I would have become since I have no marketable skills other than reading out loud. I thought about staying in the Marines, but the first Mrs. Balleza wasn't having it. So I got out and went to college. I majored in broadcasting because there was no math requirement." 8. How long have you and Dominique Sachse been anchoring together? Have you ever slipped up and called your wife "Dominique?" "Dominque and I have been working together longer (23 years) than any anchor team in Houston television history. Right now I hold the record as her longest male relationship, too. We do hang out, but Frank (weatherman Frank Billingsley) is usually right there in the middle." 9. Do you talk in your anchorman's voice in real life? "I don't have your traditional anchorman voice and could never compete with the pipes of Stone, Ward and Smith. Still, people usually say they recognize my voice before they recognize my face. The only difference between my voice on air and my voice in person is that I'm much more dynamic and energetic on air. After all, authenticity is 90 percent of this business, and once you can fake that " 10. What's the most embarrassing thing you've done or said on the air - that made you want to duck down behind the desk and never come up? "I killed Lady Bird Johnson on air. Reporting on the death of Ann Richards in 2006, I said the former governor's death had come as Texans were still mourning the recent passing of Lady Bird Johnson. I had meant to say Nellie Connally, the former first lady of Texas, who had passed away seven days earlier. Several people immediately let me know I should apologize to Lady Bird, which I did." Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo spoke vehemently against Senate Bill 4 Thursday afternoon, calling it a dangerous move by the state Legislature because it would redirect limited HPD resources from crime fighting efforts to an initiative that does not improve public safety. Acevedo did not share if HPD would alter its policies if SB 4 were to become law. However, he made it clear during the afternoon presser he would make public safety a priority over policies he believe are unrelated. MORE ON SB 4: House gives final approval to 'sanctuary cities' bill I am carrying out my sworn duty and moral duty to speak out on matters of public safety. And Im not here to keep a job to do it, he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Godofredo A. Vasquez/PoliceSuicide Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Getty Images Show More Show Less He said the message from City Hall has also been clear ... do whatever you need to do to make the city safe. The issue revolves around a provision in the bill that prevents departments from prohibiting their officers from asking about a person's immigration status. If made into law, the current HPD policy would be a violation. The Texas House gave final approval Thursday to the bill that would grant sweeping new powers to police officers in the state by allowing them to question a person's immigration status if they have been stopped with reasonable suspicion. The chamber passed Senate Bill 4, a priority item for Gov. Greg Abbott this session, on a party-line vote with 94 Republicans in support and 53 Democrats against. The legislation would force police to honor all federal requests to detain people suspected of being in the country illegally until federal authorities can investigate the person's status. It also would prohibit local jurisdictions from passing or enforcing an ordinance that prohibits police officers from inquiring about a detained person's immigration status, which would nullify the Houston Police Department's 1990 policy on the matter. If that language does not get removed were going to have some negative consequences, Acevedo said. TRUMP VS. SANCTUARY CITIES: Here's what could be next for Trump's sanctuary cities order Police departments across the state, including Houston, are understaffed, he said. And the bill would diminish those already limited resources, he added. Just this year Acevedo announced plans to target high-crime areas and violent documented gang members. He also announced a joint effort with the Texas Department of Public Safety to decrease violent crime in the area by creating two squad assigned to the initiative. However, he believes SB4 may affect those plans. We dont have the resources, nor do we have the bandwidth nor the desire to be ICE agents. If I wanted to work for ICE, I wouldve applied for ICE, he said. JUDGES VS. TRUMP: When a judge quotes Sean Spicer, it's not a good sign for the White House Acevedos worry is that a police officers duty and the proposed policy will create a divide among departments throughout the state. While police officers are sworn to protect, he says the bill could open the door for harassment. I will lose my ability and authority to direct (my officers) workflow, he said. ... And all of sudden Ill have a police officer that wants to go off and play ICE agent all day. He went on to add he hopes that isnt the case, but that perception would be damaging for Houston particularly on immigrant communities. A few weeks ago, Acevedo said the number of crimes reported by Hispanics decreased within the first three months of 2017. He said he believes the decrease is built on a perception that even a person who reports a crime is at risk of deportation. WHITE HOUSE: Officials in 'sanctuary cities' have 'the blood of dead Americans on their hands' That isnt good, he said. The perception were going to create is going to have a tremendously chilling effect on the immigrant community. If we create the perception or environment where people will not step forward, were in deep trouble. Lastly, Acevedo said the bill is forcing a mandate of police departments, which strays from law enforcement's main goal. "Police officers joined this noble profession ... because they wanted to make a difference. A difference in the lives of the people we serve. They can pass all these silly amendments (that try to turn) us into ICE agents, but cops aren't interested in that," he said. Reporter Bobby Cervantes contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The piece: "Julio Iglesias" The artist: Debra Barrera Where: In her solo show "Menina" at Moody Gallery, through May 13 Why: An artist revisiting childhood: How to dip into the vat of memories without drawing out too much sentimentality or wallowing in whatever pains one still carries, so that viewers want to know more? Debra Barrera has found a good metaphor in the living and dining rooms of her childhood home in Corpus Christi. Her mother decorated those rooms opulently with paintings of faux Dutch still lifes, gold tassels hanging from lamp shades and pistachio green velvet pillows. But nobody spent time there, enjoying it all: The rooms were off-limits except during special occasions, like "monuments to lavish events that never took place and a stage set for faraway places utopic and unattainable." Barrera always seems to be searching for an Avalon that was the subject of her 2013 exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. With "Menina," we see the yearning of a young Hispanic girl. Selena might have been her hometown's iconic goddess, but it looks like Barrera longed, at some point, to have golden hair. The show's title refers to Velasquez' famous painting "Las Meninas," which Barrera saw as a child. She connected with the Infanta, she writes. "We were both young girls surrounded, adorned and imposed by a timeless aesthetic persistence: A nonconfrontational beauty in the wake of a power we did not know we possessed." The sculptures and drawings on display sparsely make me wonder if the minimal aesthetic Barrera has embraced during this still-early-ish stage of her career is a rebellion against her childhood. I like the half-dozen botanical portraits best, because they surprised me. My first reaction: What? Then I saw the title "Julio Iglesias" on one. Against black backdrops, in the style of the Old Masters, the arrangements look destined for a funeral home. Seems like a fine way to acknowledge the past, celebrate it and let it go. Acknowledge Gray Matters, celebrate it and bookmark it. Chaotic attempts to "repeal and replace" or simply destroy the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continue: the House GOP are devising new ACA repeal alternatives; President Trump says he could refuse to pay Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs) to insurance companies; and a new amendment to the previously rejected AHCA bill contravenes the ban on preexisting conditions and has led the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to warn that 25 million Americans between 50-64 could lose health coverage under the so-called MacArthur Amendment alone. Our members of Congress should reject these blatant attempts to hold the health insurance of millions of Americans hostage. And they should include the CSRs that help our low-income neighbors afford care. Breaking news reports that CSRs will be continued "for now" do little to help long term. Temporary assurances are not enough; we need a firm funding commitment for the rest of 2017, 2018 and until we have negotiated a permanent solution. Contrary to irresponsible rumors, the ACA is stable, and more insurers are planning to reenter in 2018. If CSRs are withheld, though, millions more who buy insurance through the Marketplace are at risk of losing their access to care. CSRs have helped more than 200,000 in the greater Houston area alone afford doctor visit copayments, X-rays and other services. In fact, CSRs are one of the last things anyone should remove from the ACA, since a great thing about them is the "sharing." As CEO of Community Health Choice, a nonprofit health insurer, I believe our system is stronger when we all make investments in our own lives. CSRs help us offer lower priced health insurance to qualifying individuals and families. In 2016, we were able to provide $50 million worth of savings to our Marketplace Members. CSRs are crucial to the stability of insurers like us operating under the ACA. What does cost-sharing mean in real terms? Consider this hardworking young Texas family with a preschool daughter: Dad is a diner cook, Mom is a child care assistant. Their combined earnings are $30,000 a year. After making payments for housing, their car, groceries, utilities, there isn't much left, but some of what's saved can go for important expenses like health insurance. Most restaurant and child care workers don't have employer-sponsored coverage, but here's good news: During ACA open enrollment, this family would have been able to purchase a Community Health Choice "Silver" plan with Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTC) and CSRs. Their monthly premium would have averaged $60; taking their daughter to the doctor would have cost only $10 out of pocket. In this scenario, the family is still contributing they pay the monthly premiums and meet the deductibles and copayments but the ACA and CSRs have helped make both their coverage and care truly affordable. Simply, CSRs are federal tax dollars that have come home to help Texans and reimburse health insurers for having initially covered the difference for lower deductibles and copayments. Working adults and families making between $12,000 and $30,000 a year who purchase Silver plans qualify for lower deductibles and copayments (thanks to cost-sharing reductions) so they do not have to skip care. In 2016 alone, we used CSRs to help 55,000 people making between $12,000 and $30,000 afford access to high-quality health care at providers like UT Physicians, Baylor College of Medicine, Memorial Hermann, Kelsey Seybold, and St. Luke's Hospital. Without CSRs, our formerly eligible members would have paid 20 percent or more for their health insurance. For that Texas family I described and many like them CSRs make the difference in whether they can afford to visit the doctor at all. A study by the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) and the research group Milliman pegged CSRs nationally at about $4.9 billion in 2015, or roughly 8 percent of earned Marketplace premium for all insurers. In Texas in 2015, CSRs contributed more than $46 million for health insurers to help offset costs for more than 140,700 Texans. If Congress leaves CSRs unfunded, health plans in the Marketplaces will be hurt, and many will leave the Marketplace. My organization wants to fulfill our mission and continue to open doors of access to high-quality health care in 2018. However, mixed signals from and between Congress and the Trump Administration make it impossible to know how to plan for next year. If CSRs are unfunded, insurers will be forced to raise prices for all 150,000 people covered in the Marketplace by 20 percent or more to cover the loss of funds the ACA clearly intended to be paid by the federal government. And few health plans would be able to sustain unplanned expenses of such a magnitude. Fortunately, the Texas Congressional delegation can act to foster a more stable business environment for health plans by appropriating CSR funds as part of the Continuing Resolution to prevent the government from shutting down. My organization joins the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Republican and former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D. and leaders across the nation in calling to extend CSRs. Congress: The next steps are yours. Help keep us working for Texans. First: Drop the destructive "repeal" machinations that would penalize people with preexisting conditions and hurt older and more vulnerable Americans, and let us work with you on the real ACA reforms needed. Second: Appropriate CSR funding into a Continuing Resolution and pass it; when President Trump signs it, the doors of access to health care will stay open for hard-working Texans. Ken Janda (@HealthyTexans) is president and CEO of Community Health Choice, a nonprofit insurer covering the health of nearly half a million Houstonians. He is an adjunct professor at Rice University's Jones School of Business and an active board member for community and philanthropic organizations. Bookmark Gray Matters, contrary to irresponsible rumors. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Scott Brady didn't point to his success as a partner in Joiner Architects when paying tribute to his mom or even tout his brother's rank as a colonel in the U.S. Army. Brady's mom, Sharon Mittag, has eight children, 16 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. But Brady didn't use any of them to illustrate the strength, kindness and love of his mother. Instead, he pointed to a boy named Calvin who lived down the street "on a dirt road that led to nowhere." Calvin, Brady said, was the same age as one of his brothers and practically lived at Brady's house. "Calvin didn't have a father around and his mom was rarely there either," Brady said. "But my mom made sure he had a hot meal, clean clothes to wear, a ride to school, lunch money if he needed it and, from time to time, a loving hug." Brady was one of three speakers at the sixth annual Mothers are Jewels Luncheon hosted by FamilyTime Crisis and Counseling Center on Thursday, April 20. Other speakers were Precinct 4, Place 2 Justice of the Peace Laryssa Korduba and local business owner Dorothy Alspaugh. Calvin ended up graduating from Humble High School, becoming an airline mechanic with Continental and raising a family. He now lives in a nice home in Colorado, said Brady, adding Calvin recently told Brady's sister none of that would have been possible without Sharon Mittag. "And he's probably right," Brady said. "Calvin's sister and brother both died of drug and alcohol abuse before the age of 40. "My mom was always sacrificing for others and each of her children, and I know she gave up many of her dreams so that we could fulfill ours. She was always there pushing us to excel beyond what each of us thought was possible." Brady's dad died when he was 6, leaving his mom a 28-year-old widow with five children. But Brady's only realized since he's grown up how strong his mom must have been to keep the family together, instilling discipline in each of her children and never failing to miss a school event. Meanwhile, he said, she must have been in total anguish having to move on without the father of her children. "I just hope I can touch as many people as she has, just like Calvin," Brady said. Korduba grew up without a mother, which she said shaped her into an independent, strong woman. Korduba spoke on her challenge as being a mother of four deaf children. With no proven reason as to why her children were either born deaf or lost their hearing, Korduba said her experience taught her a great deal about the people in her life. "What it taught me was through the love of a spouse. Through the love of people that are in your life by choice you can make it through anything," Korduba said. All four of her children have cochlear implants and currently attend private Catholic school. "We are proud to announce that all of them are in private catholic schools doing well, and they can sing every single word to every 'Frozen' song," Korduba said. One day, she hoped, one of her children will be booked at the Mothers Are Jewels luncheon to talk about her. Carolyn Wise, co-chair of the luncheon, and Lori Scherr organized the fundraiser to raise money for FamilyTime Crisis and Counseling Center, which is working to build a new shelter. "Notice it was not a Mother's Day luncheon," Wise said. "I thought it would be a perfect way to honor our mothers, those living and those that are deceased, so I did this in honor of my mom." Wise said each year they invite different community figures to speak about how their mother influenced their lives, giving them the perfect opportunity to share their story with others. "The best part of the luncheon is having them tell the whole community how wonderful their mother is. It's the best Mother's Day gift someone can give to their mother because you can't purchase it," Wise said. Building a new shelter is top priority, and having The Overlook as the presenting sponsor of the luncheon alleviated some of the expenses. "We want to build a new shelter. Last year, we turned away a thousand men, women and children because we don't have enough room," Wise said. Part of the plan, Wise said, is to look for someone in the Humble area willing to donate a strip of land to use for the new shelter. "We need to build a new shelter and we would like to find someone who will donate land in Humble. It has to be in Humble," she said. Editor's Note: See video of Dorothy Alspaugh at chron.com After a wave of illnesses had children staying home from a Humble ISD elementary school this week, officials sought to determine the cause while assuring the public they were acting to prevent the spread of any virus. The inside of a school bus that serves Woodland Hills Elementary School was disinfected during a news conference held at the Humble ISD bus barn Thursday. The fog, or spray, is electrified water with minerals. According to Roger Brown, assistant superintendent of support services for Humble ISD, the spray kills 99.9 percent of all bacteria and germs "We're treating it as a virus and bacteria," Brown said. This was the same spray used to disinfect the elementary school. Brown said it is completely safe to touch and be around. The district plans to repeat the disinfection treatments again Thursday evening and Friday evening. The buses that serve Woodland Hills also have routes for other Humble ISD schools. However, the illness seemed to be contained to the elementary school. "We continue to monitor our schools and our attendance to see if there's any other issues at any other facilities," Brown said. "So far that hasn't proven to be an issue." Brown said the illness seems to be affecting children in the lower grade levels the most. Although there have been some staff members who were absent due to the illness, Brown said the number of staff absences were not significantly different from other campuses. "It's certainly unusual to have this number of students to fall out with an illness like that all at one time," Brown said. "Not knowing what it is yet, we wanted to be proactive and address the school and the classrooms so that our students and families can feel good about the fact that this school's been addressed, and this bacteria or virus or whatever it may turn out to be, we're tackling it." City of Houston health inspectors examined the school's kitchens Thursday and determined they were safe. Brown said boxed meals were served Thursday as a precaution, but that the school would resume serving regular meals Friday. While a cause has not yet been determined, the district does not believe the illness was food-related. Humble ISD was previously working with Harris County on this case; however, Woodland Hills is located in Kingwood, which is the city of Houston. The city's health department assumed charge of the case Thursday. "Originally, I believe Harris County thought it might be a Norovirus, but because we do not have any test results yet, we're not willing to speculate on what it is or is not," said Kathy Barton with the city health department. Norovirus is a highly contagious infection spread by contact or by contaminated food or surfaces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the city health department has not ruled anything in or out at this point, Barton said this is not the first time she has seen cases similar to this. "We see norovirus outbreaks in schools," Barton said. "Anytime you have a captive audience, that's where you notice it ... When it happens in a closed environment like a school, or a dormitory, or a cruise ship, or a jail, you notice and it makes a lot of news. It is highly infectious and it has a pretty good attack rate once it gets circulating in a closed group." Barton said the health department is working to obtain specimens from infected individuals in order to run tests. "We are waiting to find out if anybody went to a doctor and got any specimens collected and, if not, then we'll try to find some specimens to collect," Barton said. "But in the meantime, the school is doing a good job at sending kids who are sick home and parents need to keep sick kids home." If it is norovirus, a person is infectious at the onset of symptoms and for approximately two days after symptoms stop. In such a case, she said, it would be important for infected children to stay home for a couple of extra days to prevent the illness from spreading. Brown said Woodland Hills would be open Friday, and Barton said the health department has not made a recommendation, based on their observations thus far, to close the school. As far as identifying the illness, Barton said they may see results Friday. "We might also expect that the situation would be much improved by Monday just because of the timing," Barton said. "They had a high absentee rate today, but not necessarily were all those kids sick. There could have been some sick kids, there could have been some kids kept home for precaution, and then some kids may have gone to work with their parents because today was Take Your Kid to Work Day." mfeuk@hcnonline.com Smoke a joint as an adult at home in Los Angeles, and it's perfectly legal. Carry pot in Fayetteville, Ark., and you might get a warning from police. Caught with marijuana in Philly? Pay a civil fine. Pack a bowl in Houston starting Wednesday, and you could end up in drug education class for four hours. A new policy set to roll out this week puts Harris County at the forefront of national efforts to keep small-time pot smokers out of jail, joining a growing move to relax or eliminate criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Anyone found with less than 4 ounces - a misdemeanor under Texas law - now will have the option to avoid criminal charges altogether. It's one of the "more extensive pretrial marijuana diversion programs in the nation," said Miriam Krinsky, a board member of Harvard Law School's Fair Punishment Project. "This is the first of many steps by prosecutors to advance thoughtful, smart and fair approaches to criminal justice practices." Rules vary from city to city and state to state. Eight states and the District of Columbia have made even recreational use of marijuana legal, and 20 other states have approved medical marijuana. In states where pot is not legal, some cities and counties have instead replaced jail time with fines or community service or made possession a civil, rather than criminal, violation. More Information Marijuana enforcement varies widely Harris County: Up to 4 ounces (one-quarter pound) allows pre-charge diversion to a four-hour drug education class. New York: Up to 25 grams (nearly an ounce) is punishable by a summons, with no criminal record. Los Angeles: Up to 8 grams of concentrated cannabis is legal for those 21 and older. Chicago: Up to 15 grams of a substance containing cannabis is punishable by a citation and fine up to $500 for the first offense, and $500 for subsequent violations within 30 days. A drug education program also may be imposed. New Orleans: Up to 40 ounces (2.5 pounds) is punishable as a criminal municipal offense by a fine of $40 on the first infraction. The fine increases by $20 with each subsequent violation up to a fourth conviction. Philadelphia: Up to 30 grams is punishable by a civil citation and $25 fine. Pittsburgh: Up to 30 grams is punishable as a summary violation and $25 fine. Nashville, Tenn.: Up to one-half ounce of cannabis is punishable by a $50 civil fine. Orlando, Fla.: Up to 20 grams is punishable as a civil infraction with a fine or substance abuse class for the first or second offense. See More Collapse Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg's new policy to allow a drug-education class without a citation or arrest seems to be unique, however, by keeping offenders out of court even for larger amounts of marijuana than most cities allow. RELATED: California man arrested in Texas emblematic of national conflict over medical marijuana "I would venture to say that the plan for Harris County, as Ogg has presented it, edges toward the more progressive end," said Katharine Neill, the Glassell Fellow in Drug Policy at Rice's Baker Institute. The issue remains a political push and pull. Law enforcement officers across Texas are sharply divided. A bill to decriminalize possession has been proposed in the state Legislature but is unlikely to pass. The Trump administration announced last week plans for renewed enforcement against recreational marijuana use, particularly in states where it is legal. And Texas cities such as El Paso, Fort Worth and Sugar Land continue to arrest offenders and put them in jail, if only for a few hours. What results is a patchwork of approaches and an ongoing debate. Did Harris County take it too far? Or not far enough? The spectrum of options is vast. Jurisdictions can simply issue directives to police. They can alter the punishment. Or they can adjust the very nature of how the crime is - or is not - charged. But the reasoning is remarkably consistent: Save police time. Better use taxpayer dollars. Keep non-violent offenders out of jail. Following the leaders In Harris County, law enforcement officers who find probable cause to arrest someone with fewer than four ounces of marijuana will do two things: confiscate the drugs and have the person sign a contract promising to take the drug education class. The pot and paperwork will be dropped off at the station at the end of the shift. If the offenders complete the class, the drugs are destroyed, the contract is filed away and there remains neither an arrest nor court record. If they don't, an arrest warrant will be issued and a regular criminal case filed. The program leaves no paper trail for offenders and encompasses up to 4 ounces, which would fill about two sandwich bags with the leafy green plant. It's not an amount that would protect drug dealers, but it safeguards personal uses, said Dr. William Kelly, the director of the University of Texas at Austin's Center for Criminology and Criminal Justice. READ MORE: New policy to decriminalize marijuana in Harris County will save time, money, DA's office says "Our problem in this country is not recreational drug use, it's substance-use problems, people who get addicted or dependent or are abusing drugs," he said. "We have criminalized substance-use disorders for decades when the reality is that it is really a public health problem." By comparison, New York and Chicago have already taken steps to decriminalize marijuana. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton in late 2014 announced a policy to allow police to issue a summons instead of arresting someone with a small amount of marijuana, and no criminal record follows. In Chicago, possession of any substance containing cannabis brings a citation and possible fine. California voters several months ago passed a proposition to make possession by adults legal for recreational use. But it took two years of work in Illinois to pass a state policy similar to the citation program approved in Chicago, state Sen. Heather Steans said. "To date, knock on wood, it seems to be going well," Steans said. The new rules for Harris County emerged like an island in a state that, on the whole, treats marijuana possession harshly. It replicates a similar pattern in Florida, where Miami-Dade County has given police the option of issuing civil citations but the city of Miami has not. Mixed reactions Movement on the issue has occurred in Texas since at least 2007, when the Legislature passed a bill that allowed local jurisdictions to use cite-and-release programs to issue tickets instead of hauling people to jail. The city of Austin took up the offer. In 2009 - under the helm of Art Acevedo, who now leads the Houston Police Department - police there began using the new policy. The process holds people accountable and leaves them with a criminal record but saves officers time, Assistant Chief Troy Gay said. "You're always looking for ways to be more efficient and effective with the resources that you have," he said. Acevedo joined Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Sheriff Ed Gonzalez in backing Ogg's new policy. But not everyone has been receptive. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon said Ogg would turn Houston into a sanctuary city for low-level drug crimes. Sheriffs in surrounding counties have said they do not agree with the plan. Officials in Fort Worth held firm on arrests for marijuana possession, and in El Paso, possession of even one joint will lead to arrest and jail. San Antonio officers, however, stress they can use their discretion in deciding when to make an arrest. RELATED: Reaction strong from both sides on DA's plan to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana Closer to home, Fort Bend County District Attorney John Healey said he doesn't condemn the actions in Harris County, but he doesn't plan to replicate them. "It is the law," Healey said. "It should be enforced, and I believe it benefits the populace to do so." Dallas City Councilman Philip Kingston, however, said he plans next month to renew efforts for a cite-and-release program for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Efforts last year failed, but this time he expects it will easily pass because officials realize it affects minorities in far greater numbers than whites. "This is one of the most glaringly racially imbalanced laws that I've ever seen," he said. Other U.S. cities have started with small changes. In Fayetteville, voters passed a measure in 2008 that declared misdemeanor marijuana arrests a low priority for police. The move reinforced the unofficial policy in a city that is home to the University of Arkansas, where residents push to "Keep Fayetteville Funky." As Sgt. Craig Stout put it, there are "bigger fish to fry." In New Orleans - where people drink yard-long margaritas openly in the street - the City Council in 2010 unanimously adopted a far more lenient policy. There, possession of up to 2.5 pounds is treated as a criminal municipal offense but doesn't result in jail time. Instead, offenders pay a fine or complete community service. "We can't decriminalize it," said Council Member Susan Guidry, who pushed through the ordinance. "Only the state can do that. So we did what we could do to make it so that people are not going to jail for marijuana possession." The Philadelphia City Council pushed the boundary still further in 2014 by making possession of small amounts a civil violation, punishable by a fine. In Tennessee, Nashville and Memphis did the same. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said he was sold on the idea as a councilman after learning of the adverse effects marijuana arrests can have. People lost jobs, couldn't pay rent and became more likely to commit other crime, he and other advocates said. Work in progress The Harris County policy will remain a work in progress, even as officers begin diverting pot users out of the criminal justice system. Local law enforcement agencies have been briefed, and the new offender agreement forms have been drafted. Street-level officers should be ready when the new policy kicks in at midnight Tuesday. Possession in drug-free zones around schools will remain a crime, and users caught in those areas will not be eligible for the program. "There has been buy-in across the board," First Assistant District Attorney Tom Berg said. "The vast majority of comments are positive and that's across the political spectrum." The administration will continue to evaluate the program to make sure it is working as planned, including the estimated $26 million annually in savings for the jail, prosecutors, courts, defense attorneys, crime labs and officers' time. "We will monitor it," Berg said. "If it doesn't appear to be what we intended to do, we will tweak it and re-evaluate periodically." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York since 2009, will speak at the University of St. Thomas' May commencement ceremony despite student calls for the university to reconsider. Students say they are concerned about Dolan's role in handling sexual abuse allegations when he was archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee in the early 2000s. A petition calling for the private Montrose university to cancel the speech brought more than 100 signaturesin the last several days, and four students Thursday afternoon distributed leaflets from the heart of campus with photos of Dolan's face, media coverage of allegations against him and a link to an online petition. "Send it to everyone you know," said Victoria Villarreal, a senior studying communications, as she passed a flier to a woman. "I did," she responded. University President Robert Ivany said Thursday morning that he does not believe the criticism reflects general opinion on the 3,300-student campus. The university's governing board of directors selected Dolan to speak two years ago in a unanimous decision, he said. The university announced last week that he would speak at commencement. Before assuming his current role in New York, Dolan served as archbishop of Milwaukee from 2002 to 2009. Under his leadership, abusive priests were paid up to $20,000 for agreeing to be removed from the clergy. "Was it a payoff, was it a settlement, was it an impetus - I wouldn't say that, nor would I say it was a normal practice, but it was done," he said in a 2012 deposition about the payments. The payments, he said, were to help accused priests transition out of their positions and get medical insurance. Ordained as a priest in 1976, Dolan has served in Missouri, Washington, D.C., and Rome. He had a prominent role in President Donald Trump's inauguration, leading the nation in prayer from the Capitol moments before Trump took office. He was appointed to the College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. Last year, Dolan promoted a New York voluntary compensation program for priest abuse victims to bring healing and closure. Differing opinions In a communications class this spring, Villarreal and classmates watched the 2012 documentary "Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God." The film referenced allegations that Dolan, in Milwaukee, asked to move millions of dollars into a trust to block victims of clergy sexual abuse from potentially accessing that money. He has denied that accusation. "A lot of students don't know and are confused by (the allegations)," Villarreal said. "It takes explaining." Most signatories of the online petition who left a comment are students or relatives of students, she said. Some students were unconvinced. "The church holds him as a Cardinal. We have no place to say otherwise," said Greg Pirolli, a 21-year-old junior studying finance. Jacob Dilworth, a 22-year-old junior studying political science, added: "A Catholic institution inviting a Cardinal and then uninviting him is somewhat embarrassing to the university." Ivany, who will step down after this semester, plans to meet on Monday with graduate student association president Christina Cochran, who wrote him a letter outlining her concerns. He said he will listen to Cochran's criticisms but that Dolan will speak at commencement. 'Outraged' students Ivany said Thursday that Cochran's views do "not reflect in any way shape or form the attitude of the students of St. Thomas." "Students are outraged at this point," Cochran said by phone Wednesday. Dolan spoke at Le Moyne College's commencement in 2015 despite similar concerns. A spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York said in an email that Dolan "looks forward to delivering the commencement address." "He receives many requests to serve as a commencement speaker each year and is always well received," said spokesman Joseph Zwilling, who declined to comment on the campus criticism. WASHINGTON - Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Tuesday that he is "dubious about marijuana," hinting that the Trump administration could be ready to block states from selling it for recreational use. "States, you know, can pass whatever laws they choose, but I'm not sure we're going to be a better, healthier nation if we have marijuana being sold at every corner grocery store," he said in a speech at the National Association of Attorneys General. "We'll have to work our way through that." Sessions made his remarks after White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters last Thursday that the Department of Justice would use the federal law banning marijuana to crack down on recreational pot sales while allowing states to regulate the drug for medical use. Conflicting signals Voters in eight states have legalized recreational marijuana: Washington, Colorado, California, Massachusetts, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Alaska. The Obama administration's Justice Department gave states the green light to tax and regulate the drug as long as they promised to do a good job of policing themselves. But it will be up to Sessions to decide whether he wants to continue the largely hands-off approach or lead a new national crackdown. Legalization backers were quick to criticize Sessions for suggesting that pot might be sold "at every corner grocery store." "No states allow this," said Tom Angell, chairman of Marijuana Majority, a pro-legalization group. As a presidential candidate, Trump said that he would leave the question of legalization to individual states. But his choice of Sessions in November set off immediate panic among legalization backers. Sessions, a longtime opponent of legalization as a former Republican senator from Alabama, caused a stir last year when he said at a Senate hearing that "good people don't smoke marijuana." At his confirmation hearing in January, Sessions gave conflicting signals on what he would do. When Sessions was asked whether he would use federal resources to investigate and prosecute sick people who use medical marijuana, he replied: "I won't commit to never enforcing federal law." Less police monitoring Also Tuesday, Sessions indicated that the federal government would back away from monitoring troubled police departments, which was the central strategy of the Obama administration to force accountability onto local law enforcement against rising racial tensions. Sessions did not name any specific cities, but he blamed Justice Department scrutiny from afar for undermining the effectiveness of the police across the country. It was a clear reference to the aggressive efforts of the Obama administration to oversee law enforcement agencies charged with civil rights abuses. "We need, so far as we can, in my view, help police departments get better, not diminish their effectiveness," Sessions said in remarks to the attorney generals group. "And I'm afraid we've done some of that. So we're going to try to pull back on this, and I don't think it's wrong or mean or insensitive to civil rights or human rights." A market downturn could force Houston police officers to take a noticeable pay cut in the next decade as a result of a key provision of Mayor Sylvester Turner's pension reform plan, according to a new report from a local think tank. The report, released Thursday by the Arnold Foundation's Josh McGee, who also chairs the state Pension Review Board, speaks favorably of the reform plan Turner now is working to pass at the Legislature, saying it "would place the plans and the city on firmer financial footing" and would "accomplish key principles of responsible pension reform." However, McGee's analysis, with co-author Paulina Diaz Aguirre, also says the reform plan's so-called "corridor" provision - which would cap the city's future costs by having employees begin sharing the risk of market downturns - could produce "unsustainable" results. "The overall reform plan will be judged as a success or a failure based on how well this corridor mechanism works," McGee said. "It has a shot to work, but it's something that really needs to be monitored because of the potential negative effects on workers." Today the city must contribute more if a pension's investment returns fail to reach the plan's targets. Under the corridor provision, should the city's additional contributions exceed 5 percent of employee payroll, the pension plan's members would have to increase their contributions or take a cut in benefits. McGee's report uses the police pension to show that even minor gaps between the reform plan's underlying assumptions and market performance could produce tough decisions for the Houston Police Officers Pension System and its members. If that plan averages its target investment return of 7 percent over the next decade, there still is a 40 percent chance that it will hit the top of the corridor, and a one-in-three chance it will hit it twice, McGee wrote. If the plan averages a return of 6 percent, he wrote, the odds jump to one-in-two. Corridor concerns Over the past 10 years, the city's pension funds have averaged returns of 6.2 percent. Under Turner's reform plan, each time the corridor is breached, workers would be required to put 2.5 percent more of their paychecks toward their pensions, or accept equivalent benefit cuts. By McGee's math, that means the police fund has a 20 percent chance in the next decade of asking officers to put 10 percent more out of each paycheck toward their retirement benefits, or offsetting part of that increase with equivalent cuts in benefits. Kelly Dowe, the city's finance director and a chief architect of the reform plan, said McGee's concerns about the corridor must be weighed against the alternative: Forcing taxpayers to continue shouldering the full risk of rising costs. "The question is not, 'What does the corridor produce?' The question is, 'Who bears the risk if you have 5 percent investment returns?,'" Dowe said. "What we do without the corridor? We'd be back 15 years from now addressing these issues. Instead, we make the adjustments along the way rather than letting another $8 billion in debt pile up." It is likely higher employee contributions would be needed if the corridor is breached, Dowe said, but he added that the pension funds have other ways to cut that would limit changes in workers' take-home pay. Dowe also said McGee's models may have overstated the risk that the plan breaches the corridor. 'The wake-up call' By the city's math, if the police plan averages a return 5.9 percent over the next decade, it would have a 35 to 40 percent chance of hitting the corridor. Over 30 years, averaging 6.7 percent would give the fund a 40 to 45 percent chance of breaching that cap. Joe Newton, a police pension actuary, said every scenario in which returns average at least 6 percent for the first decade give the plan, at most, a 17 percent chance of hitting the cap. "The next decade is not where the risk is," Newton said. "In 20 years there are higher probabilities. The city would not have agreed to a corridor if it was never going to be hit. There's a reason it's there." The police fund was the only city pension McGee studied, though he said the fire pension would have a similar risk of breaching the corridor because of its large benefit promises; the municipal fund, with its smaller benefit promises, faces a lower risk. "The pension systems understand there's a risk associated with entering into this," said state Sen. Joan Huffman, who is sponsoring the reform legislation in the Senate and had read McGee's report. "There is a risk that we hit the corridor, but once we do I wanted to be assured for the taxpayers that the cost containment provisions kick in, and I believe that they will. My concern has always been that the corridor be airtight." State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican who has thrown Huffman's reform bill into doubt by proposing that voters be allowed to mandate 401(k)-style plans for new hires, stressed that McGee's report suggests such a move. "It's got four references to defined contribution and hybrid plans in it," Bettencourt said. "That's the wake-up call here for everybody." McGee noted most of the city's pension costs are related to accumulated debt, not current benefits, and acknowledged that a move to 401(k)-style "defined contribution" plans would not address that debt burden. Nonetheless, McGee, who often writes approvingly of defined contribution in his research, said the city should "consider" such a change for new workers to limit the buildup of new pension debt in the future. Progress made Turner pushed back on that idea. "If you're worried about putting risk on public employees like our police and firefighters," the mayor said, "you don't solve that problem by making them carry all of the risk with a defined contribution plan." Houston's chiefs of police and fire also issued statements questioning the wisdom of moving to 401(k)-style plans, saying such a change would undermine recruiting. Broadly, McGee's report lauds Turner's attempt to erase the city's $8.2 billion pension debt in 30 years by cutting worker benefits and preventing the city from underfunding its promises in the future. His report concludes with a call for action from the Legislature, which must sign off on the proposed reforms. "Without changes, the debt could spiral into a full-scale financial crisis. The city cannot allow that to happen. Its financial future hangs in the balance and will be decided in large part in the next month," McGee wrote. "Local leaders have made considerable progress. There is a deal on the table, and now is not the time to turn back. Houston's proposal represents meaningful progress toward establishing a fair and sustainable solution to the city's pension problems." AUSTIN - The Texas House's approval Thursday of a so-called "sanctuary cities" bill that would allow police officers to ask the immigration status of anyone they stop drew widespread condemnation from critics who said the measure will lead to racial profiling and is almost certain to enmesh the state in years of costly litigation. Meanwhile, a representative from the state's leading business group said she worried the bill could damage some of the Texas economy's most important industries, including construction and agriculture, which rely heavily on the labor of immigrants. "It could reduce the labor supply and have a negative impact on public safety, because fewer crimes may be reported," said Cathy DeWitt, the Texas Association of Business' vice president of governmental affairs. "We hope that lawmakers and Governor Abbott will keep those concerns in mind and try to mitigate them as much as possible as this bill continues to move through the process." At issue is Senate Bill 4- the latest flashpoint in the national debate over immigration and whether local law enforcement must help federal officials identify and detain illegal immigrants. The presence of thousands of immigrants in the country illegally has for at least the past decade animated the national Republican Party to push for a crackdown, now including President Donald Trump's border wall. This has been particularly true in border states like Arizona and Texas, where GOP officials have decried crimes committed by undocumented immigrants and complained about them taking jobs from Americans. The issue became a rallying cry for Trump during his victorious campaign last year and remains one of the most important issues for his supporters, in Texas and across America. "The purpose of this legislation is to protect Texans from criminals who are here illegally," said GOP Rep. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth, who authored the House bill, which was approved after a lengthy debate. "We are trying to make sure those bad actors are detained until we can determine their status. This bill will not affect law-abiding citizens, only those that are in trouble with the police." Senate Bill 4, however, drew early and sustained opposition from top law enforcement officials in many of the state's largest cities, including Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez and Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, who said Thursday the bill would redirect his department's limited crime-fighting resources to immigration-related actions. "We don't have the resources, nor do we have the bandwidth nor the desire to be ICE agents," Acevedo said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency charged with deporting immigrants in the country illegally. "If I wanted to work for ICE, I would've applied for ICE." On a 94-53 vote, the House gave final approval to SB 4, priority legislation for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, that would force police to honor all federal requests to detain people suspected of being in the country illegally until immigration authorities can investigate the person's status. Nullifies HPD policy The bill, passed on a party line vote, also grants sweeping new powers to officers by allowing them to question a person's immigration status if they have been stopped with reasonable suspicion. It also would prohibit local jurisdictions from passing or enforcing ordinances that prohibit police officers from inquiring about a detained person's immigration status, which would nullify a Houston Police Department policy dating back to 1990. HPD currently allows officers to contact immigration authorities only if someone is arrested on a criminal charge greater than a Class C misdemeanor and the officer knows the person is in the country illegally. The House and Senate agreed on the bill's major enforcement provisions, which would impose hefty fines on local governments in violation of the legislation and could lead to the criminal prosecution of Texas sheriffs and police chiefs who do not comply. In such a case, a sheriff or jailer could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $4,000, or both. Such a charge effectively would force an elected sheriff, if convicted, out of his job and bar him for life from working as a police officer or jailer in Texas. But the House-approved bill also attracted immediate threats of a legal challenge focused on whether the bill, should it become law, would lead to racial profiling complaints similar to those in Arizona after that state passed what then was known as the harshest anti-immigrant law in the nation. Legal experts compared the Texas bill to the 2010 Arizona measure, commonly referred to by opponents as the "show me your papers" law, which required police officers to make a reasonable attempt to determine someone's immigration status if they suspected the person is in the country illegally. The U.S. Supreme Court gutted much of the law in 2012, ruling that Arizona could not overstep the federal government's immigration enforcement authority. However, the high court allowed the "show me your papers" provision to stand. While SB 4 does not require officers to inquire about a person's citizenship during police interactions, it does enable officers to ask under almost any circumstance. Terri Burke, executive director of the ACLU of Texas, said the bill in its current form invites police officers to engage in racial profiling and could lead to the unlawful detention of immigrants and natural-born citizens alike. She cited a 2015 Supreme Court ruling that said extending detention by as few as eight minutes beyond what is "reasonably required" could violate the Constitution. Tearful speeches before vote The vote sends the measure back to the Senate, which approved its own slightly stiffer version of the bill in February. The Senate can agree with the House's version or request a conference committee to iron out differences. The Senate bill, for example, bars local governments from receiving state grant funds if a judge finds them to be in violation of SB 4, but the House version does not. Both chambers must agree on identical language before sending the bill to Abbott by the end of the legislative session May 29. The 16-hour House debate, which ended at 2:58 a.m. Thursday, fractured many friendships between lawmakers, at least temporarily, in the usually amiable 150-member House. In the most charged moment of the night, the GOP majority unexpectedly approved a major revision to the House measure, allowing police officers to inquire about the immigration status of someone they have detained but not arrested. In tearful speeches before the final vote, Democrats acknowledged they did not have enough votes to defeat the measure and chastised their Republican colleagues for what they called a win-at-all-costs strategy to please their base. "If your goal was to use immigrants for political gain, you have succeeded," Rep. Rafael Anchia, a Democrat from Dallas, said before final passage of the bill. "As the vanquished in yesterday's battle, I say congratulations, and I hope you're satisfied." House Republicans defended their support of SB 4, casting it in a caucus-wide statement as a necessary measure to ensure that all law enforcement agencies in Texas have the same standard regarding the detainment and questioning of immigrants who are not authorized to live in the country. Abbott's signature on a final bill would propel Texas to the national forefront on "sanctuary city" prohibitions, which a few other state legislatures have considered in recent years without much action. "Texas stands alone in passing such draconian legislation right now," said Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, an immigrant advocacy group in Washington D.C. "This is a dramatic enabling of the federal strategy to make undocumented immigrants and their families so terrified of staying, if they're not picked up to be deported, that they pick up and leave on their own." John Harden contributed to this report. There's a lot of reasons why foundations often shy away from partnering with public schools: Fear of red tape, potential controversy, worry about inconstancy in governance. So it was no small leap of faith when the Kinder Foundation last year entered into an agreement with Friends of HSPVA and the Houston Independent School District to give $7.5 million to help build the new HSPVA campus. While most HSPVA students, parents and alumni are grateful for the pledge, some grads want HISD to renege on its commitment to name the school the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. The group has filed an online petition - one that we find misguided - suggesting that only the theater be named after the donors. A deal's a deal. HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza can show the community that the district has institutional integrity and can keep its agreements by standing by the original contract. HSPVA should become the Kinder HSPVA as planned. The stakes of this dispute are high. If HISD doesn't keep its word, it could chill philanthropic contributions to public schools in Houston for decades to come, at a time when the state's contribution to public education is woefully inadequate. Interestingly, the Kinder Foundation did not request naming rights for HSPVA. Friends of HSPVA, a nonprofit group that supports the renowned fine-arts magnet school, approached the foundation last year seeking funds to shore up a construction budget shortfall. HISD board policy allows for gifts of at least $7.5 million, and the foundation was offered naming rights. Now construction is underway and the foundation has written checks for about $3 million. In response to the petition requesting the return of naming rights, last week, Rich Kinder released HISD, HSPVA and the Friends of HSPVA from any obligation, saying that the foundation would, of course, continue to honor its financial commitment to the school. Yanking the name off the school at this late stage is not only disrespectful, it also could cool interest from this foundation (or possibly another one) to continue supporting schools across the district. But the issue of philanthropic donations to Houston schools doesn't end here. When the naming controversy surfaced in October, this page called on the school board to revisit its policy. As we noted then, if the board decides that it doesn't want to accept gifts to secure naming rights, it should vote to change the policy. It's not smart to turn down a committed gift on the grounds that the policy adopted by a previous board no longer reflects the board's sentiments about naming opportunities. So far, however, the board has not changed its policy. HISD needs to do more to support donors and volunteers and to shield them from community or political turmoil. A separate and urgent concern around the gift is that it increases inequity within the district as HSPVA is disproportionately affluent. The board should be working to secure gifts that erase the inequity within the district. We believe many generous Houstonians would step up to help disadvantaged schools. That's a project for another day. But at this point the well-meaning donation from Nancy and Rich Kinder should receive the appreciation it deserves. Names matter, sure. But so does keeping your word, and HISD should do that. Doctor choices and pay Regarding "Gender disparity stains doctor pay in Houston" (Page A1, Wednesday), there is no evidence presented in the article of discrimination, so where is the "stain"? To be fair, the article does mention in passing the reasons for the pay disparity: Males tend to gravitate toward the higher-paying specialties and work more hours than females on average. But then the article interviews females who talk about their disappointment like there is systemic discrimination causing lower pay for female physicians. Much of the pay to physicians is either by the hour for shift work or by procedure, which will be the same regardless of gender. In my 35 years practicing medicine I have never encountered pay-gender discrimination. If it does happen I believe it is very rare as it would necessitate administrators and human resources collaborating in a conspiracy that is unethical and illegal. So, the doctor gender-pay disparity is largely due to choices male and female physicians are willingly making in their careers. These choices should be applauded and supported rather than disparaged as a "stain" on medicine. David Hoyer, Houston Main-in ballots Regarding "Judge threatens scrutiny of disabled voter access" (Page A1, Saturday), the story is just one more reason for Texas to change over to all mail-in voting. No more standing in hot, long lines, no more handicapped parking violations, far fewer polling places needed, etc. Go look at Washington State's mail-in voting. A few weeks before an election the county clerk mails a very informative brochure about the candidates and the initiatives on the ballot. Then a couple of weeks before the election they mail out your ballot, specifically addressed to each registered voter. You then mail it back before Election Day or drop the ballot in one of many convenient drop boxes (like at the local library). We recently moved back to Texas after living in Washington for eight years. So I know how this works; it's great! Texas is far ahead of Washington in most things, but in this we need to catch up. Dave Feray, Tomball School finance challenge Regarding "For Prop. 1 (Page A29, Sunday), the state of Texas funds public education based on a "Robin Hood" law that has been on the books for 24 years. Robin Hood was a response to another court order once again demanding that our state government resolve the educational inequities of the day. And since then, many "property-rich" school districts have been writing large checks to the Texas Education Commission to help fund "property-poor" districts. But now for the first time the biggest school district in the state HISD is having to write such a check. Or suffer some other dire consequences. A district that serves a student population that is 83 percent in poverty must help fund some other district. It's time to finally say "no" and force the state Legislature to quit kicking the can down the road and deal with this vital issue. It's time for us to require some courage from our government. And some serious money for our schools. The Robin Hood Plan was declared "barely constitutional" by the courts last year. Apparently barely is good enough for our state leaders, and it will remain so until somebody says, "Stop this nonsense. Our kids deserve better. Deal with the problem." Now is the time. Joe Mumbach, Houston Necessity of foreign aid Regarding "Maintaining foreign aid will keep 'America First'" (Page A21, Wednesday), the most effective foreign aid is one that not only helps citizens in poor counties but also imbues the recipient with a feeling of gratitude toward the United States. If foreign aid from the U.S. provided children in the developing world with a good basic education, both the child and her parents would have a long-lasting experience of the best our country has to offer. In addition, the child will have the basic skills necessary to get a good job, raise a healthy family, and boost the economy of her country, so that the country itself would no longer need foreign aid. The 31 percent cut to foreign aid in President Trump's budget will benefit ISIS and other terrorist's groups who will gladly offer education to children, not to help them, but to turn them into suicide bombers. That is the exact reason why 120 retired U.S. Generals and Admirals sent a joint letter to Congress urging them to keep foreign aid strong so as to keep the U.S. strong and secure. David Schubert, Houston Two public events Friday will feature the new Believe! book written by Houston native Doug Gaston. Gaston, a judge and now author and founder of Believe Books, will be part of an assembly at 2 p.m. at Houston Elementary School as well as a book signing from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Texas County Library. Hell be joined by Landon Kemp, the illustrator of the book. Gaston said his books are built on a simple premise: That each and every life is exceptional, valuable and eternal. Your child was created with a mighty purpose to fulfill in this life, and my greatest prayer is that this little book will be a small step on that beautiful journey to create a magical, exceptional and victorious life for your child, Gaston said. All proceeds from the first book will be donated to Autism Speaks in honor of Kemp and his family. BELIEVE! stands for the idea that any and every single one of us can become all we were created to be, if only we believe in ourselves and the magic of a purpose-filled life we were meant to have, Gaston said. Landon, and his creations, are the living, laughing and conquering embodiment of that idea. It is our hope that your contributions will help create thousands more stories just like Landons. Gaston, a Texas County Associate Circuit Judge, is a 1986 Houston High School graduate. He is the founder of the Constitution Revolution, a statewide competition that gives high school and college students the opportunity to see the constitution in action while playing the roles of law enforcement, media members, lawyers and judges. He is also actively involved in two programs Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Texas County B.E.L.I.E.V.E.S (Bringing Educational Leadership by Investing in and Expecting Victory in Every Student) that assist area young people. Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union Google Ad Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS Google Ad There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Armenpress: Azerbaijans Bulbuloglu gets embarrassed during UNESCO Director-General candidate hearings Polad Bulbuloglu, Azerbaijans candidate for UNESCO Director-General, has appeared in an embarrassing situation on April 27 during hearings of candidates in France, Armenpress reports. The chairman of the session warned Bulbuloglu that the candidates must speak either English or French. After reading a few sentences in English, Bulbuloglu however began to speak in Russian. I myself am dissatisfied with my level of English, however thats not important, the important thing is what a man has in his head, he said. Bulbuloglu was even unable to give decent responses at the session, by continuing to emphasize only the fact that he supposedly plans to bring large amounts of money for the realization of different UNESCO programs. It is noteworthy that Bulbuloglu, a man who in his term in office as Azerbaijani culture minister destroyed the medieval Armenian cross-stones in Nakhijevans New Jugha, which UNESCO itself had acknowledged as world heritage, is now a candidate for UNESCO Director-General. During the entire period of this crime, Bulbuloglu didnt make even one remark on condemning or preventing the destruction of the Armenian cross-stones. In addition, now as Azerbaijans Ambassador to Russia, he has numerously delivered belligerent rhetoric on taking up arms and fighting Armenians. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Colorado College just solved a mystery that dates back to 1911. It's hard to imagine what American geographer Griffith Taylor must have thought when he first stumbled upon Blood Falls over 100 years ago. The water, which slowly oozes out of Taylor Glacier is a rich, stark red against the white ice. Advertisement The waterfall has been a subject of fascination for scientists, as it's home to a unique colony of microbes that exist without oxygen or light beneath the glacier's surface. Scientists initially attributed the colour to algae, but it was later found to be caused by briney, iron-rich water that oxidizes, transforming into its bright hue when it touches the air. Now, a team of researchers have tracked down that water's source. The scientists used a type of echolocation-like radar to follow the water deep inside the glacier, something scientists had previously believed impossible, according a study published in the Journal of Glaciology on Monday. They found a large source of the salty water that may have been trapped under the glacier for more than one million years. Advertisement Despite annual air temperatures of - 17 C, the falls stays liquid thanks to water with a brine content of more than 13 per cent. The salts in the brine made this discovery possible by amplifying contrast with the fresh glacier ice, lead author Jessica Badgeley said in a statement. Taylor Glacier is now the coldest known glacier to have persistently flowing water," her colleague Erin Pettit added. As any modern parent knows, once-routine childhood vaccinations have become a hot-button topic as the anti-vax movement continues surging. Many peg this opposition to the fake news precursor that was now-disgraced doctor Andrew Wakefield's discredited 1998 study linking vaccinations with autism. Advertisement Of course, nearly 20 years later, we live in a world where peer-reviewed science and award-winning journalists are regularly ignored in favour of sketchy websites making specious claims. Wakefield, after losing his medical license, has even returned to the fight with a controversial 2016 documentary "Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe" that continues to spread his disproved autism conspiracy theories. Americans have even elected anti-vaxxer to the White House Trump has been tweeting out alleged connections between vaccines and autism for years years. Healthy young child goes to doctor, gets pumped with massive shot of many vaccines, doesn't feel good and changes - AUTISM. Many such cases! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2014 A NY Times op-ed even declared in February that "its looking as if 2017 could become the year when the anti-vaccination movement gains ascendancy in the United States." Advertisement Canada, however, is no better. Though press coverage rises and falls with outbreaks, vaccination rates have been falling here and, unsurprisingly, as Global News reported, the rate of vaccine-preventable infections have jumped 30 per cent in Canada since 2005. Vaccine-preventable infections have jumped 30 per cent in Canada since 2005. World Immunization Week, which takes place the last week of April, only dates to 2012 and is part of a concerted World Health Organization effort to push back against the growing anti-vax movement by touting the safety of the science and the two to three million deaths prevented annually by vaccines. But the main arguments being made against vaccines on social media, message boards, blogs and fringe media publications are pretty much the same ones that have been made for over a century. The photo above is of a protest by the Anti-Vaccination League of Canada outside of Old City Hall on November 13, 1919. Advertisement Hundreds of anti-vaxxers rallied against the "slaughter of the innocents," which was actually a short-lived compulsory smallpox vaccination campaign for children to stop an outbreak that grew to 2,864 infections. Less than 60 years earlier, an 1862 epidemic killed 30,000 people, mostly First Nations, in British Columbia. An outbreak in Montreal in 1885 killed another 3,000 people, sparking mandatory vaccinations and, in turn, violent anti-vax riots leading to street-fighting, attacks on police stations, torching of doctors' houses and, eventually, the army being called in to restore order. Hundreds of anti-vaxxers rallied against the "slaughter of the innocents," which was actually a short-lived compulsory smallpox vaccination of children campaign to stop an outbreak. (Even bigger riots had broken out in in London, England that same year, attracting more than 20,000 anti-vaxxers from a movement that began in 1867 when the compulsory smallpox vaccination law was broadened.) The Montreal epidemic led to Ontario's 1887 Vaccination Act that "stipulated that parents must have their children vaccinated against smallpox within three months of birth and re-vaccinated when necessary every seven years." It also allowed compulsory vaccination orders in the event of outbreaks and allowed school boards to require vaccination certificates. Advertisement This, in turn, led to forming of the aforementioned Anti-Vaccination League of Canada in 1900, which returned in force in 1919 along with the return of smallpox. The Anti-Vaccination League leaders argued that "vaccination is simply the old scientific absurdity of using disease to fight disease" and spread lies claiming the vaccine was "made from the grease taken from the heels of horses, from swine pox, and even from dead bodies," reported Blog TO, adding that they were made in a lab from "specially kept cows." They argued that it was an infringement on their freedom, even changing their name to the Anti-Vaccination and Medical Liberty League of Canada, and claimed that "public health officials used vaccination as a "ploy to avoid [more expensive] sanitary measures.'" These groups also appealed to fear and guilt, like with this 1919 Nebraska newspaper ad that Vox turned up: "Mothers! What profiteth your babies to live if their God-made blood is periodically and perpetually tainted with pus-vaccine?" Advertisement So the early 20th century anti-vax argument was about freedom, government conspiracies, pseudoscience, parental anxiety and "the arbitrary pollution of children's bodies in Toronto with animal matter," while a century later it's about freedom, Big Pharma conspiracies, pseudoscience, parental anxiety and the use of minimal amounts of mercury and aluminium as adjuvants. Dr. Charles Sheard, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health at the time of the 1919 protests, called the "anti-vacs," "a hygienic cult, holding opinions on medical and health matters opposed to the well-grounded convictions of the physicians of the whole world" and dismissed them as "ignorant and superstitious," according to an academic article by Katherine Arnup on "opposition to compulsory immunization in Ontario." So, to be fair, the anti-anti-vax opinion hasn't changed much either. But what has changed is this: there's no more smallpox. As recently as 1967, two million people died of smallpox. But it was declared eradicated in 1980 following a global immunization campaign. The disease that sparked the 1919 anti-vax protests killed over 300 millionin the century alone, or three times the number of war-related deaths. In the 19th century, smallpox killed 400 million, including most of the indigenous population of the Americas after being brought over by infected Europeans. As recently as 1967, two million people died of smallpox. But it was declared eradicated in 1980 following a global immunization campaign. Advertisement Polio is almost there, too, with infections decreasing by 99 per cent since 1988. Then there's measles, which is what comes up most in modern anti-vax arguments which focus on the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) shot and which pops up semi-regularly, most recently in Halifax earlier this year while Toronto simultaneously experienced a mumps outbreak. Measles used to kill 2.6 million children a year prior to the vaccine being introduced in 1980, but in 2015 it "only" killed 134,200, which is still 15 kids dying every hour. The other big change over the past hundred years is that our scientific understanding has grown greater and our methods have gotten safer. "Through his courage and dedication, Major Sajjan has single-handedly changed the face of intelligence gathering and analysis in Afghanistan." "[H]is analysis was so compelling that it drove a number of large scale theatre-resourced efforts, including OPERATION MEDUSA... that resulted in the defeat of the largest TB cell yet identified in Afghanistan, with over 1500 Taliban killed or captured." "I rate him as one of the best intelligence officers I have ever worked with." Curvy lady Sarah Sapora is all ready for bikini season. And with her new beach photos, she's encouraging other plus-size women to embrace the skin they're in. "Want to know something? Sit down for this, because this overweight, 38-year-old woman is about to drop a truth bomb on you," she wrote on her blog. "Ready? That hiding? That anxiety you feel about who you are and what you look like? That fear you have that people are looking and going to laugh at you for dreaming big, being bold, or colouring outside the lines? Its bananas." Advertisement Clad in a printed blue and white bikini, Sapora shared the photos with her 31k Instagram followers Wednesday, confessing that this was the first time she had worn a string bikini in nearly 25 years. "The last time I wore a low-rise bikini, I was thirteen years old at 'fat camp,'" she confessed. "It wasnt even mine; I borrowed it from a counsellor and wore it just long enough to lay on a towel by the tennis court during rest period for 45 minutes that single summer day. Someone snapped a photo of it. I remember seeing it once, but thats it... Its taken me 25 years to feel that free in my body again." Her audience was left feeling inspired and empowered by the bloggers ode to self-love, and made sure to let her know. Advertisement "You look so amazing!!!" a user replied. "Seriously convinced me that I need a string bikini this summer!" "Omg, what an eye opener this article is for me," another commented on the blog post. "You described how I am feeling to a T. And I never realized that is what I was doing. Thank you so much for opening my eyes." In a few of the photos, Sapora posed with a "male friend" and explained the significance of this to Yahoo! Style. I wanted to do this shoot with a male friend because there are so few representations of plus women just enjoying life without emphasis on their weight," she said. Advertisement Similarly, back in later February, actress Chrissy Metz opened up about wearing whatever she wants as a plus size woman. "A lot of designers wont work with plus-sized people, period, and I know a lot of plus-size women feel like they have to avoid jewel tones or colour in general, but I love bold colours," the "This Is Us" star said of the emerald green dress she wore to the 25th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards party. "I am not going to pick only black just because I am a plus-size girl," she added. "Hopefully it will encourage other women [to follow suit]." As for Sapora, while she admits on her blog that wearing the bikini "took me far out of my comfort zone," she says being able to be free with her body is the ultimate happiness. British beauty blogger Breeny Rose Lee took a bold stance against conventional beauty standards back in early April when she decided to shave her head. "It was a long time coming but I'm just so happy to begin my journey of wholeness and self acceptance by stripping back the layers of protection I've used to feel secure while in search of my true identity," she wrote on Instagram. "You can hide from others but you can only hide from yourself for so long. I'm not hiding any more. My true self is good enough! Why? Because I said so!" Advertisement She recorded the full experience on her YouTube page. In the clip, she reminisces on all the times she felt "ugly," and questions why she felt that way to begin with. But she soon came to the realization that she "doesn't exist to be beautiful." "I'm more than that," she says tearfully. "And I feel like I've constantly had to prove to myself that I'm more than my looks." Advertisement Lee, who boasts over 76K Instagram followers, also spoke on trying to fit into standard beauty ideals for the approval of men, and how at one point, she mistook male attention for genuine love. She then took off her wig, shaved her hair and announced that she would be launching a YouTube new series called #SoulSurgery to explore the concepts around self-esteem and body positivity. The following week, the U.K. native posted her second video of the series on why she decided to stop wearing makeup for one week. She documented some of her experience rocking a fresh face via Instagram during Easter weekend. "I put on this beautiful dress and I just didn't feel 'complete' without my makeup," she wrote. "I was sooo tempted to beat my face or at least put on some concealer for goodness sake but I had to stop myself and ask myself who am I doing this for? And why? Why am I not enough? I instantly resisted the urge, stopped looking in the mirror and walked out the house with my head held high, spotty forehead, lines, sparse brows and all. This is me." Advertisement "I went to church and looked people dead in the eye like I always did. Truth is nobody really cares as much as we think they do and most of our insecurities are in our head," she continued. "Even if people don't like the way you look who cares?! I don't have hair and I didn't have on makeup, I had no crutches but I allowed myself to be FULLY seen irrespective of people's opinion." And while the idea of shaving one's head or not wearing any makeup might be scary, Lee finds comfort in her vulnerability, noting, "I may not be your cup of tea and that's ok because Im finally at peace with myself." A Toronto Transit Commission worker is being commended for his empathy toward a distressed man who walked onto the subway tracks on Wednesday. A station collector was working at a Dundas station fare gate when a man walked off the platform around 10:30 a.m., the TTC told CP24. The worker, who the TTC identified as J.P. Attard, asked the janitor to cut power to the station, TTC Group Station Manager Ellen Stassen told Global News. Then he immediately went over to the man, who was sitting on the tracks, to coax him to stand up and walk towards him. Advertisement Attard told the man he was loved and that he wanted to be his friend, Stassen told the Toronto Sun, saying Attard went "above and beyond" his training. "He just kept talking to him, and said, Breathe in; breathe out and Look me in my eye,'" witness Jeffrey Ribeiro told CityNews. In a video Ribeiro posted to Twitter, the man holds onto Attard as the TTC worker appears to take a picture of him making a peace sign. Advertisement "He had him say, I am strong more or less five to seven times and then he turned behind to where we were all standing and hes like, Everybody join in, lets show him some support," Ribeiro told Global News. "I am just proud that we live in a city where people are ready to help and that they help wherever they can and in whatever way we can." When Attard convinced the man to come up from the platform, he gave him a hug, Ribeiro told CityNews, and said he wanted to give him his number. Paramedics and police took over once the man was back on the platform, the TTC told CP24. Toronto Mayor John Tory praised Attard at a city council meeting Wednesday. "I am just proud that we live in a city where people are ready to help and that they help wherever they can and in whatever way we can," he said. In democratic nations, groups and individuals can normally pursue their beliefs and convictions as long as they do so peacefully. In recent years, such practices have been threatened by terrorist attacks, causing fear, insecurity, anxiety and distrust especially in the Middle East, Europe and North America. The need for peace in the world is today greater than ever. There are several initiatives which can help re-establish sustainable peace in our own countries and those around us, but the first and most important is to locate the sources of violence. Some analysts believe that ISIS, or any group that adopts terrorism as strategy and sheds innocents' blood to reach its goals, should be fought. ISIS has now proved its inhuman nature to the world repeatedly. Advertisement The recent barbaric events in the Middle East -- especially in Syria, Africa and even Europe -- highlight the reality that the world's primary state sponsor of terrorism, run by fundamentalists, is Iran, with more ideological and potential threats than ISIS. Iran has done more harm to world peace than any other terrorist group can imagine. For example, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has diverted an enormous part of Iran's wealth towards acquiring an atomic bomb. Iran has become the shelter for regional terrorist groups. The "Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps," IRGC, is behind many terrorist activities not only in the Middle East but elsewhere. Slavishly loyal to the Supreme Leader, the IRGC is the armed force in charge of protection of Tehran's so called religious regime. Suppression of the Iranian people is not its only task; the IRGC has a long history of meddling in 14 neighbouring states. IRGC's operations in support of the Syrian dictator Bashar Al Assad, including the use of chemical weapons on innocent citizens, alone has cost the Iranian people an estimated $100 billion during recent decades. The number of troops and advisers is so high that the Assad regime could not survive without them. Today, Iran's regime commands tens of thousands of armed forces in Syria, with its own military headquarters in Syria. The number of troops and advisers is so high that the Assad regime could not survive without them. Advertisement The Senate of Canada private member's bill (Bill S-219) declares that "this enactment provides for an ongoing analysis of the incidence of terrorist activity, support of terrorism, incitement to hatred, and human rights violations, emanating from Iran, the identification of Iranian officials who are responsible for such activities and the strengthening of Canada's non-nuclear sanctions regime against Iran..." In Europe, families of those slain by terrorists honoured the memory of their loved ones with bouquets of flowers. While Belgium was holding a ceremony in memory of citizens who lost their lives in last year's terrorist attack at Brussels airport, two Belgian human rights groups were publishing a report that gave details of illicit activities in other countries and support for terrorist groups carried out by the IRGC. According to the report, "Every month, hundreds of forces from Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and Lebanon -- countries where the Iranian regime is involved in frontline combat -- receive military training and are subsequently dispatched to wage terrorism and war." For many residents of Middle East nations, the IRGC has become the source of much misery, although Iranians remain its prime target. For IRGC, terrorism is only one activity. It holds much of Iran's wealth and forces many Iranians out of business. The European report also revealed that IRGC operates 90 phony companies that control 90 Iranian ports, which obtain about $12 billion in annual revenue. The IRGC uses the ports to smuggle arms to its militias in neighbouring countries. Authorities in Arab states frequently report the arrest of Iran-backed terrorists involved in activities to destabilize the security of their respective states. The Canadian Parliament should name Iran's IRGC as number one on the list of the world's terrorist organizations. Many regard Iran's regime as ISIS's godfather. The single-minded focus on ISIS by the West facilitated the expansion of Iran's destabilizing efforts in other countries and will continue to do so. The appeasement of Iran's mullahs has paved the ground for terrorist organizations such as ISIS and al Qaeda. Measures to promote a peaceful world in the Canadian Parliament should name Iran's IRGC as number one on the list of the world's terrorist organizations. Requiring the Minister of Foreign Affairs to publish an annual report on Iran-sponsored terrorism, incitement to hatred and human rights violations that includes a description of measures taken by the Government of Canada to address those activities would also help. webphotographeer via Getty Images 'professional ( not looking like hot-line), blurred background' My experience regarding technical issues with Bell is similar but not quite as frustrating. Whenever I call, Bell technical support employees tend to be located somewhere in Central America. Again, they are pleasant and conversant in English but not always as expert as I would like. For routine issues, their knowledge base is adequate but anything beyond the routine seems to tax their abilities. Advertisement Rogers, on the other hand, appears to have taken a different approach and has kept their call centers in Canada. The results for a customer like me are noticeably different. It is far easier to communicate my issues to someone in Sussex, New Brunswick or London, Ontario and they are far more willing and able to solve my problems. Apparently I am not alone in my experiences as there is a slow but marked trend by Canadian companies to bring their foreign-based call centers back to Canada. The drop in quality of service, the decline in customer satisfaction and the high employee turnover are only three of the reasons foreign call centers are not necessarily the money savers Canadian corporations once thought that they would be. Hopefully, more and more Canadian customers will make their frustrations with foreign call centers known to the corporations using them. Once those corporations see that a blinders-on approach to their bottom line is ultimately not profitable, it will become a win-win-win situation for them, Canadian consumers and Canadian workers. Many people believe that overpopulation is the greatest threat to the world's security and prosperity. It was probably Malthus who first pointed out that population growth is exponential, while agricultural growth is arithmetic. He reasoned that every population must inevitably outgrow its food source. Political instability and border insecurity naturally follow, when growing populations seek to nervously protect their shrinking resource base. Critics of Malthus pointed out that human populations, unlike bacteria, do not grow exponentially; fertility rates vary geographically and over time. New economic models, including those that factor labour as capital, valued large populations as assets rather than detriments, allowing industrializing nations to convert population to production and therefore to wealth, allowing them to purchase needed resources. Advertisement The predicted Malthusian collapse did not occur, due largely to improvements in agricultural sciences and something called the Demographic Transition. It's this latter thing that gives many demographers hope that the world's population growth might be slowing, soon to be plateauing, and eventually reversing. The Demographic Transition was first proposed by Warren Thompson in the 1920s and is well described on BBC's educational site. From observing changes in Europe over the centuries, Thompson and his intellectual heirs suggested that societies evolve through five stages of demographic development. In Stage 1, we live pre-industrial lives, dependent on the land and at the mercy of the elements. Diseases are plenty, lifespan is short. Infant mortality rates are very high, such that we don't even name our children until we are sure they will live beyond infancy. The cost of a child is simply the price of feeding that child, whereas its value as a labourer is high. Both death rates and birth rates are high, and the population is neither growing nor shrinking. So many countries have entered Stage 3 that the human race is now a majority urban species. In Stage 2, with the arrival of public health and hygiene measures, infectious diseases recede, and mortality declines, particularly among children. But the cost of children is still low, while their utility is high. Thus, reproduction behaviours remain unchanged. But overall population size increases dramatically. Many so-called developing countries would have been in Stage 2 in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, accounting for their explosive growth. Advertisement In Stage 3, social factors intervene to lower the birth rate. When infants survive and women are socially empowered, fertility rates drop. As economies shift from agrarian to industrial bases, more people move to cities. In fact, so many countries have entered Stage 3 that the human race is now a majority urban species. The widespread introduction of contraception methods, and the use of new wealth to invest in public education (especially for women), leads to smaller families. The cost of children increases with housing and educational demands, while their utility diminishes, as they are no longer needed as labourers. Thus, in Stage 3 population size is still increasing, but more slowly. Western Europe began emerging from Stage 3 in the 19th century. India and China, with their expanding middle class, are in the latter half of Stage 3 or beyond. In Stage 4, we transition to a services and information economy, with few economic incentives for reproduction. Birth and death rates are balanced, and there is minimal population growth. Advertisement Canada is likely a Stage 4 nation. Rapidly modernizing Stage 3 nations may be progressing to Stage 4 quickly. China is approaching a sort of demographic cliff, since a majority of its people are over the age of 30 and are having fewer children than their recent ancestors. Some recognize a fifth stage in which birth rate drops below death rate, and the population shrinks. Japan is a Stage 5 country. Subsequent generations are too small to provide an adequate tax base for maintaining social programs. Immigration policies must be re-thought, and governments begin to experiment with strategies for encouraging larger families. The Demographic Transition is a theoretical construct with some vulnerabilities. It is unclear whether deep religiosity can compel modernized generations to reproduce at rates against their economic self-interest, leading to what some call a "demographic trap." Total world population should plateau at about 13 billion by 2100, and actually decline thereafter. Also, it is possible that globalization is a disincentive for modernization, compelling some populations to remain agrarian or manufacturing-based, never to progress to an information-based economy. Climate change, antibiotic resistance, and the unpredictability of international affairs can confound a nation's linear progression through the stages. However, given that the basic tenets of the Demographic Transition are being observed in real time in such living social laboratories as India, China, and parts of Africa, it is reasonable that the world is in the process of transitioning. Advertisement With investments in public health, reproductive rights, and wealth-building programs, we have seen dramatic recent reductions in the global fertility rate. Most of humanity is transitioning to Stage 4, which means that while total population size is still growing, growth is slowing down. Human population growth is expected to drop to one per cent by 2020, though we are still on schedule to reach the 9 billion mark by 2050. Total world population should plateau at about 13 billion by 2100, and actually decline thereafter. Some projections, like that of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria, are more optimistic, suggesting that total fertility rate will drop below replacement rate in the 2070s, plateauing around the 9 billion mark. It took wealthy nations like the United Kingdom a century for fertility rates to fall from over six babies per woman to fewer than three per woman. It took China and Iran a mere decade, because economic and human development initiatives are better understood and better targeted. There is every expectation that current nations with high fertility rates, like Niger and Somalia, can perform similarly. Advertisement Draconian measures driven by xenophobia are not necessary to slow the expansion of our numbers. Nor do we need pandemics, famines or wars to cull our numbers. So long as we continue to invest in education, public health, access to contraception and global trade, our numbers are likely to decline naturally and painlessly. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: Brigida Brito via Getty Images When you surf the media, the top ten readership list is usually about how wonderful it is when you are aging or how to perform the ten minutes exercise to live a few healthy years longer. Another "feel good" popular topic runs like "You have one life, so learn how to make the best of it." Seriously, is that what we want to hear? The ostrich syndrome; refusing to face the truth that we are going to die one day and trillions of years will go by without us. "Let's do anything to delay the scary inevitable" is really what lies in the subconscious whenever we say "pursue all your dreams in this one and only life." Advertisement Well what if we can't? The truth is most of us cannot achieve a majority of our dreams and just when we think we did, we realize that there's still something hollow and unfulfilling within our inner selves. We are fed constantly with an unrealistic philosophy of optimism; one of the many defensive strategies conjured to fill the void created in one's inner self. The notion that life is auspicious and alluring has to be embedded into our minds in order to deflect and distract us from the epilogue. I was dining with a friend the other day. He was talking about his best friend who died some years ago at the age of fifty. "The fool" he said of him. Not with malice of course but with a weird kind of affection. "He didn't listen to me when I told him he shouldn't get a divorce. That ruined his life which was the probable cause of his death at an early age." I asked my friend what difference it would make if he made it to a hundred. My friend sat upright in a surprised manner not expecting such a question. He probably thought it was a dumb one. I told him that if you are not eternal, what's the difference a few years more or less? "A speck of dust in this grand cosmos is how long we live" I told him. "And then eternity will march on without us." The truth dawned upon me some time ago, not as if I stumbled on a stunning discovery, but it came gradually, after years of reading books and articles on what religion, history, philosophy and science has to offer about the definition and meaning of life. The conclusion I arrived upon even surprised me since I had always thought I possessed a logic seeking scientific mind, looking at everything through the lens of an "intellectual." Advertisement "Surely life must have a further meaning to it than just living some mere decades" I thought. I started to refuse to believe the notion that life abruptly ends. "Birth has meaning and life has meaning, so absolute death does not make any sense." At the moment of birth, if we had the ability to express ourselves, wouldn't we have described this passage onto this new environment as "dying?" There must be some kind of existence beyond. Life as we know is actually a short period of transition in a vast and endless journey. I'm not necessarily talking about religion or God. I'm specifically talking about afterlife; living in an unknown dimension but with memories intact. Retaining the ability to meet and converse with my loved ones; preserving my identity in whatever form or shape. Having said all, I also have an interesting observation which I want to share. My friends and family who believe in some form of afterlife (call it soul or whichever description comes to your mind), have a calmer and happier state of mind than those who don't. I'm talking about the genuine believers. Most of them somehow realize instinctively, that clinging to worldly materialism, especially in excess, is a futile exercise because it really means nothing in such a short life span. Furthermore, their anxieties concerning the future often seem to be less when compared to others. Don't get me wrong, they do hang on to life and pursue the best for themselves and their families but there is no exaggerated anxiety or awareness of the clock ticking. Advertisement Sounds hard to believe? Yes, I would know, however don't anticipate that I'm going to naively attempt to scientifically prove anything. It's really all about experience and instinct. The experience derives from reading a lot and reflection, followed by episodes of belief or doubt. And if it didn't feel right? Then the cycle needs to repeat until one finally sees the light. The mind triggers an impulse confirming that time has come to rest one's case and the strive for inner peace and knowledge has been finally accomplished. In a chess game, the least significant pawn becomes the most powerful figure when it reaches the end of the board. Wouldn't it be rewarding if we could cast aside our worries about longevity and enjoy a full life? We should take comfort in the belief that we have nothing to be afraid of when that mysterious moment arrives. It may very well be that a new passage is being unlocked to lead us into another dimension. belterz via Getty Images "CBD cannabis oil has become a really hot commodity lately." So says Sal Chan, who works at the Green Panda medical marijuana dispensary in downtown Vancouver, which sells a variety of cannabis oils. In fact, CBD-dominant strains of cannabis are the new go-to remedy for medical marijuana patients who don't want to get "stoned". Advertisement That's because therapeutic forms of CBD-rich cannabis are now being bred to be virtually free of the mood-altering chemical, THC. Yet Canada's federal government is refusing to let the nation's legal cultivators of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis spread the word about the CBD-rich kind. This is in spite of the fact that the chemical CBD (also known as cannabidiol) provides some of marijuana's most sought-after healing powers, according to medical studies. This legislative dogma is due to Ottawa's insistence that legal cannabis growers refrain from making any marketing claims about their products -- even with the advent of millions of new, inexperienced users embracing a legal recreational market, starting next summer. Advertisement In particular, the government forbids any marketing/advertising about how certain strains of cannabis can treat different medical conditions. The government says its regressive marketing restrictions are meant to deter minors from being sold on the idea that getting "high" is cool. So if CBD-rich strains of cannabis won't get teenagers (or anyone else) mentally intoxicated, then why can't their cultivators/vendors point this out to consumers? This irrational form of censorship is analogous to telling breweries that they can't promote de-alcoholized beer as being a safer, non-intoxicating alternative to their regular beer brands. Advertisement Why CBD Deserves Ottawa's Respect, Instead of Ambivalence Why is it so important to educate the public about the benefits of non-psychoactive CBD-rich cannabis? Here's why. CBD-rich cannabis is well-suited to all sorts of people who have to work all day but need to remain clear-headed. This type of medical marijuana is shown to be especially effective in treating inflammation and chronic pain. Among its many other uses, CBD is therapeutic for treating depression, anxiety, insomnia and nausea. Even the U.S. federal government foresees a promising future for non-psychoactive medicinal cannabis. Which is why it is financing several dozen clinical trials into the efficacy of CBD as a treatment for a diversity of additional medical conditions. They include Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, opiate addiction, Crohn's disease, schizophrenia and cancer. All told, CBD-rich cannabis is well-suited to all sorts of people who have to work all day but need to remain clear-headed. Advertisement Again, it's asinine that cultivators/vendors aren't allowed to declare on their packaging what each of their CBD-rich products are meant to do, and how they're used to best effect. Even so, medical marijuana patients are educating themselves as best as they can with the limited information legally available to them. At the very least, the government is allowing vendors' packaging to declare the levels of cannabinoids like THC and CBD in the products, as well as the names of the strains and the company's brand. Nonetheless, what consumers have to find out for themselves includes some pretty important stuff. For instance, CBD cannabionoids that are distilled/concentrated into an oil-based extract tend to be more medicinally potent that CBD-rich dried flower. Consumers should have a right to know this. Advertisement Another key selling point is that ingestible CBD oil is a healthier alternative to inhaling smoked cannabis. Which is because the extraction process for ingestible oils removes all the plant material, including any potential residues from pesticides and/or other contaminants. This is another health-promoting reality that retailers should be allowed to point out to consumers on their products' packaging. Additionally, the medical benefits of CBD oil last much longer when it's ingested, rather than smoked. In fact, oils that are ingested take much longer for the body to process but can have lasting effects for as many as 10 hours. Yet smoking only delivers physical and/or psychological benefits for an hour or two. So, for someone with arthritis pain or chronic back pain, it makes more sense to self-medicate with oil, rather than smoking a CBD-rich cannabis joint every couple of hours. Now it's time for the Trudeau administration to at least let cultivators of CBD-rich cannabis offer up their products as a safer, non-toxic, non-addictive alternative. CBD oil can be infused into food or taken as a gel capsule or in a tincture, thereby offering a much better delivery method than smoking. This is especially the case in paediatric medicine, where strains of CBD-rich cannabis have been shown to help some children with seizure disorders. Advertisement How CBD-Rich Cannabis Can Help End the Opioid Crisis Chronic pain is the most common ailment for people who buy doctor-approved CBD-rich cannabis. And countless future users may opt to self-medicate without a prescription in a decriminalized, open market. After all, they merely want a safe, addiction-free alternative to pharmaceutical drugs -- especially dangerous painkilling opioids. Opioids can induce all sorts of other nasty side effects, too. Worst of all, they have been blamed for tens of thousands of suicides across North America. Advertisement Ironically, opioids like the notorious OxyContin have been aggressively marketed by their manufacturers over the past couple of decades in Canada -- all with the government's blessing. Now it's time for the Trudeau administration to at least let cultivators of CBD-rich cannabis offer up their products as a safer, non-toxic, non-addictive alternative. But that not likely to happen. Instead, all-too-many people will continue to get strung-out on opioids. And some will even succumb to unintended lethal overdoses. All the while, most of them will remain unaware of how CBD-rich cannabis is a much safer alternative. The government needs to re-think its double standard: it acknowledges cannabis as a legitimate medicine (including the non-psychoactive kind), but behaves as though it isn't. Follow my coverage of Canadian cannabis stocks at http://www.cannabiscapitalist.ca/ And follow me on Twitter Like many of my colleagues who became rural family physicians, I started out with idealistic dreams about practicing comprehensive primary care, sometimes known as "cradle to grave" medicine. In particular I enjoyed caring for pregnant patients, so I did additional post-residency training in obstetrics to polish my skills in the art and science of catching babies. Unfortunately, I only used those skills for a short time as a travelling locum doctor. When I settled down into a general family practice in south east Ontario, I learned that my local hospital no longer provided obstetrical care. As I factored in the hit my office practice would take if I had to travel long distances to one of the larger regional centres where babies were born, I realized I would have to chose one or the other. I am one of a large number of physicians who have been forced to choose between office work and certain types of hospital work because the latter is no longer close and accessible. The number of family physicians attending deliveries has been in decline for a long time, and accessibility is a key reason. Advertisement Concentrating all deliveries in mid-sized towns and cities effectively shuts rural family doctors out of the process. Likewise it denies rural patients the opportunity to have their own family doctor be a part of their labour, something that used to be standard. As well, a long drive while in labour can be a difficult experience, to say nothing of the increased risks of delivering on the side of the highway. It can be hard to imagine for an urban dweller living a few kilometers from the nearest hospital, but in the country driving 45 minutes or more while in labour is not uncommon. Go back a few decades and every small hospital in this province provided a full range of services: obstetrics, surgery, acute inpatient and emergency care. These small hospitals were primarily run by local family doctors with varying degrees of specialist support. More and more, however, services in smaller hospitals are being packed up and sent to the larger urban centres. Why is this happening? The first step is often a merger between hospitals, which gets presented as an efficiency because departments will be unified under a single management, thereby trimming costs. The steep downside is that when the next budget crunch rolls around, consolidating services in the hospital that sees more people per year seems to make sense. So small hospitals have departments like obstetrics and acute medicine moved off site to the city. The unavoidable fact is that the further you are from a dense urban metropolis, the more expensive it is to provide you with any public service, not just health care. But follow this chain of logic all the way down and soon you've stranded entire rural communities in the name of efficiency. Advertisement It's also often argued that services are less safely done out in the rural periphery, where volumes can be low and doctors less familiar with certain specialized procedures. This is a far more complex issue than it seems, however, and we need to be painfully specific about which procedures, where, why and what the trade-offs are of having patients travel to a higher volume hospital. The data is not clear that patients benefit when services are removed from their communities due to "low volume" provision by rural family doctors. It should not be a blanket argument for taking services out of a rural hospital. Patients from small communities often find it enormously stressful being far from home in a large and busy hospital. Not only will the health care providers around them be unfamiliar, but they are less likely to have the support of visiting family if the distance from home is great. After discharge, patients often need to return to the city to see their specialist for follow-up appointments, and again the drive can be very difficult. Travelling a long way to access medical care can negatively impact health outcomes. Recently, new evidence showed that Northern Ontarians have poorer health than Southern Ontarians. The reasons for this are complex and multi-factorial, but the movement of services out of rural communities is a major contributor. The 2.6 million Ontarians who live in small towns deserve more than longer and longer drives to access health care. A study from 10 years ago found that for every 10 km of additional travel to the nearest emergency department, mortality from life-threatening conditions (like a heart attack) increased by one per cent. Geographically, Canada is a huge country where the distances between hospitals can be vast, so it matters a lot when we suddenly double the distance an ambulance has to drive by closing an emergency department. In the nearby hospital where I work, the community has been concerned for years that the emergency department will be downgraded to an urgent care centre. This means an end to 24 hour/day operation and no more accepting patients brought in by ambulance. This particular hospital has suffered the loss of many important services in the past several years. The community has been pushing back hard against the slow degradation of its hospital, causing even Minister Hoskins to sit up and take notice. Recently, Hoskins "paused" a plan to shut down all surgeries so as to allow for greater study on the impacts. Advertisement I have great admiration for this organization of community members loudly telling the Ministry of Health a truth they don't want to hear: our small hospitals are not simply a buffet of services to be cherry picked and shipped off to the city. The 2.6 million Ontarians who live in small towns deserve more than longer and longer drives to access health care. Cuts to Ontario's hospitals are the worst in Canada and this disproportionately affects rural populations. These populations are now fighting back, speaking out against the gutting of their local hospitals. And since the downstream effects of greater patient load on urban hospitals has consequences province-wide, we ALL need to fight to restore rural health care. There's too much at stake not to. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Zerbor via Getty Images Canadians are busier than ever before, but with extracurriculars and busy work lives, we're seeing increased levels of stress. The problem is this tension can have an effect on your overall health, taking its toll on your body and immune system. In fact, experts now believe that some diseases are up to 90 per cent stress-related. One example I see all-too-often is shingles, which takes advantage of the weakened immune system to activate in the body. What is shingles? Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash and usually appears as a single stripe of blisters on the torso, the face, or other body area. Advertisement Shingles can be extremely painful and have dangerous complications. And it's much more common than most people think. In Canada alone there are an estimated 130,000 new cases of shingles every year and one third of Canadians will develop shingles at some point in their lives. Some of the complications surrounding shingles can include: Vision loss (if you develop shingles in and around the eyes) Inflammation of the brain, facial paralysis, even hearing or balance problems Bacterial skin infections Pain caused by shingles can last months, even years, and is so severely debilitating that it disrupts lives Where does shingles come from? Most of us have had chickenpox at one point in our lives, but what many people don't realize is this puts you at risk of developing shingles later in life. While we think chickenpox is a one-time illness, the virus will go on to live quietly on the nerves, and it can spring to life again later in life to cause shingles. In addition to stress, age is another important risk factor. Two-thirds of all shingles cases occur in people over the age of 50. The signs of shingles usually only appear on a small section of your body. Some of these symptoms include pain, burning, sensitivity to touch, itching and blistering. However you should contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following situations: Advertisement The pain and rash occur near an eye You're 70 or older (age significantly increases your risk of complications) You or someone in your family has a weakened immune system due to cancer, medications or chronic illness The rash is widespread and painful What can you do to prevent, or manage shingles? While there is no cure for shingles, treatment and prescribed medication can speed up the healing process and reduce your risk of complications. The good news is shingles prevention is now easier and more convenient than ever before. Pharmacists in all provinces except Quebec can administer the shingles vaccine - this is the first year that pharmacists in Ontario are able to administer the shingles vaccine. A doctor's prescription may be required depending on your region So if you've had chickenpox, are over 50, or feel you might be at risk, help protect yourself from the devastating effects of shingles. Talk to your local Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacist today about getting vaccinated - it's your best defense! Toronto's Grant Van Gameren has been called the city's hottest chef, but you could argue that this designation should be extended to the national level. As the co-owner of a slew of much-loved bars and restaurants (including Bar Isabel, Bar Raval, El Rey, Harry's Charbroiled Burgers, and PrettyUgly), Van Gameren is helping to set a new standard for restaurants in Toronto, one that puts as much importance on ambiance as it does food and service. Given his start, though, very few would have expected this kind of success - Van Gameren included. To find out how he managed it, and why he loves Spanish cuisine, we spoke to the man himself. Advertisement Van Gameren: Believe it or not, my first restaurant job was when I was 16, working at Pizza Pizza. I owe them all my success. Never. My childhood didn't revolve around food, and I didn't get into cooking because I wanted to cook. Up until my early twenties, it was just a job. All my friends were graduating from university and college, and I started thinking about what I was doing with my life, where I was going. It was that point where I decided to dedicate myself to being a chef. At that time, Canoe was one of the top restaurants, so I applied there and got a job. I had opened a couple of Il Fornellos, and I had the sous chef for years, so I went in there with guns blazing, as if I was the most talented cook on earth. At Canoe, though, I realized that I knew nothing about food, and the breadth of it. It was a huge wake-up call, and I quickly realized that I was not nearly as good or experienced as most of the people working around me. Advertisement From then on, I decided to base all aspects of my life around food; learning about it, and reading about it. I don't necessarily look at that as a prerequisite when hiring people. At the end of the day, we're looking for common sense and a good work ethic. So, if by chance, your culinary path took you through school, great, but it's about what you do in the real kitchen. What really matters is the learning environment you choose. I think it's a common misconception that you'll learn more by working in the best restaurant. That might be great for the resume, but it doesn't necessarily mean you're going to learn more. In some of the best restaurants of the world, you do the same tedious thing for two years before you get to do anything else. So, it's sometimes better for your career and development to work in a smaller, more intimate setting with the right people. I think the most common misconception is that good food and service is enough to make a successful restaurant. It's not, and this was really obvious when I went to Spain. It was an emotional experience actually, because it hit all the marks, as far as the social aspect of food, dining, and culture, and it really impacted me. It inspired me to not only focus on food and service, but also to create a stimulating environment. That's why at Bar Raval, most people have to stand. When you're standing, leaning, you're opening yourself to your guests and the rest of the restaurant. It's social. You're not contained to your barstool, or your quadrant of your table. People are happier, and sexier looking. They talk to strangers, they share food. It's important for people and places to take risks, and not necessarily conform to what everyone's used to. Mind you, you have to be strategic. You can't just transport anything from anywhere in the world, and expect it to work in Toronto. Advertisement We have a lot going on. We're set to release Victor Dries, our new catering company, and the Tennessee Tavern in Parkdale, which will be an Eastern European bar and restaurant. Then we have a Mexican wood-burning restaurant opening at the end of the summer, where everything is cooked over fire. I think that when you become a chef, you stop learning in a sense, or you don't really have anyone close to you to learn from. So, I think good chefs make sure that they're taking steps to evolve and stay open to new ideas. It's also very important that a chef, or anyone in the top position, recognizes how many people are working hard to create opportunities for their restaurant. This is an industry where people can take-take-take-take, so you need to reciprocate; helping your staff grow has to be a priority. That's something I take very seriously, and I'm constantly looking at ways to help people grow, whether it's to become a partner, or to start their own restaurant. A lot of people have this misconception that if they cook for ten years, they're going to be a chef or own a restaurant, and the reality is far from that. It's not like other trades, where you compile a bunch of hours and you become a plumber or electrician. It's constantly evolving and you have to stay on top of it, otherwise you fold. Advertisement The sad thing is that only the top per cent of the culinary field ever actually become successful chefs or restauranteurs. So, people need to really understand what motivates them, and what they're capable of. And then they have to follow through. That's the most important thing. See also: _______ - Follow Workopolis on Twitter Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may have reneged on his promise about electoral reform, but he does seem to be sticking to another pledge: legalizing marijuana. On April 13, the Liberal government unveiled a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana in Canada by July 2018. If passed, the legislation would allow people over the age of 18 to buy marijuana, publicly possess as much as 30 grams of cannabis and grow up to four plants (per residence). Advertisement What does this mean for your job (and career prospects)? Here are a few things you need to know about weed in the workplace. This affects a lot of people According to a poll by the Weed Blog (your source for "Marijuana news and information"), 10 per cent of Americans report smoking weed before going to work. If that sounds puffed up, consider that in 2012, 12 per cent of Canadians (aged 15 or older) had reported using it in the past year. Currently, there are 75,166 patients registered under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations, and according to Health Canada, the total number of patients in the program is expected to reach 450,000 by 2024. Add to that an additional 900,000 Canadians likely to smoke pot at least once a month if the new legislation is passed, and you suddenly have a lot of pot users. Advertisement It may create a large amount of new jobs A study by Deloitte estimates that the cannabis market may soon become a $22.6-billion industry in Canada, encompassing a variety of different sectors and ancillary markets. This could translate into big opportunities for job seekers. In fact, a report from New Frontier Data projected that the cannabis industry will create a quarter of a million jobs in the U.S. by 2020. For an example of the nascent industry's impact on the retail front, one just has to look at the explosion of (over anxious) dispensaries across the country last year. In Toronto alone, 121 dispensaries were in operation before the city began cracking down. Weed-friendly companies already exist Colorado has become something of a model for legalization, adding $2.4 billion and 18,005 full-time jobs to the state's economy in 2016. It may also prove to be the testing ground for a wider acceptance of pot use in the workplace. Colorado companies Flowhub (a software provider for the cannabis industry), MassRoot and High There! (both social networks for weed users) all allow employees to bring weed-infused edibles and beverages to work. Advertisement "If it helps our employees get work done, then we don't care if they consume at work," Kyle Sherman, co-founder of Flowhub, told CNN. So far there is (admittedly anecdotal) evidence to suggest it's working for them: Flowhub has processed close to $200 million in cannabis purchases and raised an additional $3.25 million in investor funding. These companies may be quirky outliers, but according to a 2015 survey, a fifth of small business owners said they would allow employees with medical marijuana prescriptions to use cannabis at work, indicating that mentalities might be shifting. In fact, Elite Daily felt the need to publish the "Productive smoker's guide to smoking marijuana on the job," which suggests sticking to the Sativa strains and and keeping a "stoner kit" in the office. Your employer has a duty to accommodate medical usage If you have a prescription for medicinal marijuana, your employer is responsible for accommodating you. Advertisement "It's no different than any other accommodation -- whether it's accommodating someone with a bad back or a religious observance,"says Stuart Rudner, a founding partner of Rudner Macdonald LLP, which specializes in Canadian employment law. The onus, however, is on you to tell your employer. "Companies need to understand how much it's going to impair you." -- Stuart Rudner, Rudner Macdonald LLP "There's a somewhat misguided view that privacy laws mean you don't have to provide details. It's quite the opposite, the courts have been very clear that if you're seeking accommodation, you have to provide sufficient information to allow the employer to assess whether there's a need -- and if so, what viable options exist. You don't have to provide anything more than that, but you do have to provide enough information for the employer to make a decision," Rudner says. To help make these decisions, many companies use functional ability forms to understand things like how long a person can stand or the amount of weight they can lift. "It's a bit different in the context of marijuana, but what they can ask you is how often you expect to use marijuana, and what will the impact be on you ability to do your job?" Rudner says. Advertisement It may, however, fall to medical professionals to assess your degree of impairment. "One Tylenol is the same as every other Tylenol; but one gram of marijuana is very different from another gram of marijuana. It depends on how long it's been grown, where it's been grown and a bunch of other factors. So companies need to understand how much it's going to impair you, and that might be up to a doctor to provide that information," Rudner says. No one is really sure why marijuana was illegal in the first place Why marijuana is illegal in Canada is something of a mystery. When Mackenzie King's Liberal government introduced an Act to Prohibit the Improper Use of Opium and other Drugs, in 1923, Canada became one of the first countries to make smoking pot illegal. The odd thing is that very few people smoked it in Canada at the time. There were, in fact, no references to marijuana in the Toronto Star or the Globe and Mail in 1923. So why was this decision made? "If it's legal like alcohol, they'll adapt to that reality... they'll have no choice." -- Stuart Rudner, Rudner Macdonald LLP Many have pointed to a 1922 book called The Black Candle by Emily F. Murphy, a judge who wrote for Maclean's magazine. Murphy was also, for lack of a better term, crazy. She believed that Africans, Arabs, Chinese, Greeks and Mexicans, among other immigrant groups, had formed something called The Ring, which aimed to corrupt the purity of the white race by flooding the streets with drugs. Advertisement The best-selling Black Candle featured a seven-page chapter called "Marahuana - A New Menace," which quoted Charles A. Jones, Los Angeles' chief of police. Jones claimed that smokers lose all moral responsibility, becoming raving maniacs who are "liable to kill or indulge in any form of violence to other persons, using the most savage methods of cruelty... they are dispossessed of their natural and normal willpower and their mentality is that of idiots." There is no solid evidence that this book lead to the illegality of marijuana, but given its popularity, it likely helped create a negative stigma for weed and its users -- one that still persists today. "With time, these views will change," Rudner says. "People will understand that marijuana is an accepted form of medication, and if it's legal like alcohol, they'll adapt to that reality... they'll have no choice." See also: _______ - Follow Workopolis on Twitter - Sign up for the Workopolis Weekly newsletter Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: The five things you need to know on Friday, April 28 1) REPETITIVE MAY INJURY Asked on Radio Derby yesterday if she knew what a mugwump was, Theresa May replied with the immortal words: What I recognise is that what we need in this country is strong and stable leadership. No wonder this bloke on BBCs Question Time last night railed against the Tories repetitive cliche virus. Advertisement But in No.10 and Tory HQ they dont mind any of these jibes as long as the message gets across time and again. And so far, May has largely stuck to stage-managed rallies in front of Conservative supporters rather than adopting Camerons PM Direct model of risking questions or interaction with actual members of the public. Last night, May was in a business centre in Leeds but one employee says the party waited until all the staff went home and the event was invite-only. Just as we will have a stripped-down State Opening of Parliament (the snap election timetable clashes with Trooping the Colour, so Her Maj will arrive by car not carriage), so too we have a stripped-down Tory election campaign. All the usual flash is being shunned in favour of surgical strikes by the PM, with exactly the same format each time, and exactly the same soundbites. Lets see if the manifesto launch makes a difference after the local elections. Last night May told the Leeds event of her intention to take her fight to every Labour heartland: Here and in every constituency across the country it may say Labour on the ballot, but its Jeremy Corbyn that gets the vote. Which is the reverse of the message from Tony Blair (he said again yesterday May would still be PM on June 9) that many Labour MPs are using on the doorstep: you can safely vote for us because theres no way JC can be PM. One thing May has avoided is questions about junking Osbornes tax lock. In a rare interview, ex-Treasury chief Nick Macpherson warns that the ageing population pressures are such that even if the lock is dumped more cash will be needed. He warns that if it is not dumped, the budget deficit will have to rise. On Newsnight, Nick Watt said the Treasury is looking at using fiscal drag to raise key cash by getting more people to pay higher rate tax. Advertisement As for Corbyn, he was in Harlow yesterday. To some this was a baffling choice given the 8,000 Tory majority Rob Halfon now has in a former Labour seat. But one insider tells me Harlow has a very high number of new Labour party members and says the visit was proof Corbyn is using the general election to boost support not among the public but among the faithful, in advance of a possible third leadership campaign. 2) MUMMY V MUTTI Angela Merkel yesterday delivered some home truths about British claims (from both David Davis and Keir Starmer) that somehow Brexit could allow the UK to keep virtually all the benefits of being in the EU (eg the single market) without actually being in the club. You may think that all this is self-evident, she told the German Parliament. But I have to put this so clearly because I get the impression that some in Great Britain still have illusions about this, and that is a waste of time Theresa May, who has been Christened mummy by several Tory MPs of late just as Merkel has been tagged Mutti by her admirers, didnt see the funny side. She told her rally last night that the German Chancellors words were proof that the EU 27 were lining up to oppose us. No sugar, Sherlock. Note that the clean Brexiteers have been arguing too that it is a delusion to think we can have a soft Brexit. Thats why they talk of pulling out on WTO terms. The FT reports one other real problem though, with the EU considering inserting the phrase united Ireland in its negotiating text tomorrow. Theres a plan to confirm that Northern Ireland would be allowed seamless transition back into the EU if its people ever voted to unite with the Republic. The plan is based on German unification in the 1990s. But the Spanish are uneasy. In other Brexit news, the Wellcome Trust has written to the Times to urge party leaders to continue to invest 800m a year in science after Brexit. And the Health Select Committee warns England will not be self-sufficient in its supply of doctors "until the end of the next decade at the very earliest. The Guardian reports that NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, says an emergency cash injection of 25bn is needed before 2020 or ministers risk a decline in the quality of care for patients and lengthening delays for treatment. That works out as even more than the 350m a week on Boriss bus. Advertisement 3) WOMEN TO WIN Some more of the dozen Labour seats vacated by MPs have chosen their candidates. Im told that Preet Kaur Gill has got the Birmingham Edgbaston selection in the bag, a move that would mean that eight of the nine candidates chosen so far are women. The Birmingham seat, whose retiring MP was Gisela Stuart, has the distinction of being continuously represented by female MPs (from both main parties) since 1953. The Tories choose their contender tonight and if its 2015 runner Luke Evans, and if Gill cant fend of the May surge, that record could broken. In other selections, unions have carved up the seats between them and so far Corbyns office appear to have been outmanoeuvred. Councillor Liz Twist beat Unison pick Mark Ferguson in Blaydon, Unite-backed Laura Pidcock won North West Durham, MEP Anneliese Dodds won Oxford East and Unison organiser Alex Norris won Nottingham North. Add those already selected earlier, Ellie Reeves, Steph Peacock and Emma Hardy, and the party is delighted so many talented young women have been picked. But some crucial contests remain. Corbyns political secretary Katy Clark is up for Leigh today against Burnham-backed local Jo Platt. And theres a real row going on down in Slough (as the Jam would say), where retiring MP Fiona Mactaggart could be replaced by a man. This matters because the convention is that a retiring female MP is automatically replaced by a woman, but the NEC is looking at installing a black and minority ethnic shortlist instead. Some argue that with so many women already selected, it makes sense in a seat with around 50% of the population from minority ethnic communities. But Im told Mactaggart is making her views known. Speaking of Slough, I was in the seat last night talking to voters as part of a new joint project between HuffPostUK and Edelman to stage focus groups across the country in coming weeks. Our Beyond Brexit series (the issues beyond Brexit as well as life after 2019) will form the backbone of our election coverage. My first report on Slough will be up tonight and tomorrow. BECAUSE YOUVE READ THIS FAR Watch Jeremy Corbyn spun round, right round (unlike a record baby) as he meets the troops in Harlow. 4) JOHNSON AND JOHNSON Blood is thicker than water in the Johnson clan, but it is being spilled over Brexit. Yes, Boriss sister Rachel has actually gone and joined the Lib Dems. The Guardian had the scoop that Rachel - who sat down and wept when the EU referendum result came in - had become part of the Yellow Peril, as her brother has often described Farrons party. It may be too late for her to be the candidate in Bath or another Lib-Con battleground but that wont stop the fun. Advertisement Heres Johnsons column in the Mail on Sunday from last year: What an astonishing, upsetting, stunning week it has been, a stinging reminder that no politician should ever ask the public a question he doesnt know the answer to. Now the snow globe is not just shaken but lying broken on the floor. Bojo is the black sheep of the family on the EU. Brother Jo (the minister for higher education) and father Stanley (a former MEP) were also Remainers. And their other brother Leo has been described by Rachel as sickeningly liberal. Will Boris now describe his sister as sickeningly Liberal Democrat? Meanwhile, the MP signally refused four times last night to back Boriss claim that it would be very difficult for us to say no to a Trump request to join airstrikes on Syria. 5) GREEN DAY The progressive alliance between the Greens and Lib Dems is yielding some fruit in various seats, not least in Brighton (and possibly Richmond Park again). But the environmentalists party isnt going to roll over on everything and today is proving just that. In a deliberate troll of Tim Farron, the party is launching its LGBT+ manifesto in a church, putting clear distance between the two parties on the issue of gay rights. Co-leader Jonathan Bartley will announce plans to make all LGBT+ refugees welcome in the UK, ensure HIV prevention drug PrEp is available on the NHS and put trans and intersex recognition and rights into law. Meanwhile, UKIP leader Paul Nuttall has finally come out of his locked room and announced he will after all stand as a candidate in the general election. He will officially launch his partys general election campaign today and may even let us in on the secret of which seat he wants to contest. Some thought hed go for Leigh, but hes campaigning in Hartlepool on Saturday, an area where the Kippers have some support. Advertisement COMMONS PEOPLE Our latest CommonsPeople podcast is out, complete with our new ElectionSection quiz, and new recruit Kate Forrester. Hear us chinwag about the first week of the campaign, strong and stable soundbites and much more HERE. If youre reading this on the web, sign-up HERE to get the WaughZone delivered to your inbox. Christopher Furlong via Getty Images No. It doesn't matter whether politicians think abortion is a sin. What matters is whether they would let their own personal convictions stand in the way of women's ability to act on their own. Over recent weeks there has been intense probing of Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron's views on LGBT issues, culminating in an interview by a BBC reporter in which he finally declared that he did not believe gay sex was a sin. Advertisement Interestingly, he has faced significantly less pressure on the issue of abortion (not mentioned at all in the BBC inquisition). Tim Farron has said in the past that he thinks: "Abortion is wrong. Society has to climb down from the position that says there is nothing morally objectionable about abortion before a certain time. If abortion is wrong, it is wrong at any time." This is a very clear moral position, which is he absolutely entitled to hold. Abortion is deemed a matter of conscience in politics - that is to say there is no party whip when votes on abortion come round: rather members of the house are left to vote in accordance with their own personal beliefs. For Tim Farron, that has usually meant not voting at all, presumably because he has found it hard to square the liberalism of his party with the vote against abortion that would accord with his personal beliefs. Theresa May has either abstained or voted to restrict abortion rights while Jeremy Corbyn has a consistently pro-choice record. But abortion is not simply an abstract issue, or a parlour game. Politicians have the right to follow a religious faith, and indeed to believe that abortion is sinful (the two are certainly not synonymous). But when they allow those beliefs to determine their vote on the matter, that tells us something about the extent to which they trust women to make their own decisions about their own lives. Politicians refusing to stand up and be counted on reproductive choice means that women cannot live their lives in accordance with their own conscience. The question becomes: whose conscience matters most? Advertisement Last month, MPs voted in favour of a ten-minute-rule-bill tabled by the MP Diana Johnson that would have decriminalised abortion up to 24 weeks gestation in England and Wales. Farron wasn't there, neither was Theresa May. The bill (which ran out of time to progress in the last session) proposed removing abortion in the first two trimesters from the criminal law altogether, which would enable it to be regulated in the same way as other women's healthcare procedures. Care therefore could be delivered in a way determined by healthcare professionals, in accordance with best practice clinical guidelines. It would also have removed the threat of criminal penalty from women who take abortion medication bought online, as increasing numbers now do, not least because our current laws can place significant obstacles to access to legal care in their way. It was interesting to see that a number of MPs who have historically voted along anti-abortion lines supported it. We cannot be sure of their reasons for doing so, but we might speculate that there is increasing recognition that in a society where abortion is accepted, it would be best if those services could be delivered in the most woman-centred way possible, in accordance with the highest standards of clinical care. This is what this bill would have delivered. Our current legal framework means that once pregnant, a woman no longer has autonomy over her own body. From the moment she misses her period, she can only end that pregnancy if she has the permission of two doctors. If she induces her own miscarriage without that permission, she can go to prison for life. It doesn't matter whether our politicians think abortion is right or wrong, good or bad. Whether it is something they would do themselves. What matters is whether they think they should dictate women's ability to make their own decisions about their own pregnancies. Advertisement Access to abortion enables women to live their lives in the way that they believe is right. No-one can decide what that is except the person who must live that life, who must bear the immediate - and profound - physical and mental impact of pregnancy and childbirth, and take responsibility for the child that results. Bliznetsov via Getty Images Elections are often fought with the help of slogans, and in the last PMQs before the vote, the Conservatives highlighted theirs. 'Strong and stable leadership' they cried, time after time, conveying not only their opinion of their own merits, but also not-so-subtly emphasising the perceived weaknesses of the opposition. Jeremy Corbyn has been described as 'weak,' 'feeble,' gutless,' and most recently a 'mutton-headed mugwump', all designed to etch into the public consciousness that his leadership qualities are neither strong nor effective enough to be Prime Minister. But what is true strength? Is it simply the willingness to drop bombs and fight wars, or is it something more profound? When under great pressure to stand down as Labour leader in 2016, and attacks were levelled at him from amongst his own party, he declared in a speech: 'There is no pressure whatsoever. Real pressure is when you don't have enough money to feed your kids, when you don't have a roof over your head...' Advertisement This is what strength really is. It is the ability to maintain morality and decency even in the face of a personal crisis. It is the capacity to genuinely empathise with those less fortunate, and the capability to continue promoting the same positive values even when vast numbers of people turn against you. Great leaders in history do not simply ride the waves of the prevailing views of society for the sake of attaining votes, rather they create their own ripples of hope and change through the positive messages they bring, even if society opposes them at the time. Let's not forget that while the UK was preparing to go to war with Iraq, Corbyn stood firm, on the right side of history, predicting the misery that invasion would bring with an eerie degree of accuracy: 'It will set off a spiral of conflict, of hate, of misery, of desperation, that will fuel the wars, the conflicts, the terrorism, the depression, and the misery of future generations.' How we all must wish that that gutless mutton-headed mugwump had been our leader back then. Today the stakes are even higher. The threat of nuclear war is building day after day, and with growing divisions, world leaders are falling headlong into it. After Prime Minister May said last year that she would order a nuclear strike that would kill 100,000 people if necessary, defence secretary Michael Fallon recently declared that even using them as a 'first strike' could not be ruled out. This attitude is foolish, not strong, as it deepens the rifts between our nation and those who may be a threat to us. Such rhetoric exacerbates geo-political instability in an already unstable world. A nuclear deterrent can only be successful for so long, until eventually our luck runs out. World peace cannot be established simply by threatening war, rather it must be achieved by Corbyn's approach - leading by example in scaling down on nuclear weapons, repairing relations with Russia, avoiding mindlessly bombing countries like Libya and Syria. War, after all, is weakness not strength. It signals the failure of diplomacy, the inability to further negotiate. It requires no courage from those who declare it, only from those who are forced to endure it. Advertisement And what of Saudi Arabia? Is it strong to sell arms to an army which is tearing apart Yemen, killing innocents? Is it courageous to sit silently whilst our ally carries out regular human rights abuses, such as beheading innocent people, punishing individuals for their religious beliefs, and imprisoning political dissidents? True strength in this regard is to speak out against all violations and abuses, regardless of who it is that commits them, and to stop the mass slaughter of civilians as far as is possible. If we vote for Conservative strength then the drumbeats of war will beat ever closer to home. We will declare our military might and power, boast of our nuclear weapons, drop yet more bombs on foreign nations and continue to prop up dictatorships, not realising that all our actions will ultimately come back to us like an echo, or even stronger. Boris Johnson has conjured up an image of Jeremy Corbyn that could literally have come from the pages of JK Rowling's Harry Potter series. In his column in The Sun newspaper yesterday 26th April he referred to the leader of the opposition as a "mutton headed old mugwump" who posed an "enormous threat" to Britain if elected as Prime Minister. However, by choosing this term of abuse for his political adversary, Boris has brought to mind a character who has cast a spell over a whole generation of children and adults alike. In JK Rowling's series, the character of Albus Dumblefore held the position of supreme Mugwump in the Potterverse until Machiavellian efforts to discredit him succeeded briefly in The Order of the Phoenix. In the popular imagination, though Boris may have shown himself to once again be as Machiavellian as the UK Ministry of Magic who tried to thwart Dumbledore in his preparations for the return of the Dark Lord Voldermort. Therefore because of Dumbledore having been proven correct in the end about the threat posed by Lord Voldermort, the connotations of "mugwump" are generally favourable within 'the Potterverse' as commonky referred to by fans. Dumbledore the grizzled ageing wizard was headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and is viewed as a figure of authority, compassion, wisdom, guidance, and high standing in the magical world. If Ed Milliband was castigated by the slogan 'Vote Ed, get Nicola' perhaps Boris has given Jeremy a potion to capture the popular vote; especially amongst those people we might call the fence sitters, not quite ready to swing their wands one way or another at the ballot box. 'Vote Jeremy, get Dumbledore' can be our new mantra. Advertisement Ironically the very word 'Mugwump' originates from this very sense of sitting on the fence. Deriving from a Native American dialect in what is now Massachusetts, it has evolved from its original Algonquian translation as a war leader detached from everyday affairs, to a more pejorative term for somebody who sits on the fence, or holds themselves aloof from party politics. Here too, Boris seems to have misdirected his meaning, because throughout Jeremy Corbyn's career he can never be accused of sitting on the fence in either ideological or practical terms. By his own admission at times and the Tories constant castigation he has been a lifelong rebel and advocate of unpopular causes, throwing himself into the front line of protest where required. Of course, as with the etymology of all words, there have been changes to the meaning of Mugwump over time. In the 1880s it evolved to a synonym for 'turncoat' after Charles Anderson Dana, editor of The New York Sun, coined the phrase for a new political grouping in American politics. These were supporters of the Republican Party who switched sides to support the Democratic candidate in a presidential election. Their more famous members are said to have included the authors mark Twain and Henry Adams. The basic idea was that they were fence sitters with their mug on one side of the divide and their rump on the other, according to a definition by the then President of Princeton University. Again, amongst the many accusations levelled at Jeremy from white poppies to republicanism, he can rarely be accused of turning his coat. Throughout his lifetime he has consistently been a card carrying union member and proud socialist fighting the underdog's corner. Even as a thorn in the Blairites' side, Jeremy never thought of switching sides, going over to the dark side of voicing support for the Conservatives. Indeed the only area where he might be accused of changing his cloak is around the issue of the European Union but then Boris can hardly cry foul in that game of Quidditch! A further problem with calling Corbyn a Mugwump is that the original Mugwumps within the Republican Party held views akin to certain members of today's Conservatives - particularly the upper class, public school variety. Many of these were the Old Anglo-Saxon Protestant elite of nineteenth century America, inheritors of wealth and resistant to change. Deeply rooted in a sense of elitism, the word then evolved further to its present day accepted meaning of one who is aloof from or sees themselves as above party politics. Again Jeremy Corbyn can hardly be deemed as part of any elite although sometimes portrayed as aloof in the personal rather than political sense. Advertisement In the weeks leading up to the Biennale, Venice hums with visitors. The city is used to it. From the Carnival in early February until the following November, every cafe table is adorned with a selfie stick, a map and a tourist clad in beige waterproofs. The Giudecca canal is periodically cast in shadow by the hulking loom of cruise ships, dwarfing even the tallest campanile. The citizens of Venice keep to themselves - darting down side-streets and back alleys, escaping the rush. If you follow them on their secret routes, you discover a second, quieter city, with laundry blowing softly in the wind, shuttered windows and a lone nonna bobbing home with her shopping. La Serenissima is home to around 55,000 inhabitants, but that number shrinks every week. Come a particularly bad spate of acqua alta - high water - and residents will pack up and flee the city like rats, trading in the expensive, insalubrious Venetian palazzi for the safety and economy of the modern apartment buildings that line the streets of the mainland towns nearby. The vast majority of Venice's residential buildings are now shuttered against the sunshine, only visited occasionally by housekeepers and contractors who see to the endless to-do list of restoration and upkeep these places continually require. An institutional inertia hangs over the city as its buildings threaten to crumble. Waves from the looming cruise ships lap endlessly at their foundations, wearing them away. On the vaporetti and in the little squares, mention the mayor to most Venetians and they will instantly lower their voice. But on my second night returning the floating city, I go to Campo Santa Margherita, the haunt of every young person on the island. There, I find a group of students drinking in the legendary Cafe Rosso, who defiantly want to be heard. In between downing shots of Fernet Branca, they tell me gleefully of their finest coup: they climbed the tower of San Marco at dawn and rolled a fifty foot banner down its length. Painted in red and black lettering were the words NO GRANDI NAVI - 'no big ships'. To make way for the enormous cruise vessels, huge channels are carved into the floor of the lagoon, accelerating erosion and upsetting the delicate ecosystem. "The water is supposed to flow gently in and out of the lagoon," one of them tells me in languid Italian, heavy with the soft, nasal accent of the Veneto. The channels mean the tides rush in, and the city floods and falls away. The students are part of a movement called 'Comitato No Grandi Navi', which have several headquarters across the city. The largest is Morion, a 'laboratorio occupato' - occupied space - in deepest Castello. It's a juddering, shabby club where you can buy a litre of vino sfuso - fresh, 'loose wine'- for 6, and dance to thumping rock music under NO GRANDI NAVI banners hanging from the ceiling. Advertisement At takes an hour to cross Venice by foot from end to end. About twenty minutes' walk from Morion is a silent, twisting back-alley that can only be reached after meeting half a dozen dead ends. There, you'll find the Da Mosto's palazzo, home to one of Venice's oldest families. More than a decade ago, Francesco Da Mosto starred in the hit BBC TV series Francesco's Venice. It was a love letter to the city, adored by UK and Venetian viewers alike. Francesco's wife, Jane, is British, and has in recent years become the voice of Venice's forgotten residents. She takes me off to a tourist cafe in the Rialto market, where loud, brash music bellows out and visored Japanese tourists crowd in little groups around rickety plastic tables. Jane told me of how her organisation, We Are Here Venice, has been studying the impacts of cruise ships and exploring policy options for Venice. She also runs parallel projects, helping residents continue to forge their way in artisanal arts and crafts. "Cruise ships bring no benefit to the Venetians at all," Jane says. Tourists get off the boat, walk into San Marco, take a selfie, and then clamber back on board for lunch. Often they don't spend a cent - not even on a slice of pizza. "When it comes to the future of Venice, there are two groups of people. Those who think - and hope - it can stay on as a place for people to live and work, and those who believe it is destined to become a museum city, only fit to be visited." Across the water are the dormitory towns of Marghera and Mestre. "Go to Piazzale Roma first thing in the morning. The sight of 20,000 people streaming into the city on the commute is astonishing. They are coming to cater for the 30 million tourists that visit Venice every year." For Venetians, the situation has been at breaking point for some time. Advertisement With rents skyrocketing, Venice is in danger of becoming a Disneyland-style outpost of the 'real' cities on the mainland. On the Zattere, you can get a semifreddo at Nico's legendary ice cream bar and look out over the water towards the smoking chimneys of Marghera, where the Fincantieri shipyard turns out several cruise ships a year. It feels ominously like looking towards the future. https://pixabay.com/en/network-iot-internet-of-things-782707/ Among today's tech trends, the Internet of Things - IoT - is right up there as a talking point and emerging market. While the general idea has been around for some time (it was 'named' in 1999), it's only in the last few years that investment, product development and revenue have really accelerated. The IoT concept is based round the idea that a vast array of devices, products, machines, sensors, tools - pretty much anything you can think of - can be connected via the Internet to collect, send and receive data. As a result, they become radically more useful, giving rise to the idea that they've developed into something 'smart'. Advertisement Think of the way our use of mobile phones has changed. Before smartphones came along, the role of the mobile was pretty literal; phone calls were by far their most important capability. Today, making a call has dropped right down the list of things many people most value about their 'phone'. Most of us now spend way more time using other features and apps - many of which need a data connection to work. Apply that idea more broadly and you're well on the way to visualising our IoT future. From the mundane to the mad, connectivity and communication is being built into almost any 'thing' you can imagine. Some of the more quirky examples illustrate the diversity of innovation in this sector really well. The hairbrush, toilet, bed, duvet, dustbin, toaster, juicer and mirror, among many other familiar items, have been re-imagined with an IoT twist. At the other end of the spectrum, connected 'things' are appearing across our emerging smart cities, including a myriad of monitors and sensors that measure everything from car parking and lighting to noise pollution and waste levels. This adds up to the creation of a $1.3 trillion market by 2020, according to analyst house, IDC. But - and there's always a 'but' - while this enormous growth in connectivity is creating a new industry, it brings with it a whole new layer of IT security risk and vulnerability. We are already seeing IoT devices being targeted as the new weakest link in the security chain, either as the point of entry to traditional IT networks, as a tool used to mount attacks or as the target themselves. Advertisement The challenge is that all this extra connectivity means there is much more to protect and many more avenues for criminals to exploit. It's a worrying gold rush scenario - a new opportunity has been enthusiastically jumped on by the a whole range of people, but law makers are lagging behind. IoT security breaches are hitting the headlines. CloudPets, manufacturer of Internet-connected stuffed toys, suffered a serious breach in early 2017 when the personal information of half a million users was compromised. An unnamed university recently experienced an attack where its connected light sensors and vending machines were used by hackers to direct traffic and overwhelm target servers. And last year, Domain Name Server company, Dyn, suffered a major Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, carried out via a range of IoT devices which themselves were infected by malware. The attack took Dyn offline, and as a result, caused widespread Internet service disruption across the USA and Europe. A vast number of household and digital brands, from Airbnb and Amazon to Starbucks and Twitter were affected. One of the major concerns among security experts is that there is such a big gap in IoT security in general, that we are only just seeing the tip of the iceberg. IoT security is lambasted by commentators, and has been described as both 'non-existent' and 'a threat to public safety'. As connectivity broadens, and as we become more dependent on smart IoT devices, so the impact of security breaches intensifies. Advertisement The world is your playground, quite literally. And it's about to get even more fun. Stop Smile Stroll is a new concept for the Playable City Award from design and technology consultancy Hirsch & Mann. The interactive crossing design encourages pedestrians to dance, rather than walk, across roads 'bringing strangers together for a serendipitous shared moment'. What's the best thing to do in a playground? Play games of course. PokemonGo has already turned the world into an augmented Poke jungle. Central Park offers its own 'Pokemon Go Safari'. Using the same AR technology, start-up Snatch has partnered with brands from Topshop to Marmite, to transform streets into a virtual treasure hunt. Players grab hidden parcels, then protect them from other players who are trying to snatch them. There's no wonder a town in the Netherlands is trialling special pavement lights designed to help smartphone addicts cross the road safely. We're not just gamifying our cities, we're doing the same to our products too. Sound Scouts was winner of the SXSW Accelerator Event in the Health and Wearables category. In collaboration with Australia's National Acoustic Laboratories, the start-up has gamified a test to identify hearing problems that can affect a child's ability to learn, communicate and socialise. The children don't even know they're being tested. Similarly Alvio has turned controlling asthma into a game. A breathing trainer that acts like a game controller connects to a digital blowfish. By inhaling and exhaling kids can move the blowfish through the sea completing challenges. Advertisement "Imagine what the world looks like with a 5G network streaming latency free gaming to every device you own...The length of distance I drive in my Tesla on the way to work might mean that I get more juice in Need For Speed...A world where games and life start to blend," said Andrew Wilson, CEO of Electronic Arts, in his interview 'Your life will be a video game' for The Verge. Yet this shouldn't come as a surprise. Seemingly everything - from dating to cooking to exercise - now has a digital companion helping users to track, rate and motivate. The launch of the world's first smart condom - the i.Con - shows just how little remains sacred. When does playtime stop being fun? China's Sesame Credit is a score to show how good a citizen you are. If you're thinking about that Black Mirror episode where your social media rating affects everything from the house you can rent to the friends you keep, then you've pretty much got it. Sesame Credit scans your social data, purchasing behaviour, it even scans your friends (you lose points for having friends with low Sesame scores). Welcome to Big Brother's kinder, gentler hand. As the world continues to become more gamified, the question is, are you ready to play? Childcare costs frequently hit the headlines in the media, with childminders and other childcare providers portrayed as making healthy profits at the expense of hard-working families. The reality is somewhat different. Instead we have a sector of dedicated, trained professionals who offer a high quality service to families, yet are among the lowest paid in the UK. Indeed according to Government figures released just last week, the average total income of a childminder in the UK is just 10,100. Not quite an eye-watering salary. Advertisement The results of PACEY's second annual Building Blocks survey of almost 2,000 early years practitioners across England paints a picture of a workforce under strain. A sector poised to respond to the significant challenge of the doubling of the free education entitlement for working parents of 3- and 4-year-olds in September. According to Government figures, only 1% of 3- and 4-year-olds who are taking up a free place, do so with a childminder. Whilst the Building Blocks research shows that the main reason why childminders do not currently offer funded places is the low funding rate, it also shows that nearly half (49%) of childminders said that they didn't offer funded places because no parent had asked for one. It seems that despite being registered with Ofsted and delivering a curriculum just like nurseries and pre-schools, many parents don't know they can access funded childcare places from a childminder and many local authorities are failing to embrace childminding as part of their local childcare offer. Figures from the Department for Education (DfE) suggest that an additional 90,000 places will be needed for 3- and 4-year-olds, when the 30 hours policy is rolled out in September. And last week, it was reported that two-thirds of local authorities do not believe there will be enough childcare in their area for eligible families. Advertisement We need to encourage parents to choose childminding as an option for their funded hours, but also to encourage more childminders to offer funded hours, and ultimately to retain childminding in our childcare system. PACEY's research shows that 50% of childminders have at least one unfilled place that they would like to fill. If just one of those places could be used to offer a funded place to a 3- or 4-year-old, this would approximate to quarter of the extra places needed. One thing that is clear from the Building Blocks survey is that childcare practitioners are committed individuals who find their job hugely rewarding. Indeed nearly all (96%) of respondents said they found working in childcare and early years rewarding. One early years practitioner who completed the survey said: "Children are magical and never predictable. It's the best job in the world and it's a privilege to be trusted to be part of their world". Advertisement So why are we risking losing these driven and passionate individuals? Ofsted figures state that 91% of childminders are rated as good and outstanding in England and they offer a unique community based early education. Childminding is a 'win-win' for children, parents and employers too. Children get high quality care; parents get the flexible childcare they need to work and employers benefit from that flexibility too. More needs to be done to encourage more people to join this rewarding profession. But the early years sector has already lost 13,400 registered childminders over the past 4 years. 43% of childminders responding to our survey said a shortage of work would be the main catalyst for them leaving the sector. We know that inadequate pay and removal of support from the local authority for training and development are other reasons why childminders are considering quitting. Last week early years workers in Australia went on strike to protest against the continued level of low pay. How long can we count on the goodwill and commitment of early years professionals up and down the country to offer the high quality childcare that children deserve - particularly with the underfunding of the sector that is likely to escalate to crisis with 30 hours? Advertisement The next few months are set to be critical for the sector, as providers firm up their response to 30 hours and eligible parents decide where they will take up their entitlement. Government needs to act now to ensure that the funding rate for the early years and childcare entitlement is sustainable for all providers. More needs to be done to raise parental awareness of the vital role childminders can play in early education, and local authorities need to do more to support and promote childminding as a high quality, flexible home-based service to parents. If action is not taken, come September, families will lose out - as will childminders. More childminders will leave the sector, which will have a devastating impact on parental choice. CHRIS J RATCLIFFE via Getty Images On Friday I joined other Stand Up To Racism campaigners at the launch of UKIP's election campaign. This followed Paul Nuttall's announcement that, among the rest of their anti-migrant and Islamophobic agenda, UKIP would campaign to ban the Burqa. This call has nothing to do with defending women's rights. It has everything to do with UKIP demonising the Muslim community, just like in France last year when politicians campaigned to ban the Birkini. Advertisement Why should anyone have the right to tell Muslim women what to wear? UKIP and their kind are constantly targeting people who just want to get on with their lives. It shows the nature of their party, it shows their racism. We were ejected from the press conference, quite forcefully, when we raised what we thought was the problem with UKIP's agenda. I thought it was important that we protested. UKIP are not just an ordinary party. They want to cause division, they want to scapegoat people because of their religion. I went to their election launch to show that we won't simply stand back and let them get away with it. In recent months, in the wake of the EU referendum we've seen a spike in the number of hate crimes in the UK. Advertisement Among the victims have been a number of Muslim women. My friend Nahella Ashraf, another Stand Up To Racism activist was attacked in a chip shop last January in Hammersmith West London, where a man attempted to rip off her hijab. The kind of statements made by Nuttall and UKIP lay the ground for these attacks by making us a target. They legitimise the idea that Muslims are an "enemy within" rather than just ordinary people. UKIP are in a mess. In their desperation to win votes UKIP are echoing the even nastier rhetoric we hear from the fascist Marine Le Pen. Donald Trump has targeted American Muslims with his attempted "Muslim ban". We are not going to allow that kind of thing to happen here, whatever Nuttall and UKIP think. It's obviously not just UKIP that have targeted the Muslim community. The Tories Prevent agenda has been all about criminalising Muslims and intimidating our community into silence. It was the ex-Tory leader David Cameron who had the cheek to describe Muslim women as "traditionally submissive", well we're not! Advertisement I think it's time we got organised against the racism aimed at Muslims, against migrants and against refugees. Whether you are a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, a trade unionist or a student we all need to stand together against division. I've been working with Stand Up To Racism on their "Keep racism out of the election" campaign, more here. I was one of the speakers at the 30,000 strong Stand Up To Racism demo in March, on UN anti-racism day, supported by the TUC. And I'm speaking at this Tuesday night's (2 May) Unite Against Fascism meeting on Le Pen, Trump and the rise of racism - 7pm, at Conway Hall Event page here. REUTERS Why I stand against Marine Le Pen and her anti-migrant platform. Chez nous, my family is mixed. My two children are descendants of three major religious faiths and of American, English, and and Turkish background. Over the past year, we have watched as the US, the UK and Turkey have embraced nationalistic, anti-migrant policies. We are also residents of France, and to say that I'm concerned about the outcome of the second round of the French elections is an understatement. Advertisement "She won't win, relax," people in France tell me. "There's no way we will vote for Le Pen in 2017." It's little comfort, I've heard it before. Last spring during the lead-up to Brexit and last fall before the US elections. And everyone was wrong. Now I am afraid it will happen here. Current intelligence on the involvement of the Russians isn't very comforting. "She doesn't mean you," they say. "Don't worry," my friends tell me, referring to Marine Le Pen's statement that she will "protect France" by suspending all legal migration. But I am a migrant. And while I may not be the primary target of the National Front, there is no question but that my family will be affected. That being said, I recognise, of course, that we are fortunate. We aren't refugees, and we have the option to go back to our country of origin. A luxury that Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan and many other refugees and asylum seekers do not share. But one place I can not make a choice is the voting booth. Advertisement Vote blanc equals voting white, white privilege that is. Many rational, centrist and leftist French citizens grit their teeth at the idea of voting for Emmanuel Macron. "He's the sweetheart of the banks" they say. They plan to "vote blanc" on Sunday, May 7. A "vote blanc" is a protest vote. It means that instead of voting for either of candidates, a citizen chooses to vote for neither. But in this case, to vote blanc is to exercise one's white privilege. In France the presidential election procedure is to vote in two rounds. This allows citizens to indicate both their ideal preference (the first round) and then their tactical preference (the second round). Last weekend represented the opportunity to vote from a place of belief. For this next round, I hope France will act with empathy. It's very easy to act on abstract or idealistic intellectual and political beliefs when you are not directly affected by the outcome. To vote blanc is to ignore the reality that people of color, LGBT, and migrants face daily. To vote blanc is to allow the victims of war and terror to be scapegoated for the challenges we face in Europe. To vote blanc is to allow France to fall victim to a global shift towards fascism. Kansas governor's race remains too close to call Results in the Kansas governor's race remained too close to call as Gov. Laura Kelly clung to a 21,000 vote lead over Attorney General Derek Schmidt. 8 Ways To Avoid Self Sabotage When Building Your Music Career While it's hardly the easiest career for anyone to pursue, becoming some form of a full time self employed musician is certainly achievable provided, that is, you can get out of your own way. Here we look at eight ways to avoid ruining your music career before it's even gotten off the ground. ___________________ Guest post by The Tunedly Team of the Tunedly Blog Stepping out with the decision to become an independent artist or music creator is pretty bold, considering the various challenges that the business entails. From building a fan base, to making your own songs, to at least managing to get a song heard by a large (enough) audience, the struggle is constant, especially in the early days. However, as many have proven over the years, it is not impossible for any serious song lyricist, artist, or band to make their intended mark. How far you reach is often determined by your own mental attitude towards developing your career, and your approach to doing what it takes to get the outcomes you want. Of course, its not quite that simple, but once you understand that basic truth, everything else becomes clearer. Well, at least as long as youre not getting in the way of your own development. 1. Know where you want to go and what it takes to get there One of the keys to making it in the music business is to understand what needs to be done to get where you want to go. And while success is not guaranteed for anyone, there are some ingredients that are a given in order to have a real shot at it. Obviously, you need some level of talent, to begin with, but then you also need to work on creating the right image, as well as connecting with the right people and coming up with a strategy to get some exposure. You should also be prepared to invest some amount of cash in your career. Dont think just because the internet now exists, it is cheap and easy to make your own songs and get free publicity. 2. Have the right mental attitude You might have heard the phrase your attitude determines your altitude. While it might sound a tad corny, it is one of those sayings that carry a lot of truth and has been repeated by many successful people. A great mental attitude means not limiting yourself to small goals, but actually aiming for the highest possibilities. It means not thinking that you cant afford to use high-quality music recording studios, but instead trying to figure out how to afford it. Settling for home-made recordings can seriously hurt your career. It also means not focusing on the fact that you might not have a lot of financial resources, but instead thinking about the amount of money you can possibly make and actively doing daily activities to eventually get you there. The problem of starving artist syndrome is real and has whittled away at the careers of many talented individuals. Avoid this by continuing to think big, looking past the little things that are lacking and envisioning the goals you want to achieve. 3. Dont compare your success with that of others who are already there Its easy to get caught up with other song lyricists, bands, and musicians who are well-known and try to model your success off theirs. After all, The Chainsmokers managed to make a hit out of #Selfie, so it should be easy for your well-structured club anthem to get noticed too, right? Or if Miri Ben-Ari can make it as a crossover classical musician and end up winning a Grammy, then you should break the mold too because you can play the heck out of a stringed instrument as well, right? Well, first of all, success comes differently for everyone. Ben-Ari, for instance, has recalled in interviews that she started playing the violin at age five and, even after so many years of training, was out in the wilderness for years after moving to New York from Israel. She has mentioned spending a lot of nights playing in numerous clubs without any recognition for years, before being finally discovered. Hers and many more success stories often seem glamorous, almost fairytale-like when the headlines are being made. However, if you dig a little deeper, you will find that they often took a long time and much sacrifice to get where they are. So, is it a good idea for you to compare your success to other accomplished acts, who you feel you might be just as good as, or even better than talent-wise? Not unless you are willing to begin at the same spot where they began and do the same things they did. And even then, things and times have changed, so the way they did it back then might not work today. You might be holding yourself back if you are looking at what a mainstream act is doing now and trying to mirror your own success off that, instead of taking the time to build your own buzz, as they did when they were at the same spot you are currently in. 4. Trust the process Success rarely comes overnight in any form of business, music or otherwise. Instead, its a continuous process that you have to keep on repeating day in, day out until the work starts paying off. The process can be daunting at times, whether it is continuously seeking out the best song lyricists and music recording studios to collaborate with, in order to ensure your songs are of a consistently high quality, or hitting the road often in a bid to keep on meeting the right people. Whatever it is, you have to trust it and stay committed to the process until something gives. Bruno Mars could have ended up being a no-name after being discarded by Motown when he was just trying out his wings, but he stuck to what he knew and the rest is history. 5. Be prepared How badly do you want to achieve your goals in music and how are you preparing to meet them? And what are those goals anyway? These are critical questions to ask yourself if you want to continue developing your craft and be in a state of readiness. The truth is that many acts stay stuck in the quagmire of obscurity because they have either not asked themselves the important questions or arent prepared for opportunities that pop up from time to time. For example, you get an opportunity to pitch a song to a record label or popular artist, but your demos are not mixed properly, so even though you have some good lyrics, you end up getting turned down. Your excuse might be that you couldnt afford a professional music recording studio, but you could be looked at as being lackadaisical or just not ready for what you seek. After all, if you want to be taken seriously, you need to put your best foot (recording/performance/attitude) forward. Of course, being prepared doesnt mean you will automatically kick down every door you enter; it just means you have a better chance of getting a foot in. 6. Continue to improve Even if you feel like youre all that and a bag of chips, there will always be something else to learn that could make you better. It could be improving on your writing to make you a better song lyricist, strengthening your vocals so you have more range, or learning an instrument that improves your overall skills that come in handy if you attempt to make your own songs. Developing your skills and building your career is mostly up to you and the decisions you make, especially if you are an independent artist. Be aware of your weak areas and keep seeking for ways to build on them. Be aware of your strengths too and keep on training them. A strong muscle will eventually become weak if it is not being used regularly. 7. Do it for the love The music business is not for the faint-hearted when one considers that there are so many artists that are not earning viable incomes from their music careers. In fact, recent reports show that almost 91 percent of current artists are listed as unrecognized. Its little wonder that some quit after a few tries and successive failures. If you are serious about building your career, its best to have a real love for it, rather than for monetary gains. If your motivation is just the money or fame that comes with being a popular artist, you are bound to get fed up and drop out if youve failed to achieve either after trying for some time. Doing it for the love doesnt guarantee success. However, it keeps you going and sets you up for the possibility of success down the road. Plus, being in the category of unrecognized is not necessarily a bad thing. Many of todays chart-toppers were in that same position for many years before getting their big break. The question is, how long do you plan to stay there and what are your plans to find success; whatever that means to you? 8. Networking Getting to know the right people in the music business is an important part of growing in it. Connecting with other artists and industry professionals will at least keep you in their minds so that when a need arises, its possible that you could be called upon to fill it. The music business is one that is built on relationships and some of the most successful artists have been those who were able to continuously make the right ones. You also need to connect with regular people in order to build your fan base, so make use of social networking channels where you can both share your music and interact with listeners. As you seek to develop your artistry, it is important to spend some time focusing on what your goals are and taking the necessary steps to collaborate with the right people and services. While the industry keeps changing, the formula for success remains pretty much the same. Keep out of your own way and you never know where the right mindset and work ethic could take you. Share on: FCC Boss Reveals Nefarious Plan To Replace Net Neutrality Rules With Fluff, Nonsense Having already made his general contempt for net neutrality, it appears current FCC boss Ajit Pai plans to replace current regulations surrounding net neutrality with 'voluntary commitments' from major telecom companies like AT&T and Comcast, leaving any residual regulations the strained FTC. _________________________ Guest post by Karl Bode of Techdirt FCC boss Ajit Pai has made no secret of his disdain for net neutrality. Or, for that matter, his general disregard for the consumer-protection authority granted the agency he's supposed to be in charge of. Pai had already stated that his "solution" to his perceived injustice that is net neutrality is to replace the government's existing, hard net neutrality rules with "voluntary commitments" by the likes of AT&T, Comcast and Verizon. From there, he hopes to leave any remaining regulatory enforcement to the under-funded and over-extended FTC (we've explained why this is a notably bad idea here). Pai clarified his plans a little during a speech today in Washington, DC at an event hosted by FreedomWorks (which, not coincidentally, takes funding from the giant ISPs Pai is clearly eager to help). According to Pai, the FCC will issue a Notice of Proposed Rule Making tomorrow to begin the process of rolling back Title II and killing net neutrality. The FCC will then vote on the proposal on May 18, according to the agency head. That means there will be a full public comment period (that's where you come in) ahead of a broader vote to kill the rules later this year. Pai's full speech (pdf) was packed with conflations, half-truths, and statements that have been repeatedly, painstakingly debunked over the course of the last decade. Among them being the ongoing claim that net neutrality rules weren't necessary because incumbent ISPs had done nothing wrong: "Nothing about the Internet was broken in 2015. Nothing about the law had changed. And there wasnt a rash of Internet service providers blocking customers from accessing the content, applications, or services of their choice. Pai apparently "forgot" the time that AT&T intentionally blocked iPhone users from using FaceTime unless they signed up for significantly more expensive mobile data plans. Or that time MetroPCS blocked all access to video on its introductory plans to drive users to costlier plans if they wanted the "full internet experience." Or that time a small ISP named Madison River decided to block a competing VoIP provider. Or that time AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile blocked their users from using Google Wallet to help prop up their own mobile payment services. Or the longstanding allegations that Comcast, Verizon, AT&T and others intentionally let their peering points get congested to kill settlement-free peering and force content and transit providers to pay an additional toll. The idea that net neutrality rules are arbitrary and unnecessary is a joke, and if you still don't believe consumers and startups need some kind of regulatory protection from giant (and ever-growing) broadband duopolists like Comcast, the joke's on you. And it's notably unfunny. Pai, like most of the ISP allies in favor of gutting the rules, simply refuses to be proven wrong no matter what the actual data shows. For years now, Pai has cited broadband industry-funded studies that try to claim that net neutrality rules severely hampered broadband investment, despite zero objective evidence that's actually the case. But this being the post-truth era, Pai was quick to trot out the "Title II and neutrality killed investment" canard to the immense joy of the crowd of attending lobbyists, think tankers and other loyal ISP allies: "So what happened after the Commission adopted Title II? Sure enough, infrastructure investment declined. Among our nations 12 largest Internet service providers, domestic broadband capital expenditures decreased by 5.6% percent, or $3.6 billion, between 2014 and 2016, the first two years of the Title II era. This decline is extremely unusual. It is the first time that such investment has declined outside of a recession in the Internet era." It never happened. What did happen: some telecom industry-funded think tanks cherry picked data to make it appear that investment had foundered, then repeated the fabrication they'd created, apparently believing that repetition forges truth. But if you spoke privately to most ISPs, they'd be telling you they saw no investment reduction under Title II. ISPs don't oppose net neutrality and Title II because it makes investing harder; they oppose Title II and net neutrality because it prevents them from abusing the uncompetitive shitshow that is the broadband last mile. What's abundantly clear here is that net neutrality opponents have zero problem with lying to achieve one, singular goal: maximizing the income of large broadband providers to the detriment of consumers, competition, startups and the health of the internet. And Pai poured it on exceptionally thick during his speech at FreedomWorks, claiming that gutting oversight of some of the most anti-competitive and least liked companies in America will somehow magically improve broadband competition, create jobs, expand internet access, and more: "Without the overhang of heavy-handed regulation, companies will spend more building next-generation networks. As those networks expand, many more Americans, especially low-income rural and urban Americans, will get high-speed Internet access for the first time. And more Americans generally will benefit from faster and better broadband. Second, it will create jobs. More Americans will go to work building these networks. These are good-paying jobs, laying fiber, digging trenches, and connecting equipment to utility poles. And established businesses and startup entrepreneurs alike will take advantage of the networks that they build to create even more jobs. Doesn't that sound lovely? Except it's not happening. If the claim that Title II and net neutrality stifled investment was bullshit, the narrative that removing these regulations magically creates jobs and competition is just as fantastical. If anything, turning a blind eye to duopolists like Comcast and Verizon as they abuse the lack of broadband competition to make life harder on streaming competitors (something they're already doing) will have the opposite impact on existing and emerging internet markets to come. And if protecting ISP revenues is the top priority (and let's not fool ourselves that it isn't), actually fixing the industry's competitive shortcomings will never be on Pai's radar. The problem Pai faces now is two-fold. One, net neutrality has broad, incredible bi-partisan support, and those consumers are certain to give him an earful during the public comment period that will begin after the May 18 vote. If Pai isn't familiar with the concept of backlash and overreach, he may want to bone up on some history. Pai will also need to show to the courts that the market has changed dramatically enough since the FCC's June 2016 win over ISPs to justify a massive reversal of the rules. If he can't, his entire effort will be struck down. As a lawyer Pai knows this, which is why I still think Pai's playing a game of good cop, bad cop. Under this plan, Pai saber rattles for a few months about his intent to kill net neutrality, at which point the GOP shows up with some "compromise" legislation (likely this summer) that claims to codify net neutrality into law, but is worded in such a way (by the ISP lawyers that will inevitably write it) so the loophole-riddled "solution" is worse than no rules at all. If I were to guess, the legislation will come from Senator John Thune, who attempted to derail the 2015 net neutrality rules using a similar strategy. It seems likely that neutrality opponent hubris could easily backfire. After all, every time ISPs have tried to kill net neutrality, the end result has been more stringent protections (as we saw when Verizon sued to overturn the FCC's flimsy 2010 rules, only to get tougher rules). That said, this fight still may be harder than previous battles. With Google and Netflix likely to be less active (they're large enough now that they apparently think they no longer need to worry), the onus is going to be on grassroots activists, debate-fatigued consumers and startups to carry the brunt of the load this time around. Share on: This particular handicapped spot was one Commissioner Mark Brennan said should be moved immediately. Pittsfield Traffic Commission Rejects Handicapped Parking Plan PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Traffic Commission rejected a plan increasing the number of handicapped parking spaces on the city's four main commercial streets. Ward 4 Councilor Christopher Connell put forth a petition calling for additional handicapped parking spaces on North, South, Tyler, and Elm Streets. He then identified spots with the commissioner of public services, Downtown Pittsfield, the Commission on Disabilities and the city engineer to develop a plan. "We had a group that looked at all of these from all different avenues throughout the city," Connell said. "I just felt there was a need for this as well as the Chairperson for the Commission on Disabilities and [former] engineer [Matthew] Billeter." The result was a plan to add or relocate about 20 spots. The petition was originally filed nearly a year ago after Connell noticed more than 50 percent of the population is elderly but there were very few handicapped parking spaces in those commercial areas. However, Chairman Guy Pannesco said he talked to some of the businesses who had concerns with the locations of the spots and felt more work needed to be done. "The way the petition was put in was ill-fated," Pannesco said. Pannesco said one of those locations was right in front of a building that has handicapped parking in the rear and the front door isn't handicapped accessible. A handicapped spot there makes it more difficult for a person with disabilities while taking a parking spot away from someone else. "There are a few on this list that I think some of us have problems with as far as doing a blanket," Pannesco said. John Mullen said one of those on the list was in front of a restaurant that does most of its business through pick up orders. There is limited parking there because of curb cuts and fire hydrants so a spot there makes it difficult to provide quick and easy pickup. Connell said the determinations were based on blocks and on not any individual business. On Tyler Street, he said there is more parking than on North Street but only one handicapped space. He is asking for four more on that street. "We looked at these as blocks, not knowing the business being referred to, I don't know if the businesses next to it that could be of benefit," Connell said. William Sturgeon wants to know who those objecting businesses are because he'll be telling those with disabilities not to visit them. "If you don't want us, we don't want to be there so we will be going after the names and addresses of those businesses so we can share those with the disabled people," Sturgeon said. Sturgeon said there are many people who need handicapped parking, which includes wounded veterans, but few spots. He said a business on North Street that sells walkers for people with disabilities doesn't even have a spot in front of it. Over the years, the number of spots continually decreases, he said. "I was a beat cop on North Street. I know how many have disappeared. Every time we would pave the street, two would disappear," he said. Pannesco said the businesses weren't "totally against it" but were surprised when they were notified about the possibility. He said they just had questions about how the location was chosen. Commissioner of Public Services David Turocy stood behind the technical analysis that went into determining the spots. But, he did say the city could have done a better job at talking with the individual property owners. "Technically where we are asking for them makes sense but we need to do a better job reaching out," Turocy said. The issues raised were mostly on Tyler Street and not on North Street. That is partly because of Downtown Pittsfield Inc. Executive Director Kristine Hurley did "a lot of that legwork," Turocy said. Ward 2 City Councilor Kevin Morandi doesn't believe a few handicapped spaces would harm any business but would increase safety. He urged the Traffic Commission to accept the recommendations. Traffic Commissioner Mark Brennan, however, said businesses voiced concern to him as well and he wouldn't want to vote for any of the changes at this point. He motioned to table the petition and attempt to address it again at the next meeting. But, in a 2-2 vote, it failed. Connell and Pannesco voted to keep it on the table. A vote on the petition failed 3-1, with Brennan, Pannesco, and Mullen against it. The places under consideration for new handicapped spaces are: at 43 East, 54 North, North and School intersection, 340 North, in front of St. Joseph's Church, 453 North, 393 North, on Summer at the intersection of North, 75 North, 39 South, 119 Elm, at Berkshire Hills Coins at 222 Elm, at the corner of Brown and Tyler Street, in front of Tyler Street Pizza, and Forest Plaza and Tyler Street. It also called for the removal of spots at 28 North, 743 North, and 89 South. The plan also looked to swap the loading zone at 137 North with the handicapped spot next to it. 'Born in China': Animal Magnetism One of the key joys of seeing "Born in China," a splendidly picturesque documentary about snow leopard Dawa and her two cubs; Tao Tao, a young snub-nosed monkey; and a giant panda Ya Ya and her daughter, Mei Mei, was worth listening to the kids in the audience emoting. Normally, I would rail at the ragamuffins' commentary with an agitation worthy of the great W.C. Fields. But this was different. For many of the seemingly delighted and relatively polite tykes, this was their first movie experience. Respect must be paid. Here was the nascence of what might become a lifelong love of that to which I have attributed everything from a zeal for adventure to the development of romantic ideals and the building of democratic principles. Funny, though, and possibly part of the film's instruction, is how some children don't laugh or fret exactly where you would. Probably future Republicans, huh? Oh well, it's all good. And anyway, they're all cute when they're little. So I listened for their reactions, and graded the quality of parental responses. More difficult in my survey, however, was trying to figure how one child, in particular, was reacting to the trials, tribulations and absolute joys of life in the stunningly majestic landscape where director Chuan Lu set his nature study. Having benefit of neither time machine nor hypnotic trance, I wondered what the 5-year-old in me would have thought. Surely I would have liked the anthropomorphic values assigned to the animal families studied. Heck, at 7, I was convinced that my dog Taffy, a mutt version of "The Thin Man's" Asta, knew much more about the world and life in general than I did. The only reason he didn't talk back was that it would be too dangerous for me to know what he knew, sort of like prematurely biting the apple of knowledge. In this respect, to weave what is essentially a tutorial on the cycle of life, director Chu fashions his wild animals emotionally accessible. Parks and Open Space Manager Jim McGrath shows a map of the various projects the city is undertaking to reconnect residents with the Housatonic River. Housatonic Valley Association Director Dennis Regan addresses the gathering as the keynote speaker. The plans for the new park on display. The soon-to-be park was once blighted homes and contamination. PreviousNext Pittsfield Highlights Westside Riverway Park For Arbor Day City Council President Peter Marchetti read a proclamation to celebrate Arbor Day. PITTSFIELD, Mass. It may seem like an odd setting to celebrate Arbor Day: an active construction site where some trees have been removed and soil dug up, resting alongside a river historically known for pollution. But the celebration wasn't about what the site off of Dewey Avenue is now. It is what it will be the Westside Riverway Park. The site of former blighted homes will eventually feature a number of new trees, access to the river, a walking bridge, and sitting areas as the city's newest park. "If you had been here 18 months ago what you would have seen are 10 separate parcels. There were two houses along this stretch of Dewey Avenue, one was completely gutted by fire and the other was bordered up and abandoned. There was an old concrete structure," Parks and Open Space Manager James McGrath said. "It took some very focused time and attention to be able to acquire 10 parcels. We acquired them through outright purchase or tax title taking." The land is fenced off now with construction equipment on a relatively flat, barren land. McGrath says next year the plot should feature even more equipment as the park's construction will begin after a decade of effort. "It is my hope that in the next couple of years, you will see some substantial improvements and we'll be able to cut a ribbon down here on Dewey Avenue at this park," McGrath said. The city received a grant in 2007 to undertake a planning effort for the entire west bank of the Housatonic River. From that a number of projects came about the removal of the Mill Street Dam, improvements to various parks along the banks, and the Westside Riverway Park. The city used federal Community Development Block Grants to start the work and the Environmental Protection Agency spent $250,000 to remediate contaminated soils there. The homes were torn down and the land is ready to be developed. "This was 10 years ago, we developed this plan and here we are today realizing this vision," McGrath said. It won't only be a nice park it will connect the community closer to the Housatonic River. Dennis Regan of the Housatonic Valley Association said efforts have been ongoing for 20 years to clean up the once polluted river and bring it back to being a resource. "There has been, especially in the past, a negative connotation to the Housatonic River. All you hear and see and read about is the pollutants that are in the river. Unfortunately that is true. It is a true story. But for the last 20 years or so there has been a multimillion restoration project going on to remove the PCB contamination from the river. That, by all studies, has proven to be effective," Regan said. He envisions the day when people can go to the Westside Riverway Park and sit along the Housatonic "We have people who live near this resource, the river, but most of them don't know much about it at all. You may see a sign going over the bridge and out of sight, out of mind," Regan said. "One of the things we see as a high priority in the Berkshires is to develop the local river as a community resource, a resource the community can use for not only recreation but therapeutic value." This year, city officials did not plant a tree for Arbor Day as was the tradition. But next year, they'll be looking to plant two in the effort to turn polluted and blighted property into a new environmentally friendly resource for the citizens. "We have an opportunity now to use this remediated river for the benefit of the communities and that's what we aim to do," Regan said. Friday's event also featured City Council President Peter Marchetti, who read a proclamation to celebrate the day. iciHaiti - Diaspora : Samuel Pierre receives the El Fasi Prize At its 4th edition, the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) awarded the El Fasi Prize to Professor Samuel Pierre, a Canadian of Haitian origin, an internationally renowned expert who has worked for 25 years in the field of information and communication. This Prize, presented every four years, crowns the work of a prominent figure in the Francophonie networks. Professor holder aAt the Department of Computer Engineering and Software Engineering at the Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, he also acted as an Expert for the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). Samuel Pierre has to his credit more than 500 scientific publications and numerous academic distinctions. It should be remembered that Professor Samuel is one of the founders and President of GRAHN-Monde and the quarterly journal "Haiti Perspectives" published by GRAHN. IH/ iciHaiti Baku escalates situation on the border ahead of planned ministerial meeting in Moscow Azerbaijan is trying to fill the absence of any valid word in the negotiations process by speaking in the language of provocations, foreign ministry spokesman Tigran Balayan said in response to an inquiry of ARMENPRESS. - How would you comment on Bakus escalation of the situation on the line of contact, which resulted in the death of an Artsakh army soldier, ahead of the meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan? - Azerbaijan is trying to fill the absence of any substantial word in the negotiations process by speaking in the language of provocations. Once again Baku is showing that it doesnt attach importance to the negotiations process, otherwise it wouldnt endanger it by making another flagrant ceasefire breach on the day of the foreign ministers meeting. Making this type of a provocation when everyone is expecting the results of the Moscow meeting, Baku is also clearly demonstrating that it really isnt interested in it, and t, and regardless of what level meeting is proceeding, it continues to stick to its policy of provocations which it adopted for many years. Union of Informed Citizens: New Electoral Code and Coverage of Parliamentary Elections The 2017 parliamentary elections acted as a test for all the sections of the new Electoral Code, including the legislative regulations related to coverage of the elections by the mass media. Has the new code passed the test as long as it refers to sections related to the media? Impartial and Non-Judgemental Information According to Article 20 of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Armenia Election Campaign through the Mass Media, namely, Clause 1 of the article, Political parties running in elections of the National Assembly and the Council of Elders of Yerevan shall have the right to use the airtime (including by live broadcasting) of public radio and public television on equal conditions, free of charge and for pay. And furthermore, Clause 3 clarifies, News programmes on public radio and public television shall provide impartial and non-judgemental information on election campaigns of candidates, political parties running in elections. According to Clause 4 of the methodology for monitoring of election coverage developed by the National Commission on TV and Radio of Armenia (NCTR), the NCTR assesses the coverage of election campaign activities of political parties and party blocs participating in elections, providing impartial and non-judgemental information, equal and non-discriminatory conditions of coverage. Is It Legislative Failure? Nevertheless, neither the Electoral Code, nor the NCTR clearly specify how TV channels shall provide impartial and non-judgemental information. The study of NCTR monitoring results shows that the Commission has only assessed the equal airtime on TV channels for different political forces. But this does not imply impartial and non-judgemental journalism as the legislative definitions are quite vague, and the TV channels have a wide range of possibilities to find bypassing ways. Tonality The main issue is the tone. For instance, during the news broadcasts of Kentron TV, the tonality of the reporter during the 2-minute reportage dedicated to Tsarukyan bloc was clearly different from that of the reportage devoted to the coverage of the election campaign of the Communist Party. The same could be noticed during the news broadcasts of the Public TV, this time in favor of the Republican Party of Armenia. Minor details like peoples faces or their number during assemblies affect the coverage. In case of one party, they showed the empty part of the hall and a dissatisfied audience, while in case of the other, a full applauding audience. Naturally, such kind of minor details affect the voters subconsciousness. Lack of Coverage Is Also Coverage On the other hand, not covering certain phenomena may also be a display of bias. In particular, the preliminary conclusions of the OSCE international election observation mission on the RA parliamentary elections mentions that news stories of public interest related to the elections, including the publication of lists of supporters collected by principals of schools and electoral complaints heard by the CEC, were not covered by the public broadcaster H1 primetime news. Thus, providing equal coverage time does not necessarily mean providing unbiased and non-judgemental journalism. There are various ways of giving assessments, and the legislation does not ensure relative mechanisms to control those methods and record violations. Hence, if we view the 2017 parliamentary elections as a test, we can state that the electoral code would receive a C-. Anna Pambukhchyan Union of Informed Citizens The content you are trying to view is exclusive to our subscribers. To unlock this article: Kaspersky Lab has discovered that consumers are installing apps on their devices, without being aware of the potential consequences. A shocking 63% of consumers neglect to read the license agreement carefully before installing a new app on their phone and one-in-five (20%) never read messages when installing apps; they simply go through the motions of clicking next and agree, without understanding what they could be signing up to. Kaspersky Labs Are you cyber savvy? Quiz, questioned 18,507 consumers, including 1,394 from the Philippines, about their online habits and found that an alarming number of consumers are leaving their privacy and the data on their phones exposed to cyberthreats because they are not installing apps on their devices safely. When users neglect to read license agreements or messages during the app install process, they do not know what they are agreeing to. Internet users are entrusting their devices with sensitive information about themselves and others such as contacts, private messaging etc., yet they are failing to ensure that their information is entirely safe. This can turn their devices into their digital frenemies, comments David Emm, Principal Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab. Because they are not taking precautions when they install apps, many consumers are granting apps permission to intrude on their private lives, watch what is stored on their devices and where they are, install additional unwanted apps and make changes to their devices, right from the moment of installation. At Kaspersky Lab, we want to help consumers become more cyber-savvy, and protect their precious data and themselves from these dangers, says Emm. Some apps can affect user privacy, prompt the installation of other apps, or even change the OS settings of a device completely legally, because the user has agreed to it during the install process. The quiz also discovered that just under half (43%) of users could be at risk from the apps on their mobile device, because they are not cyber-savvy enough to limit app permissions when installing apps. 15% of respondents to the quiz do not limit what their apps can do on their phone at all and 17% give apps permissions when prompted, but then forget about it, while 11% think they cant change those permissions. When app permissions are left unchecked, it is possible and legal for apps to access the personal and private data on mobile devices, from contact information, to photos and location data. Smartphone penetration in the Philippines is continuously growing and so are threats. Most apps are conveniently free and can be installed on any device in just one click. But not all 38 million of Filipino mobile users are careful and most are unaware that mobile apps are not always what they exactly seem to be. We cannot stress enough how critical it is that users need to be more mindful of any intrusion into their devices and into their private lives, says Anthony Chua, Territory Channel Manager for the Philippines and Singapore at Kaspersky Lab Southeast Asia. To protect themselves consumers should: Ex-Calexico Police Chief Settles Corruption Suit for $1.1 Million San Diego, California (CN) A corruption lawsuit filed by the city of Calexicos former police chief claiming he was fired for cooperating with an FBI investigation into the department has been settled out of court for $1.1 million. Michael Bostic sued Calexico last May after he says the city fired him for cooperating with an FBI investigation into corruption in the border city, which is about 115 miles east of San Diego. The citys former public works director Nick Servin was also a party to the case, claiming he was fired for the same reasons. Lt. Gonzalo Gerardo and city executive assistant Martha Gomez claimed in the lawsuit they also reported police misconduct including drug trafficking, theft and excessive force complaints to the FBI in 2013. Bostic and the city settled the lawsuit for $1.1 million, and U.S. District Judge John Houston formally dismissed the case from the Southern District of California Wednesday. Additional terms of the settlement are confidential, Bostics attorney Bradley Gage said in an email. Refraining from disclosing exact numbers, he said the lowest amount each plaintiff received was $200,000 while the highest amount was just under $400,000. I believe this settlement helps to vindicate the rights of my clients, two of whom remain employed with the city, Gage said. We had strong evidence to support our claims, and I believe the defense lawyers, who are excellent, recognized the potential exposure to the city of even more money at trial, he added. I am hopeful that this settlement will send a message to the city of Calexico to follow the laws and do the right thing. My client came there to help solve problems at the city and there were obviously some people there who were concerned about him doing that. When someone gets fired because theyre trying to clean up things that seems suspicious to me. Bostic, formerly a top-ranking official with the Los Angeles Police Department, replaced ousted Calexico police chief Pompeyo Tabarez in 2014. Soon after Bostic assumed the role, the other plaintiffs came forward to tell him they had reported misconduct issues to the FBI in 2013. The new police chief launched his own investigation while agreeing to cooperate with the FBI as well. Bostic claimed Calexico City Council members conspired to get him fired after an FBI raid on the police department. Bostic did not name city council members as defendants in his complaint, however. The former police chief claimed he was fired after filing criminal charges against Tabarez and several officers with the district attorney and FBI. Just days after Bostic sued his former employer, the Department of Justice released its report on the Calexico Police Department, which made 169 recommendations for reform. These included improving supervision, accountability, community policing practices and leadership. The recommendations were not mandatory, however, and city officials did not respond to questions Wednesday regarding whether they have been implemented. Current Calexico Police Chief Reynaldo Gomez said he was not authorized to comment on the settlement. Calexico City Manager Armando Villa did not return email and phone requests for comment. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Tate Modern and Tate Britain employees have been left feeling sick after being asked to contribute towards a boat for the outgoing director, Nicholas Serota, who reportedly earns a six-figure salary. A poster titled Nicks leaving fund was placed in both buildings staff rooms, asking for donations to be put towards a sailing boat. Nick loves sailing, the notice reads, and this would be a lasting and very special reminder of the high regard which I know so many of us have for Nick and contribution to Tate. However, employees were angered many of them are not paid the London living wage while Serota who will be stepping down as director of the gallery this May earns high sums. The gallery has been embroiled in disputes concerning pay among junior staff along with the decision to outsource many jobs to agency Securitas, who according to The Guardian pay workers less than those hired directly by Tate. Speaking about the incident, PCS union representative Tracy Edwards told the aforementioned publication: The staff at Tate are underpaid and overworked and havent had appropriate pay rises, and this just demonstrates how divorced from reality the management at Tate are. It seems to me theyve made a big error of judgment. Our members are on zero-hours contracts, they are struggling to pay the bills each month, so to ask them to donate towards a boat well, I can tell you the staff are not happy at all. Its really rubbed people up the wrong way. Georgia O'Keeffe at Tate Modern Show all 6 1 /6 Georgia O'Keeffe at Tate Modern Georgia O'Keeffe at Tate Modern Black Mesa Landscape, 1930 Georgia O'Keeffe at Tate Modern Jimson Weed, 1936 Georgia O'Keeffe at Tate Modern New York Street With Moon, 1925 Georgia O'Keeffe at Tate Modern Oriental Poppies, 1928 Georgia O'Keeffe at Tate Modern From the Faraway, Nearby, 1937 scalarchives.com Georgia O'Keeffe at Tate Modern Georgia O'Keeffe Alfred Stieglitz, 1918 A spokesperson for the Tate told The Huffington Post: The idea of a leaving gift was first suggested by members of staff who wanted to show their appreciation for everything Nick has achieved in his time at Tate. Our intention was to ask colleagues if they wished to contribute towards the purchase of a small dinghy on an entirely voluntary basis, in the same way that we would hold a collection for any member of staff who was leaving Tate. Earlier this month, residents in a block of multi-million-pound flats overlooked by a Tate Modern viewing platform began attempting to sue the gallery, arguing that their human rights are being breached by near constant surveillance. A spokesperson for the Tate said: The design of the building has always included a high-level terrace for the benefit of the public, but we cannot comment further given the conditions of the legal process. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Game Of Thrones actors travel all over the world. Some get to go to Croatia, others shoot in Morocco or Iceland or Malta or Spain. Ellie Kendrick, the 26-year-old actress who plays Meera Reed in the long-running HBO series, sounds just a little disappointed that she has never been any further than Belfast. I mean, Belfast is a great city, she quickly tries to dispel any notion she is complaining about being in Northern Ireland, but it might be nice to go somewhere just a little more exotic. A diminutive, fast-talking ex-public school girl, Kendrick falls silent only when you ask her what is going to happen next in Game Of Thrones. She has no secrets about the next series to disclose and that is not because she is being coy. Its all shrouded in HBOs mystery. What the future of the series is going to be Id like to know! People often think the actors knowbut I genuinely dont know. No, she didnt realise in advance that Jon Snow was going to come back from the dead but she did have her suspicions when she saw Kit Harrington (who plays Snow) wandering around set. Id seen him in Belfast. I mean, he likes us all, but wasn't going to be hanging out there for fun. Kendrick returns as Meera Reed in the new series of Game of Thrones this summer As Meera, Kendricks main task in the series is to protect disabled young visionary and seer Bran Stark. To her evident delight, Kendrick has also had her share of action sequences. There was one series where I had a fight with a group of zombies, the whites, she enthuses. Her 30-move axe fight was choreographed by a former Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. I had to learn all the steps of it, like a dance. We were filming in a disused quarry just outside Belfast that had been covered in fake snow. I had to fight these stunt men who were dressed in green Lycra suits because they were going to be replaced (in the post-production) by the skeletons. It was such a surreal experience. I had to do that, remember the precise timing and then film it again but with no opponents. Still, she reflects, she gets off easily compared with Emilia Clarke, who spends much of her time in the series acting in front of fresh air and pretending that there are dragons in front of her. It all sound very exhausting, at least by contrast with the gentle whimsy of Gillies Mackinnons new version of Whisky Galore! in which she also stars. She plays Catriona, the mischievous daughter of the equally mischievous postmaster Macroon (Gregor Fisher, best known as TVs Rab C Nesbitt). Theyre all part of the plot on the Scottish island of Toddy to make sure that the 50,000 cases of whisky washed ashore when a ship runs aground are available for local consumption. Kendrick (right) as Catriona Macroon with Kevin Guthrie (centre) as George and Naomi Battrick (left) as Peggy Macroon in 'Whisky Galore!' Whisky Galore! occupies a strange place in my familys tradition. It was always a film that my parents could quote from, especially the line, theres no whisky! Kendrick remembers the original Ealing comedy version of Compton Mackenzies book from 1949. It was a part of my childhood, that film. We watched it a few times. Kendricks parents are from Manchester. Her father is a lawyer, her mother has worked in several different jobs including law and advertising. She was born in Greenwich, lived in Blackheath until she was seven and then moved out to the middle of the countryside until I was 18. She is now based in south-east London. She came to acting partly because she was attending an all girls school, Benenden in Kent. There were no boys around to play the male parts so Kendrick selflessly took on the task. As an 11-year-old, she was the Artful Dodger in a production of Oliver! Next, she was Mozart in the Benenden all-girl adaptation of Amadeus; she was Puck in A Midsummers Night Dream; she was Ken, the paralysed sculptor, in the schools staging of Whose Life Is It Anyway. Did she ever get to play female roles? In the whole time I was there, I think I only played a woman once or twice. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up In The Levelling, she plays Clover Catto, who returns to her family farm in Somerset when her brother dies At the same time Kendrick was treading the boards, she was also haunting the school library. I have always been a bit of a nerd so I was very into the academic side of things at school and indeed went to university and pursued that route as well as doing acting, Kendrick says. Kendricks big break came when she was cast as Anne Frank in a BBC TV mini-series version of The Diary Of Anne Frank (2009). She was 17 at the time and bang in the middle of her A-levels. She still passed them, of course. I just worked extra hard. The series was shot in a perfectly reconstructed version of the real Anne Frank house in east London. At the end of the production, the crew went to Amsterdam to shoot exteriors. That was when they visited the real Anne Frank house for the first time. It looked exactly the same, even to the position of the posters on the wall. That was really creepy, to be actually reminded that this was a real event and there was a real child who stuck those images on the wall that had been replicated in our studios. The actress got her big beak when she was cast as Anne Frank in the 1999 BBC mini-series version of The Diary of Anne Frank From Anne Frank, her next big part was as Juliet in a production of Romeo and Juliet at the Globe in a production directed by Dominic Dromgoole. The untrained Kendrick, making her stage debut at 18, always looks as if she would be happier on the lacrosse field than having wild sex in the bedroom, wrote The Guardian, a little unfairly. Kendrick, undaunted, spent the next three years doing her English literature degree at Cambridge, steeping herself in Milton and Shakespeare. When she graduated, she very quickly picked up her career. She had barely finished her finals when HBO signed her up to be in Game Of Thrones. I really wanted to be an actor but I wasnt even sure if I would be able to be one or if there would be the work for me. I was going through that thing everybody goes through at the end of university when they think what am I going to do now. Kendrick came into Game Of Thrones during the third series. No, she cant watch it in the same enthralled fashion as so many of its fans, waiting agog to see which of the main characters will have his or her head cut off next. For most people I know who are in the series, the magic is so often lost when you are in something. It becomes harder and harder to watch it. You think oh, I was having a pint with him the day before he filmed that scene. It destabilises the drama when you can see the mechanics behind the scenes and the puppetry that takes place. The young actress has two films out in May, Whisky Galore! and The Levelling (an intense low-budget family drama shot in deepest rural Somerset in which she stars a young vet returning to the family farm following the sudden death of h.er brother) Then, later in the summer, comes the new series of Game Of Thrones. Shell soon be back on the London stage in a Pulitzer Prize-winning play, which she is not allowed to talk about. Kendrick doesnt just appear in films and plays, though. She writes and directs them too and, thanks to her training on Game Of Thrones, she can do her own stunts. Her play Silly Girl, about a forty-something trans man recalling and reliving his first romantic entanglement, was staged at the Royal Court in 2015. (Hope Leach Dickson, director of The Levelling, made a short film version of it) Another of her plays, Tabs, was shortlisted for the Bruntwood Prize. She has a couple of TV projects in development as well. Since she emerged in Anne Frank, she has played all sorts of roles. Thats just as it used to be in her Benenden days but with one big difference she no longer gets picked to be the male lead. 'Whisky Galore' is out on 5 May. 'The Levelling' is out on 12 May Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An elderly couples beautiful love story has sadly come to an end after they passed away side by side after 69 years of marriage. Isaac Vatkin, 91, held the hand of his wife Teresa, 89, as she passed away after having Alzheimers disease on Saturday, the Daily Herald reports. Recommended Elderly couple married for 71 years die four minutes apart And, just 40 minutes later, Isaac died too. Family members took comfort in knowing they were together at the end and positioned their hands so they touched in their final moments. I didn't want them to be scared, said their granddaughter Debbie Handler. Isaac and Teresa Vatkin on their wedding day (Image: Leo Vatkin) I thought maybe if they knew the other was there, it would help. Together, the couple from Illinois raised three children; Clara, Daniel and Leonardo, and were said to have had a close relationship with their grandchildren. Together, the couple from Illinois raised three children (Image: Leo Vatkin) (A Leo Vatkin) As family and friends gathered on Monday at the couples' joint funeral, daughter Clara Gesklin recalled: Their love for each other was so strong, they simply could not live without each other. Having met in their native Argentina, Mr and Mrs Vatkin communicated by writing letters, eventually marrying and moving the US where Isaac built a successful business as a Kosher meat distributor.Teresa was a homemaker and manicurist. Recommended Neighbours stick up for elderly resident in the best possible way They were always in love, literally to the end. To the last second, said Rabbi Barry Schechter, who led the service at the Shalom Memorial Funeral Home. This is not the first instance of a long-married couple passing away in quick succession. Earlier this month, a couple from Dartford, Kent died on the same day after 77 years of marriage. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Its around this time of year that weed smokers get their time in the hazy sun. Cases get put forward, people get high, and then the legalisation chorus dissipates into the background for another year. But cannabis has been available in medical form for seven years now in the UK, though you probably didnt know that, and thats emblematic of the issue. GW Pharmaceuticals cannabis-derived prescription drug, Sativex, is popular with sufferers of Multiple Sclerosis, but its expensive. In 2014, NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) found it not sufficiently effective in treating muscle spasticity for its price. In 2017, it costs 375 + VAT per pack, roughly 270 doses. That decision meant the drug, administered as a spray under the tongue, isnt available in England and Scotland on the NHS. In Wales, theres limited availability. MS sufferers here are only permitted the drug to control spasms, not to relive pain, once theyve exhausted other medical options. Recommended Uruguay legalises recreational cannabis sales Why is the first cannabis-based pharmaceutical available in the UK so expensive? Why is it so hard to get? And what does this mean for UK cannabis prohibition? Caths Evans is a Tumefactive multiple sclerosis sufferer and founder of the Sativex Advisory Group (SAG). Evans told me how traditional medicines made her feel sick all the time, like a zombie. Evans condition is characterised by spasms and infrequent strokes, years apart, which have had an impact on her mobility, memory and ability to speak. Sativex which shes been prescribed since 2010, luckily predating NICEs decision aided her symptoms dramatically. [Before] I had this feeling down my left side like my body didnt belong to me Its like a tingling sensation; anything cold would be painful on my skin. Rain was painful. Hot water was lukewarm to me. I would take things out of the oven without using gloves; it was quite dangerous for a time. But once I started using Sativex, it was amazing! The tingling had stopped almost, the spasms stopped completely. You werent out of your head on it; it just made you feel normal. Research and development pushes up the cost of medicinal cannabis, but it is cheaper in the US than the UK (Getty) (Getty Images) Crucially for Evans, Sativex is still not half as readily available as it should be due to NICEs decision, and also because Sativex is only made available for MS sufferers in the UK, though it aids symptoms in other illnesses. The price of the drug is unlikely to be an issue of pure unadulterated capitalism. Peter Reynolds, President of CLEAR (Cannabis Law Reform), told me the main reason the price is so high is because the process GW had to go through in order to achieve market authorisation is so expensive. But according to an MS Trust spokesperson, Sativex has always been scarce: The local CCG tended to be reluctant to prescribe [pre-2014], though that might have been down to the reluctance of CCGs to prescribe things without any NICE guidance, and they came out against it, which obviously closed it down entirely. In medical trials, around half of the patients responded, typically in the first few weeks of treatment. Taking the ayahuasca hallucinogenic drug - in pictures Show all 7 1 /7 Taking the ayahuasca hallucinogenic drug - in pictures Taking the ayahuasca hallucinogenic drug - in pictures A Yage ceremony in La Calera, Colombia. Yage, a mixture of the Ayahuasca hallucinogenic liana and a psychoactive bush, attracts many people in Colombia, who seek to participate in a traditional indigenous ritual of spiritual and physical healing impossible to realize in many countries where these plants are considered drugs. Taking the ayahuasca hallucinogenic drug - in pictures A man laying on a carpet after drinking yage - mixture of the Ayahuasca hallucinogenic liana and a psychoactive bush - during a ritual in La Calera, Colombia. Taking the ayahuasca hallucinogenic drug - in pictures Taking the ayahuasca hallucinogenic drug - in pictures Taking the ayahuasca hallucinogenic drug - in pictures Taking the ayahuasca hallucinogenic drug - in pictures Taking the ayahuasca hallucinogenic drug - in pictures It comes as little surprise to anyone familiar with the pharmaceutical world that the cost of research, development and marketing ratchets up the cost of a drug. The issue is suspect however when you consider Sativex and its counterparts internationally are much more affordable. The difference in the UK, of course, is that possession of cannabis a controlled, Class B drug could see you charged under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act, although figures suggest an anaemic national police force pursues this course less than ever. The price likely stems from the added regulatory hoops Sativex must pass through in Britain, as, according to Reynolds: The exact replica of Sativex can be bought in medical marijuana dispensaries in the States for a tiny fraction of the price that GW Pharmaceutical charge for it, as they dont have to comply with the same regulatory procedures. GWs Vice President of Investor Relations, Stephen Schultz, argues its not the parent companys fault for the price discrepancy, nor is it avoidable, as another pharmaceutical company, Almirall, markets Sativex and each country has its own pricing scheme. Sativex is not currently available in the US, as its not FDA-approved, though it is in phase 3 trialling. In Reynolds view, its the procedures the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and other regulatory bodies use to test new drugs that are the issue. The whole way Sativex is regulated is fundamentally dishonest. Its regulated on the basis that it consists of only 2 molecules: THC and CBD. Whilst Dr Geoffrey Guy, the Chairman of GW, is on the record himself saying I have it confirmed in writing from him that it contains up to 400 molecules. The MHRA and conventional or pharmaceutical medicines regulators are simply not competent, capable of regulating a whole plant medicine. Every other jurisdiction in the world has set up special regulatory procedures around cannabis because it is completely different from pharmaceutical medicines. In real, consequential ways, GW is trailblazing in a particularly fledgling and legally dodgy area in UK medicine. For Reynolds, its all for the better: Im a great admirer of GW... I regard them as the people who, at great courage, and at great risk, have broken the UK cannabis prohibition. By playing the Governments game, by going through the established procedures. Theres an inherent tension in GWs founding motives, in that they recognise the therapeutic value in cannabis, but their niche exists only if cannabis remains prohibited. So its surely not in their interests the British Government affects any law change, is it? Schultz told me the situation in the US disproves that. In the US, we dont see the relaxation of laws around the medical use of cannabis or recreational use of cannabis as really being any significant impact on our objectives. There are those who will use medical dispensary-based marijuana products [in the US], but we believe that most physicians and most patients desire a pharmaceutical medicine, said Schultz. Our objective is just to provide that option. Speaking with Caths Evans and other MS sufferers, its clear Sativex has been incredibly helpful in aiding symptoms such as muscle spasticity, whilst the drug doesnt bring a host of negative side effects like typical MS pharmaceuticals tend to. But availability continues to be a fundamental stumbling block for patients in the UK, particularly in England, and thats a travesty for those that need it. The drug provides compelling evidence of the medicinal efficacy of cannabinoids, though in the UK at least it hasnt led to a wider medicinal cannabis framework, but it provides reason to hope. With Sativex, its as if cannabis has been repackaged and delivered in a bottle arguably to circumvent the Home Offices blanket denial of cannabiss medicinal worth but it still hasnt been enough. Seemingly thanks to powers beyond GWs control, Sativex has largely failed to leave its mark seven years on. @Nick_ThompsonOG Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Following the publication of a study into stealthing, there has been much public discussion of the horrendous sexual assault trend. Stealthing is when a man removes his condom midway through sex without consent from his partner - be they a man or a woman - thus putting them at risk of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. It can also leave the victim feeling violated, confused and upset. Recommended Inside the world of men who remove condoms during sex without consent The author of the study, Alexandra Brodsky, claims stealthing is rape-adjacent and calls for specific laws for condom removal to be introduced. And now rape crisis organisations are speaking out to back her up. It would be defined as an assault under Irish law, says Cliona Saidlear of Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI). She says that stealthing is a very serious offence and people should know that if they think its just a bit rude but that its innocuous, no its actually a crime in Ireland. Saidlear explains that some people might think stealthing is OK because their partner has consented to sex, but thats not true. US sexual assault statistics Show all 8 1 /8 US sexual assault statistics US sexual assault statistics Graphiq US sexual assault statistics Graphiq US sexual assault statistics Graphiq US sexual assault statistics Graphiq US sexual assault statistics Graphiq US sexual assault statistics Graphiq US sexual assault statistics Graphiq US sexual assault statistics Graphiq It can be tied up with the notion of consent, or when consent is assumed, she told Her. It can also be a part of the abuse, where they go 'no, I'm not wearing that' - that overt refusal to wear a condom. Saidlear explained that she has had to deal with instances of stealthing in her work with RCNI and she would advise anyone worried about it to talk to someone for help. What underlines all of this is the denial of the womans right to choose what happens to her body, she says, and of course the victims are not solely women either. If theres a cultural casualness around this, we need to raise awareness. The Independent has contacted Rape Crisis UK for a comment but is yet to receive a response. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Government has reduced its stake in Lloyds Banking Group to less than 1 per cent, keeping it on target to offload the final shares in the bailed-out lender within weeks. UK Financial Investments, which manages the Governments stake, said on Friday that it now holds just 0.89 per cent of Lloyds shares. The Treasury spent 20.3bn buying a 42 per cent stake in Lloyds at the height of the financial crisis in 2008 and announced last week that it had finally recovered its original outlay. In total, the Government has so far only managed to recoup around half of the 136.6bn it pumped into Britains high street lenders, including RBS. Last week, Chancellor Philip Hammond admitted that it was likely taxpayers would see a loss on RBS shares, which have languished well below their pre-crisis peak amid huge bills for past misconduct and a seemingly never-ending restructuring programme. The Government still owns 72 per cent of RBS, which has never returned an annual profit since being rescued in 2008. Lloyds is now close to recovery after reporting that profits doubled in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the first three months of last year. Underlying profits were flat, the bank announced on Thursday. Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year. Lloyds has paid more than 17bn to cover the costs of a PPI scandal and has set aside 100m to compensate the victims of fraud committed by two former employees at HBOS, which it owns. Earlier this month, Lloyds announced the locations of 100 branch closures that will lead to 325 job losses. The move was part of an effort by chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio to cut costs that will see 12,000 jobs go by the time it is complete. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A US federal appeals court has ruled that employers are legally allowed to pay women lower salaries than men for doing the same work, based on differences in the workers' salaries in previous jobs. According to the Associated Press, the decision by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a previous lower-court ruling, according to which pay differences based only on prior salaries were discriminatory under the countrys Equal Pay Act. That's because women's earlier salaries are likely to be lower than men's because of gender bias, US Magistrate Judge Michael Seng said in a 2015 decision, according to AP. A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit cited a 1982 ruling by the court that said employers could use previous salary information as long as they applied it reasonably and had a business policy that justified it. "This decision is a step in the wrong direction if we're trying to really ensure that women have work opportunities of equal pay," said Deborah Rhode, who teaches gender equity law at Stanford Law School, according to the agency. "You can't allow prior discriminatory salary setting to justify future ones or you perpetuate the discrimination." According to US government data, women made about 80 cents for every dollar a man earned in 2015. The UK gender pay gap is currently at its lowest level ever - just over 18 per cent according to the most recently available Government data. Unequal pay for men and women doing the same job has been illegal in the UK for 45 years and the Government has vowed to crack down on the divide. As of 6 April this year, companies employing more than 250 people will have 12 months to meet a deadline to publish their gender pay gap figures, but critics have said that the reporting wont be granular enough to facilitate real change. As is stands, the reporting wont reveal whether men and women are paid equally for doing the same or comparable jobs, Suzanne Horne, an employment law partner at Paul Hastings said earlier this month. It will simply show the mean and median difference in pay and bonus remuneration across a particular company. The top 10 best-paid part-time jobs Show all 10 1 /10 The top 10 best-paid part-time jobs The top 10 best-paid part-time jobs Lecturer - 36,513 Almost 10,000 more than the median UK salary. Experience required. Istock Photo The top 10 best-paid part-time jobs Business analyst What do they do? Nobody knows, but they are handsomely rewarded for it. Must speak fluent jargon. Istock Photo The top 10 best-paid part-time jobs Teaching assistant - 20,300 Istock Photo The top 10 best-paid part-time jobs Research assistant - 21,370 The world of academia pays surprisingly well according to the survey. Reuters The top 10 best-paid part-time jobs Warehouse worker - 16,800 Despite what Mike Ashley might be paying. Reuters The top 10 best-paid part-time jobs Tutor - 16,500 Private tutors can command upwards of 50 per hour. Istock Photo The top 10 best-paid part-time jobs Beauty consultant - 15,000 Reuters The top 10 best-paid part-time jobs Brand ambassador - 15,020 This is actually Max Verstappen representing several brands. He earns more than 15,020. rex features The top 10 best-paid part-time jobs Office assistant - 14,560 Harder than it looks. Istock Photo The top 10 best-paid part-time jobs Front desk manager - 14,520 Front of house. The face of the operation. Reuters The US ruling came in response toa lawsuit by a Californian school employee who learned in 2012 while having lunch with her colleagues that her male counterparts were making more than she was. The Equal Pay Act in the US prohibits sex-based wage discrimination between men and women in the same establishment who perform jobs that require substantially equal skill, effort and responsibility under similar working conditions. But there are exemptions when pay is based on seniority, merit, quantity or quality of work or "any other factor other than sex." Additional reporting by wires Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Health Check email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Thousands of cancer patients would prefer to die at home but are forced to suffer traumatic deaths in hospital, according to Macmillan. Taboos around talking about death are fuelling a crisis of communication in the UK that prevents people from planning their final days, warned the cancer charity in a new report. Research by the organisation found that while 38 per cent of people who die from cancer die in hospital, just one per cent would choose to do so, with 64 per cent saying they wanted to die at home. Adrienne Betteley, Macmillans head of health and social care, told The Independent where someone would like to die is a hugely personal issue. If someone dies in hospital when they would have preferred to die at home, it can be traumatic for them, or for their friends and family, she said. A lot of people would prefer to spend their last days in familiar surroundings, with people they know and in a non-clinical environment, like in their own home. More than 62,000 people die in hospital from cancer each year, but previous studies have shown most people would prefer to die at home due to fears of suffering pain and dying in an unfamiliar environment. Around a quarter of more than 1,800 people with cancer surveyed by Macmillan said they thought about their own death constantly or often, but more than a third said they had not shared these thoughts with anyone. Widower makes NHS trust apologise after wife's missed cancer diagnosis Ms Betteley, who has worked as a nurse in care homes, said fears over discussing dying could prevent people from making preparations for their own death. Our relationship with death has changed enormously over the years. In the Victorian times, most people would die at home, so we were more familiar with death and used to seeing it and in some societies, this is still the case, she said. As weve become less exposed to death, I believe weve become more afraid of it and its grown into a taboo that we dont want to talk about. Macmillans survey found that 64 per cent of people think British people do not talk enough about death. The charity Citizens Advice said last year that the number of enquiries it received about people who had died without making a will had more than doubled over the past five years. In a number of areas, death cafes, where people meet to talk about dying, are being held in an attempt to challenge reluctance to talk about the topic that affects everybody but is often avoided. 13 ways to help prevent cancer Show all 13 1 /13 13 ways to help prevent cancer 13 ways to help prevent cancer Stopping smoking. This notoriously difficult habit to break sees tar build-up in the lungs and DNA alteration and causes 15,558 cancer deaths a year 13 ways to help prevent cancer Avoiding the sun, and the melanoma that comes with overexposure to harmful UV rays, could help conscientious shade-lovers dodge being one of the 7,220 people who die from it 13 ways to help prevent cancer A diet that is low in red meat can help to prevent bowel cancer, according to the research - with 30 grams a day recommended for men, and 25 a day recommended for women 13 ways to help prevent cancer Foods high in fibre, meanwhile, can further make for healthier bowels. Processed foods in developed countries appear to be causing higher rates of colon cancer than diets in continents such as Africa, which have high bean and pulse intakes 13 ways to help prevent cancer Two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables a day were given as the magic number for good diet in the research. Overall, diet causes only slightly fewer cancer deaths than sun exposure in Australia, at 7,000 a year 13 ways to help prevent cancer Obesity and being overweight, linked to poor diet and lack of exercise, causes 3,917 deaths by cancer a year on its own Getty 13 ways to help prevent cancer Dying of a cancer caused by infection also comes in highly, linked to 3,421 cancer deaths a year. Infections such as human papilloma virus - which can cause cervical cancer in women - and hepatitis - can be prevented by vaccinations and having regular check-ups 13 ways to help prevent cancer Cutting back on drinks could reduce the risk of cancers caused by alcohol - such as liver cancer, bowel cancer, breast cancer and mouth cancer - that are leading to 3,208 deaths a year 2014 Getty Images 13 ways to help prevent cancer Sitting around and not getting the heart pumping - less than one hour's exercise a day - is directly leading to about 1,800 people having lower immune functions and higher hormone levels, among other factors, that cause cancers 2011 Getty Images 13 ways to help prevent cancer Hormone replacement therapy, which is used to relieve symptoms of the menopause in women, caused 539 deaths from (mainly breast) cancer in Australia last year. It did, however, prevent 52 cases of colorectal cancers 2003 Getty Images 13 ways to help prevent cancer Insufficient breastfeeding, bizarrely, makes the top 10. Breastfeeding for 12 months could prevent 235 cancer cases a year, said the research AFP/Getty Images 13 ways to help prevent cancer Oral contraceptives, like the Pill, caused about 105 breast cancers and 52 cervical cancers - but it also prevented about 1,440 ovarian and uterine (womb) cases of cancer last year 2006 Getty Images 13 ways to help prevent cancer Taking aspirin also prevented 232 cases in the Queensland research of colorectal and oesophagal cancers - but as it can also cause strokes, is not yet recommended as a formal treatment against the risk of cancer Penny Hall, who is organising a festival about death and dying in Cambridge, told local press British attitudes to the end of life are often sanitised and secretive. She said attending death cafes had made her aware of my own mortality, adding: It's often quite relieving. We're not usually allowed to talk about these things. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Health Check email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Important research and equipment worth millions of pounds are feared to have been destroyed in a fire at a cancer institute in Manchester. No patients or staff were injured when the blaze broke out on the roof of the research centre at the Christie hospital on Wednesday morning. But vital data, lab equipment and expensive DNA sequencing machines may be lost, said the head of the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute. Richard Marais told The Guardian his team had managed to save 25 years of clinical samples, but hundreds of thousands of pounds of chemicals and small lab equipment were likely destroyed when the building's ceiling collapsed. Computers with important data had "almost certainly" been lost, said Professor Marais. A 1.4m super computer, two DNA sequencing machines and two imaging machines used to analyse cancerous cells may also have been damaged in the fire. More than 100 firefighters were called to tackle the fire as black smoke billowed from the three-storey building housing the leading research centre. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures 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 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 All areas associated with the institute, including patient areas, were evacuated as staff and patients elsewhere in the hospital were advised to continue as normal. Professor Marais called the fire's effect "heartrending," adding: The quality of the institute is the people. Not necessarily the equipment thats what allows us to do what we can do but we have a fantastic group of international people here." Cancer Research UK has launched an appeal for donations to allow research to resume as soon as possible, as scientists assess the extent of the damage. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Most of the weapons carried by North Korean soldiers in a recent military parade were fake, a US defence expert has claimed. Michael Pregend, a former intelligence officer, told Fox News that the the replicas were "laughable" after he examined pictures taken in Pyongyang last month. Much of the equipment was unfit for combat situations, he said, adding: "This was more about sending a message than being combat effective. What appeared to be AK-47 assault rifles with attached grenade-launchers were really helical magazines, a rifle notorious for jamming, he said. 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 the sunglasses worn by soldiers were not fit for purpose, he added. "Military glasses are wraparound and would also protect your eyes," he said, adding that the glasses worn by the North Korean soldiers were a flat-face frame. The pictures were taken during North Koreas biggest public Holiday, the Day of the Sun, which commemorates the birthday of Kim Il-sung, the founder of the secretive Communist state. In celebration of the 105th anniversary of his birth, his grandson Kim Jong-Un unveiled what appeared to be new long-range missiles. However, other weapons experts were less confident that North Korean weapons were dummies. David S Maxwell, a retired US army special forces colonel who served in Korea and Japan, told The Independent that the parade was "a show but most of the equipment shown historically has not been fake." He added: "Most of the time they show things still being developed and tested." North Korea releases footage of simulated White House attack Shannon Kile, a nuclear specialist at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) also said it was probably going to far to say they weapons were all fake, "but we shouldnt rule it out." He said: "It is possible that the North Koreans are hoodwinking us. We dont know that these are actual operational systems. Weve been deceived in the past by what turned out to be missile mock-ups." "Sometimes they change how theyre painted or how theyre held on the trucks and it makes it difficult to see whats happening." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Armed officers have shot a woman during a counter-terrorism operation that saw four suspects, including a teenage boy, arrested in north London. The Metropolitan Police said the operation was part of an ongoing counter terrorism investigation but stressed it was not connected to an incident in Whitehall earlier today. The woman, in her twenties, was taken to hospital but has not been arrested due to the seriousness of her condition. She remains under police guard. Recommended Video of Parliament after man armed with knives arrested in Whitehall Four people were detained during the operation on Thursday evening at a property on Harlesden Road, north-west London. A Met Police statement said a 20-year-old man was arrested near the address and a 16-year-old boy and 20-year-old woman were detained inside the property. A 43-year-old woman was later arrested in Kent. All four are being held on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of terrorist acts and are in custody at a south London police station. "The address and persons connected with it had been under observation by counter terrorism officers as part of an ongoing intelligence led operation," a statement said. "Searches at the address are ongoing, as well as further searches at linked addresses across London." The incident has been referred to the Mets Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Police Complaints Commission. It comes as a man is being held for allegedly attempting a terror attack after being arrested near the Houses of Parliament. The 27-year-old suspect was stopped by armed officers in Parliament Street for a search as part of an ongoing operation. The man, described as "very calm" by a witness, carrying a rucksack containing at least three knives when he was detained shortly before 2.30pm on Thursday, police believe. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A right-wing radio host who trolled an anti-hate crime campaigner with "Islamophobic" tweets and emails has been jailed for 12 weeks. Timothy Burton, 64, branded Islam a "backwards, misogynistic, seventh-century" ideology in a series of emails to Tell Mama founder Fiyaz Mughal OBE between 4 April and 26 April 2016. Burton also sent Mr Mughal links to far-right blogs containing "vile slurs" against Muslims including a petition called "renounce, reform, or get the hell out of my country". The radio presenter for the anti-immigration group Liberty GB was convicted of one count of religiously aggravated harassment in March following a week-long trial at Southwark Crown Court. Burton, who says he has resigned from the group following his conviction, had denied the charge and claimed he was exercising his right to free speech. He said he insulted Mr Mughal after reading articles suggesting Tell Mama had exaggerated figures about anti-Muslim incidents. Tell Mama founder Fiyaz Mughal is a former adviser to Nick Clegg (Rex) Mr Mughal said in a statement: "The defendants actions have led to endless nights of anxiety and fear and a sense of being targeted to my core." Judge Alex Gordon said Burton had been on a campaign to tar all Muslims as violent extremists as he jailed him for 12 weeks at Inner London Crown Court on Friday. He said: "The defendant was found guilty by jury following a trial in March of religiously aggravated harassment. "He sent a series of grossly offensive emails to Tell Mama with the obvious intention that they would be, as they were, received by Mr Mughal. "Not only were these emails offensive, they provided links to deeply offensive material involving a petition called renounce, reform, of get the hell out of my country. "He also linked to articles with vile slurs to Mr Mughal. "He was broadcasting the harassment to the world." The judge said the emails "continued after the defendant was asked to stop sending them, and after it was threatened that he would be reported to the police". He continued: "It was obvious that these emails were designed, carefully designed to harass Mr Mughal by causing him distress. "Your extreme antipathy towards Muslims is what led you to harass Mr Mughal. "You are seemingly incapable of distinguishing between Muslims and violent Islamists. Your offending behaviour was obviously motivated by a religious hostility and aggravated the harassment. "You were at the time, [though you have] apparently now resigned, a member of a group Liberty GB which promotes antipathy based on religious adherence. "It was pre-meditated, it was determined, it was deeply unpleasant, and it was part of a campaign by you and your associates to tar all Muslims as Islamists." Judge Gordon accepted that Burton had "expressed some limited remorse". Burton was previously cleared of racially aggravated harassment in 2014 after calling Mr Mughal a "mendacious grievance-mongering taqqiya artist" and a "Muslim scumbag" on Twitter. He told him Liberty GB members "raised a glass in your honour, and toasted you with a bacon sandwich" in an email referencing the second anniversary of his acquittal on 26 April 2016. Jurors were told the obscure theological term "taqqiya" provides persecuted Shia Muslims with an option to deny their faith "if their life is at stake". Mr Mughal said far-right extremists use the term to "blacken all Muslims". He told the trial: "Within far-right circles they say don't trust Muslims because 'taqqiya' means they will lie one to spread Islam, two to take over the state by insidious means, and three to promote Sharia." Judge Gordon jailed Burton for 12 weeks and imposed a restraining order barring him from contacting Fiyaz Mughal, Faith Matters, Tell Mama, or any employee of those groups. He added: "A breach of that order is quite rightly taken by the courts as an extremely important matter and may well result in a custodial sentence." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A man arrested on suspicion of attempting a terror attack in Whitehall has been named as Khalid Mohamed Omar Ali. The 27-year-old British national, who was born overseas but grew up in Tottenham, was stopped with a rucksack containing several knives on Thursday afternoon. Ali was arrested on suspicion of the the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism, with three knives visible on the floor at the scene. (AFP/Getty) He had allegedly been carrying them in a black rucksack emblazoned with a Union Flag and the word London down Whitehall, just metres from Downing Street and Parliament, where a suspected Isis supporter killed five people in a car and knife rampage last month. Ali is understood to have been under surveillance by MI5 and the police, who said he was stopped and searched on Thursday afternoon as part of an ongoing counter-terrorism operation. He had been travelling on the London Underground and we understand he had exited the Tube at St Jamess Park station before walking in the direction of Whitehall and No 10, a policing source told The Telegraph. At some stage an alert went out to all the teams in the area and the order was made to pick him up. Security services told staff in Parliament that police had been tipped off by Alis family, Sky News reported. Neil Basu, the deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said searches were carried out elsewhere in London related to the arrest, with the suspect remaining in custody. I want to reassure the public that our increased activity to combat terrorism over the last two years continues both by police and security services, he added. Activity continues around the clock to identify and stop these threats and we are making arrests on a near daily basis. In an unrelated operation on Thursday night, a woman was shot during a house raid in Willesden as police foiled an active terror plot. In pictures: Westminster attack Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Westminster attack In pictures: Westminster attack An air ambulance lands after gunfire sounds were heard close to the Palace of Westminster in London PA wire In pictures: Westminster attack MPs wait until the situation is under control in Westminster. 'The alleged assailant was shot by armed police,' David Lidington, leader of the House of Commons, told the house. BBC News In pictures: Westminster attack Crowds gather in Westminster after shooting incident, which police are treating as terror attack BBC News In pictures: Westminster attack Police were also called to an incident on Westminster Bridge nearby AP In pictures: Westminster attack Early reports indicate the car, which mounted the pavement on Westminster Bridge and mowed into around a dozen people, was the same vehicle which then rammed into the railings of the Palace of Westminster, just around the corner Reuters In pictures: Westminster attack Security sources described the suspected assailant as a middle-aged Asian man, who is understood to have left the car before attacking a police officer with a seven-to-eight inch knife PA wire In pictures: Westminster attack Police have asked people to avoid the immediate area to allow emergency services to deal with the ongoing incident AP In pictures: Westminster attack One woman has died and a number of others, including the police officer, have been hurt, according to a junior doctor at St Thomas' Hospital Reuters In pictures: Westminster attack At least three gun shots were heard by those inside Westminster, and proceedings in the House of Commons have been suspended AP Ruth Haile, who lives in the road, said she heard gunshots and saw an injured woman being treated. She shouted, Dont touch me, my body, dont touch my dress, she recalled. Alexandra Sabanov, a mother-of-one who lived next door to the raided house, saw officers with gas masks and snipers. We heard bang, bang, bang, bang, went to the window and just saw a number of armed police just there with their guns pointing at our next-door neighbours window. She said the woman was screaming really loud and described her neighbours as a standard Muslim couple of whom she never suspected anything at all. Scotland Yard said the property had been under observation as part of the probe but an armed entry was necessary due to the nature of the intelligence and firearms officers deployed CS gas. Woman shot and injured as police foil active terror plot During the course of that operation one of the subjects of that operation a woman was shot by police, she remains in hospital, Mr Basu said, describing her condition as serious but stable. Due to these arrests that we have made, I believe that we have contained the threats that they posed. A total of six people were arrested on suspicion of terror offences in connection with the raid five at the property and one in Kent. Recommended Last message left by Westminster attacker Khalid Masood revealed Searches were continuing on Friday morning at three other addresses in London, including a second home in Harlesden Road, as part of the investigation. Following last months attack in Westminster, the Metropolitan Police stepped up the number of officers on patrol at key locations in the capital, with the national terror threat level remaining at severe. Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old Muslim convert from Kent, ploughed his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four people, before stabbing PC Keith Palmer to death outside the Houses of Parliament. Isis claimed responsibility for the attack, which Masood had described as jihad in a final message sent from behind the wheel, The Independent revealed. British security services have thwarted at least 13 potential attacks in less than four years. Additional reporting by PA Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An "active terror plot" was foiled by a police raid during which a woman was shot in north-west London last night, investigators say. Six people were arrested during or shortly after the operation in Willesden, which was the culmination of a period of surveillance, the Metropolitan Police's deputy assistant commissioner, Neil Basu, said on Friday morning. The woman who was shot has not been arrested due to her condition, he added. Hours earlier, officers had tackled a man in Whitehall, a stone's throw from Downing Street, and arrested him on suspicion of plotting a terror attack. Detectives said the two events were not related, however. A woman in her 20s was shot during the Willesden raid and remains under police guard after being taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition. Mr Basu, senior national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism policing, said: Due to these arrests that have been made yesterday, in both cases I believe that we have contained the threats that they pose. Pressed by reporters on whether they had foiled an active plot, he replied: Yes. He said no further details about the plot could be released because it is a live investigation with people under arrest who will be interviewed by detectives. Five people were arrested at or near the Willesden home, in Harlesden Road, while one person was arrested in Kent. Officers are searching three London homes. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Ukip candidate who has described Islam as evil is facing potential deselection for her opinions. Anne Marie Waters, who is set to stand in Lewisham East in south London for the second year in a row, is the founder and director of Sharia Watch UK and a former member of the anti-Islam Pegida movement. Ukip leader Paul Nuttall said the views espoused by Ms Waters, who appeared on far-right Swedish online platform Red Ice TV this month, made him feel uncomfortable and the party's national executive committee would be looking at her record later on Friday. Mr Nuttall was pressed about the decision to select Ms Waters, who argued Islamic culture does not fit with ours in a recent election video on Twitter, during the Today programme on Radio Four on Friday morning. The leader said the comments were "way above and beyond party policy" and some had made him feel "a bit uncomfortable" but he would look at the evidence in full. But Ukips press officer later insisted the national executive committee would simply be going through the complete list of candidates and no special attention was to be given to Ms Waters. No particular attention is to be given to her or her records, the NUC meeting simply involves going through the list of candidates. This is for the NEC to deal with, the spokesperson told The Independent. He declined to comment on Ms Waters political history or the views she has put forward. Ms Waters is the former deputy leader of the UK leg of Pegida, the German far-right and anti-Islam group partly set up by former English Defence league leader Tommy Robinson. Last year former Ukip leader Nigel Farage said party members should not associate with Pegida or take part in marches. Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit Show all 10 1 /10 Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit A Fishing for Leave pro-Brexit "flotilla" makes its way along the River Thames in London PA Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit Boats from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group join a flotilla along the Thames River Getty Images Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit Supporters of the EU Remain camp attach banners to Tower Bridge as they await a flotilla of fishing boats campaiging for Brexit to pass under the bridge AFP/Getty Images Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit A Fishing for Leave pro-Brexit "flotilla" alongside HMS Belfast (left) as it makes its way along the River Thames PA Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit Bob Geldof (centre) on board a boat taking part in a pro-EU counter demonstration PA Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit A flotilla of fishing vessels campaigning to leave the European Union REUTERS Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit A boat from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group and smaller boats from the 'In' campaign join a flotilla along the Thames River Getty Images Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit A fishing boat campaiging for Brexit passes by the Tower of London AFP/Getty Images Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit A boat decked out in flags and banners from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group Getty Images Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit Fishing boats campaiging for Brexit pass under Tower Bridge AFP/Getty Images Ms Waters, who tried to run as a Labour candidate before joining Ukip, has a link to the articles she has written for Breitbart, a far-right, pro-Trump news site, in her Twitter bio. The page includes pieces praising Geert Wilders, a populist far-right Dutch politician who wants to close mosques in Holland, and another linking Muslim immigration to rapes and sexual assaults. Joe Mulhall, senior researcher at Hope not Hate, told The Independent it was not clear whether Ms Waters would be dropped as a candidate or not. It could go one way or the other. If they dont get rid of her, nobody can be surprised. Look at the policies theyve put out this week, he said. Ukip pledged to ban the full-face veil and outlaw Sharia law in its general election manifesto this week. This marks a significant shift from its 2013 stance of not pursuing a blanket ban on face-covering veils. The partys decision to pursue an integration agenda has sparked some anger among senior individuals in the party. In one sense her policies and her beliefs fit in quite well with this anti-Muslim shift theyve had in the last week, which is essentially a panic tactic to try and find some form of relevance in this crisis they are having, Mr Mulhall said. It wouldnt be a huge surprise if she stayed. If they allow her to stand they are a party that is willing to be open to far-right activists even though they have spent many years telling everyone that is not the case, he continued. If they allow her to stand were talking about a party that is becoming openly and explicitly anti-Muslim in order to capture the populist vote. The researcher, a former visiting lecturer at Royal Holloway University, claimed Waters was this extreme when the party last selected her to stand so they would not be able to feign ignorance about her views. The uncertainty over Ms Waters future with Ukip has been met with resistance on Twitter and a Save Anne Marie hashtag has gained increasing traction among her supporters. Lots of people on the far-right are seeing this as a litmus test for Ukip. If she stays then Ukip is possibly a home for then but if not they will leave," Mr Mulhall added. Anne Marie Waters views on Muslims, multiculturalism and generally on liberal democracy are deeply, deeply damaging. If she stands as a parliamentary candidate for a party that is as nationally recognised like Ukip, it is emblematic of a normalisation of the rhetoric around Islam and multiculturalism which has become deeply worrying. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Millions of British citizens could lose their right to free healthcare abroad after Brexit, a group of MPs has warned. The House of Commons Health Select Committee said Britons with serious medical conditions such as cancer and diabetes could find it too expensive to visit other European countries because they would have to purchase costly private insurance. EU regulations mean British citizens are eligible for free or subsidised healthcare abroad under the European health insurance card (Ehic) scheme, which allows countries to claim back costs from a patients home country. When Britain leaves the EU these rights will no longer be guaranteed, unless ministers strike a deal that would continue reciprocal healthcare arrangements. The change could also have a big impact on British citizens living overseas, who would have to purchase expensive private insurance policies to cover their healthcare. With pensioners making up a large proportion of this group, experts have said they could be left destitute if they have to cover the cost of private health insurance. As a result. the changes could see thousands of British citizens living abroad forced to return to the UK to ensure they have access to healthcare. Professor Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told MPs the costs could be significant. If as a British tourist you want to travel to France you are covered, and vice versa, he said. Therefore, our tourism industry will get a lot of people who come here. They will perhaps have pre-existing conditions, but they will not require healthcare. I put in a few co-morbidities, like diabetes and a history of mild depression, to see how much I would pay for health insurance for a one-week stay in France. It came out at between 800 and 2,500. 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 Government ministers have hinted that they will attempt to secure reciprocal healthcare arrangements during Brexit negotiations. It is perfectly possible to agree the continuation of reciprocal healthcare rights as they currently exist, but it is not possible to predict the outcome of the negotiations, Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Health, told the committee. One British citizen living in France, Christopher Chantrey, said it was absolutely essential that the arrangements are kept, and slammed the Governments claim that no Brexit deal would be better than a bad deal. If you have a pre-existing health problem, how will you get private insurance if the UK no longer pays for the cover you contributed to all your working life in the UK? he said. The host country will not do it, because you have not contributed to that system. That is why the Europe-wide system of co-ordination exists in the way it does. The cliff edge has dramatically awful consequences. How can anybody sayI am afraid this was in the White Paperthat no deal would be better than a bad deal? It is the reverse. No deal would be far, far worse than a bad one; it is the worst possible deal. This will affect hundreds of thousands of UK citizens who have moved out there and are receiving their pensions and healthcare. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Corbyn has accused Theresa May of hiding from the public after staff were barred from the Prime Ministers rally at their workplace. The Labour leader said Ms Mays refusal to face real voters on the campaign trail was showing contempt for the public and suggested she was scared of them. The attack comes after she only appeared at a campaign event in a Leeds business centre after all the staff had been sent home for the evening. Theresa May apparently unsure where she is: 'I'm pleased to come to this particular town' Recommended Theresa May refuses to answer Syria airstrikes question three times The tactic allowed the Conservatives to pack the event with the party faithful. The Prime Minister only faced questions from journalists. Earlier, speaking to reporters in Clay Cross, in Derbyshire, she appeared to forget where she was, telling them she was very happy to be in this, urr, particular town. It follows Ms Mays refusal to take part in campaign TV debates, prompting broadcasters to suggest she could be empty-chaired. Mr Corbyn said: Theresa May is hiding from the public. She wont take part in TV debates and she wont talk to voters. Refusing to debate Labour in this election isnt a sign of strength, its a sign of weakness. What is she afraid of? Voters deserve to know what political parties are offering. We are setting out our plans to rebuild and transform Britain. In Leeds, the Prime Minister won huge cheers with an audacious appeal to Labour supporters to lend me their vote to give her the strength to deliver a successful Brexit. But one employee then revealed the Conservatives waited until all the staff had gone home and that the event was only for party supporters. Rik Kendell, a developer and designer, tweeted: Thats my workplace, she didnt arrive until wed all left for the day. Everyone in the building past 6pm was invite-only. The Conservative Party has not yet responded to a request from The Independent to comment on the accusation that Ms May is hiding from the public. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Scotland will ban private firms from carrying out benefit assessments and work to create a system based on dignity and respect, ministers have announced. The Scottish government has gained new devolved welfare powers under the Scotland Act, and will create a new Social Security Agency to administer the benefits system. Social Security minister Jeane Freeman told Holyrood that profiteering companies had no place in assessing a persons fitness to work. "One of our fundamental principles is that profit should never be a motive nor play any part in assessing or making decisions on peoples health and eligibility for benefits. "Setting the new system up is a hugely complex task, but a challenge that we relish and one that we are absolutely determined to get right. "It is extremely important that we start how we mean to go on by listening to people and seeking expert opinion." Until now, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has contracted Atos and, more recently, American firm Maximus to carry out work capability assessments in Scotland. Both firms have been heavily criticised by disability rights campaigners. The DWPs own statistics revealed that between December 2011 and February 2014, 2,380 people died after their claim for employment and support allowance (ESA) ended after they were found fit for work. Last month, a study found that Work Capability Assessments sometimes led to a deterioration in peoples mental health which individuals did not recover from. The Scottish National Party also said it would end the revolving door of fit-to-work assessments by introducing long-term awards for those with existing conditions that are unlikely to change. Disability cuts: People with mental health problems left behind as benefit changes take effect Eleanor Lisney, a disability rights campaigner who recently launched #CripTheVoteUK, a campaign to get disability rights on the agenda ahead of the general election, welcomed the Scottish governments announcement. Obviously, if profit is the driving force behind Work Capability assessments, if assessors have targets to reduce the number of people on benefits, thats going to affect how many people get the help they need. "We have clear evidence that disabled peoples mental health has been severely impacted by private firms like Atos and Maximus. "Scotland is definitely moving in the right direction, particularly on things like the long term award. "My only reservation is that, profit or nonprofit, disabled peoples access to benefits ultimately depends on what agenda assessors receive from above, and I hope that Scottish ministers will implement the changes properly. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} When I caught up with Tessa Munt in a pretty terrace just off the High Street in Wells, she was talking to a church-going voter who was worried about Tim Farrons views on gay sex. That was a news story that had cut through to some of the voters here, at least. (Further up the terrace we spoke to a pub landlord who had no idea who the leader of the Lib Dems was.) Munt was the Lib Dem MP here from 2010 to 2015 and she wants to win it back. It will be a stiff test of the strength of the partys recovery: the Conservative, James Heappey, described to me as a diligent MP, won by 7,500 votes and the constituency is a little more Eurosceptic than the national average, voting by 54 per cent to leave the EU. On Thursday this week another obstacle fell in Munts path to re-election: Ukip decided not to field a candidate and endorsed Heappey instead even though he voted Remain last June. Thats another 5,000 votes for the Tory, isnt it, I asked Munt when she stopped for a cup of boiling water at the pub. People vote in extraordinary ways, she said. Helen Hims, the Ukip candidate two years ago, is smashing, a really nice woman shes got bags of common sense. She and I agree on all sorts of things. We dont agree on Europe. Munt is not fighting an anti-Brexit campaign. The Europe question has gone, because we are heading for Brexit, so that dismisses that area. The Brexiters have got what they want. But Theresa May wanting a massive majority sounds somewhat undemocratic to me. If Munt is going to win the seat back, she needs two things to happen. One is that the Lib Dem vote bounces back from its 2015 level, when the party was punished for joining the coalition with the Conservatives. But with the Lib Dems running in national opinion polls at just three points above their share of the vote at the last election, Munt will need a lot more than that. The other thing she needs is a classic Lib Dem doorstep campaign. She won the seat in the first place by a remarkable voter-contact effort. With a clicker counter in her pocket, she says she spoke to 49,500 voters in the five years before the 2010 election. The day after she lost the seat in 2015, she was back out on the doorstep, talking to people and trying to win it back. She has been working for two years for an election in 2020: the Prime Minister has just brought the target date forward. Wells: a discarded Aga and a Tory poster for Somerset county council elections on Thursday. Photo: John Rentoul I followed her around for a mornings canvassing and, even allowing for her choosing favourable territory for the benefit of a journalist, the results seemed promising for her. The church-going woman, who was worried that Farron might be homophobic, was reassured by Munts liberalism, and possibly by her exclaiming, Such a good church! (I checked in the pub whether Munt thought gay sex was a sin Im afraid I dont, no; its been going on for ever, hasnt it?) We came across several people who had voted Conservative in the past but who said they would now vote Lib Dem. All this was recorded on Munts iPad, a technology upgrade from her clicker, on which she has designed her own database to suit the script that she and her canvassers use. Do you vote? Have you ever voted Liberal Democrat? Would you consider voting Liberal Democrat again? After that, the doorstep conversation develops in response to the voter. A man who would have voted Leave in the referendum except that he was out of the country was told you are electing your local MP the job that I can do is to ask the right questions. What is more, Munt told him, she thought the European Parliament building in Strasbourg should be converted to social housing. The woman in the next house had voted Lib Dem before but was unsure this time. Whats causing the doubt? I like Theresa May and think she needs a strong vote. But Jeremy Corbyn is not going to be forming the next government. Im not after a ministerial career, Im not interested in the greasy pole, I just want to be your MP: its what Im good at and what I love doing. At another house Trevor, 87, said that he usually voted Labour but that Corbyn is not going anywhere. Id like to borrow your vote, said Munt, brightly, a transaction I had never witnessed before. Munt is well known in the city. At every other door she was greeted with, I met you at At others it was hugs and promises to put a poster in the window. The first thing you see driving into Wells on the dual carriageway is a huge luminous orange Tessa sign on the footbridge (with some small unreadable blue Tory signs next to it). Taking a break from canvassing, it took us half an hour to walk 200 yards to the High Street because she was stopped by well wishers, including Judy, who said she used to vote Tory but would be voting for Munt this time because of farming issues. (Munt was instantly knowledgeable about the problems of those poor hill farmers who have been waiting two years for subsidy payments.) Munt has the energy for the campaign, fuelled by two mashed bananas for breakfast, and if the vaunted Lib Dem canvassing machine can devote sufficient resources to the constituency she could outperform national trends enough to win. One important question is the extent to which the Tories can repeat their targeting operation from last time, when activists were bussed into the constituency. Heappey is one of many Conservative MPs whose election expenses for 2015 are being investigated by the police after questions were raised about whether the costs of battlebuses should have been declared as constituency campaign spending rather than as national spending. Heappey said he had done nothing wrong and acted honestly and properly throughout the election campaign and that he was happy to cooperate with the investigation. Nothing is likely to come of the investigation before 8 June, but the Tories might feel constrained this time, and it will give Munt something to put in her leaflets. The other unknown is whether the Greens will stand a candidate this time. Two years ago Jon Cousins took 2,000 votes, many of which could go Munts way if members of the local Green parties (there are four branches) decide that she could be a unity candidate (a phrase they prefer to progressive alliance). Cousins told me he would be happy to step aside if party members wanted him to, but that the Lib Dems would have to show stronger backbone about electoral reform proportional representation. The best prospects for the Lib Dem revival are in strongly Remain seats, such as Twickenham (66 per cent Remain), where Sir Vince Cable to whom Munt was Parliamentary Private Secretary is standing again. But there is some evidence that the party is also recovering strongly in the more Brexity South West. In local council by-elections, for example, the party has done well regardless of how areas voted in the EU referendum. In a Wells city by-election last month, the Lib Dems gained a seat. A day on the doorstep with Munt certainly provided no sign that Farrons strong national message of trying to reverse Brexit was a barrier to voting Lib Dem here. If anyone can make a spectacular Lib Dem comeback, I suspect Tessa Munt can. Wells: constituency profile 2015 result James Heappey Conservative 26,247 46.1% +3.6 Tessa Munt Lib Dem 18,662 32.8% 11.2 Helen Hims Ukip 5,644 9.9% +6.9 Chris Inchley Labour 3,780 6.6% 0.9 Jon Cousins Green 2,331 4.1% +3.0 (Change from 2010) 2016: Leave 54% Lib Dem target, held by Tessa Munt for the Lib Dems 2010-15 Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May has been accused of wanting EU citizens to leave the country, in a furious attack on her Brexit intransigence from a senior MEP. Dutch politician Sophia in t Veld says the Prime Minister is using the three million EU nationals in the UK as cannon fodder in negotiations by refusing to guarantee their rights. In an article for The Independent, Ms in t Veld condemns the Home Office for being vacuous and utterly out of touch in its approach to the controversy. I have been inundated with heartbreaking correspondence from EU citizens in despair," she writes. "People are frightened. The criticism comes just days after it was revealed that fearful EU nationals have been told not to apply to stay permanently in the UK, because of a deluge in applications. Officials are instead advising them to sign up for email news alerts, to learn what action they may need to take in the future. Ms in t Velds comments come as the 27 EU leaders stage a crunch summit in Brussels on Saturday to thrash out an agreed approach to the looming Brexit talks with the UK Government. The EU is certain to insist that the status of expats must be settled at the outset, with the European Court of Justice likely to rule over any agreement. Britain has refused to grant the three million EU nationals in the UK the right to remain and work after Brexit until the 1.1 million British expats in the EU are given the same guarantee. In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier listens at the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty Images In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, delivers his speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg EPA In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcomming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Michel Barnier, European Chief Negotiator for Brexit reacts during a meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg EPA In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Member of the European Parliament and former leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage wears socks with Union Jack flag at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty Images In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Nigel Farage, United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) member and MEP, addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcoming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier gestures during speeches at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions The President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker (L) speaks with European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcomming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivers a speech during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions The European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France Getty Images Ms May then heightened their fears by insisting she was happy to walk away from the EU with no deal if necessary which would include no agreement over expats rights. Meanwhile, the Home Office has been fiercely criticised for the huge bureaucracy involved in applying for permanent residence, making the form a staggering 85 pages long. Some EU nationals have been rejected on the basis that they did not take out comprehensive sickness insurance when the requirement was barely known. Writing for The Independent, Ms in t Veld, deputy to Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliaments Brexit coordinator, describes the plight of EU nationals as an often-overlooked consequence of the Brexit vote. She writes: They have fallen in love and married in the UK, they have built a career in the UK, bought a home, and have children or grandchildren in the UK, many of whom have British nationality. The 85-page residency form is a nightmare, the MEP writes, adding: The rejection rate is almost one third, often based on administrative formalities. It seems that this Conservative Government wants as many people to leave the country as possible. The article continues: In February, my colleagues and I wrote to Theresa May to express some of the concerns raised by EU citizens. We received a response from a Home Office minister, which I can only describe as vacuous and utterly out of touch. The plight of these people and their families are well known to Prime Minister May, but she has deliberately chosen to use these people as cannon fodder in negotiations. Britain will not be at the summit in Brussels, but, Ms in t Veld writes: The ball is now in Ms May's court. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Tim Farron has accused Theresa May of peddling poisonous propaganda about immigrants that leads directly to hate crimes, as he condemned the Prime Ministers focus on limiting the number of people entering Britain from overseas. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, the leader of the Liberal Democrats said Ms May was playing the immigration card at the general election by sticking to her target to reduce migration despite opposition even from several of her ministers. Mr Farron has endorsed the Drop the Target campaign by The Independent and the Open Britain group against the Governments goal to reduce net migration below 100,000 a year. Although some ministers want the figure to be omitted from the Tory manifesto on the grounds that it will never be achieved, Ms May has restated her personal commitment to it. Mr Farron said Ms May remains a Home Secretary at heart more than a Prime Minister, she is utterly obsessed by the headline figure for immigration. He was disgusted by her stance, which meant that Drop the Target was needed more than ever. He revealed that the rights of the three million EU citizens in the UK would be at the heart of his partys election campaign. The Lib Dems will accuse the Tories of becoming the nasty party as Ms May branded them in 2002 by treating the EU citizens as unwanted aliens. They will urge the Government to relieve the uncertainty and distress being caused by a vast, pointless and unworkable bureaucracy. The move follows criticism that the Home Office cannot cope with a surge in demand for permanent residency rights by 100,000 anxious EU citizens. They must complete an 85-page form and some have been denied residency because they do not have comprehensive sickness insurance. The Government insists it has taken on an extra 240 staff to cut delays in handling applications, and is confident of winning a reciprocal rights deal also covering the one million Britons in EU countries. But Mr Farron csaid: Rather than bringing the country together after the referendum, the Prime Minister has deepened a divide that has split the country in two. Families are living in fear of being wrenched apart, as the Conservative Brexit Government uses them as bargaining chips in their tawdry game of poker. By emphasising how immigration must be reduced, she feeds the lie that immigrants are a drain on our country. The result of this poisonous propaganda is people being beaten within an inch of their lives in vile hate crimes. Tim Farron: 'I don't believe gay sex is a sin' Mr Farron added: Far from her vast opinion poll lead letting Theresa May do the right thing, it seems instead that we are seeing her true colours. She is doubling down on commitments to keep immigration in the tens of thousands, despite knowing the economic harm it will do given how little she invests in training British workers. And she is still refusing to take international students out of the immigration target figures, even though they are clearly not immigrants and provide a massive boost to the UK regional economy and indeed society. Describing Ms Mays anti-immigration agenda as simply not true. he insisted EU nationals were net contributors to the UK economy. The Lib Dem leader warned the benefits of the single market would be lost without even achieving the cut in migration Ms May sought. Under pressure from businesses relying on EU workers, ministers have conceded that EU migration might go up or down. She wants to sacrifice our membership of the single market to control immigration, even though roughly half of immigrants come from outside the EU so she could do that anyway without leaving the single market, he said. But now cabinet ministers are telling her she cant reduce immigration, because we need labour. So Theresa May could find herself in the ludicrous position of leaving the single market to reduce immigration but with immigration actually staying the same or even going up. All she would have achieved is massive social division, and reducing the size of the UK economy by 200bn over 15 years. Mr Farron insisted: You simply cant have a hard Brexit and a strong economy. And that is before you consider how migrants have made British society more exciting, dynamic and successful. He warned: The NHS would simply collapse if we told all doctors, nurses and other valued staff from other EU countries that they were no longer welcome. Not only would that be a horrible slap in the face to those who have helped so many British people back to health, it would put the nations very health at risk. UK General Election 2017 Show all 47 1 /47 UK General Election 2017 UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street for the 1922 committee on June 12, 2017 in London, England. British Prime Minister Theresa May held her first cabinet meeting with her re-shuffled team today Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 DUP leader Arlene Foster stands alongside deputy leader Nigel Dodds as they hold a press conference at Stormont Castle as the Stormont assembly power sharing negotiations reconvene following the general election on June 12, 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Discussions between the DUP and the Conservative party are also continuing in the wake of the UK general election as Prime Minister Theresa May looks to form a government with the help of the Democratic Unionist parties ten Westminster seats. Stormont and the political situation in Northern Ireland has been in limbo following the collapse of the power sharing executive due to the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme scandal which implicated the DUP Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Priti Patel, International Development Secretary leaves 10 Downing Street Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Larry the Downing Street cat runs ahead of Michael Fallon Britain's Secretary of State for Defence as he arrives for a cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London, Britain, June 12, 2017. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth REUTERS UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Michael Gove, Environment Secretary leaves 10 Downing Street on June 12, 2017 in London, England. British Prime Minister Theresa May held her first cabinet meeting with her re-shuffled team today Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Scottish National Party Leader Nicola Sturgeon (C) leaves after speaking to the media in Parliament Square. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May (C, L) holds the first Cabinet meeting of her new team. Getty UK General Election 2017 11 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May attends church in her constituency with her husband Philip May, a few days after disappointing results in a general election. Rex Features UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn leaves Labour Party HQ this morning, following a general election yesterday. Parliament is hung, with no individual party gaining an overall majority. Post general election reaction. Rex UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JUNE 09: DUP leader and Northern Ireland former First Minister Arlene Foster (C) holds a brief press conference with the DUP's newly elected Westminster candidates who stood in the general election Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 A " Get May Out" demo took place opposite the gates of Downing Street, calling for May to resign, after the shock election results and Mays coalition with the DUP. Rex Features UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 A demonstrator wears a mask depicting Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May, poses with a mock gravestone bearing the words "Hard Brexit, RIP", during a protest photocall near the entrance 10 Downing Street in central London AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the Conservative Party's headquarters in London Reuters UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May flanked by her husband Philip delivers a statement outside 10 Downing Street in central Londo Getty UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May leaves Buckingham Palace in London the day after a general election in which the Conservatives lost their majority Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 A TV cameraman watches the door of 10 Downing Street in London Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is greeted by his Office Director Karie Murphy as he arrives at Labour Party HQ in Westminster, London, after he called on the Prime Minister to resign, saying she should 'go and make way for a government that is truly representative of this country' Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the Conservative Party's headquarters with her husband Philip in London REUTERS/Peter Nicholls UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Ukip leader Paul Nuttall speaks during a press conference at Boston West Golf Club where he announced that he is standing down as party leader Joe Giddens/PA UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, leaves the counting centre for Britain's general election with her partner Jen Wilson in Edinburgh, Scotland REUTERS/Russell Cheyne UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale celebrates with candidate for Edinburgh South Ian Murray as he retains his seat at the Meadowbank Sports Centre counting centre in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to the media at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, as counting is under way for the General Election Andrew Milligan/PA Wire UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson at Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh, as counting is under way for the General Election PA UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon reacts at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland EPA UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, arrives at the Labour Party's Headquarters in London REUTERS/Marko Djurica UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall leaves in a car following the vote count for the constituency of Boston and Skegness in Boston, England Anthony Devlin/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 British Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Theresa May speaks at the declaration at the election count at the Magnet Leisure Centre in Maidenhead, England. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 8 June 2017 A policer officer enters a polling station in London AP UK General Election 2017 8 June 2017 A woman leaves after casting her vote at the Hove Museum and Art Gallery near Brighton, in southern England Getty UK General Election 2017 8 June 2017 A polling station sign is seen on a telephone box outside the polling station at Rotherwick Hall, west of London Getty UK General Election 2017 7 June 2017 A woman walks past a general election display in the window of a betting shop in Camden on June 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. Britain goes to the polls tomorrow, Getty Images UK General Election 2017 7 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May visits Atherley Bowling Club during an election campaign visit on June 7, 2017 in Southampton, England. Britain goes to the polls tomorrow June 8 to vote in a general election. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 A supporter wears a pair of Jeremy Corbyn decorated tights at a general election campaign event in Birmingham, central England, on June 6, 2017. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to vote in a general election only days after another deadly terror attack in the nation's captial. AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 A picture taken in London, shows election leaflets from various parties displayed ahead of the United Kingdom's general elections. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to vote in a general election only days after another terrorist attack on the nation's capital AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 Election workers, George Gaunt and Luca Tragid deliver the first ballot boxes, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh AFP UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May meets with Conservative party supporters during an election campaign visit to a bakery during an election campaign visit on June 6, 2017 in Fleetwood, north-west England. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to vote in a general election only days after another terrorist attack on the nation's capital Getty Images UK General Election 2017 5 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during a general election campaign visit to a removals depot in Edinburgh AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 3 June 2017 Pro-Independence supporters hold a march through Glasgow AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 3 June 2017 Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn campaigns for the upcoming general election in Beeston, Nottinghamshire AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 3 June 2017 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn reacts to supporters after a rally at Beeston Youth and Community Centre as he visits the East Midlands during the final weekend of the General Election campaign on June 3, 2017 in Nottingham, England. If elected in next week's general election Mr Corbyn is pledging to create a million new jobs and to scrap zero-hours contracts Getty Images UK General Election 2017 1 June 2017 Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party leader Ruth Davidson joins a selection of Scottish Conservative election candidates and activists during campaigning on May 1, 2017 in South Queensferry, Scotland. With only seven days to go until the general election on June 8th, polls are showing the SNP out in front and the Conservatives set to close in on Labour. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 29 May 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May canvasses in Richmond with Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith on May 29, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. After suffering defeat in the London Mayoral election Zac Goldsmith resigned over the Government's position on Heathrow expansion. He stood as an Independent but lost in a by-election to the Liberal Democrats. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to elect a new parliament in a general election Getty Images UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron poses for a selfie taken by carer April Preston during a General Election campaign visit to the Barlow Medical Centre, in Didsbury, Manchester Yui Mok/PA UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks at an election campaign event in Wrexham, Wales Reuters UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, and Labour's former deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, exit the party's general election campaign 'battle' bus as they arrive at an event in Kingston upon Hull, northern England Getty Images UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn walks with supporters between venues, before speaking again at another general election campaign event in Kingston upon Hull, northern England Getty Images UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 An anti-fox hunting protester is taken away and arrested by police outside the venue where Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May was due to launch the Welsh Conservative general election manifesto at Gresford Memorial Hall in the village of Gresford, near Wrexham, North Wales, on May 22, 2017. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to elect a new parliament in a general election AFP/Getty Images Mr Farron said the UKs single most urgent domestic priority was probably to give the workforce the skills it needs to provide worthwhile opportunities. Yet the Government is offering pathetic amounts to train British workers and then just blames the immigrant for filling a job that would otherwise probably go unfilled, he said. To me this whole debate is about more than money. Britain has been successful in recent years in part by becoming a mecca for some of the most talented, industrious people on earth, he said. Not only have they boosted our economy, they have made Britain the most fascinating, liberal society on earth. I am proud that the Liberal Democrats are alone among parties in fighting Theresa Mays hard Brexit to keep Britain open, tolerant and united. A Conservative spokesman said: People coming to the UK make an important contribution to the country, but migration needs to be controlled so the impact is managed. Thats why we will get control of our borders as we leave the EU. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May is "more in touch" with Scots than the First Minister, Ruth Davidson has claimed, after a new poll suggested the Tories could be on track to win eight seats in Scotland in the General Election. Research by YouGov for The Times in Scotland put support for the Conservatives on 28% - behind the SNP, who were on 41%. The poll, carried out ahead of the June 8 General Election, gave Nicola Sturgeon a positive approval of +2%, with 47% of people questioned stating she is doing well in her role compared to 45% who said she was doing badly. The Prime Minister scored -14%, with 51% stating she was doing badly compared to 37% who think she is performing well. Projections from the poll indicated the Conservatives could win eight seats in Scotland, up from the one MP they currently have, with SNP depute leader Angus Robertson's seat one of those the nationalists could lose. The number of SNP MPs at Westminster could fall from 56 to 47, according to the projection. Support for Labour in the poll was 18% - which should see the party's sole MP in Scotland Ian Murray hold on to the Edinburgh South constituency. While the Liberal Democrats secured 7% in the poll, that could be enough for the party to win three seats, with the projection suggesting they could take Edinburgh West and East Dunbartonshire from the SNP while holding on Orkney and Shetland. Winning eight seats would give Mrs May's party its best General Election return north of the border since 1992 when the party won 11. Ms Davidson claimed: "This poll reveals Theresa May is more in touch with people in Scotland than Nicola Sturgeon. "Last month, Alex Salmond, Angus Robertson and Nicola Sturgeon all arrogantly declared that opposing a second referendum would stoke support for independence. "In fact, most people in Scotland see the common sense in saying now is not the time for yet another divisive referendum campaign." The poll, for which more than 1,000 people were questioned between April 24 and 27, found 45% of Scots backing independence, with 55% in favour of the Union - the same result as recorded in the 2014 referendum. The First Minister insisted it was only her party that could "stand up to the Tories" as she warned: "The truth is the more Tory MPs Westminster has, the heavier the price Scotland will pay." The SNP leader was campaigning in East Renfrewshire, which the SNP took from the then Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy in 2015. Ms Sturgeon said: "The SNP is the only party that can stand up to the Tories and, working with the Scottish Parliament, SNP MPs will fight these devastating policies." Scottish Labour general election campaign manager James Kelly said: "This is yet another poll that shows people in Scotland do not want another divisive referendum and they don't want to leave the UK. "When people go to the polls for the council elections on May 4 and the General Election on June 8, they can vote Labour to elect a local champion; or they can vote SNP to elect a candidate who will only focus on another divisive referendum." Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton, chair of the party's Scottish General Election campaign, said: "Our message of keeping Scotland in the heart of the UK and the UK in the heart of Europe is resonating with people and, come June 8, we are bracing ourselves to make significant gains." PA Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Conservatives have dropped their party name from some campaign materials in the north of England, images suggest. Theresa May visited Leeds on Thursday and spoke to party supporters in front of banners reading "Theresa May: Strong, Stable Leadership in the National Interest" but including no mention of the Tories. Party activists, meanwhile, held signs reading "Theresa May: Strong, Stable Leadership. The Conservatives was only written in much smaller writing underneath, according to The Telegraph. In contrast, Ms May spoke in Dudley in the Midlands earlier in the week in front of signs that read Conservatives and had no mention of her name. The move is likely designed to maximise the Tories advantage from Ms Mays strong approval ratings, which are higher than those of the party. A poll earlier this week found the Prime Minister is now more popular than any other leader since the 1970s, with 61 per cent of people believing she is the most capable of the current party leaders. By contrast, only 23 per cent of voters favour Jeremy Corbyn. Even a quarter of Labour voters believe Ms May is more capable than Mr Corbyn a fact Tory strategists are likely to try to exploit as they attempt to win over swing voters. During her speech in Leeds, the Prime Minister called on Labour supporters to lend her their vote. This election is not about who you may have voted for in the past, she said. Everyone in our country has a positive reason to lend me their vote," she said. Vote for me to strengthen my hand at the negotiating table in Brussels. UK General Election 2017 Show all 47 1 /47 UK General Election 2017 UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street for the 1922 committee on June 12, 2017 in London, England. British Prime Minister Theresa May held her first cabinet meeting with her re-shuffled team today Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 DUP leader Arlene Foster stands alongside deputy leader Nigel Dodds as they hold a press conference at Stormont Castle as the Stormont assembly power sharing negotiations reconvene following the general election on June 12, 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Discussions between the DUP and the Conservative party are also continuing in the wake of the UK general election as Prime Minister Theresa May looks to form a government with the help of the Democratic Unionist parties ten Westminster seats. Stormont and the political situation in Northern Ireland has been in limbo following the collapse of the power sharing executive due to the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme scandal which implicated the DUP Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Priti Patel, International Development Secretary leaves 10 Downing Street Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Larry the Downing Street cat runs ahead of Michael Fallon Britain's Secretary of State for Defence as he arrives for a cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London, Britain, June 12, 2017. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth REUTERS UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Michael Gove, Environment Secretary leaves 10 Downing Street on June 12, 2017 in London, England. British Prime Minister Theresa May held her first cabinet meeting with her re-shuffled team today Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Scottish National Party Leader Nicola Sturgeon (C) leaves after speaking to the media in Parliament Square. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May (C, L) holds the first Cabinet meeting of her new team. Getty UK General Election 2017 11 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May attends church in her constituency with her husband Philip May, a few days after disappointing results in a general election. Rex Features UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn leaves Labour Party HQ this morning, following a general election yesterday. Parliament is hung, with no individual party gaining an overall majority. Post general election reaction. Rex UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JUNE 09: DUP leader and Northern Ireland former First Minister Arlene Foster (C) holds a brief press conference with the DUP's newly elected Westminster candidates who stood in the general election Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 A " Get May Out" demo took place opposite the gates of Downing Street, calling for May to resign, after the shock election results and Mays coalition with the DUP. Rex Features UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 A demonstrator wears a mask depicting Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May, poses with a mock gravestone bearing the words "Hard Brexit, RIP", during a protest photocall near the entrance 10 Downing Street in central London AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the Conservative Party's headquarters in London Reuters UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May flanked by her husband Philip delivers a statement outside 10 Downing Street in central Londo Getty UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May leaves Buckingham Palace in London the day after a general election in which the Conservatives lost their majority Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 A TV cameraman watches the door of 10 Downing Street in London Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is greeted by his Office Director Karie Murphy as he arrives at Labour Party HQ in Westminster, London, after he called on the Prime Minister to resign, saying she should 'go and make way for a government that is truly representative of this country' Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the Conservative Party's headquarters with her husband Philip in London REUTERS/Peter Nicholls UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Ukip leader Paul Nuttall speaks during a press conference at Boston West Golf Club where he announced that he is standing down as party leader Joe Giddens/PA UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, leaves the counting centre for Britain's general election with her partner Jen Wilson in Edinburgh, Scotland REUTERS/Russell Cheyne UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale celebrates with candidate for Edinburgh South Ian Murray as he retains his seat at the Meadowbank Sports Centre counting centre in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to the media at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, as counting is under way for the General Election Andrew Milligan/PA Wire UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson at Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh, as counting is under way for the General Election PA UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon reacts at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland EPA UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, arrives at the Labour Party's Headquarters in London REUTERS/Marko Djurica UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall leaves in a car following the vote count for the constituency of Boston and Skegness in Boston, England Anthony Devlin/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 British Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Theresa May speaks at the declaration at the election count at the Magnet Leisure Centre in Maidenhead, England. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 8 June 2017 A policer officer enters a polling station in London AP UK General Election 2017 8 June 2017 A woman leaves after casting her vote at the Hove Museum and Art Gallery near Brighton, in southern England Getty UK General Election 2017 8 June 2017 A polling station sign is seen on a telephone box outside the polling station at Rotherwick Hall, west of London Getty UK General Election 2017 7 June 2017 A woman walks past a general election display in the window of a betting shop in Camden on June 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. Britain goes to the polls tomorrow, Getty Images UK General Election 2017 7 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May visits Atherley Bowling Club during an election campaign visit on June 7, 2017 in Southampton, England. Britain goes to the polls tomorrow June 8 to vote in a general election. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 A supporter wears a pair of Jeremy Corbyn decorated tights at a general election campaign event in Birmingham, central England, on June 6, 2017. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to vote in a general election only days after another deadly terror attack in the nation's captial. AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 A picture taken in London, shows election leaflets from various parties displayed ahead of the United Kingdom's general elections. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to vote in a general election only days after another terrorist attack on the nation's capital AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 Election workers, George Gaunt and Luca Tragid deliver the first ballot boxes, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh AFP UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May meets with Conservative party supporters during an election campaign visit to a bakery during an election campaign visit on June 6, 2017 in Fleetwood, north-west England. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to vote in a general election only days after another terrorist attack on the nation's capital Getty Images UK General Election 2017 5 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during a general election campaign visit to a removals depot in Edinburgh AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 3 June 2017 Pro-Independence supporters hold a march through Glasgow AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 3 June 2017 Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn campaigns for the upcoming general election in Beeston, Nottinghamshire AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 3 June 2017 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn reacts to supporters after a rally at Beeston Youth and Community Centre as he visits the East Midlands during the final weekend of the General Election campaign on June 3, 2017 in Nottingham, England. If elected in next week's general election Mr Corbyn is pledging to create a million new jobs and to scrap zero-hours contracts Getty Images UK General Election 2017 1 June 2017 Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party leader Ruth Davidson joins a selection of Scottish Conservative election candidates and activists during campaigning on May 1, 2017 in South Queensferry, Scotland. With only seven days to go until the general election on June 8th, polls are showing the SNP out in front and the Conservatives set to close in on Labour. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 29 May 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May canvasses in Richmond with Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith on May 29, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. After suffering defeat in the London Mayoral election Zac Goldsmith resigned over the Government's position on Heathrow expansion. He stood as an Independent but lost in a by-election to the Liberal Democrats. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to elect a new parliament in a general election Getty Images UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron poses for a selfie taken by carer April Preston during a General Election campaign visit to the Barlow Medical Centre, in Didsbury, Manchester Yui Mok/PA UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks at an election campaign event in Wrexham, Wales Reuters UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, and Labour's former deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, exit the party's general election campaign 'battle' bus as they arrive at an event in Kingston upon Hull, northern England Getty Images UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn walks with supporters between venues, before speaking again at another general election campaign event in Kingston upon Hull, northern England Getty Images UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 An anti-fox hunting protester is taken away and arrested by police outside the venue where Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May was due to launch the Welsh Conservative general election manifesto at Gresford Memorial Hall in the village of Gresford, near Wrexham, North Wales, on May 22, 2017. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to elect a new parliament in a general election AFP/Getty Images It later emerged that Ms Mays speech, which was held at a community regeneration project, had been packed with Tory activists after users of the building left for the day. As one of the poorer and more diverse areas in Leeds, Im sure the residents of Harehills would have appreciated being involved, one local man, Rik Kendell, told The Guardian. Instead Mrs May spoke exclusively to a hand-selected bunch of the party faithful. It comes as Labour accused Ms May of hiding because the majority of her campaign events to date have been held behind closed doors, away from members of the public. "Theresa May is hiding from the public; she won't take part in TV debates and she won't talk to voters, Jeremy Corbyn said. Refusing to debate Labour in this election isn't a sign of strength, it's a sign of weakness. "In showing contempt for the public in this way, the Prime Minister is showing that it's Labour that stands up for the many, while she speaks only for the few. "What is she afraid of? Voters deserve to know what political parties are offering. "We are setting out our plans to rebuild and transform Britain, with a government for the many, not the few." Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Britain will not be able "to withstand an appropriate response from another nuclear power", a senior Russian senator has said in response to Michael Fallon's claim that Britain would be willing to launch a first strike "in extreme circumstances". In a strong public rebuke, Franz Klintsevich said someone should remind the British defence secretary that "it is not the 90s anymore, when Russia was weak and unable to oppose the Western powers." The first deputy chairman of the Russian Committee for Defence and Security told the state run Russia Today (RT) TV channel: It is ironic that Western officials constantly accuse Russia of some imaginary aggression, whilst themselves expressing such trigger-happy views on nuclear weapons." He added: If the threat is directed against Russia or China then it is a simple fact that Britain will not be able to withstand an appropriate response from another nuclear power. In view of the recent modernization of the Russian military, such claims are simply unprofessional." British politicians like Mr Fallon must stop using "militarist and Russophobic rhetoric" in attempts to "look tough before the general election", he said. His warning came after Mr Fallon claimed the UK would be willing to "use nuclear weapons as a first strike... in extreme circumstances". Mr Klintsevich said it was inadvisable to use the threat of nuclear war as a political pawn. In 60 seconds: Fallon refuses to give Trident test details The senior senator recently made headlines in the UK with his warning that Britain, which has around 215 nuclear warheads to Russia's estimated 7,000, would be "literally erased from the face of the earth" if it genuinely launched a strike against Russia. Those remarks were also made in response to sabre-rattling by Mr Fallon, who visited Estonia to inspect the biggest deployment of heavy armour to the Black Sea region since the end of the Cold War. UK General Election 2017 Show all 47 1 /47 UK General Election 2017 UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street for the 1922 committee on June 12, 2017 in London, England. British Prime Minister Theresa May held her first cabinet meeting with her re-shuffled team today Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 DUP leader Arlene Foster stands alongside deputy leader Nigel Dodds as they hold a press conference at Stormont Castle as the Stormont assembly power sharing negotiations reconvene following the general election on June 12, 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Discussions between the DUP and the Conservative party are also continuing in the wake of the UK general election as Prime Minister Theresa May looks to form a government with the help of the Democratic Unionist parties ten Westminster seats. Stormont and the political situation in Northern Ireland has been in limbo following the collapse of the power sharing executive due to the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme scandal which implicated the DUP Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Priti Patel, International Development Secretary leaves 10 Downing Street Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Larry the Downing Street cat runs ahead of Michael Fallon Britain's Secretary of State for Defence as he arrives for a cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London, Britain, June 12, 2017. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth REUTERS UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Michael Gove, Environment Secretary leaves 10 Downing Street on June 12, 2017 in London, England. British Prime Minister Theresa May held her first cabinet meeting with her re-shuffled team today Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Scottish National Party Leader Nicola Sturgeon (C) leaves after speaking to the media in Parliament Square. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May (C, L) holds the first Cabinet meeting of her new team. Getty UK General Election 2017 11 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May attends church in her constituency with her husband Philip May, a few days after disappointing results in a general election. Rex Features UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn leaves Labour Party HQ this morning, following a general election yesterday. Parliament is hung, with no individual party gaining an overall majority. Post general election reaction. Rex UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JUNE 09: DUP leader and Northern Ireland former First Minister Arlene Foster (C) holds a brief press conference with the DUP's newly elected Westminster candidates who stood in the general election Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 A " Get May Out" demo took place opposite the gates of Downing Street, calling for May to resign, after the shock election results and Mays coalition with the DUP. Rex Features UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 A demonstrator wears a mask depicting Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May, poses with a mock gravestone bearing the words "Hard Brexit, RIP", during a protest photocall near the entrance 10 Downing Street in central London AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the Conservative Party's headquarters in London Reuters UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May flanked by her husband Philip delivers a statement outside 10 Downing Street in central Londo Getty UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May leaves Buckingham Palace in London the day after a general election in which the Conservatives lost their majority Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 A TV cameraman watches the door of 10 Downing Street in London Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is greeted by his Office Director Karie Murphy as he arrives at Labour Party HQ in Westminster, London, after he called on the Prime Minister to resign, saying she should 'go and make way for a government that is truly representative of this country' Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the Conservative Party's headquarters with her husband Philip in London REUTERS/Peter Nicholls UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Ukip leader Paul Nuttall speaks during a press conference at Boston West Golf Club where he announced that he is standing down as party leader Joe Giddens/PA UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, leaves the counting centre for Britain's general election with her partner Jen Wilson in Edinburgh, Scotland REUTERS/Russell Cheyne UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale celebrates with candidate for Edinburgh South Ian Murray as he retains his seat at the Meadowbank Sports Centre counting centre in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to the media at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, as counting is under way for the General Election Andrew Milligan/PA Wire UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson at Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh, as counting is under way for the General Election PA UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon reacts at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland EPA UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, arrives at the Labour Party's Headquarters in London REUTERS/Marko Djurica UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall leaves in a car following the vote count for the constituency of Boston and Skegness in Boston, England Anthony Devlin/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 British Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Theresa May speaks at the declaration at the election count at the Magnet Leisure Centre in Maidenhead, England. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 8 June 2017 A policer officer enters a polling station in London AP UK General Election 2017 8 June 2017 A woman leaves after casting her vote at the Hove Museum and Art Gallery near Brighton, in southern England Getty UK General Election 2017 8 June 2017 A polling station sign is seen on a telephone box outside the polling station at Rotherwick Hall, west of London Getty UK General Election 2017 7 June 2017 A woman walks past a general election display in the window of a betting shop in Camden on June 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. Britain goes to the polls tomorrow, Getty Images UK General Election 2017 7 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May visits Atherley Bowling Club during an election campaign visit on June 7, 2017 in Southampton, England. Britain goes to the polls tomorrow June 8 to vote in a general election. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 A supporter wears a pair of Jeremy Corbyn decorated tights at a general election campaign event in Birmingham, central England, on June 6, 2017. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to vote in a general election only days after another deadly terror attack in the nation's captial. AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 A picture taken in London, shows election leaflets from various parties displayed ahead of the United Kingdom's general elections. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to vote in a general election only days after another terrorist attack on the nation's capital AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 Election workers, George Gaunt and Luca Tragid deliver the first ballot boxes, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh AFP UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May meets with Conservative party supporters during an election campaign visit to a bakery during an election campaign visit on June 6, 2017 in Fleetwood, north-west England. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to vote in a general election only days after another terrorist attack on the nation's capital Getty Images UK General Election 2017 5 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during a general election campaign visit to a removals depot in Edinburgh AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 3 June 2017 Pro-Independence supporters hold a march through Glasgow AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 3 June 2017 Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn campaigns for the upcoming general election in Beeston, Nottinghamshire AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 3 June 2017 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn reacts to supporters after a rally at Beeston Youth and Community Centre as he visits the East Midlands during the final weekend of the General Election campaign on June 3, 2017 in Nottingham, England. If elected in next week's general election Mr Corbyn is pledging to create a million new jobs and to scrap zero-hours contracts Getty Images UK General Election 2017 1 June 2017 Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party leader Ruth Davidson joins a selection of Scottish Conservative election candidates and activists during campaigning on May 1, 2017 in South Queensferry, Scotland. With only seven days to go until the general election on June 8th, polls are showing the SNP out in front and the Conservatives set to close in on Labour. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 29 May 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May canvasses in Richmond with Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith on May 29, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. After suffering defeat in the London Mayoral election Zac Goldsmith resigned over the Government's position on Heathrow expansion. He stood as an Independent but lost in a by-election to the Liberal Democrats. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to elect a new parliament in a general election Getty Images UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron poses for a selfie taken by carer April Preston during a General Election campaign visit to the Barlow Medical Centre, in Didsbury, Manchester Yui Mok/PA UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks at an election campaign event in Wrexham, Wales Reuters UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, and Labour's former deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, exit the party's general election campaign 'battle' bus as they arrive at an event in Kingston upon Hull, northern England Getty Images UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn walks with supporters between venues, before speaking again at another general election campaign event in Kingston upon Hull, northern England Getty Images UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 An anti-fox hunting protester is taken away and arrested by police outside the venue where Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May was due to launch the Welsh Conservative general election manifesto at Gresford Memorial Hall in the village of Gresford, near Wrexham, North Wales, on May 22, 2017. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to elect a new parliament in a general election AFP/Getty Images The Conservative politician used the trip to launch an aggressive tirade against Vladimir Putin and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. But Mr Klintesevich has now sounded a cautionary note, declining to endorse a specific British political party as he said: "Russophobic political theatre has unfortunately become an indispensable part of election campaigns in the West." He added: Calling the leader of the opposition a collaborationist simply because he expressed a different point of view from the establishments militarist stance vis-a-vis Russia is utterly inappropriate and counterproductive. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Fortunately for Ukip, its new policies on compulsory genital inspection for Muslim teenagers and the ban on face coverings had already been announced earlier in the week (much to the irritation of the British Beekeepers Association). So the fact that, at its official campaign launch in London on Friday morning, much of the press that had arrived to cover it had to be kettled in the bar of the Marriott County Hall Hotel, was not as grave a disaster as it might otherwise have been. Seven activists from Unite Against Racism had arrived half an hour before the event was due to start, very thinly disguised as journalists. But they inadvertently kicked off their direct action 20 minutes before the event itself began, taking a brave stand against an unoccupied lectern and a large number of empty seats. The press conference went ahead, but with the press mostly locked out, while Westminster Marriott Hotel staff awaited the arrival of the police to come and evacuate the interlopers who had by now relocated their sit-in to the outside corridor. Unite against racism! they chanted, interrupted only intermittently by French tourists asking the way to the London Eye. Recommended Ukip candidate who called Islam evil faces potential deselection When Mr Nuttall eventually made it, he pledged that Ukip would be the backbone that would prevent backsliding on Brexit from the Conservatives. Theresa Mays inevitable massive majority would, he said, leave her with enough lobby fodder not to have to deliver on the harder aspects of hard Brexit that Ukip so desire specifically, no transition arrangement that might prevent a massive reduction in immigration numbers taking place with immediate effect. Ukip goes into this snap election determined to hold the Governments feet to the fire on Brexit, he said. We will act as the Governments backbone in these negotiations. If voters elect a Ukip MP, they can be sure it will be a true Brexiteer. Mr Nuttall will declare which constituency he intends to stand in on Saturday, with adviser and MEP Patrick OFlynn saying pack your bucket and spade, in reference to suspicions it will be iBoston amd Skegness. Victory there would require a 5 per cent swing toward the party from the Conservatives, who won the seat in 2015, at a time when the polls have done precisely that but in the opposite direction. When Mr Nuttall was elected Ukip leader in November 2016, he deliberately sought to relaunch the party to take seats from Labour in the North, something he himself tried and failed to do at a by-election in Stoke-on-Trent in February. Answering questions after the speech, Nuttall said he would not resign if Ukip failed to win any seats. Would I resign? I dont think I would, because I think Ukip has a fantastic future ahead, he said. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Barack Obama has drawn criticism for accepting an invitation to speak at a Wall Street conference for almost half a million dollars. The former President will receive $400,000, equal to his annual pay as President, for a speech at Cantor Fitzgerald's healthcare conference as a keynote speaker in September. Mr Obama's fee is nearly twice as much as Hillary Clinton has charged private companies for similar events. The former President, who called bank CEOs fat cats in the opening weeks of his administration, has come under fire for the Wall Street speech since reports first emerged earlier in the week. Bernie Sanders has said he thinks it is unfortunate Mr Obama opted to receive the fee and argued the decision signifies the profound influence big business has on the political system. I think it just speaks to the power of Wall Street and the influence of big money in the political process, the Democrat Vermont senator told Bloomberg. I think its unfortunate. President Obama is now a private citizen and he can do anything he wants to but I think its unfortunate. You have the former president of Goldman Sachs is now the chief financial advisor for President Trump, and then you have this, so I think its unfortunate. Michelle Obama as the First Lady Show all 11 1 /11 Michelle Obama as the First Lady Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Michelle Obama as the First Lady Getty Senator Elizabeth Warren has also expressed her reservations, saying she was troubled by the speaking fee. I was troubled by that, Warren said on SiriusXM's Alter Family Politics during an appearance to promote her new book. One of the things I talk about in the book is the influence of money. I describe it as a snake that slithers through Washington. And that it shows up in so many different ways here in Washington. Meghan McCain, a Fox News host, went a step further and called Mr Obama a dirty capitalist for agreeing to speak at the investment firm. The great irony is that Saint Obama, who is supposed to representing everything that is good and utopian on the left, is actually a dirty capitalist like the rest of us, McCain, who is the daughter of Republican Senator John McCain, said. While Mr Obama is said to have signed a contract for the event, the company is reported to be waiting to finalise arrangements with the Chicago native before making a formal announcement. Recommended Man arrested after reportedly stalking and proposing to Malia Obama Eric Schultz, senior advisor to President Obama, defended the President in a statement sent earlier in the week and challenged the notion hefty speaking fees compromise the former Presidents principles. As we announced months ago, President Obama will deliver speeches from time to time, he told The Independent. Some of those speeches will be paid, some will be unpaid, and regardless of venue or sponsor, President Obama will be true to his values, his vision, and his record. He recently accepted an invitation to speak at a health care conference in September, because, as a President who successfully passed health insurance reform, its an issue of great importance to him. With regard to this or any speech involving Wall Street sponsors, Id just point out that in 2008, Barack Obama raised more money from Wall Street than any candidate in history and still went on to successfully pass and implement the toughest reforms on Wall Street since FDR. And while hell continue to give speeches from time to time, hell spend most of his time writing his book and, as he said in Chicago this week, focusing his post-presidency work on training and elevating a new generation of political leaders in America. Mr Obama, who left the White House almost 100 days ago, took to the stage in Chicago for his first public appearance since Donald Trumps inauguration on Monday. Returning to the city he launched his political career in, he revealed his first post-White House project would focus on urging the next generation to become more politicised and civically engaged. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The argument that even an "immaterial" error on official paperwork can justify deportation, put forward by the Trump administration in a recent Supreme Court case, would be sufficient to deport the President's wife, Melania. The First Lady of the United States reportedly failed to disclose earnings from nearly two months of illegal work in the USA on a visitor's visa, and subsequently failed to mention the offence on immigration documents. A Serbian woman was recently deported for failing to disclose her husband's history in the military, thus setting a technical precedent for deporting Ms Trump, as Slate reports. Trump appears to check who Melania votes for In 1996, Ms Trumpthen Knausswas paid for modelling work undertaken in the United States while travelling on a tourist visa, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press. This violated her terms of entry. The first lady allegedly earned more than $20,000 (16,000) in the seven weeks before she acquired legal permission to work. She went on to apply for a green card in 2001 and became a naturalised US citizen in 2006 without disclosing any past indiscretions. Despite the recent revelations about her career history, however, she seems unlikely to face deportation. By contrast, Diva Maslenjak faced summary deportation when it emerged she lied about her husband's service in a Bosnian Serb military unit when securing US citizenship in 2007. Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Show all 18 1 /18 Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The 12th-century castle dominates Sevnica old town Getty Images Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The old town has a beautiful riverside setting Getty Images Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town 'White House' slippers in Sevnica castle Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The annual salami festival, the Salamiada Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Sevnica was a nondescript town before Melania hit the big time AFP/Getty Images Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Sevnica butchers take their sausage-making skills seriously Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Only men are allowed in the Salamiada Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town As American as.... a Sevnica apple pie Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town There are no plans to make a Donald pie Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The slippers featured in a recent fashion show AFP/Getty Images Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The castle is one of the top tourist sites in town Getty Images Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Melanija cake has gone down a storm AFP/Getty Images Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The smart house still owned by Melania's parents Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town They live in America but visit occasionally Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town The communist block of flats in which Melania grew up Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Melania skin cream, for a presidential complexion Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town First lady chocolates, dusted with gold Nick Redmayne Sevnica: Melania Trump's home town Even locals can't get enough of the Melanija cake Nick Redmayne She arrived in the United States as a refugee in 1999, fleeing persecution as a Serb living in Bosnia. She claimed her husband had never served in the army, but this was proven to be false and she was deported. Under new rules brought in by the Trump administration last month, immigration officials are required to prioritise the removal of any foreign national who has engaged in fraud or wilful misrepresentation in connection with any official matter or application before a government agency. Defending this stance during a Supreme Court case which challenged the ruling against Ms Maslenjak as unconstitutional, Justice Department lawyer Robert Parker suggested a minor 20-year-old offence such as driving at 60mph in a 55mph zone 20 years previously could be enough to reverse an entire citizenship decision. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The intelligence and security agencies in the US played a key role in Donald Trumps election victory and they may yet be the ones who bring down this most extraordinary of presidents in recent American history. Hillary Clinton could well have been in the White House now had it not been for James Comey. She was riding high when the FBI Director announced, just days before polling, that the investigation into the former Secretary of States use of her email account was being reopened. Soon afterwards Mr Comey stated that nothing untoward had been discovered against Ms Clinton. But the damage had been done by then her campaign lost momentum while that of Mr Trump solidified. While effectively sabotaging the Democrat campaign, Mr Comey helped Mr Trumps by failing to reveal that an investigation into links between Mr Trump and Moscow, with evidence mounting, had been ongoing for months. There were accusations that the FBI had tried to hide the Trump inquiry while focusing on Ms Clinton. Among those who claimed this to be the case was Christopher Steele, a former MI6 officer who produced a report on Mr Trumps Kremlin links for the Democrats, and subsequently passed on incriminating information on Mr Trump and his associates to the FBI without any action being seemingly taken. The New York office in particular appeared to be on a crusade against Ms Clinton. Some of its agents had a long working relationship with Rudy Giuliani, by then a member of the Trump campaign, since his days as public prosecutor and then Mayor of the city. Two days before Mr Comey made his bombshell announcement about the Clinton reinvestigation, Mr Giuliani, part of the Trump team, talked about a surprise or two youre going to hear about in the next few days. Weve got a couple of things up our sleeve that should turn things around. But Mr Trump cannot shake off the allegations that he was the Muscovite Candidate. Russia has been the dominant theme in the first 100 days of the presidency, raising fundamental questions even about his legitimacy in office. The Kremlins long reach, reads the charge sheet, ranges from cyber-attacks on Democratic Party computers to the funding of the Republican candidates election campaign. There are now FBI and Congressional investigations into Mr Trumps Moscow connections. The President has tried to dismiss them in his endless rambling tweets and tried to deflect attention with false claims such as that he had been wiretapped on the orders of President Obama. There have, in addition, been attempts to stop important witnesses from testifying. But the inquiries continue. Mr Trump is now at loggerheads with the intelligence community. The antipathy of many of them towards him has been hardened by episodes such as his behaviour when he visited the CIA headquarters. Standing in front of the Memorial Wall a place of reverence in the Agency Mr Trump boasted about the fictitious size of his inaugural crowd and his own intellect: And then they say, Is Donald Trump an intellectual? Trust me, Im like a smart person. Former CIA director John Brennan let it be known that he was deeply saddened and angered at Donald Trumps despicable display of self-aggrandisement in front of CIAs Memorial Wall of agency heroes. Mr Trump should be ashamed of himself. Meanwhile, even senior figures in the Trump administration, including Defence Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, have acknowledged Moscows interference in the US election. Mr Tillersons own Kremlin connections have been questioned. He forged close ties with Russia during his 40 years of work for Exxon Mobil, and he worked on projects with the Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft. He is said to be close to its head Igor Sechin, a close confidant of Vladimir Putin. In 2013 the Kremlin awarded him the Order of Friendship. Senior Republicans like Senator John McCain had questioned whether Mr Tillerson was a fit person for his job with his close Russia ties. There have been questions, in particular, about Mr Sechin, who was named in the Steele report as one of the senior Kremlin officials who had met members of the Trump team before the election. There are, however, others in the team who are under more intense scrutiny than Mr Tillerson. There has already been a high-profile casualty, Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, who resigned as Mr Trumps national security advisor after just three weeks over his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the US. Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Show all 33 1 /33 Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first 100 days in office were marred by a string of scandals, many of which caught the eye of the Independent's cartoonists Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Trump's first 100 days have seen him aggressively ramp up tensions with his nuclear rivals in North Korea Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has warned of a "major, major conflict" with the pariah nation lead by Kim Jong Un Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump dropped the "mother of all bombs" on alleged ISIS-linked militants in Afghanistan, amid an escalation of US military intervention around the globe Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has been accused of falling short of the standards set by his predecessors in the Oval Office, including Franklin D Roosevelt Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The tycoon's ascension to the White House came at a time when the balance of power is shifting away from Western nations like those in the G7 group Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Western politicians, including the British Conservative party, have been accused of falling in line behind Mr Trump's proposals Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Brexit is seen to have weakened Britain, reducing still further any political will to resist American leadership Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump's leadership has been marked by sudden and unexpected shifts in global policy Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Trump's controversial missile strike on Syria, which killed several citizens, was seen by some analysts as an attempt to distract from his policy elsewhere Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The President has also spent a large majority of his weekends golfing, rather than attending to matters of state Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Though free of gaffes, a visit from Chinese president Xi Jinping spotlighted trade tensions between the two states Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons One major and unexpected setback came when Mr Trump's Healthcare Bill was struck down by members of his own party Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has been a figure of fun in the media, with his approval at record lows Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons A string of revelations about Mr Trump's financial indiscretions did not mar his surge to the White House Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Outgoing President Barack Obama was accused of wiretapping Trump Tower by his successor in America's highest office Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The alleged involvement of Russian intelligence operatives in securing Mr Trump the presidency prompted harsh criticism Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The explosive resignation of Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who lied about his links to the Russian ambassador, was just one scandal to hit the President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Many scandals, such as the accusation Barack Obama was implicated in phone-hacking, first broke on Mr Trump's Twitter feed Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's election provoked mass protests in the UK, with millions signing a petition to ban him from the country Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump cited a non-existent terror attack in Sweden during a campaign rally Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump stands accused of stoking regional tensions in Eastern Asia Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons North Korea has launched a number of failed nuclear tests since Mr Trump took power Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Theresa May formally rejected the petition calling for Mr Trump to be banned from the UK Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons When Mr Trump's initial so-called Muslim ban was struck down by a federal justice, the President mocked the 69-year-old as a "ridiculous", "so-called judge" Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons A week after his inauguration, Theresa May met with Mr Trump at the White House Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first days in office were marked by a hasty attempt to follow through on many of his campaign promises, including the so-called Muslim ban Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's decision to ban citizens of many majority-Muslim countries from the US sparked mass protests Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Revelations about Donald Trump's sexual improprieties were not enough to keep him from being elected President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons British PM Theresa May was criticised by many in the press for cosying up to the new President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons One of Mr Trump's top aides, Kelly Anne Conway, was mocked for describing mistruths as "alternative facts" Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons British PM Theresa May was quick to demonstrate that her political aims did not hugely differ from Mr Trump's Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's inauguration, on 20 January 2017, sparked protests both at home and abroad Lt Gen Flynn was accused of lying to Vice President Mike Pence over his insistence that he had not discussed against Russia with Sergey Kislyak. It transpired later that he was under investigation by the Pentagon for allegedly accepting Russian payment during trips to Moscow. He was to go on to admit working as a foreign agent, receiving money while representing the Turkish government in a dispute with the United States. Lt Gen Flynn resigned on the same day Barack Obama announced sanctions against Russia for attempting to influence the presidential election, and hours after Mr Trump had expressed full confidence in his National Security Advisor. Lt Gen Flynn has subsequently offered to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee in return for immunity from prosecution an offer the Committee has so far rejected. Paul Manaforts resignation as Mr Trumps campaign manager came before the election. He had filled the same role with Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraines former president, an ally of Mr Putin who is now in exile in Russia after being overthrown in the Maidan protests. It was money he received in his Ukrainian job which led to him leaving the Trump team, although he appears to have remained an influential voice behind the scenes. There are now fresh allegations that Mr Manafort received vast sums in suspicious payments from Mr Yanukovych. Prosecutors in Kiev want to question Mr Manafort and say they have requested the assistance of Mr Comey in doing so. It is seen as a sign of the Trump administrations nervousness about what may unfold that it appears to be trying to distance itself from Mr Manafort. In a recent briefing to journalists, the White House spokesman Sean Spicer brought up Mr Manaforts name unprompted, and claimed, to general incredulity, that he played a very limited role, very limited amount of time in the presidential campaign. Trump's first 100 days in numbers The same kind of damage limitation is being tried with Carter Page, who Mr Trump had formerly described as a foreign policy advisor and Mr Spicer now wants to stress was not really a major part of the campaign. According to Mr Steele and others who have provided information to the FBI, Mr Page had discussed intelligence being held by Russia on Ms Clinton with a senior Kremlin official and the issue of ending sanctions against Moscow with Mr Sechin. He also allegedly met a Russian intelligence operative, Victor Podobny, in 2013 and offered to provide him with documents about the energy industry. The FBI obtained a warrant under the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to carry out surveillance on Mr Page as the suspected agent of a foreign power. Mr Page says that his civil rights have been violated and he is the real victim of a conspiracy. As investigations continue into Mr Trump, conspiracy is a recurring theme among his supporters. They warn of a coup being planned by the deep state of the establishment and the intelligence services to unseat an elected President. Mr Trumps many enemies, meanwhile, hope that the investigations will lead to eventual impeachment of the President they loathe. What the intelligence and security agencies uncover, or fail to do, in the weeks and months ahead will shape the fate of the Trump presidency. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Survivors of 1981's El Mozote massacre are closer than ever to justice after the reopening of an investigation, which started 25 years ago, into the army-led killing of about 1,000 people. The massacre is a horrific symbol of the unaccountability for atrocities in El Salvador's civil war. The killings went unpunished because of an amnesty law that from 1993 prohibited prosecution of crimes from the war, which between 1980 and 1992 claimed 75,000 lives and led to more than 8,000 disappearances. Bodies of El Mozote victims rotted outdoors and many were devoured by animals, while others were buried or burned by soldiers involved in the operation. Survivors could not bury their dead or find closure in justice. But in 1991, Argentine forensic experts began helping to disinter remains to identify the victims, forgotten by politicians and society during decades of official silence. So far they have gathered remains of 400 people, and this year in January their work attracted special attention on the 25th anniversary of El Salvador's 1992 peace accords. Eustaquio Martinez has spent more than half his life searching for the remains of his wife and six children, executed in December 1981 by an army battalion, along with roughly 1,000 unarmed civilians in El Mozote and other parts of Morazan, a district 200 kilometers northeast of San Salvador, the capital. Some of (my) little ones were shot, some had their throats cut, the 65-year-old Martinez said, sobbing as he told Reuters how the soldiers killed his family under the shade of a mango tree. He was spared because he was on a trip at the time. Their killers accused them of collaborating with the communists from the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), currently the ruling government party. Justice for the victims of El Mozote Show all 11 1 /11 Justice for the victims of El Mozote Justice for the victims of El Mozote A cup found at an exhumation site in the village of El Mozote Reuters Justice for the victims of El Mozote Maria Julia Chavarria and Antonio Chavarria pose for a photograph holding a coffin containing the remains of their relatives, Petrona Chavarria and Vilma Ramos, who died in the El Mozote massacre Reuters Justice for the victims of El Mozote An exhumation site in El Mozote Reuters Justice for the victims of El Mozote Objects found at an exhumation in the village of El Mozote are seen in the town of Meanguera, El Salvador Reuters Justice for the victims of El Mozote Relatives participate in the funeral of Petrona Chavarria and Vilma Ramos, who died in the massacre Reuters Justice for the victims of El Mozote People from the village of La Joya carry the remains of their family members, who died in the massacre, prior to their funeral Reuters Justice for the victims of El Mozote A man attends the wake for Teodora Ramirez, who died in the massacre, in the village of La Joya Reuters Justice for the victims of El Mozote Members of the Torres and Ramos families pose for a photograph with the remains of Petrona Chavarria and Vilma Ramos who died in the El Mozote massacre Reuters Justice for the victims of El Mozote Miriam Marquez holds the dress of a relative found in a mass grave on her property during ongoing excavations Reuters Justice for the victims of El Mozote A human skull is unearthed as members of the forensic team and auxiliary workers exhume a grave at the site of the massacre Reuters Justice for the victims of El Mozote Members of the forensic team and auxiliary workers at an exhumation site in the village of La Joya as they search for human remains in the town of Meanguera, El Salvador Reuters Another step toward redress was taken last year when El Salvador's Supreme Court declared the amnesty law unconstitutional. The investigation was reopened and a court began a case against 18 soldiers who were called to testify in March. Salvadoran legal records show only one lawsuit, filed in 1990, over the killings. The investigation has given hope to Martinez and 60 other families seeking justice for their loved ones in El Salvador. In a report by a UN-backed Truth Commission, several military officials were accused of being involved in what the government at the time termed a counterinsurgency operation. One of them was General Jose Guillermo Garcia, defence minister between 1979 and 1983. Garcia, 82, was deported last year from the United States where he had lived since 1989, and brought to court in March to answer questions about El Mozote. He is also wanted in respect to other crimes such as the 1980 murder of San Salvador Archbishop Oscar Romero and four American churchwomen. In December, vice-president Oscar Ortiz and other senior officials joined in the annual commemoration of the El Mozote massacre. Twenty-one small white coffins filled with bones were buried in the local cemetery amid speeches, songs and candles. What we want is justice, said 58-year-old Jose Marquez, who lost his parents and siblings in the massacre. The people who did this some of them died but others are alive and they're still free. Reuters Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A female caretaker has been charged with raping a 16-year-old schoolboy. After reportedly harassing and pursuing the boy in person and via Facebook, 29-year-old Jessica Galyon allegedly led him into a classroom and took his virginity. She was arrested in February by Tennessee police, and charged with sexual battery by an authority figure, aggravated statutory rape and statutory rape by an authority figure, according to The Knoxville News. The Roane County Schools district and contractor which employed her now face paying out $4.5m (3.4m) in damages. The lawsuit brought by the boy's parents cites "unsolicited, unwanted and unwelcome" sexual advances dating back to August last year, when they first met at Midway High School. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty After insisting he add her on Facebook and give her his phone number, Ms Galyon allegedly plied the teen with "flirtatious and sexual messages". Though the boy asked her to stop, according to the lawsuit, in September Ms Galyon invited him to visit her in a hotel room so they could sleep together. She then allegedly took him into a classroom and subjected him to what the lawsuit describes as "the first ever sexual encounter of any kind that [the boy] had ever had in his life." Ms Galyon reportedly attempted to cover up the crime of which she stands accused, telling her unnamed accuser that she would lose her job, husband and children if he told anyone. The boy then withdrew from school, began home schooling and took up counselling, with the lawsuit suggesting faculty members and classmates teased him about his relationship with Ms Galyon. One male staff member reportedly told the boy he was "jealous" as "he wanted to have sex with Ms Galyon" himself. The lawsuit accuses Roane County Schools and cleaning contractors Compass One of acting "intentionally, willfully, wantonly and/or with gross negligence in failing to recognize and/or stop the sexual misconduct of Galyon." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has warned about a "major, major conflict" between the US and North Korea, saying a catastrophic confrontation with the isolated state was "absolutely" possible. In an interview ahead of his 100th day in office, the President said he was committed to resolving the diplomatic crisis peacefully. But he added: There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely. Speaking to the Reuters news agency, Mr Trump said the actions by Pyongyang were his biggest global worry. He also lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in North Korea, saying he was a very good man who he had got to know very well. "I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it, Mr Trump said. Asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to be rational, the Republican billionaire said: "He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. In pictures: North Korea military drill Show all 8 1 /8 In pictures: North Korea military drill In pictures: North Korea military drill North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video "I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational. On Wednesday, the Trump administration declared North Korea "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority". It said it was focusing on sanctions and diplomatic pressure but that military strikes remained an option. However, any direct US military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and US forces in both countries. Additional reporting Reuters Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Today, Donald Trump has been in the White House for 100 days a milestone for all US presidents and a marker at which it has become normal to reflect on the leader's promises, failures, achievements and perceived U-turns. Last night, Mr Trump addressed the powerful National Rifle Association, the country's leading gun lobby group which endorsed his candidacy and donated millions to his campaign. He was the first sitting president to address the NRA since fellow Republican Ronald Reagan in 1983. Mr Trump used the speech yesterday to revisit some of his election campaign themes, including his vow to build a border wall with Mexico, dismissing a Democratic senator as Pocahontas, and perhaps unsurprisingly, resurrecting his unexpected election victory in November over Hillary Clinton. Addressing the crowd in Atlanta, Mr Trump reiterated his support for the second amendment. We have news that youve been waiting for for a long time, he told the 80,000 crowd. The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end. You have a true friend and champion in the White House. Democratic politicians responded swiftly. Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who was injured in a in a 2011 shooting in Tucson, said that country needs a president who is serious about preserving the rights of gun owners while also finding solutions to gun violence. Senator Chris Murphy, whose home state paid witness to one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history, began tweeting out photos of children killed by gun violence. Turn off cable. Don't watch [Mr Trump]'s NRA speech. Instead, think about who we are fighting for, the senator tweeted. Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Show all 33 1 /33 Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first 100 days in office were marred by a string of scandals, many of which caught the eye of the Independent's cartoonists Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Trump's first 100 days have seen him aggressively ramp up tensions with his nuclear rivals in North Korea Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has warned of a "major, major conflict" with the pariah nation lead by Kim Jong Un Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump dropped the "mother of all bombs" on alleged ISIS-linked militants in Afghanistan, amid an escalation of US military intervention around the globe Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has been accused of falling short of the standards set by his predecessors in the Oval Office, including Franklin D Roosevelt Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The tycoon's ascension to the White House came at a time when the balance of power is shifting away from Western nations like those in the G7 group Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Western politicians, including the British Conservative party, have been accused of falling in line behind Mr Trump's proposals Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Brexit is seen to have weakened Britain, reducing still further any political will to resist American leadership Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump's leadership has been marked by sudden and unexpected shifts in global policy Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Trump's controversial missile strike on Syria, which killed several citizens, was seen by some analysts as an attempt to distract from his policy elsewhere Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The President has also spent a large majority of his weekends golfing, rather than attending to matters of state Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Though free of gaffes, a visit from Chinese president Xi Jinping spotlighted trade tensions between the two states Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons One major and unexpected setback came when Mr Trump's Healthcare Bill was struck down by members of his own party Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has been a figure of fun in the media, with his approval at record lows Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons A string of revelations about Mr Trump's financial indiscretions did not mar his surge to the White House Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Outgoing President Barack Obama was accused of wiretapping Trump Tower by his successor in America's highest office Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The alleged involvement of Russian intelligence operatives in securing Mr Trump the presidency prompted harsh criticism Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The explosive resignation of Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who lied about his links to the Russian ambassador, was just one scandal to hit the President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Many scandals, such as the accusation Barack Obama was implicated in phone-hacking, first broke on Mr Trump's Twitter feed Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's election provoked mass protests in the UK, with millions signing a petition to ban him from the country Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump cited a non-existent terror attack in Sweden during a campaign rally Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump stands accused of stoking regional tensions in Eastern Asia Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons North Korea has launched a number of failed nuclear tests since Mr Trump took power Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Theresa May formally rejected the petition calling for Mr Trump to be banned from the UK Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons When Mr Trump's initial so-called Muslim ban was struck down by a federal justice, the President mocked the 69-year-old as a "ridiculous", "so-called judge" Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons A week after his inauguration, Theresa May met with Mr Trump at the White House Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first days in office were marked by a hasty attempt to follow through on many of his campaign promises, including the so-called Muslim ban Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's decision to ban citizens of many majority-Muslim countries from the US sparked mass protests Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Revelations about Donald Trump's sexual improprieties were not enough to keep him from being elected President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons British PM Theresa May was criticised by many in the press for cosying up to the new President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons One of Mr Trump's top aides, Kelly Anne Conway, was mocked for describing mistruths as "alternative facts" Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons British PM Theresa May was quick to demonstrate that her political aims did not hugely differ from Mr Trump's Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's inauguration, on 20 January 2017, sparked protests both at home and abroad But Mr Trump appeared to have little time for partisan disputes on Friday. Glossing over the failures of his first 100 days in office including a failed attempt to repeal Obamacare, and federal stays on several of his executive orders Mr Trump returned to the sweeping promises characteristic of his campaign. Topping the list was the US-Mexico border wall, which Mr Trump insisted would still be built. We need a wall. Well build the wall, Mr Trump said. Dont even think about it. Dont even think about it. The it to which Mr Trump referred is likely the conspicuous lack of funding for the border wall in this years spending bill. The White House recently caved to Democrats demands that border wall funding be omitted from the 2017 government funding deal. Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the White House would continue to push for funding in the 2018 deal, insisting that the president's priorities had not changed. Mr Trump assured reporters there was plenty of time, to have the wall built. Democrats disagreed. The wall is broadly unpopular in the public. People would rather spend money on other priorities. And theres unified Democratic opposition," Mr Murphy told reporters. None of that changes in September. Moving on from the border wall, Mr Trump returned to a favourite talking point from the election: Islamic terrorism. On the campaign trail, Mr Trump called for a a total and complete shutdown on all Muslims entering the United States, claiming it would increase national security. The resulting policy an executive order blocking the entry of citizens of seven Muslim majority countries was blocked by a federal judge days after it was signed. The order sparked protests and chaos at airports across the country. A second attempt at the ban was also shot down. Trump's most controversial tweets But Mr Trump continued to rail against policies that allow radical Islamic terrorists to enter right through our front door in his speech to the NRA. Thats not going to happen anymore, Mr Trump promised. Perhaps the biggest difference between Mr Trumps speeches on the campaign trail and his speech on Friday was the acknowledgment that he had, in fact, won the election. Almost 200 days since his victory, Mr Trump couldnt resist opening with a play-by-play that night, ticking off various states hed won: Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania. All the way up; we ran up the East Coast! Mr Trump recalled. ...What fun that was, November 8. Wasnt that a great evening? Recommended Meet the family man deported by Donald Trump after 19 years in US Demonstrating the remarkable shift that occurred since that fateful night, Mr Trump listed off the numerous Republicans gathered around him on Friday: Florida Governor Rick Scott, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, Senator David Perdue, and even his former rival, Senator Ted Cruz (Like, dislike, like, Mr Trump said of his changing opinion of the Texas senator). It is not the only time that Mr Trump has harked back to his former glories in recent days, having paused midway through an interview with Reuters to hand out copies of the latest figures from the 2016 electoral map. Here, you can take that, that's the final map of the numbers, the president told his interviewers, handing out maps of the United States with areas he won marked in red. It's pretty good, right? In that same interview, he appeared to wistfully reflect on his previous life as a businessman. Mr Trump said he loved his previous life and had so many things going. He said his new role is more work than in my previous life," adding, "I thought it would be easier. The president also lamented his loss of privacy, describing life in the White House as being in your own little cocoon. Despite the fond memories of his life as a private citizen, Mr Trump seemed right at home onstage at the NRA conference. Addressing the organisation that donated millions of dollars to his first campaign, Mr Trump even appeared to be laying the groundwork for his second. I have a feeling that in the next election youre going to be swamped with candidates, but youre not going to waste your time, Mr Trump told the NRA members. ...You came through for me, and I am going to come through for you. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump spent a great portion of 2016 insisting that being president would be easy - at least for him. HuffPost compiled a number of examples of him dismissing the problems that accompany the job as being easily dispatched. Building a wall on the border with Mexico is easy. Beating Hillary Clinton would be easy. Renegotiating the Iran deal would be easy. Paying down the national debt would be easy. Acting presidential? Easy. To a reporter from Reuters this week, though, Trump had a slightly different assessment of the presidency. "I love my previous life. I had so many things going. This is more work than in my previous life," Trump said. "I thought it would be easier. I thought it was more of a . . . I'm a details-oriented person. I think you'd say that, but I do miss my old life. I like to work so that's not a problem but this is actually more work." It wasn't the first time that Trump copped to the job being trickier than he anticipated. In November, NBC News reported that Trump had told former House speaker Newt Gingrich that "This is really a bigger job than I thought." (Gingrich's response? ". . .good. He should think that.") Then there are individual issues. "Nobody knew health care could be so complicated," he said at one point. At another, he revealed that it took a conversation with the president of China to realize that the situation on the Korean peninsula was "not so easy." Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Show all 33 1 /33 Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first 100 days in office were marred by a string of scandals, many of which caught the eye of the Independent's cartoonists Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Trump's first 100 days have seen him aggressively ramp up tensions with his nuclear rivals in North Korea Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has warned of a "major, major conflict" with the pariah nation lead by Kim Jong Un Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump dropped the "mother of all bombs" on alleged ISIS-linked militants in Afghanistan, amid an escalation of US military intervention around the globe Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has been accused of falling short of the standards set by his predecessors in the Oval Office, including Franklin D Roosevelt Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The tycoon's ascension to the White House came at a time when the balance of power is shifting away from Western nations like those in the G7 group Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Western politicians, including the British Conservative party, have been accused of falling in line behind Mr Trump's proposals Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Brexit is seen to have weakened Britain, reducing still further any political will to resist American leadership Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump's leadership has been marked by sudden and unexpected shifts in global policy Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Trump's controversial missile strike on Syria, which killed several citizens, was seen by some analysts as an attempt to distract from his policy elsewhere Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The President has also spent a large majority of his weekends golfing, rather than attending to matters of state Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Though free of gaffes, a visit from Chinese president Xi Jinping spotlighted trade tensions between the two states Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons One major and unexpected setback came when Mr Trump's Healthcare Bill was struck down by members of his own party Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has been a figure of fun in the media, with his approval at record lows Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons A string of revelations about Mr Trump's financial indiscretions did not mar his surge to the White House Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Outgoing President Barack Obama was accused of wiretapping Trump Tower by his successor in America's highest office Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The alleged involvement of Russian intelligence operatives in securing Mr Trump the presidency prompted harsh criticism Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The explosive resignation of Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who lied about his links to the Russian ambassador, was just one scandal to hit the President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Many scandals, such as the accusation Barack Obama was implicated in phone-hacking, first broke on Mr Trump's Twitter feed Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's election provoked mass protests in the UK, with millions signing a petition to ban him from the country Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump cited a non-existent terror attack in Sweden during a campaign rally Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump stands accused of stoking regional tensions in Eastern Asia Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons North Korea has launched a number of failed nuclear tests since Mr Trump took power Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Theresa May formally rejected the petition calling for Mr Trump to be banned from the UK Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons When Mr Trump's initial so-called Muslim ban was struck down by a federal justice, the President mocked the 69-year-old as a "ridiculous", "so-called judge" Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons A week after his inauguration, Theresa May met with Mr Trump at the White House Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first days in office were marked by a hasty attempt to follow through on many of his campaign promises, including the so-called Muslim ban Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's decision to ban citizens of many majority-Muslim countries from the US sparked mass protests Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Revelations about Donald Trump's sexual improprieties were not enough to keep him from being elected President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons British PM Theresa May was criticised by many in the press for cosying up to the new President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons One of Mr Trump's top aides, Kelly Anne Conway, was mocked for describing mistruths as "alternative facts" Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons British PM Theresa May was quick to demonstrate that her political aims did not hugely differ from Mr Trump's Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's inauguration, on 20 January 2017, sparked protests both at home and abroad There's an element of surprise in Trump's comments, a hint of bafflement that having responsibility for the welfare of 320 million people entwined in a global economy and international relationships might end up being trickier than running a real estate and branding shop from midtown Manhattan. One group that probably wasn't surprised that Trump wasn't prepared? The majority of Americans. At no point over the course of the 2016 campaign did a majority of Americans think that Trump was qualified for the job of the presidency. Polling from The Post and ABC News shows that views of Trump as unqualified dominated throughout the campaign. The only group that consistently viewed him as qualified to hold the position were the working-class white voters that constituted the core of his support from early in his candidacy. President Donald Trump looks out of a window in the Oval Office (REUTERS) (Reuters) More to the point, polling from CBS News showed that, consistently, Trump was viewed as unprepared for the job. In June, July and September - before, during and after Trump began making his general election case - the majority of Americans thought he wasn't ready to hold the nation's highest position. Asked by CNN and its polling partner ORC, most Americans viewed Clinton as more prepared than Trump by a wide margin, including among Democrats and independents. A much greater number of Republicans were willing to call Clinton more qualified than Democrats were Trump. Put simply: The majority of Americans didn't think Trump was ready to be president of the United States. Based on his comments about the job being bigger or harder than he thought, that it is more work, it seems safe to say that Trump has also now come to believe that he wasn't prepared for the office. On at least one point, though, he continues to be convincing himself that he's up to the task. In the middle of his interview with Reuters, Trump paused to pass out copies of a map he had on hand. The map showed the United States, colored with the results of the 2016 election. "It's pretty good, right?" he asked the Reuters team. Beating Clinton, as it turned out, was indeed easier than most people had expected. Washington Post Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} President Donald Trump is expected to sign another executive order to greatly expand offshore drilling in parts of the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific oceans just before his first 100 days in the White House come to a close. The expected action would essentially set the course for a reversal of restrictions put into place by former President Barack Obama, a move that has already angered environmentalists and cheered the oil and gas industry up. Past administrations have been overly restrictive of offshore energy exploration, a White House official said. The order directs a review of the locations available for offshore oil and gas exploration and of certain regulations governing offshore oil and gas exploration. Recommended Donald Trump says he will renegotiate Nafta deal rather than terminate The executive order will instruct the Interior Department to take a look at the policies put into place by Mr Obama, who signed off on the most recent drilling lease period that ends in 2022 in November, restricting offshore drilling on the entire Atlantic and much of the Arctic Ocean. The expected order is just the latest in several attacks on Mr Obamas climate change and environmental policies. He signed an executive order asking the Interior to consider whether it should eliminate or modify dozens of national monuments made by Mr Obama to protect the environment. Mr Trump has also ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to review Mr Obamas Clean Power Plan, which was a major component of his effort to curb American greenhouse gases. Were going to look at everything, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told reporters earlier this week. A new administration should look at the policies and make sure the policies are appropriate. 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 Environmentalists said that the risks involved in offshore drilling, which were put on full display by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, werent worth the risk of further exploration. It is very clear that the communities on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts dont want and dont need offshore leasing or drilling, Mike LeVine, a senior Pacific counsel for the conservation group Oceana, told Bloomberg. It is equally clear that President Trump is prioritising politics and corporate interests ahead of our coastal communities and good stewardship of our ocean resources. But the oil and gas industry is ready and willing to drill in new areas. Oil prices are at a relatively low point right now, at $50 a barrel, but rising prices could make new exploration profitable again. Weve been advocating for expanded access to domestic energy resources for years, Erik Milito, the upstream director at the American Petroleum Institute, told the Hill. When you want to pursue an effective, long-term energy strategy, its important to make sure that youre creating opportunities through a predictable, long-term schedule so that the industry can determine whether we have the additional resources that can help fuel our economy. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump is splitting up families. After 19 years living and working in the US, paying taxes and raising a family, Mario Hernandez Delacruz was deported to a country he had not seen for two decades. His daughter, Estrella Garcia, and one of her younger sisters, drove him to the airport in the familys Jeep Wrangler where he caught a flight to Mexico. On the way, they talked about their plan to carry on appealing his right to live in the US; on the way home, there were just tears. Mr Delacruz has been forced to leave his family in Michigan (Courtesy of family) My mother has been so depressed. My two sisters aged 15 and 12 cannot concentrate at school. Ive had to carry on because Im now the head of the family, says Ms Garcia, seated in the familys modest home in south west Detroit. I dont think [Trump] cares. He just wants to get out people he doesnt think belong here. As Mr Trump marks 100 days in the White House, the impact of his executive orders on immigration are reverberating across the country. Citizens from six Muslim-majority countries were told they could no longer enter the US, the nations refugee programme was suspended, and agents from US Customs and Border Protection have been raiding homes and business and deporting people deemed to be illegal. Mr Trump had originally said his priority was deporting those undocumented migrants who had broken the law. But in Detroit and elsewhere, people who have lived in the country for decades and who have no criminal record are being detained and deported. Agents have been arresting people in courthouses and even as they leave church-operated cold weather shelters. My father had no criminal record. He worked, he volunteered in the community, and two of his children are US citizens, says 23-year-old Ms Garcia. Now, Dad is in Cancun with his mother and she is living in poverty. He calls every day and he says it's bad. Hes not allowed to apply to come here for 10 years And neither my mother or myself can go there. Mr Delacruz, 44, entered the US illegally in 1998. He had grown up in Tabasco in southern Mexico. He crossed with wife, Matilde, and Ms Garcia, who was then aged just five. Her only memory of the journey is of being carried by her father and another man. How Trump's immigration orders are affecting communities in Detroit In Michigan, Mr Delacruz worked as a carpenter and flooring specialist. He had two other daughters, Lucero and Diana, and was a member of the United Hispanic Pentecostal Church, located a couple of streets from their home. He also volunteered with a local organisation, Michigan United, which works to help poor families, many of them immigrants. The groups executive director, Ryan Bates, says the issuance of the Presidents executive orders was a moment when people in the community came together to fight in a way that was unprecedented. There were protests and rallies involving various faiths and communities. One event involved a march from a Latino Catholic church to a neighbourhood mosque. What is at stake is not just immigration policy, but the vision for our country. Are we going to be a place where everyone has an equal political voice? asks Mr Bates. Because, for more than 200 years, weve not been that. It took generations of struggle to bring in people. But Trump wants to turn back the clock to a time when only people who looked like me were full citizens. Cindy Garcias husband, Jorge, is also in a perilous situation. He came to the US in 1989 when he was aged just nine or ten. His parents are still in the country illegally, while Mr Garcia lives in a legal grey zone, permitted to remain by the authorities for now, but at risk of deportation. Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Show all 33 1 /33 Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first 100 days in office were marred by a string of scandals, many of which caught the eye of the Independent's cartoonists Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Trump's first 100 days have seen him aggressively ramp up tensions with his nuclear rivals in North Korea Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has warned of a "major, major conflict" with the pariah nation lead by Kim Jong Un Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump dropped the "mother of all bombs" on alleged ISIS-linked militants in Afghanistan, amid an escalation of US military intervention around the globe Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has been accused of falling short of the standards set by his predecessors in the Oval Office, including Franklin D Roosevelt Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The tycoon's ascension to the White House came at a time when the balance of power is shifting away from Western nations like those in the G7 group Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Western politicians, including the British Conservative party, have been accused of falling in line behind Mr Trump's proposals Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Brexit is seen to have weakened Britain, reducing still further any political will to resist American leadership Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump's leadership has been marked by sudden and unexpected shifts in global policy Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Trump's controversial missile strike on Syria, which killed several citizens, was seen by some analysts as an attempt to distract from his policy elsewhere Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The President has also spent a large majority of his weekends golfing, rather than attending to matters of state Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Though free of gaffes, a visit from Chinese president Xi Jinping spotlighted trade tensions between the two states Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons One major and unexpected setback came when Mr Trump's Healthcare Bill was struck down by members of his own party Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has been a figure of fun in the media, with his approval at record lows Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons A string of revelations about Mr Trump's financial indiscretions did not mar his surge to the White House Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Outgoing President Barack Obama was accused of wiretapping Trump Tower by his successor in America's highest office Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The alleged involvement of Russian intelligence operatives in securing Mr Trump the presidency prompted harsh criticism Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The explosive resignation of Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who lied about his links to the Russian ambassador, was just one scandal to hit the President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Many scandals, such as the accusation Barack Obama was implicated in phone-hacking, first broke on Mr Trump's Twitter feed Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's election provoked mass protests in the UK, with millions signing a petition to ban him from the country Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump cited a non-existent terror attack in Sweden during a campaign rally Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump stands accused of stoking regional tensions in Eastern Asia Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons North Korea has launched a number of failed nuclear tests since Mr Trump took power Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Theresa May formally rejected the petition calling for Mr Trump to be banned from the UK Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons When Mr Trump's initial so-called Muslim ban was struck down by a federal justice, the President mocked the 69-year-old as a "ridiculous", "so-called judge" Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons A week after his inauguration, Theresa May met with Mr Trump at the White House Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first days in office were marked by a hasty attempt to follow through on many of his campaign promises, including the so-called Muslim ban Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's decision to ban citizens of many majority-Muslim countries from the US sparked mass protests Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Revelations about Donald Trump's sexual improprieties were not enough to keep him from being elected President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons British PM Theresa May was criticised by many in the press for cosying up to the new President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons One of Mr Trump's top aides, Kelly Anne Conway, was mocked for describing mistruths as "alternative facts" Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons British PM Theresa May was quick to demonstrate that her political aims did not hugely differ from Mr Trump's Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's inauguration, on 20 January 2017, sparked protests both at home and abroad Were very frightened because we fear he could be taken at any time, says Mrs Garcia, a US citizen. She says that since Mr Trumps executive orders, people are feeling more vulnerable, even though her husbands legal battle dates back more than a decade. She says they have two children, a 14-year-old daughter, Soleil, and 11-year-old Jorge Jr, who are also US citizens. She says her husband works and pays taxes. She cannot understand why the authorities would want to threaten him. Mr Garcia says that if he were to return to Mexico, he would struggle. It would be like going to a country I dont know because things have changed, he says. Ive not been back since I came here. Mr Trump made a crackdown on undocumented migrants a major part of his election campaign and has vowed to build a wall along the Mexican border. While his executive orders relating to a travel ban have been put on hold by the courts, two other orders one that tightens border security and another focused on enforcement inside the US are impacting on communities. Estrella Garcia drove her father to the airport when he left the country (Andrew Buncombe ) (Andrew Buncombe) During his address to the joint houses of Congress in February, Mr Trump announced: As we speak, we are removing gang members, drug dealers, and criminals that threaten our communities and prey on our citizens. Bad ones are going out as I speak tonight and as I have promised. But as The Intercept pointed out, Mr Trumps immigration crackdown a toughening of a stance that activists said was already draconian under Barack Obama sets as high a priority for people who have abused any programme related to receipt of public benefits as it does for convicted offenders or people who had committed violence. The Trump administration has launched an unprecedented attack on the American idea that we should welcome immigrants and refugees, and build a stronger country in the process, Frank Sharry, executive director of the pro-immigrant Americas Voice Education Fund, told reporters earlier this year. They are using the cover story of bad hombres as a smokescreen for a strategy that declares open season on each and every undocumented immigrant in America. In a statement, US Customs and Border Protection, said: Mario Hernandez-Delacruz, an unlawfully present citizen of Mexico, was ordered removed from the United States after failing to voluntarily depart as ordered by a federal immigration judge in 2012. In an exercise of discretion and prior to his departure, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE) had allowed Mr Hernandez-Delacruz to remain free from custody with periodic in-person reporting. Ms Garcias presence in the US depends on the protection offered to children arriving in the country by DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme. While her two younger sisters are US citizens and can travel freely, she and her mother are unable to leave with any guarantee of being able to re-enter the country. As a result, they are unable to visit their father. She says Mr Delacruz ultimately had five weeks from being told he had to leave, to the journey to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. She tried to spend as much time with him as possible, but he was always busy. His wife cooked him his favourite meals. Now he is in Cancun, she says her father appeared shocked by the poverty his mother was living in there. The immigration officer said he was sorry what was happening but he had a daughter, says Ms Garcia. But I was so angry. I wanted to say You dont know what its like because this is not happening to you. Speaking in a mixture of halting English and Spanish, from his new home in Mexico, Mr Delacruz says the situation is very sad. The situation is bad because Im here and my family is in Michigan, he says. He explains he is obliged to stay in Mexico for ten years before he can apply to return to the US. Is there nothing he can do to change the situation? He replies in the negative. NadaNada. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It appears Donald Trump wont achieve his campaign promise of repealing and replacing Obamacare before his first 100 days in office, as members of Congress direct their attention to averting a government shutdown. The White House has been scrambling to pass a revised health care bill since their first effort crashed and burned. Mr Trump ordered the White House-backed Affordable Health Care Act (AHCA) to be pulled from a House vote last month, after it became obvious there were not enough votes to pass it. Members of the House Freedom Caucus, who many credit with bringing down the original plan, pledged their support for a revised version of the AHCA on Wednesday. The about-face hinged on the addition of a new amendment, allowing states to opt out of covering essential health benefits, and other key Obamacare protections. Recommended House Freedom Caucus announces support for Republican healthcare bill The news sparked renewed calls for a health care vote, at the same time Republicans pushed to move a vote on government funding back by a week. Congress has been working all week on a spending bill to keep the government funded until September. Republicans on Wednesday suggested a continuing resolution that would push the funding vote back by a week. Democrats, however, threatened to oppose the continuing resolution and allow the government to shut down if Republicans scheduled the health care vote. "If Republicans announce their intention to bring their harmful TrumpCare bill to the House Floor tomorrow or Saturday, I will oppose a one-week Continuing Resolution and will advise House Democrats to oppose it as well," Democratic House Whip Steny Hoyer said in a statement. Democrats were surprised by Republicans' ability to put together a deal that satisfied the Freedom Caucus, sources with knowledge of the situation tell The Independent. Delaying the vote will give leadership time to examine and hone their message on what Democrats are calling a "backroom" healthcare deal. 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 Speaker of the House Paul Ryan accused Democrats of dragging their feet on the spending bill on Thursday, but also admitted he likely would not schedule a health care vote for this week. We think its a really good step in the right direction, Mr Ryan said of the health care bill. Were having very productive conversations with our members, and well announce, when we have the votes, when were ready to go. Informal whip counts obtained by Politico on Thursday showed the Republicans were still at least two votes short of passing the bill. The latest version of the plan released by House conservatives looked similar to the initial proposal: The Obamacare insurance mandate would be revoked, and insurance enrollees would be offered a tax refund to offset the cost of their coverage. Crucially, however, states would be allowed to opt out of protections for seniors, those with preexisting conditions, or those who dont maintain their insurance coverage. Multiple outlets reported last week that the White House is pressuring House leaders to get a health care plan passed. Mr Trump faces increasing scrutiny as he approaches the end of his first 100 days of office without a single major legislative win. Asked whether hed like to see a funding bill or health care bill passed within the week, Mr Trump bragged, "I think we'll get both." Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Striking a trade deal with the UK after Brexit is a low priority for the Trump administration, the US commerce secretary has indicated. Wilbur Ross cited the upcoming general election and negotiations between the UK and Europe as complicating factors that made establishing a deal between Britain and the US a low priority. His comments, made to the Wall Street Journal, chime with recent reports suggesting Donald Trump sees establishing a free trade agreement with Europe as more important than establishing a free trade agreement with post-Brexit Britain contrary to claims made by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson earlier this year. Back in January, Mr Johnson claimed the UK was first in line for a free trade deal with the US after the new President took office. He said there would be all kinds of opportunities for a US-UK trade deal during a hastily arranged trip to Washington, where he hailed the incoming administration as bringing with it a very exciting agenda of change. At the time President Trump seemed to back Mr Johnson, saying he wanted to sign a trade deal with Britain quickly because it was "good for both sides". But during the EU referendum campaign, then-President Barack Obama warned exiting the union would send Britain to the back of the queue for a trade deal. Last week, a source close to the White House reportedly told The Times that the Trump administration had come to a realisation that as Mr Obama suggested a deal with the EU was more important to US interests than a post-Brexit deal with Britain. The source claimed Mr Trump changed his mind about prioritising Britain after Angela Merkel convinced him he should strike a deal with the EU first. 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 Just days before Mr Trump's "realisation", senior Republican Paul Ryan told Cabinet ministers the US was ready to forge an agreement with Britain as soon as possible, and would stand alongside its special ally during the Brexit process. At a Policy Exchange event in London, Mr Ryan, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, added: We think it's in everyone's interests to have a strong relationship between Britain and the EU, we want to, as soon as the UK is ready and able, to do a trade agreement, a bilateral trade agreement. But Mr Ross' comments seemed to support the reports of a shift in attitude. Perhaps making excuses for pushing Britian aside, Mr Ross told The Wall Street Journal there could be bandwidth issues during UK-US talks because the countries had not negotiated a free-trade agreement in a long, long time. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} North Korea has test-fired another ballistic missile less than 24 hours after Donald Trump warned of the potential for a major, major conflict with the isolated state. In a clear message of defiance aimed at Washington and its allies, the regime, which has nuclear ambitions, fired a missile early on Saturday morning from a region north of the capital, Pyongyang. The US President, tweeting about the incident, described the launch as "bad" and said it had "disrespected" Chinese leader Xi Jinping - the North's closest ally. "North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!" he wrote. US officials said a medium-range ballistic missile fired by the regime disintegrated mid-flight minutes after launch. They added that the missile was likely to be a medium-range KN-17 ballistic missile, which broke up and fell into the Sea of Japan. It is believed to have been fired at around 1630 [2030 GMT] and did not leave North Korean territory. The White House is understood to be considering increased economic sanctions on North Korea in the wake of the latest test. The US may also increase its naval deployments to the region. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff also confirmed the test had failed, while Japan condemned the action as absolutely unacceptable and said it was a violation of UN resolutions. In pictures: North Korea military drill Show all 8 1 /8 In pictures: North Korea military drill In pictures: North Korea military drill North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video North Korea has tested a variety of ballistic missiles, with shorter-range missile firings routine, but there is growing concern about longer range ballistic tests. Saturday's launch comes at a point of particularly high tensions, with Mr Trump taking a hardline with Pyongyang. On Thursday, the President said he was committed to resolving the diplomatic crisis peacefully. But he added: There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely. The test also came as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned the United Nations that failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes could lead to "catastrophic consequences". For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The United States will seek talks with North Korea over the reclusive state's nuclear weapons programme, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said. He is meeting with key allies Japan and South Korea before chairing a ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council. It comes after President Donald Trump warned a "major, major conflict" between the two countries was "absolutely" possible. Mr Trump has ramped up international tensions in recent weeks after declaring he would solve the North Korea problem with or without China's help. During a visit to Seoul last week, Vice-President Mike Pence declared that the "era of strategic patience" was over and "all options" were being considered. This is a departure from the Obama era policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation. In the address, Mr Tillerson is due to discuss the steps the US believes are needed to "further isolate" Pyongyang to get it to halt nuclear and missile testing. Donald Trump warns major, major conflict with North Korea is absolutely possible North Korea has remained belligerent about its nuclear programme despite repeated warnings from the international community. On Thursday the state propaganda arm released footage of simulated attacks on the White House and US aircraft carriers, declaring "the enemy to be destroyed is in our sights". A US Pacific Commander told the House Armed Services Committee that Pyongyang could soon develop long-range missiles capable of striking the US. Admiral Harry Harris said: "Just as Thomas Edison is believed to have failed 1,000 times before successfully inventing the light bulb, so, too, Kim Jong-un will keep trying". Earlier on Friday US ambassador to the UN's Committee on Disarmament, Robert Wood, told reporters North Korea was the greatest threat to the 47-year-old Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. He said the US will be "focused like a laser" on a meeting of the treaty's signatories next week in Vienna, Austria. The US expects a "strong course of condemnation" from attendees, he added. In pictures: North Korea military drill Show all 8 1 /8 In pictures: North Korea military drill In pictures: North Korea military drill North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video The diplomatic call comes after weeks of escalation by the US after Mr Trump announced an "armada" of US navy ships, including aircraft carrier USS Vinson, were to sail to North Korean waters. Meanwhile, Seoul and Washington continued with plans to implement the joint THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea despite protests from Beijing which said it could potentially threaten it. China has indicated it is more willing to discuss sanctions against Pyongyang, the Kim regime is economically dependent on it, despite its previous reluctance to destabilise its neighbour. Beijing fears an influx of refugees on the border and regards North Korea as a useful buffer as South Korea currently hosts nearly 30,000 US military personnel. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The President of Austria has called for all women to wear headscarves in solidarity with Muslims to fight rampant Islamophobia. Alexander Van der Bellen, the left-wing former Green Party leader who narrowly beat a far-right candidate to take office in January, said freedom of expression was a fundamental right. It is every womans right to always dress how she wants, that is my opinion on the matter, he told an audience of school pupils. And it is not only Muslim women, all women can wear a headscarf, and if this real and rampant Islamaphobia continues, there will come a day where we must ask all women to wear a headscarf all out of solidarity to those who do it for religious reasons. Mr Van der Bellen was responding to a question from a schoolgirl who argued a ban on Islamic headscarves or veils would reduce women to their appearance, rather than accomplishments, and shut some out of the labour market. His comments were made in March but emerged after being broadcast on Austrian television, amid debate in the country and neighbouring Germany about burqa bans. A spokesperson said that following Isis-linked terror attacks across Europe, Mr Van der Bellen would like to see Muslim representatives in Austria make clearer statements emphasising that the atrocities could not be justified within Islam. Right-wing candidate defeated in Austrian presidential election He also warned against racism from the other side, giving the example of a Muslim taxi driver refusing to take Orthodox Jews, a statement said, adding: This is absolutely unacceptable. The Presidents office said he believed prohibitions were only justified in select circumstances, such as for female judges, where religious dress could raise questions over their professional neutrality. Mr Van der Bellen would apply any restrictions to all religious symbols equally, including Christian crosses and Jewish kippas. Despite the Presidents left-wing background, the Austrian government is a coalition between the centrist Social Democratic Party and conservative Austrian People's Party. The populist Freedom Party of Austria has pushed for policies including a partial ban on full-face Islamic veils in courts, schools and other public places, which was announced in January. The partial prohibition, which has not yet come into effect, would apply to the niqab and burqa but not headscarves (hijabs), which cover the hair and neck only. But the government also agreed to prevent police officers, judges, magistrates and public prosecutors from wearing headscarves in the interest of appearing ideologically and religiously neutral. Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Show all 10 1 /10 Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Migrants walk in a long line along the highway near Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015 AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Migrants walk on the railway tracks between Bicske and Szar, some 40 km west of Budapest, Hungary, 04 September 2015 EPA Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria The destination for most of those walking is reportedly Austria AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Most refugees have come to Hungary through the southern border with Serbia AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria People walk in a long line along the highway near Budapest, Hungary AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees walk along Budaorsi Street on their way out of Budapest EPA Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees hold up an EU flag as they on the highway out of Budpest AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees exit Budapest AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Hundreds of migrants walk after leaving the transit zone of the Budapest main train station AFP Thousands of people took Viennas streets to protest the proposed legislation, which was dismissed as a knee-jerk reaction to appease the far-right as the coalition floundered. Debates over restrictions on Islamic veils have reignited in Europe following a wave of terror attacks and the refugee crisis, which sparked concern over integration. The German parliament voted in support of a draft law banning women working in the civil service, judiciary and military from wearing the burqa and niqab on Thursday. Thomas de Maiziere, the German interior minister, argued that the ban was compatible with integration, which means that we should make clear and impart our values and where the boundaries of our tolerance towards other cultures lie. Angela Merkel announced her support for the move in December, saying full-face veils were not acceptable in Germany and calling them to be banned wherever it is legally possible. Dutch MPs voted for a similar prohibition in the Netherlands last year, covering public transport, education, healthcare and government buildings and punishing any infractions with fines. Support for bans on full-face veils has been growing across Europe since France became the first country to implement such a law in 2011, followed by countries including Belgium and Bulgaria, with partial bans being imposed in Austria and parts of Spain, Italy and Switzerland. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Tusk has warned that the British Government must settle the issues of people, money and Ireland before negotiating its future relationship with the EU. The European Council President said the UK must honour its financial obligations to the union, including a divorce bill of up to 60bn (50bn), before talks over trade agreements. Negotiations about future relations can only start once we have achieved sufficient progress on key exit issues, Mr Tusk said, adding: In other words, before discussing our future, we must first sort out our past. The warning came before leaders of the remaining 27 EU nations meet on Saturday to agree their negotiating strategy for Brexit. Mr Tusk was referring to issues of free movement and residency rights for EU citizens, as well as discussions over the strength of the border between Northern Ireland and the European Republic. He said his approach was not only a matter of tactics, but given the limited time-frame we have to conclude the talks it is the only possible approach. Donald Tusk outlines EU guidelines for Brexit talks In a letter to EU leaders, Mr Tusk wrote: Only once we collectively determine in the European Council that sufficient progress has been made on all these issues, will we be in a position to hold preparatory talks on the future relationship with the UK. I would like us to unite around this key principle during the upcoming summit, so that it is clear that progress on people, money and Ireland must come first. And we have to be ready to defend this logic during the upcoming negotiations. Angela Merkel also insisted the issues of residency, the divorce bill and the Irish border must be dealt with before a future relationship can even be discussed. Without progress on the many open questions of the exit, including the financial questions, it makes no sense to have parallel negotiations, the German Chancellor said on Thursday. In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier listens at the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty Images In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, delivers his speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg EPA In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcomming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Michel Barnier, European Chief Negotiator for Brexit reacts during a meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg EPA In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Member of the European Parliament and former leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage wears socks with Union Jack flag at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty Images In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Nigel Farage, United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) member and MEP, addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcoming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier gestures during speeches at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions The President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker (L) speaks with European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcomming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivers a speech during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions The European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France Getty Images She accused the British Government of working under illusions over the UKs future status, adding: A third-party state, and thats what Britain will be, cannot and will not have at its disposal the same rights, or be in a better position than members of the European Union. Theresa May has called for talks on a future trade deal with the EU to take place at the same time as divorce negotiations on Brexit, but her plans have been dashed by European leaders. The European Parliament has also poured cold water on the Governments claims the UK can remain in the single market and customs union. In the letter that officially triggered Article 50, the Prime Minister said the UK wants to agree a deep and special partnership with remaining members of the EU to ensure economic and security cooperation. Discussions over the future border in Ireland, which includes the possibility of a hard barrier with checkpoints and customs posts, have coincided with the collapse of a power-sharing agreement in Belfast. Despite fresh regional elections in March, Irish nationalists and unionists have failed to agree a deal to form a new executive ahead of a new deadline on 29 June. Additional reporting by agencies Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} European leaders have said Northern Ireland could easily rejoin the EU after Brexit if it votes for Irish reunification. In a move that may anger unionists, diplomats are reportedly preparing to ask the other 27 EU members to endorse the idea at a summit on Saturday. Although Sinn Fein has campaigned for a united Ireland since the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922, the predominantly Protestant residents of Northern Ireland have remained against it. This tension led to the militancy of the IRA and the Troubles for three decades before the signing of the Good Friday agreement in 1998. Under the terms of the agreement both Britain and Ireland are committed to holding a referendum on the subject if there is a popular will for reunification within Northern Ireland. The theory is that it will be similar to the reunification of East and West Germany after the end of the Cold War in 1990. The move would prevent the return of a hard border between the two countries a serious fear among people in Northern Ireland who believe it would increase the risk of violence in the country. But increased talk of Irish reunification has stoked fears in Westminster about the potential break up of the UK under the stress of Brexit. 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 Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already called for a new independence referendum after the country voted overwhelmingly for Remain. She argued that the Brexit vote constitutes a material change in Scotlands circumstances within the union which would justify a fresh vote under the terms of the Edinburgh agreement signed by David Cameron and Alex Salmond in 2014. The meeting in Brussels will lay out the formal adoption of EU guidelines for exit negotiations with the UK. The leaders are expected to take tough opening stances on certain issues such as the rights of EU migrants within the UK and the future of Gibraltar as well as Northern Ireland. The other EU leaders are keen not to appear to go too easy on the UK as it leaves for fear that it may encourage the Eurosceptics in their own countries to push for a referendum. Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny has called for a commitment to a united Ireland to be included in the final Brexit treaty. But a UK government source rejected the move for Irish reunification, telling the Financial Times: Northern Irelands constitutional position as part of the UK is based firmly and clearly on the freely given consent of its people. The UK government has consistently upheld the principle of consent regarding Northern Irelands future. It is clear that the majority of the people of Northern Ireland continue strongly to support the current political settlement, including Northern Irelands continuing position within the UK. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The man appointed to replace Marine Le Pen as leader of the far-right Front National party has quit the job after just three days over accusations he denied the existence of gas chambers in the Second World War. Ms Le Pen stepped down temporarily as chairwoman of her party on Monday night, claiming it would allow her to represent better the interests of "all French people" in the presidential race. But Jean-Francois Jalkh, the party's vice president and an MEP who was named interim leader at least until the end of the campaign, has decided to turn down the role, Ms Le Pen's partner and spokesman Louis Aliot told French radio station RMC on Friday. The U-turn comes after an interview dating back to April 2000 resurfaced, in which Mr Jalkh allegedly made comments denying the use of Zyklon B gas in Nazi gas chambers, Le Monde reports. I think we should be able to discuss this problem [of gas chambers], Mr Jalkh is quoted as saying before describing the work of Holocaust denier Robert Faurisson, who was previously convicted for complicity in contesting the existence of crimes against humanity, as serious and rigorous. According to the French newspaper, he went on to say the use of Zyklon B gas for mass extermination was technically impossible. Mr Jalkh said he had no recollection of the interview and that the accusations were totally unfounded. But Magali Boumaza, a professor at the Galatasaray University in Istanbul, Turquie, who carried out the interview, said she had proof in notebooks and on a tape recording of Mr Jalkhs comments. Despite Ms Le Pen's efforts to "de-demonise" the party and move away from the reputation of her father Jean-Marie Le Pen and his views on the Holocaust, the issue has come back to haunt her only a week away from the French elections second round vote on 7 May. Speaking to RMC, Mr Aliot said: Jean-Francois Jalkh has refused his mission as interim president. He wants to defend himself and file a legal complaint. 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 In an interview with BFM TV, Ms Le Pens campaign manager David Rachline, said the accusations were an attack on his [Mr Jalkh] honour and the affair had been completely fabricated. The mayor of the Front National northern stronghold Henin-Beaumont, Steve Briois, will assume the responsibilities of the partys presidency until the end of the presidential campaign. Ms Le Pen has previously made clear her political differences with her father and repeatedly condemned his comments on the Holocaust. Last year, Mr Le Pen, who has been convicted twice since 1987 for comments about the Second World War, was fined 30,000 for saying gas chambers were a detail of the Second World War. One poll shows support for centrist Emmanuel Macron, who will face Ms Le Pen in the final round, has slipped below 60 per cent for the first time since mid-March. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The German parliament has supported a draft law banning women working in the civil service, judiciary and military from wearing full-face Islamic veils. Burqas and niqabs will be prohibited in selected professions as part of the legislation, which will not come into effect until being approved by the Bundesrat state parliament. Thomas de Maiziere, the German interior minister, argued that the ban was compatible with integration as debate continues over the arrival of more than a million asylum seekers in the country. Integration also means that we should make clear and impart our values and where the boundaries of our tolerance towards other cultures lie, he said. The draft law we have agreed on makes an important contribution to that. Some right-wing politicians have called for a full ban on the burqa in public, which has been imposed in France and Belgium, but Mr de Maiziere said the move would be incompatible with Germanys constitution. Angela Merkel calls for burqa ban 'wherever legally possible' in Germany The new law will require government employees to show their faces, as well as giving authorities the power to check womens identities in elections. It was opposed by politicians from the left-wing Die Linke and Die Grunen parties, who dismissed the legislation as a purely symbolic policy pandering to the right-wing Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) ahead of Septembers elections. Critics argued that burqa-wearing soldiers and officials do not actually exist, making the new rules redundant, and said they will worsen tensions. Angela Merkel announced her support for the move in December, saying full-face veils were not acceptable in Germany and calling them to be banned wherever it is legally possible. She is bidding for her fourth term as Chancellor, battling a rise in support for the anti-immigration AfD, which has blamed her decision to open Germanys borders to refugees in 2015 for a series of Isis-inspired terror attacks. Concerns about integration have also risen following the arrival of more than a million asylum seekers, who are mainly from Syria and other countries in the Middle East. The state of Bavaria brought in its own burqa ban in February, prohibiting full-face Islamic veils in schools, polling stations, universities and government offices. Refugees settle in Germany Show all 12 1 /12 Refugees settle in Germany Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, plays with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, in the one room they and Mohamed's wife Laloosh call home at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany A refugee child Amnat Musayeva points to a star with her photo and name that decorates the door to her classroom as teacher Martina Fischer looks on at the local kindergarten Amnat and her siblings attend on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The children live with their family at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian asylum-applicant Mohamed Ali Hussein (R), 19, and fellow applicant Autur, from Latvia, load benches onto a truckbed while performing community service, for which they receive a small allowance, in Wilhelmsaue village on October 9, 2015 near Letschin, Germany. Mohamed and Autur live at an asylum-applicants' shelter in nearby Vossberg village. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Ali Hussein ((L), 19, and his cousin Sinjar Hussein, 34, sweep leaves at a cemetery in Gieshof village, for which they receive a small allowance, near Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, looks among donated clothing in the basement of the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to Mohamed, his wife Laloosh and their daughter Ranim as residents' laundry dries behind in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asya Sugaipova (L), Mohza Mukayeva and Khadra Zhukova prepare food in the communal kitchen at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Efrah Abdullahi Ahmed looks down from the communal kitchen window at her daughter Sumaya, 10, who had just returned from school, at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asylum-applicants, including Syrians Mohamed Ali Hussein (C-R, in black jacket) and Fadi Almasalmeh (C), return from grocery shopping with other refugees to the asylum-applicants' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat (2nd from L), a refugee from Syria, smokes a cigarette after shopping for groceries with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, and fellow-Syrian refugees Mohamed Ali Hussein (C) and Fadi Almasalmeh (L) at a local supermarket on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. All of them live at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian refugees Leila, 9, carries her sister Avin, 1, in the backyard at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to them and their family in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Somali refugees and husband and wife Said Ahmed Gure (R) and Ayaan Gure pose with their infant son Muzammili, who was born in Germany, in the room they share at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity, and are waiting for authorities to process their application for asylum 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany German Chancellor Angela Merkel pauses for a selfie with a refugee after she visited the AWO Refugium Askanierring shelter for refugees in Berlin Getty Images Joachim Herrman, Bavarias interior minister, said the burqa and niqab were not compatible with Germanys communication culture and were needed to maintain government neutrality. A culture of open communication with one another is part of the free and democratic understanding of Christian values, he added. Communication happens not only via language but also via looks, facial expressions and gestures. It forms the foundation for our interactions with each other and is the basis of our free and democratic order. A poll last year showed that 81 per cent of Germans supported a ban on the burqa within public institutions. Dutch MPs voted for a similar prohibition in the Netherlands last year, covering public transport, education, healthcare and government buildings and punishing any infractions with fines. Support for bans on full-face veils has been growing across Europe since France became the first country to implement such a law in 2011, followed by countries including Belgium and Bulgaria, with partial bans being imposed in Austria and parts of Spain, Italy and Switzerland. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jean-Marie Le Pen has claimed a remembrance ceremony honouring a French police officer killed in a terror attack publicly exalted same-sex marriage. The Front National founder, who was expelled from the party over anti-Semitic remarks, took aim at an emotional eulogy delivered by Xavier Jugeles husband as his daughter battles for the French presidency. The 88-year-olds latest remarks came as Marine Le Pen was engulfed in yet another scandal, which has seen her replacement as party leader stepping down amid accusations of holocaust denial. Mr Le Pen said in a video posted on his website that he was astonished by the speech watched by Francois Hollande and hundreds of gathered dignitaries, police officers and members of the public. It seemed to me that there was something dubious about this ceremony, he said. The long speech he made in some way institutionalised gay marriage, exalted it publicly, and that shocked me a bit. I think this domestic peculiarity should be kept away from this kind of ceremony, which itself would gain more discretion. Etienne Cardiles described how he left his husband sleeping to go to work on what seemed like a normal day on 20 April. They discussed their holiday plans throughout the day, before Mr Jugele fell silent amid news of a shooting in Paris. He was shot dead on the Champs Elysees after a man armed with a Kalashnikov opened fire on his police van in an attack claimed by Isis. Mr Jugele had also been among the officers deployed to the Bataclan during the groups November 2015 attacks, returning to the concert hall for its reopening to celebrate life. Xavier Jugele, a French police officer who was shot dead by a gunman on the Champs Elysees on 20 April (Flag/Twitter) When the first messages were issued that a serious incident was taking place on the Champs-Elysees, and that a policeman had lost his life, a little voice inside told me that it was you, Mr Cardiles said. I returned home that evening without you, with an extreme and profound pain that maybe one day will weaken, I dont know. Addressing his husbands killer, suspected Isis supporter Karim Cheurfi, he added: You will not have my hatred. I do not feel it because it is not like you, Xavier. Because it doesnt correspond with anything that made your heart beat, nor what made you a police officer. A life of joy and smiles in which love and tolerance were your uncontested masters. You lived like a star, you leave like a star. The legalisation of gay marriage in France was one of the flagship policies of outgoing President Francois Hollandes five years in office, a move that was popular with many people in France but controversial with a large conservative section of society. Mr Le Pen was an outspoken opponent of the law, being quoted as describing homosexuality as a biological and social anomaly. Following a lengthy public spat with his daughter, he was expelled from the Front National in 2015 for describing Nazi gas chambers as a detail of history. Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Show all 23 1 /23 Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police officers secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees. One police officer has been killed, and a second injured by a gunman on The Champs Elysees Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police officers block the access of a street near the Champs Elysees in Paris after a shooting in which one police officer was killed and another wounded. The attacker was killed in the incident on the world famous boulevard that is popular with tourists Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police officers control passersby near the Champs Elysees in Paris after a shooting. One police officer was killed and another wounded today in a shooting on Paris's Champs Elysees, police said just days ahead of France's presidential election. The attacker was killed in the incident on the world famous boulevard that is popular with tourists. Getty Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees People run away after a shooting at the Champs Elysees in Paris Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees French people hold their hands in the air after a shooting in which a police officer was killed along with the attacker and another police officer wounded in an attack on the Champs Elysees in Paris EPA Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Bystanders are frisked by police officers near the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris, France, after a fatal shooting in which a police officer was killed along with an attacker AP Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees People hold their hands up as they walk towards police officers before being controlled near the site of a shooting at the Champs Elysees in Paris. France's interior ministry said the attacker was killed after opening fire on police in the early evening on the world-famous boulevard Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police look through binoculars as officers secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees A tourist is blocked by French soldiers next to the Champs Elysee Avenue during ongoing police operations after a shooting in which two police officers were killed along with their attacker and another police officer wounded in a terror attack near the Champs Elysees in Paris, France EPA Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees A tourist is blocked by French soldiers next to the Champs Elysee Avenue during ongoing police operations after a shooting in which two police officers were killed along with their attacker and another police officer wounded in a terror attack near the Champs Elysees in Paris, France EPA Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees French Police officers, after a shooting in which two police officer were killed along with their attacker and another police officer wounded in an attack near the Champs Elysees in Paris, France EPA Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Forensic experts and police officers examine evidence from a police van on the Champs Elysees in Paris, France, after a fatal shooting in which a police officer was killed along with an attacker AP Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police investigators inspect the car used by the attacker on the Champs Elysees Avenue after a policeman was killed and two others were wounded in a shooting incident in Paris, France Reuters Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees A French soldier patrols on the Champs Elysees in Paris after a shooting. One police officer was killed and another wounded today in a shooting on Paris's Champs Elysees, police said just days ahead of France's presidential election. France's interior ministry said the attacker was killed in the incident on the world famous boulevard that is popular with tourists Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police officers patrol near the site of a shooting at the Champs Elysees in Paris Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees French military secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees French military secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees in Paris, France Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees One police officer has been killed, and a second injured by a gunman on The Champs Elysees Getty Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police officers secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees Police secure the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees. Getty Images Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, flanked by Interior Minister Mathias Fekl and Justice Minister Jean-Jacques Urvoas, speaks to the media outside the Elysee Palace after a defense council meeting in Paris, France EPA Gunman attack on the Champs-Elysees A damaged window is pictured on the Champs Elysees boulevard in Paris AP Meanwhile, Ms Le Pen is languishing in opinion polls ahead of the decisive vote against centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron, after years of attempting to gain popular support by cleansing the Front Nationals anti-Semitic and xenophobic image. She temporarily stood down as party leader this week, claiming the move allowed her to concentrate on a presidential campaign above party politics, but they have continued to damage her chances. Her expected replacement in the Front National, vice president Jean-Francois Jalkh, abruptly resigned over allegations which he strongly denies that he was a Holocaust denier. Ms Le Pens partner Louis Aliot said the politician would take legal action over the claims and wants to defend himself. Steeve Briois, another of the partys four vice presidents, is taking Mr Jalkhs place after allegations emerged over a conversation with a researcher in 2005. He is said to have described the work of Holocaust denier Robert Faurisson, who was previously convicted for complicity in contesting the existence of crimes against humanity, as serious and rigorous. In the run-up to her bid for power, Ms Le Pen has sought to recast the Front National as a nativist, or French first party that opposes immigration, globalisation and the EU. As she and her party grappled with the latest potentially damaging turn of events, Mr Macron made a campaign visit to a village commemorating the massacre of more than 600 men, women and children by Nazi soldiers in 1944. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Chechen and Russian governments must investigate claims of persecution of gay men and protect LGBT rights, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum has said, as it condemned an alleged campaign of repression reported in Chechnya in recent months. The museum's director, Sara Bloomfield, said: "The Holocaust teaches us what can happen when state-sponsored, group-targeted violence is allowed to go unchecked. The reports about the targeting of LGBT persons in Chechnya combined with statements from Chechen officials seemingly endorsing violence are cause for great concern." Reports suggest Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov wants to "eliminate" the republic's gay community by the start of Ramadan on 26 May, according to the UK Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan. "Human rights groups report that these anti-gay campaigns and killings are orchestrated by the head of the Chechen republic, Ramzan Kadyrov," Sir Alan told Parliament. More than 100 men have been rounded up and detained in secret prisons by authorities on suspicion of being gay in recent weeks, with many beaten and tortured, the Russian investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta claimed. At least four are alleged to have been killed. The Holocaust Memorial Museum recalled the purges of gay people in Nazi Germany during the rule of Adolf Hitler. It said: "Gay men were targeted for persecution because they were viewed to be carriers of a 'contagion' that weakened society and did not contribute to the growth of the 'Aryan' population." Some 100,000 were arrested, with half sent to prison and up to 15,000 sent to concentration camps, it said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Female scholars of Islam have decreed that child marriage should be banned after a rare congress held in Indonesia. Dozens of women from the Muslim-majority country as well as scholars from Saudi Arabia, India and Pakistan gathered for what is believed to be the first major meeting of female clerics in Cirebon, Java, issuing a raft of religious decrees on Thursday after three days of discussions. Among the most important was a fatwa calling on the government to raise the age of marriage for girls from 16 to 18. Mother and Daughter in video message defying fatwa on cycling in public in Iran One in four Indonesian women are married before the age of 18, Unicef data says. The cleric cited studies which show child brides are not allowed to continue studying and half of the marriages end in divorce as reasons for their decision. Female clerics know the issues and obstacles women face, we can take action and do not just wait for the government to protect these children, Ninik Rahayu, the conference organiser, told Reuters. Women in Lebanon protest law allowing rapists to marry their victims to escape punishment Fatwas are not legally binding in Indonesia, but the ruling is expected to be influential upon political representatives. They are usually issued by the highest religious authority, the Ulema Council, which is mostly adjudicated by men. Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Indonesias Religious Affairs Minister, attended this weeks meeting, and said he would take the womens recommendations to the government. This congress succeeded in fighting for justice in the relationship between men and women, he said. Other rulings addressed sexual abuse and environmental destruction - another major issue in the rainforested country. Around 90 per cent of Indonesias 255 million population is Muslim, making it the most populous Muslim country in the world. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Silence is not a specifically Israeli disease. Its a human epidemic. When you dont look well you dont spend too many hours in front of the mirror, Yahuda Shaul, Israel Defence Force (IDF) veteran and founder of Breaking the Silence says. The thing is its more personal here. The walls of silence and denial need to be higher, thicker. Shaul is used to criticism from the Israeli authorities - but this weeks comments from deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely about his anti-occupation NGO, which shares testimonies from IDF soldiers about their service, made waves internationally. Hotovely, a member of the right-wing Likud party in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition, told Army Radio on Wednesday that Breaking the Silence was an enemy of Israel akin to Gaza's militant group Hamas. The struggle for Israel's image is one of the most important struggles we have with foreign entities and Breaking the Silence, based on lies, is trying to besmirch Israel's good name, as well as the IDF's, she said. The deputy ministers remarks came in the wake of a decision from the prime ministers office to cancel planned meetings with visiting German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel. Its not new. Theyve been campaigning for more than a year and a half against human rights organisations, Shaul said. Normalising the settlements and occupation [of the West Bank] is more important than anything else. Gabriels insistence on meeting with Breaking the Silences team and civil rights group BTselem this week led to the swift, furious retaliation from the Israeli government. Yet the German minister decided to go ahead with talks with the NGOs, risking the Israeli governments anger, because the work they do is crucial in Israels current political climate. The country lacks a strong political opposition to right wing policies which would expand Israels presence in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and often, civil society organisations fill the gap. Since US President Donald Trump - widely viewed as far more sympathetic to Israeli interests than his predecessor Barack Obama - entered office, plans for thousands of new settler homes have been approved. The international community views all Israeli construction over the 1967 Green Line as illegal. Despite an official rebuke from the UN at the end of last year, the building continues at an accelerated pace. In a normal society the opposition would fight against the coalition, Shaul says. But were the only opposition that is active at the moment. We disturb the status quo. Breaking the Silence was founded in 2004 in order to discover the gap between the reality which [IDF recruits] encountered in the [occupied] territories, and the silence which they encounter at home," the organisations website reads. People at home, they have no idea what goes in the Territories, what gets done in their name, Shaul says. Our mission is very simple. We just document what we are sent to do. Shaul spent three years in the IDF between 2001 - 2004 for his compulsory military service, first as a infantry combat soldier and then as a deputy sergeant posted in Hebron, at the height of the Second Intifada. Barack Obama uses final interview as President to slam Israeli policy on settlements He grew up in in a family on the political right in Jerusalem, although he takes pains to point out that the terms right and left as Europeans or North Americans understand them do not apply to Israeli society. (Its really all about whether you support settlements or not, he says.) Today his two sisters live in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. I always had doubts and questions. But the thing is, when youre 18 and you get sent to Hebron, you dont really have time to think. For soldiers the military logic, the hierarchy, following orders, thats what sustains it. One of the most pervasive things Shaul, now 34, realised he had grown to hate was the IDF policy of making our presence felt. Detentions, questioning, interrupting Palestinians' right to privacy and freedom of movement were all daily occurrences, he said. Do you know what that entails? They get creative with it, but it can mean almost anything. Arbitrarily entering and searching houses at all times of day and night, 24/7, keeping people constantly on guard, making sure they are afraid and humiliated, he says. Israel: From independence to intifada Show all 7 1 /7 Israel: From independence to intifada Israel: From independence to intifada 26973.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26974.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26975.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26976.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26977.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26985.bin Robert Capa/Magnum Israel: From independence to intifada 26986.bin Robert Capa/Magnum The only way to rule a population that doesnt want you there is fear. And if they get used to your tactics, then you have to step it up. Eventually the families whose lives youd disrupt just become a blur. You become so numb to it its just routine. But by the time I was due to leave and was thinking about becoming a civilian again I didnt think I could go on with my life without doing something about it. When I spoke to others in my unit I realised many of us felt the same and people at home had no idea. Shaul, along with fellow soldiers Avichai Sharon and Noam Chayut, began Breaking the Silence by exhibiting photographs and written accounts of the experiences of 64 soldiers in their unit who had served in Hebron in 2004. Israel had never seen anything like it before - and encouraged by the responses from IDF veterans, politicians and civilians alike, the organisation grew into the well-known group it is today, organising lectures and tours for Israelis to see what daily life is really like in the West Bank as well as providing a platform for anonymous soldier testimonies. Breaking the Silence has critics, many of whom became particularly vocal after it published a report based on the accounts of IDF members who took part in the Gaza War in 2014 - an operation which was internationally condemned for the extensive loss of Palestinian life. The anonymous nature of the accounts also means the NGO faces near-constant accusations of falsifying or sexing up accounts, although Shaul maintains all testimonies from soldiers are arrived at through one-on-one interviews which are not published without thorough research and verification. And yet for every comment like Hotovelys accusing them of being an enemy of the state, Breaking the Silence's leaders maintain their work is based on a deep love for their country and its people. The occupation is the greatest threat to the state of Israel today, and it must end, Shaul says. Im far from the only one who thinks that way; even the ex-head of Mossad said the same. Shaul is also the first to admit it does not look like the Israeli occupation will end any time soon. The struggle may become more difficult. But thats our challenge, he said. All the soldiers there at the moment, they are there on my behalf. And as long as that is the case, we will continue to speak out. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will not stand for a terror corridor on his countrys border with Syria as growing tensions between Turkey and Syrian Kurdish forces threaten to disrupt the US-backed operation to retake Raqqa from Isis. At least 20 Kurdish soldiers were killed in Turkish air strikes on 25 April targeting Yazidi Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) allied sites in Sinjar in Iraq, and the Kurdish Syrian Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in northeast Syria. Since then the YPG and Turkish forces have exchanged mortar fire in the border region, and Kurdish Syrian groups have reported at least ten other incidents they claim are Turkish. Five-year-old boy called Messi kidnapped by Isis and forced to change 'infidel' name Turkey considers the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) separatist movement and its franchises in Syria and Iraq US allies to be terrorist organisations. The hostility between the Turkish state and YPG has long complicated the USs policy in Syrias civil war. Turkey is a Nato ally which alongside the US supports Sunni rebels against President Bashar al-Assad, but has sworn to defeat the YPG, which the US sees as the only ground force effective at fighting Isis. The mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is currently gearing up for an assault on the de facto Isis capital of Raqqa which the YPJ (Womens Protection Units) has threatened to pull out of if the US does not take concrete action on what they say were the illegal strikes earlier this week. While the US expressed deep concern over the attacks, for which the Pentagon said they only received an hours advance notice, the reaction has served only to further anger both the Kurds and Turkey. Kurdish forces do not think the US has gone far enough in condemning the strikes, while Turkey has reiterated that US support for Kurdish militias is damaging for Washington-Ankara relations. In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Show all 11 1 /11 In pictures: Isis' weapons factories In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A mortar round fin manufactured by Isis in Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis rocket components discovered in Gogjali, Mosul, Iraq in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis mortars discovered near Karamlais, Iraq, in November 2016 CAR In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis rocket launch frame in Qaraqosh, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A memo from Isis' COSQC on quality control at a manufacturing facility in Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Electrically-operated initiators manufactured by Isis in forces Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis mortar tubes at a manufacturing facility in Karamlais, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis mortar production facility discovered in Gogjali, Mosul, in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis weapons manufacturing facilities near Mosul in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Stocks of French-manufactured Sorbitol, Latvian potassium nitrate and Lebanese sugar at an Isis weapons factory in Iraq Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A destroyed Isis weapons facility in Qaraqosh, Iraq, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research If the USA or coalition or the US [State department] can only say, We are concerned or we are unhappy [about the Turkish air strikes] then we will not accept this. It means they accept what was done to us, YPJ spokesperson Nesrin Abdullah said in a statement on Wednesday. Until now we have been in a joint struggle with the coalition against Isis terror. We are still involved in that struggle. [But] our people are expecting a response from us... If the coalition does not show a concrete reaction then we will withdraw our forces from Raqqa. They [the US coalition] need to convince our people. We are not anyones stick to beat their enemies with. Operation Wrath of Euphrates to retake Raqqa is designed to dovetail with Operation Inherent Resolve in neighbouring Iraq, which has almost succeeded in clearing the city of Mosul of Isis fighters. The jihadi group has lost almost all its territory thanks mostly to Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga and YPG ground operations backed by intense US-led coalition bombing. Turkey has tried to wrest the US away from reliance on SDF forces, offering 10,000 of its own Turkish-trained local fighters in the fight for Raqqa. The latest attacks on Kurdish targets are widely thought to be an effort to force the YPG to divert troops from Raqqa to defend its interests elsewhere. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The British government has refused to deny that it voted in favour of Saudi Arabia's installation on the United Nations Women's Commission, after the Belgian Prime Minister apologised for his country's role in the secret ballot. A Foreign Office spokesman refused to say how the UK had voted after the oil rich Middle Eastern kingdom had been given a place on the body which is "exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women", according to its website. The country ranks 141/144 for gender equality in the World Economic Forums 2016 Global Gender Gap report - third place from the bottom. Women cannot drive and need permission from a male guardian to travel, work, marry, access healthcare and even leave prison. But it gained the approval of 47 of 54 countries on the UN's economic and social council in a secret ballot earlier this month. At least five European Union states reportedly cast their ballots for the Middle Eastern kingdom, including Belgium, whose Prime Minister Charles Michel said it was a mistake for his nation to vote in favour of putting Saudi Arabia on the body. Mr Michel told the Belgian parliament last week's vote came unexpectedly and that a diplomat was forced into a hasty decision without being able properly to consult with colleagues. "If we could do it again and if we would have the chance to discuss it at government level, I of course would have argued that we not approve this," Mr Michel said. "I regret the vote." Rothna Begum, a women's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch, told The Independent Saudi Arabia's ascension to the commission was "shocking". 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Show all 10 1 /10 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In October 2014, three lawyers, Dr Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, Bander al-Nogaithan and Abdulrahman al-Rumaih , were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for using Twitter to criticize the Ministry of Justice. AFP/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2015, Yemens Sunni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced into exile after a Shia-led insurgency. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition has responded with air strikes in order to reinstate Mr Hadi. It has since been accused of committing war crimes in the country. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Women who supported the Women2Drive campaign, launched in 2011 to challenge the ban on women driving vehicles, faced harassment and intimidation by the authorities. The government warned that women drivers would face arrest. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Members of the Kingdoms Shia minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses All public gatherings are prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as inciting people against the authorities. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2014, the Interior Ministry stated that authorities had deported over 370,000 foreign migrants and that 18,000 others were in detention. Thousands of workers were returned to Somalia and other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses, with large numbers also returned to Yemen, in order to open more jobs to Saudi Arabians. Many migrants reported that prior to their deportation they had been packed into overcrowded makeshift detention facilities where they received little food and water and were abused by guards. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact Amnesty. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for using his liberal blog to criticise Saudi Arabias clerics. He has already received 50 lashes, which have reportedly left him in poor health. Carsten Koall/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Dawood al-Marhoon was arrested aged 17 for participating in an anti-government protest. After refusing to spy on his fellow protestors, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 aged either 16 or 17 for participating in protests during the Arab spring. His sentence includes beheading and crucifixion. The international community has spoken out against the punishment and has called on Saudi Arabia to stop. He is the nephew of a prominent government dissident. Getty A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Saudi Arabia remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office human rights priority country, particularly because of the use of the death penalty, womens rights and restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion or belief. "We do not shy away from raising human rights concerns with the Saudi Arabia authorities." A call from The Independent to the Saudi embassy in London went unanswered. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Qantas has finally announced its long anticipated non-stop service between London Heathrow and Perth. The 17-hour flight, which will cover 9,009 miles, is the first service to go directly to Australia from the UK. To celebrate this achievement, The Independent travel desk shares some of the worst long-haul flight nightmares, from near-death experiences to six-hour delays. Simon Calder, travel correspondent When I step aboard QF10 at Heathrow airport next 25 March for the first UK-Australia passenger flight, the prospect of a flight to Perth lasting 16 hours and 45 minutes will hold no fear for me. Last year, under unusual circumstances, I was incarcerated in a Boeing 787 for 17 hours. The Virgin Atlantic Dreamliner flight for Shanghai left Heathrow after a slight delay for what should have been an overnight flight to Chinas commercial capital, touching down 11 hours later. But as the plane approached the citys Pudong airport, the captain announced it was closed because of fog. Were going to divert to Nanjing, he said. Nanjing was just 200 miles west of Shanghai, barely half-an-hours flight. But when we arrived in the area, controllers told the captain that the airfield was full. You and I are constantly told that China is building airports at the rate of one an hour, and so I presumed the crew would be spoilt for choice for nearby landing strips. Instead, we were told we were heading for Beijing, 600 miles north. Ninety minutes later, the plane touched down two hours after we were supposed to arrive in Shanghai. Thank goodness for spare fuel. After 13 hours airborne I imagined we would be invited to stretch our legs in the Beijing airport terminal. The hard-working cabin crew could probably have done with a break, too. Instead, the plane was directed to a remote parking area, where we sat for another two hours, being refuelled and waiting for Shanghais airport to open. By now the crews duty times and the passengers' patience were approaching their limits. Finally, though, with another two-hour flight, we finally made it to our intended destination. A planeful of London-bound passengers were waiting morosely for the return leg, knowing they would now get to Heathrow close to midnight rather than late afternoon. Naturally I have checked how likely it is that the Qantas flight may be similarly diverted. Fog is a relatively uncommon occurrence at Perth, say the airport authorities. But: Each year approximately a dozen fog events cause significant disruption to operations. But by next year, the airport should be Category III, which means planes can land even in low visibility. Having looked at the alternates, notably the Royal Australian Air Force base of Learmonth, 700 miles north of Perth, Ill keep my fingers crossed. Julia Buckley, acting head of travel At six-foot tall, any long haul flight in economy is a nightmare that never ends for me, but there are three that stand out. There was the Singapore to London flight on Singapore Airlines where the bulkhead seat I was in was so uncomfortable that I felt injured by it I spent a considerable part of the flight lying on the floor trying to ease the back pain, and had to take the next two weeks off work as it had sparked off every trapped nerve, back issue and chronic pain twinge in my body. Are bulkheads more rigid than normal seats? Im afraid I wont be flying Singapore again to compare. Then there was the British Airways flight to Newark that took almost nine hours because of strong headwinds, and followed up with further delays because the doors had iced over so they couldnt get our bags out, and, being so late there were only three border staff to greet an entire plane. But my all-time worst flight was on Alitalia, going from Buenos Aires to Milan with a colleague in 2009 shortly before the Air France crash, luckily otherwise it would probably have put me off flying altogether. We flew up over Brazil, and shortly after reaching the Atlantic we flew into turbulence. The plane started bouncing around, the seatbelt light was immediately illuminated, we steadied ourselves in our seatsand then one of the cabin crew took to the intercom to scream at us all to SIT DOWN!!! SIT DOWN AND BELT OURSELVES IN IMMEDIATELY!!! Obviously everyone took this as a signal we were going to die, and as the turbulence got worse, my colleague and I hugged each other and passed on messages to our loved ones, just in case one of us survived. After what seemed like a few minutes but was probably much less, the pilot made an announcement that everything was OK, this was just bad turbulence but everything was under control, dont panic. To make things worse, my TV screen broke right around this point and the person in front reclined, which meant that, being tall, I literally couldnt fit in my seat anymore. The crew said the plane was full so I spent the rest of the 13-hour flight sitting on my armrest, trying just to breathe through it. That was the last time I flew Alitalia, and the last time I set foot on a plane without a book. Helen Coffey, deputy head of travel The longest flight of my life was from London to Singapore in 2015. It wasnt any longer than normal 13 hours in total but it felt endless. You see, I wasnt sure Id be let into the country when I got there. In my own hapless way, Id been blissfully unaware that Singapore requires you to have six months left on your passport before it expires upon entry to the country. Five days prior to my departure date, the friend I was going to visit casually mentioned it in passing, causing me to experience the closest Ive ever come to a heart attack I only had two months left before expiry. And I was due to go to Amsterdam that weekend. Twenty four hours later I turned up, stressed yet hopeful, for a hastily-booked emergency passport renewal appointment. Again my ignorance dealt me a life lesson Ill not soon forget. Did you know you cant get a fast-track passport issued if your old one is deemed damaged? And that using your passport as ID at the age of 18 and dropping it on sticky nightclub floors when drunk is pretty likely to result in said damage? I didnt. My poor travel document with its rips, stains and watermarks didnt qualify for same-day renewal. I am not ashamed to say I wept as I left the passport office. Off I went to Amsterdam, inconsolable until my brother-in-law discovered an interesting loophole. Theres a service offered for expats living abroad where they can get a years extension on their passport a piece of paper effectively saying youre good to go for another 12 months. A visit to Anne Franks house was struck off the mini-break itinerary and replaced with a trip to the British Consulate, huzzah! I waited nervously while a kindly Scottish woman studied my dog-eared passport with a frown and went to consult her colleague on whether it was too manky to qualify for an extension. After 15 insanely tense minutes she returned to confirm that yes, it was. So I did what anyone would do. I begged. I pleaded. And, yes, I cried a little. And because she was a wonderful woman she eventually agreed to issue the letter, with the stern warning that there was every chance the Singapore authorities wouldnt accept it; because my passport essentially had more in common with a dog turd than an official document. Back to the 13-hour flight. I spent every second of it wide awake and gripping the armrests, my stomach a swirling pit of nauseated anxiety. I couldnt eat, I couldnt sleep, I couldnt even enjoy the smorgasbord of films tipped for next years Oscars. I kept visualising airport security taking my passport and extension letter, giving them one look and laughing, before frogmarching me onto the next flight home. Thankfully that didnt happen. After a full day spent wound up like a coiled spring, I handed over my documents, grinning maniacally and trying not to look suspicious, and the border agent handed them back and waved me through as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Ive taken a lot better care of my passport since then. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Where does a pom keep his wallet? goes an old Australian joke. Under the soap. Those who believe that British travellers are as careful with their money as they are neglectful of their personal hygiene will gather more evidence from the announcement this week of fares for the first non-stop passenger flight from the UK to Australia. On 25 March 2018, QF10 will take off from Heathrow, destination Perth in Western Australia. Qantas, the airline launching this revolutionary route, naturally wanted to gather as much publicity as it could, and put out a comprehensive media release. Or rather, two subtly different communiques. The London release was essentially the same copied-and-pasted message as the one from the airlines Sydney HQ, with lines such as: The services will be operated by Qantas new Boeing 787-Dreamliner an aircraft designed specifically for comfort on long-haul sectors. But when it came to specifying the lowest fares in each class, they diverged significantly. From London, the lowest projected economy fares are below 900 return during deal periods. Business class begins at 4,240. From Perth, the tickets are sharply more expensive; for clarity, I have converted them to sterling at Friday mornings interbank rate. Australians can expect the price to drop below 1,157 return during sale periods. The lowest business-class fare: 5,628. In other words: for 18,018 miles of travel in the same seats on the same planes, passengers who want the cheapest ticket from Perth rather than London will typically pay one-quarter more in economy. Up front, it is more extreme: the travelling executive who buys in Australia coughs up one-third more than his or her counterpart in the UK. So whats going on? A Qantas spokesperson told me: Like all airlines, our fares at either end of a route can be different for a variety of reasons. These include seasonal market demand, currency strength and exchange, and the general aviation market in each country. For example during the late-March and April travel months when the direct London-Perth services commence, the difference in fares will be reflective of traditionally stronger demand for Australians travelling to the UK and Europe, whilst the demand for UK and European travellers to Australia is generally lower. Of course, nothing is so fickle and fast-moving as an air fare, and it is often difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from snapshots of prices; as Qantas says, seasonal demand can vary dramatically. But the evidence I am looking at is not a comparison of fares at a given moment: it comprises carefully prepared messages issued by the same airline at the same moment on different sides of the planet about anticipated fare levels over time. The UK-Australia market is intensely competitive, with rivals from Asia and the Gulf taking on the home airline at each end of the route. Thats why British Airways now flies the flag with just a single Boeing 777 every day, compared with the multiple BA jumbo jets that used to fly to all the mainland state capitals. And with the Boeing 787 replacing a much bigger Airbus A380 at the Qantas gate at Heathrow, the Australian airline is cutting the number of seats it offers to Europe to the lowest number since the beginning of the jumbo age in the early 1970s. It is perfectly rational for Qantas to extract the most it can from each of those seats. And if Australian passengers will tolerate significantly higher fares than their British counterparts, the airline will respond accordingly. Whatever the reason, while Aussies get the rough end of the deal, UK travellers can for once indulge their good fortune and snap up a relative bargain. Wheres that wallet again? Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The northern rim of the Grand Canyon and a coastal region in Maine, home to rare turtles and whales, are among the 24 national monuments that US President Donald Trump has asked his interior secretary to review, in a move some fear could see areas of natural beauty mined and drilled for resources. Mr Trump signed the executive order to re-assess monuments at the Interior Department on Wednesday 26 April, labelling the designation of national monuments as a massive federal land grab by past administrations. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke must now re-consider the status of monuments established under the Antiquities Act after 1996. These include Castle Mountains in California and Gold Butte in Nevada. National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Show all 24 1 /24 National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Joshua Trees in the Mojave Trails, California Encompassing 1.6million acres, this monument includes mountain ranges, sand dunes and ancient settled lava, meaning it is studded with gems and minerals. The Mojave Trails make up 105-miles of Route 66. Kiskamedia-iStock National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, Maine This is the Atlantic Oceans first marine national monuments, and covers almost 5,000 square miles of underwater canyons and mountains off the coast of New England. It was named a national monument in September 2016, shutting off commercial fishermen. The act protects resources and species including whales, deep-sea corals, Kemp's Ridley sea turtles (left), and deep-sea fish. Getty Images National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Bears Ears National Monument, Utah Bear Ears is a 1.3million acre monument characterised by cliffs, plateaus, rock formations, rivers and canyons, and is the site of an estimated 100,000 archaeological sites, including ancient cliff dwellings. It was created in December 2016, in what was hailed as a victory by Native American tribes and conservationists but a blow to Republicans who wanted to area open for energy developments. The land is considered sacred to a number of tribes, who visit the area to collect herbs and wood for medicinal and spiritual healing, as well as to perform rituals. Bear Ears is a 1.3million acre monument characterised by cliffs, plateaus, rock formations, rivers and canyons, and is the site of an estimated 100,000 archaeological sites, including ancient cliff dwellings. It was created in December 2016, in what was hailed as a victory by Native American tribes and conservationists but a blow to Republicans who wanted to area open for energy developments. The land is considered sacred to a number of tribes, who visit the area to collect herbs and wood for medicinal and spiritual healing, as well as to perform rituals. Getty Images National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Sand to Snow, California Over 240 species of birds and 12 wildlife species that are endangered and threatened live on what the Bureau of Land Management describes as one of the most biodiverse areas of Southern California. Unfolding across 154,000 acres of land, the monument includes thirty miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, used for camping, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, and skiing. Flickr/Creative Commons/Bureau of Land Management National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Basin and Range, Nevada This area - which is about twice the size of the city of Los Angeles - gets its name from its typography, which abruptly alternates between mountain chains and flat valleys that are comparable to the moons surface. The monument covers 704,000 and encompasses desert mountains and valleys, as well as Native American rock at and sites. It was designated in 2015 Bureau of Land Management/Creative Commons National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Berryessa Snow Mountain, northern California The monument comprises of 330,780 acres of land, and includes the Cache Creek Wilderness. It was designated as a national monument in in 2015. It is the habitat of animals including bald and golden eagles, black bears, mountain lions, tule elk, black-tailed deer, norther spotted owls, as well as salmon and some of the worlds rarest plants. Native American tribes have lived in the area of 11,000 years. Bureau of Land Management National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Organ Mountains Desert Peaks New Mexicos Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks covers 496,000 acres of land, and includes canyons, mountains and the Chihuahua Desert. It was used to train WWII bomber pilots and crews for NASAs Apollo space program. Bureau of Land Management National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Rio Grande del Norte The Rio Grande del Norte National Monument is made up of rugged plains that are 7,000 above sea level which spread across 242,500 acres of land. The topography includes volcanic cones - including the Ute Mountain which stands at 10,093ft - canyons, and rivers. People have been living in the area since prehistoric times. Bureau of Land Management National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, Northern Mariana Islands and Guam The monument established in 2009 protects 95,216 square miles water in the Mariana Archipelago, which consists of submerged islands and volcanic sites. Velvetfish /iStock National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Pacific Remote Islands Soldierfish swim off Baker Island, which are part of the Pacific Remote Islands. This collection of islands became the most widespread collection of marine and terrestrial life protected areas on the planet under a single country's jurisdiction when it was designated in 2009. Public Domain National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Papahanaumokuakea, Hawaii Papahanaumokuakea is the worlds largest marine protected area, and is almost double the size of Texas. The remote area stretches 583,000-sq miles, and is home to tuna and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal among others. Public Domain/NOAA National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Upper Missouri River Breaks Designated in 2001, the monument protects badland featuring rock outcroppings, steep bluffs and grassy plains. Bureau of Land Management National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Sonoran Desert The desert has an area of 100,000sq miles and covers parts of Mexico, Arizona, California, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Baja California, and is the habitat of unique plants and animals including the organ pipe cactus. Tonda-iStock National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Carrizo Plain The grassy plain sitting to the northwest of Los Angeles is 50miles long and 15miles wide in some parts. It was designated in 2012 because of its archaeological value. Zeiss4Me/iStock National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Vermilion Cliffs, northern Arizona and southern Utah This monument has an intense red colour thanks to the iron oxide in its deposited silt and dunes. It was designated a monument in 2000. fotoVoyager/iStock National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona President Clinton declared the Ironwood Forest a monument in 2000. It covers 188,619 acres and is home to endangered animals, plants, as well as the ironwood trees which give it its name. Creative Commons National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Hare Handford Reach, Washington This area is named after the bend in the free-flowing area of the Columbia River. It was designated a monument in 2000. Public Domain National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Canyons of the Ancients Designated a monument in 2000, its 176,056 acres feature archaeologically significant landscapes including the settlement of the Ancient Pueblo people in the 10th century. iStock National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Giant Sequoia In 2000, President Bill Clinton set aside an area around 328,000 of land in central California where giant sequoia trees grow. As he made the designation President Clinton said: "These giant sequoias clearly are the work of the ages. They grow taller than the Statue of Liberty, broader than a bus." pavliha/iStock National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument Established as a monument in 2000, the area stretches across over 1million acres of land which has no paved roads or visitor services. It takes its name from the Paiut word meaning tanned elk hide, and features canyons, mountains and buttes. Bureau of Land Management National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Grand Staircase Escalante, Utah Encompassing almost 2million acres of land, the monument designated in 1996 features platueas, colourful cliffs, and canyons Creative Commons/John Fowler National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump San Gabriel Mountains This monument - established in 2014 - is not on the list of White House monuments under review, but meets Zinkes criteria. It encompasses 246,000 acres of land. Rennett Stowe/Creative Commons National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Rose Atoll marine National Monument The monument, established in 2009, covers 13,400 square miles in the South Pacific Ocean and encompasses a Samoan island. It is the habitat of creatures including rare giant clams and reef sharks. National monuments reviewed by Donald Trump Gold Butte National Monument, Nevada Situated to the northeast of Las Vegas, this monument covers 300,000 of desert land which features rock art, sandstone towers and the habitat of the threatened Mojave Desert tortoise Bureau of Land Management The Antiquities Act protects specific areas of land and sea, and in some cases bans logging, mining, and drilling. The executive action could unravel protections put in place in Utah and other states which hold federal lands as monuments and restrict their use. Speaking at the signing, Mr Trump said the order would end another egregious abuse of federal power and give that power back to the states and to the people where it belongs. Mr Trump went on to accuse his predecessors of using the Antiquities Act to unilaterally put millions of acres of land and water under strict federal control. Somewhere along the way the Act has become a tool of political advocacy rather than public interest, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke added. And it's easy to see why designations in some cases are viewed negatively by those local communities that are impacted the most. Recommended Trump signs order that could allow mining in national monuments Among the sites under review is the Bears Ears National Monument, which Mr Obama created in December before leaving office. The monument takes up over one million acres of land sacred to Native Americans and is home to tens of thousands of archaeological sites, including ancient cliff dwellings. However, the move angered Republicans in Utah who wanted to be free to mine the area for resources. No president has ever called into question any national monument protected by the Antiquities Act until President Trump, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada said in a statement regarding Mr Trump's decision. His unprecedented executive order threatens decades' worth of conservation efforts and could potentially revoke designations to places that have significant cultural and historical value. Additional reporting by AP Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} While its no longer socially acceptable to tell women to go back to the kitchen, sometimes it feels like some people are trying to give us a hint. Im looking at you, US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judges, who have just made it legal for a woman to be paid less than her male counterpart for doing exactly the same job if she was paid less by her previous employer. Thats right: it is legal to pay a woman a crap wage because her previous boss did the same. And so the process repeats itself, ad infinitum, until hopefully women get the message and just give the whole work thing up entirely. This ruling seems to be predicated on the idea that wages are judged solely on a candidates skills, knowledge and experience. They are judged on a set of objective metrics and are free from all bias, goes the argument. While this is true for a few lucky sectors where jobs are banded, for the rest of us, negotiating your wage involves a prickly ongoing conversation with your boss, and sometimes your boss can be sexist. First theres agreeing on your wage when you take a job. Weve all had that awkward chat in the final round of the interview process: your dream job is almost in sight, and your prospective boss asks about your salary expectations. You slowly utter the beginning of a number, and then, judging by their reaction, add on as much as you can to it. It never ceases to be nerve-wracking. Recommended Marine Le Pen and Theresa May are more similar than you think Then there are the negotiations and this is where gender bias comes into play. According to one survey, only 16 per cent of women negotiate compensation when a job offer is made. Another study of graduating MBA students found that half of the men had negotiated their job offers as compared to only one eighth of the women. The reasons for this are diverse; one study suggests that women try to avoid negative interactions. They correctly intuit that they will be adversely perceived by the person they are negotiating with. In short, their bosses see them as pushy for asking for more money, and bosses are more likely to see that as a negative trait in women. Another study points to womens pessimism about their earning potential as a reason for them not asking for more money. Women either dont believe they deserve more money or believe that asking for it wont be worth the negative consequences. 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 Contrary to these claims, however, its been found that women do ask for pay rises just as much as men, but are less likely to receive them. The reasons for that are unclear, not least because no manager is going to say outright that theyre motivated by sexism. But its undeniable that senior management is more likely to be male, as women continue drop off the career ladder due to child-caring responsibilities. TUC chief Frances O'Grady has said: I think its very hard for women individually to go after a pay rise because male bosses are more likely to tell women no. They find it easier to tell women no than men we have research which backs this up. Its the existence of such unspoken biases that makes the 1982 ruling which made it illegal for employers to pay women lower salaries than men for doing the same work are so important. They provide women with an equal playing field. Theres comfort in knowing that at least when we begin a job, we start on an equal footing with our male counterparts. Now, women in California are being denied even that. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Nearly 100 million people follow reality star Kim Kardashian on Instagram (nothing better to do?) so shell hardly notice the 100,000 whove dumped her in the last couple of days after unretouched pictures of her famous rear were posted online. On her Instagram feed, Kims physique always appears strangely smooth and perfect whereas in real life, it seems she has the same dimples and cellulite as a normal earthling. Is Miss K a charlatan selling a myth or a clever marketeer? After all, shes made a fortune selling everything from ashtrays to pool floats in the shape of her buttocks and exposure is paramount this furore draws even more attention to her generous proportions and could even be stage-managed. Kanye West makes thoughtful video for Kim Kardashian's birthday Piers Morgan (that paragon of virtue) is outraged that her real bottom bares no relation to the perfectly proportioned, super-smooth, cellulite-free vision of glory she sells to the world, and writes that hes dumped her for good but Kim seems unconcerned, describing her body as flawless. An ITV campaign called Body Confidence launches next week so I cant wait to hear what Piers Morgan (also employed by ITV) has to say about the giant billboards of nine semi-clothed Loose Women, me included which are being unveiled around the country. 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 As for role models, contrast Kims confident approach with that of Ivanka Trump who spent last week representing the USA at the Women20 summit in Berlin, an event promoting womens rights looking like a frightened deer stuck in headlights. Promoted by her father as an assistant, the First Daughter has been at his side meeting foreign leaders and cleverly wears her own clothing line for photo opportunities. Like the much-praised Michelle Obama, Ivanka is unelected. I applaud her skills as a businesswoman, but her credentials to champion womens rights are no more valid than the savvy opportunist Kim Kardashian. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa Mays language 27 other European countries line up to oppose us is unhelpful and misleading. We were participating members of a community whose fellow members valued our contribution and whose own interests will be damaged by our departure. Their strategy now is to ensure that they and the union will not suffer too much economic, social, political and financial harm by our leaving. Their disappointment at seeing us go has many levels, not least an emotional one. In the negotiations to come their main purpose will be self-protection, damage limitation: they are not, as the Prime Ministers choice of words implies, motivated by aggression and revenge. Rarely has Horatios countenance more in sorrow than in anger been more apt in modern politics. Richard Hanson-James Caversham Our EU partners will meet this weekend to set out and agree their red lines, or in other words what they will give us. They have an overwhelmingly strong position since we actually walked away from the table at which we might have realistically negotiated last June. When will any politician admit that the EU ability to simply not negotiate on whatever matters they wish, is not a negotiation? And when will the Government or opposition open up on what our aims are in this situation? Its clear they all privately understand that this is a powder keg of potential embarrassment that none of them want to open up, as it will demonstrate that the will of the people may have been slightly flawed. Worse it makes them all look incompetent and dishonest. The real coalition of chaos is all of our politicians lack of the guts to deal with this honestly and openly. I look forward to a gradual revealing of this reality. It should bring shame on them all. It might also actually reunite the country when we realise what a pickle we have placed ourselves in. John Sinclair Pocklington Sturgeons priorities With 700 teaching vacancies across Scotland that we are told could take three years to fill, it seems the priority that the First Minister claims to be putting to education is failing badly. Attainment gap issues in education can hardly be properly addressed if the teachers are not in place. Large numbers of trained teachers cannot be found overnight of course, but education has been the Scottish governments responsibility for 10 years now. Equally troubling shortages are occurring in healthcare with doctors, nursing and care staff shortages causing difficulties in some parts of Scotland. The Scottish National Party has some big issues to deal with. How long before they decide that only by putting other obsessions to one side can they hope to make progress? Keith Howell West Linton Character education As headteacher of a community primary school in Kent, I am continually dismayed at the Governments over-emphasis on academic progress and attainment. The way to create socially intelligent and resilient young people who are fully prepared for the world of work is to make character education the key focus and to integrate it seamlessly into everything that a child experiences at school. Those who think that character education will dilute impact on academic standards are sadly mistaken; it will, in fact, enhance them through the development of determined, curious and self-controlled individuals. David Pyle Kent Rape clause support In Scotland, the Scottish Conservative Leader, Ruth Davidson, is a firm supporter of the rape clause. Irony abounds. It seems for rape clause Ruthie (as she is now locally known) caring, compassionate Conservatism is just a sound bite. Iona Easton Glasgow Language lessons Can politicians and journalists please stop using the terms customs union and single market interchangeably as if they were the same thing? They arent. A customs union is where all the countries in the union abolish any customs tariffs between them and agree a common tariff for goods from third countries outside the union. The original Treaty of Rome bases the European Economic Community on a customs union but that is only a starting point, a means to an end. The EU became a customs union in 1968 but the single market wasnt completed until 1993. A single market goes further. The core of the single market is the free movement of the means of production: goods, services, labour and capital. In other words it needs a legal regime which ensures that all barriers to trade between the member states are removed e.g. no quotas on goods or regulations which make it difficult for one member state to market their goods in another. The classic example of this is the German Beer purity law which meant that beer brewed in other member states couldnt be sold in Germany as beer because it didnt comply with the law. So please can we be clear. A customs union deals only with customs tariffs, a single market however, tries to remove all internal barriers to trade between its member states. Dr Hazel Dawe Oxford Poll politics I cannot understand why so much attention is paid to the polls during an election. Should a pollster ever interview me I would put on my mind-your-own-business hat and be very economical with the truth. Gillian Cook Leicestershire Every time I hear Theresa May saying make me strong I think, give me strength. John Smith Beighton Animal cruelty The giant rabbit who died during a long-haul flight was failed first by the breeder who churns out and sells baby bunnies when animal shelters and rescue groups are full of homeless rabbits and then by United Airlines, which shipped him off in a cargo hold like an old suitcase. This rabbit's death is not unique more than 300 animals have died in cargo holds since 2005, and many more have been injured or lost. Jennifer White London N1 Amazons offering I find it incomprehensible that you refer to Amazon creating 1,200 new UK jobs. Amazon will certainly be offering jobs in its new establishment in Warrington, but by no stretch of the imagination will it be creating jobs, as every job in Amazon, or it's like, results in many more jobs being lost in more traditional forms of employment. In addition, the companies who currently provide the type of job that will be lost will be companies that pay their fair share of tax something that it is acknowledged that Amazon do not. By all means report such news, but I feel the use of the word creation in this context is inappropriate. Grant Serpell Maidenhead Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} I know she enjoys high poll ratings, I suspect mainly because of the opposition she faces but the Prime Minister certainly has made herself look uncharacteristically naive and foolish with her remarks about EU countries preparing to "line up to oppose us" over Brexit. I mean, what on earth does she expect? Does she think that they will just turn round and say, Sure, have a free trade deal, free access to the single market, special treatment for your car industry and the City of London, yes of course you can keep the two EU agencies youve got in the UK, you can do what you want with the Irish border and you can just leave us a tenner for the divorce bill and obviously well accept without let or hindrance any British nationals wishing to come and work or start a business over here or British companies or banks wanting to buy their way back into the single market. Will that be all, or would you like us to send you some more Mercedes, BMWs and Audis free of charge too, just for old times sake? Maybe this what Angel Merkel means when she talked about the British having illusions about Brexit. I reckon she also had Sir Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn in mind, who seem to think that just by being nice (Corbyn) and ultra-clever (Starmer), they can persuade the Europeans to let us have a pick and choose EU deal. At least Theresa May was realistic enough to acknowledge that that was a fantasy in her Lancaster House speech earlier in the year. It is slowly dawning even on the British centre and left that actually there may be no such thing as a soft Brexit by definition. This could be what Chancellor Merkel was driving at (within the confines of diplomatic language during an election contest in another country). Theresa May says that the negotiations will be tough, but seems unwilling to understand why, if the British need a tough and strong leader (ie her) in the conference chamber, and a united saboteur-free national front on this side of the Channel, the same principle doesnt apply over there. When we used to talk to our European partners in the context of the EU, it followed an established pattern. We would always try to go over the heads of the EU institutions and speak directly to friendly and/or powerful allies in order to get our way and frustrate the most crazed of Euro-schemes. It worked more often than was given credit for most valuably during the opt-out form the euro, but also, since abandoned, the exemption from the Social Chapter and some other special concessions. Despite the scare stories from time to time, Brussels never did get its mitts on financial regulation, or at least in a way that would unsettle the supremacy of the City of London. The British would traditionally find a friendly, sympathetic hearing from the Netherlands, the Scandinavians, some of the Eastern Europeans and, sometimes, the Germans and the Spanish, which would help them restrain the EU Commission, the Belgians, the French and the Italians. Thats how the EU used to work for Britain. No longer. Britain, as Chancellor Merkel was cruel enough to point out, is just another third party sniffing around for a trade deal. Of course we matter more to the EU than, say, Switzerland or Malawi; but the principle is the same. Crucially, we are clearly not going to be able to quietly tap up Berlin to help us out. Were on our own, and with remarkably few cards to play. Yes, we buy a lot of European gear more than we export, famously but our imports of, say, German cars are only a relatively small proportion of that industrys EU output. Our exports of British cars to the EU are a far bigger percentage of our output 60 per cent or so. They can hurt us a lot more than we can hurt them. Thats true across the board. Expect them the EU institutions and also the national leaders and parliaments to use that brutal economic reality to maximum effect. To do so requires a unified front. It is holding far better than anyone might have expected. The real shock, in fact, would be if the leaders of 27 sovereign states did not wish to protect their interests, and recognise that those interests are served by leveraging the muscle of the European Union, the worlds biggest trading bloc, and all that goes with it. If we were shocked that the Spanish had the audacity to try and capitalise on Brexit by getting their hands on Gibraltar our best chance since 1704, according to former Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo then that was just incredibly stupid on the part of the British. Either that or they dont really care about this indefensible outpost. Across the board, this unified European multinational front seems determined to prevent the British playing a game of picking off individual countries and courting allies in the talks. Theresa May urges Labour supporters to 'lend her' their votes A few weeks ago, Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, had that hand-delivered letter from Theresa May, and he told us, almost tearfully, that the talks that are about to start will be difficult, complex and sometimes even confrontational. There is no way around it. He added that: The EU27 does not and will not pursue a punitive approach. Brexit in itself is already punitive enough, which sums things up very well. Heres some perspective from a marginal Leave voter from last June (me). In the longer run it will be good for the UK to drop its illusions about Europe and that counts for Remainer illusions as well as Brexiteer ones. The EU was not an unalloyed benefit for Britain. It prevented the country, as it does for all its member states, from getting on and building more competitive economies to face the industrial challenge from the East. Europe is a large, rich and wondrous economic unit in many ways; it is also deeply flawed and set on a path of long-term relative economic decline. It is sadly, tragically, unreformable, with the suicidal euro single currency at its centre. Britain can make a living outside the EU, but for many years life will be tougher and the British people worse off than if the UK had just stayed in. There will be gains in subsequent decades, but for now the pain will be severe. In 90 seconds: Corbyn v May in final PMQs before the election We should, as Chancellor Merkel and Donald Tusk suggest, have no illusions about that. That goes for everyone: Theresa May, and Jeremy Corbyn for that matter, should understand that the Europeans will pursue their interest as selfishly as they can. Thats their job, too. They did so when we were trying to get in; all the way from 1961 to 1972 they set down conditions that successive British prime ministers found unacceptable; or the French simply vetoed British attempts to get in. There was no love lost during that courtship. The divorce will be just as nasty. The truth is that Theresa May and David Davis going over and talking tough, or Jeremy Corbyn and Sir Keir Starmer turning on the charm, will make no significant difference to a deal. That is because the other side the EU has such an overwhelming advantage in the negotiations because of its sheer size. Even if it did not, it wont want to make any cushy deals with the UK that would encourage further breakaways. There will be chaos, and there will be blood: there will be a bonfire of the vanities, whoever wins on 8 June. Only one man, Alan Black, survived the Kingmill massacre despite being shot 18 times The Government has insisted it will not stymie efforts to find closure for Kingsmill massacre victims. Ten Protestant textile workers were gunned down during an IRA roadside ambush in South Armagh in January 1976. Relatives of some of those killed have threatened to pull out of an inquest if legal authorities in the Republic do not co-operate. They are seeking details from the Garda about the weapons used, intelligence and the getaway van employed by the gunmen. A statement from the Justice Department said: "Any suggestion that there is an unwillingness by the Irish government to assist the inquest or stand in the way of closure for the victims' families would be unfounded. "The Irish government has given its commitment to co-operate to the greatest extent possible, within the law, with the inquest and, in fact, has taken unprecedented legal measures to facilitate that co-operation and to deliver upon its commitment." It said the Government took the "unprecedented" step of producing domestic legislation to facilitate legal co-operation with the inquest. "This legislation facilitated the transfer of significant evidential material by An Garda Siochana to the Northern Ireland coroner. "The Irish authorities have continuously sought to cooperate with the coroner and his legal team as part of an ongoing legal process." The factory workers were travelling home from work when their minibus was stopped. They were asked their religion then lined up on a country road and shot dead in a sectarian attack blamed on the IRA. Only one man, Alan Black, survived despite being shot 18 times. Victims' relatives are seeking more details from the Garda. However, Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan cannot direct an officer to give evidence to the inquest without new legislation. A garda van and an armed support unit vehicle leaving Waterford Courthouse after a 25-year-old man appeared in court charged by detectives investigating suspected Islamic-related terrorism A 25-year-old man has been charged in Ireland with funding terrorism. Hasan Bal, who is originally from the UK and had been living in Waterford city, was remanded in custody after a brief hearing at Waterford District Court. He is charged with providing funds for a terrorist organisation on October 2 2015 and attempting to provide funds on October 23 2015. The court was told Bal made no reply when both charges were put to him by detectives. Judge Kevin Staunton was told there was no issue when he asked if there were any "language difficulties" with Bal. The judge had asked: "He's an English speaker?" Two detectives gave a brief account to the court of when Bal was detained and charged. He was arrested on Thursday in Waterford and charged with the two offences under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005. Bal, who has a beard and was wearing a black jacket, stood as the case was called. He did not speak and no application for bail was made on his behalf. Bal's solicitor Pat Newell told the court that he was applying for legal aid and that he was reserving his position on a bail application until the case is back before the court on Tuesday. A woman arrested on Thursday in Waterford as part of the same investigation was released without charge, with a file being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Allied Irish Bank chief executive Bernard Byrne urged the Government to pull the trigger and return the State-owned lender to the stock markets by summer rather than wait until the second half of the year to shed a near-3bn stake in the bank. Speaking after AIB's annual general meeting in Dublin yesterday, Mr Byrne argued that all the requirements for a successful initial public offering were there. He said that while the decision to press ahead with the deal lay with Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, he stressed "our bias is to encourage something to happen" between mid-May and early July. The Government has repeatedly outlined this period as the first window of opportunity to float AIB, with a second share sale option for some time in September and October. But amid the widespread relief in global markets following the first round of the French Presidential election, conditions for a partial privatisation have rarely looked so supportive. According to Mr Byrne, "if you look at the things necessary to get an IPO away - an attractive equity market, business performing pretty well, the Irish economy performing well and the intention politically to get it done - they're all there. So right now they all align." Yet even as Mr Byrne polishes his pitches to new investors - the bank's management have met with close to 100 potential institutional shareholders over the past few months as part of an international non-deal roadshow - the bank continues to come under fire for past failures. Despite the small number of attendees at the AGM in the RDS concert hall, shareholders demanded an explanation for the latest fine slapped on the bank by the regulator. Chairman Richard Pym characterised the failure to properly monitor accounts for money laundering and tax evasion as a "stain" on the bank. But he insisted AIB was in a "much better place" and described the risk and audit committees as "extremely thorough". He added that the bank had admitted the breach, "paid the fine and... put it right". This week's clampdown from the Central Bank is unlikely to be the last with AIB bracing for the conclusion of the regulator's probe into the treatment of its tracker mortgage customers. Mr Byrne said the harsher measures were now "part of the landscape" and pointed out the investigations are centred on historical failures. While the recent fine comes at an awkward time for AIB, as it prepares for an IPO, Mr Byrne emphasised the speed of the turnaround at the bank. He noted that non-performing loans have fallen by 500m to 8.6bn and reiterated the bank's aim of reducing that to less than 3bn within three years. New lending has also risen by 10pc in the past quarter compared to the same period last year. Mr Byrne pointed out the bank has now "normalised" after notching up two consecutive years of pre-tax profit at the same time as it "has been paying back money to the State". Taxpayers pumped 20.8bn into AIB and so far it has returned over 6bn to the State. Yet as the tougher regulatory regime starts to bite, the bank's impaired loans remain its greatest challenge. Mr Byrne refused to confirm whether a strategy has been adopted to tackle the non-performing loans but pointed to more portfolio sales along the lines of the recent sale of non-performing buy-to-let mortgages to Goldman Sachs. "That is going to be part of the strategy," he said, but argued that these measures were necessary only "if the customer was not engaging". Donald Tusk has warned that the British Government must settle the issues of people, money and Ireland before negotiating its future relationship with the EU. The European Council President said the UK must honour its financial obligations to the union, including a divorce bill of up to 60bn (50bn), before talks over trade agreements. Negotiations about future relations can only start once we have achieved sufficient progress on key exit issues, Mr Tusk said, adding: In other words, before discussing our future, we must first sort out our past. The warning came before leaders of the remaining 27 EU nations meet on Saturday to agree their negotiating strategy for Brexit. Mr Tusk was referring to issues of free movement and residency rights for EU citizens, as well as discussions over the strength of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. He said his approach was not only a matter of tactics, but - given the limited time-frame we have to conclude the talks - it is the only possible approach. Expand Close President of the European Council Donald Tusk. Photo: Reuters / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp President of the European Council Donald Tusk. Photo: Reuters Earlier, it emerged European leaders are to acknowledge the potential for a united Ireland in a move that will allow the six counties automatically back into the EU if reunification occurs. The recognition of a special status for Northern Ireland will be based on the situation which followed the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1990. The guarantee of membership will be tied in with an acknowledgement the terms of the Good Friday Agreement must be factored into any Brexit deal. Wording on the commitment is still being finalised but it is expected to be in documents accompanying the formal EU negotiating guidelines tomorrow. The development so early in the process is likely to be promoted as a coup by the Irish Government. However, the idea of Irish unity remains very sensitive for the UK government which also faces the prospect of a second referendum on Scottish independence. In a letter to EU leaders today on the wider Brexit issue Mr Tusk wrote: Only once we collectively determine in the European Council that sufficient progress has been made on all these issues, will we be in a position to hold preparatory talks on the future relationship with the UK. "I would like us to unite around this key principle during the upcoming summit, so that it is clear that progress on people, money and Ireland must come first. "And we have to be ready to defend this logic during the upcoming negotiations. Angela Merkel also insisted the issues of residency, the divorce bill and Irish border must be dealt with before a future relationship can even be discussed. Without progress on the many open questions of the exit, including the financial questions, it makes no sense to have parallel negotiations, the German Chancellor said on Thursday. She accused the British Government of working under illusions over the UKs future status, adding: A third-party state, and that's what Britain will be, cannot and will not have at its disposal the same rights, or be in a better position than members of the European Union. Theresa May has called for talks on a future trade deal with the EU to take place at the same time as divorce negotiations on Brexit, but her plans have been dashed by European leaders. The European Parliament has also poured cold water on the Governments claims the UK can remain in the single market and customs union. In the letter that officially triggered Article 50, the Prime Minister said the UK wants to agree a deep and special partnership with remaining members of the EU to ensure economic and security cooperation. Discussions over the future border in Ireland, which includes the possibility of a hard barrier with checkpoints and customs posts, have coincided with the collapse of a power-sharing agreement in Belfast. Despite fresh regional elections in March, Irish nationalists and unionists have failed to agree a deal to form a new executive ahead of a new deadline on 29 June. Additional reporting by agencies European leaders are to acknowledge the potential for a united Ireland in a move that will allow the six counties automatically back into the EU if reunification occurs. The recognition of a special status for Northern Ireland will be based on the situation which followed the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1990. Sources say the guarantee of membership will be tied in with an acknowledgement that the terms of the Good Friday Agreement must be factored into any Brexit deal. Wording on the commitment is still being finalised, but it is expected to be in documents accompanying the formal EU negotiating guidelines tomorrow. The development is likely to be promoted as a coup by the Irish Government. However, the idea of Irish unity remains very sensitive for the UK government, which is also facing the prospect of a second referendum on Scottish independence. Expand Close German Chancellor Angela Merkel Picture: REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp German Chancellor Angela Merkel Picture: REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland can join the Republic if such a move is supported in a vote both north and south of the Border. Read More European leaders will discuss the parameters of the forthcoming Brexit negotiations with the UK tomorrow. The formal guidelines will acknowledge the "unique circumstances on the island of Ireland" and the fact "flexible and imaginative solutions will be required" around the Border. One political source said there was also an expectation that Taoiseach Enda Kenny could return from the summit with a guarantee the overall 'Irish question' will be resolved early in the two-year Brexit process. "That may well be the springboard for Mr Kenny to outline his plans to leave office," the source said. Ireland's case got an extra boost yesterday when German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the Bundestag the "shared space" between the UK and the Republic of Ireland needed to be held together. Brussels diplomats say special recognition for the importance of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement is certain to happen, and there is also optimism that the EU may continue its grant aid to help underpin the North's fragile peace for some years to come. "The EU is heavily invested in peace in Northern Ireland. It is unlikely they would want to risk just walking away," a source told the Irish Independent. There was also talk of people in Northern Ireland continuing to enjoy benefits of EU citizenship. On trade there is likely to be recognition of the extra costs facing Ireland for the high volume of exports which cross Britain en route to mainland Europe. It is expected the common travel area between the two islands can be preserved. Mr Kenny said yesterday the aim for this weekend was to agree on "a base document". The real negotiating will begin some time after the June 8 British elections. The EU is insisting the 'exit payment' to be made by the UK must be the first item on the agenda. Some estimates put the bill as high as 60bn to cover London's existing commitments to EU spending. In an interview with the 'Financial Times' today, Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan says an immediate row over the bill would shunt the negotiations into a cul-de-sac that would overshadow other issues. "I would say to my European colleagues, don't get hung up on the magnitude of the cheque," he said. John Bruton was critical of Boris Johnsons messages to UK voters during the Brexit referendum. Photo: Tom Burke/PA Former Taoiseach John Bruton has castigated Boris Johnson for his "misleading" messages to British voters during the Brexit referendum. Mr Bruton accused the British foreign secretary of having "criminally misled" the UK over the consequences of leaving the European Union. Mr Bruton, in a lively contribution to a Seanad hearing on the issue, quickly backtracked on allegations of criminality against the colourful former London mayor - but remained staunchly critical. "Boris Johnson attempted to simplify the Brexit issue by saying 'we can have our cake and eat it'," Mr Bruton said. "It was a memorable phrase and it was criminally wrong. It criminally misled - I shouldn't say criminally, it is not criminally - but it irresponsibly misled the people of Britain." Mr Bruton, who also served as EU ambassador to the US from 2004 until 2009, also warned that British Prime Minister Theresa May's plan for leaving the EU would cause huge damage to Ireland "politically, emotionally and economically". Mr Bruton said Ireland must continue to work to avoid Brexit becoming a reality. "We cannot simply wait for this to happen. While seeking to mitigate the effects of Mrs May's chosen 'hard Brexit', we must also do everything we can to ensure that, at the end of the day, there is no Brexit," he said. Read More Mr Bruton told the special Brexit committee of senators, which is chaired by Senator Neale Richmond of Fine Gael, that the UK might yet change its mind on leaving the EU, once it realises the consequences. "While I believe it may seem impossibly optimistic today, I believe conditions can be envisaged in which, eventually, the UK voters might decide either not to leave the EU at all, or to decide, after it has left, to rejoin," he said. Mr Bruton stressed that Ireland should work "to keep that possibility alive". He added that Ireland must use every device it can to minimise the prospect of tariffs in Irish-UK trade. This included using the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and every effort must be made to persuade London to uphold EU standards for goods while a great emphasis must be placed on cost-efficiency. "To deal with a bad Brexit outcome, Ireland must become hyper-competitive," he warned. Mr Bruton said British politicians, in common with those in other large member states, had not bothered much to learn how the EU works, and that meant the Brexit consequences were not thought out. Speaking after the hearing, Mr Bruton said Dublin should press the other 26 EU member states to make an offer allowing the UK to remain at the end of Brexit talks in 2019. He guessed that by then, UK voters might see Brexit as a lot worse than they expected. Mr Bruton said EU leaders would be "reasonably" receptive to the option, despite misgivings over many Brussels concessions Britain gained over the years. "I want there to be the alternative available, of Britain changing its mind," said Mr Bruton. Mr Bruton said he envisaged the possibility of a second UK referendum at the end of the Brexit negotiation period. The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that thousands of farmers still waiting on payments under the GLAS scheme are now unable to apply online for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). The issue raised relates to about 1,000 GLAS 3 applications which are currently held for further examination. There are also a limited number of additional cases for which parcel information is under review before the 2017 BPS application can be finalised. BPS online gives a message in these specific cases saying that GLAS details are currently under review and when this is finalised you can submit your BPS 2017. A Department of Agriculture Spokesperson has said it is expected that this issue will be resolved shortly. To date GLAS 2016 advance payment has issued to 33,200 participants (91pc of participants)in the amount of 118m to date. 3,600 farmers have not yet been paid as their applications are being further examined. The Department says queries with individual cases are being resolved on an ongoing basis with payments issuing to cleared cases on a weekly basis. IFA Rural Development Chairman, Joe Brady, has called on the Minister of Agriculture, Michael Creed, to clarify to the 3,600 farmers who are still due their GLAS payment when they will be paid. Joe Brady reminded the Minister of the commitment made by his Department at the recent Charter of Rights meeting that all outstanding payments would be made at the end of April. Since the start of the year, 5,000 farmers have received the 85% GLAS payment, on top of the 28,000 farmers who were paid before the end of 2016. This means, that on average, a little over 300 farmers have been paid per week and at this rate of payment it will be another three months before all cases are sorted out. This is just not acceptable and Minister Creed needs to step up to the mark to sort out this debacle and to tell farmers when they will be paid, Joe Brady insisted. IFA estimates that 40m is still owed to GLAS farmers for 2016. This includes the 3,800 farmers who are still due their payment, 33,000 farmers who got partial payment who are still owed the final 15pc payment and the GLAS+ to 3,000 farmers Joe Brady said, Farmer frustration is at boiling point, and Minister Creed must show his commitment to farmers in GLAS by making all outstanding payments without any further delay. Two members of the board of Independent News and Media will be reclassified as non-independent, non-executive directors, the Irish Independent has learned. The reclassification will be confirmed when the company issues its annual report for 2016. According to its most recent annual report, issued on April 29, 2016, INM non-executive directors Mr Terry Buckley, Mr Jerome Kennedy, Ms Triona Mullane, Dr Len O'Hagan and Mr Allan Marshall, were considered to be independent by the board. Throughout 2015, at least half of INM's board comprised non-executive directors deemed by the board to be independent. It is not unusual for a board member's status to be reclassified depending on changes in their relationship with the business. The duties assigned to directors can also vary. Yesterday the INM board, whose titles include the 'Sunday Independent', Irish Independent and independent.ie, met ahead of today's annual report publication. It is understood that the media company's AGM, due to be held in May, will now be rescheduled for later this year. A spokesperson for INM said the AGM date would be announced today, adding that information on directors would be addressed in the annual report. INM's board, led by Leslie Buckley, has been in the spotlight after INM CEO Robert Pitt made a complaint under new whistle-blowing legislation to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE). The complaint prompted the company law watchdog to seek records in relation to the possible acquisition by INM of radio station Newstalk. The complaint, made under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, was made late last year, around the time INM issued a statement to the stock exchange confirming that an "issue" had arisen between Mr Pitt and Mr Buckley over the proposed acquisition of Newstalk. Businessman Denis O'Brien is the largest single shareholder in INM. He is also the owner of Communicorp Group, whose assets include Newstalk. An innovation and business hub located in the heart of Co Kerry is the first of its kind to receive free gigabit fibre broadband. HQTralee - currently home to 18 local businesses - has been offered two years free service from Vodafone and SIRO as part of the companies national Gigabit Hub Initiative. The new initiative is open to similar hubs in 15 towns across the country which meet the same qualifying standards of excellence, creativity and ambition. It was created in order to empower local businesses and rural communities to grow by providing the connectivity into enterprise and community centres. Its great to see the tangible effect that high speed broadband access can have on hubs such as HQTralee, where businesses can gain access to 1 Gigabit per second broadband and spur the dynamic and exciting entrepreneurship we see here today," Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Mary Mitchell OConnor said. The results of a survey by Vodafone and SIRO amongst the businesses based at HQTralee found that all surveyed said that super-fast internet connectivity would substantially increase their productivity. The firms were confident that the provision of reliable broadband in regional hubs would encourage more companies to establish or relocate to smaller towns - and make towns with access more attractive to Foreign Direct Investment by multinationals. We feel that theres no reason why people shouldnt be able to enjoy the lifestyle of living in a town like Tralee, but being able to take advantage of the same level of broadband connectivity as Hong Kong or Tokyo," co-founder of HQTralee, Ken Tobin said. Currently supporting 50 jobs, HQTralee intends to see this number double to 100 by July 2017. Tralee, Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Cavan and Carlow have been announced at the six towns to be awarded free connectivity as part of the first phase of the initiative. The successful centres from each of these town will be announced in the coming weeks. "If this success is replicated across all six hubs, it has the potential to create up to 600 jobs across Ireland in 2017," Anne O'Leary, Chief Executive of Vodafone Ireland said. "The economic and social benefits that 1 Gigabit broadband connectivity can bring to companies in regional Ireland are almost incalculable." The announcement marks another success story for Co Kerry in terms of connectivity and business innovation. A new state-of-the-art innovative hub for start-up firms The Dingle Hub - powered by eir - also opened on Friday morning. Bank of Irelands new mortgage lending recorded a 30pc increase in the first three months of the year versus the same period in 2016. The bank has announced that its net interest margin has increased to 2.3pc in the first three months of 2017 from 2.27pc at the end of 2016. The banks net interest margin shows how profitable the banks lending is. The increase is attributed to lower funding costs and an evolving asset mix. Customer lending volumes were 78bn at the end of March, with cash redemptions referenced across the defaulted loans, Irish tracker mortgage and legacy run-down portfolios together with higher-than-expected redemptions in the corporate business. However the banks defined benefit pension deficit increased by 200m to 650m. The increase in the pension scheme is associated with a tightening of the credit spread between AA Euro corporate bond yields versus risk-free rates. While BOI has hedged the impact of discount rates on the liability side of the defined pension scheme, volatility from credit spreads remains which is far more difficult to hedge against. Underlying other income, operating expenses and BOIs core banking system replacement project are described as being in line with BOIs expectation. Bono and Ali Hewson admire The Taking of Christ by Michelangelo da Caravaggio in the National Gallery of Art in Dublin. Picture: Arthur Carron Costs arising from the 30m refurbishment of the National Gallery contributed to a 3.9m loss in 2015, according to the gallery's newly released annual report. It made an operating profit of 995,540 but a 5.5m cost from the renovation contributed to the overall loss. Much of the gallery has been closed for the past six years for refurbishment works of its Dargan and Miltown Wings. The project has been substantially delayed by a number of unforeseen structural problems but the refurbished gallery is due to open in the summer with a major international exhibition, 'Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting'. The gallery had 700,000 visitors and with the increase primarily driven by an increase in overseas visitors to Ireland. "The change in visitor profile also saw a move from the 'excellent' satisfaction rating to the lower 'satisfied' rating in the visitor experience," the report said. "The continuation of the Master Development Plan Project during 2015, and the limited Irish collection on display were contributing factors for the decline in excellent visitor experience ratings." The contribution from the Government dropped from 12m to 7.83m, while staff costs went from 4.7m to 5.58m with the spend on agency staff more than doubling from 115,082 to 241,597. Numbers employed totalled 119, while the salary for the gallery's director, Sean Rainbird, was 96,551. At the end of 2015, the gallery's balance sheet had net assets of 10.52m. Two units of Genesis Homes, a homebuilder controlled by former McInerney Holdings chief executive Barry O'Connor, have been placed in receivership after a repayment date was missed. Bank of Ireland, which acts as security trustee on behalf of a unit of private equity group Cardinal Capital, had a receiver appointed to Genesis Homes (Mungret) and Genesis Homes earlier this month. It's thought that Genesis Homes (Mungret) was due to pay a sum totalling less than 500,000 to WLR Cardinal Mezzanine Finance on the last day of March. It's believed Genesis had informed Cardinal that the payment would be missed by a matter of days. Half the money is understood to have been repaid around the time the receiver - Tom Kavanagh of Deloitte - was appointed to the firms. The remainder that was owed by Genesis Homes (Mungret) was understood to have been almost immediately made available to the Cardinal unit, but the sum was apparently rejected due to the receiver being in place. However, it would be unusual that a lender would appoint a receiver if a payment was only going to be missed by a matter of days and especially if it was the first time a repayment deadline had been missed. Mr O'Connor established Genesis Homes in late 2011. The Genesis Homes (Mungret) vehicle was used to develop residential properties in Limerick. That site had been previously owned by McInerney. Genesis also has development sites in Dublin and close to the capital. The 'Limerick Leader' reported this week that the Sli Na Manach estate in Mungret was due to have about 200 homes, but that only half of those have been built to date. The newspaper reported that Cardinal became impatient with the speed of the project and pulled its support. The detached properties are being developed on a 'buy-and-build' basis. One local councillor told the newspaper that a shortage of skilled labour in the region may have contributed to a slower development pace at the estate than might have been anticipated by the developers. Earlier this month, Genesis Homes (Mungret) submitted a planning application to Limerick County Council to replace 34 homes previously permitted under an earlier planning permission with 21 houses. Genesis Homes and Mr O'Connor declined to comment as did Cardinal Capital. Based in Dublin, Cardinal Capital was established by Nigel Corcoran and Nick Corcoran. The WLR Cardinal Mezzanine vehicle is backed by Wall Street titan Wilbur Ross, who's now the US Commerce Secretary. Cardinal Capital helped to engineer a 1.1bn investment in Bank of Ireland in 2011 that was backed by Mr Ross, who made a massive return on the stake. It has been preparing to build a 115-bed student residence in Stoneybatter in Dublin, on a site beside the new DIT Grangegorman campus, which will eventually accommodate 20,000 students. Mr O'Connor took a 1m unfair dismissal claim against McInerney Holdings in 2011, arguing he'd been pressured out of his job there in 2010. But the Employment Appeals Tribunal determined in 2014 that Mr O'Connor had not undertaken his case within the statutory time period of six months from the date of his dismissal in April 2010 and determined that he was therefore too late in bringing his claim. Independent News & Media (INM) has confirmed that two of its non-executive directors are no longer considered independent following a board review undertaken by accounting and consultancy group Deloitte. INM, which publishes independent.ie and newspapers including the Irish Independent and 'Sunday Independent', said non-executive directors Allan Marshall and Triona Mullane have now been reclassified as non-independent. In its annual report published this afternoon, INM said Mr Marshall provided consultancy services to it between 2013 and 2016 via a company called ComputerCallUK. Mr Marshall received additional remuneration from ComputerCall. The board is satisfied that Mr Marshall has always demonstrated independence at board and committee but has determined that Mr Marshall should not be considered independent due to the materiality of this additional remuneration, it noted. ComputerCall was paid 77,000 by INM last year and 158,000 in 2015. The INM contract with ComputerCall ended last year. As previously disclosed by the group, Ms Mullane provided consultancy services to INM in 2013. She is also the founder and chief executive of mAdme Technologies. That firm has received a 280,000 investment from a company introduced to mAdme by a relation of Denis OBrien, INMs single biggest shareholder. The tech firm also has a contract with Digicel, which is owned by Mr OBrien. The board is satisfied that Ms Mullane has always demonstrated independence at board and committee but considers that, collectively, the existence of these relationships or circumstances could be seen to affect independence and has determined that Ms Mullane should not be considered independent, according to the annual report. INM's board, led by Leslie Buckley, has been in the spotlight after INM CEO Robert Pitt made a complaint under new whistle-blowing legislation to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE). The complaint prompted the company law watchdog to seek records in relation to the possible acquisition by INM of radio station Newstalk. Mr Buckley told shareholders in the annual report that the companys board continues to be committed to high standards of corporate governance. The company established in December 2016 a formal confidential independent review to examine and inquire into matters concerning the possible acquisition of Newstalk and related matters, he added in todays annual report. Discussions on the possible acquisition ended at a very preliminary stage and the acquisition was never considered by the board. The confidential, independent review is being carried out on behalf of the board by senior counsel and a senior independent governance expert who have been mandated to report to the board. Mr Buckley added that the company is taking appropriate steps to comply with the ODCE request. A requirement from the ODCE to produce books and records is a procedural matter that does not involve any conclusion that there has been a breach of law by the company or its officers, said the chairman. The company takes its corporate governance responsibilities very seriously, and seeks to comply at all times with all relevant laws and regulations. Mr Pitt told shareholders in the annual report that INM will continue to reshape itself so it can continue to deliver great journalism. In order to do so, we need to work to realise synergies and to deliver operational excellence across the group, he added. The annual report also shows that Mr Pitt was paid a total of 566,000 last year, compared to 693,000 in 2015. His remuneration last year included a 404,000 basic salary, an 87,000 annual incentive, and a 50,000 retirement benefit. Mr Buckley was paid 165,000 last year, compared to 161,500 in 2015. Independent News and Media generated a pre-tax profit of 41.8m last year, an almost 12pc increase on the 2015 figure. Its revenue was flat at 323.4m. The company intends to hold its annual general meeting on August 23. It had previously intended to hold it on May 31. An inspection by the Central Bank has found problems with the way activities are outsourced at some credit unions. A number of credit unions selected firms to carry out the likes of information technology (IT) services for them on an informal and undocumented basis, the probe found. And boards of credits unions were not involved in the outsourcing processes and decisions. Boards were sometimes only told about the outsourcing of a service when there was a problem. However, the Central Bank said it was also clear that a number of credit unions have robust frameworks in place for how they handle outsourcing of services. The examples of good practice were not just in larger credit unions, but also in smaller ones. Now the Central Bank wants all credit unions to raise their standards. A sample of 16 credit unions were inspected by regulators. The Central Bank expects all credit unions to consider the issues raised in the report and to examine the implementation of their own outsourcing agreements, policies and procedures, developing and enhancing these where necessary by taking account of the findings and observations as set out in this report, it said. Where issues have been identified the Central Bank followed up directly with the credit unions concerned to address the issues. Credit unions are increasingly outsourcing services, such as IT and accounting, as they seek to concentrate on their core activities of lending and taking in savings. The Central Bank said outsourcing enables credit unions to avail of potential efficiencies and access necessary technical and operational expertise in a cost-efficient manner. It can further enable credit unions to release internal resources for other areas of credit union operations. Chairman Urs Rohner and CEO Tidjane Thiam of Swiss bank Credit Suisse look up as activists of environmental group Greenpeace unveil a banner to protest against the financing of the Dakota-Access oil pipeline during the bank's annual shareholder meeting in Zurich, Switzerland April 28, 2017. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann Activists from environment group Greenpeace gatecrashed Credit Suisse's annual shareholder meeting on Friday to protest against the Swiss bank's dealings with companies behind the Dakota Access Pipeline. Greenpeace unfurled a banner criticizing the crude oil pipeline from the stadium ceiling during the speech of Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam, with two people on wires holding the banner. "I am a democrat and a great believer in freedom of expression," Thiam said. "I will continue my speech. Everyone has a right to express their views." The banner was lifted back up around 15 minutes later. Credit Suisse, Switzerland's second-biggest bank, said in April it was not involved in project financing for the DAPL. "Allegations that Credit Suisse is the biggest lender to are false and are firmly rejected by the bank," it said. "Credit Suisse has business relationships with companies undertaking the construction and operation of the pipeline." The 1,172-mile (1,885-km) Dakota Access line running from North Dakota to Illinois drew international attention in 2016 after the Standing Rock Native American tribe sued to block completion of the final link, saying it would desecrate a sacred burial ground. Environmentalists also argued that potential leaks along its length would risk poisoning the water supply for some 17 million Americans. In February, US President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead to complete the project. The protest camps were demolished and oil is expected to start flowing in mid-May. Bank of Ireland guide to online and phone banking People have noticed something not quite right about Bank of Ireland's guide to online and phone banking. The guide features an image of a barefoot lady in ripped jeans ostensibly using a smartphone while curled up on a sofa. So far so snoresville, until you take a closer look at the phone. It appears to be upside down, and possibly backways. People have taken to Reddit to discuss the apparent mistake. "I do believe that this phone is upside down... Actually the more I look: is she looking at the back of the phone?" says one eagle-eyed Redditer. "Might explain that slight 'WTF am I supposed to be looking at here?' expression on her face." Another agrees, "Is that phone upside down AND backwards? Sigh, at least there was an attempt." Expand Close Bank of Ireland guide to online and phone banking / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bank of Ireland guide to online and phone banking After much observation and analysis the conclusion is made that it's possibly "an iPhone 4 or 4DS with an orange bumper on" and it's "deffo upside down". Of course it's not long before other details emerge. "Did ye notice the jeans are ripped 'there'?" says one as the conversation turns to the lady herself. Video of the Day They also commented on her "nice feet" and the fact that her right hand looks disproportionately large. "Looks like she had an Apple or Samsung phone and they had to photoshop it out," writes one contributor. "As the sweet moron above me pointed out, her hand looks fake. And i choose to digress and agree with him." One or two people may have spent a tad too long staring at the image... "why is that plant talking to her?" A court dismissed the charges against the Springwatch presenter. Wildlife campaigner Chris Packham has called the dismissal of assault charges while filming an illegal bird trapping documentary one of the most satisfying days of my life. The Springwatch presenter was cleared of two counts of assault earlier this month when he appeared in a magistrates court on the Maltese island of Gozo. His team had left the cameras rolling during the incident and Chris said the video evidence allowed them to show it was him and his team who were in fact assaulted. Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Friday, Chris said: We were recording everything. As it turned out it was one of the most satisfying days of my life because when my colleague came in with the evidence the judge looked at it and put his head in his hands and was shaking his head. We knew full well that we were going to be acquitted and it would again drew attention to the fact that the police are sometimes sympathetic to the hunters when they shouldnt be. Chris was on the Mediterranean island making an independent programme when he called police after seeing what he thought was a cage full of birds, including some protected species. Some hours later he said he became the victim of an assault, but was instead himself charged in relation to the incident. He said he was pleased that the incident would draw public attention to the cause and the work of campaign groups. It was very effective. It gave us the ability to highlight the incredible work that BirdLife Malta and the Committee Against Bird Slaughter do every day. What we experienced on one day these brave conservationists in this terrible working environment experience most of the time they are out, he added. Video of the Day The BBC presenter called for better quality policing and more policemen in the field, adding that he wanted people across the UK and Europe to lobby the European Commission and Maltese government to sort this out. Only quails are legally permitted to be hunted during Maltas spring hunting season, but BirdLife Malta said protected species were paying the price. A 63-year-old cleaner, who broke her left wrist when she fell after missing a step at a Bank of Ireland branch, has been awarded 20,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court. Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke said the layout of the outdoor steps of the banks premises at Newlands Cross, Clondalkin, Dublin, where Patricia Smith fell in December 2013, showed that it had never been intended to be accessed by the general public. Judge Groarke said before it became a branch in 2003, the premises were offices and a business centre. He said the steps were so close to the exiting security door that they constituted an old fashioned trap to people who were distracted in an ordinary human way. The judge said Ms Smith, who had held the door to a customer entering the branch while she was leaving, and then moved while looking backwards, should have kept a better lookout as to where she was walking. He found her to be one third liable and reduced an initial award of 30,000 damages accordingly. Ms Smith, of Old Church Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin, had told her barrister Alistair Rutherdale that she did not realise the steps were so close when she left the branch and she missed the last one, landing heavily on her left side. A member of the banks staff had helped her up and brought her to a GP nearby. Ms Smith later attended the A&E at Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, where X-rays revealed a fracture in her wrist. She had to wear a cast for more than a month and had been out of work for several weeks. She had ongoing pain in her wrist and had attended physiotherapy sessions. She sued the Governor of Bank of Ireland for negligence. She alleged the steps, which were only 18 inches away from the door, had been dangerous because they were too close to it. She also claimed that there should have been a handrail. The bank denied her allegations in a full defence and alleged that she was guilty of contributory negligence as she had not been looking where she was going. Judge Groarke said that it was a fact that people would hold doors open to facilitate other customers entering the premises and were often distracted while doing so. He said the bank ought to have considered that element by reminding its customers, for instance with a yellow nosing, of the steps being there. He said that Ms Smith was not however absolved from her obligation to look where she was going. After a short adjournment to allow the parties to determine the amount of damages Ms Smith should be awarded, barrister Paul ONeill, counsel for the bank, said they had agreed to an award of 30,000, from which one third was deducted. A FORMER Sinn Fein councillor tied up a convicted fraudster in his garage, "tortured" him with water and threatened to chop him up, feed him to dogs and burn his head at the stake, a court has heard. Jonathan Dowdall (40), believed he was being "duped" over the sale of a motorbike when he researched the man on the internet and came across a series of scamming allegations against him. He invited the man to dinner, but instead he and his father Patrick Dowdall (60) imprisoned him in the garage for three hours and tried to force a confession out of him. The victim, Alexander Hurley, who has prior fraud convictions, pleaded for his life as Jonathan Dowdall covered his face with a cloth and doused his head with water, while Patrick Dowdall threatened to cut his fingers off with a pliers "knuckle by knuckle". The pair let him go and gardai only discovered what they had done when they searched the Dowdalls Dublin home for a separate reason and found a video of the incident. The Special Criminal Court was shown the "grim and harrowing" footage of Mr Hurleys interrogation in a sentencing hearing today. Expand Close Jonathan Dowdall / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jonathan Dowdall The father and son, both of Navan Road, Dublin 7 both pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Alexander Hurley by detaining him without his consent at Navan Road, Dublin 7 on 15 January 2015. Both men also admitted threatening to kill Mr Hurley at the same place on the same date. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, said the three-judge court wished to reflect before deciding on sentences and adjourned the case to May 19. Detective Inspector William Hanrahan told the court gardai searched the Dowdalls home on March 9, 2016 "in relation to another matter" when they found a USB stick with the videos. The victim, Mr Hurley was found and interviewed. He told gardai Jonathan Dowdall had put a BMW motorbike up for sale on Donedeal.ie and Mr Hurley contacted him expressing interest in buying it. Three days later, he went to Dowdalls home to see the bike. Later, he told Mr Dowdall he was getting loans for the purchase. He later got a phone call inviting him to dinner on January 15. He went and was greeted by Patrick Dowdall. He was pushed into the garage, backed into a swivel chair and bound with white cable ties around his chest and legs and told he was a "lying b***ard from the sewer". Patrick Dowdall told him "If you want to get out of here alive youd better tell Jonathan what he wants". He was in shock and was told there was no point in screaming as the garage was soundproof. Another unidentified man was present. He heard someone saying they would "feed him to dogs, chop him up, place him in cellophane bags and store him in the boot of a BMW" if he did not tell the truth. Jonathan Dowdall, wearing a balaclava, told him to tell the truth, that he was a thief, who had tried to steal a car from a person. Mr Hurley denied this. Jonathan Dowdall said this was a lie. A girl was at the door with a bucket of water and a tea towel, Mr Hurleys statement continued. Jonathan Dowdall placed the towel over his head and poured a full bucket of water over him. He told gardai he could not breathe, he thought he was being drowned and it went on for four to five minutes. This was done a second time. The cable ties were leaving deep incisions and Jonathan Dowdall told him: One more twist and you are dead. He said he was told he would be fed to Dobermans, chopped up, brought to Tyrone, part of him would be buried in the mountains and his head would be burned at the stake. He was told he was a stupid dumb f*** to mess with the head of the IRA and that Jonathan Dowdall was a friend of Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald. He was told to get out of Dublin. Mr Hurley was told his family members would be pursued and would be dead within 48 hours of his disappearance. The girl was filming on an iPhone. Mr Hurley told gardai he did not understand why this was happening. At one stage, Patrick Dowdall pulled out a silver pliers and said he would chop his fingers off, knuckle by knuckle, starting with his little finger. The ordeal ended at 10.45pm. The video, in three clips was then shown to the court. In the footage, Mr Hurley could be seen and heard begging please dont hurt me as he was doused with water and repeatedly asked what he was doing with Jonathan Dowdalls bank details. He was questioned about robbing people and accused of being a lying, conning scammer as his head was shaved with an electric razor. In a victim impact statement, Mr Hurley said what happened to him can only be described as a brutal and heinous act of crime. He said Jonathan Dowdall proceeded to torture me to the point of deaths door and that his psychological injuries would never heal. He still suffered from severe flashbacks and sleepless nights, he said. The court heard Jonathan Dowdall maintained Mr Hurley had pretended he was a barrister and another man who was selling a motorbike said the same thing. Michael OHiggins SC, for Jonathan Dowdall, a father of four said the accused apologised and accepted that his actions had been completely unacceptable, notwithstanding any perceived grievance. He was a self-employed electrician whose business had done spectacularly well and the consequences of what happened had been catastrophic for him. Patrick Dowdall, also a father-of-four, also apologised unreservedly for what happened, his barrister said. Expand Close Mary Lou McDonald with Jonathan Dowdall / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mary Lou McDonald with Jonathan Dowdall Speaking this evening Sinn Fein TD Mary Lou McDonald said Jonathan Dowdall was no longer a member of the party. In a statement she said: I welcome the conviction of Jonathan Dowdall in court today. The details of the attack perpetrated by him are deeply shocking. Jonathan Dowdall left Sinn Fein some years ago. He subsequently worked with, and supported, a political opponent of Sinn Fein in the Dublin Central Constituency. Former Tanaiste Joan Burton felt terrified and as if she was running for her life as she fled anti-water-charges protesters who surrounded her after a graduation ceremony. The former Labour Party leader told a court that protesters called her a "bitch" and "c***" while she and her special adviser Karen O'Connell were trapped in two Garda vehicles. Ms Burton said she eventually escaped following a three-hour ordeal by jumping out of a Garda jeep and running up a hill to a waiting Garda car while a group of protesters chased after her. "To be honest I felt I was running for my life," she told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The Dublin West TD also told prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC she saw Solidarity TD Paul Murphy holding a megaphone and "looking pretty happy with himself" as she and Ms O'Connell were stuck inside a Garda car. Mr Murphy (34) and six other men, including south Dublin county councillors Michael Murphy (53) and Kieran Mahon (39), have pleaded not guilty to charges of falsely imprisoning the two women at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown in Tallaght, Dublin, on November 15, 2014. During sometimes emotional evidence, Ms Burton described being terrified, afraid, menaced and worried during the events that unfolded that day as she attended a graduation ceremony at the An Cosan further education centre in Jobstown. Ms Burton said she saw a small group of people in the distance holding posters as she arrived at An Cosan. After meeting graduates and organisers, Ms Burton took part in a graduation procession to the nearby Catholic church. Expand Close TD Paul Murphy outside court yesterday. Photo: Collins / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp TD Paul Murphy outside court yesterday. Photo: Collins As she walked along near the back of the procession, a number of protesters "crowded around", including a man who put a camera phone up to her face. People were shouting "shame on you", she said. Ms Burton said she was struck on the back of the head, first by "something like a ball" and then by "a water bomb". When they reached the church, Ms O'Connell gave her a jacket and she dried her hair as best she could before giving a speech to congratulate the graduates. By this stage, gardai were growing concerned about the crowd gathering outside and advised her to leave straight away in an unmarked Garda car. Ms Burton and Ms O'Connell ran out a side door and got into the back of the saloon car, but it could not drive away as it was immediately surrounded. "There was a great deal of noise and also banging on the car," she said. "From my point of view, most worrying was that there was an awful lot of children around." Asked by Mr Gillane what people were shouting, Ms Burton said: "People were shouting the usual stuff. Bitch and c***." Ms Burton said one woman at the side and back of the car "was beside herself with rage" and "baying, wishing all sorts of stuff on me - illness and death". She said Ms O'Connell was "extremely upset and started to cry". They were stuck in the car for around an hour before being moved through a human cordon set up by gardai to a Garda jeep. When they made it to the jeep, it too was blocked and had to move "inch by inch" out of the car park and towards the N81 Blessington Road. Ms Burton said the shouting and derogatory name-calling continued. Eggs, bottles and other items were thrown at the vehicle and the front windscreen was "shattered". Eventually the jeep managed to pull onto the N81. Prompted by gardai, the two women jumped out and ran to separate waiting cars. "The crowd was after us," said Ms Burton. "To be honest, I just legged it as fast as I could." Ms Burton made it to the car and it sped away from the scene. Her cross-examination will continue today. As well as the three politicians, four other men face charges. They are Tallaght residents Frank Donaghy (71) of Alpine Rise; Ken Purcell (50) of Kiltalown Green; Michael Banks (46) of Brookview Green; and Scott Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive. A 15-year-old boy who suffered brain damage at birth has settled his High Court action for 7m. Dean Nolan, who will be sitting his Junior Cert in June, had sued over the circumstances of his birth at the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) in Dublin. Liability had been admitted in the case. Dean, of Ardmore View, Gorey, Co Wexford, sued the NMH and the HSE through his mother, Kelly Campbell, over the circumstances of his birth on February 1, 2002. It was claimed Ms Campbell was admitted to the NMH and was induced. It was alleged that in the course of labour, cardiotocography readings revealed numerous and complex decelerations in the heart rate of the baby. After five hours in the labour ward, oxytocin was commenced and later increased. Dean was delivered requiring resuscitation and later intubation and ventilation. It was further claimed there was an alleged failure to treat Ms Campbell and her baby with all necessary skill, care, diligence and expertise. There was also an alleged failure to ensure the delivery of the baby in an expedient manner particularly in the light of the cardiotocography readings. Christopher Meehan SC, for Dean, told the court that the case was unusual in that the boy does not have any physical deficits but had deficits of a neurocognitive nature. Experts on both sides agreed the boy did not have cerebral palsy, he said. Counsel said Dean's parents Derek Nolan and Kelly Campbell had made superhuman efforts in their care for their son. The family since had two other children and Ms Campbell, who had been a supermarket assistant manager, had to give up her job to look after her son. Counsel said Dean would need help for the rest of his life and it was clear the neurological deficit would affect his life. Mr Justice Kevin Cross said while Dean did not have physical problems, the settlement would provide care for him for the rest of his life. The judge wished Dean and his family well for the future. A 64-YEAR-OLD woman who fell on to a wooden floor, fracturing her hip and breaking her leg, was found dead in her home, an inquest heard. Mary Fitzgerald, of Windmill Park, Crumlin, was dead for between two and three days before she was found, Dublin Coroners Court heard. Her son, Sean Fitzgerald, called at the house to take her to the shops as he did every week but became concerned when she did not answer the door. He looked in the window and saw his mother lying on the floor. After gaining entry, he discovered a pile of mail on the floor and his mother lying unresponsive beside the couch. A post-mortem report found she had suffered a bad break of her left leg. Ms Fitzgerald had fallen awkwardly, coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said, resulting in the dislocation of her hip. She was bleeding heavily internally and lost 500ml of blood into the soft tissue surrounding the injury. She was unable to move from the position she fell in and died some time later. Ms Fitzgerald had been drinking earlier and had a blood alcohol level of 133mg. The inquest was told that she had developed hypothermia, but the coroner noted that neither this nor the alcohol were directly responsible for her death. She was pronounced dead at the scene on December 10, 2015. A pathologist gave the cause of death as internal blood loss from a fracture and dislocation of the left hip following a fall. The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death because she said the fall was an accident that could have happened with or without the consumption of alcohol. Unfortunately, she broke her hip and couldnt get out of that position. She seems not to have died instantly as we know the alcohol was leaving her system, Dr Cullinane told the hearing. Ms Fitzgerald is likely to have been unconscious as her blood pressure was falling due to internal bleeding and that resulted in cardiac and respiratory arrest. It was a combination of factors. She suffered a fall and a bad break, it was bleeding and she is likely to have been unconscious at this stage, the coroner said. A YOUNG man has been charged with acting to support a foreign terrorist organisation. Hassan Bal (25) appeared before Waterford District Court on two charges of attempting to provide and providing funds for a foreign terrorist organisation. The charges are brought contrary to the Criminal Justice - Terrorist Offences Act, 2005. Judge Kevin Staunton was told that Mr Bal was arrested at an address off O'Connell Street in Waterford shortly before 10am yesterday. He was questioned overnight at Waterford Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. On the instructions of the Director of Public Prosecutions, he was charged at Waterford Garda Station with two counts under the Criminal Justice - Terrorist Offences Act, 2005. Det Inspector Anthony Pettit and Det Sergeant Donal Donoghue told the district court that, after being arrested, cautioned and charged, Mr Bal made no reply when the two charges were put to him. He appeared in court today wearing slacks, a charcoal grey T shirt and a black jacket. Mr Bal did not speak during the brief hearing at the temporary Waterford courthouse at Gracedieu. Tight security marked the brief court hearing. Mr Bal is an Irish citizen but is understood to have been born in the UK. The young man has been resident in Ireland for over a decade. He has both Irish and UK passports. Mr Bal, who is married, was training to be an electrician in Waterford but currently has no major source of income. The two charges relate to dates of October 2 and October 23 2015. It is understood the sums allegedly involved are in the hundreds of Euro. Inspector Anthony Dineen said the State was applying for Mr Bal to be remanded in custody. Defence solicitor Pat Newell said he was reserving his position in respect of bail for his client. He applied for free legal aid and this was granted for Mr Bal. Judge Staunton remanded Mr Bal in custody to appear against before Waterford District Court next Tuesday (May 2). The charge followed a major search in Waterford yesterday by Gardai following a lengthy intelligence-led operation. It is understood that the Garda operation was supported by intelligence supplied by overseas agencies including those in the UK and US. The Waterford-based operation was ongoing for a period of almost 17 months. The Garda operation was focused on the collection and distribution of funds which, they feared, could have been intended for radical Islamic groups operating overseas. Mr Bal had been living at a rented flat off O'Connell Street in Waterford city centre. Education Minister Richard Brutons new guidelines on uniform and book costs were also branded a fig leaf to cover up inadequate funding for schools. Stock Image: GETTY Parents prefer branded uniforms to cheaper generic clothes because they last longer, the schools' management president claims. Education Minister Richard Bruton's new guidelines on uniform and book costs were also branded a "fig leaf" to cover up inadequate funding for schools. But Fr Paul Connell also said that the uniforms proposal would hit Irish suppliers - family-owned companies who were all struggling to make a living. Fr Connell is president of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB), which represents 380 second-level schools, mainly those traditionally run by the religious, and is also principal of St Finian's College, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Mr Bruton recently announced that schools would have to adhere to new guidelines encouraging generic uniforms, with sewn-on crests, book rental schemes and reusable workbooks - or face a reduced State grant for daily running costs. Speaking directly to Mr Bruton at the JMB conference, Fr Connell said: "Is this how we keep the recovery going? When these Irish companies close and Irish people lose their jobs, who will take responsibility?" He said that twice in recent years it had polled parents on the uniform issue and the overwhelming response was that they wanted branded uniforms because they last longer. He said an inclusive crest added 1 to 2 to the cost. Fr Connell was also critical of the book-rental scheme proposal. About one-third of second-level schools don't have a scheme. He questioned its feasibility and asked who would administer it when there wasn't enough middle-management posts. He asked where would schools get 80,000 seed money to set one up. "Minister, if you want to reduce costs for parents, then fund our schools properly - don't pretend that this initiative is anything but a fig leaf." Mr Bruton replied that it had to be conscious of surveys showing some parents were under pressure on school costs. He later said it was reconsidering easing a proposed ban on workbooks that cannot be reused. The move was first mooted in 1998, but for many of the thousands of women who have given birth there - and the large population of its staff - the National Maternity Hospital should have relocated from its base at Holles Street in Dublin a long time ago. As the master of the hospital, Rhona Mahony, put it on RTE's 'Prime Time' on Tuesday, the hospital isn't fit for purpose and has not been for a long time. As she led Miriam O'Callaghan through the cramped corridors and busy wards, where its Victorian origins could be discerned at every turn, the doctor was adamant that nothing should derail the plans to move to a world-leading facility at the St Vincent's Hospital complex 3km away. And, Ms Mahony insisted, the Catholic ethos of the owners of the land on which it is to be built, the Sisters of Charity, would have no impact on how the hospital was run, particularly when it came to such issues as IVF or abortion. It's a row that's likely to rumble on and on, especially as such high-profile figures as Peter Boylan, an ex-master at Holles Street who stepped down from the board yesterday, believe the new maternity hospital would not have full autonomy if it is under Catholic ownership. For many of those looking on, the controversy epitomises just how broken the country's maternity hospital system is - and how far Ireland has to go to match the experience of similarly populated countries like Denmark and New Zealand. The latest crisis comes in the wake of a recent report which revealed that significant risks still remain to the safety of patients attending another of the country's major facilities, the Midlands Maternity Hospital at Portlaoise. After the death of infant babies at the hospital, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) had set out hundreds of recommendations to restore safe and quality services in a report published in 2015. But, in an update on the provision of safe and quality services published in December, Hiqa insisted that, while some progress has been made and maternity services are being provided in a safer way, the hospital is still understaffed and struggling to recruit non-consultant hospital doctors. Sobering Among its findings was the sobering statistic that just 38 midwives are staffed in a maternity unit that should have 52. It was a black stain on the country's maternity service that came just weeks after consultants at Cork University Maternity Hospital voiced concerns over failure to invest in what's one of the country's largest maternity hospitals. In a leaked letter, a group of 19 consultants at the hospital warned management that they "cannot and will not take responsibility" for women suffering adverse outcomes "rising from a well-documented chronic lack of investment in the gynaecology service". More than 4,000 are awaiting outpatient appointments and surgeries at the hospital, the longest waiting times for such appointments in the country. These damning controversies arrived at a time when another shameful report is in the public mind - the compensation payments, totalling 34m, to hundreds of women who underwent the severe symphysiotomy procedure when giving birth between 1940 and 1990. It may have been an echo of a different time, when procedures in maternity hospitals were more crude than today, but it highlighted the fact that Ireland is still a far from perfect place in which to give birth. For many, the country's maternity services are creaking at the seams, even if the sort of concerns expressed about Midlands Regional Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital are not echoed everywhere. Although the birth rate is dropping slightly, Ireland's is still the highest in Europe at 14.4 per 1,000 (the EU average is 9.7 per 1,000) and with the population of 4.6 million - the highest it's been since the 1860s - the country's maternity hospitals have never been busier. Roughly 200 babies are born every day and 19 maternity hospitals through the country have to share the burden. The National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, and Cork University Medical Hospital take a huge share of this, with respectively, 10,000 and 8,500 babies born each year. A midwife who has worked in Holles Street for more than a decade says it's become noticeably busier in the past few years. "Don't get me wrong - it was always busy, but it's really full-on now. Just walk through the corridors and you'll get a sense of just how many people give birth here. Since Mount Carmel [the private maternity hospital in south Dublin] closed [in 2014], the numbers have gone up. It puts a lot of pressure on staff, but I think we still provide a really good service," she said. "Everybody knows that the building is antiquated and it will be a relief to be able to move into a purpose-built unit at St Vincent's in a few years." The move - assuming it will happen - cannot come soon enough according to one mother who gave birth to her three children at Holles Street. "It's Dickensian in there," she said. "Cramped wards, narrow corridors, lifts that take an age to work. I can't fault the work of the staff, but it must be very hard to work in those sort of conditions. It seems crazy that after all the money in the boom years the country's main maternity hospital is so outdated." And yet, Holles Street is regarded as one of the country's better maternity facilities. Instead, serious issues have come to light in our regional units, as Mr Boylan pointed out last year: "All of the recent problems in our maternity services have been in maternity units which are integrated into, and not co-located with, general hospitals. "Maternity care comes down the list of priority when it comes to scarce resources in these hospitals," he said. "Midwives get re-allocated to surgical or medical wards, operating theatres get used for non-obstetrical or gynaecological procedures and operating lists get disproportionately cancelled." The sense that some hospitals are better than others has been echoed time and time again, as has the idea that very different approaches are employed from one unit to the next. That was evident when monthly safety reports for all hospitals were published this year. CUMH had a perinatal (stillborn and early newborn) mortality rate of 4.5 per 1,000 total births, in December 2015, whereas the NMH's rate was zero for the same month. But the HSE emphasises that such data be interpreted with caution "particularly when reporting low numbers which may vary naturally from month to month and are influenced by case complexity". Yet, there appears to be a huge difference in how procedures such as caesarian section are viewed by certain hospitals. In South Tipperary General, 40.3pc of children were born this way in December 2015, while C-sections accounted for just 21.3pc in University Hospital Waterford. The national rate is just under 30pc - a huge increase from 1984, when just 7pc of births were delivered this way. The publication of detailed information on the performance of maternity units was championed by Department of Health chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan and stemmed from a recommendation in the Hiqa report into baby deaths at Portlaoise hospital. However, it ran up against resistance from the masters of the Dublin maternity hospitals. They argued, in correspondence with the HSE last year, that publication of the data would leave hospitals open to adverse publicity and media scrutiny, pose risks to patient confidentiality and encourage inappropriate comparisons between maternity units of varying size and complexity. Subsequently, both Holles Street and the Rotunda, Dublin, stopped publishing monthly data, and have favoured making statistics available on a quarterly basis "as a more informative and accurate reflection of a trend rather than the individual monthly rates previously reported". Information on baby deaths, major obstetric events and clinical incidents continues to be published monthly for the other 16 HSE-run maternity units in the State. Roisin and Mark Molloy have had their fair share of heartbreak when it comes to maternity hospitals being completely open about baby deaths. Their son Mark died just after birth at Midlands Regional Hospital, but it was incorrectly recorded as stillborn. The couple's experience helped lift the lid on practices at Portlaoise, which were uncovered on 'Prime Time', and just before Christmas, Mr Molloy, along with Stephen McMahon, founder of the Irish Patients' Association, appeared before a Joint Committee on Health and called for 'open disclosure' for all healthcare professionals. "We've worked for this for 21 years," Mr McMahon said. "There has to be that transparency. It's so badly needed. A report from earlier this year showed that one out of every eight admissions to hospital results in an adverse event and of those, 6pc results in death." Mr McMahon says the publication of national maternity safety statements is a welcome action and "a significant step forward in assuring patients of the safety and quality of maternity services". But he believes it is just the first step on building greater trust between patients and healthcare professionals. "We're calling on greater accountability to management in our hospitals," he said, "not just about safety, but about how money is spent." A fertility clinic is to move to the National Maternity Hospital's (NMH) new location at the St Vincent's campus. Its clinical director, Professor Mary Wingfield, has brushed aside fears that treatments like IVF won't be allowed there due to its ownership by a religious order. Instead she argued that the move by the Merrion Fertility Clinic will "benefit our patients". The clinic - where NMH master Rhona Mahony is a voluntary director - is currently based on Lower Mount Street, and pays rent to the NMH next door. It provides services like IVF to couples who are having difficulty conceiving - both public and private patients. Concern has been raised by former NMH master Dr Peter Boylan that IVF treatment may not be permitted at the planned St Vincent's hospital site as it's owned by the Sisters of Charity. The Catholic Church is against IVF treatment. Dr Mahony has rejected Dr Boylan's concern, repeatedly insisting the new hospital will have "clinical independence". Meanwhile, a senior source with knowledge of the project pointed to the provision of assisted conception facilities in the hospitals plans. They said this highlights the "absolute independence" of the hospital to provide services to women, despite arguments made to the contrary in recent days. Architects' drawings for the new hospital show that fertility services are to be located on the first floor, which accommodates a 'reproductive medicine facility'. This includes a 'cryo store' and 'embryology lab' and several procedure suites. It is unclear what space at the hospital, if any, will be set aside specifically for Merrion Fertility Clinic. The Department of Health appeared unaware the clinic would be moving there when first asked if it would be. But a statement from Merrion Fertility Clinic confirmed it "will be moving to St Vincent's as part of the National Maternity Hospital Project". It said the "finer details" are under consideration and won't be finalised for some time. Prof Wingfield said their "close affiliation" with the NMH will continue at the new site. The Irish Independent asked if there is concern services the clinic currently offers won't be permitted at the St Vincent's site. Prof Wingfield said the clinic "follows international guidelines for best practice in gynaecological and infertility care. This will not change when the NMH, including its fertility services, moves." She added: "The enhanced facilities at the new hospital will, in fact, benefit our patients." She said that the clinic will "continue to advocate for increased Government support for public funding for assisted reproduction services and for the urgent need for national legislation in this area." The Department of Health said no provision has been made in the new hospital's design for the Merrion Fertility Clinic. Asked if the department was unaware that the clinic planned to move there, a spokesman later said there's an area for assisted conception. But he added: "It is not possible at this early stage to answer detailed questions regarding the operation of the new hospital." An emotional Dr Peter Boylan, who resigned from the board of the National Maternity Hospital, said he could not remain a member of a body which was so "blind" to its actions. Dr Boylan bid a sad farewell to his association with the hospital, where he has worked as an obstetrician for decades and served as Master. In his letter of resignation, he said: "I can't remain a member of a board which is so blind to the consequences of its decision to transfer sole ownership of the hospital to the Sisters of Charity and so deaf to the concerns of the public which it serves. "I'm a lone voice, more or less, on the board. But not a lone voice in the community or the medical profession. Today on reflection I have decided I am going to resign." He added: "It is the new and the next master of the National Maternity Hospital who will have to pick up the pieces of this decision." He later told the Irish Independent he was convinced that if the hospital could be built on land not owned by the religious order, it would "free up the whole thing". He said: "I would like to see an agreement made with the Sisters of Charity to hand over the land, obviously for financial consideration, also taking into account the redress board monies due. I think a settlement that would be reasonable to all parties would put this whole issue of democratic control beyond doubt." The selection of a site for the new hospital had become "almost like an episode of 'Father Ted'," he said. He added: "It's been said that the nuns are not going to run the hospital - that's absolutely correct. I've never suggested that they would run the hospital, but they own the hospital, the own the company that runs it and they have undue representation on the board." Dr Boylan is the brother-in-law of the hospital master Dr Rhona Mahony who has championed the move to St Vincent's, saying that she believes the new maternity hospital will have full clinical and operational independence. Dr Boylan retired as an obstetrician at Holles Street last year. The National Maternity Hospital board formally accepted the resignation of Dr Boylan. Chairman of the board Nicholas Kearns told him in a letter: "Without accepting or engaging in any way with the contentions contained in your letter, I wish to express on behalf of the hospital its thanks to you for the many years of excellent professional care. "I am also saddened that your association with the hospital has ended and wish you every success in the future." Dr Chris Fitzpatrick has resigned from the board of the National Maternity Hospital The former Master of the Coombe Hospital has resigned from the project board of the new National Maternity Hospital in solidarity with Dr Peter Boylan. Dr Boylan resigned from the board yesterday after criticising ownership of the new 300m taxpayer-funded facility being given to the Religious Sisters of Charity, saying they were "blind" to their actions. RTE reports that in his resignation note Professor Chris Fitzpatrick echoed these sentiments. Earlier this week Prof Fitzpatrick appeared on Today With Sean O'Rourke on RTE Radio One and called the proposed board a "forced marriage." Expand Close Dr Peter Boylan Photo: Laura Hutton/RollingNews.ie / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dr Peter Boylan Photo: Laura Hutton/RollingNews.ie Read More He stressed that the hospital should go on the St Vincent's hospital site soon but said there are questions that need to be answered first. He spoke about the generosity of St Vincent's Healthcare Group and the Order but called on them to hand over control of the land to the State. Dedicated space for private practice will be provided in the controversial new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) planned for the St Vincent's campus. That's despite the project being funded with State investment to the tune of 300m. The Irish Independent has established that the new hospital will have rooms for doctors to see private patients. It has also been confirmed that the NMH-linked Merrion Fertility Clinic - which treats private and public patients - plans to move there from its current location beside Holles Street. The Department of Health appeared unaware of this when first asked if the clinic was moving to the new hospital. Meanwhile, the future of a separate business - Merrion Fetal Health - where expectant mothers can avail of scans, remains unclear. That organisation is a partnership between NMH doctors, including the Master of the hospital, Rhona Mahony. Health Minister Simon Harris was asked for a statement on why taxpayers' funds should be used to provide space for private practice at the new hospital. Read More His spokeswoman said the "finer details" of legal and contractual arrangements can't be provided "at this early stage". She said: "The minister has repeatedly emphasised that the protection of taxpayers' money is an absolute priority for him and that continues to be the case." Plans for the hospital have been at the centre of a row over the St Vincent's campus being owned by a religious order, the Sisters of Charity. However, questions also arise from the provision of facilities for private practice there. Architectural drawings on the website for the project show five rooms labelled 'Private Consult', with secretaries' desks directly outside. The corridor is labelled 'Private Clinics'. A spokesperson for the NMH said that consultants will pay rent for dedicated rooms where they see private patients in the new hospital, as they currently do at Holles Street. She said the NMH makes a profit from private practice. "Roughly one third of its income comes from private practice and this makes the hospital viable. Consultants will continue to pay rent to use rooms in the new hospital," she said. Read More On whether or not consultants will contribute to the cost of building the hospital, she said: "It is normal practice for tenants in any building to pay rent, but not construction costs, and that's what will happen here." The plans show 244 single-occupancy rooms with en suites. The NMH spokesperson said that there are currently private rooms at Holles Street, but "there can also be up to 14 public patients in one ward". She added: "In the new hospital, every patient, public and private, will have a single room. This is the way it should be, and we are very proud of this." Merrion Fertility Clinic, a not-for-profit firm, confirmed that it currently pays rent to the NMH and will be moving to the St Vincent's campus. Its statement said the details of the plan have yet to be finalised. Merrion Fetal Health said it has "no plans to relocate" to St Vincent's. A NMH spokesperson said the practice "may not be needed at all at the new hospital". There are extensive scanning facilities planned there. A Department of Health spokesman said there was "no differentiation between public and private in-patient rooms" in the new hospital. He said there is "no provision" in the design for Merrion Fetal Health or Merrion Fertility Clinic. Asked if the department was unaware of the fertility clinic's plans to make the move, the spokesman later said there is an "assisted conception area". The spokesman added it's not possible "at this early stage to answer detailed questions regarding the operation of the new hospital". An Irish man and a British woman are in Garda custody after a probe into fund-raising for Islamic terrorists that began more than a year ago and could have earned up to 100,000. Gardai believe a gang of jihadi sympathisers were using the internet to raise money from other supporters in several countries for international terrorists, and are investigating whether that gang had any links to Ireland. The arrests took place shortly before 10am yesterday at a rented apartment in the centre of Waterford city. The male and female suspects, who were living in the property, are both in their 20s. The full extent of the money-gathering scheme has not yet been established but senior officers say it may have involved up to 100,000. It followed a detailed investigation involving Garda Special Branch and local units in Waterford division. Armed Heavily armed members of the Emergency Response Unit and the Regional Support Unit were involved in the raid. Forensic experts from the Garda Technical Bureau carried out an extensive search of the apartment on foot of a warrant. The Irishman has previously been arrested but was released without charge. The two were taken to Waterford garda station for questioning under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, and can be held without charge for up to 24 hours. A Garda spokesman said the arrests were part of an ongoing intelligence-led operation into suspected terrorist activity. Gardai seized mobile phones and computers to examine electronic traffic between the suspects and a number of others who emerged during their inquiries. Officers are looking specifically at a number of financial transactions as they follow the money trail. It is understood that several payments of money in sums of around 400 to 500 have already been pinpointed by investigators. Some of the figures based overseas were regarded by police in their own countries as Islamic fundamentalist sympathisers. Recruit Gardai are also examining whether any of the transactions were linked to money laundering and if the suspects were connected to attempts to recruit members to Isil or other logistical activities. In 2004 a US-born woman, known as Jihad Jane, who visited Waterford to plot a botched al-Qa'ida terror attack, was sentenced to 10 years in jail. Colleen LaRose plotted to kill a Swedish artist who had depicted the prophet Mohammed. School bus drivers and Siptu workers at Irish Rail have voted in favour of taking industrial action in support of their colleagues in Bus Eireann. A ballot of Siptu workers at both transport providers was completed today. Siptu Organiser, Paul Cullen, said: The ballot count has been completed and the majority of SIPTU members in both Irish Rail and those employed as school bus drivers by Bus Eireann have voted to take industrial action in support of, and in sympathy with, their Bus Eireann colleagues. "Our members in Irish Rail voted by 73per cent to 27pc in favour of industrial action while those employed as school bus drivers by Bus Eireann voted by 72pc to 28pc in favour. He added: Bus Eireann workers are commencing a ballot on a Labour Court recommendation concerning this dispute. SIPTU representatives are currently holding meetings throughout the country with our members in Bus Eireann. The result of their ballot will be pivotal in deciding the course of this dispute. TWO holidaying American police officers have been hailed heroes after saving the life of an Irish pensioner. Port Authority Police Officers Matthew Thomas and Matthew Gilhooley were in a pub in Kenmare, Co Kerry on Wednesday evening when an elderly man (71) suffered a heart attack. Luckily the off-duty officers were able to perform life-saving CPR and used a defibrillator on the man, who was then rushed to Cork University Hospital. Port Authority Police Benevolent Association Inc shared the incredible news on their Facebook page, writing: "The officers, who were on vacation, had just entered PF McCarthy's Pub when the gentleman fell from his chair. "Thomas and Gilhooley rushed to the man's aid and quickly determined he was in cardiac arrest. The officers began CPR along with using two shocks from a defibrillator. "After approximately 15 minutes of CPR the man regained his pulse and began to breathe on his own. "Thomas and Gilhooley continued to attend to the man until the local EMS unit arrived. The gentleman was transported to Cork University Hospital where he continues to receive care." The post also outlined how their training proved vital in the emergency situation. They said: "Thomas and Gilhooley are four year veterans of the Port Authority Police Department and are, as all PAPD officers are, certified first responders trained in CPR, the use of a defibrillator, the proper application of a tourniquet among other life saving procedures. "All PAPD officers are recertified annually. PAPD: Highly Trained, Historically Tested, True Blue. Others Before Self." Others were quick to commend Officers Thoms and Gilhooley for helping to save the man's life. One person said: "Outstanding job men. You are a credit to the PAPD and more importantly your service to mankind." Another joked: "Even after a couple of pints you guys kicked ass. Good job gentlemen." Agreements between local authorities and developers to use publicly owned land for housing will be "fully transparent" and designed to get maximum use from the State's extensive land bank. Housing Minister Simon Coveney said there would be no "quiet deals" struck between council chief executives and builders, adding that councillors in cities had to look at facilitating high-rise developments where appropriate. He was speaking at the launch of the Housing Land Map which sets out the location of more than 800 sites owned by public bodies across the State, which will be offered to the private market to help boost housing supply. More than 2,000 hectares of land controlled by city and county councils and other bodies including CIE, the IDA and HSE are to be offered to private developers and housing associations in an effort to resolve the housing crisis and provide at least 50,000 new homes. More than 700 of the sites are controlled by the local authorities, and any proposed schemes will benefit from a fast-track planning process where the public will have eight weeks to make submissions. Councillors will ultimately decide if the projects are approved, and the minister said and deals struck with developers would be "fully transparent". Read More "The vast majority of these agreements and deals will have to be agreed by councils," Mr Coveney said. "It will not be a quiet deal between chief executives and developers. We have to know the State is getting value for this land bank. This can materialise in a number of ways, including a certain type of housing the local authority wants to deliver. It needs to be very transparent in terms of policy and finance. There will be an insistence on a lot of transparency, and how developers are chosen." Mapping data produced by the department shows even if low-density housing is provided at 25 units per hectare, there is enough land for at least 8,700 homes in Dublin city alone, another 3,000 in Cork city and 1,400 in Galway city, all considered high-demand areas where prices are rising and rents increasing. There is sufficient land for 4,500 in Limerick city and county and 1,150 in Waterford city and county. Mr Coveney said he would like Dublin councillors to maximise use of 137 sites identified, which total almost 350 hectares, to provide affordable and social units, and properties for the private market. "I am a big believer in high rise in the right places," he said. "We are not going to go back to poor quality apartment blocks. We can build very high-quality urban communities. I would encourage the representatives in Dublin City Council to look with an open mind on any restrictions in place. "We don't want to build skyscrapers in Georgian Dublin, but some of these sites will be very attractive for high-density, and others will be traditional housing estates." But some politicians have raised concerns about the possible sell-off of lands, with People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett saying it was the "latest in a series of disastrous plans" to privatise social housing, adding it was "utter madness at every level". But the Irish Council for Social Housing said the map set out an "active pipeline" of building land for social housing, and would help deliver social homes in the right places. Developers will be invited to build homes under a licensing arrangement where land could be sold, provided for free or subject to a long-term lease. Councils may also establish commercial development companies to manage and deliver schemes. Housing Minister Simon Coveney has refused to admit he has signed up Simon Harris as a key ally in his bid to be the next leader of Fine Gael. The Health Minister is understood to have taken part in meetings where Mr Coveney's strategy for the forthcoming campaign was discussed. However, Mr Coveney said he met with colleagues "all the time and we talk about all sorts of things". "There are a lot of conversations within Fine Gael at the moment about the future of the party and where it's going, and where its value system lies. "I'm not going to make any comment in relation to Simon Harris, he can speak for himself," he said. Mr Harris has not yet publicly declared his support for any candidate, but is widely expected to back the Cork South Central TD over Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar. Mr Coveney has said that following the leadership race either himself or his successors in the Department of Housing will have to follow through "on a long and difficult process to get consensus for how to move forward on water". He said it would take six weeks to bring forward legislation to formally end routine domestic billings and introduce a penalty system for excessive usage. There is now a growing expectation within Fine Gael that Taoiseach Enda Kenny will step down shortly after he returns from a trade mission to Canada next week. Speculation is now centring on an announcement in the second week, ensuring a new leader would be in place before the summer. Mr Kenny, who turned 66 on Monday, remained coy on the issue when questioned yesterday. "I've never lacked in energy. I'm looking forward to the visit to Canada. They've requested for me to go there for the last five or six years," he said. He said the two-day trip next Thursday and Friday would be an opportunity to meet the Irish communities in Montreal and Toronto, and to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "I never lacked either the resolve or the energy, but as I said I will make my position very clear to my parliamentary party in the near future," he said. Former US senator George Mitchell has said it is unlikely that US President Donald Trump's tax plan, which proposes slashing America's corporate tax rate to 15pc, will make it through Congress without being altered. While he backed moves to reform the US corporate tax system, he said that should not be seen as a challenge to Ireland. Mr Mitchell also said he believed Brexit would prove historically to be a "huge error on the part of the United Kingdom". The veteran US political figure was in Ballina, Co Mayo, to give the International Human Rights Lecture organised by the Mary Robinson Centre. Ahead of his address, Mr Mitchell told reporters that Mr Trump's one-page tax plan, as announced, was more of an outline than a plan. "Congress will have the last say on what any tax plan is and my own view, preliminarily, is that it's unlikely that the president's proposal, as announced, will be enacted as announced," the former Democratic Party senator said. Read More "There will be much debate, much discussion. I was in the Senate in 1986, the last time we made a major change in our tax structure, and that took two years and the form that it ultimately took was significantly different from the form presented by president Reagan two years earlier." On Wednesday, the White House unveiled plans for what officials called the "biggest tax cut" in US history, proposing lower taxes for businesses, the middle class and the wealthy. But the one-page policy left details of when the cuts will be implemented, over what time frame and how they will be paid for all unanswered. Priorities Mr Trump's top economic adviser Gary Cohn and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin set out a list of tax priorities. These included a one-off tax deal to bring home $2.6trn (2.4trn) in profits parked offshore by corporations. Mr Mitchell said he hoped and expected that there would be tax reform in the US, claiming the corporate tax system there was outdated. "I don't think that should be seen as a challenge or a detriment to Ireland," Mr Mitchell said. "I think what is important for Ireland is that there continues to be a strong personal, political and trading relationship with the United States, which is mutually beneficial to both societies. I know that many American companies... value the quality of the people here." He said that while the corporate tax system in Ireland had been a factor in attracting US companies, Ireland should not sell itself short in terms of the quality of the people. Managing prisoners from different gang factions is now so complex that prison officers are having to place coloured cards on some cell doors to differentiate which inmates can be held together and which have to be separated. Speaking at the Prison Officers Association (POA) conference in Galway yesterday, its assistant general secretary Gabriel Keaveney said the number of prisoners on protection is rising all the time and getting increasingly problematic. At the moment they're all in different locations. In some cases it gets so problematic that you have to put a different colour card outside their door. So, the reds can mix with the blues and not the yellows. The greens are ok with the blues and not the rest. It's insane, he added. You also have people who were never in prison before come up to the gate and say I'm with X or Y. I'm from this part of the city, Mr Keaveney explained. He also told of how gang bosses have lieutenants operating on their behalf in prisons. If you have gang leaders in a place, they will have influence over a wing or a landing or a block. The influence they have is huge so you have to segregate them, he said. He said there is an area in Portlaoise prison that could be used for such segregation. Some of the gang leaders should be there. It can house 40 people and it would make a huge difference. If you take out 40 kingpins, the whole environment of a prison changes, even just 10 of them would change things massively, echoed POA President Stephen Delaney. I can tell you now in Mountjoy alone there are 18 gangs. Some of the gangs are interconnected as well so it can get very complex, he explained. In response the Irish Prison Service conceded the increase in recent years of organised gang activity in the community has had significant implications for the management of Irish prisons. Rivalries and feuds which develop on the outside continue inside of prison. Prison management and staff have to ensure that the various factions are kept apart and, as far as possible, that members do not have influence over other inmates or criminal activities outside the prisons, said a spokesman. Current Irish Prison Service Policy in this regard is to manage these groups and their associates on a daily basis through segregation and separation throughout the prison system, he added. The persons leading or associated to these groups within our Prisons have been identified, targeted and profiled. The movement, correspondence, associating and visitor access of these individuals is constantly monitored and reviewed on an almost daily basis. The management of this cohort is constantly under review and the accommodation of group leaders in a single high security unit is an action that will be kept under review by the Service and considered if deemed appropriate, he explained. The POA also raised the issue of having to deal with violent fights between prisoners, and increasing attacks on officers, with no equipment such as batons or pepper spray to help them. When two prisoners are fighting with blades, what do we do? We have to go in with our sleeves twisted up and talk to these people, said Mr Keaveney. We talk about conflict resolution, about de-escalation, we do all that at the moment. We don't go into a row and jump in as a first issue, we do know how to de-escalate many situations, but how we cannot be given batons and pepper spray and equipment, we are absolutely astonished. We gave examples of Scotland and England they carry batons, and in Northern Ireland, but we still in 2017 we go into work with our two arms, he added. The Irish Prison Service said it is implementing the recommendations of the recent State Claims Agency Report of Assault of Operational Staff by Prisoners. There are a wide range of recommendations which will be implemented by the IPS over a two year period. The issuing of batons was not recommended by the SCA in their report as they felt that the carrying of batons could introduce as much risk at it would possibly mitigate. The issuing of Batons to staff on escort duty has been introduced, it said. The SCA have recommended that the prison service consider the use of incapacitant spray on a trial basis for certain situations and this is being considered and currently researched by us, it added. Also at the conference the garda commissioner Noirin OSullivan was accused of refusing a face to face meeting with prison officers to address their concerns about attacks on staff in jails. Mr Keaveney said it had sought a sit down meeting with Commissioner OSullivan a year ago on the issue but that she hasnt saw fit to have the meeting at this particular point in time. Our specific concerns are the lack of progress that is made when we report a crime or when we report an assault. We have serious concerns that its not being taken seriously by an Garda Siochana and we want to meet the Commissioner and tell her that, he said. We think its important that she sits down with us, to hear the issue with assaults and how they are prosecuted, and the lack of progress that we see on the ground for individual prison officers, he said. We want her to tell us how serious they are going to take assaults against prison staff. There is no point in us meeting an Assistant Commissioner or a Chief Superintendent. They cant issue general circulars, he added. A VIEWING area over the city is among the ideas proposed for the redevelopment of the landmark former Central Bank building on Dame Street. The new owners are set to meet local authority representatives in the next fortnight to unveil detailed plans. The building was sold in January to Hines Ireland, following the Central Banks relocation to new docklands premises. Its new HQ, which is located on North Wall Quay, was officially opened this week. However, the old premises, which were sold for around 67m to the Hines and Peterson Group, are expected to undergo a number of enhancements. It is understood that the removal of surrounding fencing is also on the table, making the area between Dame Street and Temple Bar more pedestrian friendly. Other enhancements could include a restaurant and cafe in what would be a multi-use building. Preliminary plans are due to be unveiled when Dublin city councillors are invited into the building by Hines. Councillors were sent written invitations and were told they would be given a tour of the tower block. No official confirmation has been provided the company. We fully appreciate the strategic and architectural significance of the site, the letter said. Local representative Mannix Flynn said the development of a viewing tower would prove popular. This is a very appropriate development and its very good that there will be a multi-purpose use, he said. It should become like a destination point. A spokesperson for Hines said: Since the acquisition, Hines and Peterson Group have been exploring opportunities for the long-term enhancement of the Dame Street site and have been engaging with local stakeholders. Visits from mainland Europe decreased by 0.6pc, despite increases of 9.8pc from France and 4.5pc from Spain. Photo: Stock image Fewer British people are travelling to Ireland due to a weak pound as Brexit has begun to take its toll on Irish tourism. The number of people travelling here from the UK has dropped by 6.5pc compared with the first three months of last year, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). This was the first decrease in the same period since 2010. Tourism Minister Shane Ross said the Government would "meet the challenge". Leading figures in the industry say the sterling's drop in value has made Ireland a more expensive place for UK natives to travel. Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said British tourists were becoming more cautious with their spending, while the CEO of Failte Ireland, Paul Kelly, described the trend as "concerning", with Britain becoming a more thrifty holiday destination for potential visitors. However, overall there was an increase of 0.6pc in the number of people visiting Ireland, with the largest rise coming from North America at 23.2pc. Visits from mainland Europe decreased by 0.6pc, despite increases of 9.8pc from France and 4.5pc from Spain. Almost two million people visited Ireland in the first quarter of 2017, and according to the CSO almost half of visitors to Ireland were British. I once spent time with a family that didn't have a dining table. They prepared their food in the kitchen and carried it into the living room on trays. Then they ate it on their knees in front of the television. Without a table to sit at, I felt disorientated and lost. Most families eat in front of the television sometimes, but this particular household hadn't left themselves an option. "We found that we weren't using the dining table so we just got rid of it," they explained. There was no table in the kitchen either. Nutritionists seem to agree that eating in front of the television is not a good plan. Television is distracting. When you're watching, you pay less attention to your food. Distracted eaters remember their meals less well and are more likely to eat snacks later in the day. They're consequently prone to fatness. Eating while distracted by a Smartphone has the same effect. It seems that the healthiest thing that you can do while eating is to focus on the food. There is nothing new about this advice. In leaner times, people knew instinctively that they would get the most out of their food by giving it their full attention. It can be hard to break the habit of having your meals in front of a screen, but it's worth a try. Eating with a bit of awareness is a simple and pleasurable thing to do. Expand Close The 4You table has storage in the middle / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The 4You table has storage in the middle For this, you will need a dining table and some chairs. The interior design event, House, which returns to the RDS from May 26-28, should have some good ideas. At the top of my wish list, the Veizla table from Pemara Design (Stand D17) is made from solid wood panels. This creates a lovely patchwork effect - as though a high class parquet floor decided to morph into a table. It comes in just about every wood imaginable, with round and rectangular options. Another Irish design classic, the DC table from OD Design, has a more architectural look. It's a refectory style table in solid oak and stainless steel with a wide choice of options in terms of size and finish. Prices for both these tables are available on request, but be prepared to think in four figures. The dining room suite, in which the chairs and the tables match, is probably a thing of the past. The table itself is still a relatively serious item, but chairs are cheaper and can be more playful. There is no reason, for example, that they all have to be the same colour. O'Hagan Design (Stand B8) is the Irish stockist for the Danish brand, Hay, known for satisfyingly simple designs in interesting colours, including the Neu 13 Upholstery chair. This follows the basic pattern of moulded shell on wooden legs, upgraded with nice fabric upholstery, delicate stitching and a piping detail to accentuate the rim. Expect to pay around 355 for a chair with upholstery, and 215 without. "All life happens around the dining table!" says Matja Komu of Harvey Norman. Over the last few years, she has seen Irish people move (gradually and cautiously) away from the traditional oak dining table and begin to enjoy glass table tops. "They don't break and they're easy to clean - you just wipe them with a cloth." One of the newest tabletop surfaces to emerge internationally, although yet to become popular in Ireland, is ceramic. "It's not like the ceramic that you see in plates and cups," she explains. Expand Close The 4You table has storage in the middle / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The 4You table has storage in the middle "It looks more like pressed sand and it's basically indestructible. You could probably break it if you tried, but you'd have to use a hammer." I've experienced tiled ceramic tabletops in the past and found them visually attractive but hard to clean. Also, the tiles were liable to crack. Kombu assures me that the new generation of ceramic surfaces are nothing like this. "It's a single surface with a matt finish and it doesn't stain." Ceramic offers a blank canvas in terms of colour, with the most popular choices being light or dark grey, followed by taupe. Dining tables from Harvey Norman range from the modest Jensen dining table (799) to the elegant glass-topped Lucci extension table (1,999). Many of their designs can also be customised. "The idea that one size fits all is outdated and generic. People like to have options in terms of colour and size, and they like the idea that the piece of furniture they buy is unique. "Some of our ranges are fully customisable, but that gives you a lot of choice, so you really need to know what you want." For sheer cleverness, you can't beat the 4You dining table from the Polish design company, Vox. It's a Scandinavian-style table with hidden storage in the tabletop, which is basically a sandwich with space between the layers. This allows for two types of storage. All the models have a built-in container that runs down the middle of the table. This can be covered over or left open to display flowers or fresh herbs. You can also buy drawers (52 each) to insert between the layers of the tabletop. The table comes in a choice of oak-effect and white laminate (you can mix and match the drawer finishes) and two sizes (100cm x 100cm or 200cm x 100cm). Prices start at 415 for the smaller table from Cucklooland (delivery charges will vary depending on where you live). See house-event.ie, pemaradesign.com, odfurniture.com, ohagandesign.com, harveynorman.ie, cuckooland.com. Local community groups are being encouraged to apply for new CCTV funding to benefit their local areas. The new grant-aid scheme aims to assist community groups in establishing community-based CCTV systems. Local TD Fergus O'Dowd said he believes community groups in the Louth and Meath area should apply for funding under the new scheme. 'Under the scheme, eligible community groups can apply for grant-aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum grant of 40,000,' said Deputy O'Dowd who is encouraging groups to apply for funding. 'Upon approval of the grant, the applicant will receive an up-front payment of 50% of the grant with the balance to be paid when the system is fully operational.' Some of the key objectives of the Scheme are to enhance existing policing provision within the community, to assist in the prevention and reduction of local crime, disorder and anti-social activity and to increase community involvement in the provision of legitimate, integrated responses to prevent and reduce crime in local areas in association with appropriate agencies. 'These CCTV systems will act as a deterrent to anti-social behaviour and enhance existing policing provision here both Counties. It is intended that the scheme will run for 3 years with funding of 1 million being made available each year. 'I am delighted to see the Government following through on the commitments set out in the Programme for Government. We will also continue to work with Garda management and the Policing Authority to implement reforms that will provide greater confidence, protection, transparency and efficiency to crime reduction, detection and prosecution.' Applications under the scheme can be made to the Department of Justice and Equality and the application form and explanatory material are available for download on the website of the Department at www.justice.ie. A High Court judge has rejected a challenge by a number of Cork residents opposing the development of a windfarm. The dispute arose over planning permission for a six-turbine windfarm and other developments in the townlands of Derragh, Rathgaskig and Ballingeary. The concerns raised by the local residents range from the environmental impact of the development to the noise of the turbines. The development by Framore Ltd had been rejected by the high court back in 2014 because of flaws in the proposal for planning permission. Following the decision, the company revised its plan and agreed to move the turbines an additional 50 metres from homes. The residents attempted to appeal the decision, however, the judge refused an application. Princess Claire Of Luxembourg and Prince Felix Of Luxembourg depart from their wedding ceremony at the Basilique Sainte Marie-Madeleine on September 21, 2013 in Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg celebrated their son Prince Liam's baptism at the Vatican with their daughter Amalia, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg celebrated their son Prince Liam's baptism at the Vatican. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg celebrated their son Prince Liam's baptism at the Vatican with their daughter Amalia. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg celebrated their son Prince Liam's baptism at the Vatican with their daughter Amalia and godparents Prince Sebastien and Anna Maria Pamin. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg celebrated their son Prince Liam's baptism at the Vatican with their daughter Amalia. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco Princess Claire of Luxembourg channelled her inner Kate Middleton at the royal christening of her four-month-old son, Prince Liam. Kate's signature 'bouncy blow dry' may be difficult for us mere mortals to recreate but royals can carry it off with aplomb as Luxembourg's Princess Claire proved with her impeccably sleek waves. Bearing a striking resemblance to the Britsh royal, Princess Claire cut an elegant figure as she attended the christening of her four-month-old son Prince Liam. The young royal was baptised at St Peter's Basilica in the Chapel of the Choir on Wednesday but it was his sister, Princess Amalia (four), who stole the show. Expand Close Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg celebrated their son Prince Liam's baptism at the Vatican. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg celebrated their son Prince Liam's baptism at the Vatican. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco The little princess tended to her brother during the ceremony, even patting him on the head during the baptism. But the event proved to be too long and tiresome for the four-year-old and she eventually plonked herself down on the altar steps for a much-needed respite. Expand Close Princess Amalia takes some time out. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Princess Amalia takes some time out. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco It was one of the first royal baptisms at the Vatican in recent years. Among the royals in attendance were Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; their four other children Prince Nikolaus, Princess Margaretha, Princess Maria Anunciata, Prince Josef and Princess Maria-Astrid of Liechtenstein. Expand Close Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg celebrated their son Prince Liam's baptism at the Vatican with their daughter Amalia and godparents Prince Sebastien and Anna Maria Pamin. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg celebrated their son Prince Liam's baptism at the Vatican with their daughter Amalia and godparents Prince Sebastien and Anna Maria Pamin. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco His godparents, Felix's brother Prince Sebastien and Anna-Maria Pamin, also took part in the ceremony. The young royal, whose official title is Prince Liam of Nassau, is fourth in line to the throne after his uncle, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume; his father Felix and his sister, Princess Amalia. Expand Close Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg celebrated their son Prince Liam's baptism at the Vatican with their daughter Amalia, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg celebrated their son Prince Liam's baptism at the Vatican with their daughter Amalia, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco Video of the Day Claire married Felix in a lavish royal wedding in the South of France in 2013. The doctoral candidate is the daughter of telecommunications mogul, Hartmut Lademacher, and met Felix when they attended the same boarding school in Switzerland. Expand Close Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg celebrated their son Prince Liam's baptism at the Vatican with their daughter Amalia. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg celebrated their son Prince Liam's baptism at the Vatican with their daughter Amalia. Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco She worked for Vogue magazine and pursued a master's degree in bioethics from a university in Rome and is fluent in German, English, French and Italian. Since their royal wedding, the couple have been living in the South of France, at the Chateau Les Crostes where they manage a winery. The Avengers star took aim at Americas first daughter. Scarlett Johansson has shared her disappointment over Ivanka Trumps reluctance to take a public stance on controversial issues related to her fathers administration. The actress referenced an interview Ivanka gave with CBS News earlier this week in which she suggested she voices disagreement to her father Donald Trump quietly and directly and candidly. Ivanka, who is taking on an official unpaid role in the administration, was responding to criticism that she had not publicly condemned parts of the presidents conservative agenda. She answered the notion that she is complicit in her fathers policies, saying: If being complicit is wanting to be a force for good and to make a positive impact, then Im complicit. Speaking at the Women In The World summit in New York, Scarlett said Americas first daughter could have a big impact by being more vocal. She said: If you take a job as a public advocate, then you must advocate publicly. You cant have it both ways. The Avengers star, who portrayed Ivanka in a recent Saturday Night Live sketch, said she is baffled by the situation. Scarlett said: Powerful women often get concerned with this idea that theyre going to be seen in this unforgiving light. Screw that. Its so old-fashioned its so uninspired and actually really cowardly. Video of the Day And I was so disappointed by that interview she gave. She has an opportunity to really make a big impact just by being vocal Ive met her several times in the past, and shes a very well-spoken, smart, intelligent woman. The whole situation baffles me. Pictured at The Punchestown Races yesterday were Sarah Cass, Kilkenny and Ann Marie Corbett, Cork. Photo: Colin O'Riordan Contestants in the final day of The Bess dressed Lady at The Punchestown Races Photo: Colin O'Riordan The Winner of The Best Dressed Lady at Punchestown today was Ann Marie Phelan, Kilkenny with judges, Vogue Williams and Bairbre Power. Photo: Colin O'Riordan Winner of the Bollinger Best Dresed lady compettition Ann-Maire Phelan from Newbrdige who won a VIP trip for 2 to the Bollinger estate, REims & Paris at The Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival in Punchestown, Kildare. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins When all the judges want your dress, you know youve got it right on Ladies Day. Teacher Ann-Marie Phelan (31) was toasting with a glass of bubbly today after scooping the Bollinger Best Dressed Lady event at Punchestown Festival. And she was on something of a roll having also won the best dressed yesterday too, with a black and white jumpsuit. Today, she was wearing a pleated oriental-inspired red patterned dress from Solace London, her hat was made to match by Michelle Kearns, hired from Hats Amore, her bag came from budget-friendly Parfois and, equally, her shoes from Penneys. Expand Close The Winner of The Best Dressed Lady at Punchestown Races. Picture: Colin O'Riordan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Winner of The Best Dressed Lady at Punchestown Races. Picture: Colin O'Riordan Her prize is a chic VIP trip for two to the Champagne region in France, with their own chauffeur and dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant, as well as a years supply of Bollinger champagne. The Kilkenny woman is a regular at the Kildare race track and won Best Dressed at the Curragh last year and has only recently returned from her prize trip to Las Vegas. She was delighted with her big win today and was celebrating with her fiance Paul Dunning. The couple teach together at Scoil Mhuire Senior School in Newbridge and Paul hot-footed it over to the race course after school, arriving just in time for the judging. "He said there was so much excitement because my picture was in the paper," said Ann-Marie. Expand Close Vogue Williams at the fourth day of the Punchestown Racing Festival. Picture: Michael Chester / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Vogue Williams at the fourth day of the Punchestown Racing Festival. Picture: Michael Chester "I cant wait to go back to school on Monday now to tell them all about it." The judges were Vogue Williams, Bairbre Power of the Irish Independent, Heather de Bromhead and Bastien Mariani. Video of the Day Bairbre said they had chosen Ann-Marie as their winner because her dress was so architectural and really stood out. "All three of the women judges said we all wanted her dress," she explained. Taoiseach Enda Kenny was at Punchestown, as a stopover before his trip to Brussels later this evening. "Weve prepared for this very well and the principals are very well enshrined," he said of the Brexit discussions on the table. He also pointed to the implications for the thoroughbred industry in Ireland, saying Brexit would have a big bearing, but that it depends on how the negotiations will go in the next couple of years. Excitement is building at Punchestown ahead of the big race, the BETDAQ Punchestown Champion Hurdle, at 5.30, with the continuing showdown between trainers Gordon Elliot and Willie Mullins. Another big win for Gordon Elliott in Race Three, with Definite Ruby contributing 45,000 to the pot meaning he is now 171,830 ahead of Willie Mullins. First lady Melania Trump and Argentina's first lady Juliana Awada walk the Colonnade of the White House in Washington, U.S., April 27, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump (L) welcome President Mauricio Macri of Argentina and the first lady of Argentina, Juliana Awada (R), to the White House shortly before meeting in the Oval Office April 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump is scheduled to meet with Macri throughout the morning and early afternoon to discuss a range of bilateral issues. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) US First Lady Melania Trump walks past the West Wing of the White House April 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski (Photo credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) US First Lady Melania Trump and US President Donald Trump arrive to greet Argentina's President Mauricio Macri outside the White House April 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) Melania Trump took a step away from her trademark style on Thursday with a military-inspired ensemble. Melania has kept her wardrobe choices quite safe since becoming US First Lady in January, with form-fitting dresses among her most frequently worn outfits, but she made a bold change on Thursday by wearing a military-inspired skirt-suit. Joining President Donald Trump for a meeting with the Argentinian President Mauricio Macri and his wife Juliana Awada, Melania made a statement in a khaki green skirt and peplum blazer from Altuzarra's spring 2017 collection. Featuring over-sized black buttons and black and white piping, the edgy outfit comes in at over 3700, while her matching snake-print Manolo Blahnik court heels retail at 540. Expand Close U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump (L) welcome President Mauricio Macri of Argentina and the first lady of Argentina, Juliana Awada (R), to the White House shortly before meeting in the Oval Office April 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump is scheduled to meet with Macri throughout the morning and early afternoon to discuss a range of bilateral issues. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump (L) welcome President Mauricio Macri of Argentina and the first lady of Argentina, Juliana Awada (R), to the White House shortly before meeting in the Oval Office April 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump is scheduled to meet with Macri throughout the morning and early afternoon to discuss a range of bilateral issues. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) After living in New York for the first three months of Trump's presidency, it has been reported that Melania will move into the White House this summer. Melania has reportedly been reluctant to move to Washington as she loves her "independent life" in New York, sources told People. In recent weeks, she has taken on more traditional jobs like reading to a group of children during the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House and accompanying Queen Rania of Jordan to an all-girls public charter school in Washington D.C. and escorting the Chinese president's wife Peng Liyuan on a tour of a middle school in Florida. Una Healy at the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture Final at The 3 Arena,Dublin. Pic: Brian McEvoy. Students in recycled outfits on the catwalk during rehearsals at the Junk Kouture Final in the 3Arena. Photo: Brian McEvoy Una Healy and Louise Walsh at the Bank of ireland Junk Kouture Final at The 3Arena,Dublin. Pic: Brian McEvoy Una Healy at the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture Final at The 3 Arena,Dublin, Pic: Brian McEvoy A futuristic suit of armour made from an old trampoline, a carpet maker, and a broken chandelier was named the winner of the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture final. Now in its seventh year, the all-Ireland fashion and art competition for secondary schools challenges students to create innovative outfits from recycled materials and junk. Mariusz Malon of Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana, Co Donegal, designed and modelled his piece 'Engimatic'. The winning school receives a cash prize of 2,500 and each member of the team will get a prize of 500 and a mini iPad. Expand Close Una Healy and Louise Walsh at the Bank of ireland Junk Kouture Final at The 3Arena,Dublin. Pic: Brian McEvoy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Una Healy and Louise Walsh at the Bank of ireland Junk Kouture Final at The 3Arena,Dublin. Pic: Brian McEvoy 'X Factor' judge Louis Walsh touched down in Dublin last night to attend the grand final. "The talent is amazing - what these students can do with old bottles and pieces of rubbish is amazing," Walsh said. Asked whether he would consider wearing any of the ensembles, he replied: "Well, not in public anyway." Walsh was joined by The Saturdays star Una Healy, designer Rhys Ellis and Jane Leavey, programme director of Griffith College. Expand Close Students in recycled outfits on the catwalk during rehearsals at the Junk Kouture Final in the 3Arena. Photo: Brian McEvoy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Students in recycled outfits on the catwalk during rehearsals at the Junk Kouture Final in the 3Arena. Photo: Brian McEvoy The two Bank of Ireland Glamour Prizes were awarded to Melondramatic' from Our Lady's Bower, Athlone, and 'No Strings Attached' from St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena, Co Antrim. Black rhinos are a critically endangered species. A female southern black rhino calf has been born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Australia. The little girl was born on April 11, weighing in at 25-30 kg and is the third generation of black rhinos born at the zoo in Dubbo. While her playful nature is cute and fun to watch, Kufaras calf who does not yet have a name is a boon for a species under serious threat. According to the zoo, black rhinos now number just around 4,200 in the world. This is the fourth calf born in the past 12 years to the zoos internationally renowned breeding programme for this critically endangered species, said keeper Linda Matthews. All five rhino species remaining in the wild are under enormous pressure to survive. Every birth is critical and hopefully this calf further highlights the need to protect this remarkable species. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) claim Europeans settling in Africa in the early 20th century were responsible for the early decline in the black rhino population. The settlers reportedly regarded the magnificent beasts which grow to around 5.2 feet high and around two to three tonnes in weight as vermin and killed them at a rate of five or six rhinos per day for food or simply for amusement. Rhino hunting is not a thing of the past however. Nowadays they are largely hunted for their horn, which is used in Asian medicine and as a symbol of status. In 2016 alone 1,054 rhinos were reported killed in South Africa, cutting the total rhino population by approximately 6% dangerously close to their birth rate. More work needs to be done to protect the rhino and conservation efforts like those by Taronga Zoo are essential as such every new calf should be celebrated. As for the little one from Taronga, her keepers say she and her mother Kufara are doing well, and the mother is displaying caring and attentive maternal behaviour. The pair will go on display at the zoo in June. It was a busy day for counter-terrorism police. Police made several anti-terrorism arrests yesterday in locations across London. Heres what is known so far: What happened in Willesden? Police believe they have thwarted an active terror plot after a raid in Willesden, north London. Six people were arrested on Thursday evening, five at or near the address in north London and one person at an address in Kent. A woman in her 20s was shot and injured by officers. She remains under police guard after being taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition. What happened in Westminster? Hours earlier, officers swooped on a man carrying a rucksack containing at least three knives in Whitehall, just yards from the scene of last months deadly attack by Khalid Masood. It is understood the arrest of the 27-year-old suspect was intelligence-led and was made as part of a joint operation being carried out by MI5 and counter-terrorism police. Police are continuing to question the suspect today. Are the incidents linked? No. Deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu said they were two separate unconnected and ongoing counter terrorism investigations that happened in the last 24 hours. Should the public be worried? Basu, who is senior national co-ordinator for counter terrorism policing, said that he believed police had contained the threat from both the Willesden incident and the earlier terror arrest in Westminster. The UN human rights office has said it is "deeply troubled" by four executions over eight days in Arkansas under an accelerated timetable based on the looming expiration of a sedative used in the procedure. Officials said the apparent rush "adds to the arbitrariness and cruelty of the whole process". Spokeswoman Liz Throssell stopped short of condemning the move but said: "Rushing executions can deny prisoners the opportunity to fully exercise their right to appeal against their conviction and/or sentence." Ms Throssell said use of the sedative midazolam "has been criticised for failing to prevent people from suffering pain". She said the rights office welcomed the stay of execution in four other cases in Arkansas, and pointed to a "welcome and steady decline" in executions in the US in recent years. The intervention came after Kenneth Williams, 38, was pronounced dead at 11.05pm local time, 13 minutes after his execution began at the Cummins Unit prison at Varner, Arkansas. An Associated Press reporter who witnessed the execution said Williams lurched and convulsed 20 times during the lethal injection. A prison spokesman said he shook for approximately 10 seconds, about three minutes into the procedure. Arkansas had scheduled eight executions over an 11-day period before the drug expires on Sunday. That would have been the most in such a compressed period since the US Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, but courts issued stays for four of the inmates. The four lethal injections that were carried out included Monday's first double execution in the US since 2000. "I extend my sincerest of apologies to the families I have senselessly wronged and deprived of their loved ones," Williams said in a final statement he read from the death chamber. "I was more than wrong. The crimes I perpetrated against you all was senseless, extremely hurtful and inexcusable." Williams was sentenced to death for killing a former deputy warden, Cecil Boren, after he escaped from prison in 1999. At the time of his escape, Williams was less than three weeks into a life term for the death of a college cheerleader. "Any kind of movement he had was far less than his victims," said Jodie Efird, one of Mr Boren's daughters, who witnessed the execution. State officials have declared the string of executions a success, using terms like "closure" for the victims' families. The inmates have died within 20 minutes of their executions beginning, a contrast from midazolam-related executions in other states that took anywhere from 43 minutes to two hours. The inmates' lawyers have said there are still flaws and that there is no certainty that the inmates are not suffering while they die. "The long path of justice ended tonight and Arkansans can reflect on the last two weeks with confidence that our system of laws in this state has worked," governor Asa Hutchinson said in a statement issued after the execution. "Carrying out the penalty of the jury in the Kenneth Williams case was necessary. There has never been a question of guilt." Arkansas Department of Correction has said it has no new source for midazolam, normally a surgical sedative, although it has made similar remarks previously yet still found a new supply. Williams's lawyers said he had sickle cell trait, lupus and brain damage, and argued the combined maladies could subject him to an exceptionally painful execution in violation of the US Constitution. Arkansas' "one size fits all" execution protocol could leave him in pain after a paralytic agent renders him unable to move, they had argued. "After the state injects Mr Williams with vecuronium bromide... most or all of the manifestations of his extreme pain and suffering will not be discernible to witnesses," they wrote to the Arkansas Supreme Court, which rejected his request to stop the execution. The US Supreme Court also denied requests for a stay, including one that argued his claims of intellectual disability had not been fully explored. Williams was sentenced to death for killing Mr Boren after escaping from the Cummins Unit prison in a barrel holding a mishmash of kitchen scraps. He left the prison - where the execution chamber is located in another part of the facility - less than three weeks into a life term for killing University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff cheerleader Dominique Hurd in 1998. At the conclusion of that trial, he had taunted the young woman's family by turning to them after the sentence was announced and saying: "You thought I was going to die, didn't you?" After reaching Mr Boren's house he killed him, stole guns and his truck and drove to Missouri. There, he crashed into a water-delivery truck, killing the driver. While in prison, he confessed to killing another person in 1998. AP Donald Trump has admitted he thought being US President would "be easier", feels like he lives in a cocoon and he misses being able to drive. As he prepares to mark 100 days in the White House tomorrow, Trump also spoke about his lack of privacy and said that a "major conflict" with North Korea is possible but he would prefer to use diplomacy instead. Trump told Reuters: "I loved my previous life. I had so many things going," Trump told Reuters in an interview. "This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier." A wealthy businessman from New York, Trump assumed public office for the first time when he entered the White House on Jan. 20 after he defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an upset. Trump, who said he was accustomed to not having privacy in his "old life," expressed surprise at how little he had now. And he made clear he was still getting used to having 24-hour Secret Service protection and its accompanying constraints. "You're really into your own little cocoon, because you have such massive protection that you really can't go anywhere," he said. Expand Close US president Donald Trump / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp US president Donald Trump When the president leaves the White House, it is usually in a limousine or an SUV. He said he missed being behind the wheel himself. Expand Close Donald and Melania Trump leaving The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala May 07, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Donald and Melania Trump leaving The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala May 07, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) "I like to drive," he said. "I can't drive any more." He also spoke about the possibility of a conflict with North Korea. He said: "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely." Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple U.S. presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasizing by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said. Expand Close Ivanka Trump, daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, walks among stellae at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also called the Holocaust Memorial, on April 25, 2017 in Berlin, Germany / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ivanka Trump, daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, walks among stellae at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also called the Holocaust Memorial, on April 25, 2017 in Berlin, Germany Read More In other highlights of the 42-minute interview, Trump was cool to speaking again with Taiwan's president after an earlier telephone call with her angered China. He also said he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the U.S. THAAD anti-missile defense system, which he estimated at $1 billion, and intends to renegotiate or terminate a U.S. free trade pact with South Korea because of a deep trade deficit with Seoul. Expand Close Donald Trump announced major tax cuts to boost business (AP/Carolyn Kaster) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Donald Trump announced major tax cuts to boost business (AP/Carolyn Kaster) Asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the pact, Trump said: Very soon. Im announcing it now. Trump also said he was considering adding stops to Israel and Saudi Arabia to a Europe trip next month, emphasizing that he wanted to see an Israeli-Palestinian peace. He complained that Saudi Arabia was not paying its fair share for U.S. defense. Asked about the fight against Islamic State, Trump said the militant group had to be defeated. Expand Close Ivanka Trump, IMF chief Christine Lagarde and German Chancellor Angela Merkel talk on stage at the W20 conferencein Berlin. Photo: Getty / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ivanka Trump, IMF chief Christine Lagarde and German Chancellor Angela Merkel talk on stage at the W20 conferencein Berlin. Photo: Getty "I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation," he said, when asked about what the endgame was for defeating Islamist violent extremism. Read More Trump said North Korea was his biggest global challenge. He lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in Pyongyang. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month. "I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. "With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he cant," Trump said. Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed U.S. lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority." It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbor and ally, and remained open to negotiations. U.S. officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct U.S. military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among U.S. forces in both countries. 'I HOPE HE'S RATIONAL' Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. "He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. "I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational," he said. Trump, sipping a Coke delivered by an aide after the president ordered it by pressing a button on his desk, rebuffed an overture from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who told Reuters a direct phone call with Trump could take place again after their first conversation in early December angered Beijing. China considers neighboring Taiwan to be a renegade province. Read More "My problem is that I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi," said Trump. "I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him. "So I would certainly want to speak to him first." Trump also said he hoped to avoid a potential government shutdown amid a dispute between congressional Republicans and Democrats over a spending deal with a Saturday deadline looming. But he said if a shutdown takes place, it will be the Democrats' fault for trying to add money to the legislation to "bail out Puerto Rico" and other items. He also defended the one-page tax plan he unveiled on Wednesday from criticism that it would increase the U.S. deficit, saying better trade deals and economic growth would offset the costs. "We will do trade deals that are going to make up for a tremendous amount of the deficit. We are going to be doing trade deals that are going to be much better trade deals," Trump said. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA). Picture: KCNA/Handout via REUTERS North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on Saturday from a region north of its capital, but it appears to have failed, South Korea's military said, defying intense pressure from the United States and the reclusive state's main ally, China. An official at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the launch but did not immediately have any further information. Yonhap news agency said the missile appeared to have blown up a few seconds into flight. The test came as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned the United Nations that failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs could lead to 'catastrophic consequences'. U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters in an interview on Thursday a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Trump praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping for "trying very hard" to rein in Pyongyang. But both China and Russia rebuked Washington's threat of military force at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the matter. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the 15-member council it was not only up to China to solve the North Korean problem. "The key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side," Wang told the council in blunt remarks that Tillerson later rebuffed. Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been rising as North Korea celebrates a number of key anniversaries, with both sides staging major military drills. In a show of force, the United States is sending the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula, where it will join the USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in South Korea on Tuesday. South Korea's navy has said it will hold drills with the U.S. strike group. Five people have died as a result of the attack (AP) A woman in her 60s who was injured in the April 7 truck attack in Stockholm has died, Swedish authorities said, raising the death toll to five. A political party in Trollhattan, near Gothenburg, identified the woman as Marie Kide, 66, an elected member of the city council. "It is with sorrow that I have received the message that another person died," prime minister Stefan Lofven said. "The aim of this kind of attack is to spread terror and hatred," he told Sweden's news agency TT. "We will do everything in our power so people can be safe in Sweden." A 39-year-old Uzbek man, Rakhmat Akilov, has pleaded guilty to a terrorist crime for ramming the truck into a crowd on a busy pedestrian shopping street in the Swedish capital. Police have not disclosed a motive for the attack and no extremist group has claimed it. Akilov's Swedish residency application was rejected last year but police said there was nothing to indicate he might plan an attack. After the rejection, he was ordered to leave Sweden in December. Instead, he allegedly went underground, eluding authorities' attempts to track him down. He was caught in a northern suburb of Stockholm, hours after he drove the stolen beer truck into the crowd of afternoon shoppers outside the upmarket Ahlens store. Others killed in the attack were an 11-year-old Swedish girl, a 31-year-old Belgian woman, a 69-year-old Swedish woman, and a 41-year-old Briton the UK Government identified as Chris Bevington. Fourteen other people were injured. The attack shocked Sweden, known for its welcoming policy towards migrants and refugees. In 2015, a record 163,000 asylum-seekers arrived in the country - the highest per-capita rate in Europe. The government responded by tightening border controls and curtailing some immigrant rights. AP A suspected jihadist carrying a rucksack packed with knives was heading towards Downing Street when he was dramatically arrested by London police yesterday, security sources have said. The "lone wolf" suspect had been under close surveillance when counter-terrorism officers ordered his immediate detention as he came within 300 yards of the gates of the prime minister's residence. It is understood that the suspect's family had become concerned about his behaviour and reported him to the authorities several weeks ago. Investigators believe he was about to launch an attack. The 27-year-old man, dressed head to toe in black, was wrestled to the ground by armed police officers as he walked among a crowd of tourists and workers in Parliament Street just after 2.20pm. His arrest came just five weeks after Khalid Masood was shot and killed just 100 yards away - within the grounds of the Palace of Westminster - having mown down bystanders in a hired car driven over Westminster Bridge. Theresa May, who was on a tour of a factory in Chesterfield at the time of the arrest, praised security services for preventing another terrorist strike at the heart of British power. Mrs May said: "It shows that our police and intelligence and security services are on the alert, as they always are, looking to keep us safe and secure." A Whitehall source said that the man, who is understood to have been born overseas but who lives in south-east London, had been arrested as part of an "intelligence-led operation". He had been followed on the Underground and is thought to have surfaced at St James's Park Tube station before heading towards Westminster. The source said: "He was under surveillance and he was stopped while walking away from Parliament Square and up Whitehall towards Downing Street." A senior policing source said: "This is someone who was known and under surveillance. He was being watched very closely." They said the man had been "walking in the direction of Whitehall and No 10" and that "at some stage an alert went out to all the teams in the area and the order was made to pick him up." Police said that as a result of the arrest there "is no immediate known threat", suggesting there was no evidence the man was a member of a terror network but was likely acting as a "lone wolf". Sources said the arrest was ordered because the man was heading towards Downing Street, rather than from any specific intelligence about the contents of the backpack. The man was on a crossing by the central reservation of the busy street when armed officers moved in. Ian Grant (56), from Poplar, East London, had just emerged from the Westminster Tube station when he saw "a police car go flying by". He said: "All of a sudden two cops got out. Then an armed cop with a rifle came past me. I thought it was just a drill at first. Then he shouted, 'armed police, stop' and they got this guy down on the ground. When they shouted at him he didn't resist or say a word, he just put his hands up and stopped. Then they got the cuffs on him in the central reservation." A French tourist, who was in New York on the day of the 9/11 terror attack and was visiting London with her daughter, saw the arrest take place. The witness, who asked not to be named, said: "He [the suspect] was very calm. I think they got him on the ground, then they stood him up against the wall. "I was in New York on September 11, so I am a bit scared of these things and being in the wrong place at the wrong moment." ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] George HW Bush, pictured in February, has been discharged from hospital (Eric Gay/AP) Former US president George HW Bush has been released from hospital after treatment for pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. His spokesman Jim McGrath said Mr Bush is "pleased to be home spending time with family and friends" and is "grateful for the outstanding care provided by his doctors and nurses" during his two-week stay in hospital. The 92-year-old had been admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital on April 14 for treatment of a persistent cough and was later diagnosed with pneumonia. After the pneumonia was treated, he remained in hospital as doctors dealt with a case of chronic bronchitis - a constant irritation of the lining of tubes that carry air to the lungs. His doctors said chronic bronchitis is a condition more prevalent with age and can aggravate the symptoms of pneumonia. Mr McGrath said Mr Bush will continue receiving treatment for bronchitis at home, but this should not affect the 41st president's plans to travel to his home in Kennebunkport, Maine, where he and his 91-year-old wife Barbara spend their summers. Mr Bush and his wife live in Houston during the winter. Mr Bush, who served as president from 1989 to 1993, was also treated in hospital for 16 days in January for pneumonia. During that hospital stay, which included time in intensive care, doctors inserted a breathing tube and connected him to a ventilator. He was taken to hospital in 2015 in Maine after falling at home and breaking a bone in his neck. In December 2014, he was treated for a shortness of breath during a week-long stay in hospital, and he spent Christmas 2012 in intensive care for a bronchitis-related cough and other issues. Mr Bush has a form of Parkinson's disease and uses a motorised scooter or a wheelchair for mobility. Despite his loss of mobility, he celebrated his 90th birthday by making a tandem parachute jump in Kennebunkport. Last summer, Mr Bush led a group of 40 wounded warriors on a fishing trip at the helm of his speedboat, three days after his 92nd birthday celebration. After his release from his hospital stay in January, he participated in the coin flip at the Super Bowl in Houston. AP Donald Trump launched a furious attack on the Democrats in a flurry of tweets yesterday, accusing the party of trying to bring about a government "shut down" and damage America. Infuriated by a stalemate in the Congress over whether to approve an emergency funding package to keep the lights on in government, Mr Trump launched an undiplomatic tirade. "I promise to rebuild our military and secure our border," he declared. "Democrats want to shut down the government. Politics!" Mr Trump issued his diatribe in six tweets posted in quick succession. Democrat politicians are threatening to oppose the short-term funding extension, if Republicans - at the behest of the White House - forge ahead with a vote to repeal the Obamacare public health provisions this week. Mr Trump is hoping to set his healthcare plans in motion in a bid to secure at least one major part of his agenda ahead of the 100-day mark of his presidency tomorrow. In working to get Democrats to approve a new budget, Mr Trump has been forced to make concessions, including dropping his demand for money to build his border wall with Mexico. "Democrats used to support border security - now they want illegals to pour through our borders," Mr Trump wrote in his third online message. Democrats in Congress said they may not support the emergency funding package if it does not include spending for Obamacare subsidies that lower health expenses for low-income Americans, via insurers. "What's more important? Rebuilding our military - or bailing out insurance companies? Ask the Democrats," Mr Trump wrote. "Democrats jeopardising the safety of our troops to bail out their donors from insurance companies. It is time to put #AmericaFirst," he added. Mr Trump said retired coal miners, part of a constituency that he promised to support in his election campaign, would be among those who suffer if the functions of government are forced to shut down because they would not receive their pensions and health packages. "I want to help our miners while the Democrats are blocking their healthcare," he wrote. At a briefing last night, Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, sought to justify the rant by saying that Democrats had imposed several last-minute "monkey wrenches" to stop the funding package. "They keep moving the goal posts," Mr Spicer said, adding that the White House would not allow them to "gum up" legislation that is in the "best interests of this country". Matt House, a spokesman for Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democratcs in the Senate, said: "These shut down tweets are desperate, unhinged, and show a startling lack of awareness for where the negotiations actually are." ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Pranksters swamped US President Donald Trump's new immigrant crime hotline to report UFOs and alien sightings on its first day. The controversial 'Voice' hotline launched on Wednesday and is an attempt from the new administration to tackle problems linked to immigration. Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly said: "Until today, those victimised at the hands of illegal aliens have had no point of contact in our federal government dedicated to this issue and to them. Families would call and would send letters all over Washington hoping that someone in some agency would respond." The new office, belonging to the Department of Homeland Security, promises to offer help and assistance to "victims and their families who have been impacted by crimes committed by removable criminal aliens". However, Twitter was quick to pick up on the government's choice of wording - and users soon began to troll the phone number with reports of extraterrestrials. Activists rallied on social media under the hashtag #AlienDay to encourage others to flood the hotline with fake calls. Wednesday coincided with Alien Day, which commemorates the 1986 sci-fi classic 'Aliens' starring Sigourney Weaver. Others made reference to cult 90s sci-fi series 'The X-Files', or reported sightings of aliens that looked suspiciously like a "bloated orange humanoid". Recent months have seen a sharp fall in the number of people arrested for attempted crossings at the US-Mexico border, which the White House views as a sign that its policies are successfully deterring would-be immigrants. However, critics of Mr Trump's anti-immigrant stance claim it discriminates against undocumented migrants. Several studies have show that immigrants, both documented and undocumented, are less likely to commit serious crimes or be put in prison than US-born citizens. ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] A Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) interceptor is seen in Seongju, South Korea, this week as a helicopter takes off. Photo: Reuters South Korea and the United States warned Pyongyang yesterday that they would take "swift punitive measures" in the face of a threat, as North Korea released a video of the White House being destroyed in a missile attack. The new video, which also showed an aircraft carrier being hit, was released after the US military said a navy strike group led by the supercarrier Carl Vinson was within "striking distance" of North Korea. The North also warned yesterday that it would "never stop" carrying out tests of its military hardware, raising concerns that it was preparing a possible act which could provoke the US. The comments from a senior North Korean official followed a top US military commander in the Pacific telling the US congress that Donald Trump wanted to bring Kim Jong-un "to his senses" but "not to his knees". Admiral Harry Harris said the administration wants to apply a "burst" of economic and diplomatic pressure on Pyongyang, in conjunction with China, North Korea's main trading partner. Beijing welcomed the softer tone from Washington but Chinese media voiced anger over the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) missile system, which the US began installing in South Korea on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met in Moscow yesterday and called on North Korea and other countries to avoid increasing tensions. Admiral Harris told Congress he believed North Korea's threats against the US needed to be taken seriously: "I don't share your confidence that North Korea is not going to attack either South Korea, or Japan, or the United States ... once they have the capability." "In confronting the reckless North Korean regime, it's critical that we're guided by a strong sense of resolve, both privately and publicly, both diplomatically and militarily," he said. North Korea's UN Mission said on Wednesday the government would react to "a total war" with the United States with a nuclear war. Pyongyang will "surely win a victory in the death-defying struggle against the US imperialists", a statement said. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea "can never be frightened" by the Trump administration's effort to bring the country "into submission" by deploying a nuclear aircraft carrier strike group to waters off the Korean Peninsula, it continued. ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] North Korea's deputy UN ambassador has warned that US efforts to get rid of his country's nuclear weapons through military threats and sanctions are "a wild dream". Kim In Ryong said North Korea's nuclear weapons are never part of "political bargains and economic deals". He said: "In a nutshell, DPRK (North Korea) have already declared not to attend any type of talks which would discuss its nuclear abandonment, nuclear disbandment." He reiterated North Korea's longstanding contention that its nuclear programme "is the product of the United States' hostile policy towards DPRK". He said: "That is why every solution will be possible when the United States hostile policy is withdrawn in advance. Mr Kim "categorically rejected" Friday's UN Security Council meeting on the North Korean nuclear issue - which his country declined to attend - as "another abuse" of the council's authority, acting on instructions of the United States which is a veto-wielding member. The United States holds the council presidency this month and organised the ministerial session that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson chaired. Mr Tillerson called for new sanctions on North Korea and urged all countries to exert pressure on Pyongyang and implement the six UN sanctions resolutions. He also stressed that the Trump administration will only engage in talks with Pyongyang when it exhibits "a good faith commitment" to implement Security Council resolutions "and their past promises to end their nuclear programmes". In response, Mr Kim said: "As we expected, (the) US has taken issue with self-defensive nuclear deterrent of the DPRK, and not only to justify their anti-DPRK aggressive war racket but also to create atmosphere for sanctions against DPRK at any cost." He said the United States "is wholly to blame for pushing the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war by staging the largest-ever joint aggression military drills against the DPRK for the past two months" and deploying "nuclear strategic assets" to South Korea. While the United States once talked about nuclear disarmament, Mr Kim said it is spending a trillion dollars "in a bid to secure a nuclear edge" - and he said this issue should be addressed "before tabling the denuclearisation of the DPRK". "The nuclear force of the DPRK just serves as a treasured sword of justice and creditable war deterrent to protect the sovereignty and dignity of the country and global peace from the US threat to ignite a nuclear war," he said. AP Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya is accused of a deadly hit-and-run accident almost five years ago (AP) Police in Thailand say they have obtained an arrest warrant for an heir to the Red Bull energy drink fortune accused of a deadly hit-and-run accident. The warrant issued by a Bangkok court could move the case forward after almost five years without charges being pressed. Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya is accused of fleeing the scene of a 2012 crash in his Ferrari after allegedly hitting a police officer on motorcycle patrol. Vorayuth's family, half-owners of the Red Bull empire, has estimated wealth of more than 20 billion US dollars (15 billion). Police spokesman Krisana Pattanacharoen said the court approved the arrest warrant on charges of hit-and-run and reckless driving. The state prosecutor asked for police action after Vorayuth missed Thursday's deadline to answer a summons. Mr Krisana said: "He will be processed like any other suspect who is evading their arrest warrant. There are tens of thousands of these suspects." The case has drawn attention as an example of the impunity of Thailand's rich and well-connected, who are able to avoid or delay justice in a way ordinary Thais would not be able to. Vorayuth's whereabouts are unknown. "Whenever he steps into Thailand, we should be able to get him," national police chief General Chaktip Chaijinda told reporters ahead of the warrant being granted. Vorayuth failed to appear for meetings with prosecutors on several occasions, complaining through his lawyer of unfair treatment or citing duties abroad. A recent report revealed he had been living lavishly, travelling to Formula One races, snowboarding in Japan and cruising in Venice. Vorayuth failed to show up when ordered to face criminal charges of speeding, hit-and-run, and deadly, reckless driving. Police say he disputes the reckless driving charge, claiming the officer swerved in front of him. The speeding charge expired after a year, and the charge of hit-and-run, which police say carries a penalty of up to six months in jail, expires on September 3. The reckless driving charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail, expires after 10 years if left unchallenged. Gen Chaktip said police would follow their usual procedures to secure Vorayuth's arrest if he is abroad, although the possibility of extradition depends on the countries involved. AP A two-year-old boy was left with life-threatening burns after his mum's 'monster' boyfriend threw him into a scalding bath after he soiled his pants. Korbin Edwards was being watched by his mum's boyfriend, Daniel Rose (32) when he was put into the hot bath. His mum, DJ Gilbert (34) from Kansas City in Missouri, USA said she was horrified when she saw the red marks on her son's body and he was rushed to hospital. The two-year-old suffered such extensive burns that doctors feared he wouldn't make it through the night, according to The Mirror. The burns severely damaged his stomach and bowels forcing him to use an N-tube, a catheter and an IV for several weeks. Doctors also feared the toddler would never walk again due to the extensive burns. Mum DJ told The Mirror that she feared the worse. "Doctors told me there was a chance he wouldn't make it and that that if he did, he would need major skin grafting, as well as it being unlikely he would ever walk again. "They thought it was a miracle that he had made it through and survived." The mum-of-two said she never expected that her ex-boyfriend Daniel Rose was capable of harming her kids. "He told me it was diaper rash but told the police that he thought Korbin must have fallen into the bath. "We believe Daniel got mad because Korbin had soiled his pants and in anger Daniel had put him into the hot water," DJ told The Mirror. Rose was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of first degree assault by Platte County Circuit Court, in August last year. Korbin now six has made a full recovery and has undergone therapy to help deal with the trauma. Prof Canavero admitted that there could be physical and psychological problems that come with putting a brain in an entirely different body Photo: depositphotos A neuroscientist claims he will be able to "wake up" people who have been cryogenically frozen within three years, by transferring their brains to donor bodies. Professor Sergio Canavero, director of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group, has announced plans to carry out the first human head transplant, an operation which he claims is just 10 months away. But he is now thinking further ahead, and wants to begin brain transplants within three years. If the procedures are successful, he believes that frozen brains could be thawed and inserted into a donor, effectively bringing "dead" people back to life. Hundreds of people who were dying or paralysed have had their bodies or brains cryogenically preserved in the hope that medical science will one day be able to cure their conditions. Although many experts are sceptical that the brain can be thawed without damage, Prof Canavero said he planned to awaken patients frozen by the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, which is based in Arizona. "As soon as the first human head transplant has taken place, no later than 2018, we will be able to attempt to reawaken the first frozen head," Prof Canavero said. "We are planning the world's first brain transplant, and I consider it realistic that we will be ready in three years at the latest. A brain transplant has many advantages. First, there is barely any immune reaction, meaning the problem of rejection does not exist. "The brain is, in a manner of speaking, a neutral organ. If you transplant a head with vessels, nerves, tendons and muscles, rejection can pose a massive problem. This is not the case with the brain." However, Prof Canavero admitted that there could be physical and psychological problems that come with putting a brain in an entirely different body. "What may be problematic, is that no aspect of your original external body remains the same. Your head is no longer there; your brain is transplanted into a different skull. It creates a situation that will certainly not be easy," he said. British scientists are sceptical about whether the brain could be fully restored from frozen. Clive Coen, professor of neuroscience at King's College London, said the chances of bringing a brain back was "infinitesimal". Dr Channa Jayasena, clinical senior lecturer at Imperial College London, added: "It is currently not possible to freeze and thaw human tissue without killing many cells within it." Prof Canavero is working with a Chinese team of doctors led by Dr Ren Xiaoping, of Harbin Medical Centre, who helped perform the first successful hand transplant in the US. Although Russian computer scientist Valery Spiridonov, who has spinal muscular atrophy, had volunteered to become the first head transplant patient, the team expects the first operation to be with a Chinese donor and patient. Last year, the team announced it had successfully carried out a head transplant on a monkey. Prof Canavero said if the human head transplant works, it could have fundamental implications for human consciousness and even religion. "It will be a turning point in human history," he said. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] The Turkish border crossing with Syria, on the outskirts of the town of Kilis (AP) The wife and child of a British man arrested in Turkey after crossing the border from Syria are to be deported to the UK, according to Turkish officials. Stefan Aristidou and an American man, Kary Paul Kleman, arrived at the Oncupinar border crossing in Kilis province on April 20 and were arrested four days later after handing themselves over to authorities. Turkey's official Anadolu news agency said the men were detained and later arrested on suspicion that they are members of the extremist Islamic State group. A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are in contact with the Turkish authorities following the detention of a British man on the Turkey/Syria border." Aristidou, 23, from Enfield, north London, had been missing for two years. "He was arrested after coming from Syria - we think he's a member of Isis," a Kilis spokesman said. Aristidou, who is of Greek heritage, told police he had travelled to Syria to settle rather than fight, according to The Guardian. He reportedly told investigators he had lived in Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS, and al-Bab, a city formerly under IS control. Turkish authorities are reportedly seeking to jail him for between seven and 15 years and he could face further prosecution under terror legislation when he returns to the UK. According to UK Government figures released in November, about 800 people "of national security concern" had travelled to take part in the Syrian conflict. About half of those had returned at the time the figures were released. Kleman was traveling with his Syrian wife and four children. His family was put under administrative detention to be deported to the US to keep them together, according to the official. Anadolu said two Egyptians and four more children were also travelling with the group and will be deported. AP The Rowan County Sheriffs Office responded to a reported home invasion this week that turned out to be an altercation between family members. At about 8:20 a.m. Wednesday, April 26, deputies from the Rowan County Sheriffs Office were dispatched to 2335 Phifer Road in Cleveland to respond to what was initially reported by the caller to be a home invasion. Deputies arrived on the scene and met with the caller, Harley Joe Dalton, of the home. According to a report, deputies quickly determined that there had not been a home invasion at this location but that a cousin of Harley Joe Dalton had pointed a rifle at him. The suspect in this incident, a Curtis Luther Dalton Jr., is a 28-year-old white male who resides at 4075 Third Creek Church Road in Cleveland. He had left the area prior to the arrival of deputies, law enforcement said. Deputies continued to question the caller, Harley Dalton, and were able to determine that this incident was related to an event that occurred Tuesday night, the report said. Harley Dalton advised that he had received a text Tuesday night from his cousin Curtis Dalton, and that his cousin had stated that he was going to do harm to himself, according to law enforcement. Harley Dalton advised that he went to go locate his cousin and was able to locate him at an address on Hobson Road. Law enforcement said Harley Dalton further stated that he took his cousin back to his home on Phifer Road and that his cousins girlfriend was also at his home on Phifer Road. Harley Dalton said that while there, his cousin and his girlfriend got into an argument and left the residence, according to a report. Curtis Dalton later returned to Harley Daltons home, the report said, at about 10 p.m. and was angry because Harley Dalton had taken firearms that belonged to his cousin to a safe location to prevent his cousin from gaining access to them. Apparently, while away, Curtis Dalton had located his weapons and had brought them along back to Harley Daltons home, law enforcement said. Harley Dalton states that his cousin threatened him saying that he was going to shoot him in the kneecaps but instead fired a shot that struck a window in Harley Daltons vehicle, according to a report. During the disturbance, Harley Dalton states that his cousin fired three more shots from an unknown type long gun, possibly a .22 rifle, and that these shots hit the passenger side windshield of his car, law enforcement said. Harley Dalton states that his cousin left again with his girlfriend. Harley Dalton states that he tried to report the crimes to the Cleveland PD last night, but no one was there, according to a report. However, Harley Dalton says he did not try to call 911. Harley Dalton told deputies that nothing else happened until his cousin returned Wednesday morning and initially acted as if nothing had happened last night, however the two men did become involved in another argument, the report said. Harley Dalton states that his cousin then retrieved a rifle from his car, which was a black Nissan with Virginia registration plates, and pointed the rifle at him, all while making a cutting motion by dragging his thumb across his neck, according to a report. Harley Dalton said that his cousin then left the scene in the black Nissan, at which time Harley Dalton called 911 to have the Rowan County Sheriffs Office respond. Deputies conducted a records check on Curtis Dalton and found that he had been arrested in Virginia previously, over a period of years, and found that he was currently wanted in Virginia for additional felony charges. Curtis Dalton had a previous conviction in Rowan County District Court in 2014 for obtaining property by false pretense. Investigators went to the Rowan County Magistrate and obtained warrants on Curtis Luther Dalton for two counts of discharging a firearm into occupied property and for possession of a firearm by felon. Shortly after the warrants were obtained, deputies learned that Iredell County Sheriffs Office was in pursuit of Curtis Dalton in Iredell County. Curtis Dalton ended up wrecking the black Nissan when the vehicle was upturned in a creek, and he ran from that crash. Curtis Dalton was eventually apprehended by the Iredell County Sheriffs Office after he had stolen an additional vehicle, according to law enforcement. Skopje, Apr 28 (IBNS): At least 10 people were injured following a protest inside the Macedonian parliament on Thursday, reports said. The protest started after an ethnic Albanian, Taalat Xhaferi, was elected as the speaker, a BBC report read. As protesters, who are supporters of ex-Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's VMRO party, took matters into their own hand, Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev was left bleeding. As violence rose, police fired stun grenades to break the mob. The protests were condemned by the US embassy in Macedonia. A statement from the embassy published on Twitter read, "We condemn the violence in the strongest possible terms. It is not consistent with democracy and is not an acceptable way to resolve differences. It is critical all parties respect democratic processes and the law, and refrain from violent actions which exacerbate the situation." NATO general secretary Jens Stoltenberg tweeted, "Shocked by attacks in #Skopje Parliament. All parties should respect democratic process and engage in dialogue, not violence." image: Wikimedia Commons Karan Johar of Dharma Productions has decided to cancel the grand premiere of 'Baahubali-2' that was to be held tonight in Mumbai. He has taken the decision as a "mark of respect to our beloved Vinod Khanna", who passed away earlier this morning. The premiere was billed to revive the culture of holding grand premieres in Bollywood. KJo wanted to bring back the legacy that was prevalent in a bygone era. It's to the credit of the ace director-producer that he has cancelled the premiere, which was to be attended by the who's who of Bollywood and the main members of 'Baahubali-2'. Alkyl Amines Chemicals to set up plant for manufacturing of new products at Dahej Alkyl Amines Chemicals Ltd has informed to the exchanges regarding setting up plants for manufacturing of new products in specialty chemicals and amine derivatives business, at Kurkumbh, M... November 09, 2022 | 12:38 pm Natco Pharma launches first generic version of Pomalyst capsules in the Australian Market NATCO Pharma Limited has announced the launch of first generic version of Pomalyst (Pomalidomide) Capsules in 1,2,3,4 mg strengths in the Australian market. The product was launched by NAT... November 09, 2022 | 12:00 pm Ugar Sugar Works commences operations of 645 KLPD distillery; Stock plunges 6% The Ugar Sugar Works Ltd has informed to the exchanges regarding start of operations of 645 KLPD Distillery. As per the regulatory filing, the company has started the operations of 6... November 09, 2022 | 11:45 am Genesys International appoints Sameer Sankhe as Chief Digital Officer Genesys International Corporation, one of the leading homegrown players in the locational intelligence space, has announced the appointment of Sameer Sankhe as Chief Digital Officer (CDO). ... November 09, 2022 | 11:37 am Keystone IPO to open on November 14th Keystone Realtors, a Mumbai-based real estate developer owned by the Rustomjee Group, will launch its Rs 635 crore initial public offering (IPO) on Monday, November 14. The first public offerin... November 09, 2022 | 11:35 am The news of Vinod Khanna's death has left many of his loved ones crestfallen. Vinod Khanna has left a void that will forever remain. There are several details that are surfacing related to his death and his last days and some of them are indeed heartbreaking. Pinterest According to one of the reports, Sanjay Dutt was one of the stars who visited Vinod Khanna at the hospital last week and after seeing his condition, he almost choked with emotion. Recalling the whole incident, Bhoomi producer Sandeep Singh was quoted in a report saying, Pinterest Last week, Sanju Sir and I went from Bandra together to meet Vinod Sir at the hospital. We were shooting in South Mumbai, Sanju Sir told me before we started the shoot, I want to first go and see my father (Khanna). I have learned to be a man because of him as he taught me a lot of things. When we reached the hospital, Akshaye Khanna came down to receive us. As we entered the room where his family was present, it was like we had entered his home the entire family was there from his wife Kavitaji, son Saakshi, his brother Pramodji and his sister Shraddha. Akshaye hugged us and asked us to wait while they were asking the doctor for permission to meet Vinod Sir. Pinterest He also added that Sanjay inquired Akshaye about Vinod Khanna's treatment and asked why he didn't take his father to the US , where his mother Nargis and first wife Richa, who had also suffered from cancer had gone for treatment. Singh added, Akshaye told him that Vinod Sir was being treated by the best of doctors in Mumbai. Doctors were not allowing him to meet anybody, but when Akshaye told him Sanju Sir had come. Vinod Sir said, I want to meet my son. After meeting him for a few minutes, Baba was very quiet. He must have revisited his past again as he had gone through the same with Richa and Nargisji. He hates hospitals and it was traumatic for him to see Vinod Sir so unwell. He later told us that Vinod Sir was his idol, and Dad and he were such close friends... It was Dutt saab who brought Vinod sir to Mumbai. He saw him in a disco in Delhi and told Vinod sirs father that he has to act in films. We hope people close to Vinod Khanna get all the strength in the world to cope up with this humongous loss. Nature can be your best way to detox and relax. Being surrounded by trees and shrubs with birds chirping can lower your chances of suffering from anxiety or stress. lovelace-media.imgix.net Researchers at the University of Exeter, the British Trust for Ornithology and the University of Queensland suggests that lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress were associated with the number of birds people could see in the afternoon. It discovered the benefits for the mental health of being who were able to see birds, shrubs and trees around the home, whether people lived in urban or suburban neighbourhoods. www.udayavani.com According to the study, visual observation of nature is helpful in lowering the stress and anxiety for human beings. Daniel Cox, University of Exeter said, "This study starts to unpick the role that some key components of nature play for our mental well-being. Birds around the home and nature in general, show great promise in preventative health care, making cities healthier, happier places to live." Research conducted by Cox found that watching birds makes people feel relaxed and connected to nature which played a vital role in lowering down stress and anxiety levels in a person. www.libertylines.it Therefore, not merely physical health benefits but nature in every form benefits our over-all health. Fresh oxygen, challenging treks, beautiful sceneries, melodious nature sounds, etc., all contribute to your health if observed keenly. With winters on their way back, we recommend you to spend most of the day outside, in the laps of Mother Nature. Eman Ahmed, who was the world's heaviest woman till three months ago, will be flown to the UAE from Mumbai for a year-long rehabilitative treatment, said Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, Indian-origin founder of the Abu Dhabi-headquartered VPS Healthcare Group on Thursday. BCCL "Our team of doctors has gone through Eman's medical reports, which include her CT scan, x-ray and blood reports. We have also got a short summary of her medical condition from Saifee Hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment. On Sunday, she will be shifted to our Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi," said Vayalil, after visiting her in Mumbai on Thursday. During the six-hour-long transfer to the UAE, Eman will be accompanied by a team of doctors, paramedics and nurses on the air ambulance. "There will be four or five doctors, including an intensivist, two flight paramedics and three trained nurses," said Vayalil. ALSO READ: Medical Report Rejects Allegations Made By Eman Ahmed's Family. Scan Rules Out Stroke, Gives Clean Bill Of Health BCCL In a press release, Saifee Hospital said, "The team of doctors at Saifee Hospital has done a fabulous job and her recovery has been unprecedented. She is stable and all parameters are under control. She will continue to need neurological rehabilitation and physiotherapy. As the treatment here concludes, she is being shifted to Burjeel Hospital in the UAE (a hospital initially introduced to the family by Dr Lakdawala). Secondary, physiotherapy will continue over there as it is closer to home for Eman and her family." The hospital added that Eman is an inspiration to millions of critical and obese patients the world over "that someone as serious as her can get better with expert medical care and advances in medical science". Eman's sister Shaimaa Semil, too, confirmed the Abu Dhabi move. "We have been promised full care, and told that my sister Eman will walk." Vayalil has also brought in his head of medical air evacuation (medevac) team at VPS Healthcare for smooth transportation of Eman to Abu Dhabi. As the locally available stretchers are not strong enough to carry her safely, VPS Healthcare is flying in a hydraulic stretcher from Italy. ALSO READ: Worlds Heaviest Woman Eman Ahmed Lost 327 Kg And Is Ready To Go Home But Her Sister Alleges Doctors Are Lying BCCL "The challenge that we face is to have a stretcher to take the patient from Saifee Hospital to the airport and then to move her into the aircraft. We need a strong hydraulic stretcher with the maximum stretching capacity and as it is not available locally, we are flying in one from Italy," said Sanet Meyer, director, Medevac, VPS Healthcare. Meyer hinted that she might most probably use an MX-Pro Bariatric Transport stretcher from Stryker, an American medical equipment manufacturer. This hydraulic stretcher, which is 203cm long and 74cm high, has a load tolerance of 725kg and can be operated by two people, once it is occupied by the patient. ALSO READ: 'Hurt' By Allegations, Mumbai Hospital To Discharge World's Heaviest Woman, Doctor Refuses To Treat Her BCCL For taking Eman from Saifee Hospital to Mumbai airport, Meyer will get an ambulance, which is being modified with a platform to fit the hydraulic stretcher in securely. At the airport, the stretcher will be lifted into the air ambulance using a heavy lifter and later, in the UAE, Eman will be shifted to a specialised bariatric ambulance. Originally a radiologist by profession, Vayalil had founded VPS Healthcare in 2007, which has grown into a chain of 20 hospitals, 100 medical centres and 28 pharmacies in the Middle East and India. 1. Will Not Talk To Separatists Demanding 'Azaadi': Government Tells SC On Kashmir Unrest AFP The government, today, told the Supreme Court that it is ready to talk to recognised parties in Jammu and Kashmir to resolve the crisis, denying to talk to separatists demanding azaadi. Read more 2. Sukma Attack Was To Avenge Sexual Violence On Tribal Women, Jawans Coming In Way Of Revolution, Say Naxals BCCL The Dand Karanya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), in an audio clip, claimed that the attack was a response to sexual violence by security forces on tribal women and murder of villagers. Read more Here are more top stories of the day: 3. India Paid Rs 6,350 Crore In Bribes In 2017, Karnataka Most And Himachal Pradesh Least Corrupt States BCCL/Representational Image Karnataka occupies the first slot in a list of states perceived to be corrupt on the basis of people's experience in paying bribes for public services, a survey conducted by an NGO has revealed. Karnataka is followed by Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. Read more 4. Delhi School Bars Class 10 Rape Survivor From Class As It Would 'Spoil' Its Reputation Representational Image A class-X girl survived the trauma of rape but got no respite from her school. The girl's parents have alleged that the private school denied admission to their child saying it will bring a "bad name" to it. Read more 5. CRPF Jawan Who Lost A Brother In Sukma Attack Slams Government In A Viral FB Live Video afp A CRPF Jawan vented his frustration in a viral Facebook video after the recent Sukma attack. He claims to have lost a relative in the deadly naxal attack in Chhattisgarh on Monday. He ranted against Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Read more 6. A Dozen Petrol Pumps Raided In Uttar Pradesh, More Than Half Found Using Cheating Device TOI A dozen petrol pumps were raided in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday to check for petrol theft. Detectives of the Special Task Force (STF) found a chip board like device worth Rs.3,000 placed inside the petrol dispensing machine, which did the job. Read more Days after a peaceful road inauguration ceremony turned into a bloodbath, Maoists have claimed that the brutal attack in Sukma that left 25 jawans dead was done to avenge the sexual assault on their women by CRPF, reports The Hindu. The Dand Karanya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), in an audio clip, claimed that the attack was a response to sexual violence by security forces on tribal women and murder of villagers. Obscene videos were made of our women cadre killed in encounters and circulated on the internet and on mobile groups, DKSZC spokesperson Vikalp said. BCCL He said in the audio clip, The PLGA (CPI (Maoist)s military wing Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army) launched the Chintagufa-Burkapal to give an answer to Mission 2017 and the fraud surrender campaign. We congratulate the PLGA, its leadership, commanders and the people of Dand Karanya for their support. This attack was just an extension of the Bhejji attack (on the CRPF in March 2017, reports Deccan Chronicle. Read more: Posting In J&K Was Easier & Smoother Than Being Part Of Anti-Maoist Operations, Says Survivor In the 5-minute long audio clip, DKSZC spokesperson said that the attacks have been carried out to liberate the tribal people in the conflict zones from the atrocities they face from the security forces. Naxals deny body mutilation In the clip, the spokesperson has denied the reports of mutilating the bodies of CRPF jawans, a widely-reported news. BCCL "We do not insult the bodies of jawans killed in attacks by People's Liberation Guerrilla Army," the spokesperson said. Read more: Naxals Used Villagers Near The Sukma Attack Site As Human Shields Against CRPF Jawans, Officer Reveals Gory Details The reports that genitals of the jawans were mutilated are lies and false propaganda spread by corporate media, Vikalp said. It was the security forces, on the contrary, that have mutilated the bodies of many of their dead comrades and delayed handing over the bodies to the families said the DKSZC. Jawans coming in the way of revolution The spokesperson, speaking to Economic Times on the condition of anonymity, said our jawans and officers of the paramilitary forces should stop sacrificing their lives for exploiters business houses, large contractors, mafia and corrupt politicians, and particularly Brahmanic, Hindu fascists who are by their nature against Dalits, backward communities, minorities and women. CRPF personnel killed in Sukma - PTI Appealing to the jawans, he said that they should stop working for these exploiters. Jawans were not our enemies, most definitely not our class enemies, but were coming in the way of the revolution he added. Vikalp added that government is backing agencies that are targeting, NGOs, journalists, and also police opponents creating an undemocratic and fascist environment. These attacks are a retaliation to the Brahmanic, Hindu, Fascist, Sanghi, and BJP government's exploitation of Dalit, minorities and tribal and an attack on their economic and cultural lifestyles, said Vikalp. Read more: 'Considerable Number' Of Maoists Killed In Retaliatory Action In Sukma, Claims CRPF On Monday, 24th April, CRPF personnel at the road inauguration ceremony were ambushed by hundreds of naxals. The deadly attack killed 25 CRPF jawans. Reports suggested that the naxals used villagers from the nearby hamlet as human shields. Reports also surfaced that the bodies of the jawans were found to be mutilated and their radio sets were taken away by naxals, due to which the jawans could not call for help. The Sukma encounter in which 25 CRPF soldiers lost their lives was still fresh in our minds, the Thursday morning came with another sad news of three more soldiers getting martyred in Fidayeen attack on an army camp in north Kashmirs Kupwara. AFP The martyred soldiers are Captain Ayush Yadav, JCO Bhoop Singh Gujjar Dussa and Naik Venkat Raman. Though the gun battle which began around 4:30 am neutralised two terrorists as well, but the loss to army, families of the dead and the nation is irreparable. Here is the profile of all the three soldiers. Captain Ayush Yadav The 25-year-old captain was the only son of the his parents who live in UPs Kanpur. Captain Ayush had been in service for the last three years. His father Arun Kant Yadav who is an inspector in UP police told the media that since the news of their sons martyrdom reached, the family is in shock and despair. We have lost our son, and he died because the government doesnt have any strong Kashmir policy. Since I am a man of uniform, I cant say much to criticise the government, but unless it comes up with a strong Kashmir policy, soldiers will keep dying the unfortunate deaths, told Arun Kant Yadav to NDTV. Captain Ayush had come to his sisters wedding in February and had stayed at home for ten days. Yadav family has a history of serving the nation as Captain Ayushs grandfather had also served in Royal Air Force. JCO Bhoop Singh Gujjar Dussa The 46 years of JCO Bhoop Singh Gujjar who died in the terrorist attack in Kupwara early morning belong to Khedla village in Rajasthans Dausa district. Ever since the news broke out, the family in his village is in shock. Bhoop Singhs father Rajhans is a farmer and he is survived by wife and two sons. Bhoop Singh was in service for the last 26 years. One of his sons serves in the army and another works at a post office. Naik Venkat Ramanna The 38-year-old Venkat Ramanna too was among the three soldiers died in the terrorist attack in Kupwara. Naik Venkat hailed from Vizag and had been in service for the last 18 years. "Give me one opportunity. I will kill those who killed my brother. I am ready to kill or get killed. I neither want a compensation nor a salary. I will do it for free. Just give me the opportunity to go there." Those are the helpless, sad, angry rants of Naik Venkat's brother Koteshwara Rao to OneIndia. US President Donald Trump issued an executive order curtailing the purported misuse of guest workers visa in a showy, populist, on-the-road gesture ostensibly aimed at protecting American jobs, a move that is expected to moderately affect the Indian infotech industry. Reuters/Representational Image The order effectively raises the bar for foreign guest workers used by US and Indian companies to do work that American workers were thought to be unwilling or unable to do. Trump and his protectionist supporters say this is not true, and the original goal of the guest worker programme of bringing in highly qualified foreign workers to do high-end jobs has been subverted by companies bringing in entry-level workers to replace US workers and depress wages. In his first trip to the blue-collar country that voted for him in droves because of his pledge to protect US jobs, Trump went to a tool factory at Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the Chicago-Milwaukee industrial corridor, to show he intends to live up to his promise to staunch the loss of jobs. There he signed what was called a double-barrelled "Buy American, Hire American" executive order that will tighten guest worker visas such as H-1B , and require American agencies to buy more goods and services from US companies and workers. afp The executive order does not impose the moratorium on guest worker visas that Trump had called for during his presidential campaign, much less terminate or curtail the 85,000 H-1B visas every year of which Indians snag more than half. Instead, through a series of administrative recommendations, directives, and changes, including calling for an overhaul of the lottery system used to determine the metrics on which H-1B visas are sponsored, Trump hopes to eliminate what critics of the programme allege is a systematic abuse of the visa regime, particularly by Indian body-shopping companies. Indeed, the order comes too late to affect this year's 65,00020,000 H-1B visa quota, petitioning for which opened on April 3, resulting in a lottery that is already underway. The executive order is also not expected to affect other guest worker programmes, such as the H-2B seasonal worker visa used by US farms and agriculturists and Trump's own resorts. There is no word yet about the H-4 visa that allowed spouses of H-1B professionals to work in the US under certain conditions. ALSO READ: UK's New Visa Restrictions On Non-EU Nationals To Hit Indian IT Professionals But the executive order takes aim at winnowing out poorly-qualified, less-skilled workers many of them seeking immigration opportunities of the kind India's mediocre engineering colleges churn out by the thousands, and who are brought into the US via dodgy immigrant-run colleges in America and body-shoppers who procure guest worker visas for them for entry level jobs. US officials who briefed journalists on the background of the US president's executive order said 80 per cent of petitioners who enter the US under the current visa programme are paid less than the median wage for workers in their fields, suggesting that they not only displaced American workers but also undercut wages. They also maintained that the US graduates about twice as many STEM students each year as find jobs in STEM fields. BCCL/Representational Image But Indian IT majors have contested many of these numbers and assumptions, while acknowledging that there may be a few dodgy body-shopping outfits that may have sullied the market, pointing out that more than 50 per cent of graduating STEM students in the US are from the immigrant/foreign-born pools, and populist measures cannot hide the genuine shortage of skilled workers for long. India's IT majors also challenge the allegations that H-1B workers are underpaid, saying US law forbids this. ALSO READ: Indian IT Companies Get A Temporary Relief As US Will Take Time To Make New H-1B Visa Rules "By law, we are an equal employment, equal opportunities employer. Even when we have expats coming into the country, their average salary is benchmarked to be higher than the 50th quartile, so, on an average, they get more than the average of the population. So the assumption that they are actually underpaid is factually incorrect because they cannot be," TCS CEO Rajesh Gopinathan told PTI. While some experts believe Trump's executive order could potentially allow more high-skilled foreign engineers to work in the US although they will have to jump through the hoops to prove their skill levels given more rigorous certification requirements others are warning that the upshot of the executive order will accelerate outsourcing. Representational Image "If you are not going to allow people to come in to do the jobs, then the jobs will go out where they can be done," another Indian industry executive who asked not be named said while maintaining that the effect on the Indian IT industry will not be substantial. ALSO READ: Here Is Everything You Need To Know About The H1-B Visa And How The New Regulation Could Devastate The Indian IT Sector TCS, Wipro, Infosys among Indian majors have embarked on major STEM education programmes in the US, working with colleges and high schools while employing more and more US citizens, to overcome the stigma arising from charges of displacing American workers. NASA regained contact with its Cassini spacecraft yesterday, after the probe came out of its first dive through Saturns rings. Now, we can feast our eyes on some of the best close up images ever taken of the planet. An illustration of Cassini orbiting Saturn - Images courtesy: NASA/JPL-Caltech As Cassini dived through a previously unexplored region between the rings, it was using its dish-shaped antenna as a shield to prevent damage from microparticles, which is why NASA was out of touch with the probe for a few hours. As soon as it came back online the afternoon of April 27, the agency began harvesting the data the spacecraft had gathered, publishing it online late last night. In the grandest tradition of exploration, NASA's Cassini spacecraft has once again blazed a trail, showing us new wonders and demonstrating where our curiosity can take us if we dare, said Jim Green, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. As it plunged through the gap, Cassini came within about 3,000 kilometers of Saturn's cloud tops, where the atmospheric pressure is 1 bar (almost the same as that of Earths sea level air pressure) and within about 300 kilometers from the innermost visible edge of the rings. No spacecraft has ever been this close to Saturn before. We could only rely on predictions, based on our experience with Saturn's other rings, of what we thought this gap between the rings and Saturn would be like, said Cassini Project Manager Earl Maize of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. I am delighted to report that Cassini shot through the gap just as we planned and has come out the other side in excellent shape. The Cassini spacecraft zipped through the 2,000 kilometer-wide space between the rings at speeds of about 124,000 kph, capturing data every step of the way. The next dive through the gap is scheduled for May 2. During this final phase, Cassini loops Saturn approximately once per week, making a total of 22 dives between the rings and the planet. Data from this first dive will help engineers understand if and how they will need to protect the spacecraft on its future ring-plane crossings. The spacecraft is on a trajectory that will eventually plunge into Saturn's atmosphere, and end Cassini's mission, on Sept 15, 2017. NASA's doing some great things. Capturing pictures of Saturn, finding signs of possible life in our solar system, and even preparing to build a space outpost, but not everything is going as smoothly. In fact, NASA is facing a critical shortage in its supply of space suits to outfit astronauts. US astronaut Terry Virts tweeted this image after a series of spacewalks in 2015 - Images courtesy: NASA According to a new report from the space agencys auditor, NASA is years away from having a new space suit ready for future missions, even though its invested close to $200 million on their development since 2007. In addition, NASA is also running out of the space suits it does have ready for astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), known as Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMU). The report states that only 11 of the 18 original suits developed are still in use. Developed more than 40 years ago, the EMUs protect astronauts from the harsh environment of space, including providing an oxygen supply and temperature control. Aside from maintaining these suits, NASA has also been funding development of three new types of suits the Constellation Space Suit System ($135.6 million), Advanced Space Suit Project ($51.6 million), and Orion Crew Survival System ($12 million). This also involves testing the more advanced space suits before the ISS is retired in 2024. NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy checks on EMUs aboard the space station This is a significant problem according to NASAs Office of Inspector General (OIG) which worries the remaining suits may not last until the end of the ISS lifespan, a problem that will escalate significantly if ISS operations are extended to 2028. Right now, NASA has plans to build a space outpost during the 2020s, with astronauts departing from there for a Mars exploration mission at some point in the 2030s. The lack of a formal plan and specific destinations for future missions has complicated spacesuit development, OIG says in its report. Moreover, the Agency has reduced the funding dedicated to spacesuit development in favor of other priorities such as an in-space habitat. The various main components of an EMU Additionally, the OIG claims NASA may have also messed up by funding spacesuit development under the now-defunct Constellation Program, which was part of the agencys plan to return to the Moon, before it was cancelled in 2010. Yet, between 2011 and 2016, NASA continued to pour another $80 million into the programs spacesuit research, despite recommendations from officials to cease funding. Given the reports findings, the OIG has recommended that NASA devise a more formal plan of action for the development and testing of new spacesuits, as well as comparing the cost of maintaining the current EMUs versus developing and testing a next-generation spacesuit. For its own part, NASA has agreed with the auditors suggestions, and intends to implement the changes in plan by September this year. Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has said he was pulling out of the reconciliation move of the former President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the partys leadership crisis. This was disclosed by his Deputy National Chairman, Dr Cairo Ojougboh on Thursday in Abuja, said this was to enable his faction of the National working Committee (NOC) to focus on repositioning the PDP. He said that the reconciliation moves initiated by Jonathan had finally collapsed, alleging that the move had been hijacked by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee. We are opting out and focusing our efforts at making the party the darling of Nigerians again. We had made tremendous progress before former President Jonathan was asked by party leaders to convene a meeting where stakeholders will adopt the Governor Seriake Dicksons Committee report on reconciliation. Unfortunately, former president Jonathan lost control of the meeting he convened and allowed Makarfi group to continue with their anti-party posture, he said. All the organs of the party were already queuing up behind us and Jonathan came to unbundle the progress we made by his inability to control the meeting. We will not continue again but rather concentrate on rebuilding our party, he said. Sheriff also stated that his NWC had postponed the partys National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for May 4 indefinitely, adding that a new date would be announced later. Source: ( PM News ) Nigerians have been assured by the defence Headquarters that there is no resurgence of insurgency in the North-east, particularly in Borno State despite recent attacks and suicide bombings in the state. The assurance was given on Friday by the Director Defence Information, John Enenche, at the monthly update on security situation nationwide. Mr. Enenche, a major general, said that the military, particularly the Nigerian Army had re-strategised to deal with those attacks. The general public has a feeling which I have been made to understand that there seems to be like there is resurgence of the Boko haram activities in the North-east, particularly in Borno State. I stand here this morning to tell you categorically that it is not true. Let me also remind you that the Boko Haram groups, I called them groups because it is not one. They vary in their characteristics and behaviour. They are not professional, they do not know what we armed forces of Nigeria, know, he said. According to Mr. Enenche, the new tactics being adopted by the military is to enable the troops to clear remnants of the insurgents. Source: ( Premium Times ) The office of the Presidency has told Nigerians not to be worried over the state of health of President Muhammadu Buhari. It, however, the President wanted to be up and about, his doctors had advised him to take things slowly. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. Shehu explained that Buharis absence at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday was a last-minute decision. As eager as he is to be up and about, the Presidents doctors have advised on his taking things slowly, as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the United Kingdom some weeks ago, he said. While saying the President, on his return to the country, made Nigerians aware of the state of his health while he was in London, Shehu stated that full recovery was sometimes a slow process, requiring periods of rest and relaxation, as the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, intimated in his press briefing after the FEC meeting on Wednesday. He added, Despite his lack of visibility, Nigerians should be assured that President Buhari has not abdicated his role as the Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria. He receives daily briefings on the activities of government, and confers regularly with his Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. God is the giver of life and health. We are grateful that He has seen our President through the worst period of his convalescence in London. We are thankful that the President has passed a number of benchmarks already. We pray that God continues to see him through this period of recuperation. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) Inmates at the Oko Medium Prisons in Benin, Edo State had a feel of what life was like outside the four walls of the Prison as the authorities of the Prison organised a talent hunt concert, as part of rehabilitation and reformation programme for the inmates. The Concert was tagged Oko Prisons Concert Show, the concert which featured comedians, musicians, dancers and drama groups, led to the discovery of talents among the inmates. Speaking at the event, the Assistant Comptroller (Welfare) of Oko Prisons, Mr. Julius Osemwegie, said the motive behind the concert was to discover talents among inmates in order for them to contribute to the society. We started this concert since 2014 as part of Welfare Departments rehabilitation and reformation programme. We see Prisons as a place to reform and rehabilitate inmates so that when they come out, they can contribute to the society positively and stay away from crime. We also encourage inmates on education, skill acquisition programs as well as sports. The programme is already yielding fruits as some of the inmates have started producing albums on music and comedy of their own, Osemwegie said. He disclosed that one of the inmates who passed his West African Examination Council while in Oko Prison, was later admitted to study Computer Engineering and he has since graduated. Osemwegie who appealed to the general public to assist the inmates on the concert programme financially so that it would be sustained, confirmed that people have been assisting freely with musical instruments. On her part, the Welfare Officer of the State Command, Mrs. Augustina Iyamu, lauded the performance of the inmates, adding that her interaction with the inmates has made her to be a responsible mother. We allowed the concert so that you can bring out the best in you. Please work on your talents that you have displayed today when you leave here. You can not do anything without plans, the Prisons have left the era of behind the walls, but life behind walls. I believe that in the nearest future, you will come out a better person, she said. Garanntor Nigeria, a local hosting company hosting all of its infrastructure at a Local tier III datacentre in Lagos Nigeria, has been named the winner in the Best Local Hosting Company category; beating stiff competition from four other hosting companies at Nira 2017 .NG awards. This award aims to continuously encourage the growth of local website hosting companies in Nigeria which help to make the Internet a more secure, open, accessible and diverse experience for all. Speaking to Journalists, the Marketing Manager of Garanntor Nigeria, Agbroko Obor who received the award noted that the need for home grown hosting services of international standards with unmatched support and at affordable prices is geared towards the local internet growth and contribution to the Nigerian economy. Garanntor offers Nigerians affordable, fast, premium local data hosting services which include but not limited to domain names, virtual private servers, cloud servers, web hosting, web security, cloud solutions, content delivery network, application hosting, cloud storage, disaster recovery and colocation. Garanntor received its award on Friday, April 21, 2017 at a gala dinner hosted by Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) at Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. You can find out more about Garanntors offerings on their website: www.garanntor.ng Garanntor Nigeria: www.garanntor.ng domain names: https://www.garanntor.ng/register-domain/ virtual private servers: https://www.garanntor.ng/vps/ cloud servers: https://www.garanntor.ng/cloud-server/ web hosting: https://www.garanntor.ng/web-hosting/ web security: https://www.garanntor.ng/ssl-certificate/ content delivery network: https://www.garanntor.ng/cdn/ colocation: https://www.garanntor.ng/colocation/ The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has asked the Nigerian Air Force for assistance to airlift personnel and materials to Bama, Chibok, Danbua, Gwoza and Kala Balge local government areas in Borno state, as the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise gets underway. The Chairman of the Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, who led a team of senior officials to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, told the Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, that the request was informed by the intelligence report in the commissions possession which revealed that the roads leading to the five local government areas have been mined by the retreating insurgents. Mr. Yakubu said: We are embarking on a very significant exercise in the history of this country. For the first time in our democracy, citizens will be afforded the opportunity to register as voters all year round in all our 774 local government area offices nationwide. We have mobilized in all the states of the federation, including the northeast region, where our military is very active for obvious reasons. But since the return of peace to Borno state, a lot of Nigerian citizens who are in the Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) before and during the last general elections have returned to their towns and villages. Our intention is that no Nigerian should be left out of this registration exercise. Every Nigerian counts and every Nigerian should be given the opportunity to register. But we are equally interested in the security of our personnel and materials, especially in the northeast. We have a challenge in a set of five local government areas Danbua, Chibok, Gwoza, Bama and Kala Balge. And the challenge is not in the local government offices, but in the roads leading to these local government offices. We have been reliably informed that the insurgents have, in some instances, mined these roads. We are all aware of the incident that happened last week involving some of our very senior officers. So, we thought for that reason, in our effort to ensure that every Nigerian is given the opportunity to register, we should approach the Air Force to assist the Independent National Electoral Commission in respect of these five local government areas, to airlift and deploy our personnel and equipment for the purpose of this very important exercise, in the interest of our democracy and service of our fatherland. Responding, Mr. Abubakar assured the INEC helmsman that the NAF was prepared to give the Commission all the support it requires to make the exercise a success. This is the kind of partnership we are actually looking for since we have the assets given to us by the government of Nigeria and we can use these assets to support any agency of government. For us in the Air Force, we are very happy to get involved, to support you in whichever way we can. The local governments you talked about are the areas where we operate every day, day and night. We will give you every support that you need to ensure that you conduct a successful registration exercise. And this is not only limited to Borno state, but anywhere you need to move items. We have the C100 cargo aircraft to move items from Lagos or any part of Nigeria, he said. The Indian authorities have arrested a Nigerian identified as Ugochukwu John Nnadi who was caught peddling drugs. The Nigerian was apprehended by the Anti-Narcotics Cell of the Navi Mumbai police on Thursday afternoon for trying to sell mephedrone rock and powder. Reports in India news media said about 25 grammes of the drug in powder form and 85 grammes in rock form, together estimated to be worth around 3.30 lakh (about N1.6m), were seized from him. The 37-year-old was arrested after a tip-off. According to Inspector Maya More, the police laid traps in Koparkhairane, where Nnadi usually carried out his activities, and on Thursday he walked into the trap. When he realised that we were police officials, he tried to escape. After a struggle, we caught hold of him. We found some pav in his possession, and on opening it, we found the drugs hidden inside, More told the Hindu. Police found that Nnadi arrived in India three years ago on a business visa where he started trading in women and childrens clothing. The visa has now expired. He later started peddling drugs to make easy money. Nandi has been remanded in police custody till May 5. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) The Nigeria Police Force has warned the lawmaker representing Gombe-Central Senatorial District, Senator Danjuma Goje, to honour the committee invitation or he will be arrested if he continues to ignore its invitation. The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, said this during a breakfast television show titled, Sunrise Daily on Channels Television. Moshood said, On the day the house was searched, a call was put through to him (Goje) by Ango Usman, who is the housekeeper, confirming to him the presence of the police team. He (Goje) said he was coming on that day but he switched off his phone afterwards. The following day, which was a Friday, one Nura got in touch with the police investigator and said they were coming on Friday with their lawyers to the police headquarters to meet with the investigators but they never did. Later, they called that they would come on Monday but they never did. So, I am using this opportunity to equally call on him to appear before the investigation panel because the investigation is still ongoing into all the recovery that was made in his house and it is important that nobody be allowed to cast aspersion on the investigation of police to pervert the course of justice. When asked if Goje would be arrested should he continue to shun police invitation, Moshood said, Yes, nobody is above arrest. We will definitely do so and it is important for him to know that on time and appear before the police investigation team handling the matter. President Muhammadu Buhari was not present at the Jumaat service held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Before now, the President has been joining in the Jumaat service for the prayers inside a mosque near his office since he stopped attending the service at the National Mosque, Abuja. Three state governors who apparently planned to join Buhari for the prayers were however present. The governors who attended the prayer session included Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara); and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano). The governors had on Thursday joined their colleagues for a meeting of the National Economic Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. No official reason has been given for Buharis absence at the prayer session at the time of filing this report. It will, however, be recalled that the Presidency had on Thursday said as eager as the President wanted to be up and about, his doctors have advised him to take things slowly. In the statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Presidency, however, assured Nigerians that there is no need for apprehension over the state of health of the President. While saying that the President himself on his return to the country made Nigerians aware of the state of his health while he was in London, Shehu said full recovery is sometimes a slow process, requiring periods of rest and relaxation, as the Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, intimated in his press briefing after the FEC meeting on Wednesday. He added, Despite his lack of visibility, Nigerians should rest assured that President Buhari has not abdicated his role as Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria. He receives daily briefings on the activities of government and confers regularly with his Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. His private residence, in which he has been spending the majority of his time recently, also has a fully equipped office. God is the giver of life and health. We are grateful that He has seen our President through the worst period of his convalescence in London. We are thankful that the President has passed a number of benchmarks already. We pray that God continues to see him through this period of recuperation. A Federal High Court in sitting in Lagos on Thursday fixed June 19 to deliver judgment in a suit filed by Chief Government Ekpemulopo, alias Tompolo, seeking the enforcement of his rights. Tompolo, who had been declared wanted since February 12, 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is seeking courts protection against prosecution over an alleged N45.9 billion fraud. Joined as respondents in the suit are the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff, the EFCC, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff. On Thursday, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun reserved judgment in the suit after hearing arguments from counsel. Adopting his originating processes, counsel to the first and second respondents, Mr T.A Mofolu, argued that the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, provides for speedy criminal trials. According to him, the law provides that an accused has a right of appeal where he is not at par with the decision of a court. He said in this case the respondent was aware of an appeal filed by the applicant. He also objected to the attachment of a newspaper publication in the applicants further affidavit dated June 16, 2016 on the grounds that such piece of evidence was secondary and ought to be certified at the National library. Mofolu, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the application for lack of merit. But counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, submitted that the applicant in question was a fugitive in law and should not be allowed to seek redress from the court until he submitted himself for trial. He argued that given the materials placed before the court, it was clear that the applicant was in clear contempt of the order of Justice Ibrahim Buba, who had earlier compelled his attendance in court to answer charges preferred against him. Oyedepo described the application as an abuse of court process, saying it is trite that a party who is in contempt of court cannot seek redress and urged the court to throw out the application for lack of merit. He said in his originating processes, the applicant had ridiculously and in contradiction of his claims annexed a copy of his notice of appeal signed personally by him. If the applicant feigns ignorance of the charge, how then was he able to brief his counsel on the charge for an appeal to be filed. The issue leading to the preferring of a criminal charge against the applicant borders on fraud in which billions of naira was lost by the Federal government. He, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the application and award heavy costs against the applicant for abusing the courts process. In response to the arguments of respondents counsels, Tompolos lawyer, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, brought his application pursuant to the provisions of the African Charter of Human rights, the 1999 constitution, as well as the inherent jurisdiction of the court. He argued that in criminal law service of a charge was personal and could not be presumed, adding that there is no evidence before the court showing that exhibit A (charge) was served on the applicant. On the issue of contempt, Adegboruwa submitted that the applicant could not be cited for contempt, adding that since the beginning of the proceedings, the applicant cannot be said to have breached any court order. He insisted that it was the constitutional right of the applicant to apply to court for the enforcement of his rights and urged the court to uphold it. After listening to the submissions of counsel, Justice Olatoregun fixed June 19 for judgment. The EFCC had filed a 40-count charge against Tompolo and nine others before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the same court. Following the absence of Tompolo in court since his arraignment, Justice Buba had issued a bench warrant for his arrest and production in court. The court had also on February 19, 2014, ordered a forfeiture of property belonging to Tompolo after an application was moved to that effect by the EFCC. Justice Buba had held that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 empowers the court to seize properties of an accused who refused to face trial. The court recalled that though Tompolo refused to appear in court, he briefed his lawyers and through them sought to vacate the order of his arrest. Consequently, he ordered forfeiture of properties belonging to Tompolo pending when he appears in court. Property affected by the forfeiture order included a River Crew Change Boat named MUHA 15, the property known as Tompolo Dockyard, and the property known as Tompolo Yard, at the end of Chevron Clinic Road, next to Next Oil, Edjeba, Warri. Others are the Diving School at Kurutie at Escravos River, the property known as Tompolo House at Oporaza Town, and any other property discovered by the EFCC moveable and immovable. Meanwhile, Tompolo is seeking an order restraining the respondents from further proceeding with the charges slammed on him. Tompolo contends that Sections 221 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which prohibit him from seeking a stay of proceedings in his trial infringed on his constitutional rights to fair hearing. Tompolo also wants the court not to only nullify Sections 221 and 306 of the ACJA but to also restrain the respondents from invoking the sections of the law against him. He insists that Sections 221 and 306 were in conflict with Section 36 of the Constitution which guarantees his right to fair hearing. Source : ( PM News ) We can all rest easy. Ajit Pai is going to restore the free and open internet weve been pining for, lo these past two years. In his speech at a FreedomWorks event this week, the FCC chief lamented the lost golden age of broadband, which we lived in before onerous net neutrality regulations were passed that mandated ISPs treat all internet traffic equally and forbid them from blocking or throttling users access to content. In the two years since the serious mistake of Title II classification was foisted upon the telecommunications industry, the country has been plagued by a decline in infrastructure investment, according to Pai. The consequences are dire: Fewer Americans will have access to high-speed internet, there will be fewer jobs, less competition, and declining test scoresno wait, he failed to mention that last one. Regardless, net neutrality is the culprit. But fear not. Pai reassured that going forward, the FCC will take a light touch approach to regulating the broadband market. Unburdened by heavy-handed government interference, ISPs will be moved to build out their infrastructure, bringing faster and better broadband to more Americans, creating a massive amount of jobs, and increasing competition and choice. Reclassifying internet as an information service rather than a telecommunications service will also make it possible to better protect Americans online privacy and ensure our First Amendment rightsboth of which were threatened by net neutrality. Who knew? Reality check: Can you hear me now? OK, lets get back to reality. The state of American broadband was dismal before and after net neutrality. Over the past 20 years, telecom giants like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon have been paid hundreds of billions in taxpayer dollars to build out and update their infrastructure, and they have repeatedly reneged on their promises to do so. The United States lags in rankings of the worlds fastest internet speeds, coming in 20th for average speed and 22nd for average peak connection speed. So much for the good old days of broadband before net neutrality. Pais promise that repealing the regulations will boost competition is also laughable. As a commissioner, he voted against the former FCC chairs attempts to force greater broadband competition, and earlier this year revoked a condition of Charters merger with Time Warner that would have required the cable giant to expand into areas where it would have to compete. The FCC chief goes so far as to deny that American broadband is monopolistic, even though the FCCs own statistics show that in areas where broadband internet access (defined as at least 25Mbps) is available, 78 percent have only one provider to choose from. Dont fix whats not broken Monopolies arent the only thing that dont exist in Pais alternate reality. Nothing about the internet was broken in 2015, he said. Did fast lanes and slow lanes exist? No. The truth of the matter is that we decided to abandon successful policies solely because of hypothetical harms and hysterical prophecies of doom. Lets examine a few of those hypothetical harms. Back in the good old Title I era: So much for hypothetical harms. ISPs dont oppose net neutrality and Title II because it makes investing harder; they oppose Title II and net neutrality because it prevents them from abusing the uncompetitive s#*tshow that is the broadband last mile, TechDirt writes. Show me the (lack of) money Pais initiative to repeal net neutrality will face a hard fight, not only in the court of public opinion, but in actual courts. The FCC successfully argued in favor of Title II reclassification in federal court just last summer, Wired writes. That effort means Pai might have to make the case that things have changed enough since then to justify a complete reversal in policy. To do so, he has been building the case that regulations have led to decreased investment in infrastructure, though theres little evidence of that. In recent quarterly earnings presentations, executives at AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon touted their network investments, and the CEO of Verizon specifically told shareholders that Title II didnt affect the companys investment plans. Some telecom industry-funded think tanks cherry-picked data to make it appear that investment had foundered, then repeated the fabrication theyd created, apparently believing that repetition forges truth, TechDirt writes. But if you spoke privately to most ISPs, theyd be telling you they saw no investment reduction under Title II. Return to Oz The FCC chiefs proposal for Restoring Internet Freedom would return ISPs to information service status, and in the process strip the agency of authority to police their behavior. But thats OK, Pai says, because the FTC will be returned to its rightful place as watchdog. Thats an argument he made when broadband privacy rules were repealed as well. In short, we will return to the tried-and-true approach that protected our digital privacy effectively before 2015. This is clearly a Return to Oz-style escape from reality caused by Pais net-neutrality-induced trauma. That promise of continued consumer protection under the old regulatory regime doesnt hold waterPai, a former lawyer for Verizon, knows that well. A federal appeals court ruled last year that a company cant be the subject of FTC action if any part of its business is a common carrier. If your ISP also offers telephone service, the FTC cant touch it, even if its deliberately duping customers. Some watchdog. Let the games begin Not surprisingly, the telecom industry is cheering the sea change at the FCC. Pais initiative [will] remove this stifling regulatory cloud over the internet, applauded AT&T chief executive Randall Stephenson. But tech companies have urged the FCC to keep the rules in place, and startup incubator Y Combinator and 800 startups sent a letter to Pai on Wednesday: Without net neutrality, the incumbents who provide access to the Internet would be able to pick winners or losers in the market. They could impede traffic from our services in order to favor their own services or established competitors. Or they could impose new tolls on us, inhibiting consumer choice. Those actions directly impede an entrepreneurs ability to start a business, immediately reach a worldwide customer base, and disrupt an entire industry. Pai hasnt said what will replace Title II-based net neutrality rules. Privately hes floated the idea of ISPs voluntarily committing to follow the spirit of the rules. Light touch regulation apparently involves pinkie promises. Asking the American people to simply trust that companies like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon will keep the internet free and open is like asking the fox to behave as you let him into the hen house, tweeted former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps. TechDirt speculates that Pai knows the odds for repealing the regulations are long and is instead playing a game of good cop/bad cop. Under this plan, Pai saber rattles for a few months about his intent to kill net neutrality, at which point the GOP shows up with some compromise legislation (likely this summer) that claims to codify net neutrality into law, but is worded in such a way (by the ISP lawyers that will inevitably write it) so the loophole-riddled solution is worse than no rules at all. Pais Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be voted on at the FCCs May meeting, after which the agency will seek public input. Be sure to give it to him. The internet has won this fight before, and we can win it again, the Electronic Frontier Foundation says. The best way you can help now is to tell Congress to stop the FCC from throwing internet users and innovators to the wolves. Gold (GC) Broke Weekly Chart Descending Wedge Resistance Tradable Patterns - 1 hour ago Gold (GCZ22) is consolidating after yesterdays massive near 3% surge, breaking above descending wedge resistance (on the weekly chart). GC is in the advanced stages of forming a major bottom and is... GCZ22 : 1,718.1 (+0.12%) GLD : 159.45 (+2.31%) Livestock Report Walsh Trading - Tue Nov 8, 8:27PM CST Cattle markets drift Wheat, W. D. Gann natural support and resistance levels ONE44 Analytics - Tue Nov 8, 5:17PM CST The Charts below are natural support and resistance levels that are based on W. D. Gann's "Law of Vibration". Sponsored by Janus International Group By Terry Bagley The self-storage industry is changing more rapidly than ever before in its relatively short history. This is especially true when it comes to the concept of unattended or unmanned sites. New technology (or an adaptation of existing technology) is allowing innovative operators to successfully run their facilities without onsite personnel while still offering a customer-service experience as good as, or even better than, that of a traditional operation. Although unattended facilities arent new to the industry, the concept has generally been applied at smaller, rural facilities. Moving forward, more operators will leverage this technology. Unmanned sites are the next wave in self-storage development and operation, and even though challenges can arise, the opportunity for growth is too enticing to ignore. Following are some opportunities and industry success stories. Opportunities and Challenges There are several significant opportunities created by the concept of unattended facilities. The most obvious is the ability to reduce labor costs, allowing the owner to make more profitable investments. For example, he might find he can now build on a smaller site, find property in an infill location, use a satellite location or even thrive in lower-rent area. All these options can positively impact the bottom line and value of the asset. Many of the challenges previously faced when operating an unmanned facility have been eliminated via technology. Where human interaction was once required for renting units or providing facility access, the necessary steps can now be automated. Customers can rent units online, via a call center or at a rental station (kiosk). Unit locking and unlocking can be done automatically with electronic locks. Security has been enhanced with monitored video surveillance, motion sensors and more. There are three self-storage companies that have seized the opportunity to open unattended facilities and experienced great success with this business model. Lets look at each. Success Story: Storage Express, Bloomington, Ind. Storage Express got its start in 1992 when Jefferson Shreve was struck with an innovative idea that blossomed into an empire. Shreves first self-storage facilities displayed the business phone number on the side of the building. Clients called him directly, and the rental agreement was executed over the phone, with the first payment being sent via mail. Vacant units were left unlocked and ready for tenants to move in. Today the company operates 92 unattended facilities throughout five states in largely tertiary markets, with little to no competition from the industry real estate investment trusts. Storage Express has 59 employees, 16 of which are field service representatives. Along with his call center, Shreve gives major credit to these employees for making his operation so successful. Our field service reps are part of whats unique about Storage Express, Shreve says. They serve in two capacitiesinventory and upkeepand they make sure the units are ready to rent. Because of how smoothly the business model runs, Shreve can comfortably operate a 60,000-square-foot facility without an onsite manager. The companys largest unmanned facility is 85,000 square feet. Storage Express has come to rely on its website, call center, autopay, GPS tracking on field reps vehicles, and kiosks to realize its vision of unattended self-storage. The companys masterful use of these new tools has served it well, as evidenced by its growth and success. Success Story: 10 Federal Self Storage, Raleigh, N.C. 10 Federal Self Storage has also embraced the opportunity to go fully unmanned. Since 2015, the company has used the latest technology available to create a completely automated experience for customers, both online and at the facility. Brad and Cliff Minsley own and operate four self-storage facilities in North Carolina, with another under construction and more forthcoming. An important part of their strategy for unattended sites has been the tight integration of their management software and website with self-service kiosks and access-control technology, including electronic door locks. The facility also makes liberal use of video cameras backed up by well-trained agents at the companys 24/7 call center. With the successful incorporation of multiple technologies, customers are able rent units, make payments, manage their accounts, and access their units without the help of an onsite employee. Success Story: Lakeview Self Storage, Birmingham, Ala. Lakeview Self Storage has found success with a hybrid model. Operations manager Matthew Deason was faced with a highly occupied facility and the inability to expand, so he had to get creative. He found a vacant warehouse only a block away from the companys flagship location and decided to change the course of the business with a satellite facility. The acquired warehouse was transformed into an add-on location outfitted with access-control products, including electronic locks. The site is supervised via a network of security cameras that are broadcast to a monitor at the parent facility. The manager on call can keep a watchful eye over the camera feed while managing the daily operation. The Lakeview team has experienced admirable success with their first implementation of these cutting-edge technologies. By adding rentable space without increasing staff and salaries, theyve gained significant profit. Looking Ahead The advancements in unattended self-storage technology have been impressive to this point, and things are only getting started. After seeing how far the industry as come in the past couple of decades, what could the future hold? Its likely well see technology vendors continue to grow their businesses and broaden their capabilities to significantly impact the way storage facilities operate. Rental stations will include two-way video capabilities to connect clients with customer-service representatives and automated vending solutions that sell locks, boxes and packing supplies. Facility operators will use SMS text messaging to alert customers to account balances and potential issues with their units. The most ambitious technology venture I expect to see is the introduction of robotics to the self-storage industry. For example, the Keylo robot created by Wyca Robotics is advanced enough to carry out a conversation with customers and escort them to their units. It may be difficult to envision a more tech-savvy invention than a robot who can rent units, but its clear the options are limitless when it comes to advancements in unattended self-storage. Terry Bagley is vice president of business development for Janus International Group LLC, a Temple, Ga.-based manufacturer of self-storage roll-up doors and building components. Terry has been in the self-storage industry for 15 years. In his current role, hes responsible for executive-level customer relationships and vendor partnerships. Hes also responsible for the Janus SecurGuard product line, which provides access control and security for individual storage units. For more information, e-mail [email protected]; visit www.janusintl.com. Successful self-storage operators have routinely touted their points of differentiation as key drivers to entice customers. These are typically mixed with a value proposition that speaks to prospective customer needs and pain points, such as wine storage, divorce or military deployment. The new buzz is influencer marketing, which illustrates your value in content created by someone other than yourself. The aim is to be visible to an audience you wouldnt normally reach. Think of it as a self-storage referral program on steroids. Though industry professionals have highlighted the growing importance of content marketing and the need to establish perceived value for quite some time, influencer marketing combines these strategies onto a social media platform and aims squarely at a shift in consumer behavior exhibited most prominently by Millennialsthe need for outside opinion. Its essentially about leveraging the influence of someone online who can help create value for your brand beyond the basic rental by conveying a positive experience to his followers. Brands have coveted celebrity endorsements since the dawn of advertising, but this is a diluted approach thats accessible to small brands that can think creatively and connect with an audience looking for reasons beyond price to store with a particular company or facility. Influencers are visible in relatively small circles and trusted by their followers, according to a study of 500 influencers on Instagram by Influence.co, an online platform that connects influencers with marketers. Unlike a super model or prominent actor or athlete, the average follower count of Instagram influencers is 62,568, according to the Influence.co report. Among the study group, 59 percent were women, and the most popular category for paid content was lifestyle. Whats interesting about that is the average follower count among lifestyle influencers was just 27,699 and the average cost per lifestyle post was $172the least expensive payout of the 10 categories studied. While self-storage isnt a lifestyle for most people, its often necessary as an extension of certain lifestyles, whether were talking wine enthusiasts, boaters and fishermen, art and car collectors, active military and so on. Having someone who relies on your self-storage facility to enhance their lifestyle interests or career publicly convey positive messages about their experience with your business could be a powerful message to their followers and entice future rentals. The gut reaction for many may be to roll their eyes at the advent of the Instagram model making a living with product-placement images, but the fact that folks are making a handsome living or traveling the world on some brands dime suggests there is return on investment (ROI) to some extent. In a recent study of 127 marketers, including consumer-packaged-goods companies, media, retailers and others, 94 percent of those who have used influencer marketing believe its been effective, according to Linqia, a content-marketing company that offers influencer marketing among its services. The top three reasons why marketers believe the strategy works is that it creates authentic content about a brand (89 percent), drives engagement around a brand (77 percent) and drives traffic to a website or landing page (56 percent). Linqia identifies Facebook and Instagram as the two most important platforms (87 percent), followed by blogs (48 percent) and Twitter (44 percent). It published the findings in its The State of Influencer Marketing 2017 report, which can be downloaded for free but requires registration. Though 78 percent of respondents in the Linqia report also indicate that determining ROI is their top challenge as a part of influencer marketing, businesses on average generate $6.50 for every dollar spent (better than a 600 percent return), according to a report by the marketing website ClickZ. The potential win-win for marketers is theyre not wasting resources creating the content themselves, while 68 percent of consumers are actively looking for product information from other consumers, ClickZ reported. Besides the lifestyle tenants who may rent from your self-storage facility, consider other avenues of influencers who may be connected to your business, including those who have participated in community events on your property or activities youve sponsored. Among those, who's most visible within your community and active online? There could be several lucrative synergies worth exploring and leveraging. Im not suggesting this is an easy path for most self-storage operators, but its certainly worth considering based on what we know about the idiosyncrasies of Millennials, whose influence on how you market will only increase as they gain more spending power. The driving force behind marketing today is the ability to tell a compelling story through the lens of someone who has benefited from your business. Thats the power of influence. When tied together with a comprehensive content-marketing strategy, you might be surprised by the power of your reach. Update 6/15/18 The joint venture between SROA, Live Oak and MacArthur has opened its Storage Rentals of America facility on Congress Avenue. The final design comprises 105,000 square feet and 742 climate-controlled storage units. The first-floor retail space is currently available for lease, according to a press release. The group celebrated the grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio and members of the local chamber of commerce. Demand for new self-storage facilities has been fueled by a growing and increasingly mobile population, multi-family development and a resilient U.S. economy, Macfarland said. We see continued growth in the industry, said Steve Tedder, principal of Live Oak. This well-designed, highly visible facility addresses the unmet needs of local residents and businesses. The property is SROAs 11th in Florida, with several more projects in the companys pipeline, the release stated. 4/28/17 A partnership led by SROA Capital LLC, an equity investor focused on the self-storage industry and operator of the Storage Rentals of America brand, has started construction on a three-story, mixed-use storage project at 1620 N. Congress Ave. in West Palm Beach, Fla. The project is a joint venture with real estate developers Live Oak Capital Partners and MacArthur Holdings LLC, operating under the name North Congress Storage LLC. The facility will comprise 100,000 square feet in 830 climate-controlled units and 1,200 rentable square feet of ground-floor retail space. Its expected to open during the first quarter of 2018, according to a source. The facility will include LED lighting and motion sensors for energy efficiency, and 24-hour video cameras for security. The 2-acred property is across the street from the Palm Beach Outlet Mall, near the intersection of Interstate 95 and Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard. SROA Capital purchased the land in 2016 for $1.33 million, a source reported. "We are excited to be investing locally and working with our city and county officials and surrounding neighborhoods to build a beautifully designed property that fits the storage needs of local residents and businesses," Benjamin S. Macfarland III, CEO of SROA Capital, said in a press release. The ground-breaking comes on the heels of the acquisition of three South Carolina properties by SROA, which will be converted to self-storage. The assets are in Columbia, Myrtle Beach and Simpsonville, the release stated. Founded in 2012, Live Oak Capital Partners focuses primarily on niche property types and off-market opportunities. It has investment interests in self-storage, industrial, manufactured-housing and office properties. MacArthur Holdings LLC is a real estate owner and developer primarily in New York City. Its portfolio includes hotel, multi-family, office and retail projects. It also owns commercial and industrial properties in southern New Hampshire and has multi-family investments in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the release stated. Based in West Palm Beach, SROA Capital is a real estate investment company focused on the acquisition of self-storage properties as well as direct-equity investments with developers and operators. It manages 59 properties in five states. The company recently changed its name from Elite Stor Capital Partners LLC to better align with the Storage Rentals of America brand name. Sources: Palm Beach Post, Developer Breaks Ground on Self-Storage Center Near Palm Beach Outlets South Florida Business Journal, Self-Storage Facility Breaks Ground Near Major Mall Yahoo Finance, Partnership to Break Ground on 100,000 Sq. Ft. State-of-the-Art Self-Storage Facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. Christian Noyer, the honorary governor of the Bank of France, says he expects to see BlackRock jobs transferred to Paris after meeting with CEO Larry Fink. Christian Noyer, the former Bank of France governor now tasked with bringing jobs to the country post-Brexit, expects BlackRock to move some of its London-based workforce to Paris following meetings with Chief Executive Officer Larry Fink and his team. Noyer said in an interview that his expectations are based on two, hour-long meetings with the boss of the worlds largest asset manager. The honorary Bank of France governor said hed be very surprised if Paris didnt land some of the jobs that BlackRock plans to transfer from London when the U.K. leaves the European Union in 2019. With Britain just one month into its two-year process exiting the European trading bloc, banks and asset managers with offices in London are considering moving staff to rival financial centers within the E.U. Paris, Frankfurt, Dublin and Amsterdam are among the cities that may benefit from the U.K.s looming loss of jobs. When Larry Fink takes one hour of his time to meet, it is not because he thinks that I am a nice guy, Noyer said. And when he does that twice in two months... well... I would be very surprised if Paris is not in the picture. BlackRock said it hasnt yet committed to any single European city. The New York-based firm, which had about 13,000 employees globally at the end of last year, manages $5.4 trillion in assets. The firms 2014 annual report, the most recent year for which it provided a breakdown of its global workforce, showed that 28 percent were then employed in the EMEA region, or Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including offices in London and Edinburgh. Given BlackRocks experience operating in multiple jurisdictions we remain well placed to meet our clients needs and have commenced efforts to lay the groundwork for our longer-term response to the U.K.s eventual exit from the E.U., a BlackRock spokesman in London said in an emailed statement. As part of these efforts, and in line with our broader strategy to grow our business in Europe, we are considering several options to increase our presence in key markets on the continent. While BlackRock can afford to develop things in several places, Noyer said he still expects a significant share of the firms London jobs will be transferred to France. The honorary governor of the Bank of France said hes become frustrated by media reports suggesting that Frankfurt will be the main beneficiary from jobs moving as a result of Brexit, prompting him to overcome his reluctance to discuss specific firms. The idea that everyone will go to Frankfurt doesnt stand up, said Noyer. Seventeen global organizations have asked us to organize visits for them to Paris where they can meet our regulators, he said. Do you think the U.S. banks would still be meeting with me if they thought Paris was not an option? Paris will emerge as the favored center for jobs in asset management and banking operations after the French presidential election, according to Noyer. He said that many firms have delayed announcing their preferred choice because the election is still in process. Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right politician Marine Le Pen have advanced to the second round of voting, scheduled for May 7. In a sign that France is attracting financial talent due to Brexit, the French Financial Management Association said that 30 asset management companies have applied for registrations in Paris to relocate jobs from the U.K. We are now at the point where we have seen all of the major institutions several times, the U.S. banks at least twice in New York, the Japanese banks at least twice in Tokyo and the Swiss banks in Zurich, Noyer said. The board of management at Munich Re has welcomed a new man at its helm, as they said goodbye to the man who headed the group for over 13 years.At its AGM, Munich Re announced that Joachim Wenning will take over the role as chairman of the board of management, succeeding Nikolaus von Bomhard.Bernd Pischetsrieder, the chairman of the supervisory board at Munich Re, commended the previous chairmans contributions to the company.Nikolaus von Bomhard took over at the helm of Munich Re at a difficult time, and successfully repositioned the Groups strategy; this allowed Munich Re to survive the financial crisis unscathed, he explained.The AGM also saw the election of Renata Jungo Brungger as a member of the Supervisory Board, replacing Wolfgang Mayrhuber whose resignation will take effect from the end of 2016. Brungger will serve his post until the AGM in 2019.In addition, Munich Re approved the buy back shares of up to a total amount of 10% of the share capital, valued at around 1 billion, in the period up to next years AGM in April. Premium rates in the immature Australian cyber insurance market show no signs of dropping despite more awareness of the product and its benefits, an expert has said.Meena Wahi, a specialist cyber broker and director of Cyber Data-Risk Managers, said that premium rates in the market show no signs of dropping; indeed, they show more signs of moving up rather than down.The rates are not coming down, for sure, Wahi told Insurance Business.Awareness around cyber insurance is growing in the Australian market but Wahi noted that the market is still immature.The recent release of the ASX 100 Cyber Health Check, which surveyed 76 of the biggest companies in the country, found that boards of directors are aware of the risk but only 38% currently have cyber cover.Wahi stressed that this result highlights the current state of the market in Australia.It shows you how immature the market is, Wahi said.The ASX 100 are at this stage but what about other, smaller mid-sized business or the ASX 500 businesses?Wahi said that clients that do not pursue a cyber policy cite several reasons, all of which would potentially be negated through more broker participation. For example, clients either view policies as immature, or find the policy wordings to be ambiguous.Brokers can highlight their ability to customise and select the right policy based on client need in a market that will continue to grow over the coming years.If businesses dont engage with their brokers then they will end up thinking that they dont want this insurance, Wahi continued.They really have to engage with them, ask them questions, do analysis of policy wordings, look at what customisation is available and what gaps there are in the policy.Aside from the obvious financial benefits of pursuing a cyber policy, Wahi said that companies often forget other, intangible benefits a policy can present. For example, cyber is seen as a good way for businesses to build trust between themselves and their clients, improve their due diligence and reinforce their business continuity strategies.Cyber is a great way to start preparing for the future, Wahi said. With the upcoming launch of several rent-bidding apps in Australia, a specialist insurer has expressed concerned that the new tech will push renters into bidding more than they can pay for rental properties.US-based Live Offer and Australian start-up Rentwolf will both roll out their platforms in Australia in the coming months, following US rent-bidding start-up Rentberrys announcement of an Australian launch for this year.Now, Carolyn Parrella, the executive manager of Terri Scheer Insurance, has joined other landlord insurance specialists in raising concerns that the looming rental revolution could cause renters to financially over-commit themselves in the process of a rent auction, Domain reported.Impulsive, eBay-style bidding on rental apps like Rentberry may see Australian tenants fall into financial difficulty when vying for their preferred rental property, she said.Tenants who use these apps could be lulled into the thrill of the chase and get caught up in the bidding process and commit to paying a rental amount that they cant afford in the long term.Tim Manson, founder and chief executive of Property Connect, was quick to differentiate Live Offer with competitor Rentberry, saying that its not a bidding system but an offer system.When renters apply, they input their offer, and, as they are inputting, they see in real time how they are placed against other applicants, Manson told Domain.Both the Tenants Union of NSW and Victoria are advocating making rent bidding illegal. In Victoria, the topic is being reviewed by Consumer Affairs. Property and casualty insurer Zurich North America has taken the opportunity to raise awareness for childhood cancer and extend support for families through a donation.The major carrier announced its $10,000 donation to the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House during a dinner at the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) conference held in the state earlier this week.According to a company statement, the donation was made on behalf of the companys RIMS attendees and guests.Ronald McDonald House will use half of the gift to fund the trip of a group of child cancer patients and their siblings to attend Ronald McDonald Camp in the Poconos Mountains.The Camp allows children (fighting) cancer to take a break from the stress of treatment and just be kids by experiencing the joys of summer camp, Zurich said in its statement.The other half of the bequest will support the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and St. Christophers Hospital for Children.The Family Rooms provide a quiet, comfortable place for families to rest and regroup during their childs treatmenthelping them to reduce stress and focus on their own health and well-being while they take care of their child, the statement added.Zurich Select Brokers and RIMS participants also pooled donations to hand out $1,000 worth of gift cards to be distributed to the Houses beneficiary families to help with expenses for everyday staples and supplies.Ronald McDonald House was born in Philadelphia, making it another part of the citys tradition of innovation and leadership where childrens health is concerned, Paul Horgan, head of North America Commercial Insurance for Zurich North America, stated.I am proud that Zurich can contribute to that tradition by providing comfort to the families of seriously ill children with this donation, he added.Susan Campbell, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House, added: We are very excited and grateful to Zurich for their generous donation. Through their donation, they will help us bring comfort to numerous familieswhile they are going through a very difficult timeThe insurer has institutionalized giving as part of its organization. In 2016, it delivered more than $600,000 to its host communities through roughly 30,000 volunteer hours rendered by nearly 4,000 employees to support 725 service projects. Chubb, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), has dedicated a Pennsylvania historical marker to the Insurance Company of North America (INA), Chubbs oldest subsidiary company. The marker was unveiled during a ceremony at Chubbs office in Philadelphia, Penn., and commemorates INAs 225-year history. This milestone is important to the Philadelphia region, as it underscores the caliber of our businesses and output from our area, said Councilman Mark Squilla, District One, Philadelphia, during the dedication ceremony. It also serves as recognition of INAs positive influence on the community, and across the nation, and even stretching into the international marketplace. INA has operated in the Philadelphia area uninterrupted since 1792 and served as a cornerstone of Philadelphias Insurance Row, which was once the acknowledged center of the U.S. insurance industry. INA has been a subsidiary of Chubb (formerly ACE Group) since 1999. INA has a storied history in the North American insurance industry. Some firsts include introducing: the first stock insurance organization in the United States the first fire insurance company to insure contents of a building from fire the first insurance company to appoint a network of agents to represent it on the U.S. frontier. Today is a very special milestone for our company, and were proud of our companys heritage and legacy here in Philadelphia, said Robert Poliseno, Mid-Atlantic regional executive officer at Chubb in a company press release. Additionally, Philadelphia continues to be a vibrant insurance marketplace and an important hub for our North American operations. As a global insurer, we operate locally to serve our distribution partners and customers. According to the PHMCs nominating criteria, INA had a significant impact on its times, and has statewide and/or national historical significance. After its dedication, the marker will be owned and maintained by the PHMC. Each PHMC marker establishes an important link to the past, said Nancy Moses, PHMC Chair, in the press release. I hope that this marker provides encouragement for further study and discussion as we celebrate the important role INA played in establishing the insurance industry when the United States of America was still in its infancy. Additionally, the marker recognizes INAs numerous marketplace innovations over its long history, City Representative Sheila Hess also delivered a Mayoral Citation on behalf of Mayor Jim Kenney. The ceremony coincided with the 2017 Risk Management Society (RIMS) annual conference, the insurance industrys premier gathering to discuss influential themes and trends affecting the industry. The RIMS conference was held at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Source: Chubb Topics USA Market Chubb Pennsylvania Zurich North America, a provider of property and casualty insurance and a company dedicated to improving the lives of children and families, has made a $10,000 donation to the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. Paul Horgan, head of North America Commercial Insurance for Zurich North America, announced the donation at a special dinner for Zurich customers on April 25 during the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) Conference, which took place this year in Philadelphia, Penn., from April 23-26. In 2016, Zurich demonstrated its commitment to the communities where people live and work through more than $633,000 derived from 27,430 volunteer hours donated by 3,668 employees through more than 725 service projects. One of Zurichs three community investment focus areas is working to ensure the health and welfare of children in need. To help meet that need in the Philadelphia area, Zurich has donated $10,000 to the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House on behalf of its Zurich RIMS attendees and guests attending Zurich-hosted events. The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald house is dedicated to supporting the families of seriously ill children by creating a community of comfort and hope through housing and other supportive services. The $10,000 will go toward two initiatives. Half of the money will be used to allow a group of children battling cancer and their siblings to attend Ronald McDonald Camp in the Poconos Mountains. The Camp allows children with cancer to take a break from the stress of treatment and just be kids by experiencing the joys of summer camp. The other half of the donation will be used to support the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and St. Christophers Hospital for Children. The Ronald McDonald Family Rooms extend the support of the Ronald McDonald House into the hospital by offering a quiet, comfortable place for families to rest and regroup during their childs treatment. This can help them to reduce stress and focus on their own health and well-being while they take care of their child. In addition to the monetary donation, Zurich presented the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House with more than $1,000 worth of gift cards for families served by the House to help them with everyday staples and supplies while living there. The gift cards were donated by Zurichs Select Brokers in the Atlantic Region and Zurich employees attending the RIMS conference. Source: Zurich North America Uber Technologies Inc. will begin offering U.K. drivers the ability to buy injury and illness insurance, a step to provide a safety net for the independent drivers it has long been criticized for treating poorly. The benefit is a first for Uber, which has faced lawsuits from drivers and government scrutiny around the world for not doing more to aid the thousands of drivers it classifies as freelance contractors rather than employees. The classification allows the company to avoid various tax and benefits costs that an employer incurs. The insurance policy announced Thursday will only be available to drivers in the U.K. Those who have completed more than 500 rides will be eligible to pay 2 pounds ($2.58) per week for benefits that covers sickness and injury, jury service, as well as a 50,000-pound payout if an accident results in death or disablement. Uber says its contributing to the benefits package, which it says is worth 8 pounds per week. Uber didnt say whether the benefits would be rolled out elsewhere in the world. In the U.K., the coverage is being administered by a third-party the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed, a membership group for freelance workers. Jo Bertram, the regional general manager of Uber in the U.K., said in a statement that the benefit is a response to driver requests. It followed an announcement in February when the company began offering financial advice for drivers. Drivers who make money through Uber tell us they love the freedom of being their own boss and choosing if, when and where they drive, Bertram said. But drivers have also told us they want more security if something unexpected happens. Uber has long faced questions about its treatment of drivers. In the U.K., one of its largest and most well-established markets, the company is appealing a loss in a minimum-wage lawsuit over pay and vacation time a ruling that could have broad implications for how its drivers are compensated in the country. In the U.S., a $100 million settlement with drivers in California and Massachusetts was rejected by a federal judge. In February, Bloomberg published a video of Uber CEO Travis Kalanick arguing with an Uber driver about pay. Related: Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Personal Auto Desjardins Group is looking to acquire insurers, wealth managers and payments firms to expand further outside Quebec and challenge the dominance of Canadas big financial services firms, Chief Executive Officer Guy Cormier said. Cormier, who oversees North Americas largest financial co-operative, said hed consider deals up to C$3 billion ($2 billion) over the next three to five years, though hes also interested in pursuing partnerships with other credit unions and co-ops. Were open for business, open to increase our revenues and focus on these three targets, Cormier, 47, said in an April 20 interview in his Montreal office. Well be really open to any kind of transaction and acquisition, especially in property and casualty insurance. Cormier oversees a network of 313 credit unions known as caisses in Quebec and Ontario, as well an operation that includes retail and business banking, insurance, asset management and capital markets. The group serves more than 7 million members and clients and employs about 48,000 people. Earlier Expansion Desjardins expanded through takeovers under former CEO Monique Leroux, starting with the C$443 million purchase of insurer Western Financial Group in 2011. The firm bought 40 percent of Vancouver-based online brokerage Qtrade Financial Group in 2013, and two years later acquired State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.s Canadian property and casualty and life insurance operations, as well as its mutual fund, loan and living benefit companies. Cormier, who succeeded Leroux in April 2016 after being elected to a four-year term, said his first two years are about taking a deep breath on takeovers and focusing on integration. He has already undone part of the Western Financial deal, shedding its pet insurance business to Economical Mutual Insurance Co. in January and a month later agreeing to a C$775 million sale of its insurance brokerage network to Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. Desjardins is still really involved, really focused and really interested in doing business outside Quebec, Cormier said. We feel we have the technology, the knowledge, the capital, the money and were ready for that. Desjardins, with C$258.4 billion in assets at the end of December, has a capital strength rivaling North Americas big banks, with a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 17.3 percent. The Levis, Quebec-based entity is the worlds sixth-largest financial co-op by income, according to the World Co-operative Monitor. Surplus Earnings Desjardins posted C$14.1 billion in operating income and had surplus earnings before member dividends of C$1.77 billion in 2016 its second-best year since Alphonse Desjardins founded North Americas first savings and credit co-operative in 1900 near Quebec City. Its largest segment is personal and business services, which accounted for more than half of surplus earnings last year. Wealth management, which includes life and health insurance, is the second biggest, representing about a quarter of earnings, while property and casualty insurance accounted for about 17 percent of earnings. Cormier said he wants to build on Desjardins property and casualty operations, challenging industry leaders in Canada including Toronto-based Intact Financial Corp. and Aviva Plc, Britains second-largest insurer. In the next two to five years, we feel that therell be another consolidation in Canada with the property and casualty insurers, and were there to buy right now, Cormier said, noting that there are a lot of smaller insurers ripe for takeover. More Aggressive Desjardins will boost whats become a majority stake in the Qtrade platform into full ownership, while seeking more wealth-management deals and adding more products such as exchange-traded funds, he said. We want to be more aggressive and have a stronger presence outside Quebec on wealth management, Cormier said. He also wants to expand the firms existing credit card, debit and mobile technology beyond its home province and leverage its partnership with Credit Mutual on payments platform Monetico. Desjardins is currently testing a tap-and-go credit-card payment system on buses in the Montreal suburb of Laval. Desjardins also aims for greater market share in commercial loans, consumer lending and wealth management in Quebec, notably in Montreal and among younger customers, while pushing further into Ontario, he said. That will include five new branches in Ottawa and around Toronto Canadas largest city and home to five of the countrys six largest banks to add to its existing network of 15 Ontario locations. One of the provinces that is booming a lot from a population point of view is Ontario, so for us, we want to be there, Cormier said. Do we want to compete with Royal Bank? They have their own niche and theyre there, but we feel that there is a spot for us in Ontario. Related: Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Carriers Property Casualty Property Canada Casualty Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things (IoT) and blockchain were prominently featured among the winners of the second annual Efma-Accenture Innovation in Insurance awards. Aimed at showcasing the best examples of insurance technology innovations in multiple categories, the awards this year attracted nearly 220 entries from nearly 150 institutions in 38 countries. This years entries truly set a new benchmark for innovation in insurance. It was clear from the diverse range of submissions that insurers around the world are acting with urgency to innovate for their customers and capitalize on emerging new technologies like artificial intelligence, the internet of things and blockchain, said Piercarlo Gera, senior managing director, Financial Services, Accenture Distribution & Marketing. Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. / Generali Italy received the 2017 Global Innovator of the Year award. The company was recognized by a panel of independent judges for its strong focus on innovation in all submissions, including its work on crowd sourcing, incubation initiatives, collaboration with startups and partnerships with global organizations. Moshe Tamir, global head of Digital Transformation, Generali, said, Were delighted that our commitment to innovation around the world has been recognized. The insurance landscape is changing fast and digital transformation is at the center of this change. At Generali, we see new technology as instrumental in creating an even stronger relationship with our clients and distributors, and further shaping our business for the future. Second place in the Global Innovator of the Year category went to Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire (Japan), while AXA Group (Italy) completed the top three. Four other category winners were announced at the awards show in London: Connected Insurance & Ecosystems. Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire (Japan) won in this category for its Sharing Medical Information on Blockchain offering. By sharing patients medical information between relevant parties using a blockchain platform, the submission noted that the number of unnecessary medical examinations fell, administrative costs declined and the quality of service improved. Europ Assistance Group in Italy and Belgium-based Qover were runners-up. Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire (Japan) won in this category for its Sharing Medical Information on Blockchain offering. By sharing patients medical information between relevant parties using a blockchain platform, the submission noted that the number of unnecessary medical examinations fell, administrative costs declined and the quality of service improved. Europ Assistance Group in Italy and Belgium-based Qover were runners-up. Customer Experience & Engagement. AXA Sure from AXA Group (France) won this category with an app that allows information on household contents to be digitized and stored. Users benefit from policy transparency and faster processing in the event of a claim. Second place went to MyAngel from Italy-based Groupama Assicurazioni, and third place went to Consultation through Telemedicine from Bradesco Seguros in Brazil. AXA Sure from AXA Group (France) won this category with an app that allows information on household contents to be digitized and stored. Users benefit from policy transparency and faster processing in the event of a claim. Second place went to MyAngel from Italy-based Groupama Assicurazioni, and third place went to Consultation through Telemedicine from Bradesco Seguros in Brazil. Intelligent Automation. The winning submission in this category was Allianz AI Sales Smart Mentoring from Allianz (France) a smart mentoring solution that provides real-time analysis and diagnosis for salesforces to harness the full potential of their commercial relationship skills. Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Claim Document Recognition System from Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire (Japan) came in second place, with U.S.-based Safeco, a Liberty Mutual company, placing third. The winning submission in this category was Allianz AI Sales Smart Mentoring from Allianz (France) a smart mentoring solution that provides real-time analysis and diagnosis for salesforces to harness the full potential of their commercial relationship skills. Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Claim Document Recognition System from Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire (Japan) came in second place, with U.S.-based Safeco, a Liberty Mutual company, placing third. Best Disruptive Product or Service.This category went to Medis (Portugal) for its Enhancing Omni Channel by Adding Interactive TV Commerce initiative, which was chosen at the evening awards ceremony, with Slice (USA) and InsureApp (Netherlands) completing the top three. Vincent Bastid, CEO of Efma, said, Not only are these awards the perfect way to showcase the industrys spirit of innovation, they provide an opportunity for insurers to come together and learn about new best practices. Additional information about the second annual Efma-Accenture awards can be viewed on the Efma website. Related: Topics InsurTech Tech Generali Life Assurance (Thailand) Plc. The London Market Group (LMG) announced the re-appointment of Nicolas Aubert, head of Great Britain for Willis Towers Watson, as its chair. The last 12 months has seen progress across all LMGs workstreams, including market modernization work, including the launch of PPL, the London markets electronic placing platform. (PPL is an initiative of the London markets Target Operating Model, or TOM, a program that aims to modernize the market and make it easier to do business in and with the London market.). The curve ball of 2016 was Brexit, but this has given us both opportunities and challenges, he said, noting that the LMG is working very closely with the government to protect our businesses and make positive changes that will allow our unique marketplace to grow and thrive. Aubert has served as the head of Great Britain at Willis Towers Watson since Jan. 4, 2016 and he also serves as the CEO of Willis Limited, the legal entity covering UK based activities from legacy Willis. Previously, Aubert served as CEO of Willis GB, the operating segment of Willis Group Holdings, which included Willis London specialty businesses and facultative, and the retail insurance business in Great Britain. Prior to joining Willis, Aubert served as the chief operating officer of American International Group (AIG) in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and also as managing director of AIG in the UK. After joining AIG in June 2002 to lead AIG France, Aubert held various senior management positions, including managing director of Southern Europe, where he oversaw operations in 12 countries, including Israel. Prior to AIG, Mr. Aubert worked in various leadership positions at ACE, CIGNA, GAN and started his career at Generali. He holds specialized Masters Degrees in Insurance Law (DESS Assurances) from Pantheon-Sorbonne University of Paris and from Institut des Assurances de Paris (Universite Paris-Dauphine) and an M.B.A. from the French High Insurance Studies Center (CHEA). The LMG represents specialist commercial re/insurance broking and underwriting communities in London. Source: London Market Group (LMG) Related: Topics Europe London The emphasis on 24-hour service at Waffle House hurricane or shine has earned the company a reputation among professional emergency managers, who make rough estimates of storm damage by looking to the local eatery. Theres even a Waffle House Index at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Joplin Globe reported that Waffle House has carved out its niche among Southern road-trippers and the late-night bar crowd with a promise of 24-hour constancy. Its laminated menus and round-the-clock breakfast service are the same as ever. The yellow roadside sign has not changed since 1955, and the diner chain has stood by the promise that its doors will never close. If they do, it may be time to panic. If the restaurant is serving a full menu, it means the building has power and damage may not be that serious. If the diner is offering a limited menu, it means power may be out in an area as cooks rely on gas-powered grills and food supply lines may be cut off. In that case, the Waffle House index is yellow. If the restaurant is closed, the index goes to red. If you get there and the Waffle House is closed? Thats really bad. Thats where you go to work, W. Craig Fugate, a former administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has said. Fugate came up with the index after the Joplin tornado in 2011, according to FEMAs executive summary of the index, which was released to the public via a Freedom of Information Act request. Despite the catastrophic damage in Joplin, when thousands of homes and hundreds of businesses were damaged and destroyed, the areas Waffle House restaurants were both open, indicating to the emergency managers arriving from outside Missouri that the local economy had not shut down entirely. The Waffle House at 3506 S. Range Line Road was on the south side of the tornados path, while the Waffle House at 1208 S. Madison St. in Webb City was to the north of the storm path. Fugate was reminded of something he had noticed earlier: Even in the midst of disaster, Waffle House never seems to close. FEMA considers the index part of its initial situational awareness, according to the internal documents. It also uses aerial photographs, wind speeds and other tools to assess damage. While the index is informal, by monitoring the status of private companies in a disaster, FEMA hopes to better coordinate its placement of goods and services, the documents show, and it found a place in FEMA disaster-monitoring software. When a winter storm hit the Southeastern United States in 2014, the agency mapped all the Waffle Houses in the region, coding them under the heading Waffle House Index, the documents show. Pat Warner, vice president of culture for Waffle House, says the company continues to regularly send the index to FEMA and state agencies. There are more than 1,500 Waffle House restaurants around the country, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Warner credits Fugate with encouraging communication between the private sector and government disaster agencies. This cooperation was on display during a 2014 winter storm that crippled roads and airports and left 22 people dead. Phil Strouse, an official with FEMAs department of external affairs, addressed an email to private sector partners informing businesses about the agencys response to the snowstorm and asking for updates. Warner, the Waffle House executive, responded with a list of seven locations that were open but without electrical power in an email obtained by the Globe. In parentheses, he added Waffle House Index (equals) Yellow. The company, which spends little money on advertising, has embraced the index as a recognition of its corporate culture. Not only does it insist that its diners stay open every day, all day, it promotes the urban myth that its restaurants have no locks. Despite any gains in customer loyalty, disaster readiness doesnt help Waffle House profits. It gets into a lot of money, Warner says of sending backup food, fuel and people to disaster-struck stores. From the business standpoint, it probably doesnt make a lot of sense. We look at it more from the people standpoint. And while both area stores escaped the 2011 tornado, employees were sent from surrounding stores to relieve area workers impacted by the storm. Keith Stammer, director of emergency management for Joplin and Jasper County, says the index has become a buzzword among disaster professionals. He sees it primarily as a tool for federal emergency managers who must step off a plane and quickly assess the damage. Trying to get some objective ground truth is difficult, and this is one way, he said. April Tarrant, director of the countys 911 center, hadnt heard of the index, but she said it could come in handy when 911 calls start flooding in after a disaster. Many people who call for help after disaster strikes simply want to know where to go, she says. One thing that would be important for us is: Whats open for food? she said. The index doesnt have an official place in emergency plans for the area, but Stammer admits it wouldnt be the last thing on his mind in an emergency. I would go by and see if they were open or not, he said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Windstorm A former Iowa fire academy administrator has pleaded guilty to falsifying test scores that were used to improperly certify thousands of firefighters. Former Fire Services Training Bureau certification manager John McPhee pleaded guilty to felony misconduct in office. Judge James Malloy scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 24. Prosecutors and the defense have agreed to recommend a sentence of two years probation, unspecified restitution and community service for McPhee, 49. Malloy could opt for a different sentence for McPhee, who remains free on bond and faces a maximum of five years in prison. McPhee, who began at the Ames-based academy in 1998, assigned passing scores to exams without checking or correcting them for years. More than 2,400 firefighters and emergency personnel were granted nationally-recognized certifications despite failing tests. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Iowa Old cars can learn new tricks. For a few hundred dollars, drivers can add new safety technology like forward collision warning systems or backup cameras to older cars. Cars are lasting longer than ever thanks to improving quality. The average U.S. vehicle is now 11.6 years old, according to the consulting firm IHS Markit. But that means millions of car owners are missing out on technology that could potentially save their lives. Forward collision warning systems, for example, can reduce the risk of a crash by 27 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Consumers have to do the math to decide whether its better to add aftermarket systems to an older car or save up for a new one. They have to balance the cost of new safety which can be hefty with the increased maintenance older cars usually need. If a drivers doesnt want an extra camera cluttering up the dashboard, they may want to save up for a new car with built-in systems. To get blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning and lane departure warning on a new, 2017 Altima SL, a driver may have to spend $28,570 for the car and add $3,000 in options. For a fraction of that amount $500 a car owner could add an aftermarket forward collision system, backup camera and blind spot detection monitors to an older car. A driver could also consider a late-model used car. A 2015 Nissan Altima SL with blind spot monitoring, a rearview camera and lane departure warning can be found for less than $20,000, for example. Buyers may want to wait on a new car because the cost of safety tech is coming down. Toyota is now offering a $300 package on some vehicles that includes forward collision warning and lane departure warning. Starting with the 2018 model year, all vehicles sold in the U.S. will be required to have backup cameras. And most new cars will have standard automatic emergency braking by 2022. Shawn Sinclair, an automotive engineer with Consumer Reports magazine, says forward collision warning is the most important feature to consider when thinking about adding tech to a car. Even though it wont stop the car from hitting an obstacle automatic braking isnt available as an aftermarket option it will warn drivers so they can slow down or maneuver away. Blind spot detection and rear cameras are two others she considers critical. But at the same time, you have to say, Hey I have this 10-year-old car, maybe its time to turn it in, she said. The quality of aftermarket systems varies considerably. Drivers are urged to read reviews or ask a trusted mechanic for recommendations. Here are four safety features to consider: FORWARD COLLISION WARNING/LANE DEPARTURE WARNING: Sinclair suggests a system from Mobileye, a tech company that also supplies most major automakers. Mobileyes cameras and software can recognize other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and even speed limit signs. The system alerts drivers when they leave a lane and when a collision is up to 2.7 seconds away. Sinclair says it costs around $1,000 to buy the system and have it installed by a Mobileye technician. There are many less expensive and easy-to-install dashboard cameras that double as collision warning systems. Garmins Dash Cam 35 monitors up to 130 feet in front of the vehicle; if the driver is going 30 mph or faster, it will issue audio and visual alerts of impending collisions. The Dash Cam 35 costs $130 on Amazon.com. BLIND SPOT DETECTION: Blind spot systems use sensors to monitor the sides of the vehicle and flash an icon to the driver if something is in the way. Sinclair recommends Goshers Blind Spot Detection System, which costs $239. It monitors within 10 feet of the vehicle. Sinclair recommends having a professional install the system; it took her mechanic four hours to do it. BACKUP CAMERA: According to government statistics, roughly 250 people are killed each year in backover accidents, many of them children. Chinas Yada brand makes a weather-proof camera with night vision that attaches to the rear of the car. When the car is in reverse, it sends images wirelessly to a 4.3-inch monitor. Pep Boys sells the system for $129. If a monitor is not desirable, Auto Vox has one that displays the image in the rear-view mirror. Its $139 on Amazon.com. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: Hum, developed by Verizon, works like General Motors OnStar system. It will automatically call emergency services if the car has been in an accident. It sends alerts to drivers phones if theres a mechanical problem and lets drivers press a button if they need roadside assistance. Hum works in cars built in 1996 or later. It costs $10 per month; a two-year subscription is required. There are also one-time set-up and activation fees totaling $50. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Auto InsurTech Tech Personal Auto House GOP leaders arent ready to hold a vote this week on their stalled healthcare bill, despite intense pressure from the White House to deliver on a long-promised repeal of Obamacare. Weve been making great progress, and when we have the votes well vote on it, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California told reporters late Thursday. Republicans vote-counters had been weighing whether to hold a vote this week, after conservative holdouts endorsed the bill following recent revisions. But a number of moderate Republicans remained opposed to the measure, and leaders were also distracted by the need to assemble votes for a stopgap measure to fund the government. The current spending bill runs out Friday. When it comes to the health bill, conservative and moderate holdouts are still struggling to get to yes, Representative Tom MacArthur of New Jersey, the chief author of an amendment that is reviving hopes for the GOPs health-care bill, said earlier Thursday. I think its close, said MacArthur on whether enough votes to pass the bill will be found. But I think there is a real chance of a vote. But several moderate Republicans are visibly frustrated about the renewed push to pass the bill after leaders made changes aimed at winning over conservatives. Weve been through this before, Republican Representative Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania said Thursday. The business model around here is to load the bill up, make it as conservative as possible, send it to the Senate and have the Senate clean it up and send it back, and the very people who are placated on the first launch wont be there on the final. And that dog aint hunting anymore. House Rules Chairman Pete Sessions, a Texas Republican, added that he hasnt seen any impact from the amendment on the bills prospects. Some lawmakers, along with the White House, have been pushing for a quick vote even as industry groups are starting to weigh in with criticism of the revised measure. House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters Thursday that there has been real progress in winning over skeptics. We have not yet made any decisions on a vote, he said. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that President Donald Trump wants a vote when they have 216 votes, and I feel very good about the progress thats being made to get to that number. The text of the bill and a pair of amendments were posted late Wednesday on a website listing bills that may be considered this week on the House floor, but the House Rules Committee hasnt yet scheduled a meeting that would be needed to prepare for a floor vote. 100th Day Saturday would mark Trumps 100th day in office, although that milestone is more important to the White House than to House leadership, the Republican aide said. Im still holding out for Saturday, Trumps budget director, Mick Mulvaney, said Thursday morning on CNBC. Other undecided Republicans are so close to yes that Im very optimistic whether the vote is tomorrow or Saturday or next week, the votes will be there to actually pass this, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows said Thursday on Bloomberg TV. He said later Thursday that they dont yet have enough votes to pass the bill. The most recent changes to the bill have won the formal backing of the conservative Freedom Caucus, but some moderates remain opposed. A Bloomberg News count shows at least 16 Republicans opposed to the revised measure. The GOP can only afford to lose 22 votes from its side and still guarantee passage. The Congressional Budget Office has also told Democrats that it wont have an updated estimate of the cost of the revised measure or how it would affect insurance coverage this week or next week, according to a tweet from Drew Hammill, deputy chief of staff for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The American Medical Association, American Hospital Association and AARP, the lobbying group for senior citizens, said they oppose the revised Obamacare measure. The proposed change would still result in millions of Americans losing their health-care coverage and could make coverage unaffordable for people with pre-existing conditions, the AMA said in a statement. The hospital group said allowing states to get waivers from a requirement that insurers cover so-called essential health benefits could leave patients without access to critical health services and increase out-of-pocket spending. State Flexibility MacArthur, who defines himself as a centrist, disputed criticism that his amendment would be a setback on coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. What my amendment does, first and foremost, is it protects people with pre-existing conditions, while at the same time giving states some flexibility so that they can bring costs down, he said. MacArthur brushed off criticisms from fellow moderates that his amendment is designed to draw conservative support at the expense of centrists concerns. Dent, the senior leader of a bloc of House centrists, said Wednesday the amendment is an exercise in blame-shifting onto moderates, should the bill fail. I dont think in those terms, at all, said MacArthur. We either win together, or we all lose. Ryan also said that Republicans need to deliver on their seven years of promises to repeal the Affordable Care Act. I think peoples seats are at risk if we dont do what we said wed do, he said when asked about political risk to moderates voting for the bill. If you commit the sin of hypocrisy in politics thats a bigger risk to losing an election, Ryan said. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Politics MetLife Inc. Chief Executive Officer Steve Kandarian said industries must be willing to forfeit some of their advantages in the tax code in order for the U.S. to seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lower corporate rates and simplify the process. If every company and every industry views its tax preferences as sacred, reform will be impossible, Kandarian said Thursday in his annual letter to shareholders. As long as tax reform does not pose a fundamental risk to our business model, we will be supportive. The White House unveiled its goals Wednesday, saying the federal corporate tax rate should be slashed to 15 percent from 35 percent. President Donald Trumps plan also said Congress should eliminate tax breaks for special interests, without providing specifics. Past efforts to reform the tax code have been opposed by lobbyists for industries that enjoy deductions. But Kandarian said corporate executives should look at the big picture. We are also optimistic that reducing the U.S. corporate income tax rate, which is the highest in the developed world, will make U.S. companies more competitive globally, the CEO said in the letter. MetLife, the largest U.S. life insurer, has been fighting the increased regulation that the New York-based company faced after the 2008 financial crisis. Kandarian sued a regulatory panel in 2015 after MetLife was designated as too big to fail, a tag that could come with higher capital requirements. Duplicative Regulation He won a court ruling last year that struck down the designation, although the government appealed the decision. MetLife asked a court Monday to delay a decision on the appeal after Trump ordered a review of the process for designating systemically important financial institutions. The strong regulatory upsurge since 2008 was understandable but, in my judgment, excessive, Kandarian said. After years of facing the prospect of costly and duplicative regulation, we believe MetLife will return to a level playing field with others in the life insurance industry whether through judicial, administrative or legislative means. MetLife shares have slipped 3.7 percent this year, as of 10:36 a.m. in New York. That trails the 6.7 percent gain of the S&P 500 Index. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics USA Trends Legislation Pricing Trends In 2015, 150 workers died from preventable work-related injuries and illnesses every day in the United States, on average, according to a report, Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, released by the AFL-CIO. The union said 4,836 workers died due to workplace injuries, and another 50,000-60,000 died from occupational diseases. The number of immigrant workers killed on the job reached a nearly 10-year high. The union organization blames corporate negligence and weak safety laws for what it says is an unacceptable tragedy affecting working families. The report praises the safety record of the Obama Administration and criticizes the Trump administrations safety policies: The Obama administration had a strong track record on worker safety and health, strengthening enforcement, issuing key safety and health standards, and improving anti-retaliation protections and other rights for workers. With the election of President Trump, the political landscape has shifted dramatically, and many of these gains are threatened. According to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, too many Republican politicians in Washington, including the Trump administration, are trying to roll back safety regulations. These are more than numbers; they are our brothers and sisters, and a reminder of the need to continue our fight for every worker to be safe on the job every day, Trumka said. The report says that more than 553,000 workers lives have been saved since the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The report shows the highest workplace fatality rates are in North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Nebraska and West Virginia. The report estimates the cost of job injuries and illnesses at $250 billion to $360 billion a year. According to the report, Latino workers have an 18 percent higher fatality rate than the national average. Deaths among Latino workers increased to 903, compared with 804 in 2014. Overall, 943 immigrant workers were killed on the job in 2015the highest number since 2007. The report also finds that construction, transportation and agriculture remain among the most dangerous sectors. More than 930 construction workers were killed in 2015the highest in any sector. Older workers also are at high risk, with those 65 or older 2.5 times more likely to die on the job. Workplace violence continues to be a growing problem for workers, resulting in 703 deaths. On April 28, the unions of the AFL-CIO observe Workers Memorial Day at events across the country to remember those who have died on the job. Topics Talent Florida Peninsula Insurance Company, a Florida homeowner insurance carrier, has launched a new online system offering homeowners insurance quotes to consumers. According to Clint Strauch, president of Florida Peninsula system allows Florida consumers to shop and compare coverage and price, along with the ability to reach out to a licensed agent should they have any questions. In May 2016, Edison Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Florida Peninsula Insurance Company, began offering home insurance quotes online. Homeowners visiting either companys website for a quote will automatically receive one from both Florida Peninsula and Edison, and can compare rates and coverage between the two companies and against their current rate. Florida Peninsula Insurance Company offers multi-peril homeowners insurance, currently insuring more than 130,000 homes, condo and apartment units located throughout the state. Florida Peninsula markets through a network of 2,500 independent insurance agents. Topics Florida Homeowners New Markets A small city in northern Nevada is moving forward with the demolition of its old police station. The Elko Daily Free Press reported the Elko City Council is considering awarding a $53,000 bid to a company to remove asbestos from the building. City officials say the asbestos removal is the first step of the demolition process. The Elko Police Department moved out of its former building last June. The goal is to complete the demolition this summer. The entire project is expected to cost $250,000. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Training Development A judge has dismissed a $4 million lawsuit filed by a relative of four people who drowned in a northwest Oregon lake in 2014. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Judge Andrew Erwin dismissed the suit after Washington County argued it was entitled to immunity. The county argued immunity under a state law that says a public land owner isnt liable for deaths or injuries that occur during recreational use of land. Fishermen found the body of 3-year-old Jeremy Scholl after the Aug. 25 drownings. The bodies of his mother, Gabriela Garcia-Ixtacua; her brother, Michael Garcia-Ixtacua; and their mother, Jova Ixtacua-Castano, were found nearby. The lawsuit contended the children stepped into or floated above a deep trench near the wading area, then disappeared into the water. The women tried to rescue them, but were caught in the drop-off. An attorney for the family said they plan to appeal. ___ Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Legislation Oregon LIstat ha rivisto al rialzo la crescita del primo trimestre del 2017, con il Pil che balza allo 0,4% sui precedenti tre mesi e all1,2% su base annua. Le prime indicazioni dellIstituto, diffuse a meta maggio, davano il Prodotto interno lordo a +0,2% a livello congiunturale e a +0,8% in termini tendenziali. La revisione, a sorpresa, e dovuta, spiegano dallIstat, allintegrazione nei dati della buona performance dei servizi. LIstat rileva che il primo trimestre del 2017 ha avuto due giornate lavorative in piu sia rispetto al trimestre precedente, sia rispetto al primo trimestre del 2016. La variazione acquisita per il 2017 e pari a 0,9%. Rispetto al trimestre precedente, i principali aggregati della domanda nazionale hanno registrato una crescita dello 0,5% dei consumi finali nazionali e un calo dello 0,8% gli investimenti fissi lordi. Le importazioni sono aumentate dell1,6% e le esportazioni dello 0,7%. La domanda nazionale al netto delle scorte ha contribuito per 0,3 punti percentuali alla crescita del pil (0,3 i consumi delle famiglie e delle Istituzioni Sociali Private (Isp), 0,1 la spesa della pubblica amministrazione (Pa) e -0,1 gli investimenti fissi lordi). Anche la variazione delle scorte ha contribuito positivamente alla variazione del Pil (0,4 punti percentuali), mentre lapporto della domanda estera netta e stato negativo per 0,2 punti percentuali. Si registrano andamenti congiunturali positivi per il valore aggiunto di agricoltura (+4,2%) e servizi (+0,6%), mentre quello dellindustria risulta negativo (-0,3%). #Istat Riviste al rialzo le stime per il 2017. LItalia cresce piu del previsto e limpegno continua ha commentato su Twitter il premier Paolo Gentiloni. Per Matteo Renzi i dati di ieri e di oggi dellIstat dimostrano che con la flessibilita ottenuta nei Mille Giorni e con le riforme fatte, leconomia riprende fiato. Sulla sua pagina Fb il segretario del Pd parla di risultati figli degli anni di lavoro serio e rigoroso che abbiamo alle spalle. Con la revisione delle stime sul Pil lItalia recupera anche a livello europeo. Il +0,4% congiunturale e il +1,2% tendenziale non vedono piu lItalia isolata, fanalino di coda. LIstat infatti, diffondendo i conti trimestrali, riporta anche i dati relativi agli altri Paesi. Svetta la Germania (+0,6% e +2,9% su anno), ma la Francia fa come noi a livello congiunturale (+0,4%) e peggio su base annua (+1,0%). Restiamo pero sotto la media dellEurozona (+0,5% e +1,7% annuo). His statement begins,Although the faces of runners are apparently different within the circus (Presidential election), all of them are extremely devoted to the fundamentalist and terrorist regime of Iran, and they approve all the crimes and atrocities committed by this regime during the past 38 years. Fooladvand highlighted the massacre of 1988, writing, The executions of the 90s, especially the massacre of 1988 in which 30 thousand political prisoners were executed by Khomeinis order, are the brutal crimes committed by the regimes authorities, including Ebrahim Raisi, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Rafsanjani, Khatami, Mousavi, Karoubi, Rouhani, and Khamenei. By looking closely at the face of these criminals, we conclude that there is no difference among the principlists and the reformists factions, the National Freedom Movement, and those opportunists called the Council of Nationalist-Religious Activists, since all of them are devoted to the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist. These factions officially pledge their support for the regime, because they only struggle for power and plunder. They will commit all sorts of crime in order to fulfill their objectives. He stated, According to Khameneis speech and the remarks made by his representative, Ahmad Alamolhoda in Mashhad, it is clear that no real elections take place in Iran and Khamenei has decided to repress the people. Therefore, the regime resorted to the mercenary, Ebrahim Raisi, in order to fuel fear in the society. Alamolhoda said, If 90% of the people select a person whom Khamenei opposes, then the views of those 90% are not counted. Additionally, Khamenei said, The soft overthrow means the waging of war against God and this act is a capital crime. The resistance of Mujahedins all these years, was referred to by the political prisoner, along with their role as the main opponents of the regime. The criminal Khamenei is well aware that the PMOI/MEK will never topple, since they resisted in Camp Ashraf for 14 years against the most brutal acts of the regime with the support of its international appeasers. The appeasers finally lost and a new era began. The PMOI/MEK immigrated to Albania in order to join Maryam Rajavi and her litigation movement for the massacre of 30 thousand political prisoners. This movement has spread in Iran and all over the world to overthrow the regime. Supreme Leader of Iran was addressed by Fooladvand, who said, Fighting with you and your sinister regime is an honor and duty for us to eternally overthrow the anti-human regime and we will not stop doing so because our salvation, our people, and our compatriots will topple your regime. Abolghasem Fooladvand concluded by addressing the Iranian people, Like many of my compatriots, I also support the invitation to boycott the sham elections in Iran while I shout, Down with the principals of Velayat-e-Faqih! No to the trickster (Hassan Rouhani)! No to the executioner (Ebrahim Raisi)! My vote is to overthrow the regime. The Government has said it could sanction a sale of shares in AIB shares, in a period starting by late May to early July, should market conditions permit. It was forced to halt plans to sell AIB shares last year when world banking valuations went on the slide. However, a relief rally this week sparked by the first round of the French presidential elections on Sunday has boosted the prospects for a successful sale by the Government, analysts have said. Speaking to reporters, Mr Byrne said four conditions that were necessary before an initial public offering could go ahead were now in place but the decision on the timing of a sale obviously remained in the hands of the Government. The conditions were an attractive equity market, a bank that was performing, an economy that was performing well, and the political will to execute a shares sale. He said they were all in place. The bank is encouraging the Government to go ahead with the sale in the early summer, he said. He said the result of the French election recently had helped improved the market conditions for a sale. Referring to recent comments by Mr Noonan that the UK election wouldnt disrupt the timing of any sale, Mr Byrne said his view was also the election would not be highly significant for the AIB sale. The bank has a three-year target to reduce the amount of non-performing loans on its loan book to a normalised level of 5%, equivalent to a net value of 3bn. In gross terms, AIB holds 8.6bn of non-performing loans. He said that was a good run rate given the value of non-performing loans was 29bn three years earlier. Michael Dowling, chair of the mortgage committee at brokers group IBA, said that existing customers could tap the largest benefits by switching into their banks long-term fixed years of three or five years. For new and existing customers, KBC said it has cut its two-year fixed rate by 0.25%, to 3.4%; cut its three-year fixed rate by 0.35%, to 3.3%; and reduced its five-year fixed rate by 0.2%, to 3.55%. Almost 6,000 raids led to the recovery of 1,700kg of drugs with a street value of 30m, while more than 71,000 counterfeit goods such as watches and clothing were taken in by the authorities. Just under 1,600 vehicles were seized. There were 73 separate cash seizures, mainly at airports and ports, amounting to just under 1,000,000. Calls made to a confidential number to report illegal activities resulted in seizures of about 50,000 cigarettes, 12kg of tobacco, and hundreds of litres of beer and wine. The Revenue touted one of the biggest successes by authorities following a raid in Northern Ireland resulting in the seizure of 26,000 litres of illicit fuel. A further 14 tanks of the same fuel were seized subsequently in a joint north and south operation at Belfast and Dublin ports, bringing the total quantity taken by the authorities to 390,000 litres. The co-operative approach deployed in this international operation has ensured the illegal activities of a significant organised crime group have been successfully foiled, the Revenue report said. Almost all taxes and duties showed significant increases including corporation tax, which was up 7% gross to 8.2bn. Capital acquisitions tax, also known as inheritance tax, raised 419m while the local property tax raised 468m. Stamp duty raised 1.2bn. Almost two-fifths of corporation tax was paid by 10 companies, Revenue said. Net corporation tax receipts rose in 2016 to 7.35bn, an extra yield of 480m compared to the previous year. There were 17 criminal convictions for tax evasion last year and a further 31 cases are before the courts, while the yield from audits and interventions came to 555m. Chairman Niall Cody said the 47.95bn Exchequer receipts in 2016 were almost 1% higher than 2007, when 47.5bn was collected. Of the downward trend of illegal cigarettes, which was down from 12% to 10% last year, he said: Tobacco smuggling and associated illegal activity pose significant threats to the Exchequer and to compliant businesses. The downward trend is encouraging, but we are not complacent. Tackling the illegal tobacco trade will continue to be a high priority for Revenue. Trade group Retailers Against Smuggling said the continued problem showed the Government needed to provide more resources to combat smuggling, particularly in light of Brexit. Political risk has been uppermost in the minds of financial market participants, economists, political strategists and anybody else with an interest in global geopolitics and economics over the past year. The Brexit vote, the election of Donald Trump and the Italian referendum in December very definitely represented the respective electorates giving two fingers to the political establishment. Coming into 2017, there were concerns about the Dutch election in March, the French election in April and May, and the German election in September. We also have an Italian election to look forward to in 2018. In the event, political developments so far in 2017 have turned out to be quite benign. The Dutch electorate rejected the far right, and the first round of French voting last weekend, while representing a seismic shift in French politics, most likely sets us up for the election of the 39-year old centrist, Emmanuel Macron next weekend. Assuming that turns out to be the case, the Dutch and French elections would certainly suggest that for the moment at any rate, the wave of populist anti-establishment voting has lost some momentum. It is interesting that the far right in Germany is in some turmoil at the moment and the odds of a Angela Merkel victory in September are quite good, but victory for Martin Schultz would not exactly represent a political earthquake, as he certainly would not represent much of a change in Germanys role in Europe. It is becoming clear that electorates are looking across at Brexit and Donald Trump and deciding that they do not want any of that. This weekend the EU-27 will meet to agree its negotiation stance ahead of the Article 50 negotiations with the UK. The French view will, of course, not be adequately represented this weekend, but if Mr Macron is successful next weekend, the shape of the EU-27 negotiating stance could be influenced in a significant way. Mr Macron is very wedded to the concept of the EU. Hence, he is likely to adopt a hard-line approach to the EU and will not be inclined to agree to anything that could ultimately weaken the EU structures in the longer term. He has said that the four freedoms the freedom of movement of goods, services, capital and people are not negotiable and that waivers would not be possible for the UK or anybody else. Maintaining a strong EU will likely be more important to Mr Macron than keeping the UK sweet. Somewhat perversely, this may suit the UK prime minister. By calling an election in June she aims to significantly increase her working majority and make whatever deals are necessary to achieve a good outcome for the UK, without fear of the many euro sceptics in her own party rebelling. They may, of course, rebel, but if her working majority is strong enough she will be able to defy them. This could mean that the chances of a hard Brexit could be lessened by a solid victory for Theresa May and success for Emmanuel Macron. It is, of course, way too early to speculate about possible outcomes, but things are very definitely taking a modest turn for the better at the moment. Despite all of these political developments, or perhaps because of them, the markets are in a seriously good mood at the moment. The euro has strengthened against the dollar, sterling is looking quite solid, and equity markets are roaring ahead. In the year to date most equity markets are in solid positive territory, helped of course by the continuing stream of relatively good economic news flow out of the US and particularly out of the eurozone. UK retail sales were very week in the first quarter, but this actually represents good news in terms of possible Brexit outcomes. Retail sales have weakened because import-driven inflation on the back of sterling weakness is undermining disposable incomes and eroding real purchasing power. If the UK economy had continued to hold up as strongly as it has done since the vote last June, it would give lots of courage to those who want a hard Brexit. If the UK economy is seen to be suffering as a result of Brexit effects, then it would definitely weaken the hands of the hard Brexiteers and deliver a softer outcome. The Central Bank announced this week it had fined AIB 2.275m for its failures to comply with anti-money laundering and terrorist financing reporting procedures. It was the second highest fine imposed by the Central Bank for money-laundering failures. The regulator said the breaches occurred after the enactment of the legislation in July 2010. Shareholder Jonathan Sugarman, a former banker at UniCredit in Dublin, said that the fine showed that AIBs risk controls were still failing. However, Mr Pym said that its controls followed best practice. Mr Sugarman had appeared at the Oireachtas finance committee earlier this month. Mr Pym said a further stain for the bank was its involvement in the overcharging by the banking industry of its tracker mortgage customers. He said the process of restoring customers to the correct mortgage rates and paying compensation was incredibly difficult but the bank had got a grip on the issue. He said he had no reason to believe that the amount AIB had set aside to meet tracker claims would need to be increased. Mr Pym, however, said the current management team had not caused the mistakes. Shareholders were told the bank had 1,100 staff, or 10% of its total workforce, dealing with customers who are in arrears. In a trading update, the bank said it had generated a significant amount of capital in the first three months of the year. Its net interest margin a key level of performance increased to 2.46% from 2.42% at the end of 2016. Mr Pym said the stress test by the European authorities which was based on 2015 had not shown the lender in a good light but AIB was in a much better financial health. It had taken a lot of time for the stress test to be published but the bank would not have been allowed to announce plans to pay a dividend if its financial health had not improved, he said. Responding to a shareholder who said he was disappointed that directors had not bought shares in the bank, Mr Pym said the board was focused on trying to return the 20.8bn the state had injected into the lender during the crisis. He said the bank had disciplined staff who had done wrong and that staff do leave the bank. It would not be the best use of time for directors to have its own investigation into how AIB got into trouble in 2008, he said. It was delighted with the price it had received in its sale this month of a group of non-performing loans to Goldman Sachs. The bank did not see any new bubble emerging in the economy, but that the board was alert to the danger of Brexit, Mr Pym told shareholders. Europa has been one of the most active players in Irish waters in recent times and currently has seven licences off the west coast, holding an estimated combined four billion barrels of oil equivalent. Earlier this week, its deal to bring in Scottish explorer Cairn Energy as a development partner for part of its asset base was formally approved by the Irish Government. Yesterday, Europa said it remains in talks with potential partners for the rest of its asset base. This includes frontier exploration licence 2/13 (FEL 2/13) in the southern Porcupine Basin, which Europa estimates holds potential for 1.12 billion barrels of oil up from an earlier estimate of 595 million barrels. Some 1.5 trillion cubic feet of gas is also included in the estimate. Speaking to the Irish Examiner after the landmark judgement, the whistleblower said while the ruling was a good day for Grace, the HSE has yet to provide any answers or accountability for who is responsible for the 20-year scandal. In a settlement yesterday after detailed deliberations, High Court president Peter Kelly sanctioned a HSE offer worth 6.3m in response to what happened to Grace, a woman with severe physical and intellectual disabilities who was abused for two decades at a State-funded foster home. The settlement includes 4.6m in promised personal care for the rest of Graces life; 600,000 in damages, 150,000 above usual limits due to the scale of abuse suffered; and 600,000 to cover the HSEs failure to properly support her since the scandal emerged in 2009. In addition, the settlement also involves 87,000 in disability allowance payments to cover money Graces foster family abusers illegitimately kept from her; 275,000 in future disability allowance payments; and 175,000 for ongoing medical-related transport. Speaking during yesterdays High Court hearing, Justice Kelly said it was disturbing that this abuse scandal occurred in the 21st century and involved abdication of responsibility by health officials. He said it remains a mystery why the decision to remove her in 1996 was not acted on and was later reversed by a three-person health board committee after the foster familys father contacted then health minister Michael Noonan. If a State commission of investigation he hopes will get to the bottom of this had not already been set up, Justice Kelly added he would have rejected the settlement and instead insisted on answers by trial. Speaking to the Irish Examiner last night, the whistleblower at the centre of the case repeated this view, saying that while the money is welcome and a source of huge relief for Grace and her carers, it cannot undo the damage caused. As Peter Kelly outlined today, money is the only mechanism available within the law to compensate, but no money can undo what the HSE did or, indeed, failed to do, the whistleblower said. It is a good day for Grace, but there have been no answers and still no accountability for this gross negligence. Yesterdays High Court hearing was told that despite recommendations more than a decade ago that Grace be made a ward of court, this failed to be acted on due to fears a court would ask questions about her care. It also heard that when Grace was removed in 2009 from her foster family abusers, she was in a wretched state, frail, dirty, and unkempt, with health problems due to a poor diet and psychosis. Her only possession was a childs toy which she held onto for dear life. The HSE yesterday again apologised unreservedly for the failings in your [Graces] care. However, given the HSEs track record in the case Justice Kelly insisted on a sworn HSE court guarantee it will abide by the terms of the settlement and begin payments within four weeks. While the settlement has now been reached, Justice Kelly stressed the State commission of investigation into the scandal must uncover who was responsible. Speaking on RTEs Six One News last night Fergus Finlay, chief executive of childrens charity Barnardos, welcomed the settlement but said: The State failed her [Grace] again and again, and again. I hope todays settlement is certainly not the last settlement, because other people were abused. The port hosted three cruise ships with up to 5,000 passengers and crew on board yesterday its busiest day in what is expected to be a record cruise liner season with up to 65 ships expected to call between March and November. The 142m Le Soleal, with around 400 people on board, berthed on North Custom House Quay on the fourth stop of its eight-night Celtic Coastline cruise, which started in Portsmouth and ends in Dublin. The 136m Midnatsol, with up to 1,000 people on board, berthed on the citys South Jetties as part of its 20-night cruise from Casablanca in Morocco to Bergen in Norway. And the huge 293m Serenade of the Seas, with almost 3,000 people on board, arrived in Cobh as part of its 16-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale in Florida to Copenhagen. Cork City Council launched its tourism ambassador pilot project by placing four specially trained staff on board the Serenade of the Seas in a bid to entice passengers to visit the city. Figures show that each cruise ship passenger spends an average of 73 a day while onshore worth up to 12m a year to the local economy. Port of Cork statistics show that even before the liners arrive in port, about half the passengers have booked short excursions to places such as Blarney, Kinsale, the Jameson Experience in Midleton, the Rock of Cashel, and Youghal, but the rest are independent travellers. Port officials told city businesses last year that they were losing out on this category of passenger a market which could be worth up to 3.6m annually. Port spokeswoman Sara Mackeown said they will deliver up to 100,000 passengers and up to 60,000 crew to Cobh or the city quays this year alone but that, once the passengers arrive, it is up to businesses to seize the opportunity. City council spokesman Paul Moynihan said the launch of the tourism ambassador scheme is a direct response to that business need. Its up to everybody to capitalise on the economic opportunities here and we are delighted to place these ambassadors on board the ships, he said. The Port of Corks 2017 cruise season kicked off on March 20 with a call from Saga Cruises MV Saga Pearl. Up to 65 ships will call during the remainder of the season. Commercial manager at the Port of Cork, Captain Michael McCarthy, said: The numbers of calls are up compared to 2016 and we feel very positive about this increase in business. Its also very encouraging to see cruise lines bringing their newest vessels to Cork on maiden calls. It is our ambition to attract larger cruise ships and increase our cruise calls to 75 per year. Already in 2018 the bookings are indicating we will achieve this goal, if not exceed it. The Port of Cork also operates Bantry Bay Port Company, which will see eight cruise liners calling to the West Cork area this summer. Bantry Harbour and Glengarriff can accommodate smaller boutique cruise liners whose passengers tend to look for active expedition cruises. Midnatsol departed for Dublin; Le Soleal departed for Liverpool; and Serenade of the Seas sailed for Le Havre in France last night. Following on from protests at all the countrys military installations last week, members of Wives & Partners of Defence Forces (WPDF) are planning to ratchet up their actions. A WPDF spokeswoman said the organisation is preparing to hold its first national meeting shortly and will plan a major protest outside the Department of Defence headquarters in Newbridge, Co Kildare. WPDF said it has Enda Kenny firmly in its crosshairs after the Taoiseach said he had no intention of allowing the Defence Forces access to state industrial relations machinery. While the Taoiseach has the primary role of minister for defence, most of the day-to-day work is undertaken by minister Paul Kehoe. He has offered to meet with WPDF leaders to discuss their concerns but has not yet given them a date. If he cant meet us within a reasonable number of days and address our concerns then we will march on the Dail and try to get a meeting with Mr Kenny, said the WPDF spokeswoman. In November 2016, Enda Kenny said he had no intention for the Defence Forces to access state industrial relations machinery similar to the gardai. It was this one statement that spurred the formation of WPDF and we are not going away. We want change, action and improvement. We are not interested in platitudes. WPDF says it will continue with further protests outside all the countrys military installations and at offices of Government TDs until goals are achieved. Pay is so poor among members of the Defence Forces that more than 20% of enlisted personnel are in receipt of the family income supplement. Members of the Naval Service worked such long hours on migrant rescue missions that they ended up getting paid far less than the minimum wage. We are extremely grateful to all that turned out on April 20 to support us with our campaign. We would particularly like to thank those who have no connection with the Defence Forces but still came along to support us and acknowledge the wonderful support we received from retired and ex-service personnel. "It was heartening to see some arriving at the protest wearing their medals, said the spokeswoman. A recent high-profile case concerning a Canadian man who has been jailed for grooming an Irish teenager online for sex is an example of the real dangers that exist, Mr Naughten told a Child Safety Summit in Facebooks Dublin headquarters. Its not like a stranger pulling up in a car offering a lift this was the main concern of our parents growing up that we would be snatched by a stranger. Now, strangers are snatching our children by their fingertips in the virtual world of computers, not cars. Google and Facebook joined forces yesterday to host a large think shop on child online safety. The two-day Child Safety Summit brought together more than 160 organisations. With over 160 child safety NGOs, experts and government officials attending from across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, this summit provides us with a chance to discuss and share best practices about how to keep children safe online, involve parents and maximise the opportunities the internet and connectivity can bring, said Anne Rooney, Googles Ireland public policy manager. Julie de Bailliencourt, head of safety policy EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) at Facebook said the social media organisation has just launched tools to stop the further sharing of intimate images that have been passed around on Facebook without a persons consent. We are bringing child safety NGOs, academics, policy makers, and industry experts from over 35 countries together to discuss and share best practices about how to keep children safe online, said Ms de Bailliencourt. We have developed policies, tools and educational programmes to help people stay safe on Facebook. Last month we launched new tools to remove and stop further sharing of intimate images shared on Facebook without peoples permission. The think-in, where various child safety expert groups share information, is integral to the development of these policies. Getting feedback from safety experts from all over the world is critical for us in continuing to build a safe community and prevent harm, one of our five areas of focus as we help build a global community, Ms de Bailliencourt said. Mr Kenny said the resignation of Dr Peter Boylan from the Holles Street board over his criticism of the facilitys location at a Sisters of Charity site was his own decision and that the hospital will provide world class facilities. In his first public comments on the crisis, Mr Kenny said Mr Harris is correct to seek a month-long period to hold behind-closed-doors talks with all of the groups involved. He said this is needed both to calm fears over what may happen at the facility in the future and to ensure there are clear guarantees that medics working at the hospital will have their clinical independence enshrined in all cases and will not be influenced by Catholic doctrine. The minister [Mr Harris] has requested breathing space. What we want to do there is put in place a legally waterproof situation where it will be perfectly clear here that there will be proper world-class facilities for expectant mothers and children, and that if issues arise that need hospital treatment they will be on the campus of St Vincents. The minister will come back to cabinet on that in the next number of weeks, and at that point we can conclude on that and move on to provide the national maternity hospital to the standard that women are entitled to expect in this day and age, he said. Asked about the controversial departure of Dr Boylan who remains a governor member of Holles Street despite resigning from the hospitals board over the new national maternity hospital site Mr Kenny said he knows and respects the medic. The Taoiseach added that his [Dr Boylans] decision is one for himself. Speaking at a separate event at the RCPI, Mr Harris whose spokesperson initially said would not speak to the media told reporters it is important we would now have a period of calm. Ive obviously talked extensively about the national maternity hospital this week, Ive called for cool heads and Ive asked them to use the next month, the month of May, to have an opportunity to meet with both hospital boards and to tease through all of the issues. He said while he is aware of public concerns, he is also conscious of the fact the public want to build a national maternity hospital, adding that the benefits of co-locating on the campus of St Vincents are beyond question. Mr Harris said he notes the overwhelming decision by the Holles Street board to continue to support the location of the new hospital. Asked about Dr Bolyans resignation, Mr Harris described him as a very distinguished doctor but that he has made his decision. Im not going to get into speculation on he said/she said, the board made a decision, he added. Dr Peter Boylan: Legal structure fatally flawed Fiachra O Cionnaith and Catherine Shanahan Ousted Holles Street board member Dr Peter Boylan has insisted the new national maternity hospitals legal structure is fatally flawed because the independent deciding voice on the new facilitys board will effectively be chosen by the Sisters of Charity. Dr Boylan made the claim which was supported by a number of opposition parties and an independent legal expert last night after resigning from the Holles Street board amid allegations of a bullying and intimidatory atmosphere and claims the controversy is like an episode from Father Ted. Dr Peter Boylan: Independent deciding voice on the new board will be chosen by the Sisters of Charity. Speaking on Newstalk Radios Pat Kenny Show, Dr Boylan said that while it has been publicly claimed the new national maternity hospitals board will be equally balanced between St Vincents Healthcare Group the company controlled by the Sisters of Charity and Holles Street, this is not correct. He said while both organisations will have four members on the nine-person board, the ninth person will be selected by a sub-committee which will be weighted by a two to one majority in favour of the St Vincents Healthcare Group, whose clinical director and chief executive will be the officials involved. Dr Boylan said this situation is an ethical minefield in the making and like an episode from Father Ted that must be resolved in order to prevent serious issues affecting womens health in the future from occurring. Hitting out at a Holles Street board he said was blind to the consequences of its decision, he said his concerns are genuine and shared by the wider public and other medics. The sub-committee [of the new national maternity hospitals board] will be of three people, two from St Vincents Healthcare Group and one from Holles Street. There is immediate conflict built in, thats just not a sustainable option for a board of governance, he said. In a separate interview with RTEs News at One programme, he repeated the view and added the central issue remains the fact the hospital is due to be built on Sisters of Charity land. Its not coming for free, theyre retaining ownership of the land. And thats the key to the whole thing. Theres no hospital in the entire world delivering maternity services owned by the Catholic church that will perform procedures against a Catholic ethos, he said. Dr Boylans concern was further shared in his letter of resignation to the Holles Street board yesterday in which he said the new hospitals board make-up is not only a recipe for conflict but for domination of the board by the Sisters, the numbers are clear. It was supported by solicitor Simon McGarr, who wrote on social media yesterday: Ive now read the terms of the agreement brokered between the National Maternity Hospital [Holles Street] and the St Vincents Healthcare Group and the real situation is much worse. "This means the St Vincents Healthcare Group, 100% owned by the nuns, has institutional control of the board as well as 100% ownership of the company. In separate statements, both Labour leader Brendan Howlin and Social Democrats TD Roisin Shortall raised the same concerns. Meanwhile, Dr Boylans decision to resign from the Holles Street board which he described as being blinded by the genuine need for a new maternity hospital and naive to believe serious ethical issues will not now emerge continued to dominate debate yesterday. Dublin Lord Mayor Brendan Carr said the meeting of the Holles Street Board occurred in a bullying atmosphere. Labour councillor and Dublin lord mayor Brendan Carr who chaired Wednesday evenings Holles Street board meeting which overwhelmingly backed the new hospitals site, leaving Dr Boylan isolated said the meeting occurred in a bullying and intimidatory atmosphere. However, fellow board member and Greens councillor Claire Byrne disputed the claim, saying her concerns were resolved, that the new hospital must be built as planned, and that Mr Carr had until this week not attended any board meetings about the facility. Holles Streets board responded to Dr Boylans resignation letter last night, thanking him for his work for decades on behalf of the women and children of Ireland. The Irish Examiner understands that there are some 250 prisoners (100 gang members and 150 gang associates) in prisons linked to nine significant criminal gangs. Calling for a special secure unit, the Prison Officers Association accused prison authorities of appeasement in confronting the power of crime chiefs, while Ms Fitzgerald admits it is an increasing challenge. Speaking at its annual conference in Galway, the association chiefs said that housing 40 kingpins in the A Wing of Portlaoise Prison the countrys sole high- security jail would have a huge impact. The conference also heard: Claims from Prison Officers Association (POA) leaders that Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan had declined requests to meet them in person to discuss concerns about garda investigations into assaults on prison officers by inmates; Ms Fitzgerald is examining strengthening laws to protect prison officers and gardai from assaults; Authorities are considering giving prison officers incapacitant sprays in certain situations, but batons will not be issued, except for prisoner escorts. POA president Stephen Delaney claimed there is an agenda of appeasement by prison authorities towards crime bosses. Prison gangs should not decide what is best within our prison, the State is responsible and surely it is not going to cede this, he told Ms Fitzgerald, who addressed the conference. POA assistant general secretary Gabriel Keaveny said there is a section (A Block) in Portlaoise Prison that can hold gang bosses. It can house 40 people and would make a huge difference, he said. Ms Fitzgerald said prison authorities are dealing with the matter, but admitted it is an increasing challenge. On a special gangland unit, she said: Well, if thats appropriate, I dont see any argument against it, but ... these are operational matters for prison authorities. She said the authorities had to be innovative. The Irish Prison Service said gang members and associates are identified, targeted and profiled and that they adopt a policy of segregation and separation. In light of Ms Fitzgeralds comments, the service said: The management of this cohort is constantly under review and the accommodation of group leaders in a single high-security unit is an action that will be kept under review by the service and considered if deemed appropriate. Fin Breatnach, a spokesperson for Connolly for Kids, confirmed that the group was taking legal advice to see if we can challenge the decision vis-a-vis a judicial review. Dr Breatnach said they had sent a letter of intent to both the Government and the National Childrens Hospital Development Board indicating that we are looking into the possibility of a judicial review. He said they had 12 weeks from the time the Government made its decision this week to fund the new hospital to submit a case for a decision on whether a judicial review could proceed. POA bosses said they wrote to Ms OSullivan a year ago seeking such a meeting, but that she offered a meeting with her senior managers. Speaking at its annual conference in Galway, POA president Stephen Delaney said there were numerous cases of assaults on prison officers that were not investigated properly and where no prosecutions were taken. He said this was even in cases where there was a wealth of evidence against the perpetrator and at least one case where the prisoner admitted to a governor about an assault. POA assistant general secretary Gabriel Keaveny said the association wrote to the Garda commissioner a year ago, after its last conference, seeking a meeting on the matter. On numerous occasions we have looked to meet her, he said. Unfortunately she hasnt seen fit to have the meeting at this particular point in time. He said Ms OSullivan had offered a meeting with an assistant commissioner and a chief superintendent, but that the association wanted to meet her. That has always been the protocol, said Mr Keaveny. We have met many previous Garda commissioners. And we dont request very often, but, when we do, we would like to sit down and explain our issues to her. He said only the commissioner can issue a general circular that would address its concerns. A number of years ago we had an issue with our names being put in statements, said Mr Keaveny. The then commissioner issued a circular to all Garda stations to say that wasnt to happen. We think its awful important that she sits down with us, to hear the issue with assaults and how they are prosecuted and the lack of progress that we see on the ground for individual prison officers. To chase gardai, follow them, and see whats happening with a case, and we just think its not good enough. Mr Delaney said this was why a motion was going through the conference calling for a garda liaison officer for each prison. He said this would ensure that the line of communication between the prison officer, prison management, and gardai and other relevant authorities is functioning effectively. State in a relentless war with gangs Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said the State is engaged in a relentless war against criminal gangs and admitted jailed gang bosses are posing increasing problems for prison authorities. Amid calls from the Prison Officers Association for a special prison for crime lords, Ms Fitzgerald the justice minister said such a move is a possibility if it is deemed necessary by the Irish Prison Service. Speaking at the POA annual conference in Galway, Ms Fitzgerald said there was a clear threat from gangs. They are very serious nationally and internationally, she said. We know the resources that gangs have. We know the kind of sustained work that we have to do, whether it is in our communities or in our prisons to ensure that we are continually challenging and making sure that criminal gangs cannot continue their work wherever they are. She told delegates: They have more and more resources, as we know. We know that they are unrelenting in wanting to continue their criminal activity and we have to make sure we have the resources in place to deal with that challenge. Ms Fitzgerald said it was no surprise the problems from criminal gangs are reflected in prisons. However, she rejected suggestions from the POA that gang bosses are directing operations on the outside from inside their cells. There are strong policies in place in relation to separation and segregation and management of this, she said. It is a challenge, its an increasing challenge, I would say, one the Prison Service is very aware of. On the call by the POA for a special unit to isolate gang bosses, Ms Fitzgerald said: Well, if thats appropriate, I dont see any argument against it, but, all the time, these are operational matters for prison authorities, informed of course by those people who are on the ground dealing with prisoners day in day out. Theres different management methods needed and of course thats a possibility as well, so you can never rule it out. She said the authorities have to be innovative and consider new methods. One thing we know about criminal gangs is they are relentless: They dont stop, they keep going. Criminals have one thing in mind: To break the law, whether they are in prison or outside of prison, and will do everything to increase their power. It is a relentless war against them. In relation to POA calls for mandatory sentences for assaults on prison officers, Ms Fitzgerald said: Theres an increasing move internationally to bring in new legislation for those who protect us for emergency work, for frontline, whether it is prison officers or gardai. I am examining the legislation to see if we can strengthen the protection. There is specific legislation in place, but I do believe they deserve special recognition. She accepted there have been unacceptable acts of violence perpetrated on prison officers and said there should be consequences. In relation to POA claims of a staffing crisis, Ms Fitzgerald said 80 recruits would come on stream this year and 250 next year.In addition, 50 retired officers were being taken back on short-term contracts, a first in the public service, she said. Speaking at an Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association information event at the RCPI to mark world immunisation day, Mr Harris insisted the only people who should be giving medical advice are doctors and qualified experts. He said there has been a growing trend of unqualified groups giving out vaccine misinformation, resulting in low uptakes of the HPV cancer vaccine and treatments for other conditions. While Mr Harris has not publicly declared his support for any candidate in the Fine Gael leadership race, he has attended meetings in recent days outlining Mr Coveneys likely campaign strategy. The meetings were also attended by former Fine Gael adviser Ciaran Conlon; Fine Gael TDs Kate OConnell and Maria Bailey; senator Tim Lombard; junior minister Damien English; Cork City councillor Laura McGonigle; Mr Coveneys special adviser Caitriona Fitzpatrick; and Mr Coveneys brother Patrick, who is the chief executive of Greencore. In a statement issued after the board met, it said it remains totally supportive of the relocation under the terms of the agreement mediated by Kieran Mulvey and said a new maternity hospital is urgently needed. SVHG is controlled by the Sisters of Charity, which has been given ownership of the new hospital, raising fears Catholic ethos could interfere with how it will be run. It was responding to latest Higher Education Authority (HEA) figures that show, despite some improvements, nearly one-in-six students did not progress to the second year of college courses they began in 2012. Among the 6,000-plus who dropped out, levels of non-progression were highest at institutes of technology, many of which had one-in-four students failing to make it to second year. USI deputy president Jack Leahy said more supports should be made available to guidance counsellors in schools to support students making the transition to third level. He said research by USI and the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education showed that the adequacy of prior information was the most significant trigger for students withdrawing from courses. Students were telling us that, even though they may have attended open days and studied prospectuses, the course they were studying was often quite far from what they had expected. This can relate to course content, teaching hours, job prospects and other information, said Mr Leahy. A further issue, he said, was students unpreparedness to move from school to college. There is an extraordinarily short period between a student accepting a CAO offer and the start of third-level. In a space of two weeks, teenagers are expected to move out of home for the first time and become independent, he said. The difficulties of finding affordable accommodation are also making it even tougher for students to make a smooth transition. USI is calling for a second chance option to allow students who drop out during first year to begin another course in a subsequent year without losing access to free tuition. The window for students to do so is very short, meaning a student can only retain their eligibility to free tuition if they leave within weeks of their course starting at some colleges. Individual institutions should consider how their procedures for internal course transfer can encourage students to identify and access a more suitable programme for them, said Mr Leahy. The HEA report showed that courses with the highest dropout rates were those in engineering, computer science and construction-related disciplines at institutes of technology. At some colleges, between one-third and 43% of students were not reaching second year of such courses, although initiatives to mentor and support students has been leading to some improvements. The restoration of ring-fenced guidance counselling hours from September was welcomed yesterday by Fr Paul Connell, president of the Joint Managerial Body which represents boards of 380 religious-owned secondary schools. Dublin Childrens Court has heard the prison officer allegedly received a beating when he tried to break up a fight between two young offenders at Wheatfield Prison on June 5 last year. The youth was arrested at his north Dublin home and brought before the juvenile court charged with assault causing harm to the officer. Sonys upcoming flagship Xperia XZ Premium smartphone will be available in Europe from June 1, according to Twitter user Ronald Quandt (via Android Headlines). Quandt was part of the press group told by 02 Germany that the device would be available for consumers to purchase throughout Europe from June 1. Friday, April 28th, 2017 (11:21 am) - Score 1,487 Gigaclear, which specialises in rolling out ultrafast Gigabit Fibre-to-the-Premise (FTTP/H) broadband networks to rural parts of England, has today celebrated the news that their ever expanding service has managed to attract some 10,000 customers. The ISP initially started life as more of a commercial demand-led operator, although over the past couple of years theyve won a growing number of significant state aid broadband contracts (recent examples here, here and here) and these are helping to give their network coverage a significant boost. So far Gigaclear has managed to deploy their 1000Mbps+ broadband service (theyve also tested speeds of up to 5Gbps) to over 35,000 42,000 rural properties around counties such as Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland and Worcestershire. At the current rate wed expect their network coverage to at least double over the next few years and more contracts look set to be scooped. As evidence of that theyve recently had to open a new / expanded office at Abingdon Business Park in Oxfordshire (here). Matthew Hare, CEO of Gigaclear, said: We delivered our first full fibre network in rural Rutland at the end of 2011 and Im very proud that in just over five years, Gigaclear has become such a significant challenger in the rural broadband market. We are the only network delivering a totally futureproof, full fibre network that guarantees minimum upload and download speeds of 50Mbps and access to Gigabit speeds in rural areas and I am very much looking forward to bringing our service to many tens of thousands more customers in the future. This is just the beginning. In fairness we should point out that there are several other rural focused FTTP/H networks offering Gigabit broadband speeds, such as the popular B4RN service that operates around Lancashire and its neighbouring counties. Meanwhile the providers 10,000th customer, David Roberts from a village near Cirencester (Gloucestershire), was also awarded with a free celebratory Samsung 4K TV. Not bad going. UPDATE 29th April 2017 Gigaclear informs that their latest network coverage figure states FTTP is now available to 42,000 premises. The University of California IT workers replaced by an offshore outsourcing firm intend to file a lawsuit challenging their dismissal. The lawsuit may be filed as early as next week. It will allege that the tech workers at the university's San Francisco campus were victims of age and national origin discrimination. The IT employees lost their jobs in February after the university hired India-based IT services firm HCL. Approximately 50 full-time university employees lost their jobs, but another 30 contractor positions were cut as well. [ Further reading: University IT employees fighting for jobs question security ] Replacing IT workers with offshore labor is common in the private sector, but almost unheard of at a state-supported, public institution. "To take a workforce that is overwhelmingly over the age of 40 and replace them with folks who are mainly in their 20s -- early 20s, in fact -- we think is age discrimination," said the IT employees' attorney, Randall Strauss, of Gwilliam Ivary Chiosso Cavalli & Brewer. The national origin discrimination claim is the result of taking a workforce "that reflects the diversity of California" and is summarily let go and is "replaced with people who come from one particular part of the world," said Strauss. The lawsuit will be filed in Alameda County Superior Court. Only a few civil cases have alleged national origin discrimination in offshore outsourcing, but interest in raising this issue appears to be gaining ground. [ To comment on this story, visit Computerworld's Facebook page. ] The U.S. Department of Justice recently warned employers not to use H-1B visa workers to discriminate, a signal that it may be interested in bringing its own national origin discrimination case. A case brought by Disney IT workers, filed in December in federal court in Orlando, is making a similar allegation. Approximately 250 IT employees lost their jobs after the company hired offshore outsourcing firms to take over the work. Some workers complained of training H-1B-holding replacements. The complaint about UCSF's offshore outsourcing took an unexpected twist Wednesday. A California state auditor's report found that the university had failed to disclose some $175 million in funds in its budget. The university had argued that its outsourcing decisions will save it some $30 million over five years. J. Gary Gwilliam, the lead counsel for the university's IT workers, said, "It is unbelievable to me that a public university would ship good American jobs overseas by telling the fired workers, the Regents, the Legislature and public of a crying need to save money, while at the same time maintaining a secret slush fund of $175 million dollars which would more than cover the cost of keeping all these jobs in California, leaving more than enough money leftover to cover the needs of the University and its students," he said, in a statement. Enterprises that try to slow down Microsoft's upgrade train by skipping one of the twice-yearly Windows 10 refreshes will have to hustle to stay in support, according to the company's latest scheduling disclosures. Corporate users of Windows 10 may have as little as two months to deploy a feature upgrade after passing on the one prior. Only if IT administrators are willing to roll out a consumer-quality version -- one that Microsoft has not yet given the approved-for-business green light -- will they have up to six months to upgrade employees' PCs. Those limitations come from Microsoft's latest pledge to support any given Windows 10 feature upgrade for 18 months, and the company's long-standing timeline on how it moves each upgrade from development to release, first to consumers and then to commercial customers. [ Further reading: Microsoft fixes Windows 10 upgrade tempo and timing to placate enterprises ] To illustrate how Microsoft's scheduling affects businesses -- which must, sooner or later, adopt Windows 10 -- we've illustrated Windows' software-as-a-service calendar and the options enterprises have. Feature upgrade timetable. Each feature upgrade goes through a several-step process that, in turn, generates the 18 months that Microsoft has promised to support with security patches and other bug fixes. Each upgrade is numbered in Microsoft's yymm format; 1703, for example. Once an upgrade is completed, Microsoft issues it to devices assigned to the Current Branch (CB), the release track adopted by virtually all consumer PCs. Over the next four months (shown in blue in the following figure), Microsoft feeds the upgrade to an increasing number of CB devices, monitors telemetry and feedback, and then quashes the inevitable bugs that users uncover. Think of CB as the upgrade's shake-down cruise, taken before the real paying customers arrive. Gregg Keizer/ IDGE Figure 1 Only after a feature upgrade has run the consumers' testing gauntlet does Microsoft certify it as business-ready. After four months on the CB, the theoretically-more-stable-and-more-reliable build is released to the Current Branch for Business (CBB), the most popular track for enterprise PCs. Yellow marks the CBB in Figure 1 above. Microsoft supports just two upgrades on the CBB concurrently. This part of Windows 10's support is important in understanding how the whole schedule plays out. If N equals the current upgrade, say, 1703, then Microsoft will support N+1 (this year's September release, labeled 1709) as well when the two are simultaneously on the CBB. That 12-month span would be February 2018, when 1709 reaches the CBB, through July 2018, when N+2, or next year's March upgrade (1803) is promoted to the CBB. Gregg Keizer/ IDGE Figure 2 But Microsoft does not suddenly drop N, or 1703, from support as soon as N+2 makes the CBB. Instead, the company starts a 60-day-or-so countdown. Only at the end of those 60 days does it scratch N from the support list. N+1 then becomes N and N+2 morphs into N+1. See Figure 2 for how this works; the 60-day grace period is in green. [ To comment on this story, visit Computerworld's Facebook page. ] That means for the months of August and September 2018, Microsoft will support 1703, 1709 and 1803. Not surprisingly, the combination of Microsoft's every-six-month upgrade delivery cadence, the four months an upgrade spends on CB, and the two-month grace period at the end all generate a support lifecycle of 18 months. Yes, Microsoft planned it that way. Endless upgrading. Because of the timing of Windows 10 feature refreshes, businesses that adopt each will be upgrading every six months, assuming they deploy the builds at the same point in their CBB timelines. Gregg Keizer/ IDGE Figure 3 If the organization rolls out each upgrade at the beginning of the CBB, the tick-tock is a regular tempo. The company would deploy 1703 in August 2017, 1709 in February 2018, and 1803 in August 2018. Figure 3 illustrates the cadence, with the red arrows showing the jumps from one build to the next. There is some flexibility. Enterprises can increase the interval between upgrades, providing some flexibility; but there's a limit to how far things will stretch and how long a refresh can be put off. In many ways, it's a rob-Peter-to-pay-Paul deal. For example, an organization that adopted 1703 as soon as it landed on the CBB (August) could stay on that version for 10 months by delaying the move to 1709 until early June 2018. But because of 1709's hard support stop (coming in March 2019), the enterprise would be on 1709 for just seven months if it wanted to give itself, say, three months to upgrade to 1803. Check out Figure 4 for how this would work. Gregg Keizer/ IDGE Figure 4 The maximum amount of time between upgrades -- without skipping one -- would be 14 months, but only by migrating at the last minute, as the grace period expires. However, that would leave just 6 months on the next version before another upgrade. Rule of thumb: Assuming no version is skipped, the total length of support for two consecutive builds can be no more than 20 months. Extend support for the first, and support for the second shrinks. Hustle-bustle to skip an upgrade. Organizations can skip a Windows 10 feature upgrade, but the price will be steep. Microsoft's schedule will give companies just two months -- the grace period of the version upgrading from -- to migrate. Figure 5 shows the small window, no pun intended, if the version being upgraded to, in this case 1803, has been certified as business-ready and thus planted on the CBB. Gregg Keizer/ IDGE Figure 5 The only way to expand that window would be to begin upgrading while 1803 was still being tested by consumer guinea pigs, still on the CB. Backing the migration into the half-way point of the CB, for instance, would give the organization about four months to finish the upgrade from 1703 to 1803. Depending on when the company starts an upgrade, its PCs will remain on a version for 12 to 14 months. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. Accordingly, products in the northwestern region will be available at the market. In addition, an artistic performance by artists from Son La provincial ethnic artistic troupe, folklore games and a festival of Mong ethnic minority group will be held. Photo for illustration (Source: cinet.gov.vn) On this occasion, heads of villages, artisans and Ta Oi ethnic minority group from the central province of Thua Thien - Hue will reinstate a special festival. Visitors will also study culture and customs of ethnic groups. About 45 photos on Ban Me Thuot coffee and Central Highlands gongs will be displayed./. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and former Party chief and President of Laos Khamtay Siphandone. (Photo: VNA) At the meeting with former Party chief and President of Laos Khamtay Siphandone, PM Phuc hailed his great dedication to the Lao revolutionary cause and the Vietnam-Laos special relations. The PM wished the Lao former Party chief good health and extended warm greetings from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other Vietnamese senior leaders to him. Phuc hoped that Siphandone would continue sharing his experience to further promote the two nations special relations and educate their young generations on the bilateral friendship. Visiting General Sisavath Keobounphanh, former Prime Minister and President of the Lao Front for National Construction, PM Phuc spoke highly of the generals contribution to the Lao revolution and the two countries ties. The PM affirmed that leaders of both nations will pass down the tradition of their older generations and work hard to nurture the Vietnam-Laos relations. Speaking at the meeting with Lao former Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, the Vietnamese PM said Thammavong has greatly contributed to the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, particularly the success of the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Agreement for the 2011-2015 period. Also the day, PM Phuc and his entourage laid a wreath at the unknown fallen martyrs monument in Vientiane./. By continuing to browse or by clicking "Accept," you agree to our site's privacy policy. Another in a series of busy quarters filled with non-core gains and charges contributed to First Bancorp reporting Thursday a 10.5 percent increase in first-quarter net income to $7.55 million. First Bancorp, based in Southern Pines, has increased its Winston-Salem and Triad presence significantly in the past year with seven and 18 branches, respectively. It is likely to enter the Top 10 for North Carolina deposits now that it completed March 31 its $93 million purchase of Carolina Bank Holdings Inc. of Greensboro. The quarter also contained new revenue from the acquisition of seven former First Community Bank branches, including four in Winston-Salem, in exchange for its Virginia branches. Diluted earnings rose 1 cent to 34 cents a share. The bank took merger and acquisition charges worth 7 cents as part of the Carolina Bank purchase. The average earnings forecast was 43 cents by three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research. Analysts typically do not include one-time gains and charges in their forecasts. We experienced another quarter of strong earnings and growth, Richard Moore, First Bancorps chief executive, said in a statement. We continue to see good results from our strategic initiatives. Loan revenue rose 12.1 percent to $33.6 million. It took a $723,000 provision for loan losses after not needing one the previous two quarters. Fee revenue jumped 96.1 percent to $9.81 million. The biggest factor was the banks entrance during the third quarter into national Small Business Administration lending business. During the first quarter, the bank reported consulting fees of $1.26 million and gains of $622,000 on the sales of the guaranteed portions of SBA loans. Brady Gailey, an analyst with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, said First Bancorp is gaining traction with the national SBA lending platform, as it represented 19.2 percent of fee income in the quarter. Service-charge fees were down 2.6 percent to $2.61 million, while the category of other service charges, commissions and fees rose 12.1 percent to $3.17 million. Nonperforming assets were at $60 million on March 31, up from $59.1 million on Dec. 31, but down from $82.3 million on March 31, 2016. First Bancorp has 95 overall counting opening its first branch in Raleigh on Monday. It has $4.4 billion in total assets. First Bancorp is executing on its new goal of entering higher growth markets and enhance longer-term return on assets, said Chris Marinac, managing principal with FIG Partners of Atlanta. 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 Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 63F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 47F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Cloudy in the morning, then off and on rain showers during the afternoon hours. High 63F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. 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 ... Fans of the namaste bow or tree pose will soon have a new studio to practice their regular stretching and breathing techniques, as Essential Yoga recently held its soft opening at 140 West Richardson Street (upstairs from Katie Mae's) in Summerville's historic downtown area. Read moreEssential Yoga debuts in Summerville The Second Intermediate Peoples Court in Tianjin [official website] on Friday gave human rights lawyer Li Heping [advocacy profile] a three-year suspended sentence for subversion. He has been in jail since being detained in the summer of 2015. Heping represented many high-profile defendants including practitioners of the banned religion Falun Gong [oranization website]. His subversion conviction stemmed from a charge of endangering national security and social stability by working with religious groups and other lawyers to attack the government. The trial was closed to the public to prevent the disclosure of state secrets, according [NYT report] to a statement from the court. Hepings sentence was suspended for four years, which means he may be released but effectively prevents him from returning to his job as a human rights lawyer. China has faced continued international criticism for its treatment of human rights defenders, ranging from filing of arbitrary criminal charges, suspension or dismissal of law licenses, and disappearances. In February, the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders released its annual report [JURIST report] highlighting intensified crackdowns on human rights defenders. In December the UN called on China to investigate the disappearance of human rights lawyer [JURIST report] Jiang Tianyong, after he had been missing for two months. The same month China suspended the law license [JURIST report] of prominent human rights lawyer Li Jinxing, over his apparent allegedly unacceptable behavior in court while defending a client. Last September China handed down a 12 year sentence [JURIST report] to prominent human rights lawyer Xia Lin. In July China announced plans to prosecute [JURIST report] prominent human rights lawyer Zhou Shifeng on charges of subverting state power, furthering its recent crackdown on political dissidents. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ratified a law Thursday that will allow him to appoint head judges in the countrys highest courts. The amended law, which was ratified [Youm7 report, in Arabic] when it was published in the official gazette [materials], allows el-Sisi to chose one of three potential judges nominated by each court to be the head of that court. Previously, leadership passed to the most senior member of the court, and the president was expected to sign off on the leadership role in a process that was largely ceremonial. El-Sisi and supporters of the change insist that the move is necessary to strengthen his administrations authority as they tackle issues such as terrorism, but members of the Egyptian judiciary have resisted the change. On Wednesday, the chairman of the Judges Club, a group with over 9,000 members of the judiciary in Egypt, issued a unified statement [Youm7 report, in Arabic] condemning the amendments. The statement was a response to the passing of the amendment in parliament, a vote that was contested by some officials [video, in Arabic] who feel the change is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers. The majority argued that the change is constitutional [video, in Arabic], and narrowly tailored to allow the judiciary to remain independent. El-Sisi has been viewed by many in the international community as a moderate leader compared to previous Egyptian presidents who were often embroiled in scandals and accusations of corruption. Former president Hosni Mubarak was released from prison [JURIST report] last month after six years in custody. Mubarak and other members of his administration have been consistently involved in judicial proceedings since the Egyptian Revolution [JURIST backgrounder]. In October 2015 another Egyptian court ordered [JURIST report] the release of Mubaraks sons, Gamal and Alaa Mubarak, after holding that they have completed their three-year prison sentences for embezzlement. Last November, Egypts Court of Cassation [official website, in Arabic] overturned the life sentences [JURIST report] of former president Mohamed Morsi and 16 other members of the Muslim Brotherhood. Morsi had been convicted [Al Jazeera report] for conspiring with the Palestinian Hamas and other foreign militant groups. [JURIST] The Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC) [official website, in French] in Senegal upheld [ruling, in French] the life sentence of Chads former dictator Hissene Habre [HRW backgrounder] for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture. Habre was sentenced to life in prison for rape, various war crimes, and torture last year [Reuters report], however, his counsel appealed, believing that his sentence was too severe. On appeal, the EAC overturned his conviction for rape, however, it upheld his life sentence finding that the punishment was not disproportionate to the crimes committed by Habre. Judge Ougadeye Wafi also established a $135 million fund to compensate the victims of Habre. The funds will be supplied from the seizure of Habres assets. Habres conviction marks the first time in modern history that the court of one African country prosecuted and convicted the former leader of another African nation on rights charges. Habre, who fled to Senegal after being deposed in 1990, was indicted [JURIST report] by the Extraordinary African Chambers in July 2013 and placed in pretrial detention. In September 2015 the former leader was carried into court [JURIST report] by masked security agents following his refusal to participate in his own trial. In July 2015 the Extraordinary African Chambers in Senegal suspended [JURIST report] his trial on charges of crimes against humanity, torture and war crimes, reportedly due to the need for court appointed lawyers to prepare the former leaders defense. In March 2015 a criminal court in Chad sentenced [JURIST report] Habre-era police officers to prison tor torture. In 2013 more than 1,000 victims filed for civil party status, asking the Extraordinary African Chambers to officially recognize them as parties with an interest in the matter. The African Union began talks with Senegal to come up with a plan for Habres trial after the International Court of Justice ruled [JURIST report] in July 2012 that Senegal must either try Habre promptly or extradite him to Belgium for trial. Ukrainian gas producing companies will have to pay for gas transportation twice over the decisions made by the National Commission for Energy, Housing and Utilities Services Regulation (NCER), public joint-stock company Ukrnafta has said. "Since April the company has to pay for gas transportation twice: under the tariffs that are in effect from January 1, 2017 and under new tariffs approved in resolution No. 348 [introduces the customer charge for gas distribution] that was left in effect for gas producers [it was annulled for other companies returning to the old tariff system]. Due to these steps by the regulator the monthly fee for transportation of own gas for Ukrnafta would reach around UAH 76 million instead of UAH 44 million," the company said. Ukrnafta said that the double fee means additional expenses of UAH 289 million for the company in 2017. This damages competitive positions of Ukrainian gas producers compared to gas importers that pay only once for gas transportation. Photos Credit: YTL Hotels The Chapmans Challenge, a unique biathlon experience at YTL Hotel's Pangkor Laut Resort returns for its second year, with its race day on May 13th, exactly 72 years after Colonel Spencer Chapman escaped. The challenge was crafted to commemorate the British commandos adventure on the island, and is an annual race comprising of a 3.8-mile run around the private islands roadways and through the two million year-old rainforest, in addition to a half-mile swim out to the award-winning Emerald Bay before concluding at Chapmans Bar. Colonel Spencer Chapman spent three-and-a-half years in hiding from the occupying Japanese army during World War II in the wild jungles of Malaya. On May 13, 1945, he made his last escape from Emerald Bay at Pangkor Laut with his compatriot, Major R. Broome. They swam 50-yards out to sea in the dark of night to be rescued by the Royal Navy submarine, HMS Statesman. Christopher Spencer Chapman, our guest-of-honor and the youngest son of the late Colonel Spencer Chapman, will flag off the participants for The Chapmans Challenge 2017. Pangkor Laut Resort has welcomed international and local Malaysian participants last year for the inaugural race, including professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts. It was a memorable and inspiring weekend as groups of friends and couples spent the weekend completing the race, strengthening old bonds and forging new friendships. Odesa City Council is mulling the possibility of attracting a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to build a runway at Odesa airport, Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov has said at a meeting of the executive committee of the city council. He said that the situation with the runway does not suit the city, as the solving of the issue to build the runway or reconstruct it has been delayed for years. It is unknown when it is solved, he said. Odesa is considering a possibility of raising a loan to build own runway. Preliminary meetings have been held. "This is an interesting and attractive asset, where the EBRD could approve for us," Trukhanov said. As reported, in early July 2011 Odesa City Council agreed to participate in joint venture Odesa International Airport LLC, which was created to reconstruct municipal enterprise Odesa International Airport. The second participant in the JV was Odessa Airport Development Ltd. with a charter capital of about UAH 1,000. The share of Odesa City Council in the joint venture was 25%, while the city council injected property worth UAH 118.4 million into the charter capital of Odesa airport. The charter capital of the joint venture was required to be UAH 473.4 million. The remaining part was to have been injected by the private company. However, construction work was carried out using funds received under a credit where the property of the municipal enterprise was used as collateral. The investor refused to reconstruct the runway, and the Infrastructure Ministry said that the required funds of over UAH 1.6 billion will be provided from the national budget or borrowed under government guarantees, however the funds were not provided. From 2014 through 2016, the prospects for reconstruction and development of the airport were unclear due to investigations by Odesa Regional Prosecutor General's Office and Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office into the circumstances of the transfer of the airport to the joint venture. In January 2017, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that a fund with borrowed funds and budget financing to reconstruct the Odesa airport should be by the end of this year. In February 2017, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan said that there are plans to start reconstruction of the Odesa airport's runway in 2017. On the outcomes of the activities of 2016 as well as of the first quarter of 2017 the country shows a positive trend of gradual economic upturn, and this should be the basis and the key to boost investment in the country and ensure implementation of successful projects in the real economic sector, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said at a meeting with leaders of the American Chamber of Commerce. "The most crucial is that we have managed to establish a dialogue, understand each other and discuss questions not from meeting to meeting, but in the process of work. We set tasks and we are trying to tackle them. Ukraine is on the track of economic growth now and this is the movement towards increasing investment," the press service of the government reported on Friday, citing Groysman. The prime minister reminded representatives of the business community the government's core objectives for this year are namely, a pension reform, a land reform, large-scale privatization and sectoral reforms in healthcare and education. He said that the transformations offered by the government, in particular for land issues, have raised a wide discussion in society, however, a compromise would be found, as well as the process concerning a large-scale privatization will be triggered. Groysman said that the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade with the assistance of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers has already elaborated the required package of legislative amendments and soon the process of finding advisors to sell major state-owned assets will be launched. "We are engaged in the process of establishing of industrial parks, as the government's target is to replace the economy dependent on raw materials and to boost production in Ukraine. At the same time I understand that in order to achieve that it is important to create favorable conditions," Groysman said. He said that the government is committed to continue deregulation and to further implement reform of the State Fiscal Service, inter alia improving tax and customs procedures. Groysman also recalled that the unified electronic register of VAT refunds, which was launched a month ago, has already enabled business representatives to feel changes in this sector. The meeting was also attended by Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the United States in Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. State bank JSC Oschadbank has completed the confiscation of $1.5 billion of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his entourage, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko has said. "The transfer of $1.5 billion confiscated by the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine from the criminal group has been completed. Good workers of Oschadbank executed the operations through computers," Lutsenko wrote on his Facebook page. According to him, if cash currency notes of $100 were used in this operation, this amount would weigh 15 tonnes, as an "African elephant with a cub." "Now it's up to the government and the parliament. It is necessary that this year common Ukrainian citizens feel the result of returning these funds from the mafia," the prosecutor general said. Yanukovych's lawyer Vitaliy Serdiuk denied that his client had anything to do with the confiscated $1.5 billion. "I have bank statements from the accounts of Viktor Yanukovych issued by Oschadbank and the amount there is quite different. It equals 28 million hryvni and the amount is frozen and is not being confiscated now. This is the money on his personal bank account. It is his personal savings, on which all taxes were paid. Therefore, the latest information, which is being actively spread out, that the funds were seized, confiscated and removed is totally untrue," Serdyuk said. Hungarian customs officers detain smuggled 125,000 packages of cigarettes, almost 1 tonnes of amber from Ukraine PGO chief Hungarian customs officers have detained a vehicle with smuggled goods from Ukraine. "Today [on April 27] Hungarian customs officers have detained 125,002 packages of cigarettes and 916 kilograms of amber in a vehicle that left Ukraine," Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko wrote on his Facebook page late on Thursday. He said that an investigator of Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) in Zakarpattia region notified the chief inspector of the Tysa customs checkpoint V.Berchi who allowed the smuggled goods to leave Ukraine that he is charged of a crime committed under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. According to a petition of the PGO, top managers of the checkpoint and the Tysa department are suspended from their posts. Today, on April 28, at 14.00, Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'Ukrainian Software Product "1: Enterprise" vs. SBU's Arbitrary Behavior. Consequences of the Search at the Company's Office' Today, on April 28, at 14.00, the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency's press center will host a press conference, entitled "Ukrainian Software product '1: Enterprise' vs. SBU's Arbitrary Behavior. Consequences of the Search at the Company's Office." (8/5a Reitarska Street). Registration requires press accreditation. During the working visit to the Kingdom of Norway, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze has met with Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense of Norway Anniken Huitfeldt. Klympush-Tsintsadze informed Huitfeldt about the situation in the east of Ukraine and the state of implementation of the Minsk agreements. Special attention was paid to the humanitarian situation. In this context, Huitfeldt confirmed the clear position of Norway regarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as the unchanged position regarding the extension of personal and sectoral sanctions against the Russian Federation, the press service of the deputy prime minister of Ukraine said. The parties also discussed issues of economic cooperation, in particular, with regard to strengthening bilateral trade ties. Huitfeldt expressed the wish to carry out further development of bilateral contacts, in particular, at the inter-parliamentary level. KEARNEY For comedian Tom Clark, thinking on his feet just goes with the territory. Improvisation helps me to trust myself, Clark said in an interview from his home in the Los Angeles area as he drove his wife to work. I dont worry if what Im saying is right or wrong. With improvisation youre just supposed to react and act like what you just said was the exact right thing in that moment. That sense of creativity also helped with his writing. It lets me trust myself and to get rid of that critic in my head, the comedian said. Clark will visit central Nebraska for an 8 p.m. show Saturday at Nicks on the Bricks Kitchen & Bar at 14 E. 23 St. Kearney comedian Gary Menke will be host for the show, and Brad Stewart will open for Clark. Admission is $10. You have to take the time to learn how to do improv, Clark said. It depends who youre doing it with. A really good improviser can make anyone look good. The comedian likes the spontaneity of improvisation. Its a little easier than stand-up because you dont have to write so much, he said. You dont have to prepare much, just prepare your brain to be open to everything and not deny yourself anything. In that respect, improv is a little easier, but Ive seen some really bad improv, too. Clark cut his teeth on the comedy clubs in Chicago, starting in 1998. Appearances on TBSs Conan with Conan OBrien, CBSs Late Show and The Bob and Tom Radio Show helped his career. He also made appearances in a series of films including The Wish List, Outsourced, Big Miracle and Freaks of Nature. My wife helped me a lot with my audition, he said of landing a small role on Freaks of Nature. During the audition for the small part, Clark tossed in a funny line the cemented the deal with the director. When you only have a two-line role, anything you can add to it is going to help, he said. That comes from improv where you can trust yourself to say something. Clark wrote on his blog about his role as a citizen concerned about an alien invasion: Thats one thing acting classes never teach you is how to audition for a two-line role. My theory is to always try to tag the scene with a quick funny line, not too much, but just enough. As for appealing to audiences, Clark sums it up neatly, I think I do want to be liked. I dont get mad at hecklers so much as asking them, Why dont you like me? I think its weird when people get mad at you. My material isnt controversial or anything. I dont know why people go to comedy shows if they dont want to listen. MINDEN Authorities are investigating whether a woman found unresponsive in a Minden home Sunday morning died of a drug overdose. According to court records, Ruth Ann Ehrke, 35, of Oxford was found unresponsive on the floor at 902 S. Nebraska Ave. No. 21. A doctor allegedly later determined she may have experienced a drug overdose. Ehrke died Monday night at CHI Health Good Samaritan, according to a Minden Police Department news release, and an autopsy of her body was scheduled. Ehrke and Chad D. Carlson, 39, no address listed, were alleged to have gone to the Minden residence because Ehrke and Carlson had a dispute with Nicole Peterson, also known as Nicole Warren, no age or address listed. A fight allegedly ensued between Ehrke, Carlson and Peterson, court records say. Carlson allegedly assaulted Peterson, court records say, and Carlson fled the residence. Peterson was treated at a hospital for minor injuries. Upon searching the Minden residence, law enforcement allegedly found a black and gray plaid backpack Carlson reportedly brought to the residence. The backpack was alleged to have contained six glass jars of marijuana, two baggies filled with marijuana, cannabis extracts, a THC container, an electric scale, a pipe with drug residue and a marijuana pipe. Carlson is charged in Kearney County Court with third-degree assault and first-degree criminal trespassing, both Class I misdemeanors. He turned himself in at the Kearney County Sheriffs Office Wednesday, according to court records. He posted 10 percent of a $25,000 bond. A story in Thursdays Hub listed an incorrect bond amount. Carlsons arraignment is scheduled for May 11. If convicted and if hes not placed on probation, he could spend up to one year in jail on each Class I misdemeanor charge. Nebraska lawmakers surely will respond to Thursdays call to action and amend the states liquor outlet licensing laws to give the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission the authority it needs to put an end to beer sales in Whiteclay. Lawmakers call to action comes from Lancaster County District Court, where a judge ruled the Liquor Commission last week acted beyond its authority in denying the renewal of liquor licenses for the four stores that sell 3.5 million cans of beer per year to Native Americans from the nearby Pine Ridge Reservation of South Dakota. If it werent for intervention later Thursday by the Nebraska Attorney Generals office, the sales would continue until all appeals are settled. At least for now, the AGs action means the stores must close Sunday. Clearly, the beer stores represent a threat to the publics safety. Liquor commissioners noted the absence of adequate law enforcement in their 3-0 vote against renewing the licenses. However, as long as Nebraska statute favors making alcohol available as a public convenience rather than favoring the need for public health and safety, our state will continue to have alcohol available in places where it ought not to be available. Lawmakers must eliminate that legal gray spot and vest the Liquor Commission with authority to deal with Whiteclay and other circumstances where issuance of a liquor license runs contrary to the publics welfare. Given what we know about Whiteclay the Skid row of the Plains and the inadequacy of Nebraska liquor laws, our legislators have no choice but to take action. Selling so much beer to people who are genetically vulnerable to alcoholism is not in the publics interest, nor is it morally defensible. Proclaim big goof day If theres an organization thats more influential and dangerous to snub than the 28,000-member Nebraska State Education Association, we cant imagine what it is. But thats what Gov. Pete Ricketts has done by refusing to issue a proclamation on the NSEAs 150th anniversary. Ricketts said he has changed his policy and favors proclamations that recognize teaching excellence. Does that mean NSEA members are slackers? We dont think thats the message the governor intended, but the teachers arent happy. Taking on the educators union is politically dangerous, but if the governors office intends to be selective in how and why it issues proclamations, we predict many more snubs to come. Proclamations affirm, support and recognize achievements and aspirations. Having the governor refuse is a slap in the face,as NSEA President Nancy Fulton described Ricketts act. Rather than picking and choosing what hell sign, it would be smarter for Ricketts to do away with proclamations altogether. The Regional Planning Commission is taking on a sensitive issue as it considers agriculture district zoning. The proposal is to use a siting matrix that takes into account farmers work to protect the environment and their livestock as well as neighbors concerns about water quality and odor issues. Our states agricultural producers are very cognizant of the impact of their operations on the environment. In most cases, they live where they are raising their livestock, so they benefit from soil, water and air-quality protection as much as their neighbors do. And its important to our states economy that they be able to make a profit in operating their businesses. Under the siting matrix proposal being considered by the planning commission, livestock operations would be permitted as long as they meet Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requirements, meet setback and operation requirements and ensure proper management of their operations. The biggest issue so far as the commission has heard comments on the proposal has been with odor concerns raised by people living less than a mile from existing livestock feedlots. Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity has proposed that operations with 1,001 to 3,000 head of cattle have a three-eighths mile setback instead of the current one-half mile setback requirement. Operations with 3,001 to 5,000 head would have to have a one-half mile setback on an open lot. For dairy and hog confinement facilities, the setback would remain at a mile, regardless of the number of cattle or hogs. This is actually more strict than the Nebraska zoning matrix the state developed last year. But it is a reduction in the setback requirement for smaller operations. Commission member Greg Robb said he believes the proposal is fair to everybody involved, holding livestock producers accountable but also recognizing the importance of their businesses success as it takes into consideration neighboring landowners concerns. The commission heard comments at its meeting last week and chairman Pat ONeill encouraged the public to submit written comments, which he said will be reviewed before a decision is made. People impacted by this process should take the time now to speak up. Grand Island Independent Discussion on tax reform is underway in the Legislature. Last week, senators started debate on LB461, the 2017 Nebraska Taxpayer Reform Act. The discussion on the floor was thoughtful with many senators supporting the plan to deal with Nebraskas high tax problem. This bill would make the most significant changes to our states property and income tax system in a generation by changing how we value ag land for tax purposes and cutting income taxes for working families and Main Street businesses. If you want to see tax relief this year, contact your senator. As the Legislature began consideration of LB461, there was a significant focus on what the proposal does to relieve high ag land property taxes. Right now, ag producers are feeling the impact of high property taxes and low commodity prices. LB461 proposes to move assessments from a market-based system to an income-potential approach, helping valuations to better reflect the income of Nebraskas ag producers. This is major structural change that would have reduced total ag land property valuations by 12 percent statewide if it had been in effect this year. If levies had stayed the same, this would have resulted in $147 million of property tax relief for Nebraska farmers and ranchers. This builds on the work the Legislature and I have done the last two years on property taxes. Working with senators in 2015, we increased the property tax credit relief fund by over 45 percent, and returned over $400 million in property tax relief to taxpayers. In 2016, we added an additional $40 million over two years directly targeted at ag property taxpayers, and provided incentives for responsible budgeting by our school districts. Late last year, the Revenue Department issued guidance on how to identify property sales that distort market information used for tax purposes. Some special interest groups have argued that LB461 should not include any income tax relief. I believe that doing both property tax and income tax reform is key to bringing together urban and rural senators. You can see the urban and rural divide playing out. Some urban interests want farmers and ranchers to give up tax breaks the Legislature has granted them in the past. Others believe the Legislature should solely focus on property tax relief without doing anything on income tax to help Main Street. While this bill is not everything that urban or rural senators may want, it contains reforms that are key to growing Nebraska. Right now, USA Today ranks us fifth highest for property taxes, and the Tax Foundation ranks Nebraska 14th highest for income tax collections per capita. The 2017 Nebraska Taxpayer Reform Act will put more money into the pockets of working Nebraskans and small businesses and make Nebraska more globally competitive. It is important that urban and rural policymakers come together and do whats best for the whole state. In the coming days, senators will have a choice when they vote on LB461. When it comes down to it, a vote on tax reform will separate taxpayer advocates versus lobbyists. Lobbyists and special interests will try to block tax reform because they want to spend more of your money. Getting tax reform done wont be easy. If you want to see tax relief this year, call your senator and let them know. They need to hear from you right away. You can find all their contact information at www.NebraskaLegislature.gov. As always, I hope that youll contact me with your concerns. You can reach my office by emailing pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov or calling 402-471-2244. Pete Ricketts is governor of Nebraska. Some dealers of 1C software in Ukraine placed on sanction list - SBU The National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine has placed some dealers of software 1C that dominates in Ukraine in the segment of ERP solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) to the sanctions list, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) office chief Oleksandr Tkachuk has said. He called on Ukrainian companies to be careful in using similar software designed in Russia. "Today some companies that sell 1C product in Ukraine have been placed to the sanctions list. The work in this area will continue," Tkachuk said at a briefing in Kyiv on Thursday. "We urge our businessmen to be careful and make careful decisions regarding software products you use in your business," he said. Asked how Ukrainian companies using 1C software to make themselves safe, he advised to consider all risks. "If we say and if this is confirmed by experts that software designed in Russia is permanently connecting to services located in Russia to load updates and send any technical information one should think though risks of possible leakage of information about business to the territory of Russia," Tkachuk said. "Commercial companies, Ukrainian enterprises must make decisions themselves and make choice," he said. The SBU said on its website that a firm in Kyiv unlawfully selling Russia's 1C software on the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas was discovered. "Managers of a Kyiv representative office of the Russian software designer signed several contracts on supply of the product and servicing it with enterprises and dealers operating in so-called DPR/LPR," the SBU said. After raiding an office in Kyiv SBU officers revealed documents confirming facts of unlawful sale of this software on the temporarily occupied territories. "SBU specialists found out that this software is administrated, updated and maintained from the territory of Russia, including via remote access to equipment of the representative office of the Russian company in Kyiv. According to their conclusions, a new fact of hidden control of Russian intelligence services over the situation in the public and private economic sectors of Ukraine and enterprises located on so-called DPR/LPR has been revealed," the SBU said. The SBU said that the pretrial investigation under a criminal case launched in violation of Part 2, Article 359 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal use of special technology for secret obtaining of information) and it is planned to additionally apply Article 258 (act of terrorism). On April 26, SBU raided eight Ukrainian companies, in particular, Dragon Capital Investment Company and state-run enterprise Ukrgazvydobuvannia. The raids were linked to the use of the Stakhonovets employee work hours tracking software declared the spy software. "According to our information, around 300 companies on the territory of Ukraine today use this software. Since 2016, the use of this software has been banned as it was declared the spy software," Trachuk said. According to information on the website of 1c.ua, Eurosoftprom subsidiary (Kyiv), founded in 2002, spreads 1C software in Ukraine. Donna Farrell places plastic flowers to remember Fusako Petrus on a fence surrounding the track of Highlands High School, Friday, April 28, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif. Petrus, 86, was sexually assaulted and beaten to death during a morning walk around the track with a friend, Wednesday. Neven Glen Butler was arrested that afternoon on unrelated sexual assault and elder abuse charges and homicide detectives were able to tie him to the scene of of the assault on Petrus. Butler is being held on suspicion of murder without bail, and will be arraigned in Sacramento County Superior Court, Monday. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2017 file photo, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks at a news conference in Seattle about a federal appeals court's refusal to reinstate President Donald Trump's ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations. Donald Trump promised to shake up Washington. And in his first 100 days, heAos certainly followed through. Between the fixation on the inauguration crowd size, his tweets that he had been wiretapped by his predecessor and the failed effort at health care reform, TrumpAos honeymoon could hardly be described as blissful. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File) FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2017 file photo, Ed Harry, a retired union leader and lifelong Democrat who switched to the GOP to vote for Donald Trump, eats breakfast in Plymouth, Pa. One hundred days into Donald Trump's presidency, The Associated Press asked people from across the country to write a letter to the president. He wrote: "I laughed when I heard you were running for president. I didn't think you had a chance. As the campaign went along, I found out that the Democrats, Republicans ... China, India, Mexico, all were opposed to you. At that moment I knew I had my candidate. A Considering all the opposition you have had against you, I think you deserve a C+ rating. You've accomplished quite a lot: Neil Gorsuch appointment ... get rid of a lot of Obama executive orders ... "The WALL," or at least some immigration enforcement I would like to see take place this year. Finally, most of all, do NOT let the neocons or both political parties corrupt your administration. I do, in fact, believe YOU are OUR last chance to turn OUR COUNTRY around!!!" (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our daily newsletter for all the latest Kent stories and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. April 20 was a sacred day for your average hardened cannabis smoker. '420' as it is known is a date etched in the diary of the world's most eager grass smokers gather together to celebrate and consume the green-leafed drug. In the UK, thousands annually gather in Hyde Park in London, in defiance of the law, to smoke cannabis. Activists are calling on the Government to legalise the Class B drug and risked arrest by using the illegal drug at the event. But what can you do if you step outside your home and get a whiff of something not exactly legal from your neighbours? Here's a handy guide... Can people smoke cannabis on their own property legally? Absolutely not. Any suggestion that you can is an urban myth. A police spokeswoman said: "The possession of cannabis is an offence and will be dealt with by police. "It is a widespread issue across the county and we are focusing our resources to target those connected with the cultivation and dealing of the drug to help crackdown on the issue. "We would encourage anyone who suspects drug activity in their community to contact us." Call the police? Won't my neighbours find out I've done it? The police say no. A spokeswoman said: "We wouldn't say information has come from a neighbour as that narrows it down. We'd just say we received a call about x." She added that officers on patrol might also use tip-offs to inform where they go on patrol. If they were to smell the cannabis themselves, they might knock on the door and broach the subject that way. People could always call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if they wanted to remain anonymous throughout the process. Activists are calling for cannabis to be legalised What will happen to my neighbours if I call the police about them? The police spokesman said this could depend on a number of variables, including the amount of cannabis, and whether someone has had any previous convictions. (Image: SWNS Group) If they're renting, what about telling my neighbour's landlord? That's also an option but you'd need to remember that the landlord isn't bound to avoid giving your identity away in the same way that police are. As long as the tenancy agreement has been drawn up properly, they'll be in breach of it. But you also need to bear in mind that there are constraints as to what the landlord can do. A spokesman for the National Landlords Association, said that, if landlords suspect cannabis use, they should "arrange for a visit to the property, provided they have given the tenant advance warning". He said: "If they see or smell what they believe to be evidence of cannabis use, they should remind and warn the tenants that such actions are in violation of the tenancy agreement. If, when they next visit the property, they see the same evidence they may then wish to resort to serving a section 21, or eviction, notice." I am the landlord. What can I do to stop cannabis being used at my property? Chris Norris, of the National Landlords Association, said: "While we recommend taking references of prospective tenants from former employers or landlords before offering a tenancy, it can also be necessary to make checks on the property after they have moved in. "These should be carried out quarterly if there are any concerns but make sure that you give the tenant or tenants sufficient notice beforehand so as not to disrupt privacy. "Lastly, get to know the neighbours and local residents, as they can help alert you should they either see or smell what they suspect to be cannabis use on the property." How can I find out who the landlord of a property is? A good starting point is to find out who the Land Registry have as the owner of the property. It'll cost a few quid but you can get the information from this website. The leaders of the Ukrainian and Russian sides of the Joint Center for Monitoring and Coordination (JCCC) on the issues of ceasefire and stabilization of the disengagement line have met with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Soledar (Donetsk region). The working group of officers of the Ukrainian side was headed by the head of the Joint Center, Major-General Oleksandr Duz-Kriatchenko, the ICRC delegation was led by the chairman of the sub-delegation Conway-Moylan Rory, the Ukrainian side of the JCCC reported on Friday morning. During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to the tasks and role of the JCCC, revised the existing procedures for filing requests and applications of the ICRC to the JCCC, namely those issues relating to the provision of security guarantees in tense and troubled areas and the introduction of the ceasefire regime. "Also during the talks, the Ukrainian side of the JCCC sent a petition to the ICRC to assist in the release of two hostages of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the temporarily occupied territory," a report says. During the meeting Duz-Kriatchenko held a briefing for representatives titled "Present state and prospects of JCCC, its structure and tasks at the present stage." The chairman of the sub-delegation of the ICRC thanked the JCCC representatives for the meeting held, and also expressed hope for further cooperation between the participants, which would contribute to a positive resolution of the problematic issues. 13:30 28.04.2017 Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'Ukrainian Software Product "1: Enterprise" vs. SBU's Arbitrary Behavior. Consequences of the Search at the Company's Office' 1 min read Today, on April 28, at 14.00, the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency's press center will host a press conference, entitled "Ukrainian Software product '1: Enterprise' vs. SBU's Arbitrary Behavior. Consequences of the Search at the Company's Office." The participants will include '1C:Enterprise' business analyst Viktoria Ilchenko; lawyer of the state-run enterprise Eurosoftprom Andriy Subotin; lawyer Andriy Rudenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). Registration requires press accreditation. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said that he had agreed with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to complete the demarcation of the joint state border in the near future. "We agreed to complete the demarcation of our state borders in the near future, which, unfortunately, was not carried out in recent years, but will become an additional factor of the security of the two states," the president said during the transfer of military equipment to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in Kyiv on Friday. Capitol Hill Republicans have greeted President Trumps tax reform outline with a mix of lukewarm praise and restrained concern, suggesting that one of the administrations signature agenda items is no slam dunk. The tepid response doesnt necessarily doom the proposal, which is extremely light on details. But it does mean that the White House has plenty of work ahead selling and likely rewriting the plan in order to win over enough Republican votes. SEE ALSO: Get (opens in new tab) Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up p> The outline, which is similar to what Trump proposed on the campaign trail, has many Republicans conflicted. Yes, it meets a central party tenet: Lowering personal and corporate tax rates. But many Republicans also fear that such massive tax cuts would balloon an already large federal debt, something fiscal conservatives are loath to see. Republican leaders on both sides of the Capitol have put a positive spin on Trumps plan, saying in a joint statement that its key points will serve as critical guideposts for a future overhaul of the tax code. But theyve stopped short of an all-out embrace. Republicans say they applaud the presidents effort but cant fully endorse a plan thats still a work in progress and missing key details. Truly at the 60,000-foot level, hes hitting all the same things we are, says Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY). Its right in line with our plan. Its just there werent a lot of details to go with it. Were not going to get tax reform done if we dont get the president engaged, and Im glad to see the administration engaged, says Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH). One thing weve learned is weve got to have consensus, weve got to bring people together. Conspicuously absent from the Trump plan is a border adjustment tax, which would give favorable tax treatment to exporters at the expense of importers. Many Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, have been pushing hard for the BAT tax as a way to help offset cuts to personal and corporate tax rates. But Trump has never warmed up to BAT, calling it needlessly complicated. And major retailers that import heavily have pushed back against it. Some Republicans say that while BAT has its merits, its time to move on. It's my sense that its days are numbered, says Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX). As difficult as its been for House Republicans to come together on a health care bill, tax reform will be tougher because of regional variations, particularly with the president proposing to do away with deductions for state and local taxes an idea that is under fire from lawmakers from states with high tax rates. I am not on board with that aspect of it, no, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) told CNN. My district in particular, I'm on Long Island, almost the main asset that most people have is their home. These are modest homes, but their property taxes are very high. The state income tax is very high. And so, to them, it would be a net loss in this new tax plan. If a plan does make it through the House, where controlling Republicans often are divided on key issues, it will face an even tougher time in the Senate, where the support of at least eight Democrats will be needed. Both the White House and GOP leaders say they wont rush tax reform legislation. Instead, theyll take the next few weeks to hammer out a compromise. That will be easier said than done for this Congress. But one thing is certain: If a tax reform bill does emerge this year and thats a big if it will look different from what the president proposed this week. SEE ALSO: Get (opens in new tab) p> The mining sector continues to sell-off much more than the gold price as the market continues to discount the up-coming VanEck GDXJ Junior Gold Miner ETF re-balance I touched upon last week in this column. More than $800M was collectively taken out of GDX and GDXJ on April 26th, which was the largest one day out-flow in their trading history. Nevertheless, the M&A in the space also continues to heat up with another high profile proposed merger which was announced on April 26th. Gold-copper developer/explorer Mariana Resources Ltd (MARL.V) said this past Wednesday it has reached an agreement to be acquired by mining company financier Sandstorm Gold (SSL.TO), which currently holds a 7% stake in the company. Under the terms of the agreement, Sandstorm will acquire the remaining share capital in Mariana and merge into a new mid-tier stream and royalty company. The new firm will have a diversified portfolio of 155 streams and royalties including 20 producing, 23 development-stage, 26 advanced exploration-stage and 86 exploration-stage assets. This will include a 30% stake in the gold-copper Hot Maden project in Turkey while Mariana will hold a 19% stake in the new Sandstorm. The Hot Maden project is a world-class asset and is globally one of the highest-grade gold-copper discoveries made in recent years. Current exploration activities have been focused on expanding the known gold-copper resource (3.43 Million oz AuEq in Indicated Category and 0.43 Million oz AuEq in Inferred Category) within a central 800m long portion of the Hot Maden Fault Zone. A Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) was completed in January this year which has a post-tax IRR of 153% with an NPV US$1.37B @8% at a NSR cut off USD 100/in situ tonnes. This equates to an approximate resource cut-off grade of 3.3 g/pt AuEq. According to its most recent corporate presentation, the high-grade, multi-million-ounce gold equivalent Hot Maden development project is expected to produce 250,000 ounces per year, with approximately $8 million in annual royalty revenue to Sandstorm. The only problem with this asset, as I see it, is the location of the deposit. I believe Turkey may be slipping dangerously towards a dictatorship after a very close referendum vote earlier this month, which essentially handed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the reins of supreme power. Moreover, the integrity of the vote was seriously questioned and the slim margin of victory with just 51.4% approving a series of constitutional changes has converted Turkeys political system from a parliamentary to a presidential one. This means there is most likely going to be tension in Turkey going forward as there will be no real checks and balances in place, which leads me to believe Turkey could now be one step closer to civil war. Just last year there was an attempted military coup in Turkey to overthrow its president and government. The coup plotters issued a statement through the military saying they wanted to take control to reinstall constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, (and) to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country." The coup attempt was quickly put down, but I would not rule out more hostilities taking place in the very near future with President Erdogan now having much more power. Furthermore, the country has been targeted by terrorist groups who have staged several recent attacks damaging the countrys tourism sector. I witnessed first-hand an unfortunate tragedy in Turkey which took place in June of last year. My wife and I had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time while traveling in Europe last summer. We had a connecting flight lay-over in Istanbuls Ataturk airport in June 2016 just before a terrorist attack had begun, turning our 2-hour lay-over into a 12-hour nightmare. The on-going political situation in Turkey, combined with the growing amount of terrorist attacks in the country, is most likely the reason Sandstorm was able to do this deal so cheaply. If the Hot Maden deposit were located just 250km to the east in Armenia, the market would have most likely bid Marianas share price much higher before this deal was made. Sandstorm CEO Nolan Watson has a penchant for investing in under-valued risky assets in the past. In September 2012, the company made an ill-fated C$60M investment in Colossus Minerals Serra Pelada Project. The gold deposits at Serra Pelada have a very storied past and were discovered by workers on a nearby farm in late 1979. Geological surveys showed there could still be 20 to 50 tons of gold in these deposits as the original mine is believed to have contained 360 tons. After the initial gold discovery, it soon became the largest open-air pit in the world, with roughly 100,000 artisanal miners (garimpeiros) who migrated from across the entirety of Brazil working there at its peak. Most were armed, while murder, prostitution, gambling and drugs were routine. The scene was immortalized by photographer Sebastiao Salgado, who captured the garimpeiros swarming like ants in the vast open-air pit and clashing with federal police brought in to keep order. At the height of the boom, battles over discoveries of gold were commonplace with 60 to 80 murders recorded on average every month. Salgado was quoted as saying when he saw the mine, Every hair on my body stood on edge. The Pyramids, the history of mankind unfolded. I had traveled to the dawn of time. After announcing plans to re-open the Serra Pelada mine, Colossus Minerals, who had gained a 51% stake in the mine in July of 2007, had spent $300 million over eight years. However, progress was slow with the firm having trouble keeping water out of the shaft and by December 2013, Colossus said it had run out of money and needed another $70 million to be able to start extracting gold. With the price of gold unstable and the project mired in complex litigation, the additional investors could not be found. In January 2014, Colossus filed a notice of intention under Canadas Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and was taken over by its creditors in April of that year. Records from the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy in Canada show the firm ended up with liabilities of just over $125 million and assets of only $390,000. Around the same time of this investment, the company also made the first of a series of deals on another soon to be troubled Brazilian deposit with Luna Gold and its Aurizona Gold Project. Unfortunately, the gold price began to tumble below $1500 per ounce soon after an initial C$10M investment on the project was made. However, Sandstorm then decided to up the ante on the Luna Gold investment by taking a 19.8% stake in the company for C$30M in May of 2015 as Luna had suspended mining operations at Aurizona until at least 2017. Sandstorm CEO Nolan Watson was quoted as saying at the time: The Placement is necessary due to a combination of lower than estimated cash flow and cost overruns at Aurizona, also requiring Luna to delay the completion of the Phase One Expansion at the mine. After having already invested C$40M into the company and with nearly 20% ownership, on Feb. 1st of 2017, Sandstorm announced that Luna Gold Corp. and JDL Gold Corp. entered into an arrangement agreement to combine their businesses, creating a multi-asset mining company. That company is now Trek Mining (TREK.V) and Sandstorm continues to hold the US$30 million convertible debt facility that is due from Luna. Sandstorm also holds a 3% to 5% sliding scale net smelter returns (NSR) royalty on Aurizona and at gold prices less than or equal to $1,500 per ounce, the royalty is a 3% NSR. However, the market has not been kind to this merger as the first pour at the now flagship Trek Mining project Aurizona has been pushed back to Q4 of 2018. The Trek share price has sold off over 35% since the deal was announced on February 1st of this year, while the Sandstorm share price had been trading sideways up until the just announced all-paper Mariana deal. This tells me the market still views the Aurizona mine as a high-risk project. Although I am not a shareholder in Sandstorm, as a gold mining sector investor, I am hopeful CEO Nolan Watsons strategy of continuing to invest in under-valued, riskier assets will eventually pay off. I did not agree with this strategy during the bear market, as it was my belief at the time there were higher quality, less questionable assets also on sale which the company could have invested in. However, if we are indeed in the first stage of a long-term bull market, then Sandstorm shareholders could very well be handsomely rewarded if/when the gold price reaches a solid $1500 floor by 2018. The confiscated funds ($1.4 billion) of Ex-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and his cronies have been transferred to the accounts of the State Treasury of Ukraine, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said. "I have come here after the report made by the Prosecutor General and the NSDC secretary that the investigation had been completed, a court decision adopted and today at midnight it came into force on the confiscation of $1.4 billion that belonged to the former president and his clique [...] Today the button was pressed and money from blocked accounts were credited to the accounts of the State Treasury," Poroshenko said during the transfer of military equipment to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in Kyiv on Friday. Poroshenko also addressed the Verkhovna Rada with an appeal to make changes to the state budget of Ukraine in order to use the confiscated funds of former President Viktor Yanukovych and his entourage for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "I appealed to the government and parliament for the parliament to adopt appropriate changes to the state budget. And the first priority of using this money will be the restoration of the fighting capacity of the Ukrainian troops, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the National Police," he said. The president said that the ex-president's funds should go for the construction of an ammunition production plant, the purchase of modern electronic warfare equipment, counter battery radars, modern drones, as well as the construction of hostels for servicemen who serve under contract and military hotels for servicemen. "It is very important that part of the funds go to the construction of a rehabilitation center for ATO soldiers who suffered during the Russian aggression. But it is also important that some of these funds go to social protection of the least protected social groups, so that they won't be eaten away, but invested in the infrastructure and serve for the Ukrainian people for many years," Poroshenko said. BOGOTA, April 27 (Reuters) - South Africa's AngloGold Ashanti has halted all exploration work at its La Colosa project in central Tolima, Colombia, after voters backed a proposal to ban mining in the municipality, the company said on Thursday. The decision comes amid legal wrangling over environmental regulations and community opposition that have worried investors and prompted the mining minister to promise a new law to reconcile central government-granted mining permits with local and judicial concerns. The company, which has been carrying out exploration work at the site outside of the town of Cajamarca for 14 years, said in a statement it "accepted" the result of last month's vote. "Diverse reasons which range from the institutional, the political and particularly the social, with the recent referendum, oblige us to take the unfortunate decision to stop all project activities and with it all employment and investment, until there's certainty about mining activity in the country and in Tolima," AngloGold said. The Tolima vote was made possible by a Constitutional Court decision that overturned the national government's sole authority to approve mining projects, allowing mayors and provincial governors to challenge exploration permits, to the delight of environmental groups and some politicians. The La Colosa project had a potential investment of $2 billion, the company has said, and could yield 28 million ounces of gold. A huge majority of Cajamarca residents - 98.8 percent - voted against allowing mining in the referendum. AngloGold has invested some $900 million in Colombia since 2006 and La Colosa was the largest of its three projects in the country. The company said it would continue to seek constructive dialogue about mining in the country. Colombia is the world's fifth-largest producer of coal and has rich deposits of gold, ferronickel, silver, copper and emeralds. Community votes are not the only concern for investors - Canadian company Eco Oro Minerals Corp is waging a legal battle against a court ruling that bars exploration in half its concession in an effort to preserve high-altitude wetlands. (Reporting by Julia Cobb; Editing by Chris Reese) India is making gold trading easier, with its top online payment platform, Paytm, introducing a new mobile app that allows users to buy, store and sell gold digitally and free of charge. The Digital Gold project is being launched in collaboration with a refinery known as MMTC-PAMP, a joint venture between a Swiss bullion company and the Indian government. The physical gold purchased will be supplied by MMTC-PAMP and stored in its vaults. Paytms new project doesnt end there. Eventually, the company wants to let customers use the acquired digital gold to pay for other services offered by Paytm, such as utility bills, movie tickets, and shopping. For example, if a customer bought $800 worth of gold and wants to buy a camera that costs $400 using the Paytm system, then an equivalent value of gold will be deducted from the users digital gold account. The idea is to make gold, which usually just lies in a vault, more liquid and usable like digital cash, according to media reports. This is the beginning of wealth management at Paytm, Hindustan Times quoted Paytms founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma as saying. Gold is the preferred form of investment for Indians, and we are making it easier for our users to invest in gold digitally... and making it affordable for a wider set of customers. Purchases do not require to be big either, any amount will do, added Sharma. The project is kicking off with a 10 kg of gold for sale, but the company expects quick growth, especially ahead of the Akshay Tritiya on April 28, festival known for gold buying. Paytms popularity skyrocketed in 2016, after Indian government banned most of the country's banknotes in order to replace them with new ones, in a move to fight corruption and tax evasion. This created a cash shortage and led people to discovering Paytm and the world of online payments. By Patricia Zengerle | WASHINGTON The U.S. House of Representatives could vote as soon as next week on legislation to toughen sanctions on North Korea by targeting its shipping industry and companies that do business with the reclusive state, congressional aides said on Thursday. The legislation, approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee last month, is intended to cut off supplies of cash that help fund North Korea's nuclear program, and increase pressure to stop human rights abuses such as the use of slave labor, the bill's sponsor, Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce, said. It also calls on President Donald Trump's administration to decide whether North Korea is a state sponsor of terrorism. Amid international concern over the escalation of North Korea's nuclear program, top Trump administration officials held briefings on the issue on Wednesday for the entire U.S. Congress, busing the 100 senators to the White House and meeting with members of the 435-person House at the Capitol complex. As he left the House briefing, Royce said he expected the legislation to move quickly, as part of what he hoped would be a strong international effort to use every method possible to pressure Pyongyang to curb its nuclear ambitions. "In particular, it will focus on financial institutions as well as what you might call 'slave labor.' These are cases where the North Koreans send out work crews to do work, and instead of being paid, the money comes back to the North Korean regime, and is spent on their nuclear program," Royce told reporters. The Trump administration said it wanted to push North Korea into dismantling its nuclear and missile programs through tougher international sanctions and diplomatic pressure, and remained open to negotiations to bring that about. Officials also said on Wednesday they wanted to return the country to the U.S. list of terrorism sponsors. A spokesman for Royce declined to comment on when there might be a vote, referring questions to House leadership, whose aides did not immediately respond to a request to confirm the timing. Trump's secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, is due to meet with the U.N. Security Council on Friday to press for tougher international sanctions on North Korea. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by James Dalgleish) * Trudeau says he told Trump of disruption from ending NAFTA * Mexico says conditions exist for a good outcome for all * Trump says if he can't get "fair" deal, he'd kill NAFTA (Updates currency moves, adds agriculture industry comment) By Ayesha Rascoe and David Lawder WASHINGTON, April 27 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday he pulled back from the brink of killing the 23-year-old trade pact with Canada and Mexico after requests from their leaders and expressed optimism about winning better U.S. terms in a renegotiated deal. Trump, during a White House appearance with Argentine President Mauricio Macri, said terminating the North American Free Trade Agreement, a pact he has long condemned as unfair to the United States, "would be a pretty big shock to the system," though he was planning to do so within two or three days. Hours after White House officials disclosed on Wednesday that Trump and his advisers had been considering an executive order to withdraw from NAFTA, he said he received telephone calls from Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "They asked me to renegotiate. I will," Trump said. "And I think we'll be successful in the renegotiation, which frankly would be good because it would be simpler" than killing NAFTA. Trudeau said he had warned Trump of the disruption that pulling out of NAFTA would cause. Mexico's foreign minister said a good outcome for all three countries was possible under a new accord. News of the possible U.S. pullout from NAFTA rattled financial markets on Wednesday. Relative calm returned on Thursday after Trump's comments, and the Mexican peso strengthened 0.86 percent against the U.S. dollar while the Canadian dollar was flat versus the greenback. Mexico, Canada and the United States form one of the world's biggest trading blocs, and trade disruptions among them could adversely affect agricultural, automotive, energy and other sectors in all three countries. NAFTA erased most trade and tariff barriers between the neighbors, but Trump and other critics have blamed it for deep U.S. job cuts. Trump campaigned for president last year on a pledge to pull out of NAFTA if he could not renegotiate better terms. The United States went from running a small goods trade surplus with Mexico in the early 1990s to a $63-billion deficit in 2016. On Thursday he said NAFTA had been "horrible" for the United States but very good for Canada and Mexico. "If I'm unable to make a fair deal ... for the United States, meaning a fair deal for our workers and our companies, I will terminate NAFTA. But we're going to give renegotiation a good strong show," Trump said. 'GET TO WORK' Trudeau, speaking at a news conference in Saskatchewan, said he had urged Trump not to withdraw from the trade pact and warned that doing so "would cause a lot of short- and medium-term pain." "That's not something that either one of us would want, so we agreed that we could sit down and get to work on looking at ways to improve NAFTA," Trudeau said. Canada sends 75 percent of all its exports to the United States. On Tuesday, Trump said he did not fear a trade war with Canada, a day after his administration moved to impose tariffs on Canadian lumber. In Mexico City, Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said Pena Nieto had called Trump on Wednesday and spoke with him for about 20 minutes in a conversation focused exclusively on the looming talks over NAFTA's "renegotiation and modernization." Trump has accused Mexico of luring away American factories and jobs with cheap labor and other advantages enabled by NAFTA. During the presidential campaign he accused Mexico of sending rapists and criminals into the United States, and as president plans a U.S.-Mexico border wall. "I believe that all the conditions to reach a good negotiation exist, that will suit Mexico ... and that is also good for the region, for both Canada and the United States," Videgaray told local broadcaster Televisa. Trump's scorn toward multinational trade deals, part of his nationalist political message, appeals to Americans who feel such pacts have cost Americans jobs. He has said businesses that choose to move plants outside the country would pay a price. Trump made pulling out of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, negotiated by his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama, one of his first major acts after becoming president in January. Several agriculture lobby groups in Washington were told U.S Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, confirmed by the Senate on Monday, met with Trump on Wednesday evening to dissuade him from withdrawing from NAFTA. American Soybean Association President Ron Moore said, "When you're talking about $3 billion in soybean exports a year, any threats to withdraw from agreements and walk away from markets makes farmers extremely nervous." Formal NAFTA talks likely will not get started until August. The U.S. Trade Representative's office must first send Congress a notice that starts a 90-day consultation period preceding any negotiations. A USTR spokeswoman said the notice would not be sent until the Senate confirms Trump's nominee for trade representative, Robert Lighthizer. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Trump tells Canada, Mexico, he won't terminate NAFTA treaty yet 'Enormous progress' in U.S.-Mexico ties -Mexican foreign minister Reuters Insider - Trump won't quit NAFTA, yet Canada's Trudeau urged Trump not to pull out of NAFTA - source Mexico peso rebounds as Trump agrees to keep NAFTA for now C$ recovers as Trump says NAFTA renegotiation 'very possible' ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Additional reporting by Susan Heavey and Mohammad Zargham in Washington, Veronica Gomez and David Alire Garcia in Mexico City, David Ljunggren in Ottawa, and P.J. Huffstutter and Mark Weinraub; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Tom Brown) KINSHASA, April 28 (Reuters) - Tensions between Congo's power utility and mining companies risk complicating a deal to import electricity from South Africa and reduce a power deficit in the top copper producer's main mining region, a chamber of mines official said on Friday. Democratic Republic of Congo's state utility SNEL signed a provisional agreement last week with South Africa's Eskom to import 200 megawatts of power which would be used by mining companies in the Katanga region, a SNEL spokesman told Reuters. The deal could increase annual copper output by 20 percent by helping to ease a gaping power deficit, according to the Chamber of Mines. But the utility must first reach an agreement with the mining companies that will buy the imported power. Ben Munanga, chairman of the energy commission at the Chamber of Mines, said SNEL's charges were "exorbitant" and that the miners were not ready to start negotiations. "We will start talks with SNEL after we've agreed how we want to go about the whole deal," he said. The Katanga region receives only about half the power it needs from the national grid, forcing operators to rely on expensive generators or imports, usually from neighbouring Zambia. Electricity from South Africa could increase annual copper output by 200,000 tonnes, Munanga said. Output was about a million tonnes in 2016, according to the Chamber of Mines. But while miners welcome the prospect of reducing a power deficit of about 700 megawatts, they would have preferred to buy directly from Eskom, he said. South African Power Pool (SAPP) regulations, however, mean that they must go through the utility. "Instead of being a facilitator to such a transaction, SNEL wants to make money," said Munanga. SNEL spokesman Medard Kitakani told Reuters that SNEL is a commercial company and works as such, while seeking to serve the national economy. He said negotiations with the miners could start as early as next week. "Eskom is still in discussions with the SNEL, and therefore it would be premature to make any definitive comments on the matter. The discussions are expected to be concluded soon," an Eskom spokesperson said. Congo does not currently import electricity from South Africa and the deal would involve transporting power hundreds of miles through grids in Zimbabwe and Zambia, raising costs. (Reporting by William Clowes; Additional reporting by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Joe Bavier) The U.S. Congress on Friday passed stopgap legislation to avert a government shutdown at midnight and give lawmakers another week to reach a deal on federal spending through the end of the fiscal year, with contentious issues remaining to be resolved. The Senate passed the measure by voice vote without opposition after the House earlier approved it by a tally of 382-30. The measure now goes to President Donald Trump to sign into law. The bill in the Republican-led Congress provides federal funding until May 5, allowing lawmakers to hammer out legislation over the next few days to keep the government funded for the rest of the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30. Congress has been tied in knots over $1 trillion in spending priorities for months. Lawmakers were supposed to have taken care of the current fiscal year appropriations bills by last Oct. 1. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the stopgap bill "will carry us through next week so that a bipartisan agreement can be reached." Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said there were still significant differences with Republicans over elements of the looming longer-term spending bill. In the bigger spending bill to be negotiated in the coming days, it remained unclear whether Republicans would prevail in their effort to sharply boost defense spending without similar increases for other domestic programs. Trump has proposed a $30 billion spending hike for the Pentagon for the rest of this fiscal year. House and Senate negotiators also have been struggling over funding to make a healthcare program for coal miners permanent and whether to plug a gap in Puerto Rico's Medicaid program, the government health insurance program for the poor. 'IMPORTANT BUSINESS' During debate in the House, lawmakers expressed frustration at the inability of Congress to take care of the basic functions of government in a timely manner. "Let's make sure these basics are done for the American people and then let's get about the important business of changing their tax code and making sure they have the best healthcare in the world," said Republican Representative Tom Cole of Oklahoma. "We are seven months into the fiscal year," added Representative Nita Lowey of New York, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. "Federal departments and agencies have been operating on outdated funding levels and policies for more than half of the year. This is unacceptable and it cannot continue." Lowey noted the legislation, known as a continuing resolution, was the third stopgap spending measure during the current fiscal year. In addition to opposition from Democrats, there are deep divisions among Republicans over exactly how to change the tax code and overhaul the U.S. healthcare system. The action on the spending bill came a day after House Republican leaders again put on hold a possible vote on major healthcare legislation sought by Trump to dismantle the 2010 Affordable Care Act, dubbed Obamacare, after moderates in the party balked at provisions added to entice hard-line conservatives. The government was last forced to close in October 2013, when Republican Senator Ted Cruz and some of the most conservative House Republicans engineered a 17-day shutdown in an unsuccessful quest to kill former Democratic President Barack Obama's healthcare law. Trump, a Republican, bowed to Democratic demands that the spending bill not include money to start building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border he said is needed to fight illegal immigration and stop drug smugglers. The Trump administration also agreed to continue funding for a major component of Obamacare despite Republican vows to end the program. Without the extension or a longer-term funding bill, federal agencies would have run out of money by midnight Friday, likely triggering abrupt layoffs of hundreds of thousands of federal government workers until funding resumes. (Additional reporting by Amanda Becker and Susan Cornwell; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Jonathan Oatis) By Bruno Federowski SAO PAULO, April 28 (Reuters) - The Brazilian real weakened in volatile trading on Friday as traders assessed the implications of nationwide strikes led by Brazilian unions to protest President Michel Temer's austerity measures. Some investors worried that the demonstrations could hamper Temer's campaign to raise lawmaker support for reforms of the country's pension system and labor laws, seen as key to lift Latin America's largest economy from a deep recession. Others argued that uncertainty had already reflected on asset prices, after tight votes in Congress last week raised doubts over the government's strength. The Brazilian real fell as much as 1 percent after strengthening 0.3 percent in early trading. Volatility also spiked ahead of the settlement of the month-end Ptax rate, which is widely used to price foreign exchange contracts in Brazil. The country's benchmark Bovespa stock index , however, was firmly up, reacting to a heavy batch of corporate updates. Shares of GPA SA were the biggest gainers after stronger-than-expected margins helped Brazil's largest retailer swing to a profit in the first quarter. Trading in other Latin American markets was muted, with traders mostly shrugging off weaker-than-expected U.S. gross domestic product figures. The Chilean peso fell 0.6 percent, while the Mexican peso rose 0.5 percent. Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 1600 GMT: Stock indexes daily % YTD % change change Latest MSCI Emerging Markets 977.56 -0.21 13.61 MSCI LatAm 2601.92 0.24 10.89 Brazil Bovespa 65191.81 0.8 8.24 Mexico IPC 49329.30 -0.23 8.08 Chile IPSA 4800.70 0.37 15.64 Chile IGPA 24110.04 0.3 16.28 Argentina MerVal 20933.01 0.2 23.73 Colombia IGBC 10135.44 0.26 0.07 Venezuela IBC 56710.77 0.5 78.87 Currencies daily % YTD % change change Latest Brazil real 3.1896 -0.29 1.87 Mexico peso 18.9400 0.45 9.52 Chile peso 666.6 -0.59 0.62 Colombia peso 2947.55 -0.26 1.83 Peru sol 3.243 0.06 5.27 Argentina peso (interbank) 15.4250 0.11 2.92 Argentina peso (parallel) 15.91 0.25 5.72 (Reporting by Bruno Federowski; Editing by Dan Grebler) Detour Gold Corp. (TSX: DGC) reports first-quarter net income of $6 million, or 3 cents per share, down from $27.6 million, or 16 cents, in the same period a year ago. Adjusted net earnings amounted to $10.5 million, or 6 cents, compared to $11.3 million, or 7 cents, in the year-ago period. Gold production was 131,418 ounces, up from 127,136 in the same period a year ago. All-in sustaining costs came in at $1,118 per ounce. We have achieved our operational targets for the first quarter and reduced our debt a further $20 million from cash flow, said Paul Martin, president and chief executive officer. Detour's guidance for 2017 is between 550,000 and 600,000 ounces of gold, with AISC expected to be between $1,025 and $1,125 per ounce sold. Mining rates are expected to trend higher starting in the second quarter with the addition of a CAT6060 shovel and four haul trucks, bringing the available fleet to six shovels and 32 trucks and supported by the addition of a ROM fleet, Detour says. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com Eldorado Gold Reverses To First-Quarter Profit Eldorado Gold Corp. (NYSE: EGO) reports a first-quarter profit of $3.8 million, or a penny per share, a turnaround from a loss of $2.5 million, or zero cents per share, in the same period of 2016. Adjusted net earnings were $8 million, also a penny, compared to an adjusted net loss of $0.7 million, or zero cents, in the first quarter 2016. Gold production was 75,172 ounces, down from 140,989 in the same period a year ago, while gold revenues came to $90.5 million on sales of 74,068 ounces at an average realized gold price of $1,222 per ounce. All-in sustaining cash costs averaged $791 per ounce, which was below 2017 AISC guidance of $845 to $875 per ounce. Olympias Phase II began commissioning in the first quarter, while construction at Skouries continued on track for anticipated 2019 start-up, Eldorado says. George Burns is taking on role of president and chief executive officer Friday. Outgoing President and CEO Paul Wright expresses confidence that Burns and the Eldorado team can grow our company in a manner that provides significant additional value for shareholders. The company anticipates full-year 2017 output of 365,000 to 400,000 ounces of gold. HANOI, April 28 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0404 GMT. April 28 USD/VND mid-point 22,350 USD/VND interbank 22,730/22,735 USD/VND unofficial 22,730/22,750 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.56/36.78 Interbank offered rates Overnight 4.7-5.0 1 week 4.9-5.1 1 month 4.9-5.3 3 months 4.9-5.3 NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank offered rates are the latest indicative bid/ask prices, quoted from market sources. One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co. For more interbank rate fixings released at 0400 GMT, click on . For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom) COLOMBO, April 28 (Reuters) - The Sri Lankan rupee fell on Friday on importer dollar demand, while bond yields dropped for a second day with the market expecting the local currency to trade steady on expected dollar inflows, dealers said. Sri Lanka expects to raise up to $1.5 billion via a sovereign bond issuance, while another $1 billion is expected from two separate syndicated loans. Rupee forwards were active, with two-week forwards closing at 153.30/40 per dollar, compared with Thursday's close of 153.15/30. "The rupee will stabilise with higher dollar liquidity after the inflows," a currency dealer said, asking not to be named. "Bond yields fell around 20 basis points and foreign investors were buying bonds." A government move to double the borrowing limit of development bonds to $3 billion in 2017 is also expected to increase liquidity. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake on Thursday blamed "technical difficulties" for a two-month delay in receiving an around $160 million loan tranche from the IMF and said the disbursement was expected after June 14. Sri Lanka has seen a rise in foreign inflows into equities and government securities since early this month, with foreign investors buying shares worth a net 13.7 billion rupees in 26 consecutive sessions through Friday. Foreign investors have also net bought government securities worth 4.17 billion rupees in the week ended April 19, although they have net sold 58 billion rupees worth of government bonds so far this year. (Reporting by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath) Poroshenko expects visa-free travel with EU to come into force on June 11 President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko expects a visa-free regime with the European Union will come into force on June 11 this year. "On June 11, this decision (knocking on wood) should come into force, and Ukrainians will freely travel," Poroshenko said during the transfer of military equipment to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in Kyiv on Friday. He also recalled that the final decision on the visa-free regime should be adopted by the Council of the EU on May 11 this year. The president said that "it is a milestone when we move away from the Russian Empire and return to the European cradle." "The flow of Ukrainian citizens who will travel to Europe will definitely grow, and the burden on the State Border Guard Service will increase," he said. In this regard, the president set the task before the border service to get ready for this process, not to allow a queue at the border. "Similarly, the tasks will be set to launch low-cost means of transport to Ukraine to reduce the cost of transportation," the president said. STOCKHOLM, April 28 (Reuters) - Sweden's central bank bought 750 million Swedish crowns ($84.84 million) of index-linked bonds in a reverse auction as part of its quantitative easing programme, it said on Friday. It bought 375 million crowns of 2022 linkers at an average yield of -1.872 percent and the same amount of 2028 linkers at an average yield of -1.078 percent. Investors offered to sell the Riksbank 733 million crowns and 555 billion crowns in the two bonds respectively. ($1 = 8.8397 Swedish crowns) (Reporting by Stockholm Newsroom) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. ISTANBUL, April 28 (Reuters) - The number of foreign visitors arriving in Turkey dropped 4 percent year-on-year to 1.6 million in March, the Tourism Ministry said on Friday. Tourism, which adds about $30 billion to gross domestic product each year, has also been hammered by an attempted coup last July and spate of bombings blamed on Islamic State and Kurdish militants, scaring away tourists over the past year. (Reporting by Can Sezer; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Dominic Evans) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. (Adds details, background) By George Obulutsa NAIROBI, April 28 (Reuters) - Kenya's central bank has issued a licence to DIB Bank Kenya Ltd, which is owned by United Arab Emirates-based Dubai Islamic Bank , the first by the central bank since 2015, when it placed a moratorium on approving new banks. The move announced on Friday will make DIB Bank Kenya the third fully shariah-compliant lender in the to operate in the east African nation, the central bank said. "DIB intends to exclusively offer shariah-compliant banking services in Kenya," the Central Bank of Kenya said in a statement. "DIB's entry will expand the offerings in the market, particularly in the nascent shariah-compliant banking niche." Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC also holds stakes in banks in Pakistan, Sudan, Jordan, Bosnia and Indonesia. Other fully shariah-compliant institutions in Kenya are Gulf African Bank Limited and First Community Bank. "DIB PJSC's entry into Kenya is anchored on its strategic focus of enhancing its international presence," the central bank said. In March, the central bank said in addition to DIB Bank, it was finalising the licensing of Mayfair Bank, which is owned by Kenyan investors. At the time it said both banks had received "approval in principle" before the 2015 suspension of licensing. When it issued the moratorium for licensing new banks, the central bank gave no reason for its action. But the moratorium came after it had placed privately-owned Imperial Bank under receivership in October 2015. Imperial's board had alerted the central bank to malpractices at the mid-sized lender. (Editing by Alexander Smith) (Adds details, analyst quotes) JOHANNESBURG, April 28 (Reuters) - South Africa's trade surplus grew sharply in March as commodity exports jumped on the back of strong global demand, raising the chances it will be able to narrow the current account deficit, which is seen as a key economic weakness. The treasury has an ambitious target to trim the current account deficit to around 3 percent from 4 percent of gross domestic product last year. Economists said the trade data put that within reach, which might help avert further cuts to South Africa's credit ratings, although economic prospects overall remained subdued. "We're already well ahead on last year's figures and at this rate it looks like a current account deficit of about 3 percent is not impossible," said Nedbank chief economist Dennis Dykes. "A year ago people saw that as fairly unlikely. So if this continues that's very, very good news." Data from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) on Friday showed the trade account rose to an 11.44 billion rand ($863 million) surplus from a nearly 5 billion surplus in February, with exports up 16 percent. Imports were up 8.9 percent. Sales of precious metals climbed 33 percent in the month, followed by a 27 percent increase in exports of machinery and a 19 percent rise in sales of vehicles. South Africa lost its investment-grade ratings from S&P Global and Fitch earlier this month, after President Jacob Zuma fired Pravin Gordhan as finance minister in a midnight cabinet reshuffle. A fall to "junk" grade usually pushes up borrowing costs. Both ratings firms said the downgrades could hamper treasury plans to cut spending and reduce the budget and current account deficits which have swelled as anaemic economic growth reduces tax revenues. In March the central bank said it estimated the economy would grow 1.2 percent in 2017, but said after the ratings cuts it would probably have to lower the estimate as the downgrades blocked investments into the economy. (Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana; Editing by Ed Stoddard and Catherine Evans) (Adds new details on deficit, debt, unemployment) MADRID, April 28 (Reuters) - Spain's economy is expected to grow by 2.7 percent in 2017, more than the previous forecast of 2.5 percent, the government said on Friday, hours after it reported a solid 0.8 percent growth in the first quarter of the year. The latest forecast forms part of the country's Stability Programme 2017-2020 sent to the European Union and the government said it could hike it again if a strong start of the year was to extend through the rest of 2017. "These are prudent and cautious growth forecasts," Economy Minister Luis de Guindos told a news conference following the weekly cabinet meeting. "If we take as a basis for the year the quarterly growth rate, we're talking of a growth of more than 3 percent and everything indicates that this inertia will remain," he said. The government said gross domestic product would expand by 2.5 percent on average until 2020, feeding into a big drop in the unemployment rate and in the annual budget shortfall. Spain aims to cut the public deficit to 0.5 percent and public debt to 92.5 percent of economic output by 2020 while the jobless rate is seen falling to 11.2 percent in 2020 from 18.75 percent currently. The government also sees a current account surplus of at least 2 percent if GDP in the next four years, which will help reduce Spain's external debt. "Spain is competitive again. This is a sign that our growth model is sustainable," de Guindos said. Spanish banks outstripped first-quarter profit forecasts on Friday and Caixabank CABK.MC improved its income from loans, a key revenue driver which remains a concern for Bankia BKIA.MC. (Reporting by Paul Day; Editing by Julien Toyer/Mark Heinrich) (Kitco News) - Wall Street and Main Street alike are more divided than normal on where gold prices might head over the next week, with the bulls making up the biggest camp but not capturing a majority in the weekly Kitco News survey for the first time in several weeks. Wall Street Bullish Bearish Neutral VS Main Street Bullish Bearish Neutral Twenty-three traders and analysts took part in a Wall Street survey. Ten voters, or 43%, see gold prices rising by next Friday. Seven, or 30%, said lower, while six voters, or 26%, were either neutral or expected sideways prices. Meanwhile, 1,019 Kitco readers submitted votes in an online Main Street poll. A total of 493 voters, or 48%, are bullish. Another 361, or 35%, say that gold will fall, while 165, or 16%, are neutral. In last Friday's survey for the current week, 53% of Wall Street voters and 59% of Main Street voters predicted gold would rise. Based on where gold was trading late in the morning, a three-week winning streak for both blocs was heading for an end. As of 11 a.m. EDT Friday, Comex June gold was down 1.6% for the week so far at $1,267.90 an ounce. So far in 2017 but not counting the current week, Wall Street forecasters collectively were right 11 of 15 times for a winning percentage of 73%. Main Street was 9-6 for 60%. Adam Button, currency analyst with Forexlive.com, is among those who sees higher prices next week. "The U.S. dollar is about to embark on an extended period of weakness," he said. Jim Wyckoff, senior technical analyst with Kitco News, said the market is "due for a corrective bounce, and it's likely geopolitics (will be) back on the front burner next week." Bob Haberkorn, senior commodities brokers with RJO Futures, looks for strength considering the soft report Friday on first-quarter U.S. gross-domestic-product growth and a number of geopolitical worries. "The GDP number that we saw was a little less than expected at 0.7%," Haberkorn said. "I think you'll get more buying coming in, with lower (rate-hike) expectations from the Fed. Plus, the geopolitical risks out there should keep this thing (gold market) afloat, trading higher for the next week or two." Ken Morrison, editor of the newsletter Morrison on the Markets, is among those who sees potential for the market to ease some more. "Given the build in managed-money funds long position (of) plus-100,000 contracts in (the) past six weeks, gold is at a point where it will need a new catalyst if the funds are to be further rewarded for their risk," he said. "Short of an escalation of U.S. military involvement in the Mideast, I envision gold gradually drifts to the $1,240 trendline support coming off the December and mid-March lows." Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, and Afshin Nabavi, head of trading with MKS (Switzerland) S.A., both look for the metal to be range-bound. "I am firmly on the fence next week," Hansen said. "I have to see a move above $1,290 or below $1,250 before I shift from my short-term neutral stance." Added Nabavi: "I think range-bound between $1,260 (to) $1,285, but personally I prefer to buy on dips and sell on rallies." The Russian Federation has appealed to Interpol with a request to put Ex-Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk on international wanted list, while Interior Minister of Ukraine Arsen Avakov has appealed to Interpol with a letter about the groundlessness of accusations voiced by the Russian side. "On April 20, 2017, Interior Minister of Ukraine Arsen Avakov sent an official letter to the Secretary General of Interpol Jurgen Stock. In his letter the minister set before well-known, more than convincing facts and arguments, evidencing the obvious groundlessness of accusations against Ukrainian citizen A.P. Yatsenyuk. In particular, Arsen Avakov assured the Secretary General of Interpol that Mr. Yatsenyuk had never been to Chechnya, not participated in any armed conflicts. He lived, studied and worked at the time specified by the Russian investigators at the place of his birth in the territory of Ukraine," a statement of the Interior Ministry reads, posted on Friday. Avakov refers to well-known facts that testify to the illegality and political motivation of the actions of the investigative bodies and the bodies of justice of the Russian Federation. In particular, the legal position of the Russian justice system is based on evidence obtained from illegally convicted citizens of Ukraine received under tortures. Some UAH 40 billion on almost a hundred different accounts belonging to disgraced ex-president of Ukrainian Viktor Yanukovych and his entourage, which by a court ruling will be confiscated by the state, will be transferred to the State Treasury account on Friday. "We are talking about a hundred accounts where members of Yanukovych's criminal gang placed their securities. This operation will surely be completed today," Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday. Lutsenko says he is in constant contact with representatives of the state-owned Oschadbank, as well as investigators and prosecutors who are staying in the premises of the financial institution. The prosecutor general also said that the funds which will be confiscated have been frozen since 2014 on the accounts of a number of banks, while the bulk of the frozen funds is concentrated on the accounts of Oschadbank. At the moment, they are establishing the exact amount of the funds, including in the form of securities, Lutsenko said. According to him, the amount of confiscated funds totals $1.5 billion, but the exact sum will be named late on Friday when all the funds will be transferred from these numerous accounts to a single account of the State Treasury together with the interest which accumulated during this time. Lutsenko stressed that these funds do not belong to Yanukovych per se, but were illegally accumulated by members of a criminal group led by him, including Ukrainian businessman Serhiy Kurchenko, former minister of income and tax Oleksandr Klymenko, former first vice premier Serhiy Arbuzov and others. He said that the decision to confiscate the funds of Viktor Yanukovych's entourage in favor of the national budget of Ukraine was passed by the Kramatorsk Court (Donetsk region) about a month ago and the period for filing an appeal has expired today. When answering a question, why the materials of the case were transferred to this court, the prosecutor general explained that it was there that the military prosecutor's office launched relevant criminal proceedings. He noted that the funds stolen by the then government were taken out of the country through some 500 companies through a number of offshore jurisdictions and then returned to Ukraine for buying the government loan bonds with the annual yield of 8% in foreign currency. The U.S. Defense Ministry has transferred to Ukraine radio communications equipment worth $21 million, according to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. "I am happy to participate in the transfer to Ukraine's State Border Service equipment that we received from our American partners. This equipment is worth $21 million dollars, or UAH 0.5 billion," Poroshenko said during a ceremony marking the even in Kyiv on Friday. The president said the gear would enhance the effectiveness of border security efforts, as well as provide secure communications between various units of Ukraine's armed forces. "They will help us to resist the aggressor's radio-electronic warfare against us," Poroshenko said. According to Poroshenko, efforts should be made to enhance the work of the State Border Service. He also commended members of the service for their work in the Anti-Terrorism Operation (ATO) zone in eastern Ukraine. "Today we don't have the right to let our guard down. Not one terrorist, not one accomplice to separatism, as well as weapons and explosives, should cross the state border into Ukraine. A Ukrainian serviceman has been killed near Pavlopil, Donetsk region, when a military vehicle hit an unknown explosive device, the Anti-Terrorism Operation headquarters reported. "According to preliminary information, a serviceman of a unit whose personnel are performing combat tasks in the seaside sector near the town of Pavlopil, died as a result of a military vehicle being blown up by an unknown explosive device," the press center of the ATO headquarters said on his Facebook page on Friday. Earlier this day, spokesman of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine on ATO issues Andriy Lysenko said three Ukrainian servicemen were injured in the ATO zone in Donbas on Thursday. Jeon In-kwon, far right, performs during a candlelit peace demonstration demanding Park Geun-hye's resignation at Gwanghwamun Square last November. / Korea Times file By Ko Dong-hwan Rocker Jeon In-kwon is heading to Germany to offer a settlement after claims that his signature song "Don't Worry, My Dear" plagiarized Black Fooss' "Drink doch eine met" from the 1970s. After netizens made the accusation on Wednesday, Jeon said he would talk with the German band and arrange some type of royalty deal if this was wanted. "I'm going to Germany soon. First, I will accept the stance of the person who wrote that song and do whatever that person wants," Jeon said on Facebook. Jeon, 62, former lead vocalist of Korean rock band Deulgukhwa, composed and released the song in 2004 as the title track of his fourth solo album. The past hit was revisited with nationwide popularity during the candlelit peace demonstration at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square from October 2016 to March. Jeon sang the song in front of crowds during the weekly protests that led to the ousting of former President Park Geun-hye in March on charges of corruption and accepting or demanding bribes. The song also was used in the tvN drama "Reply 1988" in 2015. Jeon said he would pay royalties under the guidance of the Korea Music Copyright Association if an amount was agreed upon. He said he would like to tell the German band that he believed the lyrics of "Don't Worry, My Dear" may be better than those of "Drink doch eine met." Jeon denied the plagiarism charge, saying the similarities were "a mere coincidence." He said he would "do my best to make sure the song beloved by so many is freed of shame." This month, Jeon publicly endorsed Ahn Cheol-soo from the People's Party, the No.2 poll-leading candidate ahead of May 9 presidential election. Online supporters of front-runner Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea criticized Jeon for his endorsement. By Yoon Ja-young U.S. President Donald Trump's remark that he wants to renegotiate or undo the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (KORUS FTA) means that he will demand South Korea make greater concessions. The latest threat will force the Korean government to prepare for all possibilities involving the trade deal, analysts said Friday. Trump told Reuters that he would "renegotiate or terminate" the free trade agreement, calling it a "horrible" deal. Trump has been denouncing major free trade deals including the KORUS FTA as "job killers" since the presidential campaign last year. Analysts said the odds for renegotiation are obviously increasing. "When U.S. Vice President Mike Pence visited Korea last week, he said that Washington will reform the deal. Since President Trump mentioned a revision and even termination, the possibility has increased," said Lee Dong-bok, director in charge of FTAs at the Institute for International Trade. However, he said Trump isn't likely to demand termination. "It is still uncertain whether it is an official determination or just rhetoric. In the case of NAFTA, he previously mentioned scrapping it, but has now toned down this to a revision through negotiation. The situation regarding the KORUS FTA is likely to be the same. The United States has nothing to gain by scrapping the deal." Samsung Fire accused of spreading fake hype This is the first of three-part series highlighting the financial status of Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance and the management of its CEO Ahn Min-soo at a time when insurance companies are struggling. ED. By Nam Hyun-woo Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance CEO Ahn Min-soo Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance CEO Ahn Min-soo's pledge to nurture the insurer as an international player with 100 trillion won in assets is seemingly unviable, casting criticism that he spread hollow hype without any proper estimation of the market situation. On March 20, 2014, Ahn held a press conference on his inauguration as the head of Korea's largest non-life insurance firm and said the company's total assets would double to 100 trillion won in 2021, adding that the firm would focus on asset management. According to the firm's earnings report Friday, however, the pace of asset growth has significantly slowed, which poses questions over the viability of the 100 trillion won pledge. In March 2014, the insurer's assets stood at 50.17 trillion won and quickly soared to 59.57 trillion won in March 2015. That was because its assets grew by 3.1 percent to 5.7 percent every quarter. Despite a following plummet in its growth rate, it managed to increase the amount to 67.9 trillion as of the end of last year. But the quarterly growth rate was a mere 1.8 percent for the first three months of this year and the pace is feared to further slow. If the slump continues at a time when the whole insurance industry is faltering, Samsung Fire will not realize the 100 trillion won target by 2021. Market watchers attributed Samsung Fire's recent struggle to its "overly conservative" approach in asset management. On a yearly basis, Samsung Fire's investment income last year increased to 1.69 trillion won, up 0.7 percent from 1.68 trillion won in 2015. However, the increase was mostly from real estate it sold its offices in Seoul to earn 90 billion won. Despite the one-off revenue boost, its investment yield declined to 3.1 percent in 2016, down from 3.3 percent in 2015, because of plunges in its investments in bonds, loans and overseas assets. This is compared to other insurers, which are putting more emphasis on their asset management revenue, as insurance premium income is not strong because of the lingering economic downturn of Asia's No. 4 economy. A majority of them are lowering dependency on conventional investment destinations, such as treasury and corporate bonds, and loans, while increasing the proportion of alternative investments. Samsung Fire's rival Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance recently made a 62 billion won investment into a buyout fund worth 9 trillion won raised by BC Partners. In contrast, Samsung Fire raised the portion of loans in its entire investment asset portfolio to 30.7 percent in 2016 from 27.3 percent in 2015, displaying its dependency on a conventional investment strategy. It is understandable for insurers to have conservative investment strategies because they have to pay insurance to their customers over the long term. But observers point out that Samsung Fire is overly conservative, incurring huge opportunity costs. Ahn would be by no means happy with the results as he is serving his third term after earning a reputation at Samsung Fire's asset management department. Another broken promise is about the firm's global presence. In his inauguration speech, he said he would increase the number of Samsung Fire's overseas subsidiaries, branches and offices significantly. Since then, the company has managed to expand the number of overseas outfits by just three to 22 in 11 countries, from 19 in as many nations. In addition, he has yet to keep his promise announced at the end of 2014 that the company would acquire a foreign insurer in Southeast Asia. When contacted, a Samsung Fire official said that employees are very cautious about discussing Ahn's 2014 promises and refused to comment further. Author calls for deregulation on banking sector By Park Jin-hai Lee Suk-geun "Fintech Revolution; A Game Changer for the Financial Industry" by Lee Suk-geun Lee Suk-geun, an endowment professor at Sogang University and former presidential economic adviser, has released a book that details Korea's place in the fast-evolving financial technology (fintech) industry and how it can lead the sector. In the 193-page book, "Fintech Revolution; A Game Changer for the Financial Industry," the financial expert, who has worked at various global consulting firms and most recently consulted for financial IT infrastructure firm Telco Systems, and the government in formulating a fintech strategy, warns that the Korean financial industry is facing real and serious challenges stemming from heavy and obsolete government regulations _ some dating to 55 years ago. "Compared with Korea's strong IT infrastructure, the competitiveness of Korean banks ranked below 50 for years," Lee said during an interview with The Korea Times, citing Bankers and World Economic Forum data. "Old and dysfunctional regulations limit the financial industry. But, more importantly, the financial industry, which was slow to catch up with global trends because of a lack of effort to renovate and restructure the industry, can wreak havoc on the overall economy, considering the financial industry is a vein to the whole economy." In order for the country to become a fintech powerhouse, the book suggests that a roadmap and vision for the fintech industry should be led by the ICT sector, not by the government. "Smartphone banking is the way to go and this is something Korea can do well at as long as regulation allows Telco and other IT firms to enter the financial industry to reform it," he said. "That can encourage fintech startups to develop creative financial technology to renovate financial institutions and to provide cheaper and better services for customers." Regarding K bank, which was founded by local telecom operator KT and started services early this month as the country's first internet-only bank _ eight years after the initial idea was conceived _ Lee said it will instigate competition in the financial industry and lower service fees for customers. "Within three weeks of its launch, K bank's deposits reached $250 million and the number of customers exceeded 240,000. No existing banks have ever achieved such a record, and this is an encouraging sign that can make the Financial Services Commission consider the approval of at least two other internet banks, including Kakao bank," Lee said. "This will fuel competition in the financial industry and lower service fees for customers." To make this happen, he said there are issues to be resolved. Under the current Banking Act, no non-financial business operators are allowed to have 4 percent or more of the stocks of a bank to prevent its control over it. "KT can only have 4 percent of K-bank consortiums, which include Woori bank, GS retails and so on. This regulation will negatively affect further investment by KT on K bank and will impede the growth of internet banks." Hyundai Card Cooking Library in southern Seoul offers some 10,000 books related to food and cooking. / Courtesy of Hyundai Card By Kwon Mee-yoo The latest addition to Hyundai Card's famous library series hits the bullseye once again with a cutting-edge space for the global trend, gastronomy. The Hyundai Card Cooking Library, located near Dosan Park in southern Seoul, opened Friday, is going to be a hot place where people can enjoy and experience all things food. Lee Mee-young, vice president of the company's brand division, said the four-story library aims to organically connect diverse experiences of cooking gratifying the five senses. The library has a deli on the first floor, a library on the second and third floors, kitchens on the third and fourth floors and a greenhouse-themed dining space on the fourth floor. The building, designed by Choi Wook of One O One Architects, who also designed the company's Design Library, aims to maximize the sensory experiences of cooking. "Hyundai Card wanted to create a space where people read books, smell savory food and see cooking at the same time. So I thought of old-fashioned houses where the smell of cooking rises up," Choi said. Tim Mutton, CEO of British studio Blacksheep which designed the library's interior, said the studio had three values time, tactility and craft for the designing the space. "The quote which inspired us to design the Cooking Library was 'Out of water came life, out of life came love.' We want the guests to experience the love and art of cooking," Mutton said. Mutton said working with the Cooking Library was like a dream come true as the studio specialized in food-and-beverage experience. "What is important for us in designing interior is to respect the architecture," he said. The library reflects the spirit of a European factory through details such as woodblock flooring reminiscent of a butcher's cutting board and terracotta reminiscent of kitchen pots and utensils. Visitors to Hyundai Card Cooking Library can cook in the two kitchens. Ready to cook The library has about 10,000 carefully-selected books all related to food and cooking. It boasts a collection of award-winning books, which includes all the winners of the James Beard Award and the International Association of Culinary Professionals Cookbook Award, two of the most prestigious awards given to food-themed books. The books are categorized by region, ingredients, techniques and other sub-themes and are to provide in-depth knowledge on cooking. "Gastronomy has become a global trend and people are interested in cooking, but the interest lacks depth. So we provide these books to give more profound information and inspire people to cook," Lee of Hyundai Card said. To encourage guests to cook by themselves, the library offers two kitchen spaces. Currently, the Self Cooking program is underway and visitors who are interested in recreating a meal from a cookbook can choose from the prepared kits to actually cook them. The Self Cooking kits are chosen by the library for relatively quick and easy and seasonal recipes such as buttermilk chicken tacos with onion and radish salsa. The library plans to offer more professional cooking classes and private dining services at the Greenhouse later this year. The Ingredients House offers samples of various spices and other ingredients used for cooking. Artistic touch A David Shrigley sculpture at Hyundai Card Cooking Library Another thing to watch for is contemporary artwork installed at the library. A small terrace sticking out of nowhere from the wall, complete with fallen leaves on it, is European artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset's "Mind over Matter." "A terrace is a private space but also exposed to the public, just like cooking," a Hyundai Card official explained. Three pieces from Rirkrit Tiravanija's "HOW TO COOK A WOLF" series are on display on the third floor. Tiravanija is known for using cooking as a means of contemporary art and the library thought her artwork, inspired by M.F.K. Fisher's food essay "How to Cook a Wolf," goes well with the venue. British artist David Shrigley's sculptures, commissioned for the Cooking Library, are installed at the restroom booths. The Hyundai Card Cooking Library opens from Tuesday to Sunday. Only Hyundai Card holders can enter the library and admission is free. For more information, visit library.hyundaicard.com/cooking. Presidential candidate posters for the upcoming election. / Korea Times file By Lee Han-soo Police have booked an American man, 64, who works as a part-time English instructor at Hongik University, for allegedly vandalizing a presidential campaign poster. Under Korean election law, unlawfully removing or vandalizing a political campaign poster can lead to a two-year jail term or a fine of 4 million won ($ 3,500). Mapo Police Station said on Monday the man allegedly tried to remove a poster from the side of his house on Apr. 21. His neighbors tried to stop him but he repeatedly said "my home" and continued to dismantle the poster before being arrested. It is unclear whether the neighbors explained clearly to the suspect that removing an election poster is against the law. The man is known to have told police he did not know it was unlawful. Police refused to comment on the case but plan to hand it to prosecutors. Lawyer Thomas Demetrio(L), who is representing David Dao, the passenger who was violently dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight, speaks as lawyer Stephen Golan (C) and Dao's daughter Crystal Dao Pepper look on during a press conference in Chicago, Illinois, the United States, on April 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ping) CHICAGO, April 27 -- A passenger, who was violently dragged off an overbooked United flight has reached a settlement with the airline, his lawyer said on Thursday. Thomas Demetrio, a prominent Chicago attorney representing the 69-year-old David Dao, said in a news release that "the United has taken full responsibility for what happened on Fight 3411" on April 9. He didn't disclose the sum, which should "remain confidential" as agreed by the two sides. Dao, a Vietnamese-American doctor, was hospitalized after three aviation policemen at Chicago O'Hare International Airport was summoned aboard and dragged him from the plane to make space for four crew members on the flight bound for Louisville, Kentucky. He suffered concussion, a broken nose and lost two front teeth, which led to an online uproar against the misconduct. Demetrio praised United for taking "full responsibility for what happened on Flight 3411, without attempting to blame others, including the City of Chicago." The three aviation policemen involved in the incident are employees of the City of Chicago. They have been all put on leave for investigation launched separately by the city authorities. By Lee Kyung-min Televised debates among the five presidential candidates are becoming increasingly influential among voters, impacting opinion polls that reflect their performance the following day. The past three televised debates held April 13, 19 and 23, influenced voters as contenders competed on diverse issues. People also showed keen interest in their speech mannerisms, facial expressions and body language. All contenders experienced either ups or downs due to the debates. Of the five, Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party suffered major losses. He responded poorly to smear campaigns by getting unnecessarily defensive and asking rhetorical questions. Ahn also raised issues irrelevant to the moderator's questions which voters deemed off putting. According to a poll conducted from Monday to Wednesday by local pollster Realmeter of 1,520 adults, front runner Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea had support of 44.4 percent of respondents, while Ahn garnered 22.8 percent. The survey had a confidence level of 95 percent and a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points. Details of the survey are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission website. The over 20 percentage point gap is in stark contrast to earlier surveys conducted prior to the debates, some of which assessed Ahn was closely trailing Moon almost within the margin of error. The gap is painful for Ahn given that he had sweeping victories in his party's six primaries, through which he was nominated as presidential candidate. Unlike Moon, who has a staunch voter base, Ahn is much more vulnerable to losing votes from the centrist and center-to-conservative voter base, according to an observer. "Ahn's high ratings earlier came from those living in Chungcheong Province and those aged over 40 who were disappointed in conservative politicians following the influence-peddling scandal that removed former President Park Geun-hye from office," said a veteran opinion poll analyst. "Given that the People's Party has the Jeolla provinces as its home turf, retaining support there while attracting those from the Gyeongsang provinces will be a tough challenge for him," he added. The same poll showed increases in support for the three minor candidates. Hong Joon-pyo of the conservative Liberty Korea Party stood in third place with 13 percent, up 2.5 percentage points; Sim Sang-jeung of the progressive Justice Party finished fourth with 7.5 percent, up 2.9 points; and Yoo Seung-min of the Bareun Party came in fifth with 5.4 percent, up 0.5 points. Sim's support increased sharply after Tuesday's debate during which she scolded Moon for his controversial remark, "I don't like homosexuality." His comment drew a fierce backlash from not only sexual minorities groups but also other "educated" people who do not hold "bigoted" views. Minutes after Moon's comment, Sim said that sexual orientation was not a matter up for debate over whether one approves or disapproves, because it was an identity. She also said that even though she is heterosexual, she advocates that their rights and freedoms should be equally respected, because that's how democracy works. The fourth televised presidential debate is scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m., and the fifth and final one, May 2. By Kim Bo-eun Brookes Bell, a U.K. marine consultancy, is seeking to begin an inspection of the Sewol ferry, after Yonhap News Agency reported Friday that it submitted plans to the inspection committee. Brookes Bell plans to look into why the vessel lacked stability, thus causing its sinking _ it will examine the steering room, hold, machinery room and stabilizers. It will also seek to clarify suspicions that the sinking was caused by an external collision with a submarine or internal explosion. Last December, a "netizen investigation team" named Zaro raised suspicions that the Sewol sank after colliding with a Navy submarine, which the Navy denied. Meanwhile, the school uniform of one of the missing passengers was found in the vessel, at Mokpo New Port, Thursday, signaling the likelihood that remains will be found inside. A shirt bearing the name tag of Park Young-in, a Danwon High School student, was found in a cabin on the fourth deck of the vessel. The fourth-deck accommodation near the bow had been occupied by boys, and that at the stern by girls of the school, who had been on an excursion to Jeju Island. The school lost 295 students and 11 teachers after the ferry sank in seas off Jindo, South Jeolla Province, April 16, 2014. Search authorities said Korea Salvage, a local contractor hired for the search, submitted plans to cut out parts of the vessel's fifth deck, where the remains of missing passengers could possibly be found. Nine passengers remain missing _ four students and two teachers of Danwon High School and three others. Along with the shirt, a travel suitcase, cosmetic pouch and other items were also recovered. As of Friday, 500 animal bone fragments and 290 objects have been recovered since the salvage operation began. Workers continue to remove mud and obstructive objects from the vessel through multiple entrances they have made on the third and fourth decks. It is the 12th day since the search inside the ferry began last Tuesday. The last time remains of missing passengers were found was in October 2014. From left are Kim Jung-sook, wife of Democratic Party of Korea contender Moon Jae-in; Kim Mi-kyung, wife of People's Party candidate Ahn Cheol-soo; and Lee Seung-bae, husband of Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung. Presidential candidates' spouses visited traditional markets, welfare centers, colleges and religious facilities to meet with voters and promote their candidate spouses. / Yonhap By Choi Ha-young Presidential candidates' spouses are as busy as the contenders ahead of the May 9 election, meeting voters to highlight their partners' strengths and make up for their weaknesses. Kim Jung-sook, wife of Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has been serving as the frontrunner's "special envoy to the Honam area." Since last fall, she has visited every corner of the region that includes the Jeolla provinces and Gwangju, to counter anti-Moon sentiment there. Residents in the liberal stronghold overwhelmingly voted for Moon in the 2012 presidential election, but have been complaining about the former DPK chief's "betrayal" since then. To win their hearts and minds again, his wife has visited local welfare centers, washed at public baths and cooked for elderly citizens. "I could sympathize with the pain of the Jeolla region and Gwangju," she said in an interview, April 11, in Gwangju, the historical city with a legacy of bitter pro-democracy struggles. "Since my husband is too busy, I often deliver Honam voters' messages to him, so he can keep up with their needs," she added. Due to her efforts, Moon has regained Honam residents' support that once leaned toward People's Party's candidate Ahn Cheol-soo. Moon's support stood at 55.1 percent compared to Ahn's 31.6 percent according to a survey by the Hankook Ilbo and The Korea Times, Tuesday. Recently, Kim is moving with the wives of the DPK's former presidential hopefuls who lost to Moon Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung, South Chungcheong Governor An Hee-jung and Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon to show the largest party's will for integration. The three are supporting Moon on behalf of their husbands who are banned from campaigning as public servants. From An's family, not only his wife but also his 25-year-old son has joined Moon's campaign team. Embroiled in scandal Ahn and his wife, Seoul National University (SNU) professor Kim Mi-kyung, have been role models among young couples because of their outstanding career paths as experts. Kim, who was a medical professor, headed for the United States to study law, while Ahn successfully transformed himself from a doctor to an IT expert. "My husband has always shared what he achieved, from medical volunteer work to free computer virus vaccines," she said March 19, when Ahn declared his presidential bid. However, amid swirling smear campaigns, it was alleged that she had Ahn's aides run her private errands. She further incurred public anger from another allegation that she obtained tenure at SNU thanks to Ahn's influence. The wife of Hong Joon-pyo, the presidential nominee of the far-right Liberty Korea Party, is busy smoothing over Hong's rough words. He has drawn fire for his sexist remarks and his involvement in an attempted rape during his college days. "I am proud of my husband who is confident in front of top dogs and modest in front of the weak," Lee Soon-sam, said in a televised speech. "Even though he is straightforward, my husband has never spoken falsely. His confidence without fear has made him what he is." Nation's 1st first gentleman?' Lee Seung-bae, husband of Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung, dreams of becoming first gentleman for the first time in Korean history. "It's such an honor to live as Sim's husband," he said in an interview. Lee is campaigning for Sim, the sole female candidate. He has been a breadwinner and a house-husband for decades to back up Sim's labor movement. "After meeting her, my perception of gender roles was broken," he said. "Helping my wife contribute to the society is the meaning of my existence." With such remarks breaking gender stereotypes, he has emerged as a superstar among young women. An internet user's comment has gone viral: "Scientists should reproduce Lee and distribute him to every household." By Kim Hyo-jin Korea's presidential candidates voiced their opposition, Friday, to U.S. President Donald Trump's call for Seoul to pay for a missile defense system being deployed here. They agreed that according to a previous agreement, the United States is supposed to pay the cost of installation and operation. The leading presidential hopefuls were engaged in a fifth televised debate a few hours after President Trump's comment that he wanted Seoul to pay $1 billion for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, caused a stir on the political scene. Sim Sang-jung of the progressive Justice Party opened her remarks with a question to the top contender Moon Jae-in of the largest liberal Democratic Party of Korea on how he would respond to the request. In response, Moon reaffirmed his original position that the THAAD deployment should be handed over to the next administration to seek parliamentary approval. "Now that THAAD is giving us a tremendous fiscal burden, amounting to 1.1 trillion won, it is a matter that needs the National Assembly's ratification," he said. Sim criticized the former President Park Geun-hye administration for pushing ahead with the deployment in the first place, saying it was courting U.S. interests. She took it further saying: "The anti-missile system should be withdrawn and we have to firmly ask this of the U.S." Moon, however, remained silent on whether he agreed to the call for a withdrawal. Meanwhile, Yoo Seong-min of the Bareun Party dismissed Trump's remark as a "mere bluff," opposing Moon's argument that parliamentary approval was necessary. "The deal has been done already so we don't need to pay the cost. I can persuade the U.S. on this," he said. Yoo said the two countries should abide by the original contract, which was confirmed by the Ministry of National Defense earlier in the day. The ministry said there has been no change in the basic position that the government would provide a site for the THAAD battery and related facilities under the Status of Forces Agreement, and the U.S. would shoulder the burden for installation and operation. Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party echoed the same view, saying, "We don't have to pay for it. We just stick to the original conditions of the deal." "Rather, the Korea-U.S. trade deal is of more concern. The next head of state's priority should be to bring up and negotiate all contentious bilateral issues through a Korea-U.S. summit." The five-way debate was probably the last defining moment in the build-up to the May 9 presidential election. This was the last debate for which the public's response can be reflected in opinion polls. Though the final debate is slated for May 2, it could have a limited impact given the announcement of survey results will be banned from May 3. Moon has emerged as the potential victor following the series of debates, while his closest rival Ahn has tumbled in popularity. Ahn's support fell sharply from the mid-30 percent range to a low of around 20 percent, trailing Moon who has reached 40 percent plus, over the past two weeks. Conservative voters, who have been left bewildered following the removal from office of former President Park, are flocking back to Hong Joon-pyo of the far-right Liberty Korea Party, dealing a blow to Ahn, according to analysts. By Arthur I. Cyr Tensions ratchet up between North Korea and the United States. On April 24, Pyongyang added a threat to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier and accompanying ships to the regime's constant boasts. This may be a new specific item, but is part of the usual nonstop barrage of propaganda. The latest threat with the maritime twist is in response to the movement of a U.S. Navy strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson to the Korea Peninsula. On the same day, President Xi Jinping of China urged caution in a telephone conversation with President Donald Trump. Adding further to growing tensions, Pyongyang suddenly seized a university teacher with both South Korean and U.S. citizenship as he was about to board a plane out of the country. Finally, there is concern North Korea is about to detonate another nuclear device. In moving forward, U.S. government officials should keep in mind three basic realities. First, for years North Korea has been characterized by erratic, inconsistent behavior. In 2013, North Korea announced a "state of war" with South Korea and threatened nuclear attack. Pyongyang abruptly abrogated the 1953 armistice agreement ending the Korean War, and cut the military "hot line" communications link with the south. North Korea also temporarily prevented South Korean workers from entering the Kaesong industrial center, located six miles north of the DMZ. But there was no war, Kaesong was reopened, and Pyongyang made positive moves including reunion of separated families. In 2016, South Korea shut down Kaesong. Second, we must demonstrate commitment to defense of South Korea, our own readiness, and willingness to use a range of forces. The Obama administration rightly deployed the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Air Defense) anti-missile system for this purpose. In 2013, the Pentagon expanded anti-ballistic missile defenses on the U.S. West Coast. Simultaneously, THAAD was sent to Guam, a potential target. In 2009, THAAD was sent to Hawaii for the same reason. On cue, China expressed indignation about the deployment. That was predictable, and understandable given potential use of the system's radars for information gathering. Now, however, Beijing is actively working to restrain Pyongyang, including suspending airline flights between the two cities. Third, we should emphasize coordination with other nations, including China and Russia if possible, but especially our close friend and ally South Korea. South Korea's substantial investment in and trade with China grows, while North Korea remains a costly, dependent though allied communist state. China's President Xi visited Seoul soon after taking office. He has not visited North Korea. China's foreign policy reflects self-interest, and traditional caution regarding military force. North Korea is a drain, and now a source of constant well founded anxiety regarding war. The frustrating Korean War from 1950 to 1953 devastated the Korean Peninsula, made the Cold War global, and undercut President Harry Truman. However, Truman's courageous decision to support the United Nations in defending the south against military invasion from the north laid the foundation for today's remarkably successful Republic of Korea. The capstone of transition to democracy was the election of Kim Dae-jung as president in 1998. He completed his five-year term, and in 2000 received the Nobel Peace Prize. During the earlier dictatorship, Kim survived imprisonment and at least one attempt to kill him. Recent political turmoil has reconfirmed South Korea's democratic institutions. As in the past, U.S. leaders should work with allies, underscore military commitment, and pursue diplomacy. Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of "After the Cold War." He can be reached at acyr@carthage.edu. Trump's efforts add up to smooth' regime change U.S. President Donald Trump has designated North Korea's nuclear and missile threat as his country's top national security priority. Trump has persuaded Chinese President Xi Jinping to ditch China's old friend. Mao Zedong once said that China-North Korea relationship was as inseparable as that of lips and teeth. The U.S. president called in representatives of the 15 United Nations Security Council member countries in a coalition-building effort to the White House. Then, he organized a briefing for the full Congress on the North. His top security aides issued a joint statement calling on the North to give up its weapons of mass destruction, clarifying the U.S. is ready to use military options against Pyongyang. At the same time, assembled close to the Korean Peninsula is an impressive U.S. armada, comprised of the USS aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, the nuclear-powered submarine USS Michigan. Separately, the USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft carrier battle group, is on standby in Japan together with tens of thousands of U.S. forces in Japan and more in Korea. What do these unusual shows of force, both diplomatic and military, add up to? It is called Trump's policy of "maximum pressure" on the North with its most likely result being to trigger a regime change. The regime change as we know has often been associated with a messy collapse of the North. That scenario has it that once the head of its dynastic regime _ now led by its third generation leader 30-plus-years-old Kim Jong-un _ is decapitated, the nation goes out of control _ sending millions of North Koreans north into China in a major refugee crisis. Trump obviously sees an alternative. The North settled for self-contained fireworks with 300 self-propelled guns and rockets _ the same type that target Seoul _ on a beach in Wonsan, the North's eastern seaport. Unrealized has been the much feared sixth nuclear test and launch of a long-range missile. This shows a dilemma Kim faces. If he presses ahead with them, he could invite a surgical strike by the U.S. or a cutoff of oil supplies from China _ both of which would be a devastating blow to the North's existence and Kim's rule. If he tries to forgo them, it would mean a loss of face in the eyes of his people and a sign of weakness that can invite the elite, so far scared by Kim's brutality, rise against him. There are three possible outcomes from Trump's maximum pressure. First, Kim could come back to the negotiating table in the hope of outliving the Trump presidency and getting back to the North's hostile path _ a tactic that has worked for the past 20 years or so since the 1994 Geneva nuclear agreement. Second, there can be a coup by those against Kim and subsequent emergence of an alternative leadership. With Trump's nudging, China has seen the North pass a tipping point with Kim turning into a major liability. With an incessant series of purges, the chances are that Kim's hold on power is not so solid and the elite are ready to get rid of him. Despite Jang Song-thaek, Kim's pro-Chinese uncle, being executed, China likely has its sympathizers among the North's leadership so any new regime after Kim would likely be pro-Chinese, a "smooth" transition that Xi wouldn't object to. The third is an all-out counterattack by the North, if the U.S. mounts a surgical pre-emptive strike. It is not certain whether Kim would do so at the risk of losing all he has, especially when he can recover and hold on to power. It is where the interests of Seoul and Washington diverge because millions of Koreans would be put at risk of annihilation. By Jason Lim Back in the late 1990s when I spent a few years working at an English language institute in Seoul, something that almost seems like a rite of passage for Korean Americans, there were no gays in Korea even though I saw them everywhere. Let me explain. Having grown up in New York City, seeing gay people, especially gay men, was not an especially surprising event for me. However, when I first saw a gay man in Korea, it almost seemed as if he didn't realize that he was gay. While I admit that you can't judge a person by his or her cover, my "gay-dar" was pretty tuned and it was very quickly obvious that some Korean guys were gay. What surprised me was that they themselves in many cases didn't seem to grasp the concept of their own sexuality. Or perhaps they didn't yet have the vocabulary and terms to articulate their sexuality in ways that made sense to their own mental maps. I fully understand that I am engaging in supreme condescension in stating that a heterosexual man would have a better understanding of a gay man's sexual identity than the gay man himself might. However, if that gay man wasn't allowed to even explore the abstract possibility or conceptual tools to articulate what he was feeling, then it's not a huge stretch. At least, that was my experience at the time. Of course, as months went by, I realized that there was an underground gay scene in Korea right across the Pagoda Park in Jongno-gu where gay men would meet up for trysts at an old movie theater. I am sure there were many other such locations scattered throughout the country that were equally sad, seedy and muzzled. Gay people existed, but they were invisible. Then something happened in the year 2000. Hong Seok-chun, a well-known TV personality, came out as gay. As chronicled in popular media, Hong was blacklisted, ostracized, threatened and generally made into a persona non grata. Then something amazing happened. Hong became a very successful restaurateur in Itaewon and returned to TV, becoming even more popular than before. While Hong was only one person, gay people became visible through him. Hong's courage allowed them to be seen by mainstream society. So, when I saw all the controversy surrounding the leading presidential candidate Moon Jae-in's response about not supporting gays, I actually thought it was another positive inflection point for "gay-hood" in Korea. Homosexuality has actually become a widely talked-about topic at a presidential debate in Korea. While Moon's response was less than ideal, he did say that gays shouldn't be discriminated against although he didn't "recognize" or "support" homosexuality. But it was the Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung who came back with the most memorable line of the debate when she said, "I don't believe that homosexuality is something that can be supported or opposed. While I am a heterosexual, I believe that the human rights and freedom of sexual minorities should be respected. That's what a democracy is." The uproar about Moon's remarks even led him to offer an apology for causing pain to the sexual minority community. He also further clarified his position by saying that he doesn't support having gay men in the military because of concerns about sexual abuse and other potential side effects. He also stated his opposition to gay marriage saying that the Korean society hasn't yet reached a collective consensus on the topic and more public debate needs to take place before the issue can be successfully legislated. On the other side, the conservative candidate Hong Joon-pyo claimed in one of his campaign rallies that it wasn't enough for homosexuality to be made illegal; it should be severely punished as it goes against the will of heaven. Now that gay people are actually visible, and homosexuality has become a legitimate and serious topic of discussion, it's time to tackle the underlying misunderstanding that the majority in Korea still seem to have about the nature of homosexuality. Discussions about making homosexuality legal vs. illegal or even the discussion about supporting or opposing homosexuality assume that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice or a conscious behavioral preference. Obviously, they don't know any gay people or never grew up with one. I still remember going to summer camp in junior high and noticing that some summer camp friends were just gay. The difference wasn't that apparent pre-puberty, but, afterwards, they just were. Anybody with eyes could see that this was who they were. It wasn't a conscious choice these kids made as they passed from 7th to 8th grade. I am not breaking new grounds in stating the obvious that homosexuality is not a behavior that needs to be shaped through punitive means or a disease that needs to be cured. But it's a recognition that needs to sink in before we can get to that next level of social maturity in Korea. As Moon said, perhaps Korea needs time for more public dialogue. Or perhaps it's courageous leadership that Korea needs. Jason Lim is a Washington, D.C.-based expert on innovation, leadership and organizational culture. He has been writing for The Korea Times since 2006. Reach him at jasonlim@msn.com, facebook. com/jasonlimkoreatimes or @jasonlim2012. By Yoon Sung-won KT posted 417 billion won ($367.2 million) in operating profit in the first quarter, up 8.3 percent from a year ago, the company said Friday. Since 2012, it is the first time for the telecom company to record over 400 billion won in operating profit in the first quarter. KT chalked up 5.61 trillion won in sales and 224.3 billion won in net profit for the quarter, up 1.8 percent and 4.3 percent from a year before, respectively. In the first quarter of 2016, KT racked up 385.1 billion won in operating profit, 5.51 trillion won in sales and 215.1 billion won in net profit. KT attributed the increase in profitability to Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu's drive to cut expenses as well as growth in media businesses such as its internet protocol television (IPTV) service. The company's media and content divisions generated 519.7 billion won in sales, up 16.6 percent from a year ago. "The growth in media and content businesses is based on expansion in premium IPTV service subscribers and success in platform areas such as the pay-per-view model, advertisements and home shopping," KT said. "We expect that this will give momentum to better profitability in the IPTV business, which is one of our major goals for 2017." In the wireless telecom service sector, KT attracted 342,000 new subscribers. But the sales from this segment settled at 1.79 trillion won in the quarter, down 3.1 percent year-on-year, as the gains from handset security services were excluded following a new accounting standard, the company said. KT's fixed-line business sales were 1.25 trillion won, down 1.9 percent from a year ago, following a decrease in usage of fixed-line telephone services. Chairman vows for profitability After the earnings release, the KT chairman met with analysts and institutional investors in Seoul and pledged to take leadership in the era of fifth-generation (5G) networks and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He also said the company will focus on five new growth engines media, smart energy, financial transactions, safety and public and corporate value services. "KT is no longer just building networks and collecting telecom fees. We are changing into a provider of unprecedented services based on new technologies," Hwang said. "We will continue to foster 5G intelligent networks and platform businesses to meet market expectations for profitability." By Kang Seung-woo Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee sat atop the Forbes list of the 50 wealthiest Koreans, Thursday, for the ninth straight year. The annual report also welcomed three newcomers. According to the U.S. business magazine, the 75-year-old tycoon's net worth was $16.8 billion (19 trillion won) as his wealth rose by $4.2 billion over the past year mainly thanks to an over-60-percent spike in Samsung Electronics' stock price. Its shares have continued to hit record highs, with its market capitalization topping 300 trillion won. AmorePacific Group Chairman Suh Kyung-bae remained second although his wealth shrank $1.7 billion to $6.7 billion due to China's economic retaliation, triggered by the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system here. Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics and the only son of the bed-ridden Samsung Chairman Lee, came in third with $6.2 billion which remained flat for the year, followed by Smilegate Holdings CEO Kwon Hyuk-bin with $6.1 billion. Smilegate is an online gaming company. Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo rounded out the top five with $4.5 billion, down from $4.8 billion a year earlier. Notable mentions in the list included No. 6 SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won at $3.6 billion; No. 26 Chung Mong-joon, a former chairman of Hyundai Heavy Industries, at $1.3 billion; and No. 34 Naver founder Lee Hae-jin at $1.12 billion. Among the 50 richest, Kim Bom, CEO of Coupang, the nation's leading e-commerce player, was the youngest at 38, while Hankook Tire Chairman Cho Yang-rai was the oldest at 79. Kim ranked 41st with $950 million and Cho was at 35th with $1.08 billion. Hotel Shilla CEO Lee Boo-jin, whose net worth was $1.66 billion, was the richest woman, followed by Samsung C&T President Lee Seo-hyun at $1.55 billion. Both are daughters of the Samsung chairman. New to the list are Netmarble Games founder Bang Jun-hyuk at 24th with $1.43 billion; Ham Young-Joon of instant food giant Ottogi at 47th with $725 million; and Hyosung President Cho Hyun-sang at 49th with $700 million. According to Forbes, the list was compiled using information obtained from the individuals, stock exchanges, analysts, private databases, government agencies and other sources. Park Sam-koo, Kumho Asiana Group chairman By Lee Hyo-sik Double Star Tires, the preferred bidder for Kumho Tire, won't be able to use the Kumho trademark after acquiring Korea's second-largest tire maker, the head of the embattled Kumho Asiana Group said Friday. Kumho Chairman Park Sam-koo told reporters that Kumho Industrial will not allow the mid-tier Chinese tire maker to continue using the Kumho brand, a move to derail the ongoing negotiations between Double Star and the Korea Development Bank (KDB), which has a 42.01 percent stake in Kumho Tire. Kumho Industrial owns the trademark rights and is controlled by the Kumho chief. Park and eight other individuals hold a 66.5 percent stake in Kumho Holdings, which has a 46.1 percent share in Kumho Industrial. Last month, KDB and Double Star signed a stock purchase agreement (SPA) under which the latter would acquire the 42.01 percent stake for 955 billion won ($840 million). The state-run bank guaranteed that the Chinese company can use the Kumho trademark for 20 years if it paid 0.2 percent of Kumho Tire's sales as brand royalties. Kumho Tire has been paying about 6 billion won in brand royalties annually to Kumho Industrial. However, Park has said Kumho Industrial never agreed to permit Double Star to use the trademark, calling the SPA legally flawed and urging creditors to hold another bid. "We cannot agree to let Double Star use the Kumho brand," Park said. "The creditors of Kumho Tire have been handling the matter poorly. If they cannot keep their promises concerning the use of Kumho brand, the deal will not go through." On April 18, the Kumho chief informed the KDB that he decided not to exercise his buyback right, blaming the bank for not allowing him to form a consortium. The next day, the state-run bank and Double Star resumed sales negotiations to iron out differences on the detailed terms of the SPA. Both sides have to finalize the deal over the next five months. "It makes no sense for the KDB to promise that Double Star can use the Kumho trademark for 20 years without gaining consent from Kumho Industrial," a Kumho Asiana Group official said. "We are willing to come to the negotiation table if the creditors ask us to do so. But if we cannot come to terms with the KDB, we will not permit the use of our trademark by Double Star." KDB officials said they will soon hold talks with Kumho officials over the use of the brand, adding that if Double Star does not want to acquire Kumho Tire without the trademark right, the sale will not be completed. "There is no doubt that the Chinese tire company wants to use the Kumho brand. The chances are high that if it cannot, it will decide not to buy the stake," a KDB official said. "Kumho Industrial should work faithfully to reach an agreement with us because it is not Park's private company. It has to think about other stakeholders." The official then called on Kumho Tire to work harder to facilitate the successful completion of the sales negotiation between the KDB and Double Star. "Kumho Tire, which has not been exerting its full potential in recent years, needs to find a new majority stakeholder who is willing to invest to strengthen its corporate competitiveness," he said. "The company will be better off if Double Star acquires its controlling stake." BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities Thursday released information on 22 corruption suspects who have fled overseas, including their possible current whereabouts. The information includes the name, gender, ID card number, former title, suspected crime, date of arrival in the current country and travel document number of each suspect, according to a statement from an office in charge of fugitive repatriation and asset recovery under the Central Anti-corruption Coordination Group. The whereabouts are as specific as the streets and communities where the fugitives are believed to live. Of the 22, 10 are thought to be in the United States, five in Canada, four in New Zealand, and one each in Australia, Saint Kitts and Nevis and the United Kingdom. Their ages range from 33 to 75 years old. The first to flee left in 1998, according to a report posted on the website of the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). This is the first time China's anti-graft authorities have issued a notice giving such specific information about overseas fugitives, said Gao Bo, a CCDI official. "All 22 suspects are on the '100 most-wanted' Interpol red notice. Issuing the notice means their last hope to escape will be lost." In the case of Wang Liming, former head of the Hainan branch of the Bank of China, who was suspected of malpractice, the possible location of his current residence is "Voltaire Drive, Riverside, Los Angles, California, USA," according to the notice. He allegedly took advantage of his position to collude with others and illegally issue letters of credit backed with no real trading or guarantees, resulting in huge losses of state assets. In a separate case, Cheng Muyang, former chairman of Hong Kong Jiadali Investment Co., Ltd. and former manager of the Beijing subsidiary of Beifang International Advertisement Company, was suspected of embezzlement and concealment of illegal gains. He is believed to be living in "Oak Ridge Community, Vancouver, Canada," according to the notice. Compared with other fugitives on the Interpol red notice, capturing these 22 is more difficult, said Liu Jianchao, deputy director of the National Bureau of Corruption Prevention. "Some cases are at a crucial stage for breaking them, and we need to put more pressure on the suspects," said Liu. As of March 31, 365 suspects in duty-related crimes such as embezzlement and bribery were known to be at large overseas and another 581 were unaccounted for, the statement said. Some of the fugitives have changed their identities since the Interpol red notice was released. Some are struggling to decide whether to turn themselves in, while others continue to evade authorities, said the statement. The information released was based on tips from members of the public and cooperation with other authorities. When receiving further tips, the watchdog guarantees to protect informers' rights and interests. Further information on more fugitives will be released at an appropriate time, the statement continued. "We hope overseas Chinese, foreign citizens of Chinese origin and international friends will help identify these fugitives... and give them no place to hide," said the statement. It said the public can report relevant information to the Chinese authorities via the website http://www.12388.gov.cn/ztzz/. Countries involved should abide by international conventions and cooperate in law enforcement. They should support China's anti-corruption drive by not sheltering fugitives nor allowing them to transfer illegally attained assets, the statement said. "China respects the laws of other countries and is ready to cooperate with them. We urge specific countries not to pursue their own economic interests by issuing passports and visas through investment immigration schemes when applicants are suspected of corruption," it said. "Passports and visas that have already been issued should be revoked as soon as possible." The statement also offered leniency for fugitives who voluntarily return to China to surrender and confess their crimes. By reaching out to international society, the notice clearly demonstrates China's refusal to tolerate corruption and shows willingness to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and judiciaries overseas. By releasing specific information, authorities expect increased support from media, police and from local residents who may be unaware of the suspects' backgrounds, said Wang Wenhua, deputy dean of the law school at Beijing Foreign Studies University. By pursuing corrupt officials, from high-ranking "tigers" to low-level "flies," within China and through operations such as "Sky Net" and "Fox Hunt" overseas, the campaign has drawn the net ever tighter in the past five years and there is now almost no chance of escape, according to the statement. As of March 31, China had captured 2,873 fugitives from more than 90 countries and regions and recovered 8.99 billion yuan (130 million U.S. dollars), of which 476 were former officials and about 40 were on the Interpol red notice list. In a report posted Tuesday on its website, the CCDI said 19 fugitive suspects fled China last year, compared with 31 in 2015 and 101 in 2014. The sharp decrease in numbers indicates that important progress has been made to return corrupt fugitives and their illicit gains from overseas, the report said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is preparing guidelines on accepting refugees while blocking terrorists. / Korea Time file By Eom Da-sol Japan will set guidelines to block terrorists entering the country with refugees if war breaks out on the Korean Peninsula, according to the Mainichi Daily on Friday. With North Korea continuing to provoke the U.S, and the U.S. announcing retaliatory measures, Japan is putting in place guidelines to approve Korean refugees and foreigners entering the country. Japan reportedly assumes that thousands of refugees will arrive if North Korea hits the South first. Under this scenario, Japan will decide the main ports to accept refugees. Immigration control officers will carefully examine the identities and luggage to prevent North Korean spies and terrorists from entering. Japan also plans to build refugee camps near the ports. "The government is setting up protocols for aircraft landings, refugee camps and guidelines to screen refugees," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the House of Representatives last Monday. According to guidelines released so far, Japan plans to enhance maritime security with stricter daily patrols, and to provide food and water to refugee camps guarded by national police. The refugees will also receive physical check-ups. Foreigners who have families or acquaintances in Japan, who can be acknowledged as refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention, and who are in transit from the nation to another will be allowed to enter. (Xinhua) 08:52, April 28, 2017 MOSCOW, April 27 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed here on Thursday to cooperate in various areas, although territorial spats persist between the two countries. Russia and Japan both claim a group of islands off Japan's northern prefecture of Hokkaido, called the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia. "We discussed the subjects of joint economic activities in the Southern Kurils," said Putin at a joint press conference with Abe after their talks in the Kremlin. Russia will arrange a trip for Japanese officials and businessmen to the disputed islands this summer to study specific cooperation opportunities, said Putin. Putin said his country is ready to assist Japan in the restoration of the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant and offer the latest technologies for cleaning contaminated soil and processing radioactive waste. According to Putin, both sides discussed plans of increasing Russian energy supply to Japan and Japanese enterprises were encouraged to invest in Russia. The decades-old territorial disputes have prevented Russia and Japan from signing a post-World War II peace treaty and hindered diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries. At the press conference, Abe said he and Putin were striving to conclude a peace treaty and hailed the agreements reached during their talks. "Vladimir and I want to strengthen mutual trust between our peoples through a new approach that does not depend on the old ideas," said Abe. To promote people-to-people exchanges, the two countries are planning to simultaneously hold the Year of Japan in Russia and the Year of Russia in Japan in 2018, Abe added. (Xinhua) 08:52, April 28, 2017 KIEV, April 27 -- The Association of small cities of Ukraine, which unites 351 Ukrainian cities in the country, signed a memorandum on Thursday to join the Silk Road Cities Alliance. The deal was signed during the Sino-Ukrainian cultural exchanges week in Kiev by Wu Bixiu, General Secretary of the Silk Road Cities Alliance, and Pavel Kozyrev, Chairman of the Association of the small cities of Ukraine. While addressing the signing ceremony, Kozyrev voiced hope that the cooperation between the two organizations will contribute to the development of Chinese and Ukrainian communities. "The small cities in Ukraine are interested in becoming a part of the Silk Road infrastructure. Moreover, they are willing to make this road a two-way traffic," Kozyrev said. For her part, Wu said the Silk Road Cities Alliance is glad to incorporate with the Ukrainian cities and voiced her hope for the win-win cooperation. The week-long Sino-Ukrainian cultural exchanges week kicked off in Kiev on April 24, featuring a string of cultural events and economic discussions. The festival, named "One Belt One Road" Week, is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Ukraine and the upcoming Belt and Road forum for international cooperation in Beijing in May. Why cant City finish jobs well and on time? Chris Days open letter to District 1 City Council member Barbara Bry in the April 13 issue regarding the unfortunate mess on Hillside Drive is spot on! This is absolutely unacceptable that the City of San Diego cannot seem to hire reputable companies to repair our water and sewer lines, and do so in a timely manner. These jobs around La Jolla have gone on far too long with months of disruption and several lawsuits. In addition, the City needs to put a stop to the speculative developers swooping in, tearing down houses, only to build McMansions with very questionable architecture. They are taking far too long to complete (some 5-10 years!) and are disruptive to all La Jollans. We need help to stop the slow and steady deterioration of this town! Anne Gilchrist City needs to get its construction act together The neighbors along the Soledad Avenue/Lookout Drive loop would like to thank Chris Day for his commentary in last weeks issue, which provided an articulate description of the construction mess along Hillside Drive. We, too, have been plagued by the same issues, not only from the private projects on Hillside described in the article, but also from the Citys on-going Sewer Replacement project on Soledad Road, Hillside Drive and Castellana Drive in the same area. In addition to the points made in Mr. Days article, Id like to add the issue of public safety due to the miserable lack of traffic control by any of these projects. While public projects are expected to use public streets for construction, private projects should be occurring on private property. Due to the steep hillsides and humungous homes under construction, these projects are being staged in the street. Poorly parked workmens vehicles, piles of excavated dirt, heavy construction equipment (cranes, front-end loaders, compaction equipment, delivery trucks) and materials storage, routinely block traffic, obscure sightlines on curvy and narrow streets, and offer no traffic control to assist hapless drivers trying to exit or return to the neighborhood. This situation is compounded during rush hour when many commuters use Soledad Road and Hillside Drive to avoid congestion on Torrey Pines Road. Poorly placed and uninformative detour signage traps these vehicles into a dead-end maze with limited ability to turn around and retrace their path back to the main road. The recent detours from Soledad onto Castellana, Kearsarge and Crespo were unbelievably hazardous and added to further deterioration of these fragile roads. The four-way stop at Hillside Drive and Soledad Road is a candidate for demolition derby. The nearby storage of construction materials that block sight lines, the erratic movement of heavy equipment and the high volume of traffic again with no traffic control have led to many near-collisions. When I approached Barbara Brys office for assistance in remedying our inability to get into or out of our neighborhood, I was told by Code Compliance that they didnt respond to active construction projects, while Development Services does not handle construction-related parking and traffic issues. I was referred to the Police Department. While these projects are permitted by the City, it appears that no one is in charge of monitoring them. It also appears that no one is coordinating all this construction to alleviate its cumulative impact on public safety, traffic circulation, parking supply and infrastructure damage. I have the following remedies: 1) Inventory available on-street parking spaces. Issue parking permits to residents. Provide a project-related lottery system for the remainder of spaces for their personnel. Anyone without a permit needs to park elsewhere (in pre-identified off-site locations to alleviate impacting adjacent neighborhoods) and be shuttled to the site. 2) Eliminate through traffic. Set up Residents Only signage at Soledad and Exchange, Al Bahr, Kearsarge and Crespo; Hillside and Torrey Pines, Soledad and Via Sienna. 3) Implement a temporary controlled left-hand turn from Amalfi onto Torrey Pines Road. This would ease traffic during construction on Soledad and its feeder streets by allowing residents to access the Village via Torrey Pines. 4) Prohibit large trucks. The current 25 foot axle-axle limit is a start, but even these trucks tear up the streets and have difficulty navigating the narrow and twisty streets. 5) Require a construction staging plan for all private development at the time of permit processing. This includes estimated loads of debris and dirt hauling, storage of excavated dirt, supplies, equipment and workers vehicles. 6) Require infrastructure impact fees (or bonds) to repair damaged or deteriorated roads, gutters, drainage and other public resources, calculated on estimated vehicle use (both trips and weight) associated with the project. 7) Fine projects for parking/storing equipment and materials in the public right of way. Fine projects for lack of active and continual traffic control. Dedicate fines to street repair. 8) Create a construction czar/ombudsman at DSD who monitors traffic, parking, congestion, trash and debris, dirt, polluted runoff, property and infrastructure damage caused by multiple projects in impacted neighborhoods AND mitigates their cumulative impact on residents and businesses. Position paid for by fees associated with construction staging plan review and approval. While these suggestions may sound expensive and extreme, construction in fully built-out neighborhoods with antique infrastructure and high traffic volumes is costly. At the end of my 20-year career at Caltrans in 2003, the agency was paying as much for traffic control as it was for construction. San Diego needs to shift into the 21st century with Development Services serving both the public as well as developers. Diane Kane Support for Glickman Hillel Center in La Jolla This letter comes in regards to the La Jolla Light story in the April 13 issue, Planning commission to hear Hillel plans in La Jolla. For almost 20 years, Hillel has worked with neighbors, students and the City to design a religious center that will meet the needs of our constituents while beautifying and benefiting the surrounding neighborhood. Our project a religious facility of permanent nature is allowed by right in the La Jolla Shores PDO. Despite being approved by the City of San Diego in 2006, we have conducted an extensive environmental review and fundamental redesign of our plans based on neighbor feedback. We now bring to the Planning Commission a project that benefits neighbors and students alike. We look forward to receiving permits and beginning construction of the Beverly and Joseph Glickman Hillel Center in La Jolla in the months ahead. Rabbi David Singer, Director, UC San Diego Hillel Editors Note: Plans for The Hillel Center for Jewish Life project, to serve Jewish students at UC San Diego, will be heard by the San Diego Planning Commission, 9 a.m. April 27 in City Council Chambers, 12th floor, City Administration Building, 202 C St. in downtown San Diego. The building is proposed for a triangular parcel of land at La Jolla Village Drive and Torrey Pines Road. As Hillel executive director Michel Rabkin explained, It will be an off-campus center for small group meetings, pastoral counseling, holiday celebrations, prayer services and a place for cultural exploration. It will be a drop-in center where professional staff will work with students on a day-to-day basis. More at sandiego.gov and ucsdhillel.org/glickman-hillel-center Police should move panhandlers out of town At what point do La Jollans say enough is enough? How many panhandlers do we need to tolerate before we take action to maintain our quality of life? More and more individuals are showing up on our corners (see Torrey Pines Road and La Jolla Parkway, and now Girard Avenue and Torrey Pines Road). They ask for money and, when you dont give it to them, they make rude remarks or get aggressive. The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) and a form of this letter has been sent to Community Relations Police Officer Larry Hesselgesser can engage in quality-of-life policing. This means proactively policing an area and responding to situations before they escalate. Its just that our police department chooses not to do this kind of work. La Jolla already gets short shrift when it comes to police resources, and now were seeing some of the results of that neglect by the police more homeless individuals harassing people, more homeless people camping out in and around La Jolla Shores, more homeless people popping up on street medians, etc. Its the old slippery slope argument: Not proactively policing an area leads to more and more incidents, which ultimately degrades an areas quality of life. Its a vicious cycle, and its happening right now in La Jolla. SDPD is the only entity capable of adequately responding to this problem. I believe that many of these individuals are grifters and not receptive to measures short of legal action. I hope SDPD can change its protocol and start assisting the community with quality-of-life measures. Bill Smith P.S. Standing in the median is not a place meant for pedestrians. Its probably not legal and, besides, its dangerous. I saw a police officer waiting at the traffic signal while a homeless person was working the corner. The officer did nothing. It truly was an unbelievable moment. As soon as its established in the homeless community that begging/panhandling/soliciting in La Jolla is acceptable, the more of this kind of activity we will see, and thats why Im asking for assistance from SDPD. Could Bonair St. drainage be a health hazard? Since before winter, work was being done on the building on the corner of La Jolla Boulevard and Bonair Street (northwest corner). Plumbing was being installed to drain the underground parking garage. A sump pump must have been installed. Since that happened, polluted drainage has been pumped onto the street and down to the beach intermittently. This water has the smell of diesel fuel, and has stained the street and gutter all the way down to the beach. Many years ago that property had a gas station and dry cleaners located there. Could somebody please investigate this? It is possible that this water has some very bad chemicals in it. Dana Nelson Editors Note: The Light is looking into this situation and will have an answer from City engineers in the April 27 issue. If readers have additional information on the concern, please e-mail details to editor@lajollalight.com The resurfacing of Forward Street begins after four years FYI: Your 2013 article in La Jolla Light about the poor condition of Forward Street is finally getting a response. Curb cuts and other preps are now underway at long last. Joseph Chalmers La Jolla Meals On Wheels grateful for recent donation La Jolla Meals On Wheels, a non-profit organization serving the nutritional needs of homebound seniors in La Jolla and University City, has received a grant from the San Diego Employees Charitable Organization to pay for three carts used Monday-Friday to transport meals at the organizations facility, so volunteer drivers can pick them up and deliver them along various routes to about 80 seniors in their homes. Clients receive one hot meal (lunch) and one cold meal (dinner) daily. Those of us affiliated with La Jolla Meals On Wheels are extremely grateful for this generous award while potential federal budget cuts loom for many Meals On Wheels programs across the county. In addition to the senior nutrition program, La Jolla Meals On Wheels offers a Friendly Visitors Program at no charge to seniors in its service area. Clients are matched with the most compatible volunteer visitors for one- to two-hour weekly visits. These encounters are a great source of comfort and security to seniors. Since its founding in 1974, La Jolla Meals On Wheels has served more than 460,000 meals to some 1,650 clients and assisted 35 seniors in the Friendly Visitors Program. For more information, call (858) 452-0391 or visit lajollamealsonwheels.org Jane Semelsberger Panhandlers, sadly, put their lives in jeopardy I just read the letter in the April 20 issue, concerning panhandlers on corners and street medians. My take on the situation is a little different than the writers. I am far less concerned about the interference with the quality-of-life of the elite La Jollans than the potential danger to the homeless individuals. I have found these people innocuous and non-aggressive. All my adult life has been devoted to health issues of individuals. I am quite concerned that a strong breeze or a misstep on a curb could lead to a very dangerous accident involving these people. It could result in serious injury or even death. I have seen men, women and even children endangering their lives. Somehow I think nothing will be done until a disastrous result occurs. In some regards I agree with the previous writer. Please, San Diego Police Department and City Council intervene! David Marsh, M.D. Wheres our compassion for people in need? This letter comes in response to the letter in the April 20 issue, titled Police should move panhandlers out of town. That letter is a perfect example of people with a self-centered attitude who are unable to understand that everyone isnt like them and that some people may fall onto hard times and need help instead of criticism. Poor people and homeless people do not need to be apprehended by police, but need to be helped. There are many worthwhile charities and facilities that assist people who are in need. The world would be a better place (and so would San Diego and La Jolla) if more people would donate to such charities and facilities as the San Diego Rescue Mission, Father Joes Villages, The Salvation Army, Interfaith Shelter Network, the San Diego Food Bank, etc., etc., etc. instead of complaining about how bad these poor and homeless people are. What happened to compassion and caring and The Golden Rule? Linda Pequegnat Whats on YOUR mind? Letters published in La Jolla Light express views and comments from readers in regard to community issues. To share your thoughts in this public forum, e-mail them with your name and city of residence to editor@lajollalight.com or mail them to La Jolla Light Editor, 565 Pearl St., Suite 300, La Jolla, CA 92037. Letters reflect the writers views and do not necessarily represent opinions of the newspaper staff or publisher. The 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's reunification with the motherland is also an occasion to review its past and look forward to its future. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has made great achievements since the reunification. The principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and the Basic Law have been successfully implemented in the SAR, and its security and interests fully safeguarded. And with the implementation of the principles of "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high-degree of autonomy, Hong Kong residents have enjoyed extensive rights and freedom. Since China resumed its sovereignty over the SAR on July 1, 1997, the central government has followed the Constitution, the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and the Basic Law, and supported the Hong Kong chief executive and the SAR government to establish the rule of law. Moreover, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the top legislature, has interpreted the Basic Law five times and made 10 decisions accordingly. These interpretations and decisions involve the right of abode in Hong Kong, the election of the chief executive by universal suffrage, diplomatic immunity and oath of members of the Legislative Council, which have played an active role in dealing with the relationship between the central government and the SAR. Hong Kong has maintained an orderly election procedure according to the Basic Law. Five administrations, four chief executives and six Legislative Councils have been elected in the SAR. The electoral commission's membership has expanded from 800 to 1,200. And Hong Kong has maintained its position as an international financial, maritime and trade center. Despite all this, Hong Kong faced some problems and challenges, such as the right of abode and people from the Chinese mainland purchasing infant formula in the SAR on a large scale. But those problems have been solved. The biggest problem hindering Hong Kong's development is the election of the chief executive and Legislative Council through universal suffrage. Although the NPC Standing Committee announced its decisions on universal suffrage on Aug 31, 2014, the Legislative Council has not approved the political reform plan advanced by the SAR government. And the 79-day "Occupy Central" movement, which started in 2014, has seriously undermined the rule of law in Hong Kong and affected its international image and investment environment. The other significant issue facing Hong Kong is the non-implementation of the national security legislation stipulated in Article 23 of the Basic Law. Although the Hong Kong government prepared a draft law on the issue in 2003, it was withdrawn. The advocacy of "Hong Kong independence" by some political organizations and antinational activities of a few Legislative Council members make the national security legislation an urgent task to achieve, but it is also necessary to maintain the right balance between "universal suffrage" and the legislation. To publicize the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and the Basic Law in Hong Kong society is necessary, too. Besides, Hong Kong should focus on developing its economy and improving its residents' livelihood. Over the past two decades, Hong Kong's economic growth has slowed down and it has been grappling with many livelihood issues that need to be resolved, and all these are the result of over-politicization of Hong Kong society. Because of the political contradictions mentioned above, the Hong Kong government has been caught in endless disputes, leaving it little time to resolve residents' livelihood issues and implement its policies. Over-politicization of society and an underperforming economy are the challenges Hong Kong faces. If Hong Kong focuses on strengthening its economy, improving its residents' livelihoods and promoting social harmony, it will have a brilliant future. Work on the Hong Kong section of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will be completed by the end of this year, and the SAR can play the role of a "super liaison" in the Belt and Road Initiative (the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road). And with the support of the motherland, Hong Kong can still use its existing advantages to improve its position in the international economy. The author is a professor of law in Peking University. Historic ties of north Meck span throughout region Though the north Mecklenburg area didnt see significant population growth until a few decades ago, its rich history dates back to the Revolutionary War. That was the basis of... An easier-than-expected first mammogram experience HUNTERSVILLE Scheduling a cancer screening probably ranks somewhere on your to-do list between "clean out the garage" and "donate those clothes that don't fit." Sure, you'll get to it at... Photo from Bray-Ali campaign This is what it looks like when a first-time candidate for the City Council unexpectedly forces a longtime incumbent into a runoff, then implodes two weeks before the election. On Wednesday, LAist posted an article with detailed research and screenshots of comments that candidate Joe Bray-Ali had made in racist online forums and forums that shamed trans people and fat people. On Thursday, City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell withdrew his endorsement of Bray-Ali. O'Farrell's original endorsement, essentially calling for the defeat of a colleague on the City Council horseshoe, had been a big deal for Bray-Ali. Later Thursday, the Los Angeles Times opinion page withdrew its endorsement of Bray-Ali, saying the paper had re-interviewed Bray-Ali that day and could no longer support him. "The revelations are so deeply disturbing raising serious questions about both his judgment and his character that... for the first time in recent memory, the editorial board is officially rescinding its endorsement." Also Thursday, City Council President Herb Wesson called on Bray-Ali to withdraw from the race entirely. He was joined by six members of the City Council. Bray-Ali fessed up that the online comments were his and he apologized, saying they were basically the indiscretions of a younger guy. "No one wants anyone running for public office to say things like thatI didnt know what I was talking about, frankly, he told KPCC. Last week Bray-Ali had apologized for an earlier video that chided "Mexicans" for honking their horns too loud in his neighborhood. He explained that the video was a question for Gustavo Arellano's satirical column "Ask a Mexican." The City Council race is in the 1st district, covering part of the Eastside, and could have been expected to be a hard-fought contest where the shady world of opposition research campaign operatives would be a factor. Bray-Ali and his supporters are finding out that when there is stuff to find, it will usually be found. The runoff is May 16. Bray-Ali's statement: I, for one, am fully accountable for my past actions and rather than be an apologist or try and deny, I take ownership of the past and the lessons learned. I believe I am a better person for it. I'm not perfect. Certainly my opponent is not. We wouldn't be here in a runoff if our constituents felt served and quite honestly I would not have been inspired to run. I want to focus on serving the most vulnerable in our district. I am running against a do-nothing council member who turns his back on his constituents in need, votes for gentrification and then claims otherwise, lies about his campaign contributions from Chevron while doing nothing about the AllenCo well poisoning families in his district, and traffic fatalities rose 40%, and violent crimes have increased 69%. I'm happy to speak with any reporter or voter about the content and context of any comment I've made online. I made these comments due to my search for understanding, so I will continue this campaign in that spirit, allowing for all open dialogue. He also made a Facebook Live appearance to explain himself. ADDIS ABABA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The government of China on Thursday provided life saving nutrition assistance worth 8 million U.S. dollars to support the United Nations World Food Program's (WFP) response in drought-hit Ethiopia. The contribution from China will enable WFP to provide specialized treatment for more than 277,000 moderately malnourished children and women due to the ongoing drought that affected parts of the east African country. La Yifan, the Chinese Ambassador in Ethiopia, said during the handing over ceremony that China is a friendly country, providing support to its best ability. "We are a developing country, but we obliged to provide assistance to other countries through the World Food Program," he said. The ambassador appreciated efforts made by the Ethiopian government to reach out the emergency needs of its drought affected citizens. He also called on the international community to fulfill the commitments made in the fight against climate change, as a sustainable solution to minimize the occurrence of natural disasters such as the ongoing drought that affected parts of the Horn of African region. John Aylieff, WFP Ethiopia Representative and Country Director, appreciating China's contribution to support people in drought affected Ethiopia, said that the support has come at a crucial moment as the east African country endures the worst drought in 50 years. "While the government did so much itself, support from the international community was needed. It was at this moment that China came forward," he said. Tadesse Bekele, Advisor at Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management, also appreciated the contribution from China, saying that "China is very generous to Ethiopia." "I am very much delighted that this supplementary food assistance will help those desperate people, and we will be able to save the lives of children and lactating mothers," he said. According to Tadesse, the Ethiopian government is working on proactive measures to minimize the effect of the drought in its effort to save the lives of millions of people. The Government of Ethiopia and its humanitarian partners on January this year have officially launched the Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD) for 2017, looking for 948 million U.S. dollars to reach out to 5.6 million people with emergency food and non-food assistance. This article appears in the April 28, 2016 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. The Belt And Road Initiative, th e Worl d Lan d- Bridg e, an d Corresponding Ideas in Western and Chinese Culture [Print version of this article] On April 13 and 14, the Schiller Institute, in cooperation with the China Energy Fund Committee and the Foundation for the Revival of Classical Culture, held an international conference in Manhattan, on the theme of the Belt and Road Initiative, the World Land-Bridge, and corresponding ideas in Western and Chinese culture. This conference and an associated evening concert brought together well over 200 participants, including high-level representatives of crucial nations, including: Dr. Patrick Ho of the China Energy Fund Committee, Mme. Meifang Zhang, the Deputy Consul General of the Peoples Republic of China, in New York, Mr. Petr Ilyichev, the Charge dAffaires of the Permanent Mission to the United Nations of the Russian Federation, and Mr. Faiyaz Kazi, Counselor to the Permanent Mission to the United Nations of Bangladesh. The conference was opened by Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder of the Schiller Institutes, accompanied by presentations by top representatives of China and Russia. These presentations marked the stark contrast in outlook between the potential for the tremendous economic growth and cooperation of the World Land-Bridge concept, as led up to now by China, and the contrasting drive for war coming from the British Empire. The Chinese and Russian representatives were greeted very warmly by the assembled audience, showing the potential for the better America to ally with these great nations. This opening panel was covered in the previous, April 21 issue of EIR. A panel of presentations on the development aspects of the Belt and Road Initiative followed. These included: A discussion of Lyndon LaRouches economic concepts as applied to infrastructure as a platform, The programs for integrating the Americas into the Belt and Road Initiative, The stunning success China has had in becoming the worlds leader in high-speed rail, The potential for southern Asian integration with the example of Bangladesh, the most densely populated nation on the globe, The energy requirements for full development, The long-term maintenance and physical sustainability needs for a project of such immense scale and duration, and The need for an outlook toward space infrastructure as a driver for mankind as a whole. These presentations fleshed out and further developed the concepts presented in the opening of the conference. The potential is real, and the benefits are absolutely tremendous, if we throw off the British yoke and cooperate for mutual benefit. This second conference panel will be reported in the coming, May 5 issue of EIR. The third panel took on the deeper issue of the dialogue of cultures on the highest level. What are the greatest ideas of western and Chinese civilizations, which can serve as a basis for the most elevated dialogue? Reports on the third panel follow here, along with other, complementary articles on the same broad theme. A half-hour summary video of the conference can be found at: https://youtu.be/Eq9NmsQG9xQ EIRs YouTube channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJe_Wd7vFqKJXfJWov9xmg Subscribe to EIRs channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJe_Wd7vFqKJXfJWov9xmg?sub_confirmation=1 This article appears in the April 28, 2016 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. In the Stars, the Long Awaited Age of Reason There, in the stars, lies the long awaited Age of Reason, when our species sheds at last the cultural residue of the beast. Lyndon LaRouche [Print version of this article] April 24In less than three weeks, the most critical international conference in the period since World War IIthe Beijing Belt and Road summitwill convene. On May 14 and 15, the leaders and heads of state of 28 nations will gather, joined by representatives of 110 countries, industry leaders, business leaders, and others. It has already been announced that Russias President Putin will be the first guest of honor at the conference. During the last three years, an invitation has been repeatedly extended to the United States to take up the offer of Chinese President Xi Jinping for win-win cooperation, to join in the great economic development perspective of the Belt and Road, for the benefit of all nations involved. This offer was first made to former President Obama in 2014, but was summarily rejected by the British-run Wall Street stooge who was then occupying the White House. Obama chose geopolitical confrontation over working with China and other nations for the good of mankind. Now a new opportunity has presented itself. President Trump has expressed serious interest in, and has already taken initial steps toward developing a friendly working relationship with China, as was demonstrated in his recent discussions with President Xi at Mar-a-Lago, Florida. Again, the offer of win-win peaceful cooperation has been put forth, this time to President Trump. The opportunity now before the United States is very real. Were America to seize this opportunity, the murderous banking and financial looting policies of London and Wall Street might be replaced with a future of expanded economic opportunity, peace, and scientific progress. Those are the implications of accepting Chinas offer to join in a commitment to the common aims of mankind through win-win cooperation. If President Trump were to announce his intention to attend the Belt and Road conference in May, this alone would be a singular action that could well shift the entire global picture. Not least in importance, greater collaboration with the nations of the Belt and Road will give great impetus and greatly enhanced potential for joint efforts in science, particularly cooperative work toward the exploration and development of space. With full U.S. participation, a leap for all of mankind in space exploration becomes immediately and rapidly possible. The Optimism of Space On Monday, April 24, President Trump spoke with astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). He was joined in the Oval Office by his daughter Ivanka and astronaut Kate Rubins, and together they spoke with NASA ISS Commander Peggy Whitson and Col. Jack Fischer. The dialogue between the ISS astronauts and the President was broadcast live into hundreds of classrooms and space facilities around the United States, and was streamed and viewed worldwide as well. The President honored Commander Whitson for her achievements as the first female commander of the ISS and for having spent more time in space than any other American astronaut. Their discussion touched on several topics, including a report from Whitson on the need to understand how microgravity works in space and how it effects the human body. She also reported that ISS astronauts are studying the problems of long-duration space missions, and the technological advances that will be required. More than 200 scientific experiments are currently underway aboard the space station. Col. Fischer stressed the critical importance of international cooperation in space exploration. He talked about his trip to the ISS aboard the Soyuz with his Russian counterpart, veteran Cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. Col. Fischer said, The international space station is, by far, the best example of international cooperation and what we can do when we work together, in the history of humanity. Both American astronauts were explicit about the optimism and inspiration that participation in this mission has given them. This was demonstrated most beautifully by Col. Fischer, when he said, I would say to all the students that are watching, the time to get excited is now. If you arent studying science and math, you might want to think about that, because our future in the stars starts now, and you can be a part of that, if, like Dr. Whitson, you can find that passion and work really hard. And were going to find a permanent foothold in the stars for humanity if you do that. The Role of the Visionary On March 25, the Schiller Institute held an extraordinary conference in Munich, Germany, to honor the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of the great space pioneer Krafft Ehricke. Under the banner of Krafft Ehrickes Vision for the Future of Mankind, Ehrickes prime thesis that there are no limitations to the progress of mankind in the Universe was celebrated and discussed. As if a divine hand had intervened, on the very day of that conference, President Trump gave his truly inspiring national address, in which he declared, after signing the NASA Authorization Act, With this legislation, we renew our national commitment to NASAs mission of exploration and discovery. And we continue a tradition that is as old as mankind. We look to the heavens with wonder and curiosity. If we are to take up this challenge today, it is of paramount importance that every American fully grasp the critical importance of this effort on behalf of all mankind, for the necessary future of all. It must also be a shared commitment. All nationsall of humanitymust benefit from the cooperation among nations for the peaceful use and development of outer space. This is the ultimate win-win solution for all nations. It can be realized through crash programs, what Lyndon LaRouche has described as the tight integration of the most advanced, most fundamental scientific research with the production and development of new technologies in a general way, such that there is no organizational separation between the most fundamental scientific research and production in general. The Time to Act Is Now Many initiatives are already underway. On April 22, China celebrated its second annual national space day by carrying out the docking of the Tianzhou 1 supply ship with Chinas Tianzhou 2 space lab, 240 miles above the Earth. Two days laterthe same day that President Trump spoke with the ISS astronautsChina celebrated the anniversary of Chinas first space satellite, launched on April 24, 1970. Full participation by the United States in the upcoming Beijing Belt and Road Summit would have the immediate effect of advancing this progress dramatically. This is just what is needed. A new future beckons, one in which the legacy of war, zero growth, and cultural decay will become a memory. Bold action now will make the difference for future generations. PRESS RELEASE Abe Begins Official Visit to Moscow Today, Expects Progress in Talks on Peace Treaty April 27, 2017 (EIRNS)Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe began his official visit to Moscow today where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. High on the agenda are a peace treaty and economic cooperation, North Korea and Syria. "There is a step forward [in developing bilateral relations]," Putin said opening a meeting with the Japanese premier. "I hope that this visit by such an extraordinary Japanese delegation will be fruitful and we will map out the next steps on joint work." Recalling his warm reception during his visit to Japan in December 2016, Putin said, "Japan is our good neighbor and a very promising partner. At the last meeting during the talks we agreed on enhancing relations, contacts and our joint work. We can already make a summary." For his part Abe said, "Today, I would like to discuss various matters, including bilateral issues and the peace treaty issue in particular, as well as ways to ensure security and the situation in the region." Condemning the recent terrorist attack on the St. Petersburg metro, Abe extended condolences to the families of the victims, assuring them, "The Japanese people stand together with Russians." On the question of the peace treaty Putin said: "Of course, the issue of the peace treaty was also discussed, the solution of which should meet the strategic interests of both Russia and Japan and be accepted by the peoples of both countries. In this context, we discussed the issues of joint economic activities in the South Kurils, as we had agreed with Mr. Abe in December in Tokyo." Ahead of the Putin-Abe meetings, Japanese Economy Minister Hiroshige Seko gave an interview to TASS, addressing the economic dimension of the Abe-Putin talks. "We are paying particular attention to health care and municipal economy, the areas where Russian residents can directly feel advantages of our program," the minister said. He said Japan will perform research work in Russias Voronezh city on integrated transport development along with development of areas near stations and the railway implementation program. Seko said, "Pilot projects on implementation of smart traffic lights systems and model housing are progressing. We would like to contribute to development of even more comfortable city districts in Russia by using Japanese technologies and developments." "Over 80 projects of Russian-Japanese cooperation were approved and formalized as documents last December," the minister said. PRESS RELEASE THAAD Deployed Two Weeks before South Korean Election April 27, 2017 (EIRNS)With the May 9 South Korean election less than two weeks away, and while the likely winner, Moon Jae-in, is openly denouncing the deployment, the U.S. nonetheless deployed an operable Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system today, including the X-band radar which peers deeply into Chinese and Russian territory. It is the X-band radar which both China and Russia have warned creates a severe shift in the strategic balance, which they will be forced to counter. China is already imposing sanctions, mostly unofficial, on South Korea due to the plan to deploy the system. Candidate Moon, through his spokesman, on Wednesday called the deployment "strongly regrettable" and "very inappropriate" as it strips the next government of the right to make the policy decision on the controversial missile defense system. The special briefing at the White House for the members of the Senate Wednesday produced no new policy, confirming that the Trump administration will use more pressure tactics on North Korea while working with China to reach a peaceful solution. The readout from the Pentagon calls for North Korea to return to dialogue, although it is the United States under Obama that refused to talk to the North, and the Trump Administration has made no public offer to engage in talks. It is simply not clear if there are private discussions with China and others to renew the Six-Party Talks or any other dialogue, while there is no question that the United States is deploying missiles and warships into the area, clearly threatening an attack. Pacific Command chief Adm. Harry Harris, speaking before the House yesterday, said that the United States wants to "bring Kim Jong-un to his senses, not to his knees." A North Korea official, Son Choi-won, told CNN after the White House talks that "As long as America continues its hostile acts of aggression, we will never stop nuclear and missile tests." The London Financial Times is reporting that Trump sent an envoy to tell Jimmy Carter to stay out of the issue. In 1994, when President Bill Clinton was close to launching an attack on North Korea, Carter went to Pyongyang and worked out a deal with Kim Il-Song which became the Agreed Framework, starting a peace process which was only sabotaged when George W. Bush and his Vice President Dick Cheney came to power. Carter had requested and received a briefing on Trumps Korea policy from the Trump administration. It is not clear whether the Financial Times report is British subterfuge or real. Only talks which include the North can end this buildup to war. Chinas U.S. Ambassador Cui Tiankai again called for talks, and for both the U.S. and Pyongyang to refrain from further provocations. PRESS RELEASE Wimmer: EU Must Stop Being in Bed with Kiev Putschists! April 27, 2017 (EIRNS)Former Deputy Defense Minister of Germany and former official of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Willy Wimmer, is currently visiting Crimea, where he will meet with the prime minister and the President of Crimeas parliament, as well as visit the Russian Navy in Sevastopol. Interviewed by Sputnik, he denounced recent remarks by the European Unions top foreign policy official Federica Mogherini, who said Europe would never accept a Russian Crimea. "This is far from any historical reality," Wimmer says. "One has to take a sober view: if there hadnt been a coup in Kiev, this development would certainly not have occurred. The cause lies in the Kiev coup, definitely not in the Russian Federation. Against this background, what Mrs. Mogherini says is ahistoric. It is politically dumb. One cannot view it differently. Because the forces which launched the coup, are the same forces with which Mrs. Mogherini and Brussels are connected in a special way." He calls on German Chancellor Angela Merkel to stick to the historical facts, when she flies to Moscow next week. Concerning the sanctions, Wimmer says that they were launched by "those in Washington, D.C. who are to blame for the Ukrainian coup, who afterwards arm-twisted the Europeans so that the sanctions were decreed. Joe Biden even admitted that in public." Since all of Europe was still living with the memory of World War II, it cannot be tolerated that the EU should support a regime in Kiev which openly sides with the National Socialist forces that attacked the Soviet Union in 1941. Wimmer, who is also visiting war cemeteries on Crimea, also conveyed that, along with millions of German families, his own has suffered from the World War: Wimmers father was taken prisoner by the Soviet Army near Crimea, and when he was repatriated from the POW camp because of ill health, he died on the train returning to Germany. Tejon Ranch Co. is one of Californias oldest one might almost say antique corporations. What has become a landholding of 270,000 acres, situated in the largely-undeveloped territory between Los Angeles and Bakersfield, was first assembled in 1855, the company was incorporated in 1936 and it went public in 1973. Frank Partnoy and Steven Davidoff Solomon teach about shareholder activism as law professors Partnoy at the University of San Diego, Solomon at UC Berkeley. They thought Tejon Ranch would be an ideal subject for a real-life experiment: What would happen if they bought up Tejon stock themselves, then tried to jawbone its executives into taking steps to improve shareholder value, as though they were the kind of activist corporate raiders who make managements of big companies quake with fear? Heres a spoiler: It didnt go well. Even with our knowledge and our connections and our expertise, we did not succeed in any meaningful way. Would-be corporate raider Frank Partnoy Advertisement Tejon management made a show of listening to their proposals, then essentially blew them off. Having risked a significant share of their retirement nest eggs by assembling a combined stake of about $500,000, they escaped after about a year and a half with a modest gain of $55,000. But Tejon hasnt really changed. There are thousands of companies that have never had an activist investor darken their door, Partnoy told me. One of the reasons is that its really hard. We wanted to see if we could succeed. But even with our knowledge and our connections and our expertise, we did not succeed in any meaningful way. What they did get out of it was a great yarn, rife with insights into the resistance of corporate managements and boards to outsiders trying to shake them out of strategic stupor. They laid out the lessons in a highly entertaining article in the latest issue of The Atlantic, entitled Frank and Stevens Excellent Corporate-Raiding Adventure. Remarks Nell Minow, a veteran shareholder activist with a sideline reviewing films as the Movie Mom, their story is like a Frank Capra movie. Think of it as Mr. Smith Goes to Wall Street. Tejon wouldnt comment directly on their article. Its our policy not to comment on specific conversations weve had with shareholders, investor relations executive Barry Zoeller said by email a bit strange, since these shareholders had disclosed those conversations in a national publication. Neither professor came to this quest as a Mr. Smith novice. Solomon spent a decade in practice as a corporate attorney and writes a weekly column on corporate issue for the New York Times, and Partnoy worked in Morgan Stanleys derivatives shop during the 1990s and has written several books about financial corruption. As they describe in the article, they decided one day in 2014: Lets get out of the ivory tower and try actually being activists. How hard can it be? They settled on Tejon Ranch as a target because it seemed to be a poorly managed collection of potentially lucrative assets. Its a mishmash of businesses that never generated that much cash or income some farming, some mineral rights, some acreage for hunting, Partnoy says. It looks like one of those 1960s conglomerates that were busted up by corporate raiders. The professors fashioned themselves as less-capitalized cousins of such celebrated investment raiders as Bill Ackman or Carl Icahn, but they also chose to make a quiet, more collaborative approach to Tejon Ranch than raiders who make public demands for board seats and threaten proxy fights to eject underperforming managements. (As holders of about one-tenth of 1% of Tejons shares, their options were limited.) But they may have been too nice. Minow says they should have reached out quietly to institutional investors to gauge their support for change at Tejon. A public challenge can shake the most hidebound managements, as Minow learned in 1992 when she and her fellow shareholder activist Robert A.G. Monks placed a famous ad in the Wall Street Journal labeling the Sears directors non-performing assets. The company soon restructured the sleepy board and shed nonretail businesses that were dragging down performance. Companies have been getting more responsive to shareholders, Minow adds, as campaigns devoted to forcing industry to shake up lazy managements or face up to climate change become better organized. Tejon Ranch talks today as though the keys to its future are three residential/commercial developments its planning for its big exurban property. But its been talking more or less the same way for the better part of a quarter-century. Tejon Ranch in No Hurry to Develop Land, The Times reported in a headline in 1991. (No kidding.) Tejons crown jewels today are an outlet mall that opened in 2014 and other retail businesses situated at the base of the Grapevine, a pass on Route 5 carrying traffic between Los Angeles and Bakersfield. Other than that, the company has relied on income from ranching, farming almonds and pistachios, and oil and gas leases. Tejon Ranch recorded net income of $558,000 on revenue of $47.2 million, citing declines in farm commodity and oil prices for a slide in net income from its profit of $2.95 million the year before. Partnoy and Solomon believed that Tejon Ranchs market capitalization of about $500 million undervalued its real estate holdings by half. To unlock that value, they needed a more aggressive timetable for development or at least better disclosure for investors about what that timetable was. In May 2015, after they assembled their stake, they wrote to CEO Gregory S. Bielli, identifying themselves as significant shareholders and asking for a meeting. To their surprise, the company promptly invited them up to its Lebec headquarters. As they were to discover, in some ways Tejon Ranch is miscast as the target of a shareholder campaign. Its business model, which might be best described as long-term somnolence, doesnt seem to disturb its biggest shareholders. The four largest are investment partnerships that control nearly 40% of the company, two of whom have seats on the board; Vanguard, the index mutual fund firm, ranks fifth with 5.37%. None of them seems to be particularly anxious for change at the top, even though the shares have fallen by about 30% since Bielli became CEO in December 2013. Nor do they seem exercised about management pay: Bielli and his top four lieutenants cash compensation of more than $2.8 million in 2015 consumed almost all the companys profit that year, and their cash pay of $2.8 million in 2016 came to about five times the companys profit that year. Those figures dont include stock-based compensation, which fattens up the totals considerably. Indeed, Daniel Tisch, 66, a board member whose family investment fund is Tejons biggest investor, told Partnoy and Solomon that he expected his grandchildren to see the fruits of the investment. That might sound like a refreshing departure from the short-termism thats often said to be the bane of corporate culture today, but Tisch seems to be taking long-termism to an extreme. In any event, soon after a first cordial meeting at which Bielli agreed with all of Partnoys and Solomons points and assurances that Tejon was reexamining its disclosure policies the professors sensed they were out in the cold. A follow-up query six months later, when their investment was $100,000 in the red, yielded a bland, lawyerly response seeming to backtrack from Biellis words. Their proposal last November that the company go private received the cold shoulder from the CEO, who told them that public companies face much less pressure for short-term results than private companies exactly the opposite of the conventional wisdom. Thats the first time Ive heard that argument made by someone who wasnt laughing, Partnoy says. Tejon is still opaque about the timeline for its residential developments, which are moving in fits and starts through state and county planning processes, with not a spade of earth turned on any of the three. Given the fact that so many steps in the development process are controlled by others, Zoeller says, it is difficult for us to provide shareholders and the public-at-large with a specific timeline for ultimate development. The companys annual report says the time from groundbreaking to completion can be 25 years or more. The professors feel they did accomplish something in their Tejon Ranch adventure. We like to think we made the managers feel they were under some pressure, Partnoy says. The rise of index-fund investing has made shareholders too passive and managements too complacent, Partnoy concludes. Theres a real need for the little investor to yell and scream and try to influence managers. Activism is a real thing now. The people who are angry or spend their energy reading and commenting on the web could spend some time fruitfully targeting a company. You might not be that successful as one person, but if a lot of people do this, it can make a significant difference. Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. Return to Michael Hiltziks blog. Two weeks before Delta Air Lines launches what may be the biggest relocation operation in airport history, Chief Executive Edward Bastian flew into Los Angeles to discuss the competition, President Trumps travel ban and how far his company has come 10 years after emerging from bankruptcy. Given that airlines are now under heavy public-opinion fire following several recent high-profile incidents, this may seem like a bad time to start a potentially chaos-inducing round of musical chairs, only using terminal gates at Los Angeles International Airport. But Bastian said the jump from one side of the airport to the other is part of the carriers plan to serve travelers better. From May 12 until May 17, Delta will be moving its LAX operations from Terminals 5 and 6 to Terminals 2 and 3, forcing 19 other carriers to relocate. The move will put Delta closer to the Tom Bradley International Terminal and its partner airlines while giving Delta room to nearly double its number of gates at LAX. To minimize confusion among fliers, Delta will beef up staffing to direct confused passengers during the five-day move and has spread the word about the switch among Uber and Lyft drivers. Anyone who asks for directions to LAX on the Waze traffic app will even get a notice from Delta about the move. Delta travelers wait in long lines inside LAXs Terminal 5 before the 2015 Labor Day weekend. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) Not trying to be the biggest Delta is the second-busiest airline at LAX, carrying nearly 17% of all fliers. Its behind American Airlines, which carried about 19% of all fliers in 2016. By making the move, the Atlanta-based carrier will immediately increase from 16 gates at its current location to 23 gates, and will have the space to eventually expand to a total of 30 gates. Delta is investing $1.9 billion over the next four years to upgrade its two new terminals including the $60-million cost of moving the other carriers. Still, Bastian said his goal is not to overtake American as the largest carrier at LAX. Instead, he said the extra terminal space means less congestion and confusion for travelers at the gates. Now, each Delta gate is used for 10 separate flights a day, leading to crowding. We dont believe in being the largest for the sake of size, Bastian said. An Aeromexico Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, called Quetzalcoatl, is unveiled in Mexico City on Oct. 20. Delta has invested in Aeromexico to help capitalize on the travel demand between Mexico and the United States. (Pedro Pardo / AFP/Getty Images) (PEDRO PARDO / AFP/Getty Images) Investing in Aeromexico Delta sees Los Angeles as the prime gateway for travel between the United States and Mexico. That explains why Delta has purchased 49% of Mexico City-based Grupo Aeromexico, the parent company of the Mexican flagship carrier Aeromexico. Delta also has signed a partnership with Aeromexico to share flight reservations and eventually cooperate on cross-border flights. The move at LAX will put Delta in Terminal 2 alongside Aeromexico, making it easier for passengers from the two carriers to catch connecting flights. Tourism officials worry that travel from Mexico and the Middle East will be hurt by President Trumps proposals to build a wall along the southern U.S. border and to temporarily halt travel from several Persian Gulf nations. Bastian said he has been closely monitoring the potential effect of Trumps policies, but so far, I have not seen a material change in booking numbers at Delta. The carrier also signed a partnership this year with Korean Air to share costs and revenues on flights across the Pacific. Attorney Thomas Dementrio speaks to members of the media as fellow attorney Stephen Golan and Crystal Dao Pepper, daughter of United passenger Dr. David Dao, listen. Dr. Dao was dragged off a United flight to make room for flight crew members. (Antonio Perez / TNS) (Antonio Perez / TNS) The United passenger-dragging fiasco The forced removal of a passenger from a sold-out United Airlines flight earlier this month has become an embarrassing chapter for the industry. United and the injured passenger, Dr. David Dao, reached a settlement without disclosing the terms. Bastian said Delta has largely avoided such ugly scenes by giving gate workers the authority to negotiate with passengers when the airline needs fliers to give up seats on an oversold flight. In some cases, supervisors at the gate have the authority to offer a free iPad to get a flier to give up a seat, he said. About six years ago, Bastian said, Delta launched a program that notified passengers at airport kiosks and through the Delta app if they were about to board a flight that was likely to be overbooked. The fliers are also asked how much they would accept in compensation to give up their seat in the case of an overbooked flight. To free up seats, Bastian said, Delta simply picks the passenger who is willing to take the least to be bumped. Its a private auction, he said. Everyone is happy. The numbers seem to show it works. In 2016, one passenger for every 100,000 fliers was involuntarily bumped from Delta flights, the second lowest rate among the nations biggest carriers, behind only Hawaiian Airlines, according to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. By contrast, Delta reported a ratio of bumping 25 passengers for every 100,000 fliers in 2007, the year the carrier emerged from bankruptcy, federal data show. Still, Delta is facing criticism after a passenger was removed from a flight leaving Atlanta April 18 because he used the restroom against instructions from the flight crew. The incident was caught on video. A Qantas A380 Airbus descends for landing while a Delta jet waits on a busy morning in 2009 at Los Angeles International Airport. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) A decade after emerging from bankruptcy When the carrier filed for bankruptcy in 2005, it employed 60,000 workers, operated nearly 530 planes and carried about 124 million passengers a year. April 30 marks the 10th anniversary of the date Delta emerged from bankruptcy. The carrier now operates a fleet of more than 800 planes, employs about 80,000 workers and carried 180 million passengers last year. Delta reported about $4 billion in net income last year, more than any other U.S. airline. Bastian said competition among the major airlines is intense, but he believes passengers choose Delta over its rivals because of its customer service, not its amenities. Our revenues suggest we are doing fine on that, he said. hugo.martin@latimes.com For more travel and tourism news, follow @hugomartin on Twitter. The historic Fine Arts Building, a downtown Los Angeles landmark, sold this week for about $43 million in a sign that the financial district is on the upswing in popularity among tenants and investors. The richly embellished office tower at 811 W. 7th St. was purchased by Santa Barbara investment firm Manchester Capital Management on behalf of a wealthy family, according to real estate brokerage NGKF Capital Markets. For the record: An earlier version of this article stated that the Fine Arts Building sold for more than $400 per square foot. It sold for more than $370 per square foot. The seller, Sorgente Group of America, paid $28.5 million for the 12-story tower in 2012. Sorgente made renovations to the property that dates to 1926 and signed tenants that include co-working company WeWork, which occupies nearly 40% of the buildings 115,902 square feet. Advertisement At a price of more than $370 per square foot for a building with no parking garage, the latest sale demonstrates the growing vitality of the neighborhood between Bunker Hill and Staples Center, said broker Laura Stumm of NGKF. Youre seeing a general pull in popularity toward the Restaurant Row area, she said. The Fine Arts Building lies on a pedestrian-heavy stretch of 7th Street with several eateries and bars. It is above a subway station and between the nearly-complete Wilshire Grand hotel-and-office skyscraper and the Bloc, an office, hotel and shopping complex undergoing a large-scale makeover. The Fine Arts Building was designed by Los Angeles architects Albert R. Walker and Percy A. Eisen, who also created such well-known structures as the Oviatt Building downtown, the Beverly Wilshire hotel in Beverly Hills and the El Cortez Hotel in San Diego. The design reflected an era when sculpture was integrated into architecture as a way of expressing the meaning and purpose of a building, according to USC archives. The builders hoped to attract tenants in arts-related fields. In the lobby is a vast assortment of tiles by Pasadena artist Ernest A. Batchelder, a leading figure of the Arts and Crafts movement of the early 20th century, and a mural by popular theater muralist Anthony Heinsbergen. roger.vincent@latimes.com Twitter: @rogervincent MORE BUSINESS NEWS Hollywood writers unrest: head writers for Better Call Saul, Veep and others weigh in Apple blocks more patent payments to Qualcomm, escalating feud Federal regulator ratchets up effort to regulate tribal lenders, suing four in California Craftsman's expertise has turned traditional soaring masterpieces into airborne works of art Liu Bin, who owns a small kite shop in downtown Beijing, says his kites, all of which cost more than 200 yuan ($29; 27 euros; 22), or about 10 times the price of his online rivals, deserve their higher price tags. "A kite is more than a flying toy. It is made with rich Chinese culture and a craftsman's wisdom," he says, adding it takes about 20 days to make a kite. Most of the kites that decorate his shop, in shapes including swallows, goldfish, dragons, the Monkey King and Peking Opera masks, are handmade. Some are tiny enough to fit in the palm of your hand; others cover an entire wall. Kite flying, which has a history of more than 2,000 years in China, is thought to have begun as a means of passing military information in war. It gradually became a popular folk pastime in springtime. His great-grandfather was a craftsman in the Forbidden City in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and was in charge of making lanterns, fans and kites. Liu recalls the day his grandfather flew a 130-meter-long dragon kite train in Tian'anmen Square in 1982. Liu, then 5, watched as people thronged to the square, cheering the flying "dragon". Liu assembled his first kite at age 10. His parents found he had a flair for designing and crafting kites, so they decided to cultivate him as an inheritor. "I want to elevate the kite from a toy to a work of art," he says. For China Daily Kite flying has a history of more than 2,000 years in China. Photos by Liu Bin / For China Daily Liu Bin's kite shop, San Shi Zhai Kites (Three-Stone Studio), at Di'anmen street in downtown Beijing. It seemed that the Trump administration was planning to end the North American Free Trade Agreement on Wednesday, after his aides sent word that theyd prepared such an executive order. By Thursday morning, the president himself reversed that message, tweeting that hed talked to the leaders of Canada and Mexico and agreed to renegotiate the pact instead of pulling out. But if a fair deal for all couldnt be reached, he added minutes later, he would, in fact, blow up the agreement. While it is not easy to predict the presidents next move on NAFTA, he does seem determined to get to the negotiating table, fast. Here are key items that will almost certainly be up for debate. North American made A key point on which the three trading partners may find common ground, experts say, is changing the rules in the agreement on the content of products traded among the three countries. The agreement says that in order for a good to pass through the three countries duty-free, it needs to contain a certain percentage of North American content. There are different thresholds for different products. Cars, which are among the highest-value good traded between the three nations, must be made up of 62.5% American, Canadian or Mexican content. Trump wants to raise the percentage of North American parts in all NAFTA goods, meaning that fewer Asian parts could go into the cars that cross U.S. borders without any tariff. That could help all three economies, experts say, because it could fuel a manufacturing supply chain that runs through each country. Theres been talk about creating more of a regional manufacturing hub, says Thomas J. Bollyky, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. I think theres actually some openness to that. The tweak could produce more of the blue-collar jobs that Trump has promised to deliver, by spurring the industries in the U.S. that produce vehicle components, for example. But it is also possible that Trump will demand that there be more U.S.-made content in NAFTA goods. That would not go over well with the two other parties, because it would directly dent their manufacturing bases. Even the aim of inducing companies to open more factories in this country may not work out, experts say. Theres a point at which it is cheaper to import directly and forget about NAFTA, says William Reinsch, a trade expert at the Stimson Center, a Washington-based think tank. Reinsch says the average U.S. tariff for goods from countries outside of North America is 3%, a relatively low tax. There are some companies, he says, that would save money by importing from China or Japan rather than pouring money into new facilities in the U.S. Team member Jared Carroll works inside a new Toyota Camry in the trim section at a Toyota plant in Georgetown, Ky. (Lexington Herald-Leader / MCT via Getty Images) (Lexington Herald-Leader / MCT via Getty Images) The dairy and wood war There is a long history of tension between the United States and Canada over lumber and milk. The U.S. imports a lot of Canadian softwood lumber, and domestic producers have for decades accused our northern trading partner of unfairly subsidizing the industry. Canadian companies grow timber on government-owned land, while their U.S. peers have to use private land. Trump threw wood onto that fire this week when his administration retaliated with a 20% tariff on Canadian softwood lumber. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross accused Canada of dumping lumber onto U.S. markets, and said this wouldnt happen if NAFTA were functioning properly. The U.S. imported $5.8 billion of lumber from Canada in 2016, so the tariff will inevitable be on the table in a NAFTA renegotiation. Dairy is another point of contention. Farmers in the U.S. accuse Canada of protecting its dairy industry by imposing high tariffs on dairy imports. But for years, U.S. farmers have been selling Canada a relatively new product called ultra-filtered milk, used to make cheese, which is not subject to any tax. There was a loophole in their restrictions, we found it and proceeded to exploit it, and that made them upset, Reinsch said. But, as Mother Jones has reported, Canadian processors and farmers reached an agreement in February that lowered the price of some domestic dairy products, which has hobbled demand for U.S. ultra-filtered milk. Trump responded this week on Twitter, and he and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed the cross-border dairy industry on a phone call this week. It will come up again in NAFTA talks, experts say. Dairy cows in Tulare, Calif. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) The Trump administration unveiled its tax overhaul plan this week with a large amount of rhetoric and a small amount of detail. Rushed out before President Trump reached his 100th-day-in-office milestone, the plan released Wednesday was contained on a single page with 19 bullet points. As of Friday, it still was not posted on the White House website. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and Gary Cohn, director of the White House National Economic Council, provided some additional information in media briefings. Many of the points in Trump's plan were general principles. And some of the proposals were so vague that even top administration officials appeared confused about them. Mnuchin said the standard deduction for a married couple filing jointly would be doubled to $24,000. But the existing deduction is $12,700, meaning doubling it would set a new level of $25,400. A White House spokeswoman said Friday that the deduction would be roughly doubled to $24,000. And the White House had to clarify on Thursday that the plan would not eliminate the ability of Americans to reduce their taxable income through contributions to 401(k) retirement accounts, after Press Secretary Sean Spicer indicated that it would. Heres what we know and what we dont know. Tax rates The Internal Revenue Service building in Washington is shown in 2015. (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) (Andrew Harnik / AP) Personal What we know There would be three tax brackets: 10%, 25% and 35%. Right now there are seven, with the highest at 39.6%. The alternative minimum tax would be repealed. The estate tax would be repealed. A 3.8% surcharge on capital gains and dividends, imposed by the Affordable Care Act, would be repealed. What we dont know What would be the income levels for the three new tax brackets? Business What we know The corporate tax rate would drop to 15% from 35%. The rate would drop to 15% for so-called pass-through businesses that pay through individual returns. Foreign income would no longer be taxed by the United States. Foreign earnings held abroad by U.S. companies about $2.4 trillion could be brought back for a limited time at a onetime reduced rate. What we dont know The pass-through rate would be limited to small businesses, but theres no definition for what qualifies as a small business. Administration officials promised that large law firms, hedge funds and other businesses (including real estate partnerships similar to Trumps) wouldnt be able to use the pass-through rate to avoid taxes, but didnt say what protections would be put in place. The one-time reduced rate that corporations would pay in U.S. taxes when they brought back foreign earnings wasnt spelled out. Deductions Teacher Debbie Kukuris-Milford helps preschoolers adjust their chefs hats and make pizzas at Westminster Preschool in Marion, Ind. (Jeff Morehead / Associated Press) (JEFF MOREHEAD / AP) Personal What we know The standard deduction would be roughly doubled to $24,000. The only deductions would be for mortgage interest and charitable contributions. Deductions for state and local taxes, among other items, would be killed. Tax relief would be provided for child and dependent care expenses. What we dont know What kind of tax relief would be provided for child and dependent care expenses? Business What we know Tax breaks for special interests would be eliminated. What we dont know Which tax breaks would be eliminated? Would the so-called carried interest loophole, which allows some investment managers to treat their fees as lower-taxed capital gains, be eliminated? Trump promised to do so in the tax plan he released during the campaign. How it will be paid for The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said the administrations tax plan was too vague for a detailed analysis. But it warned that the plan would cause a huge reduction in tax revenues that would cause the national debt to rise more quickly than already is projected. Even with the detailed portions ... there are not enough parameters specified to provide a certain revenue estimate of the tax plan, the group said. But making some assumptions based on prior proposals, our best rough estimate suggests the specified parts of the plan would cost $5.5 trillion over the next decade. What we know Mnuchin said reduced tax rates would spur sustained annual economic growth of 3%, producing more income to be taxed. Growth was 1.6% last year and hasnt topped 3% since 2006. Reducing deductions and closing loopholes would produce some tax revenue. What we dont know Can the economy grow at a sustained 3% rate given an aging population and shrinking pool of available workers? Exactly which deductions would be reduced and loopholes closed? jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com Twitter: @JimPuzzanghera Most attention on the healthcare front has been focused on Republicans single-minded efforts to eviscerate Obamacare. Largely overlooked has been the frustration Americans with employer-based coverage often face in dealing with tight-fisted insurers. For the roughly 150 million workers and family members covered by employers, healthcare all too frequently is an obstacle course of denied claims, bureaucratic headaches and go-slow tactics intended only, or so it seems, to boost insurers bottom line. Eagle Rock resident Paul Vandeventer is a good case in point. For months hed been doing battle with Health Net, which covers about 3 million Californians. Advertisement The Woodland Hills company dragged its feet in paying hospital bills that accrued after Vandeventers son was attacked in New York and required extensive facial-reconstruction surgery. Vandeventer contacted me after being informed by a doctors group at the hospital, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, that it was done trying to squeeze money out of Health Net. The hospital told him it would instead hold his son responsible for thousands of dollars in outstanding bills. These bills arent our responsibility if were insured, Vandeventer, 64, told me. Im getting screwed around and I dont like it. Hes president and chief executive of a Los Angeles organization called Community Partners, which helps nonprofit groups get off the ground. He and nearly four-dozen staffers, along with family members, have group coverage through Health Net. I think Health Net is delaying this because thats just how they do business. Peter Vandeventer, Eagle Rock resident I checked on how how much we pay to Health Net annually, Vandeventer said. Last year it was $362,000 in total premiums. Not the sort of customer youd think a major insurer would play games with. Yet thats what he said was happening. Vandeventers 21-year-old son, Ethan, a Fordham University student, was hit from behind and knocked out in September while walking in the Bronx. It was apparently a robbery attempt, although the young man wasnt carrying a wallet or any valuables at the time. After regaining consciousness, Vandeventer said, his son made his way to his apartment and tried to sleep off the attack. By the next day, it was clear he was in bad shape. He went to Fordhams emergency medical services office, which took one look at his swollen face and transported him immediately to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia. The young man required more than three hours of surgery to repair his shattered right cheekbone. The medical care was excellent and a full recovery is expected. Vandeventer said Health Net had no problem paying about $4,500 for most of the emergency-room procedures. However, the insurer was balking at the $5,000 anesthesiology tab. Vandeventer called the hospitals billing department and learned that Health Net first had insisted that the bill contained an incorrect code. A new bill was submitted. Then, he was told, Health Net contended it never received the second bill, even though it was sent by registered mail. Vandeventer reached out to Health Net for some answers. He said no one could tell him why the anesthesiology bill remained unpaid. I fared no better. Brad Kieffer, a Health Net spokesman, declined to discuss Vandeventers situation with me, even though both Vandeventer and his son had submitted privacy waivers granting him permission to do so. I think Health Net is delaying this because thats just how they do business, Vandeventer said. I think their routine is to wear down the medical service provider to the point where theyll say, OK, well take whatever. John Romley, a healthcare economist at USC, said that even though New York-Presbyterian/Columbia is an out-of-network hospital for Health Net, emergency care is usually the least contested. Like Vandeventer, he speculated that Health Net may have been deliberately tapping the brakes to try to get a lower price from a facility it has few dealings with. If they dont have a lot of business there, they dont have a lot to lose, Romley said. I dont think any of us would mind if such money-grubbing was confined to the corporate players in the drama. But its not. Vandeventers son was caught in the crossfire. If the hospital turned over its bills to a debt collector, the young man could see his credit score get trashed. This is an example of healthcare consumers doing everything right theyre insured, theyve never missed a payment, theyve helped expedite the billing process and still being punished because the hospital and insurer cant agree on who gets the bigger pile of cash. Its also an example of a business apparently only doing whats right after the prospect of a public shaming arose. The day after I contacted Health Net, Vandeventer received a call from a senior dispute-resolution official at the insurance company informing him that the anesthesiology bill would be paid immediately. A spokeswoman for the Columbia doctors group subsequently confirmed to me that a payment was in the works. Again, this isnt a story about problems with Obamacare. This is Americas primary form of health insurance employer-based group coverage coming up short for customers in good standing. And this isnt just about the Vandeventers. Ill bet many people reading these words have had some beef with a health insurer at some point, despite dutifully paying all premiums and deductibles. As Vandeventer told me, patients should never have to fight for fair treatment when that should be the presumption. And he asked: What about the family less knowledgeable and for whom navigating a corporate bureaucracy is unfamiliar or intimidating? Sadly, thats what our profit-hungry healthcare system is counting on. David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com. ALSO Still short of support, House wont vote on revised GOP healthcare bill this week Hiltzik: This one unbelievably expensive Iowa patient makes the case for single-payer healthcare Obamacare 101 Whats the big debate over health insurance cost-sharing subsidies? Four Bear Ranch, a 1,246-acre mountain retreat and hunting property once owned by Gunsmoke writer Ron Bishop, is for sale in Cody, Wyo., for $7.95 million. Set within a basin adjoining the Shoshone National Forest, the ranch has art and literary ties that precede Bishops ownership. Printmaker, painter and sculptor Olive Fell once owned the property, which has a guesthouse named for the noted artist. Adding to its pedigree, author Ernest Hemingway purportedly visited the ranch on a number of occasions. Advertisement At the heart of the property is the main house, a modern structure designed in the 1970s by late architect Adrian Malone. The 6,800-square-foot residence was built to take in the view and takes in the dramatic mountain setting from every room. Decking extends the living space outdoors and is heated in certain areas. A caretakers residence, a log-style dance hall/saloon and a steel barn are among the other structures. Various game including elk, deer, turkey and upland birds reside within the rugged area. Natural springs fill various ponds and lakes, and a mountain stream also runs through the property. Bishop, who died in 1988 at 66, was described by The Times in his obituary as a maverick war hero, an outdoorsman and a conservationist. His writing was used for such episodic westerns as Gunsmoke, Reckless Gun and The Red Pony. James H. Taylor of Hall and Hall holds the listing. neal.leitereg@latimes.com Twitter: @NJLeitereg MORE FROM HOT PROPERTY: Sale of Holmby Hills estate of early filmmaker Allan Dwan is a wrap at $18.8 million Ex-Cal coach Cuonzo Martin sells Piedmont home for half a million over asking price Lynn Swann scores a contemporary home in Hancock Park for $3.08 million Old world trappings meet the modern lifestyle in Encino Shes Little Red Ridinghood one minute, Rapunzel the next. Lisa Helmi Johanson juggles personas and hair pieces with aplomb in Fiasco Theaters pared-back, unabashedly silly production of Into the Woods running through May 14 at the Ahmanson Theatre in L.A. For this edited conversation, Johanson discussed her preshow routine, Avenue Q Puppet School and how a half-Korean, half-Finnish actress from Fairfax, Va., fits into the modern American musical. Whos more fun: Little Red Ridinghood or Rapunzel? Tough decision. Theyre both fun. From an acting standpoint, they span significant dramatic range and physical and vocal demands. Most challenging part of either costume? The Rapunzel hair was constantly falling down and covering my face, which, especially when twirling around on a ladder while singing, was not quite ideal. The clever folks in the costume shop installed a little cap with a thin, metal shelf to keep it more securely on my head. It's the same little head caps used by the Rockettes. I'd be lying if I said I didn't love that detail. The closest I'll ever get to being a Rockette, to be sure. THE REVIEW: "Into the Woods" at the Ahmanson Does the stripped-down production lead to more pressure or more freedom? There was a lot more pressure during the rehearsal process because on top of learning your acting track, you were also learning your vocal and instrument tracks and music, as well as basically being the human automation for all of the moving pieces on the stage. Once you got to a point where you could be doing the show without feeling like your head was going to explode (it took a while), then I would say that it is absolutely freeing to have your text and individual storytelling be the focus rather than fancy sets and costumes. It has undoubtedly elevated all of us as actors. Funniest thing to go wrong so far on this tour? There is a serious moment in Act 2 where the two regal brothers are bidding each other farewell. As one of them walks off with his horse, he is accompanied by the somber clip-clop of coconuts, which are operated by Fred Rose. After a particularly grueling few weeks of traveling between shows, that moment in the show came, but instead of horse hooves, we were shocked to hear the robust tweeting of a bird. We all did a double-take at Fred, and the stunned realization of what he was doing dawned on his face, resulting in hysteria. I couldn't look at anyone at that moment [in the show] for the next week without risk of laughing. Best surprise on this tour? Being cast! I'm half-Korean and half-Finnish, and although the role is not ethnically specified, every time I'm cast in a role that technically could've gone to someone of any race, it's a huge victory. I love being able to show that there's just as much validity to a mixed Asian Little Red Ridinghood as a Caucasian one. It makes my heart overflow with gratitude. Your resume includes Avenue Q Puppet School. Biggest lesson learned there? Everyone's a little bit racist. I keed, I keed! I actually learned incredibly valuable lessons. Honesty to your comedy will always be what wins. And that simplicity carries over into puppeteering. You can't muddy up your movements. Clarity is key! Your Into the Woods preshow routine? I warm up on our stage physically, vocally and with my trumpet [actors also play instruments] to get everything rip-roaring. We also have fight call every day to make sure we're as safe as possible with our more dangerous choreography. This show requires me to warm up with lots of legit soprano stuff as Rapunzel sings up in the rafters. Favorite L.A. thing to do in your time off? Hiking! I think I've already hiked about 25 miles since getting into town. The thing you wish an L.A. person would explain because it just doesnt make sense? Yo. People drive crazy on the freeways! And that's coming from someone who now lives in New York! That was the first thing that sprung to mind. I also am living out my suburban dreams driving around town: You'd be amazed at the feeling of gratification to get liquids and heavy things from the grocery store without having to carry them on the subway. craig.nakano@latimes.com Twitter: @cnakano Close Up with Ben Feldman, star of The Siegel The George Takei musical 'Allegiance' is coming to L.A. Center Theatre Group at 50: Angela Lansbury, Chris Pine, Rajiv Joseph and others favorite memories from the L.A. stage Vodka and Russia. The former is so ingrained in the identity of the latter, its hard to imagine restrictions on its sale and production. But in 1985, the Soviet Unions newly appointed general secretary, Mikhail Gorbachev, did just that when he ramped up a nationwide campaign against alcohol. Artists were tasked with creating propaganda posters to sober up citizens, warning them of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. Now, 260 of those previously unpublished posters from the 1980s as well as others dating to the 1960s have been collected in the new book Alcohol: Soviet Anti-Alcohol Posters, by Damon Murray and Stephen Sorrell of Fuel Publishing. Vibrant images show hung-over, bleary-eyed, red-nosed boozers trapped in a bottle or being hauled away to an institution. One poster shows a bottle morphing into scissors, cutting a family photo in two. A 1977 design from Alcohol: Soviet Anti-Alcohol Posters reads, Much evil and wrongdoing to the family. The text on the bottle says vodka. (I. Fridman / Fuel Publishing) (Fuel Publishing / Fuel Publishing) Russian historian Alexei Pluster-Sarno outlines a history of Soviet drinking and the proliferation of illegal home brewing in the book. Some bootleggers distilled organic waste or contaminated their brew with toxic oils; addicts resorted to dangerous substitutes, in some cases chugging perfume, drain cleaners and brake fluid. Distillers and breweries forced to manufacture nonalcoholic beverages eventually shut down. It was a failure, Pluster-Sarno said. The results of Gorbachevs campaign were the disintegration of the countrys economy and the mass drinking that followed. SIGN UP for the free Essential Arts & Culture newsletter A 1985 image from Alcohol: Soviet Anti-Alcohol Posters. The text at the bottom reads, His palette is rather broad, from kerosene to varnishes. And no one has been able to figure out so far how to talk sense into such a ... connoisseur! (V . Kyunnap / Fuel Publishing) (Fuel Publishing / Fuel Publishing) A 1981 design from Alcohol: Soviet Anti-Alcohol Posters reads, This is a shameful union -- a slacker + vodka! (V .O. Pashenko / Fuel Publishing) (Fuel Publishing / Fuel Publishing) The cover image from Alcohol: Soviet Anti-Alcohol Posters. (Fuel Publishing) (Fuel Publishing / Fuel Publishing) Support coverage of the SoCal arts scene. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Beverly Center as art gallery? How big-name artists are behind those construction barricades The exhibition that has art fans in a fury: Our critic's take on MOCA's Carl Andre retrospective A groundbreaking show to confront the gender bias in art: 'Women of Abstract Expressionism' A Dolls House, Part 2, which is receiving its world premiere at South Coast Repertory, had its Broadway opening on Thursday at the Golden Theatre in a separate production confirming that Lucas Hnath has written one of the years best plays. Sam Golds production resembles in its tasteful austerity Shelley Butlers slightly more posh West Coast staging. Theres the same looming door that Nora slammed at the end of Ibsens A Dolls House, leaving behind her husband and three small children. Theres the same vacated sitting room, equipped with just a few elegant chairs that can be shuffled around in the unlikely event anyone pays a social call to what looks like a domestic crime scene of a very cold case. The surface of the New York production may be strikingly similar, but the tone is drastically different. What in Costa Mesa plays like a thought-provoking drama has become most emphatically on Broadway a comedy of ideas. Advertisement The change is by turns energizing and slightly irritating, clarifying and a touch diminishing. What was somewhat awkward about the play in California the contrived setup, the smattering of anachronistic cursing, the fuzziness of Noras emotional truth now seems less problematic in the more explicitly comic context. But some dramatic strength is sacrificed in the quest to wring as many laughs from Broadway theatergoers as possible. Golds direction isnt always precisely calibrated, but Laurie Metcalf redeems the production with her sorcery. She deserves a Tony Award not just for her nimble performance as Nora in this millennial sequel to Ibsens classic but for her longstanding service to the American theater. A versatile stage veteran best known for her Emmy-winning performance as Jackie on Roseanne, Metcalf has the ability to fully inhabit a comic universe without effacing more difficult human truth. No actress makes exasperation funnier. Her fuse is as hilariously short as Nathan Lanes. She has the quickest slow burn in the business. But she can also devastate you with the way her face collapses in disappointment like a smashed birthday cake. Her pratfalls reveal her wounds. Gold lets his star do what she does best infuse every line with rasping intensity. The first scene between Metcalfs Nora and Jayne Houdyshells Anne Marie (oddly costumed like a servant sight gag) could use some reining in. The conversation between literatures most famous spousal deserter and the nanny who was a mother both to her and to the children she abandoned 15 years ago, takes on the rhythm of sitcom repartee. A Dolls House, Part 2 isnt typical Broadway fare, and perhaps Gold wants to ensure that theatergoers are contentedly strapped in for the unconventional ride. The movement back to seriousness, however, requires some finessing after the audience has been turned into a live laugh track. Metcalf, fortunately, is up to the challenge. She humanizes Noras thinking even as she exposes her blind spots. Nora, now a successful author of polemical womens literature, has come to define herself by her anti-marriage crusade. She may have left in search of an authentic self, but she has returned as an ideologue and social revolutionary who cares more for her causes than for her own happiness. In my otherwise admiring review of the South Coast Repertory production, I pointed out that Shannon Cochran, while lucidly revealing Noras mind, doesnt disclose much about the characters heart in a performance that keeps the roles humor mostly latent. The Broadway production, tilted more toward intellectual comedy than psychological drama, clarifies that Hnath isnt all that interested in Noras private feelings. The focus is on the collision of viewpoints. Freedom versus responsibility, attachment versus solitude, domestic stability versus individual growth these subjects are thrashed out in the explosive context of gender and social class. The Ibsen-esque crisis Hnath concocts is a pretext to follow up not so much on the characters in A Dolls House but on the unresolved issues of their story. Nora has returned in a jam. Torvald (an affecting Chris Cooper) never filed the divorce papers, and a judge, whose wife has left him after reading one of Noras books, is out for revenge. He threatens to expose Nora as a fraud if she doesnt renounce her radical positions. Nora needs Torvald to finalize the divorce or she could end up in jail. Fearful that Torvald wont be willing to help her, she tries to forge an alliance first with Anne Marie and later with her adult daughter, Emmy (played with pungent and ultimately poignant grace by Condola Rashad). The laughter subsides as the play progresses through a series of gripping duologues that bring to light both the validity and insufficiency of each characters perspective. Nora, in some ways, comes off worst. Anne Marie, in a scene that unleashes Houdyshells marvelous proletariat thunder, faults Nora for not recognizing her economic privilege. Torvald turns Noras criticism of him on its head by saying she never cared a whit for his own humanity. And Emmy, whom Rashad portrays with a mix of steely smiles and subterranean sorrow, abruptly cuts her long absent mother off when she presumes to understand her. Metcalfs glamorously dressed Nora wears her foibles on her expensive sleeve, but she brings deep emotion to the scene in which Nora describes the torture she went through in severing ties with her children. The final moments between Nora and Torvald may not realize the full pathos that was achieved at South Coast Rep, but Metcalfs portrayal elucidates the central insight of Hnaths play that Nora as a character will always be defined by her never-to-be-completed emancipatory quest. A Dolls House, Part 2 shifts rapidly from laughter to fury to sorrow to somber acceptance. I cant think of many performers capable of Metcalfs fearless extremes. The agility of her acting, the way she can reverse course while making it seem like shes simply following the logic of her character, is a marvel. Her performance in Hnaths smart play is one of the headier pleasures of this Broadway season. THE REVIEW: West Coast production of A Dolls House, Part 2" charles.mcnulty@latimes.com Follow me @charlesmcnulty ALSO Bette Midler and Hello, Dolly!: A match that makes for Broadway heaven Evan Hansen, Great Comet, Come From Away: Tony contenders gather to hash out the future of the musical Center Theatre Group at 50: Angela Lansbury, Chris Pine, Rajiv Joseph and others favorite memories from the L.A. stage An A-lister in his native Mexico, Eugenio Derbez has yet to break into the American mainstream. However, How to Be a Latin Lover may be the film that finally introduces him to a wider audience with dialogue in both Spanish and English and plenty of familiar faces. Its humor is broad, but most of the jokes work for the intended audience with a few even breaking through to more resistant viewers. When aging gold digger Maximo (Derbez) is dumped by his octogenarian sugar mama (Renee Taylor), hes forced to move in with his sister (Salma Hayek) and her son (Raphael Alejandro). Broke and jobless, he tries to find a way to seduce his next meal ticket while showing his nephew how to romance his young crush (Mckenna Grace). For a film that relies on cute kid humor, How to Be a Latin Lover gets surprisingly raunchy at times, particularly in scenes featuring Rob Lowe as a boy toy in a bit of genius casting. In addition to Derbez and Lowe, director Ken Marino has assembled a cast of people who arent afraid to be entirely silly in pursuit of a laugh: Kristen Bell, Michael Cera, Rob Corddry, Rob Huebel, Rob Riggle and Michaela Watkins. The comedy could have and should have been 25 minutes shorter, but how else would they have packed in all the stars? Advertisement ------------- How to Be a Latin Lover In English and Spanish, with English subtitles Rating: PG-13, for crude humor, sexual references and gestures, and for brief nudity. Running time: 1 hour, 55 minutes Playing: In general release See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com For years, as he was banging it out as an aspiring writer-director, J.D. Dillard would fantasize about someday watching his first feature film with an audience at the same theater outside of Philadelphia that hed gone to as a kid. Now that long-dreamed-of day has finally come as Dillards directorial debut, the sci-fi-superhero-family-drama genre mash-up Sleight, hits theaters on Friday. But he wont be in Philadelphia to see the movie or even in this country. Hell be thousands of miles away across the Pacific Ocean, shooting his next film in Fiji. Its weird to not be able to see my first movie play theatrically and just hear about it, Dillard, 29, said earlier this month by phone from New Zealand, where he was prepping for production on a survival-horror thriller called Sweetheart. Advertisement Not that hes complaining. Just a few years ago, Dillard was working as a receptionist at J.J. Abrams production company, Bad Robot. Like many struggling would-be filmmakers, he has known what it feels like to max out your credit cards and default on your student loans. Now hes got what any young director would consider a true high-class problem. The fact that Im shooting another movie and Im in Fiji its been incredibly hard to garner any semblance of sympathy, he said dryly. Co-written by Dillard and his writing partner, Alex Theurer, Sleight remixes familiar ingredients from films like Iron Man, Chronicle and Menace II Society into an unfamiliar hybrid. The story centers on a young L.A. street magician and small-time drug dealer named Bo (Jacob Latimore) who runs afoul of a local crime boss (Dule Hill) and has to draw upon homemade superpowers in order to save himself and his younger sister. Though it echoes certain elements from big-budget comic-book tentpole films, the film was shot on a tiny six-figure budget that wouldnt cover the cost of craft services on a Marvel or DC movie. To create the illusion of a ring floating in the air in one of Bos magic tricks, Dillards crew relied not on any fancy CGI but on a simple piece of nearly invisible string tied to the end of a broomstick just out of the frame. If you look at pictures from my iPhone from the set, it looks like were making a student film, Dillard said. Theres nothing glamorous about the way we pulled some of the things off. Still, it paid off. Sleight has proved a superpowered calling card for Dillard. Debuting at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, the film earned considerable buzz and was picked up by WWE Studios and Blumhouse Productions, which is releasing it in 550 theaters through its BH Tilt division. Blumhouse has also partnered with Dillard for Sweetheart, which he co-wrote with Theurer and Alex Hyner and will star Kiersey Clemons. Meanwhile, Dillard and Theurer have been brought on to develop a remake of The Fly for 20th Century Fox, with Dillard attached to direct. At Sundance, someone on my team saw Sleight and said to me, You have to see this, said Blumhouse founder and CEO Jason Blum, who has scored two major hits this year with Split and Get Out. As someone who focuses on micro-budget movies, it was incredible to see how J.D. could make a movie on a tiny budget that looks like it was made on a massive one. Review: Magic and a gritty drama make a star of Jacob Latimore in Sleight In an industry that is constantly searching for better ways to build the high-concept-tentpole mousetrap, that ability has become highly prized. In recent years, Hollywood executives have increasingly been looking to filmmakers from the indie world to helm big-budget films, whether its Gareth Edwards, who went directly from the little-seen Monsters to the behemoth Godzilla, or Jon Watts, who will make the leap from the $800,000 indie Cop Car to this summers Spider-Man: Homecoming. Still, Dillard is trying not to get too far ahead of himself. Look, if I could make a Boba Fett movie tomorrow, of course I would go there, said the director, a diehard Star Wars fan who has a tattoo of the interstellar bounty hunter on his arm. In anything that I make, there is an aspect of wanting to prove to myself that I could handle a story in the Star Wars universe or a story in the Jurassic Park universe or whatever. But thats not the head space that I operate in going into it. Thats not the endgame. There are plenty of cautionary tales along that road, said Theurer, speaking of the leap from micro-budget scale to tentpole realm. The goal is absolutely to grow its just making sure that were ready for it one step at a time. Originally written as a short film, Sleight bloomed into a feature just as Dillards frustration with the fits-and-starts life of a young screenwriter was reaching a peak. Having spent several months working as an assistant to Abrams and his family while Abrams was directing 2015s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Dillard came back determined to finally get his own movie made. Watching my favorite film franchise come to life with one of my favorite filmmakers that certainly sets a fire in you of just wanting to go make something, Dillard said. We had Sleight up and running within six months. As a young black filmmaker in an industry that has been facing pressure to place more minority talent behind the camera and in front of it, Dillard has felt the push and pull of the diversity issue from all sides. At this stage of my career, a big thing Ive had to figure out is what I want my contribution to be to this conversation Dule Hill, left, Seychelle Gabriel, J.D. Dillard and Jacob Latimore, from the film Sleight. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) At this stage of my career, a big thing Ive had to figure out is what I want my contribution to be to this conversation, he said. Its funny because you make a movie about a black kid and so many of the next things that are in your inbox are, like, Cool, so do you want to do this kind of Chi-raq drama? or Do you want to do the first black firefighter movie? This is not to devalue any other type of movie or any other approach that a filmmaker of color might have, but my goal is really just about different faces, he continued. Im not immediately attracted to stories that are solely, narrowly about the black experience necessarily. But by having a really big, cool genre movie center on women or people of color having a really fun and dreadful horror-survival movie that just stars Kiersey Clemons thats at least where I would like to start to close the gap. For the moment, Dillard is just trying to savor the moment as he watches his first film finally reach theaters albeit all the way from Fiji. He still remembers when, back in high school, he bought a script for the pilot of the TV series Lost off eBay to try to get a sense of how that kind of genre-scrambling story was put together. Ive been looking for the receipt, he said, because I want to confirm how much I spent on it I swear it was like $60. To have watched Lost co-creator Abrams work up-close and then shortly thereafter go on to make his own movie that played at Sundance and will now hit theaters nationwide its a lot for Dillard to wrap his head around. Honestly, every single step weve take with Sleight has just been met with shock and gratitude, he said and then laughed. I was thrilled that we even finished the movie. josh.rottenberg@latimes.com Twitter: @joshrottenberg UNDERRATED Seed: The Untold Story on PBS: With the world struggling to navigate a crisis on seemingly every front, dedicating another hour to learn of another isnt an easy proposition. That said, when the issue involves our food supply and roughly 94% of seed supplies vanishing in the wake of genetically modified, corporate-owned varietals that are less resistant to disease, then attention must be paid. Directed by Taggart Siegel and Jon Betz, Seed offers a grim look at a disaster in the making, but its lingering message remains hopeful in examining the characters dedicated to protecting our agricultural diversity and, to an extent, a 12,000-year-old legacy of civilization. Ross Hammonds Follow Your Heart: A restless, road-tested artist who has spent over 10 years of exploring and improvising with the likes of L.A. favorites Vinny Golia and Alex Cline, this Sacramento-based guitarist has dedicated his career to navigating various tributaries of jazz and unclassifiable music. For his latest recording, Hammond is backed by the reverberations of a more than 100-year-old church, taking the rich, ringing tones of six- and 12-string guitars through an improvised, intimate journey to where the acoustic Americana of John Fahey meets the spiritual. (Hammond performs at ETA in Highland Park on April 30 at 9 p.m.) Advertisement OVERRATED The prospects for The President Show: Following in the footsteps of the 2001 faux-presidential sitcom Thats My Bush! and the animated series Lil Bush six years later, Comedy Central this week launched this series imagining President Trump as host of his own late-night talk show. While the network and the weekly series impersonator-in-chief Anthony Atamanuik deserve credit for going with such an audacious premise, is there a Thursday night you can imagine where after a full day of coverage of the Executive Branch on the news and elsewhere, then settling in for another half-hour, even in jest? Its a fun stunt, but reelection seems unlikely. Recapturing the magic of Guardians of the Galaxy: In the next few days, the anticipated second installment of this franchise will become one of the biggest money-making machines of the summer. But is anyone else a little leery of an effort to capture its peculiar sort of lightning in a bottle again? Sure, it was impossible to not enjoy a film that brought a welcome sense of silliness to the Marvel universe on the strength of the goofy charisma of Chris Pratt, a profanity-spewing raccoon and the judicious use of a classic rock mix-tape. But sequels are a dangerous business, especially when comedy is involved, and once youve seen one talking tree, youve seen them all. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour chris.barton@latimes.com Follow me over here @chrisbarton. ALSO: WASHINGTON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he would prefer a diplomatic approach to solving the Korean Peninsula issue, but warned that a major conflict with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is possible. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," Trump told Reuters in an interview, adding that "there is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea (DPRK). Absolutely." Senior officials of the Trump administration on Wednesday briefed members of the U.S. Congress on Washington's policy towards the DPRK. Trump aims to use economic sanctions and diplomatic measures to pressure the DPRK into dismantling its nuclear and missile programs, U.S. officials said in a statement after the briefing. "We are engaging responsible members of the international community to increase pressure on the DPRK in order to convince the regime to de-escalate and return to the path of dialogue," said the statement. The statement was jointly issued by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats. The United States seeks stability and the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, calling the DPRK's pursuit of nuclear weapons "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority," said the statement. "We remain open to negotiations towards that goal. However, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies." Natalia Vodianova has been ranked by Forbes as among the worlds highest-paid supermodels, but that doesnt mean she throws her money around. I try to buy very little, said the Russian model and philanthropist on a recent spring day. We recycle within our own family. My younger kids wear clothes that the older ones used to. Given Vodianovas leanings toward sustainability, she is a fitting choice as the face of the campaign for H&Ms Conscious Exclusive line, a collection of occasion wear fashioned from eco-friendly fabrications (for example, one such fabric is recycled shoreline waste). The collection of about 35 styles for men, women and children launched April 20 worldwide and is available in stores and at www.hm.com. Advertisement Dressed in a top with shimmering burnt orange paillettes and fluid black pants from the collection, Vodianova, a mother of five children ranging from 10 months to 15 years, was in Los Angeles from Paris in late March to attend a launch party for the collection at the fittingly green venue, SmogShoppe. H&Ms creative advisor, Ann-Sofie Johansson, said she hoped that the offering would turn the notion of sustainable style on its head. Model Natalia Vodianova and H&Ms Ann-Sofie Johansson (Charley Gallay / Getty Images) There is a misconception that its beige and linen. We want to show we can be fashionable and sustainable at the same time, she said, noting a short cocktail dress thickly crusted with dusky rose glitter sequins and a floaty shoulder-baring dress with slight ruffles down its length in burnished gold-embossed white. Prices are H&M-friendly, ranging from $20 to $210. Before mingling with guests such as Chrissy Teigen, Orlando Bloom and Kate Mara, Vodianova sat down to chat about why sustainability is important to her. What drew you to H&Ms Conscious Exclusive line? With Conscious Exclusive, you are getting something affordable but also beautiful and made from organic and sustainable materials. Does it tie in with your lifestyle choices? Consumerism today is crazy. The collection spoke to my values as a mother and as someone very active in philanthropic work. What causes does your Naked Heart Foundation support? The big cause of my life is inclusivity. We support education in Russia. My sister was born with special needs. My whole life has been dictated by that. We were very poor, and Ive been working since I was 11. But I learnt patience and resilience. When you are as poor as we were, you have this incredible pride because its all you have. Has the fashion community been supportive? I could never have done it without the support of the fashion industry. I enjoy being a part of it so much. Its the driving force behind my charity work. Ive never had a no from the industry. Given your success, do you continue to feel the need to give back? I wouldnt be happy just being a princess in this glamorous fashion world. I still live an intense and beautiful life, but Im grateful that I can make a difference in the lives of others. image@latimes.com Twitter: @latimesimage ALSO 8 ways a guy can add pink to his wardrobe Runway shows by Opening Ceremony and Wiz Khalifa to headline Made L.A.'s June 9 and 10 event downtown Union, a best-kept secret for men, mixes high-end European labels and current streetwear finds Earlier this month saw the opening of the latest Ted Baker London outpost this one in the Westfield Century City mall. The newest Ted Baker shop is in addition to stand-alone stores on Robertson Boulevard as well as one at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. The nearly 3,000-square-foot space in Century City was inspired by the historic Magic Castle in Los Angeles. Along with plush velvet curtains and mannequins that rise from beneath the floor, the stores decor includes warped checkered walls and distorted mirrors. The British fashion and accessories brand is known for its elegant but slightly quirky sensibility. (Check out the sprinkle of peach blossoms adorning a full skirt for spring or the short-sleeve mens shirts with a flamingo print.) Advertisement The design of each Ted Baker store is unique, with whimsical details inspired by the city the store is located in perfectly pitched with some British culture, said Craig Smith, brand communications director for Ted Baker. All of these components create retail theater. Prices start at less than $100 for small gift items such as woven accessories and go to about $1,000 for womenswear and $1,700 for menswear. Ted Baker London, Westfield Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, www.tedbaker.com A look at Platform in Culver City. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times) Find a gift for mom at upcoming Fashion Mamas event Almanac of Style (think silk wrap dresses), Haati Chai (delicate gold anklets) and Paradise People (color-blocked cotton beach blankets) will be among the indie brands at Platform from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 6 for a day of bazaar-style shopping. Held the weekend before Mothers Day, the Mama Market event will showcase products from female-owned businesses in fashion, accessories, wellness and homeware. This day-long happening, which is free and open to the public, is organized by Fashion Mamas, which was founded by Natalie Alcala, a Los Angeles freelance fashion editor. (Fashion Mamas is a members-only group of mothers who work in fashion and creative fields.) The events 30-plus booths will be spread through Platforms outdoor space and chic Spanish footwear brand Freda Salvador will be the host of an after-party. Fashion Mamas shopping event at Platform, 8850 Washington Blvd., Culver City, www.platformla.com French label Maje launches nine-piece denim capsule collection The penthouse at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood was the setting earlier this month for the official launch of a nine-piece, denim-inspired capsule collection from French brand Maje. Gillian Jacobs (Community and Love) and Moran Atias (Tyrant and 24: Legacy) were among guests at the cozy alfresco lunch, mingling around a specially-built, denim-blue wooden vehicle modeled after a vintage Renault. Atias was in a slender, retro-inspired sleeveless bell-bottomed jumpsuit with zipper from the brand (which is pronounced mahj), while Jacobs wore a two-toned cropped jacket. Judith Milgrom, founder and artistic director of the 20-year-old, Paris-based womenswear and accessories brand, was inspired by shades of the sky and sea for the Maje collection, interspersed with white or pallid greens and reds. Milgrom likes to play with volume and proportion. So a breezy shirt dress has oversized pockets, A-line skirts taper out generously mid-calf and a voluminous jacket was inspired by the roomy lines of a kimono. The collection, which starts at $190, is available at Maje stores in Beverly Hills, the Beverly Center and South Coast Plaza as well as at Bloomingdales and online. us.maje.com Schutz metallic summer slides. (Vinicius / Schutz) Schutz offers Cali Love with new beach slides This month, Brazilian footwear brand Schutz celebrated the first year of business for its 2,800-square-foot Beverly Hills location and launched a series of metallic beach slides, which boast phrases such as Malibu Baby and Cali Love. The phrases are super-fun, said Alexandre Birman, founder and chief executive of Schutz (the word means protection in German), during a recent party where model Hailey Baldwin and other guests mingled. Theyre really very Los Angeles. The slides, which come in summer shades such as metallic copper and turquoise, retail for $125 and are available at Schutz in Beverly Hills and online. Birman said the price point of the brand is part of its appeal. The majority of the all-leather, on-trend shoes sell for less than $200. The City of Angels has a special significance for Birman. When he visited Los Angeles in 1995, he was struck by the high-stacked, cork wedge shoes that he saw being worn by women on Melrose Avenue. I had the idea to start making ladies shoes that had a natural feeling, he said. Our brand is warm, Latin there is a different type of vibration in everything we do, and we try to translate that to our stores and our shoes. Schutz, 314 Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, schutz-shoes.com image@latimes.com @latimesimage ALSO Everything But Water swims into new Century City space; Joey Wolffers boho bags land in Culver City Sofia Carson and Bruno Tonioli on hand as Los Angeles Ballet Gala raises nearly $1 million Style sightings: Hailey Baldwin celebrates with footwear brand Schutz at a Beverly Hills party If you wander by Side Chick at the right time of day, you can see an absurd number of whole chickens being prepped for that days service, both steaming pyramids of plump, pale birds fresh from their poaching liquid and burnished roast birds oozing a bit from the spot where they have been pierced by the spit. Flashing cleavers reduce the chickens to their constituent parts. You could walk down the corridor to the other food spaces in this Asian corner of the Santa Anita mall, toward crabs or udon or even the dumplings at Din Tai Fung, but Side Chick, which specializes in Hainan chicken rice, exerts a powerful pull. There may be a thick pane of glass between you and the production kitchen, but you can imagine the cooking smells of a dozen grandmothers in that tiny room, all chicken, ginger and garlic; roasted skin and sweetly burnt soy. Johnny Lee, who is nothing if not a showman, surely had this affect in mind. For the record: An earlier version of this review said Johnny Zone left Papille for Howlin Rays. He left La Poubelle. You have run into Lee, Im almost sure of it. He came from working with John Sedlar at Rivera to be the cook at the Monterey Park bar Spirit House, where he stuffed 24-hour roast Chinese pork into tacos and made exquisitely crisp French fries that required a three-day process. His Thai-style chicken rice at Sticky Rice was the best reason to visit Grand Central Market in the early days of its gentrification. He worked with Alvin Cailan on Eggslut, Ramen Champ and any number of Hainan chicken rice pop-ups. Advertisement What does Side Chick serve? Hainan chicken rice, and also roast chicken, chicken salad, cold sesame noodles with chicken and spicy fried chicken wings. The drinks are more or less limited to water, wintermelon tea and iced tea with lemon. If youve got to have vegetables, there are vegetables well, one vegetable, something like bok choy, either stir-fried with garlic or steamed and served with oyster sauce. I have been waiting years for Lee to open a proper restaurant where his imagination and his chops might meld into a fresh take on L.A.-school Asian cooking. I have since figured out that he may be playing a different kind of long game, less focused on glory than on what Ive come to think of as Side Hustle Cuisine the recipes that chefs make for their friends on Sunday afternoons, retooled for a wider public. Side Hustle Cuisine couldnt be more of the times. Chicken being prepared at Side Chick. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) I have been waiting years for Lee to open a proper restaurant where his imagination and his chops might meld into a fresh take on L.A.-school Asian cooking. Forty years ago, the ideal for an American chef was probably somebody like Andre Soltner, who lived above his own restaurant and cooked exquisite French food for the rich and powerful. Later, chefs wanted to be 80-era Wolfgang Puck, whose portfolio of restaurants was small enough to control but profitable enough to permit him to inhabit the same social circles as his customers. The next decade belonged to guys like Ducasse, Robuchon and Vongerichten, three-star chefs whose empires spanned three continents; after that, maybe the TV guys whose restaurants occasionally seemed more concerned with branding than they were with what appeared on the plate. Now if you are a young culinarian with considerable talents, it is hard not to think about the career arcs of Steve Ells, who went from being a line cook to founding Chipotle; David Chang, whose path began with a modest ramen parlor; or Danny Meyers, whose Union Square Cafe eventually begat Shake Shack. You are not unaware of the way Andrew Cherng rolled a Pasadena Chinese restaurant into Panda Express. In Los Angeles, Ludo Lefebvre has fried chicken stands, Neal Fraser and Josiah Citrin sling hot dogs, and the partners behind New Yorks 11 Madison Park, recently anointed the best restaurant in the world, operate a Los Angeles sandwich truck. Nobody thought it was a step down when Johnny Zone left La Poubelle to make hot chicken at Howlin Rays. And as any stall holder at Smorgasburg can tell you, the dream is never far away. If a chef makes one thing exceedingly well, it may be enough. So does Lee make the best Hainan chicken rice in Los Angeles? He probably does, which is to say that its done well enough to make the question one of personal preference rather than of quality of ingredients or consistency in preparation. The chicken (organic) is poached in that time-consuming Chinese way that leaves the flesh a bit slack, although cooked all the way through, well salted though not briny, and with a hint of unmelted fat still clinging to the underside of the skin. The sauces include dense, sweet soy; a very creditable ginger puree lightened with minced green onion; and a vinegared hot sauce that somehow tastes more American than Chinese. The dome of rice by far the most difficult, important aspect of the dish is dense and garlicky, scattered with fried shallots for crunch, displaying but not dominated by the taste of the chicken broth in which it has been steamed. A lot of Hainan chicken rice seems as if each grain has been coated in chicken fat, keeping them loose, separate and a bit chewy, but Lee seems doing something else here, folding in a bit of schmaltz to give richness and fragrance as you might fold a quail-egg yolk into a serving of steak tartare. Will there be 1,000 Side Chicks some day, giving this mall stand the resonance of the first El Pollo Loco on Alvarado or the original Pasadena Trader Joes? Its hard to know. But while you might hate Lees aesthetic and I still yearn for the chicken rice at the old Swee Kee in Singapore Lees version is pretty first-rate. :: Side Chick Where to find chef Johnny Lees Hainan chicken? Head to the mall LOCATION 400 Baldwin Ave., Arcadia (in the Westfield Santa Anita mall), (626) 688-3879. PRICES Dishes $8-$13.50; side dishes $3-$5. DETAILS Open Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Credit cards accepted. No alcohol. Mall lot parking. RECOMMENDED DISHES Hainan chicken rice. MORE FROM JONATHAN GOLD At Mas, Jonathan Gold finds hearty, spicy food just like your Chinese Islamic mother used to make Its a panda dumpling. How can you not? Jonathan Gold couldnt resist either Jonathan Gold: Indian has flipped to Italian at AR Cucina and its time to order a negroni jonathan.gold@latimes.com @thejgold Were going to go right, left, right right, Shamell Bell called out to a group of people learning to do the Dougie, a street dance created in Dallas. But they werent in a dance studio or at a party, they were dancing directly in front of Los Angeles Police Department headquarters. She called it street dance activism. This was after the August 2014 death of Ezell Ford, a 25-year-old mentally ill black man shot by police near his home. After camping out for days to demand the firing of officers involved in the shooting, activist Bell wanted to help lift spirits. A lifelong dancer, she invited her friend, well-known L.A. street dancer Dashawn Day Day Blanks, to teach social dances like the jerk and the reject that had been created in black communities. Even in the face of tragedy, she found that the protesters were joyous when they danced smiling and laughing as police officers looked on. They were dancing for one another, but more importantly, for themselves. Advertisement Some people think I should be out there doing Alvin Ailey Revelations, Bell says. But some of these people are not going to connect with that. Im connecting with what kids are doing now. The seeds for street dance activism were planted with the 2012 death of Trayvon Martin. After Bell learned Martins shooter George Zimmerman was able to walk free, she immediately headed to L.A.s hot spot for arts and activism: Leimert Park. Anytime as a black artist you want to express yourself, you come to Leimert, Bell says. Anytime you have some type of emotional response to whats going on to society, you come to Leimert. At Leimert Park, Bell and others created what would eventually become the L.A. chapter of Black Lives Matter. And as more fatal shootings caught national attention over the next few years, Bell continued teaching dance to change the way people protest. Shes taught at protests and rallies at the L.A. mayors house and the Pasadena Courthouse. As a doctoral student in culture and performance, Bell ran into others who used their art for the movement, so she formed a group of dancers and artists around L.A. who fight racism, police brutality, sexism and homophobia by creating works that force people to contend with these issues. They call themselves The Balance Collective. Dancer and choreographer Cherese Chambers shares a personal story. In addition to street dances, some people like MFA students Bernard Brown and Jade Robertson choreograph pieces for a stage setting that mix contemporary dance with hip-hop and African styles. In one piece, Brown asked viewers to stand in a circle. While an audio recording of a man begging police for his life played, Brown danced in the center. He also gave several viewers slips of paper with instructions they were to call out derogatory names when prompted. Afterwards, participants discussed what they saw and how it made them feel. Im not taking my protest to the street, but Im asking people in the communities I travel in to grapple with these questions, Brown says. Its asking people to place themselves in these situations that may happen. Other dancers such as Marquisa Gardner, known in the dance world as Miss Prissy, and Deidra Cooper, known as Krucial the Liberator, krump, an energetic and emotional dance born on the streets of South L.A. Krucial was part of a group of dancers who performed in front of Mayor Eric Garcettis house. It felt like I was dancing for the people who couldnt dance no more, the people whose lives were taken away from the police, Krucial says. Like my ancestors were dancing to the beat of the drums and feeling it. Bell believes that more people should be knowledgeable about the power of dance. By hosting street dance activism workshops in L.A. and across the country, theyre also teaching others how to use art for justice. Last year, Bell and her collective hosted a workshop at Pieter Performance Space, where around 30 people learned social dances and how they could also use their art to create change. I teach because its not about me. I wish I could fade into the background, Bell says. This work is about us using art as a platform to save ourselves so we can save others. makeda.easter@latimes.com and steve.saldivar@latimes.com Twitter: @makedaeaster; @stevesaldivar A 35-year-old man pleaded no contest Thursday to killing his grandparents two years ago in the Glendale home he shared with them. Nathaniel Scheiern entered the pleas for one count each of first-degree murder and second-degree murder. He faces 41 years to life in prison. The Los Angeles County district attorneys office said that Scheiern first attacked his 82-year-old grandmother, Verna Scheiern, with an ax before striking his 77-year-old grandfather, William Scheiern, with a hammer when William tried to intervene. Advertisement According to testimony during a preliminary hearing in 2016, the couples bodies were discovered when Nathaniel Scheierns sister called for a well-being check. An officer who went to the home found the front door open; the decomposing bodies were discovered on a twin-sized bed, with a blanket covering them. Police found a bloodied hammer a few feet away from the bodies and an ax embedded in a wall caked with dried blood. Authorities tracked down Nathaniel Scheiern at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia, where he was being treated for injuries he suffered in a car crash the day after the killings. Glendale Police Det. Jeff Davis testified in 2016 that Scheiern confessed to the killings after his arrest and that he tried to behead the bodies. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 22. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Nguyen writes for Times Community News In the world of spiders, sometimes the unexpected discoveries can be the most rewarding. Cody Raiza went to Laguna Coast Wilderness Park last month in search of a particular type of spider. The UC Berkeley biology student did not find what she was looking for, but the trip was hardly a waste. Advertisement Raizas goal was finding spiders in the genus Habronattus jumping spiders. She had become intrigued with spiders while in Fullerton College professor Lenny Vincents class and decided to focus her current research on them. Professors at San Diego State recommended Laguna Coast Wilderness Park to Raiza and Vincent, so the two decided to venture out. Raiza said she was walking on a dirt trail in the park when a lizard scampered in front of her. She noticed some dead leaves on the ground and thought it would be a good spot to look for the desired spider. As Raiza moved leaves, a bright orange creature caught her eye. It was running around, and I tried to catch it real fast, Raiza said. I was surprised a jumping spider looks like an ant. Raiza met Vincent on another part of the trail, and they sifted through occasional patches of dead leaves. They found several of the orange critters along with one ant species that the spider mimics. To the untrained eye, the spiders resemble ants because of their similar size, color and shape. Neither Raiza nor Vincent could immediately identify the spiders while on the trail. Vincent took the arachnids home to take photos and do some investigation of his own. He sent the pictures to two spider specialists, including David Richman, retired professor of entomology at New Mexico State University and curator emeritus of the Arthropod Museum. Richman said the spider was undescribed, meaning the species has not been named in published literature. It is likely that the spiders evolved to look and act like ants to deter predators, Richman said. Most birds find ants distasteful, Richman said. Some ants will sting. bryce.alderton@latimes.com Alderton writes for Times Community News A Northern California man was arrested Friday after authorities say he launched firebomb attacks on police and two black neighbors. Matthew Scott Jones, 39, was arrested at 1:40 a.m. on suspicion of attempted murder, committing a hate crime, arson and possessing destructive devices with the intent to injure people and commit murder, Fairfield police Sgt. Matt Bloesch said. Police think Jones was acting alone and had used small propane tanks in the attacks, he said. Its kind of wild, Bloesch said. The chaotic scene unfolded Thursday night in Fairfield, a Solano County city east of Vallejo. Advertisement The first attack occurred about 10 p.m. Thursday when a device was thrown into the window of an apartment, police said. Firefighters doused the flames as police evacuated neighboring apartments and the bomb squad examined device. Two people inside the apartment were not injured. Bloesch said Jones targeted the victims because they are black and that he had directed racial slurs at them during the past month. An hour later, Bloesch said, police received a report of a car fire that had erupted several blocks of away. The fire, he said, was intentionally set. A couple of hours later, an explosion occurred in front of the Fairfield Police Department lobby, Bloesch said. Surveillance video footage showed the suspect committing the act in front of the Police Department, police said. Officers identified Jones as the suspect and stopped him while he was driving near the scene of the first attack, police said. Hours after Jones was arrested, authorities discovered another device in the yard of a chemical company on Friday afternoon, Bloesch said. Two propane tanks had been taped together and left in the yard. Police think Jones set the device in the yard, he said. Authorities are concerned there could be more devices. Its like finding a needle in a haystack, Bloesch said. He urged residents to report any suspicious devices to authorities. The safety of the public is our No. 1 concern, Bloesch said. According to Bloesch, Jones had been acting erratically for the past month. Detectives were working to determine a motive for the attacks. The FBI is assisting the Police Department in the investigation. veronica.rocha@latimes.com Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA An eighth-grader at a San Diego County middle school has been arrested on suspicion of selling marijuana gummy bears to other students, some whom got sick, officials said. The unidentified male student at Bonita Vista Middle School is suspected of selling the drug-laced candy to several other students during school hours at the Chula Vista campus, district spokesman Manny Rubio said. Two of the students who ate the gummy bears became ill and paramedics was called. They were treated at the school and released to their parents, Rubio said. Advertisement The boy accused of selling the contraband was arrested and released to his parents, Chula Vista police said. The case will be forwarded to investigators with the district attorneys office, who will decide whether to file charges. Its unclear what repercussions the students who ingested the drugs will face. lyndsay.winkley@latimes.com Investigators and scent-detecting dogs are searching the home of a South Pasadena man whose 5-year-old son vanished last weekend. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department began executing a search warrant Friday morning at the home of Aramazd Andressian Sr. in the 2000 block of Alpha Avenue, according to Deputy Grace Medrano, a department spokeswoman. The dogs were looking for any evidence that would help deputies find Aramazd Andressian Jr., Medrano said in a written statement. Authorities also searched the Cachuma Lake Recreation Area in Santa Barbara County this week for any clues to Aramazds whereabouts. Advertisement Andressian, 35, was arrested in connection with his sons disappearance, but he was released from jail Tuesday. His attorney said the case was dismissed because of insufficient evidence. The investigation into the Aramazds whereabouts began Saturday when Andressian was supposed to drop off the boy with the childs mother in San Marino. But Andressian never showed, South Pasadena police Chief Art Miller said. Police later discovered that Andressian had been hospitalized earlier that morning when he was found alone and unconscious outside his car in South Pasadenas Arroyo Park. Miller said theres no evidence suggesting the boys father was attacked, and investigators dont know why he was unconscious. Officers searched the park and surrounding neighborhood for the boy, but did not find him. The couple are in the process of getting a divorce but share custody of their child, Miller said. The mother told investigators she had handed her son off to his father about 8 a.m. April 15 in Baldwin Park, authorities said. She last saw her son April 20 during a Skype video conversation, the Sheriffs Department said. Aramazd is 3 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs about 55 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes, as well as a small mole on his right shoulder, authorities said. He was last seen wearing a turquoise shirt and plaid shorts. veronica.rocha@latimes.com Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA A woman was shot and killed Thursday outside a wildlife sanctuary in a suburban area of Northern California, authorities said. The woman was slain about 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Walnut Creek, an affluent city about 25 miles east of San Francisco. Walnut Creek police said she was shot outside the Lindsay Wildlife Experience, which takes in and cares for injured and stranded animals. The facility also serves as a public museum. Museum spokeswoman Elisabeth Nardi said officials dont know whether the victim was a visitor to the facility. It closed for the day after the shooting. Advertisement No arrests have been made, and police have not released the victims name or age. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in November 2012, China has successfully carried out operations called Fox Hunt and Sky Net to crackdown corruption, as well as issued red notices to hunt down corruption fugitives abroad. The People's Bank of China and the Central Bank are cooperating with the Ministry of Public Security in cracking down on money transfers through offshore companies and underground banks. Recently, Chinese authorities have exposed personal information and whereabouts on 22 fugitives to urge surrender. In a commentary published on April 28, 2017, the Peoples Daily points out that Chinas anti-corruption campaigns are launched to seal off the suspects shelter abroad, letting them have nowhere to hide. China has zero tolerance for the corrupted fugitives and will do whatever it takes to hunt them down. No country in the world can solve the problem of corruption on its own, and an international collaboration is needed. The establishment of an international system for corruption prevention and punishment can effectively suppress corruption in the world. (This commentary is from the editorial board of the People's Daily) Three days before the rioting began, the Rev. Cecil L. Murray took to the pulpit for his Sunday sermon. Be cool, Murray implored. Even in anger, be cool. For weeks, the 62-year-old pastor of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church had watched anger and distrust grow in his community with each replaying of the video the inescapable footage showing Los Angeles police officers cruelly beating Rodney King. And if youre gonna burn something down, dont burn down the house of the victims, brother! Burn down the Legislature! Burn down the courtroom! he said. Advertisement His words were an appeal for calm, an effort to temper brewing frustrations as the jury deliberation was about to go into its fourth day. He wiped the sweat off his brow. Behind him on the altar, a mural depicted the churchs illustrious history in the city. In front of him, above the pews filled with parishioners, were the the words, First to Serve. Burn it down by voting, brother! Burn it down by standing with us at Parker Center, brother! Burn it down by saying to [Police Chief] Daryl Gates: This far, and no farther! It was April 1992. Murray had led the citys oldest and perhaps most politically active black church for almost 15 years. Back then, First AME played an outsize role in South Los Angeles, serving as a political and religious forum and a place for dialogue about issues facing the city most notably the communitys rocky relations with the police department. The oldest black congregation in L.A., First AME was the place national politicians went to reach black voters. It also was a social services organization that helped with housing, childhood education and low-income loans. The church built in the Late Modern style by famed African American architect Paul R. Williams sits on a bluff in the West Adams district, long a fashionable address for the citys black residents, with commanding views of Los Angeles. The King tape, with its grainy and harshly lit images, offered proof to the world of the brutal disregard the Los Angeles Police Department had for African Americans. The trial of Sgt. Stacey C. Koon and Officers Laurence M. Powell, Timothy E. Wind and Theodore J. Briseno had become a test of justice. The defense attorneys, Murray continued, his voice rising in indignation, are trying to convince us that we didnt see what we thought we saw on that video. I dont know what you saw, but I saw a man being brutalized! I saw an unarmed man being brutalized! I saw an unarmed, prostrate man being brutalized! But only a few believed that justice would be served, and Murray feared for the worst. Twenty-seven years earlier, six days of looting and arson had consumed the neighborhood of Watts. Thirty-four people had died. The city, Murray believed, could not afford a replay of that violence. We had all thanked God for the video Three days later, Murrays anxiety had not eased. Around lunchtime on April 29, word spread that the jury had reached a decision. An announcement would be made that afternoon. The pastor knelt before the altar to pray. He asked God to empower us to help liberty become liberty and justice for all. For weeks, Murray had been meeting with the mayor, Tom Bradley; the president of the Los Angeles Urban League, John Mack, and other city officials and community leaders to craft a plan for this moment. They knew that with just a spark of violence and overreaction from the police, the city could ignite. They decided to hold a rally on the night the verdict was announced. If the verdict is just, Murray explained at the time, we must ask: Where do we go from here? If the verdict is unjust, we must ask: Where do we go from here, and how do we maintain stability? Ushers placed speakers on the rooftop of the church to prepare for the large crowd, possibly overflowing into the street. Mack, a respected voice for justice in the city and a fierce critic of the Police Department, rushed to the scene. On several occasions during the three-month trial, he had driven from south L.A. to the courtroom in Simi Valley. He had studied the jurors faces as the prosecution played the tape. They were motionless, he recalled. They sat showing no emotion, no reaction one way or the other. They were stone-faced. I was hoping that the videotape was getting through, making the point that this beating was totally unwarranted. We had all thanked God for the video, recalled Mack, now 80 and retired, who had served after the riots as president of the Los Angeles Police Commission. Still, he wondered whether the jury would see what others had seen in the beating of King. White Angelenos told him the video opened their eyes, and many condemned the officers actions. But the mostly white enclave of Simi Valley was home for many in law enforcement, and jurors drawn from that community might have supported the officers actions. Perhaps naively, we were still hoping against hope that this jury would find those officers guilty, Mack said. As he entered the church, he felt the urgency and fear, an air of great expectation. Nearly 3,000 people had gathered in the sanctuary to watch the verdict on television. Together they heard what they had feared the most. Not guilty not guilty not guilty not guilty. The Rev. Cecil L. Murray listens as the verdicts are announced in the Rodney King trial. (Robert Gabriel / Los Angeles Times) We felt utterly helpless standing there Within an hour of the verdict, Los Angeles police were responding to reports of angry crowds on the streets of South L.A. Police took positions near the corner of Florence and Normandie avenues, a few miles south of the First AME Church. But the crowd got so big the officers had to withdraw, leaving behind a growing mob. More and more people parishioners, strangers, television crews from around the world and community leaders like Mayor Bradley arrived at the church, looking for answers. Murray felt his adrenaline rise. We felt utterly helpless standing there, he recalled a few days later. Soon the palm branches and the fronds would catch; it would leap across the street. We would be consumed. Bradley stood at the pulpit and denounced the verdict, delivering a fiery speech broadcast on television. The jurys verdict, he said, will never outlive the images of the savage beating seared forever into our minds and souls. I understand full well that we must give voice to our great frustration. I know that we must express our profound outrage. But we must do so in ways that bring honor to ourselves and our communities. The reporters who were broadcasting live from the church had placed portable televisions along the pews, giving everyone a view of what was happening in the streets. Everyone huddled to watch video feeds from circling news helicopters showing mobs attacking motorists. A white truck driver named Reginald Denny and a construction worker named Fidel Lopez were dragged from their vehicles and beaten. Among those standing in the church was Kerman Maddox, a political science instructor at Southwest Community College and talk show host at a black-owned radio station. The manager was calling on him to report to the station and go live on the air. I think I need to be here, he told his boss. Outside, Maddox recalled, scores of people were banging on the doors, trying to get inside the church to take part in the services and pray. But it was already filled beyond capacity. Burning like Dantes inferno Murray was sitting in the pews when an usher asked him to come outside. First AME overlooks the Hollywood Hills, the skyline of downtown and a grid of boulevards typically bustling with traffic. But that night, Murray saw the fires of Hell as the riots spread from the south, burning like Dantes inferno. And, as he recalled, they were all coming north. Murray went back in and told Bradley. The mayor went outside to see the destruction with his own eyes. He told the crowd that he had to return to his office. The Rev. Mark Whitlock, head of security at the church, had several men walk Bradley to his car, which was surrounded by people throwing rocks. They ripped the side molding off the car, Whitlock recounted, as security shielded Bradley. That, for me, was an eye awakener, he said. If the mayor of Los Angeles, a respected African American leader, could be treated this way, then the city would burn. Please, allow us to handle them Inside the church, the choir began to sing, an effort to calm those who had gathered. But Murray and Whitlock were not calm. Los Angeles was burning, and they needed to do something. Together with 75 other men, many of whom were pastors dressed in their Sunday suits, they linked arms the night of April 29 and strode onto the main streets near the church, a troop of peace and arbitration. They walked to the corner of Western Avenue and Adams Boulevard, where a landmark of South L.A. had been built: the 1949 Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building, designed by Williams. At its groundbreaking, the Los Angeles Sentinel described it as the finest building to be erected and owned by Negroes in the nation. By the time Murray and his team arrived, the building was in flames. Murray called the fire department. Firefighters said they would come, but young men were attacking them, preventing them from doing their jobs. Murray reassured them. He and the others would stand between the fire crews and the rioters who were throwing rocks. As they took up positions, two men were hit. One had to be taken to the hospital. The biggest challenge, Murray remembered, came when the police arrived. The officers wanted to charge the rioters. We asked: Please, allow us to handle them, Murray recalled telling officers. But the police continued to advance. Murray ordered his crew to stand between the rock throwers and the officers, an action that helped defuse the standoff. What happens to a dream deferred? Early the next morning, Murray and the men canvassed the neighborhood. The pastor recalls thinking about the famous poem by Langston Hughes. What happens to a dream deferred? the poet asks of Harlem. Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or does it explode? Surveying the destruction, the fires and ash, the debris from the looting, Murray had his answer. Twenty-five years later, Murray looks back on that night with pain and hope. He believes the riots finally forced reforms at the LAPD that have significantly improved relations with the black community. The police mentality was altered greatly, he said. Thats one of the positives that came out of that burning. He often wonders whether 1992 could have been prevented had LAPD Chief Gates and the department made changes earlier. After the riots, First AMEs influence continued to grow. The church was a big part of the rebuilding effort, administering a variety of job and small-business programs. Murray retired as pastor in 2004. He now teaches at USCs Center of Religion and Civic Culture and heads a center for community engagement named after him. Even today the tension is real, said Murray, 87. The police are our protectors and our defenders. But the question comes, who will protect us from our protectors? Who will defend us from our defenders? angel.jennings@latimes.com The hits keep coming for Uber and not the good kind. The embattled ride-share company, already buffeted by a barrage of lawsuits and public-relations crises, is being sued again. This time, a driver is alleging that the Silicon Valley behemoths fare structure deliberately shortchanges drivers. In the complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, attorneys for the plaintiff say they seek to have the case designated as a class-action on behalf of all Uber drivers in California. At the center of the lawsuit is Ubers use of upfront pricing. Introduced in major markets last year, the feature provides passengers with the cost of their ride before they summon a car. Uber pitched the fare model as a way to increase transparency and address anger over unexpected rate surges when demand for rides spiked. Advertisement Theres no complicated math and no surprises: Passengers can just sit back and enjoy the ride, the company said in a press statement. However, according to the lawsuit, Uber also took the change as an opportunity to pull off an active, extensive, methodical scheme to defraud drivers. The lawsuit alleges that Uber essentially calculates two fares for each ride one charged to the passenger and a cheaper one used to determine the drivers pay. Uber, according to the suit, then can pocket the difference. The lawsuit claims that the discrepancy between the two prices violates the terms of an agreement Uber drivers must sign, specifying that they will receive the amount charged to passengers minus a percentage the company keeps. In California, Uber generally takes 25%. To bolster their claims, attorneys Bobby Saadian and Daniel Miller representing driver Sophano Van allowed The Times to review photos of receipts that drivers and passengers received from three rides. In one, a rider paid $54.80 to be brought from the Fairfax district in Los Angeles to LAX. But Uber used a fare of $43.55 when calculating the amount it forwarded to the driver, which came to $32.89. The Times could not independently verify that the receipts corresponded to the same ride, although the route and times appeared to match. A spokeswoman for Uber declined to comment on the lawsuit. She acknowledged that the calculations used to determine what passengers are charged and what drivers are paid can differ. Riders agree to a fare upfront, while drivers earn based on the actual length of the journey plus applicable surge and promotions, the spokeswoman wrote in a statement to The Times. There are times when the two differ, and as weve noted before, the rider fare is often lower than what a driver earns for the same trip. Ubers software algorithms calculate the fare charged to riders based primarily on the distance of the trip and an estimated time it will take, as well as factors such as how many drivers are in the area at the time, the company said when it unveiled upfront pricing. But Ubers programs can overestimate or underestimate the distance or duration of a ride, leading to passenger fares that are out of line with the reality, according to the company. The lawsuit is only the latest legal trouble for the company. For years, Uber has been fighting class-action lawsuits that seek to redefine the employment status of drivers in California and elsewhere from independent contractors to full-fledged employees. A ruling against the company would upend a crucial underpinning of its business model, as it would have to pay drivers benefits and reimburse them for gas and other expenses. A $100-million settlement proposed by the company was rejected last year by a federal judge in San Francisco as insufficient. And Uber has been in damage-control mode over a sexual harassment allegation from a former employee that led users to drop the services app from their phones. Google also has sued over alleged theft of trade secrets, and Ubers senior vice president of engineering recently resigned for not disclosing another sexual harassment accusation. joel.rubin@latimes.com Follow @joelrubin on Twitter ALSO Uber self-driving car exec Anthony Levandowski steps aside during Google stolen technology lawsuit Uber could face $1.1-million state fine for failing to investigate drivers accused of being intoxicated The question that continues to loom over Uber and Lyft and vex lawyers Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday urged the United Nations Security Council to impose new economic sanctions on North Korea, warning of a catastrophic outcome if the world fails to block Pyongyangs rush to develop a nuclear warhead that it can put atop a long-range missile. In his debut speech at the U.N., Tillerson also urged Security Council members to further isolate Kim Jong Uns government by suspending or downgrading diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, and threatened to slap penalties on third-party countries that dont comply with existing sanctions. Hours after Tillerson spoke, North Koreas military launched a ballistic missile from north of Pyongyang that apparently crashed nearby or in waters just offshore. U.S. Pacific Command spokesman Cmdr. David Benham said in a statement that the missile did not leave North Korean territory. Advertisement The White House said President Trump was briefed on the launch. Its not known if the missile was meant as a rebuke to the White House, or was just the latest of at least seven short- and mid-range missile tests Pyongyang has conducted this year, several of which have failed. Either way, it served to keep nerves on edge in Washington and other capitals over North Koreas growing nuclear capabilities, a threat that the White House considers its most immediate international concern. Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences, Tillerson told the Security Council. Additional patience will only mean acceptance of a nuclear North Korea. He said the threat of a North Korean nuclear attack on Seoul or Tokyo is real and that it is likely only a matter of time before Pyongyang gains the ability to launch a nuclear-armed missile at the U.S. mainland, probably California. Tillersons address to foreign ministers from the 14 other nations in the Security Council was part of a White House campaign to ratchet up pressure on Pyongyang before it can conduct its sixth underground nuclear test or test-launch its first intercontinental ballistic missile. He spoke a day after President Trump warned that a major, major conflict with North Korea was possible, although he said he was seeking a diplomatic solution. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely, Trump told Reuters in an interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. Wed love to solve things diplomatically but its very difficult. The standoff over North Koreas determined push to expand its nuclear arsenal and to develop more powerful missiles has sparked tensions since the mid-1990s, and previous diplomatic efforts under Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama all ultimately failed. U.S. arms experts believe Pyongyang is within several years of building a nuclear warhead small enough and robust enough for a missile to carry it across the Pacific, and then survive the intense heat of reentry into the atmosphere. The Pentagon sent an aircraft carrier strike force and a nuclear submarine to northeast Asia in the past week in what U.S. officials described as a show of support for allies South Korea and Japan, as well as a warning to North Korea about going too far. Trumps national security team also briefed members of Congress, including an unusual briefing in a White House annex for the 100 members of the Senate. Most Pentagon planners say Kims military, which has thousands of artillery pieces in range of Seoul, South Koreas capital, could inflict significant damage on the city of 10 million if hostilities broke out. Korean missiles also can reach Japan. The White House has sought to convince China to do more to rein in North Korea, its neighbor and communist ally, and Trump has repeatedly praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for his cooperation on the issue. After the missile launch, Trump on Friday tweeted: North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad! North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 28, 2017 But Tillerson found little support at the U.N. from China and Russia when he called for new penalties on entities and individuals that support North Koreas nuclear and missile programs, and for nations to better enforce sanctions already in place, said to be among the most stringent ever used. Tillerson called on nations to sever trade with Pyongyang, to discontinue guest worker programs involving North Koreans, and to ban imports, especially coal. China, which is the outlet for 90% of North Koreas foreign trade, suspended all coal imports from the country in February. The U.S. would much prefer countries and people in question own up to their lapses and correct their behavior themselves, but we will not hesitate to sanction third country entities and individuals supporting [North Koreas] illegal activities, Tillerson said. China and Russia are both permanent members of the Security Council and thus could veto additional sanctions. Their diplomats cautioned against Washingtons threat to use military force. Chinas foreign minister called for resuming long-stalled negotiations to ease the crisis. It is necessary to put aside the debate over who should take the first step and stop arguing who is right and who is wrong, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the Security Council. Now is the time to seriously consider resuming talks. Tillerson didnt rule out future talks, but he said North Korea had to exhibit a good-faith commitment to abide by existing U.N. resolutions by abandoning its nuclear program, something Kims government has sworn it will not do. We will not reward their bad behavior with talks, he said. Tillerson repeated a recent flurry of U.S. warnings that the Trump administration is prepared to use military force, if necessary, to constrain North Korea from developing a nuclear threat. All options for responding to future provocation must remain on the table, Tillerson said. Diplomatic and financial levers of power will be backed up by a willingness to counteract North Korean aggression with military action if necessary. tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com For more on international affairs, follow @TracyKWilkinson on Twitter ALSO North Koreas latest missile test fails, U.S. says We went to North Korea. You asked hundreds of questions. Heres what we found Full Senate, in rare move, goes to White House grounds for classified North Korea briefing UPDATES: 5:45 p.m.: This article was updated with a tweet by President Trump. This article was originally published at 3:55 p.m. Former national security advisor Michael Flynns legal troubles worsened Thursday when a House committee disclosed that the Pentagon inspector general is investigating whether the retired Army three-star general violated military rules by accepting foreign payments. Flynn was warned in 2014, when he was retiring from the military, not to accept payments from foreign governments without advance approval from the Pentagon, according to documents released Thursday by a House committee. Flynn subsequently accepted more than $500,000 from a Russian government-owned broadcasting company and from a lobbying company representing Turkey, according to the committee. Advertisement The Pentagon inspector general is investigating whether Flynn failed to obtain required approval to accept those funds, acting Inspector General Glenn A. Fine wrote in an April 11 letter to the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating Flynns foreign business ties. Retired military officers found to have violated the prohibition on accepting foreign payments can be ordered to return pension payments during the time of the violations, according to the Pentagon. The committee probe is one of several in Congress looking at whether any of President Trumps current or former aides improperly coordinated with Russian operatives during last years presidential campaign. The FBI is conducting a separate counterintelligence investigation. Earlier this week, the House committee said that Flynn also failed to disclose the foreign payments when he signed a government disclosure form required to renew his government security clearance in early 2016, shortly after he had returned from Moscow. These documents raise grave questions about why Gen. Flynn concealed the payments he received from foreign sources after he was warned explicitly by the Pentagon, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the committee, said Thursday. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the committee chairman, separately released a letter that asked the acting Army secretary for a final determination as to whether Flynn had violated the law regarding the foreign payments. Military officers, including retirees, are barred under the Constitution from accepting payments, gifts or items of value from foreign governments without congressional permission. After leaving the military, Flynn opened a government relations company and became a top advisor to the Trump campaign last year. Trump subsequently named him White House national security advisor. But Flynn was forced to resign after less than a month when news reports revealed he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top officials about his conversations in December with Russias ambassador about easing U.S. sanctions on Russia. These documents raise grave questions about why Gen. Flynn concealed the payments he received from foreign sources. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) The Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon spy agency that Flynn headed before he retired, said that it had found no evidence that Flynn had sought permission to accept foreign government payments. The DIA did not locate any records of Flynn seeking permission or approval for the receipt of money from a foreign source, Christine Kapnisi, the agencys acting head of congressional relations, said in an April 11 letter to the House committee. Flynn accepted a $33,750 fee to attend a December 2015 gala in Moscow sponsored by RT, a Russian state-run TV network, and to attend a lunch where he sat beside Russian President Vladimir Putin. Flynns company, Flynn Intel Group, also received $530,000 last fall at the height of the U.S. presidential campaign for work that benefited the government in Turkey, the House committee found. Flynn retroactively disclosed that work last month on a federal disclosure form. Flynn was reminded when he retired that accepting unauthorized payments from foreign governments was prohibited, according to the DIA letter. He was advised of the legal restrictions concerning foreign compensations and instructed to report any potential receipt of compensations in advance, DIA said. Flynns attorney, Robert Kelner, said his client briefed DIA before and after the Moscow event and that his appearance was arranged by a firm Flynn had retained to set up speaking events. General Flynn provided two briefings to the Department one before and one after his trip to Russia, Kelner said in a statement. The Department was fully aware of the trip. david.cloud@latimes.com Twitter: @davidcloudLAT ALSO Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales says he has a plan to fix fake news President Trump has backed off many of his provocative foreign policy promises The mainstream and conservative media are living in different worlds. So are those who read them President Trump on Friday is expected to sign an executive order that could open large parts of the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic oceans to new oil and gas drilling, a prospect that elicited a fierce backlash in California and elsewhere even before details of the order were clear. The move, which is certain to face legal and political challenges, could undo a plan finalized late in President Obamas second term that sought to limit fossil fuel development and fight climate change by not including new drilling leases off the coast of California or Alaska during the current five-year federal offshore plan, which extends through 2022. Many leaders in California have long sought a permanent ban on new leasing offshore, and they reacted swiftly to the possibility that drilling could expand. Advertisement California will fight this every step of the way, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said late Thursday. We do not want oil drilling off our coast. Period. The directive, called the America First Offshore Energy Executive Order, also would reverse a broad permanent ban Obama put in place in most of the Arctics Beaufort and Chukchi seas. By late Thursday, that move and the possibility of any changes to the leasing plan were already prompting vows of legal challenges and public resistance. Revising the leasing program could take two years or more under federal rule-making procedures and would require public input, while attempting to reverse the permanent ban in the Arctic would wade into what experts say is murky legal territory. Although debate over Arctic drilling has persisted for years Royal Dutch Shell conducted exploratory drilling there in 2015 the public has been largely aligned against expanding offshore drilling in California for decades. The Trump administration seemed to acknowledge that expanding drilling in California could be an uphill battle. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press) In a briefing about the order, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who would carry out the directive, emphasized that the administration will weigh public opinion in areas where drilling might occur, and he noted Californias opposition. I was out in Santa Barbara recently, he said. Theres a lot of people who dont like it out there. Still, California officials were not appeased. Some cited the massive 1969 spill off the coast of Santa Barbara that helped launch the modern environmental movement. Others pointed to the states ongoing effort to reduce the role of fossil fuels and boost renewable energy. Although 27 oil platforms continue operating off the states coast, new drilling leases have been banned in state waters since 1969, and no new leases have been issued in federal waters since 1984. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who serves as chairman of the California State Lands Commission, suggested that the state could prevent new pipelines from being constructed between drill rigs and the shore. Californias door is closed to President Trumps Pacific oil and gas drilling, Newsom said in an emailed statement, adding that the commission is unequivocally resolved to create an environmental rampart along Californias coast. Gov. Jerry Brown joined the governors of Oregon and Washington in a joint statement that recalled spills off the coasts of all three states. We remember the oil-soaked beaches and wildlife and the devastating economic impacts to local communities and the fishing industry, the governors said. Now is not the time to turn back the clock. We cannot return to the days where the federal government put the interests of big oil above our communities and treasured coastline. The Arctic presents a different political dynamic. Experts say as many as 24 billion barrels of oil and 104 trillion cubic feet of natural gas could be extracted from beneath the regions sea floor off the coast of Alaska, and state leaders there have long pushed to open the area for drilling, in part to help offset declining production on land. But the region is fraught with challenges, including its remote location and brutal conditions, rare and vulnerable whale and walrus species, and the high cost of working there at a time when oil prices are low. Shells effort to drill there in 2015, after spending more than seven years and $7 billion in planning, ended with the company saying its results were disappointing and that it would abandon the region for the foreseeable future. Last year, then-Interior Secretary Sally Jewell cited the unique and challenging Arctic environment and industrys declining interest in the area as reasons not to issue new leases there. Alaska leaders dismissed the Obama administrations actions as disconnected from the will of most state residents. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, accused the former president of treating Alaska like a snow globe and expressed hope that Trump would reverse Obamas actions. Environmental groups questioned Trumps legal authority to issue the new order and railed against his rejection of Obamas climate efforts. Well fight this move to sell out our childrens future for big oil and gas, said Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Trumps order is not a surprise. Throughout his campaign, he vowed to roll back environmental regulations. After Trump won, Obama made more moves that experts said could stir novel legal fights. To issue the permanent drilling ban in the Arctic, Obama relied on the rarely used Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953. The act says the president may, from time to time, withdraw federal waters from oil and gas development that are not already leased, but it does not specify whether another president can reverse a withdrawal. The Trump order goes beyond questions of leasing. It also will instruct Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross not to create or expand national marine sanctuaries and to review designations and expansions of marine sanctuaries created in the past decade. The fact sheet provided by the White House said it wanted to determine whether there is energy or mineral resource potential within monument areas. Times staff writers Evan Halper and Noah Bierman in Washington contributed to this report. william.yardley@latimes.com Twitter: @yardleyLAT chris.megerian@latimes.com Twitter: @ChrisMegerian ALSO Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales says he has a plan to fix fake news President Trump has backed off many of his provocative foreign policy promises The mainstream and conservative media are living in different worlds. So are those who read them The Martinez house on Twilight Avenue is obliterated. Charred wood, shattered window frames and insulation are strewn about the ground. What survives is the concrete basement where Mark Martinez and his brother-in-law Joey Irwin, both 42, were working on a water heater moments before the house exploded in a fireball. The April 17 accident killed both men. A nearby construction crew crashed their forklift through a fence and lifted part of the house off Martinezs wife, Erin, who was badly burned but is expected to survive. Their two children escaped unharmed; their two dogs are still missing. Advertisement But an investigation into what initially seemed like a tragic household accident is now looking at a natural gas and oil well just 178 feet from the Martinez home along with thousands of similar wells across Weld County and beyond. On Wednesday, well owner Anadarko Petroleum, the states largest oil and gas producer, shut down 3,000 wells throughout northern Colorado, including seven near the blast site. The company said it was acting out of an abundance of caution. The wells will remain closed until inspectors complete a wide range of field tests that could take a month. Our teams will remain actively engaged with residents in the Firestone community, said Brad Holly, Anadarkos senior vice president for U.S. onshore exploration and production, in a prepared statement. Colorado residents must feel safe in their own homes, and I want to be clear that we are committed to understanding all that we can about this tragedy as we work with each investigating agency until causes can be determined. But the possibility of living near old and potentially leaky gas wells has many in the Oak Meadows subdivision, about 25 miles north of Denver, feeling anything but safe. I feel scared. My daughter is deathly afraid to be home now, said Leah Anderson, 42, who lives near a well. If they find out there is gas in the soil here we will probably leave. Of course, we could probably never sell the place now. Her pilot light went out two days ago, and shes afraid to light it for fear of an explosion. Others worry about turning on the gas stove or going into the basement. The well was drilled in 1993 and has changed hands numerous times before Anadarko acquired it in 2014. It primarily produces gas with a little oil. All of the shut wells are older, vertical ones that go straight down from the top, unlike newer horizontal wells that can move in different directions. Based on all the investigations to date, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission believes there is no immediate threat to the environment or public safety associated with oil and gas operations in the neighborhood, said commission director Matthew Lepore at a news conference Thursday. The commission regulates oil and gas exploration in Colorado. He said there were 54,000 active oil and gas wells in the state and about 48,000 are vertical. Boulder County commissioners responded to the Firestone explosion Thursday by calling for the closing of all vertical wells in their county. Patrick Murphy, an oil and gas specialist with Boulder County Public Health, said there are about 300 wells in the county, nearly all vertical. Of those, 172 are of similar age to the Firestone well. Anadarko said inspectors are focusing on underground lines associated with each wellhead, especially those near housing and commercial developments. An apartment complex is going up just behind the home that exploded. Industry expert Mark McDonald of Boston-based NatGas Consulting has spent 25 years investigating gas explosions. He believes the lines that move gas and oil from wellheads to processing plants are under-regulated. If not properly maintained, he said, corrosion and leaks can occur. Hopefully, it will dissipate through the soil into the air, but sometimes it will travel along a previous trench or sideways or underground into someones home, and then you have a time bomb, he said. Natural gas is odorless. Some companies add odorant so we can smell it, but its been my experience that a lot of these companies dont add odorant. Your nose is your best defense. A spokesman for the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission said odorant is usually added by the utility that ships the gas to the house, not by the driller. That means gas leaking from the well would probably be difficult to detect. McDonald said the presence of oil and gas wells so close to neighborhoods is worrying. Everyone is concerned about the health impacts, he said. But the real concern is the safety impact. The explosion investigation is being led by the Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District. We will continue to gather and analyze evidence to determine the origin and cause of the event, the fire district said in a statement. While the well in the vicinity is one aspect of the investigation, this is a complex investigation and the origin and cause of the fire have not been determined. Meanwhile, residents wonder whats next. Heather Sawlidi, 31, stands in front of the remains of a home that exploded April 17 in Firestone. She lives a few doors away and says she does not feel safe in her house. (David Kelly / For The Times) Heather Sawlidi, 31, lives a few doors from the accident scene. The day it happened, she said, her floors began to shake violently. Her 7-year-old son ran to her. He said, Mom, I promise I didnt do anything, she recalled. I looked out the window and insulation was blowing up the street. She made a video showing orange flames engulfing the house, plumes of black smoke rising into the sky. Sawlidi is treasurer of the Oak Meadows Homeowners Assn. and is clearly shaken by it all. Her son keeps asking if hes safe at home. Thats my main job as a parent, to keep my children safe, and I cant answer that question, she said, standing along a fence surrounding debris from the blast. I didnt use the gas for two days after the explosion. I made my husband turn on the stove while I stood by the door. She pointed toward another well perhaps 300 yards away and others beyond. Gas wells are ubiquitous in Weld County. They sit near schools, apartments, homes and grocery stores. If this is Anadarkos fault, what are they willing to do about it? They say they are here for us but where are they? No one has spoken to me, she said. As she spoke, inspectors tested front yards on Twilight Avenue for evidence of gas in the soil. Motorists cruised past, gawking at the devastation. Look at that, she said. This isnt an amusement park, get out of here. Sawlidi doesnt want to move she has moved seven times in nine years. I just want the truth. Dont lie to me, she said. And dont make me lie to my kids. Police say an Ohio man called 911 to request a police dog to help track down heroin he said was stolen from him. WEWS-TV reports that a 20-year-old man in Bath Township, near Akron, made the call in January. The recording was released this week. When the operator asks why the caller needs a police dog, he replies that a woman stole heroin from him. Advertisement Bath Police Chief Mike McNeely says its among the most bizarre things hes heard in four decades of policing. He says the man, who pulled a brown, waxy substance from his pants while being interviewed by police, is expected to face a drug charge. The substance was seized and sent to a lab for testing. The caller was released pending the test results. ALSO: Economic reality and contradictions beset Trumps tax plan Trump says U.S. will not withdraw from NAFTA U.S. judge blocks Trump order threatening funds for sanctuary cities Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Its Friday, April 28, and heres whats happening across California: TOP STORIES One prominent pastor reflects on the riots It was April 1992, and the Rev. Cecil L. Murray had led the citys oldest and perhaps most politically active black church for almost 15 years. Back then, the First AME Church played an outsized role in south Los Angeles, serving as a political and religious forum and a place for dialogue about the issues facing the city, most notably the communitys rocky relations with the Police Department. So after having spent all this time trying to cool the citys anger, all Murray could do was watch helplessly as it burned in flames during the 1992 riots. Los Angeles Times Advertisement Plus: The Times Editorial Board writes: People cared about the [Rodney] King beating they knew about the King beating because they saw it. They saw the footage that was shot by George Holliday from his Lake View Terrace apartment balcony on March 3, 1991, and that was replayed on television countless times, just as today they see the controversial police shootings and beatings captured on surveillance cameras, private smartphones and officer body camera. Los Angeles Times More than 60 dead. More than 1,000 damaged properties. The riots by the numbers. Los Angeles Times For L.A. Koreans, trying to find strength while remembering a dark chapter. NBC News An unlikely icon of the L.A. riots. Daily News -- Image of then and now: April 1992 versus April 2017 in L.A. NBC Los Angeles With the 25th anniversary of the L.A. riots fast approaching, your Essential California team wants to hear your memories of those chaotic days. Email your memory to benjamin@latimes.com, and please keep it concise. GOP and Democrats team up on climate fight Its not just Democrats in California who are taking up the mantle of fighting climate change. State Republicans are working with their Democratic colleagues and embracing the states complex system of regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Theyve pledged to work across the aisle at the same time President Trump rolls back national policies on global warming. Los Angeles Times Coulters canceled speech doesnt prevent protesters Berkeley officials warned students and residents to keep a distance from violence Thursday as police prepared for clashes between supporters and opponents of conservative commentator Ann Coulter. Aside from a couple of arrests and a lot of yelling, the confrontation didnt prompt the fireworks or violence that some were expecting. Los Angeles Times L.A. STORIES Watch out: Strong winds hit Southern California Thursday night, toppling trees and damaging electric lines. Los Angeles Times Who takes the bus? Plenty of money has been allocated to pay for public transportation, but political barriers are still standing in the way. The Economist Hes in trouble: Los Angeles City Council candidate Joe Bray-Ali lost the endorsements of the L.A. Times, City Councilman Mitch OFarrell and an Eastside Democratic group, one day after Bray-Ali apologized for comments he made in uncensored online forums. Los Angeles Times Senator in the spotlight: Sen. Dianne Feinstein is the chambers most senior member, and through tragedy and a long career, she has styled herself as the ultimate pragmatist, a veteran deal-maker willing to collaborate with Republicans to get things done. Mother Jones Plus: At town halls, voters take an uneven measure of Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein. Los Angeles Times IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER Oops: A public database that the Trump administration said would help crime victims track the custody of suspected criminal immigrants mistakenly listed babies and other children. Los Angeles Times A curious revelation: Wells Fargo branches across the country deliberately targeted undocumented immigrants to open savings and checking accounts in order to meet aggressive sales goals, according to court documents. San Francisco Chronicle POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT Watch the coast: President Trump is expected to sign an executive order that could open large parts of the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic oceans to new oil and gas drilling, a prospect that elicited a fierce backlash in California and elsewhere even before details of the order were clear. Los Angeles Times Single-payer progresses: Californias sweeping plan to establish a government-run universal healthcare system passed its first committee test when it made it through the Senate Health Committee Wednesday. Los Angeles Times Who gets hurt? In its tax proposal released Wednesday, the Trump administration is trying to eliminate the ability to deduct state and local taxes. This would would hurt Californians more than residents of almost any other state. Sacramento Bee Plus: Here is a look at some of the major changes that could affect you under Trumps tax plan. Los Angeles Times Give the money back: Palm Springs City Hall has filed a lawsuit attempting to recover a six-acre property that was sold cheaply to a developer two years ago, claiming the deal should be undone because it was motivated by bribes allegedly paid to former Mayor Steve Pougnet. The Desert Sun CRIME AND COURTS Union blasts mayor: The union that represents Los Angeles police officers launched a broadside against Mayor Eric Garcettis budget on Thursday, warning the spending plan will divert funds away from neighborhood patrols and to the policing of Metro buses and trains. Los Angeles Times A depleted force: San Diego is struggling to recruit and retain police officers, and its only gotten worse in recent months. Despite recent compensation increases and stepped-up recruiting efforts, the number of officer vacancies has increased from 170 to 207 since October. San Diego Union-Tribune Fresno shooter update: The suspect in a shooting rampage in Fresno last week, Kori Muhammad, had his criminal proceedings delayed again, because his lawyer is calling his mental competency into question. Fresno Bee Woman dead in Walnut Creek: A woman was shot and killed Thursday afternoon on a normally quiet street near a popular museum in Walnut Creek, authorities said. San Francisco Chronicle CALIFORNIA CULTURE Talk to the chefs: Hear from some of the citys top culinary maestros about what it means to be a chef in Los Angeles in 2017. Los Angeles Times And the winner is: Locol, which aims to bring healthy food at affordable prices to areas like Watts and Oakland, was named the L.A. Times restaurant of the year. Los Angeles Times Sell meals out of your house: The state Assemblys health committee voted this week to move forward AB 626, a California bill that would make it legal for home cooks to sell meals made out of their homes for profit. The Mercury News Dim sum for fun! Cantonese cuisine gets short shrift these days. Its not often included in discussions of exciting Chinese food in Los Angeles County, and I believe thats because were all so used to it. So begins this list of a few of the better dim sum places in Los Angeles. LA Weekly Seen and heard: Fargo, the TV series that grew out of the 1996 Coen brothers movie, has been shooting scenes in Los Angeles for next weeks third episode. Los Angeles Times CALIFORNIA ALMANAC San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles area: partly cloudy Friday, sunny Saturday. Sacramento: cloudy Friday, sunny Saturday. More weather is here. AND FINALLY Todays California memory comes from Virginia Davis: I was working at Cal State Dominguez Hills at the time the riots started, and the university sent word we were to evacuate. I got to my car, shared a few words of encouragement to friends and received the same, and started the drive home to Long Beach. I witnessed pickup trucks with grown men and young boys carrying sticks and bats. Perhaps they were just trying to get to safety just like me. This time, because I was afraid, I was afraid of them. Yet I didnt drive directly home but to the top of Signal Hill. I could see there were fires, and I wanted to get high enough up to know where they were. Was my neighborhood ablaze? Did I need to go somewhere else? Upon reaching the top and looking around, I honestly thought I was seeing a scene from a war zone. I couldnt accept what I was seeing. Every direction I turned to had fires blazing, massive towers of black smoke, with sirens screaming. I could hardly breathe for the shock of it all, and the air was acrid. This was my home, and we were at war with each other. The sound of gunfire greeted me as I reached my apartment and, as I did reach my place, I knew others were not as lucky. I did not sit in front of my living room window at night for fear of offering a target. A student was pulled off of his motorcycle that night and beaten to death just because he was there, a block from my apartment. There was an outline in tape on the pavement where he was murdered. If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.) Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Benjamin Oreskes and Shelby Grad. Also follow them on Twitter @boreskes and @shelbygrad. The phenomenon that sparked six days of violence 25 years ago was not merely the beating of motorist Rodney King a year earlier, or the April 29, 1992, acquittal of four LAPD officers on all but one of the charges against them. Anger had built up in Los Angeles over the years around other uses of force, especially against African Americans. Many went unnoticed by most Angelenos, but some incidents were well publicized, such as the fatal shooting of Eulia Love in 1979 at her home in a dispute over an unpaid bill. Later incidents, such as the killing of mentally ill homeless woman Margaret Mitchell in 1999, kept those fires burning. Because the King beating was caught on tape and displayed police tactics to millions of viewers around the world, many frustrated observers believed that long-held grievances would finally be addressed. And in a sense, they were but only as part of a maddeningly time-consuming process that included a federal civil rights lawsuit, a ballot measure enhancing civilian oversight and scrutiny of the Police Department, a consent decree, and an almost complete turnover in police personnel. Its a process that continues today. Advertisement The LAPD fatally shot more people last year than did their counterparts in other big cities, including Chicago and New York. Has it been a success? That depends on what your yardstick is. The LAPD fatally shot more people last year than did their counterparts in other big cities, including Chicago and New York. In L.A., the Police Commission found eight shootings out of policy the highest number in the last decade, according to a Times analysis. Reforms recommended by the Christopher Commission after the King beating in 1991, and passed into law by voters in the wake of the riots strengthened the hand of the five-member civilian Police Commission that, at least on paper, heads the department and sets policy. Its the job of the chief of police currently Charlie Beck to carry that policy out. In practice, things can be a bit more complex. It falls to the commission to determine whether a particular use of force followed the departments policy, but that does not necessarily mean the officer involved will be disciplined if the commission deems his or her actions out of policy. Discipline is the purview of the chief, although his decisions are subject to independent fact-finding and review by boards of rights consisting of two of the chiefs highest-ranking staff and one civilian. If the board finds the officer to have committed misconduct, the chief can choose to decrease the punishment called for by the board, but he cannot increase it. The commission has no role in individual discipline. Added to the two distinct issues whether a use of force was in policy and whether an officer should be fired or otherwise disciplined is the question of criminal prosecution. Over the last decade and a half, the countys top prosecutor has brought no criminal charges against officers for shooting civilians. Concern over the shootings has helped push the board toward policy changes that on first appearance may seem unremarkable but help drive important changes not just in police tactics but also in a confrontational police culture that for decades equated backing down with weakness. Officers have been equipped with more tasers, sponge rounds (which do not penetrate the skin) and other less-than-lethal weapons. Thats a welcome step, although even when used properly such weapons can still be deadly. In a more sweeping policy change, the commission now makes its decisions on whether uses of force followed policy by looking not just at the circumstances of the shooting itself did the officer act out of a reasonable belief that lives were in danger? but also at the actions taken beforehand. Did the officer needlessly provoke an attack? Was the initial encounter justified? This month, the board went a step further and adopted a policy of de-escalation, requiring officers to do their best to defuse encounters that could, but arguably need not, become violent. It sounds good, and in practice it may change the kinds of encounters that led to the shootings of Eulia Love, Margaret Mitchell and many others. Officers argue that they have long been trained in de-escalation tactics and would much rather arrive at a solution without firing their weapons, and some claim that the new policy merely repackages for public consumption the work they already are doing. Still, committing de-escalation to paper and including it in official department policy is an important and laudable step that helps move the department a little further away from the Rodney King era. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook On the 25th anniversary of the Rodney King riots, Los Angeles is glowing with racial amity and festering with economic disparity. We all are getting along just fine, it seems, and by the way, many of us are very poor, even though we work as hard as we can. Thats the takeaway from a remarkable poll released this week by Loyola Marymounts Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles. Fully 76% of respondents say that racial and ethnic groups in L.A. are getting along well. In 1997, when the center first polled Angelenos, only 37% said racial and ethnic relations were good. L.A.s progress, however, has been strikingly uneven. As The Times noted in its report on the poll, the citys unemployment rate may be half that of 1992, but Angelenos median income is actually lower than it was when the riots broke out, and the citys poverty rate 22% is comparable to the level in the years preceding the riots. Advertisement The rising arc of race relations and the descending arc of broad-based prosperity illustrate the triumph and limitations of what a city can accomplish. In both 1965 and 1992, the riots that engulfed the city were provoked by a racist, brutal police department, and in the case of the 92 outbreak, by a system of justice personified by the all-white jury in Simi Valley that acquitted Kings blue-clad attackers that all but shouted that black lives didnt matter. What a city cant do on its own even if, like L.A., it raises the minimum wage to $15, is create a thriving middle class. Tom Bradley, the citys mayor from 1973 through 1993, tried repeatedly to change the culture and structure of the LAPD, but it was only after the televised airing of Kings beating that he was able to persuade city voters to enact changes, and only after the 92 riots that he was able to prod the citys power brokers to oust Police Chief Daryl F. Gates. Since then, the work of transforming the LAPD into something other than an enforcer of racial oppression has been a constant challenge. But at the insistence of three successive mayors (James K. Hahn, Antonio Villaraigosa and Eric Garcetti), backed by a leftward moving electorate and with the help of federal oversight, the city has largely, if provisionally, met that challenge. That leftward-moving electorate is partly the result of the citys racial recomposition: The share of Angelenos-of-color has swelled since 1992, while that of whites has shrunk. But the politics and racial fears of L.A.s whites have changed as well. In the centers 1997 poll, a bare 27% of whites said race relations in the City of Angels were good a figure considerably lower than those for blacks, Asians or Latinos. Today, 81% of whites say the citys different races are getting along swimmingly a figure slightly higher than those for blacks, Asians or Latinos. The post-riot white backlash that led Angelenos to elect Republican Richard Riordan (who ran on the slogan Tough Enough to Turn L.A. Around) as their mayor in 1993 (or, for that matter, to reelect the race-baiting Sam Yorty in 1969) isnt really a feature of the citys political landscape today for good reasons (growing tolerance) but also some not so good (economic secession). Indeed, L.A.s largely-but-not-entirely-white rich and many within the still-largely-white-but-more-diverse upper middle class have ascended to a socially liberal but economically cordoned-off world of private schools and services. Disentangling race and class in an American city is all but impossible, but the rifts that have widened to a chasm in Los Angeles since 1992 are more those of class than of race. As in the rest of the nation, the middle class has dwindled while the working poor have become legion. A city can work on its culture, its inter-group relations; it can reform its police and elect a racially representative leadership. Los Angeles has done all that. What a city cant do on its own even if, like L.A., it raises the minimum wage to $15, is create a thriving middle class. That takes the resources and commitment of the federal government, and of a social movement, yet unborn, thats powerful enough to reshape the broader economy. Were not rioting. That doesnt mean all is well. Harold Meyerson is executive editor of the American Prospect. He is a contributing writer to Opinion. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook To the editor: Thanks to Robin Abcarian for her reporting on the Armenian March for Justice commemorating the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian genocide. (Trolled by a plane trailing the Turkish flag, families of Armenian Genocide survivors insist that Turkey admit its guilt, April 26) Few issues are more compelling to me, a Jew and an American, than demanding accountability for the commission of genocide. It is shocking that the Armenian community continues to be stalked by genocide deniers, and it is shameful that Congress fails year after year to pass a resolution officially recognizing the Armenian genocide. In that respect, the United States is complicit in perpetuating one of the most persistent alternative facts of our time. That failure of leadership and willingness to deny the murder of 1.5 million Armenians is, in my opinion, its own shameful crime. Advertisement Janice Kamenir-Reznik, Encino The writer is co-founder of Jewish World Watch, an organization dedicated to combating genocide. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: President Trumps criticism of opponents for judge shopping is misleading. Together with White House comments questioning the legitimacy of unelected judges, these statements represent a threat to the rule of law and the independence of the federal judiciary. (Well see them in the Supreme Court: Trump plans to defend his order threatening funding for sanctuary cities, April 26) The city and county of San Francisco filed its lawsuit over the Trump administrations order to strip federal funds from so-called sanctuary cities in the court that serves San Francisco. There is no basis to believe the decision to file there was somehow manipulative, nor is there any basis on which to suggest the judge in the case was selected by anything other than random assignment, according to the courts usual practice. That federal judges are not elected protects their independence. Trump and his attorney general have disparaged federal judges who have ruled against the administration. Both should apologize and stop undermining trust in our judicial system and the rule of law. Advertisement Laura W. Brill, Los Angeles The writer, an attorney who specializes in appeals, is a former U.S. Supreme Court clerk. .. To the editor: U.S. District Court Judge William Orick III states Trumps Jan. 25 executive order on federal funding for sanctuary cities is unconstitutional. Really? Trump is doing nothing more than enforcing laws already in place to defend our borders. If anyone is performing unconstitutional acts, it is Orick, who surely had to raise his right hand and promise to act in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the United States. Arthur Senzy, Santa Monica Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook University of California administration is paying excessive salaries and mishandling funds, state audit says UCLA campus (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The administration of the University of California system pays top workers salaries and benefits significantly higher than that of similar state employees, and failed to disclose to the Board of Regents and the public that it had $175 million in budget reserve funds while it was seeking to raise tuition, a state audit found Tuesday. The audit triggered a dispute with UC President Janet Napolitano, who said charges of hidden funds were false, while two members of the UC Board of Regents charged recommendations to give the Legislature budget authority over the Office of the President encroached on UCs constitutional powers. Among the sticking points, the auditors believe the regents should contract with an independent third party that can assist the regents in monitoring a three-year corrective action plan. The audit of the Office of the President also found that it failed to satisfactorily justify its spending on system-wide initiatives and inappropriately screened surveys submitted by auditors to campus officials. Our report concludes that the Office of the President has amassed substantial reserve funds, used misleading budgeting practices, provided its employees with generous salaries and atypical benefits, and failed to satisfactorily justify its spending on systemwide initiatives, State Auditor Elaine Howle wrote to Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature. Furthermore, when we sought independent perspective from campuses about the quality and cost of the services and programs the Office of the President provides to them, the Office of the President intentionally interfered with our audit process, Howle wrote. The auditor said that because of recent tuition hikes, she recommends the Office of the President should refund available funds in the reserves by returning them to the campuses for the benefit of students. Ralph Washington Jr. president of the U.C. Students Assn. said if any reserve money is found it should go to help students, possibly by killing the tuition increase or helping students who are starving or homeless, but he is concerned legislators may use the audit to say the U.C. doesnt need so much general fund money. Students definitely dont want their tuition to go up, he said. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount), who serves on the board of regents, said the audit requires more inquiry. The audit of the UC Office of the President appears to have uncovered the same kind of budgetary misrepresentations and executive excess that weve seen before with the State Parks Department and the Public Utilities Commission, Rendon said in a statement. There are many questions that need to be answeredand answered honestly. The audit was requested by legislators concerned about high tuition and complaints of a bloated administration overseeing the UC systems 10 campuses. The reserve included $32 million in unspent funds it received from an annual charge levied on the campusesfunds that campuses could have spent on students, the audit said. Auditors said salaries paid to those in the presidents office are much higher than the pay of comparable positions in other state government jobs. President Napolitano agreed with the vast majority of recommendations for improving budget processes and spending, but denied that $175 million was hidden from the UC Board of Regents. In a letter to Howle, the president said changes were already underway. The recommendations to [the UC presidents office] are helpful, Napolitano wrote. We welcome this constructive input, which aligns with our proactive efforts to continually improve UCOPs operations, and UCOP intends to implement the recommendations. However, Board of Regents Chair Monica Lozano and Regent Charlene Zettel asked Howle to remove recommendations that they feel encroach on the constitutional autonomy of the university system, including proposals to have the Legislature approve the Office of the Presidents budget. As written, we believe these recommendations threaten the Universitys standing as a constitutionally autonomous entity, and the Board of Regents itself, the regents wrote. Administrative salaries amounted to $2.5 million more than the maximum annual salary ranges for comparable state employees, auditors found. For instance, an accounting managers maximum annual salary is $169,000 at UC compared to $156,000 for other state employees. An information system manager can make $258,000 with UC, but $150,000 with other state agencies. The audit said: 10 executives in the Office of the President whose compensation we analyzed were paid a total of $3.7 million in fiscal year 2014-15 over $700,000 more than the combined salaries of their highest paid state employee counterparts. On benefits, the Office of the President provided a regular retirement plan but also offered its executives a retirement savings account into which the office contributes up to 5% of the executives salariesabout $2.5 million over the past five years, the audit found. The Office of the President also spent more than $2 million for its staffs business meetings and entertainment expenses over the past five yearsa benefit that the State does not offer to its employees except in limited circumstances, the audit said.. The audit also said the Office of the President reimbursed questionable travel expenses, including a ticket for a theater performance and limousine services. One person spent $350 per night on hotel rooms, which is above the allowable standard for other state agencies. The audit said the Office of the President has not managed its own budget which amounted to $747 million in fiscal year 201516 in a fiscally prudent or transparent way. Napolitano said the audit was in error in claiming her office failed to publicly disclose tens of millions in surplus funds. In fact, UCOPs budget and financial approaches reflect strategic, deliberate and transparent spending and investment in UC and state priorities, said a statement by the Office of the President. Howle disagreed. Significant reforms are necessary to strengthen the publics trust in the Office of the President, the audit concluded. Read the audit here. Any single event can mislead when it comes to deciphering the political environment. Many of the more than 18,000 people clamoring for Hillary Clinton on the Ohio State University campus in mid-October her biggest audience to that point in the presidential campaign probably did not foresee her blowout defeat in the state less than a month later. Nor did many see Donald Trump surviving the cataclysmic events that enveloped his presidential campaign. But, with appropriate caution, its safe to say that last weeks Los Angeles town halls featuring Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris spoke to the crosscurrents among Democrats today and the different approaches by and difficulties facing Californias two senators. Both town halls were held in politically active African American churches south of downtown: Feinsteins at First African Methodist Episcopal and Harris at Holman United Methodist Church. The locations appeared calculated to set a floor of civility. At First AME, Feinstein spoke of the warmth shed felt from that congregation going back decades; at Holman, the Rev. Kelvin Sauls reminded those gathered to see Harris that we are in a sacred place. Advertisement Warmth wasnt all that greeted Feinstein, who heard catcalls throughout from a crowd far more demanding than the one that greeted Harris the following day. The differences were obvious between the two Democrats, one starting her Washington career with more than five years to go before reelection, the other pondering whether to run for a fifth full term in 2018. Harris is the rookie, elected last November after two successful campaigns for state attorney general. That she campaigned during a time of anger and discontent seemed to give Harris a better understanding of where her audience was coming from and how to assuage their concerns. Most who attended appeared to see her as one of them and tabled any hard questions. And, to a great extent, Harris Senate career is prospective, the tough decisions ahead of her and not an assailable part of her record. Feinstein, the veteran, underscored her longevity in office by lapsing into Senate-speak, with occasional references to rules of order that matter not outside the Capitol. But she also offered pointed reminders of how long it can take to accomplish anything in Washington: Speaking of a measure she helped push to raise vehicle mileage standards, she noted that it had taken 10 years and cooperation with Republicans to succeed. Harris opened with an ode to the pivotal moment that she said the nation had reached. She made an overt call at several points to rise up against President Trump and his proposals, mocking his tough take on immigrants. Theyre gonna deport almost 12 million people? she asked with exaggerated sass. Now how you gonna do that? The proper approach, she said to hearty applause, was to create a path to citizenship for those in the country who are living a lawful life and paying taxes. She spoke movingly about her optimism and the countrys values despite the unsettled political environment. She exhorted Democrats to run against Trump as if engaged in a long relay race. We cannot tire. We cannot tire because there is too much at stake, she said. When Mark Halperin, one of the hosts of Showtimes political series The Circus, asked Harris afterward what the resistance meant to her, she offered multiple sound bites perfectly tailored to the mood of the moment, at least among the activist wing of the Democratic party. For more on politics The resistance means, for a democracy, every voice being heard, every voice being valued and together, unified, those voices will show us what the future looks like, she said, smiling. And Im all for the resistance. The day before, asked the same question, Feinstein responded not with poetry but with prose, with the sort of specifics she embraced through more than 24 years in the Senate. Resistance to me means doing the best I can to serve people in the way we do. Its resistance to the presidents budget, which is just terrible. Its resistance to executive orders which turn back history. Its resistance to his position on immigration, which is hard, she said, marching earnestly through a litany of issues. Her answers were not always what the more argumentative and partisan members of her crowd and, increasingly, the Democratic base wanted to hear. Protesters shouted when she declined to sign on to the Medicare-for-all insurance bill pushed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont. She preferred, she said, to fix Obamacare. They shouted again when she decried Russian interference in the presidential election. (They wanted to talk about the Democrats own internal party squabbles.) When she acknowledged supporting Trumps recent missile attack on a Syrian airbase, one screamed: Youre defending Trump! Im telling you how I see it, she responded. Look, I have been drowned out by the very best, she said later. I have seen it all. I know the terrible things that happen and I know how to cure them. And theres only one way to do it, and thats to work together, and you can yell and scream and go out there and do whatever you want, and it doesnt change anything. Feinstein, at 83 the oldest member of the Senate, has said she will decide soon whether to run again. The last time she was on the ballot was in 2012, in the more placid Obama reelection year. A woman who became mayor of San Francisco in 1978 when her predecessor was assassinated seems unlikely to be put off by protesters, and Feinstein would remain a prohibitive favorite if she runs again. But her town hall was a reminder that even among Democrats, she is likely to face more scrutiny than she has in her prior races, which have been easy since a near-defeat in 1994. What America needed, she said, was know-how and the willingness to put together the compromises disdained by many. That ought to be worth something, she said. Her words might have been a swan song about a time gone past. Or they might be the message that Feinstein will lean on next year, whether or not it placates the most impatient voters in these fraught times. cathleen.decker@latimes.com Twitter: @cathleendecker ALSO: The fight against climate change in California gains an unlikely ally: Republicans White House announces proposal to cut taxes, a plan likely to increase deficit The latest from Washington Updates on California politics In a Trump administration beset by lost opportunities, muddled strategies and frequent missteps in its first 100 days, one area stands out for its disciplined approach and early successes: the multi-front assault on environmental regulations. Unlike the Obamacare repeal debacle or immigration actions now tangled in the federal courts, the administration has managed in a few short months to upend numerous hard-fought environmental protections and climate actions that the fossil fuel industries have been targeting for years. Planned action on climate change has been shelved, national monuments are imperiled, clean air and water rules have been eroded. Doubt has even been cast on the ability of states like California to protect their own robust environmental regulations. Advertisement The tens of thousands of protesters who converged Saturday on Washington and other cities for the Peoples Climate March confronted a policy landscape that perhaps more than any other has been transformed under President Trump. Even as marchers were making their signs and plotting their chants on Friday, Trump was delivering another blow, signing an order that could open the California coast and Arctic to new oil and gas drilling. It has been a wrecking ball right out of the gate, said Rep. Jared Huffman of San Rafael, a top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee. We shouldnt underestimate the amount of damage that has already been done to the environment by an administration that cant seem to get almost anything else done. The fast clip at which the administration has eased environmental rules reflects how vulnerable many of the rules are after having been put into place administratively by an Obama White House that could not get consent from a resistant Congress. But it is also a sign of the unprecedented sophistication and political organization of fossil fuel and related industries, which have nurtured for years a network of think tanks and politicians in preparation for this moment. That team of industry-supported activists now dominates the leadership of Trumps environmental agencies, which have set about killing those rules in the hopes of boosting some U.S. industries. We are very heartened by the progress that has been made, said Myron Ebell, who headed Trumps transition at the Environmental Protection Agency and has since returned to the Competitive Enterprise Institute, an industry-funded group that takes a lead nationally in denying mainstream climate science. Im not going to take credit, but one might take a look at the work of the transition for the Department of Energy, Department of Interior, and the EPA. The transition at each of those agencies was run by leaders from think tanks aligned with the donor network guided by fossil fuel tycoons Charles and David Koch. The organizations over the last several years have sent lobbyists and attorneys across the country in a coordinated effort to undermine President Obamas climate action and fight state efforts to promote clean energy. Among their most prized allies was Scott Pruitt, now the EPA administrator, who during the Obama administration developed extensive legal strategies for attacking federal environmental rules while serving as Oklahomas attorney general. Trumps Energy secretary, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, oversaw a similar effort in his home state. Business groups have praised the administrations quick work, saying the Obama-era rules were expensive, burdensome and unnecessary. A lot of this involves questionable uses of executive authority by the Obama administration that simply had to be put back in the bottle, said Scott Segal, a lobbyist for big energy firms. But longtime EPA officials have been alarmed by the speed of the changes, with one likening Trumps team to trained assassins. People dont trust government, they dont trust scientists, they dont trust environmentalists in the same way they did 10 or 20 years ago. Jared Blumenfeld, EPA official under Obama Some of the attacks have been high-profile and attention-grabbing: the dismantling of the Clean Power Plan that promised to put the nations dirtiest power plants out of business; the shelving of aggressive fuel mileage standards that California and other states are dead-set on implementing; the move to get rid of national monuments; the hasty approval of contentious, massive oil pipelines. But even on days when the announcements dont make headlines, the tearing-up of environmental rules marches along. Often the rules involved are obtuse and escape broad public notice, but the impact of stripping them piles up. A lot of this is technical and below the radar, and the real harm isnt readily understood by the American people, Huffman said. When you are dealing with things like methane leakage, it gets real technical fast. The actions have galvanized the environmental movement, as groups scramble to file lawsuits and donations gush in at a record pace. Environmental activists are defiant. They predict Trumps efforts will ultimately collapse as they have in other sectors. They have shown in this first 100 days where they want to go with respect to unraveling climate action and protections for clean air and water, but how effective and competent they will be at executing that agenda remains to be seen, said Brian Deese, who advised Obama on climate change. In practice, these things are more difficult, more complicated and messier than they appear on Day One of an executive order. Even Ebell expressed concern about a backlog of appointments at the environmental agencies, which right now he worries dont have the staff in place to implement the directives Trump has made. But the confrontation with Trump presents tough questions for the environmental movement and its effectiveness in the new political climate. Leaders of environmental groups express confidence that Trump will soon be subjected to the same public backlash that hobbled previous Republican administrations that worked to undermine environmental rules. Others who have long been in the trenches of federal environmental protection are more panicked. I am very skeptical that public concern about overreach will be the thing that stops Trump from destroying these institutions, said Jared Blumenfeld, who headed EPA operations in California, Nevada and Arizona under Obama. People dont trust government, they dont trust scientists, they dont trust environmentalists in the same way they did 10 or 20 years ago. The question is, how is the environmental movement retooling its message to deal with this threat? Polls show Americans favor action on climate change and strong environmental rules. But they dont show that the coalition of voters that got Trump elected is at all concerned by his direction on such issues. Less than a third of Republican voters worry that Trumps executive order dismantling much of the federal effort to confront climate change would harm the environment, according to a recent Morning Consult poll. More than half of the Republicans asked by Gallup in March about their feelings on the future of the environment said they believed it was getting better. Im not sure who the environmental advocates can even go to anymore on the Republican side of the aisle, said Blumenfeld. Protecting the environment is something to me that is inherently bipartisan. Yet no one in the environmental community seems to be able to reach out and stop what is happening. evan.halper@latimes.com Follow me: @evanhalper ALSO Here are the national monuments being reviewed under Trumps order Republicans are rethinking their disdain for the Paris accord creating a political headache for Trump Trump signs order to reconsider national monuments created by Obama, George W. Bush and Clinton UPDATES: 11:30 a.m.: This article was updated with information about protests Saturday in Washington and other cities. This article was originally published at 3 a.m. Tomorrow, Donald Trump plans to mark his 100th day in office with a rally in Pennsylvania, the state that, as much as any, symbolizes his upset victory over Hillary Clinton in last falls election. If he stays true to his practice, the president will denounce the media for unfair coverage, complain about Democratic obstructionism and tout his achievements. What he most likely wont do is review the full list of promises he made at another Pennsylvania rally two weeks before the November election. Advertisement Good afternoon, Im David Lauter, Washington bureau chief. Welcome to the Friday edition of our Essential Politics newsletter, in which we look at the events of the week in Washington and elsewhere in national politics and highlight some particularly insightful stories. MANY PROMISES, FEW KEPT In the final weeks of the 2016 campaign, Trump set out his promises with great specificity. The Contract with the American Voter, which he described in his speech at Gettysburg, Pa., on Oct. 26, included more than two dozen specific items, some of which he said he would do on his first day, others within the first 100. Not many of those have happened, and now that hes hit the 100-day mark, Trump has backed away. Somebody put out the concept of a hundred-day plan, he told the Associated Press in an interview a few days ago. But things change, he added. There has to be flexibility. As a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll shows, many of Trumps supporters are willing to grant him that flexibility up to a point. According to the survey, more than 90% of people who voted for Trump in 2016 said they would do so again. Mark Barabak found a lot of that sort of sentiment when he traveled to Pueblo, Colo., a formerly Democratic area that swung to Trump in the last election. Few voters there express regrets, Barabak reported. But the poll also showed that an increasing number of voters, including Trump backers, have started to doubt if he will keep his promises. They have reason to worry. A review by The Times found that of 31 key promises, only four have been fulfilled so far, while five have been abandoned. Many have been stalled or scaled back. Over time, failure to live up to promises can erode support for a president. Whether that happens in Trumps case wont be answered in the first 100 days, but will be a central question for the rest of this year. Meanwhile, though Trump cant point to a lot of policy accomplishments, he has changed the emotional climate of American politics. Opposition to him has pushed the Democrats to the left, as Lisa Mascaro vividly described in a report from Wisconsin. HEALTHCARE BLAME GAME Among the stalled promises is Trumps pledge to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with something great. Trump suffered an embarrassing defeat in March when House GOP leaders had to pull the Obamacare repeal bill from the floor because they lacked the votes to pass it. In the last week, White House officials and lawmakers have worked overtime to try to come up with a new version they could bring back for a vote. This week, they announced they had that new version. A key provision would give states the option of dropping most of the consumer protections included in the Affordable Care Act. As Noam Levey reported, the administration and its allies have kept their talks to a closed circle, not consulting with insurers, medical groups, moderate members of the House or the Senate. The resulting bill more to the liking of conservatives than the previous version won support from members of the House Freedom Caucus who opposed the last one. But the shift to the right dismayed many Republican moderates. White House officials spent much of the week pressing House leaders to hold a new vote on healthcare so Trump could claim a win before the 100-day clock ran out. Late Thursday, however, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), who is close to Trump, announced that no vote would be held; Republicans still lack the votes for passage. Many Republicans told reporters that they thought the weeks developments had been mostly for show not an effort to pass a bill so much as an attempt by the Freedom Caucus to shift the blame away from themselves. While that was going on, the White House indicated on Wednesday that the administration would continue to fund key insurance subsidies under Obamacare, which Trump had threatened to hold hostage. Heres a primer on those cost-sharing subsidies and why theyre important to the continued functioning of the law. In the first 100 days, healthcare has tested whether Republicans, given unified control of government, could turn their promises into policy. So far, the answer appears to be no. WILL TAX REFORM BE EASIER? Trump appeared to take aides by surprise last week when he said in an interview that he would release a tax plan on Wednesday. The resulting plan was little more than a sketch a single sheet of paper listing principles with no details, as Noah Bierman and Jim Puzzanghera wrote. How much the plan would reduce government revenue, how people at different income levels would be affected, what the impact might be on the economy none of that was answered. Indeed, the next day, administration officials could not agree on whether Trumps plan would end the popular tax deduction for 401(k) retirement accounts. (It wouldnt, the White House eventually announced). As Don Lee noted, many of the economic policies embedded in Trumps tax plan contradict other economic policies that are part of his trade agenda, or his immigration plans. The administration lacks a overall economic vision that holds together, analysts said. Trumps aides, including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, argue that his plans could spur much faster economic growth expansion of 4% per year or more. Many independent economists scoff at that. So far this year, the economy has grown at an anemic 0.7%, Puzzanghera reported this morning. BACKING AWAY FROM THE BORDER WALL Another promise going by the wayside, at least for now, is Trumps proposed wall on the southwestern border. The White House had wanted Congress to include millions of dollars to get the wall started as part of a stopgap spending bill. But as Mascaro reported, neither Democrats nor Republicans want to pay for Trumps wall. Late Tuesday, Trump backed down, dropping his insistence that Congress include money for the wall in the spending bill. White House officials say theyll renew the request in October. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly has already made clear that the border barrier wont stretch from sea to shining sea, as he put it. And hes also said that in some places the barrier will be a fence, or perhaps electronic monitoring, not a wall. The longer the discussion goes on, the more the upshot sounds like more of what the government already built under Presidents George W. Bush and Obama. Lacking big, visible accomplishments in areas like immigration, the administration has fallen back on smaller ones. This week, Kelly announced his department was creating a special office to assist people allegedly harmed by illegal immigrants, Joe Tanfani wrote. Meanwhile, the administration continues to lob rhetorical volleys at so-called sanctuary cities, local jurisdictions that to one extent or another refuse to participate in some federal immigration enforcement actions. This week, Federal District Judge William H. Orrick granted San Francisco and Santa Clara County an injunction forbidding the administration from cutting off funds, as Trump has threatened to do. As David Savage wrote, Trumps threats could be undone by the type of conservative rulings he has praised in the past. In particular, a 5-4 decision by the late Justice Antonin Scalia provides strong support for Orricks ruling. The federal government may not compel the states to enact or administer a federal regulatory program, Scalia wrote in that case, in which conservatives challenged federal efforts at gun control. Now, it will be liberals going to court, and theyll be citing those rulings limiting federal power. AND NAFTA Trump was poised this week to announce that the U.S. would begin the process of pulling out of the NAFTA treaty with Canada and Mexico. But he backed away. He has, however, picked several smaller fights over trade, including an announcement this week that the U.S. would impose large tariffs on imported Canadian lumber, Lee reported. That will please American lumber producers in the Northwest and elsewhere, but could raise the costs of home building. LESS HESITATION ON THE ENVIRONMENT The policy area where the new administration has shown fewest second thoughts is the environment. On that front, Trump has been a wrecking ball right out of the gate, Rep. Jared Huffman of San Rafael, a top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, told Evan Halper. The administration has moved rapidly to start dismantling regulations and policies opposed by the coal and oil industries. Earlier this week, Trump signed an executive order that could lead to elimination of some national monuments. Today, he announced an order that could, over time, lead to more offshore drilling for oil and gas and a further confrontation with coastal states, including California. There is hesitation on one front: Some Republicans are rethinking whether Trump should pull the U.S. out of the Paris agreement to limit global warming, Halper wrote. The U.S. might do better staying with the agreement and seeking to limit it, some lawmakers and industry officials argue. But some conservatives see yet another Trump promise melting away. TAKING THE KREMLINS RUBLES Not all the weeks news involved abandoned promises. The investigation into Russias interference in the election also got new developments. Legal problems worsened for former national security advisor Mike Flynn, who is under investigation by the Pentagons inspector general, Glenn A. Fine, for taking more than $500,000 from Russian and Turkish interests, David Cloud reported. Retired military officers need advance approval to accept money from foreign governments. Flynn, a retired lieutenant general, appears not to have gotten that approval, according to the two leaders of the House Oversight Committee, Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.). Flynn also figures in the FBI investigation into whether anyone associated with Trump or his campaign cooperated with Russia in its efforts to influence the presidential election. With Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions recused, supervision of that probe will fall to the departments No. 2 official, Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod J. Rosenstein. Rosenstein won confirmation on Tuesday with bipartisan support. Joe Tanfani wrote an excellent profile. ALL THE PRESIDENTS TWEETS Twitter has long been Trumps favored means of pushing his message. Were compiling all of Trumps tweets. Its a great resource. Take a look. GRADE THE PRESIDENT Catch up on the events of the past 100 days, and let us know how you would grade Trumps performance. LOGISTICS That wraps up this week. My colleague Sarah Wire will be back Monday with the weekday edition of Essential Politics. Until then, keep track of all the developments in national politics and the Trump administration with our Essential Washington blog, at our Politics page and on Twitter @latimespolitics. Send your comments, suggestions and news tips to politics@latimes.com. If you like this newsletter, tell your friends to sign up. David.lauter@latimes.com @davidlauter President Trump painted a golden future of great wealth and great jobs powered by oil pumped from the ocean floor as he signed an executive order on Friday to consider new offshore drilling around the country. But his efforts could splash harmlessly against the hardened barricades that California has been fortifying for decades with regulation and legislation to prevent additional drilling along its treasured coast. Even the faintest possibility of new oil operations prompted an immediate backlash in the state as environmentalists feared ecological disaster, surfers warned of soiled beaches and politicians promised new measures to block any development. At a time when California is forging ahead with ambitious policies on climate change and renewable energy, the mere suggestion of additional derricks dotting the horizon was met with revulsion from the states leaders, and it brought unwelcome reminders of the coasts painful history with oil spills. We will fight to the end, said Susan Jordan, executive director of the California Coastal Protection Network, an environmental group. They will not get any new oil on these shores." Although the oil industry praised Trumps executive order, there appeared to be little enthusiasm for new drilling along Californias coast. With the price per barrel below $50, expensive offshore operations may not be cost-effective, especially in a region with steep regulatory hurdles. Most notably, even if the Trump administration awarded a new lease for drilling in federal waters, getting the oil ashore would be nearly impossible without a pipeline. State leaders pledged to stand in the way, and attempts at new developments could face endless litigation. Im not worried about seeing oil derricks out there any time soon, said Deborah A. Sivas, director of Stanford University's Environmental Law Clinic. There are a lot of roadblocks. Offshore drilling in California (@latimesgraphics) (@latimesgraphics) There are 27 oil platforms off Californias coast, but no new leases have been granted in federal waters since 1984. Most of the states oil production occurs on land. Polls show offshore drilling remains unpopular, and oil companies already mired in battles over Californias policies on climate change may be unwilling to ruffle more feathers by trying to expand drilling. Trumps order did not specifically mention California or the Pacific Ocean as potential areas for oil development, but left the door open to the possibility. Environmentalists were particularly alarmed by Trumps call for a review of marine sanctuaries, which were expanded by former President Obama. Thats a clear statement that theyre interested in California drilling even if the other language was equivocal, said Richard Charter, a senior fellow with the nonprofit Ocean Foundation who has been following coastal drilling issues for decades. U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke acknowledged looming resistance to offshore drilling in California, telling reporters Thursday evening that federal officials would incorporate local input before making any decisions. I was out in Santa Barbara recently, he said. Theres a lot of people who dont like it out there. That was an understatement. Californians will not stand for this, said Jennifer Savage, a spokeswoman for the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit conservation group. We love our coast. It's our playground, the driving force of our economy, the place where we find solace, joy and sustenance. Follow live coverage from the Capitol on Essential Politics California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, along with Gov. Jerry Brown and top lawmakers, promised to fight any oil drilling. Instead of taking us backward, the federal government should work with us to advance the clean energy economy thats creating jobs, providing energy and preserving Californias natural beauty, he said. State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) quickly announced new legislation Friday that would bar state commissions from allowing any new oil infrastructure along the coast, from piers to pipelines. President Trump and his oil industry cronies may want to drill, but were going to stop that oil and gas development from being feasible, she said. The legislation, scheduled to be introduced next week, would buttress opposition to offshore drilling from the California Coastal Commission and the State Lands Commission, who have jurisdiction over the coastline and the waters stretching three miles into the ocean. "Californias door is closed to President Trumps Pacific oil and gas drilling, said Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is chairman of the states lands commission. Workers try soak up oil in Santa Barbara Harbor after a devastating spill in 1969. (Don Cormier / Los Angeles Times) (Don Cormier / Los Angeles Times) The state was the site of the first offshore drilling in the U.S., starting with the Summerland oil field off the coast of Santa Barbara in 1896. But the same region was tarnished by the worst spill in California history in 1969, when more than 3 million gallons of oil poured into the ocean. Only the Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez spills in 2010 and 1989, respectively have been more devastating. The oil fouled the channel and coastline of Santa Barbara Channel from Goleta to Ventura as well as the shorelines of four channel islands. An estimated 3,700 sea birds were killed, along with a variety of marine animals, including dolphins, elephant seals and sea lions. Virtually all commercial fishing in the Santa Barbara area was halted, and tourism dropped dramatically. Public outrage generated by the spill and widespread media coverage helped spark the modern environmental movement and prompted state and federal legislation to protect the environment. A much smaller Santa Barbara spill in 2015, when a ruptured pipeline dumped 123,000 gallons of oil, was a reminder of the environmental dangers. I like to say that nothing about what Trump dreams up surprises me now but this move is a shocking, purely political giveaway to the oil industry, said former Rep. Mel Levine, a Democrat who represented Santa Monica in Congress from 1983 to 1993. There was no issue that unified my district more regardless of what political party someone belonged to than the anti-oil drilling battle, Levine said. Times staff writers Evan Halper and Louis Sahagun contributed to this report. chris.megerian@latimes.com bettina.boxall@latimes.com dan.weikel@latimes.com ALSO: Trump order could open California coast, Arctic to new oil and gas drilling Trump stumbled on healthcare and immigration, but on the environment he's been 'a wrecking ball' Updates on California politics Updates from the campaign trail California motorists will start paying higher gas and diesel taxes on Nov. 1 under legislation signed Friday by Gov. Jerry Brown to provide $5.2 billion annually for road and bridge repairs and expanded mass transit in the state. The plan, which also includes new fees when vehicles are registered, has sparked a significant backlash. Opponents have launched a recall campaign against one senator and are talking about a possible initiative to roll back and control the taxes and fees. Other lawmakers said they received harassing phone calls about their votes on the bill. But state officials hope the sight of construction crews on long-neglected highways and roads will compensate for pain in the pocketbook. Advertisement Safe and smooth roads make California a better place to live and strengthen our economy, Brown said. This legislation will put thousands of people to work. Early projects that motorists are likely to see include buttressing the weakened bridges along Interstates 5, 710 and 210, as well as smoothing the pot-hole-filled pavement along the 14 Freeway in Santa Clarita, the 170 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley and along Interstate 605 between Interstates 10 and 210, transportation officials said. Most Republicans opposed the bill, saying that taxpayers are already paying plenty for road repairs, money is available from the general fund and Brown should scrap his multibillion-dollar bullet train project to pay for road repairs. They also noted that the bill passed with no votes to spare after Brown and legislative leaders agreed to provide nearly $1 billion in side deals to the districts of legislators who were on the fence but agreed later to vote for the measure. Gov. Brown and Capitol Democrats just gave us the largest gas tax increase in state history a deal so bad they needed $1 billion in pork to buy the votes to pass it. California deserves better, Assembly Republican leader Chad Mayes of Yucca Valley said in a statement released Friday. The bill signed Friday will raise the base excise tax on gasoline by 12 cents per gallon, bringing it to 30 cents, starting Nov. 1. Another variable excise tax will be set at 17 cents. The excise tax on diesel fuel will jump 20 cents per gallon to 36 cents per gallon on Nov. 1. The sales tax on diesel will go up 4 percentage points from the current 5.75% to 9.75%. Electric car owners will pay a $100 annual fee in lieu of gas taxes, starting in 2020. The delay was meant to give the burgeoning electric car industry time to establish a stronger footing in the state. The measure also creates an annual vehicle fee ranging from $25 for cars valued at under $5,000 to $175 for cars worth $60,000 or more. That fee kicks in Jan. 1, 2018. Brown said the taxes and fees will cost most Californians less than $10 per month. Still, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) acknowledged that voting for tax increases was difficult for many lawmakers. Supporting SB 1 required a combination of common sense, political courage, and concern for the Californians who drive on our roads and bridges, Rendon said in a statement Friday. Earlier this month in Riverside, Gov. Jerry Brown, at lectern, speaks in favor of the gas tax increase with Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount), left of Brown, and state Senate leader Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), right of Brown. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) State officials say $34 billion of the first $52 billion raised will go toward repairing roads, bridges, highways and culverts, with most of the money split 50-50 between state and local projects. In addition, $7 billion over the first 10 years will go to mass transit projects. Other money will pay for new bike and pedestrian paths, fund improvements to trade corridors, including the roads serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and go toward reducing congestion on the most clogged commuter routes. The new taxes and fees will raise $52 billion during the first 10 years, and more in the future, to chip away at a backlog of California road and bridge repairs estimated at $130 billion. Brown and legislative leaders campaigned around the state, including in the districts of holdout lawmakers, arguing an increase is needed because it has been 23 years since the last gas tax hike. As the only Republican in the Senate who voted for Senate Bill 1, Sen. Anthony Cannella of Ceres has borne the brunt of negative reaction after he said someone distributed his home address and cellphone number to other opponents. Cannella said that as an elected official, he stands behind his legislative votes and expects to hear both positive and negative feedback. I have been subject to outrageous claims about my reasoning for voting for SB 1, even though I acted in the interests of my constituents and the 12th Senate District, the senator said. It is unacceptable that my wife and children have been subject to threats and harassment as a result. Freshman Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) has been served with a notice that he is the target of a recall campaign by a group of conservatives from Orange and San Diego counties led by radio personality Carl DeMaio. They must collect 63,592 signatures of registered voters in 160 days to qualify the measure for the ballot. Newman, whose election in November helped give Democrats a two-thirds majority in the Senate, said he is prepared to campaign to defend his action. My vote in this particular case was based on a very clear consensus among a wide range of different groups many of whom would normally be considered Republican-leaning on most issues that Californias transportation infrastructure is in desperate need of repair, and that funding the work on a pay-as-you-go basis through a range of non-general fund fees and taxes is the fiscally responsible way to go, Newman said. He also noted that he authored a companion bill to put a measure on the ballot requiring all of the money raised by the tax and fee increases to be spent on transportation. That, he said, seems to have escaped the notice of a bunch of the folks who are now using my vote as their pretext for trying to steal back my seat through this recall scheme. Updates from Sacramento Meanwhile, polling and research are planned to determine the feasibility of a possible initiative that would set the gas tax at a lower level and require all of its revenue to be spent on road repairs and expansion, according to Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., a group founded by the proponents of the tax-limitation measure Proposition 13. Were taking a very serious look at it, Coupal said. Theres been a lot of blowback on this and its not just from Republicans and conservatives. Sen. Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado Hills) was among those who said they will look for a way to repeal the gas tax increase. I am going to fight to overturn this unfair and regressive tax and get some justice for the California families and businesses that are getting nickeled and dimed to death, Gaines said. patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com Twitter: @mcgreevy99 ALSO: You want to have a screwed up state? If not, then vote to raise taxes, Brown says Gov. Brown faces skeptical Assembly Democrats as he pitches transportation plan Updates from Sacramento UPDATES: 12:50 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details on the plans cost for Californians from Gov. Jerry Brown, and with a quote from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. This article was originally published at 12:35 p.m. Trump promotes sons Justice with Judge Jeanine interview President Trump promoted via Twitter an interview with his son Eric Trump just before it aired Saturday night on Fox News Justice with Judge Jeanine. Eric Trump on @JudgeJeanine on @FoxNews now! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2018 Eric Trump called into the show to defend his father from criticism prompted by the first government shutdown in more than four years, as well as a series of Womens March events that saw protesters in dozens of cities take to the streets to oppose the presidents policies. .@EricTrump joined me over the phone from Mar-a-Lago ! pic.twitter.com/Hro3TzUW52 Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) January 21, 2018 Speaking to host Jeannine Piro who is reportedly an old friend of the presidents Eric Trump offered effusive praise for his father, ticking off glowing statistics to illustrate the strength of the U.S. economy and gains against Islamic State fighters overseas. My fathers working like no ones ever worked before to bring back this country and to fulfill his promise to make America great again, said the executive vice president of the Trump Organization. He also repeated a sentiment recently expressed on Twitter by his father: That Democratic lawmakers forced a government shutdown on the anniversary of the presidents inauguration in a bid to distract from his achievements. You look at this whole government shutdown, and the only reason they want to shut down government is to distract and to stop his momentum, Eric Trump said. I mean, my father has had incredible momentum. Hes gotten more done in one year than arguably any president in history. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweets: a perfect day for all Women to March President Trump hailed the nationwide Womens March gatherings Saturday. On Twitter, the president called it a perfect day for all Women to March, seeming to imply that those taking part were celebrating his administrations accomplishments: Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfect day for all Women to March. Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months. Lowest female unemployment in 18 years! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Participants in the marches across the United States were actually seeking to deliver a powerful rebuke to Trumps policies and mount a crucial mobilization for this years midterm elections. But Trump continued to tout his administrations unprecedented success in tweets sent later in the day: Unprecedented success for our Country, in so many ways, since the Election. Record Stock Market, Strong on Military, Crime, Borders, & ISIS, Judicial Strength & Numbers, Lowest Unemployment for Women & ALL, Massive Tax Cuts, end of Individual Mandate - and so much more. Big 2018! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 The Trump Administration has terminated more UNNECESSARY Regulation, in just twelve months, than any other Administration has terminated during their full term in office, no matter what the length. The good news is, THERE IS MUCH MORE TO COME! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2018 In addition to the roll call of major American cities where womens marches took place including New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta protesters also raised their voices in suburbs and small towns, reflecting the aim of coalescing a broad-based movement on the anniversary of Trumps inauguration to oppose the presidents stance on immigration, healthcare, racial divides and an array of other issues. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Laura King. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump calls shutdown a present from Democrats By Associated Press President Trump is blaming Democrats for the government shutdown tweeting that they wanted to give him a nice present to mark the one-year anniversary of his inauguration: This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present. #DemocratShutdown Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 That comes after Senate Democrats late Friday killed a GOP-written House-passed measure that would have kept agencies functioning for four weeks. Democrats were seeking a stopgap bill of just a few days in hopes that would build pressure on Republicans, and they were opposing a three-week alternative offered by GOP leaders. Democrats have insisted they would back legislation reopening the government once theres a bipartisan agreement to preserve protections against deporting about 700,000 immigrants known as Dreamers who arrived in the United States illegally as children. Trump on Saturday accused Democrats of holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration: Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Cant let that happen! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Democrats are laying fault for the shutdown on Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress and the White House and have struggled with building internal consensus. In a series of tweets hours after the shutdown began, the president tried to make the case for Americans to elect more Republicans to Congress in November in order to power through this mess: Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead. #WeNeedMoreRepublicansIn18 in order to power through mess! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 He noted that there are 51 Republicans in the 100-member Senate, and it often takes 60 votes to advance legislation: For those asking, the Republicans only have 51 votes in the Senate, and they need 60. That is why we need to win more Republicans in 2018 Election! We can then be even tougher on Crime (and Border), and even better to our Military & Veterans! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 #AMERICA FIRST! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 The stopgap spending measure won 50 votes in the Senate, including five from Democrats. Although the House and Senate were in session Saturday, it was unclear whether lawmakers would take any votes of consequence. Trump had been set to leave Friday afternoon for a fundraiser at his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., where he intended to mark the inauguration anniversary. But he remained in Washington and ended up scrapping his plans to attend the Saturday fundraiser. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweet casts doubt on likelihood of averting shutdown President Trump appeared to cast doubt on the likelihood of reaching a deal to avert a government shutdown Friday night in a tweet. Trump also sought to blame Democrats for what would be the first shutdown since 2013. His message came just hours before the midnight deadline by which lawmakers must pass a measure to fund government agencies, or some operations will cease. Not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border. Dems want a Shutdown in order to help diminish the great success of the Tax Cuts, and what they are doing for our booming economy. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Despite last-minute negotiations Friday between Trump and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Congress remained deadlocked over a spending bill and the federal government was headed toward a shutdown at midnight. Senate Democrats joined by some GOP deficit hawks and immigration allies were set to filibuster a stopgap funding bill approved by the House on Thursday. A Senate vote was planned for 10 p.m. Eastern, and even White House officials predicted it would fail. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Lisa Mascaro. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump signs surveillance law after confusing tweets By Associated Press President Trump on Friday signed a bill into law to renew a foreign intelligence surveillance program, announcing his action in the latest in a series of confusing tweets about the spy program: Just signed 702 Bill to reauthorize foreign intelligence collection. This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 19, 2018 Trumps tweet on Jan. 11 created chaos in the House just before it voted to reauthorize what is known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. He linked the intelligence program to a dossier that alleges his presidential campaign had ties to Russia. That caused people to wonder if he didnt support the program that allows U.S. spy agencies to collect intelligence on foreign targets abroad. Trump and other Republicans have alleged that Obama administration officials improperly shared the identities of Trump presidential transition team members mentioned in intelligence reports. Democrats say there is no evidence that happened. Shortly before the House vote, and after conferring with House Speaker Paul Ryan, Trump did an apparent about-face. This vote is about foreign surveillance of foreign bad guys on foreign land, he tweeted. We need it! Get smart! In his tweet announcing that he had just signed the bill, Trump wrote: This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first! There are no obvious links between the dossier Trump spoke of, which includes salacious but unsubstantiated allegations against him, and the reauthorization of the spying program, or between the program and Trumps oft-repeated claims that the Obama administration conducted surveillance on Trump Tower during the presidential campaign. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print In tweet, Trump suggests that Pennsylvania trip is a political one The White House press office was once again forced to walk back a tweet from President Trump on Thursday morning after he described a trip to Pennsylvania later in the day as a political one a statement that would force the Republican Party, not taxpayers, to pay for the journey. The White House had said Trump was going to an industrial equipment company outside of Pittsburgh to highlight the good economy and new tax cuts, making it an official, policy-oriented event. It was widely assumed that the trip had a political cast the area is holding a special election to fill a congressional seat vacated by a Republican who resigned. Trump, by his tweet, seemed to confirm that politics was the whole purpose: Will be going to Pennsylvania today in order to give my total support to RICK SACCONE, running for Congress in a Special Election (March 13). Rick is a great guy. We need more Republicans to continue our already successful agenda! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 Trump later shared via Twitter a pair of video clips of his speech at H&K Equipment, in which he touted the tax cuts he signed into law just before Christmas and tried to turn the conversation back to his accomplishments after weeks dominated by distractions, including questions about his mental health and comments about immigration that some considered racist: Departing Pittsburgh now, where it was my great honor to stand with our incredible workers, and to show the world that AMERICA is back - and we are coming back bigger and better and stronger than ever before! pic.twitter.com/kWPgylqFzj Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 AMERICA will once again be a NATION that thinks big, dreams bigger, and always reaches for the stars. YOU are the ones who will shape Americas destiny. YOU are the ones who will restore our prosperity. And YOU are the ones who are MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! #MAGA pic.twitter.com/f2abNK47II Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 The Republican National Committee, rather than the White House, is supposed to pay for political travel so that taxpayers are not financing party activities; for trips that combine policy and politics, parties have split the cost under past presidents. Neither the RNC nor the White House responded to emails sent Thursday asking who would pay. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement later Thursday suggesting that taxpayers would foot the bill. She insisted that Trump would be conducting government business while in Pennsylvania. Read More This post contains reporting from the Associated Press and Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets praise of Bob Dole after awarding him Congressional Gold Medal By Associated Press Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole knew the art of the deal before President Trump published the 1987 book of the same name. The two shared a stage under the Capitol dome Wednesday as Dole, 94, accepted Congress highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, for his World War II service and decades of work in the House and Senate. Trump later praised Dole in a tweet, attaching to his message a video composed of clips from the ceremony: Today, we witnessed an incredible moment in history the presentation of Congress highest civilian honor to our friend, and true AMERICAN HERO, Bob Dole. #CongressionalGoldMedal pic.twitter.com/qNQqDLRmCk Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2018 At the ceremony, the president saluted Dole as a patriot and gave tribute to Doles struggle as a veteran who worked his way back from a grievous shoulder wound he suffered in Italy. He knows about grit, said Trump. But it was Doles penchant for working across the aisle that earned him his latest award, according to the legislation. Bob Dole was known for his ability to work across the aisle and embrace practical bipartisanship, reads the legislation Trump signed in September. Some of the awards 300 recipients include George Washington and Mother Teresa, according to the Congressional Research Service. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump touts report that seeks to link terrorism cases with immigration By Joseph Tanfani The Trump administration on Tuesday released a report attempting to link terrorism with migration, arguing that it was evidence of the need to dramatically reshape the nations immigration system. New report from DOJ & DHS shows that nearly 3 in 4 individuals convicted of terrorism-related charges are foreign-born. We have submitted to Congress a list of resources and reforms.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 ....we need to keep America safe, including moving away from a random chain migration and lottery system, to one that is merit-based. https://t.co/7PtoSFK1n2 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The report, ordered by President Trump in an executive order last year, said that 75% of the 549 people convicted of terrorism charges since 9/11 were born outside the U.S. Administration officials called that a sign that the U.S. needs to scrap its policy of family preferences for visas, which they call chain migration, and a diversity visa lottery program. But the report did not specify how many if any of the convicted terrorists entered the country through those means. It also did not detail how many of the convictions were related to attacks or plans in the U.S. versus overseas and how many involved people who went to fight overseas for the Islamic State or another terrorist group. Those details were not available, officials said. The report, due last year, is being released in a highly charged moment in the immigration debate, as Trump and some Republicans in Congress seek tough new border and immigration measures in return for a deal protecting the 690,000 people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Trump also fired off a pair of tweets on the topic earlier Tuesday: We must have Security at our VERY DANGEROUS SOUTHERN BORDER, and we must have a great WALL to help protect us, and to help stop the massive inflow of drugs pouring into our country! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The Democrats want to shut down the Government over Amnesty for all and Border Security. The biggest loser will be our rapidly rebuilding Military, at a time we need it more than ever. We need a merit based system of immigration, and we need it now! No more dangerous Lottery. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The focus of our immigration system should be assimilation, a senior administration official said on Tuesday, speaking on condition that his name not be used. He said the nation should give priority to potential immigrants who speak English, who have an education and those who are committed to supporting our values not family members of people already here. The official said the timing of the report was coincidental. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweets welcome to president of Kazakhstan By Associated Press President Trump said Tuesday that he and the president of Kazakhstan are united in a shared determination to prevent North Korea from threatening the world with nuclear devastation. Trump and President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed North Korea along with other issues during meetings at the White House. Today, it was my honor to welcome President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan to the @WhiteHouse! pic.twitter.com/TerYFZViax Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 Trump said Kazakhstan, once part of the Soviet Union, is a valued partner in our efforts to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons. Together we are determined to prevent the North Korean regime from threatening the world with nuclear devastation, he said, as both presidents addressed journalists between meetings. Nazarbayev noted that his country once had one of the worlds largest nuclear arsenals but voluntarily gave it up after the Soviet Union collapsed. He said his country is in talks with Iran, which was the focus of a global deal that lifted some economic sanctions in exchange for Irans curbing its nuclear program. Trump has sharply criticized the Iran nuclear deal and threatened last week to pull out soon unless other countries fix what he says are terrible flaws. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump falsely claims his approval rating among black Americans has doubled By Alex Wigglesworth President Trump lashed out at the news media Tuesday morning in a tweet denouncing the special counsel investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion among members of his campaign team. Do you notice the Fake News Mainstream Media never likes covering the great and record setting economic news, but rather talks about anything negative or that can be turned into the negative. The Russian Collusion Hoax is dead, except as it pertains to the Dems. Public gets it! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 It wasnt immediately clear exactly what prompted the presidents tweet, but it appeared as though he was watching Fox & Friends. A short time later, Trump tweeted a headline from a report that aired during that mornings episode: 90% of Trump 2017 news coverage was negative -and much of it contrived!@foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The segment focused on the latest survey results from conservative watchdog Media Research Center, which purportedly analyzed the evening news broadcasts on ABC, CBS and NBC from Jan. 20 to Dec. 31 and found that 90% of the statements made about Trump were negative. Study: 90% of Trump media coverage in 2017 was negative pic.twitter.com/vbrwup4Drg FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 16, 2018 But believe it or not, through all this negative coverage, they did a survey of 600,000 people about how black America views this president, co-host Brian Kilmeade said. His numbers have actually doubled in approval. Trump highlighted the statement in another tweet: Unemployment for Black Americans is the lowest ever recorded. Trump approval ratings with Black Americans has doubled. Thank you, and it will get even (much) better! @FoxNews Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 But its not true. The claim appears to have originated from a misreading of data from the online polling firm SurveyMonkey, according to factcheck.org. The firm polled 600,000 Americans in 2017 and found that Trumps approval rating among blacks actually dropped from 23% early in his presidency to about 17%, as of the week ending Jan. 3. Some conservative outlets, including Breitbart, produced an average from those and other SurveyMonkey figures and compared them to the scores Trump received from black voters in the 2016 exit polls. That methodology is not sound. And since the statistics measure different things, the comparison is misleading. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump goes after senator who surfaced his immigration remark By Associated Press President Trump turned his Twitter torment Monday on the Democrat in the room where immigration talks with lawmakers took a famously coarse turn, saying Sen. Richard J. Durbin misrepresented what he had said about African nations and Haiti and, in the process, undermined the trust needed to make a deal. Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting, Trump tweeted, using a nickname to needle the Illinois senator. Deals cant get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military. Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting. Deals cant get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 Trump was referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects young people who came to the United States illegally as children. Members of Congress from both parties are trying to strike a deal that Trump would support to extend that protection. Trump also cast doubt on the likelihood of reaching an agreement in tweets sent earlier Monday: Statement by me last night in Florida: Honestly, I dont think the Democrats want to make a deal. They talk about DACA, but they dont want to help..We are ready, willing and able to make a deal but they dont want to. They dont want security at the border, they dont want..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 ...to stop drugs, they want to take money away from our military which we cannot do. My standard is very simple, AMERICA FIRST & MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 On a day of remembrance for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Trump spent time at his golf course with no public events, bypassing the acts of service that his predecessors staged in honor of the civil rights leader. Instead, Trump dedicated his weekly address to Kings memory, saying Kings dream and Americas are the same: A world where people are judged by who they are, not how they look or where they come from. That message was a distinct counterpoint to words attributed to Trump by Durbin and others at a meeting last week, when the question of where immigrants come from seemed at the forefront of Trumps concerns. Some participants and others familiar with the conversation said Trump challenged immigration from shithole countries of Africa and disparaged Haiti as well. Without explicitly denying using that word, Trump lashed out at the Democratic senator, who said Trump uttered it on several occasions. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks pundit for laudatory Fox & Friends spot By Alex Wigglesworth President Trump thanked Fox News personality Stuart Varney after Varney praised Trump during an appearance on Fox & Friends. In a pair of tweets early Sunday, Trump quoted from Varneys commentary, in which he argued that Trump deserves more credit for the booming economy. The pundit, who also hosts a show on Fox Business Network, cited moves by some corporations to raise workers minimum wage or pay out one-time bonuses in response to the GOP tax cuts. President Trump is not getting the credit he deserves for the economy. Tax Cut bonuses to more than 2,000,000 workers. Most explosive Stock Market rally that weve seen in modern times. 18,000 to 26,000 from Election, and grounded in profitability and growth. All Trump, not 0... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 ...big unnecessary regulation cuts made it all possible (among many other things). President Trump reversed the policies of President Obama, and reversed our economic decline. Thank you Stuart Varney. @foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 Varney was reacting to a quote from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who on Thursday called the bonuses handed down to workers pathetic in comparison to the gains corporations are expected to see from the tax cuts. In terms of the bonus that corporate America received versus the crumbs that they are giving to workers to kind of put the schmooze on is so pathetic, Pelosi told reporters. Its pathetic. Varney shot back Sunday that the bonuses, along with explosive stock market growth, are enriching all Americans. This is a huge shot in the arm, its the result of this tax cut deal and I think President Trump should get the credit for it, he said. .@Varneyco Sets the economic record straight after Nancy Pelosi calls U.S. mass bonuses crumbs pic.twitter.com/BvjIHGm3HE FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 14, 2018 The sweeping tax plan passed last month lowers the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and cuts personal income taxes. Analysts say the benefits will largely flow to corporations and the wealthy, as theyre more likely to be in positions to share in corporate profits. For instance, Wells Fargo & Co., which responded to news of the tax overhaul by announcing it will raise workers pay to at least $15 an hour, also reported that it expects to pay an effective tax rate of 19% this year, down from about 31% in previous years. That should amount to tax savings of more than $3 billion annually. On average, middle-class Americans are expected to see a very small tax cut in the near term and a tax increase after 2025, when all of the tax cuts for individuals expire. The tax cuts for corporations, however, are permanent. This post contains reporting from Times staff writer James Rufus Koren. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump touts MLK proclamation in tweet, but ceremony is overshadowed by reports of racist remarks By Associated Press President Trump signed a proclamation Friday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, noting the contributions of a great American hero. Today, it was my great honor to proclaim January 15, 2018, as Martin Luther King Jr., Federal Holiday. I encourage all Americans to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service activities in honor of Dr. King's life and legacy. pic.twitter.com/samlJsz1Nt Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018 Overshadowing the event was mounting backlash from Trumps comments during a private meeting with lawmakers the day before. A short time after the meeting, which was called to discuss a possible immigration deal, reports emerged that Trump had asked participants why the United States should accept immigrants from shithole countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin, the Senates second-ranking Democrat, appeared to confirm those reports on Friday. Trump did not respond Friday to several questions about the incident, including whether he actually used vulgar language to describe African nations, or if he is racist. The president said at the White House that love was central to the slain civil rights leader. Trump said the nation celebrates King for standing up for the self-evident truth Americans hold so dear, that no matter what the color of our skin or place of our birth, we are all created equal by God. This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump criticizes Democrats in tweet calling for stricter immigration rules President Trump hit out at Democrats on Thursday night in a tweet calling for stricter immigration rules. Trump wrote that members of the party seem intent on having people and drugs pour into our country from the border with Mexico: The Democrats seem intent on having people and drugs pour into our country from the Southern Border, risking thousands of lives in the process. It is my duty to protect the lives and safety of all Americans. We must build a Great Wall, think Merit and end Lottery & Chain. USA! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018 It wasnt immediately clear exactly what prompted the tweet. Earlier Thursday, Trump rejected a bipartisan compromise to resolve the standoff over so-called Dreamers, young immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children but have temporary permits to work, attend school or serve in the military. The president drew widespread condemnation after reports emerged that he had asked participants in an Oval Office meeting about the proposal why the United States should accept immigrants from shithole countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump touts bill aimed at improving border screening for fentanyl By Associated Press President Trump signed legislation Wednesday aimed at giving Customs and Border Protection agents additional screening devices and other tools to stop the flow of illicit drugs. Speaking at a surprise bill-signing ceremony while flanked by members of Congress from both parties in the Oval Office, Trump described the bill as a significant step forward in the fight against powerful opioids such as fentanyl, which he called our new big scourge. He echoed that language Thursday in a tweet: Yesterday, I signed the #INTERDICTAct (H.R. 2142) with bipartisan members of Congress to help end the flow of drugs into our country. Together, we are committed to doing everything we can to combat the deadly scourge of drug addiction and overdose in the United States! pic.twitter.com/ELZvFol5Lo Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018 The legislation will pay for new portable and fixed chemical screening devices to detect and intercept fentanyl at ports of entry and in the mail, along with other laboratory equipment and personnel, including scientists. Trump has made fighting the opioid epidemic a centerpiece of his administration, though critics say he hasnt dedicated nearly enough money or resources to make a difference. Trump suggested during his remarks on Wednesday that hed like to take a more aggressive approach to the drug crisis but the countrys not ready for what he has in mind. So were going to sign this. And its a step. And it feels like a very giant step, but unfortunately, its not going to be a giant step, because no matter what you do, this is something that keeps pouring in, he said. And were going to find the answer. There is an answer. I think I actually know the answer, but Im not sure the countrys ready for it yet, he added. Does anybody know what I mean? I think so. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump applauds news that Toyota-Mazda plant is slated for Alabama By Associated Press Japanese automakers Toyota and Mazda on Wednesday announced plans to build a mammoth, $1.6-billion joint-venture plant in Alabama that will eventually employ about 4,000 people. President Trump lauded the news in a tweet: Cutting taxes and simplifying regulations makes America the place to invest! Great news as Toyota and Mazda announce they are bringing 4,000 JOBS and investing $1.6 BILLION in Alabama, helping to further grow our economy! pic.twitter.com/Kcg8IVH6iA Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Good news: Toyota and Mazda announce giant new Huntsville, Alabama, plant which will produce over 300,000 cars and SUVs a year and employ 4000 people. Companies are coming back to the U.S. in a very big way. Congratulations Alabama! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018 Several states had competed for the project, which will be able to turn out 300,000 vehicles per year and produce the Toyota Corolla compact car for North America and a new small SUV from Mazda. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and company executives held a news conference to announce that the facility is coming to the Huntsville area not far from the Tennessee line. Production is expected to begin by 2021. The decision to pick Alabama is another example of foreign-based automakers building U.S. factories in the South. To entice manufacturers, Southern states have used a combination of lucrative incentive packages, low-cost labor and a pro-business labor environment, because the United Auto Workers union is stronger in Northern states. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump highlights call for border wall in tweets on visit with Norways prime minister By Associated Press President Trump praised Norways prime minister in a tweet on Wednesday after Erna Solberg became the first foreign leader to visit with the president in 2018. Today, it was my great honor to welcome Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway to the @WhiteHouse - a great friend and ally of the United States! Joint press conference: https://t.co/qWR1BhfQZI pic.twitter.com/PJvwznjRCO Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Trump also shared via Twitter a video clip of a joint news conference he held with Solberg on Wednesday afternoon. In the clip, Trump responds to a question from a reporter by saying there can be no bipartisan immigration deal absent funding for his long-promised wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been seeking a solution for hundreds of thousands of so-called Dreamers, young people who were brought to the United States as children and are living here illegally. The United States needs the security of the Wall on the Southern Border, which must be part of any DACA approval. The safety and security of our country is #1! pic.twitter.com/4CFzQXb5aS Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 We need the wall for security, we need the wall for safety, we need the wall for stopping the drugs from pouring in, Trump said Wednesday. Any solution has to include the wall because without the wall, it all doesnt work. On Tuesday, Trump drew widespread attention when he said during a meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers that he would be agreeable to signing a stand-alone bill to protect the Dreamers, before moving on to a more comprehensive immigration bill. That contradicted the Republican consensus that Dreamers fate needed to be part of a broader immigration bill that would include some version of Trumps promised border wall and other immigration reforms. Trump backed away from a stand-alone Dreamer bill in subsequent tweets and public comments. Read More This post contains reporting from Los Angeles Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump praises Cabinet in tweet touting meeting By Associated Press President Trump promoted a meeting of his Cabinet on Wednesday, sharing via Twitter a link to a video of the session posted on the White House YouTube account. In his tweet, Trump thanked his Cabinet for working tirelessly on behalf of our country and wrote that the last year has been one of monumental achievement. I want to thank my @Cabinet for working tirelessly on behalf of our country. 2017 was a year of monumental achievement and we look forward to the year ahead. Together, we are delivering results and MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! https://t.co/ptXa1hAPwW pic.twitter.com/yv6RALkQf3 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 The former reality television star continued to dispense accolades at the meeting Wednesday, greeting reporters in the Cabinet Room by saying: Welcome back to the studio. Then he proceeded to relive a Cabinet Room session from the prior day, when he had allowed reporters and TV cameras to stick around for much of his meeting with a bipartisan group of legislators on the thorny issue of immigration. It was a tremendous meeting. Actually, it was reported as incredibly good. And my performance you know, some of them called it a performance I consider it work, Trump said. Trump went on to say he had received letters from news anchors calling it one of the greatest meetings theyve ever witnessed. He added that the media will ultimately support Trump in the end, because theyre going to say, if Trump doesnt win in three years, theyre all out of business. Asked for examples of letters received from news anchors, the White House said it had received private communications. It also offered a series of positive on-air comments and tweets from journalists about the unusual access to the meeting. During his remarks, Trump swung from praising his own meeting coverage to telling journalists that they were dependent on his presidency for ratings to threatening a strong look at libel laws. Still, Trump thanked the journalists in front of him, joking: Youve gotten very familiar with this room. I appreciate your nice comments yesterday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump blasts DACA ruling in tweet calling courts broken and unfair By Lisa Mascaro President Trump denounced the federal courts Wednesday as broken and unfair after a district judge in San Francisco issued a nationwide injunction keeping protections in place for so-called Dreamers. Trump tweeted: It just shows everyone how broken and unfair our Court System is when the opposing side in a case (such as DACA) always runs to the 9th Circuit and almost always wins before being reversed by higher courts. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 On Tuesday night, U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco temporarily blocked the Trump administrations decision to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, which has protected from deportation some 700,000 people who came to the country illegally as children. Alsup granted a request by the state of California, the University of California and other plaintiffs to stop Trump from ending DACA on March 5. The administrations decision to end DACA, which was announced in September, was based on a flawed legal analysis, Alsup wrote in his decision. Dreamers would be irreparably harmed if their DACA protections, which allow them to live and work legally in the U.S., were stripped away before the courts had a chance to fully consider their claims, he ruled. The action is the mirror image of a ruling in 2015 by a federal judge in Texas who ruled in favor of that state when it sought to block President Obama from expanding DACA to include the parents of Dreamers. Trump administration officials praised that judicial ruling. By contrast, they sharply criticized Alsups decision. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks lawmakers for productive immigration meeting, says deal must include border wall President Trump thanked a bipartisan group of lawmakers for participating in a meeting on immigration legislation on Tuesday. Much of the discussion involved so-called Dreamers, an estimated 700,000 young people who were brought to the country illegally as children and are now facing deportation. In a tweet, Trump wrote that there was strong agreement to negotiate a bill to protect Dreamers, as well as put into place some of the reforms favored by Republicans. Thanks to all of the Republican and Democratic lawmakers for todays very productive meeting on immigration reform. There was strong agreement to negotiate a bill that deals with border security, chain migration, lottery and DACA. https://t.co/SdqAQ3aL3z pic.twitter.com/8DYHZHspAy Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 The most notable exchange of the meeting came when Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the San Francisco Democrat, asked Trump whether he would be agreeable to signing a stand-alone bill to protect the Dreamers, before moving on to a more comprehensive immigration bill. Yeah, I would like to do it, Trump responded. The statement drew widespread attention because it contradicted the Republican consensus that Dreamers fate needed to be part of a broader immigration bill that would include some version of Trumps promised border wall and other immigration reforms. Trump later backed away from a stand-alone Dreamer bill, tweeting that a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico must be part of any deal: As I made very clear today, our country needs the security of the Wall on the Southern Border, which must be part of any DACA approval. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Pressure has been mounting for Congress to broker an immigration deal by Jan. 19 as part of a must-pass budget package to fund the government. This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks officers and veterans in tweets President Trump doled out a slew of accolades Tuesday via Twitter. He thanked the nations law enforcement officers, including in his message a hashtag denoting a day of appreciation organized by a national support group for law enforcement families. On behalf of the American people, THANK YOU to our incredible law enforcement officers. As President of the United States - I will fight for you, and I will never, ever let you down. Now, more than ever, we must support the men and women in blue! #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/Qb4uxB4JRm Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 Trump later expressed gratitude for federal immigration agents, in particular: .@ICEgov HSI agents and ERO officers, on behalf of an entire Nation, THANK YOU for what you are doing 24/7/365 to keep fellow Americans SAFE. Everyone is so grateful!#LawEnforcementAppreciationDay President @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/HXCpTlruVo Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 The president thanked veterans as he cited his administrations efforts to curb the number of veteran suicides by improving mental health treatment for the high-risk group: Today, it was my great honor to sign a new Executive Order to ensure Veterans have the resources they need as they transition back to civilian life. We must ensure that our HEROES are given the care and support they so richly deserve! https://t.co/0MdP9DDIAS pic.twitter.com/LP2a8KCBAp Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 Trumps tweet included photos of the president signing an executive order Tuesday directing the secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs to develop a plan to provide seamless access to mental health and suicide prevention resources for 12 months for members leaving the armed forces. Also on Tuesday, Trump touted a law he signed the day before designating the birthplace of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. a national historic park: It was my great honor to sign H.R. 267, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Act, which redesignates the Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site in the State of Georgia as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. https://t.co/Qe0b6HBFTY pic.twitter.com/QTgaqTawPT Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 And he thanked House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) for sharing a video compilation comprised of clips of politicians and commentators praising the GOPs tax cut bill: Thank you @GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy! Couldnt agree w/you more. TOGETHER, we are #MAGA https://t.co/QaxtqpyXTR Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 This post contains reporting from the Associated Press and Times staff writer Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump hails tax bill in tweets recapping speech to farmers By Associated Press Connecting with rural Americans, President Trump on Monday hailed his tax overhaul as a victory for family farmers. Farm country is Gods country, Trump told the annual convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Trump became the first president in a quarter-century to address the federations convention. His Southern swing also included a stop in Atlanta for the national college football championship game. Cant wait to be back in the amazing state of Tennessee to address the 99th American @FarmBureau Federations Annual Convention in Nashville! #AFBF18 On my way now - join me LIVE at 4:00pmE: https://t.co/QaljAqekdD. pic.twitter.com/Wm7Io0hYT8 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Joined by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and a group of Tennessee lawmakers, Trump said most of the benefits of the tax legislation are going to working families, small businesses, and who the family farmer. The package Trump signed into law last month provides generous tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans, and more modest reductions for middle- and low-income individuals and families. In every decision we make, we are honoring Americas PROUD FARMING LEGACY. Years of crushing taxes, crippling regs, & corrupt politics left our communities hurting, our economy stagnant, & millions of hardworking Americans COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN. But they are not forgotten ANYMORE! pic.twitter.com/MdYS7xnukQ Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 The president vastly inflated the value of the package in his speech, citing a total of $5.5 trillion in tax cuts, with most of those benefits going to working families, small businesses and who? The family farmer. The estimated value of the tax cuts is actually $1.5 trillion for families and businesses because of cuts in deductions and the use of other steps to generate offsetting tax revenue. We have been working every day to DELIVER for Americas Farmers just as they work every day to deliver FOR US. #AFBF18 pic.twitter.com/QDH7fvFkZ7 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 From Nashville, Trump traveled to Atlanta to watch Alabamas Crimson Tide and Georgias Bulldogs face off Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship. We are fighting for our farmers, for our country, and for our GREAT AMERICAN FLAG. We want our flag respected - and we want our NATIONAL ANTHEM respected also! pic.twitter.com/16eOLXg6Fi Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Before departing for the game, Trump referenced his ongoing defense of the American flag and the national anthem, saying there was enough space for people to express their views. We love our flag and we love our anthem, and we want to keep it that way, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweet hails drop in unemployment rate for African Americans By Associated Press President Trump touted a drop in the unemployment rate for African Americans on Monday in a tweet. African American unemployment is the lowest ever recorded in our country. The Hispanic unemployment rate dropped a full point in the last year and is close to the lowest in recorded history. Dems did nothing for you but get your vote! #NeverForget @foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 The rate fell to 6.8% in December, the lowest level since the government began tracking such data in 1972. The reasons range from a greater number of black Americans with college degrees to a growing need for employers in a tight job market to widen the pool of people they hire from. Trump also hailed the development via Twitter on Saturday. His latest tweet on the topic came about an hour after it was discussed during an episode of Fox & Friends, according to Mediaite. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump talks up the economy and dresses down the media in Sunday tweets With President Trump cheering from the sidelines, the White House on Sunday pressed its defense of the presidents fitness to govern, as fired former aide Stephen K. Bannon reversed course and apologized for his role in a new books explosive portrait of Trump. The presidents critics, meanwhile, said Trumps stream of taunts and insults in response to the book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, released last week served only to underscore the authors unsettling portrayal of Trumps year-old presidency, depicting a leader whose own aides consider him childish, ignorant and dangerously erratic. Trump provided more ammunition Sunday morning, as he continued to attack the book via Twitter while preparing to depart Camp David for the White House: Leaving Camp David for the White House. Great meetings with the Cabinet and Military on many very important subjects including Border Security & the desperately needed Wall, the ever increasing Drug and Opioid Problem, Infrastructure, Military, Budget, Trade and DACA. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Ive had to put up with the Fake News from the first day I announced that I would be running for President. Now I have to put up with a Fake Book, written by a totally discredited author. Ronald Reagan had the same problem and handled it well. So will I! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 The most vehement defense of Trump on Sunday came from senior advisor Stephen Miller, a onetime Bannon acolyte who distanced himself from his former mentor. In a combative appearance Sunday on CNNs State of the Union, Miller called the book grotesque and writer Michael Wolff the garbage author of a garbage book. Trump is known to closely monitor aides televised performances in putting forth his case, and he gleefully weighed in within moments of Millers televised clash with host Jake Tapper. CNN has long been a particular target of Trumps ire. Jake Tapper of Fake News CNN just got destroyed in his interview with Stephen Miller of the Trump Administration. Watch the hatred and unfairness of this CNN flunky! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Trumps reaction, however, seemed to bolster Tappers on-air depiction of Miller as using his appearance on the show to play to the president rather than addressing questions put to him. I get it theres one viewer that you care about, the host said exasperatedly after Miller turned the discussion repeatedly to negative news coverage of the president while deflecting specific queries. Later on Twitter, Trump took up two themes that have been prevalent on his social media feeds recently. The president again went after the news media, tweeting that the recipients of his self-proclaimed most dishonest & corrupt media awards of the year, which he promised earlier in the week to announce on Monday, would actually be revealed the following Wednesday: The Fake News Awards, those going to the most corrupt & biased of the Mainstream Media, will be presented to the losers on Wednesday, January 17th, rather than this coming Monday. The interest in, and importance of, these awards is far greater than anyone could have anticipated! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Trump later lauded a New York Post opinion piece that compared him favorably with his predecessor, President Obama, as well as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. In quoting the op-ed, Trump initally misspelled consequential as consensual, but he deleted those tweets and re-sent the messages. His is turning out to be an enormously consequential presidency. So much so that, despite my own frustration over his missteps, there has never been a day when I wished Hillary Clinton were president. Not one. Indeed, as Trumps accomplishments accumulate, the mere thought of... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 ...Clinton in the WH, doubling down on Barack Obamas failed policies, washes away any doubts that America made the right choice. This was truly a change election and the changes Trump is bringing are far-reaching & necessary. Thank you Michael Goodwin! https://t.co/4fHNcx2Ydg Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Trump also continued talking up the economy, which has been enjoying a period of strong gains. The Stock Market has been creating tremendous benefits for our country in the form of not only Record Setting Stock Prices, but present and future Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Seven TRILLION dollars of value created since our big election win! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 In addition to Miller, other senior administration officials made the rounds of Sunday news talk shows to decry the claims made in Wolffs book. CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Wolffs characterization of Trump as averse to digesting classified briefing material was ludicrous, and the ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, insisted that that those around Trump love their country and respect their president. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Laura King. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Responding to book that mocks his intelligence, Trump tweets hes like, really smart By Tracy Wilkinson President Trump declared himself a very stable genius on Twitter on Saturday and later in a televised news conference called the author of a book that questioned his mental fitness a fraud. His comments came on a bone-cold day at Camp David during a weekend retreat with top administration officials and Republican congressional leaders strategizing on the years legislative agenda, including matters such as infrastructure, immigration, welfare reform and national security. Now that Russian collusion, after one year of intense study, has proven to be a total hoax on the American public, the Democrats and their lapdogs, the Fake News Mainstream Media, are taking out the old Ronald Reagan playbook and screaming mental stability and intelligence..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 ....Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart. Crooked Hillary Clinton also played these cards very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 ....to President of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius....and a very stable genius at that! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 Still, Trumps explosive rebuttal to author Michael Wolffs claims not only opened the day, but it also ensured the presidents capability to fill the highest office in the land was a topic that would not go away. In his early-morning tweets, Trump said two of his greatest assets have been mental stability, and being, like, really smart. He noted that his former Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, played these cards [about competence] very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star to President of the United States (on my first try). Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement In morning tweets, Trump touts job numbers and takes digs at news media By Associated Press President Trump used Twitter on Saturday morning to tout a drop in the unemployment rate for African Americans. He also used the tweets as an opportunity to take digs at media outlets whose past coverage he has found to be critical. The African American unemployment rate fell to 6.8%, the lowest rate in 45 years. I am so happy about this News! And, in the Washington Post (of all places), headline states, Trumps first year jobs numbers were very, very good. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 The unemployment rate for African Americans fell to 6.8% in December, the lowest level since the government began tracking such data in 1972. The reasons range from a greater number of black Americans with college degrees to a growing need for employers in a tight job market to widen the pool of people they hire from. Still, the rate for black workers remains well above those for whites and some other groups, something experts attribute in large part to decades of discrimination and disadvantages. Robust job creation has lowered unemployment for all Americans. U.S. employers added nearly 2.1 million jobs in 2017 the seventh straight year that hiring has topped 2 million. In his tweet, Trump praised a report that noted the numbers, touting the fact that it appeared in the Washington Post (of all places). Minutes later, Trump renewed his attack on an ABC News reporter who was suspended last month after filing an erroneous report on Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security advisor. Brian Ross, the reporter who made a fraudulent live newscast about me that drove the Stock Market down 350 points (billions of dollars), was suspended for a month but is now back at ABC NEWS in a lower capacity. He is no longer allowed to report on Trump. Should have been fired! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 The reporter, Brian Ross, was reportedly reassigned within ABC News upon returning from his unpaid suspension. But on Saturday, Trump wrote that he should have been fired. Trumps tweets came hours before he was set to host congressional Republicans and administration officials at Camp David. The meeting scheduled to begin at midmorning Saturday was expected to touch on the budget, infrastructure, immigration, welfare reform and the shape of the midterm election this fall. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump commends Sen. Rand Paul after he proposes eliminating all U.S. aid to Pakistan President Trump commended Sen. Rand Paul after the Kentucky Republican announced plans to introduce legislation that would eliminate all U.S. aid to Pakistan. Trump tweeted Friday night: Good idea Rand! https://t.co/55sqUDiC0s Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 On Thursday, the Trump administration announced it was suspending security assistance to Islamabad until the country moves aggressively against local militants who have attacked U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan. Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration at the apparent inability of Pakistani authorities to rein in militants who cross out of the countrys rugged tribal areas to attack U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Tracy Wilkinson. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump continues to lash out at Sloppy Steve Bannon in tweets on tell-all book By Associated Press President Trump is praising a major Republican donor family for distancing themselves from his former advisor Steve Bannon. Trump tweeted Friday: The Mercer Family recently dumped the leaker known as Sloppy Steve Bannon. Smart! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Trump has continued to lash out at Bannon over an explosive new book that quoted his former aide as questioning Trumps competence and describing a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower among Donald Trump Jr., Trump campaign aides and a Russian lawyer as treasonous and unpatriotic. On Thursday, billionaire GOP donor Rebekah Mercer issued a statement distancing her family from Bannon. Mercer is a co-owner of Breitbart, the populist website Bannon helps run. I support President Trump and the platform upon which he was elected, Mercer said. My family and I have not communicated with Steve Bannon in many months and have provided no financial support to his political agenda, nor do we support his recent actions and statements. The book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, quickly shot atop Amazons best-seller list, and the publisher moved up its release date by four days, to Friday. Trump took up the topic again on Twitter on Friday night, denouncing both Bannon and the books author, Michael Wolff, in starkly personal terms: Michael Wolff is a total loser who made up stories in order to sell this really boring and untruthful book. He used Sloppy Steve Bannon, who cried when he got fired and begged for his job. Now Sloppy Steve has been dumped like a dog by almost everyone. Too bad! https://t.co/mEeUhk5ZV9 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 Trumps message linked to a meme depicting a parody book cover titled, Liar and Phony, that featured a photo of Wolff and disparaging quotes about the author. In a tweet sent earlier Friday morning, Trump suggested the book was intended to serve as a distraction from the FBIs investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, which Trump wrote is proving to be a total hoax. Well, now that collusion with Russia is proving to be a total hoax and the only collusion is with Hillary Clinton and the FBI/Russia, the Fake News Media (Mainstream) and this phony new book are hitting out at every new front imaginable. They should try winning an election. Sad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 That came amid reports that Trump directed his White House counsel to tell Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions to not recuse himself from the Justice Departments Russia investigation. Trumps effort to keep Sessions, a vocal and loyal supporter of his election bid, in charge of an investigation into his campaign offers special counsel Robert Mueller yet another avenue to explore as his prosecutors work to untangle potential evidence of obstruction. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump praises the economy ahead of meetings at Camp David By Associated Press President Trump is praising the strength of the U.S. economy ahead of meetings at Camp David with congressional Republicans. Trump tweeted early Friday: Dow goes from 18,589 on November 9, 2016, to 25,075 today, for a new all-time Record. Jumped 1000 points in last 5 weeks, Record fastest 1000 point move in history. This is all about the Make America Great Again agenda! Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Six trillion dollars in value created! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 The president also told reporters on the South Lawn that the tax cuts are really kicking in after Congress passed a package of tax cuts at the end of 2017. And the president praised the December jobs report, which found U.S. employers added 148,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate stayed at 4.1%, the lowest level since 2000. The modest but steady pace of hiring is a reassuring sign for investors who have been buoyed by the just-passed Republican tax plan and have been sending stock market indexes roaring to uncharted heights. The president is meeting with Republican congressional leaders and members of his Cabinet on Friday and Saturday to discuss the 2018 agenda. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets as Dow crashes through 25,000 By Associated Press President Trump dispatched a congratulatory tweet as the Dow Jones industrial average rose above the 25,000-point mark Thursday, just five weeks after its first close above 24,000. Dow just crashes through 25,000. Congrats! Big cuts in unnecessary regulations continuing. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 After the Dow closed above 25,000, Trump shared a graphic depicting the stock indexs record-setting rise. MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/iONbr1DkVk Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Later in the day, the president was back on Twitter, complaining that news outlets had barely covered the stock market milestone. He suggested that the strength of the economy would be the biggest story on earth, had it unfolded during the presidency of his predecessor. The Fake News Media barely mentions the fact that the Stock Market just hit another New Record and that business in the U.S. is booming...but the people know! Can you imagine if O was president and had these numbers - would be biggest story on earth! Dow now over 25,000. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 The Dow broke past 1,000-point barriers in 2017 on its way to a 25% gain for the year, as an eight-year rally since the Great Recession continued to confound skeptics. Strong global economic growth and good prospects for higher company earnings have analysts predicting more gains, although the market may not stay as calm as it has been recently. The Dow has made a rapid trip since it reached 24,000 points Nov. 30, partly on enthusiasm over passage of the Republican-backed tax package, which could boost company profits this year with across-the-board cuts to corporate taxes. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump reacts to Fire and Fury book in tweet lashing out at author and Sloppy Steve President Trump lashed out at the author of a soon-to-be-released book about the chaotic first year of his presidency Thursday night. In a tweet, Trump called Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, a phony book and claimed that hed never spoken to its author, Michael Wolff. Look at this guys past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve! Trump wrote. He appeared to be referring to former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, whose stunning criticisms of Trump and his circle figure prominently in the title. I authorized Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for author of phony book! I never spoke to him for book. Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that dont exist. Look at this guys past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Trumps tweet came hours after he had his lawyer demand that Henry Holt & Co. and Wolff stop publication the book. Instead, the publisher expedited the books release to Friday, four days before it was slated to hit bookstore shelves, in response to unprecedented demand. Published excerpts on Wednesday and Thursday whetted that appetite and roiled Washington. Bannons comments, including that it was treasonous and unpatriotic for Trumps son Donald Trump Jr., son-in-law Jared Kushner and campaign manager Paul Manafort to have met in 2016 with Russians said to have dirt on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, prompted Trump on Wednesday to rebuke his former advisor, saying Bannon had lost his mind. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writers Brian Bennett and Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks senators who attended meeting on immigration President Trump tweeted thanks to Republican senators who attended a meeting about possible immigration legislation on Thursday. In his message, Trump also listed his top priorities when it comes to any type of overhaul of the nations immigration system. Thank you to the great Republican Senators who showed up to our mtg on immigration reform. We must BUILD THE WALL, stop illegal immigration, end chain migration & cancel the visa lottery. The current system is unsafe & unfair to the great people of our country - time for change! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Trumps tweet echoed his remarks at the beginning of Thursdays meeting, when he insisted again that constructing a border wall and overhauling two legal immigration programs must be part of any deal with Democrats to protect the so-called Dreamers from deportation. Two-year deportation protections and work permits given under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program begin to expire March 6 under an executive order. Trump announced in September that he was ending the Obama-era program, but told Congress to draft a law to continue protections for people brought to the country illegally as children a group that has widespread public support. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Brian Bennett. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump resumes Twitter war against kneeling NFL players President Trump has resumed his Twitter war against NFL players who kneel during the national anthem to protest social injustice and racial inequality. In a tweet early Thursday, Trump replied to a supporter who shared a meme that appears to depict family members lying on the grave of a fallen soldier with the caption: This is why we stand. Show this picture to the NFL players who still kneel! Trump wrote. So beautiful....Show this picture to the NFL players who still kneel! https://t.co/tJLM1tvbvb Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 The president has denounced players who kneel during the anthem in previous tweets. Hes also called for the firing of players who do so. His latest message came amid news that the NFL finished the regular season with TV ratings that fell nearly 10% below the previous season. Analysts attribute the drop to controversies facing the league, as well as changing viewing habits and a possible saturation point in the number of games available. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writers Stephen Battaglio and Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump credits himself with facilitating talks between North and South Korea By Associated Press President Trump says his tough stance on nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula is helping push North Korea and South Korea to talk. Trump tweeted early Thursday: With all of the failed experts weighing in, does anybody really believe that talks and dialogue would be going on between North and South Korea right now if I wasnt firm, strong and willing to commit our total might against the North. Fools, but talks are a good thing! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 That assertion is in conflict with some of the presidents own statements. Last year, he ridiculed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for talking about negotiations with the North. This week, Trump seemed open to the possibility of an inter-Korean dialogue after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare overture toward South Korea in a New Years Day address. But Trumps ambassador to the United Nations insisted that talks wont be meaningful unless the North is getting rid of its nuclear weapons. The overture about talks came after Trump and Kim traded more bellicose claims about their nuclear weapons. In his New Years Day address, Kim repeated fiery nuclear threats against the United States. Kim said he has a nuclear button on his office desk and warned that the whole territory of the U.S. is within the range of our nuclear strike. Trump mocked that assertion Tuesday evening in a tweet. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print After disbanding his vote fraud panel, Trump still says voting system is rigged By Brian Bennett One day after disbanding his troubled voter fraud commission without any findings of fraud, President Trump continued to call the U.S. voting system rigged and said states should require that Americans have voter-identification cards. In two tweets on Thursday morning, Trump blamed the commissions failure on the lack of cooperation from mostly Democrat States that refused to hand over voter rolls because they know that many people are voting illegally. However, voting supervisors in Republican-led states refused as well, objecting on privacy and other grounds. Many mostly Democrat States refused to hand over data from the 2016 Election to the Commission On Voter Fraud. They fought hard that the Commission not see their records or methods because they know that many people are voting illegally. System is rigged, must go to Voter I.D. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 As Americans, you need identification, sometimes in a very strong and accurate form, for almost everything you do.....except when it comes to the most important thing, VOTING for the people that run your country. Push hard for Voter Identification! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Despite Trumps assertions, analysts have not found evidence of widespread voter fraud. Trump created the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity in May after alleging, without proof, that millions of illegal votes were cast for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Trump was elected after winning a majority in the electoral college, but the nationwide count showed Clinton received nearly 3 million more votes. The commission sought personal data on voters across the country and faced mounting lawsuits in recent months over privacy concerns. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump touts another good day for stocks, credits tax cut By Associated Press President Trump touted another good day for the stock market Wednesday in a tweet. Stock Market had another good day but, now that the Tax Cut Bill has passed, we have tremendous upward potential. Dow just short of 25,000, a number that few thought would be possible this soon into my administration. Also, unemployment went down to 4.1%. Only getting better! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Big gains for technology and healthcare stocks helped U.S. indexes set records again Wednesday. Some analysts attributed the surge to investor enthusiasm for Trumps $1.5-trillion tax cut. All told, Wall Street analysts estimate the tax package should boost earnings for companies in the Standard & Poors 500 index by roughly 8% this year. Thats much more generous than the average tax cut of 1.6% that middle-class families will receive, according to the Tax Policy Center. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 The public has been less enthusiastic about the tax law. A Monmouth University poll last month found that nearly half of Americans disapproved of it, with only 26% in support. Still, as Trump also noted on Twitter, some workers have seen a benefit: So far, dozens of companies have announced bonuses and higher minimum wages as a result of the tax cut. AT&T, Comcast, Bank of America, and American Airlines have all pledged to pay $1,000 bonuses to their employees. Some 40 U.S. companies have responded to President Trumps tax cut and reform victory in Congress last year by handing out bonuses up to $2,000, increases in 401k matches and spending on charity, a much higher number than previously known. https://t.co/bmWrwWzxMR Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Investors also appear less concerned than many politicians about how the additional profits will be used. The Trump administration says it expects companies will plow much of the extra profit back into their businesses, purchasing more software, machinery, and other equipment. Those investments will make workers more productive and provide a key boost to the economys long-run growth. They should also boost wages and salaries for employees. Opponents of the tax law respond that companies are more likely to pass the windfall on to shareholders in the form of higher dividend payments and share buybacks, which raise the price of those shares still in investors hands. Previous cuts in corporate tax rates, in the United States and overseas, havent always led to higher wages. For Wall Street, its all good, at least in the short run. Most analysts take the view that either way, companies and the economy will benefit. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump reacts to death of Mormon Church president By Associated Press President Trump mourned the death of Mormon Church leader Thomas S. Monson on Wednesday evening. Trump tweeted a link to a statement in which he said that Monson demonstrated wisdom, inspired leadership, and great compassion and delivered a message of optimism, forgiveness, and faith. Melania and I are deeply saddened by the death of Thomas S. Monson, a beloved President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...https://t.co/ETD3fWtfU3 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 A church bishop at the age of 22, Monson became the youngest church apostle ever in 1963 at the age of 36. He served as a counselor for three church presidents before assuming the role of the top leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February 2008. After a life of church service, Monson died Tuesday at his home in Salt Lake City, according to church spokesman Eric Hawkins. He was 90. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets that Iranian protesters will see great U.S. support at the appropriate time By Associated Press President Trump continued to express support for Irans anti-government protesters on Wednesday. In a tweet, Trump commended the protesters and pledged that the United States will support them at the appropriate time. Such respect for the people of Iran as they try to take back their corrupt government. You will see great support from the United States at the appropriate time! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Trumps tweet Wednesday morning came as Iranian Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo sent a letter to United Nations officials complaining that Washington was intervening in a grotesque way in Irans internal affairs. The President and Vice-President of the United States, in their numerous absurd tweets, incited Iranians to engage in disruptive acts, the ambassador wrote to the U.N. Security Council president and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The U.S. didnt immediately respond to the letter, which maintains that Washington has crossed every limit in flouting rules and principles of international law governing the civilized conduct of international relations. At least 21 people have been killed and hundreds arrested in Iran during a week of anti-government protests and unrest over economic woes and official corruption. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people took part in counter-demonstrations Wednesday backing the clerically overseen government, which has said enemies of Iran are fomenting the protests. Trump has unleashed a series of tweets in recent days backing the protesters, saying Iran is failing at every level and declaring that it is time for change in the Islamic Republic. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump congratulates Sen. Orrin Hatch upon news of his retirement By Associated Press President Trump congratulated Sen. Orrin Hatch for an absolutely incredible career upon news of Hatchs impending retirement. In a tweet Tuesday afternoon, Trump called Hatch a tremendous supporter and wrote that he will be greatly missed in the Senate. Congratulations to Senator Orrin Hatch on an absolutely incredible career. He has been a tremendous supporter, and I will never forget the (beyond kind) statements he has made about me as President. He is my friend and he will be greatly missed in the U.S. Senate! pic.twitter.com/0VjzLEeHTl Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Hatchs decision to retire from the Senate after four decades lets the Utah Republican walk away at the height of his power after helping to push through an overhaul of the tax code and persuading Trump to downsize two national monuments. Retirement also preserves the 83-year-olds legacy by allowing him to avoid a bruising reelection battle that would have broken his promise not to seek an eighth term. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweet exaggerates progress in improving veterans care By Associated Press President Trump played up tremendous progress in improving care for veterans in his first year on Tuesday in a tweet. His message linked to an Instagram video describing eight accomplishments that show Trump is fighting for our veterans. But it overstates the impact of these steps. We will not rest until all of Americas GREAT VETERANS can receive the care they so richly deserve. Tremendous progress has been made in a short period of time. Keep up the great work @SecShulkin @DeptVetAffairs! https://t.co/ir25vW15hx pic.twitter.com/OtuzIgxMn6 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Of the eight achievements cited, two are ceremonial proclamations recognizing National Veterans and Military Families Month and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Two are pieces of legislation that extended the troubled Veterans Choice program on a temporary basis. This became necessary because the Trump administration repeatedly miscalculated the amount of taxpayer dollars available to pay for care from private doctors outside the Veterans Affairs system when veterans had to endure long waits for treatment at VA medical centers. The departments poor budget planning caught lawmakers off guard. A fifth claim involves telehealth, a step letting doctors practice medicine across state lines using digital technology. Announced in August, it has yet to take full effect because a proposed VA regulation hasnt been completed. The VA wants authority to practice across state lines to come from legislation, not a regulation. On Wednesday, the Senate approved a telehealth measure that now goes to the House. A sixth claim refers to legislation that streamlines the appeals process for disability compensation claims within the VA. This step has had limited effect so far because it applies to new disability claims, not the 470,000 pending claims. The last two initiatives make it easier for the VA to discipline employees. The department has pointed to more than 1,300 employees who have been fired under Trumps watch. Because their infractions are not detailed in public documents, the effect on veterans care is not fully known. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump unleashes his first tweetstorm of 2018 By Noah Bierman President Trump clearly didnt resolve to change his Twitter habits this year. With nine disparate tweets over three hours on Tuesday morning, the first working day of 2018, Trump continued to exploit social media to be the most aggressive commentator in chief in American history. For any other president, his posts would have made for a monumental day of (mis-)statements. Yet for Trump, the series attacks on political foes and media, provocations of foreign leaders and self-praise for events he had nothing to do with was all but unremarkable. His Twitter barrage sent between 7:09 a.m. and 10:16 a.m. reflected a familiar gamut after nearly a year in office: Attacks on political foes: Nearly 14 months after his election, Trump called for the jailing of Huma Abedin, Crooked Hillary Clintons top aid (his misspelling, another occasional feature of Trump tweets). Crooked Hillary Clintons top aid, Huma Abedin, has been accused of disregarding basic security protocols. She put Classified Passwords into the hands of foreign agents. Remember sailors pictures on submarine? Jail! Deep State Justice Dept must finally act? Also on Comey & others Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 In the same tweet, he disparaged the Deep State Justice Dept, headed of course by his appointees, calling on it to act against James B. Comey, the FBI director he fired for investigating the Russia thing. Diplomatic provocations: Trump again called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Rocket man, ridiculed the volatile nuclear-armed foe for recent military defections and openly speculated about potential talks between North and South Korea. Sanctions and other pressures are beginning to have a big impact on North Korea. Soldiers are dangerously fleeing to South Korea. Rocket man now wants to talk to South Korea for first time. Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not - we will see! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not we will see! Trump wrote. Later Tuesday, Trump tweeted: North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times. Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Also later Tuesday, Trump tweeted an attack on Pakistan, his second in as many days, and added a new one against Palestinians: It's not only Pakistan that we pay billions of dollars to for nothing, but also many other countries, and others. As an example, we pay the Palestinians HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They dont even want to negotiate a long overdue... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 ...peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Undermining media: Trump offered Congratulations! to A.G. Sulzberger, who took over as publisher of the New York Times this week. The Failing New York Times has a new publisher, A.G. Sulzberger. Congratulations! Here is a last chance for the Times to fulfill the vision of its Founder, Adolph Ochs, to give the news impartially, without fear or FAVOR, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved. Get... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 ....impartial journalists of a much higher standard, lose all of your phony and non-existent sources, and treat the President of the United States FAIRLY, so that the next time I (and the people) win, you wont have to write an apology to your readers for a job poorly done! GL Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 But the two-part post was really yet another slam against a perceived media foe: Trump said the paper had a last chance to fulfill its journalistic mission, and accused it of relying on phony sources and substandard reporters just days after he granted another exclusive interview to the paper. As a bonus, the tweet contained a recycled falsehood, that the paper apologized after the election for reporting on him unfairly. It didnt. Trump later said on Twitter that he would soon announce the most dishonest & corrupt media awards of the year. Stay tuned! I will be announcing THE MOST DISHONEST & CORRUPT MEDIA AWARDS OF THE YEAR on Monday at 5:00 oclock. Subjects will cover Dishonesty & Bad Reporting in various categories from the Fake News Media. Stay tuned! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 The president also tweeted a quote from Fox Business Networks Lou Dobbs Tonight, which aired a segment praising Trumps first-year accomplishments. Dobbs reportedly joined Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday for a gala to celebrate New Years Eve. President Trump has something now he didnt have a year ago, that is a set of accomplishments that nobody can deny. The accomplishments are there, look at his record, he has had a very significant first year. @LouDobbs Show,David Asman & Ed Rollins Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Taking credit: Trump congratulated himself for policing the border with Mexico, an area where his policies and anti-immigration rhetoric are believed to have had some effect on reducing illegal crossings. Thank you to Brandon Judd of the National Border Patrol Council for your kind words on how well we are doing at the Border. We will be bringing in more & more of your great folks and will build the desperately needed WALL! @foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 He took credit for employee bonuses by companies after he signed Republican tax cuts into law last month. Companies are giving big bonuses to their workers because of the Tax Cut Bill. Really great! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 But the jaw-dropper was Trump congratulating himself for planes not crashing. Since taking office I have been very strict on Commercial Aviation. Good news - it was just reported that there were Zero deaths in 2017, the best and safest year on record! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 It was the safest year on record worldwide, but the American streak without commercial jet passenger deaths goes back to 2009. Trump, who has promoted deregulation as one of his top accomplishments, has not signed off on any new airline safety regulations. The White House pointed to new security screening of passengers, to electronic devices to prevent terrorist attacks and to Trumps support for privatizing air traffic control a proposal that has gotten nowhere in Congress. Falsehoods: Trump said President Obama, in brokering the 2015 nuclear arms limitation deal with Iran, foolishly gave money to the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. He didnt. The people of Iran are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. All of the money that President Obama so foolishly gave them went into terrorism and into their pockets. The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 The nuclear deal, which included major U.S. allies as signators, released Irans own funds that had long been frozen. Trumps art of the deal: When Trump sees a big deal looming, he often blasts the other side to gain leverage, as hes written. This week he resumes a showdown with Democratic lawmakers over funding the government and immigration protections for so-called Dreamers, who were brought to the country illegally as children. Democrats are doing nothing for DACA - just interested in politics. DACA activists and Hispanics will go hard against Dems, will start falling in love with Republicans and their President! We are about RESULTS. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Trump, who in September ordered a gradual end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, sought to shift blame for the resulting controversy, saying Democrats are doing nothing for DACA and are just interested in politics. Trump has insisted that any help for Dreamers be paired with funding for a border wall and a crackdown on legal immigration. Democrats, and some Republicans, are opposed. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement In tweet, Trump suggests U.S. will withdraw financial assistance to Pakistan By Shashank Bengali Pakistan lashed out Monday after President Trump accused its leaders of lies & deceit and suggested the United States would withdraw financial assistance to the nuclear-armed nation it once saw as a key ally against terrorism. It was the presidents latest broadside against Pakistan after a speech in August in which he demanded its leaders crack down on the safe havens enjoyed by Taliban militants fighting U.S.-backed forces in neighboring Afghanistan. The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018 U.S. Ambassador David Hale was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the presidents statement, U.S. Embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said. Pakistan lodged a strongly worded protest and asked for clarification about Trumps comments, according to two foreign office officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Pakistans prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, called a Cabinet meeting for Tuesday and a meeting of the National Security Committee on Wednesday to discuss Trumps New Years Day tweet. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump continues to tweet in support of Iranian protesters By Laura King President Trump expressed renewed support Sunday for protesters in Iran, declaring that people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. In a tweet from his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, the president said the nationwide economic protests that began on Thursday and have taken on wider political overtones as they have grown in size were a signal that Iranians will not take it any longer. Big protests in Iran. The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. Looks like they will not take it any longer. The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Trump has tweeted about the protests for three days straight as Iranians took to the streets despite a heavy police presence, tear gas and scores of arrests. The defiance gained urgency after two people were reported shot to death in the city of Dorud, about 200 miles southwest of Tehran. As the conflict escalated, Iranian authorities on Sunday slapped a temporary ban on Instagram and the messaging app Telegram, which were widely used to fan protest fervor. Iran, the Number One State of Sponsored Terror with numerous violations of Human Rights occurring on an hourly basis, has now closed down the Internet so that peaceful demonstrators cannot communicate. Not good! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Irans leaders already are casting Trumps increasingly effusive expressions of support for the demonstrators as opportunistic meddling and are painting the demonstrators as foreign pawns, adopting a strategy that some analysts say could jeopardize the legitimacy of the nascent antigovernment protests. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets condolences after Colorado deputies are shot in ambush, one fatally By Associated Press A man fired more than 100 rounds at sheriffs deputies in Colorado early Sunday, killing one and injuring four others, before being fatally shot himself in what authorities called an ambush. Two civilians were also injured. President Trump expressed sorrow, writing on Twitter: My deepest condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Douglas County @DCSheriff, and their families. We love our police and law enforcement - God Bless them all! #LESM Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock said deputies came under fire almost 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. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi took a tough position on the North Korea issue on Wednesday, saying that war on the Korean Peninsula is absolutely unacceptable. Wang made the remarks in a press conference after a Sino-German dialogue on cooperation with Sigmar Gabriel, the German vice-chancellor and foreign minister in Germany. Of course we believe that the continued nuclear tests violate UN Security Council resolutions, but carrying out nonstop military exercises around the Korean Peninsula is clearly not in line with the spirit of Council resolutions, Wang Yi said. He added that it is imperative to return to dialogue as soon as possible. Wang Yi said that the goal of the Chinese side is firm; that is, to realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establish a mechanism for peace on the Peninsula. He said China is willing to continue to play a constructive role to that end, but warned of the dangers of the situation. As for the likelihood of war, even a one percent possibility of war breaking out is not acceptable, Wang Yi said. The Korean Peninsula is not the Middle East. If war breaks out, the consequences would be unimaginable. China has drawn a red line for the U.S., North Korea, and South Korea, that war on the Korean Peninsula is not allowed and that all consequences would be borne by the relevant countries should war break out. When babies are born, they draw their first breaths. Those gulps of oxygen trigger the lungs to stop developing. When babies are born prematurely, the same thing happens. But a preemies lungs are critically underdeveloped. Scientific advancements have made it possible for babies born as early as 22 or 23 weeks to survive, but they suffer from high rates of chronic issues. Babies born that early have only a 30% to 50% chance of survival. If they do make it, they face a 90% chance of developing a serious condition related to prematurity. An artificial womb developed by researchers at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia could be a way to let premature babies get that much-needed extra time for their lungs and other critical organs and systems to develop. It could also reduce the estimated $43 billion the U.S. spends every year caring for premature infants. Advertisement A study published this week in the journal Nature Communications explains how it works. The artificial womb, called the Biobag, is a closed-fluid system that uses a pumpless circuit to continuously circulate electrolyte-rich fluids via the umbilical cord in a polyethylene bag. In essence, its a big sterile Ziploc bag with tubes coming out of it. Most premature babies are delivered by caesarean section. Inside the womb, the lungs are deflated, and the baby gets oxygen from the umbilical cord. Upon leaving the mothers body, the change in temperature and environment triggers the lungs to inflate and, within about 10 seconds, the baby takes its first breaths. The umbilical cord is cut and clamped. Then the child is put on a ventilator in an incubator to stay alive. The baby spends weeks or months in the neonatal intensive care unit fighting for her life. (For a first-person perspective on what its like to have an extremely premature baby, you can read this Tampa Bay Times multi-part series written by a mother who delivered just before the 24-week mark.) With the new system, doctors would begin a C-section by making a small incision and giving the fetus a dose of a narcotic. Doctors would connect the systems circuit to the veins in the umbilical cord. Once blood was flowing properly through the circuit, the umbilical cord would be detached from the mother. The baby would then go into the Biobag. Researchers at the Philadelphia childrens hospital have been testing their invention on sheep fetuses. Dr. Alan Flake, a fetal surgeon and director of the hospitals Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, said lambs have been used for fetal physiological research for 50 to 60 years because of their similarity to humans. In the experiments, sheep fetuses were delivered at 100 to 115 days of gestation, which is roughly equivalent to the 22- to 24-week mark for human fetuses. Once delivered, the lambs were submerged in the Biobag and monitored for as long as four weeks. Inside the artificial womb, the lambs did just what they would have been doing in utero: breathing, sleeping, swallowing, moving around and, most importantly, growing. Echocardiograms showed normal heart activity. Brains grew at the appropriate ratio for the animals size. The lambs fattened up and grew wool. Overall, the animals generally appeared comfortable and non-distressed, according to the study. After up to four weeks in the artificial womb, the eight lambs incubated in the final Biobag prototype were born and put on a ventilator to begin breathing on their own. They were surprisingly stable, the study reported. Organ growth and maturation, including of the lungs and brains, were comparable to control lambs born via C-section at the same gestational age. Despite this success, the researchers acknowledged that parents might find it a little jarring to see their babies floating in a bag. But, the study noted, the alternative is the ventilator in the neonatal intensive care unit. Babies would only stay in the artificial womb for a few weeks as long as it takes for their lungs and other systems to develop, said Dr. Emily Partridge, a researcher at the Philadelphia hospital. Our intention would not be to support them on our system until they are a chubby 40-week gestation babe, Dr. Partridge said in a video released with the study. The idea is to bridge the rough patch when theyre really struggling and carry them through to a point where they can do OK. Of course, the study points out, lambs and human babies are not exactly the same. And though the lambs brains looked healthy, there are limitations on how well you can measure a sheeps neurological function. Fetal lambs are about three times larger than human fetuses, so the entire Biobag system would have to be sized down for preemies. The synthetic amniotic fluid hasnt been perfected yet. Finally, as currently designed, the system wouldnt work for babies delivered vaginally. But researchers will be addressing those issues soon. Flake, the director of the research center, said things are moving fast. Were in the process of interacting with the FDA, so its not impossible that we could be doing a clinical trial one to two years from now, he said. jessica.roy@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @jessica_roy and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. MORE FROM SCIENCE Waiting for Cassini: Scenes from a late night at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory Does Parkinsons disease begin in the gut? New research suggests it does 130,000-year-old mastodon bones could rewrite story of how humans first appeared in the Americas Thanks to scientists who have ventured outside the laboratory, we have learned that tight-knit groups of females experience synchronized menstrual periods over time, that cohesive groups engaged in decision-making discount dissenting viewpoints in the interests of consensus, and that couples who stay together long enough begin to look alike. In the wilds of a New York City biology classroom, a new study has captured another group phenomenon known to exist in labs but never before chronicled in humans natural habitat: group brain synchrony. Psychology researchers at New York University equipped each of 12 high school seniors with a portable, low-cost electroencephalogram and gathered the gadgets brain-wave readings over a semesters worth of biology classes (11 sessions lasting 50 minutes each). Writing in the journal Current Biology, the researchers reported that when students were most engaged with each other and in group learning, the readings on their electroencephalograms, or EEGs, tended to show brain-wave patterns that rose and dipped in synchrony. Advertisement That neural synchrony was most pronounced when students reported they liked their teacher. Individual students who reported feeling tied to their classmates, as well as those who scored highest on the trait of empathy, were most likely to fall into synchrony with classmates in the course of group learning. These observations are certainly in line with the phenomenon of neural entrainment. When everyone in a group is paying attention to the same thing (say, a lecturing teacher or a classroom video), it makes sense that their brain waves will be in sync as a simple function of their mutual attention to a common stimulus. But the new research suggests that neural synchrony may also reflect something more than just shared attention: It was evident amidmore fluid social dynamics among class members as well, where the give-and-take of group learning might have made for a less uniform experience, said cognitive neuroscientist Suzanne Dikker, who worked on the study. For an individual, the term entrainment is sometimes used to describe being in the zone. When two or more people are engaged socially with one another, that, too, appears to involve entrainment or being in the same zone. Such shared entrainment shows up on EEGs as neural synchrony. Brain-to-brain synchrony is a possible neural marker for dynamic social interactions, likely driven by shared attention mechanisms, the group wrote. Indeed, Dikker noted that the project itself was explicitly designed as an effort to gather data in a naturalistic setting. (It did not take measurements of a comparison group of disengaged students.) The researchers first gave the students a crash course in neuroscience. After enlisting their support in designing the experiment, they helped students craft a few of their own. They loved it at least they said they did, Dikker said. Except during troughs of student attention around college-application time and the inevitable appearance of senioritis toward the end of the semester, they really owned the project, she said. The idea that neural entrainment in groups can be detected and measured with portable EEGs and then analyzed to perceive patterns opens new avenues for research, Dikker added. The researchers are now designing large-scale projects in which theyll be able to record brain data and other biometrics from up to 45 people at once. Among the questions they hope to answer: What are the optimal conditions for an audience to experience a performance or movie? Is there an ideal group size? Does having some joint interaction right before a performance improve the experience? How does the audience affect the performer, and vice versa? melissa.healy@latimes.com @LATMelissaHealy MORE IN SCIENCE Does Parkinsons disease begin in the gut? New research suggests it does 130,000-year-old mastodon bones could rewrite story of how humans first appeared in the Americas Waiting for Cassini: Scenes from a late night at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory The area east and south of Hollywood Burbank Airport used to be home to Lockheed Martins aerospace manufacturing from the 1940s until the companys departure in the 1990s. Since then, the heavy manufacturing footprint in that region has transformed into an eclectic mix of commercial, light industrial, media and office uses with some single-family and multifamily homes peppered in. Recognizing the steady economic growth in the area, Burbank planning officials have started working on what they call the Golden State Specific Plan, which, once completed, will serve as the citys guide to development in that 600-acre Golden State area. Join the conversation on Facebook Burbank received $800,000 from the California High-Speed Rail Authority and $389,000 from the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, better known as Metro, to draft the specific plan, a High-Speed Rail Station Area Plan and an environmental impact report for the area, deputy city planner Scott Plambaeck said during a Planning Board meeting on Monday. The state agency is interested in the site because it is proposing to build a station for its high-speed train on Hollywood Way near San Fernando Boulevard. Metro has also shown interest because of its proposed Metrolink station in that same area. Plambaeck said there are about 10,000 jobs in that area, of which about 26% are in the information and media sector and about 23% are classified as manufacturing. The Avion project, a proposed business park on 61.5 acres of land northeast of the airport, known as the B6 parcel, is expected to create more jobs in the Golden State area of the city. Developers are looking to build six two-story buildings for industrial use, nine two-story structures for office use and two one-story buildings for retail or restaurant use. Additionally, a 150-room hotel is planned. The first community workshop regarding the Golden State Specific Plan was held in February, when city staff listened to concerns and suggestions from nearby residents. Another workshop is expected to be held sometime this summer before the plan is brought before the Planning Board for consideration, Plambaeck said. Residents can visit www.goldenstatedistrict.com to learn more about the specific plan and sign up for updates on future meetings. anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com Twitter: @acocarpio MORE CIVIC NEWS & POLITICS Burbank and its neighbors are teaming up to potentially get their hands on $1 billion in transportation funding Burbank skate park looks to ramp things up for 2017 Burbank looks to update aging electrical substations A man and a woman who are suspects in a string of armed robberies across Los Angeles County, including one in Burbank and two in Glendale, have been arrested, according to the Burbank Police Department. Pieces of evidence left behind during the armed robbery at a Burbank doughnut shop led police to identify Timothy Hayes and Unique Rivers, both 20 and from Los Angeles, as responsible for the crimes, according to Burbank Police Sgt. Derek Green. On the morning of March 22, the two robbed the 45-year-old owner of Kims Donuts and Coffee at gunpoint. The pair had entered the Burbank store wearing masks and hooded sweatshirts, Green said. He said one of the two pointed a gun at the owner while the other stole items from his pockets. The victim managed to grab the handgun and became involved in a physical struggle with both suspects, Green said. During the struggle, one of the suspects pointed the handgun toward the victims chest and pulled the trigger. However, the gun did not fire. The shop owner suffered only minor injuries. Green said investigators with Burbank, Glendale and the Los Angeles Police Department were eventually able to connect the pair to five other armed robberies two in Glendale and three in Los Angeles. One of the robberies, of a Glendale gas station, was said to have been committed only minutes before the pair went to the doughnut shop in Burbank. On Wednesday evening, SWAT teams from Burbank and Glendale police arrested Hayes and Rivers at a South Los Angeles home. A search of the residence recovered additional evidence, including clothing worn by the suspects during the commission of the robbery, Green said. The two have been charged with one count of attempted murder along with five counts of robbery and six counts of burglary by the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. They are each being held on $1.3 million bail. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc MORE CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY Fire breaks out in garage of Burbank home Glendale man used explosives in attempt to rob ATMs, police say Hes saying the meanest things: Burbank family whose dog went missing could be the target of a scammer UPDATES: 1:25 p.m.: This article was updated with the number of charges filed against the two suspects. This article was originally published at 11:25 a.m. on April 28, 2017. Newport Beach and Ensenada, Baja California, celebrated their shared love of the sea Thursday evening at a reception in advance of the annual Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race. Dignitaries from Mexico mingled with race organizers from the Newport Ocean Sailing Association and Newport Beach Mayor Kevin Muldoon in the courtyard of the Ayres Hotel & Suites in Costa Mesa, exchanging gifts and gratitude hours before the 70th annual event. This year, about 185 vessels will compete to be the first to cover the 125 nautical miles between the coastal cities. Muldoon presented Jared Gutierrez, Ensenadas director of international affairs, with a souvenir fleece blanket stitched with sailboats, while Gutierrez offered a bottle of local wine. As Napa is to California, Baja is known as Mexicos wine country. I gave you a gift that keeps you warm, you gave me a gift that keeps me warm, Muldoon quipped. Jorge Gamboa from the Mexico Tourism Boards Los Angeles regional office thanked Newport sailors for bringing their loyal economic contributions and goodwill. Youve been an incredible friend of Mexico for so many years, he said. Mario Cuevas Zamora, the Mexican consul in Orange County, also offered friendly thanks. Muchas gracias, and see you in Ensenada, he said. The race begins at 11 a.m. Friday off the Balboa Pier. hillary.davis@latimes.com Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD The Huntington Beach City Council will decide Monday whether to take a public position on the statewide pension crisis. The council will vote on whether to support pension-related legislation put forward by state Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa). Moorlach has proposed three bills and three amendments to the state Constitution. One amendment would prohibit public employers from increasing retirement benefits for their employees without two-thirds voter approval. Originally, the council considered the item April 17 but voted to have the Intergovernmental Relations Committee review the legislation before the council takes another vote to conform to established protocol. The IRC, which voted to support the legislation, is a council subcommittee formed by Mayor Barbara Delgleize, Mayor Pro Tempore Mike Posey and Councilwoman Jill Hardy. The group reviews pending legislation and its potential effects on the city. The initial item was proposed by council members Lyn Semeta and Erik Peterson. They have stressed the need for pension reform, citing Huntington Beachs tens of millions of dollars in unfunded pension liabilities. Representatives from the California Public Employees Retirement System, or CalPERS, will be present at the study session to give a presentation addressing pension concerns. The representatives appearance was approved by the council at the last meeting after being proposed by Councilman Billy OConnell. Proposal to test organic pesticides In other business, the council will discuss OConnells request to use organic pesticides as part of a year-long pilot program to control weeds in the western section of Central Park. OConnell said in statement that the city should investigate the use of organic pesticides with the possibility of replacing synthetic chemicals in the future. The pilot program would allow the city to adequately gauge the consequences if the change was made. Citizen groups Huntington Beach Tomorrow and Non-Toxic HB are supporting the plan. Request to form community foundation The council will also discuss forming a Huntington Beach Community Foundation to promote philanthropy and support nonprofit and public entities. In a statement, Delgleize and Hardy, who are proposing the item, said the city needs a centralized source of funding for the many organizations that serve the community. The proposed nonprofit foundation would help coordinate with these organizations, the statement says. Fountain Valley and Tustin are among the nearby cities with similar foundations. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot Two local high school seniors passionate about science, technology, engineering and math will follow their college dreams in the fall with the help of $40,000 scholarships for STEM education. Evan Corriere of Marina High School in Huntington Beach and Jose A La Torre of Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach are beneficiaries of the Edison Scholars Program, an initiative of Edison International that since 2006 has promoted STEM education for minority, low-income and under-represented students. The program, funded by Edison International shareholders, awards each recipient $40,000 to be used for STEM education at an accredited four-year college or university. The scholarships are paid over four years. Pedro Pizarro, president and chief executive of Edison International, said in a statement that this years 30 recipients in California, through their pursuit of science, technology, engineering and math will make important contributions to our communities and society. We are proud to support them. Corriere, 18, said he is passionate about problem-solving through computer science. He took a class on the subject, which ignited his love for programming. With computer science, its like a mix of art and what Ive learned you have to memorize how things work but also be efficient and creative-minded because you have to think of a solution to get from point A to B, he said. Its a way of mixing the things I already liked about math and science, but with an aspect of creativity. I feel like Ive only scratched the surface. At Marina High, Corriere takes several Advanced Placement classes and is involved in the National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation and Academic WorldQuest team. When it comes to academics, its never been forced on me. Ive always loved to do homework. Since I was little, I was always asking for math work for my birthday, he said. Im so proud of him. This scholarship makes a huge difference in [his] being able to go to school. Tina Corriere, mother of Marina High School student Evan Corriere He said his motivation comes from his hard-working mother, Tina, and three siblings, Elizabeth, Ethan and Scarlett. Evan has worked hard for everything hes earned and puts everything he has into it, said Tina Corriere, a single mom who is a nurse at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. Im so proud of him. This scholarship makes a huge difference in [his] being able to go to school. Evan Corriere plans to attend UC Berkeley in the fall, studying computer science and participating in school Hackathon programming challenges. He also hopes to attend graduate school. His advice for other college-bound students? Focus on what youre most interested in and what you care about, he said. If youre not doing something you love, then you wont thrive. For me, doing computer science excites me because its something I care about. A La Torre, who lives in Costa Mesa, heard about the Edison scholarship through his involvement in the Orange County Hispanic Education Endowment Fund. He said the flood of college and scholarship applications can feel burdensome at times, but the hustle is worth it. My parents are immigrants from Guadalajara and Jalisco [Mexico]. They raised me with the notion that education is my way into a better life and thats always been the plan do whatever it takes to get into a good college, said A La Torre, 18. Thats what makes me tick. I want to make my parents proud. Along with his passion for engineering, A La Torre is involved in the school marching band, Core Club, National Honor Society, BRIDGES social justice club, the track team, Associated Student Body and California Scholarship Federation and co-founded the Latinos Unidos student cultural club. What am I not involved with? he said. He said he wants to pursue engineering to help build safe, sturdy homes and buildings for those in need. It would be cool to drive down the street, see a bridge or building and say that has my name on it, he said. Math has always been A La Torres favorite and strongest subject, and he takes a special interest in physics. Anything that gives me an insight to the world around me helps me understand its process, he said. He said he is choosing between UC Berkeley and Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and hopes to later attain a masters degree in engineering. He almost doesnt sleep he studies all day, works so hard and puts a lot of love into it. And he always thinks about his family, said his mother, Liliana. I dont have any words to describe how proud of [Jose] I am. Im excited to see how far he goes, said his father, Manny. A La Torres advice for other students is to try everything once and figure out the details later. A friend told me once, Youll have time to sleep when youre dead, he said with a laugh. As Ive seen, theres no set path to getting into college and getting ahead, but if you have a passion and you pursue it, thats about as good as it can get. ALLYSON ESCOBAR is a contributor to Times Community News. Newport Beach Councilman Scott Peotter works hard for our city, fighting to lower costs, eliminate overtaxing and reducing government every day. He aggressively took on putting the firewood back on the beaches immediately after we got in office. He did it with more vigor than any councilperson and got it done. Team Newport made a lot of promises, and Peotter led the charge on many issues. I was easily intimidated by members of the old council, but not Peotter. I supported him on 99% of his motions. Obviously, the old guard disliked what we were doing and fought back with vindictive and mean remarks. It was not fun, and I did not look forward to council meetings knowing whatever we tried we would be ridiculed in public by one or more of the old remaining council members. Team Newport has done its best to deliver what it promised and Peotter was and is a big part of that effort. We inherited a huge debt, therefore we had to revert to limited spending and smarter planning to keep the city running like the citizens expect. Peotter knows Newport Beach. He raised his children in the Port streets, and they all graduated from Corona del Mar High School. He spent years on the Newport Beach Planning Commission, donating his valuable time away from his architecture business. He is the only council member who has expertise in building and development. I believe his knowledge in this field is vital for the council to know if a project is good, viable or bad for the city. Like so many others, Peotter was hit hard during the recession. Unfortunately, he had to sell his property and move to a more-affordable neighborhood until he could find his way back to the city he loves. Peotter is a very sincere man who speaks his mind. I am proud to be working with him on the council, and I always listen to what he has to offer in an objective way. Dont always agree, just like I dont always agree with others on the council, but thats not bad, its healthy. If you want to recall Peotter, you may as well recall me too. Im proud to sit on the council with him and continue fighting for what Team Newport promised. MARSHALL DUFFY DUFFIELD is the mayor pro-tem of Newport Beach. A 35-year-old man faces 41 years to life in prison after pleading no contest in court on Thursday to killing his grandparents in their Glendale home two years ago. Nathaniel Scheiern entered no-contest pleas for one count each of first-degree murder and second-degree murder. According to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office, Scheiern had killed his grandparents sometime between June 24 and 25, 2015, in the single-family home he shared with them in the 600 block of Alexander Street. The district attorneys office said he first attacked his 82-year-old grandmother Verna Scheiern with an ax before striking his 77-year-old grandfather William Scheiern with a hammer when he tried to intervene. In testimony given during a preliminary hearing in 2016, their bodies werent discovered until June 28 when Nathaniel Scheierns sister called for a well-being check of her grandparents. When an officer arrived at the home, he found the front door open and a foul odor coming from inside. An officer testified last year to finding the decomposing bodies of the elderly couple in one of the homes bedrooms. They were on a twin-sized bed with a blanket covering them. Police found a bloodied hammer a few feet away from the bodies and an ax embedded into a wall caked with dried blood. Police were able to track down Nathaniel Scheiern at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia, where he was being treated for injuries he suffered in a car crash the day after the killings. Glendale Police Det. Jeff Davis testified in 2016 that Nathaniel Scheiern confessed to the killings after his arrest and that he tried to behead the bodies. The couple had lived in the Glendale home for over two decades. Nathaniel Scheiern is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc MORE CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY Azusa man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting Glendale woman in her home Glendale man sentenced to 26 years in prison for fatal stabbing aboard Metro bus 1 dead and at least 9 injured in multivehicle crash on 5 Freeway near Glendale The Panda Explorer circumnavigates Australia promoting China tourism (Peoples Daily Online / Siqi Wang) SYDNEY, Apr 27 -- As one of the highlight event of 2017 China Australia Year of Tourism, the Panda Explorer Treks launch ceremony was held in Sydney on 27th April, 2017. Organized by the China National Tourist Office in Sydney, a fleet of ten giant panda themed campervans began an epic journey around Australia. Over eleven weeks the fleet of pandavans will trip around Australia from 28th April to 29th June 2017, covering 30,000 kilometres to promote China as a tourist destination. The Panda Explorer circumnavigates Australia promoting China tourism (Peoples Daily Online / Siqi Wang) The Panda Explorer will act as travelling information booths throughout the trek by handing out panda-themed giveaways, images and videos. During the 62 days, the team will circumnavigate the entire Australian coastline from North Queensland to Darwin and inland from Adelaide, past Alice Springs across Central Australia and through outback Far North Queensland to Townsville. The trek is a crucial part of 2017 China-Australia Year of Tourism, a year-long promotion of tourism cooperation between Australia and China. The implementation of joint initiatives by both governments is to further improve tourism exchange and cooperation. The Panda Explorer circumnavigates Australia promoting China tourism (Peoples Daily Online / Siqi Wang) Mr. Luo Weijian, Director of China National Tourist Office in Sydney, said the trek will take China to hundreds of towns and regional communities at the same time give Chinese people an insight into diverse landscapes and cultures of Australia. This is a first for China Tourism anywhere in the world. The Giant Panda are the national treasures of China and also the symbol of friendship, he said. Mr. Luo Weijian, Director of China National Tourist Office in Sydney, introduces the Panda Explorer event. (Peoples Daily Online / Siqi Wang) China is a significant market for Australian tourism and the tourism partnership with China is given priority by the Australian Government, says Mr. Tony South, the Chairman of Tourism Australia. Mr Yang Zhi, Minister Counselor (Culture) of the Embassy of the PRC in Australia, addresses the launch ceremony. (Peoples Daily Online / Siqi Wang) Among other China Australia Year of Tourism activities, the most prominent highlight one will be the 1000 Australian tourists to be hosted at an official welcoming ceremony in Xian China on 14th September 2017. These tourists will have the opportunity to visit the ancient Chinese capital where a special Tang Dynasty Grand Ceremony will be staged for Australian visitors. Mr Tony South, Chairman of Tourism Australia, addresses the launch ceremony. (Peoples Daily Online / Siqi Wang) In the world of spiders, sometimes the unexpected discoveries can be the most rewarding. Cody Raiza went to Laguna Coast Wilderness Park last month in search of a particular type of spider. The UC Berkeley biology student did not find what she was looking for, but the trip was hardly a waste. Advertisement Raizas goal on March 30 was finding spiders in the genus Habronattus jumping spiders. Raiza became intrigued with spiders while in Fullerton College Professor Lenny Vincents class and decided to focus her current research on jumping spiders. Professors at San Diego State University recommended Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Raiza and Vincent decided to venture out. Raiza said she was walking on a dirt trail in the park when a lizard scampered in front of her. She noticed some dead leaves on the ground and thought it would be a good spot to look for the desired spider. As Raiza moved leaves, a bright orange creature caught her eye. It was running around and I tried to catch it real fast, Raiza said in a phone interview Thursday. I was surprised a jumping spider looks like an ant. Raiza met Vincent on another part of the trail and they sifted through occasional patches of dead leaves. They found several of the orange critters and one ant species that the spider mimics. To the untrained eye, the spiders resemble ants because of their similar size, color and shape. Neither Raiza nor Vincent could immediately identify the spiders while on the trail. Vincent took the spiders home to take photos and do some investigation of his own. The genitalia of the male spider did not coincide with the species Vincent thought they had found Peckhamia Americana. Vincent sent the photos to two spider specialists, including David Richman, retired professor of entomology at New Mexico State University and emeritus curator of the Arthropod Museum. Richman said the spider is undescribed, meaning the species has not been named in published literature. It is thought that spiders evolved to look and act like ants to deter predators, Richman said. Most birds find ants distasteful, Richman said. Some ants will sting. Raiza said the encounter reminded her that there is more to explore. It shows the local community how much is left undiscovered, Raiza said. Walking on a trail, you never know what will be there. bryce.alderton@latimes.com Twitter: @AldertonBryce Ride the rails from Montreal to Vancouver on a 10-day trans-Canada trip that celebrates the nations 150th anniversary. Its a year-long nationwide party marking the date when the colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick agreed to form the Canadian Confederation. Kick off your celebration in Montreal with a guided tour and a two-day stop to explore the city; then travel aboard VIA Rails Corridor Service to Toronto. Participants will get an introduction to the city, followed by a full-day excursion to nearby Niagara Falls. Advertisement The tour group then boards VIA Rails signature train, the Canadian, for the four-night trip across five provinces to Vancouver, viewing prairies, lakes and the snow-capped Canadian Rockies. The train travels through Jasper National Park, a Rocky Mountain highlight. In Vancouver, participants will have a day to explore the citys attractions on a hop-on hop-off tour. Dates: Tours available May 2 through April 27, 2018. Price: From $2,195 per person, double occupancy. Includes rail transportation, hotel accommodations for five nights and sleeper car for four nights, all meals on the train, city tours and some transfers. International airfare not included. Info: Vacations by Rail/VIA Rail, (877) 929-7245 ALSO Id rather just chill, travelers say in survey of vacation habits Explore Louisiana: Guided tour takes you to the Tabasco factory, kayaking in the bayou f youre thinking like Trump, these 10 parks and monuments might be totally overrated travel@latimes.com @latimestravel Clara Driscoll and her Tiffany Girls would be proud. A hundred illuminated Tiffany lamps she and her team created and designed around the turn of the last century will now shine in a custom-made glass gallery that opens Saturday at the New-York Historical Society in Manhattan. The spacious two-story space with a glass staircase at its center was designed by Czech architect Eva Jiricna, marking her first project for a New York museum, a news release says. Advertisement The gallery tells the story of the little-known Driscoll, whose story museum curators discovered in 2005. She became the subject of the historical novel Clara and Mr. Tiffany and other books about her talent and work. The museums considerable Tiffany lamp collection includes intricate glass creations such as dragonfly and cobweb lampshades, a wisteria table lamp and other glass items. There also are multimedia kiosks where stories of individual Tiffany Girls are told and Driscolls letters are read. The gallery is adjacent to the museums Center for Womens History, a place where New Yorkers and visitors can come to discover the often-overlooked stories of women who transformed our American history and our lives today, the museum says. Saving Washington, an exhibit that continues through July 30, looks to women such as First Lady Dolley Madison and others who made their mark during the early years of Americas democracy. The fourth-floor space also features displays that highlight other moments in New Yorks history, from slavery and the Hudson River School of artists to 9/11, and Tiffany & Co.s jewelry and silver creations. During the Saturday and Sunday opening of the fourth floor, visitors will find living history figures who will explain historical items from all eras. Info: New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West; (212) 873-3400 ALSO If youre thinking like Trump, these 10 parks and monuments might be totally overrated For Arbor Day, 6 trees worth hugging and where to find them, including ... Cliftons? With spring snow (and so much of it!) comes discounts at California ski resorts travel@latimes.com @latimestravel European Union leaders are poised to support allowing Northern Ireland, if it unites with Ireland, to automatically become part of the multi-nation bloc after Britains departure via Brexit. Leaders of 27 EU nations attending a Saturday summit in Brussels plan to confirm their positions favoring a motion by Ireland, an EU member, to allow Northern Ireland, which is part of Britain, to remain in the group. Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has said he wants the final deal on Britains exit from the EU to guarantee that if Ireland and Northern Ireland unite, Northern Ireland would bypass the lengthy process for a country to join the EU. Advertisement The deal should guarantee that at some future time, whenever that might be, if it were to occur, that Northern Ireland would have ease of access to join as a member of the European Union again, Kenny told reporters during a February visit to the European Commission, the EUs executive branch in Brussels. Kenny pointed to the former East Germany, which he said followed a seamless process to immediately become a member of the EU when it reunited with West Germany in 1990. Though negotiations between Britain and the EU are expected to last two years and cover many topics, including trade and immigration, Irelands position apparently generated strong backing going into the Brussels summit Saturday. German Chancellor Angela Merkel this week said the 27 EU nations negotiating with Britain were united behind Ireland. There are many special interests, if we just think of the Republic of Ireland and its shared space with Great Britain and the problems in Northern Ireland, Merkel said during a speech in the Bundestag, Germanys lower house of parliament. Thats why it was a good accomplishment to stick together like this. British Prime Minister Theresa May, meanwhile, has promised to make Ireland one of her main priorities as she negotiates Britains break from the EU. May has described avoiding a hard border with Ireland which would mean checkpoints or passport controls. The 310-mile border between Ireland and Northern Ireland is the only land boundary between Britain and Europe. The sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles that began in 1968 involved Protestants loyal to Britain and Catholics who wanted a united Ireland. More than 3,600 people died and 40,000 were wounded. The hostilities ended with the 1998 Good Friday agreement, which among other things allowed travelers to go back and forth between the countries without checks. Britain has an important responsibility to make sure that nothing is done to jeopardize the peace process in Northern Ireland, and to continue to uphold the Belfast Agreement, May wrote in a letter last month to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. Michel Barnier, the EUs chief negotiator for Brexit, said in March that the group will be particularly attentive in the talks to anything that may, in one way or another, weaken dialogue and peace in Ireland. If and when Ireland and Northern Ireland might unite remains unknown, considering that so-called Brexit negotiations between Britain and the EU are expected to run into 2019. In Britains June 2016 referendum on whether to remain in or leave the EU, voters in Northern Ireland favored remaining 56% to 44%. But the overall result for Britains voters was 52% to 48% to leave. The minutes of Saturdays summit are to include a paragraph stating that a united Ireland would be an EU member. The reference to a united Ireland reflects months of the Irish governments lobbying efforts. Kenny has traveled to Brussels and several European capitals to convince other leaders that the Brexit agreement must guarantee an invisible border in Ireland and close trade links to the United Kingdom. Tusk, in a letter Friday to leaders of EU countries, named Ireland as one of three top priorities that must come first in the Brexit negotiations. Others include the rights of citizens and the money Britain will need to pay the EU before it leaves more than $60 billion, according to some estimates. Stupp is a special correspondent. For the second time this month, an attempt by North Korea to test-launch a ballistic missile has failed, American military officials said. The communist countrys apparently unsuccessful launch, near the central Pukchang airfield, occurred about 6:30 a.m. local time Saturday, said Cmdr. Dave Benham, a spokesman for U.S. Pacific Command. Officials said the launch never posed a threat to North America. Advertisement The missile did not leave North Korean territory, Benham said. It was the second failed test in recent days by the government in Pyongyang. On April 16, a missile launched from the coastal city of Sinpo exploded almost immediately, American military officials said. North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 28, 2017 Earlier this month, North Korea paraded missiles and other military hardware through Pyongyang in a show of force to commemorate the 105th birthday of the late founding president, Kim Il Sung. The government under Kims grandson, Kim Jong Un, has stepped up efforts to improve its nuclear and missile programs in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, with mixed results. Other tested missiles have traveled into the East Sea, posing no threat to South Korea or Japan, but raising the tension level in the region about the Norths increasing capabilities. The attempted launch came a day after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged the U.N. Security Council to impose new economic sanctions on North Korea and to suspend or downgrade diplomatic relations with the country. Tillerson, speaking at the U.N. for the first time, warned Friday of a catastrophic outcome if steps arent taken to halt North Koreas nuclear ambitions. A day earlier, President Trump warned that a major, major conflict with North Korea was possible. On Friday, Trump expressed his displeasure via Twitter. The president, who has pressed China and its president, Xi Jinping, to restrain North Korea, tweeted: North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad! Earlier this week the White House hosted an hourlong security briefing on North Korea for senators. In a rare move, the entire Senate was invited, and most members of the chamber attended the briefing on Wednesday. Stiles is a special correspondent. ALSO Tillerson calls for stiffer sanctions on North Korea as Pyongyang launches another missile Chinas Xi urges Trump to use caution in handling North Korea We went to North Korea. You asked hundreds of questions. Heres what we found UPDATES: 5:30 p.m.: This article has been updated with a tweet from President Trump. 4:35 p.m.: This article has been updated with Times reporting and comments from Dave Benham and Rex Tillerson. This article was originally published at 2:55 p.m. Pope Francis on Friday won over his Egyptian audience with a few words, spoken in Arabic: Peace be with you. There is no justification for violence, he said to applause at Al Azhar conference center in Cairo, adding that its the responsibility of clerics and other religious leaders to expose those responsible for extremist attacks. Together, from this land that is the place where civilizations converged, we must reaffirm our categorical rejection of all forms of violence, retaliation, and hatred that are perpetrated in the name of God, he said to more applause, calling for brotherhood and reconciliation. Advertisement After he finished speaking, the pope turned and embraced Sheikh Ahmed Tayeb, the grand imam of Al Azhar mosque, the paramount seat of learning for Sunni Islam, in a moment that many in the audience later said moved them as much as the peaceful, anti-terrorism message presented by both religious leaders. Maybe were a bit emotional in Egypt, said Mona Abdelhaseeb, 33, a researcher at Al Azhar, as she left. But for someone who doesnt speak Italian or Arabic, its all they need to understand. Francis arrived in Cairo earlier Friday for his two-day visit to the Muslim majority nation and emerged beaming from his plane to greet and bless a receiving line of supporters, including leaders of various faiths. Prime Minister Sherif Ismail was the first to welcome the pope as he strode down a red carpet to the tarmac. There, a boy and girl approached with flowers, and the pontiff paused to bless them. He greeted others with kisses on the cheek. Among those greeting the pope at the airport was Chaldean Christian Bishop Basilio Rialto of Baghdad. Rialto, who served for seven years as assistant pastor of a church in Michigan and has relatives in El Cajon, had said earlier that he knew Chaldeans all over the world were watching to see how the popes trip goes. We need the peace, especially in our country. The popes visit is going to give a lot of support, especially to Christians in the Middle East, said Rialto, who has worn a silver cross like the one worn by the pope since he was ordained two years ago as bishop. The pope traveled from the airport to the presidential palace to meet with President Abdel Fattah Sisi, who had declared a state of emergency after twin suicide bombings at Coptic Christian churches in separate Egyptian cities on Palm Sunday this month and vowed to fight Muslim extremism. Sisi lauded Francis, expressing appreciation for his noble humanitarian positions which unleash the power of hope in the hearts of people. The pope was also greeted by a trio of religious leaders, a rare convergence: Tayeb, the grand imam; Coptic Christian Pope Tawadros II and Ecumencal Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It is the first papal visit to Egypt since John Paul IIs trip in 2000, and comes at a particularly tense time after attacks on the countrys Christian minority, including the Palm Sunday attacks that killed 47 people. Islamic State extremists this year declared a campaign against Egypts Christians, who account for about 10% of the countrys population of 92 million, making the group the nations largest religious minority. About 270,000 of the countrys Christians are Catholic. Outside Al Azhar, soldiers patrolled in armored vehicles. Guests were screened by guards, dogs and two metal detectors. Al Azhar has a powerful influence on Sunni theology through its teachings, books and religious edicts. Its leaders took offense and severed ties with the Vatican in 2011 when Pope Benedict XVI demanded Egypt better protect Christians following a New Years Eve church bombing that killed more than 20 people. Francis has improved relations, hosting Tayeb at the Vatican last spring. Their latest meeting comes at an opportune time for Tayeb, who faces pressure from Sisi and a pro-government media campaign accusing Al Azhar of failing to combat Islamic extremism, denouncing attacks but doing little to change conditions. Arafa Ragab, an Al Azhar scholar, went to see the pope after leading Friday prayers at a nearby mosque, where he preached about the importance of compassion. He carried prayer beads and wore traditional robes and an Egyptian flag pin to show his patriotism. Ragab, 30, said Al Azhar is evolving and welcomed the pope. Im proud hes here today and Al Azhar is unifying religions, Ragab said. We reject any people who preach extremism. This is my message, and now its going out to the entire world. Christians were also pleased to hear the pope condemn the growing threat of Islamic extremism. Coptic activists complain that despite the support of Sisi and other leaders, they still face discrimination, limits on church building and persecution that has driven families from their homes in rural areas. We should learn to live together, said Father Dameskinos Keadeh, an orthodox priest from Syria based in Cairo. Keadeh said he was moved as much by what the pope said as what he did, leaving Al Azhar to pray with the Coptic pope for victims of terrorism at St. Peter and St. Paul Church, where 29 Coptic Christians were killed by a suicide attack in December. Many businesses near the church were shuttered, with parked cars cleared from surrounding streets by police worried about the possibility of an attack along the popes route. But Osama Zahar stayed and watched the events on a television in his perfume shop. It is very, very important, not only for Egypt but also for the whole world, which it will bring peace and good, Zahar, 60, who is Muslim, said of the popes visit. I hope that everything goes peacefully without any attack against him. Zahar said he wished he could thank the pope and welcome him personally, adding that he admires the pontiffs bravery and thinks it will encourage tourists to return to Egypt. Later, riot police and small groups of well-wishers lined the popes route to the Vatican embassy on Gezira Island, where Francis was expected to meet hundreds of youths and spend the night. Khadija Kalquaoui, 37, came to watch with her husband and three children. Her family is Muslim, she said, but the visit is important for us, too. Eileen Bassioni is Catholic, her husband Muslim. Both came to see the pope, saying they admire his humility. Standing nearby, neighbor Aida Dabizzi a Bosnian agnostic said it was the popes message that brought her and others out to see him. We think he is the true world leader in these tough times, said Dabizzi, 37. Hes able to bring peace wherever he goes. molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com Twitter: @mollyhf Special correspondent Makarios Nassar in Cairo contributed to this report. ALSO Civilian casualties from airstrikes grow in Iraq and Syria. But few are ever investigated After deadly bombings, Egypts state of emergency reassures some but strikes fear in others Conservative opposition to Pope Francis spurs talk of a schism in the Catholic Church UPDATES: 3:15 p.m.: This article was updated with more details and comments on the popes trip. 11:40 a.m.: This article was updated with information on the popes speech in Cairo. This article was originally published at 6:10 a.m. Iraqs prime minister on Saturday threatened his nations troops with execution if they had abandoned their posts in the face of a blitz attack by Islamic militants who swept through northern provinces this week. Speaking to a group of army officers in a televised address from the central city of Samarra, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki promised accountability and punishment for any soldiers who had contributed Tuesday to the swift fall of Mosul, one of the nations largest cities, as well as other areas in the country. Iraqi army and police units offered little resistance to the militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, in many cases shedding their uniforms and abandoning their equipment as they fled the violence, according to reports. Advertisement Those who did nothing, and those who clearly abandoned their posts, let them not imagine that they escaped to [safety] in the houses of their families and mothers, Maliki said, adding that those found to have deserted would be prosecuted to the utmost, with punishments that rise to execution. Frankly this was our chance to get rid of those cowards and weaklings, he added. This is our opportunity to improve the army and purify it from these elements. Maliki arrived in Samarra, about 80 miles north of the capital, on Friday after the government had granted him extensive powers to confront the Sunni Muslim extremists of ISIS. The Al Qaeda splinter group is notorious for its harsh application of Islamic sharia law, employing beheadings, amputations and crucifixions to punish those who contradict its edicts. In the wake of the security forces defeat, Maliki -- a Shiite Muslim accused by critics of marginalizing the countrys Sunni minority -- had called for the creation of local militias, composed of volunteers and organized largely on sectarian lines to confront ISIS, whose forces had taken large areas of northwestern Iraq before moving toward Baghdad. Samarra would not be the last line of defense but a launch pad to purify every inch that was sullied by the feet of those traitors, Maliki said, promising the arrival in the city of the masses of volunteers who had come to liberate the lands taken by ISIS. Meanwhile, insurgents seized the small town of Adeim in Diyala province after Iraqi security forces pulled out, the Associated Press reported, citing the head of the municipal council, Mohammed Dhifan. State media reported the arrival of thousands of young men to 23 recruitment centers in eight southern provinces, many of them heeding the call of religious leaders such as Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraqs senior Shiite cleric. On Friday, Sistani exhorted followers to volunteer and join the security forces to achieve this holy purpose. With the threat of destruction to Iraqs tenuous unity looming, Maliki insisted that this was not a sectarian battle and that Iraqis would fight as a nation. We will talk the language of justice, we will talk the language of freedom, we will talk the language of all Iraqis regardless of sect, he said. It was not clear how much outside help Maliki could expect in confronting ISIS. On Friday, President Obama said that even though Iraq needs additional support to break the momentum of extremist groups he would not be sending U.S troops back into combat in the country. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a news conference celebrating one year since his surprise victory in the presidential elections, also expressed his concern for Iraq, saying that if the Iraqi government asks us for help, we may provide any assistance the Iraqi nation would like us to provide in the fight against terrorism. Although he did not specify what form this support would take, the involvement would put the United States in the strange position of working in tandem with a longtime enemy. Iran is viewed with suspicion by many U.S. allies in the region, who fear it is attempting to create a Shiite crescent extending its influence to the Mediterranean. Rouhani dismissed rumors that Iranian forces had been dispatched to fight in Iraq. Earlier in the week, activists had reported Quds Force commander Qassem Suleimani, head of Irans elite commando unit, had taken the reins in operational command headquarters in Baghdad. Bulos is a special correspondent. All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced. 19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc. After the controversial statement of Jesse Watters, a Fox News host, he confirmed to be on vacation and have a break from the primetime. Watters recently promoted to be permanent on "The Five" but after his controversial sex joke statement against Ivanka Trump, he seemed to quickly pull out a vacation for his family. On "The Five" Wednesday episode, Watters stated that he will be on a vacation with his family, so he is not gonna be on Thursday's episode. He jokingly says that "don't miss me too much," Watters commented that he will be back on Monday. Given the unexpected vacation of Jesse Watters, speculations arise the reason why he is on sudden vacation. Back on Tuesday, Watters clearly talks about an oral sex joke about the daughter of the President, Ivanka Trump. He seemingly makes a rude joke while talking about respecting women. On the episode, Watters conveyed his comment after Ivanka Trump called her father "tremendous champion" and booed at the women's conference in Germany. According to The New York Times, the host criticized attendees for booing Trump but later commented that he don't really get what is going on, and claimed somehow, he does like how Ivanka Trump speaks into the microphone. The host quickly gained criticism and backlash over his comment while he is talking about respecting women. According to the report, Jesse Watters making a crude joke seemed to mimic a hand job. But, the host later defends himself and claimed that he was just complimenting Ivanka Trump's voice. He quickly denied that he is implying such a joke in TV. Well, people seems to not believe as many sexual harassments have been going on the said show. Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump was also criticized over her statement for the Syrian refugees. President Donald Trump has a clear standing when talking about the refugees where he even called them "Trojan horse" during the election, The Washington Post has reported. Now, people online seems to be at raged after the recent interview of Ivanka Trump questioning her about the refugees. According to the report, she thought of opening the U.S borders "has to be part of the discussion." Claiming that such a bold step may not be enough in and of itself. Belarus auto dream has come true as a result of its cooperation with Chinese car maker Geely. Their partnership has entered a fast track since the Belt and Road initiative was put forward by China in 2013. BELGEE, taking the first three letters of Belarus and first three letters of GEELY, a Chinese car maker, is the first Belarus-Chinese joint venture in auto industry and the only Belarusian manufacturer of passenger vehicles still under operation. The quality of cars made by BELGEE has been recognized by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko after a test drive, who later ordered to use the companys cars as official business vehicles. Belarus has been restrained by bottlenecks to develop its automobile industry, but did not give up the dream. After its independence, Belaruss industrial capability was still underdeveloped due to long-term division of labor system in the former Soviet Union. For a very long time, the world renowned heavy truck production base couldnt even produce an independently-developed vehicle. Belarus dream toward building its own pillar car industry was always frustrated by the lack of capital, talent, technology and market demand. In the past, Ford Motors of the US, German Volkswagen and other carmakers have invested in Belarus but all ended up in vain. In 2011, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd. started cooperation with Belarusian auto enterprises after its 2010 acquisition of Volvo Cars. As the construction of the Belt and Road initiative was advanced, the partnership started to drive on a fast lane. Vladimir Pavlovich, assistant to BELGEE general manager, said he felt very proud when the first batch of cars rolled off the assembly line though he had previously thought it impossible to manufacture domestic passenger vehicles. I really appreciate that China has helped us realize our car dream ahead of time, said Pavlovich, who had worked in heavy machinery industry for a very long time before the joint venture was founded. China is helping us develop national industry wholeheartedly, said Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Semashko. Belarus cannot realize its car dream so soon without Chinese enterprises rising strength as well as the Belt and Road initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Semashko added. By the end of 2016, the joint venture had created high tax revenue and provided jobs for many locals since the old factory started operation in February 2013. The benefits are more than that. The Geely Holding Group has not only brought capital, equipment and technologies but also cultivated auto workers for the joint venture, which is more important for Belarus to develop its own vehicle brands, according to Andrey Semelev, acting general manager of BELGEE. In 2016, the BELGEE sent a total of 92 Belarusian employees to Geelys base in China for a specialized training lasting one to six months. Anna, 23, was one of the trainees. Now with expertise in polyvinylchloride (PVC), Anna said she never saw how a car was made before attending the training. The Chinese trainers are very nice, patient and conscientious, she added. Zimmer, 31, head of the welding workshop, said he learnt a lot of professional knowledge and management experience in China, which he thinks will be useful in future. Cheng Wenan, BELGEEs production general manager, was proud that Geely has established the joint venture with an overseas partner. President Xi visited Geely in January 2003 soon after he became the governor and Party secretary of East Chinas Zhejiang Province, said Cheng, also general manager of Geely overseas manufacturing center. Cheng remembered Xis comments that if we dont give additional strong support to companies like Geely, then whom are we going to support?, saying that Xis attention to the joint venture in recent years have helped accelerate its development. That indicates a national leaders supports to self-developed brands and the globalization of the countrys enterprises, Cheng added. Maria Sharapova of Russia serves to Italy's Roberta Vinci en route to a 7-5, 6-3 victory in the Grand Prix tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, on Wednesday. Sharapova was given a lukewarm reception by the 4,500 spectators upon her return to the tour after a 15-month doping ban. Daniel Maurer / Dpa / Ap Reinstated Russian would 'play juniors' for a shot at French Open, Wimbledon STUTTGART, Germany - Maria Sharapova says she would "play in the juniors if I have to" in order to compete at the French Open and Wimbledon - but has no interest in building bridges with her rivals after making her comeback from a doping ban. The Russian superstar marked her return from a 15-month ban on Wednesday with a 7-5, 6-3 first-round win over Roberta Vinci at Stuttgart's WTA tournament after being given a wild card. She described victory as the "best feeling in the world" as the former world No 1 returned after testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open. Sharapova has also been granted wild cards into the Madrid and Rome WTA tournaments, but must wait until May 16 to learn if she will get a wild card for the French Open. She was very clear she will take any chance to try to win a third French Open title at Roland Garros, which starts on May 22, or Wimbledon in July. "I'd be prepared to play in the juniors if I have to," she replied when asked about her desire to play the French Open or Wimbledon. "Everyone in this room knows what a competitor I am and if there is an opportunity to be in the draw, I will take it. "I have been offered wild cards and I am accepting them. "I am not getting a trophy or a golden platter, I have to win these games. That is my job." The organizers' decision to parachute Sharapova into the main draw in Stuttgart, where she has been champion three times, drew harsh criticism from rivals who believe she received preferential treatment. Apr 28, 2017, 5:39am ET Hyundai Kona crossover teased again The Kona is aimed at the Toyota C-HR and the Honda HR-V. Hyundai's upcoming entry-level crossover has a name: Kona. Named after a district on Hawaii's Big Island, the soft-roader is scheduled to make its public debut in the coming months. The South Korean automaker promises the Kona features "true SUV genes, progressive design, and premium features." That's not a lot to go on, but the teaser image suggests the Kona receives a bolder style than many of its stablemates. The LED daytime running lights are positioned a little bit higher than the grille, while the headlights are much lower, creating a look reminiscent of Nissan's Juke, Jeep's Cherokee, and a handful of recent additions to the Citroen lineup. Technical specifications remain unconfirmed. All we know at this point is that front-wheel drive will come standard, and all-wheel drive will be offered at an extra cost. The Kona was developed largely for the European market. Hyundai hopes adding a smaller, more city-friendly crossover to its lineup across the pond will help it reach its goal of becoming the number one Asian brand in Europe by 2021. Whether it will be sold in the United States is up in the air at this point; the company's promotional material places an unusually strong emphasis on the European market. The 2018 Hyundai Kona will debut this summer, and it will arrive in showrooms before the end of the year. When it lands, it will compete in the same segment as the Toyota C-HR, the Honda HR-V, and the Mazda CX-3. Apr 28, 2017, 10:46am ET Mitsubishi to recreate its first production model Mitsubishi will mark its centennial anniversary with a modern-day interpretation of its first production model. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Mitsubishi's first mass-produced vehicle, the Model A, and the Japanese automaker is marking the occasion be recreating the vehicle that started it all with a modern twist. Mitsubishi announced on Friday that it is teaming with West Coast Customs to "build a current day Mitsubishi Model A with the looks of the original 1917 vehicle. In order to achieve that goal, Mitsubishi will base its 2017 Model A on its Outlander Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle. "We're proud to be a 100-year-old brand with a rich heritage in the automotive landscape. The Mitsubishi Model A is the vehicle that paved the way for many other unique and exciting models over the years and we're excited to re-design it with West Coast Customs," said Francine Harsini, senior director, marketing at MMNA. "The Mitsubishi Model A will feature all the distinctive aspects of the 1917 vehicle, but will be built on the PHEV platform and offer the latest in automotive technology. Although billed as Japan's first mass-produced vehicle, production numbers for the original Mitsubishi Model A weren't exactly staggering. Between 1917 and 1921 Mitsubishi built just 22 units of the Model A, which was actually based on the Fiat Tipo 3. Still, that's 21 units more than the modern-day Model A Mitsubishi will build. Mitsubishi hasn't released any design sketches for its West Coast Customs-built Model A, but the entire build will be documented on an episode of Inside West Coast Customs on the Velocity channel. The man who robbed Pat's Newsstand in Bethlehem was sent to state prison Friday for at least nine and a half years. Ramon Rivera was sentenced to nine and a half to 21 years for robbery and recklessly endangering another person. A Northampton County jury convicted the 45-year-old Bethlehem man in March. He represented himself at trial. He pointed a gun in the face of newsstand owner Irene Skelly at 5:20 a.m. Jan. 18, 2016, and took about $500 from the store at 327 S. New St. Jurors would not have known he's a drug user or that he didn't have a job had he not mentioned both facts, according to Northampton County Assistant District Attorney John Obrecht. Obrecht said during his closing argument during the trial that Rivera probably robbed the store to get money for drugs. "He doesn't have income and yet he's using drugs, apparently on a daily basis," Obrecht said. "As far as my knowledge, drugs aren't free. You have to pay for them. Isn't that motive enough to rob a store?" An agitated Rivera seemed resigned to a conviction at the end of his closing argument. "I'm tired. I just want to go home. I've got kids," he said March 1. Rivera said nothing when he was sentenced Friday by Northampton County Judge Anthony Beltrami. Beltrami said Rivera refuses to follow instructions from prison officials or the probation officer who compiled a pre-sentence report on him. He has a long list of prior convictions, including robbery and assault, the judge said. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. UPDATE: DA: Man in standoff threatened to kill neighbor, police A standoff in a West Bethlehem home ended about 1 a.m. Friday. A man dressed only in orange shorts and sneakers -- and with a towel covering the lower part of his face -- was brought out of 705 10th Ave. The situation began before 8 p.m. in the brick home with a sided second floor. Windows in the home had makeshift coverings. WFMZ reported the man who was brought out was the only person in the home, so there were no hostages. The Bethlehem Fire Department bomb squad at one point sent a robot toward the rear of the home, according to the TV station. The city police Special Response Team was there and guns were pointed at the residence. Police went on a loudspeaker about 11:45 p.m., and objects were fired through windows about 15 minutes later, WFMZ reported. A Bethlehem police officer at headquarters on Friday morning confirmed the incident was over but couldn't provide further details. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Now that Clusters Handcrafted Popcorn has opened its doors, new flavors are popping up daily on Main Street in Bethlehem. The family owned business officially opened its second caramel corn shop location April 15 at 530 Main St. The shop offers 12 fresh flavors of caramel corn daily, owner Julian Sghiatti said. Clusters keeps certain staple favorites in constant rotation, like white cheddar, while swapping out more innovative selections. All popcorn is made onsite in small batches with coconut oil, which cuts the fat by one-third, and many options are gluten-free. "We pride ourselves on being healthy, fresh and natural," he said. Currently, there are more than 50 flavors in the recipe book, but the shop is always innovating. Many of the choices are customer inspired, so Sghiatti says folks shouldn't be shy about sharing their dream flavor. "We're always thinking about the next one," he said. "We really encourage people to be a part of it." Toasted coconut and white cheddar are the top sellers, Sghiatti said. Some options on Thursday included: cookie explosion, peanut lovers, pumpkin crisp, Sghiatti's personal favorite sweet habanero and cinnamon toast. If you're on the fence, Clusters does offer free samples to customers. Bethlehem was an easy choice for Sghiatti, who lives in Bethlehem Township, Pa., when his family was looking to expand their New Hope, Pa., business, which opened six years ago. "I love it here," he said standing in the sun-filled store Thursday afternoon. "I love eating downtown here. I love the people here. It's the nicest spot in the Lehigh Valley." The reception from the Lehigh Valley community has been warm and enthusiastic, Sghiatti said. A third store is in the works at Peddler's Village in New Hope. The Sghiatti family hopes to eventually franchise the business, he said. The Bethlehem store's design hearkens back to the original location with a coffered wooden ceiling, fans and cheerful blue walls, which will soon be adorned with historic Bethlehem photos. Sghiatti's parents Linda and Jules Sghiatti, dreamed up the idea to open a popcorn store after watching fireworks in New Hope one evening and discussing the lack of snack shops other than ice cream available in town. Inspired by the caramel corn shops on the boardwalk, Clusters was born. It was a family affair from designing and building the store -- Jules Sghiatti is a residential builder -- to developing the flavors. Julian Sghiatti worked alongside his father to transform the Bethlehem storefront into the second Clusters location. The space was last occupied by Shuze, which closed in 2013. Clusters Bethlehem is open Monday through Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Brett Mika allegedly used his cell phone to solicit sex from a 15-year-old. But the 32-year-old Bethlehem man is autistic and has the sexual awareness of a 12-year-old, according to his attorney. If he's convicted and forced to register as a sex offender, he risks losing the insurance that helps him get sex offender treatment and faces big obstacles moving to a treatment facility when his parents can no longer care for him, attorney Rory Driscole said. Northampton County Judge Stephen Baratta must decide whether Mika's special needs outweigh the need to protect the community. He asked for time Friday to read a psychological report prepared about Mika. Mika was charged in 2015 after he texted the teenager. The victim reported the text immediately to his school counselor, who reported it to Bethlehem Township police. Police kept texting Mika, pretending to be a teenager, and said Mika sent them sexually explicit texts. Driscole said Mika found the teen by randomly texting phone numbers. "He would think of numbers off the top of his head and ask them to send him pictures of his tummy," Driscole said. Driscole said Mika was looking for a "companion" more than he wanted sex. Police searched all the electronic devices in his home and found no pornography or inappropriate communication with minors. Assistant District Attorney Anthony Casola offered a deal to drop three sex offenses, including two felonies. He'd allow Mika to plead guilty to corruption of minors and would fashion the plea so that Mika wouldn't have to register as a sex offender. The judge wasn't ready to accept the deal without more research. "To avoid the sexual component of the plea gives me some concern," Baratta said. "It sounds like predatory behavior. Trolling random phone numbers to locate someone and ask them to have a relationship, apparently a sexual relationship, sounds predatory to me." Driscole said Mika was accepted into mental health court, a program that would allow him to wipe away his charges if he completed treatment. But he was thrown out of the program. Driscole said therapists felt he wasn't taking responsibility for his behavior, but Driscole chalked up his lack of cooperation to his lack of self-awareness. Mika also left unwanted notes on his neighbor's car, another factor that led to his dismissal from the program. Driscole said Mika is high-functioning on the autism spectrum but he lives at home and needs his parents to take care of him. Forcing him to register as a sex offender means that when his parents age and can't take care of him, he'll have to convince some residential treatment facility to let him live there even though he's a sex offender. "I don't want to be morbid but it's the truth, your honor," Driscole said. "He can't live on his own." Mika nervously adjusted his shirt during the hearing. He closed his eyes in apparent concentration, nodded and shook his head at random moments. "This whole thing is kind of bizarre," the judge said. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. US President Donald Trump said he wants South Korea to pay for the deployment of the controversial Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, according to Reuters. "I informed South Korea it would be appropriate if they paid. It's a billion-dollar system," Trump said in an exclusive interview with Reuters on Thursday. He also said he would renegotiate or terminate the US free trade agreement with South Korea, calling it horrible. However, South Koreas Ministry of National Defense said on Friday that there was no change in its basic position that the US should pay for the installation and operating cost of the THAAD system, as the South Korean government is providing the site and related facilities for the deployment, according to Yonhap News Agency. The United States military in South Korea had transported equipment for the THAAD anti-missile system to the host site in Seongju on Wednesday. Test operations are expected to be conducted soon as key components have been deployed to the launch site, Korean Broadcasting System reported. The THAAD is a US Army anti-ballistic missile system which is designed to counter short, medium and intermediate range ballistic missiles. The South Korean military decided to deploy the system to counter what it claimed to be threats from the DPRK. China and Russia have opposed the deployment of the system, saying it would inevitably deteriorate the international security situation in the region. Bethlehem police were negotiating Thursday night with an individual barricaded inside a house, an officer confirmed at the scene. The incident was continuing past 8 p.m. on 10th Avenue between West Raspberry Street and West Union Boulevard. Police closed 10th Avenue in the area. Further information was not immediately available. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. It was all about the trees as Marvine Elementary School students celebrated Arbor Day on Friday in Bethlehem. Students enjoyed outside activities celebrating trees and learning about the environmental, aesthetic and economic benefits of them. They also had a chance to climb a tree with the help of Joshua Tree Experts in Stockertown. Using safety equipment, kid-size climbing saddles and instructions, fourth-graders scaled the tree through a marked course. Their goal -- a bucket full of goodies at the end of the course. Organizers said this is the sixth year that Joshua Tree Experts owner Joshua Malik has donated company resources and time for a day of community service to teach kids about arboriculture. They said Malik and his staff offer a fun and unique experience while employing industry-standard climbing practices in a professional environment. Alexander Karras, Mayor Robert Donchez's chief of staff was also on hand to accept Bethlehem's Tree City USA Award and Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation for accomplishments in urban forestry during 2016. This marks the 24th year Bethlehem has been recognized as a Tree City USA and the ninth year for the Growth Award. John Nissen, DCNR Service Forester for the William Penn Forest District, presented the awards. Sue Beyer may be reached at sbeyer@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sbeyer_photo. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook. The Green Knight Economic Development Corp., which is backing a controversial proposal to build a sewage sludge treatment plant in Plainfield Township, on Friday issued an open letter to residents living near the site of the proposed plant. The letter, which reiterates the corporation's support for the project, comes just weeks after close to 75 residents attended a forum on the proposal. Many expressed concerns about safety, odors and health hazards associated with such a plant. Synagro is proposing to build a $26 million drying facility at the Grand Central Sanitary Landfill so it can bring in sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants. The waste from commercial, industrial, hospital and residential sewers would be converted into Class A biosolids at the site. The GKEDC operates a facility at the site that collects methane gas, burns it and converts it into energy. Synagro would like to tap into that energy source for its plant. Class A biosolids can be used as a fuel source for operations like cement kilns. It also can be used as fertilizer for farm and home use. The GKEDC, in its open letter, says that 100 percent of the profits it receives from the plant would go back into the community in the form of grants, scholarships and economic development projects. Much of the concern about the plant isn't rooted in fact, the letter says. Scientific reviews, the regulatory framework established by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the GKEDC's own research shows the plant would have minimal impact on the community, aside from some additional truck traffic, the letter says. "Based on all of this, we are confident that the benefits to our community via new jobs, private investment, increased tax revenue and additional funds to support further community and economic development outweigh any negative impacts," the letter says. "We would not be involved in the project if we believed otherwise." The April 5 forum didn't assuage concerns of many residents opposed to the project. Days after the forum, Bangor Area School Board member Ron Angle and Easton Area School District Superintendent John Reinhart co-signed a guest column to lehighvalleylive.com that chastised the GKEDC for losing sight of its mission. Both Angle and Reinhart submitted the letter as concerned Slate Belt residents. They called out the GKEDC for working with Synagro in a secretive fashion and not publicly disclosing details about the agreement they entered. "With this secret deal, Green Knight has lost its focus and its mission as an organization that exists to enhance our quality of life," Angle and Reinhart wrote. The GKEDC addressed their concerns in its letter, which was signed by the entire GKEDC board of directors, all volunteers. "GKEDC's role in the project is not a secret," the letter says. "As with any negotiation between private corporations, we have and will continue to maintain an appropriate level of confidentiality throughout the negotiations." Synagro has submitted site plans for two possible plant locations near the landfill. The Plainfield Township planning commission is scheduled to review the initial plan at its May 15 meeting. Below is the entire GVEDC letter: GKEDC open letter to Pen Argyl area residents by Anonymous arnc2g2N on Scribd Freelance writer John Best contributed to this report. Nick Falsone may be reached at nfalsone@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickfalsone. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. UPDATE: How N.J. white supremacist group was infiltrated, and what they planned to do A Phillipsburg man who leads a white supremacist group is among four charged by the federal government with racketeering and related counts, according to recently unsealed court records. Joshua Michael Steever, a 37-year-old who goes by "Hatchet" and heads the Aryan Strikeforce, was believed to be the target of an FBI raid April 13 at 487 S. Main St. in Phillipsburg. He and others are charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., racketeering, money laundering, unlawful transportation and possession of firearms by a convicted felon, dealing with unregistered interstate commerce and two counts of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization, or RICO, Act targets organized crime that illegally collects money through methods such as extortion or fraud. A report from PennLive.com says the Aryan Strikeforce was attempting to procure weapons and funds, but was infiltrated by federal agents. A criminal complaint listing the charges was filed two days before the raid. All documents relating to the case were sealed one day after Steever's arrest. An order to partially unseal the case was issued Thursday, according to the records. The charges were filed in federal court in Williamsport, Pa., and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is prosecuting, according to court records. An attorney was appointed for Steever. The U.S. Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case. Steever is being held in the Clinton County (Pa.) Correctional Facility. Documents indicate Steever and at least three others have pleaded not guilty. It was not clear if the others were arrested in the same raid. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. When it comes to Phillipsburg's moldy town hall, there are three options: Fix it, move it, or build a new one. The first is estimated to cost $1.7 million. The second was suggested, but the town council is pursuing the third. An environmental analysis completed in January found mold in the approximately 40-year-old municipal building at 675 Corliss Ave. that could pose a risk to anyone with respiratory issues or other ailments, like allergies or lung disease. Since then, council meetings have been held at various locations around town and municipal court cases have been handled in Alpha. A breakdown of the choice town officials must make: 1. FIX IT Mold at the Phillipsburg municipal building, 675 Corliss Ave., could force the town offices to move. (Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com file photo) An environmental analysis on the municipal building -- recently obtained by lehighvalleylive.com through an Open Public Records Act request -- found two kinds of mold in the second-floor council chambers and in the basement. In the report, RT Environmental Services concludes that condensation and mold are the result of the air-conditioning system, which it recommended shutting down until it can be modified. Before any modifications, however, the company said contractors must be brought in to sanitize the building, a process complicated by the presence of asbestos. The report's preliminary estimate, which does not include the replacement of any materials, puts the cost at $1.7 million. 2. MOVE IT Phillipsburg's mayor has said he wants to see the town offices move to this former Elks lodge on South Main Street. (Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com) The town council at various times over the years has proposed returning the municipal offices to South Main Street, where they were until the Corliss Avenue building went up in the 1970s. Mayor Steve Ellis was the latest to pitch the idea and as recently as last month had a particular building in mind: the old Elks lodge at 75 South Main. The 30,000-square-foot building was appraised at $1.7 million, according to property records. Realtor Joe Paranee said the asking price is $1.28 million. A move there would solve the town hall problem and provide a strong presence that could benefit the Downtown area, Paranee said Thursday, echoing similar statements made previously by the mayor. But showings with town officials did not lead to any deals -- Town Council President Todd Tersigni said he was concerned the building's flat roof would lead to the same moisture problems officials are dealing with now. Paranee said the structure has been well-maintained and renovated, and is continuing to market the property to other potential buyers. "It is still pretty much the crown jewel of South Main, if there is such a thing," he said. "I would love to see something spectacular happen with it." 3. BUILD A NEW ONE The old armory on Heckman Street in Phillipsburg is being considered for a future municipal complex. (lehighvalleylive.com file photo) Phillipsburg officials this month instructed the town engineer to draft specs for a municipal complex at the old armory site on Heckman Street. The study may cost up to $285,000, according to WFMZ-TV. The costs of new construction are not yet clear. In the meantime, the council is pursuing talks with Warren County Community College for use of some of the college's space in town as a temporary home for municipal offices. Tersigni said the goal is to provide a safe working environment as the next step is determined, which could be a year to 18 months away. "We believe this course of action to be in the best interest of the municipal staff and the town," he said. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The Government must deliver pay restoration to prison officers in Portlaoise and elsewhere 'now', the President of the Prison Officers Association (POA) has warned. Mr Stephen Delaney delivered the demand directly to Tanaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald in his wide-ranging speech to annual delegate conference in Galway. "The Government now seems to the using a nine-year-old economic crash as an excuse to deny our members a decent wage and this has become as intolerable as it is unacceptable. "It is simply unfair, unjust and unacceptable that our members and other workers have had to carry the burden for the failings of others for the past nine years," said Mr Delaney. He warned the Tanaiste who has responsibility for the prison services that she cannot take her staff in Portlaoise Prison, the Midlands Prison and other prisons for granted. "Dont take our professionalism as a sign of weakness, but as an incentive to do the right thing by returning us to the pay scales that we were at before the collapse. He said it goes without saying that the the recent ruling of the Labour Court in relation to the Gardai has changed the agenda considerably where better terms were secured than what was contained in the Landsdowne Road Agreement for public servants. "We want what others are having? We cant have further injustices creeping into the pay environment and I expect that you and the Government will ensure that this will not happen. "Let me make it clear Minister, our members need, deserve and expect pay restoration and we want it now. The crisis is over we have paid the price. The anomalies arising from the Labour Court Recommendations in the Garda Area and the complete unwinding of the FEMPI legislation must be addressed immediately," said Mr Delaney. Other issues highlighted in his speech were: - Staffing crisis - Violence in prisons. - Assaults on staff - Gangs and drug culture - Threat of privatisation The following is the full text of the Presidential Address delivered on April 27 at the AGM On behalf of the National Executive Council it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this years Annual Delegate Conference of the Prison Officers Association. I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Mayor of Galway Councillor Noel Larkin, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Ms. Frances Fitzgerald T.D. and members of the Irish Prison Service. I would like to extend a particularly warm welcome to our fellow trade unionists, the national media, our invited guests and especially our delegates from around the country, who are present here today. To our members who were victims of serious assaults or serious threats to their safety or involved in other traumatic incidents while carrying out their duties on behalf of the state over the past year, I extend to you the best wishes of all present here today. We will also remember those members and former members who died during the past year and their families. Delegates, last year in my address to Conference I referred to issues affecting our members such as Pay, Recruitment, the Safety of Staff, Violence, Drugs, Gang Culture, Motivation, Morale and of course the possibility of the introduction of Privatisation into the Prison Estate. Unfortunately delegates, while some progress has been made in regard to the retention of the rent allowance for new recruits, the commencement of a modest recruitment programme, and the conditions attached to the Prison Administration grades there are many issues affecting Prison Officers which remain unchanged. The Government now seems to the using a nine-year-old economic crash as an excuse to deny our members a decent wage and this has become as intolerable as it is unacceptable. Pay Restoration Minister you will be well aware of the focus of the various trade unions over the past weeks, at conferences, as they rightly highlight the need for immediate pay restoration. The Prison Officers Association is no different and we simply cannot wait any longer to have our 2008 pay levels restored. Since 2008, across both public and private sectors, there have been limited wage increases, which has contributed significantly to the recovery in the economy. During that time frame the tax burden on incomes rose, with no increase on earnings. The cuts in Public Service pay were particularly painful as they came after a recent history of wage increases nonetheless it was these same cuts that made the country more competitive and paved the way for a brighter future for all our citizens. Other sectors are now benefitting from our wage cuts and we have yet to benefit this is surely unfair and unjust. The Government tells us week after week about increased tax income, reduced unemployment and other cash flow benefits for the state. Yet workers are being told and media are being briefed to the effect that we cant afford it Well Minister all of us know that you cant play with the wind in both halves as the Government is now trying to do. It is simply unfair, unjust and unacceptable that our members and other workers have had to carry the burden for the failings of others for the past nine years. While we all wait on the outcome of the report of the Public Service Pay Commission, prior to the new pay talks commencing, there can be no doubt of the contribution of Prison Officers throughout the financial crisis and our compliance with the Lansdowne Road Agreement. Under the most onerous of conditions of any worker in this country we have managed to keep the Prison Service operational on occasions when making it to lock up time looked unlikely. Dont take our professionalism as a sign of weakness, but as an incentive to do the right thing by returning us to the pay scales that we were at before the collapse. It goes without saying that the the recent ruling of the Labour Court in relation to the Gardai has changed the agenda considerably where better terms were secured than what was contained in the LRA. We want what others are having? We cant have further injustices creeping into the pay environment and I expect that you and the Government will ensure that this will not happen. Let me make it clear Minister, our members need, deserve and expect pay restoration and we want it now. The crisis is over we have paid the price. The anomalies arising from the Labour Court Recommendations in the Garda Area and the complete unwinding of the FEMPI legislation must be addressed immediately. Rent Allowance Colleagues over the past number of Annual Conferences we told you that the Official Side had categorically stated that future entrants to the Irish Prison Service, the Fire Fighters and the Gardai would not receive the rent allowance. We never accepted this position and in this regard we commissioned IPC Consultants to research the entire background to this allowance so that this work would be completed when this matter became a live issue for the POA. We shared this information with our sister unions. When the Minister for Justice announced on Friday 8th July 2016, that there was to be recruitment to the position of Recruit Prison Officer it became a live issue with ramifications for prison staff that would continue far into the future. We immediately contacted the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and following his response to our contact engagement commenced between the parties on the re-instatement of the Rent Allowance. Due to our efforts the long established rent allowance for Prison Officers was reinstated with effect from Monday 20th March 2017 and recruits have already benefitted from it. Minister this of course resolves one issue with regard to the Rent Allowance. However as I have already outlined, it leaves two remaining issues as a result of the Labour Court Recommendations in the Garda area they are: The incorporation of the Rent Allowance into Basic Pay and the 500 annual increase in the value of the Rent Allowance. Minister I must ask for your full support in respect of these two issues. You can ensure that these matters are resolved satisfactorily for our members and you must understand that any dilution would be seen as significantly undermining a group of workers who deliver for this State 24/7, year after year. Staffing levels Minister, the Prison Service is currently facing a staffing crisis. There are simply not enough Prison Officers to do what we are required to do. This will be an issue for our Conference this morning as it has blighted the entire Prison estate. All of us are aware that retirements this year will exceed recruitment figures this is not sustainable and it creates an ongoing additional risk for prison staff and prisoners. Minister when we entered into the annualised hours process the one caveat that we were repeatedly told by all experts was that recruitment had to keep pace with retirement or else the arrangement would flounder. Well here we are Minister and guess what happened? Not only that Minister we have Governors and a Prison Service that are living in a time capsule stuck in the mid-1990s, where they think that all that has to be done is wait for a supplementary budget and open every workshop, every exercise yard and every gym and hope that it will be ok because it was ok yesterday. Appeasement didnt work for Neville Chamberlain and it wont work for Mr. Donnellan. In the current circumstances and for the protection of our members, we support the implementation of a Regime Management Plan across the prison estate. We support the regime management plan that provides access to meaningful work while protecting our members on the ground but as of yet, there is no progress on its implementation to date. We want to be crystal clear on this that while we support the opening of workshops and progressive regimes, these initiatives can only continue where there are adequate staffing levels to allow our members to work in safety. While we support this initiative, I must emphasize, that we do have grave reservations with regard to managements desire and ability to implement such a regime. Minister, the crisis is over, the moratorium on recruitment is over, deploy sufficient staff to operate a modern prison estate, which provides an environment where staff and prisoners can work and live safely. Until we have the staffing levels in place to do all that is planned, Governors will have to learn to say no to prisoners and support their staff. Minister, you must fight for the service, reduce the risk to all involved and ensure that all our prisons are fully resourced at all times. We constantly hear about rehabilitation within the prison system, a policy and a practice we fully support. However, rehabilitation comes at a price, we must invest in it and the main investment must be in prison staff, who, work with prisoners around the clock in all our prisons. Assaults in Prisons The issue of violence in prisons continues, unfortunately with a number of very serious incidents involving assaults on prison staff. In a recent analysis conducted by the State Claims Agency the projected level of assaults by prisoners on prison staff for 2017 was estimated at 107. Lets just think about that for a minute; more than two prison officers per week will be assaulted in the course of their work. For the avoidance of doubt every prison officer knows and accepts the risks involved in our work, but what we cannot fathom is why recommendations such as the compulsory carrying of batons were rejected. The nature of these assaults included concussion, lacerations, cuts, fractures burns and bites. The most of these injuries were to the head and face thereby leaving a permanent reminder to the injured officer of the incident. The starkest statistic is that nearly 80% of staff who responded had been physically assaulted by prisoners in the course of their duties. The overall statistical element in relation to prison violence does not fully capture the undermining element of violence in the workplace and how it pervades every facet of an officers working day. In order to have a sustainable work environment the challenges that these assaults manifest need to be addressed in a consistent manner. An officer who is constantly on guard or lacks confidence in the system is unlikely to contribute wholeheartedly to that system. While all prison officers recognise the reality of violence in prisons, prison officers feel undermined by an inconsistency in the approach to the violence. The failure to implement adequate protection measures; successfully used in other jurisdictions such as batons, incapacitant spray and body cameras is another factor that undermines staff confidence. The SCA review made some very specific recommendations, which hopefully will not be ignored by IPS. The report also recommends that the Prison Service needs to develop a more transparent and graded deterrent and disciplinary procedure (based on severity of breach) to act as a deterrent against assaults on operational staff. The assaults on prison officers have tragically become part of the system, part of the culture and this is not acceptable to the Prison Officers Association. Minister when we met with you we outlined our concerns on these matters. While there are plans afoot to open a section of the Midlands Prison for violent and disruptive prisoners this is the least that should have been done and done long before now. Officers still bear the damage from the brutality of these individuals. In some cases lifelong injury, that prevents them from continuing as a prison officer. We believe that these people who have sacrificed their health in the cause of the state should be at the very least accommodated within the broader Public Service on terms no less onerous than that which they enjoyed as fully functioning Prison Officers. No state employee should end up on the breadline because they have been viciously assaulted at work and are unable to return. While the extension to our sick leave provisions for Officers who were subject to such brutality were welcome they dont go far enough. These officers should be facilitated in returning to work within the Prison estate or somewhere within the Public Service and I would ask again that you treat this issue as a priority. No Prosecution of Assaults on Staff Delegates if we needed more evidence of how the Prison Service regard Prison Officers, we need go no further than this most recent development where staff who have been seriously assaulted and report their assault to the relevant authorities cannot get a conviction, in spite of a wealth of available evidence and in one significant case an admission of guilt from the prisoner. In a highly publicized incident in the Midlands Prison in 2015 an officer was stabbed by a prisoner and the matter was reported to the Gardai. Many staff present on the day were not asked for a report and in spite of the prisoner admitting to the assault in front of a Governor the DPP ruled that a prosecution could not proceed due to lack of evidence!!! In a similar incident in the same prison an officer was assaulted which can clearly be seen on a CCTV camera. However as another CCTV that wouldnt have shown anything any different hadnt been saved the prisoner walked on a technicality! Both of these incidents show a clear disregard for the working conditions and rights of Prison Officers in institutions where if a similar injury befell a prisoner there are an entire raft of rules and procedures to protect them. The Prison Service have recruited 31 new investigators for the purpose of conducting investigations to the highest standard for Prisoner Complaints yet when the Officers make a complaint the Keystone Cops approach prevails. Why not broaden the remit of these investigators and make them responsible for collation of evidence within the prison estate. One of the motions before our conference is that each prison should have a Garda Liaison Officer and this makes total sense. When officers are assaulted and the Gardai investigation commences our officers can at times have difficulty getting up to date information on the investigation. This is not acceptable and a designated liaison officer at each prison can resolve this problem immediately. If a proper collation system existed in tandem with a Garda Liaison for each institution then we believe that the scandalous lack of prosecution of serious assaults on staff would not occur On a related matter it is imperative that where an assault is perpetrated by a prisoner on a prison officer in the execution of his duties that any sentence is consecutive. We have looked for this previously and have made no progress to date on it. It stands to reason as a preventative measure that there should be a significant tariff on any assault on a prison officer in the course of their duties. We have recently noted that the Gardai have again called for mandatory sentencing for assaults on Gardai. We fully support this and are strongly of the view that this should also apply to assaults on prison officers. Minister there is either a lack of will or competence to address these issues we are asking you today to deal with both. Gangs/Drugs For some observers this will represent the hardy annual of the POA Conference and it will remain so Minister until it is fixed. Gang warfare and drug culture continue to flourish within the prison estate. In the current environment we have threats, assaults, drugs, weapons, attacks on family homes and the capacity to control matters outside the prison. The status quo cannot remain. We must and this is the responsibility of the Minister and the Prison Service develop a system that removes the power from the gangs and the gang members within our prisons by whatever means are necessary. Otherwise the entire prison system is failing society and especially the section of the prison population, who are not involved in thuggery. We have to again question this agenda of appeasement; rather than making the membership of a gang something to be avoided or hidden. We are told that any attempts to isolate these individuals will be resisted in the courts and will get significant support in some quarters. Let us go the courts on this issue and see where it takes us. Prison gangs should not decide what is best within our prison, the state is responsible for all that happens inside our prisons and surely it is not going to cede this responsibility to people who have committed the most serious crimes and many who have no intention whatever of changing their ways. The only solution Minister is isolation so instead of closing our places of work could we open one that will prevent these individuals from spreading their influence through the entire estate. Closures During the year we saw the decommissioning of St Patricks Institution due to the relocation of juveniles prisoners to Oberstown House. St Patricks Institution for many years played a key role within the penal system looking after young offenders sent to Prison by the Court. This was no easy task and the Staff must be commended for their professionalism in dealing with such young Offenders on behalf of the State. I personally wish to take this opportunity to thank all previous members and POA Officials who worked at St Pats over the years. St Pats had a proud tradition of trade unionism among its staff and it was also a leading light in the POA since its inception in 1947. I hope that the great traditions associated with St Patricks will live on and can be continued across the entire service in the years ahead. It is also with regret that we will see the temporary closure of the Training Unit within the coming weeks for the purpose of refurbishment we are told. As we informed the Dail Sub Committee on Penal Reform we believe that this is a seriously retrograde step and one, which will undermine many years of real work in a place that actually delivered on a rehabilitation agenda, rather than the usual plethora of sanctimonious backslapping that accompanies any suggestion of rehabilitation. It is for this reason that I wish to acknowledge the contribution of the Staff in the Training Unit for the role they played in providing such a rehabilitative environment for those in their care prior to release. We have received many undertakings from your officials in relation to its reopening and I hope that you will seize the opportunity to endorse those undertakings today. From the Associations point of view on behalf of the NEC and indeed the entire membership I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the local Branch Officials of both Institutions who have worked tirelessly not only in representing Staff in their location but also for playing their part in the overall development and operation of the Prison Officers Association over many years. I have no doubt we might possibly see you here again at Conference representing your colleagues at your new location wherever that may be. Privatisation Colleagues before concluding, I offer some words of warning. Just because our national economy has turned the corner does not mean that long term threats to the greater good of our Service have disappeared and moved off the agenda. I am of course referring to the ongoing threat of privitisation to our Public Services. Maybe we should take a minute to reflect on the debacle that was Irish Water was that not about privatization!. While there were certain protections contained in the Lansdowne Road Agreement with regard to out sourcing, over the past year I have seen or heard nothing to alleviate my fears regarding privatisation of Public Services. In respect to our own service I know that the Prison Service is involved in a Department of Justice value for money review, examining the area of Prison Escorts. We are therefore very concerned regarding the pace and non implementation of issues such as video linking, the implementation of proper service level agreements with the level of PSEC assist remaining a contentious issue. Colleagues, for those who think that the outsourcing of PSEC would give relief to the Prisons in terms of the redistribution of Staff I want to warn you that it wouldnt. Privatisation would merely have secured a foothold in the Prison Service, which would be a deplorable and worrying situation. Of course we are all aware of what has occurred in other jurisdictions in respect to privatization it has not solved all the problems and neither has it proven to be as cost effective as predicted. We are therefore very concerned when we hear of such value for money reviews being conducted by the Dept of Justice. In the UK where privatisation is in train I would suggest to those who view privatisation as some sort of magic wand to check the bottom line. If our prisons do not stick with the rehabilitation agenda, which is much less likely in a private system then the overall cost to the Irish taxpayer will be much greater in the long run. In fact it was in the Private Prisons in the UK that the major riots took place earlier this year and it took staff in the Public Service to restore order. Not many people know that? So Minister tread warily with privatisation and I would advise that you check the small print before signing on the dotted line? Conclusion In these challenging times as we fight to get out pay levels restored and do everything possible to create a safer prison environment we must stick together and support each other. We have a proud history of working together and supporting each other even in the most troubled times, as is clear from how we played our part in protecting this democracy from the vile intentions of others. We should all be proud of what we have achieved together over the past seventy years. Delegates, I am fully aware of the frustration of many members who feel that they dont get a fair hearing from those in authority. I am fully aware that we have largely only seen initiatives introduced that benefit those in our custody rather than any benefit to our working conditions. I am fully aware that prison officers, who have borne the burden, are looking at other groups in the economy who are thriving and saying when is it our turn? I am fully aware that it seems the job is getting harder with less of us to do it. All I can say to you is that we have come through difficult times together in the past and now we are about to turn the corner to restore what we have earned over many years. It is now more essential than ever that we stick together in unity for the purpose of attaining those gains and facing the challenges of the future. Now it is time for one last push, to stay focussed so as to get back to where we were before 2008. We survived by staying united through the last next nine very difficult years. We now must remain united to see the restoration of our pay so we can draw a line under this period. If we ask the question how we survived since 2008 it was because of one thing; we did it together. Delegates, colleagues, friends lets not change a winning formula and continue as we have always done; one voice, one group, one union. Read the Minister's speech to the POA delegate meeting here here China in talks with US and Europe about new airworthiness agreements, hoping to pave way for homegrown jumbo jet China plans to reach more reciprocal airworthiness agreements with American and European authorities by the end of 2017, a move that has been interpreted by experts as preparation for the countrys large passenger jet, the C919, to enter those markets. We have been negotiating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for over three years, and the negotiations are still ongoing. We hope new accords regarding airworthiness can be achieved by the end of this year, Wang Jingling, deputy director general of airworthiness plans at the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), told Caixin.com. She also noted that the new accords will be more open and reciprocal than previous ones. Airworthiness is the measure of an aircrafts suitability for safe flight. According to the Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement (BAA) signed by China and the U.S. in 1991, China must approve the design type of aeronautical products for which U.S. authorities have already conferred certification, but the U.S. approves Chinese aircraft only when U.S. authorities determine that the "airworthiness system" of Chinese designs is similar to that of American counterparts, and is capable of producing equivalent results. Under the existing BAA, the FAA only accepts Chinese aircraft that are manufactured in compliance with China Civil Aviation Regulations (CCAR)-23 certification for small-category aircraft, a rule that is incompatible with Part 23 of U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). Such strict procedures have hindered the access of Chinese aircraft to the international aviation market, as many domestic products have been unable to receive U.S. certification. According to Wang, the same problem also exists in Europe, which makes it hard for Chinese aircraft to enter the market there. China has invested experts, equipment and resources in its civil aviation industry, establishing a relatively complete system. New and reciprocal airworthiness agreements with the U.S. and Europe will help Chinese aircraft to enter the markets of more developed countries without complicated and repetitive application procedures, said Pang Zhen, vice president of the commercial aircraft department of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Experts noted that the new agreements could pave the road for the C919, Chinas largest domestically designed and manufactured commercial airliner, to break the current duopoly of Airbus and Boeing. A little more than 30 acres of publicly-owned land in Laois towns and villages is designated for housing in a map published under a the scheme announced by the Government to tackle the housing crisis. However, the total is a small fraction of the 336 hectares (830 acres) of land in Laois that is zoned for housing according to Laois County Council estimates. If developed this land could accomodate more than 5,000 homes. Mr Simon Coveney TD Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, the launched Rebuilding Ireland Housing Land Map. It is described as a vital initial step in the new State Housing Land Management Strategy. The list for Laois identifies 22 small sites which in total cover just 30.12 acres. The publication of the list follows on quickly from Census 2016 figures which reveal a hike in Laois rents and a fall in the building of new homes in the county. The figures for Laois published by the Central Statistics Office show that there were 28,997 permanent occupied dwellings in April 2016, compared with 27,916 in April 2011. The rate of increase was 3.9%, considerably slower than the 2006-2011 rate of 24.5%. The vancancy rate dropped. In Laois, 7,406 households were in rental accommodation in 2016, compared with 6,720 in 2011. The average rent paid to private landlords was 134.01, an increase on the 2011 figure which was 122.53. The home ownership rate for Laois was 72.0%, compared with 74.4% in 2011. Laois housing stock grew to 32,794 from 32,664 in April 2011, an increase of 0.4%. A new exhibition of artwork by the Stradbally Active Retirement Association will be launched next weekend by Anna May McHugh, managing director of the National Ploughing Association of Ireland. Exhibiting at the Laois Arthouse, Doorways of Stradbally includes twelve wonderful original paintings, each depicting a different historic doorway in the town. The Active Retirement Group wanted to leave its stamp on the annals of Stradbally in some way, and chairperson of the group Ette Kennedy suggested that they paint some of the doorways on the street in Stradbally. This original idea captured the imagination of the artists of the group and thus the Doorways of Stradbally was born. Seven members took on the task, Chrisse, Christy, Ette, Mary, Michael, Phyllis and Vera. All paintings will be for sale with proceeds going back into the ARA. Commenting on the upcoming exhibition Anna May McHugh said: I extend my congratulations to the Stradbally Active Retirement Group on their initiative and I sincerely hope their work will be appreciated. Doorways of Stradbally will be launched at the Laois Arthouse Gallery, Stradbally, next Saturday, May 6, at 1.30pm. Visitors are welcome to view the exhibition from May 6 until the closing date on Thursday June 1. The style stakes have been very high at the Punchestown Festival this week, and later today we will find out who will be crowned the Bollinger Best Dressed Lady 2017. The lucky winner will receive a luxurious VIP trip for two taking in the Bollinger Estate, Reims and Paris, plus a years supply of Bollinger bubbles. Vogue Williams is the celebrity judge for day four of the Festival, and she has a tough job on her hands. On Tuesday (April 25) the opening day of the festival, 24-year-old hair-stylist Ashley Reade from Naas modelled a red dress and camel coat from Kildare Village, day two (Wednesday April 26) student Sophie Edghill from Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow showcased a two-piece white suit with gold buttons from Buy Design in Crookstown and a borrowed red coat from Kildare Village, and yesterday (Thursday April 28) Newbridge teacher Ann Marie Phelan styled a black and white Self Portrait jumpsuit. The judges will choose one more finalist today (April 28) before the overall winner is announced. Another breezy day at the tracks so make sure to wrap up warm. Yesterday (April 27) the figures were up 2094 attendees on the same day last year. Dick OSullivan, General Manager at Punchestown Racecourse said I am absolutely delighted with our third festival day today. So far we are up on last years attendances by 3,140 and those who have joined us have had a ball." The first race gets underway today at 3:40pm Gates open at midday, and scouting for Best Dressed will start sharply after. Best of luck to all the lovely ladies! An email from Andrew Wiseman, chair of Federal Conference Committee, announced that registration was open for Autumn Conference in Bournemouth. The Dorset town is my favourite conference venue. Maybe Im just biased because the weather was so gorgeous the last time we were there, and the Goat and Tricycle pub is one of the nicest and has fantastic beer, but Id strongly recommend coming. Lets hope that we have many more MPs to welcome, too. The exceptionally good news is that the Early Bird Discount rate would normally run out before the election, but it has been extended until 23rd June. This shows that the Conference Office and Federal Conference Committee have listened to criticism they received (some of it from me) about previous events when the discount has expired at a time when it would have caused difficulties for people. So, well done to them for that. Your email will have a unique link for you, so I cant reproduce it here, but check your inboxes and register when you get the chance. We will run this post again in June after the election so that you dont forget the crucial date. * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings Be afraid, be very afraid. Hardly an inspiring rallying call in progressive politics, but scaremongering is a strategy that often wins elections, and we cannot ignore that. The Labour party used that very slogan in the 2001 general election, depicting William Hague on a campaign billboard resplendent with a Margaret Thatcher hairdo, It worked and Hagues Conservatives took a humiliating beating at the ballot box. Fast forward to 2017 and the party that wins the battle of hopes and fears is still likely to come out on top. Fear of the liberal elite, used so effectively by Trump in last years US election, is going to be a big factor in the coming weeks. The Conservatives and UKIP would have us believe that the liberal elite is trying to defy democracy through the courts and in Parliament. This Conservative narrative is helped hugely by the massive machinery of big money donors and media moguls are backing this message. The Tories outspent all the other political parties put together in 2015, and with the daily artillery fire on whingeing liberals and dangerously deluded Corbynites from Paul Dacres Daily Mail and Rupert Murdochs Sun, the odds are stacked heavily in their favour. So between a heartless right wing machine and a clueless left wing opposition led so ineptly by Jeremy Corbyn, where does this leave the Liberal Democrats? With our yellow liberty bird emblem, we have never been an angry party, but now is the time to harness fear and righteous indignation because our principles are under attack. The Conservatives will undoubtedly try to keep the debate on Brexit an issue where Theresa May feels she has popular support but that may backfire in Remain-voting constituencies such as mine in Lewes. We have already seen this in Richmond. People are fearful of a hard Brexit and, businesspeople, who have usually seen the Conservatives as their party of choice, must realise that so many Tories are willing to see Britain crash out of the EU with no trade deal. However, we must not let the Conservatives make this election all about Brexit. A BBC Populus poll at the last election showed that the NHS and the economy were the biggest issues, ahead of immigration, and that welfare and education were far more important to voters than the EU. On these issues, we know that there is much to be fearful about another five years of Conservative government. Let off the leash from a moderating coalition, the Conservatives have hacked away at the welfare state. The NHS is in crisis with creeping privatisation, crippling debts and rock-bottom morale, our schools are under threat from funding cuts, and the most vulnerable in our society are seeing their welfare payments reduced. Of course we cannot go knocking on doors scaring people like some kind of yellow peril, but there is a lot on the line. The elderly need to realise that the Conservatives are imposing cuts on social care budgets that mean nursing homes cannot cope, and it is the Conservatives who preside over a health system on the brink of collapse. Parents need to realise that the Conservatives are overburdening schools with tests, while quietly cutting budgets. We need to address these fears, harness the energy and indignation, and transform it into a positive message that we are the only party that combines compassion with economic competence. The Liberal Democrats will stand in the way of Conservative policies that will do harm to every sector of society, as we did with some success during the coalition government. Both hope and fear can drive us forward. Be afraid yes, but be inspired too this just might be the biggest political fight of your lives. * Ben Westwood is a journalist, author and lecturer in politics and media at University of Brighton. I shared the disappointment of many that the timing of this General Election denied Daisy Benson the chance to win back Yeovil. But I am delighted to announce that within the time available to her, Daisy will use her skills in this key strategic role in our West Country Campaign team. Since the snap General Election was called 13,000 people have joined our party, over 1,100 of them in our battleground of the West. Even more people are coming forward offering to help our campaign. Daisys unique and proven strategic skills in mobilising, motivating and marshalling this force is mission critical to our success in the West. She will help turn this latent army into an unstoppable force on the ground in the key places where it will really count. A party press release yesterday said: The Liberal Democrats have committed to ending the scandal of rough sleeping in Britain, as the Homelessness Reduction Bill enters into force today. Following a campaign visit to the Hundred Houses Society, a charitable housing association in Cambridge, Tim Farron announced a series of measures the party would put in place to help end rough sleeping. These include introducing a Housing First provider in each local authority, to put long-term homeless people straight into independent homes rather than emergency shelters. Other policies include increasing funding for local councils for homelessness prevention, reinstating housing benefit for under-21s and reversing planned cuts to Local Housing Allowance rates. This is a good reason to be very proud of our party. Making this commitment is a big deal. Housing is a basic human right, and we are right to base our policy on that. Shelter advocate an approach based on the American Housing First model. I see that Tim Farron embraces that method. As Shelter say: no single model of housing and support is likely to be effective for all homeless people with complex needs. (We have) previously called for the consideration and development of new approaches. A lot of this is about basic bricks and mortar. There is a severe shortage of affordable housing. On the other hand, much of this is about human interaction, the treatment of mental illness and addiction therapy. There is no once size fits all approach. Solving homelessness will require more trained professionals who go out onto the streets and treat each case one by one, with flexible support mechanisms behind them. Even when hostel accommodation is available, there are those who, for a variety of reasons, prefer to sleep, or have to sleep, in tents, or sleep rough, unprotected from the elements. (Often hostels have a one strike and you are out approach to drug use on site some people are free spirits and simply dont want to be in an institution.). So this is a really stubborn, complex problem which demands housing resources, but also the individual human touch. One thing, I am sure of, is that Tim Farron has made the right initial move. We cannot, as a society, accept that there are homeless or even badly housed people amongst us and we must make a conscious effort to solve this shameful problem in our society. It really is insane and disgraceful that we are a rich society with mobile phones and walk-in showers, but we have people curled up, barely protected from the cold, in our own towns and cities. Commitment to eradicating this blight is the welcome first step in a long journey. * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings. Chinas Ministry of National Defense denounced on April 27 the rumor that the countrys newly launched aircraft carrier will be named after the mantis shrimp, an animal widely ridiculed by Chinese internet users for its bizarre appearance. The ministry clarified that no name has been chosen yet. The online vote for the name of Chinas new aircraft carrier will be determined by netizens themselves ... According to the Chinese militarys rules, the name of a new ship is only bestowed when the ship is delivered and commissioned, Senior Colonel Yang Yujun, spokesperson for the ministry, told media during a briefing. Yangs remarks came after Iqiyi.com, a well-known video-streaming site, held an online poll about the name of Chinas new carrier. The results of the poll were dominated by suggestions like mantis shrimp and Taiwan. As of press time, "mantis shrimp" had garnered over 890,000 votes, while Taiwan took second place with more than 830,000 votes. Mantis shrimp, lets go! has become a new internet meme and catchphrase in 2017, originating from online gaming. The term is generally understood to signify a carefree and capricious attitude, since the real animal is known as a strong creature that is capable of smashing aquariums with its strong claws. Many netizens ridiculed the ministrys response, saying that the name is funny and entirely appropriate. Mantis shrimps are creepy yet fearless animals, and they have hammer-like claws that can dig into your muscles. I think our new aircraft carrier should also possess such qualities, so that it can protect the countrys honor. Maybe the ministry can consider mantis shrimp as the ships nickname one netizen wrote. Others worried that the name wastoo vulgar to truly showcase Chinas power. In case you guys havent noticed, mantis shrimp in Cantonese is 'pissing shrimp,' and that is not a good name for our first homegrown aircraft carrier, another netizen wrote on Sina Weibo. GARDAI in Limerick have renewed their appeal for information about an incident during which a businessman was tied up at his home by a gang of four men who demanded money from him. As part of the appeal, a re-enactment of what happened was broadcast on RTEs Crimecall programme on Monday night. As previously reported by the Limerick Leader, the victim PJ Holmes was knocked to the floor of his home near Murroe when a number of men broke in at around 12.30am on March 30. Gardai believe Mr Holmes, who owns the Gala store and service station in Murroe, was targeted as the culprits mistakenly believed he had a safe and a large amount of cash at his home. During his horrific ordeal, he was ordered to hand over the keys to the premises as well as the alarm codes. Two of the men stayed with him while the other two went to the service station where they stole cash and cigarettes. One of suspects is described as being six feet tall and of heavy build. Aged in his fifties, he was wearing a black balaclava, jacket, boots and gloves. The second suspect, who was also aged in his 50s, is described as being 510 tall and of heavy build. The third man, who was slightly shorter, wore a dark brown coat, dark coloured pants and brown boots with laces. The fourth member of the gang, who was armed with a handgun was particularly aggressive. He is described as being 59 in height and of thin build. He wore a black bomber style jacket and his pants were tucked into his boots. According to gardai all four men spoke with strong Limerick accents. In addition to seeking information about the gang members, gardai are appealing for information about a silver saloon car which was used by them. Gardai at Roxboro Road are investigating and can be contacted at (061) 214340. HUNDREDS of cyclists, walkers and runners are expected in Monagea this Saturday for an event that has won the hearts of communities all over West Limerick and further afield. CRY Monagea was first held in 2012 in memory of Niamh Herlihy and Darra ODonovan, both of whom had died, tragically young, the year before as a result of sudden death syndrome. But In the years since, the event has raised at least 170,000 for the CRY organisation, Cardiac Risk in the Young, and has become one of the flagship fundraisers for the national body. It is amazing to think it started off as a little idea in our heads and it has grown to what it is today. It has gone from strength to strength, Darras mother, Clare Scanlon said when they launched the event back in March with the support of Munster and Ireland rugby star, Tommy ODonnell. For us it is about Niamh and Darra. But it is also about other people who are gone too soon, Clare continued. It is a wonderful day for all the wrong reasons. I do think wherever they are they are looking down on us. They must be so proud that every year people come out to remember them in the way they do. It is unbelievable. Back in 2011 nobody knew what CRY stood for, Niamhs dad, Liam Herlihy added. Today I would say 90% of people in West Limerick would instantly register the Monagea charity and sudden death. Speaking ahead of Saturdays event, Liam said that scores of cyclists had already registered online. We would hope to get 250 to 300 cyclists, he said. The 25km cycle introduced last year is back again, along with the 70km leisure cycle and the more challenging 100km and 125km West Limerick Endurance Cycle. The Endurance, Liam added, always lives up to its name, as it involves the highest hill climbs in the area, including the Mass Rock at Ashford. But, Liam and the organisers are very keen to stress that there is a walking and running option also, at 5km and 10km, which are also ideal family outings. As in other years, a small army of volunteers goes into action, primarily as stewards. In four years we have had only one serious injury and that is down to proper stewarding ,Liam explains. And he paid tribute to Desmond Sportiv for their outstanding help in organising the event. But volunteers also come into their own as registrars and also as bakers and tea-makers. We like to feed people well in Monagea, says Liam. Registration costs for the event are 25 for cyclists and 10 for walkers and runners. You can register in person this Friday evening at Monagea Community Centre between 7.30 and 9pm, on Facebook or online at primoevents.com/ps/event/ WestLimerickEndurance125. Registration for the cycle starts at 7.30am on Saturday and at 11am for walkers and runners who set off at noon. THERE were tearful scenes as heartbroken families heard the harrowing details of the suicides of a 15-year-old girl and a grandfather at separate inquests held in Limerick this week. The teenagers inquest, held at the HSE buildings on Catherine Street, heard that when the father discovered his daughter in a motionless state in the bathroom, he attempted to resuscitate her by giving CPR. She was later pronounced dead at University Hospital Limerick. Coroner John McNamara, expressing his condolences to the parents, described these deaths as a worst nightmare for any parent. In the second inquest, a grief-stricken wife sat beside the coroner as the court heard her account of her husbands self-inflicted death, on December 27. The inquest heard that when she walked into the kitchen that morning, she read a note on the table saying Dont go to the shed, call the gardai. In the shed, she found her husbands body cold and still. After examining evidence presented in both cases, which were hangings, Mr McNamara gave a verdict of suicide. These two heartbreaking hearings came a day after the government launched its Mid-West strategy for improving mental health services by 2020, at Limerick Institute of Technology. The Connecting for Life strategy is contained in an 85-page HSE report, which shows that Limerick citys suicide and self-harm rate, per capita, has been significantly higher than the national average in recent years. According to the report, the rate of suicide in Limerick city increased by 43.9% since 2006. In the 2004-2006 period, there were 16.4 suicides per 100,000 people, while there were 23.6 suicides in the 2013-2015 timeline. Limerick county has the lowest rate of suicides in the Mid-West with 9.7 deaths per 100,000. Minister of State for Mental Health, Helen McEntee welcomed the launch of the report this Monday. She said that the strategy looks at the local communities and how it is working on the ground and how it is affecting people on the ground. Also present at the launch was Majella Cosgrove, who has been vocal about how her son Derek, who was recovered from the River Shannon, was failed by the mental health service. Ms Cosgrove, of Clareview, has established a taskforce over the past two weeks, which will see a multitude of service providers, service users and frontline workers coming together to address needs in mental health services. After Minister McEntee spoke with Ms Cosgrove about the group, the Fine Gael TD told the media that it was the next step in the Governments new strategy. What she is talking about, really, is about what we are talking about here today. What she would like to see is more on the ground, as well. So, from the individuals on a daily basis, that it is linked up completely. She is looking to establish a group that will work with local services, local organisations and local groups. I think it is the next step of Connecting for Life, anyway, so its about helping her move that forward, the Minister said. Ms Cosgrove raised other issues with the Minister, including a two-tier public-private healthcare system; equality of rights for people suffering with mental illnesses; the importance of informing carers and family members on side effects and changes of medication; the provision of mainstream services for those in recovery; and the tracking of interventions and monitoring of a client. Ms Cosgrove told the Leader that people with mental health issues are not treated the same as someone with a physical illness, and that people with mental health problems should be treated equally. She added that there are long waits to see a crisis nurse when presenting at the emergency department. I experienced Derek being shouted at and sent home while he was psychotic, because there were traces of hash in his system. If I went into A&E with a collapsed lung, would I have been shouted at and sent home, because I smoke? I dont think so, she said. She added that while autonomy and confidentiality are important in medical practice, they should not act as an automatic barrier to the treatment and monitoring of people with mental health problems, particularly when they are supported by family. While I would have been fully supportive of Derek making his own decision about his treatment, and his right to change medication, I was not aware this had happened or advised that I may need to watch out for and respond to changes in Dereks behaviour, she explained. Former Government TD and president of Irish Association of Suicidology, Dan Neville also said that it is important that mental illness is perceived similarly to physical illness. We still have to recognise that it is still a very societal issue in relation to the whole area of stigma surrounding mental health issues. When I started campaigning to decriminalise suicide in the early 1990s, nobody could envisage that we could have such a debate nationally in relation to our mental health services and suicide prevention. So, that is progress, but it is on a continuum that we have a long way to go, in relation to having the same acceptance, by those who suffer, by their families and by their society, that mental illness is similar to physical illness. Meanwhile, St Annes Day Hospital, which treats more than 2,000 people annually, has been without a vital clinical psychologist for nearly 10 months. The post at the Roxboro Road facility has been left vacant since August due to a long term illness and will not be filled until the end of June, a spokesperson for the HSE said. When the Limerick Leader asked Minister McEntee about this issue, she said that clinical psychologist deficits is a worldwide issue. There is a shortage worldwide, so we are obviously doing everything that we can to try and attract them to Ireland and keep them here. If you have been affected by this story contact Aware (1800 80 48 48) The Samaritans (116 123) Pieta House (1800 247 247) The first China-Europe freight train filled with UK-made products arrived in Yiwu, East China's Zhejiang Province on Thursday, after finishing its 12,000-kilometer journey. Analysts said that the train has not only injected vitality into Chinas trade with the UK and Europe, but also revealed the glimmer of theBelt and Road initiative. The train, filled with 32 containers of products, left the London Gateway terminal of Dubai Ports World (DP World) on April 10. The London-Yiwu line recreates the ancient Silk Road trade route that once connected Europe to China. "People came all the way to the gateway to witness the historic moment. The cold weather and strong wind did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the public," Nelson, a security guard at the port, described the moment when the train set off from London. He added that it was touching to see the crowds waving Chinese national flags and good luck banners. In the two weeks since the trains departure, many more customers showed interest in the train and consulted about the details, said Oliver Treneman, manager of the gateways logistics park. Treneman said that the train has a significant meaning for them as a new way of transportation for manufacturers and retailers based in London. It is faster than sea transportation and cheaper than air freight, he explained, adding that the freight train has offered a new approach for the transnational transportation of British commodities. "We believe it's just a start and there will be plenty such trains in the future. It trades British goods for firm hard currencies," said an employee of the London gateway who hailed China as the country on which the UK has placed high expectations after its exit from the EU. The UK, as an island country surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, heavily relies on exports because of its limited domestic market. The country is expected to have to find new business chances post-Brexit, as the European market currently accounts for over half of British exports. Against this backdrop, the UK political circle reached a consensus to seek benefits from China's Belt and Road initiative. China-Europe freight trains are the best opportunity for the UK to strengthen its trade with its global partners especially after its exit of the EU, the BBC said in a report. "The UK's commodities will reach out to the world along the ancient Silk Road," said Greg Hands, UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment, adding that the freight train commuting between China and the UK will inspire and accelerate the latters globalization process. The Belt and Road initiative will bring Scotch whisky, a symbol of national pride, to the vast Chinese market, and as a result generate tangible benefits, said Shane, an employee with the Scotch Whisky Experience, a whisky visitor attraction based in the UK. You can image how exciting that will be, he said, saying that many Chinese residents like the liquor as well. According to Shane, the Scotch Whisky Experience has made a plan to keep a 5 percent growth for whisky exports from now until 2020. He believes the plan will be realized under the assistance of the Belt and Road initiative. When the outbound freight train that departed from Yiwu finally arrived at Barking Station in London in January, the BBC said that it was amazing for China to reopen the ancient Silk Road with modern technology. Less than three months later, the fully loaded freight train departed London for Yiwu. It has been compared to an unusual Silk Road train by some British media outlets. The Belt and Road initiative is a cure to the consequences of Brexit, and the country will enjoy development, an owner of a pharmacy located in Beak Street of downtown London, told the People's Daily. "The arrival of the first China-Europe freight train in London marked the reach of the Belt and Road route to the westernmost tip of Europe, and now it has returned," remarked a British scholar in an interview with the People's Daily. The expert added that the train has injected new energy into China-UK and China-Europe trade, and also reflects the great attraction of the Belt and Road initiative. TWO NEIGHBOURING community creches in County Limerick have been left reeling after both were burgled on the same night. In the early hours of the morning last Friday, April 21, the creches in Cappagh and Rathkeale were broken into, and workers arrived on the scene later that morning to find that quantities of cash had been stolen. In Cappagh, entry was gained through the office window of the creche between 2am and 8am. Also in the early hours of the morning, the office at the community childcare facility at Well Lane, Rathkeale was also broken into. Rathkeale-based Fine Gael TD Tom Neville condemned the burglaries, saying that he believes the incidents were orchestrated. Its extremely harsh on people who get up in the morning, go to work, try to make a living, and provide a service to people who are themselves waking up every morning and going to work, trying to make a living as best they can, said Mr Neville. We know that two creches were hit in the area, so this leads me to believe that its more of a systematic targeting of such premises, he added. Gardai are following a definite line of enquiry but still welcome input from the public in relation to any suspicious activity around the time of the break-ins. The wider debate here is in relation to criminality and burglary as such, and I am calling for - and have written to the minister in relation to - fast-tracking legislation in relation to electronic tagging, said Deputy Neville on ways to tackle rural crime rates. Criminals use technology in such a way to target victims, so I think the law needs to catch up now and use technology as best it can to impede criminal activity, said Mr Neville. Anyone who noticed suspicious activity last Thursday night or Friday morning can contact Newcastle West garda station on 069-20650. LOVE will be in the air at this weekends Ballyhoura Walking Festival. A new singles walk takes place on Saturday, April 29 but men have been a tad sedentary in signing up. Currently there are five females for every one male so men need to get a move on or possibly miss meeting the love of their lives. It is a 7km walk along the Keale river which goes onto Ballyorgan and includes a visit to two pubs. Ballyhoura Development officer, Amanda Slattery said the idea is to bring single people together in a fun and relaxed way. While also bringing people on a lovely walk by the Keale river and allowing them to experience the flora, fauna and stunning views along the way, said Amanda. Leader of the walk, Mike Noonan, from Ballyhoura Beo, added that they hope people will support the event, as it is something different and a unique way to meet like-minded new people. Men are in short supply for this, and we encourage everyone not to be shy and come out and bring a friend for a great fun afternoon! said Mike. There has been an excellent sign-up from a broad age range but a few more men would be most welcome. If you are single and looking to mingle, in a fun and relaxed environment, then call 063 91300 or email reception@ballyhoura.org, said Mike. The singles walk starts with pre-registration at 2pm on Saturday, April 29, then a bus from the Ballyhoura office in Kilfinane, a drink in Dalys pub at the start, then the walk by the River Keale and a drink and refreshments in Nuala Mees pub in Ballyorgan. It is just one of a range of walks from Friday, April 28 to Bank Holiday Monday, May 1. Now in its 24th year, the festival has guides from the Ballyhoura Bears Walking Club, Ballyhoura Beo and local communities, leading a packed programme for all abilities from the hardy hiker to gentle ramblers enjoying the company of local experts in the fields of heritage, archaeology, history, flora and fauna. This year, lots of new walks and events have been added to ensure something for everyone. These include a film screening of Journey to the Centre of the Earth in the Church of Ireland Kilfinane; a trad session; moon lit walk; Slieve Felim walk; nature walk and scavenger hunt; introduction to Geocaching; mindfulness walk on the Canon Sheehan Loop and a mystical walk at Lough Gur, to name but a few. A very special charity walk will take place to Galtymore on April 29, in aid of the Carebright Dementia Hub the first of its kind in Ireland. Throughout the festival, there are walks graded A very experienced hill climbers; B experienced walkers able for a moderate pace and C - special interest suitable for families. They take in all areas of Ballyhoura country. These are true gems, and we would love to see everyone get up and active this May Bank Holiday weekend. The festival is set to be the biggest and brightest one yet, with a stellar line-up of events taking place in the shadows of the Ballyhoura mountains. said Mike. As well as Limerick, visitors are travelling from all over Munster and abroad. For more information, visit www.visitballyhoura.com and click on the festival link, which brings you through each days line-up or call 063 91300 or email reception@ballyhoura.org A LIMERICK city man who is accused of escaping from garda custody is on the run after he fled from Limerick Courthouse this Friday afternoon. The 26-year-old, who is originally from the Thomondgate area, made his bid for freedom minutes after he was refused bail at Limerick District Court. The defendant, who had been in custody since last December, is accused of multiple offences including theft, burglary and hijacking a vehicle. He is also accused of escaping from lawful custody while being detained at Henry Street garda station on December 2, last. Objecting to a bail application, gardai said they were concerned the defendant would reoffend if released and submitted he represented a flight risk. It is understood that moments after Judge Mary Larkin refused bail, the defendant opened the door of the custody area and fled by running out a door at the rear of the courtroom. While gardai pursued him, he managed to escape and remains on the run. An investigation is to be carried out to establish the circumstances of the mans escape. IRISH Cement has issued a public apology to its neighbours following a number of recent dust emissions in the vicinity of the Mungret factory. The apology comes after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that samples of dust deposited on cars and homes in the Mungret and Raheen area contained Irish Cement plant material along with ambient dusts due to the extended dry weather. Since the end of March, the EPA, Limerick City and County Council and the HSE who issued a joint statement this Friday have received a significant number of complaints about these deposits. Complainants believed that the source of the dust was likely to be the nearby Irish Cement plant, the joint statement said. However, up until this Friday, the company had denied liability for the dust emissons in the area. In a fresh statement to the media, a spokesperson said: Irish Cement notes the contents of the statement published today by the EPA, attributing responsibility to Irish Cement for recent dust emissions in the vicinity of the Mungret factory. The company apologises for any inconvenience caused to its neighbours and commits to continuing to work with all the agencies and local communities to rectifying the situation. Irish Cement met with the EPA this week, and has also taken a number of proactive steps locally. Company personnel are visiting neighbours and have made arrangements for car washes and cleaning of affected properties. Since the first complaints were made, EPA personnel have been investigating the issue and have now convened an interagency group with the council and the HSE, to ensure integrated oversight of the investigation. IRISH CEMENT UPDATE: Below is the link to a joint statement and update from the EPA, HSE and Limerick City and... https://t.co/rfQiIovzN6 Cllr Daniel Butler (@DanielButlerFG) April 28, 2017 The EPA has commenced a formal compliance investigation into the management of dust at the factory. As part of this investigation, the company is conducting a detailed inspection of the material and product handling infrastructure and processes over the entire site to identify any potential defects, the joint statement said. It said that the factory is to conclude the review in a month, and will report back regularly to the EPA. Any defects or failures are to be rectified immediately on discovery. It added: Health advice based on sampling results to date and surveillance of healthcare usage confirms that exposure to the dust may cause respiratory irritation but does not pose a serious health risk in the short term. In relation to possible health implications, HSE Mid-West liaised with general practitioners and the local hospital emergency department. To date, no unusual patterns of ill health have been identified. HSE Mid-West will continue to monitor the situation in the coming weeks. The EPA and the council are setting up a network of dust monitoring stations in four locations in the city. These will provide information on the levels of dust, which will be examined against air quality standards. This will support ongoing health risk assessment by the HSE, the three bodies stated. The EPA stated that it encourages the public to contact the agency in the event of experiencing dust or other EPA-licensed facilities, via its website or its 24-hour call service, at 053-916 0600. Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi commented on the possibility of war on the Korean Peninsula when meeting the press with his German counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, in Berlin on April 26. We cant risk even a 1 percent possibility of war. The Korean Peninsula is not the Middle East. If a war breaks out, there would be unimaginable consequences, he said. All parties should follow relevant resolutions passed by the UN Security Council. China calls on all parties to avoid any actions that would escalate the situation." In a commentary published on April 28 in the Peoples Daily Overseas Edition, it was pointed out that this is a crucial moment for all parties involved. The DPRK disrupted the nuclear non-proliferation regime and went against resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council. Meanwhile, the U.S. and South Korea pose a military threat to the DPRK, and seek further sanctions to and isolation for it. This situation is fragile and dangerous. Should any individual incident occur, it could lead to disastrous consequences on the peninsula and its surrounding areas. Wars and conflicts in the Middle East have already become an open wound for humanity. Another war on the Korean Peninsula would only bring a much worse scenario to Northeast Asia, the commentary continued. However, despite the existence of tensions on the peninsula, a war is by no means imminent. Although U.S. President Donald Trump and his government did blast the DPRK for its nuclear program and ballistic missiles, and although the DPRK fought back with strong words and actions, there are still encouraging signs. In recent days, the DPRK hasnt conducted any new nuclear tests. And on April 26, the U.S. secretary of state, secretary of defense and director of national intelligence made a joint statement, claiming that negotiation is still on the table. According to the commentary, there is no silver bullet to solve the North Korean nuclear issue. Nevertheless, every country in the region wishes to safeguard its own national security and address this issue peacefully. Force will lead nowhere; dialogue and negotiations remain the only solution. It is imperative that all relevant parties consider Chinas proposal: the suspension of nuclear tests by the DPRK and the termination of joint military exercises by the U.S. and South Korea. More strong words and military confrontations will benefit neither the U.S. nor the DPRK. If both sides can send positive signals to each other, the issue might just have a chance at resolution. Apr 29, 2021, 3 AM This cover bearing the 1845 Basel Dove stamp is dated July 10, 1848, and was used during the normal period of cantonal postage. It is a local letter, illustrating the payment of 2 rappen for a single-weight letter sent within the city. Photo courtesy of Unveiling Classic Stamps By Sergio Sismondo Basel is the third largest city in Switzerland, after Zurich and Geneva. It should not surprise collectors that its cantonal administration would begin to study the matter of postal reform, following in the footsteps of its two larger sister cities. In Basel, canton and city, only a limited postal reform was instituted; it was anchored on the idea of prepayment as an irrefutably useful change, of value both to the general public and to the administration. In the same spirit as in Zurich and Geneva, and probably with the objective of avoiding the imposition of new methods to supplant old ones, which might ruffle feathers, the change to prepayment was not mandatory. Probably for that reason alone, the program had very limited success. Unfortunately, the administrative steps taken toward the decision to issue stamps for prepayment of postage were not kept in the citys archives and are presumed to be irretrievably lost. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter For the facts of the matter, we can only rely on two documents. In a daily newspaper titled, in approximate translation, The Basel Intelligence Sheet, on June 30, the public is put on notice that stamps for the prepayment of postage will be on sale the next day at the post office. The price for each label is 2 rappen. Letters addressed within the town will require one stamp; those addressed to other localities in the canton will require two stamps, always for items weighing less than 15 grams (1 loth). The second document is the minutes of one meeting of members of Basels Postal Committee (again, in rough translation), which states that the new postal organization will be in force on the first of July. Thus, all available evidence is consistent with July 1, 1845, being the date of issue of Basels first and only stamp. But regarding the new postal organization, we have little or no knowledge. The stamp was designed by architect Melchior Berri. The engraving and printing were done by the firm of Benjamin Krebs, at Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The design is dominated by the coat of arms of Basel Canton, and later of Basel City. In the center is a crosier, which is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as a bishops processional cross. That requires an explanation. Between the years 999 and 1503, Basel was governed by prince-bishops. That is, both temporal and ecclesiastical powers were bestowed on the same person. How that came about, in the 10th century, is of little importance; what can be said with certainty is that the arrangement was not unusual in the complex affairs of the Holy Roman Empire during the centuries that followed. The convergence of religion and imperial power was a necessary result of the structure that had been created by Charlemagne and Pope Leo III on that fateful Christmas Day of 800. In 1501, following a devastating war that came to an end due to the mediation of Basel leaders, the confederated cantons of Switzerland invited Basel to join their powerful compact, granting Basel special powers and responsibilities of arbitration within the union. Basel accepted and, in the same year, formally joined the Swiss Confederation as the 11th canton. A battle of wills ensued when the governing prince-bishop, Christoph von Utenheim, refused to grant the canton a new constitution. The city went its merry way, building its own city hall and government. But in the spirit of compromise, Basel kept the crosier as the central subject in its coat of arms, in rememberance of 500 years of honor and glory as principality and bishopric of the empire not a minor legacy. Below the crosier is a red background, and embossed within it a white dove in flight, carrying a letter in its beak. From there comes the stamps nickname: The Basil Dove. Walking around the city, I noticed that each postbox also had the Basil Dove, much magnified, impressed in its steel door. As a philatelist, I could not help but being charmed and delighted to see the attention given by the post office to this detail. Below and around the dove on the stamp is the inscription STADT - POST - BASEL (Basel City Post). And in the lower corners is the denomination 2 Rp. [rappen]. The four corner spandrels bear a moire-pattern background of pale blue. It has been said that the Basel Dove is the most beautiful of all classic stamps. I am sure that some might disagree. Great Britains Penny Black and Two-Penny Blue, Canadas 3-penny Beaver, the Little Bears of St. Louis, the United States 10 George Washington of 1847, Belgiums Epaulette of 1849, Brazils Bulls-Eyes, and the Western Australia Black Swan are other first issues that, in my opinion, merit mention in the same category. But we can say with certainty that the Basel Dove stamp was a first in multiple ways. It was the first stamp to be printed in three colors. It was the first stamp to combine engraving and embossing, and it was the first stamp to depict a bird. In short, it was a wonderful achievement for Berri. Its execution raised some complexity, and that is probably the reason the Basel authorities gave the printing contract to a firm so far away as Frankfurt am Main. Perhaps the engraver and printer, Benjamin Krebs of that city, had already acquired a reputation for very fine and detailed workmanship, and the people of Basel would have wanted nothing less. Indeed, the printer did fine work on this stamp. In spite of having to go through the press four times, it is rare to find examples with even one color off-register. Other than minor flaws in the background red color, the only other significant variety is the double embossing of the dove, which is extremely rare and must have affected very few stamps. The stamp was printed in sheets of 40: five rows of eight stamps each. There were two printings, the first of 20,800 stamps and the second of 20,600 stamps, for a total of 41,400. How many were used is not known, but judging on the relative scarcity of mint and used stamps available today, we can make an educated guess that three-quarters were used. A mint Basel Dove is shown in the first illustration. Begining Jan. 1, 1849, the federal government assumed responsibility for postal matters in all parts of Switzerland. Theoretically, the stamps of the cantons were no longer in use after that date. However, Swiss federal stamps were not available until early 1850. Because stocks of Basel Doves were still available, they were commonly used during 1849 and even in the first months of 1850. The cover shown here is dated July 10, 1848, and was therefore used during the normal period of cantonal postage. It is a local letter, illustrating the payment of 2r for a single weight letter sent within the city. All multiples are rare. To illustrate this point, all one has to do is to look up the value of pairs in the 2017 Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue of Stamps and Covers 1840-1940. While a used single is quoted at $15,500, a used pair is listed at $170,000. A mint single is valued at $17,500, and a mint pair is listed at $170,000. Pairs on cover are valued at nine times singles on cover. THE GREEN AND VERMILION BASEL DOVE For the past century and a half, a stamp with green color instead of blue in the spandrels was said to be a proof and trial color. Early on it was determined that the impression was an early one, and therefore the green stamps were printed before the normal blue ones. And, it has been ascertained through the years that genuinely used examples do not exist. Armed with these two pieces of information, it was natural that early stamp students and catalog makers listed the green stamp as a proof. It was easy to arrive at this conclusion. But there was an unresolved issue. The green stamps circulating and in collections were simply too many to have been reasonably submitted as proofs. For instance, it is a fact that a complete sheet was acquired by Sigmund Friedl, and could be examined at the Friedl Museum in Vienna. It is now the property of a private collector in Switzerland. Other multiples are in postal museums, and many other examples are in private collections. It has recently come to light that a partial sheet of the green Basel Dove bears the following penned inscription at the margin (in translation): Postage stamps of the town of Basel introduced July 1st 1845. N.B. They were ordered through me of Krebs, Frankfurt-on-the-Main, and were delivered by him. This inscription, combined with other deductions, led Swiss experts to another view of the matter. It is now believed that the printer, Benjamin Krebs, finished work on one part of the order, and personally delivered his product to the postal committee in Basel. Upon seeing the stamps, the authorities decided the colors had to be changed to a carmine-red for the background, and a light blue for the corner spandrels. Shortly thereafter came the first printing with the altered colors, consisting of 20,800 stamps, or 520 sheets of 40. So it happened that the stamp had its status changed from proof to unissued stamp. If invoices were available to examine, that could definitively clear the matter. Unfortunately, such documentation is not available. Perhaps some day the entire archive regarding Basels first and only postage stamp will be found. Isle of Mans hidden logo, plus U.S. stamps on U.N. mail: Weeks Most Read Apr 28, 2017, 6 AM The Isle of Man is hiding a logo on its upcoming set of Freemasonry stamps, and collectors will need an ultraviolet light to see it. This week on Linns.com, no story drew more attention than this one. By Colin Sallee Its time to catch up on the week that was in stamp-collecting insights and news. Linns Stamp News is looking back at its five most-read stories of the week. Click the links to read the stories. 5. Tell us what the submarine commander on this stamp might be thinking: Put yourself at the periscope on the 29 Officer at Periscope stamp from the 1994 Road to Victory pane of 10 that was part of the World War II series. 4. United Nations continues long-running Endangered Species series: The new set is a joint issue with Romania, which is expected to issue four stamps. 3. There was a time when U.S. stamps were valid on U.N. mail: The United Nations issued its first set of definitive stamps Oct. 24, 1951, and U.S. stamps were no longer valid on U.N. mail. 2. Machins retain consistency over 50 years amid continual change: Why has the Machin design endured and thrived for five decades? There are several reasons. 1. Isle of Man hides logo, other information in Freemasonry stamps: The Isle of Man Post Office has added a hidden logo to its set of six stamps celebrating 300 years of English Freemasonrys first Grand Lodge. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. Sihanoukville port, once a piece of barren and impoverished land in southwestern Preah Sihanouk province, has now grown into a prosperous field thanks to China-Cambodia collaboration under the Belt and Road initiative put forward by China. The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) built on the port is among the first 8 overseas economic and trade cooperation zones approved by Chinese government, and also an important cooperation project between China and Cambodia. The booming SSEZ is a model for China-Cambodia pragmatic cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out when visiting Cambodia last October. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, on multiple occasions, also expressed his expectation to build the special economic zone into the "Shenzhen in Cambodia". Located at key juncture along the route of the "Belt and Road", SSEZ is now a flagship economic zone since the win-win cooperation project has benefited local residents. "I could hardly express my feeling when I came here 10 years ago, since it was a mess here," recalled Jiang Jun, manager of engineering department of SSEZ. The first factory building was delivered in 2009 after conquering various hardships, and the park finally took initial shape at the end of 2012. Greatly inspired by the 'Belt and Road' initiative proposed by Xi in 2013, we brought the construction of the special economic zone onto a fast lane, with the number of registered enterprises growing at a fast pace, Cao Jianjiang, general manager of the SSEZ said, adding that the zone is now an international industrial park. So far a total of 160 mills have been built on the soil of first-phased 5-square-kilometer park, and 109 textile, clothing, luggage and leather enterprises have been introduced, of which 94 are China-funded ones. The industrial output of the zone, where 16,000 people are working, has contributed more than 50% to the economy of Preah Sihanouk province. The arrival of Chinese companies has completely changed the small village of Sihanoukville port where cement buildings, electricity, and tap water didn't exist before. Eung Sarum, Chief of Township Bet Trang, told People's Daily that they used to live on corps and tree-cutting, but now almost each household, who has members working in industrial park, can afford to buy a motorcycle, adding that their lives have been much improved. Chinese enterprises have donated multimedia classrooms, aided impoverished students and provided free training of Chinese and skills for local villagers, said Kaev Boutthy, President of Primary School of Township Bet Trang. "I'm grateful to China," she said while pulling her palms together, which is the most sincere way for Cambodians to express appreciation. Local government officials and scholars also hailed the "Belt and Road" initiative to the Peoples Daily. Khlot Thyda, President of Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), believes that the initiative, which aims at common development, is a win-win proposal with practical significance. The 76-year-old woman added that the world will embark on a road of peaceful development if every country could join the initiative. The 'Belt and Road' initiative is about inter-connectivity which brings new opportunities," noted Sok Chenda Sophea, Secretary General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC). Apart from the park, China and Cambodia have enriched the outcome list from pragmatic cooperation under Belt and Road initiative. Chinese enterprises have built and renovated 20 roads in the country, covering a mileage of 2,669 kilometers and accounting for more than 35% of the total mileage of Cambodia's highway. The 8 newly constructed super-large bridges have also greatly improved the country's transportation and facilitated the locals. In addition, 6 completed hydro-power stations and 3 power grid networks contributed a lot to local people's livelihood and economic growth by ensuring the electricity supply for almost the whole country. Cambodia has not entered the era of peaceful construction until 1998. After decades of wars and chaos, Cambodian people have nurtured a strong desire for development. So far, Cambodia has already become one of the most robust and promising Asian countries. Behind its rapid economic development are its continuously deepened cooperation and in-depth exchange of experiences with China, for which SSEZ can serve as the best evidence. The rise of the special economic zone is a result of the top design of the two governments, communication between related departments, and concerted efforts of the enterprises. The zone not only incorporated China's successful experience in constructing industrial parks, but also created a development pattern unique to Cambodia. Sok Chenda told People's Daily that the professional, earnest and diligent Chinese entrepreneurs have brought fantastic Chinese experiences to the zone, and the SSEZ has all the factors for success as the most promising special zone in Cambodia. (Xinhua) 20:54, April 28, 2017 SHIJIAZHUANG, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The first phase of a Coca-Cola production base went into operation Friday in north China's Hebei Province. Currently, a five-hectare area has four production lines and an annual production capacity of 100 million unit cases (one unit case is 5.678 litres). Once the entire project is completed, it will be able to make 250 million unit cases annually. The base, covering more than 13 hectares, is located in Hebei's Xianghe County and has joint investment totalling 350 million yuan (51 million U.S. dollars) from COFCO Coca-Cola Beverages and Tianjin Bohai Light Industry Group. After completion, it will have nine production lines and is expected to meet demand in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region for the next 15 years. This is the second COFCO bottling factory in Hebei and its biggest investment. China is Coca-Cola's third biggest market worldwide, and COFCO became its first bottling partner after the company returned to China in 1979. PVR Vkaao, 1018mb are changing the way movies are watched and shown New screening-on-demand models like PVR Vkaao and 1018mb offer a middle ground between watching a film in a regular cinema hall and at a film club /how-to-lounge/movies-tv/pvr-vkaao-1018mb-are-changing-the-way-movies-are-watched-and-shown-111646834611046.html 111646834611046 story On 27 January, 21-year-old Ishan Garg saw a newspaper ad by Vkaao, multiplex chain PVRs screening-on-demand service, which claimed that anyone could watch a movie at a time and theatre of their choice. Garg, an MBBS student at New Delhis Safdarjung Hospital, mentioned this to friends, who dismissed it as an advertising gimmick. Garg wanted to watch M. Night Shyamalans Split (2017), which had released in the US but was still a month away from releasing in India, with his friends on the big screen. He wanted a screening on 7 February at PVR Sangam in Delhis RK Puram area. According to the rules of the website, a screening is confirmed after the requirement of minimum occupancy is met20 seats in this caseat least a few days before the scheduled date. Garg got five friends to book tickets and bought the rest, hoping to get other friends to join in later. Not only did Garg get back the money he spent on the bulk booking, the showVkaaos firstran to a packed house. Driven by social media and smartphones, new screening-on-demand models offer a middle ground between watching a film in a regular cinema hall and at a film club. It personalizes the movie-going experience and makes the film club exclusivity of watching something special with people with shared interests, ticketed and public. I, Daniel Blake, one of the winners of last years Cannes Film Festival, was screened by PVR Vkaao. Since most people are unfamiliar with the concept, viewers usually book once theyre sure a screening is definitely happening (the status is displayed on the website). This has encouraged Vkaao to begin taking a leap of faith" in cases where the bookings fall short of the minimum requirement. Its been one of our big learnings," says Karan Ahuja, business head, Vkaao. In the three months since it launched, Vkaao has had about 150 shows in 20 cities, including smaller towns such as Bilaspur, Surat and Jalandhar, not only showing films that are unlikely to release in India, such as Cannes Film Festival top prize-winner I, Daniel Blake (2016) and regional films such as Kaul (2016), but even old blockbusters such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). Vkaao originated a year back. It came from two basic problems we (PVR) saw as a theatre chain," says Ahuja. One, we have a lot of empty seats on weekdays and on weekends when there are no blockbusters. Two, the audience may want to watch a certain moviea Hollywood film in a tier-2 city or an Assamese film in Delhiwhich may not get a release in their city. We thought, why not let people watch what they want in the time slots when we dont have much occupancy?" Its a new, improved version of PVR Directors Rare, which was launched to promote independent films, but didnt prove viable. The invite for the films screening in Mumbai organized by 1018mb. Vkaao eliminates the biggest uncertainty a producer faces: of not knowing who is going to watch his film. We dont have the risk of playing a movie and no one coming. On the contrary, we do a screening only if theres enough demand," says Ahuja. Vkaao isnt the only screening-on-demand service in India. 1018mb, which has been organizing such screenings since January 2016, is founded on similar fundamentals of empty seats and limited options in theatres, and greater emphasis on the monetization of smaller films. Many good movies never get a release," says Saurabh Devendra Singh, one of the co-founders. At the end of the day, a film should make profit. And how do you do that? By choosing the right shows." 1018mb operates like Vkaaoany user can create an event by selecting a time, place and title from the library. Unlike Vkaao (which requires users to initiate the process), 1018mb also curates screenings: as they did with one of their first events, where they showed the Coen Brothers classic The Big Lebowski (1998) in May, and, recently, with the new Malayalam film Angamaly Diaries (2017). The screening of the latter in Mumbai on 5 April got an overwhelming response and generated enough interest for 1018mb to organize six more shows. Angamaly played in Bengaluru and will be shown in Delhi, Chandigarh and Ahmedabad as well. 1018mbs strategy is to make the most of the weekdays instead of the coveted weekend slot. Conventionally, you would think that the linear cycle of Friday, Saturday and Sunday is the best for any movie. Not with smaller films, which have a meagre marketing budget," says Singh. The name of the company, which he describes as a bootstrapped start-up", is an inside joke between its co-founders: Saumya Tandon, Saurabh Devendra Singh, Shishir Ranjan, Santhosh Sundaram and Abhay Salve. Singh says the teams sixth member is the analytics engine, an Artificial Intelligence-enabled algorithm which predicts the chances of success of a screening based on past patterns (Vkaao employs a similar system). It takes into consideration the location of the screening venue, the time slot, and information about the potential audience, such as their social media presence. A youngish" area like Andheri in Mumbai has proven to be more receptive to alternative" films, says Singh. When a user requests a film that is not in their library, the algorithm tells the 1018mb team if the title is worth acquiring. Sometimes it throws up surprises. Based on a couple of requests, the system analytics concluded that Gunda (1998), a celebrated trashy"movie, had the biggest potential for success. It has more chances of success than The Godfather. We are desperate to get the rights from director Kanti Shah (and he thinks we are playing a prank)," says Singh. He is also keen to show Wes Andersons The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004) on the big screen. For English and foreign-language films, 1018mb sources screening rights from its outposts in the US and the UK, while Vkaao gets the theatrical rights from the India units of foreign production houses. Since practically anyone with access to the Internet can have a screening, people are using the service in different ways. Ahuja tells me about someone who booked an entire screen for a rom-com to propose to his girlfriend. Screenings of childrens movies are being organized by schools and for birthdays. Mumbai-based film-maker Bejoy Nambiar, who suggested that 1018mb screen Angamaly (hes a friend of the director), is working on curating other films from south India: Aaranya Kaandam (2010), Jigarthanda (2014), U-turn (2016) and Take-off (2017). Nambiars Getaway Films has even tied up with 1018mb. I am not looking at it from a monetary aspect right now, as Ive always wanted to show films from the south in the rest of the country," Nambiar says. The idea is to make a property out of it, where people can watch south Indian movies every week." Given the discrepancy between todays audiencewhich is increasingly getting used to choosing what they want to watchand a skewed film distribution system, the emergence of such platforms isnt surprising. If the new model is able to sustain itself long enough, says Ahuja, it will start challenging the notion that a films theatrical run comes with a shelf life (Xinhua) 20:56, April 28, 2017 BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday criticized a U.S. organization's report on religious freedom in the country and asked the organization to discard prejudice. The recent United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) annual report recommended the U.S. government keep China on the list of "countries of particular concern". The Chinese government protects the religious freedom of its citizens in line with laws, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing. "It is obvious and indisputable that the Chinese people of all ethnic groups have fully enjoyed freedom in terms of religious belief," Geng said. USCIRF is politically prejudiced against China, ignores its progress in the area of religion and issues inaccurate reports on its religious policies year after year, Geng said. "The commission should respect the facts, discard its bias and stop interfering in China's internal affairs," he added. Film Review | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion 'Baahubali 2' offers pounding action, soap opera storytelling and some worrying ideas about valour /how-to-lounge/movies-tv/film-review-baahubali-2-the-conclusion-111646834627278.html 111646834627278 story At several points during Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, the audience I was watching it with whooped and whistled. Mostly it was at something Prabhas did, like throwing a tree at charging soldiers or jumping from one flaming, stampeding bull to another. At times, I felt a cheer rising within me as well, but it would remain stifled, often as a result of an over-ambitious visual effect or an especially florid bit of Hindi dubbing, but also because its difficult to applaud aspects of a film while disagreeing with the whole. Some films will set your pulse racing even as they espouse the exact opposite of your worldview; others youll want to like but not be able to bring yourself to. Baahubali 2 is undoubtedly a spectacular action film. Its also a tradition-bound, caste-conscious macho militarist fantasy. The first Baahubali film ended with Kattappa (Sathyaraj) explaining to Shiva (Prabhas)actually Mahendra Baahubali, rightful heir to the kingdom of Mahishmatiwhy he killed his father, Amarendra Baahubali (also Prabhas), the former king. His explanation took the form of an extended flashback, which continues in the sequel as were beaten over the head with scene after scene designed to show how virtuous and beloved of his people Amarendra was. Were also reintroduced to Devasena (Anushka Shetty), the princess of a small state, who becomes Amarendras wife. Shetty thus plays wife and mother to Prabhas in the same film. If they ever have another film in the series, it might be Baahubali: Freudian Issues". Because we already know that Kattappa is going to kill Amarendra, everything is necessarily a build-up to this moment. Its a long, long time comingand a good indicator of how invested you are in the mythology of the Baahubali universe is to note if the wait starts to weigh on you. Not that there are many dull moments: in one 30-minute stretch, for instance, writer-director S.S. Rajamouli follows a sneak attack in the forest with low comedy, a boar hunt, more comedy (sold with hammy exuberance by Subbaraju, playing an inept warrior), a song sequence and a bona-fide battle. It feels like theres always an action scene, or a song, or a set-piece happening. Its as if the makers have determined that if anyone is going to get bored, theyll have to do it in spite of the narrative, not because of it. Baahubali isnt the kind of film that waits for its audience; it comes to you. Whatever historical time period this story is taking place in, it isnt the Age of Nuance. A follower of the evil king, Bhallala Deva (Rana Daggubati), cant just be a schemer, he has to be a pervert too; Amarendra cant just be a regular benevolent ruler, he has to give up his dinner for poor children and be fed by their teary mothers. The plot is reasonably well worked out, but character motivations are often sketchyincluding, crucially, Katappas. Even by epic action film standards, the performances are broad. In the rare moments when theres more talk than action, the film assumes the hyperbolic qualities of a tele-series; the scenes featuring Sivagami (Ramya Krishnan, overdoing the eye-popping a bit) and Devasena, in particular, would make for a great Ekta Kapoor-style mythological soap (Kyunki Rajmata Bhi Kabhi Saas Thi?) Still, what makes Rajamoulis films unique is that, in the midst of the most incredible silliness, therell suddenly arrive a breath-taking image or a fluid, heart-pounding shot. I was laughing when, during a battle scene, Mahendra catapults himself and a few others onto a terrace with the help of a handy tree. But once he lands, the scene transforms into something ridiculously attractivea continuous sideways shot of him slashing his way through enemy ranks, blood flying in theatrical arcs. For a film thats highly invested in ritual and tradition, it is perhaps revealing that when Baahubali 2 wants to make a point about valour, it reaches for the grammar of the caste system. Time and again were told what it means to be Kshatriya; how, when its required, a true Kshatriya will reveal their warrior nature. This sort of talk is worryingwhether or not Rajamouli has included it unthinkingly. To mention one caste is to refer to the entire system; to extol the virtues of one is to deny the same qualities in the others. For those who think questions of caste and sexism and racism shouldnt be directed at big-budget entertainers, I can only say that I believe there couldnt be anything more important. Hollywood is making further inroads into the Indian film market every year. If Baahubali 2 is a hit, we might be seeing many more event films" of its kind in the near future. Whether we ask much of these films is up to us. Beautiful and bizarre things to buy: From The Salvador Dali watch to Chikankari-embroidered dress Beautiful and bizarre things to buy: From The Salvador Dali watch to Chikankari-embroidered dress A weekly compendium of beautiful and bizarre objects of desire /fashion/beauty/beautiful-and-bizarre-things-to-buy-from-the-salvador-dali-watch-to-chikankari-embroidered-dress-111646830232660.html 111646830232660 story Dress circle: Chikankari-embroidered A-line Midi dress Chikankari-embroidered A-line Midi dress. Our pick from designer Anita Dongres Grassroot line, which is made in collaboration with independent artisans and NGOs across India. The clothes in this line draw their inspiration from the landscape of these artisan communitiesembroidered motifs of birds, flowers and leaves with a colour palette of natural dyes such as indigo, madder red and charcoal blackall rendered in contemporary summer silhouettes. At all Anita Dongre stores; Rs16,990. Serious toys: Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet Autobots, we are here and we are waiting." Now fans can issue this call to arms themselves with the Transformers Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet. It comes with 21 button-activated Transformers sounds and phrases. At major offline toy retailers; Rs6,999. Chic travel: Palmeira Reiteration Neck Pillow Palmeira Reiteration Neck Pillow. Add a little quirk to your travels this summer with repetitive Palmeira palm motifs on this neck pillow, by Krsnaa Mehta. The first physical store of his quirky label, India Circus, launched just last week. Indiacircus.com, or at India Circus, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai; Rs1,099. Wearable art: The Salvador Dali watch The Salvador Dali watch Bringing the American brand The Unemployed Philosophers Guild to India is the online store Ikka Dukka. Watch Dalis moustache spin as the hours go by. Wear Surrealism on your wrists. Ikkadukka.com; Rs3,900. Title tracking: A for Ajrakh: the A to Z of block printing Block printing. By Nina Sabnani, an illustrator and professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombays Industrial Design Centre, this book takes the alphabet route, offering nuggets on wearable art forms from around the world. Ages 10+ Tulikabooks.com; Rs265. The A to Z of block printing. Compiled by Komal Sharma and Vangmayi Parakala (Xinhua) 21:01, April 28, 2017 Liu Qibao (R), head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), shakes hands with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Athens, Greece, April 27, 2017. China and Greece have agreed here to boost cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan) ATHENS, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China and Greece have agreed here to boost cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative. China-Greece relations have sustained a healthy and stable development since the two countries established diplomatic relations 45 years ago, Chinese official Liu Qibao told Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Thursday. Liu, head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said China is willing to work with Greece to further deepen mutual political trust, mutually beneficial cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. China is also ready to make efforts with Greece to implement the Belt and Road Initiative, thus promoting the development of the China-Greece all-round strategic partnership, said Liu. The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road and maritime trading routes, bringing mutually beneficial economic outcomes for every nation involved. During the meeting, Liu introduced the new ideas and new strategies of national governance put forward by the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core. He said the CPC is willing to deepen communication with Tsipras' Syriza party on ideas of party and state governance in order to lay a solid foundation both politically and socially for the development of the two countries' relations. Tsipras said both the Greek government and the Syriza party attach great importance to developing relations with China and wish to take the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity to further advance bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, culture, science and technology, as well as tourism. Liu led a Chinese delegation for a visit to Greece from Tuesday to Friday at the invitation of the country's ruling Syriza party. During the visit, Liu also held talks with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, president of the New Democracy party, and participated in the launching ceremony of the "China-Greece Cultural Exchanges and Cultural Industry Cooperation Year" along with Greek Deputy Prime Minister Yiannis Dragasakis. At the ceremony, Liu oversaw the signing of two memoranda of understanding on film co-production and translation and the publication of classic and modern Greek and Chinese literary works. He also attended two exhibitions that opened at the inauguration, one featuring the cultural heritage of Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province, and the other showcasing the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics to be held in Beijing and Zhangjiakou. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 Trend: Armenia continues to carry out provocations in order to once again escalate the situation on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Apr. 28. On Apr. 27 evening, Armenian air defense units launched a guided missile from the Osa surface-to-air missile system in the Khojavand-Fuzuli direction of the front, which, without hitting any targets, fell onto an empty section in the territory under our control, the ministry said. During an inspection of the territory, the head part and other remaining parts of the 9M33 missile were found and seized, according to the ministry. A preliminary investigation concluded that the missiles that armed forces of Armenia have at their disposal are outdated and unfit for use, the ministry added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 By Seba Aghayeva Trend: The Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian foreign ministers Elmar Mammadyarov, Sergey Lavrov and Eduard Nalbandyan held a working meeting Apr. 28 in Moscow on the initiative of the Russian side, a diplomatic source told Trend. During the meeting, the ministers continued discussions on the prospects for the progress of the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts settlement and stressed the need to implement the agreements reached at the summits in Austrias Vienna and Russias St. Petersburg held in April and June 2016, according to the source. The Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers expressed gratitude to Russia for its efforts in promoting peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Mammadyarov, Lavrov and Nalbandyan agreed to continue contacts on all the issues discussed. Following the tripartite talks, the foreign ministers met with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and exchanged views on the state of affairs regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts settlement. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Researchers are studying whether amino acids could act as building blocks for life in alien environments, such as on Saturn's moon Enceladus. Astrobiologists are looking at amino acids and trying to figure out if these building blocks of life can be replicated on other planets. A team in Indiana is about to look at amino acids that have been extracted from meteorites, as well as those that were created in origin-of-life experiments that happened as long ago as the 1950s. The goal is to better identify what characteristics would make extraterrestrial life possible. The challenge, however, is the proteins an organism uses on Earth wouldn't necessarily be used in more exotic locations. "Our main goal with this research is to see if there are structural characteristics of some amino acids that lead to a higher stability in extraterrestrial conditions, and then to see what those characteristics might be," said Claire Mammoser, an undergraduate research assistant at Valparaiso University in Indiana who is working on the project. "Finding trends in amino acid stability would give us an idea of what sort of amino acids may have survived in outer space long enough to create life," Mammoser added. Her team has already analyzed 15 amino acids, some of which are found in life on Earth, and some that are not associated with life at all. They subject vials of the amino acids to extreme temperatures, radiation, acidity, and other items that simulate other environments in the solar system. Examples include Mars, which has a thin atmosphere and moderately high radiation, or Enceladus, a moon of Saturn that has no atmosphere and is famous for sprouting water geysers. RELATED: How Would NASA Search for Extraterrestrial Life on Enceladus? The team then determines how well the amino acid stays together or to what extent it breaks down. Over time, they are looking to find patterns for the stability of amino acids with several characteristics, such as the ability to bind with water an essential function of life. "This work is exciting for us because there is not a lot of previous work in this area," said Mammoser. "Often," she added, "we are privileged to work on extensions of existing areas of research which have been pioneered by great minds in the field, but this project has been different in that we have done a lot of the initial development ourselves. This is both a challenge and extremely exciting, because there is a sense that we are not just gathering data, but we are also making decisions about the best way to measure amino acid stability in our lab every day." Mammoser will present her results at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology annual meeting, which is being held this week in Chicago. Originally published on Seeker. National Monuments Sonoran Desert in California. (Image credit: Shutterstock) On April 26, President Donald Trump signed an executive order authorizing the review of national monuments designated since Jan. 1, 1996, providing those monuments are more than 100,000 acres in size or that were "made without adequate public outreach and coordination with relevant stakeholders," in the opinion of the Secretary of Interior, Ryan Zinke. Here are some of the monuments likely to come under review. Grand Canyon-Parashant, Arizona Grand Canyon-Parashant in Arizona. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument sits on the northern edge of the Grand Canyon. President Bill Clinton established this 1.05 million acre (420,875 ha) protected area in 2000. The monument is incredibly remote, with no paved roads, according to the National Parks Service. Bears Ears, Utah Bears Ears National Monument, Utah (Image credit: Shutterstock) Established in 2016 by President Barack Obama, Bears Ears in southeastern Utah is seen by conservatives in the state as evidence of federal overreach and is one of the most contentious monuments on Trump's review list. To conservationists as well as to five Native American tribes that co-manage the sandstone buttes and their surroundings, the monument protects a stunning natural area and more than 100,000 archaeological sites left by indigenous peoples. The monument is 1.4 million acres (547,074 ha) in size. Craters of the Moon, Idaho Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Idaho. (Image credit: Shutterstock) This alien landscape near Pocatello, Idaho, is the result of ancient volcanic eruptions that spilled lava over 618 square miles (1600 square kilometers). The monument was established in 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge and was enlarged by President Bill Clinton in 2000 to encompass more than 750,000 acres (303, 514 ha). Grand Staircase-Escalante, Utah Grand Staircase-Escalante (Image credit: Shutterstock) President Bill Clinton established Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in September 1996, raising the ire of Utah conservatives as well as supporters of a coal mine that the designation prevented from opening. The monument protects about 1.8 million acres (761,000 ha) of canyons and plateaus in southern Utah. Though this monument still provokes controversy, Congress codified its boundaries into law in 1998, so altering the monument may require more than a presidential decree. Giant Sequoia, California Giant Sequoia National Monument (Image credit: Shutterstock) Designated in 2000 by Bill Clinton, Giant Sequoia National Monument protects some of the world's largest trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum). The protected areas span 328,315 acres (132,864 ha). Canyons of the Ancients, Colorado Canyons of the Ancients in Colorado. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Canyon of the Ancients is a 176,056 acre (71,247 ha) national monument in Colorado dotted by thousands of ancient cliff dwellings and religious chambers called kivas used by ancestral Pueblo tribes. According to the Denver Post, there is little local opposition to the monument, and no evidence that its designation in 2000 has harmed the local economy. Hanford Reach, Washington Hanford Reach in Washington. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Bill Clinton established Hanford Reach along the Columbia River in 2000, transforming an area around a decommissioned nuclear site into a wildlife preserve. The monument spans about 195,000 acres (78,913 ha) and contains important spawning grounds for chinook salmon. Ironwood Forest, Arizona Ironwood Forest in Arizona. (Image credit: Shutterstock) A short drive from Tucson, Ironwood National Forest is almost 130,000 acres (52.609 ha) of protected Sonoran desert. According to the Bureau of Land Management, wildlife in the monument include mule deer and desert bighorn sheep. Bill Clinton established this monument in 2000. Vermillion Cliffs, Arizona Vermillion Cliffs in Arizona. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Northern Utah's Vermillion Cliffs National Monument features a stunning sedimentary landscape. It's also a site for California condor re-introduction. President Bill Clinton established the 293,000 acre (119,000 ha) preserve in 2000. Carrizo Plain, California Carrizo Plain in California. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Established in 2001 by Bill Clinton, this arid national monument blooms with a sea of colorful wildflowers in the spring. Part of California's Central Valley, this national monument spans approximately 204,000 acres (82,555 ha) of original habitat. Elk, pronghorn and predatory birds call the monument home. In the cold winter months of regions east of the Rocky Mountains, a strong, dry, warm wind sometimes blows from the mountains across the land. These winds, known as Chinook winds, can bring quick temperature changes. Chinook winds are named for the Chinook Native Americans who lived in the coastal regions of Washington and Oregon near the Columbia River, according to Chinook Nation. Winds similar to Chinook occur all over the world and are known by several local names. In the European Alps, they are called fohn winds, wrote Emma Quaile, a British scientist, in a 2001 article in the journal Weather. In central Asia, they are afganet; in the Andes of South America, these winds are called puelche; and in southern California, they are known as the Santa Ana winds. Rapid rise Chinook winds develop when warm, moist air blows from the Pacific Ocean in the northwest region of North America toward the Rocky Mountain range, according to Rocky Mountain National Park. The air mass cools as it climbs the mountains, bringing rain or snow to the peaks. The air mass, now dry after releasing its moisture in the mountains, warms as it moves down the eastern side of the mountains. The air mass warms rapidly, eventually becoming warmer and drier than the original air mass coming from over the Pacific Ocean. When the winds suddenly change direction toward the west or southwest, the Chinook winds begin with rapidly increasing speeds. Chinook winds can be as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 decrees Celsius) warmer than the air they displace, according to Indiana Public Media's Moment of Science. Temperatures rise approximately 5.5 degrees F per every thousand feet the air mass descends down the mountain. The gusts can also reach up to 80 mph (128 km/h) as the winds come down the mountains and pass over the plains. When the warm, dry, fast-moving Chinook winds pass over snow-covered areas, the snow often vaporizes before it has a chance to melt, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. According to the Weather Doctor, the winds can easily vaporize a foot of snow within hours. Because of this, chinook winds are often known as the "snow eaters." An extreme example of a Chinook wind was recorded in South Dakota in January 1943, according to Black Hills Weather. The recorded temperature at 7:30 a.m. was minus 4 F (minus 20 C) and when the Chinook winds began shortly after, the temperature increased 49 degrees F (7 degrees C) in just two minutes and by 9 a.m., when the Chinooks died down, residents were experiencing 54-degree (12 C) weather. When the winds died down, it took 27 minutes for the temperature to drop 58 degrees, back to where it was in the morning. Chinook wind mythology There are several legends about the origins of the Chinook winds. In one story, recorded by Ella E. Clark in Indian Legends of the Northern Rockies, Thunderbird punished the people who lived in her valley after a careless campfire destroyed all life there. She sent the cold Northeast Wind to drive the people from the valley. However, her daughters Crow, Magpie and Bluejay went with the people, and Thunderbird became lonely. So she asked the Northeast Wind to leave, and invited the Chinook Wind to warm the valley. Life returned, as did the people and Thunderbird's daughters. Thunderbird asked Bluejay what she could give to her to show her gratitude. "In the future, Dear Mother," Bluejay said, "do not get so angry. It is not right that the considerate people should suffer for the offenses of the careless." So, the Northeast Wind returns to the East Pass each winter to remind us to live a thoughtful life, but he always returns to his home when the Chinook Wind comes back to stay in the spring. Another story, from Myths and Legends of British North America and recorded by Katharine Berry Judson, involved two brothers, Fox and Hare, and their journey to bring warmer weather to their people who lived in very cold conditions. The brothers traveled south to the land where people lived in sunshine and warmth and they released the Chinook wind from a bag and it flowed to the land of the cold bring warmth and new life to the region. Effects of Chinook winds Chinook winds can also have a devastating effect on vegetation. Soil can lose its moisture and its mass as water and soil are carried away by the high-speed winds, according to Mountain Nature. Trees and other plants may wake up from their winter hibernations early only to become dehydrated if they survive the rapid temperature fluctuations. And while the Chinook winds can melt the snow, uncovering grass for grazing animals, they can also melt the insulation provided by the snow that is protecting hibernating animals, according to Mountain Nature. There have also been incidences of cattle coming down with illnesses, and some cattle have been electrocuted after wire fences became electrified due to strong positive electrical charges in the air. According to the Weather Doctor, fire risk increases with the Chinook winds because of the heat and arid conditions. The slightest spark can cause a major wild fire. Two fires in the same area around Boulder County, Colorado, burned 19 years apart and both were fueled by the Chinook winds, according to Boulder County. The first Olde Stage Fire in 1990, fanned by 80-mph winds, burned about 3,000 acres (1,214 hectares), destroying 15 buildings and damaging many others. The second Olde Stage Fire in 2009 also burned about 3,000 acres while being fueled by 60-mph winds. Several buildings were destroyed and many others threatened. Chinook winds and health Chinook winds have been blamed for increases in several medical conditions including migraines, strokes, and even sudden infant death syndrome. But the research has not resulted in clear evidence of a correlation. Migraines Several studies have attempted to correlate migraine occurrences with the Chinook winds. In a small study in 1992, published in the journal Headache, researchers analyzed the diaries of 13 migraine patients in Calgary, Alberta. The probability of migraines was slightly greater on days with Chinook weather than on days without Chinook wind, and older patients were more likely to get migraines on those days. In 2010, one of the authors of the Calgary study, W.J. Becker, discussed other studies in an article in the journal Cephalalgia. Becker noted that many studies have shown little to no statistical correlation. Becker, however, does think there may be a correlation but there is great difficulty in proving statistical correlations. Becker gives several reasons to support his claim, including multiple migraine triggers, a single versus several triggers leading to a migraine, weather related factors, and timing. The author wrote that migraine patients should first and foremost be listened to and that more research into understanding the various factors that could lead to migraines needs to occur. Strokes Several research teams have studied the relationship between strokes and the Chinook winds. One such study, by Canadian neurologists Thalia Field and Michael Hill, published in the journal Stroke in 2002, recorded data such as hourly wind, temperatures, humidity and barometric pressure over a five-year period and compared it to the number and types of strokes that occurred in Calgary. Although the authors didn't find a correlation between the number and type of strokes and the Chinook winds, they do discuss potential reasons that could affect the data, including other factors such as cigarette smoking, climate-controlled homes during cold winter months, people who did have a stroke that didn't go to the hospital or went to a different one, and the exact time of the onset of the stroke not being readily available to the authors. There were also potential biases due to negative studies not being published, according to the authors. Sudden infant death syndrome A study published in 1999 by Macey, Schluter, and Ford, pediatric doctors and researchers from New Zealand, in BMJ, focus their research on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and the Fohn winds in New Zealand. They relate their research to various places that experience similar wind phenomena around the world, such as the Chinook winds across the United States and Canada. The researchers looked at a 22-year period in which there were 646 known cases of SIDS in Christchurch. The authors concluded while there is evidence that SIDS may be connected to several environmental factors, the Fohn winds did not appear to be an additional cause. Additional resources Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 By Seba Aghayeva Trend: Armenia is fully responsible for the tensions on the contact line between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys Spokesman Hikmat Hajiyev told Trend Apr. 28. He was commenting on the anti-Azerbaijani statements of head of the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry. The recent tensions, which caused human losses, once again confirm the fragility of peace on the contact line between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, Hajiyev said. The presence of the Armenian Armed Forces in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is the main source of tensions and ceasefire violations, he noted. The leadership of Armenia avoids withdrawal of troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan as demanded by the UN Security Council resolutions, Hajiyev added. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. The views expressed here are personal; official LMS announcements are described as such. 'the English Latin Mass champion Joseph Shaw' (Ross Douthat) 'a Catholic academic with strong views not for those of a sensitive disposition ' (Tim Stanley) 'Shaw is an intellectual giant among the Tridentine rite communities.' (Mike Lewis) Follow me on Twitter: @LMSChairman Oxford Mass listings. 'Shaw is an intellectual giant among the Tridentine rite communities.' (Mike Lewis) Some of my author pages: ANAHEIM While the As wait to determine Sean Manaeas status, they got terrific news about another of their starters. Sonny Gray worked six scoreless innings in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Nashville on Thursday and appears on track to start for the As next week at Minnesota. Manaea, meantime, is something of a question mark after leaving Wednesday nights game after two innings because of shoulder tightness. He got treatment Thursday and said he felt better. The team will know more once Manaea plays catch Friday at Houston. The As have not scheduled an MRI exam, but Manaea said he had gotten some strength tests on the shoulder and there were no indications of trouble. The strength is there; its just a little tight, he said. With an off day Monday, the As could skip Manaea one time through the rotation, and Grays expected return gives the team even more flexibility when it comes to pushing back Manaea. Gray allowed two hits Thursday and struck out seven. He did not walk a batter. He threw 77 pitches, 54 for strikes, and according to Sounds radio announcer Jeff Hem, Grays fastball consistently registered 94 mph. New Orleans got just one batter past first base against Gray, who is from Nashville and still lives there in the offseason. I grew up coming to Sounds games. To wear this jersey was very cool, Gray said via the Sounds on Twitter. Everything kind of came full circle tonight. The most likely day Gray would start for Oakland is Tuesday, but given the teams off day Monday, he could get an extra day if needed. The 2015 All-Star has been out since early March with a lat strain. Briefly: Coach Mike Aldrete had a meting with the outfielders a day after poor throws allowed the Angels to take several extra bases. ... First baseman Matt Olson was optioned to Nashville to clear a roster spot for starter Kendall Graveman. Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. On deck Friday at Astros 5:10 p.m. NBCSCA Cotton (2-2) vs. Morton (1-2) Saturday at Astros 4:10 p.m. NBCSCA Triggs (3-1) vs. Musgrove (1-1) Sunday at Astros 11:10 a.m. NBCSCA Hahn (1-1) vs. Keuchel (4-0) Leading off Becoming an issue: Opposing runners are burning the As on the bases, successful in 20 of 24 stolen-base attempts, the most steals allowed in the AL. Oakland has only one catcher caught-stealing, tied for fewest in the league. Susan Slusser This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BART investigators have made their first arrest in connection with last Saturday evenings takeover robbery by dozens of juveniles who mobbed a train at Coliseum Station in Oakland, officials said Friday. The arrest of a male juvenile took place around 12:30 p.m. Friday, said Jeffrey Jennings, BARTs acting police chief. No details were released about where the arrest took place or where the suspect lives. More warrants for multiple identified suspects on the way, BART said in a tweet announcing the initial arrest. The arrest came a day after Jennings declared an rare state of emergency for his department in response to a rise in robberies and other crimes on BART. Such declarations have typically happened in the past during protests, not amid crime concerns. Under the declaration, BART officers must work mandatory overtime and cannot take discretionary time off. In the mob robbery, BART said, at least 40 juveniles jumped the fare gates and rushed aboard at least two cars of a Dublin-bound train at Coliseum Station shortly before 9:30 p.m. Some members of the group held doors open, stalling the train, while others ran through cars and some robbed and assaulted passengers. By the time BART police arrived, five minutes after the initial call for help from the station, the youths had already scattered. Overall, crime was up on BART by roughly 22 percent in the first three months of 2017 compared to the same period last year, Jennings told the BART board of directors on Thursday at an unusual evening meeting. Much of the spike involved the theft of cell phones and other electronic devices. The rise comes despite a drop so far in 2017 in car break-ins, as well as automobile and bicycle thefts, Jennings said. It also reverses three years of declining crime rates. John King is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron Rallies and protest events are a part of political life in the Bay Area. Heres a roundup of whats happening. Saturday Climate change marches: In Oakland, a march will begin at 11 a.m. at the Lake Merritt Amphitheater, between 12th Street and First Avenue. In Kentfield, a march will start at 11 a.m. at College of Marin, 1001 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. In San Rafael, a march will begin 11 a.m. outside San Rafael City Hall, 1400 Fifth Ave. In San Jose, a march starts at 10 a.m. outside City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St. For information on all marches: https://peoplesclimate.org Sunday Womens meeting: The second Womens Coalition meeting, hosted by Democratic Activists for Women Now, includes workshops on the democratic process and campaigns. The event is from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For information: www.facebook.com/events/1462614253810438 Monday May Day events: A Day Without Immigrants, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Justin Herman Plaza, Embarcadero Center in San Francisco. For information: www.facebook.com/events/1885901481694528. SEIU United Service Workers West is also calling for a May Day general workers strike. For information: www.facebook.com/events/1221437297933877. In San Francisco, a protest is planned for 8 a.m. outside Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 630 Sansome St. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union is holding a rally and march at 9 a.m. at 400 North Point St. in San Francisco. It will feed into a march at 11 a.m. from Justin Herman Plaza to the Civic Center, Market Street and Van Ness Avenue, in San Francisco. In Oakland, a labor and worker meet-up is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Fruitvale Plaza with a march scheduled for 4 p.m. to San Antonio Park., 1701 E. 19th St. May 6 Immigration event: Remembering the 135th Anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act and standing in opposition to President Trumps proposed travel ban. A rally will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Portsmouth Square, 733 Kearny St. in San Francisco. Contact Chinese for Affirmative Action: (415) 274-6750. Sanctuary cities discussion: A panel hosted by the Freedom Socialist Party Bay Area on how unions, religious groups and schools can defend immigrants. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the panel talk begins at 2 p.m. at New Valencia Hall, 747 Polk St. in San Francisco. For information, call (415) 864-1278 or email bafsp@earthlink.com. Health care film: Healthcare for Everybody will be screened from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Contra Costa Central Labor Council, 1333 Pine St., Suite E in Martinez. The event is free. May 7 Health care film: A screening of Now Is the Time, followed by a health care discussion on the proposed California proposition for a single-payer plan. The event is from 2 to 4 p.m. at the San Lorenzo Library, 395 Paseo Grande in San Lorenzo. For information, contact aruchlis@gmail.com President Trump signed an executive order Friday seeking to expand offshore oil and gas drilling, a move that triggered an immediate backlash in California, where wounds are still raw from past fights to protect the states coastal waters. Trumps action calls for the Department of the Interior to reconsider allowing energy development in areas that President Obama put off-limits, many of which have been taboo for decades. It also directs federal agencies to review restrictions in spots that recently won protection as national marine sanctuaries. While not naming California directly, the order means swaths of the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans that arent part of the federal governments oil leasing plan today could be added to the drilling docket. That includes waters near La Jolla, Malibu and Mendocino that have long been eyed by energy companies. Furthermore, sanctuary sites established within the past decade, including a 2015 addition to the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary off the Sonoma County coast, could lose their status. The order also makes it more difficult to establish new marine sanctuaries, complicating plans for the proposed Chumash Sanctuary offshore of San Luis Obispo County. It hasnt been, really, since the 1980s that weve had any realistic threat of new drilling in California up until now, said Richard Charter, a Bodega Bay resident and senior fellow at the Ocean Foundation, a marine conservation group. The Trump administration has really touched a nerve here, said Charter, who has battled drilling efforts for decades. The first sound that youre going to hear is every lawyer who has ever worked on this opening up their briefcase. The presidents executive action is the latest effort to rewrite Obamas environmental policies, following an announcement earlier in the week of a similar review of protections for the countrys national monuments. At a White House briefing Friday, Trump billed the America First Offshore Energy Executive Order as critical for the economy and national defense. Renewed offshore energy production will reduce the cost of energy, create countless new jobs and make America more secure and far more energy independent, Trump said. The administration maintains that too much of the nations outer continental shelf, about 94 percent, is out of bounds for energy companies. The oil industry agrees, and widely praised the executive order. Developing our abundant offshore energy resources is a critical part of a robust, forward-looking energy policy that will secure our nations energy future and strengthen the U.S. energy renaissance, said Jack Gerard, president and chief executive of the American Petroleum Institute, a trade association representing oil and gas interests. In California, more than two dozen oil rigs operate off the coast, all in the southern half of the state, though no new drilling has commenced since the 1980s. The state in 1969 banned new oil leases within 3 miles of the coast, where the state has jurisdiction, and the federal government has not issued a new lease in the federal waters off California since 1984. While the process for approving new leases is arduous, lawmakers and environmentalists in the West are taking the threat seriously, pledging not only to fight attempts to undo protections but also to add more of them. State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, who represents an area where a 1969 oil spill helped propel the modern environmental movement, said Friday that shell introduce legislation next week to outlaw new drilling infrastructure. Although the state doesnt have a say over federal waters, her bill would prohibit California agencies like the State Lands Commission from approving new pipelines or piers needed to bring oil ashore. President Trump and his oil cronies may want to drill, Jackson said, but we are going to prevent that from being feasible. Meanwhile, 27 U.S. senators, including California Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, penned a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke asking him to respect the federal governments current five-year plan for selling oil leases. Before leaving office, Obama narrowed the areas where the government would allow drilling through 2022, removing chunks of ocean along the southeast Atlantic coast and in the Arctic. Waters off the California coast have long been excluded from the leasing plan, at the demand of Congress. The U.S. senators opposing Trumps order fear that more oil leases would not only heighten the risk of a major spill but contribute to global warming. This issue was settled, Feinstein said in an email to The Chronicle. Coastal communities made it clear they dont want offshore drilling. The presidents executive order ignores those concerns and the real threat of climate change to give oil and gas companies access to new areas that they do not need. Issuing a new drilling lease, should the administration decide to move forward, would likely take at least two years and involve significant environmental study and public hearings, if not a prolonged legal battle. Besides calling for a review of the leasing plan, Trumps order appears to target Obamas permanent ban on drilling in the Arctics Beaufort and Chukchi seas. The former president tapped the obscure Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953 last year to safeguard the Alaskan coast, and legal experts say its unclear whether the current administration has unilateral authority to undo the protections. The executive order also directs the Interior Department to re-examine safety regulations for oil platforms drawn up in the wake of the devastating 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. For marine sanctuaries, Trumps action calls on federal agencies to review all of the sanctuaries created or expanded in the past 10 years, assessing their potential to produce energy or minerals, and report back in six months. No new sanctuaries can be created without similar review. While the oil industry may be enthusiastic about the presidents order, oil prices remain relatively low and companies may choose to continue meeting consumer demand through less expensive means, like fracking, instead of setting their sights offshore, experts say. However, they might see a timely opportunity to secure ocean-drilling leases for the future. Franz Matzner, director of the Natural Resources Defense Councils Beyond Oil Initiative, said the sale of oil leases may find its biggest opponent in the public. When you ask Americans what they prefer, they prefer investments like solar and wind, Matzner said. This is an unprecedented assault on the very concept of responsible management of our public lands. Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital has received the Texas Award for Performance Excellence from the Quality Texas Foundation. "We are honored to be among the select group of organizations to achieve this distinction from the Quality Texas Foundation," said Heath Rushing, senior vice president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Katy. RELATED: Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital expands heart and vascular services The Quality Texas Foundation's evaluation process includes hundreds of hours of on-site visits to evaluate applicants. "This award is no small achievement," Mac McGuire, CEO of the Quality Texas Foundation said. "It's not about a particular test, or one day evaluation. It is a critical look at both the processes and results shown by Memorial Hermann Katy, in accordance with the Baldrige Criteria. Those who receive the TAPE award have a proven record of excellence." The Baldrige Excellence Framework is used by organizations to improve and excel in their industries. The award brings Memorial Hermann Katy closer to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which was awarded to Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital in 2016. A San Antonio towing operation this week filed for bankruptcy, the second one in less than three months to seek refuge from creditors. Auto Inc. CEO Mick Stine attributed the Chapter 11 filing to rising insurance costs caused by a shrinking pool of insurers writing policies for commercial towing companies. Auto Inc. does business as Auto Towing Inc., among other names. The case follows the February Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware of United Road Towing Inc., the nations largest towing company, which two years ago won a four-year, $8.8 million contract from the city of San Antonio. Under the contract, Illinois-based United Road Towing manages subcontractors that do the actual towing of disabled or abandoned vehicles and cars involved in crimes, the San Antonio Express-News reported in 2015. Auto Towing, which also operates in Dallas and Colorado Springs, listed assets of less than $50,000 and liabilities ranging from $1 million to $10 million in its petition. The company pulled out of Houston in October. There is a real insurance problem in the industry today, Stine said in a phone interview Friday. Progressive pulled out of the industry in late September, and when they did, a lot of (other) insurers went with them. As a result, Stine said, insurance rates have surged 300 percent or more in some cases making it prohibitively expensive to insure his companys fleet of trucks. The company is in the process of reducing its fleet from 123 trucks to 40, Stine said. Its San Antonio fleet shrank to 10 from 28 trucks. Theres no way to pay for them if you cant run them, Stine said. We just became a little bit leaner company. Auto Towing provides roadside assistance for AAA, major insurers and others. It does not do any towaways or repossessions, he added. Fitch Ratings in November reported that the commercial auto insurance market is a chronic underperforming line over the last five years due to past price inadequacy and adverse claims experience, in part because of an increase in large individual losses. Fitch is a subsidiary of Hearst, the parent company of the San Antonio Express-News. Progressive continues to insure existing customers but is not writing any new business for towing companies, the Insurance Journal reported in February. A Progressive spokesman couldnt immediately be reached for comment. United Road Towing, meanwhile, reported assets of about $6.8 million and liabilities of $39.2 million in a court filing last month. Affiliated companies also filed their own schedules. The company was sold in a bankruptcy auction to one of its lenders, New York-based Medley Capital Corp., for $40 million, court records show. The court approved the sale two weeks ago. The sale doesnt impact the contract with the city, City Attorney Andrew Segovia said Friday. Michael Bernard, a former city attorney, represents Texas Towing, one of United Road Towings local subcontractors, in the Illinois companys bankruptcy case. So far, with my client, nothing has changed, he said. pdanner@express-news.net Twitter: @AlamoPD This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Re/Max Inner Loop Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Re/Max Inner Loop Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Re/Max Inner Loop is getting a second home in the Houston Heights area. The new office will house the first Texas location of Motto Mortgage, a national mortgage broker franchise. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 Trend: The Embassy of Hungary has made a 100,000-euro donation to the Partnership for Peace Trust Fund Project for the clearance of unexploded ordnance in Azerbaijans Jeyranchel, the embassy told Trend Apr. 28. The donation was accredited on the account of NATO Support and Procurement Agency on April 20, 2017. During the meeting of the Partnership and Cooperative Security Committee in the NATO Headquarters, Turkey as the leading country in the 3rd phase of the Jeyranchel Project and Azerbaijan as the beneficiary country expressed their gratitude to the Hungarian government, according to the embassy. The Hungarian Embassy in Baku is implementing the functions of a NATO Liaison Office starting from January 2017. There is a military ground of the former Soviet army on the territory of Jeyranchel, located near the state border between Azerbaijan and Georgia. There are a large number of mines and unexploded ordnance on the territory. The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) conducts the clearance operation on the territory. NEW YORK - Now, about that door, the towering black one that dominates the set of "A Doll's House, Part 2," Lucas Hnath's sizzling postfeminist sequel to the 1879 Ibsen drama that revealed to the world that bourgeois married women needed to be freed from the pedestals they were lashed to by their controlling husbands. When Laurie Metcalf appears at that momentous threshold, in the stomach-clenching new Broadway play that opened Thursday night at the Golden Theatre, you're instantly taken back to the climactic moment of the earlier work, when Nora Helmer, walking out that same door, figuratively casts off the collar that has tethered her to a marriage and the subordination she can no longer abide. Well, Nora's back after all, looking wealthy and confident and, in Metcalf's captivating turn, still bristling with righteous anger over the plight of the women of her time. (Her nimbly conceived backstory won't be disclosed here.) What she hasn't counted on, though, are the profound and surprising effects her 15-year absence have had on those she abandoned: her husband, Torvald (Chris Cooper); her daughter, Emmy (Condola Rashad) and the nanny, Anne Marie (Jayne Houdyshell), who was left to raise Emmy and her brothers. For Hnath - in the breakthrough play that the theater world has been waiting for from him, after the thoughtful but rather static "Red Speedo" and "The Christians" - the door is placed authentically at the precipice of a wholly satisfying part two. This fast-moving play could so easily have lapsed into superficial theater games. This never occurs. The playwright works out with uncanny antennae an aftermath for each of the characters that one comes to see as solidly plausible. This is due in part to a playwright's provocative, funny and, ultimately, generous consideration of the implications of Nora's actions and to a director, Sam Gold, who has helped each of the actors home in with psychological marksmanship on the core motivations of their characters. At times, the indignation directed at Nora does seem to weight "A Doll's House, Part 2 against her. In a series of sequences - introduced by Peter Nigrini's projections, emblazoning a character's name on Miriam Buether's spare set of Helmer's foyer - Nora is repeatedly forced into a defensive crouch. (A posture adorned beautifully, by the way, in a dress by costume designer David Zinn.) A decade and a half have passed without a single word to the family from Nora: "Better for silence," she declares. "A wound has to be allowed to heal." No one else sees it that way, and the cruelty of her desertion invites harsh condemnations by the others, especially by Torvald and Anne Marie. Cooper and Houdyshell are exceptional in the confrontation scenes with Nora, Cooper persuasively embodying a Torvald who has been rocked but also humbled by Nora's abandonment. Houdyshell is just as good, forcefully dismissing Nora's rationalizations with a bitter account of the surrogate maternal role Nora's disappearance forced her into. The evening's most remarkable scene, though, reunites Nora with Rashad's grown-up, self-assured Emmy - who has no memory of her mother and, to Nora's shock, holds a philosophy about marriage that's anathema to her mother. You hear in their fascinating, plain-spoken exchange, beautifully conveyed by both actresses, permutations of a contemporary conversation, about the ramifications of feminism and what the sacrifices of an older generation have meant, and not meant, to a younger one. The incidental anachronisms, in props and language, bolster the connection to circumstances today. Hnath ultimately allows us to believe that even an iconoclast as single-minded as Nora is capable of learning from what she has lost. In Metcalf, one of the great stage actresses of our time, he and Gold have found an ideal vessel for conveying Nora's capacity for growth and fearlessness. "A Doll's House, Part 2 demonstrates just how imposing is that big doorway Nora walked through once upon a time, and the guts it takes to keep walking through it, again and again. - - - A Doll's House, Part 2, by Lucas Hnath. Directed by Sam Gold. Set, Miriam Buether; costumes, David Zinn; lighting, Jennifer Tipton; sound, Leon Rothenberg; projections, Peter Nigrini; production stage manager, J. Jason Daunter. About 90 minutes. Tickets, $39-$147. At Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St, New York. Visit telecharge.com or call 212-239-6200. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 Trend: Hungarys Ambassador to Azerbaijan Imre Laszloczki highly appreciates the Baku Shopping Festival being held in the Azerbaijani capital. According to the interview posted on the official website of the Festival (www.bakushopfest.com), Laszloczki said that the event is very well organized, colorful and funny, with an interesting program. The diplomat added that every year more tourists come from Hungary to Azerbaijan to attend various events, including the shopping festival. The Baku Shopping Festival started April 10 and will last until May 10. The shopping festival is being held with organizational support of the Azerbaijan Convention Bureau under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate All Points of Sail Kayak and Canoe Rental: Minutes from Armand Bayou, rentals include kayaks, canoes, paddles and life jackets. 2517 NASA Parkway, Suite 7, 281-532-1518; lets-go-sailing.net. Hours: 9 a.m.-dark. Cost varies. SE Armand Bayou Paddling Trail: Not for the faint of heart, this trail follows Armand Bayou from near its confluence with Clear Lake, upstream through the Armand Bayou Nature Center to Horsepen Bayou, where alligators in excess of 10 feet can be seen. Clear Lake Park Road at NASA Parkway, Seabrook; tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/paddlingtrails/coastal/armand_bayou. SE Artist Boat Guided Paddling Tours: Staff of certified kayak instructors takes participants to scenic spots in Houston and Galveston via kayak, identifying native species, teaching watercolor techniques, assisting with developing paddling skills and interpreting natural processes. 409-770-0722; artistboat.org/calendar-2.html. Find schedule at kayak.destinationnext.com. Cost: $50 per person for three-hour and four-hour adventures, $25 for two-hour adventures. SE Bayou City Adventures: Offers kayak and canoe rentals ($30-$45), and tours 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. The Houston Skyline tour is roughly 3.5 hours and stretches 7.65 miles from Woodway Memorial Park to Sabine Street near downtown. 713-538-7433; bayoucityadventures.org. Hours: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. every second and fourth Saturday and Sunday of the month. Cost: $50. Inner Loop Buffalo Bayou Paddling Trail: Bring your own vessel to navigate the waters of Buffalo Bayou from west Houston, Memorial Park or Buffalo Bayou Park at multiple entry points; buffalobayou.org/visit. Hours: 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily, rain or shine. Inner Loop Greater Houston Rowing Club: Provides facilities, equipment and training for all levels of rowing ability. 15910 Creek Bend, Sugar Land, 832-868-8144; greaterhoustonrowingclub.com. Memberships from $60 for six months. Call for program times. SW Houston Association of Sea Kayakers: Paddle trips on lakes, bayous, rivers, in the bay, in surf and on open water. Training Club meetings every other month near downtown. 12601 Boheme, 713-444-3315; hask.org. Hours vary; membership form online. SW Houston Canoe Club: Aims to bring together fans of whitewater, flat water, touring, racing and stand-up paddling to paddle the bayous, lakes, rivers, streams and Gulf shores of Texas and around the United States. Weekly meetings held Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet; houstoncanoeclub.org. Visit website for contact information. SW Houston Heat Dragon Boat Club: Comprised dragon-boat paddlers training for local, national and international competitions. houstonheat.org. Annual memberships are $200. Visit website to fill out contact form with questions and to view events calendar. Kayak and paddleboarding on Kinder Lake: Leisure paddling around the lake at Discovery Green park downtown. 1500 McKinney, 713-400-7336; discoverygreen.com/kayak-sup. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends, March 18-June 26. Cost: kayak rides $5, paddleboards $10. Inner Loop Lake Houston Rowing: Offers affordable rowing classes to residents of Atascocita, Huffman, Humble and Kingwood. 10602 FM 1960 E., Huffman, 201-803-7454; lakehoustonrowing.com. Call for program schedule and pricing. NE North Lake Conroe Paddling Co.: Kayak rentals for individuals and small- to medium-size groups. NLCPC has its own lakefront property for easy put-ins. 13988 Calvary, Willis, 936-203-2697; northlakeconroepaddlingco.com. Hours: by appointment. Cost: $25-45 for two hours. N Riva Row Boathouse: Paddle around The Woodlands Waterway. 281-210-3965; thewoodlandstx.com/rivarowboathouse. Summer hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Thu.-Tue. Nonsummer hours: 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Thu.-Mon. Cost: single kayaks $15 for first hour. Tandem kayaks $20 for first hour, $5 per additional hour. N Rowing Club of The Woodlands: Offers recreational, intermediate and elite rowing opportunities for rowers and competitors of all abilities. 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands, 832-510-7609; woodlandsrowing.org. Hours: 3-6 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 8-11 a.m. Sat., 8-10 a.m. Sun. Call or fill out online form for membership information. N Southwest PaddleSports: All rentals include paddles and PFD (life jacket). Sit-on-tops include seat backs. Fishing kayaks have rod holders (anchors and trolley are available). 26322 Interstate 45, The Woodlands, 281-292-5600; paddlesports.com. Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Cost: varies, depending on rental. Check website for regular paddling and kayaking class and tour dates. N Spring Creek Greenway: Precinct 4 offers launches at Collins Park, Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center and Pundt Park for those interested in canoeing/kayaking Spring or Cypress Creeks and associated waterways. hcp4.net/Community/Parks/CanoeKayak. Reservations can be made for weekday and weekend trips 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Fri. NW Trail Expeditions: An online source for Texas kayak tours and state-of the-art kayak and camping gear. Buffalo Bayou and Armand Bayou kayak tours. 713-364-6298; trailexpeditions.com/store/kayaktours.html. See website for schedule. Cost: $75-$85. Inner Loop DR. RIZWAN ALIMOHAMMAD Background: Born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, he graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in biology and from Ross University School of Medicine on the Caribbean island nation of Dominica, continued his training at Albany Medical Center in internal medicine and cardiology training and completed it in Richmond, Va., in cardiac electrophysiology. He is a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Capital Cardiology Associates in Albany. He and his wife, Lubbna, who is a pediatrician in Latham, live in Clifton Park with their three children, Sophia, 8, Hasan, 3, and Husain, 17 months, and with his parents. You came to America as a student. In my school years, I was equally interested in electrical engineering and medicine. I decided to go to college in the United States so I could explore my options and pick a career path. Today I feel blessed that I practice and encounter aspects of electrical engineering and medicine as a cardiologist and electrophysiologist. You are a member of the congregation of the Shia Imami Ismaili Jamatkhana in Colonie. What does it mean to be Shia Ismaili Muslim? The Ismailis are a culturally diverse community in over 25 countries. We adhere to a 1,400-year tradition of Shi'a Ismaili values expressed through a commitment to a search for knowledge for the betterment of self and society. We embrace pluralism by building bridges of peace and understanding and by sharing our time, talents and material resources to improve the quality of life of the community and those among whom we live. The Ismailis are united in their spiritual allegiance to His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary imam and a descendant of Prophet Muhammad. He has stressed the role of the intellect in faith and has promoted an understanding of Islam that draws on the values of generosity, tolerance, pluralism, forgiveness, stewardship of God's creation and the unity of our shared humanity. As a senior volunteer in your congregation, what are your responsibilities? I oversee the daily functioning of the Jamatkhana, our place of worship on Central Avenue where we rent space in an office building. My responsibilities include officiating the rites and ceremonies and providing pastoral care to the congregation of about 120 people. The members hold a profound sense of social responsibility. It is reflected in the tradition of voluntary service by Ismalilis of all ages rendered through community organizations and through civil society institutions that benefit all. Service to the community and society is an ethic supported by Ismailis of all ages. I-CERV, the Ismaili Community Engaged in Responsible Volunteering, supports neighborhood park beautification projects and participates in festivals and community service engagements like Earth Day. I just came back from Pakistan doing charity procedures in Indus Hospital Karachi where I implanted pacemakers free of cost to the patients. The Aga Khan leads a global outreach. His Highness lives in France and is the founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, a contemporary manifestation of the Ismaili Imamat's institutional effort to improve quality of life across multiple areas of human endeavor. The AKDN's group of development agencies' mandates include the environment, health, education, architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalization of historic cities. Its agencies conduct their programs without regard to faith, origin or gender. The AKDN is present in 30 countries, employs more than 80,000 people and has a network of more than 200 schools, two universities, hundreds of medical clinics and several hospitals, financial institutions, and other agencies that work in the areas of economic and social development and culture. The Aga Khan University was founded in 1983 and is unique as an institution of academic excellence that is also an agent for social development. AKU is an independent research university. Its overall mandate is to promote the welfare of the people of Pakistan and other developing countries. There are campuses in Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom. Quality education and merit are a trampoline for social development and the improvement in quality of life. AKU has 13,000 alumni with over two-thirds being women graduates. How do you find time to volunteer with your work as a physician and your family obligations? Volunteerism for me is an opportunity to actualize the values of my faith. All members of my family are actively involved in community service. In Ismailism, voluntary service to others is viewed as an integral and positive part of daily life, not a burdened obligation. Service means inclusiveness, compassion, respect, and sharing. The act of service is not limited to my community involvement but also infused into my career and my interactions with all individuals on a daily basis. Even my children perform volunteer tasks at our Jamatkhana such as serving water, collecting and looking after coats and participating in the daily services. These activities require no professional knowledge, but have introduced, at an early age, the spirit of volunteerism which I hope will become a part of their value system as they become contributors to the greater American society. Azra Haqqie This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Local media has reported that 17 target subjects are identified in the search and seizure warrant that the FBI executed Wednesday at City Hall as part of a public corruption probe. FBI spokeswoman Michelle Lee said she could not comment on what a target subject is. Those identified in the warrant include: A day after FBI agents took over City Hall on Wednesday, asking employees to step away from their desks when they arrived in the morning and collecting documents through the evening, city business resumed as usual on Thursday. But it was not quite usual. News of public corruption in Laredo and Webb County spread quickly across the state Wednesday. Four city buildings, four county offices and several Dannenbaum Engineering offices around Texas were closed as FBI conducted an investigation. The investigation appears to focus on Dannenbaum Engineering. The firm has taken on high-profile contracts in Laredo. READ MORE: 9 things to know about the FBI raids in Laredo No arrests have been made, but this was a discouraging day, Mayor Pete Saenz said. Late Wednesday, LareDOS published a story listing the target subjects. It is apparent that this is an ongoing investigation, and any further comments at this time would be inappropriate, said Councilman Perez in a statement to Laredo Morning Times on Thursday. I would like to thank all city staff for their full cooperation during this time. We continue to encourage full cooperation and transparency. Narvaez, former councilman who termed-out in 2016, said that if the FBI wants to speak to him, hes open to it. As elected officials we took action on some of those contracts, he said. Im assuming some time in the future theyll ask me about my vote. Raymond, state representative, issued a statement to local media Thursday afternoon. I will assist them with any request and encourage others to do the same. I continue to work in the Legislature in Austin and both our offices at the Capitol and district remain open to serve our constituency, Raymond said in the statement. Vela, a councilman who was unseated in November, added, In my four years as a council member, I was obviously very aggressive and brought a lot of projects forward for many different companies and Im proud of every single one of those and they helped moved Laredo forward whether transportation or quality of life projects and Im still proud of the four years I put in. Olivares, who has been city manager since 2015, said the city is prepared to work with the FBI. We have everything that is available, he said. We dont have anything to hide and well provide everything that were asked for we dont have any issues with that. Councilman Torres, who took office in January, said, Its very broad and we dont know any specifics. They do specify that it is an investigation from Jan. 1, 2013 to the present, so what Im thinking is that theyre going back to former council members, and Ive been in office for four months. At the end of the day we continue to do our jobs and business as usual. Amaya, Balli, Juan Johnny Narvaez and Gonzalez could not be reached comment. The search The warrant calls for the search of any documents related to city or county dealings with Dannenbaum Engineering, as well as emails, computers, bank records, physical keys and locks, documents relating to domestic and international travel, income tax returns and records of city policies or policies of any other government agency that uses their databases. On Thursday morning, acting City of Laredo spokeswoman Blasita Lopez said there was not much ado about the search itself. RELATED: Photos: FBI agents raid offices, government buildings across Texas in statewide probe FBI agents worked from the bottom to the top of City Hall, telling employees to exit their work areas and go to the first floor, Lopez said. There, Deputy City Manager Cynthia Collazo asked that all department directors stay in the building along with anyone who would possibly know where specific records are filed. Other employees were asked to leave. They came in looking for specific items, Lopez said. The FBI didnt want the employees who stayed going in and out of the building, Lopez said, so agents brought everyone Little Caesars Pizza for lunch. Dannenbaum Dannenbaum Engineering has had several high-dollar infrastructure contracts with the city and county. The company is currently under a $2.4 million contract with the county for their work on the extension of Loop 20. In December 2014, Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz contested a $1 million-plus contract that City Council awarded to Dannenbaum Engineering. He said the city selected the firm without posting a request for others to submit their proposals for the design of a 24-inch water line from El Pico/Mines Road connection to Hachar Loop northern boundary line. Saenz tried exercising his veto power to rescind the prior City Council action to award the contract to Dannenbaum. But a majority of council members voted to overrule his veto. RELATED: Laredo mayor calls FBI raids 'embarrassing' Council members agreed, however, to direct the internal auditor to prepare a report concerning contracts awarded to engineering/architectural firms over the past five years. In an interview Thursday, Saenz said the city auditors department had not gotten to this audit, and is working on it now. At a meeting on April 11, Councilwoman Nelly Vielma requested a report by the internal auditor, Veronica Baeza, regarding current contractors insurance, bond, lapses and tax delinquencies with the city. Saenz said he is placing an item on Mondays City Council agenda on the status of the FBIs investigations, what impact it will have on operations and how it will impact the traditional roles that we have with each other. The mayor said he also wants to hire outside council to work on this investigation. LMT reporters Andrea Castaneda and Cesar G. Rodriguez contributed to this report. The Laredo Police Department is looking for four women suspected of stealing $1,000 worth of cologne from a Steinmart in west Laredo. LPD posted images of the four women on their Facebook page Friday afternoon to seek the public's help. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 By Samir Ali Trend: The Baku Court on Grave Crimes held a hearing on the criminal case regarding Marat Ueldanov, the Russian citizen of Armenian origin, who was arrested in Baku, Trends correspondent reported from the session. Following the proceedings held under the chairmanship of judge Samir Aliyev, Ueldanov was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment. Ueldanov was arrested July 28, 2016 in Azerbaijan on charges under Article 234 of the Criminal Code (illegal acquisition, production, storage and distribution of narcotic drugs on a large scale). Grass-roots activists in Prince George's County, Maryland, are trying to draft former Rep. Donna F. Edwards to run for county executive, a chance for the progressive populist to return to public life after a bitter defeat in the U.S. Senate primary last spring. Edwards, who drew the backing of national women's groups in her unsuccessful bid to become the first black woman in the Senate from Maryland, declined to comment on her plans for 2018. But county activists say she has been meeting with political operatives and gauging public support since returning in mid-April from a months-long road trip across the country. Edwards's supporters plan to launch the draft effort next week. Organizers pointed to what they said is a growing dissatisfaction with the current political leadership in the heavily Democratic county, including outgoing County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, who is term-limited and is weighing a run for governor. "There's definitely a strong feeling that there is a prevailing establishment power structure that has a grip on Prince George's that impedes progressive policy that can really help working people in this county and make their lives better," said Larry Stafford, executive director of Progressive Maryland, a coalition of civic organizations. Most of the political power brokers in Prince George's are tentatively backing State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks for the Democratic nomination to be county executive, which in Prince George's is tantamount to winning the election. Longtime state Sen. C. Anthony Muse, who is close to Edwards and has his own deep base of political support, has also been considering a run - one factor that could dissuade Edwards from getting into the race. But the opportunity to compete against Alsobrooks and challenge the political status quo would likely be appealing to Edwards, a maverick who made it to Congress by ousting a longtime incumbent she said had grown out of touch with his constituents. At the same time, it is not clear whether Edwards would want the local governing responsibilities inherent in the county executive's job - a huge change from her role during four terms in Congress. Todd Eberly, an associate professor of political science at St. Mary's College, said the former congresswoman might consider it "wonderful revenge" against party leaders who embraced then-Rep. Chris Van Hollen instead of her during the Senate primary. "In Prince George's, you've got one of the largest counties in the state, an incredibly influential county, so I can't really think of a reason why this wouldn't be of interest," Eberly said. "If she has interest in being a governor, that's the route you take." Although Muse has been in Annapolis since 2007, he is known for his independence from the Democratic leadership there and would also likely try to claim the outsider label. "Muse is the only one who has built his career on standing up to the establishment," said Wayne Clarke, a veteran political operative who is close to the senator. Edwards has a national profile based on her leadership roles on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, backing from progressive groups including Emily's List and frequent bookings on cable news shows. She won nearly twice as many Prince George's County votes in the Senate primary as Van Hollen, who nevertheless won the nomination and went on to capture the Senate seat. Stung by the Democrats' loss of the White House last year, progressives nationwide are vying for greater influence within a party they argue is out of touch with working people and corrupted by the influence of money in political campaigns. The same dynamics are playing out on the local level, said Suchitra Balachandran, a leader in the Prince George's chapter of Our Revolution. She and others supporting the effort to draft Edwards say developers, not residents, have too much sway over county politics. "Our elected officials are often not accountable to the people," said Balachandran, pointing to a successful developer-backed effort last fall to add two at-large seats to the County Council. Balachandran opposed the measure, as did Edwards. "Donna Edwards is an activist at heart, and she addresses fundamental issues that are good for the people," Balachandran said. Alsobrooks, who backed the proposal for two more council seats, is popular with party leaders as well as voters, who elected her to two terms. She has more than $500,000 in her campaign account, compared with Edwards, who has $300 in a federal account. Edwards does not have a campaign finance entity listed on the state database. Community activist Zeno St. Cyr disagreed with Edwards backers who are trying to label Alsobrooks as part of the establishment. "She has demonstrated that she is her own person who will be guided by her own principles and integrity," he said. "Just look at her record and judge her on the merits." Alsobrooks was the only state's attorney in Maryland to publicly oppose a bill sponsored by Muse to revive the state's cash-bail program. The legislation was denounced by progressives who had worked for years to eliminate bail for poor defendants. It passed in the Senate but died in the House. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Washington The senior U.S. Navy officer overseeing military operations in the Pacific said Thursday that the crisis with North Korea is at the worst point he's ever seen, but he declined to compare the situation to the Cuban missile crisis decades ago. "It's real," Adm. Harry Harris Jr., commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Harris said he has no doubt that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un intends to fulfill his pursuit of a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the United States. The admiral acknowledged there's uncertainty within U.S. intelligence agencies over how far along North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are. But Harris said it's not a matter of if but when. "There is no doubt in my mind," Harris said. The Trump administration has declared that all options, including a targeted military strike, are on the table to block North Korea from carrying out threats against the United States and its allies in the region. But a pre-emptive attack isn't likely, U.S. officials have said, and the administration is pursuing a strategy of putting pressure on Pyongyang with assistance from China, North Korea's main trading partner and the country's economic lifeline. With international support, the Trump administration said Thursday it wants to exert a "burst" of economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea that yields results within months to push the communist government to change course from developing nuclear weapons. Susan Thornton, the acting top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, said there's debate about whether Pyongyang is willing to give up its weapons programs. She said the U.S. wants "to test that hypothesis to the maximum extent we can" for a peaceful resolution. But signaling that military action remains possible, Thornton told an event hosted by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies a Washington think tank that has advocated tougher U.S. policies on Iran and North Korea that the administration treats North Korea as its primary security challenge and is serious that "all options are on the table." "We are not seeking regime change and our preference is to resolve this problem peacefully," Thornton said, "but we are not leaving anything off the table." After weeks of unusually blunt military threats, President Donald Trump's national security team briefed lawmakers Wednesday on North Korea's advancing nuclear capabilities that served to tamp down talk of military action amid alarm over Pyongyang's atomic and missile testing. A joint statement from the agency heads made no specific mention of military options, though it said the U.S. would defend itself and friends. Harris told the committee that the financial sanctions imposed against the North Korean regime by the U.S. and other countries have done nothing to slow North Korea's quest for weapons of mass destruction. He also said he's been skeptical of China's willingness to exert its influence over North Korea and convince Pyongyang to pull back from the brink. But Harris said he's become "cautiously optimistic" following recent talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "It's only been a month or so and it's too early to tell," Harris said. "I wouldn't bet my farm on it." Harris said North Korea's pursuit of an atomic arsenal and the long-range missiles to deliver nuclear weapons comes at the expense of the North Korean people, who are isolated and forced to live with a lifeless economy. "In confronting the North Korean threat, it is critical that the U.S. be guided by a strong sense of resolve both publicly and privately in order to bring Kim Jong-Un to his senses, not his knees," Harris said. A group of American warships led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is in striking range of North Korea "if the president were to call on it," Harris told the committee. There are about 28,500 U.S. military personnel serving in South Korea. All 100 U.S. senators signed a letter Thursday asking U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres to address what the lawmakers call entrenched bias against Israel at the world body. The unanimous message notes that the United States is the largest contributor to the United Nations, but does not threaten the withholding of U.S. dues. Still, it uses strong language to insist that the United Nations rectify what the senators said is unequal treatment of Israel on human rights and other grounds. "Through words and actions, we urge you to ensure that Israel is treated neither better nor worse than any other U.N. member in good standing," the letter said. The letter, which will be released publicly on Friday, was obtained by The Washington Post. "As both the U.N.'s principal founding member and its largest contributor, the United States should insist on reform," the letter read. "We are deeply committed to international leadership and to advancing respect for human rights. But continued targeting of Israel by the U.N. Human Rights Council and other U.N. entities is unacceptable." The senators asked Guterres, who assumed leadership of the U.N. in January, to seek such institutional changes as the removal of a standing agenda item for U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees sessions that has been used as a forum to denounce Israel. The senators also want a change to the rules for membership on the human rights panel to broaden participation beyond what U.S. officials have said is often a narrow and self-interested group of countries. The unusual unanimity expands on the fierce denunciation of U.N. treatment of Israel mounted by Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, this year. The letter praises Haley for that effort, which she has said is intended to show that the United States will not "put up with" the bashing of its close ally. The United States has long been Israel's chief defender at the United Nations, including regularly vetoing measures at the Security Council that were critical of Israel. In December, the lame duck Obama administration chose to abstain on such a resolution, allowing it to pass. The measure addressed Jewish home building in the occupied West Bank, and the U.S. action was a sign of President Barack Obama's deep frustration with what he saw as Israeli action that threatened an eventual peace deal. The Trump administration opposes the measure and has been highly critical of the previous administration's action. It cannot be quickly reversed, however. The Senate letter reflects what the letter's authors, Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Chris Coons, D-Del., said are encouraging signs that Guterres may be willing to change some U.N. procedures that Israel and the United States say amount to discrimination. Guterres yanked and disavowed a U.N. report last month likening Israel's treatment of Palestinians to apartheid. His spokesman said the report had been published without Guterres' permission. "If you continue to build on your recent action, we stand ready to work with you to eliminate the organization's anti-Israel bias, and to fight anti-Semitism in all its forms," the senators wrote. On Sunday, Guterres told a pro-Israel audience that he cannot police all anti-Israel bias at the U.N., but he said Israel should not be singled out for special scrutiny. "A modern form of anti-Semitism is the denial of the right of the State of Israel to exist," the news service JTA quoted Guterres as saying at a meeting of the World Jewish Congress. "As secretary-general of the United Nations, I can say that the State of Israel needs to be treated as any other state, with exactly the same rules." "We're glad every single senator decided to sign onto this letter," Rubio spokesman Matt Wolking said. "That doesn't happen often." The letter comes ahead of the first meeting between President Donald Trump and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who will visit the White house next week. "Since it is rare for all 100 Senators to agree on an issue, this letter sends a powerful bipartisan message to the UN that its anti-Israel bias must end," said Marshall Wittmann, spokesman for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. It was a bad week for reports on freedom of the media in Russia. On Wednesday, Reporters Without Borders released its 2017 world press freedom index. Russia came in at 148, after such bastions of independent media as South Sudan and Thailand. On Thursday, a Ukrainian human rights delegation briefed the Helsinki Commission on the case of Oleg Sentsov - a Ukrainian filmmaker imprisoned in a Siberian penal colony for his opposition to the annexation of Crimea - and abuses of Ukrainian journalists and creative professionals more broadly. On Friday, Freedom House unveiled its Freedom of the Press 2017 report. That report gives Russia partial credit for the world's 13-year low in press freedom. "Vladimir Putin's regime in Russia has been a trailblazer in globalizing state propaganda. It continues to leverage pro-Kremlin reporting around the world," the report states. The three taken in tandem tell a story - one in which violence against journalists in Russia and the region is connected to violence against journalism around the world. Consider the case of Oleg Sentsov. In 2015, Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in prison for planning terrorist attacks in Crimea. In his trial, he said he had been tortured. The international human rights community believes this to have been payback for the filmmaker's outspoken stance against the annexation of Crimea (it is also worth noting that Russia treated Sentsov, a Ukrainian, as though he were a Russian citizen; after the annexation of Crimea, Russia considered all who did not explicitly apply for Ukrainian citizenship to be Russian, to which Sentsov objected in court by saying, "I am not a serf to be transferred with the land"). Russian-backed media reported it as a terrorism case. And so the case contains both the physical threat that looms over journalists and creative types who fail to parrot the party line and also the threat that Russian state-backed media can pose to understanding in the wider world. "Many people perceive [Russian state-backed media] not as propaganda, but as an alternative point of view," Natalya Kaplan, Sentsov's cousin, told Foreign Policy in an interview before heading to the Helsinki Commission briefing. "They tend to trust what Russian propaganda says." In the case of Sentsov, that means some outside of Russia (to say nothing of those in it) thought he was neither filmmaker nor terrorist, but some combination of the two. Americans can no longer tell the difference between actual fake news and fake fake news, Ukrainian PEN member Halya Coynash told FP. "The thing is that you really think the media and information you get from Russian media, it is media. Which is wrong. We have state media, and state media are part of [the] strategy of [the state]," said Mustafa Nayyem, journalist turned Ukrainian member of parliament. Alternative facts are not facts, and false equivalences are not equivalent. But consumers of Russian state-backed media around the globe can be duped into treating them as such, Nayyem said. He argued Russia presents reality and a bold-faced lie as though they are but two different perspectives, the truth of which lies somewhere in the middle, for viewers to decide for themselves. "We know that [Sentsov] never was involved in some attacks, or in some revolution, in terroristic things. He's a filmmaker, and his movies are recognized internationally. The lie is that this guy was a terrorist, and no one even tried to understand the basis of this [accusation] . . . There is guy: a filmmaker, and a terrorist. What is true? They think that maybe he's some filmmaker-terrorist. It's insane." Nayyem ardently believes those who want to protect freedom of media and speech need to build up conventions regulating what are accepted as media outlets and news. But there's a thin line between banning propaganda and furthering censorship and repression. Russia's independent Dozhd (TV Rain), for example, was recently banned in Ukraine for reporting that Crimea is part of Russia. "Recent democratic gains have bolstered media freedom overall," the Freedom House report states, "but restrictions on Russian outlets and attempts to foster 'patriotic' reporting raise questions about the government's commitment to media autonomy." And besides, even Ukrainians, more prepared for Russian media influence than their western counterparts, are not entirely immune. "The Russian media are much better funded" than their Ukrainian counterparts, Kaplan said, and it takes time and resources to counter reports put out by the Russian state-backed media machine. "Even my Ukrainian friends who live in Kiev, after watching two hours of Russian TV, start to question themselves. 'Am I a fascist?'" Kaplan does not, at present, see much reason for optimism. While it was a bad week for reports on the state of Russian media, it was inevitably a much worse week for those trying to correct or improve it. "Journalism in Russia is dead. It happened quite a while ago," Kaplan said. "There are small islands of freedom of speech in Russia," she said, but they aren't on TV, and they aren't available to those who don't know how to access certain sites. Besides, she said, the sophisticated propaganda machine will figure out how to move onto the internet, too. "Russian journalists face the biggest challenge. Their job is simply to survive." Hanging in the air is the idea that, at present, surviving is actually journalism's job, too. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 Trend: Azerbaijans Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov is on an official visit in the Turkish city of Antalya. Asadov was invited as an honorary guest by Turkeys Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Faruk Celik, to take part in the first meeting of agriculture ministers of Turkey and African countries, and the business forum, to be held in Antalya on Apr. 27-28. The role of rural development in ensuring food security, as well as prospects for cooperation of private sector representatives, attracting foreign investments in the countrys economy to ensure sustainable and continuous development of the agrarian sector are the topics of discussion at the event. Meanwhile, an exchange of views will also be held in order to bring to a high level the cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey and African countries in the field of agriculture. WASHINGTON - Despite pressure from the White House, House GOP leaders determined Thursday night that they didn't have the votes to pass a rewrite of the Affordable Care Act and would not seek to put their proposal on the floor on Friday. A late push to act on health care had threatened the bipartisan deal to keep the government open for one week while lawmakers crafted a longer-term spending deal. Now, members are likely to approve the short-term spending bill when it comes to the floor and keep the government open past midnight on Friday. The failure of Republicans to unite behind the new health-care measure was a blow to White House officials, who were eager to see a vote ahead of President Donald Trump's 100-day mark. Congressional leaders were more focused this week on securing a spending agreement, according to multiple people involved in the discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to talk publicly. It was also evidence of just how divided Republicans are about how to overhaul Obamacare, despite seven years of GOP promises to repeal and replace the 2010 law. Conservatives and moderates have repeatedly clashed over the contours of such a revamp, most sharply over bringing down insurance premiums in exchange for limiting the kind of coverage that is required to be offered. As many as 15 or so House Republicans have publicly said they will not support the latest GOP proposal, which was crafted among the White House, the hard-line House Freedom Caucus and a leading moderate lawmaker. That leaves House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and the White House an incredibly narrow path for passage. The speaker can lose only 22 Republicans on a health-care vote because Democrats have fiercely opposed any attempt to repeal the ACA. Exiting a roughly 90-minute meeting in Ryan's office late Thursday night, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said there would be no health-care vote Friday and that the main focus of the impromptu huddle was to ensure that the leadership had the votes to pass the one-week funding bill. "We are not voting on health-care tomorrow," McCarthy said Thursday, denying that leaders had ever wanted to vote by Friday. "We're still educating members," McCarthy said, adding: "We've been making great progress. As soon as we have the votes, we'll vote on it." Trump weighed in on the spending negotiations on Thursday, tweeting that Democrats wanted to shut down the government to "bail out insurance companies." "As families prepare for summer vacations in our National Parks - Democrats threaten to close them and shut down the government. Terrible!" Trump tweeted. But the failure to make progress on health care is a good sign for smooth passage of the government funding bill - at least the version that will keep the government's lights on through May 5. Lawmakers are still finishing negotiations on a longer-term spending deal to fund the government through September. Republicans have stated that they need Democratic support to pass that measure, which they expect to consider next week. The Senate stands ready to approve the one-week spending bill, but only once the broader spending agreement is complete. Senators in both parties told reporters they were instructed not to leave Washington on Thursday night. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., on Thursday blocked a measure to allow the Senate to approve the stopgap budget without a formal vote. He has indicated that he will drop his objections once he is assured that a long-term budget agreement is in place, according to Senate Democratic aides. "Instead of rushing through health care," Schumer told reporters, "they first ought to get the government funded for a full year - plain and simple." The White House tried to jump-start talks on health care after House Republicans failed to pass a previous attempt at an ACA rewrite at the end of March. But Democrats fiercely oppose any effort to repeal the ACA and threatened to pull their support from the short-term bill if Republicans moved forward with that effort. "If Republicans pursue this partisan path of forcing Americans to pay more for less and destabilizing our county's health-care system," said House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., then "Republicans should be prepared to [keep the government open] on their own." House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told a meeting of Democratic whips on Thursday that she had called Ryan and told him there were two conditions for Democratic support of the short-term funding bill, according to aides in the room. Democrats would only sign off on the emergency spending measure to allow lawmakers time to pass the longer-term spending deal, and they would not back the measure if doing so would allow Ryan time to set up a vote on a GOP rewrite of the Affordable Care Act. The sudden turmoil was yet another sign of Congress's inability to meet deadlines for its most basic function: keeping the government's lights on. And it presages fights among Congress, the White House and both parties over spending priorities, despite the one-party rule that gave some observers hope that the gridlock would cease. But it was Republicans who this week jettisoned money for Trump's border wall because of widespread agreement that it should not be tied to the spending deal. Trump has also agreed to pay the cost-sharing subsidies for low-income people who get their insurance under the ACA - something he threatened to withhold if he did not get money for the wall. Ryan on Thursday also blamed Democrats for "dragging their feet" on negotiations in an apparent preparation toblame Democrats if their deal falls through. "I would be shocked if they would want to see a government shutdown, that the Democrats would want to do that," Ryan told reporters at his weekly press briefing. "The reason this government funding bill is not ready is because Democrats have been dragging their feet." The standoff is the first in what could be several budget battles between Congress and the White House this year. Trump has called for massive hikes to defense spending and harsh cuts to domestic agencies in his 2018 budget, a proposal that many Republicans have rejected out of hand. He is also likely to revive calls for money to begin constructing the border wall - which by some estimates would cost as much as $21 billion - in future budget negotiations. Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., were forced to negotiate with Democratson the budgetafter it became clear that Republicans lacked enough votes to pass a long-term spending bill on their own. As a result, the GOP leaders have had the uncomfortable task of writing a measure that ignores nearly all of Trump's priorities, including money for the border wall. Schumer also sought to refocus blame on the GOP, arguing that the only thing standing in the way of a long-term agreement was Trump himself. Congressional leaders were nearing a final deal several weeks ago, but the talks were derailed when Office of Management and budget director Mick Mulvaney announced that Trump would demand that money for the border wall be included in the funding bill. "Unfortunately the president stood in the way for quite a long time," Schumer said. "That's why we're a little delayed." Congressional leaders had hoped to finalize a spending deal by midweek, but the talks were stuck on a small number of unrelated policy provisions, known as riders. Democrats complained that GOP leaders were trying to use the spending bill to cut abortion access and scale back Wall Street reforms passed under President Barack Obama. - - - The Washington Post's Robert Costa contributed to this report. - - - Video: Will the federal government avoid a shutdown? The federal government will shut down unless Congress passes a bill by midnight on April 28. The Fix's Amber Phillips explains why a government shutdown is unlikely this time. (Peter Stevenson / The Washington Post) Short URL: http://wapo.st/2oNb9oV Embed code: The leaders of the United States, Canada and Mexico on Wednesday agreed to proceed swiftly with procedures to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. However, U.S. President Donald Trump's equivocal attitude has kept open the possibility of a U.S. withdrawal from the deal depending on the development of the negotiations. Many Japanese companies are operating in Canada and Mexico on the assumption that the NAFTA framework, in which tariffs among member nations are eliminated, will continue. The companies may be forced to review their North American strategies depending on the outcome of renegotiations, which will start as early as August. On Wednesday, Trump held telephone talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to inform them he will not immediately pull out of the NAFTA deal. The leaders then agreed to start renegotiations. Meanwhile, Trump wrote on his Twitter account the following day, "[After the negotiation] if we do not reach a fair deal for all, we will then terminate NAFTA." Trump's criticism of NAFTA - that the deal caused employment among U.S. citizens to drop and U.S. manufacturing businesses to decline - has begun to affect corporate activities, including causing postponements in the building of plants in Mexico. Trump is believed to have backed a renegotiation because he wanted to resolve the issue quickly in light of the Mexican presidential election scheduled for 2018. The talks between the United States and Mexico are expected to be key in the renegotiations. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, the U.S. trade deficit in goods with Mexico was about $63.1 billion (about 7 trillion yen) in 2016. The majority of high-value U.S. imports such as automobiles, electronic parts and machinery are believed to have been produced in Mexico, where labor costs are low. The decision of the leaders of the three countries to start renegotiations has also prompted Japanese companies to pay close attention to possible developments. Nissan Motor Co. manufactured 850,000 units in Mexico in 2016, and exported 400,000 of them to the United States and Canada. Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. have plants in Mexico and Canada, and many of their vehicles are exported to the United States. A source related to a major automaker said, "[The U.S. withdrawal] is not just a plan; it's becoming more real." The same is the case with auto parts makers. JFE Steel Corp. formed a joint venture company with a major U.S. steelmaker, and plans to build a new factory in central Mexico. "We will need to reconsider the situation if our business partners [such as automakers] are affected. But for now we'll just keep a close eye on the situation," said Shinichi Okada, executive vice president of JFE Holdings Inc., the parent company of the joint venture firm, at a press conference on Thursday. WASHINGTON - Immigrants and their advocates will demonstrate in Washington and across the country on Monday to demand an end to President Donald Trump's push to deport millions of immigrants and build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Up to 150 businesses in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia are expected to close, according to CASA executive director Gustavo Torres, as immigrants stay home from work and people gather in Dupont Circle and Malcolm X Park for separate marches that will converge in front of the White House. May 1 marches are held annually to mark International Workers' Day and to support immigrant rights. This year marks the first under Trump, who assailed illegal immigration during the campaign and swiftly ramped up enforcement after he took office in January. This year's march is called "Rise Up," and labor, faith and immigrant rights organizations said they will call on the GOP-controlled Congress to block funding for Trump's "deportation machinery," including the border wall and the deportations of the 11 million immigrants in the United States illegally. Organizers said shops and businesses will shutter and marchers will flood the streets in dozens of cities nationwide, including New York and Los Angeles. The permit application that leaders of the D.C. effort submitted to the National Park Service said up to 5,000 people could gather at Lafayette Square, across from the White House. On Friday, about 30 protesters accompanied by a mariachi troupe temporarily blocked the escalators leading to the Metro at Union Station and urged commuters to join them in the demonstrations on Monday. Some commuters grew angry and pushed through, but others hugged protesters in support. "We want to be able to disrupt the way that D.C. has been disrupting immigrant families, not only for the last three months, but for the last 15 years," said Maria Fernanda Cabello, a 26-year-old immigrant from Mexico and spokeswoman for Cosecha, the grass-roots organization that led Friday's protest. "We know that at the end of the day, the only way we will win is if the people all organize together." Besides street marches, plans for Monday also include teach-ins to show immigrants their rights if they are arrested and work stoppages on farms and at colleges and universities, said Kica Matos, a spokeswoman for the Fair Immigration Reform Movement, the largest network of immigrant rights organizations in the United States and a lead organizer of the events. Facebook, Google and the city of Seattle have all told employees they are free to take the day off to protest. All told, Matos said, they plan 149 events in 125 cities and 35 states, and one overseas in Vienna. Activists held a Day Without Immigrants strike in February after Trump took office and issued a battery of executive orders that ordered the government to arrest undocumented immigrants, punish "sanctuary cities" that shield immigrants from deportation and bar travelers from certain Muslim-majority nations. Some key aspects of those orders have been temporarily blocked. Trump's supporters worry that he is backing down from a pledge to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, which the president denies. On Thursday, a handful of people, led by a Fairfax County (Virginia) teenager, held signs in front of the White House to urge the president to keep his promise. "Build the wall," the teenager, who declined to give his name, shouted as the president departed an event at the Veterans Affairs office near Lafayette Square. "Your supporters need a wall." Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Apr. 28 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: An OSCE-organized training course on security procedures at aviation checkpoints and analyzing X-ray images for aviation security and law-enforcement personnel has concluded in Ashgabat, the OSCE said in a message. The practical training course brought together 19 officials from the Aviation Security Service of Turkmenistan Airlines, the Transport Police of the Interior Ministry, the State Border Service and the State Customs Service. The nine-day course, which took place in the premises of the Aviation School of Turkmenistan Airlines, explored the operation of modern X-ray machines, and advanced methods of screening passengers and baggage at airport checkpoints. The experts also presented the up-to-date international regulations regarding aviation security. Natalya Drozd, head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, said that the OSCE participating states share the objective of achieving a more efficient and effective aviation security system, adding that the event aimed at supporting Turkmenistans efforts in this area. This training course is a successful continuation of our Centres assistance to the host country in the field of combating terrorism, protecting infrastructure security and improving procedures of border management, she said. The importance of enhancing security of international airports in Turkmenistan and well-trained personnel cannot be overemphasized, in particular when an exceptionally increased number of passengers are expected for the upcoming 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. The practical exercises of the course focused on checkpoint security searches and the skills of interpreting X-ray images and recognizing prohibited items, firearms and explosive devices. The course included a train-the-trainer component that will build the participants capacities to subsequently train their colleagues by sharing the acquired knowledge and skills. The future trainers exchanged views on training techniques, instructor training design and the development of training materials. As part of the project activities, the Centre provided training software which will develop the skills of officials in analyzing X-ray images while screening passengers luggage. UNITED NATIONS - Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called Friday for new economic sanctions on North Korea and other "painful" measures over its nuclear weapons program, as the Trump administration warned that it would take military action if diplomacy failed. "Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences," Tillerson said during an unusual high-level session of the U.N. Security Council called to review what the Trump administration calls its most dire national security concern. "The more we bide our time, the sooner we will run out of it." Tillerson's push at a special session of the Security Council came as the Trump administration said it is willing to bargain directly with North Korea over ending its nuclear weapons program, but under strict conditions that make talks unlikely anytime soon. Ahead of the diplomatic effort at the United Nations, President Donald Trump said direct conflict is possible. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump told Reuters in an interview this week. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically, but it's very difficult." Hours after the U.N. meeting, North Korea fired another missile early Saturday local time, but it exploded within seconds of being launched, American and South Korean defense officials said. "The missile did not leave North Korean territory," U.S. Pacific Command spokesman Cmdr. Dave Benham said in a statement. The launch underscored North Korea's determination to show its defiance of international pressure. Trump took to Twitter to reiterate his expectation that Chinese President Xi Jinping will use his leverage to make North Korea stop its weapons activities. "North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!" Trump tweeted. In the most-detailed explanation to date of the Trump administration's emerging policy for dealing with North Korea, Tillerson told the Security Council on Friday that U.S. urgency is driven by the current nuclear threat to allies South Korea and Japan as well as the likelihood that North Korea will soon be able to strike the United States. "All options for responding to future provocation must remain on the table. Diplomatic and financial levers of power will be backed up by a willingness to counteract North Korean aggression with military action if necessary," Tillerson said. "We much prefer a negotiated solution to this problem," he added. "But we are committed to defending ourselves and our allies against North Korean aggression." The effect of both Trump's and Tillerson's remarks is to present a willingness to negotiate with North Korea that surprised and pleased diplomats the United States needs for any new joint effort at the United Nations or elsewhere. At the same time, the administration reiterated that it would act alone if necessary. At issue is North Korea's simultaneous effort to perfect a nuclear warhead that could be delivered far from its shores and to develop missiles with a range long enough to be a threat to the United States. Analysts think North Korea, if undeterred, could have that capability within a few years - likely during Trump's first term in office. North Korea already possesses missiles able to threaten U.S. allies South Korea and Japan, as well as other Asian neighbors. The top U.S. diplomat said new economic penalties should come on top of scrupulous enforcement of existing sanctions, and he was bluntly critical of nations that look the other way as North Korea tries to evade the heavy yoke of sanctions the Security Council has already applied. He asked for a halt to imports from North Korea, especially shipments of coal, and an end to a guest-worker program that provides cheap labor for other countries and earns hard currency for Pyongyang. Tillerson also asked other countries to suspend or downgrade diplomatic relations with the communist state, alleging that the regime of Kim Jong Un abuses diplomatic privileges to support illicit missile and nuclear programs. In blunt terms, Tillerson said North Korea is unlikely to give up its weapons or change its bellicose behavior under current sanctions and diplomatic condemnations. He said new economic penalties are necessary, as well as more vigorous enforcement of existing sanctions that he said North Korea has found ways to evade. "I urge this council to act before North Korea does," Tillerson said. "We must work together to adopt a new approach and impose increased diplomatic and economic pressure on the North Korean regime." In a clear warning to North Korean ally China, Tillerson said nations that help North Korea evade sanctions "discredit this body." Tillerson noted that China accounts for 90 percent of North Korea's foreign trade, giving it unique economic leverage. He said the United States and China have had productive discussions about North Korea, and the new U.S. willingness to negotiate with North Korea is partly in deference to China's long insistence that the only way to lessen tension is through direct talks. "The United States also would much prefer countries and people in question own up to their lapses and correct their behavior themselves, but we will not hesitate to sanction third-country entities and individuals" that help North Korea go around sanctions, Tillerson said. Although the council did not vote on new sanctions or other measures Friday, the Trump administration hoped for a show of force, with the full council, including China, Russia and the United States, uniting to air concerns about North Korea's behavior. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the council that diplomacy is not hopeless, and he said China cannot be expected to rein in North Korea on its own. "The state of affairs on the Korean Peninsula is not caused by any single party, nor is it reasonable to ask any party to take sole responsibility," Wang said via an interpreter. "We call upon all parties, especially those directly concerned - DPRK and the U.S. - to demonstrate sincerity for dialogue and restart dialogue," Wang said, using the abbreviation for the North's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "China will be open to all useful proposals from the parties." U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who joined Tillerson and foreign ministers from countries that sit on the decision-making council, condemned what he called North Korea's repeated violations of the body's resolutions over nuclear and missile testing and development. "I am alarmed by the risk of a military escalation in the region, including by miscalculation or misunderstanding," Guterres said. The U.N. Security Council session Friday comes at a particularly tense time in relations between North Korea and the United States, with the Trump administration sending warships to the region in a show of force against Kim's regime. This week, North Korea conducted large-scale artillery drills, showing off conventional weaponry that can easily reach South Korea's capital, Seoul, the center of a metropolitan region of about 25 million people. A North Korean propaganda outlet released a video clip Thursday showing a simulated attack on the White House and declaring that the ability to destroy the United States "is in our sights." "North Korea must understand that respect will never follow recklessness," Tillerson said Friday. "North Korea must take concrete steps to reduce the threat that its illegal weapons programs pose to the United States and our allies before we can consider talks." The last round of direct talks, initiated in 2003 and involving the United States, China and other nations, produced no rollback of the North Korean program. Last month, during his first trip to South Korea, Japan and China as secretary, Tillerson declared that the "era of strategic patience" that included those talks was over and that "all options" were on the table. Trump has been urging China to pressure North Korea and has warned that his administration will act if Beijing does not. China supports talks and has long argued that although it also wants to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons, it cannot persuade the country to give them up without direct assurances from the United States. Tillerson offered some Friday, telling the council that the United States is not seeking "regime change" to topple the Kim dynasty. - - - The Washington Post's Anna Fifield in Tokyo contributed to this report. --- Tillerson: We must be willing to face the hard truths about North Korea http://wapo.st/2oT77vx WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will appoint Charmaine Yoest, one of the nation's most prominent antiabortion activists, to a high-level post in the Health and Human Services department. Yoest, a former Reagan administration official who until last year was president of Americans United for Life, will serve as assistant secretary of public affairs. In that position, she will help develop a communications strategy for the sprawling agency that includes Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act and family planning programs. During her nearly eight years at the helm of AUL, the organization was pivotal in pushing Republican-led states to enact restrictions on abortion in the name of women's safety. The organization developed model legislation to require women to undergo ultrasounds before obtaining the procedure and to cut off government funding to Planned Parenthood, among other actions. Yoest was one of Trump's most outspoken supporters during the 2016 presidential campaign, helping to shore up his reputation with social conservatives. She serves as a senior fellow at American Values, a conservative nonprofit that opposes abortion rights and supports "traditional marriage." The appointment was greeted with cheers from antiabortion groups, which praised the choice as evidence that Trump was making good on his promise to promote pro-life causes, despite previously supporting abortion rights. In a statement, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, called Yoest one of the movement's most powerful communicators and lauded her "groundbreaking efforts to advance pro-life, pro-woman legislation at the state level." "This is a new era for the pro-life movement and our fight to protect unborn children and their mothers from the horror of abortion," Dannenfelser said. Abortion rights groups expressed concern in equal measure. "Charmaine Yoest has spoken at length about her desire to ban abortion in this country and has spent her career working to abolish women's most basic constitutional right to bodily autonomy," Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said in a statement. Yoest, a breast cancer survivor and mother of five who lives in Virginia, holds a PhD in government from the University of Virginia. She has been an outspoken proponent of the view that abortion is harmful to women and that regulations on abortion clinics are necessary to protect women's safety. Abortion-rights groups have accused Yoest of using those points to conceal her ultimate agenda: to undermine women's access to abortion. Based on AUL's model bills, states have imposed such strict regulations that abortion clinics in Texas and elsewhere have closed. The organization also has championed laws requiring that aborted fetuses be buried or cremated rather than disposed of like medical waste. In an interview with The Washington Post last year, Yoest said her belief that abortion is wrong does not preclude her from also caring about women. Those who accuse her of feigning support for women are trying to muzzle her movement, she said. "Why could we not care about how women are being hurt in abortion clinics and still be pro-life?" she asked. "It's designed to shut our voices down." The Washington Post first-edition Page 1 for Friday, April 28, 2017: NOTE: ALABAMA-EDUCATION becomes ALABAMA-SCHOOLS-1STLD Top of the page: Cols. 1-5: President Donald Trump was set to announce a pullout from NAFTA on the 100th day of his presidency, but he's been persuaded to reconsider. (NAFTA). Upcoming. Col. 6: House Republicans introduce one-week spending bill to continue budget talks. (SPENDING-1STLD). Moved; will be led. Above the fold: Cols. 1-5: New tariffs threaten livelihoods in Quesnel, Canada, which is so reliant on U.S. trade that it flies an American flag at its visitors center. (US-CANADA). Upcoming. At the fold: Col. 6: A federal judge's ruling that allows a predominantly white Alabama city to separate from its more diverse school district is stoking new debate about the fate of desegregation initiatives. (ALABAMA-SCHOOLS-1STLD). Moved; one photo and one video. Below the fold: Cols. 1-2: Breitbart sees potential to expand in Europe amid French, German elections. (BREITBART-EUROPE). Upcoming. Cols. 3-5: Stand-alone of Capitals playoff game. Bottom of page: Keys to inside stories. Sent: 7:25 p.m. ET Washington Post News Service with Bloomberg News Details added (first version posted on 11:23) Baku, Azerbaijan, April 28 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev viewed construction progress at a carbamide plant in Sumgayit Apr. 28. SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev, director of the plant Khayal Jafarov and project manager on behalf of Samsung Engineering Han-su Kim informed the president of the construction work. The foundation of the plant was laid by the president of Azerbaijan in December, 2011. Samsung Engineering Co. Ltd won an international open tender to provide engineering, procurement, construction and pre-commissioning services for the plant. The plant will have a capacity to produce 1,200 tons of ammonia per day and 2,000 tons of urea per day. The president was also informed of the project to build a gas supply system under Sumgayit industrial zone development plan. President Aliyev toured the plant and viewed construction progress. The project involves a 3,200-strong workforce, including 3,100 Azerbaijani citizens. The plant will create up to 400 permanent jobs. The total cost of the project is 750 million euros. The plant will play a key role in strengthening Azerbaijan`s economy, increasing the country`s export potential and boosting its non-oil sector. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 28 Trend: Azer Turk Bank introduced new offer as part of its salary cards project. The Bank is ready to offer its clients MasterCard Debet payment card and it is not all. The cost of this card will differ from previously used Maestro cards and be more favorable. The Bank offers new payment cards to its clients-users of Maestro cards under the same conditions, but at lower prices. New MasterCard Debet card unlike Maestro card is widely functional and offers unlimited cash and non-cash transactions in all countries, where the payment system operates. Azer Turk Bank gives an opportunity to its salary card holders to withdraw cash from any banks ATMs located in Azerbaijan without paying any commission. A 65-year-old man was arrested Thursday afternoon possessing $20,000 in stolen goods that he was selling at a West Side flea market, police said. Ramon Rodriguez was charged with organized retail theft for running his operation out of the Alamo Marketplace, 7171 West U.S. Highway 90, according to the San Antonio Police Department. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A couple in a stolen car wounded by a shotgun blast Thursday night made a detour on the way to a hospital for a chocolate milk break, police said. John Carlos Alvear, 31, and Cassandra Dolo Talamantez, 23, were arrested on unrelated warrants in the shooting that occurred in the 1600 block of West Olmos Drive, according to preliminary information from a San Antonio police report. At about 8:30 p.m., Talamantez knocked on the doors and windows of a home until a 26-year-old resident walked out of the house armed with a shotgun, police said. RELATED: Man threatens to set himself on fire as SWAT approaches Police at the scene said the two knew each other, and the report stated that the resident told Talmantez to leave the home. As she walked toward a white Dodge Charger, the driver pointed a pistol at the homeowner and racked the slide, police said. Out of fear for his life, the homeowner fired his shotgun at least three times at the Charger, investigators said in the report. Alvear was hit in the chest and right hand while Talamantez was hit in her right thigh, and the Charger sped away from the scene, police said. RELATED: S.A. man accused of raping relative after giving her whisky Alvear drove to a store in the 1000 block of Vance Jackson where he drank chocolate milk then ran back to the Charger, where Talamantez was waiting, investigators said. When they arrived at TEXSAN Methodist Hospital, 6700 IH 10 West, Alvear walked inside leaving Talamantez in the car, according to the report. Hospital staff retrieved her moments later, police said. The two were later transported to University Hospital because of their injuries. Investigators noted in the report the Charger had been reported stolen on April 10. A large amount of stolen property was discovered inside as well, police said. The two were eventually listed as stable after surgery and booked on their respective warrants, according to police. Alvear was arrested for family violence, while Talamantez was booked on a warrant for possession of a controlled substance. jbeltran@express-news.net Twitter: @JBfromSA Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Apr. 28 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmenistan is building a new seaport on the Caspian Sea in the Turkmen city of Garabogaz, the countrys Deputy Prime Minister for Industry Batyr Ereshov said at a government meeting Apr. 28. Chemical products are planned to be exported through the new seaport, the Turkmen Dovlet Habarlary state news service reported citing the PM. The construction of a modern port facility in Garabogaz in the place of the old one is envisaged by a large-scale project for building here a chemical plant for production of 1,155,000 tons of carbamide per year, said the news service. With commissioning of the facility, the manufactured products will be exported by sea. This project is being carried out by a consortium of the Japanese and Turkish companies Mitsubishi Corporation and Gap Insaat Yatirim ve Dis Ticaret A.S. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN - Some 200 ministers, rabbis and other religious leaders wrote to select House members Thursday asking them to support policies that treat lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Texans on an equal basis with other people. The letter went to lawmakers including members of the House State Affairs Committee, which is considering legislation that would restrict the restrooms transgender people can use. The religious leaders didnt confine their message to the bathroom bill, although they cited it among other legislation. Our faith compels us to oppose anti-transgender legislation (bathroom bills), discriminatory laws masquerading as religious freedom, or any other attempts to treat Texas LGBT community as second-class citizens, said the letter from Texas Believes, which according to its website is a project of the Texas Freedom Network and Equality Texas. The Texas Freedom Network describes itself as a watchdog of far-right issues and a defender of individual liberties. Equality Texas works for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Texans, We will continue to speak out against all attempts to use religion to demonize, discriminate against or bring harm to our LGBT sisters and brothers. And we encourage you, as leaders in our state, to support policies that treat all Texans equally under the law, including the LGBT community, said the letter. Besides State Affairs members, the letter went to House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, who opposes a bathroom bill approved by the Senate; Rep. Ron Simmons, R-Carrollton, the author of a House version of the bathroom bill; and several members of the Calendars Committee, which schedules legislation for House debate. The faith community is divided on the bathroom bill. Its top legislative champion, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, has promised to mobilize 1 million Christians in the effort to pass such a measure, and a number of pastors have spoken out in favor of the legislation. The Texas Senate has approved Senate Bill 6, which would specify that people use restrooms, dressing rooms and locker rooms in government buildings, schools and universities that align with the gender on their birth certificates. The House committee is considering House Bill 2899. As it stands, that bill would prohibit city and school district policies that protect groups from discrimination if those groups arent already protected by state or federal law. It would affect only policies on restrooms, locker rooms and changing facilities. Simmons is working on changes to the measure. Among those listed as signing the letter from San Antonio are the Rev. Dr. Edward Kern of Trinity Lutheran and Rabbi Mara Nathan of Temple Beth-El. pfikac@express-news.net Twitter: @pfikac Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 24 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: Delivery of gas from Iran to Georgia is theoretically possible, and there is necessary infrastructure for this, but such contracts were not concluded between state companies, Georgias Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Mariam Valishvili told Trend Apr. 24. "The Iranian side expresses its readiness to supply gas to the Georgian market. However, we prefer Azerbaijani gas, since it is the most optimal supplier [of gas] to our market," noted Valishvili. Meanwhile, the deputy minister said that in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, such contracts can also be concluded by private companies if they decide that the Iranian supplies are acceptable from an economic point of view. "There are no restrictions on such supplies," she said. In July 2016, Managing Director of National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) Alireza Kameli said that Iran signed an agreement with the Georgian private company, Georgian International Energy Corporation to pump 40 million cubic meters of gas to Georgia. Meanwhile, Valishvili noted that Georgias pipeline system is in possession of the state, and private companies must present similar contracts to the government in order to obtain services for the transportation of purchased gas through the country. There is information that one of commercial entities of Georgia has signed a contract for the supply of Iranian gas in 2016, but this contract hasnt yet been presented to the Georgian government, she added. The deputy energy minister said that it is theoretically possible to supply Iranian gas to Georgia through Azerbaijan there are pipelines from Iran to Azerbaijan and from Azerbaijan to Georgia. "It is also possible to swap supplies, that is, the contract is signed with Iran, but real gas will be supplied to Georgia from Russia, and Iran will, in return, supply gas to Armenia in line with mutual settlements with Russia," noted Valishvili adding that however, for the implementation of such supplies an agreement is necessary among all four countries. "Such negotiations arent conducted. When we receive the contract, we will consider it and make a decision," added the Georgian minister. Following the visit to Tbilisi, Head of General Department of CIS and Caucasus Countries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran Gholamreza Bagheri Moghaddam has recently said that Georgia plans to realize gas purchase deal with Iran in a month. Commenting on the issue, Valishvili said that even if the contract on purchase of Iranian gas will be presented to the Georgian government in the coming days, it is unlikely that it will be possible to resolve all issues within a month to ensure its transportation. Azerbaijan has been the main exporter of gas to Georgia for many years. Moreover, in previous years, Georgia received from Russia 10 percent of Russian gas supplies to Armenia as a payment for its transit. Since April 2017, Georgia has decided to abandon Russian gas and fully switch to purchasing Azerbaijani gas. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova 1 Turkey referendum: Turkeys electoral authority on Thursday released the official tally of the countrys referendum, saying President Recep Tayyip Erdogans yes camp won narrowly in the vote that will greatly boost the powers of his office. The referendum, disputed by the opposition, approved a series of constitutional amendments transforming Turkeys parliamentary government system into a presidential one, abolishing the office of the prime minister and granting the president executive powers. The High Electoral Board said the yes side received 51.41 percent of the votes in the April 16 referendum, while the no votes garnered 48.59 percent. The turnout was 87.45 percent. 2 Macedonia unrest: Chaos swept into Macedonias parliament Thursday as demonstrators stormed the building and attacked lawmakers to protest the election of a new speaker despite a months-old deadlock in efforts to form a new government. Clashes over several hours injured 77 people, including 22 police officers and several lawmakers, authorities said. Neighboring countries along with the European Union and United States expressed concern at the small Balkan nations escalating political crisis. President Gjorge Ivanov went on TV to appeal for reasonable and responsible behavior. 2 Detenido por atacar a un hombre en un cajero de Gijon con patadas y una correa para perros Baku, Azerbaijan, April 28 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: Kazakhstan will get $180 million in cash flow from Kashagan oil field in 2017, Kazakhstan Today news agency quoted Dauren Karabayev, executive vice president and financial director of KazMunaiGas oil and gas company, one of the shareholders of the project. "According to the preliminary estimates, Samruk-Kazyna National Fund and KazMunaiGas will jointly receive about $180 million in net cash flow from investment in Kashagan in 2017," Karabayev said. He noted that the project partners already have positive cash flow from Kashagan, as oil production at the field is increasing. According to Karabayev, currently oil production at Kashagan hits 180,000 barrels per day. By the end of the year it is expected to increase to 370,000 barrels per day, he said. Oil production at Kashagan was launched in autumn 2016 and Kazakhstan plans to produce 8.9 million tons of oil and 5.6 billion cubic meters of gas from this field in 2017. It is planned to increase production to 13 million tons of oil and 9 billion cubic meters of gas per year in subsequent years. The project participants are KMG Kashagan BV (16.88 percent), AGIP Caspian Sea BV (nearly 16.81 percent), CNPC Kazakhstan BV (8.33 percent), Exxon Mobil Kazakhstan Inc. (nearly 16.81 percent), INPEX North Caspian Sea Ltd. (nearly 16.81 percent), Shell Kazakhstan Development BV (nearly 16.81 percent), and Total E&P Kazakhstan (nearly 16.81 percent). The field is operated by North Caspian Operating Company BV (NCOC). Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. A Longford farmer has secured a temporary High Court injunction against the ICSA. Ballinalee man, James Reynolds was at the centre of controversy earlier this year when the organisation moved to have him removed from his position as national treasurer after he became affiliated to the new political party - the National Party. It recently came to light that ICSA subsequently attempted to remove Mr Reynolds from his executive position in the organisations Longford branch and it is understood that this move could result in him losing his position as National Treasurer within the farm lobbying group. Mr Reynolds is the Deputy President of the newly-formed political party which states that it is opposed to unrestricted immigration and any law permitting the provision of abortion in Ireland. The National Party also believes the restoration of the death penalty should be considered for particularly heinous crimes. Mr Reynolds, a previous IFA Longford county chairman, has been involved with the ICSA for a number of years; he was elected to national treasurer, which is unpaid, for a two-year term early in 2016. The Co Longford farmer subsequently took up his role with the newly-formed political party approximately six months ago and after he was appointed to the executive board of ICSA. He is now claiming that that the actions of ICSA could damage his reputation. Gardai are appealing for witnesses to help them solve a burglary at a business premises in Longford town this week. Cash and tools were taken by thieves who forced their way into the building which is located along Richmond Street sometime between last Saturday (April 22) and Monday morning. No damage to the property was reported, but gardai are anxious to hear from anyone who may have noticed anything suspicious to contact them. They are equally keen to speak to potential eye-witnesses who may have stumbled across a break in at another business premises along the New Street area of town. Gardai have managed to establish the incident occurred between 4am and 5am on Monday (April 24). Despite nothing of note being taken, its understood the culprits gained access to the premises by forcing open a window. Anyone with information in relation to either of these incidents is asked to contact Longford Garda Station at (043) 3350570. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: A Saudi delegation headed by Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid A. Al-Falih discussed cooperation with the Kazakh colleagues during a visit to Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Energy Ministry said in a message April 28. The delegation includes the heads of the largest Saudi oil and gas, chemical, and mining industry companies, such as Saudi Aramco, Sabic and Maaden. The sides talked on further strengthening of bilateral cooperation in petrochemistry, nuclear industry and renewable energy sources, the ministry said. In particular, they discussed the development of cooperation in joint oil and gas chemical projects, expansion of cooperation in nuclear industry, possibility of cooperation in providing nuclear fuel to nuclear power plants of Saudi Arabia, as well as experience exchange in the development of uranium deposits and technologies. The parties will also consider the possibility of cooperation on renewable energy projects and the transfer of experience in this sphere. The Saudi Arabian delegation will leave Kazakhstan on April 29. The US military announced today that two American service members were killed a third wounded during a raid against the Islamic State in Afghanistans eastern Nangarhar Province. The operation was conducted last night in coordination with Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. The fight against ISIS-K is important for the world, but sadly, it is not without sacrifice, General John W. Nicholson, the Commander of US Forces Afghanistan, said in a statement. On behalf of all US Forces and our coalition partners, I offer our deepest sympathies to the families, friends, and fellow service members of our fallen comrades. ISIS-K is an abbreviation used by US officials to described the Islamic States Wilayah Khorasan, or Khorasan province, which operates in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Nangarhar is the groups main operational hub in the region. Another American soldier was killed while fighting the so-called caliphates men in Nangarhar earlier this month. [See FDDs Long War Journal report, American soldier killed fighting Islamic State in Afghanistan.] Days later, the US dropped the GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB (better known as the Mother of all Bombs), on an Islamic State tunnel complex in the Achin district of Nangarhar. NATOs Resolute Support released a video documenting the destruction left behind by the bomb. The raid that led to the deaths of two American soldiers last night also apparently took place in Achin. The Islamic States Amaq News Agency has released its own version of events, saying that the joint American-Afghan team was forced to abort a landing in Achin under heavy fire from the jihadists. Amaq claims helicopters were forced to abandon the mission, after which US aircraft supposedly launched an intensive bombardment that led to the deaths of 100 people, mainly women and children. However, the Amaq statement is propaganda and should be read with a grain of salt. Operations claimed by Wilayah Khorasan since the beginning of April The Wilayah Khorasan frequently claims attacks in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Some of these, such as an assault on a military hospital in Kabul in March, are significant. Others are much smaller. It is often difficult to separate fact from fiction in the groups statements, especially with respect to the number of casualties reported. It is likely that the jihadists exaggerate the efficacy of their operations by claiming more people were killed or wounded than was really the case. Also, some attacks have been claimed by both the Islamic States men and Taliban-affiliated factions. Still, there is often at least a kernel of truth in the Islamic States reporting. Below are some of the attacks claimed by Abu Bakr al Baghdadis loyalists in Afghanistan and Pakistan since the beginning of the month. Apr. 2: The jihadists claimed to have repelled an assault led by the Afghan Army in the Achin district. The ground operation was supposedly supported by coalition airplanes. But the group alleges that seven soldiers were killed and two Humvees bombed during the battle. Apr. 7: The Islamic State claimed that four Afghan soldiers were killed along with the American who is known to have perished during an attack by inghimasi fighters in Nangarhars Achin district. Inghimasis are highly-trained jihadists who immerse themselves in the fight and are prepared to commit suicide bombings, if necessary. Apr. 14: Wilayah Khorasan released a photoset documenting the action on the frontlines in Nangarhars Achin district. The pictures showed the jihadists firing mortars and artillery. Other photos released the same day attempted to reassure followers that there was a sense of normalcy in Nangarhar, as the jihadists were pictured herding animals and performing other daily tasks. Apr. 15 The Islamic State claimed that its men assassinated a Taliban member in Peshawar. Despite the defections of some mid-level commanders, the Taliban remains fiercely opposed to the self-declared caliphates expansion in the region. Apr. 21: Wilayah Khorasan claimed three operations targeting Afghan forces in Nangarhar, including an ambush. The attacks allegedly left 18 members of the Afghan Army dead. Twelve of the soldiers were reportedly killed in Achin district. Apr. 24: Two Pakistani policemen were allegedly assassinated with gun fire in the city of Rahim Yar Khan, which is in Pakistans Punjab province. Independent reporting appears to corroborate that a shooting took place, but the precise details are murky. Apr. 25: Islamic State fighters allegedly targeted an American forces position inside Jalalabad airbase with two Katyusha rockets. The jihadists did not claim any casualties. Apr. 25: According to a statement issued by the Islamic State, a Shiite instructor who worked at a university in Nangarhar was assassinated in the city of Jalalabad, which is the capital of the province, two days earlier. Apr. 25: The Islamic State claimed that twelve Shiites were killed and eleven others wounded in a bomb blast in northern Pakistan. Independent reporting indicates that the death toll was higher. The explosion was reportedly caused by a landmine that was triggered underneath a passenger van. Another jihadist group also claimed responsibility. Apr. 26: Wilayah Khorasan claimed that a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) destroyed an Afghan Army Humvee, killing or wounding all those on board. The IED was supposedly detonated in Nangarhars Achin district. Background on Wilayah Khorasan Abu Muhammad al Adnani, the Islamic States first spokesman, announced his organizations expansion into Afghanistan and Pakistan in Jan. 2015. The Islamic States Khorasan branch, known as Wilayah Khorasan (or Khorasan province), was headed by Hafiz Saeed Khan, a former commander in the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-e Taliban, or TTP), who announced his allegiance to Abu Bakr al Baghdadi in late 2014. Khan was killed in a US airstrike in the Achin district of Nangarhar in July 2016. Khan was not the only significant Wilayah Khorasan figure killed or captured in 2016. The US military has repeatedly targeted Baghdadis loyalists in Afghanistan. According to General John W. Nicholson Jr., the commander of NATOs Resolute Support and US Forces Afghanistan, 12 Wilayah Khorasan leaders (including Khan) were killed in 2016. Nicholson added that the so-called caliphates Afghan branch incurred roughly 500 casualties in total, which is an estimated 25 to 30 percent of the organizations overall force. Therefore, based on the figures provided by the US military in Dec. 2016, Wilayah Khorasan had between 1,600 and 2,000 total fighters before suffering from attrition last year. Another estimate, offered in July 2016, said that the organization had 3,000 fighters as of Jan. 2016 and between 1,000 and 1,500 by mid-year. Throughout 2016, the US-led counterterrorism campaign also destroyed about two dozen command and control facilities, as well as training facilities, according to Nicholson. In addition, the Wilayah Khorasans sanctuary was reduced from nine districts in Afghanistandown to three, all of which are in Nangarhar. However, the Islamic State still has a lethal network inside the country, as seen by the heavy fighting recently in Nangarhar. And while Abu Bakr al Baghdadis men dont contest or control nearly the same amount of territory as the al Qaeda-allied Taliban, they can still carry out significant attacks. In March, for instance, a suicide assault team raided the Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan Hospital in Kabul. The hospital is Afghanistans largest military medical establishment. Dozens of people were killed or wounded in the terrorist operation, which was quickly claimed by the Islamic State. [See FDDs Long War Journal report, Islamic State suicide team assaults military hospital in Kabul.] FDDs Long War Journal assessed early on that Wilayah Khorasan incorporated disaffected commanders from the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban, as well as Uzbek jihadists who defected from groups allied with the Taliban and al Qaeda. This was subsequently confirmed by US authorities. The State Department designated Wilayah Khorasan in Sept. 2015, noting that it consists of former Pakistani and Afghan Taliban faction commanders. And in December, Gen. Nicholson explained that various jihadist groups mix and converge. Nicholson added that Wilayah Khorasan is formed of members of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and even some former members of the Afghan Taliban. However, the Pakistani Taliban has been reconstituted, most of the Afghan Taliban remains loyal to its leadership, and pro-Islamic State Uzbek jihadists suffered significant losses in the rivalry that ensued with their counterparts in the Taliban-al Qaeda axis. US officials say that there are ties between the Wilayah Khorasan and the Islamic States headquarters in Iraq and Syria. We do see a connection, Gen. Nicholson said in December. The groups first leader, Hafiz Saeed Khan, went through the application process the so-called caliphate has set up for establishing new branches. Nicholson added that the main Islamic State organization has provided support to its men in the Khorasan in the form of advice, publicity, and some financial support. Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Hayat Tahrir al Sham (Assembly for the Liberation of the Levant) and the Islamic State have released competing propaganda claims from the Yarmouk camp in the southern part of Damascus this week. The two sides have battled each other for control of the camp, which was once home to more than 100,000 Syrians and Palestinian refugees, for more than two years. But the fighting continues to rage on. Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) is a joint venture of several organizations that was formed in January. It includes the group formerly known as Al Nusrah Front, al Qaedas branch in the country. On Apr. 24, the propaganda arm for HTS, Ebaa News Agency, released three images purportedly showing a network of tunnels dug by the Kharijites that led underneath the areas of Yarmouk controlled by HTS. The Islamic States foes often call Abu Bakr al Baghdadis men Kharijites, a derogatory reference that is intended to compare them to Muslim forces that rebelled against authorities early in Islamic history. Ebaa claimed that the HTS jihadists worked their way through the Islamic States tunnels, engaged and expelled Baghdadis loyalists, and then controlled the tunnels. The self-declared caliphate likely intended to use the network of underground passages to detonate a bomb underneath HTS positions or launch other raids deep behind enemies lines. Photos of the tunnel complex, as well as additional images released by both HTS and the Islamic State from Yarmouk this week, can be seen below. On Apr. 27, the Islamic State countered with its own set of twelve propaganda images, which document the door-to-door street clashes in Yarmouk. The group also released a statement claiming that more than 10 members of the apostate HTS had been killed in an inghimasi operation. After relying on Allah, the soldiers of the caliphate launched an attack on positions of the apostate Hayat Tahrir al Sham in the Yarmouk Camp south of Damascus, the statement read. The inghimasi fighters surprised the apostates from three axes and three of the brothersdetonated their explosive vests amid their [HTS] groups. The Islamic State also said clashes took place that resulted in Baghdadis men taking control over two residential blocks. Inghimasis are highly-trained jihadists who immerse themselves in the fight and are prepared to commit suicide bombings, if necessary. Both al Qaeda and the Islamic State use inghimasis in their operations. The team of seven Islamic State inghimasi fighters responsible for the raid on HTS in Yarmouk was shown in a separate photo released via social media. Not to be outdone, HTS produced a short video of the street fighting. As is the case in the Islamic States images, the HTS video featured jihadists firing their weapons into the neighborhood through holes punched in the walls of dilapidated residential buildings. The HTS video documents the devastation wrought in Yarmouk since the beginning of the Syrian war, with some buildings being reduced to rubble. Multiple factions have clashed in Yarmouk since 2012, but the so-called caliphate saw an opportunity to advance in April 2016 and took it. An offensive by the Islamic State one year earlier, in April 2015, fizzled after local militant groups and Al Nusrah thwarted its expansion. But Abu Bakr al Baghdadis organization expanded the amount of turf it controls inside the camp last year, seizing ground from Al Nusrah. The Islamic States propaganda arm, Amaq News Agency, crowed about the gains at the time. [See FDDs Long War Journal report, Islamic State gains ground from al Qaeda in Syrias Yarmouk refugee camp.] The Islamic States gains in April 2016 exacerbated the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yarmouk. The continuous, highly intense fighting is not only causing civilian casualties and fatalities, but has also acutely aggravated shortages of food and clean water for the approximately 6,000 civilian families residing inside Yarmouk, Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), said at the time. UNRWA has regularly attempted to supply food, hygiene products and blankets to the residents of Yarmouk and nearby camps, but its mission has been interrupted by the jihadists battles. Most of Yarmouks residents have been forced to flee because of the war. UNRWA has delivered aid to the displaced civilians in the surrounding areas. HTS photos of the Islamic State tunnel complex underneath Yarmouk: The Islamic State inghimasi team responsible for the raid against HTS in Yarmouk: The Islamic State released this photoset from the fighting in Yarmouk on Apr. 27: Screenshots from an Ebaa News Agency video of HTS jihadists fighting in Yarmouk: Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. The US military may have killed Abdul Hasib, the Islamic States emir for Khorasan province, during the April 27 raid in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan that resulted in the deaths of two US Army Rangers. Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said that Abdul Hasib was the target of the raid, and he may have been killed although his death has not been confirmed, Reuters reported. Davis estimated that 35 Islamic State fighters were killed during the fighting, which lasted for more than three hours after US and Afghan troops assaulted what Reuters described as a heavily fortified compound and tunnel system. If Hasibs death is confirmed, he would be the second Khorasan province emir killed within the past year. In July 2016, the US killed Hafiz Saeed Khan, the groups first leader, in an airstrike in Nangarhar. Tragically, the two US Army Rangers may have been accidentally killed by US or Afghan forces during the initial assault. We are investigating the circumstances of the combat deaths of the two Army Rangers in the beginning of what was an intense three-hour firefight, Davis said, according to Reuters. It is possible these Rangers were struck by friendly fire. The US military has invested significant resources in battling the Islamic State in Afghanistan, despite the fact that the group controls areas in just four districts in Nangarhar. Over the past two weeks, the US military has lost three soldiers during combat and has dropped the largest non-nuclear weapon in the US arsenal during the fighting in Nangarhar. By comparison, the Taliban controls or contests 211 districts in Afghanistan, and continues to harbor al Qaeda and other jihadist groups. For more information on the Islamic States Khorasan province, see 2 American service members killed fighting Islamic State in eastern Afghanistan. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. The Taliban announced the start of its spring offensive and named it after Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, the previous emir who was killed by the US in a drone strike in Pakistan in May 2016. Like previous spring offensives, the Taliban said that military operations would focus on foreign forces as well as Afghan security forces. Additionally, the Taliban said that it would focus on governance in areas that have been cleansed from the enemy. In a statement released on Voice of Jihad today, the Taliban declared the the Inauguration of the Spring Offensive Operation Mansouri. Under Mansours leadership, the Taliban gained various decisive victories, annihilated highway robbers and impious people, foiled various seditions and intrigues, leaped forward in the political and social arenas, humiliated various foreign powers compelling them to leave our land, and achieve copious other proud milestones. Like previous years, the Taliban outlined its goals for the coming years spring offensive. In the political sphere, the Taliban said that particular attention will be paid to establishing mechanisms for social justice and development, institutions will be erected, and special dawah [proselytizing Islam] and propagation apparatus will be set up in areas under Taliban control. As of late March 2017, the Taliban claimed it controls or contests 211 of Afghanistans 400 odd districts. In the military sphere, The Taliban said that the enemy will be targeted, harassed, killed, or captured in areas not under its control. Additionally, The main focus of Operation Mansouri will be on foreign forces, their military and intelligence infrastructure and in eliminating their internal mercenary apparatus, or Afghan security forces and the government. As in the past, the Taliban said that it would launch conventional attacks, guerrilla warfare, complex martyrdom attacks, insider attacks, and use of IEDs against foreign and local forces. The Taliban also urged civilians to avoid enemy bases and their military and intelligence personnel in order to limit civilian casualties, and to assist their Mujahideen brothers by all means possible. While the Talibans yearly announcement of its spring offensive is often viewed as a propaganda exercise, Taliban military and political operations often closely adhere to the announced goals. Last year, the Taliban promised it would employ large scale attacks on enemy positions across the country and launch martyrdom-seeking and tactical attacks against enemy strongholds. The Taliban put pressure on six provincial capitals and overran several districts during last years offensive. Just last week, the Taliban penetrated security at an Afghan Army corps headquarters in Balkh province and killed more than 140 Afghan soldiers. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, April 28 By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend Turkmenistans "Ashgabat Urban Telephone Network" CJSC has announced an international tender to purchase telephone cables with copper conductors. All interested companies should: - send a bid indicating the bidders full name, legal status, country of registration and details. - get a package of tender documents by paying 570 Turkmen manat for participation in the tender. The bids should be sent till May 15, 17:00 (UTC/GMT +5 hours) to the following address: 104 Hero of Turkmenistan Atamyrat Niyazov Avenue, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. For more information call: (+99312) 49 58 00, 42 04 22. Good morning lovely ones! Those of you who follow Love My Dress on Instagram will probably know that I am in Barcelona this week, supporting various brands during the annual Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week. For the uninitiated this a trade event where a number of brands exhibit their 2018 collections to buyers and press. Its a superbly organised event with amazing catwalk shows being held at various venues across the city. We have had the pleasure of attending the Jesus Peiro and YolanCris shows so far and this evening, were all set to attend the Pronovias extravaganza. And believe me, that is one huge, well-oiled machine of a show. So many people in attendance and a super-glamorous catwalk experience. Ill be sharing everything over on Instagram stories if you care to follow our accounts @lovemydress and my personal account @annabelbeeforth. And so to this mornings wedding; Bethany a Publisher and Editorial Director, married Art Director Luca on 15th October with a ceremony at St Peters Italian Church in Clerkenwell, followed by a reception in The Conservatory at the Barbican. On the whole we went for a minimalist approach to the styling of the day, with simple touches using clean lines, geometric shapes and accents of metallic gold, my favourite colour. We gravitate towards a more minimalist aesthetic at home so this felt best aligned to our tastes. Both the church and the The Conservatory at the Barbican are also stunning spaces, with their own unique character, and so we wanted to work in simple touches which wouldnt distract from their beauty. Images by Blondie Photography Bethanys super sexy gown is by designer Nurit Hen and was purchased from highly regarded London bridal boutique, Mirror Mirror (who I had the pleasure of meeting, albeit all too briefly, in Barcelona two days ago). I knew I wanted a Latin inspired lace dress and definitely one with sleeves. I managed to resist the urge to dash to the nearest shop for a trying-on spree and first investigated designers that created the types of dresses that I liked. I shortlisted: Berta, Liz Martinez, Inbal Dror and Nurit Hen, before heading to places where they stocked those designers. I walked away with a Nurit Hen, a couple of dresses in!I used a make-up artist who specialises in airbrush make-up and I couldnt recommend it enough. With application by a skilled make-up artist,Ana Milena Ospina, it looks natural but you can get an amazingly flawless finish. And the best bit, I didnt have to do a single re-touch even after many rounds on the dance floor, numerous hugs and a few tears. We gifted each of the bridesmaids in the morning of the wedding with a necklace to wear on the day. I chose two different styles (one with a long chain and one with a short chain) to suit each bridesmaid. Both styles however were consistent in terms of them being simple and minimalist with gold geometric shapes, to match the theming of the day. I loved the way they subtly lifted the very simple dresses. I wanted bridesmaids dresses that were full length but at the same time wanted something very simple and minimalist, which felt cool and contemporary. Their dresses were from ASOS. The thing that drew me to Nurit Hen was the designers surprising openness for you to customise and tweak her existing design. The gowns are also made-to-measure which really appealed to me Im curvy and never thought a backless piece would be possible! I loved the weight and opulence of the lace, but my favourite feature was the directional detailing of the big circular cuffs. I also liked that the sheer cut-out features at the sides, alongside an open back, helped to transform a traditional lace dress into a more dramatic and modern piece. Anna Baker, from Errol Douglas was my hair stylist. I wore my hair down, centre parted, with lose waves and a couple of bits clipped up. I wanted a slight 60s reference and nothing that looked too obviously done. Because of the weight of the cathedral length veil (and because my hair is naturally quite slippy) I had a section at the back pinned up so the veil could clip in to that section and stay put. Ahead of the day I was very spoilt and invited to Jo Malone to make a bespoke fragrance, as a gift from the brand. It allowed me to create something really special and memorable for the day and something different from my day to day scent which I can crack out again for special occasions. I wore an emerald and gold ring from Colombia, where the grooms mother was from. Emeralds are mainly mined in Colombia so are a bit of a national emblem so it felt nice to incorporate something Colombian when many of the family were unable to travel so far to attend. Whilst I didnt hold back on my dress budget I didnt want to be too extravagant with the veil too. I researched a lot online and found Etsy offered some great veil options the important thing is to ensure the colour matches, but mainly that the quality of lace and net is as high as possible. I chose a vendor from Etsy who made beautiful, quality pieces by hand and opted for a cathedral length veil with a wide lace scalloped trim, from the elbow. I wore some geometric earrings from Zoe and Morgan, the same designer that I commissioned to create my wedding band. They were a gift from my mother and fit nicely with the gold geometric accents we used for the decor. Maybe its being a child of the 80s, when Madonna was basically everything, but Ive always loved veils, so never doubted Id make one a feature. With a long aisle to walk down and a fitted lace dress, I thought this style would best complement the drama of the dress and the church setting. It is really important to consider the style of your dress and location of your day. Cathedral length is quite heavy so requires specific hair-styles to take the weight and it is a little difficult to walk around with so be sure you want to commit to it! For me it was worth it, but you do need bridesmaids to help re-position it. We chose to have our wedding day in London because its the city where we live and because we really loved the idea of having our wedding in venues that were familiar and significant to our lives. We have a relatively international family to throw in to the mix too, so on a practical level it felt like a good central location for our guests and, with a short planning period (5 months), made it easy and uncomplicated to bring together. Our ceremony was held at St Peters Italian Church in Clerkenwell the perfect setting because it is so familiar to our lives the groom was christened there even! It really is a hidden piece of Italy, nestled on a Clerkenwell road with a simple townhouse style frontage. It was such a cool surprise for guests, as they entered through its simple iron doors and found themselves in a beautifully ornate and impressive basilica style church. My father accompanied me into the ceremony, to the sound of Puccinis Nessun Dorma. We had Clair de lune played during the service and our exit music was Habenera, from Bizets Carmen. We met at work, in the kitchen of all places! Luca was working for Wallpaper* Magazine and I was working on the Fashion brands at Time inc. Its amazing where small talk whilst filling up you water bottle on a grey Tuesday can lead you! We got engaged four years later while away for the weekend and decided that wed start planning immediately. Were both quite discerning and knew we wanted a modern, London wedding in a venue that felt unique and not too much of a Wedding factory. We also wanted to be in a space that was familiar to us, so called one of our favourite places, the Barbican, to see what they offered we confirmed that same day for a date 5 months later! We didnt look around any other venues as we both felt instantly assured this was the perfect setting. My ring is a old octagon band with baguette diamonds on every other side. I designed this bespoke piece with Zoe and Morgan. We stayed at a hotel a miuntes walk from the church so walked to the church ahead of the ceremony! Afterwards we hired a cream Route Master bus to take us the short mile between the church and The Barbican. We held our reception in The Conservatory at the Barbican. We both frequently visit the Barbican for art exhibitions, the cinema and theatre etc and have always loved a Sunday visit to The Conservatory a serene, tropical oasis in the heart of the city. Aesthetically, The Conservatory at the Barbican really appealed to us the super high glass ceilings make it so light and airy, while the tropical plants against a backdrop of brutalist concrete, provide a modern, architecturally minimalist backdrop that we both love. With a wedding in October, it felt like we had a huge and impressive outside space, but without the weather worries. The couple were very impressed by their superb photographer who worked tirelessly all day to ensure he got some interesting and varied shots. They wanted more of a reportage style, and loved his beautiful portfolio of work. As part of the package we did a pre-wedding shoot at the National Theatre, another Brutalist building. This was amazing as it ensured he was used to working with us and got a sense of our style and tastes, but most importantly meant we were so relaxed and comfortable on the day. I designed the bouquets myself and then organised with a local florist to create them. The shape of the bouquets was really important to me. For mine I wanted a cascade/waterfall shape because I love the drama of this shape and playing with a very modern and minimalist interpretation of an 80s classic! For the bridesmaids I wanted a sheath shape, which could be held across the crook of the arm to really set off the simple bridesmaid dresses in an interesting way. I chose palm leaves because I wanted the bouquet to be predominantly green, they fit with the tropical setting at the barbican and because I love their size and simplicity. And well, who doesnt love a palm leaf! I added just a couple of bold, statement, individual flowers which included a Cymbidium Orchid, Cala Lily and Anthurium. During the ceremony Giardino Strings, the most flawless string quartet, played several classical pieces that we had selected in advance. So many of our guests remarked on how stunning their performance was. Very talented and accomplished musicians. The groom is an Art Director, so designed and produced all of the stationary for the day. We used grey card with Gold Foil. Both the church and the Conservatory are also stunning spaces, with their own unique character, and so we wanted to work in simple touches which wouldnt distract from their beauty. We used gold accents and geometric shapes to inspire most of our decor. On the tables we had a large gold geometric vase positioned as a centre piece, and around it several wire geometric shapes. We hired in gold cutlery from Classic Crockery, to replace the traditional chrome colour, which we felt was simple yet really impactful and worked with our other gold accents. Around the venue, we placed large gold and glass geometric terraniums which we filled with large grey candles. Our wedding favours doubled up as place names and also table decor. We potted succulents and cacti into minimalist small concrete pots for every guest. Each pot had a planter with the guests name on it. We purchased the plants via a seller on Ebay, as well as the concrete pots. A friend of my sister made the cake. Shes an amazing baker from Hungary with a small business making the best cakes and biscuits Ive ever tasted. We liked the idea of having one formal layer, with white icing and gold leaf to carry through the gold theme and then two naked layers. The three tiers allowed us to experiment with flavours, so each one had a different flavour from chocolate orange to lemon. The cake was a huge hit and all of it went on the day. For our guests we placed Instax Polaroid cameras for guest to take photos and add to a large gold guest book. Our first dance was to Unstant Crush, by Daft Punk and Julian Casablanca. Were both big fans of The Strokes and also Daft Punk so it was a nice hybrid of musical styles. It is also a song that has nostalgic significance to us as a couple. Its so difficult to choose which part of the day was best as it all felt brilliant and like everybody says, goes by in a flash. I really loved the ceremony itself, as it felt like the really special and significant part of the day. It is also the first time you see everyone you know all together in one room and when all the anticipation and excitement is most heightened. For the canape reception we had a Latin band perform, which was a nod to the grooms Colombian heritage. In the evening the groom did an hour long set, followed by a DJ who kept the dance floor full and sweaty! Words of Wedded Wisdom I think perspective is really key when planning a wedding. Its an amazing day and no doubt will be one of the best of your life, but much of that is because all the people you love are together in one room to celebrate with you. Its good to remember that its just one single day of your life, so try not to get too obsessive or, dare I say it, spoilt. Its so easy to get carried away and feel like you need to be very extravagant but remember all your guests are there to celebrate with you and not to pick holes in any of the details, many of which they may never even notice! For me having professional hair and make-up on the day really helped to make it lovely, calm and stress free on the morning of the wedding. It also lasted the whole day perfectly, so I didnt need to worry about touch ups at any point later in the evening or when having photos it just allows you time to really enjoy the day. Really think about your wedding underwear it sounds like the last of your worries but getting the right underwear can really help give the right lines and make for more flattering photos too! Definitely worth investing some time ahead in trialling different options with your dress at fittings. Finally, we might have brought the ceremony forward by and hour as it took quite a long time for the ceremony to finish and all the guests to leave and board the bus, so we were running over which meant the reception was a little shorter. Theres never enough time! Utterly gorgeous, glamorous, sexy, cool, beautiful. I adore this wedding. Love Annabel x Lifestyle / Gastronomy Having been spotlighted by Asias 50 Best Restaurants Awards, Bo.Lan, Nahm and Gaggan are three restaurants in the Thai capital we think might come out on top Apr 28, 2017 | By AFP Relaxnews After an announcement last week pledging to clean up Bangkoks street food stalls, which disappointed locals and tourists, Thai tourism officials have announced plans to launch the first Michelin restaurant guide for Thailands capital. It all makes sense now. When officials announced that street food stalls would be banned from the citys main roads as part of a major clean-up, the news sparked widespread outcry given that roadside hawkers play a major part in the citys grit, appeal, and authenticity. But it seems that the announcement was to pave the way for a bigger development in the countrys tourism plan: to welcome the arrival of tastemakers from Michelin, arguably the most famous arbiter of good taste in the world. Rumours of Michelins entry into Bangkok have been swirling since earlier this year, but the news was confirmed at an event hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand last week. Bangkok is one of the worlds culinary capitals, offering amazing cuisine, from fine dining from renowned international chefs to small family-owned eateries, said Lionel Dantiacq, managing director of Michelin East Asia and Australia. The kingdoms food also has a long, rich heritage which enhances the pleasure of tourists travelling. Meanwhile, tourism officials softened their stance on the ban following the widespread outcry, clarifying that street hawkers will continue to operate, but in designated zones away from main roads and walkways. The Michelin Guide Bangkok will be released in both Thai and English editions at the end of the year and is projected to boost food spending by 10 percent per visitor. Michelin coverage is expected to expand to other Thai destinations in future editions. Before Michelin susses out culinary stars outside of the Thai capital, heres a look at some of the noteworthy restaurants that are likely to get nods in the inaugural Michelin guide for Bangkok. The restaurants below have previously been spotlighted by Asias 50 Best Restaurants Awards. Bo.Lan At Bo.Lan, chef Duangporn Songvisava, better known as Bo, uses ingredients sourced from local farmers, artisans, and fishermen to create traditional Thai dishes like Northern-style spicy pork salad with native spices and greens, or hot and sour soup with herbal-fed chicken and young tamarind leaves. In 2013, chef Bo was named Asias Best Female Chef by organisers of The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants Awards. By 2018, the restaurant hopes to become carbon neutral. Nahm Its a Thai restaurant in Bangkok helmed by an Australian chef. Despite his Aussie roots, chef David Thompson is considered an honorary Thai for creating a restaurant that elevates Thai cuisine to the standards of haute gastronomy. Thompson tracked down centuries-old cookbooks of Thai matriarchs to create a menu that features the robust flavors of Thailand: garlic, shrimp paste, chillies and lemongrass. The London outpost of Nahm became the first Thai restaurant in Europe to be awarded a Michelin star after opening in 2001. Gaggan For three years in a row, chef Gaggan Anands Indian restaurant in Bangkok, Gaggan, has been able to boast the title of best restaurant in Asia, by organisers of Asias 50 Best Restaurants awards. Described as a progressive Indian restaurant, Gaggan uses hyper-modern techniques to create dishes like spherified yoghurt explosion with red matcha and charcoal, Indian sushi and uni ice cream served in a miniature cone. Interested in booking a table? Best reserve within the next few years, as chef Anand has said he plans to close Gaggan by 2020 and relocate to Japan. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Apr. 28 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and the Argentine Republic held political consultations in Ashgabat, the press service of the Turkmen Foreign Ministry reported. The delegation of Argentina was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Gustavo Rodolfo Zlauvinen, according to the report. Issues of mutual interest were on the agenda of bilateral political consultations. In particular, the sides discussed the possibilities of development of cooperation in the political, trade-economic, energy spheres, as well as the issues of building up cooperation in the field of infrastructure. The interest of the parties in the development of transport cooperation was noted. The sides discussed the issues of creating various transport routes. The parties expressed their commitment to cooperation in the fields of food safety and energy security, and put forward proposals for developing cooperation in the field of agriculture. Then a ceremony of signing bilateral documents between Turkmenistan and the Argentine Republic took place. A memorandum of understanding on political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Argentine Republic and the agreement between the government of Turkmenistan and the government of the Argentine Republic on the exchange of information on tax issues were signed. Within the framework of the visit to Turkmenistan, the delegation of Argentina was received by Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov. During the meeting, the sides paid attention to the development of relations in the political-diplomatic and trade-economic spheres, establishment of close contacts in the cultural and humanitarian spheres, in particular in the sphere of education, sport and tourism. Issues related to the possibility of establishing direct contacts and deepening cooperation between the business circles of the two countries through joint events were also discussed. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Apr. 28 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Ashgabat will host the sixth meeting of foreign ministers of Central Asian countries and Japan, the Turkmen Dovlet Habarlary state news service reported Apr. 28. Turkmenistan, which is presiding in the Central Asia plus Japan dialogue since 2014, is preparing to host the sixth meeting of foreign ministers of Central Asian states and Japan, according to the news service. The meeting will be attended by foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Japan, who will mull peace and security issues, promotion of peaceful development of Afghanistan, as well as other issues. Signing of joint documents is expected after the meeting. Kingsley Egbuonu Research Editor Managing IP Contact email linkedin Kingsley oversees the research for Managing IPs annual awards programme and our legal guide known as IP STARS, a publication that ranks IP law firms and practitioners. His postgraduate qualifications include a masters degree in IP from Queen Mary University of London. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Apr. 28 By Demir Azizov Trend: Uzbekistans Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov has received Switzerlands Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador Stefan Klotzli, who completes his diplomatic mission in Tashkent, the Uzbek Foreign Ministrys press service said in a message. During the meeting, Kamilov and Klotzli summed up the main results of the ambassadors activities in political, trade and economic, investment, cultural, humanitarian and other areas. The Uzbek minister expressed gratitude to the Swiss envoy for his personal contribution to the expansion of bilateral cooperation. Stefan Klotzli, for his part, thanked for favorable conditions created for the successful fulfillment of his diplomatic mission in Uzbekistan. Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Switzerland were established in May 1992. This timber is for homes, not walls. Photo by doranjclark/iStock. Did the Trump Administration just fire an opening shot in a trade war with our neighbors to the north? Some media believe so after Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced a 20% tariff on Canadian softwood lumber (used frequently in single-family homes). Many wonder what this all means, from US home builders worried about higher costs to dairy farmers who have soured on their own Canadian trade barriers. However, while markets frequently frown upon tariffs and other protectionist policies, this episode seems more like hot rhetoric and politicking rather than a prelude to a global trade issue with yuuuuuge negative fallout. Lumber disputes between the US and Canada aren't exactly new. In 2006, the countries reached an uneasy peace after decades of disputes.[i] The US returned about C$4 billion of C$5.3 billion in tariffs collected from Canadian producers since 2002 and ceased imposing additional duties. In exchange, Canadian producers agreed to cap exports or else pay a tax on goods shipped to the US. However, this agreement expired in late 2015, and tensions have been on the rise. Last fall, the US Lumber Coalition filed a complaint with the Commerce Department, accusing Canadian producers of dumping softwood lumber into the US market-and setting the stage for the Commerce Department's announcement. Adding to the contentious environment, Trump criticized the Canadian dairy industry last week for shielding its farmers from US competition. And the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) remains a touchy subject as well. For all the speculation, however, a tariff against Canadian lumber isn't in effect yet-there is a process! First, the Commerce Department will research the matter and determine whether to enact a tariff by September 7. If they decide to do so, and the US International Trade Commission affirms the ruling, the US will issue tariffs ranging from 3% - 24% on offending Canadian exporters. However, while this is making headlines now, it isn't sudden. US lumber companies warned last year they would request anti-dumping duties, so now we at least have some clarity on that front-and based on market reaction, the results weren't as bad as expected. Also, Canada will probably contest,[ii] so a final resolution isn't likely any time soon. While this brouhaha has sparked concern among US homebuilders and trade advocates alike, some scaling is in order. For builders, the National Association of Home Builders says Canadian imports represent about 28% of all softwood lumber purchased in the US-not insignificant since softwood lumber is a major component in single-family home construction. However, while this may add to builders' costs, don't overstate the broader economic impact. Residential investment (which includes new home construction) comprises 3.8% of America's $18.6 trillion economy.[iii] Single-family homes in particular? 1.3%.[iv] Builders may feel pinched, but this isn't a major economic headwind. On the trade front, Canada is a major partner, trailing only China in US total trade share at 15%. However, Canadian lumber (including softwood) amounted to $5.8 billion-or 2.1%-of the US's total Canadian goods imports in 2016 and a mere 0.3% of total goods imports.[v] However you slice it, the impact isn't huge. This doesn't make a lumber tariff good, by any means. Duties hurt the freer movement of goods and services and always risk retaliation-bad! However, don't overhype the risk: This announcement was neither surprising nor destructive enough to wallop the US and/or Canadian economies, let alone the global one. Moreover, tariffs aren't a new phenomenon exclusive to Trump. Other administrations have imposed them, all ostensibly to protect American interests. President Nixon imposed a 10% tariff in 1971 to protect American products from "unfair exchange rates." President George W. Bush implemented steel tariffs in 2002 to protect domestic producers. President Barack Obama wielded his fair share of tariffs, hitting Chinese tires in 2009, solar panels in 2012 and steel in 2014. Heck, he even levied tariffs against the Canadians, too (on glossy paper)![vi] None of these moves portended a destructive global trade war, and we don't see one resulting from this Canadian tariff tiff, either. 1930's Smoot-Hawley this is not. Trade has been a prominent theme throughout Trump's first 100 days, as he campaigned on ripping up "bad deals" and renegotiating "better ones." However, details have largely been scant, and concrete action has yet to replace bombastic rhetoric. A microcosm: On Wednesday, a Trump administration official supposedly leaked that the White House was considering withdrawing from NAFTA, which would affect trade relations with both Canada and Mexico. Yet by midnight, Trump had killed the rumor and said negotiations were forthcoming. For now, Trump trade policy doesn't look likely to threaten the global expansion or bull market. MARTINSVILLE The City Council on Tuesday gave its final approval to an ordinance enabling the city to issue up to $11.74 million in water and sewer revenue bonds to finance improvements to a major sewer line. Last year, Martinsville obtained a 30-year, no-interest loan of $21.74 million from the Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund, via the Virginia Resources Authority, to help pay to repair the roughly six-mile line running from near Fieldale to the citys wastewater treatment plant near Forest Park Country Club. Most of the citys sewage, plus some of Henry Countys, flows through the line on its way to the treatment plant for processing. Inspections with video equipment showed the line is heavily deteriorated, especially along its metal portions. The city already received $10 million from the loan to fix the worst section of the line about 1,500 feet near Walker Road and the Resurgence Properties facility (the former Bassett-Walker plant). Some metal in that section had collapsed, and officials feared a sewage spill into the Smith River. The remaining $11.74 million now is being sought to cover repairs to other metal sections of the line, according to City Manager Leon Towarnicki. In other business, the council gave its final approval to a personal property (vehicle) tax exemption requested by Life Stages Enrichment Services, and it appointed John Luther of Mulberry Court to the Dan River ASAP Board to a term that will end in 2020. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Apr. 28 By Demir Azizov Trend: The EU is ready to support the Strategy for Further Development of Uzbekistan for 2017-2021, EU Special Representative for Central Asia Peter Burian, who is on a visit in Uzbekistan, said at a meeting with journalists in Tashkent Apr. 28. He noted that this strategy, which includes implementation of reforms in various fields, was adopted at the initiative of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, adding that the EU appreciates Uzbekistans important role in maintaining stability in the region and its economic development. The EU welcomes the ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan, the EU special representative said. These reforms create conditions for strengthening bilateral relations of Uzbekistan with the EU and other states of Central Asia, he added. Burian said that during his stay in Uzbekistan, he held meetings with the countrys officials and discussed the cooperation of the EU and Uzbekistan in the sphere of politics, economy and rendering technical assistance for development. In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. At all times we aim to respect any personal data you share with us, or that we receive from other organisations, and keep it safe. This Privacy Policy (Policy) sets out our data collection and processing practices and your options regarding the ways in which your personal information is used. This Policy contains important information about your personal rights to privacy. Please read it carefully to understand how we use your personal data. We may update this Policy from time to time without notice to you, so please check it regularly. The provision of your personal data to us is voluntary. 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Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com biz 1102 haymarket 3.jpg Haymarket Cafe on Main Street in Northampton is one of 14 businesses planning to close Monday in support of workers and immigrants. (MASSLIVE.COM FILE) ( ) NORTHAMPTON -- Joel Jukiro knows he'll lose some business and some money closing his Dobra Tea bohemian-style tearoom on Main Street Monday. But besides being a busy workday with lots of foot traffic in downtown Northampton, Monday is May 1, May Day, the traditional labor holiday the world over. Mayday is also an international distress call used by aircraft pilots and boat captains in peril. Dobra Tea is one of 14 businesses and organizations around the Pioneer Valley that have committed to close Monday as part of Unite for a Day Without Workers. The event has a Facebook page here. It's organized by the Pioneer Valley Workers Center in Northampton and others. "Its something that our staff was very interested in doing, and also ourselves," Jukiro said. "We really let our staff lead the way on this. We want our community, the staff and our customers to really help create this space at Dobra." Dobra cafe has been open for three years. Jukiro said he and the staff are all concerned about income disparities. On Monday his employees will get the day off. They won't be paid but will instead make up the time during the week so as not to lose income. Garth Shaneyfelt, general manger of the Artisan Beverage Cooperative in Greenfield, said he and his staff will shift their production schedule a bit to close on Monday. "As a worker co-op we are interested in workers having control, of there being a democratic control of workplaces," he said. The co-op makes Katalyst Kombucha, which is a fermented non-alcoholic tea, as well as mead and Ginger Libation alcoholic drinks. Six of the staff have bought in as owner-workers but the total payroll is 17. Haymarket Cafe in Northampton also plans to close Monday. The May Day labor holiday is in part meant to commemorate the Haymarket bombing, which occurred during a labor demonstration in Chicago in 1886. The schedule of May Day events: Noon: Potluck lunch, Pioneer Valley Workers Center, 20 Hampton Ave., Suite 200, Northampton. 1:30 p.m.: Northampton march. 5:30 p.m.: Springfield march from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office at 1515 Main St. to City Hall. 6:30 p.m.: Springfield City Council meeting speak-out. 8 p.m.: Dance party with food and drinks at Haymarket Cafe, 185 Main St., Northampton. Business and organizations planning to close: LONGMEADOW After more than two years of planning and construction, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday to mark the official opening of the Longmeadow Shops expansion. "It took the support from the community," said Steve Walker, owner of Grove Property Fund, which owns the plaza on Bliss Road. "(A community) that treasures the charm and character of this town." The project expanded the Longmeadow Shops' retail space by about 21,000 square feet while enlarging the parking lot and adding new entrances to the plaza. It had been stymied in 2014 when Town Meeting voters, concerned about what the expansion could do to the area's character, struck down a zoning modification necessary for the plan to move forward. In a special Town Meeting in 2015, voters approved the modification, which allowed a 20 percent increase in shared retail space along with parking and pedestrian safety improvements. Construction began in March 2016. Last month, R-Wireless, a family-owned Verizon retailer that franchises in nine states, started business in the new section of the Longmeadow Shops, a little more than a month after J. Crew Mercantile, the first store, opened on Jan. 24. CVS Pharmacy last month commenced business at its larger 13,100-square-foot store. One feature of the new CVS location will be a drive-thru, offering the convenience of a pick-up window for prescriptions. Local and statewide politicians, as well as people from the local business community, made appearances at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. "It's impossible to think about Longmeadow without this parcel," said state Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, before presenting Walker with a citation from the Senate. State Rep. Brian Ashe, who grew up in Springfield's Forest Park neighborhood, also spoke of fond memories of the shops. Despite initial pushback from members of the community who feared the expansion would harm the plaza, Ashe said embracing the development paid off. "The Shops, like a lot of things in life, have changed," Ashe said. "But it's a change for the better." Business owners and members of the community also contributed items to a time capsule, which will be buried in an undisclosed location and dug up in 20 years, Walker said in an interview. "Our world is changing so rapidly right now," Walker said. "It will be interesting to see how the world has changed in 20 years." SPRINGFIELD -- The new Liquors 44 in the Lowe's Plaza at 1522 Boston Road has a 39-door cooler that's 105 feet long and 20 feet deep. "It's impressive," said John M. Biela, who owns the Liquors 44 chain with Andrew Morrison. "There are a lot of local breweries out there. You want to find a home for them." Impressive is what Biela and Morrison need these days to keep up. They need to keep up with changing tastes now that everyone has a favorite local microbrewery, and woe to the retailer who doesn't stock a wide selection. And they need to keep up with changing business conditions for liquor stores in Massachusetts. Liquor, beer and wine stores are increasingly owned in chains, often with out-of-state owners. "It's not local anymore," Biela said. "For us, it came down to go or grow." In August, Liquors 44 bought three Kappy's locations: two on Boston Road in Springfield and one on Memorial Drive in Chicopee. They join previous Liquors 44 locations on Lincoln Street in Holyoke, King Street in Northampton and Route 9 in Hadley. Liquors 44 hosted a grand opening Friday on Boston Road, having moved the store to the Lowe's Plaza from the old Kappy's further east. The new Liquors 44 is in part of a former Stop & Shop with better parking and easier traffic access headed in either direction on the busy divided commercial strip. Besides the cooler, the new location boasts 23,000 square feet of space. Of that, 13,700 square feet is retail showroom. Hadley was once their biggest store at 13,200 square feet. "It turned out to be too small," Biela said. At the new Springfield location, there are 25 employees, an increase of 10 since the move. There is also a mechanized redemption center that takes soda bottles and cans, even store brands, as well as brands Liquors 44 sells. The owners have plans to expand the former Kappy's in Chicopee, doubling it to 15,000 square feet. In the new Springfield store, they've built a tasting kiosk, basically a double-sided bar with no seats where folks can sample products. That's a reflection of a wide-open marketplace where there is not one dominant trend, Biela said. "Everything sells. Bourbons are hot. Single malt (scotch) is hot. Tequilas are hot," he said. When Biela got in the business in 1981, it was more likely that a single trend would dominate sales. At first it was rum. They couldn't stock enough rum. Then wine coolers -- remember the Bartles and Jaymes "Thank you for your support" ads? -- became the rage. And Liquors 44 needs to work against different competitors now. Larger chains have more buying power and economies of scale, spreading fixed operating costs out over a bigger business. Walmart bought a liquor license in Westfield and plans to sell beer, wine and liquor at its superstore there. Costco has liquor, wine and beer at its West Springfield location. National chain Total Wine has three Massachusetts locations: Shrewsbury, Natick and Everett. State law allows one owner to have as many as seven liquor store licenses. Starting in 2020, that limit rises to nine. Liquors 44 has six stores. "Eventually we'll get to seven," Biela said. "But it will be all in the Pioneer Valley. We don't want to get too far east." Liquors 44 won't expand right away because everyone has been busy integrating the Kappy's locations and doing the expansions and improvements. SPRINGFIELD -- The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority has signed a 75-year lease to move into Springfield's Union Station. Union Station reopens in June as a multimodal transit hub following a $94 million soup-to-nuts rehabilitation decades in the making. Union Station will serve as the PVTA's Springfield hub and as its main ticketing and customer service facility. U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, long a champion of the Union Station project, announced the pact Friday afternoon with retiring PVTA administrator Mary L. MacInnes. They were joined by Mayor Domenic Sarno. The renovated Union Station has a 27-bay, open-air bus terminal and a 377-space parking garage. PVTA carries about 12 million passengers a year. Its Springfield transit hub is at the Peter Pan bus station on Main Street. The agency's administrative office is at 2808 Main St., and its Springfield customer service center is at 1341 Main St. The service center and most administrative offices will move to Union Station. Also on Friday, the Springfield Redevelopment Authority opened the lone bid for intercity, long-distance bus service to and from Union Station. It was submitted by Springfield's Peter Pan Bus Lines. Financial terms of its proposal were not made public as they must be reviewed Monday or Tuesday by a committee of Redevelopment Authority Board members, said Kevin Kennedy, Springfield's chief development officer. Peter Pan has plans to redevelop its existing bus terminal at Main and Liberty streets, a facility it owns, after moving to Union Station about a block away. Built in 1926 to replace an earlier, outmoded station, Union Station helped define central Springfield. From its construction until after World War II, rail travel thrived in this bustling district, with more than 130 passenger trains passing through daily. The station closed in 1973 except for a small area still used by Amtrak. Amtrak will service Union Station as will commuter rail service now being developed by the state of Connecticut. Connecticut plans 12 trains a day to and from Springfield serving Hartford and New Haven, where it will connect with Metro North service to New York's Grand Central Terminal. For Neal, Friday's announcement is just one more step toward his goal of bringing Union Station back to life. "A lot of dominoes will fall as a result of PVTA's commitment," he said. The Springfield Redevelopment Authority has already signed restaurants, a convenience store and rented office space in the building. The PVTA will move in on June 25, MacInnes said. Routes have been resigned to come and go through Union Station, and schedules have been updated. Seven hundred PVTA buses a day will pass through the transportation center. "I fully believe that moving to Union Station will increase our ridership," she said. "Once you have a modern, clean, safe place to wait for the bus, more people will be encouraged to ride with us." The PVTA will rent 18 bus berths at $18,000 a year, a total of $324,000 a year. For office and service center space, it will rent 4,100 square feet at $13.50 per square foot a year, a total of $55,350 a year. Overall, PVTA will be paying $77,000 more a year to move to Union Station. The annual budget of the PVTA is $47.2 million. IMG_3086.JPG Former "Project Runway" contestant Kelly Dempsey in the outfit from her first "Project Runway" appearance. Dempsey will auction the outfit off at a benefit for her uncle. Photo courtesy Kelly Dempsey. Kelly Dempsey, fashion designer and season 14 "Project Runway" contestant, will MC a benefit for her uncle Tony Frogameni in Springfield on Saturday, April 29. A Monson native, Dempsey is returning to Western Massachusetts to host the event at the Springfield Elks Club. In addition to live music and raffles, the event will feature an auction for the outfit Dempsey wore on her first "Project Runway" appearance. Though Project Runway fans may not recognize Frogameni, Dempsey said they might recognize his house. "I actually had Tim Gunn come to his house when they did the home visits on Project Runway," Dempsey said in an email. "He very recently had some pain in his foot, went to the doctors, and long story short, he had to get most of his leg amputated from a fast moving infection," Dempsey said. "The benefit is to help pay for a prosthetic leg, which I just learned is crazy expensive." The benefit, which will take place at the Springfield Elks Lodge at 440 Tiffany Street, will take place at 6:30 p.m. on April 29. For more information, visit the event's Facebook page. newsara.jpg (Photo courtesy of Laughing Latinos Comedy) Comedian Sara Contreras. SPRINGFIELD Instead of the traditional flowers, slippers and gift certificates for free hugs that many husbands, sons and daughters resort to for Mother's Day, this year they can give mom the gift of laughter instead. "Bring your mom, wife, girlfriend, fiancee, just show up and laugh with us," said Phillip Anthony, a comedian and founder of Laughing Latinos Comedy, which has brought comedians from across the country to Western Massachusetts for several years. The pre-Mother's Day show at Cabot Comedy Club in Chicopee on May 6 will feature several comedians including Samantha Hemmingsen, Darryl Rosemond and from "The Latin Divas of Comedy" Law & Order and more Sara Contreras. "Laughing Latinos Comedy loves to feature female comedians. There's a huge misconception that women aren't funny, and we love to prove that wrong," Phillip Anthony said. "Sara Contreras is one of our favorite headliners and we are excited to have her back for this show." Contreras said she is excited to be back in Western Massachusetts. "I love coming out to Phillip's shows. He always packs a great audience excited about comics coming from NYC," Contreras said. "Last year I did the Valentine's Day show and it was packed and insanely high-energy." If You Go Event: Laughing Latinos Comedy Pre-Mother's Day Show When: May 6; doors open at 7 p.m.; Dinner is at 8 p.m.; Comedy kicks off at 9 p.m. Where: Cabot Comedy Club, Chicopee Cost: $30 per person including dinner For more information: www.laughinglatinoscomedy.com or call 917-716-9333 Another female comedian performing that night will be Samantha Hemmingsen. "She is a local comedian that surprised me when I first saw her on stage, and I look forward to watching the audience experience the same when she takes the stage," Phillip Anthony said. The only male thrown into the mix will be local comedian Darryl Rosemond. "He is one of the original founders of Laughing Latinos Comedy, and one of the funniest comics I know. It's an honor and a pleasure to have him perform," Phillip Anthony said. Dinner will be Latin themed and prepared by Sam Smith, a chef at Blackjack Steak House in Springfield before it closed last year. "I am so happy that he is now at Cabot Comedy Club. He's a great chef that can cook anything and when I asked him to prepare a Latin dish for the Laughing Latinos Comedy show, he was up to the task," Phillip Anthony said, adding that he hopes people will come out for a great meal and a lot of laughter. "This is going to be a show to remember," he said. Last year, Russia fulfilled all its commitments under the contract to deliver S-300 air defense systems to Iran, said Sergei Chemezov, the CEO of Russias state corporation Rostec, TASS reported. "We also completed the S-300 deliveries to Iran. We fulfilled all our commitments," Chemezov said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. The $800 contract with Iran to deliver S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, capable of engaging aircraft or short-and medium-range ballistic missiles, was concluded in 2007. It was suspended in 2010 due to fierce objections from Israel and United States. ussian President Vladimir Putin removed the ban last year shortly after the framework nuclear deal was signed with Iran in July. Last October, the federal service for military-technical cooperation said Russia had completed the delivery of these weapon systems to Iran. To visit the New Bedford Museum of Glass, you must know where to go. The museum is located in the Wamsutta Textile Mills complex, tucked away inside a space shared with the New Bedford Antiques Center. After walking past rows of antiques, visitors find thousands of works made from glass. Established in 1993, the New Bedford Museum of Glass features a collection of more than 7,000 items. The collection varies, from works dating back to 500 BCE to present-day works including early American glass, fine art, photography of glass and a large collection of animal figurines - a favorite of young visitors to the museum. A dark corner of the museum is lit only by black light and features glass made with uranium, which glows brightly green. A piece aptly put on a pedestal in the museum is a glass throne, grandly decorated with red velvet cushions. Such pieces were created by glassmakers for large exhibitions such as the World's Fair, a way for glassmakers to showcase their craftsmanship, said Kirk J. Nelson, executive director of the museum. It soon became fashionable for the wealthy to feature glass furniture in their homes, from chairs and beds to vanity tables and banisters. The museum also features more utilitarian pieces: vases and jugs made by some of the earliest glassmakers in the world. New Bedford has a rich history in glassware. A glass factory was located in the Massachusetts city for 100 years until 1967, said Nelson. The factory at one time employed 1,200 people in the production of high end Victorian art glass, goods sold to customers across the world including Queen Victoria. A section of the museum is dedicated to featuring pieces produced in the city. For those who wish to take a piece of the museum home with them, the museum features a gift shop with an assortment of items available for purchase. SPRINGFIELD - A 19-year-old is clinging to life after being shot in Springfield's Bay neighborhood on Thursday night, according to police. After being called to the area of Bay Street and and Edgewood Street at approximately 6:45 p.m., police discovered a shooting victim, according to 22news. Springfield Police Sgt. Daniel Reigner confirmed with The Republican that a victim had been shot on Bay Street and was taken to an area hospital for treatment, though he did not comment on the severity of the victim's wounds. Sgt. John Delaney said that the victim is a 19-year-old male who was shot once and had to be taken to Baystate Medical Center. Delaney said that the man is in critical condition. Reigner said that the city's Major Crimes Unit is investigating the crime, though no information was given on how or why the crime occurred, or whether police have any suspects in the shooting. Police blocked off all of the streets leading to the intersection with cruisers and tape on Thursday evening, and detectives could be seen scouring the surrounding area for evidence. This story will be updated when more information becomes available. Holyoke April 28, 2017 homicide suspects Three people were arrested in connection with an April 28 homicide in Holyoke. They are, from left, Jose Espada, Madeline Garcia, and Sammy Lozada. HOLYOKE -- Police have arrested three suspects following the early Friday morning stabbing death of a man during a home invasion on Maple Street. Arrested were: Sammy Lozada, 38, Jose Espada, 36, and Madeline Garcia, 34, all of Holyoke, said James Leydon, a spokesman for Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said. All three have been charged with murder, armed home invasion, and assault and battery. They were expected to be arraigned Friday afternoon. Investigators have not yet released the name of the victim. A police officer was in the area of Cabot and Maple Streets at approximately 2:30 a.m. when he heard screaming from the vicinity of 372 Maple St. While responding, he observed a man with a knife running from the apartment building. The suspect was detained a short time later. Additional officers responding to 372 Maple St. found a male victim with a knife wound to his chest. They provided first aid until paramedics arrived. The victim was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, where he died. "My sympathy and thoughts are with the victim's family and friends," Gulluni said. The district attorney also praised the Holyoke Police Department for making quick arrests. Police Chief James Neiswanger also lauded "the great work" of the patrol officers who quickly detained the suspects. Neiswanger extended his sympathy to the victim's family, and vowed that city and state police would "continue to vigorously investigate this tragic case." The Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the district attorney's office, the Holyoke Police Department, and the Murder Unit assigned to the district attorney's office continues to investigate the homicide. The stabbing death marks the city's second homicide this year. The victim of the first, Adam Rei of Springfield, died of injuries suffered in a Feb. 8 assault. Three brothers were arrested and charged with murder in that case. This is a developing story. Additional information will be posted as soon as it is available. Baystate Franklin nurses Registered nurses and their supporters picketing outside Baystate Franklin Medical Center on April 27, 2016. The nurses have been working without a contract since Dec. 31. (Mary Serreze photo) GREENFIELD -- Registered nurses picketing outside Baystate Franklin Medical Center Thursday said Baystate Health has "declined to bargain in good faith" over staffing levels, health insurance and mandatory overtime. The 200 or so unionized nurses at the 90-bed hospital have been working without a contract since December, when their prior five-year pact expired. Members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association and their supporters carried signs, chanted slogans and described their conflict with management. Psychiatric nurse Donna Stern, chairwoman of the bargaining unit, said Baystate Health forces nurses to work overtime, won't contractually guarantee staffing levels, has imposed a 26 percent hike in health insurance costs, and wants to claw back earned time in the form of sick days, holidays and vacation. "They are taking 52 earned hours every year," said Stern. "That, combined with the health insurance, will cost the average nurse 10 to 15 thousand per year." Stern said Baystate fails to schedule enough nurses for any one shift, and then scrambles to achieve safe staffing levels. She said it is a violation of a 2012 state law that prohibits mandatory overtime for nurses unless there is a state of emergency. Stern said contrary to what management says, it's not true that average nurse pay is more than $80,000 per year. "Only a few nurses who have been here for years and work lots of overtime make that much money," she said. Nurses become exhausted when forced to work long hours, creating an unsafe setting for patients, she said. The Baystate Franklin nurses have filed seven federal complaints with the National Labor Relations Board. The nurses have been working without a contract since Dec. 31, and voted in March to authorize a one-day strike. That strike has not taken place. Management tells a different story Hospital management on Thursday denied the nurses' allegations and told a different story. Baystate Franklin President Cindy Russo said it is not true that management will not bargain in good faith with the union. She said 15 meetings have been held since late fall, and that agreements have been reached on a number of issues. The issue of contractual staffing levels is one matter that has not been resolved. Another meeting is set for May 5. Russo objected to any assertion that staffing levels are unsafe, and said including rigid requirements in a collective bargaining agreement would tie the hospital's hands. She said hospitals report staffing levels to the state, including a target for "worked hours per patient day." She said Baystate's staffing exceeds it target. "Not only are we staffed well, but by having staffing ratios outlined in the contract, it decreases our ability to be flexible in terms of taking care of patient needs on an individual basis," she said. Russo noted that a firm called Leapfrog, which rates hospitals based upon nationally reported patient safety data, this week gave Baystate Franklin an "A" rating. It has also been recognized as one of the top 100 rural hospitals in the country. "This is based upon real data," she said. As for the seven unfair labor complaints, she said the union has historically filed such complaints, "and that historically, they've all been dismissed." Russo also reiterated that average base pay for registered nurses at Baystate Franklin is $40.88 per hour, meaning a nurse working a 40-hour week makes about $85,000 -- before overtime and any shift differential for evening or weekend work. Baystate Health CEO Dr. Mark A. Keroack said the pay scale is in keeping with market data. As for staffing, "demand goes up and down" on a daily basis, Keroack said. Keroack and Russo said the hospital deploys nurses known as "travelers," who work for an agency, to fill staff need on a flexible basis. They said they are also hiring and training a "float pool" of 40-60 nurses. Keroack, meeting with editors and reporters at the The Republican and MassLive on Thursday morning, said he believes the union has a strategy. "I believe the union is using the staffing rhetoric as leverage to unionize Baystate Medical Center. That's the big prize." He said meeting the union's demand might mean cutting services or closing units. "It essentially puts you in a straitjacket," he said. "We are already in a restrictive budget environment." Nurses at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield are not in the union. Baystate Health has three bargaining units: Baystate Franklin in Greenfield, Baystate Noble in Westfield and the Baystate Visiting Nurses and Hospice. Baystate already has settled an agreement with the hospice nurses, and negotiations are ongoing in Westfield. Ben Craft, director of government and public affairs for Baystate Health, previously called the Baystate Franklin union allegations a "smear tactic." "We continue to conduct our negotiations with the MNA in good faith and with the intent to reach a fair agreement," Craft said in a recent statement. "We call on the MNA to resume a constructive approach to negotiations, and to keep in mind the most important stakeholders in our discussions, the patients and communities we serve." Baystate Health runs Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Children's Hospital, three community hospitals, and network of more than 80 medical practices. The health system employs more than 12,000 workers. The Republican staff writer Jim Kinney contributed to this report. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: Iran has added 28 aircraft to its aviation fleet over the last two years, an official with the countrys Civil Aviation Organization has said. Reza Jafarzadeh, a spokesman for Civil Aviation Organization of Iran, has said the number of available seats in the countrys aviation fleet has increased by 2,678 reaching 30,000 after new aircraft joined the aviation system, Mehr news agency. Civil Aviation Organization was involved in carrying more than 61 million passengers over the past two years, he mentioned. He further added that currently there are 181 operational civil airplanes in the country. Jafarzadeh also said the country has retired 20 airplanes over the past two years. In order to renew its aviation fleet, Iran requires 500 new aircraft in the next 10 years. The country has already reached deals with Airbus, Boeing and ATR to purchase new aircraft. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 By Emil Ilgar Trend: Iran Foreign Ministry summoned Pakistani ambassador Asif Khan Durrani two days after unknown gunmen attacked Iranian border guards and killed ten people, the Ministrys official website reported Apr.28. Ten border guards have been killed in an ambush by terrorist in southeastern Iran along the countrys border with Pakistan, Apr.26. Jaish al Adl (the Army of Justice) undertook the responsibility of attack, putting the number of killed Iranian borders at eleven. The incident took place near the town of Mirjaveh in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan-and-Baluchestan. According to the report, the border guards were patrolling along the frontier area when the incident took place. Jaish al Adl Group, dwelling in Pakistani territories, has been behind several armed attacks on Iranian security forces in the southeastern regions of the country. The militant group claims that is has took up weapon to defend what it describes as the rights of Sunni minorities. Back in 2014 Jaish al Adl abducted five Iranian border guards including four soldiers who were serving their mandatory military service. According to the IRNA report, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani also submitted a letter to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, saying that "repeated attacks from terrorist groups in Pakistan on Iranian army forces raised concerns in Tehran". He called Pakistani government to take measures against them and neutralize terror groups. SBA 504 Loans offered statewide! Real estate and equipment, acquisitions, renovation, and new construction. Low, fixed-rates up to 25 years with as little as 10% down. When he looks at the way the worlds bound to change in the coming decades, he sees a need to move away from the core notion that made the Ford Motor Company one of the most successful enterprises in modern history: one person, one car. The global population is booming, especially in the developing world and in urban cities. Its wrong to interpret that as a huge new customer base, Ford, now the companys executive chairman, said in an interview with WIRED. Alex Davies Full Story: https://www.wired.com/2015/11/bill-ford-interview-vision-for-world-without-cars/ Congratulations to Mark and the Bretz Team. And a big congrats also to the Banker behind the scenes! Happy for all you both do. Small businesses are the key to broader wealth distribution throughout the economy and increasing upward economic mobility. Its fantastic to see efforts to promote and support those businesses. Small business is what holds a community together; Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1MR3tOMapr0cENldHhuZGtvZ3c/view Le CEO de MCB Ltd, Mr Alain Law Min a indique dans une declaration a la presse que VIBE, une creation de la MCB, a apporte son soutien a Virginie afin de rendre possible sa participation a la saison 8 de The Voice France. VIBE ne represente pas, pour la MCB, quun simple concours de chant. Cette initiative sinscrit dans le cadre de notre programme de Corporate Sustainability, Success Beyond Numbers, qui sappuie, entre autres, sur le developpement de leconomie locale. Il faut savoir que VIBE cest aussi toute une equipe qui sactive dans les coulisses pour monter le show et en faire une emission de qualite. Il sagit donc aussi de valoriser les metiers de la scene, aussi bien que les artistes. La preuve est aujourdhui faite que VIBE est un reel tremplin qui permet de faire emerger des talents locaux. Nous sommes extremement heureux et fiers daccompagner aujourdhui Virginie dans son parcours a The Voice. Lorsque cette opportunite sest presentee, il nous a paru tout naturel de soutenir Virginie et de laider a tenter sa chance en France, et de pouvoir ainsi montrer au monde le fort potentiel de nos compatriotes. VIBE a ete le debut dune belle histoire pour Virginie, et nous serons encore avec elle a chaque etape de cette nouvelle aventure qui debute . Tehran, Iran, Apr. 28 By Mehdi Sepahvand Trend: Irans Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan called on the Pakistani government to arrest and punish as soon as possible the terrorists who killed 10 Iranian border guards on April 27. The Iranian government will pursue the issue via the Pakistani government and is demanding a resolute response to the terrorist attack, Dehqan stressed, Mehr news agency reported April 28. Iran lost 10 border guards in a terrorist attack which it said had been launched from inside the Pakistani territory. The border guards were patrolling in Mirjaveh in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, southeastern Iran. Our border guards had been targeted from inside Pakistans soil, police speaker Saeed Montazerolmahdi said. Our investigations show that long-range arms had been used to launch the attack, he added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: The Commander of Irans Quds Force Qassem Soleimani in a letter to Health Minister Mehdi Qazizadeh Hashemi thanked him for helping the resistance forces in Syria, IRNA news agency reported April 28. Tehran calls its favorite side of the Syrian war the resistance, saying its support for the Syrian government is an effort to confront ultra-regional forces that attempt to wreak unrest in the region. Hashemi in response thanked Soleimani for his service and also expressed gratitude that recently a nurse was freed from terrorists by Soleimanis forces. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 28 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: Joining of such huge members as India and Pakistan to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) which is expected in June 2017 will dilute the ability of the organization to act as a cohesive body and will not strengthen its influence at the international level, Bruce Pannier, US expert on Central Asia believes. While the SCO has provided a platform for member states to improve their bilateral and, within the SCO, multilateral ties, the organization has not had much influence on international affairs so far. While I think the world respects the potential power of the bloc, that power remains theoretical. There has not been an example where the SCO had a strong influence over any major events beyond SCO borders, Pannier told Trend by email April 28. The expert expects that with India and Pakistan as the SCO full-members it will become a bit more difficult to find common ground. The SCO has six official members China, Russia, and the four Central Asian states but it is generally accepted that Beijing and Moscow make the decisions, he noted. Islamabad and Delhi might not be so compliant as the Central Asian governments have been to date, Pannier said. He also noted that it is difficult to believe the SCO could band together as a military force once India and Pakistan are members and it stretches the imagination to see Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese troops joining together for military operations. Meanwhile, Pannier stressed that the SCO offers cooperation in many areas at many levels. He noted that various ministers foreign, justice, healthcare, transportation and others meet together regularly, and there is cooperation in security, combating terrorism, sharing information on terrorist groups, rescue and relief operations in case of large natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, landslides, etc.). Moreover, there is something of a mutual defense clause in the SCO charter and occasionally, though not as frequently as a decade ago, some of the countries join for military exercises, according to the expert. Pannier believes that the big incentive for SCO membership, as it currently stands, is the trade opportunities. He noted that China successfully used the SCO as a vehicle for opening up with fellow Central Asian SCO members Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, and now it is a leading trade partner for the Central Asian states. India and Pakistans SCO membership gives Delhi and Islamabad another avenue, or bond for pursuing business ties with China, which of course borders both India and Pakistan, the expert said. Moreover they will get greater access to Russia markets where they both need, for example, energy supplies, such as Russian oil. Besides, the SCO is a formidable organization, on paper at least, according to Pannier. Leaders of some SCO member countries like to note, occasionally, the potential military might of the SCO, with the Russian and Chinese armed forces as the backbone. While that is true, there are still questions about how much the Russian and Chinese militaries could really cooperate if they faced a common threat, he said. The expert stressed that the point is India and Pakistan become new members of an organization that the world must at least listen to, and an organization that has shown it will support member states in the face of international criticism. For example he reminded that Western organizations such as OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the SCO send their monitors to elections in Central Asia and Russia. The ODIHR assessments often point out flaws in the electoral systems of these countries whereas SCO assessments of the same polls usually praise the election campaign and election itself. Another example is the violence in Uzbekistan, in Andijan, in May 2005, according to the expert. He noted that in the aftermath of violence in Andijan, there were calls for an international investigation into the tragedy, but Uzbekistans government resisted such calls and the SCO supported the Uzbek government. Uzbekistans SCO friends even warmed ties with Tashkent at that time, according to Pannier. Delhi and Islamabad could probably count on similar SCO support in the face of international criticism, he said. Summarizing the benefits of SCO membership, Pannier stressed that it is another organization that helps strengthening trade relations between member countries. And again, China seems to be the major beneficiary of this since Beijing has already embarked on its One Belt, One Road project, a network of trade routes that envisions links to and through Pakistan and India, he said. It was Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov who announced that the acceptance process of India and Pakistan as the SCO full members would be completed at SCO Astana summit in June 2017. The SCO was established in 2001. The SCO members now are China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Belarus are the SCO observer-countries, while Azerbaijan, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal are dialogue partners. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will regret the decision to return Turkey for monitoring its obligations before the Council of Europe, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in an interview with the Haberturk newspaper. Cavusoglu noted that Turkey is one of leading financial sources of the PACE budget. We will reduce to a minimum the payments to the PACE budget. The possibility of refusing the Turkish delegations participation in the PACE Assembly is also being considered. Other response steps are also possible, added the Turkish foreign minister. Turkey allocated 33 million euros to finance PACE budget in 2016. Earlier, the majority of PACE members voted for adoption of a resolution bringing back monitoring on Turkey. Some 113 parliamentarians voted for the resolution, 45 voted against it, and 12 abstained. The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the PACE decision, calling it politicized and unfair. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade Morgan County Veterans Day Parade slated Nov. 11 Audio Article The Morgan County Veterans Day Parade will be held on Friday, Nov. 11. The parade will form at the Commons, in McConnelsville, at 9:30 a.m. and set out at 10 a.m. The American Legion Post 24 will render honors at the monuments at the Commons, Riecker Building, the Square, at... A concert with two purposes Audio Article Wednesday, Nov. 30, a concert with dual purposes is being held at the Twin City Opera House in McConnelsville, Ohio. Its a thank-you to healthcare workers, who can attend for free, and its a benefit for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. In September 2021, Rick Shriver contracted COVID-19. He collapsed... BOE reminder of early voting hours and polling location change Audio Article Remaining early voting hours at the Morgan County Board of Elections are as follows: from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov, 2 through Friday, Nov. 4; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5; from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6; and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.... Lions Club announces annual Wreaths Across America Audio Article On Saturday, Dec. 17, the Chesterhill Lions Club will be joining with National Wreaths Across America in the laying of wreaths at each of the seven cemeteries located in Marion Township. The mission is to honor the local veterans who have served our nation so their families can rest assured... Governor DeWine awards $6.7 million for domestic violence survivor programs Audio Article Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced that he is awarding $6.7 million to support the work of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) to offer mobile and health advocacy services and temporary residential services for domestic violence survivors across the state. The announcement comes during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.... CDC committee vote wont change Ohio school vaccine requirement Audio Article Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA has released the following statement: The CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine to be added to the formulary or schedule of vaccines for children does not mandate this vaccine for school children. Ohio law determines... Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: In the first quarter of 2017, exports from Turkey amounted to $37.869 billion, which is 9.2 percent more than in the same period of 2016, reads a report of the Turkish Statistical Institute. Meanwhile, Turkey imported goods worth $50.394 billion in January-March 2017, which is 7.7 percent more than in the same period of 2016, when the countrys import was $46.796 billion. Germany heads the list of Turkeys largest trading partners, according to the report. The country imported Turkish goods worth $3.561 billion and exported goods worth $4.404 billion in the first quarter of 2017. In January-March 2017, the highest growth rate in Turkish trade accounted for the trade with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). During a year, Turkish exports to the UAE increased by 180 percent to $2.621 billion. Meanwhile, Turkeys imports from the UAE increased by 291 percent and reached $1.540 billion in January-March 2017. Turkish exports to Russia increased by 40.9 percent in January-March 2017 to reach $498 million. In turn, Turkey increased imports from Russia by 11.5 percent, bringing its volume up to $ 4.383 billion. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway will be commissioned in late June 2017, Ahmet Arslan, Turkish minister of transport, maritime and communication, said while observing the railway construction in the Kars Province. Cargo from China, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan will be delivered to Europe via the BTK through the territory of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, Turkish media outlets reported citing the minister. Arslan noted that relevant bodies are working to eliminate all obstacles for the timely completion of the railway construction. Turkish president and prime minister carefully observe the process of the BTK construction, the minister said, adding the railway is extremely important for Turkey, as it will bring a significant part of cargo transportation to the Turkish territory. The BTK railway is being constructed on the basis of the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey intergovernmental agreement. Peak capacity of the railway will be 17 million tons of cargo per year. At the initial stage, it will serve one million passengers and transport 6.5 million tons of cargo. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will become a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on May 2, Turkish media quoted Prime Minister Binali Yildirim as saying Apr. 28. Erdogan is the founder and ex-leader of the AKP, established in 2001. He left the party in 2014 due to his election as president. Earlier, deputy chairman of the AKP, Mustafa Elitas said the party will offer Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to become a party member. A referendum on amendments to the Turkish constitution was held April 16. According to one of the amendments, the countrys president can be a member of a political party. It was also previously reported that an extraordinary congress of Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will be held on May 21. It is expected that the congress will elect the new head of the party and, accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers will be replaced. The partys previous extraordinary congress was held on May 22, 2016 and elected Binali Yildirim as the party leader. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade New research from Belgium suggests that the standard culture test for bacteria may return a negative result even though the patient tested actually has a urinary tract infection. The study compared women with symptoms of urinary infection such as pain during urination and feeling an urgent or frequent need to urinate with non-symptomatic women. With the help of a more sensitive test, it found that nearly all the symptomatic women with a negative standard test result actually did have an infection. Share on Pinterest Research has shown that the standard test for diagnosing UTI may mistakenly return negative results. The study by researchers from Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital in Belgium is published in the journal Clinical Microbiology and Infection. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections that people experience. It arises when bacteria most likely from the skin or rectum enter the urethra and travel up to the bladder. Lead author Dr. Stefan Heytens, a researcher at Ghent University and a practicing GP, says that their findings support the idea that, for women with symptoms of an uncomplicated UTI, there is no need to carry out a standard culture test. A substantial percentage of women visiting their GP with symptoms of a UTI, who test negative for a bacterial infection, are told they have no infection and sent home without treatment, Dr. Heytens comments. On the other hand, he adds, women with a positive test might be given a short course of antibiotics to treat their infection. Standard test is negative for many symptomatic women UTIs affect several parts of the urinary tract, which includes the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys. However, the most common type of UTI is a bladder infection, also known as cystitis. Fast facts about UTI Research suggests that between 40 and 60 percent of women have a UTI during their lifetime. of women have a UTI during their lifetime. Bladder infection is the most common type of UTI. In a few cases, the UTI can spread to one or both kidneys. Learn more about UTI The symptoms of UTI include experiencing a burning feeling during urination, or having frequent and intense urges to urinate, even when there is not much urine to pass. Females are more likely to be affected by UTIs than males because they have a shorter urethra that is closer to the anus, making it easier for bacteria to get into the urinary tract and cause infection. In the United States, UTIs account for more than 8.1 million visits to healthcare professionals every year. Dr. Heytens and colleagues note that around 20 to 30 percent of women with symptoms of UTI who have the standard culture test have a negative result. The standard culture test involves sending a urine sample to a laboratory, where it is cultured and tested to determine the types of bacteria present, if any. Negative standard test assumed to mean no UTI If the result of the standard test is positive, then the patient may be offered a course of antibiotics. These can include fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin, or trimethoprim. However, the researchers say that many doctors assume that if the test result is negative, then the patient does not have a UTI. They note that there has also been a tendency, in the past, to consider women who fall into this category as having unexplained urethral syndrome, and that the cause is likely to be psychosomatic. For their study, Dr. Heytens and colleagues compared urine samples from 220 women who went to see their doctor because they had symptoms of UTI, with those of 86 healthy women with no such symptoms. The urine samples underwent the standard culture test and were also tested with a more sensitive method called quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), which can detect minute amounts of bacterial DNA known to cause UTIs, including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Patients at risk of developing bowel cancer can significantly benefit from a follow-up colonoscopy, finds research published in Lancet Oncology. Currently, everyone in the UK over the age of 60 is invited to be screened for bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer. It is a major cause of illness and death in developed countries. Small growths in the bowel, called polyps or adenomas, can develop into cancer over a long period of time. However, removing these precancerous growths can drastically reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer. The new research, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), shows that most patients who have had treatment to remove growths in their bowel and are classed as being at 'intermediate risk' can benefit substantially from a follow-up or 'surveillance' colonoscopy. However, a proportion of this group of patients are at low risk compared with the general population and are unlikely to benefit significantly from colonoscopy surveillance. The researchers suggest the findings could lead to changes in the way patients are screened and followed-up, and even reduce costs for healthcare services. Professor Wendy Atkin, from the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London and chief investigator on the study, said: "The findings could influence national and international guidelines for the screening and surveillance of bowel cancer and could lead to cost savings for the NHS by reducing unnecessary procedures." Those patients who have one-to-two large adenomas (1 cm or larger) or three-to-four small adenomas are classed as being at 'intermediate risk' and are recommended to have a follow-up colonoscopy three years after their adenomas are removed. Most patients offered this surveillance are at intermediate risk In the latest study, researchers from Imperial College London looked at the incidence of bowel cancer and the effectiveness of follow-up colonoscopies in reducing incidence in people found to have intermediate-risk adenomas. The study was commissioned on behalf of the UK National Screening Committee to help inform its current bowel cancer screening programme for the NHS. Professor Atkin, said: "Colonoscopies carry a small risk of complications for patients, and are demanding on NHS resources, with around 20 per cent of colonoscopies in the UK performed for surveillance. It is therefore important to assess whether all people classed as being at intermediate risk need to undergo follow-up colonoscopy." Researchers looked at data for more than 250,000 patients and identified approximately 12,000 people who were diagnosed with intermediate-risk adenomas across 17 UK hospitals. These patients were monitored over an eight year period, and the incidence of bowel cancer was compared in those who had a follow-up colonoscopy with those who had not. They identified a subgroup of patients within the intermediate-risk group, with large adenomas (2 cm or larger), advanced pathology in the adenomas, or polyps in the upper half of the large bowel who were at a higher risk of developing bowel cancer. These 'higher-risk' patients appeared to benefit substantially from at least one follow-up colonoscopy. In addition, intermediate-risk patients who fell into the 'lower-risk' subgroup were found to have a smaller chance of developing bowel cancer than that of the general population. For this group of patients, the researchers suggest that follow-up colonoscopies may not be warranted at all if the initial colonoscopy is of high quality. According to the researchers, the findings will help to shape current and future guidelines on bowel cancer screening both in the UK and internationally. If the changes are adopted, they could lead to cost savings for the NHS and reallocating of resources to focus on those most at risk. "The quality of colonoscopy has improved in recent years and it is important we identify those people who would benefit from a follow-up colonoscopy," said Professor Atkin. "This research showed that there is a subgroup that definitely benefits but there is also a subgroup that possibly don't require a follow-up colonoscopy. "The results of this study provide robust evidence which will be important for informing future surveillance guidelines for how we monitor people in the intermediate-risk group, and will help minimise the costs and risks associated with the unnecessary colonoscopies that are currently performed." Advertisement "At present, Pakistan is among the countries where specific communities are exposed to HIV, warranting us to work among them and contain the disease. If it is not done and the disease gets generalized like it is in the countries of Africa, it will become too difficult to rein it in."In a recent meeting with the parliamentarians of the country, Sakho had advised them to work diligently to contain the disease while the world was there to support Pakistan in certain fields technically and financially, he said.Programme Manager of the Sindh AIDS Control Programme (SACP) Younis Chachar said the new estimates showed the region had almost half of the country's total HIV population, which was some 56,949.However, he said his organization had reported 11,464 HIV patients so far who had been put under treatment. They included 11,225 HIV positive people, while the remaining 239 were full-blown AIDS cases.He said that in addition to treatment facilities in Karachi and Larkana, the SACP would be establishing more facilities in the city and the rest of Sindh.Family awareness centers from basic health units and rural health centers' level to tertiary levels in Sindh districts had been planned.The new plans, he said, would help the SACP achieve 80 per cent coverage.Source: IANS World Immunology Day - Event by Primary Immunodeficiency Patients Welfare Society and Aster CMI Hospital Advertisement create awareness about PID within the general public as well as medical communities educate the public on diagnosis and treatment medical camps for patients and families support children getting treatment in hospitals ensure timely availability of medicine and negotiate affordable prices improve the quality of life of people with PID The only available treatment for PID is currently IVIG infusions every 15 days or 1 month depending on the severity of the condition. These infusions are necessary throughout life. The only curative on the horizon is gene therapy to correct the defective gene causing a disruption in the immune system. Globally, gene therapy for PID generates positive research news. PID UK reports a procedure where the stem cells of the patient are removed and then modified with a normal gene delivered through a viral vector. The normal gene then replaces the missing or dysfunctional gene causing immune system issues. The patient then has several copies of the normal gene in his/her body thereby correcting the disorder. Gene therapy research is yet to be translated to the bedside, and clinical trials are still in progress.Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (PID) is one of the most common genetic immune disorders globally, and in India. In India, it occurs 1 in every 2000 children. PID often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed since the child presenting repeated, chronic infections, is often mistaken as weak. Even doctors are not sufficiently informed on diagnosis, and it is only when an immunologist is brought into the picture that the child gets the right diagnosis. It takes anywhere between 1 and 8 years to get the right diagnosis, and parents end up running from pillar to post while the child suffers repeated painful infections which can be debilitating.According to the Indian Society for PID, there are an estimated one million patients in India. In Bangalore alone, the figures could be around 5000, despite there being very few known cases. The PID Patients Welfare Society (PIDPWS) was first established in 2012 by Mr. M.B. Patil who was moved by the plight of these patients and families. He was concerned about the social, economic and emotional suffering of patients and families and decided to establish a platform to create a sense of solidarity and help these people. The society's mission is to:The PIDPWS has been deeply engaged in advocacy, and interacting with the local and state government to bring to light the problems of patients and families. The society has been lobbying to get the immunoglobulin treatment freely available in government hospitals and to exempt this lifesaving drug from taxes. The society makes diagnostic kits and treatment available to a lot of PID patients to enable them to lead a near normal life. The other objectives of this society are robust data collection, coordinating with the government for a central registry of patients, patient education and awareness, and advocacy towards better research in immunology.The PIDPWS conducts public programs every year on World Immunology Day to raise public awareness and educate people. This year was special as Aster CMI Hospital stepped in to support the society and patients. PID patients did not have a comprehensive care center until Aster CMI hospital was established. It was a harrowing routine for patients to go all the way to Post-Graduate Institute, Chandigarh (PGI) for diagnosis and treatment. The establishment of Aster CMI hospital changed the outlook of PID for patients as Dr. Sagar Bhattad (from PGI, Chandigarh) came forward to create a comprehensive care program for the patients. In Dr. Bhattad's estimate, there are nearly 5000 cases of PID in Bangalore, although very few are diagnosed and documented. His aim is to make life easier for PID patients not just with diagnosis but also treatment and other care facilities. He is supported whole-heartedly in this endeavor by Aster CMI CEO, Dr. Nitish Shetty and the entire team of pediatricians and intensivists at the hospital.The program was a press conference to facilitate media outreach. The program brought together nearly 20 patients and families to create a sense of solidarity thereby dispelling the feeling of "being alone and fighting PID." The team from Aster CMI which included immunologist Dr. Sagar Bhattad, pediatric intensivist, Dr. Chetan Ginigeri and senior neonatologist, Dr. Parimal Thirumalesh shared their thoughts about PID and their efforts to create a quality life for the patient group. CEO Dr. Nitish Shetty shared the platform and spoke about the need for hospitals to give back to society. On the occasion of the 30th year of Aster CMI group, the hospital was focusing on enabling all patients (regardless of ability to pay) to access best quality healthcare.The program also provided an open platform for patients and families to share their experiences with PID. Ms. Rukhsana Haneef, Secretary of PIDPWS, shared her family's experience of PID. Her nephew was diagnosed with PID following a diagnostic odyssey. She shared the trauma of diagnosis and the shock experienced by the family who had to deal with regular treatment for the boy. Rukhsana also spoke about the considerable financial burden of IVIG treatment which costs nearly INR 15000 per vial. While children require 2 units per month, most adults require around 3-4 units per month where the total cost is around INR 60,000. Rukhsana spoke about the role of PIDPWS in lobbying the state government to give a budget allocation for PID in government hospitals, so that patients can avail free IVIG the way Hemophilia patients avail free factor at government hospitals and centers.Ms. Bhargavi, mother of a 12 year-old boy with PID spoke about the financial hardships the family is currently facing. The boy requires 3 units of IVIG which they are unable to afford because of which he is constantly dealing with chronic, recurrent infections. While the PIDPWS is doing the best to financially support patients' access to IVIG and other critical drugs and treatment, it is essential to move the state government to provide drugs and treatment in government-run hospitals and care centers. This is the only way forward for patients with rare, genetic disorders Aster CMI and PIDPWS also raised funds for patients through the Lion's Club. A cheque was presented at this program towards the costs of treatment for patients.This event was significant as it clearly created a sense of connection between parents and children, as they exchanged notes on their travails with PID. Such events also enable social learning as parents and patients learn from each other on the pitfalls of PID and avoidable issues. In the end, all children were given a goodie bag and treated to a sumptuous lunch.The event clearly brought to light the need for the media to report on rare diseases in India and the role of patient groups in advocating and lobbying for better policies and protocols relating to rare diseases.Source: Medindia Advertisement A number of countries have implemented, or are in the process of implementing, standardized tobacco packaging. Australia was the first country in the world to implement standardized packaging of tobacco products. The laws, which took full effect there in December 2012, also required enlarged pictorial health warnings.A team of Cochrane researchers from the UK and Canada have summarized results from studies that examine the impact of standardized packaging on tobacco attitudes and behaviour. They have today published their findings in the Cochrane Library.They found 51 studies that looked at standardized packaging. The studies differed in the way they were done and also what they measured. Only one country had implemented standardized packaging at the time of this review, so evidence that tobacco use prevalence may have decreased following standardized packaging comes from one large observational study. A reduction in smoking behaviour is supported by routinely collected data from the Australian government. There are data from a range of other studies to indicate that appeal is lower with standardized packaging and this may help to explain the observed decline in prevalence. Researchers did not find any evidence suggesting that standardized packaging may increase tobacco use. No studies directly measured whether standardized packs influence uptake, cessation or whether they prevent former smokers from taking up smoking again.The amount of evidence for standardized packaging has increased markedly since the publication of the WHO guidelines in 2008. However, given its recency, there are no data on long-term impact. The amount of evidence will continue to expand as more countries implement standardized packaging and as studies assessing the longer-term effects of the Australian policy become available.Cochrane lead author, and Deputy Director of the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies, Professor Ann McNeill from King's College London, said, "Evaluating the impact of standardized packaging on smoking behaviour is difficult to do; but the evidence available to us, whilst limited at this time, indicates that standardized packaging may reduce smoking prevalence. These findings are supported by evidence from a variety of other studies that have shown that standardized packaging reduces the promotional appeal of tobacco packs, in line with the regulatory objectives set. It would appear that the impact of standardized packaging may be affected by the detail of the regulations such as whether they ban descriptors, such as 'smooth' or 'gold', and control the shape of the tobacco pack."Co-author Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, from the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group, Oxford, UK, added: "Our evidence suggests that standardized packaging can change attitudes and beliefs about smoking, and the evidence we have so far suggests that standardized packaging may reduce smoking prevalence and increase quit attempts. We didn't find any studies on whether changing tobacco packaging affects the number of young people starting to smoke, and we look forward to further research on this topic."Source: Eurekalert Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends. Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice. We may have been ecstatic about the Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+ as it is all set to launch in India next week, however, Samsung is already busy developing another flagship phone for later this year. Samsung just confirmed that they are working on a high-end smartphone that may launch in the second half of the year. YouTube If we look at Samsungs patterns of launch dates for smartphones, there can only be the Galaxy Note 8 yet to launch later this year. In a financial press release for the first quarter of the year, Samsung said that the company plans to successfully launch a new flagship phone, later this year. YouTube As for the year ahead, Samsung anticipates market demand in smartphones to slightly increase with solid replacement demand growth in the mid- to high-end segment. However, competition is expected to intensify with newly launched smartphones in the market. The company will aim to improve performance YoY by maximising sales of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ and successfully launching a new flagship smartphone in the second half. In addition, the company will maintain profitability in the mid- to the low-end segment. Samsung said in a Press Release. YouTube Samsung did not specify that the Galaxy Note 8 in the press release, but we can already speculate that a new Galaxy Note is all set to launch in September this year. Since Samsung faced a hard time with the Note 7, it's no surprise that Samsung wants to successfully launch another flagship phone that might help people forget the Note 7 debacle. Source: BGR Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: Turkish Armed Forces struck back at positions of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) terrorist group in Northern Syria, Turkeys General Staff said in a message. Turkeys retaliatory strikes neutralized 11 PYD members. The neutralized PYD members earlier fired at a roadblock in Turkeys Urfa Province from the territory of Syria, according to the message. On Apr. 26, Turkish Armed Forces delivered retaliatory artillery strikes on positions of the PYD terrorist group in Northern Syria after PYD inflicted mortar strikes from the territory of Syria on two military posts in the Turkish province of Hatay. Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has claimed over 500,000 lives. Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The IS, YPG and PYD are the most active terrorist groups in Syria. China has told the Trump administration it warned North Korea it would impose unilateral sanctions should Pyongyang carry out another nuclear test, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday, in possibly China's toughest threat yet against its defiant neighbor.Tillerson, speaking on Fox News, said China has asked North Korea not to conduct any more nuclear tests, Reuters reported. He noted that major commemorations in North had passed in recent days without a feared nuclear test or test of any intercontinental ballistic missile. "And in fact we were told by the Chinese that they informed the regime that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own," Tillerson said, without specifying what sanctions he was referring to. Tillerson did not say when China made the threat and there was no immediate confirmation from Beijing. He is due to chair a meeting with U.N Security Council foreign ministers on Friday, where he said he would stress the need for members to fully implement existing sanctions as well as possible next steps. "We're going to be discussing what next steps may be necessary to increase the pressure on the regime," he said. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Tillerson's comments suggest that President Donald Trump's administration, which held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping this month, believes its efforts may have yielded a stronger line by Beijing against the North. China banned imports of North Korean coal in February, cutting off its most important export, and Chinese media this month raised the possibility of restricting oil shipments to the North if it unleashed more provocations. China earlier on Thursday welcomed an apparently softer tone by the United States on the North Korean nuclear and missile crisis but stressed its opposition to a U.S. missile defense system being deployed in South Korea. China has long promoted dialogue to resolve the Korean nuclear issue as North Korea has repeatedly threatened to destroy the United States. Washington has in turn warned that "all options are on the table" in ending North Korean provocations. But Tillerson was quoted telling National Public Radio as saying the United States would favor direct talks with the North, if it has "the right agenda." On Fox News, Tillerson said U.S. intelligence reports suggest North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was "not crazy," indicating he might be a rational actor who could be negotiated with. "He may be ruthless, he may be a murderer. He may be someone who in many respects we would say by our standards is irrational. But he is not insane," Tillerson said. The United States and Europe should become more involved in the situation in the Balkans to avoid a deterioration of the situation in the region, McCain said in an interview on Thursday, Sputnik reported. "Its when American leadership leaves that it creates vacuums and then bad things happen," McCain stated in the interview with Politico. "It cries out for American and European leadership. Tensions are up." McCain claimed President Donald Trump's administration has not yet acknowledged the risks of not engaging in the Balkans. He also noted that when it comes to US role in foreign conflicts, Trump largely relies on decisions of National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and other top defense officials. Moreover, McCain also alleged Trump continues to send uncertain messages on NATO to European allies. On Aptil 11, Trump signed the protocol on Montenegros accession to NATO, which was the final step in ratifying the document. Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias met with the Foreign Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Poposki, within the framework of today's Informal 'Gynmich' Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, in which the Foreign Ministers of countries that are candidates for accession to the EU also participated. During the meeting, the two Foreign Ministers discussed European and regional affairs and briefed each other on recent developments in the two countries. The 3rd Meeting of the Greece-United Arab Emirates Joint Interministerial Committee (JIC) will take place on 3 and 4 May, at the Athens Hilton, and will be co-chaired by Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos and UAE Minister of State Dr. Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Jaber. Fifty representatives of Ministries, Organizations and sectoral agencies will be participating on the Greek side, with 70 representatives of corresponding Ministries and agencies attending for the UAE. The central goal of the JIC is further development of Greek-UAE cooperation in sectors of shared interest (trade, investments, energy, tourism, etc.). The JIC proceedings will be completed on 4 May, with the official ceremony for the signing of the agreed minutes of the Meeting and bilateral agreements, as well as of memorandums of cooperation between agencies. The JIC proceedings will be followed by a Business conference with the participation of some 200 Greek and UAE enterprises. The Conference proceedings will be opened by Greece's Energy and Environment Minister, George Stathakis, and UAE Minister of State Dr. Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Jaber. The representatives of the two business communities will then be addressed by the Secretary General for International Economic Relations, Giorgos Tsipras, and remarks will also be delivered, from the Greek side, by the President of the Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Konstantinos Michalos, and Enterprise Greece's Deputy Director of Investment Support, Ilias Iliadis. The Conference proceedings will conclude with bilateral business meetings. N. KOTZIAS: Today, here in Malta, we began the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers with an extremely interesting discussion of the relations between Turkey and the European Union. We concluded that we do not want to break off this relationship. We will have to find ways to keep it going, but Turkey, too, will have to respect international law, international conventions and good neighbourly relations, as well as human rights and democratic processes. I think the message Turkey gets will be clear and within the framework of European principles and values. JOURNALIST: Did you discuss the unstable situation in Skopje? N. KOTZIAS: There hasn't been a discussion of Skopje so far. Only Ms. Mogherini remarked on the seriousness of the issue, and I made a comment, noting that what I told them two and a half years ago is being borne out; that is, that there needs to be a culture of understanding and compromise in order for the country's domestic problems to be resolved. I also said that this quality is lacking in the case of Turkey, as well, and because many people are discussing the domestic affairs in our neighbouring country, and developments following the referendum, I reminded them that Turkey has a specific foreign policy, regarding which they must show solidarity with us. President Donald Trump complained on Thursday that U.S. ally Saudi Arabia was not treating the United States fairly and Washington was losing a tremendous amount of money defending the kingdom, Reuters reported. In an interview with Reuters, Trump confirmed his administration was in talks about possible visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel in the second half of May. He is due to make his first trip abroad as president for a May 25 NATO summit in Brussels and could add other stops. "Frankly, Saudi Arabia has not treated us fairly, because we are losing a tremendous amount of money in defending Saudi Arabia, he said. Trumps criticism of Riyadh, the worlds top oil exporter, was a return to his 2016 election campaign rhetoric when he accused the kingdom of not pulling its weight in paying for the U.S. security umbrella. "Nobodys going to mess with Saudi Arabia because were watching them," Trump told a campaign rally in Wisconsin a year ago. Theyre not paying us a fair price. Were losing our shirt. Saudi Arabias powerful deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Trump last month in a meeting that was hailed by a senior Saudi adviser as a historical turning point in relations. The talks appeared to signal a meeting of the minds on many issues, including their shared view that Iran posed a regional security threat. Riyadh and other Gulf allies see in Trump a strong president who will shore up Washingtons role as their main strategic partner and help contain Riyadh's adversary Iran in a region central to U.S. security and energy interests, regional analysts said. Asked about the fight against Islamic State, which Saudi Arabia and other U.S. allies are confronting as a coalition, Trump said the militant group had to be defeated. "I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation," Trump said, when asked about what the endgame was for defeating Islamist violent extremism. "There is an end. Otherwise it's really tough. But there is an end," without detailing a strategy. A visit to Israel would reciprocate a White House visit in February by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to meet Trump next Wednesday in Washington. Irans Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan says the Islamic Republic reserves the right to give a crushing response to the recent terrorist crime against Iranian border guards serving on the countrys southeastern frontier, Press TV reported. While we reserve the right to give a firm response to such acts of terror, we call on Pakistani officials to arrest and punish the perpetrators of this crime at the earliest, Dehqan said on Friday. He added that Iran would follow up on the case through the Pakistani government. On Wednesday, 11 Iranian border guards were killed and three others injured in clashes near the town of Mirjaveh in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan-and-Baluchestan. The Pakistan-based Jaish ul-Adl terror group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement. North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on Saturday from a region north of its capital, but it appears to have failed, South Korea's military said, defying intense pressure from the United States and the reclusive state's main ally, China, Reuters reported. An official at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the launch but did not immediately have any further information. Yonhap news agency said the missile appeared to have blown up a few seconds into flight. The test came as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned the United Nations that failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs could lead to 'catastrophic consequences'. U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters in an interview on Thursday a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Trump praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping for "trying very hard" to rein in Pyongyang. But both China and Russia rebuked Washington's threat of military force at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the matter. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the 15-member council it was not only up to China to solve the North Korean problem. "The key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side," Wang told the council in blunt remarks that Tillerson later rebuffed. Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been rising as North Korea celebrates a number of key anniversaries, with both sides staging major military drills. In a show of force, the United States is sending the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula, where it will join the USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in South Korea on Tuesday. South Korea's navy has said it will hold drills with the U.S. strike group. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28 By Anakhanum Hidayatova Trend: PACEs decision to bring back monitoring of Turkeys commitment to its obligations to the Council of Europe is erroneous and unfair, Peter Tase, a political analyst and international relations expert with the Milwaukee-based Marquette University, told Trend Apr. 28. The EU has always failed to recognize the efforts of President Erdogans government to contain and dismantle ISIS in Syria and play an active role in the NATO alliance, said Tase. According to him, after the measures and the EU-UK discussions on Brexit, the reputation and effective democracy building in the continent by the European Union leadership and its institutions are being placed into doubt. The expert noted that EU leaders ought to take a peek at the rules of transparency and democracy building within EU institutions in Brussels. Their measures towards Ankara are absolutely unjustifiable and divert attention from the real challenges that are threatening the EU, such as the current situation in Macedonia, insecure borders, demographic crisis and poverty in Albania and Bulgaria, rampant unemployment levels in Portugal and corruption within the ranks of EU representatives in non-EU member countries, said Tase. Earlier, the majority of PACE members voted for adoption of a resolution bringing back monitoring on Turkey. Some 113 parliamentarians voted for the resolution, 45 voted against it, and 12 abstained. The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the PACE decision, calling it politicized and unfair. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum Four soldiers were injured in a landmine blast in southeastern Turkey on Friday, Anadolu reported. The four were slightly wounded when a landmine planted by terrorists in the Semdinli district of Hakkari province went off. The injured were airlifted to Hakkari State Hospital, the source added. Meanwhile, five female PKK terrorists were killed in an ongoing military operation in the eastern province of Tunceli, according to a statement issued by Turkish military on Friday. 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. To the editor: On May 2, 2017, a referendum to vote on borrowing a sum not to exceed $275,000, payable not to exceed 15 years for the purpose of acquiring a new Port Austin Township Hall takes place. The portaustintownship.com website offers factual information about this project. Voters may also call the Townships office 989-738-6808 for updated information. I urge a yes vote on this referendum. In 15 years, the township taxpayers would own their own building. The township would then be in compliance with Michigan laws requiring: 1. Secure storage of all township data. 2. Elections to be held in a publicly-owned township building. A yes vote would not require additional tax assessments because township mortgage payments will be made in the same way as rent and property taxes have been paid in the past. With a yes vote, Port Austin Township voters would be looking at a future of no rental payments, and after 15 years, a township-owned building. Judy Beam Port Austin To the editor: When will it end? In doing some checking, I found my property tax has almost doubled in 10 years. We all know the national debt has doubled in eight years. When my license for the car came, the cost had gone from $120 to $193. Has your income kept up with this kind of increase? I know mine has not. I realize everything is getting more expensive, but when the government is involved, it seems to go faster. President Reagan said, Government is not the solution to our problems. Government is the problem. Energy Independence Michigan paid for a flyer that came to my mail box which read, wind powers Huron Countys economy without raising taxes today. So why did mine go up? When I asked at a board of review why taxes werent going down, I was told, Valuations had to go up to keep getting wind money. Im sure it is taxpayer money that is being used to build the turbines. They arent playing Santa when they say they are contributing to our schools, roads, libraries, etc. Its already our money, and they stand to profit big time, unless you vote no on May 2. Huron County and my township has good roads because the people have voted the millage when needed. The same with out schools. So did we need turbines for that reason? An Amish friend told me, there is a difference between want and need. When you have to look for places to spend money for things you never had before, is it a want or a need? Does a salary increase to the bureaucrats make them better? Has education? When will it end? Dont let the devil steal your soul. Money isnt everything. Vote no. Im not being a sore head because I dont have a turbine. I dont want one. Under the threat of eminent domain, I was forced to take the big transmission line. Because of the placement of the substation, I was forced to take two lines rather than one. Because of politics, the company wouldnt place the poles where we would have preferred them to be, and as a result, we now have poles and a tower that is next to impossible to work around. We have compacted soil that will probably take 10 years to ever produce again. Broken tiles that have never been paid for. Top soil from the field was pushed into the ditch to make them a culvert to enter the field. The contract states the land will be restored to its original condition but it hasnt. The special election on May 2 is very unfair. Only five townships, Siegel, Sherman, Bloomfield, Dwight and Lincoln are being told by 11 county-zoned townships whether or they should have to put up more turbines and not have a say as to any of the restrictions. Whatever happened to Do onto others as you would have them do unto you? Please help us vote no. We already can see turbines and flashing lights from here to Bay City. What will it look like if we put up more? Has anyone ever been told what will happen when the turbines die? Will the money still be there, or will they just become eye sores? Dont believe everything you hear from the wind energy company. Lots of us have learned the hard way vote no. President Kennedy said, ask not what the country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country. What are we leaving our grandchildren and great-grandchildren and future generations other than a big debt? Dont let greed for money do this to them. The commissioners acted too fast. Wanting the money without thought to the problems that might be created. Flicker, noise, and health problems for people and animals should have been studied. Vote no on May 2. Donald Schuman Bad Axe Officials believe that live-streaming classes on the Internet helps keep an eye on misbehaving students. (Photo : Getty Images) Thousands of schools in China have installed webcams in their classrooms to catch students daydreaming during classes, an article by the New York Times reported. Aside from simply recording videos, some of the schools have taken to live-stream the videos on public websites as a means to encourage students from actively participating in class. Officials also believe that live-streaming classes on the Internet helps keep an eye on misbehaving students. Advertisement In addition, round-the-clock supervision from strangers is believed to boost the students self-esteem, so much so that some schools have made live-streaming a part of their teaching model. When you tell them, Its possible your parents might be behind your back watching, its like a sword hanging over their heads, Zhao Weifeng, a director of a private school in Jiangsu Province, told the New York Times. Having surveillance makes children behave better, Zhao added. Despite the good intentions, however, some of the students subjected to the practice have voiced out their objection, claiming it as a violation of their right to privacy. I hate it, shared 17-year-old Ding Yue, a senior at Yuzhou No. 1 High in Xuchang, Henan Province. I feel like we are zoo animals. Experts have also added that live-streaming classes online will make the youth all the more sensitive to surveillance, especially since they live in the age of Internet censorship and outdoor security cameras. If classrooms are under surveillance at all times, instruction will definitely be influenced by outside factors and the opinions of whoever is watching, Xiong Bingqi, vice president of the influential think thank 21st Century Education Research Institute, told the New York Times. The Beijing News recently released an expose about the practice, prompting several schools to stop broadcasting videos of classes on the Internet. Still, more schools are unnerved by the critical article and continue to live-stream videos online. These broadcasts are quite popular, attracting hundreds of viewers in Chinas wide selection of live-streaming platforms. The most popular is Shuidi, owned by Qihoo 360 Technology, a company that sells webcams and software. 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... About 2.6 percent of married male troops divorced last year, marking no change to the rate since 2013, while the rate among female service members slightly climbed from 6.2 percent in 2015 to 6.6 percent in 2016. The military divorce rate is calculated by comparing the number of troops listed as married in the Pentagon's personnel system at the beginning of the fiscal year with the number who report divorces over the year. The information is managed and compiled by the Defense Manpower Data Center. The overall divorce rate was 3.1 percent, barely changed from 3 percent in 2015. Experts prefer to analyze the divorce rates of male and female troops separately because they vary so greatly. "For the men, it's quite stable," said Benjamin Karney, a researcher with RAND Corp. who has studied military divorce. "But for the women, this wasn't a great year. You see a notable increase in every active-duty service, and you see the end of what had been a yearly decline in the Army." The largest changes came among female enlisted troops, who have traditionally shown rates more than double that of their male counterparts. For example, 2.8 of male enlisted soldiers divorced over 2016, compared to 8 percent of female enlisted soldiers. The only service to see an overall divorce increase in 2016 was the Marine Corps. All categories of male and female Marines experienced an increase, with a jump from 2.3 percent to 2.8 percent among male Marines, and from 6.4 percent to 7.7 percent among women. That change, Karney said, could indicate something negative is pressuring marriages in the Marine Corps. "When you see a trend that appears for the men and the women, that suggests something real is happening there," he said. The divorce rate among military personnel and the total U.S. divorce rate cannot be easily compared because they are not measured the same way. The total U.S. divorce rate, which is measured per 1,000 residents and does not factor in five states including California, sat at 3.2 percent in 2014, the latest year for which information is available. Pentagon officials said the rates are a reminder of the sacrifice of military life. "Military families are unique and make tremendous sacrifices on behalf of their loved ones in uniform. Strong relationships are important to our readiness, and the Defense Department provides a wide range of support for our troops and their family members," Army Lt. Col. Myles Caggins, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement. "At times, the military life brings the joys of promotions, stress of deployments, and adventure of travel; along each step of the journey, military family members are a bedrock of support and encouragement. We value them." Karney cautioned against using the divorce rates to judge the effectiveness of military marriage support programs offered by the Pentagon. Instead, he said, other factors such as the economy and counseling offered outside the military must also be examined. "These data are an inadequate way of evaluating the support," he said. -- Amy Bushatz can be reached at amy.bushatz@military.com. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators from four different states is calling on Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to find the money for three new littoral combat ships in next year's defense budget. In a letter sent Friday, the eight senators representing Alabama, Michigan, Florida and Wisconsin petitioned Mattis to keep to the LCS requirement in the Navy's December 2016 Force Structure Assessment. The list includes Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio of Florida; Richard Shelby and Luther Strange of Alabama; Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin; and Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. The 2016 assessment was a reversal of then-Defense Secretary Ashton Carter's mandate to cut the LCS/future frigate acquisition program from 52 ships to 40, with a down-select from two shipbuilders to one by fiscal 2019. "The opportunity exists in the LCS program now to ensure industrial base stability at two shipyards and also among the 1,200 suppliers in 45 states and the greater than 21,000 men and women who support this important work," the lawmakers wrote. "Leveraging these current investments is a good deal for the U.S. taxpayer and will provide greater capability to our fleet in a shorter timeframe." All four states that the senators represent have close ties to the littoral combat ship program. The Independence-class variant of the ship is built at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, while the Lockheed Martin-made Freedom-class variant is built at Marinette Marine, in Marinette, Wisconsin. The Navy plans to base all 13 planned Freedom-class ships at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, making the LCS a key component of military presence for the state. And littoral combat ships have undergone sea trials in Lake Michigan, which borders Marinette. One of the ships, the Freedom-class USS Detroit, is named for Michigan's capital city. Elsewhere in the Senate, the LCS program is much less popular. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, has been outspoken in his criticism of the LCS design and strategy, citing massive cost overruns earlier in the program and oversight agencies that continue to fault the LCS for failings in survivability and lethality. McCain has advocated scrapping the current LCS design plan in order to compete for a fresh design on the Navy's future frigate. Currently, the planned frigate is simply a variant on the LCS, with additional firepower and defensive capability. For now, the possibility of a future down-select remains up in the air. Some have said the move to a single shipbuilder should happen as soon as fiscal 2018, but three recent fleet architecture studies have all called for significant ramp-ups in shipbuilding, which will likely affect decision-making. Earlier this week, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said the Navy will in coming weeks release a document laying out a way forward for the future fleet. The letter writers argued that cutting the LCS buy now could end up being costlier for the Defense Department in the long run. "We are concerned that a funding level lower than this will risk interruptions to the highly trained workforce currently employed, that would take time and funding to reconstitute," the senators wrote. "We are also concerned that such a disruption could needlessly add costs and time as the Navy builds toward the president's stated goal of achieving a 350-ship Navy." Mattis has yet to comment publicly on the LCS program. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck. Related Video: Two Army Rangers -- Sgts. Joshua Rodgers and Cameron Thomas -- may have been killed by friendly fire while conducting a night raid against an ISIS affiliate in eastern Afghanistan, the Pentagon said Friday. In releasing the identities of Rodgers, 22, of Bloomington, Illinois, and Thomas, 23, of Kettering, Ohio, the Pentagon also said that the Army had begun a fact-finding Article 15-6 investigation into the circumstances of their deaths in Nangarhar province, less than a mile from the site where the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb was dropped April 13. "It is possible these Rangers were struck by friendly fire" at the outset of a three-hour firefight against fighters of the offshoot of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria known as Islamic State-Khorasan Province, or ISIS-K, said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman. Initial reports from the scene indicated that if it was friendly fire, it was not intentional, Davis said in playing down the possibility that Rodgers and Thomas may have been victims of a "green on blue" incident in which Afghan soldiers turned on their American advisers. In a statement, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan also said that Rodgers and Thomas may have fallen to friendly fire. "We have informed both of their families of this possibility, and we have appointed a team to investigate the soldiers' deaths," the statement said. U.S. Forces-Afghanistan said the main target of the raid was Abdul Hasib, the so-called "Emir" of ISIS-K who "exercised command and control over operations involving ISIS-K and their connections with the larger ISIS network." Davis said Hasib may have been killed in the raid, but there was no immediate confirmation. The raid began at about 10:30 p.m. local time as the assault force was inserted by helicopter in the Achin district of Nangarhar province and almost immediately came under fire from multiple directions. However, the Rangers and Afghan troops pressed on with the assault and killed as many as 35 of the ISIS-K fighters, Davis said. During the assault, the Rangers and the Afghan forces had close-air support from AC-130 gunships, Apache attack helicopters and F-16 fighters, Davis said. "If confirmed, the death of the 'Emir' and his associates will significantly degrade ISIS-K operations in Afghanistan and help reach our goal of destroying them in 2017," U.S. Forces-Afghanistan said. Both Rodgers and Thomas joined the Army out of high school, and both were serving on their third overseas deployment, the service said in a statement. After graduating from high school, Rodgers enlisted from his hometown of Bloomington, Illinois, in August 2013, and completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, as an infantryman, the Army said. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course, Rodgers was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 1, also at Benning. He graduated from RASP 1 and was then assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, where he served as a machine gunner, semi-automatic gunner, gun team leader and Ranger team leader, the Army said. Rodgers' awards and decorations included the Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge and the Marksmanship Qualification Badge Expert-Rifle. He was also awarded the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal. Thomas was born in August 1993 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After graduating from high school, he enlisted from his hometown of Kettering, Ohio, in February 2012, and completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning as an infantryman. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course at Benning, Thomas graduated from RASP 1 and was then assigned to Company D, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, where he served as an automatic rifleman, grenadier, and anti-armor specialist, the Army said. Thomas' awards and decorations included the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal. In the battle in which Rodgers and Thomas lost their lives, a third Ranger was wounded but was able to continue the fight, Davis said. The deaths of Rodgers and Thomas bring the total number of U.S. troops killed in combat this year in Afghanistan to three. All were Special Forces. Earlier this month, in the same area of Nangarhar province, Army Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar, 37, of Edgewood, Maryland, was killed in a firefight with ISIS-K fighters. He died of injuries sustained when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire during combat operations, according to an April 10 Defense Department press release. De Alencar was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. In a statement, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said, "The families and fellow Rangers of Sgt. Joshua 'Josh' Rodgers and Sgt. Cameron Thomas have my respect and sympathies. Fighting alongside their Afghan partners, Josh and Cameron proved themselves willing to go into danger and impose a brutal cost on enemies in their path. "They carried out their operation against ISIS-K in Afghanistan before making the ultimate sacrifice to defend our nation and our freedoms. Our nation owes them an irredeemable debt, and we give our deepest condolences to their families," Mattis said. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. How do you know when to separate from your spouse or when to call it quits? In almost every scenario, I tell a couple to fight for their relationship. Too often, I see couples give up. It's one of the reasons I passionately remind couples of their vows. Marriage, I believe, gets better only when you work hard and grow closer through difficult times. But there are a few, albeit relatively rare, situations where you will hear me deliver a different message: one when I say "leave." Every relationship has unique dynamics and variables. There is no black-and-white rule book that tells you what to do or when to separate or divorce. Ultimately, it is your decision, and any therapist will tell you that. But many who need to make a decision like this hesitate because there is "too much at stake," they say. Fear of your service member losing their career, the loss of military health benefits, violence or the loss of your dream can keep you from seeing your situation clearly. For this reason, I encourage anyone considering divorce to consult with a third-party professional, pastor or therapist to help you navigate a permanent decision. That's why instead of telling you how to know if your relationship is over, which seems scary and permanent, these are instead examples of when to consider separation. Oftentimes, distance can provide safety, clarity, support and the ability to make a decision that feels right for you and your family. When to Separate: If There Is Abuse As easy or obvious as this sounds, it is never easy for the person in that situation. If you believe that you are in a sexually or physically abusive relationship, seek a professional to help you establish a plan for safety. If you are unsure what that abuse might look like, here is more information. Physical abuse is usually entangled with emotional abuse, making it difficult to leave -- especially if your life has been threatened. Even if the abuser is regretful, eventually the cycle of abuse will continue. Whatever reasons are keeping you from getting the space you need to find safety and clarity, they are not as important as you and your spirit. Remember, we are not talking about divorce papers, just gaining enough distance to find clarity and resources. Food, shelter and safety are your main priorities. Important note: If children are in the home, enabling contact with the abuser can show an inability to protect them from harm. Your main responsibility is to protect them before saving your marriage. Emotional abuse is more complicated to sort through than physical abuse. There are times when extreme manipulation, cruelty and controlling behavior make it imperative to your health to leave. Other times, spouses believe there is emotional abuse only to discover through professional help that the relationship is salvageable. Talk with a professional to help you decipher. When to Separate: If There Is Addiction Without Recovery The topic of addiction is very complicated. It is hard enough to watch your spouse struggle with a disease, but living with the consequences of that disease is even harder. Regardless of what the addiction is (sex, pornography, alcohol, etc.), recovery is a roller coaster for everyone. It is true that recovery is easier when the individual has a strong support system, but only when that person has admitted that they have a problem and are seeking help. But If you are living with the consequences of your spouse's addiction and they show no signs of wanting help or recovery, it may be a good time to implement the natural consequences of distance. Again, we are not talking divorce papers unless you have received help making that decision. If you haven't already, communicate clearly and firmly your desire for your spouse to get help, as well as the destructive consequences of their behavior (financial stress, broken trust, the family feeling unsafe, etc.). Then, if your spouse continues to be unwilling to get help, separating is a physical representation of what has already happened emotionally in the marriage. Sometimes, the addict will realize you are serious about moving toward a more permanent separation if they continue to be resistant. If you have children in the home, take very seriously the behaviors they have witnessed in making your decision. When to Separate: If Irreparable Destruction Has Occurred I hesitate to reference this one because it is easy to label your current pain as "irreparable," or not able to be repaired, when it may be possible to save your marriage. Making this decision takes confirmation from professionals around you (sorry, family members are not unbiased professionals). There are some situations that are so destructive, that separation is not only recommended, it is crucial to begin healing. Spouses living double lives, evil manipulation or violence, extensive un-remorseful infidelity, or cruel mistreatment within the marriage are all very difficult to repair. The overwhelming destruction of these scenarios often includes abuse or addiction, but not always. If you are asking "when is enough, enough?" the deeper question is usually about whether you will have guilt or regret making this decision. It is normal to want to know if there is anything else you could have done to save the marriage. Taking a step away can be a less intimidating way to show you are ready to take care of yourself. You deserve to make this decision carefully with support around you so you are completely assured that it is the right decision. Keep Up with the Ins and Outs of Military Life For the latest military news and tips on military family benefits and more, subscribe to Military.com and have the information you need delivered directly to your inbox. I spend a lot of time at job fairs and career expos these days. I am not looking for a job, but part of my current role is to help veterans, servicemembers and their families find new career opportunities. Military.com and NCOA host 45 Career Expos annually, and I have the privilege to attend many of these. Here is a key tactic that most that most jobseekers overlook when attending a job or career fair: Stop at every table! One mistake we all make on occasion is to generalize. For example, people assume that health care companies are only hiring health care workers, or that insurance companies only need agents. So when they encounter these tables or displays, they typically say nothing and keep moving. Here are three great reasons why one should visit every exhibit at a job or career fair. 1. Help Wanted but perhaps not the jobs you think Recently, at one of our CareerExpos, I approached the University of North Carolina Health Care System table and ask them what there were looking to hire. The representative was quick to state: "Well, our biggest need is carpenters and plumbers." I was shocked! As I began to learn what the UNC Health Care System did, it made perfect sense. As the largest health care provider in the state of North Carolina, the System owns dozens of facilities; therefore they require a large cadre of licensed trade professionals. My point here is: How many people walked by that table, assuming the only openings would be for health-related professions? Without the "stop at every table" strategy, I know I would have. One never knows the need of an organization unless he or she asks. So, it is crucial for attendees to stop at every table, learn more about the company, and ask what they may be seeking. 2. License to Thrill Sell yourself Along with getting to know more about organizations and companies, I encourage attendees with this advice: "Today, you have permission to be an extrovert and your own agent! No one should be able to market YOU better than YOU CAN!" Attendees sometimes tell us that they wait in line to talk to people at the tables, only to feel frustrated because they are told to apply online. I explain that this is an opportunity for one to make a lasting impression on that representative. True, those who are manning these tables may not be the hiring authority, but they certainly know that person very well! Would it not be great for them to return to the corporate office asking that hiring manager to find the application of a dynamic, confident applicant who really impacted them? Talk about a leg up on the competition! 3. Vocational Nirvana Your dream career awaits I like to get feedback on how we did at our events, so I ask people for their thoughts as they are leaving the exhibit hall. I met a veteran in San Antonio at the door. I will call him Joe. He was quick to tell me that he was disappointed because he did not find any law enforcement agencies among our exhibitors. I asked him if he talked with USAA. Why should Joe talk with an insurance agency? Because USAA's Headquarters is located on a 200 acre campus in North West San Antonio . They have, in essence, their own police force! Joe had no idea, because he did not visit every table. I was eager to take him back over to USAA, and he left that day a satisfied customer! The heart of this matter is summarized this way: Your mission is fact finding and networking. By spending time at each table, one learns to overcome stereotypes which lead to erroneous assumptions. More importantly, that career path and perhaps dream job may never materialize all because a seeker did not take the time to investigate opportunities. --- Dr. Randy Plunkett has used tuition assistance, the GI Bill and scholarships in his quest to obtain college and graduate education. Prior to retiring from the Air Force in 2004 as a Senior Master Sergeant (E-8), he earned a Doctorate of Education in Educational Innovation and Leadership from Wilmington University in New Castle, DE. An ardent advocate for issues pertaining to service members, veterans, and their families, Dr. Plunkett is a popular speaker at conferences, graduations, and military functions. Dictionaries are displayed in a bookstore in Beijing. (Photo : Getty Images) Bookstores across China are slowly reinventing themselves to cope up with the growing culture of consumer spending in the country, Xinhua reported. Advertisement Instead of labeling themselves as just bookstores, more establishments are going for the image of a cultural hub or a knowledge center. This image includes hosting more cultural events such as themed lectures and photo exhibitions aside from the usual book-signing and meet-and-greet gigs. Bookstores today are not just stores but public spaces where people can relax, 20-year-old Gao Hengrui told Xinhua. One of the bookstores that have reinvented themselves is CITIC Books. A book chain owned by CITIC Group, CITIC Books has set itself apart from the competition by providing additional services. For example, corporate executives can come in to any CITIC Books outlet to avail of customized services. Employees will take into consideration their personal interests, age and other characteristics to curate a selection of books fitting for the individual. This attention makes it convenient for customers who dont want to spend too much time browsing the aisles for interesting titles. Bookstores are not just selling products now. In fact, they are selling lifestyle, said Fang Xi, the general manager of CITIC Books. CITIC Press, CITIC Bookss parent company, managed to earn a net profit of 128 million yuan in 2016. Company executives believe appealing to a niche market will help the company maximize its growth potential in 2017, with 60 more stores slated to open this year. Not that long ago, big companies in China had all the power to determine what products would be made available to the market, Chang Zhenming, CITIC Group chairman, stated in the CITIC annual report. That era is long gone, and consumption models have changed to reflect the primacy of customer desire. Fang added, The change in bookstore culture exactly reflects whats going on in the economy." South Korean conglomerate Lotte has been badly hit by China's sanctions due to the THAAD issue. (Photo : Getty Images News) South Korea is learning that it shouldnt mess with China the hard way as the countrys tourism industry continues to experience a decline, according to a report by CNN. Many experts believe that Chinese authorities have ordered Chinese travel agencies to cancel tours and trips to South Korea as a response to the presence of a U.S.-made missile defense system in the country. Advertisement The result is a 40 percent drop in Chinese visitors to South Korea last March, based on data from the Korea Tourism Organization. Theres been a big reduction in the number of groups of Chinese tourists in Seoul since the THAAD missile crisis, Kil Ki-yon, director of Seoul Tiger Bus, told CNN in an interview. Businesses that usually benefit from the huge numbers of Chinese tourists to South Korea are also suffering. One of these companies is giant conglomerate Lotte. According to CNN, sales from Lottes duty-free stores have decreased by 40 percent between mid-March and mid-April. Chinese tourists come into the picture as the group tends to make up at least 40 percent of duty-free sales, as told by a Lotte spokesman. The situation is unfortunate for South Korea as China is experiencing a significant increase in outbound travel, mostly fueled by Chinas growing middle class. In 2016 alone, Chinese tourists spent a total of $261 billion, which represents a 12 percent increase from 2015, according to the World Tourism Organization. As of now, experts believe that South Koreas airports will most likely not welcome any Chinese tourists. Tensions between China and South Korea over the THAAD issue show no signs of abating, especially now that the South Korean Defense Ministry announced the arrival of system parts at a planned deployment site. In response to the announcement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released an official statement, saying, China will firmly take necessary measures to safeguard its own interests. 2017 Time 100 Gala - Red Carpet (Photo : Getty Images/Dimitrious Kambouris ) Hollywood may have treated Chinese actress Fan Bingbing like a flower vase when she was given only one line to say in X-Men: Days of Future Past. But not in Cannes where she was just named a juror to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Pedro Almodovar, a Spanish director, would be the jury president of the 70th Cannes Film Festival. Fan Bingbing is one of the eight jury members whom the festival organizers named on Tuesday. Besides Fan Bingbing, the other jurors are American actor Will Smith, veteran Cannes jurors Park Chan-Wook from South Korea and Paolo Sorrentino from Italy, German director Maren Ade, French filmmaker Agnes Jaoui, French composer Gabriel Yared and American actress Jessica Chastain, China.org reported. Advertisement The 70th Cannes Film Festival will be from May 17 through May 28. The closing ceremony would be held on May 28 when the Palme dor would be awarded. Fan Bingbing said she is grateful to Cannes for choosing her to be one of the eight jurors. Because she considers the Cannes Film Festival the greatest sacred palace of film art, she feels the pressure. However, she added, the juror role is also a precious opportunity to learn, and to see the best films of the world for a year. Fan Bingbing is certainly qualified to be a juror because of her long career as an international actress. She has also received awards in international film festivals such as the Best Actress Awards at the San Sebastian Film Festival and the 11th Asian Film Festival for the starring role in the 2016 movie I Am not Madame Bovary, Shanghai Daily reported. Among her TV and film portfolio are My Fair Princess in 1998, Cell Phone in 2003, Lost in Beijing in 2007, Buddha Mountain in 2011 and Double Xposure in 2012. China launches first domestically made aircraft carrier. (Photo : Twitter) The Ministry of National Defense launched a domestically built aircraft carrier second to the Liaoning, an old Soviet-built ship that was extensively refurbished in 2012. The new carrier is yet to be named and has a size that can match up to its English and American counterparts. The Chinese carrier has a capacity to carry 60 planes like those owned by the Americans. Advertisement Queen Elizabeth, the aircraft carrier of England, has a capacity of 40 planes. The Russian carrier can carry 50 planes. The new Chinese carrier started construction in 2013 and will be formally commissioned in 2020. The ship will be undergoing trials and will still need air complements. The launch of the aircraft carrier is part of the intensified military program pushed by President Xi Jinping and a naval expansion that will operate in the South China Sea. Michael Chase, an expert on the Chinese military at U.S. think tank the RAND Corporation, thinks that the aircraft carrier will be impressing much Chinese locally as well as the international community. Chase said, "The new carrier is likely to be seen as further evidence of China's desire to become the most powerful and influential country in the region." Ian Easton, a research Fellow at The Project 2049 Institute in Arlington, Vermont, thinks that China is starting to show aggressive efforts in the South China Sea and will undermine the military capabilities of Japan and Taiwan. However, Geng Shuang, the spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, said that the country is purely defensive and "sticks to the path of peaceful development." He added, "The purpose to develop national defense forces including the navy is to safeguard our national sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as the peace of the world." The new aircraft's predecessor, the Liaoning, was a ship that was purchased from Ukraine. China then said that it was purchased for experimental purposes but was later engaging in live-fire exercises in the South China Sea. Canada Woos China to Buy Its Softwood as US Imposes Duties on Lumber Imports Canada's Lumber Industry (Photo : Getty Images) Canadian International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, along with representatives of its softwood lumber industry, arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, April 25, to find a new market for Canadian softwood, the Calgary Herald reported. Advertisement Canada's move to court China came after the U.S. announced that it would impose duties of up to 24 percent on Canadian lumber imports, the report said. "This is caused by a protectionist industry in the U.S.," Champagne said in an interview. "My answer to that is we are looking at all sorts of options to obviously support our industry." "If our industry becomes more diversified, that's going to help, and we won't find ourselves in the same position going forward," the minister added. According to Champagne, softwood is an environment-friendly building material that can help China address its housing needs while keeping greenhouse gas emissions low. "There's an imperative in China to have more green building material. That's exactly what we're here for," the minister said. Observers, however, noted that Canada has to establish a better policy to engage with China, and it should avoid making random proposals when its interests are threatened by the U.S. But according to Wenran Jiang, a University of Alberta expert on China, this mistake has been committed by previous liberal governments, such as the meeting between former Prime Minister Paul Martin and China's Hu Jintao in Sept. 2005. Jiang also cited former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper's move to get Chinese customers for its oil, which was canceled after the U.S., under Obama, delayed the decision on the proposed pipeline. "We need a strategy," said Jiang. "Otherwise, we fall back into the traditional kind of dynamics: we go to China when we need to, when we face barriers with the U.S., and when times are a little bit better we forget about China." For the first time in 2011, China became the top softwood lumber exporter of British Columbia, but the exports have declined, compared with the U.S. Jiang added that Canada's efforts to have a free trade deal with Canada, as well as its partnership on climate change, can help further strengthen the economic relations between the two countries. Germany Urges China to Open Its Market One Step at a Time China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (Photo : Getty Images) Germanys Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has stated that Chinas efforts to open its market should be taken step by step and not hastily done, according to a report by Xinhua. The recent remarks were made during a press conference with Chinas Wang Yi after a third round of discussions on the two countries diplomacy and security strategy. Advertisement During the discussion, the two countries agree to further develop their strategic partnership and prepare for upcoming high-level visits. In addition, they pledge to promote efficient and effective communication channels. According to Gabriel, Germany remains optimistic that China will continue pursuing its opening-up policy as an open market and equal partnership are what both countries aspire to achieve. Furthermore, he states that since China is one of Germanys closest partners, the two countries should make every effort to continuously cultivate bilateral ties and mutual trust. For his part, Wang acknowledges and appreciates the positive reception of Germany toward China. The two countries have achieved consensus in sealing the China-EU agreement, opening opportunities for free trade cooperation. Defending free trade, reversing protectionism Amid rising sentiments against globalization and trade, China and Germany are determined to ensure that the world order continues to foster openness, inclusiveness, cooperation and win-win results, according to Xinhua. As the second and fourth largest economies in the world, Wang states that the two sides play a key role in not only European and Asian affairs but also global governance. According to Wang, China is confident that Germany will remain committed to stability on the European continent, despite the recent developments in many countries such as France and Britain that potentially threaten further European integration. China aims to work with Germany and the whole of Europe to offset political and economic uncertainties within the region and also the world as a whole. China's C919 Large Commercial Jetliner (Photo : Getty Images) Although China's C919, the country's first homemade large commercial aircraft, passed the final test to be ready for its maiden flight, some analysts believe it would still take time for China's C919 fleet to be exported and used in other countries, according to a Forbes article. Advertisement The report said that while it could have been easy for China to sell the C919 jets to domestic airlines or export them to clients in Asia or Africa, this did not happen. Analysts said it would take about more than a decade to convince airline companies to buy the Chinese jetliner because most of them have been accustomed to using planes made by European and American aircraft manufacturers. According to Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at Teal Group Corp., a U.S.-based aerospace and defense market research firm, one of the problems is technology. He pointed out that state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) should also refrain from requiring suppliers to "surrender their intellectual property" if it needs new technology. Aboulafia said that COMAC, which has a budget of $9.5 billion, has spent seven years to design the aircraft. But now it must spend billions more to match the quality and reliability of its foreign rivals. "It isn't clear that COMAC will be able to make this massive investment in the next decade," Aboulafia noted. In Nov. 2015, China delivered its first jetliner, the ARJ21, to a Chinese carrier, but its tests and certificates caused delays in its release, the report said. Aboulafia said that COMAC may have been anticipating the same shortfall. However, the Teal Group said that the state-owned corporation is planning to sell 2,300 aircraft. Analysts also pointed out that COMAC does not enjoy the same popularity as Boeing, and China is not also known as a country that manufactures planes. "When it comes to designing and building such a big aircraft, especially one that has to meet international standards for safety, this is all pretty much uncharted territory for the Chinese," said Richard Bitzinger, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. Bitzinger also noted that airlines from other countries have not placed an order for the C919. "I think you will see a lot of hesitation on the part of foreign airlines when it comes to buying this aircraft," he added. "Airlines just feel more comfortable going with an established leader. They know their passengers will feel more secure." Shukor Yusof, the founder of Malaysia-based aviation consultancy Endau Analytics, said that in terms of cost, efficiency or reliability, Boeing or Airbus is unmatched by rivals. "Apart from selling the plane in mainland China and possibly to some emerging economies in Africa, I don't see it posing a threat to the major manufacturers any time in the near to mid-term," Yusof said. He said that the C919 may not see a large market for at least 10 or 20 years. An appeals court in Senegal upheld the life sentence of former Chad dictator Hissene Habre on war crimes and crimes against humanity charges, bringing to an end a landmark trial pursued by victims for more than 16 years. The court also ruled Thursday that millions of dollars of compensation awarded to more than 4,000 victims would be managed by a trust fund. Head appeal Judge Ougadeye Wafi said the fund will manage more than 82 billion CFA ($135 million) owed to victims who have been seeking justice since they were released from prison in 1990 when Habre fled Chad. The compensation for victims should come from the seizure of Habre's assets and it is not clear how quickly that will happen. The 74-year-old Habre's conviction was the first of a former head of state by an African court for crimes against humanity. The trial itself was also the first in which courts of one country prosecuted the former ruler of another for alleged human rights crimes. The court dropped the rape conviction against Habre because the charge was introduced during the trial, said Wafi, though he said they believed the accounts of a witness who said she was personally raped by Habre. "I have been fighting for this day since I walked out of prison more than 26 years ago. Today I am finally at peace. I hope that all the dictators in Africa take notice no one is above the law!" said Souleymane Guengueng, who began collecting accounts of survivors not long after being freed from prison in 1990, and founded the Association of Victims of Crimes of the Regime of Hissene Habre. Clement Abaifouta, now the president of the association and a former prisoner who was forced to bury dead inmates, said this was the beginning of something new. "Today is a great and a famous day for all victims. I am dreaming of now building a new society without the violence, a new society with democracy and with respect for human beings," he said. Victims and survivors have been pursuing the case against their former leader for more than 16 years and some have been collecting stories for more than 26 years in hopes this day would come. Over 90 witnesses testified in the trial that began in July 2015. Prosecutors presented evidence, including files of Habre's own political police, documents in his own handwriting and testimonies from those who received his orders. The Extraordinary African Chambers, created by the African Union and Senegal to try Habre, found him guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment in May for crimes committed during his presidency from 1982-1990. The court later ordered him to pay tens of millions of dollars in compensation to victims. Habre had lived a life of luxury in Senegal's capital of Dakar after fleeing Chad in 1990 until he was charged in 2013. Habre dismissed the trial as politically motivated and his defense lawyers refused to appear during the trial. He was escorted out of the trial on the first day of witness testimony for shouting. Court-appointed lawyers, however, represented him and appealed the conviction, alleging that one of the trial court judges should not have been appointed given his background as a prosecutor, and that there were several errors of fact and law. "A lot of deception," said one of Habre's court-appointed lawyers Mounir Ballal after the appeals court verdict. "The only satisfaction ... was the question of the incrimination of rape," which was dropped. Lawyers for his alleged victims also appealed, calling for the reparations to be managed by a trust fund. The African Union set up a trust fund during the trial, and will now manage gathering funds with international partners and finding Habre's assets. A 1992 Chadian Truth Commission accused Habre's government of systematic torture, saying 40,000 people died during his rule. Habre was first indicted by a Senegalese judge in 2000, but legal twists and turns over a decade saw the case go to Belgium and then finally back to Senegal after unwavering pursuit by the survivors. The International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, cannot prosecute crimes committed before it was established in 2002. "Habre's final conviction after 26 years is a crowning victory for his Chadian victims, without whose tenacity his trial never would have taken place," said international rights lawyer Reed Brody, a member of the International Commission of Jurists who has worked with Habre's victims since 1999. Search Keywords: Short link: Moneyontrol News The proposal to offer assured returns on market-linked pension plans by PFRDA is facing resistance from fund managers and regulators, says a source-based media report. This month, the matter was taken up in the Financial and Development Council (FSDC) meeting. PFRDA has proposed an inter-regulatory committee to resolve the issue, says a Livemint report. One of the modalities being considered for this product is to offer it as an annuity product but Irdai is not in favour, a source said. Annuity investments which entitles a series of annual sums is offered by insurance companies in India. In 2016, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) had floated the proposal of a market-linked pension product with minimum assured return. The source, with direct knowledge of the matter, said banking regulator, markets regulator and insurance regulator are opposing the proposal. Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is against the idea as liability of an assured return could fall on asset management companies sponsoring pension funds. The central bank is not in favor as assured returns could be considered debt security disguised as equity, says the report. Even when PFRDA had floated the idea, SEBI had opposed it. According to previous reports, the market regulator had raised concerns with the pension regulator, Finance Ministry and the FSDC. All pension funds except funds by mutual funds had agreed to participate in the scheme. However, pension managers say that returns from such schemes will be low. A PFRDA official told Livemint that the product is tricky as cost of guarantee in such a scheme will be passed onto customers in turn lowering the returns. An earlier committee GN Bajpai committee had examined the minimum assured plan in 2013 and said that cost of guarantee should be passed onto customers. you are here: Succession in family-owned businesses is emerging as a big risk for investors, as ageing lions are not willing to step down even for their own progeny. And if a first generation entrepreneur has built a multi-billion dollar business from scratch, chances are he has every intention of dying in the saddle. According to a survey conducted by Ambit Capital, 52 per cent of promoters of family owned businesses want to die on the job. Given that 55 percent of Indias listed universe is currently owned by promoters, the absence of any credible succession plan could be a ticking bomb for investors. What makes family-owned businesses more relevant to investors is also the superior returns that these companies generate for investors. Over the last ten years, for instance, returns from family-owned businesses are 3 percentage points higher than that of broader markets. But the road ahead may be rather rocky for investors, as India Inc has already seen two very bitter boardroom battles over the last seven months as ageing promoters made a dramatic comeback after having walked into the sunset. Ambit has been flagging succession as a risk for Indian corporations since July 2016, when it came out with its report on titled Succession Planning by Family Owned Businesses in India. While stating that these firms make good investment, the report says: Our Indian Family Firm Index (IFFI) has outperformed the BSE 200 by 3 percentage points per annum over the past decade. However, FOBs also face unique challenges. The Modi and Rajan resets threaten the future of those FOBs whose main advantages were easy access to capital and political connections. Further, promoters must choose their successors carefully to ensure their FOB survives in the new, more competitive economy. We flag Wipro, HCL Tech, M&M, Hero Moto, Godrej Consumer, and Dabur as FOBs where succession planning will play a key role. A key reason behind the succession-related skirmishes is the reluctance of the promoter to walk away, Saurabh Mukherjea, CEO of Ambit Capital, told Moneycontrol in an interview. When I see these succession battles upfront, the crux of it around emotion, ego, the need to hold on to power in the case of the promoter and the need to grab power by the young tyro as soon as possible. The reason this is playing out in a disproportionate number of houses is because the generation that brought India into liberalization from 1991 is on its way out. Over the next few years there will be several situations where the ageing monarch will be reluctant to hand over power, which will create challenges for shareholders. While the dominant promoter will ride into the sunset somewhat reluctantly, there wont be any obvious successor taking the reins and running the company thereafter. Kulbhushan Jadhav Pakistan today said that it will decide "on merit" the request made by India for consular access to its citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by a military court on spying charges. Pakistan's assertion came a day after India handed over an appeal by the mother of Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by the Field General Court Martial, to the appellate court, initiating a process to get his conviction overturned. Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that India has sought consular access to 46-year-old Jadhav. "We have made it clear time and again that Pakistan and India have signed an agreement on consular access in 2008, and according to clause VI of that agreement, decision to grant consular access in cases where detentions and arrests relate to political or security matters, the request of consular access will be decided on merits of the case, he said. Referring to Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale's demand for consular access to Jadhav during a meeting with Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua yesterday, the spokesman said that the Indian diplomat had submitted a request for an appeal "which will be examined by experts." Zakaria's statement differs from that of army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor who had said last week that Jadhav was a spy and consular access cannot be given to spies. Similarly, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua was quoted by local media as saying yesterday that consular access agreement was related to prisoners and not spies. Pakistan has rejected India's request for consular access to Jadhav 15 times. Zakaria alleged that Jadhav was a serving commander of Indian Navy, working for Indian intelligence agency RAW and was caught red-handed. India acknowledges that Jadhav had served with the navy but denies that he has any connection with the government. Jadhav made confessions, and was tried for espionage activities, Zakaria said, adding that his trial was conducted according to the law of the land in a transparent manner. Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was "a serving officer in the Indian Navy." The Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav after his arrest. However, India denied Pakistan's contention and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistan's agencies. "Pakistan has always highlighted to the International Community that India uses Afghan soil against Pakistan and it has been repeatedly stated by those in India in position of authority and responsibility that their effort is to squeeze Pakistan from the eastern and western borders," he alleged. He urged the international community to take note of "Indian state sponsorship of activities of subversion, terrorism and financing of terrorists against Pakistan." Healthcare firm Biocon reported a consolidated net profit dropped 58 percent to Rs 148.4 crore in the quarter ended on March 31, 2017, compared to year ago period. The company had reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 354.4 crore in the quarter ended on March 31, 2016. The company's consolidated net profit for the last fiscal was Rs 688.1 crore as against Rs 609.1 crore in 2015-16. Total income was also up at Rs 4,078.7 crore in 2016-17 compared to Rs 3,460.2 crore in the previous fiscal. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson & MD, Biocon said the company's fourth numbers should not be seen in isolation because the business has to be reviewed annually. The company is cautiously optimistic going forward due to various reasons like delay in regulatory approvals, appreciating rupee, GST impact etc., said Mazumdar in an exclusive interview to CNBC-TV18. The appreciating rupee has been a challenge for the export business, she said, adding that the company took a forex hit in Q4 but going forward forex challenges (rupee appreciation) will be taken care of. However, she is very optimistic of opportunities for the biosimilars business in emerging markets, and the branded formulations business going forward. The target of being a billion dollar company by FY19 stands, she said. Meanwhile, the EU and US FDA inspections have already taken place for biosimilars facility in Bengaluru, she said adding that she is optimistic of getting approvals in the expected time. For the biosimilar business, FY18 would largely be an emerging market opportunity in terms of revenues but the developed market opportunities would open up only in FY19 and beyond. Talking about small molecules segment, she said it saw a robust 14% growth in FY17. The business continues to be boosted by statins and immune-suppressants, said Mazumdar. Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview. Reema: First, could you tell us what was the revenue hit on account of fire at Syngene International and second, the extent of pricing pressure at Small Molecules? A: You have to look at our numbers at an annualised basis. Let me answer the Syngene first, Syngene has had a muted set of numbers, largely attributable to the fire incident. I do not think I can put an exact number as to what has caused the muted numbers in Q4 but this was anticipated. Having said that they have taken a lot of corrective action because the hit could have been much larger but they have delivered a good set of numbers in the sense at an annualised level wherein the first few quarters they had a very strong showing, the fire certainly gave them a setback in the last two quarters and that is what you are actually seeing this quarter. In terms of Biocon's numbers, Q4 numbers should not be seen in isolation because our business is annualised review business and from that point of view you can see that Small Molecules has had a very robust 14 percent growth in terms of FY17. The quarterly showing is a phasing issue; some of it has to do with basically supplying its customers in terms of their needs which sometimes does get deferred to following month or whatever it is but other than that, the Small Molecules has had a good showing this year. The small molecules' business continues to be boosted by both statins and immuno-suppressants and there is no change in that particular business. Nigel: You have given us some clarity in terms of your Small Molecules' business as well as your research services business but I want to ask you about the other couple of segments. We have seen good growth that is coming in your branded formulations business as well as your biologics business but a bit of a problem in terms of margins in both those two segments. Why is that? Could we see margin recovery in both these segments going ahead? Together they constitute close to 30 percent of your revenues? A: I think biologics business has to be seen in context of R&D spends. As you know these businesses include a lot of our global R&D spends. So if you look at it in that context then you will see that if you strip away R&D spends at an operational level, these businesses are very healthy and robust and that is where you are getting a slight cloud over the understanding of what these margins mean in the biologics business. In terms of branded formulations, there has been an improvement in margins and you are likely to see this improvement in margins going ahead in FY18. However, as you know there has been a lot of restructuring of our speciality business in India. We have seen a lot of happening in India business. So all this will now start correcting and improving in FY18. The government does not plan to slash taxes on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for flights not operating on Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) routes, said Minister of State for Aviation Jayant Sinha. Speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event, Sinha said the government would suffer a loss in revenue should it reduce taxes and such a move would also nullify the after-effects of the transition to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. "I'll have to put my finance hat on, and say no we cannot cut ATF taxes currently, due to a loss of revenue. Also, high excise taxes for petroleum products are charged even for railways and roadways too. So aviation is not the only sector that pays more taxes for fuel," said Sinha. ATF has been subject to an excise duty of 14 percent. On top of the excise duty, state governments impose a value added tax which varies from 4 percent to 30 percent. Jet fuel comprises 40 percent of costs for aviation firms. "As long as you pay your taxes everywhere else, we can bring down taxes here," he said. To promote the government's Regional Connectivity Scheme, the ATF tax has been cut for the RCS routes to around 1-3 percent depending on the location from where the aircraft has been refuelled. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the scheme in Shimla on Thursday. "While USA has more than 400 airports, India has only 75. With the Udan scheme, we want to add more airports to the network. We have added 31 airports in the first phase (of RCS). In two to three years, we plan to add a 100 more," said Sinha. Under Udan (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, airlines will also receive a viability gap funding in which 80 percent of the subsidy will be provided by the state government and the remaining by the Centre. This will be to fund 50 percent of the seats under the RCS for one-hour flights, which will be priced under Rs 2,500. With respect to the threat that the possible entry of Qatar Airways imposes on incumbents like Jet Airways and SpiceJet, Jayant Sinha said that Gulf airline has expressed a willingness to set up operations in India, and the government welcomes entry of the airline or any other foreign airline into India. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed private capital raising, non-core asset sales, mergers, tough prompt corrective action and government stake sale to deal with weak public sector banks. I wish to propose that we deal with the ailing public sector banks in creative ways instead of just propping them up with state aid, said RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya addressing an event by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Ladies Organisation. There have been clarion calls for more government funding for recapitalisation of public sector banks. However, the government runs the risk of ending up paying for it fully as owners. Quoting the Global Financial Stability Report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the FICCI event, Acharya said, Indian industrial sector is now among the most heavily indebted in the world in terms of the ability of its cash flows to meet its bank loan repayments and it comes out as worse-off compared to other emerging economies in terms of how little bank capital it has set aside to provision for losses on its assets. While such under provisioning problem extends to some of the private banks too, the scale of the problem is three to four times magnified in case of public sector banks. According to him, A bank not keeping adequate capital buffer to absorb losses on its loans that are more or less known to be arriving soon is akin to not preparing to rescue with emergency a person who has slipped off the terrace of a skyscraper, and instead in the midst of his almost surely fatal descent, hoping that the laws of gravity would somehow freeze and work differently this time. Under its Indradhanush programme, the central government has proposed to infuse Rs 70,000 crore in state-owned banks over four years till 2019 while they will have to raise a further Rs 1.1 lakh crore from the markets to meet their capital requirements in line with global Basel III risk norms. The government has already planned capital infusion based on the individual banks' performance and warned the weaker ones to meet specific targets to be eligible for the government capital. The Deputy Governor said funds from the private sector might be a good way to restore some discipline and get the bank shareholders, boards and management to more seriously care about the quality of lending decisions. Another form of raising capital would be that banks can sell their non-core assets which are in good shape such as insurance subsidiaries, market-making divisions, foreign branches, etc. which can be readily sold. Reiterating his superior Governor Urjit Patels call for mergers in the banking sector, Acharya said the system will be better off if they are consolidated into fewer but healthier banks. Further, under-capitalised banks could be shown some tough love and be subjected to corrective action as per guidelines released RBI this month and that government could sell its stake to re-privatise some of the nationalised banks. Acharya, who took over as the Deputy Governor in January this year, has also been vocal on suggesting ways to resolve the banks bad loan problems by setting up a private and a quasi-government bad bank with independent professionals to manage the process. Ahram Online provided live updates as Pope Francis visits Egypt in the first papal trip to the country since late Pope John Paul II visited Cairo in 2000 15:50 Pope Francis has concluded prayers at the seminary and is heading to Cairo International Airport to board a 5pm plane back to Rome. We will close our live updates here. 15:40 Pope Francis is now praying with the gathered clerics, asking God to purify and bless them. 15:30 The pope gives a short address. He thanks Egypt for its hospitality. Then he addresses the gathered Coptic Catholic clerics, and tells them that they must avoid despair and be a source of salt and light for society. He tells them they must avoid complaining and becoming Pharaohs be lording it over others. 15:15 The pope has now taken to the stage with a group of seminarians and priests. They are praying together. 15:05 Pope Francis has arrived at the seminary, and he is being driven through the waiting crowds, standing on his golf cart. He's waving and smiling, and manages to clasp a few hands as the cart makes its way around the venue. 15:00 Crowds have started filling up the reception area at St. Leo's Patriarchal Seminary in Maadi where Pope Francis is expected shortly for a prayer gathering with various clerics. Security is very tight around the area and audience members can only enter after presenting an invitation and being subject to inspection. 11:45 The mass is over and the pope is leaving the stadium. A heavily secured route will take him to Maadi, in southern Cairo, for lunch at a Catholic seminary. 11:40 Coptic Catholic Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak is giving a speech thanking Pope Francis for his visit, which he says can be summarised as the pope of peace visiting the land of peace. Patriarch Ibrahim concluded his speech by saying that Pope Francis visit overwhelmed the hearts of Egyptian Catholics with joy and had filled their lives with blessings. He presented Pope Francis with a wooden shield. 11:20 Pope Francis takes communion himself, and gives communion to the surrounding priests and cardinals.The worshippers are receiving communion from priests stationed near their seating areas. 11:15 The pope has consecrated the host, meaning that the congregants will soon receive holy communion. 10:50 The pope is blessing a newly-wed couple and a blind girl who were brought up to the tent. 10:45 The pope concludes his homily by blessing the worshippers and Egypt, which sheltered the Holy Family and offered martyrs and saints throughout the centuries. 10:40 Pope Francis is talking about how the faithful must act: they must "defend the rights of others with the same zeal they defend their own". The only fanaticism of the true believer should be charity, he preaches. True faith, added Pope Francis, makes us love more, be more merciful, honest and human. True faith refreshes the heart and makes it love everyone for free, without discrimination. True faith makes us see everyone not as an enemy but as a brother to be loved, helped and assisted. 10:30 The pope tells worshippers that when man reaches the depths of failure, abandons the ideas that he is the centre of the world, God reaches out and turns sorrow to joy. 10:20 Pope Francis is giving his homily; he started by telling the crowd 'assalamu alaykum' (peace be upon you) before continuing in Italian. He is discussing Jesus' appearance before his disciples after his resurrection, and talks about the importance of transcending our own ideas of God, whose omnipotence is not about power and authority but rather about love, forgiveness and life. 10:15 The first part of the service is underway, in a tent in the stadium. Bible passages are being read and hymns sung. The crowd is estimated to be about 25,000-strong. 10:00 Pope Francis is now on stage to begin the mass ceremony. 09:55 The choir is now singing a song composed for Pope Francis visit, in both Arabic and Italian: Pope of peace, in Egypt of peace, [the pope] shepherd of peace. 09:50 The waiting crowd are donning specially printed white baseball caps to shield their heads from the sun. According to sources in the events organising committee, 25,000 Egyptian and Vatican flags were printed in preparation for the event, as well as 25,000 caps to protect attendees from the sun. Todays a pretty typical Cairo April day around 28 degrees at the moment and expected to top 30 by mid-afternoon. 09:45 The crowd in the stadium are waving small Vatican City and Egyptian flags, with a larger Egyptian flag being held up by number of people in the audience. Balloons are being released into the air as the pope tours the stadium. 09:45 For more about Egypt's Catholic community, take a look at our report: In Search of Egypt's Catholics. 09:30 Pope Francis has arrived at the Air Defence Stadium in New Cairo to great applause from the waiting crowd. He is scheduled to give a mass here. He is touring the stadium in a golfcart, waving to the audience. 09:30 Welcome to Ahram Online's live updates for the second and final day of Pope Francis' visit. He is scheduled to give a mass in a stadium just outside Cairo at 10am, then to attend lunch with local Catholics at the seminary in Maadi, before flying back to Rome at 5pm. --- Friday: 20:00 Pope Francis put flowers on the monument of victims of the church bombing, and lights candles in honour of their souls. He then leaves the church to head to the the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Zamalek where he will spend the night. Pope Francis will head a mass at 10am tomorrow at the Air Defence Stadium on the outskirts of Cairo, which over 25,000 people are expected to attend. We will close our live updates here for the day. 19:30 Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros are now attending an ecumenical prayer service in St Peter and St Pauls Church near the cathedral. A number of other clerics are on stage with them. 19:15 Pope Francis then addressed the room, saying that the Vatican was praying alongside with the Coptic Orthodox Church on Palm Sunday when two churches in Egypt were bombed, and that the Vatican lived through the experienced with them. Following their joint signing of an agreement on the rules of baptism in the Catholic and Coptic churches -- which will mean that the Coptic Orthodox Church will now recognise Catholic baptisms -- Tawdros offered Francis a wooden Coptic-style cross 18:40 In a statement following his short closed meeting with Pope Francis, Pope Tawadros welcomed the pontiff to Egypt, "the land that pays every minute a tax of blood to keep its name as the land of peace." Tawadros praised the Catholic popes efforts to promote cooperation and dialogue among the leading churches of the world. He mentioned his visit to the Vatican four years ago, only a few months after Francis became pope. Tawadros aso expressed appreciation for the role of Catholic schools and nuns in promoting education and providing charity in Egypt He also mentioned the history of St Francis of Assisi the saint whose name the pope chose to take when he became pontiff who came to Egypt in the 13th century. Tawadros said he sought to get the permission of the Egyptian ruler at the time, Sultan Kamal, to pursue his preaching in the country. Pope Tawdros said he is looking forward for a day when both the Coptic and the Catholic churches can celebrate Christmas together The Roman Catholic Church celebrates Christmas on 25 December while the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates it on 7 January. We have lived for 14 centuries in this country, which at times witnessed some disturbances, but these disturbances were as the fire that purifies silver from the impurities, said the Coptic pope. He added that the Coptic church has seen hard times in the past few months, but that their tragedy is the tragedy of a coherent nation and no one can affect the unity of the nation. 18:40 Pope Francis has arrived at the cathedral, where he was greeted at the door by Pope Tawadros of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Tawadros is speaking now. He is describing Francis visit as a new step on the road to love and peace for the nations. 18:15 The pope has now left the hotel and arrived at St Mark's Cathedral in Abbasiya, where he will meet with Pope Tawadros of the Coptic Orthodox Church. 17:50 Pope Francis addressed the gathering of public figures. Again, Francis said he is happy to be in Egypt, the country of an old civilization, and called it Oum Al-Dunya Mother of the World. In a wide-ranging speech he covered a number of topics. Pope Francis hailed Egypt, which was a shelter for the Holy Family in the history, and that is now a shelter for millions of refugees from Syria, Iraq, Eritrea, South Sudan, and is making efforts to integrate them into Egyptian society. Pope Francis stressed the key role that Egypt plays in the Middle East, against the blind, inhuman violence that results from the arms trade, power-seeking, and religious extremism that uses the name of God in committing massacres. Egypt has a duty to enforce peace, he said, despite the wounded on its own lands. Pope Francis also mentioned the goals that Egypt tries to reach, the slogans of its revolution -- bread, freedom, and social justice, which he said could be reality with serious work. He praised the efforts towards peace, development that the Egyptian people deserve, the efforts that deserve all sacrifices, stressing that it requires respect for human rights, such as equality, freedom of expression and religion without discrimination. Pope Francis also expressed his concern for the lives of the people who sacrifice for the safety of their nation, such as police and army members, Copts, and citizens who fell victims to terrorism. In his statement, Pope Francis pays tribute to those who lost their lives in the violent attacks and expresses wishes for the recovery of those injured in the recent attacks. He also mentioned the threats that Copts in North Sinai faced, leading them to flee, and thanked the authorities for providing help and support to those families. Pope Francis stressed that no civilization could be built without condemning evil and extremist ideologies, and to reject every extreme explanation that aims to manipulate with the name of God. He said that God respects every life, whether they are a believer or not. Pope Francis directed his words to El-Sisi at one point, saying "God is the God of freedom, as you were saying Mr. President." In Arabic the pope referred to the slogan that he said was associated with the July 1952 revolution, "religion is for God and the nation is for all" and invited Egypt to fulfill this slogan. He also referred to the Egyptian role in the region which was the birthplace of the three religions, to spread peace and fight terrorism, and its role in helping this region pass the long dark affliction, and get back to the light of brotherhood and peace. He also saluted all Egyptians, and all types of Christians, Copts, Orthodox Armenians, Catholics, Protestants, and Greek Byzantines, who are part of this nation, who give an example of the possibility of living in mutual peace and respect. He finally praised the 70 years of cooperation since diplomatic relations were established between Egypt and the Vatican. 17:30 El-Sisi in his address welcomes Francis as a dear guest and a spiritual leader to people across the world from different religions. He praised the pontiff for his efforts to promote international peace, and said that the joint cooperation between Egypt and the Vatican that has been established at the diplomatic level for 70 years should help the cause of peace. The president also said that Egypt stands at the forefront of international efforts to confront terror and would continue to do so while cleaving to its unity and its history as a land of diversity and tolerance. The president also announced that 10 May would be a "day of friendship" in Egypt between the Catholic and Coptic churches. El-Sisi reiterated that Egypt stands in the front lines of combating terrorism, calling on peace-loving countries to cooperate to eradicate the phenomenon, which would entail destroying the terrorists infrastructure as well as stopping the recruitment of new elements to terrorist groups. 17:20 Pope Francis has arrived at the Al-Massa Hotel, where he has been joined by President El-Sisi for a session with a group of dignitaries and ministers. El-Sisi is now addressing the room. 17:00 The pope has finished speaking and has left the conference room with the sheikh of Al-Azhar. Francis is now scheduled to go to Al-Massa Hotel in Nasr City for a brief rest and lunch. He will then go to St Marks Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Abbasiya, for talks with the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Tawadros. The two prelates will pray together in St Peter and St Pauls Church, a small church adjoining the cathedral complex that was targeted by a suicide bomber in December, an attack which killed 30 people. 16:35 Pope Francis begins his address with the formal Arabic greeting "assalamu alaykum". In his address, he tells gathered religious dignataries that "we should reiterate our rejection of any violence that is committed in the name of God." Today we have an immense need to create peace not division. Francis denounced demagogic populism which he said was on the rise. He said that "peace alone... is holy and no act of violence can be perpetrated in the name of God, for it would profane his name." It is "essential", he added, to block "the flow of money and weapons destined to those who provoke violence". 16:30 In his statement, the grand imam of Al-Azhar blames international arms trafficking and reckless international political decisions for the state of chaos that prevails in so many countries. The grand imam says this is the moment for religions to take up the call of peace, equality and dignity of all humans - irrespective of faith or colour. The head of Al-Azhar also says that Islam cannot be called the religion of terror based on the acts of a limited group of people who misconstrued the texts and fell prey to the wishes of evil groups, just as Christianity cannot be called the religion of terror based upon the Crusades nor Judaism based on the occupation of territories. The grand imam expresses gratitude for the poes remarks in which he has rejected the association of Islam with terror. 16:20 Pope Francis and Al-Azhars Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb have arrived at the closing session of the Al-Azhar peace conference, which began yesterday. Both men are sitting on the stage; the sheikh is now giving an address, and begun by requesting the audience stand for a minutes silence to commemorate the victims of terrorism in Egypt and globally, regardless of their religions. The pope is expected to speak next. 15:35 Pope Francis left the presidential palace without speaking to the press, and has arrived at Al-Azhar institution headquarters in Cairo to meet with Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb. The two met previously when the Egyptian religious leader visited the Vatican in July 2016. 15:00 According to sources, El-Sisi and the pope will discuss a number of issues now, including developments in the Middle East, especially the rise of radicalism, relations between the Catholic church and the Islamic world, and some bilateral issues. A European diplomatic source tells Ahram Online that the murder of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni in Cairo will also be raised by Pope Francis, "upon the request of the Regeni family." The doctoral student's body was found on 3 February last year by a roadside on the outskirts of Cairo, bearing signs of torture. Italian and Egyptian prosecutors have been investigating the murder. 14:41 President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received Pope Francis at the entrance of the presidential headquarters in Heliopolis. The president had a brief exchange of cordial words with the visiting dignitary, amid the music of an official reception ceremony. The two are set to hold private discussions before speaking to the press. 14:12 A number of Coptic and Catholic church officials along with Prime Minister Sherif Ismail received Pope Francis at the airport. The pope will head first to Ittihadiya Presidential Palace to meet President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. 14:03 Pope Francis has just landed at Cairo International Airport. 12:37 Security in Cairo has been ramped up since late Thursday and the early hours of Friday. Police are stationed every few hundred metres on roads leading to downtown, the airport and in the vicinity of Ittihadiya Presidential Palace. 10:35 Pope Francis has departed on his flight from Rome to Cairo. He is expected to arrive at 2pm local time. ....................... Roman Catholic pontiff Francis is scheduled to meet with Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi upon his arrival at the presidential palace in Cairo, before heading to Al-Azhar headquarters to meet with Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayyeb. The Pope, who departed from Fiumicino Airport in Rome this morning, will meet a number of the country's officials during his stay. Pope Francis received an official invitation to visit Egypt from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi when they first met at the Vatican in 2014. On Tuesday, the pope addressed the people of Egypt in a televised speech saying he was "happy to visit the cradle of civilisation, the gift of the Nile, the land of sun and hospitality, the land where Patriarchs and Prophets lived, and where God, Benevolent and Merciful, the Almighty and One God, made his voice heard." Following his meeting with the grand imam on Friday, the two religious leaders will give a speech before the international peace conference, which kicked off in Cairo on Thursday. The pope is also scheduled to visit the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo to meet with Pope Tawadros II. The two leaders are also expected to speak publically there after their meeting. The two leaders met for the first time in 2013 at the Vatican, where they stressed strengthening the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between the two churches. On Saturday, Francis will conclude his visit to the country by presiding over mass prayers at the Air Defence House in heliopolis. He is set to have lunch with Egypt's Coptic Catholic clerics, before his official farewell ceremony and departure for Rome. Search Keywords: Short link: Niti Aayog member Bibek Debroy recently said that agricultural income should be taxed, an idea that the central government said is not under consideration at all. In its three-year action plan, Niti Aayog had recommended taxing agricultural income. Ramesh Chand, another member of the think tank, had defended the proposal saying recommendation was to plug loopholes to prevent non-agricultural entities evading tax using the agricultural exemptions. However, the debate on taxing farm income to prevent money-laundering is not new. Due to its exempt nature, agriculture is seen as a loophole to evade taxes. While many experts, over the years, have demanded closing of this loophole, no step has been taken by any government. In 2016, an RTI had surfaces indicating how rich people use agriculture tax exemptions to convert black money into white. Agriculture exemptions are used to route black money by non-agricultural entities. The RTI -- filed by former tax officer Vijay Sharma in 2016 -- had revealed large disparity in tax filings and the actual agriculture data. RTI Findings: During 2010-11, agriculture income exceeded gross domestic product 20 times. During this period, agricultural production and area under cultivation remained almost constant. In 2011, agricultural income of close to Rs 2000 lakh crore was registered for around 6.57 lakh assesses. Between the period of 2011-12 to 2013-14, assesses reported agricultural income of more than Rs 1 crore. Only 2 percent of tax assesses declare agricultural income. There was a rise in agricultural income during the same time when the government had initiated black money probe in foreign accounts. Between 2007-08 and 2015-16, around 2746 entities including individuals declared agricultural income of minimum Rs 1 crore. According to records, more than 90 percent of the agricultural land is under marginal farmers who do not file returns. Contrary to the above figures, agricultural growth in India usually hovers around 3-4 percent. Agriculture production, too, has remained stable at around 14-15 percent of the GDP. Consecutive droughts have also led to fall in yield and farmer suicides in the country. In response to the PIL, the government had said it is investigation tax evaders. Money Laundering Via Agriculture The above shocking data instigated a deeper look into how many people were using agricultural tax exemption for money laundering. People who wish to launder money obtain land at cheaper rates and do rotations of crop on the land. On just this, people pass off unaccounted cash income as agriculture income. In many cases, fictitious bills are shown as receipts of agricultural produce and evade tax on profits. What has Niti Aayog proposed? The governments think tank in its three-year plan suggests that farm income could be assessed for tax as a three-year average. This will not help reduce evaders, but it will widen the tax-base for the government. "On the personal income tax side also exemption should go. On expanding the base on the personal income tax side, other than elimination of exemptions, is to also tax the rural sector, including agriculture income above certain threshold," Debroy said in a press conference. Excluding income from farming which is nearly 15 percent of the GDP forces the government to keep income tax rate high. Taxing farm income could add 0.6 percent to the GDP, according to National Institute of Public Finance & Policy. Debroy said that tax on farm income can be applied above a threshold just like it is done with personal income. At present, personal tax is levied on income above the threshold of Rs 2.5 lakh. FM @arunjaitley : I categorically state that the Central Government has no plan to impose any tax on agriculture income . Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) April 26, 2017 However, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley clarified that the government is not considering taxing farm income. Niti Aayog, too, distances itself from Debroy and said the comments were his personal opinion and not any recommendation by the body. In India, taxing farm income is the domain of states. Farm income is not taxed except on income from certain non-farm activities. The recent wave of consolidation will prove beneficial for the telecom sector and is an indication of the huge potential of the Indian market, said Union Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha. Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Sinha said that Bharti Airtel's acquisition of Telenor and the merger of Vodafone and Idea Cellular will result in "harmonisation" of spectrum and better services for consumers. He said that even after consolidation, he sees five to six players and there will be good competition and no monopoly. As smaller players leave the market, Sinha said it was clear that telecom firms were eyeing a broad base for operations, which was another reason for consolidation. On the Vodafone-Idea combine, he said the companies had not yet applied to the Department of Telecommunications for the merger. With the entry of Reliance Jio and its speedy acquisition of 100 million-plus customers on the back of promotional offers, competitors such as Airtel and Vodafone have cried foul. But Sinha said the new player was entitled to give offers as others had done so in the past. On the deteriorating health of telecom companies, Sinha expressed confidence that the sector would revive and said the government would intervene when needed. The government recently asked its top bureaucrat to look into the problems faced by the sector, including the risk its Rs 4.4 lakh crore debt poses to the banking system. Sinha also said there was no formal proposal for the merger of government-owned BSNL and MTNL. Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview. Q: My first question to you is, the telecom sector is witnessing a consolidation wave be it smaller players like Telenor being acquired by Airtel or giants such as Vodafone and Idea Cellular being merged in due course. Do you think this kind of a consolidation was inevitable? A: I think it is more beneficial and worldwide practice is, in most of the countries two or three players are there. After consolidation I think formalisation of spectrum will take place and better services will be available for the consumers. What consolidation I can assess, at least there will be five to six players, so, there will be a good competition also. There will be no monopoly. So, I think it is a good practice. Q: You do say that consumer is king, so, with the consolidation in the coming months, as you said about largely four to five players in the telecom space, will the consumers benefit out of this consolidation and how do you think it will change the dynamics for the sector? A: Small players are leaving the playing field and naturally every telecom service provider needs a broad base and certainly for that only they are consolidating. Competition is very tough, a huge market is available in India and everybody is trying to grab the market and that is why this consolidation is taking place. What I feel, naturally consumer will be benefited. Q: We are talking about consolidation, Vodafone and Idea will soon merge together, they have started their processes. In fact Kumar Mangalam Birla as well as the Vodafone Global CEO came to meet you to discuss the potential merger. Have they already submitted their application to the department of telecom (DoT) as far as seeking regulatory clearances are concerned? A: They have meet me undoubtedly and still they have not applied for merger in DoT. They are doing their process in other departments; once they send their application we will go by the norms. Q: The telecom sector is under great financial stress, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has also written to the banks asking them for a higher provisioning for the telecom sector at this point in time, does this worry you, is the DoT watching the health of the sector which is continuously eroding especially over the last six to nine months as a new telecom player has kicked up a storm in this industry. Does this really worry you or is the government watching? A: In Q3 and Q4 naturally the balance sheet shows that there is a deterioration in the revenues of the telecom service providers (TSPs). However, as far as new player is concerned, he was entitled to give promotional offer for 90 days and he gave it. Earlier also when new players came, to increase their consumer base, they have given such type of offers. At this stage I can say that whenever it will be needed, government will intervene. India is a huge market and the market is shifting from voice to data and hopefully 125 million people are in our country and day-by-day the use of data is increasing. I think the sector will revive. In 2000 also this type of phenomena was seen in the sector but I think every telecom service provider is in a good health and I have already told you many times that I am not minister not of BSNL, I am minister of telecom, so, definitely I will look into the financial health of private telecom service providers also. If needed, we will intervene. Q: You are quite optimistic as far as the recovery process goes for the telecom industry. You also did say that the DoT will intervene as and when required but the financial stress is quite stark. This has been discussed in the finance ministry level as well. Are there any sectors where it needs to touch upon, where DoT has to work upon? A: We are vigilant and I told you, whenever needed, we will intervene but it cant be discussed with you how we will intervene and when we will intervene. Q: You did talk about BSNL, in fact the next big thing to watch out for will be the merger of BSNL with MTNL. It is under a thought by the PMO as well, do you think that this merger will really benefit to the loss making MTNL at this point in time and as well for BSNL as well? A: At this stage I cant comment on this because there is no such proposal of merger of BSNL-MTNL. There are thoughts, department of officials are working on them but one thing is sure, if it takes place then it will be a big player of telecom in government sector and it will certainly increase their customer base also. However, one thing is there, in backward areas, in rural areas, BSNL is providing the services and being service providers, being a government PSU, BSNL, MTNL are doing quite well. After all these ups and downs, they are surviving. They have seen so many ups and downs in their history and I hope that they will survive. Q: If at all BSNL and MTNLs operations are merged together, do you think that this state sector giant will be able to take on the private telecos as well given the market dynamics? A: At present 12-13 percent share are with government. Q13. GM of only two Fortune 500 companies have a female CEO and CFO as of June 2018. Which is the other one? live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More For the first time in more than a decade, an automotive production plant was shut down in India on Friday because of a shift in focus to another state and the companys failure to strike a deal for a sale of the plant. General Motors, one of the earliest foreign automotive multinationals to enter India, has pulled the plug on its Halol-based Gujarat plant as the last of the multi-utility vehicle Chevrolet Tavera rolled out of the production line on Friday. Sources say that the Halol shutdown is part of the plan for a complete pullout from India by GM. However, for the record, the company last month also signed a three-year wage agreement with 2,500 workers of the Talegaon plant, its only other facility in India. Having been in operation for more than a decade, the closure of GMs Halol plant is a testimony to the US companys unending struggle to get its act together in the fast growing but fiercely competitive Indian market. The shutdown coincides with the announcement of GMs (global) first quarter result due on Friday. It is the first time in more than 12 years that an automotive plant is being shut down in India. The last such closure was in the mid 2000s when Italian company Fiat shut its Kurla plant in suburban Mumbai. It was preceded only by a similar closure of operations by Daewoo in the early 2000s. GM India President and Managing Director Kaher Kazem said all GM manufacturing in India will now be at the companys Talegaon facility in Maharashtra. The consolidation of manufacturing at our Talegaon facility is an important milestone for GM India. That said, we are mindful of the impact on our employees at Halol. We have committed to support them through this necessary transition with generous separation payments or the option of continuity of employment at Talegaon, said Kazem The plant, with a capacity of 110,000 units a year, produced the Tavera, Enjoy and Cruze models. While some workers were moved to Talegaon, more than 500 workers have been staging a silent protest since the past month at the Halol plant demanding job security. General Motors had initially moved to shut down the factory last year itself but later decided to stretch the final date to end of last month after the intervention of the Gujarat government. Kazem said a range of additional support measures had been put in place for employees who opted for the significantly enhanced separation payments and those who will transfer, including tax and financial advice and pre-transfer visits to Talegaon. Chinese auto maker SAIC, who is bringing the MG brand to India, also evinced interest in buying the General Motors plant outright. The factory workers demanded that besides the factory assets, the employees be absorbed by the new company too. GM opened the Halol plant in 1996 starting with products made under the German brand Opel. While Opel was pushed out of the country little more than a decade later following muted response from the market, GM brought a new brand Chevrolet, which has been very successful in the US. The Halol plant closure comes at a time when India posted sales growth of 9 percent last year, making it one of the fastest growing automotive markets in the world. The country clocked 3.04 million units in passenger vehicle sales, according to data supplied by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. GMs market share as of last month stood at 0.84 percent. Industry experts say GMs India debacle is owing to lack of focus by its headquarters in the US, even as the worlds third largest automotive company put its might behind the Chinese venture where it is among the top three makers. Viswanath Pilla Biopharmaceutical firm Biocon wants to "unlock value" in its businesses after building them up for at least the next five years, chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw told Moneycontrol in an interview on Friday. For now, the company is focusing on ramping up its biologics business, which accounts for 15 percent of overall revenues, but has the potential to be a game changer. The biologics business consists predominantly of biosimilars, that include monoclonal antibodies and recombinant insulins and novel biologics. Biosimilars are identical copies of original biologic drugs that have active properties similar to the reference biological product requiring large clinical trials on patients to establish safety and efficacy before approval by regulatory agencies, unlike small generic molecules that can be launched by doing bioequivalence studies. In 2015, the company listed its contract research and drug discovery services business Syngene, and Mazumdar-Shaw said that a range of options was open for the rest of the businesses. "We want to unlock value through our businesses, that is the strategy, but having said that right now we are pretty focussed on making sure that biologics business actually starts delivering on what we have invested." Mazumdar-Shaw said. "So for at least five years, we need to make sure that everything that you invested gives you a very rich return. Thats what we have unlocked (in) Syngene," she added. She said the company would also consider acquisition opportunities that came its way. I dont believe in not looking at attractive opportunities, so I think we do what is right for the organisation, if there is an acquisition opportunity we will go for it, if we believe that organic route is giving us rich return we will go with that," she said. Mazumdar-Shaw said Biocon will not take its foot off the pedal on research and development (R&D) spend as she sees that as integral part of Biocons business model. "We are not going to reduce our R&D spend; we will be spending at this levels and may be in certain years it might increase," Mazumdar-Shaw added. Biocon spends about 10-11 percent of sales of R&D, a large part of that R&D spend goes towards global clinical trials of its biosimilars on patients. Analysts estimate the cost of developing biosimilars for global markets to range from USD 75-250 million. Biocon has ended FY17 with revenues of Rs 4,079 crore - a third of those revenues are contributed by its listed subsidiary Syngene. The company has teamed up with US-based generic maker Mylan to develop five biosimilarspegfilgrastim, trastuzumab, bevacizumab, adalimumab and insulin glarginefor regulated markets such as Europe and US. Pegfilgrastim is used to stimulate the level of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, trastuzumab is used in the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, colon cancer drug bevacizumab and adalimumab for treating autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. The combined market size of the drugs which Biocon is chasing was estimated to be around USD 45 billion. Three of Biocons biosimilars including trastuzumab, pegfilgrastim and insulin Glargine are currently under review with European drug regulator European Medicines Agency (EMA), while pegfilgrastim and trastuzumab are now reviewed by the US regulator. The company said it is preparing to file biologics license application (BLA) in US for insulin glargine shortly. Mazumdar-Shaw is confident the companys biosimilars will roll out starting from FY19 in US and Europe. "US FDA has finished its audit and inspection of our facility, that itself is an important signal that they are reviewing our filings; they have given us target action day, which is also an important indicator that it happens on the same date," Mazumdar-Shaw said. The patent litigation settlement reached by its partner Mylan with Swiss-pharmaceutical major Roche, which markets trastuzumab, has cleared the IP related hurdles, she added. However Mazumdar-Shaw said that there still some potiential IP challenges for Pegfilgrastin and Insulin Glargine in US market. The company has already launched insulin Glargine in the Japanese market in partnership with FUJIFILM Pharma. Majumdar-Shaw said the company expects to be a billion dollar company in terms of revenues by FY19. Biologics are going to be very important growth driver for us, small molecules will continue to support the business in the foreseeable future, we are getting into vertically integrated abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) thats going to contribute some numbers, we have revamped our branded formulation business, we expect recovery of contract research and discovery services business, Mazumdar-Shaw said. Over the last ten years, family-owned businesses have generated higher returns than the broader markets. However, the road ahead may not be that easy given that succession is proving to be a sticky problem for these companies. While family-owned businesses have proved to be very good investments so far, the future is fraught with risk for investors, as the ageing promoters are not showing any signs of putting in place a credible succession plan. Saurabh Mukherjea, CEO of Ambit Capital, who has been tracking this quite closely, speaks to Moneycontrol about this challenge and what investors can do. Edited Excerpts: Interestingly, you have likened the boardrooms of these companies to epic battlefields where wars were fought for wealth, women and power. Could you explain why you do liken these family-owned boardrooms to battlefields? I guess whilst the analogy appears a little dramatic, I do think it is appropriate because what is very striking in India is it doesn't matter whether you look at the IT sector or the biscuit sector or the financial services sector, wherever there are succession battles, the contours of the succession battles are almost agnostic to the industry it is in. And when I see these succession battles upfront, I can see that the crux of it is around emotion, is around ego, around the need for power, the need to hold on to power in the case of the incumbent promoter and in the case of the up-and-coming youngster, the young tyro, the need to grab power as quick as they can. So, the contours of these succession battles in any country, in any era, in any culture are very similar. There will be a reigning king, reigning monarch, a reigning promoter and there will be an upstart coming up the rank soon wanting to grab power. We are a generation from 1991, we are 27 years from 1991 and as a result of that the generation which brought India into the post-reform era is on the verge of retirement. As a result, over the next five years, we will have several situations which will give the press plenty to cover and write about. But it will create challenges for shareholders because you will have a dominant promoter who has been the face of that company and, perhaps the driving force of the company going off into the sunset, somewhat reluctantly. It won't be obvious who the successor will be and who will take the reign and run the company thereafter. It is interesting because I can understand if promoters are not willing to relinquish control in favour of professionals. But this applies even to their own progeny. They are not willing to relinquish control for their own children. Is that what it means? I quote from a survey that we quoted in our July 2016 report on the subject [which said] 52 percent of promoters plan to die on the job. So, it is not a question of relinquishing to a professional executive. You are so convinced about your invincibility and your indispensability that we have had several notable CEOs, professional CEOs being quoted in the press about the indispensability that you do not have it. And that is where the core of the problem lies. It takes a very balanced individual, a very wise individual to say that I am but a human being; I will wither in age and die and, hence, it's a good time to hand the reigns over to my son or daughter or sons and daughters; let me train them adequately; let me make sure that the company's future is taken care of. In a very small minority of cases I am seeing that happen. In the majority of cases we have a situation where the company simply isn't preparing itself adequately for that transition. How are investors viewing this or how should investors view this? What are the checkpoints or the checklist that one should look at whilst investing because, according to your note, 35 percent of India's listed universe is basically family-owned businesses. So, how should investors view this and how can they identify? You are right. If you define family-owned businesses by the simple metric that a quarter or more of the shares outstanding are with one family then a third of India's marketcap is with such firms. These businesses, as you also said at the beginning rightly, have outperformed the broader market by a good three percentage points over the last decade. So, there are very healthy levels of outperformance. The most successful of these businesses have incredibly prestigious shareholder rosters. The largest domestic funds and the marquee FII funds have invested there. I am afraid I have to say I am not seeing enough investor appreciation of just how serious the issue is even after two high profile succession battles so to speak in the last six months; I still do not see investors cognizant of it. I am not allowed to take names as per regulation but there are these two high-profile battles which I am sure your media outlet talks about on a routine basis. These are being played in full glare. In spite of that, we are still not seeing enough investor appreciation of how delicate a problem this is. One reason is that if it happens in a Nifty company, there is a degree of buffer because the company is big; there are processes, there is a layer of professional management which buffers the heat to the boardroom but when it happens to a midcap company with USD 2 billion or USD 1 billion marketcap that buffer isn't there. My reckoning is that we will increasingly see succession issues, lack of succession planning becoming a big issue in small and midcap companies. Ironically, it will create room for a new type of fund. In the West, funds are created to help families deal with succession issues. I think there will be a need for such funds to emerge in India as well if a promoter does not have progeny or is willing to take over the company; they have disinterest in the company; there is a natural reason for private equity or for a large institutional investors to say, I will take over the promoters stake and professionalise the company. So not only are institutional investors ill-prepared for what will be a difficult transition, I do not think there is enough appreciation out there. There is a real opportunity here especially from private equity to large institutional investors who are willing to take charge of a family-owned business where the progeny have no interest in the business. If there are, say, more than one or two inheritors then in that case do you see value unlocking where companies are split, as has happened with the case of Reliance, for instance. Do you see value unlocking happening going forward if families decide to split businesses that way. Is there an opportunity or a risk? Let me split that in two parts. First, if you look at India over the last decade wherever you had demergers, almost in every single demerger, in the ensuing 12 months both the parent and the child, the parent company which held the subsidy and the demerged entity both have outperformed the market in the ensuing 12 months. So, there is a sort of positive track record on demergers. Second, as you rightly mentioned, in many cases there is the multiplication of generations. For example, two brothers create a company and they have four sons and daughters and as the generations multiply yes...we have seen splits and different families split businesses as per biological lines. I think that is but a natural outcome of what will happen in India over the next decade but the problem arises where the business cannot be split. If it's a very successful mono-line business, broadly doing one thing very well. What do you then do if there are multiple claimants to the throne. So, one problem is that the promoter doesn't want to step away. One problem is, the promoter doesn't want to step away and he makes a nuisance of himself and a different problem is there are multiple stakeholders for the throne and a succession battle ensues often through the legal system. I think the latter is the more worrisome one because it is a mono-line business, hard to split. And, multiple claimants and shareholders, in many cases, become casualties of these battles in the years to come. Do you see ageing promoters becoming a nuisance in boardrooms? Whether it is in the Mahabharata and Ramayana whether it's in the jungles of Africa or the boardrooms of India, ageing lions rarely walk off into the sunset gracefully. It is a fact of life; we all have to reckon with that. Given that ageing lions rarely walk off into the sunset gracefully, I think institutional investors have to do a lot more to prepare for that. I am not sure I am seeing that quite out there and it is not evident why because ours is a now large stock market; this is a stock market with multi trillion dollar marketcap. We have got several investor advisory companies, governance focused companies also setup but I am simply not seeing enough preparatory work being done by investors where they can see that there is an ageing lion who is hogging the boardroom and making life difficult for all concerned. Do you see the same outperformance continue in the next 10 years as far as family-owned businesses are concerned? My reckoning is, as the decades go by we will see Indian businesses professionalise. So, much like America has transitioned from being a very family-owned business-dominated market a century ago to almost entirely professional-dominated market now, I think family-owned businesses in America are few and far between. Even the companies like Ford which carry the founders' name have very little by way of the original family stake. I think we will make that transition and we will make that transition quicker than America. At this juncture as you and I speak, I think 55 percent of the Indian market is owned by promoters. My reckoning is decade from now that number will be closer to 40 percent. So, as promoter families get richer they will for very natural diversification reasons sell their stake in the market; institutional investors will buy that. Secondly, as family-owned businesses need money, they will raise capital and dilute their stake down. Thirdly, due to these splits that we were discussing, the ownership or the importance of family-owned businesses will reduce. So, family-owned businesses will continue to be successful but they will have to morph into a different avatar of a more professionally managed company than they currently are. With the initial founding father passing away the businesses will start looking more like executive managed, professionals-managed companies. Is there an example of such a company where you see a successful transition from a promoter-run to professional-managed one? I am not allowed to take names. The private sector banks are managed by executives. What the private sector banks have shown is that whether it is for a small bank or a large bank, you can have professionally-run business which focuses on long-term value creation and delivers to minority shareholders 100x in a period of 20 years. How should an investor spot a company and understand that succession is not being planned? When you read the annual report, look at the age of the chairman. If the chairman is over 60 and in the annual report there is no mention of succession planning I think you got to start worrying. If you have access to management or the investor relations person, explicitly ask him or her what is the succession plan given that the chairman is over 60. If there isn't a succession plan either in the annual report or in the voice-over that you hear from the company at the AGM or from the investor relations person, seriously rethink your holding that company. In a lot of companies, as you said, even if there is a succession plan the ageing lion is not willing to walk away. How can I protect myself against something like that as an investor? The first layer is, is there a succession plan? If there isn't then you should be heading for the exit reasonably quickly especially if the chairman is over 60. Second one is, yes, if there is a succession plan so you have to figure out who the successor is. What I tend to look for is, is the successor already working in the business ideally in a middle management role. It never behooves a promoter particularly well; it never sort of looks particularly nice when the promoters' progeny are parachuted straight into the boardrooms. So, you look for evidence that the named successor is working in a middle management function in marketing or in strategy or in finance. Then, if that is satisfied then the third layer is trying to make some judgement over a course of time on whether the successor will be able to fill the large shoes of his or her father. If you satisfy all three, I think you are in safe territory. There are a few companies who satisfy all three but they will be the minority. In a vast majority of cases the succession plan is non-existent. If there is one the progeny have been brought straight into the boardroom because the promoter clearly feels the progeny doesn't need any preparation. In some cases the next generation simply doesn't look to be on par with their fathers in terms of their skillsets in running what is now a large business. Think of the irony, when the promoter started it, it was a small business and he grew with it and now the son or daughter is parachuted into it and now it is a multi-billion dollar concern. So, leaving the next-gen with a large business to run for which you might not have actually given them hands on training for at least 5-6 years that they need to run a business of that scale. Out of all the companies that you are tracking what percentage of these family-owned companies do you feel has a succession plan in place which gives you a comfort? I would say 20 percent or little less than 20 percent companies have adequately prepared for it. Just because they are adequately prepared doesn't mean the plans will be executed but at least you have the confidence of knowing that the incumbent promoter is planning for the future and has put a succession plan together. With other 80 percent it really has quite literally been left up to the gods to figure out the fate of the company. Where is the risk higher, in the large cap companies or the mid cap companies? I would say in small and midcap the risks are higher because in a large cap company typically even with a promoter-dominated company, the management can give you some sort of buffer. There will be a professional management team; however capable/un-capable, there is at least a substantive professional management team. In many small and midcap companies, the promoter is in effect the promoter, the CEO, the CFO, the capital allocator, the head of marketing and if something happens to him it is difficult to know how the business will run beyond the next three months. So, the risks are higher in small and midcap. The adverse selection as I call it is, the more successful the company the more charismatic the promoter, the higher the share price the less likely it is that the promoter will step away willingly, gracefully and higher the risk to minority holders. How important is charisma when it comes to running such companies? One would like to believe that we have become a mature economy. If not a second world economy at least a economy where the free market is now at least 25 years old. However, the fact remains, in India, in a country where cultures and processes of doing business are still not professionally entrenched, still not properly grooved and where the rule of law often ends up being quite flexible, the promoter in India is the system, he is process, he is the culture and he is the guy who is able to make the legal system work in the favour of the company. That is what makes a driven, determined, charismatic promoter an essential part of a successful small and midcap company. That success, in turn, becomes a liability if that promoter goes away without creating a proper succession plan. Is there hope still....? My reckoning is people learn seeing those boardroom battles play out. Smaller companies are also trying to figure out what to do next. So, I am sure we will see a better outcome. If you were to do a poll next year I don't think 52 percent of the promoters will be saying that they plan to die on the job. The Madras High Court today granted anticipatory bail to online home stay aggregator Stayzilla's co-promoter Sachit Singhi in a case lodged against him allegedly for duping an advertising firm of Rs 1.68 crore. Singhi is a a co-accused in the case along with with his CEO Yogendra Vasupal. Justice S Baskaran granted anticipatory bail to Singhi, stipulating that he would deposit Rs 25 lakh in the jurisdictional court. The court also asked him to appear before the police daily at 10 am for two weeks and thereafter as and when required. Vasupal and Singhi have been accused of defrauding city- based advertising firm Jigsaw Advertising and Solutions to the tune of about Rs 1.68 crore for services it had rendered since last year. Vasupal was arrested on March 14 while Singhi, stated to be absconding, had moved the court for anticipatory bail. The high court had later granted bail to Vasupal on the condition that he furnish a personal bond of Rs 40 lakh. Earlier, Principal Sessions Judge Nazeema Banu had on April 20 denied anticipatory bail to Singhi. Mitessh Thakkar of miteshthacker.com told CNBC-TV18, "Ujjivan Financial Services has gone through some kind of a correction and is now possibly looking at a reversal. I would want to see the stock get past Rs 408-410 level and then immediately a rally can happen till about levels of Rs 432 to about Rs 435 on the upside. In case you start breaking below Rs 380-385 levels, then there will be more corrections, so it will open around the support levels and then let us see how big is this from there". "I have two buy calls. Tata Communications is a common one, I have a buy with a stop loss at Rs 714, target of Rs 765 and the other one is Mahindra and Mahindra . That has moved up slightly, so try to buy it around Rs 1,335 mark, keep a stop loss below Rs 1,315 and look for Rs 1,390 as the target," he said. Representative Image live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Shares of India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) rose 10 percent intraday Friday as the company has entered into MoU with state governments to transfer its stake in the joint ventire subsidiary companies. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with government of Madhya Pradesh for transfer of 51 percent equity stake of ITDC in MP Ashok Hotel Corporation to the MP State Tourism Development Corporation. It has signed a MoU with Government of Assam for transfer of 51 percent equity stake of ITDC in Assam Ashok Hotel Corporation to the Government of Assam. The company will transfer Hotel Bharatpur Ashok, which is being managed by ITDC on behalf of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, to Government of Rajasthan. It will take some time to complete the actual formal process (considering the various steps involved such as approval by Core Group of Secretaries on disinvestment (CGD), the CCEA and the shareholders of ITDC etc.) for actual transfer to take place. The MoUs will be based on the valuation range recommended by the ITDC board in the meeting held on 13.4.2017, the recommendations of the ITDC board as approved by the Evaluation Committee (constituted by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India in accordance with the Guidelines of DIPAM, Ministry of Finance for strategic disinvestment of CPSEs) in the meeting held on 13.4.2017 and finally approved by the Inter Ministerial Group (constituted by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India for disinvestment of hotels/properties of ITDC and its JV subsidiaries ) in the meeting held on 24.4.2017. At 09:37 hrs India Tourism Development Corporation was quoting at Rs 712.80, up Rs 44.05, or 6.59 percent on the BSE. The share touched its 52-week high Rs 745.80 and 52-week low Rs 177.50 on 24 April, 2017 and 24 November, 2016, respectively. The share price surged 246 percent in the last 6 months. Posted by Rakesh Patil Dawood Ibrahim Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim has been learnt to have suffered a heart attack, and is in critical condition, sources have told CNN-News18. The news channel reported that the gangster, who is said to be based in Karachi, Pakistan, is admitted to a hospital, even as his lieutenant Chota Shakeel told CNN-News18 over the phone that Ibrahim is fine. Dawood, who has often been reported to have been suffering from various health issues, is one of the world's most wanted men, and is accused of organising the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. Ibrahim is on the wanted list of Interpol for cheating, criminal conspiracy and running an organised crime syndicate, and was designated by the US in 2003 as a 'global terrorist'. Pakistan denies that the gangster lives in that country, even as several media reports in the past have confirmed his presence there -- his house is in Karachi's posh Clifton locality -- possibly under the patronage of the country's intelligence agency, ISI. The Indian government has maintained bringing Dawood to justice remains one of its top priorities. Born in Mumbai's Dongri as Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, he climbed the ladder of Mumbai's underworld in the 80s after finishing off several rivals, including the Pathan gang. He used to shuffle between India and Dubai during that period before shifting base to Gulf country. After the 1993 serial blasts, he was said to have shifted permanently to Pakistan. Dawood reportedly has four children: son Moin and daughters Mahrukh (married to Javed Miandad's son), Mehreen and Maria. International Monetary Fund logo is seen inside the headquarters at the end of the IMF/World Bank annual meetings in Washington, U.S., October 9, 2016. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas - RTSRHS0 India will surpass Germany as the worlds fourth-largest economy by 2022 and push the UK out of the fifth rank in 2017, according to an analysis of growth projections by the International Monetary Fund, said Mint in a report. However, according to the IMF analysis, India has to address a lot of issues in order to make the climb. These include implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), dealing with the biggest bunch of stressed assets among all major economies across the globe, increasing productivity and employment opportunities, encouraging corporate investment and overcoming a shortfall of infrastructure. The report said that Indias economy is still recovering from the effects of the note ban imposed by the government in November when the government decided to demonetise currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations. Despite agreeing that GST will be beneficial for the Indian economy in the long run, most economists are concerned about the health of the countrys banking system and its public finances. Both these factors are significant points of concern since most global credit rating agencies already rate Indian debt instruments just above junk status. The report also said that according to government data, bad loans, restructured debt and advances to companies that cannot service their debt have risen to 16.6 percent of total loans. This has prompted banks to address their asset quality and has forced them to focus on recovery of these loans, which has, in turn, left their loan growth in the doldrums. Also, in addition to slowing investment, Indias labour productivity has been continuously weakening, thereby limiting growth and employment opportunities, the report said. According to the International Labour Organisation, Indias output per worker is projected at USD 3,962, a mere fraction of Germanys USD 83,385. However, even considering all these factors, one cannot ignore the IMF forecast, which pegs India growing at 9.9 percent in nominal terms. Going by that, India is slated to overtake Germany by 2022 and to push the UK out of its fifth rank by the end of 2017. Being rich and powerful is every person's dream. We all aspire to greatness and success, but it is only a select few that truly achieve it. All around us, there are numerous stories of people who made it big despite all the odds. Many people attribute success to serendipity or chance, stating it to be a consequence of being at the right place, at the right time. But then, a truly successful individual will tell you that success is more about perseverance than perchance. Geniuses that achieve greatness are not accidents of fate, but rather the master of their destinies. As Thomas Edison used to say, that "genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration". So, is there a template for success that can be followed? Just like in business, one has the set of best practices that one can adopt, similarly, are there are such practices or traits that can be adopted by people seeking a fortune? Can we learn from other people's success? The answer is a resounding yes. One can learn much from people who have achieved success in the face of stiff challenges and beating all the odds. This is essentially the theme of a special series brought by CNBC-TV18 and Thyrocare titled Luxury of Poverty: Winning Against All Odds. Hosted by veteran TV Editor AB Ravi, every week a success story will be profiled, with an exclusive interaction of the entrepreneur. The big USP of the show is the manner in which the factors that led to the success will be discussed in detail with Dr. A Velumani, Chairman and founder of Thyrocare Technologies --India's first and most advanced Totally Automated Laboratory having its strong presence in more than 2000 cities and towns in India and even overseas. On the face of it, luxury of poverty is a contradictory phrase, an oxymoron if you will. But for Dr. A Velumani having a net worth of more than Rs. 1500 crores, the phrase coined by his daughter defines both the man and his legacy. In fact, Dr. Velumani's rags-to-riches story is a much inspiring tale and there can be no better way to kick off the series that trying to gain lessons from his entrepreneurial journey. Editor AB Ravi takes the viewer and Dr. Velumani on a journey through time, finding those moments and traits that made all the difference in his journey. Dr. Velumani was born into a poor family in a village near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu in 1959, and along with his four siblings were raised single-handedly by his mother. He attributes his successes to his humble beginnings. He met failure in his first attempt, trying to raise poultry. But that did not deter him, as he used the lessons learned to build on to something much bigger. Through the episode, we learn as to how Dr. Velumani envisages Thyrocare's business model as "McDonald's plus Walmart". He talks candidly about why successful businesses fail, or when should entrepreneurs call it quits. To know more, on how success is a function of hard work and perseverance, catch the first episode of the series that features an exclusive discussion with Dr. Velumani on April 30, as it airs on CNBC-TV18 at 6.30 pm. U.S. President Donald Trump reacts after signing an executive order on education during an event with Governors at the White House in Washington US President Donald Trump said a "major, major conflict" with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while China said the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control. Trump, speaking to Reuters on Thursday, said he wanted to resolve the crisis peacefully, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option was not off the table. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea," Trump said in an interview at the Oval Office. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said, describing North Korea as his biggest global challenge. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was a danger that the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control, his ministry said. Wang made the comments in a meeting with a Russian diplomat on Thursday at the United Nations, the ministry said in a statement. China, the only major ally of North Korea, has been increasingly uncomfortable in recent months about its neighbour's pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles in violation on UN resolutions. The United States has called on China to do more to rein in Pyongyang and Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for his efforts, calling him "a good man". "I believe he is trying very hard. I know he would like to be able to do something. Perhaps it's possible that he can't. But I think he'd like to be able to do something," Trump said. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that China had asked North Korea not to conduct any more nuclear tests. Beijing had warned Pyongyang it would impose unilateral sanctions if it went ahead, he added. "We were told by the Chinese that they informed the regime that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own," Tillerson said on Fox News, without specifying what sanctions he was referring to. Tillerson did not say when China made the threat and there was no immediate confirmation from Beijing. He is due to chair a meeting with UN Security Council foreign ministers on Friday, where he said he would stress the need for members to fully implement existing sanctions as well as possible next steps. China banned imports of North Korean coal in February, cutting off its most important export, and Chinese media this month raised the possibility of restricting oil shipments to the North if it unleashed more provocations. MISSILE DEFENCE, CARRIER GROUP In a show of force, the United States is sending the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula, where it will join the USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in South Korea on Tuesday. South Korea's navy has said it will hold drills with the U.S. strike group. Admiral Harry Harris, the top US commander in the Pacific, said on Wednesday the carrier was in the Philippine Sea, within two hours' striking distance of North Korea if needs be. Harris also said a US missile defence system being deployed in South Korea to ward off any North Korean attack would be operational in coming days. China has been angered by the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), complaining that its radar can see deep into China and undermines its security. Trump said in the interview he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the THAAD, which he estimated at USD 1 billion. South Korea, one of Washington's most crucial allies in the region, said the United States would have to bear the cost, pointing to possible friction ahead. Trump has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile, a capability experts say Pyongyang could have some time after 2020. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests and numerous missile tests, including one this month, a day before a summit between Trump and Xi in Florida. North Korea, technically still at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, regularly threatens to destroy the United States and says it will pursue its nuclear and missile programmes to counter perceived US aggression. "Trump is recklessly resorting to the hackneyed methods, being utterly ignorant of the DPRK," the North's KCNA state news agency said on Friday, citing a commentary from the Rodong Sinmun newspaper and referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "Unshakable is the faith and will of the army and people of the DPRK to build a socialist power ... and no force can check their advance." Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. "As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational," he said. In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on North Korea and other countries on Thursday to avoid behaviour or rhetoric that could increase tension. Foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), meeting in the Philippines, called for the resumption of dialogue. "ASEAN strongly urges the DPRK to comply fully with its obligations arising from all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and international laws in the interest of maintaining international peace and security," they said in a statement. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has said his administration is not interfering with the judicial and parliamentary review of a controversial deal to transfer two Red Sea islands under Egyptian control to Saudi Arabia. Speaking at a youth conference on Wednesday, the president said he would never compromise his country's interests to court others, in reference to criticism that his government had "sold" the strategic islands in return for the financial backing of Saudi Arabia. "I cannot compliment [others] at the expense of even a metre of our lands," the president told a crowd of around a thousand young people in the Suez Canal city of Ismailiya, according to state news agency MENA. "The matter is [being addressed] before the parliament and judiciary; we do not interfere," he added. The government approved a deal to hand over the islands of Tiran and Sanafir to the Gulf kingdom in December. A month later, Egypt's High Administrative Court rejected the deal in a final ruling, affirming that the islands belonged to Egypt alone and that the cabinet had not provided sufficient evidence to prove otherwise. Despite the annulment, Egypt's parliament proceeded to discuss the accord, in a move considered by some observers as unconstitutional. The cabinet, which said it would provide the parliament with all necessary documents on the sovereignty status of the two islands as they discuss the agreement, has appealed the annulment ruling and filed cases arguing that the court which issued the verdict has no jurisdiction in matters related to sovereignty. The agreement, which was announced during a visit to Egypt by the Saudi king last April, prompted some protests, with opponents accusing the government of selling the countrys sovereign territory. The cabinet, however, insists that the islands have always belonged to Saudi Arabia and were only placed under Egypt's control because Riyadh had asked Cairo to protect them in the 1950s. Khaled Ali, a prominent Egyptian rights lawyer who challenged the deal in court, said that Egypt's ownership of the islands dates back to a treaty signed with the Ottoman Empire in 1906, before the founding of Saudi Arabia. Search Keywords: Short link: Education Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu. Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu. Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events: International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu. EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu. Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets June Homecoming: Participant $18 per person; Sustainer $25 per person; Benefactor $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events: SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available for information call 610-275-1960 Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above) SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. computers are available during those hours. Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863. Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376. Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com. The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes: Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020. CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313. The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events: Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m. Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30. Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301. For Kids & Families The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443. Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950. Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required. The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950. Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus. Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage. Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun. Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train. Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world! Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class. Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org. Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583. Community Events at the Ambler Y: -YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register. Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org. Health Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot. The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information. Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245. Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net. Spring Aquatic Programs UDHS Pool: -Summer is just around the corner Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required. Shallow Water Aerobics Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR. Adult Swim Instructions Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR -Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21. -Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m. -Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons. -Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates. Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994. SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com. Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org. Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs: FITNESS CLASSES Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month. Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly. SUPPORT GROUPS Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000. Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30 7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047. New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. 12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30 4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931. Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325. Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes. Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com. Librarytalk Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744 www.upperdublinlibrary.org APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS: Storytimes: Please register in the library. o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m. o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m. o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6. APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS: North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS: NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org. One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register contact info above. Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744. o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register. Meetings: Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m. Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m. Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org. For children and teens at Blue Bell: * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m. * May 14 Despicable Me * June 11 Alpha and Omega * Special Events * April watch for date of spring/Easter events * April 14 at 4:30 p.m. Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children. * April 14 at 7 p.m. Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided. * April 16 at 1 p.m. Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King. * April 16 at 1:30 p.m. Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes? * April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button. * April 30 through May 3 Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults. * May sign up for Science in the Summer * June sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children * June sign up for Summer Reading, all ages For adults at Blue Bell: * Daytime Book Discussion Group fourth Tuesday, Jan April at 1:30 p.m. * April 26 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Night-time Book Discussion Group third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. o April 19 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked? *Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs * Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class. * Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class. * Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m. * Giant Book Sale, April 29 May 3 o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults! o Held during library hours. o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m. o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join. * Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series o May 11 at 1 p.m. Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society * Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room. * Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read. * Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome. * Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome. *Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older. * Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours * Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours * Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday! Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library. * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * For adults: * Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn. * Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net * Special Events: * April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. * April 19 at 7 p.m. Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m. * April 21 at 7 p.m. Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades. *May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. *May 10 Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *May 12 at 1:30p.m. Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. *May 17 Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *June 13 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. Meetings and Lectures The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833. The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313. Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200. The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/. LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings. Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org. Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org) -Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them. The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter. For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps. Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin. Special Events The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County. The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065. Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members. Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex. The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com. The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348. The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org. Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163. The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu. The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com. The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net. Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages. 13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries. Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family. The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler. JPRN Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike. Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies. Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately. Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways. Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table. Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374 Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall: -Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store. Music and Theater The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html. Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free. The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org Religious News The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276. Reunions St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net. Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572. Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779. Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411. Support New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149. PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931. The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296. Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656. Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group every other Wednesday, 7 8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information. CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7 8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich, Ex-choir director in Bucks County pleads no contest to molesting two students, secretly filming another Rabbis installation at Keneseth Israel will get a boost of student creativity Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi ratified late Thursday night a new judicial authority law, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported. The new bill has been published in the official state journal. According to the new law, the Egyptian president has the right to choose the heads of Egypts judicial bodies out of three nominees proposed from within each body. The Egyptian House of Representative passed the law on Wednesday after it was approved by two-thirds of parliament, despite complete rejection to the law by judges clubs -- which function similarly to unions -- across the country. Clubs that rejected the law charge that it violates the guarantee of an independent judiciary and a separation of powers as enshrined in Egypts 2014 constitution. The old judicial authority law stipulates that the heads of judicial bodies be selected based on seniority by their judicial councils and that the president simply ratify the councils' selections. On Wednesday, the boards of several judges clubs, as well as the state councils club held urgent meetings to discuss their next moves, following parliament's decision to pass the law. Both the state council's club and the judges clubs called on El-Sisi not to ratify the law. The judges clubs also called for a general assembly on 5 May to discuss their plan of action. They have already begun to compile a court case challenging the new law's legality. Search Keywords: Short link: April 28, 2017 Open Thread 2017-17 News & views ... Posted by b on April 28, 2017 at 18:10 UTC | Permalink Comments next page 'Captain America' star Chris Evans has been named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive, and admits his mother will enjoy being able to "brag" about his new title. 10 hours ago Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros, the heads of the Roman Catholic and Coptic Orthodox churches respectively, signed on Friday an agreement announcing that both churches would acknowledge the baptisms of each other. The text of the agreement said that the two popes "will not seek to repeat the baptism that has been administered in either of our Churches for any person who wishes to join the other." The Coptic Orthodox Church had previously required new members who were joining from the Catholic church to undergo a new baptism. Pope Francis arrived in Cairo on Friday for a historic two-day visit, the first such papal trip to the country since Pope John Paul II in 2000. Francis met with Tawadros as well as President El-Sisi, and addressed a conference on peace for religious leaders being held at Al-Azhar. Search Keywords: Short link: First-time homebuyers in one market now have government down payment assistance.Nova Scotia announced a first-time buyer down payment assistance program, which will commence May 1.CMBA-Atlantic director, Janet McKeough has been advocating for government officials in Nova Scotia to recognize the challenges around first-time buyers entering the housing market and provide down payment assistance to help them overcome these challenges, Samantha Gale , CEO of CMBA British Columbia, told MortgageBrokerNews.ca. We are pleased that the Nova Scotia government has listened to the concerns of our CMBA directors this program represents a good start towards assisting first time home buyers.The program will enable first-time buyers to receive interest free loans of up to 5% of the purchase price of their home. The loans are repayable over te years and no payments are required within the first 12 months.A total of $1.05 million has been allocated for the program, and the loans will be offered on a first-come first-serve basis."Saving up for a down payment remains one of the main hurdles for people who want to purchase their first home," Joanne Bernard, who represents Dartmouth North, said. "While we continue to help our most vulnerable citizens with housing supports, we cant forget that many modest-income families want to buy homes so they can lay down roots here in Nova Scotia. When we help families, we help strengthen our province.The program is aimed at modest-income Nova Scotians pre-approved for insured mortgages.Loans are available for properties with a maximum price of $280,000 in Halifax and $150,000 in the rest of the province.This is welcome news for first-time homebuyers," Anne DaSilva, president of the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors, said. "This program will stimulate real estate activities, which have a positive impact on the Nova Scotia economy." Cash Sales Share Remains Stubbornly High The share of sales that are all-cash continues at an elevated level. CoreLogic reports cash transactions accounted for 36.5 percent of all home sales in January, unchanged from a year earlier. While the percentage of sales that close without third-party financing has declined from the January 2011 high of 46.6 percent, it remains well above the pre-crisis average of around one-quarter of sales. Sales of bank-owned property (REO) had, as they always do, the largest share of cash transactions, 61.2 percent. Resales had a cash share of 36.5 percent and new homes a 17.7 percent share. Alabama had the largest cash sales share of any state at 52 percent, followed by New York (49.7 percent), Florida (48.3 percent), Indiana (46 percent) and Missouri (45.4 percent). Sales of distressed properties made up only 7 percent of home sales in January, with sales of REO accounting for 5.9 percent and short sales 1.1 percent. The overall distressed sales share represents a year-over-year decline of 4.6 percentage points and is the lowest share for any month since September 2007. Pre-crisis, distressed sales traditionally accounted for about 2 percent of home sales. CoreLogic says that the current rate of decrease should bring distressed sales down to that "normal" 2-percent mark by early-2018. When it peaked in January 2009, the distressed sales share of home sales was 32.3 percent, with sales with REO representing 27.9 percent. The shrinking REO percentage is the primary reason cash sales have declined. All but eight states recorded lower distressed sales shares in January 2017 compared with a year earlier. Connecticut had the largest share of any state at 17.3 percent, followed by Maryland (16.3 percent), Michigan (15.1 percent), New Jersey (15.1 percent) and Illinois (12.8 percent). North Dakota had the smallest distressed sales share at 1.2 percent. Pope Francis is set to call for the end to the flow of arms and money to support acts of violence, in a speech at Al-Azhar headquarters scheduled for Cairo afternoon. According to a copy of the speech obtained by Ahram Online, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, who is in Cairo for a historic two-day visit, will underline the need to pursue better education for all and to end poverty as necessary elements of the international effort to combat radicalism and promote peace. The pope will address the closing session of a two-day international peace conference that is being hosted by Al-Azhar. In his speech, Pope Francis will express gratitude for the opportunity to be in Egypt, "the land of civilisation; the land of the Nile river." Pope Francis is also expected to stress the need for dialogue among civilisations and not just among religions. Search Keywords: Short link: Posse saddles up to help children Russell Libby describes his golden palomino horse, Sonny, as the calmest, sweetest guy and his best friend for nearly two decades. Sonny is the reason Libby and his wife, Laura,... Kris Kringle to support library programs The Moorpark Friends of the Library is offering the second annual Letter from Santa fundraiser. For a $25 donation to the Moorpark Friends of the Library, children will receive a... Oakmont welcomes new executive director Ronda Wilkin, certified dementia practitioner and a senior living executive, joins Oakmont of Moorpark with more than three decades of experience in health and human services. During her 15 years... Tehran protested to Islamabad on Friday over a cross-border raid by armed rebels who killed 10 Iranian guards in the restive southeast. "We expect those responsible for this terrorist attack to be arrested and prosecuted," President Hassan Rouhani said in a letter to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The foreign ministry also called in the Pakistani ambassador to protest over Wednesday evening's raid in the Mirjaveh district of Sistan-Baluchistan province. The province has a large Sunni community and has seen repeated attacks by Sunni militants against the security forces of mainly Shiite Iran. The porous border region with Pakistan has also been prey to violence by drug smugglers. Search Keywords: Short link: A Midland man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly assaulted a woman, according to court documents. Leonel Guanespen-Urbina, 29, was being held Thursday on a $20,000 bond for a third-degree felony charge of assault of a family/house member with a previous conviction. Midland police were dispatched to Midland Memorial Hospital about 2:30 a.m. April 7 in reference to a reported assault. Guanespen-Urbina was at a residence when he allegedly grabbed a womans head and hair. He then slammed her face against a wall and kicked her, according to his arrest affidavit. The woman suffered arm injuries and a concussion from the assault, according to the affidavit. Guanespen-Urbina previously assaulted the woman in May 2016 and February 2017, according to the affidavit. If convicted of the third-degree felony charge, Guanespen-Urbina could face up to 10 years imprisonment. Tehran's mayor and presidential candidate Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf accused on Friday President Hassan Rouhani's administration of dishonesty, mismanagement and supporting the rich at the expense of the poor in the first debate between the six presidential candidates. During the first of three planned debates ahead of the May 19 elections, Qalibaf criticized the Rouhani administration, saying social and environmental problems remained unsolved because of "Your weak management. Your old and traditional management." Qalibaf's other criticisms of Rouhani's administration included that it does not believe in privatization and had failed to fulfil a promise to create four million jobs a promise Rouhani, interrupting, denied making. Rouhani's senior vice-president and presidential candidate responded by saying that Qalibaf and other hard-liners did not voice concern for the "squandering of some $700 bln" during President Ahmadinejad's administration. Rouhani also accused Qalibaf of issuing false statements. He went to added that Iran needed a $200 bln investment in its oil industry, and that there was a need for more investment to create more jobs. Qalibaf, 55, a conservative veteran member of the elite Revolutionary Guard, is running for president for the third time after unsuccessful bids in 2005 and 2013. His candidacy could, however, be marred by his support for hardliners who stormed the Saudi embassy in 2016, leading to a severing of diplomatic ties between Tehran and Riyadh. A January fire that engulfed Tehran's Plasco building, killing dozens, is also a significant blemish on his term as mayor. Other candidates Ebrahim Raisi, Mostafa Mirsalim and Mostafa Mirsalim did not raise any controversial issues, relaying simple messages that they will support the poor. Both Qalibaf and Raisi promised to increase threefold the current monthly $13 "cash-for-poor" scheme. Responses to the debate from the city's residents varied. Zaha Mohammadi, a 39-year-old homemaker, said Qalibaf won the debate "because he spoke about the people's problems." Akbar Souri, a 26-year-old taxi driver, said he wasn't planning to vote, but "Qalibaf's wrong comments made me crazy and want to vote for Rouhani or Jahangiri." Fatemeh Rahimi, a 44-year-old teacher, said it was "shameful of Qalibaf to offer money for votes." "Is it an auction?" she added. Search Keywords: Short link: Musician Aaron Carter's twin sister, Angel Carter ConradShe has broken her silence about the death of her brother, with whom she had a turbulent relationship in the last years of his life. The former child singer was found dead at his home U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple U.S. presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasizing by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said. In other highlights of the 42-minute interview, Trump was cool to speaking again with Taiwan's president after an earlier telephone call with her angered China. He also said he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the U.S. THAAD anti-missile defense system, which he estimated at $1 billion, and intends to renegotiate or terminate a U.S. free trade pact with South Korea because of a deep trade deficit with Seoul. Asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the pact, Trump said: Very soon. Im announcing it now. Trump also said he was considering adding stops to Israel and Saudi Arabia to a Europe trip next month, emphasizing that he wanted to see an Israeli-Palestinian peace. He complained that Saudi Arabia was not paying its fair share for U.S. defense. Asked about the fight against Islamic State (IS) militant group, Trump said the militant group had to be defeated. "I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation," he said, when asked about what the endgame was for defeating Islamist violent extremism. XI 'TRYING VERY HARD' Trump said North Korea was his biggest global challenge. He lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in Pyongyang. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month. "I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. "With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he cant," Trump said. Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed U.S. lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority." It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbor and ally, and remained open to negotiations. U.S. officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force. Any direct U.S. military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among U.S. forces in both countries. 'I HOPE HE'S RATIONAL' Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. "He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. "I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational," he said. Trump, sipping a Coke delivered by an aide after the president ordered it by pressing a button on his desk, rebuffed an overture from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who told Reuters a direct phone call with Trump could take place again after their first conversation in early December angered Beijing. China considers neighboring Taiwan to be a renegade province. "My problem is that I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi," said Trump. "I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him. "So I would certainly want to speak to him first." Trump also said he hoped to avoid a potential government shutdown amid a dispute between congressional Republicans and Democrats over a spending deal with a Saturday deadline looming. But he said if a shutdown takes place, it will be the Democrats' fault for trying to add money to the legislation to "bail out Puerto Rico" and other items. He also defended the one-page tax plan he unveiled on Wednesday from criticism that it would increase the U.S. deficit, saying better trade deals and economic growth would offset the costs. "We will do trade deals that are going to make up for a tremendous amount of the deficit. We are going to be doing trade deals that are going to be much better trade deals," Trump said. Search Keywords: Short link: GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. Montenegrin lawmakers are set to ratify the Balkan country's membership in NATO and make a historic turn toward the West despite protests from traditional ally Russia and pro-Russian opposition. The Montenegrin parliament will convene later on Friday to ratify the accession treaty with the Western military alliance. Opposition parties say they will boycott the session and hold a demonstration instead. Montenegro's pro-NATO government has urged lawmakers to approve the entry protocol. Officials have said that joining NATO will bring stability and economic benefits after centuries of turmoil. The government says: "In the current geo-political environment, Montenegro must rationally look at all options and make a decision that will best protect its national, security and economic interests." Russia has been angered by NATO expansion in Montenegro, Moscow's traditional zone of interest. Search Keywords: Short link: Legislative leaders announced an agreement on the contours of an $83 billion budget plan Thursday, overcoming weeks of division and infuriating Gov. Rick Scott, whose top priorities were all but sacrificed in order to reach the deal. FL House, Senate leaders reach budget deal Slashes Visit Florida budget by two-thirds; eliminates Enterprise Florida business incentives Allows $200 million charter school fund, higher education spending CAPITOL CONNECTION: Latest News | Contact your Florida legislators Under the framework unveiled by House Speaker Richard Corcoran (R-Land O'Lakes) and Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart), the Senate has acceded to Corcoran's demand that funding for Visit Florida be slashed by two-thirds, to $25 million from its current annual appropriation of $76 million. And, while the speaker won't realize his goal of eliminating Enterprise Florida, the business development agency will see its budget for business incentives disappear. Both agencies had drawn the ire of House Republicans after revelations of questionable spending and failed taxpayer-funded development deals. Hours after the framework was released, Scott appeared flabbergasted, wondering aloud why Senate leaders who had pledged to defend the agencies' budgets would agree to the House's terms. "Tell me. I have no idea," Scott told reporters. "If this legislature turns their back on their constituents, then we're going to see less jobs, so I'm going to keep fighting for jobs." The grand bargain also includes a critical cross-rotunda horse trade: in exchange for signing off on a House plan to spend $200 million on building new charter schools in neighborhoods served by chronically failing schools, the Senate has won the House's blessing for a massive increase in spending on higher education, including a near doubling of need-based financial aid for state university students. Payday: lobbyists pack 412 Knott as @richardcorcoran & @joenegronfl prepare to present their budget deal pic.twitter.com/daT4DCFR64 Troy Kinsey (@TroyKinsey) April 27, 2017 But even as the deal dashed concerns the legislative session would be thrown into overtime due to a spending impasse, the two presiding officers were criticized for the way it was constructed: behind closed doors. Speaker Corcoran, who has made transparency -- or at least the appearance of it -- a centerpiece of his tenure, suggested some features of the legislative process would remain business as usual. "I would say to somebody to find me a more open and transparent process, from beginning to end," Corcoran said. "This is the way the budget's always negotiated, and I think you'd be hard-pressed to find, from beginning to end, a legislative session that's been this open and transparent." As the leaders celebrated their newfound unity, Scott was plotting his next moves, which could potentially include vetoing the budget when it reaches his desk. "As you know, the governor has lots of opportunities," the governor said. "I'm going to look at all my opportunities." Orange County is under a burn ban after months of little to no rain and firefighters are saying that Walt Disney World's fireworks are causing brush fires. Reedy Creek firefighters say Disney fireworks are causing more brush fires Orange County is under a burn ban Disney says it has modified fireworks due to current conditions In fact, Orange County is considered to be in a severe drought. Disney World, which is part of the county, conducts fireworks shows at its parks every night, despite the current ban. The result: More brush fires in the area, according to Reedy Creek Fire & Rescue-IAFF Local 2117. Reedy Creek Fire & Rescue serves the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the Disney-controlled taxing district that provides public services to the resort. The brush fires are taking a toll on firefighters, says Tim Stromsnes, president of the Reedy Creek Firefighters Association. Since late March, they have had to battle 30 fires. The biggest concern for firefighters is the new launch area for the Star Wars fireworks at Disneys Hollywood Studios. The area, located across from the park, was constructed last year for Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. However, according to Stromsnes, Disney did not clear enough land around the new launch site. It should have a barrier or 1,000 feet of cleared space he says. We are in communication with Reedy Creek about this issue and they provide guidance on current conditions, a Disney spokeswoman said in an email. Disney says it has modified the fireworks at Hollywood Studios. Periodically, we modify fireworks show including the type, size and quantity of fireworks used based on weather conditions, a Disney spokeswoman said. We are not currently using certain types and sizes of fireworks at DHS and as recently as last week, we modified the use of slow-burning fireworks at DHS." However, Reedy Creek firefighters say that is not working. Magic Kingdom has large sprinklers that run daily to prevent forest fires. Hollywood Studios does not. Stromsnes says he was told it would cost too much money to put a system like that in place. "We certainly are sympathetic to the price of things and having a good, quality show for the guests who work hard and save money for awhile to be able to purchase this experience for their families," he said. "But this is a safety issue." Most recently, Disney banned campfires at its resorts to comply with current county restrictions. Right now, nightly fireworks shows are scheduled to continue. Despite the Orange County burn ban, Disney's fireworks displays are permitted. But could Disney have to cancel some shows? The theme park had to once before. Disney suspended its fireworks when wildfires ravaged Central Florida in 1998. Thousands of people were evacuated and the National Guard was called in to assist firefighters. April will come to an end this weekend, and hopefully May will bring some much-needed rain. Central Florida is about to exit the driest April on record since 1896. Here's the Central Florida weather forecast for the weekend ahead: Driest April on record since 1896 Windy conditions, highs around 90 this weekend Rain will hold off until early next workweek SEE BELOW: See our 7-day forecast Warm temperatures started out our Friday, and we heated up quite a bit for the afternoon. Highs were in the mid 90s inland and around 90 degrees along the coast under mostly sunny skies. Plenty of sunshine will stick around this weekend with rain staying out of the forecast. With a decent breeze off of the Atlantic Ocean, temperatures will back down slightly, but it will still be pretty hot. A few showers start to show back up early next workweek. WEATHER ON THE GO: Download the News 13+ app and get StormTracker 13 & Safety Net alerts wherever you are. GET WEATHER ALERTS: Sign up to receive weather text alerts from News 13 Both Saturday and Sunday will hold mostly sunny skies and hot temperatures. Highs will climb to around 90 degrees, slightly less than Friday due to strong winds out of the east. Rain will hold off until early next workweek as a slight chance moves in on Monday. We have a couple of systems next week that will allow for at least a chance several days. We definitely need the rain with rainfall totals in a deficit all over Central Florida to end the month of April. You may want to head to the beach this weekend to beat the heat. Keep in mind that the water will be a bit choppy and there is an elevated rip current threat. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; StormTracker 13 interactive radar &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span _rtetemp=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;spchk&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; style=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;background-color: #ffffaa;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; _rtespchksugg=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;tbsp&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;nbsp&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;; View LIVE Interactive StormTracker 13 Radar Map We want your pictures! Show us what the weather looks like in your neighborhood. Your photo could end up on News 13 and mynews13.com/weatherpics. Get the News 13+ app for iOS or Androi d T ap "Submit Content" at the bottom of the app menu Remember to include your name and location An isolated shower cannot be completely ruled out for Wednesday as winds continue off of the Atlantic. Most will be dry with plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. Highs inland will be in the upper 80s to around 90 degrees and mid to low 80s along the coast. Not much will change for the rest of the week as temperatures continue to warm up even more. A system is expected to move through early next week and will hopefully bring some much needed rain. An isolated shower cannot be completely ruled out for Wednesday as winds continue off of the Atlantic. Most will be dry with plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. Highs inland will be in the upper 80s to around 90 degrees and mid to low 80s along the coast. Not much will change for the rest of the week as temperatures continue to warm up even more. A system is expected to move through early next week and will hopefully bring some much needed rain. Texas Mutual Insurance Company has announced that Hi-Plains Millwright & Supply in Plainview has been awarded the companys top honor for workplace safety. Texas Mutual, the states leading provider of workers compensation insurance, recognized this company for its dedication to workplace safety. These awards support Texas Mutuals commitment to promoting workplace safety and educating employers about safe work practices, Richard Gergasko, president and chief executive officer of Texas Mutual Insurance Company, said. Its important that we lead the way by recognizing Texas companies for their dedication to workplace safety and their commitment to the safety of their employees. British oil major BP has discovered 200 million barrels of oil in a hidden cache in the Gulf of Mexico, thanks to a technological breakthrough allowing the company to see beneath geological formations that had befuddled oil exploration for decades. The find, worth apotential $2 billion in recoverable oil, is in an undrilled section of BPs Atlantis field in 7,000 feet of water 150 miles from New Orleans. Long obscured by a salt dome, which distorts seismic waves that oil companies use to map features below the earth, the oil reserves were revealed by using a supercomputer and mathematical algorithm to interpret the seismic data in a new way. The Gulf find is another example of oil companies advancing technology to make unexpected discoveries. The advent of seismic imaging allowed oil and gas companies to model mineral layers below the earths surface and drill more precisely. The combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing unleashed the U.S. onshore shale revolution. Now, BPs imaging advance could save drillers hundreds of millions of dollars in false starts and dry wells, and perhaps more important, prevent them from passing up billions of dollars in oil hidden within reach of existing platforms and pipelines. Imaging under salt formations is a holy grail, said Ed Hirs, an energy fellow at the University of Houston and managing director of a small oil exploration and production company. Thats really pretty big. This breakthrough, however, comes when the world is awash in crude and some analysts and economists even at major companies such as Royal Dutch Shell predict that demand for oil will wane as soon as the end of the next decade, forcing companies to leave billions of barrels of oil in the ground. BP itself has shifted its focus in recent years to cleaner-burning natural gas, a very public move toward its view of a low-carbon future, as governments around the world address climate change. But BP executives say the work of salt imaging still fits the companys main goals, specifically to find and extract oil economically. Salt has been a barrier Salt domes have stumped scientists for years. Such geology in deep water is usually promising because the formations trap oil and gas in underground pockets for easy extraction. But companies hadnt been able to image under the domes with much clarity. To drill, oil companies need to see underground. They hire ships that project seismic waves through the ocean and into the earth. Those waves hit rock, bounce back, and the companies measure the returning waves to build images of the subsea earth and identify likely oil and gas traps. But when seismic waves hit salt, they refract more than reflect, like light streaming through a glass bottle. The inconsistency a bunch of scrambled nonsense, said BP geophysicist John Etgen obscures the images of the earth under the formations. Thats left oil companies in a predicament: They know theres oil under salt domes, but not exactly where. If they drill blindly, they are likely to miss the mark the industry success rate in such endeavors runs between eight and nine dry holes out of every 10 wells drilled, BP said. And contractors have charged as much as $500,000 a day to drill in Gulf deep water. One well can cost $100 million or more. Scientists at the BPs Energy Corridor office park worked for years to improve subsea imaging under salt domes and identify new oil deposits. Then, last year a BP scientist fresh out of out of graduate school asked his bosses if he could borrow the companys 15,000-square-foot supercomputer to run an algorithm he had developed. Xukai Shen wanted to use the machine for two weeks. And in that time he and his team produced a new image with much more detail of the earth layers under Atlantis. It wasnt until I saw the image I thought I might be on to something, said Shen, 32. BP double-checked Shens work. Via traditional methods, such analysis would require at least a year of painstaking data comparison for geophysicists. Shen and his team did it in little more than two weeks, and created a much more accurate model. It produced the best image of the field weve ever seen, said Etgen, the projects principal researcher. We basically fell out of our chairs. EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said Friday that accession talks with Turkey have not been halted and she still wants it to join, if Ankara can meet necessary conditions. Her remarks, following a EU foreign ministers meeting in Valletta, came after recent calls from some countries that negotiations over Turkey's potential membership of the bloc should be stopped. The talks in Malta highlighted sharp differences on ties with Turkey after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's victory in a referendum to reform the constitution gave him increased powers. Germany urged its EU peers not to end accession talks despite deep misgivings over Turkey's rights record, saying the country is key to European interests, not least as a NATO ally. Austria however reiterated its demand that negotiations be ditched, saying Erdogan had violated the EU rule of law and eschewed democratic norms that candidate countries must put in place. After a "very frank and open" meeting with the foreign ministers, Mogherini said she was "happy to have (Turkey) in but a level of clarification" was needed from Ankara. "The accession process continues, it is not suspended, not ended (although) we are currently not working on any new chapters," she told reporters. "The criteria are very clear, well known and if Turkey is interested in joining, as the foreign minister told us today, ... it knows very well what that implies, especially in the field of human rights, rule of law, democracy and freedoms," she said. Erdogan meanwhile accused the EU of backing the 'No' campaign in this month's referendum on expanding his powers, but insisted Turkey's door was still open. The EU backed the losing side but that was in the past and from now on the EU should "put efforts into how you will develop your relations with Turkey. Although you carried out that campaign, we are opening our door," he said. Mogherini, who said the EU respected the outcome of the vote, was due to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu later Friday. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said earlier that his government was "strictly against breaking off the accession talks.... It would be the completely wrong reaction." "In NATO, we did not even exclude Turkey even during the times of military dictatorship (there). Why should we now have an interest in pushing it in the direction of Russia?" he said. But Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz repeated his call for talks to be halted and told his EU colleagues to make their minds up. "I consider it completely wrong if we hold up this fiction of an accession (to the EU) as Turkey moves away even further from Europe every year," Kurz said. "We need, finally, a clear decision." In March last year, the European Union signed an accord with Turkey to speed up the accession talks, along with visa liberalisation and billions in aid in return for Ankara halting a flood of migrants, mostly from Syria and Iraq, coming to Europe. Erdogan and top Turkish officials have repeatedly threatened to rip up the deal because of the lack of progress in membership talks. The president also warned that he would review relations with the EU as a whole after the referendum. Search Keywords: Short link: The Permian Basin added two rigs this week, marking the sixth straight week of increases, according to Baker Hughes. The Permian recorded 342 rigs, with Reeves County in the Delaware subbasin tallying 49 rigs and Midland County in the Midland subbasin totaling 40, up two. Other counties with double-digit rig counts were Eddy, New Mexico (30); Loving (29); Lea, New Mexico (22); Martin (22); Howard (20); Upton (18); Reagan (16); Pecos (13); and Culberson (10). Railroad Commission District 8 added six rigs for a total of 22. For other areas in the Permian, District 7B was unchanged at three rigs, District 7C dropped one to 42, District 8A held at 23 and New Mexico fell three to 52. The Permian recorded 134 rigs a year ago, the 2016 low. TEXAS & NEW MEXICO Texas continued its trend higher after the addition of 11 rigs bumped the Lone Star States count to 437. The rise was helped, in part, by five new rigs in the Eagle Ford, pushing the South Texas basins tally to 83. The count in the Haynesville rose by one to 38. Of that tally, 11 were in Texas and the rest were in Louisiana. The Granite Wash spans the Panhandle into Oklahoma. Six of its 10 rigs this week were in Texas. The Granite Wash as a whole gained one rig. The Barnett in North Texas was unchanged at six rigs. New Mexico idled three rigs -- all in Lea County -- leaving a total of 55. The states non-Permian rigs are all in San Juan County. A year ago, there were 185 rigs in Texas and 16 in New Mexico. UNITED STATES The U.S. loves oil, and its rig count shows that. Of the 870 rigs nationwide this week, 697 were searching for oil. Natural gas rigs tallied 171, and there were two miscellaneous rigs. Oil rigs rose by nine, gas rigs jumped four and miscellaneous rigs were unchanged. Most rigs by far are on land, with only 17 offshore, all of which were in the Gulf of Mexico, and four in inland waters. Offshore rigs fell three, and inland water rigs gained one. The land total was 849, up 15. By drilling trajectory, there were 730 horizontal rigs, up 12; 77 vertical rigs, down two; and 63 directional rigs, up three. The U.S. had 420 rigs a year ago. MOST ACTIVE Basins with the highest rig counts were the Permian, the Eagle Ford, the Cana Woodford (55), the Marcellus (46) and the Williston (44). States with the most activity were Texas, Oklahoma (127), Louisiana (58), New Mexico and North Dakota (44). CANADA & NORTH AMERICA Canadas rig count fell 14 this week to 85, and while the number seems low, its more than twice last years count of 37. Canada had 24 oil rigs, down 27; 61 natural gas rigs, down five; and zero miscellaneous rigs, unchanged. The total number of rigs in the North America region fell one to 955. Last year, there were 457 rigs in North America. Like Trevor on Facebook and follow him on Twitter at @HowdyHawes. *** The following are county-by-county Permian Basin rig counts for the week ending April 28, with changes in parentheses. DISTRICT 7B Nolan3 Total3 DISTRICT 7C Crockett4 Irion4 Reagan16 (+1) Upton18 (-2) Total42 (-1) DISTRICT 8 Andrews9 (+2) Crane1 Culberson10 Ector5 (+1) Glasscock9 Howard20 Jeff Davis1 Loving29 Martin22 (+1) Midland40 (+2) Mitchell2 Pecos13 Reeves49 (+1) Ward7 (-1) Winkler5 Total222 (+6) DISTRICT 8A Borden2 Dawson2 Dickens1 Gaines7 (+1) Garza1 Hockley1 Scurry5 Terry1 Yoakum3 (-1) Total23 NEW MEXICO Eddy30 Lea22 (-3) Total52 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Sunday will be the last day on the job for another KSAT-TV on-air talent. In an emotional video on Facebook, Pilar Arias made "the sad announcement" that she's leaving "the longest job I ever held in the journalism industry." Arias, an ebullient multimedia reporter at the ABC affiliate for two years, said she will miss everyone at KSAT and, of course, the San Antonio viewers. She gave a special thank you to those who helped with story ideas. She mentioned that she's not sure where her next career move will be yet. However, she will keep viewers posted on social media. Reached by email, Arias essentially said she couldn't comment on her departure, but instead referred me to KSAT spokesman David Cuccio. Cuccio, however, couldn't be reached. Born and raised in Mesa, Arizona, Arias graduated from Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University with a degree in broadcast journalism. One of her first jobs was as a photographer/studio crew member for the nationally syndicated show "Right This Minute." She also worked in Phoenix for Independent Newsmedia Inc. as a newspaper reporter and served as anchor/reporter for a radio station. In the TV news arena, she toiled for KOLD/KMSB-TV in Tucson, Arizona, as a web producer and assignment desk editor, as well as for the ABC affiliate in El Paso, before coming to KSAT in June of 2015. In her Facebook video, she gave a short, but heartfelt, tour of KSAT's spiffy studios, mentioning that as a multimedia reporter, she had her own camera gear and shot her own stuff, particularly while she was part of the station's investigative team, the Defenders. "I love the Alamo City," she added, saying she's enjoying her second "and hopefully not last Fiesta." If you'd like to view her work before she departs, Arias said she'll have a report on today's 5 p.m. news. She'll also be working Saturday and Sunday, so she may be seen presenting a package or two on those evening newscasts as well. Her departure is one of at least three in recent weeks at the station. She was preceded by weekend morning anchor Concetta Callahan and Katie Vossler, who left KSAT to become the morning meteorologist on a station in East Texas where she was born and grew up. jjakle@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Gotta collect 'em all! This year's Fiesta medals features many movie characters, TV stars and pop culture icons, including Superman, Pikachu and even the mother of Dragons herself. Making a big presence in 2017 are Star Wars characters, including Yoda and Darth Vader. Take a look at how pop culture icons invaded Fiesta 2017 in the gallery above. The clink-clanking of Fiesta medals feels like it has amplified in recent years as the shiny, colorful baubles are now made in honor and jest of everything imaginable odes to famous locals, miniature Whataburgers, even President Donald Trump has made a cameo. About 450 individual Fiesta medals have been combed through by the San Antonio Express-News this year, and those are just the ones that were submitted. The total number of individual medals released for Fiesta 2017 across the city could easily reach near the 1,000 mark. RELATED: 21 things to know about Fiesta medals for rookies and vets alike The Fiesta Store's Director of Retail Mari Morales told mySA.com they expect to sell about 17,000 total medals from their location this year. With the 10-day blowout cracking open in just a few days, the collecting and pinning is already approaching mid-Fiesta levels. And while locals get giddy and fawn over new designs and clever bling, the medal mania is enough to cause some confusion for first time Fiesta-goers. Staff writers Madalyn Mendoza and Rene Guzman contributed to this report. In huge San Antonio food news today: Jason Dady announced he is opening a new restaurant downtown in the spot formerly held by Luke in the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk Downtown. Dady's new restaurant, Range, is expected to open in late summer. It's described as a "modern American chophouse ... showcasing the bounty of (the) Texas Hill Country." Mr. and Mrs. Alan D. Peters of Midland, Texas are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Allison Peters, to Tyler Pace Snelson, son of Mr. and Mrs. James D. Snelson of Midland, Texas. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late David and Judy Peters of Houston, Texas, the late Bernard and Ellen Addington of Green Valley, Arizona, and the late William McDonald of Rockford, Illinois. The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Leon Thurmon Snelson and Cecil and Bonnie Jean Robinson of Midland, Texas, and Tomasine Armstrong Gotcher and the late J.L. Gotcher of Midland, Texas. Sarah is a 2009 graduate of Midland Christian High School and a 2012 graduate of Texas Tech University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Tyler is a 2005 graduate of Midland Christian High School and a 2012 graduate of the University of North Texas, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in Emergency Administration and Planning. The couple met only a year ago, despite growing up down the street from one another, attending the same high school, and sharing many mutual friends. They spent a portion of the past year traveling and working together in New Zealand with Youth with a Mission. Upon returning to the United States, they were engaged to be married. Sometimes it takes traveling to the other side of the world to fall in love with the person who grew up down the street. The couple will be married on Saturday, May 27, 2017 at Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, Texas. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT A $50 million plan to relocate Classical Studies Magnet Academy into the Catholic Center at 238 Jewett Avenue goes to the full city council Monday despite strong opposition from a veteran North End council member who lives a block away from the proposed location. The 4-1 vote of the Councils Education and Social Services Committee to inch the project forward came at a special meeting on Thursday, days after a number of council members and school officials toured the 60,000-square foot Catholic Center which is still in use by the diocese. Among those taking the tour was Council Member Michele Lyons, whose opposition was not swayed by walking up and down the centers long hallways. I cant say its suitable for the neighborhood, Lyons said, peering out the centers back windows toward the rear balconies of the Glendale Avenue Apartment complex. See how close. A City Council approval on Monday would authorize a feasibility study and allow the project to get in line for state bond Monday. It would also lead to more formal talks between the city and Diocese on a 5.5 acre site appraised at between $3.7 and $4 million. The Diocese wants to sell and move to somewhere smaller. The school board has been looking to relocate Classical Studies since the school expanded to a per-kindergarten to eighth grade school three years ago. With the expansion school had to move younger students to a closed Catholic school two blocks away. We want to all be together, Helen Giles, principal of the school said. Classical would take the larger, 60,000 building on the property. A new special education program for about 24-36 students would be created in the smaller 9,000 square foot building on the site. Doing so, would allow the district to bring back some students now placed out of district at high tuition costs, the council was told. John Ricci, director of public facilities estimates the project, including purchase of the property and remediation and complete renovation of two structures on the site could cost as much as $50 million. Of that, the city would have to bond for about 20 percent or $10 million. A new building, council members were told, could cost more than $80 million. Lyons, now retired, was once a home school coordinator at Classical. This is not an attack against Classical Studies, Lyons said. Instead, she called a school unsuitable for her North End neighborhood and the property unsuitable for a school. The property, she said, is too small and doesnt have enough parking She worried that the 80-year-old structure is filled with contaminants that have not been factored into the renovation costs. Both a liquor store and methadone clinic, she pointed out, are a short distance from the property. More time, Lyons said, is needed for the council to investigate the request. Not all her questions have been answered. She also wants the school district to look for other sites, including what she called under-enrolled schools like Dunbar and the new Claytor School. Alan Wallack, construction coordinator for the district, said there are no other sites to put the school. The Catholic Center would be completely renovated to accommodate the new school, he added and clean up of contaminants has already been factored into the cost. The $50 million price tag quoted by Ricci, however, is higher than the $40 million quoted to council members last week, something Council member Scott Burns said concerned him. Giles called the building beautiful, an excellent place to put Classical. That a senior center is next door is idea, she said. It opens inter-generational possibilities. The FBI is searching for a 53-year-old Kingwood contractor who did not show up for sentencing Monday in a $16 million loan fraud scheme. Oscar Cantalicio Ortiz pleaded guilty June 30, 2016, to conspiring to commit bank, mail and wire fraud. Late Wednesday, a federal grand jury returned a new indictment against him for failure to appear. He is considered a fugitive and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000. His codefendant - Houston realtor Seung Min Santillan, aka Suzy, 57, of Houston - pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and making false statements on a loan application in September 2016. She was sentenced earlier this month to 14 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $5,299,500 in restitution. Ortiz and Santillan operated a mortgage fraud scheme in which they recruited straw borrowers to purchase residential properties in the Houston area. Loans were obtained from lending institutions to purchase these properties in the names and using the credit of the straw borrowers. The lenders were provided materially false information to induce them to fund these residential loans. The loans were funded and ultimately fell into default when Ortiz and Santillan failed to make all the mortgage payments as promised. Ortiz and Santillan utilized several business entities during the execution of the scheme, including Uptown Builders LLC, Americorp Builders LLC, Luxury Quality Homes LLC and Santi Investments. In recruiting straw borrowers during the scheme, the borrowers were told the residential property would be in their name for a short period while Ortiz made modifications to the property prior to reselling the house. Ortiz and Santillan promised the straw borrowers that they would handle all the costs associated with purchasing and holding these properties. Once the loans to purchase the residence funded, one or more of the business entities Ortiz utilized would receive a large portion of the loan proceeds. This occurred even when the same property was purchased for the second time in the name of a new straw borrower. The defendants were able to take a large portion of the loan proceeds since the value of the residence was inflated with fraudulent appraisal reports. CASS CITY A grocery store in a different location in the village of Cass City is expected to open by the end of the year. Jim Zyrowski, owner of the Marlette-based Bens Supercenter Inc., no longer plans to build a new grocery store along M-81 on the former Croft Clara lumber yard across from the Shell gas station in Cass City. The site is owned by the Frankenmuth Credit Union. He now plans to operate a full-service grocery story out of the former Erlas Food Center and Packaging at 6233 Church St., Cass City. I own the (Erlas) location and it makes sense to use that in consideration for what the market will bear, said Zyrowski, who has owned the Erla site since 2015. Zyrowski and Frankenmuth Credit Union officials had been talking about building a grocery store on M-81 and the credit union operating out of the store. But that is no longer an option. I heard through the grapevine he pulled out of the deal, said Dennis Krafft, business development officer with Frankenmuth Credit Union. Until recently, there had been a sign next to the Frankenmuth Credit Unions ATM on M-81 about it being the future home to Bens Supercenter, but the sign is now gone. The shift in plans to use the Erla site is expected to speed up development of the grocery store. I plan to revamp and remodel the store, and to demolish part of it, said Zyrowski. We are looking at the building and drafting plans for its design. It is in the initial stages. Although using the former Erla store, which has 21,380 square feet of space to work with, is a shift in focus and will require drafting new plans, Zyrowski said he expects the store to be operational by late winter. When it is open, it will be a full-service grocery store. It will have fresh produce and meat, a bakery, and a deli, he said, noting he is unsure how many employees his new store will have. The community of about 2,375 residents has been without a local grocery store since Erlas closed about three years ago. There also used to be an IGA store along M-81, but that closed several years ago. In addition to Zyrowskis plan to open his store, Texas business man Mark Molter is also planning to open a grocery store in downtown Cass City. To do that, he wants to demolish the former Fairway Discount store and to relocate Rotary Park. His original plan also included demolishing the building that houses Cass City Antiques Mall, but the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) requested Molter keep the antique mall and include it in the design to build his supermarket. Because of that, Molters work on his store has been delayed to have the stores design totally redone.SClB Mary Drier/For the Tribune Jim Zyrowski, owner of the Marlette-based Bens Supercenter Inc., now plans to renovate the former Erlas Food Center and Packaging, at 6233 Church St., Cass City, to be one of his grocery stores, instead of building a new store along M-81 where the Frankenmuth Credit Union has an ATM. A Magnolia man who allegedly ingested up to 5 grams of meth in an attempt to destroy evidence evaded deputies Wednesday evening while being discharged from Conroe Regional Medical Center. James Metcalf, 35, and Jeffrey Mosmeyer, 43, were arrested in Magnolia by deputies with the Montgomery County Precinct 5 Constable's Office on charges of manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance earlier in the day. As the two were being booked into the Montgomery County Jail, deputies learned Metcalf allegedly ingested 1-5 grams of meth prior to his arrest, so out of precaution, the deputies took Metcalf to Conroe Regional Medical Center. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Porter High School senior won the grand champion title for fine arts at the 2017 Montgomery County Fair by connecting a childhood memory in Bangladesh to George Ranch Historical Park. It took Tasnuva Haider, 18, one attempt and two weeks to perfect the watercolor her preferred medium and revive the moment she saw a little girl with fine black hair peaking over the table as a woman prepared lunch. She snapped the moment in November during a field trip to George Ranch in Richmond and said she tweaked the background to keep the focus on the girl and the woman who reminded her of a similar time in her life on the other side of the world in Narayanganj. "While living in Bangladesh, I used to play with my friends every evening outside," Haider said. "I used to be tired and hungry. My mom used to make food, but she doesn't anymore because I grew up. It's something I miss right now." Her mother, who does not speak English, cried when she learned about the inspiration behind the category's first-place piece, which sold for $1,100 in the nonlivestock auction. "She was like 'aw' and she was like 'I wish I could go back and have the little me again," Haider laughed and shared she believes her mother is proud. Haider's parents, Mohammad Wasim Hossain and Farjana Yasmin, immigrated to the United States in 2013 specifically to give Haider, who picked up a brush at the age of 9, the best chance for her education. "My dad always wanted me to study abroad, and America was the perfect country because it is a land of opportunity," she said. In 2014, her work was selected out of hundreds of entries to represent the 8th Congressional District of Texas in the 33rd annual Congressional Art competition, which led to her ranch re-enactment-inspired painting of "The Smoking Soldier" hanging in the U.S. Capitol. She won the competition again in 2016. The year before she left Bangladesh, Haider's painting, "Victory," won a national art competition. The country's late president, Zillur Rahman, presented her with a trophy and certificate for the painting, which depicted the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, according to a previous Chronicle article. Porter High School Art Teacher and Visual Arts Department Chair LaShawna Rhoden described Haider as the perfect student with great parental support, an excellent work ethic, and continuous progress. She commended her ability to master the difficult aqua media. "I keep threatening to fail her," Rhoden said jokingly. "She can't leave." Haider said a photo sits in her room of her best friend in Bangladesh, who introduced her to art and she remains in touch with. "Me and my friend would go together to the teacher (for private lessons)," she said. "She's not painting now because education over there is pretty rigorous (and there are also less options for a Plan B such as if medical school does not work out). She (the friend) had to leave everything else to focus on academics. But thankfully, I had the opportunity to continue over here." Haider, an immigrant who practices the Islamic faith, juggles a dual-credit program with her studies. "During senior year, you get a lot of homework," Haider said. "I'm always busy and I barely get time to get to interact with my parents and whenever I do, it's a happy moment. The drawing reminds (of a time with) no work, (when I) used to play, (and my) mom used to be with me. She still does, she has my back I love her." After high school, Haider plans to obtain her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry, enroll in medical school and study Neuroscience. While she already has added the final touch to her grand champion piece, she's not quite ready to put down the brush. "Art is really meaningful to me," she said. "Whenever I get sad, I would paint. Happy, paint. Paint is associated in every phase in my life. This is something I cannot stop. I will never leave art." As the Texas House gave their approval to the so-called sanctuary cities bill in Austin Thursday, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus denounced the measure, saying it amounts to racial profiling. Lawmakers in the Texas House passed Senate Bill 4 with 94 Republicans in support and 53 Democrats against. Under the legislation, local law enforcement agencies and officials could be punished for failing to comply with federal immigration laws. San Antonio currently prohibits officers from asking suspects about their immigration status, a policy that would be reversed under the law. "Anyone that's under arrest, anyone that is lawfully detained on the street will be subject to be questioned about their immigration status," McManus said. RELATED: House gives final approval to 'sanctuary cities' bill A sheriff, police chief, constable or jail administrator who fails to detain a suspect at the request of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, a maximum $4,000 fine, or both. Once the bill gains Senate approval, it will head to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Terri Burke, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said the organization is studying the bill, but has not yet decided to challenge it in court. She said Texans will need to carry green cards, birth certificates, passports, or any kind of documentation that proves legal status. An estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants live in the state, 71,000 of which reside in Bexar County, according to the Migration Policy Institute. RELATED: Spurs legend George 'The Iceman' Gervin recognized by Texas Legislature for 65th birthday Burke said people with brown skin who look "foreign" will be the ones asked for their papers and to prove legal status. During a press conference Thursday, McManus, responding to a question from Univision reporter Antonio Guillen, said the bill was racially discriminatory. "If I stopped you on the street Tony, and I talked to you, I might ask you for your papers," he said. "You have an accent, you're darker complected than I am, does that mean you're not legal? According to the bill, it might. It absolutely is profiling." Former Housing Secretary and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro told mySA.com the bill will prompt law enforcement to be more aggressive in asking for documentation papers. If the bill is signed into law, Castro said he hopes San Antonians will work with the city council, county commissioners and law enforcement agencies to create "as much trust as possible." "I don't want my daughter, in years to come, because she has brown skin, to get profiled because of legislation like this," he said. San Antonio officers would have to undergo immigration law enforcement training to comply with the law, something McManus said could take more than a year to do. kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO A man high on drugs injured an officer as he tried to evade police in a Northwest Side shopping center Thursday afternoon, damaging vehicles in his wake, police said. The parking lot looks as if bumper cars were being played in there, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said. An officer arriving at about 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot off Bluemel and Wurzbach roads was still assessing reports of a man stealing license plates as he parked behind a black Chevrolet Tahoe, McManus said. When the individual in the Tahoe saw that there was a police car behind him, he put the vehicle in reverse and stepped on it pretty hard, McManus said. The driver rammed the officers vehicle, damaging the front and sending it back, police said. The officers knee was injured during the impact. He actually rams it so hard he moves the front of the officers car around, McManus said. At that point, a female officer who arrived just before the impact began firing five shots at the suspects vehicle. READ ALSO: Onlooker details scare as heat takes toll on parade: "I just went into action" No rounds hit the driver, McManus said. Investigators later found four of the rounds in the door and are still looking for the fifth bullet. During the incident the man continued backing up a second time, smashing another persons car behind him, police said. He then continued down the lot hitting two more cars parked close to the Bluemel exit, McManus said. McManus said the man struck another vehicle almost T-boning it as he drove on to Bluemel. The man then fled on foot, running north on Wurzbach until he reached a womans house. He breaks into a womans house who is cooking dinner, McManus said. The suspect injured his hand breaking through a plate-glass window to get in the home, McManus said. Police caught up to him as he was inside and took him into custody. The man was taken to University Hospital because he was having a reaction to some sort of drugs, police said. It appeared that he was very, very high on something, McManus said. The chief added that the policewoman who fired the shots is a 7-year veteran, and the injured policeman is a senior San Antonio Fear-Free Environment officer. This was a desperate attempt to escape and a reckless disregard for other people, McManus said. jbeltran@express-news.net Twitter: @JBfromSA A former Hudson ISD kindergarten teacher arrested Saturday has admitted to having sex with four high school students, according to an arrest warrant released Monday. Lufkin Police officer Hector Rosales arrested Heather Robertson, 38, of Lufkin, after pulling her vehicle over on Frank Avenue near Third Street about noon Saturday, according to a Lufkin Police Department press release. On Thursday, Hudson ISD police received information that Robertson had possibly been sexually involved with several high school students, according to the warrant. After obtaining a list of students who were possibly sexually involved with Robertson, police began to question each student. RELATED: Ex-Austin teacher accused of inappropriate relationship back in court One of the students told police that he and Robertson began chatting and sexting on Snapchat shortly after spring break, the warrant stated. At some point, Robertson reportedly asked him to come over to her apartment to have sex. The boy then told Robertson that a friend was with him and asked if it was OK if he came over, too, and she said it was fine, the student told police. The boys said that when they arrived to the apartment, Robertson was lying on the couch vaping, according to the warrant. After speaking with the boys for a few minutes, Robertson told them to follow her to her bedroom, where she began taking off her clothes before having sex with both students at the same time, according to the warrant. The boys told police that there were two other students who had possibly been sexually involved with Robertson, the warrant stated. Police then spoke with the two other students, who said they had sex with her at her apartment on multiple occasions. One of the boys told police they would sneak out of their homes, and Robertson would pick them up and take them to her apartment, according to the warrant. He said he and Robertson somehow became friends on Snapchat, and that at some point she sent him a message asking if he and another student would like to hang out. He said Robertson picked him and his friend up late at night, then took them to her apartment and had sex with them, the warrant stated. He told police he had sex with Robertson on two or three other occasions. The boys friend told police he had sex with Robertson twice but could not remember the dates. RELATED: Many in 2 North Texas districts arrested for improper teacher-student relationships In an interview with police, Robertson admitted to picking the boys up and taking them to her apartment, where they had sex, and that she had sex with one of the students four times, according to the warrant. She said the first sexual encounter occurred in late 2016, and the last time was April 14. She also admitted to having sex with the two students at the same time, but said it was the only time she was sexually involved with those boys. She told police she did not require the boys to use a condom because she was no longer able to have children, the warrant stated. She said she recently became a heavy drinker and would sometimes forget the details of the sexual encounters. She also said she instructed the boys not to tell anyone because she would get in trouble. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers arrested Robertson on a charge of driving while intoxicated in late March. That is her only other arrest in Angelina County, according to public records. Hudson ISD Superintendent Mary Ann Whiteker told The Lufkin News on Friday that she became aware of the allegations against Robertson on Thursday morning, and Robertson resigned later that afternoon. We acted immediately and began our investigation, Whiteker said. We pursued with the correct protocol we have to follow. I accepted the resignation (Thursday) afternoon, and it has been submitted through the appropriate legal channels. Our investigation has been finalized. Robertsons Facebook account indicated that she worked as a teacher at Lufkins Burley Primary from August 2000 until 2013. If convicted of the improper relationship charges, Robertson faces up to 20 years in prison, according to the LPD release. Casey Sizemores email address is csizemore@lufkindailynews.com. KolaDaisi University is a Private University licensed by the Federal Government of Nigeria in November, 2016, a non-government, non-partisan ard non-sectarian institution, is situated along the new dual-carriage Ibadan-Oyo Express Road. The vision of the University is to be a world-class institution for excellence in nurturing graduates to meet the socio-economic needs of a knowledge-driven economy. Our mission statement is: "to nurture graduates with the competency to help elevate our country to global reckoning".BiologyMicrobiologyBiochemistryChemistryIndustrial ChemistryPhysicsComputer ScienceMathematicsStatisticsEconomicsPolitical ScienceMass CommunicationHistory and Diplomatic StudiesBusiness AdministrationBanking and FinanceAccountingEnglish & Literary StudiesApplicants must be a Professor with not less than 12 years post-doctoral teaching experience.Applicants must show evidence of:Scholarship through outstanding research and publications,Exceptional teaching ability,Leadership in research and postgraduate supervision,Administrative leadership and competence.The successful candidates must be able to initiate new areas of research, add value to the programmes in the Department, stimulate further research and help with collaboration internationally.The appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.BiologyMicrobiologyBiochemistryChemistryIndustrial ChemistryPhysicsComputer ScienceMathematicsStatisticsEconomicsPolitical ScienceMass CommunicationHistory and Diplomatic StudiesBusiness AdministrationBanking and FinanceAccountingEnglish & Literary StudiesApplicants must possess a PhD from a reputable University and/or an acceptable relevant professional qualification.Applicants must have 6 years post-doctoral teaching experience as well as outstanding research and scholarly publications in recognized national and international journals respectively.Conditions of ServiceThe appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.BiologyMicrobiologyBiochemistryChemistryIndustrial ChemistryPhysicsComputer ScienceMathematicsStatisticsEconomicsPolitical ScienceMass CommunicationHistory and Diplomatic StudiesBusiness AdministrationBanking and FinanceAccountingEnglish & Literary StudiesApplicants must possess a PhD from a reputable University and for an acceptable relevant professional qualification.Applicants must have 2 years post-doctoral teaching experience as well as outstanding research and scholarly publications in recognized national and international journals respectively.The appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.BiologyMicrobiologyBiochemistryChemistryIndustrial ChemistryPhysicsComputer ScienceMathematicsStatisticsEconomicsPolitical ScienceMass CommunicationHistory and Diplomatic StudiesBusiness AdministrationBanking and FinanceAccountingEnglish & Literary StudiesApplicants must possess Bachelor and Master Degrees in relevant disciplines from a reputable University.Evidence of progress on PhD programme is required.The appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SALARYAttractive and competitive.Department: LibraryApplicants must possess a PhD in Library and Information Science from a reputable university, extensive experience inAcademic Librarianship as well as a mastery of the use of academic databases and open source electronic library management software.A minimum of 9 years experience is required.The appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Applicants must have MLS or MIS from a reputable university, with 3 years experience in a university library.Conditions of ServiceThe appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Department: LibraryApplicants must have MLS or MIS from a reputable university.Applicants must be familiar with the use of academic databases and various open source materials used in University Libraries.Possession of a PhD will be an added advantage while 6 years experience in an academic library is required.The appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Interested candidates should possess relevant qualificationsThe appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Department: Works and PhysicalInterested candidates should possess relevant qualificationsThe appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Department: Works and PhysicalInterested candidates should possess relevant qualificationsThe appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Department: Health CentreInterested candidates should possess relevant qualificationsThe appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Department: Health CentreInterested candidates should possess relevant qualificationsThe appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Department: Health CentreInterested candidates should possess relevant qualificationsThe appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Department: Health CentreInterested candidates should possess relevant qualificationsThe appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Department: RegistryApplicants must possess a University degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Secretarial Studies plus RSA in Pitman or its equivalent in 120/50 wpm in Shorthand and Typewriting plus 6 years secretarial experience.The appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Department: RegistryApplicants must possess a good degree from a recognized UniversityA good knowledge of the computer is required.The appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Department: RegistryApplicants must possess a good degree from a recognized University plus at least 3 years relevant post-qualification experience.A good knowledge of the computer is required.The appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Department: RegistryApplicants must possess a good degree from a recognized University plus at least 5 years relevant post-qualification experience.A good knowledge of the computer is required.The appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Department: RegistryApplicants must possess a good degree from a recognized university with at least 9 years relevant post qualification experience.Possession of a higher degree and membership of recognized professional bodies would be an added advantage.A good knowledge of the computer is required.The appointment, which is to commence as soon as possible, is for three years in the first instance. It may be extended for specific periods or confirmed to retiring age. Fringe benefits include a Pension Scheme or a comparable arrangement as may be approved from time to time by the University Council.SalaryAttractive and competitive.Applicants should forward their applications and detailed Curriculum Vitae (20 copies) stating:Date of Birth (not Age),Marital Status,State of Origin,L.G.A.,Mobile Telephone Number,E-mail Address,Academic Qualifications,Experience in Teaching and Research, Publications (if applicable) and enclose two sets of Photostat copies of relevant credentials.Applicants should also indicate the names of three referees and their addresses.All Applications should reach the address below before the closing date above:The Registrar,KolaDaisi University,Kilometre 18, the New Dual Carriageway,Oyo-lbadan Express Road,Ibadan,Oyo State.Note: Applicants should request their Referees to send reports on them, under confidential cover, indicating the position and department to which they have applied, to the Registrar from whom further detail may be obtained.7 June, 2017 Jerri-Lynn here: This Real News Network interview with former Brazilian Minister of Foreign Relations Celso Amorim discusses the crucial problem of which priorities should prevail when intellectual property protection collides with public health concerns. The interview is admittedly rather dense, but it is not inscrutable, so I encourage readers to persevere. In the latter part of the interview, Amorim discusses the role of public financing of research into areas that are public health priorities, so as best to develop necessary medicines and treatments, and the need to delink these efforts from concerns over intellectual property protection. Celso Amorim served as Brazils Minister of Foreign Relations under President Itamar Franco (1993-1994), and again under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2003-2010), and as Minister of Defence under President Dilma Rousseff (2011-2014). Amorim is the longest serving foreign minister of Brazil to date. Currently, Ambassador Amorim is the Chair of UNITAID, Board Member of the Advisory Council of Salamanca University, Chief of the Organization of American Sates mission of Electoral Observation in Haiti, and member of the UN Secretary Generals High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines. In 2015, he was a member of the UN Secretary Generals High Level Panel on the Global Response to Health Crises. LYNN FRIES: Welcome to The Real News Network. Im Lynn Fries, in Geneva. In this brief, we look into the recent Geneva visit of legendary Brazilian Ambassador Celso Amorim. We report on his discussions at the World Trade Organization, and at The Real News, as Ambassador Amorim talks about the UN Secretary Generals High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines. Whether its the rising price of the EpiPen, or new outbreaks of diseases, like Ebola or Zika, yellow fever; the rising costs of health technologies; and the lack of new tools to tackle health problems, like antimicrobial resistance - is a problem in rich and poor countries alike. So states the report of the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines. In keeping with the Panels mandate, the reports recommendations are for remedying incoherence between policies and agreements related to human rights, trade, intellectual property rights, and public health, that were developed with different objectives at different times. And incoherence seen as international trade rules, with intellectual property laws, that were developed to promote economic growth and incentivize innovation, can impede nations from fulfilling state obligations, not only to respect, but to protect and fulfill the right to health. In short, a misalignment between profit-driven innovation models and public health priorities; a misalignment that allows medicine to be priced out of reach of patients and governments alike. As issues around public health, intellectual property, and trade, straddle many different UN organizations, discussions of the Panels report reach into many different forums here in Geneva. We feature a discussion hosted at the World Trade Organization, as WTO member states were invited to discuss the report with some members of the High-Level Panel and their expert advisors. The event was organized by the South Center, together with the UN Secretariat of the High- Level Panel on Access to Medicines, and co-sponsored by the governments of Bangladesh, Brazil, India and South Africa. We focus on the narrative explained by Panel member, Ambassador Celso Amorim. The legendary ambassador is Brazils longest-serving Minister of Foreign Relations. Ambassador Amorims former posts include his service as Brazils Minister of Defence and as Ambassador to the UN. Acting Globally, Celso Amorims latest book, is a book of his memoirs; one of three narratives is Brazils leading role in the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations. Celso Amorims leading role in these historic negotiations is central to his current role as Chairman of UNITAID, and member of the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines. This was explained by Ambassador Amorim, at the recent WTO event featured in this report. We go now to clips of that event as Ambassador Amorim is given the floor. CELSO AMORIM: Its a very complex report. I will just concentrate on one aspect, which was the one aspect that I thought I could I would not say make a difference but at least have some knowledge; which is the question of TRIPS flexibilities, and TRIPS plus provisions, to some extent. And there, for good reason, I was well, of course, this room is totally new to me, but I was Ambassador here to the old GATT, when the TRIPS Agreement was accepted. I had great reluctance in accepting it, and must say that the Brazilian Congress had great reluctance in accepting it, because it imposed many restrictions on our capacity of industrializing ourselves, and not only limited to the pharmaceutical field. But in the end, we thought we could not stay out of the world, and so we did see I still remember just trying to be very brief I still remember when the end of the discussion on the TRIPS group came out. It was headed by a Swedish ambassador, Lars Anell, and I had an advisor, whos now ambassador somewhere, I dont know, Mr. Pirajibi, and I remember how disappointed and discouraged we were. And I had to point out to him, Well, Mr. Pirajibi, we still have some ambiguities. Maybe we will be able to work on them. And he told me, Well, but well lose. Wherever it comes, ambiguity, the stronger we will show their force, and well lose. Well, but of course, as it happens in the world, the evolution of the society, and the problems - and especially I would say HIV/AIDS, and the forces that were unleashed by the epidemics of HIV/AIDS - changed a little bit the political situation. When the Uruguay Round was launched - and I signed the Uruguay Round so Im not speaking against it necessarily - so when the Uruguay Round was launched, it was really for the globalization of capitalism; to make sure that there would be no restrictions to profit and to the work of the multinational companies. But, of course, in a multilateral setting, there are always discussions, we could, here and there - and I wont go into the technical detail because Mr. Correa knows much more than I do - but we were able here and there to put some provisos; some, oh, well, maybe these would be them. And what happened because of this evolution that I mentioned; especially the last decade of the 20th century, because of HIV/AIDS? The political situation in the world to some extent changed. We have we felt that directly, because Brazil was brought to court, so to say, by the United States, concerning our patent law. And in the end they had to give up, because they saw that it was not so easy. And somehow, those ambiguities - probably the biggest step forward - the Doha Declaration means these ambiguities became flexibilities. So they were accepted as established flexibilities. They were no longer ambiguities, so they could no longer be used against us; against developing countries; against countries with the need - or other countries, for that matter - but in that case, mainly developing countries. And thats what we have in the Doha Declaration. All of you are familiar with the Doha Declaration, but I think its useful to remind you of one specific paragraph, which is Paragraph 4. I wont mention Paragraph 6, which is still some polemics. But Paragraph 4 says, We agree that the TRIPS Agreement does not and should not prevent members from taking measures to protect thats very important it does not and should not so its both the factual and the prescriptive should not prevent members from taking measures to protect public health. Accordingly, while reiterating the commitment to the TRIPS Agreement, we affirm that the Agreement can and should again, the existence and the prescription can and should be interpreted and implemented in a manner supportive of WTO members rights to protect public health, and in particular to promote access to medicines to all. So, really, I think this is the core of course, Paragraph 6 is important for the countries that do not have the capacity to produce. It is another matter. But in any case, this is the core of the Declaration. So I found that my main role was to recall that - because there were, of course, many good ideas to improve on the language. But I have seen many times, whenever we try to improve on the language, in the end we lose what we have got. And that was a very specific situation I have to tell you that wed got; not only because we had this very strong lobby of people infected with HIV/AIDS, or the community that was preoccupied with HIV/AIDS; but there was also another factor, which was September 11th. The United States needed desperately to have the launching of the Doha Round, in order to avoid the accumulation of the economic crisis. And this is why these things, which appear to be the most difficult, were the first to be accepted in Doha. I negotiated that personally, so I know more or less the meaning of each word and why it is there. And in the end of the negotiation because what we got here was somehow an exemption from trade retaliations within the WTO. We couldnt get more than that. That was the main objective. And thats why, I think, youll see if you read the object, the Goal Number 3 of the SDGs or other declarations, and several far off people agreeing. But when it comes to trade, then they abandon that. And they use if they cannot bring to retaliate in the WTO, they use bilateral and pluri-lateral agreements. I think it has to be the crucial point for countries that have tried to do I dont want to mention the name of countries here, but we know that, in South East Asia and in South America, countries suffered quite a lot of pressure from the laboratories and from governments, including that went much beyond trade not to apply compulsory license or not to apply other TRIPS flexibilities. So thats why I want to mention that in my opinion, the most important and the language is very strong the most important paragraph in the recommendations of the High-Level Panel, is in 2.6 of the recommendations that relate to IP, the Chapeau actually, when it says, World Trade Organization WTO members should commit themselves at the highest political level so that would not be anyone, not just a Trade Minister, not the delegate in the Human Rights Council, but the highest political level - to respect the letter and the spirit of the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, refraining from any action that will limit their implementation and use in order to promote access to health technology. What Im saying now may sound it could be a token anyway to some extent, but we have to fight for a token, thats the role that we have. It sounds even more a token now, because I just read a document - which I dont know if it was approved yet - which was to be the National Trade Policy of the biggest power the two biggest trading powers in the world, in which, among other things, it is said that they should ensure U.S. owners of intellectual property have a full and fair opportunity to use and profit from the property. They should resist efforts by other countries, or international bodies like the WTO, to weaken these rights and benefits, and furthermore to use all possible sources of leverage all possible sources of leverage all sources that includes military force? I dont know all all sources of leverage to encourage other countries to open their markets to universal exports of goods and services, and protect U.S. intellectual property rights. So what Im going to say now just LYNN FRIES: We now bring this discussion to The Real News. Please join me in welcoming Ambassador Celso Amorim. Ambassador Amorim, welcome. CELSO AMORIM: Thank you very much. LYNN FRIES: Free trade agreements based on profit-driven models of innovation obligate governments to respect intellectual property rights. In the case of health, governments that signed the World Trade Organization Multilateral Agreement on Intellectual Property, the TRIPS Agreement, can use TRIPS flexibilities to act in the public interest. The use of these TRIPS flexibilities by governments can be impeded, for example, by other free trade agreements, most notably ones with TRIPS-Plus provisions. Lets pick up the conversation from there. CELSO AMORIM: Well, of course, the question of access to medicine has several dimensions. But one of them has to do with intellectual property and the patent systems. In the WTO, we were able to evolve some rules; first in the TRIPS Agreement - Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights Agreement - when the WTO was created. But as things evolved and new realities appeared, including the HIV/AIDS and many others, we were able to have a clarification of the TRIPS Agreement when we had the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health; which is extremely important, and which really makes it clear the flexibilities that countries, governments, have to deal with public health in relation to patent rights. And now what happened recently in relation to this subject? Well, the countries that have the biggest interest in intellectual property protection - which is right; we are not against intellectual property protection, but they want to see that health prevails when there is a conflict - they tried to work either on bilateral agreements, or in what you might call pluri-lateral agreements, of the kind of what was the TPP. LYNN FRIES: In the context of trade negotiations, can you clarify what multilateral means? CELSO AMORIM: Thats a very interesting question, because at least from my point of view, we see a lot of confusion, even in the U.S., when people discuss now the policies of the present president, quite irrespective of the value judgments. They say, well, they are withdrawing from the multilateral setting. And they - I think - when they refer, for instance, to the TPP - the TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, is not multilateral. Its a regional thing. Its not the whole world. So its a group of countries irrespective of the limits that they might see or not see. Like NAFTA is not multilateral. Its a different thing that you have to deal separately. The real multilateral body in terms of trade is the WTO. And we favor very much you asked - the multilateral setting, so the broad setting, the world setting. Not just the regional, or that a group of countries for these negotiations that involve aspects that actually go beyond trade, because we are speaking of the lives of people and the possibility of using generic drugs which are much cheaper. LYNN FRIES: It was through multilateral negotiation that you got TRIPS flexibilities. Talk of some of the ways these flexibilities have made a difference in peoples lives. CELSO AMORIM: In developing countries, yes, I mean, there the flexibility that enables us to have a medicament for HIV/AIDS or for TB or for other even cancer, or high blood pressure or whatever - at a much lower price than is charged in the market. So that flexibility is enshrined in the Doha Declaration. Now coming back to the Panel. We do recognize, of course, that the laboratories have to be compensated for, for the research they do. By the way, much of the research is not them. Much of the research is done by public funds, anyway. But, anyway, if they do, they have to be compensated for it. Its a private business. But we think it has to be done in a different way. LYNN FRIES: Before talking about doing things in a different way, talk about the prevailing way of doing things, based on profit-driven innovation models with international enforcement mechanisms. CELSO AMORIM: Its very I mean, even the developed countries its relatively not easy, nothing is easy but its accepted that if you have funding, for instance, for a new weapon its not much discussed. But if you have public funding for a medicine or for public services, then there is a lot of opposition. So, because this is the political reality, they try to recoup the investment through the intellectual property, both domestically and globally. And I think some of the big challenges that we are facing nowadays not only developing countries, but even in the developed world, like the antimicrobial resistance, for instance - the level of investment is so big that you wont be able to recoup through patents anyway, so we have to think of a different model. LYNN FRIES: Comment on your work with UNITAID as an example of the need for a new model, even when levels of investment are not so big. CELSO AMORIM: Yeah. I am the chairman of the board of a small organization, but which acts very specifically in some, what might be called some market failures, in terms of having medicines for certain diseases, or for certain groups of populations. For instance, children - pediatric formulations for treating HIV/AIDS. That is not of interest in the developed countries anymore because it doesnt happen so often. So there is no market for that. So my very active and dynamic organization acts in these kinds of things, quick testing for TB, things like that. I think when we come to the High Level Panel, it deals with the whole model of how intellectual property, or the innovations, should be dealt with. And I think that this whole idea of delinkage, of separating the idea of how you finance the research from the price of medicines, is really an essential and that And I mentioned to you in relation to antimicrobial resistance - but it applies to many other things, even to non-communicable diseases, also, like cancer and others - how to make the medicines affordable and still continue with doing research. Well, I dont see any other way from public financing. Either its national or international, or a mixture of both, depending on the situation of the country. Of course, if you take a small country like - I dont know Malawi or whatever, it will depend a lot on international. In the United States it could be basically national. In Brazil it probably will be a mixture. But, anyway, it has to be public financing that does the bulk of it. And then maybe, of course, I dont know, in some cases that are very specific, you can also still have the patent protection. But certainly in areas that have great impact on public health, delinkage is very important. So, again, what I wanted to stress - because thats the situation we face today. This is there, its a fact of life, it will be very difficult to change, it will take a long time. I mean, if you want to apply this concept of delinkage, some countries may apply, some others will not apply. But we have a defense, at least, a protection, to avoid abuses, and this protection is encapsulated in the Doha Declaration of TRIPS and Public Health. So, thats what we want to save, and thats why all these agreements, which are TRIPS-Plus, they are so negative but public authority they have to treat health the way they treat defense. I mean, nobody asks to get the money in the market for a new weapon; so the weapon to save lives has to be treated the same way people have the military: it is the public authority that somehow has to finance. Of course, its money from the taxpayer, but they will have to pay much more later on with the diseases, with death and so on if they dont do that. LYNN FRIES: Ambassador Celso Amorim, thank you. CELSO AMORIM: Thank you. LYNN FRIES: And thank you for joining us on The Real News Network. A fast, non-destructive test for two-dimensional materials (Nanowerk News) By now it is well understood that thinning a material down to a single atom thickness can dramatically change that materials physical properties. Graphene, the best known 2D material, has unparalleled strength and electrical conductivity, unlike its bulk form as graphite. Researchers have begun to study hundreds of other 2D materials for the purposes of electronics, sensing, early cancer diagnosis, water desalination and a host of other applications. Now, a team of Penn State researchers in the Department of Physics and the Center for Two-Dimensional and Layered Materials (2DLM) has developed a fast, nondestructive optical method for analyzing defects in two-dimensional materials. Molecular model of a WS 2 triangular monolayer targeted with a green laser (hv). Red light (hv) is emitted from the edges where defects consisting of sulfur vacancies are located. Electron-hole pairs are bound at the vacancy site (see inset). (Image: Yuanxi Wang, Penn State) In the semiconductor industry, for example, defects are important because you can control properties through defects, said Mauricio Terrones, professor of physics, materials science and engineering and chemistry, Penn State. This is known as defect engineering. Industry knows how to control defects and which types are good for devices. To really understand what is going on in a 2D material like tungsten disulfide, which has a single atom-thick layer of tungsten sandwiched between two atomic layers of sulfur, would require a high-power electron microscope capable of seeing individual atoms and the holes, called vacancies, where the atoms are missing. The benefit of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is that you get an image and you can see directly what is going on you get direct evidence, said Bernd Kabius, staff scientist at Penn States Materials Research Institute, an expert in TEM and a coauthor on the paper appearing April 28 in the online journal Science Advances ("Optical Identification of Sulfur Vacancies: Bound Excitons at the Edges of Monolayer Tungsten Disulfide"). The downsides, according to Kabius, are an increased possibility of damage to the delicate 2D material, the complex preparation required of the sample and the time involved - an entire day of instrument time to image a single sample and a week or more to interpret the results. For those reasons, and others, researchers would like to combine TEM with another method of looking at the sample that is simpler and faster. The technique developed by Terrones and his team uses an optical method, fluorescent microscopy, in which a laser of a specific wavelength is shone on a sample and the excited electrons, pushed to a higher energy level, each emit a photon of a longer wavelength when the electron drops down to a lower energy level. The wavelength, or color of light, can be measured by spectroscopy and gives information about the defect type and location on the sample. This data shows up as peaks on a graph, which the team then correlated to visual confirmation under the TEM. Theoretical calculations also helped to validate the optical results. A necessary step in the process requires placing the sample in a temperature-controlled specimen holder, or stage, and lowering the temperature to 77 kelvin, almost 200 degrees C below zero. At this temperature, the electron-hole pairs that produce the fluorescence are bound to the defect - in the case of this work a group of sulfur vacancies in the top layer of the sandwich - and emit a signal stronger than the pristine areas of the material. For the first time, we have established a direct relationship between the optical response and the amount of atomic defects in two-dimensional materials, said Victor Carozo, former postdoctoral scholar in Terrones lab and first author of the work. Terrones added, For the semiconductor industry, this is a quick measurement, an optical nondestructive method to evaluate defects in 2D systems. The important thing is that we were able to correlate our optical method with TEM and also with atomistic simulations. I think this method can be very helpful in establishing a protocol for characterization of 2D crystalline materials. In this context, co-author Yuanxi Wang, a postdoctoral researcher in the 2DLM and a theorist, added, Our calculations show that electrons trapped by vacancies emit light at wavelengths different than the emission from defect-free regions. Regions emitting light at these wavelengths can easily identify vacancies within samples. And Vincent Crespi, Distinguished Professor of Physics, Materials Science and Engineering and Chemistry, Penn State, said We can establish not just an empirical correlation between the presence of certain defects and modified light emission, but also identify the reason for that correlation through first-principles calculations. 'It wasn't meant to be': Chandler Smith comes up short in third Chandler Smith talks about what more was needed tonight and what could've been done differently as he puts a cap on the season. Find the newest releases to watch from National Geographic on Disney+, including favourite documentary series and films Free Solo, The Rescue, Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth and The World According to Jeff Goldblum. The Minister of State with special responsibility for Mental Health Helen McEntee TD launched Connecting for Life South Tipperary a new suicide prevention and self-harm plan for the area, which is the local implementation of Connecting for Life, Irelands National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015-2020. Facilitated by the HSE, Connecting for Life South Tipperary is the result of a comprehensive process of consultation and engagement. It involved the people of South Tipperary and those who provide services to them, developing a roadmap to address suicide and self-harm in the area from now until 2020. The launch in the iconic Main Guard in Clonmel town centre heard that the suicide rate in South Tipperary is above the national average. Minister McEntee also referred to her personal association with suicide following the death of her father who took his own life. The event also marked the launch of the South Tipperary directory of mental health services and supports, a booklet with a comprehensive list of services available. Minister McEntee said every part of the country has developed its own suicide prevention and self-harm plan, linked to the national Connecting for Life strategy. "There has been a very collaborative process here in South Tipp and I would like to congratulate all those involved. " Im delighted to launch the South Tipp plan, which reflects accountability and is responsive, evidence based and adaptive to change over its five year implementation period. Minister McEntee with Cllr Pat English and Deputy Seamus Healy and some of the younger people at the launch. "Following on from publication earlier this week of the similar Connecting for Life Mid West plan applicable to North Tipperary, Connecting for Life South Tipperary sets out a vision where fewer lives are lost through suicide and where communities and individuals are empowered to improve their mental health and wellbeing. It's important that we all work together now to ensure the plan is implemented in full. Minister McEntee was joined at the Launch in Clonmel by Tracy Nugent (Regional Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, HSE South East Community Healthcare Organisation Area), Ronnie Corbett (Independent Chair of South Tipperary Suicide Prevention Planning Group), representatives from local authorities, the Gardai, and various voluntary agencies and community groups. Kelley Lee, a member of South Tipperary Suicide Prevention Planning Group and South Tipperary Consumer Panel for Mental Health, said that South Tipperary has a rate of suicide that is higher than the national average. Minister Helen McEntee addresses the attendance in the Main Guard. She added - "There is no part of our area that has not been affected. There is a sense of isolation for many. "Our consultation process was able to look at that in addition to feedback from priority groups like young people, the LGBTI community, the Traveller community, mental health service users, those living in rural isolation and those affected by drug/alcohol use to name but a few. "I am looking forward to the plan building and acting on what has been learned. The launch was also addressed by Gerry Raleigh, Director of the HSEs National Office for Suicide Prevention, and Liz Kinsella, Head of Service, HSE Mental Health in the South East Community Healthcare Organisation Area. (Natural News) What was supposed to be a cure for shingles has brought on worse complications. Thousands have attempted to file lawsuits against American pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. for problems associated with their product Zostavax. In an interview with TROFire.com, Troy Bouk, Associate Attorney at the Levin Papantonio law firm, stated that the side effects of the shingles vaccine included meningitis, encephalitis, stroke, palsy, and many others. According to Bouk, these side effects are all features of shinglesand with the vaccine created from a live strain of the virus, its no wonder that Zostavax has caused people to experience these conditions. Zostavax was approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Bouk said. The group has since recommended that only people 60 and above should take the vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on the other hand, approved Zostavax for people 50 and above, states TheFreeThoughtProject.com. The CDC has warned that people within the 50 to 59 age group may lose the alleged protection benefits of the vaccine by the time the reach 60, however. Lets say youre 55 years old. It may stay in your system till youre 60, but you actually are at the greatest risk of getting shingles when youre in your 60s. Thats why the CDC recommends that you really dont get it until youre in your 60s, because thats probably when youre going to need it the most, Bouk said. On the efficacy of the vaccine, the CDC has stated that it only reduced the risk of shingles by a mere 51 percent, making its true potency uncertain. This unpredictability is the reason why attorney Marc J. Bern of Marc J. Bern & Partners LLP has thousands of complaints that have yet to be filed in Philadelphia, Penn. In a statement to FiercePharma.com, Bern has said that the injuries run the gamut from contracting shingles as a result of the vaccine all the way to serious personal injuries such as blindness in one eye, individuals who have serious paralysis in their extremities, brain damage, all the way to death. In an additional comment, Bern stated that he thought Merck has failed terribly to warn about the very serious side effects and the failure of the vaccine to do what they claim it does. (Related: Shingles vaccine made with pig gelatin, MSG and residual components of human DNA from an aborted fetus. Why?) Bern has said that his firm has been examining the drug for quite some time, and that the litigation has merits. The attorney has also expressed his belief that the cases should be grouped together for mass tort status. Another attorney, Michael Katz, agrees with Bern. In response, a spokesperson for Merck has stated that Nothing is more important to Merck than the safety of our medicines and vaccines. If thats the case, then why are thousands of people experiencing ailments associated with the disease the vaccine is supposed to cure? Because its made from the same virus, thats why. Is it wonder why Zostavax is causing more harm than good? News and other media concerning vaccines and drug companies can be read over at Vaccines.news and BigPharmaNews.com. Zostavax facts Zostavax was approved by the FDA in 2006. In 2016, Zostavax pulled in $749 million in sales for Merck. Currently, Zostavax is the only approved shingles vaccine in the United States. GlaxoSmithKline is working on a second shingles vaccine called Shingrix. The drug manufacturer is still seeking the approval of the FDA for their drug. Sources include: TROFire.com TheFreeThoughtProject.com FiercePharma.com ForThePeople.com Molly, the rare "hermaphrodite" dog had undergone gender reassignment surgery. As described by the veterinarian who discovered the Jack Russell's case back in November 2015, Molly had male testicles, which had not descended, and female genitalia with a poorly formed "vestigial" penis. "Some folk would use the term intersex, some would say non-binary, in that she is not male or female, but the correct scientific term is that she is a male pseudohermaphrodite," Glasglow vet Ross Allan told BBC Scotland's Kaye Adams Program. Allan asserts that Molly's case is extremely rare with only 15 similar cases documented. As reported by Telegraph, Molly's owners, Mary and Frank Finlay, initially thought Molly was female. It is only when they noticed that she has unusual toileting behavior such as shaking her leg when urinating and rubbing herself in furniture. That was when they decided to take Molly to the vet. According to Allan, X-ray results showed that the elements of both the male and female genitals are present in Molly and are causing her discomfort. "What transpired was that although Molly looked to be female, her urethra followed the route as though she was a boy. She did not have a properly formed penis. She actually had the female external genitalia, as it were, but in the male formation. That was the problem. It was not normal anatomy and it was getting inflamed and so on," Allan explained. And such, the gender reassignment was decided upon so she could live normally in comfort. She underwent surgery in June, when she was about six months old, and she has now recovered fully. During the surgery, they have found she has testicles within her abdomen. They had to remove all her pseudo male sex organs and cut a urethral opening to allow her to pee comfortably. Despite the surgery, Molly's owner claims Molly, who is still a she, still cocks her leg like a male dog when urinating. But at least, distress has already been removed and Molly can wiggle her tail like any other pup. A woman from Wisconsin has suffered second degree burns after the fitness tracker she was wearing allegedly exploded. According to Dina Mitchell, she was not doing any physical activities when the Fitbit Flex 2 started to burst into flames. In fact, she was only reading a book when it exploded without any warning signs such as heating up. "I was literally just sitting and reading when my Fitbit exploded," Mitchell told ABC News in an emailed statement on Sunday. "It was either defective or really mad I was sitting still so long... I don't know. Either way, it burned the heck out of my arm." She had to go to the doctor to treat her injuries and they had to carefully pick the piece of plastic stuck on her flesh. "The Fitbit itself is totally melted. The bracelet melted, and I got pieces of plastic burned into my arm," Mitchell said, according to WILX10. Meanwhile, the company had already released a statement in response to the incident, citing that it is the first complaint they ever received about the product. They also replaced Mitchell's device. "We are extremely concerned about Ms. Mitchell's report regarding her Flex 2 and take it very seriously, as the health and safety of our customers is our top priority," a spokesperson said, as per Huffington Post. "Fitbit products are designed and produced in accordance with strict standards and undergo extensive internal and external testing to ensure the safety of our users." The company added that they are currently investigating the issue and asserted that there is no reason why people should stop wearing the fitness tracker. Exploding gadgets is not something new, especially the ones that are powered by lithium batteries. Last month, a woman suffered from burns on her face and neck after her headphones exploded midflight, from Beijing to Melbourne. In a separate incident, a portable power pack started a fire inside an overhead locker in an Airbus that took off from China. READ: Woman Suffers Burns, Blisters After Headphone Explodes Midflight After successfully launching a reused Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX is about to embark on another first. Elon Musk's commercial spaceflight company is set to launch a top secret SpySat mission for the U.S. Department of Defense this Sunday, April. 30. There is very little information available about the top secret mission but it will be SpaceX's first time to launch such a mission for the government. The launch will carry a "top secret" payload to space for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. NROL-76 will lift off from LC-38A, the historic Launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center. The launch window starts as early as 7 a.m. This is an achievement for SpaceX since the U.S. Department of Defense usually uses Lockheed Martin and Boeing for such missions. Inverse reported that SpaceX has been taking military contracts for over a year now but hasn't since flown on an actual mission. A successful launch will open a window of opportunity for SpaceX to deliver more national security missions. Static fire test complete. Targeting Falcon 9 launch of NROL-76 on Sunday, April 30. pic.twitter.com/mk0dQGj17o SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 25, 2017 Recently, SpaceX conducted a Static Fire Test of its booster for the upcoming April 30 launch. During the test, the Falcon 9's two-stage rocket was filled with propellants 70 minutes before they were fired to mimic launch conditions. Since SpaceX is relatively new to these type of missions, some protocols will be imposed. For example, SpaceX employees will have to vouch for secrecy, according to a report. Before the launch, SpaceX is expected to conduct a Launch Readiness Review (LRR), which will determine if the mission to launch a SpySat for the U.S. National Defense will push through on the scheduled date. Unlike other SpaceX missions, NROL does not allow a live coverage of the ascent. There would be no live streaming for this one. Nevertheless, the coverage of the booster's return is allowed. It may be illegal to run a traditional brothel in the U.K., but sex dolls are fair game. According to a report from the Daily Star Online, the company LumiDolls -- known to be behind Europe's very first sex robot brothel -- is eyeing the U.K. for a potential future site. "We are currently in the process of expanding and looking for more franchisees in other countries," a spokesperson for LumiDolls said in a statement. "If anyone is interested in the brand, you can contact us." Last February, the sex doll agency opened its first robot brothel in Barcelona, Spain. Here, clients can get intimate with life-like robots. However, backlash from prostitutes forced the company to shut down its first den, officially citing infrastructure problems as the reason for their change in location. Their current venue is only disclosed to paying customers. "With LumiDolls, customers can perform any of their sexual fantasies they do not dare to do with a woman," the spokesperson explained. "This allows them to fulfil their wildest fantasies that maybe with other people they can not, maybe they have some physical complex that does not allow them to be comfortable with a person, and with a doll it makes them much easier this problem." Rates in the brothel are about 67 ($86) for half an hour with one of the four sex dolls in the den. Each one has its own distinct personality and qualities. While the dolls are disinfected and cleaned thoroughly before and after each "shift," the company still encourages the use of condoms. The rise of robots in the sex industry worries some scientists who aren't just concerned that human sex workers will be replaced by robots who can give men and women their every whim, but also that technology will also affect people's need -- or interest -- on human relationships. In a report from The Guardian, De Montfort University fellow in the ethics of robotics and Campaign Against Sex Robots founder Kathleen Richardson warned that masturbation could become the dominant form of sexual experience as early as 2050. She added that this is brought about by consumer capitalism urged by "techno-utopians who commercialize our relationships." Shattered bones found on a construction site in California uncovers new possibilities of human history in the Americas. This discovery suggests that the first humans actually arrived 130,000 years ago, which is a whopping 100,000 years earlier than widely believed. According to a report from New Scientist, mastodon fossils were discovered along a coastal site in San Diego, California in the 1990s. When scientists analyzed the findings, they found that a big chunk of the collection were fragmented and fractured, possibly the effect of humans breaking open fresh bones. There were also stone cobbles found in the site, which had signs of impact marks. Team member Steven Holen from the Center for American Paleolithic Research in South Dakota explained that the clues paint a clear picture of what possibly happened. Early humans may have came across a fresh mastodon carcass, then used stones as tools to break the bones open. The bones could have been used by the early humans for tools or food (bone marrow). But the most extraordinary discovery of this particular site is when James Paces of the United States Geological Survey in Colorado used uranium-thorium isotope dating and found that the fossils are about 131,000 years old. Many believe that humans made it to the Americas just 15,000 years ago; so if proven, this newly dated fossils could pave the way to a rewritten history. The site didn't feature human fossils, so the scientists couldn't determine who first populated the country were. Two possibilities are Neanderthals or Denisovans, according to team member Richard Fullagar. "We often hear statements in the media that a new study changes everything we knew," says Chris Stringer at the Natural History Museum in London. "If this result stands up to scrutiny, it does indeed change everything we thought we knew about the earliest human occupation of the Americas." The findings are published in the journal Nature. A new planet about the same mass as Earth, called OGLE-2016-BLG-1195Lb, was discovered through a process called microlensing. NASA says the ice ball planet is "colder than Hoth" and is orbiting its star at the same distance that the Earth orbits the Sun. Although it won't be habitable due to a very faint star, the discovery of this new planetary system will help scientists understand different star systems in the universe. "This 'iceball' planet is the lowest-mass planet ever found through microlensing," Yossi Shvartzvald, a NASA postdoctoral fellow based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, California and lead author of a study, said in a press release. The findings of the study were published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. The ice ball planet was discovered by using the microlensing method. Microlensing uses background stars as flashlights in order to discover distant objects. When a star crosses or transits another bright star at the back, the gravity of the foreground star shifts the focus of light to the background star making it shine brighter. This way, a planet can also be identified as a "blip" that lasts for only a few hours. According to NASA, many other exoplanets were identified using microlensing. This process can also detect planets that orbit farther than their star compared to the distance between Earth and the Sun. NASA's discovery of the iceball planet will help scientists in their mission to understand the distribution of planets in the galaxy. It isn't habitable because it is colder than Hoth with a temperature of minus 400 degrees Fahrenheit, according to CNN. In order to arrive at their findings, scientists used different instruments including the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute and NASA Spitzer. "Although we only have a handful of planetary systems with well-determined distances that are this far outside our solar system, the lack of Spitzer detections in the bulge suggests that planets may be less common toward the center of our galaxy than in the disk," Geoff Bryden, astronomer at JPL and co-author of the study, said in a statement. A lunar outpost or a moon base has a bigger chance of being completed now that the China National Space Administration (CNSA) is allegedly discussing a collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). Both ESA and China have already expressed their intent to build a "moon village". Reports say that ESA and CNSA have already started the discussions for a potential collaboration in building a moon village that will serve as a lunar outpost. The news surfaced from China's space agency, which ESA spokesperson later on confirmed. "The Chinese have a very ambitious moon program already in place," Pal Hvistendahl, ESA spokesperson, said in a statement. "Space has changed since the space race of the '60s. We recognize that to explore space for peaceful purposes, we do international cooperation." China has always expressed its interest in building a lunar outpost. It could be used as a pitstop to other destinations in the solar system, not to mention the abundant resources that can be mined from the Earth's satellite. CNSA also showcased its capability to build such outpost as it recently launched an unmanned cargo spacecraft to space. Meanwhile, ESA's moon village is an already existing concept. There's no better way to ensure the success of their missions but to collaborate. However, in 2016, ESA clarified that their vision of a moon village is a global collaboration of ideas. "By 'Moon Village' we do not mean a development planned around houses, some shops and a community center," an ESA official said. "Rather, the term 'village' in this context refers this: a community created when groups join forces without first sorting out every detail, instead simply coming together with a view to sharing interests and capabilities." But collaborating with China on this one is definitely a step ahead of their plans and an actual lunar outpost could be built in the years to come. The lunar outpost could serve as a jump-off point for the mission to Mars, the obviously bigger and deeper space exploration initiative. If ESA is working with China on the moon village, NASA is likely not to collaborate since the agency is banned from working with Chinese state staff when it comes to space-related projects. Imagine being secretly recorded during a private moment by someone you work with. Its a sickening thought that lingers in Vien Hoangs mind after someone placed a hidden camera in the ladies room at Fremont-based Elma Electronics. Now, more than two years after she and a colleague reported the incident to police, theyve learned the officer closed the investigation the same day of their report, after failing to interview a single person other than the two women recorded that day and the human resources director. Its very stressful when I come to work because Im so scared, Hoang said. The quality inspector has worked at Elma for 13 years, and said she used the restroom often to change clothes after workouts. I feel violated. Hoang said a colleague discovered the camera, disguised as a small hook, mounted on a paper towel dispenser. When the women viewed what was on the memory card, they saw embarrassing video showing them using the restroom. Hoang said she recalled seeing the hook in the bathroom months before, but never realized it was a camera. I have no idea how many times I was recorded, Hoang said. The women immediately called their human resources director, who reported the incident to Fremont Police. According to the report, responding officer Paul Richards packaged, sealed and submitted the camera and memory card to Fremont PD Property Unit as evidence. Fremont police said the evidence was never finger-printed because the device had already been removed and handled by employees. But why didnt Officer Richards conduct any interviews that might have helped him identify a suspect? Fremont sergeant and public information officer Ricardo Cortes, speaking on behalf of the department, said it was because the human resources director told the responding officer about 100 people had access to that bathroom. We have to make sure we dont make this into some kind of witch hunt, Cortes said. But Hoang says only 15 people work on her floor who would use that restroom. Anyone else using it during business hours would be unusual. Cortes said he doesnt know why the responding officer didnt speak to any other employees. He defended the officers actions, I think he did satisfy the basic requirements of this investigation, but added he would review the incident with the department to discuss best practices and investigative techniques, We always learn, and we always try to do better. The message the victim gets is I was violated and nobody cares, said Karen Guidotti, chief deputy district attorney for San Mateo county. She has a different take on the value of interviewing people at the scene of a crime. Its amazing what people know if theyre asked the right questions. A lot of people may not know they have information until theyre questioned by a trained questioner, Guidotti said. She said prosecutors depend on police to do a thorough investigation so they can bring charges. Last year her office filed 11 cases involving peeping toms, up from just one in 2015. They involved cameras hidden in trash cans in restaurant bathrooms, clothing baskets in a store dressing room, even people recording housemates in a shared bathroom. The legislature has made these misdemeanors unfortunately. Theyre typically punishable by only 6 months in jail but if a person has priors they can serve up to a year in jail, Guidotti said. Across the Bay Area, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Alameda counties prosecuted a total of 29 peeping Tom cases in 2016. In an email, Elma Electronics human resources director Valerie Bennett said the company was unable to determine who placed the camera. Bennett said the company advised employees and continues to closely monitor all restrooms for any suspicious activity. But Hoang says, as far as she knows, no memos ever went out and no meetings were held to inform employees what happened. Im feeling nobody help me at all, even police, even my company. I want to speak out and let everybody know to be careful, Hoang said. One piece of advice from investigators: always be aware of your surroundings and if you see a camera recording you, dont touch it, or youll taint the evidence. Instead, call police. And dont hesitate to ask about their investigation. If you have a tip for the Investigative Unit email Vicky Nguyenvicky@nbcbayarea.com or you can email theunit@nbcbayarea.com or call 888-996-TIPS. Follow Vicky Nguyen on Twitter www.twitter.com/VickyNguyenTV and Facebookwww.facebook.com/VickyNguyenTV A man is being charged with his fourth OUI after Massachusetts State Police say he crashed into a cruiser while drunk, injuring a trooper. Around 8 p.m., when the trooper was setting up for road construction detail on I-495 southbound, a driver crashed into his vehicle. The driver, 59-year-old Joseph Doiron of North Andover, will face OUI charges his fourth such offense, according to police. The trooper was taken to Holy Family Hospital with minor injuries. Doiron was taken to Lawrence General Hospital before being arrested. In addition to OUI, Doiron is charged with driving with an open container, driving to endanger, failure to stay in marked lanes and speeding. It was not immediately clear if Doiron had an attorney. He will be arraigned in Lawrence District Court at a later date. The southbound side of the highway was closed for a short time, but has since reopened. Calling it a transfer of forum, not of focus, Jesse Jackson Jr. agreed to drop his Chicago divorce proceeding, focusing instead on a parallel case against estranged wife Sandi Jackson in Washington D.C. Settlement is always preferable to trial, Jacksons attorney Brendan Hammer told reporters after a brief Daley Center hearing. We are rather far off from being able to bring that to any kind of agreed conclusion at this time. Even though the Washington proceeding reportedly includes provisions for mediation, the couples increasingly acrimonious statements suggest reaching an agreement may still be a challenge. Some people will understand that as humans we all fall down and get back up, but others will never understand, Jackson said after court. I feel I personally learned the lessons of what power and hubris can bring, but it seems we all come to these places in our own time and perhaps others of us never will. Sandi Jackson filed a motion in the Washington court, demanding the name, phone number, and address of all of the former congressmans sexual partners besides her. The motion also asked for the date and location of each incidence of sexual relations. Ive taken responsibility for all of my shortcomings as a man and all my actions including marital behavior and imperfections, of which I am not proud, Jackson said. But he immediately countered with suggestions that his wife had skeletons in her own closet. My discoveries of March 21, 2016 while Sandra was in prison, on our home computer, make it impossible for the marriage to continue, he said. What is important is not the information in my possession. What is important is the information is no longer in my possession, that was sent to various individuals over the course of this process. This proceeding will continue until all of that information, by agreement, is returned to the Jackson family. Asked by a reporter if he was making a threat, Jackson quickly answered, Not a threat, its a promise." Previously, Jackson had suggested that his wife had committed certain acts in the state of Illinois, and his attorney issued subpoenas to numerous individuals, including former Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. McCarthy insisted he knew nothing about the case, and the subpoenas were held in abeyance. After court Friday, the former police chiefs lawyer suggested they consider the matter closed. Mr. McCarthy will not be responding to the subpoena, she said. Mr. Mcarthy has always contended and continues to contend that the people of Chicago have better things to do than listen to the Jackson divorce case. The parties have agreed to attend mediation, Sandi Jacksons attorney Chandra Walker Holloway told reporters in Washington, as her client nodded beside her. And then if theyre able to resolve the case that would be wonderful for the parties, and theyll be able to handle this privately and control the outcome of the case. Shes very pleased now that the issue of jurisdiction has been resolved. A former student detained after illegally entering a northwest Indiana high school is facing charges after ammunition, a ski mask and binoculars were found in his backpack, according to police. About 10 a.m. Wednesday, 19-year-old DaiJon Brown, a former Portage High School student, entered the school at 6450 U.S. 6 and spoke to a former teacher, according to Portage police. After meeting Brown at a side door, the teacher realized the subject was not acting right and sent the subject on his way, a statement from police said. Less than an hour later, Brown snuck back into the building by following a vocational student, police said. He went upstairs and was confronted by a teacher and escorted to the office, police said. The Portage High School Resource Officer was called after Brown said he had ammunition in his back pack, but no weapon, police said. The backpack was found to contain hundreds of rounds of ammunition, including several different caliber bullets, as well as shotgun shells, police said. It also contained gloves, a ski mask and binoculars. Brown, a 2016 graduate of the school, claimed to be under the influence of LSD so he was taken to the local hospital and medically cleared, police said. After his release, he was taken to the Porter County Jail charged with a felony count of trespassing, and misdemeanor counts of public intoxication and false informing, police said. He told police he was a student at IUPUI, police said, but the school had no record of him currently attending. No one was injured in the incident, and parents were notified Wednesday afternoon via automated phone calls. The system worked as it should, police chief Troy Williams said in a statement on the departments Facebook page. An unauthorized subject gained entry and was confronted by staff and escorted to the office where he was ultimately arrested. We ask a lot of our educators and school staff; not only to educate our children but also remain vigilant to what is going on around them. They did what they were supposed to do and no one was injured, Williams said. Lawyers representing the mother of a child found dead after a frantic search in Joliet Township have released a statement on their Facebook page following the discovery of the 1-year-olds body. Chuck Bretz and Associates posted on its Facebook page Thursday evening the firm had been retained by Sheri Gordon to advise her in coordinating communications between the various agencies involved. The Will County Sheriffs Office, the FBI, Department of Child and Family Services and Will County Coroners office have all been involved to an extent in the investigation of Semaj Crosbys death. Ms. Gordon is extremely grateful for the efforts of the various law enforcement officers, first responders, and volunteers who participated in the search for Semaj, the statement reads. During the search, Ms. Gordon and law enforcement engaged in a high level of communication and cooperation. The statement continues: Ms. Gordon is extremely distraught over the death of her only daughter. She will continue to support the investigation in this matter to the best of her abilities. She prays for her daughter and appreciates the communitys support in this matter. We look forward to when we can put this tragic incident behind us and allow the healing to begin. Investigators say the death of 16-month-old Semaj, reported missing earlier this week, is being investigated as "suspicious." An autopsy on the body of young Semaj Crosby was completed Thursday. The cause of death, however, was pending further studies. "We will continue to try and find out why this ended in such a tragic way," Deputy Chief Rick Ackerson with the Will County Sheriff's Office said during a press conference Thursday. [[420628103, C]] Semaj was found dead around 12 a.m. Thursday inside a home in the 300 block of Louis Road in Joliet Township, less than two days after she went missing from her home in the southwest suburb of Chicago. Police have not confirmed if the home Semaj was found in is the same home she lived in before going missing. Authorities did note that they had searched the residence at the start of their investigation Tuesday, but were looking for the child in "obvious places." "Deputies did a periphery search of the residence to see if they could find her in obvious places, but due to the fact that it was getting late and we were losing daylight, we wanted to get outside and start the search," Ackerson said. Deputy Chief Rick Ackerson of the Will County Sheriff's Office discusses efforts to search for 16-month-old Semaj Crosby. He said that early in the investigation, authorities noted the home Semaj lived in was in "very deplorable conditions." Anywhere from five to 15 people typically lived in the home at a given time, officials said, adding that the attorney for the mother told them many of those residents were considered "squatters." "They come and go as they please, they may be there for a week, they might be there for a night," Ackerson said. Investigators say the death of a 16-month-old girl reported missing earlier this week is being investigated as a "suspicious death," pending the results of an autopsy. Gordon told authorities her daughter had been playing outside with other children before she wandered away. Semaj was last seen in the yard of the familys Preston Heights neighborhood home with her cousins that afternoon, around 4 p.m., her mother said. Just before Semaj went missing, investigators with the Department of Child and Family Services say they saw the little girl safe at the home. A spokesperson said the agency had visited the home that day and were investigating Gordon for an allegation of neglect. DCFS investigators checked on the home at about 3:20 p.m., officials said, and all three of the Gordons children were there including Semaj. About three hours later, at about 6:30 p.m., the family reported her missing. Ackerson noted that while attempting to interview Gordon, another woman was trying to interrupt the conversation. "She was pounding on the outside of the trailer trying to get [Gordon] to stop talking," he said. Deputy chief Rick Ackerson noted that while investigators attempted to interview the girl's mother, Sheri Gordon, another woman was trying to interrupt the conversation. "She was pounding on the outside of the trailer trying to get [Gordon] to stop talking," he said. NBC 5 learned Wednesday that Gordon had hired an attorney as authorities searched fields from helicopters in the air, divers submerged themselves into multiple nearby ponds, and dozens of local residents and volunteers held prayer circles in hopes of finding Semaj safe. As the search efforts marched past the first full day and Semaj was still nowhere to be found, authorities took a new approach to the search, looking to "start from scratch." The Will County Sheriff's Office said it was Gordon's attorney that helped authorities get consent to search the home at on Louis Road around 11 p.m. Wednesday, before investigators found the body of the girl an hour later. "Having kids of my own, it's tough," a teary-eyed Ackerson said of the heartbreaking discovery. After a New Haven man was arrested for having hundreds of pounds of explosives throughout his house, police released documents detailing what exactly was found in the home. Pasquale Criscio told police officers he is not a terrorist, claims he was doing nothing illegal and said he makes the fireworks every year to put on a show for the neighborhood. On Wednesday, police responded to 35 Westminster St. at 5:52 p.m. on Wednesday to investigate a domestic dispute and a woman told the officers that she was at the house, trying to take her belongings, when she got into an altercation with her ex-husband, Criscio, because of the fireworks he had there, according to court documents. When police entered the home, a 6-year-old child in the house presented a tube used to light off projectiles. The child was inside with two other juveniles, according to court records. Police on the scene said they further pressed Criscio about explosives and the man opened the door to his basement. Officers said they noticed devices with a cylinder type shape, approximately 6 inches in diameter and 8 inches long, with what appeared to be a "tail", the officer's report said. That's when police ordered everyone out of the house and sent pictures to the department. Bomb Squad technicians and New Haven Police Hazardous Devices Units then responded to the home. Responding crews entered the home. According to court documents, they could see black explosive powder on the floors of the kitchen and living rooms, plus smell it in the air. "There was commercially purchased black powder in the residence as well as evidence of the manufacturing of black powder and flash powder throughout the residence with the residence being grossly contaminated," the arrest warrant said. Officers contacted Connecticut State Police and found out Criscio does not have an explosives or pyrotechnic license. When officers walked down the hallway, in one bedroom, they saw several boxes of plastic containers that held explosive precursors powder in plain view. This substance is used to make improvised explosives, the documents said. In the next bedroom, police saw several large PVC mortar tubes that are the type that could be used for firing aerial fireworks. There was also a box of improvised fuses and more containers of precursor powder, the documents explained. The last bedroom had more boxes of precursor powder and several boxes of commercial grade fireworks. In plain view, officers also saw needles and vials along with numerous pill bottles that were opened, sitting on a dresser drawer, the arrest warrant said. When officers walked to the basement, they located at the bottom of the stairs two large cardboard boxes with several improvised mortars inside, each being approximately 6 inches in diameter and eight inches long with a green fuse at the end. On Thursday evening, police have also charged Criscio with illegal manufacturing of explosives and bombs, illegal possession of explosives, illegal possession and storage of fireworks, in addition to his prior charges of breach of peace and risk of injury. Another person in the home was charged with beach of peace, third-degree strangulation and risk of injury after the domestic incident. Police have not publicly identified the person. The children in the home have been placed with other family members. Connecticut Comptroller Kevin Lembo entered the 2017 governor's race Thursday, becoming the third Democrat vying to replace Gov. Dannel Malloy. Lembo announced that he would for an exploratory committee, aimed at raising enough money through small contributions to qualify for public financing. The focus for Lembo on his first official campaign day was to showcase what could look like a campaign aimed at middle class workers and building the state's economy. He said the state's strategy for both crafting a budget and recruiting business has been problematic due to revenue issues that have led to difficult decisions. Its really hard to grow when you dont what the rules are going to be and you dont know what the path forward really looks like," Lembo said. Lembo, who is in charge of the state's checkbook, has also taken a stand against initiatives of the Malloy administration. He voted against a package of bond projects that included $22 million for Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund, based in Westport. I dont think its a really good idea to take money and shovel it over to hedge funds, the really wealthy hedge funds in the world, when were not focusing on middle class job growth. The same week Lembo announced his candidacy, Democrat Chris Mattei unveiled an a pledge to not take any lobbyist money. He asked all candidates to sign on. During an interview, Mattei said of the pledge, This, to me, should be an easy thing, right?" Mattei asked. "It shouldnt be hard to say that as people who are considering public office, the only people we want to represent are the average people who are voting for us. Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, a Republican who has also formed a statewide exploratory committe criticized Mattei for not prosecuting more Democrats when he worked in the Office of the US Attorney, and also asked him to sign on to a different pledge to not raise taxes if elected, and to look out for the rights of law-abiding gun owners. A few people in Connecticut thought they would be able to meet the stars of a popular house-flipping show on HGTV after signing up for their seminar on how to profit in real estate. The invite may have popped up on a Facebook feed or in a residents mailbox: hundreds of invitations with Christina and Tarek El Moussas photos on them. NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters decided to attend one of the sessions. Some attendees left disappointed, while others ponied up thousands of dollars to learn more. From the beginning of the Success Path presentation, that included posters of Flip or Flop stars Christina and Tarek El Moussa and handouts explaining how to get started in their real estate education program, we were told no photography. However, NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters took video outside the meeting room at the East Hartford hotel where the seminar took place. Inside, an expert from Success Path, the company the TV stars created, made it clear Christina and Tarek were not attending and gave a presentation about how to make money in real estate without having a real estate license, or buying property. If someone signed up for three more days of intensive training, the cost would be another $2,000. That didnt sit well with Donna Gagnon of Farmington. Im a big fan of Christina and Tarek and I watch the show all the time. I came here expecting to see them, Gagon said. Gagnons friend who also attended said they did not like the presenter because, he was a fast talker. Of the 40 or so attendees, about a quarter ponied up cash for the three day seminar. NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters reached out to Christina and Tareks publicists to learn more and were soon contacted by an attorney representing Success Path. He said over the past year Success Path has made improvements and said, in part: All marketing and other materials convey team members will be there to teach the class When asked on social media, and on a frequently asked questions page success path says it makes it clear that Christina and Tarek do not attend every event and they have partnered with real estate experts that teach success path strategies on their behalf When NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters registered for the seminar, we received three follow up emails and a pair of texts. The first email said, Weve hand selected trusted real estate partners to teach our strategies on our behalf. Success path adds Christina and Tarek, who are in the middle of a divorce, do show up at some seminars, like recently in Maui and Las Vegas, and, when that happens, It is explicitly stated. Gagnon said, I was reading that they did a seminar in Las Vegas, and they were there. And I figured it was the same seminar. For sure, Success Path has taken steps to notify people Christina and Tarek may not attend with precise wording and caveats that NBC Connecticut recognized, but may not be clear to all fans, like Gagon who said, I was disappointed. Success Path adds All of our Success Path team members are trained and qualified to perform their jobs at a high level, and it is this combination of experience and recognition that we promote when marketing our programs. We continue to refine and update the marketing and delivery of our programs to ensure a positive customer experience. Success Path materials state the real estate seminars are not in any way affiliated with HGTV, or Scripps Networks, which broadcast the El Moussas' house flipping program. Here are the full comments from the attorney representing Success Path: Response to complaints about Tarek and Christina not being present: All marketing materials convey that Team members will be there to teach the class. Nowhere in the marketing materials is it stated that Tarek and Christina will be live at the event unless they are scheduled to do so beforehand. All follow-up correspondence after a client registers for an event uses the Team terminology. Tarek and Christina even state that Their Team will be teaching the material when promoting the events on their social media channels. All social media responses prepopulate to say that that Tarek and Christina cannot attend every event and that we will specify when they will be live in attendance. Every ad specifies Tarek and Christinas Team will be at the location, and there is even an asterisk clarifying that Tarek and Christina may not attend the event. Our FAQ page clearly states that they do not attend every event and explains that they have partnered with real estate experts that teach Success Path strategies on their behalf. Every registration page states that Tarek and Christinas Team will be teaching at the event. There is also a video on every registration page that talks about the trainers that will be teaching at the events. When Tarek and/or Christina are going to attend an event live, it is explicitly stated. This most recently occurred when Christina taught at the Maui Success Path seminar. Tarek and Christina were in Las Vegas last Friday for a Success Path seminar. All of our Success Path team members are trained and qualified to perform their jobs at a high level, and it is this combination of experience and recognition that we promote when marketing our programs. We continue to refine and update the marketing and delivery of our programs to ensure a positive customer experience. Even though the El Moussas do attend events in person or via Skype when their schedules allow, our marketing materials do not promise that the El Moussas will be live at any specific event. Our materials focus instead on the content the recipient will receive at the program or seminar. All of our instructors are active real estate investors and are highly trained and qualified. The Association for Talent Development, which is a certified partner of the International Association for Continuing Education and Training, trains and certifies all of our instructors. These are highly regarded educational accrediting agencies, and we are unique in our industry in this insistence on outside certification. Our collective goal is to ensure that program attendees have a positive experience, and the El Moussas have taken steps personally to make sure that our team delivers on that. What to Know John Wiley Price found not guilty of counts 1 through 7 Jurors unable to reach a verdict on counts 8 through 11; judge declares a mistrial. Prosecutors could retry counts 8 through 11, though that is unlikely. Longtime Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price was found not guilty of bribery and six other charges related to conspiracy Friday morning; a mistrial was declared on four charges related to income tax evasion where the jury was unable to render a verdict. Prices longtime county aide Dapheny Fain, accused of conspiracy to help Price and lying to the FBI, was also found not guilty. "We're, of course, very gratified at the finding by the jury of no bribery whatsoever, but we are not surprised at that conclusion in light of the evidence," said Price's attorney, Shirley Baccus-Lobel, who added that she expected the verdict to fall in Price's favor. Naomi Martin, reporter for The Dallas Morning News, covered the trial of Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price and discusses Friday's verdict. Baccus-Lobel refrained from making any other comments except to say that Price and Fain were both headed back to work.[[414360543,R]] "Hallelujah, citizens, they're back and they're doing what they've done every day," Baccus-Lobel said. Following the trial, Price told The Dallas Morning News reporter Naomi Martin he was relieved with the verdict. "Relieved. We were prayed up and therefore we didn't have to be preyed on," Price said. Both Price and Fain faced prison if convicted and Price could have been removed from his position on the commissioner's court -- a position he's held since 1985. "The government got smoked in this case," said Chris Lewis, a former prosecutor in Dallas County, now a defense attorney. NBC 5 asked Lewis to analyze what went wrong with the prosecution's case. "Every single trial, from low levels to the most serious, is about telling a story," Lewis explained. "It's about credibility, and what we saw in this whole case is that there was no smoking gun. There was circumstantial evidence from the get go." Prosecutors have four weeks to advise the judge whether they'll retry the tax charges. They also have four weeks to evaluate whether they intend to keep property seized in the investigation, including more than $460,000 in cash prosecutors said were ill-gotten gains. Chris Lewis, a former prosecutor in Dallas County and now a defense attorney, analyzes what went wrong with the prosecution's case against John Wiley Price. U.S. Attorney John Parker said in a statement Friday he'll reconvene with his prosecution team to determine where they go from here, consistent with the court's timeline. Lewis doesn't know what will happen. "But I know what should happen," he said. "What should happen is the government should tuck its tail and should walk away from this." The jury came to their decisions Friday following eight weeks of testimony and years of investigation by federal agents. The jury began deliberations last week and, on Tuesday, told Judge Barbara Lynn they were deadlocked on some of the counts. A history of longtime Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price. The jury continued deliberations until Friday when they said they were at an impasse on counts eight through 11; for one through seven, their decisions were unanimous. See a summary of the counts in the federal indictment against Price and the outcome for each here, from The Dallas Morning News. Prosecutors accused Price of taking around $1 million in bribes in the form of cash, cars and real estate for his influence in Dallas County business. They said Price failed to pay taxes on the bribes and other hidden income from outside businesses. NBC 5's Ken Kalthoff, Noelle Walker and Don Peritz, along with The Dallas Morning News' Naomi Martin, contributed to this report. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies have arrested the man state authorities call the "mastermind" of rental scams. Richard Rodriguez was taken into custody without incident at his Alhambra home early Thursday on felony conspiracy to defraud charges. "We believe we have possibly over a thousand victims," said Lieutenant Phillip Marquez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Investigators believe that Rodriguez improperly took over $200,000 last year from customers at Superior Consulting Services in Rowland Heights, a rental listing agency, Marquez said. For years, the NBC4 I-Team has been investigating Rodriguez's rental agencies. Authorities said he preyed on people desperate to find affordable apartments and homes to rent, by offering them bogus rental listings in exchange for cash. "He had no intentions to find anybody any type of rental properties," said Marquez. The I-Team has identified at least six rental agency locations over a nearly two decade period where Rodriguez and his associates conducted business. Local and state officials said Rodriguez may have victimized thousands of people during that time. Many of them have been calling for his arrest for years. "I hope he does go to jail," said Juan Arteaga. Arteaga said he was a recent client of Rodriguez. The San Bernardino man was so desperate to find an affordable rental house for his wife and five children that when he saw something he could afford on Craigslist, he immediately jumped at the chance to grab it. "We contacted them and then he told us, come in, bring 200 dollars," explained Arteaga. Arteaga said he was instructed to come to Sunset Home Rentals in Ontario which he said is run by Rodriguez. He said he gave a Sunset employee $200 in cash, some work paystubs and his Social Security card. What he got was a list of addresses that the employee said were inexpensive rental listings. "One of them was an empty lot and the other one was a boarded up home," said Arteaga. Arteaga returned to Sunset Home Rentals to try and get his money and personal information back. "The store was closed, lights were off, door was locked, and phones were disconnected," said Arteaga. "It is a scam," he said. That's the pattern that the NBC4 I-Team has exposed over the years. The California Bureau of Real Estate said Rodriquez lures customers to his rental listing offices by placing ads on craigslist for cheap apartments and homes. When a customer calls the phone number on the ad, they are told to come to an office, pay around $200 and that they will get a list of available rentals. But the NBC4 I-Team spoke to dozens of people who said those listings didn't exist. "They gave me fake listings," said Reyna Gonzales, a customer of Superior Consulting Services in Rowland Heights last fall, another business that authorities suspect was run by Rodriguez. "They gave us the runaround, put us on hold, 30 minutes later, let me call you back in an hour. Call again, call again. Runaround. Runaround." And the I-Team discovered evidence that Rodriguez has been doing this since 1996, when the state ordered his first agency to stop doing business. But the I-Team caught Rodriguez opening other rental listing businesses under the names Global Rentals, International Home Rentals and Hacienda Home Rentals, among others. Each of these businesses was operated in a similar way, according to Dolores Ramos at the California Bureau of Real Estate. "He's there to take their money and run," said Ramos But the NBC4 I-Team stayed on his trail. In November, the I-Team found Rodriguez at Superior Consulting Services in Rowland Heights. Customers told the I-Team that Rodriguez was the man in charge. When we attempted to speak with Rodriguez, he literally shoved us out the door, telling us to "get out of here." Days later, Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputies served a search warrant on the business, arresting several Superior employees and seizing files. They didn't get Rodriquez because he was nowhere to be found during the bust. "I want Richard Rodriguez to serve time," said former customer Reyna Gonzales. That could happen to Rodriguez if he is convicted. He was taken to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Walnut-Diamond Bar station and booked on felony charges of Conspiracy to Defraud. He could face up to three years in state prison. "We're hoping what this arrest will show is that if you are out there defrauding the public, that we will investigate and if that investigation shows that you were breaking the law, you will be arrested," warned Marquez. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office is now examining the case. And Lieutenant Marquez told NBC4 seven of Rodriguez' employees will also be charged with a felony. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Consumer Protection Unit is prosecuting the case against Rodriguez. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, May 1, 2017 in Division 30 of the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles. Sheriff's officials served a search warrant Friday morning at the South Pasadena home of a man whose 5-year-old son has been missing for about a week. Investigators went to the home of 35-year-old Aramazd Andressian Sr. to look for possible forensic evidence linked to the child's disappearance, said Deputy Grace Medrano of the Sheriff's Information Bureau. A specially trained cadaver dog was being used in the search effort, she said. NBC4 reached out to Andressian's attorney, Daniel Nordoni, who said he was not aware that investigators were at his client's home Friday morning. Andressian rents part of the home, which is owned by a Los Angeles Police Department officer. Ever since Aramazd Andressian Jr. was reported missing, the search has spanned several Southern California counties, recently expanding to Santa Barbara, where authorities searched Tuesday in the Lake Cachuma Recreation Area where the boy may have been with his father on April 21. Investigators were still working to build a case against Aramazd Andressian Sr., who was released from jail Tuesday after being held in lieu of $10 million since being arrested on Saturday, when he was found unconscious in a park in South Pasadena and could not account for his son's whereabouts. Authorities have also searched in Orange County, where a gray 2004 four-door BMW owned by Andressian was seen on the morning of April 21 at Disneyland in Anaheim, where he and the boy apparently spent the day on April 20, officials said. On Saturday morning, Andressian was found passed out next to his car in South Pasadena's Arroyo Seco Park. His son was nowhere to be found. Andressian was taken to a hospital, then arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and child abduction. Andressian was released from custody Tuesday, with the sheriff's department saying it had decided "not to present the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office for filing consideration at this time. The matter remains under investigation." Sheriff's Capt. Chris Bergner said Andressian's statements "have been convoluted and not consistent." The boy's mother contacted police at 9 a.m. Saturday to report her son missing. She said her estranged husband, with whom she shares custody of their son, had failed to drop off the child at a pre-arranged meeting place. The boy was last seen by his mother Tuesday via a Skype video call from an unknown location, South Pasadena police said. Police dogs from the South Pasadena Police Department and nearby agencies joined in the effort to locate the boy last weekend. Bloodhounds combed Arroyo Seco Park at least twice, and Sierra Madre's search-and-rescue team and the San Gabriel and San Marino police departments also joined the search. Detectives have been in touch with relatives in Armenia and customs agents, though local police say they do not believe the boy has traveled there. The child is white, 4 feet 1 inches tall, 55 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a plaid shirt and plaid shorts and has a small mole on the bottom of his right shoulder. South Pasadena police asked anyone with information about the boy to call them at 626-403-7297. Sheriff's detectives can be reached at 323-890-5500. A prominent Florida eye doctor accused of political corruption was convicted of Medicare fraud Friday, increasing the odds that federal prosecutors could pressure him to testify against New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez. Dr. Salomon Melgen faces 15 to 20 years in prison on 67 counts, including health care fraud, submitting false claims and falsifying records in patients' files, if he doesn't strike a deal before his sentencing, scheduled for July 14. The senator denies any wrongdoing. The doctor, 62, collected more money from Medicare than any other physician in the nation - $21 million - at the height of the fraud in 2012. He showed no reaction when the verdict was read and was immediately taken into custody. Several of his family members burst into tears outside the courtroom in Palm Beach County Friday. "It's not fair," said his wife, Flor Melgen. "He's a good doctor." Defense attorney Kirk Ogrosky said he's considering an appeal. "He cares very deeply about his patients and tried very hard to help them," Ogrosky said. "He had hopes the jury would see it differently." Prosecutors had no immediate comment. Melgren and Menendez face trial on Sept. 6 in New Jersey on charges the doctor bribed the senator for favors, including intervention in the fraud probe. Prosecutors convinced jurors the doctor stole up to $105 million from the federal medical insurance program between 2008 and 2013 by performing unneeded tests and treatments on mostly elderly and disabled patients. Melgen's attorneys argued that the Dominican-born, Harvard-trained doctor was a kind and caring physician. They acknowledged that he made billing and treatment mistakes, exposing him to potential lawsuits and possibly losing his medical license. But they said they were unintentional, and therefore not a crime. Prosecutors countered that anybody can make an occasional mistake, but Melgren's actions were too numerous to be honest. For example, the doctor frequently billed Medicare for tests and treatment of prosthetic eyes. Prosecutors also pointed to tests run in seconds that were supposed to take five minutes or more. That made the tests unusable for diagnosis, but enabled him to bill Medicare up to several hundred dollars each for as many as 100 patients a day. He pocketed millions more by splitting single-use vials of an expensive eye drug into four doses and billing the government for each one, they said. Melgen became politically active in 1997, when he treated Florida Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles, who appointed him to a state board. He was soon hosting Democratic fundraisers at his 6,500-square-foot (605-square-meter) North Palm Beach home. That led to his friendship with Menendez, during which Melgen paid for trips he and the senator took to France and to the doctor's home at a Dominican resort. Menendez reimbursed Melgen $58,500 after the trips became public knowledge. Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say Melgen's gifts to Menendez were actually bribes. In return, they say, the senator obtained visas for the married Melgen's foreign mistresses, interceded with Medicare officials investigating his practice, and pressured the State Department to intervene in a business dispute Melgen had with the Dominican government. "I have spoken to Senator Menendez and he is saddened for his long-time friend and is thinking of his family on this difficult day," Menendez's attorney, Abbe David Lowell, said in a statement. "As we have known for the past two years, the issues involved in Dr. Melgen's case in South Florida had no bearing on the allegations made against the Senator, and this verdict will have no impact on him." A luxury music festival that promised to fly guests from Miami to the Bahamas for a "once-in-a-lifetime musical experience" had to be canceled after it turned into a disorganized debacle. The Fyre Music Festival was supposed to be a two-weekend event starting Friday, held on a private island in the Exumas and offering the "best in music, cuisine, design and hospitality," according to the Fyre Festival Facebook page. The festival, co-organized by Ja Rule, had steep ticket prices that included a roundtrip flight from Miami, a treasure hunt and performances by Blink-182, Major Lazer, Skepta and Disclosure. It advertised and targeted millennials with a luxury time with yachts and models, with some reportedly paying as much as $12,000 for their tickets. A luxury music festival that promised to fly guests from Miami to the Bahamas for a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience had to be canceled after it turned into a disorganized debacle. But festival-goers who arrived Thursday found conditions less than luxurious, and took to social media to voice their displeasure. So Fyre Fest is a complete disaster. Mass chaos. No organization. No one knows where to go. There are no villas, just a disaster tent city. pic.twitter.com/1lSWtnk7cA William Needham Finley IV(Its real. I made it up) (@WNFIV) April 27, 2017 There were complaints of issues getting to the island and amid reports that the island was overcapacity. One festival-goer, 21-year-old Tom Knight, of New Jersey, said his flight out of Miami was delayed for four hours and when he landed in the Bahamas there were no buses to escort people to the island. Once they got there, Knight said their luggage didn't arrive for several hours and the accommodations were tents. "Were living in tents, the mattresses are soaking wet and there is just a pillow case, no pillow, no sheets. Some people are actually sleeping on the floor of their tents because there arent enough beds to go around," Knight said. "Its literally one strip of road and the house, and thats it, and all of the tents. Its like, literally looks like a concentration camp." Then, on Thursday night, Blink-182 announced they had canceled their appearance at the festival. "Due to circumstances out of our control, the physical infrastructure was not in place on time and we are unable to fulfill on that vision safely and enjoyably for our guests," a message on FyreFestival.com read. "At this time, we are working tirelessly to get flights scheduled and get everyone off of Great Exuma and home safely as quickly as we can." Festival organizers said they were working to put people on complimentary charter flights back to Miami. "The festival is being postponed until we can further assess if and when we are able to create the high-quality experience we envisioned," the website read. Ja Rule said he was "heartbroken" in a tweet Friday, saying it wasn't his fault but he takes full responsibility. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism released a statement Friday apologizing to people who came to the event. "We are extremely disappointed in the way the events unfolded yesterday with the Fyre Festival," the statement read. "Hundreds of visitors to Exuma were met with total disorganization and chaos." What to Know 33 construction workers have died on the job in New York City in the last two years, prompting renewed calls for better safety measures One bill in the City Council, called Local 1447, requires workers to get safety training and take an apprenticeship course Some construction industry advocates say the bill keeps the poorest job applicants out of work, including undocumented immigrants A controversial bill requiring construction workers in New York City to get safety training and take an apprenticeship course is getting backlash from some developers and worker advocates. Lawmakers have been promising more stringent safety measures since 33 construction workers in the city were killed on the job in the last two years. Laurie Smith, the mother of one those workers, says officials haven't taken enough steps to protect other construction workers from preventable deaths. Smith's son, Christian Ginesi, was a 25-year-old veteran with dreams of becoming an engineer when he decided to take a quick construction job before starting school. He was at work building a luxury hotel in 2015 when he plummeted 24 stories down a midtown elevator shaft at a site run by G-Tech, a company without a license to operate in New York City. "My son survived three tours in a war zone, and here he is on a job in New York for a month. And he's dead," said Smith. She recalled thinking, "There has to be some mistake. This can't be happening." Now Smith, who's suing G-Tech, claiming the company didn't teach her son how to do the job, is feeling fresh rage at lawmakers. "His life could have been saved. He had his whole life ahead of him... if it was 33 doctors, 33 politicians or stockbrokers, there would be an uproar," she said. "Anyone -- you and I -- could get a job working on an elevator. That's insane," said Smith. G-Tech declined the I-Team's request for comment. Jumaane Williams, the chair of the City Council's buildings committee, acknowledged to the I-Team, "We were derelict in moving fast enough, but we are on a course to get something done." This week, the City Council approved a bill that requires a better database of who gets hurt or killed in a fall, but the fate of the more controversial Local 1447 bill is still unknown. The proposed law would require construction workers to not only get safety training, but to take an apprenticeship course. To enroll, workers need a work visa and a GED. Some construction advocates claim that keeps the poorest job applicants out of work. "We would like to see the barriers of entry be lowered a bit to enable people to benefit from the construction boom -- feed their families and be safe on construction sites," said Kenneth Thomas of NY Construction Alliance. And the powerful Real Estate Board of New York says the bill unfairly targets big developers instead of the smaller sites where most accidents happen. REBNY's president told the I-Team that "data, not rhetoric, should guide policy to improve construction safety." But defenders of the bill point to companies like Harco, which was found guilty of manslaughter after allowing worker Carlos Moncayo to die in an unprotected construction trench that collapsed in the Meatpacking District in 2015. Moncayo was "told to work at a death trap," said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, but the most Harco could be asked to pay for breaking the law is $10,000. "The fines that a company would have to pay were nothing more than pocket change," said Vance, who formed a task force to cut down on construction accidents and wants the fine raised to $1 million. That's up to state lawmakers, and Assemblyman Francisco Moya has told the I-Team, "We're not gonna fail. We're gonna make sure this passes." "People need to be in jail," said councilman Williams. "People are in effect being murdered on the site." What to Know An I-Team analysis found the de Blasio administration pays a premium for hotel reservations for homeless families The standard rate for a walk-in guest at one hotel the I-Team visited was $145; for a homeless family, it's $190 I-Team compared a sample of 171 reservations booked by the city with online ads targeting tourists; 2/3 of the time, there was a disparity When New York City books a hotel room for a homeless family, the room rate is often higher than the price advertised to tourists and business travelers online, an I-Team investigation has found. And there's no bulk reservation discount for the city either. An I-Team investigation found the de Blasio administration often pays a premium for hotel reservations, even though the city reserves blocks of up to 70 rooms -- for months on end. At the Par Central Motor Inn in Jamaica, the standard rate for a single walk-in guest is $145 a night. Although New York City routinely reserves more than half of the building, the hotel charges $190 a night for each homeless family. That amounts to a $45 premium tacked onto the bill - just for being homeless. "Youve uncovered a two-tier system," said New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer. "A system for homeless hotel rooms and another rate, a cheaper rate, for everyone else. This makes absolutely no sense." When asked why the Par Central Motor Inn doesnt offer a discount, given that the city books so many rooms, a man at the reception desk shrugged his shoulders and said, "No discount. Whos going to give a discount?" The Par Central isnt the only hotel where rooms for the homeless cost more than rooms for everyone else. The I-Team compared a sample of 171 hotel reservations booked by the NYC Department of Homeless Services with prices for the same rooms advertised to tourists and business travelers on websites like Hotels.com, Priceline.com, ChoiceHotels.com and Expedia. Two thirds of the time, the room rates offered online were cheaper than the rates the city paid to house homeless families. Stringer, who has been a persistent critic of City Hall homeless policy, said the I-Team analysis proves the de Blasio administration must do more to control costs. "The agencies should be doing exactly what you did in your reporting," Stringer said. "They should be walking in and saying, 'Wait a minute, we're getting ripped off here.'" Jaclyn Rothenberg, a City Hall spokeswoman, declined to explain why the de Blasio administration often pays more than the online room rates advertised to tourists and business travelers. In a statement to the I-Team, she suggested critics of City Hall are late to the issue. "The comptroller is behind the curve," Rothenberg said. "We announced as part of our plan that we will be ending the use of hotels by opening a smaller number of better shelters across the five boroughs." In February, Mayor de Blasio did announce a plan to stop using hotels and build a network of more traditional homeless shelters. But de Blasios plan doesnt fully phase out hotels for another six years. Isaac McGinn, a spokesman for the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) said while the city waits for the new shelter facilities to come online, efforts are underway to control hotel costs. Specifically, last December, the city launched a search for vendors who can negotiate cheaper, flat-rate prices for 3,900 hotel rooms. McGinn said the city is currently evaluating proposals. Meanwhile, the cost continues to increase. Earlier this month, Stringer issued an updated report detailing a surge in hotel expenditures from nearly $400,000 a night to more than $500,000 a night. According to the 2016 credit card records obtained by the I-Team, DHS spent more than $72 million on hotel bookings for the homeless in 2016. "Were buying thousands of rooms per night. We should be getting a better deal than the average person because were filling up those hotels," said Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who has also been a persistent critic of de Blasios reliance on hotels to house the homeless. It is difficult to estimate exactly how much the city could have saved by reserving hotel rooms at online prices. But a few examples suggest the savings could add up. At one Howard Johnson in Queens, DHS booked blocks of rooms on 253 nights last year. At a rate of $179 a night, the bookings cost taxpayers $647,000. But the I-Team found cheaper rates that would have cost just more than $475,000, a savings of more than $170,000. At one Queens Comfort Inn, DHS booked a block of 70 rooms on 53 different nights last year. Taxpayers paid a room rate of $220 for each room, resulting in a cost of $816,000. But the I-Team found cheaper rates totaling about $754,000, a potential savings of nearly $62,000. At a Lower East Side Comfort Inn, DHS booked blocks of 44 to 47 rooms on 116 different nights last year. At a rate of $225 a night, that cost taxpayers almost $297,000. But the I-Team found cheaper rates totaling about $282,000, which would have saved more than $14,000. The I-Team reached out to the Howard Johnson, Queens Comfort and Lower East Side Comfort inns for comment. They did not immediately respond. The potential savings would be even higher - considering all the online rates identified by the I-Team include taxes. DHS does not pay sales or room tax when booking hotel reservations. Homeless residents who live in pricey hotel rooms told the I-Team they are disappointed the city isnt getting better rates because the savings could pay for better services - or more investments in long-term affordable housing. "If you were to book a convention at a hotel, you'd get a deal if you booked 20 rooms. So why wouldn't the city be doing that?" said Al, a homeless delivery professional whos been living in a city-funded hotel room for a month. He's also a member of Picture the Homeless, a grassroots organization pushing de Blasio to make bigger investments in affordable housing rather than pay for hotels or even permanent shelters. "It doesnt address the bigger issue of affordable permanent housing," he said using the hotels. Bella De Lisi, Michael Fuller, Casey Murphy, and Sophie Nieto-Munoz contributed to this report. What to Know The suspect, arrested in a now internationally-known attack on a tourist in Times Square last year, has a history of violence against women He was found mentally unfit to stand trial in the tourist case and the charges were dropped; now he's back on the streets One woman told the I-Team Jermaine Himmelstein, holding the infamous sign, threatened her in Union Square this week and followed her The notorious "free hugs" sign-wielding man arrested in an attack on a Times Square tourist last year that became international news is allegedly harassing women on the street once again, an I-Team investigation has found. Jermaine Himmelstein was found mentally unfit to stand trial in the attack on a 22-year-old Canadian woman in the Crossroads of the World last May, prosecutors say, and the case against him was dismissed. Prior to that, he'd been arrested at least six times for allegedly striking or harassing women, and, according to one disturbed woman in Union Square, he's at it again. The woman told NBC 4 New York this week that the 25-year-old Himmelstein was carrying his now infamous "free hugs" sign "and all of a sudden he started coming after us." The woman, who was crying as she relayed the story, said Himmelstein said she "had a problem with him and that he was going to beat the bleep out of us." Himmelstein admitted following the woman several blocks and cursing at her, but he said it was just a threat. "I was about to commit a crime, but I didn't do it because I was just harassing, making a threat to make everything better," Himmelstein told NBC 4 New York. "I don't want to commit a crime. I'm afraid I will, but I didn't want to commit." Himmelstein's record of violence against women dates back to at least 2013. Some of the arrests involved allegations he punched women, in some cases for refusing to give him hugs. In one attack in Washington Square Park, he allegedly told the victim, "you're pissing me off, and I assault people when I'm mad." In a subway attack last year, the threat was, "You will respect me when I knock you out." At the time of his May 2016 arrest, Himmelstein shrugged off the charges, telling reporters he was "aggressively asking for tips." The punched tourist was left with a black eye, cuts and bruises, but was otherwise physically OK. Himmelstein spent six months at Rikers during the ensuing investigation, but city officials declined to say if he received mental health treatment there. He told NBC 4 New York this week he is now getting "a little bit of help -- like, um, a hospital to keep my medication on me and I'm doing good." Himmelstein's parents, who live in East Harlem, have long contended their son has autism. His mother told the I-Team recently that while her son does take medication, he is currently out of it -- and when he goes off his meds, he returns to the "free hugs" routine that has kept him on cops' radar for years. Himmelstein says he wants to stay on the path to reform. "I just don't want to lay hands on nobody," he said. "I know I've been doing good for a while. I just don't want to commit no more crimes again." But the woman who said he approached her in Union Square says he's already committed another crime. "It's just not OK to follow people and yell at them and threaten them in public," she said. "It's not OK and we're very scared." The woman filed a complaint with police after the confrontation with Himmelstein. The NYPD said that, due to the nature of the incident, he couldn't be arrested until officers witness him do it again. What to Know The doctor dragged off an airplane has settled with United Airlines for an undisclosed amount, according to a statement from his lawyer Artificial intelligence may be better at determining which patients are at high risk for a heart attack than their doctor, study suggests Two-time Tony Award winner James Earl Jones will soon get a third, this time for lifetime achievement Get the top headlines of the day in your morning briefing from NBC 4 New York, Monday through Friday. Sign up for our newsletter here. Doctor Dragged From Flight Settles With United The Kentucky doctor dragged off an airplane in Chicago, in a startling incident captured in a viral video that sparked global headlines, has settled with United Airlines for an undisclosed amount. According to a statement from his attorney, Dr. David Dao "has reached an amicable settlement" with the airline "for the injuries he received in his April 9th ordeal." "Dr. Dao has become the unintended champion for the adoption of changes which will certainly help improve the lives of literally millions of travelers," said attorney Thomas Demetrio. News of the settlement follows an earlier announcement from United Airlines saying it planned to raise the limit to $10,000 on payments to customers who give up seats on oversold flights. The company also said it will increase training for employees as it deals with fallout from the incident. United released a statement saying it was pleased there had been an "amicable resolution" to the incident. Arkansas Executes 4th Inmate in 8 Days, Finishes Lethal Injection Schedule Arkansas executed its fourth inmate in eight days, wrapping up an accelerated schedule with a lethal injection that left the prisoner lurching and convulsing 20 times before he died. Kenneth Williams, 38, was pronounced dead at 11:05 p.m., 13 minutes after the execution began at the Cummins Unit prison at Varner. An Associated Press reporter who witnessed the lethal injection said Williams' body jerked 15 times in quick succession, then the rate slowed for a final five movements. J.R. Davis, a spokesman for Gov. Asa Hutchinson who did not witness the execution, called it "an involuntary muscular reaction" that he said was a widely known effect of the sedative midazolam, the first of three drugs administered. Williams' attorneys are calling for an investigation into the execution. Arkansas had scheduled eight executions over an 11-day period before one of its lethal injection drugs expires on Sunday. Southwest Airlines Will Stop Overbooking Flights, CEO Says Dallas-based Southwest Airlines plans to end the common industry practice of overbooking flights - an industry practice implicated in an ugly incident on a United Airlines flight that has damaged United's reputation with the flying public. Last year Southwest bumped 15,000 passengers off flights, more than any other U.S. airline. Carriers said they sometimes sell more tickets than there are seats because often a few passengers don't show up. Beth Harbin, a Southwest spokeswoman, added Thursday that with better forecasting tools and a new reservations system coming online next month the airline will no longer have a need to overbook flights. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said "Ive made the decision and the companys made the decision that well cease to overbook going forward." Trump to Sign Order Aimed at Expanding Offshore Drilling Working to dismantle his predecessor's environmental legacy, President Trump plans to sign an executive order that could lead to the expansion of drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. With one day left to rack up accomplishments before he reaches his 100th day in office, Trump will order his interior secretary to review an Obama-era plan that dictates which locations are open to offshore drilling, with the goal of the new administration to expand operations. It's part of Trump's promise to unleash the nation's energy reserves in an effort to reduce reliance on foreign oil and to spur jobs, regardless of fierce opposition from environmental activists, who say offshore drilling harms whales, walruses and other wildlife and exacerbates global warming. The executive order will reverse part of a December effort by former President Obama to deem the bulk of U.S.-owned waters in the Arctic Ocean and certain areas in the Atlantic as indefinitely off limits to oil and gas leasing. AI Predicts Heart Attacks Better Than Doctors, Study Suggests New research suggests that artificial intelligence may be better at determining which patients are at high risk for a heart attack than their doctor, NBC News reported. AI computer programs developed at the University of Nottingham in England were significantly more accurate at predicting which patients were at high risk. The program's algorithm analyzes more types of patient data over a longer time period. It also takes into account the interactions of certain medications that are now known to be associated with a heightened risk for heart disease. "You'll always need doctors and nurses. An AI algorithm won't be able to tell you that the patient was nervous because they had a big job interview in the afternoon...and thus their blood pressure was high on the day. What AI does allow is for doctors to become more efficient at their job," Dr. Stephen Weng, a research fellow at the University of Nottingham, told NBC News. James Earl Jones to Receive Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement Two-time Tony Award winner James Earl Jones will soon get a third for lifetime achievement. The Tony Awards Administration Committee said that Jones will receive the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre on June 11 at the Tony Awards. Jones, the voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa from Disney's "The Lion King," has won Tonys for "The Great White Hope" and "Fences." His Broadway credits also include "On Golden Pond," ''Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," ''Driving Miss Daisy," ''The Best Man" and "The Gin Game." Ellen DeGeneres Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Coming Out as Gay With a headline of "Yep, I'm Gay" on the cover of Time magazine and the same declaration on her sitcom, Ellen DeGeneres made history 20 years ago as the first prime-time lead on network TV to come out, capturing the hearts of supporters gay and straight amid a swirl of hate mail, death threats and, ultimately, dark times on and off the screen. The code-named "The Puppy Episode" of "Ellen" that aired April 30, 1997, was more than just a hit. It was one of those huge cultural "where were you" moments for anybody remotely interested in TV, or the advancement of LGBTQ people working in TV, or who were itching to come out of their closets at home at a still-perilous time. Variety summed it up this way: "Climaxing a season of swelling anticipation, Ellen Morgan (the bookstore-managing alter ego of Ellen DeGeneres) finally acknowledges her lesbianism tonight in an 'Ellen' hour that represents television's most-hyped coming out since Little Ricky came out of Lucy 44 years ago." The hype was real, fed by DeGeneres' personal desire to end her secret-keeping at age 38 and to bring her TV character along for the ride. The off-screen act came first in Time by slightly more than two weeks, but "Puppy" was months in the making under lock and key, something that failed to matter when the script leaked and the world then waited. A 63-year-old MTA token booth clerk has been arrested for allegedly groping a young woman twice on separate occasions at the station where he works. Police say Mohammad Talukder was arrested Thursday while he was on duty at the 18th Avenue F train stop in Borough Park. He was charged with sex assault. Authorities say he allegedly attacked the same 19-year-old Orthodox Jewish woman in the station on two different days this month. Information on an attorney for Talukder wasn't immediately available. NBC 4 New York left a message with the MTA seeking comment. What to Know Mari Gilbert was the mother of Shannan Gilbert, the escort who vanished on Long Island in 2010 The search for Gilbert led to the discovery of 10 sets of remains in the area, nine of which belonged to prostitutes Gilbert's remains were found in 2011, a half mile from where she disappeared. An autopsy was inconclusive A jury has returned a guilty verdict in the New York murder trial of Sarra Gilbert, who allegedly stabbed her mother to death in 2016, six years after the disappearance of her sister Shannan led to the discovery of 10 sets of human remains on a Long Island beach and talk of a possible serial killer. An Ulster County jury Thursday found 28-year-old Sarra Gilbert guilty of second-degree murder, rejecting a defense claim she was driven by mental illness. Prosecutors say she stabbed her 52-year-old mother, Mari, more than 200 times and bashed her head with a fire extinguisher in the mother's Catskills home last July. Gilbert faces 25 years to life in prison when she's sentenced Aug. 4. John Ray, an attorney who has represented the family on previous matters, said at the time of Gilbert's arrest in July that the young woman was mentally ill and hearing voices. Ray, who had not been formally retained in the murder case at the time of his comments, said she Gilbert had gone to her mother's home because she was hallucinating, and Mari Gilbert "died while trying to help her mentally ill daughter." Shannan Gilbert, Mari's daughter and Sarra's older sister, vanished in May 2010 after fleeing a client in Oak Beach, sparking an investigation that would lead to the nearby discoveries of 10 sets of human remains. Police believe the 10 were victims of a serial killer but Shannan Gilbert accidentally drowned in a marsh after running away from the Oak Beach home. The medical examiner's autopsy proved inconclusive, and prior to her death, Mari Gilbert had been fighting to get Shannan Gilbert's case reopened as a homicide. Her family had also been involved in civil litigation. What to Know Amtrak's planned repair work at Penn Station this summer will comprise two or three "significant" disruptions, the president says It's still not clear how much the weekday commute will be impacted, though Amtrak says there won't be work every day this summer NJ Transit says it's possible disruptions could vary week to week, and each disruption scenario will be different There will be some normal commuting days through the course of major track work planned at New York Penn Station through the summer, the heads of Amtrak and NJ Transit told News 4 exclusively Friday, but it's still not clear just how extensive the impact will be on rail riders. "There will be work during the weekdays but it's certainly not going to be every day this summer or anything like that," Amtrak President Wick Moorman said. "We just need to work through it and see how many days, and when." He later testified to a New Jersey legislative committee that the work will require two or three significant disruptions, and that the goal is to have the work done by Labor Day. Santoro and Amtrak spoke to News 4 Friday before testifying. Hundreds of thousands of commuters have endured delays lately due to two derailments and train breakdowns in the tunnels leading into the station. The problems prompted Amtrak to move up its plans for repair work at the station, and Moorman announced Thursday that it will begin replacing the aging tracks and infrastructure at Penn Station next month. There will be a "substantial" number of weekends in which tracks will be taken out for the work, and disruptions there should be fairly minimal, Moorman told News 4 Friday. "But there will be a couple of longer outages to go on through the weekdays while that work is being done. We will have crews there continuously," he said. Moorman said schedules are still being worked out but he admitted he doesn't know how many commuting days will be affected by the work. Amtrak has laid out at least an initial plan on the work that needs to be done, and how it might be sequenced, Moorman said. But Amtrak still needs to sit down and talk with NJ Transit and Long Island Rail Road to talk about their commuter needs, and what will minimize impact and disruption to them in order to determine how many tracks are closed each day. NJ Transit Executive Director Steven Santoro said it's possible disruptions could vary week to week, and each disruption scenario will be different, depending on which of the 21 tracks at Penn Station are being replaced. "It depends on the location. If the [track outages] are on the north side of the station, that's a different answer. If it's on the south side, different answer. If they're in the throat, different answer," he told News 4. "And then there's the coordination with the Amtrak and LIRR. So that ballet between the three railroads and the location of the track being taken out of service is going to impact how much service we can provide." Potential mitigation plans could include diverting Midtown Direct trains to Hoboken, or adding buses and ferries. In any of those cases, the Port Authority Bus Terminal could be impacted from handling additional buses, or the New Jersey Turnpike could see additional traffic if people choose to drive. "The consquence of this, depending on the severity of the outages -- this is a regional impact," he acknowledged. "It's not just New Jersey Transit or Long Island Rail Road, it goes to all other forms of transportation in and around the region." A Hollywood man beat his wife to death with a pipe wrench while their four children were home after learning she was pregnant with another man's baby, police said. Claude Sejour, 48, was arrested Wednesday on a charge of premeditated homicide in the killing of 40-year-old Marie Carmel Joseph, Hollywood Police said. Authorities said an officer responded to the couple's home on the 5900 block of Thomas Street Wednesday night after Sejour called 911 and said he killed his wife and was waiting outside for police. An officer found Sejour outside the home with blood on his hands and cheek, according to a police report. Sejour told the officer that his wife had called her boyfriend, put the phone on speaker and the boyfriend revealed she was carrying his child, the report said. "I did it. I finished her and called the police and went outside. I'm not crazy," Sejour told the officer, according to the report. Inside the home officers found Joseph's body. She had severe trauma to her face and head, police said. Sejour told investigators that he hit her with a pipe wrench during an altercation. The couple's four children, who range in age from 17 to 4, were also inside the home. The children are staying with a family member, the report said. Sejour was being held without bond Thursday, Broward jail records showed. Attorney information wasn't available. President Donald Trump warned on Thursday that the U.S. could be headed toward a "major, major conflict" with North Korea over the country's nuclear and missile programs, NBC News reported. The president said so in an interview with Reuters, adding, "We'd love to solve things diplomatically, but it's very difficult." Trump also said he hoped the North's 33-year-old leader, Kim Jong-Un, is "rational." The president said taking over a regime at a young age is "a very hard thing to do." The interview comes just hours after a North Korean propaganda outlet released a video simulating an attack on America, with targets superimposed on the White House and American aircraft carriers. Local Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams has put his house up for sale as he awaits trial on federal bribery charges that he illegally accepted gifts including the $45,000 roof on the house in question. Philly.com reports Thursday that Williams' wants $450,000 for the four-bedroom Overbrook house. Williams' law license was suspended by the state Supreme Court earlier this month, and the city's Ethics Board fined his political action fund another $2,000 for allegedly failing to report nearly $12,000 in spending on last year's campaign finance report. The board previously fined him $62,000 for accepting $175,000 worth of gifts that are at the center of a 23-count federal bribery and extortion indictment returned last month. Federal prosecutors released a criminal information filing Wednesday that accuses one of the businessmen associated with Williams, Mohammad N. Ali, of bribery. "From in or about July 2010 to in or about May 2015, defendant Mohammad N. Ali engaged in an arrangement with Williams pursuant to which defendant Ali would offer, confer, and agree to confer a stream of pecuniary benefits ("benefits") to Williams and [Williams' girlfriend], such as travel, money, and other things of value that were concealed from timely public disclosure by Williams and, as consideration and in exchange for these benefits, Williams would reciprocate by performing and agreeing to perform official acts on behalf of defendant Ali and by violating Williams' legal duties as specific opportunities arose," read the information document. Some of the benefits prosecutors said Feasterville, Bucks County businessman Mohammad gave to Williams including a more than $6,000 trip for Williams and his girlfriend to the Dominican Republic, a Louis Vuitton tie, an iPad, a sofa, dinner, cash and other gifts. In exchange, Williams allegedly helped keep one of Ali's friends out of prison and was requested to get Ali out of secondary screening at the airport. Ali was also charged with failing to pays taxes on hundreds of thousands of dollars of income in 2012, feds said. The document means that Ali likely plans to plead guilty and cooperate with investigators, reported Philly.com. They had no luck getting comment from Ali's lawyer. Williams, a two-term Democrat, remains in office but isn't acting as an attorney in any case involving his office. UPDATE: Pro-Life teen speaks out on the controversy. The Dean of Academics and Student Life at Downingtown STEM Academy in Chester County has been placed on administrative leave after a video surfaced of him yelling at pro-life teenagers last Friday. The video, posted on YouTube by one of the teens, showed a heated verbal exchange between Dr. Zach Ruffs and a 16-year-old protesting the holocaust of abortion. The argument transpired as students were leaving school for the day. Ruff appeared to be directing traffic away from the school when the incident was recorded. Innocent children are being murdered in our society, declared one of the protesting teens in video footage. Theyre not children. Theyre cells. Go home! yelled Ruff. Sir, you need to turn to Jesus Christ, the teen responded. Listen here, son. I am as gay as as the day is long. I dont give an (expletive) what Jesus tells me about what I should and should not be doing. You are harassing public school students and I will call the police if you dont shut up, Ruff said. Youre acting very immaturely. Im 16 and youre yelling at me, said the teen. The truth is Jesus Christ died on a cross and rose again. You can be set free from your sins. The teenager recorded the incident and then uploaded it to both YouTube and his Facebook page. Several people commented, including students from STEM Academy who witnessed the altercation. One Facebook user, who identified herself as a student at STEM, said the protesters were blocking traffic and distracting drivers with graphic images of aborted fetuses. Mr. Ruff had every right to defend his students. What they are not showing in this video is what the posters actually depicted. There was a horrendous image of a dead baby covered in blood. This image distracted me and I almost rear-ended the person in front of me, she wrote. Downingtown Area School District posted a message on its Facebook page regarding the incident: We do not condone or support the conduct expressed in the video and are deeply disappointed that this incident occurred. His conduct does not represent the values of the school district or the respect we expect our employees to show for the civil rights of others, the statement said. Ruff will remain on leave pending a formal investigation, said Patricia McGlone, director of public information for the Downingtown School District. Parents will have the opportunity to express their concerns during this time. Parent Rebecca Ziserman Cesarz, who graduated from the school district and now has a senior enrolled at STEM, said many in the community are standing behind Ruff. A Drexel alum, Ruff has worked in the school district for 10 years and is popular with both students and faculty. A hashtag, IstandwithasstprincipalRuff, has been created to show solidarity. The bottom line is Ruff is a really good guy, Cesarz said. A lot of students, parents, administrators, teachers really love him. Its a small school and hes a big part of it. Cesarz described Ruff as a big teddy bear who has a great sense of humor. He dressed as Dr. Who one Halloween, she said. Cesarz's friend attempted to email Ruff but said his account has been disabled. She hopes he will not be fired. [STEM] is a great place to send your kids, she said. Its unfortunate there is this collision of social media and social commentary and its going to cost someone who doesnt deserve to have his career ruined by something like this. The teenager who filmed the incident is part of a Christian activist network called Project Frontlines that speaks out against abortion. It is not clear why they chose to protest outside STEM on that particular day. Requests for a comment were not immediately returned. Flags in Delaware were lowered to half-staff as memorials popped up and a fund was set up in honor of fallen state trooper Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard, who was gunned down in a Wawa parking lot. A gunman shot the 32-year-old husband and father to a 5-year-old daughter shortly after noon Wednesday outside the convenience store on US Route 40 in Bear, Delaware. "This is a sad day for our state and for the Delaware State Police family," state police superintendent Col. Nathaniel McQueen said as Gov. John Carney stood at his side in the hours after the shooting. Delaware State Police set up a memorial fund Thursday for Ballard at the Delaware State Police Federal Credit Union -- checks should be made out to DSTA-Stephen Ballard Memorial Fund, PO Box 168, Cheswold DE 19936 A Delaware State Trooper was shot and killed in a Wawa parking lot Wednesday afternoon. Officials identified the trooper as Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard, 32. He was an 8.5 year veteran of the Delaware State Police assigned to Troop 2, Glasgow. NBC10s Drew Smith and Brandon Hudson have the latest details as police continue to surround the home of one... Wawa also announced Friday that they would be collecting donations of $1 or more at the register of any of its 40 Delaware Wawa stores that will go toward the police memorial fund. Wawa pledged to match the first $50,000 in donations. "Everyone at Wawa joins the entire community in mourning the loss of Cpl. Ballard and we want to extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Cpl. Ballard as well as to all of the Delaware State Police," John Sharpless, director of store operations for all Delaware Wawa stores, said. Cpl. Ballards memory will live on forever." "I stand before you with an aching heart that aches for Ballard, his wife, his daughter, his family," said an emotional Carney Thursday afternoon. "This is a time to mourn, to mourn and to lift up our own." Ballard was described as a loyal and dedicated police officer who served more than eight years on the force. Several colleagues choked back tears during a news conference Thursday, touting the bravery and commitment Ballard showed during his time as an officer. "We have lost another officer who dedicated his career to noble public service, Carney said. "He went to work every day putting his life on the line to protect the rest of us." Investigators are still trying to pinpoint the motives for a nearly 20-hour standoff between police and the alleged killer of Delaware Trooper Cpl. Stephen Ballard. NBC10 Katy Zachry is following the developments. Carney ordered flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff. Since the killing, people dropped off red, white and blue candles, balloons and flowers at the Wawa and Troop 2, Glasgow, where Ballard served, to pay tribute to fallen trooper. Cpl. Ballard attended Delaware State University, studying sociology and criminal justice before graduating in 2007, DSU spokesman Carlos Holmes said. Funeral plans were pending Friday. NBC10 / Delaware State Police Investigators said the deadly ordeal started when Ballard saw two suspicious-looking people sitting inside a red Dodge Charger at Wawa around 12:30 p.m. Police did not say what drew Ballard's attention to the vehicle. He approached the men and a struggle ensured, police said. The passenger got out of the car and fired several shots at close range. Ballard was struck in the upper body. He never had the chance to pull his weapon or return fire, authorities said. The suspected shooter, later identified as Burgon Sealy Jr., fled to a home in the Brick Mill Farm Development in Middletown -- about 15 miles away. An hours-long standoff ended Thursday morning with police shooting the suspect. Investigators asked anyone who may have witnessed Ballard's killing to call Det. John King at 302-698-8561 or contact Delaware Crime Stoppers. Wawa planned to reopen its Bear store Saturday morning. The Pentagon has identified the two Army Rangers killed during a raid on an Islamic State compound in Afghanistan Wednesday. They were Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers, 22, of Bloomington, Illinois, and Sgt. Cameron H. Thomas, 23, of Kettering, Ohio, according to the Pentagon. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said the U.S. military is investigating to see if they were accidentally killed by ground fire from Afghan commandoes or other American forces. He said it does not appear deliberate. According to Davis, the head of the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, Abdul Haseeb Logari, was the target of the Wednesday raid. He said officials suspect that Logari, the emir of what's called the Islamic State Khorasan group, was among several key leaders killed, but haven't confirmed that. Logari was in charge of the Afghanistan affiliate's command and control and it's connections with the broader Islamic State group and it's leaders. About 35 other enemy fighters were killed and one other Army Ranger received a minor head wound during the battle, but was able to stay with the assault force. "This was a dangerous mission and we knew this going in," Davis told Pentagon reporters. "This was the leader of ISIS in Afghanistan. We knew that he was going to be well protected and that they were going to fight very hard to prevent him from being captured or killed. And that is indeed what happened." About 50 Army Rangers and 40 Afghan commandos were dropped off by helicopter around 10:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, for the raid in Nangarhar Province's, Mohmand Valley. They were on the ground for about four-and-a-half hours. "Within minutes of the insertion the combined force came under intense fire from multiple directions. It was during these initial moments of the raid that the two Rangers were mortally wounded," Davis said. He added that the U.S. and Afghan troops were being fired on from prepared positions on all sides, and that the compound was heavily fortified and contained a network of tunnels. Davis said manned and unmanned aircraft, including AC-130 gunships, Apache helicopters and F-16 fighter jets, were used to support the raid and provide airstrikes to defend the force on the ground and evacuate the wounded. The military headquarters in Kabul said in a statement that the U.S. and Afghan forces were able to accomplish the mission without civilian casualties, including women and children in the compound. The operation took place in the Achin area, roughly one mile from where the military dropped a massive, non-nuclear bomb called the "mother of all bombs" on an ISIS target in Afghanistan two weeks ago, the weapon's first-ever use in combat. The bombing came just days after a U.S. Army special forces soldier was killed in the region. The bomb is the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S., and it killed several dozen militants. Asked whether the friendly fire came from Afghan troops, Davis said, "we were there in a partnered raid with Afghan forces and some of the initial indications led us to believe that that's a possibility." He said it could have been either Afghans or U.S. forces, and a formal investigation is underway. The families of Army Sgts. Joshua Rodgers from Illinois, and Cameron Thomas from Ohio have been told it was possible they died from friendly fire. The U.S. has been battling the Islamic State group in Afghanistan for months and estimates that the group now includes about some 800 to 1,000 fighters there. A North Korean mid-range ballistic missile apparently failed shortly after launch Saturday, South Korea and the United States said, the third test-fire flop just this month but a clear message of defiance as a U.S. supercarrier conducts drills in nearby waters. North Korean ballistic missile tests are banned by the United Nations because they're seen as part of the North's push for a nuclear-tipped missile that can hit the U.S. mainland. The latest test came as U.S. officials pivoted from a hard line to diplomacy at the U.N. in an effort to address what may be Washington's most pressing foreign policy challenge. President Donald Trump said on Twitter, "North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!" He did not answer reporters' questions about the missile launch upon returning to the White House from a day trip to Atlanta. North Korea didn't immediately comment on the launch, though its state media on Saturday reiterated the country's goal of being able to strike the continental U.S. The timing of the North's test was striking: Only hours earlier the U.N. Security Council held a ministerial meeting on Pyongyang's escalating weapons program. North Korean officials boycotted the meeting, which was chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile flew for several minutes and reached a maximum height of 71 kilometers (44 miles) before it apparently failed. It didn't immediately provide an estimate on how far the missile flew, but a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said it was likely a medium-range KN-17 ballistic missile. It broke up a few minutes after the launch. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, speaking after a meeting of Japan's National Security Council, said the missile is believed to have traveled about 50 kilometers (30 miles) and fallen on an inland part of North Korea. Analysts say the KN-17 is a new Scud-type missile developed by North Korea. The North fired the same type of missile April 16, just a day after a massive military parade where it showed off its expanding missile arsenal, but U.S. officials called that launch a failure. Some analysts say a missile the North test fired April 5, which U.S. officials identified as a Scud variant, also might have been a KN-17. U.S. officials said that missile spun out of control and crashed into the sea. Moon Seong Mook, a South Korean analyst and former military official, says that the North would gain valuable knowledge even from failed launches as it continues to improve its technologies for missiles. The South Korean and Japanese assessments about Saturday's launch indicate that the North fired the missile from a higher-than-normal angle to prevent it from flying too far, he said. "They could be testing a variety of things, such as the thrust of the rocket engine or the separation of stages," Moon said. "A failure is a failure, but that doesn't mean the launch was meaningless." The two earlier launches were conducted from an eastern coastal area, but the missile Saturday was fired in the west, from an area near Pukchang, just north of the capital, Pyongyang. South Korea's Foreign Ministry denounced the launch as an "obvious" violation of United Nations resolutions and the latest display of North Korea's "belligerence and recklessness." "We sternly warn that the North Korean government will continue to face a variety of strong punitive measures issued by the U.N. Security Council and others if it continues to reject denuclearization and play with fire in front of the world," the ministry said. The North routinely test-fires a variety of ballistic missiles, despite U.N. prohibitions, as part of its weapons development. While shorter-range missiles are somewhat routine, there is strong outside worry about each longer-range North Korean ballistic test. Saturday's launch comes at a point of particularly high tension. Trump has sent a nuclear-powered submarine and the USS Carl Vinson aircraft supercarrier to Korean waters, and North Korea this week conducted large-scale, live-fire exercises on its eastern coast. The U.S. and South Korea also started installing a missile defense system that is supposed to be partially operational within days. On Friday, the United States and China offered starkly different strategies for addressing North Korea's escalating nuclear threat as Tillerson demanded full enforcement of economic sanctions on Pyongyang and urged new penalties. Stepping back from suggestions of U.S. military action, he even offered aid to North Korea if it ends its nuclear weapons program. The range of Tillerson's suggestions, which over a span of 24 hours also included restarting negotiations, reflected America's failure to halt North Korea's nuclear advances despite decades of U.S.-led sanctions, military threats and stop-and-go rounds of diplomatic engagement. As the North approaches the capability to hit the U.S. mainland with a nuclear-tipped missile, the Trump administration feels it is running out of time. Chairing a ministerial meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Friday, Tillerson declared that "failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences." His ideas included a ban on North Korean coal imports and preventing its overseas guest laborers, a critical source of government revenue, from sending money home. And he warned of unilateral U.S. moves against international firms conducting banned business with Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, which could ensnare banks in China, the North's primary trade partner. Yet illustrating the international gulf over how best to tackle North Korea, several foreign ministers on the 15-member council expressed fears of a conflict on the Korean Peninsula, which was divided between the American-backed South and communist North even before the 1950-53 Korean War. The conflict ended with no formal peace treaty. And while danger always has lurked, tensions have escalated dramatically as the North's young leader, Kim Jong Un, has expanded a nuclear arsenal his government says is needed to avert a U.S. invasion. No voice at Friday's session was more important than that of China, a conduit for 90 percent of North Korea's commerce and a country Trump is pinning hopes on for a peaceful resolution to the nuclear crisis. Trump, who recently hosted President Xi Jinping for a Florida summit, has sometimes praised the Chinese leader for a newfound cooperation to crack down on North Korea and sometimes threatened a go-it-alone U.S. approach if Xi fails to deliver. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China would adhere to past U.N. resolutions and wants a denuclearized peninsula. But he spelled out no further punitive steps his government might consider, despite Tillerson's assertions in an interview hours ahead of the council meeting that Beijing would impose sanctions of its own if North Korea conducts another nuclear test. Wang put forward a familiar Chinese idea to ease tensions: North Korea suspending its nuclear and missile activities if the U.S. and South Korea stop military exercises in the region. Washington and Seoul reject the idea. Tillerson said the U.S. does not seek regime change in North Korea, and he signaled American openness to holding direct negotiations with Pyongyang. The U.S. also could resume aid to North Korea once it "begins to dismantle its nuclear weapons and missile technology programs," he said. Since 1995, he added, Washington has provided more than $1.3 billion to the impoverished country. But the prospects for any more U.S. money going there appeared bleak. Even negotiations don't seem likely. Tillerson said the North must take "concrete steps" to reduce its weapons threat before talks could occur. Six-nation nuclear negotiations with North Korea stalled in 2009. The Obama administration sought to resurrect them in 2012, but a deal to provide food aid in exchange for a nuclear freeze soon collapsed. "In a nutshell, (North Korea) has already declared not to attend any type of talks which would discuss its nuclear abandonment, nuclear disbandment," Kim In Ryong, North Korea's deputy U.N. ambassador, told The Associated Press. His government declined to attend Friday's council meeting. AP writers Matthew Pennington and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this story. U.S. & World Stories that affect your life across the U.S. and around the world. Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., lag behind other states in what they release to the public about teachers accused of misconduct. An investigation by the News4 I-Team revealed almost 70 D.C.-area teachers have had their licenses revoked or canceled since the beginning of 2016, but parents and prospective employers are unable to readily see the reasons why. The education agencies that oversee teacher licensing and misconduct investigations in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. do not list the rationales or findings of reviews of teachers from whom theyve revoked or canceled licenses. The Virginia Department of Education maintains a publicly accessible list of teachers whove surrendered their licenses or from whom licenses have been revoked, but the states website does not include records detailing why the actions were taken. The Maryland State Department of Education and the District of Columbia Office of State Superintendent oversee teacher licensure revocations, but neither posts even the names of teachers from whom licenses have been revoked. Those names are only available through a formal records request or a submission under the Freedom of Information Act. Several nearby states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey and South Carolina, publicly list the nature of the alleged misconduct and the findings of investigators along with the names of the teachers against whom licensure actions have been taken. The lack of readily available information about teacher license revocations leaves parents or prospective employers vulnerable to allowing children near possible bad actors, according to students whove alleged misconduct by former teachers. Two students whod once accused a former Fairfax County Public Schools teacher of inappropriate touching said they were unaware the teacher surrendered his license years later or why hed done so. Fairfax County Commonwealths Attorney Ray Morrogh said Virginia education administrators should consider making their investigations of teacher misconduct available to the public online. This information should be passed out, he said. Parents should know about it. We need transparency to keep our kids safe." Maryland state administrators said the state is considering posting additional information about teacher licensure actions. MSDE has a plan under consideration that would add this and other certification information to our public website, Maryland State Department of Education spokesman Bill Reinhard said. At the moment, we are attempting to work through software issues that -- once solved -- would automate this process. OSSE does not currently post on any general public platform the names of teachers who have had their teaching licenses revoked or canceled, D.C.s Office of State Superintendent spokesman Fred Lewis said. However, as a participating member jurisdiction, OSSE does report to the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) clearinghouse where we share and exchange information with other member state jurisdictions regarding educator disciplinary actions taken. The Virginia Department of Education said its licensure actions are promptly reported to other public education departments. Once a license is canceled, that fact -- the cancellation -- is going to be shared with all 132 school districts in the state, and it will be shared with all chief school officers in the nation," DOE spokesman Charles Pyle said. A publicly available list of licensure revocations and investigations is not universally supported. The Maryland State Education Association, which represents public school teachers in two dozen school districts, said such a public listing could negatively impact falsely accused teachers who have nonetheless surrendered their licenses. A website that indefinitely shames people who have already been removed -- in many cases, after being falsely accused -- does not make kids safer, a spokesman said. Instead, we need to focus on prevention by setting high standards for entry to the profession and making sure districts conduct thorough background checks that include the detailed information that is already available to all educational agencies for applicants who have previously worked in public education. Reported by Scott MacFarlane, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Steve Jones. Former D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson violated District rules and gave special treatment to other government officials in 2015 while leading the school district, say internal investigators for Washington, D.C. Henderson "failed to act impartially and gave preferential treatment to certain District government officials and members of the public," according to a memo produced by the D.C. Office of the Inspector General, which the News4 I-Team obtained Friday. According to the memo, Henderson showed preferences by approving school transfers to students outside of school district boundaries. The memo said her actions violated requirements of D.C.'s school lottery program, which is a competitive system in which parents vie to place their children in certain, often more desirable, public schools in the District. Officials at the Office of the Inspector General told the I-Team their investigation found seven instances in which Henderson "improperly used her discretion" as schools chancellor. The memo, which was issued to the D.C. Council in mid-April, said the investigation revealed Henderson's misconduct occurred between April 2015 and August 2015. According to the memo, D.C.'s deputy mayor for education advised the chancellor's office in April 2016 about the importance of not showing favoritism under D.C. statutes. Henderson announced her resignation as D.C. schools chancellor in June 2016. Her resignation was not related to the investigation, a spokeswoman for D.C. Public Schools told the I-Team in a written statement. A statement from Henderson reads in full: "As the IG report notes, in my capacity as Chancellor, I made a very limited number of discretionary placements for students when extraordinary circumstances applied. I stand by those actions. The IG does not provide evidence that placements were made improperly, only that they were discretionary. If leaders in DC do not believe that there are situations when the chancellor should exercise discretion in determining student placements, they should eliminate that provision of the statute. If leaders believe that, on rare occasions, there are unusual circumstances that require the judgement of the district leader, they should accept that discretionary placements will depend on judgement. "I am deeply disappointed by these continual attacks on my integrity in an attempt to besmirch my personal and professional reputation." Officials at the Office of the Inspector General said they did not refer their findings to federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecution. The violations alleged in their memo were "administrative, not criminal" in nature. The officials said "information from a source" triggered their investigation. They declined to say which government officials allegedly received preferential treatment. In a statement, Inspector General Daniel Lucas told the I-Team, "This outcome speaks to the thorough work of my Investigations Unit. The OIG's job is to be fair and impartial fact-finders to help the District guard against fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement - in this instance, to ensure children have the same access to education no matter what the parents' roles and responsibilities. The purpose of the My School DC lottery system is to level the playing field for our youth." A spokesman for D.C. Council education chair David Grosso said, "The councilmember is concerned about the report and making sure the same mistakes are not repeated in the future. He will be requesting a briefing from the Office of the Inspector General." Henderson earned a base salary of $284,000 in her final year as chancellor. A Fairfax County teacher who was acquitted in a high-profile trial of illegally touching a female student has lost his teaching license and is again facing accusations of inappropriate conduct with young girls. Sean Lanigan, then a Centre Ridge Elementary School physical education teacher, prevailed at trial in 2010 and participated in media interviews to describe his experience of being a teacher falsely accused of sexual misconduct. Lanigans media appearances included a live interview on NBCs TODAY show in 2011. The gym teacher described and refuted the allegations made by a 12-year-old sixth grade girl and described the negative impact the accusations had on his family. [[420646093, C]] An investigation by the News4 I-Team reveals Sean Lanigan formally canceled his teaching license in February 2017, after Fairfax County Public Schools sought to have state education officials revoke it. A school district memo, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, includes a new series of allegations of sexually inappropriate conduct against Lanigan in 2014 and 2015, while working as a gym teacher at South Lakes High School in Reston. The Fairfax County Public Schools memo was written in 2015 and alleged Lanigan inappropriately touched and made sexual comments to some students. The most egregious and jarring allegation involved Mr. Lanigan running his finger up the inner thigh of a 15-year-old female student, the memo said. Lanigan denied the accusation, but another student and a colleague of Lanigans witnessed the incident, according to the memo. Recommendation for Dismissal and Revocation of Postgraduate Professional License for Sean Lanigan The memo said Lanigan also was observed by colleagues holding hands with female students, providing unnecessary physical guidance [grabbing arms, putting an arm around them, leading them away for no obvious reason, hugging a student and tripping a student.] The memo also said, Students reported Mr. Lanigan as referring to a female student as his girlfriend, discussing female body parts with male students and engaging in a conversation with a female student about a vibrator. Lanigan denied the accusations, but other staff and students confirmed witnessing the incidents, according to the memo. Fairfax County Commonwealths Attorney Ray Morrogh told the I-Team police investigated the allegations at South Lakes High School in 2015, spoke with the families of the students and notified prosecutors. No criminal charges were filed, according to Morrogh and an I-Team review of Fairfax County court records. We knew there were some incidents there, Morrogh said. We dont know if we had the specifics, but I know the police were in touch with some of the families. [[420662103, C]] Families of students questioned in the school district investigation did not want to pursue a criminal investigation, Morrogh said. He said he felt, It would be very difficult to ask a child to come forward after what happened to the first (student). Lanigan declined a request for an interview with the I-Team. I was found not guilty in 2010 of the charges brought against me with good reason -- there was absolutely no truth in any of it, Lanigan said in a written statement. The girl making the accusations had the opportunity to testify, and her testimony was found not at all credible; in fact, the jury took only 47 minutes to come back with their unanimous verdict of not guilty. All of this is detailed in numerous articles in the Washington Post. Furthermore, I have 18 years of experience teaching and I have never inappropriately touched a student. However, after the trial, when I returned to teaching, tension remained between the school system and me and, after five years, although I still enjoyed teaching, I decided to move on with my life and surrendered my teaching license. The school district memo found earlier allegations of misconduct by Lanigan that predated his 2010 trial and acquittal. In May 2007, Mr. Lanigan received a reprimand for poor judgment and unprofessional behavior when he made other staff uncomfortable during a Secret Santa gift exchange, the memo said. At that time, Mr. Lanigan gave another employee a large box of chocolates, a $75 gift certificate, a pornament that depicted two reindeer having sex and two magazines that were interspersed with pictures of nude men and women. According to a 2012 Washington Post article about Lanigans case, he characterized the ornament as a joke gift for a Secret Santa exchange. According to the Washington Post report, Lanigan said the teacher to whom he gave the pornament did not object. A former Lanigan student, speaking with the I-Team under condition of anonymity, alleged a series of inappropriate comments and physical touching by Lanigan in the late 1990s. The former student said her mother filed a formal complaint with Lanigans principal in 1997 and asked the school remove her daughter from Lanigans class. She said Lanigan had also made an offensive comment during gym class on her birthday. (Lanigan) said I should run the mile in my birthday suit, she said. Thats a very sexual comment, she added. Its too much. Its way too much. Lanigan did not specifically address these earlier allegations, but in a 2012 article in the Washington Post, he described such an exchange with a student. He told the Washington Post the girl went to class without her gym uniform. He characterized the exchange about a birthday suit as a joke. Reported by Scott MacFarlane, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Steve Jones. A television ad released by a group seeking Airbnb regulations tells the emotional story of a woman who says she was born and raised in a neighborhood that has changed around her. Before she begins speaking, the words "Anacostia, Washington, D.C." appear on screen. "I was 5 years old when we moved to the neighborhood, but it doesn't feel like the place I grew up or where I raised my children," the woman in the ad says, surrounded by family photos. Commercial Airbnb renters have filled her neighborhood with strangers, she says. But News4 has discovered the woman in the ad is an actress who lives in New York City, not Anacostia. The organization behind the ad, the affordable-housing advocacy group Share Better, confirmed the woman in the ad is an actress and said the ad was intended to depict the real experiences D.C. residents have had with Airbnb in multiple neighborhoods. Longtime Anacostia resident Greta Fuller, an Airbnb host who ran to represent Ward 8 in the D.C. Council, called the ad "misleading." "Who is she? Never seen her a day in my life, nor can any neighbor identify the woman in the ad," Fuller said to Share Better in an open letter she posted to Twitter. "I believe your organization can find a better way to bring equality to the housing crisis in this country without misleading ads and misrepresentation," she continued. Airbnb also slammed the ad. "This deceptive and duplicitous ad is just the latest effort by the hotel cartel to short-sheet the middle class. While hotels have ignored Anacostia for decades, Airbnb is helping people in every corner of the District of Columbia, including in Anacostia, earn a little extra money and pay the bills," the company said in a statement. The video shown online and on TV was released as hundreds of D.C. residents testified for and against a bill that would put strict new limits on how property owners can profit from using Airbnb and other short-term rental services. The bill introduced by Councilman Kenyan McDuffie (Ward 5) would limit how many properties a homeowner can list to rent on a short-term basis and for how many days per year. McDuffie said Tuesday that the legislation targets commercial Airbnb operators who undercut the city's supply of affordable housing. "We want to make sure we keep our long-term rental housing for residents," he said. Similar debates are underway in cities across the country, including Los Angeles and New York City. "The Airbnb commercial landlords don't care. They don't even live here. They buy up our homes, sometimes entire buildings, kick out tenants and make more money renting to tourists," the actress in the ad said. "And we end up with higher rents and less affordable housing. The D.C. Council will not vote on final legislation for at least two months. Reported by Jodie Fleischer and Andrea Swalec, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Jeff Piper. A huge fire that destroyed an apartment building under construction in College Park, Maryland Monday was likely accidental -- though fire inspectors say a full investigation could take days or weeks. The fire led to one of the largest firefighting efforts in Prince George's County history, as thick black smoke wafted over the nearby University of Maryland campus, which had to close for the day. No one was hurt, but the building was a $39 million loss. Fire investigators asked Thursday for anyone with photos of videos of the fire to come forward to help investigators. Images can be emailed to PGFDPIO@co.pg.md.us. The fire broke out Monday morning on the fifth floor of Fuse 47, a seven-story, mixed-use development of about 250 apartments and retail stores that was under construction in the 4700 block of Berwyn House Road. PGFD 5 Alarms - 200 Fire/EMS personnel on scene 4+hours operations. One of, if not the, largest fire suppression efforts in County history Mark Brady (@PGFDPIO) April 24, 2017 The flames quickly spread to the sixth floor. News4s Derrick Ward spoke to some College Park residents bothered by the thick smoke from a five-alarm fire Monday. Crews brought the blaze under control by about 3 p.m. Monday, although hot spots remained for days. Firefighters said it was like battling a wood pile surrounded by concrete. More... Mutual Aid PGCo 5-Alarm bldg Fire dozens of MCFRS engaged on scene in College Park & many other units filling-in PG firehouses pic.twitter.com/EcZM0fIceg Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 24, 2017 Montgomery County Fire has nearly 70 personnel on the scene assisting at the fire in College Park.#NBC4DC pic.twitter.com/krx0gVsUXS Tracee Wilkins (@TraceeWilkins) April 24, 2017 Due to poor air quality from fire near campus, the University of Maryland, College Park is closing at 1 pm on Monday, April 24, 2017 (1/3) Univ. of Maryland (@UofMaryland) April 24, 2017 UMPD is on scene to direct traffic. Baltimore Ave. is closed northbound. Best exit points are Paint Branch Drive or Stadium Drive. (2/3) Univ. of Maryland (@UofMaryland) April 24, 2017 For those on campus, stay inside, and close windows and doors. Updates forthcoming. (3/3) Univ. of Maryland (@UofMaryland) April 24, 2017 The middle school where I intern is 3 miles away from the fire in College Park and it smells faintly of smoke inside the school . (@adiammm) April 24, 2017 More flames as firefighters continue to battle this raging fire in College Park. They say inside floors have already collapsed. #NBC4DC pic.twitter.com/nnW3DDu1Ve Tracee Wilkins (@TraceeWilkins) April 24, 2017 With all that wood, its very hard to catch up with it, said acting Prince George's Fire Chief Benjamin Barksdale. A woman who lives nearby told News4 a cloud of smoke settled on her house. "The whole house is consumed with smoke," she said. "It's unbearable. I have to leave." The University of Maryland College Park, located nearby, closed at 1 p.m. due to poor air quality, President Wallace Loh said. Students on campus were told to stay inside and close their windows and doors. "Everything on campus smells like burnt electronics or something," student Emory Bacon said. A member of the Navy was killed in a crash in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Friday morning. Maryland State Police troopers were called to the southbound lanes of Crain Highway at Village Drive just after midnight for a report of a crash. When they arrived at the scene, they found 34-year-old Jonathan Javonia Griffin's heavily damaged Dodge Challenger facing west in the southbound lanes. Griffin was pronounced dead at the scene. The force of the crash left debris in both the north and southbound lanes, police said. It's not clear what caused Griffin to crash. According to police, Griffin was assigned to the National Security Agency at Fort Meade. Dozens of students are sick at Hastings Elementary School in Westborough, Massachusetts, prompting the school to close Friday. The illness emerged in the last couple of days. "We got an email from the principal letting us know there's a virus going around," said Hastings parent Lindsay Quist. "This is one of my biggest fears. It spreads so quick." The sickness hasn't been specifically diagnosed, but school officials say it appears to be a gastrointestinal virus, with vomiting being the main symptom. Some students were vomiting in school. "I think maybe half his class was out," said Aidan McCann, whose son attends Hastings. Westborough Superintendent Amber Bock says 73 students either stayed home or were sent home on Wednesday, and 53 students were out of school on Thursday. Seven school staff members are also sick. Any student missing the MCAS this week will be allowed to take it on another date. Hastings is the only school in the district with so many students sick. Custodial staff will be cleaning the building all weekend. There are about 500 students at Hastings and 92 staff members. Someone could soon be moving into the home of former New England Patriot star Aaron Hernandez. The $1.2 million property in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, has a potential buyer, and attorneys for the Hernandez family moved quickly to secure it Thursday. Aaron Hernandez's Massachusetts Home During a hearing at Superior Court in New Bedford, a judge agreed to allow the home to be transferred from Hernandez's name to an estate that is controlled by his fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins Hernandez. The legal maneuvering enables Jenkins Hernandez to accept an offer on the house, which expires Friday. Details of the offer, however, were not made public at the request of attorneys. "I think that any speculation about the nature of the sale, who the buyers might be, is injurious," said George Leontire, an attorney for the Hernandez family. The move had support from attorneys who represent Hernandez's murder victim, Odin Lloyd. They currently have a pending wrongful death lawsuit, filed on behalf of Lloyd's mother, and hope to gain access to money from the sale. Hernandez lived in the home with his fiancee and their daughter until he was arrested for Lloyd's murder in 2013. According to court records, the property has federal and municipal liens and is currently uninsured. "This asset is in danger of being lost if it is not sold," the records state. [[420560763, C]] The potential sale comes amidst other potential legal action by the Hernandez family against the Massachusetts Department of Corrections DOC in connection with Hernandez's suicide. Thursday, attorneys slammed investigators with the DOC and the Worcester County District Attorney's Office for apparent leaks to the media about the case. "Individuals within the government who are leaking such information are in violation of the policies and procedures of their respective agencies and should be immediately terminated," wrote Leontire in a letter addressed to both agencies. Leontire also stated that investigators had obtained copies of letters written by Hernandez to his legal team, which he argued is a violation of attorney-client privilege. "We hereby demand that the originals of such communications be provided to the defense team, and any and all copies of such writings within your custody or control be accounted for and destroyed." See the full letter below: A former classroom aide at a northwestern Vermont elementary school is accused of sexually assaulting a young boy from the district where she worked. Josie Spears, 33, cried before a court hearing about charges that could bring a life sentence in prison if she is convicted. There is evidence the guilt is great, Franklin County Deputy States Attorney Diane Wheeler said at the hearing Thursday, which was held in a Burlington courtroom. Charging documents allege Spears repeatedly sexually assaulted a 9-year-old boy. The child, who is now 10, recently revealed to police that Spears kissed him at school and said, I love you, baby in places she knew were out of view of building security. The fourth grader also reported about 20 encounters at the suspects home which were more serious, when he was visiting to play with her son. The child described a series of sex acts that Spears allegedly forced him to perform. Because of their disturbing graphic nature and to prevent further discomfort to the child or his family, necn has decided not to broadcast descriptions of the alleged sex crimes. The news team at necn generally does not identify survivors of sexual assaults or of alleged sexual assaults without their permission. Additionally, in this report, necn also chose to not identify the specific northwestern Vermont community where the alleged crimes took place, because it is a small place with few students the same age of the alleged victim. According to investigative documents prosecutors filed with the court, Spears allegedly directed the elementary schooler to keep their relationship a secret, and not to tell anyone. However, the documents said the child eventually described to his parents and to specialized sex crimes interviewers how some of the encounters made him angry or upset. The boy also described the relationship as messed up, according to a written report from one of the police interviewers. Certainly, she vehemently maintains her innocence, and we will continue to persist in her defense, said Jessica Burke, the defense attorney for Josie Spears, in response to a question from necn after Thursdays hearing. At the hearing, Burke asked for an extra day to go over the new felony charges with her client, so no formal plea was entered. In late February, Spears denied other accusations of sending nude photos to the same child over social media. Earlier this week, Spears appeared before a judge again and entered another not guilty plea. That followed a charge of violating the conditions of her release, after she allegedly waved to the victim when she was supposed to stay away. Prosecutors indicated when Spears is arraigned Friday, they will push for her to be jailed without bail pending trial, given the seriousness of the charges and arguing she is a risk to reoffend. The school district where this allegedly happened tells necn it places student safety and comfort as top priorities, so will have additional support staff on hand Monday when kids return from spring break. The school superintendent said in a telephone interview that the district is now investigating the newest reports of serious misconduct by the former school employee, which just came to light Thursday. Police are continuing to investigate, as well, after the child in the case told them another young boy may also have received nude photos from Spears. A Manchester, New Hampshire, police officer broke his arm following a chase of a suspect. According to police, Officer Matt Comeau attempted to stop 29-year-old Aaron Roux of 188 Bell Street, Manchester, as he was known to him for a domestic offense. Officer Comeau approached Roux but he took off running. The officer was able to catch Roux but he was able to slip away. Roux tossed two trash cans at Officer Comeau while fleeing, resulting in a broken arm. The officer was able to catch Roux and handcuff him. Roux is charged with simple assault, resisting arrest, and violation of bail. He was also charged with five counts of domestic simple assault, three counts of obstructing the report of a crime, and one count of violation of bail. He will be arraigned on Friday at the 9th Circuit Court in Manchester. A Pelham, New Hampshire, police officer caught a driver operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs on Thursday afternoon. According to police, Officer Thistle was traveling north on Route 38 near Webster Ave when he noticed a Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling south in the northbound lane. The officer swerved in order to miss hitting the Jeep and later noticed that the driver appeared to be asleep. He followed the vehicle further down the road and pulled over the driver who has been identified as 27-year-old Alexander Clement of Pelham, New Hampshire. The officer observed signs of impairment. Clement was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of drugs and reckless operation. Police in Quincy, Massachusetts, arrested three men for breaking and entering onto a boat. According to police, officers responded to Bay Pointe Marina at 64 Washington Street where an employee informed them three men boarded a boat. The employee contacted the boat's owner who informed him the suspects did not belong on the boat. Officers were able to locate two of the suspects and arrested them quickly. The third later came into the police station to locate his friends. Thomas Shaw, age 26, Michael Venuti, age 25, and Nicholas Ruskiewicz, age 25, of Brockton, were all arrested and charged with breaking and entering. A Massachusetts man found guilty of poisoning another man who was an alleged extortion victim of former mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger has been sentenced to life without parole. William Camuti, 72, of Sudbury, was convicted of first degree murder Wednesday by a jury in the 2013 death of 59-year-old Quincy resident Stephen Rakes. He was also sentenced to five to seven years on two counts of misleading a police officer to run concurrently and one year on the charge of improper disposal of human remains was placed on file. Prosecutors said Camuti, who owed Rakes $100,000, invited Rakes to talk about his debt over coffee at a McDonald's in Waltham, where Camuti laced his victim's coffee with cyanide. Investigators say they discovered Camuti searched online how to buy cyanide and whether coffee would taste different "if it is mixed with sodium or potassium cyanide." The victim's body was found in the woods in Lincoln by a jogger the day after he died. Rakes' passing happened during Bulger's high-profile federal trial, which Rakes, who claimed Bulger stole his South Boston liquor store during the height of the mob boss' reign of terror, attended every day before he died. He had hoped to testify in Bulger's trial, but wasn't called by federal prosecutors. Bulger is currently serving two life terms. The legal fight between Apple and Qualcomm on licensing modem technology is turning uglier every day. Apple has filed lawsuits against Qualcomm in countries like the U.S., U.K., China and Japan, accusing the chipmaker of using its dominant market position to overcharge licensing fees. The iPhone maker itself doesn't pay licensing fees directly to Qualcomm. The fees are paid by partners like Foxconn, which makes the iPhone and iPad for Apple. Qualcomm is now accusing Apple of interfering with the licensing payments owed by those partners. Its revenue forecasts for the third quarter are affected, Qualcomm said. The chipmaker on Friday revised its revenue projections for the third fiscal quarter. It is projecting revenue to be between US$5.3 billion and $6.1 billion. That range runs between a decrease of 12 percent and an increase of 1 percent, compared to the same quarter last year. The forecast removes royalty revenues from Apple's contract manufacturers. In a second quarter earnings call, Qualcomm president Derek Aberle said the company's third quarter would be hurt by lower licensing revenue from Apple's partners, but he couldn't pinpoint an exact amount. Apple is a big customer of the chipmaker. In the most recent quarter, Apple suppliers underpaid royalties to the tune of $1 billion, Qualcomm said. But the chipmaker didn't take a loss those underpayments because the amount was similar to a sum held up by Qualcomm but owed to Apple in a separate agreement. Apple in January filed a $1 billion lawsuit against Qualcomm in a California court, claiming the chipmaker was overcharging for royalties. Apple said Qualcomm was charging royalties for a portfolio of technologies, and not for the price of the baseband chip used in mobile devices. Qualcomm countersued Apple earlier this month for breach of contract and failure to negotiate licensing terms in good faith. The Apple's lawsuit came after an investigation by the South Korean government resulted in Qualcomm being fined $853 million for unfair licensing practices. Qualcomm accused Apple of cooperating with the South Korean government in its investigation. Apple is one of Qualcomm's largest customers, with the chipmaker's modems used in iPhones. A small number of iPhones have Intel's modems. Intel is now ramping up its modem product and is making a run at 5G radios, and Apple could move more of its iPhones and iPads away from Qualcomm's modems. For now, Qualcomm has a lead in modem technology and was the first vendor to offer gigabit modems. Qualcomm has also said outside of the lawsuits, it will continue to maintain a strong supplier relationship with Apple. Samsung continued making chips for Apple's iPhones even though the companies were previously embroiled in lawsuits. To most people, Jeff Bezos Amazon is known as the company reshaping the way people buy everything from books to shoes to groceries. But the part of Amazon that is driving Bezos within shouting distance of becoming the worlds richest person doesnt really sell anything, it rents computing power in the cloud. The cloud is more profitable than e-tailing As the New York Times put it on Thursday, The profit Amazon can make on cloud-computing services is significantly bigger than in its retail sales, and that has helped turn the Seattle company from a consistent money-loser to a respectable moneymaker. And that, as Boomberg noted, sparked a jump in Amazons stock price in after-hours trading that added more than $3 billion to Bezos nest egg, topping $80 billion for the first time and putting him within $5 billion of becoming the worlds richest person. The first quarter numbers tell the tale. Amazon Web Services (AWS) booked a whopping $890 million in operating income in the period ending March 31, accounting for most of the companys profits: the company as a whole recorded just $1.01 billion in net income. AWS revenue grew 43 percent, which is amazingly not quite as fast as previous quarters, to hit $3.66 billion. But even with the remarkable growth, competition and price cuts, AWSs net profit margin topped 24 percent, higher than in Q1 2016. Put it all together and AWS delivered almost 90 percent of the companys profits. Thats a really big deal, for reasons Ill discuss later in this post. The big three all made big bucks in the cloud Microsoft and Google s parent company Alphabet also recorded strong first-quarter cloud numbers, though apples-to-apples comparisons are difficult because the companies dont break out their results in the same ways. For example, number-two cloud player Microsoft said its Azure cloud hosting business grew 93 percent year over year. Thats more than twice as fast as AWS, but its hard to tell exactly what that means because Microsoft didnt reveal the actual numbers. Similarly, Microsofts Office 365 productivity software as a service business grew 45 percent, but to what level the company isnt saying. (In contrast to Bezos, Bill Gates fortune actually slipped, as Microsofts mixed overall results drove down the companys stock in after hours trading.) Alphabet, unfortunately, also does not break out it cloud revenues, lumping them into a category called Google other revenues, which was up 49 percent since the same period last year. In the companys earnings call with analysts, Ruth Porat, Alphabets chief financial officer, reportedly described the Google cloud platform as one the companys fastest-growing businesses, though most observers peg it as a distant third in the cloud hierarchy. (Google co-founders Sergei Brin and Larry Page did get richer, though, as the company stock was buoyed by strong mobile ad sales.) Cloud growthand profits, too! Its frustrating for cloudwatchers that the number two and three players in this all-important industry dont share more financial information, but no amount of financial fog can obscure the continued and phenomenal rise of cloud computing. Still, unlike many other hot internet sectorsthink ride sharing, for examplethe clouds growth isnt being fueled by speculative venture capital investment. The cloud is actually earning big bucks even as it experiences hypergrowth. Now thats a real unicorn. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday inked an MoU with Kia Motors Corp., a unit of South Korean automobile firm Hyundai Motor Co., under which the latter will build a manufacturing facility, its first in India, at Erramanchi in Anantapur district with an investment of $1.1 billion (approximately Rs 7,050 crore) As per the MoU signed by Han-Woo Park, Kia president, and Solomon Arokiaraj, State industries department secretary, in the presence of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the interim Secretariat near here in Velagapudi, Kia will manufacture compact Sedans and SUVs, marking its entry into the lucrative Indian automobile market. The Erramanchi unit will incorporate the facilities for stamping, welding, painting and assembly. Besides an advanced training centre, Kia Motors will also establish a township for its employees. The project is expected to generate employment for over 11,000 people, both permanent and temporary. The project is likely to take off in the last quarter of 2017 and is expected to roll out the first batch of cars in the second half of 2019, to eventually produce up to 300,000 units each year. I am very happy that Kia Motors has selected Andhra Pradesh to set up their new plant, Naidu said at a press conference, adding that he had persuaded the company to push the deadline for trial production from June 2019 to December 2018. Naidu said he wanted at least 2 lakh jobs to be created in the automobile and auto components sector in AP by 2020. The government believes that with the presence of Kia Motors and its ancillaries, the entire region from Anantapur towards Bengaluru will be developed into a strong economic hub. Besides, the project could have a spin-off effect on industrial development and employment in backward areas within Andhra Pradesh. Naidu said he would personally monitor the progress of the project every fourth Monday and appointed the District Collector of Anantapur as the nodal officer for this project. VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday inked an MoU with Kia Motors Corp., a unit of South Korean automobile firm Hyundai Motor Co., under which the latter will build a manufacturing facility, its first in India, at Erramanchi in Anantapur district with an investment of $1.1 billion (approximately Rs 7,050 crore) As per the MoU signed by Han-Woo Park, Kia president, and Solomon Arokiaraj, State industries department secretary, in the presence of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the interim Secretariat near here in Velagapudi, Kia will manufacture compact Sedans and SUVs, marking its entry into the lucrative Indian automobile market. The Erramanchi unit will incorporate the facilities for stamping, welding, painting and assembly. Besides an advanced training centre, Kia Motors will also establish a township for its employees. The project is expected to generate employment for over 11,000 people, both permanent and temporary. The project is likely to take off in the last quarter of 2017 and is expected to roll out the first batch of cars in the second half of 2019, to eventually produce up to 300,000 units each year. I am very happy that Kia Motors has selected Andhra Pradesh to set up their new plant, Naidu said at a press conference, adding that he had persuaded the company to push the deadline for trial production from June 2019 to December 2018. Naidu said he wanted at least 2 lakh jobs to be created in the automobile and auto components sector in AP by 2020. The government believes that with the presence of Kia Motors and its ancillaries, the entire region from Anantapur towards Bengaluru will be developed into a strong economic hub. Besides, the project could have a spin-off effect on industrial development and employment in backward areas within Andhra Pradesh. Naidu said he would personally monitor the progress of the project every fourth Monday and appointed the District Collector of Anantapur as the nodal officer for this project. By PTI NEW DELHI: The CBI has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for providing credible information about an absconder Mushtaq Ahmed, one of the main accused in the 1993 blast at RSS office in Chennai which killed 11 people. 56-year old Ahmed, who allegedly procured the explosive material for assembling the bomb and provided shelter to other accused, has eluded the CBI dragnet for the last 24 years. The agency's hunt for Ahmed has gathered steam now even though a TADA court in Chennai had convicted 11 persons and awarded life term to three of them in the case in 2007 after a 12-year trial. Ahmed did not face trial as he could not be arrested. CBI sources said the agency has now announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh to anyone who would provide credible information about the whereabouts of Ahmed which may lead to his arrest. The blast on August 8, 1993 was triggered using RDX which brought down the multi-storeyed RSS office at Chetput in Chennai, claiming 11 lives. The agency was entrusted with the probe in 1993 and it filed charge sheet against 18 persons under the stringent provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act and Terrorist and Detructive Activities Act (TADA). After the trial in 2007, the special court had acquitted four persons, including SA Basha, founder of the banned Al Umma for lack of evidence against them. Immam Ali, a suspected ISI agent who had escaped from custody in Madurai, was gunned down in Bangalore in an encounter with the police on September 29, 2002, while another accused-- Jihad Committee Founder Palani Baba-- was hacked to death by suspected RSS sympathisers on January 28, 1997. Of the 431 witnesses, 224 were examined during the course of the trial which commenced on August 7, 1995. The charge sheet was filed on June 8, 1994. NEW DELHI: The CBI has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for providing credible information about an absconder Mushtaq Ahmed, one of the main accused in the 1993 blast at RSS office in Chennai which killed 11 people. 56-year old Ahmed, who allegedly procured the explosive material for assembling the bomb and provided shelter to other accused, has eluded the CBI dragnet for the last 24 years. The agency's hunt for Ahmed has gathered steam now even though a TADA court in Chennai had convicted 11 persons and awarded life term to three of them in the case in 2007 after a 12-year trial. Ahmed did not face trial as he could not be arrested. CBI sources said the agency has now announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh to anyone who would provide credible information about the whereabouts of Ahmed which may lead to his arrest. The blast on August 8, 1993 was triggered using RDX which brought down the multi-storeyed RSS office at Chetput in Chennai, claiming 11 lives. The agency was entrusted with the probe in 1993 and it filed charge sheet against 18 persons under the stringent provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act and Terrorist and Detructive Activities Act (TADA). After the trial in 2007, the special court had acquitted four persons, including SA Basha, founder of the banned Al Umma for lack of evidence against them. Immam Ali, a suspected ISI agent who had escaped from custody in Madurai, was gunned down in Bangalore in an encounter with the police on September 29, 2002, while another accused-- Jihad Committee Founder Palani Baba-- was hacked to death by suspected RSS sympathisers on January 28, 1997. Of the 431 witnesses, 224 were examined during the course of the trial which commenced on August 7, 1995. The charge sheet was filed on June 8, 1994. By Express News Service CHENNAI: A division Bench of the Madras High Court has asked the counsel for the Enforcement Directorate and the Additional Solicitor General of India to ascertain from the Supreme Court as to whether it has the jurisdiction to hear the appeals challenging the cases relating to 2G spectrum cases. The second Bench of Justices Huluvadi G Ramesh and RMT Teeka Raman gave the directive when a batch of writ appeals from Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited and others and writ petitions, challenging various summons issued under Section 37 of FEMA by the ED and the search operations conducted by its authorities came up before it, on Thursday. The directive followed the contention of the counsel for appellants and petitioners that a special judge for 2G spectrum allocation cases in New Delhi, by an order dated February 2 last, had discharged the accused in Aircel-Maxis case while quashing the FIR filed by the ED. Therefore, this court has jurisdiction over the matters relating to 2G spectrum and that the writ appeals and petitions can be entertained, they argued. In view of the matter, the Bench directed Anand Grover, special public prosecutor for ED and G Rajagopalan, ASG to seek necessary clarifications from the apex court as to the jurisdiction of this court to entertain the writ appeals and proceed in the matter in the court by the next date of hearing, that is, on June 5. CHENNAI: A division Bench of the Madras High Court has asked the counsel for the Enforcement Directorate and the Additional Solicitor General of India to ascertain from the Supreme Court as to whether it has the jurisdiction to hear the appeals challenging the cases relating to 2G spectrum cases. The second Bench of Justices Huluvadi G Ramesh and RMT Teeka Raman gave the directive when a batch of writ appeals from Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited and others and writ petitions, challenging various summons issued under Section 37 of FEMA by the ED and the search operations conducted by its authorities came up before it, on Thursday. The directive followed the contention of the counsel for appellants and petitioners that a special judge for 2G spectrum allocation cases in New Delhi, by an order dated February 2 last, had discharged the accused in Aircel-Maxis case while quashing the FIR filed by the ED. Therefore, this court has jurisdiction over the matters relating to 2G spectrum and that the writ appeals and petitions can be entertained, they argued. In view of the matter, the Bench directed Anand Grover, special public prosecutor for ED and G Rajagopalan, ASG to seek necessary clarifications from the apex court as to the jurisdiction of this court to entertain the writ appeals and proceed in the matter in the court by the next date of hearing, that is, on June 5. C Shivakumar By Express News Service CHENNAI: North Chennai is facing a blackout risk as grid security is threatened due to chemical pollution and garbage along power transmission lines, according to top electricity board officials. The blackout of north Chennai and certain parts of central Chennai on Wednesday around 9:43 pm was due to tripping of six 400 KV feeder lines and eight 230 KV feeder lines from north Chennai generating station due to chemical pollution, gusty winds, saline deposition, resulting in loss of generation, explained an official with Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation. The impact was such that Kilpauk, Tondiarpet, Manali, Basin Bridge, Ennore, Korattur, Mylapore, Vyasarpadi, Sembium, Athipattu, Elephant Gate, Kathputli Desalination Plant, Royapuram were blacked out. Officials said the issue is garbage dumped along transmission lines in Burma Colony and Kargil Nagar behind Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited. Garbage nearly submerges the transmission lines and poses a big threat to grid security, the official warned. Last year, we faced a similar problem and Chennai Corporation immediately swung into action and cleared the garbage. This year again we are facing the same problem and we will now be asking Chennai Corporation to take immediate measures to clear it. A permanent solution is required, the official added. Transmission lines are engulfed by dust particles from cement industry as well as from Chennai Petroleum Corporation. It gets accumulated on the insulators of the 230 KV high-tension power lines that are transmitting electricity between the North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) and Tondiarpet distribution station. When moist wind breezes past the transmission line, it bursts, the official said. The power cut also happened in the wake of the Vallur Thermal Power Station, a joint venture with Tangedco, cutting off 1,000 MW of power to Tamil Nadu. It has three units of 500 MW each and States share is 1,065 MW. We are not facing any power crisis. The demand is not that high. We are also releasing wind energy into the grid now, the official said. We never had any power issues in the State except during Cyclone Vardah which is a natural disaster. Tripping is a man-made disaster. We hope the pollution control board springs into action and reduces pollution, the official said. CHENNAI: North Chennai is facing a blackout risk as grid security is threatened due to chemical pollution and garbage along power transmission lines, according to top electricity board officials. The blackout of north Chennai and certain parts of central Chennai on Wednesday around 9:43 pm was due to tripping of six 400 KV feeder lines and eight 230 KV feeder lines from north Chennai generating station due to chemical pollution, gusty winds, saline deposition, resulting in loss of generation, explained an official with Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation. The impact was such that Kilpauk, Tondiarpet, Manali, Basin Bridge, Ennore, Korattur, Mylapore, Vyasarpadi, Sembium, Athipattu, Elephant Gate, Kathputli Desalination Plant, Royapuram were blacked out. Officials said the issue is garbage dumped along transmission lines in Burma Colony and Kargil Nagar behind Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited. Garbage nearly submerges the transmission lines and poses a big threat to grid security, the official warned. Last year, we faced a similar problem and Chennai Corporation immediately swung into action and cleared the garbage. This year again we are facing the same problem and we will now be asking Chennai Corporation to take immediate measures to clear it. A permanent solution is required, the official added. Transmission lines are engulfed by dust particles from cement industry as well as from Chennai Petroleum Corporation. It gets accumulated on the insulators of the 230 KV high-tension power lines that are transmitting electricity between the North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) and Tondiarpet distribution station. When moist wind breezes past the transmission line, it bursts, the official said. The power cut also happened in the wake of the Vallur Thermal Power Station, a joint venture with Tangedco, cutting off 1,000 MW of power to Tamil Nadu. It has three units of 500 MW each and States share is 1,065 MW. We are not facing any power crisis. The demand is not that high. We are also releasing wind energy into the grid now, the official said. We never had any power issues in the State except during Cyclone Vardah which is a natural disaster. Tripping is a man-made disaster. We hope the pollution control board springs into action and reduces pollution, the official said. By PTI MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has asked police to record the statement of a city resident who had alleged that self-styled godwoman Sukhwinder Kaur alias Radhe Maa had instigated her in-laws to harass her for dowry. Justice Sadhana Jadhav gave this direction to the Borivali police here while recently hearing an application filed by Niki Gupta pleading that she may be allowed to assist the police in conducting further probe on the basis of her statement. The high court asked the Borivali police to record Gupta's statement and, if necessary, take further action as per law. The complainant's case is that police had dropped the name of Radhe Maa from the list of accused on the ground that there was no evidence against her, and she (Gupta) was not informed about it. Gupta pleaded that police should record her statement and conduct further investigation. "If evidence is found then action may be taken against Radhe Maa," the complainant prayed. Gupta said the police did not inform her about dropping the charges against Radhe Maa and also did not file a report on the issue before a magistrate. Hence, she did not get a chance to assist police in the investigation. The high court was of the view that the complainant has a right to seek further investigation if he or she is not satisfied with the probe. The police can conduct further probe under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) even though charges have been dropped against accused, the judge ruled while asking the police to record the statement of the complainant. "She (Gupta) is permitted to demonstrate as to what are the lacunae in the earlier investigation and that the chargesheet is not filed in persuasion to allegations made by her," Justice Jadhav said. Gupta had earlier filed an application making a similar plea before a magistrate. However, the magistrate sought the say of the accused while deciding her application. The high court opined that the lower court had erred in seeking the say of the accused because an accused has no locus standi in the investigations. Hence, the judge asked the Borivali police to record the statement of the complainant and take action as per law, if required. MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has asked police to record the statement of a city resident who had alleged that self-styled godwoman Sukhwinder Kaur alias Radhe Maa had instigated her in-laws to harass her for dowry. Justice Sadhana Jadhav gave this direction to the Borivali police here while recently hearing an application filed by Niki Gupta pleading that she may be allowed to assist the police in conducting further probe on the basis of her statement. The high court asked the Borivali police to record Gupta's statement and, if necessary, take further action as per law. The complainant's case is that police had dropped the name of Radhe Maa from the list of accused on the ground that there was no evidence against her, and she (Gupta) was not informed about it. Gupta pleaded that police should record her statement and conduct further investigation. "If evidence is found then action may be taken against Radhe Maa," the complainant prayed. Gupta said the police did not inform her about dropping the charges against Radhe Maa and also did not file a report on the issue before a magistrate. Hence, she did not get a chance to assist police in the investigation. The high court was of the view that the complainant has a right to seek further investigation if he or she is not satisfied with the probe. The police can conduct further probe under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) even though charges have been dropped against accused, the judge ruled while asking the police to record the statement of the complainant. "She (Gupta) is permitted to demonstrate as to what are the lacunae in the earlier investigation and that the chargesheet is not filed in persuasion to allegations made by her," Justice Jadhav said. Gupta had earlier filed an application making a similar plea before a magistrate. However, the magistrate sought the say of the accused while deciding her application. The high court opined that the lower court had erred in seeking the say of the accused because an accused has no locus standi in the investigations. Hence, the judge asked the Borivali police to record the statement of the complainant and take action as per law, if required. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: In a huge relief to YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Special CBI Court on Friday dismissed the petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation seeking cancellation of bail granted to Jagan who was accused number one (A1) in the disproportionate assets case. Earlier, an interview of prime prosecution witness P Ramakanth Reddy, retired IAS officer and former chief secretary during YS Rajasekhara Reddy government, in Sakshi TV channel was heard by the court during the case hearing. The CBI counsel contended that the A1 consciously flouted the bail conditions laid down while enlarging him on bail in Sept 2013 after 16 months in prison. Telecasting the interview of the former chief secretary in the channel controlled by Jagan was with the sole motto to dissuade or otherwise influence the other witnesses from testifying against him during the trial. The counsel alleged that the said interview was intended to scuttle the prosecution case against Jagan. On the other hand, Jagans counsel refuted the allegations levelled against his client by the CBI saying that he do not have any correlation directly or indirectly with the conduct of the subject interview. Saying that Jagan has compliantly abided by all the conditions from the time he has been released on bail, he urged the court to dismiss the CBI petition as the issues mentioned were imaginary and far from truth. Jagans counsel contended that Sakshi TV is not under the management of Jagati Publications as alleged by the CBI. Indira Television Private Limited is a corporate entity which has the exclusive rights and administrative control over Sakshi TV and that there is no direct or indirect management of the said company by Jagan. Agreeing with the submissions of the Jagans counsel, the Special Court refused to cancel the bail granted to Jagan. As for the plea of Jagan to visit New Zealand, the special court granted permission to him to visit the place with his family between May 15 and June 15. It may be recalled that the CBI had arrested Jagan in the disproportionate assets case on May 27, 2012 and filed 11 charge sheets against him and others in the case. It charged that various companies and individuals had made huge investments in the companies owned by Jagan as part of quid pro quo deal when his father YS Rajasekhara Reddy was the CM of the erstwhile united AP.The case was adjourned to June 9 for further hearing. HYDERABAD: In a huge relief to YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Special CBI Court on Friday dismissed the petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation seeking cancellation of bail granted to Jagan who was accused number one (A1) in the disproportionate assets case. Earlier, an interview of prime prosecution witness P Ramakanth Reddy, retired IAS officer and former chief secretary during YS Rajasekhara Reddy government, in Sakshi TV channel was heard by the court during the case hearing. The CBI counsel contended that the A1 consciously flouted the bail conditions laid down while enlarging him on bail in Sept 2013 after 16 months in prison. Telecasting the interview of the former chief secretary in the channel controlled by Jagan was with the sole motto to dissuade or otherwise influence the other witnesses from testifying against him during the trial. The counsel alleged that the said interview was intended to scuttle the prosecution case against Jagan. On the other hand, Jagans counsel refuted the allegations levelled against his client by the CBI saying that he do not have any correlation directly or indirectly with the conduct of the subject interview. Saying that Jagan has compliantly abided by all the conditions from the time he has been released on bail, he urged the court to dismiss the CBI petition as the issues mentioned were imaginary and far from truth. Jagans counsel contended that Sakshi TV is not under the management of Jagati Publications as alleged by the CBI. Indira Television Private Limited is a corporate entity which has the exclusive rights and administrative control over Sakshi TV and that there is no direct or indirect management of the said company by Jagan. Agreeing with the submissions of the Jagans counsel, the Special Court refused to cancel the bail granted to Jagan. As for the plea of Jagan to visit New Zealand, the special court granted permission to him to visit the place with his family between May 15 and June 15. It may be recalled that the CBI had arrested Jagan in the disproportionate assets case on May 27, 2012 and filed 11 charge sheets against him and others in the case. It charged that various companies and individuals had made huge investments in the companies owned by Jagan as part of quid pro quo deal when his father YS Rajasekhara Reddy was the CM of the erstwhile united AP.The case was adjourned to June 9 for further hearing. By Express News Service MUMBAI: Model Preeti Jain, who accused and filed a case of rape against filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar in 2004, was on Friday sentenced to three years in jail and fined Rs 10,000 by a city civil court here on Friday, for plotting to kill Bhandarkar. Two of Jains associates Naresh Pardeshi and Shivram Das were also sentenced to three years on charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting crime. The trio was, however, granted bail on cash surety of Rs 15,000. They have been given four weeks to file an appeal in the Bombay high court. The model-turned-actress who worked in low budget films, had lodged a complaint in 2004 alleging that the national award-winning filmmaker had raped her several times between 1999 and 2004 on the pretext of marrying her and casting her in his films. In September 2011, a Mumbai metropolitan court directed Madhur Bhandarkar, the director of movies like Page 3 and Fashion, to face trial in the case. Two months later, the director was granted anticipatory bail. The apex court bench of Justice HL Dattu and Justice CK Prasad quashed the charges in 2012 after it was reported that the actress was no longer interested in pursuing the matter. In September 2005, almost a year after she filed the complaint, Preeti Jain reportedly gave the contract to kill Madhur Bhandarkar to gangster Arun Gawlis aide Naresh Pardeshi. She allegedly paid Rs 75,000 for the job. However, Jain asked for a refund as the plan never materialised. The issue reached Gawli, who then sent his men to alert the police. After a week-long probe, police registered a case on September 10, 2005. Naresh Pardesi was arrested the same day and Preeti Jain was picked up while she was on her way to Versova police station. Police later arrested Pardeshis friend Shivram Das, who allegedly helped him arrange for weapons and shooters. Madhur Bhandarkar reacted to the verdict with a tweet, Some things are better left unsaid! Some things are better left as they are. Life moves on, so have I. MUMBAI: Model Preeti Jain, who accused and filed a case of rape against filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar in 2004, was on Friday sentenced to three years in jail and fined Rs 10,000 by a city civil court here on Friday, for plotting to kill Bhandarkar. Two of Jains associates Naresh Pardeshi and Shivram Das were also sentenced to three years on charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting crime. The trio was, however, granted bail on cash surety of Rs 15,000. They have been given four weeks to file an appeal in the Bombay high court. The model-turned-actress who worked in low budget films, had lodged a complaint in 2004 alleging that the national award-winning filmmaker had raped her several times between 1999 and 2004 on the pretext of marrying her and casting her in his films. In September 2011, a Mumbai metropolitan court directed Madhur Bhandarkar, the director of movies like Page 3 and Fashion, to face trial in the case. Two months later, the director was granted anticipatory bail. The apex court bench of Justice HL Dattu and Justice CK Prasad quashed the charges in 2012 after it was reported that the actress was no longer interested in pursuing the matter. In September 2005, almost a year after she filed the complaint, Preeti Jain reportedly gave the contract to kill Madhur Bhandarkar to gangster Arun Gawlis aide Naresh Pardeshi. She allegedly paid Rs 75,000 for the job. However, Jain asked for a refund as the plan never materialised. The issue reached Gawli, who then sent his men to alert the police. After a week-long probe, police registered a case on September 10, 2005. Naresh Pardesi was arrested the same day and Preeti Jain was picked up while she was on her way to Versova police station. Police later arrested Pardeshis friend Shivram Das, who allegedly helped him arrange for weapons and shooters. Madhur Bhandarkar reacted to the verdict with a tweet, Some things are better left unsaid! Some things are better left as they are. Life moves on, so have I. Sudhir Srinivasan By Express News Service CHENNAI: The Baahubali fever has the nation in a trance. Theatre sites are crashing, tickets are being sold at astronomical prices, corporate organisations are in a mad scramble to be the first to take their employees to the film As Ravi Shastri would say, Its all happening. Among those theatres whose sites crashed is Chennai-based Jazz Cinemas, the citys only IMAX theatre. But we realised it quite quickly and had the site running in no time, says Karthi Thirusangu, Head of Marketing and Sales, Jazz Cinemas. The theatre, is only playing the Telugu version, as theres no Tamil IMAX version. In Bengaluru, there is doubt over the implementation of a new rule concerning a cap on ticket prices, but it appears that it will come into force only next week. Single-screens and multiplexes in Bengaluru are cashing in on this delay, as tickets for the first two days are being sold for upwards of Rs 1,000. The situation in Hyderabad, however, seems starkly different, as one movie-goer revealed that tickets are sold as high as Rs 5,000. With corporates showing interest in bulk booking, it has become impossible for an average fan to book tickets online. Similar issues of unavailability plague Kerala too, even though a record-breaking 1,150 shows have been scheduled. The murder motive the nation awaited holding its breath for the last two years, will unfold today. Social media will go crazy over whether Kattappas reason to kill Baahubali is justifiable enough. With no ounce of patience left, it seems everyone around has been busy booking theatre tickets for the countrys biggest movie. Among those theatres whose sites crashed is Chennai-based Jazz Cinemas, the citys only IMAX theatre. But we realised it quite quickly and had the site running in no time, says Karthi Thirusangu, Head of Marketing and Sales, Jazz Cinemas. The theatre, interestingly, is only playing the Telugu version of the film, as theres no Tamil IMAX version. It has also resisted the temptation of allocating all its shows for the Rajamouli film (The Fate of the Furious has survived Baahubali) and Karthi says thats because we didnt want to let down distributors of other films. Bengaluru multiplexes havent been so kind to last weeks releases though, as all films, including Kannada ones have been ushered out. It is to be remembered that until actor Sathyaraj proffered his apology, the release of the film itself was in doubt in the State. The President of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, Sa Ra Govindu, however, is adamant that Kannada films will not suffer. We are doing our best to make sure that the Kannada films arent taken off. The only ones removed are those that havent been getting good collections, he says. There is also doubt over the implementation of a new rule in Bengaluru concerning a cap on ticket prices, but it appears that it will come into force only next week. The Principal Secretary Information Department, M Lakshminarayan, blames it on process delays. The file is stuck now with the Finance department. If it were with me, I would approve it immediately, he says. Theatres in Bengaluru are cashing in on this delay, as tickets for the first two days are being sold for upwards of Rs 1,000. N R Sudhir, a Karnataka distributor, doesnt read much into it. Its just the first-day craze, he says. By the third day, normal prices will kick in. On the eve of the films release, all tickets for the 148 shows in the city were reportedly sold out. The ground situation in Hyderabad, however, seems starkly different, as one movie-goer under condition of anonymity revealed that tickets are selling for as high as Rs 5,000. With corporate organisations like KIMS Hospital wanting bulk booking, it has become impossible for an average fan to book tickets online. Issues of unavailability plague Kerala too, even though a record-breaking 1,150 shows across almost 300 screens are scheduled. Baahubali is also a phenomenon in interior cities. Impala Multiplex in Madurai has upgraded its theatre to Dolby Atmos sound system, and the latest 4K Sony Technology to prepare for Rajamoulis film. Baahubali is a story about kings, says Mani Varma, the owner of the multiplex. Its a perfect film for a city like Madurai which is steeped in such history. CHENNAI: The Baahubali fever has the nation in a trance. Theatre sites are crashing, tickets are being sold at astronomical prices, corporate organisations are in a mad scramble to be the first to take their employees to the film As Ravi Shastri would say, Its all happening. Among those theatres whose sites crashed is Chennai-based Jazz Cinemas, the citys only IMAX theatre. But we realised it quite quickly and had the site running in no time, says Karthi Thirusangu, Head of Marketing and Sales, Jazz Cinemas. The theatre, is only playing the Telugu version, as theres no Tamil IMAX version. In Bengaluru, there is doubt over the implementation of a new rule concerning a cap on ticket prices, but it appears that it will come into force only next week. Single-screens and multiplexes in Bengaluru are cashing in on this delay, as tickets for the first two days are being sold for upwards of Rs 1,000. The situation in Hyderabad, however, seems starkly different, as one movie-goer revealed that tickets are sold as high as Rs 5,000. With corporates showing interest in bulk booking, it has become impossible for an average fan to book tickets online. Similar issues of unavailability plague Kerala too, even though a record-breaking 1,150 shows have been scheduled. The murder motive the nation awaited holding its breath for the last two years, will unfold today. Social media will go crazy over whether Kattappas reason to kill Baahubali is justifiable enough. With no ounce of patience left, it seems everyone around has been busy booking theatre tickets for the countrys biggest movie. Among those theatres whose sites crashed is Chennai-based Jazz Cinemas, the citys only IMAX theatre. But we realised it quite quickly and had the site running in no time, says Karthi Thirusangu, Head of Marketing and Sales, Jazz Cinemas. The theatre, interestingly, is only playing the Telugu version of the film, as theres no Tamil IMAX version. It has also resisted the temptation of allocating all its shows for the Rajamouli film (The Fate of the Furious has survived Baahubali) and Karthi says thats because we didnt want to let down distributors of other films. Bengaluru multiplexes havent been so kind to last weeks releases though, as all films, including Kannada ones have been ushered out. It is to be remembered that until actor Sathyaraj proffered his apology, the release of the film itself was in doubt in the State. The President of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, Sa Ra Govindu, however, is adamant that Kannada films will not suffer. We are doing our best to make sure that the Kannada films arent taken off. The only ones removed are those that havent been getting good collections, he says. There is also doubt over the implementation of a new rule in Bengaluru concerning a cap on ticket prices, but it appears that it will come into force only next week. The Principal Secretary Information Department, M Lakshminarayan, blames it on process delays. The file is stuck now with the Finance department. If it were with me, I would approve it immediately, he says. Theatres in Bengaluru are cashing in on this delay, as tickets for the first two days are being sold for upwards of Rs 1,000. N R Sudhir, a Karnataka distributor, doesnt read much into it. Its just the first-day craze, he says. By the third day, normal prices will kick in. On the eve of the films release, all tickets for the 148 shows in the city were reportedly sold out. The ground situation in Hyderabad, however, seems starkly different, as one movie-goer under condition of anonymity revealed that tickets are selling for as high as Rs 5,000. With corporate organisations like KIMS Hospital wanting bulk booking, it has become impossible for an average fan to book tickets online. Issues of unavailability plague Kerala too, even though a record-breaking 1,150 shows across almost 300 screens are scheduled. Baahubali is also a phenomenon in interior cities. Impala Multiplex in Madurai has upgraded its theatre to Dolby Atmos sound system, and the latest 4K Sony Technology to prepare for Rajamoulis film. Baahubali is a story about kings, says Mani Varma, the owner of the multiplex. Its a perfect film for a city like Madurai which is steeped in such history. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: The fuel mafia in Uttar Pradesh (UP) have hit the headlines again as they have discovered a new and hi-tech way of duping gullible customers. In a late night swoop on petrol pump stations across the State capital, UP special task force (STF) caught eight owners using an electronic chip which fetched them profits worth lakhs per month in the State. The STF, as a result, seized all the eight petrol pump stations and arrested 23 persons while action on others continued on Friday. Union petroleum minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, on Friday congratulated the team of UP-STF by tweeting, "Congratulations to UP STF for unearthing the racket involved in short delivery of fuel at Petrol Pumps. Appreciate the good work of @UP govt." It is a state-wide racket of petrol pump owners. We have already seized eight petrol pumps in the State capital and raids are still going on. It is a case of hi-tech theft, said ASP STF Arvind Chaturvedi. Elaborating further, Chaturvedi said the fuel station owners were found to use a chip in their dispensing system which reduced the output of the machine by 6%. Following a tip-off by an informer, the STF tracked a person called Ravinder, a Lucknow-based electrician who devised the chip and used to sell it for Rs 3000. According to the STF, Ravinder had admitted to have sold the chip to over 1000 petrol pump owners across UP, who were now on the STFs radar. Based on leads given by Ravinder, eight stations were identified across Lucknow. Chips and remote were recovered from the managers. The remote control is used to set the limit. On asking for one litre petrol, the customer will actually receive only 940 ml if the dispensing machine is fitted with this chip. So, 60 ml is saved for the pump owner, explained an STF member. According to SSP (STF), other pumps would also be raided. On an average, petrol pumps using this device were earning an undue profit Rs 14 -15 lakh per month, he added. However, the administration is contemplating on booking the errant petrol pump owners on charges of loot and robbery. LUCKNOW: The fuel mafia in Uttar Pradesh (UP) have hit the headlines again as they have discovered a new and hi-tech way of duping gullible customers. In a late night swoop on petrol pump stations across the State capital, UP special task force (STF) caught eight owners using an electronic chip which fetched them profits worth lakhs per month in the State. The STF, as a result, seized all the eight petrol pump stations and arrested 23 persons while action on others continued on Friday. Union petroleum minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, on Friday congratulated the team of UP-STF by tweeting, "Congratulations to UP STF for unearthing the racket involved in short delivery of fuel at Petrol Pumps. Appreciate the good work of @UP govt." It is a state-wide racket of petrol pump owners. We have already seized eight petrol pumps in the State capital and raids are still going on. It is a case of hi-tech theft, said ASP STF Arvind Chaturvedi. Elaborating further, Chaturvedi said the fuel station owners were found to use a chip in their dispensing system which reduced the output of the machine by 6%. Following a tip-off by an informer, the STF tracked a person called Ravinder, a Lucknow-based electrician who devised the chip and used to sell it for Rs 3000. According to the STF, Ravinder had admitted to have sold the chip to over 1000 petrol pump owners across UP, who were now on the STFs radar. Based on leads given by Ravinder, eight stations were identified across Lucknow. Chips and remote were recovered from the managers. The remote control is used to set the limit. On asking for one litre petrol, the customer will actually receive only 940 ml if the dispensing machine is fitted with this chip. So, 60 ml is saved for the pump owner, explained an STF member. According to SSP (STF), other pumps would also be raided. On an average, petrol pumps using this device were earning an undue profit Rs 14 -15 lakh per month, he added. However, the administration is contemplating on booking the errant petrol pump owners on charges of loot and robbery. Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: At a meeting to review various urban development schemes in Haryana, Union Minister for Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu said here on Friday that 8.97 lakh applications had been received so far across the country under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). Naidu said he requested the Haryana government to submit the list of beneficiaries under the scheme by July this year and to submit the Housing for All Plan of Action by August, 2018. The state also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of houses in towns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that beneficiaries of the scheme would be provided interest subvention at the rate of 6.5 per cent for a loan amount of up to Rs 6 lakh, four per cent for a loan amount of Rs 12 lakh, and three per cent for loan amount of Rs 18 lakh. Naidu said the central government would provide all technical support to Haryana for developing Gurugram as a Smart City, whereas the funding would be made by the state government. The Smart City proposal for Karnal would be evaluated as part of the Round 3 of City Challenge. Faridabad has set up Special Purpose Vehicle for implementation of the Smart City Mission. Naidu urged the Opposition not to create hindrances in the development process, and play a constructive role to ensure overall growth and development of the country. The mood of the nation is to go with Modi. Responding to the Prime Ministers call, as many as 1.4 crore people have given up their LPG subsidy to benefit the poor, Naidu said. Speaking on the allegations by Opposition parties that EVMs were tampered during elections, Naidu said that those party leaders should not forget that they also won 67 seats in the Assembly elections with same EVMs. He urged them to desist from spreading false propaganda on this issue. CHANDIGARH: At a meeting to review various urban development schemes in Haryana, Union Minister for Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu said here on Friday that 8.97 lakh applications had been received so far across the country under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). Naidu said he requested the Haryana government to submit the list of beneficiaries under the scheme by July this year and to submit the Housing for All Plan of Action by August, 2018. The state also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of houses in towns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that beneficiaries of the scheme would be provided interest subvention at the rate of 6.5 per cent for a loan amount of up to Rs 6 lakh, four per cent for a loan amount of Rs 12 lakh, and three per cent for loan amount of Rs 18 lakh. Naidu said the central government would provide all technical support to Haryana for developing Gurugram as a Smart City, whereas the funding would be made by the state government. The Smart City proposal for Karnal would be evaluated as part of the Round 3 of City Challenge. Faridabad has set up Special Purpose Vehicle for implementation of the Smart City Mission. Naidu urged the Opposition not to create hindrances in the development process, and play a constructive role to ensure overall growth and development of the country. The mood of the nation is to go with Modi. Responding to the Prime Ministers call, as many as 1.4 crore people have given up their LPG subsidy to benefit the poor, Naidu said. Speaking on the allegations by Opposition parties that EVMs were tampered during elections, Naidu said that those party leaders should not forget that they also won 67 seats in the Assembly elections with same EVMs. He urged them to desist from spreading false propaganda on this issue. By Online Desk The Bombay High Court recently set a precedent after it served a summon via WhatsApp. Justice Gautam Patel of Bombay High Court opted for the innovative method after one of the defendants in a copyright infringement case was being particularly evasive. In an article published in Bar & Bench, it was mentioned that the defendants involved in the case are the producers of the Kannada movie 'Pushpaka Vimana', that was released earlier this year. A case of copyright infringement suit was filed against the producers. After repeated failed attempts to serve the summons on them, the judicial team found out the contact number of the producers and verified it via the app Truecaller and then sent the summons through WhatsApp. The defendants reportedly replied to the summon, "I dint understand anything. Will check with my legal team and Ill text you back. I am out of station." The summons were then also sent through emails. A lawyer practising with the Bombay High Court, confirmed that the summons were in fact sent through WhatsApp and added that this might be the first such instance in the judicial history of the country. Other than the summons being served in person, they are also served through post and email. Justice Patel noted in his order dated March 23, I do not see what more can be done for the purposes of this Motion. It cannot be that our rules and procedure are either so ancient or so rigid (or both) that without some antiquated formal service mode through a bailiff or even by beat of drum or pattaki, a party cannot be said to have been properly served. The purpose of service is put the other party to notice and to give him a copy of the papers. The mode is surely irrelevant. We have not formally approved of email and other modes as acceptable simply because there are inherent limitation to proving service. Where an alternative mode is used, however, and service is shown to be effected, and is acknowledged, then surely it cannot be suggested that the Defendants had no notice Defendants who avoid and evade service by regular modes cannot be permitted to take advantage of that evasion. If Vikhyat and Krishna (the producers) believe they can resort to these tactics to avoid service, they are wrong. They may succeed in avoiding a bailiff. They may be able to avoid a courier or a postman. They have reckoned without the invasiveness of information technology. Vikhyat in particular does not seem to have cottoned on to the fact that when somebody calls him and he responds, details can be obtained from in-phone apps and services, and these are very hard to either obscure or disguise. The Bombay High Court recently set a precedent after it served a summon via WhatsApp. Justice Gautam Patel of Bombay High Court opted for the innovative method after one of the defendants in a copyright infringement case was being particularly evasive. In an article published in Bar & Bench, it was mentioned that the defendants involved in the case are the producers of the Kannada movie 'Pushpaka Vimana', that was released earlier this year. A case of copyright infringement suit was filed against the producers. After repeated failed attempts to serve the summons on them, the judicial team found out the contact number of the producers and verified it via the app Truecaller and then sent the summons through WhatsApp. The defendants reportedly replied to the summon, "I dint understand anything. Will check with my legal team and Ill text you back. I am out of station." The summons were then also sent through emails. A lawyer practising with the Bombay High Court, confirmed that the summons were in fact sent through WhatsApp and added that this might be the first such instance in the judicial history of the country. Other than the summons being served in person, they are also served through post and email. Justice Patel noted in his order dated March 23, I do not see what more can be done for the purposes of this Motion. It cannot be that our rules and procedure are either so ancient or so rigid (or both) that without some antiquated formal service mode through a bailiff or even by beat of drum or pattaki, a party cannot be said to have been properly served. The purpose of service is put the other party to notice and to give him a copy of the papers. The mode is surely irrelevant. We have not formally approved of email and other modes as acceptable simply because there are inherent limitation to proving service. Where an alternative mode is used, however, and service is shown to be effected, and is acknowledged, then surely it cannot be suggested that the Defendants had no notice Defendants who avoid and evade service by regular modes cannot be permitted to take advantage of that evasion. If Vikhyat and Krishna (the producers) believe they can resort to these tactics to avoid service, they are wrong. They may succeed in avoiding a bailiff. They may be able to avoid a courier or a postman. They have reckoned without the invasiveness of information technology. Vikhyat in particular does not seem to have cottoned on to the fact that when somebody calls him and he responds, details can be obtained from in-phone apps and services, and these are very hard to either obscure or disguise. By ANI KANPUR: 24-year-old Captain Ayush was among the three Army personnel killed in the deadly terror attack on an Army camp in Kupwara yesterday, and the news has left the young officers family devastated and bereft of all hope. Trying to hold back tears while speaking to the media here, the slain officers father recalled how he sensed something was not right when he saw the news about the attack on Thursday morning. I was watching the news and doubts started creeping in my mind when I heard that an officer was also killed and that his rank was captain from the Artillery. Then I got a phone call from an officer informing me about Ayush and that was that, he said. Appearing to be in visible pain, he went on to say that his sons time had come too soon, and that he was too young to die. He also recalled happy moments with his son, especially when they would talk about his marriage. I used to joke to him about his wedding and tell him that we should start looking for girls for him. But he would push the matter away saying he was too young. Nevertheless I would push him saying I want to see him settle before I retire from police force, his added. Ayush was more close to his mother, his father said, adding that she had spoken to him the night before the attack, and that he never picked up the phone again when she called on Thursday. Government needs to do something about its policy or else our boys will keep dying like this. But honestly, I have nothing to say to the government nor do I have any hope from them, he added dejectedly. Captain Ayush Yadav, Subedar Bhoop Singh Gujjar and Naik B Venkata Ramanna were killed in the attack on the Army camp yesterday. Condemning the Kupwara attack, deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Nirmal Singh assured that India would give a befitting reply to 'desperate' Pakistan for trying to ruin the atmosphere in the Valley. "We condemn this strongly. We pay our tributes to the jawans. Pakistan is trying to mess the situation as much as possible, but that would not be possible. Our jawans are doing their best and will not let them be successful. Their actions will be answered," Singh told ANI. Dubbing it as a coward action, Singh said that Pakistan is desperate to create problems in Kashmir and warned it of severe action. "Pakistan is going to suffer. We are going to reply in the same way. The Union government is well prepared," he added. Two terrorists were also neutralised in the attack. KANPUR: 24-year-old Captain Ayush was among the three Army personnel killed in the deadly terror attack on an Army camp in Kupwara yesterday, and the news has left the young officers family devastated and bereft of all hope. Trying to hold back tears while speaking to the media here, the slain officers father recalled how he sensed something was not right when he saw the news about the attack on Thursday morning. I was watching the news and doubts started creeping in my mind when I heard that an officer was also killed and that his rank was captain from the Artillery. Then I got a phone call from an officer informing me about Ayush and that was that, he said. Appearing to be in visible pain, he went on to say that his sons time had come too soon, and that he was too young to die. He also recalled happy moments with his son, especially when they would talk about his marriage. I used to joke to him about his wedding and tell him that we should start looking for girls for him. But he would push the matter away saying he was too young. Nevertheless I would push him saying I want to see him settle before I retire from police force, his added. Ayush was more close to his mother, his father said, adding that she had spoken to him the night before the attack, and that he never picked up the phone again when she called on Thursday. Government needs to do something about its policy or else our boys will keep dying like this. But honestly, I have nothing to say to the government nor do I have any hope from them, he added dejectedly. Captain Ayush Yadav, Subedar Bhoop Singh Gujjar and Naik B Venkata Ramanna were killed in the attack on the Army camp yesterday. Condemning the Kupwara attack, deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Nirmal Singh assured that India would give a befitting reply to 'desperate' Pakistan for trying to ruin the atmosphere in the Valley. "We condemn this strongly. We pay our tributes to the jawans. Pakistan is trying to mess the situation as much as possible, but that would not be possible. Our jawans are doing their best and will not let them be successful. Their actions will be answered," Singh told ANI. Dubbing it as a coward action, Singh said that Pakistan is desperate to create problems in Kashmir and warned it of severe action. "Pakistan is going to suffer. We are going to reply in the same way. The Union government is well prepared," he added. Two terrorists were also neutralised in the attack. By PTI THANE: An unidentified person purportedly associated with fugitive gangster Suresh Pujari opened fire at a wine shop in Ulhasnagar township here after handing over an envelope to the staff in an extortion bid, police said today. According to Thane Police PRO Sukhada Narkar, the firing took place yesterday at the wine shop of one Vijay Ranglani in Kansai section area. However, nobody was hurt in the incident. The assailant opened fire in the shop after handing over an envelope to one of the shop staff, asking him to give it to the owner. The bullet hit a wine rack and the accused fled on a motorbike parked outside the shop along with an unidentified rider, police said in a release quoting Vijay's complaint. The envelope with a chit inside contained the name of Suresh Pujari and a contact number, police said. Police said the firing was done with an intention to scare the shop owner and extort money. An offence under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 387 rw 34 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion) of the IPC along with Sections 3, 25 of the Arms Act have been registered against the unidentified duo and the gangster. No arrest has been made so far in connection with the incident, police added. THANE: An unidentified person purportedly associated with fugitive gangster Suresh Pujari opened fire at a wine shop in Ulhasnagar township here after handing over an envelope to the staff in an extortion bid, police said today. According to Thane Police PRO Sukhada Narkar, the firing took place yesterday at the wine shop of one Vijay Ranglani in Kansai section area. However, nobody was hurt in the incident. The assailant opened fire in the shop after handing over an envelope to one of the shop staff, asking him to give it to the owner. The bullet hit a wine rack and the accused fled on a motorbike parked outside the shop along with an unidentified rider, police said in a release quoting Vijay's complaint. The envelope with a chit inside contained the name of Suresh Pujari and a contact number, police said. Police said the firing was done with an intention to scare the shop owner and extort money. An offence under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 387 rw 34 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion) of the IPC along with Sections 3, 25 of the Arms Act have been registered against the unidentified duo and the gangster. No arrest has been made so far in connection with the incident, police added. By PTI JAIPUR: A Dalit man riding a mare during his wedding procession was forcibly made to dismount, attacked with beer bottles and dragged along the road allegedly by a group of upper caste men in Rajasthan's Udaipur district. The assailants were apparently infuriated to see the Dalit man riding the mare, a practice which is still considered an exclusive privilege of the upper castes. The groom lodged a police complaint following which one of the accused has been detained. A hunt for the others is on, police said today. Police booked a case against four people under sections of the SC/ST Act late last night. The incident happened in Jhalo Ka Dhana village in Udaipur where Kailash Meghwal (25) was taking out his marriage procession. According to the Ghasa police station SHO Ramesh Kavia, the complainant claimed that around five to six people, armed with beer bottles, rods and other sharp-edged weapons, attacked the people in procession. Meghwal suffered injuries to his body and head, and had to get stitches. "We have booked a case against four people under sections of the SC/ST Act and investigation is on. To provide protection to the victim family, we have deployed policemen to avoid any untoward incident," Kavia said. JAIPUR: A Dalit man riding a mare during his wedding procession was forcibly made to dismount, attacked with beer bottles and dragged along the road allegedly by a group of upper caste men in Rajasthan's Udaipur district. The assailants were apparently infuriated to see the Dalit man riding the mare, a practice which is still considered an exclusive privilege of the upper castes. The groom lodged a police complaint following which one of the accused has been detained. A hunt for the others is on, police said today. Police booked a case against four people under sections of the SC/ST Act late last night. The incident happened in Jhalo Ka Dhana village in Udaipur where Kailash Meghwal (25) was taking out his marriage procession. According to the Ghasa police station SHO Ramesh Kavia, the complainant claimed that around five to six people, armed with beer bottles, rods and other sharp-edged weapons, attacked the people in procession. Meghwal suffered injuries to his body and head, and had to get stitches. "We have booked a case against four people under sections of the SC/ST Act and investigation is on. To provide protection to the victim family, we have deployed policemen to avoid any untoward incident," Kavia said. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Along one of Indias closest and most dependable friends in Europe Cyprus, India on Friday exhorted the world community to take decisive action against countries, which provide shelter to terrorists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi following meeting with Cyprus President extended his support to the sovereignty of Cyprus, the island country that has been partitioned in 1974 following a coup attempt supported by Greece and an ensuing Turkish invasion. The country has longest-serving UN Peace Keeping mission. Given its location, Cyprus appreciates the threat that terrorism poses to the global peace and stability. India itself has been battling cross border terrorism for decades. We agreed that there is an urgent need for all countries to decisively act against those states who generate, support, shelter and sustain these factories of violence in our regions, Prime Minister Modi said at the Hyderabad House. Towards the end of countering terrorism both the countries concurred on the need for creating a comprehensive global legal framework, particularly through early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that will give a globally recognized definition to terrorism and has been pending in the UN since 1996. Cyprus also lent its support for Indias candidature for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council. Both (India and Cyprus) of us believe that a reformed Security Council, reflective of the world as it is, and not as it was, is necessary to address the range of complex challenges facing the world today, PM Modi added. Cyprus is the 8th largest investor in India and has recorded one of the highest growth rates in the Euro Zone in 2016. Both the countries signed four agreements on Culture Education and Scientific Cooperation, Cooperation in the field of Agriculture, Merchant Shipping Agreement and Air Services Agreement. NEW DELHI: Along one of Indias closest and most dependable friends in Europe Cyprus, India on Friday exhorted the world community to take decisive action against countries, which provide shelter to terrorists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi following meeting with Cyprus President extended his support to the sovereignty of Cyprus, the island country that has been partitioned in 1974 following a coup attempt supported by Greece and an ensuing Turkish invasion. The country has longest-serving UN Peace Keeping mission. Given its location, Cyprus appreciates the threat that terrorism poses to the global peace and stability. India itself has been battling cross border terrorism for decades. We agreed that there is an urgent need for all countries to decisively act against those states who generate, support, shelter and sustain these factories of violence in our regions, Prime Minister Modi said at the Hyderabad House. Towards the end of countering terrorism both the countries concurred on the need for creating a comprehensive global legal framework, particularly through early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that will give a globally recognized definition to terrorism and has been pending in the UN since 1996. Cyprus also lent its support for Indias candidature for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council. Both (India and Cyprus) of us believe that a reformed Security Council, reflective of the world as it is, and not as it was, is necessary to address the range of complex challenges facing the world today, PM Modi added. Cyprus is the 8th largest investor in India and has recorded one of the highest growth rates in the Euro Zone in 2016. Both the countries signed four agreements on Culture Education and Scientific Cooperation, Cooperation in the field of Agriculture, Merchant Shipping Agreement and Air Services Agreement. By PTI PHAGWARA (PUNJAB): The activists of the Shiv Sena allegedly burnt a Pakistani flag on the National Highway 1 today to protest against terror attacks on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Led by Sena's state Vice-President Inderjit Karwal, the protesters began the march from Hanumangarhi temple and came to NH 1, converging at sugar mill crossing. Sporting Sena's flags, they allegedly raised slogans against Pakistan and also targeted the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government, officials said. They allegedly burnt an effigy of the BJP-led NDA government at sugar mill crossing. The protesters alleged that Pakistan's ISI was "sponsoring terror attacks" on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir while the Union government was "soft-pedalling" over it to save the state government in which the BJP was a coalition partner. "Our army and paramilitary jawans are being targeted by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in order to destabilise India and create a fear psychosis but Modi the government is doing precious little to control the situation," he alleged. He claimed that a fear-psychosis was being created ahead of the annual Amarnath yatra. "Amarnath pilgrimage will be held at every cost for which foolproof security arrangements should be made," he demanded. Karwal batted for Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir and also demanded snapping of all ties with Pakistan, including discontinuation of the Indo-Pak bus service. Meanwhile, Phagwara SP Harwinder Singh Sandhu, who was present at the protest site, said the agitation had no effect on the movement of Indo-Pak international buses which cross through the town. "Both the buses from Delhi to Lahore and vice-versa had crossed Phagwara smoothly a little before the protest had started," he said. PHAGWARA (PUNJAB): The activists of the Shiv Sena allegedly burnt a Pakistani flag on the National Highway 1 today to protest against terror attacks on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Led by Sena's state Vice-President Inderjit Karwal, the protesters began the march from Hanumangarhi temple and came to NH 1, converging at sugar mill crossing. Sporting Sena's flags, they allegedly raised slogans against Pakistan and also targeted the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government, officials said. They allegedly burnt an effigy of the BJP-led NDA government at sugar mill crossing. The protesters alleged that Pakistan's ISI was "sponsoring terror attacks" on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir while the Union government was "soft-pedalling" over it to save the state government in which the BJP was a coalition partner. "Our army and paramilitary jawans are being targeted by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in order to destabilise India and create a fear psychosis but Modi the government is doing precious little to control the situation," he alleged. He claimed that a fear-psychosis was being created ahead of the annual Amarnath yatra. "Amarnath pilgrimage will be held at every cost for which foolproof security arrangements should be made," he demanded. Karwal batted for Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir and also demanded snapping of all ties with Pakistan, including discontinuation of the Indo-Pak bus service. Meanwhile, Phagwara SP Harwinder Singh Sandhu, who was present at the protest site, said the agitation had no effect on the movement of Indo-Pak international buses which cross through the town. "Both the buses from Delhi to Lahore and vice-versa had crossed Phagwara smoothly a little before the protest had started," he said. Ejaz Kaiser By Express News Service RAIPUR: Sukma police in south Chhattisgarh have released a "cash reward on offer", for anyone giving information about Maoists leaders now on social media following the deadly ambush at Burkapal that killed 25 CRPF jawans and injured eight others. Such a move by the Bastar police seeking people's support or spreading information was earlier restricted in and around the base camps and police stations. We have now released such posters and information on social media like Whatsapp to create greater awareness among the masses and seek their support. It was already there earlier but confined to police stations or base camps. Anyone cooperating with the police will be rewarded with cash as announced by the Chhattisgarh government, Sukma additional superintendent of police Jitendra Shukla told the New Indian Express. The cash awards ranging from Rs one lakh to Rs 50 lakhs to anyone who gets hold of the Maoist leaders -- living or dead -- or assist police in arresting the rebels will be rewarded accordingly depending on the rank of the Maoist leaders. The posters cite the names, images and details of the Maoist leaders. May be some of them led the attack on the CRPF personnel engaged as Road Opening Party (ROP), Shukla said. The police have pledged to keep the names of informers strictly confidential. The total amount offered for any clues or information ranges from minimum of Rs one lakh for the lowest rung of Maoist leaders like jan militia commander, to Rs 25 lakh for State military commander chief or State committee member. The State has categorised around 55 different levels under this. The poster issued by the Sukma district police has mobile phone numbers of police officials, from Bastar inspector general of police to the police chowki incharge. The Chhattisgarh government in 2014 has hiked rewards on offer from the then existing Rs 7 lakhs to Rs 50 lakhs for the polit bureau members of CPI (Maoist). Anyone giving information leading to the arrest of members of the central committee, dandakaranya special zonal committee, secretary of special areas committee and special zonal committee would be getting Rs 40 lakhs, police said. RAIPUR: Sukma police in south Chhattisgarh have released a "cash reward on offer", for anyone giving information about Maoists leaders now on social media following the deadly ambush at Burkapal that killed 25 CRPF jawans and injured eight others. Such a move by the Bastar police seeking people's support or spreading information was earlier restricted in and around the base camps and police stations. We have now released such posters and information on social media like Whatsapp to create greater awareness among the masses and seek their support. It was already there earlier but confined to police stations or base camps. Anyone cooperating with the police will be rewarded with cash as announced by the Chhattisgarh government, Sukma additional superintendent of police Jitendra Shukla told the New Indian Express. The cash awards ranging from Rs one lakh to Rs 50 lakhs to anyone who gets hold of the Maoist leaders -- living or dead -- or assist police in arresting the rebels will be rewarded accordingly depending on the rank of the Maoist leaders. The posters cite the names, images and details of the Maoist leaders. May be some of them led the attack on the CRPF personnel engaged as Road Opening Party (ROP), Shukla said. The police have pledged to keep the names of informers strictly confidential. The total amount offered for any clues or information ranges from minimum of Rs one lakh for the lowest rung of Maoist leaders like jan militia commander, to Rs 25 lakh for State military commander chief or State committee member. The State has categorised around 55 different levels under this. The poster issued by the Sukma district police has mobile phone numbers of police officials, from Bastar inspector general of police to the police chowki incharge. The Chhattisgarh government in 2014 has hiked rewards on offer from the then existing Rs 7 lakhs to Rs 50 lakhs for the polit bureau members of CPI (Maoist). Anyone giving information leading to the arrest of members of the central committee, dandakaranya special zonal committee, secretary of special areas committee and special zonal committee would be getting Rs 40 lakhs, police said. By Express News Service BHOPAL: A day after 2008 Malegaon blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur alleged a Congress conspiracy to kill her in 2008, the principal opposition party hit back at Thakur on Friday daring her for an open debate on nationalism and saffron terror. Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesperson, KK Mishra, said the allegations levelled by Thakur symbolised her frustration. He also challenged her to a debate saying whenever she wanted, the Congress was ready for an open debate on any public forum on nationalism, patriotism, Hindutva and saffron terrorism. The Congress leader also took a jibe at her by saying that Thakur was not acquitted in the case, but just granted bail. He also questioned as to who opened the file of the December 2007 murder of RSS worker Sunil Joshi in 2011. "Was a Congress government there in Madhya Pradesh when the closed file of the 2007 murder case was re-opened," asked Mishra. It was, in fact, the present Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government during whose previous tenure in 2011 that the file was re-opened by MP police. After being released on bail in the Malegaon blast case on Thursday after spending nine years in custody at jails and hospitals, Pragya Singh Thakur had alleged before journalists that the Congress had conspired to eliminate her in 2008. She added that the UPA government had hatched a plot to frame her in false terror cases and the Mumbai anti-terrorism squad (ATS) had put the plot to task. "The all men team led by Hemant Karkare (and also having among its ranks people like present Thane police higher-up Parambir Singh) took me from Surat to Mumbai in October 2008 and held me captive for 13 days. I was tortured to the extent that membrane of my lungs was torn. Never has any woman in independent India or prior to that been subjected to torture to that extent," said Thakur. Pragya Singh Thakur's personal doctor, Dr SS Rajput, claimed that she has become partially paralysed possibly due to spine injuries inflicted by the ATS team. Thakur, who was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on April 25, had also alleged that the word saffron terror is a brainchild of the then Union home minister P Chidambaram. Hospitalised at Pandit Khushi Lal Sharma Ayurveda Hospital in Bhopal since 2015-end, Thakur is still undergoing treatment of breast cancer and injuries to the spine at the same hospital. She might be shifted to Mumbai or Lucknow for advanced treatment. BHOPAL: A day after 2008 Malegaon blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur alleged a Congress conspiracy to kill her in 2008, the principal opposition party hit back at Thakur on Friday daring her for an open debate on nationalism and saffron terror. Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesperson, KK Mishra, said the allegations levelled by Thakur symbolised her frustration. He also challenged her to a debate saying whenever she wanted, the Congress was ready for an open debate on any public forum on nationalism, patriotism, Hindutva and saffron terrorism. The Congress leader also took a jibe at her by saying that Thakur was not acquitted in the case, but just granted bail. He also questioned as to who opened the file of the December 2007 murder of RSS worker Sunil Joshi in 2011. "Was a Congress government there in Madhya Pradesh when the closed file of the 2007 murder case was re-opened," asked Mishra. It was, in fact, the present Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government during whose previous tenure in 2011 that the file was re-opened by MP police. After being released on bail in the Malegaon blast case on Thursday after spending nine years in custody at jails and hospitals, Pragya Singh Thakur had alleged before journalists that the Congress had conspired to eliminate her in 2008. She added that the UPA government had hatched a plot to frame her in false terror cases and the Mumbai anti-terrorism squad (ATS) had put the plot to task. "The all men team led by Hemant Karkare (and also having among its ranks people like present Thane police higher-up Parambir Singh) took me from Surat to Mumbai in October 2008 and held me captive for 13 days. I was tortured to the extent that membrane of my lungs was torn. Never has any woman in independent India or prior to that been subjected to torture to that extent," said Thakur. Pragya Singh Thakur's personal doctor, Dr SS Rajput, claimed that she has become partially paralysed possibly due to spine injuries inflicted by the ATS team. Thakur, who was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on April 25, had also alleged that the word saffron terror is a brainchild of the then Union home minister P Chidambaram. Hospitalised at Pandit Khushi Lal Sharma Ayurveda Hospital in Bhopal since 2015-end, Thakur is still undergoing treatment of breast cancer and injuries to the spine at the same hospital. She might be shifted to Mumbai or Lucknow for advanced treatment. By Express News Service Forty-five years after the first introduction of the Lokpal bill, it was finally passed in 2013. However, it seems the act still remains on a paper Lokpal is the great mirage of Indian politics. The idea of having an anti-corruption ombudsman for the higher echelons of the government began way back in the early 1960s when the then law minister Ashoke Kumar Sen proposed it in Parliament. The first Jan Lokpal Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha in 1969 but failed to get through the Rajya Sabha. Sounds familiar? In the following years, the bill was introduced a number of times but failed to pass each time. It took 45 years for the bill to breach the first barrier, which it did in 2013, when the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act made it through after a mass movement led by Anna Hazare. However, Lokpal continues to be stuck at the second stagethe stage of appointments to the institution. Specifically, it is stuck at deciding how to fill the slot mandated for the leader of the opposition in Parliament when there is no designated LOP currently. That's where the story rests, and the outlook does not look too good. On Tuesday, the Union government said in the Supreme Court that it has no intention of moving ahead in the current Budget session. What about the coming sessions then? The government is noncommittal. But what is Lokpal? Lokpal is an authority representing the public interest who will investigate corruption in the government at the national level. The 2013 Act gives it jurisdiction over all members of Parliament and central government employees. While the Lokpal will look into corruption cases at the national level, Lokayuktas takes care of the same at the state level. So what's the issue? The law requires the leader of the opposition to be a member of the committee that will appoint the Lokpal. But there is no leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha at the present juncture, with the Congress having only 44 MPs in the 545-member House. This is far short of the required number which is 10 per cent of the strength of the House. What's Union government's stance? During the Anna Hazare movement, before the passage of the Lokpall bill by the UPA government in 2013, the BJP was a strong supporter of the Lokpal movement. But now in power, its fervour has cooled a bit. On Tuesday, the attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme Court that since there is no leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, there are difficulties in constituting the selection committee for the Lokpal. The law on designating a leader of the opposition needs to be amended. But the government is in no hurry to bring an amendment. Why not? As Rohatgi said in the Supreme Court, the legislature cannot be dictated on when and how the amendment should be introduced and passed. So what needs to be done? The amendment on the leader of opposition status needs to be introduced and passed in both Houses of Parliament, including the Rajya Sabha, where the NDA government does not have a majority. Then an LOP has to be named. Then the selection committee must be constituted. Then a Lokpal has to be appointed. What chances of a Lokpal before 2019? Doubtful. FAQs Who coined the term Lokpal? The term was coined by Dr. LM Singhvi in the year 1963 Who proposed the concept of a constitutional ombudsman? The concept was first proposed in the parliament by law minister Ashoke Kumar Sen in early 1960s. Who proposed the first Jan Lokpal bill? Shanti Bhushan proposed the first Jan Lokpal bill in 1968 How many years did it take to pass the bill? Since the introduction of the bill for the first time, it took 45 years for it to get enacted Lokpal redux The Lokpal bill was introduced 10 times in the last 45 years before it was finally passed and became a law. (1968, 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2008) Anti-graft agencies 1. Central Vigilance Commission: The Central Vigilance Commission was set up in 1964 to advise central government agencies on anti-corruption measures. The CVC was meant to be the apex vigilance institution, free of control from executive authority. Is it? 2. Central Bureau of Investigation: The bureaus anti-corruption division is responsible for collection of intelligence with regard to corruption, maintaining liaison with various departments through their vigilance officers, enquiries into complaints about bribery and corruption, investigation and prosecution of offences pertaining to bribery and corruption and tasks relating to preventive aspects of corruption. 3. Comptroller and Auditor General of India: The CAG is an authority established by the Constitution who audits the receipts and expenditures of the government-both the centre and the state. Former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Vinod Rai is credited with bringing out the corruption in the 2G spectrum allocation. 4. Enforcement Directorate: The ED investigates contraventions of the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act and also investigates offences of money laundering. It also renders cooperation to foreign countries in matters relating to money laundering. Features of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta at the level of the states. Lokpal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, of which 50 per cent shall be judicial members. 50 per cent of members of Lokpal shall be from SC/ST/OBCs, minorities and women. The selection of chairperson and members of Lokpal shall be through a selection committee consisting of Prime Minister, Speaker of Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India or a sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by CJI, eminent jurist to be nominated by the President of India on the basis of recommendations of the first four members of the selection committee. Prime Minister has been brought under the purview of the Lokpal. Lokpals jurisdiction will cover all categories of public servants. All entities receiving donations from foreign source in the context of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in excess of Rs 10 lakh per year are brought under the jurisdiction of Lokpal. Provides adequate protection for honest and upright public servants. Lokpal will have power of superintendence and direction over any investigation agency including CBI for cases referred to them by Lokpal. A high powered committee chaired by the Prime Minister will recommend selection of the Director, CBI. Directorate of Prosecution headed by a Director of Prosecution under the overall control of Director. The appointment of the Director of Prosecution, CBI on the recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission. Transfer of officers of CBI investigating cases referred by Lokpal with the approval of Lokpal. The bill also incorporates provisions for attachment and confiscation of property acquired by corrupt means, even while prosecution is pending. The bill lays down clear time lines for preliminary enquiry and investigation and trial and towards this end, the bill provides for setting up of special courts. A mandate for setting up of the institution of Lokayukta through enactment of a law by the State Legislature within a period of 365 days from the date of commencement of the Act. Forty-five years after the first introduction of the Lokpal bill, it was finally passed in 2013. However, it seems the act still remains on a paper Lokpal is the great mirage of Indian politics. The idea of having an anti-corruption ombudsman for the higher echelons of the government began way back in the early 1960s when the then law minister Ashoke Kumar Sen proposed it in Parliament. The first Jan Lokpal Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha in 1969 but failed to get through the Rajya Sabha. Sounds familiar? In the following years, the bill was introduced a number of times but failed to pass each time. It took 45 years for the bill to breach the first barrier, which it did in 2013, when the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act made it through after a mass movement led by Anna Hazare. However, Lokpal continues to be stuck at the second stagethe stage of appointments to the institution. Specifically, it is stuck at deciding how to fill the slot mandated for the leader of the opposition in Parliament when there is no designated LOP currently. That's where the story rests, and the outlook does not look too good. On Tuesday, the Union government said in the Supreme Court that it has no intention of moving ahead in the current Budget session. What about the coming sessions then? The government is noncommittal. But what is Lokpal? Lokpal is an authority representing the public interest who will investigate corruption in the government at the national level. The 2013 Act gives it jurisdiction over all members of Parliament and central government employees. While the Lokpal will look into corruption cases at the national level, Lokayuktas takes care of the same at the state level. So what's the issue? The law requires the leader of the opposition to be a member of the committee that will appoint the Lokpal. But there is no leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha at the present juncture, with the Congress having only 44 MPs in the 545-member House. This is far short of the required number which is 10 per cent of the strength of the House. What's Union government's stance? During the Anna Hazare movement, before the passage of the Lokpall bill by the UPA government in 2013, the BJP was a strong supporter of the Lokpal movement. But now in power, its fervour has cooled a bit. On Tuesday, the attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme Court that since there is no leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, there are difficulties in constituting the selection committee for the Lokpal. The law on designating a leader of the opposition needs to be amended. But the government is in no hurry to bring an amendment. Why not? As Rohatgi said in the Supreme Court, the legislature cannot be dictated on when and how the amendment should be introduced and passed. So what needs to be done? The amendment on the leader of opposition status needs to be introduced and passed in both Houses of Parliament, including the Rajya Sabha, where the NDA government does not have a majority. Then an LOP has to be named. Then the selection committee must be constituted. Then a Lokpal has to be appointed. What chances of a Lokpal before 2019? Doubtful. FAQs Who coined the term Lokpal? The term was coined by Dr. LM Singhvi in the year 1963 Who proposed the concept of a constitutional ombudsman? The concept was first proposed in the parliament by law minister Ashoke Kumar Sen in early 1960s. Who proposed the first Jan Lokpal bill? Shanti Bhushan proposed the first Jan Lokpal bill in 1968 How many years did it take to pass the bill? Since the introduction of the bill for the first time, it took 45 years for it to get enacted Lokpal redux The Lokpal bill was introduced 10 times in the last 45 years before it was finally passed and became a law. (1968, 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2008) Anti-graft agencies 1. Central Vigilance Commission: The Central Vigilance Commission was set up in 1964 to advise central government agencies on anti-corruption measures. The CVC was meant to be the apex vigilance institution, free of control from executive authority. Is it? 2. Central Bureau of Investigation: The bureaus anti-corruption division is responsible for collection of intelligence with regard to corruption, maintaining liaison with various departments through their vigilance officers, enquiries into complaints about bribery and corruption, investigation and prosecution of offences pertaining to bribery and corruption and tasks relating to preventive aspects of corruption. 3. Comptroller and Auditor General of India: The CAG is an authority established by the Constitution who audits the receipts and expenditures of the government-both the centre and the state. Former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Vinod Rai is credited with bringing out the corruption in the 2G spectrum allocation. 4. Enforcement Directorate: The ED investigates contraventions of the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act and also investigates offences of money laundering. It also renders cooperation to foreign countries in matters relating to money laundering. Features of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta at the level of the states. Lokpal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, of which 50 per cent shall be judicial members. 50 per cent of members of Lokpal shall be from SC/ST/OBCs, minorities and women. The selection of chairperson and members of Lokpal shall be through a selection committee consisting of Prime Minister, Speaker of Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India or a sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by CJI, eminent jurist to be nominated by the President of India on the basis of recommendations of the first four members of the selection committee. Prime Minister has been brought under the purview of the Lokpal. Lokpals jurisdiction will cover all categories of public servants. All entities receiving donations from foreign source in the context of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in excess of Rs 10 lakh per year are brought under the jurisdiction of Lokpal. Provides adequate protection for honest and upright public servants. Lokpal will have power of superintendence and direction over any investigation agency including CBI for cases referred to them by Lokpal. A high powered committee chaired by the Prime Minister will recommend selection of the Director, CBI. Directorate of Prosecution headed by a Director of Prosecution under the overall control of Director. The appointment of the Director of Prosecution, CBI on the recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission. Transfer of officers of CBI investigating cases referred by Lokpal with the approval of Lokpal. The bill also incorporates provisions for attachment and confiscation of property acquired by corrupt means, even while prosecution is pending. The bill lays down clear time lines for preliminary enquiry and investigation and trial and towards this end, the bill provides for setting up of special courts. A mandate for setting up of the institution of Lokayukta through enactment of a law by the State Legislature within a period of 365 days from the date of commencement of the Act. Santwana Bhattacharya By Narendra Modi can do no wrong. Rahul Gandhi can do no right. That's how the perception stands. Righting a wrong is not easy for even the most astute of politicians. To be fair, the first calculation error was committed by Congress war-room veterans. It was 2013, the Grand Old Party still hadn't shed its grandeur, at least not as much as it has now. Yes, there was a bumper crop of scams, but there was still power coursing through those old wiresit hadnt yet been reduced to just another family-owned MSME. The reluctant scions were yet to become the sole arbiters of the destiny of the 125-year-old party, once so intrinsically tied to the larger history of anti-colonial struggle across continents and to our own freedom movement. The now-on, now-off, whimsical, Vipasana- driven politics of the new-age Nehru-Gandhi kids had not yet become the main course. It was around that time that the suicidal strategy was hatched. The old warhorses, a top general (secretary) gleefully recounted back then, had come up with a 'win-win formula'. No stopping UPA-3, the AICC officebearer added with relish to this writer. Pray, how? "Let Modi come out of Gujarattheyll lose Gujarat, and wont get India either!" Wrong move, general. The calculation was: The NDA would collapse, maybe the BJP old guard would even split. Gujarat would go, and the shadow of 2002 would repel the rest of India too. As it happened, the old NDA did come apart. Nitish Kumar bid goodbye to the Modifronted BJP. But as he overcame inner-party obstacles, the future PM built up a never-before momentum. And closer to mid-2014, the UPA too started melting. Ram Vilas Paswan was the first to bolt. Chandrababu Naidu too thought it fit to sow his seeds on that field again. On the other side, a Congress-TRS merger plan, on the back of Andhra Pradeshs bifurcation, came unstuck. Another solid UPA backer, Lalu Prasad Yadav, was left out in the cold with the public tearing up of an ordinance that would have kept him in the fray. Whispered blame for the series of catastrophes was laid at Sonia Gandhi's door. For allowing a reluctantly anointed Rahul to have a free run. For taking a backseat while Paswan's text messages remained unanswered, as a clinched deal in Telangana fell through, and an upset Mehbooba Mufti returned to Srinagar without courtesies exchanged. Out on the streets, meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal and his band were breaking into the mainstream, turning an old Congress slogan into their partys name. The general secretary who had shared the insider info has since resigned. A common enough occurrence today. Gurudas Kamat, Sanjay Nirupam, P C Chacko and Ajay Maken have all offered to resignowning up for local poll debacles in Maharashtra and Delhi. Some of the resignations stand accepted, some not. But why did Kamat quit as state in-charge of Gujarat after the Congress washout in Mumbais civic polls? Infighting, of course. Having risen to the top through well-honed factional skills, at a time when there was hardly any opposition, they simply can't give up. That's how Congress politics always worked. Kamat has been mighty upset over outsider Nirupam ruling the roost on his home turf, Mumbai, and muffing it up big time. So is his colleague Priya Dutt, late Bollywood veteran Sunil Dutt's daughter. Nirupam too put in his papers, only to be reinstated. Maken, despite his tearful steering of the party to the third slot in Delhi, way below BJP and AAP, is being allowed a face-saver a spike in voting percentage from 9 to 21 per cent. In Kamat's place, Ashok Gehlot has been named Gujarat in-charge, just six months before elections. And it's more to keep the ex-Rajasthan CM from tinkering in his states politics than anything else. Ad-hocism reigns. Of course, infighting has been a bane of the Congress from its inception. You could even, at a stretch, ascribe the Partition of the country (and Nehru becoming the first PM) to factional conflicts. But as long as the Nehru- Gandhi legacy retained its charisma and voter connect, splinters or desertions hardly mattered. But in the midst of such doom and gloom, when the worker base has evaporated and the Congress survives as a collection of rootless leaders, further attrition can be fatal. Because its not as if the churning is throwing up any new politics thats worth the satyagraha salt of old. Whatever goodwill the party retains, it's in the name of the past memories. Between its Modi-reactive politics and its new coalition ambitions, the leadership lacks the skills to fine-tune things in line with 'grassroot' realities. A young party leader from Odisha claims rural voters in her constituency are petrified that the Congress may tie up with the BJD to keep the BJP at bay. Even now, villages there are divided, according to political preferences, into BJD and Congress households. Once that's obliterated, it becomes easier for a third force to ride in. That's what happened in Bengal and UP. Traditional rival on the ground could not bring themselves to vote for each other. At the same time, the search for political relevance in New Delhi means alliance politics is inevitable. It's ironically in its decline that the Congress has become a viable adhesive core around which others can orient themselves. No longer driven by anti-Congressism, figures like Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik and even Arvind Kejriwal can look towards stitching up a coalition of compulsions. Whether the Left can come and sit with the same alliance would depend on how well Sonia Gandhi can mediate. The first exploratory experiment on these lines would come around the presidential polls. Whether it only ends in an honourable defeat or gives the BJP/ NDA (still short of a clear 51 per cent on its own) a run for its money would depend on the candidates on either side. It would be a delicious irony if Sonia uses her persuasive skills to garner votes for Sharad Pawar. Santwana Bhattacharya Political Editor, The New Indian Express Email: santwana@newindianexpress.com Narendra Modi can do no wrong. Rahul Gandhi can do no right. That's how the perception stands. Righting a wrong is not easy for even the most astute of politicians. To be fair, the first calculation error was committed by Congress war-room veterans. It was 2013, the Grand Old Party still hadn't shed its grandeur, at least not as much as it has now. Yes, there was a bumper crop of scams, but there was still power coursing through those old wiresit hadnt yet been reduced to just another family-owned MSME. The reluctant scions were yet to become the sole arbiters of the destiny of the 125-year-old party, once so intrinsically tied to the larger history of anti-colonial struggle across continents and to our own freedom movement. The now-on, now-off, whimsical, Vipasana- driven politics of the new-age Nehru-Gandhi kids had not yet become the main course. It was around that time that the suicidal strategy was hatched. The old warhorses, a top general (secretary) gleefully recounted back then, had come up with a 'win-win formula'. No stopping UPA-3, the AICC officebearer added with relish to this writer. Pray, how? "Let Modi come out of Gujarattheyll lose Gujarat, and wont get India either!" Wrong move, general. The calculation was: The NDA would collapse, maybe the BJP old guard would even split. Gujarat would go, and the shadow of 2002 would repel the rest of India too. As it happened, the old NDA did come apart. Nitish Kumar bid goodbye to the Modifronted BJP. But as he overcame inner-party obstacles, the future PM built up a never-before momentum. And closer to mid-2014, the UPA too started melting. Ram Vilas Paswan was the first to bolt. Chandrababu Naidu too thought it fit to sow his seeds on that field again. On the other side, a Congress-TRS merger plan, on the back of Andhra Pradeshs bifurcation, came unstuck. Another solid UPA backer, Lalu Prasad Yadav, was left out in the cold with the public tearing up of an ordinance that would have kept him in the fray. Whispered blame for the series of catastrophes was laid at Sonia Gandhi's door. For allowing a reluctantly anointed Rahul to have a free run. For taking a backseat while Paswan's text messages remained unanswered, as a clinched deal in Telangana fell through, and an upset Mehbooba Mufti returned to Srinagar without courtesies exchanged. Out on the streets, meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal and his band were breaking into the mainstream, turning an old Congress slogan into their partys name. The general secretary who had shared the insider info has since resigned. A common enough occurrence today. Gurudas Kamat, Sanjay Nirupam, P C Chacko and Ajay Maken have all offered to resignowning up for local poll debacles in Maharashtra and Delhi. Some of the resignations stand accepted, some not. But why did Kamat quit as state in-charge of Gujarat after the Congress washout in Mumbais civic polls? Infighting, of course. Having risen to the top through well-honed factional skills, at a time when there was hardly any opposition, they simply can't give up. That's how Congress politics always worked. Kamat has been mighty upset over outsider Nirupam ruling the roost on his home turf, Mumbai, and muffing it up big time. So is his colleague Priya Dutt, late Bollywood veteran Sunil Dutt's daughter. Nirupam too put in his papers, only to be reinstated. Maken, despite his tearful steering of the party to the third slot in Delhi, way below BJP and AAP, is being allowed a face-saver a spike in voting percentage from 9 to 21 per cent. In Kamat's place, Ashok Gehlot has been named Gujarat in-charge, just six months before elections. And it's more to keep the ex-Rajasthan CM from tinkering in his states politics than anything else. Ad-hocism reigns. Of course, infighting has been a bane of the Congress from its inception. You could even, at a stretch, ascribe the Partition of the country (and Nehru becoming the first PM) to factional conflicts. But as long as the Nehru- Gandhi legacy retained its charisma and voter connect, splinters or desertions hardly mattered. But in the midst of such doom and gloom, when the worker base has evaporated and the Congress survives as a collection of rootless leaders, further attrition can be fatal. Because its not as if the churning is throwing up any new politics thats worth the satyagraha salt of old. Whatever goodwill the party retains, it's in the name of the past memories. Between its Modi-reactive politics and its new coalition ambitions, the leadership lacks the skills to fine-tune things in line with 'grassroot' realities. A young party leader from Odisha claims rural voters in her constituency are petrified that the Congress may tie up with the BJD to keep the BJP at bay. Even now, villages there are divided, according to political preferences, into BJD and Congress households. Once that's obliterated, it becomes easier for a third force to ride in. That's what happened in Bengal and UP. Traditional rival on the ground could not bring themselves to vote for each other. At the same time, the search for political relevance in New Delhi means alliance politics is inevitable. It's ironically in its decline that the Congress has become a viable adhesive core around which others can orient themselves. No longer driven by anti-Congressism, figures like Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik and even Arvind Kejriwal can look towards stitching up a coalition of compulsions. Whether the Left can come and sit with the same alliance would depend on how well Sonia Gandhi can mediate. The first exploratory experiment on these lines would come around the presidential polls. Whether it only ends in an honourable defeat or gives the BJP/ NDA (still short of a clear 51 per cent on its own) a run for its money would depend on the candidates on either side. It would be a delicious irony if Sonia uses her persuasive skills to garner votes for Sharad Pawar. Santwana Bhattacharya Political Editor, The New Indian Express Email: santwana@newindianexpress.com Harish Gilai By Express News Service Indias big drought is no stranger to Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh. With the economy collapsing over large swathes, people migrate as a last resort. Its both a coping tactic and a survival strategy: the children and the aged left behind can use the few traces of water left, while the able-bodied earn a fighting wage in the cities. However, since the ration card has to be kept alive, the migrants return for one day a month to draw their provisions lest their names be scratched from the welfare list. A drought without end can lead to weird effects. In the village of Kutalapalle, for instance, along came an astrologer and said he knew why there was a famine. The 100-year-old peepul tree at the local Ram temple was higher than the gopuram, how dare it. And so the villagers chopped the tree in half and are now waiting for the rains to come. ANANTAPUR: Has my father come? asks Divakar, hope flickering in his tender eyes as he runs into his house straight from school. Ledura (no), he will come next month and bring you lots of toys from Bengaluru, replies his uncle Eswarayya. The 12-year-old dumps his bag, changes his dress and gets on his tricycle to ride along an empty street lined by an endless sequence of locked houses. Kutapalle village in Nallamada mandal of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh is a ghost town. Half the houses there are locked. You find only the aged walking about or kids playing in streets. The Kadiri region of Anantapur, straddling the mandals of Nallamada, Amadaguru, and Odisi, once populated by farmers, is now a seamless zone of absence, its populace gone to Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Coimbatore and, if educated, the Gulf. Divakars father Madhav Reddy does visit his son once a month. But at his age, Divakar needs parental affection and guidance. We villagers are cursed. Our children are not fortunate, says Eswarayya. The uncle himself is planning to migrate next month. My cousin suggested that I do. We too have debts. The wages we get here are not even enough to pay interest, he says. The families all have similar stories to tell: loans borrowed, hefty interest paid, borewells dug, crops sown, crops failed, and then the drought the straw that broke the camels back. The Scheduled Caste Colony in Kutapalle epitomises the tragedy. Out of its 50 families, 20 have migrated and more are about to move. Over 40 per cent of houses are covered in caked dust. Also Read: Upon astrologers advice, villagers in Anantapur cut down tree to appease rain gods My son J Nagappa works in a factory. He earns Rs 7, 000 and my daughter-in-law works as a maid for a pittance. I take care of their children here, as they study in a government school near Kadiri. He sends me money monthly and clears our debts. What else can we do! laments J Gangappa, a septuagenarian, the wrinkles on his face thickening in frustration. A little away, Bhavani (55), attending to household chores outside her house, casts a curious glance. Visitors are few and far between here. She has a two-year-old grandson Vishnu to take care of. I have health issues, but I have to take care of my grandson. My son and daughter-in-law work at a mango farm in Rayachoti . We have a debt of `4 lakh. Sometimes, looking at Vishnu, I cry and wonder what crime he has committed to be punished like this. Our village is cursed! Bhavani sobs. The migrants visit for a day every month. They have to. They draw their subsidy rice and other essential commodities at the fair price shop and carry some to Bengaluru. If they do not draw their rations for three times consecutively, their names will be struck off the list. Thanks to deficit rainfall this year, more farmers are gearing up to leave in the next two months. The few who remain survive by selling milk and doing odd jobs that fetch them not more than Rs 100 a day. Most villagers work as farm hands for other farmers. Due to scanty rainfall, farming has stopped in our village. Generally, farmers do NREGS works like digging farm ponds, but now such works are no longer there, says N Sriramulu, a resident of Nallamada. Even if such works are available, it is a difficult business in the hot weather. Bureaucratic red tape doubles their misery. Sources in the irrigation department said NREGS bills worth nearly Rs 57 crore have been pending in the district for the last eight months. Much farther from the village, farmers from Singanamala region are also migrating in search of daily wages. As we wind our way back, we couldnt help wonder if this region will turn into a desert or has it already? Power points 65 out of the last 100 years Anantapur experienced severe drought Anantapur is reportedly the second lowest rainfall receiving district in the country after Jaisalmer in Rajasthan In 2006, the Central government named Anantapur one of the country's 250 most backward districts and it is one of the 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF) In January, Anantapur's collector sought a central assistance of I2,161.38 crore for the drought-stricken district Indias big drought is no stranger to Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh. With the economy collapsing over large swathes, people migrate as a last resort. Its both a coping tactic and a survival strategy: the children and the aged left behind can use the few traces of water left, while the able-bodied earn a fighting wage in the cities. However, since the ration card has to be kept alive, the migrants return for one day a month to draw their provisions lest their names be scratched from the welfare list. A drought without end can lead to weird effects. In the village of Kutalapalle, for instance, along came an astrologer and said he knew why there was a famine. The 100-year-old peepul tree at the local Ram temple was higher than the gopuram, how dare it. And so the villagers chopped the tree in half and are now waiting for the rains to come. ANANTAPUR: Has my father come? asks Divakar, hope flickering in his tender eyes as he runs into his house straight from school. Ledura (no), he will come next month and bring you lots of toys from Bengaluru, replies his uncle Eswarayya. The 12-year-old dumps his bag, changes his dress and gets on his tricycle to ride along an empty street lined by an endless sequence of locked houses. Kutapalle village in Nallamada mandal of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh is a ghost town. Half the houses there are locked. You find only the aged walking about or kids playing in streets. The Kadiri region of Anantapur, straddling the mandals of Nallamada, Amadaguru, and Odisi, once populated by farmers, is now a seamless zone of absence, its populace gone to Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Coimbatore and, if educated, the Gulf. Divakars father Madhav Reddy does visit his son once a month. But at his age, Divakar needs parental affection and guidance. We villagers are cursed. Our children are not fortunate, says Eswarayya. The uncle himself is planning to migrate next month. My cousin suggested that I do. We too have debts. The wages we get here are not even enough to pay interest, he says. The families all have similar stories to tell: loans borrowed, hefty interest paid, borewells dug, crops sown, crops failed, and then the drought the straw that broke the camels back. The Scheduled Caste Colony in Kutapalle epitomises the tragedy. Out of its 50 families, 20 have migrated and more are about to move. Over 40 per cent of houses are covered in caked dust. Also Read: Upon astrologers advice, villagers in Anantapur cut down tree to appease rain gods My son J Nagappa works in a factory. He earns Rs 7, 000 and my daughter-in-law works as a maid for a pittance. I take care of their children here, as they study in a government school near Kadiri. He sends me money monthly and clears our debts. What else can we do! laments J Gangappa, a septuagenarian, the wrinkles on his face thickening in frustration. A little away, Bhavani (55), attending to household chores outside her house, casts a curious glance. Visitors are few and far between here. She has a two-year-old grandson Vishnu to take care of. I have health issues, but I have to take care of my grandson. My son and daughter-in-law work at a mango farm in Rayachoti . We have a debt of `4 lakh. Sometimes, looking at Vishnu, I cry and wonder what crime he has committed to be punished like this. Our village is cursed! Bhavani sobs. The migrants visit for a day every month. They have to. They draw their subsidy rice and other essential commodities at the fair price shop and carry some to Bengaluru. If they do not draw their rations for three times consecutively, their names will be struck off the list. Thanks to deficit rainfall this year, more farmers are gearing up to leave in the next two months. The few who remain survive by selling milk and doing odd jobs that fetch them not more than Rs 100 a day. Most villagers work as farm hands for other farmers. Due to scanty rainfall, farming has stopped in our village. Generally, farmers do NREGS works like digging farm ponds, but now such works are no longer there, says N Sriramulu, a resident of Nallamada. Even if such works are available, it is a difficult business in the hot weather. Bureaucratic red tape doubles their misery. Sources in the irrigation department said NREGS bills worth nearly Rs 57 crore have been pending in the district for the last eight months. Much farther from the village, farmers from Singanamala region are also migrating in search of daily wages. As we wind our way back, we couldnt help wonder if this region will turn into a desert or has it already? Power points 65 out of the last 100 years Anantapur experienced severe drought Anantapur is reportedly the second lowest rainfall receiving district in the country after Jaisalmer in Rajasthan In 2006, the Central government named Anantapur one of the country's 250 most backward districts and it is one of the 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF) In January, Anantapur's collector sought a central assistance of I2,161.38 crore for the drought-stricken district Biju E Paul By Express News Service ALAPPUZHA: If the state government goes ahead with the controversial 163MW Athirapilly Hydroelectric Project, 104.40 hectares of forest rich in biodiversity will be submerged displacing the Kadar tribals once again. Worse, the iconic Athirapilly waterfalls could dry up. Even as the government tries to allay this fear, the National Thermal Power Corporations (NTPC) Kayamkulam station has put forward a proposal to the state government and the KSEB to set up a 170MW solar power project without affecting the ecology and draining the state exchequer to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore. NTPC general manager Kunal Gupta told Express the proposal was handed over to the KSEB. After their acceptance, the preparation of the project report will begin, he said. KSEB chairman K Elangovan said the board will have to discuss the conditions of the NTPC. Then, we will hand over the matter to the state government for its consideration, he said. The corporation plans to utilise its land and facilities in Kayamkulam. More than 700 acres are available and the transmission and storage facilities have already been installed in its 350MW thermal plant. The proposal comes at a time when the NTPC is turning to green energy under the direction of the Central Government. The company has already installed a 105KW solar plant on its premises on an experimental basis. As much as 100MW is being generated from floating solar panels. This is the largest floating solar power generation unit in the country, said NTPC DGM Deepna Mehta. The floating platform has been indigenously developed by NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA), the research and development arm of the corporation, in collaboration with the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) in Chennai. It can reduce the cost of floating material used for solar panel fixing in water. The NTPC owns 897 acres and most of it is waterlogged. Only one third of the land was used to install the thermal power plant. So the solar panel can be set up on land and in water bodies. The state government has been allotting Rs 300 crore to the NTPC every year as per the power purchase agreement (PPA). But no unit of energy is purchased because of the hike in charges over the past two years. An NTPC officer told Express, once the solar plant is functional, the corporation will be able to provide power to the state at a subsidised rate. ALAPPUZHA: If the state government goes ahead with the controversial 163MW Athirapilly Hydroelectric Project, 104.40 hectares of forest rich in biodiversity will be submerged displacing the Kadar tribals once again. Worse, the iconic Athirapilly waterfalls could dry up. Even as the government tries to allay this fear, the National Thermal Power Corporations (NTPC) Kayamkulam station has put forward a proposal to the state government and the KSEB to set up a 170MW solar power project without affecting the ecology and draining the state exchequer to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore. NTPC general manager Kunal Gupta told Express the proposal was handed over to the KSEB. After their acceptance, the preparation of the project report will begin, he said. KSEB chairman K Elangovan said the board will have to discuss the conditions of the NTPC. Then, we will hand over the matter to the state government for its consideration, he said. The corporation plans to utilise its land and facilities in Kayamkulam. More than 700 acres are available and the transmission and storage facilities have already been installed in its 350MW thermal plant. The proposal comes at a time when the NTPC is turning to green energy under the direction of the Central Government. The company has already installed a 105KW solar plant on its premises on an experimental basis. As much as 100MW is being generated from floating solar panels. This is the largest floating solar power generation unit in the country, said NTPC DGM Deepna Mehta. The floating platform has been indigenously developed by NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA), the research and development arm of the corporation, in collaboration with the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) in Chennai. It can reduce the cost of floating material used for solar panel fixing in water. The NTPC owns 897 acres and most of it is waterlogged. Only one third of the land was used to install the thermal power plant. So the solar panel can be set up on land and in water bodies. The state government has been allotting Rs 300 crore to the NTPC every year as per the power purchase agreement (PPA). But no unit of energy is purchased because of the hike in charges over the past two years. An NTPC officer told Express, once the solar plant is functional, the corporation will be able to provide power to the state at a subsidised rate. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Uncertainty over the reinstatement of T P Senkumar as the state police chief looms large. Overlooking the state Law Secretarys advice to reinstate him, the government sought the advice of senior lawyer Harish Salve on Friday. On Wednesday, Law Secretary B G Harindranath submitted a report to the government ruling out the possibilities of filing a review petition. The report said it was better to implement the court order rather than challenge it.But the government discussed with Salve whether to file a review petition against the Supreme Courts judgment. Salve had appeared in the High Court earlier for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to defend him in the SNC Lavalin case. In the landmark judgment on Monday, the apex court directed the state government to reinstate Senkumar with immediate effect. It stated the police officers in the country could not be made scapegoats by politicians. Sources say the government is leaving no stone unturned in the legal system to challenge the Supreme Court verdict. Though the only option left for the government is to file a review petition, they are thinking twice on whether it would be a wise move. This dilemma prompted the government to approach the veteran lawyer. The government has also sought Salves advice related to the appointment of former Vigilance Director Jacob Thomas as his one-month leave is supposed to end on Sunday. However, sources said the crucial decision on Senkumar and Thomas would be taken early next week. Meanwhile, the delay in the Senkumar issue is likely to affect Police Chief Loknath Behera as he is still in office which can invite contempt of court charges. Legally, Senkumar has become the police chief. He had already submitted a copy of the judgment to Chief Secretary Nalini Netto. Senkumar was removed from the post in June last year citing his alleged apathy in handling the Puttingal temple tragedy case and the Jisha murder case. Though he was appointed the Managing Director of the Kerala Police Housing Construction Corporation Ltd, he refused to take up the post. Reinstate Senkumar: Ramesh TPuram: Citing technical grounds to delay the posting of T P Senkumar as Law and Order DGP despite a Supreme Court order is a challenge to the rule of law, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala told Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here on Friday. "The Supreme Court passed the order on April 24. The court has also held the posting of incumbent DGP Loknath Behera null and void. But no steps have been taken to reinstate Senkumar. The apathy of the state government in implementing the court order will only create suspicion in the minds of the people. It will also create division in the state police. The repercussions will be grave, he said in a letter. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Uncertainty over the reinstatement of T P Senkumar as the state police chief looms large. Overlooking the state Law Secretarys advice to reinstate him, the government sought the advice of senior lawyer Harish Salve on Friday. On Wednesday, Law Secretary B G Harindranath submitted a report to the government ruling out the possibilities of filing a review petition. The report said it was better to implement the court order rather than challenge it.But the government discussed with Salve whether to file a review petition against the Supreme Courts judgment. Salve had appeared in the High Court earlier for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to defend him in the SNC Lavalin case. In the landmark judgment on Monday, the apex court directed the state government to reinstate Senkumar with immediate effect. It stated the police officers in the country could not be made scapegoats by politicians. Sources say the government is leaving no stone unturned in the legal system to challenge the Supreme Court verdict. Though the only option left for the government is to file a review petition, they are thinking twice on whether it would be a wise move. This dilemma prompted the government to approach the veteran lawyer. The government has also sought Salves advice related to the appointment of former Vigilance Director Jacob Thomas as his one-month leave is supposed to end on Sunday. However, sources said the crucial decision on Senkumar and Thomas would be taken early next week. Meanwhile, the delay in the Senkumar issue is likely to affect Police Chief Loknath Behera as he is still in office which can invite contempt of court charges. Legally, Senkumar has become the police chief. He had already submitted a copy of the judgment to Chief Secretary Nalini Netto. Senkumar was removed from the post in June last year citing his alleged apathy in handling the Puttingal temple tragedy case and the Jisha murder case. Though he was appointed the Managing Director of the Kerala Police Housing Construction Corporation Ltd, he refused to take up the post. Reinstate Senkumar: Ramesh TPuram: Citing technical grounds to delay the posting of T P Senkumar as Law and Order DGP despite a Supreme Court order is a challenge to the rule of law, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala told Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here on Friday. "The Supreme Court passed the order on April 24. The court has also held the posting of incumbent DGP Loknath Behera null and void. But no steps have been taken to reinstate Senkumar. The apathy of the state government in implementing the court order will only create suspicion in the minds of the people. It will also create division in the state police. The repercussions will be grave, he said in a letter. By AFP KABUL: The Afghan Taliban announced Friday the start of their "spring offensive", saying they would target foreign forces in the country, heralding a fresh round of fighting in the drawn-out conflict. Operation Mansouri -- named after the group's former leader who was killed in a US drone strike in May 2016 -- will use strategies from "conventional attack to guerrilla operations", the statement said. "The key objective... will be the foreign forces, their military infrastructure and intelligence, and the elimination of their local mercenaries," the extremist group said in a statement. "The enemy will be targeted, harassed, killed or captured until they abandon their last posts." The annual spring offensive normally marks the start of the "fighting season", though this winter the lull was shorter and the Taliban continued to battle government forces. The Taliban warned of further "suicide attacks, complex attacks and inside attacks" by soldiers or police turning against their peers. Last week, they staged what is believed to be the deadliest-ever Taliban attack on a military installation, which left at least 135 recruits dead, Authorities have arrested 35 soldiers as fears grow the Taliban had inside help. The gunmen were dressed in army uniforms and had valid passes to the base, fuelling suspicions of complicity on the 30,000-strong base, where Western instructors are sometimes called on as part of NATO's training, assistance and advisory mission. So-called insider attacks -- when Afghan soldiers and police turn their guns on their colleagues or on international troops -- have been a major problem during the war, which began in 2001. Both the Afghan defence minister and his army chief resigned following the attack. It is not clear whether the announcement of the spring offensive will lead to an immediate escalation in fighting. - US warning - Earlier this month, the American military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on Islamic State group hideouts in eastern Afghanistan, killing nearly a hundred militants. It was the first time the US military's GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, dubbed the "Mother of All Bombs" had been used in combat. The target was IS hideouts in the Achin district of Nangarhar province. The bombing aimed to erode IS's capabilities in Afghanistan, but it was also seen as a warning to the much bigger Taliban group. The attack triggered global shockwaves, with some condemning the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that is not considered as big a threat as the resurgent Taliban. US-led NATO troops have been at war in Afghanistan since 2001, after the ousting of the Taliban regime for refusing to hand over Osama bin Laden following the 9/11 attacks in the United States. The US has around 8,400 troops in the country with about another 5,000 from NATO allies, as efforts to negotiate a lasting peace settlement between Kabul and the Taliban have repeatedly fallen through. KABUL: The Afghan Taliban announced Friday the start of their "spring offensive", saying they would target foreign forces in the country, heralding a fresh round of fighting in the drawn-out conflict. Operation Mansouri -- named after the group's former leader who was killed in a US drone strike in May 2016 -- will use strategies from "conventional attack to guerrilla operations", the statement said. "The key objective... will be the foreign forces, their military infrastructure and intelligence, and the elimination of their local mercenaries," the extremist group said in a statement. "The enemy will be targeted, harassed, killed or captured until they abandon their last posts." The annual spring offensive normally marks the start of the "fighting season", though this winter the lull was shorter and the Taliban continued to battle government forces. The Taliban warned of further "suicide attacks, complex attacks and inside attacks" by soldiers or police turning against their peers. Last week, they staged what is believed to be the deadliest-ever Taliban attack on a military installation, which left at least 135 recruits dead, Authorities have arrested 35 soldiers as fears grow the Taliban had inside help. The gunmen were dressed in army uniforms and had valid passes to the base, fuelling suspicions of complicity on the 30,000-strong base, where Western instructors are sometimes called on as part of NATO's training, assistance and advisory mission. So-called insider attacks -- when Afghan soldiers and police turn their guns on their colleagues or on international troops -- have been a major problem during the war, which began in 2001. Both the Afghan defence minister and his army chief resigned following the attack. It is not clear whether the announcement of the spring offensive will lead to an immediate escalation in fighting. - US warning - Earlier this month, the American military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on Islamic State group hideouts in eastern Afghanistan, killing nearly a hundred militants. It was the first time the US military's GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, dubbed the "Mother of All Bombs" had been used in combat. The target was IS hideouts in the Achin district of Nangarhar province. The bombing aimed to erode IS's capabilities in Afghanistan, but it was also seen as a warning to the much bigger Taliban group. The attack triggered global shockwaves, with some condemning the use of Afghanistan as what they called a testing ground for the weapon, and against a militant group that is not considered as big a threat as the resurgent Taliban. US-led NATO troops have been at war in Afghanistan since 2001, after the ousting of the Taliban regime for refusing to hand over Osama bin Laden following the 9/11 attacks in the United States. The US has around 8,400 troops in the country with about another 5,000 from NATO allies, as efforts to negotiate a lasting peace settlement between Kabul and the Taliban have repeatedly fallen through. By Associated Press WASHINGTON: Investigations intensified into President Donald Trump's ousted national security adviser, Michael Flynn, on Thursday as the Pentagon watchdog joined lawmakers in probing payments he accepted from foreign sources including a Russian state-sponsored TV network. At the same time, documents released by the top Democrat on a House oversight committee showed Flynn was warned by authorities when he retired from the military in 2014 not to take foreign government-sourced money without "advance approval" from the Pentagon. Flynn, a former Army lieutenant general and Defense Intelligence Agency chief, later accepted tens of thousands of dollars for his work on behalf of foreign interests, including RT, the state-supported Russian television network, and a Turkish-owned company linked to Turkey's government. The Pentagon's acting inspector general's office confirmed Thursday he has launched an inquiry into whether those payments qualify as coming from foreign governments and whether Flynn properly informed military authorities about them. The White House defended its hiring of Flynn and attempted to shift blame for any problems with his vetting onto the Obama administration, which handled the reissuance of his security clearance in January 2016. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., who released the documents, said during a news conference that Flynn had been clearly informed he needed to get permission to receive foreign payments and there's no evidence he did so. "The Pentagon's warning to General Flynn was bold, italicized and could not have been clearer," Cummings said. In a key 2014 document, Flynn was told by a Defense Intelligence Agency official that the U.S. Constitution's emoluments provision prohibits any monetary payments or gifts "from a foreign government unless congressional consent is first obtained." The Oct. 8, 2014, letter which was sent to Flynn at his request explained that such "advance approval" would need to come "from the relevant service secretary." Earlier this week, Cummings and Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House committee, said that they had found no evidence Flynn asked the Army for permission to receive foreign payments or informed the military he had accepted them. Army spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith said the Army had no records that Flynn requested that permission. One episode in question involves a trip he took to Moscow in 2015 for RT's anniversary celebration. He was paid at least $33,750 to attend the gala at which he was seated next to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "General Flynn's attorney says he discussed his trip to Moscow with DIA, but we have no evidence, not a shred, that he disclosed his payments," Cummings said Thursday. In a statement, Flynn's attorney Robert Kelner declared anew on Thursday that his client did brief DIA officials before and after. He pointed to a letter, released in redacted form by Cummings, notes that Flynn provided a thumb drive to the agency containing documents detailing the RT event, including that Leading Authorities, a speakers bureau that handled Flynn's paid speeches, was handling the event for him. He said the Defense Department "was fully aware of the trip." Kelner's statement did not address other payments Flynn received from foreign sources. Flynn has previously disclosed he got between $50,000 and $100,000 as part of his personal stake in $530,000 that his company, Flynn Intel Group, received for consulting work last year for a Turkish businessman. Last month Flynn's firm filed as a foreign agent with the Justice Department for its consulting work and acknowledged the work may have benefited the government of Turkey. Flynn's client, Inovo BV, is owned by a businessman who is also a member of a committee overseen by Turkey's finance ministry. In comments to the AP, Utah Republican Chaffetz, chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said that Flynn "had an obligation to seek approval to take money from a foreign government. We found no evidence that he did that." Chaffetz's office released a letter he sent on Thursday to the Army, asking the service's acting secretary to make a final determination as to whether Flynn violated federal law by accepting the payments, and if so, to start the process of recovering that money. Chaffetz also asked the Army to say why it hasn't yet made a determination as to the legality of Flynn's payments from RT given that they have been widely reported for at least two years. He also wants the Army to disclose any other investigations it's launched since 2010 into similar legal violations. The committee's inquiry is one of several congressional investigations into Flynn's contacts with foreign officials. Trump fired Flynn in February for failing to inform senior administration officials about his contacts with Russian officials contacts that are being examined as part of the wider inquiries into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign. On Thursday, 18 House Democrats on the oversight committee signed a letter calling on Chaffetz to do more to pressure the White House to release documents regarding Flynn. "There is obviously a paper trail that the White House does not want our committee to follow," the Democrats wrote in the letter. On Thursday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer rebuffed criticism from Cummings that the White House was covering up. Asked about Trump administration vetting, Spicer appeared to shift blame onto the Obama administration, which had fired Flynn as head of the DIA. "Why would you re-run a background check on someone who is the head of the Department of Defense Intelligence Agency that had and did maintain a high-level security clearance?" Spicer asked. He noted that Flynn's security clearance was renewed during the Obama administration "with all of the information that's being discussed that occurred in 2015." The White House recently told the committee that documents the lawmakers sought would not be turned over because they contained classified information or were not relevant to the committee's investigation. WASHINGTON: Investigations intensified into President Donald Trump's ousted national security adviser, Michael Flynn, on Thursday as the Pentagon watchdog joined lawmakers in probing payments he accepted from foreign sources including a Russian state-sponsored TV network. At the same time, documents released by the top Democrat on a House oversight committee showed Flynn was warned by authorities when he retired from the military in 2014 not to take foreign government-sourced money without "advance approval" from the Pentagon. Flynn, a former Army lieutenant general and Defense Intelligence Agency chief, later accepted tens of thousands of dollars for his work on behalf of foreign interests, including RT, the state-supported Russian television network, and a Turkish-owned company linked to Turkey's government. The Pentagon's acting inspector general's office confirmed Thursday he has launched an inquiry into whether those payments qualify as coming from foreign governments and whether Flynn properly informed military authorities about them. The White House defended its hiring of Flynn and attempted to shift blame for any problems with his vetting onto the Obama administration, which handled the reissuance of his security clearance in January 2016. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., who released the documents, said during a news conference that Flynn had been clearly informed he needed to get permission to receive foreign payments and there's no evidence he did so. "The Pentagon's warning to General Flynn was bold, italicized and could not have been clearer," Cummings said. In a key 2014 document, Flynn was told by a Defense Intelligence Agency official that the U.S. Constitution's emoluments provision prohibits any monetary payments or gifts "from a foreign government unless congressional consent is first obtained." The Oct. 8, 2014, letter which was sent to Flynn at his request explained that such "advance approval" would need to come "from the relevant service secretary." Earlier this week, Cummings and Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House committee, said that they had found no evidence Flynn asked the Army for permission to receive foreign payments or informed the military he had accepted them. Army spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith said the Army had no records that Flynn requested that permission. One episode in question involves a trip he took to Moscow in 2015 for RT's anniversary celebration. He was paid at least $33,750 to attend the gala at which he was seated next to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "General Flynn's attorney says he discussed his trip to Moscow with DIA, but we have no evidence, not a shred, that he disclosed his payments," Cummings said Thursday. In a statement, Flynn's attorney Robert Kelner declared anew on Thursday that his client did brief DIA officials before and after. He pointed to a letter, released in redacted form by Cummings, notes that Flynn provided a thumb drive to the agency containing documents detailing the RT event, including that Leading Authorities, a speakers bureau that handled Flynn's paid speeches, was handling the event for him. He said the Defense Department "was fully aware of the trip." Kelner's statement did not address other payments Flynn received from foreign sources. Flynn has previously disclosed he got between $50,000 and $100,000 as part of his personal stake in $530,000 that his company, Flynn Intel Group, received for consulting work last year for a Turkish businessman. Last month Flynn's firm filed as a foreign agent with the Justice Department for its consulting work and acknowledged the work may have benefited the government of Turkey. Flynn's client, Inovo BV, is owned by a businessman who is also a member of a committee overseen by Turkey's finance ministry. In comments to the AP, Utah Republican Chaffetz, chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said that Flynn "had an obligation to seek approval to take money from a foreign government. We found no evidence that he did that." Chaffetz's office released a letter he sent on Thursday to the Army, asking the service's acting secretary to make a final determination as to whether Flynn violated federal law by accepting the payments, and if so, to start the process of recovering that money. Chaffetz also asked the Army to say why it hasn't yet made a determination as to the legality of Flynn's payments from RT given that they have been widely reported for at least two years. He also wants the Army to disclose any other investigations it's launched since 2010 into similar legal violations. The committee's inquiry is one of several congressional investigations into Flynn's contacts with foreign officials. Trump fired Flynn in February for failing to inform senior administration officials about his contacts with Russian officials contacts that are being examined as part of the wider inquiries into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign. On Thursday, 18 House Democrats on the oversight committee signed a letter calling on Chaffetz to do more to pressure the White House to release documents regarding Flynn. "There is obviously a paper trail that the White House does not want our committee to follow," the Democrats wrote in the letter. On Thursday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer rebuffed criticism from Cummings that the White House was covering up. Asked about Trump administration vetting, Spicer appeared to shift blame onto the Obama administration, which had fired Flynn as head of the DIA. "Why would you re-run a background check on someone who is the head of the Department of Defense Intelligence Agency that had and did maintain a high-level security clearance?" Spicer asked. He noted that Flynn's security clearance was renewed during the Obama administration "with all of the information that's being discussed that occurred in 2015." The White House recently told the committee that documents the lawmakers sought would not be turned over because they contained classified information or were not relevant to the committee's investigation. By AFP KANO: At least five soldiers were killed and another 40 injured when a Boko Haram jihadist rammed an explosives-laden pick-up truck into a military convoy in northeast Nigeria, security sources told AFP on Friday. The bomber, believed to be loyal to factional leader Abu Mus'ab Al-Barnawi, targeted the convoy, which was conducting "clearance operations" between Yobe and Borno states, two military officers said. "At about 1100 hours (1000 GMT) on Thursday, a suicide bomber believed to be a Boko Haram terrorist riding in a van loaded with explosives rammed into a military convoy at Manguzum village," one said. "We lost five soldiers in the incident and more than 40 sustained various degrees of injuries," added the officer, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak about the incident. The convoy was heading to the garrison town of Damboa, which is some 90 kilometres (55 miles) from the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, at the time. A second military source said the troops were heading into Borno when the jihadist crashed his vehicle into a tank. "The armoured tank was seriously damaged and the operation slowed down," he added. There has been a spate of deadly attacks on military targets in recent months, as troops fight to end the eight-year insurgency, which has left at least 20,000 dead in Nigeria alone. The conflict has also spilled into neighbouring countries Cameroon, Chad and Niger, making more than two million homeless. Most of the recent attacks are suspected to have been carried out by the Al-Barnawi faction, which is backed by the Islamic State group. Last August IS declared Al-Barnawi, whose father founded Boko Haram, as the group's new leader, replacing its long-time figurehead Abubakar Shekau. Shekau has rejected Al-Barnawi's leadership and maintained he was still in charge, leading to a split and infighting. While Shekau focuses mainly on hit-and-run raids on villages and attacks on civilian targets, Al-Barnawi is focused on attacks on the military. Nigeria's government maintains Boko Haram is a spent force and in disarray, despite the attacks and an increase in suicide bombings targeting security checkpoints, mosques and camps for the displaced. KANO: At least five soldiers were killed and another 40 injured when a Boko Haram jihadist rammed an explosives-laden pick-up truck into a military convoy in northeast Nigeria, security sources told AFP on Friday. The bomber, believed to be loyal to factional leader Abu Mus'ab Al-Barnawi, targeted the convoy, which was conducting "clearance operations" between Yobe and Borno states, two military officers said. "At about 1100 hours (1000 GMT) on Thursday, a suicide bomber believed to be a Boko Haram terrorist riding in a van loaded with explosives rammed into a military convoy at Manguzum village," one said. "We lost five soldiers in the incident and more than 40 sustained various degrees of injuries," added the officer, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak about the incident. The convoy was heading to the garrison town of Damboa, which is some 90 kilometres (55 miles) from the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, at the time. A second military source said the troops were heading into Borno when the jihadist crashed his vehicle into a tank. "The armoured tank was seriously damaged and the operation slowed down," he added. There has been a spate of deadly attacks on military targets in recent months, as troops fight to end the eight-year insurgency, which has left at least 20,000 dead in Nigeria alone. The conflict has also spilled into neighbouring countries Cameroon, Chad and Niger, making more than two million homeless. Most of the recent attacks are suspected to have been carried out by the Al-Barnawi faction, which is backed by the Islamic State group. Last August IS declared Al-Barnawi, whose father founded Boko Haram, as the group's new leader, replacing its long-time figurehead Abubakar Shekau. Shekau has rejected Al-Barnawi's leadership and maintained he was still in charge, leading to a split and infighting. While Shekau focuses mainly on hit-and-run raids on villages and attacks on civilian targets, Al-Barnawi is focused on attacks on the military. Nigeria's government maintains Boko Haram is a spent force and in disarray, despite the attacks and an increase in suicide bombings targeting security checkpoints, mosques and camps for the displaced. By AFP DEIR SHARQI: Air strikes on two hospitals in rebel-held northwestern Syria left 10 people dead including two babies in incubators, a monitor said. They were among 19 people killed as a result of strikes across rebel-held Idlib province yesterday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. An AFP correspondent in the village of Deir Sharqi, where one of the hospitals was hit, saw extensive damage and wards buried in rubble. It was the third time in less than a week that medical facilities in the province, controlled by rebels and jihadist groups, had been hit in air strikes. "Apparently Russian aircraft... carried out four successive raids at dawn on a hospital on the outskirts" of Deir Sharqi, it said. "Six civilians in the emergency department were killed, including two babies in incubators, after the destruction of the facility's oxygen generator" which was keeping them alive, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. The AFP correspondent saw at least one destroyed incubator, rooms and corridors filled with rubble, and dusty or damaged beds and equipment. In one room, a wall had collapsed on a medicine shelf and in another, medical supplies were strewn across the room. Later in the day, four medical staff from a dispensary in Maarzita, in southern Idlib province, were also killed in what were likely Russian strikes, the Observatory said. A further nine people including five children were killed in strikes on various other areas of Idlib province on yesterday, it said. On Saturday, an air raid on another hospital in Idlib had wounded five people, the Observatory said, but it could not say whether the raid was Syrian or Russian. Another hospital was hit Tuesday in northwestern Idlib, putting it out of service, Abdel Rahman said. The Britain-based Observatory relies on a network of sources inside Syria and says it determines whose planes carry out raids according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions used. Idlib is regularly bombed by the air forces of Syria and its Russian ally. More than 320,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests. DEIR SHARQI: Air strikes on two hospitals in rebel-held northwestern Syria left 10 people dead including two babies in incubators, a monitor said. They were among 19 people killed as a result of strikes across rebel-held Idlib province yesterday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. An AFP correspondent in the village of Deir Sharqi, where one of the hospitals was hit, saw extensive damage and wards buried in rubble. It was the third time in less than a week that medical facilities in the province, controlled by rebels and jihadist groups, had been hit in air strikes. "Apparently Russian aircraft... carried out four successive raids at dawn on a hospital on the outskirts" of Deir Sharqi, it said. "Six civilians in the emergency department were killed, including two babies in incubators, after the destruction of the facility's oxygen generator" which was keeping them alive, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. The AFP correspondent saw at least one destroyed incubator, rooms and corridors filled with rubble, and dusty or damaged beds and equipment. In one room, a wall had collapsed on a medicine shelf and in another, medical supplies were strewn across the room. Later in the day, four medical staff from a dispensary in Maarzita, in southern Idlib province, were also killed in what were likely Russian strikes, the Observatory said. A further nine people including five children were killed in strikes on various other areas of Idlib province on yesterday, it said. On Saturday, an air raid on another hospital in Idlib had wounded five people, the Observatory said, but it could not say whether the raid was Syrian or Russian. Another hospital was hit Tuesday in northwestern Idlib, putting it out of service, Abdel Rahman said. The Britain-based Observatory relies on a network of sources inside Syria and says it determines whose planes carry out raids according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions used. Idlib is regularly bombed by the air forces of Syria and its Russian ally. More than 320,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests. By Associated Press WASHINGTON: Donald Trump, darling of the National Rifle Association, has custody of the Oval Office. The Republican-controlled Congress already has ditched one Obama-era rule to tighten access to guns. And an emboldened NRA has much more ambitious plans afoot for easing state and national gun laws as its annual convention unfolds this weekend in Atlanta. But gun control advocates do not want your pity, thank you very much. In the face of daunting presidential election results and a formidable NRA, the groups that stand in opposition to looser gun laws say they are ready to rumble. "We have become the David to the NRA's Goliath," says Shannon Watts, who founded Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America following the 2012 shooting deaths of 20 children and six adults in Newtown, Connecticut. The group is now part of Everytown for Gun Safety, which is backed by billionaire Michael Bloomberg and is the largest organization fighting gun violence in the U.S. "We feel much more invigorated because we know how important this is, given that Donald Trump is president" and the NRA spent more than $30 million to help him get there, says Watts. Count on similar sentiments from other groups seeking tighter gun rules as the NRA enjoys a post-election payoff moment Friday when Trump becomes the first president to appear at an NRA convention since Ronald Reagan in 1983. "Actually, having lost any sense of control in Congress and in many states facing bills that are irresponsible allows us in the gun violence prevention movement to organize and provide resistance," says David Chipman, a senior adviser to Americans for Responsible Solutions, the group founded by former Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband after she was shot in the head in a 2011 mass shooting in Tucson that left six people dead. "Often times, it's easier to get people engaged when there's a fear of something bad happening," says Chipman. Likewise, Barack Obama's presidency produced a spike in gun sales, and NRA memberships ticked up after the elections of Obama and Bill Clinton, amid fears of new restrictions on guns. With Trump's election, there's no shortage of material to motivate gun control advocates. After the Republican won the White House, NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre declared it time to "defeat the forces that have aligned against our freedom once and for all." The NRA is pushing for federal legislation to make any state's concealed-carry permits valid everywhere else, which opponents say would effectively turn the weakest gun standards in the nation into the law of the land. And the NRA is out to eliminate gun-free zones at schools and reduce state requirements for background checks, among other things. In one early sign of the changed environment, the GOP-led Congress in February passed a resolution to block a rule that would have kept guns out of the hands of certain people with mental disorders, and Trump quickly signed it. "There's no doubt that the election of Donald Trump was a major setback for the gun control movement," says Adam Winkler, a UCLA law professor and expert on gun policy. "Although President Obama was not able to get any new gun control legislation passed, under President Trump the NRA is going to be looking to loosen gun laws and is likely to succeed." Groups advocating tougher gun laws acknowledge there's little prospect for them to make gains at the national level. But they point to increasing success in recent years in the states, where they have enacted a number of measures to require universal background checks and tighten access to guns for domestic abusers. After too often looking for a knock-out punch that wasn't attainable, the groups "finally took something out of the playbook of the other side that was quite successful" for the NRA, says Harry Wilson, a Roanoke College professor who has written extensively on gun politics. With the NRA also notching state-level gains, the result is a patchwork of laws meaning that "when it comes to guns, red states are getting redder and blue states are getting bluer," says Winkler. Everytown President John Feinblatt says a top priority for gun control groups right now is defeating NRA-backed efforts to enact a national "concealed-carry reciprocity" law that would require all states to recognize other states' concealed carry permits. Gun control groups helped beat back such proposals in Congress in 2009, 2011 and 2013, and once again "we're planning for this never to get to the president's desk," says Feinblatt. The legislation is the chit that "the NRA wants the most from Donald Trump" after spending millions on his behalf, says Feinblatt. As for Everytown, adds Feinblatt, "we're building a counterweight to the gun lobby. Despite the popularly held belief that the NRA and the gun lobby is invincible and despite the popular belief that they speak for the people, actually, when there is a counterweight on the other side, the counterweight more often than not is going to win." Part of the challenge for those seeking tougher gun laws, though, is to make their message stand out when Trump opponents have so much they're worried about. They're concerned about health care, climate change, worker rights and so much more. Gun rights supporters, meanwhile, tend to be more passionate about gun policy as their make-or-break voting issue, polls show. Watts says she wondered what would happen to the effort to tighten access to guns after Trump's election but she says volunteers in "Moms Demand Action" T-shirts now number close to 50,000 and have become a familiar presence in statehouses around the nation, where the 5-million-member NRA once operated virtually unchallenged. "People talk about this intensity gap all the time," says Watts. "I don't feel that. ... I'm seeing us building to match an organization that's been around for 30 years." WASHINGTON: Donald Trump, darling of the National Rifle Association, has custody of the Oval Office. The Republican-controlled Congress already has ditched one Obama-era rule to tighten access to guns. And an emboldened NRA has much more ambitious plans afoot for easing state and national gun laws as its annual convention unfolds this weekend in Atlanta. But gun control advocates do not want your pity, thank you very much. In the face of daunting presidential election results and a formidable NRA, the groups that stand in opposition to looser gun laws say they are ready to rumble. "We have become the David to the NRA's Goliath," says Shannon Watts, who founded Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America following the 2012 shooting deaths of 20 children and six adults in Newtown, Connecticut. The group is now part of Everytown for Gun Safety, which is backed by billionaire Michael Bloomberg and is the largest organization fighting gun violence in the U.S. "We feel much more invigorated because we know how important this is, given that Donald Trump is president" and the NRA spent more than $30 million to help him get there, says Watts. Count on similar sentiments from other groups seeking tighter gun rules as the NRA enjoys a post-election payoff moment Friday when Trump becomes the first president to appear at an NRA convention since Ronald Reagan in 1983. "Actually, having lost any sense of control in Congress and in many states facing bills that are irresponsible allows us in the gun violence prevention movement to organize and provide resistance," says David Chipman, a senior adviser to Americans for Responsible Solutions, the group founded by former Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband after she was shot in the head in a 2011 mass shooting in Tucson that left six people dead. "Often times, it's easier to get people engaged when there's a fear of something bad happening," says Chipman. Likewise, Barack Obama's presidency produced a spike in gun sales, and NRA memberships ticked up after the elections of Obama and Bill Clinton, amid fears of new restrictions on guns. With Trump's election, there's no shortage of material to motivate gun control advocates. After the Republican won the White House, NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre declared it time to "defeat the forces that have aligned against our freedom once and for all." The NRA is pushing for federal legislation to make any state's concealed-carry permits valid everywhere else, which opponents say would effectively turn the weakest gun standards in the nation into the law of the land. And the NRA is out to eliminate gun-free zones at schools and reduce state requirements for background checks, among other things. In one early sign of the changed environment, the GOP-led Congress in February passed a resolution to block a rule that would have kept guns out of the hands of certain people with mental disorders, and Trump quickly signed it. "There's no doubt that the election of Donald Trump was a major setback for the gun control movement," says Adam Winkler, a UCLA law professor and expert on gun policy. "Although President Obama was not able to get any new gun control legislation passed, under President Trump the NRA is going to be looking to loosen gun laws and is likely to succeed." Groups advocating tougher gun laws acknowledge there's little prospect for them to make gains at the national level. But they point to increasing success in recent years in the states, where they have enacted a number of measures to require universal background checks and tighten access to guns for domestic abusers. After too often looking for a knock-out punch that wasn't attainable, the groups "finally took something out of the playbook of the other side that was quite successful" for the NRA, says Harry Wilson, a Roanoke College professor who has written extensively on gun politics. With the NRA also notching state-level gains, the result is a patchwork of laws meaning that "when it comes to guns, red states are getting redder and blue states are getting bluer," says Winkler. Everytown President John Feinblatt says a top priority for gun control groups right now is defeating NRA-backed efforts to enact a national "concealed-carry reciprocity" law that would require all states to recognize other states' concealed carry permits. Gun control groups helped beat back such proposals in Congress in 2009, 2011 and 2013, and once again "we're planning for this never to get to the president's desk," says Feinblatt. The legislation is the chit that "the NRA wants the most from Donald Trump" after spending millions on his behalf, says Feinblatt. As for Everytown, adds Feinblatt, "we're building a counterweight to the gun lobby. Despite the popularly held belief that the NRA and the gun lobby is invincible and despite the popular belief that they speak for the people, actually, when there is a counterweight on the other side, the counterweight more often than not is going to win." Part of the challenge for those seeking tougher gun laws, though, is to make their message stand out when Trump opponents have so much they're worried about. They're concerned about health care, climate change, worker rights and so much more. Gun rights supporters, meanwhile, tend to be more passionate about gun policy as their make-or-break voting issue, polls show. Watts says she wondered what would happen to the effort to tighten access to guns after Trump's election but she says volunteers in "Moms Demand Action" T-shirts now number close to 50,000 and have become a familiar presence in statehouses around the nation, where the 5-million-member NRA once operated virtually unchallenged. "People talk about this intensity gap all the time," says Watts. "I don't feel that. ... I'm seeing us building to match an organization that's been around for 30 years." By AFP WASHINGTON: The Pentagon on Friday said it was investigating whether two US special operations commandos who were killed in Afghanistan this week had been struck by friendly fire. Army Ranger sergeants Joshua Rodgers and Cameron Thomas died in a raid overnight Wednesday-Thursday as they helped attack a headquarters compound of the Islamic State group in eastern Nangarhar province. "We are investigating the circumstances of the combat deaths of the two Army Rangers in the beginning of what was an intense three-hour firefight," Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said. "It is possible the Rangers were struck by friendly fire." A formal probe was underway to determine whether the bullets came from US, Afghan or jihadist gunfire. Another US commando was wounded in the raid. Davis said about 50 US special forces and 40 Afghan commandos had been choppered in to the Mohmand Valley late Wednesday near the compound used by Abdul Hasib, whom the Pentagon called the IS leader in Afghanistan. That local jihadist group is affiliated with IS in Iraq and Syria, and the US military calls it Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K. "Within a few minutes of landing, our combined force came under intense fire from multiple directions and well-prepared fighting positions," US Forces-Afghanistan said in a statement. "Nevertheless, our forces successfully closed on the enemy, killed several high-level ISIS-K leaders and upwards of 35 fighters." The compound was located near the tunnel complex where the US military on April 13 unleashed the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast device that the Pentagon said was the biggest non-nuclear weapon it had ever used in combat. Davis said officials suspected Hasib was killed in Wednesday's raid, but it had not been confirmed. The Pentagon estimates that about 1,000 IS fighters remain in Afghanistan. The jihadists established a foothold there in early 2015 and their numbers now are about half what they were at their peak. "If confirmed, the death of the emir (Hasib) and his associates will significantly degrade ISIS-K operations in Afghanistan and help reach our goal of destroying them in 2017," US-Forces Afghanistan said. WASHINGTON: The Pentagon on Friday said it was investigating whether two US special operations commandos who were killed in Afghanistan this week had been struck by friendly fire. Army Ranger sergeants Joshua Rodgers and Cameron Thomas died in a raid overnight Wednesday-Thursday as they helped attack a headquarters compound of the Islamic State group in eastern Nangarhar province. "We are investigating the circumstances of the combat deaths of the two Army Rangers in the beginning of what was an intense three-hour firefight," Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said. "It is possible the Rangers were struck by friendly fire." A formal probe was underway to determine whether the bullets came from US, Afghan or jihadist gunfire. Another US commando was wounded in the raid. Davis said about 50 US special forces and 40 Afghan commandos had been choppered in to the Mohmand Valley late Wednesday near the compound used by Abdul Hasib, whom the Pentagon called the IS leader in Afghanistan. That local jihadist group is affiliated with IS in Iraq and Syria, and the US military calls it Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K. "Within a few minutes of landing, our combined force came under intense fire from multiple directions and well-prepared fighting positions," US Forces-Afghanistan said in a statement. "Nevertheless, our forces successfully closed on the enemy, killed several high-level ISIS-K leaders and upwards of 35 fighters." The compound was located near the tunnel complex where the US military on April 13 unleashed the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast device that the Pentagon said was the biggest non-nuclear weapon it had ever used in combat. Davis said officials suspected Hasib was killed in Wednesday's raid, but it had not been confirmed. The Pentagon estimates that about 1,000 IS fighters remain in Afghanistan. The jihadists established a foothold there in early 2015 and their numbers now are about half what they were at their peak. "If confirmed, the death of the emir (Hasib) and his associates will significantly degrade ISIS-K operations in Afghanistan and help reach our goal of destroying them in 2017," US-Forces Afghanistan said. By AFP CARACAS: Venezuela defied international pressure over its deadly political crisis Thursday as European lawmakers accused its government of "brutal repression" and US President Donald Trump called the country "a mess." Nearly a month of clashes at anti-government protests have left 28 people dead, according to prosecutors. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday intensified his row with foreign powers that he accuses of plotting to overthrow him. His government announced it was launching the two-year process to pull out of the Organization of American States, a key regional diplomatic grouping whose secretary general Luis Almagro has branded Maduro a dictator. "I am proud to say I took the decision... to free our country from interventionism," Maduro said in a speech on Thursday. "We are free of the OAS and we will never return," he added. "To hell with the OAS! To hell with Luis Almagro!" - OAS branded 'traitors' - The move was a defiant show of force in a mounting crisis for Maduro, whose center-right opponents blame him for the country's economic collapse. They want elections to remove Maduro, whose current terms runs through the end of next year. The United States played down the announcement. It "has no real practical or immediate effect because withdrawing from the OAS requires up to two years," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. "In the meantime Venezuela will remain a full member of the OAS, and required to fulfill all of its obligations as a member state. And that begins obviously with respect for democratic norms and processes." - Trump 'sad' for Venezuela - US President Donald Trump meanwhile spoke out on the mounting crisis in Venezuela. "Venezuela is a mess," he said in response to a reporter's question as he received Argentine President Mauricio Macri at the White House. "I'm very sad for Venezuela," Trump said. "Venezuela is a very sad situation." In Brussels, the European Parliament said in a resolution it "strongly condemns the brutal repression exercised by the Venezuelan security forces, as well as irregul CARACAS: Venezuela defied international pressure over its deadly political crisis Thursday as European lawmakers accused its government of "brutal repression" and US President Donald Trump called the country "a mess." Nearly a month of clashes at anti-government protests have left 28 people dead, according to prosecutors. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday intensified his row with foreign powers that he accuses of plotting to overthrow him. His government announced it was launching the two-year process to pull out of the Organization of American States, a key regional diplomatic grouping whose secretary general Luis Almagro has branded Maduro a dictator. "I am proud to say I took the decision... to free our country from interventionism," Maduro said in a speech on Thursday. "We are free of the OAS and we will never return," he added. "To hell with the OAS! To hell with Luis Almagro!" - OAS branded 'traitors' - The move was a defiant show of force in a mounting crisis for Maduro, whose center-right opponents blame him for the country's economic collapse. They want elections to remove Maduro, whose current terms runs through the end of next year. The United States played down the announcement. It "has no real practical or immediate effect because withdrawing from the OAS requires up to two years," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. "In the meantime Venezuela will remain a full member of the OAS, and required to fulfill all of its obligations as a member state. And that begins obviously with respect for democratic norms and processes." - Trump 'sad' for Venezuela - US President Donald Trump meanwhile spoke out on the mounting crisis in Venezuela. "Venezuela is a mess," he said in response to a reporter's question as he received Argentine President Mauricio Macri at the White House. "I'm very sad for Venezuela," Trump said. "Venezuela is a very sad situation." In Brussels, the European Parliament said in a resolution it "strongly condemns the brutal repression exercised by the Venezuelan security forces, as well as irregul By AFP SEOUL: North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile from an area north of Pyongyang today, a news agency report said, but it failed seconds after it was launched. The test comes with tensions high on the Korean peninsula, with this the latest in a series of missile launches by the North and warnings from US President Donald Trump's administration that it was running out of patience. "North Korea fired an unidentified missile from a site in the vicinity of Bukchang in Pyeongannam-do (South Pyeongan Province) early this morning," Yonhap reported, quoting a statement issued by South Korea's military. "It is estimated to have failed." In Washington, a US defence official confirmed to AFP that North Korea had test-fired some kind of missile. The report added that the missile "apparently exploded seconds after liftoff". Seoul was analysing the type and flight distance of the projectile. The North has been ratcheting up tensions for months with a series of missile launches, including a volley of rockets in early March which saw three fall provocatively close to Japan. At the time, Pyongyang said it was a drill for an attack on US bases in Japan. The surge in tensions has rattled China, especially with Trump's repeated insistence that the US would take on North Korea alone if Beijing fails to curb Pyongyang's provocative behaviour. At UN Security Council yesterday, Washington pushed for tougher sanctions to confront the North Korean threat, piling pressure on China to rein in its ally while warning it was keeping military options "on the table". Addressing the UN Security Council for the first time, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for a global campaign of pressure to force Pyongyang to change course and put a halt to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. "Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences," he warned. Tillerson put the onus on China to use its "unique" leverage to influence its communist ally, but Beijing pushed back, arguing that it was unrealistic to expect one country to solve the conflict. China's patience with Pyongyang has clearly worn extremely thin and -- despite their historically close relations -- Kim Jong-Un has yet to visit Beijing, more than five years after inheriting power from his father. But China is reluctant to squeeze the unpredictable North too hard and risk triggering a confrontation or a regime collapse that could send a massive outflow of refugees into its territory -- and see US troops on its border in a unified Korea. Since taking power in 2011, Kim has stepped up a push to upgrade the North's weapons, and said in a New Year's address hat Pyongyang was in the "final stages" of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile. Analysts are divided over how close Pyongyang is to realising its full nuclear ambitions, but all agree it has made enormous strides under Kim's leadership. SEOUL: North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile from an area north of Pyongyang today, a news agency report said, but it failed seconds after it was launched. The test comes with tensions high on the Korean peninsula, with this the latest in a series of missile launches by the North and warnings from US President Donald Trump's administration that it was running out of patience. "North Korea fired an unidentified missile from a site in the vicinity of Bukchang in Pyeongannam-do (South Pyeongan Province) early this morning," Yonhap reported, quoting a statement issued by South Korea's military. "It is estimated to have failed." In Washington, a US defence official confirmed to AFP that North Korea had test-fired some kind of missile. The report added that the missile "apparently exploded seconds after liftoff". Seoul was analysing the type and flight distance of the projectile. The North has been ratcheting up tensions for months with a series of missile launches, including a volley of rockets in early March which saw three fall provocatively close to Japan. At the time, Pyongyang said it was a drill for an attack on US bases in Japan. The surge in tensions has rattled China, especially with Trump's repeated insistence that the US would take on North Korea alone if Beijing fails to curb Pyongyang's provocative behaviour. At UN Security Council yesterday, Washington pushed for tougher sanctions to confront the North Korean threat, piling pressure on China to rein in its ally while warning it was keeping military options "on the table". Addressing the UN Security Council for the first time, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for a global campaign of pressure to force Pyongyang to change course and put a halt to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. "Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences," he warned. Tillerson put the onus on China to use its "unique" leverage to influence its communist ally, but Beijing pushed back, arguing that it was unrealistic to expect one country to solve the conflict. China's patience with Pyongyang has clearly worn extremely thin and -- despite their historically close relations -- Kim Jong-Un has yet to visit Beijing, more than five years after inheriting power from his father. But China is reluctant to squeeze the unpredictable North too hard and risk triggering a confrontation or a regime collapse that could send a massive outflow of refugees into its territory -- and see US troops on its border in a unified Korea. Since taking power in 2011, Kim has stepped up a push to upgrade the North's weapons, and said in a New Year's address hat Pyongyang was in the "final stages" of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile. Analysts are divided over how close Pyongyang is to realising its full nuclear ambitions, but all agree it has made enormous strides under Kim's leadership. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's opposition parties today questioned the timing and the motive behind the meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Indian steel tycoon Sajjan Jindal at a private residence of the prime minister this week. Opposition parties raised their doubts at a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, with lawmakers from Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalling the discussion on agenda items with a barrage of questions on Jindal's "secret" visit on Wednesday. Jindal is said to be the man who had arranged a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sharif in Lahore on December 25 in 2015 on Sharif's birthday - also the day when his grand daughter Mehr-un-Nisa was married. The Jindal-Sharif meeting has triggered speculation in the Pakistani media that the India-Pak talks could be revived after the bilateral ties strained over cross-border terror attacks in India and over the death penalty to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistani military court on spying charges. PTI chief whip Shireen Mazari asked the government representatives how the Indian steel magnate was allowed to travel to the hill resort of Murree, 45 kms from the Pakistani capital, when he had a restricted visa for Islamabad and Lahore. "If he came on a private visit, why did we receive reports regarding his welcome through the Foreign Office?" she said. She was joined by PPP's Nafeesa Shah, who criticised the government's silence over the visit until the media broke the news. "Why is the government quiet with regard to the visit of Jindal. Why so much secrecy over it?" she said. Committee chairman Leghari retrieved the situation when he said that Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb had already said that it was private visit and nothing to do with diplomacy or relations with India. Meanwhile, speculations were rife about the purpose of the visit taking place weeks after Jadav was given the death penalty. India has said it would go to any length to save him. It has also been said that the meeting was part of a "back-channel" diplomacy to clear the way for a meeting between Sharif and Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in June in Kazakhstan. Imran Khan's party today submitted an adjournment motion in the National Assembly secretariat. It urged that the agenda should be postponed to discuss the visit and meeting between Jindal with Sharif. "Jindal's secret visit to Pakistan after Kulbhashan Yadhav has been awarded the death sentence is significant," according to the motion, filed by PTI lawmaker Murad Saeed. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's opposition parties today questioned the timing and the motive behind the meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Indian steel tycoon Sajjan Jindal at a private residence of the prime minister this week. Opposition parties raised their doubts at a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, with lawmakers from Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalling the discussion on agenda items with a barrage of questions on Jindal's "secret" visit on Wednesday. Jindal is said to be the man who had arranged a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sharif in Lahore on December 25 in 2015 on Sharif's birthday - also the day when his grand daughter Mehr-un-Nisa was married. The Jindal-Sharif meeting has triggered speculation in the Pakistani media that the India-Pak talks could be revived after the bilateral ties strained over cross-border terror attacks in India and over the death penalty to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistani military court on spying charges. PTI chief whip Shireen Mazari asked the government representatives how the Indian steel magnate was allowed to travel to the hill resort of Murree, 45 kms from the Pakistani capital, when he had a restricted visa for Islamabad and Lahore. "If he came on a private visit, why did we receive reports regarding his welcome through the Foreign Office?" she said. She was joined by PPP's Nafeesa Shah, who criticised the government's silence over the visit until the media broke the news. "Why is the government quiet with regard to the visit of Jindal. Why so much secrecy over it?" she said. Committee chairman Leghari retrieved the situation when he said that Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb had already said that it was private visit and nothing to do with diplomacy or relations with India. Meanwhile, speculations were rife about the purpose of the visit taking place weeks after Jadav was given the death penalty. India has said it would go to any length to save him. It has also been said that the meeting was part of a "back-channel" diplomacy to clear the way for a meeting between Sharif and Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in June in Kazakhstan. Imran Khan's party today submitted an adjournment motion in the National Assembly secretariat. It urged that the agenda should be postponed to discuss the visit and meeting between Jindal with Sharif. "Jindal's secret visit to Pakistan after Kulbhashan Yadhav has been awarded the death sentence is significant," according to the motion, filed by PTI lawmaker Murad Saeed. Trump, sitting Thursday alongside Argentinian President Mauricio Macri, said, "I was going to terminate NAFTA as of two to three days from now." But, he added, "If I'm unable to make a fair deal... for our workers and our companies, we will terminate NAFTA." "They asked me to renegotiate. I will," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "I decided rather than terminating NAFTA, which would be a pretty big shock to the system, we will renegotiate." President Donald Trump says phone conversations Wednesday with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau persuaded him not to imminently withdraw the United States from their countries' three-way trade pact. He reiterated his long-standing assertion that the 1994 trade agreement has been "very good for Canada. It has been very good for Mexico. But it has been horrible for the United States." The U.S. president's softening tone on what is perceived as America's most crucial trade pact is being well-received. "I am relieved," said Notre Dame University professor of finance Jeffrey Bergstrand, who notes trade agreements "not only lower tariffs, but create stability in the global value chain." Trump has already withdrawn the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement negotiated by his predecessor, Barack Obama, although that deal had not been ratified by Congress. A Mexican government statement on Wednesday's phone call between Trump and Pena Nieto stated the leaders agreed on the convenience of maintaining NAFTA and working with Canada to bring about successful negotiations. A Canadian foreign ministry spokesman said Ottawa is "ready to come to the table at any time." Trump targeted Canada this week for what he said was unfair trade practices and he ordered a new 20 percent tariff on Canadian lumber imports, which could add to the cost of buying new houses in the United States. Trump's consent to keep the United States in NAFTA, at least for a while, "probably reflects increasing voices from the business community that these trade policies have been good," Professor Bergstrand at the Mendoza College of Business told VOA. Many Mexican officials have called NAFTA a disappointment, saying it has brought slow economic growth despite increased investment in factories and industry. Queen Rania of Jordan met with supporters of the Jordan River Foundation (JRF) to relay Jordans economic and social pressures as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis. Prior to the meeting, the 24-member delegation toured Amman and visited the Queen Rania Family and Child Center. During the meeting, Queen Rania highlighted the challenges facing Jordan and thanked the group, which included leaders and experts from various sectors, for its fundraising activities. RI Election Day Coverage Recap: Election Results and more In the Nov. 8 election Rhode Islanders cast their vote for governor, Congressman, and ballot issues. Here's everything you need to know. One of the key messages that came out of President Donald Trump's meeting with U.S. lawmakers on North Korea was a renewed emphasis on the need to use sanctions and diplomacy to try and pressure Pyongyang back to the negotiating table. And while the outlook for the resumption of talks remains bleak at best, analysts say, China's support in that effort is key. How far Beijing is prepared to go to tighten the screws and support that effort is a big question. Further Energy Cuts? Analysts in China say the government is already doing all it can to keep the North in check. China cut coal imports from North Korea earlier this year and has been tightening financial flows to the North. Lu Chao, a North Korea scholar at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences in northeast China says all Chinese banks have stopped banking with their North Korean counterparts. "China has imposed the harshest sanctions ever against North Korea, the effect of which may take some time to kick in, but they will be effective," Lu says. Over the past week, the price of gasoline has surged in North Korea and some suspect Beijing is behind the price hike. It is not clear what caused the spike. Some analysts say North Korea could be stockpiling gas for fear that imports could soon be banned. Others say that when tensions rise, the military gets priority. China is unlikely to take unilateral action when it comes to sanctions, analysts say. But, tighter energy restrictions, including bans on Pyongyang's import of gasoline and other energy could be coming soon if North Korea continues to violate United Nations resolutions. "Such a move would have a big impact on North Korea's overall development of its nuclear weaponry, missile technology as well as its economy," says Cai Jian, director of the Center for Korea Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai. "It will also affect the livelihood of its people. So, we have to be cautious about these harsh sanctions, which should only be imposed as a last resort." A Chinese paramilitary policeman stands guard outside of the North Korean Embassy in Beijing, China on April 20, 2017. /AP No Longer Lips and Teeth China has long been seen as one of North Korea's closest allies, ties that used to frequently be described as close as "lips and teeth," but relations have taken a downturn since Kim Jong-un came to power. Six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program have been stalled since late 2007. And Kim Jong-un has shown little interest in returning to talks. Since taking over, he has carried out three nuclear tests and more than a dozen missile launches. Military analysts say another nuclear test could be held soon. Unlike his father, Kim Jong-un has not visited China. His uncle, Jang Song-taek, who had close ties with Beijing and was an advocate of opening up the reclusive country's economy, was executed in late 2013. Earlier this month, China tried to send its nuclear envoy, Wu Dawei, to North Korea, but that overture was rejected. China is definitely dissatisfied with North Korea's behavior, but it is unlikely to take any extraordinary measures, says Daniel Pinkston, northeast Asia security analyst and lecturer in international relations with Troy University in Seoul. "As far as causing the types of strains and stress that could destabilize North Korea and lead to some revolutionary change or toppling of the government or anything like that, I just don't see the Chinese doing that," Pinkston says. "They don't believe it is in their interest and I think they are probably right." Strong Signals In recent state media editorials, China has sent strong signals to its northeastern neighbor, warning that if any country risks war, they will have to assume the responsibility of history, notes Bong Young-shik, of the Yonsei University Institute for North Korean Studies in Seoul. "That's a very stern warning to Pyongyang, to warn Pyongyang not to engage in any outright provocations that will be perceived by the United States as North Korea has crossed the red line," Bong says. Many analysts have noted the shift in Beijing's tactic, and how it has softened its criticism of Washington and gotten tougher on Pyongyang. The impetus now is that China feels it has to deliver something to maintain its relationship with the United States, says Euan Graham, director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney, Australia. "These editorials that we're seeing also reflect the problem that there isn't really a handler of the relationship on the North Korean side anymore. There's no central person like Jang Song-taek, who for many years was the channel," Graham says. "So, it's not as easy, and the Chinese, I think, have genuine frustrations." Reporter Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Brineura (cerliponase alfa) as a treatment for a specific form of Batten disease. Brineura is the first FDA-approved treatment to slow loss of walking ability (ambulation) in symptomatic pediatric patients 3 years of age and older with late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2), also known as tripeptidyl peptidase-1 (TPP1) deficiency. "The FDA is committed to approving new and innovative therapies for patients with rare diseases, particularly where there are no approved treatment options," said Julie Beitz, M.D., director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Approving the first drug for the treatment of this form of Batten disease is an important advance for patients suffering with this condition." CLN2 disease is one of a group of disorders known as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs), collectively referred to as Batten disease. CLN2 disease is a rare inherited disorder that primarily affects the nervous system. In the late infantile form of the disease, signs and symptoms typically begin between ages 2 and 4. The initial symptoms usually include language delay, recurrent seizures (epilepsy) and difficulty coordinating movements (ataxia). Affected children also develop muscle twitches (myoclonus) and vision loss. CLN2 disease affects essential motor skills, such as sitting and walking. Individuals with this condition often require the use of a wheelchair by late childhood and typically do not survive past their teens. Batten disease is relatively rare, occurring in an estimated two to four of every 100,000 live births in the United States. Brineura is an enzyme replacement therapy. Its active ingredient (cerliponase alfa) is a recombinant form of human TPP1, the enzyme deficient in patients with CLN2 disease. Brineura is administered into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by infusion via a specific surgically implanted reservoir and catheter in the head (intraventricular access device). Brineura must be administered under sterile conditions to reduce the risk of infections, and treatment should be managed by a health care professional knowledgeable in intraventricular administration. The recommended dose of Brineura in pediatric patients 3 years of age and older is 300 mg administered once every other week by intraventricular infusion, followed by an infusion of electrolytes. The complete Brineura infusion, including the required infusion of intraventricular electrolytes, lasts approximately 4.5 hours. Pre-treatment of patients with antihistamines with or without antipyretics (drugs for prevention or treatment of fever) or corticosteroids is recommended 30 to 60 minutes prior to the start of the infusion. The efficacy of Brineura was established in a non-randomized, single-arm dose escalation clinical study in 22 symptomatic pediatric patients with CLN2 disease and compared to 42 untreated patients with CLN2 disease from a natural history cohort (an independent historical control group) who were at least 3 years old and had motor or language symptoms. Taking into account age, baseline walking ability and genotype, Brineura-treated patients demonstrated fewer declines in walking ability compared to untreated patients in the natural history cohort. The safety of Brineura was evaluated in 24 patients with CLN2 disease aged 3 to 8 years who received at least one dose of Brineura in clinical studies. The safety and effectiveness of Brineura have not been established in patients less than 3 years of age. Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today The most common adverse reactions in patients treated with Brineura include fever, ECG abnormalities including slow heart rate (bradycardia), hypersensitivity, decrease or increase in CSF protein, vomiting, seizures, hematoma (abnormal collection of blood outside of a blood vessel), headache, irritability, increased CSF white blood cell count (pleocytosis), device-related infection, feeling jittery and low blood pressure. Brineura should not be administered to patients if there are signs of acute intraventricular access device-related complications (e.g., leakage, device failure or signs of device-related infection such as swelling, erythema of the scalp, extravasation of fluid, or bulging of the scalp around or above the intraventricular access device). In case of intraventricular access device complications, health care providers should discontinue infusion of Brineura and refer to the device manufacturer's labeling for further instructions. Additionally, health care providers should routinely test patient CSF samples to detect device infections. Brineura should also not be used in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts (medical devices that relieve pressure on the brain caused by fluid accumulation). Health care providers should also monitor vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, etc.) before the infusion starts, periodically during infusion and post-infusion in a health care setting. Health care providers should perform electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring during infusion in patients with a history of slow heart rate (bradycardia), conduction disorder (impaired progression of electrical impulses through the heart) or structural heart disease (defect or abnormality of the heart), as some patients with CLN2 disease can develop conduction disorders or heart disease. Hypersensitivity reactions have also been reported in Brineura-treated patients. Due to the potential for anaphylaxis, appropriate medical support should be readily available when Brineura is administered. If anaphylaxis occurs, infusion should be immediately discontinued and appropriate treatment should be initiated. The FDA will require the Brineura manufacturer to further evaluate the safety of Brineura in CLN2 patients below the age of 2 years, including device related adverse events and complications with routine use. In addition, a long-term safety study will assess Brineura treated CLN2 patients for a minimum of 10 years. The FDA granted this application Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy designations. Brineura also received Orphan Drug designation, which provides incentives to assist and encourage the development of drugs for rare diseases. The sponsor is also receiving a Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher under a program intended to encourage development of new drugs and biologics for the prevention and treatment of rare pediatric diseases. A voucher can be redeemed by a sponsor at a later date to receive Priority Review of a subsequent marketing application for a different product. This is the tenth rare pediatric disease priority review voucher issued by the FDA since the program began. The FDA granted approval of Brineura to BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Our bodies are constantly under siege by foreign invaders; viruses, bacteria and parasites that want to infiltrate our cells. A new study in the journal eLife sheds light on how germ cells - sperm and egg - protect themselves from these attackers so that they can pass accurate genetic information to the next generation. Researchers from the University of Rochester Center for RNA Biology: From Genome to Therapeutics examined the role of piRNA in safeguarding the integrity of the genetic information in germ cells. It's known that piRNA -- a type of ribonucleic acid (RNA) that's found most readily in the testes and ovaries -- shields germ cells by silencing the genetic sequences of viral intruders. It's also known that defects or mutations in piRNA lead to infertility in humans and other animals. What's not known is how piRNAs are generated in the first place. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today A team led by Xin Li, Ph.D., assistant professor in the departments of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Urology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, analyzed rooster testes to find out. Chickens acquire and harbor a wide variety of viruses. When a virus infects a host, like a chicken, it does everything it can to survive. One method of survival is inserting its genetic material into the chicken's genome. Over generations, the inserted virus accumulates mutations and eventually becomes harmless to the animal, but it's still a part of the chicken's genetic material. Li's team focused on avian leukosis virus, which commonly infects and can lead to cancer in domestic chickens. Through molecular and genetic analysis, they discovered that chickens turn these old, existing viruses into piRNA-producing machines. When faced with a new avian leucosis virus (there are many different viruses in the family), the old viruses pump out piRNAs that defend the germ cells, ensuring the passage of intact genetic material to the next round of offspring. "Our study shows how a host can turn a virus into a weapon to fight future viruses," says Li, whose work is partially funded by a National Institute of Health grant designed to support the early careers of new scientists. "Better understanding piRNA may help us target more viruses, both in chickens and in people." In the United States, 8 billion domestic chickens are consumed each year, and more knowledge of how these birds defend themselves against viral infections could increase the productivity of the poultry industry around the world. Because other viruses trapped in the chicken's genetic code are related to similar viruses in humans, future discoveries in this area could help guide research benefiting human health, too. U.S. Pacific Command chief Adm. Harry Harris on Wednesday named North Korea as the "most imminent threat" to the U.S. and its allies in the Pacific and urged lawmakers to support the deployment of advanced American weapons in the region. Harris was speaking at the House Armed Services Committee, where he devoted two-thirds of his opening statement to the North Korean standoff. He also told the committee that the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery being set up in South Korea will become operational "in the coming days," which will give the two allies the capacity to deal with North Korean provocations. But Harris brushed off Chinese concerns that the THAAD deployment would heighten regional tensions. "I find it preposterous that China would try to influence South Korea to not get a weapons system that's completely defensive against the very country that's allied with China," Harris said. "So if China wants to do something constructive then they ought to focus less, in my opinion, on South Korea's defensive preparations and focus instead more on North Korea's offensive preparations." Worry - it does a body good. And, the mind as well. A new paper by Kate Sweeny, psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside, argues there's an upside to worrying. "Despite its negative reputation, not all worry is destructive or even futile," Sweeny said. "It has motivational benefits, and it acts as an emotional buffer." In her latest article, "The Surprising Upsides of Worry," published in Social and Personality Psychology Compass, Sweeny breaks down the role of worry in motivating preventive and protective behavior, and how it leads people to avoid unpleasant events. Sweeny finds worry is associated with recovery from traumatic events, adaptive preparation and planning, recovery from depression, and partaking in activities that promote health, and prevent illness. Furthermore, people who report greater worry may perform better -- in school or at the workplace -- seek more information in response to stressful events, and engage in more successful problem solving. Worry as a Motivator The motivational power of worry has been studied and linked to preventive health behavior, like seatbelt use. In a nationally representative sample of Americans, feelings of worry about skin cancer predicted sunscreen use. And participants who reported higher levels of cancer-related worries also conducted breast self-examinations, underwent regular mammograms, and sought clinical breast examinations. "Interestingly enough, there are examples of a more nuanced relationship between worry and preventive behavior as well," Sweeny said. "Women who reported moderate amounts of worry, compared to women reporting relatively low or high levels of worry, are more likely to get screened for cancer. It seems that both too much and too little worry can interfere with motivation, but the right amount of worry can motivate without paralyzing." In the paper, Sweeny noted three explanations for worry's motivating effects. 1. Worry serves as a cue that the situation is serious and requires action. People use their emotions as a source of information when making judgments and decisions. 2. Worrying about a stressor keeps the stressor at the front of one's mind and prompts people toward action. 3. The unpleasant feeling of worry motivates people to find ways to reduce their worry. "Even in circumstances when efforts to prevent undesirable outcomes are futile, worry can motivate proactive efforts to assemble a ready-made set of responses in the case of bad news," Sweeny said. "In this instance, worrying pays off because one is actively thinking of a 'plan B.'" Worry as a Buffer Worry can also benefit one's emotional state by serving as an emotional bench-mark. Compared to the state of worry, any other feeling is pleasurable by contrast. In other words, the pleasure that comes from a good experience is heightened if preceded by a bad experience. "If people's feelings of worry over a future outcome are sufficiently intense and unpleasant, their emotional response to the outcome they ultimately experience will seem more pleasurable in comparison to their previous, worried state," Sweeny said. Research on bracing for the worst provides indirect evidence for the role of worry as an emotional buffer, according to Sweeny. As people brace for the worst, they embrace a pessimistic outlook to mitigate potential disappointment, boosting excitement if the news is good. Therefore, both bracing and worrying have an emotional payoff following the moment of truth. "Extreme levels of worry are harmful to one's health. I do not intend to advocate for excessive worrying. Instead, I hope to provide reassurance to the helpless worrier - planning and preventive action is not a bad thing," Sweeny said. "Worrying the right amount is far better than not worrying at all." Arizona State University has earned 14 National Science Foundation early career faculty awards, ranking second among all university recipients of the prestigious awards for 2017 and setting a new ASU record. The awards total $7 million in funding for the ASU researchers over five years. ASU's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering earned 10 awards, placing it alongside the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Georgia Institute of Technology as the top three engineering schools to receive the awards. This year's award total ranks ASU above top engineering schools including Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, California Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley. The NSF's Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program identifies the nation's most promising junior faculty members and provides them with funding to pursue outstanding research, excellence in teaching and the integration of education and research. To date , Illinois has garnered 17 overall CAREER awards for 2017, the University of Michigan 12, and Georgia Tech, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Pennsylvania State University each hold 11 awards. The award process will continue through June. Ten awards for the Fulton Schools is a record for the nation's largest engineering school, says Dean Kyle Squires. "I'm proud that ASU attracts faculty and students whose powerful ideas can result in transformational breakthroughs," he says. "These awards exemplify our faculty's commitment to impactful research with the CAREER awards enabling novel integration of their research into education and outreach activities, and in ways that impact an enormous array of applications in engineering and computer science. Junior faculty success in the NSF and similar programs with other federal funding agencies indicates the strength and potential growth of our faculty." ASU projects funded by this year's awards include automated detection of computer network vulnerabilities, understanding heart attacks, keeping power grids functioning during disasters and predicting earthquakes and volcanoes. This year's ASU NSF CAREER award recipients include: Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering: Mehdi Nikkhah, assistant professor, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering: Myocardial infarction (heart attack) is a leading cause of death, but the underlying biological mechanisms that lead to damage to the heart during a heart attack are not well understood. This study seeks to uncover those mechanisms to improve our fundamental understanding of heart disease and its causes. Adam Doupe, assistant professor, School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering: Sensitive data breaches are often caused by overlooked vulnerabilities in web applications, and current solutions to identifying them--hiring white-hat human hackers, for example--are not cost-effective. This project advances the state-of-the-art in automated black-box vulnerability analysis tools. By using open-sourced tools and techniques, this approach can find unknown vulnerabilities in any web application cost-effectively. Hanghang Tong, assistant professor, School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering: Improving the ability of a network to function during a disturbance (e.g. a power grid during a hurricane or when under attack) is an ongoing challenge. Existing work on network robustness is essentially observational. Through better theories and algorithms that are effective, scalable, applicable and adaptable, this project seeks to design strategies for intervening and improving network robustness, and to validate the proposed techniques in the context of real-world applications such as intelligent transportation systems and online social collaboration networks. Fengbo Ren, assistant professor, School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering: Long-term monitoring of the Internet-of-Things (IoT) is constrained by sensor energy efficiency. This project will develop a data-driven, hardware-friendly IoT framework to fill unmet energy efficiency needs, especially for wearable applications. Applications include monitoring air quality, radiation, water quality, hazardous chemicals and other environmental indicators. Carole-Jean Wu, assistant professor, School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering: A smartphone's user satisfaction is a balance between computation performance and battery performance; energy efficiency, in turn, is tightly coupled to computation performance and surface temperature management. This research tackles the problem of handheld device design from the perspective of user satisfaction driven by the co-optimization of performance, temperature management, and energy efficiency. Umit Ogras, assistant professor, School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering: Flexible electronics technologies have the potential to transform computing by enabling bendable and stretchable systems at a low cost, including wearable electronics, medical sensing and rolling displays. However, the performance and capabilities of purely flexible electronics are currently much more limited than for silicon technology. Flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) integrates rigid silicon chips and printed electronics to bridge the gap between today's complex systems and flexible electronics. This project provides a systematic approach to designing wearable systems and arbitrarily shaped objects, such as electronic patches that can examine movement disorders outside of clinical environments. Jae-sun Seo, assistant professor, School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering: This project address major hardware and software design challenges inherent in building computers that can perform cognitive tasks (e.g., learning, recognition) as well as humans, taking a major step toward building brain-inspired intelligent computing systems that are ultra-energy-efficient for cognitive tasks in computer vision, speech, robotics and biomedical applications. Jay Oswald, assistant professor, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment: This project supports fundamental research on how material structure at the molecular scale affects macroscopic physical properties of semi-crystalline plastics. Its goal is to foster innovation in plastics manufacturing and shorten today's typical 10- to 20-year development cycle for materials development. Robert Wang, assistant professor, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment: Materials that enable advanced control over the transmission of electricity and light are known as electronic and photonic materials, respectively. These materials have made possible numerous modern technologies such as laptops, cellular phones, fiber optics, lasers and microscopes. In contrast, technological control over sound and heat has lagged far behind. This project focuses on creating phononic materials that consist of organized nanoparticle-molecule assemblies that possess vibrational characteristics that do not arise in naturally occurring materials. These novel assemblies will then be used to create filters, mirrors and one-way valves that manipulate the transmission of sound and heat. Yueming (Lucy) Qiu, assistant professor, The Polytechnic School: Using a dataset from the Phoenix metropolitan area, this project creates a platform for accurate and scalable analysis of home energy efficiency projects, taking into consideration such factors as the interplay of technologies and occupant behaviors, that will translate into statistical evidence of realized energy savings. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Christy Till, assistant professor, School of Earth and Space Exploration: Monitoring the composition of volcanic gas emissions, local ground surface deformation and the size and location of volcanism-related earthquakes provides a wealth of information about magma storage and movement beneath active volcanoes. Despite the volume of information collected about volcanism-related earthquakes, there is a lack of sufficient context to interpret those data in ways that enable the prediction of coming eruptions. This project will reconstruct detailed histories of magma bodies in the days and years leading to past eruptions at three different explosive volcanoes, which will then be used to develop models for eruption forecasting and volcano hazard assessments. Ryan Trovitch, assistant professor, School of Molecular Sciences: Long-chain polymer molecules are used in agriculture, food, healthy and safety and food industries. For more than half a century, for example, silicone polymers have been used in consumer products such as contact lenses, flexible tubing and medical implants. This project seeks ways to overcome the significant challenges of making catalysts to prepare polymers from abundant metals, such as manganese, rather than costly precious metals like platinum, iridium and silver. The development of manganese-based catalysts for silicone preparation would represent a significant advance in sustainable chemistry. Gary Moore, assistant professor, School of Molecular Sciences: Catalysts are chemical substances that provide alternative pathways for chemical reactions, and some are difficult to recover when the process is completed. Attaching these catalysts to a solid surface improves their recoverability and provides additional pathways for use. This project is developing innovative ways to create and assemble polymeric surface coatings that attach molecular catalysts to solids in ways that are useful for solar energy capture and storage. The catalyst-polymer construct stabilizes the component materials and enhances their utility for generating fuels and other value-added chemical products, with minimal environmental impact. Steve Presse, associate professor, School of Molecular Sciences: The living cell is an active environment where large biological molecules (such as proteins or DNA) move, collide and react. Current experiments observe these processes indirectly in living systems and, as a result, interpreting these data to understand and mathematically describe what happens inside cells is challenging. This project seeks to contribute to the development of quantitative biology by considering how data-driven models can be inferred from currently available experimental data. This modeling will produce theoretical frameworks that capture how the diffusion of biomolecules and their fluctuating shapes ultimately sustain life. Mellitus, LLC today reported the publication of results from a prospective, investigator-initiated study conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital demonstrating the potential clinical utility of glycated CD59 (GCD59) as a novel biomarker for the screening and diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The data from this study showed that a single blood test that measures plasma GCD59 at week 24-28 of gestation identified women with GDM with high sensitivity and specificity. The study was completed by a team of investigators at BWH led by Jose A. Halperin, M.D., in collaboration with researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Halperin, scientific Co-founder of Mellitus, is a physician and researcher at BWH and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS). The paper titled, "Plasma Glycated CD59, a Novel Biomarker for Detection of Pregnancy-Induced Glucose Intolerance," was published online ahead of print in the Novel Communications in Diabetes section of Diabetes Care, an American Diabetes Association journal. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), also known as diabetes in pregnancy, is a major cause of adverse pregnancy outcomes for both babies and mothers. Babies born from mothers with GDM tend to be large for their gestational age (LGA). Delivery of LGA babies is the main cause of the many complications associated with GDM, including pre-term birth, fetal injury, perinatal mortality and required cesarean delivery. GDM also increases the mother's risk of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. Because treatment of GDM mitigates the risk of complications, practice guidelines from professional organizations such as the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Diabetes Association recommend screening of all non-diabetic pregnant women for GDM. Approximately four million pregnant women are screened for GDM each year in the United States in accordance with these practice guidelines. Currently, the standard of care predominantly uses a two-step approach. The first step is administration of the Glucose Challenge Test (GCT); in this test, blood sugar is measured one-hour after drinking a glucose solution. If a woman has a positive GCT test, she is reflexed to having a second test, an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). The OGTT serves to diagnose GDM. The OGTT requires women to fast overnight prior to having a blood draw, followed by drinking a glucose solution and additional blood tests every hour for three hours. These tests are time consuming, uncomfortable for the patients and are reported to have poor reproducibility. Other tests that measure HbA1c or fructosamine are not sensitive and therefore not routinely used during prenatal care to screen and diagnose GDM. Issues associated with screening and diagnosing GDM highlight the need for an accurate, simpler and more patient-friendly test for GDM. The protein known as CD59 is an inhibitor of the complement system that is inactivated by high glucose in diabetes to form glycated CD59 (GCD59). Inactivation of CD59 decreases its protective effect and promotes complement-mediated damage that reportedly plays a role in the processes leading to complications of diabetes such as nephropathy, neuropathy and retinopathy. The study published today evaluated levels of GCD59 in plasma samples from 1,000 women undergoing routine screening and diagnosis of GDM at week 24-28 of gestation at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. 500 of the samples were from women who had a normal GCT (controls) and another 500 were from women who had failed the GCT and completed a subsequent OGTT (cases). Of the cases, 127 were diagnosed with GDM. The primary objective of the study was to assess the accuracy of plasma GCD59 to predict the results of the GCT. Secondary aims were to assess the accuracy of plasma GCD59 in predicting the diagnosis of GDM by OGTT and the association of plasma GCD59 with the prevalence of LGA newborns. The study found that, compared to controls, median levels of plasma GCD59 were 8.5-fold higher in women who failed the GCT and 10-fold higher in women diagnosed with GDM. Results also demonstrated that measurement of plasma GCD59 independently discriminated cases from controls with high sensitivity and specificity, even after adjustment for covariates such as maternal age, BMI, race/ethnicity, multiplicity, gestational age and previous history of diabetes. More detailed results can be found in the Diabetes Care paper. "This is the first study to demonstrate that a single measurement of plasma GCD59 can be used as a simplified method to identify women who would have failed a GCT and are at higher risk of GDM," said Dr. Halperin. "These results indicate that measurement of this novel disease-associated biomarker may be a convenient and effective alternative to the cumbersome methods currently used to screen and diagnose GDM; the study opens the door to future multi-center studies to confirm the clinical utility of plasma GCD59 as a biomarker for detection and diagnosis of GDM." "We founded Mellitus with a vision to commercialize this novel biomarker for diabetes because of its unique characteristics of having a direct relationship with the complications of diabetes and the ability to assess glycemic control" said Joyce A. Lonergan, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Mellitus. "We plan to begin human clinical studies soon to support regulatory clearance for our initial application in GDM." An exclusive, worldwide license agreement with Harvard University covers Mellitus' development of the GCD59 technology for diagnostic applications and related therapeutics. "The planned development of the GCD59 test by Mellitus supports our mission to foster innovation and collaborate with industry to translate new discoveries made at Harvard into useful products that are beneficial to society," said Isaac T. Kohlberg, Senior Associate Provost and Chief Technology Development Officer at Harvard University. Recently, researchers reported that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at an increased risk of experiencing complications when hospitalized. The team has now found that potentially preventable hospital acquired complications (HACs) are linked with an elevated risk of early death-;more so in patients with CKD than in those with normal kidney function. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). Although studies have shown that the presence of CKD is linked with a greater risk of potentially preventable HACs, the consequences of these complications were not unclear. To investigate, a team led by Scott Klarenbach MD, MSc and Babak Bohlouli, PhD candidate (University of Alberta) examined information on all adults hospitalized from April 2003 to March 2008 in Alberta, Canada. Of 536,549 patients who were hospitalized, 8.5% had CKD, and 9.8% of patients with CKD had at least 1 potentially preventable HAC. Among the major findings: In CKD patients with potentially preventable HACs, 17.7% of patients died while hospitalized and 6.8% died within 90 days after discharge. CKD patients with potentially preventable HACs were 4.7- and 1.1-times more likely to die while hospitalized or within 90 days of discharge, respectively, than those without HACs, after adjustments. Compared with patients without CKD or potentially preventable HACs, patients with CKD and no HACs, patients without CKD and with potentially preventable HACs, and patients with CKD and potentially preventable HACs were 2.2, 5.3, and 9.6- times more likely to die while hospitalized, respectively. Length of hospital stay and readmission rates within 90 days of discharge were elevated in patients who experienced potentially preventable HACs. "Patients with potentially preventable hospital acquired complications are at higher risk of adverse clinical outcomes-;longer hospital stay, mortality in the hospital and after discharge, and readmission. The magnitude of this association is larger in patients with CKD compared with those without," said Bohlouli. The findings indicate that better prevention efforts are needed to reduce HACs, especially in patients with CKD. In an accompanying editorial, Eric Young, MD (VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and University of Michigan Medical School) noted that the study should encourage more research into HACs in patients with kidney disease. "The study should prompt nephrologists who care for hospitalized patients to review their current practices," he wrote. "It is possible that the study findings could prompt insurers to introduce specific programs designed to create incentives for hospitals and providers to adopt practices that reduce the risk of complications in patients with chronic kidney disease specifically," he added. Researchers from the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University have found a way to use artificial intelligence to fight a complication of diabetes that affects the eyes. This advance has the potential to reduce the worldwide rate of vision loss due to diabetes. In a study published online in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the researchers describe how they used deep-learning methods to create an automated algorithm to detect diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a condition that damages the blood vessels at the back of the eye, potentially causing blindness. "What we showed is that an artificial intelligence-based grading algorithm can be used to identify, with high reliability, which patients should be referred to an ophthalmologist for further evaluation and treatment," said Theodore Leng, M.D., lead author. "If properly implemented on a worldwide basis, this algorithm has the potential to reduce the workload on doctors and increase the efficiency of limited healthcare resources. We hope that this technology will have the greatest impact in parts of the world where ophthalmologists are in short supply." Another advantage is that the algorithm does not require any specialized, inaccessible, or costly computer equipment to grade images. It can be run on a common personal computer or smartphone with average processors. Deep learning is on the rise in computer science and medicine because it can teach computers to do what our brains do naturally. What Dr. Leng and his colleagues did was to create an algorithm based on more than 75,000 images from a wide range of patients representing several ethnicities, and then used it to teach a computer to identify between healthy patients and those with any stage of disease, from mild to severe. Dr. Leng's algorithm could identify all disease stages, from mild to severe, with an accuracy rate of 94 percent. It would be these patients that should see an ophthalmologist for further examination. An ophthalmologist is a physician who specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of eye diseases and conditions. Diabetes affects more than 415 million people worldwide or 1 in every 11 adults.1 About 45 percent of diabetic patients are likely to have diabetic retinopathy at some point in their life; however, fewer than half of patients are aware of their condition. Early detection and treatment are integral to combating this worldwide epidemic of preventable vision loss. Ophthalmologists typically diagnose the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy by direct examination of the back of the eye and by evaluation of color photographs of the fundus, the interior lining of the eye. Given the large number of diabetes patients globally, this process is expensive and time-consuming. Also, previous studies have shown that detection is somewhat subjective, even among trained specialists. This is why an effective, automated algorithm could potentially reduce the rate of worldwide blindness. Approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is required before the algorithm can be used in patients on a broad basis. Dr. Leng and his team expect to conduct pilot trials in the near future. Much of what scientists know about human memory comes from studies involving relatively simple acts of recollection--remembering lists of words or associations between names and faces. However, they know very little about the brain networks that support memories for complex events, like when we remember the plot of a book or movie or what we experienced, thought and felt during a childhood birthday party. A multi-university study led by a neuroscientist at the University of California, Davis, aims to vastly deepen understanding by developing a computer model of how the brain forms, stores and retrieves complex memories. The goal is that the model will have human-like abilities to remember, understand and learn from events. The project--recently awarded a $7.5 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Defense--could lead to an evolutionary leap in the development of artificial intelligence. It could also open new avenues for understanding Alzheimer's disease, dementia and other memory disorders. "Our brains have a remarkable capability to remember past events and to use our memories to make inferences in the present and predictions about the future," said Charan Ranganath, a professor in the UC Davis Department of Psychology and the Center for Neuroscience who is the project's principal investigator. "For instance, if you go out to eat at a formal restaurant, before you even walk in, you can guess the sequence of events that will unfold (seating, taking your order, appetizers... etc.), and the roles that people will play (host, waiter, bus-person, chef, etc.). People can learn this kind of knowledge about particular kinds of events--which we call 'event schemas'--after only a few experiences." While scientists have identified areas of the brain involved in memory, they know very little about the brain networks involved in creating those schemas, which help us sort events into categories, learn and anticipate what might happen next. Joining Ranganath in tackling this huge problem are researchers Ken Norman and Uri Hasson of Princeton University, Samuel Gershman of Jeffrey Zacks of Washington University in St. Louis, and Orrin Devinsky of New York University's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. Each investigator brings a different kind of expertise needed to map and create a computer model of the brain's memory networks. Ranganath said every prong of the study will break new ground for research methods in the field. For instance, the team will develop new tools to help to decode brain activity in real time as a person recalls a past event. "One of the key ideas in our project is that people intuitively understand and remember events in terms of relationships," Ranganath said. "Our modeling approach is intended to capture this human-like approach by extracting knowledge about roles and relationships from specific events." Neuroscience eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today The Harvard and Princeton teams will develop the computer model, and the UC Davis, Washington University, and Princeton scientists will run functional magnetic resonance imaging studies to test and refine the model. The UC Davis team will also analyze recordings of electrical brain activity collected from patients at NYU who have electrodes implanted in the brain as part of a medical evaluation for epilepsy surgery. Ranganath, an expert on the neural mechanisms of human memory, will focus on the interactions between the hippocampus and cortex in retrieving and consolidating memories for real-life events. Implications for Improving Memory Ranganath's initial studies already have some practical implications for how memory can be improved in the real world. "In our studies, we have people take a tour of the UC Davis California Raptor Center, and after the tour, we use pictures from a wearable camera to test people on what they learned during the tour," he said. "Our initial results show that using cameras in this way can significantly improve one's memory. With this project, we will be able to investigate what is happening in the brain as people recall events from the raptor tour." People sometimes think of memories like files on a computer, but that's not the way human memory works, Ranganath said. Instead of simply storing data, the human brain consolidates memories of experiences and perceptions to learn, make inferences, and modify and update knowledge. Ranganath's team predicts that, when an event is recollected, the memory can be modified and updated. "That dynamic aspect of memory is a little different than computer storage, where a file can be processed without saving anything to memory." While the field of artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly, computers and smart devices do best when they are trained to do specific tasks, like recognizing a face, he said. "It's much harder to train a computer to learn information that can be used to support a wide range of inferences and predictions. If you have tried to use Siri or voice commands on an Android phone, you'll soon see that there is a lot that gets lost in translation." The computer model envisioned in this project would be more like Star Wars droid R2D2--able to analyze, infer and learn from events. The Department of Defense is excited about this because it could be used for national security purposes. For instance, such a model could be used to analyze video footage for signs of terrorist activity. But the technology could have much wider applications. "Really, if you think about it, a machine that is capable of learning schemas to understand events would have an endless range of applications," Ranganath said. Source: https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/grant-model-human-memory-and-learning-machines A new clinical study of the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) is examining whether an ultrasound evaluation of the inferior vena cava in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) with congestion can be implemented in hospitals' everyday routine and also be conducted in a sufficiently large number of patients. In the long term, the scientists want to offer patients a more targeted and better treatment with the aid of this ultrasound evaluation. In heart failure, the filling pressure in the heart is elevated, since the normal filling pressure is no longer enough to supply the body with enough blood and oxygen at all times. As a result, the pressure in the vessels leading to the heart, such as the inferior vena cava, also increases. The vena cava is one of the largest veins and it carries deoxygenated blood from the abdomen, legs, and pelvis back to the heart. In ADHF, its diameter increases due to the elevated pressure. Moreover, fluid increasingly finds its way into the surrounding tissue (i.e. oedema). Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today "An infection, cardiac arrhythmias, excessive fluid intake, or poor adherence to medical treatment can all be triggers of the sudden development of a previously undetected or chronic heart failure into an acute decompensated heart failure", explains Dr. Alexander Jobs of the Universitares Herzzentrum Lubeck. "Patients suffer from dyspnoea even when resting, have increased fluid retention in their legs, are exhausted more quickly, and are often taken to the emergency department." Doctors use loop diuretics, which remove excess fluid from the body and, among other things, relieve the cardiovascular system by reducing the filling pressure. However, there are no exact parameters on which they can determine when the treatment has been successfully completed. To date, clinical signs are used for this purpose; for instance, whether the patient lost weight, his oedema could be reduced, or dyspnoea improved. "However, these signs are not specific for heart failure", says Prof. Holger Thiele, the head of the pilot study. The new clinical trial wants to close this gap. Physicians assess the patient's inferior vena cava diameter by means of an ultrasound evaluation before and during treatment. They want to test whether the diameter of the vein decreases with therapy and is a suitable parameter to assess whether the treatment is sufficient; or whether it would be better to treat the patient for a couple more days or to increase the loop diuretic dose. If this assumption is verified, further clinical trials must prove that the ultrasound evaluation can lead to a more targeted treatment and thus also to a more favorable course of the disease in ADHF. ADHF is the most common cause for hospital treatment for patients over the age of 65 in Germany. Within six months, approximately half of patients return to hospital and the repeated hospitalizations worsen their prognosis. In total, eight institutions at six DZHK sites are participating in the pilot study. Tesla executive Klaus Grohmann was ousted last month after a clash with Chief Executive Elon Musk over the strategy of Grohmann's firm, which Tesla had acquired in November, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The Silicon Valley luxury electric carmaker is counting on Grohmann Engineering's automation and engineering expertise to help it ramp up production to 500,000 cars per year by 2018. At the time of the purchase, it described Klaus Grohmann and the company he founded as a "world leader in highly automated manufacturing". Tesla planned to keep Grohmann on, and Grohmann wanted to stay, but the clash with Musk over how to treat existing clients resulted in his departure, the source said. Grohmann disagreed with Musk's demands to focus management attention on Tesla projects to the detriment of Grohmann Engineering's legacy clients, which included Tesla's direct German-based rivals Daimler and BMW, two sources familiar with the matter said. Reached by phone, Klaus Grohmann declined to comment on the circumstances of his leaving, citing confidentiality clauses. "I definitely did not depart because I had lost interest in working," Grohmann said, without elaborating. A Tesla spokesman, asked about Grohmann's departure, praised him for building an "incredible company" and said: "Part of Mr Grohmann's decision to work with Tesla was to prepare for his retirement and leave the company in capable hands for the future. Given the change in focus to Tesla projects, we mutually decided that it was the right time for the next generation of management to lead." Two sources familiar with the matter said Tesla's plans to ramp up production with the help of the company now renamed Tesla Grohmann Automation remain on track. The management layer below Klaus Grohmann is continuing his work, they told Reuters. But they said parts of the workforce felt insecure about becoming so dependent on one client after the founder's departure. Last year, Tesla had said: "Under the continued leadership of Mr Grohmann, several critical elements of Tesla's automated manufacturing systems will be designed and produced in Pruem, to help make our factories the most advanced in the world." "Our factories are so important that we believe they will ultimately deserve an order of magnitude more attention in engineering than what they produce. At very high production volumes, the factory becomes more of a product than the product itself," Tesla said at the time. Tesla started out as a client of Grohmann Engineering, a small unlisted company based in Pruem, near the Luxembourg border that helped companies design highly automated factories, a source familiar with the company told Reuters. As pressure grew to increase production volumes at Tesla, Musk decided to buy Grohmann Engineering and make Pruem a base for Tesla Advanced Automation. As well as BMW and Daimler, Grohmann counted the auto parts maker Bosch, chip maker Intel, and pharmaceutical firms Abbott Laboratories and Roche among its clients. Negotiations have started with some of the clients about how to compensate them for lack of resources devoted to their projects, one of the sources said. The German labour union IG Metall has demanded that Tesla's management formalise multi-year job guarantees and increase salaries as a way to provide assurance amid management turmoil. New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday promised not to spring any surprises in fixing tax rates under the new GST regime, saying they will not be "significantly different" from current levels. He, however, said companies should pass on to consumers the benefit of reduction in taxes under GST which will eliminate the current compounding effect of different central and state levies. The GST Council, headed by Jaitley and comprising representatives of all the states, is scheduled to meet in Srinagar on May 18-19 to finalise tax rates on different goods and services after unifying at least 10 indirect taxes into the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Speaking at CII's Annual Meeting, he said rules and regulations governing GST have all been framed. "We are now in final stages of fixing tariffs for different commodities. "The formula under which it is being done has also been explained and therefore nobody is going to be taken by surprise, it's not going to be very significantly different (from present)," he said. The GST Council has finalised four rate categories of 5, 12, 18 and 28 percent after unifying levies like central excise, service tax and VAT. Fitment will be done by adding the total incidence of current taxation (central plus state levies) and then putting the good or service in the tax bracket closest to it. Jaitley said the GST Council has so far had 13 meetings and has never had to resort to voting to decide on any issue. "And therefore all states representing different political complexions, have all agreed (on GST structure)," he said. The Finance Minister said the Council is of the opinion that any benefit accruing from lower tax rates under GST should be passed on to consumers. "Profit is not a bad word but unfair enrichment is. And therefore the benefit of reduction in taxation is a benefit that consumers are entitled to. And that's not a principle that can be seriously contested," he said. The GST laws approved by Parliament have incorporated an anti-profiteering provision to ensure that the reduction of tax incidence is passed on to the consumers. Kathmandu: Nepal is set to sign an agreement with China to be part of the 'One Belt One Road Conference', a pet initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, officials said on Friday. Nepal is sending a high-level delegation to China to attend the 'One Belt One Road Conference' (OBOR) which will be held on May 14. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara will lead the delegation which includes Physical Infrastructure Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Communications Minister Surendra Karki. The One Belt One Road Conference (OBOR) will kick start on May 14, when Nepal conducts the first phase of its local elections. "The Nepalse side yesterday informed the Chinese authorities that Kathmandu is sending a high-level delegation to the conference," Risi Raj Adhikari, Foreign Relations adviser to Prime Minister Prachanda was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post. Though Prime Minister Prachanda had received an invitation to participate in the conference, the government has decided to send Mahara owing to to clash of local elections dates clash with the conference. Nepalese officials are making preparations to sign an agreement with China during the conference for Nepal to become a part of OBOR, a flagship foreign policy initiated by Chinese President Xi. During his recent visit to China, Prachanda had assured Chinese authorities that Nepal would be a signatory to the initiative. Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat and Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi are holding a series of meetings with Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong in order to narrow down the differences for allowing Nepal to sign in the OBOR at the conference. The OBOR initiative aims to link the economic circles in East Asia and Europe, connecting China - on land and over water - to partners in Asia, Europe and Africa. The initiative, known as the revival of the ancient Silk Road trading route, would link Asian markets with economic groups in Europe. Jiading acts on bullying at schools From:Shanghai Daily | 2017-04-28 02:29 PROSECUTORS and education officials in the Jiading District are working together to launch a one-year campaign against bullying in schools. From this month, primary and middle schools across the district are required to set up hotlines and online platforms for students to report any bullying occurring on their campus. Once alerted, schools should intervene immediately and report to prosecutors in case of emergency, Jiading prosecutors said. Also, over a 12-month period, students, teachers and parents will learn how to deal with campus violence through lectures and other activities. Jiading prosecutors also launched a WeChat account yesterday for under 18-year-olds, the first of its kind among Shanghai prosecutors. Both children and parents can ask for advice as well as help on parent-children relations. New UK research has found that obese children are four times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than their normal-weight counterparts. Carried out by a team of researchers from King's College London, the study used electronic health records from one of the largest primary care databases in the world, the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, to gather data for 369,362 children between the ages of 2 and 15. The team analyzed the children's BMI measurements, diabetes diagnosis records, and other data, with children classified as obese if they had a BMI in the top five percent of the population for their age. The data showed that 654 children and teenagers were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between 1994 and 2013 and 1,318 children were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The incidence of type 2 diabetes also increased from an average of 6 cases per year per 100,000 persons in 1994-8 to an average of 33 case per year in 2009-13 in both overweight and obese participants, with the team finding that obese individuals showed a four-times higher risk of developing the condition compared with those in the normal BMI category. However, as the team expected, they found no association between obesity and the rate of type 1 diabetes, which is linked to an underlying autoimmune disorder. The team concluded that the increasing rates of obesity are contributing to the increasing rates of type 2 diabetes, with lead author Dr Ali Abbasi commenting that, "Diabetes imposes a heavy burden on society as the condition is common and costly to treat. Estimates indicate one in 11 adults has type 2 diabetes, equal to around 415 million people worldwide. Given that diabetes and obesity are preventable from early life, our findings and other research will hopefully motivate the public and policymakers to invest and engage in diabetes prevention efforts." New UK research published this week warns that those with a normal BMI but who carry their weight around the middle are still at a higher risk of mortality than those with a high BMI but who carry their weight elsewhere. Carried out by Loughborough University, the new study measured 42,702 participants from 10 different years of the annual Health Survey for England and the Scottish Health Survey in order to see if a large-scale analysis would produce similar results to previous small-scale studies, which have already found that participants who have a normal BMI but with extra weight around the waist are at a higher mortality risk. In the new study participants were categorized into six groups based on BMI and waist-hip ratio -- normal weight; normal weight with central obesity; overweight; overweight with central obesity; obese; or obese with central obesity. The team found that their results did back up those found in the smaller studies, with only those in the normal weight with central obesity group and obese with central obesity group at an increased risk for all-cause mortality, when compared with the normal weight participants without central obesity. In addition, all participants with central obesity, no matter what their BMI, were at increased risk for cardiovascular deaths. Commenting on the findings one of the study's authors, Professor Mark Hamer, said, "It is yet further evidence that even if you are within a healthy' BMI range but you carry weight around your stomach your health is still at risk. The message here is that if you do have central obesity, no matter what your BMI, you should take steps to reduce this fat." The findings can be found published online in Annals of Internal Medicine. It will probe the proceeds of crime generated in the case and soon summons would be issued to the accused for questioning, PTI quoted officials as saying. The Enforcement Directorate has launched a money laundering investigation into the Narada 'sting' where a number of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, including MPs and ministers, were allegedly caught on camera taking money.The agency has registered a case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on an FIR by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).The CBI's criminal FIR had been registered against 13 TMC leaders.A case of alleged criminal conspiracy and corruption against Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Roy, Lok Sabha MPs Sultan Ahmed, Saugata Roy, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Aparupa Poddar, among others, had been filed by the CBI.The case has been registered on the completion of a preliminary enquiry that was first conducted by the CBI. The preliminary enquiry was registered on the directions of a division bench of the Calcutta High Court, comprising acting Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre and Justice T Chakraborti.The Narada sting tapes, which were released to news organisations before the 2016 assembly elections in West Bengal, showed people resembling senior TMC leaders receiving money allegedly after promising favours, PTI reported.Alleging political vendetta, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC has said that the CBI is acting at the behest of the Modi government to target its leaders.(With PTI inputs) @narendramodi sir we have been in jet airways flight for past 3 hrs , looks like hijacked, pl help 9W355,. pic.twitter.com/bcRXcCLgic Nitin (@nitinvarma5n) April 27, 2017 A tweet by the passenger of a Mumbai-Delhi Jet Airways flight sent security agencies into a tizzy on Thursday.Flight 9W355 carrying 176 people, including 8 crew members was diverted to Jaipur due to bad weather at Delhi, but a worried passenger thought the flight had been hijacked and tweeted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Soon after the aircraft landed in Jaipur, security agencies carried out a thorough check and the passenger who tweeted the message was offloaded, PTI reported.In a statement, a Jet Airways spokesperson said a passenger tweeted a message involving a security threat necessitating activation of the security protocol. "The information was promptly shared with the concerned authorities including the CISF, and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and local law enforcement agencies in line with Standard Operating Procedures," he said.According to the spokesperson, the concerned guest was subsequently offloaded for questioning by security agencies at Jaipur, owing to diversion of the flight. After the plane landed, the aircraft was checked before it took off to Delhi.It could not be immediately ascertained what further action was taken with respect to the passenger, PTI said.Acting JIA director M P Bansal told PTI that five Jet Airways and one Oman Air flight coming from different locations which were supposed to land in New Delhi were diverted to Jaipur airport due to bad weather conditions.(With PTI Inputs) New Delhi: To quickly pin down terrorists in case of an attack at sensitive airports in the country, the counter-terror commando teams of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are being trained in special combat skills with a stress on precision firing as part of its 'one bullet, one enemy' policy. The paramilitary force has created a special school for this purpose, called the Special Tactics and Training Wing (STTW), at its training academy in Hyderabad and has introduced some new training capsules for its Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) that are deployed at 59 civil airports, including in Mumbai and Delhi. A senior trainer at the STTW said the commandos will now be trained in 'free flow' and 'rolling assault' techniques that enable a small armed team to take on multiple opponentsin a large area like an airport terminal. This means, the trainer said, that a compact commando team can effectively hold the fort and eliminate the threat by using accurate firing skills. The force has also decided to keep the age-profile of the commando teams young and will provide them with a new design of dungarees which can hold more weapons and tools required by a commando to undertake intervention and rescue tasks. "We have decided to professionalise our Quick Reaction Teams by giving more emphasis on their firing skill and tactical drills that will sharpen their reflexes. The idea is to make these special teams more capable to respond to any threat that emerges at airports," CISF Director General O P Singh said. Th DG said the first teams to get training at the STTW will be those from the airport QRTs. They will be followed by the special squads deployed to secure the Delhi Metro and other critical infrastructures. At sensitive facilities like airports, every bullet counts and every bullet fired should find its target, he said. The DG said authorisations have also been issued recently to enhance the duration of firing practice of QRT commandos so that they remain confident and agile on the trigger and with their every move. The aim, the training officer said, is to prepare the teams up to a level that in case of a terrorist attack or hostage-like situation at airports, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) teams present on the ground are able to neutralise the enemy even before special forces like the NSG arrive. The officer said the age-old technique of taking aim with one eye closed have been replaced with the one in which the commandos are being trained to shoot keeping both their eyes open so that their field of view is panoramic and they canassess a trouble situation in a better fashion. These are some of the new combat and counter-terror techniques that special commando forces are undertaking world over. The CISF has adopted these new skills to sharpen reflexes of the men and women who are the first responders in case of a terror attack, the officer said. Singh, who will inaugurate the STTW in Hyderabad on Saturday, has sanctioned twice a month firing practice for these personnel deployed at major airports from critical aerospace and nuclear installations under its security umbrella. Having good physical fitness will be a target that commandos will have to ensure each and every time. They are already being trained in unarmed combat skills, martial arts and 'Parkour', a military obstacle training course done with bare hands, the officer said. While the CISF QRT commando teams use the AK series of assault rifles and Glock pistols for firing, they will be provided with modern smoke grenades and similar ammunition that wreaks less damage to the surroundings and neutralises the target with minimum collateral damage at places like airports. The about 1.47-lakh personnel strong force is observing 2017 as the year of training as it had got over 20,000 fresh recruits in its rank this year and has decided to give a special impetus to training of its QRT teams that secure vital locations. 1/3 Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) 28 April 2017 2/3 Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) April 28, 2017 Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has taken a leaf from Yogi Adityanaths book and wants to strike down holidays observed on the birth and death anniversaries of eminent personalities.In a series of tweets, Sisodia said on Friday that he has issued directions to the chief secretary to cancel such holidays.He said the Uttar Pradesh government had taken a lead on this issue and the Delhi government should be prepared to learn from other states.The move comes two days after the Aam Aadmi Partys drubbing in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections. It is also surprising because the AAP has constantly been at loggerheads with the BJP government at the Centre.Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals barbs aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wanting proof of his educational qualifications to the veracity of the surgical strikes are well-known.The AAP is now in turmoil following back-to-back electoral defeats, first in the Punjab and Goa Assembly elections and now in Delhi. AAP leader Kumar Vishwas attributed the partys defeat to lack of inner party democracy and a trust deficit with voters, as quoted in the media.The party had initially blamed faulty EVMs alleging that they were rigged in favour of the BJP, but didnt discuss the issue at length in its first stock-taking meeting after the election loss.Kejriwal is meeting all AAP MLAs individually to take stock of what went wrong during the polls. Bhubaneswar: India on Thursday successfully test-fired its intermediate-range ballistic missile Agni-III from Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. The missile lifted off from launch pad No.4 of the Integrated Test Range located on the island at 9.12 am, sources in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said. This was a user test, undertaken by the Strategic Forces Command -- an especially raised missile-handling unit of the Indian Army. It carried out the test with logistics support from the DRDO. Agni-III is the mainstay of India's nuclear arsenal, and the missile used for the test was randomly chosen from the assembly line, according to sources. The missile has a strike range of 3,000 km to 5,000 km and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes. The missile is powered by a two-stage solid propellant engine. The missile is 17 metres long, with two-metre diameter, and weighs around 2,200 kg. The missile was inducted into the armed forces in June 2011. This test comes less than a week after the Indian Navy test-fired a land attack version of BrahMos from a naval ship. India also recently tested BrahMos missile with an extended 450 km range, has undertaken a drop test of the air version of BrahMos, exo-atmospheric Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) interceptor missile and endo-atmospheric Advanced Air Defence missile, both part of a two-tier anti-ballistic missile system, Agni IV and Agni V in the last six months. New Delhi: Business tycoon Sajjan Jindals meeting with Nawaz Sharif at the hill resort town of Murree on Thursday has fueled speculation of a probable meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan, Dawn reported. Pakistani media reported that the visit by the steel magnate, who is known to be close to both the premiers, has led to speculations of it being an attempt to refurbish ties between both the nations. Sharifs daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif confirmed the meeting, but added that there was no reason for any speculation. Mr. Jindal is an old friend of the Prime Minister. Nothing secret about the meeting and should not be blown out of proportion, she tweeted. Media reports said Jindal and his delegation were received by Sharifs son Hussain Nawaz and Maryam Nawazs son-in-law, Raheel Munir at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport. Meanwhile, the secret meeting angered some opposition politicians in Pakistan, where many claimed that there was no way Jindal could land in Murree without prior knowledge of the countrys intelligence services. According to the aforementioned report, opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly. The resolution expressed concern over the meeting, considering the timing of the meeting in the wake of the problems in Kashmir and death sentence given to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Srinagar: The district administration Kupwara on Friday said that it had lodged an FIR in connection with the killing of a 70-year-old civilian. The civilian, Yusuf Bhat, died in Army firing in Panzgam area of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday during the protests that ensued the killing of two militants in the area. The FIR has been registered in Karalpora Police Station under FIR number 25/2017, under section 307 RPC. On Thursday, the security personnel were trying to control a crowd near the Army camp that was attacked by fidayeen terrorists in the morning, according to sources. As security forces were carrying out search operations, angry protesters gathered near the camp site and raised slogans. There were also reports of stone pelters making the movement of reinforcement convoys difficult. Three soldiers were killed and five injured when militants attacked the Army camp in Chokibal. Two terrorists were eliminated and combing operations were underway. The Valley has witnessed a string of violent incidents this month, starting with clashes between civilians and security forces in the run-up to the Srinagar by-elections on April 9. Videos filmed during the unrest have further fuelled tensions in the area. In 2016, the government killed nine of our people in Chhattisgarh and 21 in Odisha. The ambush is a reaction to these killings and sexual violence against our women, Vikalp is heard saying in the clip. An audio message purportedly from the Maoists who ambushed and killed 25 CRPF personnel in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh on April 24 claimed the attack was in retaliation to Operation Green Hunt launched by the government against Naxals.ALSO READ | Sukma Attack Cold-Blooded, Govt Will Review Naxal Policy: Rajnath Singh In the 16-minute audio clip, a spokesperson of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) identifying himself as Vikalp spoke in Hindi and hailed the attack by the outfits military arm Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA).The outfit said its fight was not with the paramilitary personnel, but warned central forces against standing in the way of revolution. He also appealed to them and to the police personnel to leave the forces, which he said were targeting activists and journalists.He also alleged that the state police had gang-raped tribal women and killed villagers in fake encounters.The veracity of the purported audio and the claims made by the CPI (Maoist) could not be confirmed. There is also a 5-minute video clip doing the rounds in social media purportedly capturing the live encounter.-Chintagufa incidents (Maoist attacks) are a befitting reply against the actions taken by the fascist forces to curb revolutionary mass movement and Operation Green Hunt.-The present ambush (at Burkapal on 24 April) is a continuation of the 11 March attack to protect our revolution.-We dont subscribe to violence per se, and are not against the jawans of the para-military forces. But we stand by those who are being exploited by the government that represents imperialist forces, MNCs, large corporate and capitalists. Were compelled to take action against them.-It is at the behest of the fascist government that the para-military forces have been killing our cadre. They have taken photos of our martyred women comrades who got killed during an encounter, made obscene videos out of them and released them on the internet and mobile phones.-Roads and rail tracks are being laid in this region to loot the minerals and natural resources belonging to tribal by the government agencies.-We appeal to the policemen, CRPF jawans and junior officers to stop serving the exploiters, foreign MNCs, corporate houses, capitalists, big contractors, businessmen and big traders, goons, mafias and Brahmanical Hindutva Fascists who are anti-poor, against the tribal, backward castes, Dalits and women.-Dont lose your lives protecting these people. Personally, these jawans are not our enemies, but as they are a part of the oppressive government machinery, which is an impediment to the path of our party and the PLGAs revolution, they are being attacked. Instead of targeting innocent and exploited people, we appeal you to give up your government job and target the exploiters. President Trump says "sad" about situation in Venezuela From:Xinhua | 2017-04-28 10:29 Video PlayerClose WASHINGTON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he is "sad" to see what is happening in Venezuela, adding that the country is "a mess." "I'm very sad for Venezuela. I'm very sad to see what's happened in Venezuela. Venezuela is a very sad situation," Trump said as he met with visiting Argentine President Mauricio Macri at the White House. Venezuela has been racked by a political and economic crisis, which has spiraled into clashes between government and opposition supporters in April, leaving at least 29 people dead. Venezuela's Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said Wednesday that the country would leave the Organization of American States (OAS). In a live TV address, Rodriguez said that "the OAS has persisted in intrusive actions against the sovereignty of our country and for this, we proceed to withdraw from the Organization." Earlier on Wednesday, the OAS held a special meeting in Washington D.C. and voted in favor of calling an emergency meeting of foreign ministers to discuss the situation in Venezuela. Over the past two decades, the United States and Venezuela have had a difficult relationship. Following protests in Venezuelan in 2015, the U.S. imposed sanctions on a number of Venezuelan security leaders for alleged human rights abuses and called the country an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States. In February this year, the United States imposed sanctions on Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami for allegedly playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking. "I asked the students to get Yogi-like haircuts... We want very short Army haircuts. Students have been told to not grow beards as this is not a madrassa, Ranjeet Jain, secretary of the schools management committee, said. Yogi Adityanath-style haircuts, ban on non-vegetarian food and gender segregation to prevent love jihad these are some of the diktats that parents allege a Meerut school has issued to its 2,000-odd students.The CBSE-affiliated Rishabh Academy School in Sadar area of the city reportedly warned students they will not be allowed to attend school until they get the buzz haircut sported by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The school has also reportedly asked boys not to grow beards, saying the school is not a madrassa or a place where they come to offer namaz.A school management official claimed that since the school was run by a Jain trust, non-vegetarian food, including eggs, had always been banned. It is unfortunate that a communal colour is being given to a trivial issue," the official said.On girls and boys being made to study in separate classroom, Jain said the aim was to prevent love jihad.IANS said dozens of angry parents had protested these new rules in front of the school following which the police reached the spot and mediated between the parents and school authorities. Karachi: A well-known Pakistani television and theatre artist has refused to accept government assistance of 5 lakh rupees for the treatment of her ovarian cancer in protest against the visit of an Indian steel tycoon to the country. Naila Jafri, who has acted in several memorable plays, was due to receive a cheque of 500,000 rupees from President Mamnoon Hussain's Artist Welfare Fund, but she has now turned down the assistance. She said she had applied for the grant and the cheque has been processed and was to be delivered to her in a few days. "But now I cannot accept a dime from the government that entertains people from the very country that has been plotting against us our interests and our people," she told the Express Tribune newspaper on Friday, referring to the visit of Sajjan Jindal to Pakistan and his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Jindal on Wednesday had an hour-long meeting with Sharif at the premier's private residence in the hill station of Murree, about 45 kms from Islamabad, triggering speculation in the Pakistani media that the stalled India-Pak talks could be revived. Opposition parties have created an uproar after the "secret" meeting, with Imran Khan's Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf alleging that Jindal conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "message" to Sharif on the issue of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav's death penalty, given by a Pakistani military court. Jindal is said to be the man who had arranged a meeting between Modi and Sharif in Lahore on December 25 in 2015 on Sharif's birthday and the day when Sharif's grand daughter Mehr-un-Nisa was married. Jafri said she will no longer accept the government assistance since it has allowed Jindal in Pakistan with a no- police-inquiry visa. "The love, respect and prayers I have received from my people when they came to know of my illness are unimaginable and I won't do anything that may hurt their feelings," she said. India-Pak ties are strained over cross-border terror attacks in India and over the death sentence to Jadhav on charges of spying. India has denied Pakistan's contention and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistani intelligence agencies. "If you feel the court has no role and if you feel we have no jurisdiction, we will close the file at this moment," the bench told the AG. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association has filed an appeal against the High Court order seeking stay on the use of pellet guns as a large number of people had been killed or injured due to their use in the Valley. The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that it was ready for talks with recognised political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, but not with the separatists.Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi made the submission before a bench, comprising Chief Justice JS Khehar and justices DY Chandrachud and SK Kaul, while rubbishing the claim of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association that the Centre was not coming forward for discussion and dialogue to resolve the crisis, PTI reported.The court then asked the Association to come up with suggestions to resolve the crisis and not shy away by saying that they do not represent everybody in Kashmir.The bench also made it clear to the Centre that the court would involve itself in the matter only if there was a view that it can play a role and there was no jurisdictional issue, PTI said.The bench also said both the parties have to take a joint step but the first step has to come from the lawyers' body which has approached the apex court.It also said it was aware that the situation in Kashmir Valley was not very palatable, while posting the matter for further hearing on May 9.During the last hearing on April 10, the Centre had told the Supreme Court it was exploring a crowd control option that is akin to rubber bullets but not as lethal as pellet guns that are being used currently as a last resort to quell violence in the Valley.(With PTI inputs) #Sukma attack perpetrators wanted dead or alive, says Police in posters released declaring prize money for giving info about these Naxals pic.twitter.com/Xlf4iAbhAT ANI (@ANI_news) April 28, 2017 Chhattisgarh: Police in Sukma releases posters declaring prize money for those who give information about Naxals behind #Sukma attack pic.twitter.com/1KH3c64CfP ANI (@ANI_news) April 28, 2017 : To nab Sukma attack perpetrators - dead or alive - the Chhattisgarh Police on Friday released their posters, declaring a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh on the head of more than 10 Naxals, including the mastermind Ramanna, member of the Central Committee of Maoists.The Police also assured the general public that their identities will be kept secret if they provide information about the Naxals.According to D M Awasthi, Special Director General of Police (anti-Naxal operations), Chhattisgarh Police, the body of a Naxalite was recovered on Thursday night from the forest, just 500 metres away from the spot where the gunbattle had taken place between the CRPF and the rebels on April 24.As the paramilitary force is set to overhaul its anti-Naxal operations in the south Bastar in the aftermath of Sukma attack, a fresh offensive against the ultras is expected to be launched soon.The CRPF on Thursday rejected news reports that the bodies of some of its 25 personnel killed in the Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Sukma were mutilated."With all authority, I deny that any martyred jawan's body was mutilated," acting chief of the force Sudeep Lakhtakia told reporters in New Delhi.According to some accounts, private parts of some of the slain personnel were mutilated by the guerrillas to "avenge" alleged rape of local women by security forces.On April 24, twenty-five CRPF personnel were killed and seven others injured when the Naxals attacked a patrol party of 74th battalion of the paramilitary force near Burkapal village of Sukma, around 450 km away from Raipur.Besides, 12 men of the para-military force were killed in an earlier attack near Bheji village in the same district on March 11. New Delhi: Thursdays fidayeen attack once again highlights the threat posed to Indias security by terror camps in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). Targeting Indian Army installations, increased infiltration, and ceasefire violations seem to be part of Pakistans strategy for the summer of 2017. There are several terror launch pads across the border, where hundreds of militants are waiting to crossover. Sources said there are at least 11 terror training camps in PoK where people are being trained. Most of these camps are being run by Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. The Chela Bandi terror camp is a case in point. It lies very close to the Pakistan Armys Nisar base in Muzaffarabad. Around 1,480 are undergoing combat commando training here known as Daora-e-Khasa. Former Pakistan Army commandos have an important role to play. According to sources, Abu Ishaq and Abu Islam are two such commandos involved in the training. The students were selected last year from across Pakistan by district amirs of Jamaat-ud-Dawah, the terror outfit led by the 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafeez Saeed. Around 75% of the students are from Pakistans Punjab province. Pakistan Armymen are working in these camps as trainers, facilitators and other roles. Laskkar-e-Taiba chief Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi visits this camp twice a month to provide special training to the students and motivate them. The camp is guarded by Pakistan Armymen whenever Lakhvi pays a visit, sources added. Another Lashkar camp is in Dulai, Muzaffarabad where close to 600 men are being trained. The Maskar-E-Asqa centre is believed to be holding 800 to 1000 terrorists. Shawai Nallah is a smaller post that houses around 300 people. There are two other LeT camps in Muzaffarrabad Maskar-E-Asqa and Abdullah-Bin-Masood. Around 1,000 to 1,500 terrorists are being trained in both. Sources said Lashkar has a much larger terror launchpad in Muridke, Lahore. Spread across 12 square kilometres, this camp is a training site for over 4,000 militants. Hizbul also has terror camps in PoK. Around 1,000 men are being trained at Khalid Bin-Walid in Muzaffarabad. Apart from their own centres, both these militant outfits also run joint camps. There are four hideouts in Kotli district. The strength of the camp in Sensa in not known, but around 700 are being trained in the one in Kotli. The Tharochi camp in Kotli trains around 500 militants, while the strength on the Barnala camp in the same district is not known. Three soldiers were killed and five injured when militants attacked an Army camp in Chokibal area of Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir early on Thursday. Two terrorists were eliminated. I worked closely with him when I was at MEA. I had a habit of giving more responsibility to my junior ministers. I remember that during the first session of Parliament, he was a little reluctant to speak because he wanted to acquaint himself properly. But he was a fast learner. After that first session, he went on to do a stellar job speaking in Parliament, Sinha said. He was my favorite actor. Besides, it was a tough election because Vinod Khanna had never lost from that seat and he was the joint nominee of the BJP and Akali Dal. Eventually, I won the election. A few weeks later, a mutual friend invited both of us to a wedding in Pathankot. The elections were passe as we sat and chatted for hours like old friends. I found him to be a very kind-hearted and gracious man, Bajwa said. Some would remember him as Inspector Amar Khanna from Amar Akbar Anthony, others would recall the menacing Jabbar Singh from Mera Gaon Mera Desh. But actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna, who passed away after a battle with cancer on Thursday, was a man who donned many hats in real life too. In 1997, he began a new innings, that of a politician.Khanna joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and a year later, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Punjabs Gurdaspur constituency. Gurdaspur would eventually send Khanna to the Lok Sabha four times. News18 spoke to his political colleagues, juniors and rivals about the Vinod Khanna they knew.In July 2002, Khanna was made the minister for culture and tourism in the Atal Behari Vajpayee Cabinet. Six months later, he was made the minister of state (MoS) for external affairs. Yashwant Sinha, who was the senior Minister for External Affairs, recalls how Khanna was a fast learner.When asked how he would rate Khannas work as a minister, the BJP veteran said, I would definitely rate it as Grade 1 work. During his time in MEA, he had to travel abroad a lot to represent India on the world stage. He was an able representative of Indias interests.As a schoolboy, former Punjab Congress chief Pratap Singh Bajwa had a clear favorite actor. He would go to the theater after school hours to catch the latest Vinod Khanna release. It came as a surprise to him when, in 2009, he was asked by the Congress to contest from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat against his childhood hero.It was Khannas ability to reach out across the aisle, Bajwa said, that won him respect from across party lines. In 2003, I was the minister of public works in Captain Amarinder Singhs first government and he was the MP of Gurdaspur. He wanted some road work to be done in his constituency and he invited me for lunch. We sat and he told me that he could have asked Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was Prime Minister at the time, to intervene but he wanted to work in tandem with the state government. It won my heart.Bajwa recalled, He once told me that irrespective of his affiliation with BJP, he had more friends in Congress."Vani Tripathi Tikoo, actor and BJP leader who worked closely with Khanna, said, He understood politics and loved the people. In 2014, during the Lok Sabha campaign, he wanted to campaign in a creative way. He called me and said he wanted me to produce a street play in Punjabi. He asked me if we could make it happen, and we did it. Even today, people remember that street play. I guess you can say he brought a little bit of his art to politics. TOWEL SERIES 135, KATRINA KAIF. #TowelSeries #MarioTestino @KatrinaKaif A post shared by MARIO TESTINO (@mariotestino) on Apr 27, 2017 at 4:59am PDT Legendary Peruvian celebrity fashion photographer Mario Testino who was welcomed with open arms by fashion and Bollywood biggies, including actress Katrina Kaif, on his maiden visit to India this February, recently did a photoshoot with the actress for his iconic towel series.The series which was originally meant only for Instagram, grabbed eyeballs world over for showcasing celebrities in a never-seen-before avatar. The project showcases a different side of each celebrity. It takes the fans and followers one step closer to the world of their idols and shows them their raw and unseen beauty.The series features the likes of Kate Moss, Kristen Stewart, Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, Blake Lively, Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner, all posing for the camera, in separate photographs, with only a white towel as a prop. And actress Katrina Kaif added another feather to her cap by becoming the first Bollywood celebrity to feature on the series.Katrina's photograph is precisely the 135th image of a towel-clad celebrity featuring on the series. Testino himself took to Instagram to share the image on his official account and captioned the photo, "TOWEL SERIES 135, KATRINA KAIF. #TowelSeries #MarioTestino @KatrinaKaif (sic)."The Baar Baar Dekho actress looks smoking hot holding a white towel to cover her assets while she puts her sexy, well-toned back at display. Her hair too are covered with a white towel in the photograph. There isn't anything about Katrina that we have seen before in any of her photos. Even calling her beautiful yet sexy would be diminishing her beauty.Back in February, when Katrina attended the bash which was organised in honour of the ace photographer, she was all praises for Testino. She told News18.com in an exclusive interview , "He is such a warm, welcoming and amazing person and he takes the time after doing some of the most amazing work in the world and photographing the most amazing, brilliant women in the world. He takes the time to personally know you and to find out what is it about you that makes you who you are. He takes time to get to know a person and I think it's that humility and it's that grace which which adds to his incredible talent and makes him who he is."She had also admitted that she was a huge fan of his work. She said, "I think like me, many people who started their careers from the modelling world, from the fashion industry have always been a fan of his work. I think he does just the most beautiful, personal work. You can always tell a picture of his, I don't even have to read the credits. 95% of the time I see a picture and I know if Mario Testino has shot it because there is a certain eye to his work, certain beauty, certain delicateness. Now, after meeting him I can really understand why!"On the work front, Katrina will next be seen in Jagga Jasoos, opposite Ranbir Kapoor, slated to hit the silver screens on July 14. Drinking more than three cups of coffee a day may reduce prostate cancer risk by more than 50 per cent, show results of a study on 7,000 Italian men. The findings were then validated in laboratory studies which suggested that the coffee substance caffeine might have some protective effect against cancer. "The observations on cancer cells allow us to say that the beneficial effect observed among the 7,000 participants is most likely due to caffeine, rather than to the many other substances contained in coffee," said Maria Benedetta Donati from Institute for Research, Hospitalisation and Health Care (I.R.C.C.S.) Neuromed in Pozzilli, Italy. The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, sheds light in a field still hotly debated to this day -- the role of coffee, and specifically caffeine, in relation to prostate cancer. A protective effect of the popular drink has already been suggested by some recent studies. "In recent years we have seen a number of international studies on this issue. But scientific evidence has been considered insufficient to draw conclusions. Moreover, in some cases results were contradictory," first author of the paper George Pounis from I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed said. "Our goal, therefore, was to increase knowledge in this field and to provide a clearer view," Pounis said. For the study, about 7,000 men were observed for four years on average. "By analysing their coffee consumption habits and comparing them with prostate cancer cases occurred over time, we saw a net reduction of risk, 53 per cent, in those who drank more than three cups a day," Pounis said. Then the researchers sought confirmation by testing the action of coffee extracts on prostate cancer cells in laboratory studies. They tested, in particular, extracts containing caffeine or decaffeinated. Only the first ones significantly reduced cancer cells proliferation -- an effect that largely disappeared with decaffeinated extracts. The researchers believe that the Italian-style of coffee making might also contribute to the protective effect. "We should keep in mind that the study is conducted on a central Italy population," Licia Iacoviello from I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed noted. "They prepare coffee rigorously Italian way: high pressure, very high water temperature and with no filters. This method, different from those followed in other areas of the world, could lead to a higher concentration of bioactive substances. It will be very interesting, now, to explore this aspect," Iacoviello said. : Actress Deepika Padukone shot the title track of Raabta in one night.The film's director Dinesh Vijan messaged to ask her if she could shoot the title track for his film and she instantly agreed.Vijan said in a statement: "Deepika gives attention to small details and that makes all the difference. She sat with me for some time to understand the nuances and mood of the song. After that it was a swift shoot."He added: "I am glad she shot for the title track of my film. I believe she is lucky for me."Vijan and Deepika have previously worked together during Love Aaj Kal and Cocktail.Raabta, starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon, is set to release on June 9. Jain reportedly gave the contract to kill Bhandarkar to gangster Arun Gawli's aide Naresh Pardeshi in September 2005, almost a year after she filed the rape complaint. Mumbai-based model Preeti Jain was on Friday sentenced to three years in jail for plotting to kill filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar.The Sessions Court verdict marked the conclusion of the 15-year-old case which began in 2004 when Jain accused Bhandarkar of rape and filed a police complaint against him. The rape case was quashed by the Supreme Court in 2012.She paid Pardeshi Rs 75,000 but since the gangster did not carry out the contract, she demanded her money back. Gawlis men then reportedly alerted the police.A case was registered on September 10, 2005 and Pardeshi was arrested the same day. Jain was picked up while she was on her way to the Versova police station. It is common sense that money should be used in the right way. So, as smog is one of the top public concerns, we should use as much money as needed to fight it! Premier Li Keqiang said at the State Council executive meeting on April 26. At the meeting, the Premier decided to launch a special project to research the cause of and solution to air pollution. The research group will be led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and joined by multiple organs, including the bureaus of agriculture, technology, meteorology and information, and academic institutions and universities. According to China Daily, the project is expected to draw a clear timetable and road map to improve the air quality. Despite the fact that this years government budget has been allocated, we can use the Premier fund to support the project, Premier Li said. According to the Budget Law, the Premier fund, also called central government budget reserve, accounts for 1 to 3 percent of the annual budget and is mainly used for emergencies, such as natural disasters. The Premier said, Only when we are clear about the reasons behind smog can we take precise measures. So a cross-sector team with top scientists is necessary. The smog battle is not only related to peoples health, but also important to Chinas economic transformation, he also said. The idea was first proposed by a scientist during this years annual plenary meeting of the National Peoples Congress in March. After hearing the suggestion, the Premier gave an immediate response, saying that if any research team fighting smog can make the sky clear, they will be awarded handsomely. Pls instantly welcome on insta The Tigeress Zinda hai @katrinakaif A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) on Apr 27, 2017 at 2:47am PDT Guess who is joining #instagram tomorrow?? She's hot ...she's beautiful and she will give you fitness goals like no one else!!! Any guesses? Karan Johar (@karanjohar) April 26, 2017 Bollywood actor Salman Khan is known for his kind and generous gestures for the the ones he love and admire. So when Katrina Kaif decided to join the social media platform Instagram, it was no surprise that the actor welcomed her in his own unique way."Pls instantly welcome on insta The Tigeress Zinda hai @katrinakaif," an elated Salman wrote on Instagram asking fans to follow his Tiger Zinda Ha co-star.The actress, who made her debut on Facebook a few months back, had been giving hints to her followers on Facebook that she'd soon be found on a new address. Many believed that she's probably moving in a new abode but her cryptic message kept the secret under wraps.Filmmaker Karan Johar, however, made base for the actress' Instagram debut without mentioning her name. He took to Twitter on Wednesday and wrote, "Guess who is joining #instagram tomorrow?? She's hot ...she's beautiful and she will give you fitness goals like no one else!!! Any guesses?"On the professional front, Katrina will next be seen opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Jagga Jasoos and Salman Khan in Tiger Zinda Hai respectively. "Humanity is a lot like me. It's an aging movie star, grappling with all the newness, wondering whether she got it right." @iamsrk #TED2017 TED Talks (@TEDTalks) April 28, 2017 "We had expected an expansion of ideas and dreams; we had not bargained for the enclosure of judgment." @iamsrk on the Internet #TED2017 TED Talks (@TEDTalks) April 28, 2017 "You can use your energy to spread the darkness of destruction or you can use it to spread the joy of light to millions." @iamsrk #TED2017 pic.twitter.com/SOIytaFhiE TED Talks (@TEDTalks) April 28, 2017 Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan knows how to win hearts - with his performances on screen and spoken words off screen. The actor charmed a TED Conference crowd on Thursday when he shared his experiences as an ageing actor grappling with the changes around him."I sell dreams and I peddle love to millions of people back home in India who assume that I am the best lover in the world," Khan said as he opened his talk.The 51-year-old actor, who will play the role of curator Chris Anderson in TED Talks India, spoke at length about his career rocketing and the arrival of an internet age. "Humanity is a lot like me. It's an aging movie star, grappling with all the newness, wondering whether she got it right. @iamsrk #TED2017," he said.He further stated that one expected "an expansion of ideas and dreams; not bargained for the enclosure of judgement."As he reminisced about the the days when words like Apple only hinted at a fruit's name and not late Steve Jobs' world-changing company, the actor got the viewers laughing and smiling in agreement. He advised the listeners to use their energy in spreading positivity and goodwill all around."You can use your energy to spread the darkness of destruction or you can use it to spread the joy of light to millions," he said.The actor has also been quoted saying that his "face has been described as ugly, unconventional and strangely, 'not chocolaty enough' while citing his past life experiences.A huge crowd was gathered outside the convention center where the TED talk was taking place - in hope of either getting a glimpse of SRK or a chance to hear the actor's inspirational words.Shah Rukh expressed his elation over the Indian television debut of TED Talks and said, "For years, I've been a huge fan of TED Talks. There are so many people in India who would like to come out with their ideas and thoughts, and speak them in Hindi.""It has to be you who creates a world that is its own best lover, that should be the future you," he said while closing his talk at the soul platform where several eminent personalities dive deep into ideas and cite their personal experiences in order to inspire and motivate others.(With inputs from agency) Our target is to provide jobs to youths in this state. We want to reclaim Bengals lost glory. I promise we will do it, if voted to power. I would like to assure you that once again people will start calling it Sonar Bangla, he said. In 2019, no one can stop lotus from blooming here. Speaking to media in Alipurduar, she said, BJP and CPM indulge in hooliganism. We do not support that. I would like to tell babus of Delhi that Bengal is not scared of their intimidation. This is the land of culture and education, and we respect all religions. Wrapping up his three-day visit to West Bengal with the launch of mission Ebar Bangla (This time Bengal) on Thursday, BJP President Amit Shah raked up religious issues like Saraswati Puja and immersion of Durga idols.Shah said soon BJP will come to power in the state and people will be free to observe festivals like Saraswati Puja and Durga Puja the way they want. No one will have to approach the court to seek permission for the immersion of Durga idols, he said.During a visit to Bharatiya Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mookerjees residence at South Kolkata's Bhawanipur, which also happens to be Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees home turf, Shah said, Bengal under TMCs rule became a poverty stricken state. But I promise, if we form government in Bengal, this place will be known for development like other BJP-ruled states, including Maharashtra and Gujarat.Reacting to Shahs attack on TMC, Mamata Banerjee said, Those who respect religion, do not sell it out on the streets. At any cost we will not allow any communal riots in Bengal.When asked to respond on Shahs aggressive mass political campaign in Bengal, Mamata said, They are spreading lies. These Delhi babus are here to mislead the people of Bengal. They are in a hurry to capture power in Bengal.They go to slums in the morning and eat dinner at five star hotels at night. Such are their double standards. I go to the slums every day. It is not right to call the poor, poor. I respect all the poor and struggling people, he added.Shahs three-day Bengal tour was focused on strengthening the party at the grassroots level ahead of the crucial panchayat and local body polls. He started his Mission Bengal from Naxalbari in North Bengal and ended it with a public meet in Rajarhat in northern fringes of Kolkata.In the morning, he had a first Parivar Meeting with all RSS-linked groups in Bengal. The meeting was held at Port Trust Guest house in Bhowanipur where Shah met Bidyut Mukherjee, organisational secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Others present in the meet were Jishnu Basu, RSS general secretary in South Bengal; Sachin Singha, Vishwa Hindu Parishads zonal organising secretary in-charge of Odisha, Bengal, Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar Islands; and ABVPs Kishore Burman.According to sources, the RSS-affiliated organizations complained to Shah about the alleged atrocities on Hindus and Mamatas appeasement politics. VHPs Sachin Singha said, Amit Ji promised to visit Bengal frequently to oversee partys work. We are happy that he met us for the first time in Bengal. He was happy to see the BJPs surge in Bengal.Violence in college campuses and students raising Azadi slogans in Bengal was also discussed during the meet. Shah was told that some RSS-linked groups have taken the task of counselling students, who lost their way due to bad company and raising anti-national slogans.We have started Grameen Jeevan Darshan (village life tour) for students across Bengal to show them the real picture of India. This will help these (directionless) students to realise the importance of India, one of the leaders present in the meet said. Bhopal: A senior BJP leader has criticised the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government saying the corruption in the Madhya Pradesh government is at an all-time high. Former Gwalior BJP district president Raj Chaddha expressed his disenchantment through a Facebook post saying corruption is all around in the state, the hospitals are in bad shape. Make amends or expel lakhs of party workers like me who invested their whole life trying to fulfil dreams of Pt Deendayal Sharma, Chaddhas said in the Facebook post. His comments against the party on social media has sent ripples in the BJP. Terming Chaddhas post as indiscipline, BJP state chief Nandkumar Singh Chauhan said that perhaps Chaddha was not aware of the work done under the leadership of CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Congress and the AAP have already cornered the Chouhan government over costly power, while Scindias of Gwalior are at loggerheads with Chouhan over his comments on the family during the Bhind by-election. Other senior BJP leaders, including Babulal Gaur and Sartaj Singh, who were ousted from the cabinet, have openly criticised the Chouhan government on various issues. New Delhi: The defence put out by Priyanka Gandhi, according to media reports, in the land deals where she and her husband Robert Vadra turned from buyers to sellers within a few years, making profit of several lakh rupees, has led to a full blown political debate. Opponents have said that these deals clearly show that Gandhi and Vadra benefited unduly. CNN News18 lists the alleged loopholes in Priyanka Gandhis defence of the land deals in Amipur village of Faridabad district: CNN News18 is in possession of documents which clearly show how Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Vadra bought land from and sold to the same person. In a span of three-four years, the buyer became the seller and the seller became the buyer. During the period, the land had seen almost no development. Priyanka Gandhi bought 5 acres of land in Amipur Village from a Gurgaon-based individual named Harban Lal Pahwa for Rs 15 lakh. Documentary evidence in possession of CNN News18 shows that the transaction happened on April 28, 2006. Three years down the line, the same piece of land was sold by Priyanka Gandhi to Harbans Lal Pahwa for Rs 80 lakh. Documents show the deal with Pahwa was inked on June 16, 2009. Around the same time, Robert Vadra entered three land deals in Amipur. Interestingly, the modus operandi was almost the same. In this case as well, the buyer became the seller and vice versa in a short span of time. Documents show that Vadra purchased pieces of land between September 2005 and January 2006. In totality, Vadra purchased three chunks of land measuring 41 acres for Rs 1.16 crore. The same property was sold in 2010 for almost Rs 3 crore. Vadra made a mammoth Rs 1.83 cr in this sweetheart deal. The biggest mystery is why Harbans Lal Pahwa had figured in almost all transactions and why did he chose to suffer a loss of Rs 2.5 crore in a span of three-four years. The jigsaw puzzle falls in place after a closer look at the balance sheet of companies owned by Robert Vadra. Documents show that Pahwas company Carnival Intercontinental Estate (P) Ltd. gave a loan of Rs 1.55 crore to Skylight Hospitality, a company owned by Robert Vadra. Interestingly, Harbans Lal Pahwa held directorship in Vadras company Real Earth between February 2008 and March 2009. Justice S N Dhingra report: a recap Justice S N Dhingra Commission was set up in May 2015 to probe the grant of licences for change in land use (CLU) in Gurugram Dhingra Commission had submitted its 182-page report to Haryana CM M L Khattar in Chandigarh on August 31, 2016 The Dhingra panel is probing a mutation of land deal between Robert Vadras firm Skylight Hospitality and realty major DLF 2012: Vadras firm sells a 3.5-acre plot in Gurgrams Shikohpur village to DLF for Rs 58 crore 2008: Vadra purchases the 3.53-acre plot in Gurgrams Shikohpur village for Rs 7.5 crore Vadra sold the plot after Haryana govt wanted to set up a commercial colony on 2.71 acres of his land Justice Dhingra is a retired judge of Delhi HC New Delhi: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has said that agricultural land bought by her in Haryana's Faridabad district had no links to the finances of her husband Robert Vadras Skylight Hospitality or the DLF. A statement from Priyankas office came after Robert Vadra was asked by reporters whether a portion of the money he had received from the DLF was used by his wife to buy properties in Faridabad. In the statement, Priyanka said that six years prior to the alleged "land deal involving Skylight Hospitality" she purchased 40 kanal (five acres) agricultural land in Faridabad. She said the land was purchased for Rs 15 lakh through cheque. The statement said the land was resold to the original owner four years later on February 17, 2010 for Rs 80 lakh, the then prevailing market price. The money was accepted through cheque. The earlier owner was made the offer to allow him exercise the right of first refusal, PTI reported. The statement said the funds for the purchase came from rental income of Priyanka Gandhi from property inherited by her from her grandmother Indira Gandhi. "The source of funds for this or any other property acquired by Priyanka has no relationship whatsoever with Robert Vadra's finances and/or Skylight Hospitality and no relationship whatsoever with (realty firm) DLF," the statement said. It added that any insinuations made about the land deal were "false, baseless and defamatory" and represented "a deliberate, politically motivated and malicious campaign to besmirch and destroy her reputation". Reacting to Priyankas statement, BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao told CNN-News18, Her statement shows that the family feels very embarrassed by the nature of findings of the Justice Dhingra report which has not been made public yet. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: The fact that there has been no concrete evidence presented shows that there is nothing in the case. No evidence has found in cases reported from Rajasthan and Haryana. (With agency inputs) Kolkata: The CPI-M on Thursday said it was not averse to joining hands with the Congress and other secular forces to forge a broad-based unity in combating the attack on democracy and secularism in West Bengal. Communist Party of India-Marxist State Secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra said a joint struggle was needed to fight the poison of communalism being spread by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the autocratic attitude of the Trinamool government in the state. "We leftists, the parties within the Left Front and those Left forces outside the Left Front, can take the responsibility of leading the struggle against the attack on life and livelihood in the state and the anti-people economic policies of the BJP government at the centre and the Trinamool regime in the state. "But in the specific situation that is emerging in West Bengal, we need a broader unity of political forces by including the Congress and other democratic and secular parties to fight the attack on democracy and secularism in the state," Mishra told media persons after a two-day CPI-M state committee meeting. However, he said the call was not for any electoral alliance or understanding. "That we will decide at the time of elections. Here we are giving a call for a joint struggle." Mishra said the Trinamool could not be a part of the broad based unity visualised by his party. "Because the existence and the policies of the Trinamool government in the state has helped the BJP's rise. We ran the government in the state for 34 years, but during that time the BJP could not raise its head." "Had there been no Trinamool, the BJP would not have gained in strength in the state. To fight the BJP's divisive policies, one has to combat the Trinamool's autocratic rue. Similarly, it is not possible to take on the autocratic rule of the Trinamool by shutting one's eyes to the BJP's divisive policies," he said. Mishra said his party's call for roping in the Congress for a joint struggle in the state does not militate against the CPI-M central committee's stand of not getting into any electoral understanding with the country's oldest political party. The CPI-M-led Left Front and the Congress had forged an electoral understanding in the state for last year's assembly polls, but the alliance came a cropper. "We are not talking of any electoral alliance. But we welcome all secular forces including the Congress who want a joint struggle. Let them build a platform, we will be there. Things like who will provide the leadership is not important, considering the crisis in the state." Mishra said an effort was on to convert communal polarisaiton into political polarisation in the state. "Efforts are on to create a perception that the BJP, and not the Leftists, can provide an alternative to Bengal's dictatorial regime. "The BJP is playing Ram, while the Trinamool is playing Hanuman. This is a dangerous game." He said the CPI-M state committee has instructed the entire party to go all out in making the March to Nabanna (state secretariat) call given by the Leftist peasant organisations on May 22 a success. But two appointments in particular irked the rebel camp. That of Shimoga district president Rudre Gowda who relegated Eshwarappa to the third spot in the last assembly polls. Gowda contested the election on Karnataka Janata Party ticket floated by Yeddyruppa just before the general elections. At Thursdays meeting, the rebels have set a deadline of May 10 for the partys national leadership to sort out the differences. Else, they have threatened to hold a massive public convention on May 20. It was also decided to send a delegation to meet Amit Shah. We are here to save the party democracy. One person cant say I want everything. BJPs culture is democracy. Everyone should be consulted, said Bhanuprakash, a member of legislative council. We dont have a problem with Yeddyurappas leadership. But the office-bearers he has appointed are the ones creating troubles, added. The BJP under Narendra Modi and Amit Shah in the last three years has successfully settled leadership issues both at the Centre and states without even a murmur of discontent. But for a party which now avows to completely dominate national politics from 'panchayat to Parliament', Karnataka remains the Achilles Heel that continues to flare up to the discomfiture of the high command.Rebellion has been brewing in Karnataka BJP since April 2016 when BS Yeddyurappa was appointed state president. Soon after holding the charge, Yeddyurappa had announced sweeping changes in the party.In August last year, Eshwarappa had launched the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade, an apolitical forum, for those belonging to the scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs) and other backward castes (OBCs).Matters came to head on Thursday when rebel group, led by former deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa, held a meeting and publicly criticised Yeddyurappas style of functioning, terming it dictatorial.Calling itself the Save BJP Movement, the group of more than a thousand disgruntled party workers gathered at the Palace Grounds in Bengaluru. People are made office-bearers in the party if they say Yeddyurappa zindabad! No wonder, such people will become ministers if the party wins, said Eshwarappa in his address.The second appointment which ruffled many feathers in the state BJP was that of N Ravi Kumar, who has never really got along well with National Joint General Secretary Organisation in-charge of southern states BL Santhosh.So on Thursday when Yeddyurappa retaliated, he dragged in National Joint General Secretary Organisation BL Santhosh into the slugfest, accusing the RSS full timer of being the agent provocateur. Santhosh an old hand in state politics from the sangh stable is seen to be close to the national leadership, and speculations are rife after losing both seats in recently held assembly by-elections, the high command may also want clip Yeddyurappa's wings and take direct control of the election management.Interestingly, the convention sported BJP flags, 'lotus' logos at every corner and even photos of ideologues Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee -- with Eshwarappa claaiming that they were the "original BJP -- scenes eerily reminiscent of the tussle for J Jayalalithaas 'true' legacy in neighboring Tamil Nadu.Yeddyurappa's loyalists, who held a press conference at the BJP office soon after the convention, spoke out against this as more evidence of 'indiscipline.'"He must be expelled immediately, we ask our national leadership to do this within a day. We cannot tolerate such activities. We are here to oppose the Congress and the JDS, not oppose our own leaders," said BJP MLA Ashwathnarayana.They also said no elected MP or MLA was actually with Eshwarappa in this effort, and dubbed the brigade as a forum of all those who are of no use and have lost their deposits in the previous elections.Undeterred by the reactions from Yeddyurappa's loyalists and the threat of possible disciplinary action, Eshwarappa said, Some of the party workers present here have been suspended for anti-party activities. Should we allow that? Lets suspend those who suspend us.Former minister Sogadu Shivanna, who had been suspended by Yeddyurappa, said It is not the Yeddyurappa we knew earlier. I appeal to the national leadership, hand over our Yeddyurappa to us. President Pranab Mukherjee's five-year tenure ends in July this year; and elections for the new Head of the State will formally begin with a notification by the Election Commission in June. Smaller parties are clearly seeking a larger role. Even as the counting for MCD polls were on, JD(U) leader KC Tyagi asked the Congress to take everyone along if it were to counter any challenge from the BJP. After a series of one-on-one interactions over the last one month, leaders of non-NDA parties may hold a joint meeting in May to firm up their strategy for the upcoming Presidential elections and possibly a non-BJP front at the national level.Congress president Sonia Gandhi has already held a round of discussion with leaders of all major Opposition parties, including Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. The effort is to put up a joint candidate against the NDA nominee in an election where members of the state legislative assemblies and both Houses of Parliament constitute the Electoral College.But the moot question in these deliberations remains whether the Congress as the main opposition party is willing to concede leadership to regional forces for the sake of larger opposition unity.Sources say the JD(U) had sought some 25-odd seats from the Congress in Poorvanchali-dominated areas of Delhi as a precondition for a tie-up. "We kept waiting for a call from Delhi Congress in charge, but the phone call never came, says a JD(U) leader.Even in the Karnataka by-election earlier this month, the Congress could win in both the Assembly segments because the JD(S) did not field a candidate. "And after winning the elections, Congress leaders went about town declaring the party will go alone in the general elections slated next year, says a JD(S) leader.Clearly, a larger opposition unity is being worked out and Presidential elections will be its first test. Even fierce adversaries like the BSP and the Samajwadi Party have expressed their willingness to join a larger non-BJP front at the Centre.However, quite unlike 2004, the Congress is in no position to dictate terms or decide contours of opposition front. The party's political capital has touched a now low in the last three years. And there is a general feeling among non-BJP outfits that the Congress has to play a less dominant role in the current scenario.As the grand old party counted its losses in the MCD elections, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters party spokesperson gave a clarion call to regional parties, especially from the Janata stock, to shed their anti-Congressism to take on the BJP.But the moot question amid these negotiations remains the leadership issue. Is the Congress party willing to concede larger space or at least offer joint leadership to smaller parties?This factor alone in many ways may decide the course of national politics in the days ahead. The shutdown would then coincide with Trumps 100th day in the Oval Office. "As families prepare for summer vacations in our National Parks - Democrats threaten to close them and shut down the government. Terrible!," Trump tweeted, along with a series of other tweets. Other disagreements must also still be ironed out in the current plan, including funding to make a healthcare program for coal miners permanent and to plug a gap in Puerto Rico's Medicaid program, the government health insurance program for the poor. The US Congress took steps to extend until May 5 the deadline for reaching a deal on federal spending through September and head off a feared government shutdown at midnight on Friday.Republicans introduced a bill on Wednesday to fund government operations at current levels for one more week, giving them more time to finish negotiations with Democrats on a spending plan for the rest of the fiscal year ending September 30.The legislation was likely to be voted on by the House of Representatives and Senate on Friday, meaning that if it passes, it would have to be rushed to President Donald Trump to sign into law promptly.Without this extension or a longer-term funding bill, federal agencies will run out of money by midnight Friday, likely triggering abrupt layoffs of hundreds of thousands of federal government workers until funding resumes.The last government shutdown, in 2013, lasted for 17 days, and many lawmakers were nervous about the prospect of another."I'm confident we will be able to pass a short-term extension" of funding for programs for the fiscal year that began nearly seven months ago, House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters.House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi warned that the purpose of the stopgap measure was to tie up loose ends of a deal to provide around $1 trillion in money for the fiscal year ending September 30 and not for "kicking the can down the road to have this same back-and-forth" over funding disputes.House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen expressed optimism in a statement that a final funding package will be completed soon.In the midst of the delicate negotiations, Trump took to Twitter to blast Democrats.Negotiators were racing against the clock to resolve remaining disputes in the massive spending bill amid talks that have already handed Democrats at least two major victories despite Republican control of Congress.Trump, a Republican, gave in to Democratic demands that the spending bill not include money to start building the wall he wants to erect on the U.S.-Mexico border. His administration also agreed to continue funding for a major component of Obamacare, formally known as the Affordable Care Act, despite vows to end the program.It remained unclear whether Republicans would prevail in their effort to significantly increase defence spending without similar increases for other domestic programs. Trump has proposed a $30 billion spending boost for the Pentagon for the rest of this fiscal year.Such funding disputes could resurface later in spending bills for the next fiscal year starting in October.Additional "riders" on other issues could also be tucked into the legislation, which must pass both the House and Senate.Although Republicans control both chambers of Congress, they hold just 52 seats in the Senate and will need support from some Democrats to win the 60 votes needed there to pass the bill. Further efforts should be made to cancel business certifications and licenses with no legal basis, according to Premier Li at the State Council executive meeting on April 26. Half a year after the business registration reform of integrating five licenses into one, the recent State Council executive meeting decided to consolidate more certifications and licenses into one business license. The meeting also decided to reduce pre-setup approvals to further reduce institutional costs for market entities and stimulate market vitality. Such business system reform is a major task in this years government work report, which, according to the Premier, will not only create a more convenient environment for entrepreneurship, but also increase labor productivity. Many countries are carrying out policies to optimize the business environment by simplifying registration procedures and reducing taxes. Against such a backdrop, China should have a sense of urgency to optimize its own business environment by enhancing reforms streamlining administration and delegating power to lower-level governments and strengthening regulation, the Premier said. Data from the World Bank shows Chinas business environment ranking for 2016 moved up 18 positions from 2013, and its rating for ease of doing business rose 31 positions in the same period. That suggests Chinas efforts to create a convenient environment for business has paid off. Recent data supports the development as more than 40,000 new businesses opened in China each day. Online users satisfaction rate with the market access environment in the first quarter reached 99.5 percent. Chinas business environment has been improved with enhanced reforms in recent years but it still has a huge potential, Premier Li said at the meeting. Talking about his inspection tour of Shandong last week, Premier Li emphasized the role of peoples creativity in pushing forward the transformation and upgrading of traditional enterprises. Deepening the business registration reform and cutting administrative procedures will not only create a favorable and convenient environment for setting up businesses, but improve productivity, Premier Li said. He added that all the departments should carry out the reform without compromises, so as to provide more development space for entrepreneurship and innovation. At the State Council executive meeting, the government made another step in loosening its grip on the market, allowing a faster and more convenient process for setting up businesses. Until now, 87 percent of the 226 pre-setup approval items have been removed or replaced by post-approvals. Premier Li also spoke highly of the online administrative procedure in Weihai city, Shandong province, that has significantly improved its efficiency. He urged better information-sharing and coordination between departments to avoid repetition in submitting identical registration information. Delegating power and proper regulation are complementary for each other. So to further promote the administrative reform, supervision should be strengthened to oversee registration and post-registration procedures, Premier Li said. All the departments should regard the public interest as their top priority, and deepen the business registration reform in an effort to lower the institutional transaction costs for people and enterprises, concluded the Premier. Islamabad: China will fully fund the $8 billion Karachi-Peshawar Railway Line in Pakistan to ensure the smooth completion of the key project, which was earlier to be partly funded by the ADB. "China strongly argued that two-sourced financing would create problems and the project would suffer," Pakistan Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal told reporters on Friday. The project was originally planned to be partly funded by the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Dawn reported. The minister said he would not comment whether the Ministry of Railways has resisted the Chinese request for fears of monopoly, but said the entire financing would now come from China. He said the ADB would be accommodated in some other projects, such as those under the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation programme Under the original plan, the ADB had to provide $ 3.5bn for the 1,700-km-long line considered the backbone of the country's logistics connecting two major ports with the rest of the country for transporting goods and passengers. The minister said the Chinese government therefore wanted that the project financing should be kept single-sourced. Pakistan and China are expected to sign a formal agreement in this regard next month. The Pentagon inspector general has launched an investigation into whether Michael Flynn, US President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, accepted money from foreign entities without the required approval, according to a letter released by House Democrats on Thursday.The new probe compounds the legal problems Flynn faces for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from the state-run Russia Today (RT) television network and a firm owned by a Turkish businessman after the former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) director retired as an Army lieutenant general in 2014.Senior lawmakers said this week that Flynn likely broke the law by failing to request and receive permission to accept $45,000 to speak at a 2015 RT gala dinner at which he sat with Russian President Vladimir Putin.If substantiated, such a failure would violate regulations rooted in the Constitution that bar current and retired military officers from accepting "emoluments" from foreign powers, the letter said.White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters on Thursday that the inspector general's probe was "appropriate.""If they think there's wrongdoing, then the department's inspector general should look into that," he said.Spicer said Flynn did not undergo a security review before he was named Trump's first national security adviser."Why would you rerun a background check on someone who was the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency that had and did maintain a high-level security clearance?" he said.However, a former senior White House official familiar with ethics and security clearance issues said that during the administration of former President Barack Obama, the White House Counsel's office always conducted its own background investigations of candidates for senior White House jobs, even if they already held security clearances.These reviews included questionnaires and interviews, and would have included issues such as whether the candidate had drug problems, had hired prostitutes, or had personal or financial problems, the former official said.Flynn is also the subject of congressional probes into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election that US intelligence agencies have said was intended to sway the vote in favour of Trump, the Republican candidate, over his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. Russia denies the allegation.The Defense Department inspector general is investigating whether Flynn "failed to obtain required approval prior to receiving any emolument from a foreign government," according to an April 11 letter released by Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.If substantiated, such a failure would violate military regulations that apply a constitutional provision that bars current and retired officers from accepting "emoluments" from foreign powers, the letter said.Representative Elijah Cummings, the House committee's top Democrat, released other Defense Department documents on Thursday showing that the DIA found no evidence that Flynn requested permission to accept foreign funds, despite a 2014 warning against taking such payments.One document, a redacted version of a letter the DIA sent to the committee on April 7, said the agency had not found "any records referring or relating to LTG (Lieutenant General) Flynn's receipt of money from a foreign source."Flynn's attorney, Robert Kelner, said in a statement that Cummings mischaracterised the DIA letter, saying a partially redacted section confirmed that Flynn gave the Pentagon "information and documents on a thumb drive" about the RT event.The materials included documents that Flynn used a speakers bureau for the event, said Kelner, adding that the former national security adviser also briefed the Pentagon before and after the Moscow visit. He called on the DIA to release the unredacted letter and details of the briefings.Kelner's statement, however, did not address the issue of whether Flynn requested and received permission to accept foreign government payments.Separately, the committee's Republican chairman, Representative Jason Chaffetz, asked the acting Army secretary for a "final determination" about whether Flynn violated the law by accepting foreign payments, according to a letter released by his office on Thursday.In addition to looking into the RT funds, the House committee is scrutinizing Flynn's work last year as a foreign agent hired to promote Turkish government views by a Netherlands-based company owned by a Turkish businessman.The company paid Flynn's now-defunct firm, Flynn Intel Group, a total of $530,000 beginning in August, when he was the Trump campaign's top foreign policy adviser.Flynn registered as a foreign agent with the Justice Department only in March, weeks after he resigned as Trump's national security adviser following his failure to disclose his contacts with Sergei Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the United States, before Trump took office. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said. Trump also said he was considering adding stops to Israel and Saudi Arabia to a Europe trip next month, emphasizing that he wanted to see an Israeli-Palestinian peace. He complained that Saudi Arabia was not paying its fair share for US defense. "I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. Trump spoke just a day after he and his top national security advisers briefed US lawmakers on the North Korean threat and one day before Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will press the United Nations Security Council on sanctions to further isolate Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. "I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational," he said. Trump also said he hoped to avoid a potential government shutdown amid a dispute between congressional Republicans and Democrats over a spending deal with a Saturday deadline looming. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute.Nonetheless, Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple US presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasizing by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table.In other highlights of the 42-minute interview, Trump was cool to speaking again with Taiwan's president after an earlier telephone call with her angered China.He also said he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the US THAAD anti-missile defense system, which he estimated at $1 billion, and intends to renegotiate or terminate a US free trade pact with South Korea because of a deep trade deficit with Seoul.Asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the pact, Trump said: Very soon. Im announcing it now.Asked about the fight against Islamic State, Trump said the militant group had to be defeated."I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation," he said, when asked about what the endgame was for defeating Islamist violent extremism.Trump said North Korea was his biggest global challenge. He lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in Pyongyang. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month."With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he cant," Trump said.The Trump administration on Wednesday declared North Korea "an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority." It said it was focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure, including Chinese cooperation in containing its defiant neighbor and ally, and remained open to negotiations.US officials said military strikes remained an option but played down the prospect, though the administration has sent an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force.Any direct US military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among US forces in both countries.Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age."He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age.Trump, sipping a Coke delivered by an aide after the president ordered it by pressing a button on his desk, rebuffed an overture from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who told Reuters a direct phone call with Trump could take place again after their first conversation in early December angered Beijing.China considers neighboring Taiwan to be a renegade province."My problem is that I have established a very good personal relationship with President Xi," said Trump. "I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him."So I would certainly want to speak to him first."But he said if a shutdown takes place, it will be the Democrats' fault for trying to add money to the legislation to "bail out Puerto Rico" and other items.He also defended the one-page tax plan he unveiled on Wednesday from criticism that it would increase the US deficit, saying better trade deals and economic growth would offset the costs."We will do trade deals that are going to make up for a tremendous amount of the deficit. We are going to be doing trade deals that are going to be much better trade deals," Trump said. Central Virginia Training Center continued scaling down Thursday by announcing 14 people would be laid off in a month, according to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The 30-day notices came after CVTC employees met with administration regarding layoff and severance package policies on Monday. Todays layoff notices, while unfortunate, reflect the reality that CVTC staff members must be proportionate with the declining census and the need to move residents out of aging buildings, DBHDS Interim Commissioner Dr. Jack Barber said in a written statement through a spokeswoman. The Madison Heights facility serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is slated to close in 2020 as part of a settlement agreement with the Department of Justice. In June 2011 prior to the settlement agreement being signed, CVTC housed 1,084 residents, according to DBHDS. The population had dropped below 160 as of April 11, Acting Facility Director David Cole said in an interview that day. In March 2011, CVTC employed 1,319 people full- and part-time, a number that had dropped to 653 as of last week. CVTCs layoffs included support staff but not nurses or direct care workers, DBHDS spokeswoman Maria Reppas said in an email Thursday. CVTC has used the provisions of the states layoff and severance policies to soften the impact on affected individuals as much as possible, Barbers statement said. Severance packages can vary from one employee to another, Reppas said in an email. While cutting some positions, CVTC administration must maintain others, including nurses and direct care staff until they close in 2020, a challenge as people retire or leave, Cole said. CVTC holds two hiring rounds each month, he said. We still struggle to make sure that we still have a hiring class, Cole said in the April 11 interview referring to direct support positions. A nursing shortage led to CVTC no longer offering skilled nursing care as of Jan. 31, resulting in at least six people being transferred to Hiram W. Davis Medical Center in Petersburg, according to DHBDS. Three of those individuals, including 23-year-old Tyler Bryant, have since died, leading to the DOJ ramping up an investigation into the decision to transfer them, according to Secretary of Health and Human Resources William A. Hazel. Four of the states five training centers are slated to close by 2020 as part of the settlement agreement, which stemmed from a DOJ civil rights investigation at CVTC. Southwestern Virginia Training Center is scheduled for closure in 2018; CVTC and Southeastern Virginia Training Center remain open. Although the current state plan calls for closing all but SEVTC in Chesapeake, the 2017 General Assembly added some uncertainty as DBHDS moves forward with closure plans. The legislature charged its joint subcommittee consulting on the training center closures with considering whether to also keep open CVTC, SWVTC or another option. The group comprised of members from the Senate and House of Delegates is expected to meet this summer. No one was injured in a one-car wreck that left one lane of Virginia 130 closed Thursday afternoon. The male driver, of Amherst, was headed North-Northwest on the byway near the Rattlesnake ATV Trail in Amherst County when he reported having to swerve to avoid a deer, Virginia State Police Trooper P.A. Eckenrode said. The drivers dark blue Dodge Stratus was damaged after it went over the embankment. Eckenrode said this isnt a common type of wreck for the area. Though not injured, the driver was still on scene and icing his left wrist after he was checked out by Monelison Emergency Services. The driver declined to comment. According to a VSP Dispatch Center official, VSP assigned Eckenrode to the call at about 5:24 p.m. The official said the call came in shortly before that. Eckenrode said the driver reported the wreck occurred at about 5 p.m. Officials are currently directing north- and southbound traffic. Eckenrode said the road is expected to be one-lane until about 7:30 p.m. Premier Li Keqiang on April 27 urged big centrally administered State-owned enterprises (SOEs) to further promote innovation and encourage internal startups, as he presided over a seminar in Beijing. He said internal ventures will create a new corporate and capital structure for central SOEs, making these big companies more efficient. Twenty-nine ministers, the heads of 109 central SOEs and 10 heads of State-owned financial institutions attended the seminar. He also visited an exhibition of innovation and entrepreneurship projects from eight central SOEs, including the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC), China Electronics Technology Group Corp (CETC), China Telecom Corp, and China Merchants Group. At the exhibition, after hearing that a company encouraged its 160,000 employees to start businesses, generating 25,000 CEOs within the company, he said these small teams are the source of vitality at big companies. It is a revolution in management and production concept, said the Premier. So far, central SOEs have set up 409 innovation and entrepreneurship incubators, with more than 2 million registered users, creating many jobs. Innovation and entrepreneurship are the keys to excellence for both small and big companies, the Premier said. As the transformation mode from old to new driving engines is changing from time to time, the supervision and service models, such as financing support and tax calculation methods, will also be improved to adapt to the changes, Premier Li said, adding that it is necessary to explore inclusive and prudent supervision models to help the growth of new driving engines. He stopped at many booths with innovation products such as smart bicycle lock, mini washing machine, magnetic desktop speaker and capture sensors for human body movement. A person in charge from a central SOE said shyly that these are only small products, to which the Premier replied, But all these small products have big markets. During his visit to the exhibition, Premier Lis frequent question was, How many jobs can be created by the innovation products? Although the number of registered newly added job opportunities at the central SOEs is limited now, the employment potential brought by the mass entrepreneurship and innovation is still huge, said the Premier. Baby drowns in bucket of urine Baby Kydari Pacheco was found lifeless in the bucket by his 29-yearold father who wasted no time in rushing the child to the Port-of- Spain General Hospital. The baby was pronounced dead on arrival by Dr Ramoutar. Told of his sons death, the father Kevon Pacheco became hysterical and ran out of the hospital. When police later arrived at the familys home they found the babys parents in tears and holding on to each other. Investigators photographed the bedroom where the incident took place and also seized an orange-coloured bucket containing the urine. The tiny was sent to the Forensic Science Centre for an autopsy. Yesterday, Patricia Checkley was inconsolable as she remembered the all too brief time spent with her great grandson. She said the babys parents did not have any bathroom facility where they live and she had allowed them to use her home to bathe and use its bathroom whenever they wished. She said Kevons other son Kimani lives with her. Checkley said Kevon was in the process of digging a cesspit to construct a toilet and bathroom. She described him as a loving and devoted father. She said that based on what she heard, Kevon awoke at 4.35 am yesterday and asked the babys mother Nikita Wilson, for their son. When the baby, who was last seen sleeping behind his mothers back, was not on the bed a search was made and he was found face down in the bucket of urine. Right now I dont know if to turn left or right. My belly still hurting me, I cannot believe my sweet baby is dead. I cannot believe this has happened, but I want everybody to know this was purely a tragic accident and no one should blame Kevon or Nikita, Checkley said. She added that because the couple had no bathroom facility, they kept a bucket at the side of the bed. Newsday understands that on Wednesday night Nikita and her baby retired to bed on the lower half of a double-decker bed while Kimani slept on the top section. Kevon slept on a couch. Up to press time, two people were in custody and investigations are continuing. Judge Ayers-Caesar resigns Her resignation came amid growing concern over unfinished cases she may have left behind in the magistracy and one day after frustrated prisoners almost rioted in the Eighth Magistrates Court in Port-of-Spain where Ayers-Caesar presided, for the last seven years. Ayers-Caesars shocking resignation was announced yesterday in a statement issued on her behalf by the Judiciarys Court Protocol and Information Department. She said after careful deliberation, prayer and consultation with her family, she sought an audience with Chief Justice Ivor Archie and delivered her resignation to President Anthony Carmona at 5.30 pm yesterday. She admitted she should have advised the Judicial and Legal Service Commission of the number of part-heard cases left on her docket and request further time to complete them before taking up the higher judicial post. Upon mature reflection, I am of the considered view that it would have been preferable that I advise the Judicial and Legal Service Commission of the full state of my list and request further time to bring matters to completion before confirming my readiness to assume duties as a Judge of the Supreme Court, Ayers-Caesar said. I acknowledge the concerns raised with respect to the various matters which were not completed before me as Chief Magistrate by the time of my appointment to the Bench of the Supreme Court of Justice and recognise the effect that the failure to complete these matters will invariably have on the stakeholders in the criminal justice system including accused persons, victims of crime and members of the legal profession, she added. I continue to regret the effect which my actions have caused on the very persons whom I strive to serve and that His Excellency the President and the Honourable Chief Justice for the confidence placed in me, she concluded. Ayers-Caesar began her duties as a judge on Monday in the San Fernando High Court. In her statement yesterday, she did not say what her next move will be and it is still unclear if she will immediately return to the magistracy. On Monday, president of the Law Association Douglas Mendes SC, issued a statement expressing the councils concern over Ayers-Caesars appointment and leaving behind a heavy docket of unfinished cases, mainly murder inquiries involving accused persons who are incarcerated for as much as seven years without bail as they await the completion of their matters in the lower court. Mendes assured that the association was committed to transparency and accountability in the selection and appointment of judges by the JLSC but said the council had immediate concerns about the fact that a judge was appointed and took up office leaving behind outstanding, part-heard matters. He said the association would have sought to meet with Chief Justice Archie, the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions over the coming days to assist in finding a workable solution. However, Mendes said it was unfair that anyone should suffer the expense and anxiety of an avoidable repeat trial. The full extent of the prejudice which may have been caused is not yet known, he said. (See Page 8A) Brittney Griner Is on Her Way to Penal Colony in Russia After electronics engineer Mats Jarlstrom publicly challenged the mathematical formula used by the traffic cameras in his town of Beaverton, Ore., he was slapped with a $500 ticket for practicing engineering without a license. Now hes suing the Oregon State Board of Examiners for squashing his First Amendment right to discuss public safety issues, reports NBC News. The story began in 2013 when Jarlstroms wife received a $260 ticket for running a red light, Oregon Live reported in 2014. He studied the light cycles at various intersections caught by traffic cameras and claimed that the formulas were outdated; he believes the yellow light cycle is too short for turning lanes. He attended more than a dozen city council meetings, did interviews with local television stations, and even wrote to the states board of engineer examiners. Thats where his trouble started, reports Motherboard, because he included the words, I am an engineer in his email. State law says that engineers must be licensed by the state to practice engineering, which includes speaking on the topic. The automated traffic cameras in Beaverton resulted in 25,000 tickets between 2001 and 2014, many of which the 56-year-old Jarlstrom believes are unwarranted. But for Jarlstrom, who paid the board's $500 fine (his wife's original $260 fine was also paid), the matter is now more personal. "It's important in my mind we can share ideas freely in Oregon to promote innovation,'' he says, per Oregon Live. "I feel violated at this point in time.'' And his work is far from done: He's also working on an article on the subject he hopes to publish in an academic journal. (Read more red-light cameras stories.) The body of a 1-year-old girl was found at a "deplorable" Illinois home that she and her mother shared with squatters after her mother reluctantly allowed detectives inside to search and a day after she reported her daughter missing, police said Thursday. Deputy Chief Rick Ackerson said Semaj Crosby's death was "suspicious," but that an autopsy is not yet complete. Ackerson said the investigation was hindered by the girl's mother's refusal until late Wednesday night to allow authorities to search the house in Joliet. The mother initially spoke to investigators, but later refused to answer questions on the advice of an attorney, he said. At one point during an interview with investigators at the house, she fell silent after another resident pounded on the door and shouted for her to stop talking, the AP reports Ackerson said it wasn't clear who was in the house when the girl disappeared, explaining that the attorney for the mother said that from five to 15 squatters "come and go as they please." "The house was in very deplorable conditions," Ackerson said, without elaborating. The mother reported her daughter missing on Tuesday, sparking a massive hunt. Until they found the body, investigators suspected Semaj had probably wandered off and perhaps had hidden herself somewhere and fallen asleep. On Thursday, Ackerson said that deputies had made a "cursory" search of the residence on Tuesday and did not find the girl. (Read more child death stories.) A leading Atlanta attorney who claimed he accidentally shot his wife after dozing off has been charged with her murder. Claud "Tex" McIver, who was initially charged with reckless misconduct and involuntary manslaughter in the Sept. 25, 2016, death of Diane McIver, was hit with new charges Thursday, including malice murder and three counts of influencing witnesses, 11Alive reports. After the shooting, McIver said he'd been in the rear seat of an SUV when the revolver he was holding went off as the vehicle went over a bump, fatally injuring his wife. He had been out on bail on the earlier charges but was returned to jail Wednesday after investigators searched his condo and found a gun in his sock drawer. The new charges for McIver, who was a partner at a labor law firm until his retirement in December, appear to be linked to his behavior after the shooting, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. According to court documents, McIver is accused of instructing family friend Dani Jo Carter, who was driving the SUV, to lie to police and say she wasn't there when Diane McIver was shot. McIver also allegedly told Bill Crane, his spokesman after the shooting, to retract a statement he received from McIver saying he had taken the gun out because he was afraid there might be Black Lives Matter protesters in the area. (McIver owed $350,000 to his wife, who was president of a marketing firm.) A happy day for historians and conspiracy theorists could be right around the corner. A 1992 law mandated that all materials related to President John F. Kennedy's assassination be maintained in a single collectionand that those documents that had been kept secret be released 25 years later. That would put the files squarely in public hands by Oct. 26, reports Politicoassuming President Trump doesn't intervene. Researchers at the National Archives are already preparing an estimated 3,600 files for public viewing, along with 35,000 other assassination-related documents previously released in part, and say they could actually begin unsealing some this summer. Only the president has the right to "justifiably close" any of the records due to be opened. A large number of the "missing" documents were filed by CIA officials who tracked Lee Harvey Oswald's 1963 visit to Mexico City. Politico gives context: "Historians agree that the trip, which Oswald apparently undertook in hopes of obtaining a visa to defect to Castro's Cuba ... has never been fully investigated." Those files had been kept secret for fear they would damage US-Mexico relations, and while the chair of the agency that handled the documents says he knew of no "bombshells," he "wouldn't be surprised if there's something important" in them. A White House official simply says the Trump administration is working with the National Archives "to enable a smooth process in anticipation of the October deadline." Politico in 2015 looked at why the files' release could embarrass the CIA. (Did JFK's diary contain a conspiracy theory?) A Dutch organization that advises women on reproductive rights has now launched a website to help US women terminate pregnancies on their own. The Guardian reports on the "Self-Managed Abortion: Safe and Supported" portal, or SASS, set up by Women Help Women. Through it, 23 trained counselors will answer questions and give advice if women have already decided to take the drug misoprostol. The medication, which, when taken alone or in combination with mifepristone, keeps a pregnancy from happening, is only legal in the US at medical facilities, though it can be purchased OTC in Central American nations. A Women Help Women rep says the idea for the site came about after a Guardian story documenting a Texas woman's trip to Mexico to get the drug, and all the questions she had once she got it. The site won't provide pills, and organizers say they won't even suggest women take themthey're just there to keep women safe if they've already decided to. "It's worse to just remain silent," says a UC San Francisco obstetrics professor who calls misoprostol a "very safe and effective" drug (though it's more effective taken with mifepristone, which isn't as easy to obtain). For women who do have complications and must seek medical care, the Washington Post notes they'll be advised that drug-induced and spontaneous abortions typically look the same, and that the drug isn't detectable via drug test. Abortion foes note the meds can be dangerous if not taken correctly or if taken late in the gestation period, and that this site could put women at risk by providing info on taking them. Women Help Women is being cautious in case of legal ramifications: Its servers are located outside the US, as are its two dozen or so staffers. (Read more abortion stories.) Ann Coulter didn't turn up in Berkeley Thursday night, where hundreds held a raucous but largely peaceful demonstration in her absence and lamented what they called the latest blow to free speech in the home of America's free speech movement. The conservative pundit's canceled appearance at the University of California-Berkeley drew hundreds of her supporters to a downtown park, many of them dressed in flak jackets, ballistic helmets adorned with pro-Trump stickers, and other protective gear in anticipation of violence, the AP reports. But there were no major confrontations between Coulter's supporters and opponents, largely because of a significant police presence. Coulter had publicly floated the idea of visiting Berkeley despite the cancellation, but she didn't show. Her supporters and students on the UC Berkeley campus, many of whom expressed distaste for Coulter's political views, voiced frustration that she didn't get to speak and that the university's reputation as a bastion of tolerance was suffering. Coulter planned to give a speech on illegal immigration. "I don't like Ann Coulter's views, but I don't think in this case the right move was to shut her down," says one 24-year-old grad student. University police refused to let any protesters enter the campus. Six people were arrested, including one for obstructing an officer and wearing a mask to evade police. (Read more Ann Coulter stories.) It's known as the Holy Grail of pirate treasurea haul of gold, silver, and jewels worth an estimated $130 millionand John Cruise-Wilkins says he knows where it is. So why is the man not yet swimming in diamonds and rubies? Well, getting to the treasure is not so easy, Cruise-Wilkins tells the BBC's Helen Soteriou, who visited the "Treasure Man" on Mahe's northern coast in the Seychelles. Here, according to Cruise-Wilkins, the French pirate Olivier Levasseur stowed the treasure he'd stolen from a Portuguese ship in the port of Bourbon Island, now La Reunion, in 1721. Afterwards, according to legend, he executed the crew members who'd helped him hide it. But after Levasseur was captured in 1730, he is said to have given up a sort of treasure map: 17 lines of symbols written on a piece of parchment that he thrust into the air moments before he was hanged. Cruise-Wilkins, who inherited the quest for the treasure from his father, says his years studying the parchment (reportedly verified by the British Museum as from the 1700s) have led him to a cavern, only accessible by an underwater tunnel, on government land. To dig there, Cruise-Wilkins needs to pay $18,000 for a permit. Even then, any treasure he finds must be split with the government. Financing is an issue but the price is worth it, "not just to prove my father right but to beat the pirate at his own game," he told the Seychelles News Agency last year. "I have found the mental treasure," he adds. "It is only the physical that now remains." (Read more treasure stories.) A Bangkok court on Friday approved an arrest warrant for an heir to the Red Bull energy drink fortune accused of a deadly hit-and-run accident, moving the case forward after almost five years without charges being pressed. Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya is accused of fleeing the scene of a 2012 crash in his Ferrari after allegedly fatally hitting a police officer on motorcycle patrol. His family, half-owners of the Red Bull empire, has estimated wealth of more than $20 billion, reports the AP. The state prosecutor asked for police action after Vorayuth missed Thursday's deadline to answer a summons, and police applied for the warrant Friday morning. Police spokesman Krisana Pattanacharoen says the court has approved the arrest warrant on two charges, hit-and-run and reckless driving. "He will be processed like any other suspect who is evading their arrest warrant," says Krisana. The case has drawn attention as an example of the impunity of Thailand's rich and well-connected, who are able to avoid or delay justice in a way that ordinary Thais wouldn't be able to. Vorayuth's current whereabouts are unknown, though a recent AP report revealed that he's been living lavishly, traveling to Formula One races, snowboarding in Japan, and cruising in Venice. "Whenever he steps into Thailand, we should be able to get him," national police chief Gen. Chaktip Chaijinda told reporters Friday ahead of the warrant being granted. The charge of hit-and-run carries a penalty of up to six months in jail; the reckless driving charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. (Read more Red Bull stories.) If you were hoping that the US might someday have a President Michelle Obama, we have bad news for you. The former first lady says she won't run for political office, CNN reports. During her first speech since the Obamas left the White House, Michelle on Thursday told a crowd at the American Institute of Architecture convention in Florida that since exiting political life, it's been "good to not have the weight of the world upon your shoulders." She added that she plans to continue working on behalf of women and girls, but that she can make an impact without being an elected official. "Its all well and good until you start running [for office], and then the knives come out. Politics is tough, and its hard on a family," she said, according to the Orlando Sentinel. "I wouldnt ask my children to do this again because, when you run for higher office, its not just you, its your whole family." She added that as a private citizen, she can work for the causes that are important to her without "the burden of political baggage," but assured the audience that public service would always be a part of her and her husband's lives. (Read more Michelle Obama stories.) A Florida sheriff's deputy was sleeping Thursday afternoon when his 11-year-old daughter called and asked him to pick her up at her school bus stop. Seconds later, she started screaming into the phone, "Dad, help me, help me!" Polk County Sheriff's Deputy Jonathan Quintana told reporters Friday that he assumed the worst as he jumped out of bed and ran barefoot to the bus stop. He found his daughter safe, but immediately saw the carnage left when a suspected drunken driver hit five of her fellow students as they were walking home from the stop. Officials said Jahiem Robertson, 13, died of his injuries Friday morning, the AP reports. Another child, John Mena, 13, remains in intensive care with orbital fractures. Three other children suffered minor injuries. A witness at the scene pointed out the car that had allegedly just crashed into the children, who were not in the road when they were hit. Quintana saw the vehicle had hit another car about 4,000 feet down the road. The driver then stumbled out of the vehicle. A woman who was four months pregnant was injured in that crash, according to authorities. Quintana arrested John Camfield, 48, a former law enforcement officer who worked for 10 different agencies in Mississippi before moving to Florida. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Camfield initially refused to take a breath test after his arrest, but after being advised that two of the children he hit were in critical condition, he agreed to take a breath test and a blood draw. "Seven hours after the crash, he still read a .14," nearly twice Florida legal limit, Judd said. He faces multiple charges. (Read more drunk driving stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region An illusion of super powers is bad enough but on top of it is Khan's by now notorious intolerance. New Delhi: Paytm on Thursday announced the launch of Digital Gold which shall allow its 200-million plus users to buy, store and sell gold instantly. Chief Executive Officer Vijay Shekhar Sharma said that the Digital Gold vertical would be part of the wealth management product, part of its proposed payments bank, which was still awaiting a final nod from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Customers can now buy and sell international quality gold at market-linked prices instantly for as low as Rs 1 using their Paytm wallets. If a user wants to sell the gold, MMTC-PAMP will buy the gold back and the money will be transferred to his bank account, Sharma said. Gold is the preferred form of investment for Indians, and we are making it easier for our users to invest in gold digitally. With this product, our customers can buy and sell international quality gold at market-linked prices instantly. The goal is to offer complete flexibility in deciding the amount they want to invest, and enable consumers to develop habit of saving regularly in digital gold for long-term wealth creation, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder of Paytm said at a press conference. He declined to give details on the firms launch of its payments bank. While the purchased gold can be stored in MMTC-PAMPs secure vaults free of charge, a consumer can also request for home delivery of minted coins or sell it back online instantly. So here is how you can buy, sell Gold with your Paytm e-wallet #You need to be a registered Paytm user with a valid login ID #You can make an offer to buy gold at the rate displayed on the platform in either rupees or gram #In case a single transaction value crosses Rs 20,000, you will be required to submit your KYC details; in case your cumulative transaction value exceeds Rs 50,000, you will be required to furnish your PAN card #The gold can be kept in the vaults of MMTC-PAMP #The gold purchased can also be delivered at your doorstep as coins or bars New Delhi: A Mumbai court on Friday suspended the sentence given to actress Preeti Jain for four weeks and later granted her bail. The court also gave her four weeks to approach the high court. She is facing charges of giving money to gangsters to kill director Madhur Bhandarkar. The court granted bail to her and two others in the case with a rider of payment of fine imposed by the court. She has to also furnish Rs 15,000 as a bail bond. Earlier in the day, actor Preeti Jain and two others, convicted by a Mumbai court for giving money to gangsters to kill Madhur Bhandarkar in 2005 for plotting Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar's murder while two others have been acquitted in the case. Two including actor Preeti Jain sentenced to three years imprisonment by a Mumbai court, one gets two years jail. Earlier, Preeti Jain had accused film director Madhur Bhandarkar for sexually exploiting her. Preeti was arresed for allegedly giving 'supari' to underworld don-turned-politician Arun Gawli to kill Bhandarkar. The police arrested Jain and Naresh Pardesi (Arun Gawli henchman) after eight hours of interrogation. "We have arrested Preeti Jain and Naresh Pardesi under IPC (Indian Penal Code) 115 and 120-B for abetment of offence and conspiracy to kill," said Santosh Rastogi, DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police) Zone 3. Also Read: Court to give verdict on Madhur Bhandarkar attempted murder case against starlet Preeti Jain "On September 3, Gawde sent a letter to Agripada police, saying Jain came looking for Pardesi as she had given him Rs 75,000 to murder Bhandarkar. We called Jain for interrogation, and picked up Pardesi from his residence at Baburao Jagtap Marg," said DCP Rastogi. Gawli distanced himself from Naresh Pardesi after this. "I have nothing to do with this Pardesi. Jain came looking for him and had come to meet me. My personal assistant told me about this and I advised her that she should contact the police. I do not know what happened thereafter. Now I hear she is arrested," said Gawli. However, Madhur Bhandarkar also stated that he felt vindicated. "The court has acquitted me of the rape charge. She has not been able to digest the fact that the sessions court rejected her pleas twice. What can I do? People are jealous of my success. I heard this information from the channels," Bhandarkar said. After the allegation Madhur Bhandarkar stated that he felt vindicated. "The court has acquitted me of the rape charge. She has not been able to digest the fact that the sessions court rejected her pleas twice. What can I do? People are jealous of my success. I heard this information from the channels," Bhandarkar said. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Bollywood Baadshah Shah Rukh Khan on Thursday mesmerised the crowd at TED talks in Vancouver, Canada as the actor shared his personal life with jokes and sarcasm. The actor also talked about his aging experience with the audience during the show. The Dilwale actor charmed the audience with his witty comment where he presented himself as a self-obsessed actor for which he has no regret. The actor also backed, saying that a movie actor must be self-obsessed. Hundreds of his fans rushed to the spot to get his glimpse on the TV screen as they thronged the venue to watch the actor. The actor said that he was a huge fan of TED talks. He also thanked curator Chris Anderson and Juliet Blake. Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar reply to Shah Rukh Khan on 'guiding light' tweet will inspire you; check how The actor wrote, Thank u @TEDTalks @TEDchris @julietrblake for a wonderful time. All who came to lov me in Vancouvermy lov 2 u. (sic). Thank u @TEDTalks @TEDchris @julietrblake for a wonderful time. All who came to lov me in Vancouvermy lov 2 u. pic.twitter.com/FJD3yWgxsQ Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) April 28, 2017 For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: City civil & sessions court likely to give verdict on Preeti Jain on Friday at 11 am for plotting Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar's murder. Earlier, Preeti Jain had accused film director Madhur Bhandarkar for sexually exploiting her. Preeti was arresed for allegedly giving 'supari' to underworld don-turned-politician Arun Gawli to kill Bhandarkar. The police arrested Jain and Naresh Pardesi (Arun Gawli henchman) after eight hours of interrogation. "We have arrested Preeti Jain and Naresh Pardesi under IPC (Indian Penal Code) 115 and 120-B for abetment of offence and conspiracy to kill," said Santosh Rastogi, DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police) Zone 3. "On September 3, Gawde sent a letter to Agripada police, saying Jain came looking for Pardesi as she had given him Rs 75,000 to murder Bhandarkar. We called Jain for interrogation, and picked up Pardesi from his residence at Baburao Jagtap Marg," said DCP Rastogi. Also Read: Actor Preeti Jain convicted by Mumbai court for plotting to kill Madhur Bhandarkar Gawli distanced himself from Naresh Pardesi after this. "I have nothing to do with this Pardesi. Jain came looking for him and had come to meet me. My personal assistant told me about this and I advised her that she should contact the police. I do not know what happened thereafter. Now I hear she is arrested," said Gawli. However, Madhur Bhandarkar also stated that he felt vindicated. "The court has acquitted me of the rape charge. She has not been able to digest the fact that the sessions court rejected her pleas twice. What can I do? People are jealous of my success. I heard this information from the channels," Bhandarkar said. After the allegation Madhur Bhandarkar stated that he felt vindicated. "The court has acquitted me of the rape charge. She has not been able to digest the fact that the sessions court rejected her pleas twice. What can I do? People are jealous of my success. I heard this information from the channels," Bhandarkar said. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Rishi Kapoor who had starred in Bollywood superhit alongside Vinod Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan in Amar Akbar Anthony tweeted in response to the veteran stars death on Thursday. Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who is known for his witty tweets was angry this time complained that 'Not ONE actor' of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral including those who have worked with the veteran actor. Rishi Kapoor also added that they must learn to respect. Disappointed with the current generation also added by saying that he has to be prepared. The actor seem to be Very very angry with today's so called stars. The actor also added that had if his wife and Ranbir are out of the country or they would never had been a reason not to be there. Shameful. Not ONE actor of this generation attended Vinod Khanna's funeral. And that too he has worked with them. Must learn to respect. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Why this? Including mine and thereafter.When I die, I must be prepared.None will shoulder me. Very very angry with today's so called stars. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Yes it has been expressed earlier on social media my wife and Ranbir are out of the country. Would never had been reason not to be there Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 On Thursday, Rishi Kapoor has expressed his condolences over the demise of veteran actor Vinod Khanna and went to share a strange coincidence over his death saying that Feeroz Khan too passed away on this day eight years ago. Kapoor took it to micro-blogging site Twitter to share details of this strange coincidence and wrote, "Strange coincidence. Friends Vinod Khanna and Feroz Khan die the same day 27th April. Khan sahab passed away 27th April 2009 Bangalore." Also Read: Vinod Khanna's death: Rishi Kapoor shares STRANGE COINCIDENCE over legendary actor's demise Vinod Khanna and Feeroz Khan had been the best of friends and shared screen space in several movies like 'Qurbani' and 'Dayavaan'. Interestingly, both the actors passed away due to cancer. While Khanna was suffering from bladder cancer Khan battled with lung cancer. Also Read: Vinod Khanna's death: Here's his LAST PICTURE before funeral Last of the actors born in 1946,Peshawar,then British India,leaves us-Vinod Khanna. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Strange coincidence. Friends Vinod Khanna and Feroz Khan die the same day 27th April. Khan sahab passed away 27th April 2009 Bangalore. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Remembering the good times with you,Vinod. Thank you for being my friend. pic.twitter.com/hvZoYeQMEF Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 Will miss you Amar. RIP. pic.twitter.com/WC0zt71R4J Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017 For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Peshawar: According to a Pakistani cultural office late veteran actor Vinod Khanna wanted to visit his ancestral home in this city but the Bollywood star breathed his last before he could fulfil his last dream. Khanna passed away at a hospital in Mumbai on Thursday. He was 70. Shakeel Waheedullah, General Secretary Cultural Heritage Council Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who met Khanna in 2014 in India as part of a cultural delegation, said, "In his autograph, Khanna extended his good wishes to people of Peshawar and expressed adesire to visit his ancestral city." "Khanna wanted to visit Peshawar to see the area where his parents and forefathers lived.He had sent a request forhis visit to Pakistan, but could not succeed," Waheedullah added. He said the Cultural Heritage Council Khyber Pakhtunkhwawill soon hold an event to honour Khanna. Renowned film historian Muhammad Ibrahim Zia was also apart of the delegation that met Khanna and legendary actor Dilip Kumar, who also belongs to Peshawar. Zia said Khanna's ancestral home in Peshawar is intactand being used by All Pakistan Women's Association. "During our meeting with Khanna, he was very happy overhis reunion with the people of his birth place Peshawar," Zia said. The delegation presented Khanna gifts including PeshawarChappal (footwear) and a traditional dress which he acceptedhappily, Zia said. The historian said Khanna's father Mehr Chand was awell-off person in Peshawar and migrated to India in 1947 when Khanna was an infant. "Khanna was born in Peshawar on October 6, 1946 at Sardararea in Cantonment jurisdiction. His father Mehr Chand Khannawas a prominent businessman and former Minister in Congress," said Zia, who has authored a book, 'Peshawar the Funkar', on the artistes from the city. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday promised not to spring any surprises in fixing tax rates under the new GST regime but asked India Inc to pass on benefit of reduced taxes to consumers and not profiteer. He also sounded a note of caution on growing tendency of protectionism in nations around the world, saying the jury is still out if such moves would make the global economy more efficient or sluggish. Comments by Jaitley at CII annual conference came against the backdrop of fears of global trade and investment being impacted by increasing protectionism in nations like the US, which has tightened visa regime and is insisting on using American products. ALSO READ: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley assures that GST shall accelerate Indian Economy To the domestic industry, Jaitley asked them to pass on to consumers the benefit of reduction in taxes under Goods and Services Tax (GST) which will eliminate the current compounding effect of different central and state levies. The GST Council, headed by Jaitley and comprising representatives of all the states, is scheduled to meet in Srinagar?on May 18-19?to finalise tax rates on different goods and services after unifying at least 10 indirect taxes into the GST. He said rules and regulations governing GST have been framed and fixing of tariffs for different commodities is in final stages. The formula under which it is being done has also been explained and therefore nobody is going to be taken by surprise, its not going to be very significantly different (from present), he said. The GST Council has finalised four rate categories of 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent after unifying levies like central excise, service tax and VAT. Fitment will be done by adding the total incidence of current taxation (central plus state levies) and then putting the goods or services in the tax bracket closest to it. The Finance Minister said the Council is of the opinion that any benefit accruing from lower tax rates under GST should be passed on to consumers. Profit is not a bad word .but unfair enrichment is. And therefore, the benefit of reduction in taxation is a benefit that consumers are entitled to. And thats not a principle that can be seriously contested, he said. The GST laws approved by Parliament have incorporated an anti-profiteering provision to ensure that the reduction of tax incidence is passed on to consumers. On protectionism, he took comfort in such voices not being heard in India. A contrarian trend, he said, was being witnessed in developed economies that is a little worry. In the US, a question has already arisen that whether US corporations would be compelled to buy products, which are costlier. Whether they would be compelled to hire professionals or engage services which are relatively costlier. What would then be the plight of the economy? Will it be more efficient or will it be more sluggish? I am sure that this debate will continue in each of the countries where debate on protectionism has begun, he said. Referring to the developments in the United Kingdom, he said the British leadership is insisting that Brexit should not be construed as any form of protectionism and instead they want to engage more with European Union as well as India. India, he said, over the last few years has shown a greater ability to reform and undertook courageous and structural reform. We have benefited both from domestic liberalisation and also where we integrated ourselves. Our ability to provide services is certainly unquestioned, it is certainly better than most other economies. Can we improve our ability on manufacturing, that is where we have a lot of distance to cover, he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: On the allegations of city resident that self-styled godwoman Sukhwinder Kaur alias Radhe Maa had instigated her in-laws to harass her for dowry, the Bombay High Court on Friday asked police to record the statement of him. Justice Sadhana Jadhav gave this direction to the Borivali police here while recently hearing an application filed by Niki Gupta pleading that she may be allowed to assist the police in conducting further probe on the basis of her statement. The high court asked the Borivali police to record Guptas statement and, if necessary, take further action as per law. The complainants case is that police had dropped the name of Radhe Maa from the list of accused on the ground that there was no evidence against her, and she (Gupta) was not informed about it. Gupta pleaded that police should record her statement and conduct further investigation. If evidence is found then action may be taken against Radhe Maa, the complainant prayed. Gupta said the police did not inform her about dropping the charges against Radhe Maa and also did not file a report on the issue before a magistrate. Hence, she did not get a chance to assist police in the investigation. Also read: Criminal complaint filed against Radhe Maa for visiting Har-Ki-Pauri wearing shoes The high court was of the view that the complainant has a right to seek further investigation if he or she is not satisfied with the probe. The police can conduct further probe under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) even though charges have been dropped against accused, the judge ruled while asking the police to record the statement of the complainant. She (Gupta) is permitted to demonstrate as to what are the lacunae in the earlier investigation and that the chargesheet is not filed in persuasion to allegations made by her, Justice Jadhav said. Gupta had earlier filed an application making a similar plea before a magistrate. However, the magistrate sought the say of the accused while deciding her application. The high court opined that the lower court had erred in seeking the say of the accused because an accused has no locus standi in the investigations. Hence, the judge asked the Borivali police to record the statement of the complainant and take action as per law, if required. Also read: Radhe Maas Trishul gets her in trouble: FIR registered under Arms Act For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh minister Shrikant Sharma on Friday presented the plan of Yogi Adityanath Government for next 100 days. Revealing the list of agendas set for next few months, the minister ensured that the BJP-led UP government will also present a report card to the people after 100 days are over. "Our Govt will present a report card to the people after 100 days of our tenure are completed," Sharma told a press conference in Lucknow. Highlights of the press conference: #All departments finished their presentations by Thursday. All schemes and programmes and their loopholes were discussed. Ministers have been put in charge of districts. They will review Centre scheme implementation and come up with a 100-day agenda #A lot of schemes have not been implemented. Everyone knows the reason, but we now need to bring haste to schemes. Schemes in focus will be roads, electricity, law and order and security. #Health services will be monitored by all ministers. Zero toleration on corruption, culprits will not get a warning but would be sent to jail. #The electricity problem to be fixed with a deadline. Villages to get electricity between 7 am to 5 pm. Electricity, affected by weather, to be fixed as soon as possible. #Swachhta or cleanliness to get special attention by city commissioner and Gram pradhans. #Have requested people and administrations to shun plastic bags #All ministers will present a report card to chief minister Yogi Adityanath after 100 days. #Every day a minister will sit down in CM office for 2 hours for discussion. #One minister will be present during the Jan Sabhas attended by CM Adityanath. #DMs and other administrators will be called to explain if frequent complains came from their area. Also read: UP CM Yogi Adityanath orders construction of wall around religious sites after intelligence warning UP: Lucknow-Agra Expressway, Akhilesh's dream project, under Yogi Adityanath govt's scanner; being scrutinised for 'scam' For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Delhi Police on Friday detained a Delhi-based Hawala operator at the airport in connection with TTV Dhinakaran 'Two leaves' symbol bribery case. The Hawala operator Naresh was coming from Thailand. He had arranged Rs 10 crore for Sukesh from Kochi-based Hawala operator. Earlier on Thursday, AIADMK (Amma) leader T T V Dhinakaran, arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with a bribery case, was brought to Chennai and searches were conducted at his residence in the city as part of the probe. Delhi Crime Branch police personnel led by Assistant Commissioner Sanjay Sherawat searched the residences of Dhinakaran and that of his associate Mallikarjuna, police sources said tonight. The police had secured warrants from a Delhi court to conduct the searches which were part of efforts to gather further evidence in the alleged attempt by Dhinakaran to bribe EC officials, they said. However, they did not state whether any seizures were made. Besides the two, others connected to them were also questioned over illegal channels and conduits used for sending money to Delhi from here, the sources said. Also read: EC bribery case: Delhi police arrests TTV Dhinakaran Also read: EC bribery case | Dhinakaran admits meeting middleman Sukesh Chandrasekhar: Police For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: Eman Ahmed, the Egyptian who until recently was the heaviest woman alive at 500kg and was being treated for obesity, will be shifted to an Abu Dhabi hospital, for further treatment. The privately-owned Saifee Hospital announced that Eman is being shifted to Burjeel Hospital in the UAE, a move that comes amid allegations by her sister Shaimaa Selim that she was not receiving proper treatment. Eman was brought to Mumbai by a special cargo aircraft and admitted to the private hospital on February 11 thus completing her first trip outside her home in over 25 years. She will now travel to Abu Dhabi in business class in a civilian flight. The Saifee Hospital also claimed that from 500 kg last year, Eman now weighs 176 kg. ALSO READ: Dr Lakdawala clears the air on allegations made by Eman Ahmed's sister She came on a chartered cargo plane and goes back as a passenger on a flight in Business Class... Eman Ahmed who weighed 500 kg as on 23/9/16 weighs 176.6 kg today, said Dr Aparna Bhaskar, section chief of bariatric surgery at Saifee Hospital. Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, MD of VPS Healthcare, reached here and met the authorities at Saifee, said Shaimaa, who is staying here with her sister. Burjeel Hospital is a part of VPS Healthcare group whose team of doctors had visited Eman Thursday on the request of Shaimaa. ALSO READ: Eman Ahmed, world's heaviest woman, suffers from rare genetic defect As the treatment here concludes, Eman is being shifted to Burjeel Hospital in UAE (a hospital initially introduced to the family by Dr Lakdawala). Secondary physiotherapy will continue over there as it is closer to home for Eman and her family, said a statement issued by Dr Bhaskar. Dr Bhaskar said the team of doctors at Saifee Hospital has done a fabulous job and her recovery has been unprecedented. She is stable and all parameters are under control. She will continue to need neurological rehabilitation and physiotherapy. Shaimaa had recently alleged that the doctors at Saifee hospital made false claims about Emans weight loss of 262 kg. Refuting the allegations, Dr Bhaskar had said on Tuesday that Shaimaa may be criticising the doctors to extend her sisters stay at the hospital. In an online video, Shaimaa had also said that Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, the bariatric surgeon who led the team of doctors treating Eman, made false claims about her complete recovery and weight loss. Dr Lakdawala had refuted the charge. Last month, Eman underwent bariatric surgery in which doctors had claimed to have reduced her stomach size by two-third, so as to reduce the food intake. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has decided to transfer money directly into the bank accounts of students studying in ashram schools for purchasing the items of their daily needs. The move is aimed at checking corruption in the contracts awarded to provide stationery and other daily use items to the tribal students of the residential ashram schools. The students can use the money to buy items of day-to-day use on their own instead of the government allotting contracts to private firms to provide these things, an official from the tribal development department said. A pilot project in this regard will be started from the upcoming academic year in 133 government-run ashram schools, he said. There are over 500 government-run ashram schools in the state where nearly 2.4 lakh students are enrolled. The government provides items of daily use to the students by allotting contracts worth around Rs 700 crore per year. The government makes available stationery items like text books, note books, school uniforms, pen-pencils, slate and also things like bathing soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, raincoats, blankets, coconut oil, etc. Also read: Hindi may become compulsory till class X in CBSE schools and Kendriya Vidyalyas However, the government has now decided to pay the students by directly transferring money into their bank accounts so that they can buy their own stuff, the official said. The tribal development department officials have worked out an average yearly expenditure for the students of classes I to XII. The students studying in classes I to IV will be given Rs 7,500 each annually. The students from classes V to IX will be given an annual amount of Rs 8,500 each, the official said. Those studying in classes X to XII will be eligible to get Rs 9,500 each annually, he added. Also read: UP CM Yogi Adityanath: 'No holiday in schools on birth anniversaries of eminent personalities' For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In a unique initiative, IAS officers will adopt families of security personnel, who lost their lives in Maoist combat, anti-terror operations or maintaining law and order. The bureaucrats will approach such families within their area of posting and offer themselves as facilitators to help them (families) get their dues like pension, gratuity or allotment of services like petrol pump, jobs etc, an association representing them said. The officers, however, would not be providing any direct financial help to such families, it said. ALSO READ: Haryana government releases financial assistance for families of martyrs in Sukma naxal attack Their job would be to help the families get their dues from respective governments. They may also help the children in such families to get admission in a school, Sanjay Bhoosreddy, honorary secretary of Indian Civil and Administrative Service (Central) Association, said. The association represents all members of Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Initially, about 700 young officers, of past four batches--2012 to 2015--will be asked to adopt at least one family in the area of their posting. Senior officers, or those from state civil services, can also adopt such families voluntarily, Bhoosreddy, a Joint-Secretary level IAS officer, said. The officers will oversee whether the support (both in cash and kind) pledged by the state or local governments have been provided to the family concerned. They will ensure that the children of the martyred soldiers continue getting good education and mentor them so that they can pursue the career of their choice based on their aptitude and talent, the association said. The officers will also see whether any benefits can be provided to them based on various schemes being run by the government like Skill India, Start-up India, Digital India etc. Bhoosreddy said the support system will cater to the families of central armed police forces like Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), those in Army and all others working with local police. The state governments have been asked to share with the association the details of such families, he said. The official noted that the IAS officers, who work as Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDM), District Magistrate (DM) and at other senior positions in state and Central governments, have immense influence on the local administrative machinery. He added that such an influence can be positively channelised to support and help the families of martyred soldiers in an effective and sustained manner. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Male chauvinism has no room in a civilised society and the "obnoxious" act of eve-teasing affected justice and the rights of a woman, the Supreme Court has told. The apex court made this observation while dismissing a plea filed by a man who was sentenced to seven years in jail by the Himachal Pradesh High Court for teasing and compelling a girl to take the extreme step of committing suicide. Observing that "egoism must succumb to law", a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra asked why women in this country cannot be allowed to live in peace and lead a dignified life with freedom. "It has to be kept in mind that she has a right to life and is entitled to love according to her choice. She has an individual choice which has been legally recognised. It has to be socially respected. No one can compel a woman to love. She has the absolute right to reject. Also Read: Central govt to Supreme Court: Cows should get Aadhaar like Unique Identification Number "In a civilised society, male chauvinism has no room.The Constitution of India confers the affirmative rights on women and the said rights are perceptible from Article 15.When the right is conferred by the Constitution, it has to be understood that there is no condescension," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar, said. In its verdict, it observed that they were at pains to state that in a civilised society, eve-teasing was causing harassment to women in public places which showed that requisite sense of respect for women has not been socially cultivated. "A woman has her own space as a man has. She enjoys as much equality under Article 14 of the Constitution as a man does," it said. "A man should not put his ego or, for that matter, masculinity on a pedestal and abandon the concept of civility.Egoism must succumb to law. quality has to be regarded as the summum bonum of the constitutional principle in this context, "the apex court said in the detailed order. Referring to the facts of the matter, it said the man had played an active role in tarnishing the self-esteem and self respect of the victim, which drove her to commit suicide. "The right to live with dignity as guaranteed underArticle 21 of the Constitution cannot be violated by indulging in an obnoxious act of eve-teasing. It affects the fundamental concept of gender sensitivity and justice and the rights of a woman under Article 14 of the Constitution. "That apart, it creates an incurable dent in the right of a woman which she has under Article 15 of the Constitution, "the bench said. Dealing with the questioning of her dying declaration by the man on the ground that she had suffered 80 per cent burns, the apex court said, "a certificate of fitness is not the requirement of law". "It is worthy to note that there cannot be an absolute rule that a person who has suffered 80 per cent burn injuries cannot give a dying declaration," it said. The man was initially acquitted by the trial court inJuly 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. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bhubaneshwar: The Indian National Army (INA) veteran Laxmi Indira Panda's grandson, who had gone missing has been located, police said on Thursday. Panda's grandson Babuli was found on Wednesday in an unconscious state on a roadside after which he was admitted to a private hospital. He was later shifted to SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack, they said. "The Model Control Room in Mancheswar received a call after which he was rescued in a critical condition and admitted to hospital. We are investigating under what circumstances he went missing," Police Commissioner YB Khurania said. Babuli had come at Raj Bhavan along with his parents for the felicitation of freedom fighters' families by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 16. While returning home to Jeypore in Koraput district,Panda's family got separated from each other at the busy Bhubaneswar station. His mother was located at Balasore railway station but there was no trace of 19-year-old Babuli after which a search operation was launched following the directive of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In yet another militant attack in the Valley, 2 terrorists entered the premises of TP Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank in Lal Chowk area of Anantnag district in South Kashmir. The militants fired on the CRPF personals guarding the bank and tried to snatch a rifle from the injured Jawan but they were overpowered by another Jawan, reports said. One suspected militant was caught by CRPF and one pistol was recovered from him. While another militant was able to flee from the spot. The shooting left one CRPF jawan injured. Read | Govt to form women police battalion to tame Kashmir stone pelters "The injured Jawan has been identified as Kaushal Kumar of 14Bn CRPF and he has received fire on his hand," an official statement said. While the captured suspected militant has been identified as Ali Mohammad Malla resident of Rishipora Beebagh in Shopian district of South Kashmir. As per sources, the other militant who fled from the spot has been reportedly identified as Raju who is also from Shopian. Sources say Raju was spotted in recent videos of 30 militants which had gone viral recently. Read | Joint doctrine for deeper synergies among army, navy and air force unveiled to deal with proxy war in Kashmir, Naxalism For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Centre Friday told the Apex Court it was not ready to talk to the separatists but has no problem talking to recognised political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to resolve the crisis. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi made it clear that the government would come to the negotiating table only if the recognised parties participate in the dialogue and not the separatist elements. He made the submissions before a bench, comprising ChiefJustice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul, while rubbishing the claim of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association that the Centre was not coming forward for discussion and dialogue to resolve the crisis. Rohatgi said recently the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of the state held a meeting to discuss the situation. The bench asked the Association to come with suggestions to resolve the crisis, including stone-pelting and violent agitation on the streets of the Kashmir Valley. The apex court made it clear to the bar body that it would have to come out with suggestions after talking to all stakeholders and cannot shy away by saying that they do not represent everybody in Kashmir. It said there was the need for a positive start and the bar body could play an important role by coming out with a gameplan and a roadmap for restoring normalcy in the Valley. Read More: Maoists audio clip: Sukma attack carried out to avenge Operation Green Hunt The bench also made it clear to the Centre that the court would involve itself in the matter only if there was a view that it can play a role and there was no jurisdictional issue. "If you feel the court has no role and if you feel we have no jurisdiction, we will close the file at this moment," the bench told the AG who, at the fag end of the hearing, objected to some of the suggestions made by the bar body including that the separatists were being ignored. The bench also said both the parties have to take a joint step but the first step has to come from the lawyers' body which has approached the apex court. It also said it was aware that the situation in Kashmir Valley was not very palatable while posting the matter for further hearing on May 9. The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association against the High Court order seeking a stay on the use of pellet guns as a large number of people had been killed or injured due to their use. During the last hearing on April 10, the Centre had told the Supreme Court it was exploring a crowd control option that is akin to rubber bullets but not as lethal as pellet guns that are being used currently as a last resort to quell violence in the Valley. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court had on September 22rejected the plea seeking a ban on the use of pellet guns on the ground that the Centre had already constituted a Committee ofExperts through its memorandum of July 26, 2016, for exploring alternatives to pellet guns. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: AAP leader Kumar Vishwas on Friday said Arvind Kejriwals stand on surgical strikes was one of the reasons behind a string of electoral defeats faced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Arvind Kejriwal "shouldn't (have) attack(ed) the PM" and because his "stand on surgical strikes was wrong," he said in an interview with a TV channel. The prominent AAP leader, who is also a poet, said other reasons for AAPs poll debacles are "lack of" intra-party democracy and a "trust deficit" with voters. Kejriwal has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi since becoming the Chief Minister of Delhi in 2015. The AAP convener went a step ahead as he questioned the surgical strikes that were carried out on terrorists camps in PoK last September and even asked proof of the same. AAP recently tasted defeat in the Delhi MCD polls. The loss followed the partys debacle in the recent Punjab and Goa Assembly elections. ALSO READ | Arvind Kejriwal's poll debacle: Why Delhi CM lost MCD elections? Time for AAP to introspect For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Backing their killing of 25 CRPF personnel during Sukma attack, the Naxalites have released an audio tape. The Maoists said that they attacked CRPF personnel because they are part of government machinery and was posing threat to their movement. The spokesman praised Peoples Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA), party cadre and people who helped in carrying out attack against CRPF personnel. It is being considered that the audio clip has been released by a committee of maoists political organization, CPI (M). It was said in the audio that the attack was carried out to respond to the government, fascist forces and Operation Green Hunt. The spokesman claimed that government conducted many attacks on them in 2016. During that, 9 persons, villagers and 21 persons in Odisha were killed. The spokesman elaborated that this attack should be seen as a revenge for these killings and sexual harassment against tribal women. It is to be noted that PLGA is an unit of CPI(M) which involves themselves in violent attacks against government. This unit has been attacking CRPF personnel and police. The spokesman emphasised that they are carrying out attacks for welfare of people harassed by government. The unit also attacked BJP government and accused them of supporting police in doing harassments of tribals and Dalits. Also read: Sukma attack: CRPF jawans were having lunch when Maoists ambushed them Also read: Sukma attack: 25 CRPF jawans killed in encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh; PM says 'their sacrifice will not go in vain' For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lucknow: In a shocking development, the Special Task Force (SP) of Uttar Pradesh Police conducted raids at eight petrol pumps in Lucknow and found a chip at each petrol pump that was being used to cheat the costumers. The STF conducted raids at the petrol pumps on Thursday after receiving a tip off and recovered electronic chips at few pumps. Several persons were detained from the petrol pump near King George Medical University in Lucknow. The petrol was being sifted using an electronic device, STF sources said. It was found that around 50 ml petrol per litre was being stolen by the petrol pump staff. The chip costs about Rs 3,000. A racket of petrol pump owners, involved in using the chip in the machines to dupe customers, has been busted. According to sources, the chip was developed by a man identified as Ravinder. According to police, the output of the petrol dispensing machines was reduced by nearly six percent with the help of the device. Attached with a wire, the chip is controlled using a remote. ALSO READ | Petrol, diesel may be delivered at your doorstep soon, reveals petroleum ministry The maker of the chip has sold around 1000 chips to petrol pumps across Uttar Pradesh. According to him, he learned the skills to develop the chip from an engineer. Police have confirmed that they have unearthed the chips from petrol pumps at Sitapur road, Chinhat, Samta Mulak and KGMU. If a customer purchased 1 litre petrol, the machine would dispense 940 ml of fuel with the help of the chip, police said. ALSO READ | Petrol, diesel prices will change every day from May 1 in Puducherry, Vizag, Udaipur, Jamshedpur, Chandigarh STF sleuths said that the petrol pump owners were earning estimated profits to the tune of Rs 14 lakh each month with the help of the chip. An FIR has been filed against the petrol pump owners. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday called on the President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades and discussed areas of bilateral cooperation. The visiting dignitary is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on key bilateral, regional and international issues later in the day. Anastasiades, who is currently on a five-day visit to India, was given a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. He also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi whom he described as an inspiration for Cyprus freedom struggle. In a series of tweets, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said, Intensifying cooperation with Cyprus. EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on President Nicos Anastasiades, discusses areas of bilateral cooperation. President of Cyprus paid homage to Father of Nation whom he later described as spiritual leader of Cyprus and inspiration for its freedom struggle. Highlights of PM Modi's speech during joint statement post meeting: #We agreed there is urgent need for countries to act agnst those states that generate support,shelter factories of violence in our regions:PM #I deeply appreciate Cyprus's support for India's bid for the UN Security Council: PM Modi #Peace, security and development is our priority: PM Modi after meeting Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A global charity launched a free condom store in India to reduce new cases of HIV/AIDS. The global non-government organisation (NGO) AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a global charity launched a free condom store in India considering how India currently has the worlds third highest number of such cases with 2.1 million people affected by the disease, according to UNAIDS Gap Report of 2016 and how condoms are the most effective and the cheapest way to prevent HIV infection, it is a great move. On the occasion of launch Health Minister J P Nadda said, The government will provide free treatment to the people infected with HIV. The ministry will soon come out with a new test and treat policy for the people living with HIV for providing free treatment to them. This is the first free condom store in the world. With 'free condom store' individuals, NGOs, government, private institutions and community-based organisations can order as many condoms as they want. This is one of the biggest iniciative taken by AHF's ito reduce new HIV infections in the country. We encourage individuals and organisations to send in a request of minimum one box (144 pieces). Delivery will be made within a week to any major city of India, said Dr V Sam Prasad, AHFs programme director for India. Earlier, On April 11 Parliament passed the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, which provides for the prevention and control of the disease and protection of human rights of those affected by it. On the occasion, Health Minister J P Nadda said, The government will provide free treatment to the people infected with HIV. The ministry will soon come out with a new test and treat policy for the people living with HIV for providing free treatment to them. To place condoms order one can call on the toll free number 1800 102 8102 or reach them via email at freecondomstoreahf@gmail.com. New Delhi: The ancient surfaces of Mars, similar to those found on the Moon and Mercury, are covered with five giant scars that were caused by asteroid impacts, scientists have revealed. A NASA-funded study has revealed that the giant impacts on Mars were ten times fewer than some estimates made previously. The early bombardment history of Mars and the timing of giant impacts have been investigated by Scientists Bill Bottke from the Southwest Research Institute, or SwRI, and Jeff Andrews-Hanna from the University of Arizona. The five scars caused by giant impacts on Mars include the ancient giant Borealis basin (top of globe), Hellas (bottom right), and Argyre (bottom left). The team, funded by NASA, at SwRI found that a 400-million-year lull was experienced by Mars in impacts between the formation of Borealis and the younger basins. The new study suggests that 4.5 billion years ago, the Borealis basin carved out the northern lowlands. It was followed by a lull of 400-million-years. During this period, no giant impacts occurred. This culminated in a shower of impacts between 4.1 and 3.8 billion-years-ago. Four giant basins and countless smaller craters formed during this period, says a release by NASA. Borealis, which is nearly 6,000 miles wide, is the largest and most ancient giant impact basin on the Red Planet. It encompasses most of the northern hemisphere of Mars. Hellas, a smaller giant basin, is 1,200 miles wide and five miles deep. Data was collected and models were run by Bottke and Andrews-Hanna in order to support their discovery that the rim of Borealis was excavated by only one later giant basin, called Isidis. This sets strong statistical limits on the number of giant basins that could have formed on Mars after Borealis, said Bottke, principal investigator of the Institute for the Science of Exploring Targets, or ISET, team with NASAs Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute or SSERVI. The number and timing of such giant impacts on early Mars has been debated, with estimates ranging from four to 30 giant basins formed in the time since Borealis. Our work shows that the lower values are more likely. In order to completely understand the implications of this bombardment, the team analysed the timing of the impacts responsible for other giant basins and compare their preservation state. The preservation state of the four youngest giant basins on Mars - Hellas, Isidis, Argyre, and the now-buried Utopia basins were found to be strikingly similar to the larger and older Borealis basin. Similar preservation of Borealis and these younger basins points out that any basins formed during this time interval should be similarly preserved. The study was published in Nature Geoscience. ALSO READ | Trees spotted on Mars? Alien hunters spot ancient stump on red planet; all you need to know about the latest claim For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: NASAs Cassini spacecraft, which began its grand finale by making a daring encounter with the Saturns rings by diving between the planet and its rings, has beamed back closest-ever images. The NASA Cassini probe re-established contact with Earth on Thursday morning, a day after its signals faded during the first plunge. Cassinis risky dive turned out to be successful and it began beaming back data collected during the manoeuvre back to NASA. NASA's Cassini spacecraft sent the closest-ever images of Saturn on Thursday after surviving its first plunge inside the planet's rings, the US space agency said. The latest pictures sent by Cassini reveal the swirling clouds, massive hurricane and odd six-sided vortex weather system of Saturn. First of the 22 Cassini dives: Cassini made the dive at the innermost ring of the planet, where no spacecraft has ever dared to go before. NASA has planned total 22 close encounters in the last phase and Wednesdays dive was the first of these. "Cassini spacecraft has once again blazed a trail, showing us new wonders and demonstrating where our curiosity can take us if we dare," National Aeronautics and Space Administration planetary sciences chief Jim Green said in a statement. What Cassini is supposed to do in Grand Finale? During the last phase, Cassini is expected to capture several small inner moons and observe Saturns winds, clouds, auroras and gravity. In its last phase, the Cassini will perform a long string of historic firsts and Wednesdays successful manoeuvre was the latest one. However, Cassini is soon going to die after its almost 20-year space odyssey. Why NASA is killing Cassini probe? In October 1997, NASA had launched Cassini probe to study Saturn and its moons. Cassini arrived at the orbit of Saturn in July 2004. After years of observations and data collection, Cassini is now ageing and is running low on fuel. Hence, NASA has decided to kill Cassini, which will meet its death after plunging into the atmosphere of Saturn. "[The main] reason for this ending to the Cassini mission is something that NASA is very worried about contamination of our life forms on planets and moons that may harbor other forms of life," says Nicholas Suntzeff, a professor of Observational Astronomy at Texas A&M University, tells the Monitor via email. "The moons of Saturn Enceladus and Titan could have life or complex organic molecules that are the soup out of which life forms." What NASA scientists say about Cassini? "NASA and the Cassini team's devotion to the mission are an example for all of us," Harold C. Connolly Jr., chair of the department of geology at Rowan University in New Jersey, tells The Christian Science Monitor in an email. "I remember as a child living in southern New Jersey being glued to the TV when the Voyager images came back to Earth, and now I am an upper manager of a NASA space mission I hope Cassini-Huygens has [similarly] motivated a new generation of future scientists and explorers." Dr. Connolly is currently working on the OSIRIS-REx program, NASA's first mission to collect an asteroid sample and return it to Earth for analysis. "Cassini has provided a better understanding of Saturn's ring system, why it exists, the weather conditions on Saturn, and the mysteries of its largest moon, Titan: A truly primitive world potentially similar to what Earth was like in the earliest days of its life," Connolly adds. "From an engineering point, we as humans have learned how to navigate and fly around the massive planet of Saturn, which provides key information on how to fly to and around other planets. We have also learned the extent of the lifetime of various payload instruments, those critical to meet science objectives and those needed for navigation." "No spacecraft has ever been this close to Saturn before," said Cassini project manager Earl Maize in a NASA statement. "We could only rely on predictions, based on our experience with Saturn's other rings, of what we thought this gap between the rings and Saturn would be like." ALSO READ | Death of NASA's Cassini: Spacecraft makes daring encounters with Saturn rings, communications with probe blurred When will NASA Cassini spacecraft meet death: NASA officials are not sure whether Cassini will survive all its ring dives. The gap between Saturn and the rings is about 1,500 miles (2,400 km) wide and likely littered with ice particles. Cassini is travelling through the gap at a relative speed of about some 77,000 mph (124,000 kph) so even small particles striking the spacecraft can be deadly. The Cassini spacecraft will perform similar manoeuvres during its subsequent dives, the second of which is scheduled for Tuesday. On its final dive on September 15, Cassini will explode like a meteor and destroy itself by flying directly into Saturn's crushing atmosphere. NASA plans to crash the spacecraft into Saturn to avoid any chance Cassini could someday collide with any ocean-bearing moons that have the potential to support indigenous microbial life. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Sydney: According to doctor, a toddler born with three legs -- because body parts of a twin had grown inside her -- was returning home to on Friday after complex and rare surgery in enabled her to walk and run. Three-year-old Choity Khatun was given little prospect of survival until she was brought to Melbourne last year by Australian charity Children First Foundation. A team of surgeons spent several months mapping out a procedure to reconstruct her anatomy. "A twin had grown out of her pelvis but the twin was only part of a twin... The problem is there's no rulebook for this because she's a very unique individual so you have to try and work out what was where," Chris Kimber, the paediatric surgery head at Monash Children's Hospital, told AFP. "When Choity arrived in Australia, she was very malnourished, she couldn't walk properly at all," said Kimber. Working in consultation with experts from and the United States, the surgeons planned a procedure that involved removing the remains of the third leg -- part of which was earlier cut off in -- as well as taking out, disconnecting and reconnecting other organs. Choity's condition meant that body parts from a twin developed in her perineum -- the area between the anus and the vulva. Surgeons spent countless hours examining her under anaesthetic and found she had two rectums, anuses, vaginas and uteruses. She was also incontinent. The surgery, which Kimber said was "extremely rare", was finally carried out in November and involved eight doctors who specialise in genital and pelvic reconstructions working on the girl for eight hours. "We spent three or four months thinking about it, presenting it to other doctors, getting ideas from around the world, and then based on lots of world opinion, we were able to come up with something that clearly works," he added. A key triumph for the surgeons, including Kimber, was that they were able to help her become continent, which Kimber said was "extraordinary". "She's pretty good," he added. The little girl is also partially blind, but an ophthalmologist's examination at the hospital found her sight could not be improved. But she has sufficient sight to now walk and run like other children, to the delight of her 22-year-old mother. "Everything is good now... She can play like every baby," Shima Khatun told broadcaster Channel Nine on Thursday, adding that she was looking forward to returning to her village outside Dhaka with her daughter and being reunited with her husband. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Beijing: On Friday, China's first unmanned cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1 successfully completed their first in-orbit refuelling, sate media reported. Mastering the technique of refuelling in space will help the country build a permanent space station by 2022 to replace Russia's International Space Station is set to retire in 2024. The Tianzhou-1 spacecraft had completed automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab on April 22. Tianzhou-1 and Tiangong-2 completed their first in-orbit refuelling this evening, Xinhua reported. The Chinese space station will offer a promising alternative, and China will be the only country with a permanent space station, it reported. China is the third country, besides Russia and the US, to master refuelling in space, it said. The in-orbit refuelling, under control of technicians on Earth, takes about five days, as the propellant is transmitted from the cargo spacecraft to the space lab. A second refuelling in space will be conducted after the cargo ship's second docking with the space lab in June, which aims to test the ability of the cargo ship to dock with the space station from different directions. In the last docking, Tianzhou-1 will use fast-docking technology. Previously, it took China about two days to dock, while fast docking will take about six hours, according to BaiMingsheng, chief designer of the cargo ship. Also Read: China launches its first umanned cargo spacecraft 'Tianzhou-1' Tianzhou-1, China's first cargo spacecraft, was launched on April 20 from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province. It completed its first automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab on April 22. The Central Military Commission (CMC) which controls the space programme sent a congratulatory letter to the staff of China's manned space program on the success of the Tianzhou-1 mission. "It means a lot in realising our unremitting space dream, and will inspire us to break new ground," the CMC said in the letter. In 1992, the central authority approved a three-step manned space program, with the final step marking the ability to operate a permanent manned space station, which is planned to be put into orbit around 2022. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lahore: Steel tycoon Sajjan Jindals meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has triggered speculations in Pakistani media over the back channel talks between India and Pakistan over the Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence. The meeting between Sharif and Jindal took place on Thursday at the premiers private residence in the countrys hill station Murree, about 45 kms from Islamabad. After opposition parties created an uproar over the secret meeting, Sharifs daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif said there was nothing secret about the meeting. Mr. Jindal is an old friend of the Prime Minister. Nothing secret about the meeting & should not be blown out of proportion. Thank you, Maryam tweeted. Sajjan Jindal is MD of JSW Group of Companies and has family and business connections in Pakistan, including with Sharif family. He was also present in the wedding of Pak PM Sharif's granddaughter, which was also attended by Pm Modi in Lahore. The family members of Sharif received Jindal at the Islamabad airport after he come from Afghanistan. Jindal was later escorted to Murree in an official protocol where he had an hour-long meeting with the prime minister. Imran Khans Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf (PTI) alleged that Sharif had a secret meeting in which Jindal conveyed the message of Indias Prime Minister Narendera Modi to Sharif over the issue of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been awarded death sentence by a Pakistani military court. Meanwhile, a resolution was submitted in Pakistans Punjab Assembly against the secret meeting of Sharif and Jindal on Thursday. Punjab Assembly Opposition leader Mian Mahmoodur Rashid submitted the resolution in the assembly, saying Sharif held a secret meeting with a three-member Indian delegation led by businessman Jindal in Murree. Jindal brought the message of Modi (which seems to be about Kulbhushan Jadhav). The people of Pakistan should be told as why the premier kept his meeting with Jindal secret. What was the purpose of this meeting at a time when India is bent upon isolating Pakistan in the world, the resolution said. PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will have to tell the people as why he felt the need to hold a secret meeting with an Indian businessman. Jindal is said to be the man behind arranging a meeting between Modi and Sharif in Lahore on December 25 in 2015 on the occasion of Sharifs birthday and the marriage his granddaughter Mehr-un-Nisa. There are strains in ties between India and Pakistan over cross-border terror attacks in India and the death sentence of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav by a military court on spying charges. India has denied Pakistans contention and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistans agencies. There has been no response from the JSW Group on the nature of the meeting despite attempts of communication, a media report said. (With Inputs from PTI) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Damascus: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says Damascus is negotiating with regime ally Moscow to buy the latest Russian anti-missile system to fight back Israeli and American attacks. "It's natural that we should have such systems," he said, quoted by Syria's official SANA agency on Thursday, the same day as Damascus accused Israel of firing several missiles at a military position near its international airport. "Israel has been committing aggressions on the Arabstates surrounding it since its creation in 1948," Assad said in the interview with Venezuelan channel Telesur. "It is natural for us to negotiate with the Russians now with a view to strengthening (our) systems, whether to face any Israeli threats from the air or the threats of American missiles." "That has become a real possibility after the recent American aggression on Al-Shayrat air base in Syria," he added. The US military fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at the base overnight on April 6-7 following a suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town in Idlib province that left 87 dead, including many children. Washington said the regime base was the launch pad for the attack, a charge Damascus denies. Russia's military said a day after the attack that Syria's air defences would be boosted. Also Read: Assad blames ex Al-Qaeda affiliate for bombing buses carrying evacuees "To protect Syria's most sensitive infrastructure, a complex of measures will be implemented in the near future tostrengthen and improve the effectiveness of the Syrian armed forces' air defence system," said spokesman Igor Konashenkov. For its part, Israel has carried out multiple air strikes in Syria since the country's civil war erupted in 2011, most of which it has said targeted arms convoys or ware houses of its Lebanese arch-foe Hezbollah, a key supporter of Assad's regime. Assad also said that no country which had aided the Syrian opposition should be allowed to take part in Syria's post-war reconstruction. "All the states which stood against the Syrian people and took part in the destruction and sabotage will never take part in rebuilding Syria. That is final," he said. International organisations estimate that reconstructing Syria, devastated by a six-year war that has left over 320,000 dead, will cost upwards of USD 300 billion. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MILFORD The owners of Liberty Rock Tavern joke that theyre not friends and can barely even be considered acquaintances. Yet their easy banter and the fact that theyve been successfully running the neighborhood bar together since it opened in October tell a different story. We all kind of met here, said owner Dan Rizzo, sitting at a table in the Bridgeport Avenue restaurant, home of the former Kings Court Bar & Grill. As customers, fellow owner Chris Hey added. Brian Kearney, who along with chef Dan Kardos also co-owns the restaurant, also worked in Kings Court, which closed last summer. It was Kearney, with his experience in bar-tending and managing, who initially brought up the idea to Rizzo, who has a marketing background, of buying the bar when the owners of Kings Court began talking about selling. These guys had the idea and then I came on, said Hey, who manages the accounting. Dan Kardos, a chef with extensive experience in area restaurants, including at Westports Bartaco and Local Kitchen in Fairfield, joined the group of fellow Stratford residents and now runs the kitchen. The menu consists of about a dozen items, all served on paper plates. We kind of let the food speak for itself, said Kearney. So far, the men have received rave reviews, making Connecticut Magazines list of best pub grub and earning a readers choice runner-up position for its $13 fried chicken sandwich. The crispy fish tacos, also priced at $13, makes for another popular choice. The beer selection features offerings from local breweries, including Two Roads in Stratford and Counter Weight Brewing Co. in Hamden. For the beer geek whos always looking for hard-to-get beers, we have that, Kearney said. While Kings Court could often attract what they called an unsavory crowd, Rizzo said Liberty Rock Tavern brings in the 25 to 45 crowd, often those looking for a place to spend happy hour. The younger end of that range makes up most of the Friday and Saturday night customers. This may be due to the atmosphere the owners have purposefully created with their large tables and array of games offered. Its Nintendo 64, shuffleboard and darts appeal to the younger crowd, while the layout encourages people to walk around and mingle. All different groups may come in together but they may end up meeting new people, Kearney said. Its not a natural sit-down restaurant, Hey added. Its more like a networking environment. The owners have also tried to create networking opportunities. Next weeks event, to be held on Tuesday, will be based around tequila, in honor of Cinco de Mayo. Interested individuals can register by visiting libertyrocktavern.com. The bar also hosts acoustic nights on Wednesdays, is hosting a cooking class on Monday and has had painting classes and fundraisers in its space at 229 Bridgeport Ave. Were constantly thinking of new ideas, new concepts and new ventures, said Hey. Liberty Rock Tavern is open Mondays through Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Fridays from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturdays from noon to 2 a.m. and Sundays from noon to 1 a.m. It can be reached at 203-283-3485. ktorres@hearstmediact.com; 203-330-6227 QUEEN'S PARK, ON, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - Today's balanced Ontario Liberal Budget makes investments that will help families, create opportunities and build for the future. Doris Grinspun, CEO, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario "This is tremendous when you think in the context of the country, Kathleen Wynne and Eric Hoskins are champions of pharmacare." Bonnie Crombie, Mayor, Mississauga "We applaud the provincial government's focused commitment to build regionally-integrated transit and modern infrastructure, with its renewed commitment to double the municipal share of the gas tax. Mississauga can expect approximately $33 million in gas tax funding. These are important and necessary funds that Council will use to invest to break gridlock, build transit and move people and our economy forward. The government's unprecedented commitment to fund $56 billion in public transit over the next 10 years will go toward the GO Regional Express rail initiative which will improve the number of trips on these crucial transit lines." Dr. Paul Kershaw, Founder, Generation Squeeze "Premier Wynne's budget record shows she tackles problems for younger generations more urgently than most premiers, and with positive national influence. Her leadership on pension policy in previous Ontario budgets influenced the federal government's decision to reform CPP last year in anticipation of the retirement needs of today's younger generations. Her decision to price pollution via cap and trade in advance of a national plan made it easier for the Government of Canada to negotiate a pan-Canadian carbon price. The scale of her government's infrastructure investments dwarfed that of former Prime Minister Harper, and paved the way for more ambitious investments by the Trudeau government." Sean Mullin, Executive Director, Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship "We strongly applaud the Budget's commitment to supporting innovation-driven economic growth, particularly through the backing of key emerging technologies such as AI and quantum, where Ontario has the opportunity to lead globally." Ontario Long Term Care Association "The OLTCA applauds the government for making seniors care in long-term homes a priority in this year's budget. The investments announced today to improve supports for seniors with dementia, to modernize ageing homes, and to support health professionals caring for seniors will go a long way to improving the quality of life for the 100,000 seniors who rely on long-term care homes every year, right across the province." Rick Firth, President and CEO, Hospice Palliative Care Ontario "The Government is demonstrating compassion and fiscal responsibility in Budget 2017. We want to thank the Government for providing additional investments and support for hospice palliative care." Theresa Agnew, CEO, Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario "Today's Provincial Budget provides great news for the people of Ontario. With significant funding increases to hospitals, long-term care hones, and primary care, we can better meet the needs of an aging population. NPAO is thrilled to hear about free prescription drugs for children and youth. Ontarians will see better care and better value with these commitments." Janssen Pharmaceutical "Janssen Inc. commends the Ontario government's decision to increase the drug budget by 8.4 per cent to $5.42 billion to include the creation of OHIP+, the first universal drug coverage to Ontarians under the age of 24 starting January 2018. This means Ontario youth will have increased access to needed medications. We strongly support policies where the primary focus is on patient well-being and ensuring fair and timely access to medications and we look forward to collaborating with the Ontario government and all other relevant stakeholders as they build and implement OHIP+." Jim Keon, President, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association "Enhancing access to cost-effective prescription medicines is a fundamental value for Canada's generic pharmaceutical industry. The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) supports the OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare Program and we look forward to working with the Ontario government to achieve its successful implementation." Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada "Measures included in today's Ontario budget will help strengthen investor protection and send a strong message of deterrence to those who would abuse the trust of their clients." Cheryl Neave, Chair, FASD Ontario NetwE "The benefit will be immediate. It will allow service providers and families to begin to address the chronic issues associated with the disability and stabilize lives. Resources will be more aptly and efficiently applied, reducing reliance on expensive crisis services and ensuring those with this (and other) developmental disabilities live with dignity." Wanda Morris, VP of Advocacy, CARP "For investors who want to protect their hard-earned savings, this sends an important signal that those who abuse their trust will pay for their wrongdoing." AdvantAge Ontario "Today's provincial budget included welcomed funding commitments in response to priorities raised by AdvantAge Ontario, most notably a $15 million annual increase in the food budget for long term care residents." Natalie Mehra, Executive Director, Ontario Health Coalition "The Liberal plan announced today will cover all Ontarians 24 and under so it will expand the existing drug benefits programs to cover not just seniors, and all people on welfare, but all 24 years and under for all drugs. That's 4400 or more drugs. So that's comprehensive it covers all medically necessary drugs." Farrah Khan, Sexual Violence Support and Education Office, Ryerson University & Co-Chair Provincial Roundtable on Violence Against Women. "The provincial government's decision to fund the new abortion pill Mifegymiso will increase access for people in the province to make reproductive choices that work for them. It will particularly remove some barriers and increase options for people in northern, rural and remote areas that might not be able to access a surgical provider. This is a start and we look forward to working with the provincial government to implement this." SOURCE Liberal Caucus Service Bureau For further information: 416-325-9138 Related Links http://www.ontarioliberal.ca/ ZedX's agronomic models help farmers make better production decisions MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 26, 2017 /CNW/ - BASF has signed an agreement to acquire ZedX Inc., a leader in the development of digital agricultural intelligence. Headquartered in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, ZedX's expertise lies in the development of agronomic weather, crop, and pest models that rapidly translate data into insights for more efficient agricultural production. With this planned acquisition, BASF strengthens its digital farming footprint and further invests in helping growers take advantage of big data generated in farming and beyond. "Growers are embracing cutting-edge technology and tools that can help them increase crop yields," said Scott Kay, Vice President, Crop Protection, BASF North America. "ZedX's innovative platforms and strong intelligence capabilities will not only enhance our current digital services, but will also provide growers with critical data to successfully manage their operations." In a time where digital transformation is changing business, BASF aims to ensure that agronomic insights and recommendations from digital solutions help its customers make better, more informed decisions. "BASF is playing an active role in the digital transformation of agriculture and is constantly evaluating where and how to engage further," said Jurgen Huff, Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing of BASF's Crop Protection division. "ZedX's experts impressed us with their extensive and deep know-how in agronomic models. We are very pleased to incorporate their knowledge into our offers to serve farmers' needs through innovative products and services." Joe Russo, ZedX's Founder and President, pointed out that during a three-year collaboration, the partnership has already shown great results. "Our modeling expertise, coupled with BASF's knowledge of chemistry, has truly benefited growers and agriculture in general. For example, we developed a model that gave the right window of application for a BASF herbicide based on important weather and environmental conditions." Weather conditions, soil temperature, wind speed all of these factors can influence the performance of crop protection products. By acquiring ZedX, BASF will be able to help farmers use their resources more efficiently and sustainably. Additionally, the ZedX acquisition further complements BASF's digital farming portfolio which includes Maglis and Compass Grower Advanced. Maglis is an online platform that connects technology, data and people in a smarter way. It offers a range of integrated and intuitive tools that guide farmers from planning and planting to harvest. "The smart use of digital solutions can open up all sectors of the economy to many new opportunities, and farming is no exception. ZedX is a great fit to our growth plan. We will strengthen our sales by offering targeted advice, insights and recommendations and by interacting more closely with our customers," concluded Huff. The acquisition is expected to be completed within four weeks. Products and solutions from ZedX will soon be available to all key markets. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. About BASF's Crop Protection division With a rapidly growing population, the world is increasingly dependent on our ability to develop and maintain sustainable agriculture and healthy environments. BASF's Crop Protection division works with farmers, agricultural professionals, pest management experts and others to help make this possible. With their cooperation, BASF is able to sustain an active R&D pipeline, an innovative portfolio of products and services, and teams of experts in the lab and in the field to support customers in making their businesses succeed. In 2016, BASF's Crop Protection division generated sales of more than 5.6 billion. For more information, please visit us at www.agriculture.basf.com or on any of our social media channels. About BASF BASF Canada, headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, has 670 employees at 12 production facilities and offices located across Canada. BASF Canada is a subsidiary of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany and an affiliate of BASF Corporation, Florham Park, New Jersey. BASF has more than 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $16.2 billion in 2016. For more information about BASF's North American operations, visit www.basf.us. To find out more about BASF's activities in Canada, visit www.basf.ca or follow us on twitter www.twitter.com/basfcanada. At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 114,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of about 58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com. 2017 BASF Corporation. All Rights Reserved. 17-APN-001-mcnr-1 SOURCE BASF Canada Inc. For further information: Christina Stroud, BASF Canada, Tel: (289) 360-6062, E-mail: [email protected] The Government of Canada invests nearly $300,000 to support new projects in Manitoba WINNIPEG, April 28, 2017 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament (Winnipeg South Centre), today announced funding for a series of new community projects in Manitoba to highlight Canada 150. Minister Carr made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage. The Government of Canada provides funding through the Canada 150 Fund with the goal of helping Canadians across the country take part in celebrations for this milestone year. This important anniversary will be celebrated in cities and towns across Manitoba and Canada. Quotes "Through these projects, Canadians and visitors can highlight Canada 150 in Manitoba. The celebrations will leave a legacy for future generations, strengthen the bonds that unite us and let us look to our country's future with optimism. The year 2017 will be a memorable one, and Manitoba will be part of it. So go aheadparticipate and celebrate!" The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister for Canadian Heritage "We are supporting activities from coast to coast to coast to highlight Canada 150. The funding provided to Manitoban organizations will allow us to honour the achievements of communities in the region and their contributions to building the Canada we know today. I invite Manitobans to join all Canadians in highlighting this important anniversary." The Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament (Winnipeg South Centre) Quick Facts The Government of Canada is providing a total of $293,490 to the projects announced today. The main themes of the Government of Canada's vision for the 150th anniversary of Confederation are diversity and inclusiveness, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, the environment and youth. The Canada 150 Fund was established in April 2015. It has an overall budget of $200 million. Celebrations will be held throughout the year to highlight the 150th anniversary of Confederation, an important milestone in the history of Canada. Associated Links Canada 150 http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1468262573081/1468262646675 Signature projects http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1475163068164/1475163203735 Community projects http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1475775848282/1475776347243 Data Tables List of community projects announced today Name of organization Name of activity Amount 1 Altona & District Recreation office Altona & Area Celebrates Canada's 150th Birthday Party and Celebrations $8,500 2 Beausejour Brokenhead Development Corporation (BBDC) 150 Canada Anniversary for Beausejour & North Eastman Region $25,000 3 Bunibonibee Cree Nation Bunibonibee Celebrates Canada $50,000 4 Graffiti Art Programming Wall-to-Wall Mentorship Program $22,000 5 Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba Lieutenant Governor's "Regal Celebration" Tree Project $35,000 6 Rural Municipality of Gimli Canada 150 Recycle Bottle Sculpture Project $10,640 7 Rural Municipality of North Cypress-Langford Canada 150 Mosaic Mural $6,000 8 Rural Municipality of Ritchiot Celebrating our Heritage $6,000 9 Spirit Way AuroraFest 150 $48,500 10 Union nationale metisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba The Great Metis Gathering Homecoming of The Red Shirts $36,850 11 University of Manitoba Office of Research Services Circles for Reconciliation $45,000 TOTAL $293,490 SOURCE Canadian Heritage For further information: (media only), please contact: Rachel Rappaport, Press Secretary (interim), Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, 819-997-7788; Media Relations: Canadian Heritage, 819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected] Related Links http://www.pch.gc.ca TSX: ELD NYSE: EGO VANCOUVER, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - Eldorado Gold Corporation, ("Eldorado" or "the Company") today reported the Company's financial and operational results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017. First Quarter Financial and Operational Highlights Profit of $3.8 million ( $0.01 per share) , compared to a loss of $2.5 million or $0.00 per share in the first quarter of 2016. Adjusted net earnings of $8.0 million ( $0.01 per share) compared to an adjusted net loss of $0.7 million ( $0.00 per share) in the first quarter 2016. , compared to a loss of or per share in the first quarter of 2016. compared to an adjusted net loss of ( per share) in the first quarter 2016. Gold production of 75,172 ounces , compared to 79,892 ounces from continuing operations. , compared to 79,892 ounces from continuing operations. Gold revenues of $90.5 million on sales of 74,068 ounces of gold at an average realized gold price of $1,222 per ounce. on sales of 74,068 ounces of gold at an All-in sustaining cash costs averaged $791 per ounce; considerably lower than 2017 guidance of all-in sustaining costs of $845-875 per ounce. averaged considerably lower than 2017 guidance of all-in sustaining costs of per ounce. Cash operating costs averaged $466 per ounce; lower than 2017 guidance of $484-535 per ounce. lower than 2017 guidance of per ounce. Total liquidity of approximately $1.1 billion , including $873.9 million in cash, cash equivalents and term deposits, and $250 million in undrawn lines of credit at quarter end. , including in cash, cash equivalents and term deposits, and in undrawn lines of credit at quarter end. Olympias Phase II began commissioning in the first quarter 2017 . began in the . Announced receipt of multiple tenders for significantly better concentrate sales terms for gold concentrate produced for beyond 2017 at Olympias Phase II. for gold concentrate produced for beyond 2017 at Olympias Phase II. Construction at Skouries continued on track for anticipated 2019 start-up. on track for anticipated 2019 start-up. George Burns set to take on role of President & Chief Executive Officer on April 28, 2017 . "We have had a very successful first quarter of the year, with progress made at all of our development projects," said Paul Wright, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Commissioning is underway at Olympias Phase II in Greece and we remain on track for declaring commercial production in the third quarter of this year. At Skouries, work continued during the quarter and we are still aiming for production in 2019. Both Tocantinzinho and Certej are progressing with engineering optimizations. As I leave my current role, I am confident that the incoming President & CEO, George Burns, and the Eldorado team are well positioned to continue to grow our company in a manner that provides significant additional value for shareholders." Throughout this press release we use cash operating cost per ounce, total cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining cost per ounce, gross profit from gold mining operations, adjusted net earnings and cash flow from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital as additional measures of Company performance. These are non IFRS measures. Please see our MD&A for an explanation and discussion of these non IFRS measures. All dollar amounts in US$, unless stated otherwise. Financial Results ($ millions except as noted) Continuing Operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 2016 Kisladag Ounces produced 52,644 52,376 Cash operating costs ($/ounce) 446 536 Total cash cost ($/ounce) 464 552 Sustaining capex 5.1 7.0 Efemcukuru Ounces produced 22,528 27,516 Cash operating costs ($/ounce) 515 478 Total cash cost ($/ounce) 531 500 Sustaining capex 3.8 4.8 Olympias Ounces produced (1) 0 2,774 Sustaining capex 0 n/a Subtotal: Continuing Operations Ounces produced 75,172 79,892 Cash operating costs ($/ounce) 466 519 Total cash cost ($/ounce) 483 536 Sustaining capex 8.9 11.8 (1) Includes production from tailings retreatment in 2016. Review of Quarterly Financial Results Profit attributable to shareholders of the Company was $3.8 million, or $0.01 per share, compared to a loss of $2.5 million, or $0.00 per share in 2016. Adjusted net earnings were $8.0 million ($0.01 per share) as compared to an adjusted net loss of $0.7 million ($0.00 per share) for the first quarter of 2016. The main difference between profit and adjusted earnings in the first quarter of 2017 was a $3.0 million adjustment related to closing cash / working capital recorded on finalization of the sale of the Company's Chinese assets (see the MD&A for a reconciliation of profit to adjusted earnings). Gold sales of 74,068 ounces from continuing operations were consistent year over year, while gross profit from continuing gold mining operations increased $4.9 million due to higher gold prices and lower cash operating costs. General and administrative expenses increased $2.1 million year over year due to reorganization costs in Vancouver and Turkey. Exploration expense increased $3.2 million including $0.9 million related to development of an exploration drift at Stratoni. Mine standby costs of $1.0 million were recorded in the first quarter 2017 related to Vila Nova and Perama Hill (2016: $9.6 million mainly related to the temporary suspension of the Skouries development from January to May 2016). The effective tax rate of 80% was higher than an expected rate of 20%-30% due to withholding tax accruals in Turkey, foreign exchange effects on the local tax basis in Greece, and unrecognized losses in Canada and Greece. The relative impact of these factors was approximately equal. First Quarter Review and 2017 Outlook TURKEY Kisladag Kisladag reported gold production of 52,644 ounces for the quarter, in-line with production in the prior year. There was a reduction in ore tonnes to the leach pad year over year as low grade run-of-mine ore is no longer being placed on the pad. Average treated head grade and tonnes mined were higher year over year as the mine accessed higher grade ore at the bottom of the current cut back. Cash operating costs of $446 per ounce improved over 2016 due to higher average treated head grade, and reduced operating costs realized in labour and major consumables through operational improvements. Sustaining capital expenditures of $5.1 million were lower year over year due to reduced project work. Efemcukuru Gold production of 22,528 ounces for the quarter was slightly lower than 2016 due to the lower average treated head grade and slightly lower tonnes milled. Cash operating costs of $515 per ounce were higher year on year due to lower grade. Capital expenditures of $3.8 million included underground development, mine equipment overhauls, and process and waste rock/tailings facilities construction projects. GREECE Stratoni Concentrate production for the first quarter was significantly higher year on year due to higher ore tonnes processed and higher zinc head grade. The mine and plant operated largely as planned in comparison to 2016 when operations were disrupted by a suspension of activities, with only two scheduled production days lost due to adverse winter weather conditions in January. Development of the hangingwall exploration drift progressed according to plan and diamond drilling commenced from the first drill station. Extension of the main footwall access ramp below +117m level to open up future production areas commenced in earnest in January. Olympias Development of Olympias Phase II made significant progress during the quarter. The majority of installation work in the process plant, including piping and cabling, was completed and commissioning work commenced in late March. Ore mining and processing began in April. Commercial production is expected by the beginning of the third quarter. Capital spending for the first quarter at Olympias was $37.1 million, with the majority deployed for continued underground development and rehabilitation in the Olympias underground, construction of the Phase II plant, and construction works in the Kokkinolakas tailings management facility. During the quarter, the Company also announced that it had received multiple tenders for significantly better concentrate sales terms for gold concentrate produced beyond 2017. This is primarily due to the treatment of higher grade material resulting in better grades in concentrate produced. Under the new sales terms, gold payability rates have increased from 58% up to a maximum of 71%, which is expected to result in an increase of approximately 15,000 ounces of payable gold production per year. Annual Phase II production is now estimated to be approximately 85,000 ounces of gold (from 72,000 ounces per year previously) plus approximately 55,000 ounces of gold equivalent production. Skouries Work was restricted in the first quarter due to adverse winter weather. Earthworks, building erection and site clearing all progressed as weather allowed during the quarter. Targeted work included tailings thickener foundations and stockpile dome embankments. Engineering continued for the integrated waste management facility and the filter plant. Equipment selection for the main pressure filters for the filter plant was completed during the quarter. Total capital expenditure for the quarter was $14.0 million. Perama Hill The project remains on care and maintenance pending receipt of the Environmental Impact Study permit. BRAZIL Tocantinzinho Installation licenses for the site, road and power line were under review by the Para State government during the first quarter. Basic engineering was nearly completed for the process plant. Detailed infrastructure engineering was ongoing and is expected to be completed during the second quarter. The installation license was received post quarter end, however the tailings and solution ponds permits remain outstanding and are expected later this year. A total of $1.9 million was spent during the quarter. ROMANIA Certej Optimization studies continued during the quarter on the metallurgical process, water and waste management and site infrastructure to support the ongoing permitting activities. These optimizations are required for the oxidative process and the optimizations of waste and tailings material generated. Permitting for offsite infrastructure continued with work progressing on main power line, water tanks and mine access roads and water supply pipelines. A total of $1.9 million was spent during the quarter. Exploration Review Exploration activities during the quarter included reconnaissance-stage programs, drillhole targeting and drilling programs at our projects in Greece, Turkey, Romania, Serbia and Brazil. A total of 13,600 metres of exploration drilling was completed. In Greece, the Company completed the drill-testing of the Fisoka porphyry prospect, and initiated drilling at the Tsikara porphyry prospect near Skouries. The underground resource drilling program at Mavres Petres commenced late in the quarter, targeting previously untested down-dip and along-strike projections of the orebody. In Romania, drilling was conducted on the Certej North and Bolcana licenses, targeting the Bolcana porphyry system and related epithermal prospects on its periphery. In Brazil, drilling programs tested both the Vulture and Parnamirim target areas within the Borborema project area in Pernambuco state. Regional geochemical sampling continued over the large Borborema project area, while at the Nazareno project, work focused on infill soil sampling, mapping, and geophysical surveys to refine targets for drilling during the second half of the year. 2017 Outlook In 2017 Eldorado expects to produce 365,000-400,000 ounces of gold, including pre-commercial ounces from Olympias Phase II. Cash costs are forecasted at $485-535 per ounce, with all-in sustaining cash costs expected to range from $845-875 per ounce. The Company's balance sheet remains one of the strongest in its peer group, with approximately $874 million in cash, cash equivalents and term deposits and $250 million in undrawn credit lines. Sustaining capital for gold mining operations in 2017 is estimated to be approximately $70 million. Planned expenditures for mining development total $345 million. Exploration expenditures in 2017 are budgeted at $35 million (65% expensed and 35% capitalized), with a balanced focus on resource delineation and brownfield drilling at existing operations, advancing early-stage projects, and project generation. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense is expected to be approximately $335 per ounce of gold sold. General and administrative expense is expected to be approximately $45 million. Corporate In December 2016, the Company announced that Paul Wright, Eldorado's current President and Chief Executive Officer, will retire from this role after the Annual General Meeting on April 27, 2017. Mr. Wright will be succeeded by Mr. George Burns, who will also join Eldorado's Board of Directors. Mr. Wright will continue as a member of Eldorado's Board of Directors, taking on the position of Vice-Chairman. Mr. Ross Cory did not stand for re-election as a Director at the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Cory served on the Board for over 13 years and the Company would like to thank him for his many years of service and dedication. Conference Call A conference call to discuss the details of the Company's 2017 First Quarter Results will be held by senior management on April 28, 2017 at 8:30 AM PT (11:30 AM ET). The call will be webcast and can be accessed at Eldorado Gold's website: www.eldoradogold.com Conference Call Details Replay (available until May 12, 2017) Date: Friday April 28, 2017 Toronto: 416 849 0833 Time: 8:30 am PT (11:30 am ET) Toll Free: 855 859 2056 Dial in: 647 427 7450 Pass code: 9264 4727 Toll free: 888 231 8191 About Eldorado Gold Eldorado is a leading low cost gold producer with mining, development and exploration operations in Turkey, Greece, Romania, Serbia and Brazil. The Company's success to date is based on a low cost strategy, a highly skilled and dedicated workforce, safe and responsible operations, and long-term partnerships with the communities where it operates. Eldorado's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: ELD) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EGO). Cautionary Note about Forward-looking Statements and Information Certain of the statements made and information provided in this press release are forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, these forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "continue", "projected", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information contained in this release include, but are not limited to the Company's 2017 First Quarter Financial and Operational Results, including statements or information with respect to: our guidance and outlook, including expected production, projected cash cost, planned capital and exploration expenditures for 2017; our expectation as to our future financial and operating performance, including future cash flow, estimated cash costs, expected metallurgical recoveries, gold price outlook; and our strategy, plans and goals, including our proposed exploration, development, construction, permitting and operating plans and priorities, and related timelines. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. We have made certain assumptions about the forward-looking statements and information, including assumptions about the geopolitical, economic, permitting and legal climate that we operate in; the future price of gold and other commodities; exchange rates; anticipated costs and expenses; production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries, the impact of acquisitions, dispositions, suspensions or delays on our business and the ability to achieve our goals. In particular, except where otherwise stated, we have assumed a continuation of existing business operations on substantially the same basis as exists at the time of this release. Even though our management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statement or information will prove to be accurate. Many assumptions may be difficult to predict and are beyond our control. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the following: geopolitical and economic climate (global and local), risks related to mineral tenure and permits; gold and other metal price volatility; mining operational and development risk; foreign country operational risks; risks of sovereign investment; regulatory environment and restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries; risks related to impact of the sale of our Chinese assets on the Company's operations; additional funding requirements; currency fluctuations; litigation risks; community and non-governmental organization actions; speculative nature of gold exploration; dilution; share price volatility; competition; loss of key employees; and defective title to mineral claims or property, as well as those factors discussed in the sections entitled "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk factors in our business" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form & Form 40-F. The reader is directed to carefully review the detailed risk discussion in our most recent Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR under our Company name, which discussion is incorporated by reference in this release, for a fuller understanding of the risks and uncertainties that affect the Company's business and operations. Forward-looking statements and information is designed to help you understand management's current views of our near and longer term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company's business contained in the Company's reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the U.S. Financial Information and condensed statements contained herein or attached hereto may not be suitable for readers that are unfamiliar with the Company and is not a substitute for reading the full annual financial statements and related MD&A available on our website and on SEDAR under our Company name. The reader is directed to carefully review such document for a full understanding of the financial information summarized herein. Except as otherwise noted, scientific and technical information contained in this press release was reviewed and approved by Paul Skayman, FAusIMM, Chief Operating Officer for Eldorado Gold Corporation, and a "qualified person" as defined by Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Gold Production Highlights (in US$) First Quarter 2017 First Quarter 2016 Full Year 2016 2017 Outlook5 Gold Production Ounces Sold 74,068 133,467 483,461 n/a Ounces Produced1 75,172 140,989 486,025 365,000 to 400,000 Cash Operating Cost ($/oz)2,4 466 603 579 485 to 535 Total Cash Cost ($/oz)3,4 483 658 621 n/a Realized Price ($/oz - sold) 1,222 1,198 1,253 n/a Kisladag Mine, Turkey Ounces Sold 52,783 52,679 211,284 n/a Ounces Produced 52,644 52,376 211,161 230,000 to 245,000 Tonnes to Pad 3,227,406 4,046,896 16,565,254 n/a Grade (grams / tonne) 1.13 0.73 0.80 n/a Cash Operating Cost ($/oz)4 446 536 474 500 to 550 Total Cash Cost ($/oz)3,4 464 552 488 n/a Efemcukuru Mine, Turkey Ounces Sold 21,285 22,304 99,744 n/a Ounces Produced 22,528 27,516 98,364 95,000 to 105,000 Tonnes Milled 115,794 116,487 476,528 n/a Grade (grams / tonne) 6.77 7.96 7.4 n/a Cash Operating Cost ($/oz)4 515 478 514 525 to 575 Total Cash Cost ($/oz)3,4 531 500 530 n/a Tanjianshan Mine, China Ounces Sold - 14,053 49,266 n/a Ounces Produced - 14,053 49,266 n/a Tonnes Milled - 268,615 869,964 n/a Grade (grams / tonne) - 1.84 1.90 n/a Cash Operating Cost ($/oz)4 - 852 819 n/a Total Cash Cost ($/oz)3,4 - 1,083 970 n/a Jinfeng Mine, China Ounces Sold - 26,096 66,902 n/a Ounces Produced - 25,935 68,195 n/a Tonnes Milled - 305,484 766,697 n/a Grade (grams / tonne) - 3.26 3.32 n/a Cash Operating Cost ($/oz) 4 - 726 705 n/a Total Cash Cost ($/oz) 3,4 - 807 791 n/a White Mountain Mine, China Ounces Sold - 18,335 56,265 n/a Ounces Produced - 18,335 56,265 n/a Tonnes Milled - 206,090 717,145 n/a Grade (grams / tonne) - 3.25 2.78 n/a Cash Operating Cost ($/oz) 4 - 582 731 n/a Total Cash Cost ($/oz) 3,4 - 620 773 n/a Olympias, Greece Ounces Sold - - - n/a Ounces Produced1 - 2,774 2,774 40,000 to 50,000 Tonnes Milled - 87,350 87,350 n/a Grade (grams / tonne) - 2.47 2.47 n/a Cash Operating Cost ($/oz)4 - - - n/a Total Cash Cost ($/oz)3,4 - - - n/a 1 Ounces produced include production from tailings retreatment at Olympias. 2 Cost figures calculated in accordance with the Gold Institute Standard. 3 Cash operating costs, plus royalties and the cost of off-site administration. 4 Cash operating costs and total cash costs are non-IFRS measures. Please see our MD&A for an explanation and discussion of these. 5 Outlook assumes the following metal prices: Gold $1,150 per ounce; Silver $20 per ounce. Eldorado Gold Corporation Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars) Note March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 ASSETS $ $ Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 642,618 883,171 Term deposits 231,258 5,292 Restricted cash 244 240 Marketable securities 45,191 28,327 Accounts receivable and other 52,121 54,315 Inventories 126,913 120,830 1,098,345 1,092,175 Other assets 11,938 48,297 Defined benefit pension plan 12,739 11,620 Property, plant and equipment 3,698,141 3,645,827 4,821,163 4,797,919 LIABILITIES & EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 104,397 90,705 104,397 90,705 Debt 5 591,845 591,589 Defined benefit pension plan 10,928 10,882 Asset retirement obligations 89,710 89,778 Deferred income tax liabilities 442,933 443,501 1,239,813 1,226,455 Equity Share capital 2,819,821 2,819,101 Treasury stock (8,000) (7,794) Contributed surplus 2,609,055 2,606,567 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 7,653 (7,172) Deficit (1,934,800) (1,928,024) Total equity attributable to shareholders of the Company 3,493,729 3,482,678 Attributable to non-controlling interests 87,621 88,786 3,581,350 3,571,464 4,821,163 4,797,919 Approved on behalf of the Board of Directors (Signed) John Webster Director (Signed) Paul N. Wright Director Eldorado Gold Corporation Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars except per share amounts) For the quarter ended March 31 Note 2017 2016 $ $ (restated)* Revenue Metal sales 111,880 94,693 Cost of sales Production costs 50,688 45,207 Inventory write-down - 1,346 Depreciation and amortization 18,064 18,968 68,752 65,521 Gross profit 43,128 29,172 Exploration expenses 5,247 1,961 Mine standby costs 1,031 9,558 Other operating items 2,133 - General and administrative expenses 11,614 9,467 Defined benefit pension plan expense 831 283 Share based payments 7 5,128 3,701 Other write-down of assets 1,054 - Foreign exchange loss (gain) 88 (3,440) Operating profit 16,002 7,642 Loss on disposal of assets 307 289 Loss (gain) on marketable securities and other investments (34) 4,317 Other expense (income) (2,349) 1,695 Asset retirement obligation accretion 523 449 Interest and financing costs 1,110 5,695 Profit (loss) from continuing operations before income tax 16,445 (4,803) Income tax expense 10,776 4,795 Profit (loss) from continuing operations 5,669 (9,598) Profit (loss) from discontinued operations 4 (3,000) 5,705 Profit (loss) for the period 2,669 (3,893) Attributable to: Shareholders of the Company 3,834 (2,478) Non-controlling interests (1,165) (1,415) Profit (loss) for the period 2,669 (3,893) Profit (loss) attributable to shareholders of the Company Continuing operations 6,834 (7,938) Discontinued operations (3,000) 5,460 3,834 (2,478) Weighted average number of shares outstanding (thousands) Basic 716,600 716,583 Diluted 717,283 716,583 Profit (loss) per share attributable to shareholders of the Company: Basic profit (loss) per share 0.01 (0.00) Diluted profit (loss) per share 0.01 (0.00) Profit (loss) per share attributable to shareholders of the Company - continuing operations: Basic profit (loss) per share 0.01 (0.01) Diluted profit (loss) per share 0.01 (0.01) Eldorado Gold Corporation Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars) For the quarter ended March 31 2017 2016 $ $ Profit (loss) for the period 2,669 (3,893) Other comprehensive income (loss): Change in fair value of available-for-sale financial assets, net of income 14,720 9,689 tax of $2,144 and $nil Transfer of realized loss on disposal of availabe-for-sale financial assets - 4,336 Actuarial gains (losses) on defined benefit pension plans 105 (122) Total other comprehensive income for the period 14,825 13,903 Total comprehensive income for the period 17,494 10,010 Attributable to: Shareholders of the Company 18,659 11,425 Non-controlling interests (1,165) (1,415) 17,494 10,010 Eldorado Gold Corporation Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars) For the quarter ended March 31 Note 2017 2016 $ $ (restated)* Cash flows generated from (used in): Operating activities Profit (loss) for the period from continuing operations 5,669 (9,598) Items not affecting cash: Asset retirement obligation accretion 523 449 Depreciation and amortization 18,064 18,968 Unrealized foreign exchange loss (74) (647) Deferred income tax expense (recovery) (2,713) (9,234) Loss on disposal of assets 307 289 Other write-down of assets 1,054 - Loss (gain) on marketable securities and other investments (34) 4,317 Share based payments 5,128 3,701 Defined benefit pension plan expense 831 283 28,755 8,528 Property reclamation payments (591) (80) Changes in non-cash working capital 9 19,610 (15,315) Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations 47,774 (6,867) Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations - 14,368 Investing activities Purchase of property, plant and equipment (73,837) (59,320) Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment 1 384 Proceeds on production of tailings retreatment - 3,878 Purchase of marketable securities - (1,834) Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities - 3,287 Value added taxes related to mineral property expenditures, net 23,584 (5,059) Investment in term deposits (225,966) (913) Decrease in restricted cash (4) (14) Net cash used by investing activities of continuing operations (276,222) (59,591) Net cash used by investing activities of discontinued operations - (5,141) Financing activities Issuance of common shares for cash 554 - Dividend paid to shareholders (10,610) - Purchase of treasury stock (2,049) - Net cash used by financing activities of continuing operations (12,105) - Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (240,553) (57,231) Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 883,171 288,189 Cash and cash equivalents - end of period 642,618 230,958 Eldorado Gold Corporation Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars) For the quarter ended March 31, 2017 2016 $ $ Share capital Balance beginning of period 2,819,101 5,319,101 Shares issued upon exercise of share options, for cash 554 - Transfer of contributed surplus on exercise of options 166 - Balance end of period 2,819,821 5,319,101 Treasury stock Balance beginning of period (7,794) (10,211) Purchase of treasury stock (2,049) - Shares redeemed upon exercise of restricted share units 1,843 2,196 Balance end of period (8,000) (8,015) Contributed surplus Balance beginning of period 2,606,567 47,236 Share based payments 4,497 3,134 Shares redeemed upon exercise of restricted share units (1,843) (2,196) Recognition of other non-current liability and related costs - (1,416) Transfer to share capital on exercise of options (166) - Balance end of period 2,609,055 46,758 Accumulated other comprehensive loss Balance beginning of period (7,172) (20,572) Other comprehensive income for the period 14,825 13,903 Balance end of period 7,653 (6,669) Deficit Balance beginning of period (1,928,024) (1,583,873) Dividends paid (10,610) - Profit (loss) attributable to shareholders of the Company 3,834 (2,478) Balance end of period (1,934,800) (1,586,351) Total equity attributable to shareholders of the Company 3,493,729 3,764,824 Non-controlling interests Balance beginning of period 88,786 169,755 Profit (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests (1,165) (1,415) Balance end of period 87,621 168,340 Total equity 3,581,350 3,933,164 SOURCE Eldorado Gold Corporation For further information: Investor Relations, Krista Muhr, Vice President Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, 604.607.6701 or 1.888.363.8166, [email protected]; Media, Louise Burgess, Director Communications & Government Relations, 604.601.6679 or 1.888.363.8166 [email protected] TORONTO, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - Today's balanced Ontario Liberal Budget makes investments that will help families, create opportunities and build for the future. Dianne Martin, CEO, Registered Practical Nurses of Ontario "We are delighted with the announcement that Premier Kathleen Wynne and her government will provide more than $100 million over three years to support people with dementia and those who care for them a challenge that only grows in importance as our population ages. We are particularly encouraged by the large funding increase to Behavioural Supports Ontario, which will translate into significant benefits to older people with cognitive impairments. RPNAO is very much looking forward to working with our partner associations in the long-term care sector to help advance this incredibly important work on behalf of the province's older population." Tim Hudak, CEO, Ontario Real Estate Association "We're very pleased that the government acted; bottom line here is we need to do something about affordability of homeowner ship. Clearly the premier herself and the finance ministerthey seem to be listening to our advice and we're happy about that." David Waters, Ontario Region President, Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada "By leveraging surplus land for affordable housing, the Province is going to open up new opportunities to build in some of the least affordable markets in the country. Right now, more than ever, it's good to see the Province using all the tools at its disposal to build affordable housing." Keith Brooks, Programs Director, Environmental Defence "Ontario's budget shows that the province remains committed to growing a low-carbon, clean economy. This budget makes it clear that Ontarians do not have to choose between the environment and the economy. Not only has the province taken decisive steps towards a low-carbon economy, but it has also delivered a balanced budget that is projecting strong growth in the years ahead." Karen Cameron, CEO, Ontario Public Transit Association "The increase in the amount of gas tax money municipalities receive will be a huge boost for transit systems in Ontario. Transit systems understand their infrastructure needs, and the needs of their riders, better than anyone else. That is why the flexible funding provided through the gas tax fund is so important - it lets municipalities and transit systems prioritize what is needed most." Jim Watson, Mayor, Ottawa "Pleased to see renewed Provincial commitment to infrastructure, transit, tech, affordable housing, health, child care, social services." Matt Brown, Mayor, London "I am pleased to see the Government of Ontario reaffirm their support to move forward with rapid transit in London. This is a truly transformative project that will result in significant employment and over $1-billion in economic growth. I am looking forward to working together to make this city building project a reality." Shawn Simpson, Chair, Ontario Pharmacists Association "We're supportive of anything that's going to help children and youth get medication that they need without any financial barriers. We're truly pleased to see from an access to medication perspective that that won't be a barrier from a financial perspective. We're happy to hear that access to medication is being improved." Centre for Addiction and Mental Health "CAMH welcomes Ontario's Budget today as a significant step forward in building a strong and recovery focused mental health system. Stabilizing funding for Ontario hospitals will help us improve access to care, reduce wait times and build important transitions to community and housing partners. Adrianna Tetley, CEO, Association of Ontario Health Centres "The investments in this year's health budget signal the government's growing recognition that primary care is the foundation of our health system. We are pleased to see this new funding, especially in the context of other health announcements that impact the determinants of community health and wellbeing." Daniele Zanotti, President and CEO, United Way Toronto and York Region "The investments this budget makes in children and youth, for drug coverage and skills training, as well as social assistance changes, will help many families build brighter futures." Brian Lewis, President and CEO, MEDEC (Canada's Medical Technology Companies) "We're very pleased that the Wynne government is continuing the transformative work of the province's Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist which is making Ontario a leading jurisdiction for medical technology innovators. We also commend this government's increased investments in Ontario's hospitals, as well as the targeted funding to reduce wait times for vitally important procedures such as hip and knees replacements which will greatly improve the lives of patients, while contributing to health system sustainability." Anthony Dale, President and CEO, Ontario Hospital Association "Today's budget announcement is an investment in patient care and will help maintain system stability and strengthen access to frontline services. The government's significant investments in hospital capital will help to support a sustainable health care system for the future." Notisha Massaquoi, Executive Director, Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre "The arrival of the new abortion pill Mifegymiso has been greatly anticipated. The Ontario government's decision to publically fund this option is increasing our right to choose and will provide all Ontarians with barrier free access to safe abortions regardless of socio- economic circumstances." Amanda Dale, Executive Director, Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic "The provincial government's decision to fund the new abortion pill Mifegymiso is an encouraging sign, and aligns us with the advancements called for by national reproductive health advocates. In situations of sexual violence, this is an indispensable tool to mitigate life-long harms." SOURCE Liberal Caucus Service Bureau For further information: 416-325-9138 Related Links http://www.ontarioliberal.ca/ TORONTO, ON and MARSEILLES, France, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - Foraco International SA (TSX: FAR) (the "Company" or "Foraco"), a leading global provider of mineral drilling services, will release its First Quarter 2017 financial results, prior to TSX market open on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. Following the release, Management of the Company will host a Conference Call at 9:00 am ET to review the financial results. The call will be hosted by Daniel Simoncini, Chairman & Co-CEO and Jean-Pierre Charmensat, Co-CEO & CFO. You can join the call by dialing 1-888-231-8191 or 1-647-427-7450. You will be put on hold until the conference call begins. A live audio webcast of the Conference Call will also be available through http://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=1418472&s=1&k=78D179C7E1039ADC7207E14BC33AFAB5 Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the Conference Call to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be needed to hear the webcast. An archived replay of the webcast will be available for 90 days. About Foraco International SA Foraco International SA (TSX: FAR) is a leading global mineral drilling services company that provides a comprehensive and reliable service offering in mining and water projects. Supported by its founding values of Integrity, Innovation, and Involvement, Foraco has grown into the third largest global drilling enterprise, with a presence in 22 countries across five continents. For more information about Foraco, visit www.foraco.com. SOURCE Foraco International SA For further information: Brenda Patterson-Mack ([email protected]), Tel: (647) 351-5483 TORONTO, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - In response to the budget tabled by Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa, Innovative Medicines Canada welcomes the Government of Ontario's initiative to launch OHIP+, a program that will cover the cost of prescription medications for every Ontarian under the age of 24, starting next January. "Innovative Medicines Canada congratulates the Government of Ontario on this bold step forward as it represents an important milestone for access to drugs in the province," said Pamela Fralick, President of Innovative Medicines Canada. "Innovative medicines play an important role in patients' health and we are pleased to see that all of Ontario's youth will benefit from this plan." As the province moves forward with OHIP+, Innovative Medicines Canada is eager to work with the government. We support a program that will have the best standard of care, and support a health care system that achieves the best outcomes for patients by providing access to a full range of medicines to meet diverse patient needs. "We are committed to working with the Government of Ontario to further improve access to medicines for Ontarians as well as provide predictability for the government and manufacturers," added Ms. Fralick. Innovative Medicines Canada is also encouraged to note the $11.5 billion investment by the Government of Ontario over the next three years to support key pillars such as access to care, expanded mental health and addiction services including funding to improve wait times. ABOUT INNOVATIVE MEDICINES CANADA Innovative Medicines Canada is the national voice of Canada's innovative pharmaceutical industry. We advocate for policies that enable the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines and vaccines that improve the lives of all Canadians. We support our members' commitment to being valued partners in the Canadian healthcare system. SOURCE Innovative Medicines Canada For further information: Sarah Dion-Marquis, Media Relations, Telephone: 613-769-6510, E-mail: [email protected] Related Links http://innovativemedicines.ca/ VANCOUVER, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - Nevsun Resources Ltd. (TSX:NSU)(NYSE MKT:NSU) (Nevsun or the Company) is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Unless otherwise noted, with the exception of earnings per share and realized price and cost per pound figures, all financial results are in millions of US dollars. First quarter 2017 highlights Sold 66.5 million pounds of contained zinc in concentrate at C1 cash costs (1) of $0.89 per payable pound sold of per payable pound sold Produced 3.3 million pounds of copper in concentrate and 51.9 million pounds of zinc in concentrate Zinc recovery improved to 71.0% during Q1 2017 from 63.6% during Q4 2016 Announced a significant increase in resources at the Bisha Mine Completed the geophysics survey at Bisha, generating promising new targets Completed the planned infill drilling program for the Timok Upper Zone Approved a new exploration program targeting additional high-grade mineralization at Timok Ended period with working capital of $190 million , including $167 million of cash and cash equivalents , including of cash and cash equivalents Declared quarterly dividend of $0.01 per share Timok Project Review Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Q3 2016 Q1 2016 Spending Upper Zone $ 7,668 $ 5,924 $ 2,785 $ - Spending Lower Zone 2,914 2,022 1,013 - "Timok remains the Company's number one priority to add shareholder value. We continue to achieve our key milestones including completion of infill drilling and progressing technical studies in support of the Timok project pre-feasibility study. We are on-track to commence decline development during 2017 and remain on-track to deliver the pre-feasibility study," stated Chief Executive Officer, Cliff Davis. "We are making continued improvements at Bisha which is translating into improvements to our operating income quarter over quarter," stated Cliff Davis, "With copper sales expected during Q2 2017 and less bulk concentrate, we expect even further improvements for the remainder of 2017. We are also pleased with higher than planned quarterly zinc and copper production, which means the Company is on track to meet annual production guidance. We continue to make incremental progress on all key performance indicators." Financial Review Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Q3 2016 Q1 2016 Revenue (millions) $ 71.6 $ 36.2 $ 22.9 $ 92.4 Operating income (loss) (millions) 11.7 (4.9) 17.5 32.9 Net income (loss) (millions) 2.9 (8.5) 6.0 15.6 Working capital (millions) 190.3 201.1 206.9 483.3 Copper price realized, per payable pound sold $ - $ - $ 2.10 $ 2.20 Zinc price realized, per payable pound sold 1.28 1.17 - C1 cash cost per payable copper pound sold(1) - - 0.72 1.12 C1 cash cost per payable zinc pound sold(1) 0.89 1.06 - (1)C1 cash cost per payable pound sold is a non-GAAP measure see page 14 of the Q1 2017 MD&A for a discussion of non-GAAP measure. Operations Review Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Q3 2016 Q1 2016 Mining Ore mined, tonnes(1) 651,000 670,000 672,000 1,337,000 Waste mined, tonnes 3,114,000 2,445,000 2,446,000 2,028,000 Strip ratio, (using tonnes) 4.8 3.6 3.6 1.5 Processing Primary Ore Ore Milled, tonnes 599,000 579,000 510,000 - Zinc feed grade, % 5.5 5.7 5.8 - Copper feed grade, % 0.9 0.8 1.0 - Recovery, % of zinc(2) 71.0 63.6 59.1 - Recovery, % of copper(3)(4) 26.8 - - - Zinc concentrate grade, %(5) 39.4 38.8 41.3 - Copper concentrate grade, %(4) 21.6 - - - Zinc in concentrate produced, millions of pounds 51.9 46.5 38.6 - Zinc in concentrate produced, tonnes 23,500 21,000 17,500 - Copper in concentrate produced, millions of pounds(4) 3.3 - - - Copper in concentrate produced, tonnes(4) 1,500 - - - Payable zinc in concentrate sold, millions of pounds 52.9 35.2 21.2 - Payable zinc in concentrate sold, tonnes 24,000 16,000 9,600 - Processing Supergene Ore(6) Ore Milled, tonnes - - - 584,000 Copper feed grade, % - - - 3.1 Recovery, % of copper - - - 87.0 Copper concentrate grade, % - - - 23.0 Copper in concentrate produced, millions of pounds - - - 34.2 Copper in concentrate produced, tonnes - - - 15,500 Payable copper in concentrate sold, millions of pounds - - 0.8 34.9 Payable copper in concentrate sold, tonnes - - 300 15,900 (1) Ore tonnes mined for the three months ended March 31, 2017 included 594,000 tonnes of primary ore (Q1 2016 605,000) and 57,000 tonnes of supergene ore (Q1 2016 732,000). (2) This represents the overall combined zinc recovery from both the copper and zinc flotation circuits. (3) This represents the copper recovery from the copper flotation circuit only, and excludes copper recovered to bulk concentrate. (4) Operating statistics related to recovery as a percentage of copper, copper concentrate grade, and copper in concentrate produced, were not meaningful during Q4 2016. (5) Represents combined concentrate grade for both zinc and bulk concentrates. (6) The supergene phase of the Bisha mine ceased on June 2, 2016. Conference call details The Company will hold a conference call on Friday, April 28, 2017, at 8AM Vancouver / 11AM Toronto, New York / 4PM London, to discuss the Q1 2017 results. Please call in at least five minutes prior to the conference call start time to ensure prompt access to the conference. Dial in details are as follows: North America: 1 888-390-0546 / +1 416-764-8688 / +1 778-383-7413 UK: 0800 652 2435 (toll free) Other International: +1 416-764-8688 / +1 778-383-7413 The conference call will be available for replay until May 5, 2017, by calling 1 888-390-0541 / +1 416-764-8677 and entering passcode 866548 #. About Nevsun Resources Ltd. Nevsun Resources Ltd. is the 100% owner of the high-grade copper-gold Timok Upper Zone in Serbia and 60% owner of the high-grade copper-zinc Bisha Mine in Eritrea. Nevsun is well positioned with a strong debt-free balance sheet to grow shareholder value through advancing the Timok project to production. Forward Looking Statements The above contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "hopes", "intends", "estimated", "potential", "possible" and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could" or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are statements concerning the Company's current beliefs, plans and expectations about the future, including but not limited to statements and information made concerning: statements relating to the business, prospects and future activities of, and developments related to the Company, anticipated dividends, goals, strategies, future growth, planned future acquisitions and explorations activities, the adequacy of financial resources and other events or conditions that may occur in the future, and are inherently uncertain. The actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, the risks that: (i) any of the assumptions in the historical resource estimates turn out to be incorrect, incomplete, or flawed in any respect; (ii) the methodologies and models used to prepare the resource and reserve estimates either underestimate or overestimate the resources or reserves due to hidden or unknown conditions, (iii) exploration activities or the mine operations are disrupted or suspended due to acts of god, internal conflicts in the country of Eritrea or Serbia, unforeseen government actions or other events; (iv) the Company experiences the loss of key personnel; (v) the Company's operations or exploration activities are adversely affected by other political or military, or terrorist activities; (vi) the Company becomes involved in any material disputes with any of its key business partners, suppliers or customers; (vii) the Company is subjected to any hostile takeover or other unsolicited attempts to acquire control of the Company; (viii) the Company is subject to any adverse ruling in any of the pending litigation to which it is a party; (ix) the timing and success of improving the quality of the copper circuit product by resolving the metallurgical challenges from the variable ore materials being processed to produce concentrate from the copper circuit; * the effect on resource or reserve estimates due to the possible inability to resolve the metallurgical challenges on the variable ore materials being processed on a timely basis or at all; and other risks are more fully described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, which are incorporated herein by reference. The Company's forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made and the Company assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements in the future, except as required by law. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. Further information concerning risks and uncertainties associated with these forward-looking statements and our business can be found in our Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016, which is available on the Company's website (www.nevsun.com), filed under our profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under cover of Form 40-F. NEVSUN RESOURCES LTD. "Cliff T. Davis" Cliff T. Davis President & Chief Executive Officer SOURCE Nevsun Resources Ltd. For further information: Nevsun Investor Relations, Tel: +1 604 623 4700, Toll free: 1 888 600 2200, Email: [email protected]; Website: www.nevsun.com Conceivable Dreams calls on companies and benefit providers to cover cost of fertility drugs following announcement that the Ontario government will provide free drug coverage for those under 25 TORONTO, April 28, 2017 /CNW/ - Conceivable Dreams, an IVF advocacy group, is calling on Ontario employers to include coverage for fertility drugs in their employee benefit plans following yesterday's announcement by the provincial government that it will expand its current drug benefit program to cover the cost of all drugs for residents under 25. This change is expected to save employers and health insurance companies tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions of dollars. "Conceivable Dreams congratulates the Ontario government on the change to its drug plan and encourages all progressive employers to re-invest a percentage of the savings they will realize into the coverage of fertility medicines," said Danielle Xavier, President, Conceivable Dreams. "With an increasing number of Ontarians affected by infertility every year, covering the cost of drugs associated with expensive fertility treatments will help more patients living with infertility to pursue their dream of having a child." In Ontario, it is estimated that 1 in 6 couples live with infertility. The cost of fertility drugs needed for assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) ranges from $2,000 to $5,000. This creates a significant financial barrier to treatment for many patients, presenting an opportunity for businesses who cover the cost of these drugs to help more Ontarians pursue the medical care needed to grow their families. Ontario currently leads among the provinces when it comes to providing access and support to families and individuals struggling with infertility. Launched in December 2015, the province's fertility program contributes to the cost of one round of IVF for eligible patients. Ontario also has the most IVF fertility clinics per million people in Canada, making it easier for people to access these treatments. Quebec, however, is the only province that provides coverage for fertility drugs, which it offers to patients as part of its sliding scale tax credit for expenses related to IVF based on income level. "My husband and I paid more than $5,000 for fertility drugs when we did IVF in 2016," said Conceivable Dreams patient member Catherine Tremblay who underwent a funded IVF cycle through the Ontario Fertility Program. "Unfortunately, my private drug plan did not cover fertility medications and we're still paying these bills more than a year later. Infertility is now a government-recognized medical condition, and employers' drug policies should reflect that." "Ontarians want to work for businesses that demonstrate consideration and respect for the well-being and reproductive choices of their employees," added Xavier. "When employers show employees that they care, the outcome can only positively impact their bottom line." Experts believe employers that support the reproductive choices of their employees are more likely to retain and attract top-tier employees and exhibit a higher company morale. Despite this, in 2012, fewer than 30 per cent of the companies on Mediacorp's list of Canada's top 100 employers provided benefits for IVF. About Conceivable Dreams Conceivable Dreams is a broad-based organization of patients, family members, health professionals and other supporters dedicated to achieving equitable access to funding for in vitro fertilization (IVF) for men and women facing infertility. SOURCE Conceivable Dreams For further information: Conceivable Dreams: Danielle Xavier, President, Email: [email protected]; Patient contact - to coordinate interviews with Ontario patients: Paula Schuck, Email: [email protected], Direct: 519.852.4596; Media contact: Sandy Blackwood, Counsel Public Affairs, Email: [email protected], Direct: 416.920.0716 ext. 240 TORONTO, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - The Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) welcomes the Ontario government's continued investment and commitment to skills training in today's budget through its focus on modernizing the province's apprenticeship program, improving access and completion rates. While PCA also commends the Ontario government for committing $156 billion in infrastructure over the next ten years, including $3 million for wastewater treatment plant upgrades in the Region of Waterloo and $2.3 million for road work in Sault Ste. Marie, it raises the question: "Why won't the province amend its outdated labour laws so its infrastructure funding goes further?" said Karen Renkema, PCA's Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Ontario. "It's an easy fix that would allow the Ontario government to maximize its infrastructure investments. Until it does, these funding announcements leave us scratching our heads." A loophole in Ontario's Labour Relations Act forces several municipalities including the Region of Waterloo, the Sault, Toronto and Hamilton to restrict completion on taxpayer funded infrastructure work. As a result, many local companies and workers are shut out. Research shows this lack of competition inflates construction costs, leaving Ontario taxpayers paying anywhere from $188 to $283 million too much each year for infrastructure projects. "With so many Ontario municipalities in desperate need of infrastructure and so short on funding, the province should be doing all it can to make funding investments count," added Renkema. "Construction competition results in greater efficiency and fairness. It's about time taxpayers insisted on better value and fairness." PCA is the voice of progressive unionized employers in Canada's construction industry. PCA member companies employ more than 25,000 skilled construction workers across Canada, represented primarily by CLAC. SOURCE Progressive Contractors Association of Canada For further information: Media inquiries: Danna O'Brien, [email protected], 416-500-0699 Funds Will Help Maintain Stability and Access for Patients and Clients TORONTO, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) welcomed the 2017-18 Ontario Budget, calling it positive news for Ontario's hospitals and the health care system. "Today's budget announcement is an investment in patient care and will help maintain system stability and strengthen access to frontline services," said OHA President and CEO Anthony Dale. "The government's significant investments in hospital capital will help to support a sustainable health care system for the future." Over the last five years, hospitals have advocated for investments in other parts of the system, such as home and community care and long-term care, to ensure health care dollars were being allocated to the area of greatest need. As the system continues to undergo intense transformation, the investments across the continuum of care will have a positive impact on patients and clients throughout the province. "Given the unusual circumstances of the recent capacity surge, Ontario hospitals had no choice but to advocate for a rather significant investment," said Dale. "Today's investment in the health care sector is an acknowledgement of the capacity challenges that hospitals have been facing. It also signals a renewed commitment from government to expand and enhance access to care across the continuum." While individual allocations are not yet known, the OHA and its members will continue to work with government to monitor the impact on individual hospitals. SOURCE Ontario Hospital Association For further information: Media contact: Samantha Grant, OHA Public Affairs, 416-205-1376, [email protected] Related Links http://www.oha.com TORONTO, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - Measures announced in the 2017 Ontario Budget will allow more students to acquire the professional and technical qualifications to pursue rewarding careers, Ontario's colleges said today. "The budget reinforces the government's commitment to helping more students get the expertise and experience to pursue rewarding careers," said Chris Whitaker, Humber's president and CEO. "It reaffirms the pivotal role that colleges and polytechnics play in student success." Measures announced in the 2017 Ontario Budget include: Exploring new opportunities to improve access to apprenticeship programs. Increasing the funding to support college sustainability by an extra $10 million this year. The increase will be $16.5 million by 2018-19. this year. The increase will be by 2018-19. Developing a new website to provide better information about careers and the labour market to students, parents and employers. Enhancing student assistance so that recent graduates won't have to pay the provincial portion of their OSAP loans until they're earning at least $35,000 a year. a year. Reaffirming the investment of $190 million over three years in the Career Kick-Start Strategy to help more students and graduates get work-related experiences as part of their education. over three years in the Career Kick-Start Strategy to help more students and graduates get work-related experiences as part of their education. Recalibrating the Second Career retraining program for laid-off workers. The budget also included initiatives to reduce financial barriers to postsecondary education for indigenous students, working with indigenous partners to identify additional targeted OSAP supports. "Producing a more highly skilled workforce is essential as new technology and innovations transform our economy," Whitaker said. "This budget will help produce economic growth and strengthen our community." About Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning Established in 1967, Humber is one of Canada's leading postsecondary institutions. Committed to student success through excellence in teaching and learning, Humber serves 29,200 full-time students and 23,000 part time and continuing education students. With an internationally recognized reputation for quality learning, Humber offers a wide-range of career-focused opportunities for students to personalize their educational path, including 160 full-time programs across more than 40 fields of study, 200 part-time and 400 online programs or courses. More than four out of five of Humber graduates are employed within six months of completing their studies. Visit humber.ca SOURCE Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning For further information: Andrew Leopold, Director of Communications, 416.675.6622 ext. 4296, [email protected] Related Links http://www.humber.ca Science will unlock the history of HMS Terror OTTAWA, April 28, 2017 /CNW/ - To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Government of Canada invites Canadians to learn more about our diverse heritage, including the history, cultures and contributions of Indigenous Peoples. The evolving story of the Franklin Expedition will continue to explore this rich heritage in 2017. Parks Canada's Underwater Archaeology Team and a Government of Nunavut Archaeologist have begun the archeological investigation of HMS Terror - the second ship of Sir John Franklin's tragic 1845 expedition - in the waters of Nunavut. Archeologists will use remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) to collect photos, videos and scans of the wreck. The information gathered from this important visit to the wreck of HMS Terror will be used to develop research plans for its future investigation. In late summer 2017, Parks Canada's Underwater Archaeology Team will return to Nunavut to conduct some preliminary dives on HMS Terror and continue the archeological work on HMS Erebus. Inuit and Inuit knowledge have played an important role in the history of the Franklin Expedition. The discoveries of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror would not have been possible without the many contributions of Inuit and their generous sharing of Inuit knowledge over the 10 year search for the lost Franklin wrecks. The Government of Canada values the contributions of all partners to the search and looks forward to ongoing partnership with Inuit of Nunavut and the Government of Nunavut as we work together to develop a deeper and richer understanding of this important part of our shared history. The sites of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror are not open to the public at this time; however, Parks Canada and the Franklin Interim Advisory Committee are working to develop visitor experience options that will ensure the long-term protection of both wreck sites. Quotes "I'm very excited that we will soon learn more about the second of the Franklin shipwrecks. Inuit traditional knowledge was key to the discovery of both HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. The Government of Canada is deeply committed to engaging Nunavut communities in the Franklin project and related initiative as a part of our commitment to reconciliation and to celebrate a critical part of our history. As we come together around the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017 and the fascinating stories that make up the rich and varied history of our country, Canadians will learn more about the Franklin history and enjoy free access to all national parks and national historic sites." The Honourable Catherine McKenna Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada "The Government of Nunavut is pleased to continue its close collaboration with Parks Canada in the investigation of the 1845 Franklin Expedition. The support of the Gjoa Haven Hunters and Trappers Association and CAP Enterprises Ltd. will play a critical role in the success of the operation, and I look forward to seeing the results of the first comprehensive archaeological documentation of HMS Terror." The Honourable George Kuksuk Minister, Culture and Heritage, Government of Nunavut "The Franklin Interim Advisory Committee supports the ongoing research that is being carried out by both Parks Canada and the Government of Nunavut. This research will assist with the development of tourism plans that can be offered in the future. Working with the Gjoa Haven Hunters and Trappers Association, and a local company from Gjoa Haven will ensure that Inuit Quajimajatuqangit principles are incorporated into the project." Mr. Fred Pedersen Chair, Franklin Interim Advisory Committee Technical Briefing Community and Science The Gjoa Haven Hunters and Trappers Association (HTA) and a local company, CAP Enterprises Ltd., are providing on-site support for this initiative. During this time of year, the Northwest Passage is frozen and HMS Terror is currently under approximately two metres of sea ice. Parks Canada is pleased to be working with four members of the HTA and two employees of CAP who will establish the ice hole that the Underwater Archeology Team is using to deploy the ROVs, in addition to providing valuable expertise in logistics and camp support in a northern setting. is currently under approximately two metres of sea ice. Parks is pleased to be working with four members of the HTA and two employees of CAP who will establish the ice hole that the Underwater Archeology Team is using to deploy the ROVs, in addition to providing valuable expertise in logistics and camp support in a northern setting. As a leader in scientific exploration, Parks Canada's Underwater Archaeology Team will use two modern ROVs to document the exterior of the well-preserved wreck of HMS Terror. A Seaeye Falcon (a type of ROV) equipped with high-definition video and cameras will be deployed through the ice above HMS Terror. A smaller Deep Trekker unit equipped with high-definition video will also be deployed. The operations will be entirely remote-operated with no diving. Quick Facts In 1992, the wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror were designated as a national historic site under the Historic Sites and Monuments Act , despite neither shipwreck having been found at that time. Lost as part of Sir John Franklin's expedition to find the Northwest Passage, the location of HMS Terror was discovered in 2016. The expedition's flagship, HMS Erebus , was located in 2014. and HMS were designated as a national historic site under the , despite neither shipwreck having been found at that time. Lost as part of Sir expedition to find the Northwest Passage, the location of HMS was discovered in 2016. The expedition's flagship, HMS , was located in 2014. Parks Canada and the Kitikmeot Inuit Association will cooperatively-manage the Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site. It will be the first national historic site cooperatively-managed in Nunavut . and the Kitikmeot Inuit Association will cooperatively-manage the Wrecks of HMS and HMS National Historic Site. It will be the first national historic site cooperatively-managed in . Parks Canada continues to work closely with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association to negotiate an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement as required under the Nunavut Agreement. continues to work closely with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association to negotiate an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement as required under the Nunavut Agreement. The Franklin Interim Advisory Committee advises Parks Canada on the management of The Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site until an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement is established. The Franklin Interim Advisory Committee has members from the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, the communities of Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven , Inuit Heritage Trust, the Government of Nunavut , Nunavut Tourism, Nattilik Heritage Centre and Parks Canada. and HMS National Historic Site until an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement is established. The Franklin Interim Advisory Committee has members from the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, the communities of and , Inuit Heritage Trust, the Government of , Nunavut Tourism, Nattilik Heritage Centre and Parks Canada. HMS Terror was built over a period of two years at the Davy shipyard in Topsham, England and was a 325-ton Vesuvius-class Royal Navy bomb vessel. HMS Terror was launched in June of 1813 and saw its first notable service at the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore, Maryland in 1814. Twenty-two years after the War of 1812, HMS Terror was refitted as a polar discovery ship, with expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica . Related Links Parks Canada Underwater Archaeology SOURCE Parks Canada For further information: Marie-Pascale Des Rosiers, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-938-3813, [email protected]; Media Relations, Parks Canada Agency, 855-862-1812, [email protected] Related Links http://www.pc.gc.ca/ Government of Canada supports Municipality of Sainte-Elisabeth community project SAINTE-ELISABETH, QC, April 28, 2017 /CNW/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) Key local stakeholders have long been asking for concrete, sustainable measures to improve community and recreational infrastructure. The Government of Canada is proud to invest in projects such as this one by the Municipality of Sainte-Elisabeth, which contribute to the strength and vitality of all regions of the country. The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CED, announced that the Municipality of Sainte-Elisabeth (website in French only) has been granted $100,000 in financial assistance, in the form of a non-repayable contribution, for the Primevere community centre renovation project. The funding awarded through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program (CIP150) will help the municipality carry out this project, which involves replacing the doors and windows, rebuilding some of the brick walls and improving the insulation, restoring the balcony and repainting the building interior. CED is one of the six regional development agencies under the responsibility of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Quotes "The Government of Canada supports the projects of organizations like the Municipality of Sainte-Elisabeth, which mobilize and unite our communities. These projects strengthen Canada's communities, stimulate economic activity, have a positive impact on the environment and benefit families and the middle class." The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED "The support received through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program will make a difference in the quality of services we will be providing for our citizens. This is welcome news for Sainte-Elisabeth and for all the users of the Primevere community centre." Mario Houle, Mayor of Sainte-Elisabeth Stay connected Follow CED on Twitter @CanEconDev Follow the Municipality of Sainte-Elisabeth on Facebook SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions For further information: Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Tel.: 514-283-7443, Email:mailto:[email protected] [email protected] OTTAWA, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - Today's Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) poll on wine imports and distribution reveals most Quebecers believe the current system impedes restaurants and their customers. In the poll, 71% of Quebecers believe independent restaurateurs should have the right to import wine and sell it directly to consumers. "These numbers show a solid majority of people from Quebec recognize the huge hurdles to wine imports, and the negative effect it has on consumer choice and product diversity," says David Lefebvre, Restaurants Canada's Vice-President Federal and Quebec. Currently, direct imports from producers are sometimes allowed, but the taxes, levies and paperwork required make it almost impossible to do so efficiently. "Our members want to be able to offer a better variety of products, and make them affordable for their customers," says Lefebvre."To allow operators to import some of their own products, without always going through the province's liquor monopoly, is a step in the right direction." Restaurants Canada has long-advocated against trade barriers between provinces, and the MEI pollresults supports its stance. "It's obvious that all Canadian producers of beer, wine and spirits would greatly benefit from liberalization of the market, and removal of legislative and regulatory hurdles," says Lefebvre."Dozens of small- and medium-sized Quebec producers stand to benefit from a new regime, and our members can't wait to have more of these products on tap." Restaurants Canada is a growing community of 30,000 food service businesses, including restaurants, bars, caterers, institutions and suppliers. We connect our members from coast to coast, through services, research and advocacy for a strong and vibrant restaurant industry. SOURCE Restaurants Canada For further information: MEDIA CONTACTS: David Lefebvre at 613-325-3298 or [email protected]; Prasanthi Vasanthakumar, Communications Specialist at 1-800-387-5649 ext. 4254, or [email protected] Related Links https://www.restaurantscanada.org/ RICHMOND HILL, ON, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - On Thursday, the Ontario Government announced their 2017 budget, which features many positive enhancements to Ontario's healthcare system. "Ontario's 2017 budget provides a much-needed boost to healthcare," said SEIU Healthcare President Sharleen Stewart. "I applaud the Ontario Government for making necessary investments across all sectors to ensure a brighter future for all healthcare workers." As outlined in the 2017 budget, SEIU Healthcare will partner with the Ontario Government to create a first-of-its-kind personal support worker (PSW) education and training facility that will help enhance the homecare sector. "An education and training facility for PSWs is exactly what is needed in Ontario," said SEIU Healthcare member and PSW Shoshannah Bourgeois. "Homecare workers need more supports, including access to more training. The development of this training facility will help raise the level of service PSWs provide, which will lead to better care for thousands of clients across the province." As part of the 2017 budget, the PSW Registry will be reintroduced, which will help the government to better understand the necessary requirements to support PSWs and also provide confidence to Ontario patients that they are receiving quality care from highly qualified workers. The home and community care sector will also receive an added $250 million this year to help support additional PSW and nursing services, respite hours for caregivers, and support for healthcare staff who work with residents with challenging behaviours, such as dementia. Hospitals will also be positively impacted by this year's budget, receiving a 3 per cent increase in funding this year, which will assist in relieving some of the stress put on our healthcare system and its workers. "The 2017 budget means a lot to hospitals," said SEIU Healthcare member and registered practical nurse Tracey Clausi. "This is a sector that has been struggling for a long time. It is refreshing to see the government acknowledge this and provide a solution." Overall, Ontario's 2017 budget is a step in the right direction, not only for healthcare providers and patients, but for working families as well. The launch of a universal drug benefits program for children and youth to fully cover the cost of prescription drugs and provide a fee subsidy to cover the cost of childcare services will help to ease the stress felt by so many of our working families. "As a union that represents over 57,000 healthcare workers, 90 per cent of whom are working women, we are encouraged by this year's budget." said Stewart. "It will help families cover the cost of drugs for their children and make it easier to access childcare services. We look forward to continuously working with the government to reintroduce a robust PSW Registry and providing more opportunities for our homecare workers to access the necessary education and training to support them in the work they do." ABOUT SEIU HEALTHCARE SEIU Healthcare represents more than 57,000 healthcare and community service workers across Ontario. The union's members work in hospitals, homecare, nursing and retirement homes, and community services throughout the province. SEIU Healthcare has a strong track record of improving wages, benefits and working conditions for healthcare workers, supporting the training and development needs of its members, and strengthening standards in the management and delivery of patient and client care. www.seiuhealthcare.ca SOURCE SEIU Healthcare For further information: For media inquiries, contact: Grace Ghunaim, SEIU Healthcare, 416-689-7944, [email protected] Related Links http:// Government of Canada supports Basses-Laurentides community project ROSEMERE, QC, April 27, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) Acting on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Linda Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Riviere-des-Mille-Iles, announced that $83,642 in financial assistance, in the form of a non-repayable contribution, has been granted for the renovation of the Rosemere Curling Club. The significant funding from the Government of Canada, awarded through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program (CIP150), will support 40% of the project, which consists in changing the dehumidification system and the refrigeration system associated with the curling infrastructure. The total value of the renovation project is estimated at $209,106. As part of Canada's 150th anniversary celebrations, under the theme of "a clean growth economy," a large number of renovation projects, such as the one by the Rosemere Curling Club, have been approved from coast to coast. In line with the goal of the CIP150, the Rosemere Curling Club renovation project will help stimulate the economy in the short term through spin-offs generated by the project activities and will contribute to long-term growth by increasing the community's strength and vitality. CED is one of the six regional development agencies under the responsibility of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Quotes "CED's support for community infrastructure renovation and rehabilitation projects is a key economic development measure for Riviere-des-Mille-Iles and the Municipality of Rosemere. I am very pleased to have made this announcement today on behalf of my colleague Navdeep Bains." Linda Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Riviere-des-Mille-Iles "The Government of Canada supports the projects of organizations like the Rosemere Curling Club, which mobilize and unite our communities. These projects strengthen Canada's communities, stimulate economic activity and benefit families and the middle class." The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED Stay connected Follow CED on Twitter @CanEconDev SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions For further information: Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Tel.: 514-283-7443, Email: [email protected]; Jamee St-Hilaire, Parliamentary Assistant / Press Secretary, Ottawa Office of the MP for Riviere-des-Mille-Iles, Tel.: 613-992-7330, Email: [email protected] STANSTEAD, QC, April 28, 2017 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Quebec are safeguarding public health and helping protect the province's waterways by investing in projects to ensure that water and wastewater systems in the province are up to date and efficient and meet communities' increasing capacity needs. These investments will also help create jobs and grow the economy. The Honorable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie and Member of Parliament for ComptonStanstead, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; and Luc Fortin, Minister Responsible for the Estrie, on behalf of Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security, and Minister Responsible for the Montreal Region, announced an investment of more than $6.1 million under the Clean Water and Waste Water Fund (CWWF) for three new projects related to water in the Estrie region: one in Asbestos and two in Stanstead. The financial support granted for these projects will contribute to maintaining, renewing or developing their infrastructure to ensure the production and distribution of high quality drinking water for residents or the proper disposal and treatment of waste water. The Government of Canada is investing close to $3.7 million in these projects and the Government of Quebec is providing more than $2.4 million for a total joint contribution of over $6.1 million. The municipalities will provide the balance. These projects are in addition to the five projects already announced for the Estrie region under the CWWF. The approval of these projects was made possible by the signing of a bilateral agreement between Canada and Quebec in July 2016, which made funding available for water projects across the province. Quotes "We are committed to investing in local infrastructure projects that ensure Canadians have access to modern, reliable water and wastewater services, like those we're announcing today for Estrie. We will continue working in close collaboration with our partners to ensure we make smart infrastructure investments that help protect the environment and preserve public health, while paving the way for economic growth and for the creation of good-paying middle class jobs." The Honorable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie and Member of Parliament for ComptonStanstead, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities "The announcement of these three new projects in Stanstead, Asbestos and Estrie, reflects our commitment to help municipalities in all regions of Quebec. It also demonstrates how working in partnership across all levels of government is improving the quality of life of our fellow citizens while safeguarding the environment." Luc Fortin, Minister Responsible for the Estrie Region, Karine Vallieres, Member of the National Assembly for Richmond, and Pierre Reid, Member of the National Assembly for Orford Quick facts The Town of Stanstead will receive more than $1.8 million to connect a well to its drinking water system, with $1,135,250 coming from the Government of Canada and $749,265 from the Government of Quebec . It will also benefit from more than $ 2.3 million in funding assistance for the upgrading of its wastewater treatment plants: $1,406,250 from the Government of Canada and $928,125 from the Government of Quebec . will receive more than to connect a well to its drinking water system, with coming from the Government of and from the Government of . It will also benefit from more than in funding assistance for the upgrading of its wastewater treatment plants: from the Government of and from the Government of . The City of Asbestos will benefit from more than $1.9 million in government funding for the renewal of its water pipes, with $1,152,918 coming from the Government of Canada and $760,927 from the Government of Quebec . will benefit from more than in government funding for the renewal of its water pipes, with coming from the Government of and from the Government of . Thanks to its base financial assistance rate of 83%, the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund is allowing municipalities to invest almost $800 million in infrastructure projects. Over the period of 2016 to 2018, the federal government will provide $363.8 million and the provincial government will provide $300 million for a total joint investment of $664 million . in infrastructure projects. Over the period of 2016 to 2018, the federal government will provide and the provincial government will provide for a total joint investment of . This Fund is part of Investing in Canada , the Government of Canada's historic plan that provides more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada's rural and northern communities. , the Government of historic plan that provides more than in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and rural and northern communities. Budget 2017 provides $21.9 billion over 11 years for investments in green infrastructure. This amount includes $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Associated links Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan in Budget 2017: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-02-en.html See how many Clean Water and Wastewater Fund projects have been approved in Quebec and across the country: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/pt-sp/index-eng.html Federal infrastructure investments in Quebec: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/index-eng.html. The programme d'aide financiere FEPTEU : http://www.mamot.gouv.qc.ca/infrastructures/programmes-daide-financiere/fonds-pour-leau-potable-et-le-traitement-des-eaux-usees-fepteu/. Twitter: @INFC_eng Web: Infrastructure Canada SOURCE Infrastructure Canada For further information: Contacts: Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-219-0149, [email protected]; Marie-Eve Pelletier, Director of Communications and Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the region of Montreal, 418-691-2050; Anne Simard, Political Attache for Communications, Office of the MNA for Sherbrooke, and Minister Responsible for the Estrie, 819-434-3025; For information: Pierre-Luc Levesque, Communications, Department of Municipal Affairs, Land Occupancy, and Public Security, 418-691-2015, poste 3746; Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, [email protected], Twitter: @INFC_eng, Web: Infrastructure Canada Related Links http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/ Stephen Helms Tillery wants to make you smarter by electrically stimulating your brain. This work was done at Arizona Stat University. The Arizona State University neuroscientist has been awarded funding for a four-year study to develop a method of brain stimulation that may boost learning and retention up to 30 percent. The money comes from the Armys Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is the bureau behind technology including GPS, the internet, stealth tech and drones. The brain will be stimulated by a method called Transdermal Electrical Neuromodulation so it learns more quickly, more efficiently and with increased recall. Certain neuromodulators chemicals that affect transmission between cells have broad physiological impacts such as arousal and attention. The one well be focusing on is norepinephrine, said Helms Tillery, an associate professor in the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. You can think of it as the big fight-or-flight hormone in the brain. If its 2 a.m. and you hear a door open in your house, you will be alert, processing information, making a decision and taking action. Thats norepinephrine working. Sensory systems have access to the brain stem nucleus, the locus coeruleus, which releases norepinephrine. We think that nucleus can be accessed by activating the nerves that enervate our face, Helms Tillery said. Were going to try to access that nucleus by activating these nerves. Helms Tillery will be looking for changes in behaviors in restricted circumstances, doing facial recognition, sensory motor mapping (responding to a visual signal with an action directed toward that signal) and sensory processing. There is some evidence your senses can be sharpened using the same mechanisms, he said. If you give some kind of stimulation, like a touch, a sound or a flash of light, there is a change in electrical activity that can be measured in the brain. Were going to see if we can change that electrical signature by pairing it with this cranial stimulation, Helms Tillery said. He will record areas in the brain related to vision, perception and decision-making. Well see if we can change the physiology of those areas with the stimulation, he said. DARPA wants to see a 15 percent increase in performance in the first three years and a 30 percent increase in the final two years of the project. To quantify that, Tillery is teaming up with a group at the Air Force Research Laboratory who studies drone teams. As brain-stimulation techniques are developed, Helms Tillery will be working with them to improve the drone teams performance. He will also be working with the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine in Boston. They have an elaborate virtual shooting range with carbines that fire pneumatically, so they feel and fire like a real weapon. Most of the performers who come through the program are high-level marksmen. Improving their performance is difficult. The Army has been doing studies with sleep deprivation, to deck their performance. Well see if we can amp it back up, for example, Helms Tillery said. The more likely scenario is that well bring novices into those environments and teach them to operate in those environments and see if they can improve. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday said it had offered 100 million dollars to authorised dealers as its intervention to stabilise the foreign exchange market.Mr Isaac Okorafor, Acting Director of the Corporate Communications Department of the apex bank disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.Okorafor, however, said that no intervention was made in the retail window in Thursdays auction.He said that the bank continued its weekly sale of foreign exchange to the Bureau de Change (BDC) segment to meet the needs of low-end users.The apex bank spokesman further said that the bank had observed that quite a good number of dealers were adhering to the forex guidelines.Okorafor said the CBN would continue to monitor activities of authorised dealers to ensure that no outfit or individual circumvented laid down forex rules.He urged all concerned to put the Nigerian economy first, adding that the CBN was determined to guarantee the international value of the naira. Citing negligent execution of petroleum production contracts by multinationals operating in Nigeria, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states have filed a suit at the Supreme Court against the Federal Government to challenge the loss of N500 trillion in oil revenue.The plaintiffs are praying the apex court to compel the Federal Government to implement Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution as it relates to oil revenue generation and sharing among the component parts of the federation.In the originating summons by Luscious Nwosu, SAN on behalf of the three states, the Supreme Court is being urged to determine whether there was a statutory obligation imposed on the defendant pursuant to Section 16 of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act Cap D3 of the Laws of the Federation 2004.They also want the apex court to determine whether there was a statutory obligation imposed on the Federal Government to adjust its share in the additional revenue accruing under the various production sharing contracts approved by the defendant if the price of crude oil at any time exceeds $20 per barrel, in real terms, to such extent that the production sharing contracts shall be economically beneficial to the government of the federation. They equally sought a consequential order of the court to compel the defendant to adjust the share of the government of the federation in the additional revenue under all the production sharing contracts in Nigerias oil industry within the inland basin and deep offshore areas as approved by the defendant from the respective terms the price of crude oil exceeded $20 per barrel.The plaintiffs also want the Federal Government to be compelled to calculate in arrears with effect from August 2003 as well as recover and pay immediately all outstanding statutory allocations due and payable to them from the said adjustment.In a 33-paragraph affidavit in support of their originating summons, the plaintiffs said that they sought to invoke the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to interpret various constitutional provisions in Sections 80(1), 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 16(1) of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Contacts Act Cap D3 Laws of the Federation 2004 as it relates to the fiscal responsibility of the defendant to them.Justice Bode Rhodes, who led six others, fixed November 14 for hearing of the suit.Meanwhile, the 36 states chief executives, under the aegis of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), have ordered a holistic audit of the ecological fund.Consequently, an ad hoc committee, which is to come up with clear-cut recommendations on how the funds would be subsequently managed, has been constituted.Addressing State House correspondents after a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday, the governor of Anambra State, Willy Obiano, said the decision was sequel to a briefing by the Accountant General of the Federation.The committee comprises Oyo, Borno, Imo, Kaduna and Benue. Others include Anambra, Akwa Ibom as well as the ministers of finance and environment.Explaining the councils decision, Obiano noted that it was worrisome that the funds had been stagnant for several months.With respect to why the committee was set up, it was to look at the balance. The actual word is not to audit it but to reestablish that the balance is correct because it has been standing like that for a couple of months. We will address that and the committee will brief NEC at the next meeting, he said.He added that the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, gave updates on the next round of Paris Club disbursements.Obiano said council also got a briefing from the minister on the Excess Crude Account, which he said, stood at $2.2 billion as of April 26.Adeosun also briefed the governors on the performance of the Efficiency Unit recently established by the Federal Government. The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, told the gathering that 9,646 suspected cases of meningitis had been recorded in six states since its outbreak in parts of the country.The affected states include Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, Kebbi and Kano.He disclosed that N46 billion was needed to effectively vaccinate the valuable population. The Nigeria Police Force has returned all the documents it collected from Senator Dajuma Goje's Abuja apartment during a search last Thursday April 20th. The police searched the apartment following allegations that some stolen funds were being kept in the house. The police returned the documents today after the senate issued an order to the IGP, Ibrahim Idris, to do so. Senator Goje yesterday alleged that some of the documents seized were documents of the 2017 budget, an allegation the police has since denied. U.S. Based Businessman to Set up $2bn Dollar Modular Refinery in Edo U.S.-based businessman, Mr Charles Ihaza, says he has acquired about 453.9 hectares of land to establish a modular refinery in Eghudu, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo.Ihaza said this at an Open Forum organised on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposed refinery in Benin.He said that the project would cost over two billion U.S. dollars, adding that the refinery would produce about 80,000 barrels of refined petroleum products daily.I know what it takes to establish and manage a refinery, and we are already discussing with the relevant Federal Government agencies on the immediate commencement of the project.I decided to site the refinery in Eghudu so as to help our people back home in Nigeria, and I am very passionate about this project.As part of our social corporate responsibilities to the host community, we are going to construct roads, build satellite clinics, standard primary and secondary schools and a functional international market, he said.Ihaza, therefore, solicited the cooperation of the members of the community, urging them to work with the site engineers and other workers toward the successful execution of the project.Earlier, Mr Larry Edosomwan, who presented the EIA Report on behalf of the consultants, Vokosen Ltd., said that the report had captured all the socio-economic needs of the host community.We have looked at the positive social and economic needs of the community, the aquatic environment, drainage and sewage management and treatment of effluents.Forests will not be destroyed and wherever it happens, we will plant new trees.We have ensured that we met all the requirements of the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). We will mitigate all negative environmental impacts, he said.Mr Joshua Taiwo, spokesman for the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jubril, said that he was particularly happy that the project was named after the community.Taiwo said that the refinery project would provide jobs for the people and improve the socio-economic lives of the residents of the area. Nigerian-American rapper, Wale, today, released his much anticipated fifth studio album Shine which was earlier scheduled for release... Nigerian-American rapper, Wale, today, released his much anticipated fifth studio album Shine which was earlier scheduled for release on May 5, 2017. The album was inspired by the rappers daughter Zyla who he says makes him want to be a better man. The 14-track album includes feature from Nigerian artists such as Olamide, Wizkid, Davido and other international acts Lil Wayne, Travis Scott, Chris Brown, and G-Eazy. Producers include Go Grizzly, Nez & Rio, Lee Major and more. The rapper released an extra track titled Shine season which was not included in the album. Wales Shine Tracklist: 1. Thank God 2. Running Back (Feat. Lil Wayne) 3. Scarface Rozay Gotti 4. My Love (Feat. Major Lazer, WizKid & Dua Lipa) 5. Fashion Week (Feat. G-Eazy) 6. Colombia Heights (Te Llamo) [Feat. J Balvin] 7. CC White 8. Mathematics 9. Fish n Grits (Feat. Travis Scott) 10. Fine Girl (Feat. Davido & Olamide) 11. Heaven on Earth (Feat. Chris Brown) 12. My PYT 13. DNA 14. Smile (Feat. Phil Ade & Zyla Moon) Senator Ahmed Makarfi, factional leader of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, has told president Muhammadu Buhari to resign and hand over t... Senator Ahmed Makarfi, factional leader of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, has told president Muhammadu Buhari to resign and hand over to his vice-president who is fit to work and return after full recovery.He said this in an interview with newsmen when asked about Buharis absence at Federal Executive Council Meeting, FEC for two or more consecutive weeks.He told newsmen, It cannot be okay and it can never be okay. My take is that if the President is not fully fit to stay in office, it is better that he tell Nigerians, so that the Vice President will continue to be Acting President, exercising the powers of acting president.Then you run away from this kind of situation when we allow time for the President to fully recover and assume his mantle of leadership. Me as PDP person, as a human being, I will never wish any human being ill-will, even if I disagree with you politically.So, it does not matter that it is APC that is the person that is sick. My prayer is that he will be fit to serve his term.As a politician, I equally want him to finish his term. So when some people begin to insinuate things, of what interest would it be to PDP should the President be unable to finish his term.We dont wish him ill will, we want him to be well, we want him to be fit enough to be on seat when in 2019 we go for election and defeat the APC.For a number of reasons, the PDP wishes the President well, for stability of this country, political stability and the fact that we want to defeat a sitting President.We dont want any confusion politically in this country. It is not good for anybody and as a human being; I never wish anybody ill will irrespective of political differences. China on Friday praised US president Donald Trumps snub of Taiwan, noting that observers had called his decision not to take a second cal... China on Friday praised US president Donald Trumps snub of Taiwan, noting that observers had called his decision not to take a second call from the islands president a slap in the face.Trump rattled China in December after taking a congratulatory call from the self-ruling islands new Beijing-sceptic president Tsai Ing-wen after his election, smashing decades of diplomatic precedent.But after Tsai suggested another call could take place in an interview with Reuters Thursday, Trump said he did not want to risk his newfound personal relationship with Chinas president Xi Jinping.I think hes doing an amazing job as a leader and I wouldnt want to do anything that comes in the way of that. So I would certainly want to speak to him first, Trump told Reuters in a separate interview.China has noted the US reaction, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters during a regular press briefing, adding that online commenters believe its a slap in the face for Tsai Ing-wen.China always opposes that those with whom weve established diplomatic relations develop any formal or official exchanges with the Taiwanese side, he added.Ties between Trump and Xi seem to have warmed recently after they met at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida earlier this month.Since then, Trump has praised China for helping pressure North Korea over its nuclear and missile programmes.The two leaders have been in constant touch Geng told reporters.Taiwans presidential office stepped back from the idea of a call after Trumps comments.We understand the priority of the US side in handling regional issues and have no current planning (for another call) at this stage, it said in a statement Friday.The comments were a serious slap in the face for Tsai, added political analyst Edward Chen of Tamkang University.Tsai is throwing the ball into Washingtons court and Washington is saying no, he said.However, lawmaker Chao Tien-lin of Tsais Democratic Progressive Party said he thought Trumps response was reasonable.Washington needs Beijing in handling the North Korea issue, he said.Concerns that Taiwan would become a bargaining chip were raised soon after Trumps election, when he suggested he may abandon the One China policy that underpins US-China relations, unless he could strike better deals with Beijing.He later went on to say he would honour the policy, which acknowledges that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of it.Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy but China sees it as part of its territory to be reunified, by force if necessary.The US is the islands most powerful ally and arms supplier, despite having no official relations with Taipei after switching recognition to Beijing in 1979.Relations between Taipei and Beijing have rapidly deteriorated since Tsai took the reins almost a year ago, ending an eight-year cross-strait rapprochement.Beijing has cut all official communication with Taipei. Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says the anti-graft agency is committed to rescuing ... Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says the anti-graft agency is committed to rescuing Nigerians from being killed by corruption.He said this while presenting a paper entitled, Before Corruption Kills Nigeria, at the 62nd award night of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), held at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotels, Abuja.In the paper, which was presented on his behalf by A Bello, the EFCC chief said the agency has recovered N17bn through tip-offs from whistleblowers.Apart from several other recoveries running into several billions of naira, the recent whistle-blower policy, has led to the recovery of N521,815,000, $53,272,747, 122,890, and 547,730 by the EFCC, he said.Magu called on the media to support the ongoing fight against corruption because that was the only way the battle could be won.The EFCC is committed to pursuing its statutory mandate and to rescue the Nigerian state and its people from being killed by corruption, he said.We call on the media and well meaning Nigerians to join us in this crusade. With the government and people of Nigeria behind the EFCC, we shall surely be victorious.He also said that the EFCC recorded 62 convictions in the first quarter of the year.In his remarks, Abdulwaheed Odusile, NUJ president, pledged the unions support for the EFCC, and he commended the commission for its committed efforts in combating corruption of all manners in Nigeria.He urged the agency to continue carrying out its operation without fear or favour.While we commend the EFCC for its efforts in fighting economic crimes and corruption, we urge it to be diligent and painstaking in its assignment, and continue to operate without fear or favour. The media will continue to support their efforts in this regard, Odusile pledged.He also condemned the rejection of Magu as the substantive chairman of the EFCC by the senate and called for synergy between the legislature and the executive in the interest of the nation.We condemn the undue politicisation of the confirmation of the appointment of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the EFCC by the national assembly. We call on the executive and the legislature to work together in the interest of the Nigeria people. The cat and mouse game in their relationship is adversely affecting the state of the nation and the welfare of the people, he said. Former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu has revealed that US government officials invited, at least, 12 northern gove... Dr Aliyu said this in the book, Against the Run of Play: How an Incumbent President was defeated in Nigeria, written by Thisday Newspapers Editorial Board Chairman, Segun Adeniyi.I have no proof of course, but I think the idea was to ascertain what the disposition of the North would be to the idea of another term for President Jonathan, he is quoted as saying in the book. That was my reading of the situation. I believe it was all about the 2015 election for which the Americans had resolved not to support Jonathan. They just wanted to size us up for the level of commitment to regime change. Aliyu said in one of the sessions, Murtala Nyako, former Adamawa state governor, accused Jonathan of sponsoring Boko Haram with the intent of destroying the North. He added that Nyakos accusation signalled to the Americans that the North was not in support of Jonathans re-election bid.Nyako was further quoted as saying: If Jonathan had been clever enough to say he would not run and had stuck with the PDP zoning formula by supporting a young Northern candidate, I am most certain Buhari would have shelved his ambition to contest in 2015, knowing there was no way he would win, he said. However, at press time, last night, the US Embassy in Nigeria was yet to respond to inquiries on the issue.In addition, the book details how former President Goodluck Jonathan sidestepped intrigues woven by supporters to concede the 2015 presidential elections have emerged, including a plot to kidnap then chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega. Among the evidence adduced by supporters to truncate announcement of the results were photographic evidence to corroborate claims that one million votes were allegedly added to his rivals votes in the 2015 election in Kano State.Jonathan in the book wondered how he was betrayed by some of his supporters especially, in the North. One of those so named, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, who then was chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has, however, denied the claim, saying yesterday that he supported Jonathan in the face of abuse, insult and open ridicule by friends and brothers. The book observes that in the midst of confusion that trailed the election results, Jonathan and his supporters were in panic mode with many suggesting that he should call Buhari to concede defeat while others opposed any concession.It pointed out that it was in the midst of the confusion that two ministers in Jonathans cabinet and Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs went on their knees to beg him to concede so as to steer Nigeria off the path of chaos. Kneeling in front of Jonathan were his Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN; Aviation Minister, Mr. Osita Chidoka and Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Affairs, Mr. Waripamo-Owei Dudafa.The mission of the three officials was to persuade Jonathan to call and congratulate his opponent, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), even as the final results were still being collated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Seated a few metres away in the room were Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio; Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John Kennedy Opara and the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Chidoka had co-opted Adoke and Dudafa to make the plea after a conversation he had with Jonathan the previous day. The President had acknowledged that the results were going against him and that he was going to concede.This was at a period when Nigerians were unsure who would win, with many politicians within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party still betting on Jonathan. He meanwhile, has asked Chidoka and a few others, including his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, to give him a draft concession speech. The report had it that Jonathans mind about the election had been soured by his loyalists that the election had been compromised, particularly in the Northern states, where under-aged voters were allowed to cast millions of votes in favour of his opponent, Buhari.It said: With photographic evidence, Jonathan was shown how under-age people were allowed to vote at some polling units in Kano and Bauchi States. This inflamed those within the government who were urging Jonathan not to concede, even as it became increasingly clear that he had lost. The general feeling within The Villa, a view fervently shared by Jonathan, was that the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, the INEC Chairman, was part of a northern conspiracy against him. With that, Jonathan decided to keep all options open. This emboldened some of his supporters who were desperate enough to want to disrupt the election.Among the strongest arguments for a potentially-rigged election were the results from Kano State, Jonathan himself admitted, to the author. Go and check the results from Kano. The presidential election and that of National Assembly happened on the same day and same time. The National Assembly result reflected that about 800,000 people voted, but that of the presidential reflected a vote of about 1.8 million.It had reports of what happened, but I decided that for such to be accepted, it meant that, those who called themselves my supporters must have colluded. I was betrayed by the very people I relied on to win the election. The book, however, revealed that Jonathan, not willing to allow the outcome to lead to bloodshed in any part of the country, opted to accept the result in good faith so as to save the country from trouble.Quoting Jonathan, the author said:In 2011 when Buhari did not campaign anywhere and could not have won the election, there was a spontaneous violent reaction that led to the death of several innocent people, including youth corps members. I asked myself: what would happen in a situation in which there was already internal and international conspiracy in his favour? I could not bear the thought of anybody dying, so I told myself I had only one option and that was to concede.Despite the decision to concede, the book points out that there were various plots by his loyalists, including one to kidnap Jega, the INEC boss and returning officer for the election at the collation centre at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. Part of the script to derail the announcement of Buhari as winner, the book claims, was the attempt by former Niger Minister, Elder Godsday Orubebe, to disrupt proceedings at the INEC collation centre, a spectacle that unfolded on live television.The book said: Although he would later apologise for his misadventure, Orubebes histrionics were part of a grand plan to disrupt the election, a plot that failed essentially because other parties involved refused to play to the script.The book further disclosed: While Jega did not have the exact details of what would happen, he had nonetheless been alerted to the fact that there would be a disruption in the process, including a kidnap threat. On arrival at the collation centre that morning, we discovered that the gate between the International Conference Centre and NICON Luxury Hotel, which was always locked, had curiously been opened, the book quoted a security officer detailed to work with Jega.A decision was immediately taken for the INEC Chairman not to leave the collation hall under any circumstances. While the outcome must have deflated the hawks around Jonathan who were still looking for a way out of the looming defeat, it worked in favour of those who wanted him to concede before the final tally of the results. With Orubebes antics dealt with by Jega, INEC continued to process the results from the remaining states.Chidoka pleaded, (with Jonathan) Why dont you take the wind off Jegas sail? By calling Buhari, you would have rendered whatever INEC is doing redundant. This school of thought won the day. At one point, Dudafa stood up and said loudly to Jonathan, Daddy, anybody can say whatever they like, but we are leaving this house on May 29.You have done your best for Nigeria, and the people will appreciate your sacrifices. Shortly thereafter, Jonathan got up from his seat and went into his study where he picked up the phone and asked Control to get Buhari on the line. He spoke briefly with Buhari, in a rather nervous tone, and then came out to announce to those in the room that he had conceded and congratulated the APC candidate on his victory.A relieved Chidoka asked, Can I tell the world? Go ahead, Jonathan directed, and Chidoka sent out a tweet from his mobile phone at exactly 5.23AM, Nigerian time. And with that call, Jonathan pulled Nigeria back from the precipice, saving the country from what would have been a serious crisis, the ending of which nobody could have foretold. It was gathered that after the president had conceded some of his loyalists still wanted a desperate fight to stall Buhari from being sworn in as President.The book quoted then Chairman of PDP, Jonathans party, Adamu Muazu, as saying that some persons close to him wanted him to use the hierarchy of the party to contest the outcome of the election and cause avoidable problems for Nigeria and he resisted them. After President Jonathan had accepted defeat, congratulated Buhari and the whole world was acclaiming him, some party leaders and-governors now wanted me to release a press statement that would ridicule me before civilized people and cause serious problems for our country, the PDP National Chairman at the time, Muazu, said in the book. Remember the lady that went on social media to express her desire to meet Nigerian musician, Davido on or before 13 th August? She als... Remember the lady that went on social media to express her desire to meet Nigerian musician, Davido on or before 13 th August? She also announced that she had made up her mind to take her life if it does not happen. (Read here) Well her name is Chiamaka aka Peppylet, and the love she has for Davido has led her to do many things for him, which includes opening a fan page for him yet he failed to notice her or grant her request of a follow back. Her declaration threw the internet into a frenzy and she got her wish. Davido heard her cry, sent her a DM and also followed her on instagram. The young lady in expressing happiness said her life would never be the same. The chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has urged President Muhammadu Buha... The chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to hand over power to Vice President Yemi Osibanjo pending his full recovery from his undisclosed illness.Makarfi, who made the call in an interview with our correspondents in Abuja on Thursday, said if President Buhari is not fit enough to remain in office, its better to tell the Nigerian people and allow the Vice President to continue as Acting President and return to work after full recovery.The leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the President would be working from his official residence, after failing to attend the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for three consecutive weeks.But Makarfi disagreed with the APCs position, saying, It cannot be okay and it can never be okay. My take is that if the President is not fully fit to stay in office, it is better that he tell Nigerians, so that the Vice President will continue to be Acting President, exercising the powers of acting president.Then you run away from this kind of situation when we allow time for the President to fully recover and assume his mantle of leadership. Me as PDP person, as a human being, I will never wish any human being ill-will even if I disagree with you politically.So it does not matter that it is APC that is the person that is sick. May prayer is that he is fit to serve his term. As a politician, I equally want him to finish his term. So when some people begin to insinuate things, of what interest would it be to PDP should the President be unable to finish his term.We dont wish him ill will, we want him to be well, we want him to be fit enough to be on seat when in 2019 we go for election and defeat the APC .For a number of reasons, the PDP wishes the President well, for stability of this country, political stability and the fact that we want to defeat a sitting President. We dont want any confusion politically in this country. It is not good for anybody and as a human being; I never wish anybody ill will irrespective of political differences.Makarfi also reacted to the claim by former President Goodluck Jonathan that some prominent members of the PDP from Northern Nigeria, including the erstwhile party chair, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, betrayed him by working against his re-election in the 2015 elections.The Caretaker Committee chairman said Jonathan was betrayed by sycophants he surrounded himself with, coupled with the fact that the party leadership made many mistakes and failed to take wise counsel.Said he, The PDP made many mistakes and I have said it before. Of course there were betrayers left, right and centre, even those of us who stood for other elective offices we can be talking that way.We made mistakes; we were not listening to what people had to tell us. We were too comfortable, then of course sycophancy took over and when sycophancy takes over what would you end up with.There were all kinds of betrayals. We have learnt our lessons now. I dont want to cry over spilled milk. We should learn from the mistakes that we have made for not listening to the true voices of the people.Going forward, we should try to avoid a situation where we would be saying someone betrayed us. No matter what, you will find Judases here and there and you cannot do away with them in life not even in politics.And when they are in majority, you have to look at yourself as a party and the honest truth is that we made fundamental errors. And it created a fertile ground for that betrayal. I am not defending it because it ought not to have happened. And people would have been more patient but not everybody can be patient.On the argument by some prominent Northern party chieftains that PDP would have won the 2015 election if the party had fielded a popular candidate from the North, instead of Jonathan, Makarfi agreed that the race would have been easier for the party.Yes, the result would have been different, but even then, Jonathan as the candidate if the party had listened a lot more, and rejigged its campaign, its language and the message.True or false, the votes difference was about two million. It would have been different even with Jonathan as a candidate. It is not just of him as a candidate, but communicating better and dealing with the right people could have made the situation different.But that is history. So we should learn from the mistakes we have made. So you cannot entirely say because Jonathan was a candidate, of course it would have been much easier, but even with him as candidate, the characters fronting for PDP were not characters that could have won election for the party.On the future of the PDP, in view of the partys protracted leadership crisis, Makarfi said his group are waiting for the commencement of its appeal against the court backed National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff. The Supreme Court is to commence hearing in the matter on May 5.Asked what would be the fate of the PDP should his faction lose the case to Sheriff at the apex court, Makarfi said that would spell the death knell of the crisis-ridden opposition party.He continued, If it happens that way, PDP would die. But those who would be working to kill PDP that way, I assure you they would end up being confronted with a bigger political force than the PDP itself.Because politics is about people, there is no way, let me speak here for the North that I know so well; there is no way in the North with Sheriff at the helm of affairs of PDP that voters would on their own go and vote PDP. There is no way.We have just seen it in a recent election in Delta State that they have turned their back against PDP because of Sheriff. And it may be so in many states of the southern part of this country.These people are alive, they are politicians, they are active. Water will surely find its level. And consistently, we have been saying that we are not going to be caught unawares. We are not going to be caught without options.We cannot boast of what the Supreme Court judgment would be but we are hopeful that they would do what is right. And in our opinion, what is right is upholding the Convention.But should what we think is right not be in law right before the Supreme Court, so be it. We will decide our political direction in good time. And that political direction, I assure you, would be one that would be more potent than the PDP as it is.Because PDP as it is, we know that we carry wounds, a lot of stigmatism, a lot of things and in an effort to kill a rat, you may let a lion loose because God Almighty that created us loves us and He looks over everybody.God wants something that is good for our people and there is no way you can deny whatever is good for our people no matter the intrigues you apply. You may think you are squeezing people one way, but you may be giving birth to something that you may not be able to squeeze.Win or loose, members of PDP have a bright future. So I am saying PDP members should not be bothered because win or loose at the Supreme Court, they have a brighter political future. A decision will be taken at the appropriate time.Describing what he described as Sheriffs sinister antics, the party chief accused some prominent members of the ruling APC of foisting him on the PDP against the wish of the majority.Said he, There are invisible hands that are hoisting him, and hoisting him purely with the view to destroying opposition and that is what he is basking in. Nigerians should wake up.It is not about PDP, it is about development of democracy and the voice of democracy in Nigeria. And if it is PDP today, it will be another party tomorrow.That is what we are standing on and that is what we are fighting for so that tomorrow whichever party may find itself in power will not be able to stop easily or decimate opposition in order to have an easy way.You can take a horse to the river, you cannot force it to drink water. And people will decide for themselves at the appropriate time.According to him, PDP members across the federation would never remain in the party with Sheriff calling the shots, stressing that the party chairman has gone into financial deal with some APC governors with the sole aim of destabilising the PDP in their various states ahead of the 2019 elections.Sheriff is busy factionalising the PDP across the states but we are not going to erect parallel structures in any state in deference to the Appeal Court ruling and in order not to further compound the problem.He is doing this for the APC governors to win comfortably in their various states and he is being paid for the job. Sheriff has taken up a job to destroy the PDP for a fee and that is exactly what he is doing, Senator Makarfi said.On the fate of the PDP in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States, Makarfi said voters in those states will never allow themselves to be without options.You see, politics is local, those states are not sleeping. They have their eyes wide open; they would never allow themselves to be without options.PDP men and women would never allow themselves to be without options, our prayer is that on May 4, all the motions filed before the Supreme Court would have been heard.And if all this are heard, our prayer is that the Supreme Court would do justice in time. And mind you, within the week, even the INEC said this crisis in PDP is affecting its ability to properly plan for elections.So this matter is more of elective matter than that of political party issue because every day there are elections and it is causing confusion in the land.Our prayer is that the Supreme Court will do justice and in our opinion, justice is respecting what the overwhelming party men and women want and do it in good time.Either way, whatever they decide, people would take their position as to what they are going to do and our prayer is that their decision will bring sanity in the land, he stated. President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that despite insinuations about his alleged poor health, there is no need for apprehensi... President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that despite insinuations about his alleged poor health, there is no need for apprehension over recovery.Mr. Buhari spoke Thursday evening through a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba, explaining why he had been out of public glare for a while.The statement said, President Buharis absence at the Federal Executive Council meeting of Wednesday, April 26, was a last minute decision; otherwise, the cabinet and the public might have been alerted in advance. As eager as he is to be up and about, the Presidents doctors have advised on his taking things slowly, as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the United Kingdom some weeks ago.President Buhari himself, on his return to the country, made Nigerians aware of the state of his health while he was in London. Full recovery is sometimes a slow process, requiring periods of rest and relaxation, as the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, intimated in his press briefing after the FEC meeting on Wednesday.Despite his lack of visibility, Nigerians should rest assured that President Buhari has not abdicated his role as Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria.He receives daily briefings on the activities of government, and confers regularly with his Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. His private residence, in which he has been spending the majority of his time recently, also has a fully equipped office.God is the giver of life and health. We are grateful that He has seen our President through the worst period of his convalescence in London. We are thankful that the President has passed a number of benchmarks already. We pray that God continues to see him through this period of recuperation. Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, says those calling for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhar... Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, says those calling for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari are merely expressing their opinions.Adesina said this during an interactive session with journalists at the launch of Against The Run of Play a book written by Olusegun Adeniyi, chairman of THISDAY editorial board.The launch took place at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Victoria Island, Lagos.Saying the president should resign is an opinion but dont forget that 15 million people elected the president so if one or two people express their opinion, will their opinion override that of 15 million people that voted for him? he asked.Those who are expressing their opinion have rights to their opinion.On the state of Buharis health, he said: There is no need for apprehension, God spared the president the first time. Remember he said that he has never been as ill as he was before. The same God that spared him will also ensure that he returns to full health. Nigerians prayed and God answered, Nigerians are still praying and God will still answer.The issue of Buharis health has been a source of concern to Nigerians.The president, who has missed two sessions of the federal executive council (FEC) meeting in a row, did not observe Jumaat prayer at the mosque in the presidential villa.Buhari has restricted himself to Aso Rock since March 10 when he returned to the country after a 49-day medical vacation in the UK. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed why he picked Goodluck Jonathan instead of Peter Odili, as President Umaru Yaraduas runn... Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed why he picked Goodluck Jonathan instead of Peter Odili, as President Umaru Yaraduas running mate.In a book, Against The Run Of Play, written by a former YarAduas spokesman, Mr Segun Adeniyi, which is to be launched today in Lagos, Chief Obasanjo confirmed that Odili, a former Governor of Rivers State, was actually his first choice as Yaraduas running mate. But there some hurdles that did not make it possible.Of course, Jonathan was not my first choice as running mate to YarAdua; it was Dr. Peter Odili. But whether by fate or some conspiracy, Odili had hurdles that made it impossible for him to take that position. That was how I settled for Jonathan, Obasanjo said.The late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, once said in an interview that Obasanjo chose Jonathan to be Yaraduas deputy in the 2007 election because he, Obasanjo, wanted to stop his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar, from running for president.Olusegun Obasanjo told me that since Atiku and I wanted to take his job, that it would be over his dead body, and that unless he died, Atiku cannot be president of Nigeria.Obasanjo said since Atiku had picked me as his running mate, he would make sure that he dealt with and disgraced us. He said he was going to use my deputy to rubbish me before everybody, Alamieyeseigha had told journalists. christie-ac-conference.JPG Gov. Chris Christie addresses the New Jersey Prevention Networks Annual Addiction Conference in Atlantic City Friday, April 28, 2017. (Rebecca Everett | For NJ.com) ATLANTIC CITY -- Addressing a conference of addiction treatment professionals Friday, Gov. Chris Christie said the state's opioid addiction epidemic reminds him of another disease outbreak: the HIV and AIDS crisis in the 1980s. "There's a lot of similarities," he said. "People who are in denial about the lives that are being lost; certain value judgements that are being placed upon the conduct of people who then get this disease." And the result of those things, he said, also looks similar: "A lack of availability of treatment and a failure by those who are sick to be willing to ask for treatment, and for their family members to come forward and ask for help," he said. The governor acknowledged that he was preaching to the choir at the New Jersey Prevention Network's Annual Addiction Conference. The one-day conference at the Atlantic City Convention Center aims to educate prevention and treatment professionals about current issues regarding substance abuse. In 2015, the rate of heroin and opioid overdose deaths in New Jersey was two times the national rate and up 22 percent from 2014. NJ Advance Media estimates at least 128,000 residents are addicted to heroin. Christie has vowed to use his last year in office to focus time and resources on what he calls the public health crisis of opioid addiction. In the last few months he's announced the state will add nearly 900 beds to treat addiction and mental health problems, attended the opening of a prison he ordered be turned into an inmate drug treatment facility, and signed a law requiring insurance companies to pay for six months of addiction treatment. In March, President Donald Trump made Christie chair of a new commission to find ways to fight the epidemic. Christie said Friday that he has his sights set on erasing the stigma that stops addicts from seeking help, just as those with HIV or AIDS have experienced. "We need to give the addicts the permission to ask for help," he said. He said that he couldn't understand why his own late mother's disease, lung cancer, was treated any differently since it was brought about by her inability to quit smoking, though she tried many times. "No one came to me and told me she was getting what she deserved," he said. "People reacted very differently. They recommended doctors and hospitals, they talked about different treatments... They all wanted her to recover." Christie highlighted the state's efforts to combat the stigma, including a new ad campaign featuring recovering addicts directing people to seek help through "ReachNJ." It's a website and helpline with resources for those seeking help. He also talked about the direction of the national commission he now chairs to fight opioid addiction. The conference's other keynote speaker, Bertha K. Madras, is also a commission member. One goal of the commission will be to promote realistic and proactive education to prevent youth from trying opioids. He said education needs to begin as early as third or fourth grade, and he poked fun at a Department of Education official who proudly told the commission about a new pamphlet on the dangers of the drugs. Christie said as a dad of teenagers, he knows what will happen to that pamphlet. "It would go into their backpack, completely unread," he said. "If it's not on one of these," he said, holding up his cellphone, "They won't read it." With that in mind, he said, the commission is going to "reach out to companies like Facebook, Google, Twitter and Snapchat and say, 'What are you willing to do to step up to the plate and help to educate our kids to avoid getting into this disease in the first place." The governor also continued his strong stance on doctors who overprescribe opioids, calling the amount of painkillers prescribed by doctors "obscene." Four out of five people who are addicted to heroin started by taking pills, he said. He said prevention starts with educating doctors, but also requires that they be monitored and punished if they are not prescribing responsibly. "Believe me, I've traveled the country, they're not getting educated about it," he said. "You know who's educating them about it? The pharmaceutical companies whose sales people come into their offices, hand them prescription pads and tell them to write the prescriptions." The law Christie signed in requiring insurance companies to cover six months of treatment also prohibits doctors from writing an initial painkiller prescription for more than a five-day supply. Christie said he usually finishes speeches like the one he gave Friday by repeating, "There but the grace of God go I," as a reminder that addiction can and will affect anyone, no matter how educated or well-to-do. "How can you turn your back on dealing with a problem when it may be in your lap?" he said. Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook. regan.jpg William Regan, who served as police commissioner in South Hackensack, was all smiles as he posed for a mugshot following his arrest in January. (FILE) ( ) SOUTH HACKENSACK - A judge has reportedly dropped a domestic violence charge against former township police Commissioner William Regan, who was accused of assaulting his wife earlier this year. The request to dismiss the charge came from Regan's wife, according to NorthJersey.com. Family Judge Roy McCready of Bergen Municipal Court determined that Regan's wife is not afraid of him and has resumed living with her husband, according to the report. Regan, 52, who is serving his third term on the township committee, was arrested in January on a charge of simple assault with bodily injury. According to the complaint, Regan was accused of "grabbing (his wife) by the arms and pulling her to the ground and causing injury to her arms and knees." He was charged with a disorderly person's offense and was scheduled to appear in South Hackensack Municipal Court. However, the case was moved to Bergen County Municipal Court in Hackensack to avoid a conflict in the South Hackensack jurisdiction. According to NorthJersey.com, Regan was replaced as police commissioner on Feb. 9 by Mayor Frank Cagas because the pending charge presented a conflict of interest. He has not attended township committee meetings since the incident occurred, according to the report. Regan has been a member of the Township Committee since 2011 and has served as mayor, deputy mayor and police commissioner. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. HACKENSACK - A police union representing 26 officers targeted for layoffs has blasted Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino, claiming he falsely blames the union for the job losses and called him a "politician who is afraid to tell the truth." "Saudino is a man who is without integrity, who has betrayed his party, switching sides when it benefits him," PBA Local 49 stated in a memo posted to Twitter on Thursday. The union claims Saudino appeared at several North Jersey PBA functions "telling anyone who will listen that the layoffs are the fault of" PBA Local 49. "He has repeatedly stated that this Local has never wanted to negotiate and work with his administration, which has now led to this layoff situation," the memo states. "These statements are absolutely untrue and are outrageous lies being told by Mike Saudino," the union states, claiming they have evidence in the form of emails and other correspondence showing the union wanted to work with Saudino and others in county administration. William Schievella, spokesman for the sheriff's office, issued a statement Friday refuting the union's claims. "The statements made in social media by PBA Local 49 are completely false," Schievella. "These statements made against their boss will be proven untrue in the appropriate forum." The officers targeted for layoffs worked for the now-defunct Bergen County Police Department, which has since merged with the Bergen County Sheriff's Office. The union says 26 officers will be laid off. The sheriff's office has said the process will take several weeks to complete and is consistent with the public policy set in January 2015 by the sheriff and other administrative and elected officials. At the time of the merger, Saudino said he planned to reduce county police to 49 officers through attrition and not layoffs. The move was projected to save the county between $90 and $200 million over the next 25 years. A message from Bergen County Police Officers PBA Local 49 @CountyPolice49: It has been reported that PBA member and Cops Cop, Sheriff.. pic.twitter.com/MzdNkBPj8H Bergen PBA Local 49 (@CountyPolice49) April 27, 2017 Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. CAMDEN-- A Honduran man who has repeatedly been deported pleaded guilty Thursday to kidnapping, interstate domestic violence and illegally entering the country, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey William Fitzpatrick said. Jose Amaya-Vasquez, 32, was arrested in Texas in 2005 for attempting to enter the country illegally. He was released but failed to appear for a court date. In June 2014, police in Kansas City arrested Amaya-Vasquez for domestic assault after he pushed his girlfriend into a table. He was later turned over to immigration officials, who deported him. He was arrested again in September 2014 in Texas after re-entering the country. He was once more deported but later admitted he returned to the country illegally in January 2015. On May 23, 2015, he met his girlfriend in the parking lot of the Burlington Coat factory story in Independence, Mo., entered her car and threatened her at knifepoint before taking her to an abandoned house in Kansas City and raping her. The victim's 2-year-old child was present. For the next two days Amaya-Vasquez, the victim and her child travelled towards New York, stopping at motels in Ohio and New Jersey while he repeatedly assaulted the victim. Acting on a tip from Kansas City law enforcement, police in Bellmawr found the victim at a motel, who escaped as officers approached. Amaya-Vasquez fled but was captured later that morning not far from the motel. Amaya-Vasquez faces up to life in prison for the kidnapping charge, up to 10 years for interstate domestic violence and up to two years for illegally entering the United States. His sentencing is scheduled for September. Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Oregon has two ABLE account options to help individuals with disabilities save money without jeopardizing their public benefits. Oregon offers two ABLE plans. The Oregon ABLE Savings Plan is for Oregon residents, and the ABLE for All Savings Plan is for residents of other states. ABLE accounts are bank accounts that allow people with special needs to save money without jeopardizing their disability benefits. ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act, but they are established and managed on a state level. Not all states have ABLE accounts (yet), and each state will have slightly different rules and procedures for opening and using an ABLE account. You can see which states have programs on the website for the ABLE National Resource Center. Save Money Without Penalty When people with special needs apply for disability benefits, they must show that they do not have enough money to support themselves independently. Money saved in a traditional bank account counts against the ability to qualify for disability benefits. As a result, people with special needs are not able to build savings with the money they earn or that they receive through inheritance or gifts. On a day-to-day basis, this means that people with special needs must live with very little money if they want to receive government aid. One workaround for this issue is to use a special needs trust which provides a place to save money that can be used for the benefit of the person with special needs (without affecting his or her eligibility for benefits). But special needs trusts must be controlled by a trusteenot by the person with special needs who benefits from the trust. Not only does this leave a person with special needs with little control over his or her finances, it also limits the person's independence. ABLE accounts fill this gap by giving people with special needs the opportunity to manage a modest bank account without penalty against their eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, or other government benefits. Federal Rules for ABLE Accounts The basic rules for all ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE Act. (Read the federal act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/647/). When states adopt and implement the ABLE Act, they must follow the federal rules and can also add their own rules and regulations. Here are some of the federal rules: Disability qualifications. To qualify to use an ABLE account, an individual must have a disabling condition that began before age 26. To qualify to use an ABLE account, an individual must have a disabling condition that began before age 26. Only one account . Each person can only have one ABLE account. . Each person can only have one ABLE account. Anyone can put money in the account . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. Contributions are capped annually. The limit for 2022 is $16,000. The limit for 2022 is $16,000. For many, the account cannot exceed $100,000 . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, see the state rule, below. . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, see the state rule, below. Use of funds is limited. Funds in an ABLE account must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE)expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Funds in an ABLE account must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE)expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Account funds are not taxed if used properly. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. Unused funds pay Medicaid. When a person with a disability dies, any funds remaining in an ABLE account will be used to reimburse Medicaid for services the person received from that program. When a person with a disability dies, any funds remaining in an ABLE account will be used to reimburse Medicaid for services the person received from that program. Read more about the federal rules for ABLE Bank Accounts. When individual states adopt the ABLE Act and provide ABLE accounts for their residents, they may also make rules and policies about: Minimum amounts required to open an account Fees Availability of accounts to non-residents. State income tax deductions for contributions Account rollovers Debit cards Investment portfolios Oregon ABLE Accounts Here are some details about Oregon's ABLE accounts. Common name : Oregon ABLE Savings Plan (for residents of Oregon) and ABLE for All (for non-residents) : Website : http://oregonablesavings.com; http://ableforall.com/ : http://oregonablesavings.com; http://ableforall.com/ Statute: Oregon Revised Statutes 178.375 - 178.380 Oregon Revised Statutes 178.375 - 178.380 Program manage r: Sumday Administration, LLC (both plans) r: (both plans) Investment advisor: Sellwood Consulting, LLC (both plans) (both plans) Account limit : $400,000 (ABLE for All); $310,000 (Oregon ABLE Savings Plan) ($100,000 to maintain eligibility for SSI under either program) : (ABLE for All); (Oregon ABLE Savings Plan) ($100,000 to maintain eligibility for SSI under either program) Annual contribution limit: $16,000 (If you're working, you can contribute an additional $12,880 in 2022 or your annual salary before taxes, whichever is less, for a maximum total up to $28,880 in 2022.) (If you're working, you can contribute an additional $12,880 in 2022 or your annual salary before taxes, whichever is less, for a maximum total up to $28,880 in 2022.) Open to out -of-state residents: No (for Oregon ABLE Savings Plan ); Yes (ABLE for All) -of-state residents: (for Oregon ABLE Savings Plan (ABLE for All) Minimum amount to open an account: $25 (both plans) (both plans) Debit or prepaid card available: Yes Investment options: Three investment options with varying risk Annual maintenance fees: $35 Annual account balance fees: Depends on the investment option selected. The total asset-based fees range from 0% to 0.30% - 0.359% (ABLE for ALL) and 0.30% - 0.3702% (Oregon ABLE Savings Plan) You can learn about and compare ABLE accounts across the country at the website for the ABLE National Resource Center. An ABLE account is just one planning tool for people with special needs. You might also be interested in learning more about Special Needs Trusts or Estate Planning in Oregon on Nolo.com. Tennessee's ABLE plan is available to non-residents and has no annual maintenance fees. Tennessee's ABLE program is called ABLE TN, and it allows residents of other states to participate in the program. See below for details about Tennessee's ABLE program. ABLE accounts are bank accounts that allow people with special needs to save money without jeopardizing their disability benefits. ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act, but they are established and managed on a state level. Not all states have ABLE accounts (yet), and each state will have slightly different rules and procedures for opening and using an ABLE account. Save Money Without Penalty When people with special needs apply for disability benefits, they must show that they do not have enough money to support themselves independently. Money saved in a traditional bank account counts against the ability to qualify for disability benefits. As a result, people with special needs are not able to build savings with the money they earn or that they receive through inheritance or gifts. On a day-to-day basis, this means that people with special needs must live with very little money if they want to receive government aid. One workaround for this issue is to use a special needs trust which provides a place to save money that can be used for the benefit of the person with special needs (without affecting his or her eligibility for benefits). But special needs trusts must be controlled by a trustee not by the person with special needs who benefits from the trust. Not only does this leave a person with special needs with little control over his or her finances, it also limits the person's independence. ABLE accounts fill this gap by giving people with special needs the opportunity to manage a modest bank account without penalty against their eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, or other government benefits. Federal Rules for ABLE Accounts The basic rules for all ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE Act. (Read the federal act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/647/). When states adopt and implement the ABLE Act, they must follow the federal rules and can also add their own rules and regulations. Here are the federal rules: Disability qualifications. In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.) In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.) Only one account . Each person can only have one ABLE account. . Each person can only have one ABLE account. Anyone can put money in the account . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. Contributions are capped at $14,000 per year (in 2017) . This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year. . This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year. For many, the account cannot exceed $100,000 . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. In Tennessee, this limit is $350,000. . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. In Tennessee, this limit is $350,000. Funds must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE). QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more. QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more. Account funds are not taxed if used properly. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. Unused funds pay Medicaid. If the account owner dies with funds in an ABLE account, those funds must be used (in this order), to pay any outstanding QDE bills including funeral expenses, to provide payback to Medicaid for all Medicaid benefits received, and then to be distributed to the account holders legal beneficiaries. ABLE Accounts in Tennessee Here are some details about Tennessee's ABLE account. Common name : ABLE TN : Website : http://www.abletn.gov/ : http://www.abletn.gov/ Statute: Tennessee Code 71-04-0801 though 71-04-0812. Tennessee Code 71-04-0801 though 71-04-0812. Program administrator and manage r: State of Tennessee Department of Treasury r: Account limit : $350,000 ($100,000 to maintain eligibility for SSI) : ($100,000 to maintain eligibility for SSI) Open to out -of-state residents: Yes -of-state residents: Minimum amount to open an account: $25 Investment options: Fourteen investment options with varying risk Account fees: $0 Annual maintenance fee Annual account balance fees 0.35% - 0.62%, depending on the investment option. You can learn about and compare ABLE accounts across the country at the website for the ABLE National Resource Center. An ABLE account is just one planning tool for people with special needs. You might also be interested in learning more about Special Needs Trusts or Estate Planning in Tennessee on Nolo.com. Only Vermont residents can participate in Vermont's ABLE program. Vermont's ABLE program is called VermontABLE, and it does not offer enrollment residents of other states. See below for details about Vermont's ABLE program. ABLE accounts are bank accounts that allow people with special needs to save money without jeopardizing their disability benefits. ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act, but they are established and managed on a state level. Not all states have ABLE accounts (yet), and each state will have slightly different rules and procedures for opening and using an ABLE account. Save Money Without Penalty When people with special needs apply for disability benefits, they must show that they do not have enough money to support themselves independently. Money saved in a traditional bank account counts against the ability to qualify for disability benefits. As a result, people with special needs are not able to build savings with the money they earn or that they receive through inheritance or gifts. On a day-to-day basis, this means that people with special needs must live with very little money if they want to receive government aid. One workaround for this issue is to use a special needs trust which provides a place to save money that can be used for the benefit of the person with special needs (without affecting his or her eligibility for benefits). But special needs trusts must be controlled by a trustee not by the person with special needs who benefits from the trust. Not only does this leave a person with special needs with little control over his or her finances, it also limits the person's independence. ABLE accounts fill this gap by giving people with special needs the opportunity to manage a modest bank account without penalty against their eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, or other government benefits. Federal Rules for ABLE Accounts The basic rules for all ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE Act. (Read the federal act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/647/). When states adopt and implement the ABLE Act, they must follow the federal rules and can also add their own rules and regulations. Here are the federal rules: Disability qualifications. In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.) In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.) Only one account . Each person can only have one ABLE account. . Each person can only have one ABLE account. Anyone can put money in the account . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. Contributions are capped at $14,000 per year (in 2017) . This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year. . This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year. For many, the account cannot exceed $100,000 . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. In Vermont, this limit is $352,800. . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. In Vermont, this limit is $352,800. Funds must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE). QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more. QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more. Account funds are not taxed if used properly. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. Unused funds pay Medicaid. If the account owner dies with funds in an ABLE account, those funds must be used (in this order), to pay any outstanding QDE bills including funeral expenses, to provide payback to Medicaid for all Medicaid benefits received, and then to be distributed to the account holders legal beneficiaries. ABLE Accounts in Vermont Here are some details about Vermont's ABLE account. Common name : VermontABLE : Website : https://www.vermontable.com/ : https://www.vermontable.com/ Statute: Vermont Statutes 8001-8004 Vermont Statutes 8001-8004 Plan manage r: Intuition ABLE Solutions, LLC r: Investment advisor: Marquette Associates, Inc Investment manager: Vanguard Custodian: Fifth Third Bank Account limit : $352,800 or $426,000 ($100,000 to maintain eligibility for SSI) : or ($100,000 to maintain eligibility for SSI) Open to out -of-state residents: No -of-state residents: Minimum amount to open an account: $50 Debit card available: Yes Investment options: Five investment options with varying risk Account fees: $2.50 monthly Annual account balance fees 0.45% - 0.60%, depending on the investment option You can learn about and compare ABLE accounts across the country at the website for the ABLE National Resource Center. An ABLE account is just one planning tool for people with special needs. You might also be interested in learning more about Special Needs Trusts or Estate Planning in Vermont on Nolo.com. Virginia's ABLE program, ABLEnow, helps those with special needs save money while remaining eligible for disability benefits. Residents and non-residents of Virginia can enroll in Virginia's ABLE program, called ABLEnow. See below for details about Virginia's ABLE program. ABLE accounts are bank accounts that allow people with special needs to save money without jeopardizing their disability benefits. ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act, but they are established and managed on a state level. Not all states have ABLE accounts (yet), and each state will have slightly different rules and procedures for opening and using an ABLE account. Save Money Without Penalty When people with special needs apply for disability benefits, they must show that they do not have enough money to support themselves independently. Money saved in a traditional bank account counts against the ability to qualify for disability benefits. As a result, people with special needs are not able to build savings with the money they earn or that they receive through inheritance or gifts. On a day-to-day basis, this means that people with special needs must live with very little money if they want to receive government aid. One workaround for this issue is to use a special needs trust which provides a place to save money that can be used for the benefit of the person with special needs (without affecting his or her eligibility for benefits). But special needs trusts must be controlled by a trusteenot by the person with special needs who benefits from the trust. Not only does this leave a person with special needs with little control over his or her finances, it also limits the person's independence. ABLE accounts fill this gap by giving people with special needs the opportunity to manage a modest bank account without penalty against their eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, or other government benefits. Federal Rules for ABLE Accounts The basic rules for all ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE Act. (Read the federal act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/647/). When states adopt and implement the ABLE Act, they must follow the federal rules and can also add their own rules and regulations. Here are some of the federal rules: Disability qualifications. To qualify to use an ABLE account, an individual must have a disabling condition that began before age 26. To qualify to use an ABLE account, an individual must have a disabling condition that began before age 26. Only one account . Each person can only have one ABLE account. . Each person can only have one ABLE account. Anyone can put money in the account . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. Contributions are capped annually. The limit for 2022 is $16,000. The limit for 2022 is $16,000. For many, the account cannot exceed $100,000 . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, see the state rule, below. . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, see the state rule, below. Use of funds is limited. Funds in an ABLE account must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE)expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Funds in an ABLE account must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE)expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Account funds are not taxed if used properly. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. Unused funds pay Medicaid. When a person with a disability dies, any funds remaining in an ABLE account will be used to reimburse Medicaid for services the person received from that program. When a person with a disability dies, any funds remaining in an ABLE account will be used to reimburse Medicaid for services the person received from that program. Read more about the federal rules for ABLE Bank Accounts. When individual states adopt the ABLE Act and provide ABLE accounts for their residents, they may also make rules and policies about: Minimum amounts required to open an account Fees Availability of accounts to non-residents. State income tax deductions for contributions Account rollovers Debit cards Investment portfolios ABLE Accounts in Virginia Virginia was the first state to pass ABLE legislation after the federal act was passed by Congress. Here are some details about Virginia's ABLE account. Common name : ABLEnow : Website : https://www.able-now.com/ : Statute: Code of Virginia 23.1-700 through 23.713 Program manage r: Virginia529 r: Investment manager: Vanguard and Fidelity Account limit : $500,000 ($100,000 to maintain eligibility for SSI) : ($100,000 to maintain eligibility for SSI) Annual contribution limit: $16,000 (If you are working and not participating in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you can contribute up to $12,880 more or the amount of your annual income, whichever is less, for a total annual contribution limit of $28,880.) Read more about this option here. Open to out -of-state residents: Yes -of-state residents: Minimum amount to open an account: $0 Debit card available: Yes Investment options: Four investment options with varying risk. The first $2,000 is made to a deposit account that is linked to your ABLEnow card and then you choose how to invest your remaining funds. Account fees: $3.25 monthly fee (waived after account reaches $10,000) (waived after account reaches $10,000) Investment administrative fee: annual charge of 0.15% , assessed quarterly on investment balances , assessed quarterly on investment balances Program administrative fee: annual charge of 0.10% , assessed quarterly on investment balances , assessed quarterly on investment balances Asset management fees: determined by investment portfolio manager, ranging from 0.37% to 0.4%. Virginia provides a state income tax deduction of up to $2,000 per contributor for contributions to an ABLEnow account. You can learn about and compare ABLE accounts across the country at the website for the ABLE National Resource Center. An ABLE account is just one planning tool for people with special needs. You might also be interested in learning more about Special Needs Trusts or Estate Planning in Virginia on Nolo.com. Washington is currently developing its ABLE account program. ABLE accounts are bank accounts that allow people with special needs to save money without jeopardizing their disability benefits. ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act, but they are established and managed on a state level. Not all states have ABLE accounts (yet), and each state will have slightly different rules and procedures for opening and using an ABLE account. Washington has adopted the ABLE Act, and it is currently developing its ABLE program. Washington legislators originally estimated that Washington ABLE accounts would be available in the summer of 2017. If you're a Washington resident who wants to open an ABLE account before Washington starts its program, you can open an ABLE account established by another state. Save Money Without Penalty When people with special needs apply for disability benefits, they must show that they do not have enough money to support themselves independently. Money saved in a traditional bank account counts against the ability to qualify for disability benefits. As a result, people with special needs are not able to build savings with the money they earn or that they receive through inheritance or gifts. On a day-to-day basis, this means that people with special needs must live with very little money if they want to receive government aid. One workaround for this issue is to use a special needs trust which provides a place to save money that can be used for the benefit of the person with special needs (without affecting his or her eligibility for benefits). But special needs trusts must be controlled by a trustee not by the person with special needs who benefits from the trust. Not only does this leave a person with special needs with little control over his or her finances, it also limits the person's independence. ABLE accounts fill this gap by giving people with special needs the opportunity to manage a modest bank account without penalty against their eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, or other government benefits. Rules for ABLE Accounts in Washington The basic rules for all ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE Act. (Read the federal act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/647/). When states adopt and implement the ABLE Act, they must follow the federal rules and can also add their own rules and regulations. Here are the federal rules: Disability qualifications. In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.) In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.) Only one account . Each person can only have one ABLE account. . Each person can only have one ABLE account. Anyone can put money in the account . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. Contributions are capped at $14,000 per year (in 2017) . This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year. . This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year. For many, the account cannot exceed $100,000 . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. Washington does not currently have a set dollar limit for its 529 plans because it only offers prepaid plans in "units." As Washington develops its ABLE program it will need to consider whether to establish a limit for contributions to an ABLE account. If you choose to open an ABLE account in another state, the account limit would be set by the provider-state of the plan you choose. . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. Washington does not currently have a set dollar limit for its 529 plans because it only offers prepaid plans in "units." As Washington develops its ABLE program it will need to consider whether to establish a limit for contributions to an ABLE account. If you choose to open an ABLE account in another state, the account limit would be set by the provider-state of the plan you choose. Funds must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE). QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more. QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more. Account funds are not taxed if used properly. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. Unused funds pay Medicaid. If the account owner dies with funds in an ABLE account, those funds must be used (in this order), to pay any outstanding QDE bills including funeral expenses, to provide payback to Medicaid for all Medicaid benefits received, and then to be distributed to the account holders legal beneficiaries. When individual states adopt the ABLE Act and provide ABLE accounts for its residents, they may also make rules and policies about: Minimum amounts required to open an account Fees Availability of accounts to non-residents. State income tax deductions for contributions Account rollovers Debit cards Investment portfolios ABLE Accounts in Washington and Other States Washington has passed ABLE legislation, but has not yet established its ABLE program. You can find Washington's ABLE statute in the Revised Code of Washington 43.330.460 to 43.330.468. If you want to start an ABLE account before Washington establishes its program, you can open one in another state. Keep in mind however, that each person can only have one ABLE account. You can learn about and compare ABLE accounts across the country at the website for the ABLE National Resource Center. An ABLE account is just one planning tool for people with special needs. You might also be interested in learning more about Special Needs Trusts or Estate Planning in Washington on Nolo.com. Wisconsin does not have an ABLE account program, but you can open an account in another state. ABLE accounts are bank accounts that allow people with special needs to save money without jeopardizing their disability benefits. ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act, but they are established and managed on a state level. Not all states have ABLE accounts (yet), and each state will have slightly different rules and procedures for opening and using an ABLE account. Wisconsin adopted and then repealed its ABLE Act. It has no plans to provide an ABLE program and is encouraging its residents to open ABLE account in another state. Save Money Without Penalty When people with special needs apply for disability benefits, they must show that they do not have enough money to support themselves independently. Money saved in a traditional bank account counts against the ability to qualify for disability benefits. As a result, people with special needs are not able to build savings with the money they earn or that they receive through inheritance or gifts. On a day-to-day basis, this means that people with special needs must live with very little money if they want to receive government aid. One workaround for this issue is to use a special needs trust which provides a place to save money that can be used for the benefit of the person with special needs (without affecting his or her eligibility for benefits). But special needs trusts must be controlled by a trustee not by the person with special needs who benefits from the trust. Not only does this leave a person with special needs with little control over his or her finances, it also limits the person's independence. ABLE accounts fill this gap by giving people with special needs the opportunity to manage a modest bank account without penalty against their eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, or other government benefits. Rules for ABLE Accounts in Wisconsin The basic rules for all ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE Act. (Read the federal act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/647/). When states adopt and implement the ABLE Act, they must follow the federal rules and can also add their own rules and regulations. Here are the federal rules: Disability qualifications. In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.) In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.) Only one account . Each person can only have one ABLE account. . Each person can only have one ABLE account. Anyone can put money in the account . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. Contributions are capped at $14,000 per year (in 2017) . This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year. . This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year. For many, the account cannot exceed $100,000 . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. Wisconsin does not plan to offer ABLE accounts, so the limit would be set by the provider-state of the plan you choose. . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. Wisconsin does not plan to offer ABLE accounts, so the limit would be set by the provider-state of the plan you choose. Funds must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE). QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more. QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more. Account funds are not taxed if used properly. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. Unused funds pay Medicaid. If the account owner dies with funds in an ABLE account, those funds must be used (in this order), to pay any outstanding QDE bills including funeral expenses, to provide payback to Medicaid for all Medicaid benefits received, and then to be distributed to the account holders legal beneficiaries. When individual states adopt the ABLE Act and provide ABLE accounts for its residents, they may also make rules and policies about: Minimum amounts required to open an account Fees Availability of accounts to non-residents. State income tax deductions for contributions Account rollovers Debit cards Investment portfolios ABLE Accounts in Wisconsin and Other States The legislature in Wisconsin decided not to establish its own ABLE program. Instead, it encourages Wisconsin residents to open ABLE accounts in a state that offers its plan to nonresidents. You can learn about and compare ABLE accounts across the country at the website for the ABLE National Resource Center. An ABLE account is just one planning tool for people with special needs. You might also be interested in learning more about Special Needs Trusts or Estate Planning in Wisconsin on Nolo.com. Wyoming does not have an ABLE account program, but Wyoming residents can open an account in another state. ABLE accounts are bank accounts that allow people with special needs to save money without jeopardizing their disability benefits. ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act, but they are established and managed on a state level. Not all states have ABLE accounts (yet), and each state will have slightly different rules and procedures for opening and using an ABLE account. Wyoming has not adopted the ABLE Act, and it is unlikely to do so. Instead, Wyoming residents can open ABLE accounts in another state that opens its ABLE program to non-residents. Save Money Without Penalty When people with special needs apply for disability benefits, they must show that they do not have enough money to support themselves independently. Money saved in a traditional bank account counts against the ability to qualify for disability benefits. As a result, people with special needs are not able to build savings with the money they earn or that they receive through inheritance or gifts. On a day-to-day basis, this means that people with special needs must live with very little money if they want to receive government aid. One workaround for this issue is to use a special needs trust which provides a place to save money that can be used for the benefit of the person with special needs (without affecting his or her eligibility for benefits). But special needs trusts must be controlled by a trustee not by the person with special needs who benefits from the trust. Not only does this leave a person with special needs with little control over his or her finances, it also limits the person's independence. ABLE accounts fill this gap by giving people with special needs the opportunity to manage a modest bank account without penalty against their eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, or other government benefits. Rules for ABLE Accounts in Wyoming The basic rules for all ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE Act. (Read the federal act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/647/). When states adopt and implement the ABLE Act, they must follow the federal rules and can also add their own rules and regulations. Here are the federal rules: Disability qualifications. In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.) In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.) Only one account . Each person can only have one ABLE account. . Each person can only have one ABLE account. Anyone can put money in the account . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. Contributions are capped at $14,000 per year (in 2017) . This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year. . This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year. For many, the account cannot exceed $100,000 . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. Wyoming does not plan to offer ABLE accounts, so the limit would be set by the provider-state of the plan you choose. . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. Wyoming does not plan to offer ABLE accounts, so the limit would be set by the provider-state of the plan you choose. Funds must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE). QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more. QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more. Account funds are not taxed if used properly. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. Unused funds pay Medicaid. If the account owner dies with funds in an ABLE account, those funds must be used (in this order), to pay any outstanding QDE bills including funeral expenses, to provide payback to Medicaid for all Medicaid benefits received, and then to be distributed to the account holders legal beneficiaries. When individual states adopt the ABLE Act and provide ABLE accounts for its residents, they may also make rules and policies about: Minimum amounts required to open an account Fees Availability of accounts to non-residents. State income tax deductions for contributions Account rollovers Debit cards Investment portfolios ABLE Accounts in Wyoming Although legislature in Wyoming has not established a Wyoming ABLE Act, Wyoming residents can open ABLE accounts in a state that offers its plan to nonresidents. You can learn about and compare ABLE accounts across the country at the website for the ABLE National Resource Center. An ABLE account is just one planning tool for people with special needs. You might also be interested in learning more about Special Needs Trusts or Estate Planning in Wyoming on Nolo.com. Delaware defines service animals as those trained to help someone with a physical disability, but the ADA covers physical and mental disabilities. Below, we explain which animals qualify as service animals in Delaware, where service animals are allowed, and some rules you may need to follow with your service animal. What Counts as a Service Animal in Delaware? Delaware's Equal Accommodations Law defines a service animal as a guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to perform work or tasks for someone with a physical disability. The law includes examples of tasks a service animal might perform: pulling a wheelchair, fetching dropped items, or providing minimal rescue or protection work. However, the law does not appear to cover service animals that help those with mental disabilities, such as psychiatric service animals. These animals are covered under the ADA, as noted below. Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog or miniature horse that has been trained to perform disability-related tasks for the benefit of a person with a physical or mental disability. Examples of service animals that must be allowed into public accommodations under the ADA include: psychiatric service animals, which can help their handlers manage mental and emotional disabilities by interrupting self-harming behaviors, reminding handlers to take medication, checking spaces for intruders, or providing calming pressure during anxiety or panic attacks seizure alert animals, which let their handlers know of impending seizures, and may also guard their handlers during seizure activity allergen alert animals, which let their handlers know of foods or other substances that could be dangerous (such as peanuts) hearing dogs, which alert their handlers to important sounds, such as alarms and doorbells, and guide dogs, which help those who are blind or visually impaired navigate safely. Neither the ADA nor Delaware law includes what some people call "emotional support animals": animals that provide a sense of safety, companionship, and comfort to those with psychiatric or emotional conditions. Although these animals often have therapeutic benefits, they are not trained to perform specific tasks for their handlers. How Are Public Accommodations Defined in Delaware? Delaware's Equal Accommodations Law defines public accommodations as any place that: offers facilities, goods, or services to the public caters to the public, or solicits patronage from the public. Delaware law includes state and local agencies, as well as hotels and motels that cater to the transient public. The ADA sets out a long list of facilities that qualify as public accommodations to which you may bring your service animal, including: hotels and other lodging establishments public transportation and terminals, depots, and stations restaurants and other places that serve food and drink any place of public gathering, such as an auditorium or convention center gyms, bowling alleys, parks and other places of exercise or recreation libraries, museums, and educational institutions social service centers, like senior centers, homeless shelters, and food banks. What Are the Rules Regarding Public Accommodations and Service Animals in Delaware? Under Delaware's Equal Accommodations Law and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities may bring service animals (under Delaware law, only service animals that assist those with physical disabilities) to any public accommodations. Owners of public accommodations, however, are not required to allow emotional support animals and pets. Public accommodations in Delaware must comply with both state and federal law. Under the ADA, a public accommodation may not ask you questions about your disability or demand to see certification, identification, or other proof of your animal's training or status. If it is not apparent what your service animal does, the establishment may ask you only whether it is a service animal, and what tasks it performs for you. The ADA prohibits public accommodations from charging a special admission fee or requiring you to pay any other extra cost to have your service animal with you. However, you may have to pay for any damage your animal causes. The ADA allows a public accommodation to exclude your service animal if it poses a direct threat to health and safety (for example, if your dog is aggressively barking and snapping at other customers, is not housebroken, or if it is out of control). Delaware's Equal Accommodations Law doesn't include any rules about charging for or excluding service animals. However, Delaware's White Cane Law provides some rules for guide and leader dogs, who work with those who are blind. You may not be charged any extra fees to have your guide dog with you, but you may have to pay for any damage it causes. And, your guide dog may be excluded if admitting it would create a clear danger of disturbance or of physical harm to others. What Are the Rules for Assistance Animals in Delaware Housing? Delaware's White Cane Law requires landlords to allow guide dogs for those who are fully or partially blind. Your landlord may not charge you extra for your guide dog, but you may have to pay for any damage caused by your dog. As to other types of service animals, Delaware's Fair Housing Law prohibits discrimination in selling or renting housing based on disability, and the law requires landlords and others to make reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities. Although the law doesn't refer to service animals, having a service animal might constitute a reasonable accommodation, depending on the circumstances. But fortunately, the federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing accommodations against those who use service animals, so you must be allowed full and equal access to all housing facilities and may not be charged extra for having a service animal (although you may have to pay for damage your animal causes). If your lease or rental agreement includes a "no pets" provision, it does not apply to your service animal. Pursuant to the federal Fair Housing Act, housing facilities must allow service dogs and emotional support animals, if necessary for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy the home. To fall under this provision, you must have a disability and you must have a disability-related need for the animal. In other words, the animal must work, perform tasks or services, or alleviate the emotional effects of your disability in order to qualify. (For more information, see the Department of Housing and Urban Development's guidance on service animals.) Hawaii state law and federal law provide broad protections for people with disabilities to have their service animals in housing or public places. Below, we explain which animals qualify as service animals in Hawaii, where service animals are allowed, and some rules you may need to follow with your service animal. What Counts as a Service Animal in Hawaii? In Hawaii, a service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or tasks to benefit someone with a disability, including a intellectual, mental, sensory, or physical disability. Under the ADA, the definition is roughly the same with a few twists. The tasks or work the service animal does must be directly related to the person's disability. And in some cases, a miniature horse may also qualify as a service animal. Examples of service animals under Hawaii's social services law and under the ADA include: psychiatric service animals, which help their handlers manage mental and emotional disabilities by, for example, interrupting self-harming behaviors or providing calming pressure during anxiety or panic attacks seizure alert animals, which let their handlers know of impending seizures, and may also guard their handlers during seizure activity, and allergen alert animals, which let their handlers know of substances that could be dangerous hearing dogs, which alert their handlers to important sounds, such as alarms and doorbells, and guide dogs, which help those who are blind or visually impaired navigate safely. Neither the ADA nor Hawaii law covers what some people call "emotional support animals": animals that provide a sense of safety, companionship, and comfort to those with psychiatric or emotional conditions. Although these animals often have therapeutic benefits, they are not individually trained to perform specific tasks for their handlers. How Are Public Accommodations Defined in Hawaii? Hawaii's definition of a "public accommodation" (where people can take their service dogs) includes: all forms of public transportation and common carriers, including buses, trains, ferries, airplanes, and cars hotels and lodging places all places of public amusement, resort, or accommodation, and any other place to which the general public is invited. The ADA is equally broad and sets out a long list of facilities that qualify as public accommodations to which you may bring your service animal, including: hotels and other lodging establishments restaurants and other places that serve food and drink any place of public gathering or place of exercise or recreation libraries, museums, and educational institutions, and social service centers, like senior centers, homeless shelters, and food banks. What Are the Rules Regarding Public Accommodations and Service Animals in Hawaii? Under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Hawaii's public accommodations law, people with disabilities have the right to be accompanied by their service animals in restaurants, hotels, stores, theaters, and other public accommodations. Under the ADA and Hawaii law, owners of public accommodations are not required to allow emotional support animals, only service animals. In fact, Hawaii law explicitly excludes companion and comfort animals, unless the animal meets the definition of a service dog and is accompanying someone to perform the tasks for which the dog has been individually trained. These laws also don't apply to pets. Public accommodations in Hawaii must comply with both state and federal law. Under the ADA, a public accommodation may not ask you questions about your disability or demand to see certification, identification, or other proof of your animal's training or status. If it is not apparent what your service animal does, the establishment may ask you only whether it is a service animal, and what tasks it performs for you. The ADA and Hawaii law prohibit public accommodations from charging a special admission fee or requiring you to pay any other extra cost to have your service animal with you. However, you may have to pay for any damage your animal causes. The ADA allows a public accommodation to exclude your service animal if it poses a direct threat to health and safety (or example, if your dog is aggressively barking and snapping at other customers, the facility can kick the dog out). Your animal may also be excluded if it is not housebroken, or if it is out of control and you are unable or unwilling to effectively control it. You are still entitled to enter the public accommodation even if your service animal is not allowed in. What Are the Rules for Animals in Hawaii Housing? Hawaii's fair housing law prohibits housing discrimination based on disability and requires property owners to make reasonable accommodations to allow those with disabilities to use and enjoy their housing, which could include allowing service animals. However, the law provides that, if the reasonable accommodation includes a service animal, the property owner may impose reasonable restrictions. Similarly, the federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing accommodations against those who use service animals. You must be allowed full and equal access to all housing facilities, and may not be charged extra for having a service animal (although you may have to pay for damage your animal causes). If your lease or rental agreement includes a "no pets" provision, it does not apply to your service animal. Pursuant to the federal Fair Housing Act, housing facilities must allow service dogs and emotional support animals, if necessary for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy the home. To fall under this provision, you must have a disability and you must have a disability-related need for the animal. In other words, the animal must work, perform tasks or services, or alleviate the emotional effects of your disability in order to qualify. (For more information, see the Department of Housing and Urban Development's guidance on service animals.) Workers' comp lawyers usually charge only if they win, and most states set limits on the amount of their fees. If you've suffered a work-related injury or illness, you might be considering hiring a workers' compensation attorney. An experienced lawyer can help you develop medical evidence that supports your claim, negotiate a favorable settlement, and represent you at your workers' comp hearing or on appeal. In short, hiring a workers' comp lawyer gives you a much better chance of receiving workers' comp benefits. if you win your case, your attorney receives a percentage of your workers' comp benefits or settlement. If you lose, there's no fee... Typically, the maximum percentages range from about 10 to 20% of your settlement or benefits, depending on the complexity of the case. When to Hire A Workers' Comp Lawyer You might be able to handle your own workers' comp case if your claim is simple, straightforward, and low value. But it's essential to hire a workers' comp lawyer if any of the following apply to you: Your employer disputes your workers' comp claim. Your claim isn't strongly supported by medical evidence. Your claim is high value or you've suffered permanent or life-altering injuries. You've been offered a settlement and don't know whether to accept it. Your claim has been denied and you need to appeal. In any of these situations, you'll have a much better chance of winning your case if you hire an attorney to represent you. Workers' Comp Attorneys' Fees It's important for you to understand the costs involved with hiring a lawyer. Lawyers generally handle workers' comp cases, like most personal injury cases, on what's called a "contingency fee" basis. That means if you win your case, your attorney receives a percentage of your workers' comp benefits or settlement. If you lose, there's no fee. By eliminating the need for substantial up-front payments, contingency fee arrangements allow all injured workers, even those with limited financial resources, the chance to receive quality legal representation. They also provide a strong incentive for attorneys to obtain maximum benefits for their clients. State laws or regulations tightly control attorneys' fees in workers' comp cases. Many states place some sort of cap on the amount an attorney can charge and require approval of the fees by the workers' comp judge or appeals board. State Rules on Workers' Comp Attorneys' Fees The laws and regulations dealing with attorneys' fees vary from state to state. Generally, the judge must approve the fee before the lawyer gets paid, taking into account how complicated the case was, the time and work involved, the amount of benefits awarded, and the final result. Many states set a cap on the percentage and/or total amounts that attorneys can charge. Typically, the maximum percentages range from about 10 to 20%, depending on the complexity of the case. But some states have higher limits or none at all. In general, a case that is settled prior to an administrative hearing will warrant a lower percentage fee than one that requires a hearing or even a trial in circuit court. In a national survey, injured employees reported that their lawyers received an average of 15% out of their workers' comp settlements or awards. The same survey showed that injured workers who had hired attorneys received an average of 30% more in compensation than those who had pursued their claims without legal help. Many states prohibit lawyers from charging fees for obtaining routine benefits, such as medical bills or lost wages that the employer or insurer hasn't disputed. Also, states may allow attorneys to ask the judge to order the other side to pay additional fees in certain situations, such as when the employer or insurer has engaged in egregious misconduct, caused unnecessary delays, or refused to pay benefits that have already been awarded. The percentage caps in state laws don't apply to these fees (often called sanctions or penalties), because they don't come out of your compensation. Can You Negotiate Workers' Comp Attorneys' Fees? At your initial consultation, your attorney should provide you with a clear explanation of the fees you'll be charged. In states that set a cap on attorneys' fees in workers' comp cases, lawyers generally charge that amount. Still, you're free to ask an attorney to handle your case for less than the maximum allowable amount; it never hurts to try. But be sure to negotiate the fees before you sign the representation and fee agreements. Charges for Expenses Related to Your Case In addition to attorneys' fees, workers' comp cases involve other out-of-pocket costs. Some of these common expenses include: filing fees fees for copies of medical records paying the physicians who conduct independent medical examinations costs of depositions the attorney's travel expenses, and copying and postage costs. These costs are not covered by the standard fee agreement. Most law firms will pay these expenses as they come up, but you'll probably have to reimburse the firm for the costs if you win your case. Some lawyers charge for expenses even if you lose your case. Before you sign an agreement with your lawyer about expenses, make sure you understand what the agreement covers, whether the attorney will front the costs, and when you have to pay them back. You should also try to get an estimate of the typical bill for expenses in a case like yours. Contact an Attorney for a Free Initial Consultation The workers' comp system is very complicated, and insurance companies do everything they can to lower their costs by denying or reducing benefits. They love it when injured employees try to represent themselves. If you're thinking about filing a workers' comp claim or you've had a claim denied, contact an experienced attorney for a free consultation. Having an attorney on your side will make it much more likely that you'll get the benefits you deserve. And even after attorneys' fees are deducted from your award or settlement, you'll probably end up with more compensation than if you tried to navigate the system on your own. Vermont law allows service dogs into public places and other assistance animals into housing. Under Vermont's public accommodations law and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities may bring service animals to all public accommodations, including stores, businesses, motels, restaurants, theaters, schools, and more. Below, we explain which public accommodations are covered, which animals qualify as service animals, and some rules you may need to follow with your service animal. Which Animals Are Covered in Vermont and Under the ADA? Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog that has been trained to perform disability-related tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. In some cases, a miniature horse may also qualify as a service animal. In addition to hearing dogs and seeing-eye dogs (a.k.a. guide dogs) service animals that must be allowed into public accommodations under the ADA include: psychiatric service animals, which can help their handlers manage mental and emotional disabilities by interrupting self-harming behaviors, checking spaces for intruders, or providing calming pressure during panic attacks seizure alert animals, which let their handlers know of impending seizures, and may also guard their handlers during seizure activity, and allergen alert animals, which let their handlers know of substances that could be dangerous (such as peanuts). Vermont's public accommodations law does not include a definition of service animals. However, it does provide that people with disabilities may not be prohibited from entering public accommodations with their service animals. Public accommodations in Vermont must comply with both state and federal law. Neither the ADA nor Vermont law includes what some people call "emotional support animals": animals that provide a sense of safety, companionship, and comfort to those with psychiatric or emotional conditions. Although these animals often have therapeutic benefits, they are not individually trained to perform specific tasks for their handlers. Under the ADA, owners of public accommodations are not required to allow emotional support animals, only service animals. Public Accommodations Defined in Vermont Vermont defines public accommodations as schools, stores, restaurants, facilities, or establishments that offers goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, benefits, or accommodations to the public. Vermont's public accommodations law also applies to any person, organization, governmental entity, or other entity that operates, owns, or leases a public accommodation. The ADA sets out a long list of facilities that qualify as public accommodations to which you may bring your service animal, including: hotels and other lodging establishments public transportation and terminals, depots, and stations restaurants and other places that serve food and drink any place of public gathering gyms, bowling alleys, parks, zoos, and other places of exercise or recreation, and social service centers, like senior centers, homeless shelters, and food banks. Rules for Your Service Animal Under the ADA, a public accommodation may not ask you questions about your disability or demand to see certification, identification, or other proof of your animal's training or status. An establishment may ask you only whether your dog is a service animal and what tasks it performs for you. The ADA prohibits public accommodations from charging a special admission fee or requiring you to pay any other extra cost to have your service animal with you. However, you may have to pay for any damage your animal causes. The ADA allows a public accommodation to exclude your service animal if it poses a direct threat to health and safety (or example, if your dog is aggressively barking and snapping at other customers, the facility can kick the dog out). Your animal may also be excluded if it is not housebroken, or if it is out of control and you are unable or unwilling to effectively control it. You are still entitled to enter the public accommodation even if your service animal is not allowed in. Service Animals in Vermont Housing Vermont's unfair housing practices law prohibits discrimination in the sale or renting of property based on the renter or purchaser's use of specially trained animals. Landlords may not charge an additional security deposit. In addition, the federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing accommodations against those who use service animals. You must be allowed full and equal access to all housing facilities, and may not be charged extra for having a service animal (although you may have to pay for damage your animal causes). If your lease or rental agreement includes a "no pets" provision, it does not apply to your service animal. Pursuant to the federal Fair Housing Act, housing facilities must allow service dogs and emotional support animals, if necessary for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy the home. To fall under this provision, you must have a disability and your animal must work, perform tasks or services, or alleviate the emotional effects of your disability in order to qualify. (For more information, see the Department of Housing and Urban Development's guidance on service animals.) Today begins a couple of days of persistent precipitation in the Council Bluffs-Omaha area, the National Weather Service said. It will be a steady, soaking rain for about three days, KMTV meteorologist Ryan McPike said. There is an 80 percent chance of showers today, mainly before 1 p.m., and a high around just 45. Tonight, the chance of showers drops to 20 percent and the low will slip into the upper 30s. Forecasters put the chance of showers at 60 percent in the metro area Saturday, when a high in the upper 40s and breezy conditions are likely. Saturday night, the chance of showers climbs to 80 percent and a low in the upper 30s is expected. Some snow could be mixed in with the rain across parts of northeast Nebraska on Friday and Saturday, the weather service said. Showers and breezy conditions are likely Sunday and Sunday night, the weather service said, with a high in the lower 40s and an overnight low in the mid-30s. McPike said parts of western Iowa and eastern Nebraska could receive 2 to 3 inches of rainfall through the weekend. He said any severe weather should remain well south of the metro area, where temperatures should be too low to help produce strong winds and heavy hail. The average high temperature for the metro area in late April is the mid- to upper 60s and the average overnight low is the lower to mid-40s. The upcoming forecast according to the National Weather Service is: Today: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a steady temperature around 45. North northeast win 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. North northeast wind 8 to 10 mph. A Crawford County couple, Nathan and Caitlyn Lavender, have filed suit against Dr. John Ingram, Crawford County Memorial Hospital and Crawford County Memorial Hospital Clinic in connection with the death of their 2-day-old daughter, Emery Lavender, last June. The suit, filed in Crawford County District Court, seeks unspecified damages for pain and suffering of Emery Lavender prior to her death, the pre-death loss of full mind and body of Emery Lavender, the present value of the estate which Emery Lavender would have reasonably been expected to have saved and accumulated as a result of her efforts if she had lived out the term of her natural life, the present value of the support that Emery Lavender would have provided to her parents but for her untimely death, an award of interest on the reasonable funeral expenses of Emery Lavender for such time as they were prematurely incurred and medical expenses for the post-natal care and treatment of Emery Lavender necessitated by the defendants negligence. Don Luensmann, director of marketing for the Crawford County Memorial Hospital, said the hospital has not been served with a copy of the lawsuit and would have no comment. CCMH President and CEO Bill Bruce said in a release, In light of recently filed petitions, it is our practice at CCMH not to comment specifically on pending allegations or litigation. According to the court filing, following a confirmed pregnancy test in November 2015, Caitlyn Lavender began treatment with John Ingram, MD, for prenatal care at CCMH Medical Clinic. In February 2016, an ultrasound performed by Cheryle Manasil, MD, at CCMH revealed an 8 mm cystic structure in the fetal urinary bladder. Dr. Manasil recommended a follow-up anatomic ultrasound in four to eight weeks. On April 14, 2016, Dr. Neil Sergel performed a follow-up ultrasound at CCMH that showed, according to the filing, the volume of the lesion had increased in volume over 20 times. Again according to the filing, Dr. Sergel recommended follow-up assessment with an ultrasound after delivery. Emery Lavender was born on June 18. The lawsuit alleges that despite the recommendation of Dr. Sergel, Dr. Ingram did not have a follow-up ultrasound of Emery performed upon her birth to further assess the cystic mass. According to the court filing, Caitlyn Lavender, as instructed by employees of CCMH, per Dr. Ingrams orders, fed Emery Lavender prior to a post-natal ultrasound assessment of the cystic mass. Emery was reportedly fed on the morning of June 19, after which she began experiencing respiratory difficulty and signs of distress. The infant was transferred to critical care at CCMH on June 19 and, several hours later, transferred to the Nebraska Medical Centers neonatal intensive care unit. Emergency surgery was performed at the Nebraska Medical Center on June 19 and again on June 20. The lawsuit alleges that, following the second surgery on June 20, Emery experienced ongoing cardiac failure and died. The suit alleges that Ingram was negligent and deviated from the generally accepted standards of medical care in one or more of the following ways: Failing to order that Caitlyn Lavenders delivery of Emery Lavender occur at a level three trauma center. Failing to have a follow-up ultrasound of Emery Lavender conducted to assess the cystic mass before Emery was fed. Failing to timely order Emery Lavender be transferred to a tertiary care facility for follow-up assessment of the cystic mass and her post-natal care following birth. Failing to recognize Emerys signs of distress and intolerance to feeding. Failing to adequately and timely respond to Emerys signs of distress and intolerance to feeding. The lawsuit alleges CCMH and CCMH Medical Clinic were negligent in deviating from the generally accepted standard of care in one or more of the following ways: Failing to adequately instruct, train and/or supervise its agents, servants and/or employees. Failing to provide appropriately trained and skilled personnel to care for Caitlyn Lavender and Emery Lavender during labor, delivery and post-natal care. Failing to adopt, follow and/or enforce appropriate policies and procedures for the management of newborns with gestational cystic masses. Failing to adopt, follow and/or enforce appropriate chain of command policies and procedures in response to physicians actions or non-actions that are likely to lead to serious injury or death. A partnership between two foundations is going to make donating to conservation efforts in Pottawattamie County a lot easier. On Wednesday, the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation announced it had opened an endowment fund at the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation. The conservation charitable organization put an initial $5,000 into the fund, which was supplemented by a 10 percent match of $500 from the community foundation through a commitment from the Iowa West Foundation. The memo line read future generations on the check for $5,500. This is just the beginning of what we believe will benefit our local conservation efforts for many generations to come, said Ryann Glenn, chairwoman of the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation Board of Directors. This is another opportunity for people to donate to conservation efforts. The foundation is the fundraising arm for the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board, funding such efforts as environmental education, including field trips; land acquisition; natural resource management practices, like prescribed burns; outdoor recreation; and more. Pottawattamie County Conservation Executive Director Mark Shoemaker said hed been working with the community foundation about setting up a fund that benefits the conservation foundation. Its a no-brainer for us, he said. This is another avenue to reach out to people, an extension to reach new donors. The fund is a win-win for all involved. Donations to the conservation fund will help a variety of Pottawattamie County conservation projects and activities, while donors will get a break as well. The Endow Iowa tax credit offers a credit of 25 percent on donations. The conservation fund has already received a $1,000 donation, meaning that donor receives a $250 credit the next time they file their state income taxes. The Endow Iowa program offers a great chance for residents to make a charitable contribution that helps whatever organization theyre donating to, while also easing the burden through tax credit. The partnership between the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation and the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation is one we hope helps this and future generations enjoy the natural beauty of Pottawattamie County. And with the Endow Iowa tax credit available on donations, theres no reason anyone looking to make a contribution shouldnt take advantage of this great opportunity to help. North Queensland Cowboys five-eighth Michael Morgan was happy and surprised to have been picked in the Australian squad to take on New Zealand. Morgan has been in self-admittedly poor form this year, but is hopeful that his selection in the Australian side will be the confidence boost he needs to get his season back on track. "It's nice to know that Mal [Meninga] stayed loyal I suppose, I think everyone out of that team was in England last year which is good," Morgan said. "I'm taking this week now as an opportunity to try and play some good footy for the Cowboys and get back into the swing of things." Morgan will be able to drop the responsibility of directing a team when he takes the field for Australia, and he's looking forward to focussing on his own performance on the night. "The role I play within that side I'm really just focussed on my own game and what I have to do. There's a lot of great players in there that are the main talkers and leaders in that group so it's a lot easier for me to go out there and worry about what I have to do," he said. Morgan will be hopeful his return to form will come in Round 9 when the Cowboys take on the Parramatta Eels, given he'll be lining up against an in-form Corey Norman. Match Draw Widget [2017] Telstra Premiership - Round 9: Cowboys vs Eels The Cowboys recently reformed backline will need to be at the top of its game to stop Semi Radradra and Michael Jennings from crossing off good service from Norman. "They're a team who demand respect in the way they carry the ball. They're strong runners of the ball and their left edge, it's a very dangerous one," Morgan said. "We've talked about that this week, about being strong defensively down our edge. We set ourselves a standard last year the way we were defending and we're not too happy with how we've let things slip the last couple of weeks." Aussie great to call it quits Ladies who League: A game worth celebrating How Kangaroos will honour Smith's 50th Test Decision on Thurston looms Harvey Norman Jillaroos squad named LOWELL The long-anticipated project to add travel lanes to Interstate 65 from Merrillville to Lowell had its ceremonial kickoff Friday, during a visit by Gov. Eric Holcomb to the Region. Holcomb was joined by Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe McGuinness; state representatives Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, Michael Aylesworth, R-Hebron, and Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point; INDOT staff members; and representatives of Walsh Construction and Parsons Transportation Group at a ceremonial groundbreaking for the $62 million project. The event came directly after completion of a legislative session during which a long-term road funding plan, supported by increased gas taxes and other fees, became law. "It's going to connect cities and towns large and small, region to region," Holcomb said of the funding program. "It's going to, in fact, transform our state." For the I-65 project, which is part of the previously approved Major Moves 2020 program, lane restrictions will begin on or near June 1. Two lanes will remain open to traffic during peak hours, with some single-lane closures at night. The project, which also includes replacing the bridges over the Kankakee River, is scheduled for completion in fall 2018. Information on the project can be found at www.I-65Northwest.com. People posing as NIPSCO employees are reportedly calling utility customers in Northwest Indiana and threatening to shut off services if they don't pay past due bills immediately, police warned Friday. Those involved in the scam have contacted at least 30 customers, NiSource Corporate Security reported to police Thursday. The scammers tell the NIPSCO customers that they are behind in their bills, according to Gary and Highland police news alerts. To avoid services being turned off immediately, the scammers tell the NIPSCO customers to go to CVS stores, purchase a pre-paid card in large amounts of cash and call them back with the card numbers. A NIPSCO spokeswoman said Friday the company would never ask customers to purchase a pre-paid debit card to make a payment. "We also never call requesting money," spokeswoman Angie Deuitch said. "If you feel like you're being scammed, if it's questionable, call us." NIPSCO has a 24-hour customer service line at 1-800-4NIPSCO or 1-800-464-7726. People can avoid being victims of scams by never giving out personal information, such as Social Security numbers or banking information, to unconfirmed sources. NIPSCO only asks for a Social Security number when a customer is signing up for a new service, according to NIPSCO's website. NIPSCO urges anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a scam to contact 911 as well as the local banking institution or credit card company if applicable. VALPARAISO The former Portage High School student charged with trespassing at the school this week with nearly 400 rounds of ammunition, a ski mask and gloves has an earlier drug case pending in Porter County. Dai'Jon Brown, 19, of South Haven, faces misdemeanor counts of possessing hash oil and illegal possession of an alcoholic beverage in that earlier case. The prior drug case arose during Brown's initial court appearance Friday on accusations that he illegally entered Portage High School around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and claimed to be high on the drug LSD when confronted by staff and police, who found he was carrying the ammunition and other items in his backpack. Preliminary pleas of not guilty were entered Friday on Brown's behalf to a felony count of trespassing and misdemeanor charges of public intoxication and false informing. When Porter Superior Court Judge Bill Alexa asked Brown if he intended to hire an attorney, the young man reiterated a claim that he is a full-time student at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. Indiana University Communication Specialist Rich Schneider confirmed Friday his report from a day earlier that Brown is not currently a student at IUPUI. Brown, who was awarded the services of a public defender, has a $1,500 cash bond. The young man told the court he has just $228 in a bank account. When Brown attempted to explain what happened in the school incident, he was stopped by Alexa, who informed him that speaking out on the record at this time may not be in his best legal interest. A trial was scheduled for Sept. 18, with preliminary hearings June 26 and Aug. 14. Portage Township Schools Superintendent Amanda Alaniz said earlier that Brown slipped into the school Wednesday morning by following a group of vocational education students returning through a door on the southeast or front side of the building. The students were buzzed in through the first set of secured doors, and Brown entered the building through the second set of secured doors when a student helper opened the doors for a student in a wheelchair, she said. Brown, who graduated from the school last year, immediately accessed nearby stairs to reach the second floor, where a teacher escorted him back down and to the office, where police were called, Alaniz said. Portage Police Chief Troy Williams said Brown was initially talking to a teacher through a door leading into the band hallway, and the teacher told him he needed to sign in at the office and sent him on his way. Both Alaniz and Williams said the school's security plan worked in the quick detection and apprehension of Brown, but said his access to the building was under review. Brown did not have any weapons on him at the school, but said he had multiple guns and dynamite at his grandmother's house, police said. He reportedly told police he was carrying the ammunition and other items Wednesday because he intended to later rob a drug house in Hobart. The incident came less than two weeks after a man carrying heroin, a hypodermic needle and a pocketknife wandered into Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Valparaiso through a rear door that was left ajar. Porter County Sheriff Dave Reynolds, who heads the county's drug task force, said that incident was yet another example of crimes occurring because of the area's drug problem. VALPARAISO Conflicting images of Matthew Richardson were portrayed in court Friday morning before the 24-year-old Portage resident was sentenced to 55 years behind bars for shooting and killing another man following a road rage incident. "As a father, you can't ask for a better son," said Richardson's dad, Danny Zampini. Zampini described his son as a smart, honest and loyal man, who was successful enough with his YouTube-based business to purchase a home for his family. But Portage Police Detective Mike Vaughan described a much darker view of Richardson based on his investigation of the case and subsequent review of telephone calls involving Richardson from the county jail. "He's probably the biggest manipulator and con person I've ever met," Vaughan said. Vaughan said Richardson has two battery charges pending against him from an earlier case and is part of a family that has been a menace in Portage. A jury found Richardson guilty last month of murdering Joshua Smith on Dec. 18, 2015, by shooting the 28-year-old Lake Station man after Smith wound up at Richardson's home in the 5400 block of Mulberry Avenue following a road rage incident in Portage. Richardson claimed self-defense, arguing that he shot at the ground, attempting to scare Smith. Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Polarek said Smith was retreating and had left Richardson's property to Mulberry Avenue when he was shot in the leg and femoral artery, causing him to die seven days later. "What happened in this case did not need to happen," Polarek told the court during Friday's sentencing hearing. Defense attorney Larry Rogers said Richardson did not ask for Smith to show up at his house and that Richardson acted in self-defense. "He did not go out looking for this event to occur," Rogers said. Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper said this is the fifth case in six months in her court involving a killing and the fourth young man being sentenced for that crime. "What a shame," she said. Richardson, who maintains his innocence, said he intends to appeal. CROWN POINT Darren Vann is scheduled to appear at a jury trial in March on allegations he strangled two women in October 2014. Judge Samuel L. Cappas scheduled the trial to begin March 18, with jury selection to begin a month before that date. The judge also ordered at Friday's court hearing that Vann provide an example of his handwriting to prosecutors by May 10. Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter told the judge the 46-year-old defendant, who is charged in the murders of seven women, would be required to appear in court before the trial so that he could be advised of his constitutional rights. Vann has waived his right to appear at court hearings for more than a year, but the judge said he would order that Vann be brought before the court against his will if required. Vann will be tried in March in the killing of two women Afrika Hardy and Anith Jones. Hardy, 19, was found strangled in a bathtub the night of Oct. 17, 2014, in a motel room in Hammond, according to a probable cause affidavit. A friend told police Hardy met a man for paid sex at the motel, but then stopped answering her phone. Police obtained surveillance footage from the motel, which showed a man leaving the scene in a vehicle registered to a Gary woman, the affidavit states. Vann was arrested at the woman's home and allegedly admitted he strangled Hardy with a cord. He further admitted to killing six other women, including Jones, 35, whose body was discovered in an abandoned house in Gary, according to the affidavit. Prosecutors previously succeeded on a motion to hold a single trial for the murders of Hardy and Jones, arguing that the crimes were part of a single scheme or plan. A separate trial is expected to be held in the homicides of five other women Vann allegedly murdered. Those women were Teaira Batey, Kristine Williams, Tracy L. Martin, Sonya Billingsley and Tanya Gatlin. Vann faces the death penalty for the alleged crimes. His defense attorneys argued last fall that the state's request for the death penalty should be denied because the penalty was unconstitutional. Cappas ruled in favor of the state, but allowed Vann to appeal his decision to a higher court. The Indiana Supreme Court denied the defendant's appeal last week, according to court records. Heavy rain expected this weekend could push Northwest Indiana rivers and streams over their banks, forecasters said. More than 4 inches of rain could fall through Sunday in Lake and Porter counties, and 2 to 4 inches was expected in LaPorte County, according to the National Weather Service. Residents in flood-prone areas should monitor weather forecasts for possible flood watches and warnings, the weather service said. The greatest potential for rainfall was from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning. Flooding can be difficult to recognize at night, and drivers out at that time should be especially careful, forecasters said. ST. JOHN The Town Council on Thursday approved a request by Police Chief James Kveton to hire special legal counsel for a "significant event" that's been identified. Kveton told the council that town attorney David Austgen could elaborate on his request. Austgen told the council he recommended Kveton's request. "That would be a good motion," he said. The council unanimously approved the motion for the hiring of Merrillville attorney Paul Stracci, who specializes in criminal defense and has dealt in high profile criminal cases in Northwest Indiana. No further information was available. CROWN POINT In honor of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, employees of the Lake County Juvenile Justice Complex organized "Take Your Child to Work Day" on Thursday. The 58 school-aged students participating in the program experienced how the Lake County Superior Court Juvenile Division works and how their parents or guardians jobs from guards to court administrators help that process. First the students met Moxie, the 170-pound female American mastiff. The juvenile courts therapy dog first made her appearance with Lake County Juvenile Court Judge Thomas P. Stefaniak Jr. as a tiny puppy in October 2013. We like to expose people to possible job opportunities in the future to create the next generation of people who know something about the law, Stefaniak said. I had a courtroom experience when I was 17 years old. I was more of a bad kid. But that experience caused me to want to be a lawyer and a judge, he told the students before a mock swearing-in ceremony. After a tour of the detention center, a group of 11 elementary and middle school students waited to enter Courtroom 7 for a mock trial. I feel like its a very educational experience, a hard experience so that you dont want to be here, said James George, 13, a seventh-grader at Pierce Middle School in Merrillville. This place is much more complex. Its a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be, said Enzo Cece, 11, a fifth-grader at Elliott Elementary School in Munster. Juvenile Magistrate Terry Wilson presided over the mock criminal trial and all 11 students served as the jury. Court employees played the parts of teenagers accused of robbing a gas station. They also assumed the roles of the prosecutor, defense attorney, the arresting police officer, gas station clerk and mother of the defendant. According to the script, 17-year-old Jackie Demathers was charged with second degree robbery of the Excel gas station on March 15 with friends Raymond Carr and Carrs ex-girlfriend Kimberly Anson. They threatened bodily harm to the clerk and were arrested with $277 in cash. Demathers claimed duress because Carr threatened to harm his mother, a term Wilson explained means the defendant was forced to commit the criminal act. The judge also explained the American judicial system relies on the principle let the people decide and that the jury represents the people. After hearing all the testimony, jury members asked to talk among themselves. When Wilson polled each jury member, 10 said Demathers was not guilty," while one declared him guilty. That sole guilty verdict came from Katie Garcia, 12, a sixth-grader at Scherervilles Grimmer Middle School. I thought it was pretty fun, she said stepping from the jury box. CROWN POINT The North Township Trustee's Office is working with officials in East Chicago to create a transitional housing program for homeless veterans. The program would provide four temporary housing units that could accommodate veterans and their family members, according to Trustee Frank J. Mrvan. The trustee said the East Chicago Housing Authority will provide the housing units, while his office will assist the veterans with employment, credit counseling and mental health services, among other issues. Mrvan said the eventual goal of the program would be to create self-sufficient families. Veterans want a sense of belonging and they want a sense of purpose, Mrvan said. We will provide that and help them re-engage with our society. Officials counted 275 veterans in statewide polling last year of the homeless population, with 18 homeless veterans living in Lake County, according to state records. Jim Chancellor, a local veterans' advocate and partner in creating the transitional program, said the vast majority of veterans succeed in transitioning back into civilian life after combat, but others struggle. It's not just the homeless under a bridge, but (those who are) couch surfing or sleeping on a family member's couch, Chancellor said. The 66-year-old veteran said the program would be unique from other veteran housing programs in Northwest Indiana, such as Veterans Village in Gary, because it would allow veterans to remain housed with their families. The family is a huge part of the healing, Chancellor said. When you separate them, it does an injustice, in my humble opinion. Mrvan said he hoped to have the program operational within three or four months. Tia Cauley, executive director of the East Chicago Housing Authority, did not respond to requests for comment. Established in 1997, the Portage Kiwanis Club is a service organization that meets weekly and makes a difference within the community and beyond. Although the Portage Kiwanis is celebrating 20 years, Kiwanis International was founded in 1915 with the goal of helping children around the world. Kiwanis is dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time, says Portage Kiwanis Club president Nancy Simpson. Most of the things we do focus on helping children. Some of the projects that Portage Kiwanis Club has been involved in are the Portage Relay for Life that benefits the American Cancer Society, Portage Rebuilding Together, an annual Easter breakfast and egg hunt, and a chili luncheon. The Portage Relay for Life is organized by the club and will take place this year on the outdoor track at Willow Creek Middle School on June 10. Portage Rebuilding Together is an annual one-day activity that takes place in April where members go out in the community to help with cleaning and construction needs for residents who arent able to do the maintenance or repairs on their own. The club recently held the annual Easter breakfast and egg hunt and the proceeds from that event go toward awarding four Portage High School seniors with $500 scholarships to help them further their education. The Myron Fessler Scholarship Program is named for a Portage middle school teacher who lost his life to cancer. In December, the club holds a chili luncheon where choirs from the elementary and middle schools come to perform. The money raised at the event goes to purchase dictionaries for all third grade students in public and private schools in Portage and South Haven. A project last year raised $3,000 by collecting gently used shoes that were given to a nonprofit that forwards them to developing nations to allow natives to start their own businesses. The organization paid by the pound for the shoes that were donated. The club made their goal, collecting 300 bags of shoes7,500 pairs in all. Part of that money was donated to the Riley Hospital for Children, and they also donate to many causes locally and across the globe, such as Royal Family Kids Camp, the local food pantry, Jacobs Ladder and Gabriels Horn Homeless Shelter. I love being in the club and hearing speakers come and tell us about their different organizations and nonprofits and hearing how they are helping in the community, says Simpson. Its exciting to learn about all of us coming together to help the community. There are 250 Kiwanis clubs in Indiana and clubs exist in 80 countries with a total membership of 600,000. The Portage Kiwanis Club is looking to expand by starting other branches of the club within the communitya Key Club for high school, Builders Club for junior high, Circle K Club for elementary kids and an Action Club for adults with disabilities. Were always welcoming new members, Simpson says. Three Region school districts will ask voters for financial aid through separate referendums Tuesday, and we can think of no better way for a community to reaffirm an investment in its future than by voting "yes" to school quality and sustainability. Since 2008, operating budgets for Indiana public school districts haven't been funded by property taxes as previously was the case. Instead, a portion of the state's sales tax provides some funding, and school districts are left to seek funding referendums from voters to provide additional school funding through popular vote. Each of the three school districts seeking funds via referendum in this election cycle forecasts cuts to school programs, including reductions in the ranks of teachers and programs, if voters say no. East Chicago and Lake Station each note they also may have to close an elementary school without the additional funds. There are plenty of arguments for and against the referendums circulating in the public. Today, we simply ask voters in the three communities to consider the investment in community a yes vote represents. Munster is asking voters to approve an operating referendum that would increase a previous referendum from 19 cents to 42 cents per $100 of assessed property valuation for town property owners. The move would raise $6.9 million for seven years to support programs and teaching at one of the Region's perennially best performing school districts. In a separate referendum, voters also are being asked for an additional 43 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to fund construction and repair projects. Most Munster residents already know the quality school system is a leading factor in why people have opted to reside in the town throughout the years. Quality schools attract and retain families with children, and they boost the property values of every property owner within the municipality. In East Chicago, home to a public school district with known financial and other struggles, voters are being asked to pay an additional 30 cents per every $100 of property valuation to raise nearly $41 million. The school district estimates this would bring a $4 per month tax bill increase for homeowner's with an average property value of $80,000, or $50 more per year in property taxes. It's an incredibly small price to pay for $41 million in additional needed revenues for the struggling district. East Chicago schools won't improve without the help and support of their citizens. Lake Station Community Schools are asking voters for a 54 cents per $100 of assessed valuation property tax increase to raise about $800,000 per year for seven years. Again, a homeowner with an average value of $80,000 would pay about $9 more per month, or $108 per year. Spread out over time, these extra amounts would cause little hardship on most property owners while generating a long-term investment in our most important resources our children. We urge voters within the communities in question to vote yes Tuesday. If we're not investing in our schools, few other community investments matter. More and more people in Northwest Indiana are surviving opioid overdoses thanks to naloxone, the overdose-reversal drug. But first responders still often use a tool that's been around for decades: CPR. Those police, paramedics and firefighters say that with Region residents overdosing on opioids at alarming rates, the public should be trained in the resuscitation technique. Both Lake and Porter counties had record numbers of heroin overdose deaths last year. "I think if somebody has a loved one who is using, they probably should reach out to the Red Cross or somebody in the community and learn CPR," said Lake Station Fire Chief Chuck Fazekas. The American Heart Association, which offers free CPR training in the Region, advises that people who are in frequent contact with opioid users be certified in basic life support. The organization recommends immediately giving CPR if an overdose victim is unresponsive and not breathing or only gasping. CPR consists of chest compressions often accompanied by breathing into the mouth. Fazekas said CPR usually goes hand in hand with naloxone. If his firefighters respond to an overdose and confirm that the person was using opioids, they'll administer naloxone right away. If the individual doesn't have a pulse or is breathing fewer than six times a minute, they'll start CPR. "You can give a person naloxone, but if that person is not breathing and doesn't have a pulse, you really need to get that CPR going quick," he said. "In order for it to go through the body and help counteract those opiates, you have to have blood flow, the circulation system has to be working." The Lake Station firefighters have gotten a lot of practice. The department responds to about four overdoses of heroin or opioid painkillers a week, Fazekas said. Already this year, first responders in Northwest Indiana have saved at least two lives with the combination of CPR and naloxone, which is often known by the brand name Narcan. Last month, Lake County sheriff's officers responded to Calumet Township, where a 37-year-old Crown Point woman was overdosing, likely on heroin. The homeowner already had begun CPR. Officers continued CPR until the woman started breathing again, then dispensed naloxone, restoring consciousness. In January, Chesterton police tried to revive a 22-year-old man who had overdosed on heroin. They first used naloxone nasal spray, but his breathing continued to slow. They administered CPR until paramedics arrived and gave the man another dose of naloxone, which brought him back to life. The Lake County Sheriff's Department responds to about a half-dozen overdoses a month. All of its officers carry naloxone kits. "If it's a suspected overdose from an opiate, the Narcan would be first," Lake County Cmdr. William Paterson said. "By giving the Narcan, hopefully that will revive them. If not, that's when we'll begin CPR." Dr. Vishnu Rao, medical director of emergency medical services at Porter Regional Hospital in Valparaiso, said CPR and naloxone essentially can be administered simultaneously. Neither are harmful, and a naloxone injection or nasal spray takes only a matter of seconds. He said people should keep in mind the "ABCs" of basic life support: airways, breathing, circulation. If an individual has no pulse or isn't breathing, do CPR. That person is at risk for neurological damage the longer oxygen is cut off to the brain. "I think everyone who can get basic life support-certified or CPR-trained, that's great, especially if they have kids in the home," Rao said. "You can translate that into myriad other applications: someone who's drowning, an older person who stopped breathing. It's not just drug overdoses." Two Valparaiso police officers were recently honored for saving a life with CPR. On the evening of March 2, officers responded to the 1200 block of Pine Creek for a report of a 43-year-old male not breathing. Officer Michelle Kodicek arrived to find the man without a pulse and turning blue. She used her automated external defibrillator and started CPR. Officer Jason Hamilton came next and assisted with CPR until paramedics got there. Valparaiso Fire Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and began treating the man. EMS then transported him to the hospital. He has made a full recovery. The American Heart Association says that administering CPR early on to a person who's in cardiac arrest doubles to triples his or her chances of survival. That's why the organization recommends everyone be trained in CPR. The Valparaiso police officers received the department's Life Saving Award during a Valparaiso City Council meeting this week. The man whose life was saved was in attendance. It was a cold, snowy day on the morning of Dec. 1, 2008, when Sarah Hollan-Otero and David Otero Jr. were blessed with a beautiful brown-haired baby boy. The baby's grandmother and other family members surrounded the new parents as they named their baby boy Clark. Hollan-Otero said she and her husband didn't initially see any problems. Their baby was happy, but when he didn't walk until 13 months old, didn't talk and it was difficult to potty train him, they began to worry. "I could tell he was delayed," Hollan-Otero said. Doctors diagnosed Clark as having an autism spectrum disorder, Hollan-Otero said. According to the Mayo Clinic's website, autism spectrum disorder is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child's ability to communicate and interact with others. It also includes restricted repetitive behaviors, interests and activities. These issues cause significant impairment in social, occupational and other areas of functioning. ASD is now defined by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a single disorder that includes disorders that were previously considered separate, such as autism, Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. National Autism Awareness Month in the United States is celebrated throughout April. It was established during the 1970s as a means of raising public awareness about autism and tackling issues affecting those with the condition. As they learned more about the condition, the Hobart couple turned to Indiana First Steps; Clark attended that program until he was 3 years old. Then, Clark enrolled in the Early Learning Center at George Earle Elementary School in Hobart, where he continued to prosper. From there, Hollan-Otero said her son, then 5, found love, growth and acceptance at the autism program at Fieler Elementary School in Merrillville. Clark is now 8 years old. Fieler's program provides autism classes for elementary-aged children from nine school districts in Lake County that are members of the Northwest Indiana Special Education Cooperative, under the leadership of Executive Director Jane Winkoff. The nine school districts are Griffith Public Schools, Hanover Community School Corp., School Town of Highland, School City of Hobart, Lake Ridge New Tech Schools, Lake Station Community School Corp., Merrillville Community School Corp., the River Forest Community Schools and the Tri-Creek School Corp. Hollan-Otero said everyone has been so accepting and encouraging of all of the children. "It's a great environment for the kids," she said. "All of the teachers and staff are very encouraging. My husband and I have learned a lot about autism. (Clark) talks now. He actually uses the restroom. He seems to have made friends. We still have to be on our toes around him but we can relax a little bit." Hollan-Otero also said her son can swim, and his reading and writing are much better. "He's a whiz at electronics and Lego games," she said. "He doesn't watch a lot of television, but he does like YouTube. His favorite cartoon is 'The Wonder Pets.'" Although there is an Individual Education Program as part of special education services, Hollan-Otero also likes that Clark gets the same curriculum as those students in the general education program. She said it's a smaller class and he gets one-on-one time with teachers when he needs it. "I also love the sensory room," she said. "That gives Clark an opportunity to swing and jump and even roll around on something soft." Clark's teacher, Kim Drapac, has about 11 first- and second-graders, while Emily LePard teaches about a dozen students with autism who are in second to fourth grade. The principal at Fieler is Christine Waugh. Drapac and LePard said the sensory room is the key component that makes the elementary program successful. The sensory room is a classroom that is equipped with a huge red mat for students to jump on, a quiet area with visuals and lights and a quiet area. "Students need those breaks," Drapac said. "It's built into their daily schedule. There are students who need that break before they can do their work or they need that break as an incentive to get to work." In addition to the two teachers, there are two resource teachers, two full-time Least Restrictive Environment teachers and two paraprofessionals in each room. "The goal for the program is to transition the students into the general education classroom at a pace where they are successful," she said. "We give them the interventions they need to be successful in a general education classroom so there is reduced anxiety and reduced pressure." Once students leave Fieler, they move on to the Merrillville Intermediate School or back to their respective school districts. Computer scientists said that it would be difficult to systematically search the contents of the communications without first gathering nearly all cross-border text-based data; fiber-optic networks work by breaking messages into tiny packets that flow at the speed of light over different pathways to their shared destination, so they would need to be captured and reassembled. The official said that a computer searches the data for the identifying keywords or other selectors and stores those that match so that human analysts could later examine them. The remaining communications, the official said, are deleted; the entire process takes a small number of seconds, and the system has no ability to perform retrospective searching. The official said the keyword and other terms were very precise to minimize the number of innocent American communications that were flagged by the program. At the same time, the official acknowledged that there had been times when changes by telecommunications providers or in the technology had led to inadvertent overcollection. The N.S.A. monitors for these problems, fixes them and reports such incidents to its overseers in the government, the official said. The disclosure sheds additional light on statements intelligence officials have made recently, reassuring the public that they do not target Americans for surveillance without warrants. What we consider before using anonymous sources. Do the sources know the information? Whats their motivation for telling us? Have they proved reliable in the past? Can we corroborate the information? Even with these questions satisfied, The Times uses anonymous sources as a last resort. The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source. Learn more about our process. At a House Intelligence Committee oversight hearing in June, for example, a lawmaker pressed the deputy director of the N.S.A., John Inglis, to say whether the agency listened to the phone calls or read the e-mails and text messages of American citizens. Mr. Inglis replied, We do not target the content of U.S. person communications without a specific warrant anywhere on the earth. Timothy Edgar, a former intelligence official in the Bush and Obama administrations, said that the rule concerning collection about a person targeted for surveillance rather than directed at that person had provoked significant internal discussion. There is an ambiguity in the law about what it means to target someone, Mr. Edgar, now a visiting professor at Brown, said. You can never intentionally target someone inside the United States. Those are the words we were looking at. We were most concerned about making sure the procedures only target communications that have one party outside the United States. Tullamore College saw off the challenge of over 500 teams to be named as the overall winner at the National Scratch Coding Final and took home the top prize for its entry The Crickenbawn. The competition was held in the Kemmy Business School, at the University of Limerick, last Wednesday as part of Tech Week 2017. The winners were selected from over 500 entries nationwide and judged to be the best in their respective categories. Scratch is a visual programming language that makes it easy for young people to create their own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art and share their creations on the web. Using Scratch allows students to develop creative and critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills as they work collaboratively or individually on Scratch projects. In operation since 2010, the National Scratch Competition has established itself among both teachers and students as a leading platform and showcase for Irelands aspiring digital creators. The competition is run by the ICS Foundation, the social enterprise arm of the Irish Computer Society and supported by Lero, the Irish Software Research Centre. Tech Week provides hands-on opportunities to learn about how computing and related technology are shaping every area of life. The aim is to stimulate thinking around future opportunities for study and careers in technology, through learning in the wider areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects. Jim Friars, CEO, Irish Computer Society said, Id like to thank all of the students who participated in this years final and congratulations to the winners who produced some great games and animations. Fun competitions like Scratch can help young people to understand more about what technology has to offer and gain confidence in their digital aptitude. As technology becomes increasingly pervasive and has an increasing impact on our lives, it will become even more imperative for students to learn how to formulate innovative solutions and express creativity through the use of technology. Clare McInerney, Lero said, Congratulations to everyone involved in the competition, the standard this year was incredibly high. This event is unlike any in the country and exposes students of all ages and levels to coding. We want young people to understand the opportunities available to them in technology and enable them to make informed choices about further studies in this area. +++++++++++ If you have a news story for us from your school, primary or secondary, e-mail it to damian@offalyexpress.ie Agricultural News American Farmers & Ranchers to Present $200,000 to Rural Fire Departements for Wildfire Expenses Oklahoma Rural fire departments that helped fight the early March wildfires in northwest Oklahoma will be rewarded for their efforts May 20th when AFR Insurance will present $1,500 checks to each department involved. The money will be presented during an invitation-only luncheon at the Woodward County Fairgrounds. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry provided AFR with a list of 140 fire departments that were involved in the fire. "Words cannot express the appreciation AFR Insurance has for fire departments' efforts in protecting lives and property during the tragic March wildfires," Justin Cowan, CEO, AFR Insurance, said. The event is called "Funds for Fire Fighters - AFR Answers the Call." "We want to honor the dedication and sacrifices made by these courageous fire fighters, many of whom had to leave their own property while fighting to protect their neighbor's property," Terry Detrick, AFR president, said. It is anticipated the fire departments will use the money to defray costs associated with fighting the fires. "We know some equipment was damaged in the process of fighting these fires," Detrick said. Source - American Farmers & Ranchers WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady NSI Top Agricultural News Agricultural News Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma Celebrates the Grand Opening of Its New Tuttle Branch Facility On Friday, the agricultural community gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma's new branch office facility in Tuttle. American Farmers & Rancher, Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association were among the organizations represented there, including too, State Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese, who offered greetings and congratulations to the association on its expansion. Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma President and CEO John Grunewald was on hand to speak with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays about the event and the significance behind it. You can hear their complete conversation from today's celebration, by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below at the bottom of this story. "We're proud to be in the Tuttle area," he said. "This is our first branch in this area. We moved a branch in a temporary office down here three years ago, and since then we've grown almost $30 million. The board of directors of Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma made the decision to expand and build a new facility in this area." Situated between the Oklahoma City metroplex and some of the state's best farmland, the new facility was built with the community in mind. Grunewald says the new building was designed to host not only clients but also groups of people too. He says outside organizations from Farm Bureau to 4-H and FFA groups will be welcome to host trainings, meetings, conferences, etc. at the new building. "That's our hope," he said, "that the agriculture community uses this facility." This new location will serve the community certainly, but it also serves as a testament to the success Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma brings to its patrons. "When I first started working in Western Oklahoma, actually at Clinton, we had around $18 million in loan volume," Grunewald recounted. "Today, we have nearly $850 million in loan volume in Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma." In total, he says the Farm Credit associations across the state have a collective $3 billion impact in Oklahoma. And while Grunewald admits Oklahoma has not been immune to the hardships of the current agricultural economy, he reaffirmed his confidence in Oklahoma's farmers and ranchers. "As normal, agriculture has had some ups and downs," Grunewald said. "We've had some stress out there but I can tell you - the farmers and producers in Western Oklahoma are smart, very shrewd, conservative producers and they will find a way to manage through these difficult times." Click below to hear Hays and Grunewald discuss Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma's new facility WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady NSI Top Agricultural News Its not every day a best-selling author whom Reese Witherspoon has played in a movie comes to class. Thursday afternoon Cheryl Strayed, author of the memoir Wild, led a group of University of Nebraska at Omaha creative writing students in a discussion about the joys and hassles of their craft. She came with a lot of good, hard-won advice. The test for creative writing, Strayed told the students, is not always, Is what happened inherently interesting? I mean hiking along the (Pacific Crest Trail) isnt even that interesting. But its not necessarily worthy of literature until the writer has something to say about that interesting experience. Strayed had enough to say about hiking the trail to make Wild wildly popular. The book was a No. 1 New York Times best-seller and was chosen by Oprah Winfrey as her first selection for Oprahs Book Club 2.0. And it was later adapted into an Oscar-nominated movie starring Witherspoon as Strayed. Later that day, Strayed gave a lecture at Baxter Arena. Her visit was part of UNOs Marion Marsh Brown Writers Lecture Series, which brought author John Grisham to Omaha last year. Brown was a professor of English at UNO from 1954 through 1968. She wrote more than 15 books. Strayeds talk with the creative writing students was a warmup to the evenings speech. In the makeshift classroom of the UNO Art Gallery, the author talked about the whirlwind experience of having a movie made about her life. I always, from the very beginning, artistically detached myself from the film, she said. The thing that I made was my book, and the thing that these other artists were making was an interpretation of my book. It wasnt mine. I wanted it to do well. I wanted it to be good. And she did think it was good. I dont love every line of the film. I dont love every scene of the film. But I think that they honored the book. Seeing the film come together gave her an appreciation for the struggles of adaptation, from translating words to a visual medium. She talked about the limitations of expressing interiority in film. Reese had to do a lot of silently staring out at landscapes hoping that you were reading on her face what I had written over the course of 10 pages, Strayed said. So its really a challenge. I thought they did it beautifully. Witherspoon (leading role) and Laura Dern (supporting role) earned Oscar nominations for their acting in the 2014 film. Witherspoon, who in 2006 won best actress for Walk the Line, later said her Wild role was the most difficult of her career. Students asked Strayed all manner of questions during class: What is it like for your personal life to be such a big topic of conversation? When you were hiking, did you think, This would make a good book? Blair Emsick, a 24-year-old UNO grad student who studied nonfiction, asked Strayed: When do you decide when somethings finished? Strayed: When youre, like, about to die. Actually, Strayed said, the question she always asks herself is: It it as good as I can possibly make it right now, at this moment in time, by myself? If the answer is yes, its time for her to pass it along to an editor or peer for revisions. I always try to get to a place where I can say this is the absolute best thing I can possibly write right now, she said. And call it done. Which is different than calling it good. The thing that really changed her life as a writer, she told the students, was realizing that its not her place to say whether her writing is good or bad. Being overly self-critical was holding her back. Always trying to write the most brilliant thing ever written was keeping her from writing a single word. When she was writing her first book, the novel Torch, I was just so afraid, she said. I was so afraid that my book would suck, and then I realized I had to just finally say, Whats worse? To write a book thats not very good or to not write at all? Maybe the novel was going to be mediocre (it wasnt), but she would be fine with that. Its not her job, she said, to know what other people are going to think about her work, to know how successful a writer it may or may not make her. Its my job to do the best work I can do, she said. And once I actually really took that idea into my heart, that was so liberating to me as a writer. It doesnt mean it made writing easy. But it made writing possible. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump campaigned on an America First trade policy of bracing clarity: Renegotiate or abandon NAFTA and crack down on Chinas trade practices. Yet so far, his trade policy has produced mostly confusion and division, even among fellow Republicans. At stake may be the presidents credibility over whether and how he will deliver on his campaign vow to undo decades of American trade policy and restore millions of manufacturing jobs lost to foreign competition. The latest puzzler broke out Wednesday over the prospect that the Trump administration would simply abandon the North American Free Trade Agreement rather than start to renegotiate it. The White House leaked that possibility to reporters, rattling investors and drawing protests from business groups and Republican lawmakers. Yet hours later, Trump called it all off. He would actually seek to revamp the trade pact with Canada and Mexico, he said, and pull out of NAFTA only if he couldnt secure a favorable deal. The U-turn followed a reversal on his trade stance on China. Trump this month broke a campaign promise to label China a currency manipulator. He had decided, he said, to instead reward Beijing for helping deal with a belligerent North Korea. Nor has he followed up on vows to punish American companies that move jobs overseas or on threats to tax Chinese and Mexican imports. Unquestionably, hes not delivered on his campaign promises, said Lori Wallach, a critic of NAFTA and other trade deals and director of Public Citizens Global Trade Watch. The presidents gyrations over NAFTA have been especially puzzling. On the campaign trail, Trump called the trade deal a job-killing disaster that had encouraged U.S. companies to move factories to Mexico to take advantage of cheap labor. If he couldnt get Canada and Mexico to make concessions, he said, hed pull America out of the deal. Then, in March, the administration sent a draft letter to Congress spelling out plans to renegotiate NAFTA. The plan kept much of the existing agreement intact. Many critics of NAFTA said they were deeply disappointed. So it came as a surprise Wednesday when word leaked that Trump was again taking a harsh stance: Aides said the president was considering a draft executive order to pull out of NAFTA within days. The Mexican peso fell against the U.S. dollar. American farm groups, which credit NAFTA with lifting U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico, howled. Mr. President, Americas corn farmers helped elect you, Wesley Spurlock, president of the National Corn Growers Association, said in a statement. Spurlock added: NAFTA has been a huge win for American agriculture. ... Losing access to these markets will be a huge blow. Many businesses complain that pulling out of NAFTA would disrupt the cross-border supply chain companies have built since the agreement took effect 23 years ago. The whole NAFTA structure is interwoven in our economy in a very close and important way, said Josh Bolten, former chief of staff for President George W. Bush and now head of the Business Roundtable, a trade association for CEOs. Many of Americas biggest, most successful businesses are highly dependent on North American supply chains, and their goods may cross one or the other borders several times during the production process. Republican lawmakers, who have typically supported free trade, weighed in, too. Withdrawing from #NAFTA would be a disaster for #Arizona jobs & economy, tweeted Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona. @POTUS shouldnt abandon this vital trade agreement. Then Trump announced that the leaders of Mexico and Canada had reached out to him Wednesday and that he would bow to their request to try to fix NAFTA through negotiations before abandoning it. I decided, rather than terminating NAFTA, which would be a pretty big, you know, shock to the system, we will renegotiate, Trump said. Now, if Im unable to make a fair deal, if Im unable to make a fair deal for the United States, meaning a fair deal for our workers and our companies, I will terminate NAFTA. But were going to give renegotiation a good, strong shot. Some trade policy analysts say the confusion reflects divisions within the administration between those who support Trumps tough campaign rhetoric on trade and those who take a more traditional Republican view favoring trade agreements. It likely reflects certain staff and structural problems in the White House, which are worsened by the ideological cash between competing factions, said Eric Shimp, a former U.S. diplomat and adviser on trade at the law firm Alston & Bird. Alternatively, aides could have been trying to rack up a tough-sounding accomplishment before Trumps 100th day on the job. Others see the threat to withdraw from the agreement as an attempt to jar Canada and Mexico into coming to the bargaining table ready to make concessions. Shimp notes, though, that theyd already said they were willing to negotiate changes to NAFTA. Clyde Prestowitz, a U.S. trade official in the Reagan administration who supports a tougher U.S. trade policy, said Trumps modestly worded draft proposal for NAFTA in March probably suggests how negotiations will end: In the end, there will be some minor changes to NAFTA and victory will be declared, he said. Trump has talked tougher than other presidents, but so far his actions are completely consistent with what they did. Talking about it is much easier than actually doing it. Then again, the administration has just slapped tariffs on Canadian softwood timber imports and launched investigations into whether steel and aluminum imports jeopardize U.S. national security. And Congress has yet to approve Trumps nominee for U.S. trade representative: Robert Lighthizer, who has advocated using existing trade law more aggressively to combat unfair trading practices. While the president clearly has failed to deliver on his 100-day promises, the longer story is unwritten, Wallach said. It could go either way. Copyright 2017 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. DAKOTA CITY One of two men accused of killing another man in northeast Nebraskas Dakota County has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial. The Sioux City Journal reported that a judge on Wednesday ruled that Andres Surber will not stand trial, based on a state psychiatrists report. Authorities say Surber and Brayan Galvan-Hernandez, both of Wakefield, shot to death 41-year-old Kraig Kubik of Emerson. Parts of Kubiks body were found in a car and in a creek. Authorities say Surber and Galvan-Hernandez had gone to Kubiks home Nov. 1 and demanded that he give them a car that once belonged to Surber. Galvan-Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to murder and related charges. Copyright 2017 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. LINCOLN Abortion politics claimed center stage Tuesday as Nebraska lawmakers delved into their second day of budget debate. At issue was language aimed at steering family planning funds away from Planned Parenthood, a change made possible by federal legislation passed last week. That debate occurred even as lawmakers got word that the state budget gap had grown again, this time by about $55 million. The increase was the result of new, more pessimistic tax revenue projections issued by a state board for the period ending June 30, 2019. State Sen. John Stinner of Gering, the Appropriations Committee chairman, said the new projections mean lawmakers will have to go back and make changes to the budget plan. The current plan closes a budget gap that stood at nearly $900 million in January, making cuts to some budgets, slowing other spending growth and tapping several cash funds. But it was seven lines out of the 149-page main budget bill that tied the Legislature in knots. Those lines would give priority to certain types of health clinics to get Nebraskas $1.9 million annual share of federal Title X funds. Excluded from the priority list would be four of the 12 current providers Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and three independent clinics based in Tecumseh, Grand Island and North Platte. The four collect 50 percent of the states Title X funds, which pay for contraceptives, cervical cancer screening, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and related services to low-income women and men. Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus offered an amendment to strike the priority language, which he said had been buried in the budget bill. Gov. Pete Ricketts had put the language in his budget proposal, for the first time ever, and the Appropriations Committee added it to their plan with little discussion. But anti-abortion groups made it clear that the aim was to take money away from Planned Parenthood. The Nebraska Catholic Conference sent out a tweet urging people to contact senators: Tell them to keep taxpayer Title X funds away from abortion providers! An action alert from the Nebraska Family Alliance said: We have the opportunity to seize one of the most significant pro-life victories in Nebraska in years. Schumacher and others argued that the effect of the change would be to reduce access to important health services for low-income people. Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln said about 14,500 people are served by the four clinics. Most are at or below the federal poverty level and most have no health insurance. This change will hurt real people, Schumacher said. There has been no case made for the change. But Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln said the language would not bar money from going to the four clinics or reduce access to services. He said there is good reason to prioritize health facilities with a broader range of services, as the language would do. Schumachers motion failed, with 17 senators voting for it, 19 voting against it and 12 abstaining. But positions started shifting as Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers offered a motion to reconsider the Schumacher amendment. Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte was among the senators who had abstained, then got up later to express concerns about local clinics losing funds. Im firmly against abortion, he said, but Im also for peoples access to health care. Lawmakers tried to find a compromise but were unsuccessful Tuesday evening. Speaker of the Legislature Jim Scheer of Norfolk urged his colleagues to advance the bill and work on a compromise before second-round debate. Tom Venzor, executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference, argued that the language in the bill would continue to fund health centers that provide comprehensive medical services. But he said the group would work to address rural senators concerns about the clinics in their districts. Planned Parenthood is not among those clinics. Lawmakers gave first-round approval to the main budget bill without addressing the new, lower revenue forecast. The current budget plan calls for general fund spending of $8.9 billion over the two fiscal years ending June 30, 2019, an annual average growth of 1 percent. It draws $173 million from the cash reserve, or rainy day, fund and avoids tax increases. Also on Tuesday, lawmakers: Rejected an amendment that would have taken less money from the Department of Roads operations cash fund to help balance the general fund budget. The budget called for taking $30 million over two years. Sen. Curt Friesen of Henderson, the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee chairman, offered the amendment to take only $15 million, saying the larger transfer would hurt road-building efforts. Stinner countered that the budget provided for more than state highway officials had requested. Stalled over a measure that would make budget-related and other changes affecting people with disabilities. Legislative Bill 333, introduced on behalf of the governor, would save $7.3 million by ending a state program that helps newly disabled people pay their medical bills until they can qualify for federal disability assistance. As advanced by the Health and Human Services Committee, the bill also would suspend a 22-year-old law that entitles young people with developmental disabilities to get day services after graduation. The administration proposed repealing the law, saying it conflicts with federal rules about setting priorities for who gets state services. But Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue said a suspension would allow time to look for alternatives. She said members wanted to ensure no one ends up in their living room with no help. For the next two years, state officials have said they would reserve some slots for graduating youth. The budget includes money to serve them. World-Herald staff writer Joe Duggan contributed to this report. Got any outdoor plans for the weekend? Forget about em. Forecasters called for rain, below-normal temperatures, breezy conditions and possibly a rain-snow mix for today through Monday in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. The National Weather Service office in Valley said there is a 90 percent chance of rain today, mainly after 9 a.m., and a high temperature near 45, with north-northeast winds gusting as high as 30 mph. Here come the soaking rains Saturday into Sunday, said KMTV meteorologist Ryan McPike. Its a given. Tonight there is an 80 percent chance of rain, with a low around 39 and north winds gusting as high as 28 mph. The weather service said there is a 90 percent chance of rain Sunday, with a high in the low 40s and north winds gusting as high as 30 mph. Sunday night the rain chances slip a bit to 70 percent. Lows in the upper 30s were forecast. McPike called for a chance of wet snowflakes mixed with rain late Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. Thats impressive for late April, he said of the possible snow. He said one computer model had the Norfolk, Nebraska, area receiving up to 3.5 inches of wet snow and the Elkhorn area getting up to 1 inch. The weather service did not call for any snow in the Omaha area. A weather service meteorologist said there was greater potential for snow north and west of Omaha. Friday morning, Norfolk received wet snow, with some accumulations on grassy areas. The National Weather Service office in North Platte, Nebraska, issued a winter storm watch for this evening through Sunday evening, saying Frontier County could receive 1 to 3 inches of snow. And the office in Hastings, Nebraska, issued a similar storm watch for a large swath of central Nebraska that could receive several inches of heavy, wet snow from this evening through late Sunday. Whats churning out the wet weather? McPike said a large upper-level system has set up directly over the region for a few days. He said the weekend rainfall could total 2 to 3 inches in the Omaha area. The weather service said Lincoln could receive up to 2 inches. The good news is I dont anticipate any severe weather in our area, McPike said, because temperatures will be too low to produce threatening conditions. The chance of rain sticks around until about 1 p.m. Monday, the weather service said. A high near 50 was expected. Monday night was forecast to be dry, with a low around 40. Tuesday through Thursday should be mostly to partly sunny with highs in the low to mid-60s. Overnight lows were expected to slide into the low to mid-40s. Average high temperatures for the Omaha area in late April to early May are in the upper 60s. Average overnight lows are in the mid-40s. LINCOLN The Nebraska Supreme Court has ordered a 90-day suspension for a Beatrice lawyer who failed to properly communicate with a client. The court this week also ordered Dustin Garrison to serve a year of probation if he decides to apply for reinstatement at the end of his suspension. Garrison has practiced law since 2008, mostly in Beatrice. The courts Office of Counsel for Discipline filed charges that Garrison violated his professional oath by his failure to show diligence and competence in his representation of a client in a personal injury case. An investigation showed that Garrison failed to communicate with the client in a professional manner over a period of five years regarding a $210,000 judgment awarded in the lawsuit. In response to the clients numerous questions about the case, Garrison offered clipped, evasive answers via Facebook. We are fine. We won. Be happy. I cant explain the whole process were among the messages Garrison sent to the client. Eventually, however, the judgment was reversed and the client retained a different attorney. Garrison conditionally admitted to violating his professional oath, according to the Supreme Courts decision. LINCOLN The order to end beer sales in the unincorporated village of Whiteclay took a legal roller-coaster ride on Thursday. At the end of the day, it appeared that the four beer-only liquor stores will be closing Sunday night after all, at least temporarily. An Oklahoma lawyer and documentary filmmaker who has campaigned for shutting down the beer stores called it the first of many peaks and valleys in a long court battle but said he remains optimistic. No matter how crazy this is, it pales in comparison with the lawlessness and the sale of beer in the unincorporated town, said John Maisch, a former liquor law prosecutor in the Sooner State. Maisch said activists plan to be in Whiteclay, in extreme northwestern Nebraska, on Sunday and Monday to provide water, food and referrals to detox centers for the 15 to 30 street people who openly drink on the streets of the community and then pass out in vacant lots and abandoned buildings or along the highway. Theyre going to want their fix. And that fix will be unavailable, Maisch said. Thursday began with a ruling by Lancaster County District Judge Andrew Jacobsen, overturning a decision by the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission last week to deny a renewal of the licenses to the Whiteclay beer stores. The judge termed that decision arbitrary and unreasonable and cited a State Supreme Court decision that said the renewal of liquor licenses should be automatic, unless a business had undergone dramatic changes. But about 1:30 p.m., the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office filed an appeal of Jacobsens ruling, which superseded the judges decision until the Nebraska Court of Appeals can rule. Bottom line: The beer stores will close Sunday night and will remain closed, pending some other legal action or an order by the Court of Appeals. Today is a state holiday, Arbor Day, so the earliest the Court of Appeals could begin gathering written arguments is Monday. Andy Snyder, the attorney for the beer stores, said it might take more than week for the court to gather briefs from both sides and issue a ruling. The soonest we can file anything is next week, he said. Earlier in the day, a clerk at one of the Whiteclay stores exclaimed yahoo! when asked about the judges ruling. By days end, the response would not be the same. Activists have sought to close down the four liquor stores in Whiteclay for years, blaming them for exacerbating the widespread alcoholism and alcohol-related problems, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, on the adjacent Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The reservation, where alcohol possession and sales are banned, is within walking distance across the Nebraska-South Dakota border from Whiteclay, an unincorporated village of nine residents. The village is known as the Skid Row of the Plains for its street people who, for decades, have openly drunk, urinated and passed out on the streets. Last weeks 3-0 vote by the liquor commission to deny license renewal was labeled as historic because it would end decades of beer sales sales that amount to the equivalent of 3.5 million cans of beer a year. The liquor board based its decision on a finding of inadequate law enforcement in the remote village; board members said allowing liquor sales threatened the health and safety of local residents. But under Judge Jacobsens ruling Thursday, the liquor commission was ordered to permit the Whiteclay stores to renew their liquor licenses online, thus allowing them to remain open. The judge said prior court rulings made it clear that liquor license holders have a constitutional right to renew their licenses unless they change locations or are convicted of a felony. He said the liquor commission had failed to show that the stores did not qualify to have their licenses automatically renewed. That ruling is now on hold pending a decision on the appeal filed by the Attorney Generals Office, which represents the state liquor commission. The liquor stores face more than one legal issue that could close them down. The State Attorney Generals Office has also alleged that the four stores violated 22 state liquor laws, including selling to bootleggers who haul the beer to the reservation and sell it at a markup. A hearing on those claims could be held as early as June. As the Omaha city election nears, Mayor Jean Stothert and challenger Heath Mello are turning up the heat, with the two trading barbs Friday on major development projects and streetcars. For the third of their four debates they met at the KFAB studios in an event sponsored by the radio station and WOWT. Mello released a city document summarizing the studies done about a potential streetcar line that he says shows the city is moving forward on a streetcar proposal. And Stothert as she has done before accused Mello of making false statements. During the two-hour debate the candidates also covered the nonpartisan nature of the office and major development projects. Both candidates said they like that city offices are nonpartisan and said the other is injecting partisanship into the race. The mayor of Omaha needs to be the mayor for everyone, Stothert said. For his part, Mello said he has support from conservative Republicans, progressive Democrats and everyone in between. Each candidate has brought in an out-of-state former presidential hopeful to campaign. U.S. Sen Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who ran for president as a Democrat, appeared with Mello as part of a Democratic National Committee tour. And Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, campaigned with Stothert this week. On economic development, Mello pointed to the former Civic Auditorium site and Crossroads Mall as projects that Stothert has failed to move forward. And he said the city needs to gather more input. Stotherts office released a proposal for the Civic site earlier this month that will be on the May agenda of the Omaha Planning Board. She said she met with nearby stakeholders to come up with the request for developers for the site, though as is common practice she did not hold a public hearing. The latest plan for the Civic site is a smaller version of the original mixed-use proposal. It includes moving the downtown library to the site. Stothert also said she has a draft press release on her desk about a potential redevelopment of Crossroads Mall. She declined after the debate to say what is in the press release. Later Friday, developer Rod Yates said Crossroads will be a transformational project for the community. He would not provide details on what the press release says. Finally, on the streetcar, Mello staffers passed out a document called Omaha Modern Streetcar, dated March 28. The 13-page document, compiled by the citys Planning Department, details the purpose of a potential streetcar system, the benefits, potential funding and answers to common questions about the proposal. Until after the primary, both candidates had been strong supporters of a proposal to build a streetcar. Since then, Mello has said he wants to press pause on the streetcar until the city has a better plan to fund streets. Stothert argues that its not either-or. Mello often accuses Stothert of committing $30 million to the project, though Stothert has said she would put the streetcar to a vote of the people if the proposal moves forward. Stothert said she will wait for the results of an advanced conceptual engineering study before deciding what to do next. Derek Miller, the citys long-range planner whose name is listed on the document, said it was intended to help the entities involved with the streetcar proposal answer questions. He described it as a draft that wasnt intended for public dissemination. And he said the city has not committed money to the project, noting that the section about finances is titled potential funding. The election is May 9. The last debate will be at 6 p.m. May 7, sponsored by KETV and KOIL. World-Herald staff writer Paige Yowell contributed to this report. Saturday is the 100th day of Donald Trumps presidency. In the closing weeks of last falls campaign, he laid out what he called a 100-day contract with voters. See it above. He pledged that his flurry of ambitious administrative and legislative steps would start the process of draining the swamp and protecting American workers. How people rate his success depends largely on the political lens they view him through, but we do know this: He can check off parts of his 100-day plan as tasks completed. Hes made progress on other pledges. And others remain on his to-do list or have been discarded. PLEDGES COMPLETED Replace the late Antonin Scalia on U.S. Supreme Court: Nominated Neil Gorsuch. The judge was confirmed by the Senate, then sworn in April 10. Abandon Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal: Ordered the move on his first day in office. End foreign trading abuses: Issued executive order to identify all foreign trading that unfairly affects American workers and use every tool to end abuses. Cancel some executive actions by President Barack Obama: Some orders scrapped, such as protections for transgender students and a requirement that financial professionals who are giving advice on retirement, and who charge commissions, put the clients interests first. Create task force to reduce violent crime: Ordered Attorney General Jeff Sessions to create it. Lift restrictions on fossil fuels: By executive action, he eliminated some Obama-era environmental protection rules to try to boost oil, natural gas and coal production. Clear way for oil pipelines: Signed orders reviving Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines. Freeze federal hiring: Ordered employment freeze for the federal government, except for jobs in national security, public safety and military. He later lifted freeze. Lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying for foreign governments: Done by executive order. * * * * * SOME PROGRESS Build a border wall, and make Mexico pay for it: Issued an executive order mandating a wall. Status: Test sections could be built this summer, but Mexico isnt paying, and U.S. funding isnt apparent. Cancel all federal funding for sanctuary cities: Has threatened to take back funds from localities considered insufficiently cooperative in detaining illegal immigrants. Status: Plan has hit snags in courts and localities. Immediately deport the estimated 2 million criminal aliens living in the country: New rules allow for more aggressive enforcement of immigration laws. Status: Deportations of illegal immigrants have not increased this year but may yet do so. However, arrests have increased and illegal border crossings are significantly down. Implement extreme immigration vetting techniques: Studies ordered. Status: The Homeland Security Department is considering measures, like asking for visitors phone contacts and social media passwords. Repeal and replace Obamacare: Is pushing an amended proposal after his first one was pulled from Congress because it lacked enough support. Status: Under revision. Pass tax reforms: Trump scrapped the tax plan he campaigned on but unveiled broad outlines of a new package this week. Status: Details are pending, and passage would come in August at the earliest. Enact ethics reforms to drain the swamp: Federal hiring freeze was a start, aides say, and imposing revolving door rules so ex-officials cant immediately lobby former colleagues. Some of his rules are the same as Obamas. Status: Incomplete. End two regulations for each new one enacted: Ordered federal agencies to identify rules to eliminate. Status: In progress. Bar White House and congressional officials from lobbying five years after leaving: Status: Signed an executive order placing the lobbying ban on White House officials but not on congressional officials. Status: Halfway there. Create tax-free savings accounts for dependent care: Plan offered, but bill not introduced. Status: White House is reportedly revising its plan to help lower-income families more. Redirect education money: Ordered study this week of federal overreach in education. Status: In beginning stages. Renegotiate or withdraw from NAFTA: He said this week he will renegotiate better terms and, failing that, withdraw. A draft of his administrations plan for a trade deal with Canada and Mexico proposes a mild rewrite. Status: Under review. Withdraw from Paris climate accord: Stalled; his aides are torn. Status: Up in the air. Cancel payments for U.N. climate programs: Trumps budget proposal scrapped the funding. Status: Its not clear if that move will make it into law. Beef up military: Proposed adding $54 billion to the Pentagons budget, a 10 percent increase. Also proposed lifting the defense sequester military spending caps. Status: Whether he can successfully lobby Congress to pass his plan is unknown. Improve veterans medical care: His budget request would increase funding for this group. Status: Future fate in Congress unknown. Halt immigration from terror-prone countries: Issued two executive orders seeking to suspend travel from some Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and Africa. Status: Blocked by judges. White House says its working on a third order. Get successful plan to defeat Islamic State: Ordered up a plan. Status: If complete, it has not been made public. Negotiate the release of all U.S. prisoners held in Iran: No negotiations made public. Status: No prisoners released. * * * * * PLEDGES NOT ACTED ON Label China a currency manipulator: Pledge abandoned; Trump says he doesnt want to punish China when it is cooperating in a response to North Korean provocations. End Obamas amnesty for Dreamers undocumented immigrants who entered the country as minors: Trump said this month these young people can rest easy and not fear deportation. Mandatory sentence for illegally entering U.S. with prior convictions Cancel visas for countries that wont take back criminals deported by the U.S. Move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem Renegotiate or leave the Iran nuclear deal Create a safe zone in Syria for refugees, paid for by Persian Gulf states Stop the offshoring (outsourcing) of jobs by American companies Make college more affordable End Common Core education standards Impose term limits on members of Congress Ban foreign lobbyists from raising money for U.S. elections Remove gun-free zones at schools and military bases * * * * * Sources: Associated Press, Washington Post, Bloomberg News, CNN, Tribune Washington Bureau Got some expired pills in your cabinet you need to unload? On Saturday, the Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement agencies are hosting no-questions-asked drug drop-offs at various locations. Getting rid of old prescription drugs is important because medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs, a press release from the Omaha Police Department said. Flushing old medicines down the toilet or tossing them in the trash can pose safety and health hazards. The drug takeback program will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at several locations, including the Hy-Vee near 132nd Street and West Dodge Road; the Walgreens at 30th and Lake Streets; and the Glenwood, Iowa, Police Headquarters. Take pills or patches to one of the locations. Those who wish to find the drop-off point closest to them could go to the DEAs Diversion Control Division website www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov and type in their ZIP code. The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles. 38 attacks on Indian Army: Is India doing enough to stop Pak offensive? India oi-Vicky By Vicky The fidayeen attack at an army camp in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir raises the question if enough is being done to counter the menace from Pakistan. An initial assessment of the attack suggests that the terrorists of the Jaish-e-Mohammad had managed to infiltrate into Kupwara late Wednesday night. They carried out the attack on Thursday in which three soldiers were martyred. Two terrorists were killed in the incident. This has once again brought the focus on the increasing number of infiltrations in Jammu and Kashmir. The data available with the ministry of Defence states that 127 infiltration attempts till February 2017. 88 of them were reported in 2016. The data is for the past 15 months. Data also reveals that there were 38 attacks on the army in the past three years. In these attacks, 156 soldiers were martyred. Most of these incidents have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2016, nine soldiers died while fighting infiltrators. Forty had died in counter-insurgency operations The Home ministry had said in the Rajya Sabha in November 2016 that there were 200 terrorists active in the Valley. These were the statistics given out following the Uri attack in which four terrorists killed over 16 personnel of the army. With the summer setting in, the army is bracing for more attacks. There is usually a lull in infiltrations during the winter. However, during summer, Pakistan tends to step up the infiltrations. Moreover, there is enough intelligence to suggest that Pakistan is planning a major unrest in Kashmir under the banner called, "united jihad." This operation would see the deadliest terror groups, Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad coming together. Attack only the army while in Kashmir is the instruction handed out to these groups. OneIndia News SC notice to Centre on plea against supply of electoral roll to candidates Aadhaar-PAN link case: SC to hear the matter on May 2 India oi-Gulam Rabbani The Supreme Court will hear a plea, challenging the Central government's decision to link Aadhaar with Permanent Account Number card for filing of income tax returns and to apply for new PAN on May 2. On April 27, the government had clarified to the apex court that the PAN will be made invalid from July 1 if not applied for the Aadhar-PAN card link. It also stated that the PAN card will not be made invalid if the person had applied for the same. However, the apex court had asked the government to justify the notification issued in this regard. On April 26, the government told the top court that the decision was taken with the intention of curbing tax evasion and to keep a check on the circulation of black money. Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi said to the bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan that the move was to scrap fake PAN cards that are being used to divert the funds to shell companies. Three petitions were filed by the senior Communist Party of India leader Binoy Vishwam, Dalit rights activist Bezwada Wilson and a retired army officer S G Vombatkere in this regard. In August 2015, the top court in an order clarified that the Aadhaar cards will not be mandatory for availing benefits of the government's welfare schemes. As NDA government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks to put an end to the black money, in March said that Aadhaar card mandatory for filing the income tax returns, for applying for a PAN card and to seek free gas connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Responding to the move, the court in March had given green signal to the Centre for making Aadhar Card mandatory to open bank accounts, getting mobile connections and passports. OneIndia News Amit Shah is house-hunting in B'luru: Wants to create war room ahead of Karnataka polls India oi-Anusha Gujarat may currently be on his mind but Amit Shah's eyes are set on the 2018 assembly polls in Karnataka. Those close to the BJP national president are busy hunting for homes for Shah who is expected to shift to Bengaluru temporarily in the run-up to the elections. Shah's aides have reportedly zeroed in on a palatial villa near the Bengaluru international airport. Amit Shah who has maintained a conspicuous silence as two senior leaders of the BJP, B S Yeddyurappa and K S Eshwarappa are at loggerheads is expected to visit Bengaluru in August. After the Gujarat elections, BJP's national president is likely to shift base to Bengaluru to chalk out strategies for the elections. Villas built by a prominent real estate company is currently being reviewed by his aides. Proximity to the airport, distance from the hustle and bustle of the city and ensuring a private and secure place for discussions seem to be on the mind of the BJP leader while scouting for the house. Elaborate travel schedule and security arrangements for Amit Shah is also being considered while scouting for the house. Karnataka was the BJP's gateway to the south. After gifting the Congress a win in 2013, the BJP for one does not want to repeat its mistake. Registering a win the Karnataka assembly polls in a priority for the BJP to maintain its winning streak. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 28, 2017, 16:27 [IST] BJP president Amit Shah to visit Telangana, meet party workers India pti-PTI Hyderabad, Apr 28: BJP president Amit Shah would visit Telangana and interact with party leaders and activists, including booth-level functionaries, as part of efforts to come to power in the state after the 2019 Assembly polls, said a party leader. Shah would undertake a three-day visit and interact with polling booth committee members, state-level leaders, MLAs, prominent personalities of a particular district to strengthen the party, state BJP president K Laxman told reporters here. The exact dates of Shah's visit and other details would be announced after confirmation, he said. Shah would also take part in a parliamentary constituency convention during his visit, he said. BJP has already organised Lok Sabha constituency-level conventions at different places in Telangana which were attended by union ministers Parshottam Rupala, Prakash Javadekar and others. Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, M Venkaiah Naidu, Nirmala Sitharaman would attend the conventions in other places, Laxman said. Alleging that the TRS government in Telangana has disappointed people from all sections, he said the recent public meeting organised by the ruling party was far below expectations. Observing that the students of Osmania University had played a crucial role in the struggle for separate Telangana, Laxman claimed that chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao disappointed the students and alumni by not speaking at the inaugural event of the institution's centenary celebrations. Rao was expected to give a befitting speech to highlight the efforts of students and by announcing plans for their welfare, Laxman said. PTI CBI likely to take over TTV Dinakaran probe in EC bribery case India oi-Vicky By Vicky The probe against T T V Dinakaran in the Election Commission bribery case is likely to be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Since it is an inter-state investigation involving different states, the CBI would be more equipped to probe into the case. The Delhi police say that the case is broad and involves a wide network. Moreover the probe spans over to Delhi, Tamil Nadu and also Bengaluru. The Delhi police with limited jurisdiction would find it a problem to probe the case in these places. The Central Bureau of Investigation, on the other hand, has a country-wide jurisdiction to probe cases. With many more people likely to be questioned and detained as well, the CBI would be in a better position to probe the case as it can avoid jurisdictional hassles. The Delhi police had said that the probe would span out to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Bengaluru. After the Delhi police gather more evidence, it is likely to recommend that the probe be handed over to the CBI. OneIndia News Chambal Expressway proposed in Madhya Pradesh India oi-PTI Bhopal, April 28: A 300-km-long Chambal Expressway, connecting Madhya Pradesh with Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, will be constructed through the ravines of Chambal region, an official said on Friday. "The decision to construct the six-lane expressway was taken in a meeting held between Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari in Delhi," a Public Relations department official said. "After his meeting with the Union minister, the chief minister informed that a 300-km-long, six-lane Chambal expressway is proposed in Madhya Pradesh. The right-of-way a type of easement granted or reserved over the land for transportation purposes for this expressway will be 100 metre," the official added. He said that "2500 hectares of land will be acquired for this project, out of which nearly 50 per cent of the land is owned by the state government. The expressway would start from the state highway no. 6 at Pali and will connect to Uttar Pradesh on the national highway 92". "This expressway will benefit Bhind, Morena, Sheopur and Chambal areas of Madhya Pradesh. The expressway will connect Madhya Pradesh with Rajasthan at one end and to Uttar Pradesh on the other," the official said without elaborating the exact location where the expressway will connect to Rajasthan. PTI Marry her if traced within a year: HC to rape accused Shrikant Tyagi, who was arrested for assaulting woman at Noida society, released on bail Congress accuses BJP of helping Sadhvi Pragya get bail India oi-Vikas By Vikas The Congress on Friday said that the BJP helped Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in getting bail. Congress' Surender Rajput told ANI that the BJP modified some acts in the Constitution that helped Sadhvi Pragya in getting bail. Another Congress leader Raju Waghmare said that the NIA was putting pressure on the government lawyer to go slow in the case. He said that there was a conspiracy to get Sadhvi Pragya out. Talking to the media for the first time after being released on bail Sadhvi Pragya on Thursday said she was victim of Congress' conspiracy. "I am a victim of Congress' conspiracy, nine years of injustice", she said. She was arrested during UPA rule in connection with 2008 Malegaon blast in which six people were killed. While granting the bail, the Bombay high court has directed Sadhvi Pragya to surrender her passport to the National Investigation Agency and also directed her not to tamper with the evidence and to report to NIA court as and when required. Sadhvi was in custody since 2008, for almost nine years. At the ouset, the stringent provisions of Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA) were slapped against her. But after the decision of the Supreme Court, the NIA dropped charges under MCOCA against Sadhvi. OneIndia News Delhi Govt cancels holidays on birth/death of great personalities India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar The Delhi Government on Friday has decided to cancel holidays on birth and death anniversaries of eminent personalities. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has directed Chief Secretary regarding cancellation of holidays. 1/3 Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) April 28, 2017 Further, Sisodia has welcomed the move of scrapping of holidays by the Uttar Pradesh government. He said "we should be ready to learn from other states." However, the revised list of holidays is not yet available. 2/3 Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) April 28, 2017 On April 26, UP CM Yogi Adityanath has cancelled 15 public holidays marking the birth or death anniversary of eminent personalities. Among the cancelled holidays are Milad un-Nabi, Chhat and Valmiki Jayanti. However, Yogi Adityanath's decision to scrap Milad-un-Nabi has not gone down well with some section of Muslim community. On the occasion of Dr BR Ambedkar' s 126th birth anniversary, Adityanath had expressed concern over the less number of academic session due to increased holidays. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 28, 2017, 18:42 [IST] Demonetisation: Most ATMs in UP go dry, people in lurch India oi-Deepika By Deepika Lucknow, April 28: Demonetisation blues seems to have returned to haunt the people in Uttar Pradesh and in neighbouring Uttarakhand as most ATMs and Banks are facing a shortage of cash, six months after the old currency notes of Rs 1,000 and 500 were demonetised in the country. According to officials, they are managing with only 70 per cent of currency supply. Except some big cities, cash scarcity in the state has hit a worrying proportion, as many of the ATMs have hung 'No Cash' or 'Under repair' boards. The situation in small cities and villages have gone dry since a few days. Banks in Kanpur alone need currency flow of about Rs 400 crore every day, but they have been receiving only Rs 250-300 crore for the last one week. The currency supply of Rs 15 crore needed in rural banks has also dropped to Rs 10 crore. The Kanpur branch of the Reserve Bank of India provides cash to the banks and the 250 currency chests across Uttar Pradesh. Stating that the problem of crash crunch would be over within the next few weeks, officials said that they are in touch with the higher authorities and the problem will be solved in few days. OneIndia News EC bribery case case: How strong is the case against TTV Dinakaran? India oi-Vicky By Vicky The special branch of the Delhi police was in Chennai on Thursday to gather more evidence against Sasikala Natarajan's nephew, T T V Dinakaran in connection with the Election Commission bribery case. However the Delhi police has a long way to go before it can gather evidence to directly link Dinakaran with Sukesh Chandrashekhar the conman who assured that he could get the two leaves symbol of the AIADMK by bribing EC officials to the tune of Rs 50 crore. For now the case rests on an audio tape containing a brief conversation between Dinakaran and Sukesh. The police will need to go beyond this evidence and it is also said that the arrest of Dinakaran took place following a confession by an advocate. The police say that Dinakaran was desperate and hence he had even agreed to speak on the phone with Sukesh. This is a piece of evidence that links him directly, but the same will need to be corroborated further, the police also say. The desperation was shown as Dinakaran had been nominated as the candidate to fight the R K Nagar by-elections. The two leaves symbol had been frozen by the EC as the O Panneerselvam group had staked a claim on the same. During the search conducted on Thursday, the Delhi police have not managed to seize any incriminating material. We are at it and will get there, a Delhi police officer told OneIndia. We are in the process of corroborating the evidence based on the statements made by both Dinakaran and Sukesh, the officer also said. Sukesh reportedly confessed to the Delhi police that he had met with Dinakaran posing as a High Court judge. Delhi police sources said that during the questioning, Dinakaran too confessed to meeting Sukesh and this had led to his arrest. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 28, 2017, 7:18 [IST] First joint anti-Modi stir by opposition from May 1 onwards India oi-Vicky By Vicky The opposition which has decided to unite to beat the BJP will launch its first anti-Modi stir from May 1 onwards. The Congress would lead the stir backed by the Left, Janata Dal (United) and the Samajwadi Party. This first anti-Modi stir would be held on May 1 which is Labour Day. The opposition leaders would share the stage at an event called, "Progressive Unity," in New Delhi to highlight the misdoings of the Narendra Modi government at the centre. The event comes at a time when a joint opposition is already in talks to elect a President of its choice. The opposition led by Congress president Sonia Gandhi have been holding a series of talks for the past week ahead of the Presidential elections to be held in July. Pranab Mukherjee's term as President of India comes to an end on July and there is no clarity either by the ruling BJP or the opposition whether they intend giving him a second term. The meeting to be held on May 1 would focus on the economic policies of the Modi government. The opposition had united following the decision on demonetisation and even launched a nation-wide stir against the same. During a meeting of the Congress and Left leaders recently it was decided that nation-wide agitations against the Modi government would held regularly. OneIndia News From Chandini Chowk to Chennai: The TTV Dinakaran money trail India oi-Vicky By Vicky T T V Dinakaran was taken to Chennai on a transit remand and a day later a Delhi-based hawala operative was arrested. Identified as Naresh, the hawala operative hails from Chandini Chowk in Old Delhi. The Delhi police had found Rs 1.3 crore on Sukesh Chandrashekhar, the conman who assured Dinakaran that he would get the AIADMK's symbol by bribing officials of the Election Commission. The total amount that was part of the deal amounted to Rs 50 crore, the Delhi police have alleged. While the entire amount was not paid, a part payment was made to Sukesh through Naresh the police have found. The money trail: Tracking the money trail is crucial to the probe. At present, the investigation is based on the three-minute audio clip in which Dinakaran and Sukesh are heard speaking. However, this evidence is not strong enough to file charges and secure a connection. Prima facie, the Delhi police has learnt that Dinakaran wanted to bag the AIAMDK's two leaves symbol at any cost. He wanted to bag it before the R K Nagar by-elections as he was the candidate for the constituency. He is alleged to have got in touch with a minister to help arrange the money to be paid off to Sukesh. Sukesh had sensed his desperation and decided to pose as a high court judge and make an offer. Dinakaran who was desperate took the offer. He then got in touch with a minister in the Tamil Nadu government and spoke about the offer made to him. The minister, in turn, spoke with a friend who is a Trichy-based businessman to raise the funds. Once the money was raised, Naresh was contacted and asked to transfer the money to Sukesh through a hawala transaction. Naresh is alleged to have transferred Rs 1.3 crore to Sukesh that was found on him at the time of his arrest. The Delhi police say that only a part payment was made. He was assured of payments in instalments, the police have also learnt. The final part of the payment would be made only after the job was done, it was agreed upon. The police say that the network was a large one. Several persons from Tamil Nadu closely associated with Dinakaran are under the scanner. The police has already questioned an advocate apart from conducting search operations in various places. OneIndia News People shiver even at the thought of naming their kids 'Gayatri': Yogi's dig at ex-SP minister Former district judge Rajendra Singh had no role to play in Gayatri Prajapati bail Gayatri Prajapati bail cancelled by Allahabad HC India oi-Gulam Rabbani Allahabad, April 28: Former Uttar Pradesh minister Gayatri Prajapati's bail was cancelled by the Allahabad high court bench on Friday. Prajapati was out on bail, granted by the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses court on April 25 in connection with a rape case. Prajapati and six alleged accomplices are accused of gang raping a woman and attempting to rape her minor daughter. On April 25, the former UP minister Prajapati and his two accomplices were granted bail by a POSCO court in Lucknow in connection with a rape case. Special judge of POCSO court Om Prakash Mishra had granted the bail to Prajapati, Vikas Verma and Amrendra Singh alias Mintu on April 25. Lucknow bench of Allahabad HC stays bail given to former UP Minister Gayatri Prajapati in a rape case by local court (file pic) pic.twitter.com/dmbqhOLeGY ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 28, 2017 In this regard, the court had asked him to furnish two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each and a personal bond of the same amount. On Thursday, the UP government had decided to approach the high court to seek cancellation of rape-accused Gayatri Prajapati's bail. Prajapati will stay in jail after two courts ordered that he should be remanded to judicial custody in connection with two other cases. The Lucknow Police served court warrants in both cases at the district jail, where Prajapati is lodged since March 15. Supreme Court on April 24 had directed the UP government to ensure the protection of a woman who had lodged FIR against Gayatri for raping her and molesting her daughter. Earlier this year, a middle-aged woman from Chitrakoot had moved Supreme Court accusing Prajapati and his aides of raping her and molesting her daughter. The apex court on February 17 ordered that FIR should be lodged against the then minister. OneIndia News Hawala operative who transferred cash for T T V Dinakaran arrested India oi-Vicky By Vicky Naresh a hawala operative who had allegedly transferred money between T T V Dinakaran and Sukesh Chandrashekhar in the Election Commission bribery case has been arrested by the Delhi police. He is alleged to have been tasked with transferring the Rs 50 crore as promised to Sukesh a conman to bribe EC officials in a bid to bag the two leaves symbol of the AIADMK. The police had found that Naresh, a hawala dealer in old Delhi, had allegedly transferred money at the behest of Dinakaran to the conman, Sukesh. At the time of Sukesh's arrest last week, the police recovered Rs 1.3 crore from him. The police have also learnt that the money was allegedly raised by a Tamil Nadu minister through a Trichy-based businessman. The businessman in turn got in touch with Naresh to transfer the money. The Delhi police has an audio tape containing a conversation between Dinakaran and Sukesh Chandrashekhar the conman. However, to corroborate the evidence further, the scanner is now on a Trichy based businessman who allegedly arranged the money. It may be recalled that Dinakaran was arrested on the charge that he had through Sukesh tried bribing EC officials to bag the two leaves symbol of the AIADMK. The amount in question was Rs 50 crore. Dinakaran has been booked under IPC sections 170 and 120b and Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Police sources say that the tip-off regarding a Trichy-based businessman is a major lead in the case. He is said to have arranged the money on behalf of Dinakaran before passing it on to a hawala operator in Delhi. The hawala operator is then said to have transferred the money to Sukesh. When the police arrested Sukesh, they had found Rs 1.3 crore on him. The police say that they would now probe the businessman. This will help establish a direct link. Several other Tamil Nadu ministers too are under the scanner. There is a suspicion that the ministers too had played a role in arranging for the money to help Dinakaran bag the two leaves symbol. The police say that it was a huge chunk of cash that had been arranged. Many TN ministers who were backing Dinakaran and wanted him to win the RK Nagar by-poll may have played a role in arranging for the money. OneIndia News HELP! We have been hijacked: Tweet to Modi sends security into a tizzy India oi-Vicky By Vicky A passenger's tweet to the Prime Minister sent security agencies into a tizzy. A Jet Airways flight had been diverted to Jaipur due to bad weather in Delhi. However, a worried passenger thought that the plane was being hijacked and he sent out a tweet to the prime minister. In his tweet, he wrote, "Sir, we have been in jet airways flight for past 3 hours. Looks like hijacked. Please help 9W355." Soon after the flight landed in Jaipur a thorough check of the passenger who tweeted as @nitinvarma5n was checked and then offloaded. @narendramodi sir we have been in jet airways flight for past 3 hrs , looks like hijacked, pl help 9W355,. pic.twitter.com/bcRXcCLgic Nitin (@nitinvarma5n) April 27, 2017 The incident took place on Flight 9W355 that was carrying 176 people, including 8 crew members. It was diverted to Jaipur due to bad weather at Delhi. A spokesperson for the airlines said that a passenger tweeted a message involving a security threat necessitating activation of the security protocol. "The information was promptly shared with the concerned authorities including the CISF, and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and local law enforcement agencies in line with Standard Operating Procedures," the statement read. OneIndia News How govt officials in Nagaland helped extort money for terrorists India oi-Vicky By Vicky Three officers in the Nagaland government were arrested by the National Investigation Agency on charges of paying huge amount of money to terrorist groups. The NIA has been probing a case in which it was found that several terror groups such as the NSCN-K, NSCN-R, FGN, NNC had been extorting money from the government. The officers arrested are Tulula Pongen, joint director/DDO, department of social welfare, Kohima, Alienba Pangjung Jamir, joint director/DDO, department of land resources, Kohima and Lashito Sheqi, UDA/cashier, department of land resources, Kohima. They have been accused of large-scale extortion and illegal tax collection on behalf of the terrorist groups. The NIA says that this was revealed during the scrutiny of the documents including demand letters and payment receipts which were seized during the search operation carried out by the NIA in 13 Government offices on January 18. The NIA investigation revealed that these terrorist groups from Nagaland after abrogating the ceasefire with the government in March 2015 has been extorting from the government apart from carrying out strikes on security forces. How NSCN-K taxed the Nagaland government According to investigations, the NSCN-K, had prepared a list of 24 government departments. They included the social welfare, irrigation, housing among other departments. The group would call it tax, but in reality, it was just extortion. Investigations revealed that the outfit had tasked its operatives to compulsorily collect 24 per cent of government employees' salaries apart from funds from the department meant for government work. The papers that were seized and scrutinised by the NIA showed that the outfit had set a target of Rs 10 crore to be collected from these departments. Until August 2016, the outfit had managed to collect Rs 25 lakh from both the irrigation and social welfare departments, the probe revealed. The operation was being controlled out of Myanmar by the outfit boss, S S Khaplang. He tasked his finance in charge, S Khetoshe Sumi to oversee the operation in Myanmar. Operating out of Kohima and Dimapur, Sumi would personally call officials in the government departments and demand 24 per cent tax. He would threaten them with dire consequences if the amount was not paid up. Sumi would either meet these officials personally or send his trusted aide to collect the money. Once the money was collected, he would rope in the women members of the outfit and transport the cash to Myanmar, investigations further revealed. OneIndia News India 4th on list of most online security breaches India oi-Prabhpreet By Prabhpreet With the prime minister's plans of Digital India in full flight, a worrying statistic regarding the country's online security has come to light. India with its ever growing digital presence has been ranked fourth in terms of online security breaches, with over 5 per cent of the total global threat detections around the world, according to a Symantec study. While countries like the US and China, which have been entangled over allegations of cyber war and espionage between them, have taken the top two spots respectively with a combined total of almost 34 per cent of such detections. They are followed by Brazil and India. Controversies over initiatives started in the country such as the Aadhaar scheme were bio-metrics of the citizens are taken and stored by the government and maybe vulnerable to cyber theft according to critics, and the recent admission of the State Bank of India that account details of its customers might have been hacked, put such a ranking into perspective. Around the world, last year saw a resurgence of different online threats like e-mail attacks, virtual banking heists, ransomeware and even new technologies such as IoT and cloud proved vulnerable to such threats. With India especially vulnerable as instances of fraud in the country increased from 3.4 per cent in 2015 to 5.1 in 2016, while China was able to bring down hacks to under 10 per cent in 2016 from almost 24 per cent the previous year. Tarun Kaura, a director at Symantec (solution product management- Asia-Pacific & Japan) is reported to have said, "Symantec uncovered evidence linking North Korea to attacks on banks in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Ecuador and Poland. This was an incredibly audacious hack and the first time we observed strong indications of nation state involvement in financial cyber crime." He added that the attackers were able to steal an amount of 94 million dollars. Online data breaches of major online companies such as Yahoo had made headlines last year after the company reported in September that 500 million of its user accounts were compromised in 2014. A number that seemed small compared to the companies admission later that it had been a victim of the largest data breach ever reported with a billion of its user accounts compromised. According to Symantec's data, more than 7 billion online identities have been stolen in data breaches in the last eight years. The number of online identities stolen have almost doubled from 563 million in 2015 to over 1.1 billion in 2016, with cyber criminals making use of e-mails as an infection point and making it a ever growing threat to users. In 2016, 1 out of 131 e-mails contained a malicious link or attachment, which is the highest in five years, according to Symantec. Whereas, businesses lost more than 3 billion dollars over the last three years, with more than 400 of them being targeted everyday through Business e-mail compromise (BEC), which typically rely on carefully composed spear-phishing e-mails. OneIndia News Jaitley statue at Kotla: Angry Bedi asks DDCA to remove his name from stands, quits membership Reforms in India being done by conviction, not compulsion: PM Narendra Modi BJP leaders pay tribute to former minister Arun Jaitley on his third death anniversary India in final stages of formulating mfg policy in defence: Jaitley India oi-PTI New Delhi, April 28: India is in the advanced stages of formulating a policy to encourage domestic defence manufacturing and cut import of combat planes, ships and submarines, Union Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday. Addressing the annual meeting of CII in Delhi, Finance Minister Jaitley, who holds additional charge of the Defence Ministry, said that "the focus would be on technological tie-ups to help India become a manufacturing economy." "India is the world's largest arms importer, spending some 1.8 per cent of its GDP on defence. It imports about 70 per cent of defence equipment, a proposition which the government wants to change," he added. Jaitley, however, did not elaborate on the policy in works and whether it will include tax incentives and state support. "The response that we have from domestic and international industry has been quite encouraging itself," he added. "With its growing global clout, India which has topped the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's list of largest defence importers for the last seven years is looking at self-reliance in aerospace and defence industry. The government has pledged to spend $250 billion by 2025 on weapons and military equipment," he said. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 28, 2017, 14:31 [IST] Karnataka BJP crisis: 'Those who should act, will', says B L Santosh India oi-Anusha The man accused of being the mastermind behind the dissent in BJP, B L Santosh is rather quiet. Accused by B S Yeddyurappa of creating differences within the party, Santosh calmly said that those who should act will act. "I neither made any observations nor have comments to make about the situation in Karnataka. Those who should take action will intervene," B L Santosh told OneIndia. The RSS strongman has been accused of using K S Eshwarappa as a pawn to engineer rebellion against B S Yeddyurappa. Santosh maintained that he was not a politician but a worker thus has nothing to say. What he did convey without putting it in words is that the senior leadership of the BJP including Amit Shah was keeping a close eye on the developments and an 'action plan' is being readied. Yeddyurappa minced no words in accusing Santosh, the joint secretary (organisation) of the BJP of creating problems in the state unit. While Yeddyurappa spoke of Santosh directly only on Thursday, his supporters have been holding him responsible for the unsavoury developments in the BJP since the last 6 months. "Santosh wants to be Kingmaker" Supporters of B S Yeddyurappa have alleged that Santosh has been engineering a rebellion to replace B S Yeddyurappa as the BJP's chief ministerial candidate. Following the rout in Gundlupet and Nanjangud bypolls, the dissent against Yeddyurappa has only been increasing and the leader's supporters allege that Santosh is attempting to use the opportunity in his favour. Those neutral in the BJP, however, dismissed the allegations. "Santosh is not interested in becoming the king. He only wants to be the kingmaker," said a BJP leader. Santosh comes from a strong RSS background and has been instrumental in managing the party's performance in Goa assembly polls. He, many from the BJP say, is keen on having someone easy to control in the king's seat and the same is not a possible with Yeddyurappa around. The interest right now, BJP leaders said, was to have a man who the RSS can control at the helm of affairs. The fight really is for the control over the party than anything else. OneIndia News Kupwara attack: CM Mehbooba pays tribute to martyred soldiers India oi-PTI Jammu, April 27: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy CM Nirmal Singh on Thursday paid rich tribute to a Captain and two other soldiers who were killed in an encounter on Tuesday morning in Kupwara district. She extended her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the soldiers and expressed anguish over the death of a civilian during the day in the area. Three heavily armed terrorists stormed an army camp in Kupwara district of Kashmir, killing a Captain and two other soldiers before two of the assailants were gunned down in a fierce 35-minute encounter. Soon after the encounter, a mob started pelting stones at the security forces, leading to a clash in which a 75-year-old civilian was killed due to a bullet injury. In a statement, Mehbooba said, "An unending cycle of violence has got unleashed in our society which is devouring it and pushing Kashmir towards darkness." She appealed the people to come forward in bringing this "cycle of violence" to an end and help the government in its efforts of restoring normalcy and peace in the valley. Singh, while paying tributes to the soldiers killed in the encounter, said they have rendered the ultimate sacrifice while fighting the elements inimical to peace. Expressing solidarity with the families of the soldiers killed, he hoped the bereaved families would be able to bear the loss. PTI Maharashtra: IS operative planned several self-radicalised modules India oi-Vicky By Vicky The alleged Islamic State operative arrested recently had tried raising a module in Maharashtra, investigations have revealed. Recently the Maharashtra ATS had busted a module which was self-radicalised. It was found that this module had operatives from six states in India and its ring leader had been inspired by posts by the IS on the social media. The operative Nazeem Shamshad Shah had moved to Mumbra in Maharashtra recently in search of a job. He had started recruiting there by radicalising them, the probe has revealed. He was impressed by the IS posts on the social media which prompted him to start a module of his own, ATS officials say. He would chat up on these topics with people from across the world, the officer also informed. The police say that he had planned on undertaking a sabotage operation in Maharashtra and other parts of the country by raising a module inspired by the IS. It was also revealed during the probe that he had been arrested in 2016 in Saudi Arabia in connection with a passport case. He was working as a plumber at Dammam for two years. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 28, 2017, 8:21 [IST] Man with knives arrested near UK Parliament identified India pti-PTI London, Apr 28: Scotland Yard ay identified the 'knifeman' arrested near the UK Parliament on terrorism charges as Mohammed Khalid Omar Ali, a foreign-born British national. BREAKING: Knife reported to be on ground during ongoing police incident in Whitehall pic.twitter.com/IJDA66V2q6 Ross Kempsell (@rosskempsell) April 27, 2017 The 27-year-old suspect went to school in Tottenham in north London and remains in custody at a south London police station. He was arrested in a very public operation near Parliament Square as part of an intelligence-led operation after a concerned family member contacted police. The arrest was made a month after a lone wolf attack left five people dead near the highly guarded Westminster. Khalid was known to the police and the security service MI5 and searches at addresses linked to him are ongoing and therefore more information on his background remains withheld. The Metropolitan Police said yesterday he had been arrested in Parliament Street, at the junction with Parliament Square, "following a stop and search as part of an ongoing operation". A Met Police statement said: "The man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. Knives have been recovered from him. "Detectives from the counter-terrorism command are continuing their investigation, and as a result of this arrest there is no immediate known threat." A witness described having seen two knives on the ground, one of which he described as a large bread knife. Security services were reportedly tracking the suspect in a covert operation over some time, hoping to gather as much intelligence as possible before swooping on him. The bearded suspect was seen in pictures as calm and smirking into cameras as he was handcuffed. PTI India's intellectuals are anti-India, says Australian sociologist who is all praise for PM Modi Congress can never give stable govt to Himachal; it is guarantee of instability, corruption, scam: PM Modi Martyred soldiers father appeals to PM Modi to take action against Pak terrorists, Naxals India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Lucknow, April 28: It's an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a father, who has just lost his son fighting against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. Arun Kant Yadav, father of 25-year-old Captain Ayush Yadav, who was one of the three army personnel, who were killed in a Fidayeen attack in Kupwara on Thursday, asked the PM to take strong action against terrorists and Naxals, responsible for the killings of so many Indian soldiers in recent times. "Security personnel have been losing lives in Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, 25 Central Reserve Police Force jawans were killed in a Naxal attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, recently. Please take action. The Centre needs to improve policies," said father of Ayush. Arun remembered that his wife spoke to their son last on Wednesday. The Yadav family stays in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. "Next day she kept calling him but then he never picked the call," said a teary-eyed Arun. "It should not happen to anyone else's child...how long will we see our children being killed like this," he added. Arun revealed that he wanted his son to get married soon. "I used to tell my child, please get married before my retirement, and he used to say-- have you got nothing else to talk about?" The government policy in Kashmir needs to be more firm, said his father. "You tie a person to a jeep and there is outrage but what about countless soldiers who are dying," he said, referring to a controversial video of a young man tied to the front of an army jeep as a human shield against stone throwers. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 28, 2017, 9:22 [IST] UP BJP chief to workers: Have tea with Dalits, make them understand votes are cast on nationalism, not caste Mayawati says condition of Dalits, Adivasis pitiable in Gujarat: India pti-PTI Lucknow, Apr 28: With Gujarat gearing up for the assembly elections later this year, BSP chief Mayawati on Friday alleged Dalits were living in pitiable condition in the state and that they should "unite and uproot" the BJP in the upcoming polls. "The condition of Dalits, Adivasis (tribals) and the poor among the 'sarva samaj' is very bad in Gujarat...the capitalists and the rich are ruling the roost...social fabric there has been disturbed...there is excessive discrimination with the Muslims and they have no place to get justice," she said. Mayawati was speaking at the review meeting of her party's Gujarat unit here. "If the deprived sections there (in Gujarat) unite on the basis of mutual brotherhood and contest the coming Assembly elections, they can oust the communal and casteist BJP," she said. Though admitting that the number of Dalits in the western state was less, the BSP supremo said the Una incident had forced the community to question the establishment. Four Dalit youths were brutally thrashed by 'cow vigilantes' at Una in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat in July last year. The incident had led to massive protest in various parts of the country. Issuing instructions to party workers for the Gujarat polls, Mayawati said her party will fight for the rights of the Adivasis to end their harassment. PTI India's intellectuals are anti-India, says Australian sociologist who is all praise for PM Modi PM Modi unveils G20 logo: Significance of the lotus and its seven petals Modi appreciates Cyprus support for UNSC membership India ians-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, April 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India appreciates Cyprus' support for its permanent membership in the UN Security Council as the two sides signed four agreements, including on air services and merchant shipping. "India and Cyprus share the common objective of bringing about an early reform of the United Nations Security Council," Modi said while jointly addressing the media with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades following delegation-level talks here. "Both of us believe that a reformed Security Council, reflective of the world as it is, and not as it was, is necessary to address the range of complex challenges facing the world today," he said. "Excellency, in this context, I deeply appreciate your support for India's claim for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council." Stating that Friday's discussions covered the full range of the bilateral relationship, Modi said that he and Anastasiades exchanged perspectives on important global and regional issues of mutual concern. He also said that Cyprus and India enjoyed close economic ties with the Mediterranean island nation being the eighth largest investor in India. "Last year, to boost our capital and investment linkages, we have revised the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement," the Prime Minister said, adding that India offered excellent investment opportunities for Cypriot entrepreneurs. Last year, a revised double taxation avoidance agreement was signed between the two countries. The provisions of the new DTAA came into force from April 1. "The industry and business in our two economies can shape attractive partnerships through the flagship programmes launched by my government," the Prime Minister said. "The beautiful landscapes of Cyprus and the wide horizons of 'Incredible India' can be a source of tourism promotion in both our countries." Modi said that given its location, Cyprus appreciated the threat that terrorism posed to global peace and stability. Stating that India itself has been battling cross border terrorism for decades, without naming Pakistan, he said: "We agreed that there is an urgent need for all countries to decisively act against those states who generate, support, shelter and sustain these factories of violence in our regions. The President and I discussed the need for creating a comprehensive global legal framework, particularly through early conclusion of the (India-initiated) Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism." Modi also expressed support for the territorial integrity of Cyprus and appreciated Anastasiades's efforts in leading from the front in trying to bring a new era of peace, development and security. "Under your leadership, Cyprus has successfully overcome its recent financial and banking challenges," he stated. On his part, Anastasiades said that he and Modi also discussed relations between India and the European Union (EU) and expressed support for an India-EU free trade agreement. He invited Indian companies to invest in Cyprus saying India and Cyprus were like-minded countries. The Cypriot President said both Cyprus and India have agreed to cooperate in areas like climate change, environment and international terrorism. "I appreciate your unequivocal support for Cyprus' integrity," Anastasiades said. Following Friday's talks, the two sides signed four agreements in the areas of air services, merchant shipping, agriculture, and culture, education and scientific cooperation. Earlier in the day, the Cypriot President was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Anastasiades also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and described him as a "spiritual leader of Cyprus and inspiration for its freedom struggle". Following this, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the visiting dignitary. Anastasiades will confer Cyprus' highest civilian honour, the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III, on President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday evening when the latter will host a banquet in honour of the visiting delegation. Anastasiades, who arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, will depart from New Delhi on Saturday. This is his first visit to India since he became the President in 2013. IANS Nothing in Kashmir will work if secession is sought says SC India oi-Vicky By Vicky The Supreme Court on Friday said that talks should take place with stakeholders in Kashmir, but also warned that nothing would work if the secession is sought. The SC also said that it would direct the CRPF to stop using the pellet guns for two weeks only if there is an assurance that there will be no stone pelting. While hearing a petition the court asked the Jammu and Kashmir high court Bar Association to suggest a peace roadmap and place the same before the government. The SC also sought to know how will peace be restored if people in Kashmir continued to throw stones. The SC asked the J&K Bar Association to get names of people who can hold talks with the centre for a resolution in the state. The Centre, however, told the court that it is not willing to speak with those who talk of azadi and also the separatists. The Bar Association wanted talks to be held with the Hurriyat Conference without the condition that it must be within the framework of the Constitution. The Centre said that it would talk to those persons who are legally permitted to conduct dialogue on behalf of the people. The SC noted that it would direct the Centre to hold talks only if there is a first step from the people whose cause the Bar Association is espousing. The matter has been posted to May 9 with a directive to the Bar Association to come back with a suggestion. OneIndia News X, Y, Z, Z+ and SPG: The whys and hows of security categories in India Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar takes charge as new CRPF chief India ians-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, April 28: Senior IPS officer Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar on Friday took charge as the new Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force, four days after the force lost 25 troopers in a deadly Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district. The government appointed the 1983 batch Indian Police Service officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre for the post nearly two months after the retirement of previous chief K. Durga Prasad on February 28. Bhatnagar, 57, took charge at the CRPF headquarters here at Lodhi road and was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour. Acting CRPF chief Additional Director General Sudeep Lakhtakia, a 1984-batch Telangana cadre IPS officer, handed over the baton to Bhatnagar this morning, hours after he returned to India from Jakarta on Thursday night after attending a conference. Bhatnagar was till now serving as the chief of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). He has been appointed as the head of the about 300,000 strong force till December 31, 2019, the date of his retirement or till further orders. Just after taking charg, Bhatnagar asked his officers to give him a briefing about the operational situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the April 24 Maoist ambush that left 25 troopers of the force dead in the bloodiest attack since 2010 when 76 CRPF troopers were killed. Twelve CRPF men were killed in a similar Maoist attack in Sukma on March 11. Addressing officers, Bhatnagar said "the force should be learning organisation" and that they must improve as they go long. He directed the senior officers to closely interact with the troopers. "Grevance redressal and welfare of troopers, camaraderie and close interaction with them is essential for all officers," said Bhatnagar, stressing the need of having appropriate technology to support the force personnel. IANS Lack of development in J&K for decades was one of the reasons behind rise of terrorism: Rajnath Singh Rajnath Singh briefs Modi on Sukma attack, J&K package India pti-PTI New Delhi, Apr 28: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on steps taken in the aftermath of the naxal attack on security forces in Sukma as well as the status of the Rs 80,000-crore development package for Jammu and Kashmir. In the half-an-hour meeting at the official residence of the prime minister at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, Singh gave details of the measures adopted after the dastardly attack on the CRPF men in the naxal hotbed of Sukma in Chhattisgarh wherein 25 security personnel were killed, official sources said. The Home Minister also briefed the prime minister on the status of the Rs 80,068 crore package for Jammu and Kashmir. The package was announced by Modi in November, 2015. So far, Rs 19,000 crore has been released to the state government by the Centre. "The successful implementation of the mega package is key to assuage the feeling of alienation in Jammu and Kashmir," officials said. Singh had yesterday reviewed the progress in the implementation of the development package in the valley, which has been witnessing unrest lately. PTI Delhi returns to old liquor policy from tomorrow: All you need to know Delhi govt introduces new app to provide information on liquor vends: Here's what we know SC junks plea seeking ban on surrogate ads for tobacco products India pti-PTI New Delhi, Apr 28: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking ban on surrogate advertisements, including soda commercials by liquor companies. Surrogate advertising is used to promote products like alcohol and cigarettes, for which advertisements are prohibited, in the guise of other products. A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar dismissed the plea filed by a law student who had also sought a direction to the Centre to frame guidelines to ban such advertisements. "Do you think that these soda advertisements make people drink alcohol more? We don't think so...Sorry," the bench that also comprised Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul said. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by a Rajasthan resident Kartikey Bhatt who claimed that the Cable Television Networks Rules state that no advertisement shall be permitted which directly or indirectly promotes production, sale or consumption of liquor or other intoxicants. However, the government has failed to discharge their legal duty and surrogate advertisements were being illegally broadcast on cable services without seeking any prior permission, the plea said. Noting that surrogate advertisements for alcohol was illegal, the plea said it was the government and its agencies' failure to ensure implementation of the law. PTI SC orders FIR against Tamil Nadu minister in cheating case India oi-Anusha The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Tamil Nadu police to file an FIR against minister Kamaraj. The minister, a close aide of Sasikala Natarajan and Dinakaran, is accused of cheating a real estate businessman of Rs 15 lakh. The petitioner had sought the Supreme Court's intervention after the high court ruled in the minister's favour. SVS Kumar a resident of Thiruvarur district in a petition alleged that Kamaraj promised to help him get a house vacated and took Rs 15 lakh. The petition alleged that the man who was elected from Nannilam and went on to become a minister in the Tamil Nadu cabinet neither got the house vacated nor returned the money. The petitioner also alleged that he was issued death threats and miscreants were sent to his house to threaten him. The petitioner claimed that he sought the court's intervention since the police in Mannargudi had conspired with minister Kamaraj and took away all the evidence presented in the case. Following the petition seeking supreme court's directions to the police to take up the case, the apex court ordered for an FIR to be filed against the minister. It may be noted that Kamaraj was one of the ministers who was accused of attempting to stop income tax raids at Dinakaran's residence. Following a complaint by the income tax officials that the minister obstructed officials from doing their duty, the Chennai police filed a case against him. OneIndia News Sushma Swaraj shuts down a troll who said she will be remembered like Sheila Dikshit Delhi loses two of its former CMs in span of two weeks Final Goodbye: From Sushma Swaraj to Sheila Dikshit - A look at politicians that India lost in 2019 Sheila Dikshit gives 'accessible' advice to Rahul; stays away from 'guiding' Kejriwal India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer New Delhi, April 28: Senior Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, who has openly aired her grievances of being sidelined by her party colleagues during the recent Uttar Pradesh assembly elections and the Delhi civic body polls, has a piece of advice for Rahul Gandhi. However, the three-time Delhi chief minister excused herself from giving any guidance to her successor and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal in 'matters of politics'. Talking to NDTV, the 79-year-old Congress veteran said that Rahul should make himself more accessible to party workers to boost their morale as they are feeling 'low' due to Congress' regular defeats in elections. The former governor of Kerala cited the example of party president Sonia Gandhi, who earlier used to spend 2-3 hours every day at the party headquarters in the national capital. However, when asked what suggestions she would like to give to the incumbent Delhi CM, whose party too was routed in the Delhi civic body polls -- the results of which were declared a few days ago -- said that she was nobody to advise Kejriwal. "Nobody can give advice to Kejriwal," said Dikshit, taking a dig at the Delhi CM's attitude of running his party and the national capital in a 'dictatorial manner'. Dikshit said that she was always ready to serve the party whenever she was asked to. During the initial days of the UP assembly poll campaigns, she jumped into the fray, after she was declared as the Congress' CM candidate. However, later when she learnt that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party forged an alliance to fight the elections under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav, she came forward to declare that she was no more in the CM race. Dikshit added that no one from the Congress told her that the party and the SP were forming an alliance. After Dikshit learnt about the alliance she voluntarily stepped aside from the CM race as "two persons can't be the CM face for a single party or an alliance". "I wish Congress should keep its communication lines opened to avoid future embarrassment," she added. OneIndia News Tuesday is now No Meeting Day in Haryana and officers to be with people on Friday 30 per cent down: How Haryana aced the decrease in stubble burning Slaughtered piglet found inside Sonipat mosque, tension averted India oi-Gulam Rabbani Sonipat, April 28: The police prompt action averted tension in Mohana village of Sonipat on Friday morning after a slaughtered piglet was found in the mosque. According to reports, Noor Mohammad, the Imam of the mosque found the piglet around 7 am and alerted the police, Based on the information, the police reached the spot along with forensic experts for investigation. Reports said that the immediate action by police had averted any untoward incident between the religious people. Mohana police officer said that it was a 15-20 day old piglet that was slaughtered. He added that the police action against the incident had satisfied the Muslim families and mentioned that security forces were deployed in the incident. The police officer said that a case was registered under Section 295 and investigation was launched to arrest the accused at the earliest. Villagers suspect that the piglet was thrown over the wall as all the doors of the mosque were closed. They said that the piglet was thrown somewhere around 6-7 am after the morning prayers. The village sarpanch Ishwar Singh said that he will give full support in the investigation and said he too condemns the act that causes violence between Hindu-Muslim community. He added that 50 Muslim families are living in the village and all condemn the act. OneIndia News 'Smoking guns' in Indian Army must come under judicial scrutiny: SC India oi-Vicky By Vicky The Supreme Court rejected a plea by the Centre to recall a 2016 judgment on conducting a probe into 1,528 cases of alleged fake encounters in Manipur in the past two decades. A bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, J S Khehar dismissed a curative plea in which it was stated that the SC verdict had hampered the Indian Army's ability to respond to insurgent and terrorist threats. In 2016, the SC had decided to probe 1,528 cases of alleged fake encounters by security forces in Manipur. It had stated that democracy would be in grave danger if a probe was not conducted. The bench had also said that the armed forces cannot be permitted to kill citizens on a mere allegation or suspicion that they were enemies of the state. The court had also said that 'smoking guns,' must come under judicial scrutiny. The Centre decided to move a curative petition against the 2016 verdict. While rejecting the same, the court held that no case was made out within the parameters indicated in the decision of this court. The centre had argued that the verdict was affecting anti-terror operations by the army. The morale of the forces is down due to this, the Centre had also contended. OneIndia News Soumya murder case: SC rejects petition filed by Kerala Govt India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar The Supreme Court on Friday has rejected Kerala government's appeal for the death sentence to the convict in connection with Soumya murder case that shook the conscience of Kerala. A six-judge Bench of the Supreme Court heard the curative petition filed by the Government of Kerala. The Bench was headed by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar. Besides Justices Ranjan Gogoi, PC Pant and UU Lalit, who had heard the case and passed the judgement, the Bench also comprised Justices Dipak Misra and J Chelameswar. In 2016, the Supreme Court had refused to confirm capital punishment to Govindachamy but upheld his life sentence in the rape and murder case of 23-year-old Soumya. The fast track court in Trichur (Kerala) had pronounced death sentence for the accused Govindachamy who had raped and murdered Soumya while she was travelling in a passenger train from Ernakulam to Shornur. The incident happened on Feb 1, 2011 when Soumya was brutally murdered while on her way back from Kochi to her home in Shornur. Govindachamy is understood to have forcibly entered the ladies compartment in the passenger train and in failing to rob her, pushed her out of the moving train and raped her on the tracks. She was grievously injured at the time of rape. Soumya was admitted to the intensive care at the Trichur Medical College only to succumb to her injuries. OneIndia News Varanasi lights up with 8 lakh lamps on Dev Deepawali; PM shares pics too India's intellectuals are anti-India, says Australian sociologist who is all praise for PM Modi PM Modi unveils G20 logo: Significance of the lotus and its seven petals This is how Modi-Shah jodi plans to capture Bengal, Himachal for BJP India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer This is for sure, till Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah don't turn the entire country 'saffron' by winning every election for the party, they're not going to rest. Now, PM Modi and Shah--the BJP's best jodi to win election after election for the party-- are eyeing to capture assembly polls in West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh. On Thursday, when PM Modi went to Shimla, the capital city of HP, to launch the low- cost flights under the UDAN scheme, he made it a point to subtly criticise the 'corrupt' rule of the current Congress government in the state. The state is set to host assembly elections in a few months from now and political analysts believe PM Modi 'unofficially' kick-started the BJP's poll campaign in the state by gifting the voters the luxury to travel in low-cost flights. On the other hand, PM's lieutenant and BJP's president Shah was in Bengal on Thursday. He was on a tour to WB to lay the groundwork to capture power from the current Mamata Banerjee government in the eastern state during the 2021 assembly elections. Here we bring you a few images from PM Modi and Shah's visits to these two states... Let my country fly low cost PM Modi launched the UDAN--Regional Connectivity Scheme for Civil Aviation--by flagging-off the first UDAN flight from Shimla on Thursday. Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati and Chief Minister of HP Virbhadra Singh were also present in the function. Picture credit: PTI Power to my Himachali friends PM Modi unveiled an e-plaque to mark the laying of the foundation stone of a Hydro- Engineering College at Bilaspur, HP, on Thursday. Picture credit: PTI Bengali food is truly yummy Shah enjoyed food at the house of an underprivileged woman during his visit to Goranga Nagar area in Rajarhut near Kolkata on Thursday. Picture credit: PTI Welcome to my house, Amit bhai Shah was welcomed with a garland by a woman at her house during his visit to Goranga Nagar area in Rajarhut near Kolkata on Thursday. Picture credit: PTI We are Modi fans BJP supporters held a cut-out of PM Modi during BJP 'Parivartan rally' in Shimla on Thursday. Picture credit: PTI In front of my hero Shah posed with the statue of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee in Kolkata on Thursday. Mookerjee founded the Jan Sangh which later evolved into the BJP. Picture credit: PTI Love in Shimla PM Modi was gifted a memento at BJP's Parivartan Rally at Ridge in Shimla on Thursday. Picture credit: PTI OneIndia News UP polls: Law against triple talaq saved families of thousands of Muslim women from breaking-up: PM UP: Woman accuses husband for giving her triple talaq over dowry Explained: What the SC said and how is Talaq-e-Hasan different from triple talaq For triple talaq victims, judicial verdict in favor but social verdict still against them! Triple Talaq: Muslim woman writes to PM Modi, UP CM Yogi Adityanath India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Muslim woman has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath after husband sent her letter of divorce via speed post. Delhi-based Arif Ali was married to Alka alias Parveen of Chuchela Kalaan village, Amroha district, on 8 June 2014. He divorced Alka on 9 December 2016. He has mentioned 'talaq deta hoon' thrice in the letter. #Amroha Triple Talaq: Woman writes to PM Modi & UP CM after husband sent her letter of divorce via speed post,planning to marry another lady pic.twitter.com/3l1Fo1IvB5 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 28, 2017 Also, Arif Ali has claimed that he divorced her wife in the presence of two witnesses. He has also sent the demand draft of Rs 58000 to fulfill the obligation of Mehr - amount of cash to be given to the woman for maintenance . The triple talaq is a Sharia law practice that allows men to end a marriage simply by saying 'talaq' to their wives three times in succession. Earlier, Atiya Sabri and Shagufta Shah from Saharanpur, UP, have raised their voice against Triple talaq and wrote to PM Narendra Modi for help. Shagufta Shah wrote to a letter to PM Modi requesting the abolition of Triple Talaq saying 'I voted for him, I hope I now get justice.' Saharanpur: I wrote a letter to PM Modi requesting #TripleTalaq to be abolished, I voted for him, I hope I now get justice- Shagufta Shah pic.twitter.com/oXi9Ktefae ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) 29 March 2017 The Modi government has submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court supporting ban on Triple Talaq. The government took a stance that the practice violates the fundamental rights of Muslim women and leads to their exploitation. Taking cognizance of number of petitions filed in the apex court, the Supreme Court has said that a five-judge Constitution Bench will look into the legality of triple talaq during the court's summer vacation in May. The bench begins the hearing on May 11. OneIndia News Will call you anytime, be present in office always: Yogi Adityanath warns babus India oi-Preeti Panwar Lucknow, April 28: It has been more than a month since Yogi Adityanath was elected as Uttar Pradesh chief minister on March 19. Yogi has been keeping ministers in his cabinet and babus on their toes. Cracking the whip on late comers, Yogi has reportedly told babus to be present in office from 9 am to 6 pm, and to ensure that they are in office during those nine hours, Yogi has told them that he 'can call them anytime' on landline numbers. He has also told cabinet ministers to conduct surprise checks in their departments. The alert was issued on Friday. In a crackdown on laxity, the 'workaholic' Yogi also made it clear that those officials who cannot work upto 18 to 20 hours, are free to leave. [Also Read: Yogi Adityanath sleeps 4 hours and this is keeping UP officials awake] "The state government will not tolerate any laxity in implementation of its schemes. Officers willing to work 18-20 hours a day can continue with the government or else, they are free to leave," he had declared on his home turf of Gorakhpur. [Also Read: Empty offices in UP: Yogi directs, 'work 20 hours a day or make way'] "I am a workaholic and the bureaucrats will have to deliver too. Those ready to work hard should continue and the non-performers should leave," he had said clearly in a stern message. [Also Read: Install biometric attendance system in all offices upto Block level, says UP CM] On April 24, Yogi had instructed that a biometric attendance system be put in place in offices up to the block level, to ensure all government employees reach work on time. This is one of the various strict instructions issued by the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh, to improve governance and to keep law and order in place. On Thursday, Yogi also told officials to be more active on social media for publicising the work done by their departments and to ensure that people were made aware of the work being done for their welfare. [Also Read: Use social media to reach out to people: Yogi tells officials] Among many of the initiatives, Yogi asked for a ban on consumption of paan and gutkha government offices, schools and hospitals. He also administered an oath of cleanliness and honesty to his cabinet ministers. [Tone up network, facilitate immediate action: UP govt tells DMs, SPs] Though some in the bureaucracy feel that things will soon settle down and the functioning of the government will return to its 'normal' speed, others are a little sceptical as they have heard of Adityanath's routine of waking up at 3 am and not returning to bed before 11 pm. OneIndia News UP government announces Rs 30 lakh ex gratia for Kupwara martyr's kin India oi-Anusha The Yogi Adityanath government on Friday announced Rs 30 lakh in exgratia to the family of Captain Ayush Yadav. The young soldier was martyred in Kupwara on Thursday as Pakistani terrorists attacked an army camp. Captain Yadav, a 25-year-old, made the supreme sacrifice leaving behind his parents and sister. Even as the brave officer's family demanded that the government frame a stronger policy in Kashmir, the Uttar Pradesh government announced Rs 30 lakh as compensation to Captain Yadav's kin. Captain Yadav comes from a family of men in uniform. His father Arun Kant Yadav is an inspector with the UP police while his grandfather was in the air force. The mortal remains of Captain Ayush Yadav are scheduled to depart from Srinagar at 1.30 pm on Friday and will reach Jaipur. It is expected to reach Kanpur by 5.30 pm. OneIndia News UP: Newly married woman threatened with talaq for not serving beef India oi-Gulam Rabbani Lakhimpurkheri, April 28: After the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to shut the illegal slaughter houses in the state, many had lost hopes on having beef meat, but in rare cases people demand others to serve beef or face consequences. In one such a bizarre incident, a woman's family was threatened to give divorce to the newly wed woman for serving beef during the wedding ceremony. The incident took place in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh. According to reports, a woman identified as Afsana was married on April 22. A few days after the wedding, her father, Salari went to daughter's marital home to complete the final set of rituals where the groom's family allegedly threatened to give talaq to Afsana for not serving beef and lack of family's hospitality for guests. They also alleged that they were not given dowry. Salari said that he paid dowry and did not fail in showing hospitality during the wedding but he did not mention about beef not being served. However, he approached the panchayats regarding the issue. On the other hand, Afsana too went to many police stations to seek justice. After all the efforts the duo now resorts to meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for justice. Naseem, brother of Afsana said that the family hopes rest on newly appointed CM Yogi. He added that Yogi is the only one who can help the family. He said that whatever had happened with his family was wrong and he opposes that. OneIndia News 'Kejriwal ji, if my claims true, you'll resign and retire': Sukesh writes a new letter IRCTC update: 151 trains cancelled on Nov 09; here is the complete list We will capture Delhi, challenge accepted: Mamata tells Amit Shah India oi-Vikas By Vikas The war words between BJP president Amit Shah and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee escalated with the latter accusing the saffron party of playing divisive politics and declaring that she would "capture Delhi." Mamata hit back at Shah for saying West Bengal had suffered under TMC rule and that BJP would restore its lost glory. Accusing the BJP-led Centre of intimidating the TMC, Mamata said at a meeting in Birpara, "The TMC cannot be trampled. We hold our heads high. Those who challenge me....I accept the challenge. We will capture Delhi." Shah, who was on a three-day visit to Bengal, had said the state had become "poverty-stricken" under the TMC and slammed Mamata for practising "politics of appeasement." He accused Mamata's government of destroying Bengal. Mamata said she does not need lectures from BJP, adding that the Centre had deprived non-BJP ruled states of funds. She further dubbed Shah having lunch at a Dalit's home as a "photo op" and said, "Lunch at a Dalit household and dinner at a five-star hotel." The BJP would fancy its chances in Bengal as the electoral performance of the Left and the Congress has plummeted. BJP garnered around 56 lakh votes in the 2016 Bengal assembly polls, which is much better than 19.5 lakh votes in 2011 polls. OneIndia News Which TN minister helped Dinakaran arrange funds to bribe EC officials? India oi-Vicky By Vicky A businessman from Trichy in Tamil Nadu and several Tamil Nadu ministers are under the scanner of the Delhi police after it was found that he helped T T V Dinakaran arrange money to bribe Election Commission officials. The police have not found any evidence to suggest that EC officials had been bribed, but a money trail through hawala channels is under the scanner. The Delhi police has an audio tape containing a conversation between Dinakaran and Sukesh Chandrashekhar the conman. However, to corroborate the evidence further, the scanner is now on a Trichy-based businessman who allegedly arranged the money. It may be recalled that Dinakaran was arrested on the charge that he had through Sukesh tried bribing EC officials to bag the two leaves symbol of the AIADMK. The amount in question was Rs 50 crore. Dinakaran has been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 170 and 120b and Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Police sources say that the tip-off regarding a Trichy-based businessman is a major lead in the case. He is said to have arranged the money on behalf of Dinakaran before passing it on to a hawala operator in Delhi. The hawala operator is then said to have transferred the money to Sukesh. When the police arrested Sukesh, they had found Rs 1.3 crore on him. The police say that they would now probe the businessman. This will help establish a direct link. Several other Tamil Nadu ministers too are under the scanner. There is a suspicion that the ministers too had played a role in arranging for the money to help Dinakaran bag the two leaves symbol. The police say that it was a huge chunk of cash that had been arranged. Many TN ministers who were backing Dinakaran and wanted him to win the RK Nagar by-poll may have played a role in arranging for the money. OneIndia News You sexually abused our women, we killed your jawans: Maoist leader on Sukma attack India oi-Vicky By Vicky The Dand Karanya Special Zonal Committee of the Communist Party of India-Maoist said that the attack on the CRPF team in Chhattisgarh was in retaliation to sexual violence against women. In an audio clip that was released, the spokesperson of the DKSZC, Vikalp also denied mutilating the bodies of the 25 jawans who were killed in the attack on Monday. He goes on to say that the attack was an answer to the security forces and the government. "These attacks are retaliatory to take forward the pro-people struggle," he also said. The spokesperson, while congratulating the military wing of the Naxals said the attack should be seen as a retaliation against the sexual atrocities being committed by the security forces against tribal women. "This attack was to protect the dignity of the tribal women who are being sexually assaulted by the security forces in conflict zones," the statement read. He further said that the security forces had clicked objectionable photographs of the tribal women and circulated it. In the statement, Vikalp says that they oppose the road project. He says that the road projects are being undertaken to loot the natural resources. "It would help to loot natural resources from the forests and transport it easily," it says. Corporate media lying: The spokesperson said that it was the corporate media that was spreading false news about the bodies of the jawans being mutilated. "We do not treat the dead bodies of jawans with disrespect. It is the media that falsely propagates such things," the statement read. In fact, it is the police and security forces that hand out such treatment with the bodies of our people. "Many dead bodies of the Maoists have been mutilated by the security forces. They also delay in giving the dead bodies to the family members," the statement read. He went on to add that this attack must be seen as a retaliation also against the exploitation of the Dalits, the tribals and the minorities and the attacks on their culture and economic lifestyle by the Brahmanic, Hindutva, Fascist, Sanghi, and the Bharatiya Janata Party governments and the direct involvement and active protection of the police and security forces. Jawans not our enemies: Vikalp also said that the jawans are not their enemies. "However, they are coming in the way of public welfare by being part of the government's anti-people programmes," the statement read. He appealed to the jawans to stop fighting for the politicians, contractors and corporate mafia. "Do not lose your life by protecting such people," the statement read. "Give up your government jobs and instead fight for protecting the welfare of the people," Vikalp said. OneIndia News Outgoing VP Naidu was always concerned how country can get best from Parliament: PM Modi Ansari terms his Poland visit as 'productive' International pti-PTI Warsaw, Apr 27: Vice President Hamid Ansari on Friday said that his ongoing visit to Poland has been very productive and he would go back to India on a positive note. Addressing the Indian community in Warsaw, he said a 25-hour stay is not a long stay, but it was very productive. "Meeting with Polish leadership was an eye opener. We understand our potential in various fields where we can cooperate and enhance our relationship," Ansari said. "The future of Indo-Polish ties is very bright. We have had talks where mutual cooperation can be enhanced. Our trade partnership which stands at USD 2.8 billion is increasing step by step. But we have to go beyond that. 'Make in India' is the one programme where Poland has an opportunity and can invest," the vice president said. Ansari stressed that he would go back to India on a positive note. Appreciating the contribution of Indians, he said the Indian community in Poland contributes immensely in enriching Indo-Polish relationship. Ambassador of India in Poland Ajay Bisaria hosted a reception in the honour of Ansari. PTI Are US, North Korea heading towards a major conflict? Trump thinks so International oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Washington, April 28: On Thursday, President Donald Trump indicated that the United States and North Korea are heading towards a 'major, major' conflict in the coming days. In an exclusive interview to Reuters, President Trump said North Korea under the dictatorship of Kim Jong-un was his biggest global challenge. "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," Trump told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. Currently, both the US and North Korea are waging a 'diplomatic war' over the later's nuclear and missile programmes. However, the President said that he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute. "We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult," he said. According to Reuters, Trump wants to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled multiple US presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasising by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table. Trump showered praises on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in Pyongyang. The two leaders met in Florida earlier this month. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 28, 2017, 8:17 [IST] Sri Lankan boat associated with Pak drug network intercepted off Kerala coast with 300 kg heroin, arms How Pakistan uses Sri Lankan vessels to smuggle drugs, arms through Indian waters Indian Coast Guard lauded for anti-piracy operations at a conference in Singapore International pti-PTI Singapore, April 28: The Indian Coast Guard has been praised at a regional conference on maritime safety for making Indian waters safe and free of piracy. There has been a remarkable decrease in piracy and armed robbery in Indian waters, said Lee Yin Mui, assistant director for research at the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia. There was only one incident of armed robbery in Indian waters as of March this year. "There was also a remarkable decrease in the number of incidents of armed robbery in Indian waters," said Lee. She highlighted the continuous efforts of the Indian Coast Guard towards deployment of the operational units at sea/air in the region. "The real-time quick action has resulted into on-site apprehensions of the culprits thus making the Indian waters a safe place for the mariners," said Lee at a conference organised yesterday by the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre. "We are pleased to note the significant decrease of the number of incidents last year, but we should not be complacent to think that this is the long-term trend," cautioned Masafumi Kuroki, Executive Director, ReCAAP ISC. "When you see the resurgence of piracy in the waters off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden after five years of absence, unfortunately, the piracy and sea robbery do not disappear so easily, he noted. He also pointed out the frequently changing modus operandi of piracy and sea robbery. "The perpetrators are looking for an opportunity for any mode of piracy and sea robbery, as far as it is lucrative. Therefore, we need to be prepared for different types of maritime crimes," said Kuroki. International organisation, law enforcement agency and shipping associations shared their views at the conference. ReCAAP is the first regional government-to-government agreement to promote and enhance cooperation against piracy and armed robbery in Asia. So far, 20 countries have become Contracting Parties to the group. PTI PM Ardern: New Zealand couple held in Iran allowed to leave In Iran, men and women are 'equal' only in torture Iran slams Pakistan for failing to rein in terror groups International ians-IANS By Ians English Tehran, April 28: Iran's Foreign Ministry on Thursday criticised the Pakistani government for its 'failure' to protect its borders against militant groups who recently killed Iranian border guards in a cross-border attack, Tasnim news agency reported. Xinhua news agency quoted spokesman Bahram Qasemi as saying that Pakistan should be held accountable for the presence and operation of militant groups in its territory. The Islamic republic will spare no efforts to follow up on the issue through all diplomatic and political channels, Qasemi was quoted as saying. On Wednesday, 10 Iranian security personnel were killed in the clashes with the armed groups in the southeastern border region of Iran. Four guards were injured in the clashes, which took place at the Mirjaveh border point in Sistan and Baluchestan province. The border guards were patrolling when they were targeted, Tehran Times daily reported. "Our border guards had been targeted from inside Pakistan's soil," Iranian police speaker Saeed Montazerolmahdi was quoted as saying by the daily. "Our investigations show that long-range arms had been used to launch the attack," he said. Over the past decades, Iran's eastern and southeastern border have witnessed clashes between Iranian security forces and armed drug smugglers. There have also been instances of clashes between the security forces with the ethnic Sunni rebels. Jaish al-Adl, or "Army of Justice" has claimed responsibility for the attack on Iran's border guards. The Sunni rebel group claimed to fight for the rights of Sunni Muslims in the Iran's provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan. On Thursday, Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said Tehran will pursue the commitments of neighbouring Pakistan to the security and border agreements between the two countries through diplomatic channels. IANS Security experts advise US to cut assistance to Pakistan International pti-PTI Washington, Apr 28: The US should review its options for dealing with Pakistan, including taking unilateral actions against terrorist safe havens in the country, if it does not cease its support to the militant outfits attacking neighbours like India, eminent experts told American lawmakers. Seth G Jones, director International Security and Defence Policy Centre RAND Corporation, in his testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Congress has reduced its military assistance to Pakistan in recent years and curtailed Pakistans access to foreign military financing. "But even today's reduced amounts of US assistance could be cut further," he said, adding that targeted economic sanctions could be selectively applied against specific organisations and individuals. Washington could encourage other countries to consider similar steps. "The United States should review its options for dealing with Pakistan. For example, the United States could take further steps to pressure Taliban sanctuaries within Pakistan, with or without the support of Islamabad," he said. Washington could sketch out a vision of an improved relationship with Pakistan if Islamabad cuts its ties with militant groups attacking both Afghanistan and India, Jones said. "This outcome would be highly desirable for broader American interests, given Pakistans central role in the stability of the entire region and its ability to upend that stability," he said. Vanda Felbab-Brown, senior fellow at the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence in the Foreign Policy Programme at the Brookings Institution, said Pakistan's unwillingness to cease its support for the Taliban also reflects its uncertainties and internal limitations. "More than a decade after 9/11, Pakistan's military- intelligence establishment remains preoccupied with India's ascendance at a time of Pakistan's own stagnation and atrophy. Afghanistan has repeatedly been a prime theatre for Indian and Pakistani rivalries," Brown said. Fearing encirclement by India, Pakistan has been greatly reluctant to suppress Afghan militant groups using Pakistan for sanctuary, he said. "Pakistan's continuing support for these groups, despite pressure from the United States and NATO, reflects the persistent view of the Pakistani military-intelligence establishment that the jihadi groups are critical assets in preventing threats on Pakistan's western flank from an India- friendly regime in Kabul and in securing access to Central Asia's trade routes," the expert said. Bill Roggio, editor, Long War Journal, Foundation For Defence Of Democracies said that Lashkar-e-Taiba is a dangerous jihadist group that is backed by Pakistans military and Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate. "The LeT is known to operate training camps in Afghanistan and attacked the Indian Consulate in Herat in 2014...The US has also listed several senior LeT operatives, including Hafiz Saeed, the groups emir, as Specially Designated Global Terrorists," he said. Roggio said the Islamic State has established a small, but significant, foothold in the country. PTI Spicy Salaa - From the Kitchens of Godavari International oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer The South Indian Restaurant giant in USA "Godavari" has recently started a unique concept of South Indian Food Trucks on the name of "Spicy Salaa" - A contemporary concept of serving the streets of Boston, MA for now. "Like we always say, we want to take South Indian food to the next level and spread the aroma across the planet. 'Spicy Salaa' is the first South Indian food truck in the country. We are soon taking this concept across the globe. It is more about a street side experience that everyone is missing from back home" says Koushik Koganti. "Spicy Salaa" is getting amazing response from the corporate crowd in the city of Boston for its unique and different menu that could be served in few minutes without even waiting. Some of them are "Rascalaa Bowl," "Modi Mega Bowl," "Kickass Chicken," "Sexy Samosas" and different kinds of Dosas for all the Dosa cravers who miss South Indian food in the downtown areas. "We have been attracting many non-Indians since we started this last week. Everyone want to try our food and they are really loving the food and concept. We really thank "Team" Godavari for joining hands with us in creating this unique concept." says Kiran Kodali and Madhukar Bayakati, Young entrepreneurs who joined with Godavari in this venture. "Godavari" is also coming up with this unique concept of "Food Truck Catering" for your events. Food will be served live from the food truck on your drive way with "Spicy Salaa." Spicy Salaa also started franchising out this concept to many cities and on the spree of spreading "Dosa Culture." "We have many more unique concepts and recipes cooking. We would thank all the Godavari owners for being like a family and the food lovers for their support and love for 2 years of our inception. We are celebrating our anniversary next month and thrilled to be 2. We promise that we would excite every South Indian food lover in the country with many unique concepts in coming days" says Teja Chekuri. Follow us on: Website: SpicySalaa.com Facebook: facebook.com/spicysalaa Instagram: instagram.com/spicysalaa Add us on SnapChat: snapchat.com/add/spicysalaa For more details and franchises: Kiran Kodali Salaa@SpicySalaa.com 609-206-2938 Press note released by: Indian Clicks, LLC 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Belfast Telegraph 21 Apr 2022 In the weeks before a rare confluence of major Jewish, Christian and Muslim holidays, with tens of thousands of visitors expected.. Rumble 19 Sep 2022 In this episode Elizabeth shares four ways to help your heart have the capacity to care at a time when it would be easier to be.. From Emory University comes The First 100 Days of Fascist Germany, an attempt to document online what happened on each dayfrom January 30, 1933 through May 9, 1933when Hitler was named Reichskanzler of Germany. As you can perhaps imagine, the motivation for the project isnt entirely divorced from current events. The grad students behind The First 100 Days explain: During the highly contentious political climate in this country, the terms fascism and Nazi Germany have been tossed around quite freely by both sides of the political spectrum. As a response to this and in an effort to provide some clarity of what fascism in Nazi Germany actually looked like, we at the Emory University German Department initiated a research project that aims to document the first 100 days of National Socialism- from the day that Adolf Hitler was named Reichskanzler on January 30, 1933 until May 9, 1933. They continue: The general plan for our project is that our research team will work its way through the 100 days, investigating and documenting the events of each day and then posting the findings on a daily basis for public consumption. As the daily calendar shows, Hitler didnt waste a lot of time. By Day 51, Dachauone of the first concentration campsopened and received its first prisoners, notes Emory News. By Day 60, all new stories critical of the government were censored. And, by Day 88, the press expelled from its ranks all Marxists and Jews. That was just the beginning. Meanwhile, on Day 88 over here, Trumps initiatives (some relatively innocuous, some alarming) have met civil, judicial and political resistance, or collapsed under their own weight. The concern of January has given way to comedy in April. So far, its more farce than fascism: But dont get complacent, terror might be the operative word in May. You can learn more about Emorys historical project here. via John McMurtrie If you would like to sign up for Open Cultures free email newsletter, please find it here. If you would like to support the mission of Open Culture, consider making a donation to our site. Its hard to rely 100% on ads, and your contributions will help us continue providing the best free cultural and educational materials to learners everywhere. You can contribute through PayPal, Patreon, Venmo (@openculture) and Crypto. Thanks! Related Content: Harvard Students Launch a Free Course on How to Resist Trump Hitler Was Blitzed On Cocaine & Opiates During World War II: Hear a Wide-Ranging Interview with Best-Selling Author Norman Ohler Fritz Lang Tells the Riveting Story of the Day He Met Joseph Goebbels and Then High-Tailed It Out of Germany How Did Hitler Rise to Power? : New TED-ED Animation Provides a Case Study in How Fascists Get Democratically Elected The New York Times First Profile of Hitler: His Anti-Semitism Is Not as Genuine or Violent as It Sounds (1922) Leni Riefenstahls Triumph of the Will Wasnt a Cinematic Masterpiece; It Was a Staggeringly Effective Piece of Propaganda Preservative Blends Market: By Applications - Beauty, Home, Personal care http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1021157 Latest industry research report on: Preservative Blends Market | Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsPreservative blends are blends of preservative chemicals that are used to prevent fermentation and decomposition of product by microbial growth or other climatic conditions. It helps in extending the shelf life of the products to maintain the unique aroma, color and consistency of the product. The report estimates and forecasts the preservative blends market on the global and regional levels. The study provides forecast between 2016 and 2024 based on volume (Tons) and revenue (US$ Mn) with 2015 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the product segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage.Request For Sample Report @The study includes drivers and restraints for the preservative blends market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The study also provides key market indicators affecting the growth of the market. The report analyzes opportunities in the preservative blends market on the global and regional level. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities mentioned in the report are justified through quantitative and qualitative data. These have been verified through primary and secondary resources. Furthermore, the report analyzes substitute analysis of preservative blends and global average price trend analysis.Secondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to company websites, financial reports, annual reports, investor presentations, broker reports, and SEC filings. Other sources such as internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases and market reports, news articles, national government documents, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market have also been referred for the report. In-depth interviews and discussions with a wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and strengthening secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.Global Preservative Blends Market: Research MethodologyThe report includes Porters Five Forces Model to determine the degree of competition in the preservative blends market. The report comprises a qualitative write-up on market attractiveness analysis, wherein applications and countries have been analyzed based on attractiveness for each region. Growth rate, market size, raw material availability, profit margin, impact strength, technology, competition, and other factors (such as environmental and legal) have been evaluated in order to derive the general attractiveness of the market. The report comprises price trend analysis for preservative blends between 2016 and 2024.Global Preservative Blends Market: Segmentation AnalysisThe study provides a comprehensive view of the preservative blends market by dividing it into applications and geography segments. The preservative blends market has been segmented into beauty, home and personal care based on application. Application segment have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends.Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for preservative blends in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Market segmentation includes demand for individual applications in all the regions.Global Preservative Blends Market: Competitive OutlookThe report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report includes The Dow Chemical Company, Lanxess, Galaxy Surfactants Ltd., BASF SE, Clariant Chemicals and others. Company profiles include attributes such as company overview, number of employees, brand overview, key competitors, business overview, business strategies, recent/key developments, acquisitions, and financial overview (wherever applicable).The global preservative blends market has been segmented as follows:Preservative Blends Market - Product AnalysisParabensFormaldehydeHalogenatedAlcoholsOrganic AcidsOthersPreservative Blends Market - Application AnalysisBeautyHomePersonal carePreservative Blends Market - Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeRequest For Sample Report @Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaLatin AmericaAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries. SIP Based IP PBX Market: Industry Size, Share, Analysis, Growth, Forecasts http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1054306 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: SIP Based IP PBX Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsNext generation SIP Based IP PBX is able to leverage cloud computing software technology to support next generation communications systems. Some automation of the smart phone app and communication process includes the use of analytics to achieve higher quality connectivity in a variety of circumstances and IoT configurations, leveraging social media. The study has 228 pages and 61 tables and figures.Request For Sample Report @SIP based IP PBX is supporting FXO, FXS, ISDN-BRI, T1, E1 and SIP trunks. SIP supports the versatile trunking expansions, including FXO, FXS, ISDN, T1 and E1. The users can fit into all sort of telephony environments. Standard SIP trunks and trusted peers make devices seamlessly integrated with ITSP services. The study illustrates with great specificity how some companies are more fully integrated with SIP application servers than others.Business leaders are challenged to move their enterprises to the next level of competition. An effective digital business player, transformer, and disruptor position depends on the effectiveness of employing digital technologies and leveraging connected digital systems. Organizational, operational, and business model innovation are needed to create ways of operating and growing the business using SIP based PBX systems. It is a journey to achieve the connected enterprise, ultimately connecting all employees and a trillion connected devices.Many companies are using digital technology to create market disruption. Amazon, Uber, Google, IBM, and Microsoft represent companies using effective disruptive strategic positioning. As entire industries shift to the digital world, once buoyant companies are threatened with disappearing. SIP is a significant aspect of telecommunications applications server disruptive technology, it is enough to look at Avaya and the bankruptcy to see there is a shift to cloud SIP solutions.A digital transformation represents an approach that enables organizations to drive changes in their business models and ecosystems leveraging cloud computing, and not just hyperscal syste,s but leveraging . Just as robots make work more automated, so also cloud based communications systems implement the IoT digital connectivity transformation.Disruption in the business communications markets represents major opportunity for vendors with cloud offerings. This is part of a larger digital transformation, a digital approach to interconnecting everything that enables organizations to drive changes in their business models and ecosystems.Cloud based SIP PBX systems are able to connect to the disruptive cloud systems provided by Amazon (AWS), Microsoft, Google, and Facebook data centers are in a class by themselves, they have functioning fully automatic, self-healing, networked mega datacenters that operate at fiber optic speeds to create a fabric that can access any node in any particular data center because there are multiple pathways to every node. In this manner, they automate applications integration for any data in the mega data center.By leveraging digital competencies, businesses can grow faster than they would otherwise. A digital strategy, in conjunction with the appropriate unified communications solution permits the implementation of innovative communications services. Digital connectivity with combined voice, video and file transfer can help organizations and their end users innovate and compete more effectively. It is imperative that organizations have a digital communications strategy in place.Communications and collaboration solutions are migrating to the cloud in every segment of small, medium and large business. In vertical markets, businesses are managing competition that is characterized by disruption. Traditional verticals exploit digital technologies.Initiatives provide innovation in the marketplaces. Communications initiatives are being used to leverage information from the Internet of Things (IoT) and video. New functionality is being built out in the healthcare sector. Communication goes beyond voice. Most people under 30 prefer to communicate via text.SIP IP communications can provide an increase in the quantity and quality of home and personal medical devices for monitoring patient health care. Care delivery is being improved by having monitors linked into a full communications system. By integrating the data from monitoring devices with a real-time communications system, medical professionals can do their jobs better.Making the workforce more engaged and productive by providing users with new tools and solutions that are highly relevant to how they work in the DX era, while delivering enterprise-class voice and video capabilities. Increased productivity is achieved.Users can remotely share and explain real-time data in context. Compelling benefits that organizations can realize from UC&C solutions designed for the digital transformation era:ISDN PRI (T1/E1):Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, Siemens, and Nortel PBXsSIP Trunk:Nokia Siemens, Nortel, BroadSoft, and Huawei Soft SwitchesInformation technology (IT) has moved from the back office to the front office with platform technologies, mobile, social business, cloud, and analytics monitoring. The shift occurring is for digital technology to embed itself into every aspect of business endeavor and personal lives.This is an era where the distinction between the technologies and processes that businesses deploy is tightly linked. Digital technology directly impacts customers and markets. The boundary between internal operations of the enterprise and its external ecosystem is rapidly disappearing. Customers, markets, competitors, partners, and regulators are inextricably linked.Growing acceptance of SIP enabled PBX and IP PBX markets come form companies dedicated to supporting modern digital communications. A bifurcation in the market between hardware servers and cloud enabled services, either for soft switches and or Unified Communications (UC) is tending to have the software systems replace separate servers.The SIP based voice equipment and services market PBX phone systems, voice over IP gateways, UC applications and IP phones markets at $14.15 billion in 2016 are anticipated to grow strongly in the cloud computing segment to reach $59 billion by 2023. The complete report provides a comprehensive analysis of SIP Based IP PBXes in different categories, illustrating the diversity of software communications market segments. A complete analysis is done, looking at numbers of procedures and doing penetration analysis.Companies ProfiledNECMicrosoftHuaweiWest Unified CommunicationsMitelVonageAvayaCiscoBroadSoftShoreTelMarket Participants8x8AT&TBrekeke SoftwareBT / Avaya IP PBX CloudCiena / BluePlanetCisco SystemsEquinix / Avaya Cloud SIP CommunicationsEricssonFonalityNetSapiensRingCentral Next-Gen CompetitorVonageWest CorporationZyXELKey TopicsSIP Based IP PBXSIP PBX Solution Deployment Models SIP Enabled IP PBX Unified Communications Virtual Office Functions UnifiedSIP Collaboration System Hosted Collaboration Solution Team Collaboration Device Transaction Solutions Functions OSS from BluePlanet SIP Enabled IP PBX Cloud Enterprise / Service Provider SIP PBX Cloud SMB SIP Cloud Enterprise / Service Provider SIP Unified CommunicationsAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global LED Lighting Optics Market Professional Survey Report 2017 http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1044297&type=E This report studies LED Lighting Optics in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2011 to 2015, and forecast to 2021.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringAvago/BroadcomBroadcom LimitedCarcloCree, Inc.DBM OptixDialightInspired LEDLED EnginLedilLedLink OpticsMolexPanasonicPhoenix ContactSchneider ElectricTE ConnectivitySample of this report is available upon request @By types, the market can be split intoLED Lighting LensesLED Lighting Lenses AssembliesLED Lighting ReflectorsBy Application, the market can be split intoequipmentindustrialothersBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaAbout Us :QYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Lollipop 2017 Global Key Players - Kendon Candies, Grumpe, Chupa Chups, Hsu Fu Chi, Perfetti Van Melle Company Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022 Lollipop https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1227673-global-lollipop-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/1227673-global-lollipop-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1227673 www.wiseguyreports.com LollipopReport Details:This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, and revenue and market share for each manufacturerTop Key Palyers:Kendon CandiesGrumpeChupa ChupsHsu Fu ChiPerfetti Van Melle CompanyMars, Inc.FujiyaOishiClick here for sample report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Lollipop in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoFruit Flavored LollipopMilk Flavored LollipopChocolate LollipopOtherOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Lollipop for each application, includingSupermarkets and HypermarketsIndependent RetailersConvenience StoresSpecialist RetailersOnline RetailersSome Major Points from Table of content:Global Lollipop Market Research Report 20171 Lollipop Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Lollipop1.2 Lollipop Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Lollipop Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Lollipop Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Fruit Flavored Lollipop1.2.4 Milk Flavored Lollipop1.2.5 Chocolate Lollipop1.2.6 Other1.3 Global Lollipop Segment by Application1.3.1 Lollipop Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Supermarkets and Hypermarkets1.3.3 Independent Retailers1.3.4 Convenience Stores1.3.5 Specialist Retailers1.3.6 Online Retailers1.4 Global Lollipop Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Lollipop Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Lollipop (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Lollipop Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Lollipop Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)For queries click her @7 Global Lollipop Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Kendon Candies7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Lollipop Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Kendon Candies Lollipop Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Grumpe7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Lollipop Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Grumpe Lollipop Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Chupa Chups7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Lollipop Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Chupa Chups Lollipop Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Hsu Fu Chi7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Lollipop Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Hsu Fu Chi Lollipop Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Perfetti Van Melle Company7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Lollipop Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Perfetti Van Melle Company Lollipop Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Mars, Inc.7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Lollipop Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Mars, Inc. Lollipop Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Fujiya7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Lollipop Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Fujiya Lollipop Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Oishi7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Lollipop Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Oishi Lollipop Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview..ContinuedBuy now @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone :+91 841 198 5042Mail :info@wiseguyreports.com Instant Tea Premix 2017 Global Key Players Wagh Bakri Tea Group, Lipton, Cafesynapse, Girnar, Hot Comfort Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022 Instant Tea Premix Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1227670-global-instant-tea-premix-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1227670-global-instant-tea-premix-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1227670 https://www.linkedin.com/company/wise-guy-research-consultants-pvt-ltd-?trk=biz-companies-cym Instant Tea Premix Market 2017Report Details:Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Instant Tea Premix Market -Market Size, Sale, Supply, Consumption, Demand and Top Key Players Analysis and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.Global Instant Tea Premix market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingWagh Bakri Tea GroupLiptonCafesynapseGirnarHot ComfortAmarMukti EnterprisesJivraj 9Request for Sample report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Instant Tea Premix in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCardamom Tea PremixGinger Tea PremixMasala Tea PremixLemon Tea PremixPlain Tea PremixLemon Grass Tea PremixOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Instant Tea Premix for each application, includingHouseholdCommercialTo get complete report visit@Key Points in Table of Content:Global Instant Tea Premix Market Research Report 20171 Instant Tea Premix Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Instant Tea Premix1.2 Instant Tea Premix Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Instant Tea Premix Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Instant Tea Premix Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Cardamom Tea Premix1.2.4 Ginger Tea Premix1.2.5 Masala Tea Premix1.2.6 Lemon Tea Premix1.2.7 Plain Tea Premix1.2.8 Lemon Grass Tea Premix1.3 Global Instant Tea Premix Segment by Application1.3.1 Instant Tea Premix Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Household1.3.3 Commercial1.4 Global Instant Tea Premix Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Instant Tea Premix Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Instant Tea Premix (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Instant Tea Premix Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Instant Tea Premix Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)..7 Global Instant Tea Premix Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Wagh Bakri Tea Group7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Instant Tea Premix Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Wagh Bakri Tea Group Instant Tea Premix Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Lipton7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Instant Tea Premix Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Lipton Instant Tea Premix Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Cafesynapse7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Instant Tea Premix Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Cafesynapse Instant Tea Premix Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Girnar7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Instant Tea Premix Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Girnar Instant Tea Premix Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Hot Comfort7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Instant Tea Premix Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Hot Comfort Instant Tea Premix Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Amar7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Instant Tea Premix Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Amar Instant Tea Premix Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Mukti Enterprises7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Instant Tea Premix Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Mukti Enterprises Instant Tea Premix Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Jivraj 97.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Instant Tea Premix Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Jivraj 9 Instant Tea Premix Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business OverviewContinued...Buy this report @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTSales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Follow on LinkedIn @ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Global Ionic liquids market to hit USD 2 billion by 2022 https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/121 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/ionic-liquids-market-report https://www.gminsights.com https://gminsights.wordpress.com U.S. Ionic Liquids Market size was the dominant with revenue generation over USD 200 million in 2014. Stringent government norms over organic solvents used in end-use industries such as chemical, oil & gas and pharmaceuticals over toxicity and health concerns are likely to drive demand in the region.Ionic liquids market size is forecast to be worth over USD 2 billion by 2022; as per a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. Strong green solvents market demand in chemicals, pharmaceuticals and electronics in order to minimize toxicity concerns from inorganic counterparts are likely to drive growth.Purchase Ionic Liquids Market Report by calling Global Market Insights, Inc. at 1-888-689-0688(Toll Free) or 1-302-846-7766.Catalysis/synthesis application dominated the demand and accounted for over 27% of the total ionic liquid market share in 2014, with consumption of over 2,800 tons.Request for sample of this Research Report:Commercial products for this application include stannates, chloraluninates or alkylchloroaluminates. Pharmaceutical applications are forecast to grow with highest CAGR of 25.6% up to 2022.Stringent norms by REACH and EPA to curb toxicity by minimizing VOC content in the environment is likely to positively influence ionic liquids market size in green solvent applications. The CAA (Clean Air Act) forms the basis of the EPA action & mandate to curb atmospheric pollution with guidelines for each state to maintain SIP (Sate Implementation Plan) for compliance. EU, under the act 1999/13/EC, regulates VOC emission in manufacturing and service sectors.Liquids such as pyrrolidinium, imidazolium, pyridinium, piperidinium, ammonium, morpholinium, sulphonium and phosphonium offer production flexibility owing to myriad combinations of anions & cations. These are favored in numerous applications owing to intrinsic properties which include high temperature stability, insignificant vapor pressure, low viscosity, non-flammability and liquid state preservation in high temperature area.Possibility of some traditional ionic liquids such as N-alkylpyridinium and tetraalkylammonium of becoming persistent pollutants by release in soil or water resources is a concern, which might hamper industry growth. High cost of these solvents is also a concern to generate profitability for industry participants. Technology innovation to develop products catering to niche applications such as aerospace and pharmaceuticals is likely to present unexplored growth potential.To access sample pages or view this report in detail along with the table of contents, please click on the link below:Key insights from the report include: Global ionic liquids market size registered 9.77 kilo tons in 2014 and is likely to achieve growth rates at 23.4% up to 2022 and reach 51.75 kilo tons. U.S. ionic liquid market size was the dominant regional industry and accounted for 35.9% of the total volume in 2014. A stringent environmental norm structure by the EPA to curb VOC content is likely to favor demand. China ionic liquid market is likely to attain highest gains at 24.2% CAGR, up to 2022 with a target to reduce pollution owing to presence of large & small scale manufacturing facilities in the region. Pharmaceutical application in Germany generated revenues worth USD 7.5 million in 2014 and is likely to achieve highest growth rates up to 2022. Japan ionic liquid industry revenue for pharmaceutical applications should gain at over 16.5% for the next seven years. Ionic liquids market share is fragmented as end-use industries demand application specific product solutions. Key companies include Solvionic, BASF, IOLITECH GmbH and Coorstek. Other prominent companies include TCI, Strem Chemicals, Merck and Scionix.About Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog: Commercial Oven 2017 Global Manufacturers Vulcan, Southbend, Blodgett, Baker Pride, Convother, Lang Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1228671-global-commercial-oven-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1228671-global-commercial-oven-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1228671 https://www.linkedin.com/company/wise-guy-research-consultants-pvt-ltd-?trk=biz-companies-cym Commercial Oven Market 2017Report Details:Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Commercial Oven Market -Market Size, Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.This report studies the Commercial Oven market status and outlook of global and major regions, from angles of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top manufacturers in global and major regions, and splits the Commercial Oven market by product type and applications/end industries.The major players in global Commercial Oven market includeVulcanSouthbendBlodgettBlack + DeckerBaker PrideConvotherLangBaxterFagerStar ManufacturingTurbochefHobartRequest for Sample report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Commercial Oven in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEUChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaSouth AmericaMiddle East and AfricaOn the basis of product, the Commercial Oven market is primarily split intoElectric OvenGas OvenCombination OvenOthersOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversFood Services IndustryFood Process IndustryOthersKey Points in Table of Content:1 Commercial Oven Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Commercial Oven1.2 Commercial Oven Segment by Types (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Commercial Oven Production (K Units) and Growth Rate (%) Comparison by Types (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Commercial Oven Production Market Share (%) by Types in 20161.2.3 Electric Oven1.2.4 Gas Oven1.2.5 Combination Oven1.2.6 Others1.3 Global Commercial Oven Segment by Applications1.3.1 Global Commercial Oven Consumption (K Units) Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)1.3.2 Food Services Industry1.3.3 Food Process Industry1.3.4 Others1.4 Global Commercial Oven Market by Regions (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Commercial Oven Market Size and Growth Rate (%) Comparison by Regions (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Commercial Oven Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China Commercial Oven Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Europe Commercial Oven Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Commercial Oven Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Commercial Oven Market Size (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Commercial Oven Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Commercial Oven Production (K Units) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)..To get complete report visit@7 Global Commercial Oven Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Vulcan7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Commercial Oven Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Vulcan Commercial Oven Production (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Southbend7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Commercial Oven Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Southbend Commercial Oven Production (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Blodgett7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Commercial Oven Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Blodgett Commercial Oven Production (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Black + Decker7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Commercial Oven Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product A7.4.3 Black + Decker Commercial Oven Production (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Baker Pride7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Commercial Oven Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Baker Pride Commercial Oven Production (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Convotherm7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Commercial Oven Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Convotherm Commercial Oven Production (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Lang7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Commercial Oven Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Lang Commercial Oven Production (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Baxter7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Commercial Oven Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Baxter Commercial Oven Production (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Fager7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Commercial Oven Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Fager Commercial Oven Production (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Star Manufacturing7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Commercial Oven Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Type A7.10.2.2 Type B7.10.3 Star Manufacturing Commercial Oven Production (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.11 Turbochef7.12 HobartContinued...Buy this report @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTSales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Follow on LinkedIn @ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India New Research on Global Military UAV Market - By Value and Volume: Analysis and forecast, 2017 2021 Military UAV Market , UAV Market, Military Market http://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=57045 http://www.researchnreports.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=57045 https://www.researchnreports.com/defence-aeronautics/Global-Military-UAV-Market-Professional-Survey-Report-Forecast-2017-2021-57045 http://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=53778 http://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=53868 www.researchnreports.com Global Military UAV Market Professional Survey Report Forecast 2017-2021 Purchase This Report by calling ResearchnReports.com at +1-888-631-6977.New Research Report on the global Military UAV market is a comprehensive overview of the market, covering various aspects such as product definition, segmentation based on various parameters, distribution channel, supply chain analysis, and the prevailing vendor landscape.This market research report gives an in-depth idea about the global Military UAV market. It highlights the recent market scenario, growth in the past few years, and opportunities present for manufacturers in the future. In this research for the completion of both primary and secondary details, methods and tools are used.Get Sample Copy of This Report @:Global Military UAV market from in depth perspective of all the ongoing trends that are affecting the market and are important to be understood are studied. These trends are geographical, economic, socioeconomic, political, cultural, political, and many other are studied. The overall effect on the consumer preferences will have a major say on the market working in the years to come. The dynamics which affect the Military UAV market have been studied meticulously.Global Military UAV Market Report 2017This research, highlighting the current situation of the global Military UAV market, focuses on answering some of the important questions faced by stakeholders. By providing answers to all of these questions related to the key drivers and dominant companies, the reports authors also focus on different factors, which would create new growth opportunities in the global market.Companies Profiled in this Report: Xaircraft Microdrones Parrot PowerVision Zerotech DJI-Innovations Gopro 3D Robotics AscTec And, Many More..Get 20-30% Discount on This Report @:Data integration and capabilities are analyzed to support the findings and study the predicted geographical segmentations. Various key variables and regression models were considered to calculate the trajectory of Military UAV market. Detailed analysis is explained and given importance to with best working models.Recent trends and developments in the global Military UAV market have been analyzed. Opportunities leading to the growth of the market have been analyzed and stated. Drivers and restraints impacting the growth of the market have also been analyzed. A segmentation of the global market has been done for the purpose of a detailed study. The market is segmented on the basis of key criteria. Data on the leading and fastest-growing segments along with what drives them has been given. This report implements a balanced mix of primary and secondary research methodologies for its analysis.Complete Report Available at @:Reasons for Buying Military UAV Market Report:This Military UAV market research is an intelligence report with meticulous efforts undertaken to study the right and valuable information. The data which has been looked upon is done considering both, the existing top players and the upcoming competitors. Business strategies of the key players and the new entering market industries are studied in detail. Well explained SWOT analysis, revenue share and contact information are shared in this report analysis.Data integration and capabilities are analyzed to support the findings and study the predicted geographical segmentations. Various key variables and regression models were considered to calculate the trajectory of Military UAV market. Detailed analysis is explained and given importance to with best working models.Some Related New Research Reports:U.S. E-Liquid Market: Analysis & Forecast, 2016-2025: The U.S. is the largest revenue generating market for e-cigarettes and vaporizers globally and the exponential market growth has brought about a surge in the demand for e-liquid in the country. As a result of increasing competition and growing consumer demand for different e-liquid flavors, the U.S. e-liquid market is poised to grow over $4.77 billion by 2025 at a double digit CAGR from 2015 to 2025.Get Sample copy of Global E-Liquid Market Report @:Global Commercial Aircraft Landing Gear Market Report 2016-2022: The commercial aerospace sector is likely to experience a strong growth rate due to the increased production of next generation aircrafts. Improvement in the global economic condition and increase in air passenger traffic are the factors that are likely to increase the demand for aircrafts.Get Sample copy of Global Commercial Aircraft Landing Gear Market Report @:About Research N Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat United States competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Research N Reports10916, Gold Point, Dr,Houston, TX,Pin - 77064.Sunny Denis(Sales Manager)+1-8886316977sales@researchnreports.com Aesthetic Equipment Market - Latest Innovations, Drivers, Restraints, Challenges and Forecast 2016 - 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/aesthetic-equipment-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2337 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Aesthetic Equipment Market: Brief DescriptionAesthetic is term which is used in reference with beauty or a rather pleasing appearance and is also derived from the aisthetikos, which is a Greek word. This word means sentient, sense, and esthetic. Increasing aesthetic awareness among consumers, especially among the aged population, is triggering the demand for several devices which are utilized in aesthetic procedures. Chin surgery, brow lifts, face lift surgery, eyelid surgery, breast augmentation, thigh lift, tummy tuck, bra line back lift, skin rejuvenation, liposuction, and hair replacement are some of the primary aesthetic procedures that are being carried out across the globe. Aesthetic procedures are carried out to improve the self-esteem and appearance of individuals with a positive attitude, thus garnering extreme confidence in people. Energy based devices, intense pulsed light devices, microdermal abraders, dermal lasers, light emitting diodes, and dermal fillers are some of the commonly used equipment in aesthetic procedures.Read Full Report:This industry study is an evaluation of the growth prospects and historical tract of the global aesthetic equipment market. It deals with the assessment of the facets that are projected to sway the expansion of the market both negatively and positively. Further, the key trends have also been indicated in the publication. The research study further presents a wide outlook on the seller landscape of the market with reference to Porters five forces analysis. The research report deals with the R&D activities, mergers, acquisitions, and particulars on certifications and partnerships. The report reviews the approaches related to shares, publicity, and product range of the key accomplices in the global aesthetic equipment market.Global Aesthetic Equipment Market: Drivers and InhibitorsThe global aesthetic equipment market is expected to expand extensively owing to the growing aesthetic consciousness among consumers, evolving procedures which are minimally invasive, rising number of incidences of obesity, and budding technological advances which ultimately leads to device innovation. These aspects are also likely to lift the number of aesthetic procedures being performed across the globe. Although the demand for aesthetic procedures is basically from the geriatric population, the young population is also preferring the use of aesthetic procedures, thus triggering the demand for aesthetic equipment. However, the market is likely to be negatively impacted by the high cost of the aesthetic procedures and the exclusion of these procedures from reimbursement policies. As a result of these factors, people are likely to be hesitant towards the adoption of these procedures.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Global Aesthetic Equipment Market: Regional OverviewRegion-wise, the global aesthetic equipment market is dominated by North America followed by Europe in the second place. The main reason behind the extensive growth of the North America aesthetic equipment market is the growing number of elderly population demanding aesthetic procedures for appearance enhancement. The top surgical procedures that the region witnessed are face lift, liposuction, eyelid surgery, nose reshaping, and breast augmentation. Manufacturers of aesthetic equipment can also capitalize on the opportunities arising from emerging economies such as Mexico, Brazil, India, and China. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to register strong growth.Global Aesthetic Equipment Market: Competitive LandscapeThe leading companies engaged in the production and distribution of aesthetic equipment are Medicis Pharmaceutical, Light BioScience LLC, Dornier MedTech, Genzyme Corporation, Focus Medical, Alcon Inc., PhotoMedex Inc., Miramar Labs, Inc., Solta Medical, Syneron Medical Ltd., Johnson & Johnson, Lumenis, Inc., and Allergen Inc. among others.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Alpha Mannosidosis Market to 2024: Trends, Business Strategies and Opportunities http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/alpha-mannosidosis-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2501 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Alpha Mannosidosis Market: SnapshotAlpha mannosidosis is an inherited medical condition tissues and organs of the human body to function in abnormal ways. The commonly seen dysfunctions in patients suffering from this disease are distinctive facial features, intellectual disability, and skeletal abnormalities. Some of the other facial features seen amongst patients are a protruding forehead, large head, rounded eyebrows, low hairline, outsized ears, expanded jaw, flattened bridge of the nose, overgrown gums, widely spaced teeth, and outsized tongue. Though this is a rare disease, a definite rise in the population has increased the number of patients thereby augmented the demand for drugs required for treating alpha mannosidosis.Owing to this reason, the opportunity in the global market is expected to be worth US$21.8 mn by the end of 2024 as against US$2.6 mn in 2015, as the market progresses at a CAGR of 11.9% between 2017 and 2024. The global market for alpha mannosidosis is being driven factors such as market exclusivity being enjoyed by orphan drugs, fee reductions, tax credits, increasing investment in the rare disease treatment, and premium pricing.Read Full Report:BMT Emerges as Leading Therapy for Treating Alpha MannosidosisStatistics show that alpha mannosidosis affects one in every 10, 00,000 people across the globe. The two types of treatment available for treating this disease are bone marrow transplant (BMT) and enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). Currently, bone marrow transplant (BMT) is the most popularly used treatment for patients. However, ERT is also picking up pace as the manufacturers operating in the segment are vying for commercial roll out of therapies. A promising therapy for lysosomal storage diseases (which are similar to alpha mannosidosis) is an enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). The therapy introduces the missing enzyme in the patients blood stream, which is absorbed by the cells then delivered to the lysosomes.Asia Pacific and North America Show Promise of Steady Growth during Forecast PeriodGeographically, the market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific is projected to hold a dominant share in the market in 2017. This dominance will be attributable to the growing awareness about the disease in developing countries. Presently, the Government of Australia has implemented a national plan for helping patients with rare diseases to reduce the mortality rate due to these diseases. The plan aims to raise awareness about the burden of rare diseases among patients, its impact on social life, and healthcare professionals.Download exclusive Sample of this report:North America alpha mannosidosis market is also expected to witness a remarkable growth rate in the coming years. The orphan drug law will boost the new drug discovery efforts as it aims to offer monetary as well as non-financial benefits to manufacturers. The biggest incentive offered North America is a 50% cut the cost incurred for conducting clinical trials, seven years of market exclusivity for orphan drugs, eligibility for federal research grants, and waiver of user fees.The leading players operating in the global alpha mannosidosis market is Zymenex. The company currently focusses on research and development of biologics that are designed to fight rare and life-threatening genetic diseases. The company has developed recombinant enzyme indicated for patients with alpha mannosidosis, which is known as Lamazym (velmanase alfa) in the market.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: QYResearch Market Analysis: Global Pancetta Sales Market Report 2017 Global Pancetta Sales Market Report 2017 http://www.qyresearcheurope.com/goods-513272.html http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/ In this report, the global Pancetta market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K MT), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Pancetta for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Pancetta market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Pancetta sales volume, Price (USD/MT), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingBRFCargillFarmlandFoster FarmsHormel FoodsJBSKarro FoodOSI GroupShuanghui InternationalSmithfield FoodsTonnies FleischTyson FoodsOn the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (K MT), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/MT), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoBasicMid-RangeExpensiveOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Pancetta for each application, includingSupermarkets and HypermarketsIndependent RetailersSpecialist RetailersOtherAsk a complete & professional report sample, please send message to tinaning@qyresearch.com or visit atTable of contents:1 Pancetta Market Overview2 Global Pancetta Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application3 United States Pancetta (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4 China Pancetta (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5 Europe Pancetta (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6 Japan Pancetta (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7 Southeast Asia Pancetta (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8 India Pancetta (Volume, Value and Sales Price)9 Global Pancetta Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data10 Pancetta Maufacturing Cost Analysis11 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers12 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Global Pancetta Market Forecast (2017-2022)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixRelated Reports:Global Pancetta Sales Market Report 2017China Pancetta Sales Market Report 2017Europe Pancetta Sales Market Report 2017Japan Pancetta Sales Market Report 2017India Pancetta Sales Market Report 2017Korea Pancetta Sales Market Report 2017USA Pancetta Sales Market Report 2017Other Country/ Region Pancetta Sales Market Report 2017Contact Details:Company Name: QYResearch CO.,LIMITED | focus on Market Survey and ResearchContact Person: Tina Ning | Professional Market Research Report PublisherEmail: tinaning@qyresearch.com or qyresearcheurope@126.comTel: 0086-20-22093278(CN)Web:QYResearch established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, data base and seminar services. The company owned a large basic data base (such as National Bureau of statistics database, Customs import and export database, Industry Association Database etc), experts resources (included energy automotive chemical medical ICT consumer goods etc industries experts who own more than 10 years experiences on marketing or R&D), professional survey team (the team member with more than 3 years market survey experience and more than 2 years depth expert interview experience),Excellent data analysis team (SPSS statistics and PPT graphics process team); QYResearch has always pursuit product quality, adhere to the quality is the soul of business.Room 2311 VILI International Building No.167 Linhe West Road Tianhe District Analgesics Market: 2016 World Market Outlook and Forecast up to 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=12113 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Analgesics Market: OverviewAnalgesics, or painkillers, are used to reduce and treat aches and pains. Internal and external analgesics are used to combat pain resulting from inflammation, cancer treatments, physiological injury, neuropathic conditions, surgeries, wounds, and phantom aches. The most prominent therapeutic classes of analgesics are local anesthesia, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and opioids. The growing incidence of cancer worldwide and the rise in chronic diseases are mainly responsible for the consistent growth of the global analgesics market.The research publication offers clients a comprehensive summary of the global analgesics market and elucidates the various factors driving and hampering its growth during the forecast period. The report also evaluates the chief players competing in the global market for analgesics and profiles them on the basis of a number of key attributes, such as company and business overview, recent developments, product portfolio, business strategies, and financial strength.Global Analgesics Market: Key Trends and Competitive LandscapeThe increasing therapeutic benefits offered by analgesics, in addition to effective and fast relief from pain, have significantly driven the demand for analgesics over the years. The development of innovative drugs and rising awareness about these treatment options have also supported the analgesics market. Moreover, the rise in recurring aches and pains owing to an increase in the prevalence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and other chronic and acute diseases has propelled the demand for analgesics. Other key factors positively impacting the global analgesics market include the growing prevalence of pain worldwide, the rise in effective treatment options, a surge in the aging population, and the growing acceptance of analgesics by a wider target audience.Eli Lilly and Company, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Bayer AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals, Reckitt Benckiser plc, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sanofi, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis AG, and GlaxoSmithKline PLC are some of the major companies actively participating in the global analgesics market. In the quest of increasing their share in the analgesics market, an increasing number of firms have been adopting acquisitions as their main development strategy.Global Analgesics Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global analgesics market has been categorized into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World based on geography. North America is presently the leading market for analgesics and is projected to retain its dominant position through 2024. Recent regulatory changes in the U.S., accompanied by new marketing strategies by analgesics companies, have greatly benefited this regional market. After declining sales owing to frequent recalls, the analgesics market in the U.S., in particular, has been stabilizing on account of the return of prominent brands, the rising occurrence of aches and pains, the rise in the average age of the population, and an alarming rate of obesity. These demographic and lifestyle developments have significantly propelled the North America analgesics market.The Europe analgesics market is also anticipated to expand in the coming years owing to the rapid commercialization of new drugs and an increasing geriatric population. Although analgesics form one of the largest product areas in over-the-counter drugs, this segment has been negatively affected by the growing trend of improving health instead of merely treating symptoms. An increasing number of consumers in the U.K., for instance, have restricted their consumption of analgesics with this trend in mind, thereby negatively impacting the sales of analgesics.Download Free exclusive Sample of this Report:In contrast, consumers in several Asia Pacific countries seem relatively less concerned over the possible side-effects of analgesics. A higher willingness to self-medicate instead of visiting a trained physician for mild pain and fever is a trend that is common in a number of countries, more prominently in India. Moreover, the immensely stressful lifestyles in most urban parts of the region have resulted in consumers looking for quick and easy solutions to combat pain. This, combined with the surge in purchasing power, has enabled the demand for as well as sales of analgesics to remain steady over the years.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Anesthesia Endotracheal Tubes Market: Impact of Key Factors Influencing the Parent Industry http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/anesthesia-endotracheal-tubes-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=19298 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Anesthesia endotracheal tube is a tube implanted in trachea to administer anesthesia, maintain the airway passage of lungs, prevent aspiration into the lungs, and allow mechanical ventilation. It also establishes the aspiration of secretions and anticipation of the pathway of extraneous material into the tracheobronchial tree. The endotracheal tube is of two types: orotracheal tube and nasotracheal tube. The orotracheal tube is rooted through the mouth, while the nasotracheal tube is rooted through the nose into the trachea. Both are used for anesthesia management.With the advancement of health care facilities and modern technologies, surgery of vital organs such as lungs has become easy. Anesthesia endotracheal tubes make it easy for the surgeons to sedate the patient and perform the surgical procedure. Also, these tubes are accepted and used by the patients of all age groups with breathing or lung problems. This is a major factor driving the market for anesthesia endotracheal tubes. Growing industrialization leading to rise in air pollution and habits such as smoking are responsible for increasing incidence of respiratory diseases. This can be considered as a factor propelling the anesthesia endotracheal tubes market. Rising incidence of other respiratory diseases, lung diseases, and breathing disorders also drives the market.Obtain Report Details:Introduction of advanced technology in the medical field, which enables easy performing of critical surgeries and usage of high-quality consumables in the field are the recent trends in the global anesthesia endotracheal tubes market. However, availability of an increased number of alternative disposable devices and upcoming better options may act as a barrier for the anesthesia endotracheal tubes market. The anesthesia endotracheal tubes market has been segregated into organized and unorganized as well as global and regional players. The unorganized local market in developing countries may give a tough competition to the global players by maintaining high quality standards at reasonable pricing. The dealers in the developed market are targeting back with product innovations.Based on the product type, the global anesthesia endotracheal tubes market can be segmented into: orotracheal tubes and nasotracheal tubes. Orotracheal tubes are implanted in the patients trachea through the mouth. Nasotracheal tubes are implanted in the trachea through the nose. These tubes are employed in the cases wherein the patients mouth needs to be operated.Based on the end-user, the anesthesia endotracheal tubes market can be segmented into: hospitals & clinics and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs).High demand for home-based therapy and modernization in video laryngoscopes also drive the global anesthesia endotracheal tubes market. However, complications in the anesthesia delivery system, availability of a small number of skilled medical practitioners to perform critical surgeries with perfection, and growing preference to laryngeal masks over anesthesia endotracheal tubes are likely be major factors restraining the growth of the market during the forecast period.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report:Based on the geographical region, the anesthesia endotracheal tubes market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is a major market for anesthesia endotracheal tubes, due to respiratory disorder-prone lifestyle of people in the region and a large number of elderly population. Asia Pacific is an expanding market due to increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases in the region.Some players operating in the global anesthesia endotracheal tubes market are Medline Industries, Medtronic, C. R. Bard, ConvaTec, GE Healthcare, Smiths Medical, KindWell Medical, ROYAX, Fuji Systems, Teleflex, Neurovision Medical, and Intersurgical.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Anti-Obesity Drugs Market - Worldwide Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts 2016 to 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=12461 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Anti-Obesity Drugs Market: OverviewThe World Health Organization reveals that global obesity has more than doubled since 1980, with over 1.9 billion adults overweight in 2014, of which, more than 600 million were obese. Percentage-wise, an estimated 39% of adults were overweight and 13% were obese in 2014. An additional 42 million children below the age of five were found to be overweight or obese in 2013. Based on two surveys conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an astounding 68.8% of the U.S. adult population is considered to be overweight or obese. It is no surprise, then, that today, most of the worlds population lives in countries where obesity and overweight are claiming more lives than underweight and malnutrition.This alarming rise in the prevalence of obesity, particularly in the developed region of North America, has been single-handedly propelling the anti-obesity drugs market. Anti-obesity drugs both prescription and OTC are of two main types: Centrally-acting drugs and peripherally-acting drugs. These contain a host of pharmacological agents that control or reduce weight by altering either the absorption of calories or regulating appetite.This comprehensive research publication offers clients an exhaustive database of accurate, authentic, objective, and the most recent information on the global anti-obesity drugs market. The overall market is segmented based on several key criteria and each segment is thoroughly evaluated to identify the leading and weakest categories. Statistical data and inputs from industry experts support the qualitative data offered in the report and help clients devise actionable and profitable decisions for the future.Global Anti-Obesity Drugs Market: Key Trends and Regional OutlookThe global market for anti-obesity drugs has been expanding at a significant pace in recent years. With the obvious driving factor being the surge in obesity levels around the globe, this market is also propelled by the strong pipeline of anti-obesity drugs. Advanced medical research by drug-manufacturing companies, medical universities and institutes, and government agencies has also substantially contributed toward the growth of the anti-obesity drugs market.The anti-obesity drugs market in North America has been flourishing over the years owing to the high level of awareness among the population about obesity and the various risks arising from the medical condition, increased healthcare expenditure, the presence of favorable reimbursement policies, extensive research and development activities in the field, and the increased involvement of government as well as non-government organizations in generating awareness and funding research.The Asia Pacific market for anti-obesity drugs is anticipated to gain momentum in the coming years thanks to the rise in obese population, resulting from increased spending on processed and packaged foods and the growing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Improving healthcare infrastructure and mounting healthcare expenditure is also expected to drive the market for anti-obesity drugs in APAC.Global Anti-Obesity Drugs Market: Competitive Landscape SnapshotThe leading companies operating in the global anti-obesity drugs market include Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc., Takeda Pharmaceuticals Company Limited, Zydus Cadila, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co. Inc., Eisai Co. Ltd., Novo Nordisk A/S, Orexigen Therapeutics Inc., Zafgen, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Norgine B.V., Pfizer Inc., and F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG. Owing to the increasing prevalence of obesity in several parts of the world, the degree of competition among players in the anti-obesity drugs market has been on the rise. Companies have been heavily investing in the development of agents with increased weight-loss efficacy and a high safety threshold. This gives players a greater chance of approval from regulatory bodies such as the US FDA.Get a Sample of this Report:Companies around the globe are also focused on the development as well as successful commercialization of anti-obesity drugs that are both clinically effective and safe in the long run and also have the potential to generate massive sales and reach blockbuster status. The current portfolio of prescription weight-loss drugs and emerging anti-obesity drugs in pre-clinical or clinical trials acts as a significant force driving the global anti-obesity drugs market.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Artificial Ventilation and Anesthesia Masks Market - A key boosting factor is Rising geriatric population http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=11648 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ A new market research report by Transparency Market Research, titled Artificial Ventilation and Anesthesia Masks Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 2024, offers a detailed overview of this market.The report provides a comprehensive study of the factors influencing the growth of the global artificial ventilation and anesthesia masks market. The primary appeal of artificial ventilation and anesthesia masks is that they can be used for intubation without removing the oxygen masks. A rising number of operating room and emergency room procedures is driving the market. Moreover, the growing prevalence of chronic diseases such as sleep apnea, COPD, cancer, kidney failure, and coronary artery diseases has fuelled demand for surgical procedures. This, in turn, has triggered the demand for artificial ventilation and anesthesia masks.Download Free exclusive Sample of this Report:Furthermore, the rising need for home care health services is likely to give a significant push to the global artificial ventilation and anesthesia masks market. On the other hand, lower patient compliance due to the high cost of artificial ventilation and anesthesia masks is negatively influencing the growth of the market. However, high unmet needs in developing nations and an increasing number of reimbursement policies are likely to provide notable growth opportunities to the companies operating in this market.Artificial ventilation and anesthesia masks find applications in intensive care units, dental clinics, operation room, and home care. They have widespread application in operating rooms owing to the increasing number of people undergoing surgeries. Geographically, the market is segmented into Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Rest of the World. North America was the leading segment in 2015. The presence of a dynamic and modern healthcare infrastructure and implementation of favorable government policies such as the Affordable Care Act in the U.S. have spurred the demand for artificial ventilation and anesthesia masks in the region. Due to the aforementioned reasons, the region is expected to retain its dominance until 2024.However, Asia Pacific is estimated to exhibit a CAGR higher than other regions from 2016 to 2024. The growth of artificial ventilation and anesthesia masks market in this region can be attributed to improving reimbursement policies, rapidly growing population, and increasing funding from private and public sector.The report provides an in-depth analysis of the competitive landscape. It includes a comprehensive evaluation of key players profiles and their market shares. Some of the key players in the global artificial ventilation and anesthesia masks market are Acutronic Medical Systems, Ambu, Air Liquide Healthcare, CareFusion, Drager, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, GaleMed, HOFFRICHTER GmbH, and ResMed.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Autologous Cell Therapy Market: High Prevalence of Cancer Triggers Demand for Autologous Cell Therapy http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/autologus-cell-therapy-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=715 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Autologous Cell Therapy Market: OverviewAutologous cell therapy refers to infusion or transfer of human tissue or cells back to the same person for treating a diseased part. For the same purpose, stem cells are removed from the patient, harvested, cultured, and once again transplanted to the same person. The purpose of this method is to reduce the chances of rejection to the treatment by the body. Furthermore, autologous cell therapy does not even require immunosuppression. The growing number of cancer patients have triggered a significant demand for autologous cell therapy. According to the research report, the global market projected to reach a valuation of US$23.7 bn by the end of 2024 as compared to US$3.8 bn in 2015. During the forecast period of 2016 and 2024, the global market is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 21.9%.Obtain Report Details:Unmet Medical Needs and Cost-effectiveness of Autologous Cell Therapy Drives DemandThe global market is expected to grow due to the huge pool of unmet medical needs for cell based therapy, growing government support for cell-based research, and rising number of technological innovations in cell based therapies. Currently, cell therapy is considered a promising technique for several conditions such as neurological, orthopedic, oncology, and a wide range of autoimmune diseases. The ability of stem cells to transform into a cartilage, tendon, bone (osteoblast), and muscle has given this market a fresh lease of life. The biggest advantages of autologous cells is the fact that it is relatively cost-effective, allows quick access to blood as it is derived from the patient, ensures easy method of production, and comes with the lowest threat of disease transfusion. All of these factors have been consistently boosting the demand for autologous cell therapy in recent years.Supportive Government Policies across North America Favor Regional MarketGeographically, the market has been divided into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. North America holds a dominant position in the global market and is expected to maintain its stance in the coming years as well. The strengthening health care infrastructure and supportive government policies are expected ensure high adoption of autologous cell therapy in North America in the near future. The analysts estimate that Asia Pacific will also register a robust CAGR in the coming years. The growth of this market in Asia pacific will be driven by the proliferating medical tourism industry, increasing contract research activities, and economic growth of certain developing countries such as India and China.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report:Hospitals to Retain Dominance in Global Market over Forecast PeriodThe end users of autologous cell therapy are hospitals, research centers, and ambulatory centers. Of these, the hospitals dominated the global market in 2015 and are expected to continue its dominance till the end of 2024 as the surgical procedures continue to be on the rise across hospitals. The research report indicates that the ambulatory surgical centers segment will also expand at a significant rate in the coming years as it is known to reduce waiting time period before surgery, growing outpatient surgical procedures, high confidentiality and privacy of the data, and cost-effective procedure.Some of the leading players operating in the global market are Major players operating in this Market are Vericel Corporation, BioTime, Inc., Pharmicell Co., BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Opexa Therapeutics, Inc, Pharmicell Co., Inc.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Autologous Matrix-induced Chondrogenesis Market: Business Challenges, Emerging Technologies & Competitive Landscape http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/autologous-matrix-induced-chondrogenesis-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=19289 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis Market: SnapshotAutologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) applies bi-layer collagen membrane through microfracture surgery to fix the damage to the articular cartilage damage. The AMIC procedure is a one-step that uses the microfracturing method, which is an established first-line treatment. The growing demand for minimal invasive procedures and a high prevalence of bone and joint disorders are expected to drive the growth of this market across the globe. According to the research report, the global autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis market was valued at US$89.71 mn in 2015 and is expected to be worth US$186.38 mn by 2024. Between the years of 2016 and 2024, the global market is expected to progress at a CAGR of 8.6%.Obtain Report Details:Collagen to Lead the Pack as its Usage Gains Value in Tissue Engineering SectorOn the basis of material the global autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis market segmented into hyaluronic acid, collagen, polyethylene glycol (PEG), poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PGLA) and others. Of these, the collagen segment held the largest share of this market in 2015, which was closely followed by hyaluronic acid. Collagen accounts for approximately 30% of all protein within the human body. Therefore, it is widely used for tissue engineering applications. High tensile strength and excellent handling properties of collagen are expected to drive the segments growth in the coming years.Several players operating in the global market are focusing on developing technologically advanced products, which will ensure swift uptake of autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis. For instance, In North America-based Geistlich Pharma, Inc. launched its line of bone harvesting instruments in February 2016. The line include products such as Geistlich SmartScraper, Geistlich SafeScraper TWIST, and Geistlich Micross.North America to Dominate Global Market with Massive Pool of GeriatricsIn terms of geography, the autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis market is fragmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America accounted for the largest share of the autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis market in 2015, followed by Europe. Increasing prevalence of various bone and joint disorders such as arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis amongst the geriatric population is likely to support the growth of autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis market in North America.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report:Autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis market in Europe, Germany, and France accounted more than 45% share of the total Europe autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis market in 2015. Asia Pacific is also expected to be the fastest-growing market, expanding at a phenomenal CAGR compared to other regions. Increasing demand for minimal invasive procedures and increasing disposable income, along with increasing prevalence of cancer is expected to boost the autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis market in the region during the forecast period.The leading players operating in the global AMIC market are JRI Orthopaedics Ltd., BioTissue AG, Anika Therapeutics, Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Arthro-Kinetics, Geistlich Pharma AG, CartiHeal, Matricel GmbH, Smith & Nephew plc and Zimmer Biomet Holdings. The competitive landscape of the global market is fairly consolidated as just a few players hold a significant share in the overall market. In the coming years, these players are expected to focus on expanding their reach by penetrating into developing countries of Brazil, India, South America, and Mexico. The report indicates that this move comes as the companies are trying to bring down the cost of their products by using the cheaper skilled labor in these nations and benefit from their booming medical tourism industry.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: QYResearch Market Analysis: Global Malted Milk Food Market Research Report 2017 Global Malted Milk Food Market Research Report 2017 http://www.qyresearcheurope.com/goods-513262.html http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/ In this report, the global Malted Milk Food market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Malted Milk Food in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Malted Milk Food market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingImperial MaltMilkoseBriessLake Country FoodsSSPAgnivesh Health Care Centre Pvt.Ltd.PMV Nutrients Products Pvt.Jagatjit Industries LimitedOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoMalted Milk DrinksMalted Milk PowdersOtherOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Malted Milk Food for each application, includingLactating WomenPregnant WomenChildrenOthersAsk a complete & professional report sample, please send message to tinaning@qyresearch.com or visit atTable of contents:1 Malted Milk Food Market Overview2 Global Malted Milk Food Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Malted Milk Food Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Malted Milk Food Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Malted Milk Food Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Malted Milk Food Market Analysis by Application7 Global Malted Milk Food Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Malted Milk Food Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Malted Milk Food Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixRelated Reports:Global Malted Milk Food Market Research Report 2017China Malted Milk Food Market Research Report 2017Europe Malted Milk Food Market Research Report 2017Japan Malted Milk Food Market Research Report 2017India Malted Milk Food Market Research Report 2017Korea Malted Milk Food Market Research Report 2017USA Malted Milk Food Market Research Report 2017Other Country/ Region Malted Milk Food Market Research Report 2017Contact Details:Company Name: QYResearch CO.,LIMITED | focus on Market Survey and ResearchContact Person: Tina Ning | Professional Market Research Report PublisherEmail: tinaning@qyresearch.com or qyresearcheurope@126.comTel: 0086-20-22093278(CN)Web:QYResearch established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, data base and seminar services. The company owned a large basic data base (such as National Bureau of statistics database, Customs import and export database, Industry Association Database etc), experts resources (included energy automotive chemical medical ICT consumer goods etc industries experts who own more than 10 years experiences on marketing or R&D), professional survey team (the team member with more than 3 years market survey experience and more than 2 years depth expert interview experience),Excellent data analysis team (SPSS statistics and PPT graphics process team); QYResearch has always pursuit product quality, adhere to the quality is the soul of business.Room 2311 VILI International Building No.167 Linhe West Road Tianhe District Luxury Fashion Market is expected to Grow at CAGR of 5% by 2022 - Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Gucci, Rolex, Cartier and Zara https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1770 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/luxury-fashion-market-1770 Market HighlightsGlobally, the market for luxury fashion has been increasing due to changing consumption patterns and growing demand for new designs and brands. Growing brand awareness and discounts on big brands online considerably supported the luxury fashion market. Hence, global luxury fashion market is expected to grow at CAGR over 5% post the year 2022.Request a Sample Report @Market Research Analysis: Increased access to internet, improved awareness for various brands has supported luxury brand sales through online distribution channel Consumers preference towards new designs, brands, comfort has encouraged the sales across various segments in the marketKey Players Louis Vuitton Hermes Gucci Chanel Rolex Cartier Prada Burberry Michael Kors Tiffany Zara Dolce & GabbanaKey Findings Secondary data reveals that among the various market segments accessories specifically watches and jewelry witnessed highest growth followed by clothing in the last few years Clothing and accessories dominates the luxury fashion market both in market volume Rise in women working population across the world has boosted the luxury fashion product sales to a greater extent, traction for branded items, rise in disposable incomes continue to support growth of the luxury fashion marketSegmentationBy Type - Clothing, Footwear, Accessories and othersBy Distribution Channel - Mon brand stores, department stores, specialty stores, multi brand boutiques, airport, e-commerce and othersBy Region - North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and ROAccess Full LF Market @Reasons to buy This report includes in-depth study of luxury fashion market and its segments and sub-segments It covers market segmentation by type, and distribution channel It helps in identifying major consumption patterns in different market segments The report will provide useful and premium insights that will support in investments for luxury fashion and allied companies providing details on the fast growing segments and regionsTaste the market data and market information presented through more than 60 market data tables and figures spread in 100 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Global Luxury Fashion Market information from 2014 to 2022"Table of Content1 Executive Summary2 Market Introductions3 Research Methodology4 Market Dynamics5 Market Trends5.1 Trends in Supply/Production5.2 Trends in Demand/Consumption6 Market Factor Analysis7. Market-By Type7.1 Introduction7.2 Market Size (Sub Segments)7.2.1 Clothing7.2.2 Footwear7.2.3 Accessories And8. Market -By Distribution Channel8.1 Monobrand Stores8.2 Department Stores8.3 Specialty Stores8.4 Multi Brand Boutiques8.5 E-Commerce9. Market -By Region9.2 North America9.3 Europe9.4 Asia Pacific9.5 Row10. Competitive Landscape11. Company ProfilesAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Market Research Future Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Global Hot Melt Adhesives Market Expected to be Valued at US$ 8.9, 2015-2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1184 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1184 www.futuremarketinsights.com According to the latest market report published by Future Market Insights (FMI) titled Hot Melt Adhesives Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025, the hot melt adhesives market is expected to be valued at US$ 5.4 Bn in 2015 and expand at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2015 to 2025, accounting for US$ 8.9 Bn by 2025.A hot melt adhesive is a thermoplastic glue that is thermally melted on application and attains adhesion strength upon cooling. Hot melt adhesives consist of one or more polymers as well as additives such as stabilizers, pigments and resins, which are carefully blended to exhibit different characteristics from base polymers. Hot melt adhesives are named after polymer bases. Various types of hot melt adhesives include ethylene vinyl acetate, polyolefin, polyamide, styrenic block copolymers, polyester, etc. Hot melt adhesives are used in several industries including packaging, non-woven, automotive, product assembly, textiles, tapes and labels, woodworking, paper bonding, electronics and many more.Hot melt adhesives are 100% solid thermoplastic materials without any volatile organic compounds, which makes them safe for use in production, transportation, application and storage. They are also environment friendly and safe for use by humans. Properties such as higher setting speeds and heat resistance and easy disposal gives hot melt adhesives a competitive advantage over water and solvent based adhesives, and is a major factor driving market growth. The setting speed of hot melt adhesives range between 5 and 30 seconds, enabling speedier production lines as compared to conventional adhesives. In addition, technological advancements in polymer bases are expected to further drive this market. Development of hydrophilic and polyamide hot melt adhesives is also gaining attention in developed countries, thereby driving growth of the hot melt adhesives market.Request Report Sample@On the basis of polymer base, the hot melt adhesives market has been segmented into ethylene vinyl acetate, polyolefin, polyamide, styrenic block copolymers and others. The ethylene vinyl acetate segment is anticipated to account for a major share in the hot melt adhesives market by 2025. The polyolefin segment accounts for the highest market share across the globe and is expected to witness the highest CAGR of 6.4% in terms of value, during the forecast period (2015-2025). The styrenic block copolymers and ethylene vinyl acetate based hot melt adhesives are anticipated to grow at a steady rate during the forecast period.On the basis of application, the hot melt adhesives market is segmented into packaging, automotive, construction, healthcare products and others. Others include textile, electronics, paper bonding and footwear. The packaging segment is expected to dominate the market with over 35% share in the global market. Consumption of hot melt adhesives in healthcare products is expected to increase rapidly in the near future. Application in healthcare products is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period. Increasing awareness pertaining to hygiene coupled with technological advancements in polymer bases, especially for hygiene, is expected to boost demand for hot melt adhesives during the forecast period.The report provides detailed information about various trends driving each segment and offers insights and analysis about market trends in specific regions. The report also includes an overview of the parent market and key regulations regarding the application of these adhesives. On the basis of region, the market is segmented into seven regions. North America is expected to dominate the market with over 30% share by the end of 2015. In terms of value, Asia Pacific is anticipated to demonstrate the highest CAGR of over 9% during the forecast period.Send An Enquiry@Further, the report presents market opportunities, future outlook, trends, BPS analysis, market attractiveness analysis and competitive landscape of the key players in the hot melt adhesives market. Key players have been profiled to include a company overview, financials, operating segment share, product and service offerings, business strategies, SWOT analysis and key developments.Key players in the global hot melt adhesives market include Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, H. B. Fuller, Sika AG, Arkema Group, Ashland Inc., The 3M Company, Jowat AG, Sipol S.p.A., Palmetto Adhesives Company and Sealock Ltd.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Global Laboratory Information Systems Market projected to register a healthy CAGR of 9.0% over 2015 - 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-875 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-875 www.futuremarketinsights.com Future Market Insights (FMI) delivers key insights on the global laboratory information systems market in its latest report titled, Laboratory Information Systems Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2015 - 2025. In terms of revenue, the global laboratory information systems market is projected to register a healthy CAGR of 9.0% over the forecast period owing to various factors, regarding which, FMI offers detailed insights and forecasts.The market has been segmented on the basis of end user, component, mode of delivery and regions. On the basis of end user, the market has been segmented into hospitals, clinics, independent laboratories and others. Clinics are usually installed with well-supported laboratory information systems for better information about both patients and indications at hand. The segment has been estimated to account for maximum revenue share in the global laboratory information systems market in 2015. Revenue contribution of the clinics segment is expected to increase at a CAGR of 10.0% during the forecast period. Hospitals segment is expected to be the second largest revenue contributor to the global market accounting for US$ 824.9 Mn by 2025 increasing at a CAGR of 8.5% over the forecast period.Request Report Sample@The report further segments the market on the basis of components into software, hardware and services. Services segment is expected to account for largest market share over the forecast period due to adoption of new pricing model strategies by major players in the market. However, software segment is projected to account for significant absolute $ opportunity during 20152025, owing to rise in product enhancements and advent of innovative LIS systems over the forecast period.In terms of mode of delivery, the laboratory information systems market is expected to witness substantial growth in the next few years. Executing database maintenance, back-up and retention services through cloud-based delivery mode and increasing customisation and standardisation of data by way of dedicated IT skilled persons in on premise delivery mode are major factors expected to drive revenue growth of the cloud-based and on-premise segments respectively over the forecast period. Currently, cloud-based delivery mode segment accounts for major share of the global laboratory information systems market.The primary barriers in the market include high costs related to LIS software and services and lack of skilled labour, for day-to-day operations and maintenance of information. In spite of substantial investments in the field of laboratory information systems, lack of qualified professionals is expected to slow down growth of the LIS market during the forecast period. Moreover design flaws in software can tamper test results generated through LIS and is expected to adversely affect the global laboratory information systems market to a certain extent. These factors are expected to affect adoption of laboratory information systems (LIS) over the forecast.The primary trend in the laboratory information systems market is an increase in development of healthcare information systems, rising healthcare per capita spending and increasing demand for integrated medical systems and precise handling of patient data. Other trends include increasing demand for LIS from smaller hospitals with less than 100 beds in developed nations for faster market capitalization and to provide quality care for patients. This is mainly attributed to LIS enabling systematic documentation, eliminating paper work and chance of errors associated with clinical tests report writing, and thereby enables a streamlined workflow.Send An Enquiry@This report assesses trends driving growth of each segment on global as well as regional levels. North America has been estimated to dominate the laboratory information systems market with maximum market share in 2015. Among emerging markets, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and Eastern Europe are estimated to witness high CAGRs over the forecast period.Some key players identified in the global laboratory information systems market are CompuGroup Medical, Cerner Corp, McKesson, Evident, Medical Information Technology, LabWare, Sunquest Information Systems Inc., SCC Soft Computer, Epic Systems Corporation, etc. The report also provides individual strategies followed by these companies in terms of enhancing software products portfolios, market consolidation and software innovations. The report concludes with strategic recommendations for players in the market and also new players planning to enter the market, which could help them in the long run.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Emission Control Catalyst Market : Latest Innovations, Drivers and Industry Key Events 2014 - 2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-137 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-137 www.futuremarketinsights.com Emission control and reduction are among the priorities of all the commercial, industrial, and government sector companies. Growing concerns towards mitigation of the ill effects of carbon emissions or pollution are leading to manufacturing and process industries adopting new methods, technologies, materials, and processes. Emission control catalysts are used in catalytic convertors to lessen harmful emissions to the environment. A catalytic convertor houses a typical honeycomb structure coated with emission control catalysts such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Emission control catalysts can be segmented on the basis of their application as mobile and stationary.Mobile applications include automotives. These catalysts are also called automotive catalysts. Stationary applications include thermal or conventional power plants, and other industries.Request Report Sample@Mobile application presently is the largest segment for emission control catalysts due to the increasing demand for light and heavy commercial vehicles across the globe. Catalytic convertors are mostly used in the automotive industry while stationary emission control systems utilise selective catalytic reduction, catalytic incineration, filters, and catalytic oxidation. Passenger vehicles and cargo trucks are the main source of vehicle pollution followed by two and three wheeler vehicles. Emission control catalysts or convertors are now increasingly being used for NOx reduction from power plants, reduction of sulphur, and removal of toxins from exhaust smoke.Europe is the most lucrative emission control catalyst market. The heavy presence of automobiles manufacturers, power sector companies, and industrialisation across various geographical locations in Europe are the major driving factors for the emission control catalyst market. Europe witnessed 8.8% growth in commercial vehicle registrations. This prominent market was the global leader in FY 2013, and is expected to continue its growth trajectory in the future. Supportive government regulations to curb the ill effects of pollution offer a smooth roadmap for emission control catalyst enterprises to penetrate in European market. Industrial pollution in Europe is the next major setback for the government, as it costs them billions of dollars. Germany, Poland, UK, and Italy possess major refineries and heavy power segments which contribute major damage to the European nations. In such a scenario, the European market is in need of effective solutions that possess the capability to curb the pollution. Therefore, Europe is seen as the most lucrative market for business enterprises operating in the emission control catalyst market.Visit for TOC@Other prominent markets are North America followed by MENA and APAC region. North America contributes a major share to global pollution. USA is the leading market as the highest contributor to air pollution in North America region. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas are the states reporting the highest air pollution levels in USA. Many prominent locations in USA are witnessing ozone depletion which is a major cause of concern for government officials. As such, this situation makes emission control catalysts an urgent need in these pollution chronic regions. MENA is the next potential region for the emission control catalyst market. Presence of mining industries and oil borne locations are the major driving factors in MENA region. India, China and Singapore are the prominent destinations for emission control segment. Development in the automobile sector, oil refineries and maritime transportation are the main driving factors in APAC.Increasing automotive fleet and stringent environmental regulations on the international platform are the prime driving factors for growth in emission control catalyst consumption. The global emission control catalyst market is expected to grow between 7% and 9% CAGR over the next five years. Though the market seems promising for business enterprises operating in emission control catalysts, the emergence of battery-powered vehicles could be a major setback to this flourishing industry. Some of the major players include Johnson Matthey, BASF, Umicore, Faurecia, Nett Technologies, and others. Companies are investing in R&D to offer first class products to different end use industry verticals. Acquisitions and mergers are the strategies adopted by key market players to strengthen their position on the global market platform.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: High Temperature Ceramics Market: Recent Industry Trends and Projected Industry Growth, 2014 - 2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-179 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-179 www.futuremarketinsights.com Ceramics are covalent compounds containing metal and non-metal atoms primarily held in covalent and ionic bonds. Generally, ceramics are made by taking mixtures of earth elements, powders, water and clay. This mixture is shaped into the desired form and is then fired in a high temperature oven. Ceramics are then painted with glazes which are waterproof and decorative. At elevated temperature, ceramics have high hardness, high melting points, excellent chemical corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties. Some ceramics are good dielectrics or insulators, whereas others are good electrical or thermal conductors. Ceramics are widely used in our daily life. Glass, plates, bricks, tiles and sanitary ware are some examples of the ceramics we see every day. Ceramics can also be found in products like automobiles (sparkplug), phone lines and watches. They are even used in space shuttles and aircrafts. Ceramics can be broadly classified into two categories: traditional and advanced. Traditional ceramics include clay products such as cement and glass, whereas advanced ceramics consist of pure oxides, nitrides, carbides and many others.Advanced ceramics are widely used in industrial applications where the operating temperature is generally high or which require hard substances that can withstand great pressure. Ceramics offer various advantages compared to other materials. Ceramics are more corrosion and heat resistant than polymers or metals, stiffer and harder than steel, and have a lower density than most alloys and metals. Raw material for advance ceramics materials are plentiful, inexpensive and display wide range of properties. For automotive applications, they are used in various applications like airbag sensors, spark plugs, valves, vibration sensors, pressure sensors, oxygen sensors, thermistors, catalytic converters, ceramic rotors, ceramic filters piston rings and safety glass windshields.Request Report Sample@The different types of high temperature ceramics include ceramic matrix composites and ultrahigh temperature ceramic coatings. Advanced high temperature materials are key components in the emerging material technologies, which are giving impetus to many industries. The global high temperature ceramics market is driven by several factors like replacement of materials for the sake of creating cost effective solutions, the growing demand for energy conservation across various industries, and government regulations to reduce greenhouse emissions.The global high temperature ceramics market is led by AsiaPacific (APAC) which accounts for over 40-45% of the total consumption by volume. The cost of high temperature ceramics in APAC is lesser than that in Europe, North America or Latin America. In terms of revenue, North America is the largest market followed by APAC and Europe. The cost of high temperature ceramics is expected to remain low for the next few years in the APAC region. Due to government regulations and incentives offered for sustainability and energy conservation, North America and Europe are expected to offer significant growth opportunities for the high temperature ceramics market.Visit for TOC@On the basis of industry applications, the global high temperature ceramics market is segmented into automotive, aerospace, chemical processing, metallurgical, power generation and others. Some of the most common applications of high temperature ceramics are afterburners, boilers, castings, exhaust stacks, flanges, furnaces, headers, incinerators, manifolds, molds and dies, ovens, heat exchangers, pumps, blowers, pipingand ducting. In the aerospace industry, high temperature ceramics are used in cutting edge applications, which require structural and chemical stability at extremely high operating temperatures. On the basis of composition, the high temperature ceramics are segmented into oxides (alumina, zirconia), non-oxides (carbides, nitrides) and composites (combination of oxides and non-oxides).There are many global and regional players operating in the high temperature ceramics market especially in APAC. Some of the key participants are Morgan Thermal Ceramics, ZIRCAR Ceramics, Inc., Skamol A/S, Promat International, IBIDEN Company Ltd., Rath Incorporated, General Insulation Europe Ltd., Unifrax Corporation, and Shandong Luyang Share Co. Ltd.In future, the understanding and controlling behavior of the microstructures and properties of high temperature ceramics are expected to be key elements in research activities. This research will further increase the operating temperature limits of existing high temperature ceramics.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Force Sensors Market Growth and Forecast 2014-2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-272 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-272 www.futuremarketinsights.com Force sensors are also known as force transducers that converts an input mechanical force into an electrical output signal. It act as a force sensing resistor in an electric circuit. It has various benefits such as flexibility and ultra-thin sensor construction which leads to minimal interference in normal action of device and precise response. Depending upon the working and sensing method, variety of force sensors are available in the market.Force Sensor Market: Drivers and RestraintThe global force sensor market is expected to witness substantial growth over the period of forecast. Technological advancement, low manufacturing cost, increasing product demand, rise in the demand of industrial robots, advancement of medical devices with force sensing technology, innovations and development in the manufacturing are the few factors encouraging the growth of global force sensor market.Request Report Sample@On the other hand, factors which are restraining the global force sensor market are instability in the demand across various end-user industry and underdeveloped aftermarket sales channels.Force Sensor Market: SegmentationThe global force sensor market can be segmented into type, application and region. On the basis of type, the global force sensor market can be segmented into, optical force sensor, piezoresistive force sensor, capacitive force sensor, magnetic force sensor, ultrasonic force sensor, strain gauges, and electrochemical force sensorsSensors has become an essential part of any measurement and automation applications. Overall global sensor market is witnessing a trend of increasing sensor accuracy, reliability, response time, efficiency, communication capability and robustness encourages the demand for sensors across various applications. On the basis of application, the global force sensor market can be segmented into, medical & pharmaceutical sector, automotive, printing & packaging, consumer electronics, industrial (robotic & manufacturing), and aerospace & defence. Key developments in the prominent industries such as medical & pharmaceuticals, robotics, aerospace & defence, manufacturing and others is expected to encourage the growth of global force sensor market by 2025. Force sensors are used in manufacturing tools, transportation equipment, microelectronic packaging, transportation equipment etc. Force sensors can also be used in wireless inventory management system to improve order scheduling which helps in avoiding inventory stock-out issue.Visit for TOC@Force Sensor Market: Region wise outlookOn the basis of region, the global force sensor market can be seven regions which include North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan and Middle East & Africa. North America is dominating the global force sensor market due to high technological advancement and increasing adoption among various end-user applications. However, revenue contribution from Asia Pacific excluding Japan is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period.Force Sensor Market: Key PlayersKey players in the global force sensor market are FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology, Inc., OMRON Corporation, Texas Instruments Incorporated are the top players are global force sensor market. Apart from them, various other players are existing in market such as TE Connectivity Ltd., Tekscan, Inc., ATI Industrial Automation, and Sensata Technologies, Inc. Key players are focusing on development of new technologies and new product launch. Merger and acquisition is another activity observed in the market by the market participants to increase their product portfolio and to grow the business. The growth in global force sensor market is also due to growing awareness about the potential use of force sensors in different electronic devices by the original equipment manufacturers. For example, in August 2015, Apple, Inc. posted a patent report, An Advanced Force Touch Patent for the iPad Surfaces in Europe to develop techniques to integrate the force sensors into the iPhone and iPad.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: CMOS Chip Market Analysis by Application (Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Defense & Aerospace, Industrial, Medical, Surveillance), Type, Revenue, Price and Trend 2017 - 2021 https://marketsizeforecasters.com/get-sample/11868/?utm_source=OPR-VT https://marketsizeforecasters.com/global-cmos-chip-market/?utm_source=OPR-VT https://marketsizeforecasters.com/enquire-for-discount/11868/?utm_source=OPR-VT https://marketsizeforecasters.com/global-and-chinese-wire-and-cable-industry-2017-market/utm_source=RR-VT http://marketsizeforecasters.com/ A CMOS imaging chip is a type of image sensor that has an amplifier for each pixel instead of the few amplifiers of a CCD, this results in less area for the capture of photons than a CCD, but this problem has been overcome with microlens in front of the photodiode that direct light (that would of otherwise hit the amplifier and thus not be detected) into the photodiode. Some CMOS imaging sensors also use Back-side illumination to increase the number of photons that hit the photodiode.This report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for CMOS Chip from 2011-2015 and provides extensive market forecasts 2016-2021 by region/country and subsectors. It covers the key technological and market trends in the CMOS Chip market and further lays out an analysis of the factors influencing the supply/demand for CMOS Chip, and the opportunities/challenges faced by industry participants. It also acts as an essential tool to companies active across the value chain and to the new entrants by enabling them to capitalize the opportunities and develop business strategies.Request a sample copy of CMOS Chip Market Research Report @Global CMOS Chip Market Outlook 2016-2021, has been prepared based on the synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of information about the global CMOS Chip market collected from specialized sources. The report covers key technological developments in the recent times and profiles leading players in the market and analyzes their key strategies.The competitive landscape section of the report provides a clear insight into the market share analysis of key industry players. The major players in the global CMOS Chip market are Sony (Japan), Omnivion (USA), Samsung (Korea), Aptina (USA), GalaxyCore (China), among others.The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Rest of World. In this sector, global competitive landscape and supply/demand pattern of CMOS Chip industry has been provided.Browse full table of contents and data tables For CMOS Chip Market Research Report @Table of ContentsPart 1. Scope of Report1.1 Methodology1.2 Geographic Scope1.3 Years ConsideredPart 2. Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Current Scenario2.2 Future ScenarioPart.3 Value Chain Analysis3.1 Upstream3.2 DownstreamPart 4. Manufacture4.1 Manufacturing Process4.2 Issues and Trends4.3 Manufacturing CostsPart 5. Worldwide Key Vendors5.1 Company A5.1.1 Business Overview5.1.2 Products Offered5.1.3 Business Performance5.2 Company B5.3 Company C5.4 Company D5.5 Company E5.6 Company F5.7 Company G5.8 Company H5.9 Company I5.10 Company JPart 6. Market Overview6.1 Global Production Volume 2011-20166.2 Production Volume by Region 2011-20166.2.1 North America6.2.2 EMEA6.2.3 Asia-Pacific6.2.4 ROW6.3 Global Production Value 2011-20166.4 Production Value by Region6.4.1 North America6.4.2 EMEA6.4.3 Asia-Pacific6.4.4 ROWEnquire for Discount CMOS Chip Market Research Report @Related Reports: -Global and Chinese Wire and Cable Industry, 2017 Market Research ReportThe 'Global and Chinese Wire and Cable Industry, 2012-2022 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Wire and Cable industry with a focus on the Chinese market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Wire and Cable manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2012-2017 market shares for each company.MarketSizeForecasters.com, a Skyline Market Research LLP brand, is an online aggregator of market research reports. MarketSizeForecasters.com offers a comprehensive collection of full length reports on global and regional markets in 100+ industry verticals. We have partnered with some of the leading business and market research publishing houses and regularly update our online library to offer wide range of reports to our customers.Market size forecastersThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketsizeforecasters.comWebsite:Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter Transformer Monitoring System Market is Expected to Grow at a CAGR of 12% by 2022 Transformer Monitoring System Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2311 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/transformer-monitoring-system-market-2311 Market Research Future published a half cooked research report on Global Transformer monitoring system market. The Transformer monitoring system market is expected to grow over the CAGR of around 12% during the period 2016 to 2022.Market Highlights:The global transformer monitoring system market is growing due to its enhanced features such as improving safety and providing reduction in cost. Transformer monitoring systems provide real time monitoring of the transformer functioning, which further contributes to the growth of the market. Huge investments into digitization and smart grids are expected to further drive the demand for transformer monitoring systems. The ability of transformer monitoring systems to provide early intimation in case of malfunctioning of the transformers, also contributes to the growth of the market. The abilities of transformer monitoring systems to lower the risk in case of expensive power outages, to reduce on-site inspection, and to improve the life of the transformers help in improving preventive maintenance and faster reaction in times of failures.Request a Sample Copy @Key Players of Transformer Monitoring System Market: ABB automation company (Switzerland,) General Electric Company (U.S.) Schneider Electric SE (France) Siemens AG (Germany) Advanced Power AG (Switzerland) BPL Global LLC (U.S.) Crompton Greaves Ltd. (India) Dynamic Ratings (U.S.) Eaton Corporation Plc. (Republic of Ireland) Echelon Corporation (U.S.) Elster Group SE (Germany) Hyosung Corporation (South Korea)Market Research Analysis:Among all applications, the power transformer segment in the transformer monitoring system market is expected to grow, owing to the strict government regulations for control of transmission networks and monitoring. Among all services, oil and gas monitoring is the most widely used monitoring services for transformers. The rising applications of transformer monitoring system in the oil and gas industry is driving the demand for transformer monitoring systems.The Asia Pacific region is expected to dominate the global transformer monitoring solutions market during the forecast period, owing to rapid pace of power utilities and increasing incorporation of monitoring solutions into their existing transformers. Developing nations such as India and China are expected to foster the need for efficient electric power supply, which is expected to result in market growth during the forecast period.Scope of the Report:This study provides an overview of the Global Transformer monitoring system market, tracking three market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the Global Transformer monitoring system market by its type, service, application and region.By Type Hardware Solutions Software SolutionsBy Service Oil/Gas Monitoring Bushing Monitoring OthersBy Application Distribution Transformers Power Transformers OthersBy Region North America Asia Pacific Europe Rest of the WorldBrief TOC for Transformer Monitoring System Market:1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology2.1 Scope of the Study2.1.1 Definition2.1.2 Research Objective2.1.3 Assumptions2.1.4 Limitations2.2 Research Process2.2.1 Primary Research2.2.2 Secondary Research2.3 Market size Estimation2.4 Forecast Model3 Market Dynamics3.1 Market Drivers3.2 Market Inhibitors3.3 Supply/Value Chain Analysis3.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis4 Global Transformer Monitoring System Market, By Type4.1 Hardware Solutions4.2 Software Solutions5 Global Transformer Monitoring System Market, By Service5.1 Oil/Gas Monitoring5.2 Bushing Monitoring5.3 OthersContinueAccess Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Akash AnandMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Outlook of World Textile Printing Inks Market: Research Report from 2017 to 2022 https://marketsizeforecasters.com/get-sample/5682/?utm_source=OPR-NL https://marketsizeforecasters.com/enquire-for-discount/5682 https://marketsizeforecasters.com/global-textile-printing-inks-market https://marketsizeforecasters.com/2016-global-3d-printing-powder-market-status-2011-2022-market-historical-and-forecasts-professional-market-research-report http://www.marketsizeforecasters.com/ Textile Printing Inks Industry 2017 Market Research Report was a professional and depth research report on Textile Printing Inks industry that you would know the world's major regional market conditions of Textile Printing Inks industry, the main region including North American, Europe and Asia etc, and the main country including USA, EU, China, South East Asia, India, Japan and etc.Textile Printing Inks Market report focuses on the Textile Printing Inks in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Global Textile Printing Inks Market Research Report @Textile Printing Inks is an ink used in digital inkjet printer, generally; it can be directly applied to the print media in the form of droplets. The main components of the ink are color unit and vectors. Color unit may be a pigment or dye.Textile Printing Inks Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Dupont, Huntsman, JK Group, Kornit, DyStar, SPGprints, BASF, Jay ChemicalThe lisetd pricing for this Textile Printing Inks market report starts at US $3480. Request Discount for Global Textile Printing Inks Industry Research Report @Table of Contents in Global Textile Printing Inks Research Report1 Market Overview1.1 Textile Printing Inks Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Reactive Dye Inks1.2.2 Acidic Ink1.2.3 Paint Ink2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Dupont2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Textile Printing Inks Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 13 Global Textile Printing Inks Market Competition, by Manufacturer3.1 Global Textile Printing Inks Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer3.2 Global Textile Printing Inks Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer4 Global Textile Printing Inks Market Analysis by Regions4.1 Global Textile Printing Inks Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Regions4.1.1 Global Textile Printing Inks Sales by Regions (2012-2017)4.1.2 Global Textile Printing Inks Revenue by Regions (2012-2017)4.2 North America Textile Printing Inks Sales and Growth (2012-2017)Browse full table of contents and data tables For Global Textile Printing Inks Report @Textile Printing Inks Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers - North America (USA, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) , Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.), Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Textile Printing Inks Market Segment by Type, covers Reactive Dye Inks, Acidic Ink, Paint Ink, Dispersion & Sublimation InkTextile Printing Inks Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into - Clothing Industry, Textile Industry, OthersRelated Reports: -2016 Global 3D Printing Powder Market Status, 2011-2022 Market Historical and Forecasts, Professional Market Research ReportThis New Version 3D Printing Powder Market Research Report is a deep market research report in this market.This report focused on global and regional market, major manufacturers, as well as the segment market details on different classifications and applications.MarketSizeForecasters.com, a Skyline Market Research LLP brand, is an online aggregator of market research reports. MarketSizeForecasters.com offers a comprehensive collection of full length reports on global and regional markets in 100+ industry verticals. We have partnered with some of the leading business and market research publishing houses and regularly update our online library to offer wide range of reports to our customers.Market Size ForecastersThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: +1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: +1 866-764-2150Email: sales@marketsizeforecasters.comWebsite:Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter Global Wireless Charging Phone Market 2017- Samung , Sony , Google , MOTO, NOKIA Global Wireless Charging Phone Market 2017 http://bit.ly/2p9Y8bM https://market.biz/report/global-wireless-charging-phone-market-2017/59618/ https://market.biz/ http://firstnewshawk.com/ The Worldwide Wireless Charging Phone Report does an extensive study of the Market Segment, Product categories, market revenue, product cost, Forecast 2017-2022. 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We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businesses.Contact Us:James JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor,Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade,Near Navale Lawns, PuneMaharashtra, India 411041Tel: +1(857)2390696Web:Email: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Latest News- Global Wood Coating Additives Market 2017- BYK , AkzoNobel , Arkema , Dow Corning , Stepan company Global Wood Coating Additives Market 2017 http://bit.ly/2qdcab3 https://market.biz/report/global-wood-coating-additives-market-2017/57111/ https://market.biz/ http://firstnewshawk.com/ The Worldwide Wood Coating Additives Report does an extensive study of the Market Segment, Product categories, market revenue, product cost, Forecast 2017-2022. After that, the Global Wood Coating Additives market 2017 Report is segregated into different categories based on geographical regions, key vendors and range of applications. 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We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businesses.Contact Us:James JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor,Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade,Near Navale Lawns, PuneMaharashtra, India 411041Tel: +1(857)2390696Web:Email: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Latest News- Global Wood Crown Moulding Market 2017- Metrie , Ekena Millwork , Alexandria , House of Fara , Woodgrain Millwork Global Wood Crown Moulding Market 2017 http://bit.ly/2poa2NT https://market.biz/report/global-wood-crown-moulding-market-2017/54748/ https://market.biz/ http://firstnewshawk.com/ The Worldwide Wood Crown Moulding Report does an extensive study of the Market Segment, Product categories, market revenue, product cost, Forecast 2017-2022. After that, the Global Wood Crown Moulding market 2017 Report is segregated into different categories based on geographical regions, key vendors and range of applications. 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We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businesses.Contact Us:James JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor,Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade,Near Navale Lawns, PuneMaharashtra, India 411041Tel: +1(857)2390696Web:Email: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Latest News- Global Oligonucleotides Market 2017 : Bioneer, Biolegio, IDT, SGS DNA, Exiqon & Biomatik Oligonucleotides https://goo.gl/ojfd65 https://goo.gl/IYORV1 This report studies Oligonucleotides in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with Production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringThermoFisherEurofins GenomicsAM ChemicalsTriLink BioTechnologiesSigma-AldrichTAG CopenhagenBioneerBiolegioThe survey report by Market Research Store is an overview of the global Oligonucleotides market. 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We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803 Global Cancer Supportive Care Therapeutics Market to 2022 - Patent Expirations Create Opportunities for Biosimilars in the Chemotherapy Induced Anemia and Neutropenia Markets https://www.reportsworldwide.com/enquiry?report_id=35933 https://www.reportsworldwide.com/report/global-cancer-supportive-care-therapeutics-market-to-2022---patent-expirations-create-opportunities-for-biosimilars-in-the-chemotherapy-induced-anemia-and-neutropenia-markets ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Global Cancer Supportive Care Therapeutics Market to 2022 - Patent Expirations Create Opportunities for Biosimilars in the Chemotherapy Induced Anemia and Neutropenia Markets to its growing collection of premium market research reports.The cancer supportive care product market consists of drugs intended to prevent or treat the symptoms of cancer, and reduce the side effects of cancer treatments. Instead of extending a patients life expectancy, the emphasis is on improving overall quality of life. The key indications covered in this report are cancer pain, oral mucositis, chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN), chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA), chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and bone metastasis. As the number of people being diagnosed with cancer grows and access to effective treatment that allows patients to survive longer increases, demand for safe and effective cancer supportive care drugs will rise.There are 245 products in active development in the cancer supportive care pipeline, but this includes products in development for smaller and less commercially significant indications. There are 169 products in active development for the key indication examined in this report, giving an average of 28 products per indication, the majority of which are at an early stage of development.To Get Sample Copy of Report please visit @Key topics covered in this reportThe cancer supportive care market already contains some commercially successful products.- Which classes of drug dominate the market?- Which indication is the most commercially successful?- How will commercially successful drugs perform over the forecast period?The cancer supportive care pipeline is relatively small, but there is significant diversity in terms of molecule types and targets.- Which molecular targets appear most frequently in the pipeline?- What are the commercial prospects for the most promising late-stage pipeline products?The cancer supportive care market is forecast to grow from $11.7 billion in 2015 to $12.4 billion in 2022, at a compound annual growth rate of 0.9%.- Which products are forecast to drive growth?- Will generic and biosimilar competition have a significant impact on the market over the forecast period?The company landscape is becoming increasingly competitive.- What are the leading companies in terms of market share?- Which companies are forecast to experience the greatest growth in market share?- What are the drivers of growth for key companies in the market?- How dependent are the key companies on this disease cluster for revenue?To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:About ReportsWorldwide.comReportsWorldwide.com is a leading provider of global market intelligence reports and services. With research reports from top publishers, consulting and advisory firms, ReportsWorldwide.com offers instant online access to a growing database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, geographies and trends.Press Contact:Abigail CrastoSenior Vice President101, Arch StreetBoston, MA 02110USPhone +1 (617) 398-4994Fax +1 (617) 398-4995abigail@reportsworldwide.com Global Xenon Arc Test Chamber Market 2017 - Torontech , Grupo MAST , ESPEC , Weiss Technik , Thermotron Global Xenon Arc Test Chamber Market 2017 http://bit.ly/2qdGLZ9 https://market.biz/report/global-xenon-arc-test-chamber-market-2017/59620/ https://market.biz/ http://firstnewshawk.com/ The Worldwide Xenon Arc Test Chamber Report does an extensive study of the Market Segment, Product categories, market revenue, product cost, Forecast 2017-2022. 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Present market trends along with future growth opportunities have been covered in depth in this report.Competitive Landscape View of Global Xenon Arc Test Chamber Market 2017 and Dominant Sellers-1 Torontech2 Grupo MAST3 ESPEC4 Weiss Technik5 Thermotron6 CSZ7 Angelantoni8 Binder9 Climats10 Memmert11 Hitachi12 Russells Technical Products13 TPS14 CME15 Kambic16 Hastest Solutions17 Shanghai Jiayu18 China CEPREI19 Guangzhou MingshengDo Inquiry Before Buying Report Here:The report then discusses the distinct characteristics of the Xenon Arc Test Chamber market and analyses the different market segments. Particularly, the report focuses on the progress of the Xenon Arc Test Chamber market in regions like (US, EU, China and Japan). Other regions can be added conveniently. Different aspects that have the direct or indirect impact on Xenon Arc Test Chamber market are discussed in this report.The Xenon Arc Test Chamber report then evaluates the market based on product definition, categorization, applications and key players. Some major industry players are profiled in this report along with their business overview, revenue segmentation, their contribution in market share, consumer volume and production capacity. The Xenon Arc Test Chamber market size, gross market share and potential users are covered at length in this report.Buy Complete Report Here (To Get Fast Access):Hence, this report is an important guide for all readers including established players, new players and all individuals interested in gaining knowledge about Xenon Arc Test Chamber market.About Us:Market.Biz is designed to provide the best and most penetrating research required to all commercial, industrial and profit-making ventures in any sector of online business. We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businesses.Contact Us:James JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor,Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade,Near Navale Lawns, PuneMaharashtra, India 411041Tel: +1(857)2390696Web:Email: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Latest News- Gravure Printing Inks Market: Innovative Packaging Approaches to Bode Well for Revenue Generation By 2024 Gravure Printing Inks Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/gravure-printing-ink-market.html https://goo.gl/BHr28d http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ http://marketresearchreports2017.blogspot.in Transparency Market Research (TMR) states that the global gravure printing inks market is fairly consolidated. The market is led by top six players, who reportedly held a share of about 75% in the market in 2015, states the lead author of this research report. However, these players, Flint Group, Sun Chemical Group, Sakata INX, Toyo Ink Mfg. Co. Ltd., Huber Group, and Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA, are expected to grow at a sluggish rate in the coming years as the industries are being challenged by the radical changes in technology, consumer behavior, and economic developments.To overcome these roadblocks, companies are expected to focus on research and development activities, investments in development and production of digital printing inks, and inorganic expansions.According to the research report, the global gravure printing inks market was worth US$1.8 bn in 2015 and is expected to pace ahead at a CAGR of 3.98% between 2016 and 2024 to reach a valuation of US$2.6 bn by the end of 2024. The dramatic rise in printing and publication activities across the globe are expected to drive this market in the coming years.Browse Market Research Report @Swift Uptake of Gravure Printing Inks in Asia Pacific to Continue as Region Witnesses Steady Economic DevelopmentThe applications of gravure printing inks are seen in areas such as food packaging, furniture laminates, wallpapers, wrapping papers, greeting cards, newspaper, and magazines among others. Analysts at TMR expect that the packaging industry will lead the global market as industrialization and transportation of goods due to the emergence of e-commerce gains momentum. On the other hand, the publication industry is expected to show a decline over the coming few years due to the increasing demand for e-books and digitized papers. Meanwhile, the solvent-based gravure printing ink product segment is expected to rise at a CAGR of 5.0% between 2016 and 2024.In terms of geography, Asia Pacific is estimated to picking up stream for sales of gravure printing inks market. The regional market is projected to surge at a CAGR of 3.98% over the forecasted period. The economic development in the region and the terrific rate at which businesses are booming are expected to drive the Asia Pacific gravure printing inks market.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @Increasing GDPs and Rapid Industrialization to Boost Market GrowthThe global gravure printing inks market is being driven remarkable improvement in GDPs of several developing countries and the changing consumptions patterns of developed countries. The changing approaches toward packaging, innovative methods of packaging, and printing have given the global market a major impetus. The preference for gravure printing due to their ability to print on thin films such polyester, PE, nylon, and OPP have also bolstered the growth of the overall market.On the downside, the global market for gravure printing inks is being rattled by the strong presence of e-commerce industry. The growing usage of flexographic printing is anticipated to be a major roadblock for the overall market as it requires lesser manpower. Advantages of flexographic printing such as lesser ink consumption and quicker changeovers are expected decline growth for the global market. The increasing popularity of e-books with devices such as Kindle are expected to considerably hamper market growth as they completely eliminate the need for printing and publications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insights for decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, TMR employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog: Global and China Ceramic Tile Adhesive Market Survey Report With CAGR Forecast (2017-2022) Ceramic Tile Adhesive https://goo.gl/hBxEZW https://goo.gl/2oYTkQ The survey report by Market Research Store is an overview of the Global and China Ceramic Tile Adhesive market. It covers all the recent trends including key developments in the Global and China market in present and in future. 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The research report analyzed the major factors driving the Global and China Ceramic Tile Adhesive market in various countries with a satisfactory and manufacturing and structure of the Global and China market. Forecasts are also provided region-wise in the research report.The research report comprises several chapters, tables, figures, graphs, and various other presentations formats so as to provide a precise overview of the market. The sequence of the report is maintained in such a way that highlights the overall flow of the Global and China market. Recent developments in the Global and China market are further described in the research report. The report also summarizes latest trends along with abstracts of the Ceramic Tile Adhesive market. Major competitors of the Global and China market including commercial and non-commercial participants in the Global and China market are also covered in the report.Inquiry For Buying @Thus, the research report provides in-depth analysis covering all the major regions, competitors, and vital aspects of the Ceramic Tile Adhesive industry.About Us:MarketResearchStore.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803 Jet Fans Market by Type, Product, Application, Region and Forecast to 2022 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/global-jet-fans-market-research-report-2017 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001755195/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW0001755195/buy/2900 ReportsWeb.com added Global Jet Fans Market Research Report 2017 to its vast collection of research Database. The report is spread across 116 pages and supported by 11 company leaders.The Global Jet Fans Market Research Report 2017is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Jet Fans industry. In a word, This report studies Jet Fans in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer. Key companies included in this research are Systemair, Jindun, ShangFeng, Kruger Ventilation, TLT-Turbo GmbH, Zhonglian Wind, NanFeng, Yilida, WITT & SOHN, Flakt Woods and Howden.Browse complete report @Market Segment by Region, this report splits Global into several key Region, with sales, revenue, market share and growth rate of Jet Fans in these regions, from 2011 to 2022 (forecast), like North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India. Firstly, Jet Fans Market On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into One-way Jet Fans and Two-way Jet Fans. On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales) , market share and growth rate of Jet Fans for each application, including Tunnel and Metro.Request for Sample @Major points from Table of Contents:1 Jet Fans Market Overview2 Global Jet Fans Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Jet Fans Production, Revenue (Value) by Regions (2012-2017)4 Global Jet Fans Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2012-2017)5 Global Jet Fans Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Types6 Global Jet Fans Market Analysis by Applications7 Global Jet Fans Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Systemair7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Jet Fans Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Systemair Jet Fans Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Jindun7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Jet Fans Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Jindun Jet Fans Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 ShangFeng7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Jet Fans Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 ShangFeng Jet Fans Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview8 Jet Fans Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Jet Fans Market Forecast (2017-2022)List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Jet FansFigure Global Jet Fans Production (Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Jet Fans Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Product Picture of One-way Jet FansTable Major Manufacturers of One-way Jet FansFigure Product Picture of Two-way Jet FansTable Major Manufacturers of Two-way Jet FansFigure Global Jet Fans Consumption (Units) by Applications (2012-2022)Figure Global Jet Fans Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2016Figure Tunnel ExamplesFigure Metro ExamplesFigure Global Jet Fans Market Size (Million USD) , Comparison (Units) and CAGR (%) by Regions (2012-2022)Figure North America Jet Fans Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Europe Jet Fans Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China Jet Fans Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan Jet Fans Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Southeast Asia Jet Fans Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure India Jet Fans Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Jet Fans Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Jet Fans Capacity, Production (Units) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Jet Fans Major Players Product Capacity (Units) (2012-2017)Table Global Jet Fans Capacity (Units) of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table Global Jet Fans Capacity Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Figure Global Jet Fans Capacity (Units) of Key Manufacturers in 2016Figure Global Jet Fans Capacity (Units) of Key Manufacturers in 2017Figure Global Jet Fans Major Players Product Production (Units) (2012-2017)Table Global Jet Fans Production (Units) of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table Global Jet Fans Production Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)Figure 2016 Jet Fans Production Share by ManufacturersFigure 2017 Jet Fans Production Share by ManufacturersFigure Global Jet Fans Major Players Product Revenue (Million USD) (2012-2017)Table Global Jet Fans Revenue (Million USD) by Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table Global Jet Fans Revenue Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table 2016 Global Jet Fans Revenue Share by ManufacturersTable 2017 Global Jet Fans Revenue Share by ManufacturersTable Global Market Jet Fans Average Price (USD/Unit) of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Figure Global Market Jet Fans Average Price (USD/Unit) of Key Manufacturers in 2016Table Manufacturers Jet Fans Manufacturing Base Distribution and Sales AreaTable Manufacturers Jet Fans Product CategoryFigure Jet Fans Market Share of Top 3 ManufacturersFigure Jet Fans Market Share of Top 5 ManufacturersTable Global Jet Fans Capacity (Units) by Region (2012-2017)Figure Global Jet Fans Capacity Market Share by Region (2012-2017)Figure Global Jet Fans Capacity Market Share by Region (2012-2017)Figure 2016 Global Jet Fans Capacity Market Share by RegionTable Global Jet Fans Production by Region (2012-2017)Figure Global Jet Fans Production (Units) by Region (2012-2017)Figure Global Jet Fans Production Market Share by Region (2012-2017)Figure 2016 Global Jet Fans Production Market Share by RegionTable Global Jet Fans Revenue (Million USD) by Region (2012-2017)Table Global Jet Fans Revenue Market Share by Region (2012-2017)Figure Global Jet Fans Revenue Market Share by Region (2012-2017)Table 2016 Global Jet Fans Revenue Market Share by RegionFigure Global Jet Fans Capacity, Production (Units) and Growth Rate (2012-2017)Table Global Jet Fans Capacity, Production (Units) , Revenue (Million USD) , Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)Table North America Jet Fans Capacity, Production (Units) , Revenue (Million USD) , Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)Table Europe Jet Fans Capacity, Production (Units) , Revenue (Million USD) , Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)Table China Jet Fans Capacity, Production (Units) , Revenue (Million USD) , Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)Table Japan Jet Fans Capacity, Production (Units) , Revenue (Million USD) , Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)Table Southeast Asia Jet Fans Capacity, Production (Units) , Revenue (Million USD) , Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)Table India Jet Fans Capacity, Production (Units) , Revenue (Million USD) , Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)Place a Direct Purchase Order of Complete Report @Contact Info:Name: Sameer JoshiEmail: sales@reportsweb.comOrganization: ReportsWebPhone: +1-646-491-9876ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 New Report 2017 Population Health Management Market - Industry Analysis And Growth 2025 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/population-health-management-solutions-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=4174 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Population health management is characterized as collecting and analyzing the data on segments of patient population and management of that data for specific diseases within that population. It is a model which helps the health care providers and payers to assess the populations they serve across the continuum of care. Population health management is thus a comprehensive approach which requires both analysis and action, and utilized to uncover the gaps in health care for the benefits of patients and physicians. It improves health management outcomes by aligning physicians, coordinating the medical care, and optimizing efficiency as well as revenue. Major factors driving the population health management market are continued pressures to minimize health care costs, rising demand to improve the healthcare services quality, and implementation of value-based payment system. However, lack of trained and efficient professionals, safety of data and its management concerns, and lack of proper systems requiring investment to run the population health management program smoothly are the major restraints of the population health management market.Obtain Report Details @The global population health management market can be segmented based on component, delivery mode, and end-user. In terms of component, the global population health management has been segmented into software, hardware, and services. The services segment has been further divided into consulting, business intelligence, analytics, and others. The consulting and business intelligence segments dominated the population health management market in 2016, owing to the rising demand for business intelligence tools to analyze the data in the process of decision making from a patient perspective. The software segment is expected to lead the population health management market during the forecast period, with highest CAGR, attributed to the introduction of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (ACA) and encouragement to hospitals by public and private players to take up population health management programs. Based on delivery mode, the global population health management market has been classified as web-based, mobile-based, cloud-based, and others. The web-based segment held the largest share of the population health management market in 2016 due to the continuous efforts being made by governments to reduce health care costs and rapid adoption of private payers to value-based purchasing model. However, the mobile-based segment is anticipated to witness highest CAGR and is expected to account for the largest share of the global population health management market in terms of revenue by 2025. Emergence of big data analytics is a major factor likely to drive the mobile-based market during the forecast period.In terms of end-user, the global population health management market has been segmented into health care providers, health care payers, government organizations, and employer groups. The health care providers segment captured the largest market share in terms of revenue in 2016, attributed to rising incidence of chronic diseases among the population and increasing demand for better and healthy patient quality of life. The health care payers and providers segments are projected to dominate the global population health management market from 2017 to 2025, owing to increasing demand for effective and systematic disease management.Geographically, the global population health management market has been segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America accounted for the largest share of the population health management market in terms of revenue in 2016, attributed to the reforms and investments being made to modernize the health care infrastructure in the U.S. However, the market in Asia Pacific is expected to expand at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, owing to the growing medical tourism in developing countries in Asia and the rapidly expanding health care industry in China and India. North America is anticipated to continue to dominate the market during the forecast period due to the efforts being taken to digitalize the health care system in the region.Fill The Form To Gain Deeper Insights On This Market @Key players in the global population health management market are Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc., Cerner Corporation, Accenture, Conifer Health Solutions, LLC, McKesson Corporation, IBM Corporation, Wellcentive, Inc., and Epic Corporation, Inc., among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Rubber Sheets Market 2017 : Contitech, Hanna, Aero, BRP & TOGAWA Rubber Sheets https://goo.gl/3awFWE https://goo.gl/QgBCXt The survey report by Market Research Store is an overview of the global Rubber Sheets market. It covers all the recent trends including key developments in the global market in present and in future. Analyses of the global Rubber Sheets market trends along with the projections of CAGRs (compound annual growth rates) are provided in the research report.Further, an evaluation of the history of the global market and the basic information of the global market is included in the report. A developmental perspective of the industry is also documented in the report. Competitive profiles of the key players in the industry are also discussed.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The research report provides both an assessment of recent developments in the industry along with forecasts examining the industry from the perspective of major competitors, present players and prospective end users in the Rubber Sheets market.Forecasts are generated on the basis of region, type, product, supply, demand, and other vital factors of the global market. The research report analyzed the major factors driving the global Rubber Sheets market in various countries with a satisfactory and manufacturing and structure of the global market. Forecasts are also provided region-wise in the research report.The research report comprises several chapters, tables, figures, graphs, and various other presentations formats so as to provide a precise overview of the market. The sequence of the report is maintained in such a way that highlights the overall flow of the global market. Recent developments in the global market are further described in the research report. The report also summarizes latest trends along with abstracts of the Rubber Sheets market. Major competitors of the global market including commercial and non-commercial participants in the global market are also covered in the report.Inquiry For Buying @Thus, the research report provides in-depth analysis covering all the major regions, competitors, and vital aspects of the Rubber Sheets industry.About Us:MarketResearchStore.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803 Global Supply Chain Analytics Industry to 2025 Forecast and Key developments |The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/supply-chain-analytics-market http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000275 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/discount/TIPTE100000275 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPTE100000275 Latest market study on Supply Chain Analytics Market to 2025 - Global Analysis and Forecasts by Solution, Service, Deployment Type and Industry Vertical, the report include key understanding on the driving factors of this growth and also highlights the prominent players in the market and their developments.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Supply Chain Analytics Market to 2025 @In today's highly competitive environment companies are putting high focus on optimizing operational expenses in order to achieve high efficiency and manageability. Efficient supply chain analytics solutions and tools helps organizations to achieve efficient forecasting, improved supplier network, improved warehouse management and high supply chain visibility which will ultimately help companies for effectively and cost efficiently cater the changing and dynamic end user demands.The report aims to provide an overview of Global Supply Chain Analytics Market along with detailed segmentation of market by solution, services, deployment type, industry verticals and five major geographical regions. Global Supply Chain Analytics market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period due to as it provides end users greater visibility and improved forecasting accuracy.Request Sample Copy @The objectives of Supply Chain Analytics Market report are as follows: To provide overview of the Global Supply Chain Analytics market To analyze and forecast the Global Supply Chain Analytics market on the basis of solutions, services and deployment types. To provide market size and forecast till 2025 for overall Supply Chain Analytics market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA), and South America (SAM), which are later sub-segmented across respective major countries To evaluate market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend To provide exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions To profiles key Supply Chain Analytics players influencing the market along with their SWOT analysis and market strategiesInquire about discount on this report @The objectives of Supply Chain Analytics Market Report is as follows: Solutions: Manufacturing Analytics, Logistics and Transportation Analytics, Reporting and Visualization Tools, Others Tools Service: Integration services, Professional services Deployment Type: On-Premise Deployment, Cloud Deployment, Hybrid Deployment Vertical: Retail, Manufacturing, Automotive, Government & Defense, Others Geographical Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa (MEA), South America (SAM)Some of the leading players in Supply Chain Analytics Market Report SAS Institute Inc SAP SE Kinaxis Inc. Oracle Corporation IBM Corporation Entercoms Inc. Demand Solutions Group LLC Tableau Software Inc. Birst Inc. and Tata Consultancy ServicesWhy Buy Supply Chain Analytics Market Report? Highlights widely used product offerings thereby allowing organizations to gain revenues by focusing majorly on select products The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Supply Chain Analytics market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long term strategies Get reliable information about the strategies manufacturers in this market use to drive revenue Gain insights into the competitive landscape, to strengthen market competitiveness and positioning Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as the those hindering it Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution Examine the current and future impact of the five forces namely: bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitutes, threat of new entrants and degree of competitionAccess Full Report @About The Insight Partners:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.com505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Global IoT Processors and Chip Market Key Vendors Trends, Forecast, and Growth Prospects to 2025|The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/iot-processors-and-chip-market http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000266 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/discount/TIPTE100000266 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPTE100000266 Latest market study on IoT Processors and Chip Market to 2025 - Global Analysis and Forecasts by Component, Processor Type and Application, the report include key understanding on the driving factors of this growth and also highlights the prominent players in the market and their developments.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the IoT Processors and Chip Market to 2025 @The Internet of Things is a fast-growing industry built on the promise of ubiquitous connectivity that will enable billions of devices to talk to each other and to people. The IoT processors and chip market report discuss about the different processors and Integrated circuit used in IoT application.The report aims to provide an overview of global IoT processors and chip market with detailed market segmentation by component, processor type, application and geography. The global IoT processors and chip market is expected to witness decent growth during the forecast period. Increasing demand of wearable devices and smart technology is expected to drive the market in near future.Request Sample Copy @The objectives of IoT Processors and Chip Market report is as follows: To provide overview of the global IoT Processors and Chip market To analyze and forecast the global IoT Processors and Chip market on the basis of component, processor type and application To provide market size and forecast till 2025 for overall IoT Processors and Chip market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM), which is later sub-segmented by respective countries To evaluate market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend To provide exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions To profiles key IoT Processors and Chip players influencing the market along with their SWOT analysis and market strategiesInquire about discount on this report @Segmentations Covered in the IoT Processors and Chip Market Components: MCU, FPGA, Memory, Others Processor Types: 8 bit processors, 16 bit, 32 bit Application: Wearables, Building & Home Automation, Smart Manufacturing, Health Care, Smart Cities, Automotive Geographical Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa (MEA), South America (SAM)Some of the leading players in IoT Processors and Chip Market Report ARM Ltd. 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Highlights widely used product offerings thereby allowing organizations to gain revenues by focusing majorly on select products The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the IoT Processors and Chip market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long term strategies Get reliable information about the strategies manufacturers in this market use to drive revenue Gain insights into the competitive landscape, to strengthen market competitiveness and positioning Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as the those hindering it Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution Examine the current and future impact of the five forces namely: bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitutes, threat of new entrants and degree of competitionAccess Full Report @About The Insight Partners:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.com505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Global Healthcare BPO Market 2016-2020 - Features Key Companies ( Accenture, Cognizant Technology, Genpact, TCS, Xerox ) http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=741715 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=741715 http://www.researchmoz.us/global-healthcare-bpo-market-2016-2020-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Albany, NY, April 28, 2017: BPO is a segment of outsourcing that consists of subcontracting business processes of an organization to a third-party vendor that has expertise in the required domain. These vendors then administer and manage the selected activity based on defined and measurable performance criteria. It helps clients increase their operational efficiency, concentrate on core competencies, reduce time-to-market, obtain access to fresh talent with experience in the latest technologies, and, in the long run, build an organization with an economical cost structure. Several healthcare providers adopt BPO services due to proven benefits of cost reduction, improved patient care services, and maximized staff efficiency.The global healthcare business process outsourcing (BPO) market to grow at a CAGR of 5.83% during the period 2016-2020. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global healthcare business process outsourcing (BPO) market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, we consider revenue generated from BPO vendors from their healthcare BPO divisions. Healthcare BPO solutions and services can be broadly categorized into two based on consumers of healthcare BPO solution in the market:- Healthcare provider (hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare institutions, and public health systems)- Healthcare payer (health insurance firm)Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Global Healthcare Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- Accenture- Cognizant Technology Solutions- Genpact- TCS- XeroxOther prominent vendors- Acclaris- Accretive Health- 3i Infotech- ACS- Acura- Aditya Birla Minacs- Aon- Aegis- Allscripts Healthcare Solutions- Allsec Technologies- Capgemini- CGI- Convergys- CSC- Dell- Dynamic Healthcare Systems- EXL- Firstsource- HCL Technologies..................Enquiry at:Key questions answered in this report- What will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Browse more details at:ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at: Data Center Cooling Market in MEA 2016-2020 - Market to grow at a CAGR of 19.1% during Forecast http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=741713 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=741713 http://www.researchmoz.us/data-center-cooling-market-in-mea-2016-2020-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Albany, NY, April 28, 2017: Cooling solutions help lower the heat generated by IT equipment housed in data centers. 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To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue generated from the investments made in new data centers and the renovation of existing ones.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Data Center Cooling Market in MEA 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- Airedale Air Conditioning- Black Box Network Services- Eaton- Emerson Network Power- Geist- Rittal- Schneider Electric- STULZOther prominent vendors- 3M- Alfa Laval- Belden- Chatsworth- ClimateWorx- Daikin- Dantherm- Data Aire- ebm-papst- Fuji Electric- Huawei- Munters- Pentairs..........Enquiry at:Key questions answered in this report- What will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Browse more details at:ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at: Global Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Industry 2017 Market size (volume and value), and the segment markets by regions, types, applications and companies http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1066780 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: Global Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsThe report entitled Global Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market Size, Trends & Forecasts (2017-2021) provide a detailed analysis of global LNG market with analysis of market size and growth. The analysis includes market size in terms of trade volume, demand, and LNG export and import market share by country.The report provides brief regional analysis of Middle East, JKT (Japan, Korea and Taiwan), China-India, Europe and Americas. Regional analysis include market sizing in terms of export, import and demand. The Middle East has been the largest exporting region over the past few years and is expected to remain the largest exporter of LNG globally.Download Sample copy of this Report at :The report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the global LNG market has also been forecasted for the period 2017-2021, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.A brief company profiling of major market players namely Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil, BP Global and Chevron Corporation has been provided in the report on the basis of aspects like business overview, financial overview and business strategies adopted by respective companies.Company CoverageExxonMobil CorporationRoyal Dutch ShellBP GlobalChevron CorporationRegion/Country CoverageMiddle EastJKT (Japan, Korea and Taiwan)China-IndiaEuropeAmericasExecutive SummaryNatural gas is one of the safest, cleanest and most used form of energy which gives both heat and light. Natural gas is hydrocarbon which means it is made up of compounds of hydrogen and carbon, containing seventy to ninety percent methane in most cases. It can be used as fuel in many sectors as; transportation, industrial, agricultural, and a raw material for petrochemical industry. There are three forms of natural gas: pipe natural gas, natural gas for vehicle (NGV) and liquefied natural gas.LNG is a clear liquid which forms when natural gas is cooled to -162C (-260F). The cooling process shrinks the volume of the gas 600 times, making it easier and safer to store and ship LNG is produced at the so-called liquefaction facilities (plants), following which it can be transported in special cryogenic tanks: sea tank ships or tank cars. It enables rapid delivery of gas to the areas located far from the gas trunk lines.The global LNG trade volume has increased over the years and projections are made that the market would rise in the next five years i.e. 2017 to 2021 at a rapid pace. Major factors contributing in the increasing trade volume of LNG are startup of several new projects in Australia and Indonesia, rapid economic growth especially of emerging economies, and rising demand for environmentally cleaner fuels etc.In the forecasted period, market would be pushed by increase in LNG exports, lower shipping cost, technological advancements and access to new markets etc. In spite of high growth in trade volumes of LNG, market is still facing some challenges that are obstructing the growth of the global LNG market. Challenges faced by LNG industry are supply and demand imbalance, lower LNG prices, competition from fossil fuels and renewable energy and emergence of regional trade etc.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Image Sensors Market 2017 : Sony, Samsung, Canon, Toshiba & Nikon Image Sensors https://goo.gl/ne7ln4 https://goo.gl/WPMJIm This report ST (US)udies Image Sensors focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringNikon (JP)PixelPlus (KR)Pixart (TW)SiliconFile (KR)GalaxyCore (TW)CMOSIS nv (Belgium)e2v technologies Inc (US)Panasonic (JP)Sharp (JP) CorporationSK Hynix (KR) IncTeledyne TechnologiesThe survey report by Market Research Store is an overview of the global Image Sensors market. It covers all the recent trends including key developments in the global market in present and in future. Analyses of the global Image Sensors market trends along with the projections of CAGRs (compound annual growth rates) are provided in the research report.Further, an evaluation of the history of the global market and the basic information of the global market is included in the report. A developmental perspective of the industry is also documented in the report. Competitive profiles of the key players in the industry are also discussed.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The research report provides both an assessment of recent developments in the industry along with forecasts examining the industry from the perspective of major competitors, present players and prospective end users in the Image Sensors market.Forecasts are generated on the basis of region, type, product, supply, demand, and other vital factors of the global market. The research report analyzed the major factors driving the global Image Sensors market in various countries with a satisfactory and manufacturing and structure of the global market. Forecasts are also provided region-wise in the research report.The research report comprises several chapters, tables, figures, graphs, and various other presentations formats so as to provide a precise overview of the market. The sequence of the report is maintained in such a way that highlights the overall flow of the global market. Recent developments in the global market are further described in the research report. The report also summarizes latest trends along with abstracts of the Image Sensors market. Major competitors of the global market including commercial and non-commercial participants in the global market are also covered in the report.Inquiry For Buying @Thus, the research report provides in-depth analysis covering all the major regions, competitors, and vital aspects of the Image Sensors industry.About Us:MarketResearchStore.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803 Forecast On Refractive Surgery Devices Market Global Industry Analysis and Trends till 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-780 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-780 www.futuremarketinsights.com Refractive Surgery is the process of correcting or improving your vision affected by refractive error such as Myopia, Hyperopia, and Astigmatism. The most common procedure for correcting the refractive error is LASIK.Myopia is the most common refractive error in the global population. This indication varies across populations of different regions and ethnicities. It is estimated that 1.45 billion people had myopia in 2010 and it is predicted this number will continue to increase as the worlds population grows. The prevalence of myopia is most common among young adults in South- East Asian countries which is around 80-90% of the population completing high school.Refractive Surgery Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsAdvancement in Refractive Surgery treatment have provided patient with a number of option to reduce and eliminate their dependency on glasses and contact lenses and take corrective measures for refractive errors. With the rapid increase in procedure volumes since last few years, there is an increase adaptation of laser devices for refractive surgery in healthcare facilities. The technological improvements in LASIK surgery in last few years is acting as a key driver for ophthalmic laser market.Request For Report Sample@Low patient awareness of procedures safety, a limited pool of qualified refractive surgeons, unpredictable regulations are acting as a barrier for this market.Refractive Surgery Devices Market: SegmentationGlobal vascular market is further segmented into following types:Ophthalmic LasersEximer LasersFemtosecond LasersYAG LasersMicrokeratomeRefractive Surgery Devices Market: OverviewWith the increase in patient population suffering from refractive errors and an increased awareness in the treatment options, the global market for refractive surgery devices is expected to witness and healthy growth in the forecast years (2015-2025)Refractive Surgery Devices Market: Region- wise OutlookDepending on geographic regions, global vascular stents market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and Middle East & Africa.North America represent the largest market in ophthalmic lasers followed by Europe. In Asia Pacific, China dominates the refractive surgery devices market.Request For TOC@Refractive Surgery Devices Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in global refractive surgery devices market are Abbott Medical Optics, Inc., Carl Zeiss AG, Alcon, Inc., Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, Nidek Co., Ltd., Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG, SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH & Co. KG, Lumenis Ltd. and Ellex Medical Lasers Limited.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a Kefiring market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Carbon Brush Market 2017 - Mersen, Morgan, Schunk, AVO, Ohio, Fuji, Tris Carbon Brush Market https://goo.gl/hrNjgF https://goo.gl/RPnYN8 http://www.apexresearch.biz A market study based on the "Carbon Brush Market" across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Carbon Brush Market 2017. The research report analyses the historical as well as present performance of the worldwide Carbon Brush industry, and makes predictions on the future status of Carbon Brush market on the basis of this analysis.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here :Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Report1. Mersen2. Morgan3. Schunk4. AVO5. Helwig Carbon Products6. E-Carbon7. Ohio8. Fuji9. Tris10. Toyo Tanso11. Dremel12. Harbin Electric Carbon Factory13. Donon14. Sunki15. Nantong Kangda16. MorxinThe report studies the industry for Carbon Brush across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in Carbon Brush market & dynamics of demand and supply of Carbon Brush into consideration. The 'Carbon Brush' research study covers each and every aspect of the Carbon Brush market globally, which starts from the definition of the Carbon Brush industry and develops towards Carbon Brush market segmentations. Further, every segment of the Carbon Brush market is classified and analyzed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the Carbon Brush market. The geographical segmentation of the Carbon Brush industry has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the worldwide market for Carbon Brush is determined by evaluating the various industry participants, production capacity, Carbon Brush market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Carbon Brush market worldwide.Enquire Before Buying @The global Carbon Brush market 2017 is also analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Carbon Brush production volume, data regarding demand and Carbon Brush supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the industry for Carbon Brush across the globe.About UsWe provide global enterprises and businesses across different industry verticals comprehensive market research services from off-the-shelf research reports to customized research conducted by our highly experienced industry analysts.Contact UsFrank ValadezBusiness Development HeadEmail id - sales@apexresearch.bizWebsite - F-4E fighter jet crash in August caused by engine nozzle defect: Air Force The crash of a South Korean F-4E fighter jet in August was caused by an engine nozzle problem, the Air Force said Wednesday. It announced the outcome of its probe into the cause... #cultural heritage Gov't to rearrange cultural heritage preservation zones for deregulation The government said Wednesday it will review the country's about 1,600 cultural heritage preservation zones possibly to reduce their ranges as part of deregulatory measures. The... Trends in the Multifunctional Food Ingredients Market 2015-2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-887 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-887 www.futuremarketinsights.com Food ingredients are used in food manufacturing industry to get desired product quality. Multifunctional food ingredients is defined as, ingredients which are used to replace gums, gluten, fats and other expensive ingredients. These ingredients ensures food safety and enhances shelf life, increases product yield, maintains taste, texture and appearance. In meat and poultry industry, multifunctional ingredients are used to provide safety of production during storage, to increase firmness of products, and also provide optimum indicators of rheological and thermodynamic characteristics, it helps to achieve the improved consistence and moisture holding ability of finished goods. Oat derived multifunctional ingredients are used in bakery products to extend shelf life as it hinders the moisture migration. It also helps to improves volume and yield, enhances texture and improves nutritional value of finished products. Multifunctional food ingredient are also derived from food grade yeast and it is used to improve the flavour of fat reduced salad dressings which are pourable and this addition reduces the acid bite of added vinegar. The addition yeast extract results in a smoother and balanced flavour. Addition of multifunctional ingredient does not increases viscosity.Multifunctional Food Ingredients Market: SegmentationMultifunctional food ingredients are segmented on the basis of ingredient type, applications and region. On the basis of ingredient type, multifunctional food ingredients market is segmented as flavours and emulsions, yeast extracts, oat extracts, bulking agents, fibers, hydrocolloids, and others (dairy powders). Among these segments hydrocolloids is expected to grow during forecast period. Multifunctional fibers are made from fruits and vegetable peal and pulp are used to replace expensive ingredients such as eggs, oil and pectin. With increasing application of bulking agents, this segment is expected to show fastest growth in near future. Multifunctional food ingredients market is segmented on the basis of application type, includes dairy product, bakery and confectionery products, meat and poultry, dessert and toppings, and processed food products. Among these segments meat and poultry represents the mature market and expected to be dominant during forecast period. Multifunctional food ingredients are used in confectionery products to increase flavor intensity and taste enhancement and it ensures product stability during shelf life. Multifunctional flaxseed ingredients are used as gum replacer in cereal products such as tortillas, gluten-free products, pizza crusts, sheeted dough, batters and breads.Request For Report Sample@Multifunctional Food Ingredients Market: Region-wise OutlookMultifunctional food ingredients market is segmented on the basis of region includes North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and Middle East and Africa. North America and Europe are established markets for multifunctional food ingredients. With increasing demands for processed food and ready-to-eat products, multifunctional food ingredients market is expected to register healthy CAGR during forecast period.Multifunctional Food Ingredients Market: DriversConsumers demand for clean label products and natural ingredients are major drivers for multifunctional food ingredient market. As companies are launching new ingredient blends with all natural ingredients which can be used to improve product quality without processing loss. In early 2015, Corbian launched new range of multifunctional food ingredients for meat and poultry products. Many companies are launching new products to fulfill the different gender specific requirements. For instance, in 2015 NutraGenesis LLC launched functional ingredient called Sensara which can be used in foods and beverages and it provides wellness benefits to nourish and protect a womans mind and body. Marine sources are used as a raw material for multifunctional food ingredients, algae is most commonly used because of its oil content, fiber content and the small particle size. Algal flour acts as multifunctional food ingredients and it can be used in bakery products such as breads, dough products, dressing, sauces and nutritional beverages.Request For TOC@Multifunctional Food Ingredients Market: Key PlayersThe key international players operating in multifunctional food ingredients market includes AlgaVia, Arla Foods Ingredients, Ashland Inc., Butter Buds Inc., E & R Food Ingredients B.V., Florida Food, Inc., Fiberstar, Inc., Z Trim Holdings, Inc., NutraGenesis LLC., Glanbia Nutritionals, Solazyme and many others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a Kefiring market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Beta Carotene Market Dynamics, Segments and Supply Demand 2015-2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-905 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-905 www.futuremarketinsights.com Carotene is a pigment found primarily in plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria. It may also be found in non-photosynthetic bacteria and molds. There are different types of carotenes which includes lutein, beta-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin and others. Beta carotene is a fat-soluble pigment found in various plants, grains, fruits and vegetables. It is present in the form of red, orange and yellow pigment. After consumption, the human body converts beta carotene into vitamin A which enables various immune functions to work properly and also helps to maintain healthy skin, thus driving the demand of betas carotenes in food and beverages products across the globe.Beta Carotene Market SegmentationOn the basis of type beta carotene is segmented as water soluble and oil soluble beta carotenes. Among both the segment water soluble beta carotene is expected to account for the major share due to its high implication. Moreover, water soluble beta carotene are further sub segmented as powder beta carotene and liquid beta carotene. Also, oil soluble beta carotene is sub segmented as powder beta carotene and liquid beta carotenes. Among thesub segments of oil soluble beta carotenes, powder beta carotene is expected to account for the major market share during the forecast period.Request For Report Sample@On the basis of application beta carotene is segmented as food and beverages, supplements, cosmetics, and feed. Among all these segments food and beverages is expected to account for the major market share as compared to others in the near future. Beta carotene are majorly used in providing color in the food and beverages which is expected to drive the demand for beta carotene in these products. Moreover, cosmetics segment in beta carotene market is expected show a substantial growth during the forecast period. The food and beverages segment is further sub segmented as bakery and confectionery, dairy products, soft drinks/juices, processed food and others (infant food). Among all these sub segments bakery and confectionery is expected to contribute major share in beta carotene market in terms of revenue followed by processed food. Moreover, cosmetics segmented is further sub segmented as hair cosmetics, skin cosmetics, nail cosmetics, eye cosmetics and toiletries.On the basis of source beta carotene market is segmented as carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin and others (spinach and plums). Among all these sources carrots is expected to account for major share of beta carotene market. However sweet potato is expected to show a healthy growth during the forecast period..Globally, North America is expected to contribute the major share of beta carotene market followed by Europe. In North America, the United States is expected to occupy the major share on the pie in beta carotene market followed by Canada. Increasing health consciousness among the consumers is expected to drive the growth of beta carotene across the region. In Europe, Germany and France is expected to account for the major share in beta carotene market during the forecast period. Whereas, Asia pacific is concerned it is expected to register a healthy growth by 2020. In Asia pacific region China and Japan is expected to be the major contributor in beta carotene market. Increased use of cosmetics products in these region is predicted to support the growth of beta carotene market in the region.Request For TOC@Beta Carotene Market DriversBeta carotene possess many features such as it lowers the risk of lung cancer, heart diseases, and skin problems. Moreover it also helps in controlling age related eye disorders and enables proper functioning of immune system. Thus, awareness among the consumers for the benefits of beta carotene is fueling its growth across the globe. Moreover increased usage of beta carotene in food and beverages industry to provide color to their final product is also fueling its growth during the forecast period.Beta Carotene Market Key PlayersSome of the major players operating in beta carotene market include BASF SE, Kemin Industries Inc., Algatechnologies Ltd., Chr. Hansen A/S, Phytone Limited, Cyanotech Corporation, Royal DSM N.V., LycoRed Ltd., Overseal Natural Ingredients Ltd., Pharmline Inc., Sensient Technologies Corporation, Mera Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Valensa International LLC among others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a Kefiring market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Water Enhancers Market by Product Type, by Active Ingredients Type, by Source Type and by Region http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/global-water-enhancers-market-547/ http://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/global-water-enhancers-market-547/request-sample According to the report Water Enhancers Market by Product Type, by Active Ingredients Type, by Source Type and by Region - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (20162021)", published by Market Data Forecast, the global market is projected to reach USD 2.2 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 12.5% from 2016 to 2021.For full report refer toFree sample for the report is available atWater enhancers are non-carbonated drinks which are used to add flavours to water as well as provide health benefits. These have become more popular since last decade as there have been search going on for beverages without carbon dioxide and which is free of side effects.Carbonated drinks cause digestive diseases like irritable bowel syndrome and hence they are being avoided in the developed areas. Growing awareness among people for health benefits provided by water enhancers is driving the market. The growing organised retail sector is anticipated to boost the water enhancer market.The Global Water enhancers market is segmented and analysed as following:By Product Type: Flavoured drops Energy drops Fitness and workout dropsBy Active Ingredients Type: Vitamins Electrolytes Sweeteners Anti-oxidantsBy Source Type: Fruits Vegetables Tea and coffee Coconut waterBy Geography: North America Water Enhancers Market Europe Water Enhancers Market Asia-Pacific Water Enhancers Market Latin America Water Enhancers Market Middle-East and Africa Water Enhancers MarketSome of the major companies in the market include Arizona Beverages USA, The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Nestle and Kraft foods.About Us:Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the area of market research and business intelligence. With rich experience in research across various business domains, we cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients. Our analyst team comprises expert professionals in market research, who with their collective knowledge and skillset dedicatedly serve clients from various industries and regions.Contact:Abhishek ShuklaTeam Lead (International Business Development)Market Data ForecastDirect Line: +1-888-702-9626Mobile: +91 998 555 0206Mail: abhishek@marketdataforecast.com Middle East and Africa Nasal Drug Delivery Market Continues Impressive Growth with a CAGR of 8.1% by 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2696 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/nasal-drug-delivery-market-2696 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/2696 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/migraine-market-2381 Market HighlightsThe nasal route is increasingly being used for the delivery of drugs. The route offers many advantages over other routes such as its noninvasive nature, self-administration of the drug, reduction of pain and risk of infection associated with the injectable route. Self-administration also reduces the costs involved in the assisted administration of drugs. The route also avoids the first pass metabolism of drugs and is being considered for brain drug delivery due to its close association with the brain.Other market driving factors of nasal drug delivery includes dosage reduction due to increased bioavailability and proportional reduction in side effects, growing efficacy of the route as drugs are absorbed easily from the nasal route and the development of advanced products such as metered dose pressurized containers which deliver a very precise dose. The growth of over the counter nasal drugs such as inhalers for common cold, and rhinitis is also driving the market since these advanced products also require nasal route of delivery. Off label use of symptomatic inhaler treatment is also an important market driver.The markets constraints include irritation of the nasal route and the low dose of a drug that can be delivered through other route of administration, low awareness and low penetration of healthcare services in poor parts of Africa. The market is consolidated and reflects an oligopolistic outlook with a few dominant players. This allows a premium to be charged on most products.Request a Copy of Sample Report @Major Key Players Novartis AG, Pfizer, Inc., Sanofi-Aventis, Merck & Co., Inc., AptarGroup Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Becton Dickson & CompanyIntranasal drug delivery has been growing in popularity due to qualities of intranasal route of drug administration which includes its noninvasive nature that reduces pain and discomfort of drug administration. It also eliminates threat of infections associated with injectable and also enables self-administration of drug and the costs associated with assisted drug delivery. Other market driving factors for nasal drug delivery includes growth of over the counter nasal drugs such as inhalers for common cold, growing efficacy of the route due to development of drugs absorbed easily from the nasal route and the development of advanced products such as metered dose pressurized containers which delivers a very precise dose. Moreover the nasal route also avoids the first pass metabolism of drugs thereby reducing the dosage due to increased bioavailability. Dosage reduction leads to reduced costs and side effects of the drug. The nasal route is also being explored for drug delivery to the brain due to its close association with the brain. Another potential application is the delivery of protein based and drugs like interferon through the nasal route.The restraints include higher costs of the treatment and the impact of the nasal conditions on the rate and extent of drug administration. The lack of awareness and comparative low popularity of the route along with the lower drug volume that can be administered restricts the use of this route and the market. The nasal drug delivery market reflects an oligopolistic outlook with a few dominant market players. Often there is a premium on the products and as such it is a high cost low volume market.Test the market data and market information presented in more than 60 market data tables and figures spread over 84 pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content (TOC) & market synopsis on Nasal Drug Delivery Market Research Report - Forecast till 2022.Access Report Details @Regional Analysis:Depending on geographic region, nasal drug delivery market is segmented into following countries which includes UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman. UAE is the largest market followed by Egypt. The Saudi Arabia market is also rising due to rising healthcare expenditure and growing per capita income of the people. Among the African nations Algeria seems to hold a huge potential. However the future market will be led by some parts of Africa due to large unmet needs and growing awareness of nasal route.Segmentation:Middle East and Africa nasal drug delivery market has been segmented on the basis of dosage form which comprises of drops, sprays, powder, gels and ointments. On the basis of system the market is segmented into unit dose, multi-dose and metered dose. On the basis of delivery technologies; market is segmented into spray, nebulizers and other. On the basis of therapeutic applications the market is again segmented into rhinitis, congestion, vaccinations and others.Make an Enquiry @Brief TOC1 Introduction1.1 Definition1.2 Scope of Study1.3 Research Objective1.4 Assumptions & Limitations1.5 Market Structure:2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research3 Market DynamicsContinued.Browse Related ReportGlobal Migraine market information, by types (Episodic and Chronic), by treatment type (Preventive and Abortive), by drug class (Triptans, Ergots, and Others) - Forecast to 2022About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Beef Market 2022: by Key Manufacturers Cargill Cattle Feeders, Cattle Empire LLC, J. R. Simplot Co https://marketsizeforecasters.com/get-sample/18411/?utm_source=OPR-AN https://marketsizeforecasters.com/enquire-for-discount/18411/?utm_source=OPR-AN https://marketsizeforecasters.com/global-beef-market https://marketsizeforecasters.com/global-and-chinese-canned-mushroom-industry-2017-market http://marketsizeforecasters.com/ The market research report Beef Market Research Report 2022 (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) aims to offer insights into new business opportunities for companies active in Beef Market as well as for those players that are aiming to get an entry into the industry.Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle. Humans have been eating beef since prehistoric times. Beef is a complete source of protein (meaning that it provides all 20 of the amino acids), and provides many of the essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that humans need.Request a sample copy of Global Beef Market Research Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Beef in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Beef Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversCactus FeedersFriona Industries, L.PCargill Cattle FeedersCattle Empire LLCJ. R. Simplot CoJBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding LLCBeef Market Segment by Type, coversFrozen BeefFresh BeefMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoFoodservice customersRetail & Grocery Store ChainsBy-Products ProcessorsOtherMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)The listed pricing for this Global Beef Market report starts at $ 3480. Request Discount for Global Beef Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Beef market.Chapter 1, to describe Beef Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Beef, with sales, revenue, and price of Beef, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Beef Market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Beef, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Beef market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Beef sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Global Beef Market Report @Related Reports: -Global and Chinese Canned Mushroom Industry, 2017 Market Research ReportGlobal and Chinese Canned Mushroom Industry, 2012-2022 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Canned Mushroom industry with a focus on the Chinese market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Canned Mushroom manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.MarketSizeForecasters.com, a Skyline Market Research LLP brand, is an online aggregator of market research reports. MarketSizeForecasters.com offers a comprehensive collection of full length reports on global and regional markets in 100+ industry verticals. We have partnered with some of the leading business and market research publishing houses and regularly update our online library to offer wide range of reports to our customers.Market size forecastersThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketsizeforecasters.comWebsite: Point of Use Water Purifier (POU) Market in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to Witness a CAGR of 7.6% by 2020: FMI Estimates http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-ma-30 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-ma-30 www.futuremarketinsights.com Future Market Insights (FMI) announced the release of a latest report titled, POU Water Purifiers Market: MENA Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014 - 2020. FMI estimates that the Point of Use (POU) water purifier market in Middle East and North Africa is expected to reach US$ 471 Mn at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2014 to 2020.Residential water purification system includes point of use water purifiers (POU), point of entry (POE) water purifiers, portable water purifiers. Moreover, the demand for POU water purifiers is high among consumers in MENA region as compared to POE and portable water purifiers.In the POU water purifiers market, products with high purification capabilities such as combination of reverse osmosis (RO) and Ultraviolet (UV) technologies are more preferred. It has also been observed that a majority of the demand is coming from urban centres in GCC when compared to the entire MENA region.Request For Report Sample@Market SegmentsThe POU water purifiers market is segmented on the basis of technology which includes RO, UV and media-based. RO technology based water purifiers segment is estimated to account for slightly over 40% of the total POU water purifiers market in MENA region in 2014. Media-based water purification, which is a conventional water purification technology has also witnessed technological advancements, and is estimated to display a CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period, in terms of volume. The third technology, UV based water purifiers, is estimated to exhibit a sluggish growth rate during the forecast period due to its limitation in removing only organic contaminants from water. Additionally, UV-based water purifiers are also priced higher in comparison to media-based water purifiers and hence the product preference for UV based water purifiers is comparatively low.Region-wise, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Algeria are the promising markets for POU water purifiers. In addition, a cumulative scenario has been highlighted for rest of MENA (includes smaller countries like Kuwait, Jordan etc.). Among the aforementioned regions, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is estimated to be the prominent market for POU water purifiers, followed by Turkey, due to its growing population and rapid urbanization, and increasing awareness for safe drinking water forecast period.In addition, penetration of bottled water is a challenge for the POU water purifiers market in Anatolia. As a result, Anatolia is estimated to demonstrate a sluggish growth rate in the near future. Furthermore, POU water purifiers market in UAE is anticipated to reach 149.2 thousand units by 2020, exhibiting a CAGR of 10% between 2014 and 2020.Send an Enquiry @Drivers and RestraintsDeteriorating water quality, rising cost of bottled water, increasing population coupled with increasing per capita income are some of the prominent factors which will catalyse the point of use water purifiers in the region. Though the MENA market is attractive in terms of absolute dollar opportunity, low awareness about safe drinking water and product unavailability are major challenges for the MENA POU water purifier market.Competitive LandscapeKey players operating in the MENA water purifier market are LG, Eureka Forbes, Strauss Water, Panasonic, WaterLife and Coolplex. The report sheds light on their key growth strategies and recent developments. In addition, the report also discusses the value chain followed by multinational companies in MENA for POU water purifiers.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a Kefiring market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Global Micro Insurance Market to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% during Forecast period 2016-2020 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=741712 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=741712 http://www.researchmoz.us/global-micro-insurance-market-2016-2020-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Albany, NY, April 28, 2017: Microinsurance products are coverage policies targeted at households with low-income levels. These plans provide tailored insurance policies for individuals with little or small saving plans. They offer lower value assets and compensation for injury, illness, or death to a person compared to other insurance policies. Microinsurance companies assist the not so well off by offering insurance plans that are tailored to their specific needs. The coverage value of the policy is lower than a typical insurance plan. Therefore, the insured customer pays considerably smaller premiums to the insurance company. The presence of the microinsurance market is strong in developing countries with high growing opportunities.The global microinsurance market to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% during the period 2016-2020. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global microinsurance market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, we consider the total amount of microinsurance from the Americas, APAC, and EMEA.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Americas- APAC- EMEAGet a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Global Microinsurance Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- Alternative Insurance Company- Bajaj Allianz- IFFCO Tokio General Insurance- Mapfre- Pioneer LifeOther prominent vendors- HDFC Ergo- Hollard Insurance- MicroEnsure- NSIA Insurance- PNB MetLife- Protecta- Tata AIA LifeMarket driver- Different valuation strategies- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Difficulty in credit assessment of the insured- For a full, detailed list, view our reportEnquiry at:Key questions answered in this report- What will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?- What are the key market trends?- What is driving this market?- What are the challenges to market growth?- Who are the key vendors in this market space?- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Browse more details at:ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at: Dental Surgical Market: Industry Analysis, Future Growth, Business Prospects and Global Forecast to 2027 Dental Surgical Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/894 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/dental-surgical-market Market Scenario:Dental Surgical market has grown immensely in last couple of years and the main which is driving the market is increase in number of dentists in the industry and increase in the rate of patients suffering from dental diseases.Key Players of Dental Surgical Market: Dentsply 3m Company BIOLASE Technology DCI International Henry Schein Inc, Mid Mark Corporation Tabu Products Sirona Dental Systems Ultra Dent products PATTERSON COMPANIES INC SeptodontRequest a Sample Copy @Market Segmentation:Dental Surgical Market has been segmented on the basis of surgical equipments, consumables and end users. Surgical equipments includes- dental systems and equipments. Dental system includes- CAD/CAM system, full in lab system, dental chairs, scaling units. Equipment includes- Dental lasers which include- Soft tissue, All Tissue and CBCT scanners. Consumable includes- gloves, suction & irrigation, patient prep, sterilization, post op and cannulas. End user includes- hospitals, clinics and ACS (ambulance circulatory systems).Study Objective of Dental Surgical Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the global dental surgical market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the Dental Surgical market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW). To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective. To provide country level analysis of the market for segment, by surgical equipments, by consumables, by end users, and sub-segments. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market. To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the global dental surgical market.Access Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash AnandMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com eZee Technosys Becomes A Technology Partner Of Guesthouse Association Of Maldives eZee partners with GAM http://www.ezeetechnosys.com/ http://islandchief.com/post/?id=48150 eZee Technosys, a forefront and complete hospitality solutions provider, announces partnership with Guesthouse Association of Maldives (GAM).A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed and exchanged between Vipul Kapoor, eZees Co-Founder and Ahmed Karam, President of GAM, in presence of eZees regional partner - Ahmed Ashraf of Acuity Business Solutions on Wednesday, April 19, in an event held at Hotel Marble, Male, Maldives.Extending ally with GAM as a tech partner will enable us to focus on giving them access to various updates, features and keep them ahead in hospitality technologies. As some guesthouses in Maldives are already using our solutions, this step is taken to empower and to build optimum business relations with GAM, expressed Vipul Kapoor.GAM has been working for accrediting guesthouses in Maldives since 2014, with an aim to promote the local tourism industry along with the Maldivian culture, over the hype of existing resorts. Owing to the already established brand name of eZee in Maldives through various restaurants and hotels, were sure that this partnership is going to enrich the guesthouses in the region, commented Ahmed Karam.Presently, majority of restaurants, guesthouses and resorts in Maldives are equipped with eZees solutions with the help of its regional partner, Acuity Business Solutions. The firm partnered with eZee in 2011 to facilitate the hospitality industry in Maldives with the finest hospitality solutions and excellent services.eZee is one of the few companies in the industry to provide a complete package of hospitality solutions with live post-sales support. Offering extensive benefits in its versatile partnership program, the organization majorly concentrates on empowering all segments of hoteliers worldwide with the finest technology.With a comparatively lower know-how of technology currently, the guesthouses have been unable to reach the heaps of tourists that Maldives gets. Thence, this association will bring in a steadfast way for the unfamiliar guesthouses in Maldives to productively streamline their complex transactions with simple and user-friendly hospitality technology, letting them focus on customer experience and eventually raising the revenue.Seeing a bright future in partnership with GAM, eZees CEO Aeijaz Sodawala commented, Being GAMs technology partner will enable eZee to propel in a brand new direction of empowering small and mid-sized hoteliers worldwide, starting from Maldivian region. The affiliation will let the guesthouses get their operations automated with excellent services for training and implementation guidelines from eZee.eZee has continually believed in fostering hospitality businesses carrying similar visions with such winning partnerships, gradually enhancing the companys overall growth.About eZee TechnosysEstablished in Surat, eZee Technosys is one of the few complete hospitality IT solutions providers in the world. eZee provides software that cover hotel management, booking management, online room distribution, restaurant management, guest feedback and hotel mobile apps. eZee offers on-premise along with cloud based solutions as well as mobile applications. Founded in 2005, the company today serves more than 6000 clients in more than 140 countries across the globe. Visitfor more.About GAMGuest House Association of Maldives (GAM) was established in 2014 when a group of establishment owners got together to promote the local tourism industry. GAM works for developing and creating business opportunities for guesthouses across Maldives.eZee Technosys Pvt. Ltd.D-113, International Trade Center, Majura Gate, Surat - 395002, Gujarat, India.Aeijaz Sodawala+ 91 -99788-64598aeijaz@ezeetechnosys.com Future Business Opportunities in Pet Snacks & Treats Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pet-snacks-treats-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=23306 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Pet foods are specialized food comprising plant or animal material. The market for the same is segmented as pet snacks, treats, and beverages. Pet snacks usually referred for intake nutrition, with high-quality ingredients. While treats referred as a tool to the reinforcement of positive behavior in pets. Beverages likely to be referred as liquid consumables to satisfy thirst. Pet snacks usually consist of baked products like biscuits, dried vegetables or fruits, and roasted grains. Treats usually consist of jerky, dental chews and others. Being proactive, owner requires more variety of snacks and treats drive market growth and competition. Increased pet humanization and adoption drive the global market forecasted with a positive growth rate. Increased number of nuclear families having pets as a family member creating more demand for pet food products.Obtain Report Details @Pet Snacks and Treats Market SegmentationPet snacks and treats are basically segmented on the basis of product type, product form, animal type, and distribution channels. Segmentation by product type includes eatable and chewable product. Snack products are mostly eatable, while treats are both eatable and chewable. Among these eatable segment dominates the market in terms of volume. Further segmentation by animal type includes dogs, cats, birds, aquatic animals and others. Products like jerky are offered by the manufacturer for dogs and cats both. While Fillets and grain holders are offered for birds. Similarly, dried products like vegetables, fruits, small fishes, and plankton are offered for aquatic animals. Among all of these, dog segment dominated the market due to more preference for dogs during pet adoption, followed by cat segment. It can also be segmented on the Basis of product form includes dry, wet, powdered, and others. Among all of these dry product segment drive major share in terms of volume. Segmentation can also be done by distribution channels includes specialty outlet, supermarkets, pharmaceutical retail, pet shops and online retailing. Among all of these, the supermarket segment is the leading distribution channel in the market.Segmentation can also be done on the basis of geographical regions includes seven major regions North America, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). Among all of these regions, North America market is expected to represents positive growth in terms of mass consumption over the forecast period. Meanwhile some regions of Europe, Asia-pacific, and Japan is expected to represent continuous growth in terms of pet adoption over the forecast period.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Pet Snacks and Treats Market Drivers and TrendsImproving financial conditions and changing consumer behavior towards pet has brought a noticeable shift among people towards pet healthcare and wellness. Increasing acceptance for pet adoption in the high-income group along with the middle-income group is expected to drive an expansion of the market. Online retailing, media advertisement is expected to be an emerging distribution channel. Lack of awareness regarding proper usage of chewable treats leads to improper dental care. So owner consulting vet suggested to adopt products with additional benefit through innovative dental care like rawhide chewable which are easy to consume. Allergies with active ingredients expected to be a restraint for the market. Due to regulatory issues and laws related pet adoption is expected to restraint the market in near future.Pet Snacks and Treats Market Key PlayersSome of the major players operating in Pet Snacks and Treats Market includes Mars Petcare, NestlA Purina PetCare, P&G Pet Care, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Del Monte Pet Products, Nutriara Alimentos Ltda, InVivo NSA, Debifu Pet Products Co. Ltd, Diamond Pet Foods, J.M.Smucker (Big Heart), Royal Canin, Agrolimen Sa etc. Among all of these, NestlA Purina is expected to be a dominating player in the market. Other key players in pet snacks & treats market are focused on high R&D to develop high quality of products with a more application scope.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Sales Market Report 2017 Market Research Reports http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=984175&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-fluorinated-hydrotreatment-catalysts-sales-market-report-2017.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com/reports.htm Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This market intelligence report examines extensively the trends in the global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts market. It highlights the latest market state, the progress pattern in the previous years, and the prospects present for market participants in the near future. The research methods and tools employed in the achievement of this research publication are both secondary and primary. The market intelligence study also provides facts about the investments initiated by several organizations, institutions, government, and non-government authorities and regulatory bodies.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The publication further presents a valuation of the facets that are likely to prevent or encourage the expansion of the global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts market. The global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts market has been examined scrupulously based on aspects such as application, technology, product, end user, and geographical segment. An examination has been carried out in the research report of the chief regional segments and their respective place and share in the Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts market. The estimated revenue and volume valuation of the global market for Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts has also been stated in the study.An estimate of the market attractiveness and the level of competition that new entrants along with their new products are likely to offer to the experienced products and players has also been delivered in the market research publication. The market report also discusses the new expansions, the innovations, branding techniques, marketing approaches, and products of the chief players operational in the global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts market. The vendor landscape has been broadly scrutinized employing the Porters five forces and value chain analysis to deliver a strong conception of the market. The challenges and opportunities in the near future for the key participants have also been stressed upon in the research publication.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts1.2 Classification of Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.3 Application of Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.4 Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Market by Regions1.4.1 United States Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)2 Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts (Volume and Value) by Regions2.3.1 Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Sales and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)2.3.2 Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)2.4 Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts (Volume) by Application9 Global Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Manufacturers Analysis9.1 Basf9.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.1.2 Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Product Type, Application and Specification9.1.2.1 Product A9.1.2.2 Product B9.1.3 Basf Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.2 Dow9.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.2.2 Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Product Type, Application and Specification9.2.2.1 Product A9.2.2.2 Product B9.2.3 Dow Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.3 Mitsui Chemicals9.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.3.2 Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Product Type, Application and Specification9.3.2.1 Product A9.3.2.2 Product B9.3.3 Mitsui Chemicals Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewList of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Fluorinated Hydrotreatment CatalystsTable Classification of Fluorinated Hydrotreatment CatalystsFigure Global Sales Market Share of Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts by Type in 2015Figure Type I PictureFigure Type II PictureTable Applications of Fluorinated Hydrotreatment CatalystsFigure Global Sales Market Share of Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts by Application in 2015Figure Application 1 ExamplesFigure Application 2 ExamplesFigure United States Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Europe Fluorinated Hydrotreatment Catalysts Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)For Latest Market Research Reports Visit @QYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States Aina Muceniece Virotherapy Foundation announces an international artwork competition to support oncology patients www.virotherapyfoundation.org www.virotherapyfoundation.org Aina Muceniece Virotherapy Foundation hereby announces an international artwork competition, within the framework of which any professional, emerging artist or enthusiast without any age, professional or educational requirements is invited to submit their newly created artwork dedicated to the struggle with oncological disease or victory over it.The competition aims to support oncology patients and their relatives through art, call to resist the severe diagnosis, and promote the joy of living and recovery. The competition is open to any art lover around the world and artworks are especially welcome from those who have been able to defeat cancer. The slogan of the competition is Art wins!The Head of the Foundation, Mr. Einars Repse commented: Oncology patients are entitled to the quality of life even during the toughest stages of their treatment. They and their families are entitled to understanding, supportive, inspiring and caring environment. This competition is about the light and hope. It is about love, the joy of life, and human victory over diseases. We hope that the artworks will provide strength to people in sorrow and promote their resistance to the disease.The Foundation, in collaboration with art experts, therapists and other professionals of the field, plan to create an artwork collection of the most highly regarded works submitted for the competition that, along with the high artistic value, are also able to support patients emotionally and motivate them in their struggle with the disease.The artworks submitted for the competition will be exhibited at the oncology patient recovery facilities and published at the Foundation website. Every year, three best works will be awarded with the main awards of 4000 EUR, 2000 EUR and 1000 EUR. Incentive bonuses and special recognition awards may also be granted every month.The competition jury includes Mr. Einars Repse, Head of Aina Muceniece Virotherapy Foundation, Mr. Aleksejs Naumovs, Professor and painter, rector of the Art Academy of Latvia, Mr. Ojars Sparitis, Professor, President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Mrs. Mara Lace, Director of the Latvian National Museum of Art; Mr. Kristaps Zarins, Professor and painter, Pro-rector of the Art Academy of Latvia; Mr. Glebs Pantelejevs, Professor of the Art Academy of Latvia, sculptor, and Mrs. Sanita Ciganovska, art therapist.More information on the competition and application procedure is available at the Foundations website, Section Art Contest.Aina Muceniece Virotherapy Foundation was established in February 2016 by the family of the professor Aina Muceniece, honorary member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, pioneer of virotherapy and inventor of anti-cancer drug. The goal of the Foundation is to promote the access to virotherapy as a safe and non-damaging cancer therapy around the world.More information at:Aina Muceniece Virotherapy FoundationPulkveza Brieza str. 15 11, Riga, LV1010, Latvia Dental Suture Market Deep Research Study with Forecast by 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=560 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=560 https://www.tmrresearch.com/dental-suture-market Global Dental Suture Market: Brief OutlineThe world dental suture market is prognosticated to enjoy a bright future, taking advantage of the rising geriatric population in major regions, increasing dental procedures, and common incidence of periodontal diseases and dental caries. The research analysts also prophesy the global market to ride on the increasing disposable income of developing countries for its growth.In a voluminous study about the different segments of the global dental suture market, the analysts foresee the market to be categorized according to type, technique, and end user. Interrupted suture and the non-absorbable type are foretold to be the key segments.Request a Brochure of the Report @This customizable report compiled by the expert analysts at TMR Research is a result of painstaking primary and secondary research and data collection through key industry experts and critical opinions of market leaders. It bases the current and future scenario of the global dental suture market on the micro and macro factors, technological furtherance, and market size in respect of value and volume.Global Dental Suture Market: Top OpportunitiesOut of the key growth influencers of the international dental suture market, there are a few that have presented themselves prominent. The swelling awareness about healthcare across the world is considered to be a customary driver of the global market. Nonetheless, a rising number of dentists operating in Europe, North America, and even emerging nations has significantly boosted the growth of the market. These latest trends in the dental suture industry have played a vital role in the advancement of the international market. One of the major factors deemed responsible for the timely growth of the market is the amplification of wound care management on a global platform. Besides this, the market is anticipated to put the foot down and march toward an undying progress on the back of novel development techniques and evolution in technology.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Dental Suture Market: Geographical AnalysisNorth America is expected to be a strong breeding ground for the global dental suture market, which is evident through its handsome market share. Until the end of the forecast period 20172025, the North America region is predicted to continue its supremacy in the global market. The U.S., Canada, and other major countries of North America are thoroughly involved in the development of technologically advanced products. Moreover, a wide variety of dental suture devices have been adopted at a higher rate of late, at least during the forecast years. All of these factors have collectively added impetus to the North America market for securing a commanding position in the industry.Not much far behind from the ennobling progress of North America, the Europe market is predicted to hold the second position in terms of share. For the purpose of the betterment of oral health in Europe, a large number of masses have been demanding effective policies and greater reforms, either to be fulfilled by government or private organizations.Read Complete Report @Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is regarded as a faster growing region in the global dental suture market with countries such as Japan, India, China, and South Korea in the limelight.Global Dental Suture Market: Company ProfilingThe world dental suture market is envisioned to hold a high potential for growth in the near future with the existence of major players in top regions such as Europe and North America. Surgical Specialties Corporation (U.S.), Hygitech SAS (Paris), Ergon Sutramed S.P.A. (Italy), B. Braun Melsungen AG (Germany), Ethicon US, LLC. (U.S.), Shandong Sinorgmed Co., Ltd. (China), Demetech Corporation (U.S.), Osteogenics Biomedical (U.S.), and Assut Europe S.P.A. (Italy) are some of the chief players succeeding in the global market.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Gene Editing Market Detailed Analysis and Forecast by 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=638 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=638 https://www.tmrresearch.com/gene-editing-market Gene editing involves the insertion, deletion, or replacement of DNA at specific sites in the genome of a cell or an organism. It is usually achieved in a laboratory environment using molecular scissors.Regulations for the security of life, well-being of plants and animals, human health, and environmental compliance will influence market players for increased focus on import, export, and commercialization of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).Request a Brochure of the Report @The report is an all-important tool to comprehend the various factors and growth trends that will influence the growth of the gene editing market between 2017 and 2025. The market study is a collective of facts and factoids that are associated with the global gene editing market in a chronological order. The analysis of past data and current market trends enable research analysts to present a satisfactory conclusion regarding the markets future. Thus, the analysis presented in the report can be used to devise successful business strategies for the future. Using standard analytical tools such as Porters Five Forces and SWOT analysis, the report presents the indices of strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats of the global gene editing market until the end of the forecast period in 2025.Global Gene Editing Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe increasing expenditures on research and development, growth of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and rising demand for synthetic genes are the major factors driving the global gene editing market.Request for TOC of the Report @The increasing prevalence of infectious diseases, cancer, and other genetic disorders is steering the growth of the gene editing industry. Moreover, the increasing demand for personalized medicine and advancement of medical science is propelling the industrys demand.However, strict government regulations to receive approval for mutation undertakings and lack of public awareness will challenge the growth of the gene editing market. Government regulations for assessing the medical benefits as well as the potential hazards of gene editing procedure will benefit the growth of this market.Global Gene Editing Market: Market SegmentationThe global gene editing market can be analyzed on the basis of technology, end user, application, and region. In terms of technology, the market can be segmented into CRISPR, ZFN, TALEN and others. On the basis of application, the global gene editing market can be divided into cell line engineering, plant genetic engineering, animal genetic engineering, and others. By end user, the market can be segmented into biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and academic and government institutes.Global Gene Editing Market: Regional OutlookThe global gene editing market can be divided into the regional segments of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The U.S. gene editing market is expected to display robust growth due to growth trend manifested by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and adoption of advanced technologies such as CRISPR for treating chronic hereditary diseases.Read Complete Report @In Europe, the U.K. is expected to contribute significantly to the growth of the gene editing market in this region. This is mainly due to the rising geriatric population and increasing incidence of chronic diseases. The Asia Pacific gene editing market is expected to display fast growth rate in the coming years. The rising geriatric population, modernization of healthcare practices, technological advancements, and government initiatives for controlling diseases are fuelling the growth of the Asia Pacific gene editing market.South Africa is expected to contribute significantly to the revenue of its regional market. The rising prevalence of sickle cell anemia, HIV, hemophilia and several forms of cancer will drive the industrys growth.Major Companies Mentioned in ReportThe report mentions and profiles some of the top companies in the global gene editing market, namely Agilent Technologies, AstraZeneca, Cellectis, Editas Medicine, Dharmacon, Qiagen, Sigma-Aldrich, Allele Biotech, Bio Rad, CRISPR Therapeutics, GE Healthcare, Lonza, Recombinetics, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todayas supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clientsa conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com TIVIT Terceirizacao De Tecnologia E Servicos SA - Strategic SWOT Analysis Review Big Market Research https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/tivit-terceirizacao-de-tecnologia-e-servicos-sa-strategic-swot-analysis-review-market https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/checkout/193689 http://www.bigmarketresearch.com bigmarketresearch.com include new market research report TIVIT Terceirizacao De Tecnologia E Servicos SA - Strategic SWOT Analysis Review to its huge collection of research reports.TIVIT Terceirizacao de Tecnologia e Servicos SA - Strategic SWOT Analysis Review provides a comprehensive insight into the companys history, corporate strategy, business structure and operations. The report contains a detailed SWOT analysis, information on the companys key employees, key competitors and major products and services. This up-to-the-minute company report will help you to formulate strategies to drive your business by enabling you to understand your partners, customers and competitors better.Lay eyes on complete report @Scope- Business description A detailed description of the companys operations and business divisions.- Corporate strategy GlobalDatas summarization of the companys business strategy.- SWOT analysis A detailed analysis of the companys strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats.- Company history Progression of key events associated with the company.- Major products and services A list of major products, services and brands of the company.- Key competitors A list of key competitors to the company.- Key employees A list of the key executives of the company.- Executive biographies A brief summary of the executives employment history.- Key operational heads A list of personnel heading key departments/functions.- Important locations and subsidiaries A list of key locations and subsidiaries of the company, including contact details.Buy now @HighlightsTIVIT Terceirizacao de Tecnologia e Servicos S/A (TIVIT) is a provider of integrated technology services. It offers wide range of services including IT infrastructure management, supply chain management, cloud computing, procurement management, security management and compliance services, credit processes management, application management, fraud prevention management, end user services, customer relationship management, mobility, EDI, document integrated management and business platform management. The company offers its services to various industries such as insurance companies, banks, credit card companies, manufacturing, public services and retail. It has its operations in the US, France, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Panama. TIVIT is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.Key attributes of reports :- Gain key insights into the company for academic or business research purposes. Key elements such as SWOT analysis and corporate strategy are incorporated in the profile to assist your academic or business research needs.- Identify potential customers and suppliers with this reports analysis of the companys business structure, operations, major products and services and business strategy.- Understand and respond to your competitors business structure and strategies with GlobalDatas detailed SWOT analysis. In this, the companys core strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are analyzed, providing you with an up to date objective view of the company.- Examine potential investment and acquisition targets with this reports detailed insight into the companys strategic, business and operational performance.About Company :Big Market Research uniqueness lies in its highly ethical reports at economical rates because we value your relationship and growth more than money. Your growth is our aim. With the arsenal of different search reports, we help you here to look and buy research reports that will be helpful to you and your organization. Our research reports have the capability and authenticity to support your organization for growth and consistency.Contact Us :5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesDirect :+ 1-503-894-6022Toll Free : + 1-800-910-6452Email: help@bigmarketresearch.comWeb: Caprylic Acid Market is expected to grow at USD 2 billion by 2027: Vendors- LANXESS, Dow and Eastman https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2201 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/caprylic-acid-market Market HighlightCaprylic Acid Market is increase in the awareness for health and nutritions. Now a days people spent good part of their income on the health and tries to consume as health food as he can. They are turning towards organic foods and nutritions which is helping the market of Caprylic Acid to grow. Apart from this the government and federal regulations for environment is also forcing the companies to move towards natural resources and companies are moving towards the natural resources in order to produce the Caprylic acids. Furthermore government is promoting the incentives programs to encourage the growth in the renewable natural fatty acids.Request a Sample Report@SegmentationBy Application Type: Additives, Perfumes, Rubber and Latex, Medicines, Organic Synthesis, Pharmaceuticals & cosmetics, Rubber & Dye, Plastics, Grease & LubricantsBy Region: Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East & AfricaKey Player McKinley Resources Inc. Barite World Spectrum Chemical Manufacturing Corp. Hydrite Chemical Co. Acme Chem Solazyme KLK OLEO LANXESS Huntsman Corporation Dow Chemical Company Eastman Chemical CompanyTaste the market data and market information presented through more than 30 market data tables and figures spread over 110 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Global Caprylic Acid Market Research Report- Forecast to 2027.Regional AnalysisAsia-Pacific dominates the market of Caprylic acid in terms of revenue in the year 2014 due to the high demand from the food industry and cosmetics. Some developing countries like China, India and Japan who are the emerging market for the cosmetic industry is consuming the Caprylic acid in very high amount resulting high demands. Apart from this other geographical areas like South Africa and Middle East who are demanding more Caprylic Acid for nutritions and food additives. North America is introduction various health various weight loss programs helps to grow the market for Caprylic Acid.Browse Full Research Report @TOC of Caprylic Acid Market1 Market Introduction2 Research Methodologies3 Global Caprylic Acid Market: Overview4 Global Caprylic Acid Market, Competitive Landscape5 Market Overview6 Caprylic Acid Market, Estimation & Forecast, By Method7 Caprylic Acid Market, Estimation & Forecast, By Deployment8 Caprylic Acid Market, Estimation & Forecast, By End Users9 Caprylic Acid Market, Estimation & Forecast, By Application10 Caprylic Acid Market, Estimation and Forecast, By GeographyContinuedAbout Market Research FutureAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Market Research Future Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Metal Bellows Market 2017 - MIRAPRO, Flexider, Hyspan, Duraflex, Weldmac Metal Bellows Market https://goo.gl/qczhkP https://goo.gl/LZDST5 http://www.apexresearch.biz A market study based on the "Metal Bellows Market" across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Metal Bellows Market 2017. The research report analyses the historical as well as present performance of the worldwide Metal Bellows industry, and makes predictions on the future status of Metal Bellows market on the basis of this analysis.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here :Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Report1. Witzenmann2. BOA Group3. Senior Flexonics4. Aerosun Corporation5. Jiangsu Shuguang6. MIRAPRO7. Flexider8. Hyspan9. Technoflex10. Penflex11. KSM Corporation12. Duraflex13. WeldmacThe report studies the industry for Metal Bellows across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in Metal Bellows market & dynamics of demand and supply of Metal Bellows into consideration. The ' Metal Bellows ' research study covers each and every aspect of the Metal Bellows market globally, which starts from the definition of the Metal Bellows industry and develops towards Metal Bellows market segmentations. Further, every segment of the Metal Bellows market is classified and analyzed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the Metal Bellows market. The geographical segmentation of the Metal Bellows industry has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the worldwide market for Metal Bellows is determined by evaluating the various industry participants, production capacity, Metal Bellows market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Metal Bellows market worldwide.Enquire Before Buying @The global Metal Bellows market 2017 is also analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Metal Bellows production volume, data regarding demand and Metal Bellows supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the industry for Metal Bellows across the globe.About UsWe provide global enterprises and businesses across different industry verticals comprehensive market research services from off-the-shelf research reports to customized research conducted by our highly experienced industry analysts.Contact UsFrank ValadezBusiness Development HeadEmail id - sales@apexresearch.bizWebsite - New Article on How to Setup a Perfect Business Page on Facebook - Digital By Neeraj http://www.digitalbyneeraj.com/how-to-setup-a-business-page-on-facebook/ Facebook is one of the most famous social media platform in the world except few countries with zero internet services or Govt. blocking the facebook usage (For Example In China Google & Facebook are blocked by the Govt. of China ).There are more than 1.86 billion (1,860,000,000) active users worldwide (Source: Facebook ). Well, I know I Know this is an astonishing number but why do you care about it as you can add only 5000 friends in your Facebook profile but not the 1.86 billion people so why the hell you care about it. According to me, this number proves that Facebook is too big to ignore your lingering doubts. So if you want to create a facebook page or you want to create a Facebook Advert but you are stuck at some point, you wont get any help from Facebook Customer Care.Dont worry dear, in this blog I am going to explain in detail how to make a perfect facebook page however I will cover Facebook Advert in my next blog.To read more: click on the link:Digital by Neeraj is on a mission to teach online marketing free of cost. And that is the reason he writes the informative blogs and if any question asked either on the post or via email, he tried to respond it on ASAP basis.60/712 Ambika Apartment near AEC Char Rasta Naranpura Ahmedabad 380013 E-Clinical Solutions Market is Expected to Grow at CAGR of 12% by 2022- ERT , e-Clinical Solutions, Inc.,e-Clinical Solutions, Inc. and e-Clinical Solutions, Inc. https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2294 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/eclinical-solution-market-2294 E-Clinical Solutions Market is expected to grow at 12% CAGR during 2016-2022, e-clinical solutions market size is expected to increase USD 6 billion by the end of 2022Market HighlightsThe global e-clinical solutions market has been evaluated as growing market and expected that the market will reach high growth figures. E-clinical technologies are essential for various procedures including, managing the data requirements, reducing development costs, support faster decisions making for potential new products, and for increasing efficiency throughout the clinical trial process. The process majorly deals with the four steps including clinical data capturing by these software, data management, data conversion and standardization and finally the data reporting and statistical programming. The basic aim of these techniques is to make clinical data acquisition, standardization, aggregation and analytics easy and simple for the various biopharma companies and other users.Request a Sample Report@Key Player ERT (U.S.) eClinical Solutions, Inc. (U.S.) Merge Healthcare Incorporated (U.S.) OmniComm Systems, Inc. (U.S.) Medidata Solutions, Inc. (U.S.) PAREXEL International Corporation (U.S.) BioClinica, Inc. (U.S.) CRF Health (U.S.) DATATRAK International, Inc. (U.S.) Oracle Corporation (U.S.)Segmentation:The global e-Clinical solution market is segmented on the basis of products and on the basis of delivery method. Based on products used the market is segmented into by product clinical data integration, Clinical Data Management System (CDMS), Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS), Randomization And Trial Supply Management (RTSM), safety solutions and others. CDMS segment commands the largest market share in 2015 and is expected to show further growth in the forecasted period majorly due to rising demand for mobile and web based technology worldwide. Based on delivery methods the market is segmented into web based, Enterprise, and cloud based solutions. Cloud based solutions are expected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecasted period due to increasing acceptance of these technologies worldwide and also due to the facilities such as access to data from any place provided by these softwares.Regional Analysis Oracle Corporation is the leading player or the global e-clinical solution market. Although, developed regions including North America and Europe held large shares in the e-clinical solutions market in 2015 Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at the highest CAGR in the next five years due to factors such as the increasing outsourcing of clinical trial studies by the large pharma and biopharma companies in Asia-Pacific region These emerging markets including China, Korea, and India have become attractive destinations for outsourcing of clinical trials due to presence of large population and low operating cost for performing clinical trials in these countries other factors such as less stringent regulatory guidelines compared to developed nations in these countries Shortage of trial volunteers in Europe, North America, and other developed countries, growing number of life science and healthcare research companies and CROs are the key factors leading to the increased demand for e-clinical solutions in emerging marketsTest the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread over 84 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Global e-clinical solutions market Research Report Global Forecast to 2022.Study Objectives: To provide detail analysis of the market structure along with estimated future growth of the same for the next 5 years related to its various segments and sub-segments. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To analyze the global eClinical solution market based on various analysis which includes price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters Five Force analysis etc. To provide past and estimated future revenue of the markets segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa. To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future growth prospect. To provide country level analysis of the markets segments which includes by product and by delivery method.List of TablesTable 1 Global E-Clinical Solution, By Products, 2013-2022 (USD Million)Table 2 Global E-Clinical Solutions, By Delivery Methods, 2013-2022 (USD Million)Table 3 Global E-Clinical Solutions by Region 2013-2022 (USD Million)Browse Full E-C S Market @List of FiguresFigure 1 Research ProcessFigure 2 Porters Five Forces ModelFigure 3 Global E-Clinical Solutions, By ProductsFigure 4 Global E-Clinical Solutions, By Dilivery MethodsFigure 5 Global E-Clinical Solutions, By RegionFigure 6 Global E-Clinical Solutions: Company Share Analysis, 2015 (%)Table of Content1 Introduction2 Research Methodologies3 Market Dynamics4 Market Factor Analyses4.1 Porters Five Forces Model4.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers4.3 Bargaining Power of Buyers5. Global E-Clinical Solutions Market, By Products5.1 Clinical Data Integration5.2 Clinical Data Management System5.3 Clinical Trial Management System6 Global E-Clinical Solutions, By Delivery Methods6.1 Web Based6.2 Enterprise6.3 Cloud Based7. Global E-Clinical Solutions, By Region8. Competitive Landscape9 Company ProfileContinuedAbout Market Research FutureAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Market Research Future Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Market Report 2017 Market Research Reports http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/asia-pacific-capillary-electrophoresis-equipment-market-report-2017.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1058560&type=E Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report split Asia-Pacific into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), includingChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanIndiaSoutheast AsiaAustraliaAsia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingThermo Fisher ScientificAgilent TechnologiesBio-Rad LaboratoriesPerkinElmerGeneral ElectricMerckAlfa Laval ABSartorius Stedim BiotechShimadzu Scientific Instruments3MAB SciexBecton, Dickinson and CompanyC.B.S ScientificDanaherHarvard BioscienceHelena LaboratoriesHoeferLonzaSysmex PartecSebiaSERVA ElectrophoresisSigma-AldrichTakara BioObtain Report Details @On the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (K Units), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/Unit), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSingle Capillary ElectrophoresisArray Capillary ElectrophoresisOtherOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume (K Units), market share and growth rate of Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment for each application, includinPharmaceutical CompaniesResearch Organizations and InstitutionsOtherFill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Table of Contents1 Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment1.2 Classification of Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment by Product Category1.2.1 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Types (2012-2022)1.2.2 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Single Capillary Electrophoresis1.2.4 Array Capillary Electrophoresis1.2.5 Other1.3 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)1.3.2 Pharmaceutical Companies1.3.3 Research Organizations and Institutions1.3.4 Other1.4 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Market by Region1.4.1 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 South Korea Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Taiwan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.8 Australia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)2 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application2.1 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment (Volume) by Application2.4 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment (Volume and Value) by Region2.4.1 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4.2 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3 China Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 China Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 China Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 China Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 China Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 China Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.3 China Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Application4 Japan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 Japan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales and Value (2012-2017)4.1.1 Japan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.2 Japan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.3 Japan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)4.2 Japan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Type4.3 Japan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Application5 South Korea Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 South Korea Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales and Value (2012-2017)5.1.1 South Korea Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.2 South Korea Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.3 South Korea Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)5.2 South Korea Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Type5.3 South Korea Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Application6 Taiwan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Taiwan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales and Value (2012-2017)6.1.1 Taiwan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.2 Taiwan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.3 Taiwan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)6.2 Taiwan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Type6.3 Taiwan Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales Volume and Market Share by Application10 Asia-Pacific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data10.1 Thermo Fisher Scientific10.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors10.1.2 Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Product Category, Application and Specification10.1.2.1 Product A10.1.2.2 Product B10.1.3 Thermo Fisher Scientific Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)10.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview10.2 Agilent Technologies10.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors10.2.2 Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Product Category, Application and Specification10.2.2.1 Product A10.2.2.2 Product B10.2.3 Agilent Technologies Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)10.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview10.3 Bio-Rad Laboratories10.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors10.3.2 Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Product Category, Application and Specification10.3.2.1 Product A10.3.2.2 Product B10.3.3 Bio-Rad Laboratories Capillary Electrophoresis Equipment Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)10.3.4 Main Business/Business OverviewQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Market Demands & Economy- Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck & Co, Zoetis http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1018915&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-veterinary-pain-management-drugs-market-research-report-2017.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Market Research Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.The Veterinary Pain Management Drugs has been expressively dissected in this statistical surveying that has been added to our frequently growing industry knowledge arrangement. The archive takes after an arrangement that gives a careful and scientific diagram of the Veterinary Pain Management Drugs and moreover inspects the main sections, compelling components, and market components that administer the development rate of the market and its competitive and regional scenes.The report offers to its clients an all-encompassing 360-degree point of view of the Veterinary Pain Management Drugs from the back to front, starting with the core values of the mechanical components, then proceeding onward to the examination of information on the different perspectives including as industry chain structure, groupings, industry diagram, arrangements, applications, and late advancements.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @The data offered in the report has been accumulated through the assistance of various essential and auxiliary research strategies. Quantitative and subjective information appraisal for key market sections on the regional and the aggregate worldwide front have also been given in the report. The gigantic archives of information that have been sifted through by industry-best investigative techniques will give to the user the points of interest that matter the most.The report also gives a portrayal of the administrative situation of the Veterinary Pain Management Drugs and gives points of interest relating to the more prominent arrangements, approaches, controls, and decides in that effect the numerous business related choices in the market. A point by point outline of the competitive scene of the Veterinary Pain Management Drugs has additionally been given in the report, wherein itemized business profiles, SWOT examination, and numerous different insights about a portion of the real sellers in the market are incorporated.Table of ContentsGlobal Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Market Research Report 20171 Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Veterinary Pain Management Drugs1.2 Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Opioids1.2.4 a2-Adrenergic Agonists1.2.5 Local Anesthetics1.2.6 Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSIDs)1.2.7 Sedatives1.2.8 Corticosteroids1.2.9 Other1.3 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Segment by Application1.3.1 Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Veterinary Hospitals1.3.3 Veterinary Clinics1.4 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Veterinary Pain Management Drugs (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @2 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 Southeast Asia Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 India Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 North America Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 Southeast Asia Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 India Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global Veterinary Pain Management Drugs Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesAbout UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Global Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment Market Applications, Solutions, SWOT Analysis, Pricing & Shares http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1016278&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-cardiopulmonary-bypass-equipment-industry-report-2016.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment Market 2016 Industry, Analysis, Research, Share, Growth, Sales, Trends, Supply, Forecast to 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.This is a clear and systematic research report on the distribution for those related with the worldwide Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment advertise. The report offers a foreordained estimate period from 2017 to 2022, the most recent portion of this exploration distribution stream. The report offers significant and precise bits of knowledge that will permit a client to accomplish a crisp point of view on the different sections existing in the Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment. These incorporate the key components that expands its development rate and additionally the snags that are right now influencing its. The report additionally concentrates on the top patterns that right now influence the market and those that might be completed in the years to come. This incorporates full scale and small scale monetary elements that are influencing its improvement, and driving players and their exercises in the Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment.Enter your information below to receive a sample copy of this report @A section based industry examination arranged utilizing feelings and bits of knowledge from industry specialists shapes the separating variable for the nature of this report. The customers can utilize these experiences to settle on their own choices and assess the locales and portions that are probably going to be productive to them over the given time frame.There are a couple of drivers that emerge from the group and this report uncovers their significance through a profound investigation of the different open doors that players may pick up from them. The report additionally explains the restrictions influencing the Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment so they can device how the properties will influence the direction of the market and their general remaining in it. A course of events of late improvements that have specifically or in a roundabout way impacted the market, furnishing the report's clients with a superior base of information in the market for the given forecast period.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview11.1 Definition and Specifications of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment11.1.1 Definition of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment11.1.2 Specifications of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment21.2 Classification of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment21.2.1 Single Roller Pump Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment31.2.2 Double Roller Pump Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment41.3 Applications of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment51.3.1 Cardiac Surgery61.3.2 Lung Transplant Operation71.3.3 Acute Respiratory Failure Treatment81.4 Industry Chain Structure of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment91.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment101.5.1 Industry Overview of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment101.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment111.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment111.7 Industry News Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment122 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment142.1 Raw Material Component Suppliers Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment142.2 Equipment Suppliers Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment152.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment182.4 Other Costs Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment232.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment242.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment253 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis263.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Key Manufacturers in 2015263.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Key Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment Manufacturers in 2015263.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment Key Manufacturers in 201527Browse Complete Report with TOC @4 Capacity, Production and Revenue Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Regions, Types and Manufacturers284.1 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Regions 2011-2016284.2 Global and Major Regions Capacity, Production, Revenue and Growth Rate of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment 2011-2016334.3 Global Production and Revenue of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Types 2011-2016404.4 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Manufacturers 2011-2016435 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Regions, Types and Manufacturers495.1 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Regions 2011-2016495.2 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Types 2011-2016535.3 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Manufacturers 2011-2016576 Consumption Volume, Consumption Value and Sale Price Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Regions, Types and Applications616.1 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Regions 2011-2016616.2 Global and Major Regions Consumption Volume, Consumption Value and Growth Rate of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment 2011-2016646.3 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Types 2011-2016696.4 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Applications 2011-2016726.5 Sale Price of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Regions 2011-2016756.6 Sale Price of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Types 2011-2016756.7 Sale Price of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment by Applications 2011-2016767 Supply, Import, Export and Consumption Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment777.1 Supply, Consumption and Gap of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment 2011-2016777.2 Global Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment 2011-2016787.3 North America Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment 2011-2016797.4 Europe Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment 2011-2016797.5 China Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment 2011-2016807.6 Asia (ex. China) Capacity, Production, Price, Cost, Revenue of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment 2011-2016807.7 Supply, Consumption Export and Import of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Equipment 2011-201681About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Global Cardiac Defibrillator Sales Market Report 2017 http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=913520&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-cardiac-defibrillator-sales-market-report-2017.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com Global Cardiac Defibrillator Industry 2017 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2017-2020.This report on the global Cardiac Defibrillator market presents an outline of the market from the perspective of key segments, forces defining markets overall development, and scope of growth on global and regional levels in the next few years. The report is a rich data repository including vast qualitative and quantitative insights into the regulatory and competitive landscapes of the global Cardiac Defibrillator market and key factors influencing the overall development of the market.The report presents a thorough backdrop analysis of the market, covering essential aspects such industry definitions, product specifications, and supply and demand chain, thus presenting a thorough assessment of the market. The report includes a detailed overview of the key forces shaping present state of the competitive landscape of the market with the help of a Porters fiver forces analysis. As such, the report examines the bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitutes, threat of new entrants, and level of competition.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report also outlines the regulatory landscape of the market, which plays a central role in deciding aspects such as the variety and kind of products that are approved for marketing, the manufacturing and production practices that are followed, and the decisions taken in regards to procurement of raw materials.The report also presents a detailed overview of the competitive landscape of the global Cardiac Defibrillator market, wherein detailed business profiles of some of the key vendors operating in the market, recent technological developments, and activities such as mergers and acquisitions that some of the markets notable players were involved in recent times. A detailed overview of the competitive strategies adopted by these players to gain a stronger foothold in the market is also included in the report.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsGlobal Cardiac Defibrillator Sales Market Report 20171 Cardiac Defibrillator Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Cardiac Defibrillator1.2 Classification of Cardiac Defibrillator1.2.1 ICD technology1.2.2 AED technology1.3 Application of Cardiac Defibrillator1.3.1 ventricular fibrillation1.3.2 No pulse of ventricular tachycardia1.4 Cardiac Defibrillator Market by Regions1.4.1 United States Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Cardiac Defibrillator (2011-2021)1.5.1 Global Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.5.2 Global Cardiac Defibrillator Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 Global Cardiac Defibrillator Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Cardiac Defibrillator Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2011-2017)2.1.2 Global Cardiac Defibrillator Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2011-2017)2.2 Global Cardiac Defibrillator (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2017)2.2.2 Global Cardiac Defibrillator Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2017)2.3 Global Cardiac Defibrillator (Volume and Value) by Regions2.3.1 Global Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Regions (2011-2017)2.3.2 Global Cardiac Defibrillator Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2011-2017)2.4 Global Cardiac Defibrillator (Volume) by Application3 United States Cardiac Defibrillator (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Value (2011-2017)3.1.1 United States Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2017)3.1.2 United States Cardiac Defibrillator Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2017)3.1.3 United States Cardiac Defibrillator Sales Price Trend (2011-2017)3.2 United States Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 United States Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Application4 China Cardiac Defibrillator (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Value (2011-2017)4.1.1 China Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2017)4.1.2 China Cardiac Defibrillator Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2017)4.1.3 China Cardiac Defibrillator Sales Price Trend (2011-2017)4.2 China Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers4.3 China Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Type4.4 China Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Application5 Europe Cardiac Defibrillator (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Value (2011-2017)5.1.1 Europe Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2017)5.1.2 Europe Cardiac Defibrillator Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2017)5.1.3 Europe Cardiac Defibrillator Sales Price Trend (2011-2017)5.2 Europe Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers5.3 Europe Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Application6 Japan Cardiac Defibrillator (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Value (2011-2017)6.1.1 Japan Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2017)6.1.2 Japan Cardiac Defibrillator Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2017)6.1.3 Japan Cardiac Defibrillator Sales Price Trend (2011-2017)6.2 Japan Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers6.3 Japan Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Type6.4 Japan Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Application7 Southeast Asia Cardiac Defibrillator (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7.1 Southeast Asia Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Value (2011-2017)7.1.1 Southeast Asia Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2017)7.1.2 Southeast Asia Cardiac Defibrillator Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2017)7.1.3 Southeast Asia Cardiac Defibrillator Sales Price Trend (2011-2017)7.2 Southeast Asia Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers7.3 Southeast Asia Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Type7.4 Southeast Asia Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Application8 India Cardiac Defibrillator (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8.1 India Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Value (2011-2017)8.1.1 India Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2017)8.1.2 India Cardiac Defibrillator Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2017)8.1.3 India Cardiac Defibrillator Sales Price Trend (2011-2017)8.2 India Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers8.3 India Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Type8.4 India Cardiac Defibrillator Sales and Market Share by Application9 Global Cardiac Defibrillator Manufacturers Analysis9.1 Medtronic9.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.1.2 Cardiac Defibrillator Product Type, Application and Specification9.1.2.1 ICD technology9.1.2.2 AED technology9.1.3 Medtronic Cardiac Defibrillator Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2017)9.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.2 St. Jude Medical9.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.2.2 Cardiac Defibrillator Product Type, Application and Specification9.2.2.1 ICD technology9.2.2.2 AED technology9.2.3 St. Jude Medical Cardiac Defibrillator Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2017)9.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.3 Boston Scientific9.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.3.2 Cardiac Defibrillator Product Type, Application and Specification9.3.2.1 ICD technology9.3.2.2 AED technology9.3.3 Boston Scientific Cardiac Defibrillator Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2017)9.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.4 Biotronik9.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.4.2 Cardiac Defibrillator Product Type, Application and Specification9.4.2.1 ICD technology9.4.2.2 AED technology9.4.3 Biotronik Cardiac Defibrillator Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2017)9.4.4 Main Business/Business OverviewAbout UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Global Menswear Market Share, Size, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017-202 http://www.indexbox.co.uk/store/world-mens-or-boys-clothing-not-knitted-or-crocheted-market-report-analysis-and-forecast-to-2025/ http://www.indexbox.co.uk/store/world-mens-or-boys-clothing-not-knitted-or-crocheted-market-report-analysis-and-forecast-to-2025/ www.indexbox.co.uk IndexBox has just published a new report "World: Men's Or Boys' Clothing (Not Knitted Or Crocheted) - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2025" (This report has been designed to provide a detailed analysis of the global menswear market. It covers the most recent data sets of quantitative medium-term projections, as well as developments in production, trade, consumption and prices. The report also includes a comparative analysis of the leading consuming countries, revealing opportunities opened for producers and exporters across the globe. The forecast outlines market prospects to 2025.Countries coverage: WorldwideProduct coverage: Men's or boys' suits, coats, jackets, trousers, shorts and the like, of textile fabric, not knitted or crochetedData coverage: Menswear market size and volume; Menswear market trends and prospects; Global menswear production and its dynamics; Per capita consumption; Breakdown of production by region and country; Medium term outlook; Menswear trade (exports/imports); Prices for menswear; Profiles of the main manufacturers.The report will help you: Get a bigger picture of the market; Rewire your business around market trends; Devise your marketing strategy; Operate with increased effectiveness.TABLE OF CONTENTS1. INTRODUCTION1.1 REPORT DESCRIPTION1.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2.1 KEY FINDINGS2.2 MARKET TRENDS3. MARKET OVERVIEW3.1 MARKET VOLUME AND VALUE3.2 CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY3.3 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES BY COUNTRY3.4 MARKET FORECAST TO 20254. PRODUCTION4.1 PRODUCTION IN 2007-20154.2 PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY5. IMPORTS5.1 IMPORTS IN 2007-20155.2 IMPORTS BY COUNTRY5.3 IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY6. EXPORTS6.1 EXPORTS IN 2007-20156.2 EXPORTS BY COUNTRY6.3 EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY7. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERSDownload a free sample of the report now!IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. We conduct market research and publish reports.You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.We collect this data from hundreds of highly reliable sources, verify it and carry out market analysis, uncovering new business opportunities and empowering you with actionable insights.The structure of our reports is intuitive and clear. We do our best to allow you to make strategic decisions and take immediate action. If you want to go further and be a step ahead of the market, just tell us your goals and we will tailor a report to your needs.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, 44 Main Street, Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML11 0QWWebsite: Global Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 2017 http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=914043&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-patient-monitoring-equipment-market-professional-survey-report-2017.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com/reports.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com Global Patient Monitoring Equipment Industry 2017 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2017-2020.This report on the global Patient Monitoring Equipment market is a rich data repository assembled with the aim of presenting before the reader a new viewpoint on the markets present state and estimated future growth. The report compiles vast data quantitative as well as qualitative insights into the key elements of the market. The report is intended to impart decisive data on the global Patient Monitoring Equipment market so as to enable the reader formulate effective growth strategies, take informed decisions, and stay ahead of the competition.The report includes a discussion of the key market trends of the past and present times affecting consumer choices and having a significant influence on the overall development of the Patient Monitoring Equipment markets growth. A detailed analysis of the key drivers and restraints is also included in the report, along with an analytical overview of the prospective impact of these factors on the future growth prospects of the market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Through detailed analysis of historical data pertaining to current market trends and the key market elements, the report presents an accuracy-driven forecast for the Patient Monitoring Equipment market. This forecast on the Patient Monitoring Equipment market also includes all factors that could influence it in the near future.The report also gives a thorough overview of all the key factors that are a part of the structural foundation of the market. An overview of the regulatory scenario of the global Patient Monitoring Equipment market has also been included in the report, wherein details pertaining to key rules, policies, regulations, and plans are discussed.The report also gives an insight into the competitive landscape of the market by providing detailed business profiles of some of the key vendors operating in the global Patient Monitoring Equipment market and other relevant business details pertaining to the key players in the market.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsGlobal Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Patient Monitoring Equipment1.1 Definition and Specifications of Patient Monitoring Equipment1.1.1 Definition of Patient Monitoring Equipment1.1.2 Specifications of Patient Monitoring Equipment1.2 Classification of Patient Monitoring Equipment1.2.1 External Remote Patient Monitoring equipment1.2.2 Implantable Remote Patient Monitoring equipment1.3 Applications of Patient Monitoring Equipment1.3.1 Products applicated in home1.3.2 Products applicated in hospital1.3.3 Application 31.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Patient Monitoring Equipment2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Patient Monitoring Equipment2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Patient Monitoring Equipment2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Patient Monitoring Equipment3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Patient Monitoring Equipment3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Patient Monitoring Equipment Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Patient Monitoring Equipment Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Patient Monitoring Equipment Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Patient Monitoring Equipment Major Manufacturers in 20154 Global Patient Monitoring Equipment Overall Market Overview4.1 2011-2017 Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2011-2017 Global Patient Monitoring Equipment Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2011-2017 Global Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2011-2017 Global Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales Price4.4.2 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)5 Patient Monitoring Equipment Regional Market Analysis5.1 North America Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Analysis5.1.1 North America Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Overview5.1.2 North America 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.1.3 North America 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales Price Analysis5.1.4 North America 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Share Analysis5.2 China Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Analysis5.2.1 China Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Overview5.2.2 China 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.2.3 China 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales Price Analysis5.2.4 China 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Share Analysis5.3 Europe Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Analysis5.3.1 Europe Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Overview5.3.2 Europe 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.3.3 Europe 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales Price Analysis5.3.4 Europe 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Share Analysis5.4 Southeast Asia Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Analysis5.4.1 Southeast Asia Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Overview5.4.2 Southeast Asia 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.4.3 Southeast Asia 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales Price Analysis5.4.4 Southeast Asia 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Share Analysis5.5 Japan Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Analysis5.5.1 Japan Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Overview5.5.2 Japan 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.5.3 Japan 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales Price Analysis5.5.4 Japan 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Share Analysis5.6 India Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Analysis5.6.1 India Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Overview5.6.2 India 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.6.3 India 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales Price Analysis5.6.4 India 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Share Analysis6 Global 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Segment Market Analysis (by Type)6.1 Global 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales by Type6.2 Different Types of Patient Monitoring Equipment Product Interview Price Analysis6.3 Different Types of Patient Monitoring Equipment Product Driving Factors Analysis6.3.1 External Remote Patient Monitoring equipment of Patient Monitoring Equipment Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.2 Implantable Remote Patient Monitoring equipment of Patient Monitoring Equipment Growth Driving Factor Analysis7 Global 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Segment Market Analysis (by Application)7.1 Global 2011-2017 Patient Monitoring Equipment Consumption by Application7.2 Different Application of Patient Monitoring Equipment Product Interview Price Analysis7.3 Different Application of Patient Monitoring Equipment Product Driving Factors Analysis7.3.1 Products applicated in home of Patient Monitoring Equipment Growth Driving Factor Analysis7.3.2 Products applicated in hospital of Patient Monitoring Equipment Growth Driving Factor Analysis8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Patient Monitoring Equipment8.1 Abbott Laboratories8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.2.1 External Remote Patient Monitoring equipment8.1.2.2 Implantable Remote Patient Monitoring equipment8.1.3 Abbott Laboratories 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Abbott Laboratories 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 GE Healthcare8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.2.1 External Remote Patient Monitoring equipment8.2.2.2 Implantable Remote Patient Monitoring equipment8.2.3 GE Healthcare 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 GE Healthcare 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Business Region Distribution Analysis8.3 Nihon Kohden8.3.1 Company Profile8.3.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.3.2.1 External Remote Patient Monitoring equipment8.3.2.2 Implantable Remote Patient Monitoring equipment8.3.3 Nihon Kohden 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.3.4 Nihon Kohden 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Business Region Distribution Analysis8.4 Omron Healthcare8.4.1 Company Profile8.4.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.4.2.1 External Remote Patient Monitoring equipment8.4.2.2 Implantable Remote Patient Monitoring equipment8.4.3 Omron Healthcare 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.4.4 Omron Healthcare 2015 Patient Monitoring Equipment Business Region Distribution AnalysisFor Market Research Latest Reports Visit @About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Circuit Protection Market : Volume Analysis, Segments, Value Share and Key Trends 2017 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=620 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=620 https://www.tmrresearch.com/circuit-protection-market The global circuit protection market is projected to grow at a healthy growth rate during the forecast period. The rising number of applications of circuit protection is expected to contribute extensively towards the development of the overall market in the near future. The research study further highlights the key growth factors, current trends, and opportunities in the global circuit protection market. In addition, the challenges being faced by the market players and the competitive landscape have been discussed at length to offer a strong understanding of the overall market.Request a Brochure of the Report @Global Circuit Protection Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe rising adoption of Internet of Things in diverse industries and the rising demand for circuit protection are some of the important aspects that are estimated to fuel the growth of the global circuit protection market in the coming years. In addition, the rising emphasis of leading players on innovations and new product development is likely to accelerate the growth of the overall market throughout the forecast period.The global market for circuit protection is expected to face several challenges in the near future, owing to which the market is likely to witness a slight downward trend. The increasing prices of raw materials and the environmental regulations concerning the technology for SF6 circuit breaker are anticipated to hamper the growth of the global circuit protection market in the coming years. Nevertheless, the rising pace of industrialization and urbanization in emerging economies, resulting in a high demand for circuit protection is expected to provide lucrative opportunities for players operating in the global market.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Circuit Protection Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global circuit protection market has been categorized on the basis of geography into Latin America, North America, the Middle East and Africa, Europe, and Asia Pacific. In 2016, North America witnessed robust growth and is likely to continue with this throughout the forecast period. This high growth of this region can be attributed to the upgradation of the existing and old power grid infrastructure. In addition, the substantial contribution from the U.S. and the rising demand for automotive electronics applications are some of the other factors anticipated to encourage market growth in the next few years.Furthermore, developing nations across the globe are anticipated to witness growth in the circuit protection market in the coming few years. The high rate of urbanization and industrialization is a major factor projected to accelerate the growth of the global circuit protection market in the near future. The research study has offered information related to the growth rate and size of each regional segment in order to provide a clear understanding of the growth prospects in the next few years.Key Players Mentioned in the Research Report are:Furthermore, the research study offers a detailed overview of the competitive landscape of the global circuit protection market. The profiles of the leading companies have been included in the research study to provide a clear picture and understanding of the overall market. In addition, the latest trends and the marketing tactics that are being used by players have been discussed to guide the new players entering the global circuit protection market.Read Complete Report @The global market for circuit protection is highly competitive in nature with the presence of a large number of small and medium-sized players operating in it. The prominent players in the market include ABB Ltd., Automation Systems Interconnect, Toshiba, Bentek, General Electric, Rockwell Automation Inc., Pennsylvania Breaker, SIBA, S&C Electric Company, Mersen, Littelfuse, Schneider Electric, TE Connectivity, Eaton Corp. PLC, Hitachi, Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Alstom, Legrand, Siemens AG, Powell Industries, and Bourns.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todayas supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clientsa conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Eleanor All Set for Asia Text Books in Hand Eleanor collects her materials from Cambridge Marketing College It is what many people would think of as a dream opportunity the chance to do conservation work in an exotic location while studying for a qualification. Biology graduate Eleanor Devenish will shortly embark on a Conservation Internship during which she will study for a Certificate in Professional Marketing, and spend three months in Malaysia doing conservation work. Eleanor will work on communications projects with a focus on saving endangered species and their habitats.The internship is believed to be among the first of its kind, and is sponsored by Cambridge Marketing College, organised through Biodiversity Business, a social enterprise dedicated to creating shared value for biodiversity and business, and a member of Cambridge Conservation Forum.Cambridge is the hub of the largest cluster of conservation organisations in the world, and Eleanor will be based at the Conservation Campus in the pioneering David Attenborough Building.While in Malaysia, Eleanor will work with Fuze Ecoteer, a team of marine conservationists and rainforest experts, working on projects ranging from protecting the critically endangered Malayan Tiger to patrolling nesting sea turtles. Her field work will involve creating a marketing plan for a local conservation project.Im thrilled to have been chosen for this unique internship, says Eleanor. I have worked in conservation all of my career and this really gives me the chance to make a difference.Eleanor is no stranger to travel, having previously held internships in Birmingham and The Azores!About Bio Diversity BusinessBio Diversity Business was set up and is run by Barbara De Waard, a lifelong marketer and a passionate supporter of animal welfare and conservation. Its mission is to promote biodiversity by promoting new thinking in all sectors Business, NGO and Government, and by stimulating win-win solutions for conservation.Bio Diversity Business is a member of Cambridge Conservation Forum.About Cambridge Marketing CollegesCambridge Marketing Colleges (CMC) is a network of regional study centres offering weekend and evening study, distance learning and in-company programmes leading to internationally recognised professional qualifications awarded by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the CAM Foundation, the Market Research Society and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.CMC also works with UK and international businesses, charities and public sector bodies on the delivery of marketing education and training programmes to ensure that they remain at the commercial forefront and attract the best people into their organisations.CMC was founded in 1991 and has grown into the largest professional Marketing College in Europe.Middle WatchSwaveseyCambridgeshireUK Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market to Grow at a CAGR 11.52% During 2017-2021 https://marketsizeforecasters.com/get-sample/5145/?utm_source=OPR-AN https://marketsizeforecasters.com/enquire-for-discount/5145/?utm_source=OPR-AN https://marketsizeforecasters.com/global-direct-drive-wind-turbine-market https://marketsizeforecasters.com/united-states-dry-mortar-market http://marketsizeforecasters.com/ Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Report offered by Market Size Forecasters gives a market overview of the Direct Drive Wind Turbine industry which covers product scope, market revenue, opportunities, growth rate, sales volumes and figures. The report also explores the worldwide players of the market and is segmented by region, type and application with forecast to 2021.The Report Announces the Publication of its Research Report Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market 2017-2021The Report recognizes the following companies as the key players in the global direct drive wind turbine market: ENERCON, GE Renewable Energy, Goldwind Science and Technology, Siemens, and VENSYS Energy.Request a sample copy of Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Research Report @Other Prominent Vendors in the market are: ABB, Anhui Hummer Dynamo, AVANTIS Energy, Bora Energy, Foshan Ouyad Electronic, Leitner AG, Mervento, Qingdao Hengfeng Wind Power Generator, Qingdao Richuan Precision Machinery, ReGen Powertech, and XEMC Windpower.Commenting on Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market, an analyst team said: One trend in market is favorable policy environment for energy transition. Governments of various countries are introducing many policy incentives to promote the use and generation of energy from the wind. This is because, the wind is considered as one of the cheapest renewable energy sources compared with other similar energy sources such as solar, nuclear, and even natural gas. Governments worldwide are realizing the potential and long-term benefits of using the wind energy. Within renewable energy sources, hydropower has been the most utilized so far. However, the last few years has had drastic weather changes in different parts of the world. Many countries have been struggling with droughts. This has spurred many governments to diversify their energy mix further.The Report analysts forecast the global direct drive wind turbine market to grow at a CAGR of 11.52% during the period 2017-2021.According to Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market, one driver in market is high failure rate of wind turbine components. The reliability on turbines is a pre-requisite for the effective generation of power from the wind energy. Any failure of components will negatively affect the functioning of the entire system. A wind turbine is built by integrating various technologies and components from aeronautics, hydraulics, automation, and other functions. Major components involved in power generation in a wind turbine include the gearbox, generator, electrical, nacelle, rotor blades, and yaw systems. These wind turbine components require regular maintenance to ensure safe and efficient operations.Further, Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market states that one challenge in market is development of airborne wind turbines. Traditionally, a wind turbine is fixed atop a wind tower. The turbine is then connected to a rotor, blades, and other components to generate electricity from the wind. However, the wind does not blow evenly across all the areas. This has prompted plants to install taller wind towers, as the wind blows more consistently at higher speeds at greater heights. This increases the power output. The increased height of the tower also adds to the upfront cost, which is already a barrier for wind power generation. To overcome such problems a new class of wind turbines has been developed called the Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES). These turbines can capture wind energy at a significantly higher altitude. By design, these turbines do not require a tower to be fixed upon. They are tethered by wires or ropes that hold the turbine steady and transfer the electricity generated to the base station located on the ground. Therefore, the development of AWES and its adoption is expected to have a negative impact on the wind tower market, although not immediately, but at a later stage.The listed pricing for this Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market report starts at $ 3500. Request Discount for Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Research Report @Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors.Browse full table of contents and data tables For Global Direct Drive Wind Turbine Market Report @Related Reports: -United States Dry Mortar Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022Dry mortar is dry powder or granular material made by mixing dried screening process of fine aggregate, cementitious materials, additives, fillers, etc. Most of the dry mortar products contain both mineral cementitious binder (e.g. OPC) and polymer binder (e.g. re-dispersible powder) and they are normally packed in bags after mixing in the factory.MarketSizeForecasters.com, a Skyline Market Research LLP brand, is an online aggregator of market research reports. MarketSizeForecasters.com offers a comprehensive collection of full length reports on global and regional markets in 100+ industry verticals. We have partnered with some of the leading business and market research publishing houses and regularly update our online library to offer wide range of reports to our customers.Market size forecastersThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketsizeforecasters.comWebsite: Hardware Encryption Market: Industry Survey and Industry Outlook 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=647 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=647 https://www.tmrresearch.com/hardware-encryption-market The global market for hardware encryption is projected to witness healthy growth throughout the forecast period, thanks to the advent of portable storage devices in order to transfer files and information between computers. In addition, these devices help in improving the security concerns and confidentiality of data. These devices cannot be altered or removed by any malware or virus or be uninstalled by the user, owing to which the market is likely to witness high growth over the coming few years.The research report on the global hardware encryption market offers a thorough overview, focusing on the key growth drivers and currents trends in the market. The research study throws light on the product segmentation, applications, technological advancements, and the regional segments of the global hardware encryption market. In addition, the limitations and challenges that are being faced by the prominent players in the overall market have been discussed in the research study.Request a Brochure of the Report @Global Hardware Encryption Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe rising concerns related to the privacy of data and data security and tremendous expansion of the digital content are anticipated to encourage the growth of the global hardware encryption market throughout the forecast period. In addition, several advantages offered by hardware encryption in comparison with software encryption technology and the rising need of regulatory framework are some of the other factors estimated to accelerate the growth of the overall market in the near future.On the contrary, the need for high capital investment and the lack of awareness among consumers reading the benefits of hardware encryption technology are projected to restrict the growth of the global hardware encryption market in the next few years. Nevertheless, the emergence of economical and compact hardware encryption technique and the rising adoption of cloud computing are expected to offer promising opportunities for market players in the coming years.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Hardware Encryption Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global market for hardware encryption has been divided on the basis of geography into Europe, the Middle East and Africa, North America, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. The research study has provided a detailed analysis of the leading regional segment, highlighting the market share and anticipated growth rate. In addition, the key factors that are encouraging the growth of these segments have been discussed in the scope of the research study.According to the research study, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness strong growth throughout the forecast period, owing to the robust development of the IT industry. In addition, a substantial contribution from China, India, Malaysia, and South Korea is expected to accelerate the growth of the hardware encryption market in Asia Pacific throughout the forecast period. Furthermore, with the presence of a large number of established hardware encryption manufacturing companies, North America is anticipated to witness healthy growth in the next few years.Key Players Mentioned in the Research Report are:The global hardware encryption market is projected to witness a high level of competition in the coming few years. The leading players in the market are focusing on offering new products to consumers in order to enhance their market penetration and maintain their dominant position throughout the forecast period. Some of the prominent players operating in the hardware encryption market across the market are Netapp, Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., Toshiba Corp., Gemalto NV., Micron Technology, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Kanguru Solutions, Thales (E-Security), Winmagic Inc., Kingston Technology Corp., Western Digital Corp., and Seagate Technology PLC.Read Complete Report @Furthermore, the research study has provided a detailed analysis of the competitive landscape of the global hardware encryption market. An in-depth overview of company profiles and their financial overview have been discussed at length in the scope of the research study. Additionally, the business strategies, SWOT analysis, and the recent developments have been included to offer a clear understanding of the overall market.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todayas supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clientsa conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Global Microplate Market Size (Volume), Share, Trends, Growth, Company Profiles & Forecast 2016 to 2021 https://marketsizeforecasters.com/get-sample/5798/?utm_source=OPR-SP https://marketsizeforecasters.com/enquire-for-discount/5798/?utm_source=OPR-SP https://marketsizeforecasters.com/global-microplate-market https://marketsizeforecasters.com/2017-2022-global-top-countries-ball-valve-market/?utm_source=RR-SP http://marketsizeforecasters.com/ Global Microplate Industry Report offers market overview, segmentation by types, application, countries, key manufactures, cost analysis, industrial chain, sourcing strategy, downstream buyers, marketing strategy analysis, distributors/traders, factors affecting market, forecast and other important information for key insight.A microplate is a flat plate with multiple "wells" used as small test tubes. The microplate has become a standard tool in analytical research and clinical diagnostic testing laboratories. A very common usage is in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the basis of most modern medical diagnostic testing in humans and animals.Request a Sample Copy of Global Microplate Market Research Report @Microplate production, which measures output worldwide, was expected to reach 159,207 thousand units in 2016 with an increase of 4.47% from its year-earlier level. The global microplate market size is estimated to grow from USD 529.14 million in 2011 to USD 635.84 million by 2016, at an estimated CAGR of 3.74% between 2011 and 2016. With regards to this, key players of microplate industry are expected to find potential opportunities in this market.The global microplate market report profiles some of the key technological developments in the recent times. It also profiles some of the leading players in the market and analyzes their key strategies. The competitive landscape section of the report provides a clear insight into the market share analysis of key industry players. The major players in the global microplate market are Corning, Thermo Fisher, Greiner Bio-One, BD Biossciences, GE Healthcare, PerkinElmer, Porvair, Molecular Devices, Berthold, Qiagen, etc.Enquiry Discount for Global Microplate Market Research Report @Major Points in Table of Contents:Scope of Report, Executive Summary, Value Chain Analysis, Manufacture, Company Profiles, Market Overview, Consumption Pattern, Market Size Forecast, Market Dynamics, Investment Feasibility.Table of Figure:Figure Global Production 2011-2016Figure Global Production Value (M USD) 2011-2016Figure Top 10 Players Revenue Share 2015Figure Regional Production 2015Figure Regional Production Value (M USD) 2015Figure Global Consumption by End Market 2015Figure Microplate ProductFigure Supply Chain Structure of MicroplateTable Raw Materials Used for Microplate ProductionTable Traders & Distributors of MicroplateTable Key Customers of MicroplateFigure Microplate Manufacturing Process FlowFigure Microplate Production Cost StructureFigure Global Microplate Market, Growth RateTable Global Key Vendors Production 2011-2016Table Global Key Vendors Production Market Share 2011-2016Figure Global Production, Capacity Utilization 2011-2016Browse full table of contents and data tables for Global Microplate Market Report @Related Reports: -2017-2022 Global Top Countries Ball Valve Market ReportThis report studies Ball Valve in Global market, especially in United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, China, Japan, India, Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Brazil, Middle East and Africa, focuses on the top Manufacturers in each country, coveringMarketSizeForecasters.com, a Skyline Market Research LLP brand, is an online aggregator of market research reports. MarketSizeForecasters.com offers a comprehensive collection of full length reports on global and regional markets in 100+ industry verticals. We have partnered with some of the leading business and market research publishing houses and regularly update our online library to offer wide range of reports to our customers.Market size forecastersThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketsizeforecasters.comWebsite:Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter QYResearch Market Analysis: Global Diamond Wire Sales Market Report 2017 Global Diamond Wire Sales Market Report 2017 http://www.qyresearcheurope.com/goods-514628.html http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/ In this report, the global Diamond Wire market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Meters), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Diamond Wire for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Diamond Wire market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Diamond Wire sales volume, Price (USD/Meter), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingAsahi DiamondMeyer BurgerNoritakeJFSNakamura ChoukouNippon SeisenLogomaticBekaertILJINREADA.L.M.T.SaesolNIABRAZEMDWECDIAT New MaterialNanjing SanchaoZhengzhou Sino-Crystal DiamondSunnywellOn the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (K Meters), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/Meter), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoLong Diamond Saw WireRing Coated Saw WireOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Diamond Wire for each application, includingSolar Silicon CuttingLED Sapphire CuttingQuartz CuttingOtherAsk a complete & professional report sample, please send message to tinaning@qyresearch.com or visit atTable of contents:1 Diamond Wire Market Overview2 Global Diamond Wire Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application3 United States Diamond Wire (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4 China Diamond Wire (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5 Europe Diamond Wire (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6 Japan Diamond Wire (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7 Southeast Asia Diamond Wire (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8 India Diamond Wire (Volume, Value and Sales Price)9 Global Diamond Wire Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data10 Diamond Wire Maufacturing Cost Analysis11 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers12 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Global Diamond Wire Market Forecast (2017-2022)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixRelated Reports:Global Diamond Wire Sales Market Report 2017China Diamond Wire Sales Market Report 2017Europe Diamond Wire Sales Market Report 2017Japan Diamond Wire Sales Market Report 2017India Diamond Wire Sales Market Report 2017Korea Diamond Wire Sales Market Report 2017USA Diamond Wire Sales Market Report 2017Other Country/ Region Diamond Wire Sales Market Report 2017Contact Details:Company Name: QYResearch CO.,LIMITED | focus on Market Survey and ResearchContact Person: Tina Ning | Professional Market Research Report PublisherEmail: tinaning@qyresearch.com or qyresearcheurope@126.comTel: 0086-20-22093278(CN)Web:QYResearch established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, data base and seminar services. The company owned a large basic data base (such as National Bureau of statistics database, Customs import and export database, Industry Association Database etc), experts resources (included energy automotive chemical medical ICT consumer goods etc industries experts who own more than 10 years experiences on marketing or R&D), professional survey team (the team member with more than 3 years market survey experience and more than 2 years depth expert interview experience),Excellent data analysis team (SPSS statistics and PPT graphics process team); QYResearch has always pursuit product quality, adhere to the quality is the soul of business.Guangzhou Airport Charging Stations Market: Global Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2022 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/274915 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/274915 http://orbisnewsrelease.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/orbis-research https://twitter.com/orbisresearch Summary:Orbis Researchs adds New Report On : Global Airport Charging Stations Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 .ntroductionThis report studies the Airport Charging Stations market; Charging Stations is an element in an infrastructure that supplies electric energy for the Portable electronic equipment, such as Laptop, Mobile Phone and camera etc.The Charging Stations used in the airport are the statistical scope in this report.Scope of the Global Airport Charging Stations Market ReportThis report focuses on the Airport Charging Stations in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.This report covers Analysis of Global Airport Charging Stations Market Segment by ManufacturersCArconasIFPLVeloxity One LLCJCDecauxKwikBoostEToneChargeUpCharge BoxEVANS AIRPORT SOLUTIONSPower TowerHangzhou QiannaWinnsen Industry Co., Ltd.ZoeftigTrue Blue PowerInChargedSUZHOU SENDOriental KaierRequest a Sample of this Report @Global Airport Charging Stations Market Segment by regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Global Airport Charging Stations Market Segment by TypesStanding TypeEmbedded TypeWall-Mounted TypeGlobal Airport Charging Stations Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoLaptopMobile PhoneOthersMake an enquire before buying this report @Some of the Points cover in Global Airport Charging Stations Market Research Report is:Chapter 1: Describe Airport Charging Stations IndustryIntroduction,Product Scope,Market Overview,Market Opportunities,Market Risk,Market Driving ForceChapter 2: To analyze the top manufacturers of Airport Charging Stations Industry in 2016 and 2017SalesRevenue and priceChapter 3: Competitive analysis among the top manufacturers in 2016 and 2017SalesRevenue and market shareChapter 4: Global Airport Charging Stations Market by regions from 2012 to 2017SalesRevenue and market shareChapter 5, 6, 7 and 8: Global Airport Charging Stations Market by key countries in these regionsSalesRevenue and market shareChapter 9 and 10: Global Airport Charging Stations Market by type and application from 2012 to 2017SalesRevenue and market shareGrowth rateChapter 11: Airport Charging Stations Industry Market forecast from 2017 to 2022RegionsType and application with sales and revenueChapter 12 and 13: Airport Charging Stations IndustrySales channelDistributorsTraders and dealersAppendixData sourceFor more press releases visit @Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas - 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019Follow Us on LinkedIn:Follow us on Twitter: Teresa Clyne releases her online Offender Profiling Course ~~**~~30% discount for a limited time only~~**~~ https://www.ofcourse.co.uk/course/criminology-offender-profiling?defaultCoupon=teacherteresa30 www.ofcourse.co.uk; Welcome to the exciting, intriguing and rewarding field of Offender ProfilingHave you ever wanted to study Offender Profiling but didn't know where to start?.Well look no further, our specialised video course has over 49 separate lecturers with over three hours tutoring in this fascinating field of criminology and forensic psychology.Register today for a massive 30% discount on this course, but hurry, the discount is for a limited time only.COURSE HIGHLIGHTSIncludes 49 lectures with 3 hours of video content & supporting handout materialsLearn how to discern information about a potential offender by analysing a crime scene.Includes a 92-Page Handbook detailing all aspects of the course and how to get the most out of the lecture material.Understand the advantages and disadvantages of offender profiling, and its place in the future of criminology.A perfect course for anyone with an interest in criminology who wants to learn more about the world of offender profiling.COURSE FACTSLectures 49Language EnglishRequirements There are no prerequisites for this courseAccess UnlimitedEligible for NUS Student Discount Card YesCOURSE TEACHERTeresa ClyneForensic Psychology ConsultantWelcome to the exciting, intriguing and rewarding field of Criminal /Offender ProfilingTeresa Clyne is pleased to announce that she is now offering her exciting and much sought after course online throughit is a course for those that have ever wanted to study Offender Profiling but didn't know where to start?Her specialised video course has over 49 separate lecturers with over three hours tutoring in this fascinating field of criminology and forensic psychologyTeresa Clyne BA, MScEarl StreetLongfordCo LongfordRepublic of Ireland Global Capsule Endoscopy Market 2017 Production, Sales, Supply, Demand, Analysis by Forecast to 2027Global Capsule Endoscopy Market 2017 Production, Sales, Supply, Demand, Analysis by Forecast to 2027 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1359 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/capsule-endoscopy-market Market Highlights:Globally the market for Capsule Endoscopy is increasing rapidly. The major factor that derives the growth of capsule endoscopy is the increasing development in medical devices. Furthermore increasing use of digital technology in medical devices and increasing use of noninvasive techniques for various surgeries are increasing the growth of capsule endoscopy market.Major Key Players: Fujifilm Holding Corporation (Japan) Given Imaging Ltd./ Medtronic (Israel) Olympus America (U.S) IntroMedic Co. Ltd. (Korea) CapsoVision Inc. (U.S) Chongqing Jinshan Science & Technolgy Co. Ltd. (China)Segments:Global Capsule Endoscopy Market has been segmented on the basis of type which comprises of micro capsule, endo capsule, OMOM capsules and others. On the basis of applications include gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, crohns disease, Celiac disease, esophageal disease, small bowel disease and others.Request a Sample Report @Regional Analysis of Capsule endoscopy Market:Globally North America is the largest market for Capsule endoscopy. This is due to increasing development in digital technology in medical devices. Europe is the second-largest market. Furthermore Asia pacific market is expected to be the growing market for Capsule endoscopy market.Study Objectives of Capsule endoscopy Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 10 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Capsule endoscopy market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the Capsule endoscopy market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospectiveAccess Report Details @Intended Audience Capsule endoscopy manufacturers Capsule endoscopy Suppliers Contract Research Organizations (CROs) Research and Development (R&D) Companies Government Research Laboratories Independent Research Laboratories Government and Independent Regulatory Authorities Market Research and Consulting Service Providers Medical Research Laboratories Academic Medical Institutes and UniversitiesAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Global Intelligent Control Market - United States, China, Europe & Japan Intelligent Control http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-intelligent-control-sales-market-report-2017-125664 https://goo.gl/Qw1alJ The Market Research Store report offers majority of the latest and newest industry data that covers the overall market situation along with future prospects for Intelligent Control market around the globe. The research study includes significant data and also forecasts of the global market which makes the research report a helpful resource for marketing people, analysts, industry executives, consultants, sales and product managers, and other people who are in need of major industry data in a ready-to-access format along with clear presentation of graphs and tables.The report comprises the current size of the Intelligent Control market. It also provides with different types of product segments of the global market. Furthermore, the Intelligent Control market research report gives an in-depth information about the overall market and various product segments and their growth trends. The future market forecasts about the global Intelligent Control market are also covered in the research report. In addition, the overall market potential is further described in the report along with different countries around the globe.Browse Complete Report with TOC @The latest and the newest trends of the Intelligent Control industry are also included in this report. Moreover, overall global market size, the market size by product segment, growth rates of the global market along with and different product segments of the market, and various product segments with their value and volumes evaluation are also included in the research report.The Market Research Store report offers the global market potential rates of the Intelligent Control market along with various product segments. The research report provides an overview of the current market situation, historic development, and future outlook of the Intelligent Control market. It also tracks the industry developments trends and identifies the global market opportunities. The report helps to plan and develop precise marketing, market expansion, market-entry, and other business strategies through identifying the major market prospects and opportunities.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The data in the report is clearly presented which can be easily integrated into presentations and internal reports.About Us:MarketResearchStore.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651 Patient Throughput and Capacity Management Market Worth US$ 1,229.9 Mn by 2024 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/patient-throughput-and-capacity-management-market/toc http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/13198 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com North Americas dominance over the global patient throughput & capacity management market is justified by the regions robust healthcare industry, which is also a proponent to technological advancements and adoption of intelligent solutions. Europes patient throughput & capacity management market will also leave a sizable imprint on the global market, registering a value CAGR of 5.3%.The need for aligning resources in healthcare settings has compelled medical organizations towards adoption of technological solutions that help manage & arrange patient care information in orderly fashion. Hospitals from across the globe are installing patient throughput & capacity management solutions to tackle challenges associated with management of increasing capacity & space. Ideal use of added functional capacity through improved patient throughput solutions is also a key trend driving the demand for such solutions. Persistence Market Research estimates that towards the end of 2024, more than US$ 1.2 Bn worth of patient throughput & capacity management solutions will be employed across the globe.The global market for patient throughput & capacity management, according to Persistence Market Researchs report, is presently valued at US$ 834 Mn, and will soar steadily at 5% CAGR during the eight-year forecast period. The report further anticipates that over half of global revenues procured from sales of patient throughput & capacity management solutions will be accounted by the US and Canada.Request to view table of content @The report reveals that an analysis of global sales of patient throughput & capacity management solutions indicates a major upsurge in demand for RTLS solutions. With more than one-third share, RTLS solutions will remain a top-selling product dominating the global market revenues through 2024. Revenues from global sales of workflow management solutions will impose a consistent share on global revenues, while bed management solutions will exhibit revenue growth at 5.2% CAGR during the projected period. A majority of products offered in the global patient throughput & capacity management market will be offered as integrated solutions. Towards the end of 2024, integrated solutions will surpass 65% share on global revenues, while global demand for standalone solutions will register a marginal decline.A sample of this report is available upon request @The report also reveals that over 40% of patient throughput & capacity management solutions are delivered through on-premise models. By 2024-end, on-premise delivery of patient throughput & capacity management solutions will net nearly US$ 500 Mn in global revenues. On the other hand, cloud-based delivery is likely to lose out its traction, but will witness a negligible downtrend in terms of revenue growth. The report has also profiled companies such as EPIC Systems Corporation, STANLEY Healthcare, Central Logic, Care Logistics LLC, McKesson Corporation, TeleTracking Technologies, Inc., Sonitor Technologies, Inc., Allscripts, Awarepoint Corporation, and Cerner Corporation as key players of the global patient throughput & capacity management market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Global Industrial Infrared Camera Market - United States, China, Europe & Japan Industrial Infrared Camera http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-industrial-infrared-camera-sales-market-report-2017-125667 https://goo.gl/UWSUhg The Market Research Store report offers majority of the latest and newest industry data that covers the overall market situation along with future prospects for Industrial Infrared Camera market around the globe. The research study includes significant data and also forecasts of the global market which makes the research report a helpful resource for marketing people, analysts, industry executives, consultants, sales and product managers, and other people who are in need of major industry data in a ready-to-access format along with clear presentation of graphs and tables.The report comprises the current size of the Industrial Infrared Camera market. It also provides with different types of product segments of the global market. Furthermore, the Industrial Infrared Camera market research report gives an in-depth information about the overall market and various product segments and their growth trends. The future market forecasts about the global Industrial Infrared Camera market are also covered in the research report. In addition, the overall market potential is further described in the report along with different countries around the globe.Browse Complete Report with TOC @The latest and the newest trends of the Industrial Infrared Camera industry are also included in this report. Moreover, overall global market size, the market size by product segment, growth rates of the global market along with and different product segments of the market, and various product segments with their value and volumes evaluation are also included in the research report.The Market Research Store report offers the global market potential rates of the Industrial Infrared Camera market along with various product segments. The research report provides an overview of the current market situation, historic development, and future outlook of the Industrial Infrared Camera market. It also tracks the industry developments trends and identifies the global market opportunities. The report helps to plan and develop precise marketing, market expansion, market-entry, and other business strategies through identifying the major market prospects and opportunities.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The data in the report is clearly presented which can be easily integrated into presentations and internal reports.About Us:MarketResearchStore.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651 Health Benefits of Consuming Sea Food to Drive Demand for Aqua Feed http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/aqua-feed-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1447 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Aquaculture plays a key role in providing food to billions of people across the globe. Aquaculture has led to food security as the population is expanding. Moreover, people are consuming fish and other sea food for their health benefits and thus require sustainable fish farming practices. All these factors are driving the growth of the global aqua feed market. As per a report published by Transparency Market Research (TMR), a research firm, the global aqua feed market is slated to be worth US$122.6 bn by 2019. The high demand for fish is linked with increase in incomes of consumers. While catfish, carp, and freshwater prawns are increasingly produced, cultured freshwater pearls, protein rich algae, and non-conventional species of fishes such as ornamental fish are contributing to the diversification of the sea food consumed and also increasing the potential for a high income.Obtain Report Details @TMR answers three important questions regarding the global aqua feed market:Q. What are the factors benefitting the global aqua feed market?The demand for fish is growing across the globe and this is expected to continue even in the coming years. The growing incomes of people in developing nations, increase in population, and rapid urbanization are collectively fueling the demand for fish. Moreover, there has been stagnancy in the fishes captured, over the years. This is expected to encourage aquaculture and drive the demand for aqua feed consequently. Farmed fishes contain omega 3, which when consumed maintains cardiovascular health, prevents eczema, psoriasis, and Crohns disease asthma. Also fishes help in the cognitive development and improvisation among fetus and children, as well as reduce fat levels in the body of adults. All these factors have boosted aquaculture and in turn the global aqua feed market.Q. Which end use segment is leading in the industry and why?Of the various end use of aqua feed such as crustaceans, carp, catfish, mollusks, tilapia, and salmon, the carp segment is dominant in the industry. The growing importance of carp in the food and beverage industry is behind the leading position of this segment. Carps help in the reduction of cholesterol, which is another reason why cars are farmed. Moreover, carps are increasingly being used to feed insects to improve the yield in rice paddies.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Q. What are the factors posing a challenge for players in the global aqua feed market?The raw materials needed to manufacture aqua feed are also in demand from other sectors such as healthcare, industrial processes, and for direct human consumption (DHC). This may cause a deficit in the supply of raw materials to manufacture aqua feed. In addition to this, of the many raw materials required for manufacturing aqua feed such as fish meal, fish oil, corn, wheat, and soybean, the prices of fish oil are increasing due to farming restrictions, especially in Peru. These two factors are posing a challenge for the market players.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Veterinary Software Market - United States, China, Europe & Japan Veterinary Software http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-veterinary-software-market-size-status-and-forecast-125674 https://goo.gl/1KaUxv The Market Research Store report offers majority of the latest and newest industry data that covers the overall market situation along with future prospects for Veterinary Software market around the globe. The research study includes significant data and also forecasts of the global market which makes the research report a helpful resource for marketing people, analysts, industry executives, consultants, sales and product managers, and other people who are in need of major industry data in a ready-to-access format along with clear presentation of graphs and tables.The report comprises the current size of the Veterinary Software market. It also provides with different types of product segments of the global market. Furthermore, the Veterinary Software market research report gives an in-depth information about the overall market and various product segments and their growth trends. The future market forecasts about the global Veterinary Software market are also covered in the research report. In addition, the overall market potential is further described in the report along with different countries around the globe.Browse Complete Report with TOC @The latest and the newest trends of the Veterinary Software industry are also included in this report. Moreover, overall global market size, the market size by product segment, growth rates of the global market along with and different product segments of the market, and various product segments with their value and volumes evaluation are also included in the research report.The Market Research Store report offers the global market potential rates of the Veterinary Software market along with various product segments. The research report provides an overview of the current market situation, historic development, and future outlook of the Veterinary Software market. It also tracks the industry developments trends and identifies the global market opportunities. The report helps to plan and develop precise marketing, market expansion, market-entry, and other business strategies through identifying the major market prospects and opportunities.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The data in the report is clearly presented which can be easily integrated into presentations and internal reports.About Us:MarketResearchStore.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651 Hospital Stretchers Market Assessment 2017-2021 http://www.sa-brc.com/Global-Hospital-Stretchers-Market-Assessment--Forecast-2017-2021/up101 http://www.sa-brc.com/Global-Hospital-Stretchers-Market-Assessment--Forecast-2017-2021/upcomingdetail101 www.sa-brc.com Hospital stretchers have evolved into a multipurpose device in healthcare industry in the recent past. The market is still transforming allowing better patient comfort, and convenience and ease for care givers. The global hospital stretchers market has been segmented into procedural stretchers, transport stretchers, emergency stretcher, mortuary stretcher, bariatric stretchers, and other stretcher types. Integration of advanced technology in healthcare has helped in introduction of newer stretcher designs that are more suited for transport of patients with wide varieties of disorders. Healthcare service providers had faced challenges in transporting bariatric patients especially during emergencies, when delay in medical care may lead to serious complications. Motorized stretchers and hydraulic stretchers were designed with an aim to reduce patient fall during transport. These stretchers have become a mainstay for medical care of bariatric patients. Such new stretcher designs are a major driver for the hospital stretchers market.?Increased footfall in hospitals and rising prevalence of chronic diseases has pressurized management to equip hospital with necessary infrastructure for patient handling. Emergency medical services also have gained increased importance in the past decade. Rising incidences of road accidents globally and increasing demand for home healthcare services has been a major driver for hospital stretcher market growth. New technology hospital stretchers serve for dual purpose of stretcher as well as bed. This eliminates the need for transfer of patient from stretcher to bed, which usually results in injury to the patient or care givers, and the need for space required for keeping stretchers at easy disposal. Stretchers compatible with radiology devices have also gained special importance for providing medical care to orthopedic patients.Request Free Report Sample@With advancing technology, the price of stretchers has also witnessed steady rise in the recent past. Currently the price of stretchers ranges from US$ 2,000 to US$ 10,000. X-ray compatible stretchers, motorized stretchers, and hydraulic stretchers are high cost devices that are majorly confined to larger hospitals. Although motorized stretchers are convenient for transport of bariatric patients, these stretchers are difficult to maneuver through hospital aisles and operating rooms. These factors are a major restraint to the hospital stretchers market.From geography point-of-view, the hospital stretchers market is rapidly growing in low and middle income countries with evolving healthcare sector. South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, India, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and parts of the Middle East are some of the fast growing markets. North America and Europe account for larger percentage of high-end stretchers such as X-ray compatible and motorized stretchers.Stryker and Hill-Rom are the leading players in the hospital stretchers market. Other key players include TransMotion Medical, Inc., Anetic Aid Limited, Gendron, Inc., Medline Medical Equipment, Inc., M.T. Medical Technology S.r.l., and Karismedica S.p.A.More Report Description@About UsSpearhead Acuity Business Research & Consulting Private Limited (SA-BRC) is a premium Life Science business intelligence and data analytics firm. SA-BRC team offers a wide range of business intelligence services to multiple stakeholders such as Medical Device Manufacturers, Service Providers (Hospitals, Payers, etc.), Suppliers, Group Purchase Organizations, Distributors and all other individuals in the entire value chain of healthcare industry. Our research and consulting capabilities extend across several sub-domains within the sphere of Life Sciences such as Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Medical Devices, Veterinary Sciences, Wellness Products and Pharmaceuticals.Contact UsJohn WhitmoreOffice No. 14,Hermes Kunj, Mangaldas Road,Pune, 411001IndiaPhone: +91-02041210872Email: support@sa-brc.comWebsite: Heavy Surge in Organic Food Demand Credited to Growing Awareness of Benefits http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/organic-food-beverages-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1669 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The USDA National Organic Program is one of the credible bodies in the world that sets quality measurement criteria for organic foods. While associated vendors are advised to follow these guidelines, it becomes extremely difficult in gauging the actual influx of organic foods in the markets when it comes to their authenticity and quality. Foods that qualify as organic foods are commonly the ones that are cultivated without the use of coloring agents, radiation or other genetic manipulation methods, additives, or any synthetic chemicals that enhance the properties of the food being grown. Companies such as Bio-Botanica, Inc., SunOpta, and Earth Supplied Products are some of the known providers of raw materials required for the production of organic foods. These raw materials include oats, spring wheat, corn, and soybean.Obtain Report Details @The global organic food market is expected to be valued at US$187.85 bn by the end of 2019, after expanding at a highly optimistic CAGR of 15.5% within a forecast period from 2013 to 2019. The answers to the questions below can help elucidating the current scenario in the global organic food market:How Big is Organic Food Production Globally?Encompassing both plant and animal foods that qualify as both consumer friendly and environmental friendly, organic farming and food production is currently being carried out in more than 162 countries across the world. Millions of hectares of land are being dedicated to strictly organic farming following the incredible growth in demand. Nations in North America and Europe are known to be leading the consumption and import of organic foods, while Asia Pacific nations are expected to ramp up their demand over the coming years.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market @Despite several issues popping up in the global organic food market, the overall scope of growth for players in the market is incredibly high, due to the growing awareness among consumers regarding the harmful effects of certain chemical usage and the overall nutritional benefits of organic foods.Are there any Watchers on the Hunt for Fakes?One of the more concerning aspects in the global organic food market is the lack of uniform and strong standards of quality measurement and traceability of food products. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, for instance, recently revealed plans to impose tighter norms on the overall safety of consuming organic foods as well as improving the scope of traceability. The reforms in regulations are also expected to improve the labelling and certification of organic foods.Governments across the world are also chasing improved methods of validating the authenticity of an organic foods provider amid the storm of fake products hitting shelves under the guise of being completely organic. A new system employed the EU is likely to be imposed on organic food products in order to monitor their imports and increase product and vendor accountability and authenticity.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Sparkling Water Sales Market 2017 - Danone, Nestle, Fiji, Coca Cola, Pepsico http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/49615/request-sample www.fiormarkets.com www.9dimenreports.com Global Sparkling Water Sales Industry 2017 report introduced size, share, trends, conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth, SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis etc.The study Global Sparkling Water Sales Industry 2017 is a detailed report scrutinizing statistical data related to the Global Sparkling Water Sales industry. Historical data available in the report elaborates on the development of the Sparkling Water Sales market on a Global and national level. The report compares this data with the current state of the market and thus elaborates upon the trends that have brought the market shifts.The market forces determining the shaping of the Sparkling Water Sales market have been evaluated in detail. In addition to this, the regulatory scenario of the market has been covered in the report from both the Global and local perspective. Market predictions along with the statistical nuances presented in the report render an insightful view of the Sparkling Water Sales market.The demand and supply side of the market has been extensively covered in the report. The challenges the players in the Sparkling Water Sales market face in terms of demand and supply have been listed in the report. Recommendations to overcome these challenges and optimize supply and demand opportunities have also been covered in this report.Growth prospects of the overall Sparkling Water Sales industry have been presented in the report. However, to give an in-depth view to the readers, detailed geographical segmentation within the global Sparkling Water Sales market has been covered in this study. The key geographical regions along with their revenue forecasts are included in the report.Download Free Sample Report @The competitive framework of the Sparkling Water Sales market in terms of the Global Sparkling Water Sales industry has been evaluated in the report. The top companies and their overall share and share with respect to the Global market have been included in the report. Furthermore, the factors on which the companies compete in the market have been evaluated in the report.This report also presents product specification, manufacturing process, and product cost structure etc. Production is separated by regions, technology and applications. Analysis also covers upstream raw materials, equipment, downstream client survey, marketing channels, industry development trend and proposals. In the end, the report includes Sparkling Water Sales new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, investment return analysis, and development trend analysis. In conclusion, it is a deep research report on Global Sparkling Water Sales industry. Here, we express our thanks for the support and assistance from Sparkling Water Sales industry chain related technical experts and marketing engineers during Research Teams survey and interviewsFior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog: Hydraulic Cylinder Market : Quantitative Market Analysis, Current and Future Trends, 2017 - 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=656 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=656 https://www.tmrresearch.com/hydraulic-cylinder-market A hydraulic cylinder refers to a mechanical actuator that is utilized to provide unidirectional force through a unidirectional stroke. Powered by pressurized hydraulic fluid, hydraulic cylinders have extensive applications in construction, manufacturing, heavy industries, and agriculture.The research report presents a detailed assessment of market drivers, market challenges, growth trends that will impact the growth of the global hydraulic cylinder market during the forecast period. The report provides detailed insights into the vendor landscape of this market throwing light on the growth opportunities that leading players can leverage.Request a Brochure of the Report @Global Hydraulic Cylinder Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe top factor driving the global hydraulic cylinder market is rapid industrialization combined with economic growth in developing countries. The robust demand for modern agriculture equipment for improved productivity and conservation of energy is expected to augment the growth of the global hydraulic cylinders market. Furthermore, the evolution of food processing industries combined with the modernization of agricultural practices will fuel the demand for hydraulic cylinders in the coming years.Furthermore, the rising demand for material handling equipment for minimizing the risk of downtime will fuel the growth of the global hydraulic cylinder market in the near future. Material handling equipment such as electronic overhead traveling cranes and level luffing cranes are utilized across a large range of industries such as food and beverage, oil and gas, power, and retail.Request for TOC of the Report @In developed countries such as the U.S., large-scale initiatives for the exploration of shale gas is expected to benefit the markets growth. In industrial units, factors such as the expansion of production capacity and capacity utilization will also augment the growth of the hydraulic cylinder market.Global Hydraulic Cylinder Market: Regional OutlookThe global hydraulic cylinder market can be divided into the regional segments of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. China is expected to contribute significantly to the growth of the Asia Pacific hydraulic cylinder market. This is mainly due to huge investments announced by the Chinese government in the infrastructure sector. The modernization of agricultural practices combined with increasing investment in infrastructure will lead India to contribute significantly to the Asia Pacific hydraulic cylinder market during the forecast period.In North America, the U.S. hydraulic cylinder market is expected to grow by leaps and bound. The increasing investment on defense and material handling and aerospace will further boost the industrys growth.Read Complete Report @Russia is anticipated to display significant gains in the hydraulic cylinder market. The increasing demand for modern agriculture and construction equipment will bolster the demand for hydraulic cylinders in the country. In Latin America, Brazil is expected to display significant demand for hydraulic cylinders. The increasing investment in transport infrastructure and government initiatives for the development of the transportation sector will boost the hydraulic cylinder market in this region.Major Companies Mentioned in ReportSome of the leading companies in the global hydraulic cylinder market are Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, Best Metal Products, Eaton Corporation PLC, Lignon Industries LLC, Hydrapac Italia, Chapel Hydraulic, Bailey International LLC, Enerpac Corp., Parker-Hannifin Corporation, Texas Inc., Hydrosila, Weber-Hydraulik Group, Bosch Rexroth AG, Aggresssive Inc., Hannon LLC, Perfection Prince Manufacturing Corporation, Burnside Autocyl (Tullow) Ltd, United Hydraulics, Caterpillar Inc., Hyco International Inc., Precision group Inc., Norrhydro OY, and Pacoma GmbH.Each of the companies is profiled for their business attributes of competitive position, technological developments, financial standing, and SWOTs.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todayas supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clientsa conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Global Spout Bag Sales Market 2017 - ProAmpac, Mondi Group, Sealed Air Corporation, Smurfit Kappa Group, Winpak Ltd http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/49616/request-sample www.fiormarkets.com www.9dimenreports.com Global Spout Bag Sales Industry 2017 report introduced size, share, trends, conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth, SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis etc.Global Spout Bag Sales Industry 2017 is a comprehensive, professional report delivering market research data that is relevant for new market entrants or established players. Key strategies of the companies operating in the market and their impact analysis have been included in the report. Furthermore, a business overview, revenue share, and SWOT analysis of the leading players in the Spout Bag Sales market is available in the report.Combining the data integration and analysis capabilities with the relevant findings, the report has predicted strong future growth of the Spout Bag Sales market in all its geographical and product segments. In addition to this, several significant variables that will shape the Spout Bag Sales industry and regression models to determine the future direction of the market have been employed to create the report.The report begins with a market overview and moves on to cover the growth prospects of the Spout Bag Sales market. The current environment of the global Spout Bag Sales industry and the key trends shaping the market are presented in the report. Insightful predictions for the Spout Bag Sales market for the coming few years have also been included in the report. These predictions feature important inputs from leading industry experts and take into account every statistical detail regarding the Spout Bag Sales market.Download Free Sample Report @Statistical forecasts in the research study are available for the total Spout Bag Sales market along with its key segments. The key segments, their growth prospects, and the new opportunities they present to market players have been mentioned in the report. Moreover, the impact analysis of the latest mergers and acquisition and joint ventures has been included in the report. The report also provides valuable proposals for new project development that can help companies optimize their operations and revenue structure.A detailed segmentation evaluation of the Spout Bag Sales market has been provided in the report. Detailed information about the key segments of the market and their growth prospects are available in the report. The detailed analysis of their sub-segments is also available in the report. The revenue forecasts and volume shares along with market estimates are available in the report.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog: Global Biomedical Refrigerators and Freezers Market will amass a prominent share in overall revenues from emerging market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/biomedical-refrigerators-freezers-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=4666 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Transparency Market Research has published a new market report titled, Biomedical Refrigerators and Freezers Market (Product Type Ultra Low Temperature (ULT) Freezers, Plasma Freezers, Shock Freezers, Blood Bank Refrigerators, Laboratory/Pharmacy/Medical Refrigerators, and Laboratory/Pharmacy/Medical Freezers; End-user Hospitals, Research Laboratories, Pharmacies, Diagnostic Centers, Blood Banks, and Others) Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 20162024. According to the report, the biomedical refrigerators and freezers market was valued at US$ 2.9 Bn in 2015 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2016 to 2024 to reach US$ 4.3 Bn in 2024.Read Full Report:North America held the largest share of the global biomedical refrigerators and freezers market in 2015. The market in the region is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 3.9% from 2016 to 2024. Dominance of this region is attributed to the developed health care infrastructure and high adoption of advanced health care technologies. In addition, significant rise in life sciences research for treatment of cancer and neural diseases is boosting demand for biomedical refrigerators and freezers in North America. Presence of large number of blood banks, hospitals, and research institutes drives the biomedical refrigerators and freezers market in the U.S. Moreover, periodic introduction of advanced technologies such as multiple compressor equipment, green technology, energy-efficient equipment, and RFID-enabled equipment coupled with higher adoption of these technologies boosts the growth of the biomedical refrigerators and freezers market in the country.Plasma freezers are widely used in blood banks. Rising blood donations in the U.S. is driving demand for plasma freezers in the country. According to the American National Red Cross, around 9.2 million people donate blood in the U.S. each year. Seventy-four of 76 American National Red Cross member blood banks are situated in the U.S. Each blood bank has five to six refrigerators on average. Around 38% of the population of the U.S. is eligible for donating blood; however, only 10% donate blood each year. Hence, blood organizations are promoting blood donations in the country to reduce the demand-supply gap.Europe was the second largest market for biomedical refrigerators and freezers in 2015. Higher adoption of newly developed disease treatment options such as cellular therapies and organ transplant is increasing demand for biomedical refrigerators and freezers across the region. According to the National Health Service (NHS), every day, around 8,000 blood transfusions are carried out in the U.K. This has increased demand for plasma freezers in the country. Presence of a multitude of pharmacy stores (standalone and hospitals) and rising number of research laboratories are driving demand for laboratory refrigerators in Germany.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing market for biomedical refrigerators and freezers during the forecast period. Presence of key players, emerging economies, rising awareness, and availability of products at affordable prices are the major factors anticipated to drive the biomedical refrigerators and freezers market in the region. Japan has the second largest biotechnology industry in the world after the U.S. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development patent database, Japan ranks second with 11.5% of the biotechnology patents across the globe. The market in other Asian countries is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.The biomedical refrigerators and freezers market is highly fragmented, with several local players competing with few global players. Some of the players operating in the global biomedical refrigerators and freezers market include Aegis Scientific, Inc., Eppendorf AG, Haier Biomedical, Leibherr Group, Panasonic Healthcare Co., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Terumo Corporation, Philipp Kirsch GmbH, and Helmer Scientific.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Ultra-low Temperature Freezer Market: Industry Survey and Industry Outlook 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=683 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=683 https://www.tmrresearch.com/ultra-low-temperature-freezer-market The global market for ultra-low temperature freezers is likely to grow at a steady pace in the coming years. This type of freezers is being used extensively in hospitals, bio-banks, and research institutes in order to preserve bacteria, viruses, drugs, chemicals, enzymes, cell preparations, and tissue samples. The increasing adoption of ultra-low temperature freezers is anticipated to supplement the growth of the market in the near future. The research study provides a detailed analysis of the global ultra-low temperature freezer market, emphasizing on the market dynamics that are estimated to impact the growth in the near future. The key segmentation, growth factors, and challenges in the global market have been included in the study to provide a strong understanding among players and readers.Request a Brochure of the Report @Global Ultra-low Temperature Freezer Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe rising prevalence of chronic diseases across the globe and the rising need for innovative and high-efficient products are some of the major factors that are likely to encourage the growth of the global ultra-low temperature freezer market in the next few years. In addition, the increasing focus of players on innovations and research and development activities in order to enhance their product quality is predicted to accelerate the markets growth in the near future.On the contrary, the ethical concerns related to the freezing of embryos and the high cost of freezers are anticipated to restrict the growth of the global ultra-low temperature freezer market in the coming years. Nonetheless, the increasing expenditure and research in the biomedical field and the growing demand for environment-friendly refrigerators are projected to offer promising opportunities for players operating in the global ultra-low temperature freezer market in the forecast period.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Ultra-low Temperature Freezer Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global market for ultra-low temperature freezers has been divided on the basis of geography into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. The research study has highlighted the key factors that are encouraging the growth of the leading segments. In addition, the anticipated growth rate of each regional segment, along with the market size and share have been discussed at length in the scope of the study to offer a clear understanding of the overall market.Among the key regional segments, North America is predicted to observe healthy growth in the forecast period. The rising demand for ultra-low temperature freezers, owing to the advanced healthcare infrastructure in this region is estimated to contribute substantially towards the growth of the market in the next few years. Furthermore, Europe is anticipated to grow at a steady growth rate in the coming years. On the other hand, according to the research study, the Asia Pacific market for ultra-low temperature freezers is likely to witness robust growth in the near future.Key Players Mentioned in the Research Report are:The global market for ultra-low temperature freezers is expected to witness strong growth in the coming few years. The increasing participation of players in the market and the growing focus on innovations in this field are some of the key factors anticipated to strengthen the competitive scenario of the overall market across the forecast period. Moreover, the leading companies operating in the global market are emphasizing on strategic collaborations and mergers and acquisitions in order to enhance their market penetration across the globe.Read Complete Report @Some of the key players leading the global ultra-low temperature freezer market are Thermofisher Scientific Inc., Haier, VWR International, Panasonic Healthcare Corporation of North America, Helmer Scientific, and Eppendrof AG. To offer a strong understanding of the market, the research study has provided a detailed overview of the company profiles, along with their business tactics, marketing activities, financial overview, and recent developments.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todayas supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clientsa conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Australia, New Zealand, and India Building Information Modeling (BIM) Market: India to Surge at 23.9% CAGR 20162024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/australia-new-zealand-india-building-information-modelling-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=17129 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The Australia, New Zealand, and India building information modelling (BIM) market features a low degree of competition owing to a low number of players, observes Transparency Market Research in a recent report. The market features a mix of large as well as mid-level companies, but regional players dominate, accounting for nearly 60% of the overall market. Some of the notable international firms operating in the market, such as Dassault Systemes SA, Autodesk Inc., Bentley Systems, Inc., and Tekla Corporation, collectively accounted for a nearly 42% of the market in 2015.Leading players are currently focusing on providing cloud-based building information modelling (BIM) solutions. The rapidly rising demand for cloud-based software products is owing to their advantages such as instantaneous connection to multiple infrastructure development sites, management of information in real-time across the flow of supply chain, and efficient demand planning. Moreover, the companies are entering into strategic collaborations with real estate builders and firms to promote the benefits of BIM and henceforth increase its adoption level.Browse Market Research Report @Transparency Market Research states that the Australia, New Zealand, and India BIM market will witness a rapid rise in the introduction of cloud-based BIM solutions in the next few years. The overall market will exhibit a remarkable 22.3% CAGR over the period between 2016 and 2024, rising from a valuation of US$214.0 mn in 2015 to US$1,335.3 mn by 2024.Cloud-based BIM Solutions to See Significant Rise in AdoptionOn the basis of solutions, the market is segmented into software, and professional and consultancy services. The software segment is further divided into on-premise and cloud based building information modelling (BIM). In 2015, the on-premise building information modelling segment accounted for maximum share of around 87% of the revenue of the overall building information modelling (BIM) software.However, cloud-based building information modelling software is expected to show sustainable growth during the forecast period due to technological advancements and cost effectiveness as compared to on-premise BIM software solutions. In terms of geography, India accounted for around 42.6% of the Australia, New Zealand, and India building information modelling markets revenue in 2015. The country is expected to remain the dominant consumer of building information modelling solutions over the forecast period as well, exhibiting an exponential 24% CAGR over the period between 2016 and 2024.Government Initiatives Aimed at Lifting BIM Adoption Rate to Remain Key to Market GrowthThe continuous growth in BIM market during the forecasted period can be largely attributed to the strong government initiatives to lift BIM adoption rate and rise in construction activities across all the end-use industries in these regions. In Australia, for instance, the Australian Federal Governments Infrastructure, Transport and Cities Parliamentary Committee suggested in March 2016 that the use of BIM should be made compulsory for all government funded infrastructure development projects valuing over $50 mn. In New Zealand, the government formed the BIM Acceleration Committee in 2014 to encourage the adoption of BIM through alliances between the government and various stakeholders in the construction sector.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @High Initial Cost of BIM Software to Hinder GrowthIt is estimated that the initial cost of BIM software can go anywhere between US$6,000 to US$10,000, with additional expenses involved for installation and maintenance of the software. Such high costs incurred in implementing BIM software are the key factor why the rate of adoption of BIM among low-scale contractors or developers is low. Apart from this factor, the belief that the returns on investment for BIM are low and can lead to a reduction in the overall profit margins of a construction project is also hindering the widespread adoption of BIM software in New Zealand, India, and Australia.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Blood Preparation Market: Emergence of advanced technologies and global industry analysis 2024!! http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/blood-preparation-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=12467 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=12467 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Blood Preparation Market: OverviewBlood components refer to products derived from platelet-rich plasma or whole blood. Blood components such as platelets, plasma, red blood cells, and white blood cells are derived from blood by the process of phlebotomy or hemapheresis through the technique of differential centrifugation. These blood components are separated from whole blood in hospital laboratories and blood centers, and are administered to patients suffering from various diseases through transfusion. The whole blood is often collected and separated into major components before transfusion. However, automated collections are becoming increasingly popular nowadays and only blood components that are needed for transfusion are collected.On the basis of product type, the global blood preparation market has been segmented into whole blood and blood components. While whole blood comprises platelets, plasma, red cells, and granulocytes, blood components constitute whole blood components, leukocyte reduced RBC, packed red cells, frozen plasma, and platelet concentrate. According to the antithrombotic and anticoagulant type, the blood preparation market has been divided into anticoagulants, fibrinolytics, and platelet aggregation inhibitors. Major application segments in the blood preparation market include renal impairment, thrombocytosis, and pulmonary embolism.Read Full Report:Global Blood Preparation Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe growing demand for blood transfusion across emergency departments in hospitals has boosted the growth of the global blood preparation market. The rise in blood disorders such as thrombocytosis and the increasing requirement for blood during accidents and surgical procedures have supported the growth of the market.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) lead to over 60,000 deaths in the U.S. every year. Various initiatives taken by the National Institutes of Health and other regulatory bodies to spread awareness about the complications associated with these conditions have also propelled the markets growth.However, during blood transfusion, the chances of transmission of diseases such as viral hemorrhagic fever, HIV, and Hepatitis B are high. This is the single major restraining factor impacting the growth of the global blood preparation market. The overall market has a significant opportunity to grow with the development of high speed technology to separate blood components without losing their activity. The introduction of new oral anticoagulants and the re-launch of drugs such as Urokinase, the growing demand for source plasma, and the need for specific blood components such as packed red blood cells will create new growth opportunities for the market.Download exclusive Sample of this Report:Global Blood Preparation Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global blood preparation market has been segmented into four key regions: Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Rest of the World. North America has been contributing significantly to the growth of the market owing to the presence of a robust healthcare infrastructure. In the U.S., the collection, preparation, storage, and transport of blood is regulated by the FDA. Other federal agencies are working toward the implementation of health insurance portability standards to achieve adequate reimbursement for blood components.However, during the forecast period, the Asia Pacific blood preparation market is anticipated to expand rapidly due to various initiatives taken by governments, especially in countries such as India and China. The positive growth of the healthcare sector across Japan and Australia will also support the growth of the regional market.Request For Custom Research:Global Blood Preparation Market: Competitive LandscapeSome of the key players in the global blood preparation market are GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Pfizer Inc., Leo Pharma Inc., Celgene Corp, Sanofi Aventis, Baxter Healthcare Corp., Shandong East Chemical Industry Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., and AstraZeneca Co. The blood preparation market worldwide is being driven by technology. As a result, market players are investing heavily in research and development to introduce novel and cost-effective drugs.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Body Screening Market shares and strategies of key players http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/body-screening-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18020 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Body screening is a specialized method of detecting any hidden objects within a persons clothes by creating an image of a persons naked body without any physical contact or without physically removing the clothes. Body screening is done through body scanners. Military wave technologies are used by these body scanners in order to see through the clothes of a person. Globally, this method is gaining popularity due to increasing concerns about security fueled by an alarming rise in global terrorism.The global body screening is expected a significant growth during the forecast period. This is mainly driven by a rise in drug trafficking, illegal migration, and terrorism.This method is increasingly being adopted in train stations and airports all over the globe, primarily due to rising threat of terrorism and for aviation security. Moreover, the stringent rules and policies undertaken by various governmental bodies worldwide are driving the growth of the market. For instance, the bill passed by the U.S government called S.A.F.E.R A.I.R Act makes body screening mandatory in all airports.In the face of rising instances of in-flight detonation and fight hijacking, body screening helps in improving the security framework of airports. The ability to detect a wide range of threats, including explosives, is propelling the demand for body screening. Commercial airports are also engaging in making significant investments in body screening systems to adequately address the burning issue of drug-peddling.Read Full Report:One of the major advantages of body screening is the reduced time taken to screen passengers. This gives body screening an upper hand over the conventional pat down approaches, which are both uncomfortable and time consuming. Growing interest in full body screening worldwide is spurring intensive research and development efforts to bring forth machines that are image free and result in less radiation.Despite all the advantages, full body screening is controversial, as it easily raises individual privacy issues. Critics claim it to be in violation of human rights, unreasonable, and illegal. These factors are expected to restrain the growth of the market for body screening to some extent during the forecasted period.The market is segregated on the basis of application, technology, system, and geography. By application, the global body screening market is segmented into homeland security, defense, and commercial. Homeland security is further sub-segmented into applications in seaports, airports, and security of VIPs. Defense is sub-segmented into applications in high security zones, military premises, and border crossing controls.On the basis of technology, the global body screening market is characterized as digital tape measurements, white light patterns, laser scanners, 3D body scanners, and image modeling & processing.Download exclusive Sample of this report:By system, the market is segmented into X-ray systems, millimeter-wave, and backscatter.Lastly, on the basis of geography, the global body screening market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America. North America holds a significant share of the global body screening market mainly due to the strict steps taken by the U.S government with respect to body screening in airports. The growth of the body screening market in Europe is expected to be limited during the forecast period due to the ban imposed on full-body scanning in the countries of the region. On the other hand, the growth of the body screening market in emerging economies of Latin America and Asia Pacific is estimated to be significantly fast due to increasing security concerns, rise in the number of low cost carriers, expansion of the tourism industry, and booming air travel.The key players operating in the global body screening market include Westminster International Ltd. (U.K), Tek84 Engineering Group LLC (U.S), Smiths Detection (U.K), Scan-X Security Ltd. (U.K), Rapiscan Systems (U.S), Nuctech Co. Ltd. (China), L-3 Security And Detection Systems (U.S), Digital Barriers PLC (U.K), Braun And Company Limited (U.K), American Science and Engineering (U.S), and ADANI Systems (Belarus).The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Brain Monitoring Devices Market: Business Challenges, Emerging Technologies & Competitive Landscape http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/brain-monitoring-devices.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1322 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Brain Monitoring Devices Market: OverviewThe National Institute of Mental Health in the US states that every 1 in 4 adults suffers from a brain disorder every year. It further asserts that at least 6% suffer from serious disabilities due to severe brain damage. This alarming statistic goes to show the dire need for brain monitoring devices in the global healthcare industry today. Research shows that brain monitoring devices will be in significant demand in critical care units due to a high incidence of accidents pertaining to brain trauma and injuries in recent past. The market offers a wide range of devices to treat the abnormal brain activities and restore its functioning, depending on the case.The global brain monitoring market has been analyzed by researchers at Transparency Market Research using foolproof research methodologies. The document has been collaborated using information from various journals, interviews, whitepapers, conferences, and magazines. The report also includes an assessment of the competitive landscape present in the global brain monitoring devices market. It offers a thorough understanding of the overall market dynamics and maps a plausible trajectory for the market.Read Full Report:Global Brain Monitoring Devices Market: Drivers and TrendsThe high incidence of neurological disorders in recent years due to changing lifestyles, rising stress levels, and radical changes in the social environments have cumulatively augmented the demand for brain monitoring devices market. Today, these devices are used for understanding the conditions of patients suffering from Alzheimers disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumors amongst others. Thus, the increasing number of patients suffering from these conditions are expected to serve as a strong market driver for the global brain monitoring devices market.The various brain monitoring devices available in the global market are intracranial pressure monitors, magnetoencephalography, electroencephalograph, cerebral oximeters, and transcranial doppler. These devices track brain function such as the velocity of blood flow in the veins and arteries in case of epilepsy, pressure surrounding the brain, electrical and neural activity, brain death, and traumatic brain injury. The market is also growing due to the rising number of post-surgical cerebrovascular accidents. These incidences have led to an augmented demand for automated brain monitoring devices in clinics and hospitals to understand the impact of anesthesia and sedatives.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Analysts note that the improvement in functionality of these devices, their user-friendliness, and affordability along with technological advancements will encourage the growth of the global market in the coming years.Global Brain Monitoring Devices Market: Geographical OutlookOn the basis of region, the global brain monitoring devices market is segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World. Analysts predict that North America is expected to lead the global market as the region has a strong healthcare infrastructure. The high adoption of technology and high penetration of mobile device have given this market an edge over other regions. The brain monitoring devices market in North America is also being encouraged by the supportive regulatory framework and affordable healthcare plans. The significant rise in the geriatric population has also made its contribution to the rise of the brain monitoring devices market in North America. Research indicates that rising patient awareness about benefits of brain monitoring devices to treat disorders such as sleep apnea, Alzheimers disease, and epilepsy amongst others will also propel the regional market.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Visible Light Communication Market Analysis, Key Players Insights, Regional Revenue Statistics and Forecast to 2022 High Performance Computing Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2559 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/visible-light-communication-market-2559 Synopsis of Visible Light Communication Market:Market Highlights:Visible Light Communication (VLC) is a method by which Light Emitting Diode (LED) are utilized to transfer the data by using visible light as a transmission medium. The increasing usage of data over the mobile phones and via other wireless devices, lack of spectrum appears to be one of the major problem for which visible light communication can be offered as a potential solution.The raising demand of the retails based indoor positioning market due to high traffic and better illumination has paved the way for the growth of the visible light communication market. The increasing demand by retailer to send instant offers to customers in the form of messages to enhance their shopping experience has also anticipated to boost the overall VLC market.The study also indicates that the increasing investments in the research and development of new products by various key players like General Electric Company, LVX Systems and others are expected to make a revolutionary changes in visible light communication market.Request to Receive a Sample Copy of Report @Key Players in Market:The prominent players in the Visible Light Communication Market are fSONA Networks (Canada), General Electric Company (U.S.), Casio Computer Co., Ltd.(Japan), Toshiba Corporation (Japan), Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (South Korea), Nitto Denko Corporation (Japan), NEC Corporation (Japan), Fujitsu Ltd. (Japan), Qualcomm, Inc. (U.S.), Panasonic Corporation (Japan) and among others.Visible Light Communication Market Segmentation:The Visible Light Communication market has been segmented on the basis of component, application and vertical. Looking through the component segment its been observed that the visible light LEDs segment would grow fastest. In the vertical segment automotive is expected to grow fastest in the visible light communication market. Whereas considering the application segment indoor application is expected to grow, followed by location based services and smart lighting is expected to grow significantly. The study reveals that the outdoor application is expected to grow significantly in the visible light communication market by the forecast period.Access Report Page @Market Research Analysis:Regional analysis for visible light communication market is studied in different geographic regions as Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of world. It has been observed that North America region would account for larger share in visible light communication market. The study indicates that North America and Europe held a significant share in the global market on account of heavy applications in transportation, automotive and healthcare sectors.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Gas Leak Detector Market Worth US$ 3143.67 Mn by 2020 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/gas-leak-detector-market/toc http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4606 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com The global gas leak detector market report is categorically split under four sections namely: market analysis by region, applications, product type and technology. The report analyses the global gas leak detector market in terms of market value (US$ Mn) and volume (Million Units).According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Gas Leak Detector Market - Asia Pacific to Witness Highest Growth by 2020, The global gas leak detectors market accounted for US$ 2,312.2 Mn in 2014 and while exhibiting a CAGR of 5.3% over the forecast period. The Global Gas Leak Detector Market is expected to reach US$ 3143.67 Mn by the end of 2020, representing a CAGR of 5.29% through 2015 to 2020.Key driving factors, identified in the global gas leak detectors market are stringent government safety norms, growing investment in oil & gas and chemical Industries and increasing commercial and residential infrastructure development. However, lower profit margin due to intense competition deferred investments in oil and gas might pose a challenge towards the growth of the global gas leak detector market. Some of the major trends identified in the global gas leak detector market are the use of internet of everything (IoT) and artificial neural network technology and gas leak detectors.From a regional perspective, North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Western Europe together contributed 50% of the global gas leak detector market value in the year 2014. Whilst Asia Pacific excluding Japan contributed total 35%, making it the largest geographical segment in the global gas leak detector market. The Middle East and Africa gas leak detector market are projected to grow at promising CAGR of 6.27% through the forecast period.From the product type perspective, Portable type gas leak detectors accounted a leading share in the global gas leak detector market value in 2014, which is projected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. The fixed type gas leak detector market is projected to exhibit CAGR of approximately 3.8% for the year 2015 to 2020.On the basis of technology type, the electrochemical-based gas leak detector is the predominant segment with a total share of about 38%, whilst the ultrasonic, semiconductor and infrared based gas leak detector cumulatively accounted for 46.6% % in the global gas leak detector market value in 2014. When compared with other remaining technology segment the infrared based gas leak detectors is projected to grow at higher CAGR of 6.30% over the forecast period.Request to view table of content @From an application perspective, the Industrial application segment of the gas leak detector is the largest segment of the global gas leak detector market in 2014. Out of the sub-segment oil & gas is the major segment, holding the largest market share as compared with other remaining sub-segment. On the other hand, the market value accounted in the year 2014 by commercial establishment application segment is approximately 2.5X of the value registered by the residential segment. Others application segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2015 to 2020.A sample of this report is available upon request @Key market participants covered in the report include MSA Safety Inc., Honeywell International Inc., TycoInternational plc, Dragerwerk AG & Co. KgaA, Emerson Electric Company and other players.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Buruli Ulcer Treatment Market will explore robust size & growth during 2017-2027 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/buruli-ulcer-treatment-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22694 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Buruli ulcer, brought about by Mycobacterium ulcerans is a perpetual crippling sickness that influences primarily the skin and bone sometimes. The organism has a place with the group of microscopic organisms that causes tuberculosis and infection. The correct method of transmission is hazy. The fundamental weight of malady falls on kids living in sub-Saharan Africa, however sound individuals of any age, races, and financial classes are vulnerable. Despite the fact that it has been accounted for in more than 33 nations around the globe, the best weight of infection is in the tropical areas of West and Central Africa, Australia, and Japan. It basically influences kids matured 5-15 years. Notwithstanding, in some exceptionally endemic regions in Ghana, the commonness of Buruli ulcer has been assessed to be as high as 150.8/100,000 people, and in southern Benin, a current review has revealed location rates of 21.5/100,000 every year, higher than for either tuberculosis or leprosy. Disease regularly prompts ulcers on the arms or legs, which can likewise devastate skin or soft tissue. At the point when not appropriately treated, the ailment can bring about irreversible disfigurement or long haul practical inability. The disease is likewise endemic in a few different nations outside Africa, including country territories of Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, French Guiana, and Mexico. In Australia, Buruli ulcer treatment stays uncommon, however there have been increments in both occurrence and the quantity of endemic territories over the most recent 15 years.Obtain Report Details:Buruli Ulcer Treatment Market: Drivers and RestraintsGrowing incidence of Buruli ulcers is expected to increase demand for antibiotics and surgeries.. As per WHO (World Health Organization) major have likewise been accounted for from South East Asia , Australia, South America and Central regions in Africa. In the course of the most recent 2 decades the rate of Buruli ulcer has expanded, in spite of critical underreporting of cases. In 1999 there were 6000 new cases in Ghana; in 2004 (Australia), there were 25 new cases, 47 more in 2005 and 72 in 2006. Ordinarily, 05 cases for every year happen in the Daintree area (Australia) in any case, in 20112012, there was a noteworthy flare-up, with no less than 75 cases recognized. In Victoria (Australia), 157 cases happened in 20112012. The development is basically determined by expanded prevalence. New companies in the antibiotics industry have indicated expanded competence and safety profiles along with lessening the chances of ulcers. The ulcer showcase likewise has majorly two different procedures of treatment, which are via antibiotics and surgery. Late information recommend that combinations of anti-mycobacterial antibiotics that incorporate rifampicin and either streptomycin or amikacin can execute M. ulcerans in human injuries. Temporary rules now suggest the utilization of chose hostile to mycobacterial drugs, generally consolidated with surgery, for the treatment of Buruli ulcer. Effective treatment will abbreviate the course of the sickness and limit distortion. Skilled surgery, expert nursing care, and therapeutic physiotherapy are regularly required to accomplish great results.Yet, the remedial action of such events still rests an undiscovered area of research and development for pharmaceutical & healthcare organizations to carry innovative medications and advanced treatment into the Buruli ulcer treatment market. However nonappearance of conclusive treatment, reactions, restricted adequacy of the medications and high cost of surgery accessible in the market and reliance in manifestation based treatment in a few cases is required to hamper treatment growth & development of the overall Buruli ulcer treatment market over the forecast period.Buruli Ulcer Treatment Market: SegmentationBy Treatment Antibiotics Rifampicin Streptomycin Amikacin Clarithromycin Moxifloxacin Others Surgery Skin Grafting (to remove necrotic tissue, cover skin defects, and correct deformities) Others (Interventions to minimize or prevent disabilities)By Distribution Channel Hospital Pharmacies Drug Stores Retail Pharmacies Clinics OthersFill the form for an exclusive sample of this Report:Buruli Ulcer Treatment Market: OverviewAround 70% of those suffered with Buruli ulcer are kids under 15 years of age. In Ghana the normal cost to treat Buruli ulcer is over US$ 780 for each individual. The acknowledged current treatment for Buruli ulcer is typically surgery. Inconveniences incorporate contracture distortions, removal of appendages, and inclusion of the eye, breast and genitalia. In a few areas 2025% of those with recuperated injuries are left with inabilities that have a long-term social and financial effect. The current financial and social weight forced by Buruli ulcer is colossal. The global market for Buruli ulcer treatment is expected to witness firm growth owing to increasing incidence rate of the ulcers coupled with new treatment (branded and generic) approach.Buruli Ulcer Treatment Market: Region wise OutlookGlobally the Buruli ulcer treatment market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA). North America and Western Europe are expected to be the leading markets in the global Buruli ulcer treatment market. Rising treatment options among the young age population, prescription rates and the maturing worldwide population are additionally considered vital drivers for this market. Public awareness via hospitals, drug manufacturers, medical campaigns and simply available diagnostic tests are relied upon to lift interest for Buruli ulcer treatment items in these areas. Japan and APEJ are relied upon to take after next as far as interest for the treatment of Buruli ulcer treatment advertise. Eastern Europe, Latin America and MEA markets are likewise anticipated that would witness normal development over the forecast period. Nonattendance of populace based reviews in creating nations is a noteworthy test in appraisal of ulcer related contaminations in these nations.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Wood Tar Market 2017 - Auson, Fusheng Carbon, Kemet, Xinzhongxing Biomass, Verdi Life http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/47407/request-sample https://goo.gl/ilD50w www.fiormarkets.com www.9dimenreports.com Wood Tar market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability also lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.Download Sample Report @Scope of the report:The Global Wood Tar Consumption 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Wood Tar market. The global wood tar average price is in the decline trend, from 6265 $/MT in 2012 to 5153 $/MT in 2017. The price will be in decline trend if more capacity goes into operation. The wood tar sales will reach about 21 K MT in 2016 from 18 K MT in 2012 all around the world, with the CAGR of 4.5%.The report provides a basic overview of the Wood Tar industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. And development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Wood Tar industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.This report studies Wood Tar in Global market, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringAusonSkandian GroupXinzhongxing BiomassVerdi LifeKemetLacqFusheng CarbonShuanghui Active CarbonAlbert KerblS.P.S. BVEco OilBashlesGet Full Report With TOC @Market Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Wood Tar in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), likeNorth AmericaChinaEuropeJapanIndia & SEAIndiaSplit by Product Types,Resinous TarsHardwood TarsOther TarsSplit by applications,Construction CoatingsShip CoatingsAnimal HusbandryOther ApplicationsFinally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog: High Performance Computing Market Estimated to Reach USD 33 Billion Revenue By 2022 at a Steady CAGR of 5% Driver Assistance System Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2698 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/high-performance-computing-market-2698 Market Synopsis:Market Forecast and Highlights:High Performance Computing Market is growing rapidly at approx. 5% CAGR and is expected to reach approximately USD 33 Billion in the forecast period of 2016 to 2022.The growing adoption of cloud services and internet of things is driving the market of high performance computing. The Asia-Pacific region is estimated to be one of the fastest growing region in this technology. This is mainly because of the increasing focus of the market players is dwelling the demands of higher processing power with reliable and quicker response time. HPC servers market is estimated to contribute the largest market share in terms of components type. Storage, networking devices, and software solutions are also seen with higher prospects in coming years.Key Players:The prominent players in the high performance computing market are IBM Corporation (U.S.), Hewlett-Packard Company (U.S.), Intel Corporation (U.S.), Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), Cisco Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (U.S.), Fujitsu Ltd (Japan), Oracle Corporation (U.S.), Dell Inc. (U.S.), Hitachi Data System Corporation (U.S.) among others.Request to Receive a Sample Copy of Report @Market Research Analysis:Market Research Future Analysis shows that new adoptions of smart technologies, revolution in IT infrastructure is driving the high performance computing market. Regional analysis for high performance computing market is studied in different geographic regions as Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of world. Asia-Pacific region is estimated to be the leader in high performance computing market followed by North America and Europe. The Asia-Pacific region is fastest growing because of the huge investment by the government and private sectors into the emergence of big data has increased the demand for systems that can handle a more data-intensive workload. HPC clusters are systems that can easily handle vast amount of data and extensively support high-performance data analysis. The improved data collection technology provides lively images for simulations, medical, life science, video rendering, and other verticals. Also because of the presence of leading technology players in that region. Japan is developing a new supercomputer that could be among the world's fastest systems.Browse Report Details @High Performance Computing Market SegmentationThe high performance computing market has been segmented on the basis of type of component, deployment and vertical. On basis of deployment the market is segmented into on-premise and cloud. The cloud deployment is driving the high performance computing market as it possess efficiency across organizations, business continuity or disaster recovery, overcoming resource shortages, campaign, special event or seasonality, vertical upgrades or performance issues, eliminate hardware ownership, coping with uncertainty and change.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com North America and Europe Farm Tractor Market: Rise in Agricultural Mechanization to Boost Uptake http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/north-america-europe-farm-tractor-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=16091 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The top three players in the North America and Europe farm tractor market Deere and Company, CNH (Case New Holland) Industrial, and AGCO Corporation accounted for a share of just under 70.0% in 2015, hinting at the rather consolidated nature of the competitive landscape. Among these, Deere and Company alone held a share of over 35% that year, emerging as the clear leader. Transparency Market Research finds that the degree of rivalry among players in the North America and Europe farm tractor market is quite high owing to the strong presence of large and established companies.Enhancing product portfolio, investing in innovations, and forming strategic alliances are some of the key growth tactics employed by players in this market. In September 2016, market leader John Deere launched a new 450 HP tractor that is specially designed to achieve reduction in fuel consumption. This has enabled the company to reinforce its strategic plan of focusing on innovation.Browse Market Research Report @By revenue, the North America and Europe farm tractors market is projected to expand from US$13.6 bn in 2015 to US$17.23 bn by 2024, with North America registering a 3.0% CAGR and Europe exhibiting a 5.4% CAGR therein. By volume, the farm tractors market in North America and Europe is projected to witness a 5.1% CAGR during the forecast period.Europe to Recover from Sluggish Demand to Witness Surge in Shipment by 2024The North America farm tractor market was pegged at around 245 thousand units in 2015. Despite a declining sales volume across the higher horsepower segment, the market exhibited marginal volume growth from the previous year owing to the rise in demand for tractors below 40 HP. While the sales of farm tractors will continue a positive trend in the U.S., the sales in Canada have been witnessing a downward trend owing to a weak dollar and higher prices of the tractors.In 2015, the Europe farm tractor market volume was pegged at around 153 thousand units. The market has been recording a decline in year-on-year growth in terms of volume over the last two years owing to a low demand from several European countries, including Germany, France, Turkey, the U.K., and Italy. However, the trend is likely to change in 2017, TMR predicts. Tractor manufacturers are poised to lower the prices across different horsepower segments so as to attract more sales and recover from the sluggish demand, the lead analyst states.Government Offering Increased Support to Up Usage of Farm TractorsThere has been a growing trend of farm mechanization across North America and Europe owing to the numerous benefits offered, including considerable savings in terms of time and resources, improved efficiency, and increased production. In addition to this, precision farming has driven the need for mechanization among various farm practices, thereby fueling the demand for farm tractors. The shortage of farm laborers in these regions has also propelled the use of mechanized farming techniques and equipment such as farm tractors.Another significant factor that has boosted the adoption of farm tractors across Europe and North America is the growing demand for agricultural products, brought on by the rising population. In view of this, governments in these regions have focused their attention on encouraging the usage of mechanized farming techniques by offering subsidies and easy access to credit to farmers, the author of the study notes.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @What poses a challenge to the North America and Europe farm tractors market is the implementation of strict emission norms in most developed countries. Regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) have imposed stringent regulations pertaining to the use of diesel engines, particularly in off-road vehicles. Tractor manufacturers are, therefore, forced to incur additional costs to adhere to these norms, thereby restricting the uptake of farm tractors.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Instant Coffee Market Overview of Vital Industry Drivers http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/instant-coffee-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=19394 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Global Instant Coffee Market: OverviewCoffee is a popular beverage on the global platform. Being the most popular beverage, this product is the second most traded commodity in the world after crude oil. On the other hand, Brazil, India, Chile, Argentina are the largest producer of coffee in the world. Ethnicity and culture plays a major role in the consumption of coffee on a global level. Since 1910, the popularity of instant coffee has also taken a steady growth in the market where people from the tea consuming nations are slowly getting acquainted to consume this beverage.Browse Market Research Report @There has been a positive change in lifestyle of people in developing nations, with youngsters heavily adopting the western culture. Countries like India, China, and a few Middle Eastern countries are seeing a transition to heavy consumption of coffee over tea. Consumers with life style seek beverages that can be easily prepared and are pocket-friendly as well. Instant coffee not only maintains the aroma and flavor of the drink but also gives a branded experience to consumers. The impact of this driver is medium in the short run and is expected to be high by the end of the forecast period.Increasing competition in the global market is driving leading companies to undertake intensive research and development. In order to have a balanced product portfolio in the market, leading players like Starbucks and Nescafe are constantly innovating and trying to deliver a brand rich experience to consumers. The Fair Trade concept of producing coffee in underdeveloped countries is also adding to the competition in the global market.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Global Instant Coffee Market: Geographical AnalysisThe convenience of preparing the drink due to the ease in its availability has driven the market for this product heavily. Traditional coffee or whole bean coffee machines are usually implanted in most of the households of the major coffee drinking nations. On a recent research, UK has contributed to highest instant coffee consumption in the Western Europe. Instant coffee is easy to prepare and there is no hassle of disposing off the waste, as in the case of the filter coffee. Moreover, the introduction of instant coffee in the market by leading players such as Nestle, Jacobs Douwe Egberts and others are promoting the usage of sachets and jars that will be convenient in preparing coffee quickly.Millennials are driven by convenience and quality products even in India and China, and they are ready to pay a higher price for a rich experience. However, Instant coffee faces a major setback due to the consumption pattern among the population in geographical regions such as North America, Western Europe and Latin America preferred filter coffee over instant coffee. Consumers in this countries prefer filter coffee because of their traditional habit of accepting coffee as a drink that has the true properties of it as a caffeinated beverage. Furthermore, the hassle of preparing filter coffee from the whole bean is hefty, but the original flavor and aroma lies in the espresso shot which comes from the coffee machines, usually installed in most of the households and other industrial areas in these countries. Due to these factors, the impact of this restraint is high currently and is expected to be medium by the end of the forecast period.The global instant coffee market is segmented into two types of packaging- Jars and sachets. In terms of distribution channel the market segmented by B2B and retail. B2B distribution channel is further segmented by hotels, restaurant and others. Retail distribution channel is further segmented by online and offline. Offline retail distribution channel is segmented by departmental store, super and hyper market and others.Global Instant Coffee Market: Competitive LandscapeIn order to get a better understanding of the global instant coffee market, a key trends analysis has been included for all the segments. In addition, the market players in the instant coffee market have also been profiled. The leading players in the market include. Nestle S.A. (Vevey, Switzerland), Starbucks Corporation. (Seattle, Washington, U.S), Jacobs Douwe Egberts (DK Amsterdam, Netherlands), Strauss Group Ltd. (Petah Tikva, Israel), Matthew Algie & Company Ltd (London, U.K), The Kraft Heinz Company (Illinois, U.S.), Tata Global Beverages (Kolkata, West Bengal), Tchibo Coffee (Hamburg, Germany), Keurig Green Mountain.(Vermont, U.S.) and Unilever Plc. (London, U.K.) among others.The global instant coffee market can be segmented as follows:-By Distribution ChannelB2BHotelRestaurantOthersRetailOnlineOfflineDepartmental StoresHyper and Super MarketOthersBy Packaging TypeJarsSachetsAbout UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Cardiac Output Monitoring Devices Market 2024: Regional markets, technology developments, types, applications, and the competitive landscape http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cardiac-output-monitoring-devices-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=14153 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Cardiac output is known as the volume of blood is pumped by from the right or left ventricle of heart per minute and which is dependent on heart rate, and stroke volume. The cardiac output increases during acute exercise and mental stress, while decreased cardiac output might include physical exercise of a intensity that the patient is not able to bear because of decrease in oxygen supply, obesity, ingestion of large meals that place an added workload on the heart, retention of fluid, emotional stress, hypervolemia, and smoking. It is essential to assess the state of patients blood circulation. Low cardiac output usually leads to a common problem of low blood pressure which might surface occur during surgery, or during postoperative care in the intensive care units.Read Full Report:In high-risk surgical patients and critically ill patients the arterial blood pressure and cardiac output usually are monitored more comprehensively. Cardiac output monitoring devices are used to know the cardiac output of heart and arterial oxygen content which enable the circulation of continuous systemic oxygen supply to the body. Doubling the cardiac output leads to double amount of the oxygen supply to the tissues, while the low cardiac output leads to inadequate supply of oxygen to organs like brain and the low amount of cellular oxygenation can cause tissue and organ failure. The major observed causative factors for the decrease cardiac output are congenital heart defects, pathologic changes in the heart's muscle, blood dyscrasias, chronic pulmonary disease and electrolyte imbalances (as of potassium or calcium). According to North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, decreased cardiac output is defined as a state in which inadequate blood is pumped by the heart to meet the metabolic demands of the body. Cardiac output monitoring devices market is classified on the basis of product type, methods, end-user and geography.On the basis of product type the market is broadly classified into invasive, minimally-invasive and non-invasive cardiac output monitoring devices. The invasive cardiac output monitoring has been traditionally accomplished using the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC), but complications associated with PAC has markedly decreased the widespread use of the PAC. The market demand for the non- invasive devices is high followed by minimally invasive devices as compare to invasive devices, due to factors such as ease, accessibility and cost- effectiveness and fast response time. By methods the market is segmented as thermodilution method, pulse pressure analysis, Doppler method, bioimpedance and applied Fick principle. Each methods has its own merits and demerits. On the basis of end-user the market is segmented as hospitals, ambulatory care and critical care centers. By end-user hospitals covers the major market for cardiac output monitoring devices, because of reliability and conjunction of other therapeutic treatments. The factors such as raising incidences of cardiovascular diseases, increase in the number of people suffering from obesity, growing ageing population, and raising healthcare infrastructure facilities are the growth drivers of this market.Download exclusive Sample of this Report:By geography, the market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the world. Geographically, North America was observed to have the major share of cardiac output monitoring device market due to high healthcare awareness, prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and technological advancement in the region. Europe contributes to the second largest share in the cardiac output monitoring device market growth with raising ageing population. However, Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing due to the gradual adoption of improved technologies, emerging health care infrastructures, and raising population with cardiac problems and obesity. Followed by Rest of the world.The major key players operating in cardiac output monitoring device market include Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Cheetah Medical, PULSION Medical Systems SE, Philips Healthcare, LiDCO Group plc, Boston Scientific Corporation, GE Healthcare, and others. Bioreactance-based NICOM Cheetah Medical remains the topmost non-invasive market leader.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth insights, understanding market evolution by tracking historical developments, and analyzing the present scenario and future projections based on optimistic and likely scenarios. Each research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology developments, types, applications, and the competitive landscape.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: New Trends of Cardiac Rehabilitation Market with Worldwide Industry Analysis to 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cardiac-rehabilitation-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=12062 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Increasing burden of cardiovascular diseases has made the global population realize the importance of physical activities in daily routine. This has increased demand for cardiac rehabilitation programs. Such programs help the patients to recover early from any previous cardiac strokes. A cardiac rehabilitation program is a comprehensive activity, which is continuously monitored in order to assist the population to improve their lifestyle. Various cardiovascular risk parameters are monitored and are tapered to healthy level. Cardiac rehabilitation programs include exercise training, monitoring of body vitals, education about healthy habits, and various other activities that helps the body to retain its healthy state. Cardiac rehabilitation activities help reduce the risk of future occurrence of cardiac strokes, reduce the pain and requirement for medicines in cardiac treatment, improve health status by decreasing the risk factors for cardiac attacks, and help to improve the health status by reducing the risk factors.Cardiovascular diseases have surfaced as a major concern in the medical and healthcare industry. As elderly people are more prone to these diseases, the significant increase in the global geriatric population has augmented the risk of their prevalence, which consequently, is having a phenomenal impact on the demand for cardiac rehabilitation measures across the world.According to Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global market for cardiac rehabilitation offered an opportunity of US$1.0 bn in 2015. Boosted by the rising incidence of cardiac arrest, heart failure, and other cardiovascular diseases, the opportunity of this market is likely to expand at a CAGR of 5.40% during the period from 2016 to 2024 and reach a value of US$1.6 bn by the end of 2024.Read Full Report:Through this blog post, analysts at TMR are answering some of the most important questions about the global cardiac rehabilitation market:What are the key driving forces behind the growth of the global cardiac rehabilitation market?The surge in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases across the world is the key factor behind the tremendous growth of the global market for cardiac rehabilitation. Apart from this, the technological advancements in the medical and healthcare infrastructure, rise in the purchasing power of consumers, and the awareness about the role of cardiac rehabilitation in the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases are also boosting this market considerably.Which of the geographical segments is likely to dominate the global market for cardiac rehabilitation?North America, which has been leading the global market for cardiac rehabilitation over the last few years due to the high disposable income of people, enabling them to spend on expensive treatment services, is likely to continue its leading streaks in the forthcoming years with a majority share.Download exclusive Sample of this Report:Other regional markets, specifically Europe and Asia Pacific are also projected to witness strong growth over the next few years, thanks to the growing awareness about cardiac rehabilitation and its advantages. The advancing technology and the state-of-art medical and healthcare infrastructure are expected to support the Europe market for cardiac rehabilitation while the Asia Pacific market is likely to gain from the improving economic conditions in developing nations. Between 2016 and 2024, the market for cardiac rehabilitation is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 6.80%, higher than all other regional markets.What are the main strategies market players are adopting for the development of their businesses?Mostly, the key players are relying on product innovation for business development. Price competition is another significant strategy, participants are adopting to gain an edge over their competitors. Going forward, the leading companies are expected to shift their focus towards strategic alliances, mergers, and acquisitions to enhance their visibility in the global market.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Shipbuilding Market Size, Trends and Forecasts To 2020 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/760228 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/760228 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global Shipbuilding Market: Size, Trends and Forecasts (2016-2020) provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Scope of the ReportThe report titled Global Shipbuilding Market: Size, Trends and Forecasts (2016-2020) provides an in-depth analysis of the global shipbuilding market with detailed analysis of market size and growth, market share and economic impact of the industry. The report also provides market size of each of the segments of the market on the basis of the types of ships.The report provides detailed regional analysis of Asian countries, leading the global market, which are South Korea, Japan and China. Regional analysis includes market size of the basis of new orders, order book, order completions and delivery trend along with the commercial vessel market.The report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. The current status of the overall global shipbuilding market has been analyzed, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The competition in the global shipbuilding market is stiff and dominated by the big players like DSME. Further, key players of the market Hyundai Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies.View Report @Regional CoverageSouth KoreaJapanChinaCompany CoverageDaewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering CompanyHyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Executive SummaryThe maritime business has long been known for being cyclical. In times of growth and high profits, ship owners have positive cash flows and they order new capacity. This capacity, however, takes time to be delivered. There are waiting times, because shipbuilding berths tend to be full in times of prosperity; any new construction will only be started two to three years after it has been ordered, and then the construction itself can take up to one year. During the industry's boom years, the world saw records for new vessel orders being set year after year. The companies in this industry build and repair barges, cargo ships, naval vessels, and passenger ships, as well as platforms used for oil and gas drilling and production.Get Sample Copy Here :The global shipbuilding market can be analyzed on the basis of new orders, order book and delivery trend of ships. Currently, the market is experiencing tough times but is expected to regain its momentum with Asia leading the global market. South Korea, China, and Japan are the leading countries in the market accounting almost the entire global shipbuilding market. The shipbuilders in a given country typically specialize in certain types of vessels. South Korean companies, tend to focus on containerships and tankers. China produces large numbers of dry bulk containers and Japan builds large numbers of oil tankers.The growth drivers of the global shipbuilding market, especially for the global shipbuilding market are: rise in seaborne trade & shipping confidence level and upsurge in the demand for eco-friendly ships. Despite the market is governed by various growth drivers, there are certain challenges faced by the market such as: volatile oil prices, write-downs on existing backlogs, increasing competition in the commercial segment, delay in financial decisions, political & financial instability, financial crises and stringent environmental regulations.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Cartilage Degeneration Market Outlook Key Analysis and Forecast by 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cartilage-degeneration-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=13229 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Cartilage Degeneration Market: OverviewCartilage is the tough, complex but flexible living tissue that covers the bony surface of joints. Articular cartilage, fibro cartilage and elastic cartilage are the three different types of cartilage present in the body. Articular cartilage is the one which covers joint surfaces, elastic cartilage is found in the outer ear and fibro cartilage is present in the vertebral disc and knee meniscus. All these three cartilages in the body are distinguished by elasticity, structure, and strength. It is responsible for providing shock absorption, and thus enables the joints to bear the weight associated with the daily activities as well as in various kinds of sports.Browse Complete Market Details at:The most common type of cartilage damage is that of articular cartilage, and may be caused due to injury or degeneration. Articular cartilage cells may heal depending on the extent of degeneration, and location of injury, however only in cases where an injury penetrates into the bone beneath the cartilage. Self healing capacity of the cartilage reduces since the cartilage has no direct blood supply, so little or no capacity to repair itself.Cartilage is also responsible for providing shape and support to other parts of the body, such as nose, ears, and windpipe. Cartilage also provides protection to the bones by preventing them from friction against each other. Pain and restricted movement is observed in cases of injured, inflamed or damaged cartilage including joint deformity in some cases. There are several causes for cartilage problems which include genetic, trauma (injuries), nutritional, mal alignment and meniscus tear. According to a medical center in the U.S., more than 12 million people visit doctors due to knee pain each year, 50 % of them are diagnosed with cartilage damage.Cartilage Degeneration Market: Treatment TrendsOsteoarthritis is a leading cause of cartilage damage. Osteoarthritis, which is also known as degenerative joint disease is characterized by a loss of cartilage, the bodys attempt to repair the cartilage and, ultimately the destruction of the bone underneath the articular cartilage. Since the cartilage tissue does not contain blood vessels or nerves, treating this degeneration pose a challenge and have a limited ability to re-grow. Various treatment options for cartilage degeneration, such as, arthroscopy, drug therapy and joint replacement, have yielded mixed results of regenerating the damaged cartilage.Medical researchers are also conducting various clinical studies in the U.S. of innovative stem cell therapy for repairing knee cartilage degenerated due to causes such as trauma, aging, or even arthritis. Cartistem is one such example by Rush University Medical Center which is developed from mesenchymal stem cells derived from allogenic umbilical cord blood. This Cartistem is administered surgically into the area of cartilage damage following an arthroscopic surgery. Studies and research on exploring various biological solutions to treat cartilage degeneration is currently one of the fastest growing area of research and development.Get Premium PDF Research of Cartilage Degeneration Market at:Cartilage Degeneration Market: SegmentationThe global cartilage degeneration market can be segmented based on therapy type and pipeline assessment on the basis of target site, molecule type, mechanism of action and route of administration. Therapy type can be classified as monotherapy or combined therapeutics. Various drug molecules in pipeline for cartilage degeneration include sprifermin, chondrogen, and MSB-CAR-001 amongst various others. The alternative for the drug treatment includes minimal invasive procedures such as arthroscopy. The other regeneration procedures include autologus chonrocyte transplantation, cell based cartilage resurfacing, meniscus transplant, micro fracture, osteochondral allograft, and mosaicplasty.Calzada Limited, Merck KGaA, Mesoblast Limited, Sanofi and Thrasos, Inc., are some of the key players contributing to the global cartilage degeneration market.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Medical procedure helps women walk again MaxCure Logo https://www.maxcurehospitals.com/ Rajani, a 30-year-old IT employee who was on the way back home post her shift at office on 24,November at 4 AM was hit by a truck. The mother of the 10-year-old sustained greivious injuries to the complete lower half of the body as the drunken driver of the truck dragged her along with her bike and later ran over her back (pelvis region). She was brought to MaxCure and the doctors at the emergency attended her immediately and done the necessary initial assessment with in an hour.Dr. Kiran Banda, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at MaxCure, evaluated the patient and found to be contaminated and filled with mud and debris .She had multiple degloving injuries on both gluteal regions, Abdomen, Anus and lower limb.Speaking at the press meet, Dr. Kiran Banda said, This is a case of Near Circumferential Pelvic Run Over DEGLOVING INJURY.. We previously also emphasized on drunken driving cases. It not only hurts the victim, but also affects the whole family. In cases like this, the patient needs support of the family and friends. Its been 2 months and Mrs. Rajani is able to walk now without any support.Each surgery was planned accordingly concentrating on abdomen, lower limb and Anus initially and then to both the gluteal regions, separately and reconstructing each area in a stage wise pattern as it involved the whole pelvic circumference of lower half of body. To start with, we had to perform a surgery where Perforator flap cover for left side back and Anal sphincter reconstruction , along with abdomen and lower limb repair initially followed by advancement flap cover with SSG for opposite side. This was a long process for recovery and post surgeries, she had to undergo physiotherapy for walking and pelvic floor muscle support.Mrs. Rajani, who was also present at the press meet said, All the credits Dr. Kiran Banda and physiotherapy team at MaxCure Hospitals for making it possible for me to start a new life. I am now breathing, talking, walking and living on my own. With expert care and encouragement from the committed team of caregivers at MaxCure Hospitals, I started on this journey along the road to recovery. They provided the best care possible.MaxCure Group of Hospitals offer clinical excellence through experienced doctors, high-class infrastructure and transparent patient care which is on par with the best in the world.MaxCure Group treating good number of international patients. MaxCures core specialities Cardiac Surgery, Nephrology & Urology, Orthopedics & Joints Replacements, Spine Surgery, Pulmonology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Laparoscopic & Bariatric Surgery, Medical & Surgical Gastroenterology, Kidney Transplant, Liver Transplant, Heart Transplant and more.MaxCure Hospitals has many certifications and accreditations to its name including NABH.Behind Cyber Towers, Lane Next To McDonalds, HITEC City, Madhapur,HUDA Techno Enclave, HITEC City, Hyderabad, Telangana 500081.Contact: 8008186678Press Contact: 9177212964Email: info@maxcurehospitals.comWebsite: MVNOs in Europe: Data and M2M Segments Will Present the Highest Growth Opportunities to MVNOs in Europe http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/664573 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: MVNOs in Europe Market | Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsThe overcrowded European MVNO market has been showing strong momentum and is set to grow at a CAGR of 5% during 2015-2020 to reach 110.7m MVNO subscribers at the end of the year 2020. Germany, with more than 140 MVNOs will remain the largest MVNO subscriber market during 2015-2020 followed by the UK. Moreover, increasing usage of mobile data mainly driven by the increasing smartphone penetration, deployment of 4G/4G+ spectrum, favorable regulatory framework and rising VAS offerings are some the factors which will boost the MVNO market in Europe. Increasing opportunities are to be witnessed in non-traditional MVNO business models such as data only and M2M during the forecast period.Request For Sample Report @Key Findings- The most preferred business model in the Europe is discount based model which is being adopted by 21% of the total MVNOs present in the region, closely followed by niche segment occupying 20% market share, catering to segments including youth, elderly (50+ aged), students and NGO supporters. Business and ethnic models follow, accounting for 19% and 11% respectively, while the roaming model is adopted by 10% of MVNOs.- Pyramid Research projects Germany will remain the largest MVNO country, in terms of subscriptions serving 23m users at the end of 2015, followed by the UK with 14.1m subscriptions and penetration of 14.8%. Other markets such as Belgium, Spain,Denmark and the Netherlands are considered hotbeds for MVNO growth.- Regulators are formulating MVNO specific framework to boost competition and reduce tariffs along with setting up laws relating to rolling MNPs, reducing MTRs, harmonizing the tariff differentials between off-net and on-net voice traffic, etc. in order to ease up the entry barriers for MVNOsSynopsisMVNOs in Europe: Data and M2M Segments Will Present the Highest Growth Opportunities to MVNOs in Europe', an Insider report by Pyramid Research offers a thorough study of the MVNO market in Europe. It examines the various MVNO business models adopted in Europe based on their marketing approach, and provides an in-depth look at the changing landscape of trends in MVNO adoption and investment.The report analyzes the MVNO market and the role of other market participants such as MNOs and regulators in this expanding opportunity and consists of the following sections:- Introduction: This Insider first presents taxonomy of MVNOs to provide a conceptual structure for the analysis, taking the perspective of mobile operators.- Market context (Global and Europe): This section examines the global MVNO market analysis, MVNO trends in the European region and most prevalent MVNO business models operating in the region.- Case studies: The report examines four leading MVNOs in the region in more detail: Drillisch, Virgin Mobile, Freenet and Lebara Mobile. These studies focus on the MVNO offerings, their sales and promotional strategies and recent moves by the telcos in the MVNO space.- Key findings and recommendations: The Insider concludes with a number of key findings and a set of recommendations for MNVOs, MNOs and regulatorsReasons To Buy- The report examines the product and service portfolio being offered by MNVOs in Europe to enable new entrants' telcos to align their product offerings. The report also provides analysis of different MVNO business model adopted in various countries in WE and CEE region and identify the opportunities offered by each of them.- Helps executives build proactive, profitable growth strategies by offering comprehensive, relevant analysis of the Europeregion's MVNO opportunity, regulatory framework, competitive environment and best practices of the existing virtual operators.- The case studies focus on product offerings of leading three MVNOs in the region including the strategies being pursued by them to drive their MVNO business, which can be beneficial to local players or prospective market entrants.- By understanding the interests and positions of the main stakeholders in the MVNO market - MNOs, end users, regulators, content providers and ISPs - telecom professionals/operators can develop strategies and increase their participation in the growing MVNO marketAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Telmisartan Market 2016 Industry, Analysis, Research, Share, Growth, Sales, Trends, Supply, Forecast to 2021 http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=717125&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com The Global Telmisartan Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Telmisartan industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Telmisartan market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions development status.Secondly, development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. This report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), and other regions can be added.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. Whats more, the Telmisartan industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.To Get Free PDF Brochure of Sample Report Visit @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Telmisartan1.1 Definition and Specifications of Telmisartan1.1.1 Definition of Telmisartan1.1.2 Specifications of Telmisartan1.2 Classification of Telmisartan1.3 Applications of Telmisartan1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Telmisartan1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Telmisartan1.5.1 Industry Overview of Telmisartan1.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Telmisartan1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Telmisartan1.7 Industry News Analysis of TelmisartanQYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations.QYResearchReports1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Advances in Laboratory Diagnostic Tests Drives the Growth of Telepathology Market Globally http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/telepathology-service-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=13427 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Telepathology Service Market: OverviewTelepathology refers to the electronic transmission of high quality pathological data by the means of telecommunications technology to practice pathology from a distance. It opens the door for transfer of high quality image-rich pathological data between different locations for the purposes of diagnosis, education, and research. This technology is being utilized for purposes such as expert opinion on referral cases, emergency services, diagnosis at remote location, quality assurance, conferences and meetings, and for educational training. Telepathology is an emerging technology that offers advancement of telecommunication to reach out patient in remote location and provides best diagnostic inference to distant healthcare provider.Browse Complete Market Details at:This market research provides in-depth analysis of global telepathology service markets. It includes trends and sales in the telepathology service market. Key market players, service segments, supporting technologies, market dynamics, and competitive impact analysis are discussed in depth. The intended audience for this report includes Pathological Labs, Clinicians and Medical Practitioners, Medical Equipment Vendors, Outsourced Clinical Service Providers, Researchers and Academics, Healthcare Consultants, telecoms and tech start-ups among several other readers.Telepathology Service Market: Growth EnablersIn the current economy, cost cutting is a cardinal driver for the advancement of any technology which offers cost effectiveness and global reach to the entire market. Accurate pathological assessment, quick diagnoses, timely treatment and delivery of high-quality healthcare are some of the prime factors that would emphasize the global market demand for telepathology.In addition to that, the widespread presence of cancer, the increasing workload of healthcare providers, and advances in laboratory diagnostic tests drives the growth of telepathology market globally. However, the high initial setup cost and error in sampling pathological data would be catastrophic for global telepathology service market. Other factors which may restrain the telepathology services markets are rigorous regulatory requirements for telepathology systems as different issues arise in quality assurance and assessment of competence.It is of paramount importance to have equivalence between telepathology system and pathologist`s usual method of practice in order to recognize and acknowledge differences. The telepathology systems attributes and advantage differ from one company to the other. Every companys system differs in their telecommunication technology, scanning software and backup. The key to establishing a presence in the telepathology service market is to have a setup with a system design for pathologists that are service provider-centric, that is based on requirements of provider and designed to meet end-user requirements.Telepathology Service Market: SegmentationTelepathology is primarily segmented in three domains, namely, static image-based systems, virtual slide systems, and real-time systems. The global market for telepathology is segmented based on scanning technology, application type (hospital based, home based), software and hardware configuration, clinical application and geography. An aging population in North America and Asia Pacific and rising demand for home-based treatment are expected to boost the current and future telepathology market.23 million individuals aged 80 years or over were living in China in 2013. The USA contributed to about 12 million, followed by India and Japan, which had 10 million and 9 million, respectively. Apart from this increase expenditure in healthcare is also responsible for the shifting paradigm for future technology. It reflects the net result of the aging of the population on demand of technology that would be utilized for home based pathological diagnoses.Telepathology Service Market: Key PlayersMajor market players profiled in this report includes include Canada Health Infoway, University Health Network, Meyer Instruments, Inc., Telemedicine Clinic (TMC), AMD Global Telemedicine, Inc., Emerge MD, Focal Point , Nationwide Medical Licensing, Polycom, Inc, Remote Medical Technologies, USAC - Universal Service Administrative Company, Visual Share, Inc., Wolf Vision Inc.Get Premium PDF Research of Telepathology Service Market at:The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth insights, understanding market evolution by tracking historical developments, and analyzing the present scenario and future projections based on optimistic and likely scenarios. Each research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology developments, types, applications, and the competitive landscape.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Cellular Machine-To-Machine (M2M) Market: Industry Size, Analysis, Technology advancement, Overview, Growth, Share and Forecasts http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/622537 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: Global Cellular Machine-To-Machine (M2M) Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsGen's report, 'Global Cellular Machine-To-Machine (M2M) Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016-2021' provides detailed market and segment level data on the Global and Chinese consumption of Cellular Machine-To-Machine (M2M). The report provides historic, forecast and growth patterns by company, country and type/application from 2016 to 2021.Request For Sample Report @This report delivers an extensive overview of Global Cellular Machine-To-Machine (M2M) industry with a focus on China. It also acts as an essential tool to companies active across the value chain and to the new entrants by enabling them to capitalize the opportunities and develop business strategies. It also helps the companies to better understand the trends of Soups market to seize opportunities and formulate crucial business strategies.With this report, you will get access to:1. Market overview including definition, industrial chain (upstream & downstream), manufacturing technology details and the costs analysis from the aspects of raw materials, labor costs and depreciation.2. Value and volume consumption status and trends of the market, including Global and Chinese top players capacity & production, price & production value, cost & profit and market shares from 2011 to 2016.3. Worldwide supply/demand pattern of Cellular Machine-To-Machine (M2M) by country or region (North America, China, EMEA, Asia except China), and by application/type.4. Growth, trends and forecast of 2016-2021 Cellular Machine-To-Machine (M2M) market and some important proposals for new investment of Cellular Machine-To-Machine (M2M) Industry before evaluating its feasibility.Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2011-2021 Global and Chinese Cellular Machine-To-Machine (M2M) industry covering all important parameters.Table Of ContentChapter One Description1.1 Study Scope1.2 Key Findings of IndustryChapter Two Brief Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Industry Chain Structure2.2.1 Upstream Raw Materials2.2.2 Downstream MarketChapter Three Development and Trends3.1 Key Manufacturing Technologies3.2 Issues and TrendsChapter Four Cost Structure4.1 Bill of Materials (BOM)4.3 Labor Costs4.4 Depreciation Costs4.5 Manufacturing CostsChapter Five Worldwide Key VendorsCompany ACompany BCompany CCompany DCompany ECompany FCompany GAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz National Broadband Plans In Asia-PacificIndustry - Market Size (Volume And Value), And The Segment Markets By Regions, Types, Applications And Companies http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/902805 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/902805 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report National Broadband Plans in Asia-Pacific: Focus on Bridging the Digital Divide to Spur Economic Growth provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About National Broadband PlansNational Broadband Plans in Asia-Pacific: Focus on Bridging the Digital Divide to Spur Economic Growth report provides an overview of the national broadband plans adopted by the governments in APAC region. This includes an analysis of priorities set under NBPs such as targets, technology, funding and role of governments as well as private operators. The report also provides case studies on countries NBPs with focus on targets, goals, government initiatives, operator involvement and progress over the period.Get Sample Copy of this report @Key Findings- The digital divide remains a major concern for many countries in APAC region, making it a key agenda in NBPs. Examples of these countries include India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand etc.- Other key goals included in the NBPs in APAC countries involve improving speed and quality of broadband services, deployment of new technologies, digitization of government institutions and offices etc.- Fiber-optic is the preferred technology for most of the countries on account of high transmission speeds, which helps operators meet demands of high bandwidth services.- Governments and operators are actively investing in the broadband infrastructure to attain goals laid under the national broadband plans. Government are extending support in the form of funds as well as introducing regulatory measures and offering spectrum. While operators are supporting by making investments in their networks.View Report @SynopsisNational Broadband Plans in Asia-Pacific: Focus on Bridging the Digital Divide to Spur Economic Growth , a new Telecom Insider Report by Pyramid Research, provides insights into national broadband plans or strategies (NBPs) in the Asia-Pacific region. This report investigates NBPs in APAC countries that have included targets pertaining to broadband services and digitization of government offices, institutions and public places. Countries such as India, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam among others have goals to extend broadband access, while countries including Indonesia and China have also defined minimum speed of broadband services in their respective NBPs. The report analyses targets, technologies, funding strategies and role of government and private sector in achieving the goals of NBPs. It also includes brief information on NBPs of select countries in the region. Case studies on NBPs of five countries are provided, which include overview, goals, government initiatives, operator involvement and progress.ReasonsToBuy- Gain understanding of governments goals and initiatives to make informed decisions pertaining to investments in network and technologies and optimize return on investment.- Develop understating of markets through analysis of targets, technologies, government support, operator role and funding strategies.- Understand growth opportunities as per emerging trends in broadband segment using information on five year forecast for fixed-broadband, mobile penetration and 3G+ subscription in APAC.- Case studies on NBPs of five countries focus on details about NBP objectives, government strategies being pursued to boost investments and adoption of broadband services along with information of investments by operators to drive their business, provide understanding of the markets for prospective market entrants as well as for existing operators.Table of ContentsMarket context: Correlation of broadband penetration with GDP per capita and regionalbroadband market contextMarket context: Correlation of broadband penetration with GDP per capitaRegional broadband market context in Asia-PacificFocus in NBPs: Targets, Technology, Funding & Role of Governments and Private SectorTargets and priorities of NBPsPreferred technologies for implementationRoles of governments and telcos in implementationFunding the achievement of plan targetsReview of NBP FrameworksOverview of NBPs in Asia-Pacific regionCase StudiesCase study: National broadband plan of ThailandCase study: National broadband plan of MalaysiaCase study: National broadband plan of IndonesiaCase study: National broadband plan of AustraliaCase study: National broadband plan of New ZealandKey FindingsAcronyms and DefinitionsMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Electroactive Polymers Market | Industry Outlook Research Report Till 2021 By DecisionDatabases http://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-316 http://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/316-electroactive-polymers-eap-market-report www.decisiondatabases.com DecisionDatabases.com offers Electroactive Polymers Market Research Report. This Report covers the complete Industry Outlook, Growth, Size, Share and Forecast Till 2021. Electroactive polymers (EAP) in presence of peripheral electrical activation field stimulation, change size or shape as resultant. They tolerate huge amount of deformation to withstand large forces. Electroactive polymers (EAP) possess conductive and piezoelectric properties. They are mostly used as actuators and sensors. It is potentially applied in robotics as prosthetic limbs/muscles.Conductive polymers, inherently dissipative polymers (IDPs), inherently conductive polymers (ICPs) and others are the major product segments acknowledged in the global electroactive polymers (EAP) market report. Ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and dielectric elastomers are another important products of electroactive polymers (EAP). Conductive polymers dominates the electroactive polymers (EAP) product market followed by inherently conductive polymers (ICPs). It is estimated that inherently conductive polymers (ICPs) will witness substantial growth in the forecast period.Get FREE Sample Report Copy With FULL Segmentations and TOC @Actuators, sensors, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, antistatic packaging and others are the principal applications of electroactive polymers (EAP). Other applications of electroactive polymers (EAP) include inks, batteries, solar cells, capacitor, touch screen, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), photovoltaic cell, textiles, electrostatic coatings, and transistors. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is the leading applications incorporated in the global electroactive polymers (EAP) market. Antistatic packaging are anticipated to grow at rapid pace for the forecast period. Antistatic packaging materials such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethersulfone in electronics and medical devices will boost the market growth.Leading companies operating in the global electroactive polymers (EAP) market are Bayer MaterialScience AG, DuPont, The 3M Co., Celanese Corp., Parker-Hannifin Corp., Agfa-Gevaert NV, Piezotech S.A, The Lubrizol Corp., Cambridge Display Technology Ltd., Danfoss A/S, SABIC, Kenner Material & System Co., Ltd., Konarka Technologies Inc., Panasonic Corp., and Eamex Corp.North America is the leading geography in terms of demand with significant growth in the global electroactive polymers (EAP) market. Europe and Asia Pacific are another major markets of electroactive polymers (EAP). Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market owing to economies like China and India. Rapid industrialization in this region is projected to drive the electroactive polymers (EAP) market. Demand for cost efficient and light-weight materials are the determinants of electroactive polymers (EAP) market growth. Volatile prices are the principal constraints in the progress of electroactive polymers (EAP) market. Awareness and shift from conventional to renewable energy is a motivating aspect for electroactive polymers (EAP).Table Of Contents - Overview1. Introduction2. Executive Summary3. Market Analysis Of Electroactive Polymers (EAP)4. Electroactive Polymers (EAP) Market Analysis By Products5. Electroactive Polymers (EAP) Market Analysis By Applications6. Electroactive Polymers (EAP) Market Analysis By Region7. Competitive Landscape Of Electroactive Polymers (EAP) Companies8. Company Profiles Of Electroactive Polymers (EAP) IndustryAccess full report at:About Us:DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains.Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed.3rd Floor,Fountain chambers,Nanabhai Lane,Fort, Mumbai - 1E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.comPhone: +91 99 28 237112Web: Cyber Security Global Market Trend, Research Approach, Data Analysis and Forecast to 2022 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/cyber-security-global-market-outlook-2016-2022 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001583426/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001583426/buying According to Publisher, the Global Cyber Security market is estimated at $85.21 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $224.48 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 14.84% from 2015 to 2022. Growing cyber crimes which may cause the loss of intellectual and financial assets and increase in adoption of cloud-based security solutions are some of the key factors propelling the market growth. Whereas use of pirated and freeware software for cyber security is hindering the market growth. Growing demand for Next Generation Security Solutions and increasing potential for Mobile and Web Applications and Platforms are the opportunity factors for the market players. However lack of skilled professionals is challenging the market growth.For more information about this report:By service, Managed Services segment is expected to grow at highest CAGR during forecast period. In deployment mode, organisations are showing interest towards cloud deployment because of its cost-effective and time-efficient features. North America accounted for the highest market share as compared to other regions. The Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at a higher CAGR and is anticipated to account for the highest market share during forecast period because of increase growing adoption of web and mobile based business applications. Demand from developing countries in this region is one of the key drivers for the Asia Pacific region to move with highest CAGR during forecast period.Some of the key players in the market include BAE Systems PLC, The Boeing Company, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc, Cisco Systems Inc, Computer Sciences Corporation, Dell Inc, Finmeccanica SpA, General Dynamics Corporation, Hewlett Packard Company, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Intel Security, Symantec Corporation, Rapid7, Inc., EMC RSA, Fireeye, Inc., Trend Micro, Inc. and Sophos Ltd.Solutions Covered:- Web Filtering- Unified Threat Management (UTM)- Security and Vulnerability Management- Risk and Compliance Management- Intrusion Detection System/Intrusion Prevention System (Ids/Ips)- Identity and Access Management (IAM)- Firewall- Encryption- Distributed Denial of Service Mitigation- Disaster Recovery- Data Loss Protection (DLP)- Antivirus and Anti malware- White listing- Other SolutionsSecurity Types Covered:- Application Security- Cloud Security- Content Security- Endpoint Security- Network Security- Wireless Security- Industrial Control Systems SecurityRequest Sample Copy atServices Covered:- Professional ServicesTraining and EducationRisk and Threat AssessmentManaged Security Services (MSS)Design and IntegrationConsulting- Managed ServicesApplications Covered:- Telecom and IT- Retail- Manufacturing- Healthcare- Government and Public Utilities- Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI)- Aerospace, Defense and Intelligence- Other ApplicationsDeployment Modes Covered:- On-Premises- CloudComponents Covered:- Services- SolutionOrganization Sizes Covered:- Large Enterprises- Small and Medium EnterprisesRegions Covered:- North AmericaUSCanadaMexico- EuropeGermanyFranceItalyUKSpainRest of Europe- Asia PacificJapanChinaIndiaAustraliaNew ZealandRest of Asia Pacific- Rest of the WorldMiddle EastBrazilArgentinaSouth AfricaEgypt1 Executive Summary2 Preface3 Market Trend Analysis4 Porters Five Force Analysis5 Global Cyber Security Market, By Solution6 Global Cyber Security Market, By Security Type7 Global Cyber Security Market, By Service8 Global Cyber Security Market, By Application9 Global Cyber Security Market, By Deployment Mode10 Global Cyber Security Market, By Component11 Global Cyber Security Market, By Organization Size12 Global Cyber Security Market, By Geography13 Key Developments14 Company Profiling14.1 BAE Systems PLC14.2 The Boeing Company14.3 Booz Allen Hamilton Inc14.4 Cisco Systems Inc14.5 Computer Sciences Corporation14.6 Dell Inc14.7 Finmeccanica SpA14.8 General Dynamics Corporation14.9 Hewlett Packard Company14.10 International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)14.11 Intel Security14.12 Symantec Corporation14.13 Rapid7, Inc.14.14 EMC RSA14.15 Fireeye, Inc.14.16 Trend Micro, Inc.14.17 Sophos Ltd.Inquire before Buying atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Refined Glycerine Market | Global Industry Outlook Analysis Report 2015-2022 By DecisionDatabases http://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-341 http://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/341-refined-glycerine-market-report www.decisiondatabases.com DecisionDatabases.com offers Refined Glycerine Market Research Report. This Report covers the complete Industry Outlook, Growth, Size, Share and Forecast Till 2021. Refined glycerine is a refined organic byproduct of oleochemicals and biodiesel production. It is water-soluble, colorless & odorless and viscous liquid by nature. Refined glycerine offer characteristics such as moisturizing, hygroscopic, thickening formulation, reduce freezing points, emulsifier and sweetening. Hence, they are broadly used as surface coatings, lubricants, urethane polymers, paper, inks, etc.Refined glycerine act as solvents and humectants in healthcare and consumer products; as food additives in food products; as raw material for propylene glycol, nitroglycerine, epichlorohydrin, polyurethane foams, and alkyd resins; as plasticizers, lubricants and humidifiers for plastics, paper, inks, etc. Global refined glycerine market is segmented based on its applications such as personal care and oral care, pharmaceuticals, food, industrial applications and others including excipient, home care. Personal and oral care are the major applications of refined glycerine followed by food consumption.Get FREE Sample Report Copy With FULL Segmentations and TOC @Personal care product such as cosmetics & detergents and oral care products such as toothpaste and mouthwash are the driving factors for the growth of this market. Refined glycerine is the major market than crude glycerine. Potential applications such as epichlorohydrin and propylene glycol production will tend to increase demand for refined glycerin. Crude glycerine is available in abundance. Hence, it will be refined to satisfy the demand for refined glycerine.Asia Pacific accounted the major consumption share for refined glycerine amongst other geography. This growth is led by rising epichlorohydrin production in China which is the leading market by demand in Asia Pacific. Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia are the foremost exporters of refined glycerine in this region. Europe was the leading market consumer after Asia Pacific. Vance Bioenergy Sdn. Bhd., Cargill, Inc., Patum Vegetable Oil Co. Ltd., KLK OLEO and others are companies involved in the business of refined glycerine in the global market.Table Of Contents - Overview1. Introduction2. Executive Summary3. Market Analysis Of Refined Glycerine4. Refined Glycerine Market Analysis By Applications5. Refined Glycerine Market Analysis By Region6. Competitive Landscape Of Refined Glycerine Companies7. Company Profiles Of Refined Glycerine IndustryAccess full report at:About Us:DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains.Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed.3rd Floor,Fountain chambers,Nanabhai Lane,Fort, Mumbai - 1E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.comPhone: +91 99 28 237112Web: Global Mobile Operators Regional Leaders Market Overview and Statistics | Researchmoz http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=685045 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=685045 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Mobile Operators - Regional Leaders - Overview and Statistics" to its huge collection of research reports.International expansion has strengthened the operations of many mobile operatorsIn 2017 the global mobile market has its sights firmly set on the opportunities offered through mobile data as well as looking for potential new revenues streams presented by the enterprise sector, data mining, 5G and international expansion.Mobile saturation has occurred in many of the developed markets and this has forced some of the operators to look for new opportunities particularly those offered by expanding regionally or internationally. This has occurred in most regions of the world and as a result some operators have become powerful and dominant regional leaders.In Latin America, for example, the mobile market continues to be dominated by a small number of operators which each have businesses in multiple countries. These include Telefonica Group; Mexicos America Movil, trading as Telcel in its domestic market and as Claro in the remaining 16 markets in the region; Telecom Italia, AT&T Mexico and Millicom International. The dominance of these operators is being gradually eroded however as a result of efforts by a number of national regulators to facilitate the entry of MVNOs and to encourage the participation of smaller players in spectrum auctions.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @In the more developed markets of Asia, growth is shifting away from a focus on subscriber numbers and towards the expansion of new generation platforms and increased data usage driven by value-added services and increased ARPUs. There are those companies such as SingTel, Vodafone, and Axiata (formerly Telekom Malaysia International) that have built a substantial presence around the Asian region beyond their own domestic market through their shareholdings in operators in multiple other markets.In the Pacific region; the Australian mobile market is dominated by the three major mobile network operators Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone (VHA), though there are numerous MVNOs which have a significant market share. These have been able to offer LTE services on a wholesale basis since early 2016, thus encouraging growth in the LTE sector and cementing the role which MVNOs play in the overall market.Fiji is one of the telecoms leaders in the South Pacific region, along with Papua New Guinea. Similar to many developing nations, it is heavily reliant on mobile technologies rather than fixed lines. The percentage of unique mobile subscribers in Fiji sits at around 69%. Vodafone Fiji Limited (VFL) and Digicel Fiji are the major mobile operators and the only MVNO is Australian company, Inkk Mobile which operates on VFLs network.Three mobile service operators provide services in Papua New Guinea including Digicel, Bmobile (Vodafone), and Citifon (Telikom PNG). However, in February 2017 it was announced that Dataco, Bmobile and Telikom PNG would be merged together to form Kumul Telikom. The three entities would be able to share resources and infrastructure, making it potentially more cost effective and competitive.Although there are a large number of network operators across the African continent, and also smaller niche MVNO players, there are also a small number of pan-regional network operators. These include Millicom, Orange Group, Vodacom and Bharti Airtel. Some rationalisation of their operations continues as these players adjust their strategies to fit in with market positions and expectations.There are a number of companies which have a large presence in the Middle East. Zain, Ooredoo and MTN are three examples of companies operating in multiple markets and the international players of Orange and Vodafone also operate in region.As with Latin America and Africa, the European region is notable for having half a dozen pan-European operators with interests in several key markets. These main players include Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica, Vodafone Group, Hutchison and TeliaSonera. There has been much jostling among these operators as they seek to strengthen their presence in particular markets. This has in turn caused some disquiet among national regulators and European competition authorities, which are keen to preserve a quorum of key players (generally four) within a given market.This BuddeComm publication provides a global overview of the mobile market, supported by statistics as well as an overview of the mobile markets for each major region of the world. Country case studies for each region are also included, along with identification of the major MNOs and MVNOs operating in each region/country.Key developments:- Data mining will be the next driver of mobile revenue;- Mobile operators need to rethink their business models;- For new ideas, the industry should look towards the OTT players;- Operators in Latin America will need to invest in LTE infrastructure and enhance their mobile data and broadband offerings in a bid to secure revenue growth;- Whilst there are still developing markets in Asia which are continuing to grow their mobile subscriber base at high annual rates, total market growth in the region has eased considerably in the last few years. This is not surprising given that a significant number of markets have well and truly saturated over the last year or so.- Digicel, which has an expanding business across Samoa and Fiji in the Pacific, built a $500 million mobile network in PNG, becoming the countrys largest non-mining investor;- Although ARPU remains relatively low for operators, considering the level of disposable income in the region, Africa remains a key area for investment among players;- There are several dozen MVNOs in the US market, most of them small and with a regional focus;- While population increases across Europe mean that there is a steady influx of new mobile subscribers, the market has a sufficiently high penetration rate that growth is largely lateral, in that subscribers are migrating from 2G to 3G and LTE networks. As a result, the proportion of 2G subscribers is falling sharply, and while there remains steady, if slow, growth in the 3G sector this will also begin to fall from late 2017 or 2018 as subscribers shift to LTE networks. This movement is being encouraged by network operators which hope to capitalise on revenue derived from greater take-up of mobile broadband and data services;- Although MVNOs were late to arrive in the Middle East, several have launched services and captured market share. FRiENDi and Virgin Mobile MEA are two notable MVNOs which operate in several markets and there are a number of domestic players as well.Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Asia - Mobile Network Operators and MVNOs | Latest Market Research Report http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=950628 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=950628 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Asia - Mobile Network Operators and MVNOs" to its huge collection of research reports.The focus of this report is on the operators within their individual national markets. In addition to these individual operators there are those companies such as SingTel, Vodafone, and Axiata (formerly Telekom Malaysia International) that have built a substantial presence around the Asian region beyond their own domestic market through their shareholdings in operators in multiple other markets. While this aspect of the regional operations is not discussed in any detail, it is mentioned in passing in the relevant country reviews.The telecom market across Asia has an estimated total of 4 billion mobile subscribers by end 2016. This sector of the overall market continues to experience moderate growth; however, in the more developed markets, growth is shifting away from a focus on subscriber numbers towards the expansion of new generation platforms and increased data usage driven by value-added services and increased ARPUs.Whilst there are still developing markets continuing to grow their mobile subscriber base at high annual rates, total market growth has eased considerably in the last few years. This is not surprising given that a significant number of markets have well and truly saturated over the last year or so.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Macau is the leading country in Asia in terms of overall mobile penetration with a penetration of 326% in 2016. Hong Kong takes second place with mobile penetration of 227% in 2016. Maldives in third place has penetration of 220% followed by Kazakhstan in fourth spot with 180%. Singapore has the fifth largest market in terms of mobile penetration with penetration reaching 149% in 2016.Mobile broadband subscriptions are growing rapidly. While mobile and fixed will always exist in parallel, there is no doubt that with a faltering fixed network and an excellent mobile network, mobile will give fixed a run for its money.However the reality for the success of mobile broadband is that the network will rely more and more on fibre. In the end most mobile stations will have to be connected to a fibre optic network in order to cope with the volume of traffic.Key highlights of the mobile operator market in Asia in 2016 include:- China leads the market in terms of total number of subscribers, with its mobile market reaching 1.32 billion subscribers by 2016.- India follows not far behind with 1.03 billion subscribers followed a lot further back by Indonesia (338 million), Japan (159 million) and Vietnam (145 million).- China has three of the four top mobile operators in Asia by number of subscribers: China Mobile (850 million), China Unicom (262 million) and China Telecom (215 million).- India is also very active in the market with five of the top ten operators. The top three of which are: Bharti (265 million), Vodafone Essar (198 million) and Idea Cellular (175 million).- Indonesia and Thailand are the only other Asian counties with operators in the top 10 operators with Telkomsel of Indonesia having 154 million subscribers. And AIS of Thailand having 39 million subscribers.The countries covered in this report include: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and VietnamMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband Report 2016 Market Size (Volume And Value), And The Segment Markets By Regions, Types, Applications And Companies http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/895298 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/895298 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband Market Report 2016 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Public Safety Mobile Broadband MarketThis report studies sales (consumption) of Public Safety Mobile Broadband in Europe market, especially in Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy, Benelux and Spain, focuses on top players in these countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these Countries, coveringGet Sample Copy of this report @General DynamicsHarrisInmarsatIntelsatIridium CommunicationsMotorola SolutionsAlcatel-LucentAlvarionFiretideIBMLockheed MartinMesh DynamicsNetMotion WirelessNorthrop GrummanTata Advanced SystemsView Report @Market Segment by Countries, this report splits Europe into several key Countries, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of Public Safety Mobile Broadband in these countries, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeGermanyFranceUKRussiaItalySpainBeneluxSplit by product type, with sales, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoType IType IIType IIISplit by application, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Public Safety Mobile Broadband in each application, can be divided intoApplication 1Application 2Application 3Table of ContentsEurope Public Safety Mobile Broadband Market Report 20161 Public Safety Mobile Broadband Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Public Safety Mobile Broadband1.2 Classification of Public Safety Mobile Broadband1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.2.3 Type III1.3 Application of Public Safety Mobile Broadband1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 31.4 Public Safety Mobile Broadband Market by Countries1.4.1 Germany Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 France Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 UK Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Russia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Italy Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 Spain Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.7 Benelux Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Europe Market Size (Value and Volume) of Public Safety Mobile Broadband (2011-2021)1.5.1 Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.5.2 Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.1.2 Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.2.2 Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.3 Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband (Volume and Value) by Countries2.3.1 Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband Sales and Market Share by Countries (2011-2016)2.3.2 Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband Revenue and Market Share by Countries (2011-2016)2.4 Europe Public Safety Mobile Broadband (Volume) by ApplicationMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Research of Telehealth : Global Industry Technology, Applications, Growth and Status 2017 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=685915 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=685915 ALBANY, NY, April 28, 2017 : The continued adoption of telehealth technologies around the world will have a positive impact, not only on healthcare markets, but on a range of different sectors as well. The report assesses the potential impact these technologies will have on healthcare systems as well the business opportunities they offer to other industries including the technology and telecommunications sectors. Furthermore, the analysis explores recent developments in regulations and guidelines in key geographies including the US, Europe, Japan, China, India and South Africa. Along with global market drivers and restraints, the report also provides insights into the size of telehealth/telecare markets in key geographical markets.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Many healthcare providers have developed integrated strategies for adopting telehealth technologies, particularly as their value continues to be quantified. Detailed case studies of recent successful telehealth programs are provided in this new report, showcasing strategies and the impact these have had on patients and healthcare systems. The analysis shows that successful telehealth programs will tend to implement careful and detailed planning, considering all key stakeholders and available engagement channels while integrating appropriate services across them. Important operational strategies to consider when planning and implementing a new telehealth program are also outlined in dedicated sections of the report.mHealth technologies and telemedicine devices are being increasingly adopted globally, and represent the most rapidly growing fields within telehealth. In particular, the introduction of easily worn biosensors has sparked a great deal of interest in this sector in recent years. Profiles and product descriptions of novel technologies within these two fast-growing telehealth segments are provided, along with an outline of challenges and business opportunities.Publisher has conducted extensive research in order to provide a comprehensive view of the global market trends in the telehealth industry. These unique and trusted industry analyses will enable a complete understanding of the telehealth market in both established and emerging markets.ScopeWhat impact will telehealth technologies have on healthcare systems, patients and related sectors?What strategies are healthcare providers considering when implementing new telehealth programs?How does the telehealth regulatory and market landscape compare in the developed markets of the US, Europe and Japan, compared with that of emerging economies like India, China and South Africa?What technological, macroeconomic and industry factors are driving or restraining the telehealth market?What are the most important factors to consider when designing and implementing a new telehealth program?What are the most pertinent considerations for all telehealth programs?What telehealth devices represent the biggest commercial opportunities and what are their key features?Key Reasons to PurchaseThis report will allow you toGain unique insights into the regulatory landscape of the telehealth sector in key geographical markets including the US, Europe, China, Japan, India and South Africa: This report comprehensively describes and assesses recent regulatory developments and telehealth guidelines in this dynamic sector.Assess the most pertinent commercial trends in the telehealth sector: This report provides global market drivers, restraints and market size and growth estimates for key geographical markets, providing insights into novel product technologies and those garnering significant adoption.Assess operational strategies for telehealth program design and implementation: This report provides insights and recommendations to consider when implementing a new telehealth program, including market research, HR, channel analysis, governance, revenue models, monitoring and security considerations.Assess novel technologies in key telehealth sectors: This report also provides a comprehensive analysis including trends, challenges and opportunities for telemedicine devices and mHealth technologies, providing insights into novel product technologies and those garnering significant adoption around the world.Make an Enquiry of this report @Table of ContentExecutive SummaryIntroductionImpact of Telehealth Technologies on Healthcare Systems and PatientsImpact of Telehealth on the Technology and Telecoms IndustriesSuccessful Telehealth Programs Case StudiesEvolving Telehealth RegulationsUSEuropeIndiaJapanChinaSouth AfricaTelehealth Market LandscapeUSEuropeAPACTelehealth Market DriversTelehealth Market BarriersStrategies and Important Considerations for a Successful Telehealth ProgramTechnologies in Key Telehealth SectorsTelemedicine DevicesKey ManufacturersSelected Devices and TechnologiesmHealth Technologies: Trends, Opportunities and ChallengesKey ManufacturersSelected Devices and TechnologiesEthical Considerations in TelehealthResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMoz90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States Global Denim Jeans 2016 Market Research Report | Now Available at Researchmoz.us http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=521058 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=521058 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Denim Jeans 2016 Market Research Report" to its huge collection of research reports.The Global Denim Jeans Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Denim Jeans industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Denim Jeans market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions development status.Secondly, development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. This report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), and other regions can be added.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. Whats more, the Denim Jeans industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Denim Jeans1.1 Definition and Specifications of Denim Jeans1.1.1 Definition of Denim Jeans1.1.2 Specifications of Denim Jeans1.2 Classification of Denim Jeans1.3 Applications of Denim Jeans1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Denim Jeans1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Denim Jeans1.5.1 Industry Overview of Denim Jeans1.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Denim Jeans1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Denim Jeans1.7 Industry News Analysis of Denim Jeans2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Denim Jeans2.1 Raw Material Suppliers and Price Analysis of Denim Jeans2.2 Equipment Suppliers and Price Analysis of Denim Jeans2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Denim Jeans2.4 Other Costs Analysis of Denim Jeans2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Denim Jeans2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Denim Jeans3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Denim Jeans3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Denim Jeans Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Denim Jeans Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Denim Jeans Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Denim Jeans Major Manufacturers in 20154 Capacity, Production and Revenue Analysis of Denim Jeans by Regions, Types and Manufacturers4.1 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Denim Jeans by Regions 2011-20164.2 Global and Major Regions Capacity, Production, Revenue and Growth Rate of Denim Jeans 2011-20164.3 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Denim Jeans by Types 2011-20164.4 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Denim Jeans by Manufacturers 2011-20165 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Denim Jeans by Regions, Types and Manufacturers5.1 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Denim Jeans by Regions 2011-20165.2 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Denim Jeans by Types 2011-20165.3 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Denim Jeans by Manufacturers 2011-20166 Consumption Volume, Consumption Value and Sale Price Analysis of Denim Jeans by Regions, Types and Applications6.1 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Denim Jeans by Regions 2011-20166.2 Global and Major Regions Consumption Volume, Consumption Value and Growth Rate of Denim Jeans 2011-20166.3 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Denim Jeans by Types 2011-20166.4 Global Consumption Volume and Consumption Value of Denim Jeans by Applications 2011-20166.5 Sale Price of Denim Jeans by Regions 2011-20166.6 Sale Price of Denim Jeans by Types 2011-20166.7 Sale Price of Denim Jeans by Applications 2011-20166.8 Market Share Analysis of Denim Jeans by Different Sale Price LevelsMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Researchmoz: Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Market Report 2017 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1044696 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1044696 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report split Asia-Pacific into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Specialty Coatings and Materials for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), includingChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanIndiaSoutheast AsiaAustraliaAsia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Specialty Coatings and Materials sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingPPGRJ Lee Group, Inc.EvonikDowSunandaGrantEntegrisHuber Engineered MaterialsPolyoneTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @On the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (K Units), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/Unit), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSilica ProductsTeslin SubstrateOptical Monomers and CoatingsOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume (K Units), market share and growth rate of Specialty Coatings and Materials for each application, includinChemicalAutomobileCivil InfrastructureOtherOthersTable of ContentsAsia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Market Report 20171 Specialty Coatings and Materials Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Specialty Coatings and Materials1.2 Classification of Specialty Coatings and Materials by Product Category1.2.1 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Types (2012-2022)1.2.2 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Silica Products1.2.4 Teslin Substrate1.2.5 Optical Monomers and Coatings1.3 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)1.3.2 Chemical1.3.3 Automobile1.3.4 Civil Infrastructure1.3.5 Other1.3.6 Others1.4 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Market by Region1.4.1 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 South Korea Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Taiwan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.8 Australia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Asia-Pacific Market Size (Value and Volume) of Specialty Coatings and Materials (2012-2022)1.5.1 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application2.1 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Volume and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials (Volume) by Application2.4 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials (Volume and Value) by Region2.4.1 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4.2 Asia-Pacific Specialty Coatings and Materials Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3 China Specialty Coatings and Materials (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 China Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 China Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 China Specialty Coatings and Materials Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 China Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 China Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.3 China Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Volume and Market Share by Application4 Japan Specialty Coatings and Materials (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 Japan Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales and Value (2012-2017)4.1.1 Japan Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.2 Japan Specialty Coatings and Materials Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.3 Japan Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)4.2 Japan Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Volume and Market Share by Type4.3 Japan Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Volume and Market Share by Application5 South Korea Specialty Coatings and Materials (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 South Korea Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales and Value (2012-2017)5.1.1 South Korea Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.2 South Korea Specialty Coatings and Materials Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.3 South Korea Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)5.2 South Korea Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Volume and Market Share by Type5.3 South Korea Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Volume and Market Share by Application6 Taiwan Specialty Coatings and Materials (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Taiwan Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales and Value (2012-2017)6.1.1 Taiwan Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.2 Taiwan Specialty Coatings and Materials Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.3 Taiwan Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)6.2 Taiwan Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Volume and Market Share by Type6.3 Taiwan Specialty Coatings and Materials Sales Volume and Market Share by ApplicationMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Global ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) 2017 | Market Professional Survey Report http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1044315 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1044315 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Professional Survey Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2011 to 2015, and forecast to 2021.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringBrivo Inc.Cloudastructure Inc.TycoAssa Abloy ABDorma + Kaba Holding AGHoneywellMicrosoft CorporationCiscoDatawatch Systems Inc.Centrify CorporationAIT Ltd.Gemalto N.V.Vanderbilt IndustriesM3T CorporationADS SecurityKISI Inc.FeenicsTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @By types, the market can be split intoHostedManagedHybridBy Application, the market can be split intoCommercialManufacturing & IndustrialGovernment BodiesResidentialTransportationHealthcareEducationUtilitiesRetailBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaTable of ContentsGlobal ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service)1.1 Definition and Specifications of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service)1.1.1 Definition of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service)1.1.2 Specifications of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service)1.2 Classification of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service)1.2.1 Hosted1.2.2 Managed1.2.3 Hybrid1.3 Applications of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service)1.3.1 Commercial1.3.2 Manufacturing & Industrial1.3.3 Government Bodies1.3.4 Residential1.3.5 Transportation1.3.6 Healthcare1.3.7 Education1.3.8 Utilities1.3.9 Retail1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service)2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service)2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service)2.4 Industry Chain Structure of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service)3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service)3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Major Manufacturers in 20154 Global ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Overall Market Overview4.1 2011-2016 Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2011-2016 Global ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2015 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2011-2016 Global ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2015 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2011-2016 Global ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Sales Price4.4.2 2015 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)5 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Regional Market Analysis5.1 North America ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Analysis5.1.1 North America ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Overview5.1.2 North America 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.1.3 North America 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Sales Price Analysis5.1.4 North America 2015 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Share Analysis5.2 China ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Analysis5.2.1 China ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Overview5.2.2 China 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.2.3 China 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Sales Price Analysis5.2.4 China 2015 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Share Analysis5.3 Europe ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Analysis5.3.1 Europe ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Overview5.3.2 Europe 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.3.3 Europe 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Sales Price Analysis5.3.4 Europe 2015 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Share Analysis5.4 Southeast Asia ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Analysis5.4.1 Southeast Asia ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Overview5.4.2 Southeast Asia 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.4.3 Southeast Asia 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Sales Price Analysis5.4.4 Southeast Asia 2015 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Share Analysis5.5 Japan ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Analysis5.5.1 Japan ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Overview5.5.2 Japan 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.5.3 Japan 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Sales Price Analysis5.5.4 Japan 2015 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Share Analysis5.6 India ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Analysis5.6.1 India ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Overview5.6.2 India 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.6.3 India 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Sales Price Analysis5.6.4 India 2015 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Market Share Analysis6 Global 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Segment Market Analysis (by Type)6.1 Global 2011-2016 ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Sales by Type6.2 Different Types of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Product Interview Price Analysis6.3 Different Types of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Product Driving Factors Analysis6.3.1 Hosted of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.2 Managed of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.3 Hybrid of ACaaS(Access Control as a Service) Growth Driving Factor AnalysisMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ New Study Reveals Global Electric Vehicles Market & Volume (Plug-in, Battery, Hybrid, Fuel Cell) Motors http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=795736 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=795736 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Electric Vehicles Market & Volume (Plug-in, Battery, Hybrid, Fuel Cell) Motors" to its huge collection of research reports.According to our research findings we expect that Global Electric Vehicles market will be more than US$ 100 Billion industry by 2020. Hybrid Electric Vehicle holds the highest market share, but Battery Electric Vehicles market share is increasing year on year. Toyata holds the highest market share but Tesla, Mitsubishi, Renault Nissan expected to give a tough competition by 2020.Renub Research study titled Global Electric Vehicles Market & Volume (Plug-in, Battery, Hybrid, Fuel Cell) Motors provides a comprehensive assessment of the fastevolving, highgrowth electric car market. This report studies separate sales analysis of four companies: Tesla, Mitsubishi, Toyota and RenaultNissan. A five year historic analysis is also provided for these markets. This 63 page report with 45 Figures studies the Global Electric Vehicles market from 6 view points:- Market and Forecast- Market Share and Forecast- By Technological Segment (PHEV, BEV, HEV, FCEV) Market and Forecast- Market Volume and Forecast- By Technological Segment (PHEV, BEV, HEV, FCEV) Market Volume and Forecast- Company Sales AnalysisTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Key Companies covered in the report are as follows- Tesla- Mitsubishi- Toyota- Renault NissanData SourcesThis report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in house analysis by Renub Research team of industry experts.Primary sources include industry surveys and telephone interviews with industry experts.Secondary sources information and data has been collected from various printable and non printable sources like search engines, News websites, Government Websites, Trade Journals, White papers, Government Agencies, Magazines, Newspapers, Trade associations, Books, Industry Portals, Industry Associations and access to more than 500 paid databases.Table of ContentExecutive SummaryGlobal Electric Vehicles Market (2012 - 2020)Global Electric Vehicles Share Analysis (2012 - 2020)Global Electric Vehicles Market Share by Vehicles Technology (2012 - 2020)Global Electric Vehicles Volume Share (2012 - 2020)Electric Vehicles Company Sales Share Analysis 2014 - 2020Electric Vehicles Company Volume Share Analysis 2014 - 2020Global Electric Vehicles Market by Technological Segments (2012 - 2020)Plug - in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) Market (2012 - 2020)Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) Market (2012 - 2020)Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) Market (2012 - 2020)Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) Market (2012 - 2020)Global Electric Vehicles Volume (2012 - 2020)Global Electric Vehicles Volume by Technological Segments (2012 - 2020)Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) Volume (2012 - 2020)Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) Volume (2012 - 2020)Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) Volume (2012 - 2020)Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVS) Volume (2012 - 2020)Worldwide Electric Vehicles Company Sales Analysis (2012 - 2020)Tesla Electric Vehicles Sales (2012 - 2020)Mitsubishi Electric Vehicles Sales (2012 - 2020)Toyota Electric Vehicles Sales (2012 - 2020)Renault - Nissan Electric Vehicles Sales (2012 - 2020)Worldwide Electric Vehicles Company Volume Analysis (2012 - 2020)Tesla Motors Electric Vehicles Volume (2013 - 2020)Mitsubishi Electric Vehicles Volume (2012 - 2020)Toyota Electric Vehicles Volume (2012 - 2020)Renault - Nissan Electric Vehicles Volume (2012 - 2020)Growth Drivers of Global Electric VehiclesEnvironment FriendlyEconomic BenefitsTax Benefits on Electric Cars in Norway, USA, Canada, Belgium & FranceChallenges in Global Electric VehiclesCharging InfrastructurePriceMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ 3PL Market In Brazil To Grow At A CAGR Of 3.59% During The Period 2016-2020 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=850958 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=850958 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "3PL Market in Brazil 2016-2020" to its huge collection of research reports.3PL is a business process where companies outsource their logistics and distribution functions to a service provider that specializes in handling logistics activities such as transportation, warehousing, and freight and forwarding. 3PL providers have expertise in managing and customizing the supply chain as per the needs of the customers. They also provide strategic and operational value to many shippers across the globe. Companies from various industries are outsourcing the logistics part of their operations to specialized 3PL players, which in turn enables them to focus on their core competencies. The key vendors in the market are CEVA Logistics, DB SCHENKER, Deutsche Post DHL, Kuehne + Nagel, and Nippon Express.Technavios analysts forecast the 3PL market in Brazil to grow at a CAGR of 3.59% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the 3PL market in Brazil for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated by 3PL providers.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Technavio's report, 3PL Market in Brazil 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsCEVADB SCHENKERDeutsche Post DHLKuehne + NagelNippon ExpressOther prominent vendorsAgilityAmrica Latina LogsticaAPL LogisticsBDP InternationalBLG LogisticsDACHSERDamcoDC LogisticsDSVExpeditorsFedEx SupplyChain SolutionsHub GroupImperial LogisticsJ.B. HuntJSI LogisticsKerry LogisticsLogwinMenlo Worldwide LogisticsNeovia LogisticsPanalpinaPenske Logistics BrazilRyderSchneider LogisticsSDV logisticsSinotransUPSWincantonMarket driverGovernment initiatives in infrastructure developmentFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeInadequate transportation infrastructureFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendAdoption of eco-friendly vehiclesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Global Bio-fertilizers Market trends, segments, Estimates and Forecasts from 2017 - 2022 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/275204 In our aim to provide our erudite clients with the best research material with absolute in-depth information of the market, our new report on Global Bio-fertilizers Market is confident in meeting their needs and expectations. The 2017 market research report on Global Bio-fertilizers Market is an in-depth study and analysis of the market by our industry experts with unparalleled domain knowledge. The report will shed light on many critical points and trends of the industry which are useful for our esteemed clients. The report covers a vast expanse of information including an overview, comprehensive analysis, definitions and classifications, applications, and expert opinions, among others. With the extent of information filled in the report, the presentation and style of the Global Bio-fertilizers Market report is a note worthy.The Global Bio-fertilizers Industry report provides key information about the industry, including invaluable facts and figures, expert opinions, and the latest developments across the globe. Not only does the report cover a holistic view of the industry from a global standpoint, but it also covers individual regions and their development. The Global Bio-fertilizers Industry report showcases the latest trends in the global and regional markets on all critical parameters which include technology, supplies, capacity, production, profit, price, and competition. The key players covered in the report provide a detailed analysis of the competition and their developments in the Global Bio-fertilizers Industry. Accurate forecasts and expert opinion from credible sources, and the recent R&D development in the industry is also a mainstay of the Bio-fertilizers Market report.Get a PDF Sample of Market Report at:The report also focuses on the significance of industry chain analysis and all variables, both upstream and downstream. These include equipment and raw materials, client surveys, marketing channels, and industry trends and proposals. Other significant information covering consumption, key regions and distributors, and raw material suppliers are also a covered in this report.Finally, the Bio-fertilizers Market report ends with a detailed SWOT analysis of the market, investment feasibility and returns, and development trends and forecasts. As with every report on Orbis Research, the Bio-fertilizers Industry is the holy grail of information which serious knowledge seekers can benefit from. The report which is the result of ultimate dedication of pedigree professionals has a wealth of information which can benefit anyone, irrespective of their commercial or academic interest.About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customised reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialisation. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Us:Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019Email ID: sales@orbisresearch.com Hydraulic Cylinder Market in India Will Grow At A CAGR Of 14.67% During The Period 2017-2019 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=310847 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=310847 ALBANY, NY, April 28, 2017 : A hydraulic cylinder is a mechanical device that uses pressurized hydraulic fluid on the surface of the cylinder piston to enable linear movement of the piston. This force pushes the piston rod that is connected to the load. The hydraulic cylinder converts the energy of the hydraulic fluid into useful mechanical force. A hydraulic cylinder consists of a cylinder barrel, piston, piston rod, rod gland, cushions, seals, and a cylinder base. The common and highly preferred hydraulic cylinders are plunger cylinders, telescoping cylinders, cable cylinders, and diaphragm cylinders.Technavio's analysts forecast the hydraulic cylinder market in India to grow at a CAGR of 14.67% over the period 2014-2019.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Covered in this reportThe report includes the present scenario and the growth prospects of the hydraulic cylinder market in India for 2015-2019. The market can be segmented based on end-users: earthmoving equipment, material handling equipment, agriculture equipment, industrial, and other equipment manufacturers.Technavio's report, Hydraulic Cylinder Market in India 2015-2019, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsDantal HydraulicsBoschVeljan DenisonWipro Infrastructure EngineeringOther prominent vendorsOgnibene PowerOscar EquipmentSalzgitter HydraulicsSchwing Stetter IndiaTAFE AccessUTKey market driverHeavy investments in infrastructureFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey market challengeIncraesed preference for pneumatic cylindersFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey market trendGrowing importance of renting and leasing of equipmentFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMake an Enquiry of this report @Key questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2019 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?ResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMoz90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States Pacemaker Market Growth, Consumption, Demand, Leading Performers Profile Analysis 2016 to 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1587 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/pacemaker-market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/hepatitis-c-diagnosis-treatment-market Market Scenario:A pacemaker is a small device that is used to regulate your heart rhythm. The pacemaker system, which consists of a battery pack (pulse generator) and either one of two wires (leads), is surgically implanted under the skin in your chest, just beneath your collarbone. The pacemaker continuously senses your heart's natural rhythm and will stimulate the heart to beat when it senses that your own heart rhythm is too slow.It will stimulate your heart to beat in a way that mimics your heart's own electrical beat. Increasing number of cardiovascular diseases, changing food habits and adaptation of junk food leading to the heart problems are some of the key factor responsible for the growth of the global Pacemaker Market. The market for pacemaker is booming.Key Players ATS Medical Biotronik GmbH & Co. KG Boston Scientific Corporation Edwards Lifesciences Medtronic PLC Sorin Group St. Jude Medical Inc. Vitatron Holding B.V. Zoll Medical CorporationRequest a Sample Report @Segments:Global pacemaker market has been segmented on the basis of types which comprises of Implantable, Single chamber, Dual chamber, External. On the basis of applications, market is segmented into unipolar, bipolar and others. On the basis of end users, market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, cardiac research institutes, ambulatory centers, diagnostic centers and others.Intended Audience Pacemaker manufacturers Pacemaker suppliers Research and Development (R&D) Companies Government Research Laboratories Independent Research Laboratories Government and Independent Regulatory Authorities Market Research and Consulting Service Providers Medical Research Laboratories Academic Medical Institutes and UniversitiesBrowse Report @Americaso North Americao USo Canadao Latin AmericaEuropeo Western Europeo Germanyo Franceo Italyo Spaino UKo Rest of Western Europeo Eastern EuropeAsia Pacifico Chinao Indiao Japano South Koreao Rest of Asiao PacificThe report for Global Pacemaker Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regionsRelated ReportHepatitis C Diagnosis & Treatment market Information, by diagnostic tests (Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA), Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CIA), Point-of-Care Rapid Immunoassays and Recombinant Immunoblot Assay (RIBA)) - Forecast to 2022About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Depth Research of Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Digital Media Market in Mexico Industry 2017 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=964290 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=964290 ALBANY, NY, April 28, 2017 : With a population of around 121 million and a fixed-line teledensity of around 18% Mexicos telecom sector retains significant potential for growth over the next few years. The fixed-line market is still dominated by the incumbent Telmex, with about 62% market share, while the mobile market is dominated by Telmexs sister company Telcel, both being owned by America Movil. However, telecom reform laws passed in recent years will go far to making Mexicos telecom market more competitive.The mobile market is undergoing considerable changes in the wake of efforts to curb the market dominance of Telcel, the entry of AT&T Mexico following its acquisition of Nextel Mexico and Iusacell, and the greater competitive role being played by MVNOs. Telcel still accounts for about 66% of the market by subscribers, though it is in the process of selling assets to reduce its share to below 50%. The regulator has also endeavoured to encourage competition through issuing additional spectrum. In January 2017 the Altan consortium was contracted to manage a wholesale mobile network for 20 years, aimed at delivering mobile voice and data to underserved areas. The network is to be made available for use from March 2018. Separately, the regulator February 2017 published a plan to auction up to 130MHz of spectrum in the 2.5GHz band later in the year, geared to improving mobile broadband services.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The broadband sector is one of the highest growth areas in Mexicos telecoms market, although it suffers from a lack of competition to the dominant player Telmex, which still accounts for the lions share of subscribers. The pay TV sector is similarly concentrated, with Grupo Televisa the dominant player in the cable TV sector as also in the satellite TV sector, where it is a major shareholder in Sky Mexico.This report provides statistics and analyses on Mexicos fixed-line market, as well as an overview of regulatory developments. In addition the report covers the mobile market, including a range statistical data as well as subscriber forecasts to 2021, as well as an assessment of the broadband and internet markets, including technology developments and the migration to fibre infrastructure.Key developments:America Movil secures an additional 60MHz of spectrum in the 2.5GHz band from Grupo MVS;Movistar signs national roaming deal with Telcel;Telcel and AT&T Mexico secure AWS spectrum licences at auction;Regulator issues plan for auction of 2.5GHz spectrum expected in Q3 2017;Altan consortium selected to operate the nationwide wholesale mobile network using 700MHz band spectrum;Movistar to invest MXN3 billion to expand LTE to 300 cities by 2018;Report update includes the regulators market data report to June 2016, telcos financial and operating data to Q4 2016, market developments.Companies mentioned in this report:Telcel, Movistar, Iusacell, Telefonos de Mexico (Telmex), Axtel, Alestra, Maxcom, Marcatel, AT&T Mexico, America Movil, Nextel Mexico, Movistar (Telefonica Mexico), Globalstar, Unefon, Virgin Mobile, Weex, Megacable, Cablemas, Cablevision, Grupo Televisa, Sistemas Interactivos de Telecomunicaciones (SIT), Megafon, InterCable, CFE.Make an Enquiry of this report @Table of Contents1. Key statistics1.1 Country overview2. Telecommunications market2.1 Historical overview2.2 Market analysis2.3 Telecoms reform3. Regulatory environment3.1 Regulatory authorities3.2 Privatisation3.3 Deregulation3.4 Foreign investment rules4. Fixed network operators4.1 Introduction4.2 Telmex/America MovilResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMoz90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States Global Offshore Wind Energy Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2022 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=297263 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=297263 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Offshore Wind Energy Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2014 - 2022" to its huge collection of research reports.This research study has been designed to analyze and estimate the market for offshore wind energy globally both in terms of installed capacity (MW) and investments (USD Million). The global market for offshore wind energy has been segmented geographically into four regional segments and nine unique country segments. The regional segments include Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe. The nine countries which have been separately addressed in this report are the U.K, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands, China, Japan, and the U.S. The market report features an in-depth geographic segmentation along with market growth forecasts for the 20142022 period. For this market study, 2013 has been taken as the base year, while all forecasts are for the 20142022 period.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @This report addresses the key market dynamics impacting the capacity additions for offshore wind energy globally. As a part of our market dynamics analysis, we separately consider and analyze market drivers, market restraints, and market opportunities. The report also provides a detailed analysis of the global offshore wind energy market with the help of Porters Five Forces model. The Porters Five Forces analysis aids in understanding the five major forces that affect the industry structure and also impacts capacity additions for offshore wind energy globally. The forces analyzed are the bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat from new entrants, threat from substitutes, and degree of competition. The report also includes a glimpse of the global offshore wind energy market value chain. The interaction and roles of various stakeholders ranging from component suppliers and turbine manufacturers to project developers and end-users have been elucidated in detail. The market attractiveness analysis involves benchmarking and ranking of each region on the basis of numerous parameters. The parameters selected are likely to have a pronounced effect on the capacity additions for the offshore wind energy in that region, both currently and in the near future.Apart from this, the report features a highly detailed and granular analysis of costs of offshore wind turbines. The cost breakdown analysis is further supplemented with the cost reduction factors and an analysis on which factors would emerge as game changers for the offshore wind energy sector within the forecast period. The report also includes a broad overview of certain mergers, acquisitions, and other deals that have occurred in the sector and are likely to have a major impact on market dynamics in the future. Key participants in the offshore wind energy sector include Siemens Wind Power, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Goldwind Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica S.A., GE Wind Energy, Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd., Dong Energy A/S, Suzlon Group, Nordex SE, and China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Limited. This report provides an overview of these companies, followed by their financial revenues, business strategies, and recent developments.Offshore Wind Energy Market: Regional Analysis- North America- U.S.- Rest of North America- Europe- U.K- Germany- Denmark- Belgium- Sweden- Netherlands- Rest of Europe- Asia Pacific- China- Japan- Rest of Asia Pacific- Rest of the WorldMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Worldwide Internet of Things (IoT) Market Analysis, Growth, Size, Shares, Strategies and Forecasts 2017 to 2023 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1054302 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1054302 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Internet of Things (IoT) Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2017 to 2023" to its huge collection of research reports.The 2017 study has 678 pages, 240 tables and figures. Worldwide Internet of Things (IoT) markets are poised to achieve significant growth with the use of sensors, cameras, and platforms that are used to help implement precision digital control and send alerts for all manner or management of devices and machinery. Visualization and digitization let people better control any device or mechanical thing.Providers of Industrial IoT aim to implement asset efficiency solutions. Designing the asset efficiency solution, developing the application, adapting advanced engineering knowledge for the use cases, and supplying the information platform is the composite task of the analytics engine. IBM is a premier supplier of an analytics engine with its Watson product.There is enormous variety in the Internet of things markets. Bosch supplies industrial IoT sensor technology, acquiring data from the edge, providing device management. Scalability is achieved by the Bosch IoT Suite and ProSyst IoT middleware. The Vorto code generator enables M2M modelling. PTC supplies the Thingworx Application Enablement Platform (AEP), used for creating dashboards, widgets and other user interface elements. Intel provides the Moon Island Gateway used for data aggregation at the edge, as well as horizontal infrastructure in collaboration with HP.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Hitachi analytics is used to diagnose manufacturing process. Hitachi uses its analytics platform to integrate production and sensor data outputs to help visualize, analyze and diagnose a manufacture polymer mixing problems. A polymer mixing process was said to be producing inconsistent output quality, with yields dipping to 50%. Hitachi addressed the scrapping of poor batches and huge costs by addressing ever-changing product specifications and variations in a range of production parameters. Using IoT and the analytics platform, production engineers were able to stabilize the process even as new product formulations were introduced.The Internet of Things (IoT) is the next Industrial Revolution. It will impact the way all businesses, governments, and consumers interact with the physical world. 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps speed has been used in data centers for years. The jump to 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps has come rapidly as a result of the need to increase the quantity of data managed inside the data center with more analytics and more applications. Many of the Cloud 2.0 mega data centers have moved to 100 Gbps, presaging the move to 400 Gbps.One reason for the increase in speed is the growth of data consumption, attributed to smartphones, social media, video streaming, Internet of Things (IoT), and big data. Big pipes are used to cope with the huge quantities of data that are being transferred.Users, partners, suppliers and other mega-datacenters communicate using digital systems that are automated and self-healing. The effect on the business is compelling, managers have much more responsibility to create maps of strategy and work with IT to see that developers tune the software to fit the current competitive environment.The explosion of data comes from smart phone apps and IoT digital onslaught of streaming data that needs to be processed in real time to look for anomalies, look for change, set alerts, and provide automated response to shifts.Transparency is one of the benefits of IoT that sensors bring to digital controls. The benefits of digital manufacturing, farming, and automotive vehicles are higher productivity and more efficient use of resource. Transparency in is being asked for by consumers. Consumers want to know where their food came from, how much water and chemicals were used in food preparation, and when and how the food was harvested and transported. They want to know about consistent refrigeration during transport.Use of IoT sensors and cameras represents a key milestone in provision of value to every industry. Customized cameras are used to take photos and videos with stunning representations. Digital controls will further automate flying and driving, making ease of use, flight stability, and automated cars a reality. New materials and new designs are bringing that transformation forward. By furthering innovation, IoT continued growth is assured.The worldwide market for Internet of Things (IoT) is $16.3 billion in 2016 anticipated to reach $185.9 billion by 2023. Sensors and software analytics platforms are implemented with connectivity capability for streaming data from endpoints and using analytics to process the data in a manner that generates alerts when appropriate. The complete report provides a comprehensive analysis of Internet of Things (IoT) in different categories, illustrating the diversity of uses for digital tracking devices in industry, healthcare and consumer markets. Analytics makes the images more cogent to everyone, farmers, doctors, machine operators, the uses of IoT are quite diverse. Letting people anticipate problems that only become visible to humans days or weeks after the sensors and images detect issues is a fundamental aspect of IoT, along with generating apocopate levels of alerts. Not too many and not too few.Market Leaders- IBM- Amazon- Google- GE- Intel- Verizon- Microsoft- Hewlett Packard Enterprise- Cisco- Samsung- Huawei- AT&T- SAP- Siemens- Softbank / Arm / Sprint- Apple- PTC- BoschSelected Market Participants- Aerialtronics- Adobe- Amazon- Apple- AutoDesk- AutoDesk CAD-in-the-Cloud- Bosch- Cisco Systems- Digi Inter- national- Cybus- Enevo Oy Technologies- Essence- General Electric GE- GE Wireless Sensor Networks- Google- Google / Nest Learning- Thermostat- Google Chromecast- Health Slam -IoT Slam- Huawei- Huawei Partners with China- Telecom, Shenzhen Gas On Smart- Utility- IBM Corporation- Infineon Technologies AG- Infineon Chip Card & Security- Intel Corporation- Intel Acquires Mobileye- Internet of Things Community- KT- Microsoft- Microsoft- Microsoft / Mojang AB Minecraft- Microsoft / Skype / GroupMe- Free Group Messaging- MuleSoft- Nokia- oneM2M- Panoramic Power- Oracle- PTC- Qualcomm- Samsung- Samsung Agreed to Buy Harman- Harman International Industries (ADITI TECHNOLOGIES)- SAP- Schaeffler- Sierra Wireless Business and- Innovation Development- Sigfox- Softbank- Softbank IBM Watson- Softbank Sprint- Softbank Yahoo- Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS- Spirent- STMicroelectronics- Symantec / Norton- Symantec Creating Trusted- Interactions Online- Schneider Electric Software, Llc.- Uber- UIB- Zebra- ZTEKey Topics- Internet of Things (IoT)- IoT Endpoints- Universal IoT Platform- IoT Suite- Web Services- Blockchain Networks- Wireless Sensor Networks- Security and Energy Management- Healthcare- Transportation- Self Driving Cars- Agriculture IoT- Weather IoT- Financial IoT- Industrial IoT- Manufacturing IoT- Security IoT- Energy Management Internet of Things- IoT Security- Healthcare IoT- Wearable Technology- Self-Driving Cars- Connected Cars- Rail Transportation IoT- Sensor and Computing Configurations- Agricultural and Weather IoT- IoT chipsetsMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Worldwide Blood Glucose Device Market Share for three countries to be more than 60 percent USA, Russia and UK http://www.renub.com/worldwide-blood-glucose-device-market-share-for-three-countries-to-be-more-than-60-percent-ndash-usa-russia-and-uk-24-nd.php http://www.renub.com Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose (SMBG) device market is primary dependent on diabetes population. In 2015, as per International Diabetes Federation, one in 11 adults has been suffering from diabetes and this trend is forecasted to increase to one in 10 adults by 2040. It shows that diabetes prevalence is continuously growing which help to boost the SMBG device market globally. Our research report Blood Glucose Device Market & Forecast (SMBG) (Test Strips, Lancet, Meter) Worldwide Analysis provide details on following points: Diabetes Population Numbers (Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes) & Forecast Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose (SMBG) Devices Users & Forecast Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Devices (SMBG) Market (Test Strips, Lancet, Glucose Meter) & ForecastDownload full Report:15 Countries Covered Blood Glucose Device Market & Patient Numbers Covered Europe Blood Glucose Device Market (United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia) BRIC Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Device Market (Brazil, Russia, India China) United States Blood Glucose Device Market Australia Blood Glucose Device Market Kuwait Blood Glucose Device MarketIncreasing Diabetes Population WorldwideWorld leaders, politicians and policy leaders can no longer afford to ignore the evidence of diabetes. Peoples are suffering from diabetes from communities in the Northern Territories of Australia to the manic streets of India Mumbai as well as the wealthy avenues of USA Manhattan and around the world in metropolitan cities and rural community in sub-Saharan Africa where diabetes is drastically on the growth. Almost half of the total diabetes population is not aware they have it and nearly 75 percent of all people with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries. Worldwide diabetes population is expected to increase to 642 Million by 2040, from 415 Million in 2015.Test Strips Market Dominating Worldwide Blood Glucose Device Market (SMBG)SMBG device is the combination of blood glucose meter, blood glucose test strips and lancet devices. For performing the self-monitoring of blood glucose, users need all three devices at once. Blood glucose lancet is used for the skin to obtain a drop of a blood sample that is then placed on a disposable blood glucose test strip which is inserted into a blood glucose meter to calculate the glucose level in the blood.Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose (SMBG) Device Market is Mainly Dominated by Developed CountriesSMBG device market is mainly dominated by developed countries such as United States, Russia and United Kingdom. These three together hold more than 60 percent of the Global SMBG market share. High per capita spending, affordable healthcare infrastructure, growing awareness about diabetes, government diabetes control policy, government insurance policy and reimbursement plan playing the major role to lead the developed countries in this marketplace.Contact UsRajat GuptaBusiness Development ManagerEmail: info@renub.comPhone: +1-678-302-0700 (USA), +91-120-421-9822 (India)Web:Renub Research is a leading Market Research and Information Analysis Company with centers at Noida India and Roswell USA. We have long-term experience especially in international Business-to-Business Researches, Surveys, Business and Consulting. Throughout the years we have acquired expertise in most market sectors, including Information Technology (IT), Telecoms, Life Sciences, Medical & Pharmaceuticals, Financial Services (Banking, Insurance, Reinsurance, M&A, etc.), Energy, Chemicals, Automotive, Retail, FMCG, Consumer Goods, Logistics, Governmental, Social, and Others.Our core team is comprised of an experienced people holding graduate, post graduate and Ph.D. degrees in Finance, Marketing, Human Resource, Bio-Technology, Medicine, Information Technology, Environmental Science and many more. Our research help make the business decisions: on strategy, organization, operations, technology, mergers & acquisitions etc. We support many blue chip companies by providing them findings and perspectives across a wide range of markets. Our research reports offer a blend of information insight, analysis and forecasting that is essential in todays ultra-competitive markets.225 Kristie Ln, Roswell, GA 30076, United States China Cyber Security Of Security Hardware Market Research Report 2017 Market Size (Volume And Value), And The Segment Markets By Regions, Types, Applications And Companies http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1039637 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/1039637 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report China Cyber Security of Security Hardware Market Research Report 2017 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"About Cyber Security of Security Hardware MarketThis report studies Cyber Security of Security Hardware in China market, focuses on the top players in China market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringGet Sample Copy of this report @VenustechWestoneH3CHuaweiTopsecNsfocusSangfor360 Enterprise SecuritySymantec CorporationAsiainfoDBAPPSecurity LtdOthersView Report @Market Segment by Regions (provinces), coveringSouth ChinaEast ChinaSouthwest ChinaNortheast ChinaNorth ChinaCentral ChinaNorthwest ChinaSplit by product Type, with production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoSafety CertificationAuthentication Tokensmart cardBiometric SystemsSecurity ApplicationsFirewallIDSIPSSCMOthersSplit by Application, this report focuses on consumption, market share and growth rate of Cyber Security of Security Hardware in each application, can be divided intoGovernmentEducationEnterpriseFinancialMedicalOthersTable of ContentsChina Cyber Security of Security Hardware Market Research Report 20171 Cyber Security of Security Hardware Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Cyber Security of Security Hardware1.2 Cyber Security of Security Hardware Segment by Type1.2.1 China Production Market Share of Cyber Security of Security Hardware Type in 20151.2.2 Safety Certification1.2.3 Authentication Token1.2.4 smart card1.2.5 Biometric Systems1.2.6 Security Applications1.2.7 Firewall1.2.8 IDS1.2.9 IPS1.2.10 SCM1.2.11 Others1.3 Applications of Cyber Security of Security Hardware1.3.1 Cyber Security of Security Hardware Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Government1.3.3 Education1.3.4 Enterprise1.3.5 Financial1.3.6 Medical1.3.7 Others1.4 China Market Size (Value) of Cyber Security of Security Hardware (2012-2022)1.5 China Cyber Security of Security Hardware Status and Outlook1.6 Government Policies2 China Cyber Security of Security Hardware Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 China Cyber Security of Security Hardware Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 China Cyber Security of Security Hardware Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 China Cyber Security of Security Hardware Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.4 Manufacturers Cyber Security of Security Hardware Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Type2.5 Cyber Security of Security Hardware Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Cyber Security of Security Hardware Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Cyber Security of Security Hardware Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 ManufacturersMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Latest Trend and Development : Mobile Data and Digital Services are Key drivers of the Telecom Market 2017 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=909446 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=909446 ALBANY, NY, April 28, 2017 : The telecommunications market in Philippines is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% during 2016-2021, driven by growth in mobile data and fixed broadband segments. Mobile data will be the largest contributor segment through 2021. Going forward, operators' investment in 4G network, modernization of existing 3G networks, deployment of fiber connectivity for provision of digital services will present significant opportunities for vendors and investors.Key Findings- The overall telecom service revenue in Philippines is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% during 2016-2021, mainly driven by data segment.- Operators are focusing on expanding 4G coverage and offering attractive data plans to boost data usage.- Mobile revenue will account for 63.5% of the total telecom revenue in 2021; mobile data will be the fastest growing segment over 2016-2021.- The Philippines telecom market will continue to be dominated by the duopoly of PLDT (Smart) and Globe Telecom during the forecast period.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @SynopsisPhilippines: Mobile Data and Digital Services are Key drivers of the Telecom Market.' a new Country Intelligence Report , provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in Philippines today, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2021. Published annually, the report provides detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, competitive dynamics and evolution of demand by service type and technology/platform across the fixed telephony, broadband and mobile sectors, as well as a review of key regulatory trends.The Country Intelligence Report provides in-depth analysis of the following:- Regional context: telecom market size and trends in Philippines compared with other countries in the region.- Economic, demographic and political context in Philippines.- The regulatory environment and trends: a review of the regulatory setting and agenda for the next 18-24 months as well as relevant developments pertaining to spectrum licensing, national broadband plans, number portability and more.- A demand profile: analysis as well as historical figures and forecasts of service revenue from the fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice and mobile data.- Service evolution: a look at changes in the breakdown of overall revenue between the fixed and mobile sectors and between voice and data from 2016 to 2021.- The competitive landscape: an examination of key trends in competition and in the performance, revenue market shares and expected moves of service providers over the next 18-24 months.- In-depth sector analysis of fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice and mobile data: a quantitative analysis of service adoption trends by network technology and by operator, as well as of average revenue per line/subscription and service revenue through the end of the forecast period.- Main opportunities: this section details the near-term opportunities for operators, vendors and investors in Philippines telecommunication market.Table of ContentsExecutive summaryMarket and competitor overviewRegional contextEconomic, demographic and political contextRegulatory environmentDemand profileService evolutionCompetitive landscapeMajor market playersSegment analysisMobile servicesFixed servicesPay-TvIdentifying opportunitiesOverall market opportunitiesMake an Enquiry of this report @List of TablesPhilippines telecom market size and growth prospects in a regional context, 2016ECountry indicatorsRegulatory structure and policyMajor telecommunications policy issuesPhilippines communications market revenue , 2014-2021, US$Segment revenue CAGRs, 2016-2021, US$Segment revenues 2014-2021Service revenue mix: voice, data & video, 2016, 2021Service revenue mix: fixed & mobile, 2016, 2021ResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMoz90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States Global Logistics Outsourcing Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 - Exel Logistics, Menlo Worldwide Logistics, FedEx, Ryder Logistics, Tibbett and Britten http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1066835&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com This report studies the global Logistics Outsourcing market, analyzes and researches the Logistics Outsourcing development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeExel Logistics (U.K.)Menlo Worldwide Logistics (U.S.)FedEx (U.S.)Ryder Logistics (U.S.)Tibbett and Britten (U.K.)Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, Logistics Outsourcing can be split intoMaterial ManagementSupply Chain ManagementDistribution ManagementShipment PackagingChannel ManagementMarket segment by Application, Logistics Outsourcing can be split intoAir TransportationSea TransportationRailway TransportationHighway TransportationTo Get Free PDF Brochure of Sample Report Visit @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Logistics Outsourcing1.1 Logistics Outsourcing Market Overview1.1.1 Logistics Outsourcing Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Logistics Outsourcing Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Logistics Outsourcing Market by Type1.3.1 Material Management1.3.2 Supply Chain Management1.3.3 Distribution Management1.3.4 Shipment Packaging1.3.5 Channel Management1.4 Logistics Outsourcing Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Air Transportation1.4.2 Sea Transportation1.4.3 Railway Transportation1.4.4 Highway TransportationQYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations.QYResearchReports1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com BERLIN: Germany is donating an additional 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion) to boost the rollout of vaccines in the worlds poorest countries, the finance minister said Friday, increasing an earlier contribution of 600 million euros. Today we want to make clear: we stand with the poorest countries. Germany is providing a further 1.5 billion euros for Covax, WHO and others, Olaf Scholz said in a statement. Vaccines are the only way out of the pandemic. The move was announced following a virtual G7 meeting at which leaders pledged to ensure coronavirus vaccines reach everyone in the world.AFP Cubic Boron Nitride Market Forecast 2016 - 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cubic-boron-nitride-films.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1917 Cubic boron nitride (CBN) is a synthetically manufactured material, which is second to only diamond in hardness. One of its common synthesis processes is direct conversion of hexagonal boron nitride to CBN by treating at high pressure and temperature. CBN abrasives possess characteristics that exceed the values of conventional abrasives; for example, high strength and hardness, resistance to chemicals, heat, and abrasion; and ability to maintain the sharp cutting edges during use.Browse Market Research Report @ :The report estimates and forecasts the cubic boron nitride market on the global and regional levels. The study provides forecast between 2016 and 2024 based on volume (tons) and revenue (US$ Mn) with 2015 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage. The study includes drivers and restraints for the cubic boron nitride market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The study also provides key market indicators affecting the growth of the market. The report analyzes opportunities in the cubic boron nitride market on the global and regional level. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities mentioned in the report are justified through quantitative and qualitative data. These have been verified through primary and secondary resources. Furthermore, the report analyzes substitute analysis of cubic boron nitride and global average price trend analysis.The report includes Porters Five Forces Model to determine the degree of competition in the cubic boron nitride market. The report comprises a qualitative write-up on market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users and regions have been analyzed based on attractiveness for each region. Growth rate, market size, raw material availability, profit margin, impact strength, technology, competition, and other factors (such as environmental and legal) have been evaluated in order to derive the general attractiveness of the market. The report comprises price trend analysis for cubic boron nitride between 2016 and 2024.Global Cubic Boron Nitride Market: SegmentationThe study provides a comprehensive view of the cubic boron nitride market by dividing it into product, application and geography segments. The products have been segmented into inserts, wheels, mesh and powder. The applications are segmented into raw abrasives, coatings, cutting & grinding, lapping & polishing, and others. These segments have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends. Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast consumption of cubic boron nitride in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Market segmentation includes demand for consumption in all the regions individually.For more information on this report, fill the form @ :The product segment includes compounds of strontium such as inserts, wheels, mesh, and powder. Inserts are widely and predominantly used in cutting and grinding processes. Their shape, size, and content of CBN is determined by the processes in which they are expected to be employed. Powder is used as a raw material for manufacturing bonded abrasives, coated abrasives, polishes, cleaners, abrasive tools, grinding pastes, and other abrasive products. The application segment includes raw abrasives, coatings, cutting & grinding, lapping & polishing, and others. CBN is an extremely hard material and hence widely used as an abrasive, specifically in high-temperature applications. It is also widely used to coat a grinding wheel for fine grinding and lapping applications. Since the cutting and grinding of hardened and carbide steel is difficult, CBN powder or mesh, in the form of a coated surface over a grinding or polishing wheel, is used to perform finishing processes such as polishing, grinding, and lapping.CBN is a synthetic material produced by treating hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) at high pressure and temperature. This process is similar to the production of synthetic diamond from graphite. The pressure range required for the process is high; however, this range can lowered by addition of boron oxide during the reaction. Sometimes, catalysts such as lithium, potassium, or magnesium and their nitrides and/or fluoronitrides are also required. To avoid growth of hexagonal phases or structures during explosive shock wave method or crystal growth in a temperature gradient method, boron trifluoride is added. These factors make the CBN manufacturing process expensive, which can act as a restraint to the market. Use of CBN has been increasingly recognized in tool and cutter grinding applications as well as mass production grinding operations carried out in industries such as automotive, general engineering, and aerospace. CBN tools are more advantageous in comparison to traditional abrasives, which acts as a driver for the CBN market.Global Cubic Boron Nitride Market: Research MethodologySecondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to, European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA), Metal Finishing News (MFN), Unified Abrasives Manufacturers' Association (UAMA), Federation of the European Producers of Abrasives (FEPA), company websites, financial reports, annual reports, investor presentations, broker reports, and SEC filings. Other sources such as internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases and market reports, news articles, national government documents, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market have also been referred for the report.In-depth interviews and discussions with a wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and strengthening secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.Global Cubic Boron Nitride Market: Competitive AnalysisThe report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include 3M, Saint-Gobain, Element Six, NanoDiamond Products, Sandvik AB, Tomei Diamond Co. Ltd., Show Denko K.K., ILJIN Diamond Co. Ltd., and Asahi Diamond Industrial Co. Ltd. Company profiles include attributes such as company overview, number of employees, brand overview, key competitors, business overview, business strategies, recent/key developments, acquisitions, and financial overview (wherever applicable).The global cubic boron nitride market has been segmented as follows:By ProductInsertsWheelsMeshPowderBy ApplicationRaw AbrasivesCoatingsCutting & GrindingLapping & PolishingOthersAbout UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207 Automotive Seat Recliners Market Set to Witness an Uptick during 2016-2024 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10978 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10978 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Automotive Seat Recliners Market: OverviewAutomotive industries are prominent field in todays experimental world with constant innovative technologies playing in to deliver better comfort and secured ride for occupants. Automotive recliner is a type of seating which reclines backwards upon leaning and raises its footrest by means of a lever. Automotive seat recliner is a key component in automotive seating systems to provide comfort for neck, spine and foot while driving so that one feel relaxed. Automotive seat recliner mechanism consists of seat cushion and seat back with upper and lower arm mounted, spiral springs to exercise radial forces on a rotatable cam for locking and unlocking operation. High quality chromium steel or magnesium are mostly used as materials to withstand high impact forces during accidents which can otherwise harm the occupant. For the increased seat size twin recliners are used to endure static and fatigue loads. Growing automotive industries globally and major players launching innovative models generates bright prospectus for automotive seat recliners market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Automotive Seat Recliners Market: Drivers and RestraintsAutomotive seat recliners market is driven by the demand for comfortable and relaxed seating and also with new trends in seat designs and increasing demand for premium vehicles has opened opportunities for automotive seat recliners market. The emerging technological advancements in automotive seat recliners is also fostering the growth for automotive seat recliners market. For instance, one of the major player Faurecia has launched a technologically innovative seat recliner in the market which detects persons health conditions such as respiration, heart rate and replies with solution such as energizing massage, warming or cooling according to the need, this emerging trend is expected to foster growth in the automotive seat recliners market globally. However, the increased seat recliners cost with variety of features in-build is limited to premium vehicles which might restraint the global automotive seat recliner market causing lesser impact in low economic regions.Automotive Seat Recliners Market: SegmentationOn the basis of vehicle type automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows: Passenger Cars, Light commercial vehicles, Heavy commercial vehicles.On the basis of type of recliners automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows: Lever type recliner, Rotary type recliner, Slider type recliner, Slider cum latch, recliner, Walk in recliner, Rear seat recliner. On the basis of recliner mechanism automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows: Ratchet / Tooth engagement Recliner, Taumel Recliner, Power Taumel, Recliner. On the basis of distribution channel automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows: Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Aftermarket, Automotive Seat Recliners Market: Region Wise Outlook.The global automotive seat recliner market is divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Among the aforementioned regions the APEJ market for automotive seat recliner market is expected to hold the largest market share by the end of forecast period. The exponentially growing automotive sector with advanced technologies in China is contributing to the growth of automotive seat recliner market in the region. The Latin America market and Western Europe market is followed by the APEJ market for automotive seat recliners. Japan being the automotive manufacturer hub, automotive seat recliner market in the region is expected to show significant growth. The market in Middle East and Africa are expected for improvement during the forecast period.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Automotive Seat Recliners Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified in the global automotive seat recliners market includes: Lear Corporation, SHIROKI Corporation, IFB Automotive Private Limited, Johnson Controls, Inc., Faurecia, Atwood Mobile Products, Toyota Motor Corporation, Fisher & Company.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geography, technology and applications.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Head-up Display Market is Expected to Reach US$ 7.0 Billion by 2022 https://www.marketresearchengine.com/reportdetails/head-up-display-market-report https://www.marketresearchengine.com/ New York, April 28: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Head-up Display Market by Type (Combiner Projected HUDs, Windshield Projected HUDs) and by Applications (Aviation, Automotive, Others) - Global Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2022The Head Up Display market is expected to exceed more than US$ 7.0 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of more than 19% in the given forecast period 2016 to 2022.Browse Full Report:A Head Up Display (HUD) is a digital transparent image which is estimated on the windshield of a car and presents the same information obtained from the dash board. It contains various data such as current speed and revs on your engine and all different temperature gauges. The use of head up display is very easy, in that we have to use transparent film on the wind shield. After that putting head up display on your vehicles dash board. Then pair HUD wirelessly with your well suited Bluetooth enabled smart phone.The major driving factors of head up display market are as follows:High growth in luxury car and high end car segments mainly in emerging market provides growth which drive to the market.Increasing demand from aviation division and automotive division.The restraints factors of head up display market are as follows:High development costThe head up display market is segmented on the lines of its type and applications. Based on type of segmentation it covers windshield projected HUDs and combiner projected HUDs. The head up display market is segmented on the lines of its application like automotive, aviation and other. The head up display market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for head up display and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2022.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for head up display4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of coatings with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Denso Corporation, Delphi Automotive PLC, BAE Systems plc, Thales Group, Pioneer Corporation, and Nippon Seiki Co. Ltd.. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary, business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Head up Display Market has been segmented as below:By Type AnalysisWindshield projected HUDsCombiner projected HUDsBy Application AnalysisAutomotiveAviationOtherBy Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldReasons to Buy this Report:1) Obtain the most up to date information available on all head up display market.2) Identify growth segments and opportunities in the industry.3) Facilitate decision making on the basis of strong historic and forecast of head up display market data.4) Assess your competitors refining portfolio and its evolution.About MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States Global Structural Steel Market is Expected to Reach USD 140.4 Billion by 2025 Orbis Research http://www.orbisresearch.com/reports/index/structural-steel-market-analysis-by-application-non-residential-industrial-commercial-offices-institutional-residential-by-region-competitive-landscape-and-segment-forecasts-2014-2025 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/267635 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contact/purchase/267635 The global structural steel market is expected to reach USD 140.4 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. recovery of construction industry in developed markets of the U.S., Germany and UK is expected to foster industry growth.Browse the report:Increasing awareness among end-users owing to advantages such as design flexibility, energy efficiency and faster completion of prefabricated/engineered building (PEBs) projects using channels and beams is expected to drive demand. Upsurge in infrastructure development projects in China and India, improving standards of living, high urbanization rates and requirements for sanitation are the major growth drivers for Asia Pacific region, particularly in commercial and residential sectors.Companies are investing in R&D for technological advancements, cost minimization, and production maximization. Technologies deployed for the production are thin-slab casting, electric furnace and vacuum degassing. Residential segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1%, from 2016 to 2025, owing to rapid urbanization and positive outlook on economic development. It minimizes the loads on foundations and also reduces sub-structure costs in residential buildings.Request a sample of the report:Further key findings from the report suggest:Structural steel market volume was estimated at nearly 125 million tons in 2015, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 4.0% from 2016 to 2025.North Asia emerged as the leading regional market and accounted for over 60% of the overall volume in 2015. North Asia is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period owing to increasing construction spending in countries such as China, Japan and Hong Kong.Demand in construction industry is further driven by adoption of advancements in structural design methods, evolving building practices, and strong raw material availability.Buy the report@Industrial applications are likely to generate high demand as well over the forecast period owing to governments focus towards construction development such as Smart Cities project in India.India is one of the fastest emerging economies in steel production and is characterized by substantial number of economic reforms and implementation of merger & acquisition deals by companies.Major key operating companies include Baogang Group, Bohai Group Co., Ltd., Anshan Iron & Group Corporation, Anyang Iron & Group Corporation, Arcelor Mittal S.A., Benxi Beiying Group Co. Ltd., Evraz Group, Hebei Group, POSCO, Tata Limited, Steel Authority of India Limited, Gerdau S.A. and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC).Major Points From Table Of Contents:Chapter One: Methodology and ScopeChapter Two: Executive SummaryChapter Two: Structural Steel Market Variables, Trends & ScopeChapter Four: Structural Steel Market: Application Estimates & Trend AnalysisChapter Five: Structural Steel Market: Regional Estimates & Trend AnalysisChapter Six: Competitive LandscapeChapter Seven: Company ProfilesAbout Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Information:Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Email: sales@orbisresearch.com Gold Customers Choice Award 2016 Creta Maris Beach Resort was awarded once again with the Gold Customers Choice Award 2016 by the Nordic tour operator Apollo Travel, during its annual event, which took place in the resorts premises.In a particularly festive annual event, Apollo Travel team presented the developments, prospects and strategy that the tour operator will follow in the years to come. Moreover, during the event, the Nordic tour operator awarded all the hotels of the prefectures of Heraklion and Lasithi, which distinguished, during the last tourism season, in their guests preferences.Creta Maris Beach Resort was among the resorts that were honored, receiving the Gold Customers Choice Award 2016. An award that proves the high preference shown by its Scandinavian guests and highlights the quality of the services offered.About Creta Maris Beach ResortCreta Maris Beach Resort belongs to Metaxas Group of Companies and has been operating since 1975. It has a capacity of 680 rooms, suites and bungalows, 6 restaurants, 7 bars, 7 swimming pools, gym, Hammam spa, Asterias Childrens Club, and a great space for outdoor and indoor activities.About Apollo Travel:Apollo Travel is one of Nordics leading tour operators, which consists of Apollo in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland and the airline Novair. The Apollo Travel Group have about 900 employees and about 1 million travelers to destinations all over the world.Creta Maris Beach Resort belongs to Metaxas Group of Companies and has been operating since 1975. It has a capacity of 680 rooms, suites and bungalows, 6 restaurants, 7 bars, 7 swimming pools, gym, Hammam spa, Asterias Childrens Club, and a great space for outdoor and indoor activities.On the other hand, Apollo Travel is one of Nordics leading tour operators, which consists of Apollo in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland and the airline Novair. The Apollo Travel Group have about 900 employees and about 1 million travelers to destinations all over the world.Creta Maris Beach ResortHersonissos, 70014, Crete GreeceTel.: (+30) 28970-27110Mrs Faye Papaioannoumarketing@maris.gr Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies Of Global Telehealth Market http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/466708 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: Global Telehealth Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsRequest For Sample Report @The report titled Global Telehealth Market: Trends and Opportunities (2016-2020) provides an in-depth analysis of global telehealth market focusing on important market aspects. It also accesses the key opportunities and underlying trends in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry in the forecasted period (2016-20). Further, key telehealth services providers such as Teladoc Inc, MDLIVE Inc and American Well are profiled in the report will their detailed market strategies.Geographical CoverageNorth America (The US)Europe (The UK)Company CoverageTeladoc IncMDLIVE IncAmerican WellExecutive SummaryTelehealth is a broader term which inculcates the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health etc. Telehealth is a subset of Digital Healthcare. It includes many medical subspecialties, such as Telecardiology, Teledermatology, Teleneurology, Telepathology, Telepsychiatry, Teleradiology, Telesurgery/Remote Surgery and Teletrauma. Specialties such as Telepediatrics and Telepsychiatry are practiced by using live videoconferencing systems.Globally, telehealth market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World (Middle East & Africa, and Latin America) region. The North American market commands the largest share of the global market, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region in this market. Detailed analysis with focus on key dynamics of North American and European markets is provided in the report.The major driving force for this market is the ageing population, rising prevalence of chronic diseases, rising cost of healthcare, etc. Technological innovations and advancements fuel the market growth. Major market constraints are low consumer adoption & utilization of telehealth, limited HER connectivity, reimbursement challenges and various regulatory and legal concerns. Key trends prevailing in the market includes Venture funding in telehealth companies, Acquisitions in the industry and improvement of reimbursement landscape globally.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz 2017-2022 Food Storage Container Report on United States and Global Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1055421&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com This report studies the Food Storage Container on United States and global market, focuses on the top players in US market and also the market status and outlook by type and application.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share (%) and growth Rate (%) of Food Storage Container in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East and AfricaThe major players in United States Food Storage Container market include Silgan Holdings, Ball Corporation, Bemis, Ardagh Group, Berry Plastics, Caraustar Industries, Graham Packaging, Owens-Illinois Group Incorporated, Crown Holdings Incorporated, Plastipak Holdings Incorporated, Packaging Dynamics Corporation, Evergreen Packaging, Manchester Industries, MeadWestvaco Corporation, PactivThe On the basis of product, the Food Storage Container market is primarily split intoFlexible PackagingPaperboardRigid PackagingMetal PackagingGlass PackagingOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversGrain Mill ProductsDairyFruits & VegetablesBakeryMeat Processed ProductsTo Get Free PDF Brochure of Sample Report Visit @Table of Contents1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation2 Food Storage Container Market Overview2.1 Food Storage Container Product Overview2.2 Food Storage Container Segment by Types (Product Category)2.2.1 Flexible Packaging2.2.2 Paperboard2.2.3 Rigid Packaging2.2.4 Metal Packaging2.2.5 Glass Packaging2.3 United States Food Storage Container Segment by Applications2.3.1 Grain Mill Products2.3.2 Dairy2.3.3 Fruits & Vegetables2.3.4 Bakery2.3.5 Meat Processed ProductsQYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations.QYResearchReports1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Global Child Day Care Service Market: Industry Size, Analysis, News study, Innovation, Overview, Growth, Share and Forecasts http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/246150 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ Latest industry research report on: Global Child Day Care Service Market : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, ForecastsThe report titled Global Child Day Care Services Market: Trends and Opportunities (2014-2019) analyzes the potential opportunities and significant trends in the global child day care service industry. The report provides detailed analysis of the global child day care service market including the country analysis of the U.S., Japan, India and Australia. It also provides specific data about the different types of child care services and large local players in the U.S., Japan, India and Australia child day care service market.Request For Sample Report @In depth analysis of key market growth drivers and challenges and the major observable trends in the global child day care service market are also evaluated in the report. Leading companies operating in the global child day care service market, namely G8 Education, Bright Horizons Family Solutions and JP Holdings, have been profiled with their respective business strategies and financial overview. The growth of the market has been projected taking into consideration various aspects like previous growth patterns, the current trends, the growth drivers and challenges prevailing in the child day care service market.Country CoverageUnited StatesJapanIndiaAustraliaCompany CoverageBright Horizons Family SolutionsG8 EducationJP HoldingsExecutive SummaryChild day care services are becoming a necessary expense for working parents. Over the past five years, revenue has continued to grow despite of recession, driven mostly by increasing birth rates, increase in workforce requirements and increasing women workforce. The child daycare services industry revenue is expected to increase in the long run due to increase in number of parents returning to the workforce after recession, higher female workforce participation, increase in dual income households, growth of the disposable income and increasing focus on early education and child development.The employers are also adding the child daycare facilities to their employee benefit package to attract the talented employees and also to retain the existing employee. This employer sponsored provider market is very attractive and profitable and the large players are including this segment in their business mix to gain revenues.In the few past years, the number of companies offering child day care services has grown globally, due to rising demand for child day care services and the industrys low barriers to entry. Increasing mergers and acquisitions among major players have led to a gradual shift toward large establishments. This acquisition trend has temporarily slowed as a result of the slow economic recovery. However, companies such as Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Goodstart Early Learning, JP Holdings and G8 Education are expected to expand their global presence quickly over the next few years.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Growth of the Global LED Lighting Market: Trends & Opportunities (2016-2020) http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/676390 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/676390 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global LED Lighting Market: Trends & Opportunities (2016-2020) provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Scope of the ReportThe report titled Global LED Lighting Market: Trends & Opportunities (2016-2020), provides an in-depth analysis of the global LED Lighting market with detailed analysis of market size and growth, market share and economic impact of the industry. The report also provides market size of the global lighting market and its segments.The report provides detailed regional analysis of North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific (China and India) for the LED lighting market. The report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry.Growth of the global lighting market and global LED lighting market has also been forecasted for the period 2016-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The market for global LED lighting is facing a tough competition due to price wars and entry of small firms. Further, key players (Cree, Philips and Osram) of the global LED lighting market are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies.View Report @Country CoverageNorth AmericaEuropeAsia Pacific (China and India)Company CoverageCree, Inc.PhilipsOsramExecutive SummaryThe LED lighting can be segmented according to its application into lighting, backlighting, signage, automotive lighting and others. Some of the advantages of LED lights over the traditional light sources are long life, energy efficient, ecologically friendly, durable, zero UV emission, design flexibility, low voltage, etc.Get Sample Copy Here :Global LED Lighting market has increased at a significant annual growth rate in 2015 as compared to the preceding year and projections are made that the market would rise in the next five years i.e. 2016-2020 tremendously. The upsurge in the market was due to various factors such as rapid growth in the global automotive industry, increasing focus on fuel and energy efficiency, etc.The major growth drivers for the LED lighting market are increasing shipment and penetration of LED TVs, growing automobile industry, increasing LED penetration, phasing out of incandescent bulbs in many countries, supportive government policies and focus on energy efficiency. Despite the market is governed by various growth drivers, there are certain challenges faced by the market such as temperature dependence, high initial costs of LED, high research and development costs, etc.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Detailed analysis of Global Automotive LED Lighting Market: Trends & Opportunities (2016 Edition) http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/655927 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/655927 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global Automotive LED Lighting Market: Trends & Opportunities (2016 Edition) provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Scope of the ReportThe report titled Global Automotive LED Lighting Market: Trends & Opportunities (2016 Edition) provide an in-depth analysis of the global automotive LED Lighting market with detailed analysis of market size and growth, market share and economic impact of the industry. The report also provides market size of the global automotive lighting market.The report provides detailed regional analysis of Europe, Asia-Pacific (Japan) and Rest of the world for the automotive LED lighting market.Furthermore, the report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the global automotive lighting market and global automotive LED lighting market has also been forecasted for the period 2016-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The market for global automotive LED lighting is fragmented and major competitors are Koito, Stanley, Hella and Magneti Marelli. Further, key players of the global automotive LED lighting market are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies.View Report @Country CoverageAsia Pacific (Japan)EuropeROWCompany CoverageKoito Manufacturing Co. Ltd.Stanley ElectricHellaMagneti MarreliExecutive SummaryGenerally the automotive lighting uses three technologies for the lamps which could be LED technology, HID/Xenon or Halogen. The LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are the most recent technology to be used by the automotive industry. The LEDs are used more because of the changing technology and demand for more energy efficiency.Get Sample Copy Here :There are two main segments of automotive lighting system which are classified as Exterior Automotive Lighting and Interior Automotive Lighting. There are various sub segments of the exterior and the interior segments of the automotive lighting market, which are Auxiliary Lights, Headlights, Tail lights, Side Lights, Interior Lights, Parking Lights, Brake Light, Fog Lights and Daytime Running Light.Global Automotive LED Lighting market has increased at a significant annual growth rate in 2015 as compared to the preceding year and projections are made that the market would rise in the next five years i.e. 2016-2020 tremendously. The upsurge in the market was due to various factors such as rapid growth in the global automotive industry, increasing focus on fuel and energy efficiency, etc.The major growth drivers for the automotive LED lighting market are increasing sales of lightweight vehicles worldwide, growing automobile industry, increasing LED penetration and focus on energy efficiency. Despite the market is governed by various growth drivers, there are certain challenges faced by the market such as slow growth of vehicle sales in BRIC nations, high costs of LED, high research and development costs, etc.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Reports Monitor:United States Perovskite Solar Cell Module Market Report 2017 Report Monitor https://www.reportsmonitor.com/request-sample/?post=125419 https://www.reportsmonitor.com/united-states-perovskite-solar-cell-module-market-report-2017/ http://www.reportsmonitor.com https://plus.google.com/u/0/104187516885663390925 https://www.linkedin.com/company/reports-monitor https://twitter.com/reportsmonitor https://www.facebook.com/ReportsMonitor/ In this report, the United States Perovskite Solar Cell Module market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report splits the United States market into seven regions: The West Southwest The Middle Atlantic New England The South The Midwestwith sales (volume), revenue (value), market share and growth rate of Perovskite Solar Cell Module in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast).United States Perovskite Solar Cell Module market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Perovskite Solar Cell Module sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players including Oxford Photovoltaics Saule Technologies Dyesol Fraunhofer ISE FrontMaterials Weihua SolarRequest Sample Copy @On the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume, revenue, product price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Normal Structure Inverted StructureOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Perovskite Solar Cell Module for each application, including Residential CommercialTo Browse Complete Report visit @Table of ContentsUnited States Perovskite Solar Cell Module Market Report 20171 Perovskite Solar Cell Module Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Perovskite Solar Cell Module1.2 Classification of Perovskite Solar Cell Module by Product Category1.2.1 United States Perovskite Solar Cell Module Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 United States Perovskite Solar Cell Module Market Size (Sales Volume) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Normal Structure1.2.4 Inverted Structure1.3 United States Perovskite Solar Cell Module Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 United States Perovskite Solar Cell Module Market Size (Consumption) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Residential1.3.3 Commercial1.4 United States Perovskite Solar Cell Module Market by Region1.4.1 United States Perovskite Solar Cell Module Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 The West Perovskite Solar Cell Module Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Southwest Perovskite Solar Cell Module Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 The Middle Atlantic Perovskite Solar Cell Module Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 New England Perovskite Solar Cell Module Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 The South Perovskite Solar Cell Module Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 The Midwest Perovskite Solar Cell Module Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 United States Market Size (Value and Volume) of Perovskite Solar Cell Module (2012-2022)1.5.1 United States Perovskite Solar Cell Module Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 United States Perovskite Solar Cell Module Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Contact UsJay MathewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:Follow Us:Google plus :LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:Reports Monitor is a market intelligence and consulting firm founded by engineers with extensive experience and knowledge of the Market Research industry.Job TitleCompanyPhone NoYour MessageSendINDIA OFFICE:008, Mihir Co-Operative,FatimaNagar, Pune-411013 More time for the core business, imbus handles the test www.imbus.de/en/software-test/managed-services Moehrendorf, 28 April 2017 The shortage of skilled professionals becomes more and more apparent in the software quality assurance sector. There is a lack of top trained IT professionals. In addition to that, many QA managers face the challenge of capacity problems when demand peaks. imbus Managed Services provide individual solutions for all software testing tasks.Specialists from imbus undertake the customers test missions so they can concentrate their resources on product and application development in a more focused manner. This in turn leads to shorter time-to-market cycles.imbus Managed Services realize testing services in terms of near-shore outsourcing within Europe according to imbus high quality standards. A contact person from imbus Germany serves as central interface for the customers. The division of labour is characterized by an efficient and pragmatic process, transparent services and a cooperative partnership.The services are scalable and available at short notice. Preconfigured service packages are individually tailored to the customer requirements and boundary conditions.Binding service level agreements guarantee that the testing services will be measurable on the basis of objective parameters at any given time. They are based on the goals previously agreed upon by the respective customer and imbus so the costs can be planned.Further information about the Managed Services is available atimbus is a leading solution partner for professional software testing and intelligent software quality assurance.Our portfolio includes consulting for process improvement, software testing services, test outsourcing, test tools, and training.With our comprehensive know-how, the latest tools, and our proven methodology, we increase the reliability and performance of software products, software-intensive systems, and complete IT structures, and as a manufacturer-independent partner, we assure their correct functionality.Since 1992, the experienced and highly-qualified imbus team has been synonymous with across-the-board software quality assurance from a single source that covers the entire lifecycle.The expertise acquired from around 6,000 successful projects over a period of 25 years provides a solid foundation for the daily work of our experts, all of whom are ISTQB Certified Testers. Here you can find the corresponding reference projects.imbus is currently represented by more than 270 employees at locations in Moehrendorf near Erlangen, Munich, Cologne, Hofheim near Frankfurt, Lehre near Braunschweig, Norderstedt near Hamburg, Toronto (Canada), Shanghai (China), Peja (Kosovo) and Sousse (Tunisia).imbus AGPress OfficeFiona ProellKleinseebacher Str. 991096 MoehrendorfGermanyPhone +49 9131 7518-0Fax +49 9131 7518-50Mail presse@imbus.de Global Telehealth Market: Analysis, Trends and Opportunities 2016-2020 : Top Players are Teladoc, MDLIVE, American Well http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=466708 http://www.researchmoz.us/healthcare-market-reports-56.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG http://healthcare-research-report.blogspot.in/ ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Global Telehealth Market: Trends and Opportunities (2016-2020) " to it's Large Report database.Scope of the ReportThe report titled Global Telehealth Market: Trends and Opportunities (2016-2020) provides an in-depth analysis of global telehealth market focusing on important market aspects. It also accesses the key opportunities and underlying trends in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry in the forecasted period (2016-20). Further, key telehealth services providers such as Teladoc Inc, MDLIVE Inc and American Well are profiled in the report will their detailed market strategies.Geographical CoverageNorth America (The US)Europe (The UK)Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:Company CoverageTeladoc IncMDLIVE IncAmerican WellExecutive SummaryTelehealth is a broader term which inculcates the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health etc. Telehealth is a subset of Digital Healthcare. It includes many medical subspecialties, such as Telecardiology, Teledermatology, Teleneurology, Telepathology, Telepsychiatry, Teleradiology, Telesurgery/Remote Surgery and Teletrauma. Specialties such as Telepediatrics and Telepsychiatry are practiced by using live videoconferencing systems.Read All Healthcare Market Research Reports @Table of Content1. Executive Summary2. Market Background2.1 Digital Health Industry3. Telehealth3.1 Evolution of Telehealth3.2 Major forms of Telehealth4. Global Telehealth Market Analysis4.1 Global Telehealth Market Sizing: Actual & Forecasted4.1.1 Market Size by Value4.1.2 Market Size by Volume4.1.3 Market Share by Healthcare Conditions4.1.4 Market Share by Competitors5. North America Telehealth Market5.1 North America Telehealth Market Analysis5.2 The US Telehealth Market5.2.1 The US Telehealth Market Analysis5.2.2The US Telehealth Market Key Dynamics6. Europe Telehealth Market6.1 Europe Telehealth Market Regional Analysis6.2 Europe Telehealth Market Dynamics6.3 The UK Telehealth Market6.3.1 Market Sizing Actual & Forecasted6.3.2 Key Trends in the UK Telehealth MarketAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the world's fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMoz's service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Contact Us:Mr. Nachiket Ghumare90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:Follow me on Blogger at: CUTTING-EDGE NAVIGATION FOR SHOPPERS GOES LIVE AT MCARTHUR GLEN YORK: Mall Communications has just completed the install of a ground-breaking interactive digital signage system at the York Designer Outlet that combines wayfinding to guide shoppers to where they want to get to with high definition digital advertising for tenants and local and national brands.Developed by our innovative team specifically for shopping centres, MallVision replaces traditional static map boards and paper-based advertising and messaging with a single advanced solution that can be remotely updated in seconds no disruption, noise or mess.The McArthurGlen project comprises 10 double-sided totems with user-friendly 48 inch wayfinder touch-screens on one side and 48 inch full HD advertising screens on the reverse. Much more than a digital store directory MallVision builds community by serving as a nexus for the diverse world that makes a retail space tick. By creating a platform that links centre owners, tenants and shoppers together, MallVision helps our community prosper and thrive.Crucially, with its ability to support a mix of centre communications, and tenant and local/national promotions, the system drives customer traffic, leading to increased sales.Mall Communications completed its first major MallVision installation in the UK at the prestigious Bentall Centre, Kingston upon Thames, in September 2016 bringing the number of centres in which MallVision is now operational to more than 30 Europe-wide.ABOUT MALL COMMUNICATIONS:The experienced, innovative team at Mall Communications has led the evolution of signage through from paper, to slick, instant and relevant digital networks. This transition positions mall owners for greater revenue generation and community cultivation, meets the needs of shoppers for relevant and accurate information, and meets the needs of the demanding national and local advertisers as they seek to make a demonstrable brand presence in a respective market.Unit 1 & 2The Dovecote LaundryUpper HarlestoneNorthamptonNN4 EL The Growth Drivers for the Global Coffee Market: Trends and Opportunities (2016-2020) http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/703135 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/703135 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global Coffee Market: Trends and Opportunities (2016-2020) provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Scope of the ReportThe report titled Global Coffee Market: Trends & Opportunities (2016-2020) provides an in-depth analysis of the global coffee market with detailed analysis of market sizing and growth, market share and economic impact of the industry. The report also provides the production and consumption analysis of the market. The report provides detailed market analysis of the global retail coffee market by value and volume along with the segments of the market.The report provides detailed regional analysis of Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America Middle East & Africa and Australasia for the coffee market. Regional analysis includes market sizing by value along with the production and consumption analysis. It also provides the retail sales value of each region.The report also includes the country analysis of Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Ethiopia and India. It provides the production and consumption analysis along with the export-import trends in each of the above mentioned countries.View Report @Furthermore, the report assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the global retail coffee market has also been forecasted for the period 2016-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The competition in global coffee market is stiff and dominated by the big players like Nestle. Further, key players of the coffee market The J.M. Smucker Company, Mondelez International Inc. and Strauss Group Ltd. are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies.Regional CoverageWestern EuropeEastern EuropeNorth AmericaAsia PacificLatin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaAustralasiaCountry CoverageBrazilVietnamIndonesiaEthiopiaIndiaGet Sample Copy Here :Company CoverageThe J.M. Smucker CompanyMondelez International Inc.Strauss Group Ltd.Executive SummaryGlobal coffee market increased at a significant CAGR during the span of 5 years i.e. 2011-2015 and projections are made that the market would rise in the next five years i.e. 2016-2020 tremendously. The market can be segmented on the basis of end-users as retail coffee market and food services market, of which global retail coffee market displayed an increase, driving the global coffee market. The increasing consumption of coffee led by the westernization trend in India, China and Latin America drive the market in the positive direction.The growth drivers for the global coffee market are: rise in disposable income, rapid urbanization and increase in the population along with the emergence of caf culture and new consumer base. Despite the market is governed by various growth drivers, there are certain challenges faced by the market such as: aging of coffee trees, lack of government support, negative impact of climate change, price volatility and increase in production cost.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Sales Market Report 2017 by Capacity, Production Value, Cost Structure and Future Demand Reports Monitor https://www.reportsmonitor.com/request-sample/?post=125323 https://www.reportsmonitor.com/global-solar-cell-photovoltaic-equipment-sales-market-report-2017/ http://www.reportsmonitor.com https://plus.google.com/u/0/104187516885663390925 https://www.linkedin.com/company/reports-monitor https://twitter.com/reportsmonitor https://www.facebook.com/ReportsMonitor/ In this report, the global Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering United States China Europe Japan Southeast Asia IndiaGlobal Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players including Hanwha First Solar SunPower Elkem Solar Sharp Kyocera Solar Solar Frontier Solarworld NSP Trina Solar Canadian Solar Jinko Solar JA Solar GCL System Integration Yingli Shunfeng ReneSola Risen Chint Group Hareonsolar Eging PV CSUN BYD HT-SAAERequest Sample Copy @On the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (K Units), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/Unit), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Single Crystal Silicon Polycrystalline Silicon OtherOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment for each application, including Residential Commercial Ground Station OthersTo Browse Complete Report visit @Table of ContentsGlobal Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Sales Market Report 20171 Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment1.2 Classification of Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment by Product Category1.2.1 Global Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Single Crystal Silicon1.2.4 Polycrystalline Silicon1.2.5 Other1.3 Global Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Residential1.3.3 Commercial1.3.4 Ground Station1.3.5 Others1.4 Global Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Market by Region1.4.1 Global Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Europe Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Solar Cell (Photovoltaic) Equipment Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Contact UsJay MathewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:Follow Us:Google plus :LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:Reports Monitor is a market intelligence and consulting firm founded by engineers with extensive experience and knowledge of the Market Research industry.008, Mihir Co-Operative,FatimaNagar, Pune-411013 Growing Prevalence of Elderly Care Services Market: Trends and Opportunities (2016-2020) http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/600613 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/600613 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global Elderly Care Services Market: Trends and Opportunities (2016-2020) provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Scope of the ReportThe report titled Global Elderly Care Services Market: Trends and Opportunities (2016 - 2020) provides a detailed analysis of the elder care services market with description of market sizing and growth, segmentation of market by products & services and major markets, top market players etc. The report recapitulates the factors that will be responsible for the growth in the market in the forecasted period.The market size and forecast in terms of value for the market has been provided for the period 2016 to 2020, considering 2014 as the base year and the estimated value for 2015 has also been provided in the report. The report also provides the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the forecast period 2016 to 2020. In the forecasted period global elder care services market is expected to achieve a double-digit growth.The report provides major market trends, growth drivers and challenges of the global elder care services market. The major market trends of elder care services market are rise of technology-enhanced senior care, booming healthcare industry, federal health care reforms and regulations regarding Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement etc. Rising number of ageing population, increased life expectancy, chronic illness among aged population and increase in health expenditure by senior citizens are the major growth drivers of the market. But the market also has to face lot of challenges in the coming years that will create interruption in the growth of the market. Some of the challenges are lack of qualified employees, less supply more demand and cost affordability etc.View Report @The report also provides country analysis of the US, Canada, Europe and India in terms of market sizing and growth. The US and Canada (in North America) are the market leaders followed by European countries. Among Asia-Pacific countries, India has been emerged as the market leader in elder care services. In coming years, Asia-Pacific will be the key market player as the growth of ageing population is more than other nations worldwide.Furthermore, the report also profiles key market players such as Extendicare Inc., Brookdale senior Living Inc., Kindred Healthcare Inc. and Genesis Healthcare Inc. on the basis of attributes such as company overview, recent developments, strategies adopted by the market leaders to ensure growth, sustainability, financial overview and recent developments.Country CoverageThe USCanadaEuropeIndiaCompany CoverageExtendicare Inc.Brookdale Senior Living Inc.Kindred Healthcare Inc.Genesis Healthcare Inc.Get Sample Copy Here :Executive SummarySenior citizens need assistance with daily activities as well as healthcare requirements who needs a quality life. Due to all these requirements there emerged a market known as elder care services market which is specifically came into existence to serve the ageing population worldwide. Elder care services market has divided into various segments. Elderly care business includes in home care, assisted living, nursing home facilities by skilled professionals, hospital care and pharmaceuticals. Among these, in-home care, assisted living and home healthcare segment are getting popular day by day and provide quality life to senior citizens. Adult day care centres are designed for older adults who are no longer managing independently or who are isolated or lonely. Home care services are provided by family members and close relatives.Global elder care market has shown positive trends over the past few years. The primary reasons behind the growth of the market are increased ageing population worldwide, increasing demand for quality life by senior citizens, positive government regulation in healthcare segment to provide cost-effective medical treatment to the aged population, technological advancement, and chronic illness among old age population etc. the market is expected to achieve a moderate growth in the forecasted period. Global elder care services market continued to expand at a swift pace in 2015.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Report delivers insight into the Global Pet Food Market: Trends and Opportunities (2015 Edition) http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/539415 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/539415 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global Pet Food Market: Trends and Opportunities (2015 Edition) provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Scope of the ReportThe report titled Global Pet Food Market: Trends & Opportunities (2015 Edition) provides an in-depth analysis of the global pet food market with detailed analysis of market sizing and growth, market share and economic impact of the industry. The report also provides market size of pet dog and cat food market.The report provides detailed country analysis of the U.S., UK, Australia, New Zealand and China for the pet food market. Country analysis includes market sizing by value and volume along with the market segments. It also comprises of pet dog and cat food market sizing for each of the above mentioned countries.The report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall global pet food market has also been forecasted for the period 2015-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The competition in global pet food market is stiff and dominated by the big players like Mars. Further, key players of the pet food market Nestle Purina and Hills Pet Nutrition are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies.View Report @Country CoverageThe U.S.UKAustraliaNew ZealandChinaCompany CoverageNestle Purina PetCare CompanyHills Pet NutritionMars IncorporatedGet Sample Copy Here :Executive SummaryPet food is one of the major segments of the pet industry which is intended for the consumption of pets. Now days, pets are the most important part of lives of individuals as they provide psychological and physiological benefit to human life. Whether it is a cat, dog, or other domesticated animal, they are interwoven into the social and emotional fabric of individuals and families lives.Global pet food market increased at a significant CAGR during the span of 5 years i.e. 2011-2014 and projections are made that the market would rise in the next five years i.e. 2015-2020 tremendously. Global dog and cat food market is a segment of global pet food market which exhibited an increase, driving the global pet food market. The upsurge in the market was due to increased awareness among people about the need for pet food, easy availability of pet food in the market and increase in nuclear families across the globe.The major growth drivers for the pet food market are: increase in pet population and urban population, rise in per capita disposable income and the increasing humanization towards pets. Despite the market is governed by various growth drivers, there are certain challenges faced by the market such as: rise in prices of pet treats, grinding challenge and microbial challenges.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Market Report 2017 http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=956720&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/united-states-se-enriched-yeast-market-report-2017.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com ThIs report studIes sales (consumptIon) of Se-enrIched Yeast In UnIted States market, focuses on the top players, wIth sales, prIce, revenue and market share for each player, coverIngAlltechLesaffreAngelPharma NordLallemandNovus InternatIonalAssocIated BrItIsh FoodsMIro ChembIotechCypress SystemsDIamond VGet sample report @ADMBIorIgInTIanxIangyuanPrInce AgrI ProductsAlerIsEmbrIa Health ScIencesJaconoMarket Segment by States, coverIngCalIfornIaTexasNew YorkFlorIdaIllInoIsSplIt by product types, wIth sales, revenue, prIce, market share and growth rate of each type, can be dIvIded Into1000ppm Type2000ppm TypeSplIt by applIcatIons, thIs report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Se-enrIched Yeast In each applIcatIon, can be dIvIded IntoFunctIonal Food IndustryFeed IndustryObtain Report Details @Table of ContentsUnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Market Report 20171 Se-enrIched Yeast OvervIew1.1 Product OvervIew and Scope of Se-enrIched Yeast1.2 ClassIfIcatIon of Se-enrIched Yeast1.2.1 1000ppm Type1.2.2 2000ppm Type1.3 ApplIcatIon of Se-enrIched Yeast1.3.1 FunctIonal Food Industry1.3.2 Feed Industry1.4 UnIted States Market SIze Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) of Se-enrIched Yeast (2012-2022)1.4.1 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.4.2 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast CompetItIon by Manufacturers2.1 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Revenue and Share by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.3 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Average PrIce by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.4 Se-enrIched Yeast Market CompetItIve SItuatIon and Trends2.4.1 Se-enrIched Yeast Market ConcentratIon Rate2.4.2 Se-enrIched Yeast Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.4.3 Mergers & AcquIsItIons, ExpansIon3 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by States (2012-2017)3.1 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Sales and Market Share by States (2012-2017)3.2 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Revenue and Market Share by States (2012-2017)3.3 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast PrIce by States (2012-2017)4 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (2012-2017)4.1 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.2 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.3 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast PrIce by Type (2012-2017)4.4 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Sales Growth Rate by Type (2012-2017)5 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Sales (Volume) by ApplIcatIon (2012-2017)5.1 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Sales and Market Share by ApplIcatIon (2012-2017)5.2 UnIted States Se-enrIched Yeast Sales Growth Rate by ApplIcatIon (2012-2017)5.3 Market DrIvers and OpportunItIesAbout UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Managed File Transfer Market Trends and Forecast By 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/managed-file-transfer-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=11435 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Digitization, mobilization, globalization, and virtualization are bringing about a major change in the way many operations are executed, communications take place, and enterprises work.These changes are also churning out vast volumes of data, which is transferred across enterprise and even global boundaries. Maintaining the safety of critical business data while it is being transferred across diverse digital paths has made it imperative for organizations to have reliable file transfer solutions and mechanism in place. Managed file transfer (MFT) has come ahead as a viable alternative to conventional file transfer ways such as e-mails and File Transfer Protocol (FTP).Obtain Report Details:TMR findings state that the global MFT market will exhibit a favorable 7.7% CAGR from 2016 to 2024 as companies increasingly embrace this file transfer mechanism. The market is expected to rise from a valuation of US$774.3 mn in 2014 to US$1,637.3 mn by 2024.The highly critical nature of data in the BFSI segment is vulnerable to security breaches such as hacking and phishing attacks, theft of storage devices, and employee frauds.Thus the BFSI industry has traditionally remained a major procurer of efficient MFT solutions, representing a dominant 20.82% of the global MFT market in 2015.Recent incidents such as the loss of HSBC Bank compact discs containing sensitive consumer information and the loss of back-up tapes of Zurich Insurances U.K. branch have affirmed the need for effective MFT solutions in the BFSI sector.The sector will continue to be a major driver for the market and represent over 21% in the global market by 2024.Known to provide excellent security to data, on-premise deployment has traditionally been the most preferred way of deploying MFT solutions, especially across data sensitive fields such as BFSI and defense. On-premise deployment presently holds the largest share in the global MFT market.The segment is projected to remain a major contributor to the overall revenues of the market in the future years as well, owing majorly to revenues generated from maintenance and after sales services.However, cloud-based deployment is expected to emerge as the most preferred MFT deployment methods from 2016 to 2024. The rising awareness regarding cost and flexibility benefits of cloud-based deployment services, and the rapid enhancement being achieved in the field of data security are granting cloud-based deployment services an upper hand.The hybrid mode of deployment, allowing combined benefits of cloud and on-premise deployment modes, will also witness huge demand from small- and medium-sized companies over the said period.Set to revolutionize the MFT market dynamics, cloud-based deployment will expand at the highest, 9.0% CAGR and hybrid deployment will expand at an 8.7% CAGR from 2016 to 2024. On-premise deployment will achieve the least traction, and will exhibit a 6.8% CAGR over the same period.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market:Rapid digitization of organizational processes across developing parts of Asia Pacific and Latin America has highlighted the need for effective safety mechanisms governing the digital file transfer routes and are thus driving the increased demand for MFT systems and solutions.Digitization is especially rampant in government organizations and the banking sector in Latin America and Asia Pacific. In response to this trend, major MFT vendors are aligning their strategies towards these regions and are expected to earn a major share in revenues from sales of services and solutions in these regions over 2016 to 2024.The MFT market in Asia Pacific is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 10.3% over the said period. The MFT market in Latin America will witness growth at the second-highest pace, a 9.2% CAGR over 2016 to 2024.About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Mobile Advertising Market Advanced Technologies & Growth Opportunities in global Industry by 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/mobile-advertising-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1296 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Mobile advertising is a form of advertising using mobile devices. It is a subgroup of mobile marketing. Mobile advertising provides information/content developed/designed by advertisers intended for customers/mobile device users.The different types of advertising includes display advertising, In-app, In-game, rich media, search, sms/mms/P2P messaging and others. Mobile advertising provides a solution to advertisers to reach targeted users through various devices to deliver information about innovative tools and technology.Obtain Report Details:Mobile advertising solutions enables advertisers to target users, such as advertising campaign solutions, in order to a reach defined set of goals which includes raising brand awareness, establishing brand and increase rate of conversions and so on.Key factors driving the growth of the mobile advertising market include rising concerns about security, and privacy, deletion, and misuse/manipulation of data are some of the major fears that persist among online users.In Global Mobile Advertising Market by Devices, smartphone segment holds the largest share due to high penetration rate of smartphone devices across the world.The smartphone segment is also expected to be fastest growing segment in the forecast period due to increasing adoption rate of smartphones in the emerging economies such as India and Brazil.In 2014, the search advertising type was the largest segment in the global mobile advertising market. The search advertising type is majorly preferred by the sectors such as BFSI, telecommunication and IT, and FMCG.Search advertising offers an opportunity to place online advertisements on the webpage that shows results from search queries; however this type is majorly adopted by advertisers.In-App advertising is anticipated to be the fastest growing segment in the forecast period due to increasing number of mobile applications for various industries such as banking, logistics and retail.Advertisement Campaign solutions holds the largest share as political parties are using these solutions for attracting the attention of population in their region during different stages of elections which include local body to national level elections.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market:The reporting & analytics solution is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the forecast period due to rising adoption of data analytics solutions in understanding the mindset of customers.In the mobile advertising market by region, North America is the major contributor for the revenue generated in the global mobile advertising market. The APAC region is anticipated to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period due to high growth in mobile innovation and high usage of Internet through by consumers in the region. The North America mobile advertising market revenue is mainly contributed by the government and BFSI sectors.About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Semi-Autonomous Market is expected to reach USD 55.68 Billion by 2027 with a CAGR of 25.6% Worldwide https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/enquiry/2477 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/global-autonomous-vehicles-type-market-2477 The Autonomous Vehicles Market statistical report, published by Market Research Future contains succinct information on the autonomous vehicles market, segmented by Types (semi-autonomous, fully autonomous) and forecast from 2016-2027.Make an Enquiry @The various factors driving the autonomous vehicles market are rise in the aging population, technological advancement, ride sharing, and fuel efficiency.Semi-autonomous vehicles are not far from the hitting the roads and can be expected by the end of the year 2017. Semi-Autonomous vehicles are equipped with sensors and advanced technology to help the driver keep the car in one lane, cruise control and some more intermediary features of the car. As the arrival of fully autonomous vehicles is little far, companies are equipping their vehicles with advance technology to assist the driver.Global Semi-Autonomous Market is expected to reach USD 55.68 Billion by 2027 with a CAGR of 25.6%Access Report Details @Table of Contents1. Info graphics Information1.1 Global Autonomous Vehicles Market, By Type, 2016 VS 2027 (USD Billion)2.Introduction3.Global Autonomous Vehicles Market, By Type, Market DataList of TablesTable 1 Global Autonomous Vehicles Market, By Type, 2016-2027 (USD Billion)List of FiguresFigure 1 Global Autonomous Vehicles Market, By Type, 2016-2027, (USD Billion)ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Autonomous Vehicles Market Type Segment chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research FutureContact Person: Akash AnandEmail: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.comPhone: +1 646 845 9312Address: Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, IndiaCity: PuneState: MaharashtraCountry: India Electric Steering Market Vehicle Type Segment was valued USD 12,903.30 Million in 2016 and is Estimated to grow at 5.78% CAGR from 2016 -2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/enquiry/2483 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/global-electric-steering-vehicle-type-market-2483 The Global Electric Steering Market Vehicle Type Segment Outlook (2016-2022) statistical report, published by Market Research Future contains succinct information on global electric steering, by vehicle type (passenger cars and commercial vehicle).Make an Enquiry @Electric Steering Market Vehicle Type Segment to Expand USD 12,903.30 Million with 5.78% CAGR worldwide by 2022Rise in the automotive sensor market and increasing disposable income in APAC region are major drivers of global electric steering market. However the rise in the cost of servicing & replacement are the restraints that will hinder the growth of this market. The report provides information on global electric steering market and forecast from 2016 to 2022.Access Report Details @TABLE OF CONTENTS1. Infographic Summary1.1 Global Electric Steering market size, by vehicle type, 2016-2022, (in USD Million)2. Introduction3. Global Market DataLIST OF TABLESTABLE1 GLOBAL ELECTRIC STEERING MARKET, BY VEHICLE TYPE, 2011-2016 (USD MILLION)TABLE2 GLOBAL ELECTRIC STEERING MARKET, BY VEHICLE TYPE, 2015-2022 (USD MILLION)LIST OF FIGURESFIGURE1 GLOBAL ELECTRIC STEERING MARKET, BY VEHICLE TYPE, 2011 & 2016(USD MILLION)FIGURE2 GLOBAL ELECTRIC STEERING MARKET, BY VEHICLE TYPE, 2015 & 2022(USD MILLION)ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Electric Steering Market Vehicle Type Segment chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research FutureContact Person: Akash AnandEmail: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.comPhone: +1 646 845 9312Address: Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, IndiaCity: PuneState: MaharashtraCountry: India Germany ATE Market is expected to reach USD 407.05 Million By 2022 with a CAGR of 3.5% https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/enquiry/2584 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/europe-ate-country-market-2584 The Automated Test Equipment Market statistical report, published by Market Research Future contains succinct information on the Europe automated test equipment market, segmented by regions as Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, & others and forecast from 2016-2022.Make an Enquiry @The various factors driving the ATE Market are rising complexities in the design of consumer electronic devices, requirement of high efficiency of the ATEs for increasing the throughput, and sharp rise in applications in the automotive market.Europe is considered as a biggest market for consumer electronics and the semiconductor industry is making a comeback, due to growth in the usage of semiconductor automobile and growth in automotive sales. This rapid growth of the semiconductor industry will fuel the growth of Automated Test Equipment. Due to high degree of perfection and quality in their devices semiconductor and electronic goods manufacturer have started investing in the automated test equipment to meet the customer demand. This market is further segmented into Western and Eastern Europe, where the major countries in Western Europe are: Germany, France, and UK. Contribution of company like Cobham Plc, Rohde & Schwarz GmbH is the major players in the region are giving boost to the Europe Automated Test Equipment market.Germany ATE Market is expected to reach USD 407.05 Million By 2022 with a CAGR of 3.5%Access Report Details @Table of Contents1. Info graphics Information1.1 Europe Automated Test Equipment Market, By Country, 2016 VS 2022 (USD Million)2. Introduction3. Europe Automated Test Equipment Market, By Country, Market DataList of TablesTable 1 Europe Automated Test Equipment Market, By Country, 2016-2022 (USD Million)List of FiguresFigure 1 Europe Automated Test Equipment Market, By Country, 2016-2022, (USD Million)ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Europe ATE Market Country Segment chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research FutureContact Person: Akash AnandEmail: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.comPhone: +1 646 845 9312Address: Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, IndiaCity: PuneState: MaharashtraCountry: India Commercial Pharmaceutical Analytics Market to Expand USD 5.4 Billion with Lucrative 20% CAGR worldwide by 2027 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/enquiry/2650 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/commercial-pharmaceutical-analytics-deployment-application-market-2650 In past few years, business analytics have found wide range of applications in pharmaceutical analytics. Applications of pharmaceutical analytics depend on basic reporting and internal data creation to prescriptive and predictive analytics. In view of the adaptability of the demonstrating innovation of analytics, models of the use of pharmaceutical analytics can be stretched out to describe the business in general and its conceivable advancements. The total market is expecting huge growth. This impressive growth of the market will be fuelled mainly by pharmaceutical research, growing technological advancement in pharmaceutical industry and increasing use of analytical tools in streamlining business process. Growing demand for commercial pharmaceutical analytics market technology in the medical device and pharmaceutical industry has played an important role in the growth of the commercial pharmaceutical analytics market.Make an Enquiry @Global Commercial pharmaceutical analytics market, by deployment, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 20% during the period of 2016-2027. On-premise model segment commanded the largest share of the global commercial pharmaceutical analytics market in 2015 and it is expected to reach $5.4 Billion. By application, research and development segment is projected to command the largest market share of 41% during the forecasted period.The global commercial pharmaceutical analytics market statistical report published by Market Research future contains a brief overview of global commercial pharmaceutical analytics market by deployment and application. On the basis of deployment method the market has been segmented into on premise, web based/cloud based and others. On premise segment commands the largest share and is expected to grow continuously during the forecasted period of 2013-2027.On the basis of application, the market has been segmented into research and development, marketing and sales, supply chain optimization, internal reporting and others. Research and development segment commands the largest share of 40% and is expected to grow continuously during the forecasted period. The report analysed the global commercial pharmaceutical analytics market and presents systematic data of market share on the basis of deployment and application and its growth rate for 2015 to 2017, along with forecast till 2027.Access Report Details @Market Research future through this report aims to provide understanding of the global commercial pharmaceutical analytics market on the basis of deployment methods and application, and also assists identification of ongoing trends along with anticipated growth during the forecasted period. For this report, extensive primary research was conducted to gain a deeper insight of the market performance. Various industry experts and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) were contacted and interviewed to get an idea of global commercial pharmaceutical analytics market.ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Commercial Pharmaceutical Analytics Market chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research FutureContact Person: Akash AnandEmail: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.comPhone: +1 646 845 9312Address: Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, IndiaCity: PuneState: MaharashtraCountry: India Liquid crystal polymers market to Expand with Significant Development USD 1.28 billion Worldwide by 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2014 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/liquid-crystal-polymers-market Global liquid crystal polymers market is expected to reach USD 1.28 billion by2022. The market is driven by various industries sectors such as consumer goods, electronics & electrical and many others. Driving factor for this market are growing engineering resins, demand of ultra-thin electrical components. Liquid crystal polymer has unique set of properties. These properties allow these components to perform well even in harsh environment making them capable for tolerating high heat as well as the effect of strong chemical as well as electricity. This heat, chemical and electricity makes them suitable to be modern high pressure fuel line connectors in the automotive industry. Applications such as connectors with high pin density have been driving a notable growth with respect to be in LCPs consumptionMake an Enquiry @Geographically, Asia- Pacific is expected to drive the market from 2015 to 2022. China was the leading market followed by Japan, South- Korea which are also currently witnessing a steady growth.Key PlayersThe key players in global liquid crystal polymers market includes Polyplastics Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Celanese Corporation, Solvay S.A., Ueno Fine Chemicals Industry Ltd., Toray International, Inc., SAMSUNG FINE CHEMICALS CO. LTD., Shanghai PRET Composites Co., Ltd, Vectra/Zenite LCP and Polyone Corporation.Study Objectives of Global Liquid crystal polymers Market Studying in detail the global liquid crystal polymers market with respect to type, by application and region in forecasted period 2022. Identifying the market dynamics of Liquid crystal polymers considering driving factors of the market, restrains, opportunities and challenges. Analyzing various factors like value chain analysis and Porters Five Forces model. Providing past and estimates revenue of market segment with respect to APAC, North America, Europe and RoW. Providing strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies and drawing a competitive overview of the market. Tracking mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, new product development of each applicant of the liquid crystal polymers market.Access Report Details @TABLE OF CONTENTS1. Executive Summary2. Scope of The Report3. Market Research Methodology4. Market Landscape5. Industry Overview of Global Liquid Crystal Polymers Market6. Market Trends7. Global Liquid Crystal Polymers Market by Region8. Global Liquid Crystal Polymers Market by Type (Thermotropic and Lyotropic)9. Global Liquid Crystal Polymers Market by application (Electronic & Electrical, Automotive, Consumer Goods, Surgical Device and Others)10. Company Profiles11. ConclusionLIST OF FIGURESFIGURE 1 Global Liquid Crystal Polymers market segmentationFIGURE 2 Forecast MethodologyFIGURE 3 Five Forces Analysis of Global Liquid Crystal Polymers MarketFIGURE 4 Value Chain of Global Liquid Crystal Polymers MarketFIGURE 5 Share of Global Liquid Crystal Polymers Market in 2014, by country (in %)FIGURE 6 Global Liquid Crystal Polymers Market, 2015-2022, (USD billion)FIGURE 7 Sub-segments of ApplicationsFIGURE 8 Global Liquid Crystal Polymers Market size by Application , 2015FIGURE 9 Share of Global Liquid Crystal Polymers Market by Application, 2012 to 2022FIGURE 10 Global Liquid Crystal Polymers Market size by Type ,2015FIGURE 11 Share of Global Liquid Crystal Polymers Market by Type , 2012 to 2022ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Liquid Crystal Polymers Market chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research FutureContact Person: Akash AnandEmail: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.comPhone: +1 646 845 9312Address: Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, IndiaCity: PuneState: MaharashtraCountry: India Mobile Money Market Trends and Forecast By 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/mobile-money-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1505 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global mobile money market is on the cusp of a transformative change with growth increasingly swinging toward emerging economies, says TMR in a new report.The global mobile money market will derive growth from factors such as companies investing in context-based marketing and real-time marketing to leverage mobile money.With smartphone and personal device sales spiraling in emerging countries with an increasingly affluent consumer base, the need for more inclusive banking is also simultaneously being felt.Obtain Report Details:This presents a multi-billion dollar opportunity for companies such as Bango.net Limited, Fortumo OU, Paypal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.), Judo Payments, and others. Mobile commerce, mobile banking, mobile wallets, and mobile payments all come under the purview of the mobile money market.The coming together of various conducive factors will create an opportunity-laden environment for providers of mobile money services. Currently, service providers are focusing on cost effective alternatives to reach out to a larger consumer base.However, consumers continue to remain wary about security and privacy; the situation is compounded by regulatory complexity hampering the long-term growth of the mobile money market.The current generation of disparate platforms is also hindering the adoption of the mobile money solution amongst consumers as they are required to manage multiple wallets for different transactions/services.However, there is little doubt that with the unprecedented penetration of mobile devices, these will increasingly serve as vehicles for financial transactions.In the global mobile money market, by mode of payment, the SMS payment segment holds the largest share. This is attributable to the convenience and efficiency that SMS-based payment operations lend.The greatest advantage, however, is that SMS-based mobile money is compatible with different connected devices such as tablets and smartphones.In countries across MEA, APAC, and Europe, transactional payments by SMS are already popular and there are no signs of their popularity fading through the forecasting horizon.However, the market is also marked by a growing adoption of other payment methods such as mobile billing, payment clients, and WAP-based payments. The future could see NFC and UUSD/STK modes emerge in a big way to challenge the leading position of SMS payments.Moreover, by type of purchase transaction, in 2014, the money transfers and payments segment was the largest in the global mobile money market.Growth is projected to be the strongest in the airtime transfers and top-ups segment through 2024. In 2015, sectors such as BFSI, energy and hospitality collectively accounted for more than one-third of the revenue generated in the mobile money market.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market:Geographically, the mobile money market saw the highest revenue coming in from Europe in 2015. While North America trailed Europe in terms of revenue contribution, the region is expected to post better growth as compared to Europe through the forecast period.Collectively, the two regions are estimated to contribute more than fifty percent of the revenue to the global mobile money market. The MEA region is anticipated to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period due to rising Internet and tablet penetration and technological advancements in the telecommunication sector.Real-time buying is gaining momentum in MEA, which enables companies to develop targeted products and services on the basis of mobile usage patterns. This is expected to create immense opportunities for the mobile money market in the region.About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Caviar Market is growing at higher rate-Forecast to 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2707 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/caviar-market-2707 Market Scenario of Caviar-Caviar is the salted eggs of more than 25 fish species which mainly contents beluga, sevruga and osetra. It is mainly obtained from sturgeon caught in the Caspian Seaan and it is considered as expensive, but after the collapse and vanishing of the Soviet Empire, the stocks came dangerously close to extinction due to uncontrolled fishing of local fishermen just to survive. Now the price of caviar are even higher and likely to continue in upcoming years. Russian Beluga type has emerged as the most prized caviar compare available in the market. Large caviar farms around the world are found in Italy, Israel, France, the US and Uruguay.Market Segmentation Global Caviar Market has been segmented on the basis of fish type which comprises beluga, osetra, sevruga, kaluga, salmon, sushi and others. Among these types sevruga and oestra are dominating fish types due to availability of these fishes compared to others Global Caviar Market has been segmented on the basis of delivery form which fresh, preserved, frozen, dried, cooked and others. Among these delivery form preserved and dried forms are gaining popularity as it has long shelf life and it is easier for transportation Global Caviar Market has been segmented on the basis of end use which comprises restaurant, household and others. Restaurants dominate in this segment market. Caviar market has been segmented on the basis of distribution channel which comprises gourmet specialty shops, wine stores, supermarket, e-commerce and others. Gourmet specialty stores and wine stores are also important distribution channel types.Request a Sample Report @Key playersThe key players profiled in the caviar market are as The Caviar Co. (U.S.), DELICATESSEN SNAILEX s.r.o. (Czech Republic), AMANGUL TULBERGEN (Istanbul), Sepehr Dad Caviar Gmbh (Germany), CAVIAR BLANC (Portugal), LABEYRIE (France) VODNY MIR (Ukraine)Browse Report Details @Intended AudienceCaviar manufacturers Restaurant E-commerce Retailers and wholesalers Traders, importers and exportersKey Findings: Distribution of caviar through e-commerce is growing at higher rate The top five importers of caviar are Malaysia, Spain, U.K., Lithuania and Kazakhstan Russia and Iran are the major producer of caviarStudy Objectives of Caviar Market Detailed analysis of the markets markets and micro-markets To estimate and forecast market size by fish type, delivery form, end use, distribution channel and region To analyses key driving forces influencing the market Macro-economic analysis of major producing countries Region level market analysis and market estimation of North America, Europe, Asia, and rest of the world (ROW)Regional AnalysisThe global caviar market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world (ROW). Among these Asia Pacific region has the major market share followed by Europe. Improving economic condition of consumer and expansion of distribution channel has boosted the market growth in Asia pacific region. Availability of varieties in Europe is the creating new opportunities for caviar suppliers in Europe. China, U.S., Italy, France and Germany are the top exporters.The Global Caviar market is segmented under the following regions mentioned below:North America US Canada EuropeEurope Germany France Italy Spain UK Rest of EuropeAsia-Pacific China India Australia Singapore Rest of Asia PacificRest of the world Brazil Argentina Saudi Arabia South Africa OthersAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Bakery Processing Equipment Market: Current trends, Opportunities, Challenges and Forecast by 2024 Bakery Processing Equipment Market, Bakery Processing Equipment Forecast http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/bakery-processing-equipment-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=10865 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global bakery industry is transforming at a rapid pace. Demand for bread, from it being the choicest bakery product across the globe, is rising at a sluggish rate in mature markets, as consumers increasingly prefer packaged lunch food and healthy breakfast options. In developing regions, on the other hand, consumers are giving more preference to innovative flavors and healthy on-the-go breakfast choices to keep up with their busy lifestyles.Increased preference for individually and portably packed food portions instead of loose products, and the demand for low-fat, gluten-free products, innovative flavors, and nutritional product varieties are also significantly influencing the global bakery market.The rapidly expanding middle class population and rising disposable incomes of consumers in developing nations are driving the global bakery products market. The changing consumer choices are compelling bakery processing equipment manufacturers to innovate and design advanced equipment that will suit the complex needs of manufacturers of bakery products.Obtain Report Details @As the global bakery market struggles to operate amid widely shifting consumer demographics and choices, the market for bakery processing equipment is also witnessing demand for sophisticated and complex design from bakery product companies. As a result, the markets scope is no longer limited to earlier favorites such as basic dough mixing/proofing/rounding machines, biscuit filling machines, icing machines, and basic ovens. Instead, the demand for multispecialty equipment that can cater to several operations and processes is increasing in the market.Rising demand for flexible equipment that can enable bakery product manufacturers to easily conform to the rapidly varying consumer preferences and bring changes in their product lines accordingly is a big challenge for bakery processing equipment vendors. However, the scenario provides a good opportunity for vendors to invest in advanced technology principles to thrive in the market.Introducing solutions such as in-process storage systems for uninterrupted delivery of products to packaging lines; screening conveyors for removal of remains; bucket elevators with gentle handling capabilities and multiple discharges; and shuffle flow conveyors to ensure minimum product damage can help bakery processing equipment companies grow.Fill the form to Gain Deeper Insights on this Market @The bakery processing equipment is predominantly influenced by equipment manufacturers in developed countries. Major bakery processing equipment manufacturing companies in the global market are based in countries such as Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, the U.S., Denmark, Australia, and Japan. These countries are also the major exporters of bakery processing equipment. Technological developments and rapid pace of introduction of technologically advanced products in these regions are the key reasons for their dominance in the global market.Asia Pacific is a leading importer of a variety of bakery processing equipment owing to the flourishing bakery industry. Rising disposable income, busy lifestyle, and increasing preference for packaged bakery products are the primary factors expected to drive the bakery industry. This, in turn, is likely to propel the bakery processing equipment market in the region. Many multinational companies have ventured into the bakery products and processing market in Asia Pacific.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Asset Management IT Solution Market Projected to Register Strong growth by 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/us-asset-management-it-solution-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=16142 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The growing need for IT solutions for the management of assets such as equity, fixed income, real estate, commodities, and international investments is the key factor boosting the deployment and adoption of asset management IT solutions across the globe.Within the U.S., the need for asset management IT solutions is spurred by the increasing number and value of asset managers in the country. The U.S. Department of Commerce states that in 2015, U.S. asset managers held over US$51 trillion worth of long-term conventional assets under management, which amounted to slightly over 47.0% of the global funds that year.Obtain Report Details:The growth in exchange traded funds has also created a need for the management of IT solutions in the U.S. The market for asset management IT solutions in the country is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.1% from 2016 to 2024, rising from a valuation of US$828.5 mn in 2015 to US$1,298.2 mn by 2024.By component, asset management IT services dominate the U.S. market. The service segment is expected to retain its lead throughout the forecast period as asset managers are looking to hire third-party service providers to automate their business processes.Within this segment, enterprise data management services hold the major share, followed by reporting solution and services. This sub-segment is also projected to register strong growth by 2024.Based on application, the asset management IT solution market area is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.9% from 2016 to 2024 owing to the growing number of wealth managers in the U.S.Within this segment, portfolio management accounted for the leading market share in 2015, which can be primarily attributed to the expanding customer base of investment management firms in the country.The U.S. asset management IT solution market, by deployment model, is segmented into cloud-based, on-premise, and hybrid. On-premise software solutions account for the prominent share, followed by hybrid deployment.Owing to rising security concerns over cloud-based services and the need to prevent the leakage of clients critical information, on-premise deployment is expected to hold a significant share in the coming years.The northeastern region of the U.S. is expected to lead the asset management IT solutions market, accounting for a share of over 42.0% in 2016. Retaining its dominance throughout the forecast period, this region is fueled primarily due to the presence of a large number of asset managers.Fill the form to gain deeper insights on this market:The asset management IT solutions market in the southern region of the country is expected to expand at a high CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period.This growth can be attributed to the rise in number of investment management firms in order to meet the rising demand for asset management in the region.Furthermore, the adoption of Big Data in investment management supports the growth of the asset management IT solution market in the U.S.About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Digital Impression Standalone Scanners Market to Expand at a CAGR of 17.1% by 2020, Led by Advanced Powder-Free Intraoral Scanners Digital Impression Standalone Scanners Market, Digital Impression Standalone Scanners Market Industry http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/digital-impression-stand-alone-scanners-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2113 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Digital impression is a technology used to create three-dimensional (3D) image of intraoral tissues and teeth. Digital impression standalone scanners are used in intraoral scanning for various dental applications including dentures, bridges, inlays, onlays and orthodontic treatments.Advantages associated with digital impression technology over traditional method of impression are the factors driving the market growth. Digital impression standalone scanners eliminate the tedious and painful process of elastomeric impression used for dental applications. Additionally, digital impression standalone scanners reduce retakes required in dental applications such as restoration, thereby reducing the overall time and increasing productivity.Digital impression technology offers easy and accurate scanning with minimum efforts for both the dentist and patient. This helps in reducing errors and repeated visits of patients to the dental clinic. Moreover, decreasing costs and development of advanced powder-free intraoral scanners are expected to significantly drive the digital impression standalone scanners market growth.With rising focus on patient comfort and treatment accuracy, dentists are expected to increasingly adopt these scanners. However, high technical expertise and initial investment are few factors constraining the growth of digital impression standalone scanners market in near term.Obtain Report Details @The market for digital impression standalone scanners is segmented based on technology as confocal microscopic imaging and optical wand technology. The scanners based on optical wand technology dominated the global digital impression standalone scanners market accounting for highest revenue share in 2013. This was mainly due to low cost and small size of these scanners. Moreover, introduction of advanced powder-free scanners based on optical wand technology is contributing to the market growth and the trend is likely to further fuel the growth of the market in near future.Due to these advantages, optical wand technology based intraoral scanners are expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. Confocal microscopic imaging technology based intraoral scanners offer powder-free scanning, which enables them to carry out the process without keeping any distance between teeth and scanner. However, due to high costs associated with these scanners, the market for these scanners is witnessing relatively slow growth.In 2013, Europe held the largest market share and accounted for 39.3% of the global digital impression standalone scanners market. The growth was attributed to the early introduction and high adoption of digital impression standalone scanners in dental applications. This was majorly due to rising focus on elimination of error-prone traditional elastomeric impression techniques. High price of the digital impression standalone scanners is the prime factor for the reluctance toward its adoption by dentist in the Asia Pacific region.Fill the form to Gain Deeper Insights on this Market @However, with declining prices of standalone scanners, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market for digital impression standalone scanners during the forecast period. Japan is among the highest contributors to the digital impression standalone scanners market owing to the aging population and rising concerns regarding dental care. Strong market growth potential from countries such as India, China and South Korea is expected to drive the digital impression standalone scanners market in Asia Pacific during the forecast period.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Electric Vehicle Plastics Market: Latest Trends,Analysis & Insights 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/electric-vehicle-plastics-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=21554 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ http://depthresearchreport.blogspot.in/ A new research report by Transparency Market Research offers a comprehensive evaluation of the global Electric Vehicle Plastics Market. The study, titled Electric Vehicle Plastics Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024, is available for sale on the firms website.Components of electric vehicles which are made of plastic fall under the electric vehicle plastics category. Electric vehicles usually possess metal batteries, the weight of which affects their functioning. Instead of metals, plastics and composite materials can also be used as they help reduce running costs. An electric vehicle requires relatively little servicing and no expensive exhaust systems, starter motors, fuel injection systems, radiators, and other parts. A higher quantity of plastic material is used in these vehicles than in conventional ones, owing to the inclusion of a larger battery pack, the smaller size of the internal combustion engine, and demand for lightweight materials to improve fuel efficiency. Electric vehicle plastics are the raw materials prominently used to manufacture parts and supplies.Browse Market Research Report @Increasing demand for electric vehicles owing to growing environmental awareness supported by innovation, government initiatives, and investments made by OEMs has resulted in a technological revolution in the global automobile industry. The need for electric vehicles propels allied sectors such as plastics, an essential material required in the manufacturing of the former. Manufacturers need lightweight materials to develop electric vehicles, which is the primary driver of the global electric vehicle plastics market. Environmental concerns are expected to increase the requirement for electric vehicles, thereby driving the electric vehicle plastics market over the forecast period. With a shift in consumer need toward automobiles which contribute to fewer greenhouse gas emissions, highly fuel-efficient electric vehicles and their variants are being manufactured by almost all major automakers owing to the improving year-on-year sales of this product, directly influencing the development of the electric vehicle plastics market. Another contributing factor is the decline in the prices of raw materials used in the manufacture of electric vehicles.In terms of material, electric vehicle plastic is categorized into the following types: PP, PE, ABS, PE, PVC, PA, nylon 6, polycarbonate, PVB, and other engineering resins. Based on vehicle type, the market is classified into the hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery varieties. On the basis of application, the market is segmented into the interior, exterior, lighting & electric wiring, and under the hood divisions. Polyurethanes are a widely used material in electric vehicles, which could be attributed to the advantages they offer, such as high strength, flexibility, resistance to temperature, and radiation. Key applications of polyurethanes include seating, electric wiring, and hard plastic parts. Battery electric vehicles are a rapidly expanding segment in the electric vehicle plastics market, driven by factors such as increasing innovation, environmental concerns, and stringent emission regulations. To promote their growth, governments are introducing various tax and non-tax incentives for owners of these vehicles. This eventually supplements the growth of the plastics employed in them.The global electric vehicle plastic market has witnessed modest growth in 2015 and is expected to follow the same trend during the forecast period. Asia Pacific dominates the electric vehicle plastic market and has emerged as a hub for electric vehicles in recent years, with China and Japan being the leading players. Governments in APAC are also trying to provide incentives to support the demand for electric vehicles. The electric vehicle plastics market in North America and Western Europe are flourishing at a healthy rate as a result of the increasing adoption of non-polluting vehicles as a means of transportation. The markets in Latin America and Middle East & Africa are likely to experience a sluggish growth rate due to limited demand for and sales of electric vehicles, but this situation could improve in later years when the demand for fossil fuels increases.Key players operating in the global electric vehicle plastics market include BASF SE, Formosa Plastic Corporation, U.S.A, Evonik Industries, and Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit : Artificial Intelligence Market to Reach US$3,061.35 bn by 2024, Deployment in Disruptive Technologies Drives Growth artificial intelligence Market , Global artificial intelligence Market size http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/artificial-intelligence-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=4674 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Artificial intelligence is a fast emerging technology, dealing with development and study of intelligent machines and software. This software is being used across various applications such as manufacturing (assembly line robots), medical research, and speech recognition systems.It also enables in-build software or machines to operate like human beings, thereby allowing devices to collect, analyze data, reason, talk, make decisions and act The global artificial intelligence market was valued at US$ 126.24 Bn in 2015 and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 36.1% from 2016 to 2024 to reach a value of US$ 3,061.35 Bn in 2024.The global artificial intelligence market is currently witnessing healthy growth as companies have started leveraging the benefits of such disruptive technologies for effective customer reach and positioning of their services/solutions. Market growth is also supported by an expanding application base of artificial intelligence solutions across various industries.However, factors such as low funding access or high upfront investment, and demand for skilled resources (workforce) are presently acting as major deterrents to market growth.Obtain Report Details @On the basis of types of artificial intelligence systems, the market is segmented into artificial neural network, digital assistance system, embedded system, expert system, and automated robotic system. Expert system was the most adopted or revenue generating segment in 2015. This was mainly due to the extensive use of artificial intelligence across various sectors including diagnosis, process control, design, monitoring, scheduling and planning.Based on various applications of artificial intelligence systems, the market has been classified into deep learning, smart robots, image recognition, digital personal assistant, querying method, language processing, gesture control, video analysis, speech recognition, context aware processing, and cyber security. Image recognition is projected to be the fastest growing segment by application in the global artificial intelligence market. This is due to the growing demand for affective computing technology across various end-use sectors for better study of systems that can recognize, analyze, process, and simulate human effects.Fill the form to Gain Deeper Insights on this Market @North America was the leader in the global artificial intelligence market in 2015, holding approximately 38% of the global market revenue share, and is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. High government funding and a strong technological base have been some of the major factors responsible for the top position of the North America region in the artificial intelligence market over the past few years. Middle East and Africa is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 38.2% throughout the forecast period. This is mainly attributed to enormous opportunities for artificial intelligence in the MEA region in terms of new airport developments and various technological innovations including robotic automation.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Industry Analysis 2024 : Ion Exchange Resins Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ion-exchange-resins.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1076 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com An ion exchange resin is a resin that acts as a medium for ion exchange. It is a small insoluble matrix, usually in the form of a tiny bead produced from organic polymer substrates. The surface of this resin bead is typically porous. This assists in trapping and releasing ions without any difficulty. Ion exchange resins are used in various applications in different purification, separation, and decontamination processes. Common applications include water purification and water softening. Ion exchange resins may also be used instead of zeolites in the said processes. They are also highly effective in the filtration process of bio-diesel. Furthermore, ion exchange resins are employed in end-use industries such as food & beverages, pharmaceuticals, and power generation.Browse Market Research Report @Based on type, the ion exchange resins market can be divided into cationic resins, anionic resins, chelation resins, and adsorbent resins. The cationic resins segment held the prominent share of the global ion exchange resins market in 2015. It is anticipated to continue its dominance across during the forecast period. Application in water softening and demineralization in industries such as water treatment, nuclear, and chemical is the primary driver of the cationic resins segment. The chelation resins and adsorbent resins segments are estimated to expand at rapid pace during the forecast period. Chelation resins are used in agricultural and pharmaceutical applications, while adsorbent resins are employed in the food & beverage industry. These segments are projected to expand significantly owing to the increase in demand for processed food and growth in agricultural applications in countries in Asia Pacific such as China and India.Based on end-use industry, the global ion exchange resins market can be segmented into power, water treatment, food & beverages, chemical, pharmaceutical, and others. The power segment constituted the key share of the ion exchange resins market in 2015. It is likely to continue its dominance during the forecast period. Ion exchange resins are extensively employed to demineralize feed water and condensate polishing inside water-steam circuits in the power industry. The power segment is expected to be followed by the water treatment and food & beverage segments, owing to the global industrialization coupled with scarcity of clean and fresh water. The pharmaceutical segment is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace during the forecast period, as ion exchange resins are excellent drug delivery mediums. R&D departments of several manufacturing companies are conducting research on increasing the number of applications of ion exchange resins in the pharmaceutical segment. This is also estimated to drive the ion exchange resins market in the near future.In terms of region, the global ion exchange resins market can be segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Asia Pacific held the prominent share of the global ion exchange resins market in 2015. The market in the region is expected to expand at a rapid pace during the forecast period owing to the increase in demand for nuclear power and rise in urbanization. China, India, and South Korea are the key countries contributing to the growth of the ion exchange resins market in Asia Pacific. The region was followed by North America and Europe, respectively, in 2015. The ion exchange resins market in North America and Europe is expanding at a sluggish pace, as it has reached the stage of maturity. This is anticipated to hamper the demand for ion exchange resins in these regions. The ion exchange resins market in Latin America is estimated to expand at a significant pace during the forecast period owing to the growing demand for clean water.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Prominent players operating in the global ion exchange resins market are BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, Ion Exchange Ltd., Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Finex Oy, Lanxess, and Thermax Limited.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: CAS9 Technology Industry Trends and Developments 2017 - 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2064 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/cas9-technology-market Market ScenarioCAS9 is a genome altering technology that is creating a buzz in the science/healthcare world. It is faster in operation, monetarily less expensive and more efficient than previous technology used for altering DNA and has an extensive range of potential applications. CAS9 is an exceptional technological innovation that empowers genetic and therapeutic analysts to alter parts of the genome by removing, including or changing sections of the DNA. This technology right now is less complex, most adaptable and has precise technique for genetic manipulation hence it is causing a buzz in the science world.This technology is yet to be performed upon humans, focus is currently on animals and on isolated human cells. It will help the healthcare/science industry to treat patients with fatal diseases. Based on the promising results of this technology, companies are investing massively in its research and development and are hoping to get the technology out of clinical trials as soon as possible.Market SegmentsCAS9 technology market has been segmented On the basis of medium which comprises of enzyme, RNA and others. On the basis of application the market is segmented into DNA sequence, DNA repair, gene library development, cell line engineering, genetic engineering, cancer, hepatitis B, gene therapy and others. On the basis of delivery IV infusion, injection, inhalation. On the basis of end-user, market is segmented into hospitals, biotechnology companies, research centers, and others.Request a Sample Report @Study Objective of CAS9 Technology Market Giving detail analysis of the market structure along with its growth forecast for the next 7 years related to various segments and sub-segments of the CAS9 Technology market. Providing an insight about factors affecting the market growth. Analyzing the market based on various factors which includes price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters Five Force Analysis etc. To provide historical and forecasting the future revenue of the markets segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa. Providing the country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and estimated growth of the market. To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to technology used, by application, by medium, end-user and its sub-segments. Presenting an overview of key players and their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the in the market. Tracking and analyzing competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions, new product developments along with research and developments in the global CAS9 technology marketBrowse Report Details @Key Players:Some of the key players in this market are: CRISPR Therapeutics Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc Lonza Agilent Technologies GenScript Editas Medicine Horizon Discovery Group plc New England Biolabs Transposagen, Inc CRISPR Therapeutics Albany Molecular Research IncIntended Audience CAS9 technology devices manufacturers and suppliers Biotechnology companies Research and development (R&D) companies Government research laboratories Government and independent regulatory authorities Medical research instituteRegional Analysis of CAS9 Technology Market:Globally North America is the largest market for CAS9 technology. Europe is expected to be the second-largest market. Furthermore Asia Pacific market is expected to be the fastest growing market for CAS9 Technology.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Growth Opportunities for Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Industry 2017-2027 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1019 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/field-programmable-gate-array-market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/request-toc/1019 Market ScenarioField Programmable Gate Array or FPGA is a semi-conductor device which can be programmed after the manufacturing. Unlike the other hardware products, FPGA gives the option to program according to the application or uses. This market has seen various opportunities in the IT and telecom industry as well as manufacturing industry.Market SegmentsGlobal Field Programmable Gate Array Market can be segmented as follows: Segmentation by Type: High-end, mid end and low end Segmentation by Technology: Static RAM, Anti Fuse technology and EPROM/EEPROM Segmentation by Application: Consumer electronics, IT & Telecom, Industrial, Automotive, Defence & Aerospace and othersThe market by technology defines the FPGA architecture providing qualitative details of the same.Request a Sample Report @Study Objective of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Market To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the FPGA market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW) To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country level analysis of the market for segment by types, by technology, by application and sub-segments. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Global Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) MarketBrowse Report Details @Key Players:The key players in the market of FPGA are- XILINX INC. (U.S.) Intel (U.S.) Microsemi Corporation (U.S.) Achronix (U.S.) e2v (U.K.) Lattice Semiconductor (U.S.) QuickLogic (U.S.) Atmel (U.S.) Nallatech (U.S.)Industry News In April 2016, announce the new development on FPGA for low power consumption. In the December 2015, Intel acquired the FPGA manufacturer Altera.Regional Analysis of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Market:North America is dominating the market of FPGA due to the high consumption of consumer electronics products. North America is a leader in the field of technology and FPGA gives the option to program the unit after manufacturing according to the application or where the product will be used. Country like China and Japan which are the hub of manufacturing consumer electronics product is said to be the largest market share holder.Request Table of Contents for this Report @The reports also cover brief analysis of Geographical Region including:AmericasNorth America US CanadaEuropeWestern Europe Germany France Italy Spain U.K Rest of Western EuropeEastern EuropeAsia PacificAsia China India Japan South Korea Rest of Asia PacificThe Middle East & AfricaAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Peritoneal Dialysis Market : Market and Growth Analysis http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/peritoneal-dialysis-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=4776 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Dialysis refers to the process of cleaning the blood in case of kidney failure or improper functioning of kidneys. There are two types of dialysis; hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis involves pumping out of the blood to an artificial kidney system and is returned back to the body with the help of tubing accessories. Peritoneal dialysis involves the cleansing of blood along with removal of extra fluids by utilizing bodys natural filter, the peritoneal membrane. Peritoneal membrane is the lining that surrounds the abdominal cavity comprising spleen, stomach, liver and intestines.The solution or dialysate is placed in the peritoneum and the membrane filters fluids and waste from the blood into the solution which is then drained from the peritoneum after several hours and is again substituted with fresh dialysate. Peritoneal dialysis renders a lot of advantages or benefits such as minimal clinic visits (once in a month), no use of needles, supplies continuous therapy similar to natural functioning of kidney. The therapy is easy to perform even while travelling and sleeping thereby avoiding frequent visits to the dialysis center. On the other hand, peritoneal dialysis possesses some disadvantages such as need for the placement of a permanent catheter and imposing risk of infection. This type of dialysis is one of the great treatment modalities available for the patients interested to perform the dialysis at home.Browse full report on Peritoneal Dialysis Market -Currently, it is perceived that the rate of peritoneal dialysis is declining worldwide. However substantial evidence is rarely available in the public domain. Assessment of longitudinal trends in the use of peritoneal dialysis was published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The study was focused on assessing the global trends of peritoneal dialysis from 1997 to 2008 spread across 130 countries. As per this data, around 59% patients were treated with peritoneal dialysis in developing countries and around 41% were treated in developed countries. Over the period of 12 years, the number of peritoneal patients increased in developed countries (by 21.8 per million population) and developing countries (by 24.9 patients per million).The market for peritoneal dialysis can be segmented on the basis of the type of products, services and application. Peritoneal dialysis catheters, implantation systems, peritoneal solution and other accessories constitute some of the products used in the dialysis process. Services include homecare services and education about the peritoneal dialysis process. Application segment can be further analyzed by two types namely, automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Geographically, North America and Europe would account for the major revenue contributors due to increased awareness and high accessibility to the products and services in these regions. On the contrary, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW) promise lucrative opportunities for the market growth due to large patient population base and unmet healthcare needs. Regulatory policies elucidating the safety and precautionary measures to reduce the risk of infection would govern the market growth.The major factors favoring the market growth are increasing number of patients suffering from chronic ailments such as diabetes and hypertension which would result in kidney failure and inturn increase the demand for peritoneal dialysis. For instance, as per the data enumerated by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Heart Federation (WHF), there are more than 300 million diabetics and more than 900 million people suffering from elevated blood pressure. In addition, increasing prevalence of renal diseases would further propel the market growth. On the other hand, factors such as risk of infection and permanent placement of catheter outside the body might hamper the market growth. Baxter International, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Fresenius Medical Care, Diversified Specialty Institute Holdings and DaVita Healthcare Partners are some of the key players operating in this market.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. This report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Request for brochure of this report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Market : Market and Growth Analysis http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/clinical-decision-support-system-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=4332 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Global Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Market: OverviewA clinical decision support system (CDSS) refers is used in the healthcare sector to aid healthcare professionals in decision making tasks. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers utilize CDSS in the preparation of a diagnosis and its review. Such an evaluation of data assists the prediction of potential events ranging from medication interaction to disease symptoms.The global market for CDSS can be broadly segmented into machine learning and knowledge base. The knowledge based CDSS generate results via the use of if-then algorithms. Regular updating of databases is carried out by trained professionals. The non-knowledge based CDSS, on the other hand, runs on artificial intelligence. CDSS can either be a standalone system or be integrated with other systems such as computerized physician order entry (CLOSE) and electric health record (EHR) systems.The report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) reveals crucial information about the recent developments and competitive scenario in the global CDSS market. The primary catalysts and deterrents of the growth of the market, market size, market projections have been discussed in the report, alongside relevant statistical analysis. The progress of the leading market players has also been mapped.Browse full report on Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Market-Global Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Market: Drivers and RestraintsSome of the prominent advantages offered by CDSS include vast storage capacity, cost-effective efficiency, and ease of access on mobile devices. CDSS can be used at various stages such as prior to diagnosis, post diagnosis and during diagnosis to map the patient's progress from past records to the present data.Several supportive government initiatives are encouraging the growth of the global market for CDSS. For instance, it was observed that after the Healthcare Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act in 2009, the adoption of CDSS has increased significantly. The greater adoption of cloud computing technology, expansion of healthcare infrastructures, and increasing patient awareness have been some of the driving forces of the global CDSS market.On the other hand, the complexity associated with the integration of CDSS, lack of interoperability, and data security and privacy issues can inhibit growth. However, as more organizations such as the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology (ONC) and Healthcare Research and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) are making investments in CDSS implementation and development, the global market for CDSS will continue to thrive on account of the consequent opportunities.Global Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Market: Regional OutlookBy geography, the global market for CDSS can be segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World (RoW). With Canada and the U.S. as the prominent contributors, North America is expected to lead the global CDSS market over the next few years. Favorable policies of the government, early adoption of IT across several industry verticals, and the rising incidence of diseases have been promoting the expansion of the CDSS market in this region.Europe also possesses vast potential for growth. Italy, Germany, France, and the U.K. are likely to assist the advancement of the CDSS market in this region. Although believed to be at a nascent stage, the CDSS Market in Asia Pacific is one with maximum growth opportunities. The growing healthcare infrastructure, rising awareness about efficiency in healthcare, greater adoption of advanced technologies, and increasing government funds have been some of the major growth drivers of the market in Asia Pacific. The Middle East and Africa, and Latin America are also slated for monumental growth.Companies Mentioned in the ReportSome of the major companies operating in the global market for CDSS are Epic Systems Corporation, Zynx Health, Medical Information Technology, Inc., Wolters Kluwer N.V., McKesson Corporation, Siemens Healthcare, and Philips Healthcare.Request for brochure of this report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Virus Filtration Market: Market Trends and Key Developments http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/virus-filtration-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=17411 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Virus filtration is an important procedure in the pharmaceutical industry. It ensures the purity and steady consumption of valuable products, besides optimizing the economic process and preventing loss. Virus filtration feed streams generally exhibit high purity and heavy product concentrations. Retrovirus and parvovirus filtration membranes are two ultrafiltration membranes tested (and their performances compared) using realistic model feed streams consisting of minute virus of mice (recommended from FDA). This approach provides an industry-relevant benchmark for the engineering competence of virus filters. Asymmetric membranes operate in direct flow and in a constant pressure mode in accordance with the industrial practice of virus filtration. However, new developments in research and development using flux method allow to image at the performance of virus filtration and similar ultrafiltration membranes, which also provides insights into designing virus filtration membranes.Hike in R&D expenditure, development of the biopharmaceutical industry, and increasing government funding for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are driving the global virus filtration market. According to the parenteral drug association, parvovirus filters in the downstream process have become an industry standard and a common regulatory expectation in the recent years. The filters consistently demonstrate highly effective retrovirus retention without impacting the quality of the product across a wide range of parameters and are an effective method to reduce virus risks in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The filtration technique needs to be approved by the U.S. food and drug administration (FDA). Regulatory agencies in Germany and France require the manufacturing processes to be evaluated and the units to be cleared of the multiple models of relevant viruses before being marketed as authorization. These stringent government validation practices are expected to be a hindrance for the global virus filtration market.Browse full report on Virus Filtration Market-The market has been segmented by product type, application, end-users, and geography. In terms of product type, it is classified into the following categories: virus filters, kits and reagents, filtration systems, and others. It majorly has biological applications, besides being employed in medical devices, water purification, stem cell products, vaccine & therapeutics, and others. Based on end-user, its divisions include pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies (which use virus filtration techniques in order to prevent unavoidable contamination in products), medical device companies, and contract research organizations. Filtration systems and devices are becoming popular because they deliver a high level of retention assurance and productivity across a broad range of feed stream characteristics. Rising industrialization coupled with the rapid evolution of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and water purification sectors, along with demand for medical devices & implants are likely to propel the virus filtration market by 2024.Geographically, the market is distributed over North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. North America is the dominant region due to the increasing modern industrialization, sophisticated infrastructure, patient awareness, and high per capita health care expenditure here. Moreover, the emerging trend of single-use techniques provides a boost to the pharmaceutical & biotechnology market, in turn motivating the virus filtration market. This is followed by Europe where there exist favorable government policies regarding health care infrastructure and awareness programs about the various diseases which can spread among the population through the air, water, or even products generated from industries. In 2013, the ICH (international conference on harmonization of technical requirements for registration of pharmaceuticals for human use), a project that brings together the regulatory authorities of Europe, Japan, and the U.S., discussed the scientific and technical aspects of drug registration in order to streamline the testing requirement for research and development of new medicines and eliminate unnecessary delays in their global development. The market in Asia Pacific is projected to expand swiftly due to rising population, changing lifestyles, rising number of awareness programs for patients, and the ever-increasing per capita expenditure. In addition, economic growth supports pharmaceutical and biotechnology units in developing countries such as India, China, and Singapore. All these factors collectively support the virus filtration market in Asia Pacific.Key players operating in the market include Merck KGaA, GE Healthcare, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Lonza Group Ltd., Pall Corporation, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Sartorius AG, Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd., and WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)Request for brochure of this report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Heart Attack Diagnostics Market : Analysis and Forecast upto 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/heart-attack-diagnostics-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=17996 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Heart attack diagnosis is associated with intensive care of patients battling with life threatening conditions, which requires sophisticated invasive monitoring devices and life support systems. Heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs due to reduced or total cut off of oxygenated blood supply to the heart muscle. It is one of the major causes of death observed worldwide and needs to be diagnosed rapidly and accurately. According to Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, about 735,000 Americans suffer from heart attack every year. Occurrence of heart attacks is increasing in adults as well as in geriatric population across the globe due to unhealthy lifestyle habits, high cholesterol levels, high BMI, and growth in tobacco and alcohol consumption. The demand for heart attack diagnostic devices has increased owing to rise in need for continuous monitoring of individuals, accessibility for patient, changing lifestyle, higher investments in R&D, and technological advancement. Further, various international organizations and government across the globe are creating awareness about monitoring devices among the population.Several factors are responsible to propel the heart attack diagnostics market, but few factors are likely to continue to restrain the growth of the market in the near future such as the low Medicare reimbursements provided for the peripatetic cardiac outpatient telemetry electrocardiogram (ECG).The heart attack diagnostics market can be segmented on the basis of test, end-user, and geography. In terms of test, the market can be divided into electrocardiogram (ECG), blood test, chest X-ray, echocardiogram, coronary catheterization (angiogram), exercise stress test, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Among these, ECG has a wider application and contributes to tremendous growth of the market. End-user of this market includes hospitals, specialty clinics, and pathology among others.Browse full report on Heart Attack Diagnostics Market-In terms of geography, the heart attack diagnostics market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. In terms of market revenue, North America is estimated to dominate the global heart attack diagnostics market owing to increased adoption of technologically advanced diagnostic equipment. The Asia Pacific market is projected to grow at a higher rate owing to high incidence of heart attacks and soaring death rates due to heart diseases.The heart attack diagnostics market is highly fragmented due to involvement of many recognized as well as emerging players in this market. Key players involved in the heart attack diagnostics market include Abbott Laboratories, Beckman Coulter, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, GE Healthcare, Life Sign LLC, Hitachi Medical Systems, and Schiller AG.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)Request for brochure of this report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: International events like the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany now offer a good platform for Chinese authors to reach out to global readers. [Photo/VCG] "We know Canadian contemporary literature much better than they know ours," says Bai Ye, director of the China Contemporary Literature Study Association, at a recent forum in Beijing on cultural translation and studies. Bai relates a story from about 10 years ago, when Liu Zhenyun, writer of I Didn't Kill My Husband and The Cook, the Crook, and the Real Estate Tycoon, and Bai went to a literary event at a Confucius Institute in Canada. Bai had a dialogue with a famous Canadian critic at the event. As they discussed Canadian literature, Bai gave examples of several authors that he liked. The Canadian critic, on the other hand, could not think of any Chinese writer that she read. "She told me to wait and she would think of one that she really loved. She didn't think of the name until we dined together later. It was Li Bai," he says. That almost hit Bai like a blow, because the poet Li lived in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). "I study only Chinese literature, but I read a lot of foreign literary works. Obviously, foreign readers know nothing about Chinese literature. And I think it's time for us to change that situation," Bai says. The major purpose of the recent forum, hosted at Beijing Language and Culture University by China Culture Translation and Studies Support, a platform for cultural cooperation, was to discuss how to translate and introduce excellent contemporary Chinese literary works to overseas readers. In China, more than 7,000 writers have registered with the China Writers Association, creating more than 3,000 novels each year. But only some 200-plus Chinese writers have been introduced overseas. Mai Jia, author of Decoded and In the Dark, is the only contemporary Chinese writer whose works have been translated into 27 languages, says another participant at the forum, Xu Baofeng. Xu is executive director of the Chinese Culture Communication and Translation Center. (From left to right) Chen Zhongshi, author of The Plain of White Deer, Mo Yan, a Nobel laureate known for Red Sorghum and Mai Jia, author of Decoded and In the Dark. [Photo provided to China Daily] Xu says there should have been more Chinese writers read by overseas readers, since "they create really great works". Bai says foreign readers now tend to read stories about modern urban life in China rather than tales set in rural areas in old times, such as Mo Yan's Red Sorghum. Last year, when prizewinning writer Chen Zhongshibest known for The Plain of White Deerdied, translator Eric Abrahamsen told China Daily that the novel had not been translated into English because readers, having read mainly stories about rural China, wanted to read something about people in modern cities. Abrahamsen is the founder of Paper Republic, a company devoted to translating Chinese literature and introducing it to the West. Bai says that writers now being introduced to readers abroad are mainly from generations born before 1970. "We promote overseas what we think are excellent works, but many foreign readers want to read the historical progress in the last 40 years since the reform and opening-up started. What kind of sea change has taken place in China, how it happened, and how it has influenced people from different walks of life, materially and psychologically," Bai says. "However, we don't have such novels. So I think we should first create some excellent works on such topics as migrant workers and make a collection." Lu Min, 44, vice-chairman of the writers association in Jiangsu province, dismisses such writings. "I once met representatives of a German copyright-trading company. They told me they wanted to read about urban Chinese life rather than rural life," she says. But can literature be custom-made like other products? she asked. "They want to learn about Chinese society through literature, which should be the function of the media," she says. "But they should expect less ideological content from our literature. In literature, we write down our consideration about life and death, love, desire, our plight and our pursuit of the beautiful life, which are the eternal themes of literature." Forecast up to 2025, For Internal Neuromodulation Devices Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/internal-neuromodulation-devices-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22937 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Internal neuromodulation devices directly act upon nerves. It is the technology known for alteration of nerve activity directly to a target area by sending electrical or pharmaceutical agents directly to a target area. The neuromodulation devices can treat nearly every disease considering every area of body. The diseases or symptoms from headache to spinal cord damage to tremor and many others. Neuromodulation technology is significantly improving in biotechnology with its broad therapeutic scope. More specifically, it is employed to treat unmanageable chronic pain or movement conditions. According to the study on neuromodulation devices and therapies has shown that neuromodulation is a safe, effective, and long-term treatment for chronic pain and movement disorders. Patients with the diseases such as Parkinsons disease, essential tremor, primary dystonia, chronic back and leg pain associated with peripheral vascular disease (PVD), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) can benefit from neuromodulation therapy. As the hardware becomes smaller and easy to use the implantable devices used for neuromodulation have taken a dive headlong with the introduction of smaller devices, and rechargeable systems. These systems are considered with larger but useable complexity which denotes towards the growth of neuromodulation devices segment.The internal neuromodulation devices market can be segmented into product type, application, end-user, and geography. In terms of product type, the market can be segmented into deep brain stimulators, sacral nerve stimulators, vagus nerve stimulators, spinal cord stimulators, and other internal neuromodulation devices. The spinal cord segment of the internal neuromodulation devices market is anticipated to expand rapidly during the forecast period. The product type segment is estimated to expand significantly in the near future due to its high usage in the treatment of chronic pain. Rising gastric and chronic and nerve disability conditions are driving the expansion of the market globally. The market is anticipated to expand due to growing safety awareness and efficacy of the neuromodulation devices, increasing neurological disorders prevalence and increasing number of clinical trials, globally, for the progress of innovative technologies. Stringent approval policies and low number of trained healthcare professionals are restraining the expansion of the market.Browse full report on Internal Neuromodulation Devices Market-In terms of application, the market can be segmented into failed back syndrome, tremors, epilepsy, chronic pain management, Parkinsons disease, depression, urinary and fecal incontinence, gastroparesis, migraine, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and others. The chronic pain management segment accounts for a significant share in the application category of the internal neuromodulation devices market. Increasing prevalence of chronic conditions is a major factor driving the expansion of the segment. In terms of end-user, the internal neuromodulation devices market can be segmented into hospitals, clinics, and home healthcare. The hospitals segment is projected to hold prominent share in the end-user category of the internal neuromodulation devices market.In terms of geography, the global internal neuromodulation devices market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the world, North America held significant share of the internal neuromodulation devices market due to high healthcare awareness, prevalence of chronic disorders, and technological advancement in the region. Europe accounted for the second largest share of the internal neuromodulation devices market due to rising ageing population. However, Asia Pacific represent are estimated to expand rapidly in during the forecast period due to increasing awareness, gradual adoption of improved technologies, emerging health care infrastructures, increased purchasing power of hospitals, and rise in population. Followed by Latin America and Middle- East & Africa.Key global players in the internal neuromodulation devices market are Medtronic plc, LivaNova PLC, Cyberonics, Inc., St. Jude Medical, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, EnteroMedics Inc, BioControl Medical, Bioness Inc., Nevro Corporation, and NeuroPace Inc. Moreover, regional players along with global players are contributing for a significant share in the internal neuromodulation devices market.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)Request for brochure of this report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Opioids Market Growth, Trend, Price, Demand and Forecasts To 2025 Opioids are the most widely prescribed medications to treat moderate to severe chronic pain. These analgesics are used to manage pain in cancer patients and also to treat severe constant pain in patients suffering from terminal illnesses. These are generally administered via subcutaneous, oral and intramuscular routes; other routes of administration include nasal insufflations, patient controlled analgesia, transdermal and oral mucosa routes via lozenges. Opioids can be classified into three major classes namely, strong agonists (fentanyl, oxymorphone, and morphine), mild to moderate agonists (codeine and hydroxycodone), and opioids with mixed receptor reactions (buprenophrine and pentazocine). Although they form one of the most widely used analgesic classes, they cause certain adverse effects such as constipation, nausea, vomiting, sedation, respiratory depression and others. However, the major concern with this drug class is the high level of drug abuse observed worldwide, leading to illegal trade of these drugs worth hundreds of billions of dollars. According to a study published in the Journal of American Medical Association in April 2011, the rate of deaths occurring due to the overdose of prescription opioids has increased substantially in the last decade in the U.S. alone. This study also indicated that high doses of opioid drugs prescribed for pain management possessed increased risk of overdose mortality in the patients. Request for brochure of this report - http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22928 The leading molecules in this segment that constituted about 65% of the total opioids market include OxyContin (oxycodone), Nucynta (tapentadol), Rybix and Ultram (tramadol), Exalgo (hydromorphone), Ultiva (remifentanil) and fentanyl.The remaining 35% market revenue was contributed by other generic opioids as well as combination formulations of NSAIDs with opioids.The actual market scenario for this drug class, however, could be different due to the strong product pipeline, with two major entries MoxDuo IR (morphine/oxycodone) and Remoxy (oxycodone) set to hit the market in 2016. The market entry of these two drugs is expected to boost growth of the overall opioids market during the forecast period. The number of patients suffering from chronic pain is on a constant rise globally. Thus, increasing incidence of chronic pain conditions will continue to encourage the use of pain management drugs, thereby driving the opioids market. Doctors usually prescribe medicines in the initial stages of pain, followed by other treatment options. Prescription drugs are easy to use and economical and are expected to support the growth of the opioids market globally. Prescription drug abuse is the major factor which will limit the growth of the global opioids market. The global opioids market has been segmented by type, geography, and distribution channel. The market by type includes endogenous (enkephalins, endorphins), opium alkaloids, and synthetic and semisynthetic opioids. The market for semisynthetic and synthetic opioids like fentanyl and oxycodone are expected to grow during the forecast period due to their fast and potent analgesic activity. Based on distribution channels, the global opioids market has been divided into retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and online pharmacies. The hospital pharmacy segment is expected to support the growth of the global opioids market due to high demand for pain killers in hospitals globally. Based on geographic segmentation, the global opioids market is segmented into five key regions: Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. According to the U.S. Institute of Medicine, approximately 100 million adults suffered from common chronic conditions such as low back pain followed by migraine and neck pain. North America is expected to be a major contributor to the global opioids market since it has the maximum percentage of population suffering from pain. Europe follows closely due to high prevalence rate of various diseases such as orthopedic and cancer. India, China, and Japan are the most developing countries in Asia Pacific and hence fuel the growth of the global opioids market. The major players active in the global opioids market includes Purdue Pharma, Pfizer, Inc., QRxpharma limited, Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Mylan N.V., and AbbVie Inc. The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications. Browse full report @ http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/opioids-market.html The study is a source of reliable data on: Market segments and sub-segments Market trends and dynamics Supply and demand Market size Current trends/opportunities/challenges Competitive landscape Technological breakthroughs Value chain and stakeholder analysis The regional analysis covers: North America (U.S. and Canada) Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others) Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg) Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia) Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand) Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa) The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain. A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period. Highlights of the report: A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market Important changes in market dynamics Market segmentation up to the second or third level Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments Market shares and strategies of key players Emerging niche segments and regional markets An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market Request for Discount of this report - @ http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=22928 Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge. Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement. US Office Contact 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com This release was published on openPR. Permanent link to this press release: Copy Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release. Bladder Cancer Market Research Report : Forecast 2025 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22985 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/bladder-cancer-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=22985 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Bladder cancer is a urologic malignancy occurring in the tissues of the urinary bladder. It is characterized by the uncontrolled, rapid growth of cells arising from the epithelial lining and can be proliferating to the muscular wall of urinary bladder. The bladder or urinary bladder is a hollow organ located in the pelvis (lower abdomen) which stores the urine drained from kidney. It is connected to the kidney by ureters, a tube like structure. Bladder cancer is ranked as the ninth most frequently diagnosed cancer. Region such as North America, Western and Southern Europe along with certain countries in Western Asia or Northern Africa have recorded highest incidence rates in men. Bladder cancer is more prevalent in men as compared to women; however, the sex ratio varied with different countries.Request for brochure of this report -The exact causes for bladder cancer are not known. However, some of the risk factors such as excessive smoking, tobacco consumption, continuous exposure to radiation, chronic bladder infection, and previous cancer treatments are considered to cause bladder cancer. Bladder cancer can affect any age group; however, it is more prevalent in adults aged over 50 years. Furthermore, the observed trends and patterns worldwide reflect tobacco smoking as the prevalent cause of bladder cancer. Infection with schistosoma haematobium along with other risk factors are also the major causes of bladder cancer in selected population.The global bladder cancer market is driven by increasing incidence of bladder cancer, leading to drug innovations for treatment and technological advancements. Bladder cancer is more common in adults aged over 50 years. Hence, increasing geriatric population also contributes to market growth. Furthermore, government initiatives, increasing awareness about bladder cancer and the available treatments, and progressive health care services with growing health care expenditure are expected to propel the global market. However, cancer being an asymptomatic disease at initial stage, needs accurate diagnosis at early stage. Inaccurate and unaffordable diagnosis could hamper the growth of the market. Increasing use of generic drugs and growing patent expirations are factors responsible for the sluggish growth of the market.The global bladder cancer market can be segmented based on diagnosis, therapy, and region. Bladder cancer can be diagnosed by urine lab tests, cystoscopy, biopsy, and imaging test. Urine lab tests can be further divided into urinalysis, urine cytology, urine culture, and urine tumor marker test. The imaging tests segment can be further divided into intravenous pyelogram (IVP), computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and ultrasound. In terms of therapy, the market can be segmented in to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and surgery.Geographically, the bladder cancer market can be segmented into five major regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. North America holds the major share of the global bladder cancer market. Major share of the region is attributed to the rise in incidence of bladder cancer, innovative health care solutions, advanced health care infrastructure, and increasing concern about bladder problems. Europe accounts for the second largest share of the market. The global bladder cancer market in Asia Pacific is expected to expand at a high growth rate. This rise is primarily due to growing awareness about bladder disease and innovative diagnostic and treatment options. Major players in the market find countries in Asia to be lucrative markets for bladder cancer and are making significant investments, leading to market growth.Key players in the global bladder cancer market include AstraZeneca plc, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly and Co., F. Hoffmann-La Roche, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Novartis International AG, Pfizer Inc., and Sanofi.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Browse full report @The study is a source of reliable data on: Market segments and sub-segments Market trends and dynamics Supply and demand Market size Current trends/opportunities/challenges Competitive landscape Technological breakthroughs Value chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers: North America (U.S. and Canada) Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others) Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg) Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia) Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand) Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report: A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market Important changes in market dynamics Market segmentation up to the second or third level Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments Market shares and strategies of key players Emerging niche segments and regional markets An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketRequest for Discount of this report - @Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Sensor Devices for Mobile Health Care Market Research Report 2017 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=23000 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sensor-devices-mobile-health-care-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=23000 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Mobile health, also known as mHealth, is medical care provided using mobile devices. Sensor is a type of device that detects and responds to inputs from physical environment. Advances in telecommunication and sensor manufacturing have brought new technologies and applications in mobile health care. The primary reason to use sensors in mHealth is to improve the quality of and provide easy access to health care services. Integration of sensor device into electronics enables health care providers to gather medical data, provide home care, and other preventive digital health programs. Mobile-based health care solutions can also decrease service cost.Request for brochure of this report -The global sensor devices for mobile health care market is expected to witness robust growth during the forecast period owing to maturation of technology leading to miniaturization of sensor devices. Major factors propelling the market are low cost of sensors, integration of sensors into consumer devices, surging geriatric population, rise in awareness about health and fitness, increase in remote patient monitoring, and prevalence of chronic and lifestyle diseases. Surge in penetration rate of mobile and smartphone and reimbursement policies are the other factors likely to drive the global market from 2017 to 2025. Regulatory issues, privacy and security concerns, lack of clarity in health communication, and standard protocols are projected to restrain the global sensor devices for mobile health care market during the forecast period.The global sensor devices for mobile health care market can be segmented base on product type, application, and region. In terms of product type, the global market can be divided into microphone sensors, camera sensors, accelerometer sensors & geolocation facilities, and others. Based on application, the global sensor devices for mobile health care market can be segmented into health and wellness monitoring, safety monitoring, home rehabilitation, early diagnosis of disorders, efficacy assessment (clinical trials), and others. The health and wellness segment is expected to witness high growth owing to rise in awareness about fitness and health and prevalence of chronic disease.Geographically, the sensor devices for mobile health care market can be segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. North America is expected to dominate the global market in terms of value and volume, followed by Europe. Growth of the market in North America is attributed to rapid innovation of technology, rise in enthusiasm in individuals about gathering quantified data about their health, and prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle.The sensor devices for health care market in Asia Pacific is expected to experience fastest growth rate owing to improving technology, rise in geriatric population, health awareness initiatives undertaken by governments, change in lifestyle, and rise in awareness about health and fitness. China is expected to be the fastest growing market due to factors such as low cost, easy availability of the devices, and growing population.The massive potential of the worlds smallest sensor device integrated into consumer devices is the future of the global market. Hence, to maintain a significant position in the global sensor devices for mobile health care market, the key players are adopting various strategies such developing a technologically advanced and highly efficient product, mergers and acquisitions, and geographical expansion to enter into untapped market. Key players operating in the global market are Apple, Inc., Fitbit, Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Samsung, and Medtronic MiniMed.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Browse full report @The study is a source of reliable data on: Market segments and sub-segments Market trends and dynamics Supply and demand Market size Current trends/opportunities/challenges Competitive landscape Technological breakthroughs Value chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers: North America (U.S. and Canada) Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others) Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg) Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia) Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand) Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report: A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market Important changes in market dynamics Market segmentation up to the second or third level Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments Market shares and strategies of key players Emerging niche segments and regional markets An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketRequest for Discount of this report - @Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: With huge financial firepower at its disposal, AIIB could prove vital to sustaining global growth Investment in Asian infrastructure might seem to many in the West like a mere regional concern - yet it could hold the key to sustaining global growth and providing jobs both in Europe and even in Donald Trump's Rust Belt. Asia - which has been the engine of global growth for a decade or more - needs to spend $1.7 trillion a year on infrastructure up to 2030 just to maintain its current growth levels, according to the Asian Development Bank. It is currently spending just around half of that, $881 billion. If the roads, railways, airports, power stations, water systems and other projects are also not built in an environmentally sustainable way, the planet itself could be irreparably damaged with global warming levels rising beyond control. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, headquartered in a futuristic skyscraper building on Financial Street in Beijing's Xicheng district, could prove to be one of the most important and influential institutions in the world over the next few years. Zou Hong / China Daily AIIB's President Jin Liqun signed an agreement with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions. Yin Bogu / Xinhua The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, headquartered in a futuristic skyscraper building on Financial Street in Beijing's Xicheng district, could therefore prove to be one of the most important and influential institutions in the world over the next few years. Launched in January last year it is one of the most tangible projects - along with the Silk Road Fund - to so far emerge from the Chinese government's Belt and Road Initiative. With $100 billion of authorized capital - more than that of the World Bank itself - it has huge financial firepower at its disposal. With 57 founding members - including the UK, France, Germany and Italy as well as Egypt from Africa (South Africa is a prospective member) - it is determined to show that it is a multilateral, rather than just a Chinese, institution. To underline this, the bank's charismatic 67-year-old president Jin Liqun - himself a former vice-president of the Asian Development Bank - signed an agreement with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim in Washington on April 23 to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions. "Signing this memorandum of understanding fits into our vision of a new kind of internationalism," said Jin. "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." The AIIB was first proposed by President Xi Jinping during a speech in Jakarta in October 2013. China remains the largest shareholder, with a 26 percent holding, enough to give it a veto over major strategic decisions which require a 75 percent majority. With new members coming on board, that shareholding will be diluted, so Chinawill have no greater control than any other country member. When the bank was being set up, the administration of then US Barack Obama refused to join and put pressure on its allies to also not participate, in what many now believe was a clumsy strategic mistake. But the UK, which was trying to build a new "golden era" of relations with the world's second-largest economy, signed up, followed by other major European economies. James Woolsey, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and an adviser to US President Trump during his campaign, indicated the US would, in fact, join but there has been no clear signal so far. "I think it is unlikely unless it came as part of a big wider deal between Trump and Xi Jinping, says Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute in Washington. "During the next Democratic administration or a normal internationally-minded Republican one, I could see it." It has been suggested that the AIIB was an attempt by Beijing to reshape the global financial architecture, which is dominated by the Washington-based International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. So far, however, the new institution has actually co-financed five projects with the World Bank, including a power generation project in Pakistan, a natural gas pipeline in Azerbaijan and infrastructure development in Indonesia. It has also worked on projects with the Asian Development Bank, itself set up in 1966 and in which Japan has played a dominant role. "If you look at the management that they (the AIIB) have appointed, many of them come from having direct experience with the World Bank. The Chinese government has always seen the AIIB as a complement and not a competitor to the existing international development banks," adds Kirkegaard. Sun Yongfu, former director-general of the European department of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, agrees that there needs to be new institutions like the AIIB because the scale of the funding need is so huge. "The existing institutions cannot meet the demands of the countries within the region. There is a need for the AIIB to provide more financial support." Lourdes Casanova, director of the Emerging Markets Institute at Cornell University, however, believes the AIIB has arisen partly out of frustration with the existing global financial order, something she says is reflected by the number of developing countries that are founding members. "China and many of the emerging market economies like Brazil have been wanting a more prominent role within the existing multilateral banks. The World Bank and the IMF have always been dominated by the US and Europe," she says. "It has been very successful in terms of the number of countries that have joined, which I think has been amazing." Jeffrey Towson, professor of investment at Guanghua School of Management in Beijing, says where the AIIB is most distinct from the other institutions is its specialization in infrastructure. "If you look at the World Bank, I can't figure out what it does from its mission statement. It is a bit like a laundry list. It says it is going to increase employment, trade and create stability and peace and all these kind of things," he says. "Focus, however, matters in my view. You look at the AIIB and it is an absolutely clear strategy. China does infrastructure better than anyone else. No one is even in their league. Strategically, this makes a lot of sense." With Asia's infrastructure deficit widening, some believe the region is in a similar position now to how Europe was in the immediate aftermath of World War II. It was then that the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development - now part of the World Bank Group - was set up at Bretton Woods in 1944 to finance many of the much-needed projects to resurrect Europe's bombed-out cities. "There is a direct parallel. It was set up to deal with what was a devastated Europe," says Zhu Ning, Ocean wide professor of finance at Tsinghua University. "While although Asia is not now devastated in the same sense, there is a similar need for infrastructure spending on a huge scale. It is a moment of history for Asia now, as it was for Europe then." The bank will aim to tackle the infrastructure deficiency that is now acting as a constraint on the economic growth of the region, which also has worrying implications for global growth. Kirkegaard at the Peterson Institute says this could be critical. "Not only would the world lose an important engine of growth in Asia but there are still hundreds of millions of people, although while not in abject poverty, who do not have access to clean and running water and many other basic facilities." He says there could be hugely damaging consequences for the planet if the infrastructure is not built sustainably, without consideration for the environment. "This has to be got right or you are going to end up with a situation that you had in the United States after World War II, when all the infrastructure was built in a very energy-intensive polluting manner. If this happens again, we are all going to get very warm very quickly." The AIIB also has impressed many so far by being a much leaner organization with fewer layers of management than existing multilateral banks. "The World Bank, for example, is a very bureaucratic organization, and it has become more so over the years. They (the AIIB) have been determined in the way they have set themselves up not to fall into the same trap," adds Casanova at Cornell. Although the AIIB is a product of China's Belt and Road Initiative, there is some debate as to whether it is now also its financial arm. Oliver Rui, professor of finance and accounting at CEIBS, is one who believes that it is. "The main purpose of the AIIB is to be a financial platform for Belt and Road, because for it to work you need the finance to support these large-scale projects. Among the current international institutions there is no one who specializes in this area." It certainly has the financial might to make a difference. Kirkegaard at the Peterson Institute says: "It is certainly bigger than any of the other regional banks. The World Bank doesn't even come close either. If they chose to leverage this five times, which is not excessive, this would be $500 billion and that is before bringing in private capital as well. The deal flow that this could generate is enormous." Tom Miller, senior Asia analyst at Gavekal Research and author of the new book, China's Asian Dream: Empire Building Along the New Silk Road, believes its financial muscle, however, is overstated. He believes that many of the Belt and Road Initiative projects will be mainly funded by China's two policy banks, the China Development Bank and the China Export-Import Bank, which have access to China's huge stockpile of $3 trillion of foreign exchange reserves. He points out that in 2014 the China Exim bank disbursed $151 billion, equivalent to Bangladesh's total GDP and more than AIIB's authorized capital. "If you look at the size of China's development banks, that is where the real money is. They want to lend out loads of money so Chinese construction companies can go out and build stuff. With China's economy slowing, this will provide a new source of demand," he says. Zhu at Tsinghua, who is part of a People's Bank of China and National Development and Reform Commission joint task force on the Belt and Road Initiative, believes this is a simplistic view of the way the policy banks operate. "They are increasingly constrained by their internal compliance and risk management departments about how some of the loans don't meet their criteria," he says. "They are also coming up against tougher capital controls, so even if they get the internal go, ahead, they might find themselves blocked by SAFE (the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, which regulates China's foreign exchange transactions)." Zhu says none of this affects the AIIB because it is a multilateral institution. "It doesn't face the same criteria. Its money comes from each country's contribution so it is not constrained by SAFE regulations. In addition, its cost of financing is lower because, as an international organization, its creditworthiness is higher. This is why it is a very important new player." Although the AIIB's focus is currently just on Asia, its membership is from across the world and it may eventually be involved in projects in Africa, Latin America and even Europe, where there is a lot of creaking infrastructure. It would then not just be a regional player, but one as globally ambitious as China's Belt and Road Initiative itself. "The demand for infrastructure is global," says Sun, the former China Ministry of Commerce official. "I think it can be eventually extended to other regions and provide the necessary financial support to realize the full ambition of China's Belt and Road Initiative." andrewmoody@chinadaily.com.cn Chinese workers at a road construction site in Havelian, Pakistan. Liu Tian / Xinhua From initiative to reality September 2013: The Silk Road Economic Belt concept was introduced by President Xi Jinping during his visit to Kazakhstan. In a speech delivered at Nazarbayev University, Xi suggested that China and Central Asia cooperate to build a Silk Road Economic Belt. It was the first time the Chinese leadership mentioned the strategic vision. October 2013: President Xi proposed building a close knit China-ASEAN community and offered guidance on constructing a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to promote maritime cooperation. In his speech at the Indonesian parliament, Xi also proposed establishing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to finance infrastructure construction and promote regional interconnectivity and economic integration. November 2013: The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China called for accelerating infrastructure links among neighboring countries and facilitating the Belt and Road Initiative. December 2013: President Xi urged strategic planning of the Belt and Road Initiative to promote connectedness of infrastructure and build a community of common interests at the annual Central Economic Work Conference. February 2014: President Xi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, reached a consensus on construction of the Belt and Road, as well as its connection with Russia's Euro-Asia Railways. March 2014: Premier Li Keqiang called for accelerating Belt and Road construction in the Government Work Report. The report also called for balanced development of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. May 2014: The first phase of a logistics terminal jointly built by China and Kazakhstan went into operation in the port of Lianyungang in East China's Jiangsu province. November 2014: President Xi announced that China would contribute $40 billion to set up the Silk Road Fund. During the Beijing APEC meetings, Xi announced that the fund would be used to provide investment and financing support for infrastructure, resources, industrial cooperation, financial cooperation and other projects in countries along the Belt and Road routes. December 2014: The Central Economic Work Conference sketched out priorities for the coming year, including the implementation of Belt and Road Initiative. January 2014: The number of AIIB founding members, many of which are important countries along the Silk Road routes, rose to 26 after New Zealand, Maldives, Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan officially joined. Feb 1, 2015: At a special meeting attented by Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli, China sketched out priorities for the Belt and Road Initiative, highlighting transportation infrastructure, easier investment and trade, financial cooperation and cultural exchange. March 5, 2015: Premier Li, in his Government Work Report, again highlighted the initiative, saying China will move more quickly to strengthen infrastructure with its neighbors, simplify customs clearance procedures and build international logistics gateways. December 2015: The AIIB was officially established in Beijing with 57 founding members. May 14-15, 2017: The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing. The upcoming forum will explore ways to address regional and global economic problems, generate fresh energy for interconnected development and make the Belt and Road Initiative deliver greater benefits to people of the countries involved. President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony and deliver the keynote speech, and will host a round table meeting that will brain storm on policy and strategic development and interconnected development. Source: english.gov.cn (China Daily European Weekly 04/28/2017 page1) They're on the beat in tourist spots to give assistance to visiting countrymen Eight Chinese police officers will go on patrol in Italy in early June to help their Italian counterparts protect Chinese tourists, a senior police official said on April 24. The officers, selected nationwide and proficient in Italian, will patrol scenic spots in Rome, Milan, Florence and Naples to help deter crimes against Chinese tourists, says Liao Jinrong, director of the Ministry of Public Security's International Cooperation Bureau. The patrol duties will last for two weeks or possibly longer, depending on the needs, Liao says. The Chinese officers will not be armed, and they have no law enforcement authority on these patrols, he says. The first joint patrol of Chinese and Italian police officers in Rome, Italy, on May 2, 2016. Jin Yu / Xinhua Police officers from Italy conduct joint patrols with Chinese police officers on the Great Wall in Beijing on April 24. The Italian officers will patrol the streets in Beijing and Shanghai from April 24 to May 7. Zou Hong / China Daily China may also send police officers to Austria and Spain later this year to help ensure Chinese tourists are safe and to aid communication, Liao says. "Joint police patrols are an effective means of expanding mutual trust and giving tourists a stronger sense of security," he says. "They can also help us better understand each other's legal systems and police procedures." China and Italy signed a memorandum of understanding on joint police patrols in September 2015, the first such agreement between China and a European country. The first group of four Chinese police officers patrolled in Rome and Milan from May 2 to 13 last year. Four Italian police officers began patrolling in Beijing and Shanghai on April 24 and will continue until May 7. They are not allowed to carry weapons but can offer advice and help handle cases in Italian tourist areas, according to China's Ministry of Public Security. Ettore Francesco Sequi, Italian ambassador to China, said on April 24 that Italy has supported and praised the joint patrols, which will "play a significant role in promoting bilateral safety cooperation and fighting cross-border crime". Pang Bo, a Chinese policeman who patrolled in Italy last year, says two Chinese police officers wearing Chinese uniforms patrolled with two Italian officers, usually from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. They were generally deployed in tourists sites, railway stations or other places where Chinese people might gather. Their main task was to answer Chinese tourists' questions and help them communicate with Italian officers, Pang told Chinese media last year. Gao Yunbin, a Ministry of Public Security media officer, says Chinese officers would "rush to the scene to assist their foreign counterparts" in cases involving Chinese tourists. As the number of Chinese tourists in Europe has grown in recent years, so have the crimes against them. Liu Jianming of the China National Tourism Administration says that more than 800,000 Chinese and Italian tourists visited each other's nations in 2016. zhangyan1@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily European Weekly 04/28/2017 page15) 'Historic' visit by President Xi to friendly agricultural state in the US Midwest helped put down roots that have since grown into a blossoming relationship Entering the World Food Prize Foundation building, the first things that catch your eye are two Chinese characters pronounced as dadou, meaning soybean, carved on one of the four pillars at the hall. This is a courtesy to China as the home of soybeans. In fact, it's easy to find Chinese elements inside the building, located in downtown Des Moines, capital of the state of Iowa in the US Midwest. Pictures of He Kang, former Chinese agriculture minister, and Yuan Longping, a Chinese agronomist known for his hybrid rice, are displayed on a wall among a group of those winning the World Food Prize. Two Chinese characters pronounced as dadou, meaning soybean, are carved on one of the four pillars at the hall of the World Food Prize Foundation building, in Des Moines, Iowa, in the US Midwest. Photos by Xinhua Dayu, a Chinese water control hero in ancient times, has his name engraved high on the wall; a bronze plaque showing Chinese President Xi Jinping (then vice-president) addressing the US-China Agricultural Symposium in the building on Feb 16, 2012, hangs in the conference hall, and nearby hangs a replica of a famous Chinese painting showing how Chinese farmers cultivated crops in ancient times. Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation, remembers every detail of Xi's visit to his organization in 2012. "This is a historic event that connects China and the US, connects President Xi and Iowa. It was a significant moment for our organization, the World Food Prize," he says. "We're proud of President Xi," Quinn says. "We think of him as somebody with an Iowa connection, a family member." Pointing to a picture displayed in his house of him in a tractor with Xi, Rick Kimberley, of Kimberley Farms Inc, talks about Xi's visit to his farm in 2012. "I asked President Xi if he wanted to get in the tractor, and he was very anxious to get in," he says. "He was sitting here in the main seat, I was sitting on the smaller seat here right beside him. ... We had a very good talk about technology, about the monitors we have here in the cab. "This is a famous picture that has been in all the papers here in the United States, and I believe it was in many newspapers in China," says Kimberley, the fifth generation of the Kimberley Farms family. There is a US phrase "Iowa nice", referring to the open, responsive, bighearted, welcoming attitudes, hospitality, generosity and soft-spoken demeanor typical of Midwesterners. In 1985, Xi, then party secretary of Zhengding county in China's northern province of Hebei, led a five-person delegation to Muscatine in the state of Iowa. The "Iowa nice" attitude impressed him so deeply that when he revisited Muscatine and met his old friends at the home of Sarah Lande in 2012, he said: "You were the first people I met in America. Tome, you are America." Iowa Soybean Association Chief Executive Officer Kirk Leeds shares similar memories. "Being in the Midwest, and as an agriculture state, we have 'Iowa nice'," Kirk says. "We would say Xi experienced 'Iowa nice' back in 1985 and experienced it again when he came back. We are proud of the relationship, and we have some responsibility for the US-China relationship because of the special relationship with President Xi." With this "Iowa nice" feeling on both sides, exchanges between China and Iowa have increased dramatically in recent years. Iowa and Hebei province have become sister state/provinces; Muscatine has a sister city relationship with Zhengding, and many Chinese delegations have come to Iowa to visit Kimberley Farms. Additionally, agricultural education exchanges between Iowa and China have been enhanced, and the number of Chinese tourists visiting Iowa has increased. Kimberley Farms has so far built two demonstration farms in China - one in Hebei province and the other in Northeast China's Jilin province - and has established a cooperative relationship with many farms in China. Trade between China, Iowa and the US Midwest has skyrocketed. Fifty-six percent of US soybean exports go to China, and Iowa is the second largest soybean producer in the US. Iowa also supplies feed and pork to China. China's trade with nine states in the Midwest reached $92.6 billion in 2015. Chinese enterprises have invested a total of $13 billion in the Midwest, creating nearly 30,000 jobs, according to statistics provided by the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago. "So we will just build on those relationships and continue with that," says Kirk. "The visit of President Xi to our home meant a great deal to us, and we have a great love and understanding for the people of China now," Kimberley says. "It's brought us to understand China and the people of China much better. We might be in different countries, but we're all alike. We're all human beings." (China Daily European Weekly 04/28/2017 page22) The mutual trust and cooperation between Russia and China are stronger now than at any time in the past, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, expressing satisfaction at the development that relations between the two nations has taken. Putin, while meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow with Li Zhanshu, director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also said he was looking forward to attending the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing next month and meeting with President Xi Jinping. Putin said that Russia supports the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. Li said that regardless of fluctuations in situations around the world, China and Russia will not change their policies of cementing and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination; their goals to realize common development and rejuvenation; their determination to safeguard international fairness and justice; and securing global peace and stability. Putin said the current Russia-China high-level exchanges are intensive, and have fostered steady progress in exchanges of all areas through enhanced cooperation on the economy and trade, Putin said. The two countries have made effective communication and coordination on global and regional affairs an important aspect of their relationship, he added. Li also said the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries is stronger than it has ever been and serves as an example of how an international relationship should be, with win-win cooperation as its core. China-Russia relations have matured and are stable as they further develop, Li said. China is willing to work with Russia to promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries so they can better serve the interactions between their leaders and the development of ties, Li said. He said China and Russia need to support each other on core issues and major concerns, further deepen cooperation in various fields, implement major projects of strategic significance and advance pragmatic cooperation at high levels. Also on Wednesday, Li met with Anton Vaino, chief of staff of the Russian Presidential Executive Office, and Sergei Ivanov, special presidential representative for environmental protection, ecology and transportation. Jin Yong, a professor of international relations at the Communication University of China, said the communication between the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Russian Presidential Executive Office is unique for both countries in dealing with foreign affairs. Such communication demonstrates the unique connection shared by the upper levels of both governments, he said. Ruan Zongze, executive vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the meeting between Putin and Li has sent a signal that the high-level political trust between China and Russia is stable, which is important in safeguarding world peace. anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Li Zhanshu, director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, at the Kremlin in Moscow on Wednesday.Bai Xueqi / Xinhua (China Daily 04/28/2017 page1) LONDON - British Prime Minister Theresa May told European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday she wanted a "deep and special relationship" with the European Union, trying to warm the atmosphere before Brexit talks begin. After a dinner at her Downing Street official residence with the EU's main Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, and his British counterpart, David Davis, both sides said the meeting was "constructive" but offered few details. The four have in recent weeks been careful not to poison the atmosphere before the talks, leaving financial markets and business leaders to guess what the mood is as battle lines are drawn before the complex negotiations for Britain to leave the EU, following last June's referendum vote to quit. "The prime minister had a constructive meeting this evening with President Juncker of the European Commission," a spokesperson for May said in a statement. "Following the UK's letter of notification under Article 50 (on its departure from the EU), she reiterated the UK's commitment to achieving a deep and special partnership with the European Union." The cautious wording is in stark contrast to the early days of May's premiership, when she riled EU leaders by taking a firmly pro-Brexit stance to win over her governing Conservative Party and, she said, to carry out the will of the people. May is keeping her cards close to her chest before the talks, not wanting to give her hand away. But she is letting members of her government speak out. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that while divorce talks with the EU could be tough, Britain would win a good deal. The EU said it expects the talks to begin after that election - when May hopes to strengthen her parliamentary majority - and when she has confirmed her negotiating team, which is now led by Davis. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Britons on Thursday not to delude themselves that they would continue to enjoy EU rights after Brexit and insisted the bloc would only agree on future ties with London after they have nailed down a deal to leave. Striking a firm tone in a speech, Merkel also said talks on Britain's financial obligations to the EU would have to be addressed early on in the talks. British Prime Minister Theresa May greets Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the European Commission, in London, on Wednesday.Hannah Mckay / Reuters (China Daily 04/28/2017 page11) Joel Stocker says he is ecstatic about the future of Christian Celebration Center as he prepares to retire after nearly 31 years as the Midland churchs senior pastor. Christian Celebration Center is an incredibly healthy congregation, Stocker said in an interview Tuesday. It has health to the nth degree Its a congregation that loves God and loves each other. Stocker and his wife, Donna took some time to reflect on their years at the church, which has seen attendance rise from 325 when they arrived to 1,364 on Easter Sunday this month. The church is expecting a packed house Sunday as Stocker preaches his final sermon as senior pastor. While the church usually has two Sunday morning services, for this special occasion there will be one service at 10 a.m. Later in the day, a celebration of the Stockers ministry will be held at Horizons Conference Center in Saginaw starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are required for the event; call the church at 631-1300 for more information. While Joel said he didnt come with a grand vision for the church, the couple arrived at a time when the church had been through a pastoral transition and a building program. I said, Were here to tend you, were here to care for you, were here to feed you, Joel said. The congregation was needing to have care poured upon them, Donna said. Along with the focus on care came an assurance that the couple would stay for the long term. We made a commitment to the people that we werent movers Our greatest delight would be to dedicate your babies, see those babies get married , Donna said. Being in one place and experiencing all those phases of family life with the congregation, Joel added. Among the events the church became known for in the community during the Stockers tenure were the Singing Christmas Tree, an annual event held at the Midland Center for the Arts for 25 years; and the Passion Play, held for many years at the church. Those are wonderful events for the community, but it was our congregation that put those things on It was a joy and a pleasure to see so many church members involved in the events, Joel said. Christian Celebration Center is well known in its denomination (the Assemblies of God) for its commitment to missions. The churchs annual financial contribution to missions has gone from zero when the Stockers arrived to more than $700,000 now, they said. In addition, the church has sent many members into various ministries. There have been many in our church who have gone into pastoral or mission callings, Joel said. Its a regular occurrence its really, really exciting. Not only have the numbers of people who are part of the church grown over the last 30 years, the building has been expanded. A $2.1 million addition with classroom and office space was paid for in cash on the backside of the (economic) downturn, Joel said. That was a wonderful undertaking It gave us excitement, it stirred us up, he said. Last year, the former chapel was completely renovated to become a student center. Although the Stockers plan to do some traveling and spend more time with their children and grandchildren in Wisconsin and Illinois, theyre staying in Midland. We love Midland. We have lived here for 31 years, we have raised our boys in this place, Joel said. The couple also will continue to attend Christian Celebration Center and say theyll serve in any way that we can be a blessing. We want to be spiritual grandpa and grandma in this church seeing the fruit of our over 30 years of labor, Joel said. Another major reason the Stockers are excited about the future of Christian Celebration Center is Stockers successor: Keith Grabill, previously the churchs youth pastor. Grabill will be installed as senior pastor on May 7. The choice of Pastor Keith and Lacei Grabill to be the senior pastor is outstanding, Joel said. The Stockers described a multi-year process in which they devoted much prayer and discussion along with the churchs board and the Grabills to the selection. The congregation gave a near-unanimous vote to Grabill last fall, and the two men have been laboring side-by-side since January. This has worked so well, Donna said. This couple is so sharp. Well be their biggest cheerleaders, Joel said. Hes going to give the church incredible leadership. Joel also praised the congregation for its ministry to them over the years. They have been very, very good to us. They have taken care of us, he said. Theres a real deep tie between the Stockers and the congregation. Joel and Donna expressed contentment and joy as they talked about the conclusion of their pastoral ministry at the church. Donna and I have no regrets We are leaving full, Joel said. Were just leaving so blessed and full. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Wednesday, April 26 7:01 a.m. A deputy was sent to a report of an unwanted guest at a Lee Township home. 11:07 a.m. A deputy was called to Jerome Township to speak with the driver of a car that spun the tires leaving a driveway. The driver was told to slow down and obey traffic laws. 12:28 p.m. Police investigated a case of fraud in the 600 block of West Wackerly Street. 3:39 p.m. A deputy was sent to Ingersoll Township for a report of a fraud that might have occurred in Virginia. The case was referred to authorities there. 9:25 p.m. A deputy was called to an argument at a Lincoln Township home, and arrested a 19-year-old man on a warrant at the scene. 9:26 p.m. Police were called to a domestic assault at a Village East Drive address. 9:39 p.m. A deputy was called to Lee Township to speak with two boys, ages 15 and 16, who were riding off-road vehicles on a roadway. Laws were explained to the pair. 10:55 p.m. A 22-year-old woman was arrested in Lincoln Township for domestic assault. A 25-year-old man was arrested on a warrant. Whether its sports, entertainment and the arts, or business and industry women have excelled in all spheres of life, and it is unfair to treat them as any lesser than their male counterparts. The whole reason why the talk of empowering women has come into focus, is because of... LeROY Wearing a white lab coat and gloves, Jacob Guimond dissected the back of the head of a 60-year-old man who died of lung cancer. As he did so under the guidance of Dr. Isidro Miches, he asked questions of fellow students. At another table, Dr. John Kreckman and teacher Kristy McLemore watched as other students observed intently and asked questions as Martha Sweeney pulled a kidney stone from a 79-year-old woman who died of head and neck cancer. At a third table, teacher Jim Zeleznik assisted students in examining the spleen of a 64-year-old man who died of tongue cancer. The 33 advanced-level high school biology students and several college undergrads were participating in what organizers believe is the first ongoing cadaver dissection lab in the country for high school students. The Cadaver Academy opened in 2014 in a room in the back of Dr. Tom Pliura's LeRoy law office. Pliura, an emergency physician and lawyer, was secretary of the McLean County Medical Society when he successfully urged the medical society to sponsor the cadaver anatomy lab with LeRoy public schools. This year, the lab has expanded to include several college undergrads; Sweeney, a University of Illinois College of Medicine professor; the involvement of more McLean County physicians; and a more structured curriculum. "It's grown from my original idea," Pliura admitted. "It's at the level of a medical school class." "This year has been our best year," said Lisa Tomlin, a biology teacher at Normal Community West High School who has been among high school science teachers proctoring the lab since it opened. She now directs the lab and developed the curriculum with Sweeney. "We have increased our expectations of our students and the students have responded incredibly well," Tomlin said. "For a cohort of public schools to participate in this I'm not aware of anything like this elsewhere in the country," said Gary Tipsord, LeRoy schools superintendent. High schools whose advanced-level biology students are participating in the lab this semester are Bloomington, Normal Community, Normal West, University High, LeRoy, Tri-Valley, Deer Creek-Mackinaw and Cornerstone Christian, Tomlin said. Proctoring the labs are science teachers from those high schools, such as Tomlin, Zeleznik from LeRoy and McLemore from Dee-Mack; Sweeney; and local doctors. "At the beginning, it was nerve-wracking," Jake Ward, 18, a Tri-Valley senior, admitted during the April 19 session. He participated in the lab as a junior and returned to help this year's students. "I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw the three cadavers," he said. "It humbles you. They were once people and we were going to learn from their incredible donations." But once he began his first dissection, he overcame his nerves. "Seeing, holding and exploring all the marvelous things that make us who we are has been amazing," Ward said. The goal of Pliura and the medical society has been to inspire the next generation of health care providers. The academy is open to McLean County high school students in advanced biology and anatomy classes who have the maturity to participate. They apply through their teachers. Enrollment is limited to 33 students per semester because the academy has three cadavers each semester and any more than 11 students per cadaver wouldn't work, Pliura said. Each student pays $75 which gives them access to an online dissection program that prepares them for each session, as well as a white lab coat with a "Cadaver Academy" patch and a tag that gives their name and high school. The medical society acquires cadavers from the Anatomical Gift Association and follows proper protocols and state law, Pliura said. The cadavers are of people who donated their bodies to science. The students sign a document that indicates that they will afford each cadaver respect, that anything dissected from the cadaver will remain with the cadaver when it is sent for cremation and that students will post no photographs on social media, Tomlin said. "We've had zero problems in four years," Tomlin said. "The students are incredibly respectful. We ask the students to write thank-you notes to the donor families. We hope that those notes go back with the ashes to the donor families." The students get no credit hours. "They get nothing except for the experience," Tomlin said. "We think most of them are going into medicine. This is designed to help them clarify that intent ... and can set them apart from others applying to medical school." Sessions are Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings January through April, with the final session of this semester happening April 29. The curriculum calls for each session to involve dissection of different parts of the body. Doctors who have instructed students in lab sessions have included an orthopedic surgeon, neurosurgeon, podiatrist, pediatricians and emergency medicine physicians. "What I see is students from across McLean County, from very different backgrounds, who have bonded through this once-in-a-lifetime experience," Tomlin said. "It's building a community of young learners across McLean County." The addition of college students to assist the high school students and to learn themselves expands the reach of the Cadaver Academy. "I'm very proud of that," Pliura said. "And the doctors are excited to be there. This program is a good reflection on Central Illinois." "This is enhancing our community," Tomlin said. The medical society and LeRoy public schools cover the cost of the Cadaver Academy, Pliura and Tipsord said. NORMAL A Bloomington man faces 17 charges, including driving under the influence, after Normal police said his car crashed into the Wittenberg Lutheran Center early Wednesday morning. Normal Police Assistant Chief Steve Petrilli said that around 3 a.m. Wednesday, officers attempted to stop a car driven by Willie Dawson, 33, in Normal. We tried to stop him and he took off, he said. At that time, we didnt chase him because it didnt meet our criteria for a pursuit. But then he crashed. The Rev. Bill Jensen, pastor of the center that provides college campus ministry in the Twin Cities, was notified about 3:30 a.m. of the crash at 201 S. Main St. It ruined an entire wall in our kitchen and that is going to have to be replaced, he said. Its a load-bearing brick wall and completely destroyed a brick tool shed. It took out our side. "He was flying. He had to be going really fast. An accident reconstructionist was called to the scene, Petrilli said, but the investigation is continuing. In all my time as a police officer, I have never seen anything quite like this, Petrilli said. An accident report indicated Dawson was driving south on Kingsley Street at the time of the crash. Once he hit the kitchen, it probably slowed him down, Jensen added. Then he took out the shed and tumbled across the parking lot and wound up in the lot next door. Dawson was transported to Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal where he was treated for injuries. He was arrested at 5:03 a.m. Wednesday and appeared in court Thursday. He was jailed in lieu of posting $5,335. Jensen said that even at that time of the morning, it is fortunate that there were no other injuries. At this time of year, there could have been students in our kitchen because sometimes they come in and cram all night, he added. There were no cars in the parking lot, thank God. "When I got here, the first thing I saw was a childs seat in the parking lot that must have flown out of the car," he said. "By the grace of God, he was the only one in the car and maybe he will live to turn this into something positive, somehow. Dawson also was charged with driving on a suspended license, aggravated fleeing, improper turn at intersection, driving with a broken headlight or taillight, disregarding a traffic control device, improper turn signal, improper traffic lane usage, operating an uninsured vehicle, reckless driving, squealing or screeching tires, failure to reduce speed, resisting a peace officer, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, obstructing justice and criminal damage to property greater than $300. NORMAL Too many people think they can multitask, even while driving a car, and that can lead to trouble, according to Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner. Some people think they can drive and talk on a cellphone at the same time, he said. But multitasking while driving a car is not easy to do, and its dangerous. The Normal Police Department is one of several area agencies cracking down on distracted driving during the inaugural Illinois Distracted Driving Awareness Week, which started Monday and ends Friday. Drivers may use cellphones behind the wheel only if they are hands-free that means using voice-activated technology such as Siri. Drivers are prohibited from using cellphones of all types, even voice-activated ones, in school zones and construction zones. Drivers also are prohibited from using any electronic device to access the internet or to text, email or otherwise compose, read or send electronic messages while driving a motor vehicle. We started pushing the message at the end of last week through social media, Bleichner said. We receive complaints on a regular basis about motorists talking on cellphones. Several agencies partnered together this week to target drivers on cellphones, including the Illinois State Police, said Lt. Jason Henderson, an operations officer with ISP's Pontiac-based District 6. Years ago, we placed an emphasis on DUI and seat belt usage and those are still priorities for us, Henderson said. But now we add in the distracted driving because society has changed and we have to keep up with those changes. The first distracted-driving law went into effect seven years ago, but in 2016, new laws banned the use of any communication or electronic device while driving a vehicle. It is an enormous problem and an epidemic across the nation, he said. Our focus this week is to bring awareness to this situation. Its not just about getting a ticket. Its about avoiding crashes that can lead to injuries or fatalities. Violating the law can be costly. A first violation for the offense is $120 and can increase with multiple violations or when a violation occurs in a work or school zone. Through Wednesday, the Bloomington Police Department had conducted more than 60 traffic stops for distracted-driving violations said Public Information Officer Elias Mendiola. The Bloomington Police Department feels strongly about keeping our citizens safe, he said. The road to destruction is paved with distraction. Illinois State University Police Chief Aaron Woodruffs staff is assisting with catching distracted drivers around the Normal campus. We talk a lot about pedestrian safety, but when a driver is looking down at a cellphone, that can be extremely dangerous, he said. Around the campus area, you have to be on the lookout consistently for the unexpected. There is never a good reason to use a cellphone while driving. While the current effort focuses on cellphones, police remind drivers that other distractions such as eating or even changing radio stations can take attention off the road. In his first annual message to Congress, John Quincy Adams, among the most experienced and intellectually formidable presidents, warned leaders against giving the impression that we are palsied by the will of our constituents. In this regard, if in no other, the 45th president resembles the sixth. Donald Trumps Oh, never mind presidency was produced by voters stung by the contempt they detected directed toward them by the upper crust. Their insurrection has been rewarded by Trumps swift shedding of campaign commitments, a repudiation so comprehensive and cavalier that he disdains disguising his disdain for his gulled supporters. The notion that NATO is obsolete? That China is a currency manipulator? That he would eschew humanitarian interventions featuring high explosives? That the Export-Import Bank is mischievous? That Obamacare would be gone on Day One? That 11.5 million illegal immigrants would be gone in two years (almost 480,000 a month)? That the national debt would be gone in eight years (reducing about $2.4 trillion a year)? About these and other vows from the man whose supporters said he tells it like it is, he now tells them: Never mind. The president, whose almost Sicilian sense of clan imparts new meaning to the familiar phrase family values, embraces daughter Ivankas belief that America suffers from an insufficiency of entitlements, a defect she (and he, judging from his address to a joint session of Congress) would rectify with paid family leave. Her brother Eric has said (to Britains Daily Telegraph) that he is sure that 59 cruise missiles flew because Ivanka said to her father about Syria using chemical weapons, Listen, this is horrible stuff. Although a senior Trump adviser, Stephen Miller, has stipulated that presidential powers to protect the nation will not be questioned, still they persist, those impertinent questioners. They do because when candidate Trumps open-mic-night-at-the-improv rhetoric of quarter-baked promises and vows is carried over into the presidency and foreign policy, there are consequences, especially when his imprecision infects his subordinates. One cannot erase with an Oh, never mind shrug Secretary of State Rex Tillersons statement that the message foreign leaders should take from the Syrian attack is if you violate international norms, if you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken. It is not true that the United States will respond, other than rhetorically, to all crossings of those four red lines. If, as Tillerson says, America is committed to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world, America is going to need a much bigger military than even the presidents proposed $54 billion increase in defense spending would purchase. If the attack on Syria was intended to buttress an international norm and enforce an international agreement concerning chemical weapons, it was not clarifying for press secretary Sean Spicer to say that you will see a presidential response if someone uses chemical weapons or a barrel bomb. This is a nasty but conventional munition that turns scrap metal into shrapnel. In foreign policy, the nature of an action is a function of what the actor says about it. So, the attack on Syria was either cathartic a one-off spasm of (understandable) indignation or it was a message of unclear content to unspecified addressees. Perhaps the message was that America is not (in Richard Nixons words explaining the 1970 invasion of Cambodia) a pitiful, helpless giant, or that (in Ronald Reagans 1984 words) America is back, standing tall. Eliot Cohen, former counselor of the State Department (2007-2009) and currently a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, says that the strike was the right thing to do and a firm response to a loathsome crime. But he also says: Having tipped off the Russians, and targeting things rather than people, it did not do much damage to anything the Bashar Assad regime cares about. ... An effective, destructive attack that is, one that would worry the Assad regime would have killed skilled personnel, military and political leaders, and elite fighters. ... Blowing up some installations is not, in fact, proportionate to the massacre of children. Messages are important, whether delivered by words or missiles or words about missiles. Trumps retreat from positions that enchanted his supporters is a matter mostly between him and them. How he addresses the world, however, will reveal whether he has gone from candidate to commander in chief without becoming presidential. Cheers ... to the folks behind a recent volunteerism fair at Normal Community West High School, where more than 500 students had the chance to chat with 20 local businesses. "It's a chance for students to become involved, but it's also a good opportunity for community organizations to become more involved in the schools," said school counselor Brooke Bollmann, who helped organize the Summer Opportunity Fair. We agree. Great idea and carried out well. Good job! Cheers ... to the supporters and residents of the Prairie Central School District, who have stepped up to keep the school's music programs intact after state budget cuts nearly ended them. Instead of adopting a "why us?" attitude, students, families, district and local businesses joined forces to make sure there was enough money for the kids to continue with their lessons and activities. Music, like art, is often considered a non-essential program but in reality, it promotes critical thinking and math skills that can be used in a variety of fields. Cheers ... to United Way of McLean County and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Illinois, for combining efforts on shared office space at the UW office in the McBarnes Building, 201 E. Grove St. Bloomington. United Way had the space and Big Brothers Big Sisters needed it, moving from 901 E. Grove St., where its offices were separated and there were security issues. The move means more visibility, plus opportunities for collaboration and cost-sharing. Cheers ... to area Congressman Darin LaHood and Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin for recent town hall meetings they hosted. Which leaves a jeers, of course, for Congressman Rodney Davis, who has held only telephone town halls. We don't elect people with the idea of never seeing them in person or having them listen to us. Davis may think the teleconferences do the job, but they're sending a message to constituents that he won't make the time to listen to them in person. Scratching our heads ... over Normal City Council member Jeff Fritzen's decision to hold a press conference to blast mayoral challenger Marc Tiritilli's campaign tactics well after the campaign ended. If Fritzen disagreed with what Tiritilli was saying, he should've said something during the campaign. Making the point after the election only makes Normal leaders look like they chewed on some sour grapes, particularly after their initial Metro Zone reaction left the same bad taste. Cheers ... to the city of Bloomington for its plan for temporary "pop-up" bike lanes on Washington Street in the Founders Grove neighborhood. The plan is to gauge interest in permanent bike lanes there and elsewhere. Good idea. Also a good time to remind drivers and cyclists both have a responsbility to follow the rules of the road. A study explained that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be passed on through genes. Experts found a genetic variation of PTSD genes on several subjects that went through the trauma without a trigger. Researchers from Harvard pointed out the existence of the PTSD genes on some people. The data of more than 20,000 people revealed that there are those who felt unreasonably sad, depressed and irritable without a trigger. Women and people with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are more prone to inherit the genes compared to their peers, according to Daily Mail. PTSD is a common mental health disorder that occurs after a person would go through a traumatic experience. "We know from lots of data - from prisoners of war, people who have been in combat, and from rape victims - that many people exposed to even extreme traumatic events do not develop PTSD," Senior Author Karestan Koenen, professor of psychiatric epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said during an interview. "Why is that? We believe that genetic variation is an important factor contributing to this risk or resilience." Koenen and his team came up with the number, specifically focused on European American women. It was mentioned that 29 percent of these women are at risk of inheriting the PTSD genes from their ancestors. The researcher also added that DNA plays a vital element in having the gene transferred. One of the factors being considered is the size of the different parts of the brain and its correlation to PTSD. The researchers, however, are bound to have a deeper look into their findings as they are still in their early stages, as mentioned in CNN. A huge number of individuals diagnosed with PTSD have relatives from the military and ancestors that went through the war. As a parent, what are your thoughts regarding the PTSD gene? Do let us know your thoughts through the comment section below. A Montana woman suspected in the death of a 13-month-old baby found last year in a dumpster will plead guilty, her lawyers confirmed. However, the deal between her and the prosecutors remained unknown to the public. The woman, identified as Janelle Red Dog, wanted to plead guilty to second-degree murder. Initially, Red Dog faced the charges of first- and second-degree murder with felony child abuse and accessory after the fact. Her attorney, Hank Branom, filed a motion to change the plea due to an undescribed plea deal. Authorities identified the victim as Kenzley Olson, who they found in a dumpster on an American Indian reservation. The person responsible for Olson's death stuffed her body inside a duffel bag. Red Dog's change of plea came more than a year after the April 20, 2016 discovery of Olson's body. Red Dog called authorities on April 19 about Olson after she claimed the child went missing. Cops ordered an Amber Alert in many states only to find out a day after that the body of the baby was in the area near the home of Red Dog. Police said Red Dog punched Olson to death. The autopsy results showed Olson died of blunt force trauma. Reports linked the fact that there was methamphetamine crisis in the area. Law enforcement officials, however, never confirmed or denied whether methamphetamine took part in the death of Olson. Meanwhile, Olson's mother Rhea Starr said in a statement last year that Olson's death was accidental. She noted that Red Dog took care of her daughter when no one else would take on the responsibility, People reported. In Montana, the punishment for murder is death penalty. In 1995, the only method of death penalty used is through lethal injection. Before that, officials used hanging as a way of executing a criminal, FindLaw shared. The defense team, as well as the prosecutors on the case, did not reveal if that will still be the punishment since a plea deal exists. This service is a courtesy for our print subscribers to give them access to our online edition at no additional cost. If you haven't registered on the new site, you must do it now before you do anything else. Patna: People in Patna were mourning the death of former superstar of Bollywood and a '70s icon Vinod Khanna who succumbed to bladder cancer at a hospital in Mumbai on Thursday at the age of 70. A number of private groups in the city organized meetings to mourn the death of the star of hundreds of films including Mere Apne, Amar Akbar Anthony, Achanak, Imtihaan, Muqaddar ka Sikandar, Inkaar, Qurbani, Hera Pheri, and Khoon Pasina. Expressing his grief over the death of Khanna, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that he was shocked by the news as he was a huge fan of the actor during his Patna University days. "His death is a great loss to both the celluloid world and the world of Indian politics. May he rest in peace," the Chief Minister said. Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind also sent his condolence to the family members of Khanna saying the former actor and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Gurudaspur in Punjab was a great humanitarian and a social worker. "He gave voice to the people of his constituency and put his love for social service and patriotism above his love for acting," the Governor said. Khanna's funeral was attended by nearly the entire who's who of the Hindi movie world including another superstar of the same era Amitabh Bachchan. Rishi Kapoor, Ranjeet, Kabir Bedi, and film-makers Gulzar and Subhash Ghai were also present at Khanna's home in Malabar Hills to pay their last respect to the departed soul. Former Council Member Advocates For Women Candidates in Iran's Local Elections 04/28/17 Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran Political parties and factions in Iran should promote more women candidates in the country's local council elections to improve gender equality, Sedigheh Vasmaghi, a former Tehran city council member, told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI). Sedigheh Vasmaghi, a former Tehran city council member "The councils are very important in managing local affairs. But besides that, we should bear in mind that gender discrimination is wide and deep in our country and we need to make a serious effort to combat it by allowing women to participate in various social, cultural and legal areas," said Vasmaghi, who served on the council from 1998-2002. Iran's city and village council elections will be held on May 19, 2017, the day Iranians will also vote in their next president. "One of the areas where women must enter and strongly compete in our country is in these council elections," said Vasmaghi. "Women will gain experience by participating in local affairs and tackling administrative, cultural and even political problems." "Their participation in these councils will give them better skills to move up the ladder of political power," she added. According to figures from the Interior Ministry, only six percent of the people who registered for the May 19 local elections were women, a one percent increase compared to previous elections in 2012. Prominent women who have been approved to run in Tehran include the first female mayor in Tehran's 7th District, Zahra Sadrazam Nouri; the first female governor of Tehran Province, Zahra Nejad-Bahram; the founder of a non-profit organization that aids vulnerable women, Leila Arshad; architect and writer Taraneh Yalda; the director of Iran's Multiple Sclerosis Society, Fatemeh Hashemi; former members of Parliament Fatemeh Rakeie and Shahrbanoo Amani; and journalists Ameneh Shirafkan, Marjan Tohidi, Zahra Ahtiani and Nasrin Vaziri. "I hope that in this round, at least in the big cities, we will witness a stronger presence by women on the lists of candidates (proposed by political parties)," said Vasmaghi, who currently lives in Sweden. "We need competent and qualified men and women to enter the councils. We have more than a few women who are qualified and capable." Despite being repeatedly disqualified in the past, one of Iran's top political activists, Azam Taleghani, registered in April to run in Iran's presidential election. The Guardian Council, which vets all presidential candidates, has never approved a female applicant, and has never explained why. Asked about a letter from the council attempting to also bar non-Muslims from running in the local elections, Vasmaghi told CHRI she felt "ashamed" as a Muslim by the news. "We no longer live in times where we can reject candidates because of their religions or beliefs," she said. "This is a very wrong and backward interpretation of Islam." "It's inhuman and immoral. I'm glad the election board has ignored this ruling. I hope this kind of wrong thinking will be challenged and corrected so that religious minorities will be present in all positions in the country, regardless of their religions or beliefs," she added. In his letter on behalf of the Guardian Council, ultra-conservative chairman Ahmad Jannai wrote that the body's theologians believed Article 26 of the Law on the Formation, Duties and Election of National Islamic Councils (1996), which explicitly allows candidates to be followers of any of the religions recognized in Articles 12 and 13 of the Constitution, was against Islam. The Guardian Council's move was criticized by current and former MPs as well as a senior Shia theologian, and struck down by Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani. According to Ghasem Mirzaie Nikoo, a member of Tehran's Monitoring Committee for Council Elections, the committee had received a written directive from Larijani to ignore the council's declaration. Despite Guardian Council Spokesman Abbasali Kadkhodaie's insistence that the ruling was mandatory, monitoring committees have approved some religious minorities' candidacies. Four little words from Microsoft CFO Amy Hood describe the tragic state of Microsofts mobile experiment: negligible revenue from phones. Phone sales for the current quarter were bad, falling $730 million from the same period a year ago, Microsoft executives said Thursday during the companys second-quarter earnings call. But they cant fall much further: Hood was referring to a forecast of the current quarter ending in June, when sales of all Microsoft-branded phones will apparently trickle off into oblivion. Microsoft also said it suffered lower-than-expected sales of Surface Pro products, with an overall drop of 26 percent in Surface revenue. Third-party hardware partners appear to be doing better, however: Microsoft said that sales of its Windows 10 Pro operating systems grew by 10 percent, as more PC vendors were able to sell premium PCs that used Microsofts more advanced operating system. Why this matters: Microsofts hardware woes contrast sharply with the welfare of the company as a whole, as Microsofts cloud services bolstered the bottom line. Microsoft reported profits of $4.8 billion on $22.1 billion in revenue, up 28 percent and 8 percent, respectively, from a year ago. Im proud of the progress weve made, said Satya Nadella, chief executive of Microsoft. While the company has repeatedly insisted Windows Phone isnt dead, however, the slow fade of its own phones doesnt help the platforms prospects. Down go Windows phones, and Surface too The Windows phone woes come as no surprise, given that sales of Microsofts devices have spiraled ever downward quarter after quarter. Microsofts market share in the mobile phone market is in the single digits within the United States and struggles overseas, as customers jump ship for Android and iOS. Microsoft essentially paid $7.17 billion for a Nokia phone business that went nowhere. Microsoft also seemed to put meager effort into its most recent update for Windows phones, the Windows 10 Mobile Creators Update, which lacked major features. Third-party partners like HP are still free to continue making phones, and Microsoft does continue to support the operating system with patches and upgrades within its Insider program. Some have speculated that Microsoft may finalize its plans to bring the entire Windows 10 ecosystem onto one common code base, making a phone a PC that can be carried in your hand. For now, however, Hoods words appear to be one of the nails in the coffin of the Windows phone. An unexpected surprise was how Microsofts Surface tablets fared. Microsofts Surface revenue fell to its lowest point in the last five quarters, with just $831 million in total revenue. Part of that might be attributed to seasonality, as Microsoft reported a high-water-mark for Surface revenue, $1.3 billion, during the fourth calendar quarter of 2016. Microsoft attributed the drop to competition to what it called product end-of-lifecycle dynamics. The company didnt explain this term, but most likely it means that customers are turning away from Microsofts aging selection. Microsoft hasnt refreshed the Surface Pro series since Oct. 2015, when it launched the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book. Next week, Microsoft is expected to launch a new device, possibly branded as a Surface, for the education market. Most speculate it will be a rugged, clamshell device, running the rumored Windows 10 Cloud OS. Microsoft didnt say much about its Xbox business, simply noting that gaming revenue came in at $1.9 billion. Xbox Live subscribers rose from 46 million a year ago to 52 million. Microsofts HoloLens made a surprise appearance. Nadella reminded analysts that the one-year anniversary of broad HoloLens availability had just concluded, and that Microsoft now had 150 HoloLens-specific apps within its Store. Nadella clearly still feels Microsoft hardware has a role in the companys future: Surface Pro, Book, Hub, Studio, HoloLens are all creating new markets for the Windows ecosystem and pushing differentiation with new natural user capabilities: ink, vision, voice, touch, and mixed reality, he said. Interestingly, he didnt include Windows Phone in that list. Microsofts cloud services, though, continue to carry the company forward. Microsofts revenue for its Intelligent Cloud segment, which includes Azure, climbed by 11 percent to $6.8 billion. Office also continues to be a key driver: Office consumer licenses jumped 15 percent, with the number of subscribers growing to 26.2 million. Office commercial products were up 7 percent. Drivers in France might be able to blame terrorists for their next speeding ticket, as police there crack down on mobile apps warning of their presence. Its already illegal for smartphones and other GPS devices in France to warn of nearby fixed radars used to issue automatic penalties for speeding, so road information apps from Waze, Coyote and TomTom lose some of their functionality on crossing the French frontier. Soon French police will be able to order such services not to display warnings of mobile radars and other traffic checks, declaring information blackout zones as much as 20 kilometers across for up to 24 hours. Apps like Waze gather warnings from a community of users and put them on a handy mapbut the government decree, which could enter effect in late July, also extends the information blackout to all electronic driver-assistance or navigation systemswhether smartphone apps, websites or social networks that inform users of the location of the police. The government plans to inform the service operators of the zones to be blacked out, and they, not the users submitting the warnings, will face fines if the information is publishedstarting at 1,500 (US$1,634) for a first publication and rising to 3,000 for repeat offenses. According to a notification filed with the European Commission, the new rules will help police searching for terrorists, organized criminals, escaped prisoners and kidnappers to remain inconspicuous. Oh, and it will help them catch speeding drivers too. The legislative game of cat-and-mouse between French lawmakers radar dodgers has been going on for years. It began in 2003, with a ban on radar jammers and detectors, and was extended in 2012 to cover smartphone apps and dedicated devices that pinpointed speed traps. This forced developers and manufacturers to convert them into general driving safety aids, able only to warn drivers when they enter a stretch of road identified by the authorities as particularly dangerouswhether for its abnormal speed restrictions, poor road conditions or the presence of a radar. The apps can only identify the dangerous stretchesanywhere from 300 meters long in cities to 4 kilometers on highwaysbut may not say whether they contain a radar. The Chairman of the Economic Management Team, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta are leading a government delegation to the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings. The delegation is also made up of officials from the Bank of Ghana led by the Governor, Dr. Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison; the Chairman of the Finance Committee in Parliament, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah as well as officials from the Finance Ministry. Each spring, thousands of government officials, journalists, civil society organizations, and participants from the academia and private sectors, gather in Washington DC for the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund. Seminars, regional briefings, press conferences, and many other events focused on the global economy, international development, and the world's financial markets are held. Whilst there, the delegation will meet with the World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, as well as the IMF Managing Director, Christian Lagarde. They would also attend the African Consultative Group Meetings with Christian Lagarde and President Jim Yong Kim. A major highlight for the delegation is the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Spotlight on Ghana event, a spotlight event being organized for Ghana to examine the major political and economic trends in Ghana as the new Government charts its course. The Ghana event at Washington DC from April 18 28, 2017 will bring together policy makers, business leaders, country analysts, opinion leaders from Ghana, the United States and beyond. They will discuss Ghana's prospects for economic recovery, explore issues of governance and regional leadership and examine the multiple strands on US policy engagement. Other meetings the delegation would attend, include the G24 Deputies Meetings and the African Caucus Bureau. The G24 Ministerial Meeting provides an opportunity for the G24 member countries to consider key areas in which international Financial Institutions and multilateral actions can effectively complement and support their policy efforts. The delegation will also hold investor related meetings with holders of Ghanas Bonds as well as institutional investors. These meetings provide an opportunity for the delegation to highlight Governments economic policies and strategies as well as investment opportunities in Ghana. Also on the agenda are meetings with Senior Executives of ratings agencies: Standard and Poors, Fitch, and Moodys. These meetings present a window of opportunity to re-emphasize government's policies and strategies in solving macroeconomic imbalances as well as strategies to ensuring debt sustainability. Aside the obligatory meetings with the IMF and the World Bank, the delegation will hold bilateral discussions with other partner countries, financial institutions and private sector investors. Source: JFM/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has disclosed that Ghana loses about 850 million cedis annually in taxes, due to the increased activities of fuel smugglers into and out of the country. The illegal act is said to involve operators who ply their business at the ports by fuelling tanks with fuel products brought into the country via unapproved routes. The second category of the illicit trade is carried out by businesses who apply under the pretext of exporting petroleum products but end up selling them within Ghana, thereby evading some taxes. The Chief Executive of the NPA, Hassan Tampuli confirmed the worrying development to Citi Business News after a visit to the Tema port led by Deputy Finance Minister, Kweku Kwarteng on Thursday. We estimate that about 250,000 metric tonnes of losses in terms of petroleum products get to this country and that is estimated to cost the country 850,000,000 cedis, he said. Mr. Tampuli added, NPA considers this as a great concern and we have engaged all stakeholders involving the security agencies and the Ministry of Finance. According to the NPA boss, the vessels believed to be perpetrating the act berth at the Harbour under the guise of dislodging sludge (which is dirty oil) but actually discharge diesel or petrol to directly into fuel tankers parked at shore. The industry regulator is also alarmed over concerns that some of these products could be coming from pirated sources. To commence the clampdown, the NPA has directed that, No vessel be allowed to discharge petroleum products at the Tema port, main harbor, fishing harbor or dry dock. Commenting on businesses flouting the provisions guiding the export of petroleum products to neighbouring Burkina Faso or Mali, Mr. Tampuli asserted that the relative cheaper prices quoted by the miscreants distort the market as their prices make genuinely sanctioned ones expensive for the consumer. As a result, the NPA, together with the Finance Ministry have reiterated the enforcement of the new tax exemption rules to curb the abuse of the current provisions. Source: citifmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video It has emerged that a former Chief Executive Officer of Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF), Daniel Kofi Duku, allegedly issued dud cheques to the fund when he was asked to refund monies he purportedly unlawfully misappropriated. The CEO, who reportedly was on a monthly salary of $15,000 (GH63,000), was said to have embarked on an unauthorized business trip outside the country and ended up blowing $26,000 belonging to the fund. The Board of Trustees then asked him to refund the amount; and an internal investigative report conducted into the VCTF indicated that $8,252 had been paid, with $18,000 still outstanding. The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) is currently probing him for alleged massive corruption under his leadership. Two Cheques When pressure was mounted on him to refund the rest of the money, Mr Kofi Duku allegedly issued two Barclays Bank cheques on July 30, 2011 and August 15, the same year, representing GH20,000 and GH10,000 respectively, which were all dishonoured by the bank when they were presented. The alleged corrupt practices at the VCTF which have virtually brought the fund, meant to give lifeline to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to its knees has sparked public outrage. Two important schemes under the fund called Development Assistance Fund (DAF) and the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) were allegedly used as an avenue to steal state funds. Currently, only about 7% of a whopping GH18.26 million invested by the government between 2010 and 2015 has been recovered, and GH32 million is reportedly missing. About 205 SMEs are said to have benefitted from the DAF and SPV schemes and some existing and former employees, particularly Mr Daniel Kofi Duku, have been cited for directly or indirectly engaging in fraudulent activities during the disbursement of the DAF and SPV loans. Loans were purportedly awarded to phony companies which could not be traced, making recovery very difficult. Mr Kofi Duku, who was appointed by the late President Atta Mills in June 2010, was removed by John Mahama and replaced with the current chief executive, Osman Sulemana, who just referred the matter to the BNI. BNI Probes An internal investigative report cited by DAILY GUIDE mentioned the alleged fraudulent activities of the former CEO and his cronies and as a result, Mr Osman Sulemana, on the instructions of the Board of Trustees, has invited the BNI to thoroughly look into the matter. Apart from Mr. Duku, other top managers who are to be investigated include Kofi Sarpong, a former senior investment officer; Irene Anti Mensah, special assistant to the Ex-CEO; Emmanuel Akuamoah, Deputy General Manager Kumasi Office; Charles Okyere, a client and friend to the Ex-CEO; Lassey Agbenyefia, former Trustee; George Aidoo, driver of the ex-CEO and Charity Opoku, former accountant and now an Investment Officer. Conflict Of Interest The report stated that further investigations on the background of companies with the aim to aid recoveries of loans granted by the Trust Fund have revealed Mr. Dukus involvement, through a company owned by him and other key application addresses same as one linked to him. These linkages cited are against the conflict of interest rules guiding the public sector and further hinders the efforts of the Trust Fund to recover these amounts paid to these non-existing companies. According to the report, the former CEO disregarded the boards directive to halt the disbursement of the loans and went ahead in an ultra vires fashion to disburse a whopping GH825,000. It further said the involvement of Mr Agbenyefia, former trustee of the fund in many of the loans granted is damning and partly relates to matters of fraud. 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. Featured Video Prosecutors in the northern Nigeria state of Kaduna have charged a group of 53 people with conspiring to celebrate a gay wedding. The accused, arrested last Saturday, have denied the allegations, with their lawyers saying they were illegally detained. The court released the group on bail and the case was remanded to May 8. Homosexual acts are banned in socially conservative Nigeria and are punishable by up to 14 years in jail. During a court appearance in Chediya-Zaria, the group pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, unlawful assembly and belonging to an unlawful society. Defence lawyer Yunusa Umar said most of the accused were students and had been illegally detained for more than 24 hours, the local Premium Times newspaper reported. Nigeria has an influential Christian evangelical movement in the south and strong support for Islamic law in the north, both of which oppose homosexuality. In January 2014, the Hisbah, or Islamic police, in Bauchi state raided several locations and arrested about a dozen men accused of sodomy acts. Some of the men later appeared before a Sharia court for a bail hearing and an angry crowd gathered outside, demanding swift and severe punishment. Stones were thrown at the court and the hearing was halted. Police had to shoot in the air to disperse the mob and get the suspects back to prison safely, though there they are also vulnerable. The ban on homosexuality, brought into effect in 2014, is used by some police officers and members of the public to legitimise abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). Extortion, mob violence, arbitrary arrest, torture in detention, and physical and sexual violence are common against people suspected of homosexual activities, HRW said in a 2016 report. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Investigations by The Finder have revealed that Ghanas image in the comity of nations has once again being heavily dented as the country failed another major test in the fight against drugs. The finder can report that 10 bags of suspected cocaine, each weighing 50kgs (500kgs in all) hidden in a consignment of rice with an estimated street value of about $30million has vanished from the Tema Port under mysterious circumstances. Surprisingly officers under whose watch this happened are still at post at the Tema Port. According to our sources, a ship carrying some containers with cocaine onboard arrived in Tema Pot in December 2016 but the suspected cocaine vanished before February 23 2017 when all stakeholders conducted compulsory tests on the container. It is learnt that K9 Dogs which are specially trained to detect cocaine confirmed traces of cocaine in the said container while UKs Operation West Bridge also conducted sampling by the use of itemisers which also confirmed traced of cocaine. The Finder further learnt that separate investigations conducted on the suspected missing cocaine by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and Customs have been submitted to the Interior Minister and the Attorney Generals offices. Five Containers for Scanning The Investigations indicated that when the ship arrived, the identification of containers selected for sampling were FSCU-7559200, IRNU-2610834, CCLU-3224764, TRHU-1653800 and TRLU-8778855. All these were 20-footer containers and each contained 550 bags of white long grain rice according to the bill of lading. According to the sources, the containers were kept at Depot Surveillance. UNODC/Suriname Provided Intelligence On October 24, 2016, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with Suriname authorities alerted the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) of a ship from Suriname in South America carrying the said cocaine in Tema Port in Ghana. NACOB Boss Alerted Tema Port Narcotics Analyst Sources familiar with the matter told the Finder that on the said day, NACOB head office, informed Felicia Wuaku, a Narcotics Analyst who is the head of the Joint Port Control Unit (JPCU) at Tema Port and all stakeholders were informed accordingly. Tema Port Narcotics Analyst Informs Other Stakeholders Sources at NACOB said on December 7 2016, Felicia Wuaku wrote letters to other stakeholders but Customs received their letters on December 8 2016. According to the investigations, for over two months, the importer did not show up to clear the rice. As a result, the Finder learnt that NACOB, in the first week of February, fixed February 25, 2017 to undertake compulsory scanning of the container and inform all stakeholders. However, NACOB sources said on February 2d, 2017, intelligence indicate that one of the containers with identification number TRHU-1653800 was moved to Golden Jubilee Terminal without the knowledge of NACOB. Subsequently, NACOB quickly called all stakeholders on February 23, 2017 for compulsory examination of the container which was believed to contain the cocaine. Agencies Present At Scanning Agencies present during the opening of the container for testing are: NACOB, K9 Unit (Special Dogs Academy), UKs Operation WestBridge Officials, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, National Security, US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA). A Joint Port Control Unit was represented by Felicia Wuaku, Francis Worlanyo Kpegah and Henry Asarfo Brain. When the container was opened, it was realised that 10 bags, each weighing 50kgs were missing from the consignment in other words, 500kgs suspected to be the pure cocaine had been removed by persons yet to be identified. K9 Dogs, itemisers confirmed traces of pure cocaine. However, when sampling was conducted on the rice, K9 Security Dogs and sampling by the use of itemisers of Operation West Bridge team both confirmed traces of pure cocaine. Questions for JPCU According to the Finders investigations, questions are being asked as to why the head of JPCU, Felicia Wuaku, instead of detailing a surveillance team to keep the containers in sight 24hours, left that duty to GPHA Head of Security while a two-member NACOB Surveillance Team only visited Depot 10 intermittently to ensure that the containers were there. NACOB blames Customs NACOB sources said their investigations revealed that GPHA and Customs officials moved the container to Golden Jubilee Terminal on request from the importer to have the rice tested without informing NACOB. Customs Debunks Allegation However, Confidence Nyadzie, Tema Sector Commander of Customs, described the accusations levelled against Customs as baseless. Response of Operations West Bridge When contacted, the UK High Commission on behalf of Operation West Bridge sent this email response: The UK Government represented by the British High Commission has a long and fruitful relation with Ghanaian law enforcement agencies. We are unable to comment on specific cases. Information on Importer On the bill of lading, Joro Farms and Agricultural Processing Limited, located at Kaneshie in Accra is named as the importer of the rice from Caribbean Grain Industry in Suriname. The Finder contacted the importer who declined to give his name but denied knowledge of cocaine hidden in his consignment of rice but admitted that NACOB had questioned over the said missing cocaine. A Case of Rip Off However, sources in the intelligence community told the Finder that the cocaine could be a case of rip off which in drug law enforcement means smart drug lords outsmarting importers and exporters by putting drugs in consignments but removing them before examination in circumstances where the importer or exporter has no knowledge. The Work Of A Cabal In Tema Port The sources also added that it could be a case of a cabal at Tema Port which took advantage of loopholes in security arrangements by JPCU or possibly some JPCU members could have been involved in the smuggling of the cocaine out of the Port. Source: The Finder/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Various estimates, from the Global Financial Integrity, ISODEC and the Tax Justice Network, and others, indicate that net financial outflows from Africa, considering development aid, amount to some US$41.3billion annually. The country is losing billions of US dollars to transfer pricing, undervaluing of imports and overvaluing of exports, among others, and the merger of the various revenue agencies in 2009 under the Ghana Revenue Authority has failed to stem the tide, the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), has said. Estimates by ISODEC and other partners, including the Finance Ministry, indicate, for example, that within a twelve-year period, between the year 2000 and 2012, Ghanas export to the European Union was undervalued by 2.7billion, which is 14 percent of total value of exports to the EU. At the same time, within the same period, Ghanas import from the EU was overvalued by 2.8billion, which is 14percent of total value of imports from the EU. The estimates show, also, that Ghanas export to the US was undervalued by US$633million during the same period, which is 21percent of total value of exports to the US. On the import side, the country is estimated to have lost US$573million, which is 8percent of total value of imports from the US. The civil society organization argues that there is little coordination and exchange of information among the various agencies under the Ghana Revenue Authority, which their amalgamation was meant to achieve, leading to huge revenue losses to the state. To test the system at the Customs unit of the GRA, ISODEC staged the import of 53 pieces each of high definition video cameras, microphones and projectors, and came to the conclusion that by undervaluing the items by between 80 and 90percent, the tax authority lost the chance to tax over hundred thousand dollars At an engagement with Peace Fm on illicit financial flows, ISODEC also pointed to a case of transfer pricing in the oil and gas sector, saying Ghana lost millions of dollars through transfer pricing in the Ghana Gas SINOPEC transaction, which is the Western Corridor Gas Infrastructure Project. While it is comforting that the TP [Transfer Pricing] unit of the GRA has so far retrieved over GH 10million in additional taxes and penalties raised as a result of its ongoing audit of the transaction, it is feared that without addressing the identified institutional lapses, Ghana risks more devastating hemorrhage of critically needed revenues to finance its development commitments under the SDGs, ISODEC noted. The Campaign Coordinator of ISODEC, Dr Steve Manteaw, maintained that one of the surest ways to reduce or stop illicit financial flows (IFFs) in Ghana is to forbid tax havens amongst multinational organizations. Transparency provides the cover for various types of manipulations or systems that lead to the erosion of profits that could be taxed by host governments, he said. A company could be making huge sums of money in terms of profit in this country but they find ways, sometimes, through over inflated professional fees and transfer mispricing, to move these monies that should have been taxed into tax havens, where they enjoy protection because of the secrecy surrounding those banking activities. That is why we are asking for the demolition of tax havens so we are able to track all monies that are being made and we will be able to tax them appropriately, he told Peace News reporter Deborah Agyei Amponsah in an interview. His proposition is one of many that ISODEC and its partners are making after conducting research on transfer pricing in Ghanas oil and gas sector, as well as commodity exports and imports. Other recommendations include the introduction of IT-mediated solution, a kind of intranet that links up the various divisions, departments and units of the GRA, to help them monitor in real time, the various transactions that take place in a day. Another recommendation is the shifting of tax mix away from profit taxes (where developing countries like Ghana currently do not have the capacity to manage) toward less pricing-manipulating taxes like production-based taxes such as royalties, which are easier to administer. ISODEC also urged government to design, implement, monitor and evaluate a real-time model for tracking and eliminating trade mis-pricing in commodities and train and resource the tax authority to implement same. Source: Deborah Agyei Amponsah/ Peacefm Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video More than 300 Ghanaians have voluntarily repatriated to Ghana from Libya following what they describe as a breakdown of law and order in the country. According to them, life in Libya has become unbearable in the past few years since the death of Muammar Gaddafi, the country's former president who was ousted from office and killed in 2011. Many of the people who had left Ghana to seek pastures new in Libya say they have regretted the voyage advising the youth to stick to life in Ghana saying the prospects in the country are much brighter than what exists elsewhere. One said, I have regretted going to Libya. Life there is very difficult. There are robbers who robbed us at a gun point every day. When you report to the authorities, they dont do anything about it. Some of the returnees who admitted travelling to Libya on foot through the Libyan desert noted that they were disappointed at the lawless state of Libya coupled with hardship, urging other Ghanaians to dismiss any thought of moving to the country. They are calling on the government of Ghana to do whatever it takes to bring back home scores of Ghanaians in Libya who wish to return to their motherland but are unable to do so due to the lack of funds. We are pleading with government to save our brothers left behind in Libya another returnee asserted. Three people are reported to have died while camping for a flight to convey them back to Ghana. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, has said some Members of Parliament and the Ghanaian media knew of the MPs who had been implicated in the alleged visa fraud long before the UK High Commissioners letter to the Speaker of Parliament was leaked. According to him, this was a poorly kept secret by Mr Benjamin because it was already public knowledge. Three MPs, together with a former lawmaker, were cited in separate alleged visa offences by the UK government and a 10-year visa ban placed on them. They include: Richard Acheampong, MP for Bia East in the Western Region; Joseph Benhazin Dahah, MP for Asutifi North (Ntotroso) in the Brong Ahafo Region; Johnson Kwaku Adu, MP for Ahafo Ano South West in the Ashanti Region; and George Boakye, former MP for Asunafo South in the Brong Ahafo Region. A confidential letter written to the Speaker of Parliament by the UK government through the UK High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Jon Benjamin, said the four MPs violated UK visa regulations on different occasions by either providing false information for their visa applications or facilitating the visas of some relatives who overstayed their visas in the UK. Commenting on this matter on his Facebook page, Mr Ablakwa said: I have followed media discussions of British High Commissioner Jon Benjamin's letter to the Speaker of Ghana's Parliament with much interest as the Ranking Member of Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs. In contrast to those who have questioned why the said confidential letter was leaked to the media, I take a different view. I am elated this letter is now available to the media and the general public for open and frank discussions in the true spirit of transparency and good governance. This must be good for our country. In any case, before this leak, this was the most poorly kept secret by the British High Commission as many of us, including journalists, have known about this for a considerable period of time, perhaps, even before the said 20th January, 2017 letter was written and dispatched to the Right Honourable Speaker. Read his full post below I have followed media discussions of British High Commissioner Jon Benjamin's letter to the Speaker of Ghana's Parliament with much interest as the Ranking Member of Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs. In contrast to those who have questioned why the said confidential letter was leaked to the media, I take a different view. I am elated this letter is now available to the media and the general public for open and frank discussions in the true spirit of transparency and good governance. This must be good for our country. In any case, before this leak, this was the most poorly kept secret by the British High Commission as many of us including journalists have known about this for a considerable period of time, perhaps even before the said 20th January, 2017 letter was written and dispatched to the Right Honourable Speaker. The other poorly kept secret is the claim that there are some MPs holding dual citizenship in violation of Article 94 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Ghana. Again, I will contend that it's better to see some swift concrete action on this particular issue instead of it being used by some people for smear and blackmail within diplomatic circles. This definitely raises larger issues of how parliamentary candidates are vetted within our political parties and the collaborative role of the Electoral Commission, National Security, and diplomatic missions; a discussion we will have to return to at a later date. It must be understood very clearly, that if confirmed, what the three sitting Members of Parliament (MP) and a former MP are alleged to have done cannot be endorsed and must deserve strong condemnation and possible sanctions if need be. It is therefore commendable that Mr. Speaker has taken a serious view of this matter and has instituted the needed investigations. This is what is expected of working democracies just as the US Congress is currently doing in the case of General Michael Flynn. Reading through Jon Benjamin's letter, however, one cannot help but notice a rather regrettable colonial mindset. He writes: "Given what has transpired, the British High Commission would request the Ghanaian parliament to be aware of the following: a) We will henceforth only entertain and prioritise requests for visas from MPs, if they are made through the parliamentary protocol office who should verify that there is an official, parliamentary reason for the proposed visit; b) However, MPs wishing to make private visits to the UK or to be accompanied on official visits by non-official relatives must apply online and through our Visa Application Centre at the Movenpick Hotel like any other applicant; c) Could you kindly confirm whether and why it is legitimate for ex-MPs to continue to possess and use diplomatic passports, in some cases for many years after they have ceased to be parliamentarians? In that regard, we would humbly like to ask, Mr Speaker, what procedures are in place to ensure that diplomatic passports are removed forthwith from all those 133 former Members who have just ceased to be MPs? d) the net effect of such visa fraud by a very few Honourable MPs as outlined in this letter is to raise the bar of suspicion against all such applicants, which is of course regrettably to the huge disadvantage of those very many MPs who do act honourably at all times." Quite clearly, to Mr Jon Benjamin, issuing visas to Ghanaian MPs is such a great favour and a reward for good group behaviour. Therefore, because three sitting MPs may have misconducted themselves, all 275 MPs must now face the headmaster's (if not the colonial Governor's) wrath and sanctions. Such utter disrespect for our parliament and our country regardless is most unacceptable. If this is Mr Benjamin's mindset even in dealing with the people's representatives, then one can begin to wonder how he treats the applications of the people of Ghana. Never mind that visa application processes are not free and that the high fees most Ghanaians complain about are not refundable to applicants. Never mind that Ghanaians including thousands of fee-paying students who travel to Britain do so with our own money which must be of some use to the British economy. Never mind that the UK parliamentary expenses scandal of 2009 involved more than 300 MPs, (NOT 3 as in Ghana's case), with at least six of these UK MPs going to jail and yet no bar of suspicion has been raised by any Ghanaian "headmaster" in extending diplomatic courtesies to UK MPs, but I guess that is the world we live in. Mr. Jon Benjamin amazingly had no diplomatic difficulties whatsoever in overstepping boundaries and lecturing our Speaker, our President through his Secretary, our Chief of Staff and our Foreign Minister on how diplomatic passports ought to be used and retrieved. Absolutely unbelievable! And by the way, Mr Benjamin cannot be right when he asserts that MPs continue to use diplomatic passports "MANY YEARS" after they cease to be MPs when he knows that these diplomatic passports are valid for only five years while, admittedly, an MPs term is four years. The exaggeration was totally uncalled-for. He also knows that by practice these diplomatic passports are withdrawn upon ceasing to hold public office even if the retrieval is fraught with some challenges as all human institutions encounter. Even though many of us have had concern about the modus operandi and non-diplomatic tendencies of the top-most British diplomat in Accra, I will not advocate hostility or reciprocal action on British MPs who will require visa services to visit Ghana as some have suggested because it is entirely possible that Mr Benjamin's conduct and social media pontifications may not represent official British Government position. Fortunately, we have some good recent experience as a country in containing interesting High Commissioners since the days of Craig John Murray and more significantly, we should never forget that their postings to Ghana are not the least permanent. What is permanent and which we must all continue to cherish is the unique bond of history and friendship that exists between our two countries which must constantly remind us that in the final analysis only mutual respect and equal rights triumph. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP) Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu constituency in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa has reacted to the ongoing debate on the three current MPs and one former MP who are accused of perpetrating visa fraud. The three MPs, together with a former lawmaker, have been cited in separate alleged visa offences by the UK government and a 10-year visa ban placed on them. A statement forwarded to the Speaker of Parliament by the UK government through the UK High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Jon Benjamin, said: The British High Commission (BHC) would like, in confidence, to bring the following matters to your attention, regarding the apparent involvement of three serving MPs and one former MP in visa fraud directly affecting the United Kingdom. The confidential letter said the MPs in question- violated UK visa regulations on different occasions by either providing false information for their visa applications or facilitating the visas of some relatives who overstayed their visas in the UK. They include: Richard Acheampong, MP for Bia East in the Western Region; Joseph Benhazin Dahah, MP for Asutifi North (Ntotroso) in the Brong Ahafo Region; Johnson Kwaku Adu, MP for Ahafo Ano South West in the Ashanti Region; and George Boakye, former MP for Asunafo South in the Brong Ahafo Region. The BHC further added that "We are continuing to investigate whether any other current or former MPs have engaged in similar behaviour and will inform you, if we discover any further such cases. Furthermore, the British High Commission has information that points strongly to some of the aforementioned Honourable members having used the same unofficial visa agent (also known as aGoro boy) in their applications, specifically a gentleman called Appiah. We are sure that Mr Speaker shares our view that an institution as respected and vitally important as the Ghanaian Parliament should not be a location where unregistered visa agents approach Honourable Members and act as a conduit for them to participate in visa fraud." But in a statement copied to peacefmonline.com, Hon Ablakwa, who is also the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament said "reading through Jon Benjamin's letter however, one cannot help but notice a rather regrettable colonial mindset". "Quite clearly, to Mr. Jon Benjamin, issuing visas to Ghanaian MPs is such a great favour and a reward for good group behaviour. Therefore, because three sitting MPs may have misconducted themselves, all 275 MPs must now face the Head Master's (if not the colonial Governor's) wrath and sanctions. Such utter disrespect for our Parliament and our country regardless is most unacceptable. If this is Mr. Benjamin's mindset even in dealing with the people's representatives, then one can begin to wonder how he treats the applications of the people of Ghana". Read full statement below I have followed media discussions of British High Commissioner Jon Benjamin's letter to the Speaker of Ghana's Parliament with much interest as the Ranking Member of Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs. In contrast to those who have questioned why the said confidential letter was leaked to the media, I take a different view. I am elated this letter is now available to the media and the general public for open and frank discussions in the true spirit of transparency and good governance. This must be good for our country. In any case, before this leak, this was the most poorly kept secret by the British High Commission as many of us including journalists have known about this for a considerable period of time perhaps even before the said 20th January, 2017 letter was written and dispatched to the Right Honourable Speaker. The other poorly kept secret is the claim that there are some MPs holding dual citizenship in violation of Article 94 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Ghana. Again, I will contend that it's better to see some swift concrete action on this particular issue instead of it being used by some people for smear and blackmail within diplomatic circles. This definitely raises larger issues of how Parliamentary Candidates are vetted within our political parties and the collaborative role of the Electoral Commission, National Security and Diplomatic Missions; a discussion we will have to return to at a later date. It must be understood very clearly, that if confirmed, what the three sitting Members of Parliament (MP) and a former MP are alleged to have done cannot be endorsed and must deserve strong condemnation and possible sanctions if need be. It is therefore commendable that Mr. Speaker has taken a serious view of this matter and has instituted the needed investigations. This is what is expected of working democracies just as the US Congress is currently doing in the case of General Michael Flynn. Reading through Jon Benjamin's letter however, one cannot help but notice a rather regrettable colonial mindset. He writes: "Given what has transpired, the British High Commission would request the Ghanaian Parliament to be aware of the following: a) we will henceforth only entertain and prioritise requests for visas from MPs, if they are made through the parliamentary protocol office who should verify that there is an official, parliamentary reason for the proposed visit; b) however, MPs wishing to make private visits to the UK or to be accompanied on official visits by non-official relatives must apply online and through our Visa Application Centre at the Movenpick Hotel like any other applicant; c) could you kindly confirm whether and why it is legitimate for ex-MPs to continue to possess and use diplomatic passports, in some cases for many years after they have ceased to be parliamentarians? In that regard, we would humbly like to ask, Mr Speaker, what procedures are in place to ensure that diplomatic passports are removed forthwith from all those 133 former Members who have just ceased to be MPs? d) the net effect of such visa fraud by a very few Honourable MPs as outlined in this letter is to raise the bar of suspicion against all such applicants, which is of course regrettably to the huge disadvantage of those very many MPs who do act honourably at all times." Quite clearly, to Mr. Jon Benjamin, issuing visas to Ghanaian MPs is such a great favour and a reward for good group behaviour. Therefore, because three sitting MPs may have misconducted themselves, all 275 MPs must now face the Head Master's (if not the colonial Governor's) wrath and sanctions. Such utter disrespect for our Parliament and our country regardless is most unacceptable. If this is Mr. Benjamin's mindset even in dealing with the people's representatives, then one can begin to wonder how he treats the applications of the people of Ghana. Never mind that visa application processes are not free and that the high fees most Ghanaians complain about are not refundable to applicants. Never mind that Ghanaians including thousands of fee paying students who travel to Britain do so with our own money which must be of some use to the British economy, Never mind that the UK Parliamentary Expenses Scandal of 2009 involved more than 300 MPs, (NOT 3 as in Ghana's case), with at least 6 of these UK MPs going to jail and yet no bar of suspicion has been raised by any Ghanaian "Head Master" in extending diplomatic courtesies to UK MPs but I guess that is the world we live in. Mr. Jon Benjamin amazingly had no diplomatic difficulties whatsoever in over stepping boundaries and lecturing our Speaker, our President through his Secretary, our Chief of Staff and our Foreign Minister on how diplomatic passports ought to be used and retrieved. Absolutely unbelievable! And by the way, Mr. Benjamin cannot be right when he asserts that MPs continue to use diplomatic passports "MANY YEARS" after they cease to be MPs when he knows that these diplomatic passports are valid for only five years while admittedly an MPs term is four years. The exaggeration was totally uncalled-for. He also knows that by practice these diplomatic passports are withdrawn upon ceasing to hold public office even if the retrieval is fraught with some challenges as all human institutions encounter. Even though many of us have had concern about the modus operandi and non-diplomatic tendencies of the top-most British diplomat in Accra, I will not advocate hostility or reciprocal action on British MPs who will require visa services to visit Ghana as some have suggested because it is entirely possible that Mr. Benjamin's conduct and social media pontifications may not represent official British Government position. Fortunately, we have some good recent experience as a country in containing interesting High Commissioners since the days of Craig John Murray and more significantly, we should never forget that their postings to Ghana are not the least permanent. What is permanent and which we must all continue to cherish is the unique bond of history and friendship that exists between our two countries which must constantly remind us that in the final analysis only mutual respect and equal rights triumph. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP) Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video My coming to Ghana is for a simple reason. My message is to come and say thank you. We have a proverb in our own saying: If you want to praise a farmer and you want to thank him for a remarkable job, a job well done, you have to visit him at his or her farm. That is why I am here today. I could have written a letter or sent a Minister, but I said that is not enough. I have to come and say thank you. These were the words of the new President of the Republic of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, when he paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo, at the Presidency, on Friday, April 28, 2017, in a one-day visit to Ghana. It will be recalled that on January 19, 2017, barely two weeks after taking office, President Akufo-Addo approved and authorised the deployment of a combat team of two hundred and eight (208) troops, backed with the appropriate logistical equipment, to The Gambia as part of the ECOWAS Mission in that country. The objective was to create an enabling environment for the effective enforcement of the rule of law, and, in accordance with the Constitution of The Gambia, facilitate the inauguration of the President-Elect, Adama Barrow, after the refusal of President Yahaya Jammeh to accept the verdict of the Gambian people in the elections of December 1, 2016 It is for this reason that President Adama Barrow arrived in Ghana to personally thank his Ghanaian counterpart for the support offered him and the people of Gambia. ECOWAS Heads of State, including yourself, intervened in The Gambia. You intervened to defend democracy, you intervened to defend the verdict of the Gambian people, (and) you intervened to defend the truth. I think, Africa has come very far now. The problem was an African problem, and the solution was an African solution. That is a credit to all Africans, he said. The Gambian President was unequivocal that Africa cannot move forward without the principles of democracy. We contested elections based on those principles, and we will continue to advocate for the same principles. He was grateful for the warm welcome afforded him by President Akufo-Addo and reiterated his desire to foster strong bilateral relations between the two countries, indicating that Ghana has gone far, and we are here also to learn, so that we can gain experience. We need your support. On his part, President Akufo-Addo stated that it is a joy for us to see you here with us in Ghana. I will always have you closely associated with my memory because one of the first important decisions I had to take when I became President was over The Gambia. And that was the decision I made to support the ECOWAS military force with Ghanaian troops. According to President Akufo-Addo, the decision to intervene in The Gambian impasse was for three reasons: firstly, to ensure that the will of the Gambian people was not thwarted by an outgoing President; secondly, for the opportunity for ECOWAS to act as a collective unit with a common purpose and objective; and, thirdly, the peaceful resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and the threat of military intervention. All of that means that the actions that ECOWAS took, which was supported actively by some of us, stand vindicated by history. You have become a symbol of all of that, President Akufo-Addo said. He continued, Ghana, today, is determined to go down the path of democratic accountability. Our people have indicated on several occasions, in the last generation, how attached they are to democratic values and the principles of democratic accountability. For us, you are a good friend, a friend fighting the same cause our people have embarked on, that is, developing our nations under free political institutions, and giving the right to our people at any one stage to decide who should govern them in a peaceful and dignified manner. President Akufo-Addo assured President Adama Barrow that Ghana has been a friend, is a friend and will still continue to be a friend to the Gambia. President Adama Barrow has since left for The Gambia. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Circuit Court in Accra has ordered the arrest of a Reggae/Hi-life Artiste for failing to appear before it in a 25,000 stealing case. When the matter was called M.C. Morinton Kobby aka Emperor Messiah who is alleged to have absconded with the said money could not be found, hence prosecution prayed the court for an arrest warrant. Ignatius Mensah Opoku, a businessman and uncle of the musician, who is also standing trial with him in the matter had earlier on pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit crime and Stealing 25,000 (127, 925 cedis) belonging to one Deborah Kyerewa. The court presided over by Mrs Marian Affoh has admitted Opoku to bail in the sum of GHC128,000 with three sureties. Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Alex Odonkor told the court that complainant Deborah Kyerewa is unemployed and she resides at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. Opoku resides at Bortiano, Accra. On December 7, this year, the complainant and his brother Godwin Yeboah visited their friend in Dubai. DSP Odonkor said during the visit, their friend decided to transfer money to the complainant for a business in Ghana. However, the two did not have any foreign account to facilitate the transfer of the money. Based on this, DSP Odonkor said on December 12, last year, the complainants brother contacted another friend in Ghana to find out from him whether he has a foreign account but the said friend did not have a foreign account and contacted Opoku who provided his Access Bank account number 033-0064826452 at Kasoa to them. According to DSP Odonkor, the said account number was forwarded to the complainant in Dubai. On December 14, last year, the complainants friend transferred 25,000 pounds into the account provided. On the same night the complainant and her brother returned to Ghana. On their arrival, Opoku asked the complainant to give him detailed information of the sender to enable him start processing the documents to withdraw the money. He said Opoku then led the complainant and some witnesses to Kasoa to withdraw the money. On reaching a section of the road at Kasoa, the accused introduced Kobby to the complainant as his nephew and the one processing the document for him at the bank. Prosecution said Opoku assured the complainant not to fear and that he Opoku should be held responsible in case anything happens. The Prosecutor said Kobby informed the complainant that the Manager of the bank at Kasoa had assured them they could withdraw the money the following day. On December 16, last year Kobby informed the complainant that the bank manager said the money could only be withdrawn at the Osu branch of the bank. Opoku, the complainant and witness therefore proceeded to the Osu branch and met with Kobby to withdraw the money. DSP Odonkor said while the complainant, Opoku and the witness were waiting, unknownly to them, Kobby withdrew the money and left. After waiting for some time, the complainant insisted Opoku should withdraw the money since the account belongs to him. When Opoku called Kobby on his phone, his phone was switched off. When checks were made at the bank, an official of the bank informed them that Kobby had withdrawn the money that afternoon. Prosecution said Opoku then informed the complainant that he did not own the account and rather the account belonged to Kobby. After failing to take the complainant to his nephew Kobby, prosecution said the complainant handed Opoku over to the Police. Kyerewa has begun testifying before the court. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) has called for adequate compensation for music rights owners in the country. The body tasked to collect and distribute royalties on behalf of right owners noted that proper reward is the sure way to boost the morale of intellectual right owners. This call was contained in a statement issued by GHAMRO as the world celebrates World Intellectual Property Day on Wednesday, April 26. The music rights body believes that, per this years theme, which is Using intellectual property to encourage innovation and creativity, the right compensation will act as stimuli for various upcoming music right owners, to also replicate the creativity and innovation exhibited by their predecessors. Read the full statement below: The Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) is happy to inform its members, commercial music users and the general public that today, April 26, marks World Intellectual Property day. This years world theme is centred on using Intellectual Property to encourage innovation and creativity . As part of commemorating the day, GHAMRO wishes to acknowledge the efforts of all right owners for their innovation and creativity, especially music right owners, including Authors, Composers and Publishers as we celebrate today. GHAMRO believes that to achieve this years theme using intellectual property to encourage innovation and creativity, the music right owner will need to be adequately compensated for the use of his previous musical works. This will not only boost the morale of the right owner, but, act as stimuli for various upcoming music right owners, to also replicate the creativity and innovation exhibited by their predecessors. Against this backdrop, GHAMRO wishes to encourage all commercial music users in Ghana, including the Tele Communication Networks, Banks, Event organizers, Broadcasting houses, Offices, Hotels, and Restaurants etc. to pay for music played during working hours. This will generate the needed income in the form of royalties for onward remittance to the right owner. Notice is hereby given to all commercial music users that it is a punishable offence under the Copyright Law of Ghana (2005) and its accompanied Legislative Instrument (1962) to use music in public without the requisite license from GHAMRO. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Canadian fashion label is under fire for informing employees in several countries, including Australia, that they were out of a job via social media. Kit and Ace, a high-end athleisure retailer that opened in 2014, with stores in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, announced the closures of all non-Canadian stores via a social media post yesterday. From the start, Kit and Ace has been about innovation. As the retail landscape changes, were changing the way we transform your wardrobe A post shared by KIT AND ACE (@kitandace) on Apr 26, 2017 at 10:08am PDT From the start, Kit and Ace has been about innovation, the post read. As the retail landscape changes, were changing the way we transform your wardrobe. Kit and Ace will be closing its showrooms in the United States, the UK and Australia. Our Canadian showrooms will remain open. Antonia Guterres, who worked as a casual employee in the Brisbane store for a year, confirmed to PEDESTRIAN.TV that she found out via a screenshot of the Instagram post yesterday. We never received anything from our global head office in Canada or our Australian head office, she said. This happened yesterday, [and weve had] no contact [since]. We had an accounting firm come in yesterday at 9am to take over. According to Guterres, no one apart from founders Shannon Wilson (who also founded the wildly popular activewear brand Lululemon) and her stepson J. J. Wilson, as well as CEO Wendy Bennison, knew prior to yesterday that Kit and Ace was closing its stores. She doesnt yet know what shell be doing for work. I dont even know, she told P.TV when asked. I havent had much time to get that far yet, its all happened so quickly. Kit and Aces post invited fans of the brand to continue to shopping via the online store, but it might not have much of a fan base left. The company is facing one hell of the backlash online right the hell now, as news of its treatment of employees spreads far and wide. Theres also a teeny tiny issue of store vouchers and what the hell Australian customers are supposed to do about them. @kitandace I bought a $410 gift voucher for your Oz stores. I cant use it online and your stores are closed!? Refund or let me purchase plz C&C (@C3Cubed) April 28, 2017 Kit and Ace has not yet made a further public statement, nor has it responded to requests for comment. An automatic reply said that due to recent changes within Kit and Ace, we may take longer than usual to send a response. According to one of the financial experts brought in to deal with this mess (a.k.a. Richard Hughes of Deloitte Restructuring Services), employees should be receiving any outstanding wages and benefits in the coming days. Our expectation is that all affected employees will receive outstanding wages and relevant entitlements in coming days, which are being paid directly by the parent company, he told Ten Eyewitness News. Our main task is to investigate the financial position of the business, assess liabilities, arrange for the efficient realisation of assets and distribute those assets as efficiently as possible. Photo: Kit and Ace / Facebook. US President Donald Trump, a man quite familiar with blowing shit way out of proportion, has said there is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. And theres every chance hes not making that up. Speaking to Reuters about escalating tensions between the United States, its allies and Kim Jong Uns hermetic society, President Trump said wed love to solve things diplomatically but its very difficult. That fact probably would have been obvious to anyone going into the Oval Office, but Donald Trump is Donald Trump. The situation is made so much more worrying by the fact that if negotiations do worsen, he now has access to the Big Red Button. Stunningly, he also has access to a little red button that is, the Coke delivery button which Reuters even saw fit to mention in its write-up. President Trump said hed continue discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping about how best to keep North Korea from ramping up its missile testing and, god forbid, capability for viable nuclear weapons. However, President Trump admitted I know [President Xi Jinping] would like to be able to do something, perhaps its possible that he cant. All of this comes just after North Korea claimed that an increased American military presence in the region, including the stationing of more than a thousand Marines and naval personnel in Darwin, was evidence that the US is gearing up for all-out war. Everything is fine. Source: Reuters. Photo: Mark Wilson / Getty. Fucken hell this didnt take long at all. The Australian Federal Police today confirmed that a serious breach of metadata has already occurred, thanks to the failing of one of the processes that the AFP and Government officials previously asserted were sound. The AFP revealed today that an investigator accessed the phone records of a journalist earlier this year without gaining the proper warrants and legal clearance beforehand. This represents a massive failure of the metadata laws and practices, and precisely the kind of realised fear that ardent critics of the mandatory retention of metadata raised in the lead-up to the regimes implementation. Under the current laws and structures, journalists metadata cannot be freely accessed by authorities without first obtaining official warrants to do so. Not only did the AFP today confirm that that had happened, but they inferred that it was due to the unnamed investigator simply not knowing that that was what the process was. That is terrifying, frankly. AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin fronted media today to both reveal the breach and attempt to explain it. He stated that the investigator was attempting to access the call records to discover the identity of a source used by the journalists. Colvin was quick to stress that the metadata only includes the details of the call number, time, location, etc and not the content of the call itself. What was accessed was the records of calls, not the content of those calls. Just the fact of the existence of the calls in the first place. A result of this matter and as a result of us identifying this breach, we have been reviewing our internal practices and procedures to make sure they are as robust as possible. Shockingly, the AFP asserted that due to the investigation being on-going, the journalist whose metadata was improperly and illegally accessed has not been notified, nor has the AFP investigator who illegally accessed it been disciplined in any way. Colvin stated that it was extremely rare that they would be interested in a journalists metadata, which to be blunt makes a breach of process in this instance all the more unbelievable and worrying. Its a situation that defies belief in how succinctly it mimics fears expressed by those opposed to metadata retention in the first place. And the idea that the AFP is readily and with such a cavalier attitude breaching their own processes to identify the source of a journalists source, without informing the journalist when they fuck up no less, is supremely worrying. Journalists and media personnel have been expressing concern over the development on social media since the press conference a short time ago, but perhaps its none better summed up than this concise tweet: 1. The nations top police force accessed journalists metadata illegally 2. Then destroyed the evidence 3. Didnt tell the journalist. Eryk Bagshaw (@ErykBagshaw) April 28, 2017 And yet, Colvin insists that the public should have full confidence in the robustness of the scheme. We reiterate: Holy shit. Source: ABC News. Whats your #1 priority when it comes to beauty products? That they work? Pfffft rookie. Obviously, the primo reason you buy a beauty product is because it looks damn good when you line it up on your dresser/bathroom cabinet/sink alongside other, equally aesthetically masterful products. Okay, maybe thats a bit of a false statement. Theres no point forking out hundreds for a perfume you hate just because the bottles cool. Or a face cream that makes you break out. But really, there are loads of genuinely great products in market right now that also look damn fine in an Instagram post. Say what you will, theres something refreshing about having shelves that arent just a bunch of ugly mess, and make you look like some super chic lifestyle blogger. Weve rounded up some of of our current faves yes, we love these for whats inside the bottle. The fact that look bloody amazing in our bathroom is just an added bonus. TOM FORD ORCHID SOLEIL A post shared by TOM FORD (@tomford) on Apr 26, 2017 at 10:12am PDT The latest in Tom Fords Orchid fragrance range, Orchid Soleil is the kind of fragrance you expect some about-to-be-major new model would spritz on before going to meet her equally almost-famous model boyfriend at a dive bar. It smells expensive (der, its Tom Ford), but also sexy and painfully cool. Oh, and that rose gold bottle is so chic, you could essentially display it as art. ANYTHING FROM HERBIVORE BOTANICALS A post shared by Herbivore Botanicals (@herbivorebotanicals) on Apr 12, 2017 at 9:09am PDT Herbivore Botanicals is undoubtedly one of the most hyped brands of 2017 in part because their products are getting rave reviews for their efficacy, and also because their packaging is a minimalists dream. Their ethos is around natural, cruelty-free skincare our picks? The Lapis facial oil, designed to fight blemishes and calm irritated skin, and the Blue Tansy resurfacing mask, which works to exfoliate and reveal fresh, glowy skin. LOCCITANE SHEA BUTTER HAND CREAM A post shared by LOCCITANE en Provence (@loccitane) on Apr 15, 2017 at 10:37am PDT This iconic hand cream is a big deal for a reason its super nourishing, smells amazing, actually works to keep hands soft and comes in that excellent looking metal squeezy tube. LOccitane in general do some great packaging hence why youve probably been gifted a few of their products in your lifetime. Everything looks like its come from a provincial French village boutique, and were very much into it. BYREDO PERFUMES A post shared by BYREDO (@officialbyredo) on Mar 21, 2017 at 9:14am PDT Youre definitely across the perfect packaging of this niche fragrance brand if you follow even one style influencer on Instagram. Their fragrances are firm favourites in the fashion set because each one is perfectly unique the kind of scent you wear that has people stopping you in the street, for real. All the bottles are short, round, with the signature black domed lid and plain text across the front. Last year, they even released a blank fragrance with no label, that you were meant to custom-design yourself. Genius. LUMIRA CANDLES A post shared by LUMIRA (@atelierlumira) on Apr 15, 2017 at 3:04pm PDT Lumira is the poster brand for those people who hate candles but secretly want to love them types. With scents like Arabian Oud, Cuban Tobacco and Leather & Cedar, its easy to see why. Lumira goes for rich, spicy and multi-layered home fragrance a far cry from those standard vanilla or floral kinds candle-haters are used to. Basically you want your home to smell like some rich persons place? You get a Lumira candle. Oh, and since were talking about aesthetics how perfect is that sleek jar with the matte-black labelling? LUSH. YVES SAINT LAURENT TOUCHE ECLAT A post shared by YSL Beauty Official (@yslbeauty) on Jun 22, 2016 at 3:20am PDT The Touche Eclat is one of those cult beauty products everyone goes on about it remains as one of the top ranked concealers, even in this age of beauty vloggers and intense focus on product innovation. Its creamy, illuminating coverage is the stuff of dark-circled girls dreams seriously, have a Google and youll find a slew of celebs and makeup artists singing its praises. The gold packaging has remained the same since its inception, changing only slightly for limited edition releases the current of which celebrates its 25th birthday, and is covered in little black stars. Wish you had the spare $$ to own all of these, and more luxury beauty products? If you win our current comp with pals Set for Life, you could find yourself with $20k in your pocket for max beauty purchases: HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN $20K! ENTER HERE NOW! Image: The File. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump take part in a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C., on February 13, 2017. President Trump says he didn't announce the cancellation of NAFTA this week because he likes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Pope Francis is flanked by Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Al-AzharAos grand imam, at Cairo's Al Azhar university, Friday, April 28, 2017. Francis is in Egypt for a two-day trip aimed at presenting a united Christian-Muslim front that repudiates violence committed in God's name. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP) OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu speeches during a ceremony marking the OPCW's 20th anniversary in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, April 26, 2017. The global chemical weapons watchdog's ceremony comes just three weeks after dozens of people were killed in a suspected nerve gas attack in Syria. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, POOL) FILE - In this June 17, 2014 file photo, John Schmidt, a wildlife trapper, walks past damage from feral hogs that happened overnight while foraging near one of his traps in New Orleans. Feral hogs probably do more than $1.5 billion damage nationwide each year, according to the USDA, and the problem is only getting bigger: between 1982 and 2012, the invasive species spread from 17 states to 36. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) In 2006, Petersburg's Alaska National Guard Armory was manned by 11 local personnel. Today the facility is unused and two remaining personnel travel to Juneau for training. By the end of 2017, the 761st Military Police Battalion in Southeast will be deactivated. The Army National Guard is clearing out its Petersburg Armory. On Friday, April 21, CW2 Drew Vandries told the Pilot he and two others were in Petersburg to remove sensitive material and conduct environmental remediation on the armory site. He showed containers of oil, antifreeze and fuel that were going to the baler facility for disposal. Special Assistant to Major General Lori Hummel, Ron Clarke said the National Guard is entertaining ideas from Petersburg concerning the future use of the facility. The nearly 2,000 sq. ft. building sits on land that is leased from the State Dept. of Trans... Petersburg students participating in Art Fest were from left to right: Gus Petersen, honorable mention in "Paper Relief Sculpture"; Clair Byrer, honorable mention in "Underwater Acrylic Sea Creatures"; Alyssa Guthrie, honorable mention in "Paper Light Box"; Sydney Guthrie was awarded Rick Mills "Artfest Spirit Award" and best in workshop in "Parallel Pen Wizardry" and Lora O'Brocta got best of workshop in "Underwater Acrylic Sea Creatures" and honorable mention in "Digital Photography". Not in the picture: Kelsa Sperl, best in workshop in "Digital Photography", Julia Murph, honorable mention in "Paper Mask Making" and honorable mention in "Parallel Pen Wizardry". Petersburg played host to the region's budding artists at this year's Southeast Alaska Regional Art Festival, running from April 20 through the weekend. "It went well," said Ashley Lohr, Petersburg High School's art teacher. The community last hosted the festival in 2011. Thirteen high schools sent 102 students to this year's four-day event, much of which focused on honing artistic skills at an array of workshops. Eighteen 15-hour workshops were available to participating students, each of whom could choose two to take. Orchestrating the festival is always a challenge, from finding venues t... Whitmer wins second term as Michigan governor Gov. Gretchen Whitmer defeated Republican challenger Tudor Dixon in the Michigan governor race in the 2022 midterm election to earn a second term. South China Sea push stirs ASEAN suspicions about Beijing's endgame MANILA Petroleumworld 04 28 2017 China's support for finalising a code of conduct in the hotly contested South China Sea is generating some hope in Southeast Asia of settling disputes, but those working out the terms remain unconvinced of Beijing's sincerity. Signing China up to a legally binding and enforceable code for the strategic waterway has long been a goal for claimant members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). But given the continued building and arming of its artificial islands in the South China Sea, Beijing's recently expressed desire to work with ASEAN to complete a framework this year has been met with scepticism and suspicion. "Some of us in ASEAN believe this is just another ploy by China to buy time," said one senior diplomat familiar with the talks. "China is expectedly stalling until it has completely attained its strategic objectives... What need is there for the green grass when the horse is dead?" The framework seeks to advance a 2002 Declaration of Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea, which commits to following the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight, and "refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features". But the DOC was not stuck to, especially by China, which has built seven islands in the Spratly archipelago. It is now capable of deploying combat planes on three reclaimed reefs, where radars and surface-to-air missile systems have also been installed, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative think tank. Beijing insists its activities are for defence purposes, in areas it considers its waters. Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines, however, all claim some or all of the resource-rich waterway and its myriad of shoals, reefs and islands. BINDING CONTRACT The ASEAN diplomat said the two rounds of talks so far this year gave the impression of progress, but details worked out so far were "essentially the same" as the DOC. Another diplomat from the 10-member bloc said the framework would be "re-stating most of the major points" of the DOC, but the hard part was getting China to agree to a legally binding contract. "Here lies the big challenge. You need to understand this is not just a simple matter of conforming to a set of words," the diplomat said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang did not directly answer a question on whether China would support an enforceable code of conduct, but said China hoped for the framework and code to be completed this year. Finalising the framework would be a feather in the cap for the Philippines, which chairs ASEAN this year. Manila has reversed its stance on the South China Sea, from advocating a unified front and challenging Beijing's unilateralism, to putting disputes aside to create warm ties. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has opted not to press China to abide by an international arbitration decision last year that ruled in Manila's favour and invalidated Beijing's sweeping South China Sea claims. There will be no mention of the Hague ruling in an ASEAN leaders' statement at a summit in Manila on Saturday, nor will there be any reference to concerns about island-building or militarization that appeared in last year's text, according to excerpts of a draft seen by Reuters. A diplomat at the ASEAN secretariat said there was urgency from all parties to get the framework done this year, but ASEAN was taking "a leap of faith" with China and there were concerns about what the end result might be. Richard Heydarian, an expert on politics and international affairs at Manila's De La Salle University, said China's strategy was to project an image of being a responsible stakeholder rather than an aggressor, and avoid being bound to rules that could weaken its geopolitical position should the United States assert itself in the South China Sea. "China wants to come up with a symbolic framework that says to America 'Hey, back off, we're dealing with ASEAN on a very diplomatic level', but nothing significant enough to operationally restrict their ability to respond if the Trump administration takes a tougher position," he said. China adding 20 under construction nuclear reactors to its 36 reactors in operation - nuclear association BEIJING Petroleumworld 04 28 2017 China had 20 nuclear reactors under construction at the end of March, with a total capacity of 23.11 gigawatts (GW), the China Nuclear Energy Association said on Thursday. China had 36 reactors in full commercial operation at the end of last month, with a total capacity of 34.72 GW, said association chairman Zhang Huazhu, speaking at the group's annual assembly in Beijing. The two combined equate to just under 58 GW, in line with China's target for capacity on line by 2020, but China also aims to have a further 30 GW of nuclear reactors under construction by the end of 2020. Zhang warned the overall target would not be easy, especially after construction of new reactors slowed following a nationwide safety review prompted by Japan's Fukushima disaster in 2011. Half of the 20 new units under construction at end-March are advanced "third-generation" reactors, Zhang said, and include the world's first AP1000 designed by Toshiba Corp's Westinghouse at Sanmen on China's eastern coast. The AP1000 reactors are designed to have new safety features and a bigger generation capacity. The first AP1000 unit is set to go into operation in the second half of this year after long delays caused by safety concerns and design flaws. Zhang said the project was now in the testing stage, with "laid foundations" in place to ensure that 2017 construction schedule was met. But China's reliance on largely untested third-generation technologies, including French firm Areva SA's EPR as well as homegrown reactor brands like the Hualong One and the CAP1400, could also pose serious challenges, Zhang said. "The AP1000 and Hualong One currently under construction and the CAP1400 about to go into construction will be the main models of future development, but as the first reactors (of their kind), their maturity and efficiency need further testing during the construction process," he said. China has sought to take advantage of the global lull in nuclear project construction since the Fukushima disaster to become a world leader in the sector. It has built three out of a planned six reactors in Pakistan and is a major investor in Britain's Hinkley Point C. Zhang said as well as its contract in Britain, China had already signed agreements with Argentina, South Africa, Turkey, Romania and Saudi Arabia, and was also improving its uranium supply network through closer cooperation with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Niger and Namibia. Qiushi, the official Communist Party journal, said earlier this year that China now had a historical opportunity to take advantage of a market stretching to more than 20 countries and involving a potential investment more than $1 trillion by 2030. Jose Pereira name interim president of PDVSA Citgo CARACAS Petroleumworld 04 28 2017 Venezuela has promoted Jose Pereira to interim president of Citgo, the U.S. refining and marketing unit of the nation's state oil company PDVSA, the government said in its Official Gazette on Friday. Pereira, who was formerly Citgo's vice president of finance, replaces Nelson Martinez, who was named Venezuela's oil minister in January. Citgo owns three refineries and a network of terminals and pipelines in the United States. PDVSA's use of Citgo assets to guarantee financial transactions, including a 2016 bond swap and a loan from Russian oil company Rosneft, has generated controversy both in Venezuela and in the United States. Since last year, Citgo has increased the supply of crude and fuel to PDVSA through its Citgo LDC Supply International subsidiary, helping Venezuela get the fuel it needs amid low output at its domestic refining network. Critics of President Nicolas Maduro say his government is pawning state assets without the permission of the legislature. A group of U.S. senators expressed concern this month that the Rosneft operation with Citgo might help Russia gain ownership over energy infrastructure in the United States. Venezuelan officials have defended the operation as transparent and legal. Peak oil demand is a misleading theory - Saudi Aramco's CEO Petroleum use will keep growing for decades to come: Saudi Arabian Oil Co. Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser LONDON Petroleumworld 04 28 2017 The boss of Saudi Arabia's state oil company defended petroleum as the mainstay of the global economy, countering theories that demand will peak within years with his own forecast that consumption will keep growing for decades. The global economy is forecast to double in size by 2050 so overall demand for energy will be higher, Saudi Arabian Oil Co. Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser said at the International Oil Summit in Paris. The idea that oil demand is close to its maximum level is equally as misleading as now-discredited theories about peak oil supply, he said. His comments contradict recent opinions from some of the world's largest oil companies. The surge in battery-powered vehicles will cause demand for oil-based fuels to peak in the 2030s, Total SA's Chief Energy Economist Joel Couse said this week . In November, Simon Henry, then the chief financial officer of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, said the high point in consumption could happen in as little as five years . Nasser also has plenty of influential voices supporting his argument. The International Energy Agency, which advises developed economies on energy policy, doesn't anticipate any peak in oil demand before 2040. Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest oil company by market value, agrees that crude will remain the most important fuel for decades. The state-run Saudi company, also known as Aramco, has good reason to push against the notion that the world's ever-growing appetite for oil could soon be sated. It produces more than 10 percent of global crude supply and is preparing for what could be the largest-ever initial public offering. The long-term outlook for demand will be a key component in determining investor appetite and the company's final valuation, which analysts are already saying could be below the kingdom's $2 trillion target . Nasser said preparations for Aramco's share sale are in order and the IPO remains on track for the end of 2018. Rather than being concerned about peak demand, the world should focus on the grave threat to oil supplies resulting from the cancellation or deferral of about $1 trillion of energy projects amid the slump in crude prices, he said. Global benchmark Brent, which has fallen by more than half since mid-2014, added 53 cents, or 1 percent, to $51.97 barrel by 2:10 p.m. Singapore time. Europe condemns Venezuela's brutal repression' and seclusion grows in regime AP/Fernando Llano Women mourn during an homage to Juan Pablo Pernalete in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday. European Parliment and Canada call for Venezuelan elections. Opposition plans new protests to honor those killed this month CARACAS Petroleumworld 04 28 2017 Venezuela's isolation grew Thursday as the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the brutal repression of protesters by state security forces, saying more than 20 people had been killed in demonstrations over the past month. Venezuela's government must ensure the full restoration of the democratic order and immediately release all political prisoners, the Parliament said in a statement posted on its website. Lawmakers called on the government to establish an electoral calendar that would allow free and transparent electoral processes and to stop side-lining opposition leaders by depriving them of their political rights. The call came just a day after Venezuela's foreign minister, Delcy Rodriguez, said the South American country would start a process to withdraw from the Organization of American States after the Washington-based body scheduled a special meeting to discuss Venezuela's political crisis. Speaking on state television on Wednesday evening, she said President Nicolas Maduro had ordered Venezuela's withdrawal and that a letter would be sent to the OAS on Thursday. While largely symbolic as a formal withdrawal can only occur after a two-year waiting period, the move will increase Venezuela's isolation in the region. The OAS, founded in 1948, promotes democracy, human rights, security and development, and all 35 independent states of the Americas have signed its charter, according to its website . Today is a victorious day for Venezuela as we wake up more free and independent, Rodriguez said Thursday in Caracas at a press conference to address the OAS withdrawal before moving on to comment on the European Parliament. A continent in decline, that's where Europe is headed. They can't give Venezuela lessons. And if they encourage those who are violent, they are part of the campaign that supports terrorist groups. Very Sad' U.S. President Donald Trump called the situation in Venezuela a mess and very sad, when he met with his Argentine counterpart Mauricio Macri today. OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro has criticized the Maduro administration after the Venezuelan leader stripped powers from the opposition-controlled National Assembly and more than 28 people died in the protests, according to Venezuela's public prosecutor. Canada's embassy in Caracas also joined in the call for elections in a post on its Twitter account. Opposition lawmakers met on Thursday in Caracas and unveiled a list of demands that included the designation of an impartial electoral board, early presidential elections, an immediate date for overdue regional elections, government authorization to accept humanitarian aid shipments of food and medicine, respect for the autonomy of the opposition-controlled National Assembly and the release of all political prisoners. Opposition supporters then marched in Caracas to honor those who have died during this month's protests including a 20-year-old student who became the latest causality after he was hit by a tear gas canister in the eastern Altamira neighborhood of the city on Wednesday during clashes with the National Guard. On Friday, the opposition is expected to hold more demonstrations to call for the release of political prisoners. The government earlier moved imprisoned opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez to solitary confinement, which Amnesty International called unlawful. His wife, Lilian Tintori, who posted the Amnesty statement on her Twitter feed , wrote that the opposition leader's lawyers were not allowed to see him Wednesday. Venezuelans will stay in the streets in peace until the dictatorship falls, she wrote on her Twitter account. As the 100-day mark of the Trump presidency approached this weekend a debate raged over whether that was a fair metric to judge by. The answer is "yes." Trump himself pushed that timeline (only to deny its importance when his accomplishments failed to live up to his overblown promises). Moreover, 100 days is sufficient to observe how this president operates when it comes to making foreign policy. We've seen a deeply dysfunctional process with an erratic leader at the hub. Trump can't seem to shed his reality-TV persona and grasp that a president's words have an impact worldwide. He still tries to tackle foreign issues the way he closed real estate deals - using threats and bravado to subdue opponents, while friends and family help close the transaction. This M.O. isn't working. Instead of admiring Trump's "art of the deal," many foreign leaders are concluding his skills are limited to the "art of the bluff." Trump's performance suffers from his disinterest in a coherent foreign policy process. The appointments of James Mattis at Defense and H.R. McMaster to head the National Security Council rightly raised hopes. (Rex Tillerson at State has proved more problematic.) But in the end, foreign policy depends on the man in the White House. The grown-ups on Trump's team can't compensate for an impulsive president who refuses to stop tweeting and constantly reverses himself. Indeed, friends and foes are already catching on to Trump's mode of foreign operations. Rather than hail him as a tough operator, they view his flip-flops as proof he doesn't know what he is doing. Take China. Trump came on strong, promising to label Beijing a currency manipulator and slap a 45 percent tariff on Chinese goods. In December, he famously tweeted there was no need to follow the "One China" policy on Taiwan if Beijing didn't fall in line on trade. Had Trump accepted briefings he might have learned that China wouldn't bargain over this formula for Taiwan's status. Instead, he had to publicly back down and accept the "One China" trope, because Chinese President Xi Jinping wouldn't take his phone calls until he did. This was viewed in China as a kowtow. Moreover, only when Xi visited Mar-a-Lago on April 6-7 did Trump appear to grasp that his threats might impede Chinese cooperation on North Korea. A week after calling China a "world champion" currency manipulator, Trump reversed course, asking, "Why would I call China a currency manipulator when they are working with us on the North Korea problem?" China's state-controlled media have interpreted Trump's flip-flops as proof he is ill-informed and malleable. They noted Trump's statement that he only recognized the complexity of the North Korean issue after speaking with the Chinese leader. "After listening for 10 minutes [to Xi], I realized it's not so easy," Trump stated, seemingly unaware these words made him look like an amateur praising a pro. Was Trump briefed before Xi's visit? Did he listen? Does he understand even now how differently China views the North Korean nuclear threat than we do? We don't know. We do know that Trump's constant stream of contradictory tweets and remarks - on everything from the Mideast to NATO projects incoherence. He often issues broadsides without consulting his team, blindsiding cabinet members. Just last week he threatened to terminate the NAFTA deal with Mexico. But he'd never informed his Commerce or Agriculture secretaries on this, sending them scurrying to the White House to warn of the harsh consequences for U.S. farmers. After that, he announced he'd changed his mind. (He also backtracked on funding the infamous wall.) After 100 days of Trump's threats toward friends as well as foes, foreign leaders are beginning to get his number. Many now dismiss his words as bluster. (And no, a missile strike on Syria doesn't convince them otherwise.) Things aren't likely to improve unless the frenetic president finally accepts a defined process for foreign policy-making that he can't impulsively contradict at 2 a.m. That light hasn't yet dawned. Hundreds of key posts at the Pentagon and State Department remain unfilled and the pace of nominations lags well behind that of previous presidents. Tillerson's and Mattis' first choices for deputy were turned down by the White House for foolish political reasons. (Unfortunately, Tillerson seems to share his boss' taste for operating solo, and displays no urgency in filling the many vacancies at State. He has also acceded to Trump's drastic cuts in the department's budget and personnel.) This lack of expertise affects the administration's ability to formulate long-range strategies in which to embed tactical decisions. But Trump appears more comfy with a family firm than the niceties of process. He sent his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, around the world on several ill-defined missions and dispatched his daughter Ivanka to Germany. He named the Trump Organization's chief counsel, Jason Greenblatt, as the special emissary for international negotiations. This approach leaves foreign capitals bewildered as to who is making foreign policy. One European envoy tells me his country still doesn't know whom to talk to about policy issues. A Chinese official told me that Kushner is the man his ambassador tries to see; this filial approach is more appropriate to Chinese-style governance than to democracy in America. Moreover, a hot-tempered president with uncontrollable fingers and lips is a danger to the country. Unlike more worldly leaders, North Korea's paranoid Kim Jong Un may take Trump's threatening tweets seriously and react aggressively. Trump's first 100 days of foreign dealings make me think of a doughnut. A fat rim of family and cabinet chiefs but a big hole in the center. That's no way to run a country as important as the United States. trubin@phillynews.com Everything is happening so fast or at least that's how it feels trying to follow politics these days. You've seen the headlines about President Trump and his policies but what do they mean for Philadelphia? What does that mean for you? We're launching a newsletter to explore just that. Sign up here. tooltip Keep reading by creating a free account or signing in. As conservative forces in Washington and Harrisburg sharpen their animus toward sanctuary cities and define the ways in which they will be punished, some civic debate and soul-searching in Philadelphia may be in order. It was all well, good, and cost-free for Mayor Kenney to engage in the rhetoric of defiance and admirably advocate on behalf of undocumented workers. But, his rhetoric puts us on a collision course with a state legislature and federal government that are strikingly unsympathetic to them. The state Senate recently passed a bill that would withhold money from sanctuary cities and make them responsible for compensating victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. In the case of a murder or infliction of a lifetime disability, millions of dollars could be at stake. There are various types of sanctuary cities in America and Kenney has never defined exactly what kind we are. Under what circumstances will Philadelphia police ignore a detainer issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)? Clarion County won't honor an ICE detainer unless a judge asserts the undocumented person is also charged with a crime. Is that the kind of sanctuary city we are? What is our threshold for honoring a detainer? While Kenney has boldly asserted the general policy, he has neither defined it nor invited public debate to affirm it. City Council adopted a resolution of support, but the few seconds set aside for a voice vote hardly qualify as a sincere sorting of the issues in what may be the most significant, potentially impactful declarations of values a city can make. Council President Darrell Clarke, while not overtly opposing this status, has advised that we seriously evaluate it in light of our tenuous fiscal position and how cuts from Washington and Harrisburg might impact us. The need for that discussion is upon us. Philadelphia, along with other sanctuary cities, is already on notice from the U.S. Department of Justice that we must provide proof of full compliance with the federal law requiring cooperation with ICE. If we do not convincingly assert our compliance, we may lose all federal funds that support our Police Department. If these were the cash-rich days of Mayor Frank Rizzo, we might be able to absorb targeted cuts from the state or federal government. In those days, our schools did not urgently need $3 billion to repair infrastructure. The city pension fund wasn't short $5.7 billion. Things have changed and money is far more dear than it was. While a federal judge has temporarily blocked any retribution against sanctuary cities, this is an opportunity to consider our position. We have drifted into the crosshairs of the state and federal government for a policy that is poorly defined, untested, and might not enjoy popular support. Leadership requires that the mayor address, in substance and detail, his policy of refusing to cooperate with ICE, the reasoning for it, and his plan to compensate for the funding that will likely be withheld. He needs to answer if we are prepared to be held liable for the impact of crimes committed by undocumented workers. If our status as a sanctuary city is the decision of one man, there is an obligation upon that person to be conspicuously inclusive in reaching a conclusion. This is where the mayor has failed. It may well be that shielding undocumented immigrants from the federal government is the wise and compassionate choice. It may also be that Philadelphians are prepared to financially sacrifice for that choice. But, these things are far from established and the mayor would do well to make certain he has the support of citizens before he locks us into "harm's way." Jay McCalla was a deputy managing director of Philadelphia during the administrations of Mayors Ed Rendell and John Street. jay.a.mccalla@gmail.com Win AirAsia Flights & Nissan X-Trail at Paradigm Mall 5th Anniversary Carnival We have been posting many awesome deals for AirAsia BIG recently and many people asked us on how to get the AirAsia BIG Points fast? Well, maybe you should head on to this weekends Paradigm Mall 5th Anniversary Carnival as you can get enjoy 3X AirAsia BIG Points for every RM1 spend while you shop and dine. If you are not an AirAsia BIG member yet, just sign up on that day and there are more freebies to win at the carnival too. Step right up, from 29 Apr till 7 July, stand a chance to win a brand-new Nissan X-Trail at Paradigm Mall! Just spend a minimum of RM100 in 2 receipts to enter the lucky draw. From 29 April 1 May, were celebrating Paradigms 5th anniversary with a 3-day carnival of fun for the whole family! Join in the fun to win your next getaway for FREE. Stand a chance to win 9 AirAsia return tickets to Laos, Macau and India! For the first 100 with AirAsia BIG app, you will get FREE 100 seats redemption on the spot and there will be FREE 300 seats over three days with a chance to also win a share of 100,000 AirAsia BIG points!. The exclusive freebies are over RM 120,000 and of course terms and conditions apply. Many people will say they have no luck to win those awesome prizes but you still can get the 3x AirAsia BIG Points for every RM1 spend while you shop and dine. Luck is luck so if you never know until you try right? Why not for free flight and maybe a brand new Nissan X-Trail? Paradigm Mall 5th Anniversary Carnival is happening from 29 April 1 May at Paradigm Mall. Good luck everyone and enjoy the carnival! Wilson Ng A Father and traveler who enjoys to eat, shop, travel and taking pictures with Samsung S22 Ultra and Sony ZV-1. Im a full time blogger, youtuber and father for two. I used to travel around 17 International trips per year but now staying at home. Remember to follow us at www.instagram.com/placesandfoods and www.youtube.com/placesandfoods. For advertisements or features, contact me at [email protected] See author's posts VIDEO: Arrested Ohio Woman Attacks Officer with OC Spray from Back of Patrol Vehicle Video recorded in the back of a Columbus, OH, police cruiser shows a woman and a police officer spraying OC at each other Wednesday morning. Video shows 26-year-old Quivonna Bonner handcuffed and without a shirt in the back of a Columbus police cruiser. The video shows her screaming, cursing and making obscene gestures. According to court documents, Bonner repeatedly told officers she intended to mace them when they opened the cruiser door. Bonner then managed to bring her handcuffed hands to the front of her body and get a can of mace she had hidden on her person, court documents said. Bonner was charged with assault on a police officer. According to court records, Bonner was originally arrested out of a disorderly conduct and drug possession case, NBC4 reports. David M. Watson, who was convicted of shooting into the homes of law enforcement officers, escaped custody Friday morning. (Photo: Howard County PD) Maryland police agencies are looking for escaped prisoner David M. Watson. Watson, serving time for attempted murder of police officers, escaped custody Friday morning while being transported to a mental evaluation. Police say they've found several articles of clothing in the woods he escaped into. They say they also found his handcuffs and waist chain. Its unclear if he was wearing leg shackles, WJLA TV reports. Watson was alleged to have gone on a shooting spree in 2012, targeting police officers' homes on the Eastern Shore of Delaware and Maryland, The News Journal reported. Watson's friend, Orrin Joudrey, testified against Watson when he was tried in Delaware of attempted murder and Watson received a 106-year prison sentence, the Capitol Gazette reports. However, when he was tried in Maryland on charges that he had shot at the homes of three Wicomico County law enforcement officers, he was found mentally incompetent to stand trial and was ordered to be committed to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, The Daily Times reported. The Virginia State Police shut down its email system on Wednesday night to strengthen its defense against a sophisticated new form of malware that infected the law enforcement agencys network at the end of last week. State Police Superintendent W. Steven Flaherty said the agency hoped to restore email service, allowing computer communication with its public affairs office and updates to the Sex Offender Registry that have been disrupted since the shutdown after 8 p.m. on Wednesday. It didnt disable us, Flaherty said in an interview with Richmond.com on Thursday. We disabled us in order to deal with it. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Democrats are getting ready to wage a legal battle against Donald Trump on the basis that his business entanglements have put him in violation of the U.S. Constitution and theyre willing to fork over their own money to get it done. According to a new report from The Hill, several Democrats in the Senate are in early discussions about taking court action against the president. More from the report: The effort is being led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who has had preliminary discussions with several senators about the idea. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) confirmed Blumenthal has pitched the idea of a lawsuit, but stressed that no decision has been made. Im yielding to him on the legal issues. Im not a constitutional scholar on standing, so if he can figure out a way to do it, Im rooting for him, he said. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, said her committee colleague Blumenthal is leading an effort, asking each one of us to contribute an amount of money for a court case. Were looking at that, Feinstein told constituents at a recent town hall event. The hope is that there will be 41 of us that will be on that court case. At the end of the day, Democrats in the Senate could potentially have most members of their party signed onto the legal challenge a sign of just how united they are against the unpopular and unfit president. Given the fact that nobody in the majority party is interested in holding the president and his administration for their potential constitutional violations, the Democrats clearly arent afraid to take extreme measures to ensure hes held responsible. After all, Trumps idea of removing himself from his business interests is passing control of his companies to his sons and simply promising he wont talk to them anymore. Plus, as the report noted, Trump has refused to sell businesses and the American people still dont know whats in his tax returns. Democrats are right to throw the hammer down on Trump for his conflicts of interests because each day he refuses to remove himself from his financial entanglements, he is violating the U.S. Consitution. The Apple Inc. store is seen on the day of the new iPhone 7 smartphone launch in Los Angeles, California, U.S., September 16, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson - RTSO2SH By David Shepardson (Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) has asked the state of California to make changes in its proposed policies on self-driving cars, the latest sign the technology giant is pursuing driverless car technology. In a letter made public Friday, Apple made a series of suggested changes to the policy that is under development and said it looks forward to working with California and others "so that rapid technology development may be realized while ensuring the safety of the traveling public." Waymo, the self-driving car unit of Google parent company Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O), Ford Motor Co (F.N), Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL], Toyota Motor Corp , Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA.O) and others also filed comments suggesting changes. California said on Tuesday it would review comments before deciding whether to make changes to the policy that aims to allow companies to test vehicles without traditional steering wheels and controls or human back-up drivers. The state is at the center of a crowded race to develop self-driving vehicles and the proposed changes from companies help provide insight into their current efforts. Apple said California should revise how companies report self-driving system "disengagements." California currently requires companies to report how many times the self-driving system was deactivated and control handed back to humans because of a system failure or a traffic, weather or road situation that required human intervention. Apple said California's rules for development vehicles used only in testing could "restrict both the design and equipment that can be used in test vehicles." Apple secured a permit earlier this month to test autonomous vehicles in California. Although it has never openly acknowledged it is looking into building a car, Apple has recruited dozens of auto experts. The company declined to comment on Friday. Tesla said California should not bar testing of autonomous vehicles that are 10,000 pounds (4,535 kg) or more. It said such a move could "stifle innovation" and bar a company from testing a heavy autonomous vehicle that might be used to haul parts on private property rather than on public roads, pushing developers in this sector out of the state. Story continues Elon Musk, chief executive of electric vehicle pioneer Tesla, announced plans last year for new electric vehicles, including a commercial truck called the Tesla Semi and a public transport bus. The company said earlier this month it plans to unveil a commercial truck in September. Tesla also said California should not prohibit the sale of non-self-driving vehicles previously used for autonomous vehicle testing. Tesla said that under the proposal if it loads a vehicle with autonomous testing software and then replaces it with conventional production software it could be barred from selling the vehicle. Uber said California should allow paying members of the public to ride in autonomous vehicles with drivers, saying "There is no reason to deny those riders an opportunity to travel in an autonomous test vehicle and provide honest feedback." Rival Lyft Inc asked the state to remove a requirement that it notify local authorities of autonomous vehicle testing. Waymo asked California to remove its liability proposal. On Tuesday, General Motors Co (GM.N) said the state's proposed liability rules could make automakers liable regardless of fault for any crash. GM also said in its letter that automakers should be allowed to reuse autonomous vehicles and parts after testing or if it scraps the vehicle. Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) and Daimler AG (DAIGn.DE) submitted joint comments seeking changes to the extent of data required to be retained in crashes involving self-driving cars. A number of automakers have said they plan to begin deploying self-driving vehicles, some in commercial fleets, by 2020-2021. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Alexandria Sage and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Jonathan Oatis and Frances Kerry) Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print It is doubtful that there are any human beings on Earth who havent experienced the spooky phenomenon known as deja vu. It literally means already seen and defined as a strong sensation that an event or experience currently being experienced has already been experienced in the past. Some people relate that sensation as little more than a feeling of familiarity, or a feeling of having already lived through something; even if it is only momentary. Even though Americans, at least half of the population, arent the smartest mammals on the planet, they are certainly capable of remembering significantly traumatic events in their lifetimes. For many Americans, the Trump administrations actions over the past couple of days should bring about a strong feeling of deja vu that is not just momentary; it is a long-lasting and strong sensation of dread that as a nation weve already seen and experienced what is currently happening a little over a decade ago. It has been less than fifteen years since the last Republican administration used fear mongering to embroil the nation in a senseless and costly war without provocation or a threat to America; a war that is still ongoing. Of course, during the Bush administration, the alleged threat was from Iraqs tyrannical leader Saddam Hussein that the Bush warmongers warned were a day away from putting a mushroom cloud over an American city. Now, and for the past couple of weeks, the Trump administration is warning that North Koreas version of Donald Trump, Kim Jung-un, is a threat to America. It is a glaring deja vu moment and an eerily frightening reiteration of Bushs fear mongering about Saddam Hussein, only in Asia; a region that Trumps close national security adviser Steve Bannon said was certainly going to be Americas next theater of war. The frightening thing is that like the Bush administration, Trumps crew entered the White House with designs on multiple major conflicts including the Middle East and Asia. For the memory challenged, the Bush administration planned on invading Iraq long before the terror attacks on 9/11, and for some reason, that fact is not raising any red flags nationwide or in the halls of Congress. However, there are some Americans concerned about Trump and companys war pre-production in the form of fear-mongering about the threat to America and its allies from an unhinged tyrant; in this case, there are two unhinged tyrants Kim Jung-un and Trump. According to a CBS News poll, most Americans (61 percent) believe that whatever perceived threat North Korea poses can be contained without military action; an equal majority are uneasy about Trumps ability to handle the situation. It is noteworthy that over a quarter of Republicans are uneasy about Trumps competence and if nothing else, at least 28 percent of Republicans are not memory challenged. No doubt they, like the majority of the polls respondents, are having that sensation that the experience currently being experienced has already been experienced in the past. It is stunningly frightening that there is not a raging outcry from the people over seeing yet another Republican beating the drums of war. Even if one sets aside the cost in brave American troops who lost their lives, or their limbs, or their sanity, there is the immediate and long-term economic cost to taxpayers. It is estimated that Bushs monumental blunder, a blunder that was pre-conceived and planned like Trumps foray into Asia, will cost $7.9 trillion that will be going straight to the national debt. A reasonable person might believe that Republican deficit hawks would be storming the White House to remind Trump that wars are not free not in American lives, immediate war costs or the long-term national debt; but theyre not saying anything. The real danger, and it is a real danger, is that the war plans according to Bannon go beyond war with North Korea; war with China is the real end goal. It is remarkable that unlike the Bush administrations quiet plan to invade Iraq, Trumps spokesperson Bannon had no qualms publicly forecasting the Trump administrations war with China on more than one occasion. And there is no reason to doubt the serious intent of a war in Asia according to Trumps stupid idea of provoking a madman with a nuclear arsenal. Any American over the age of 20 should be experiencing a long and painfully strong sensation that an event or experience currently being experienced has already been experienced in the past. Americans have seen this movie before and they know precisely how it ends. The difference in this remake is that both China and North Korea are not Iraq, and they both have robust nuclear arsenals they will not hesitate to use if they are attacked. What should terrify Americans is that although the Bush invasion Iraq was a monumental cluster-f*ck that had the unintended consequence of creating ISIS, destabilized Syria and the surrounding region, and will cost nearly $8 trillion when all is said and done, Trump is orders of magnitude worse than George W. Bush. And, Trump doesnt comprehend that he cannot wage war without congressional approval as evidenced with his deployment of American troops on the ground in Syria. It cannot be stated enough the horrifying thought that Trump still wonders why America has a nuclear arsenal and doesnt use it. There is no predicting what will play out with a Kim Jung-un type madman occupying the White House, but the feeling of deja vu informs that it will not end well and may truly lead to mushroom clouds over several American cities. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Donald Trumps strategy of tough talk and empty gestures toward North Korea is clearly not scaring anyone, as the country just released a new video threatening an attack on the U.S. if the new administration continues to show empty aggression. In the propaganda video, the North Korean military is seen targeting American aircraft carriers and even the U.S. Capitol with missiles. Video: Among the many captions in the video, New York Magazine reports that one of them reads, We will show you what a strong country that leads the world in nuclear and missile technology is capable of. Adding: The final collapse will begin. While the video is likely an empty threat from North Korea a country that can barely get their missiles off the ground, much less reach the U.S. its just the latest proof of how just how much tensions have worsened since Trump was elected president. While much of that is likely due to the ruthless and unhinged dictator running the show in North Korea, the U.S. presidents strategy in the region clearly isnt working. In one of his attempts to flex Americas muscle, the president claimed a U.S. naval fleet was headed for the Korean Peninsula, just to find out that not only wasnt that the case but the White House also lost track of said fleet for five days an international embarrassment, particularly at a time when the United States is trying to project strength and stability. More recently, the U.S. sent the USS Michigan to a South Korean port, another attempt by Trump to show American might while escalating tension in the region. The White House even sent Vice President Mike Pence to the region to stare over the North Korean border while wearing a cool leather jacket not a very intimidating sight. At the end of the day, none of these actions appear to be cooling down the situation in North Korea; in fact, its clear that the Trump is only making matters worse and further emboldening Kim Jong-un. There is more to foreign policy than showing off Americas ships. Hopefully, the commander-in-chief will soon realize that. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print A brutal first 100 days for President Trump, and it just got worse. In his Contract with American Voters, candidate Trump promised he would repeal and replace Obamacare in the first 100 days of his presidency. Thats not happening. And the public knows it. In January, 50% of the people thought Trump would repeal and replace Obamacare, according to a CNN/ORC poll. Its just 20% now. Three months ago, just before Donald Trump took office, about half of Americans said it was very likely that the new President, armed with a Republican majority in both houses of Congress, would repeal and replace the law known as Obamacare. Now, after multiple unsuccessful efforts to fulfill that campaign pledge, a new CNN/ORC poll finds just 20% say its very likely the President and Republicans in Congress will fulfill that promise. CNN reports on the poll. This explains why Donald Trump keeps blaming Democrats for his failures. He has no one else to blame except the people responsible- and that would be himself and the Republicans who are in charge of the House and Senate. There is no reason other than public opinion- why Republicans couldnt repeal and replace Obamacare. What happened was multiple hits from various corners putting pressure on Congressional Republicans, both from the people and various right wing special interest groups who werent happy with now failed Trumpcare, the replacement. Ultimately, though, Republicans couldnt pass Trumpcare because House conservatives blocked the Presidents bill. Trumps Gettysburg promise claimed, for example, that it would be the United States, not Mexico, paying for his proposed border wall. That is obviously not happening. Trump cant even get Republicans to fund his wall. He not only caved on Mexico paying for it, but caved on getting it funded by the US taxpayers. Many of Trumps promises, like his promise to get out of NAFTA on day one, he has multiple excuses for not doing yet, many of which look like fumbles as he and his entire team learn how government actually works. But he sold the people someone who didnt know anything about government, a non-politician, and that is what they got. Its just that Trump is actually worse than any politician out there with his broken promises, ineptitude, filling the swamp with his own friends and special interests, and wasting of taxpayer money. Watch here: Trump said his very specific promises were a contract between Donald J. Trump and the American voter. Contract broken. Just 20% think Trump will keep this huge promise to repeal and replace Obamacare not just a Trump promise, but the entire reason for the entire Republican Partys existence in Congress according to the last 7 years of their own rhetoric. Sad. He certainly wont be doing it in the first 100 days, as Congressional Republicans have already run screaming in the other direction. The good news is keeping Obamacare, even in its currently Republican-sabotaged form, is better for the majority of Americans, including the people who still dont know what it is and what it does. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is sounding the alarm that Donald Trump could be taking the United States into a nuclear war with North Korea. Video of Sen. Sanders on CBS This Morning: .@BernieSanders on North Korea: When you talk about a major, major conflict youre talking about a nuclear war. pic.twitter.com/WZ5TGgf8HY CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) April 28, 2017 Sanders said, When youre talking about a major, major conflict, what youre talking about is a nuclear war. Obviously, I think the goal now is to work as strongly as we can with China. China is, I think, receives about 80 percent of the exports from North Korea. They are in a position to tighten the screws on North Korea and tell them they cannot continue their missile program or their nuclear program. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump demonstrated an infatuation with using nuclear weapons. As a candidate, Trump refused to take using nuclear weapons off of the table. Experts are warning that a preemptive strike on N. Korea would provoke a catastrophic response. Just as voters should have paid attention to Trumps pro-nuclear weapons rhetoric during the campaign the American people should be paying close attention to Trumps threat of a major, major conflict. Bernie Sanders is trying to wake people up. There have been protests nearly every weekend since Donald Trump took office, but an urgent issue that has yet to be protested is the real potential for war in North Korea. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print People for the American Ways Right Wing Watch tells us that at the annual Washington A Man of Prayer event, held in Statuary Hall inside the U.S. Capitol, Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) prayed to his god to forgive America for the sins of Womens Reproductive Rights and Marriage Equality. Because what Weber wants to do is substitute his religious beliefs for our constitutionally-guaranteed right to choose, what the Texas Republican really did was beg his god to forgive us for following the United States Constitution as the law of the land rather than the Bible and the few cherry-picked commandments he thinks actually apply. The First Amendment of that Constitution, of course, says he cannot do that. The occasion was an appalling celebration of absurdity and complete ignorance on Webers part of his own Bibles stance on both marriage and abortion. Webers Bible doesnt mention anything about traditional marriage and his god ordered mass abortions of women in captured cities on repeated occasions. We are told that Modifying the Lords Prayer to declare that thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth here in the halls of Congress, Weber confessed the sins our nation has been so emboldened to embark upon and pleaded with God to forgive us. We have endeavored to try and kick your word out of public schools. Father, we have endeavored to take the Bible out of classrooms, the Ten Commandments off the walls. Oh, Lord, forgive us. Father, we think were so smart, we have replaced your word and your precepts with drug-sniffing dogs, with metal detectors, with uniformed police officers in our schools. Oh, Lord, forgive us. Apparently, Weber agrees with the Religious Rights spiritual head, David Lane, who infamously referred to the United States Constitution as the wrong train. You know, because the Constitution is a secular document and for purposes of U.S. law, supersedes the Bible Weber hasnt read but about which he likes to speak in gratuitous ignorance. He got all emotional talking about marriage: Father, we have trampled on your holy institution of holy matrimony and tried to rewrite what it is and weve called it an alternate lifestyle. Father, oh Father, please forgive us. Well, lets take a look at traditional marriage in the Bible: If he was all emotional before, he actually wept when he lied about what the Bible says about abortion: Lord, we have gone to killing the most innocent amongst us. Your servant Moses warned in Deuteronomy 19 for us to choose life so that we and all our descendants might live. Father, were killing our descendants and were calling it a choice. Oh, God in heaven, forgive us, please. Tears were certainly called for, but not for the reasons expressed by Weber. The Bibles stance on the pre-born is nothing less than appalling: I refer Weber to 2 Kings 15:16: He [Menahem, king of Israel] sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women. Speaking of killing the most innocent among us, I refer him also to Hosea 9:16: Yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb, and to Hosea 13:15-16, and this is God himself speaking now: I will have no compassionthe people of Samariawill fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground; their pregnant women ripped open. And to Numbers 31:17-18: Now, kill all the boys. And kill every women who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man. Obviously, some of those women who have slept with a man are going to be pregnant. Killing them will kill their fetuses. And of course, all post-born fetuses are also killed, except virgin girls, who will not remain virgins for long but will become rape victims and slaves. Oh, those family values. Now I dont know about you, but I dont think Webers Bible says what he thinks it says. Weber might want to flip that Bible open on occasion and actually read it, instead of cherry-picking passages to suit the needs of the moment. The United States Constitution that doesnt even mention a god any god is the law of the land, Randy. If you want to cry about something, cry about that. Photo: Screen grab, Right Wing Watch Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print By saying that the United States could be heading for a major, major conflict with North Korea, Trump sounded like a president who is itching to start a war. During an interview with Reuters, Trump said, There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely. Trump may have thought that this was more typically empty tough talk designed to enhance his negotiating position, but he took it a step beyond and added, Wed love to solve things diplomatically but its very difficult. For a president who says hes not going to telegraph what he is going to do, Trump just did some serious telegraphing. Remember, this is an administration that is attempting to cut 2,300 jobs from the State Department. Diplomacy is not Trumps priority. With his domestic policy failing, and his foreign policy non-existant, the last refuge for Trump to save his president is to become a war president. During the campaign, Trump committed to not getting the US into any wars in the Middle East, but he never said anything about North Korea. Trump is lusting for a conflict with North Korea. The Bush administration tried to out strongman the regime in North Korea, and it was a disaster. President Trump seems to be looking for more than tough talk. He wants to start a war. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print You have to wonder, as we approach 100 Days, what Donald Trump was thinking when he ran for president. Or if he was thinking at all. Apparently, he thought being president was going to be easier than his old life. You know, when he could only pretend to work. This eye-opener from former Missouri secretary of state Jason Kander tells the sordid tale: POTUS learned this morning that 2 soldiers had died in combat. Then he whined about having to work a lot, said he misses his "old life." pic.twitter.com/p9vEjnOPVr Jason Kander (@JasonKander) April 28, 2017 In perhaps the most revealing interview Donald Trump has given other than the unintelligible disaster with the AP Trump told Reuters, I loved my previous life. I had so many things going. This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier. As George Takei acerbically remarked, For real. Well never know why he thought it was going to be easy. Probably for the same reason he didnt know healthcare was complicated or that Abraham Lincoln was a Republican. It is impossible not to agree with former Guantanamo prosecutor Col. Morris Davis, who also offered a solution: Polls show that most Americans miss 5-Deferment Don living his old life, too and there is a win-win solution. @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/1duckDaq5Y Col. Morris Davis (@ColMorrisDavis) April 28, 2017 If serial draft dodger Donald Trumps deplorable attitude towards the death of two service members doesnt say enough, his attitude towards work says the rest. If Donald Trump thinks he is the only one who misses his old life, hes mistaken. The majority of Americans do, and wed be perfectly content if he were to choose to go back to it and leave the running of the country to adults. It is not the job, as Trump has learned to his cost, for a lazy, petulant man-child. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Cloudy. High 69F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Cloudy with occasional rain after midnight. Low 64F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. David Slade is a senior Post and Courier reporter. His work has been honored nationally by Society of Professional Journalists, American Society of Newspaper Editors, Scripps foundation and others. Reach him at 843-937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com Replicas of the Nina and the Pinta are docked at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina until May 9. The ships travel together as part of a sail Louis Morant won re-election to the Georgetown County Council's District 7 seat and Kathy Ferdon-Anderson won re-election to her at-large seat on the Georgetown County School District Board of Trustees, according to unofficial election results. Read moreGeorgetown Co. elections: Morant wins second term; Ferdon-Anderson, Cox win at-large Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, along with Isle of Palms Mayor Dick Cronin, Edisto Island Mayor Jane Darby and Sullivans Island Mayor Pat ONeil, held a press conference at the Maritime Center on Friday, April 28, 2017, to oppose President Donald Trump's executive order that could open the waters off South Carolina to offshore oil drilling. Brad Nettles/Staff Giving workers a raise, investing in new machinery. Small business owners have long wish lists to choose from if the Trump administration's plan to lower tax rates becomes law but most don't expect to go on a hiring binge. Some owners and small business groups hoped the dramatic cuts in corporate and personal taxes proposed Wednesday could mean more savings to invest in their businesses and more revenue coming in from consumers and businesses with some extra money to spend. Brian Hart, the sole owner of a public relations company in Philadelphia, said he would reinvest any tax savings into Flackable, but doesn't expect to have enough to hire employees. But lower tax rates could give his small business clients more money to spend on marketing, and that could mean expanding his staff down the road. "It could ease the tax burden on the companies we work with so they could hire a company like ours," Hart said. Under President Donald Trump's proposal, small businesses owners who pay their business taxes at personal tax rates would see their top rate go from 39.6 percent to the proposed corporate tax rate of 15 percent. Those owners are sole proprietors, partners or shareholders in what are called S corporations, or pass-through entities, which under the tax laws are intended to be small or mid-sized companies. ADVERTISEMENT Nearly 80 percent of businesses are pass-through entities, a survey by the National Small Business Association advocacy group found this year. The remaining companies also stand to get a break on their rates, which would fall to 15 percent from 35 percent. There are still many unknowns about the Trump proposal, in particular, what changes Congress might make to offset the drop in tax revenue that lower rates would likely bring. And owners aren't guaranteed a windfall. For one thing, many aren't earning enough to get a tax break of $30,000 to $50,000, enough to perhaps hire a new staffer. Many also are likely already at the lower tax rates, which means they may not benefit from the proposal, said Emilio Escandon, a certified public accountant with the firm MBAF in New York. He notes, for example, that the 15 percent rate applies to couples whose taxable income after all deductions and exemptions have been taken is $75,900, an amount that owners of very small companies typically might earn. A tax savings will help companies' cash flow, and some will indeed have money to put toward expansion, whether that means hiring workers or investing in equipment, Escandon said. Some owners might decide to pay down their companies' debt or put the money toward personal uses like funding children's college education, he said. Florist Rick McVey has a range of possibilities, not just from the prospect of lower taxes, but because he might get more business from customers who have more money. McVey, owner of Dilly Lily in Chicago, is considering paying his staff more, but might also put it back into the business. "I may be able to invest the money to buy some capital equipment," he said. Donna Sebusch, owner of Cookie Creations of Atlanta, was pondering similar options, saying lower taxes could give her the opportunity over time to perhaps buy more machines that she needs for the shop, hire more people, or give her staff raises. Dan Golden doesn't expect lower tax rates to dramatically change his company; he's focused on profits, not spending. ADVERTISEMENT "I honestly don't think we would do anything different in terms of hiring," says Golden, whose Chicago-based company, Be Found Online, helps businesses use internet searches and other online strategies to increase their sales. But Golden did say that some of any potential savings could go toward bigger bonuses for the company's 60 staffers. Some small business advocacy groups hoped the proposed changes bring relief to owners in the upper brackets, and in turn help their companies and the economy. "The general trend seems to be trying to lower the rates significantly to get business owners spending and buying again," said Brad Close, senior vice president for public policy with the National Federation of Independent Business. The National Small Business Association also liked the proposal but was wary about what will happen when it reaches Capitol Hill. "Look at what happened with the health care bill," said Molly Day, a spokeswoman for the group. "I don't know that there's going to be a lot of optimism that this is going to get done." Mark Tuscherer, whose company designs websites and apps, would like to use possible tax savings for a hire, but plans to wait and see how his business is doing if and when lower rates take effect. "It really depends on how busy we are and what our year is looking like," says Tuscherer, co-owner of Geeks Chicago. "It would be a big benefit, but I couldn't just jump in." ADVERTISEMENT I'm so happy that Jupiter is so bright and beautiful in the Rochester night skies this month because honestly, May is not one of my favorite months for stargazing. While you can stargaze in a lot more comfort, you also have to wait until late to get started with the much later sunsets. Along with that my favorites, the great winter constellations, have pretty much left our evening celestial dome. There are a few hold outs like Gemini the Twins and Auriga the Chariot Driver turned goat farmer still hanging in the western sky after evening twilight. The rest of them, Orion and his gang of bright shiners, have already taken their summer vacation from our evening skies and won't be returning until late autumn. That's because the nighttime side of the Earth is turning toward a different direction in space as our planet orbits the sun. By far the best celestial gem in the evening sky this month is Jupiter. It pops out in the low southeastern sky during evening twilight and is out pretty much all night, setting in the southwest a little before morning twilight. It's by far the brightest star-like object in the night this spring and will be most of this summer. In early April it was the closest it's been to Earth in three years, but this month it's just about as close. This week it's about 423 million miles away. Believe or not that's considered close for Jupiter. It's so bright in our sky because it's so big, with a diameter of 88,000 miles. It's by far the largest planet in our solar system. Our Earth's diameter is just over 8,000 miles. Through even a small telescope you can resolve the disk of the planet. You might even see some of Jupiter's cloud bands that stripe the planet. For sure you'll see up to four of Jupiter's brightest moons that appear as tiny "stars" on either side of Jupiter. If you stay up late the best time to view Jupiter through a telescope is after 11 p.m. After that it will be high enough in the sky to minimize the blurring effect of Earth's atmosphere closer to the horizon. The next brightest star-like object in the sky is actually a star just to the upper left of Jupiter in the east-southeast sky. It's Arcturus, the second brightest star we can see in the night sky through the course of the year. It's also the brightest star in the constellation Bootes that resembles a giant sideways kite with Arcturus at the tail. According to Greek mythology Bootes is supposed to be a farmer hunting down Ursa Major, the Big Bear. ADVERTISEMENT Speaking of which, if you face north and look overhead this month the Big Dipper will appear to be dumping out on top of you. The Big Dipper isn't officially a complete constellation, but the rear end and the tail of Ursa Major, the Big Bear. It's certainly the brightest part of the Big Bear. The Big Dipper is always upside down in the evening this time of year, and according to old American folklore that's why we have so much rain in the spring, and of course, mostly on the weekends! Elsewhere in the northern sky is the Little Dipper, lying on its handle, with the North Star Polaris at the end of the handle. Cassiopeia the Queen, the one that looks like the big W, is very low in the northwestern sky. This week we have a first quarter moon (half moon) in the evening sky. The full moon this month is a week from this Wednesday night. It's a wonderful sight, but it does get in the way of good stargazing. Actually the last half of May will be best for stargazing, with the moon pretty much out of the evening sky. Later on this summer we have a fantastic celestial happening. On Aug. 21 we'll have a total eclipse from coast to coast in a narrow strip that runs from Oregon to South Carolina. I've seen a total solar eclipse back in 1979 and believe me, if you have a chance to travel and see it do so! I guarantee it will be worth it! Around here it will be a deep partial eclipse with more than 80 percent of the sun's disk being covered by the moon. You need to wear specialized eclipse glasses to watch any partial eclipse. It's not safe staring at the sun without them. You could do great harm to your eyes. Safety first! LISBON (Reuters) - The European Central Bank has recommended that Portugal's Banco BPI (BBPI.LS) continue to reduce its exposure to Angola, which the bank expects to address over time, BPI Chief Executive Officer Pablo Forero said on Thursday. BPI, a unit of Spain's Caixabank (CABK.MC), has earlier this year given up control of its Angolan unit BFA to meet ECB requirements for risky exposure, but still holds a 49 percent stake. "We have an ECB recommendation to continue divesting, but it is not mandatory. It's a long-term task. We know we have to do something in the long run, but do not expect an easy and quick solution. We have to negotiate with BFA, but we do not expect a full withdrawal from Angola," Forero said. (Reporting By Sergio Goncalves, writing by Andrei Khalip) A Rochester man accused of assaulting an elderly woman in his care was acquitted in the case Tuesday. An Olmsted County District Court jury found Douglas Geoffrey Kolb, 34, not guilty of two counts of misdemeanor fifth-degree assault. An original count of fourth-degree assault of a vulnerable adult, a gross misdemeanor, was dismissed Monday, a day before the start of the trial. The alleged victim said a nurse later identified as Kolb was upset because she pushed her call button repeatedly. Kolb acknowledged he'd responded to the woman's room several times, and helped her into the bathroom. He said he may have adjusted her oxygen tube, but denied slapping her. ADVERTISEMENT The jury agreed, acquitting him in a one-day trial. Rochester police are investigating after a man said he was threatened by a man with a gun Wednesday night. The first call came in about 9:20 p.m., when a resident in the 900 block of 10 1/2 Street Southeast reported suspicious activity: Some people were cutting through back yards, the caller said. Moments later, a 25-year-old man also called law enforcement. He told officers as he left a residence in the area, he saw two men standing on the sidewalk outside the house. As he walked toward his vehicle, one of the men "began waving a gun, pointed it at him and threatened to 'spray him up,'" said Capt. John Sherwin. The victim ran back into the house and the men who'd been joined by a third man left the scene, possibly in a white car, the report says. ADVERTISEMENT Though there's no description of the man who allegedly had the gun, one of the other men was described as a black male, about 6 feet tall with a medium build, wearing a gray hoodie and tan pants. He was talking on his phone during most of the incident, Sherwin said. The third man was described as a black male, 5 feet 7 inches, with a slender build. He was also wearing a gray hoodie, and black pants, the report says. AUSTIN More than 250 students from Austin public schools are heading to prom this weekend. Nobody wants to lose one. Second- and third-graders at Banfield and Neveln Elementary Schools picked up pencils Thursday to write letters to their older classmates, asking them to be safe. Rather than a mock crash to remind high-schoolers of the dangers of distracted driving, the letters are part of the new Positive Community Norms method the district uses to reduce illegal substance use. "Our students enjoyed writing messages to their high-school counterparts," said Dewey Schara, Neveln principal. "This year, we decided to focus on the positives of being safe." Each student attending prom will receive a special message written by an elementary school student on prom night. The messages remind them to be safe.One letter asked the prom-goer to bring a first aid kit just in case they break a bone while dancing and to be respectful. Among the letters are hand drawn pictures for their new high school friends, said Bill Spitzer, PCN coordinator. No guts or blood area needed to make a strong meaning clear: they care. ADVERTISEMENT "The message is simple, let's have fun, but make smart and safe choices," Spitzer said. "Our goal is to highlight the positive." A Rochester medical software start-up with deep ties to Mayo Clinicrecently wrapped up a $5.4 million round of funding to expand its sales and product development. Ambient Clinical Analytics, founded in 2013, makes analytical software that helps physicians make decisions about patient treatment in emergency room and intensive care situations. It licenses the core of the AWARE software from Mayo Clinic, describes it as "a clinical decision support tool." Ambient CEO Al Berningsaid this latest infusion will help the growing firm "scale" up its activities. "Our plan is to add five to 10 people over the next year to drive sales and serve customers. The majority of that staffing will be based here," he said. ADVERTISEMENT The company, which now has 10 on staff, is based in the Mayo Clinic Business Acceleratorin the Minnesota Biobusiness Centerin downtown Rochester. "If we hit our growth goals, we expect to need space somewhere outside of here (the accelerator) within the next year," said Berning. Things are now all lined up for Ambient to pick up speed. The FDA gave 510(k) clearance for Ambient's AWARE software platform as a Class 2 device in April 2015. Recently, Ambient worked out a deal to collaborate on AWARE with medical giant Phillips Healthcare's IntelliSpace Console Critical Care product. "We're on track for what we'd expect for a company at this stage." he said. "External customers are in process of being installed now." Berning is known in Rochester as a former IBMer, a co-founder of Pemstarand former CEO of Hardcore Computers/LiquidCool Solutions. He says the current trend of hospitals adopting Lean Quality and Six Sigma initiative, like technology companies did in previous decades. "Our tools fit perfectly in supporting those type of programs and we've demonstrated that it's worked at Mayo," he said. The company has also started partnering with two health care-focused venture capital firms, Waterline Venturesof Cambridge, Mass. and Bluestem Capitalof Sioux Falls, South Dakota. "Mayo Clinics' extensive research and Ambient's ability to support FDA Class II clearance and launch products to the market is a powerful combination," stated Tyler Stowater,partner and vice president of Bluestem. ADVERTISEMENT Robbie Greenglass, managing director of Waterline Ventures, serves on Ambient's board of directors Prior to the Series A funding round, Ambient Clinical received $2.9 million in seed funding from Mayo Clinic, Rochester Area Economic Development Inc., Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Social Capital, Rock Health, Gopher Angelsand angel investors. The seed funding was converted to Series A preferred stock at the closing. - Jeff Kiger The shortage was worse than expected. A study commissioned by Families First of Minnesota and United Way of Olmsted County found that Olmsted County was 1,855 short of the expected capacity of 6,700 full-time care slots available. In Olmsted County, the number of family-care providers dropped from 502 in 2012 to 376 in 2017. On the other hand, there's been an increase in the number of centers offering full-time programs, rising from 30 in 2012 to 33 last year. Still, supply is not meeting demand, said Jon Losness, executive director of Families First of Minnesota, and Jerome Ferson, president and CEO of United Way of Olmsted County. ADVERTISEMENT "We can't ignore the fact that there is a shortage," Ferson said. "This issue is pressing for parents in the workforce today." Destination Medical Center is expected to expand the workforce, and Losness and Ferson noted that child care needs to be part of the discussion. Employers, they said, must be willing to be flexible for the workers they hopeto hire. "We want DMC to be successful," Losness said," and this is one piece of addressing the issue." Cost is also an issue. Infant care in Olmsted County averages $169 per week. The average cost for infant care at a center is around $303 per week, while toddler rates average $160 a week in a family setting, and $271 in a center. The median family income in Olmsted County is about $68,000. That means a typical family with an infant and toddler would need to pay around 44 percent of their gross annual income for child care if both children were in a center. Even in a family setting, the family would need to use 25 percent of their gross annual income to cover child care, according to Losness, or around $17,160 per year. "This is a workforce-related issue, and there's a demand for workers," Ferson said, "but there are workers sitting on the sidelines that can't join because of child care they can't afford or find." There are 34 child-care centers in Olmsted County and they employ about 700 workers. There are also 374 family child-care providers. If these caregivers were under a single employer, they'd be considered a top 10 employer in Olmsted County. ADVERTISEMENT Nationally, most child-care workers are women whose average age is 36, the median hourly wage for workers is $9.77 Rochester's McDonald's and Panera offer $11 for a starting wage and the annual wage is $20,780 for full-time work, and about 60 percent of the child-care workforce is full time. Also, the median annual wage for child care directors is $45,670, but 10 percent make less than $29,000, according to Child Care Aware of America. What can they do? Several approaches to the declining numbers of child-care supply were introduced. Among them: Ensuring child care licensors provide a consistent method for reviewing child care providers and addressing concerns Recognition from the business community that the child care shortage is a workforce issue that they must share in addressing such as contributions to child care accounts, flexible work schedules to address demands, and support for legislation that makes affordable child care and entices more people to enter the business. Develop training and mentoring systems to ensure new providers get the tools necessary to start and grow their businesses successfully Provide access to affordable ongoing training for providers ADVERTISEMENT Alert providers and potential providers to the relatively new financial incentives available to them. Minnesota offers $1,000 to child care providers as an incentive to improve the quality of their program and the education they offer to children in their care. On July 1, the state will offer $2,500 for programs attaining 1-, 2-. and 3-start levels in the Parent Aware rating program. Legislative action, including the move toward the 'fix it ticket' plan for minor offenses by providers, increasing state Child Care Assistance Rates, which are currently pegged at 25 percent of the 2011 market rate since no providers in this region will take CCAP as full payment for child care and increasing Basic Sliding Fee child care so more families are eligible. 'Good things will come' Ferson said that the numbers, while concerning, highlight the need for more immediate action and attention from market forces. "It's hopefully the start of something, and hopefully not the end of something," Ferson said. "We're encouraged. ... good things will come." ST. PAUL Minnesota dairy farmers affected by the Grassland Dairy Products decision to no longer sell to Canada are out of the woods for now. According to Minnesota Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Margaret Hart, Wisconsin-based Grassland will continue taking milk from 10 Minnesota farms who had previously been selling to them, but the milk will be sold to Canada-based company Agropur for processing. Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Matthew Wohlman confirmed this agreement, Hart said. Minnesota Milk Producers Association executive director Lucas Sjostrom, of Brooten, explained that "the easiest thing was for Grassland to keep (the producers) in their system and then sell it right to Agropur. Grassland's helping facilitate it." The agreement helps the producers who had been oversaturated with milk after the Canadian government changed its rules for importing ultrafiltered milk, leaving many processors in Wisconsin, Minnesota and New York without markets. Grassland had told its producers that it would stop accepting milk on May 1. The policy change was made official in February. ADVERTISEMENT Minnesota Rep. Tim Walz issued a statement on the new agreement. "Minnesota dairy farmers affected by this agreement can finally sleep soundly again knowing they no longer have to worry about how to keep their doors open come May 1," Walz said. "Going forward, I will continue to fight for our Minnesota producers by pushing this Administration to fully enforce our current trade agreements and hold our international trade partners accountable." Sjostrom said the situation made it clear that more processing space is needed here. "We need more processing capacity in the state of Minnesota, and we need to give our processors signal they can expand, but they don't have that," he said. Sjostrom said many processors worked hard to find space for the surplus milk. Two ended up being able to take on more customers Dairy Farmers of America and Wapsie Valley Creamery of Independence, Iowa. One local farm affected was Emerald Spring in Plainview, operated by Rita and Maurice Young. They spoke to the Post Bulletin about the situation last week and will have their milk purchased by Agropur. Sjostrom and Minnesota Milk chairman Dave Buck, who is from Goodhue, both expressed gratitude toward the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for working to connect producers and processors. ADVERTISEMENT Friday is Arbor Day. Similar to previous observances, the day and following weekend will find people with shovels in hand, ready to add to the region's population of trees. Here are some things to know, if you're ready to be among them: 1. Why plant a tree? The benefits are many, according to Gary Johnson, a University of Minnesota professor specializing in Urban and Community Forestry . ADVERTISEMENT Trees become community assets by helping lower utility bills, contributing to real estate values, improving water quality and reducing water runoff and shading our streets. A national tree benefits calculator www.treebenefits.com helps define the annual benefits of a single tree. 2. How can you get the most out of a new tree? Trees become liabilities when they must be removed before the end of their normal lifespans or suddenly fail in a normal wind storm, which makes proper planting key. To ensure a tree becomes an asset that remains in good health for decades, make sure to select the right tree for the right location, plant it properly and care for it regularly. 3. How do you pick the right tree? Johnson suggests testing the soil alkalinity or acidity before choosing a tree species. Certain trees do better in either extreme. Bur oaks do well in alkaline soils; river birches don't. When it comes to planting in a boulevard or near a city street, Rochester City Forester Jeff Haberman notes selection of tree type goes beyond soil testing and homeowner choice. Trees planted within the right-of-way become city property, and restrictions are in play. With that in mind, smaller trees such as ironwood work best under utility lines and trees with low branches such as pines should be avoided near intersections. ADVERTISEMENT The city's forestry office can provide a detailed list of approved boulevard trees as well as a required planting permit. The planting permit allows the office to update the city's census and make sure new plantings are in line with established tree diversity goals. 4. What's the best way to plant a tree? The most basic guideline for planting is to remember a tree's first, main roots should be within an inch of the soil's surface. Planting too deep can kill a tree, and planting too shallow can make it unsteady as it grows. Once planted, it's important to provide water and protection. Five gallons of water, twice a week is required for most new trees, and about an hour per week with a slow trickling hose will help mature trees during dry spells. Some sort of guard, such as chicken wire, should be considered for new trees to protect their thin outer bark. 5. When should a tree be pruned? Johnson suggests pruning regularly when trees are young, noting the first 15 years are critical. Train up only one main leader and remove all weakly attached branches when they are small. Older trees only should be pruned to remove dead or damaged branches. The best time of year to prune a tree can vary by species, but Haberman suggests leaving oak, dutch elm and ash trees alone during periods when activity can spread disease and infestations that already are damaging their local populations. ADVERTISEMENT For oaks, avoid pruning until at least July 15 to avoid spreading oak wilt, and dutch elms should be left alone until Oct. 15 to avoid damage from the disease that carries its name. Because emerald ash borers are starting to emerge for the summer, ash trees should not be pruned until September, because the activity can scatter the invasive insects. 6. Where can people help plant trees? Rochester's parks department is working with RNeighbors to hold a community tree planting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Starting at the west entrance of Quarry Hill Park, near the intersection of Ninth Street Northeast and 19th Avenue, volunteers will plant 250 trees of varying species throughout the morning. 7. What's there to do on Arbor Day? Rochester Public Utilities is planning an Arbor Day celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday near the Three Links shelter in Silver Lake Park, 840 Seventh St. NE. The free event will feature food, activities and live music, as well as free trees. 8. How can someone become a tree steward? Arbor Day isn't the end of tree-centered activity in Minnesota. The state is unique in naming the entire month of May as Arbor Month, which began in 1978. Thanks to a Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources grant, Rochester is a tree steward class early in Arbor Month. The May 6 training is from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Silver Lake Fire Station and will provide volunteers with a wealth of knowledge related to caring for trees. Registration is available online at www.mntreesource.com/rochester-mn.html. FILE PHOTO: A logo for mining company BHP Billiton adorns a sign outside the Perth Convention Centre where their annual general meeting was being held in Perth, Western Australia, November 19, 2015. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo By Fabian Cambero SANTIAGO (Reuters) - BHP Billiton (BLT.L) (BHP.AX) is advancing with the sale of its small Cerro Colorado copper mine in Chile as a number of interested parties have emerged, although a final deal will likely take some months, the mine's union said on Thursday. BHP management updated union leaders on the planned sale of the mine this week, ahead of planned visits to the deposit by potential buyers, union leader Marcelo Franco said in an interview. BHP declined to comment. Cerro Colorado produced 74,000 tonnes of copper last year out of top exporter Chile's total 5.5 million. Located in the extreme north of the country's copper belt, it has government approval to operate until 2023 but that could be extended. "(The sale) is already pretty well advanced, but they said it could last some months," said Franco, adding that he did not know the identity of the interested parties. Banking sources have named Chile's Empresas Copec SA (COP.SN), a conglomerate that has voiced interest in diversifying into copper, and Canadian companies such as Lundin Mining Corp (LUN.TO), as possible buyers. Franco said the union has a positive attitude towards a future deal as workers' benefits were legally assured and it felt BHP was more focussed on larger Chilean assets Spence and Escondida, the world's biggest copper mine. Citibank is advising BHP on the sale. (Additional reporting by Clara Denina in London; Writing by Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Jeffrey Benkoe) Theres a lot of concern these days about hackers and other bad actors interfering with critical infrastructure. And it is important to protect against and plan for that possibility. But the fact is that its not hackers and terrorists that are the biggest threats to the power grid. Rather, it is squirrels and then birds. Birds are responsible for nearly a quarter of outages in the U.S., according to a December 2015 report by T&D World, an online publication that covers matters relating to the electric power-delivery system. A bird was blamed for a widespread power outage in Watertown, South Dakota, earlier this week. A bird in a transformer took out power to businesses, including at least one heathcare provider; government departments, including the Watertown Police Department; schools; traffic signals; and residents in the area. Many were without power for about an hour. The outage lasted about two hours for others. Classes continued for schools within the Watertown School District. But the outage made for an unusually dark and unplugged experience for students and teachers. Sometimes things like this just remind us of how dependent we have become on internet and technology, but we still had a day of learning, Superintendent Lesli Jutting was quoted by Watertown Public Opinion as saying. Sometimes bird-related outages happen when birds fly into power equipment. Cranes, herons, pelicans, and swans which have heavy bodies, large wingspans, and not as much agility as other birds are often the culprits. Ducks, which fly in flocks and at low altitudes because of their high flight speed, are also frequently the source of power outages. But bird-related power outages are not always the result of these animals flying into equipment. Outages can also occur due to bird excrement, nesting, and attracting predators. In fact, bird excrement is such a big problem related to power outages, that the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has done entire studies on this topic. They say you cant fight Mother Nature. But you can create a backup plan for when she strikes. That includes putting a power protection system in place to avoid damage, loss of data, and to ensure operational continuity at your home, business, or other organization. Edited by Alicia Young The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, has opened the process for a comprehensive independent audit of the Nigerian oil and gas sector for 2015 and 2016. The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Waziri Adio, disclosed this in Lagos at a workshop for major oil companies and relevant government agencies expected to participate in the exercise. Mr. Adio said the independent audit exercise would be conducted in line with the principles and standards of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI. He said the workshop was packaged to acquaint the participants with the structure and content of the auditing template, particularly the kinds of questions NEITI would ask and the answers expected from the covered entities. The workshop, which featured presentations on the EITI processes, methods, principles and standards, also covered emerging issues on beneficial ownership, contract transparency and benefits of implementing EITI in Nigeria. This workshop is to seek your views, suggestions and inputs as well as listen to your concerns on how to make the exercise hitch-free, Mr. Adio said. The Executive Secretary announced that NEITI would introduce a ranking reward system to provide incentives for participation by covered entities. Under the ranking system, Mr. Adio said, companies would be graded based on their efficiency in populating the audit templates, including the quality and depth of information and data provided, quick response to set deadlines, among other considerations. He further explained that the ranking system would be shared with over 51 member countries of the global EITI and multi-lateral organisations to serve as reference points on adherence to business ethics for major investment decisions in Nigeria. NEITI is committed to working closely with the companies under the EITI framework to create good business environment conducive for the inflow of more foreign direct investments into the extractive sector. For this to happen, we encourage all companies to embrace transparency, accountability and corporate governance in conformity with the EITI standards, he said. Mr. Adio, however, warned that the transparency agency would not hesitate to invoke relevant sanctions under the law on companies and other covered entities that fail to cooperate during the exercise. Representatives of all the major international oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria, including Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Agip, Total and were at the workshop. Also in attendance were relevant government agencies such as the NNPC, the FIRS, DPR, NDDC, NLNG etc. The event was also attended by a cross section of the media and the civil society. While reviewing the templates, the representatives of the respective companies welcomed the objective of the workshop, describing it as a fundamental step in building partnerships and trust with NEITI in the execution of its mandate. They urged NEITI to note their observations and the issues raised at the workshop, to ensure the reviewed template suited the peculiar operations of the diverse covered entities slated to participate in the process. The NEITI spokesperson, Ogbonnaya Orji, said the agency had already commenced distribution of the templates to participating companies and government agencies. He said all populated templates with the required information and data were expected to be returned to NEITI on or before May 31, 2017. NEITI is expected to conclude the independent audit and make its findings public by the end of the year. The independent audit of the oil and gas sector by NEITI for the period 2015 and 2016 will examine the fiscal, physical and process issues from, within and among the companies and relevant government agencies, Mr. Orji said. He said the audit would, therefore, undertake special verification and validation of information and data on the payments made by the companies to government entities as well as government receipts. Other areas the audit would cover include quantities and volumes of crude produced, balances payable or receivable on certain financial transactions, taxes, royalties on project by project basis, social contributions and investment flows. The overall goal is to ascertain if the fiscal, physical and process transactions in the oil and gas sector during the period under review were in line with the transparency and accountability standards as well as the principles of the global extractive industries transparency initiative which NEITI is implementing in Nigeria, Mr. Orji said. Share this: Twitter Facebook U.S. President Donald Trumps suggestion that South Korea could pay for an advanced U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, THAAD, system could test the strength of the alliance between Seoul and Washington, analysts said on Friday. In an exclusive interview, Trump told Reuters on Thursday that he wants South Korea to pay for the one billion dollars THAAD system. The remarks come as South Korea heads into a presidential election that will likely elect liberal front-runner Moon Jae-in, who has said the next administration in Seoul should have the final say on the deployment of THAAD. Moons campaign office said the deployment of THAAD should be immediately suspended until then. This almost certainly will become another self-inflicted wound for the alliance and for U.S. foreign policy, said Daniel Pinkston, a Troy University professor and expert on North and South Korea based in Seoul. Moon, who said in a book published in January that South Korea should learn to say no to Americans, is leading polls by a wide margin ahead of South Koreas May 9 election to replace impeached former President Park Geun-hye. Parks government agreed with Washington in 2016 to deploy the THAAD. If elected, Moon would end nearly a decade of conservative rule in South Korea, which has regarded the alliance with the United States dating back to the 1950 to 1953 Korean War as a cornerstone of its defence against the threat of North Korea. Moon advocates dialogue with North Korea and has criticised the conservative government and its hawkish stance for failing to stop Pyongyangs weapons development. The Trump administration said on Wednesday it wanted to push North Korea into dismantling its nuclear and missile programmes through tougher international sanctions and diplomatic pressure but remained open to negotiations to bring that about. Kim Ki-jung, a top foreign policy adviser to Moon, said the suggestion that South Korea pay for the system was an impossible option. Even if we purchase THAAD, its main operation would be in the hands of the United States, said Kim. So, purchasing it would be an impossible option. South Korea has never considered buying the system, partly because the cost involved was deemed prohibitive. Some liberal politicians have argued South Korea should develop its own indigenous missile defence system. THAADs job is to intercept and destroy a ballistic missile in its final phase of flight. A battery comprises four parts: the truck-mounted launcher, eight anti-missile interceptor missiles, a radar system and a fire control system connecting it to U.S. military commanders. Seoul said the decision to deploy THAAD was ultimately a military decision taken by the United States. Hes using THAAD as a guinea pig to test the relationship, said Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Kyungnam Universitys Institute of Far Eastern Studies in Seoul. Trump seems to be testing South Koreas commitment to the Korea-U.S. alliance. I wonder if Trumps saying this because he already thinks Moon will win, Kim added. In an interview with Reuters, Trump also said he will either renegotiate or terminate what he called a horrible free trade deal with South Korea. A second top foreign policy adviser to Moon said Trumps comments about the cost of THAAD poses fundamental questions about where the alliance may be headed. This is a new dimension, said Chung Eui-yong, a former South Korean ambassador to Geneva who leads a team of foreign policy advisers for Moon. Our position has been that we should review THAAD even if we are not paying for it, but his comments on the cost have changed the fundamental aspect of this issue, Chung told Reuters. We will have to choose what is best for our national interests. The U.S. military started deploying THAAD in early March, in spite of strong opposition from China, which says the systems radar can be used to spy into its territory. The deployment also sparked protests from residents in Seonjgu in the southeast, where the system is being deployed, and prompted a North Korean warning of retaliation. China has imposed some restrictions on South Korean companies in China, which many in South Korea perceive as retaliation for deployment of the missile system. Under the Status of Forces Agreement, which lays out conditions under which U.S. forces are stationed in Korea, the two countries should mutually agree if South Korea wants to take back the land which has been allocated to the U.S. military for the deployment of THAAD. South Korea said on Wednesday major elements of the system have been moved into the site and it would be fully operational by the end of this year. (Reuters/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook Nigerias internal secret service, the State Security Service (SSS), is enmeshed in a recruitment scandal following the exposure of a shocking lopsidedness in the composition of the new officers recently absorbed into the agency. The agency commissioned 479 cadet officers after their passing-out parade in Lagos on March 5, at a ceremony attended by the Director-General of the Agency, Lawal Daura, and the Chief of Air Staff, Abubakar Sadique (air marshall). The parade followed a nine-month training programme under the agencys Basic Course 29/2016/17, which encompassed academic activities, insurgency/counter insurgency, intelligence operations and gathering, firearms drills and physical training exercises. But the listing of the newly commissioned cadet officers seen by PREMIUM TIMES reveal wide disparity in the numbers of slots allocated to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, indicating that the federal character principle may have been ignored in the recruitment of the officers. Officially, recruitment for the Course was based on a minimum of five slots per state. Ostensibly to ensure compliance with the federal character principle in the exercise, applicants were last year made to sit for recruitment examinations in the capitals of their states of origin. The five slots per state were said to have been picked through the examinations. However, it has emerged that the authorities paid scant regards to the federal character principle in the final selection of the cadets. Although the authorities ensured that at least five cadets were recruited from each state and the FCT, they grotesquely tipped the scale in favour of some states in the balance of recruits that emerged from other extraneous considerations. For instance, while only the minimum of five cadets stipulated per state finally entered the Service from Akwa Ibom, Nigerias largest oil producing state, a whopping 51 found their way in from Katsina State, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Director-General of the SSS, Mr. Daura. It is not clear what criteria was used in the composition of the final list of the new officers. The anomaly in the exercise is further evident in the disparity between intakes from the two most populous states in Nigeria, Kano and Lagos, which have 25 and seven, respectively, indicating that the size of the pool of applicants from each state was not a factor in the recruitment. A breakdown of the newly commissioned cadet officers on geo-political basis revealed that 165 are from the North-west, about four times as many as those who were picked from the South-south (42). The figures for the other other zones are North-east 100, North-central 66, South-west 57 and South-east 44. This means that while 331 of the newly commissioned officers are from the 19 northern states and the FCT, less than half of the total intakes were from states in the southern part of Nigeria. See table and charts below for slots allocated to each state. Attempts to speak with the SSS on the criteria used for the allocation of slots to states were not rewarded as at the time of this publication. The agency has had no spokesperson since the removal of its last one, Marilyn Ogar, in 2015. The Director-General of the agency, Mr. Daura, did not pick calls or respond to a text message sent to his known telephone numbers. Also, the Acting Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Shettima Bukar-Abba, did not pick his calls or respond to a message seeking clarifications on the role played by the commission in the recruitment exercise. The Commission has the responsibility of ensuring compliance with the federal character principle in recruitment into the federal civil service and agencies. In demonstration of the importance attached to the principle, it has been enshrined in every constitution of Nigeria since the countrys independence. Section 14, subsection 3 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria states that: The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such manner to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or sectional groups in that government or any of its agencies. - STATES Number Employed Abia 7 Adamawa 19 Akwa Ibom 5 Anambra 10 Bauchi 23 Bayelsa 7 Benue 9 Borno 16 Cross River 9 Delta 8 Ebonyi 7 Edo 6 Ekiti 12 Enugu 9 FCT 7 Gombe 14 Imo 11 Jigawa 14 Kaduna 24 Kano 25 Katsina 51 Kebbi 16 Kogi 11 Kwara 13 Lagos 7 Nassarawa 11 Niger 11 Ogun 8 Ondo 9 Osun 10 Oyo 11 Plateau 9 Rivers 7 Sokoto 15 Taraba 16 Yobe 12 Zamfara 20 Share this: Twitter Facebook The leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, a separatist group in South-eastern Nigeria, Nnamdi Kanu, has perfected his bail conditions, his lawyer and senators from the South-east have told PREMIUM TIMES. The Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Tuesday admitted Mr. Kanu to bail on health grounds, but gave seemingly tough conditions, which included having a highly respected Jewish leader, a senior highly placed person of Igbo extraction such as a senator; and a highly respected person who owns landed property and is resident in Abuja as sureties. Nnamdi Kanus bail has been perfected, said his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Friday afternoon. Nnamdi Kanu has met his bail conditions. Asked if his client, who is being tried by the Federal Government for treasonable felony, had regained his freedom, Mr. Ejiofor, speaking on phone and apparently attending to something important, withheld further comments but promised to call back for details. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that South-east senators, Thursday night, met at the Apo, Abuja, residence of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, where they resolved to help Mr. Kanu perfect his bail. One of Eyinnaya Abaribe and Theodore Orji was asked to stand as surety in fulfilment of the conditions to produce a respected Igbo leader. A source knowledgeable about the meeting disclosed that: First, the caucus agreed to work as a team to secure Kanus release. It was agreed that the leader of the caucus and senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe or the senator representing the IPOB leaders Abia Central Senatorial District, Senator Theodore Orji, should take him on bail. The source said the senators made contact with Mr. Kanus lawyer, Mr. Ejiofor, last night, soon after they agreed to help the IPOB leader secure bail. The source added that efforts were being dissipated towards ensuring the IPOB leader regained his freedom on Friday, and expressed confidence that other conditions, especially one on the Jewish surety, would be perfected. Mr. Kanu was first arrested on October 14, 2015 by the operatives of the State Security Service. Share this: Twitter Facebook About one week after protesters attacked lawmakers and other public officials at a political event in Katsina, another lawmaker has been attacked. Protesters on Sunday disrupted a political gathering convened by a member of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Gololo (APC-Bauchi), in his ancestral Gololo village of Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Mr. Gololo, who is the representative for the Gamawa federal constituency, was pelted with stones at the event organized by the lawmaker to distribute empowerment materials to his supporters. His vehicle was damaged in the process as security operatives whisked him away, witnesses said. A witness told PREMIUM TIMES that the windscreen of the car of the federal lawmaker was smashed by the angry youth who reportedly marched from the scene to his house to continue the attack. Pictures obtained by PREMIUM TIMES show damages to parts of the house. Luckily for Mr. Gololo, he and members of his family were said to have fled the house before the arrival of the mob. Efforts by our reporter to speak with the lawmaker over the incident was not successful, as repeated calls to his phone lines were diverted. A member of his family who confirmed the attack on Mr. Gololos house, however, denied that it was by a mob. He attributed the damage to burglary, saying thieves had broken into Mr. Gololos old residence. The assailants reportedly carted away personal belongings of the representative during the attack. An indigene of Gamawa Local Government Area, who identified himself simply as Salisu, said he was at Gololo village at the time of the incident. Mr. Salisu accused political opponents of instigating the protesters against the lawmaker, saying Mr. Gololo was saved from being lynched by his military guards. Various organisations had last year written public petitions accusing Mr. Gololo of abandoning his constituents while living a life of opulence in Abuja. According to the petition written in both English and Hausa languages, the last time Mr. Gololo was sighted in his constituency was about six months before the attack. One of the organizations, Muryar Talaka (Voice of the Masses), told PREMIUM TIMES that it joined in writing the petition because its members were in the lawmakers campaign team and were worried by his alleged lack of proper representation. A member of another youth organization involved in the petition, Gamawa Youth Mobilization Forum, also explained what prompted the action. All attempts have been made to invite Honourable Mohammed to come to his constituency for a meeting, so that he will understand why people are not happy with him. Unfortunately, he refused, saying the youth should send a delegation to meet him in Kano, Kaduna or Abuja. The groups said they were further incensed when Mr. Gololo was named in the allegation of sexual harassment in the United States of America. The American Embassy in Nigeria had written the House of Representatives last year to allege that three lawmakers on an official assignment in the U.S. sexually harassed a hotel staff or were caught soliciting for prostitutes. The House, however, absolved the members when the embassy declined to send a representative to the House to substantiate the allegation. Mr. Gololos constituents also accused him of not demonstrating loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari. Another source told PREMIUM TIMES that the lawmaker had refused to attend a meeting called over the various issues in his hometown, Gololo, until a youth corps member serving in Abuja paid a visit to his office and advised him to learn from other members who always attend to the needs of their constituencies. Mai Zanen Gololo, the presenter of a popular Hausa radio programme, Zabi Son Ka, described the attack as unfortunate. He confirmed that Mr. Gololos residence was ransacked. All the property, including television, refrigerator, windows, in fact anything handy, have been taken away. Trouble started when it was time to start distribution of sewing machines. Gololo and the security around advised that the items be distributed at the police station. The items were later taken away to Gamawa. When the security took the remaining items to Gololos house, these youth forced their way into the house, carted away a number of sewing machines and all properties in the house. The situation was so mad that someone tried to remove the main gate of the house, but was chased away by the security. When asked if the lawmaker truly abandoned his constituency, he said it was not true. You know, if you dont distribute money, people will say you are not attending to their needs. Though I may not know when he comes, because when he comes I dont pay him a visit. But he did some culverts in this town and some other minor projects. He assists also. The presenter also said the house vandalised is not the old house as some people were saying. It is his new house where he resides whenever he was in town. I went there and saw how it was vandalized like in a war situation. In a separate interview, another witness who identified himself as Adamu, said the assailants even removed ceilings and woods from the roof of the house. He said until the incident, Mr. Gololo was last seen in his hometown during the last Sallah celebration, about seven months ago. When I saw the situation go out of control, I had to run away for fear of being arrested, as I had nothing to do with that unfortunate incident. A resident confirmed that at least four youth from Gololo have been arrested since the incident and taken to neighbouring Bauchi State. Share this: Twitter Facebook FILE PHOTO -- Bombardier's C Series aircrafts are assembled in their plant in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada April 29, 2016. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi/File Photo By Allison Lampert and Alwyn Scott MONTREAL/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Canada's Bombardier Inc (BBDb.TO) hit back on Friday at rival U.S. planemaker Boeing Co's (BA.N) claim that it sold jets well below cost to win market share in the United States, the latest sign of increasing trade tensions between the two countries. The risk of the United States imposing a tariff, which would likely depress sales of Bombardier's newest jet, and concern over how big that tariff might be, unsettled investors, sending the Canadian company's shares down just over 4 percent. Boeing wants the U.S. government to investigate what it describes as rock-bottom prices for Bombardier's new CSeries aircraft, including an "absurdly low" sum of $19.6 million it says Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N) paid for a jet costing $33 million to build. "The allegation is absurd," Bombardier spokesman Bryan Tucker said, in response to numbers contained in a petition sent to the U.S. Commerce Department by Boeing on Thursday. The spat comes days after Washington imposed duties averaging 20 percent on imports of Canadian softwood lumber, prompting claims in Canada that Boeing was taking advantage of the Trump administration's tougher stance on trade. Boeing spokesman Dan Curran said the filing against Bombardier was "an initiative we chose to take ourselves". He declined to say whether Boeing also planned to ask the United States to pursue Canada through the World Trade Organization, as it has against European rival Airbus. (AIR.PA) Domestic cases, where companies can petition for duties on specific products, typically take around a year. That is much quicker than a 13-year-old transatlantic battle on jetliner subsidies at the WTO, an international forum open only to nations. Planemakers "often sell below costs to break into a new market or with a new product, particularly if it involves a significant launch customer," said U.S.-based trade policy expert Joel Johnson. Such tactics cause long-term harm by creating momentum that rivals find hard to reverse, Boeing's petition said, although industry analysts say Boeing and Airbus both regularly offer discounts of 50 percent or more. Story continues Boeing has said it competed for last year's Delta order against the CSeries CS100 with used 717s, which it no longer makes, and used jets from Brazil's Embraer (EMBR3.SA), since Delta was only ready to pay a low price and wanted smaller jets than its more modern 737. But it said Bombardier's actions could upset the wider market and erode future sales of its best-selling 737. Still, its complaint puzzled some analysts and trade lawyers, since Canada is in talks to sign a deal later this year or in early 2018 to acquire 18 Boeing fighter jets. "It's certainly the right political climate for a trade complaint. But I'm not sure this is the best idea," said aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia. Canada has rejected Boeing's accusations and says the CSeries uses many U.S. parts and generates thousands of U.S. jobs. Around half of the 110 to 130 seat CSeries is made in the United States, including the engine, cockpit control panels and avionics. Trade experts say an investigation could result in Delta and other buyers having to pay extra duties on future deliveries, effectively raising the price but not benefiting Bombardier. Canadian trade lawyer Mark Warner said Canada could challenge final decisions at the WTO or through NAFTA. Delta did not respond to requests for comment. (Additional reporting by Fergal Smith in Toronto, David Ljunggren in Ottawa, Brad Haynes in Sao Paulo and Tim Hepher in Paris.; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Tom Brown and Bill Rigby) The leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has been released from Kuje prison. Mr. Kanu was arrested in October 2015 following allegations of treasonable felony by the federal government. He was held in the custody of the State Security Service till the ruling in January 2016 when the Federal High Court ordered that the detained Biafra agitator be kept in prison custody. Since his detention, Mr. Kanu has made various applications for bail which were refused by the different judges handling the matter. He was, however, granted bail on Wednesday by Justice Binta Nyako On Friday, Mr. Kanus lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told PREMIUM TIMES that his client had fulfilled the bail conditions given to him by Mrs. Nyako. In a telephone conversation with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday evening, Mr. Ejiofor confirmed that his client had been released. Yes, it is true, said Mr. Ejiofor. A source close to Mr. Kanu also confirmed the three people who stood as surety for him.They are the Chairman of the Senates South East Caucus, Eyinnaya Abaribe; a Jewish priest, Immanuel Shalom; and an accountant and Abuja resident, Tochukwu Uchendu. Mr. Kanus lawyer, however, declined comment on the sureties The Nigerian presidency on Friday responded to PREMIUM TIMES report about the widespread lopsidedness in the latest recruitment exercise by the State Security Service (SSS). PREMIUM TIMES had on Friday morning reported how the SSS loaded its agency with more people from the North than from the South of Nigeria in its 2016 recruitment. So lopsided was the hiring that more people were employed from President Muhammadu Buharis Katsina State alone (51) than from all the South-east states combined (44). Katsina is also also the home state of the Director General of the SSS, Lawal Daura. A breakdown of the newly commissioned cadet officers on geopolitical basis revealed that 165 are from the North-west, about four times as many as those who were picked from the South-south (42). The figures for the other zones are North-east 100, North-central 66, South-west 57 and South-east 44. While confirming this newspapers report to be true, the presidency claimed the recruitment details were analysed out of context. The presidencys reaction was made through an unnamed official who only discreetly distributed a statement to select journalists, including a PREMIUM TIMES reporter. But this is not the usual means of reacting to media reports and public outrage by the presidency. The unsigned statement said the secret police deliberately employed fewer southerners to correct previous inequity against the northern part of the country. The government did not however provide details of which states were under-represented and to what extent. But PREMIUM TIMES sources in the administration and the SSS debunked the claim as an afterthought. Our sources challenged Director General Daura to release the nominal roll of the agencys entire personnel by states. That way, we will know if there was any imbalance in the representation of any state in the SSS, one of our sources said. But I can tell you that the claim that Katsina and the other northern states were under-represented is false. The presidency should be bold to launch an enquiry into this matter. Nigerians should stoutly resist this attempt by the presidency to cover up the matter. The presidency statement said the way the SSS conducted its controversial recruitment was not unusual, as other security agencies often engage in corrective measures to balance past lopsidedness. In an organisation that is very sensitive and an important one for national cohesion and stability, such as the State Security Service, SSS, there is always the need to ensure balance in recruitment and manning, the presidential source said in the statement. This is also true of institutions such as the Army, the Navy and Air Force. The statement added that the SSS had to contravene the doctrine of federal character to recruit more people from the south when new cadets were admitted between 2015 and 2016 to balance representation. But another of our sources said the SSS DG, Mr. Daura, is famous within the Service for his pro-North posturing. He is currently spending billions to build a training school in Katsina, and he has told close friends that before his departure from the SSS, he would ensure the agency is dominated by personnel from his part of the country, the source said. READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW: DSS RECRUITMENT WAS A CORRECTIVE EXERCISE In an organisation that is very sensitive and an important one for national cohesion and stability such as the Department of State Services, DSS, there is always the need to ensure balance in recruitment and manning. This is also true of institutions such as the Army, the Navy and Air force. Where such balancing in line with Federal Character is breached, the need arises from time to time, to find a way of redressing such inequity. This is the true story of the recruitment, about a year-and-a-half ago in the DSS in which states that were short-changed in previous recruitments were awarded slots to enable them achieve a fair representation. This is what happened. The report in circulation by the Premium Times though true, was taken in isolation of the context it was done. An investigative medium such as that one should have done a better job of this. It is important to emphasise that it is in the interest of peace, stability and the general well-being of the nation that all component units are fairly represented in organisations such as this. Where this comes short, efforts must be made to correct such lopsidedness as the DSS did between 20145 and 2016. PRESIDENCY Share this: Twitter Facebook A former presidential spokesperson, Olusegun Adeniyi, has said that he never betrayed the confidence of all parties interviewed in his new book, Against The Run of Play. Mr. Adeniyi said this, Friday morning, while delivering his speech at the launch of the book, holding at Victoria Island, Lagos. The book, which has already generated heated debates in the media, chronicles how the then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan was defeated. Some of the principal characters identified in the book are President Muhammadu Buhari; former president Goodluck Jonathan; APC leader Bola Tinubu, among others. Mr. Adeniyi, commenting on how he put the book together, said he spoke to the principal officers on several occasions, adding that none of the people involved can claim to have been misquoted. I went to some of themmore than two to three times, he added. The book launch is presently ongoing as at the time of filing this report. Details later Share this: Twitter Facebook A Consultant Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Lagos, Taiwo Oduguwa, has said that more women are affected by depression than men. Mrs. Oduguwa made this known during the annual Ummahat Day organised by the Sisters Circle of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit. The programme, which was themed Depression in recession, witnessed the presence of women from different locations in Lagos. A statement obtained by PREMIUM TIMES Thursday said about 700 Muslim women were trained on how to avoid, cope and manage depression in the challenging Nigeria economy. While noting that depression occurred at the rate of 25 per cent for women in their 40s and 50s, the psychiatrist estimated that no fewer than 350 million people of all ages globally experience symptoms of depression. She said that depression could be successfully treated in more than 80 per cent of people that have it, adding that it has about 30 per cent prevalence in general population. Depression causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness, which may last several weeks to months, she said. Depression is a major risk factor for suicide. The deep hopelessness and helplessness, which goes along with depression, can make suicide feel like the only way to escape the pain. Women are more vulnerable to depression for reasons such as balancing multiple roles, between raising children, maintaining a marriage and work. The good news; it can be successfully treated. Before adolescence, depression is rare and occurs at about the same rate in girls and boys. However, with the onset of puberty, a girls risk of developing depression increases dramatically to twice that of boys (changes in hormone levels). Depression is an illness which affects the mood (mood disorder). It affects the whole being and not just the mind. Unfortunately, its diagnosis is still missed by doctors and non-mental health workers. She listed the warning signs of the challenge as talking about killing or harming oneself; expressing strong feelings of hopelessness or being trapped; an unusual preoccupation with dying or death; acting recklessly, as if they have a death wish like speeding through the red lights; Calling or visiting people to say goodbye; putting affairs in order like giving away prized possessions, tying up loose ends; saying things like everyone would be better off without me; a sudden switch from being extremely depressed to acting calm and happy. On his part, a business expert, Abdul-Ghaniy Jawando, counselled female Muslims to be financially disciplined to prevent the current economic challenges in the country from leading them to depression. The Wife of Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Bilqis Abdullateef, encouraged the Muslim women to be supportive to the husbands and take the upbringing of their children as a priority. On her part, the MSSN Lagos Ummahat Coordinator, Baseerah Gbadegesin, explained that the theme of the programme was chosen to address the current socio-economic challenges in the country. She, however, admonished women to develop strong attitude capable of protecting them from being depressed. Share this: Twitter Facebook A dismissed police officer, 33-year-old Musa Isah, who allegedly impersonated a police officer, is facing trial at an Ikeja Magistrates Court. Mr. Isah, who lives at No. 8 N.P.A Quarters, Apapa, Lagos, is charged with impersonation. According to the prosecutor, Donjor Perezi, the accused committed the offence on February 16 at 12.10 p.m. at Coconut area of Apapa, Lagos. He alleged that the accused, who was dismissed from the Nigerian Police, posed as a police officer and was caught extorting money from motorists on Coconut Bridge, Apapa. He said Mr. Isah was arrested by a patrol team led by Francis Igbeyanale of Trinity Division, Apapa. He also wore the Nigerian Police uniform when he was arrested. The accused had deceived members of the public as he presented himself as a policeman collecting money and doing some illegal duties, Mr. Perezi, a police sergeant, told the court. The offence contravened Sections 77 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the accused, under the Criminal Law, is liable to imprisonment for two years on conviction. The Chief Magistrate, O.A. Layinka, admitted the accused to a bail of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum. She said the sureties must produce evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and adjourned the case until May 4 for mention. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday fixed May 10 for hearing in an interlocutory application for stay of proceedings in a suit filed by suspended member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin. Mr. Jibrin had approached the court to challenge his continued suspension following his public spat with the leadership of the House over his allegation of budget padding. The presiding judge, John Tsoho, had during the previous sitting refused to allow the Chairman, House Committee on Ethics, Nickolas Ossai, and another member; Orker-Jev Emmanuel, whose motion had resulted in the suspension of Mr. Jibrin, to be joined in the suit. After their application to be joined was refused, the duo approached the Appeal Court to challenge the ruling by Mr. Tsoho. At the opening of session on Friday, they prayed the court to stay proceedings pending the determination of their application challenging the interlocutory ruling by Mr. Tsoho. Delivering his ruling on the application for stay of proceedings, Mr. Tsoho held that the two members seeking to be joined have no bases for their recent application. He said the application for stay should not have come from the applicants, having been excluded from participation in the matter. He however added that in the interest of fair hearing, the application for stay would be entertained at a later date. The constitutional requirements of fair hearing weighs in favour of the applicants and supersedes the procedural requirements. The application for stay of proceedings will be entertained, said Mr. Tsoho. Mr. Jibrin was suspended following the adoption of the recommendations of the Nickolas Ossai-led Ethics and Privileges committee. The committee made the recommendations for his suspension after analysing allegations of budget padding made by him. Mr. Jibrin had alleged that some members of the House, including the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, had illegally inserted fictitious projects into the 2016 budget. He was later accused of bringing the House into disrepute with his utterances and actions. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to eradicating polio in Nigeria by making funds available early for the purchase of vaccines for immunization against the disease. The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, at a stakeholders meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication held in Abuja on Thursday, restated the governments commitment to ensuring that the deadly disease is eradicated from communities all over the country. The meeting, which immediately followed that of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, was to deliberate on ongoing government efforts to combat the spread of the disease in Nigeria. Mr. Osinbajo, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, said there was a resurgence of the disease in some north-eastern states because of the Boko Haram insurgency, especially in some communities recently liberated by the Nigerian military from the stranglehold of terrorism. He urged state governors, many of whom were at the meeting, especially those with new cases of polio in their domain, to tackle polio with all the seriousness and commitment it deserves, restating that the Federal Government was committed to opening up access in communities for vaccination. Last year, two new cases of polio were discovered in Borno State. This created a setback for the polio-free certificate meant to be issued to the country in July this year. According to the World Health Organization, a country must not have had any case of polio for at least three years to be declared polio-free. Before the re-emergence of the new cases in Borno State, Nigeria had not reported a case since July 24, 2014. Mr. Osinbajo said the Federal Government would release funds appropriated for the eradication of polio once the budget was passed into law. He recalled that President Buhari had personally signed the Abuja Commitment in January 2016 with the state governors as a demonstration of his resolve to ensure polio is eradicated in Nigeria. Speaking earlier at the event, the Health Minister, Isaac Adewole, said the Federal Government had deployed all available resources for the coordination and management of outbreak response, particularly in areas where children were inaccessible due to insurgency. Mr. Adewole recalled the governments commitment to polio eradication by the prompt release of budgeted funds in the 2016 budget. Also at the meeting were representatives of World Health Organisation, (WHO), United States Centre for Disease Control, interfaith leaders, and traditional leaders Speaking on behalf of state governors, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulazeez Yari, joined international stakeholders like WHO and the US CDC to laud the Federal Governments commitment to the fight to eradicate polio disease. He pledged that states would continue to partner with the Federal Government in the fight. Nigeria had marked one year without a case of Wild Polio Virus Type 1 on July 24, 2015, having declared polio outbreak a national public health emergency in the country. Share this: Twitter Facebook The spokesperson to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, has said that Nigerians are praying for the full recovery of the president. Mr. Adesina, who said this on Friday, noted that those calling for the resignation of the president are merely expressing their opinions. He spoke during an interactive session with journalists at the launch of Against The Run of Play, a book written by Olusegun Adeniyi, chairman of THISDAY Newspapers editorial board. The event, which took place at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, in Victoria Island, Lagos, was chaired by former Head of State, Abdul-salam Abubakar. Mr. Adesina said, Saying the president should resign is an opinion but dont forget that fifteen million people elected the president. So if one or two people express their opinion, will their opinion override that of 15 million people that voted for him? Those who are expressing their opinion have rights to their opinion, he said. Commenting on the state of Mr. Buharis health, Mr. Adesina said there was no need for apprehension. Mr. Buharis state of health has thrown up concerns in the media in recent weeks and many Nigerians, particularly on social media, have raised different insinuations. On Friday, the president did not attend the weekly Jumat prayer at the presidential Villa. Similarly, Mr. Buhari failed to show up at two consecutive Federal Executive Council meetings. But Mr. Adesina, in his reaction, said the speculations were not necessary as God would spare the president. God spared the president the first time. Remember he said that he has never been as ill as he was before. The same God that spared him will also ensure that he returns to full health, he said. Nigerians prayed and God answered, Nigerians are still praying and God will still answer, he added. Share this: Twitter Facebook At least 15 gunmen believed to be Boko Haram fighters were shot dead during a fierce battle with soldiers inside Sambisa forest on Thursday morning, officials said. The gunmen, according to a release sent in from the 7 Division Nigeria Army on Thursday evening, attempted to attack troops base inside Sambisa forest. The attack came months after the Nigerian military received global accolades when it announced the final defeat of Boko Haram in the once dreaded Sambisa forest in December last year. To further demonstrate total victory over Boko Haram, the military organised its 2017 Nigeria Army Small Arms (NASA) competition in Sambisa forest where it now has a shooting range. But on Thursday morning, the insurgents made a daring incursion back into area by specifically attacking one of the troops locations in the forest. A statement by the spokesman of 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Kinsley Samuel, said but for the gallantry of the troops, the attackers who came with heavy arms cache would have possibly taken hold of the captured territory once again. Mr. Samuel, a lieutenant colonel, and deputy director, Army Public Relations, said the soldiers bravery was praised by top officers of the Nigerian Army. He said, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu commended the troops of 21 Brigade of the Division for delivering a devastating deep punch to Boko Haram terrorists leading to the capture of large quantities of terrorists equipment. The troops resilience paid off with heavy battering of Boko Haram terrorists leading to the terrorist sustaining huge casualties in fighters and equipment. The terrorists paid dearly as the troops neutralized 15 of them and wounded several others. In addition, the gallant troops made heavy seizures with the destruction of 1 vehicle bound Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) belonging to the terrorists and capture of 1 Buffalo Gun truck mounted with Long Barrel Shilka Gun, 2 General Purpose Machine Gun, 1 PKM Gun, mortar tubes, 3 AK-47 rifles, 2 FN rifles, 1 G3 rifle. Others are 5 pieces of 60mm mortar Bombs, various GSM handsets, 36 Hand Grenade, 12 rifle magazines, Shilka fill tray, 750 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 106 rounds of 32mm ammunition, a 12 volt battery, 3 Automatic Grenade Launcher bombs and 5 mortar charges, among others. The GOC enjoined troops to remain resolute in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents in the North East in order to ensure total compliance with the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratais directive that remnants of Boko Haram terrorists are flushed out of Nigerian territory, he said. Boko Haram has of recent upped its hostility around troops locations in Borno state. Few weeks ago, the insurgents attacked a troop location in Sabon Gari, a village along Maiduguri-Biu highway in southern part of Borno. A number of casualty were reportedly recorded on the side of the troops while a large number of munitions were carted away, before a reinforced deployment of soldier arrived to neutralise some of the terrorists. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Olatokunbo Olopade, on Thursday pardoned 59 inmates of the five prisons in the state. Mrs. Olopade had visited the prisons located at Ibara and Oba in Abeokuta as well as Ilaro, Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode during the tour which started on Wednesday. She said the gesture was aimed at decongesting the prisons. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 15 inmates were released from Oba prisons, 14 in Ilaro, eight in Sagamu, 12 in Ijebu-Ode and 11 in Ibara. Mrs. Olopade said those who regained freedom were imprisoned for various offences ranging from wandering, robbery, stealing, rape and other sundry criminal acts. According to her, negligence of legal department of the Nigeria Police was responsible for the prolonged detention of many of the inmates. She decried the attitude of police in duplicating case files of the inmates which she said was making efforts at releasing those unjustly detained difficult. Mrs. Olopade said many inmates had been in prison for years because the police refused to duplicate their files or on the excuse of no case file. Issues of missing case files, and the prison officers not bringing the inmates to court at the appropriate time are responsible for the delay in the judicial process. These are some of the reasons why prisons are congested, she said. The chief judge said any criminal matter brought to court without the police first duplicating it would not be registered as from May 2. She added that the police should make use of the fast track clinic which is located in various courts with their facilities, to make the duplication easier and faster. The attention globally now is on criminal justice; we in Ogun State would not want to be left out, that is why we are playing our part, she said. Mrs. Olopade admonished the freed inmates to be of good behaviour and make positive impacts in the society. I did not release you because you are innocent or guilty, but because your case files cannot be found, she said. She appealed to police to work with the Ministry of Justice toward speedy dispensation of justice to eliminate congestion in prisons. Adeyeye Olayinka, the officer in charge of Sagamu Prison appealed to the Federal Government to help with infrastructure. Mr. Olayinka called on the government to provide enough and good vehicles to covey inmates to and from court at the right time. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Apr 28, 2017) - Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX VENTURE:CXB) (the "Company" or "Calibre") announces results on the Company's 100% owned Monte Carmelo Gold Project (the "Project") located within the 876 km2 Borosi Concessions, Northeast Nicaragua. Highlights The maiden drilling program on the 100% owned Monte Carmelo Gold Skarn Project consisted of 8 holes for 2100 metres and is now completed. All holes intersected skarn mineralization with variable anomalous in gold, silver, copper, and iron. Results include; 29.5 m grading 0.58 g/t Au, 4.9 g/t Ag and 0.22 % Cu from surface including 10.5 metres grading 1.43 g/t Au and 7.5 g/t Ag and 0.32 % Cu (0 - 10.5m). Additionally, the maiden drilling program on the 100% owned Santa Maria low sulphidation epithermal gold-silver project will commence in the near term. President and CEO Greg Smith stated: "Calibre continues to aggressively advance the Company's 100% owned gold projects in the Borosi District. The Phase 1 drilling at Monte Carmelo tested one of several targets within the Project which hosts additional potential for high grade gold skarn mineralization. This initial eight hole drill program intersected the targeted gold-silver-copper-iron skarn mineralization but we have yet to find the source for the high grade gold samples from the surface and auger drilling work. The Monte Carmelo diamond drill rig has now been moved to the 100% owned Santa Maria gold-silver project to initiate a minimum 2,500 m drill program." 100% Owned Monte Carmelo Gold Skarn The maiden drilling program at the 100% owned Monte Carmelo Gold Skarn Project consisting of eight diamond drill holes totalling 2100 metres has been completed and all assay results have been received. The drilling targeting high-grade gold skarn mineralization exposed on surface and tested by an extensive program of auger drilling. All drill holes intersected skarn mineralization consisting of garnet and magnetite skarn developed in calcareous sediments, limestone, and intrusives. Mineralization consist of massive and veined zones with anomalous levels of gold and silver with variable copper associated with iron and lesser amounts of zinc, lead, and arsenic. Story continues Drill hole MD17-006 intersected a broad iron rich zone from surface with 29.5 m grading 0.58 g/t Au, 4.9 g/t Ag and 0.22 % Cu from surface including 10.5 metres grading 1.43 g/t Au and 7.5 g/t Ag and 0.32 % Cu (0 - 10.5m). Drill hole MD17-007 intersected a highly mineralized iron rich zone consisting of magnetite skarn averaging 0.28 g/t Au, 6.34 g/t Ag, 0.33 % Cu, and 0.20 % Zn over 14.5 metres (83.8 - 98.3 m). Additionally the hole intersected 0.36 g/t Au, 65.8 g/t Ag, and 3.51% Cu over 1.53 m (74.72 - 76.25m) and a third intercept from surface of 7.0m grading 0.45 g/t Au, 1.9 g/t Ag, and 0.11% Cu. Diamond drill hole MD17-001 intersected 2.1 metres grading 0.36 g/t Au (36.6 - 38.7m) and a second intercept of 1.1m grading 0.16 g/t Au and 3.62 % Zn (127 - 128.1m). Drill hole MD17-002 intersected 2.0 metres grading 0.10 g/t Au and 0.48 % Cu (120.25 - 122.25m). MD17-003 intersected a narrow zone of weakly to moderately anomalous mineralization which included 331 ppm Mo (molybdenum) over 3.71 metres (110.66 - 114.37m). Drill hole MD17-004 intersected a near surface, broad mineralized zone with low grade gold and silver values grading 0.22 % Cu and 0.51 % Zn over 47.28 metres (7.62 - 54.9m). MD17-005 contains a narrow zone grading 1.19 g/t Au over 1.15 metres (50-45 - 51.6m). Drill hole MD17-008 intersected a near surface zone of 9.4 metres grading 0.15 g/t Au (0.0 - 9.4m) and a second intercept of 4.95m grading 0.14 g/t Au (63.05 - 68.0m). Overall the intercepts define a variably mineralized flatly dipping zone consisting of broad anomalous zones with irregular higher grade structures related to the contact of two intrusive phases (granite and granodiorite) and the calcareous sediment and limestone host rocks. 100% Owned Santa Maria Gold-Silver Project The maiden drilling program, consisting of a minimum of 2500 metres of diamond drilling, is expected to commence in the near term. Calibre is committed to best practice standards for all exploration, sampling and drilling activities. Drilling is being completed by independent firm Kluane Drilling Ltd. Analytical quality assurance and quality control procedures include the systematic insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates into the sample strings. Samples are placed in sealed bags and shipped directly to Acme Labs (a Bureau Veritas Group Company) in Managua, Nicaragua for sample preparation and then to Acme Labs in Vancouver, Canada for 50 gram gold fire assay and ICP-MS multi element analyses. The technical content in this news release was read and approved by Gregory Smith, P.Geo, President and CEO of the Company who is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. About Calibre Mining Corp. Calibre owns a 100% interest in over 413 km2 of mineral concessions in the Mining Triangle of Northeast Nicaragua including the Primavera Gold-Copper Project and Monte Carmelo Gold Project. Additionally the Company has optioned to IAMGOLD (176 km2) and Centerra Gold (253 km2) concessions covering an aggregate area of 429 km2 and is party to a joint venture on the 33.6 km2 Rosita D gold-copper-silver project with Rosita Mining Corporation. Major shareholders of Calibre include gold producer B2Gold Corp, Pierre Lassonde and management. Calibre Mining Corp. Greg Smith, P.Geo. President and CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or does not expect", "is expected", anticipates" or "does not anticipate" "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results " may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Safe Harbor Statement under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements including but not limited to those with respect to the price of gold, potential mineralization, reserve and resource determination, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of the Company involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Atlas to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements The Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, on Thursday said the introduction of the whistle-blower policy by the federal government has led to the recovery of about N17billion by the commission. Mr. Magu made the disclosure while presenting a paper titled Before Corruption Kills Nigeria, at the 62nd Award Night of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), held at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotels, Abuja. In the paper, which was presented on his behalf by an official of the anti-graft agency, A. Bello, Mr. Magu said, apart from several other recoveries running into several billions of naira, the recent whistle-blower policy, has led to the recovery of N521,815,000, $53,272,747, 122,890, and 547,730 by the EFCC. The EFCC boss, while reiterating the Commissions commitment to combating corruption called on the media to support the ongoing fight against corruption as that was the only way the battle can be won. The EFCC is committed to pursuing its statutory mandate and to rescuing the Nigerian state and its people from being killed by corruption, he said. We call on the Media and well meaning Nigerians to join us in this crusade. With the government and people of Nigeria behind the EFCC, we shall surely be victorious. Mr. Magu also said the EFCC recorded 62 convictions in the first quarter of the year. In his remarks, the National President of the NUJ, Abdulwaheed Odusile, pledged the unions support for the EFCC and commended the Commission for its efforts in combating corruption of all manners in Nigeria. He urged the agency to continue carrying out its operation without fear or favour. While we commend the EFCC for its efforts in fighting economic crimes and corruption, we urge it to be diligent and painstaking in its assignment, and continue to operate without fear or favour. The media will continue to support their efforts in this regard, Mr. Odusile said. The NUJ president also condemned the rejection of Mr. Magu as the substantive chairman of the EFCC by the Senate and called for synergy between the legislature and the executive in the interest of the nation. We condemn the undue politicization of the confirmation of the appointment of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the EFCC by the National Assembly, he said. We call on the executive and the legislature to work together in the interest of the Nigeria people. The cat and mouse game in their relationship is adversely affecting the state of the nation and the welfare of the people. Share this: Twitter Facebook President Muhammadu Buhari did not attend todays congregational Friday prayer at the Aso Rock Mosque. Mr. Buhari has been observing the weekly prayer at the mosque located behind his office since his return from medical vacation in the UK. Staff of the Aso Villa also confirmed the president was indoors and did not go to any other mosque for the Jumat prayer. He was also absent from the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday raising concerns over his state of health. However, Mr. Buhari on Thursday assured Nigerians that despite insinuations about his alleged poor health, there is no need for apprehension. The presidents stance was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, explaining why he had been out of public glare for a while. President Buharis absence at the Federal Executive Council meeting of Wednesday, April 26, was a last-minute decision; otherwise, the cabinet and the public might have been alerted in advance. As eager as he is to be up and about, the Presidents doctors have advised on his taking things slowly, as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the United Kingdom some weeks ago. President Buhari himself, on his return to the country, made Nigerians aware of the state of his health while he was in London. Full recovery is sometimes a slow process, requiring periods of rest and relaxation, as the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, intimated in his press briefing after the FEC meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Shehu said. Despite the statement, Mr. Buharis absence from the Friday Jumat prayer will only add more speculations to his health status. Although not an essential part of his work as president, Mr. Buhari has tried to ensure he prays the Friday prayer in congregation as expected of devout Muslims. Earlier on Friday, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka asked Mr. Buhari to disclose his true health status to Nigerians. Why is the president hiding his state of health? Hes supposed to understand hes public property, Mr. Soyinka said. Share this: Twitter Facebook Musa Omale, a witness in the ongoing trial of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for corruption, on Friday, said that the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, paid N12 million into a bank account owned by the judge. Mr. Omale, an assistant comptroller of customs, made the assertion while giving testimony in the ongoing trial of the judge of the Federal High Court, Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia before an Ikeja High Court. Led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the witness said that the NCS paid the amount into the account of a company, Nigel and Colive Ltd. Mr. Omale, who is the fifth witness for the anti-graft agency, said that the account was run by the judge. He said that the transaction occurred on July 11, 2014, under the instructions of the then Comptroller General of the NCS, Abdullahi Dikko. In the course of my duty in 2014, the Deputy Comptroller General who I was directly working with, Mr Musa Tahir, came down from the office of Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Mr Abdullahi Dikko. He gave me the account number of Nigel and Colive Ltd, telling me that the CGC said that we should liase with the 12 commands of the customs service and that each command should pay N1 million each into my bank account. Tahir told me that when I receive the money, I should transfer the whole sum into the account of Nigel and Colive. The instructions were carried out as directed and on July 11, 2014, the N12 million was paid in three trenches of N3million, N4million and N5million into the account of Nigel and Colive Ltd. No services were rendered to our command to warrant the payments of the funds into the account, Musa said. The witness, in his evidence, said that when he was invited by the EFCC, he was initially tempted to give a false statement to the anti-graft agency. I was invited to the EFCC office, I was told to explain the reason behind the transaction and I remember volunteering to give my statements. I was initially trying to protect myself stating that I did not know anything about the money but at a point, something was telling me when did you become a liar, do you not know your upbringing? At that point, I retracted my statement and I revealed all that transpired during the course of that transaction, Mr. Musa said. However, while being cross examined by the lead defence counsel to Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia, Robert Clarke, Mr. Musa said he did not know the purpose of the N12 million he transferred. Mr. Clarke said, In the face of the statement of account that youre holding, does it show any reason for transferring the money? You work with the NCS which is a para military organisation, I believe you are trained to obey to the last instructions without asking questions. The spirit that told you to tell the truth at the EFCC, was it an acquired spirit or when you were receiving instructions and transferring the money did the spirit tell you anything? Responding to Mr. Clarkes questions, Musa said The statement of account in my hands does not reveal any reason for the transaction. I was instructed by my bosses to do the transaction and Im not trained to ask questions, it was my conscience that told me to tell the truth. I was not harassed, coerced or intimidated by the EFCC to give my statements. NAN reports that on March 17, a fourth prosecution witness, Uchenna Okaranwolu, a former bank worker, had revealed to the court that the Delta State Government had paid N15 million into the judges Access bank account. Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia, is standing trial alongside Godwin Obla, a former prosecutor of the EFCC. The duo are jointly charged on two-counts of perverting the course of justice while Mr. Obla is facing an additional two counts of offering gratification in the sum of N5 million to Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia, a public official, while serving as a judge. Mrs.Ofili-Ajumogobia faces a 26-count charge bordering on unlawful enrichment, taking property by a public officer, corruption by a public officer, forgery and giving false information to an official of the EFCC. Both denied all the charges. Another prosecution witness, Robertson Emafidon, revealed during proceedings details of the N5 million which was transferred from Mr. Oblas United Bank of Africa, UBA, account into the judges account. Mr. Emafidon, the Head of Regulatory Liason at the Head Office of the UBA, said Sometime in November 2016, we received a letter from the EFCC asking us to avail them of the account opening documents and statement of account regarding the subject customer. I made copies of the documents, certified them as true copied, signed and forwarded them as a letter back to the EFCC. There was a debit of N5 million on May 21, 2015 from the account of Obla and Co into the bank account of Nigel and Colive Ltd. On May 18, 2015, there was a credit of N16.5million from the account of D.S.J Integrated Services into the bank account of Obla and Co. However, while being cross examined by Mr. Clarke and Ferdinard Orbih, defence counsel to Obla, Mr. Emafidon denied any knowledge of the purpose of the bank transfers. I dont know the purpose of the transfers, I was not personally involved in any of these transactions and I was not in any of the branches where the transactions occurred, Mr. Emafidon said. After the witnesses had given their evidence, Mr. Oyedepo, the EFCC counsel, made an oral application to the court seeking for some witness summons to compel additional witnesses to testify for the EFCC in the trial. My Lord, I want to apply for witness summons to be issued on Charles Musa, a proposed eleventh witness on the proof of evidence, Frank Ezenwe and Danladi Haliyu the fifth and sixth witnesses in the additional list of witnesses. We will also request for a subpoena to the Registrar of Titles of the Bureau of Lands, Lagos, to produce a deed of assignment, Mr. Oyedepo said. Justice Hakeem Oshodi adjourned the case until May 26 for continuation of trial. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has asked the Nigerian Air Force for assistance to airlift personnel and materials to Bama, Chibok, Danbua, Gwoza and Kala Balge local government areas in Borno state, as the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise gets underway. The Chairman of the Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, who led a team of senior officials to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, told the Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, that the request was informed by the intelligence report in the commissions possession which revealed that the roads leading to the five local government areas have been mined by the retreating insurgents. Mr. Yakubu said: We are embarking on a very significant exercise in the history of this country. For the first time in our democracy, citizens will be afforded the opportunity to register as voters all year round in all our 774 local government area offices nationwide. We have mobilized in all the states of the federation, including the northeast region, where our military is very active for obvious reasons. But since the return of peace to Borno state, a lot of Nigerian citizens who are in the Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) before and during the last general elections have returned to their towns and villages. Our intention is that no Nigerian should be left out of this registration exercise. Every Nigerian counts and every Nigerian should be given the opportunity to register. But we are equally interested in the security of our personnel and materials, especially in the northeast. We have a challenge in a set of five local government areas Danbua, Chibok, Gwoza, Bama and Kala Balge. And the challenge is not in the local government offices, but in the roads leading to these local government offices. We have been reliably informed that the insurgents have, in some instances, mined these roads. We are all aware of the incident that happened last week involving some of our very senior officers. So, we thought for that reason, in our effort to ensure that every Nigerian is given the opportunity to register, we should approach the Air Force to assist the Independent National Electoral Commission in respect of these five local government areas, to airlift and deploy our personnel and equipment for the purpose of this very important exercise, in the interest of our democracy and service of our fatherland. Responding, Mr. Abubakar assured the INEC helmsman that the NAF was prepared to give the Commission all the support it requires to make the exercise a success. This is the kind of partnership we are actually looking for since we have the assets given to us by the government of Nigeria and we can use these assets to support any agency of government. For us in the Air Force, we are very happy to get involved, to support you in whichever way we can. The local governments you talked about are the areas where we operate every day, day and night. We will give you every support that you need to ensure that you conduct a successful registration exercise. And this is not only limited to Borno state, but anywhere you need to move items. We have the C100 cargo aircraft to move items from Lagos or any part of Nigeria, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook The U.S. on Friday announced additional $30 million to support the people of north-east Nigeria, where years of brutality by Boko Haram and other militant groups has created a dire humanitarian crisis. The U.S. Embassy in a statement in Abuja said that the additional funding brought the total U.S. humanitarian contribution in Nigeria to more than $298 million since October 2015. This new funding will support the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Nigeria, which is providing critical food assistance, nutrition support, and vouchers that can be used to buy food where local markets are functional. This assistance is also helping communities return to their agricultural livelihoods where security allows. Humanitarian efforts are vital in northeast Nigeria, where approximately 8.5 million people require assistance, including 5.2 million people who need emergency food assistance, and more than 1.7 million people who are displaced, the embassy said. According to the statement, the U.S., since October 2015, has been the largest donor for the humanitarian response in the Lake Chad Basin region. It added that U.S. had provided more than $452 million for people affected by the ongoing crisis. It stated that the U.S. remained committed to working with the Government of Nigeria and other donors to provide humanitarian assistance to avert famine and support vulnerable communities. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that in April, the WFP reported a shortfall of approximately 224 million dollars to fund emergency operations, including life-saving food and nutrition assistance, in Nigeria through October. In response to resource constraints, WFP began reducing some food rations for targeted populations during April. The UN says food security is expected to deteriorate in mid-2017, and an estimated 5.2 million people in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states could face acute food insecurity between June and August. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The Kano/Jigawa Area Command of Nigerian Customs Services, NCS, has impounded a trailer carrying 377 bags of imported rice concealed among some local goods. The commands Comptroller, Abutu Onaja, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Kano on Friday. He said the vehicle was intercepted near Dutse in Jigawa on Thursday, April 27. My officers, somewhere close to Dutse town, intercepted a trailer carrying 377 bags of foreign rice covered with Nigerian goods including furniture, bags of dates, Bua sugar and used tyres. The people put the foreign rice under the local goods to give the impression that all the items are local goods, Onaja said. He said the seized foreign rice had N4.1 million total duty value, while the value of the other local items were yet to be ascertained. Mr.Onaja said his men were not able to make any arrest as the suspects abandoned the vehicle on sighting customs officers. According to him, the area command donated 4, 220 bags of seized rice to Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs) in 2016. Our warehouse is currently filled up with rice and other items seized by the Command because we have no fewer than 6, 143 bags of rice in the warehouse at the moment. He said the command would continue to discharge its responsibilities with a view to checking smuggling. He, however, advised those who engaged in smuggling to desist from the illegal act or be prepared to face the wrath of the law. (NAN). Share this: Twitter Facebook A U.S.-based environment activist, Tom Mbeke-Ekanem, has urged the Akwa Ibom State government to consider filing a case in court to compel Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to move its headquarters from Lagos to Akwa Ibom where the company produces oil. Mr. Mbeke-Ekanem, a Nigerian citizen from Akwa Ibom, is the founder of Ibom Peoples Congress, IPC, an organisation which has been campaigning for a clean environment and economic prosperity in the Niger Delta region of the country. It was the pressure from Mr. Mbeke-Ekanems IPC that prompted the international headquarters of ExxonMobil in Texas, U.S, some 12 years ago to explain why its company in Nigeria cant relocate its head office from Lagos. Mobil has three businesses in Nigeria which are managed by one Lead Country Manager. It is essential that the headquarters of each of those businesses be consolidated in one office where support services can be shared, the company had said in a letter addressed to Mr. Mbeke-Ekanem. Lagos offers each of those businesses a convenient and well-suited hub from which all three businesses can be efficiently conducted and coordinated by that manager. There have been renewed agitations lately in the Niger Delta for the oil companies to relocate their headquarters to the region. The agitations received a boost in March when Nigerias Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, then serving as acting president, directed the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, to engage with the IOCs on the way forward over the calls for their relocation. The vice president remarks are the sun weve been waiting for, Mr. Mbeke-Ekanem told PREMIUM TIMES. The (Akwa Ibom) state government should (therefore) make hay while the sun shines. Mr. Mbeke-Ekanem suggested that the state government should begin talks immediately with relevant federal agencies, as well as put up an enticing package like tax breaks for Mobil. The government shouldnt foreclose the option of going to court, he said. You would notice that in our letter of March 10, 2005 that called for ExxonMobil to relocate from Lagos to Akwa Ibom, we mentioned the fact that in October 2004, the leadership of the Nigerian National Assembly, made up of Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Sir Austin Opara, Deputy Speaker; Hon. Abdul Ningi, House Majority Leader; and Hon. Abike Dabiri, Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity had urged all multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta Region to relocate their headquarters to the states of their operation. In making the call, the Speaker at the time, Alhaji Masari noted that Shell, the largest oil company in Nigeria, and Agip had already taken the initiative by relocating their headquarters to their areas of operation in Port Harcourt, while Elf Oil Company has moved to Warri. That was the call from the legislature which ExxonMobil ignored. This time, Nigerian Executive has spoken. The third voice being the judiciary would mean a calamity to ExxonMobil. At this moment, the federal government is on our side, that is, the side of Akwa Ibom state. I do not think ExxonMobil will want to have this matter decided by the court because the verdict will certainly not be in their favour, said Mr. Mbeke-Ekanem. He said Mr. Osinbajos remarks represents the voice of the Nigerian government which owns 60 per cent of the shares in the joint venture with Mobil. Mobil, he said, doesnt have the power to decide not to move since it is the minority shareholder. If they continue to drag their feet, we have no other option than to take the matter to the court where we are sure to prevail. The oil is ours. Conditions and guidelines of exploitation have been laid down. If ExxonMobil cannot abide by these guidelines, they have the right not to exploit oil in Akwa Ibom. Hopefully, there will be other companies that will rush in to replace them and fulfill the operating conditions and guidelines, said Mr. Mbeke-Ekanem who is an author of the book, Beyond the Execution, Understanding the Ethnic and Military Politics in Nigeria. I strongly believe there are more cogent reasons for their relocation than they would admit. ExxonMobil said that relocation of their headquarters to Akwa Ibom would not have any significant impact on Akwa Ibom. That is not true. First ExxonMobil is aware that headquarters relocation is not just the empty buildings. It is about the staff and the economic, socio and macro that go with it. A multi-national corporation like ExxonMobil pays its tax to Lagos State government. The staffers of ExxonMobil pay their taxes to Lagos State government. There are also the residual effects of buying from the Akwa Ibom markets, and hence the trading impacts. There are many other effects that will be trickling down in areas such as house rental, secondary employments of aides, drivers, guards, etc. The impacts to Akwa Ibom economy will be tremendously huge. The Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, appears to prefer a diplomatic approach in dealing with Mobil. I know what you want to move your headquarters to the state. If you give me commitment of 24 months, I will provide it, Mr. Emmanuel said to Mobil in Uyo during an oil and gas fair in March. Share this: Twitter Facebook The United Nations Childrens Fund, UNICEF, has said it is paying a close watch on Ekiti State as a precautionary measure to forestalling the outbreak of meningitis in the state. Over 800 deaths have so far been recorded nationwide, as the federal government and other agencies battle to stem the tide particularly in the northern part of the country. The international organization said although there had been no reported case of the disease in Ekiti, it was working with experts in the health ministry to ensure watchfulness and avert any eventuality. The UNICEF representative in Ekiti, Abiodun Olagunju, made this known in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday during a stakeholders meeting held to discuss the second phase of polio vaccination in the state. Though, Ekiti is not within the meningitis belt, but we are keeping watch because someone can bring it from the meningitis endemic state to Ekiti, Mr. Olagunju said. UNICEF and World Health Organisation are not fond of folding their arms and allowing communicable diseases ravage the land before taking actions, this is not medically wise. On the polio vaccination exercise, he said the target for children below age 5 is 100 per cent in Ekiti, adding that 87 per cent was recorded during the first phase . Let me also enlighten our people that the vaccines for polio, measles, meningitis, hepatitis B are available in all the health centres in Ekiti, so we are on ground to fight communicable diseases to safeguard the health of our people, said Mr. Olagunju. Reviewing the first phase of the anti-polio campaign held in the state, the State Immunization Officer, Christianah Ajimati, said a total of 579,704 children were immunized with polio vaccine during the exercise held in March 2017 out of the projected 667, 145 . She said Emure Local Government had the highest turnout of children with 95 per cent for the exercise with Ekiti West coming last with 66 percent. She said the second phase of the fight against polio would kick off between May 6 and 9, saying the fight against communicable disease was total for Nigeria to maintain the polio-free status conferred by United Nations. Mrs. Ajimati expressed delight that Nigeria, particularly Ekiti, had overcome the barrier of religion that had been a great impediment stopping many parents from presenting their children for the oral vaccine. We want to commend our donor agencies and Ekiti State government for the release of funds. Timely release of funds and kits really helped this exercise, she said. Share this: Twitter Facebook A baby was on Thursday found dead inside a refuse sack at a dumpsite near a market in Alagbado, Lagos State. The dump site is near the African Independent Television, AIT, Road Market. A News Agency of Nigeria correspondent who witnessed the incident reports that the dead baby rolled down from the sack as the sack was being dumped into a refuse vehicle. Refuse collectors saw the baby and raised an alarm. Market men and women gathered at the scene and rained curses on the culprit. A police officer at the scene told NAN that an investigation would be carried out to find out the culprit. The police officer from the Alagbado Police Station pleaded anonymity. The dead baby has been deposited at a mortuary by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency. Omolara Farounbi, the market Iya-oloja (leader), called on traders in the market to be more vigilant. She said that the perpetrator was able to carry out the act because the traders cleaned up the market and packed refuse for disposal on Friday. It was convenient for the person to dump the baby in the sack overnight. We have informed the police and called the Lagos State Emergency Maintenance Authority (LASEMA) about the incident, she said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook President Andrzej Duda President Andrzej Duda has signed into law a bill establishing a Committee for the National Observances of Poland's Independence Centenary. The president signed the document on April 27. The Committee for the National Observances of Poland's Independence Centenary is planned to commemorate events and people connected with Poland's regained independence in 1918. A draft on the National Observances of Poland's Independence Centenary was authored by President Andrzej Duda. Poland regained independence on Nov. 11, 1918 after 123 years of partitions. Under the law, the committee will organise observances of Poland's independence anniversary in the years 2017-2021 and will promote them in Poland and abroad. The committee will comprise the president, the Sejm and Senate speakers, the prime minister, government ministers, a government commissioner for the National Observances of Poland's Independence Centenary, the National Remembrance Institute head and representatives of political parties and social organisations. The law will come into effect 14 days after it has been signed by the president. In 2018, Poland will majestically mark throughout the world the 100th anniversary of regaining independence, on top with "Niepodlegla 2018" programme to be launched this year by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and span until 2019. Ministry of Culture-funded Adam Mickiewicz Institute is to co-ordinate the programme abroad. (PAP) NAREDCO welcomes the formation of GMDA ( Read 5449 Times) 28 Apr 17 Share | Print This Page National real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), the real estate industry body welcomes the formation of Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and forsees the development as pro-consumer expecting that the move will boost the real estate market and will be a key factor in easing of the functioning of the sector in the city NAREDCO expects that the various approving authorities should also be placed under one roof in Gurugram for smooth functioning New Delhi: A key initiative of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) to establish the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has become a reality with the Haryana Cabinet clearing the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority Bill 2017. The National Real estate industry body welcomes the move of the state government and extends its full support in furthering the implementation and working towards the smooth functioning of the Authority. GMDA coming into action shall look into the wholisitic development of the citys infrastructure and the socio-economic development of Gurugram. It shall work towards the overall growth and development and will pave the way for a cleaner city, with smart transportation and mobility solutions. Welcoming the move, President NAREDCO Mr. Parveen Jain said, We congratulate Honourable Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar on clearing the Bill. His appointment as the chairman of the new authority shall be the real game changer for the millennium city. The formation of authority will not just boost the citys growth and development but will also generate more employment opportunities. In addition to these, the formation of the authority will have a direct impact on the infrastructure development of the city. Mr. Jain pointed out that The real issue which needs to be tackled for the fast delivery of projects without unnecessary delays and in which GMDA can play the key role, is to adopt a system wherein all the approving authorities can be brought under the same roof or under GMDA itself in Gurugram. Presently, the developer has to run to different authorities in different places with different time frames for various clearances and approvals of the same project. The project being the same, one important aspect is that initially if one approval is given and there is delay in giving subsequent approvals, the time-frame of the initial approval also expires and it has to be freshly applied for. Another aspect is that the various clearances and approvals are inter-related and inter-dependent, so even if one gets delayed, it can start a chain reaction and the project can get delayed unnecessarily. Hence we need to look into these problems in detail and NAREDCO insists that GMDA should be the ultimate single authority giving approvals and clearances under one roof in Gurugram. Source : This Article/News is also avaliable in following categories : Business News Your Comments ! Share Your Openion BRIDGETON A lawyer for the family of Megan Moore, a Cumberland County jail inmate who authorities said killed herself Feb. 20, filed a lawsuit in federal court last week, alleging Moores constitutional rights were violated. According to the complaint, Moores family is suing Cumberland County, the current warden, Richard Smith, the previous warden, Robert Balicki, who retired Jan. 31, 10 unnamed corrections officers and CFG Health Systems LLC. The suit claims the defendants violated the rights of Megan Moore by failing to keep her in a safe and secure environment and by failing to provide her with adequate medical care and attention, in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Cumberland County Counsel Ted Baker said last week the county had not been served with the court filings yet and was not able to comment on the lawsuit. The matter is being investigated by the Prosecutors Office, and once it is completed, an investigation will commence by the Department of Justice, Baker said. Authorities said Moore was the fifth person to commit suicide at the jail since July 2014. Philadelphia attorney Conrad Benedetto also represents the estates of Alissa Allen, David Hennis, Robert Lewis and Jon Watson, the other inmates found dead in the county jail. A letter from Benedetto said the family was notified of Moores death Feb. 20 and said she was found by another inmate hanging in her jail cell. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday that would open the Atlantic and Arctic oceans for drilling. Earlier in the week the move drew bipartisan fire from lawmakers in coastal states. The order would allow Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to revisit a plan signed by former President Barack Obama that put those oceans off limits to drilling for another five years. The order also would lift a permanent ban on some drilling in those oceans, a rule Obama signed in December. People are still recovering from Hurricane Sandy, Sen. Bob Menendez said at a press conference Thursday. We dont need a manmade disaster in the form of an oil spill. Rep. MacArthur leading charge to revitalize health care reform Eager for a victory, the White House is expressing confidence that a southern New Jersey con Menendez, a Democrat, said an accident like BPs Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010 would wipe out New Jerseys fishing industry and severely damage the summer tourism vital to shore towns. The BP spill took five months to stop and spilled almost 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The Jersey Shore matters to millions of people. Its a national treasure, Menendez said. Were not going to sell our shores to the highest bidder. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, introduced legislation Thursday that would halt permits for seismic airgun blasting on the Atlantic seaboard. Seismic airgun pulses are loud, repetitive explosive sounds used to identify oil and gas reservoirs deep in the ocean floor. Sound travels so efficiently under water that seismic blasts can cause hearing damage, stress and other harm to numerous aquatic species, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. The ecological damage and negative economic impact caused by seismic testing is clear, which is why there is near-unanimous opposition from local concerned residents, commercial and recreational fishermen, and environmentalists along the Jersey Shore, LoBiondo wrote in a statement. This bipartisan legislation reaffirms my strong opposition to seismic airgun testing in waters off South Jersey. Environmental groups also oppose the executive order. New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said an oil spill as far away as Virginia could cause the Jersey Shore major harm. This is a huge sellout to Big Oil and Gas at the expense of our coast and our tourism, Tittel wrote in a statement. What he is doing will threaten our safety, ecosystems and economy. If there is any type of spill, it would cause serious and lasting environmental harm and could ruin our tourism industry. Local political considerations and the global energy market may influence future exploration more than an executive order in Washington. Several industry officials and experts predict oil and gas firms will bid on areas the administration plans to open to drilling, including those off the East Coast. Targeted Arctic areas are much less attractive to investors now, and even potential drilling in the Atlantic could be complicated by long-standing resistance from coastal communities. Jason Bordoff, director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and a former Obama adviser, said while the Trump administration can rescind the former presidents efforts to end exploration in the two regions, that process is complex and would take at least two years to revamp the governments long-term drilling plans. The question then is, does anybody show up, and does anybody want these (leases)? Bordoff said. It depends quite a bit on what the oil market looks like in two years. If it looks anything like it does today, with low oil prices and most industry growth taking place onshore, Trumps new policy might have little practical effect. National Ocean Industries Association President Randall Luthi, who headed the Minerals Management Service under President George W. Bush, said what matters most is there has been just a complete change of attitude toward offshore development since Trump took office. The hope with the executive order is that once the economics fall into place, the federal and regulatory regime will be right for increased leasing off the Outer Continental Shelf, Luthi said. Zinke has made clear he wants to boost drilling in federal waters to generate more royalties. While this money goes directly to the U.S. treasury, Zinke suggested Tuesday the royalties should be spent on a maintenance backlog within the national parks system. If you go back to 2008, the department made $15.5 billion more a year, just in offshore, than we do today, Zinke said. Thats enough to pay for infrastructure. But even with the new administrations support for offshore drilling, opposition is intense among politicians of both parties in the Southeast. The advocacy group Oceana said 90 percent of coastal municipalities from Cape May, New Jersey, to Cape Canaveral, Florida, have opposed drilling or seismic testing off their coasts. South Carolina Republicans, including Gov. Henry McMaster and U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, have come out against drilling. Its not the environmentalists and the dolphin huggers, said Jacqueline Savitz, Oceanas senior vice president for oceans. Its the business community. What youve got is a different fight now. Beaufort, South Carolina, Mayor Billy Keyserling said he is ready to again fight the prospect of offshore drilling just as he did during the Obama administration because of concerns over environmental threats, the potential impact on tourism and concern that more local jobs could be destroyed than created. We will fight it harder than we did in the past, Keyserling said. We all feel very, very strongly. These lease sales would be exempt from review under the National Environmental Policy Act, according to the bill, which would accelerate the process. Despite the drilling restrictions Obama put in place for Alaskas Arctic, activity continues there. Italian oil giant Eni wants to reach reserves in a federal area of the Beaufort Sea off Alaska by doing directional drilling from an artificial island it is using in state waters. Hilcorp has taken over a project formerly owned by BP. And Shell, after deciding to drop further exploration, gave its offshore acreage to the Arctic Slope Regional Corp., an Alaska Native entity. Christy Goldfuss, who headed the White House Council on Environmental Quality at the end of Obamas second term, said the executive order he issued in December allowed exploration in 2.8 million acres in the near-shore Beaufort Sea where commercial interest is greatest. The idea that people are breaking down the administrations door to get access to the Arctic is just false, said Goldfuss, who now is vice president for energy and environment policy at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank. Several industry officials said even with a change in leasing policy, regulatory changes would be needed to make drilling in the Arctic more economically viable. In July, the Interior finalized stricter rules for exploratory drilling there. Luthi said the rules add another two or three layers of difficulty to drilling and he was fairly optimistic the new administration would look at revising them as part of its broader regulatory overhaul effort. The bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling is urging Congress to preserve the Arctic drilling rule. We believe that these exploratory drilling regulations are necessary to prevent or reduce the severity or duration of a catastrophic oil spill in the Arctic Ocean, the commission wrote to lawmakers last month. Still, broader energy trends are likely to shape the future more than any regulatory decision. If the last 10 to 15 years teaches us anything at all, its that we should be humble about our ability to forecast oil prices, said Bob McNally, a former Bush administration energy official and president of the Rapidan Group consulting firm. In the past decade, he noted, those prices have fluctuated between $26 and $140 a barrel. They now hover around $50, but should that start to creep up, interest in offshore exploration and drilling could rise, too. McNally pointed to the recent five-year oil market forecast from the International Energy Agency, which found demand is expected to grow strongly through 2022 and the need for more production capacity becomes apparent by the end of the decade, even if supply appears plentiful today. At $100 a barrel, the economics and the politics change, he said. Youd see more industry interest and political calls for offshore development. No matter the future, the Trump administration is lifting restrictions the industry sees as unnecessary and unwise. Trump is concluding that what Obama put in place was unreasonable, McNally said. Policy should set reasonable standards and let market forces and technology and geology in the case of oil and gas dictate what activity takes place. The Washington Post contributed to this story. More than 30 Vietnam veterans will be honored at 12:30 p.m. Friday at U.S. Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light. The veterans will receive citations and pins as part of the annual Battle of Exercise Tiger National Tribute and Wreath Laying. More than 15 USCG stations from Massachusetts to Washington state will be laying wreaths. Lt. Col. Scott Preston from the Pentagon will be among the VIPs attending. Preston will represent the Secretary of the Army and will present the awards, which will include the Medallion Of Combat Valor. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, will honor the veterans and will receive the Congressman Of The Year Award East Region for his support of veterans and the Coast Guard. Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove, R-Ocean, Burlington, Atlantic will present special state resolutions for each veteran. The awards are of part of the annual National Tribute to the Battle of Exercise Tiger, a forgotten battle of World War II. More than 700 U.S. Army and Navy personnel were killed on April 28, 1944, during a top-secret training mission on U.S. Navy Tank Landing Ships (LSTs) by German naval warships. Deal to avert government shutdown is 'pretty much done,' Democratic senator says A deal between Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill to avert a government shutdown is "pretty much done," Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., told CNBC on Thursday. "They're putting pen to paper, and it's just a matter of how long it will take to get the deal kind of finalized," she said in an interview with " Power Lunch ." Earlier Thursday, Sen. Mitch McConnell said the Senate expects to pass a short-term funding bill ahead of the late Friday deadline to keep the government open. Heitkamp said after a couple of big concessions were made, the path for a deal become clear. "Once the Democrats were willing to do more on defense and the Republicans were willing to fulfill the commitment under the Affordable Care Act and not waste money throwing something at a border-security provision that wasn't actually going to enhance security I think those were the two big things that needed to happen," she explained. On Wednesday, the Trump administration dropped its opposition to an Affordable Care Act subsidy for low-income people. The White House previously stopped insisting on funding for a wall on the southern border as part of a bill to keep the government funded. While the solution right now is expected to be a short-term extension, Heitkamp is optimistic about a long-term solution. "If we didn't think that we were there with a negotiated deal, I don't think we'd be agreeing on an extension. It's just a matter of getting the paperwork done so that all the t's are crossed and the i's are dotted," she said. CNBC's Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report. More From CNBC Flounder size limits reduce breeding females Regarding the March 27 story, Measuring flounder a complex undertaking with a big impact: In the article, the expert, Mark Terciero, is quoted as saying that scientists dont know the reason that there are fewer juvenile summer flounder. I have read most of NOAAs published research and have fished for summer flounder for the past 50-plus years, much of it as a deckhand, captain and owner of a party fishing boat. The reason there is low recruitment in summer flounder is because we have been killing the breeders ever since we reached the 18-inch minimum size. There is a graph on the ASMFC website that shows the overfishing begins when the 18-inch minimum size was instituted. If there are fewer breeders, wouldnt there be less fish born, thereby reducing the stock of fish? I know thats a reach on my part and Im not a scientist. Oh wait, I taught science for 30 years and as part of my curriculum taught my students how to read graphs. The real solution to this problem would be to allow the keeping of smaller fish because then we would be keeping males as well as females. It would also reduce the number of discard deaths. NOAAs reply to this would be that some females would not reach maturity and never lay eggs. So their answer is to remove females we know are already breeding, laying two times or more eggs than a first-year breeder would lay. We need a stock of large breeding flounder to keep the species prolific. Joe Zaborowski Galloway Township No-call registry a joke The Federal Trade Commission is doing one bang-up job with the National Do Not Call Registry. Just the other day I received a phone call from Vietnam. When I get calls such as this, I usually pick up the receiver and then immediately hang up. But since the phone call was from Vietnam, curiosity got the best of me. I answered the call. It was a recorded message allegedly from the IRS. Basically, the message said I was delinquent in paying my taxes and I was threatened with all kinds of fines etc. The last thing the message said is that I should call a certain 800 number to discuss my situation. Since when has the IRS set up shop in communist Vietnam? I thought I was on the National Do Not Call Registry. But I must be on the National Do Call Registry. Give me a break! David M. Levin Vineland State shouldnt be able to cancel union contracts How can the state cancel contracts and I cant? New Jersey has come into Atlantic City and canceled the police and fire contracts and told the police and fire department officers that the negotiated contracts are only paper and dont mean anything. How come I cant tell my mortgage company that the contract is only paper and doesnt mean anything? How come I cant cancel my car payment, my electricity bill or my gas bill? If this is good for the state, then it should be good for me too. Please tell me how the state can cancel contracts and I cant without being sued for everything I own. Robert Carpenter Egg Harbor City f35 israel Israel received three F-35s from the US on Tuesday, bringing its total inventory of the revolutionary fighter up to five, but according to a French journalist citing French intelligence reports, Israeli F-35s have already carried out combat missions in Syria. In Air Forces Monthly, Thomas Newdick summarized a report from Georges Malbrunot at the French newspaper Le Figaro that said Israel took its F-35s out on a combat mission one month after getting them from the US. Malbrunot reported that on January 12, Israeli F-35s took out a Russian-made S-300 air defense system around Syrian President Bashar Assad's palace in Damascus and a Russian-made Pantsir-S1 mobile surface-to-air missile system set for delivery to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel has repeatedly and firmly asserted that its goal to make sure weapons cannot reach Hezbollah, a terror group that has sworn to seek the destruction of Israel. In March, Israel said it had conducted an airstrike in Syria. "When we know about an attempt to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah, we do whatever we can to prevent this from happening, provided we have sufficient information and capabilities to react," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, according to Russian state-run media. However, the other details of the story seem unlikely. The only known S-300 system in Syria is operated by the Russians near their naval base, so hitting that would mean killing Russian service members. There are no reports that this happened. The S-300 air defence system launches a missile during the International Army Games 2016 at the Ashuluk military polygon outside Astrakhan, Russia, August 7, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Tyler Rogoway of The Drive pointed out that the Pantsir-S1 air defenses would bolster Hezbollah in Lebanon, but Israel wouldn't be under immediate pressure to destroy this system. Its jets have advanced air-defense-suppression and electronic-warfare capabilities that limit the threat posed by the Pantsir-S1 and make it unlikely that Israel would risk F-35s to attack it. Story continues But parts of the French report hold up there was indeed an airstrike on January 12 at the Mezzeh air base. The Syrian government accused Israel of the strike, according to the BBC. Jeff Halper, the author of "War Against the People," a book that looks at the military ties between Israel and the US, told Al Jazeera that Israeli pilots may be the first to see combat action in the F-35. "Israel serves as the test-bed for the development of these kinds of new weapons," Halper said. "The F-35 will be tested in the field, in real time, by Israel. The likelihood is that the first time the plane is used in combat will be with Israeli pilots flying it." israeli air force formation blue flag israel The F-35's stealth abilities remain untested, and only in a heavily contested environment could the F-35 really meet its match. In the past, F-35 pilots have complained that surface-to-air threats are not advanced enough to provide realistic training, and the Air Force has run short on adversary services to provide enough competition to prove the F-35's capabilities. In the case of the S-300, experts have told Business Insider that it would take a stealth jet like the F-35 to safely take it out. While the details of the strike remain sketchy and unverifiable, Halper's "test-bed" assertion has in the past been true of US-Israeli defense projects, like missile defenses. Rogoway also said Israel's history of rushing new platforms to the front lines was possible supporting evidence. F-35 On Thursday, the Syrian government again accused Israel of an airstrike, this one near Damascus International Airport. Short of taking responsibility for the attack, Israeli officials said they supported strikes on Hezbollah targets. NOW WATCH: Watch the King of Jordan participate in a military exercise with his armed forces According to the BBC, Israeli's intelligence minister, Israel Katz, told Israeli Army Radio: "I can confirm that the incident in Syria corresponds completely with Israel's policy to act to prevent Iran's smuggling of advanced weapons via Syria to Hezbollah in Iran. Naturally, I don't want to elaborate on this." Related: For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. More From Business Insider Acquisition will join leading minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic solutions provider with systems integration pioneer CENTER VALLEY, Pennsylvania, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 28, 2017, Olympus Corporation of the Americas (OCA) based in Center Valley, PA signed a definitive agreement to acquire Image Stream Medical, Inc., a healthcare systems integrator based in Littleton, MA. Olympus is a leading precision technology provider, designing and delivering innovative solutions for medical and surgical procedures, among other core businesses. This acquisition will further enable both companies to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs and enhance quality of life for patients. Image Stream Medical's technology and know-how has made sophisticated visualization and healthcare environment integration for their customers simple and intuitive. Image Stream Medical's unique expertise includes a deep knowledge of IP-based image management solutions, the ability to offer superior end-to-end workflow for every clinical specialty, an approach to IT backbone technology which unifies separate clinical areas allowing complete enterprise-wide access to critical data and media, and the proven experience leveraging Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to provide new, value-added services for healthcare facilities. "We are very happy to welcome Image Stream Medical to the Olympus family," said Nacho Abia, OCA President and CEO. "Image Stream Medical is a top tier integration provider that continues to experience consistent market growth on the strength of its products and operational excellence. This relationship provides us with an exciting opportunity to enhance the continuum of care throughout the healthcare enterprise. We believe the acquisition of Image Stream Medical will accelerate our progress in achieving the universal goals of healthcare reform and furthers our ability to achieve our mission of contributing to society by making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling around the world." "Image Steam Medical was founded with the vision of solving the key clinical and business challenges for healthcare systems by facilitating collaboration across their enterprises. By connecting clinicians with the visual insights they need, and with each other no matter where they are, we help teams work more efficiently and effectively," said Eddie Mitchell, Image Stream Medical CEO. "I couldn't be more excited today as we move forward to join Olympus to help better realize that vision. The combination of Olympus' unparalleled imaging and surgical technology, together with the innovative and customer-focused solutions we have cultivated at Image Stream Medical, will allow our customers to provide improved care for their patients." "The synergy between Olympus and Image Stream Medical is unprecedented," said Todd Usen, President of the Medical Systems Group at OCA. "Combining Olympus' global reach and expertise, world class support infrastructure, and market leadership with Image Stream Medical's innovative products, will result in superior work flow and patient care and safety enhancements for healthcare enterprises. We are thrilled to soon create better platforms to provide patients with increased access to more advanced procedures, such as minimally invasive surgeries." The acquisition will initially benefit the business and customers in the U.S. and it will help Olympus to subsequently create a leading global Systems Integration platform. Olympus and Image Stream Medical customers will experience no immediate changes in resources, services or contacts. Over time, customers will have the opportunity to enhance their systems integration implementation based on an expanded and enhanced portfolio and expertise. Image Stream Medical will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary under the existing name for the foreseeable future. More details on the acquisition will be available in the future. About Olympus Corporation of the Americas Olympus is a global precision technology, designing and delivering innovative solutions in its core business areas of Medical and Surgical Products, Scientific Solutions, and Cameras and Audio Products. Through this technology, Olympus contributes to society every day by making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. Olympus Corporation of the Americas a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Corporation in Tokyo, Japan is headquartered in Center Valley, Pa., employs more than 5,000 people, and manages the Company's operations and business activities throughout North and South America. For more information, visit Olympus at www.olympusamerica.com. About Image Stream Medical Image Stream Medical is a leader in clinical visual collaboration solutions and focused on a single mission: to improve healthcare by connecting providers with the visual information and collaborative insight they need to deliver exceptional patient care. Since founding in 1999, Image Stream Medical has achieved that goal by innovating healthcare environment integration solutions that make powerful capabilities easy to use. The result is a clinical workflow experience that is more intuitive, natural and efficient. For more information, visit Image Stream Medical at www.imagestreammedical.com. Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/495545/Olympus_Corporation_of_the_Americas_Image_Stream_Medical_Logo.jpg SOURCE Olympus Corporation of the Americas Herborist was established in 1998 after years of research on Chinese herbal medicine and ancient beauty secret recipes. By leveraging the modern cutting-edge technology, Herborist has extracted the essences of herbs that are purer, fresher, safer and more stable than those used by ancient Chinese people and has applied them in its product development. Herborist has thus become the first brand that truly applies Chinese herbal formulas in skin care products, which in a way inherits and rejuvenates the herbal culture, opening a new chapter in the herbal skin care sector. With deep endorsement of the Chinese culture, Herborist not only explores the China market, but also has officially entered the European market after obtaining EU certification in 2008. On April 17, 2015, Herborist opened its first overseas flagship store in Paris in hopes that more western consumers will get to know and fall in love with herbal skin care, as well as the Chinese culture. A new chapter in applying traditional classics in the modern world: weave Beauty of Oriental Brocade Herborist has long been committed to disseminating and preserving the Chinese culture. For example, it collaborated with the inheritor of the filigree inlaying technique, a national intangible cultural heritage, to design an upgraded flower totem that is applied in the packaging of the third-generation product of Herborist. It has also launched a limited edition of Tai Chi Capsule packaging based on the twelve ancient beauties. The art design of the packing was supervised by the Palace Museum in Beijing. In the 2016 Herborist Festival, Herborist collaborated with "XIHAN Action" for the first time to provide support for the Beijing embroidery preservation project, an effort to protect intangible cultural heritage by applying the traditional classics in the modern world. In 2017, Herborist cooperated again with "XIHAN Action" to bring Nanjing brocade to the festival. Jiang Yiyan, a famous Chinese actress, was invited to unveil the limited edition of brocade gift box created for this year's Herborist Festival on April 17, offering an opportunity for everyone to get a touch of the beauty of brocade. Nanjing brocade is the most famous one among China's top four traditional brocades and it used to be royal tribute in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. It is made of mulberry silk, gold and silver lines and peacock feathers. Looking splendid, as pretty as the rosy clouds, brocade represents the highest standards for Chinese silk weaving technique. In 2009, Nanjing brocade was officially listed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. However, today's mechanized production leaves little room for development of this ancient weaving technique that relies on manpower. To recover this missing beauty, Herborist launched the limited edition of brocade gift box in cooperation with XIHAN Action's brocade protection program, to give Chinese culture a new life in the new era. Inspired by the traditional Nanjing brocade, the work presents an exquisite and elegant limited edition design by merging natural vegetation elements and balancing traditional and modern aesthetics. Omni-channel celebration in China and abroad This year's April 17 Herborist Festival was the first one celebrated through omni-channels. Herborist worked with Tmall.com, the No. 1 shopping website in China, to engage with consumers through offline and online channels in China as well as in western countries. From the online side, Herborist worked with the "Tmall Super Brand Day", and leveraged Tmall's online resources, to conduct live stream of celebrities, providing diversified channels for consumers to interact with the brand. In addition to the online resources, multiple offline sales channels have carried out activities around the theme "Herborist Festival on April 17, Beauty of Oriental Brocade" too. Offline stores in China and western countries arranged themed displays, and different channels provided brocade gift boxes in different colors, specifications and with different products. For more information about activities and gift box of the festival, you can visit the Herborist store on Tmall.com, or Herborist offline stores in China or abroad, including the flagship store in Paris. SOURCE Herborist ATLANTA, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions, today announced financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2017. "We're very pleased with our first quarter results," said John Robinson, Chief Executive Officer. "Strong performance at Progressive Leasing and solid execution in the Aaron's Business drove increased customer count, lease revenue and earnings in the quarter." "Progressive built on its impressive momentum in door and invoice growth, and its lease portfolio is generating consistently strong performance. We remain optimistic about our ability to continue gaining share in Progressive's large, addressable market," Mr. Robinson stated. "The Aaron's Business benefited from improved operational execution, and we're encouraged with the progress we are making to transform the Aaron's direct-to-consumer platform," continued Mr. Robinson. "Our unique set of assets positions us well to drive long-term growth, and we're making strategic investments to better serve credit-challenged consumers in today's dynamic marketplace." "We are well capitalized to fund our strategic objectives. We generated $104 million of cash from operations, reduced long-term debt and repurchased stock in the first quarter. We ended the period with $348 million in cash and net debt to capitalization of approximately 7%, down from 21% a year ago," Mr. Robinson concluded. Financial Summary Aaron's, Inc. (the "Company") conducts its operations through three primary businesses: 1) Aaron's branded company-owned and franchised lease-to-own stores, Aarons.com and Woodhaven (collectively, the "Aaron's Business"); 2) the Progressive Leasing virtual lease-to-own business ("Progressive Leasing"); and 3) Dent-A-Med, Inc. ("DAMI"), our second-look financing business. For the first quarter of 2017, Company revenues were $844.6 million compared with $854.4 million for the first quarter of 2016. Net earnings increased to $53.3 million compared with $49.7 million in the prior year period. Diluted earnings per share increased to $0.74 compared with $0.68 per share a year ago. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was 35.5% compared with 37.7% for the prior year period. On a non-GAAP basis, net earnings for the first quarter of 2017 increased to $57.8 million compared with $52.1 million for the same period in 2016, and earnings per share assuming dilution were $0.80 in the first quarter of 2017 compared with $0.71 for the same quarter in 2016. In 2017, non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share exclude the effects of amortization expense resulting from our 2014 acquisition of Progressive Leasing and the Aaron's Business and DAMI restructuring charges. In 2016, non-GAAP results exclude the effects of Progressive Leasing amortization, a gain on the sale of the Company's former headquarters building, charges primarily related to the retirement of our former CFO, and an impairment charge resulting from the HomeSmart disposition. Adjusted EBITDA for the Company, which excludes the charges and adjustments mentioned above, was $109.4 million for the first quarter of 2017, compared with $104.0 million for the same period in 2016. See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information" and the related non-GAAP reconciliation accompanying this press release. The Company generated $104.2 million in cash from operations during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and ended the first quarter with $348.5 million in cash compared with $308.6 million at the end of 2016. The Company repurchased 1,208,466 shares of its common stock during the first quarter of 2017, and has authorization to purchase an additional 7,915,255 shares. The Aaron's Business Results For the first quarter of 2017, total revenues for the Aaron's Business decreased 13.4% to $470.2 million from $543.0 million in the first quarter of 2016. Lease revenue and fees for the three months ended March 31, 2017 decreased 13.2% compared with the same period in 2016. Non-retail sales, which primarily consist of merchandise sales to the Company's franchisees, decreased 12.6% for the first quarter compared with the prior-year period. On May 13, 2016, the Company completed the sale of its HomeSmart business. Revenues for the HomeSmart business in the first quarter of 2016 were $17.8 million. Excluding HomeSmart, total revenues for the Aaron's Business decreased 10.5% for the first quarter compared with the prior-year period. Earnings before income taxes for the Aaron's Business were $48.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with $60.7 million for the same period a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA in the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $61.2 million compared with $70.9 million for the same period a year ago. As a percentage of revenue, Adjusted EBITDA was 13.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with 13.1% for the same period last year. Write offs for damaged, lost or unsaleable merchandise were 3.5% of revenues in both periods. Same store revenues (revenues earned in Company-operated stores open for the entirety of both quarters) decreased 9.3% during the first quarter of 2017, compared with the first quarter of 2016, and customer count on a same store basis was down 5.9%. Company-operated Aaron's stores had 937,000 customers at March 31, 2017, a 6.7% decrease from the first quarter of 2016, excluding HomeSmart customers for both periods. At March 31, 2017, the Aaron's Business had 1,155 Company-operated stores and 688 franchised stores. During the first quarter of 2017, one Company-operated store and nine franchised stores were consolidated or closed. Nine Company-operated stores were sold to a third party. As discussed previously, the Company has undertaken a review of its store base to identify underperforming stores and right size its footprint in existing markets. As part of that review, the Company closed one store in the first quarter of 2017 and identified approximately 70 additional stores to be closed in the second quarter of 2017. The Company continues to expect it will incur an aggregate pre-tax charge of approximately $13 million in 2017 with respect to the stores that have been identified for closure. The Company may decide to close additional stores in future periods. Progressive Leasing Results Progressive Leasing's revenue in the first quarter of 2017 increased 19.4% to $366.1 million from $306.7 million in the first quarter of 2016. Active doors increased 38% in the first quarter of 2017 to approximately 18,600. Invoice volume per active door declined 12.8% in the quarter, driven by strong growth in new doors. Progressive Leasing had 604,000 customers at March 31, 2017, a 19% increase from March 31, 2016. Earnings before income taxes for Progressive Leasing were $35.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared with $21.9 million for the same period a year ago. EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $48.5 million compared with $34.8 million for the same period of 2016. As a percentage of revenues, EBITDA was 13.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with 11.3% for the same period in 2016. Write offs for damaged, lost or unsaleable merchandise were 4.8% of revenue in the first quarter of 2017, compared with 6.2% in the same period of 2016. DAMI Results Revenue for DAMI was $8.2 million in the first quarter of 2017, compared with $4.8 million in the first quarter of 2016. DAMI's loss before income taxes was $1.8 million for the three months ending March 31, 2017, compared with a loss before income taxes of $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2016. Its pre-tax, pre-provision loss was $1.2 million in both periods. DAMI has performed in line with our expectations in the first quarter of 2017. Pre-tax, pre-provision loss is a non-GAAP measure that represents loss before income taxes adjusted so that loan charge-offs and recoveries are recognized in earnings as they occur by excluding the effect on earnings of changes to management's provision for estimated future loan losses. See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information" and the related non-GAAP reconciliation accompanying this press release for more information regarding the calculation of pre-tax, pre-provision loss. Significant Components of Revenue Consolidated lease revenues and fees for the three months ended March 31, 2017 increased 0.3% over the same prior year period. Franchise royalties and fees decreased 12.9% in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the same period a year ago. The decrease in franchise royalties and fees was the combined result of decreases in revenues generated by our franchisees and the number of franchised stores. Our franchisee revenues totaled $230.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2017, a decrease of 7.8% from the same period for the prior year. Same store revenues for franchised stores were down 4.9% and same store customer counts were down 4.1% for the first quarter of 2017 compared with the same quarter for the prior year. Franchised stores had 520,000 customers at the end of the first quarter, a 7.5% decline from the prior year ago period (revenues and customers of franchisees are not revenues and customers of the Aaron's Business or Aaron's, Inc.). 2017 Outlook The outlook the Company issued on February 17, 2017 remains unchanged. Conference Call and Webcast Aaron's, Inc. will hold a conference call to discuss its quarterly results on Friday, April 28, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The public is invited to listen to the conference call by webcast accessible through the Company's Investor Relations website, investor.aarons.com. The webcast will be archived for playback at that same site. About Aaron's, Inc. Headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), is a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions. The Aaron's Business engages in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories through its more than 1,800 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform, Aarons.com. In addition, Progressive Leasing, a virtual lease-to-own company, provides lease-purchase solutions through approximately 22,000 retail locations in 46 states. Dent-A-Med, Inc., d/b/a the HELPcard, provides a variety of second-look credit products that are originated through federally insured banks. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, Aarons.com, ProgLeasing.com, and HELPcard.com. "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this news release regarding our business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may," "expect," "expectations," "outlook," "forecast," "guidance," "intend," "believe," "could," "project," "estimate," "anticipate," "should" and similar terminology. These risks and uncertainties include factors such as changes in general economic conditions, competition, pricing, legal and regulatory proceedings, customer privacy, information security, customer demand, the execution and results of our strategy and expense reduction and store closure and consolidation initiatives, risks related to Progressive Leasing's "virtual" lease-to-own business, the outcome of Progressive Leasing's pilot or test programs with various retailers and the results of Progressive Leasing's efforts to expand its relationships with existing retailer partners and establish new partnerships with additional retailers, and the other risks and uncertainties discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. Statements in this release that are "forward-looking" include without limitation statements regarding: Aaron's, Inc.'s projected results (including Progressive Leasing's and DAMI's results) and guidance for 2017, the number of stores the Company expects to close in the second quarter of 2017 and the charges expected to be incurred in connection therewith, continuing to gain share in Progressive Leasing's markets, transforming the Aaron's direct-to-consumer platform, driving long-term growth, the outcome and results of our strategic investments and objectives, and our ability to fund those investments, and management's capital allocation plans. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date of this press release. Aaron's, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Earnings (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 Revenues: Lease Revenues and Fees $ 743,622 $ 741,611 Retail Sales 8,778 10,955 Non-Retail Sales 69,327 79,305 Franchise Royalties and Fees 14,201 16,295 Interest and Fees on Loans Receivable 8,201 4,763 Other 425 1,498 Total 844,554 854,427 Costs and Expenses: Depreciation of Lease Merchandise 361,998 348,302 Retail Cost of Sales 5,391 7,065 Non-Retail Cost of Sales 62,085 71,385 Operating Expenses 328,825 348,424 Restructuring Expenses 327 Other Operating (Income) Expense, Net (561) (6,729) Total 758,065 768,447 Operating Profit 86,489 85,980 Interest Income 974 421 Interest Expense (5,815) (6,312) Other Non-Operating Income (Expense), Net 975 (361) Earnings Before Income Taxes 82,623 79,728 Income Taxes 29,323 30,041 Net Earnings $ 53,300 $ 49,687 Earnings Per Share $ 0.75 $ 0.68 Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution $ 0.74 $ 0.68 Weighted Average Shares Outstanding 71,318 72,634 Weighted Average Shares Outstanding Assuming Dilution 72,386 73,217 Selected Balance Sheet Data (In thousands) (Unaudited) March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 348,490 $ 308,561 Investments 21,439 20,519 Accounts Receivable, Net 93,709 95,777 Lease Merchandise, Net 984,555 999,381 Loans Receivable, Net 83,593 84,804 Property, Plant and Equipment, Net 204,447 211,271 Other Assets, Net 888,251 895,423 Total Assets 2,624,484 2,615,736 Debt 484,716 497,829 Total Liabilities 1,124,291 1,134,138 Shareholders' Equity $ 1,500,193 $ 1,481,598 Selected Cash Flow Data (In thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 Cash Provided by Operating Activities $ 104,179 $ 195,651 Cash Used by Investing Activities (10,682) 891 Cash Used by Financing Activities (53,587) (92,579) Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash & Cash Equivalents 19 Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents 39,929 103,963 Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period 308,561 14,942 Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period $ 348,490 $ 118,905 Aaron's, Inc. and Subsidiaries Quarterly Revenues by Segment (In thousands) (Unaudited) THREE MONTHS ENDED March 31, 2017 The Aaron's Business(1) Progressive Leasing DAMI Consolidated Total Lease Revenues and Fees $ 377,507 $ 366,115 $ $ 743,622 Retail Sales 8,778 8,778 Non-Retail Sales 69,327 69,327 Franchise Royalties and Fees 14,201 14,201 Interest and Fees on Loans Receivable 8,201 8,201 Other 425 425 $ 470,238 $ 366,115 $ 8,201 $ 844,554 THREE MONTHS ENDED March 31, 2016 The Aaron's Business(1) Progressive Leasing DAMI Consolidated Total Lease Revenues and Fees $ 434,946 $ 306,665 $ $ 741,611 Retail Sales 10,955 10,955 Non-Retail Sales 79,305 79,305 Franchise Royalties and Fees 16,295 16,295 Interest and Fees on Loans Receivable 4,763 4,763 Other 1,498 1,498 $ 542,999 $ 306,665 $ 4,763 $ 854,427 (1) During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company changed its composition of reportable segments by combining Sales and Lease Ownership, Franchise, Woodhaven, and unallocated corporate costs into one reportable segment, the Aaron's Business, to align with the Company's internal reporting of operating results. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information: Non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are supplemental measures of our performance that are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2017 each exclude $6.6 million in Progressive Leasing-related intangible amortization expense and $0.3 million in restructuring charges. Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share for 2016 exclude $6.6 million in Progressive Leasing-related intangible amortization expense, an $11.1 million gain from the sale of the Company's headquarters building, $3.7 million in retirement and severance charges and a $4.6 million impairment charge related to the HomeSmart asset sale. The EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA figures presented in this press release are calculated as the Company's earnings before interest expense, depreciation on property, plant and equipment, amortization of intangible assets and income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes the other adjustments described in the calculation of non-GAAP net earnings above. Management believes that non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide relevant and useful information, and are widely used by analysts, investors and competitors in our industry as well as by our management in assessing both consolidated and business unit performance. Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings provides management and investors with an understanding of the results from the primary operations of our business by excluding the effects of certain items that generally arose from larger, one-time transactions that are not reflective of the ordinary earnings activity of our operations. This measure may be useful to an investor in evaluating the underlying operating performance of our business. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA also provides management and investors with an understanding of one aspect of earnings before the impact of investing and financing charges and income taxes. These measures may be useful to an investor in evaluating our operating performance and liquidity because the measures: Are widely used by investors to measure a company's operating performance without regard to items excluded from the calculation of such measure, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods, book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired, among other factors. Are a financial measurement that is used by rating agencies, lenders and other parties to evaluate our creditworthiness. Are used by our management for various purposes, including as a measure of performance of our operating entities and as a basis for strategic planning and forecasting. Finally, this press release presents pre-tax, pre-provision loss for DAMI, which is also a supplemental measure not calculated in accordance with GAAP. Management believes this measure is useful because it gives management and investors an additional, supplemental metric to assess DAMI's underlying operational performance for the period. Due to the growth of our originated credit card loan portfolio after our October 2015 acquisition of DAMI, we believe pre-provision, pre-tax loss helps investors to assess DAMI's operating performance until such time as the credit card portfolio reaches levels which management believes will be normal and recurring. Management uses this measure as one of its bases for strategic planning and forecasting for DAMI. Our use of pre-provision, pre-tax loss may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies, because not all companies and analysts calculate these measures in the same manner. Non-GAAP financial measures, however, should not be used as a substitute for, or considered superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as the Company's GAAP basis net earnings and diluted earnings per share and the GAAP earnings before income taxes of the Company's segments, which are also presented in the press release. Further, we caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definitions of non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and pre-tax, pre-provision loss may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies, because not all companies and analysts calculate these measures in the same manner. Reconciliation of Net Earnings and Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution to Non-GAAP Net Earnings and Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution (In thousands, except earnings per share) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 Net Earnings $ 53,300 $ 49,687 Add Progressive Leasing-Related Intangible Amortization Expense (1)(2) 4,249 4,105 Less Gain on Sale of Building (3) (6,899) Add Retirement and Severance Charges (4) 2,295 Add Loss on Assets Held for Sale (5) 2,881 Add Restructuring (6) 211 Non-GAAP Net Earnings $ 57,760 $ 52,069 Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution $ 0.74 $ 0.68 Add Progressive Leasing-Related Intangible Amortization Expense (1)(2) 0.06 0.06 Less Gain on Sale of Building (3) (0.09) Add Retirement and Severance Charges (4) 0.03 Add Loss on Assets Held for Sale (5) 0.04 Add Restructuring (6) Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution (7) $ 0.80 $ 0.71 Weighted Average Shares Outstanding Assuming Dilution 72,386 73,217 (1) Net of taxes of $2,338 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 calculated using the effective tax rate for the respective periods. (2) Net of taxes of $2,482 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 calculated using the effective tax rate for the respective periods. (3) Net of taxes of $(4,172) for the three months ended March 31, 2016 calculated using the effective tax rate for the period. (4) Net of taxes of $1,388 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 calculated using the effective tax rate for the period. (5) Net of taxes of $1,742 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 calculated using the effective tax rate for the respective periods. (6) Net of taxes of $116 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 calculated using the effective tax rate for the respective periods. (7) In some cases, the sum of individual EPS amounts may not equal total EPS calculations due to rounding. DAMI Pre-tax, Pre-provision Loss (In thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 Loss Before Income Taxes $ (1,765) $ (2,882) Add: Adjustment to Increase Allowance for Loan Losses During Period 591 1,652 Pre-tax, Pre-provision Loss $ (1,174) $ (1,230) Due to the growth of our originated credit card loan portfolio subsequent to the October 2015 acquisition of DAMI, we believe pre-provision, pre-tax loss helps investors to assess DAMI's operating performance until such time as the credit card portfolio reaches levels which management believes will be normal and recurring. Our use of pre-provision, pre-tax loss may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies, because not all companies and analysts calculate these measures in the same manner. Aaron's, Inc. and Subsidiaries Non-GAAP Financial Information Quarterly Segment EBITDA (In thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 The Aaron's Business(1) Progressive Leasing DAMI Consolidated Total Net Earnings $ $ $ $ 53,300 Income Taxes 29,323 Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes 48,630 35,758 (1,765) 82,623 Interest Expense (70) 4,763 1,122 5,815 Depreciation 11,877 1,393 143 13,413 Amortization 495 6,587 145 7,227 EBITDA $ 60,932 $ 48,501 $ (355) $ 109,078 Restructuring Expenses 237 90 327 Adjusted EBITDA $ 61,169 $ 48,501 $ (265) $ 109,405 Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 The Aaron's Business(1) Progressive Leasing DAMI Consolidated Total Net Earnings $ $ $ $ 49,687 Income Taxes 30,041 Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes 60,696 21,914 (2,882) 79,728 Interest Expense 113 5,202 997 6,312 Depreciation 12,413 1,075 102 13,590 Amortization 431 6,587 135 7,153 EBITDA $ 73,653 $ 34,778 $ (1,648) $ 106,783 Gain on Sale of Building (11,071) (11,071) Retirement/Severance Charges 3,683 3,683 Assets Held for Sale Impairment 4,623 4,623 Adjusted EBITDA $ 70,888 $ 34,778 $ (1,648) $ 104,018 (1) During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company changed its composition of reportable segments by combining Sales and Lease Ownership, Franchise, Woodhaven, and unallocated corporate costs into one reportable segment, the Aaron's Business, to align with the Company's internal reporting of operating results. SOURCE Aaron's, Inc. Related Links http://www.aaronsinc.com COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AEP Generation Resources Inc. (AEPGR), a competitive generation subsidiary of American Electric Power Company (NYSE: AEP), is seeking proposals for the supply of coal to one or more generating stations. AEPGR is seeking delivery proposals, FOB barge and FOB Cardinal Plant, beginning in first-quarter 2018 and lasting a term of up to three years. AEPGR is open to alternative pricing structures or other innovative, value-added concepts. Proposals with alternative terms will be accepted. Accepted bids will be at AEPGR's discretion. Proposal packages must be received by AEPGR no later than 5 p.m., Thursday, May 18, 2017. Proposals can be submitted by e-mail to [email protected], or by mail to AEPGR RFP- Coal Proposal, ATTN: Kimberly Chilcote, Manager, Fuel Procurement, AEP Energy Supply, 155 W. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus, Ohio 43215. Complete details about the Requests for Proposals are available at www.aep.com/go/coaloffers or by calling Jim Henry at (614) 583-6974, Kim Chilcote at (614) 583-6301 or Mike Ward (614) 583-7270. American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity and custom energy solutions to nearly 5.4 million customers in 11 states. AEP owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system, a more than 40,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP also operates 224,000 miles of distribution lines. AEP ranks among the nation's largest generators of electricity, owning approximately 26,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also supplies 3,200 megawatts of renewable energy to customers. AEP's utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP's headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio. SOURCE American Electric Power Related Links http://www.aep.com ARLINGTON, Texas, April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AGORA Data, Inc. ("AGORA"), a Texas-based provider of technology solutions for the financial services industry, announces the launch of its groundbreaking and market-disrupting exchange software for the auto finance industry. AGORA is a cloud-based marketplace that enables buyers and sellers of auto loans to transact in a direct manner without the need for brokers or intermediaries. AGORA founder and CEO Steve Burke, a thirty-year veteran of auto finance, launched the business in response to the many friction points and inefficiencies that exist in the manner that auto loan portfolios currently trade namely poor and inconsistent data, lack of transparency from the brokers that dominate the market and heightened regulatory concerns over unsecured transmission of personal consumer data. AGORA founders partnered with a Silicon Valley firm to combine market-leading software development and financial services expertise to build their revolutionary platform. "We are highly confident that AGORA will massively disrupt the status quo and rapidly become the standard through which auto loans are traded going forward," said Burke. "We have strong conviction about the future success of AGORA and that it will be a game changer for the industry. Since we launched AGORA on April 3, 2017 we have listed over $100 million in loans for sale well ahead of our projected pace. By using AGORA, buyers and seller will never pay broker fees again!" Burke continued. Steve Gertz, partner to AGORA said, "With AGORA, we've created an innovative platform that introduces a new way to buy and sell loans in a secure marketplace. Our focus is providing a more sophisticated and easy way to transact." Through its proprietary technology, AGORA maps directly into dealer management systems ("DMS") and loan servicing systems ("LSS") to allow dealers, finance companies and other prospective sellers of loans to seamlessly load their loan data into the AGORA network. AGORA captures and stores the data in a standardized fashion and in a highly secured and encrypted environment. Once loaded, sellers can flag specific loans they wish to advertise as available for sale, along with any key terms and conditions of the offered portfolio. Using AGORA's flexible and customizable search engine, interested buyers can search to find portfolios that meet their specific criteria, filter based on a wide range of conditions and reflect bids (including material terms and conditions) back to the seller. About Agora Data, Inc. Founded by industry veterans, Agora Data, Inc. is an Arlington, Texas-based developer of financial services enabling software and solutions. Its flagship application AGORA was launched to create a true marketplace in a data-encrypted and secured environment for buyers and sellers of auto loans. With the launch of its initial commercial release, AGORA has turned to build out subsequent releases to include extremely robust due diligence, pricing, reporting and compliance modules for the platform. Visit www.agoradata.com for more information. Media Contact: Steve Burke, Phone: 682-777-2003, Email: [email protected] This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE AGORA Data, Inc. Related Links http://www.agoradata.com NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its leadership role in driving compliant interactions for the Life Sciences industry, AHM will be taking an eminent role in the following upcoming conferences with their strategic partners, Veeva Systems and Cvent. * On May 7-9, Veeva will host its Global Commercial & Medical Summit in Philadelphia. AHM is a Platinum Sponsor of the event and will be showcasing its Veeva Connector integration and co-presenting with a joint AHM-Veeva customer on the benefits of the combined solution. Collaboratively, AHM and Veeva provide an integrated offering to customers with an end-to-end solution for meetings and events management that ensures effective, compliant and high value engagements between a Life Sciences company and healthcare professionals (HCPs). * On June 12-16 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, AHM will be exhibiting and speaking at Cvent CONNECT 2017. As a featured speaker at Cvent CONNECT 2017, AHM will provide its thought leadership within the Life Sciences track titled "Driving Compliance across All Meetings and Events." Cvent is a recognized leader in strategic meeting management technology. CONNECT is the premier event technology conference, bringing together event and hospitality professionals to collaborate, learn, and engage. AHM's participation in both conferences highlights the strategic nature of the relationship between AHM and its key partners and the creation of an enterprise level solution for global meetings and events management. For more information, visit AHM Events or email [email protected]. SOURCE AHM Related Links http://www.ahmdirect.com AUSTIN, Texas, April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC applauded final adoption of the Texas anti-BDS bill today in the state legislature. The State Senate passed the reconciliation measure following last week's unanimous House adoption of the bill. Governor Abbott is expected to sign the bill into law on May 2, Israeli Independence Day. "The Texas-Israel relationship is essential. In addition to our shared democratic values, Israel is the state's fourth largest trading partner," said AJC Dallas Director Joel Schwitzer. "We are grateful for the leadership of Representative Phil King and Senator Brandon Creighton in championing this important legislation." AJC met with the governor's senior staff in February 2016, to discuss his recent trip to Israel and initiatives to combat BDS. In September, Abbott told AJC and other Jewish leaders that he wanted anti-BDS legislation "with teeth." "With this bill, Texas is expressing strong support for Israel and its supporters in our state, and delivering firm opposition to BDS proponents," said Randy Czarlinsky, Director of AJC Houston. Governor Abbott was the first to sign on to AJCs Governors United Against BDS initiative. Co-chaired by Abbott, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy, the statement has been signed to date by 45 governors and the mayor of Washington, D.C. SOURCE American Jewish Committee GUANGZHOU, China, April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Company's Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which can be accessed via the following link: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1041668/000114420417022566/v463962_20f.htm A hard copy of the Company's complete audited annual report will be provided to any shareholder, free of charge, upon written request addressed to Company Secretary Office, China Southern Airlines Company Limited, at 278 Jichang Road, Guangzhou 510405 Guangdong Province, the Peoples Republic of China. General Information During 2016, the Group recorded an operating revenue of RMB114,981 million, the Group recorded a net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company of RMB5,044 million. Earnings per share was RMB 0.51. The board of the Company recommended the payment of a final dividend of RMB1 (inclusive of applicable tax) per 10 shares. Looking forward to 2017, the Chairman of the Group, Mr. Wang Chang Shun said, "From the global economy perspective, the economy of the world as a whole shows a sluggish growth, Chinese economy will be able to maintain a mid-to-high-speed growth under the new normal, and that will continue to rank the forefront of the world's major economies in terms of economic growth. Under the general principle of "Steady Progress", the strategic concept of "Safety First" and the strategic guideline of "Market Orientation", the Group will endeavor to create a strategic layout of "Dual Hubs" of Guangzhou-Beijing. From the industry perspective, under the upgrade of consumption structure of citizens and the golden development period of tourism industry in the golden period of development, China's civil aviation industry is still in the period with promising strategic opportunities with vast market potential. Strategy comes first in terms of corporate development, the Group will adhere firmly to the strategic orientation of standardization, integration, intellectualization and internationalization, the Group will deepen the reform and keep on implementing its strategies to ensure aviation safety and excellent performance. The Group is marching forward to the goal of becoming a world first-class aviation industry group with international competitiveness, striving to offer returns to its shareholders and the society with better performance. About China Southern Airlines Company Limited Listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange and Shanghai Stock Exchange (respective stock code: 1055.HK, ZNH.N, 600029.SH) with headquarters based in Guangzhou, China Southern Airlines' company logo can be seen around the globe with a brilliant red kapok delicately adoring a blue vertical tail fin. The general strategic goal of the Group is to establish itself into influential international airlines with an extensive network; to form a developed route network covering China, and the rest of Asia, and effectively connecting Europe, America, Australasia and Africa. Through close cooperation with members from the SKYTEAM, the Group connected 1,062 destinations in 177 countries and regions. For further information, please visit the Company website: http://www.csair.com. Contact Email of Investor Relations: [email protected] Safe Harbor and Informational Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "if," "will," "expect," and similar statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations as of the date of this press release. You should not rely upon these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. SOURCE China Southern Airlines Related Links http://www.csair.com "These promotions reinforce the strength of talent we have across the development organization at Astellas," said Bernhardt G. Zeiher, M.D., president, Development, Astellas. "I couldn't be more pleased that Joe, Susanne and Andrew will be leading critical parts of our global organization so we can deliver valuable medicines to patients." In his new role, Fleishaker will report directly to Zeiher and be responsible for providing leadership of the clinical pharmacology and early development work across the global development portfolio. Gronen will also report directly to Zeiher and provide global leadership of the Data Sciences function, which includes biostatistics, data management, medical writing, statistical programming, and systems management. Krivoshik will report directly to Steven Benner, M.D., senior vice president and Therapeutic Area Head for Oncology. He will lead the medical group within the Oncology therapeutic area and be chiefly responsible for helping to advance Astellas' promising oncology pipeline, which includes numerous clinical programs in areas such as prostate cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, and gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, among others. Fleishaker started his career at the Upjohn Company, which subsequently became Pharmacia, where he was involved in clinical pharmacology research. Since then, he has served in a number of leadership roles including, Head of Translational Medicine; Head of Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, and Metabolism (PDM); and Head of Inflammation Clinical Research at Pfizer, promoting efficient exploratory development programs and the use of biomarkers for early decision-making. Fleishaker has worked across all phases of drug development and has contributed to projects in the central nervous system, infectious disease, cardiovascular, and inflammation therapeutic areas. He received a doctorate degree in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor degree in pharmacy from Duquesne University. He has authored or co-authored more than 80 original research articles, review articles and book chapters and is a Fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology. Fleishaker has served as Chairman of the Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism and Biomarker and Translational Tools Sections of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. He currently chairs both the Board of Trustees of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and the External Advisory Board of the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, and has been a member of the Corporate Advisory Board for the University of Washington College of Pharmacy. Gronen has been with Astellas and Yamanouchi, one of the original founding companies that merged to create Astellas - for more than 16 years. She has served in a variety of leadership roles across the company, including Biostatistics, Business Information Management and R&D Planning and Process Support. Most recently, Gronen led the Data Sciences function, where she was responsible for establishing global standards and best practices for all areas of data science. Prior to joining Astellas, Gronen worked for a global CRO were she held leadership positions in Biostatistics and Data Management. She received a master degree in statistics from the University of Dortmund in Germany and a certificate in pharmaceutical medicine from Basel University in Switzerland. Krivoshik previously served as an executive medical director in the Oncology therapeutic area at Astellas. Prior to joining Astellas, he was a senior medical director at Abbott and completed their professional Physician Development Program. As a clinical development physician, Krivoshik has led and managed global multidisciplinary teams, successfully implemented novel and innovative clinical trial designs, and functioned as a subject matter expert and primary author of clinical protocols, investigator brochures and regulatory submissions spanning the life cycle of clinical development including IND and NDA/MAA filings. He holds a bachelor degree in electrical engineering with honors from Princeton University, a medical degree from the University of Illinois (UIC) College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign, and a doctorate in biophysics and computational biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received his clinical internship and residency training in pediatric and adolescent medicine at Mayo Clinic, and clinical pediatric hematology and oncology fellowship training at Duke University. Krivoshik is licensed in multiple jurisdictions as both a physician and professional engineer and has served as an invited speaker and session chair at many international scientific congresses. About Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas Pharma Inc., co-headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and Northbrook, Ill., is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceuticals. Astellas has approximately 18,000 employees worldwide. The organization is committed to becoming a global category leader in Urology, Immunology (including Transplantation) and Infectious diseases, Oncology, Neuroscience and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Complications and Kidney diseases. For more information on Astellas Pharma Inc., please visit the company website at www.astellas.com/en. SOURCE Astellas Pharma Inc. NEW YORK, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Atento S.A. (NYSE: ATTO), the leading provider of customer relationship management and business process outsourcing services (CRM BPO) in Latin America, and one of the top three providers worldwide, today announced that on April 27th, 2017, it made a $26.7 million (R$84.7 million) voluntary principal prepayment on its Brazilian debentures. The debt prepayment reduces the outstanding principal amount of the Brazilian debentures to $134.9 million (R$428.4 million) as of April 27, 2017. This is the second voluntary prepayment made by the company as part of its accelerated debt pay-down program and stated capital allocation strategy. The prepayment follows a first voluntary amortization of $30.0 million (R$100 million) Brazilian debentures made in December 26, 2016. Mauricio Montilha, Atento's Chief Financial Officer, commented, "As we highlighted during our March earnings call, we continue to accelerate the pay-down of our higher-cost Brazilian debentures, reinforcing our commitment to strengthen our balance sheet and our cost of capital, and to enhance our financial flexibility. The second prepayment of our higher-cost Brazilian debentures was made possible by our commitment to disciplined capital allocation and strict working capital management to improve free cash flow before net interest." Montilha continued, "In addition, we are pleased that Moody's Investors Service has reaffirmed its ratings for Atento Luxco ('Ba3'/Stable) on March 27, recognizing Atento's efforts to maintain its stable credit metrics despite the macroeconomic headwinds in Brazil and other operating markets. Moody's also acknowledged our companys leadership position in its markets, long-term service contracts and our initiatives to diversify revenues, reducing Telefonica concentration, and reduce costs, which includes the rationalization of headcount and the site relocation program." A copy of Moody's press release can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-affirms-Atentos-Ba3-rating-outlook-stable--PR_364319 About Atento Atento is the largest provider of customer relationship management and business process outsourcing (CRM BPO) services in Latin America, and among the top three providers globally, based on revenues. Atento is also a leading provider of nearshoring CRM/BPO services to companies that carry out their activities in the United States. Since 1999, the Company has developed its business model in 13 countries where it employs 150,000 people. Atento has over 400 clients to whom it offers a wide range of CRM/BPO services through multiple channels. Atento's clients are mostly leading multinational corporations in sectors such as telecommunications, banking and financial services, health, retail and public administrations, among others. Atentos shares trade under the symbol ATTO on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In 2016, Atento was named one of the Worlds 25 Best Multinational Workplaces by Great Place to Work for a fourth consecutive year. For more information visit www.atento.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "intends," "continue" or similar terminology. These statements reflect only Atento's current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance or results. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, competition in Atento's highly competitive industries; increases in the cost of voice and data services or significant interruptions in these services; Atento's ability to keep pace with its clients' needs for rapid technological change and systems availability; the continued deployment and adoption of emerging technologies; the loss, financial difficulties or bankruptcy of any key clients; the effects of global economic trends on the businesses of Atento's clients; the non-exclusive nature of Atento's client contracts and the absence of revenue commitments; security and privacy breaches of the systems Atento uses to protect personal data; the cost of pending and future litigation; the cost of defending Atento against intellectual property infringement claims; extensive regulation affecting many of Atento's businesses; Atento's ability to protect its proprietary information or technology; service interruptions to Atento's data and operation centers; Atento's ability to retain key personnel and attract a sufficient number of qualified employees; increases in labor costs and turnover rates; the political, economic and other conditions in the countries where Atento operates; changes in foreign exchange rates; Atento's ability to complete future acquisitions and integrate or achieve the objectives of its recent and future acquisitions; future impairments of our substantial goodwill, intangible assets, or other long-lived assets; and Atento's ability to recover consumer receivables on behalf of its clients. In addition, Atento is subject to risks related to its level of indebtedness. Such risks include Atento's ability to generate sufficient cash to service its indebtedness and fund its other liquidity needs; Atento's ability to comply with covenants contained in its debt instruments; the ability to obtain additional financing; the incurrence of significant additional indebtedness by Atento and its subsidiaries; and the ability of Atento's lenders to fulfill their lending commitments. Atento is also subject to other risk factors described in documents filed by the company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which the statements were made. Atento undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE Atento S.A. Related Links http://www.atento.com BALTIMORE, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities of Baltimore is hosting a celebration in West Baltimore on May 6 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., co-hosted by the St. Edward's Workforce Development Center, Catholic Charities Head Start of Baltimore City and several other programs. Titled "Unity in the Community," the event is focused on education, employment, public safety and access to healthy food, and will take place in the 2800 block of Lafayette St., adjacent to St. Edward Church on Poplar Grove St. About 400 residents of the surrounding Mosher neighborhood in W. Baltimore are expected, and two blocks of Lafayette Street will be closed to traffic. The celebration will begin with a community service project at 11:00 a.m. to help clear the surrounding streets and sidewalks of trash and debris, followed by a cook-out and other activities. A live DJ will be on hand for music and dancing, and there will be games for children. During the celebration, neighbors will have the opportunity to learn more about services available from a number of Catholic Charities programs, including Head Start, Safe Streets, Our Daily Bread Employment Center, St Edward's Workforce Development Center and the Community Connections Food Pantries. The pantries operate in partnership with several area churches: St. Cecilia, Immaculate Conception Baltimore, St. Edward, St. Gregory the Great, St. Peter Claver and St. Pius V. Also participating in the event will be Health Care for the Homeless, Total Health Care, LifeBridge Health, Kaiser Permanente, the Baltimore City Office of Child Support and Homeless Person's Representation Project. Businesses represented at the celebration include TGI Friday's, Nestle, Coca Cola, Herr's and Sodexo. "This fantastic event recognizes and celebrates the remarkable work being done throughout West Baltimore to improve the lives of our neighbors and to help bring greater opportunity to our neighborhoods," said Bill McCarthy, executive director of Catholic Charities of Baltimore. "We are committed to our partnership with the residents of West Baltimore, working together to create a Baltimore where each person has the chance to excel and thrive." About Catholic Charities of Baltimore Catholic Charities of Baltimore is Maryland's largest private provider of human services, offering assistance to children and families, people living in poverty, individuals with intellectual disabilities, immigrants and seniors without regard to religion, race or other circumstances. Inspired by the Gospel mandates to love, serve and teach, the more than 80 programs of Catholic Charities improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of Marylanders each year. Catholic Charities continues a legacy of charity and compassion that began with the establishment of the Catholic Church in Baltimore in 1789. For more information, please visit www.cc-md.org. Catholic Charities has experts available to discuss a wide variety of topics, including poverty, homelessness, mental health, intellectual disabilities, immigration and issues related to aging. Contact: Bob Keenan (443) 263-1929 or (202) 320-3632 SOURCE Catholic Charities of Baltimore ST. LOUIS, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) announced today it will present at the Deutsche Bank 42nd Annual Health Care Conference to be held May 3-4, 2017, at the InterContinental in Boston. Centene is scheduled to present on Thursday, May 4, 2017, at 9:20 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). A simultaneous live audio webcast is also available at: https://conferences.db.com/americas/healthcare17/. A webcast replay will be available afterwards via the Company's website at www.centene.com under the Investors section. About Centene Corporation Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a diversified, multinational healthcare enterprise that provides programs and services to government sponsored healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and Long Term Care (LTC), in addition to other state-sponsored programs, Medicare (including the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly known as "Part D"), as well as programs with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Company operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, care management software, correctional systems healthcare, in-home health services, life and health management, managed vision, pharmacy benefits management, specialty pharmacy and telehealth services. Centene uses its investor relations website to publish important information about the Company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Centene is routinely posted and is accessible on Centene's investor relations website, http://www.centene.com/investors. SOURCE Centene Corporation Related Links http://www.centene.com HOUSTON, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC (NYSE MKT: CQH) ("Cheniere Partners Holdings" or the "Company") announced today that its 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K is now available on the Company's website located at www.cheniere.com. The Company has also filed its 2016 Annual Report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Upon request, Cheniere Partners Holdings will provide a hard copy of the Company's audited financial statements, as contained in its 2016 Annual Report, to shareholders free of charge. Requests can be made on the Company's website or in writing to Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC, Attn: Investor Relations, 700 Milam Street, Suite 1900, Houston, Texas, 77002. About Cheniere Partners Holdings Cheniere Partners Holdings owns a 55.9% limited partner interest in Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE MKT: CQP) ("Cheniere Partners"), a publicly traded limited partnership. Cheniere Partners Holdings' only business consists of owning Cheniere Partners units and, accordingly, its results of operations and financial condition are dependent on the performance of Cheniere Partners. Cheniere Partners owns and operates LNG regasification facilities and, adjacent to these facilities, plans to construct over time up to six natural gas liquefaction trains ("Trains") with an expected aggregate nominal production capacity, which is prior to adjusting for planned maintenance, production reliability, and potential overdesign, of approximately 27 mtpa. Trains 1, 2 and 3 have commenced commercial operations, Train 4 is undergoing commissioning, Train 5 is under construction, and Train 6 is being commercialized and has all necessary regulatory approvals in place. For additional information, please refer to the Cheniere Partners Holdings website at www.cheniere.com and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements that may include "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical or present facts or conditions, included herein are "forward-looking statements." Included among "forward-looking statements" are, among other things, (i) statements regarding Cheniere Partners' and Cheniere Partners Holdings' business strategy, plans and objectives, including the development, construction and operation of liquefaction facilities, (ii) statements regarding expectations regarding regulatory authorizations and approvals, (iii) statements expressing beliefs and expectations regarding the development of Cheniere Partners' LNG terminal and liquefaction business, (iv) statements regarding the business operations and prospects of third parties, (v) statements regarding potential financing arrangements, and (vi) statements regarding future discussions and entry into contracts. Although Cheniere Partners Holdings believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Cheniere Partners Holdings' actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in Cheniere Partners Holdings' periodic reports that are filed with and available from the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Other than as required under the securities laws, Cheniere Partners Holdings does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements. CONTACTS: Investors Randy Bhatia: 713-375-5479 Megan Light: 713-375-5492 Media Eben Burnham-Snyder: 713-375-5764 SOURCE Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC Related Links http://www.cheniere.com SHANGHAI, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- China Rapid Finance Limited ("China Rapid Finance") (NYSE:XRF) announced today that its initial public offering of 10,000,000 American depositary shares ("ADSs") was priced at US$6.00 per ADS, with a total offering size of US$60 million. Each ADS represents one Class A ordinary share of China Rapid Finance. China Rapid Finance has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 ADSs at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commission. The ADSs have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange and are expected to begin trading on April 28, 2017 under the symbol "XRF." Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Jefferies LLC are acting as joint bookrunners for the offering. A registration statement relating to the securities being sold in this offering was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2017. This offering is being made only by means of a written prospectus forming part of the effective registration statement. A copy of the final prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained, when available, by contacting the prospectus department at Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc at Room 214, 2nd Floor, 180 Varick Street, New York, NY, 10014, by telephone at 1-917-606-8487 or by emailing [email protected]; Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC at One Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010, United States, attention: Prospectus Department, by telephone at 1-800-221-1037 or by emailing [email protected]; or Jefferies LLC at 520 Madison Ave., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at 1-877-547-6340 or by emailing [email protected]. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About China Rapid Finance China Rapid Finance operates one of China's largest consumer lending marketplaces in terms of total number of loans, having facilitated approximately 15 million loans to approximately 2 million borrowers at significantly lower borrowing costs than many of its competitors. Investor Relations: China Rapid Finance Limited Sean Zhang Tel: +1 (646) 308-1635 Email: [email protected] ICR, Inc. Xueli Song Tel: +1 (646) 308-1635 Email: [email protected] SOURCE China Rapid Finance LAKEWOOD, Ohio, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens Committee for the Lakewood Animal Shelter (CCLAS) is proudly hosting its 13th Annual Hair of the Dog Happy Hour and Silent Auction on Thursday, May 18th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Around the Corner in Lakewood. As always, 100% of the proceeds will benefit animals in need and allows CCLAS to continue its foster and low-cost spay/neuter programs. Tweet this: Join @CCLASpets for its annual Hair of the Dog Happy Hour & Silent Auction on May 18th https://ctt.ec/Mpfyw+ Citizens Committee for the Lakewood Animal Shelter Hosts 13th Annual Hair of the Dog Fundraiser WHERE: Around the Corner, 18616 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, OH WHEN: Thursday, May 18th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET (Bidding ends around 7:30 p.m.) ADMISSION: $25 per person in advance (visit cclas.org/HOD2017.html to pre-purchase) or $30 per person at the door* Featured Raffle Item Marlen Fine Jewelers has donated a 14-karat white gold pendant with a .63 carat pear-shaped sapphire, surrounded by .41 carats of diamonds (valued at $2,000). Necklace raffle tickets may be purchased online or at the event - one for $20, two for $35. *Please note: There are no paper tickets - those guests who purchase tickets online will simply check in at the door. For more information or to donate an item for the silent auction, please contact Kira S. Kittoe-Krivosh, CCLAS vice president, at [email protected]. Citizens Committee for the Lakewood Animal Shelter (CCLAS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to assisting the companion animals of Lakewood. As well as providing foster and medical care, CCLAS assists in the adoption of abandoned animals, and supports their well-being throughout their stay at the Lakewood Animal Shelter (LAS). CCLAS interacts with the Lakewood community to promote education and advocacy regarding the LAS and responsible pet ownership. We are a private all-volunteer group and we receive no government funding. We rely on individual donations and the support of our generous community for fundraising events like Hair of the Dog to sustain our mission. Citizens Committee for the Lakewood Animal Shelter P.O. Box 771323, Lakewood, OH, 44107 [email protected] http://www.cclas.org Facebook Twitter (@CCLASpets) SOURCE Citizens Committee for the Lakewood Animal Shelter (CCLAS) Related Links http://www.cclas.org FILE PHOTO: The logo of the French bank Societe Generale is seen in front of the bank's headquarters building at La Defense business and financial district in Courbevoie near Paris, France, April 21, 2016. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo By Claire Milhench LONDON (Reuters) - Libya's $67 billion sovereign wealth fund will go head-to-head with Societe Generale in London's High Court on Tuesday over claims the French investment bank paid $58.5 million (45.65 million pounds) in bribes to secure business from the fund. The Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) is pursuing SocGen (SOGN.PA) in relation to five trades totalling $2.1 billion, executed between 2007 and 2009, before Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was ousted as Libyan leader. The LIA claims the trades were secured as part of a "fraudulent and corrupt scheme" involving the payment of $58.5 million by SocGen to a Panamanian-registered company called Lenaida, controlled at the time by Libyan businessman Walid Giahmi. Lenaida was dissolved in 2010. In its latest annual report SocGen said that it "firmly refutes such allegations and any claim calling into question the lawfulness of these investments". Giahmi, who is also named as a defendant in the suit, maintains that he is a legitimate businessman and there was never a fraudulent and corrupt scheme. According to the LIA, Giahmi was in a position to act as a middleman because of his connections with what the fund calls 'Gaddafi Associates', in particular Saif Gaddafi, one of the leader's sons. In a pre-trial hearing last May, the judge ruled in favour of the LIA's requests for further disclosure by Giahmi of phone and banking records to shed light on the nature of the alleged relationship. Libya set up the LIA in 2006 with the aim of investing the large reserves accumulated from its oil revenues and integrating its economy into the international financial system after years of sanctions. It quickly became a magnet for foreign banks and fund managers. The leadership of the LIA remains contested, in a dispute that mirrors the fragmented nature of the country since the fall of Gaddafi in 2011. Last summer the fund lost a high-profile case against Goldman Sachs in which it tried to claw back $1.2 billion from the Wall Street firm in relation to nine equity derivatives investments carried out in 2008. Story continues In that trial, the LIA argued that Goldman exercised "undue influence" and "unconscionable bargaining" to get it to enter the trades, and that it was too unsophisticated to understand what it was buying. However, the judge ruled in favour of Goldman, saying key decision-makers at the fund had understood the trades and the risks. The LIA sought permission to appeal but is still waiting to hear the outcome of this. The case against SocGen and Giahmi is more complex and involves allegations by the LIA that the payments to Lenaida were made with the aim of directly or indirectly influencing the LIA to enter into the disputed trades. The trial is expected to run until July 31. Some witnesses appearing for SocGen will give evidence in private to avoid self-incrimination, as the French bank is also being investigated by U.S. authorities in connection with deals involving Libya. In April 2014 the U.S. Department of Justice served Societe Generale with a subpoena requesting documents relating to transactions with Libyan entities and individuals, including the LIA. In October 2016 the Securities and Exchange Commission served SocGen with a subpoena for the same purpose. Societe Generale said in its last annual report that it was cooperating with U.S. authorities. (Reporting by Claire Milhench; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Working with 5 BARS, a leading innovator in Small Cell, distributed antenna systems (DAS) and Wi-Fi wireless services for intelligent infrastructure, the City of Sacramento has approved its first small cell test sites with two major wireless carriers. Sacramento has been inundated with permit applications for small cell wireless facilities in the right of way. In a race to densify existing networks, wireless providers often submit multiple applications, in some cases over 40 applications simultaneously. As Sacramento struggled to work with carriers on better designs and locations for each submission, the City reached out to 5 Bars to act as a liaison between the carriers and the city's planning department. After an extensive RFP process, the City of Sacramento selected 5 Bars to develop a Wireless Master Plan on behalf of the City of Sacramento. 5 Bars is successfully working with all 4 major carriers to minimize visual blight and accelerate cellular coverage for the citizens of Sacramento. "This initial small cell site is the direct result from a collaborative effort between 5 Bars, the City of Sacramento and the carriers. We worked in collaboration on an approval process and an aesthetically pleasing solution that works for everyone," said Darin Arcolino, IT Director with the City of Sacramento. As the California Legislature works to pass SB 649, a Bill that would preempt local authority on small cell siting by eliminating local zoning and aesthetic requirements, the City of Sacramento and 5 Bars proactively worked with the carriers to incentivize the deployment of wireless facility designs, where antennas and radios complement existing structures. "We have been working diligently with the City of Sacramento and the carriers to ensure the citizens receive the benefits of great coverage, and the carriers get what they need. Orchestrating a solution that all parties can agree to in a timely manner is a win-win for all," said Monnie McGaffigan, President 5 Bars. As a result, the City of Sacramento has issued and built its first test site. Additionally, hundreds of applications are in process for smalls cells throughout the city. 5 Bars continues to work with the City of Sacramento towards its connected city goals. About 5 Bars: 5 Bars is an Irvine, California, privately held premier provider of Wireless Master Plans for Counties, Cities and Large Scale Venues developing comprehensive wireless strategies through a unique holistic view of all assets, coverage and capacity. 5 Bars offers fully managed wireless solutions, network development, ownership and end-to-end management delivering commercial indoor and outdoor distributed antenna systems (DAS), carrier-grade Wi-Fi networks, and small cell systems on behalf of properties and service providers. For more information, visit http://5bars.com/. Media Contact: 5 Bars (949) 514-4617 [email protected] *LOGO: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0324s2p-5-bars-sports-300dpi.jpg This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com SOURCE 5 Bars Related Links http://www.5bars.com PITTSBURGH, April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and the CERT Division of the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University today announced the launch of their Chief Risk Officer (CRO) Certificate program, which aims to provide corporate risk officers with the latest skills and practices in risk management. The first cohort will begin the program on September 20. "Organizations are constantly faced with hurdles that inhibit their ability to successfully implement a fully-integrated risk management program," said Summer Fowler, technical director, risk and resilience, SEI CERT Division. "Due to increased risks to the business, whether market, regulatory, financial, and now cyber-risk, the need for a dedicated executive, or chief risk officer, to oversee this critical business function is more important than ever." Major topics covered in the program are strategic risk management, the role of the CRO, risk tools, cyber-risk oversight, business execution, and risk as a competitive advantage. This six-month program consists of nine modules: four at the CMU campus in Pittsburgh and five via synchronous distance technology. As part of this certificate program, risk officers will develop or enhance a risk plan for an organization. This plan is designed for practitioners to apply several of the methods, tools, and techniques taught during the program. The focus of this new program is on what CROs need to know to thrive in their jobs, including how to interact with executive leadership and how to analyze and dispose of enterprise risks. "A fundamental tenet of the CRO Certificate program, like many programs in the Heinz College, is that participants should be able to use their experience and learning in a practical fashion while attending the program," said Andy Wasser, associate dean. "The program's practicum is a mechanism for participants to conceive, develop, and deliver a solution to a relevant enterprise risk management issue." CRO Certificate program leaders will host a webinar on "The Evolving Role of the Chief Risk Officer" and provide additional information about the certificate at the end of the session. The webinar is scheduled to take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. ET on May 18. To register for the webinar visit https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/139/20814. Registration for the CRO Certificate program is now open. For more information or to register, visit http://www.heinz.cmu.edu/school-of-information-systems-and-management/cio-institute/chief-risk-officer-certificate-program/index.aspx or contact [email protected]. About the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy The Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy is home to two internationally recognized graduate-level institutions at Carnegie Mellon University: the School of Information Systems & Management and the School of Public Policy & Management. The Heinz College educational process integrates policy analysis, management, and information technology. Coursework emphasizes applied and interdisciplinary fields of empirical methods and statistics, data analytics, economics, information systems and technology, operations research, and organizational behavior. In addition to full-time, on-campus programs in Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Adelaide, the Heinz College offers graduate-level programs to non-traditional students through part-time, on-campus and distance programs, customized programs, and executive education programs for senior managers. For more information, visit http://www.heinz.cmu.edu to learn about the Heinz College and http://www.cmu.edu/risk-reg-center/ to learn about its Risk and Regulatory Services Innovation Center. About the Software Engineering Institute and CERT Division The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) is a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense and operated by Carnegie Mellon University. The SEI works with organizations to make measurable improvements in their software engineering capabilities by providing technical leadership to advance the practice of software engineering. For more information, visit the SEI website at www.sei.cmu.edu. The CERT Division of the SEI is the world's leading trusted authority dedicated to improving the security and resilience of computer systems and networks and a national asset in the field of cybersecurity. For more information, visit www.cert.org. SOURCE Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials from Consumers Energy and Grand Valley State University today celebrated the opening of the John G. Russell Leadership Center on the school's downtown Grand Rapids campus, which will train the next generation of leaders for the energy provider. "Consumers Energy has a 130-year history of serving Michigan. The new Russell Leadership Center is a vital example of the way we are preparing to continue that service for generations to come," said Patti Poppe, Consumers Energy's president and chief executive officer. "This new center helps us take the next step as we work to leave our company, the city of Grand Rapids and our home state of Michigan better than we found them." "I'm honored this leadership center will bear my name, as we prepare our employees to be the best leaders in the energy industry and in Michigan," said John Russell, Consumers Energy's former president and CEO, who now chairs the boards of the energy provider and parent company CMS Energy. Russell also serves on the Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees. The new three-story, 31,000-square-foot leadership center sits on Grand Valley's Robert C. Pew Campus, immediately south of the L. William Seidman Center. It is a training hub for professional development for up to 300 Consumers Energy employees at a time. The $11 million center was built by Grand Rapids-based Rockford Construction. Consumers Energy constructed the building to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The center features a glass exterior with energy efficient heating, cooling and lighting; natural light; reclaimed wood; and fixtures to reduce water use. The building sits on land leased to the company by Grand Valley and is on the tax rolls, benefitting the city of Grand Rapids. When Consumers Energy is not using the leadership center, space will be available for use by the university. In addition, the company will have reciprocity with Grand Valley facilities. "We are pleased to partner with Consumers Energy on our Grand Rapids campus," Grand Valley President Thomas J. Haas said. "It is fitting that the center's intent is to educate leaders to serve our community and state, and the sharing and efficient use of space is ideal for both institutions. It's the classic win-win." In recent years, Consumers Energy has constructed state-of-the-art training facilities for its operating, maintenance and construction employees in Marshall and at the J.H. Campbell Generating Complex in West Olive. It also worked with its labor union, the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), to develop a training center in Potterville, where UWUA instructors teach skills to union employees. The Grand Rapids building will provide a single location for leadership training sessions, as well as new employee orientation, technical and safety training and project management training and certification. Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.7 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. For more information about Consumers Energy, go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com. Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/consumersenergy Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/consumersenergy SOURCE Consumers Energy Related Links http://www.consumersenergy.com LAFAYETTE, La., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY) ("Stone Energy" or the "Company") today announced that David H. Welch, Chief Executive Officer and President of Stone Energy, informed the Stone Energy Board of Directors of his intention to retire following more than 13 years of service to the Company. Mr. Welch also indicated his intention to step down from his position as a director of the Company. James M. Trimble, currently an independent director of the Company, has been elected interim Chief Executive Officer and President by the Board of Directors, effective April 28, 2017. The Board also appointed Keith Seilhan, formerly the Company's Senior Vice President Gulf of Mexico, to the new post of Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. Neal P. Goldman, Chairman of the Board of Directors said, "We thank Dave for his years of dedication to Stone Energy. He led the Company with integrity and prioritized safety and environmental protection in all of Stone's operations." Mr. Goldman continued, "We are thrilled that Jim has agreed to lead our senior management team. The Board is confident that Jim is the right leader to guide the company into a new period of shareholder value creation. He is a proven and highly-respected oil and gas executive with decades of industry experience." "I am very excited to join the management team at Stone Energy," said Mr. Trimble. "I firmly believe that with the Company's excellent asset base, strong balance sheet, and seasoned executive team, Stone Energy can be a growing player in the offshore sector. I am honored by the confidence placed in me by the Board at this exciting time in the history of Stone Energy." Mr. Trimble brings more than 35 years of energy industry experience to this position. Mr. Trimble was President and Chief Executive Officer of PDC Energy from 2011 2015, a period of exceptional growth and value creation for PDC shareholders. Earlier, he founded and/or led several private oil and gas companies focused primarily on drilling in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Mr. Trimble served as the Senior Vice President of Exploration and Production for Cabot Oil and Gas for 17 years. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in petroleum engineering. Mr. Seilhan was named Senior Vice President-Gulf of Mexico in January 2015 and Vice President-Deep Water in February 2013. He previously served as Deep Water Projects Manager beginning in July 2012. Prior to joining Stone Energy, Mr. Seilhan filled various senior leadership and operations roles for Amoco and BP over his 21-year career with those organizations. Stone Energy is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana with additional offices in New Orleans and Houston. Stone is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of properties in the Gulf of Mexico basin. For additional information, contact Kenneth H. Beer, Chief Financial Officer, at 337-521-2210 phone, 337-521-9880 fax or via e-mail at [email protected] SOURCE Stone Energy Corporation Related Links http://www.stoneenergy.com HONG KONG, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital China Holdings Limited ("DC Holdings" or the "Group"; stock code: 00861.HK, 910861.TW), China's largest integrated IT service provider, is pleased to announce that the signing ceremony of China Healthcare Big Data Development Co., Ltd. (CHBDDC) was held in Beijing. DC Holdings initiated the establishment of CHBDDC. Guo Wei, Chairman of DC Holdings, and Jin Xiaotao, Deputy Director of National Health and Family Planning Commission, delivered speech at the ceremony. Lu Jiang, Vice Mayor of Xia'men, representatives of Changzhou Municipal Government, China Population and Development Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking University, and Philips (China) Investment Co., Ltd attended the signing ceremony. Under the guidance of National Health and Family Planning Commission, CHBDDC was initiated by DC Holdings, and cosponsored by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited, Bank of China Limited, Chinese Academy of Sciences Holding Co., Ltd.,China Telecom Corporation Limited, China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd., Shougang Corporation, Guangzhou Urban Construction Investment Group Co., Ltd., Wonders Information Co., Ltd., Neusoft Corporation, Inspur and Ylz Information Technology, Bringspring Science and Technology Co., Ltd. and many other central enterprises, state-owned enterprises and well-known listed companies. The new company will respond to the country's policy guidelines to promote the "Interconnection, Open Sharing" of Big Data in healthcare and promote the supply-side structural reform on healthcare and fulfill the mission of "Digitalised China" for the benefit of the people. Based on the top-level design for industrial parks of healthcare Big Data and combined with the development plan of "Healthy China", CHBDDC will be undertaking the construction of national and local industrial parks of healthcare Big Data. CHBDDC will put effort in the construction of Big Data center, Big Data platform, medical services, healthcare services, integrated management, precision medicine, delicacy insurance, insurance audit, medical payment and other key areas, to promote a full layout and construction of industrial parks of healthcare Big Data, and to become a new support for medical reform and a new driver of local economy. The new company will serve as a platform to integrate the relevant advantages of state-owned enterprises and listed enterprises: to invest and operate the National Healthcare Big Data Center and industrial parks so as to build a service system of healthcare Big Data under the principles of "Government-led, Commercial Operation and Joint Innovation for Win-win"; to open up the data of the whole industry chain to build a [email protected] Big Data ecology; to utilize financial means for the promotion of incubation and cultivation of health industry and to build a large healthcare data ecosystem and develop the construction of healthcare Big Data. DC Holdings upholds its mission to drive the "Digitalised China". Combined with technology and capital, DC Holdings has formed cloud computing and Big Data as core capabilities. The Company is working towards the transformation to cloud computing and Big Data based on the ecological circle created through internal bottom-up innovation system and external investment for M&As and with [email protected] City, modern agriculture, precision medicine and intelligent manufacturing as core business areas. The integration of healthcare resources and building up the integration platform by DC Holdings will fully demonstrate the benefit of health Big Data. As one of the key parts in DC Holdings' core business areas, Digital China Health is determined to build the top brand of healthcare Big Data in China by providing comprehensive and accurate information services and cancer-related data services. About Digital China Holdings Limited Digital China Holdings Limited ("DC Holdings", Stock Code: 0861.HK) was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2001 following a successful spin-off from the then Legend Group in 2000. It has developed its capital platforms across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan through the following four listed companies DC Holdings, Digital China Information Service Company Ltd., Digiwin Software Company Ltd., and HC International, Inc. Their combined market capitalization reaches nearly HK$50 billion. Since its listing 16 years ago, DC Holdings has adhered to the mission of driving the "Digitalization in China". With the corporate value of "Commitment, Passion and Innovation", the Company evolved from China's largest IT product distributor into the largest integrated IT services provider and then the most influential [email protected] City solutions provider in China. According to its latest development strategy, DC Holdings will capture the opportunities arising from the "Internet +" strategy and leverage on its technological strengths and capital resources to drive breakthroughs in [email protected] City, precision healthcare, modern agriculture and [email protected] manufacturing based on the Cloud computing and Big Data technology. With comprehensive innovation mechanism and multi-layer incubation system, the Company is determined to become a genuine innovative enterprise. For additional information about DC Holdings, please visit the Group's website at www.dcholdings.com.hk. For investor and media inquiries: SOURCE Digital China Holdings Limited Related Links http://www.dcholdings.com.hk SOMERSET, Pa., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To celebrate Arbor Day, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today joined young adults participating in the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps planting trees along Laurel Hill Creek in Laurel Hill State Park, Somerset County, to protect and improve water quality. "On Arbor Day we celebrate trees, and all they do to help clean our air, protect our water quality, and make our landscapes and communities beautiful," Dunn said. "Trees are even more beneficial growing along our waterways, because they buffer them from runoff from the land, and cool the water for fish and other wildlife in the stream." About 500 trees are being planted on 3-acres of the Countryman parcel acquired for Laurel Hill State Park in 2012. Laurel Hill Creek is a 37-mile tributary to the Youghiogheny River, and is a prime destination for trout fishing. National Arbor Day is an annual observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree planting and care. "Critical to the future of conservation work is connecting young people to the outdoors, and that's why I'm excited to pitch in and work alongside members of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps, who have a 10-month opportunity to learn about jobs involving the stewardship of our land and water resources," Dunn said. "Planting trees anywhere is something that anyone can do to make a difference." The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps offers young people ages 15-25 job training, work experience and educational opportunities on Pennsylvania's public lands. A 10-member crew of 18-25 year olds based in Greensburg has been working on projects at Laurel Hill for several weeks. DCNR's Bureau of Forestry is leading an effort to work with numerous agencies, partners, and landowners to expand forest buffers along waterways in the commonwealth. "One of the original purposes for establishing the state forest system and the various bureaus including state parks that today make up DCNR was to protect forested watersheds that provide clean water," Dunn said. Dunn noted that DCNR Bureau of Forestry service foresters located in each of the 20 forest districts statewide can assist landowners with information about planting buffers. Forest buffers along stream banks provide critical barriers between polluting landscapes and receiving waterways. Properly planted and maintained, streamside tree and shrub plantings filter the runoff of sediments and the fertilizers that are applied to lawns and crops; control erosion; improve water quality; reduce flooding; cool stream temperatures; and improve fish habitat. For more information about stream buffers, the Pennsylvania Outdoors Corps or state parks and forests, visit the DCNR website at www.dcnr.pa.gov. MEDIA CONTACT: Christina Novak, DCNR, 717.579.5177 SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Related Links http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us SAN DIEGO, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Edible San Diego and Lick the Plate have joined forces to add a new dimension to the San Diego culinary print and digital publication. The July issue will mark the launch of the collaboration and feature Executive Chef Teri McIllwain from Chandler's at Cape Rey Carlsbad, a Hilton Resort. Chef Teri exemplifies the farm to table, locally sourced mantra of Edible San Diego and was a perfect fit for a first column having been a guest on Lick the Plate. Edible San Diego Publisher Katie Stokes and Lick the Plate host and columnist David Boylan at Fish 101 in Leucadia Edible San Diego Publisher Katie Stokes took over the publication in November 2016 and had been looking to source contributors with unique and creative San Diego centric culinary media personalities who could bring a fresh new feel and interesting content to the print and digital versions of the publication. David Boylan, host of Lick the Plate fit that description perfectly. "When I had a chance to listen to the Lick the Plate format and hear how David gets his guests to open up and tell their stories I knew immediately it would be a good fit for Edible San Diego and the direction we are headed," said publisher Katie Stokes. She added, "Lick the Plate really lets the personality of the guest shine and allows readers to get to know not only their culinary influences, but also what music moves them and where they eat around town. These are all elements that make up who these folks are, and our readers will love it." Lick the Plate host David Boylan added, "Edible San Diego is such a beautiful publication and proof that when print is done right, it is a medium that will be around for a while. Edible San Diego's digital components add a multi-platform aspect to the company, which is essential these days. Their content has always been solid, and I am super excited to have Lick the Plate included in the mix. I think it's a great fit all around." Lick the Plate also airs on 93.9 The River in Detroit and is a weekly column in the Coast News in Encinitas, California. Media contact and advertising inquiries: Brooks Venters [email protected] 858.395.6905 About Lick the Plate Lick the Plate has interviewed over 700 chefs, restaurateurs, growers, brewers and culinary personalities over the past 10 years as a column in the Coast News in Encinitas, California, radio show on 102.1 KPRI in San Diego, California, 93.9 The River in Detroit, and now as part of the Entercom group of stations in San Diego that include KSON, FM94/9 and Sunny98.1. Its unique format allows the radio audience to really get to know the culinary talent behind their favorite restaurants. Besides their culinary background and experience, guests share the road to their current position, music memories and dream concert lineup, where they eat and drink around town, and an in-depth look at their current menu. The original format has proven to be very popular with both the culinary community and their foodie audience. More at www.lick-the-plate.com About Edible San Diego Edible San Diego is a multimedia company featuring a beloved bi-monthly print magazine and multiple digital platforms. Recently purchased by Southern California native Katie Stokes, Edible San Diego is undergoing a transformation aimed to increase its relevance to San Diego County residents in all their diversity. As it approaches its 10th Anniversary in 2018, Edible San Diego's trusted and unique editorial voice invites people to join in a dynamic conversation about something we all love - good food - in a way that is uniquely San Diegan. www.ediblesandiego.ediblecommunities.com SOURCE Edible San Diego; Lick the Plate AUCKLAND, New Zealand, April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Endace, a world leader in high-speed network recording and network history playback, announced today that Cary Wright will join Endace as the company's new VP of Product Management. Wright comes to Endace from Ixia, where he held the role of VP Product Development for Ixia's Network Visibility Products. At Ixia, he was responsible for breakthrough network security and visibility products deployed at many Fortune 1000 enterprises and global service providers. Wright joined Ixia following Ixia's acquisition of Agilent Technologies in 2009, and was previously Agilent's CTO and Director of Engineering. Endace CEO, Stuart Wilson, says Wright couldn't be better suited to the role at Endace. "Cary has more than 25 years' experience in the telecommunications and networking industries, and has been pivotal in creating market-defining products first at Agilent and then at Ixia. Cary is extremely familiar with our customers, and will be invaluable in continuing the evolution of our Network Recording and Playback solutions and driving the growth of our Fusion Partner program. I am thrilled to have him on the team at Endace." "Security breaches are a daily occurrence at large enterprises and service providers, and Endace solutions enable the rapid incident response and resolution needed to respond to these threats and to protect business reputation," says Wright. "Endace has a talented team, unique products, and a strong history of innovation. I'm looking forward to bringing my experience to bear in helping Endace further accelerate the growth it has been experiencing." Wright starts at Endace in early May, based in Endace's Melbourne office. About Endace Endace's 100% accurate, Network History Recording and Playback provides definitive, packet-level evidence for investigating cybersecurity threats, quantifying data breaches and troubleshooting network or application performance problems. Playback integrates with commercial, open-source or custom analytics applications to streamline and automate issue investigation. Network History can be played back through hosted or external analytics solutions for automated, back-in-time investigations. Global customers include banks, hospitals, telcos, broadcasters, retailers, web giants, governments and military. www.endace.com SOURCE Endace Related Links http://www.endace.com FemCap CEO and Medical Director Dr. Alfred Shihata, inventor of the FDA-approved FemCap cervical cap and FemmyCycle period cup, is excited about this unique opportunity. "FemCap is committed to improving the choices women have to improve their health. The solutions women have for birth control often have an impact beyond birth control. The same can be said for managing menstruation. We've committed to making products that address the unmet needs of women, and we must continue to partner with events, like CYCLES + SEX, that can help us reach the people we're trying to mutually serve." "Information on sex, menstruation, birth and reproductive health is hard to find, intimidating, disparate and dated," explains Ash Spivak, co-creator of CYCLES + SEX and reproductive health advocate. "This information couldn't be more vital to our overall health and well-being. We believe the time is now to activate, innovate and educate people and their bodies. Including manufacturers in our activities, like FemCap, contributes to this goal." CYCLES + SEX happens Sunday, April 30 from 11:30am to 7:00pm ET at 404, 404 10th Avenue in New York City. Dr. Shihata will join other experts for a panel on Hormone Free Birth Control contributing to a well-rounded series of lectures, presentations and conversations on the most pressing issues in women's reproductive health. About FemCap, Inc. FemCap, Inc. is the inventor and international manufacturer of FemCap and FemmyCycle, innovative products that meet the unmet needs of women's reproductive health. Based in San Diego, CA, FemCap serves women across the United States and throughout the world. To learn more visit http://FemCap.com. SOURCE FemCap, Inc. Related Links http://www.femcap.com FLORENCE, S.C., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. (OTC: FSRL), the holding company (the "Company") for First Reliance Bank (the "Bank"), reported first quarter 2017 net income after tax of $634,042. Profitability continues to be led by strong loan and deposit growth, and expanding operating efficiencies. In the first quarter of 2017, net income after tax is up 23.32% compared to $514,138 in the first quarter a year ago. Net income to common shareholders improved 329.9% in the first quarter of 2017 to $634,042 compared to $147,499 in the first quarter one year ago. Diluted EPS grew 347.9% to $0.13 as of March 31, 2017 from $0.03 one year ago as a result of redeeming 100% of the TARP funds in the third quarter of 2016. "Our strong performance in growing low cost deposits and loan production provides opportunities to increase our brand presence throughout South Carolina with further expansions into the Midlands and Coastal regions. We have recently expanded our footprint in Dorchester County with a Loan Production Office in Summerville which is pending regulatory approval to be a full service branch. Given that capital markets are responding positively to our industry, we are giving strong consideration to raising additional capital to fund our growth initiatives," said Rick Saunders, President and CEO. Financial Highlights (at or for the periods ended March 31, 2017, except as noted) Diluted EPS grew 347.9% to $0.13 as of March 31, 2017 from $0.03 one year ago. as of from one year ago. Book value per share is $5.90 , up 12% from one year ago , up 12% from one year ago Return on Assets of 0.61% and Return on Equity of 9.33% Completion of Series A and B -Preferred Stock (TARP) redemption in third quarter 2016 with anticipated improvement in earnings per share of $0.21 Branch expansion into Summerville and Dorchester County and Loan growth is up $37.4 million or 14.04% from one year ago while earning asset yields remained stable at 4.54%. or 14.04% from one year ago while earning asset yields remained stable at 4.54%. Non Interest Bearing checking accounts increased $9.2 million to 24.7% of total deposits from one year ago as we attract new customers through unique programs and the convenience of digital banking to 24.7% of total deposits from one year ago as we attract new customers through unique programs and the convenience of digital banking Total revenues increased 10.1% to $5.7 million in 1Q17 from $5.2 million in 1Q16 reflecting balance sheet growth in 1Q17 from in 1Q16 reflecting balance sheet growth Mortgage production volume reached record levels of $56.2 million for 1Q2017 compared to $48.2 million one year ago for 1Q2017 compared to one year ago Net interest margin (NIM) was 4.26% as the Company continues to leverage its low cost of funds at 28bp Bank Tier 1 Leverage ratio improved to 10.12% from 9.97% a quarter earlier and remains well-capitalized Review of Income Statement Net interest income remained relatively flat at $3.4 million compared to a year ago despite increased interest expense of $174,125, associated with the secured loan and subordinated debt used to refinance higher cost Series A and B Preferred stock (TARP) and growth in interest-bearing deposit balances. The Company continues to leverage its low cost of funds at 28bp. Noninterest income increased 41.9% to $2.4 million for the first quarter of 2017, compared to $1.7 million for the first quarter 2016. The increase in noninterest income was largely due to the increase in gains on sales of mortgage loans, growth in service charges on deposit accounts, and growth in debit card income. Mortgage originations from combined retail and correspondent divisions totaled $56.2 million on 291 loans originated as of March 31. 2017 compared to $48.2 million on 267 loans originated one year ago. Balance Sheet and Asset Quality Total assets increased $39.6 million, or 10.4% to $420 million at March 31, 2017, compared to $380.3 million from March 31, 2016. Loans receivable grew by $37.4 million, or 14%, at March 31. 2017, compared to $266.6 million, at March 31, 2016 largely due to continued growth in all our markets including commercial portfolio, 1-4 family mortgage portfolio and our consumer loan portfolios. 1-4 Family mortgage portfolio loans are up 96.7% year-over-year and Consumer loans are up 31.2%. We have recruited multiple bankers in the Charleston market from some of the recent bank consolidations and they've been a contributing factor to our additional growth. "Our strategic focus has been on revenue diversification through growth in 1-4 mortgage and consumer loan channels and continued emphasis on small business lending. We've seen steady growth in these sectors as the economies in our markets improve in job growth, housing sales and new construction and manufacturing growth. Focus on these sectors allows for better asset yields, improved margins, along with a better diversified loan portfolio which reduces risk," added Saunders No-cost/low cost deposits increased by $17.2 million, or 10.2%, to $186 million at March 31, 2017, from $168.7 million at March 31, 2016. The Company grew household checking accounts by a strong 5.3% year to date as the Company continues to attract new customers through unique programs such as Hometown Heroes, Moms First and iMatter Programs and with its convenient digital banking services including a new mobile mortgage application. "By delivering exceptional customer service we are able to attract new customers primarily through word of mouth from our satisfied and loyal customers resulting in approximately 30% of our new accounts, said Saunders. Nonperforming assets declined $1.3 million to $4.9 million at March 31, 2017 compared to one year ago. The ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets declined to 1.16% at March 31, 2017, compared to 1.63% one year earlier. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans was 0.90% at March 31, 2017, compared to 0.97% one year earlier. For the first quarter of 2017, loan charge offs were nominal and largely offset by the bank recoveries. Capital First Reliance Bank continues to remain well capitalized under all regulatory measures, with capital ratios exceeding the statutory well-capitalized thresholds by an ample margin. For the quarter ended December 31, 2016, capital ratios were as follows: Ratio First Reliance Bank Well-capitalized Minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio 10.12% 5.00% Common equity tier 1 capital 11.88% 6.50% Tier 1 capital ratio 11.88% 8.00% Total capital ratio 12.70% 10.00% First Reliance's tangible book value was $5.90, at March 31, 2017, up 12% from $5.28, at March 31, 2016. The Company currently trades at 114.4% of book value as of March 31, 2017. Providing an incredible experience remains the focus of the bank and the customer satisfaction score of 95%, which is well above bank industry satisfaction scores of 80%, is a strong indication of their commitment to excellence. Customer satisfaction in retail banking in today's world is tied to providing a great digital experience backed by personal service. First Reliance continues to enhance its online banking services and recently added mobile mortgage application to its digital services. The Bank will expand customer payment systems for both consumer and business customers this year. First Reliance Bank was named among the top 1% most extraordinary banks in the U.S. by the Institute of Extraordinary Banking. We are proud of our culture and our associates who are committed to our communities and making the lives of our customers better. Regional Economic Conditions April 2017 According to recent reports, South Carolina's economy continues to show positive trends with the unemployment rate 4.3% as of the end of February. Employment on a year-over-year basis, expanded 1.6 percent, which was on pace with national growth. South Carolina new residential permits in February are up 1.9 percent from the prior month and up 26.8 percent from February 2016 indicating a strong housing demand. For more information on labor markets, household conditions and housing markets in South Carolina, please visit the link below: https://www.richmondfed.org/~/media/richmondfedorg/research/regional_economy/reports/snapshot/pdf/snapshot_sc.pdf First Reliance is headquartered in Florence County, which is a proven, successful location for business and industry and home to over 130 companies that have a manufacturing presence including companies like ESAB, Heinz, Honda, GE Healthcare, Johnson Controls, Monster.com, QVC, Roche, and OTIS Elevator. Florence County is world class, with one of the best business climates in the southeast. It has recently been named among America's top 50 cities for business relocation and expansion by Expansion Management Magazine. The business climate of Florence County has brought more than $1 billion in capital investments in the commercial, industrial, institutional arts sectors in the past eight years alone. The South Carolina Arts Commission has recently named downtown Florence as the newest state-recognized cultural district. ABOUT FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC. First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for First Reliance Bank. The Bank was founded in 1999, employs approximately 130 highly-talented associates and serves the Columbia, Lexington, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Loris, North Myrtle Beach, and Florence markets in South Carolina. First Reliance Bank offers several unique customer programs which include a Hometown Heroes package of benefits to serve those who are serving our communities, Check 'N Save, a community outreach program for the unbanked or under-banked, a Moms First program, and an iMatter program targeted to young people. The Bank also offers a Customer Service Guaranty, a Mortgage Service Guaranty, FREE Coin Machines for customers to use, Mobile Banking, Mobile mortgage applications, and is open on most traditional bank holidays. Its commitment to making customers' lives better and the idea that "There's More to Banking Than Money" has earned the Bank a customer satisfaction rating of 95%. The common stock of First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. is traded under the symbol FSRL.OB. Additional information about the Company is available on the Company's web site at www.firstreliance.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements about branch openings within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give our expectations or forecasts of future events. The preliminary results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 presented herein above are the Company's expectations. However, these results are subject to adjustment by management before the audit is completed and may be adjusted based upon the results of the audit. Should management or audit adjustments be necessary, audited results could differ materially from these preliminary results. Any or all of our forward-looking statements here or in other publications may turn out to be incorrect. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining our actual future results. Consequently, no forward- looking statements can be guaranteed. Our actual results may vary materially, and there are no assurances about the performance of our common stock. We undertake no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise. Contact Jeffrey A. Paolucci, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, (888)543-5510. First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiary Consolidated Balance Sheets Year over Year Year over Year March 31 December 31 March 31 $ Change % Change 2017 2016 2016 Assets Cash and cash equivalents: Cash and due from banks $ 5,148,814 $ 4,810,304 $ 4,777,813 $ 371,001 7.77% Interest-bearing deposits with other banks 18,048,484 22,287,560 14,190,513 $ 3,857,971 27.19% Total cash and cash equivalents 23,197,298 27,097,864 18,968,326 $ 4,228,972 22.29% Time deposits in other banks 101,919 101,816 101,715 $ 204 0.20% Securities available-for-sale 17,571,229 17,862,635 11,186,354 $ 6,384,875 57.08% Securities held-to-maturity (Estimated fair value of $19,602,624, $20,842,140 and $25,121,907 at March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016 19,242,080 20,438,084 24,173,520 $ (4,931,440) -20.40% Nonmarketable equity securities 806,700 734,300 606,800 $ 199,900 32.94% Total investment securities 37,620,009 39,035,019 35,966,674 $ 1,653,335 4.60% Mortgage loans held for sale 7,087,154 5,355,532 8,058,647 $ (971,493) -12.06% Loans receivable 304,024,206 288,126,331 266,601,285 $ 37,422,921 14.04% Less allowance for loan losses (2,785,916) (2,648,535) (2,711,576) $ (74,340) 2.74% Loans, net 301,238,290 285,477,796 263,889,709 $ 37,348,581 14.15% Premises, furniture and equipment, net 18,702,546 18,873,718 22,869,271 $ (4,166,725) -18.22% Accrued interest receivable 867,318 961,449 867,159 $ 159 0.02% Other real estate owned 2,414,662 2,870,484 2,952,733 $ (538,071) -18.22% Cash surrender value life insurance 14,046,700 13,964,986 13,703,252 $ 343,448 2.51% Net deferred tax assets 8,158,865 8,463,657 9,918,842 $ (1,759,977) -17.74% Mortgage servicing rights 4,702,803 4,211,582 1,458,133 $ 3,244,670 Other assets 1,910,135 1,707,519 1,639,407 $ 270,728 16.51% Total assets $ 420,047,698 $ 408,121,422 $ 380,393,868 $ 39,653,830 10.42% Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Liabilities Deposits Noninterest-bearing transaction accounts $ 84,866,269 $ 76,175,393 $ 75,658,916 $ 9,207,353 12.17% Interest-bearing transaction accounts 74,571,228 76,736,892 70,030,844 $ 4,540,384 6.48% Savings 116,795,905 115,741,395 101,583,860 $ 15,212,045 14.97% Time deposits $250,000 and over 9,649,918 17,757,192 18,807,154 $ (9,157,236) -48.69% Other time deposits 57,778,166 50,124,647 45,509,583 $ 12,268,583 26.96% Total deposits 343,661,486 336,535,519 311,590,357 $ 32,071,129 10.29% Securities sold under agreement to repurchase 14,727,395 11,088,526 9,684,987 $ 5,042,408 52.06% Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank 9,000,000 8,000,000 5,000,000 $ 4,000,000 80.00% Notes Payable 7,000,000 6,893,211 7,000,000 $ - 100.00% Junior subordinated debentures 10,310,000 10,310,000 3,310,000 $ 7,000,000 211.48% Subordinated debentures 4,804,997 4,896,398 0 $ 4,804,997 Accrued interest payable 213,673 298,950 54,981 $ 158,692 288.63% Other liabilities 2,781,224 3,431,091 3,293,097 $ (511,873) -15.54% Total liabilities 392,498,775 381,453,695 339,933,422 $ 52,565,353 15.46% Shareholders' Equity Preferred stock Series A cumulative perpetual preferred stock -0 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and 15,349 shares as of March 31, 2016 - - 15,179,709 $ (15,179,709) -100.00% Series B cumulative perpetual preferred stock - 0 shares issued and outstanding at Mach 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and 767 shares as of March 31, 2016 - - 767,000 $ (767,000) -100.00% Series D preferred stock - 599 , 600 and 610 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016, respectively 599 600 610 $ (11) - Common stock, $0.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized, 4,707,291.000 4,679,881.000 and 4,680,681.000 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016 , respectively 47,089 46,798 46,807 $ 282 0.60% Capital surplus 25,241,707 25,071,543 25,645,087 $ (403,380) -1.57% Treasury stock, at cost, 39,069 shares at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively and 38,663 shares at March 31, 2016 (219,106) (219,106) (217,230) $ (1,876) 0.86% Nonvested restricted stock (247,932) (262,153) (311,809) $ 63,877 -20.49% Retained Earnings/Deficit 2,896,784 2,262,742 (745,028) $ 3,641,812 -488.82% Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (170,218) (232,697) 95,300 $ (265,518) -278.61% Total shareholders' equity 27,548,923 26,667,727 40,460,446 $ (12,911,523) -31.91% Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 420,047,698 $ 408,121,422 $ 380,393,868 $ 39,653,830 10.42% First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiary Consolidated Statements of Operations Year over Year $ Change % Change Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 March 31, 2016 Interest income: Loans, including fees $ 3,675,451 $ 3,617,498 $ 3,438,321 $ 237,130 6.90% Investment securities: Taxable 198,657 205,420 214,427 $ (15,770) -7.35% Tax exempt 28,201 28,220 28,329 $ (128) -0.45% Other interest income 37,557 26,422 25,366 $ 12,191 48.06% Total 3,939,867 3,877,560 3,706,443 $ 233,424 6.30% Interest expense: Time deposits 128,501 113,044 75,071 $ 53,430 71.17% Other deposits 91,899 81,088 68,450 $ 23,449 34.26% Other interest expense 271,751 274,014 71,785 $ 199,966 278.56% Total 492,151 468,146 215,306 $ 276,845 128.58% Net interest income 3,447,716 3,409,414 3,491,136 $ (43,420) -1.24% Provision for loan losses (151,500) - - $ (151,500) #DIV/0! Net interest income after provision for loan losses 3,296,216 3,409,414 3,491,136 $ (194,920) -5.58% Noninterest income: Service charges on deposit accounts 345,947 357,712 332,654 $ 13,293 4.00% Gain on sale of mortgage loans 1,608,433 1,698,913 924,338 $ 684,095 74.01% Income from bank owned life insurance 81,715 86,602 87,641 $ (5,926) -6.76% Other service charges, commissions, and fees 325,294 318,904 312,608 $ 12,686 4.06% Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities - - - $ - 100.00% Other 70,918 716,450 57,154 $ 13,764 24.08% Total 2,432,307 3,178,581 1,714,395 $ 717,912 41.88% Noninterest expenses: Salaries and benefits 2,835,033 3,153,885 2,482,437 $ 352,596 14.20% Occupancy 400,632 385,007 371,480 $ 29,152 7.85% Furniture and equipment related expenses 400,637 403,977 360,633 $ 40,004 11.09% Other 1,155,058 1,203,331 1,170,760 $ (15,702) -1.34% Total 4,791,360 5,146,200 4,385,310 $ 406,050 9.26% Income before income taxes 937,163 1,441,795 820,221 $ 116,942 14.26% Income tax 303,121 484,579 306,083 $ (2,962) -0.97% Net income 634,042 957,216 514,138 $ 119,904 23.32% Preferred stock dividends accrued - - 366,639 $ (366,639) -100.00% Net income available to common shareholders $ 634,042 $ 957,216 $ 147,499 $ 486,543 329.86% Average common shares outstanding, basic 4,585,048 4,438,570 4,428,788 $ 156,260 3.53% Average common shares outstanding, diluted 4,718,546 4,554,138 4,543,303 $ 175,243 3.86% Income per common share: Basic income per share $ 0.14 $ 0.22 $ 0.03 $ 0 633.33% Diluted income per share 0.13 0.21 0.03 $ 0 600.00% First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiary Consolidated Statements of Operations Year over Year $ Change % Change March 2017 December 2016 March 2016 Interest income: Loans, including fees $ 3,675,451 $ 14,363,973 $ 3,438,321 $ 10,925,652 317.76% Investment securities: Taxable 198,657 801,878 214,427 $ 587,451 273.96% Tax exempt 28,201 113,099 28,329 $ 84,770 299.23% Other interest income 37,557 109,578 25,366 $ 84,212 331.99% Total 3,939,867 15,388,528 3,706,442 $ 11,682,086 315.18% Interest expense: Time deposits 128,501 366,955 75,071 $ 291,884 388.81% Other deposits 91,899 300,580 68,450 $ 232,130 339.12% Other interest expense 271,751 630,250 71,785 $ 558,465 777.97% Total 492,151 1,297,785 215,306 $ 1,082,479 502.76% Net interest income 3,447,716 14,090,743 3,491,136 $ 10,599,607 303.61% Provision for loan losses (151,500) 9,075 0 $ 9,075 #DIV/0! Net interest income after provision for loan losses 3,296,216 14,081,668 3,491,136 $ 10,590,532 303.35% Noninterest income: Service charges on deposit accounts 345,947 1,385,517 332,654 $ 1,052,863 316.50% Gain on sale of mortgage loans 1,608,433 6,153,308 924,338 $ 5,228,970 565.70% Income from bank owned life insurance 81,715 349,374 87,641 $ 261,733 298.64% Other service charges, commissions, and fees 325,294 1,236,026 312,608 $ 923,418 295.39% Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities - 13,261 - $ 13,261 #DIV/0! Gain on sale of premises 0 652,367 - $ 652,367 #DIV/0! Other 70,918 240,780 57,154 $ 183,626 321.28% Total 2,432,307 10,030,633 1,714,395 $ 8,316,238 485.08% Noninterest expenses: Salaries and benefits 2,835,033 11,270,540 2,482,437 $ 8,788,103 354.01% Occupancy 400,632 1,572,271 371,480 $ 1,200,791 323.25% Furniture and equipment related expenses 400,637 1,517,840 360,633 $ 1,157,207 320.88% Other 1,155,058 4,428,482 1,170,760 $ 3,257,722 278.26% Total 4,791,360 18,789,133 4,385,310 $ 14,403,823 328.46% Income before income taxes 937,163 5,323,168 820,221 $ 4,502,947 548.99% Income tax expense (benefit) 303,121 1,801,260 306,083 $ 1,495,177 488.49% Net income 634,042 3,521,908 514,138 $ 3,007,770 585.01% Preferred stock dividends accrued - 937,848 366,639 $ 571,209 155.80% Deemed dividends on preferred stock resulting from - - - net accretion of discount and amortization of premium - - - Net income available to common shareholders $ 634,042 $ 2,584,060 $ 147,499 $ 2,436,561 1651.92% Average common shares outstanding, basic 4,585,048 4,438,570 4,428,788 $ 9,782 0.22% Average common shares outstanding, diluted 4,718,546 4,554,138 4,543,303 $ 10,835 0.24% Income per common share: Basic income per share 0.14 $ 0.58 $ 0.03 $ 1 1648.06% Diluted income per share 0.13 0.57 0.03 $ 1 1647.75% Asset Quality and Capital Adequacy (dollars in thousands, except asset quality and per share data) As of and for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 March 31, 2016 Income Statement Data Net Interest Income 3,447,716 3,409,414 3,491,136 Provision for loan losses (151,500) - - Noninterest Income 2,432,307 3,178,581 1,714,395 Noninterest Expense 4,791,360 5,146,200 4,385,310 Income Tax (Benefit) 303,121 484,579 306,083 Net Income 634,042 957,216 514,138 Asset Quality Loans 90 days past due & still accruing - - - Nonaccrual loans 2,440 2,588 3,224 Total nonperforming loans 2,440 2,588 3,224 304,024 288,126 266,601 OREO and repossessed assets 2,415 2,870 2,953 Total Nonperforming Assets 4,855 5,458 6,177 Nonperforming loans to loans 0.80% 0.90% 1.21% Nonperforming assets to total assets 1.16% 1.34% 1.63% Allowance for loan losses to total loans 0.90% 0.90% 0.97% Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans 114.18% 102.34% -84.11% Capital Data (at quarter end) Book value per share 5.90 5.75 5.28 Tangible book value per share 5.90 5.75 5.28 Per Share Data Shares Outstanding- basic 4,585,048 4,438,570 4,428,788 Shares Outstanding- diluted 4,718,546 4,554,138 4,543,303 Earnings Per Share - basic $ 0.14 $ 0.22 $ 0.03 Earnings Per Share -diluted 0.13 0.21 0.03 Profitability Ratios Net Interest Margin 4.26% 4.37% 4.46% Return on Assets 0.61% 0.95% 0.55% Return on Equity 9.33% 14.56% 5.15% Capital Adequacy- Bank Only Tier 1 leverage ratio 10.11% 9.97% 11.36% Common Equity Tier 1 capital 11.88% 12.21% 12.90% Tier 1 capital ratio 11.88% 12.21% 12.90% Total capital ratio 12.71% 13.03% 13.75% Total risk weighted assets 338,089 323,406 318,767 Contact: Jeffrey A. Paolucci, EVP & CFO (888) 543-5510 [email protected] SOURCE First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. Related Links http://www.firstreliance.com BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was hopeful frozen negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States would be revived one day, in an interview to be published on Saturday. Talks with the United States on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) have been frozen since the victory of President Donald Trump. "The U.S. president is pushing for fair conditions for his country and we are looking after the German and European interests," Merkel told the RND newspaper group. "I don't rule out that the negotiations over a trade deal with the U.S. will be revived one day." (Reporting by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Andrew Heavens) ST. LOUIS, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Monsanto and the American Agri-Women named five regional winners of the America's Farmers Mom of the Year program. These regional winners represent the important and continually evolving role that women play in American farms, families, rural communities and the agriculture industry. April 28 through May 10, America has the opportunity to vote for this year's National Mom of the Year by visiting AmericasFarmers.com. The regional winners were nominated by those close to them who see their commitment to their families, communities and farms each and every day. To honor these efforts, each of the five regional winners will receive $2,000 to direct to an eligible nonprofit organization of her choice in her community, as well as $3,000 for her personal use. The 2017 regional winners of the America's Farmers Mom of the Year contest program are: Southwest: Becca Ferry , Brigham City, Utah , Midwest: Shari Sell-Bakker , Dike, Iowa , Northeast: Susan Brocksmith , Vincennes, Ind. , Southeast: Cala Tabb , Eupora, Miss. , Northwest: Nancy Kirkholm , Homer, Neb. "Every year, I look forward to reading through the entries, and am astounded by the incredible women that are nominated," said Tracy Mueller, Monsanto's Marketing Communications Manager. "This year was no exception. The five regional winners' strength and determination is seen throughout all aspects of their lives, and we are honored to recognize them for their contributions." Since the program began in 2010, the America's Farmers Mom of the Year program has recognized 40 exceptional individuals. In 2017, the program is focusing even more on the communities in which these women live and work by providing financial support to eligible nonprofit organizations these farm moms are passionate about. April 28 through May 10, America has the opportunity to vote for this year's National Mom of the Year. To learn more about the women nominated or vote for your favorite farm mom, visit AmericasFarmers.com. The regional winner who receives the most votes April 28 through May 10 will be named America's Farmers National Mom of the Year, and will receive an additional $2,000 to direct to an eligible nonprofit she cares about in her community. More information about the America's Farmers Mom of the Year program can also be found at facebook.com/AmericasFarmers. About America's Farmers The America's Farmers campaign highlights the importance of modern U.S. Agriculture through communications and community outreach programs that partner with farmers to impact rural America. To learn more, visit America's Farmers at www.AmericasFarmers.com . About American Agri-Women AAW is the nation's largest coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women and includes members from more than 50 state, commodity and agribusiness affiliates. Since 1974, AAW members have worked together to educate consumers; advocate for agriculture; and offer networking and professional development opportunities. Go to the AAW web site for more information and to join, http://www.americanagriwomen.org/ . Find AAW on social media at: Facebook.com/AgriWomen/ and Twitter.com/Women4Ag/ (@Women4Ag). About Monsanto Company Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed. Contacts: Jeff Neu, Monsanto, 314-694-4690 Eric White, Weber Shandwick, 312-988-2237 SOURCE Monsanto Company Related Links http://www.americasfarmers.com LINDON, Utah, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ForeverGreen Worldwide Corporation (Bloomberg: [email protected]), a leading direct marketing company and provider of health-centered products, announced today the appointment of Rick Redford, as the company's new CEO. Ron Williams has resigned as the company's President and CEO, and will remain as a member of the Board of Directors, as well as continue in a consulting role working directly with the leadership in the field. Ron Williams commented, "Finding the right person has been a timely and thorough process for the company. Mr. Redford has the right experience and knowledge to do an outstanding job as the Company's new CEO. I am looking forward to continue supporting and growing the company by taking a role that really embodies my talents and passion, which is working with our distributors and leaders of the company and to always keep our company's culture new and fresh, along with our products." The company is also announcing the resignation of Jack Eldridge as CFO. He will remain as an employee with the company as he transitions his duties to the senior finance team members. As part of the company's restructuring which was initially announced in a press release on March 2, 2017, the company has continued to cut expenses, improve profitability and continued to lower its fixed costs to increase growth and improve productivity which will translate into higher profitability for the company. Rick Redford commented, "I am humbled and honored to be chosen to fill this role as CEO. I have a unique perspective on this company, being that I've been involved with the company since the start, initially for five years and most recently was asked to come back last year to serve as COO for the company. I have over 20 years of experience and success in the direct selling industry. I am looking forward to working closely with Ron, and believe that his passion and energy will have a very positive impact with our leaders. Our new executives and I are very busy executing our new plan to create a business model that will be profitable and sustainable moving into the future.These were necessary steps as the company focuses on delivering higher levels of earnings growth for the company and our shareholders. Our growth trend for revenues and earnings will accelerate with these new changes. We will also be engaging in a more proactive communication with our shareholders. The results of our efforts will be felt almost immediately." For more information on ForeverGreen's products, visit http://www.forevergreen.org. ForeverGreen Worldwide Corporation develops, manufactures and distributes an expansive line of all natural whole foods and products to North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, including their new global Xpress offering Prodigy-5. Additional products include PowerStrips, SolarStrips and BeautyStrips. They also offer their North America weight-management line Ketopia, along with FrequenSea, a whole-food beverage with industry exclusive marine phytoplankton, immune support and weight management products, and Pulse-8 powdered L-arginine formula. Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" and involve both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such uncertainties include, among others, certain risk associated with the operation of the company described above. The company's actual results could differ materially from expected results. Contact: ForeverGreen Worldwide Corporation Craig Smith, +1-801-655-5500 [email protected] or Brokers and Analysts: Chesapeake Group +1-410-825-3930 [email protected] SOURCE ForeverGreen Worldwide Corporation RIVERSIDE, Calif., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- When a major disaster strikes, one of the most critical resources to rescue and recovery is fuel. But fuel supply and access are often cut off during such life-threatening emergencies. Fuel Relief Fund (FRF) fills the crucial gap in the first phase of a disaster fueling first responders and providing power to hospitals and emergency services to save lives and alleviate human suffering. Fuel Relief Fund (FRF) is the only Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that exists for the purposes of procuring and delivering fuel to vulnerable communities throughout the world. Earlier this month, at the request of the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP), the Founder and CEO of FRF, Ted Honcharik, traveled to Ghana. The African country is home to one of the United Nations' six strategically placed Humanitarian Response Depots designed to procure, store, and transport emergency supplies. It's the second time Honcharik and FRF have been asked by the WFP to provide expertise on what it takes to transport, store, and secure fuel around the globe - having done similar work on a "lessons learned" mission on the Yemen civil war. Ted Honcharik explained, "We gave technical assistance on fuel inventory control, security, management and fuel automation. They saw that our team and board have the experience and skills, so they reached out to FRF. In Ghana, we hope to make their jobs a bit easier by improving internal fuel supply and control." A stable and safe fuel supply is life-critical after a disaster, because it's needed to power search and rescue to locate victims and transport them to life-saving care; transport food, medicine, and pump and deliver clean water; provide light wherever and whenever it is needed; and provide emergency power supply to relief camps and hospitals where critical operations can be performed. Through coordination between the FRF and the United Nations, improved fuel arrangements during times of disaster around the world can result in a more efficient and effective humanitarian response that will save lives in communities hurt by a natural disaster. SOURCE Fuel Relief Fund CLEVELAND, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Futuri Media, a global leader and innovator in media technology, was named Tech Company of the Year during the 11th annual Best of Tech Awards at Cleveland's Trinity Cathedral on Thursday, April 27. The award was bestowed on Futuri by OHTec, a program of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, during TechWeek 2017. OHTec's hundreds of members represent all facets of information technology: software development, IT services, website design and development, custom application development, IT recruiters, and others. "Futuri is proud to call Cleveland home," said Futuri Media CEO Daniel Anstandig. "Our technology is used by thousands of broadcasters around the world, and our team is honored to be recognized by OHTec and the Greater Cleveland Partnership for the prestigious Tech Company of the Year Award." "This year's crop of finalists shows the deep bench of tech talent that exists in Northeast Ohio," OHTec's Executive Director Dean E. Brainard says. "At OHTec, we're proud to support the work of these innovative companies and individuals and connect the fabric of the region's IT community together through a variety of collaborative and educational efforts." Futuri Media is currently recruiting for several Cleveland-based positions. Learn more at https://www.linkedin.com/company/futuri-media. ABOUT FUTURI MEDIA Futuri Media is a global leader in audience engagement technology and tools to help broadcasters and publishers drive audience and revenue growth. Launched in 2009 with its award-winning Listener Driven Radio (LDR) audience engagement platform, Futuri Media now holds 11 published or pending patents in 151 countries and has been named to the Inc. 5000 List of America's fastest-growing private companies for three consecutive years. Recognized as a leading innovator in media, Futuri Media is a trusted partner to the world's leading broadcasters and prides itself on offering best-in-class support. Futuri Media's platforms are in use by programming, content, and sales teams at more than 1,000 TV and radio stations in 20 countries, reaching more than 100 million consumers monthly. For more information, visit http://www.futurimedia.com. CONTACT Zena Burns / Moxie Coalition [email protected] / 917.720.7943 SOURCE Futuri Media Related Links http://www.futurimedia.com SAO PAULO, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- GAFISA S.A. (Bovespa, GFSA3; NYSE, GFA) ("Gafisa" or, including all its subsidiaries, the "Company") hereby informs its shareholders and the market in general that its Form 20-F for the year 2016 was filed on April 28, 2017 with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and is available on Gafisa's Investor Relations website at the following address: www.gafisa.com.br/ir. The Company's shareholders may receive a hard copy of the Audited Financial Statements, free of charge, upon request. Additional information can be obtained from Gafisa's Investor Relations Department by phone (11) 3025-9242 / 9978 or by email at [email protected]. Sao Paulo, April 28, 2017. Gafisa S.A. Andre Bergstein CFO and Investor Relations Officer SOURCE Gafisa S.A. Related Links http://www.gafisa.com.br/ir DUBLIN, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Satellite Telephones Market, By Satellite Type, By End User, By Region, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2011 - 2021" report to their offering. The global market of satellite telephones is anticipated to cross $5.5 Billion by 2021. On the basis of satellite type, global satellite telephones market has been broadly segmented into Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). Among these categories, geosynchronous orbit dominated global satellite telephones market in 2015, and the segment is expected to maintain its dominance over the next five years as well. North America is the largest consumer of satellite telephones across the globe. Moreover, growing satellite industry coupled with increasing defense expenditure is also aiding global market of satellite telephones. Furthermore, increasing ship and aircraft movements across various regions of the globe coupled with growing oil & gas production are expected to positively influence global satellite telephones market in the coming years. However, increasing government regulations over the use of satellite phones in various countries across the globe is expected to boost the sales of satellite telephones across the world in the coming years. Global Satellite Telephones Market report discusses the following aspects of global satellite telephones market: Global Satellite Telephones Market Size, Share & Forecast Segmental Analysis - By Satellite Type (Geosynchronous Vs. Low-Earth Orbit), By End User (Defense, Maritime, Aviation, Energy, Government & Others) Regional Analysis - North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , Middle East & Africa and South America , , , & and Changing Market Trends & Emerging Opportunities Competitive Landscape & Strategic Recommendations Market Trends & Developments Advent of Hybrid Satellite Telephones Increasing Satellite Launches Surging Shipbuilding Industry and Seaborne Trade Developing Disaster Management Control Systems Booming Adventure Tourism Market Growing Satellite Industry Key Topics Discussed: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Analyst View 4. Global Satellite Telephones Market Landscape 5. Global Satellite Telephones Market Outlook 6. Regulation Standards 7. North America Satellite Telephones Market Outlook 8. Europe Satellite Telephones Market Outlook 9. Asia-Pacific Satellite Telephones Market Outlook 10. Middle East & Africa Satellite Telephones Market Outlook 11. South America Satellite Telephones Market Outlook 12. Market Dynamics 13. Market Trends & Developments 14. Competitive Landscape 15. Strategic Recommendations Companies Mentioned Globalstar Inmarsat Iridium TerreStar Thuraya For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/k97p2k/global_satellite Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SAO PAULO, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The study commissioned by Itau aims to measure the bank's contribution to the domestic economy as well as verifying performance indicators and reinforcing its commitment to sustainable growth. As such, Itau is seeking to learn more about the socio-economic impacts of its operations and activities in Brazil. This is the main addition to the the latest versions of Itau Unibanco's Integrated Report and Consolidated Annual Report for 2016, which have just been published and are available on the http://www.itau.com.br/relatorio-anual website. These publications also contain information on financial and non-financial performance, structure, activities and operations as well as the strategy for creating value across the full spectrum of our stakeholders. Conducted in partnership with Rever Consulting, the study shows that in 2015 alone, Itau Unibanco and certain personal and corporate credit products (defined in accordance with their representativeness) generated the equivalent of R$ 294 billion to the Brazilian GDP, corresponding to 5% of the total output for that year (see info-graphic below). In salaries alone, the bank paid out R$ 19 billion; R$ 11 billion was paid out to suppliers and R$ 9 billion was paid in taxes. For every R$ 1 of GDP generated directly by Itau and its analyzed products, it contributed the equivalent of R$ 4.16 to the total Brazilian GDP. Particularly noteworthy are the impacts that Itau Unibanco has on employment. In Brazil, the operations of Itau Unibanco Holding were responsible for more than 1.1 million direct, indirect and induced jobs in 2015. This breaks down as follows: more than 83,000 employees; 175,500 indirect jobs if the supply chain is taken into account; and 861,000 jobs induced by the consumption of households and in the form of public expenditures. The study also reveals that for each direct job provided by Itau Unibanco, resulting from its operations and the analyzed products, the bank contributes to the maintenance of a further 64 jobs nationwide. The full reports in PDF in Portuguese and English as well as a video of chief executive officer, Roberto Setubal, and chairman of the Board of Directors, Pedro Moreira Salles, discussing results for 2016 are available for download on the http://www.itau.com.br/relatorio-anual website which has also been formatted for access via mobile phone. "Transparency is one of our key values and through these reports, we are able to share details of our operations and the contribution of the bank's activities to society," said Alexsandro Broedel, Itau Unibanco's executive director for Finance. Ethics and Ombudsman Another new feature of the new editions of the Integrated Report and Consolidated Annual Report for 2016 includes the improvements made to the bank's Ethics and Ombudsman's areas since the second half of 2015. The institution's Ombudsman the inhouse ombudsman's channel now reports directly to the chief executive officer. The main objective of this rearrangement within Itau Unibanco's overall structure is to reinforce the area's independence, since the channel is designed for employee use in order to help resolve interpersonal disputes and interests in the workplace. In addition, the Ethics area has now been integrated into the bank's Compliance structure, in line with the best international practices of governance. During 2016, 1,227 complaints were received, with 670 subsequently being subject to investigation. One hundred forty seven investigations are still pending, 324 were handled through guidance or counselling and 86 were passed on to be dealt with by other areas. More than 180 allegations received prior to 2016 were solved, all of them following an investigation. In 2016, 50.2% of complaints investigated were deemed well-founded. The principal types of behavior identified in these cases were disrespect (44%), failure to comply with bank rules and guidelines (26%) and intimidation (10%). Technology Itau Unibanco's 2016 Consolidated Annual Report and the Integrated Report include some important statistics in relation to the bank's activities in the technological area. Some of them are: - Up to December 2016, 73% of all bank transactions were routed through the digital channels representing a total 10.9 billion, up 21% from 2015. - Itau Unibanco ended 2016 with 135 digital branches open from 7:00 a.m. to midnight an increase of 40% compared to 2015. - The bank has equipped all its managers in the corporate customer segment with tablets and smartphones. - The Itau AbreContas (open an account) app was launched, resulting in the opening of more than 36 thousand accounts in just 2 months. Integrated Report Itau Unibanco is a pioneer among Brazilian financial institutions and one of the first banks in the world to sign up to the pilot program of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) integrated reports in 2013. In 2014, the bank published the first version of its Report within the IIRC framework guidelines. In the same year, it published its first Consolidated Annual Report combining the Annual Sustainability Report, the 20F Form and the Debt Prospectus (Medium Term Notes). Both reports are reviewed by an independent auditor, reinforcing the emphasis on integrity and consistency of the data. The Integrated Report is designed to provide a more cohesive and efficient approach to preparing corporate reports. The purpose is to improve the quality of information available to investors, ensuring a more efficient and productive allocation of capital. The principal objective of an integrated report is to explain to entities sourcing financial capital how an organization creates value over time. With the adoption of the Integrated Report in 2013 Itau Unibanco has been the recipient of three accolades BeyondBanking Awards (awarded by IBD Inter-American Development Bank); Latin American Excellence Awards (Communication Director Magazine); and Aberje Award (Brazilian Association of Corporate Communication). In addition, the banks publications have set benchmark for companies in various sectors, among them, the Brazilian Development Bank - BNDES and EDP as well as being a source of research for academia. Approximately 300 companies worldwide have already adopted the Integrated Report while a further 1,500 including 120 Brazilian companies are expected to use this medium shortly. "The Integrated Report is critical to the reputation of companies, generating as it does greater confidence in corporate governance. Overtime, it is quite likely that this model will become the standard for corporate reports. Organizations will cease to produce a plethora of communications, static and unrelated to one another. This will be made possible by an integrated process of thinking based on principles such as the interconnectivity of information," Broedel adds. BOSTON, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Advisers, LLC and subadvised by John Hancock Asset Management a division of Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.0975 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of April 13, 2017, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Notification of Sources of Distribution This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) with important information concerning the distribution declared on April 03, 2017, and payable on April 28, 2017. No action is required on your part. Distribution Period: April 2017 Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.0975 The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable April 28, 2017, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount. Source Current Distribution ($) % Breakdown of the Current Distribution Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year to Date ($)1 % Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year to Date1 Net Investment Income 0.0784 80% 0.5850 100% Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains 0.0000 0% 0.0000 0% Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains 0.0094 10% 0.0000 0% Return of Capital or Other Capital Source 0.0097 10% 0.0000 0% Total per common share 0.0975 100% 0.5850 100% Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on March 31, 2017 11.80% Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of March 31, 2017 7.30% Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through March 31, 2017 4.31% Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of March 31, 2017 3.65% You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan. The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The Fund has declared the April 2017 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.0975 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investments Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. About John Hancock Investments John Hancock Investments provides asset management services to individuals and institutions through a unique manager-of-managers approach. A wealth management business of John Hancock Financial, we managed more than $135 billion in assets as of December 31, 2016 across mutual funds, college savings plans, and retirement plans. About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife Financial, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$977 billion (US$728 billion) as of December 31, 2016. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at manulife.com. The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers and administers a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, fixed products, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com. 1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on November 1, 2016, and will end on October 31, 2017. SOURCE John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund Related Links http://johnhancock.com Women's fashion brand from Los Angeles partners with SCI TORONTO, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Los Angeles based women's clothing retailer, JohnPaulRichard, has partnered with SCI for Canadian product distribution and retail value added services. JohnPaulRichard will rely on SCI's retail logistics, wholesale intelligence, and general supply chain expertise for a seamless introduction to the Canadian market. "SCI had reacted fast to our value added services and distribution needs" said Robert Hirsh, Chief Operating Officer at JohnPaulRichard, Inc. / Fever Clothing. "Seeing how quickly and effectively the team comes up with solutions, we can confidently say that, if anything happens, SCI has the capabilities and a plethora of unique services to ensure that our business continues to run smoothly in Canada." SCI is now handling the Canada wide distribution of JohnPaulRichard's product as soon as it arrives in Vancouver from Asia. By conducting quality assurance testing, SCI will ensure that JohnPaulRichard's products comply with the expectations of their Canadian retailers. "The ability to customize solutions and go the extra-mile is what makes us a strong partner" said Dave Mack, Vice President of Omni-Channel Retail at SCI. "We have put in place the value-added services that complement the fundamental distribution processes for JohnPaulRichard's products". About SCI SCI is Canada's leading provider of retail, technology & healthcare supply chain solutions that go beyond traditional logistics services. SCI's motto "We'll make you even better" is a commitment today from a business that's leading clients into tomorrow. SCI operates the most extensive national distribution and transportation network in Canada, consisting of 27 distribution centres coast to coast along with over 40 critical parts stocking locations and specialized white glove shipping hubs. SCI shares the learnings from the sectors they operate in, providing their audience with information on how to guide their supply chain to success through blog posts, case studies and white papers. JohnPaulRichard JohnPaulRichard Inc. (JPR), founded in Los Angeles in 1996, has the mission to design moderate and better updated women's apparel at affordable prices. Fashion minded and customer conscious, JohnPaulRichard has always made it a priority to put quality at the forefront of its business. With over 20 years of sourcing and manufacturing in Asia, JPR has established lasting partnerships with the top factories in the industry. The JohnPaulRichard and FEVER (Better Sportwear Division solely owned by John Paul Richard) lines offers a full range of classifications, including bottoms, dresses, tops, jackets and sweaters in all fabrications. JPR also produces special sizes, plus and petite. Today JPR and FEVER can be found in most major department stores and Specialty Stores around the U.S. under the JohnPaulRichard and FEVER brands, and now in Canada. SOURCE SCI Group Inc. Related Links www.scigroup.com LOS ANGELES, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SenDog of Cypress Hill and Sid Wilson of Slipknot, along with Karim Israel of Arise Roots join forces with Krooked Treez, on their newest single, "Militant Soldier," distributed by Zojak World Wide. The single is off their upcoming August, 2017 album release. Militant Soldier The four-minute, 36-second video was shot in various locations in Los Angeles, from roof-tops to the streets of downtown by Director, Estevan Oriol, who has produced for others acts, such as Linkin Park, Cypress Hill and Blink 182 to name a few. Brian Vasquez, of Burbank's BNV Studios produced, mixed and mastered the song, which has heavy marching beats, with added scratching effects by rocker DJ Starscream (Slipknot) and includes haunting, smooth vocals from Karim Israel, who rhythmically chimes, "We are the Militant Soldiers, you know we're marching on." The collaboration of SendDog and Sid Wilson, with Krooked Treez was the brainchild of Krooked Treez MC, O.Brown; a long-standing rapper and protege of B-Real/ Cypress Hill. "The whole process happened naturally. We all came together when everything was going down with Trump and the craziness of hearing about a wall being built. We wanted to come together and be a voice for the public and unite against racial injustice. Brian at BNV had the dope beat with Karim in place and we just took it to a new level with adding my homies," says O.Brown. WATCH VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kJpYyW6A34 LISTEN ON SOUNDCLOUD HERE: TEMPORARY WAV FILE DOWNLOAD HERE SenDog and O.Brown deliver a hard-hitting pungent rap, speaking of racial injustice and standing to unite. "So you want to build a wall and keep the raza out, go-head and build it, we already got another route," raps SenDog. "For MalcolmX, for Nelson Mandela, for 2Pacalypse, clench your fist and resurrect," raps O.Brown. Lead vocalist, BZ Bwai brings his Belizean Central American flavor to tighten the signature Krooked Treez sound, singing his creole, "Standing up for our right, steppin out fa di dark - marchin on now, stepping with my army Bwai fa Belize yea." Krooked Treez has performed mainstage at major music festivals, such as Russia's famed Kubana Festival, performing for an audience of nearly 200,000, as well as California Roots, South Park Music Fest, Blaze N Glory, Shoreline Jam, and Bay Area Vibez Festivals to name a few. They have performed with major acts as 311, Bassnectar, Nas, Dirty Heads, Matisyahu, Slightly Stoopid, Korn, Rebelution, Ziggy and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Stephen "Ragga" Marley, Steel Pulse, Pepper, System of a Down, WuTang, Katchafire, SOJA and Iration. The band is comprised of the B-Real produced and mentored Belizean MC O.Brown, along with Belizian born and raised BZ Bwai, who brings his catchy riddims and international flavor to the scene. Together, the two create magic, with O'Brown's hard knocks party-rocking lyricism and BZ Bwai's harmonic soulful and smooth vocals. California original bassist Bobby Zen and guitarist extraordinaire Josh Stoney Eye both tighten the band with their rich sounds that are backed by years of experience. The band is currently in the studio recording a full-length album and will feature more surprise collaborations. For more information, please contact: Zoe of Zojak World Wide at: [email protected], or Tanya Moore at [email protected]/ 831-383-3837. LINKS OF INTEREST: Live Link EPK: https://goo.gl/QPPdIl Militant Soldier Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kJpYyW6A34 Website: http://www.krookedtreezband.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krookedtreez Twitter: https://twitter.com/krookedtreez Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krookedtreezofficial/ PAST VIDEOS: So In Love with California Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrbQgHvQTvE Rebel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=bpuvesDB8pw SOURCE Zojak World Wide, LLC STAINES-UPON-THAMES, United Kingdom, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE: MNK), a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company, announced new results from two company-sponsored studies: one study on use of H.P. Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) in patients with infantile spasms (IS) and a second study on the economic burden of moderate-to-severe multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse. Findings from the IS study indicate treatment with H.P. Acthar Gel may be associated with a decline in medical resource utilization (MRU) in the three months following treatment completion, including the number of emergency room (ER) visits, hospitalizations and days hospitalized. Results from the MS study indicate the economic burden of moderate-to-severe MS relapse is underestimated within the scientific literature in terms of frequency, duration and impact, thereby underscoring an unmet need in appropriate assessment and treatment of relapse. These results were presented Tuesday, Apr. 25, 2017 at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 69th Annual Meeting in Boston, Mass. "Mallinckrodt continues to build on the knowledge surrounding IS and MS relapse, two disease categories for which Acthar is an important treatment option," said Tunde Otulana, Chief Medical Officer at Mallinckrodt. "We are committed to further demonstrating the overall value of Acthar to appropriate patients." H.P. Acthar Gel has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a first line monotherapy treatment for IS since 2010.1 It has also been approved by the FDA to treat MS relapse since 1978[2] and is proven to help speed its relief.2 However, there is no evidence that H.P. Acthar Gel affects the ultimate outcome or natural history of multiple sclerosis. Medical Resource Utilization in Patients with Infantile Spasms after Receipt of Repository Corticotropin Injection (H.P. Acthar Gel): Results of a Physician Survey assessed characteristics of treating physicians and their practices, and treating physicians' patients with IS and their MRU. Physicians were identified using a national list of H.P. Acthar Gel prescribers and the American Medical Association (AMA) Physician Masterfile. Physicians must have treated patients with H.P. Acthar Gel between three months and two years prior to study enrollment and were required to have complete medical charts available. Key highlights include: A total of 101 physicians (68 neurologists; 33 internal medicine physicians) and 159 patients were reflected in the survey. The top underlying causes of IS in patients included tuberous sclerosis (21 patients), other genetic abnormalities (17 patients), and central nervous system infections (14 patients). There was a statistically significant decrease in the number of ER visits (-0.35; 21 percent reduction) and hospitalizations (-0.33; 20 percent reduction) in the three months after completing treatment with H.P. Acthar Gel (all p 0.02). Among those hospitalized, there was a decrease in the number of direct admissions (-0.11; 12 percent reduction), admissions through the ER (-0.22; 28 percent reduction), and days hospitalized (-1.32; 54 percent reduction). A non-significant decrease (-0.28; 10 percent reduction) in outpatient visits was also reported. The average age of patients with IS in the survey was eight months. Approximately one-third were female and about half were Caucasian. Limitations Exclusive use of H.P. Acthar Gel was not mandated, and simultaneous use of other agents was not examined. Therefore, observed MRU reductions may not be attributable solely to H.P. Acthar Gel. The poster is available on the Mallinckrodt website. The Economic Burden of Moderate-to-Severe Multiple Sclerosis Relapse in the United States: Findings from a Systematic Literature Review examined the scientific literature to characterize the economic burden of moderate-to-severe MS relapse. No date restrictions were placed on direct cost studies; indirect cost studies were searched back to 2010. Relapse treatment was required to be mentioned. Of 4,263 English-language, full-text search results, 24 studies discussed economic burden; of these 24 studies, four studies addressed relapse severity, each using different study designs, cost components, and/or patient types. Key studies could not be further integrated due to inherent differences. Key highlights include: The majority of studies do not address nor differentiate severity. The few studies that do, indicate the cost and impact of relapse increases with relapse severity. Two notable studies are those from O'Brien et al., 2003 3 , and Parise et al., 2013 4 : , and Parise et al., 2013 : O'Brien et al. reported 90-day direct costs per relapse of high- and moderate-intensity management of $12,870 and $1,847 , respectively [2016 amount: $21,544 and $3,092 ] 3 ; and , respectively [2016 amount: and ] ; Parise et al. reported one-year mean MS-related direct costs per patient of high- and low-to-moderate severity relapse of $29,355 and $18,981 , respectively [2016 amount: $33,961 and $21,959 ] 4 ; and , respectively [2016 amount: and ] ; Parise et al. reported spouse caregiver burden by relapse frequency, not severity. 4 Notably, effects of MS-relapse severity on patient functioning and disability, caregiver burden, and relapse duration are difficult to measure, incorporate, and translate into overall burden, and are not well addressed in the literature. The burden of moderate-to-severe relapse remains underappreciated and an unmet need in understanding MS relapse still exists. Implications for relapse awareness, characterization and management should be considered. Limitations The few studies which met the criteria in the literature search used varying designs, relapse definitions, durations and metrics, complicating synthesis and interpretation of results. The poster is available on the Mallinckrodt website. ABOUT INFANTILE SPASMS IS is a rare seizure disorder that affects approximately 2,500 children in the U.S. every year.5 It most commonly occurs between four and eight months of age.6 Sometimes called West syndrome, IS demands early identification, diagnosis, and treatment to help limit lasting effects.5 Children with IS generally have one or more of the following symptoms: a certain type of seizure (called "spasms"), a disorganized and chaotic brain-wave pattern called hypsarrhythmia as recorded on an EEG (electroencephalogram).6 ABOUT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) MS is a neurologic disorder that affects the central nervous system (i.e., the brain and spinal cord).7 Symptoms can include fatigue, balance/coordination issues, numbness or tingling, vision problems, muscle spasms, tremors and emotional changes.7 More than eight in 10 people with MS will experience a relapse, or flare-up, that brings new or worsening symptoms.8 About H.P. Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) H.P. Acthar Gel is an injectable drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of 19 indications. Of these, today the majority of Acthar use is in these indications: As an orphan monotherapy medication for the treatment of IS in infants and children under 2 years of age. Treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis in adults. For more information about Acthar, please visit www.acthar.com. The Full Prescribing Information may be accessed here. The Medication Guide that provides information about the use of H.P. Acthar Gel for the treatment of Infantile Spasms may be accessed here. Important Safety Information Acthar should never be administered intravenously. Administration of live or live attenuated vaccines is contraindicated in patients receiving immunosuppressive doses of Acthar. Acthar is contraindicated where congenital infections are suspected in infants. Acthar is contraindicated in patients with scleroderma, osteoporosis, systemic fungal infections, ocular herpes simplex, recent surgery, history of or the presence of a peptic ulcer, congestive heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, primary adrenocortical insufficiency, adrenocortical hyperfunction or sensitivity to proteins of porcine origins. The adverse effects of Acthar are related primarily to its steroidogenic effects. Acthar may increase susceptibility to new infection or reactivation of latent infections. Suppression of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis may occur following prolonged therapy with the potential for adrenal insufficiency after withdrawal of the medication. Adrenal insufficiency may be minimized by tapering of the dose when discontinuing treatment. During recovery of the adrenal gland, patients should be protected from the stress (e.g., trauma or surgery) by the use of corticosteroids. Monitor patients for effects of HPA suppression after stopping treatment. Cushing's Syndrome may occur during therapy but generally resolves after therapy is stopped. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms. Monitor patients for elevation of blood pressure, salt and water retention, and hypokalemia. Acthar often acts by masking symptoms of other diseases/disorders. Monitor patients carefully during and following discontinuation. Acthar can cause gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and gastric ulcer with an increased risk for perforation with certain GI disorders. Monitor for signs of bleeding. Acthar may be associated with central nervous system (CNS) effects ranging from euphoria, insomnia, irritability, mood swings, personality changes, depression, and psychosis. Existing conditions may be aggravated. Patients with comorbid disease may have that disease worsened. Caution should be used in patients with diabetes and myasthenia gravis. Prolonged use of Acthar may produce cataracts, glaucoma and secondary ocular infections. Acthar is immunogenic and prolonged use may increase the risk of hypersensitivity reactions. There is an enhanced effect in patients with hypothyroidism and those with cirrhosis of liver. Long-term use may have negative effects on growth and physical development in children. Monitor pediatric patients. Decrease in bone density may occur. Monitor during long-term therapy. Pregnancy Class C: Acthar has been shown to have an embryocidal effect and should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Common adverse reactions include fluid retention, alteration in glucose tolerance, elevation in blood pressure, behavioral and mood changes, increased appetite and weight gain. Specific adverse reactions reported in IS clinical trials in infants and children under 2 years of age included: infection, hypertension, irritability, Cushingoid symptoms, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, pyrexia, weight gain, increased appetite, decreased appetite, nasal congestion, acne, rash, and cardiac hypertrophy. Convulsions were also reported, but these may actually be occurring because some IS patients progress to other forms of seizures and IS sometimes mask other seizures, which become visible once the clinical spasms from IS resolve. Please see full Prescribing Information here for additional Important Safety Information. The Medication Guide that provides information about the use of H.P. Acthar Gel for the treatment of Infantile Spasms may be accessed here. ABOUT MALLINCKRODT Mallinckrodt is a global business that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. Areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; and analgesics and hemostasis products. The company's core strengths include the acquisition and management of highly regulated raw materials and specialized chemistry, formulation and manufacturing capabilities. The company's Specialty Brands segment includes branded medicines and its Specialty Generics segment includes specialty generic drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients and external manufacturing. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com. Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website. CONTACTS Investor Relations Coleman N. Lannum, CFA Senior Vice President, Investor Strategy and IRO 314-654-6649 [email protected]dt.com Daniel J. Speciale, CPA Director, Investor Relations 314-654-3638 [email protected] Media Rhonda Sciarra Senior Communications Manager 908-238-6765 [email protected] Meredith Fischer Chief Public Affairs Officer 314-654-3318 [email protected] 1 Acthar Prescribing Information. 8.4 Pediatric Use. Available at: http://www.acthar.com/pdf/Acthar-PI.pdf. Accessed April 10, 2017. 2 Why Acthar for MS Relapse. ActharMSRelapse Website. Available at: https://msfocus.org/Get-Educated/Common-Questions#What is Multiple Sclerosis. Accessed April 6, 2017. 3 O'Brien JA et al. Cost of managing an episode of relapse in multiple sclerosis in the United States. BMC Health Services Research. 2003;3(1):17 Available at: https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6963-3-17. Accessed April 21, 2017. 4 Parise H et al. Direct and indirect cost burden associated with multiple sclerosis relapses: excess costs of persons with MS and their spouse caregivers. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 2013;330(1-2):71-7 Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23647840. Accessed April 21, 2017. 5 Understanding Infantile Spasms. ActharIS Website. Available at: https://www.actharis.com/what-are-infantile-spasms. Accessed April 6, 2017. 6 Parent and Caregiver Brochure - Acthar for Infantile Spasms: Commonly asked questions about treatment, Mallinckrodt Website, p. 2. Available at: https://www.actharis.com/docs/acthar-infantile-spasms-brochure.pdf. Accessed March 24, 2017. 7 Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. Available at: http://msfocus.org/Symptoms-of-Multiple-Sclerosis.aspx. Accessed April 19, 2017. 8 National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Available at: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Types-of-MS/Relapsing-remitting-MS. Accessed April 21, 2017 SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc Related Links http://www.mallinckrodt.com/ TSX: MFI www.mapleleaffoods.com TORONTO, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Maple Leaf Foods Inc. reports that at its Annual Meeting of shareholders on April 27, 2017 there were 492 shareholders voting in person and by proxy holding in total 104,892,689 Voting Common Shares, being 80.49% of the total number of Voting Common Shares outstanding. Each of the directors listed as nominees in the management proxy circular dated March 27, 2017 were elected directors of the Corporation until the next Annual Meeting. The results of the vote for the election of directors are as follows: Names of Directors Number of Shares Voted For* Percentage of Shares Voted For Number of Shares Withheld from Voting* Percentage of Shares Withheld from Voting W.E. Aziz 104,190,680 99.90% 108,823 0.10% W.G. Beattie 103,829,325 99.55% 470,178 0.45% R.G. Close 104,268,640 99.97% 30,863 0.03% D.L. Emerson 103,964,467 99.68% 335,036 0.32% J.M. Fraser 104,251,233 99.95% 48,270 0.05% J.A. Lederer 104,189,677 99.89% 109,826 0.11% M.H. McCain 104,263,285 99.97% 36,218 0.03% J.P. Olson 104,266,798 99.97% 32,705 0.03% C.M. Stephenson 104,127,048 99.83% 172,455 0.17% * As the vote for each motion was taken by a show of hands, the number of votes disclosed reflects only those proxies received by management in advance of the meeting. Maple Leaf Foods Inc. is a leading consumer protein company, making high quality, innovative products under national brands including Maple Leaf, Maple Leaf Prime, Maple Leaf Natural Selections, Schneiders, Schneiders Country Naturals, Mina and Lightlife. Maple Leaf employs approximately 11,500 people and does business in Canada, the U.S. and Asia. The Company is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario and its shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MFI). SOURCE Maple Leaf Foods Inc. Related Links http://www.mapleleaffoods.com MIAMI, Okla., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Mars Petcare's Miami facility is being honored with the Three Million Man Hour Safety Award from the Oklahoma Department of Labor for accumulating three million work hours over seven years without a lost day away from work due to a work-related injury or illness. Mars Petcare is celebrating this significant safety milestone with an interactive Day of Safety and luncheon for its Associates to honor the site's achievement and commitment to creating a safe work environment. Chris Benge, Chief of Staff for Governor Mary Fallin, will present the Mars Petcare team with a state proclamation from Governor Fallin, with additional remarks from Miami City Manager Dean Krutih, who will present a city proclamation. Miami Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Gilbert and Mars Petcare Miami Site Director J.R. Smith will also speak. Also in attendance will be Paul Peepers, Oklahoma Department of Labor Assistant Director of Safety Standard, Brian Forrester, Ward 1 Councilman, Neal Johnson, Ward 3 Councilman and the Galena Fire Department. "The state of Oklahoma is proud to be the home of Mars Petcare," said Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin. "Mars Petcare has been a strong corporate citizen, and has made a great impact on the local economy. Congratulations to Mars Petcare and their 80 hard-working associates at the Miami facility for seven years without a single day lost due to a work-related injury. Workplace safety and health is critical, and it's an incredible milestone to reach. It is a testament to the dedication and leadership of every person who works there." Throughout the day, Mars Petcare Associates will go through several training stations with safety professionals, including the Galena Fire Department, to continue learning about various ways to stay safe and focus on their commitment to remain accident free in the workplace. "Not only does today mark seven years at our Miami site without a lost day away from work due to work-related injury or illness, we're also celebrating 20 years of Mars Petcare manufacturing at the Miami site in Northeast Oklahoma," said J.R. Smith, Mars Petcare Miami Site Director. "Today, we celebrate going home each day to our relatives the exact same way we showed up and remind ourselves that preventing future safety incidents starts with us." Mars Petcare has always strived to be a company that great people in Northeast Oklahoma want to join, stay and grow with, and this commitment to safety is one of many ways the company is delivering on that endeavor. "The Miami, Oklahoma community appreciates the 20-year track record of success that we are celebrating with the Mars Petcare Miami operation," said Steve Gilbert, President & CEO of the Miami Regional Chamber of Commerce. "We are honored to recognize Mars Petcare's amazing milestone of 7 years with no accident or incident. I know I speak for our business community, the Chamber Board, and our partners at the City of Miami, Northeast Technology Center and countless others in saying 'thank you' to the local and corporate leadership of Mars Petcare for remaining a top Miami, Oklahoma employer, creating quality consumer products and making continuous capital investments and other contributions to our community, region and the state of Oklahoma." Mars Petcare's Safety Commitment Outside of Miami, Mars Petcare continues to be a global leader in food and quality safety by giving back to all of the communities in which it operates, and safety is a continuous area of focus and improvement for Mars Petcare. This achievement for the Miami site comes on the heels of additional safety recognition earlier this year. In February the Mars Petcare Fort Smith, Arkansas, site was awarded with the Two Million Man Hour Safety Award from the Arkansas Department of Labor for accumulating two million work hours over five years without a lost day away from work due to a work-related injury or illness. The company has made the safety of its Associates a non-negotiable, striving to provide Associates with the education and skills necessary to establish and maintain a safe work environment at all of its locations. Earlier this year, the company was named one of the World's Best Multinational Workplaces by Great Place to Work by Fortune magazine for the seventh consecutive year. About Mars Petcare US Mars Petcare is the world's leading pet nutrition and health care business. A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS is the vision statement held by Mars Petcare as we believe that pets make our lives better and that pet ownership brings joy and benefits which should be accessible to everyone. In the United States, Mars Petcare food brands include PEDIGREE, IAMS, ROYAL CANIN, GREENIES, CESAR, NUTRO and SHEBA. Veterinary practices include BANFIELD and BLUE PEARL. Specialty brands include WISDOM PANEL Canine DNA Tests and WHISTLE GPS Pet Tracker. The company's WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition is a leading scientific authority on pet nutrition and wellbeing. Mars Petcare has more than 37,000 Associates worldwide. For more information about Mars Petcare's vision: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS, visit https://www.facebook.com/ABetterWorldforPets. SOURCE Mars Petcare ATLANTA, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks a significant milestone for McAlister's Deli, as the rapidly expanding fast casual restaurant chain opens the doors to its 400th restaurant in Cedar Hill, Texas. To celebrate the occasion and thank fans everywhere, McAlister's is giving away free club sandwiches with the purchase of a glass of McAlister's Famous Tea to all guests who download and place their order through the McAlister's mobile app, May 1 4, 2017. "Four hundred restaurants is a tremendous milestone for McAlister's, and we know it wouldn't be possible without our dedicated team members and franchisees who have put their heart and soul into each dish served as well as our beloved guests whose passion for the brand makes us all excited to come to work every day," said Paul Macaluso, president of McAlister's Deli. "This celebration is our thank you to them and we look forward to celebrating the next 400 restaurants in the years to come." To participate in this celebratory offer, guests should follow these simple steps: Download the McAlister's Mobile App and enable push notifications so you can receive your free club promo code. Already have the app? Double check that push notifications are enabled this is how you'll receive the necessary promo code! Start an order through the app, add a McAlister's Club and 32. oz beverage to cart Enter the promo code at checkout Pick-up and Enjoy! For more information, please visit McAlistersDeli.com and connect with McAlister's on Facebook.com/TeaFreaks and Twitter and Instagram at @McAlistersDeli. About McAlister's Founded in 1989, McAlister's Deli is a fast casual restaurant chain known for its genuine hospitality, sandwiches, spuds, soups, salads, desserts and McAlister's Famous Sweet Tea. In addition to dine-in and take-out service, McAlister's also offers catering with a selection of sandwich trays, box lunches, desserts, a hot spud bar and more. With numerous industry accolades, the McAlister's brand has more than 380 restaurants in 28 states. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. For more information, visit www.mcalistersdeli.com, and find McAlister's on social media at www.Facebook.com/TeaFreaks, www.Twitter.com/McAlistersDeli and www.Instagram.com\McAlistersDeli. CONTACT: Marissa Sharpless, McAlister's Deli [email protected] SOURCE McAlister's Deli Related Links http://www.mcalistersdeli.com HUDDINGE, Sweden, April 28, 2017 Significant events during the first quarter The osteoarthritis trial evaluating MIV-711 received the go-ahead to continue without any modifications after a positive fourth review of safety data. Christine Lind has been appointed as the new CEO of Medivir, effective as of 1 April 2017 . Medivir's Extraordinary General Meeting, held in February, resolved on a voluntary redemption programme comprising a reduction in the share capital for repayment to the shareholders. Total cash proceeds of approximately SEK 857.5 million were distributed. An agreement was reached with Janssen concerning the out-licensing of the commercial rights to simeprevir and any products containing simeprevir in the Nordic region. In exchange, Medivir will receive royalties on all sales in the Nordic region of products containing simeprevir. The agreement also entitles Medivir to additional milestone payments with a combined value of approximately EUR 6 million . Medivir has, furthermore, returned the commercial rights to Adasuve in the Nordic region to Ferrer. Financial summary Net turnover for the continuing operations totalled SEK 17.8 million (20.6 m), SEK 13.7 million (18.1 m) of which comprised the first quarter's royalties for simeprevir. Other operating income totalled SEK 2.4 million (4.8 m). The loss before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled SEK -80.9 million (-60.7 m). Basic and diluted earnings per share were SEK -3.59 (-1.50). The cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK -123.9 million (-36.4 m). Non-recurring personnel costs of SEK 10.0 million (0.0 m) affected the result during the quarter. Liquid assets and short-term investments totalled SEK 708.9 million (1,039.5 m) at the period end. Significant events after the period end Positive data from the phase II clinical study of remetinostat in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma were announced in April. Data from an ongoing phase II study with the triple combination of simeprevir, odalasvir and AL-335, was presented at The International Liver Congress in April. Conference call for investors, analysts and the media The Interim Report for January March 2017 will be presented by Medivir's President & CEO, Christine Lind. Time: Friday, 28 April 2017, at 14.00 (CET). Phone numbers for participants from: Sweden 08-566-426-91 Europe +44-20-3008-9804 USA +1-855-753-2235 The conference call will also be streamed via a link on the website: www.medivir.com The presentation will be available on Medivir's website after completion of the conference. For further information, please contact: Christine Lind CEO +46-(0)-8-5468 3100 Ola Burmark CFO +46-(0)-725-480-580 CEO's comments The transformation of Medivir Medivir's research activities are now focused on oncology and projects in other areas will consequently be out-licensed. This out-licensing work will initially relate to the rights to develop and commercialise the MIV-802 hepatitis C project in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau an area that was excluded from the licensing agreement concluded with Trek Therapeutics in 2016. We are also working to out-license MIV-323 for the treatment of RSV infections, which we believe has the potential to be best-in class, but in which Medivir is no longer investing itself. The final stage in Medivir's transformation process to becoming a company focused on research and development were completed during the first quarter of the year. An agreement was concluded with Janssen, out-licensing the commercial rights in the Nordic region to simeprevir and potential future products containing simeprevir. Medivir consequently no longer conducts commercialization activities for pharmaceutical products and is now fully focused on research and development activities. The voluntary redemption programme in connection with the divestment of BioPhausia was also completed during the quarter, resulting in the transfer of SEK 857.5 million to the shareholders. Medivir's management bought shares and sold redemption rights from the redemption programme resulting in an increase in the management group's combined shareholding in Medivir. Further progress for projects All of our projects continued to develop according to plan during the quarter. The MIV-711 osteoarthritis trial had its fourth and final expected Data Monitoring Committee review of safety data. All four of the independent Data Monitoring Committee's reviews have yielded the best possible outcome, namely that the ongoing phase IIa trial should continue without any modifications. We expect, as previously stated, to present the data from MIV-711 in the third quarter of 2017. Our research and development activities are now primarily focused on oncology, including the two very interesting projects in this area that were acquired in 2016: remetinostat and birinapant. We reported topline data from the phase II study of remetinostat in CTCL (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma) after the end of the reporting period. The data from the study was positive and we expect to request a meeting with the US FDA in order to enable a phase III study start in the latter half of 2017. We are also looking forward to starting phase I/II studies of birinapant in partnership with both Merck and the University of California (UCLA) in various cancers. Royalties attributable to the approved hepatitis C drug, OLYSIO (simeprevir) amounted to SEK 13.7 million during the first quarter, due to the decline in global net sales of OLYSIO. Our partner, Janssen, continues to develop simeprevir in a fixed-dose combination with other direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C and data from the ongoing phase II program are expected to be presented by our partner at upcoming conferences. A strong, balanced R&D portfolio I am delighted by the opportunity to lead the implementation of our new, oncology-focused strategy. Medivir has a strong, balanced R&D portfolio with interesting projects in various phases. For a more in-depth description of our strategy and portfolio, I recommend the presentations on our website, www.medivir.com. I also have every confidence in the expertise we have built up within our organisation and in our ability to create long-term value for our shareholders. Christine Lind President and CEO This information is information that Medivir AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 08.30 CET on 28 April 2017. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/medivir/r/medivir-ab---interim-report--january---march-2017,c2253077 The following files are available for download: http://mb.cision.com/Main/652/2253077/666286.pdf INTERIM REPORT JANUARY a" MARCH 2017 SOURCE Medivir NEW YORK, April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Milstein Medical Asian American Partnership (MMAAP) Foundation announced the 2017 Fellowship and Project Awards in Geriatrics (under the Irma and Paul Milstein Program for Senior Health), Dermatology, Hematology, Translational Medicine and Reproductive Medicine. MMAAP Foundation was founded in 2011 to improve world health by developing mutually beneficial partnerships between the U.S. and China, as well as greater Asia. Each year fellowship and research project grants are awarded in these five medical fields. A Fellowship Award supports a promising investigator in clinical or basic research from China for one-year of training at a distinguished host institution in the U.S. A Project Award supports a research project conducted in China in partnership with a prominent U.S. institution that will potentially produce a measurable effect on healthcare within two years. Since its inception, MMAAP foundation has awarded over 40 Fellowship and Project grants to support the work of exceptional physician scientists and investigators with the vision, drive and dedication to find new and innovative ways towards advancements in the targeted medical fields. These outstanding award recipients represent more than 20 prestigious Chinese medical institutions including Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Peking University Institute of Hematology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, and others. "The visionary leadership of MMAAP Foundation Chairman and Founder, Howard P. Milstein, has brought together and funded exchanges between outstanding researchers, medical talent, and institutions in these regions," said Sean X. Leng, MD, PhD, President of MMAAP Foundation. "The 2017 recipients are among the most talented investigators in their fields and our support of their work is vital to both furthering medical research and strengthening relations between the U.S. and China." Grant applications were evaluated through a two-step peer review process according to the National Institute of Health standard. Panels of Chinese and U.S. experts in their respective fields jointly reviewed all proposals, and finalists were submitted for approval by MMAAP Foundation. The U.S. panels in Geriatrics, Skin Disease, Hematology, Reproductive Medicine, and Translational Medicine include members of the American Geriatrics Society, Medical Advisory Committee of American Skin Association, New York Blood Center, Jones Foundation for Reproductive Medicine, as well as members of other leading U.S. institutions in each field. The 2017 recipients are: IRMA AND PAUL MILSTEIN PROGRAM FOR SENIOR HEALTH 2017 Fellowship Award Project Name: Noninvasive modulation of brain network activity to improve balance in aging and Parkinson's disease Fellowship Applicant: Junhong Zhou, PhD Chinese Institution: Beijing Tiantan Hospital U.S. Institution: Hebrew Senior Life Institute for Aging Research, Harvard Medical School 2017 Project Award Project Name: Development of a community-based geriatric palliative home care model in Beijing Principal Investigator: Xiaohong Liu, MD Chinese Institution: Peking Union Medical College Hospital U.S. Institution: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine MILSTEIN MEDICAL ASIAN AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION AWARDS IN CUTANEOUS BIOLOGY AND SKIN DISEASE 2017 Fellowship Award Project Name: Danger-associated molecular patterns: the key mediators of ROS-induced immune injury on melanocytes Fellowship Applicant: Pu Song, MD, PhD Chinese Institution: Xijin Hospital U.S. Institution: University of Massachusetts Medical School 2017 Project Award Project Name: Immunologic study of the association of bullous pemphigoid with neurological diseases Principal Investigator: Li Li, MD, PhD Chinese Institution: Peking Union Medical College Hospital U.S. Institution: University of Pennsylvania MILSTEIN MEDICAL ASIAN AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION AWARDS IN HEMATOLOGY 2017 Fellowship Award Project Name: The influence of the CMV immune response on anti-tumor immunity in patients with hematologic malignancies Fellowship Applicant: Xiaohua Luo, MD, PhD Chinese Institution: The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University U.S. Institution: Stanford University School of Medicine 2017 Project Award Project Name: Epigenetic regulation and restoring IKAROS functions inantioncogenesis ofhigh-risk leukemia Principal Investigator: Zheng Ge, PhD Chinese Institution: Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University U.S. Institution: Pennsylvania State University MILSTEIN MEDICAL ASIAN AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION AWARDS IN TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2017 Fellowship Award Project Name: Establishing a new connection in translational medicine between the United States and China Fellowship Applicant: Nan Shen, MD, PhD Chinese Institution: The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University U.S. Institution: Brigham and Women's Hospital 2017 Project Award Project Name: The preclinical research of monoclonal antibody drug treatment for diabetic foot targeting the blood vessels Principal Investigator: Guoquan Gao, MD, PhD Chinese Institution: Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University U.S. Institution: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center MILSTEIN MEDICAL ASIAN AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION AWARDS IN REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE 2017 Fellowship Award Project Name: H19 lncRNA-mediated regulation of ovarian folliculogenesis, ovarian aging and ovarian hyperstimulation. Fellowship Applicant: Xi Xia, MD, PhD Chinese Institution: Peking University Shenzhen Hospital U.S. Institution: Yale School of Medicine 2017 Project Award Project Name: The relationship between sERC in human oocytes and embryo development and neonatal outcome Principal Investigator: Xue Wang, PhD Chinese Institution: Peking Union Medical College Hospital U.S. Institution: The Center for Human Reproduction, New York ABOUT MILSTEIN MEDICAL ASIAN AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION The mission of Milstein Medical Asian American Partnership Foundation (MMAAP Foundation) is to improve world health by developing mutually beneficial partnerships between the U.S. and China, as well as greater Asia. Working with some of the premier health organizations in the world, MMAAP Foundation brings together and funds exchanges among the best research, medical talent, and institutions in the regions. This strategy is a high priority for MMAAP Foundation's founder Howard P. Milstein. MMAAP Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. For more than 50 years, the Milstein family has been actively involved in health-related and medical philanthropy. MMAAP Foundation builds upon this distinguished history in five areas: Senior Healthcare, Skin Disease and Melanoma, Reproductive Biology, Blood Research, and Translational Medicine. MMAAP Foundation works in close collaboration with other medical organizations supported by the Milstein family, including American Skin Association, Milstein Melanoma Research Program at The Rockefeller University, Howard and Georgeanna Jones Foundation for Reproductive Medicine, New York Blood Center, and the Program for Translational Chemical Biology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. For more information, please visit MMAAP Foundation's website at www.mmaapf.org. SOURCE Milstein Medical Asian American Partnership Foundation Related Links http://www.mmaapf.org WASHINGTON, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Small Administration kicks off National Small Business Week 2017 on April 30 in the nation's capital by having SBA Administrator Linda McMahon recognize and award the nation's top small businesses, entrepreneurs, small business advocates and champions. Since 1963, the president of the United States has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week. This year National Small Business Week will be recognized from April 30-May 6 with national events planned in Washington, D.C, New York City, Indianapolis, Dallas and Fresno, California. Events throughout the week will be live-streamed on SBA's website at www.sba.gov/nsbw. Every year, National Small Business Week is made possible thanks in part to the support of cosponsors. Our Silver, Bronze and Supporting level sponsors have provided the resources to make this recognition week possible. The companies below have joined forces with SBA to help celebrate National Small Business Week 2017: Co-Chair SCORE Association Silver Cosponsors Chase Constant Contact Google Salesforce Visa YP Bronze Cosponsors Amazon Facebook Leadpages Lockheed Martin Microsoft National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL) Raytheon Square Supporting Sponsors Accion America's SBDC Angel Capital Association Association of Women's Business Centers AT&T Bunker Labs California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity Charter Communications Click2Mail Cloudbric Collaborative Marketing Services Delta Chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority DHL Express Dog Tag Duke Energy Ebay Emerge the Magazine Expensify First Data Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce Institute for Veterans & Military Families International Council for Small Business International Franchise Association iPage iStart Valley Junior Achievement LiftFund Women's Business Center LISC Small Business Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation National Association for the Self-Employed National Association of Development Companies National Association of Secretaries of State National Cyber Security Alliance National Small Business Association National Urban League Washington Bureau Nav Oklahoma State University Pacific Community Ventures Sageworks Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council Small Business Investor Alliance Small Business Legislative Council Small Business Majority Small Business Trends St. Joseph's University State Farm Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce Women Impacting Public Policy Yelp About the Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012 has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. www.sba.gov Cosponsorship Authorization #SBW2017 SBA's participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any Cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA/SCORE programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Release Number: 17-30 Contact: Carol Wilkerson (202) 205-8520 Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration Related Links http://www.sba.gov GLENDALE, Calif., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today an anticipated 76,000 kids and teens from nearly 750 local Boys & Girls Clubs will participate in the spring National Fitness Competition, a bi-annual health and wellness program sponsored by Nestle in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Today marks the partnership's third year and the largest national participation to-date, bringing to life Nestle's commitment to creating a healthier generation. Established in 2015, the National Fitness Competition is a health and wellness program established to encourage a competitive spirit and inspire kids and teens to achieve tangible short-term fitness goals. Local Clubs host fitness competitions for their members, which include activities segmented by age and gender, along with three levels of competition: individual, among peers and against other Clubs to encourage positive competitive spirit. Magen Clay, a staff member with the Oakland Boys & Girls Club has first-hand experience with the National Fitness Competition. "The group as a whole showed significant improvement both, mentally and physically in regards to physical fitness and wellness," said Magen. "Our kids' outlook on participating in daily fitness challenges and in the competition was incredible. They encouraged and rallied around one another to achieve even more together as a team." "We're thrilled with the Fitness Competition's reception and the level of enthusiasm that we've seen from the local Clubs and our employees alike," said Paul Grimwood, Chairman and CEO of Nestle USA. "We strive to have a positive impact on the communities where we live, work and play, and the National Fitness Competition is one way we can actively serve these communities nationwide." The National Fitness Competition is part of Nestle's broader initiatives focused on expanding volunteerism and nutrition education at the community level. This partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America builds upon the company's commitment to becoming a leader in nutrition, health and wellness, and to serve as an example for American youth to lead a life rooted in health and wellness. "This partnership has created an invaluable joint effort between our organizations to help inspire young people to learn the importance of health and fitness, while also cultivating their self-confidence and motivation that will carry them outside of our Clubs' walls," said Jim Clark, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Nestle employees are active volunteers in local chapters throughout the country, and we applaud the company's continued service through its partnership to support health and wellness initiatives for local Clubs." Nestle is committed to improving the nutrition, health and wellness of communities across the United States. The National Fitness Competition is an opportunity to inspire healthy eating and lifestyle habits in youth at a crucial age as well as to emphasize the value of teamwork and community spirit. About Nestle in the United States Nestle in the United States is committed to being a trusted leader in nutrition, health and wellness. Our 51,000 employees in the United States are committed to enhancing quality of life, contributing to a healthier future for individuals and families, our communities, and the planet. Nestle in the U.S. offers a wide and varied portfolio of food and beverage products for people and their pets throughout their lives. Nestle in the U.S. consists of eight main businesses: Nestle USA, Nestle Waters North America, Nestle Nutrition, Nestle Professional, Nespresso, Nestle Health Science, Nestle Skin Health and Nestle Purina PetCare Company. The United States is Nestle S.A.'s largest market with combined product sales in the United States totaling more than $27 billion in 2016. For more information, visit Nestleusa.com or Facebook.com/NestleUSA. About Boys & Girls Clubs of America For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,300 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in Boys & Girls Clubs of America-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. Media Contacts: Edie Burge +1 818 551 3284 [email protected] Sara Leutzinger +1 404 487 5624 [email protected] SOURCE Nestle in the United States Related Links http://www.Nestleusa.com TORONTO, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - New Gold Inc. ("New Gold") (TSX:NGD) (NYSE MKT:NGD) today announces the voting results from the election of its Board of Directors at New Gold's Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") held on April 26, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario. The director nominees listed in the Management Information Circular dated March 13, 2017 were elected as directors of New Gold at the Meeting. Detailed results of the vote are set out below. Director Nominee Votes For % Votes For Withheld % Withheld David Emerson 256,139,504 96.97% 8,008,235 3.03% James Estey 247,213,108 93.59% 16,934,631 6.41% Vahan Kololian 261,878,781 99.14% 2,268,958 0.86% Martyn Konig 247,022,925 93.52% 17,124,814 6.48% Randall Oliphant 258,075,987 97.70% 6,071,752 2.30% Ian Pearce 255,952,424 96.90% 8,195,315 3.10% Hannes Portmann 262,847,069 99.51% 1,300,670 0.49% Kay Priestly 252,152,276 95.46% 11,995,463 4.54% Raymond Threlkeld 257,901,859 97.64% 6,245,880 2.36% Percentages are based on votes cast for or withheld from voting. The results of the other matters considered at the Meeting are disclosed in the Report of Voting Results filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com on April 27, 2017. ABOUT NEW GOLD INC. New Gold is an intermediate gold mining company. The company has a portfolio of four producing assets and two significant development projects. The New Afton Mine in Canada, the Mesquite Mine in the United States, the Peak Mines in Australia and the Cerro San Pedro Mine in Mexico (which transitioned to residual leaching in 2016), provide the company with its current production base. In addition, New Gold owns 100% of the Rainy River and Blackwater projects located in Canada. New Gold's objective is to be the leading intermediate gold producer, focused on the environment and social responsibility. For further information on the company, please visit www.newgold.com. SOURCE New Gold Inc. Related Links www.newgold.com LAS VEGAS, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- New research suggests that current clinical guidelines on the use of genetic testing in breast cancer patients are too narrow and allow patients with pathogenic variants to be missed. The findings were presented at the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBS) Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, and come from a collaboration between TME Research, which represents more than 300 breast care practices in the United States, and Invitae Corporation (NYSE: NVTA), one of the fastest growing genetic information companies. Analysis of genetic test results from 249 women affected with breast cancer showed that the frequency of clinically relevant mutations was nearly the same among women who did not meet guideline criteria as among those who did meet the criteria. Among the patients who met criteria for testing, 12.7% had deleterious mutations (50% of which were BRCA1/2), while 11.3% of patients who did not meet the current criteria had deleterious mutations (33% of which were BRCA1/2). The findings add to growing evidence in breast and other hereditary cancers that current guidelines may be too restrictive. "In real world practice, women who do not meet guideline criteria for genetic testing are rarely offered the option to receive it," said Rakesh Patel, MD, lead author on the study and co-founder of TME Research. "These data suggest that many of those women who do not meet guidelines have clinically significant pathogenic mutations in well-known genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2, or CHEK2 that have important implications for their care." The women were identified as candidates for testing based on current guidelines and several other factors including a recent diagnosis of breast cancer and/or strong family history of breast cancer. Roughly two-thirds of the patients met criteria for testing and one-third did not. Women in the study were tested with a hereditary cancer panel from Invitae in order to guide treatment decisions. The findings were incidental to the primary purpose of the study in which the women were enrolled, which was evaluating whether physician access to remote clinical consultation with a genetic counselor would impact identification of candidates for genetic testing. A large study that tests all patients who present with breast cancer is underway to directly explore the appropriateness of current guidelines for deciding on genetic testing. Remote Peer-to-Peer Clinical Consult Services an Effective Solution to Shortage With a shortage of genetic counselors (GC) nationwide, remote peer-to-peer clinical consult services are being evaluated as an alternative to ensure access for patients without local access to a GC. The study showed that even among community-based breast cancer physicians experienced with using genetic information in clinical care, consultation with a genetic counselor influenced their choices. In 18% of cases, physicians changed their test selection, resulting either in a change in the genes being tested, a reduction in the panel size, or an increase in the panel size, after consulting with a GC. At Invitae, because the cost of testing is independent of the number of oncology genes being tested, these changes had no impact on the cost of the testing. In addition, 41% of physicians sought a second consultation with a GC after test results were received to discuss the results and management plans. "Genetic information is complex and each patient's situation is unique. Genetic counselors are trained to navigate those complexities to ensure the best use of genetic testing for the patient and family. Unfortunately, there are too few genetic counselors to meet demand in many parts of the country, particularly in rural areas, leaving physicians to rely on guidelines that may not be keeping pace with current information," said Robert Nussbaum, MD, chief medical officer of Invitae. "This study shows that access to a genetic counselor has a benefit for both physician and patient, helping physicians choose the best gene panel test, consulting on challenging cases, and providing input into clinical decision-making. Peer-to-peer consultation with a GC remotely can ensure the benefits of genetic counseling are available even if there is no local genetic counselor." Invitae offers remote consultation with board certified genetic counselors for both clinicians and patients receiving testing. The company's professional Clinical Consult Services are available for support in patient identification, test selection, and results interpretation. The Consult Service also makes available medical literature, guidelines, and other clinical information to aid in clinical decision-making. In addition, consultation with a genetic counselor is available to every patient who undergoes hereditary cancer testing at Invitae, either at Invitae itself or through referral to other genetics professionals via its Genetic Provider Network. In combination with its Breast Cancer STATPanel, which provides results that inform breast cancer surgery and medical management with results in 5-12 calendar days (7 days average), the company aims to provide timely, comprehensive support throughout the testing process. Additional Research Planned Invitae and TME Research are collaborating on the Universal Breast Cancer Genetic Testing Registry, a large-scale study to gather clinical and genetic information on more than 1,000 breast cancer patients to better clarify the prevalence of gene alterations associated with breast cancer, the relationship of specific alterations with clinical presentation, and the impact of genetic information on clinical care and genetic counseling of the family. Study participants will be tested with Invitae's multi-cancer panel, an 80-gene hereditary cancer test that includes genes associated with hereditary cancers in eight major organ systems. Any patient with a current or previous diagnosis of breast cancer will be asked to consent to be enrolled in the study and receive genetic testing regardless of whether they meet established testing criteria. In addition, the company recently launched the Invitae Patient Insights Network, a permission-based, patient-centered network designed to make it easy for patients to share health experiences, contribute de-identified clinical data, and maintain their privacy while being connected to the latest research, treatment, and disease education opportunities. The Invitae Patient Insights Network (PIN) is a patient-directed approach to the traditional patient registry. People with breast and other cancers are encouraged to participate in the Invitae PIN to share information, be connected to clinical trial and research opportunities, and contribute de-identified data to research efforts. More information on the research can be found at TME's website, www.tmeded.com, and more information on hereditary cancer genetic testing is available at Invitae's website www.invitae.com. About Invitae Invitae Corporation's (NYSE: NVTA) mission is to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medical practice to improve the quality of healthcare for billions of people. Invitae's goal is to aggregate most of the world's genetic tests into a single service with higher quality, faster turnaround time, and lower price than many single-gene and panel tests today. The company currently provides a diagnostic service comprising approximately 1,500 genes for a variety of genetic disorders associated with oncology, cardiology, neurology, pediatrics, and other rare disease areas, as well as a clinical whole exome analysis service. Additionally, the company has created a Genome Network to connect patients, clinicians, advocacy organizations, researchers, and therapeutic developers to accelerate the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of hereditary disease. For more information, visit our website at invitae.com. About TME TME is a network of clinicians, researchers, educators and companies whose core mission is to improve the quality and access to targeted breast cancer care by fostering high quality and comprehensive educational programs and resources. TME research is an extension of the TME mission and designs, executes and optimizes accrual in breast cancer and breast health studies with a focus on performing these studies with community leaders. TME is headquartered in Allentown, PA. For more information, visit http://www.tmeded.com or www.breastcarenetwork.com. Safe Harbor Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements that broader use of genetic testing may better assess hereditary cancer risk in breast cancer patients and their families; and that Invitae and TME are collaborating on a large-scale study involving more than 1,000 breast cancer patients who will be tested with Invitae's multi-cancer panel. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the company's ability to use rapidly changing genetic data to interpret test results accurately and consistently; the company's history of losses; the company's ability to compete; laws and regulations applicable to the company's business; and the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and Invitae Corporation disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. NOTE: Invitae and the Invitae logo are trademarks of Invitae Corporation. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Source: Invitae Corporation Contact: Laura D'Angelo [email protected] 314-920-0617 SOURCE Invitae Corporation Related Links http://invitae.com uc berkeley protest BERKELEY, Calif. Police at the University of California at Berkeley braced on Thursday for potential civil unrest stemming from a now-canceled speaking engagement by conservative commentator Ann Coulter following a recent spate of politically charged violence on or near the campus. Coulter, one of America's best-known and most provocative pundits on the political right, said on Wednesday that she no longer intended to defy university officials by addressing UC Berkeley students on campus this week. "Its sickening when a radical thuggish institution like Berkeley can so easily snuff out the cherished American right to free speech," tweeted Coulter on Wednesday. Coulter left open the possibility of paying a visit to her supporters at the school, long a bastion of liberal student activism and a center of the Free Speech Movement protests of the 1960s. Campus police Captain Alex Yao said his department would maintain "a highly visible presence," pointing to continued threats of violent protests by Coulter supporters and opponents. Berkeley city police also issued a notice that local law enforcement was on alert for any protests that turned unruly. "Berkeley police and allied agencies are working cooperatively to ensure the safety of attendees while arresting those who commit violence or other crimes," the notice said. As of noon, a peaceful crowd of roughly 100 people, some carrying American flags, some wearing helmets, had congregated in downtown Berkeley at a public square ahead of demonstrations expected later in the day. About a dozen police officers stood nearby, batons and helmets dangling from their belts. So far, the demonstrations appear peaceful, though two people were reportedly placed under arrest. Calls for dispersing the crowd came around 3:30 p.m., due to a nearby high school ending their class. Story continues "We're here for peace," said David Fry, a resident of Tacoma, Washington, and head of the American Freedom Motorcycle Association. "I expect free speech to happen." Campus and local authorities said they were taking the potential for lawlessness seriously following several episodes of politically fueled disturbances. In February, protesters opposed to an appearance by Milo Yiannopoulos, then a senior editor for the conservative Breitbart News website, set fires, broke windows and clashed with police on campus, prompting cancellation of his speech. And in March and again in April, opposing groups from the far-right and far-left skirmished violently near campus. UC Berkeley Milo Yiannopoulos protests UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks cited all three incidents in explaining why the school balked at Coulter's original plans to speak on campus on Thursday. University officials said organizers erred by inviting Coulter without notifying campus officials in advance, as is required of all student groups, and by failing to submit to a "security assessment" to determine a suitable venue for the event. UC Berkeley officials denied that Coulter was unwelcome because of her politics. After initially barring a Coulter speech for Thursday, university officials proposed moving the event to next Tuesday. Coulter said she could not make it then and accused the school of trying to limit her audience by choosing a date that fell in a study week ahead of final exams. Coulter then insisted she would go through with her speech on Thursday, despite university objections. But she changed her mind after student organizers withdrew their invitation, though they vowed to press ahead with a lawsuit filed on Tuesday accusing UC Berkeley of suppressing freedom of speech. Following the cancellation of the event, Richard Spencer, a white nationalist with ties to the "alt-right" movement, lambasted Coulter, tweeting "conservatives," like Coulter, are "weaklings who need to be displaced," according to The Washington Times. "I will absolutely go to #Berkeley within the next year." You can watch the demonstration at UC Berkeley live NOW WATCH: Watch a Trump surrogate get shut down after calling Trump the 'Martin Luther King of healthcare' More From Business Insider EAST HANOVER, N.J., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis announced today the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Rydapt (midostaurin, formerly PKC412) for two indications. The first indication is for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in newly diagnosed patients who are FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 mutation-positive (FLT3+), as detected by an FDA-approved test, in combination with chemotherapy3. Rydapt is also approved to treat adults with advanced systemic mastocytosis (SM), which includes aggressive systemic mastocytosis (ASM), systemic mastocytosis with associated hematological neoplasm (SM-AHN) and mast cell leukemia3. This approval follows a prior Breakthrough Therapy designation in FLT3-mutated AML, as well as Orphan Drug designation and Priority Review in both indications by the FDA. Worldwide filings for Rydapt are currently underway. Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/8001251-novartis-rydapt-aml-fda-approval/ "Rydapt represents a remarkable advance as the first and only targeted therapy approved for patients who had limited options for many years," said Bruno Strigini, CEO, Novartis Oncology. "We are proud to continue our leadership in hematology as we work diligently to bring innovative medicines to patients worldwide." Rydapt is the only approved targeted therapy for newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML AML is a rare and aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow4. In the US, about 21,000 people are estimated to be diagnosed with AML in 20175. Approximately one-third of these AML patients, or 7,000, will have a FLT3 gene mutation6. FLT3 is a type of cell-surface receptor which plays a role in increasing the number of certain blood cells7. The FLT3 gene mutation can result in faster disease progression, higher relapse rates and lower rates of survival than other forms of AML6,7,8. Prior to the approval of Rydapt, the AML therapeutic strategy had remained relatively unchanged for more than 25 years1,2. "The overall survival advantage for midostaurin plus chemotherapy seen in the RATIFY trial was a significant advancement for newly diagnosed AML patients with the FLT3 mutation," said Dr. Richard Stone, Chief of Staff and Director of the Adult Leukemia program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology study chair for the RATIFY trial. "The availability of midostaurin now helps to establish a new standard of care in this high-risk patient population." Rydapt is indicated for use in combination with standard cytarabine and daunorubicin induction and cytarabine consolidation chemotherapy, for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed AML who are FLT3 mutation-positive, as detected by an FDA-approved test3. Rydapt is not indicated as a single-agent induction therapy for the treatment of patients with AML3. The FDA approval is based on the Phase III RATIFY (CALGB 10603 [Alliance]) clinical trial, which was conducted in collaboration with the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology and its 13 contributing international cooperative groups. In the trial, newly diagnosed FLT3+ patients who received Rydapt plus chemotherapy experienced significant improvement in overall survival with a 23% reduction in the risk of death compared with chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63, 0.95; 2 sided p=0.016)3. Event-free survival (EFS; event defined as no complete remission within 60 days of the start of induction therapy, relapse or death) was significantly higher for Rydapt plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone (median of 8.2 months compared to 3.0 months, HR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.66, 0.93 and 2 sided p=0.004)3. RATIFY is the largest worldwide clinical trial in newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML to date, as 3,279 AML patients were screened for the FLT3 mutation and 717 patients were enrolled9. All FLT3+ patients enrolled in the trial were treated regardless of whether or not cytogenetic status was normal or abnormal3. The most frequent adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 20%) in the Rydapt plus chemotherapy arm were febrile neutropenia, nausea, vomiting, mucositis, headache, musculoskeletal pain, petechiae (small red skin spots), device-related infection, epistaxis, hyperglycemia and upper respiratory tract infections. The most frequent Grade 3/4 adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 10%) were febrile neutropenia, device-related infection and mucositis3. In order to identify FLT3+ AML patients who may benefit from Rydapt, Novartis collaborated with Invivoscribe Technologies, Inc. on the development of LeukoStrat CDx FLT3 Mutation Assay, a companion molecular diagnostic test, which was also approved by the FDA today. LeukoStrat CDx FLT3 Mutation Assay is the first molecular companion diagnostic in AML and identifies both FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) and tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutations and is performed by The Laboratory for Personalized Molecular Medicine, a subsidiary of Invivoscribe Technologies, Inc. Rydapt provides an innovative treatment option for advanced SM Advanced SM is a rare blood disorder characterized by uncontrolled growth and accumulation of mast cells or mediators of allergic responses in one or more organs10. In advanced SM, mast cells accumulate in such high quantities that they begin to cause organ damage10. Median overall survival is currently less than six months for mast cell leukemia11, two years for SM-AHN and 3.5 years for ASM12. Rydapt is approved in the US for the treatment of adult patients with ASM, SM-AHN, or mast cell leukemia3. The approval of Rydapt was based on two single-arm open-label multicenter trials, including the Phase II study (CPKC412D2201), which was the largest and longest-running prospective trial ever conducted in this ultra-rare disorder. The efficacy of Rydapt was established on the basis of confirmed complete remission (CR) plus incomplete remission (ICR) by six cycles of treatment per the modified Valent criteria (n=89), in which CR and ICR are the two most rigorous subcategories of a major response. This analysis demonstrated an overall response rate of 21% (95% CI, 13, 31)3. Efficacy was also assessed in a post-hoc analysis using the 2013 International Working Group-Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Research and Treatment-European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (IWG-MRT-ECNM) consensus criteria (n=115)2. This assessment estimated complete remission or partial remission rate of 17% (95% CI, 10, 25)3. The most frequent adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 20%), excluding laboratory terms, were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, edema, musculoskeletal pain, abdominal pain, fatigue, upper respiratory tract infection, constipation, pyrexia, headache and dyspnea. The most frequent Grade 3 or greater adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 5%), excluding laboratory terms, were fatigue, sepsis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, pneumonia, diarrhea, febrile neutropenia, edema, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and renal insufficiency3. Rydapt patient support Novartis is committed to providing patients with access to medicines, as well as resources and support to address a range of needs. The Rydapt patient support program is available to help guide eligible patients through the various aspects of their treatment journey, from providing educational information to helping them understand their insurance coverage and identify potential financial assistance options. Advanced SM-specific rebate program Novartis is offering an innovative indication-based rebate offer to payers related to advanced SM utilization, which will require a patient cost-savings provision. Payers interested in the advanced SM rebate program can call 800-310-6644. About AML AML is the most common acute leukemia in adults; it accounts for approximately 25% of all adult leukemias worldwide, with the highest incidence rates occurring in the US, Europe and Australia13. It also has the lowest survival rate of all adult leukemias13. AML prevents white blood cells from maturing, causing an accumulation of "blasts," which do not allow room for the normal blood cells4. Mutations in specific genes are found in many cases of AML6, and genetic testing for mutations in newly diagnosed AML patients can help to determine prognosis and potential treatment strategies14. About advanced SM In advanced SM, the uncontrolled growth of neoplastic mast cells causes organ damage (e.g., liver dysfunction), low blood counts and weight loss10. Patients also suffer from debilitating systemic symptoms such as pruritus (severe itching of the skin) caused by mast cells releasing inflammatory mediators, such as histamine, into the blood10. The uncontrolled proliferation of mast cells is caused in many people by a KIT gene mutation the most common mutation, encoding the D816V substitution, occurs in approximately 90% of patients15. The KIT gene mutation results in activation of the KIT enzyme, which triggers the abnormal proliferation and survival of mast cells16. About Rydapt (midostaurin) Rydapt (midostaurin) is an oral, multi-targeted inhibitor of multiple kinases, including FLT3 and KIT, which help regulate many essential cell processes, interrupting cancer cells' ability to grow and multiply3. Rydapt is available in 25 mg capsules. In AML, the recommended dosage for Rydapt is 50 mg orally twice daily on days 8 to 21 each cycle of induction therapy and on days 8 to 21 each cycle of consolidation therapy3. For a description of the experience with single-agent treatment beyond induction and consolidation, healthcare professionals should refer to the Clinical Studies section of the Prescribing Information (14.1)3. In advanced SM, the recommended dosage for Rydapt is 100 mg orally twice daily3. The full prescribing information for Rydapt can be found at: https://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/sites/www.pharma.us.novartis.com/files/rydapt.pdf. Rydapt Important Safety Information Patients who are allergic to midostaurin or any of the ingredients in Rydapt should not take Rydapt. If a patient taking Rydapt develops signs of an allergic reaction, they should seek medical help immediately. Signs of an allergic reaction include trouble breathing, flushing, chest pain, throat tightness, and swelling of lips, mouth or throat. Rydapt should be not be used during pregnancy since Rydapt may harm an unborn baby. Pregnancy testing should be conducted for women who might become pregnant. Effective birth control should be used during treatment and for at least four months after stopping Rydapt. If a patient becomes pregnant or thinks she may be, the patient should tell their doctor right away. Women should not breastfeed during treatment with Rydapt and for at least four months after the final dose. Men taking Rydapt who have female partners that are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during his treatment with Rydapt and for at least four months after the last Rydapt dose. Rydapt may cause fertility problems in women and men, which may affect their ability to have children. Rydapt may cause lung problems that may lead to death. Patients on Rydapt who develop a new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, or chest discomfort should get medical help right away. These may be signs of serious lung problems. Common sides effects reported during Rydapt treatment for AML included low level of white blood cells with fever (febrile neutropenia); nausea; redness, pain or ulcers inside the mouth (mucositis); vomiting; headache; bruising; muscle or bone pain; nose bleeds; device-related infection; high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) and upper respiratory infections. Common side effects reported during treatment for ASM, SH-AHM or mast cell leukemia included nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; swelling of the hands, feet or ankles; muscle or bone pain; stomach-area pain; tiredness; upper respiratory infection; constipation; fever; headache and trouble breathing. If side effects including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea occur, get worse or do not go away during treatment with Rydapt, patients should contact their doctor. Depending on the side effect and/or severity of the side effect that occur, their doctor may decrease their dose, temporarily stop, or completely stop treatment with Rydapt. Patients should tell their doctor about all the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Rydapt may affect how these medicines work or these other medicines may affect how Rydapt works. Disclaimer The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by words such as "Breakthrough Therapy designation," "Priority Review," "underway," "work diligently," "may," "committed," "offering," "will," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential additional marketing approvals for Rydapt, or regarding potential future revenues from Rydapt. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that Rydapt will be submitted or approved for sale in any additional markets, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that Rydapt will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding Rydapt could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the company's ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; general economic and industry conditions; global trends toward health care cost containment, including ongoing pricing pressures; safety, quality or manufacturing issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Novartis Located in East Hanover, NJ Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is an affiliate of Novartis which provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2016, the Group achieved net sales of USD 48.5 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com. Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis and @NovartisCancer at http://twitter.com/novartiscancer. For Novartis multimedia content, please visit www.novartis.com/news/media-library For questions about the site or required registration, please contact [email protected] References Schiller GJ. High-risk acute myelogenous leukemia: treatment today ... and tomorrow. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2013; 2013:201-208. Lin TL, Levy MY. Acute myeloid leukemia: focus on novel therapeutic strategies. Clin Med Insights Oncol. 2012;6:205-217. Rydapt [prescribing information]. East Hanover, NJ : Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp, 2017. National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI). Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment (PDQ) http://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia/patient/adult-aml-treatment-pdq. Accessed April 10, 2017 . Siegel RL, Miller KD, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2017. CA Cancer J Clin. 2017;67:730. Patel JP, Gonen M, Figueroa ME, et al. Prognostic relevance of integrated genetic profiling in acute myeloid leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2012; 22;366(12):1079-1089. Gilliland DG, Griffin JD. The roles of FLT3 in hematopoiesis and leukemia. Blood. 2002;100(5):1532-1542. Yanada M, Matsuo K, Suzuki T, et al. Prognostic significance of FLT3 internal tandem duplication and tyrosine kinase domain mutations for acute myeloid leukemia: a meta-analysis. Leukemia. 2005;19(8):13451349. Stone RM, Mandrekar S, Sanford BL, et al. The Multi-kinase inhibitor midostaurin (M) prolongs survival compared with placebo (P) in combination with daunorubicin (D)/cytarabine (C) induction (ind), high-dose consolidation (consol), and as maintenance (maint) therapy in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients (pts) age 18-60 with FLT3 mutations (muts): An international prospective randomized (rand) p-controlled double-blind trial (CALGB 10603/RATIFY [Alliance]). Blood. 2015: 126:6. Arock M, Akin C, Hermine O, et al. Current treatment options in patients with mastocytosis: status in 2015 and future perspectives. Eur J Haematology. 2015;94(6):474-494. Georgin-Lavialle S, Lhermitte L, Dubreuil P, et al. Mast cell leukemia. Blood. 2013;121:1285-1295. Lim KH, Tefferi A, Lasho T, et al. Systemic mastocytosis in 342 consecutive adults: survival studies and prognostic factors. Blood. 2009;113:5727-5736. Deschler B, Lubbert M. Acute myeloid leukemia: epidemiology and etiology. Cancer. 2006;107(9):2009-2107. Arber DA, Borowitz MJ, Cessna M, et al. Initial Diagnostic Workup of Acute Leukemia: Guideline from the College of American Pathologists and the American Society of Hematology. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2017 Feb 22. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2016-0504-CP. [Epub ahead of print]. Garcia-Montero AC, Jara-Acevedo M, Teodosi C, et al. KIT mutation in mast cells and other bone marrow hematopoietic cell lineages in systemic mast cell disorders: a prospective study of the Spanish Network on Mastocytosis (REMA) in a series of 113 patients. Blood. 2006;108(7):2366-2372. Verstovsek S. Advanced systemic mastocytosis: the impact of KIT mutations in diagnosis, treatment, and progression. Eur J Haematology. 2013;90(2):89-98. Novartis Media Relations Central media line: +41 61 324 2200 E-mail: [email protected] Julie Masow Fiona Phillips Novartis Oncology Media Relations Novartis Oncology Communications +1 862-778-7220 (direct) +1 862-778-7705 (direct) +1 862-579-8456 (mobile) +1 862-217-9396 (mobile) [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Novartis Optomi makes a practice of implementing strategies that stand out from the competition as the most leading-edge and successful. Michael Winwood, CEO commented, "We are grateful to be recognized as one of the fastest growing privately held firms in Atlanta. This is entirely due to the efforts and dedication of our team. Optomi's people, core values, culture and strategy are disrupting the tech staffing industry. We are raising the bar by using unique recruiting processes combined with innovative technology to offer both our candidates and clients a better experience." This is the second consecutive year Optomi has been recognized with the Atlanta Business Chronicle Pacesetter Award. ABOUT OPTOMI Optomi is a market-leading tech staffing firm with a unique approach. By developing industry leading recruitment processes and utilizing innovative technologies, we are able to deploy the best project managers, business analysts and technologists in the ever-evolving spaces of mobile technology, network/system engineering, information security, data warehousing, cloud and application development making us a leader in the IT staffing world. Our philosophies are as cutting-edge as the technology we represent. Optomi dominates the technology sector by placing high-level consultants on leading technology projects under short-term and long-term contracts. We have placed technologists on advanced projects such as advanced vehicle programming, cloud system integration and high-level security development. Optomi has been recognized with several prestigious awards. Most notable is the Staffing Industry Analysts' BEST STAFFING FIRMS TO WORK FOR award in 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 accomplishments never before achieved by a company in its first four consecutive years of business. Optomi is well-positioned to serve Fortune 500 clients as well as mid-sized clients through its skill-set focused strategy and genuine approach to engaging with consultants & clients. SOURCE Optomi DALLAS, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Craig Callewart, renowned spine surgeon, has a secret life: bees. Dr. Callewart is also a beekeeper, and has over 150,000 bees that he deals with daily. "Beekeeping has been a hobby since high school and it fascinates me how 30,000 to 50,000 bees can live in a 16-cubic-foot space and fly up to 5 miles to find nectar, water, and pollen," says Dr. Callewart. As an orthopedic surgeon, his patients deal with pain on a daily basis, and he understands the medicinal properties of honey. The secret life of bees resides on his family's cattle ranch in Kaufman, Texas, where he also has llamas. "The organization and efficiency of a bee colony is fascinating," says Dr. Callewart. "We, as a society, could learn a lot from their lifestyle." Dr. Craig Callewart offices in Dallas, Texas, and has been an orthopedic surgeon for over 25 years. His solo practice gives him the personal space to work with patients on a one-on-one basis so that the patient care is primary. His parents were also in medicine, and they moved here after the Korean War; his father an orthopedic surgeon while his mother was a nurse. Dr. Callewart grew up in Dallas and then attended Texas A&M University, trained at Southwestern in Dallas, along with a residency apprenticeship at Case Western Reserve University, and UCLA. Honey is nectar that is enzymatically converted and dehydrated to form the complex carbohydrate that we call honey. Two million flowers must be visited, 55,000 miles traveled, 10,000 workers engaged to make just 1 pound of honey. During the dehydration phase of production, one can hear the hives buzzing from yards away as thousands of bees are beating their wings inside the hive to move enough air through the combs. My hives will each produce about 30 pounds of honey representing 1.5 million miles of flying! The numbers become astronomical like stars in the sky, and that is part of the fascination for me. Dr. Callewart specializes in the treatment of painful neck and back conditions, "wear and tear" spine problems, and chronic spinal pain. His clinical interests also include the shoulder pain and hip pain, as this can radiate from the neck or the back. Dr. Callewart believes that while there have been tremendous advancements over the years in how surgeons treat patients with spine conditions, the importance of the bond of trust between the patient and physician remains the same. For more information about Dr. Callewart: Dr. Callewart specializes in the treatment of disc problems in neck and back, traumatic spine injuries, and chronic spinal pain. His clinical interests include the alleviation of chronic pain associated with spine injuries, wear and tear, scoliosis, cervical and lumbar disc herniations, and the advances in treatment of complicated cases, where previous surgery did not help. For more information, please visit his website: https://www.c3spine.com/ For more information, contact: Diana Petrik, Universal Media Group 214.347.7803 [email protected] Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Dr. Craig Callewart Related Links http://www.c3spine.com WALNUT CREEK, Calif., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Owens Realty Mortgage, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ORM) announced today that it will release its first quarter 2017 financial results after the market closes on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 and will host a conference call to discuss the results on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET. To participate in the call, please dial (844) 850-0545 (United States) or (412) 317-5202 (International) and request the Owens Realty Mortgage call. A live webcast of the call will also be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://www.owensmortgage.com. Please allow 10 minutes prior to the call to visit this site to download and install any necessary audio software. An archive of the webcast will be available to those interested approximately one hour after completion of the live event and will be accessible on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://www.owensmortgage.com until June 9, 2017. To access the replay, dial (877) 344-7529 (United States) or (412) 317-0088 (International) and enter code: 10106081. About Owens Realty Mortgage, Inc. Owens Realty Mortgage, Inc., a Maryland corporation, is a specialty finance mortgage company organized to qualify as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") that focuses on the origination, investment, and management of commercial real estate mortgage loans. We provide customized, short-term acquisition and transition capital to small balance and middle-market investors that require speed and flexibility. Our primary objective is to provide investors with attractive current income and long-term shareholder value. Owens Realty Mortgage, Inc., is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and is externally managed and advised by Owens Financial Group, Inc. Additional information can be found on the Company's website at www.owensmortgage.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements about Owens Realty Mortgage Inc.'s plans, strategies, and prospects are based on current information, estimates, and projections; they are subject to risks and uncertainties, as well as known and unknown risks, which could cause actual results to differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, readers should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "target," "assume," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believe," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this release include, but may not be limited to, expectations around the company's plans to distribute current and accumulated earnings in 2017, tax treatment and characterization of distributions made by the company in 2017, and timing and content of any announcements made with respect thereto. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Company's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Company or matters attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. SOURCE Owens Realty Mortgage, Inc. Related Links http://www.owensmortgage.com PITTSBURGH, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin today joined State Representative Ed Gainey, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Chief Development Officer of the City of Pittsburgh Kevin Acklin, Bridgeway Capital, and the University of Pittsburgh at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the university's recently relocated Manufacturing Assistance Center (MAC). The MAC, which relocated to 7800 Susquehanna Street in Pittsburgh's Homewood neighborhood, provides advanced manufacturing training opportunities to residents in Homewood and surrounding communities. The center is also to open to entrepreneurial makers looking to grow their business through career guidance and access to technical equipment. "Through Bridgeway Capital and the University of Pittsburgh's partnership, residents of Homewood and neighboring communities around Pittsburgh will have access to high quality training in skills that can help build a career in manufacturing," said Secretary Davin. "This investment in residents of Homewood and surrounding areas will help equip workers with the skills they need to compete and succeed in the 21st century economy, and will provide a network of skilled, hard-working employees for businesses in this area while improving the lives of these workers and their families." The center occupies an 11,500-square-foot space in the 7800 Susquehanna Street facility, which is owned and operated by Bridgeway Capital, a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides assistance to small businesses, non-profits, and community developers. Formerly a manufacturing facility for Westinghouse, Bridgeway Capital acquired the 7800 Susquehanna Street property in 2013 with the goal of converting the mostly empty 150,000-square-foot facility into a space for economic opportunity for Homewood and surrounding communities. In November 2016, the company received a $1 million grant from the state's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) to support interior remodeling expenses to accommodate rental space for tenants. The company was also awarded a $1million Pennsylvania First Program grant. "One of Governor Wolf's budget initiatives this year is called 'Manufacturing PA,' which will seek partnership opportunities between universities and the business community to help build a 21st century workforce of highly skilled, highly trained workers that can bolster local industry and also attract new businesses looking to harness this workforce," said Secretary Davin. "University of Pittsburgh's Manufacturing Assistance Center is an example of this partnership in action, and I am glad that the commonwealth could support Bridgeway Capital's development of this space with the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program and Pennsylvania First Program." For more information on the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), visit www.budget.pa.gov/Programs/RACP/Pages/Main%20Page.aspx. For more information on the Department of Community and Economic Development and its programs, visit www.dced.pa.gov. MEDIA CONTACT: DCED Press Office, 717-783-1132 SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development Related Links http://www.state.pa.us MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Product and ingredient innovation are at the forefront of the new menu that Perkins Restaurant & Bakery will roll out system-wide on May 1, 2017. Featuring thirteen entree additions, the newly designed menu, which will also include nutritional information, introduces the Perfect Duo/Trio selection of soups, salad, sandwich and pies/treat options; a completely revised sandwich line; and, expanded variety for the Fork-Worthy entree (dinner) section that will be available to guests dining at any of Perkins 394 restaurants located in 32 states nationwide. Wade Breaux, Chief Marketing Officer, Perkins & Marie Callender's, LLC explains that the May menu, "reflects our continued commitment to providing our guests high quality ingredients, food innovation and product offerings at a great value." New May menu additions include for breakfast, the Big Bacon Smasher and Oven Baked Vegetable Frittata; for lunch, handheld sandwiches including a Turkey & Avocado BLT, Sonoma Chicken Salad, Roast Beef & Swiss and, BBQ Smoked Chicken; two new soups, Chicken & Wild Rice and Loaded Baked Potato; and dinner items including Steak & Peppers and a hearty Maple-Glazed Pork Chop. From May 1 through June 25, Perkins "Spring Fling" Promotion will showcase several of the new menu items, which according to Breaux, "have been formulated and tested to satisfy the taste preferences of our guests while facilitating outstanding service and efficiency." Value continues to be emphasized with a repeat of Perkins highly successful Great Plates $4 to $8 promotion, and the introduction of the Perfect Duo ($7.99) and Perfect Trio ($9.99) which offer guests an opportunity to pick one item from two of four categories (soup, sandwich, salad and pies & treats), or one item from three of the four categories. In addition to the revamped Perkins Restaurant & Bakery menu, the chain continues to present guests with a rejuvenated perspective on the brand through its remodeling initiative currently underway. To date, 92 corporate restaurants and 93 franchised locations have been remodeled with 45 planned for the balance of 2017. About Perkins Restaurants & Bakery: Founded in 1958, Perkins system consists of 394 restaurants in 32 states and Canada, which includes 127 company-owned and operated restaurants and 267 franchised units. Information about Perkins, its menu and Perkins franchise opportunities can be found at www.perkinsrestaurants.com. SOURCE Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Related Links http://www.perkinsrestaurants.com BEIJING, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix New Media Limited ("Phoenix New Media", "ifeng" or the "Company") (NYSE: FENG), a leading new media company in China, today announced that it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (the "2016 20-F") with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2017. The 2016 20-F can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.ifeng.com. The Company will provide a hard copy of its audited consolidated financial statements contained in the 2016 20-F, free of charge, to its shareholders and ADS holders upon request. Requests can be directed to Matthew Zhao, Phoenix New Media Limited, Sinolight Plaza, No. 4 Qiyang Road, Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, People's Republic of China. About Phoenix New Media Limited Phoenix New Media Limited (NYSE: FENG) is a leading new media company providing premium content on an integrated Internet platform, including PC and mobile, in China. Having originated from a leading global Chinese language TV network based in Hong Kong, Phoenix TV, the Company enables consumers to access professional news and other quality information and share user-generated content on the Internet through their PCs and mobile devices. Phoenix New Media's platform includes its PC channel, consisting of ifeng.com website, which comprises interest-based verticals and interactive services; its mobile channel, consisting of mobile news applications, mobile video application, digital reading application, fashion application and mobile Internet website; and its operations with the telecom operators that provides mobile value-added services. For investor and media inquiries please contact: Phoenix New Media Limited Matthew Zhao Email: [email protected] ICR, Inc. Vera Tang Tel: +1 (646) 277-1215 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Phoenix New Media Limited Related Links http://ir.ifeng.com SILICON SLOPES, Utah, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pluralsight, the enterprise technology learning platform, today announced that its CEO and co-founder, Aaron Skonnard, and CMO, Heather Zynczak, will speak at the ASU + GSV Summit on Monday, May 8 at The Grand America in Salt Lake City, Utah. Both Skonnard and Zynczak will present on the importance of addressing the growing technology skills gap. Skonnard will discuss the devastating impact of the estimated global shortage of approximately 40 million highly-skilled workers by 2020. He will share how Pluralsight is accelerating the way enterprise technology teams and professionals can learn these in-demand skills to increase their competitive advantage. Skonnard speaks at 2:00 p.m. MDT on the ASU + GSV Leader Track. "Companies and individuals that aren't using the latest technology will fail," said Skonnard. "It doesn't matter what industry we're talking about investing and integrating in new technologies, whether it's cyber security or AI, is one of the biggest differentiators today." At 4:00 p.m. MDT, Zynczak will participate on the main stage panel, "Madmen: The Mission Critical Role of the CMO in the Future of Work" with Leela Srinivasan, CMO at Lever; Harsha Mokkarala, CMO at 2U; Kurt Apen, CMO at Coursera; and moderator Mikel Chertudi, modern marketing and sales executive at Adobe. During this session, Zynczak will share how investing in the technology skill set of marketing teams plays an integral role in a company's ability to understand buyer behavior and outpace the competition. For more details on the ASU + GSV Summit, visit: https://www.asugsvsummit.com . To learn about Pluralsight, visit pluralsight.com. About Pluralsight Pluralsight is an enterprise technology learning platform that delivers a unified, end-to-end learning experience for businesses across the globe. Through a subscription service, companies are empowered to move at the speed of technology, increasing proficiency, innovation and efficiency. Founded in 2004 and trusted by Fortune 500 companies, Pluralsight provides members with on-demand access to a digital ecosystem of learning tools, including adaptive skill tests, directed learning paths, expert-authored courses, interactive labs and live mentoring. For more information, visit pluralsight.com. Contacts Pluralsight PR Mariangel Babbel, 801-784-9150 Sr. Manager, Communications [email protected] for Pluralsight Katy Kenealy, 801-828-6056 [email protected] SOURCE Pluralsight Related Links http://pluralsight.com ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PNM Resources (In millions, except EPS) Q1 2017 Q1 2016 GAAP net earnings $22.9 $10.5 GAAP diluted EPS $0.29 $0.13 Ongoing net earnings $22.1 $10.8 Ongoing diluted EPS $0.28 $0.13 PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM) today released the company's 2017 first quarter earnings results and affirmed its 2017 consolidated ongoing earnings guidance of $1.77 to $1.87 per diluted share. Additionally, Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM), a wholly owned subsidiary of PNM Resources, has reached an agreement on the parameters of a settlement in its general rate case. The majority of the parties to the rate case requested an extension of the period to file a settlement agreement to May 5, 2017 with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. The eight-day extension would allow the parties time to finalize an agreement and obtain their appropriate approvals in order to sign the settlement. "This agreement shows a sincere effort by the signatories to work together, ensuring that customers continue to receive affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible power," said Pat Vincent-Collawn, PNM Resources' chairman, president and CEO. "I appreciate the willingness of the parties to work together to achieve an agreement early in the rate case process." SEGMENT REPORTING OF 2017 FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS PNM a vertically integrated electric utility in New Mexico with distribution, transmission and generation assets. PNM (In millions, except EPS) Q1 2017 Q1 2016 GAAP net earnings $16.5 $4.1 GAAP diluted EPS $0.21 $0.05 Ongoing net earnings $15.6 $4.1 Ongoing diluted EPS $0.20 $0.05 PNM's 2017 GAAP and ongoing earnings included the implementation of new retail rates, lower outage costs and cost savings from restructuring efforts. These were partially offset by milder weather, a reduction in the FERC generation Navopache contract and increased depreciation expense from new investments. TNMP an electric transmission and distribution utility in Texas. TNMP (In millions, except EPS) Q1 2017 Q1 2016 GAAP net earnings $7.6 $7.5 GAAP diluted EPS $0.09 $0.09 Ongoing net earnings $7.6 $7.5 Ongoing diluted EPS $0.09 $0.09 TNMP's 2017 GAAP and ongoing earnings benefited from load growth and transmission rate relief, offset by milder weather and higher depreciation and property tax expenses resulting from additional capital investments. Corporate and Other a segment that reflects the PNM Resources holding company and other subsidiaries. Corporate and Other (In millions, except EPS) Q1 2017 Q1 2016 GAAP net earnings (loss) $(1.3) $(1.1) GAAP diluted EPS $(0.01) $(0.01) Ongoing net earnings (loss) $(1.2) $(0.8) Ongoing diluted EPS $(0.01) $(0.01) Financial materials are available at http://www.pnmresources.com/investors/results.cfm. FIRST QUARTER CONFERENCE CALL: 11 AM EASTERN FRIDAY, APRIL 28 PNM Resources will discuss first quarter results during a live conference call and webcast on Friday, April 28th at 11 a.m. Eastern. Speaking on the call will be Pat Vincent-Collawn, PNM Resources chairman, president and CEO, and Chuck Eldred, PNM Resources executive vice president and CFO. A live webcast of the call will be archived at http://www.pnmresources.com/investors/events.cfm. Listeners are encouraged to visit the website at least 30 minutes before the event to register, download and install any necessary audio software. Investors and analysts can participate in the live conference call by pre-registering using the following link to receive a special dial-in number and PIN: http://dpregister.com/10103121. Telephone participants who are unable to pre-register may participate in the live conference call by dialing (877) 276-8648 or (412) 317-5474 fifteen minutes prior to the event and referencing "the PNM Resources first quarter conference call." Supporting material for PNM Resources' earnings announcements can be viewed and downloaded at http://www.pnmresources.com/investors/results.cfm. Background: PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM) is an energy holding company based in Albuquerque, N.M., with 2016 consolidated operating revenues of $1.4 billion. Through its regulated utilities, PNM and TNMP, PNM Resources has approximately 2,791 megawatts of generation capacity and provides electricity to more than 767,000 homes and businesses in New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit the company's website at www.PNMResources.com. CONTACTS: Analysts Media Jimmie Blotter Pahl Shipley (505) 241-2227 (505) 241-2782 Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Statements made in this news release that relate to future events or PNM Resources, Inc.'s ("PNMR"), Public Service Company of New Mexico's ("PNM"), or Texas-New Mexico Power Company's ("TNMP") (collectively, the "Company") expectations, projections, estimates, intentions, goals, targets, and strategies are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that all forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and estimates. PNMR, PNM, and TNMP assume no obligation to update this information. Because actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, PNMR, PNM, and TNMP caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements. PNMR's, PNM's, and TNMP's business, financial condition, cash flow, and operating results are influenced by many factors, which are often beyond their control, that can cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of risk factors and other important factors affecting forward-looking statements, please see the Company's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which factors are specifically incorporated by reference herein. Non-GAAP Financial Measures GAAP refers to generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. Ongoing earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes the impact of net unrealized mark-to-market gains and losses on economic hedges, the net change in unrealized impairments on available-for-sale securities, and certain non-recurring, infrequent, and other items that are not indicative of fundamental changes in the earnings capacity of the Company's operations. The Company uses ongoing earnings and ongoing earnings per diluted share (or ongoing diluted earnings per share) to evaluate the operations of the Company and to establish goals, including those used for certain aspects of incentive compensation, for management and employees. While the Company believes these financial measures are appropriate and useful for investors, they are not measures presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company does not intend for these measures, or any piece of these measures, to represent any financial measure as defined by GAAP. Furthermore, the Company's calculations of these measures as presented may or may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The Company uses ongoing earnings guidance to provide investors with management's expectations of ongoing financial performance over the period presented. While the Company believes ongoing earnings guidance is an appropriate measure, it is not a measure presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company does not intend for ongoing earnings guidance to represent an expectation of net earnings as defined by GAAP. Since the future differences between GAAP and ongoing earnings are frequently outside the control of the Company, management is generally not able to estimate the impact of the reconciling items between forecasted GAAP net earnings and ongoing earnings guidance, nor their probable impact on GAAP net earnings, therefore, management is generally not able to provide a corresponding GAAP equivalent for ongoing earnings guidance. Reconciliations between GAAP and ongoing earnings are contained in schedules 1-2. PNM Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries Schedule 1 Reconciliation of GAAP to Ongoing Earnings (Preliminary and Unaudited) PNM TNMP Corporate and Other Consolidated (in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 GAAP Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to PNMR $ 16,526 $ 7,604 $ (1,268) $ 22,862 Adjusting items before income tax effects Mark-to-market impact of economic hedges1 (1,345) (1,345) Net change in unrealized impairments of available-for-sale securities2 (1,101) (1,101) Pension expense related to previously disposed of gas distribution business3 961 961 Total adjustments before income tax effects (1,485) (1,485) Income (taxes) on above adjustments* 576 576 New Mexico corporate income tax rate change 22 83 105 Total income tax impacts 598 83 681 Adjusting items, net of income taxes (887) 83 (804) Ongoing Earnings (Loss) $ 15,639 $ 7,604 $ (1,185) $ 22,058 Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 GAAP Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to PNMR $ 4,142 $ 7,456 $ (1,052) $ 10,546 Adjusting items before income tax effects Mark-to-market impact of economic hedges4 (1,435) (1,435) Net change in unrealized impairments of available-for-sale securities2 (1,617) (1,617) Regulatory disallowances and restructuring costs5 774 585 1,359 Pension expense related to previously disposed of gas distribution business3 925 925 Total adjustments before income tax effects (1,353) 585 (768) Income (taxes) on above adjustments# 528 (228) 300 New Mexico corporate income tax rate change 804 (92) 712 Total income tax impacts 1,332 (320) 1,012 Adjusting items, net of income taxes (21) 265 244 Ongoing Earnings (Loss) $ 4,121 $ 7,456 $ (787) $ 10,790 *2017 income tax effects calculated using tax rates of 35.00% for TNMP and 38.80% for other segments. #2016 income tax effects calculated using tax rates of 35.00% for TNMP and 39.02% for other segments. The pre-tax impacts (in thousands) of adjusting items are reflected on the GAAP Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings as follows: 1Increases in "Electric Operating Revenues" and "Cost of energy" of $1,462 and $117 in the three months ended March 31, 2017 2Increases in "Gains on available-for-sale securities" 3Increases in "Administrative and general" 4Increase in "Electric Operating Revenues" of $1,364 and reduction in "Cost of energy" of $71 in the three months ended March 31, 2016 5Increases in "Regulatory disallowances and restructuring costs" (PNM) and "Other (deductions)" (Corporate and Other) PNM Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries Schedule 2 Reconciliation of GAAP to Ongoing Earnings Per Diluted Share (Preliminary and Unaudited) PNM TNMP Corporate and Other Consolidated (per diluted share) Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 GAAP Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to PNMR $ 0.21 $ 0.09 $ (0.01) $ 0.29 Adjusting items, net of income tax effects Mark-to-market impact of economic hedges (0.01) (0.01) Net change in unrealized impairments of available-for-sale securities (0.01) (0.01) Pension expense related to previously disposed of gas distribution business 0.01 0.01 New Mexico corporate income tax rate change Total Adjustments (0.01) (0.01) Ongoing Earnings (Loss) $ 0.20 $ 0.09 $ (0.01) $ 0.28 Average Diluted Shares Outstanding: 80,111,994 Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 GAAP Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to PNMR: $ 0.05 $ 0.09 $ (0.01) $ 0.13 Adjusting items, net of income tax effects Mark-to-market impact of economic hedges (0.01) (0.01) Net change in unrealized impairments of available-for-sale securities (0.01) (0.01) Regulatory disallowances and restructuring costs 0.01 0.01 Pension expense related to previously disposed of gas distribution business New Mexico corporate income tax rate change 0.01 0.01 Total Adjustments Ongoing Earnings (Loss) $ 0.05 $ 0.09 $ (0.01) $ 0.13 Average Diluted Shares Outstanding: 80,163,736 PNM Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries Schedule 3 Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings (Preliminary and Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 2016 (In thousands, except per share amounts) Electric Operating Revenues $ 330,178 $ 310,961 Operating Expenses: Cost of energy 102,804 92,369 Administrative and general 47,532 47,109 Energy production costs 31,787 42,686 Regulatory disallowances and restructuring costs 774 Depreciation and amortization 56,383 49,829 Transmission and distribution costs 16,477 16,594 Taxes other than income taxes 19,235 20,092 Total operating expenses 274,218 269,453 Operating income 55,960 41,508 Other Income and Deductions: Interest income 4,881 3,622 Gains on available-for-sale securities 6,661 6,218 Other income 4,902 4,264 Other (deductions) (3,483) (2,999) Net other income and deductions 12,961 11,105 Interest Charges 31,700 31,491 Earnings before Income Taxes 37,221 21,122 Income Taxes 10,775 7,157 Net Earnings 26,446 13,965 (Earnings) Attributable to Valencia Non-controlling Interest (3,452) (3,287) Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements of Subsidiary (132) (132) Net Earnings Attributable to PNMR $ 22,862 $ 10,546 Net Earnings Attributable to PNMR per Common Share: Basic $ 0.29 $ 0.13 Diluted $ 0.29 $ 0.13 Dividends Declared per Common Share $ 0.2425 $ 0.2200 SOURCE PNM Resources, Inc. Related Links http://www.pnmresources.com NEWARK, N.J., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE: PEG) reported today Net Income for the first quarter of 2017 of $114 million, or $0.22 per share as compared to Net Income of $471 million, or $0.93 per share, in the first quarter of 2016. Non-GAAP Operating Earnings for the first quarter of 2017 were $466 million, or $0.92 per share, compared to non-GAAP Operating Earnings for the first quarter of 2016 of $463 million, or $0.91 per share. Net Income for the first quarter of 2017 was affected by accelerated depreciation associated with the early retirement of the Hudson and Mercer coal-gas generating stations and a reserve for the impairment of our leveraged leases. Ralph Izzo, chairman, president and chief executive officer, commented that "we are off to a good start for the year. Our investment program and control of O&M continue to contribute to the growth in results of our regulated utility business and helps offset the impact of a decline in energy prices on earnings at PSEG Power. Our regulated utility business is expected to grow to represent 66% of non-GAAP Operating Earnings for the full year." Management uses non-GAAP Operating Earnings in its internal analysis, and in communications with investors and analysts, as a consistent measure for comparing PSEG's financial performance to previous results. Non-GAAP Operating Earnings exclude the impact of returns (losses) associated with the Nuclear Decommissioning Trust (NDT), Mark-to-Market (MTM) accounting and material one-time items such as the previously noted Hudson and Mercer retirements and lease impairment. The tables below provide a reconciliation of PSEG's Net Income to non-GAAP Operating Earnings for the first quarter. See Attachment 9 for a complete list of items excluded from Net Income in the determination of non-GAAP Operating Earnings. The presentation of non-GAAP Operating Earnings is intended to complement, and should not be considered an alternative to, the presentation of Net Income, which is an indicator of financial performance determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, non-GAAP Operating Earnings as presented in this release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. PSEG CONSOLIDATED RESULTS (unaudited) First Quarter Comparative Results 2017 and 2016 Income Diluted Earnings ($ millions) Per Share 2017 2016 2017 2016 Net Income $114 $471 $0.22 $0.93 Reconciling Items* 352 (8) 0.70 (0.02) Non-GAAP Operating Earnings $466 $463 $0.92 $0.91 Avg. Shares 508M 508M *See Attachment 9 Ralph Izzo went on to say, "We are re-affirming our non-GAAP Operating Earnings guidance for 2017 of $2.80 - $3.00 per share. By delivering on our strategic investment program, we are building an energy company that meets the needs of our shareholders and provides a sustainable energy future for our customers." The following table outlines PSEG's expectations for non-GAAP Operating Earnings by subsidiary for 2017. 2017 Non-GAAP Operating Earnings Guidance ($millions, except EPS) 2017E PSE&G $945 - $985 PSEG Power $435 - $510 PSEG Enterprise/ Other $35 - $35 Non-GAAP Operating Earnings $1,415 - $1,530 Non-GAAP EPS $2.80 - $3.00 E = Estimate Due to the forward looking nature of non-GAAP Operating Earnings guidance, PSEG is unable to reconcile this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Management is unable to project certain reconciling items, in particular MTM and NDT gains (losses), for future periods due to market volatility. Non-GAAP Operating Earnings Review and Outlook by Operating Subsidiary See Attachment 4 for detail regarding the quarter-over-quarter reconciliations for each of PSEG's businesses. PSE&G PSE&G reported Net Income of $299 million ($0.59 per share) for the first quarter of 2017 compared with Net Income of $262 million ($0.52 per share) for the first quarter of 2016. PSE&G's first quarter results reflect the on-going successful execution of its growth initiatives and control of operating expenses. Growth in PSE&G's investment in transmission improved quarter-over-quarter Net Income comparisons by $0.03 per share. Revenue recovery of investments made to enhance system resiliency under the Energy Strong and Gas System Modernization Programs improved quarter-over-quarter Net Income comparisons by $0.02 per share. A reduction in O&M expense improved quarter-over-quarter Net Income comparisons by $0.02 per share. PSE&G implemented a $121 million increase in transmission revenue under the company's FERC-approved formula rate on January 1, 2017. Transmission revenues are adjusted each year to reflect an update of the company's investment program. PSE&G's investment in transmission is expected to grow to represent approximately $7.6 billion of rate base at the end of 2017, or 45% of the company's year-end 2017 consolidated rate base. Gas distribution revenue increased by $16 million with the completion of gas main replacement work approved under the Energy Strong and GSMP investment programs. Actual and weather-normalized electric sales were approximately 1.5% higher than a year ago due to an increase in sales to a large industrial customer whose contracted generation supply was off-line during most of the quarter. Residential sales comparisons were flat, and sales to the commercial sector increased 0.8%. Actual and weather-normalized firm gas sales increased 3.0% in the first quarter. The increase is higher than our forecasted rate of growth, and may be attributable in part to imprecision in weather normalization calculations during extreme weather conditions. The increase is in line with growth trends experienced prior to 2016. PSE&G filed with the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in March 2017 for the extension of existing Energy Efficiency programs and the addition of new programs. The programs, if approved, would represent a capital investment of approximately $74 million. As part of the petition, PSE&G is also seeking recovery of additional administrative and information technology system enhancement costs. The petition has been deemed complete, and a decision is pending. PSE&G invested $752 million of capital expenditures during the first quarter of 2017 and is on-track for its full-year capital investment program of $3.4 billion in its transmission and distribution infrastructure. The forecast of PSE&G's Net Income for 2017 remains unchanged at $945 - $985 million. PSEG Power PSEG Power reported a Net Loss of $170 million ($0.34 per share) for the first quarter of 2017 compared with Net Income of $192 million ($0.38 per share) for the first quarter of 2016. PSEG Power's non-GAAP Operating Earnings and non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2017 were $150 million ($0.30 per share) and $359 million respectively compared to non-GAAP Operating Earnings of $184 million ($0.36 per share) and non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA of $409 million for the first quarter of 2016. Management believes non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors and other users of our financial statements in evaluating operating performance because it provides them with an additional tool to compare business performance across companies and across periods. Management also believes that non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA is widely used by investors to measure operating performance without regard to items such as income tax expense, interest expense and depreciation and amortization, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon, among other things, the book value of assets, capital structure and whether assets were constructed or acquired. Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA also allows investors and other users to assess the underlying financial performance of our fleet before management's decision to deploy capital. Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA excludes the same items as our non-GAAP Operating Earnings measure as well as income tax expense, interest expense and depreciation and amortization. See Attachment 10 for a complete list of items excluded from Net Income/(Loss) in the determination of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA. The presentation of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA is intended to complement, and should not be considered an alternative to the presentation of Net Income/(Loss), which is an indicator of financial performance determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA as presented in this release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. PSEG Power's Net Loss for the first quarter reflects the impact of incremental depreciation and other expenses of $564 million, pre-tax, associated with the decision to retire the Hudson and Mercer coal-fired generating stations on June 1, 2017. A decline in the average price received on energy hedges reduced Power's quarter-over-quarter non-GAAP Operating Earnings by $0.09 per share. Non-GAAP quarterly Operating Earnings comparisons were also reduced by $0.01 per share as a result of a decline in output and by a $0.01 per share increase in the reserve related to a FERC investigation of Power's cost-based bids begun in 2014. These two items were offset by a $0.02 per share quarter-over-quarter improvement in non-GAAP Operating Earnings on off-system gas sales. A reduction in O&M as a result of cost control at the nuclear stations improved quarter-over-quarter non-GAAP Operating Earnings comparisons by $0.03 per share. Output from Power's generating facilities was 2.8% lower in the first quarter compared to year-ago levels. Quarterly comparisons were affected by one fewer day of operation in 2017 relative to the year-ago period (due to leap year), and the adverse impact of above normal temperatures during the first two months of the year on energy demand, pricing and volatility. The nuclear fleet operated at an average capacity factor of 100% producing 8.4 TWh of energy. Power's gas-fired CCGT fleet experienced a decline in its average capacity factor during the quarter to 41.8% from 51.7%. For the quarter, the CCGT fleet produced 3.0 TWh of energy and the coal-fired fleet produced 1.4 TWh of energy. Based on the mild winter, Power is forecasting output for 2017 of 49 50 TWh modified from its prior forecast of output for the year of 49 51 TWh. Approximately 90% of production for the remainder of the year is hedged at an average price of $46 per MWh. Power has hedged approximately 55% - 60% of its forecast production for 2018 of 52 54 TWh at an average price of $41 per MWh. For 2019, Power has hedged 20% - 25% of its forecast production of 58 60 TWh at an average price of $42 per MWh. Power continues to assume BGS volumes will represent approximately 11 TWh in 2017 consistent with 2016 deliveries. The forecast increase in output for both 2018 and 2019 reflects the commercial start-up in mid-2018 of 1,300 MWs of new gas-fired combined cycle capacity at the Keys Energy Center in Maryland and Sewaren in New Jersey, and the mid-2019 commercial start-up of the 485 MW gas-fired combined cycle power plant at Bridgeport Harbor, Connecticut. The forecast of Power's non-GAAP Operating Earnings for 2017 and non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA remain unchanged at $435 - $510 million and $1,080 million - $1,210 million respectively. Due to the forward looking nature of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA guidance, PSEG is unable to reconcile this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Management is unable to project certain reconciling items, in particular MTM and NDT gains (losses), for future periods due to market volatility. PSEG Enterprise/Other PSEG Enterprise/Other reported a Net Loss of $15 million ($0.03 per share) for the first quarter of 2017 compared to Net Income of $17 million ($0.03 per share) for the first quarter of 2016. Non-GAAP Operating Earnings for the first quarter of 2017 were $17 million ($0.03 per share) compared to $17 million ($0.03 per share) for the first quarter of 2016. The Net Loss for the first quarter of 2017 reflects the impact of a pre-tax charge of $55 million associated with continuing liquidity issues facing NRG REMA, LLC. Non-GAAP Operating Earnings were unchanged quarter-over-quarter and reflect contractual payments associated with the operation of PSEG Long Island and certain tax items at PSEG Energy Holdings. The forecast of PSEG Enterprise/Other full year non-GAAP Operating Earnings for 2017 remains unchanged at $35 million. The following attachments can be found on www.pseg.com Attachment 1 - Consolidating Statements of Operations 3 months Attachment 2 - Capitalization Schedule Attachment 3 - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Attachment 4 - Quarter-over-Quarter EPS Reconciliation Attachment 5 - Retail Sales and Revenues Electric Attachment 6 - Retail Sales and Revenues Gas Attachment 7 - Generation Measures Attachment 8 - Statistical Measures Attachment 9 Consolidated Operating Earnings (non-GAAP) Reconciliation Attachment 10 PSEG Power Operating Earnings (non-GAAP) and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) Reconciliation, PSEG Enterprise/Other Operating Earnings (non-GAAP) Reconciliation Forward-Looking Statements Certain of the matters discussed in this presentation about our and our subsidiaries' future performance, including, without limitation, future revenues, earnings, strategies, prospects, consequences and all other statements that are not purely historical constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such statements are based on management's beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. When used herein, the words "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "believe," "expect," "plan," "should," "hypothetical," "potential," "forecast," "project," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ are often presented with the forward-looking statements themselves. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements made by us herein are discussed in filings we make with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. These factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in wholesale power and natural gas markets, including the potential impacts on the economic viability of our generation units; our ability to obtain adequate fuel supply; any inability to manage our energy obligations with available supply; increases in competition in wholesale energy and capacity markets; changes in technology related to energy generation, distribution and consumption and customer usage patterns; economic downturns; third party credit risk relating to our sale of generation output and purchase of fuel; adverse performance of our decommissioning and defined benefit plan trust fund investments and changes in funding requirements; changes in state and federal legislation and regulations; the impact of pending rate case proceedings; regulatory, financial, environmental, health and safety risks associated with our ownership and operation of nuclear facilities; adverse changes in energy industry laws, policies and regulations, including market structures and transmission planning; changes in federal and state environmental regulations and enforcement; delays in receipt of, or an inability to receive, necessary licenses and permits; adverse outcomes of any legal, regulatory or other proceeding, settlement, investigation or claim applicable to us and/or the energy industry; changes in tax laws and regulations; the impact of our holding company structure on our ability to meet our corporate funding needs, service debt and pay dividends; lack of growth or slower growth in the number of customers or changes in customer demand; any inability of Power to meet its commitments under forward sale obligations; reliance on transmission facilities that we do not own or control and the impact on our ability to maintain adequate transmission capacity; any inability to successfully develop or construct generation, transmission and distribution projects; any equipment failures, accidents, severe weather events or other incidents that impact our ability to provide safe and reliable service to our customers; our inability to exercise control over the operations of generation facilities in which we do not maintain a controlling interest; any inability to maintain sufficient liquidity; any inability to realize anticipated tax benefits or retain tax credits; challenges associated with recruitment and/or retention of key executives and a qualified workforce; the impact of our covenants in our debt instruments on our operations; and the impact of acts of terrorism, cybersecurity attacks or intrusions. All of the forward-looking statements made in this presentation are qualified by these cautionary statements and we cannot assure you that the results or developments anticipated by management will be realized or even if realized, will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements in making any investment decision. Forward-looking statements made in this presentation apply only as of the date of this presentation. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements from time to time, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even in light of new information or future events, unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are intended to qualify for the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. From time to time, PSEG, PSE&G and PSEG Power release important information via postings on their corporate website at http://investor.pseg.com. Investors and other interested parties are encouraged to visit the corporate website to review new postings. The "Email Alerts" link at http://investor.pseg.com may be used to enroll to receive automatic email alerts and/or Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds regarding new postings. SOURCE Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) Related Links https://www.pseg.com Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng (R), Chen Dong wave before the launch of Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft, in Jiuquan, China, October 17, 2016. The US space industry is prodding the US government into refreshing its outdated laws on commercial activity beyond earth: scare it with talk of Chinese galactic domination. At a Senate hearing on the space industry today, companies that build rockets and space habitats and manufacture electronic goods in space spoke about a standard laundry list of complaints, from regulatory burdens to fears of subsidized competitors. But their message was wrapped in patriotic concerns about Chinas growing capacity for space action. These companies are eager for the US government to allow and invest in commercial activities in orbit and around the moon. Many think the laws governing action in space, and particularly the UN Space Treaty, need refreshing for an age when private companies are close to matching the space capacity of sovereign nations. The last major change was a law on asteroid mining passed in 2015. Robert Bigelow, a real-estate mogul who now operates an eponymous company dedicated to creating space habitats and building facilities on the moon, warned the Senate hearing that without a global legal framework, the US could be left behind. China is very pre-disposed to ownership, whether its creating the islands in South China Sea, properties in massive quantities that theyve purchased in South America or Africa, whether you open a [foreign subsidiary in China] and can only own 49% of it, he said. China could exercise an effort to start to lay claim to certain lunar territories. I dont think its a joke, I dont think its something to be cavalier about. Such an ownership consequence would have an amazing impact on the image of China vis-a-vis the United States and the rest of the world, if they should own large amounts of territory on that body, if we stood back and we were not prepared. Chris Rush, whose company Made in Space is developing a competitive fiber optic cable alternative manufactured in micro-gravity, told the lawmakers that the US needs to maintain its current advantages in space manufacturing. Story continues The Obama administration had declined to partner with the European Space Agency on a potential moon village, but now China is in talks with the ESA about working together on the program. China also plans to land two lunar probes in the next year. The Trump administration has yet to outline the details of its space strategy, but many commercial operators hope to see a focus on lunar activity. So far, the Trump administration hasnt offered a definitive course, but has delivered boldnot to say unrealistictalk about speeding up plans for everything from a Moon mission to a trip to Mars. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: DUBLIN, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Halogen-Free Flame Retardant Chemicals Market 2017-2021" report to their offering. The global halogen-free flame retardant chemicals market to grow at a CAGR of 8.25% during the period 2017-2021. The report, Global Halogen-Free Flame Retardant Chemicals Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. One trend in market is regulations restricting use of halogenated flame retardants. There are many regulations that ban the use of halogen (brominated and chlorinated compounds) containing flame retardants. In the US and Europe, decabromodiphenyl ether is banned for use in electronics items, shipping pellets, mattresses, and upholstered furniture due to its adverse effects on health and environment. Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate is banned from use in children's products and furniture. To reduce the toxicity of flame retardants, many government bodies have imposed regulations to restrict the use of toxic chemicals. The Bromine Science and Environmental forum (BSEF), REACH, RoHS, WEEE, Water Framework Directive (WFD), EBFRIP, and NAFRA are some of the noteworthy organizations that regulate the chemicals used in flame retardants According to the report, one driver in market is growth in building and construction industry. The number of residential and non-residential buildings is increasing globally. This can be attributed to urbanization, population growth, and economic development. In 2015, the global construction industry was valued at $9 trillion. It will increase by over 80% to reach more than $16 trillion in 2030, with China, India, and the US, accounting for more than 50% of the global growth. The construction sector in the Middle East is also expected to grow considerably, driven by substantial investments in infrastructure development, especially in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Key vendors Clariant J.M. Huber ICL LANXESS Nabaltec Other prominent vendors BASF Chemtura Delamin Italmatch Chemicals Thor Key Topics Covered: PART 01: Executive summary PART 02: Scope of the report PART 03: Research Methodology PART 04: Introduction PART 05: Market landscape PART 06: Market segmentation by type PART 07: Market segmentation by end-user PART 08: Geographical segmentation PART 09: Decision framework PART 10: Drivers and challenges PART 11: Market trends PART 12: Vendor landscape PART 13: Appendix For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/wjrjk7/global Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Retainly announced the release of its Official WordPress Plugin. The WordPress plugin is named Retainly Optin Forms as it helps bloggers design very beautiful optin forms of different types and with different display options. The plugin is completely free and can connect to a Retainly Email Marketing account with a single click and API Key validation. 100+ Form Templates for the most beautiful Pop-up Forms Retainly Optin Form does not need any coding skills and can help the blogger to easily customize look and feel from more than 100 form templates. Optin forms are a must for digital marketers to capture leads and subscriber information. Unlike other optin forms already available in the WordPress plugin directory, Retainly's plugin also provides the connected marketing automation tools from its SaaS application. This also helps in keeping the plugin very light and not increasing any processing load on the blog's server. The leads captured from the plugin can be automatically sent to the users mapped List or Segment inside Retainly. The user may then also create auto-responders with a download link, or a sequence of time-delayed email campaigns using the Drip marketing feature. Retainly's marketing automation platform has been designed to help banking, financial market intermediaries and Insurance to increase their revenues from existing customers. It also helps all Internet Based businesses to create new inbound leads, engage the prospects, and convert them. This WordPress plugin will especially help digital media companies to acquire new leads and subscribers. Retainly's WordPress plugins provide 6 types of Email List builders. Slide In Forms : It slides in at the bottom of your visitor's screen, and can be set to appear after a specific time or point on the page. : It slides in at the bottom of your visitor's screen, and can be set to appear after a specific time or point on the page. Traditional Popup : Set the popup opt-in forms to appear automatically after a specific amount of time, after visitors reach a particular point on your page, or even after visitors leave a comment or make a purchase. : Set the popup opt-in forms to appear automatically after a specific amount of time, after visitors reach a particular point on your page, or even after visitors leave a comment or make a purchase. Protected Content : Offering valuable content in exchange for an email address is one of the most effective ways to grow an email list. Protected content forms allow offering content that visitors can "unlock" by opting in. : Offering valuable content in exchange for an email address is one of the most effective ways to grow an email list. Protected content forms allow offering content that visitors can "unlock" by opting in. Inline : Forms make it easy. These can be displayed virtually anywhere, such as on any post or page on the website. : Forms make it easy. These can be displayed virtually anywhere, such as on any post or page on the website. Widget : For the sidebar, footer, or any other widget areas on the site be ready with a beautiful opt-in. : For the sidebar, footer, or any other widget areas on the site be ready with a beautiful opt-in. Below Content: When visitors read an entire post, they are highly engaged, making this a great way to turn that engagement into a conversion. Retainly Marketing Automation completes its Lead Generation and Capture portfolio with this WordPress Plugin and is the only email marketing tool that has built-in emoji snippets. Retainly's email checker helps marketers automatically scan their emails for unintended spam trigger words, a first of its kind software. Since its release, Retainly has been quite focused on customer service and puts a significant effort to ensure customer success. Retainly is suitable for small business ideas as well as large enterprises. Media Relations: Soujanya Sharma, Email: [email protected] Related Links Blogger Search Follow up email after interview This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Retainly Related Links https://retainly.co SKANES FAGERHULT, Sweden, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The total number of holdings of own shares at 1 January 2017 was 1,088,616 and the total number of shares in issue was 41,570,600. On 30 March 2017, the AGM resolved to retire 698,600 of the company's own repurchased shares. The retirement of shares has been carried out through a reduction of share capital with retirement of shares and a subsequent bonus issue to restore the share capital. The total number of holdings of own shares at 28 April 2017 was 390,016 and the total number of shares in issue was 40,872,000. Consequently the company's total holdings of own shares now represent 1.0% of the total number of shares. Concentric AB is an innovator in flow control and fluid power, supplying proprietary systems and components to the world's truck, agricultural machinery, construction equipment and industrial applications end-markets. The company has manufacturing facilities in the UK, USA, Germany, Sweden, India, China and Argentina. In addition to supplying oil, fuel transfer and water pumps for diesel engines, the group also manufactures lubrication pumps for transmissions and compressors within its range of engine products. For further information, please contact: Mia Segerberg, +46 (0)722-269080 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/concentric-ab/r/retirement-of-repurchased-own-shares,c2251523 The following files are available for download: http://mb.cision.com/Main/1643/2251523/665069.pdf Retirement of repurchased own shares SOURCE Concentric AB SAN JOSE, Calif., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Rodo Medical and Straumann announced that Straumann has increased its stake in Rodo Medical Inc. from 12% (obtained in 2014) to 30%, for an undisclosed sum. The agreement between the two companies provides Straumann with exclusive distribution rights except in North America and South Korea and the option to increase Straumann's participation to 51% in 2021. Founded in 2009, Rodo Medical is a privately-held U.S. company that develops and produces innovative retention devices for dental implant restorations. Its revolutionary Smileloc device utilizes the shape memory properties of 'nitinol', a nickel-titanium alloy, to attach crowns or dentures to implant abutments without cement or retaining screws. The system also allows quick and easy removal and replacement of a single crown, bridge, and full arch prosthesis. Having gained marketing clearance in Europe (CE Mark) and FDA 510(k) approval, this exciting technology is now commercially available in initial markets. Straumann's CEO Marco Gadola commented: "RODO's ability to develop a revolutionary concept, turn it into a medical device and bring it to market is impressive. Their entrepreneurial and scientific approach to innovation makes them an attractive partner for the Straumann Group. We are excited about Smileloc, which is an ingenious solution for an important clinical need and could change current paradigms." Rodo Medical's CEO Young Seo commented: "We are pleased to partner with the market leader, Straumann, and the synergies between the companies present great advancements in implant dentistry, particularly with the predictability and precision of digital workflows created with Rodo's Smileloc System and Straumann's implants and digital products." About Rodo Medical Rodo Medical is an innovative medical device company dedicated to improving the quality of life of patients and dentists. The company was founded in 2009 and is located in San Jose, California. Rodo Medical has developed novel retention devices in implant dentistry. The Smileloc System is used in permanent fixed restorations with dental implants. The Smileloc System is cleared by the FDA (510(k) for marketing in the US, and has marketing clearance in Europe (CE Mark). Rodo Medical, Inc., 690 Saratoga Ave., Suite 100, San Jose, CA 95129 Tel: 408-245-7636 Homepage: www.rodomedical.com Contacts: Corporate Communications / Investor Relations Michael Parsons, +1 408 245 7636; [email protected] About Straumann The Straumann Group (SIX: STMN) is a global leader in tooth replacement solutions that restore smiles and confidence. It unites global and international brands that stand for excellence, innovation and quality in tooth replacement and esthetics, including Straumann, Instradent, Neodent, and Medentika, etkon and other fully/partly owned companies and partners. In collaboration with leading clinics, institutes and universities, the Group researches, develops, manufactures and supplies dental implants, instruments, CADCAM prosthetics, biomaterials and digital solutions for use in tooth replacement and restoration or to prevent tooth loss. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, the Group employs approximately 4000 people worldwide and its products, solutions and services are available in more than 100 countries through a broad network of distribution subsidiaries and partners. Straumann Holding AG, Peter Merian-Weg 12, 4002 Basel, Switzerland. Phone: +41 (0)61 965 11 11 / Fax: +41 (0)61 965 11 01 Homepage: www.straumann.com Contacts: Corporate Communication Mark Hill: +41 (0)61 965 13 21 Thomas Konrad: +41 (0)61 965 15 46 E-mail: [email protected] Investor Relations Fabian Hildbrand: +41 (0)61 965 13 27 E-mail: [email protected] Disclaimer This release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of management. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Straumann Group to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this release. Straumann is providing the information in this release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any statements contained in it as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE Rodo Medical, Inc. Related Links http://www.rodomedical.com LINCOLN, Neb., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of Vietnam War veterans will take flight Monday for Washington D.C. as part of a day trip organized by Patriotic Productions, a Nebraska-based non-profit. The weekend will kick off with a reception and dinner before the veterans depart Omaha's Eppley Airfield early Monday morning. This is the second year in a row that Sandhills has teamed up with Patriotic Productions to sponsor one of the four commercial airline flights set for the nation's capital. After arriving at Reagan National Airport, 654 veterans will be guided through visits to a number of sites including: the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, the National World War II Memorial, and the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima), with transportation, meals, and other VIP accommodations provided along the way. Back in Nebraska, the spouses and family members of participating veterans will spend the day at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, followed by a luncheon hosted by Nebraska's First Lady Susanne Shore, and a wine tasting and dinner at a local winery and vineyard. The vets will return to Nebraska on flights bound for Lincoln Airport on Monday evening, where they will receive a warm welcome home from friends, family, and members of the community in keeping with the honor flight's tradition. The 2017 honor flight is the 11th event of its kind for Patriotic Productions (www.PatrioticProductions.org), which has organized flights for nearly 3,000 veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Their mission is to honor members of the United States military through events and projects that recognize the sacrifices made by these Americans and their families. Sponsorships from businesses and individuals extend the reach and impact of these projects. For Sandhills Publishing, supporting veterans is an ongoing effort. "We are honored to be surrounded by veterans within our families, our company, and our community, and recognizing the sacrifices they have made for our freedoms is especially important," explains Sandhills' Chief Administration Officer Nancy Paasch. "We're committed to giving back to veterans, both in our recruitment efforts and by taking opportunities to partner with organizations like Patriotic Productions to support events and services that extend the important message that we're thankful for their service to our country." About Sandhills Publishing Sandhills Publishing is an information processing company headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our broad range of products and services focuses on gathering, processing, and distributing information in the form of trade publications and online services that connect buyers and sellers across the trucking, agriculture, construction, heavy equipment, aviation, and technology industries. Our integrated, industry-specific approach to hosted technologies and services offers solutions that help businesses large and small operate efficiently and grow securely, cost-effectively, and successfully. Sandhills Publishingwe are the cloud. [email protected] 800-331-1978 SOURCE Sandhills Publishing This year's theme is short-term STEM talent development strategies and impact on business performance. "We are building off the success of last year's first-ever employer-led annual Global STEM Talent Summit and bringing together major industry partners to address the STEM talent gap that exists in our countryand globally," said Dr. Heidi Kleinbach-Sauter, senior vice president, global R&D, PepsiCo, and chairwoman of the Global STEM Talent Summit. "We have fully transitioned from STEM theory into action and our industry partners are implementing STEM talent development strategies to deliver sustainable enterprise growth." "As a company that provides more than 100 technical services to clients in 80 countries, sharing best practices in STEM talent development strategies to drive scale and speed in helping to solve the STEM shortfall is as much an honor as a business imperative," said Gerri Mason Hall, senior vice president and global chief human resources officer, Sodexo North America. Participating in the discussion on STEM talent readiness with Mason Hall were other large scale employers who all addressed the challenges of competing for STEM talent against the type of marquis-name high-tech companies that frequently draw the attention of talent. Those participants included Melissa Harper, vice president global talent and inclusion and diversity, Monsanto, Michael Regelski, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Eaton, Sheri Hickock, executive chief engineer, General Motors and Terese Taylor, global technology lead, Credit Suisse. The panel was moderated by Michael Norris, senior advisor, STEMconnector. The 2017 GSTS strategic partners include Acord, APCO Worldwide, Apollo Education Group, AT&T, BAE Systems, Base 11, BP, Burning Glass, Cargill, Carnival Corporation, Cengage Learning, Centene Corporation, Cigna, Credit Suisse, Dassault Systems, Deloitte, Discovery Education, FedEx, Gulfstream, Honeywell, Hope Street Group, Gallup, GM, Eaton, Indeed, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, ManpowerGroup, Lockheed Martin, Mind Research Institute, Microsoft, Monsanto, Monster, My College Options, The National Press Club, PepsiCo, Pillsbury Law, Pinnacle Group, Smiths Group, Stratasys, Sodexo, Sprint, S&P Global, Tata Consultancy Services, UCI Henry Samueli School of Engineering, Unilever, University of Phoenix, and Walmart. "As disruption is evident, business leaders are shifting focus to talent investments and engagement in STEM and tackling the latest of new technology and skills required for jobs," says Edie Fraser, Chief Executive Officer of STEMconnector. "As this GSTS initiative continues, leaders are intent on identifying and proselytizing investments in education proven to strengthen a sustainable, long-term talent pool." Sodexo delivers more than 100 services across North America that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life. The Fortune Global 500 company is a leader in delivering sustainable, integrated facilities management and foodservice operations. Learn more about Sodexo at its corporate blog, Sodexo Insights. SOURCE Sodexo Related Links http://www.sodexoUSA.com The revolutionary dual robotic surgery assisted in the repair of a severe spinal fracture suffered by Aharon Schwartz, 42, a factory worker in Jerusalem who was injured when a steel object pinned him to the ground, fracturing his leg in two places and breaking six of his spinal vertebrae. The 3-hour surgery took place in the state-of-the-art $30M underground hybrid operating theater at Hadassah's Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower. Dr. Meir Liebergall, Chairman of the Hadassah Medical Organization's (HMO) Orthopedic Department and head of HMO's Musculo-Skeletal Medicine Division, explained the pioneering surgery. "Two robots, Siemens' Artis Zeego and the Mazor Robotics' Renaissance Guidance System, were involved in the surgery. Artis Zeego, overseen by Dr. Amal Khouri, Director of HMO's Orthopedic Hospitalization Center, provided real-time 3-dimensional imaging during the surgical procedure, which eliminated the need for pre-surgery CT scans and post-surgery X-rays. Renaissance Guidance System, a screw placement system which allows spinal implant placement with maximum safety and accuracy, was controlled by HMO Sr. Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Josh Schroeder. Renaissance communicated with Artis Zeego during the minimally-invasive surgery while Dr. Schroeder led the Hadassah orthopedic team in the insertion of eleven pedicle screws into the patient's spine with clinical exactitude." Dr. Liebergall predicted that patient Schwartz will completely recover from the surgery and will be walking again very shortly. Hershkin states, "Once again, HMO achieves another world-first a dual robot-assisted spinal surgery, solidifying its reputation for world class medical innovation and treatment. Our congratulations go to Dr. Liebergall and his brilliant surgical team for continuing Hadassah's mission of bringing ground-breaking medical care to the people of Israel." The Mazor Robotics Renaissance Guidance System transforms spine surgery from freehand procedures to highly-accurate, state-of-the-art procedures that may reduce fluoroscopyeven for minimally-invasive surgery (MIS), scoliosis, and other complex spinal deformity cases. The Siemens Artis Zeego Robotic Technology enables smoother, swifter and trouble-free patient positioning and execution procedures. Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA) is the largest Jewish women's organization in the United States. With 330,000 members, associates and supporters Hadassah brings Jewish women together to effect change and advocate on critical issues such as medical care and research and women's empowerment. Through the Hadassah Medical Organization's two hospitals, the world-renowned trauma center and the leading research facility in Jerusalem, Hadassah supports the delivery of exemplary patient care to over a million people every year. HMO serves without regard to race, religion or nationality and earned a Nobel Peace Prize Nomination in 2005 for building "bridges to peace" through equality in medical treatment. For more information, visit www.hadassah.org. SOURCE Hadassah, The Womens Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA) Related Links http://www.hadassah.org WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- "LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE THREATENED! NATURAL DISASTERS ARE COMING WHICH WILL RESULT IN A NATIONAL SUNDAY (WORSHIP) LAW WILL BE THE MARK OF THE BEAST! A $1000.00 REWARD FOR MISSING BIBLE TEXT." These shocking statements have startled millions of readers that picked up the USA Today on April 14th, or the Washington Times on April 12th and 14th, 2017. The ad offers a thousand dollars for a missing Bible text that will prove the sacredness of the 7thday Sabbath was transferred to Sunday, the first day of the week, either by Jesus or one of His apostles. The USA Today and Washington Times ad offers a thousand dollars for a missing Bible text that will prove the sacredness of the 7thday Sabbath was transferred to Sunday, the first day of the week, either by Jesus or one of His apostles. Sabbath-Keeping Pastor Publishes Controversial Newspaper Ads The Eternal Gospel Church in West Palm Beach, FL is responsible for the ads. Their toll-free phone number is 1-866-7TH-DAY-2 Their website www.eternalgospel.com describes this ministry as founded in 1992 by Seventh-day Adventist believers who are preparing for Christ's Second Coming. Their senior pastor, Raphael Perez, has often been asked why the church puts ads in newspapers across the nation for the past 25 years. He responded, "The world is in great crisis. Sin is increasing. There is no more respect for God's law in the land. We see the tradition of Sunday keeping being placed over the sacredness of the seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment. The present pope in his addresses and encyclicals has been calling for Sunday keeping under the pretext of the good of the family and the environment. We see how church and state has been getting closer and closer contrary to the U.S. Constitution. The United States is the first country in the history of the world to separate church and state and that has made America great. We believe the Bible, not tradition, has the answerthat God will bless this country through the heart conversion of individuals, not through force. And God's blessing will rest on every individual, family, church, and nation that chooses to live in harmony with all ten immutable commandments including keeping the true seventh-day Sabbath holy. Sunday keeping is what the Bible predictsit will be enforced and become the Mark of the Beast and that is going to bring this nation to ruin." The Eternal Gospel Ministry has also been involved in world-wide work using TV, Radio, newspapers, and billboards, with the goal of giving the everlasting gospel and warnings for the end times. Go to EternalGospel.com to see more of their work. Media Contact: Raphael Perez 1-866-7TH-DAY-2 [email protected] SOURCE The Eternal Gospel Church Related Links http://www.eternalgospel.com WASHINGTON, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Latino Coalition (TLC), the leading national non-partisan advocacy organization representing Hispanic businesses and consumers, issued the following statement regarding the confirmation of Alexander Acosta as U.S. Department of Labor Secretary: "We are very proud of Alexander Acosta's confirmation as U.S. Labor Secretary," said Hector Barreto, The Latino Coalition Chairman and former U.S. Small Business Administrator. "Acosta is an excellent choice for this crucial Cabinet position and his outstanding record of achievement reaffirms that he will fight for the American worker. As the first confirmed Hispanic member of Trump's Cabinet, we applaud and look forward to working with Acosta in his new role, and we have no doubt his extensive experience will help lead America's labor force to economic growth and prosperity." ABOUT THE LATINO COALITION- The Latino Coalition (TLC) was founded in 1995 by a group of Hispanic business owners from across the country to research and develop policies solutions relevant to Latinos. TLC is a non-profit nationwide organization with offices in California, Washington, DC and Guadalajara, Mexico. Established to address and engage on key issues that that directly affect the well-being of Hispanics in the United States, TLC's agenda is to create and promote initiatives and partnerships that will foster economic equivalency and enhance and empower overall business, economic and social development for Latinos. Visit www.thelatinocoalition.com. SOURCE The Latino Coalition Related Links http://www.thelatinocoalition.com ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Most travel insurance policies with the Trip Cancellation benefit include Terrorism coverage. However, travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth, says there is one stipulation that may prevent coverage for a future attack. Some policies with Terrorism coverage will not cover a terrorist attack if there has been a previous attack in the same city within the past 90 days. More than 25% of policies with Terrorism coverage on squaremouth.com have this stipulation. "Some providers consider destinations that have recently experienced a terrorist attack, such as Paris, to be at a higher risk of another attack, and therefore will not provide coverage," said Squaremouth spokesperson Megan Singh. If a destination has experienced an attack in the past 90 days, travelers can still purchase travel insurance with Terrorism coverage for an upcoming trip, as long as the policy does not have that 90-day exclusion. When Are Travelers Covered by the Terrorism Benefit? The Terrorism benefit provides cancellation coverage if a traveler is unable to take their trip because of a terrorist attack at their destination. In order to be covered under the Terrorism benefit, a traveler must have purchased their policy before the attack occurred. Additionally, the attack must meet the following requirements: It must be deemed an act of terrorism by the U.S. Department of State It must occur within 7-30 days of the traveler's departure date It must occur in or near a city listed on the traveler's itinerary Travelers who utilize the Terrorism benefit can be reimbursed up to 100% of their insured trip cost. What If Travelers Are Worried About Traveling Due to Terrorism? Fear of a potential terrorist attack is not a covered reason to cancel a trip under standard Trip Cancellation policies. Only travelers with the Cancel For Any Reason benefit can be covered to cancel a trip out of fear. Cancel For Any Reason is an optional upgrade that can be added to some travel insurance policies. This benefit reimburses up to 75% of a traveler's trip expenses if they cancel for a reason that is not otherwise covered. It typically increases a policy's premium by about 40%. To be eligible for Cancel For Any Reason coverage, a traveler must purchase their policy within 14-30 days of making their first trip payment and insure 100% of their prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses. To use this benefit, travelers must cancel their trip in its entirety at least 2-3 days before their scheduled departure date. ABOUT SQUAREMOUTH Squaremouth compares travel insurance policies from every major travel insurance provider in the United States. Using Squaremouth's comparison engine and third-party customer reviews, travelers can research and compare insurance products side-by-side. More information can be found at www.squaremouth.com Available Topic Expert: Steven Benna [email protected] (727) 619-7262 SOURCE Squaremouth Related Links http://www.squaremouth.com CHICAGO, April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three Lakes Partners, a venture philanthropy committed to ending idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), in collaboration with MATTER, the healthcare technology incubator and innovation hub, announced its $1 million IPF Catalyst Challenge this evening during a gathering of some of the world's foremost IPF experts and healthcare thought leaders at MATTER's headquarters in Chicago's Merchandise Mart. Three Lakes Partners has also engaged IDEO, the award-winning global design and innovation consultancy, and Common Pool, renowned for creating competitions to solve the world's most challenging problems, to collaborate with them on the IPF Catalyst Challenge. "IPF kills approximately the same number of people annually as breast cancer, yet it remains an unknown disease that receives very little attention," said Ken Bahk PhD, managing director, Three Lakes Partners. "Our mission is on behalf of patients and caregivers: to increase visibility of this disease and to attack IPF from all sides diagnosis, treatment, and patient quality of life all by engaging the most innovative, aggressive, and experienced partners in our collective fight. We are excited and grateful to work with our world class collaborators MATTER, IDEO, and Common Pool in this first step, the IPF Catalyst Challenge." The IPF Catalyst Challenge will engage global innovators and entrepreneurs in the tech, healthcare, and scientific research communities to find quality-of-life solutions for IPF patients and their caregivers. The $1 million cash and incentive purse is the largest healthcare prize awarded for a challenge in the Midwest to date, and the biggest in MATTER's history. It is also the first time a cash and incentive purse of this magnitude has been put in place to help people with this disease. "Too few people know about IPF, and far too few are developing solutions to help people suffering from this terrible disease," said Steven Collens, MATTER CEO. "Working with Three Lakes Partners to engage a global community of entrepreneurs, researchers, designers, and industry experts, we will accelerate the development of technologies that will change the lives of people living with IPF." "Solving big challenges like IPF is exactly why we created MATTER just two years ago," Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. "The mission of this challenge will inspire Chicago's thriving startup community to create solutions that will improve the lives of individuals and families who are suffering from IPF." IPF is an irreversible, unpredictable, and incurable interstitial lung disease. Without any known cause, it starts with scarring or stiffening of the lung tissue that prohibits the lungs from properly moving oxygen into the bloodstream, making it difficult to breathe. It is a chronic illness that progresses differently in every patient, but ultimately never improves. It is typically fatal within three to five years of diagnosis. Approximately 125,000 people in the US are living with IPF, and roughly 40,000 die from the disease annually. The IPF Catalyst Challenge will focus on creating new, smarter solutions for patient management of their biggest need and their biggest frustration oxygen therapy. In addition to oxygen, the Challenge will look to fund and fuel patient and caregiver management apps and tools, patient education opportunities, devices and diagnostics, and innovative science to help find a cure. The IPF Catalyst Challenge is part of Three Lakes Partners' larger investment and overall commitment to forging a new vision for IPF by gathering the best minds in and outside the field to develop new solutions to solve this devastating and progressive disease. The IPF Catalyst Challenge was announced as part of a two-day symposium bringing together some of best and brightest minds in IPF research and fields tangentially but vitally related to the space, to look at the disease holistically and discuss innovative ways to accelerate progress toward a cure. In addition to renowned bioinformatics expert Atul Butte, MD, PhD, inaugural director of the Institute of Computational Health Sciences (ICHS) at the University of California, San Francisco, the list of expert attendees included: Teresa Barnes , Consultant, Patient Engagement & Advocacy , Consultant, Patient Engagement & Advocacy Tim Blackwell , MD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , MD, School of Medicine Kevin Brown , MD, National Jewish Health , MD, National Jewish Health Jamie Dananberg , MD, UNITY Biotechnology , MD, UNITY Biotechnology Sonye Danoff , MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , MD, Nathaniel "Ned" David , PhD, UNITY Biotechnology , PhD, UNITY Biotechnology Tushar Desai , MD, Stanford University School of Medicine , MD, School of Medicine Gini Deshpande , PhD, NuMedii , PhD, NuMedii Colin Edwards , PhD, patientMpower , PhD, patientMpower Kevin Flaherty , MD, University of Michigan , MD, Joe G.N. "Skip" Garcia , MD, PhD, University of Arizona , MD, PhD, Maureen Horton , MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , MD, Karen Hughes , Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis UK , Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis UK Lisa Lancaster , MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center , MD, Medical Center Kathy Lindell , PhD, RN, University of Pittsburgh , PhD, RN, Dan Marquess , D. Phil, UNITY Biotechnology , D. Phil, UNITY Biotechnology Fernando Martinez , MD, MS, Weill Cornell Medical College , MD, MS, Weill Cornell Medical College Tim McDaniel , PhD, TGen , PhD, TGen Megan Neely , PhD, Duke University , PhD, Luis Ortiz , MD, University of Pittsburgh , MD, Scott Palmer , MD, MHS, Duke University , MD, MHS, Lance Peterson , MD, FASCP, FIDSA, FAAM, FSHEA, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine , MD, FASCP, FIDSA, FAAM, FSHEA, Pritzker School of Medicine LoAnn Peterson , MD, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University , MD, Feinberg Franklyn G. Prendergast , MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic , MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic Ivan Rosas , MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Jamie Todd , MD, Duke University , MD, Jeff Trent , PhD, TGen , PhD, TGen John Varga , MD, Northwestern University Medical Center , MD, Medical Center Robert Vassallo , MD, Mayo Clinic , MD, Mayo Clinic Bill Vick , Founder, PF Warriors , Founder, PF Warriors George R. Washko, Jr ., MMSc, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School ., MMSc, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Craig Webb , PhD, NuMedii To learn more about the IPF Catalyst Challenge, please visit www.ipfcatalyst.com and follow @IPFCatalyst on Twitter or #IPFChallenge and IPF Catalyst on Facebook. About Three Lakes Partners Three Lakes Partners, LLC is a venture philanthropy whose mission is to accelerate the development of promising technologies for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Three Lakes Partners provides not only financial support, but also operational leverage via partnership with a greater network of IPF resources worldwide. Visit www.threelakespartners.org for more information. About MATTER MATTER is a community of entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry leaders working together to harness technology to improve health and healthcare. MATTER incubates 200 healthcare technology startups, and the company partners with 11 hospitals and health systems, five universities, and more than 40 industry-leading companies. By equipping, empowering, and emboldening healthcare innovators, MATTER accelerates the development of technologies that solve the right healthcare problems in the right ways. For more information, visit www.matterchicago.com and follow @MATTERhealth. About IDEO IDEO is an award-winning global design and innovation consultancy with roots stretching back to 1978. A pioneer of human-centered design and an approach to innovation called design thinking, IDEO ranks as "one of the most innovative companies in the world" by business leaders in a global survey by Boston Consulting Group. For more information, visit www.ideo.com. About Common Pool Common Pool, LLC is a consulting firm focused exclusively on the design, development, and management of prizes, challenge competitions, and other forms of incentive-based programs. Common Pool provides expert advice and an online prize platform that supports private sector companies, foundations, NGOs, and government agencies in meeting their philanthropic and innovation goals. For more information, visit www.commonpool.org. SOURCE Three Lakes Partners SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Trump administration announced plans to expand offshore oil drilling in U.S. waters, threatening recreation, tourism, fishing and other coastal industries, which provide more than 1.4 million jobs and $95 billion GDP along the Atlantic coast alone. The executive order directs the Interior Department to develop a new five-year oil and gas leasing program to consider new areas for offshore drilling. The order also blocks the creation of new national marine sanctuaries and orders a review of all existing sanctuaries and marine monuments designated or expanded in the past ten years. "Our ocean, waves and beaches are vital recreational, economic and ecological treasures that would be polluted by an increase in offshore oil drilling, regardless of whether or not there is a spill," said Dr. Chad Nelsen, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation. "With today's action, the Trump administration is putting the interests of the oil and gas lobby over the hundreds of communities, thousands of businesses, and millions of citizens who rely on the ocean and coasts for their jobs and livelihoods." New offshore drilling would threaten thousands of miles of coastline and billions in GDP, for a relatively small amount of oil. Ocean tourism and recreation, worth an estimated $100 billion annually nationwide, provides 12 times the amount of jobs to the U.S. economy, compared to offshore oil production. Even under the best-case scenario, America's offshore oil reserves would provide only about 920 days, or 18 months supply of oil at our current rate of consumption, according to federal agency estimates. "Tourism drives our local economy, and the approval of offshore drilling poses a huge threat to the livelihood and quality of life in our beach community," said Nicole D.C. Kienlen, Tourism Director of Bradley Beach, New Jersey. "The effects would be devastating on multiple levels." Even when there are no accidents, offshore oil drilling seriously pollutes our water and food supply at every stage. The ground penetration, the drilling, the rigs, and the transportation tankers all release toxic chemicals and leaked oil. The standard process of drilling releases thousands of gallons of polluted water into the ocean. High concentrations of metals have been found around drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and have been shown to accumulate in fish, mussels and other seafood. "The Trump administration wants to pour money in to a sinking ship with relatively small return, instead of supporting growth industries like coastal tourism and renewable energy that are adding jobs to our economy," said Pete Stauffer, Environmental Director for the Surfrider Foundation. "We will stand up for what's best for the nation, and our oceans, by fighting new offshore drilling off our coasts." Find out more and get involved at Surfrider.org About Surfrider Foundation The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 500,000 supporters, activists and members, with more than 80 volunteer-led chapters and 60 clubs in the U.S., and more than 400 victories protecting our coasts. Learn more at surfrider.org. SOURCE Surfrider Foundation Related Links http://www.surfrider.org NEW YORK, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vias Imports Ltd., a New York based Italian wine importer, will be hosting their annual Grand Portfolio Tasting on Monday, May 15th. Every spring, Vias invites their wine producers to come to New York to showcase their wines and represent the vastly diverse regions they hail from. From Italy alone, Vias imports from eighteen different wine-producing regions. The tasting will also feature wines from Vias' distributor portfolio, including Spain, France, Portugal, Austria, Armenia, Lebanon, Argentina, and the U.S. Over 400 wines in total will be available to taste and around 90 producers present to tell their stories and relay an educational experience about the wines they create. The tasting will also include unique spirits and their producers from Italy, France, Colombia, Arizona, and New York. Guests can expect to explore the newly-released 2012 Brunello di Montalcino wines from producers such as Camigliano, Fossacolle, and La Poderina, 2013 Barbaresco from Produttori del Barbaresco, Nebbiolo from Piedmont's Pecchenino, and freshly bottled 2016 whites and roses from around the world. New wineries to the portfolio Castello di Spessa from Friuli, Fattoria del Teso from Tuscany, and Quinta da Romaneira from the Duoro region of Portugal will make their debuts into the market as well. The Vias Grand Portfolio Tasting promises to be an ideal opportunity to meet wine producers in person and gain insight into the intricate process that is winemaking. This event is free of charge and open to all members of the wine trade and wine lovers. This year, the tasting will be held at Spring Studios in TriBeCa from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 15th. Those interested in attending can pre-register for the event through EventBoost or by emailing [email protected]. Vias will also be hosting portfolio tastings in San Francisco and Los Angeles on May 17th and May 18th, respectively. Those interested in the California tastings can email [email protected] for more information. SOURCE Vias Imports Ltd. Related Links http://www.viaswine.com LONDON, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Canadian philanthropist Victor Dahdaleh was a guest at a unique event in London this month, which brought together academics and business leaders to discuss innovation, automation and the future of work. Hosted by Canada's York University and the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce and held at Pewterers' Hall in the City of London, the event featured experts from a variety of disciplines to discuss how academic and business institutions can embrace change and respond to societal needs. Victor Dahdaleh, whose charitable foundation supports a wide range of causes across education, healthcare and social and economic development, is both a York alumnus and Honorary Doctor of Laws and a past president of the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce. Discussing the issues, Dr Dahdaleh stressed the need for business and academia to work more closely together to meet the evolving needs of the modern workplace. "We know from our work giving young people from underprivileged backgrounds access to higher education that the business world is often an unknown quantity to them. And yet these young people have such unique skills - particularly when it comes to digital - and I would love to see more business leaders engaging with them to get their insights on the modern workplace," he said. Also at the event were York University President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri and York alumna Moya Greene, CEO of the Royal Mail Group, who offered the keynote speeches. Greene discussed the impact of automation on the private sector, drawing on her role at Royal Mail Group to highlight the innovations that have transformed the postal service in recent years. York University is one of a number of academic organisations partnered with the Victor Dahdaleh Foundation to deliver cutting-edge research programmes. In late 2015 the Foundation funded the York University Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health, a state-of-the art facility made possible by a record $20million donation to York. The new institute works with a network of global and local partners to reframe the ways in which high- and low-income countries collaborate on global health challenges. Also in Canada, Dr Dahdaleh is an active supporter of McGill University in Montreal, one of the world's leading centres of medical-doctoral research. In 2007, the Victor Dahdaleh Foundation established an endowment in perpetuity for 16 annual scholarships at the university, which in 2016 was doubled to fund 32 scholarships, also in perpetuity. The awards are aimed at outstanding full-time undergraduates from low-income countries. Expanding on this support for McGill, the Victor Dahdaleh Foundation last year made a donation to found a new Chair in Neuroscience at the university. The new Chair will build on McGill's world-class research in the field to develop an integrated approach to the study of chronic brain disease. Both contributions were matched dollar-for-dollar by McGill and other funders. In the UK, the Victor Dahdaleh Foundation last year partnered with the British Lung Foundation to launch a new programme of research into mesothelioma. Research teams from the University of Leicester, Imperial College London and the Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust came together under the initiative, which aims to find new treatments and, ultimately, a cure for the killer disease. The Foundation's 5 million donation matched UK government funding announced earlier in the year. Also in the UK, Victor Dahdaleh is an Honorary Fellow at London School of Economics, where he has funded a range of new schemes and backed a scholarship programme to enable disadvantaged students from overseas to study at the school. The Victor Dahdaleh Foundation's support for education extends to Africa, where it is a donor to the Ethiopia-based Northwood African Educational Trust, which manages a school for orphans in the northwest of the country. St George's School in the Azezo area of Gondar province provides free, high quality education for 200 of the area's most vulnerable children. Alongside these charitable roles, Dr Dahdaleh is a Fellow of the Duke of Edinburgh Award World Fellowship, a global network of supporters established in 1987 to extend the Duke of Edinburgh Award to young people around the world. Victor Dahdaleh is the owner and chairman of Dadco, a privately owned investment, manufacturing and trading group established in 1915. For more information on the Victor Dahdaleh Foundation, visit victordahdalehfoundation.com. SOURCE The Victor Dahdaleh Foundation TAMPA, Fla., April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) ("WellCare") announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Universal American Corp. (NYSE: UAM) ("Universal American") following the receipt of all required regulatory approvals. With approximately 119,000 Medicare Advantage (MA) members in Texas, New York and Maine, Universal American is now a wholly owned subsidiary of WellCare. "We are very pleased to complete our acquisition of Universal American," said Ken Burdick, WellCare's CEO. "This transaction strengthens our business by increasing our Medicare Advantage membership by a third, deepening our presence in two key marketsTexas and New Yorkand diversifying our business portfolio. Importantly, we look forward to leveraging Universal American's core competency in physician engagement to strengthen and grow our value-based provider relationships." "We also welcome Universal American employees, members, agents, and providers to WellCare," continued Burdick. "WellCare and Universal American have a shared commitment to serving Medicare beneficiaries, and we look forward to working together to ensure a smooth transition." Burdick added, "As part of the transaction, Richard Barasch, Universal American's chairman and CEO, will be leaving the company. Under his leadership, Universal American built a strong business and talented team committed to delivering quality care and service. I thank him for his leadership and support throughout the transaction." The transaction is expected to be $0.60 to $0.70 accretive in the first year following the close and an incremental $0.10 accretive in the second year following the close, excluding one-time transaction-related expenses of approximately $30 million and integration costs of approximately $25 million to $30 million, to WellCare's adjusted earnings per diluted share. WellCare continues to expect annual synergies of approximately $25 million to $30 million by 2019. The company will provide more details regarding the transaction on its first quarter 2017 earnings conference call that is scheduled for May 3, 2017. Under the terms of the agreement, Universal American stockholders received $10.00 in cash for each share of Universal American common stock they held at closing. Consistent with WellCare's announcement on November 17, 2016, the total transaction value is approximately $800 million, including the assumption of debt and the make-whole premium payable on conversion of Universal American's convertible debt. WellCare funded the transaction with unrestricted cash available from both entities. Universal American has approximately 69,000 Medicare Advantage (MA) members in a 4.5-Star plan in Houston-Beaumont, Texas and more than 20,000 MA members in a 4.0-Star plan in the Northeast, primarily in New York, as of March 31, 2017. In addition, Universal American partners with Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) in 10 states, five of which are WellCare Medicare Advantage markets. BofA Merrill Lynch served as financial advisor to WellCare. Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Bass, Berry & Sims PLC served as legal advisers to WellCare. MTS Health Partners, LP served as financial advisor to Universal American. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal advisor to Universal American. Leadership Update Under WellCare, Erin Page, president, Medicare, will continue to have responsibility for the Universal American Medicare Advantage business in Texas, New York and Maine as well as the ACO business in Texas. Additionally, she will now have responsibility for WellCare's Medicare Advantage business in Texas and Louisiana. In this role, she will oversee strategy, regulatory compliance, network management, sales and marketing, medical management, and administration for these businesses. Page will report to Michael Polen, executive vice president of WellCare's Medicare business. Page was the president of Universal American's Medicare business for 4 years. She joined Universal American in 2001 and held roles with increasing responsibility. Jeff Spight will continue to lead the Management Services Organization/Accountable Care Organization (MSO/ACO) business, which operates as Collaborative Health Systems. As president, MSO/ACO, Spight will report to Polen. In this role, Spight will set strategy, drive implementation and create market opportunities to grow value-based provider relationships for WellCare. Spight joined Universal American in 2013. "Erin and Jeff are seasoned Medicare leaders who we expect will significantly contribute to our growth and quality goals," said Polen. "I look forward to working with them to leverage the best from both organizations for the benefit of our members and provider partners." About WellCare Health Plans, Inc. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses exclusively on providing government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical needs. The company served approximately 4.0 million members nationwide as of January 1, 2017. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at www.wellcare.com. Basis of Presentation In addition to results determined under GAAP, WellCare provides certain non-GAAP financial measurements that management believes are useful in assessing the company's performance. Adjusted earnings per diluted share exclude the effect of certain expenses related to previously disclosed government investigations and related litigation and resolution costs ("investigation costs") and amortization expense associated with acquisitions ("acquisition-related amortization expenses"). Management believes these items are not indicative of long-term business operations performance. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. The company is not able to project at the time of this release the amount of future investigation costs or acquisition-related amortization expenses and, therefore, cannot reconcile projected adjusted earnings per diluted share to projected GAAP earnings per diluted share. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains "forward-looking" statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. For example, statements regarding the company's financial outlook, and the financial impact of the acquisition contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause WellCare's actual future results to differ materially from those projected or contemplated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, WellCare's progress on top priorities such as integrating care management, advocating for our members, building advanced relationships with providers and government partners, ensuring a competitive cost position, and delivering prudent, profitable growth, WellCare's ability to effectively estimate and manage growth, WellCare's ability to effectively execute and integrate acquisitions, potential reductions in Medicaid and Medicare revenue, WellCare's ability to estimate and manage medical benefits expense effectively, including through its vendors, its ability to negotiate actuarially sound rates, especially in new programs with limited experience, the appropriation and payment by state governments of Medicaid premiums receivable, the outcome of any protests and litigation related to Medicaid awards, the approval of Medicaid contracts by CMS, any changes to the programs or contracts, WellCare's ability to address operational challenges related to new business, and WellCare's ability to meet the requirements of readiness reviews. Given the risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, any of WellCare's forward-looking statements could be incorrect and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other important risks and uncertainties can be found in the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), included under the captions "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and other filings by WellCare with the SEC, which contain discussions of WellCare's business and the various factors that may affect it. Subsequent events and developments may cause actual results to differ, perhaps materially, from WellCare's forward-looking statements. WellCare's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which the statements are made. WellCare undertakes no duty, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements to reflect any future events, developments or otherwise. SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.; Universal American Corp. Related Links http://www.wellcare.com SHANGHAI, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO) ("ZTO" or the "Company"), a leading express delivery company in China, ") today announced that it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on April 27, 2017. The annual report can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.zto.com as well as the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company will provide a hard copy of its annual report containing the audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders upon request. Requests should be directed to the Company's IR Department at [email protected]. About ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO) ("ZTO" or the "Company") is a leading express delivery company in China and one of the largest express delivery companies globally, in terms of total parcel volume in 2015, according to the iResearch Report. ZTO provides express delivery service as well as other value-added logistics services through its extensive and reliable nationwide network coverage in China. ZTO operates a highly scalable network partner model, which the Company believes is best suited to support the significant growth of e-commerce in China. The Company leverages its network partners to provide pickup and last-mile delivery services, while controlling the mission-critical line-haul transportation and sorting network within the express delivery service value chain. For more information, please visit http://ir.zto.com. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: ZTO Investor Relations Department E-mail: [email protected] Christensen In China Mr. Christian Arnell Phone: +86-10- 5900-1548 E-mail: [email protected] In US Mr. Tip Fleming Phone: +1-917-412-3333 Email: [email protected] SOURCE ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. Related Links http://ir.zto.com If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Beijing/Tokyo, April 24 : US President Donald Trump spoke to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday where he discussed North Korea with the two Asian leaders amid heightened tensions surrounding the country. Xi urged Trump to exercise restraint in the matter, saying the relevant parties will have to work together to resolve the issue. "China hopes all parties can exercise restraint on the North Korea issue, and not take provocative actions," the People's Daily quoted Xi as saying in his phone conversation with Trump. Xi stressed China is strongly against any action that would violate any UN Security Council resolutions. The Chinese President added: "Only if all parties take their responsibilities and work together can the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue be solved." "The only way to realise denuclearisation in the Korean Peninsula and quickly resolve North Korea's nuclear problem is for each relevant party to fulfil its duties," said a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Besides North Korea, Trump and Xi also talked about bilateral ties, pledging close contact through various means to promptly exchange views on major issues of common concern, the daily reported. This was the second phone call between the two leaders this month. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang did not speak much on the development, saying China's position on the matter was clear to the relevant countries. On April 12, Xi and Trump talked about the Korean Peninsula situation, and matters related to Syria. Geng also said it should not be surprising if there were more telephonic talks between the two leaders in future. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Abe described his 30- minute phone conversation with Trump as "intensive", public broadcaster NHK reported. He expressed appreciation for Trump's words and actions. Abe said they agreed to strongly urge North Korea, which continues to make dangerous provocations, to show self-restraint. The Prime Minister stressed that North Korea's nuclear and missile development is "a grave security threat to Japan and the international community". "Japan will continue to closely work with the US to maintain a high level of vigilance against possible North Korean actions," Abe added. The phone calls came amid rising tensions over North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes, with concerns growing over the possibility of a sixth nuclear test. Tokyo, April 24 : Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his delegation here on Monday. During the meeting, held as part of Sheikh Abdullah's official visit, the two sides discussed cooperation and the friendly relations between the United Arab Emirates and Japan in all fields including economics, trade and investment. Sheikh Abdullah affirmed that bilateral relations between the UAE and Japan were well established with a continuous keenness from both sides to strengthen them in various fields for the benefit of both countries and peoples. Abe welcomed Sheikh Abdullah's visit and stressed his country's commitment to strengthen bilateral relations, praising the distinguished position reached by the UAE at all levels. The meeting was also attended by UAE Ambassador to Japan Khaled Omran Al-Amiri. Mumbai, April 25 : The authorities who will monitor the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act, (RERA) should concentrate on seeing all the existing projects are completed and delivered before allowing new projects, an official of National Real Estate Development Council (Naredco) said on Monday. "RERA is the new paradigm which has come in. People will have to find ways not only by the builders but also by the enlightened buyers with RERA authorities come into force. "The most critical is the Union and state governments to see how deliveries can be made as shorter time period as possible. Before new projects are allowed, we need to see all the existing projects are completed, delivered so that while you (builder) take approvals for new projects, you (builder) continue the process," said Naredco Chairman Rajeev Talwar. "RERA is a good piece of legislation," he said, adding his hope that the problems the buyers have been facing will now become the story of the past. "Buyers have been facing problems for almost a decade. Interest of the buyers must be protected," he said. "In terms of implementation of the RERA, it will certainly take some time because the regulations say that you (builder) can register (a project) only after all the approvals have been taken. In a place like Maharashtra, the cycle can take up to two years. Very often, various authorities are not in place. They take plenty of times for processing the same approvals which should not be time-consuming," Talwar said in an interview with BTVi. He said that the real problem to solve was for buyers who have already booked flats or apartments in a place like Mumbai and any other cities in India. "The real solution lies in assuring all the buyers all over the country, the apartment they booked will be delivered to them without any additional charge and any specification albeit delays," he said, adding that for which, all the state governments need to get some things into action. "The inventory of projects which have been undertaken for construction and which are nearing completion. We need to play more attention for these kind projects some kind of funding kick starts, if required, may be done through a screw account so that the projects start rolling," he said. Trust deficit should be negated, if it happens, the establishment of RERA would be justified, he added. He said state and central government can intervene if prices of commodities go up. For example, cement prices from Rs 200 a packet to more than Rs 300 in the last six months. Prices of steel have gone up from Rs 33,000 a tonne to Rs 47,000 a tonne in the same period. "We need to have that each one of these producers commit to a price over a year and the quantity, they will make available. Builders of affordable housing or other housing can actually plan their outlay and capital expenditure over a year's time," he said. Maharashtra government released pro-consumer RERA rules and developers are to face action, stiffer penalties on violation of norms. In terms of penalties, he said criminal proceedings should not take place against developers. "Let each of the RERA authorities take up each project and transparently bring out how much time is required," he added. Washington, April 25 : The state of Arkansas executed two convicted criminals, a first of its kind in the US since 2000, the media reported. Both the executions were carried out on Monday night, The New York Times reported. Jack H. Jones Jr., 52, and Marcel Williams, 46, both died from the injection of a three-drug combination, after a flurry of failed, last-ditch appeals. The executions in the death chamber at the Cummings Unit, a state prison southwest of Pine Bluff, came four days after the state put to death another convict, the state's first lethal injection in more than a decade, Ledell Lee. Jones was sentenced to death in 1996 for raping and killing Mary Phillips, reports The Washington Post. According to court records, Jones stalked and killed Phillips, a book-keeper, and before killing her, he beat her 11-year-old daughter so severely that police thought she was dead when they got to the scene. Williams was sentenced to death in 1997 for abducting, robbing, raping and killing Stacy Errickson, who was 22 and was living at the Little Rock Air Force Base while her husband was serving overseas. Monday's second execution was briefly delayed by a federal judge so she could consider claims that the first lethal injection may have been botched, but she lifted that stay shortly before 9.30 p.m. A fourth man, Kenneth Williams, is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, reports The Washington Post. Arkansas hoped to resume executions this month by carrying out eight death sentences in 11 days because its supply of one of the drugs has an April 30 expiration date. However, the unprecedented schedule has been thwarted by court orders blocking half of those lethal injections. Paris, April 25 : French far-right presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen has announced that she is stepping down as leader of her National Front (FN) party to focus on gathering a large number of voters ahead of the decisive round in May. The move comes just a day after she reached the second round of the French Presidential elections, where she will face centrist Emmanuel Macron on May 7. In the first round of voting centrist Emmanuel Macron won 23.9 per cent and Le Pen received 21.4 per cent. Le Pen told French TV on Monday night that she needed to be above partisan considerations. "I have always considered that the President of the Republic is the President of all the French and must gather all the French, but it is necessary to translate words into action," she told France 2 public television on Monday. "I decided to leave the presidency of the National Front, and I am no longer the President of the National Front. I will be above partisan considerations," she said. "We are the ones who will defend the most and the best in the democracy. None of my actions will be carried out without the people or against the people. I am the only one who can guarantee the French's protection," she added. Le Pen brought the anti-establishment FN party into the country's political mainstream in Sunday's first round to elect a new President for the next five years. The 48-year-old presidential contender succeeded her father Jean-Marie Le Pen in 2011 to head the NF party. Since then, she has been working on softening the party's image by targeting widespread support of the young and the workers. After the first round of voting, French President Francois Hollande urged voters to choose Macron to keep out Le Pen. Speaking from the Elysee presidential palace, Hollande said that Le Pen's platform of pulling out of the euro would devastate the country's economy and threaten French liberty. He said that the far-right would "deeply divide France" at a time when the terror threat requires "solidarity" and "cohesion". Macron was Hollande's top adviser on economic issues from 2012 to 2014, then economy minister in his Socialist government for two years. New Delhi, April 26 : A court here on Wednesday sent sidelined AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dinakaran, arrested on the charge of attempting to bribe Election Commission officials, to five-day police custody. Mallikarjuna, a longtime friend of Dinakaran, who too was arrested on Tuesday night, has also been remanded in police custody till May 1. Special Judge Poonam Chaudhary allowed the Crime Branch to quiz Dinakaran, a nephew of jailed AIADMK party chief V.K. Sasikala, for five days after the Delhi Police sought his custody to unearth the entire conspiracy. Dinakaran was arrested on Tuesday night by the Delhi Police Crime Branch for trying to pay out Rs 50 crore in bribes to the poll officials through Sukesh Chandrasekhar to ensure the 'two leaves' poll symbol was allotted to the AIADMK faction led by Sasikala. Media persons were not allowed to attend the court proceedings. The court directed the media to leave the courtroom when the accused were brought in. The lawyers present at the hearing told IANS that the police sought seven-day custodial interrogation of both Dinakaran and Mallikarjuna since, it said, they were required to be taken out of Delhi and confronted with co-accused Sukesh Chandrasekhar, who is in police custody till April 28. Public Prosecutor Balbir Singh told the court that their custodial interrogation is required to unearth the money trail as well. Defence counsel and senior lawyer Vikas Pahwa opposed the police plea, saying Dinakaran had joined investigation, whenever required. He also said that Dinakaran has cooperated with the Crime Branch in the probe. Chandrasekhar was arrested from a south Delhi hotel on April 16 night, allegedly with Rs 1.3 crore meant for bribing poll panel officials. Chandrasekhar allegedly told the police he was Dinakaran's "middleman" and was asked to pay the money to the officials for allotting the 'two leaves' party symbol to AIADMK's Sasikala faction. London, April 26 : Less than three weeks after a passenger was dragged off a United Airlines flight at the Chicago airport, the airline landed itself in another public relations fiasco on Wednesday after a giant rabbit died on its flight from Britain. The three-foot-long (90 centimetres) continental giant rabbit named Simon, which was 10 months old, died while travelling from London Heathrow to O'Hare airport in Chicago, the Sun reported. The rabbit had a veterinary checkup three hours before the takeoff and was "fit as a fiddle", his breeder Annette Edwards said. Edwards, from Worcestershire, England, told the newspaper that Simon was expected to grow to be the world's biggest rabbit and was travelling to a buyer in the US. Edwards added: "I've sent rabbits all around the world and nothing like this has happened before. The client who bought Simon is very famous. He's upset." A United Airlines spokeswoman confirmed the airline had offered assistance to one of its customers and was reviewing the incident. She said: "We were saddened to hear this news. The safety and wellbeing of all the animals that travel with us is of the utmost importance to United Airlines and our PetSafe team." "We have been in contact with our customer and have offered assistance. We are reviewing this matter." The death of Simon comes less than three weeks after a video showing a passenger being dragged off a United Express flight sparked widespread outrage. David Dao, 69, from Kentucky, was seen with a bloodied face after being forcibly taken off the plane by Chicago airport officers when he refused to give up his seat for the United Airlines' staffers. The most recent figures from the US Department of Transportation -- dating from 2015 but released this February -- show 35 animal deaths occurred during transit across 17 carriers in the US. United Airlines accounted for 14 animal deaths in that period with a further nine reported injured among the nearly 100,000 animals carried by the company. New Delhi, April 26 : Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken and P.C. Chacko, in charge of Congress affairs in Delhi, on Wednesday resigned from their posts, owning moral responsibility for the party's defeat in the city's civic polls. "I have sent my resignation to Congress President (Sonia Gandhi) and Rahul Gandhi (Vice President). I have sent the resignation letter in the morning," Chako told IANS. Asked if it has been accepted, he said: "I don't know. Till now, I don't know what action has been taken on it." "We had a big target for this election. In fact, we have a sizeable increase in our vote base. It was nine per cent in 2015, we have 21 per cent now. It's a good achievement but I am not happy in the sense we wanted to decimate AAP to that position. That we could not achieve," said Chako. "That is the reason why I have sent my resignation and simultaneously Ajay Maken has also sent his resignation. Both are now before the Congress President and the Vice President. They will take the decision and let us know," he added. "I will submit my resignation to the Congress President and Vice President shortly," Maken earlier told reporters. The Congress was a distant third in the Delhi civic polls, after the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party. Stating that he was expecting a better results by the party, Maken said that he was taking the responsibility of the party's defeat. He also said that he would not hold any party post for the next one year and will remain just an ordinary Congress member. "I will remain just a normal member for the next one year. My commitment to the party is ideological and will continue to remain so," said Maken. Commenting on the Congress performance in a few of the wards -- where the party was leading -- Maken said: "During Delhi assembly elections and Lok Sabha polls, we were zero. This time we fought on the basis of issues; we are satisfied that we have made a reasonable comeback." "However, our expectations were a little high," added Maken. Kolkata, April 27 : The death toll in the collapse of the Hooghly's temporary jetty in West Bengal rose to five with the recovery of two more bodies on Thursday, officials said. As many as 18 people remain missing in the accident following the collapse of a temporary wooden jetty at Telinipara Ghat in Bhadreswar due to high tide on Wednesday. "Two bodies were recovered on Thursday morning. The number of missing persons has gone up to 18," Hooghly Superintendent of Police Sukesh Jain told IANS over telephone. According to the police, passengers waiting to cross over to North 24 Parganas district's Shyamnagar on the other side fell into the river as the wooden structure collapsed. The locals managed to save some passengers from drowning before rescuers and police reached the spot. New Delhi, April 27 : A day after a court here remanded AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dinakaran to five-day's police custody, a Crime Branch team on Thursday flew him and his aide Mallikarjuna to Chennai for further investigations into the alleged attempt to bribe officials of the Election Commission to release the party's "two leaves" symbol. "The Crime Branch team left for Chennai along with Dinakaran and Mallikarjuna today (Thursday) morning," a senior police officer told IANS pleading anonymity. Police would search Dinakaran and Mallikarjuna's residence to get more possible leads to establish their involvement in the bribery case. "The transaction had taken place through some Chennai operators and there are possibilities that the team can obtain some data through their laptops and computers," the officer said. Dinakaran was arrested on Tuesday night by the Delhi Police Crime Branch for trying to pay out Rs 50 crore in bribes to the poll officials through Sukesh Chandrasekhar to ensure the "two leaves" poll symbol was allotted to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) faction led by Sasikala. "The police want to establish the route though which Dinakaran and Mallikarjuna have come in contact with Sukesh Chandrashekhar, who is a co-accused in the case," the officer said. Chandrasekhar was arrested from a south Delhi hotel on April 16 night, allegedly with Rs 1.3 crore meant for bribing poll panel officials. Chandrasekhar had allegedly told the police he was Dinakaran's "middleman" and was asked to pay the money to the officials for allotting the party symbol to AIADMK's Sasikala faction. Warsaw, April 27 : India and Poland on Thursday signed an agreement on the exchange of information and technology in the agriculture sector. The agreement, signed by Minister of State of Small Industries Giriraj Singh from the Indian side, will see cooperation between the two nations and emphasise on the need to expand their trade relations. The signing ceremony took place after the formal talks between visiting Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo. The two sides will explore more possibilities to strengthen their collaboration in mining, food processing and defence sectors. Ansari is on a three-day state visit to Poland and will meet Polish President Andrzej Duda, who will make a state visit to India later this year. Ansari will also meet the Speaker of the Polish Senate. The Vice President will be the main speaker at a business forum on Thursday, organised by the Polish Ministry of Economic Development. Some 150 businessmen and companies from the two countries will participate in the deliberations. He will also interact with several key members of the Indian community. Washington, April 27 : The US has said it plans to activate a missile defence system in South Korea "within days" and tighten economic sanctions against North Korea amid rising fears about Pyongyang's military advances. Speaking to members of the US Congress on Wednesday, Admiral Harry Harris, Commander of the US Pacific Command, said the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) would be "operational in the coming days to be able to better defend South Korea against the growing North Korea threat". North Korea has vowed to conduct more missile and nuclear tests. Admiral Harris said the system is designed to bring North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "to his senses, not to his knees". The arrival of the defence equipment at the Seongju County in South Korea on Wednesday met with protests by locals, BBC reported. It also angered China, which fears the system's radar capabilities will affect its own military security, and changes the balance of power in the region. After repeated missile tests by North Korea, including a failed ballistic missile test on April 16 and threats of further nuclear tests, US Vice President Mike Pence warned North Korea not to "test" President Donald Trump. On Tuesday, a US submarine -- the USS Michigan -- joined a group of warships in the Korean peninsula led by aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson. North Korea, meanwhile, threatened to sink the aircraft carrier and launch a "super-mighty pre-emptive strike" against what it called US aggression. After a special briefing for all 100 US senators, top US officials announced President Donald Trump's strategy on North Korea. "The President's approach aims to pressure North Korea into dismantling its nuclear, ballistic missile, and proliferation programmes by tightening economic sanctions and pursuing diplomatic measures with our allies and regional partners," said a joint statement by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats. The US already has extensive sanctions in place on North Korea, including a blanket ban on trade and a blacklist of anyone dealing with North Korea. London, April 27 : A man was arrested by armed police on Thursday after an incident in Whitehall, near the British Parliament. No injuries were reported. A witness described seeing two knives on the ground, one of which he described as a large bread knife, BBC reported. London Metropolitan police tweeted that the man had been arrested as the city's traffic authorities confirmed the Whitehall-Parliament Street was closed northbound due to a "police incident". "Long delays" are expected, according to the authority. A Metropolitan Police statement said there were no injuries in the incident close to the junction of Parliament Street and Westminster Bridge Road. Security remains tight outside Whitehall buildings following the March 22 terror attack. Attacker Khalid Masood killed a number of people when he ploughed his vehicle into crowds on Westminster Bridge. British Prime Minister Theresa May's official residence at Downing Street is not far away from the Westminster Parliament building. New Delhi, April 27 : The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Thursday said that it has approached the Supreme Court to plead for a review of its judgement issued over the BS III vehicles. In a statement, SIAM said that it has filed a review petition with the apex court to point out "certain facts" that were not covered in the judgment. The move comes after the apex court banned the sale and registration of non-BS IV compliant vehicles from April 1, 2017. According to the industry association, the Supreme Court has "erroneously construed" an office memorandum from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (dated March 3, 2017) to be an office memorandum dated March 3, 2015. This "erroneously construed" office memorandum led to the misunderstanding that the government had "sent a clear message" to the manufacturers to stop production of BS III vehicles before April 1, 2017, the industry association said. "Whereas this was a government assurance given three weeks before the judgement, that unsold stocks of BS III vehicles which were in the pipeline, would be permitted to be sold and registered even after 1st April 2017 as has been done even when BS II and BS III were implemented," the statement said. "Acting on the representations made on such clarification issued by the government of India as late as in March 2017, as well as the plain reading of the rules, the manufacturers had a reasonable and legitimate expectation that unsold inventories of BS III stocks could be sold even after 1st April, 2017, and until such stocks were exhausted." SIAM highlighted in the review petition that the staggered phase-in of BS IV emission norms for vehicles was not done to help the auto industry as mentioned in the judgment. "This staggering was done to ensure that adequate capacities for the BS IV fuel supply get established to expand the coverage of fuel availability to other parts of the country as per the roadmap agreed with the oil industry," the statement said. SIAM elaborated that the Supreme Court has further based its judgment on an assumption that there will be 80 per cent reduction in emissions of PM (particulate matter) between BS III and BS IV standards. "Though it may be true for only heavy vehicles, but such reduction is much less in other categories of vehicles," the statement said. In the petition, SIAM stated that the auto industry has invested Rs 25,000 crore to upgrade vehicle technologies to BS IV level and was therefore an equal contributor in ensuring the improvement in the environment. Washington, April 28 : The Pentagon's Inspector General had already opened an investigation into whether former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn received foreign payments without Pentagon's approval, according to a newly released document. "This office has initiated an investigation to determine whether Lieutenant General (LTG) Flynn, US Army (Retired) failed to obtain required approval prior to receiving any emolument from a foreign government," according to a letter by the Inspector General's office of the Pentagon to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The letter was released on Thursday by Democrats in the House committee, Xinhua news agency reported. Also on Thursday, Elijah Cummings, ranking member and a Democrat in the House committee released documents which showed that Flynn was warned on October 8, 2014 by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) that he was prohibited by the Constitution from receiving payments from foreign sources without advance permission. "Accordingly, if you are ever in a position where you would receive an emolument from a foreign government or from an entity that might be controlled by a foreign government, be sure to obtain advance approval from the Army prior to acceptance," Flynn was then told in a DIA letter. In 2015, Flynn reportedly received about $34,000 US dollars for a speech at an event in Moscow, Russia and he was also under media scrutiny for his past lobbying on behalf of Turkey. In a statement released on Tuesday, Flynn's attorney said Flynn briefed the DIA "extensively" on his 2015 overseas trip to Moscow and he answered questions that were posed by DIA on the trip. However, another DIA letter released by Cummings appeared to counter Flynn's team's defence. "DIA did not locate any records referring to LTG Flynn's receipt of money from a foreign source... DIA did not locate any records of LTG Flynn seeking permission or approval for the receipt of money from a foreign source," said the DIA letter. Flynn was forced to step down in February after it was revealed that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about his telephone conversation with the Russian Ambassador to the United States, in which he made comments about US sanctions on Russia. Paris, April 28 : A protest by French youth against the centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and his far-right rival Marine Le Pen turned violent on Thursday, according to local reports. Hundreds of school students took to the streets of the French capital saying, "Neither Le Pen nor Macron", whose projects they said did not meet their expectations, Xinhua news agency cited news channel BFMTV. On the sidelines of the demonstration, the hooded young people threw projectiles at riot police who replied by using tear gas to disperse the crowd, according to the report. Anti-fascist and anti-capitalist rallies were also reported in Nantes, Toulouse and Rennes. At the end of the first round of French elections last Sunday, centrist Macron and anti-immigrant Le Pen reached the run-off, knocking out traditional right and left parties. Despite loosing momentum, Macron is predicted to defeat Le Pen with 59 per cent against 41 per cent votes on May 7, Opinionway daily survey showed on Thursday. Chennai, April 28 : Early morning shows of S.S Rajamouli's magnum opus "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion" were cancelled on Friday due to financial issues in Tamil Nadu, industry sources said. "Tamil Nadu distributor K Productions owes Rs 15 crore to Arka Mediworks, the makers of 'Baahubali 2'. Arka is yet to issue KDM for the release of Telugu and Tamil versions of the film in the state," a source told IANS. A theatre owner, on the condition of anonymity, said the issue is likely to be settled by the afternoon. "Talks are being currently held to settle the deficit. Shows are likely to open from noon," the theatre owner said. The Hindi version, however, has released in Tamil Nadu. "The Hindi version didn't have any issues because it's being released nationwide by Anil Thadani," the source added. Meanwhile, "Baahubali 2" has released in other parts of the country and has been received well. The film stars Rana Daggubati, Prabhas, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sathyaraj and Ramya Krishnan. New Delhi, April 28 : The President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades was accorded a ceremonial welcome on Friday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Anastasiades. He was then accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the forecourt. Later during the day, Anastasiades will participate in delegation-level talks with Modi. The two sides are also expected to sign agreements. Anastasiades, who arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, will depart from New Delhi on Saturday. This is his first visit to India. Cyprus, the eighth largest foreign investor in India, has cumulative Foreign Direct Investment of above $8.5 billion in areas of financial leasing, stock exchange, auto manufacture, manufacturing industries, real estate, cargo handling, construction, shipping and logistics. New Delhi, April 28 : After scoring success with the US, Australia and Iran, India is now eyeing the untapped Japanese and South Korean markets for exporting mangoes, a top official has said. "Basically, mangoes from Thailand are mostly consumed in the (Far Eastern) region, including China. We have found that they do not like fibrous mango. So, we have decided to promote low-fibre mango varieties to these countries," D.K. Singh, Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), told IANS. Singh said that Japan is expected to import a good amount of mangoes this year and if South Korea welcomes Indian varieties, it will open up the market in the Far East as well as Southeast Asian countries. For this, APEDA plans to hold promotional events in the region. "The Indian Embassy has requested the South Korean government to permit about 10 exporters to promote our varieties. We expect that success in Japan and South Korea chapters will help us in tapping the market," Singh said. According to APEDA data, Japan had imported 48 tonnes of Indian mangoes between April 2016 and January 2017 while it was just 0.26 tonnes for South Korea. Two consignments -- one from Mumbai and the other from Tirupati -- have headed to Japan while an official from South Korea has reached Mumbai to visit a mango processing facility. "Japanese officials visited irradiation facilities in Mumbai and Tirupati and subsequently gave a green signal to exports. Now, two consignments of mangoes are on the way to Japan. A South Korean official is in Mumbai for an examination (of the facilities available)," APEDA Deputy General Manager Sudhanshu told IANS. He also added that Australia has recently approved the irradiation facility in Mumbai. Thus, Australians would be able to enjoy the fruit long after the local season ended. The Australian Mango Industry Association's Robert Gray was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying that Indian mangoes would be imported when the native season was over, ensuring a constant supply for those who enjoy the golden fruit. Experts in the field have predicted good harvest this year provided adverse factors such as heavy rains and hailstorm do not play spoilsport. As for the US, it has already imported 150 tonnes this year and this is expected to continue. Iran has shown interest in Indian mangos, especially North Indian varieties. According to APEDA officials, a group of investigators is expected to visit Malihabad in Uttar Pradesh to test local varieties in the next few days. "The Iranian investigators will visit the irradiation facilities in Mumbai and Bangalore before they go to Uttar Pradesh to test Malihabad's mango varieties," Singh said, adding this will help in promoting North Indian varieties like dasheri, chausa and langda, which otherwise do not fetch a fair return due to their late arrival in the market. (Saurabh Katkurwar can be contacted at saurabh.k@ians.in) Canberra, April 28 : Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Friday said it is an extremely tense time on the Korean peninsula but dismissed the idea of deploying an anti-missile system in the country. "We have extensive arrangements with our allies, in particular with the US, but we do not deploy in Australia a missile defence system like the Thaad system that Washington is deploying in South Korea at the moment," Turnbull said. He said Australia's responses would evolve as nuclear threats increase. He noted that North Korea had not yet carried out its threats of launching a nuclear attack, Efe news reported. "What we are doing in terms of stopping North Korea is continuing our pressure on the regime through extensive... economic sanctions, which are designed to bring North Korea to its senses," Turnbull said. He said it was key for China to use its influence and leverage over the Kim Jong-un regime to calm tensions and stop its "reckless and dangerous conduct". Turnbull's comments coincided with the release of an Australian Defence Force report that urges the military to develop a better understanding of ballistic missile defence and increase participation in high-intensity military drills with the US and South Korea. North Korea warned Australia on April 23 that it could be the target of a nuclear weapons strike if it continued to "blindly" follow the US, after which authorities said Pyongyang posed a grave threat to the region. New Delhi, April 28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India appreciates Cyprus' support for its permanent membership of the UNSC and called for early reform of the Security Council. "India and Cyprus share the common objective of bringing about an early reform in the United Nations Security Council. Both of us believe that a reformed Security Council will be reflective of the world as it is, and not as it was (earlier)," Modi said while addressing the media after the delegation level talks with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades. "It is necessary to address range of challenges facing the world today," the Prime Minister said. On terrorism, Modi said that being part of a neighbourhood facing threats of terrorism, Cyprus agreed that there was an urgent need for creating a comprehensive mechanism against terrorism. Both nations called for early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. Modi also expressed support for the territorial integrity of Cyprus and said that both the leaders held detailed discussions which covered the full range of bilateral issues. Last year, a revised double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) was signed between the two countries. The provisions of the new DTAA came into force from April 1. Earlier, President Pranab Mukherjee and Modi received Anastasiades who was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan here. The visiting guest was given a ceremonial guard of honour at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Anastasiades, who arrived in Mumbai on April 25, will depart from New Delhi on Saturday. This is his first visit to India. Modi and Anastasiades also held talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in September 2015. New Delhi, April 28 : The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed the Reserve Bank of India's application opposing the enforcement of an arbitral award in the Tata-NTT Docomo case. Justice S. Muralidhar cleared the way for enforcing the $1.17 billion arbitral award by the London Court of International Arbitration, to settle a two-year-old dispute between Tata and Docomo. The arbitral award "is declared as enforceable in India and shall operates as a decree of this court". The RBI through its intervention application opposed the award as well as the settlement between Tata and Docomo over the Japanese company's exit from the joint venture. It had also opposed the pact arguing that it amounted to a transfer of shares and was illegal. London, April 28 : Police in London said they have foiled an "active terror plot" after a woman was shot during a raid on a house in northwest London. The woman, in her 20s, was one of the subjects in the latest counter-terrorism investigation and is in a serious but stable condition, BBC reported. She was shot on Thursday evening as armed officers entered a house in Willesden, the city's northwest. Six other suspects have been arrested in connection with the raid, London's Metropolitan Police said. The investigation is ongoing but the threat is "contained," police officials said on Friday. A 16-year-old boy, and a man and woman, both aged 20, were arrested. A 43-year-old woman was arrested in Kent. Two further arrests were made in Willesden after a man and woman returned to the property. They were both aged 28. The police said the operation late Thursday night was not related to an earlier arrest near the British Parliament, where officers detained a man armed with knives on suspicion of planning a terror attack. Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Neil Basu said: "Due to these arrests that have been made yesterday, in both cases I believe that we have contained the threats that they pose." When asked by reporters whether the police had foiled an active terror plot, Basu replied: "Yes." The Met Police said the suspects were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of terrorist acts. They are in custody at a south London police station. In the earlier incident on Thursday, armed officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command unit arrested a 27-year-old man, a few metres from the scene of a terror attack last month that left five people and the attacker dead. Witnesses said the man was pinned to the ground on Parliament Street, within sight of the Houses of Parliament and an array of British government buildings. New Delhi, April 28 : The Indian capital market regulator on Friday voiced serious concern over the standard of corporate governance, saying the country lacked a code of conduct for institutional investors. "Is the system of corporate governance in the country working satisfactorily...Majority would say no," Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman Ajay Tyagi said, while addressing the annual session here of industry chamber, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Noting that according to company ownership patterns in the Indian context, "Fifty per cent ownership is with the promoters, while institutional investment is increasing, nowadays touching 30 per cent", Tyagi said there is "no code of conduct" for institutional investors. "What are their responsibilities, once they are significant shareholders? Our impression, and this is the saddest part, is that promoters prefer institutional investors who are passive," he said. "There is need for a common stewardship code. Just increasing the institutional share, without taking active interest and responsibility, does not serve corporate governance," he added. Pointing out that investors' rights are a SEBI subject, the Chairman said: "If promoters' plus institutional shareholding crosses 80 per cent, then retail, minority investors really become a minority...who will take care of their interests?" "Then there is the issue of independent directors, who have not been discharging their functions properly. They have no commitment to any cause, resign without giving any reasons, just say they are sick...giving fake reasons." "These are issues of serious concern, to which I have no solutions at the moment," Tyagi added. He also said the functioning of independent auditors in India was another matter of concern. "If the auditors' committee is not working, independent directors are not independent and there is no code of conduct for institutional investors, then the system is clearly not working," Tyagi added. Islamabad, April 28 : Pakistan's envoy in Iran was summoned by Iran's Foreign Ministry on Friday over the killing of 10 Iranian border guards in an attack on the Pakistan-Iran border last week, Dawn news reported. "Unfortunately, Pakistani side of Iran's borders are the most insecure ones and we expect Islamabad to honour its previous promises and prevent a repetition of such attacks," the Dawn quoted Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bahram Qasi as telling Ambassador Asif Ali Khan Durrani. At least 10 border guards in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province were killed in an attack by militants along the Pakistani border's zero-point. Iran urged Pakistan to adopt "strict measures" to ensure that no such incident takes place again, the daily said. "We strongly expect the Pakistan government to adopt serious measures for the arrest and punishment of terrorists." New Delhi, April 28 : Interpretation is not just a matter of words, it involves providing clarity arounfd a culture. An upcoming festival here will give knowledge of various dialects which are translated or will be interpreted in not so distant future. The day-long celebration, "Apeejay Language Festival", devoted to the universe of translations at Oxford Bookstore, will see a participation from authors and publishers of Hindi, English, Spanish, French and Urdu books like Vani Prakashan, Cerventes, Institut Francais, Westland Books, Hindustaani Awaaz and many others. The event on April 29 is expected to commend to the quintessential spirit of various known as well as unknown languages. It will draw in, an intellectual group of onlookers with sessions on different points with interest from famous senior and youthful authors, publishers, artists and specialists, the organisers said in a statement released on Friday. The celebration will begin with a session "Yeh Dil Mange More" wherein the author of "The Zoya Factor", "Battle of Bittora" and "Baz", Anuja Chauhan will discuss the interpretations of her books, they said. It will be taken ahead by all the more fascinating sessions like "Urdu into English: What readers want" a talk with prominent gathering of publishers clarifying the requirements of ardent readers and their requests which is a need to be satisfied. "Unscripted: The dynamics of Oral Traditions" will be founded on the overlooked dialects and other tribal or rural languages which are either never documented or are still to be known. The festival will also have the launch of a French book, "Incarnat" that has been translated into English. It will be concluded by the Hindi translated interlude of a Spanish Play, "Biscay Ka Behroopiya" to be staged by Octave Foundation and melodic execution by famous traditional entertainer Ujwal Nagar. Kolkata, April 28 : The death toll in the collapse of a temporary jetty over West Bengal's Hooghly river has increased to 12, officials said on Friday. As many as nine people are still missing following the collapse of the temporary wooden jetty at Telinipara ghat in Bhadreswar due to high tide on Wednesday. "We have recovered more bodies since Thursday and the toll is 12 now," Hooghly Superintendent of Police Sukesh Jain told IANS. According to the police, passengers waiting to cross over to North 24 Parganas district fell into the river as the wooden structure collapsed. The locals managed to save some passengers from drowning before rescuers and police reached the spot. Islamabad, April 28 : Opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has moved a resolution in the Punjab assembly airing its concern over the meeting between Indian businessman Sajjan Jindal and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Jindal, who is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and now on a visit to Pakistan, met Sharif at the hill resort town of Murree on Thursday. The meeting triggered speculations in Pakistan with several politicians and analysts suggesting it could be the precursor to a possible meeting between Modi and Sharif in the near future, Dawn News reported. The opposition parties were angry over the government's decision to keep Jindal's visit as well as the meeting a "secret". A PTI resolution expressed grave concern over the meeting which was mentioned by the media but got official confirmation only when Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz tweeted about it. "Jindal is an old friend of the Prime Minister. Nothing 'secret' about the meeting and should not be blown out of proportion. Thank you," she wrote. According to analysts, the visit by Jindal, who also has friendly relations with Sharif, could be part of backchannel contacts to improve relations between the two countries. Informed sources said it was not possible for the head of the JSW Group to visit Pakistan without prior knowledge of Indian intelligence services. Former Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri described the controversy stirred up by the visit as unfortunate, saying that just because it was part of some backchannel diplomacy, it should not be rejected outright. He said that some of the best results were achieved due to backchannel contacts between India and Pakistan. According to the media, Jindal and his delegation arrived at Benazir Bhutto International Airport on Wednesday morning and were received by Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz's son-in-law Raheel Munir. The resolution said a three-member delegation led by Jindal was taken to Murree under official protocol. It said the timing of the meeting was a cause of concern as relations between the two nations dipped further in the wake of the death sentence awarded to Kulbhushan Jadhav. "In these circumstances, Modi's close aide's (Jindal) meeting with [the] Pakistani Prime Minister has sent a wave of restlessness among [the] masses," the resolution said. Abu Dhabi, April 28 : A joint military exercise between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the US land forces has concluded successfully in Abu Dhabi. Named Iron Claw 3, the training is part of the military exercises the UAE Armed Forces carry out throughout the year, with the aim of enhancing capability, gaining more field experience and understanding military doctrines. All joint exercises follow the directives of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the follow-up of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to upgrade capabilities and boost the readiness of the armed forces. Lucknow, April 28 : Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday visited the family of Captain Aayush Yadav in Kanpur and blamed the Centre's "faulty defence policies" for the killings of Army men. Captain Yadav was killed in a militant attack in Kupwara in Kashmir on Thursday. The Samajwadi Party (SP) national President met the bereaved family at their Chakeri house and said it was sad that while militants were killing Army and paramilitary forces' personnel, the Narendra Modi government was doing nothing to stop this. "The central government will have to think over the reasons for the attack on armed forces and killing of personnel both in and outside the country," the SP leader said. "Though their loss is irreplaceable, I have come here to stand in solidarity with the bereaved family in this hour of grief," he added. New Delhi/Mumbai/Kolkata/Bengaluru/Chennai, April 28 : With cash flow almost normalising after demonetisation, customers on Friday thronged jewellery shops across the country to celebrate Akshaya Tritiya. "We are seeing good footfall in our stores. In the last two months, after demonetisation, people have again started buying gold. We expect sales to go up by 40 per cent this Akshaya Tritiya compared to last year as prices are almost at the same level," Balram Garg, Managing Director, P.C. Jeweller, told IANS. Gold price hovered around Rs 29,000 per 10 grams for 24-carat purity in the national capital on Friday. Akshaya Tritiya, a holy day for Hindus and Jains, is believed to bring good luck and success. It is considered to be an auspicious day to bring home gold and ornaments. "Millions of Indians believe that purchasing gold on Akshaya Tritiya brings good fortune. The festive sentiment among both trade and consumers appears to be stronger during this Akshaya Tritiya, as the industry is emerging steadily from a period of sluggishness faced during and immediately following demonetisation," said Somasundaram PR, Managing Director, India, World Gold Council. Buoyant gold sales on Akshaya Tritiya brought cheers to jewellers in Mumbai as well. Retail outlets saw crowds as people made their customary festive purchases on Friday morning. All India Gems & Jewellery Federation President Nitin Khandelwal said the trend to buy gold started since Gudi Padva in March and was continuing owing to the ongoing marriage season. "There are significant crowds in jewellery shops all over and people, more than 75 percent (of visitors), are opting for big and small items of gold jewelleries," Khandelwal told IANS. Mumbai Jewellers Federation President Rakesh Shetty said given the crowds, especially in suburbs, the gold sales could surpass even the Gudi Padva sales. "Today, the gold prices are Rs 29,300 in Mumbai, coming down over the past few weeks. This has encouraged customers. They are buying both jewellery and coins," Shetty told IANS. "On this Akshay Tritiya, jewellers have so far seen 15-20 per cent growth in sales both in terms of volume and value for gold and silver. The standalone stores also noticed reasonable growth in sales," India Bullion and Jewellers Association's spokeperson Pankaj Parekh told IANS in Kolkata. He said gold price may shoot up soon following international tensions. So, Akshaya Tritiya is being seen as the right time to buy gold. Compared to last year's Akshaya Tritiya, the price of gold now is relatively low. The yellow metal's price was over Rs 30,000 per 10 gm in 2016. "Similarly, silver price remains at a lower range at Rs 40,000-41,000 a kg, which is conducive for demand," Parekh said. Bengaluru was no exception. While many people bought gold to ring in good tidings, others chose jewellery as an investment. Some jewellers in Bengaluru felt that demonetisation and restriction on cash payments would continue to affect the sale of gold jewellery and ornaments. "The footfalls are good in jewellery shops in Chennai. The trade will do business like last year. There were initial fear that demonetisation would have an impact on sales. But it is not so," Jayantilal Challani, President of Madras Jewellers and Diamond Merchants Association and a Pprtner in Challani Jewellery Mart, told IANS. Driven by positive consumer sentiments and demand recovery, TS Kalyanaraman, Chairman and Managing Director, Kalyan Jewellers, said: "Kalyan Jewellers should witness 10-15 per cent growth in revenues during this Akshaya Tritiya compared to last year based on present trend of purchases." Besides traditional stores, even the online portals saw good traction. "Considering the pent-up demand in the market, we are expecting a 100 per cent jump in sales leading to the auspicious day. Our manufacturing and logistics teams have already been strengthened to cater to the festival demand," said Gaurav Singh Kushwaha, founder & CEO of online jewellery store BlueStone.com. We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. New Delhi, April 28 : Listing the heavy punishments handed out by special electricity courts in Delhi for power thefts, BSES, one of the capital's two distribution companies (discoms), on Friday said two offenders have been sent to jail and fines imposed totalling over Rs 30 lakh. "In separate cases, six individuals including owners of a tailoring shop, a construction firm and two proclaimed offenders were sent to jail by Special Courts of Electricity, Saket and Karkardooma," a BSES release here said. "Cumulatively, they have also been penalised (fine + civil liability) over Rs 30 lakh," it added. According to the discom, among the convicted are the owner of a tailoring shop, who has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for three months and fined Rs 11.3 lakh, as well as the owners of a de-silting firm. They have been awarded rigorous imprisonment for three months and penalty of Rs 13.2 lakh. "Three persons in Central Delhi, including a resident of DDA flats, have been sent to Tihar Jail for power theft," a BSES spokesperson said. Earlier this year, BSES had announced the sentencing of an offender to one year of jail and a fine of over Rs 25 lakh. Last year, special courts in four separate judgments had sentenced Delhi residents to rigorous imprisonment for power theft and imposed heavy fines. Cairo, April 28 : Over 100 Egyptian MPs, including Muslims and Christians, greeted Pope Francis at Cairo's international airport on Friday at the start of his two-day visit. Christian MP Evelin Matta thanked Francis for going ahead with his trip despite the deadly attacks on Christian churches in Egypt that killed 47 people earlier this month. "Many people expected the pontiff to cancel his visit due to the security situation and given the recent attacks on the churches in Alexandria and Tanta," said Matta. The landmark visit by the Pope - the second by the head of the Catholic Church after John Paul II's in 2000 - comes amid a massive security lockdown in Egypt, where a three-month state of emergency is in place. Egyptian President Abdul-Fattah al-Sisi declared the state of Emergency after the April 9 blasts at churches in the Nile Delta city of Tanta and the coastal city of Alexandria and a deadly attack on police at the entrance to the famed Saint Catherine's Monastery in Sinai on April 19. The Islamic State jihadist group claimed the Palm Sunday and the monastery attacks and has vowed further attacks against Egypt's Coptic Christian minority, which makes up 10 percent of the population. Kolkata, April 28 : Assam's suggestion of implementing a two-child policy is not only "unnecessary" but is also "anti-women" and "anti-poor", says an expert. "Assam's total fertility rate (TFR) at 2.2 is not too far from India's replacement level fertility, which is 2.1. Therefore, the suggestion of implementing a two-child policy would not only be unnecessary but also grossly severe," Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India, told IANS over email. "In the past, in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh when the law in these states debarred women with more than two children from contesting panchayat elections, we saw an increase in sex-selective abortions, women being deserted, and women giving their children up for adoption," she said. Muttreja said the policy is "a violation of a couple's prerogative to a rights-based approach to family planning, and indicates that numbers matter more than people do". She said this proposed method of family planning based on disincentives and incentives is "anti-women, anti-poor, compromises human rights, and also India's commitment to a rights-based approach to family planning". Barring the two-child norm, she said, Assam's draft population policy is "progressive" and focuses on increasing the age of marriage and making education free till the university level. "These measures will lower the TFR without coercion or discrimination," Muttreja said. Replacement level fertility is the level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next. In developed countries, replacement level fertility can be taken as requiring an average of 2.1 children per woman. Long-term impacts of restrictive policies, like China's 'one-child policy', could lead to skewed demographics. In 2015 China scrapped its infamous 35-year-old one-child policy. Muttreja pointed out the country is in the midst of a population crisis. "The long-term impact of such a restrictive policy includes skewed demographics, gender imbalance, increasing age dependency, and shrinking age of working population," she said. Moreover, studies have shown that the reduction in the fertility rate in China might not necessarily have been because of the one-child policy. "The overall development of the country during that time increased the income and education levels of the people, thereby contributing to lower birth rates," she said. Citing examples of Kerala and neighbouring Sri Lanka, Muttreja batted for introduction of non-coercive policy measures. The National Family Health Survey 4 revealed a 12.9 per cent gap in the availability of modern methods of contraception and other family planning services. "The government can focus on raising awareness about modern contraceptives and spacing methods, while also making these services available and accessible to all. Family planning services have a direct impact on improving maternal mortality and child mortality, ensuring that the population is stable and healthy," she added. Washington, April 28 : Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has said that US President Donald Trump has failed to keep his poll promises since he took office in January. Jayapal said the President, who is completing 100 days in office on Saturday, talked big on reforms, taxes and jobs but could deliver nothing. "He has been able to do nothing that he promised. He has not been able to put forward a single jobs bill. He keeps talking about a huge infrastructure package 'its gonna be big; its gonna be big', we haven't seen anything," Jayapal told ABC News. Jayapal, the first Indian-American woman in the US House of Representatives, said that Trump did not put in action any of his poll promises, including lower deductibles, lower premiums and better healthcare, the ABC News reported. "Trump proposed trillion dollars in tax cuts for the wealthiest, but nothing of that sort happened," the Democrat said. "So, I would say a big F. Failing grade for the President on actually being able to move this country forward. And propose anything that he can't even get his own party to stand by," Jayapal said. "This is a President who has both chambers, and still he has not been able to get anything done." The US President suffered three massive blows in the shape of blocked executive orders, in the first 100 days of his presidency. He passed orders, twice, to temporarily block people from six predominantly Muslim countries, but failed. Earlier this week, a San Francisco Judge, William H. Orrick, blocked Trump's order to withhold federal grants for the sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities is a term used for cities that protect immigrants' rights by not sharing information on their immigration-status to the federal immigration authorities. "We are thrilled. I am not surprised because we have been saying for months that it is unconstitutional and unlawful for the federal government to try and withhold funding for sanctuary cities," Jayapal said in response to the district court's order. Trump, however, blasted the district court judge's decision to block his executive order. He wrote on Twitter, "First the Ninth Circuit rules against the ban & now it hits again on sanctuary cities -- both ridiculous rulings. See you in the Supreme Court!" Jayapal, who came to the US at age 16, said that Trump needs to understand the Constitution and respect the courts. "He needs to understand the Constitution of the United States of America. That's the document he swore to protect and uphold," Jayapal said. "He should have respect for the judicial branch. It is not under his control. It is a separate branch of government and he needs to understand that." New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, April 28 : A six member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice J.S. Khehar on Friday dismissed a curative petition filed by the Kerala government seeking death for a rapist, leading to dismay from her family. The case pertains to 23-year-old Soumya who was brutally raped by Govind Chamiya in a train and then thrown out near Thrissur in 2011, leading to her death. A trial court in Thrissur sentenced Chamiya to death in November 2011, but he challenged it in the Kerala High Court and then the Supreme Court. In September 2015, the apex court acquitted Chamiya of the charge of murder, but upheld his conviction under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code for rape and other offences. Following this judgment, both Soumya's mother and the Kerala government approached the Supreme Court with a review petition, which was refused by the apex court in November last year. The Kerala government had subsequently filed a curative petition, which has now been dismissed to, ensuring the rapist escapes capital punishment. Soumya's wailing mother reacted sharply, saying that she does not know why the Supreme Court is against them. "While I got full support from everywhere, the Supreme Court failed to deliver justice. I want the accused to be hanged to death and I want to hear that news," she said. Kerala Law Minister A.K.Balan told the media that everything humanely possible was done by the state government. "We entrusted the case to the Attorney General to see justice is delivered. The Supreme Court has not given any death sentence in recent times," he said. But criticising the Pinarayi Vijayan government for "laxity" in approaching the Supreme Court in right earnestness, Mahila Congress president Bindhu Krishna said if there is anyone to be blamed for this outcome, it is them only. "The state government failed to do a clean job when the review petition was filed and hence this verdict has come. Had it approached the review petition properly, the outcome would have been different," she said. Johannesburg, April 28 : Former South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has said that if the current state of affairs continue, the African National Congress (ANC) will lose power in 2019. "Many of us are extremely worried that if we continue as we are in the ANCA we are likely to lose the 2019 electionsA" Gordhan, who is of Indian origin, told CNN on Thursday. Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas were axed last month in President Jacob Zuma's controversial Cabinet reshuffle. Gordhan was sacked over allegations that he held a secret meeting abroad in a bid to undermine South Africa and its economy. "If we, like any business organisation or political organisation, fail to muster the right leadership, stick by the right kind of values and do the right thing... then of course we will, as an organisation, fail." Gordhan -- widely seen as a bulwark against government corruption in South Africa -- also appeared to back deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to succeed Zuma, South Africa's News 24 reported. "Ramaphosa has been extremely brave. He has spoken truth to power at difficult times," said Gordhan. "He has demonstrated that he is a leader of great mettle that would serve South Africa well into the future." Gordhan also came out in support of a judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of "state capture" by the controversial Gupta family and Zuma's benefactors as recommended by former public protector Thuli Madonsela in her State of Capture report. He said such a commission headed by an independent judge would "clear the air" on allegations of state capture. Asked if Zuma was a good leader, Gordhan said South Africa had a culture of "collective leadership". Zuma, 75, is due to step down as head of the ANC in December and as President ahead of the 2019 general election. Among many corruption scandals, he has been accused of being in the sway of the wealthy Indian-South African Gupta family, allegedly granting them influence over government appointments and contracts. His midnight cabinet reshuffle last month unleashed a rebellion within the ANC with senior party figures, including Ramaphosa, speaking out against Gordhan's sacking. New Delhi, April 28 : Union Minister Jayant Sinha on Friday said that central government's regional air connectivity scheme -- UDAN -- which was launched on April 27 is slated to create additional 100 airports over the next 2-3 years. The Minister for State for Civil Aviation was speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) annual session 2017 themed 'Future of Globalisation: Can India Lead?' here. On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the highly-subsidised regional air connectivity scheme from Shimla. The Rs 2,500-an-hour flight launched on Thursday is part of 'Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik' (UDAN) scheme that makes air travel more affordable to the common people. It also plans to enhance connectivity with more airports in the country. The first regional flight under the scheme was flagged off between Shimla and Delhi from Jubbarhatti, the tabletop airport located 2,196 metres above the sea level and 22 km from Himachal Pradesh capital Shimla. Air India's subsidiary Alliance Air, which will operate the Delhi-Shimla flight, has fixed the one-way fare at Rs 2,036. According to the minister, the UDAN scheme has market friendly features such as removal of airport and navigation charges, reduction in ATF (air turbine fuel) taxes and routes exclusivity for three years which would incentivise air passenger carriers. The minister said that he is working with aircraft lessors to reduce the risk premium. Sinha pointed out that the country has "one of the most open" FDI (foreign direct investment) policy in the world. Istanbul, April 28 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday urged coalition forces and the US to clear the Islamic State (IS) militants from Manbij and Raqqa towns in Syria. "Together with the coalition led by the US, Turkey and the Free Syrian Army can clean the area all together," Xinhua news agency quoted Erdogan as saying at a meeting here. Currently there are around 2,500 to 5,000 terrorists in Raqqa, Erdogan said. "It is not difficult for us," he remarked. "Why do we exist if we cannot succeed?" Turkey has suggested a joint operation to retake Raqqa on condition that the US keeps away the Syrian Kurdish fighters, who are seen by Ankara as the Syrian offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party but treated by the US as a reliable ground force against the IS. Backed by the rebel Free Syrian Army, the Turkish military launched an operation in Syria in August 2015 and managed to clean about 2,500 square km area. Turkish troops' move against Kurds-held Manbij, however, was blocked by the US and Russia. "We should hand over Manbij to Arabs, who are its real owners," Erdogan said. Allahabad, April 28 : Students indulged in violence and arson on the Allahabad University campus here on Friday evening after a student leader was arrested. As the news of the arrest spread, angry students vandalised varsity property, pelted police with stones and even set some vehicles on fire. Police used mild force to disperse the irate students, arresting some student leaders in the process. Security was beefed up on the campus, including deployment of Rapid Action Force, an official told IANS. Police had earlier visited the campus to get hostel rooms vacated following a High Court directive. Allahabad SSP Shalabh Mathur said they conducted searches at the hostels to weed out undesirable elements. Mathur said the violence was contained and additional security forces deployed at the university. Kochi, April 28 : Even while Kerala's ruling CPI-M has publicly censured State Power Minister M.M. Mani for his "loose tongue" and the Congress-led UDF have been demanding his resignation for his remarks on women plantation workers, the Kerala High Court on Friday spoke tough, noting it was a grave mistake on the part of Mani to use such words. A division bench hearing a public interest litigation asked the Idukki police chief to submit all the details including a video and audio clip of the speech made by Mani on April 22 at a public meeting in the district, where he made disparaging remarks on hapless plantation workers. The state government counsel told the court that Mani has never spoken against women but instead against the manner in which the media has been doing their job, but the court promptly dismissed the argument. In a related development, soon after the HC made these remarks, police in Idukki's Rajakaddu began proceedings on two petitions filed by Youth Congress workers against Mani for his rash and indecent remarks against a Sub-Collector and the women plantation workers. Police took statements from several people who had heard Mani's controversial speech. Mani however told reporters on Friday at his home town near Idukki that he has never made any indecent remarks against women and the party action was because his statements created a controversy. "I fully accept the action of the party. I am not going to change my style because if I do that, then I will not be there at all," he said. Meanwhile, the women plantation workers sitting on an indefinite fast, which entered the fourth day, at Munnar, reiterated that their demand remains the same and until and unless Mani comes and apologises to them and then quits, they will not call off their protests. The women workers have already got support from the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, whose top leaders have visited the protesters. Ankara, April 28 : In what appears to be a departure from Turkey's traditional stand on Kashmir, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Pakistan and India must discuss their festering dispute. In an interview ahead of his visit to India, Erdogan also said that the obvious similarity between separatist Kurds and Kashmiris was one between "apples and oranges". "If we compare apples to oranges, we will make a mistake, a big mistake," the President told news portal WION. "We have no problems with the Kurdish people, Kurdish citizens in Turkey. We have a problem with terrorist organisations. "With regard to the Kashmir question, there is no similarity whatsoever. The nature of the two disputes is different. "There is a territorial dispute in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan, as a state, is pursuing its own theory and arguments. And they are right. "But India as a state is also pursuing her own agenda, her own arguments and she is right too." Erdogan added that in Jammu and Kashmir, "there is a state of India, and there is one of Pakistan, who are both in need of settling this dispute once and for all". Erdogan said Turkey would never use the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) against India. "We would never release statements against India... All we want to see is open the channels for dialogue in order to bring India and Pakistan closer to one another, in order to hopefully settle the dispute on Kashmir once and for all. "This is what is troubling us, this is what we are working on." Asked why Turkey blocked New Delhi's admission to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Erdogan said Ankara had "always been supportive of India's entry into NSG and also that of Pakistan in a similar way". He said both countries "have nuclear capabilities and both are right". The President denied linking India with Pakistan. "We are not linking the two. That is why I said India's right and Pakistan's right too. "They have both nuclear capabilities. We are trying to act very fairly and are supportive of India. And India's Prime Minister has thanked me for that support. "Similarly we have been supportive of Pakistan too." Erdogan said there should be no permanent or non-permanent seats in the UN. Instead, he suggested that 20 member countries should rotate every two years in the Security Council. "India is a very important power in that regard and India should be represented at the Security Council... The Security Council has never been reformed, it needs to be updated." Warsaw, April 28 : India's visiting Vice-President Hamid Ansari on Friday said peaceful, democratic means are the only way to resolve global problems. "India sees democratic and peaceful means not only as means to resolve differences within countries, but also supports democratisation of international relations and global governance," Ansari said in an address on the 'Seven Decades of Indian Democracy' at Warsaw University in the Polish capital. "The largest challenges that face humanity today -- be it the impact of climate change or rising tide of extremism and terrorism -- require cooperation and collaboration between all nations for their resolution," Ansari said. On how lack of democracy causes conflict, the Vice-President said: "It is when democracy stops working, when conflicts are not peacefully resolved that violent separatist movements and religious conflicts emerge." "The solution to addressing the gaps and failings of democracy is indeed more democracy." Speaking on the Indian experience in resolving discontent through democracy, Ansari said: "In India, the many discontents are manageable precisely because there is a democratic framework." "For the last 70 years, we have worked democracy to the best of our capacity, not yet to the best of our ability," he said. "Operating a democracy is always a work in progress." Ansari said there are a number of challenges to consolidation of democracy in India. Speaking on the democratic ethos as part of pre-Independence India and how these shaped its world view, he said: "A democratic India, therefore, stood in solidarity with the people of Africa and other Asian countries who were struggling to take charge of their own destiny by overthrowing the chains of colonial power." "India remained a strong partner as they sought independence and self-sufficiency," he added. Calling the people of India as the guarantee of democracy, the Vice-President said: "As long as our people are resistant to usurpation of their rights and do not succumb to sectarian and communal thought, there remains great hope that our democracy will continue to thrive and inspire others." Ansari arrived in Warsaw on Wednesday evening for a three-day State visit to Poland. He is accompanied by his wife Salma Ansari. Earlier, the Vice-President visited Armenian capital Yerevan on April 25 and 26. Chandigarh, April 28 : Union Urban Development and Housing Minister Venkaiah Naidu said on Friday that online demand for 8.97 lakh houses had so far been received under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) in Haryana. "Faster and all-round, inclusive development is our motto to build a New India. The country is witnessing a new environment of aspiration and development," Naidu told media here. Naidu, who was here to hold a review meeting on urban development in Haryana, said he had requested the Haryana government to complete the demand survey for housing by the end of July this year. He said that the state government had assured him that the final list of beneficiaries under the scheme would be submitted by July. "The state has also signed an MoU for the construction of houses in towns," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier announced that beneficiaries of the scheme would be provided interest subvention at the rate of 6.5 per cent for a loan amount of up to Rs 6 lakh, four per cent for a loan amount of Rs 12 lakh, and three per cent for loan amount of Rs 18 lakh. Naidu also said that the Real Estate Regulation Act (RERA) would come into force on May 1 this year. New Delhi, April 28 : Senior IPS officer Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar on Friday took charge as the new Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), four days after the force lost 25 troopers in a deadly Maoist attack in Chhattisgah's Sukma district. The government appointed the 1983 batch Indian Police Service officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre for the post nearly two months after the retirement of previous chief K. Durga Prasad on February 28. Bhatnagar, 57, took charge at the CRPF headquarters here at Lodhi road and was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour. Acting CRPF chief Additional Director General Sudeep Lakhtakia, a 1984-batch Telangana cadre IPS officer, handed over the baton to Bhatnagar this morning, hours after he returned to India from Jakarta on Thursday night after attending a conference. Bhatnagar was till now serving as the chief of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). He has been appointed as the head of the about 300,000 strong force till December 31, 2019, the date of his retirement or till further orders. Just after taking charg, Bhatnagar asked his officers to give him a briefing about the operational situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the April 24 Maoist ambush that left 25 troopers of the force dead in the bloodiest attack since 2010 when 76 CRPF troopers were killed. Twelve CRPF men were killed in a similar Maoist attack in Sukma on March 11. Addressing officers, Bhatnagar said "the force should be learning organisation" and that they must improve as they go long. He directed the senior officers to closely interact with the troopers. "Grevance redressal and welfare of troopers, camaraderie and close interaction with them is essential for all officers," said Bhatnagar, stressing the need of having appropriate technology to support the force personnel. Palwal (Haryana), April 28 : Five major infrastructure firms have been involved to complete within the targeted 400 days the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, which will be dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August, the government said on Friday. The 135-km six-lane Expressway will help divert over two lakh vehicles, currently passing through Delhi, while travelling between neighbouring/adjoining states. "The Expressway will be fully access-controlled. Entries and exits to and from the Expressway are through designated inter-changes only. It has a closed toll system wherein toll is collected only for the distance travelled and not the entire stretch," Union Minister for Road, Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari said. Gadkari, during a review of the ongoing construction, visited Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh and Palwal in Haryana respectively. Sadbhav Engineering, Jai Prakash Associates, Ashoka Buildcon, Oriental Structural Engineers, and Gayatri Constructions are involved in construction of different stretches of the Expressway. A total of 2,094 contractors, engineering staff and 5,181 skilled and unskilled labourers are working to complete the project on time. Gadkari was accompanied by National Highway Authority of India Chairman Yudhvir Singh Malik and Lok Sabha member from Baghpat Satyapal Singh. He said it is the first time in India that farmers have been given a land acquisition cost of Rs 5,900 crore as compared with the project cost of an estimated Rs 4,418 crore. The entire Expressway has seven inter-changes -- Delhi-Saharanpur (Mavikalan), Delhi-Meerut (Duhai), Delhi-Hapur (Dasna), Ghaziabad-Aligarh (Beel Akaberpur), Kasna-Bulandshahar (near Sirsa), Atali-Chainsa (Maujpur) and Delhi-Agra (Palwal). There are four flyovers, 77 vehicular underpasses and 152 pedestarian underpasses on the Expressway. Toll plazas will be equipped with electronic systems for faster tax collection and uninterrupted travel experience. The Expressway will be equipped with highway traffic management system, which will include variable messages, signages, closed-circuit television, video incident detection system, warning devices, overspeed checking system and other smart features. As many as 2.5 lakh trees of different species are proposed to be planted along the Expressway. Rain water harvesting will be provided at every 500-metre interval on either side of the Expressway. The project was started after the Supreme Court's directive in 2006 to construct a ring road for vehicles not bound for Delhi to move between Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Initially, the project was to take two and half years, but following Modi's directive the target has been set at 400 days. The Expressway passes through Sonipat, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Faridabad, and Palwal in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The proposed alignment crosses the Yamuna at Khurrampur/Khata in Uttar Pradesh and Faizpur Khadar in Haryana and also crosses the Hindon river. Mumbai, April 28 : Tata Sons on Friday welcomed the Delhi High Court order which has allowed the company and NTT Docomo to implement the June 22, 2016, London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) award. On Friday, the Delhi High Court dismissed the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) application opposing the enforcement of a $1.18 billion arbitral award in the Tata-NTT Docomo case. Justice S. Muralidhar cleared the way for enforcing the arbitral award by the London Court of International Arbitration, to settle a two-year-old dispute between Tata and Docomo. The RBI through its intervention application opposed the award as well as the settlement between Tata and Docomo over the Japanese company's exit from the joint venture. The RBI had also opposed the accord, arguing that it amounted to a transfer of shares and was illegal. According to the company, the Delhi High Court has allowed both the enforcement of the award and implementation of the consent terms between the two entities. "Tata Sons and NTT Docomo are taking further steps in terms of the order," Tata Sons said in a statement. Tata Sons had announced in February 2017 that it had reached an agreement with NTT Docomo. "Today's order entails Tata Sons and its nominees remitting $1.18 billion, already deposited with the registrar of the Delhi High Court, to Docomo, and Docomo transferring all its shares in Tata Teleservices Limited," the statement said. New Delhi, April 28 : The Congress on Friday accused the central and the Haryana governments of "delibrately leaking" the Dhingra Commission report, while noting that there was a court injunction against its publication. Congress spokesperson Abishek Manu Singhvi told reporters here that Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, as also former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had not received any notices from the commission and termed the report "null and void". The Justice S.N. Dhingra Commission, which probed grant of licences for change in land use in four villages of Gurugram, including licence granted to Skylight Hospitality Private Ltd linked to Vadra, had pointed to irregularities in the grant of licences in its report submitted to the Haryana government in August last year. Singhvi accused the government of acting with a sense of vendetta. "Some very strange things are happening. I can understand a government -- both central and state -- and a ruling party which is steeped in vendetta and blinded by rage deliberately leaking the so-called Dhingra Commission report," he said. He said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued injunctions against publication of this report and if "anyone published the report then it is a matter of contempt of court". Referring to the media, Singhvi said "two main people whose names you keep throwing - one is (Robert) Vadra and other is Bhupinder Singh Hooda", but neither of them received any notices from the commission. "And in this case, if these two facts are correct, then everything you are reading in this commission report which is leaked deliberately, it can't be relied upon in the validity of law," he said. Asked about Congress President Sonia Gandhi's daughter and Vadra's wife Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's statement to the media on Thursday, Singhvi said it is self-explanatory. "I am not going to add or subtract from it a word. It stands as it is...She has given you the answers because she feels pained," he said. Priyanka on Thursday said that agricultural land bought by her in Haryana's Faridabad district or other property acquired by her had no links to finances of her husband, his Skylight Hospitality or reality major DLF. A report in the Economic Times on Thursday said that the Dhingra Commission has reportedly concluded that Vadra made unlawful profits of Rs 50.5 crore from a land deal in Haryana in 2008 without spending a single paisa. The report said that the lawyer representing Vadra and Skylight Hospitality had stated that Vadra and Skylight had committed no wrong and that no laws were violated. The lawyer also said that the land was bought after payment of full market price and income tax was also paid. Skopje, April 28 : Around 100 persons were hurt when protests at the Macedonian Parliament turned violent, the Interior Ministry said on Friday. A number of civilians, 22 policemen and three MPs were among those injured in the Thursday violence, Xinhua news agency reported. Protesters broke into the building after Tallat Xhaferri from the DUI, an ethnic Albanian party, was elected the parliament Speaker. Pictures on social media showed protesters cornering lawmakers who voted for Xhaferri and attacking them. Among the attacked was Zoran Zaev, leader of the Social Democratic Union for Macedonia (SDSM), which is leading a coalition with three ethnic Albanian political parties. "The situation in central Skopje, in and around the parliament building is normalised. There are no more protesters in the building," an Interior Ministry statement said. Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov called for calm in an urgent address to the nation. "I call you to remain calm and not to fall under fake provocations and manipulations," said Ivanov. "I call upon all institutions to behave responsibly respecting the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Macedonia." He also called a meeting with major political leaders for Friday. Nikola Gruevski, leader of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party, blamed the SDSM for the incident. "The greed to take over the ruling at any cost is a direct reason that caused this unwanted situation," Gruevski said. Gruevski also condemned the violence and demanded punishment for the attackers. In Macedonia's elections in December, the VMRO-DPMNE secured 51 of the 120 seats in the parliament, two more than the SDSM. But the SDSM won the right to form a new government after it formed a coalition with ethnic Albanian parties. Protesters have been in the streets of Skopje for the past two months to oppose the formation of a coalition government between SDSM and ethnic Albanian parties. About one-fourth of Macedonia's population are ethnic Albanians. Kinshasa, April 28 : At least 29 civilians were killed in clashes between Nyatura militia and National Council for Renewal and Democracy (CNRD) fighters in North Kivu province of DR Congo, the police said on Friday. The fighters of CNRD, a dissident branch of the Rwandan Hutu rebels of the FDLR, attacked Nyatura militia on Wednesday, thus provoking a fight that resulted in civilian killings, Xinhua news agency reported. The two militia groups, which have been fighting in this part of the country for several months for ethnic reasons, are headed by former Congolese army (FARDC) deserter officers. New Delhi, April 28 : Former Army officer Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit on Friday moved the Supreme Court to challenge the Bombay High Court's rejection of his bail in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case. The High Court had granted bail to prime accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur on April 25 but rejected Purohit's plea for bail. As Purohit's counsel sought an early hearing, Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said: "Let the plea come before the court in the due course." Purohit had challenged in the High Court a lower court order that rejected his bail plea. At least six persons were killed in the blast in Malegaon, a Muslim-dominated powerloom town in Nashik district, on September 29, 2008. The investigating agencies had earlier attributed the bomb blast to right-wing group Abhinav Bharat. Eleven accused, including Sadhvi and Purohit, were arrested. The National Investigation Agency, which later probed the case, gave a clean chit to the Sadhvi but said the charges against Purohit were of grave nature. The NIA contended that there was evidence to point to his involvement in the bombing. New Delhi, April 28 : An unemployed man, unable to fend for his elderly mother, strangled her at his residence in west Delhi, police said on Friday. Police said the crime came to light around 10 a.m. on Tuesday when the accused Laxman Kumar Naidu, 48, made a call to the Police Control Room that he had killed his 78-year-old mother. He was arrested. The accused, living in Mohan Nagar at Sagarpur, is suffering from depression and has been unemployed for the last couple of months, Deputy Commissioner of Police Surender Kumar said. He strangled his mother Laxmi Naidu when she was sleeping, Kumar added. Rome, April 28 : Italian authorities expelled two North Africans accused of supporting jihadist groups and proselytising radical Islam, the Interior Ministry said on Friday. The first suspect, a 32-year-old Tunisian, who had been living in the Sicilian city of Ragusa without valid residency documents, was deported aboard a flight from Palermo airport, the ministry said. He had used Facebook and other social networks to share jihadist propaganda with other Islamic extremists and consulted radical material online, Italian anti-terrorism investigators said. The Tunisian was a follower of one of the masterminds of the Al Jamaa al-Islamiya group which carried out an attack at the Egyptian archaeological site of Luxor in 1997, killing 58 foreign tourists and four Egyptians, investigators said. A 27-year-old Egyptian suspect living in the Lazio town of Latina without legal residency documents was deported from Rome's Fiumicino airport after police held him on Thursday, the Interior Ministry said. The Egyptian had praised the deadly December attack on a Christmas market in Berlin carried out by Anis Amri, a Tunisian supporter of the Islamic State jihadist group, and had called for more such attacks, according to investigators. A total of 170 Islamic terrorism suspects have been expelled from Italy since January 2015, the ministry said. Earlier on Friday, anti-terror police from the southern Italian port city of Brindisi announced the arrest of a Congolese citizen resident in Berlin, Nkanga Lutumba, who is alleged to be a supporter of IS. Thimpu, April 28 : On a goodwill visit to Bhutan, Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat met King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck on Friday and assured him New Delhi's continued support. The Army chief arrived in Bhutan on Thursday and will be here till Sunday. An Indian Army statement said Gen Rawat had an audience with the King at Tashi Chhodzong Palace. "The King acknowledged the historical and cultural relationships between the two countries and the special relationship shared between the Indian Army and the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA)," the statement said. Gen Rawat "assured that the Indian Army would continue with its special relationship with the RBA in terms of training assistance and support in capability building", the statement said. New Delhi, April 28 : A hawala operator from old Delhi, Naresh Jain, was arrested here on Friday in connection with sidelined AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dinakaran's alleged offer of Rs 50 crore in bribes to the Election Commission officials, the Delhi Police said. One more associate of Chandni Chowk-based Jain was also detained at the airport here. He is being questioned about his role in the illegal money transfer related to the case, the police said. A Delhi court later sent Naresh Jain aka Nathu Singh to two-day police custody. Special Judge Poonam Chaudhary allowed the Delhi Police to quiz Jain till April 30, observing the serious nature of the case and gravity of the offence. "Teams of Crime Branch, which is investigating the case, have questioned over 50 people so far in this connection, including Dinakaran's close relatives, family members, employees, personal assistant and close friends. Their statements have been recorded during this process of questioning of Dinakaran," a senior Delhi Police officer told IANS. Dinakaran's alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrashekhar was remanded in judicial custody till May 12 after the police said he is no more required for custodial interrogation. The police sought custodial interrogation of Jain on the ground that he is required to identify other accused and help ascertain the money trail in the case. The police said Jain, who was arrested from his hideout on a tip-off, helped Chandrashekhar in transferring the money from Chennai to Delhi. "Jain helped Chandrashekhar to arrange Rs 10 crore in Delhi, which was part of Dinakaran's deal to bribe Election Commission officials to ensure favourable decision in the allocation of 'two leaves' poll symbol to Dinakaran's aunt V.K. Sasikala's faction," the police officer told IANS. The police are examining the Call Details Record of Jain and those at his residence in Chandni Chowk, he said. The arrest came after Thursday's operation at Dinakaran's house and interrogation of his family members, including wife and employees, in Chennai. Dinakaran had given a task to Chandrashekhar to secure the 'two leaves' symbol of the AIADMK for the Sasikala faction from the Election Commission in lieu of a Rs 50-crore bribe. The Crime Branch of Delhi Police earlier seized about Rs 1.3 crore and two luxury cars from Chandrashekhar during a raid at a south Delhi hotel. Dinakaran was cross-examined along with his 'friend' Mallikarjuna and Private Assistant Janardhanan, the police said. A team of crime branch is looking for other middlemen -- including Chennai-based bureaucrats and officials of the Election Commission -- who were in touch with Chandrashekhar and Dinakaran in this money transfer process. Police teams also raided their residences in search of possible leads to establish Dinakaran's involvement, the police officer said. Some more persons who aided Dinakaran, Chandrashekhar, Jain and Mallikarjuna in transferring Rs 10 crore could be arrested soon. The teams have identified some suspects, including some Chennai advocates, the police officer added. Meanwhile, Chandrashekhar moved a bail application which the court has listed for hearing on May 1. Paris, April 28 : Just days after taking over the position from Marine Le Pen, the interim leader of France's far-right National Front (FN) on Friday stepped down after facing criticism for comments he made apparently contesting the use of gas chambers during the Holocaust. Jean-FranAois Jalkh was named the interim president of the party on Tuesday after Le Pen stepped aside to fight for the French presidency. Jalkh is to now give way to one of the far-right group's vice-presidents, Steeve Briois, Efe news reported. Speaking to France's BFMTV, Le Pen's partner and party's Vice President Louis Aliot said Jalkh did not feel he was best poised to carry out his function and therefore would step down to "lodge a complaint and defend his honour". Following Jalkh's appointment as interim leader, French media dug out comments he made during an interview over a decade ago in which he apparently contested the use of Zyklon B for the mass extermination of Jewish people by Nazis during the Holocaust. "I consider that from a technical standpoint it is impossible -- and I stress, impossible -- to use it in mass exterminations. Why? Because you need several days to decontaminate a space (...) where Zyklon B has been used," he was reported as saying. Jalkh was to continue in his position as Secretary-General of the Jeanne micro-party, founded by Le Pen, for which he was currently being investigated amid allegations that the party misused public funds during the 2012 legislative elections. Le Pen's presidential rival, centrist Emmanuel Macron, has used the FN's far-right roots as a cornerstone attack tactic in his own campaign trail. On Friday, Macron visited Oradour-sur-Glane in central France, where Waffen-SS troops murdered 642 people in June 1944 in the worst Nazi massacre in occupied France. Opinion polls taken since the first round on Sunday suggest Macron, candidate of the En Marche (On The Move) movement, will easily beat Le Pen in the second round of vote for the presidency on May 7. Pyongyang, April 28 : North Korea has stepped up diplomatic efforts to win support from developing countries amid tension with the US, the media reported on Friday. North Korean diplomats recently met the heads of state or government of several African and Arab countries, while sending messages to Syria, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Tanzania expressing willingness to strengthen ties, Xinhua news agency reported. Pyongyang's efforts in engaging Arab countries was on display this week in a meeting between North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Sin Hong Chol and his Algerian counterpart Hassane Rabehi. "The Vice Minister stressed the need to expand bilateral relations unaffected by the change of the situation," the report said. North Korea supports Arab countries in their wars with Israel, backs the Syrian government in the ongoing civil war, and maintains close ties with Iran. It also has diplomatic ties with Palestine. Meeting the North Korean envoy this week, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said his country will further develop friendly relations with Pyongyang. North Korea also maintains close ties with Cuba, whose late leader Fidel Castro had enjoyed good relations with the Communist nation's founding President Kim Il-sung. A North Korean delegation left for Cuba on Thursday to attend an international labour unions' conference in Havana. Prior to the delegation's arrival, Aise Sotolong, Cuban Ambassador to North Korea, held a reception on Wednesday in Havana to mark the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il-sung. The ambassador said the Cuban people will extend support and solidarity to the just cause of the Korean people, who are protecting the country's sovereignty and always stand by them in the struggle against imperialism. Some African countries have kept close ties with North Korea due to its historical solidarity with the continent in its fight for independence. Equatorial Guinean President Obiang Mbasogo recently said the relations between the two countries had a history of nearly five decades. Islamabad, April 28 : Pakistani opposition parties on Friday questioned the government's silence over Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's meeting with Indian business tycoon Sajjan Jindal. The Jindal Steel Works Group head's meeting at the hill resort Murree on Wednesday triggered wild speculation that a meeting between Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi may follow, Dawn News reported. Pakistan People's Party member Nafeesa Shah asked at a session of the National Assembly's Standing Committee: "Why is the government quiet regarding the visit of Jindal?" Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Shireen Mazari wondered how Jindal, close to both Modi and Sharif, visited Murree when he only held a visa for Lahore and Islamabad. Jindal and his delegation flew into Islamabad on Wednesday morning and were received by Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz and daughter Maryam Nawaz's son-in-law Raheel Munir. "If he (Jindal) has come on a private visit, why did we receive reports regarding his welcome through the Foreign Office?" Mazari asked. Defending the government, Standing Committee Chairman Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said the Minister for Information had given a clear statement on the Indian businessman's visit. The Dawn quoted analysts as saying that Jindal's visit could be part of a back-channel contact to improve relations between New Delhi and Islamabad that dipped to new low after a Pakistani military court sentence to death alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. The PTI has moved a resolution in the Punjab assembly airing its concern over the Jindal-Sharif meeting. The party was angry over the government's decision to keep Jindal's visit and the meeting a secret. "Jindal's secret visit to Pakistan after Jadhav's death sentence is significant," the party said. The official confirmation of the meeting came after Sharif's daughter tweeted about it. "Jindal is an old friend of the Prime Minister. Nothing 'secret' about the meeting and should not be blown out of proportion. Thank you," she wrote. The JSW Group specializes in steel, energy and infrastructure projects. Jindal was an honoured guest at the wedding of Sharif's grand-daughter in December 2015, the same event which Modi too attended. Mumbai, April 28 : The sleepy village of Bhilar, in the heart of Maharashtra's famed 'strawberry country' will soon get another identity as India's first "book village", Education Minister Vinod Tawde said here on Friday. Inspired by Britain's Hay-on-Wye, the state government has decided to convert the village near the twin hill-stations of Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani into a readers's paradise. "Preparations are completed and the country's first-ever 'book village' will be inaugurated on May 4 by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis," Tawde told media persons. Located around 250 kms or five hours drive from Mumbai and five kms before the climb to Panchgani, Bhilar boasts of a year-round salubrious climate, lush greenery and surrounded by hundreds of acres of strawberry farms which turn a dazzling pink during the winter cropping season. "The government has financed around 15,000 books to be kept there permanently for the public at around 25 key locations around the village of 600 families. Anybody can simply pick up a book of his/her choice, read for as long as they want and keep it back for the others," said Tawde on the unique concept. The government has also provided a suitable reading ambience comprising glass cupboards, chairs, tables, tee-poys, large decorative umbrellas, etc to make the experience pleasant for book connoisseurs. The 25 book hotspots in the village have been decked up into 'mini-libraries' and 75 artists have creatively designed the 25 locations with support from Asian Paints Ltd, he added. Initially, the books ranging from literature, poetry, religious, women and children oriented subjects, history, environment, folk literature, biographies and autobiographies to festival specials shall be available in Marathi and after a couple of months other languages will be introduced. "The initiative will help people, especially among the younger generations to imbibe the reading habits and rekindle the interest in our country's rich literary heritage and culture," said Tawde. The state government had committed on February 27, 2015 - Marathi Language Day - to launch a 'book village' in the state, on the lines of Britain's immensely popular Hay-on-Wye book village and literary festivals concept. After lot of deliberations, Bhilar village in Satara district, was selected to be India's first 'book village'. The next phase would be organising literary festivals comprising book and poetry reading sessions, writing, publishing and teaching workshops, exhibitions, debates, discussions with literary personalIties and other literature-culture programmes to popularise the concept in India. Starting with a lone bookstore in 1962, Hay-on-Wye village was bursting with bookshops by 1970s, earning the sobriquet of 'Town of Books'. Later, it developed into a centre for literature and literary 'Hay Festivals' attracting top writers and celebrities from all over the world, besides sponsorship from top media and publishing houses. Over the years, the Hay Festivals have spread to Italy, Spain, Peru, Colombia, Denmark, Mexico, Kenya, The Maldives and other countries. The next Hay Festival in Britain is scheduled to start from May 25. Patna, April 28 : The Nalanda University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kanazawa University in Japan for academic collaboration, an official said on Friday. According to the MoU, the two universities will make an effort to promote and develop cooperation in activities like exchange of faculty members, research fellows, students, academic material, publications, information, and undertake joint research projects and symposiums. The MoU will be in effect for five years. Kanazawa University is located in Kanazawa, capital of Ishikawa prefecture, and offers various undergraduate and graduate courses. Nalanda University is coming up in Rajgir, 12 km from where the ancient Nalanda varsity stood till the 12th century when an invading Turkish army razed it. Bengaluru, April 28 : The Karnataka government is likely to issue, within three days, an order capping multiplex tickets at Rs 200 within three days as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had proposed in the state Budget. "The Chief Minister has already given in-principle consent to the proposal to cap multiplex tickets," state Principal Secretary, Information and Public Relations, M Lakshminarayana said here on Friday. The delay in issuing the order has triggered a public debate as cinema theatres had started charging whopping prices for the keenly-awaited "Baahubali 2 - The Conclusion", which hit the screens on Thursday night. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), the apex body of Kannada film industry, has been pushing for implementing the proposal after receiving the complaints of multiplexes collecting exorbitant ticket rates. "I expect the government to issue the order on capping multiplex tickets by Tuesday since Saturday and Monday are holidays," said KFCC President Sa Ra Govindu, alleging that the government has been delaying the order by sending the file from one department to another. But Lakshminarayana denied it. "It is not done deliberately, but to seek consent from departments which come under the purview of the subject matter," Lakshminarayana said. The exhibitors are skeptical about the government's move to cap movie ticket prices at Rs 200. Last month, Mukta Arts Managing Director Rahul Puri had said the industry would in all likelihood oppose the move, stating that price capping as a concept was against free market. "The government has not called for suggestions or objections from public to the proposal of capping cinema tickets at Rs 200. Those affected may appeal in the court against the government order," said K.V. Chandrasekhar, who owns the two-screen Veeresh theatre here and is a former president of the KFCC. The proposal in the 2017-18 budget followed the recommendations by a 14-member committee, headed by filmmaker and Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy Chairman S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu. New Delhi, April 28 : India and Cyprus on Friday signed four agreements, including on air services and merchant shipping and expressed their willingness to cooperate in areas like climate change, tackling international terrorism and seeking reform of the United Nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India "deeply" appreciates the Mediterranean island country's support for its permanent membership in the UN Security Council. "India and Cyprus share the common objective of bringing about an early reform of the United Nations Security Council. "Both of us believe that a reformed Security Council, reflective of the world as it is, and not as it was, is necessary to address the range of complex challenges facing the world today," he said while jointly addressing the media with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades following delegation-level talks here. Stating that Friday's discussions covered the full range of the bilateral relationship, Modi said that they exchanged perspectives on important global and regional issues of mutual concern. Noting India itself has been battling cross-border terrorism for decades, he said: "We agreed that there is an urgent need for all countries to decisively act against those states who generate, support, shelter and sustain these factories of violence in our regions. "The President and I discussed the need for creating a comprehensive global legal framework, particularly through early conclusion of the (India-initiated) Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism." Modi also expressed support for the territorial integrity of Cyprus and appreciated Anastasiades's efforts in leading from the front in trying to bring a new era of peace, development and security. Lauding the Indian stand on the integrity of his country, whose northern part is occupied by Turkish troops,, Anastasiades said that both sides have agreed to cooperate in areas like climate change, environment and international terrorism. He also said that Cyprus and India enjoyed close economic ties with the Mediterranean island nation being the eighth largest investor in India. He also said that he and Modi also discussed relations between India and the European Union (EU) and expressed support for an India-EU free trade agreement. He invited Indian companies to invest in Cyprus. On the business opportunities for Cypriot entrepreneurs, Modi said: "Last year, to boost our capital and investment linkages, we have revised the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. "The industry and business in our two economies can shape attractive partnerships through the flagship programmes launched by my government." The two sides also discussed the excellent tourism opportunities in both countries. The two leaders witness exchange of four agreements after delegation talks and working lunch. The two sides signed an executive programme on culture, education and scientific cooperation for the period 2017-2020, a work plan under a programme of cooperation in agriculture for the period 2017-2018 and on cooperation in the area of merchant shipping. A fourth agreement was signed to boost air services between the two countries. Earlier in the day, the Cypriot President was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Anastasiades also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and described him as a "spiritual leader of Cyprus and inspiration for its freedom struggle". Following this, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on him. Anastasiades conferred Cyprus's highest civilian honour, the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III, on President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday evening when the latter hosted a banquet in his honour. Anastasiades, who arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday and will depart from here on Saturday, was on his first visit to India since becoming the President in 2013. Kolkata, April 28 : West Bengal's Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan on Friday called BJP President Amit Shah a "copycat", for merely imitating top Congress leaders when he had lunch and refreshments at homes of tribals, Dalits and poor people uduring his recent trip to the state. Mannan said Shah has merely done what Congress stalwarts like late Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and present day leader Rahul Gandhi have been doing for decades. "From Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi to Rahul Gandhi, all of them had gone to the houses of Dalits, tribals and poor people and shared their food. There is no novelty in what Shah has done. He merely copied them," Mannan told media persons here. During his three-day trip to the state that ended on Thursday, Shah had a vegetarian lunch in the tin-roofed house of a tribal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporter in Naxalbari of Darjeeling district. He later took refreshments at the homes of Dalits in south Kolkata's Bhowanipore assembly constituency - represented in the legislature by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee - and Rajarhat in the city's northeastern fringes. Mannan urged all secular parties to join in the fight against the BJP but accused the state's ruling Trinamool Congress of being hand in glove with the BJP. "These two parties have a covert understanding to reap mutual benefit," he said. Cairo, April 28 : The Muslim faith is not a terrorist religion, Ahmad al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Cairo's prestigious Al-Azhar mosque - the highest seat of Sunni learning - said on Friday. "Islam is not a terrorist religion, just as Christianity and Judaism are not," Tayyeb told an international peace conference in Cairo on Friday attended by Pope Francis during his two-day visit to Egypt. Islam should not be judged on the basis of the actions of a "limited group of people" who misinterpret its sacred texts, Tayeb said. In the same way, the Crusades during the Middle Ages do not make Christianity a violent religion, nor should Judaism be judged for the occupation of the Palestinian territories, he said. Before the visit - the first papal trip to Cairo since John Paul II's in 2000 - Francis said he was travelling as a "messenger of peace". The visit is aimed at improving Christian-Muslim dialogue and reaching out to Egypt's Christian minority, three weeks after bombings at two Coptic churches killed 47 people. The Vatican and Egypt's prestigious Al-Azhar university in February resumed dialogue sessions in Cairo that were broken off in 2011 after Pope Benedict XVI deplored an attack on a Coptic Church in the city of Alexandria. Relations between the Vatican and the Al-Azhar earlier faltered in 2006 when a speech given by Benedict appeared to associate Islam with terrorism. New Delhi/Chandigarh, April 28 : The Congress on Friday accused the central and the Haryana governments of "deliberately leaking" the Dhingra Commission report despite a court injunction against its publication. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar rubbished the allegation. Accusing the government of acting with a sense of vendetta, Congress spokesperson Abishek Manu Singhvi also told reporters in New Delhi that Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, as also former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had not received any notices from the commission and termed the report "null and void". "Some very strange things are happening. I can understand a government -- both central and state -- and a ruling party which is steeped in vendetta and blinded by rage deliberately leaking the so-called Dhingra Commission report," he said. He said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued injunctions against publication of this report and if "anyone published the report then it is a matter of contempt of court". The one-man Justice S.N. Dhingra Commission of Inquiry, set up by the Khattar government in May 2015, had submitted its 182-page report on August 31 last year. However, Khattar rubbished claims of the leak. "Copy of the report was submitted to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover. The court will take cognisance of this matter. There has been no leakage but if at all, it is established, it will be a matter for probe," he told media in Chandigarh. Meanwhile, Singhvi, asked about Sonia Gandhi's daughter and Vadra's wife Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's statement to the media on Thursday, said it is self-explanatory. "I am not going to add or subtract from it a word. It stands as it is...She has given you the answers because she feels pained," he said. Priyanka on Thursday said that agricultural land bought by her in Haryana's Faridabad district or other property acquired by her had no links to finances of her husband, his Skylight Hospitality or real estate major DLF. However, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that a public clarification issued by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra about her land deals raises more questions than it answers. "Only one inference can be drawn from Priyanka's statement -- perhaps she was advised this is too hot a potato to be handled and, therefore, her transactions must be segregated and a clarification issued," Prasad said on TimesNow channel. "... her clarification raises more questions than it answers," he added. Prasad said "certain patterns" are similar in the land deals of both Priyanka and Robert Vadra. "One, the land is transferred back to the vendor in both cases; and secondly, the appreciation of the land is enormous". "Given the influence Robert Vadra exercised with the then (Hooda) government and the speedy manner in which land use was changed after bypassing norms, it can be inferred that it was designed to allow a situation of windfall gains," Prasad said. A report in the Economic Times on Thursday said that the Dhingra Commission has reportedly concluded that Vadra made unlawful profits of Rs 50.5 crore from a land deal in Haryana in 2008 without spending a single paisa. New Delhi, April 28 : Congress on Friday asked the government why it was trying to stab India's farmers by surreptitiously by introducing tax on agriculture. "First Bibek Debroy of Niti Aayog and now CEA (Chief Economomic Adviser Arvind Subramanian) advocates tax on 'agriculture'. PM/FM (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley) should tell why is BJP hoodwinking the farmers surreptitiously," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala in a series of tweets. "RBI Governor Urjit Patel and SBI Chief (Arundhati Bhattacharya) oppose 'farm loan waiver'. CEA wants to tax agriculture." "Don't backstab India's farmers," he urged the government. Mumbai, April 29 : The mounting problem of bad loans of banks cannot be resolved by their simple recapitalisation and options like raising private capital for state-run banks need to be considered to deal with the issue, the RBI said on Friday. "I wish to propose that we deal with the ailing public sector banks in creative ways instead of just propping them up with state aid," said Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Viral Acharya addressing an event by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Ladies Organisation. "Clearly more recapitalisation with government funds is essential. However, as a majority shareholder of public sector banks, the government runs the risk of ending up paying for it all. The expectation of government dole-outs has been set by the past practice of throwing more good money after bad," he said. Some nationalised banks need to be "re-privatised", Acharya said, to reduce the amount of capital that the government needs to infuse in them and help maintain fiscal discipline. Citing the Global Financial Stability Report by the International Monetary Fund, he said: "Indian industrial sector is now among the most heavily indebted in the world in terms of the ability of its cash flows to meet its bank loan repayments and it comes out as worse-off compared to other emerging economies in terms of how little bank capital it has set aside to provision for losses on its assets." Under its Indradhanush programme, the government is putting in Rs 70,000 crore in state-run banks over four years starting from financial year 2015-16. Of this, Rs 50,000 crore is the allocation for the first two years, with the balance equally divided between financial years 2017-18 and 2018-19. The non-performing assets (NPA) of state-run banks at the end of last September, rose to Rs 6.3 lakh crore, as compared to Rs 5.5 lakh crore at the end of June 2016. Former RBI Governor Y.V. Reddy has recently said there is no "political economy consensus" on tackling the mounting problem of bad loans of banks, which cannot be resolved by their simple recapitalisation. Houstan, April 29 : Former US President George H.W. Bush was discharged from a local hospital on Friday after being treated for a mild pneumonia and chronic bronchitis, according to a statement released by the President's family spokesman. Former President Bush is very pleased to be home spending time with family and friends on Friday and grateful for the outstanding care provided by his doctors and nurses, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying. The 92-year-old Bush was admitted to the Houston Methodist Hospital on April 14 due to a persistent cough that had prevented him from getting proper rest, and was subsequently diagnosed as a mild pneumonia. The former President was later asked by his doctors to remain in the hospital for observation after being diagnosed with a chronic bronchitis. This is the third hospitalisation for Bush this year. In January, Bush was sent to this hospital with an acute respiratory problem. In February, he was hospitalised for catching flu. Bush, who was born in 1924, was the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. There is a surge of momentum for the GlycoMark test as more healthcare professionals, hospitals, and universitiesboth in the U.S. and internationallyrecognize the utility of GlycoMark to indicate recent hyperglycemic episodes and glycemic variability, GlycoMark, Inc. announced today a partnership with Shiel Medical Laboratory to expanded distribution of the GlycoMark test throughout the Northeast U.S. GlycoMark is the only clinically available blood test that specifically indicates recent hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes. The GlycoMark test provides a clinically proven one- to two-week measure of hyperglycemic excursions, often related to post prandial glucose peaks. There is a surge of momentum for the GlycoMark test as more healthcare professionals, hospitals, and universitiesboth in the U.S. and internationallyrecognize the utility of GlycoMark to indicate recent hyperglycemic episodes and glycemic variability, said Hirotaka Hiro Ishibashi, COO of GlycoMark, Inc. GlycoMark offers insight into hyperglycemia that traditional tests reflecting mean glucose levels, such as A1C, cannot. The agreement with Shiel Medical Laboratory provides even broader access to the GlycoMark test as it possesses a significant regional presence in the states of New York and New Jersey, and has now expanded into the Connecticut and Pennsylvania markets. ABOUT GLYCOMARK The GlycoMark test is a CE-marked and FDA cleared test that provides quantitative measurement of 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) in serum or plasma, for intermediate-term monitoring of glycemic control in people with diabetes. The test is for professional use, and is not intended to diagnose or prevent any specific diabetes state or disease. Since its discovery, 1,5-AG has been described in more than 600 scientific and medical publications. GlycoMark, Inc. is a joint venture among Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. (New York, NY), Toyota Tsusho Corporation (Tokyo, Japan) and Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) and is dedicated to the discovery and commercialization of novel biomarkers for diabetes. Visit http://www.glycomark.com. Avitus Group is honored to be partnering with My Franchise Hub to offer two informative business training classes to My Franchise Hub members this spring. Avitus Group exists to help businesses and franchises simplify, strengthen and grow." Avitus Group is honored to be partnering with My Franchise Hub to offer two informative business training classes to My Franchise Hub members this spring. Avitus Group exists to help businesses and franchises simplify, strengthen and grow. Our custom information technology and safety training are tailored specifically for the Franchise audience and are designed to help members of My Franchise Hub simplify, strengthen and grow their franchise," says Kirk Porter, President of Avitus Group Technologies. My Franchise Hub is a Denver-based networking group that specializes in helping newly franchised businesses. This group offers training, classes and an opportunity for vendors and franchisors to come together in a unique relationship. Our member business owners participate in online and on-site events, classes and even spontaneous connections that we call "creative collisions" every day, says Rick Grossmann of My Franchise Hub. "We value partnerships with organizations like Avitus Group and find them to be very beneficial for our members success." Avitus Groups first presentation is scheduled for May 2nd and covers OSHA updates. The second training is scheduled for June 29th during Cyber Security Month and highlights cyber security. Avitus Group Safety & Training Consultant Bill Kane is presenting virtually to My Franchise Hub and its members May 2nd beginning at 10:00 a.m. Kane has more than 13 years of experience in the Human Resource and Safety and Risk Management industry. Kane's influence has reached more than 600 businesses across the U.S. As a Safety Consultant, Kane's training is designed to educate franchise owners on new Human Resource and OSHA updates, including key items to keep in mind to protect franchises when it comes to HR needs. President of Avitus Group Technologies, Kirk Porter is presenting at My Franchise Hub, 5231 South Quebec Street, Greenwood Village, CO, 80111 at 9:30 a.m. Porter has been in the IT industry for many years and is responsible for all aspects of the sales life-cycle for Avitus Group businesses and customer base. This training focuses on the role technology plays in the modern office, and helps business owners navigate through their offices technology. Aiming to create a stable IT infrastructure and preventing IT issues before they impact a business is the goal of this training. My Franchise Hub is hosting a monthly mixer for both franchisors and suppliers at 4:30 p.m. May 11th. Members and non-members have a chance to mingle and see if My Franchise Hub could benefit their business. For more information about My Franchise Hub visit http://www.myfranchisehub.com or call 843.372.6482. Avitus Group is a worldwide company that simplifies, strengthens and grows businesses by providing 'back office' support (payroll, accounting, taxes, recruiting, information technology and much more). When a business uses Avitus Group, all of the necessary yet burdensome functions of the business become Avitus Group's responsibility, so the business can focus on what it does best. Avitus Group serves clients nationwide through regional office locations from coast to coast. The company also serves international clients through partner locations in Europe, Canada, China, England, India, Japan and Singapore. Prometheus was the top rated construction and real estate company in the Bay Area, and the only apartment management company to be recognized by Fortune. Prometheus Real Estate Group, the largest private owner of multifamily properties in the San Francisco Bay Area, today announced it has been named one of Fortunes Best Workplaces in the Bay Area. Among small- to medium-sized businesses, Prometheus was ranked fifth. Additionally, Prometheus was the top rated construction and real estate company in the Bay Area, and the only apartment management company to be recognized by Fortune. The credit for this award goes to our Prometheans (employees), said Jackie Safier, President of Prometheus Real Estate Group. This award is a testament to their efforts. They have truly shaped our culture and workplace. Fortune and consulting firm Great Place to Work partnered to develop the 2017 Best Workplaces in the Bay Area list. More than 227,000 employees at organizations with locations in the San Francisco Bay Area completed an anonymous survey, answering questions about management transparency, professional development opportunities, meaningful work, promotion equity and the generosity of benefit programs. This year, Prometheus was also named one of the Best Places to Work by the San Francisco Business Times/Silicon Valley Business Journal, and the Best Large Business Employer by Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation. Prometheus has more than 400 employees in the Bay Area, and approximately 500 employees in total. To learn more about working at Prometheus, please visit iamhomeatwork.com. About Prometheus Real Estate Group Prometheus Real Estate Group, Inc. is the largest private owner of multifamily properties in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a growing portfolio of more than 15,000 metropolitan-area apartments in the Bay Area, Seattle and Portland. Since its inception in 1965, Prometheus has specialized in the acquisition, development and management of high-quality residential and commercial properties throughout the western United States. Prometheus has a long history of award-winning approaches to development, management and general excellence. Its philosophy is centered on making the apartment experience more fun and interesting while providing a true sense of home. For more information, visit prometheusreg.com. About the Fortune Best Workplaces in the Bay Area list The Best Workplaces in the Bay Area rankings are based on feedback from more than 227,000 employees at Great Place to WorkCertified organizations with locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Employees completed an anonymous Trust Index survey, answering questions about how frequently they experience the behaviors that create a great workplace, including, for example, management transparency, professional development opportunities, meaningful work, promotion equity, and the generosity of benefit programs. Results from the survey are highly reliable, having a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of 5% or less. Being awarded a place on this list indicates the company has distinguished itself from peers by creating a Great Place to Work For All. Rankings reward organizations where not only the majority of their employees experience a great place to work, but these experiences are highly consistent, regardless of who people are or what they do in the organization. Scores take into account the complexity and size of the employee population. Companies are rewarded based on how much of their business is located in the Bay Area. Beiyan Zou, PhD Field Applications Scientist, Molecular Devices; Oksana Sirenko, PhD Research Scientist, Molecular Devices Early detection and elimination of new chemical entities with cardiac or hERG liability could substantially improve drug safety and minimize the cost of development. In this webinar, sponsored by Molecular Devices, an overview will be provided for validating ion channel inhibition using cell lines and for cardiac toxicity using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). In the first segment, high-throughput screening for in vitro potency evaluation of cardiac ion channel inhibitors on the FLIPR Tetra System, participants will learn to optimize and validate a robust cell-based hERG fluorescence assay using the FLIPR Potassium Assay Kit, a thallium-sensitive fluorescence dye to directly measure ion influx. They will also learn to run inhibition assays with voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV1.5) and L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (CaV1.2) using FLIPR Membrane Potential Dye and FLIPR Calcium 6 Dye, respectively. In the second segment, participants will learn how to determine the effects of pharmacological compounds and other chemicals on the beating rate and profiles of cardiomyocytes using the FLIPR Tetra system and ImageXpress Micro system. They will also be able to identify methods for multiparametric analysis and ranking of compounds for potential cardiotoxic hazards. Dr. Beiyan Zou, a field applications scientist with Molecular Devices and Dr. Oksana Sirenko, a research scientist with Molecular Devices, will be the speakers for this event. As an 18-year veteran working in molecular biology and genetics, Zuo first received her doctorate degree in biology from Pennsylvania State University and completed postdoctoral training in the Department of Neuroscience at John Hopkins University School of Medicine. She now works as a Field Applications Scientist at Molecular Devices supporting reagents, FlexStation3 reader, FLIPR Tetra system, and automated electrophysiology platforms. Sirenko is a Research Scientist at Molecular Devices working on development of new technologies for imaging and high-content analysis. Oksana also has previous experience working on drug discovery and drug development. The focus of her current scientific research is on development methods for high-throughput in vitro toxicity screening, including 3D models. She earned a doctorate in biochemistry. LabRoots will host the event May 9th, 2017, starting at 7:00 a.m. PDT, 10:00 a.m. EDT, 2:00 p.m. GMT. To learn more about this event, the continuing education credits offered, or to registered for free, click here. About Molecular Devices, LLC Molecular Devices is one of the world's leading providers of high-performance bioanalytical measurement systems, software and consumables for life science research, pharmaceutical and biotherapeutic development. Included within a broad product portfolio are platforms for high-throughput screening, genomic and cellular analysis, colony selection and microplate detection. These leading-edge products enable scientists to improve productivity and effectiveness, ultimately accelerating research and the discovery of new therapeutics. Molecular Devices is committed to the continual development of innovative solutions for life science applications. The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California with offices around the globe. For more information, visit: http://www.moleculardevices.com/flipr About LabRoots LabRoots is the leading scientific social networking website and producer of educational virtual events and webinars. Contributing to the advancement of science through content sharing capabilities, LabRoots is a powerful advocate in amplifying global networks and communities. Founded in 2008, LabRoots emphasizes digital innovation in scientific collaboration and learning, and is a primary source for current scientific news, webinars, virtual conferences, and more. LabRoots has grown into the worlds largest series of virtual events within the Life Sciences and Clinical Diagnostics community. A U.S. Sgt gives a helping hand at the Liberty Children's Home in Ladyville, Belize (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Fredrick Varney) we felt it was high time to recognise and reward these unsung heroes Military personnel from the United States and other nations have been quietly helping the people of Belize, and thats something one Belizean eco-resort wants to see better recognised and appreciated. The Lodge at Chaa Creek, one of the tiny countrys most recognised jungle lodges and a highly awarded, family owned and operated eco-resort, recently issued an invitation to all armed forces members in Belize to enjoy a heavily discounted stay under a Appreciation Vacation initiative, according to owners Mick and Lucy Fleming. Many people dont realise the amount of good works that are being done in Belize every day by members of various armed services, and with a new U.S. humanitarian exercise now underway since March 2017, we felt it was high time to recognise and reward these unsung heroes. Its a small token of our appreciation, but we hope it makes their stay in Belize more comfortable and memorable. Being a family owned and operated lodge, we also hope to see them enjoy Chaa Creek with their families and partners, Lucy Fleming said. Ms Fleming said as of April 2017, service people stationed in Belize will receive a fifty percent discount off accommodation, and twenty percent off meals, with complimentary use of canoes and the activities usually included in room rates. We want to show service people stationed here the Belize that tourists and visitors find so appealing with eco-luxe accommodations, fine dining, quality amenities and the wide range of activities that gave us the reputation as Belizes Destination Within a Destination, she said. Ms Fleming had particular praise for service members involved in operation Beyond the Horizon 2017, which sees US military personnel carrying out a range of civic and humanitarian exercises. Troops specialising in engineering, construction, and health care are working in several communities while offering training and building relationships with their Belizean counterparts. Beyond the Horizon began in 2008 with a joint military exercise as part of the proud legacy of humanitarian civic assistance exercise programs in the region, according to the U.S. Southern Commands website. The 2017 exercise began on March 25, with a range of projects approved and evaluated by The Government of Belize, US Department of State and Department of Defense. The current exercise provides free medical and dental services while building medical and educational facilities in communities across Belize. Valued at USD $10 million, the projects are scheduled for completion by the second week of June 2017. Along with US forces, Dutch and British military personnel are also engaged in military training with the Belize Defence Force, with British Commando Royal Marines conducting jungle training in Belizes vast rainforests. Ms Fleming said all military personnel in Belize are invited to take advantage of the Chaa Creek Appreciation Vacation discounts. Chaa Creek has a nationwide network of colleagues and organises tours throughout Belize, so we always have an ear to the ground as far as whats happening, and after hearing about the good works being done in local communities felt the need to do something to express our gratitude. The Appreciation Vacations initiative is one way of doing that, she said. The Flemings said Chaa Creek has a long history of hosting service personnel serving in Belize. When we were first starting out, transitioning from a small family farm to building Belizes first eco-resort, we received invaluable help from the British forces stationed here. In return, wed invite them out to share what was then our meagre hospitality, which consisted of simple thatched roof cabins and plates of rice and beans and chicken or whatever game meat we had. Of course, the English beer and whiskey they brought was a rare treat for us, so all in all everyone had a great time and a tradition was born. Ms Fleming said she also hopes the discounts make it possible for service people to spend time with their families and partners at Chaa Creek. Its something that we hope to see become an established part of their experience here. It fits in with the Belizean philosophy of hand wash hand, Ms Fleming said. The Lodge at Chaa Creek is a multi-award winning eco resort set within a 400-acre private nature reserve along the banks of the Macal River in Belize. It was recognised by National Geographic with first place honours at the 2017 World Legacy Awards held in Berlin. ENDS On December 16th, 1773 in Boston, The Sons Of Liberty catalyzed the creation of America by taking precious tea and throwing it into the ocean. Starting May 1st, 2017 and using crowdfunding economics, TeaBook will utilize all resources available to a small father-son tea company to Make America, America Again. The campaign is non-partisan, because replacement of GOP President Trump, would result in a new GOP president. The TeaBook believes that 100 days is enough time to show the President's intentions. The TeaBook believes there are enough constitutional high crimes and misdemeanors for impeachment. With the impeachment of President Trump, America will remove tyranny, nepotism, greed and treason from the US image, just as they did from the Monarchy of England in 1773. The artwork on each product was drawn by Mexican immigrant Daniel Orozco, to give a political voice to the immigrant community, says Noah Bleich, creator of the ImPeachMint Tea campaign. Every ImPeachMint product is made, packed or designed in The USA. Each tea is a reminder of the need to impeach President Trump. At its core is political satire (click here for art secrets) and impeachment information printed on the one beverage that unites the world - tea. The campaign will have three goals: 1.) Provide 5% of the money raised to help organizations affected by President Trumps laws/EOs and cutbacks: The ACLU, Planned Parenthood, NRDC, Union of Concerned Scientists and PBS. 2.) Based on help from fellow Americans, The TeaBook hopes to provide the following: 1. All supporters get ImPeachMint postcards to mail to a congressional representative, reminding them of their responsibility to impeach for crimes against America. 2. The TeaBook will hire a private investigator - Forensic Financial Analyst or other person to follow the money. 3. (Unlike the president) The TeaBook will create two new American jobs without war or environmental destruction. 3.) Lastly, provide a bit of levity, and Make America, Laugh Again. More and more people feel angry and hopeless. Americans are experiencing almost as much PTSD since 11/9 as there was on 9/11. As it says on the back of every bag: America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. - Abraham Lincoln - summary of Lyceum address. About The TeaBook The TeaBook is the first company to put the art in artisan teas. The TeaBook also revolutionized tea storage, sharing and serving. Creating a device that looks like a book but stores 144 teas and weighs less than 2lbs. The TeaBook is a socially conscientious company, that is Zero Waste, organic and practices fair labor standards. More information can be found at http://www.theteabook.com Why The TeaBook is taking a stance. Taking a political stance is generally a bad idea for companies. Often companies lose customers who dont agree with the movement. But, the customers The TeaBook wants are 73,648,823 and growing all over the world! Tea lovers, are calm, smart and love talking about life, LiberTEA and the pursuit of happiness. President Trump threatens tea drinkers' way of life, requiring the taking of action. Environment: 1.) The primary ingredient to tea is the tea plant Camellia sinensis. Because of the changing climate, tea harvesting seasons are changing, tea flavors are altered, and tea farms may have growth issues. The President doesn't "believe" in climate change, and is trying to destroy the EPA (started by a Republican), climate treaties, and advances in greenhouse gas reduction requirements. This could eliminate tea growing regions. Sustainability: 2.) The second and last ingredient is water. President Trump is allowing US waters to be polluted. He has repealed laws preventing coal from polluting rivers, streams, and lakes. He has overturned orders blocking the Keystone Pipeline and the Dakota Access Pipelines. He continues to remove protections threatening US water used for tea. Economics: 3.) Tea primarily grows in 10 countries, none are the US. If President Trump continues his trade war rhetoric and tariffs are placed on tea, like in 1773, tea may disappear from shelves in America or become so pricey Americans wont be able to afford it. The TeaBook's Stakeholders: 4.) Lastly, to have a tea party requires friends, family, or tea lovers. With a travel ban on many countries, Americans are losing the ability to have tea with the people they most desire, and most of the world drinks tea. Verse Solutions today announced that it will be sponsoring a webinar hosted by Quality Magazine titled, What is the Market View on Quality Management? on Wednesday, May 10th at 2 PM (EDT). This webinar will be led by Verses Director of Product Strategy, Tim Lozier. Join us as we delve into priorities and create a focus on quality managements biggest challenges and how to tackle them, says Lozier. Attendees will gain an understanding on the mindset of quality management, technologys role in market needs and recommendations for greater visibility and control. Register for the webinar here. For more information on Verse Solutions products or services, visit us at http://www.versesolutions.com. About Verse Solutions Quality, EHS and GMP Compliance Management software is becoming a growing requirement in businesses today. With the speed of the market ever-increasing, companies need solutions that will allow them to manage and track Quality, EHS and GMP Compliance processes, while automating these processes efficiently. Verse Solutions was developed to enable organizations to gain these valuable tools in a cost-effective manner. Verse Solutions has all the key processes such as Document Control, Corrective Action, Audits, Complaint Handling, Incidents and Training in a dedicated cloud environment. This means you have an enterprise Quality, EHS and GMP Compliance Management System in your own personal cloud. For more information on the latest additions to Verse Solutions or for a full list of the functionality available in each suite, visit us at http://www.versesolutions.com or blog.versesolutions.com. Te Wu shares the spotlight at the PMI Global Congress with insights on business execution from his presentation, The Five Rules of Business Execution: Achieving Immediate and Sustainable Strategy Implementation PMI Global Congress 2017 will present Te Wu, founder and CEO of PMO Advisory and Assistant Professor at Montclair State University, at an Education Session featuring the speaker on May 2, 2017 in Rome, Italy. A recent survey of more than 600 global and U.S. executives found that execution excellence was the number one challenge facing corporate leaders in Asia, Europe, and the United States, leading a list of some 80 issues, including innovation, geopolitical instability, and top-line growth. Te Wu will tackle this challenge head on as he shares the spotlight at the PMI Global Congress with insights on business execution founded on his presentation, The Five Rules of Business Execution: Achieving Immediate and Sustainable Strategy Implementation. Te Wu will expand upon how the 5 rules: 1). Focus on the Vital Few; 2). Determine What is Good Enough for the Rest; 3). Establish Good Metric Systems; 4). Nurture and Motivate People; and 5). Develop a Culture of Execution Readiness; which all foster success and achieve results in execution. Prof. Wu will include an exploration of the current state of strategy implementation, a discussion of common factors leading to both success and failure, an illustration of a comprehensive framework for planning success in organizations, and the laying out of the foundation for sustainable business execution. Bringing together hundreds of project, program and portfolio managers from around the world, PMI Global Congress 2017 provides 3 days of unparalleled professional development, premier education, knowledge sharing, and networking. PMI Global Congress 2017 enhances personal skill sets, empowering leaders to drive strategic organizational objectives through the advocacy and advancement of the profession. Innovative keynotes challenge the status quo; industry experts deliver actionable solutions; and peer-driven content offers real-world insights into todays evolving project and business challenges. What: Applied Education Session Featured Speaker When: Tuesday, 2 May 2017 10:45 am 12:00 noon. Where: PMI Global Congress 2017, Rome Italy Session Title: The Five Rules of Business Execution: Achieving Immediate and Sustainable Strategy Implementation Follow this on Twitter: #PMIEMEA17 Those unable to attend PMI Global Congress 2017, can still gain the Business Execution insights and advisory of Prof. Te Wu and an invitation to the white paper of the presentation by signing up with the PMO Advisory Newsletter entitled the Project Management Insider. The Project Management Insider is monthly and includes helpful and practical advice on Portfolio, Program, and Project management topics which will benefit any organization. Also included is advance notice about training, events, webinars, new product development, upcoming releases and more -- including early bird discounts on training courses. Click here to view the latest newsletter and sign up for the PMO Advisory Project Management Insider Newsletter. About Prof. Te Wu: Prof. Te Wu is certified in PfMP, PgMP, PMP, and PMI-RMP, along with being the CEO of PMO Advisory - a PMI Global R.E.P, and an Assistant Professor at Montclair State University. He is an active PMI volunteer on multiple fronts, including serving on PMIs Portfolio Management Core Team, CAPM Learning Objectives Task Team, and he is one of the few people that spans the boundaries of being a practitioner, executive, teacher, storyteller, writer, and researcher. About PMI: Project Management Institute is the world's leading not-for-profit professional membership association for the project, program and portfolio management profession. Founded in 1969, PMI delivers value to more than 2.9 million professionals working in nearly every country in the world through global advocacy, collaboration, education and research. Today, Jefferson Health in Philadelphia and National Jewish Health, the nations leading respiratory hospital, based in Denver, Colorado, announced an agreement to create the Jane and Leonard Korman Respiratory Institute in Philadelphia. The Institute is enabled by the continuing support of the Jane and Leonard Korman Family Foundation. The collaboration leverages the strengths of each organization and will define best practices for treatment and research of pulmonary and related diseases including COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, sarcoidosis and infectious respiratory diseases. The Respiratory Institute is expected to open this summer, with additional locations anticipated across Jefferson Healths regional campuses. One in four Americans suffers from serious chronic or life threatening respiratory diseases, which cause millions of deaths, send patients to emergency rooms, and severely impact quality of life each and every day. National Jewish Health is the leading and only institution dedicated to research and treatment of respiratory disease, treating both adults and children. Jefferson Health is reimagining health care for the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey, with 23,000 people dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate care for patients and discovering new treatments and therapies to define the future of care. Together, Jefferson Health and National Jewish Health bring an extraordinary level of expertise in addressing complex respiratory illnesses. This is a model for how organizations can work together to deliver more value to our patients by providing the right care in the communities we serve, said Stephen K. Klasko, M.D., MBA, President and CEO of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health. Our partnership will transform the way pulmonary care is delivered, and we are looking forward to being part of a growing collaborative dedicated to the treatment and research of pulmonary and related diseases. Teaming up with a visionary health care organization like Jefferson Health extends the extraordinary respiratory network National Jewish Health is creating with world class partners, said Michael Salem, M.D., President and CEO of National Jewish Health. This new relationship and the physicians and researchers who will be working together, will help many more patients in the Philadelphia area and throughout the Northeast. My wife, Jane, and I know what its like to live with a disease that threatens something as fundamental to life as your breathing, said Leonard Korman. Its been our dream to help provide a premier resource for respiratory health for the community. Thanks to Jefferson and National Jewish Health, its becoming a reality. The Respiratory Institute will provide a unique and deep patient care experience tailored for Jefferson Health. The Respiratory Institute also will focus on a research network, bringing together investigators to advance care for complex respiratory diseases. In addition, the Jane and Leonard Korman Respiratory Institute will be integrated with the Respiratory Institute that National Jewish Health and Mount Sinai in New York established in 2014. Together, these three entities will collaborate on research, clinical trials and other programs that will serve patients throughout the Northeast in an unparalleled respiratory network. Many people take breathing for granted, until they cant. Respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD affect millions of people in the United States, said Richard Martin, M.D., Chair of Medicine at National Jewish Health. Through this collaboration, we look forward to extending our work in providing multidisciplinary, outcomes-driven specialty programs that are based in a tradition of clinical and research excellence. The work we do makes a difference in peoples lives, and we are excited to come together to reach more people. The Jane and Leonard Korman Respiratory Institute will give us the opportunity to improve the lives of thousands of patients with respiratory diseases by offering customized treatment protocols and breakthrough research, said Gregory Kane, M.D., the Jane and Leonard Korman Professor of Pulmonary Medicine and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Jefferson. We are grateful to Jane, Leonard and their family for their vision and support that will allow us to move forward on this journey with our colleagues at National Jewish Health who bring exceptional expertise and experience to this critical area. About Jefferson Jefferson, through its academic and clinical entities of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, including Abington Health and Aria Health, is reimagining health care for the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey. Jefferson has 23,000 people dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients, educating the health professionals of tomorrow, and discovering new treatments and therapies to define the future of care. With a university and hospital that date back to 1824, today Jefferson is comprised of six colleges, nine hospitals, 34 outpatient and urgent care locations, and a multitude of physician practices throughout the region, serving more than 100,000 inpatients, 373,000 emergency patients and 2.2 million outpatients annually. About National Jewish Health National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. Founded 118 years ago as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health today is the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking medical research and treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders. Patients and families come to National Jewish Health from around the world to receive cutting-edge, comprehensive and coordinated care. To learn more, visit http://www.njhealth.org. Salestream Software, Inc. (http://www.salestreamsoft.com), of Corona, CA announced it has signed a formal agreement in principle to acquire mTusker Inc. of Denver, CO (http://www.mtusker.com). mTusker Inc. is an emerging provider of Cloud-based, Software as a Service (SaaS) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions for telecommunications industry providers, agencies and the broader small and medium business (SMB) market. mTuskers comprehensive ERP software is ideally positioned to serve the upper tier of the small and the lower tier of the mid-sized business market; an underserved segment. mTuskers ERP suite of products significantly expands the functionality, scalability and value proposition of Salestreams widely-adopted MasterStream product suite and the Salestream eco system of providers, managed service providers (MSPs), master agents and agents. MasterStreamTM is the leader in telecom sales productivity tools with CRM, complex quoting, order document automation, order tracking, and analytics modules, which complements mTuskers CRM, commissions, inventory, project management and trouble ticket modules. The combined product offering will provide more than a dozen service modules today with several more planned for release this year. The Salestream/mTusker platform will also enable simple integration with 3rd party applications allowing the platform to accommodate customers ever-evolving needs. We saw tremendous alignment and synergies between our companies, culture, and products, said Jon Zakin, President of Salestream Software. By combining MasterStreams sales productivity tools with the broad capabilities of the mTusker platform, our customers will enjoy the most feature-rich and compelling sales productivity platform and business management tools tailored to the converging telecom and IT market. The two companies announced their intent to merge on April 12th at this years annual Channel Partners Conference & Expo to an enthusiastic reception. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing our belief that there is tremendous opportunity in our target markets, added Zakin. We recognized from early on in our exploration of the telecommunications channel market that Salestream was a critical software provider for the telecommunications industry and its channel partners, said Roger Toennis, CEO of mTusker. Toennis also added, The more we explored the technology, market and team synergies, the more we saw what a powerful combination these two companies could be. We view this combination as that rare situation when two companies combine forces to deliver a 1+1= 11 outcome for our current and future customers. The transaction is expected to close in July, 2017. About Salestream Software Salestream Software provides superior sales productivity solutions to the telecom and IT industry and hosts the largest telecom eco system of providers, MSPs, master agents and agents in the industry. The MasterStream family of hosted productivity services allows telecom service providers and master agents to automate time-consuming processes related to the management of partners, opportunities, quoting, orders, and commissions, thereby freeing up resources to focus on selling. With MasterStream, telecom and managed service companies can dramatically accelerate revenue while reducing operating costs. About mTusker mTusker has created the only comprehensive, affordable, single pane of glass CRM/ERP software suite for the telecom and broader SMB market. mTusker is unique also in its value to the under-served small and medium-sized general business market. mTusker was built leveraging the expertise and experience of industry insiders and best-in-class software system architects. Will Healy Speaks to Students The kids were surprised with how sensors are used in everyday activities; from operating an assembly line to keeping score while playing corn hole. Second grade students from Thornwilde Elementary had a great time visiting Balluff on March 29th and 30th. They went on a factory tour and participated in hands-on activities as they learned about the manufacturing process. On March 29th and 30th, 100 students from Thornwidle Elementary in Hebron, KY visited Balluff's North American Headquarters to learn more about modern manufacturing and automation. Their visit included several popular hands-on activities and games which provided first-hand experience for the students and teachers to learn how sensors and automation work to improve manufacturing outcomes, as well as a tour of Balluff's semi-automated warehouse and electronic assembly facility. "It was a fun learning experience for our second graders. They enjoyed hands-on activities while learning about how sensors can be used in their own lives," says Michelle Windows, Thornwilde Elementary second grade teacher. To connect theory to the real world, students took a tour of Balluff's electronic assembly and semi-automated warehouse facility. Many great questions were asked as they experienced a lean manufacturing environment and saw how raw materials become a finished and tested product. "The kids were surprised with how sensors are used in everyday activities; from operating an assembly line to keeping score while playing corn hole," says Jodi Cesene, Thornwilde Elementary second grade teacher. Balluff regularly hosts student groups of various ages at their Florence, Kentucky facility. "We try to foster a positive manufacturing experience and support STEM initiatives in our local community" shares Will Healy III, Marketing Management Director for Balluff, Inc. About Balluff Balluff Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Balluff GmbH, Neuhausen, Germany, is a leading manufacturer of a wide range of inductive, photoelectric, vision, capacitive and magnetic sensors as well as linear position transducers, RFID systems, and networking products. Balluff products for OEM and factory floor solutions are used to control, regulate, automate, assemble, position, and monitor manufacturing, assembly, and packaging sequences for industries including: metalworking, automotive, plastics, material handling, wood processing, aerospace, alternative energy, medical, electrical, and electronics. For more information, visit http://www.balluff.us Visit Balluff on Flickr for more photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHskTUPqfg Join The Israel Project as Ambassador Dennis Ross conducts an on-the-record conference call with journalists to discuss expectations for the upcoming meeting between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. President Donald Trump. What: On-the-record conference call with Ambassador Dennis Ross When: Monday, May 1st @ 2:30pm EST Dial-in Instructions: US Dial-in: 1-866-710-0179 Outside US Dial-in: 1-334-323-7224 Passcode: 3067 This call is on-the-record. If you plan to call in, please RSVP to events(at)theisraelproject(dot)org with your questions. About the speaker: Ambassador Dennis Ross is counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP). Prior to returning to the Institute in 2011, he served two years as special assistant to President Obama and National Security Council senior director for the Central Region, and a year as special advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. For more than twelve years, Ambassador Ross played a leading role in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process and dealing directly with the parties in negotiations. A highly skilled diplomat, Ambassador Ross was U.S. point man on the peace process in both the George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. The Israel Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational organization that provides factual information about Israel and the Middle East to the media, policymakers and the public. Visit http://www.theisraelproject.org for more information. From April 30 to May 3, the Urgent Care Association of America (UCAOA) and College of Urgent Care Medicine will host industry leaders for the annual spring Convention & Expo, called Momentum 2017. Momentum 2017 workshops, sessions and speakers will help those in the industry adapt to the issues currently affecting urgent care and on-demand healthcare. Momentum 2017 will feature urgent cares top offerings of educational opportunities on both clinical and management issues, said Sean McNeeley, M.D., chair of the UCAOA Education Committee. A number of very timely sessions will help members address some of the hot topics in the industry, including our rapidly changing healthcare environment and dynamic payment structures, and the evolving demands and needs of patients. Some of the trends addressed during the convention will include: Measuring Outcomes and Determining Value Presenters and sessions at Momentum 2017 will focus heavily on the most pressing issues and trends in healthcare, including how to navigate evolving payment structures and uncertainty. As the industry continues moving toward value-based payment structures, a variety of sessions will offer guidance on the right processes to capture needed data and move into the next frontier. Sessions will address dealing with high-deductible health plans, managing value-based reimbursement and optimizing utilization. Understanding Todays Consumer A number of sessions will help urgent care providers understand how patient needs and behavior are evolving, as consumers take a higher interest in their healthcare monitoring and management. This will help urgent care thrive in a more competitive marketplace. In the past decade, there has been an explosion of affordable, convenient healthcare options including urgent care, telemedicine, retail clinics and on-site work clinics that provide on-demand services for a fraction of the price of an ER visit, said Dr. McNeeley. Momentum 2017 will help operators and their staff continue to set their practices apart and build awareness among patients who are confused in the increasingly crowded marketplace. Emerging Technologies Technology is driving change in the industry both in practice management and consumer understanding. Momentum 2017 will highlight the ways technology can be maximized to improve center efficiency, patient engagement and overall population health. Momentum 2017 will feature keynote speaker Kevin Lacz, former Navy SEAL sniper, and general session speakers Bill G. Felkey, professor emeritus of healthcare informatics at Auburn University, and Tom Charland, CEO & founder of Merchant Medicine. The Convention & Expo will be held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, and will be attended by physicians, advanced practice clinicians, business professionals, UCAOA leadership and industry representatives from across the country. About the Urgent Care Association of America The Urgent Care Association of America (UCAOA) is a membership association for urgent care health and management professionals, clinics and those who support the urgent care industry. UCAOA provides educational programs in clinical care and practice management, has a monthly Journal of Urgent Care Medicine and maintains an active online presence and member community for daily exchange of best practices. UCAOA provides leadership, education and resources for the successful practice of urgent care for its members. For more information visit http://www.ucaoa.org. "Cause Selling The Sanford Way" is based on the vision of philanthropist T. Denny Sanford and offers approaches developed through the founding Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University The Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University is pleased to announce the launch of an affiliated Institute at Long Island University (LIU) that will help nonprofits increase their fundraising capabilities and positive impact in the Northeast United States. The addition marks the ongoing expansion of a nationwide network of Institutes that are led by the founding Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University to offer curricula for nonprofit leaders and fundraisers based on the vision of philanthropist and entrepreneur T. Denny Sanford. The approaches are presented by recognized nonprofit leaders, members of academia, and renowned philanthropists. Through the arrangement, the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at Long Island University has access to educational resources and content developed through the founding Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University. The founding Institute, launched in 2014, is based out of the private, nonprofit National University, which is the anchor institution of the National University System. A foundational element of each Institute is the Cause Selling approach, which blends the passion of philanthropy with an emphasis on proven business and sales principles to support the work of frontline nonprofit fundraisers. Other affiliated Institutes have opened at John F. Kennedy University, which is part of the National University System and serves the San Francisco Bay Area; Augustana University; and Bellevue University. The Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at Long Island University is a natural extension of the Universitys longstanding tradition of service, said Long Island University President Dr. Kimberly R. Cline. We are proud to join this nationwide movement and carry out Mr. T. Denny Sanfords vision by supporting the great work of our regions nonprofit community. Dr. Lena Rodriguez, Endowed Director of the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University, said: We are very pleased to celebrate the launch of the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at Long Island University, which will strengthen the philanthropic culture in the region they serve and build the capacity of nonprofit leaders. The vision of Mr. Sanford is to make the world a better place, and through the work of the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy we create stronger communities through more sustainable and impactful nonprofits. LIUs own broad and ongoing partnerships with local, regional and national nonprofit organizations have brought services and opportunities to its students and extended community alike, and the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at Long Island University will strengthen these partnerships by serving as a resource for nonprofit organizations in the Northeast that wish to increase their fundraising capabilities and their impact in the community. The core approaches of the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy network are based on Mr. Sanfords own interactions with hundreds of nonprofits and foundations, and his desire to offer fundraisers access to proven approaches that more effectively convey their causes. The Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University has overseen the development of a one-of-its kind textbook, Cause Selling: The Sanford Way, which is based on the vision of Mr. Sanford and outlines in detail how the cause selling approach can strengthen fundraising effectiveness through business and sales principles that incorporate communication skills, basic psychology, research, strategy and data analysis. The Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University has also developed more than 30 educational content modules that focus on Cause Selling and related topics of donor relations, planned giving, and social media/marketing for nonprofits. The modules are available online for affiliated Institutes to develop workshops and seminars in coordination with nonprofit leaders, members of academia and renowned philanthropists who bring their own professional and regional perspective to the content. More than 12,000 nonprofit leaders have benefitted from the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University programs, which include seminars and lectures and webinars. The Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University also meets standards of excellence as outlined by Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) International and has been approved by the nonprofit certification organization as a Continuing Education Provider. About the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University The Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University is leading a national initiative dedicated to strengthening the impact of nonprofits through fundraising-focused educational programs that are presented by recognized nonprofit leaders, members of academia and renowned philanthropists. Based on the vision of philanthropist and entrepreneur T. Denny Sanford, the founding Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University was launched in 2014 to develop curriculum that is now being shared with affiliated Institutes around the country. To learn more about the movement led by the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University: http://sanfordeducationprograms.org/instituteofphilanthropy.cfm Ellevate Network is proud to launch their newest chapter in Madison, Wisconsin. The women of Ellevate Madison are driving change, working together, investing in each other to improve our communities and the world. Ellevate Network, the nations leading network for professional women, launched a Madison, Wisconsin Chapter on April 26th with a landmark event. With more than 40 chapters globally, Ellevate Network provides ambitious professional women with opportunities to connect with one another locally in order to expand their network and develop their skills to be successful at work. The launch of the Madison chapter marks the first launch of an Ellevate chapter in Wisconsin, and brought together some of the most impressive local women leaders. Meg Prestigiacomo, Vice President, The Prestigiacomo Carroll Group at Baird, and Co-President of the Madison Chapter of Ellevate, said of the chapter launch: Ellevate provides an innovative, fresh perspective on how we can network, mentor and invest in each other: online, in person, and across industries. We are excited to be the first Chapter of Ellevate in Wisconsin, and we look forward to connecting women in the area through events, offering inspiration, education, skills building, mentoring, business development, and charitable opportunities. "We, the women of Ellevate Madison, are driving change, working together, investing in each other to improve our communities and the world. The launch event was held at the Overture Center for the Arts, featuring an impressive group of local women leaders including Jan Eddy, former CEO of Wingra Technologies, Lorrie Heinemann, President of Madison Development Corporation, KeNisha Ruff, Founder and Creative Director of Marie Hunter Beauty, and Mary Turke, Co-Founder of Turke & Strauss. The panel engaged in a lively discussion focusing on how to inspire, lead and create to achieve success and happiness in work and in life. The chapter hosted Ellevate Network President Kristy Wallace, who moderated the panel discussion. Ellevate Network President Kristy Wallace said: We are excited to be launching an Ellevate chapter in Madison. There is a strong community of women leaders in the area, and we look forward to bringing them together to share strategies for success in work and life. Providing a space for this already thriving community of professional women to network and learn from one another is such a great opportunity and were so happy to be in Madison. Ellevate Madison is thrilled by the support of the local business community, including Godfrey & Kahn. and Baird. The chapter is led by Pam Krill (Godfrey & Kahn) and Meg Prestigiacomo, each of whom serve as Co-President, along with Jody Hansen (BMO), Lana Klimmek (Spectrum Brands), Jillana Peterson (ZenDesk), and Tanya Salman (Michael Best). To learn about more events coming up for the Ellevate Madison chapter and get involved as a business or a member, take a look at their chapter page here. About Ellevate Network: Ellevate Network is a global professional women's network committed to elevating each other through education, inspiration, and opportunity. Our mission is to close the gender achievement gap in business by providing women with a community to lean on and learn from. AP is an advocate of Safety Week because it gives the construction industry the forum to showcase the importance of daily safety on the job site, added Jeff Hansen, CEO of AP Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP), one of the nations leading general contractors, will be joining more than 60 construction firms across the U.S. and Canada for Safety Week held May 1-5. Safety Week is an annual industry-wide initiative organized by construction firms representing the Construction Industry Safety Initiative (CISI) and the Incident and Injury-Free (IIF) CEO Forum. These companies will join forces with one purpose: to inspire everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety. Statistics show that each year, more than 80,000 workers are injured on construction sites across the U.S. Safety Week 2017 has been given the theme, Its in our hands. Emphasizing the personal pride and responsibility workers feel for the work they do, and uniting them around this shared sense of responsibility for each other, the job site, and beyond office walls or work site fences to family and friends at home. Safety is not an exercise in the hypothetical or theoretical; it is very real due to the impact it has on our people, said Jeff Hansen, CEO of AP. Our people are our culture and what distinguishes us from other firms. We better be taking care of our people and foster a culture of safety to provide for the long term success of AP. That is the reason we started our IIF journey over a year ago. The collective mission of Safety Week 2017 is to partner together in: thanking workers for supporting safety and recognizing efforts to be injury free; increasing awareness of the importance of being committed to safety every day; inspiring all participants to share best practices and work together in strengthening the industrys safety culture; celebrating the need to be injury free; and conducting on-site safety awareness activities. Safety Week activities will take place every day on all AP job sites coast to coast. Teams will conduct events such as equipment training sessions, crisis management drills and fall protection demonstrations. Specific safety topics will also be discussed throughout the week. AP is an advocate of Safety Week because it gives the construction industry the forum to showcase the importance of daily safety on the job site, added Hansen. AP empowers everyone, regardless of position, to act with authority when it comes to a safe work environment. This is a proactive approach to safety that will lead to improved productivity, quality of work, a respected reputation and better employee morale. About AP Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP) is a U.S.-based, privately held firm that is consistently ranked among the top 50 construction managers and general contractors in the nation. Founded in 1946, the company has built longstanding commitments to the regions in which it operates and is known nationally for its innovative and collaborative approaches within the building industry. AP serves the education, multifamily, healthcare, commercial, municipal and senior living market segments from its offices in Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis and Phoenix. For more information, visit http://www.a-p.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. About Safety Week Safety Week is sponsored by members of The Construction Industry Safety Initiative (CISI) and the Incident & Injury Free Executive Forum (IIF). Additional support comes from the Alliance Partners, many of which are non-profit associations. For more information, visit. http://www.constructionsafetyweek.com Dhana Organic Baby Playsuits Apparel can be organic from farm to fashion, with colorful and whimsical designs perfect for boys and girls from babyhood through high school. Dhana, Inc., the leading US organic baby-through-teen fashion brand, will showcase its baby apparel at an exciting Organic Trade Association organic apparel and home pop-up" event May 4-6 in New York City. "Live Organic from Farm to Home" (#LiveOrganic) will feature 13 leading organic fiber lifestyle brands and 11 support businesses showcasing that what you put ON your body matters as much as what you put IN it. Dhana will highlight its blank, striped, and contemplative message (such as Joy and Peace) baby tees. Its unique Were Wearin the World collections grow with children to include colorful dresses, denim jackets and pants, polo shirts, and both plaid and striped shirts for youth to age 18. Dhana demonstrates its sustainable and ethical credibility by sourcing 100 percent organic Fairtrade cotton, and manufactures products using low-impact dyes certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), considered the most stringent organic textile processing standard in the world. Dhana is in the process of becoming GOTS certified itself. Were excited to show consumers how apparel can be organic from farm to fashion, with colorful and whimsical designs perfect for boys and girls from babyhood through high school, says Shamini Dhana, founder and CEO of Dhana, Inc. Kids and teens can now wear apparel with pizzazz that is also socially and environmentally conscious. Live Organic From Farm to Home will be held at the farm-to-table Treehaus MiMA, a new organic cafe and food market located at 470 West 42nd Street. The VIP media reception takes place Thursday evening, May 4, from 6-8 p.m., then the pop-up will take place Friday and Saturday, May 5-6, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The media is asked to RSVP for the Thursday evening event by May 2. Live Organic from Farm to Home-sponsoring organic fiber brands are: Coyuchi, Dhana, Gallant, Grund, MetaWear, Naturepedic, Organic Cotton Plus, prAna, Ramblers Way, Spiritex, Synergy, Syona Home, and Timberland. Sponsoring brands, farmers, organizations, and retailers are: Control Union, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Horizon, OneCert, Oregon Tilth, MOMs Organic Market, Organic Valley, Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative, Textile Exchange, Whole Foods, and the Richard D. Siegel Law Offices. About Dhana, Inc. (http://www.Dhana.com): Sausalito, CA-based Dhana, Inc. is a Certified B Corporation and ethical fashion brand committed to connecting people and the planet through sustainable fashion for everyone. Shamini Dhana is founder and CEO of Dhana, Inc. and has instilled fair trade, ethical, and sustainable principles throughout the companys supply chain. Shamini brings to the eco-fashion world over 20 years of corporate executive experience, and is a Climate Ride Ambassador, associate producer of The True Cost documentary, and board member of the Ethical Fashion Forum (EFF). Dhana apparel is available online at http://www.Dhana.com and through wholesale orders. L2 Capital Acquires Rugs Direct We are very excited to be able to support such a successful company and group of managers. Together, with the assistance of the world-class Board weve assembled, were optimistic well be able to build upon the Companys current growth trajectory. L2 Capital Partners, a private equity family office headquartered in Devon, Pennsylvania, announced that it has completed the acquisition of Winchester Carpet and Rugs, which operates http://www.Rugs-Direct.com (Rugs Direct or the Company), the leading online specialty retailer of area rugs and various other complementary home decor items. Terms of the deal were not announced. With roots dating back to the 20th century in both conventional retail and direct mail, the Companys website boasts over 180,000 SKUs and generates annual page views in excess of 46 million from consumers and professional interior designers throughout North America. Rugs Direct is headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, and has approximately twenty-five employees. Bob Levine, Managing Partner of L2 Capital, said, We are very excited to be able to support such a successful company and group of managers. Together, with the assistance of the world-class Board weve assembled, were optimistic well be able to build upon the Companys current growth trajectory. David Craig, Co-Owner of Rugs Direct, noted, L2 Capital is a terrific partner for Rugs Direct due to their in-house operational and e-commerce expertise, as well as their external consumer product and direct-to-consumer marketing resources. This partnership places Rugs Direct in an outstanding position for growth and continued leadership in the home-decor market, added Randy Kremer, Rugs Directs other Co-Owner. Weve learned a lot and have been very successful in our first 20 years of e-commerce, said Kremer. In partnership with L2, the skys the limit. Oxer Mezzanine Partners and Salem Investment Partners provided the debt financing and co-invested in this transaction. Rugs Direct was advised by Dinan Capital Advisors. About L2 Capital Partners: L2 Capital Partners (http://www.L2Capital.net) is a lower middle market private equity family office that specializes in making controlling or minority investments in business service, consumer product and manufacturing companies with enterprise values up to $65 million. L2 Capital adds value by helping business executives and owners meet their strategic and financial goals by providing access to professionals and resources gained over 40 years of principal investing experience. For additional information, contact L2 Capital at info(at)L2Capital.net or (610) 922-4030. A safe haven for all single expats Single Expats goes beyond the typical dating sites, since it's specified for a certain 'on-the-go' type of single that travels more than the average person, and usually has a very unique perspective on dating and relationships" Sometimes being far from home is not easy, especially when a person is new to a place, has no friends or social life, and has no clue where to meet another expatriate single. Single Expats has managed to unite the expat dating community, and assist the lonely and homesick to meet others in their locations, and make cross-cultural connections or maybe even find love. Whether it's due to a job, education, a special posting or calling, travel and living abroad is a lot more agreeable with Single Expats offering first-hand cultural and dating immersion. Expats looking to get to know the local culture and dating scene properly can connect with local singles whod be happy to take them around town and show them all the hot spots, nooks and crannies necessary for true cultural immersion. As expected, the service provides users with plenty of ways to have one-on-one communication and build a relationship virtually. The opportunity to meet in exciting locations has been seized by a myriad of singles living abroad thanks to the popularity of the site, and its extensive network that it offers to the expat dating community. Single Expats goes beyond the typical dating sites, since it's specified for a certain 'on-the-go' type of single that travels more than the average person, and usually has a very unique perspective on dating and relationships, compared to the traditional online dater. This service, by creating an online haven for expats looking to connect with either singles from their home country living abroad, or others from completely different locations, has made online dating instantly and irresistibly much more exciting. SingleExpats.com can be found on the web at http://www.singleexpats.com and is available 24/7. One BBW's Mission is to pair up Big Beautiful Women and their Admirers Traditional dating solutions for BBWs haven't really worked as effectively since conventional dating sites have their 'ideal' profile for both men and women set out, those members get the most messages and chat requests." It's well known that the main ideal female figure or size in the Western world is a petite feminine body with very unrealistic proportions. It's so unrealistic that only a small percentage of the population is able to meet those demands. The pressure the average woman feels to conform is so huge, with the media dictating what is 'beautiful' and what's in style. That's why the makers of One BBW decided that women with fuller figures also deserved a chance to find confidence alongside meeting those who admire their physiques and look. One BBW is a safe space where body positivism is cherished and fetishism discouraged. There is no body-shaming, and that's exactly what the market was lacking. This is a dating service that helps promote more positive body images and puts them in a context that highlights their attractiveness, rather than the negativity that bigger bodied singles face on a daily basis. Its a step in the right direction where big and beautiful bodies can have a platform to be accepted and adored. Traditional dating solutions for BBWs have rarely worked as effectively since conventional dating sites have their 'ideal' profile for both men and women set out, those members get the most messages and chat requests. With the launch of this service, members know they are going to meet big bodied and beautiful women, and instead of being ridiculed, ignored or stigmatized due to weight, BBW singles can feel confident that they will be desired and sought out. And ultimately that's what online dating should be about, feeling good about oneself and meeting others who can appreciate that too. OneBBW.com can be found on the web at http://www.onebbw.com and is available 24/7. Cozy Connections--So You Don't Drift Apart Sea otters hold hands when they sleep so they don't float away from each other. And that's why we've created Cozy Connections--so you don't drift apart. Today Cozy Connections launches its crowd funding campaign for its Event Boxes on Kickstarter. CCs Event Boxes represent a new and unique, yet simple and effortless way to keep in touch with distant loved ones, enabling users to create a high-touch experience in a high-tech environment. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1145931797/cozy-connections-event-boxes Cozy Connections introduces Event Boxes, which offer the materials needed for a complete shared experience between friends and family members. Starting with Tea Time, Spa Day, and Movie Night, Cozy Connections has designed its offerings to create moments of peace and connection in an increasingly frenetic world. Our friends and family members are precious to us, whether they live next door or half a world away, says Linda Ruth, Founder at Cozy Connections. But regularly scheduled calls cant take the place of actually doing things with people. Weve spoken with adult children continents away from their parents; with grandparents who long to find new ways of connecting with their growing grandchildren. To keep a relationship alive and healthy, its important not just to revisit old memories but also to create new ones. Thats what Cozy Connections has createda way to create experiences together, even when far apart. Cozy Connections makes that process effortless, from scheduling an event for two or more participants, to sending out invitations and reminders, to providing the items needed: teas and treats, nail polish and face masks, or cozy slippers and snacks for movie night. Our mascots, Connor and CeeCee, are sea otters, Amy Spitzfaden, Founder at Cozy Connections, explains. Sea otters hold hands when they sleep so they dont float away from each other. And thats why weve created Cozy Connectionsso you dont drift apart. Launch boxes: o Tea Time o Spa Day o Movie Night o And many more to come! You can back Cozy Connections on their Kickstarter page now, with event boxes available starting at $40 for Early Bird adopters. Cozy Connections is based in Peterborough, New Hampshire, USA. Founders Linda Ruth, Amy Spitzfaden, and Ravi Both, management consultants with years of business experience, lead the team. Passionate entrepreneurs who have supported dozens of businesses launching hundreds of digital and print publications, they were inspired by stories of the challenges and successes of 21st century relationships. PR Contact: Name Amy Spitzfaden-Both Email amy(at)cozy-connections(dot)com Phone # (603) 809-3636 Twitter @cozyconnections Skype @lindaji108 (Linda Ruth) Christian Loving Website comes as a Handy Addition to your Efforts to find a Christian Partner. Combining the traditional with the modern allows for revered values to be combined with modern technology which brings the opportunity for fun and romance to develop naturally, between those who share the same belief system and tenets. A one hundred percent, fully Christian singles dating site has been launched globally, and it makes online dating services available for both the young and old. It's a niche specific site with an extensive network of Christian singles who are looking to make a meaningful and lasting Christian connection using online dating services. Very popular among Christians are meetings for youth and other kinds of clubs that help local social lives grow and in the past, it's where matchmaking thrived. Here, the concept is the same, but it's just virtual where people from a certain religious persuasion or denomination can use a site that's supported solely for Christian dating. Combining the traditional with the modern allows for revered values to be combined with modern technology which brings the opportunity for fun and romance to develop naturally, between those who share the same belief system and tenets. It's a digital matchmaking miracle. Taking advantage of the fact that more and more people are taking to online dating to find their 'soul mate', this site is geared both to finding a suitable mate and making a connection at a spiritual soul level. Working with an expanded pool of potential partners, the best dating advice to newcomers would be to start local and expand from there. It's a secure, reliable and easy to use site that takes the guess work out of creating a profile and making connections. It's the perfect solution for busy singles to meet their most compatible partner. ChristianLoving.com can be found on the web at http://www.christianloving.com and is available 24/7. Steve Schneider, Midwest region vice president for the American Insurance Association (AIA), issued the following statement after the Illinois House passed two adverse pieces of workers compensation legislation (HB 2525 and HB 2622) last night. If enacted, HB 2525 would require insurers to submit rates to the Illinois Department of Insurance, and then wait up to 30 days before using them. This removes considerable flexibility for both insurers and their customers from the marketplace, adds unnecessary delays and imposes significant resource demands and costs. HB 2622 would create the Illinois Employers Mutual Insurance Company (IEMIC), a state-sponsored fund to provide workers compensation insurance in Illinois. Mr. Schneiders statement follows: AIA is disappointed by the Houses passage of HB 2525 and HB 2622, adverse workers compensation legislation. Illinois is the most competitive state for workers compensation insurance. More than 300 insurers compete for the right to earn a customers business. Competition is intrinsically good for all Illinois employers who must purchase this mandated, comprehensive coverage. This competition stems from Illinois current open competitive rating law that has been in effect for 35 years. HB 2525 would eviscerate that law and its benefits for Illinois employers. By replacing healthy competition with an extremely vague regulatory standard, HB 2525 could lead to every single workers compensation policy and its premiums undergoing formal review by the Department of Insurance every year, or even more frequently. Such bureaucratic interference with open competition will hurt not just workers compensation insurers, but all Illinois businesses. Additionally, HB 2622 not only inappropriately interferes with the private market, but also fails to provide meaningful reform to the Illinois workers compensation system. No reason exists for Illinois to create its own state-sponsored workers compensation insurance company to compete against private sector insurers and jobs when no major crisis is present and massive government intervention is not necessary. Insurers stand ready to work with policymakers on meaningful reform to provide an effective workers compensation system with reduced cost drivers for employers and appropriate benefits and medical care for injured workers with a minimum of delays and disputes. HB 2525 and HB 2622 is not the right approach to achieving meaningful reform. Francoise Gilbert, a shareholder at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, presented at The Masters Conferences Minority Report. How Close Are We To Predicting The Legal Technology Landscape? event. Francoise spoke on Preparing for the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The conference took place on April 25, 2017, in San Francisco, California. The Masters Conference event was focused on opening the borders between the legal community, IT community, information governance, and cybersecurity. The conference provided a spirited discussion on popular legal topics, trends, and rules affecting the legal industry today. Gilbert, a shareholder in the firms Silicon Valley office, focuses her practice and research on U.S. and global data privacy and security in a wide variety of markets, including, among others, big data, connected devices, sensors, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies. Her clients include public or multinational entities, big data analytics companies, connected device developers, cloud service providers, publishers, internet stores, insurance companies, financial institutions, manufacturers, service providers, trade associations, nonprofit organizations, software developers, and others. Gilbert is also the author of the two-volume Global Privacy and Security Law treatise, published by Wolters Kluwer (http://www.globalprivacybook.com), and the co-author of a dozen other law books, including Internet of Things and Data Analytics, published by Wiley. She has received law degrees both in the United States and in France and holds CIPP/US, CIPP/EU, and CIPM certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. One firm worldwide, GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the second largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2016, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. Log in to Save for Later The New York Times: On a cloudy afternoon in the Bayview district, Shaquille, 21, was riding in his sisters 1991 Acura when another car ran a stop sign, narrowly missing them. Both cars screeched to a halt, and Shaquille and the other driver got out. I just wanted to talk, he recalls. But the talk became an argument, and the argument ended when Shaquille sent the other driver to the pavement with a left hook. Later that day, he was arrested and charged with felony assault. He already had a misdemeanor assault conviction for a fight in a laundromat when he was 19. This time he might land in prison. Yet psychosocial maturity measured by impulsivity, risk perception, thrill-seeking, resistance to peer influence did not begin until age 18, gathering momentum through the early 20s. It appeared that these two traits might develop on different timelines, Dr. Steinberg said. In 2011, the MacArthur Foundation organized a group of legal scholars and scientists, including Dr. Steinberg, to study criminal justice and young-adult brains in more detail. It was no secret that the criminal justice systems approach to young adults was not working. Read the whole story: The New York Times Cookies What are cookies ? How do we use cookies? How to control cookies? 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You can delete all cookies that are already on your computer and you can set most browsers to prevent them from being placed.Most browsers allow you to:If you chose to delete cookies, you should be aware that any preferences will be lost. Also, if you block cookies completely many websites (including ours) will not work properly and webcasts will not work at all. For these reasons, we do not recommend turning cookies off when using our webcasting services. A real-life health scare unexpectedly interrupted the proceedings at the 71st annual Edgars banquet, held Thursday night at New York's Grand Hyatt Hotel. Incoming Mystery Writers of America president Jeffery Deaver, who had entertained the audience with a Seussian exploration of whether reading was dead, passed out in the middle of his preamble to the awarding of the Edgar for Best Young Adult Novel. After some anxious moments, and the arrival of an EMS team, Deaver was able to walk out of the room on his own. A subsequent update from the hospital provided the welcome news that the medical tests were all normal. With calm restored to the gathering, MWA executive v-p president Donna Andrews presided over the rest of the evening. Predictably, several presenters employed humor at the expense of President Trump (outgoing MWA president Jeff Abbott attributed the success of his administration to his Russian publishers, and there were multiple references to alternate facts. Andrews own introduction to the festivities noted the mystery genres necessary transformation to look more like the society were living in. That development was exemplified by one of the Grand Masters, Ellen Hart, who noted that her choice to have a gay series lead was not one that led to increased sales, and movingly stated that the audience of one she wrote for was her partner of almost 40 years, Kathy Kruger.And the increased sophistication of the mystery novel was noted in prepared remarks from the winner of the Best Novel Edgar - Noah Hawley, for Before the Fall (Grand Central Publishing). Hawley stated that the best mysteries explore why people commit crimes, and leave readers with more questions than answers. Mary Higgins Clark observed that the award ceremony had come a long way from the first ones she had attended, which consisted of two tables in a small bar, before she presented the eponymous honor for the book most closely written in the Mary Higgins Clark Tradition, to Caroline and Charles Todd, for The Shattered Tree (William Morrow). The Ellery Queen Award, honoring outstanding writing teams and outstanding people in the mystery-publishing industry, was accepted by Neil Nyren, the executive v-p, associate publisher and editor in chief for Putnam, who dated his love for the genre back to encountering The Secret of Skull Mountain, a Hardy Boys mystery he was given to distract him when he was home sick from school. Monica Hesse, who won Best Young Adult Novel for Girl in the Blue Coat (Little Brown Books for Young Readers), garnered laughs when she gave a shout-out to her husband for his steadfast support, while noting that she herself would never want to be married to a writer. Kate Summerscales The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer (Putnam) was the Best Fact Crime book, Flynn Berrys Under the Harrow (Penguin) won Best First Novel, and Adrian McKintys Rain Dogs (Seventh Street Books) was named Best Paperback Original. Marie Kondo, the Japanese professional home organizer and author of the worldwide bestseller, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, will release The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up this summer. The Japanese-style graphic novel will be published by Ten Speed Press this summer. Ten Speed executive editor Lisa Westmoreland said the manga will be released June 27 with a 50,000 copy first printing. The book is illustrated by Yuko Uramoto, a renowned manga artist who was awarded the grand prize at the 2011 Shueisha Aoharu Manga Awards. An imprint of Penguin Random House's Crown Publishing Group, Ten Speed has more than 2.6 million copies of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up in print over 42 printings. The book has turned Kondo--her fans refer to her by her nickname (a registered trademark), KonMari--into an international lifestyle icon. Westmoreland said offering a manga version of Kondos bestseller is a natural step in Japan. KonMari and her editor [at Japanese publisher Sunmark] love manga and theyre excited. The book was originally published in Japan in February. It is being translated into English and published to be read left to right to appeal to American readers unfamiliar with manga. (Most popular English language manga is published in its original form, with the words running right to left, to appeal to American manga fans who demand Japanese authenticity.) Westmoreland described The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up as a fictional case study that shows off the Kondo method of discarding items that do not spark joy. She also emphasizes folding garments, rather than hanging them. In the manga, Kondo acts as a personal consultant to Chiaki, a young professional woman whose apartment, and life, is wildly disorganized. You can see [how KonMari works] from beginning to end, Westmoreland said. Chiaki struggles with her messy apartment and gets KonMari to help her get rid of old stuff. Although there are no plans for Kondo to appear at comics shows, Westmoreland said that Ten Speed will have materials to promote the book at the Comic Cons in both San Diego and New York. Ten Speed is planning to promote the title through digital advertising and social media promotions, as well as an animated book trailer. Kondo is also set to appear on the Rachael Ray Show on May 16. Corrections: in an earlier version of this story the illustrator's name was misspelled, the number of copies in print of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up was misstated to be numbers sold, and Kondo will not make personal appearances at the comics conventions. According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection press release, the more than 50-lbs of cocaine seized was found in the trunk of the Nissan Sentra, which was travelling west on I-10 on April 21. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection) These are Richard Roeper's mini-reviews (unless otherwise noted) of some of the movies currently playing in the Quad-Cities area. "The Promise" (PG-13, 134 min.). This love triangle set against the backdrop of World War I veers into corny territory at times, but it's a solid and sobering reminder of the atrocities of war, bolstered by strong performances from Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale, two of the best actors of their generation. Rating: Three stars. "The Lost City of Z" (PG-13, 140 min.). Charlie Hunnam expertly conveys the bravery, spirit and sometimes reckless nature of an early 20th-century British explorer obsessed with finding proof of an ancient but advanced civilization deep in the Amazon. Director James Gray's breathtaking and stunning epic should be seen on the biggest screen imaginable. Rating: Three and a half stars. Currently on video "The Comedian" (R, 120 min.). What's more painful than watching a comedian bomb? Watching one of our great actors, Robert De Niro, bomb playing a comedian. He and the rest of an exceptionally talented supporting cast flounder about in one ill-conceived set piece after another. Rating: One star. "La La Land" (PG-13, 128 min.). Under the innovative and captivating direction of Damien Chazelle ("Whiplash"), Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone deliver genuine movie-star turns as two struggling, aspiring artists who fall in love, break into song and engage in delightfully choreographed dance numbers. The "real world" fades into the background and we are welcomed into a dreamlike fantasy. Rating: Four stars. "The Founder" (PG-13, 115 min.). The casting of the eminently likable Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc, the sometimes unethical man who turned the McDonald brothers' burger joint into a national fast-food powerhouse, is a stroke of genius. This whip-smart, breezy, sunny and yet also darkly funny slice of Americana is the first great movie I've seen in 2017. Rating: Four stars. Erin Platt has a sinking feeling -- but a good one, as she raises "Titanic: The Musical" at the Brunner Main Stage Theatre at Augustana College this weekend and next. The music is the star of the show," the Q-C musical theater veteran and '92 Augie grad, said recently. "Listening to these stories, we see a lot of parallels with our world today -- the societal structure of the time, immigrants coming to America to make a better life for themselves, the idea that money talks. With music and lyrics by Maury Yeston ("Nine," "Phantom"), and based on a book by Peter Stone ("1776"), the 1997 Broadway show tells the tragic tale of the 1912 maiden voyage of RMS Titanic from Southampton to New York. The massive ocean liner collided with an iceberg and the unsinkable ship slowly sank, killing 1,517 men, women and children. The musical focuses on the hopes of characters based on actual people aboard. "When Peter Stone and Maury Yeston came together to create 'Titanic,' they had two concepts: exploring a new world that allows the passengers to put their complete faith in a machine, and the fact that the audience knows exactly what happens in the end," said Augustana junior Maissie Musick, who studies theater history. "Using these two ideas, the playwright and composer were able to complete a piece with sharp dialogue that leaves the audience in awe," she said. "We'd like to think our societal structure has changed a lot since 1912, but to be honest, money still talks," Ms. Platt said. "Think of the plight of immigrants trying to come to a better world, and you have that in 'Titanic.'" Senior Jacob Kilburg -- who plays ship designer Thomas Andrews -- said the message is: "We shouldn't have distinction between classes because in situations of crisis, you're all on one level. You may die on this boat." Music director Ron May (Augie class of '74) saw the original production in New York, which won five Tonys, including Best Musical. "I was so impressed with the show," he said. "You can relate to it. It translates well. So many musicals are built on glitz and flash. This isn't like that. It's built on emotion and raw energy, and his music really carries that." "As an actor with the music, you don't have to guess what you're supposed to be feeling in the song. The music gives it to you immediately," Mr. Kilburg said, noting the college production restores a number originally cut from the Broadway show, a love ballad between two second-class characters. "It's one of my favorite songs in the show," he said. "It helps build the arc and establishes their relationship." "The music is beautiful; this theater allows you the emotional connection with the characters, being so close to them," Ms. Platt said. The cast and crew are especially thrilled to put on the first major musical in the Brunner Theatre Center since it opened last fall. The $4.2-million project, which rebuilt the upper two floors of the College Center, is named for alums Kim Brunner and Donna Huber, who provided the lead and naming gift of $1 million. "I laughed, because of the transformation of the space," Ms. Platt said of the first time she saw the theater. "This was the cafeteria. Where the stage is, is where I used to sit by the windows and study, or just hang out with friends. The space is completely transformed. The shell of the building looks the same." "It was like 'Wow,' when you compare it to Potter Hall," she said of the Bergendoff Hall space that previously hosted plays. "To be able to have the technical capacity, and obviously much more room on stage, and off, with a scene shop right there." "Oh my gosh, it's night and day from Potter Hall," Mr. May agreed (Potter had a 140-seat capacity and Brunner has 250-plus seats, with the audience facing three sides of the performance space). "This still has the intimacy, but a lot more comfort and technical capability on the production side of things." "It's just first-class," he said. "You can have a lot more elaborate sets," said Mr. Kilburg, a theater and psychology major. "Titanic" has a two-level set, with stairs, and pieces and lights set above two sides of the audience. "It's given students a lot more options. Now that we have a new Black Box, we can do a studio season along with a regular season," Mr. Kilburg said, noting he directed "Agnes of God" in the smaller upper-floor theater. "The potential for what you can do as an actor grew tremendously from the old space." "I love it," said Jon Schrader ('93), who performed opera at Augie and now plays ship owner J. Bruce Ismay. "It's terrifying as a performer but completely exciting too." He also admires the porthole lights surrounding the space. Ismay wants a legacy of Titanic being the biggest, best and fastest ship, Mr. Schrader said. "He's concerned about one thing -- getting there in record time, to make news, so everybody wants to get on the boat." Mr. Kilburg said the way the theater is set up, "the audience is getting on the Titanic with us, and they're on for the whole ride." For this maiden musical voyage, Augustana wanted to reach out to alumni to be involved as cast or crew, Ms. Platt said. Of the 20-member cast, three are alums, including Nate Karstens as Isador Strauss/Hitchens, and John Whitson as Officer Lightoller/J.J. Astor. Susan Holgersson is set designer (she has done many sets at Circa '21 and other theaters); and among the six-piece orchestra are percussionist Mitchell Carter, violinist Karen Neder and cellist Michael Wahlmann. The orchestra will play off stage, and there's a monitor above the stage where performers can see Mr. May conducting. Theater department chair Jeff Coussens also will make a cameo appearance. Ms. Platt also is floating since she's worked with Mr. May in putting on annual Moline High musicals from 1997 to 2014, directing every one starting in 1999. Mr. May now teaches at the Davenport-based Creative Arts Academy. "It was really a team effort, which is why it's so exciting to be working together again," she said. While local lawmakers and business people see the need for changes in the North American Free Trade Agreement, they hope those can come without threats to withdraw from the three-nation pact. On Thursday, President Donald Trump backed off on his threat to terminate NAFTA, but said he is keeping that option open pending talks to amend the 23-year-old trade pact. A sudden withdrawal from NAFTA would be a "pretty big ... shock to the system," President Trump said, adding he was persuaded to reconsider leaving the agreement by the leaders of Canada and Mexico. But while posting on Twitter that the prospects of a renegotiated deal are "very possible," he also said his consent to remain in NAFTA is "subject to the fact that if we do not reach a fair deal for all, we will then terminate NAFTA." U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Moline, said trade policies need to be improved to stop the outsourcing of American jobs, a frequent criticism of NAFTA. But she chided President Trump for his "tweet approach" to diplomacy and lack of a clear plan. The first bill I introduced this year called on President Trump to produce a clear and detailed strategy to end the outsourcing of American jobs something he repeatedly promised to do during the campaign," she said. "We've seen too many good paying manufacturing jobs outsourced," she said. "And, while we must improve our trade policies to put hardworking heartland families first, this needs to be done in a thoughtful strategic way that does not cause further damage. "I am open to working with the president if he will actually put working families first," Rep. Bustos said. "But without an actual plan on the table, I have concerns about his diplomacy by tweet approach to global economic issues. Ken Golden, director of global public relations for Deere & Co., said the company "exports a large share of production to other markets, including Canada and Mexico" and relies on supply chains throughout the NAFTA region. "Maintaining stability in the current system is important to ensuring that existing supply chains are not disrupted so that production continues smoothly and customers are served quickly and efficiently," he said. "Deere is eager to work with the U.S., Mexican and Canadian governments to identify ways in which NAFTA can be modernized and improved. "As a 23-year-old agreement, a renegotiation could update NAFTA to reflect the modern economy and needs of todays supply chains," Mr. Golden said. Agricultural interests also would benefit from changes to NAFTA, said Tamara Nelsen, senior director of commodities for the Illinois Farm Bureau. Because the state's farm economy is heavily involved in trade with Mexico and Canada, she said a sudden termination would cause great harm. Even threats to that effect from the president, she said, have the potential to shake up markets, as well as farmers' nerves. "Two out of 10 acres on Illinois farms are planted to feed Canada and Mexico," Ms. Nelsen said Thursday. That trade, she said, also supports about 35,000 Illinois agri-food jobs. She said President Trump's threats to terminate NAFTA was "a very interesting negotiating style and probably one we haven't seen in the area of trade in many, many years. Such tough talk is normally reserved for countries with which the U.S. has strong disagreements, she said. "In this case, they are our biggest trading partners, and they are our best friends," Ms. Nelsen said. "I don't think people expect that kind of tactic." She said there are changes to NAFTA that would benefit agriculture, such as language reflecting technological improvements that make it easier to track animals and animal products to better trace the sources of disease. That would be important, she said, in securing a level playing field in food and ensuring that "Mexico rises to the same level on animal health and safety, and food safety and health process standards." U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa City, wants changes in NAFTA and other trade agreements that affect Iowa. He said agreements must ensure Iowa companies and farmers can compete on a level playing field. "Unfortunately, NAFTA has led to Iowa jobs being shipped out of the U.S.," he said. "Between January 1994 when NAFTA was implemented and 2016, Iowa has lost 31,000 manufacturing jobs. "It is imperative that we expand Iowans access to markets, and I look forward to working with folks on both sides of the aisle to develop trade deals in the future that promote all parts of Iowas economy and benefit all Iowans. Id like to address the elephant in the room. That elephant being the Republican Party and their refusal to represent the majority of their constituents. Lets begin with stricter gun control (something that would help lessen the fears parents have when sending their children off to school), 53% of Americans favor this (Pew Research) yet the elephant in the room refuses to consider any such thing. Over 70% of Americans want stricter background checks yet again; the elephant in the room refuses to represent them. 61% of Americans say abortion should be legal. Again, the elephant in the room pushes laws that do the opposite. 74% of Americans do not want social security reduced in any way. But the elephant in the room pushes to do just the opposite, cut social security. 63% of Americans now prefer Medicare for all, but the elephant in the room fights it with all its might. 67% of Americans feel more needs to be done to reduce climate change, but not the elephant in the room. The elephant sides with the fossil fuel industry claiming its not a big concern. Given these few statistics (there are more like them) its obvious that the Republican Party is the party of minority rule, quite the opposite of what our founding fathers envisioned. The Republican Party has become a power cult, not a party that represents the majority of Americans. Remember this while you mark your ballot in this midterm election. Save Democracy! Vote Democratic! We're sorry. We are currently having technical issues and apologize for the inconvenience. Please call 888-345-5788 to place your order. G'day! It's Murray here. I've put together a little quiz to test your musical knowledge. Think you can score top marks in Murray's Magic Music Quiz? Give it a go now! Chernobyls ghost town draws daring visitorsTHE ASSOCIATED PRESSFirst posted: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 10:17 AM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 10:52 AM EDTPRIPYAT, Ukraine A bulletin board in the Ukrainian town of Pripyat still bears an edition of the Sovietsky Patriot newspaper, dated three days before the nuclear explosion that turned the city into one of the worlds most baleful ghost towns.Once home to some 50,000 people whose lives were connected to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Pripyat was hastily evacuated one day after a reactor at the plant 3 kilometres (2 miles) away exploded on April 26, 1986. The explosion and the subsequent fire spewed a radioactive plume over much of northern Europe.Once a model Soviet workers town neat high-rise apartment buildings and streets converging on a plaza that housed a hotel and a cultural centre Pripyat is now a model of technology gone catastrophically wrong. As such, its become a tourist destination, alluring to those whose bucket-list includes a taste of danger.Tourist companies offer day trips to Pripyat and the area around the plant, where radiation levels have receded enough to make brief visits tolerable. The levels are still high enough that no one is allowed to reside permanently within a 30-kilometre (18-mile radius) of the plant.Every year, nature takes back a little more of Pripyat. The buildings roofs sprout small trees, their floors and walls deteriorate slowly from rain, snow and changing temperatures.Most of the buildings are in such decay that visitors are advised not to enter them, a caution that many ignore.why would anyone want to visit a radiated town? Rail Cargo Austria (RCA) says that they are now number two in Europe as rail freight operator in relation to the number of net tonne kilometres covered in 2016. The holding company achieved an EBT of 166.2m in 2016, down from the previous years 192.8m. CEO Mr Andreas Mattha says that all three divisions contributed to 2016s results. The new link from the Vienna main station to the airport carried two million passengers in 2016 and the new Nightjet trains saw 600,000 tickets sold between mid-December 2016 and mid-April 2017. The increase in passenger figures applies to both long-distance and regional services. The passenger division achieved an EBT of 81.9m, almost half of the total EBT of the holding. RCA achieved an EBT of 44.3m and an EBIT of 60m. This is less than in 2015 but Mattha says that this compares to negative EBIT figures for DB Cargo (-81m) and PKP Cargo (-30m) and shows that RCA is still doing well in a very competitive market. RCA says it is now the second-largest rail freight operator Europe based on net tonne-km. RCA reports 28.8 billion net tonne-km with DB Cargo in front with 94.7 billion and PKP Cargo in third with 28.5 billion. The infrastructure division reported an EBT of 49.6m which is much higher than in 2015 (12.8m), the 2015 figure being influenced by special effects such as postponed sales of land. Public services will begin on April 29, with trams operating 24-hours a day for the duration of the Tramfest event. The 93m project extends Line D through the port of Strasbourg and across the river Rhine on a new bridge to Kehl mainline station and town hall. The extension includes three new stations on the French side of the border: Citadelle , Starcoop, and Port du Rhin. Germanys federal government has contributed 19m towards the 44m cost of the 1.7km German section of the line. Services will be operated by a dedicated fleet of Alstom Citadis LRVs. The 45m-long trams have capacity for 288 passengers and are the first French trams approved under German federal BOStrab regulations covering the construction and operation of trams in Germany. They are equipped with LED lighting and full glass doors, wider seating and reserved areas for wheelchair users and passengers with strollers, in line with Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) regulations. The sale includes three G1000s, 25 G1206s, and four G2000s. MRCE will transfer 26 of the locomotives to Hamburg-based North Rail, which is part of the Paribus Group. North Rail will be responsible for commercial and technical management of the fleet. The remaining six units - all G1206s registered for operation in France - will be transferred to French company Millet. These locomotives are used by VLFI and RegioRail, and the latter will be responsible for technical management of these units. A further five G1206s from the North Rail allocation will be transferred to Millet soon. Originally a wagon leasing company, Millet has expanded into locomotive leasing in recent years, acquiring a fleet of G1206s. It has also ordered seven DE 18 diesel locomotives from Vossloh. The sale leaves MRCE with just one diesel locomotive, a Siemens ER20, which the company is planning to sell. In 2015 MRCE sold 17 EMD class 66 diesel locomotives and 10 ER 20s. These are now part of the Beacon Rail fleet. The Trump Administration on April 26 released a proposed overhaul of the federal income tax system that promises to simplify the tax structure as well as reduce the rate at which large corporations are taxed to 15%. Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger issued the following statement applauding the Trump Administrations plan: To spur economic growth and unleash innovation, we need a simpler, fairer tax code that works for American businesses. The freight rail industry applauds todays bold step toward restoring balance to our tax code and reducing the corporate rate to a globally competitive level. Currently, the major freight railroads pay on average a 33.5% effective federal tax rate and that climbs to 37% when state taxes are included. For the privately owned rail industry, a more competitive business tax rate means a more competitive freight rail sector, which leads to more investments and a stronger network to serve customers and the economy. However, as Railway Age Capitol Hill Contributing Editor and economist Frank Wilner points out, Railroads should have two concerns with the Trump Administration tax proposal. First, railroads dont pay the statutory (35%) tax rate. The 33.5% effective tax rate cited by the AAR is well above what economists and financial analysts consider the relevant figureactual cash-taxes-paidthat reflects deductions and deferred taxes. The cash-taxes-paid rate for U.S.-based Class I railroads for the three years through 2015 is: BNSF, 23.3%; CSX, 25.6%; Kansas City Southern, 10.4%; Norfolk Southern, 26%; and Union Pacific, 27.4%. Thus, a Trump-proposed statutory corporate tax rate of 15% (boldly assuming Congress is willing to go that low given the predicted surge in the national debt as a result) produces a considerably smaller savings for railroads, as it would exclude most, if not all, deductions and other tax savings enjoyed under the 35% statutory rate. Second, a reduction of the statutory tax rate could especially adversely impact regional railroads and short lines, which stand to lose, as a result of the tax plan, the 50% 45G investment tax credit that has long fueled their capital investment programs. Genesee & Wyoming, for example, already has a cash-taxes-paid rate of under 10%, so its cash-taxes-paid rate actually could rise as they lose various deductions and deferments, plus the 50% investment tax credit. For industries with overseas operations that park profits abroad in lower-tax havens to avoid higher U.S. corporate tax rates, the popular expectation is that those profits will be repatriated and used for job-creating domestic investment that, in turn, could generate more rail traffic. The reality is less certain, as there is no requirement to repatriate those profits or to require they be invested in new U.S. plant and equipment, if actually repatriated (as the repatriated dollars also could, for example, be returned to investors through higher dividends or stock buybacks). (To determine the cash-taxes-paid rate, divide cash-taxes-paid as reported in the railroads cash-flow statement, by pre-tax income as reported in the railroads income statement. A three-year average normalizes for anomalies in a single year. Norfolk Southern, for example, had a cash-taxes-paid rate of 15.8% in 2015, but its three-year average was 26%.) Adds another observer and economist, Is AARs current Trump tax plan support its way of bartering for an Administration retreat on import tariffs? The trade issue (as does Trumps proposal to scrap or restructure NAFTA) creates legitimate railroad industry concern. AARs support looks like the happiest face on what otherwise appears to be simple pandering. We expect that the 45G credit will remain part of the conversation on the tax code as legislative proposals are developed, said Linda Darr, president of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, in a statement. The 45G credit has always had strong bi-partisan support in both Houses, and supports the call for public-private partnerships to address our nations infrastructure needs. Editors note: Railway Age is appreciative of the efforts of financial consultant C. Howard Capito, who graciously provided data for BNSF. Explore the Challenges, Issues, and Trends Affecting the North American Rail Market, REGISTER NOW for Railway Ages Third Annual RAIL INSIGHTS conference June 7 & 8, 2017 in Chicago, lll. Welcome to Railway Gazette. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of these cookies. You can learn more about the cookies we use here. OK Prosecutor asks court to give blogger 3.5 years for playing Pokemon Go in church MOSCOW, April 28 (RAPSI) Prosecutor has asked court to sentence videoblogger Ruslan Sokolovsky, who was catching pokemons in a Yekaterinburg church via Pokemon Go app, to 3.5 years in prison, lawyer Aleksey Bushmakov wrote on his Facebook page on Friday. The blogger stands charged with incitement of hatred, violation of religious rights and illegal possession of special technical means intended for obtaining secret information. Sokolovsky claimed that he is innocent and that said technical means, photo- and video-camera, mounted in the housing of a ballpoint pen, belonged to one Sergey Lazarev who lives in Ukraine. Russian authorities were not able to locate and interrogate Lazarev, Bushmakov told RAPSI earlier. He is to stay under house arrest until August 14. According to investigators, from May 2013 to September 2016, the defendant produced nine video files and placed them on the YouTube. These videos, according to a forensic examination, contain signs of incitement of hatred or hostility, humiliation of human dignity and a group of persons on the grounds of nationality, religion, as well as against members of a particular social group. Placement of these videos on the Internet was qualified by experts as public actions, expressing clear disrespect for society and committed to insult the religious feelings of believers. In addition, Sokolovsky allegedly used unlawfully acquired special technical means. Investigators believe that he recorded videos through camera in the housing of a ballpoint pen. According to experts, the device corresponds to the category of special technical means intended for secret reception and registration of visual and acoustic information. The case against Sokolovsky was launched after he had published video on Youtube channel, in which he played the mobile app of the popular Pokemon Go game in Orthodox Church-on-Blood in Yekaterinburg. Pokemon Go, a videogame with elements of augmented reality for mobile devices, became incredibly popular all over the world. Husband of Vneshprombank ex-president declared bankrupt MOSCOW, April 28 (RAPSI) The Moscow Commercial Court has granted a claim filed by VTB24 bank seeking bankruptcy of Lazar Markus, the husband of former Vneshprombank president Larisa Markus who stands charged with embezzlement, RAPSI learnt in the court on Friday. Lazar Markus has earlier become a guarantee under a facility agreement between his wife and VTB24. In October 2016, the Moscow Commercial Court initiated bankruptcy procedures against Larisa Markus. In January, the Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals upheld the ruling. Former Vneshprombank president Larisa Markus was arrested in December 2015. A fraud case was opened against the woman. Investigators claim that the woman along with alleged accomplices created in 2013 an organized crime group to siphon 932.1 million rubles ($14.3 million) from the bank. The group allegedly granted loans to sub-companies and did not refund money to Vneshprombank. She could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Georgy Bedzhamov, the brother of Larisa Markus, who once co-owned the bank was arrested in absentia and put on a wanted list. Vneshprombank was one of the top 40 by assets before it lost its license in January. On December 18, 2015, the Central Bank appointed a temporary administration in the bank for six months to appraise its financial performance. It was revealed that massive transactions had been conducted to transfer assets out of the bank. In March 2016, the Moscow Commercial Court declared Vneshprombank bankrupt. Russias Nornickel to sue Botswana for over $277 million MOSCOW, April 28 (RAPSI) - Norilsk Nickel Group is going to initiate legal proceedings in Botswana seeking to collect more than $277 million from the countrys government over asset selling transaction, the company announced on its website on Friday. Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel) intends to sue the government of Botswana in respect of its involvement in the reckless trading of BCL Limited and BCL Investments Proprietary Limited (together BCL), with a view of recovering $271 million plus damages and other costs that are owed to Norilsk Nickel in relation to the sale of a 50% interest in the Nkomati mine in South Africa and $6.4 million that are owed to Norilsk Nickel in relation to the sale of the Tati mine in Botswana. The Government of Botswana is the ultimate shareholder of BCL through its corporate vehicle MDCB, the statement reads. The notice of legal proceedings has been served on Botswanas Attorney General, Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, and the Minister of Finance, according to Nornickel. In October 2014, Norilsk Nickel agreed to sell its enterprises in Africa to BCL. In September 2016, BCL was to purchase Nkomati, however, the company and Botswanas government have not made attempts to complete the deal, thus breaking the agreement concluded with the Russian party. Later, authorities of Botswana initiated the procedure of BCLs provisional liquidation aiming to avoid obligations, Norilsk Nickel claims. Norilsk Nickel is a diversified ore mining and smelting company, and the world's leading nickel and palladium producer. It operates industrial facilities in the Norilsk industrial region and on the Kola Peninsula in Russia, Finland, the United States, Australia, Botswana and South Africa. Norilsk Nickel has its own global network of representative and sales offices in Russia, the UK, China, the U.S. and Switzerland. Russian ex-tourism top official appeals 7-year sentence for embezzlement MOSCOW, April 28 (RAPSI) - Former deputy head of the Federal Tourism Agency (Rosturizm) Dmitry Amunts has filed an appeal against a 7-year prison sentence given to him for implication in embezzling 29 billion rubles ($457 million) from now-defunct Mezhprombank, his attorney Igor Pastukhov told RAPSI on Friday. On April 18, Moscows Tverskoy District Court passed a sentence upon Amunts. In addition to the prison term, the former official was deprived of the right to perform financial and operational activities in the banking sector for 3 years. The court also granted a lawsuit of victims demanding 28.5 billion rubles from the defendant. Earlier, prosecutor demanded a 7-year prison term for Amunts. Investigators claim that Amunts along with Alexander Didenko, former Mezhprombank executive, and several other accomplices were members of a criminal group that embezzled the funds from the bank in 2008-2009. Didenko pleaded guilty and received a 3-year suspended sentence in July 2015. However, in September 2015, the Moscow City Court changed Didenkos suspended sentence to real jail term. Amunts has pleaded not guilty. Mezhprombanks operating license was revoked in October 2010 by the Central Bank over failure to comply with the regulators requirements or to satisfy creditors claims. In November Mezhprombank was declared bankrupt. At that time, the bank owed 31.8 billion rubles ($501 million) to the Central Bank while the creditors claims totaled 85 billion rubles ($1.3 billion). Businessman Sergey Pugachev, who owned the bank, was arrested in absentia by a Moscow court and put on the international wanted list in December 2013. 'There is a lot of fear and worry': Website to help women self-induce abortions at home using medicationTHE WASHINGTON POSTFirst posted: Thursday, April 27, 2017 07:38 AM EDT | Updated: Thursday, April 27, 2017 07:49 AM EDTAn international advocacy group concerned about restrictive laws in the United States plans to help women self-induce abortions at home, offering online advice and counseling about how to use medications that can terminate their pregnancies.Women Help Women, a three-year-old organization headquartered in the Netherlands, this week launched an online service to provide one-on-one counseling services for women seeking to end their early pregnancies using the abortion pill, which is legally available only by prescription in the United States but can be purchased on the Internet or from other countries.Kinga Jelinska, executive director of Women Help Women, said her organization provides a version of the service in other countries but decided to launch in the United States this year because of the political climate. More than half of U.S. states have enacted restrictions on abortion, and President Donald Trump has said he supports overturning Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized the procedure nationally."There is a lot of fear and worry that, with the current administration and restrictions that are to the enormous disadvantage of girls and women, that access to clinical care might further diminish," said Jelinska, an anthropologist and longtime reproductive rights advocate from Poland, where abortion is illegal except in narrow circumstances.The launch of the site is likely to add fuel to the debate about abortion, particularly those that are done using medication. Medically induced abortions accounted for nearly a third of all non-hospital abortions in the United States in 2014 and almost half of all abortions before nine weeks' gestation, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research organization.The abortion pill approved by the Food and Drug Administration is actually two drugs that may be used in combination through the 10th week of pregnancy. Taken during 24 to 48 hours, the drugs - mifepristone and misoprostol - halt the development of pregnancy and induce miscarriage. The agency recommends medical supervision followed by an in-person follow-up appointment, and it warns people not to obtain the pills over the Internet because they might be unsafe.Abortion foes have sought further restrictions on the medications in the name of safety. A number of women have contracted infections or needed blood transfusions after a medication abortion, and some have died, although the FDA says it is unclear whether the drugs caused the deaths."These drugs are dangerous. They are deadly. If they are mishandled, they result in serious injury," said Kristi Hamrick, spokeswoman for Americans United for Life, an antiabortion group that has tried to push states to require strict medical supervision for the use of abortion medications. "To just distribute them and put them in an automatic dispenser like a can of soda is absolutely medical malpractice."Abortion rights groups say that severe side effects from the drugs are rare; a 2015 study looking at more than 11,000 medication abortions in California found that the incidence of major complications was .31 percent.While there is limited research about self-induced abortion in the United States, women have been performing them for generations. Today's favored method in the United States happens to be pills, obtained via the Internet or in Mexico, where misoprostol can be purchased over the counter. Home-based abortions are safer for women than they've ever been, advocates say."There . . . are people who view this as progress, the evolution of abortion care, and an incredible opportunity to transcend the very contentious abortion debate," said Jill Adams, chief strategist for the Self-Induced Abortion Legal Team at the University of California at Berkeley.Many advocates say they support projects like the one Women Help Women has pursued, but they caution that the legal landscape for self-induced abortion in the United States is unsettled. In 2015, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down an Idaho law that made it a crime for a woman to perform her own abortion, saying it conflicted with Supreme Court rulings that guarantee a right to the procedure until the fetus is viable.A few states still have laws that criminalize self-induced abortion, Adams said, and some women and people who helped them have been prosecuted using other criminal statutes.A Virginia woman was arrested last month on felony charges of illegally "producing abortion or miscarriage" after the remains of a third-trimester fetus were discovered in her back yard. A Tennessee woman who tried to abort her 24-week-old fetus with a coat hanger pleaded guilty to a felony count in January after spending more than a year in jail. A Pennsylvania woman was sentenced to jail time for obtaining abortion pills online for her 16-year-old daughter in 2014."I would say for right now, I'm not advocating for women to be doing this on their own in the current environment," said Daniel Grossman, a University of California at San Francisco researcher who has studied self-induced abortion in the United States. He said his concern stems from the threat of prosecution rather than the safety of the drugs.In a paper this week in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Grossman looked at existing research and found that women tend to use the abortion pill appropriately and effectively. Though more research is needed, he said, the drugs could one day meet FDA criteria to be offered over the counter.Starting Thursday, women in the United States will be able to log onto the website Abortionpillinfo.org and send a secure message to a trained counselor based overseas. Within a few hours, counselors will respond with evidence-based answers, using guidance from the World Health Organization, Jelinska said. She said she expects a range of questions, including some seeking confirmation that side effects - including cramping and bleeding - are normal.In case of complications, the women will be told to seek immediate medical care and advised that, because U.S. laws on self-administered abortions are murky, to keep in mind that medication abortions take place in a virtually identical manner to spontaneous miscarriages. They also will be told that there is no blood or urine test that can detect the drugs in their system.The counselors also will be able to direct women to clinics or foundations in their communities that can help them pay for abortions in a clinical setting if they prefer.Jelinska said the service is not intended to help women get abortion-causing drugs, and a disclaimer on the website says it is not meant as a substitute for professional medical advice. Rather, she said, "we see this project as an information-delivery project."The service will be supported by 25 staff members, including two physicians, spread across Asia, Latin America and Europe. Some funding comes from Europe-based organizations, which Jelinska declined to identify. But the rest is from individual donors, primarily women in other countries, where Women Help Women assists clients in obtaining abortion-causing medications for a requested donation of 75 euros, Jelinska said. Chinese citizen gets 3 years in Russian prison for stealing brilliant ST. PETERSBURG, April 28 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) The Pushkinsky District Court of St. Petersburg on Friday sentenced Chinese citizen Liu Limay to 3 years in prison for stealing a brilliant worth 6 million rubles ($106,000) from a jewellery exhibition, RAPSI reports from the courtroom. The woman pleaded guilty and paid full damages to an injured party. Prosecutor demanded a 3.5-year prison term for Liu Limay while her defense and victim in the case asked the court to fine her. According to case papers, on February 1, the brilliant weighing 3.1 carat was stolen from the International Jewellery Exhibition JUNWEX held in St. Petersburg. Investigators claim the jewel was stolen by three Chinese nationals specializing in such thefts. Liu Limay allegedly replaced the brilliant with a fake and gave it to her accomplice, who hid the jewel in his mouth. Initially, police officers suspected that the he had swallowed the brilliant. Later, Liu Limay confessed that they had given the brilliant to a third accomplice, who took it away and left for China. According to police, that woman has been arrested in Hong Kong. However, the brilliant has not been found yet. Moscow court sentences imam to 3 years in prison for justifying terrorism MOSCOW, April 28 (RAPSI, Yevgeniya Sokolova) The Moscow District Military Court has found imam Makhmud Velitov guilty of justifying terrorism and sentenced him to three years in a penal colony, RAPSI learnt in the court on Friday. Earlier, a prosecutor demanded a 3.5-year prison term for the imam. Investigators have reclassified charges against Velitov from public justifying terrorism with the use of mass media to public calls to terrorist activity or justifying terrorism. His house arrest has been therefore replaced with travel restrictions, lawyer Dagir Khasavov said earlier. On September 23, 2013, Velitov, being a council chair and imam of a religious organization, made a public speech justifying activity of one of Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami terrorist organizations members during a prayer in a Moscow mosque, according to the Investigative Committee. This organization has been banned by Russias Supreme Court. According to the forensic examination, the imams speech contained a set of psychological and linguistic features of justifying terrorist activities. Defense insisted that Velitov had performed a religious ritual allowed by canons of Islam regarding a deceased Muslim. Hizb ut-Tahrir (the Party of Islamic Liberation), founded in Jerusalem in 1953, is banned in several Arab and Central Asian countries. Russia's Supreme Court banned the group from operating on the territory of the country in 2003, describing it as a terrorist organization. Hizb ut-Tahrir members are regularly arrested by the police across Russia, mainly in big cities in central Russia, the Volga region and Siberia. Also, there are many supporters in Crimea, which rejoined Russia in the spring of 2014. Oil patch is bouncing back No if we could get the Energy East Pipeline built.. Heartening news is emerging out of the oil patch.According to two of the best energy analysts in Alberta, Peter Tertzakian and Jackie Forrest of Calgarys ARC Energy Research Institute, plus anecdotal evidence from those working in the oil patch, things are picking up.Not like the halcyon days leading up to the Great Crash of 2014, mind you. But way better than 2015 and 2016, when barely an oil-patch wheel was turning and the Canadian energy industry had losses of $52 billion and $32 billion, respectively.Right now, 200 drilling rigs are out there in Alberta up 50 per cent from a year ago. The drilling is for higher-valued natural gas, liquids (ethane, propane, butane) and oil. Oil biz CEOs are banking on $50 US (or more) a barrel for West Texas oil $70 Canadian being steady for the next few years.Improved technology has dramatically lowered drilling costs and increased production per new well. The returns have piqued investor interest. Conventional oil, gas and liquids are on the move.Thats good news for places like Grande Prairie and Fort St. John in northeastern B.C. Exploration and production companies are hiring, not firing.The order books for oilfield support service companies whats left of them in Nisku and Acheson are again filling up. Hiring is still sparse, but improving by the week.Not so good for Fort McMurray is the state of the oilsands.Once the driver of the Alberta economy, investors are no longer interested in building more oilsands giants.The good news within the bad news is that existing oilsands mines and underground extraction plants still need goods, services and labour to operate. But the big money and massive job creation came from building new oilsands plants. After Suncors $17-billion Fort Hills project is finished in the next few months, no other new mega-oilsands plants are on the horizon.Energy investors are no longer interested in enormous upfront costs with a possible 50-year pay-back. They want smaller, cheaper projects without environmental hassle and faster paybacks, like a nice, new well spewing forth low-emission natural gas and liquids.Many oilsand companies are now completing brownfield projects, expanding production at existing sites using less labour and more technology to bring down costs.With the Fort Hills and the brownfield projects coming on stream, oilsand production is expected to grow by 25 per cent this year, to around three million barrels a day. But it will then dramatically flatten unless world prices start climbing, then stay above, say, $65 US a barrel.And what about the global future? Will our oil, gas and liquids be obsolete in a 22nd Century carbon-free world?Tertzakian, to my mind, has the best response.Just like oil and natural gas, he says, alternative energy systems are dramatically upping productivity and lowering costs.But trillions of dollars of petroleum infrastructure and the interests of combustion-based mobility, he says, are not going to relinquish their markets without fighting back with their own innovation. In fact, they have just begun.This is going to be one of the most exciting business duels in history; two giant energy systems will be competing for the hearts and wheels of the people. The technological change is breath-taking; the investment potential is staggering; and on top of it all, the business psychology is intriguing.Which is great from a global perspective: But in Alberta we are world experts and huge beneficiaries of that giant energy system designed for combustion-based mobility.This is where are our jobs are. This is where our future jobs will be. Wouldnt it be nice if our current government got off its high horse about renewables and, like Saskatchewan, concentrated on improving what we have? Robert A. Manning is a senior fellow of the Brent Scowcroft Center for International Security at the Atlantic Council and its Foresight Strategy and Risks Initiative. Follow him on Twitter @RManning4. This piece is part of a special RCW series on the U.S.-China geopolitical relationship. The views expressed here are the authors own. The future has already arrived, sci-fi writer William Gibson famously quipped, its just not evenly distributed yet. Few in the United States noticed when a freight train arrived in London in January 2017, completing a 7,500 mile journey from China, yet this train, its route an echo of the ancient Silk Road, just may have offered a glimpse of the future. China is already the worlds largest trading nation, with some $3.9 trillion in two-way trade in 2016. The European Union, with its $17 trillion economy, roughly the size of that of the United States, looms large in Chinas ambitious but still inchoate vision of connecting both ends of the Eurasian landmass with a 21st century version of the old Silk Road. And to the degree the United States retreats from the post-World War II multilateral system it created, the China-EU relationship could influence the balance of the emerging polycentric order. Donald Trumps America First posture, his cheerleading of Brexit, and his swift rejection of the Trans-Pacific Partnership spurred Europe and Asia to rapidly scramble in pursuit of multilateral deals to offset the U.S. retreat. In a letter to leaders of the 27 EU member states earlier this year, European Council President Donald Tusk described Trump, along with an assertive China and an aggressive Russia, as one of three external threats to Europes future. Tusk argued that [w]e should use the change in the trade strategy of the U.S. to the EU's advantage by intensifying our talks with interested partners, while defending our interests at the same time. The United States ($579 billion), the European Union ($529 billion), and Japan ($300 billion) are Chinas top three bilateral trading partners. Chinas predatory industrial policies and various tactics to limit goods and investment in competitive sectors like IT or automobiles with tariffs are leading European governments to rethink trade and investment policies with regard to China. But the allure of Chinese investment sets European states competing for renminbi. EU-China relations, particularly for Europes largest economies, Germany and France, have been largely one-dimensional. As a 2015 report by a consortium of European think tanks observed, most, if not all European national strategies toward China are dominated by the logic of economics. This has begun to change as Chinas increasingly nationalist economic policies and its assertive foreign policy actions have evoked growing concern among many European governments and the European Union itself. This was evident in a comprehensive EU strategy on China released by the European Commission in June 2016. The strategy reflects a growing European awareness of their stake in the issues Chinas behavior raises, and it articulates guidelines and principles for EU policies toward China. Nationalism in Globalizations Clothing Chinese President Xi Jinping may champion globalization while in Davos, but at home he prizes mercantilist, industrial policies. Yet China demands market economy status in the World Trade Organization even as it strengthens and subsidizes its state-owned enterprises. The United States, European Union, and Japan have all rejected Beijings claim in a rare pursuit of parallel policies. Similarly, there is growing unease in the United States and the European Union about Chinese direct investment: Beijing targets tech companies in the West to accelerate its efforts to make a leap in advanced manufacturing (e.g., semiconductors, artificial intelligence, robotics) while blocking reciprocal access for Western firms. But Beijing is skillful in using the enticement of its markets to divide competitors, and if past is prologue, there will be limits to how much individual European nations follow EU-wide policies. Chinas growing focus on Europe is also heavily weighted toward economics, but it fits into a broader global strategy to position Beijing as a dominant player in a post-American world. Though still more aspirational than real, China is pursuing a new connectivity of Europe and Asia with its so-called One Belt, One Road policy, a Eurasian vision that has been generally well received in Europe. One Belt, One Road would comprise an overland belt of railways, roads, and bridges and a maritime road of seaports stretching to the Middle East and Africa. One Belt, One Road also provides China an outlet for the excess capacity of its state-owned enterprises in sectors such as steel, cement, and aluminum, whose subsidized overproduction has helped sustain Chinas economic growth. It is no accident that 14 EU nations joined Beijings Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank when it opened its doors last year. The Bank -- membership of which Washington has spurned -- along with Chinas large state banks and a new $40 billion Silk Road Fund, are seen as principal financiers of One Belt, One Road infrastructure projects, though its lending is not limited to OBOR-related projects. China-EU Eurasian Connectivity Many of the projects now repackaged as part of One Belt, One Road were planned or began in Europe before Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the initiative in 2013. A wide array of infrastructure projects such as a container port in Piraeus, Greece, is being modernized by Chinas shipping giant, COSCO. Chinese firms are interested in seaports in Belgium, the Netherlands, Croatia, Italy, Spain, and Latvia, among others. Chinese firms are also exploring airport construction projects in a number of European cities. European analysts see China looking to new transport corridors: a trans-Eurasian link from China to Europe via Poland and Germany, and a south-north link from Greece via Central Europe to the Baltics. One prominent OBOR project is a planned Belgrade-to-Budapest railway. Chinese rail-related firms are also engaged in connecting China with a network of cities from Poland and Germany to France and Spain. In addition, China has seen Londons financial center as an important hub for accelerating the internationalization of the renminbi as a reserve currency. However, it is unclear to what extent that role will continue after the United Kingdom departs from the European Union. China-EU or China-Europeans? In a slow-growth Europe, attracting investment is a priority, and clearly many EU nations are responding to Chinas economic opportunities. But the interest and impact of Chinese economic involvement, from One Belt, One Road and foreign direct investment to renminbi hubs, has varied across Europe. Reconciling OBOR with the European Unions regulatory regime may also limit possibilities. The absence of any disciplined EU foreign policy also suggests that European responses to Beijings overtures will vary. While Chinas infrastructure investment has been broadly welcomed across Europe, there does exist a growing wariness of China as a global actor in Europe writ large. Chinas mercantilism and assertive maritime behavior have drawn public EU responses, such as a 2016 statement condemning Chinese actions in the South China Sea. This skepticism is reflected in the European Commissions 2016 report outlining a new strategy toward China. The report calls for strengthening cooperation with Beijing, but it stresses the importance of such engagement being based on transparency, global norms and rules, and reciprocity -- a word repeated throughout the report. It criticizes Chinas industrial overcapacity, its dumping of goods from steel and other sectors into EU markets, and its Made in China 2025 industrial policy that seeks to create Chinese national champions in advanced manufacturing sectors at the expense of Western competitors. The European Union is in the process of negotiating trade and investment agreements with China that will test that rhetoric. These issues will loom prominently at the upcoming EU-China annual Summit, a gathering spurred by Trumps economic nationalist views, which have led not just the European Union, but other U.S. allies and partners like Japan, to search for new multilateral trade arrangements. Chinas growing trade with and investment in Europe has economic and strategic implications for the United States. EU-China economic ties heighten competition for U.S. firms in what has historically been a close transatlantic relationship, with $609 billion in trade for 2016 and some $1.9 trillion in cross-investment. But over time, it could presage a decreasing European reliance on the United States and a fragmenting West with an economically integrated Eurasia shifting power and influence away from the United States and toward China. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Mayor Milt Stowe, center, congratulates Teri Irish, the president of S.T.O.P. Alarm, left, and Ron Irish, the owner, vice president and qualified manager for S.T.O.P. Alarm. He opened the security system installer company in Porterville in 1978. Members of the Arch Society hold candles before using them to light the candles of attendees at a candlelight vigil held for each UGA staff, faculty and student member who passed away in 2016 on the North Campus of the University of Georgia's campus in Athens, Georgia, on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Each name was read aloud and followed by a single toll of the Chapel's bell. (Photo/Casey Sykes, www.caseysykes.com) "Protectionism is not new. The attention that is given is because there is a political and emotional element to it." TCS COO N G Subramaniam tells Ayan Pramanik and Raghu Krishnan why India's largest software exporter is optimistic despite global headwinds. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com Tata Consultancy Services is confident of a higher operating margin in 2017-18, despite a tepid growth forecast for the sector. The country's largest software exporter says the Indian information technology (IT) industry has the potential to weather all storms and overcome waves. N G Subramaniam, chief operating officer, TCS, discusses the company's growth opportunities and the sector. TCS seems pretty optimistic for the year ahead. What gives you the confidence to say the buoyancy is back? In the past six weeks, Rajesh (Gopinathan, the managing director) and I have been to the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific, and met customers. We also met a few prospects and one of them resonated very positively. None of them have resonated anything negative about their (IT) budgets and they continue to do the technology spending. Budgets are there pretty much in our budget for the calendar year, which gives us confidence. Annuity revenues are, kind of, secure. But, we have to worry about the discretionary spends. We hear the spending on traditional IT services have been reduced by companies and there has been pricing pressure. The project size of digital technologies is very small, for compensating the decline in large deals in traditional technology. Are you seeing the same trend? In any digital project, certain things need to be done on the front-end. The mobile, the experience and finally the need to connect with the back-end. You have to spend in terms of modifying those systems and ensure connectivity to the new experience should work seamlessly with the back-end. So, as a part-digital, we do both and we factor in the back-end applications to provide for services that are more granular or micro services. When we do all these, you can say all are getting accounted in digital. But, typically, the back-end services we do have been part of the traditional services. It will be a negative commentary to say traditional services have decreased. Ultimately, any organisation's transactions are processed in the back-end systems; that is where the money is actually accounted for, and we need maintain and support it. It is not actually coming down, but is probably getting accounted from one bucket to another. Needless to say, the typical maintenance work is seeing a year-on-year decrease, as our customers will look for productivity increases. On the aspects associated with business process services or infrastructure services, there is a great deal of automation that we are focusing on, whether through the Ignio platform or others. So, the traditional business is readjusted and I am happy because we get better pricing points. We are seeing protectionism across regions. Will you be able to maintain the committed margin, with cost pressure? This is not new. The attention that is given is because there is a political and emotional element to it. We pioneered the whole globally distributed work paradigm. In the US, for example, we have delivery centres in six-seven places. We have such centres in Europe, China. Certain centres are in high-cost locations and some in low-cost ones. So, as a combination, given a particular customer engagement, we will have to put the right model of execution -- having the local talent, executing it out of the delivery centres onsite, offshore or nearshore. We have to be putting together the right collaborative technologies, so that work happens independent of location. We are working on that. We have remodelled our workplaces and invested heavily in digital technology training of our employees -- agile execution at scale. IMAGE: used by over 95,000 temporary foreign workers, majority of them Indians, to tackle the growing unemployment in the country. Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters . Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, centre, with TCS CEO Rajesh Gopinathan, left, and COO N G Subramaniam in Mumbai on April 11, 2017. Australia recently abolished the 457 visa programme used by over 95,000 temporary foreign workers, majority of them Indians, to tackle the growing unemployment in the country.Photograph: TCS is among the fewer IT service providers to have hired in scale last year, with more than 30,000 jobs. With the change in business model, will such hiring at a large scale continue? In the past (March) quarter, we added 7,000-8,000 people; overall, close to 33,000 people in FY17. We will be hiring. Based on the technology skill sets we need, we have also become agile in our recruitment. There will be certain (amounts of) campus hiring. We are also trying a few things like Hackathon, Codevita, to source a different type of people, with the right mindset and technology skills. We are adopting some of those principles. Hiring will be there but, directionally, it will be lower with automation. Our (staff) retention has been good. We will continue to hire best-in-class talent, using Hackathon and similar platforms. The digital technology platforms of TCS are seeing growth and you have filed 71 IPs under Ignio. Is organic growth enough for the digital transformation? There are enough things we can do organically. That does not mean we do not look at acquisition. We have always stated that we would not acquire a company for (only) revenue... they have to bring in certain key competencies, key markets or intellectual property or all the three. Having said that, we believe there is enough room for growing organically in this business. If we take digital, we have invested heavily in building infrastructure for agile workspaces, design studios in parts of the world and also training our employees during the past two years. Nearly 200,000 employees have been trained, 500,000 competencies have been created and more than a million certifications on digital technology. We believe every one of us in TCS and outside are creative and born with unlimited potential. It is possible to upskill and train them to be relevant to our business and customers. We hear people writing off the Indian IT services sector. What is your view on that? You have seen many shifts. We are Indian IT and I still have my job. We all have a bright future at TCS. These are headlines and rhetoric. If you take the Indian IT industry, it has to de-risk itself, and we have successfully done that. Technology changes every three-four years and there have been waves in the past few decades. In each one of these waves, have we failed to be creative? Have Indian engineers failed? Some of those older people -- do they have capacity to learn? At the same time, India has such young talent. Multi-tasking talents in India and the kind of productivity here is tremendous. What we call it is continuous partial attention. The productivity they can give us will be unparalleled. Unlike any other sector in India, IT takes the responsibility to train employees to stay relevant in the business. I am very confident that we will continue to reskill and upskill ourselves, and manage the growth. Tata Communications has elected the private equity (PE) veteran as a successor to Subodh Bhargava. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com. Renuka Ramnath became the first woman outside the Tata family to be appointed the chairperson of a major Tata group firm. Telecom and information technology services provider, Tata Communications, elected the private equity (PE) veteran as a successor to Subodh Bhargava, who has been chairperson and independent director on the board of the company. Ramnath joined the companys board as an independent director in December 2014. During my time so far on the board, I have seen first-hand how Tata Communications has successfully transformed its own business and those of its customers, said Ramnath. The company is on a robust growth trajectory, and I look forward to working with the board and the management team on building sustainable value for all our stakeholders, she said. She joined ICICI Group and then entered the PE space in 2001 with ICICI Venture, when PE as an asset class was in its infancy in India. As the head of ICICI Venture, she transformed it from a proprietary fund having less than $100 million under management into a fund with third-party capital managing over $2 billion. After a successful stint at the ICICI Group for close to two-and-a-half decades, she set up Multiples in 2009. Today, Multiples is a $1-billion independent PE platform backed by marquee Indian and global institutions, including pension funds, sovereigns and banks. Renuka holds a very strong record in creating wealth and value for businesses of all kinds, said Vinod Kumar, managing director and group chief executive officer, Tata Communications. Having her as our chairperson enables us to continue to ensure Tata Communications generates positive impact and delivers value to all our stakeholders including our customers, partners and shareholders, he added. Earlier Simone Tata, mother of Noel Tata was chairperson of Lakme when it was a part of Tata Oil Mills. Later she served as non-executive chairman of Trent and served it till October 2006. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday promised to not spring any surprises in fixing tax rates under the new GST regime, saying they will not be "significantly different" from the current levels. Image: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addresses the CIIs annual meeting in New Delhi on Friday. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo. He, however, said companies should pass on to consumers the benefit of reduction in taxes under GST which will eliminate the current compounding effect of different central and state levies. The GST Council, headed by Jaitley and comprising representatives of all the states, is scheduled to meet in Srinagar on May 18-19 to finalise tax rates on different goods and services after unifying at least 10 indirect taxes into the Goods and Services Tax. Speaking at the CII's annual meeting, he said rules and regulations governing GST have all been framed. "We are now in final stages of fixing tariffs for different commodities. "The formula under which it is being done has also been explained and therefore nobody is going to be taken by surprise, it's not going to be very significantly different (from the present)," he said. The GST Council has finalised four rate categories of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent after unifying levies like central excise, service tax and VAT. Fitment will be done by adding the total incidence of current taxation (central plus state levies) and then putting the good or service in the tax bracket closest to it. Jaitley said the GST Council has so far had 13 meetings and has never had to resort to voting to decide on any issue. "And therefore all states representing different political complexions, have all agreed (on the GST structure)," he said. The finance minister said the council is of the opinion that any benefit accruing from lower tax rates under GST should be passed on to consumers. "Profit is not a bad word... but unfair enrichment is. And therefore the benefit of reduction in taxation is a benefit that consumers are entitled to. And that's not a principle that can be seriously contested," he said. The GST laws approved by Parliament have incorporated an anti-profiteering provision to ensure that the reduction of tax incidence is passed on to the consumers. Also, India is in the advanced stages of formulating a policy to encourage domestic defence manufacturing and cut import of combat planes, ships and submarines, Jaitley said. Addressing the annual meeting of CII, Jaitley, who holds additional charge of the defence ministry, said the focus would be on technological tie-ups to help India become a "manufacturing economy". "India is the world's largest arms importer, spending some 1.8 per cent of its GDP on defence. It imports about 70 per cent of defence equipment, a proposition which the government wants to change. "We are in the advanced stages of formulating a policy where we can ensure that instead of just being buyers... on the strength of technological and other tie-ups, India also becomes a manufacturing economy," he said. He, however, did not elaborate on the policy in works and whether it will include tax incentives and state support. "The response that we have from domestic and international industry has been quite encouraging itself," he added. With its growing global clout, India -- which has topped the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's list of largest defence importers for the last seven years -- is looking at self-reliance in aerospace and defence industry. The government has pledged to spend USD 250 billion by 2025 on weapons and military equipment. 'The attempt to make Aadhaar mandatory has now emerged as an act of bullying by government agencies, turning citizens into subjects by making fundamental rights conditional on biometric identification,' says Gopal Krishna. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com Just a day before the Supreme Court lambasted the Centre for making Aadhaar compulsory for availing government services, Dr Sajjan Singh, assistant registrar (evaluation) at Jawaharlal Nehru University, issued a circular bearing the subject line, 'Inscription of Unique ID/Aadhaar Number and photograph in marksheets and degree certificates'. Referring to a University Grants Commission letter in this regard, the circular, inter alia, said: 'Aadhaar number has been made mandatory to inscribe in the mark-sheets and degree certificates in respect of the Indian national students and Unique ID for foreign national students to be generated by the Admission-II Section (sic).' It also said, 'Aadhaar number has been made a mandatory column in the semester registration and admission folio.' This is tantamount to contempt of the Supreme Court which has very categorically stated that Aadhaar cannot be made compulsory and it is only an optional requirement. It must be noted that whenever circulars and letters of central and state government agencies have been challenged or contested, they were always withdrawn. In 2016, when a UGC circular (external link) making Aadhaar number mandatory for disbursement of all government subsidies/scholarships/fellowships which are to be disbursed directly into the beneficiaries account was challenged, a clarification was issued by the Union ministry of human resource development. In the clarification (external link) issued on September 14, 2016, the HRD minister made it clear that 'any student who have (sic) applied or wishing to apply for scholarship/fellowship shall not be denied benefit thereof due to non-availability of Aadhaar no./card.' The current JNU circular is based on two UGC communications dated March 21 and July 26, 2016, with the latter stating, 'the bank account number seeded with Aadhaar should be mentioned on the portal.' Notably, both these communications were issued during the period in which the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, was not in force. It came into force after its notification in the Gazette of India on September 12, 2016. Therefore, the circular is illegal and is in violation of the Supreme Court's order. Moreover, nowhere does the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, provides for and authorises 'seeding' of UID/Aadhaar numbers in databases. The Act permits it only for two uses: 1. Authentication, which means that biometric or demographic data can be sent to the UID's CIDR (Central Identities Data Repository) to return a 'yes/no' reply to the question whether you are who you say you are. 2. e-Know Your Customer. This does something they said they would never do, viz, give the data -- except core biometric data, but they have no means of stopping any agency from collecting and keeping biometrics when it is given for authentication -- to an authorised service agency. Section 8(2) (b) of the Act categorically states that an agency requesting authentication 'ensure(s) that the identity information of an individual is only used for submission' to the CIDR of 12-digit biometric Unique Identification/Aadhaar numbers 'for authentication'. It does not authorise anyone to hold onto the number. Therefore, seeding the UID/Aadhaar number, as required by the UGC or JNU, is itself beyond the law. When it comes to complying with the Supreme Court's order making Aadhaar optional, all government bodies should learn from the Election Commission. The EC revised its order dated February 27, 2015, on August 13, 2015, following the court's order making UID/Aadhaar optional. Its revised order read: 'All further activities relating to collection/feeding/seeding of Aadhaar Number being undertaken currently under NERPAP (National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme) shall be suspended with immediate effect till further directions from the Commission. In other words, henceforth no more collection of Aadhaar Numbers from electors or feeding/seeding of collected Aadhaar data shall be done by any election authority or officials connected with the NERPAP.' This revised EC order is a model order. It demonstrates how to comply with the court's order in letter and spirit. All central, state, public and private agencies which are implementing UID/Aadhaar related schemes and systems are under a legal obligation to issue similar orders. In a related case, the Supreme Court (in UIDAI v. Central Bureau of Investigation) passed an order in 2014 which said, 'More so, no person shall be deprived of any service for want of Aadhaar number in case he/she is otherwise eligible/entitled.' 'All the authorities are directed to modify their forms/circulars/likes so as to not compulsorily require the Aadhaar number in order to meet the requirement of the interim order passed by this court forthwith.' Last week, when the Supreme Court bench headed by Justice A K Sikri asked the attorney general as to how the government can compel anyone to get Aadhaar when there are interim orders of the Constitution Bench, what the AG said in his reply was something which was already stated by Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on April 10 in the Rajya Sabha. 'There is no stay by the Supreme Court,' he said. 'We are being governed by a mandate of the Aadhaar Act passed by the Parliament,' adding, 'I am very clear in my understanding of law that if the Parliament enacts a law and unless the court stays the operation of that law, this law will hold the field and that is what that it holding the field.' He referred to interim orders of the Supreme Court saying they were passed in 2015 and the Aadhaar Act became effective in 2016, assented by the President. He took the position that 'an interim order is only for the purposes of interim arrangement till the Parliament structures it. It is not a judgment. It has been referred to a nine-judge or a seven-judge bench. Maybe, this law will also be considered.' Notably, the Aadhaar Act became effective after it was notified on September 12, 2016, through the Gazette of India. It is germane to observe that the minister feigned ignorance about the order of the division bench of the Supreme Court dated September 14, 2016, wherein the court reiterated the Constitution Bench's order dated October 15, 2015, which read: 'We impress upon the Union of India that it shall strictly follow all the earlier orders passed by this court commencing from September 23, 2013. We will also make it clear that the Aadhaar card scheme is purely voluntary and it cannot be made mandatory till the matter is finally decided by this court one way or the other.' While making his submission, the attorney general too seemed to suffer from selective amnesia regarding the Supreme Court's 2016 order, passed after two days of the notification of the Aadhaar Act. It is an established Constitutional norm that the last order of the Supreme Court prevails over other orders and enacted laws. As has been the case with the minister, the attorney general referred to an irrelevant Supreme Court order dated February 6, 2017, in Lokniti Foundation v. Union of India. In fact, in a counter affidavit submitted in the court, the attorney general stated that biometric UID/Aadhaar is voluntary. In this submission, which has been reproduced in the order of the division bench, it was stated that 'currently, Aadhaar card or biometric authentication is not mandatory for obtaining a new telephone connection.' In its petition, the Lokniti Foundation had prayed that 'the Aadhar card or such other biometric identification may be made compulsory for verification of the mobile phone subscribers that can ensure 100 per cent verification of mobile phone,' but pursuant to the attorney general's submission, it is apparent that the bench decided to adhere to the Constitution Bench's order that keeps Aadhaar voluntary. Quoting this very order out of context, the minister misinformed the Rajya Sabha that 'there is the system of Aadhaar-enabled verification for SIM card for the user. I have got the copy of the order. The Supreme Court has approved it as a very good system which has been incorporated (sic).' Notably, drawing on the same misrepresentation, the department of telecommunications under him has issued a circular on March 23, making Aadhaar mandatory 'regarding 100 per cent e-KYC-based re-verification of all existing subscribers' in order to implement 'hon'ble Supreme Court orders.' It is evident that the minister and the attorney general will have us believe that the two-judge division bench's order will prevail over the five-Judge Constitution Bench's order. The minister's exercise in misrepresentation was exposed by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh in the Rajya Sabha when he pointed out that the minister 'did not mention that there was a Supreme Court order after the Act was passed on September 14, 2016.' Ramesh underlined that 'he quotes selectively from the 2015 Supreme Court orders. Nowhere in those orders does the Supreme Court say that they are contingent on Parliament passing an Act.' Hence, the Supreme Court orders make it clear that Aadhaar remains voluntary. Moreover, four years ago, Justice A K Sikri, then the chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana high court, had heard a case related to biometric UID/Aadhaar and passed an order wherein he had noted that the petition challenging mandatory requirement of Aadhaar 'raises a pure question of law.' In its order, the bench headed by Justice Sikri observed, 'In this writ petition, the petitioner has challenged the vires of notification issued by the Union of India for making it compulsory to have UID cards.' But since the executive order of the Union territory of Chandigarh was withdrawn, the case was disposed of in 2013. In this way, the attempt to make Aadhaar mandatory, which has now emerged as an act of bullying by the government agencies, and turning citizens into subjects by making fundamental rights conditional on biometric identification was stopped in the tracks. MUST READ features on Aadhar in the RELATED LINKS BELOW... Large-impact aerial weapons have no use against dictator regimes or terrorist entities, says Group Captain Murli Menon (retd). The United States' Mother of All Bombs, the largest-ever non-nuclear GPS-guided GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Bomb, is stated to have neutralised more than 90 Islamic State terrorists. The employment of MOAB came on the night of April 12 by the US Air Force Special Forces Command MC-130 (Spectre). It was targeted at mountain tunnels used by terrorists belonging to the ISIS-Khorasan chapter in Achin, Nangahar, along the Pakistan-Afghan border. Developed in 2003 to deter Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein before the US invasion of Iraq, the 21,600-pound bomb was a successor to 'Daisy Cutter' bombs used earlier by the USAF in Afghanistan. Though the MOAB was never used by the US. An even more powerful 'Father of All Bombs' reportedly exists, which is four times more powerful than the American MOAB at 44 tonnes of TNT blast effect. The FOAB, developed by the Russians using Fuel Air Explosives, was reportedly intended to be used in Ukraine. Now both these weapons are clearly inordinate monstrosities in search of suitable target systems. The Russian bomb cannot even be employed at high altitude or bad weather because its main explosive element needs mixing with oxygen in ambient air. US President Donald Trump's main reason to showcase the MOAB was to scare into submission IS or North Korean leader Kim Jong-un or the like. Even the delivery limitation of the MOAB (as opposed to the FOAB, which could be dropped from a TU-22 bomber) precludes its employment in most combat areas, a drop by MC-130 aircraft from 20,000 feet being a necessity. Much smaller capacity aerial weapons could achieve the desired impact over a terrain such as Nangahar (as indeed was done by the B-52/B1/B2 bombers using 2,000 pounders or Daisy Cutters over Tora Bora in the past). The MOAB is purportedly an air blast weapon and would use Depleted Uranium in its warhead. The extreme damage to the environment over the battle zone need only be imagined. Talking of the development of monstrous weapon systems sans back-up logic, Saddam Hussein's attempt to fabricate a long-range 'supergun' (external link) comes to mind. The fuel air explosive bomb, which several countries -- including India -- have, causes an immense vacuum in its target area, literally sucking the air out of targeted human beings. Such weapons, like the neutron bomb, were designed to be mainly anti-personnel, causing structural damage by severe over-pressure. Some analysts in the US have lauded the employment of the MOAB. CNN even suggested that it showed why nuclear weapons were required. Imagine, the world's biggest superpower is still thinking of a nuclear war! It is believed that the USAF had considered employing nuclear warheads to penetrate deep into underground atomic reactor cores in facilities such as the Natanz in Iran. While US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley talks of doing away with nuclear weapons to leave behind a safer world for our children, the American military is toying with more and more lethal weaponry. A related question that emerges is whether the MOAB could be employed against North Korean missile sites. Given the expected air defence umbrella that the rogue regime has in place, a protracted 'Suppression of Enemy Air Defence' air campaign would have to be waged to achieve the air superiority required to facilitate a high-level, low-speed ingress over North Korean air space. Thus, the neutralisation of Kim Jong-un's missiles would call for a different slew of air and ground and sea military operations which the Americans must be working on. Large-impact aerial weapons, thus, will have no use against dictator regimes or terrorist entities in general. Yes, one purpose exists, which in airpower parlance is called 'political signalling'. Along with the Tomahawk strikes over Syria, Trump sent a signal to his adversaries that he means business. Considering the foregoing, it would be prudent to bring weapons such as the MOAB into the global disarmament ambit, so that nations or rogue leaderships do not develop weapons whose impact is, whilst being non-nuclear, out of proportion to its cost in material and environmental terms. The advent of laser and microwave weaponry in the not-too-distant future may provide weapon solutions with accuracy, impact and environmental safety. Photograph: Reuters '"I have heard so much about Bollywood, Excellency... Oh, I am so excited to meet you," said the lady guest from Morocco.' 'We had entered another world.' 'Someone asked what was distinctive about the Method style.' 'The minister sprung up, with his face and features aglow.' 'He began demonstrating how a simple act, say, discarding your shoes is performed differently in Hollywood, under the Stravinsky model, by Brando and in Bollywood.' Ambassador B S Prakash has fond memories of Vinod Khanna, his minister. Tributes have poured in for Vinod Khanna, one of Bollywood's greats. He was also among the few who played a stellar dual role -- actor-politician -- with success on both sides of the hyphen. I worked with him when he was a minister in the ministry of external affairs. My memories after two decades are of fondness and amusement about where we had all found ourselves at that point in time. A story below will explain, but first the backdrop. In 2004, Vinod Khanna, who had won successive elections from Punjab, was made minister of state -- MoS -- by then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I was then a joint secretary, the head of the UN division on the political side in the ministry. In that capacity, I had to frequently meet the MoS and was often asked to join during delegation level talks with other countries. My role was to explain India's approach to issues like conflict resolution, peace making or peace keeping, international terrorism, reform the UN Security Council etc. As is obvious, these are all issues of general interest, non-technical or non-specialist, and are on every agenda. I found that during such bilateral talks, the MoS seemed to listen and take an interest: Once or twice he even complimented me on my spirited exposition of India's perspective. Ministers seldom do that. In the sixties and seventies, like most of India's youth I too had grown up admiring Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra and Vinod Khanna. Growing up in the South, their 'fair and lovely' complexion, quintessential Punjabi good features, and rugged handsomeness were uncommon and appealing. But even decades later, I was still impressed with how Vinod Khanna strode into the ministry, surrounded by his gun-totting security men and sundry escorts. He oozed sheer masculinity in the sanitised corridors of a ministry in a purely visual sense, if you can imagine. Normally in dazzling white clothes, and with an impressive mane, he cut a stylish figure. Later, the foreign ministry had other handsome junior ministers -- Omar Abdullah and Shashi Tharoor come to mind -- but Vinod Khanna was the original. He also had more of the mystique, as if being a Star was not enough. Everyone knew that in the eighties he had turned spiritual and had dropped his flourishing film career to follow Bhagwan Rajneesh or Osho, as he had come to be known. Vinod Khanna in ochre clothes; that seemed like a poster to put up in college hostels. And then the political success. He had a persona, all right. It may have been my imagination or mere vanity, but I believed that the minister liked having me around in his team. As someone dealing with the UN, my involvement was with no particular country or region or subject. I could be invited to be a part of any team in the foreign office discussions and I found myself often being summoned. One hot summer Friday around 12, I was told to join the minister at a lunch he was hosting at the Oberoi for a visiting dignitary. This had not been scheduled in the ministry's programme, the details of the visiting VIP were not known to me, and I knew that normally the MoS liked to leave for Bombay on Fridays, to spend the weekend there and return to Delhi on Monday to resume his ministergiri. When I reached the hotel, I was told that the visitor was from Morocco, was someone influential with the royal family, was a 'special envoy' with the status of a junior minister. The result was that the local ambassador had to arrange some meetings in a hurry. MoS Khanna had been persuaded to postpone his flight to Bombay and had agreed to host the visitor, albeit with some reluctance. We had been told that the subjects were generic -- peace, world order and amity among nations. Maybe some discussion on the Palestinian issue as well. I joined the minister, the protocol officials and a few of my colleagues. The minister was a bit distracted; his mind was already in Bombay and he did not particularly care to spend an afternoon with an unknown Arab emissary from an unimportant country. As we thus waited in the glittering foyer of the Oberoi, I saw the Moroccan cars sweep into the driveway with the flag flying. The Moroccan ambassador, whom I knew, descended. And lo and behold, from the other side of the rear seat emerged a diva -- tall, lithe and glamorous, in immaculate Parisian attire. A peach colored outfit, a Pierre Cardin or some such, elaborate coiffure, and exquisite jewelry that I cannot describe. She sashayed towards us, all the eyes in the lobby of the hotel glued to her progress, and our spirits including that of the Mantriji rose. "How nice of you, Mr Minister... Allow me to present Madam... His Majesty's special envoy for Humanitarian Affairs..." the Moroccan ambassador was saying. The minister with Bombay on his schedule was in his smart-casual mode -- a white linen jacket, chinos, stylish shoes -- and not in the standard kurta-pyjama. He now assumed the role of the Bollywood superstar courting his heroine, say a stylish Zeenat Aman. The visitor who had obviously been told by the ambassador that she was to meet not just a minister, but a great Indian heartthrob was equally enchanted. As they met, she murmured some French terms or were they Arabic? Nobody could be sure: They sounded soft and intimate. We proceeded for lunch. After the usual pleasantries across the table, there were some formal statements on both sides. Both spoke about the cordial Morocco-India relations, how close they were and how much closer it should become etc etc. It was the turn of the officials. I said my piece on major UN issues. The Moroccan official talked about the Palestinians and Western Sahara. The two leaders looked a bit preoccupied. "I have heard so much about Bollywood, Excellency... Oh, I am so excited to meet you," said the lady guest, coming into her own. "Do you follow the Method school of acting?" "When I started my acting career, I was such a fan of Marlon Brando and the Method style," began Vinod Khanna. We had entered another world. Someone from the other side asked what was distinctive about the Method style. The minister sprung up, with his face and features aglow. He began demonstrating how a simple act, say, discarding your shoes is performed differently in Hollywood, under the Stravinsky model, by Brando and in Bollywood. The talk turned to cuisine and the crafts. How is couscous cooked differently in Morocco and Tunisia? Will Egyptian cinema ever have a revival? For the next ninety minutes, the rest of us listened spellbound, as the conversation sparkled with references to Casablanca, Cannes and the lure of the desert. It was time to say good-byes. As the two 'leaders' stood up to shake hands, "it was such a pleasure Vinod..."! When had the MoS become "Vinod"? "Hope our paths cross again." If this was a Bollywood script, I would follow my imagination and take the trajectory forward. But as this is a bureaucrat's tale about a minister, I have to report that he took his flight to Bombay as we trudged back to the ministry. B S Prakash is a former Ambassador and a long-standing Rediff.com columnist. Please read his earlier columns here. MORE features on THE AMAZING VINOD KHANNA in the RELATED LINKS BELOW... 'A Russia-Iran-China-Pakistan geopolitical grouping is evolving at this point of time.' 'Given that the grouping is in its nascent stages, will this week's terrorist attack in Mirjaveh affect it?' asks Aveek Sen. Iran's IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday, April 26, that nine Iranian border guards were 'martyred' fighting terrorists while patrolling in its Mirjaveh region bordering Pakistan. Mirjaveh is located 75 km from Zahedan, the provincial capital of Iran's southeastern province of Sistan Baluchestan. A statement released by the police information dissemination centre stated, 'Iranian border guards were killed by a number of terrorists in the zero border point from inside Pakistan's soil.' 'Since the terrorists have been ambushed in Pakistan's zero border point and the attack was carried out from this border, the government of Pakistan should be accountable for the incident,' it added. Ali Movahedi Rad, the public prosecutor in Zahedan, said the terrorists escaped into Pakistan territory after attacking the border guards. The border guards and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are in the region to investigate the case, Rad added. Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif expressed sorrow over the martyrdom of the border guards and said, 'Iran's diplomatic apparatus is not going to spare any efforts to follow the issue by using all available diplomatic channels to punish the sinister terrorists.' Iran's Press TV reported that 'border guards have been killed in clashes with outlaws in southeastern Iran. The so-called Jaish ul-Adl terror group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.' Iran's Sistan Baluchestan province is a sparsely populated tribal region. Drug smugglers and Jaish ul Adl terrorists operate in close coordination in the area. The Jaish ul Adl and its predecessor terror group Jundullah have often been the cause of tensions between Iran and Pakistan. Iran has on various occasions accused foreign powers -- including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the US and the UK -- of meddling and using proxies to create unrest and forment trouble in Sistan Baluchistan. Iran has on a regular basis shelled Jaish ul Adl hideouts inside Pakistan. But Iran-Pakistan relations, though ridden with tensions, have not reached the scale of conflict that India-Pakistan relations have. Competition coupled with cooperation in the geopolitical arena can best describe Iran-Pakistan relations. Meanwhile, General Raheel Sharif, Pakistan's former army chief, has left for Riyadh to assume command of a 41-nation military alliance. 'In what appears to be a veiled reference to the Saudi-led military alliance, without naming any specific country, Iran's President Rouhani made some remarks in a meeting with the speaker of Pakistan's national assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on an official visit to Tehran on Monday, April 24,' Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported, quoting Iran's IRNA news agency. Countries 'supporting terrorist groups' such as the Taliban, Al Qaeda and Islamic State 'financially and logistically for a long time cannot claim to be combating them,' President Rouhani added. According to the Dawn report, 'Iran suspects that under the garb of fighting terrorism the military alliance will intervene in Iraq and Syria and Saudi Arabia will also push the alliance into Yemen.' 'Pakistan says the coalition is focused on combating terrorism and it is neither for nor against any country,' Dawn added. There also have been recent reports that Pakistan is deploying a brigade of its troops to assist Saudi Arabia on its southern borders. While Iran is not significantly involved in Yemen beyond the rhetoric in its media against Saudi Arabia (the level of Iran's support to the Houthis in Yemen is hotly debated, but no concrete links have established any significant support), if the Arab coalition gets involved in Syria or Iraq, it will be in direct opposition to Iran. Iran and Russia back the Bashar al-Assad government in Syria. In Iraq, Iran backs various militias fighting in alliance with the Iraqi government against ISIS. The so-called 'rebel militant groups' in Syria are backed by various Arab players. 'The Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan as two brotherly and neighbourly States enjoy ample of commonalities,' President Rouhani told Speaker Sadiq. He reiterated that over the past 70 years, Iran had always stood by the Pakistani nation. Rouhani called for all-out efforts to boost and consolidate mutual cooperation to achieve $5 billion of trade between the two countries (bilateral trade had been hit by the sanctions against Iran). Iran, the Iranian leader said, was ready to meet Pakistan's demands in the energy sector, adding that a pipeline transferring Iran's gas to Pakistan (the Peace Pipeline) had come close to the Pakistan border. Pakistan, Sadiq said, required Iran's energy, mainly its gas, and expressed willingness to help finalise the Peace Pipeline project. A Russia-Iran-China-Pakistan geopolitical grouping is evolving at this point of time. The Russia-China-Pakistan trilateral meeting last year on the future of Afghanistan that did not involve the Afghan government had drawn severe criticism, including from the Afghan and Indian governments. Given that the grouping is in its nascent stages, it remains to be seen if incidents like this week's terrorist attack in Mirjaveh affect it. Or will the classic realpolitik game of competition coupled by cooperation continue to be played? Aveek Sen is an independent researcher working on cyber security and the geopolitics of India's neighbourhood, focusing on Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Bangladesh. IMAGE: Portraits of Pakistans President Mamnoon Hussain, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif displayed during Rouhani's visit to Islamabad, March 2016. Photograph: Faisal Mahmood/Reuters Pakistans consistent denial of consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav suggests him already being executed, said former Union home secretary and Bharatiya Janata Party leader R K Singh on Friday. Singh told ANI, Requesting for consular access and visas to Kulbhushan's parents is a human right issue. It should not be denied. Nextly, the reason behind asking for the report is that we have strong feeling that Kulbhushan has already been tortured to an extent that he is already dead and thats why he was sentenced to death by a Pakistans military court. Singh suggested the government should take strict reciprocal action against the terrorists who infiltrate to India through the International Border. We should set up fast track courts for terrorists who infiltrate into the Indian side through the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, Jaipur. A fast track trial should be conducted. They all should either be awarded a death sentence or given life imprisonment, he added. Resonating similar views, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said that its New Delhi's right to the health status of Kulbhushan Jadhav. May be not today, but afterwards they have to give us the health status of Kulbushan Jadhav, Ahir said. The Indian government has requested for Consular access to Jadhav on sixteen occasions, and Pakistan has refused to entertain them on grounds that it is a defence and national security matter. IMAGE: Protest in Mumbai against Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence. Photograph: PTI Photo A special court on Friday remanded to two-day police custody an alleged hawala operator in the Election Commission bribery case, involving All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Amma) faction leader T T V Dinakaran, to ascertain the money trail. Special judge Poonam Chaudhry also sent alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrashekar, who was produced on expiry of his police custody, to judicial custody till May 12 after the Delhi Police said his custodial interrogation was not required. The police sought two-day custody of alleged hawala operator Nathu Singh, who was arrested on Friday night, claiming he was given Rs 1 crore to hand it over to Chandrashekar. The money was meant to be paid as bribe to Election Commission officials in the pending party symbol matter, the police told the court. Singh was apprehended at the Delhi Airport for his alleged involvement in illegal transfer of money to arrested middleman Sukesh Chandrasekhar by Dinakaran, said a senior police officer. Dinakaran was arrested on April 25 night in New Delhi following four days of questioning for allegedly attempting to bribe an unidentified EC official to get the undivided AIADMKs two leaves election symbol for his faction. The AIADMK (Amma) faction leader has been accused of allegedly arranging the amount from undisclosed sources and getting it transferred from Chennai to Delhi through illegal channels. The court had on April 26 remanded Dinakaran in five days custody of Delhi Police which said it needs to unearth the money trail and entire conspiracy in the case. The court had also sent Mallikarjuna, an associate of Dinakaran who was arrested along with the politician, to police custody till May 1. The Crime Branch of Delhi Police had searched the residences of Dhinakaran and that of his associate Mallikarjuna after securing warrants from the court as part of its probe. Mallikarjuna, who had been accompanying Dinakaran everywhere ever since Chandrasekars arrest on April 16, was arrested for facilitating an alleged Rs 50-crore deal between the leader and Chandrasekar. IMAGE: Officials of Delhi Police Crime Branch escort Sukesh Chandra, the middleman accused of receiving a bribe after promising to retrieve the party symbol for AIADMK, in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo Hello, I am an ISI agent. But I dont wish to continue any further and want to remain in India, said a passenger after he got off an Air India flight from Dubai at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Friday. Muhammad Ahmad Sheikh Muhammad Rafiq, a Pakistani passport holder, approached a help desk at the airport and conveyed to a woman at the counter that he wanted to share information about Pakistan's snooping agency, Inter-Services Intelligence. Taken aback by his statement, the woman quickly informed security officials who detained him immediately and informed the central intelligence agencies. Rafiq, 38, had arrived in New Delhi by Air Indias flight from Dubai and was further booked for Kathmandu. However, he did not take the next flight and decided to break journey and walked up to the help-desk counter at the airport. During questioning, Rafiq said he was connected with the ISI but had decided to call it a day and remain in India, officials said. He was whisked away to an undisclosed destination where he was being questioned by sleuths from various central intelligence agencies, they said, adding his claims were being verified. Image for representation only. Even as the unity moves between the two AIADMK factions seem to be going nowhere, former chief minister O Panneerselvam is working on a grand alliance of other Opposition parties, reports R Rajagopalan. A mahagathbandhan or grand coalition may slowly be taking shape in Tamil Nadu between former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and other Opposition parties in the state. Panneerselvam, who leads the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) faction, met Tamil Maanila Congress chief GK Vasan at his residence in Chennai recently and is believed to have discussed a possible electoral alliance for the July 2017 Tamil Nadu panchayat polls. Vasan, who is in Delhi for the next few days, met the top BJP leadership in Delhi, but whether he talked about an alliance is not immediately known. The mahagathbandhan is also likely to include Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagams Vijayakanth, Pattali Makkal Katchis Dr S Ramadoss, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagams Vaiko and the state unit of the BJP. This coalition is expected to give a tough fight to the main Opposition party in Tamil Nadu, the MK Karunanidhi-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. But what the alliance will also do, is sideline the AIADMK (Amma) faction led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. Apart from meetings with leaders of political parties, OPS and his party leaders will tour Tamil Nadu next month in the birth centenary year of AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran. The tour will ensure that the party cadres are enthused after months of instability in the wake of J Jayalalithaas death in December last year, and enable OPS to get feedback from the rank and file loyal to her. According to sources, at least 60 per cent of the undivided AIADMK's cadres are with Panneerselvam. The state tour will culminate in celebrations on June 8 and 9 in Chennai to mark MGRs birth centenary year. The attempt at consolidation of power comes because EPS is yet to accept Panneerselvams preconditions to a merger. They include: Remove VK Sasikala, her nephew TTV Dinakaran and 30 family members from all positions of power in the AIADMK. Sasikala and Dinakaran should formally resign from their posts. Withdraw the affidavits submitted to the Election Commission declaring Sasikala and Dinakaran as party general secretary and deputy general secretary, respectively. Order a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into J Jayalalithaa's death. The OPS camp, whose jubilation at Dinakarans arrest was short-lived since he has not resigned as the partys deputy general secretary, feels the chief minister has not taken their demands seriously. The EPS faction, however, says that with Sasikala in jail and Dinakaran under a cloud it was unreasonable to expect leaders in the second tier to green-signal a merger. The Panneerselvam camp, however, alleges that the EPS camp is dragging its feet over the merger since Dinakaran and Sasikala still have control over the AIADMKs funds which run into thousands of crores. Till the two relinquish financial control over the party, the OPS team will not consider a merger. Moreover, the EPS camp has been holding a meeting with district secretaries over the last three days to sign affidavits supporting him as the party head. The move to get an affidavit indicates that a merger of the two factions may not take place as district secretaries in the Palaniswami camp still owe their allegiance to Sasikala and Dinakaran. A senior leader in the Panneerselvam camp said, We will try to get more cadres and contest the panchayat elections in July 2017. Till then let us not waste our energy on talks of a merger, admitting that the conditions they had set before EPS were tough. The source also said that in the event Panneerselvam gets to be chief minister again, he would find the going tough. The senior leader said that Sasikalas family will not obey OPS and it would be risky to face the AIADMK cadres and voters. This is why the tour of Tamil Nadu is so important since it will give Pannerselvam a clearer picture of where he stands. However, other sources told Rediff.com that if the merger talks fail, half the Palaniswami camp will cross over to the OPS camp reducing the government to a minority. For now, it's wait and watch in Tamil Nadu. IMAGE: Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. R Rajagopalan is a senior journalist in New Delhi who has been reporting on Tamil Nadu affairs for decades. In a bizarre diktat, a school in Meerut has asked its students to sport Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths hair cut triggering resentment among the students and their parents. The worked-up parents have alleged that the Rishabh Academy School in the Sadar area had warned students they will not be allowed to attend school till they got the Yogi haircut. The students also alleged that the school management had banned non-vegetarian food during recess. The matter, however came to light on Thursday when some students were not allowed to enter the school because they did not have proper haircuts. The management, however, denied the allegations and said its secretary Ranjeet Jain had merely asked students to be properly dressed and sport a decent haircut while attending school. I asked the students to get Yogi-like haircuts, when they were unable to understand what we wanted. We basically want very short haircuts, of the kind the army gives. I had asked the students to remain in discipline, and get fauji cut. Also, the students have been told strictly to not keep beards, Ranjeet Jain, secretary Rishabh Academy said. Dozens of angry parents protested in front of the school, following which the police reached the spot and mediated between the parents and school authorities. United States President Donald Trump has admitted that conflict with North Korea is presently the biggest concern on his plate. In a recent interview, the US President stated that there is an absolute chance that the US could end up having a major conflict with North Korea. North Korea has conducted several tests ever since the new US administration came to power and refused to halt its nuclear weapons development programs. In the most recent show of force, Pyongyang put its military might on display during a parade on April 15 marking the 105th birth anniversary of the countrys founder Kim Il Sung, grandfather of present ruler Kim Jong Un. According to reports, North Korea displayed what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile during the parade. The parade also featured the Norths submarine-launched ballistic missiles for the first time. A day after it conducted a failed missile launch on its east coast following which US Vice President Mike Pence has said that all options are still on table with North Korea, not ruling out military actions. Ever since, the two sides have been engaged in a spat of verbal warnings. Last week, a North Korean newspaper said Pyongyang was ready to take out a US aircraft carrier conducting drills with Japanese destroyers near the Philippines. With mounting Pyongyangs nuclear threats, Washington has also speeded the installation of its advanced missile defense system Terminal High Altitude Area Defense in South Korea. Designed to shoot down missiles at a high altitude, a THAAD battery is made up of six truck-mounted launchers carrying some 50 interceptor missiles, and a fire control and communications unit, which are linked to the very long-range X-band radar system. The Trump administration has also said it will tighten economic sanctions against Pyongyang to halt Kim Jong-Uns nuclear weapons programme and ballistic missile tests. Image: United States President Donald Trump stands in the Oval Office. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters PLEASE READ: Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Wickliffe, OH -- (ReleaseWire) -- 04/28/2017 --Normandy Catering, a leader in the catering and food service industry since 1978, is pleased to announce its partnership with the new Ariel Pearl Center and Ariel International Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The Ariel Pearl Center is a hidden jewel in the heart of Old Brooklyn. Located in a beautiful historic 1923 bank building, it features marble columns and floors, bank vaults, stone walls, large arched windows under an intricate decorative plasterwork ceiling with magnificent crystal chandeliers. This stunning historic building was built in 1923 as the Pearl Street Savings and Trust Bank, which was designed by the famous architects, Hubbell & Benes, who also designed the Cleveland Museum of Art, West Side Market, City Club, Masonic Temple, and other famous historic buildings. The building is located at 4175 Pearl Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44109, 2 blocks south from the Cleveland Zoo, at the intersection of Pearl Road and Broadview Road. The first floor of the Ariel Pearl Center has been converted to a beautiful event center which includes the Grand Hall with the Rotunda and Vault, a Cocktail/Ceremony Room, and a Fireplace Room. Seating capacity of the main Grand Hall is approximately 280. About Normandy Catering Normandy Catering is a full-service catering company headquartered in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Normandy's highly-qualified professionals prepare and present delicious meals, utilizing the freshest ingredients from local growers and producers. Our experience, along with our team's passion, produces superior appeal and taste that will make your event truly special. Together, Normandy and Ariel Pearl Center can facilitate a beautiful, worry-free event, as both companies have an impeccable reputation in serving their clients. If you would like more information about Normandy Catering and its food service capabilities, please call 440-585-5850. To learn more about the new location of Ariel Pearl Center, please call 216-344-9441. Voting on Tuesday? Check here to get the information you need The children of two rights defenders facing bribery charges in Cambodia said Friday that their families faced serious hardship during the year their parents have spent in prison and expressed hope they might be freed, despite a recent court ruling that extended their pre-trial detention by six months. ADHOC official Lim Mony and National Election Committee (NEC) deputy secretary-general Ny Chakrya have been held for 12 months at Prey Sar Prison in the capitalalong with Lim Monys colleagues Ny Sokha, Yi Soksan, and Nay Vandaamid a wide-ranging probe into a purported affair by opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) president Kem Sokha. Authorities have charged the ADHOC officials with bribery and the NEC officialwho is also a former ADHOC officialwith accessory to bribery for attempting to keep Kem Sokhas alleged mistress quiet. Together, the five are collectively known as the ADHOC 5. On Thursday, Phnom Penh Municipal Court Judge Theam Chanpiseth met with the five detainees and their lawyers at a closed hearing and informed them they would need to remain behind bars for up to six more months while their case is investigated further, citing a need to interview more witnesses. Only one witness has been questioned during their year-long detention and the case has been dismissed as politically motivated by both local and international observers. Speaking with RFAs Khmer Service on Friday, Ny Chakryas son Ny Chansetha said that his father is the breadwinner of his family, and his detention seriously affects the household. He has always generated income for the family, advised the children and taken good care of his wife, he said. But now, he is being held far from us and this makes me feel very sorry and makes life really difficult. Ny Chansetha said he was particularly concerned for his infant brother, who was born just ten months ago while his father was already in prison. My youngest brother has never received proper care from his father, he said. He was able to meet him at the jail for only 20-30 minutes or so, and I dont feel this is enough for my brother, he added. I hope the government will release my father one day. I cannot live peacefully Lim Monys daughter, Un Bunnary, told RFA that her mother was also the main income provider for her family, and that she missed her advice and assistance. This doesnt mean that I totally depended on her, but [her detention] affects my mental state, as well as that of my family and [even] those who know us, she said. They all feel pity for her, as she is an old woman who has been made to suffer such injustice. Honestly, such a thing should never have occurred, since she has never done anything wrong. Un Bunnary said she has always been close with her mother, and that the two of them never missed seeing one another each day. But when she is in jail, I cannot live peacefully, she said. Sometimes, when I eat a delicious meals or sleep well at home, I get a feeling that I should not have this luxury because I know my mother doesnt. I dont know how she is able to [endure] the jail. Un Bunnary said her mother regularly tells her that she is doing well in detention, but admitted she has her doubts. My mom is good at tolerating things, so I think she may have faced a lot of hardships in prison [but not told me], she said. I know she may be afraid that I am too concerned for her. Calls for release In response to the court ruling to extend the pre-trial detention of the ADHOC 5, the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) on Friday called for Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sens government to release without delay the five rights defenders. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell also expressed regret that their detention was extended, despite an opinion by the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention last November that they be freed. While we recognize the obligation of the investigative judge to thoroughly investigate the case, the use of pre-trial detention should be the exception, rather than the rule, and be allowed only for the shortest possible time necessary, on the basis of clear evidence and valid legal reasoning, Throssell said. We regret that these safeguards appear not to have been followed at any of the bail hearings. Also on Friday, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders called the one-year anniversary of the ADHOC 5s pre-trial detention a new low for the Cambodian government and demanded their immediate and unconditional release. In a statement, the Observatory said it condemns the courts decision [to extend their detention] as the latest act of judicial harassment against the five, and condemned their ongoing imprisonment as a blatant breach of Cambodias international human rights obligations. On April 26, the detainees were collectively named as a finalist for the 2017 Martin Ennals Award, which provides protection and support to human rights defenders deemed at risk. The award will be presented on Oct. 10 in Geneva. Reported by Sel San for RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sovannarith Keo. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called on the United States Thursday to end its practice of forcibly deporting convicts with Cambodian heritage to the Southeast Asian nation, a policy he said splits up families. We request an amendment to the agreement on deportation. Such deportation splits up families of our Cambodian people, Hun Sen said at a speech at a graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh. When they are jailed in the U.S., their families are allowed to visit them in the prison. However, when they are deported, they are far apart (from their families). The Cambodian government needs to address this matter, he said. Under a 2002 agreement, which the Cambodian Foreign Ministry said remains in effect until renegotiated, some 500 convicted felons of Cambodian descent after serving their sentences have been repatriated to a country most have never visited with a language they do not speak. On April 25, the Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesperson issued a statement saying that the agreement has been widely criticized in Cambodia and among Cambodian Americans but had not been discontinued. The spokesperson rejects any information that the above memorandum has been discontinued and wishes to emphasize that Cambodia wants to amend the above agreement commensurate with the values of humanity and compassion, the statement said. The agreement shall remain in effect while both parties are discussing the amendment, it said. The AFP news agency, reporting from Phnom Penh, quoted a U.S. embassy spokesman as saying Washington was aware of Cambodias desire to amend the memorandum. Reported by Sovannarith Keo for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Paul Eckert. Dozens of people were injured after thousands of residents of China's southwestern region of Guangxi clashed with police and demolition gangs trying to tear down their homes to make way for a horticultural exhibition ground, eyewitnesses told RFA on Friday. Riot police fired pepper spray, and used police dogs and batons to disperse thousands of protesters who gathered in the regional capital Nanning in anger over plans to forcibly demolish their homes. A local rights activist surnamed Tan said dozens of people were injured during the clashes, which took place on Thursday afternoon between police and residents of Liang village in the city's Yongning district. "When we went back to the scene today, the police were already gone," Tan told RFA on Friday. "The clashes yesterday lasted from about 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m." "The residents told me that the police were using pepper spray, police dogs and batons to attack protesters, and that several dozen people sustained injuries, none of them critical." "But one person got taken to hospital and had to have 10 stitches," Tan said. "There has been no response from the government so far." Local sources said the government had tried sending in demolition teams to raze village homes in Yongning on Thursday, running into determined opposition when they got to Liang village. The government sent in an estimated 1,000 riot police and other security personnel to deal with the protests, which brought around 6,000 protesters out onto the street, they said. Video and photos of the clashes seen by RFA showed large numbers of protesters holding up banners protesting the demolitions, facing off with ranks of uniformed police. Villagers were also shown trying to hold off the police with rocks and flagpoles, while women and children were among those beaten. Liang village is now encircled by police checkpoints, and no vehicles are allowed to move through freely, local residents said. "You can't get into our district now, and we can't get through to them by phone either," a resident of Liang village surnamed Liang, who is currently out of town, told RFA. "It's all being covered up." "The cover-up started in the middle of last night; we couldn't get through to them by phone, and so I have no idea how many people got hurt," Liang said. "It's all been sealed off. Nobody can get in, and it's pretty hard to get out." Inadequate compensation Villagers said they were infuriated by a government offer of several hundred yuan (100 yuan = U.S. $14.50) per square meter (1 square meter = 11 square feet) in compensation for their existing homes, saying it will cost them more than 10,000 yuan (U.S. $1,450) per square meter to buy new homes. They have also accused local officials of embezzling funds earmarked to pay more reasonable rates of compensation. An official who answered the phone at the Yongning district branch of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's disciplinary arm declined to comment. "Anti-eviction clashes, you say? I don't really know about this," the official said. "None of our leaders is here right now." The clashes come amid growing public anger over the use of violent forced evictions, often with no warning or due process, by local governments to reclaim land for lucrative redevelopment or speculation. Land acquisition for development, often resulting in lucrative property deals for local officials, sparks thousands of protests by local communities across China every year, many of which escalate into clashes with police. But the authorities are quick to suppress news and social reports of such clashes, and anyone who posts details of such "mass incidents" risks detention for spreading rumors. Last November, authorities in the northern city of Shijiazhuang executed Jia Jinglong, who fatally shot a local official with a nail gun in protest over the forced demolition of his home, in spite of a massive public campaign for a reprieve. In a case that became emblematic of widespread anger over social injustice in China, the Supreme People's Court ruled that Jia's crime was "extremely serious," and merited the death penalty. Reported by Wong Siu-san and Wong Lok-to for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. A court in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin on handed down a three-year suspended jail term to prominent rights lawyer Li Heping after finding him guilty of subversion, but the authorities appear not to have let him go free. Li was sentenced by the Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court, which found him guilty of "subversion of state power" in a trial behind closed doors. The sentence was suspended for four years. Li was also deprived of his political rights for four years, the court said on its verified Weibo account. "The court decided not to proceed with an open trial, owing to the fact that the Li Heping case involved state secrets," it said. The court found that Li had, largely through the medium of foreign media interviews, "attacked and discredited organs of the state and China's legal system." The judgement also accused him of using foreign funds and "hyping cases" to further provoke people already disgruntled with the country's political system. Li had also "colluded with illegal religious activities to subvert the power of the state," the court said. It accused him of conspiring with fellow lawyers and associates to "jointly plan a strategy, steps and methods to overthrow the socialist system," concluding that he had endangered national security and social stability. "Our judgement is that there is complete and genuine evidence to convict Li of the crime of subversion of state power," the court said. Li's wife Wang Qiaoling told RFA on that Li has yet to be freed, however. "Li Heping isn't free. He should have arrived home by noon , but there are certain people keeping guard over our front door," she said. "They are trying to get me to go to Tianjin with our child." "If I go to Tianjin to meet with Li Heping, I will be held under house arrest there," she said. Police had shown her a letter purporting to be written by Li, but she had rejected it as potentially fake, Wang said. "Later on, I got a phone call from my husband's phone, but he didn't dare say anything much, just that he 'suggested' I go to Tianjin to see him," she said. "I told him the reason I wasn't going wasn't that I don't love him or miss him but that I'm afraid the government will hold the whole family under house arrest." "They're not going to release him properly," she predicted. No access to lawyer in 22 months of detention Meanwhile, Cai Ying, a defense attorney who was hired to represent Li but never allowed to perform that function, said Li had done nothing to break Chinese law. "In a normal state of affairs, Li Heping would be innocent, because his actions do not amount to a crime," Cai told RFA. "Now [the authorities] are looking for the best way to back down from the situation." "According to the notification, there is no mention of his having confessed, either, just an expression of regret, which isn't the same thing," Cai said. Amnesty International China researcher Patrick Poon said via his Twitter account on that Li has had no access to a lawyer since he was detained. Poon told Reuters the sentence means Li will be "silenced for another four years," in a reference to conditions and ongoing police surveillance that typically apply in such cases. A suspended jail term is no guarantee of personal liberty, according to rights groups and lawyers. Prominent rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was repeatedly taken to unknown locations and tortured during his suspended sentence. Li's sentencing comes after the administration of President Xi Jinping launched a nationwide police operation targeting the country's human rights lawyers, law firm employees and associated activists beginning with a raid on the Beijing Fengrui Law Firm in . China has since detained, questioned, or otherwise placed restrictions on more than 300 lawyers, law firm staff, human right activists, and family members. Several remain in some form of pretrial detention, mostly on subversion or state security charges, while dozens of others have been banned from leaving the country or placed under house arrest or other forms of surveillance. Authorities in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin have indicted prominent rights lawyer Li Heping on unknown charges, paving the way for a trial, while other lawyers detained in a crackdown remain in pretrial detention. Li was arrested early on in the crackdown, but his case has been sent back twice to police for further investigation, the maximum number of times allowed, and he was finally indicted on Dec. 5. Reported by Xin Lin for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. A court in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong has ordered a retrial of a social media user it sentenced to two years' imprisonment after he called President Xi Jinping by a forbidden nickname in an online chat session. Wang Jiangfeng, who reportedly referred to the head of the ruling Chinese Communist Party as "Steamed Bun Xi" in a group message to the smartphone apps WeChat and QQ, was sentenced by the Zhaoyuan People's Court on April 12 after being found guilty of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble." Wang was found guilty of using WeChat and QQ chat groups to "insult, humiliate and disrespect current and former national leaders," the original court judgement said. But the court on April 21 ordered a retrial, citing "errors" in the evidence against him, his wife and lawyer told RFA this week. "On April 13 [the day after the sentencing hearing], they told the lawyer that the head of the Zhaoyuan District People's Court had discovered some errors in the original judgement," Wang's wife Sun Wenjuan told RFA in a recent interview. "They then withdrew the judgement and began the process of ordering a retrial," she said. "They issued the order for a retrial on April 21." Sun said she has no idea of the implications for her husband yet. "Will he get a heavier sentence? A lighter sentence? Will he be acquitted? None of this is clear," she said, adding that she is hopeful of his release, however. "My feeling is that an acquittal is pretty unlikely, but that they may decide to produce the same result," she said, in a reference to the practice of sentencing time already served. "That would be the best possible outcome." Wang's defense lawyer Li Yongheng said that a heavier sentence would be highly unusual within China's judicial system. "A heavier sentence looks very unlikely because the head of the court has already ordered a retrial," Li told RFA. "But as his lawyer I can't answer your question about whether he will get a sentence reduction or not." He said he believes his client should never have been jailed in the first place. "I didn't think that the sort of things he wrote were worthy of a criminal punishment, and I thought he definitely shouldn't do jail time," Li said. "I still hold that view." Social media posts Wang, 47, had made posts to social media that caused "negative thoughts about the [ruling] Chinese Communist Party, the socialist system and the people's democratic dictatorship, causing psychological confusion and public disorder of a serious nature and of a particularly egregious kind, seriously disrupting public order," according to the original court judgement. His defense team argued that while Wang's posts were inappropriate, they didn't constitute action in a public place, because they had been sent to a limited "friends circle" within WeChat. But the court cited guidelines from China's Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate ordering courts to treat online insults as "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," and that an online space was the exact equivalent of a public space like a city street. The retrial order said that the case was "eligible for a retrial" under China's Criminal Procedure laws, however. An official who answered the phone at the Zhaoyuan District People's Court declined to comment on the case when contacted by RFA on Thursday. "Steamed Bun Xi" has been a banned word on China's tightly controlled internet since the president ordered the buns during a visit to a Beijing restaurant in December 2013, prompting petitioners to gather outside toting a placard that read "President Xi, I'd like to eat baozi" in a bid to get their grievances against the communist party heard. The incident sparked an online meme in which Xi was referred to jokingly as Steamed Bun Xi, in a pun on the name of a legendary Song dynasty official who fought corruption. Censors later banned the meme, deleting social media posts that contained references to it. Reported by Wong Siu-san and Sing Man for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. The youth of North Korea are more likely to be critical of the countrys political system than older generations and frequently crack jokes about the failings of the Kim Jong Un regime, despite the threat of arrest, according to sources. Pyongyang recently responded to U.S. President Donald Trumps increasingly hawkish policy towards North Korea by saying that the Kim regime will not shy away from the opportunity to defend socialism, according to a statement in the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). But sources told RFAs Korean Service that the countrys youth regularly mock the failings of the political system, which they believe is socialist purely in name, referring to how China alone is a socialist country with its own characteristics, while ours is a capitalist country with North Korean characteristics. The younger generation today is different from the older generation, which dared not make critical remarks about the North Korean system, said a resident of Pyongyang who spoke to RFA under condition of anonymity while traveling in China. They are more open-minded and critical than the older generation. When they meet up, these young people tend not to hesitate to criticize their supreme leader Kim Jong Un and the [ruling] Workers Party. North Koreans who make disparaging statements about the government are subject to severe punishment at the hands of the authorities. Earlier this month, sources told RFA that seven railroad workers heard criticizing a recent missile test by the regime were arrested by authorities in Jagang province at the end of March. But according to the source, not only are younger North Koreans unafraid of mocking the government, but they go out of their way to retaliate against anyone who informs the authorities about the things they say. If they get into trouble because their secret conversations were leaked by some whistleblower [to the authorities], they will chase him or her down and get their revenge in one way or another, he said. When asked why the youth had become so critical of North Koreas political system, the source told RFA that there is a prevailing sentiment among them that life under the regime is a hypocrisy. Although the central government keeps praising the lack of an income gap as a merit of socialism, while saying that a large gap between the rich and poor is why the capitalist system doesnt work, they dont believe it, he said. Instead, they point out that North Korea has become just as capitalist, with a growing divide between the haves and have-nots. A second source in North Pyongan province, near the border with China, told RFA that some young people are showing their dissatisfaction with the Kim regime by altering the lyrics of patriotic songs meant to express admiration of the North Korean leader. There is a song praising Kim Jong Uns walk, called ChokChokChok, and they sometimes sing the song by changing the lyrics Kim Daejang (General Kim) to Kim Ttungbo (Fatty Kim), said the source, who also asked not to be named. A former resident of Pyongyang who has since defected to South Korea surnamed Lee told RFA that few North Koreans understand the concept of socialism and capitalism, and what differentiates the two political systems. But these young people, who can be called part of the jangmadang (private markets) generation, seem to be very critical of the ever-widening gap between rich and poor, and have to vent their dissatisfaction because they have better access to information about the outside world. Authorities have long tried to block various forms of information from entering North Korea in an attempt to keep unwanted foreign influences from seeping into the isolated nation. Leader Kim Jong Un is believed to be particularly sensitive about news of the outside world getting into the North because of its ability to undermine his regimes propaganda efforts and threaten his support basemade up largely of the countrys elite. Reported by Junho Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Changsop Pyon. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. An open letter sent on Thursday by 23 rights groups and other international organizations is calling on world governments to urge Myanmars cooperation with a forthcoming U.N. fact-finding mission sent to investigate abuses in Rakhine state and other conflict zones in the country. Signed by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other organizations, the letter says that reports of sexual violence, extrajudicial killings, torture, and the destruction of homes by security forces in northern Myanmars Rakhine state must be openly and honestly addressed. We are deeply concerned that if the government of Myanmar fails to fully cooperate with the Fact-Finding Mission, the situation in Rakhine State may further deteriorate, says the letter addressed to the United States, United Kingdom, member states of the European Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Reports of abuses committed by security forces against civilian populations during recent operations in Myanmars Kachin and northern Shan states must also be investigated, the April 27 letter says. The Fact-Finding Mission is in the interests of the government of Myanmar as well as the people of the country because it would demonstrate the governments willingness to uphold the rule of law, work collaboratively with the international community to help establish the facts, identify perpetrators, and deter future crimes by all parties to the conflict[s], the letter says. In March, the United Nations Human Rights Council issued a resolution calling for the dispatch of an independent, international fact-finding mission to investigate allegations of human rights violations by security forces in Rohingya Muslim communities in the northern part of Rakhine. 'Less than helpful' On April 11, a top-level Myanmar government official briefing foreign diplomats, U.N. agency personnel, and reporters called the U.N. resolution "less than helpful," saying that Myanmar has made progress in dealing with the situation in Rakhine. He noted that the government is complying with most of the 30 recommendations made by a Rakhine advisory committee headed by former U.N. chief Kofi Annan by opening restricted areas to news media, allowing increased humanitarian access, and agreeing to close down three internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the Rakhine towns of Kyaukphyu, Sittwe, and Ramree. Meanwhile, non-Muslim ethnic Rakhine refugees from an IDP camp in Kyaukphyu will be relocated next month to a 65-house village with electricity and available water, sources told RFAs Myanmar Service. The refugees, displaced from their homes by communal violence in 2012, will be resettled by May 5, a township administrator, Nyi Nyi Lin, told RFA. Their houses will have electricity and water supplies, and are now ready to be moved into, Lin said, adding, We will also provide 400,000 kyat [U.S. $295 approx.] per household. So this will not be like an IDP camp, but more like family homes, he said. The government of France meanwhile announced on April 24 that it will contribute $700,000 euros (U.S. $761,670 approx.) in 2017 to humanitarian response and livelihood recovery in Rakhine and Kachin states, calling the move an effort to efficiently and sustainably address food insecurity and nutritional vulnerability is the conflict-torn areas. Reported by Min Thein Aung for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Richard Finney. The proliferation of electric water pumps for large-scale farming and oil exploration in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang region has all but dried up an elaborate set of wells used by the Uyghur residents of Turfan prefecture, according to local authorities. The karez water system in Turfan consists of some 1,100 wells linked by hand-dug underground canals that have irrigated local agriculture for 2,000 years and once provided an important oasis for merchant caravans traveling the Silk Route through the Taklamakan desert between China and the West. Gravity pulls glacial melt water along canals accessed by the wells at several points before it is distributed through networks of dams and channels to produce an annual runoff of some 300 million cubic meters (10.6 billion cubic feet)or about 30 percent of the total irrigated areas in Turfan. The Karez Wellswhich are being considered for designation as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)are still in use today, supplying irrigation to local vineyards that account for 80 percent of Chinas annual grape production, despite the areas arid climate. But after centuries of supplying local residents with the water they need to eke out an existence in the harsh desert environment, nearly 90 percent of Turfans wells have run dry as large-scale farmers extract water and petroleum companies drill at an increasingly rapid rate, local police officers told RFAs Uyghur Service. A Uyghur police officer from Karaghoja township in Turfan city said that the last well in his area dried up between 15 and 20 years ago, and that water from wells in neighboring towns is receding day by day. We used to have more than 1,000 karez in Turfan during the 1950s, but these days there are only 20- 30 of them left containing water, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. From what I can see, the total number of karez left in Turfan is not more than 50. By official estimates, underground water levels in Turfan are dropping at a rate of three million cubic meters (106 million cubic feet) per year. In 2008, the government of Xinjiang announced that U.S. $182 millionaround U.S. $100 million of which was loaned by the World Bankhad been earmarked to protect and restore the well system, but residents say it is unclear how much of the money was used for the project. The Karaghoja officer said that authorities have done little to mitigate the problem, adding that the interests of the small have been sacrificed for the interests of the big. Subsidies provided by the government for irrigation and water projects were directed to operators of the electric water pumps, and since they are pumping out underground water day and night, how can one expect there would be any water left for the karez, he asked. Irregular oil exploration [contaminating the wells and lowering the water table] is likely responsible for 20-30 percent of the problem, electric water pumps for 60 percent, and climate change and global warming [affected the glacial feed] for 10 to 15 percent. Digging deep Another Uyghur police officer from Turfan citys Aydingkol township, who also asked not to be named, told RFA that more than 90 percent of his local karez had dried up, and that none of those remaining were used for drinking water. Ten to 15 years ago, water could be accessed underground by digging 20-25 meters (65-80 feet), but these days, wells for water pumps have to be drilled more than 100 meters (330 feet) deep, said the officer, echoing similar concerns from sources in neighboring townships. From what I know, there is no single karez left in Aydingkol used for drinking water. And while there are some left that are used for farming, they are also in dire condition and worsening. The Aydingol officer said that due to the loss of karez, residents are abandoning traditional viniculture in favor of raising livestock, and now we are witnessing fights between farmers over water. Even oil producers at a petroleum field near the town have ceased operations because of the receding water levels, he added. Along with the loss of a valuable resource for the region, the officer said that many residents are saddened by the effect on the local culture, as the karez have long stood as a symbol of the achievements of the Uyghur civilization. When we were kids, our elders used to tell us fairytales, legends and folktales while we sat atop the karez in the evening, he said. Those kinds of beautiful nights have become a thing of the past. When contacted, UNESCO said it was reserving any immediate comment until it verifies the information obtained by RFA. At the moment, I am sorry, without verifying the information, we cannot provide any comment, said a spokesman from the UNESCO office in Paris. Reported by Eset Sulaiman for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Mamatjan Juma. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. The wife of jailed rights activist Zhang Haitao, a critic of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's treatment of the mostly Muslim Uyghur ethnic group, was recently allowed to visit him for the first time in prison after he was jailed for 19 years on subversion and spying charges in . Zhangs unusually harsh sentence came after he had openly criticized government policy in the troubled region. His wife Li Aijie, who gave birth to the couple's child shortly after his detention, recently spoke to RFAs Mandarin Service about her visit to the remote Shaya prison near Aksu: "I arrived in [Xinjiang's regional capital] Urumqi on . I set off from Urumqi at 7.03 p.m. and reached Aksu on the 23rd, at 7.42 a.m. and then I arrived in Shaya on the 24th. Haitao's sister didn't come, perhaps because she was waiting to see if I would come this time. It didnt go that smoothly, but it didnt go too badly. They had to ask their bosses two or three times before I was finally able to get in to see Haitao. They allowed the 30-minute allocated time to overrun a little to about 40 minutes. I wanted to take in photos to show him but they wouldnt let me. They wouldnt let me take in the Bible I brought for him, either. I took photos at the entrance of the jail which made them extremely nervous and scared, until I promised them solemnly that I wouldnt post any photos in or near the jail online. Haitao isnt doing too badly, both physically and psychologically. I asked him about life inside, and he said he gets regular daily exercise following meals, after which he studies. He is studying traditional culture; Mencius and Confucius and that kind of thing. They get rice gruel and steamed buns for breakfast, and some vegetables. If they improve their lives they get to eat chicken and rice, or maybe eggs and tofu. I asked if they limit how much they can eat and he said no, they can eat as much as they want. He doesnt have to do labor in prison. He gets up at 7.00 a.m. every day and does some exercises, then eats. After breakfast, they are allowed to exercise. Then he studies. After lunch there is a rest period of one hour, after which he studies again. They go to bed at 10.30 p.m. I asked him why he hadnt written to me lately, and he said he had written me two letters. The first wasnt approved by the prison censors, so it was never sent. I have yet to receive the other letter. I dont know why. He told me that he wants to appeal, but the prison officials told me that there are some papers to fill out first, which need to be filed with the prosecutors office or wherever, then he can appeal." Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Afghanistan's Taliban has announced the start of their spring offensive, promising to target military assaults on U.S.-led coalition and Afghan security forces. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in an e-mailed statement on April 28 boasted that the militant group now controls more than half of the country, citing a U.S. report in February that said the Afghan government controls only 52 percent of Afghanistan's 407 districts. This year's offensive was named Operation Mansouri after the Taliban leader killed last year in a U.S. drone strike. "Mansouri Operations will differ from previous ones in nature and will be conducted with a twin-tracked political and military approach," Mujahid said, explaining that the Taliban will begin building institutions in areas under their control, establishing what he called "social justice and development" mechanisms. He didn't say whether this means that the militants will apply their brand of justice, which when they ruled Afghanistan included public executions and chopping off the hands of convicted thieves. Apparently foreshadowing the spring offensive, a Taliban attack earlier this week on an army base in northern Afghanistan was among the most devastating ever in the country, killing more than 140 Afghan soldiers. Based on reporting by AP and AFP Vietjet launched flights between Singapore and Hanoi. The first passengers of the route are welcomed with a special flash-mob performance at the heart of Changi airport. The ceremony was witnessed by Vietjet leaders and visitors of Changi airport. Passengers on board the inaugural flight were also surprised with exclusive gifts and a warm welcome upon landing at Singapore. The Hanoi-Singapore flight will be operated daily with a flight duration of 2 hours 55 minutes per leg. The flight from Hanoi takes off at 10:00 (local time) and arrives in Singapore at 13:55 (local time). The return flight departs at 14:55 (local time) and lands in Hanoi at 16:50 (local time). This route now marks Vietjets second link to Singapore after Ho Chi Minh City and the airline also has plans to connect Dalat and Danang with Singapore in the future. The U.S. military says the two U.S. Army soldiers killed during a raid on a compound held by fighters linked to the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Afghanistan may have been the victims of so-called friendly fire. Navy Captain Jeff Davis, the Pentagon spokesman, said on April 28 that the U.S. military is investigating the deaths to see whether the soldiers were accidentally hit by ground fire from other U.S. troops or from Afghan government forces. Davis said Abdul Hasib, the leader of Islamic State (IS) militants in Afghanistan, was the target of the April 26 raid in the eastern province of Nangarhar. U.S. officials suspect the militant leader was killed but have not yet been able to confirm it. Davis said about 50 U.S. Army Rangers and 40 Afghan commandos took part in the assault on a compound held by a group called ISIS Khorasan, an IS affiliate that operates in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He said the battle lasted about three hours and that an estimated 35 militants were killed. The Pentagon identified the dead U.S. soldiers as Sergeant Joshua Rodgers, 22, and Sergeant Cameron Thomas, 23. It confirmed that a third U.S. soldier was wounded in the operation. U.S. forces have been battling IS-linked militants in Nangarhar Province, where the extremist group has established a presence for its battle against Afghan government forces. Nangarhar is the province where, on April 13, the U.S. military said 94 militants were killed after it dropped its most powerful nonnuclear weapon ever used in combat on what it said was a major militant command center. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters Notorious former Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has held talks with government representatives in eastern Afghanistan after years outside the country, his first public meetings with officials from the Western-backed government since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. The meetings on April 28 came after Hekmatyars Hezb-e Islami militant group signed a peace agreement with President Ashraf Ghani's government in September. Under the deal, he was granted amnesty for past offenses in exchange for ending his violent 15-year insurgency against the government. The controversial peace deal has been criticized by many Afghans and by Western rights groups, which accuse Hekmatyar's forces of gross human rights violations during Afghanistan's civil war in the 1990s and cite their deadly attacks on U.S. and Afghan forces since 2001. Hekmatyar met on April 28 with Laghman Province Governor Abdul Jabar Naimi and Ghanis security adviser, Juma Khan Hamdard. He arrived two days earlier in the province, which lies between Kabul and the border with Pakistan, where he is believed to have been in hiding. Naimi said Hekmatyar had "promised full cooperation" with the government and added that he hoped the peace deal would "revive hopes for enduring peace in Afghanistan," according to a statement. Hekmatyar had been expected to make a public appearance in Laghman on April 28, marked in Afghanistan as the 25th anniversary of the defeat in 1992 of the formerly Soviet-backed government by armed insurgents known as the mujahedin. But the event was canceled without explanation. A Hezb-e Islami spokesman told RFE/RL that Hekmatyar's appearance had been rescheduled for April 29. Hekmatyars supporters have erected large billboards across Kabul in anticipation of his first public appearance. Hekmatyar founded Hezb-e Islami in the mid-1970s. The group become one of the main mujahedin factions fighting against Soviet forces following their invasion in 1979, and then one of the most prominent groups in the bloody civil war for control of Kabul after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989. Hekmatyar, a former prime minister under the mujahedin government, was one of the chief protagonists of the internecine 1992-96 war. Rights groups accuse Hekmatyar of responsibility for the shelling of residential areas of Kabul in the 1990s, as well as forced disappearances and covert jails where torture was commonplace. He was designated as a terrorist by the U.S. State Department in 2003. Under the peace agreement, Hekmatyar will be granted amnesty for past offenses and certain Hezb-e Islami prisoners will be released by the government. The deal also includes provisions for his security at government expense. In February, the UN Security Council lifted sanctions on Hekmatyar, paving his way to return to Afghanistan. The controversial peace deal was a breakthrough for Ghani, who so far has had little to show for his efforts at ending the countrys 16-year war. While the military wing of the Hezb-e Islami led by Hekmatyar has been a largely dormant force in recent years and has little political relevance in Afghanistan, the deal with the government could be a template for any future deal with fundamentalist Taliban militants who have also fought Kabul's authority. Tensions in the Balkans are on the rise, unnerving some who fear that increased nationalism, ethnic rivalries, and weak democratic institutions -- mixed with sluggish economies -- could be a recipe for deeper crisis and possibly even violence. Kosovo's largest opposition party is pushing for a referendum to unite with Albania, even though such a move is prohibited by the fragile former Yugoslav province's constitution. Meanwhile, ethnic Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina are talking about an independence referendum. Belgrade and Skopje are the scenes of nightly protests as a familiar mix of political instability, territorial disputes, and ethnic rivalries threatens to reignite the restive region. But stopgap solutions imposed since the mid-1990s to bring stability and security in the Balkans, a conflict flash point for just over a century that has a history of dragging the world's superpowers into war, are crumbling. This has left Moscow, Brussels, and Washington in a race for influence, while Turkey, on the eastern edge of the Balkans, is strengthening historic ties with the region's Muslims, adding to the undercurrent of growing uncertainty. In all, 18 disputes, many over autonomy and secession, can currently be observed in the Balkans, according to the Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research, threatening to undo the fragile peace that has held since the Dayton agreement of 1995 ended the Bosnian War. Here are the main issues that threaten to bring tensions in the region to a boil: Religious/Ethnic Strife For more than four decades following World War II, Josip Broz Tito used the concept of "brotherhood and unity" to weave Croats, Slovenes, Serbs, Bosnians, Kosovars, Montenegrins, and Macedonians into a tight fabric called Yugoslavia. But more than a quarter-century ago, that country frayed and a series of wars between ethnic groups that left tens of thousands dead tore Yugoslavia apart at the seams. The brutal violence degenerated into "ethnic cleansing" and turned Muslims, Roman Catholics, and Orthodox Christians against each other. Some pockets of Islamist extremism have even formed in the region. Memories of the conflict linger, and tensions continue to flare up just below the surface of the peace. In January, a train dispatched from the Serbian capital toward Mitrovica -- an ethnically divided city in predominantly Serb-populated northern Kosovo -- was stopped just before reaching the countries' shared border. Its abortive journey unleashed a torrent of nationalist anger and a flurry of diplomacy to avoid conflict between Serbs and ethnic Albanians, who represent a majority in Kosovo. In Macedonia, December elections have failed to end two years of political stalemate, with President Gjorge Ivanov refusing to give the mandate to form a government to Social Democrats allied with ethnic Albanian parties, ostensibly because the latter seek more rights and the establishment of Albanian as Macedonia's official second language. Ethnic Albanians make up about 25 percent of the country's 2.1 million inhabitants. Ivanov has argued that the language issue is part of an attempt to destroy Macedonia's independence, and he has accused Albania of interference in Macedonian affairs. In a sign of Macedonia's mounting instability, about 200 protesters, some wearing black ski masks, stormed parliament on April 27 and assaulted several lawmakers. The violence later spilled out onto the streets of Skopje. One of their main targets, Social Democratic Union leader Zoran Zaev, was left with blood streaming down his face from a gash on his head and several other deputies were also injured after the coalition approved Talat Xhaferi, an ethnic Albanian, as the new parliament speaker. WATCH: Protesters Storm Macedonia's Parliament Indeed, the question of ethnic Albanians, who comprise about 8 million people including some 1.5 million in Kosovo,* may be the biggest flash point. After Kosovar President Hashim Thaci told RFE/RL on April 19 that "all Albanians in the region will live in a single country in order to proceed further with the integration into the European family," fears have grown that Albanians in the region, along with ultranationalists in Tirana, will trigger armed conflict by pushing the concept of a Greater Albania. "Although it is a relatively small area geographically, there are a large number of long-standing and very virulent conflicts in the Balkans. Above all, the many ethnic conflicts that we have observed in the Balkans over the years, even decades, have not decreased in number. Our assessment is that the potential for conflict in the Balkans remains significant," according to Silvia Steininger of the HIIK. EU Membership After the breakup of Yugoslavia, democratic processes were driven in large part by the prospect of joining the European Union. Slovenia was the first ex-Yugoslav republic to join the bloc in 2004, followed by Croatia in 2013. But the tough reforms required to shed decades of communist rule and bring economies shattered by civil wars in line with the bloc have hit ordinary citizens in the region hard, prompting many to sour on accession. In Serbia, which applied to join the EU in December 2009 and hopes for accession by 2020, support for membership was at 47 percent in February compared with a peak of 73 percent in November 2009. Making matters worse, a rise in nationalist, anti-immigrant sentiment within the bloc itself appears to have dampened EU enthusiasm to welcome new members from the Western Balkans. More recently, there have been mixed U.S. signals to the region under President Donald Trump, such as in February when Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican who chairs the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said that "Macedonia is not a country," arousing fury from Skopje. Concern is growing within the EU of a potential failure to quell "extremely dangerous" ethnic tensions within or between nations in the Balkan countries in a region that is also exposed to "global tensions." "If we [the EU] leave them alone -- Bosnia-Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, Macedonia, Albania, all those countries -- we will have war again," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told visiting U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in Brussels in February. Russian Influence If the EU was seen as a pillar of stability, Russia is now being touted as the possible wrecking ball. Officials in Podgorica have accused Russia of involvement in an alleged coup plot late last year purportedly aimed at impeding Montenegro's further Western integration. Moscow rejects the allegation. A traditional Slavic ally, the Kremlin has friends across the Balkans and a rival seeking influence as well: the United States. Aleksandar Vucic won a presidential election earlier this month in Serbia while pushing for closer ties to Moscow, even meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the waning days of the campaign. Seemingly keen to gain influence and drive a wedge between the West and the region, Moscow has already given Serbia weapons and military equipment, including a promise of six MiG-29 warplanes. Russia reacted sharply to the U.S. ratification of Montenegro's entry into the NATO security alliance on April 11, saying it "reflects the logic of confrontation on the European continent and creates new dividing lines." In November, the Kremlin backed a referendum in part of Bosnia, Serb-majority Republika Srpska, on a separate Bosnian Serb national day even though it had been banned by the courts. "What Putin wants in the Balkans seems plain enough -- namely political chaos that will distract the West, which made itself the region's ward in the 1990s," John Schindler, a security expert and former National Security Agency analyst and counterintelligence officer, wrote in The Observer. "Kremlin saber-rattling in 2017 to test the [NATO] alliance's resolve may instead come in the Balkans, where states are weak and Western control looks shaky.... [T]he United States and our European allies need to urgently calm down Southeastern Europe before its problems get out of hand and mass violence returns to that perennially troubled region." Corruption An old saying goes, "We don't have corruption because we are poor; we are poor because we have corruption." Despite attempts at public-sector, private-sector, and judicial reforms, that phrase resonates today in the Balkans as much as it ever has. Nowhere is that more evident than in the recent Serbian presidential election, when a satirist ran as a candidate who boasted of being a caricature of all of the worst qualities of the country's politicians. Saying he holds a fake university degree, has wealth he can't account for, and is willing to make promises he can't keep, 25-year-old Luka Maskimovic ran as Ljubisa "Beli" Preletacevic and finished third in the voting with almost 10 percent. Since the election, nightly demonstrations across Serbia have attracted thousands protesting against Vucic's victory, calling him a "thief" who "stole" the result through the muzzling of the media, voter intimidation, and bribery. According to a survey late last year by Transparency International, 65 percent of Kosovars thought corruption was one of the three biggest problems their country faced. In Bosnia, the number was 55 percent, while it was 39 percent in Serbia and 34 percent in Macedonia, which has a special prosecutor's office for corruption cases. So far, only 11 have been brought forth, none of which has gone to court. "As long as those who abuse their positions of power remain unpunished and there is general impunity for their actions, however, there will be no trust in the legal system and no popular support for reforms," according to Andy McDevitt, who authored Transparency International's Fighting Corruption In The Western Balkans And Turkey report late last year. "It is equally critical to ensure that the positive reforms achieved so far are not reversed, as has been the case all too often in the region." * CORRECTION: This story has been amended from an earlier version to note that there are 1.5 million ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. Sergei Lavrov sees Russophobia everywhere. Allegations that Moscow is supplying arms to the Taliban are Russophobic. Accusations that Russia is interfering in Western elections are Russophobic. And claims that the Kremlin is trying to undermine the European Union are, you guessed it, Russophobic. And it's not just Lavrov. Federation Council deputy Aleksei Pushkov, the former chairman of the Russian State Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee, has said that Russophobia has become the official policy of the Baltic states and Ukraine. And Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has accused Lithuania of "hysterical Russophobia." So all this Russophobia-mania got me wondering: Where did this word come from? What are its origins? And when was it first deployed? And the answer is actually pretty interesting -- and quite revealing. The term Russophobia first appeared in the mid-19th century, when Fyodor Tyutchev, a Slavophile poet and diplomat, used it primarily to describe Poles who sought liberation from the Russian Empire. In this context, he also referred to "Polish betrayal," "Polish ingratitude," and referred to Poland as "the Judas of the Slavs." So there you have it. The term Russophobia was invented to malign and smear those who did not wish to be dominated by Russia. In the mid-19th century, it was those "Russophobic" Poles seeking national liberation. Today, it's those "Russophobic" Ukrainians, Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians who are seeking to preserve their independence. And, of course, it's lobbed at anybody else who supports them, or who dares criticize Moscow. Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page. Russia has launched multiple suicide drones on Ukraine's southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, wounding people and damaging civilian facilities, the head of the regional military administration said, as fierce battles are under way in the eastern Donetsk region and in the south. "The occupiers attacked the area massively with kamikaze drones. Our air defense destroyed five barrage ammunition. They also attacked with drones the city of Dnipro, targeting a logistics enterprise. Four employees were wounded, three of them are in serious condition in hospital," Governor Valentyn Reznichenko said. 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. Russian forces also bombarded the Nikopol district in the region with Grad missiles and heavy artillery. Reznichenko said the shelling damaged private houses, a factory, and a power line, but no one was injured. A fire spread over more than 3,000 square meters, but it had already been extinguished, Reznichenko said. Russian troops regularly shell the Dnipropetrovsk region with various types of weapons, in particular the Nikopol, Kryvorizky, and Synelnyk districts. In Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed that Ukraine will not "surrender a single centimeter of our land" in Donetsk, where heavy fighting has been under way, and he thanked Ukrainian troops who are holding positions in the Donbas region. The epicenter of the battle for the industrial region of Donetsk is around the towns of Bakhmut, Soledar, and Avdiyivka. "The activity of the occupiers remains at an extremely high level -- dozens of attacks every day," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address late on November 8. "They are suffering extraordinarily high losses. But the order remains the same -- to advance on the administrative boundary of Donetsk region. We will not yield a single centimeter of our land," he said. Donetsk is one of four Ukrainian regions Russia said it annexed in September following referendums considered a sham by Kyiv and its Western allies. Fighting had been going on there between Ukrainian military and Kremlin-backed separatist forces since 2014, the same year Russia illegally annexed Crimea in the south. Zelenskiy said the goal of the Russian troops is to push to the administrative border of the Donetsk region. "We clearly understand the enemy's plans, so we act accordingly. Carefully, thoughtfully, and in the interests of the liberation of our entire territory. We are strengthening our positions, breaking Russian logistics, consistently destroying the potential of the occupiers to keep the south of our country under occupation," Zelenskiy added. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said the most intense battles were taking place in Bakhmut and Soledar in the Donetsk region, where the Ukrainian military repels dozens of Russian attacks per day. Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of the region's military administration, said the city of Bakhmut was very badly damaged, and there is not a single surviving house in Avdiyivka, Maryinka, or Krasnohorivka. Russian troops are trying to wipe the cities "off the face of the Earth," he said. Fierce fighting was also going on on the edge of the town of Snihurivka, in the southern Mykolaiyv region, according to Yury Barabashov, the town's Russian-appointed mayor, as cited by Russia's RIA Novosti news agency. Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the Russian-installed administration in the southern Kherson region, said on Telegram that Ukrainian forces had tried to advance on three fronts, including Snihurivka. Vitaly Kim, the Ukrainian governor of the Mykolayiv region, apparently quoting an intercepted dialogue between Russian troops, suggested that Ukrainian forces had already pushed the Russians out of the area. "Russian troops are complaining that they have already been thrown out of there," Kim said in a statement on his Telegram channel. The information could not be independently verified. The Ukrainian military said it destroyed two Russian ammunition depots in southern Ukraine on November 8, one in Snihurivka, and one in Kostromka, in the neighboring Kherson region. WATCH: Paratroopers with Ukraine's 79th Air Assault Brigade say they're holding positions around the small city of Maryinka in eastern Ukraine despite daily Russian attacks. Russia has mobilized hundreds of thousands of reservists in recent months seeking to stave off an offensive launched by Ukraine to regain Russian-occupied territories. Kyiv-based military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said on November 8 that 21 Russian conscripts had surrendered to Ukrainian forces around Svatove in the eastern Luhansk region. "These poor mobilized men -- really poor, they had had nothing to eat or drink in three days -- of course they decided to surrender," Zhdanov said on his YouTube channel. In the southern Kherson region, a battle between advancing Ukrainian forces and the Russian occupiers has been looming for weeks in the city by the same name, the only regional capital Russia has captured intact since its unprovoked invasion in February. Kherson is arguably the most important of the four partially occupied Ukrainian regions that Russia says it annexed. It controls both the only land route to the Crimean Peninsula and the mouth of the Dnieper River that bisects Ukraine. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, also commented on the fighting in eastern Ukraine on November 8. He was quoted by TASS as saying that information released about casualties among Chechen fighters near Lysychansk, a city in the eastern Luhansk region, was false. "Not a single fighter of ours was killed in the aforementioned area," Kadyrov wrote on his Telegram channel, adding that he didn't want to comment on "such falsehoods" but found it necessary "to reassure all sane and concerned people." Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, released video footage that it said showed a drone strike obliterating a Ukrainian tank that was hiding in an urban area and shelling Russian troops. "A Russian squad of unmanned aerial vehicles spotted the Ukrainian tank and destroyed it using a precision strike," the ministry said on November 8, according to TASS. The Ukrainian military's General Staff said Russian troops used drones and artillery on November 8 to shell communities along the Sumy region's border with Russia in northeastern Ukraine. The only damage reported was to utility poles. Sumy borders three regions of Russia -- Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod. The border regions of Ukraine are regularly shelled by Russia. Neither side's battlefield claims could be independently verified. The Ukrainian military has accused Russian troops of more looting and destroying infrastructure in Kherson. "A convoy of trucks passed over the dam of the Kakhova hydroelectric station loaded with home appliances and building materials," the military said. Russians were dismantling mobile phone towers and taking equipment, it said, adding that near the city of Beryslav, Russian forces "blew up a power line and took equipment from a solar power station." With reporting by Reuters, AP, and CNN Iran's President Hits Back At Rivals In Final TV Debate By Golnaz Esfandiari Iranian President Hassan Rohani has hit out at his two main conservative challengers, who accuse him of mismanagement, corruption, and failing to improve the economy following a landmark 2015 nuclear accord with world powers. The attacks and tit-for-tat accusations came during the third and final presidential debate aired live on Iran's state-controlled television on May 12 ahead of the vote on May 19. Rohani, a relative moderate who is seeking a second term, accused his rivals -- hard-line cleric Ebrahim Raisi and Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf -- of leveling baseless accusations against him and making unrealistic promises. Raisi said that under Rohani, the number of poor Iranians had increased. "Poverty has increased with this government from 23 percent to 33 percent [of the population]," Raisi said, while at the same time accusing Rohani of increasing subsidies and aid to the poor during the election season to win votes. Qalibaf, meanwhile, accused Rohani and his team of poor management. "Why can't we run the country better despite all of our resources? Because we don't have effective management, and corruption doesn't allow it," Qalibaf said. Rohani, who oversaw the 2015 nuclear deal under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of international sanctions, vowed to remove all remaining sanctions and decrease the country's inflation rate. "I will engage myself in lifting all the non-nuclear sanctions during the coming four years," he said. Raisi and Qalibaf both accused Rohani's relatives of corruption. Hard-liners opposing the Iranian president have in recent months accused his brother, Hossein Feridun, of corruption, and called on the judiciary to put him on trial. "The head of the government is being told that the closest person to him is engaged in corruption," Raisi said while adding that Rohani had been resisting calls for action. Rohani, who's become increasingly combative in recent days, hit back at Raisi, while highlighting his record with the hard-line judiciary, which is seen as a main tool of repression in the Islamic republic. "You can make any accusations you want against me. You're a judge, your [options] are open, you can do anything you want," Rohani told Raisi, who has held senior posts in the judiciary. Rohani also blasted Raisi over his role in the Special Court for Clergy that prosecutes clerics accused of wrongdoing. "You're also prosecutor of the Special Court for Clergy, you can detain any cleric. We have to ask clerics what they have gone through at your hands," the Iranian president said. Rohani said that security services were supporting Raisi, who runs Iran's wealthiest state charity. Raisi is said to be close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Qalibaf accused Rohani and Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, who is also running for president, of misusing their power to engage in corrupt land deals. Rohani and Jahangiri both dismissed the accusations, with the president firing back at Qalibaf and telling him to look into actions by his relatives. Rohani hinted at an unpublished file apparently detailing accusations against Qalibaf. "The 2005 Qalibaf file was in my hands, and I blocked its publication. If I had allowed its publication, you would not be here today," Rohani said, without elaborating. "There's no need for you to speak about other people's assets. The judiciary is [informed] about all my properties," Rohani added. He also reminded Qalibaf that in the past he had called for a crackdown on students protesting for more rights. Reacting to the debate on Twitter, Ali Vaez, an Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group, said that Iranian leaders were washing their dirty laundry in public. "This is so much fun, but also shows corruption is endemic," Vaez said. Jahangiri called on Iranians to vote to prevent military conflict in the region. "Warmongers have taken power in the world. We have to banish the threat of war from Iran," he said. Six men have been approved to appear on the ballot for Iran's presidential vote on May 19, with a potential second round to follow. They are meeting on April 28 for the first of three planned televised debates, this one focused on social and economic issues. The subsequent debates run through May 12. The candidates are: incumbent President Hassan Rohani, a reformist; conservative cleric and former prosecutor Ebrahim Raisi; Tehran Mayor and former police chief Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf; reformist First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, a Rohani ally; conservative former Culture Minister Mostafa Mirsalim; and former Iranian National Olympic Committee head Mostafa Hashemitaba, a centrist. Here are some of the social and economic issues that are likely to arise in the April 28 debate and throughout the campaign. Where's The Growth? President Rohani's rivals are seizing on the country's sluggish economic performance to attack his four-year record, promising especially to tackle poverty and unemployment. Candidates are already making promises regarding the creation of much-needed jobs in a country where many are either unemployed or underemployed. Raisi has promised to create 1.5 million jobs per year, while Qalibaf has said that if elected he will generate 5 million jobs. Rohani's critics have said that the 2015 landmark nuclear deal placing curbs on Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for international sanctions relief has failed to improve the life of the poor. The February parliamentary elections and voting for the Assembly of Experts (which can pick and dismiss the supreme leader) appeared to demonstrate significant public approval for Rohani and the nuclear deal, seen as key to a thaw in relations with the West. But reports from Iran suggest there is rising public frustration over a lack of tangible benefits from the deal. Most respondents in a recent poll said they believe the nuclear accord has not improved the life of average Iranians. Rohani's rivals will complain that he conceded too much while obtaining little in return. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the United States of not keeping its side of the bargain -- whose signatories also include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, and Russia -- and presidential challengers are likely to cite sanctions still in place (in connection with issues like human rights, Tehran's missile technology, and alleged support for terrorism) to argue that despite the deal, Washington has not lifted all its sanctions. Challengers are also likely to propose ways to create a "resistance economy" -- as emphasized by Khamenei -- to make the country more self-sufficient. In an implicit criticism of Rohani, who has pushed for Western investment, Khamenei earlier this week urged candidates to focus on domestic capabilities to resolve the country's economic problems. Speaking on April 25, Khamenei, who has the last say in virtually all domestic affairs, said candidates "should promise not to look outside the borders [but] rather inside the nation itself for progress, for economic growth, and to untie the knots." Civil Liberties Many Iranians have expressed a desire for less censorship -- both online and offline -- and appear fed up with state intervention in even the most private aspects of their lives. Rohani's promises to expand individual freedoms and civil liberties and lessen censorship and state restrictions on people's lives was among the reasons many voted for him in 2013. He is campaigning on themes that include fewer curbs on the press, more civil freedom, and greater openness generally. Nearly as a rule, conservative candidates in Iran refrain from openly advocating for more restrictive policies. For example, in his 2005 presidential campaign, hard-liner Mahmud Ahmadinejad said that women's adherence to the dress code -- for instance, whether their hair is completely hidden -- should not be an issue; yet a crackdown ensued after his election in which many women were detained and harassed for not fully respecting a strict interpretation of the so-called hijab. In an interview with state-controlled TV, Raisi spoke broadly in positive terms about cyberspace, which is tightly controlled in Iran, amid demands for even greater control by his hard-line allies. He also spoke in support of art and culture, a frequent target of conservatives including his father-in-law, Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Friday Prayers leader in Mashhad who has pushed for concerts to be canceled in that city. Rohani could also face pressure over his 2013 promise -- so far unfulfilled -- to release opposition figures whom hard-liners regard as "insurrectionists." Mehdi Karrubi, Mir Hossein Rohani, and Rohani's wife, university professor Zahra Rahnavard, have been under house arrest since 2011 for challenging Iranian authorities over the results of the 2009 presidential election and highlighting human rights abuses. Meanwhile, many pro-reform Iranians remain concerned about their house arrest. Rohani's supporters chanted Musavi's name at one of his recent campaign events, according to a video posted online by young reformists supporting him. Reformists are likely to use Raisi's role in the 1980s mass executions of dissidents and political prisoners to campaign against him. But talk of those killings is unlikely to erode support among Raisi's hard-line supporters. Ties With U.S. And The West While Rohani argues that mending ties with the West makes Iran more powerful, his rivals are likely to say that Iran needs to project power and that the country should avoid appearing weak in the face of pressure and rising tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump. Rohani has argued that confrontational policies could take Iran to the brink of conflict. "In the coming election, the issue is whether we want to begin confronting the world and bring back the ominous shadow of war or continue on the path of honorable interaction with the world," Rohani said in an April 23 speech. The president has been criticized by hard-liners for giving away too much in the nuclear negotiations. Raisi, who is widely seen as the most potent of Rohani's rivals in this election, in an interview with state-controlled TV on April 26 cited unity and national authority as the best ways to confront the United States. He claimed that the United States "is afraid of the name Iran." He also appeared to express support for last year's brief detention of U.S. sailors by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). "We all saw in the Persian Gulf how our youth brought the Americans with tied hands and put them in a humiliating situation," Raisi said. The sailors were detained for 15 hours after their boat drifted into Iranian waters during a 450-kilometer journey from Kuwait to Bahrain, where the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet is located. Women's Issues Candidates will almost certainly issue promises regarding women's rights to boost support among female voters. Rohani is expected to be bolder in his declarations, as he was in 2013 when he pledged to create more jobs for women and appoint them to senior posts, while conservatives, who support limited roles for women in Iran's clerically dominated society, are expected to keep their promises more modest. A video posted online by Raisi's campaign appeared to be an attempt to reach out to women. In the video, the hard-line cleric praises the work of his wife, Jamileh Alamolhoda, who teaches at Shahid Beheshti University, and says that he doesn't mind coming home to an empty household. "If there's no dinner, I don't mind," said Raisi, who added that his wife's work helps the country. 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. Scores of demonstrators stormed Macedonias parliament on April 27 and attacked several lawmakers after an ethnic Albanian deputy was elected speaker. It's one of the most alarming developments in that Balkan nation since it lurched into political gridlock more than two years ago. Angry nationalists, some wearing black masks to hide their faces, are suspected of leading the charge inside of the building, where they threw chairs, camera equipment, and punches. Later, they continued the violence outside as they battled riot police, who have since cordoned off the area around parliament. About a dozen protesters erected five tents on the front lawn of the parliament on April 28, pledging to stay to "defend Macedonia." Legislators, meanwhile, balked at a crisis meeting sought by President Gjorge Ivanov. What got us here? Macedonia fell into political crisis two years ago amid claims that the governing conservative party, VMRO-DPMNE, led by former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, was responsible for the illegal surveillance of some 20,000 people including journalists, politicians, and religious leaders. This spurred massive antigovernment protests and a European Union mediation effort. It eventually forced the resignation of Gruevski's government. Since then, there have been four snap elections, none of which has produced a stable government. The most recent vote, in December, gave VMRO-DPMNE 51 seats and the opposition Social Democratic Union 49 seats in the 120-member parliament. Neither side was able to form a majority government until the Social Democrats, led by Zoran Zaev, agreed to a coalition with some ethnic Albanian parties after accepting their demands for greater rights and the establishment of Albanian as a second official language in certain areas of the country. WATCH: Protesters Storm Macedonian Parliament President Ivanov, an ally* of the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party, has refused to give Zaev an official mandate to form a government, claiming the Albanian-language issue could destroy Macedonias independence. Why should outsiders care? Its no accident that the Balkans is referred to as the powder keg of Europe. Several events in the region, including the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire, in Sarajevo helped trigger World War I. More recently, the violent breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s left lingering animosities between the many ethnic groups that inhabit the region. Many analysts say the Dayton accords that brought peace to the Balkans were short-term solutions, at best, and that without secure, longer-term legislation and the strengthening of democratic institutions, volatility will remain on Europes southern flank. The Republic of Macedonia is a landlocked country in the heart of the Balkans. It borders Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Kosovo, and Serbia. It has a population of 2.1 million, mainly comprising Macedonian Slavs. But it is estimated that one-quarter of the country is ethnic Albanian, most of whom live in the northern and northwestern regions that border Kosovo and Albania. Other ethnic groups, none of which accounts for more than 4 percent of the population, include Serbs, Bosniaks, Turks, Roma, Montenegrins, Croats, and Vlachs. Tensions between Slavic groups and ethnic Albanians, who comprise about 8 million people in the Balkans, including some 1.5 million in Kosovo,* is widely considered the biggest flash point in the region. For example, since Kosovar President Hashim Thaci told RFE/RL on April 19 that "all Albanians in the region will live in a single country in order to proceed further with the integration into the European family," fears have grown that Albanians in the region, along with ultranationalists in Tirana, will trigger armed conflict by pushing the concept of a Greater Albania. Statements like Thacis are particularly unsettling for Macedonia, which suffered through an armed rebellion in 2000-01 by its Albanian minority that ended only after a NATO-brokered peace agreement was reached. Albanians say the deal has not been fulfilled, with promises of increased rights being broken, heightening tensions through the country. Is Macedonia on a "Western" path? A former province in Yugoslavia that gained its independence in 1991, Macedonia has been targeting European Union membership since it became a candidate in 2005, though it has yet to open accession talks. It also has aspirations of joining the NATO security alliance. WATCH: EU Foreign Policy Chief Condemns Macedonia Violence However, membership drives to both institutions have been blocked by Greece amid a dispute over the countrys name. Greece has voiced concern that the usage of "Macedonia" implies territorial aspirations against its own region of the same name. While Macedonia continues to negotiate its place in the EU, because of Greeces objections it currently goes by the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. NATO has said that Macedonia can only officially receive a membership invitation once the naming dispute is settled. The rising tensions in the Balkans have not gone unnoticed by the EU. A summit in Brussels in March was aimed at cementing the blocs long-term commitment to the region. Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Serbia are all currently in membership negotiations with the EU. By reiterating its commitment to the Balkans, Brussels said it is hoping to erase any feelings that the road to membership has been blocked. But equally, if not more, important to many Europeans is the effort to keep Russia, which has long-standing cultural and economic ties in the region, from gaining sway in the region. The Kremlin appears to see destabilization as a way of driving a wedge between the West and the Balkans, opening the door for it to boost economic ties, including through energy and trade links. How has the international community reacted to the Skopje violence? Brussels, Washington, and Berlin were quick to condemn the violence of April 27, suggesting it was an attack on democracy. The EU's foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini, warned that "violence is unacceptable, even more so when it happens in the house of democracy." The U.S. Embassy in Skopje decried the violence "in the strongest terms," saying via Twitter that it was "not consistent with democracy and is not an acceptable way to resolve differences." The Russian Foreign Ministry countered that the Wests "gross interference" in Macedonia was to blame for the political crisis engulfing the country. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office issued a statement expressing "deep concern" and saying that "Macedonia holds key significance to establish lasting peace in the Balkans." In Serbia, President-elect and current Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic convened security consultations and cautioned that events in Macedonia "present a problem for all of us who live here and it is better to stop all the problems and secure peace and stability for our children." What might pressure Macedonian leaders to end this crisis? Though it has made strides in reforming its small, open economy over the past decade, Macedonia remains one of Europes poorest countries. Economic growth was robust at an average 4.3 percent from 2002-08, but it has slowed by half since 2009 to average just 2.1 percent. The current political crisis threatens to negatively affect the economy of a country that is already one of Europes poorest even further if it is not solved in a timely manner, the World Bank has said. With this, and the threat of a fresh breakout of violence on their minds, many Western countries have called for Ivanov to respect the election results and allow the proposed coalition to form a new government. This, they say, will strengthen democratic institutions in the country and allow it to regain its footing, thus avoiding a deep economic crisis on top of its political woes. With additional reporting by AP and Reuters * CORRECTION: This story has been amended from an earlier version to note that there are 1.5 million ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. It has also been changed to note that President Ivanov is an ally of the VMRO-DPMNE rather than a member of that party. Qantas Airways continues to enhance its services for Chinese travelers. China is critical to our strategy in Asia. Together with our new direct Sydney Beijing service, the deepening of this partnership reflects our commitment to the region, enabling our Asian customers to travel to and within Australia seamlessly, said Qantas CEO Gareth Evans. Qantas Airways announced signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UnionPay International, Chinas largest payment network provider, to expand the acceptance of UnionPay cards for payment across all Qantas customer touchpoints. With over 5 billion UnionPay cards in circulation around the world, the increased acceptance of UnionPay cards across all of Qantas touchpoints gives especially to Chinese customers convenient access. Under the agreement, Qantas and UnionPay will explore the potential for UnionPay card payments for a wider range of flight reservations and other flight-related purchases such as seat selection and excess baggage. In addition, Qantas and UnionPay will also identify relevant marketing and promotional opportunities beneficial for both brands, including exclusive deals. At present, UnionPay cardholders can only use their cards for flight bookings made on Qantas website for flights originating in China. UnionPay International CEO Cai Jianbo said that the partnership is a significant step forward for greater acceptance of its cards in Australia. As the China-Australia Year of Tourism, 2017 is an important year for UnionPay to accelerate acceptance and usage of UnionPay cards in Australia. To achieve this, we have a three-pronged approach: Firstly, to improve the online payment infrastructure and customer experience through gaining greater acceptance of UnionPay cards for online payments by local merchants; secondly, to position and leverage Mobile QuickPass, UnionPays contactless payment system, as a leading and innovative payment mode in Australia. Lastly, to promote the uptake of UnionPay cards among Australian residents as a viable payment mode which provides convenience and safe transactions in Australia, China and other parts of the world, said Mr Cai. The Qantas UnionPay MOU signing follows Qantas recently launched Sydney-Beijing daily service, which commenced in January 2017. Together with its partners China Eastern and China Southern, Qantas customers can now choose from 130 weekly return flights between Australia and China, with a further 256 connecting services to domestic destinations within China. In 2016, Australia received over 1.2 million Chinese tourists, a 23% year on year growth. In the same period, over 600,000 Australians visited China. UnionPay cardholders visiting Australia who are eligible for tax refunds can also choose to receive the refunds directly into their UnionPay cards when they apply online, through the TRS app or via mail. Since 2014, four major Australian banks have integrated UnionPay into its payment and banking networks, with ninety per cent of local ATMs and seventy per cent of local merchants accepting UnionPay cards for transactions. Montenegro's parliament has ratified a pact on NATO membership, marking a historic turn toward the West amid protests from traditional ally Russia and the country's pro-Russian political opposition. Lawmakers who convened in the historic city of Cetinje on April 28 voted 46-0 in favor of ratifying the accession treaty with the Western military alliance. Opposition lawmakers in the 81-seat legislature boycotted the session. Prime Minister Dusko Markovic told parliament that NATO membership will provide Montenegro a guarantee for the country's future security and economic progress, and for regional stability. "This day will be marked among the brightest in our history," Markovic said. Montenegro's former prime minister, Milo Djukanovic, also hailed the vote as historic by saying it was the most important decision the country has made in recent years. "After long suffering and roaming through history, [Montenegro] is finally in the position where it logically, historically, civilization-wise and culturally belongs," Djukanovic said. Several hundred opposition supporters gathered outside parliament before the session, some chanting "Treason!" and "Thieves!" as lawmakers from the ruling pro-NATO coalition arrived for the vote. A banner read, "NATO murderers, your hands are bloody!" Russia angrily criticized mostly Slavic, Orthodox Christian Montenegro's bid to join NATO. "We must acknowledge with deep regret that the current leadership of the country and its Western patrons did not listen to the voice of reason and conscience," said Russia's Foreign Ministry, which contended that "nearly half" of Montenegros population opposed the move. It added that "Moscow cannot fail to take the strategic consequences of this step into account." "So we reserve the right to take decisions aimed at protecting our interests and national security," the ministry said. Montenegro's government urged lawmakers to approve the admission protocol. Officials have said that joining NATO will bring stability and economic benefits for the 645,000 residents of the former Yugoslav republic. "In the current geopolitical environment, Montenegro must rationally look at all options and make a decision that will best protect its national, security, and economic interests," the government has said. Montenegro is expected to become a full-fledged member of the alliance in early June. Two NATO countries -- Spain and the Netherlands -- still must give final approval to Montenegro's accession before it can become NATO's 29th member. Spain's upper house of parliament still has to ratify the move, and Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic told parliament on April 28 that Spanish legislators are expected to ratify it within 10 days. The Dutch Senate approved it on March 23, but the decision will not be official until after a two-month period for a potential referendum expires. In the expected case that a referendum is not called in the Netherlands, the decision will take effect under Dutch law on June 1. Montenegro's military has about 2,000 troops. The country borders Serbia, which has close ties with Russia and is not a member of NATO. Earlier in April, Montenegrin prosecutors formally charged 14 people, including two Russians and two opposition leaders, with plotting to overthrow the government in October 2016. A Podgorica court on April 13 said lawmakers Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic of the Democratic Front, two Russians, nine Serbian citizens, and one other Montenegrin were charged with "creating a criminal organization." The Russians were also charged with "terrorism." The court will decide on May 5 whether to accept the indictments. Montenegrin officials allege that Serbian and Russian nationalists plotted to take over parliament during the October 2016 parliamentary elections, assassinate then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, and install a pro-Russian leadership to halt Montenegro's bid to join NATO. Prosecutors said the Russians, identified as Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov, were based in Serbia and were allowed by authorities there to return to Russia. They remain at large. Accused lawmaker Mandic on April 13 called the charges "a staged political process against the opposition." Montenegro's special prosecutor has said "Russian state bodies" were involved in the alleged coup, something Russia denies. With reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AP BRUSSELS -- The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has been stripped of his leadership powers after he joined Russian State Duma deputies on a trip to Syria to meet with President Bashar al-Assad. The Bureau of PACE on April 28 said PACE President Pedro Agramunt is "no longer authorized to undertake any official visits, attend meetings, or make public statements on behalf of the assembly in his capacity as president." Agramunt, who says he traveled to Syria in his capacity as a Spanish senator, had first gone to Moscow and then boarded a Russian plane to Damascus. Agramunt is regarded by many as pro-Russian and has worked to bring Moscow back into the fold of the assembly after its delegation was stripped of its voting rights in 2014. Russia has since boycotted PACE meetings and did not register a delegation for the current PACE session, which started in January. PACE Senior Vice President Roger Gale said, "The bureau felt it necessary to take these steps" to issue a vote of no confidence and to strip him of his powers because the president "cannot be compelled to resign." "The president chose not to attend the bureau today and has not presented a letter of resignation," Gale said. He added, "The standards and principles of the Parliamentary Assembly are more important than any individual member, and the integrity of our assembly must be upheld." Ukraine's Oleksiy Goncharenko, an assembly member, said, "It is sickening to see that the president of this assembly has been photographed with someone who has gassed his own population," referring to charges that Assad's regime used chemical weapons against Syrian civilians. Agramunt became the president of the Strasbourg-based PACE in January 2016. PACE is made up of more than 300 members of national parliaments across Europe. It gathers in Strasbourg to discuss matters related to human rights, the rule of law, and anticorruption measures. The Pentagon inspector-general has launched an investigation into whether former Trump security adviser Michael Flynn accepted money from Russia without the required approval, U.S. House Democrats have said. Flynn was paid $45,000 by Russia's RT television network during a 2015 trip to Moscow after he was ousted as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and retired as an Army lieutenant general. Senior lawmakers said this week that Flynn likely broke the law by failing to request and receive permission to accept the payment for speaking at an RT gala dinner at which he sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin. If substantiated, such a failure would violate regulations rooted in the constitution that bar current and retired military officers from accepting "emoluments" from foreign powers, the Democrats said on April 27. The Democrats released Defense Department documents saying the Pentagon found no evidence that Flynn requested permission to accept foreign funds, despite a 2014 warning against taking such payments. Flynn's attorney, Robert Kelner, said Flynn gave the Pentagon "information and documents on a thumb drive" about the RT event. Flynn also briefed the Pentagon before and after the Moscow visit, he said. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters North Korea has defied the United States and other world powers by test-firing a ballistic missile early on April 29. U.S. and South Korean officials said the launch from an area north of the capital, Pyongyang, appeared to have failed, as did other recent attempts. South Korean officials said the missile disintegrated within minutes of being launched and did not leave North Korean territory. The test-firing came amid U.S. efforts to harness global support to dissuade Pyongyang from carrying out such launches. After being told about the missile launch at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump said in a tweet that North Korea had "disrespected the wishes of China and its highly respected president," a reference to recent warnings by China to North Korea that any further nuclear arms tests would lead Beijing to impose more sanctions. China's official Xinhua news agency said in a commentary on April 29 that both North Korea and the United States should be cautious in their actions. "If both sides fail to make such necessary concessions, then not only will the two countries, but the whole region and the whole world end up paying a heavy price for a possible confrontation," it wrote. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the the missile test-fire was "absolutely unacceptable" and a "grave threat to our country." Abe, speaking during an official visit to Britain, called upon the international community and China in particular, to "show solidarity" in responding to North Korea. The launch came hours after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told the United Nations that the threat of a North Korean nuclear strike on Seoul or Tokyo "is real" and that any failure to act may bring "catastrophic consequences." In a speech to the UN Security Council on April 28, Tillerson called on UN members to strengthen financial sanctions against North Korea or downgrade their diplomatic relations with Pyongyang in response to the regime's nuclear and ballistic-weapons programs. He said North Korea has undertaken a "dangerous" course of action for years and that it is time for "us to retake control of the situation." "For the past 20 years, well-intentioned diplomatic efforts to halt these [weapons] programs have failed," Tillerson told the Security Council. "In light of the growing threat, the time has come for all of us to put new pressure on North Korea to abandon its dangerous path," he said. Tillerson called on UN members to live up to their commitments related to sanctions against North Korea, as well as to increase the country's financial isolation by imposing new sanctions and tightening those already in place. He said diplomatic efforts are preferred, but he also expressed the willingness of the United States to take military action, if necessary, to counter North Korean aggression. All options to respond to "further provocations must remain on the table," Tillerson said. The U.S. secretary of state also called on China, Pyongyangs main ally, to assist in efforts to keep North Koreas weapons program in check, saying, "We look forward to further actions to what China has already done." On April 27, Tillerson said that China had threatened to impose sanctions on North Korea if it conducts further nuclear tests. He said China was "in communication with the regime in Pyongyang" and had "confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear tests." Tillerson said Beijing also told Washington it had informed North Korea that "if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own." But Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the UN meeting on April 28 that "the key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the hands of the Chinese side." The North Korean missile test also comes as the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group arrived near the Korean Peninsula, where it joined a U.S. submarine, the USS Michigan, which is docked in a South Korean port. North Korea's official newspaper of the country's ruling Workers Party, the Rodong Sinmun, said the arrival of the aircraft carrier group was a "reckless action of the war maniacs aimed at an extremely dangerous nuclear war." The paper's commentary included a threat that intercontinental ballistic rockets will "fly into the United States if [Washington]...shows any slight sign of provocation." The USS Carl Vinson had just completed an exercise with the Japanese Navy in the channel between North Korea and Japan. Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs have been banned by the United Nations. Tensions have risen on the Korean Peninsula with harsh words between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said after Tillerson's speech on April 28 that increased rhetoric and "reckless muscle-flexing" regarding North Korea could lead to missteps and "frightening consequences." In a briefing with U.S. senators on April 26, senior officials in Trump's administration said their goal was to push North Korea into dismantling its weapons programs through tougher international sanctions and diplomatic pressure. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has called on the Security Council to apply "all pressure" on Russia to use its influence to end the war in Syria and to help ease the worsening humanitarian crisis there. "All eyes and all pressure now need to go to Russia, because they are the ones who could stop this if they wanted to," Ambassador Nikki Haley told a council meeting on April 27. "We need to put pressure on Russia." As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia can reject any resolutions. But Haley said the council should act even in the face a Moscow veto. I will continue to press the Security Council to act, to do something, regardless of if the Russians continue to veto it, because it is our voice that needs to be heard," Haley said. Russia is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose government is engaged in a six-year civil war against antigovernment forces backed by the United States and Turkey. Syria has been accused of using chemical weapons and of preventing humanitarian supplies from reaching hundreds of thousands of people in rebel-held areas. Syria and Russia deny the allegations. Russia's deputy UN ambassador, Petr Iliichev, said Russia, Turkey, and Iran were working to ensure compliance with a Syrian cease-fire. He asked why the United States and its Western allies did not say what they were doing to ease the humanitarian crisis. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP AIDA Cruises took delivery of AIDAperla in Nagasaki, Japan. AIDAperla will set sail for the Mediterranean in the coming days and will be christened by model and presenter Lena Gercke on June 30, 2017, in Palma de Mallorca. Felix Eichhorn, President AIDA Cruises: "With the successful commissioning of AIDAprima in May 2016, we have inspired many guests for a cruise vacation. For the first time, more than 2 million Germans have decided to go cruising. With the sister ship AIDAperla we will be injecting further important growth momentum into the German vacation market. Today, with our 12 ships sailing on 130 different routes to more than 250 ports worldwide, we offer the greatest vacation diversity and we will inspire even more holidaymakers for one of the most beautiful ways of traveling". Starting from June 1, 2017, before the official launch of the christening cruise on June 24, 2017, there will be the opportunity to familiarize with the youngest fleet member on a number of introductory cruises. The fife-day welcome cruise from June 1, to June 6, 2017, from Palma de Mallorca, leads to Marseille, Barcelona und Valencia. Prices for this cruise start at 549 euros per person in an interior stateroom (AIDA PREMIUM rate incl. 50-euro Early Saver discount). From July 1, 2017, AIDAperla will be traveling in the Western Mediterranean. Palma de Mallorca the capital of the Germans' favorite island and Barcelona will be the start and end ports for the seven-day "Pearls of the Mediterranean" cruises which include destinations such as Rome (Civitavecchia), Corsica, and Florence (Livorno). From March 2018 the Hanseatic City of Hamburg will be the home port of multiple seven-day round trips for AIDAperla to the most beautiful metropolises in Western Europe, such as London (Southampton), Paris (Le Havre), Brussels (Zeebrugge) and Rotterdam. AIDAperla's additional cruises can be booked as of now at travel agencies, at the AIDA Customer Center at +49 (0)381/202 707 07 or at www.aida.de. Student Kalvin Cho, president of Toray Plastics Michael Brandmeier, URI president David Dooley, Gov. Gina Raimondo and Raymond Wright, dean of URI's College of Engineering, break ground on the university's new engineering complex. Karn Custom Woodwork, an architectural millwork manufacturing and installation company, plans to invest $2.55 million to expand its headquarters and manufacturing operation on Chamberlayne Avenue in Richmond. The expansion is expected to create 30 jobs. Virginia successfully competed against Maryland and Washington, D.C., for the project, according to Gov. Terry McAuliffes office. Karn Custom Woodwork, founded in 2003, is certified as a small, women-owned, and minority-owned, or SWaM, business. Dahlia Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island introduces a new addition to its line-up of exclusive world-class spa brands and series of results-oriented treatments. The skincare luminary Biologique Recherche will be exclusively available at this luxurious spa and relaxing haven of pampering. Founded on more than 40 years of skincare innovation by the Allouche family, Biologique Recherche has achieved a cult following worldwide and a growing number of A-list devotees thanks to a reputation for astounding effectiveness based on a clinical approach to beauty care using pure, concentrated raw ingredients, as well as advanced and meticulous protocols. Thoughtfully designed to treat, repair and restore the skins beauty, Dahlia Spa will offer a tailored list of Biologique Recherche treatments, each highly personalised according to the guests instant skin analysis, which is the condition of the skin at any given time, assessed to achieve immediate and long-lasting results. We are delighted to partner with Biologique Recherche and to add their innovative facial treatments to our menu. Our skilled therapists have received in-depth training at the hands of the brand's experts and they are ready to bring the skin of our guests to perfection, comments Christelle Besnier, Director of Dahlia Spa. We are truly honoured to have been selected by Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi. We are excited to share our methodology and our hyper-customised approach to skincare with the well-trained therapists of Dahlia Spa to offer Biologique Recherches unique result-driven treatments to the community and guests, says Rupert Schmid, Chairman of Biologique Recherche. Spread over two floors and enjoying an idyllic waterfront setting, Dahlia Spa offers an indulgent experience in serene surrounding. The customised Biologique Recherche facial treatments will be available in 60 and 80 minute appointments. Guests will also be able to purchase the full range of skin-suitable products. Dahlia Spa is open daily from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm for treatments. For bookings, call +971 (0)2 333 2500 A disciplinary hearing has been set for August on Virginia State Bar complaints one filed by former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder alleging misconduct against area lawyer Joseph D. Morrissey. The Aug. 2-3 hearing will be before a three-judge panel at the Richmond Circuit Court John Marshall Courts Building in Richmond and will be open to the public. Reached by telephone Thursday, Morrissey, a former state delegate, declined to comment. Wilders complaint, certified and made public in January, stems from Morrisseys representation of Wilder in 2013 when the city of Fredericksburg was trying to collect $320,000 in unpaid taxes on the property where Wilder once hoped to build his National Slavery Museum. A district subcommittee of the Virginia State Bar found, among other things, that Morrisseys partner named the wrong party in a complaint asking for a judgment reducing the tax assessment. The complaint ultimately resulted in the assessment of $23,294 in sanctions. On May 20, 2015, the citys case was resolved when the property was sold and the proceeds were used to pay the unpaid taxes, a judgment for architects fees and part of the sanctions award. Two months ago, Morrissey filed a $1.45 million lawsuit against Wilder and his now-dormant National Slavery Museum in Richmond Circuit Court, alleging that Wilder and the organization failed to pay $130,000 in legal fees. Morrissey alleges in his lawsuit that Wilder filed his bar complaint in retaliation for Morrissey notifying Wilder that unless his firms fees were paid, a lawsuit would be filed. The other complaint stems from Morrisseys representation of a man who hired him in 2013 to defend against four criminal charges pending in King and Queen County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Instead of appearing at a hearing in which the charges were dropped, Morrissey sent a recent law school graduate who had passed the bar examination and had a law license but had not yet taken the oath of fidelity by the Virginia Supreme Court, which is required before a lawyer can practice in any court. Hanover County has formed a citizens committee to help it come up with the best ways to get the public involved with the countys review of its comprehensive plan. The committee, dubbed the Comprehensive Plan Citizen Engagement Advisory Committee, is made up of residents representing Hanovers seven magisterial districts, civic organizations and chamber of commerce. Angela Kelly-Wiecek, chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors, said the committee has a goal of coming up with the best format for the public meetings held during the comprehensive plan review and how many of those meetings should be held. Traditionally, Hanover has held three public meetings during its comprehensive plan review in the countys east, west and central parts, Kelly-Wiecek said. She could not say if Hanover has ever formed a committee of this kind. It makes sense because the way citizens engage has changed and continues to change, Kelly-Wiecek said. Its good form to think about the way we engage. Board members nominated people to represent their districts, and then the board approved the list at a meeting in April, Kelly-Wiecek said. Kelly-Wiecek appointed Atlee Station Road corridor resident Jim Ellis, a former political rival, to represent the Chickahominy District on the committee. Ellis ran twice for the Chickahominy seat on the Board of Supervisors. Web Stokes, a project manager for a commercial flooring company, was appointed by Supervisor Faye Prichard for the Ashland District. Stokes, who ran as a Republican against Prichard for her seat on the board, has been active in the discussion about development in Hanovers central suburban area. In January, Stokes penned a petition calling for a freeze on the construction of residential developments in Hanover. I think its vitally important for people and citizens to be engaged in the comp plan review, he said. Prichard said Stokes is the person in the Ashland District who has been the most vocal about concerns about growth and development in the county and Hanovers suburban service area, where he is a resident. Prichard said she is keeping an open mind going into the review of Hanovers comprehensive plan, the document that sets the framework for land use and development in the county. I want to hear what citizens want, she said. I will move accordingly. Martha Wingfield, the Beaverdam appointee, is retired and involved with Coalition for Hanovers Future, a group that says its dedicated to protecting and preserving the land, history and environment of Hanover. Wingfield was also involved with the Hanover Conservation Voters, a political action committee. Wingfield said she hopes she can help come up with a process that will maximize citizen input to the review of the comprehensive plan. I believe its important that the document reflect what the citizens want for the county, she said. Citizens sometimes feel like they get left out. Supervisor Scott Wyatt picked Larnie Allgood as the Cold Harbor District appointee; Supervisor W. Canova Peterson chose Daniel Widner as the Mechanicsville appointee; and Supervisor Wayne Hazzard tapped Mary Butler Eggleston as the South Anna appointee. All three supervisors said they made their nominations because each had participated in Hanovers Planning Academy. Graham Kirby was appointed to represent the Henry District. Patty Bland and Annie Baker represent civic organizations on the committee, and Ben Meredith represents the Hanover Chamber of Commerce. This time next year New Zealand will be hosting up to 10,000 top Amway sellers from China. Amway China has chosen Queenstown for its 2018 Leadership Seminar. To build excitement and motivate sellers about the prospect of coming to New Zealand, Amway worked with New Zealand Post, Tourism New Zealand Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett create bespoke Queenstown New Zealand postcards. The cards showcase New Zealand activities and include a handwritten look forward to seeing you message from Hon Paula Bennett and a customized stamp. The postcards depicting New Zealand are being very well received by our sales people and are working well to amplify the excitement about our visits to New Zealand in 2018, says Carl WEN, Director of Amway Special Event Department. The cards showcase New Zealand activities and include a handwritten look forward to seeing you message from Hon Paula Bennett and a customised stamp. The postcards depicting New Zealand are being very well received by our sales people and are working well to amplify the excitement about our visits to New Zealand in 2018, says Carl WEN, Director of Amway Special Event Department. In addition to the $50 million injection into the New Zealand economy from the incentive win, the delegates personal spending will deliver significant additional financial benefits to regional economies. The 2018 visits will be staggered during the autumn in groups of around 500 strong. New Zealand Post added a Kiwi touch to the postcards and organized for them to be sent to recipients in China. Amway China's president Audie Wong notes, "We chose New Zealand as our partner for Amway China's 2018 Leadership Seminar because we value its excellent hard and soft tourism conditions, and we appreciate the high flexibility and creativity it exhibits as a business events destination. We believe, this seminar, providing a great opportunity for all the participants to witness New Zeeland's natural beauty and unique culture, will not only help them widen their vision, but also leave them with a lasting memory. It will help enhance the understanding between the two peoples and the friendship between the two countries." Convicted three years ago for possessing a firearm as a felon, a Richmond-area man now faces federal allegations he was caught with handguns twice again last summer. Michael Lorenzo Smith, 32, was charged in a complaint filed earlier this month. On Thursday he waived his right to a preliminary hearing and was ordered detained prior to trial by U.S. Magistrate Judge David Novak. Among other things, Richmond court records show Smith pleaded guilty to the possession of a firearm as a convicted felon in 2014 stemming from a 2012 arrest and was sentenced to two years in prison. According to an affidavit from Joshua A. Valot, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agent, Smith was spotted last July 3 leaving an apartment in Richmonds Gilpin Court by two police officers. When police tried to speak with him, he allegedly ran away. Both officers observed Smith dig into his waistband area as if he were reaching for something and then making a tossing motion with his right hand, wrote Valot. The officers saw Smith toss a black gun which hit the ground, he added. Valot said one of the officers picked up the gun, an Uzi pistol, while the other continued chasing Smith, who allegedly tossed a second handgun which was not recovered before he was captured. Smith was apparently released on bond following the July arrest. On Aug. 26, he was driving an Infiniti with a brake light out that was pulled over by Richmond police. Police determined that Smith had a revoked drivers license but nothing illegal was found during an initial search of the car, according to Valot. However, an officer on the scene received a computer notice cautioning that based on a 2012 arrest, Smith was probably armed: Mr. Smith had a loaded fire arm behind the gas and brake pedal covered by the rug in a vehicle he was driving. Police pulled back the rug and allegedly discovered a handgun later determined to have been reported stolen from Henrico County. At the time of the two incidents, the ATF says, Smith was a felon with convictions in addition to possession of a firearm as a convicted felon that include drug possession with the intent to distribute and eluding police. Last month at an appearance in Richmond, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he is concerned about gun violence and that firearms prosecutions had dropped at least nationally a trend he wanted to see end. A spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office for the Eastern District of Virginia said this week that the prosecution of firearms violations, particularly violent felons caught in possession of firearms, remains a priority and that federal and local law enforcement work together on many of the cases. The Richmond Commonwealths attorneys office said Thursday that Smiths case was adopted by the federal authorities. His state charge for possession of a firearm by a violent felon carried a five-year maximum potential penalty while the federal charge allows for a sentence of up to 10 years. At a hearing before Novak on Thursday, Smith and his lawyer, Mary Maguire, said Smith was mistakenly released from jail this month while being held on the federal charge but called his probation officer and did not escape. Novak told Maguire he would entertain another detention hearing once she has had a chance to further look into the possibility of Smiths father serving as a custodian pending trial. Novak told her, however, that, I dont want to give you any false hope though with his record. Smith will either now be indicted by a grand jury within 30 days, arraigned and a trial date set or charged in a criminal information prior to indictment. Here we go again. For the second consecutive year, Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed language in the state budget that prevents him from expanding Virginias Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act. And again, Republican leaders in the House of Delegates promptly promised to ignore the veto that McAuliffe announced Friday. The only unanswered question is whether the governor will try to expand Medicaid with federal money but not General Assembly approval, as required under an amendment proposed by Sen. William M. Stanley Jr., R-Franklin County, and passed by a bare Republican majority in 2014. Were always reviewing our options there, McAuliffe spokesman Brian Coy said. McAuliffe, in a statement announcing the veto and five other actions on the two-year budget the General Assembly adopted this year, acknowledged that House Clerk G. Paul Nardo, as Keeper of the Rolls, did not publish the same veto last year but added, I respectfully request that the enacted bill reflect my actions. It wont, answered Speaker of the House William J. Howell, R-Stafford, who has blocked every attempt by McAuliffe to expand the federal-state health care program since the governor took office nearly four years ago. As I said last year, the governors purported veto of the Stanley Amendment is not valid and will not be reflected in the final budget law, Howell said in a statement. The speaker and governor also locked horns Friday over McAuliffes veto of a budget amendment that Republicans say would prevent the state from requiring public labor agreements for projects under the Public-Private Transportation Act, with the exception of regional transportation projects involving Maryland. The amendment does not prohibit labor agreements, it simply states they may not be mandated, Howell said. It is disappointing that Governor McAuliffe would use the budget to curry favor with big union bosses. But Secretary of Transportation Aubrey L. Layne Jr. said state law already does not allow mandatory project labor agreements in transportation deals. They were never mandatory, he said Friday. Coy said the governors veto settles the issue, whether it was real or just an election-year message from Republicans. Theyre sending a message theyre sticking it to working families by including that kind of divisive language, he said. In the process, however, the governor also was forced to veto new appropriations for other transportation initiatives, including the second year of a $50 million commitment to buy down the cost of operating Washington-Dulles International Airport that was crucial to Virginia negotiating a seven-year extension with United Airlines last year to maintain its hub there. McAuliffe said he has directed Layne to carry out that commitment anyway, as well as language that the General Assembly approved in legislation and the budget to create a regional safety commission for the troubled Washington Metro system. Im going to do it just as if the budget was in place, Layne said. The administration also plans to ignore a provision in the budget that McAuliffe said would unconstitutionally vest final authority in a legislative committee over whether to release $1.2 million the General Assembly already appropriated for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. At the same time, however, the governor said he would work with the partnership and legislative budget leaders to ensure that the plans required under the budget to reform the authority are completed. McAuliffe also vetoed: legislation that would allow Medicaid appeals agents to close cases that were settled for less than $250,000 without legal review by the Attorney Generals Office; a budget amendment that would eliminate $500,000 appropriated last year for cybersecurity scholarships; and language that would shift $500,000 from the Virginia Coalfields Economic Development Authority to two regional planning district commissions in Southwest Virginia for economic development projects that McAuliffe said could be funded under the new GO Virginia regional program. GLADE SPRING When a tornado tore through the Glade Spring Church of God in 2011, its pastor, James Walls, didnt miss a beat. The tornado touched down in the early hours of Thursday, April 28, 2011. Just three days later, Walls led its Sunday service in the basement of a nearby church, a service he called heartbreaking. It was a very difficult time because a lot of decisions had to be made immediately and people in the community were in such distress, Walls said. I just thank God for all the people that pitched in and helped the others in the community. Then, the rebuilding began. The current Church of God was constructed on the old buildings foundation, and 221 days after it was destroyed, there was a new church. The citizens of Glade Spring did the same thing, picking up the pieces of a shattered town that still possessed its most important foundation: its people. Today marks the six-year anniversary of the Glade Spring tornado, which took out scores of homes and left four dead in the town of 1,500 off Interstate 81s Exit 29. Wind speeds of the EF-3 tornado reached 130-165 mph and at least eight other tornadoes touched down in the region. Nationally, more than 350 tornadoes touched down between April 25 and April 28 in parts of the South and East Coast, killing more than 300 in an event dubbed the Super Outbreak of 2011. Thousands more were left grappling with the aftermath of the destruction. One of those was Lynn Teaters. Teaters, 60, lives in a house down the road from the Church of God with her brother, Bill Lester. On the night of the tornado, Teaters was listening to storm updates from a little two-way radio. The tornado warning was supposed to expire at 1 a.m., so Teaters went to bed. Not long after, the tornado hit. Teaters and her brother made it to the basement, but the commotion was over nearly as soon as it started, Teaters said. The roof was ripped off the house, and the front of her home was badly damaged. Wood two-by-sixes were sticking out of the walls. Its still on everybodys mind, especially when it gets bad weather, she said. You wonder and get a little leery of it. The portion of her house left standing had to be torn down. At the time, Teaters lived in a row of four houses that all belonged to family members. Of the several vehicles the family owned, only two remained. Teaters said shes still amazed at how the community came together in the weeks following the storm. There was a lot of amazing people coming through here after that was over with, she said. It was just unreal. Some of those volunteers came from the Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co., a truck semi-trailer and refrigerated van manufacturing company. Sam Cassell, now the Utility plant manager, received a call at 1:25 a.m. that Utility had been hit. Cassell lives just eight miles from the plant, but it took him about three hours to reach it. Traffic on U.S. Highway 11 was at a standstill. Police officers and others were using chainsaws to clear the highway of branches and other debris. When he arrived at the plant, it was still dark. The sounds of gushing water filled the air from all the broken water mains. When the sun came up, full truck trailers that had been thrown into trees reflected the sunlight. I would not want to do it again, Cassell said. It was a trying time. After assessing the property and the damage, Utility employees got to work. We just decided, no ones going to clean it up but us, so we started cleaning, Cassell said. It took several months for the plant to be fully reconstructed. But just as the Church of God got right back to its worship services, the Utility plant started producing trailers within a few days of the storm. In a break room at the Utility plant, a photo collage of the damaged facility hangs on a wall as a reminder of the events that night. Utility also sent its employees into the community to help with cleanup. Teaters said she remembers a Utility crew helping in her neighborhood. These days, the Church of God is thriving. When the tornado hit, when Walls was just six weeks into his role as pastor, the church had about 40 members. Today, it has about 100. Walls said it has been a small blessing to have a newer facility with adequate space for things like its youth group. But, thats not what concerns him. This is just a building, he said. The church is the people. We can always rebuild a building, but the people are the church. According to the U.S. government data the total number of U.S. non-immigrant visas issued to people around the world is up almost 5 percent in March compared to March 2016. However, the seven Muslim nations that U.S. President Donald Trump issued temporary travel bans decreased about 40%. Citizens of affected countries are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. According to the Reuters analysis, U.S. issued about 3,200 non-immigrant visas in March 2017, compared to about 5,700 on average per month during the 2016 fiscal year and more than 6,000 on average per month in 2015 and 2014. The department did not release data on the total number of all types of visa applications, so it is unclear whether the lower number of temporary visas for citizens of the seven countries is because of a higher rate of rejections or other factors, such as fewer applicants or slower processing times. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine this week opened a pediatric clinic in the Dominican Republic as part of its growing partnership with the Punta Cana Foundation. The Oscar de la Renta Pediatric Clinic in Veron was made possible with a gift from the family of the late fashion designer and is expected to provide services to more than 15,000 children living in underserved communities around the Veron -Punta Cana area. VCOM in Blacksburg trains osteopathic doctors with the goal of providing physicians to communities with limited access to health care. It became involved in outreach projects in the Dominican Republic more than decade ago. Spokeswoman Cindy Shepard Rawlins said VCOM President Dixie Tooke-Rawlins and Vice Provost Dean Sutphin partnered in 2005 with the Punta Cana foundation and government officials to provide health care to uninsured people living near the growing resorts. De la Renta, a native of the Dominican Republic, was an investor in the Puntacana Resort and Club, supported efforts to improve the surrounding community through education and health care and was on the foundations board. VCOMs partnership with the foundation has grown, and its faculty and students work with local physicians to operate a year-round clinic that cares for more than 200 patients a day. Rawlins said when VCOM students first arrived in Veron, about 6,000 people lived in the region and 60 percent lacked insurance and went without medical care. Today, the population exceeds 30,000 and about 40 percent are uninsured. In 2015, the clinic added an emergency room and expanded the lab, waiting area and pharmacy. The new pediatric clinic is expected to see 50 to 60 children a day. It will treat illnesses and offer regular checkups and immunizations. Some of VCOMs students will work one-month rotations in the clinic. A Union Hall man has been found not guilty of attempting to arrange a murder. Robert Winkfield Adkins, 44, was acquitted Friday in Franklin County Circuit Court on the second day of a bench trial. But Judge Joseph Canada did require Adkins to post a $5,000 peace bond restricting him from contact with Chris Prillaman, the man he was accused of conspiring against and whom he has been convicted of assaulting. Franklin County investigators have said that on May 2, 2016, they began looking into an anonymous report that Adkins had tried to pay to have Prillaman killed. The situation escalated on May 18, when Adkins was charged with assaulting Prillaman in downtown Rocky Mount, reportedly hitting him with both his fist and a bat. In September, Adkins was found guilty of misdemeanor assault for that attack and was ordered to serve three days in jail. On Thursday, at the beginning of Adkins murder-for-hire trial, Franklin County Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Cooper Brown called Joseph Roach, the source of the accusation, as a witness. Roach testified that Adkins claimed Prillaman was harassing his wife. He said Adkins offered to pay him to kill Prillaman, and he said he agreed to do so. But he also professed on the stand that he had no intention of actually harming Prillaman. It was unclear during his testimony whether Roach acknowledged receiving any money. But he claimed that when he was later arrested on unrelated charges from outside jurisdictions, he worried that Adkins might find someone else for the job, so he notified authorities. Defense attorney Cliff Hapgood argued that because Roach didnt take notes or record the conversations he said had occurred, the court was forced to rely on his word. Lawyers on both sides also acknowledged Roachs 11 felony convictions, but Roach denied to Hapgood that he had come forward in an effort to help his own case. This is something you dont play with, Roach said. Franklin County Sheriffs Sgt. J.P. Nolen testified Thursday that, ideally, investigators would have tried to record a conversation that would confirm a murder-for-hire request, or get a special agent to meet with a suspect who was seeking a hit man. Their investigation had to be accelerated, however, after Adkins arrest for assault. While Adkins was in custody, he was interviewed by Nolan and a recording of that conversation was played Thursday in court. In the interview, Adkins repeatedly says that he does not recall speaking to Roach about killing Prillaman but he does acknowledge it was possible he said something to that effect. I didnt mean it, but I could have said it, Adkins says on the tape. Many times Hapgood said he counted 17 Nolen told Adkins that police had recordings of his conversations with Roach. During the interview, Adkins asked to listen to the recordings, but officers redirected the conversation. No such recordings exist, Nolen later acknowledged in his testimony. In recent years in Franklin and Botetourt counties, defendants have received between eight and 10 years after pleading guilty or no contest to soliciting murder-for-hire. In both of those cases, the suspects were videotaped meeting with potential hit men whom they did not realize were actually undercover agents. In 2015 in Roanoke County, Ryan Heith Darter got a seven-year sentence for that offense. He spoke by phone with an agent he thought was a hit man, and he asked him to kill a woman he was charged with sexually assaulting. Moments before he was sentenced to serve five years on a rape conviction, Barry Lee Clemons was asked by a judge if he wanted to make any remarks. After a long pause Clemons, 66, slowly replied, I dont have anything. At that hearing Friday morning in Roanoke Circuit Court, Clemons used a wheelchair, which his daughter said is necessary because of hip and knee problems. His defense attorney, Sheila Moheb, also said he suffers from cirrhosis and heart disease, among other ailments. In October, Clemons pleaded no contest to one count of rape and, as a result, saw 10 other charges against him dropped, including forcible sodomy, four counts of aggravated sexual battery and four counts of indecent liberties. The charges arose in June 2015, but the offense in question took place in 2005. The dropped charges spanned 2004 to 2006. Prosecutors said at Clemons plea hearing that the victim was 8 years old at the time the crime occurred. She came forward in her late teens after undergoing therapy. This is precisely why there are no statutes of limitations in Virginia for rape, Roanoke Assistant Commonwealths Attorney David Billingsley said at the hearing. This is clearly not only a crime against [the victim] but also society itself. Judicial guidelines in Clemons case recommended a punishment of between four years and two months at the low end and 12 years at the high end. In fashioning a sentence, Judge David Carson told Clemons he was aware of what he saw as the defendants significant health issues. I am doing the best that I can to take mercy on you, unlike the mercy you failed to take, Carson said. Carson sentenced Clemons to serve 15 years, with that time to be suspended after five years, and to be on supervised probation for five years after his release. Clemons cannot have further contact with the victim of the offense and is also restricted from contact with a second complainant who was at the center of some of the dropped charges. During a recess in the sentencing, Clemons wife insisted he was innocent and had taken a plea to avoid the possibility of a much harsher sentence. She was later ordered to leave the court room after arguing with a deputy. RADFORD Radford Universitys College of Science and Technology will have a new name after the university announced Friday that it received the largest individual donation in school history of $5 million. The college will now be known as the Artis College of Science and Technology, following the donation of Nancy and Pat Artis. For many years, the Artis family has served as true champions and strong supporters of Radford University, thereby creating countless opportunities for students and enhancing the environment in which they learn, Radford President Brian Hemphill said in a prepared statement. The outstanding leadership and selfless contributions of the Artis family has forever made a mark on the Radford family. Nancy Artis is a 1973 graduate of what was then Radford College. She served on the universitys Board of Visitors from 2006 through 2013 and is currently vice president of the universitys foundation board of directors. Pat Artis got his bachelors from Virginia Tech and currently serves as a professor of practice in Techs College of Engineering. The couple has donated to Radford since 1987. The Artises own Performance Associates Inc., an information technology company based in Pagosa Springs, Colo. The company provides educational and consulting services as well as software products. The donation will go toward the Artis Endowed Scholarship Fund, which will provide a $3,000 award to 67 students annually. It will be renewable. After the ceremony, Hemphill said the scholarship will benefit the most students of any award named for an individual at the university. It opens the door for us to compete for the best and brightest students in the Commonwealth, Hemphill said. The scholarships are important for the Artises, they said. They both were happy that the investment would go toward giving students an opportunity to succeed in college. We are investing in brains, not bricks, Nancy Artis said during the naming ceremony. The event came as a surprise to Radford students, faculty and staff, who were simply invited to what was billed as an historic announcement. It featured a large check made out to the university its amount drawing audible gasps from the gathered crowd of about 200 and unveiling the new name of the college. The Artises said they were both first-generation students who were given a chance to succeed because of their experiences in college. Nancy Artis credited work done in Reed Hall, which they stood in front of during the naming ceremony, in helping her build the couples company. Pat Artis said he hoped the scholarships will give first-generation students like themselves an at bat at life. You need at least one at bat if youre going to run up the score, he said. Hemphill said he hopes the donation will spur further momentum for the university in fundraising, encouraging other donors to get engaged. This will spur energy and excitement for our university, he said. The science and technology college has about 1,200 students and recently moved into the new $49 million Center for the Sciences, completed in 2016. The Artis College of Science and Technology is the second college at Radford named for individuals. The other is the Waldron College of Health and Human Service named for Elbert and Evelyn Waldron, donors who also served on the universitys governing board. Afghanistan's Taliban announced the start of their spring offensive on April 28, promising to target military assaults on U.S.-led coalition and Afghan security forces. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in an e-mailed statement boasted that the militant group now controls more than half of the country, citing a U.S. report in February that said the Afghan government controls only 52 percent of Afghanistan's 407 districts. This year's offensive was named "Operation Mansouri" after the Taliban leader killed last year in a U.S. drone strike. "Mansouri operations will differ from previous ones in nature and will be conducted with a twin-tracked political and military approach," said Mujahid, explaining that the Taliban will begin building institutions in areas under their control, establishing what he called "social justice and development" mechanisms. He didn't say whether this means the militants will apply their brand of justice, which when they ruled Afghanistan included public executions and chopping off the hands of convicted thieves. Apparently foreshadowing the spring offensive, a Taliban attack earlier this week on an army base in northern Afghanistan was among the most devastating ever in the country, killing more than 140 Afghan soldiers. Based on reporting by AP and AFP Roanoke s proposed solid waste fee proved entirely unpopular among speakers at the Roanoke City Councils Thursday night public hearing on the fee and a proposed $282 million budget. Nine people spoke during the hearing about the fee. None supported it. The fee as proposed would be $8 per month for a single family residence, $16 for multifamily and $12 for commercial and institutional buildings, and would be collected twice a year. It would take effect Jan. 1 and, if approved, raise an estimated $1.3 million over six months. The fee, an idea discarded by the council a few years ago, came back up for consideration as the city began preparing its 2017-18 budget with a projected contraction in local tax revenues of $3.4 million compared to the current year. But the fee would not be needed to balance the new budget, according to city staff. Rather, the money would be held in a contingency to fill gaps should local tax revenue come in below estimates. The proposal includes a range of efforts at tightening: cuts to public safety, eliminating funds for 22 vacant positions in the workforce and reducing school funding by $810,000 to $79.6 million. It also includes a 1.75 percent pay raise for city workers at a cost of $1.6 million. Several speakers highlighted the burden even $8 per month would put on poor families just squeaking by already, as well as older people on fixed incomes. How can you expect people on fixed incomes to keep paying more money? asked Estelle McCadden, 90, a retired teacher and Melrose neighborhood advocate. Ask the average citizen, theyll say, Dont we already pay for that? former Roanoke City Republican Committee Chairman John Brill said. The city, he said, is telling people, We want you to pay for what youve already been paying for. Martin Jeffrey, former mayoral candidate and frequent council critic, called the fee a back door real estate tax. He proposed selling the City Market Building to save the $300,000 annual subsidy the city pays for its operation and called on council to suspend its own salaries until budget woes pass. Some speakers, including Roanoke real estate investor Dan Cullather, called for a reduction in the real estate tax rate, which the council raised three years ago. Cullather also said he was shocked at a report that the city had never fired anyone during recent financial struggles. He was reacting to a statement in The Roanoke Times that the city had never laid employees off to reduce expenses. The city has cut employment by eight percent since 2008 about 150 jobs but almost entirely through attrition, Assistant City Manager Sherman Stovall confirmed. Any employee whose job was eliminated was offered a position elsewhere in city government. A group of people holding signs reading Fund Roanoke Schools Not Big Business spoke against the reduction in school funding. They objected to city incentives to bring Deschutes Brewery to the area as announced last year. Deschutes is receiving land valued at about $2.75 million and grants totaling about $1.7 million. The city will also spend roughly $1 million to extend the Tinker Creek Greenway to the brewery site. I like drinking beers, but not enough to focus on that and take away money from our youth, said SeanMichael Poff. The $810,000 reduction in school funding in the proposed budget was not proposed by staff or council. Rather, the school system is funded under a formula that sends 40 percent of local tax revenue to the school system. When those tax revenues are down, school funding shrinks proportionately. A contingent representing Mill Mountain Zoo also spoke, touting new energy at the zoo, which receives about $36,000 in funding annually. The zoos board chairman, David Robertson, requested the city waive the admissions tax owed by the zoo for the coming year. The council took no action on the budget or fee Thursday. Theyll revisit the budget at a May 1 work session and vote on it May 15. After failing in a previous attempt to thwart an economic development funding shift in the coalfields region, Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed $500,000 in the state budget to create a new economic development entity in the coalfields. With his veto Friday, the Democrat ended Republican lawmakers attempts to compel the Virginia Coalfields Economic Development Authority to fund a new international marketing entity to attract businesses to far Southwest Virginia. Last month, McAuliffe took steps to halt the funding shift a move Virginias Republican-controlled House of Delegates quickly overturned during its reconvened session in April. Fridays veto trumps the General Assemblys actions. The $500,000 will remain with VCEDA an almost 30-year-old economic development group in the coalfields instead of shifting to the Lenowisco and Cumberland Plateau planning district commissions, which would have overseen creation of the new marketing initiative in conjunction with state lawmakers from the area. Coalfields legislators Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, and Sen. Bill Carrico, R-Grayson, proposed the initial budget amendments of $500,000 a year, possibly for three years, to fund the new initiative they would be directly involved in to recruit businesses to far Southwest Virginia. Following the General Assembly session, representatives from several localities in Southwest Virginia expressed concerns about the funding shift and urged the governor to reverse the budget amendments. In his veto, McAuliffe reiterated his belief the new coalfield economic development entity would duplicate efforts of GO Virginia (short for Virginia Initiative for Growth and Opportunity in Each Region). RICHMOND Virginia State Police shut down its email system on Wednesday night to strengthen its defense against a sophisticated new form of malware that infected the law enforcement agencys network at the end of last week. State Police Superintendent Steven Flaherty said the agency hopes to restore email service early Friday, allowing computer communication with its public affairs office and updates to the Sex Offender Registry that have been disrupted since the shutdown after 8 p.m. Wednesday. It didnt disable us, Flaherty said in an interview Thursday. We disabled us in order to deal with it. The malware, a software code that disrupts use of computers, did not affect state police field operations from traffic enforcement and criminal investigations to criminal background checks for firearm purchases. However, the shutdown has affected the way the agency communicates to the public, forcing it to rely on telephones, cellphones and fax machines. It also delayed online updates of the sex offender registry, although any changes were still made offline, state police said. The malware threat was triggered by an employee opening a deceptively titled email last Friday, but Flaherty did not provide details of the infected message or the agencys efforts to guard against it because the incident is under criminal investigation. It was the type of thing anyone of us might be attracted to click on, the superintendent said, noting that the title on the infected message was consistent with the employees job duties. Flaherty said the department still doesnt know the precise origin or intent of the email, but he said, We really dont think we were specifically targeted. The incident has brought together State Police and the Virginia Information Technologies Agency as well as its estranged contractor, Northrop Grumman, to fortify the email systems defenses. State Police is one of the last remaining state agencies to not fully transition to VITA control, although they share responsibility for the departments desktop and laptop computer operations. This has been all hands on deck with VITA, Northrop Grumman and State Police to deal with this thing, Flaherty said. As much as we preach, as much as we teach, as much as we repeatedly test this process, we have to be right every time. The folks trying to infect our system just have to be right once. As the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump attempts to draft a new policy on Afghanistan, U.S. officials are hoping to reverse the gains made by militants in the country without getting too much further involved in the conflict-riddled country. In recent weeks, three U.S. service members were killed in operations against the so-called Islamic State near Afghanistans border with Pakistan, where militant groups are still able to find sanctuary. The U.S.-led international force officially ended combat operations in Afghanistan at the end of 2014, but the conflict has proved hard to pull out of without risking the overthrow of the Kabul government. Present and former officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the Trump administration is conducting an inter-agency review, and while no decision has been made, the talks revolve around sending up to 5,000 additional troops. One official said there is a goal to avoid artificial deadlines. Former President Barack Obama aimed to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan before leaving office. He had ordered in more troops in 2011 that peaked at about 100,000. Almost 9,000 U.S. troops are still in Afghanistan; some 7,000 train and assist Afghan forces. About 1,500 are part of a counter-terrorism unit targeting pockets of Al-Qaeda, IS fighters, and the Taliban. In February, Army General John Nicholson, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, said he needs several thousand more international troops to break a stalemate with the Taliban. Some U.S. officials question the benefit of sending in additional troops. More than 2,300 Americans have been killed and more than 17,000 wounded since the U.S. invasion following the attacks of 9/11. These officials said the situation in Afghanistan is worse than they had expected, and that any politically palatable number of additional troops would not be enough to stem the conflict, much less create stability and security. "Before you can get to the question of how many troops is enough you have to have clarity on what is the goal," said Christine Wormuth, former defense undersecretary in the Obama administration. "Is the goal to decisively defeat [the Taliban] and make Afghanistan into a viable state (or) is the goal to continue to prop up the government?" Reporting by Idrees Ali for Reuters As a community service project, a team of Radford University Department of Geology faculty and students has been mapping the geology of the 14,000-acre Blue Ridge Scout Reservation in Pulaski County. After several years of research and mapping, the group completed the project and will formally present two framed geological maps to area Scouts and Scout leaders on Tuesday, May 2, in Radford Universitys Center for the Sciences. Preparation for the project began in late 2015. Field work followed in spring 2016. Geology student Antonio Conde compiled the map using GIS, ArcMap and Adobe Illustrator. He also used the teams mapping, a 1968 map from a Ph.D. dissertation by Robert McDowell (Virginia Tech), scanned maps provided by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and GIS files of the reservation provided by the Boy Scouts. Conde gave a presentation on the methods used to create the final map at the Geological Society of America meeting in Denver last September. Radford University President Brian O. Hemphill, along with Geology faculty and project leaders Associate Professor Beth McClellan, Professor Emeritus Bob Whisonant, Professor Skip Watts, Instructor George Paki Stephenson, Conde, Dean of the College of Science and Technology Orion Rogers and Department of Geology Chair Jonathan Tso will present the maps to Scout leaders at the May 2 ceremony. For a geologist, to be able to do the work we most enjoy and provide a service to our community is the best of both worlds, said McClellan. This experience is just the beginning; we are planning more Radford University student mapping projects in the area, as well as future field trips and projects with the Boy Scouts. A reception will be held at 4 p.m. in front of the universitys Museum of the Earth Sciences, followed by a short presentation on the project. For more information on the mapping project, contact McClellan at emcclellan@radford.edu or Stephenson at gcstephen@radford.edu. For more information on the mapping project, contact McClellan at emcclellan@radford.edu or Stephenson at gcstephen@radford.edu. Submitted by Radford University Business News Copt Wants To Build Taller In Virginia But It Won T Say For Which Top Security Tenant | RobinsPost News & Noticias Winning the lottery may be a difficult feat, but for one plumber in Virginia, his challenge came after he snagged a jackpot prize. Colonial Heights resident Nicholas Briglia won $566,000 playing ... Read More According to the most recent data, oysters are the top aquaculture crop in Virginia, accounting for ... which is the market size everybody wants, said Ludford as he gestured to the water ... Read More WOODBRIDGE Police found four adults who died from gunshot wounds at a northern Virginia home on Monday ... Prince William County police said in a news release. No charges have been placed. Read More Though the COLA is determined by inflation numbers over the last year, it won't appear in Social ... you've already retired. If you want to maximize your Social Security benefit, it's crucial ... Read More Why Montgomery County, Maryland is a Talent Capital for Business Growth What Montgomery Countys top industries are doing to find talent 2022 American City ... Read More Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declined to say whether hell run for president as Democratic challenger Charlie Crist accused him of being too distracted by a bid for the White House in 2024. 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Read More Chinas rival to car-hailing pioneer Uber has raised more than $7bn from investors and lenders, capping off a month that has seen an unprecedented wave of funds pouring into car-booking apps. Read More Source: National Health Commission of the Peoples Republic of China (NHC) Note: The COIVD-19 data of each day is as of 24:00 the previous day. The risky area data is as of the time of update. The ... Read More Sonwoda showcased their residential, portable and utility battery solutions Image Credit: Twitter China's electric vehicle ... than 147 deals amounting to $5.95 billion, according to data from ... Read More Tencent's nearly six-year reign as China's most valued company may be over. Once worth nearly $1 trillion, the gaming and internet giant now hovers ... of $302.5 billion to Kweichow Moutai's ... Read More The shift in the business climate ... Holitech had $1 billion in loans and few options for refinancing. The companys share price plunged, along with Mr. Wens wealth. Chinas securities ... Read More The richest people in China ... Xi's top-down approach in economic management. Tencent founder and CEO, Pony Ma, was the biggest loser in the market rout, as his net worth plunged by $2.5 billion ... Read More Traders from London to Lima would obsess over the flows in and out of Shanghais huge bonded copper stockpile. It was the focal point for a multi-billion-dollar cash-for-copper trade ... Read More The slump hurts Chinas trading partners by depressing demand for imported oil, food and consumer goods. Repeated shutdowns and uncertainty about business ... the year was 2.5% over a year ... Read More Regulators in the country have clamped down on Hollywood imports and narrowed the range of Chinese films deemed politically acceptable. By Patrick Brzeski Asia Bureau Chief As Xi Jinping prepares ... Read More BlackRock Inc., the worlds largest money manager, has raised $4.5 billion to invest in infrastructure assets it believes will benefit from a global shift to low-carbon energy. The firm is ... Read More China's lottery ticket sales reached 34.48 bln (about $4.86 bln) in August, up 5.7% year on year, data from the Ministry of Finance showed. This was reported by The Xinhua News Agency. Sales of ... Read More Economy News Malaysia S Leader Asean Seen Growing To 4th Largest Economy | RobinsPost News & Noticias Malaysia's economy grew in double digits for the first time in over a year in the third quarter, boosted by strong domestic consumption and robust exports, according to a Reuters poll, but the outlook ... Read More Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and ... Read More Malaysian political leaders began their election campaigning on Saturday for what is set to be a close race, with incumbent Prime Minister Ismail Sabri facing off with veterans Anwar Ibrahim and ... Read More and retain the title of Southeast Asias fastest-growing economy through next year, as it emerges from the pandemic. He expects gross domestic product to rise 8% in 2022 -- faster than the ... Read More SACRAMENTO Is California's ... largest economy in the world. Gov. Gavin Newsom's office points to the booming renewable energy industry, job creation, falling unemployment rates, and growing ... Read More The Golden State is on track to overtake Germany for the No. 4 spot, according to an opinion column from Bloomberg News editor ... with Europes largest economy barely growing in 2022 and ... Read More Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and colleagues described the economys performance as expanding modestly with a strong uptick in travel and tourism along with steady or growing ... Read More RALEIGH If you are under the impression the Research Triangle region is growing at a ... cities operate as one economic entity, the report notes. The U.S. economy grew 2.9% in 2018 ... Read More Vietnam, a regional manufacturing hub, has seen its economy rebounding from the pandemic, with gross domestic product in the third quarter growing ... are those of U.S. News and have not been ... Read More Malaysia's economy grew in double digits for the first time in over a year in the third quarter, boosted by strong domestic consumption and robust exports, according to a Reuters poll, but the outlook ... Read More Malaysia's economy grew in double digits for the first time in over a year in the third quarter, boosted by strong domestic consumption and robust exports, according to a Reuters poll, but the outlook ... Read More Search RobinsPost News & Noticias Politics News Tillerson Us Strategy On North Korea Relies On China S Participation | RobinsPost News & Noticias Politics News Fox News Poll 53 Percent Favor Military Action To Stop North Korea Nukes Program | RobinsPost News & Noticias Volkswagen and Audi have announced recalls of four models to address potentially defective engine components that may be prone to catastrophic failure. The campaign covers the 2022-2023 VW Atlas ... Read More Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC. Read More If you suspect your SUV may be one affected by this recall, you can check online by entering your VIN on the NHTSA website. Update: Transport Canada has confirmed the recall affects 9,257 ... Read More Volkswagen Group of America has issued a recall for 170,296 Audi cars and SUVs because the backup camera feed may not display when reversing. The safety action involves a long roster of models ... Read More It's an oft-repeated observation (by me) that performance SUVs are attempts at having it all with no compromise: a sports car that's also a luxury shuttle that's also-also a daily-driven ... Read More Nestle USA has issued a voluntary recall for one of its chocolate ... Dough with Fudge Filling due to the potential presence of white plastic pieces. The products, which make four jumbo stuffed ... Read More Notices to owners should be distributed in December. Related video VW, Audi recall SUVs for potential engine failure originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Oct 2022 10:09:00 EDT. Please see ... Read More WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The CPSC announces today the following recalls are posted in cooperation ... Due-to-Fire-Hazard Backyard Nature Products Recalls Birds Choice Acrylic ... Read More WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The CPSC announces today the following recalls are posted in cooperation with the firms listed below. Recalls can be viewed at www.cpsc.gov. E-Bikes ... Read More Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC. SHARE THIS POST Find News News ... Read More Politics News Texas Proposal Looks To Nullify Federal Law In Between State Lines | RobinsPost News & Noticias Bad or misleading information on social media is nothing new, but researchers worry its having a bigger effect on Spanish-speaking Latino communities in Texas and the rest of the country. Read More An appeals court on Monday ordered the release of the leaders of a Texas-based group that promotes election conspiracy theories after they had been jailed last week for not complying with a court ... Read More Politics News Joan Burton Ran For Her Life During Wild Water Protest In Tallaght Dublin | RobinsPost News & Noticias Sheriff debate: Jacksonville sheriff candidates make their case in TV debate During that forum, Burton ... her career," he said. "I think people deserve to know that. Stay out of her personal life ... Read More During an FBI agent's testimony ... about a big protest at the upcoming joint session of Congress on Jan. 6. Be there, will be wild! Trump said. Read More In every facet to life, things took a political turn, meaning when lefties lose an election, then they come after you. Politics is now more personal than your hygiene. And because the woke are ... Read More Long-time London resident Tim Burton has joked that the current political chaos in the U.K ... It was a strange period of my life where I was very confused about America at the time. Read More WASHINGTON (AP) Members of the far-right Oath Keepers were ecstatic when then-President Donald Trump invited supporters to a wild protest in ... shown Thursday during the seditious ... Read More WASHINGTON (AP) Members of the far-right Oath Keepers were ecstatic when then-President Donald Trump invited supporters to a wild protest in Washington on ... according to messages shown Thursday ... Read More Politics News Trump Warns Of Major Major Conflict With North Korea | RobinsPost News & Noticias North Korea on Tuesday warned the United States of a powerful response should joint military exercises with South Korea continue. North Koreas foreign ministry said in a ... Read More North Korea threatened to unleash a powerful action if the US does not halt joint military drills with partners including South Korea, in what might be an effort by Kim Jong Un to lay the groundwork ... Read More The Pentagon notes a new reality, where the security environment has deteriorated, and the U.S. may face a situation where it has to deter two nuclear-armed adversaries, China and Russia, ... Read More A new U.S. defense strategy says China remains the greatest security challenge for the United States despite Russias ongoing war in Ukraine. It says the threat from Beijing will determine ... Read More Hackers could cripple election offices websites, or they could use stolen data to harass voters like Iran did in 2020. Read More Russian president Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Russia had suspended rather than terminated its participation in a crucial UN-brokered grain deal. Putin repeated an accusation made repeatedly by ... Read More North Koreas Foreign Ministry has criticized the United States for expanding combined military exercises with South Korea that it claims are practice for an invasion. Pyongyang warned of more powerf ... Read More Elections News Iran S People Care About Elections The So Called Democratic Fringe Doesn T | RobinsPost News & Noticias Nearly 15,000 Iranians have been arrested in connection with the protests, which were spurred by the death of Mahsa Amini in September. Read More After liberals spent almost two years denouncing "election deniers" as domestic terrorists, Hillary Clinton sounded the alarm on so-called "far right extremists" whom she says "already have a plan to ... Read More Elections News The Latest Judges Block New North Carolina Elections Law | RobinsPost News & Noticias The North Carolina elections, which have generally been closely divided, will take place next week. Cheri Beasley can be the first Democrat to win the Senate race in NC since 2008. Read More Republican J.D. Vance bests Tim Ryan in Ohio Senate race. Democrat Josh Shapiro defeats Trump-backed Doug Mastriano in PA gubernatorial contest. Read More Campaign events and rallies attempt to encourage voters as some polling places increase security to protect election workers from potential violence on election day. Read More Latest updates as Americans vote in crucial races to determine who controls the House and Senate for rest of Biden presidency ... Read More The primary field was cleared for Beasley, who would be North Carolinas first Black senator if elected, and shes been the top fundraiser throughout the campaign. But Republican three-term Rep. Ted ... Read More Early voting is underway in North Carolina. Heres what you need to know about the election process in our state. Read More US midterm election will be held on Nov. 8, but early voting is already underway. Follow CNN for the latest election news and updates. Read More The 2022 midterm election is less than two weeks away, with control of Congress and key statehouses at stake. Our reporters are covering contests across the nation. Read More David DePape charged by federal prosecutors over Friday attack in San Francisco follow the latest news. 21:39 Closing summary Heres what happened today: The supreme court ... Read More The fate of Georgias abortion law is in the hands of a Fulton County judge after two days of emotional testimony from experts arguing why the statute should ... Read More Campaign events and rallies attempt to encourage voters as some polling places increase security to protect election workers from potential violence on election day. Read More Potus News South Korea Rebuffs Trump S 1 Billion Use Charge For A Us Missile Defense System | RobinsPost News & Noticias The chart shows South Korea's total ... billion) on enhancing its three-axis' defence system over the next five years. The spending plan is a response to increasing North Korean missile and ... Read More SEOUL: South Korea's military said on Wednesday it had retrieved and analyzed debris from a missile the North fired across the two countries' de facto maritime border during a recent blitz of launches ... Read More But he told reporters that the South Korean missile defense system ... North Koreas nuclear program have grown since the North last month adopted a law authorizing the preemptive use of nuclear ... Read More But he told reporters that the South Korean missile defense system is capable of ... Outside concerns about North Koreas nuclear program have grown since the North last month adopted a law ... Read More South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said that the US is incorporating a new equipment into the THAAD system located in Seongju, which lies about 200 km south of Seoul. (US Missile Defense ... Read More But he told reporters that the South Korean missile defense system ... North Koreas nuclear program have grown since the North last month adopted a law authorizing the preemptive use of nuclear ... Read More But he told reporters that the South Korean missile defense system ... North Koreas nuclear program have grown since the North last month adopted a law authorizing the preemptive use of ... Read More Potus News South Korea Disputes Trump S Remarks On Trade Missile Defense System | RobinsPost News & Noticias South Korea says North Korea has fired a ballistic missile toward the sea. Read More Product Reviews Malaysia May Prosecute Whatsapp Group Admins Over Fake News | RobinsPost News & Noticias If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue ... "It is a private place where group admins have more control over some groups on WhatsApp, available in a future update ... Read More The firm is in close competition with Telegram, which lets you add 200, 000 people to a group chat. WhatsApp will soon allow group admins to add ... group chats with over a thousand members. Read More WhatsApp is widely used in India and it keeps getting new features every now and then. The app allows group admins to add up to ... For that, you may need more bandwidth and WhatApp is working ... Read More When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an ... quite recently. But WhatsApp is about to double it once again and allow you to make group chats with over a thousand members. Read More This is not the first time this year that WhatsApp has increased the cap on group chat members. Back in May, the limit was set to 512 members after having been capped to 256 since 2016. Read More This means that users who choose popular apps and official installation sources, may still fall victim ... the Trida malware in WhatsApp clones over the past year and is especially difficult ... Read More If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue ... "It is a private place where group admins have more control over some groups on WhatsApp, available in a future update ... Read More When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate ... The head of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart, posted a detailed thread on the perils of fake WhatsApp apps, citing the example ... Read More The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox. Read More Following the finale of the Lord of the Rings prequel's first season, Celebrimbor actor Charles Edwards has revealed that the stars regularly discuss their favorite fan theories over WhatsApp. Read More Even with the latest WhatsApp beta build installed on your smartphone, you may not see the expanded group limit yet. However, it is likely to roll out slowly as Meta pushes it to more users. Read More Product Reviews Mazda Readies Three Row Cx 8 Crossover For Japan Roadshow | RobinsPost News & Noticias Mazda CX-8 has debuted ahead of its Australian launch in March. Revealed in Japan overnight, the updated large SUV receives a new look taken from its smaller CX-5 twin, with a revised front fascia and ... Read More Heres a look at Mazdas SUV lineup for the 2023 model year. According to Mazda, the CX-30 is currently the smallest crossover SUV ... it does have third-row seats, allowing the CX-9 to ... Read More A host of updates have been made to the Mazda CX-8 in Australia before sales kick off next year in March 2023. While the overall shape and design of the CX-8 remains familiar, the car manufacturer has ... Read More Mazdas current Kodo design language works almost as well here as it does on the sleek 6 saloon or the pert MX-5, and while a crossover ... CX-3 does a good impression of a premium product ... Read More As the reinvention of their SUV lineup continues, Mazda continues to introduce impressive new models. The latest is the 2023 Mazda CX-50, a compact crossover that will battle with leading ... Read More Mazda ventures farther into the outdoors than it ever has before with the new 2023 CX-50. For buyers seeking the go-anywhere look and capability of the Subaru Outback in a less shouty design ... Read More Interestingly, this is a different engine to the motor bound for Europe and Japan, which is a 3.0-litre e-Skyactiv X unit incorporating Mazda ... CX-90. The CX-60 and CX-80 will be two- and three ... Read More The 2.2-inch lower roofline gives the CX-50 a sleeker and sportier profile. The CX-50 is also more adventure ready with its higher ground clearance, which sits at 8.3 ... Mazda CX-50 Second Take ... Read More Google has added three examples of the type of product review pages and who can write them to the "how to write product reviews" help document. Google added these three examples for the type of ... Read More The documentation lists three examples of the kinds of product review publishers. The addition to the page does not say that this is a limitation on who the best practices are limited to. Read More The CX-50 Meridian, A True Off-Roader? When I reviewed the all-new 2023 CX-50 earlier this year I discovered a gap between Mazdas rough ... and also earns the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake ... Read More Get email alerts on this search. We'll send you new listings and price drops based on your search criteria. Never miss a car! We'll send you new listings and price drops based on your search criteria. Read More Science News Key Mutations Show How Tibetans Thrive At High Elevations | RobinsPost News & Noticias An ancient, armored worm may be the key to unraveling the evolutionary history ... A fossil like Wufengella had long been high on Vinthers bucket list of fossils that he and his colleagues ... Read More Last year, while a high school student ... 2021 International Science and Engineering Fair, an annual competition run by the Society for Science, which publishes Science News. Read More They published the findings in the journal Science. A research group ... a peptide PSY hormone) acting as a key that is necessary to start a biological process. However, in this study, plant ... Read More at high resolution, critical proteins that stud the surface of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and enable it to enter host cells. The discovery, reported in Science on October 21, 2022, details key ... Read More Labro, Ph.D., from the University of Antwerp and Ghent University in Belgium, the researchers investigated whether or not a known mutation (W434F ... in September by Science Advances. Read More "Our study shows that there is a parallel between the mutations driving cancer and the mutations driving the development of scleroderma," says co-investigator Robert Gniadecki, professor and ... Read More Those are the three TV series about adolescence to which TV critic Robert Lloyd favorably compares Amazon Freevees High School ... nature of the hit TV show in the age of streaming. Read More Which stocks are most likely to thrive in a recession? Here's what history shows. The SPDR Select Sector ... I've got some bad news, though. None of the SPDR Select Sector ETFs performed well ... Read More How does a cell "know" that it's infected? This is a key question for innate immunity, our first line of defense to any infection or injury, made up of cells that quickly identify pathogens ... Read More Bathing. Naps. But how about educational programming within enjoyable TV shows so fun they won't even know they're learning? We've got you. Here are 28 great science shows for kids, because we ... Read More TEMPLETON (AP) Something has happened in Templeton that should raise the spirits of long dead bootleggers across the village in Sacred Heart Cemetery. The distillation of the community's notorious rye whiskey will soon return to Templeton, where it was produced in the shadows during and after Prohibition. But now it's legal. Templeton Rye Spirits kicked off a $26 million expansion project with the ceremonial groundbreaking on April 5 for a distillery and a warehouse for aging the rye. Mayor Ken Behrens said the new facility is greater than anything people in the community of 362 could have dreamed when the idea of making the whiskey locally and legally surfaced a decade ago. "It's hard to imagine what the original bootleggers would say if they were here today," he said. Templeton Rye's upgraded home will consist of a 34,500-square-foot distillery at its current 20-acre facility on the edge of the town. The new complex, including a museum and 55,000-square-foot barrel aging warehouse, is expected to be completed within 18 months. The new distillery will be able to produce 500,000 proof gallons of rye whiskey annually, but initial production will be 250,000 gallons. The aging warehouse will be able to store 40,000 barrels. The first Iowa-distilled Templeton aged four years would appear on store shelves in about 2022. Templeton Rye produced its 1 millionth bottle in 2013. The company doesn't disclose detailed figures, but it has never had a down sales year, said Keith Kerkhoff of Manilla, Iowa, a co-founder of Templeton Rye Spirits and a grandson of an area bootlegger. The expansion is expected to add 27 workers, many of them salaried, to the current roster of about six full-time and 12 to 15 part-time employees. Templeton Rye, introduced legally in 2006, dates to the early 1900s, when residents of Templeton distilled a much sought-after rye whiskey produced in basements and barns. Although forced underground during the Prohibition era, the bootlegging enterprise flourished. Chicago gangster Al Capone reportedly served Templeton Rye to his friends and family. The distillery will make Templeton Rye wholly produced in Iowa for the first time since the Prohibition era. The company settled lawsuits in 2015 over labeling that implied that the whiskey was made in Iowa. The company is using a mash made up of 95 percent rye from MGP Ingredients in Indiana as the whiskey's foundation. The Templeton plant currently combines distilled rye whiskey with the company's proprietary formula and local purified water in batches of 900 gallons for bottling in Templeton. The distillery's two new stills are being manufactured in Scotland and will produce the highest quality spirits, said Alex Alexandrov, president of ICC Turnkey of St. Louis, an engineering company that designed the distillery. "The oak does the rest," he said. Kerkhoff said he was proud to share "The Good Stuff" with whiskey lovers from around Iowa and across the country. "We're moving full-steam ahead," he said. "Our company is laser-focused on bringing the history and spirit of the community of Templeton to life through Templeton Rye whiskey." Upward of 300 people attended the groundbreaking ceremony at the base of a towering stack of whiskey barrels outside the company's current office and bottling building. The project will not only create better, long-term jobs, but it will also increase tourism, said Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. The company has invested more than $1 million locally since it started aging its first four-year whiskey in 2002. It has hosted more than 25,000 visitors at the facility since opening to the public. Vern Underwood, chairman of Infinium Spirits in Aliso Viejo, California, and a lead investor in Templeton Rye Spirits, thanked the community for making it possible to build a successful whiskey operation. "There are many, many rye whiskeys, but there is only one rye whiskey that has the town Templeton behind it," he said. "It separates us from the other rye whiskey. You are the story. You are what's going to make this possible. It's a dream come true for everybody. We want to be part of the dream." Science News The Role Of Microorganisms In Industrial Gold Processing | RobinsPost News & Noticias As investors try to navigate issues like rising interest rates, inflation, and geopolitical conflict, some people are turning to commodities like gold. Doing so could involve a variety of ... Read More For investors looking to diversify their portfolio or concerned about the volatility of the market, gold presents a unique financial opportunity. The benefits of buying gold are multiple and ... Read More Nearly 300 years ago the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus secured his place in scientific history when he created what's known as the binomial system. The year was 1737 and, due to the large diversity ... Read More clinician-data-scientists will play critical roles in data science research projects. Besides exploring the core competencies a clinician-data-scientist needs, the researchers also examined the ... Read More The gut microbiome may play a role in how diet and exercise affect ... which are known to affect the gut microbiomethe community of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in our gut. Read More Share this article on Email Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Facebook Show additional share options Share this article on Comment Share this article on Whatsapp Share this ... Read More how green spaces are used to improve our lives and the role of technology in ensuring justice. I think its impossible to think of a single policy area that couldnt be impacted by science ... Read More The changes that occur in fleshy fruits during ripening make them more sensitive than unripe fruit to infection by bacteria and fungi ... factors play important roles in various aspects of ... Read More This paper presents the first theory of the role glia play in cognitive processing, in the brain. "The type of glial cells that we study -- known as astrocytes -- can modify the activity of our ... Read More The MarketWatch News Department was not ... and application of the specific product. Industrial Bakery Processing Equipment market growth also examines the role of the leading key vendors involved ... Read More But while partisans share concerns about U.S. global standing in science, they differ in their views of the role for scientists in the policy arena, with Republicans offering much more skeptical views ... Read More The gut microbiome may play a role in how diet and exercise affect ... which are known to affect the gut microbiome -- the community of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in our gut. Read More Internet News Wikipedia Cofounder Jimmy Wales S Quest To Fill The Internet With Real Facts And Stories | RobinsPost News & Noticias I dont know if itll be perfect, and Im sure well have to adjust along the way, Wales says, but it has to be better than this hellsite, yeah? ... Read More Viewers saw the funny side of a BBC News caption which innocently described a woman's job title. Clare Connelly, the chief financial officer a bottling company based in Sunderland, found herself ... Read More internet-based education, news and media services and a wide variety of other activities. As the internet became more and more affordable and, therefore, integrated into the life of ordinary ... Read More From the very beginning, people on the internet ... there are real people walking around who only exist because these bulletin board systems connected their parents. Theres an immediate ... Read More (WTVF) A new study shows that internet companies may be discriminating against low-income and non-white neighborhoods. "The Markup" -- a non-profit news outlet -- looked at several internet ... Read More The nonprofits Freedom of the Net 2022 report said the U.S. ranked ninth in internet freedom, tied with Australia and France, while China scored the worst of the 70 countries reviewed ... Read More iBeat Analytics Ibeat 1 Year HTTPS To track article's statistics GrowthRx Analytics ... Name Provider Expiry Type Purpose optout Times Internet 1 Year HTTPS Stores the user's cookie consent ... Read More The quick answer is that the internet is the whole thing, the global network of computers sharing information worldwide. An intranet is also a computer network for sharing data, but it's blocked ... Read More Barr, like many of us pays for Spectrum's internet services. He tells 7 News for $90/month, he gets 200mbps and experiences outages and slow speeds when watching TV or downloading from home. Read More iBeat Analytics Ibeat 1 Year HTTPS To track article's statistics GrowthRx Analytics ... Name Provider Expiry Type Purpose optout Times Internet 1 Year HTTPS Stores the user's cookie consent ... Read More A team of researchers with members from several institutions in Denmark, Sweden and Japan has developed a means for sending 1.84 petabits of data per second via a fiber-optic cable over 7.9 km ... Read More Technology News Cuba Is On The Brink Of An Internet Revolution | RobinsPost News & Noticias In a bid to provide nationwide internet services to everyone, Cuba has finally started providing internet on mobile phones. Journalists, of state-run news outlets, were the first ones to receive ... Read More and foreign diplomats in Cuba were saying at the time: that the Cuban revolution was increasingly under the influence of communism. During the meeting, Raul Castro anxiously repeated his brother ... Read More The Biden administration has provided no evidence that Cuba sponsors terrorism. When asked by NBC News to provide any proof, the State Department declined. The Department of State carefully and ... Read More Protestors in Cuba who have been taking to the streets ... in the largest anti-government demonstrations since the 1959 revolution. After days of power cuts by the government last year, residents ... Read More From that moment, they were wives. It became a possibility just three weeks before on the island when Cuba's new Family Code opening up everything from equal marriage to surrogate mothers ... Read More Showcase your company news with guaranteed exposure both in print and online Executives of the Year The San Francisco Business Times' STEAM breakfast event will look at the state of science ... Read More But the fourth industrial revolution ... technology now dominates our lives like never before. It brings untold benefits but also presents new dangers. The phenomenon of fake news for example ... Read More Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez made the comments at the launch of an annual campaign for a United Nations resolution condemning the trade embargo, which was put in place after Cuba's 1959 revolution ... Read More Mr. Khatiri grew up in Iran and is seeking political asylum in the United States. He studied strategic studies at Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies. He writes the ... Read More WSJs tech podcast featuring breaking news, scoops and tips on tech innovations and policy debates, plus exclusive interviews with movers and shakers in the industry. Apple is at the center of ... Read More As society continues to integrate technology into every aspect of life, innovators are building new worlds online. On the next episode of 'Inventing Tomorrow', CNN International correspondent Blake ... Read More Austin, Texas October 28, 2022 The Litowitz/Fox Team of Capital Strategies, a $100 million Slack Davis Sanger specializes in navigating and winning the challenging personal inju ... Read More Technology News Great News Australia We Ve Had Our First Metadata Breach | RobinsPost News & Noticias Australia has proposed tougher penalties ... too long in the hope of monetizing that information. We need to make sure that when a data breach occurs the penalty is large enough, that it ... Read More As one of Australias biggest health insurance providers, Medibank holds information that includes intimate medical records, making the breach ... we first discovered the unusual activity on our ... Read More Good morning. Weve got some news that isnt the U.S. Midterms over here if you want it, tell your friends. 1. Hacker/s leak Medibank data First up, the hacker/hackers behind the Medibank data breach ... Read More SYDNEY, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Two Australian regulators said on Tuesday ... a day from people concerned about the Optus breach, although few had been scammed as a result. Optus said in a statement ... Read More weeks after a massive data breach at another Australian unit - Optus. Singtel said on Monday the attack on Dialog, an Australia-based information technology services consulting firm, was first ... Read More The Australian Communications ... a Webinar we recommend at least a 3 to 4 week campaign prior to your event. The iTWire campaign will include extensive adverts on our News Site itwire.com and ... Read More Medibank would have faced huge fines for its data breach, had proposed privacy ... financial penalties like were seeing overseas. As part of its overhaul of Australias privacy law ... Read More Parliament resumes on Tuesday for the first time since mid-September. Since Parliament last sat, unknown hackers stole personal data from 9.8 million customers of Optus, Australia ... We need to make ... Read More Happy Friday, hope youre keeping dry. Its been a big week in the tech world, heres the latest. Weve finally got some concrete details on the long-rumoured Netflix ad-supported tier ... Read More CANBERRA, Australia (AP ... for too long in the hope of monetizing that information. We need to make sure that when a data breach occurs the penalty is large enough, that its a really ... Read More Travel News Top 10 Travel Agencies In Nigeria | RobinsPost News & Noticias Says despite terrorists attacks, Nigeria still safe US authorises departure to citizens, encourages personal exit plan Intelligence community pushes back against evacu ... Read More The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), comprising over 2,000 travel agencies, will protest Nigerias central bank withholding foreign airlines funds worth about $300 million, ... Read More President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday reacted to the recent travel advisory issued by the United States and United Kingdom governments calling on their citizens to steer clear of Abuja, saying ... Read More THE Federal Government on Wednesday said that it cannot be stampeded by whatever any government tells its citizens to do. This came on the heels of the latest travel advisory by US State Department ... Read More It then dawned on me that the United States of America has actually coughed on Nigeria thereby generating rapid reactions from its close allies and these actions included travel advisors issued ... Read More President Muhammadu has advised the nations security establishment and entire citizens to continue being vigilant, saying it is important to avoid panic. Malam Garba Shehu, ... Read More A digital technological advancement called "Tourism Hackathon Nigeria" has been introduced by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation ... Read More Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Nigeria. The security situation in these states is fluid and unpredictable due to widespread terrorist activity ... Read More The Federal Government has said the situation on ground is not that dire to warrant the travel ... in Nigeria. Now, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, have ... Read More Fiction, poetry and history from an extraordinary country of great wealth and deep poverty, of huge promise and extremes of despair Nigeria is an extraordinary country. On the one hand ... Read More Matthias Schmale, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, said: "We're currently seeing the worst floods in ten years in Nigeria." ... Read More Earlier this month, Nigerias National Emergency Management Agency warned of catastrophic flooding for states located along the courses of the Niger and Benue rivers, noting that three of ... Read More Us News Arkansas Prepares To Execute 4th Prisoner In 8 Days As Lethal Injection Drug Nears Expiration | RobinsPost News & Noticias (CN) Arkansas plans to execute its fourth man of the month tonight, despite pending legal challenges looming and the European Unions request that Gov. Asa Hutchinson stop the execution. Kenneth ... Read More (KTVE/KARD) On Wednesday, October 13, 2022, the US Department of Justice announced that four Arkansas men were sentenced to collectively 47 years in federal prison for drug trafficking. Read More "It means that the people that were asked to vote did their research and somehow landed with us at fourth," Arkansas Coach Mike Neighbors said Tuesday at SEC Media Day in Birmingham, Ala. Read More MONTGOMERY, Ala (AP) An Alabama inmate ... lethal injection last month. At one point, they left him hanging vertically on a gurney before state officials made the decision to call off the ... Read More A federal judge has dismissed an inmates claim seeking to block his upcoming execution in Alabama because of reported problems at a recent lethal injection MONTGOMERY, Ala -- A federal judge ... Read More PHOENIX An Arizona prisoner who is scheduled to be executed in three weeks for two 1980 killings will be put to death by lethal injection, making him the third condemned person to decline ... Read More (AP) With two consecutive Elite Eight appearances in tow, Arkansas hopes for the Final Four arent just a pipe dream. Coach Eric Musselman, heading into his fourth ... 8.3 points and ... Read More An Alabama inmate said prison staff poked him with needles for over an hour as they tried to find a vein during an aborted lethal injection ... in the expiration of the courts execution warrant ... Read More MONTGOMERY, Ala (AP) A federal judge dismissed an inmates claim seeking to block his upcoming execution in Alabama because of reported problems at a recent lethal injection. The judge on ... Read More Us News Violent Street Gang Ms 13 Puts Long Island Towns In Its Grip | RobinsPost News & Noticias Editors' Blog / Analysis & Opinion News Live Blog Morning Memo Cafe ... close to where the ultra-violent street gang MS-13 has committed a string of gruesome murders, including the massacre ... Read More Five members of the transnational street gang La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, have received life in prison for their roles in the 2016 kidnappings and murders of two teenage boys in Northern Virginia. Read More At the time of the victim's death, Martines' clique had been looking to shoot and kill a rival 14th Street Gang member as revenge for attacking an MS-13 member. Rodriguez did not belong to a ... Read More Cassidy told Fox News ... of the violent gangs currently terrorizing the country could be swept into the flow, raising troubling parallels to the origins of Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13. Read More MS-13 gang were sentenced to life in prison for the murder and dismemberment of two Virginia teenagers in 2016. Read More Five members of the transnational street gang La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, have received sentences of life imprisonment for their ... Read More US EXPELS HAITIANS LEADING TO INCREASE IN CHARTER BUSINESS TO LATIN AMERICA READ ON THE FOX NEWS ... violent gangs currently terrorizing the country could be swept into the flow, raising troubling ... Read More (CBS DETROIT) - A member of the 6 Mile Chedda Grove street gang pleads guilty to killing a rival gang member and a 13-year-old bystander ... admitted to committing violent crimes, including ... Read More Four Long Island teenagers were injured in a drive-by ... 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events ... Read More Long Islanders voted A&S Bagels the Best Bagels on Long Island in the 2022 Bethpage Best of Long Island contest! The national winner in this category was Bagel Boss. Many Long Islanders have a ... Read More Us News Morning Brief Tillerson Says China Threatens North Korea With Sanctions | RobinsPost News & Noticias Editors' Blog / Analysis & Opinion News Live Blog Morning Memo Cafe ... dialogue wasnt centered on North Korea. Tillerson said that the U.S. has assured China that in the event that American ... Read More The United States believes China and Russia have leverage they can use to persuade North Korea not to resume nuclear bomb testing, a senior U.S. administration official said on Thursday. The official, ... Read More North Korea Says It Will Not Overlook Any Kind of Military ... said in a statement carried by the North's official KCNA news agency. "In the future, too, our army will never allow any provocation ... Read More North Korea has said its recent barrage of missile launches were tactical nuclear drills personally overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, and a response to joint United States-South Korea naval ... Read More (Bloomberg) -- The US remains ready for talks with North Korea on denuclearizing the Korean peninsula, while ensuring that we have also the capabilities in the region and ready to go in case we ... Read More The United States and its partners ... to make it as painful as possible for North Korea to develop and test its weapons by imposing heavy sanctions in cooperation with U.S. allies ... Read More U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is warning North Korea against escalating its provocations TOKYO -- The United States will make ... participate in a joint news conference after ... Read More Chinas extreme border controls for the past three years have made getting into the country for foreigners nearly impossible, making US-based analyst Scott Kennedys recent trip there all the ... Read More The ultimate goal of our sanctions, I have to say, is not to punish these individuals but to bring about a positive change in behaviour, Millinax said. Recently, the US Department of State ... Read More North Korea's recent flurry of ... after large-scale navy drills by South Korean and US forces, state news agency KCNA said on Monday. North Korea fired two ballistic missiles early on Sunday ... Read More Us News Essential California One Prominent Pastor Remembers The Riots | RobinsPost News & Noticias Gavin Newsom last month signed Assembly Bill 984, which establishes rules to allow such alternative devices that are approved by the California Highway Patrol. The digital screens are one of ... Read More Good morning, and welcome to the Essential ... us. (Please keep your story to 100 words.) Gabriel San Roman is a Metro reporter covering Orange County for the Los Angeles Times. He joined the ... Read More (KSEE/KGPE) California remains number one in claims for ... For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories ... Read More Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email ... Read More The mayor of Antioch, a midsize city in California's East Bay, said he was punched at a community event Tuesday. Mayor Lamar A. Thorpe said in a statement to NBC Bay Area that a man approached him ... Read More A Florida member of the far-right Oath Keepers testified on Tuesday that he had been ready to use violence to stop the US Congress from certifying Republican Donald Trump's election defeat, saying ... Read More Were going to stay tenacious, we dont know how many cases there are, Stockton police chief says Stockton police chief Stanley McFadden speaks during a news conference about the arrest ... Read More The governor has taken advantage of Californias behested payments law to ask for charitable contributions to benefit theCalifornia Partners Project founded by his wife. Read More (Reuters) - Police in Stockton, California said on Saturday they have ... was "on a mission to kill," McFadden said at a news conference. "We are sure we stopped another killing," he added. Read More Average scores in California, one of the last states to reopen ... Theres nothing in this data that tells us that there is a measurable difference in the performance between states and ... Read More The US is planning to auction in December leases for offshore wind farms in California waters, the first off the Pacific Coast, which will require a new, more expensive turbine technology. Read More Californias coastline is 3,427 miles long, and since the 1850s, the states lighthouses have helped mariners navigate rough seas and fog. After hundreds of shipwrecks and not long after ... Read More World News Us Envoy Accuses Russia Of Allowing Syria To Deny Needed Aid | RobinsPost News & Noticias Ukraine's state nuclear energy company Energoatom on Wednesday accused Russia of not allowing the company's convoy of vehicles carrying diesel fuel to access the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after ... Read More The U.N. envoy for ... he said. Syrian government forces have over the past years captured much of the country with the help of President Bashar Assads allies Russia and Iran. Read More PARIS (Reuters) - France's President Emmanuel Macron accused Russia ... It's an effort by Russia to destabilise. It wants to create disorder in the Caucasus to destabilise all of us." ... Read More By Patrick Kingsley and Ronen Bergman JERUSALEM Russia recently ... of power in one of the worlds most complicated conflict zones, and allow Israel, Syrias enemy and southern neighbor ... Read More Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of preparing ... an independent US-based think tank, has suggested Russia is "likely continuing to prepare for a false flag attack ... Read More Iran on Friday urged its citizens in Ukraine to leave the country and warned against travel to the war-torn nation one day after the U.S. accused Tehran of aiding Russias war effort. Read More Iran's ambassador to the United Nations also considered it necessary to provide humanitarian aid to Syria. Stressing the need to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, he said ... Read More KYIV, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said there were dead and wounded in blasts that rocked cities across Ukraine on Monday and accused Russia of trying to wipe his ... Read More He cited polls showing Americans wanting their states to break away from the US, before calling for any such US state wanting to join Russia to hold ... worth of military aid to Ukraine in ... Read More Geir Pedersen, the U.N. special envoy ... he said. Syrian government forces have over the past years captured much of the country with the help of President Bashar Assads allies Russia and ... Read More INDEPENDENCE | After several court filings Thursday became public, it's clear the Arlington man accused of leaving the scene of a fatal crash that killed an Aurora man plans to fight the charge. Chris Soules, 35, of Arlington and a former reality television star, has hired Alfredo Parrish, Brandon Brown and Gina Messamer of the Des Moines firm Parrish Kruidenier Trial Lawyers as his defense counsel for his trial on a charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident, a felony. Parrish, the founder of the firm, is a high-profile attorney who has argued state and federal cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including death penalty cases and more than 30 first-degree murder cases, according to his biography. Parrish's team immediately filed a demand to preserve evidence, asking for the right to investigate for themselves any and all evidence, reports and data related to the crash or investigation, citing their right to due process. Soules is scheduled to next appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday for a preliminary hearing at the Buchanan County Courthouse in Independence. Preliminary hearings in Iowa are generally waived, so it is unlikely he will be there. Soules is accused of rear-ending a tractor driven by Kenneth Mosher, 66, of Aurora, who died at the scene. Soules initially called 911, but left the scene before he could be questioned. Soules, who starred in The Bachelor and Dancing with the Stars, has been released from custody on bond pending trial. World News 2 Us Army Soldiers Killed Fighting Isis In Afghanistan | RobinsPost News & Noticias Austin said the evacuation effort was historic and that no other military in the world ... ground in Afghanistan. After $2 trillion in spending and nearly 2,000 US troops killed in ... Read More According to the Taliban, the killed ... ISIS militants which includes 2 senior commanders in the northeastern Afghan province of Takhar, media reports said citing a Taliban-controlled news ... Read More U.S. soldiers provide security during training in Yavoriv, Ukraine, July 29, 2015. (Sgt. 1st Class Walter E. van Ochten/Army) WASHINGTON Fighting ... across the United States, based at a ... Read More Ekren, 42, received a 20-year sentence Tuesday. Prosecutors said she planned attacks in the U.S. and aided extremists after Benghazi. 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 Microsoft and the US Army are continuing to explore how to make mixed reality an aid rather than a hindrance for soldiers after tests showed that soldiers taking them into battle felt sick and ... Read More Good or bad, the location was a common practice. Situated in the urban outskirts of Baghdad, it was also common, almost routine, for FOB Falcon to be mortared by insurgents who used the surrounding ... Read More Defence minister says two assailants shot dead after attack at training ground in region bordering Ukraine At least 11 people were killed and 15 more wounded at a military training ground in the ... Read More No Civilians Killed in Attack at Russian Military Base - Local Governor (Reuters ... Gladkov did not say how many soldiers were killed. The state RIA news agency cited the defence ministry ... Read More A crash involving two military vehicles claimed the life ... guard officials said in a news release. Killed in the crash was Spc. Mackenzie L. Shay, 20, of New Castle, the officials said. Read More Microsofts hi-tech headsets being tested by the Army have left soldiers feeling sick and have flaws that would have gotten us killed, according ... approve the $424.2 million the Army ... Read More CNN was not immediately able to verify claims of casualties or gauge the scale of the fighting ... were the last two US officials to step off of Afghanistan soil and onto a US military aircraft ... Read More World News Tillerson Says China Asked North Korea To Stop Nuclear Tests | RobinsPost News & Noticias The United States believes China and Russia have leverage they can use to persuade North Korea not to resume nuclear bomb testing, a senior U.S. administration official said on Thursday. The ... Read More North Korea ... deterrent and nuclear counterattack capability of the country, KCNA reported. North Korea released multiple photographs of the recent missile launches, tests and exercises ... Read More SEOUL, Oct. 13 (UPI) --North Korea launched two long-range cruise missiles that are capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons ... recently. World News // 1 hour ago China 'firmly opposes ... Read More North Korea 's recent missile tests ... nuclear" drills to simulate them hitting the South, and were overseen by leader Kim Jong-un, state media said today. This, the state media went on to say ... Read More Whether North Korea tests a nuclear bomb is ... much aligning itself with China and Russia in opposition to the United States and the rules-based order. Panda says Kim is continuing the strategic ... Read More The United States said on Friday its policy towards North Korea had not changed after a senior U.S. official responsible for nuclear policy raised some eyebrows by saying Washington would be willing ... Read More Quoting leader Kim Jong Un, who oversaw the drills, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the tests ... Experts say that North Korea has likely manufactured some nuclear warheads ... Read More The countrys leader, Kim Jong-un, has inspected a recent flurry of missile tests, vowing to increase and never give up his nuclear ... in North Korea.Credit...Korean Central News ... Read More (Korean Central News ... Nuclear Test By North Korea If Necessary: Pentagon North Korea Fires 'Unidentified Ballistic Missile': Reports North Korea Says Kim Jong Un Supervised Cruise Missile ... Read More North Korea ... tests were designed to simulate showering the South with tactical nuclear weapons as a warning after large-scale navy drills by South Korean and US forces, state news agency ... Read More Seoul North Korea's recent missile tests involved "tactical nuclear" drills to simulate ... the Korean Central News Agency said. North Korean army units involved in "the operation of tactical ... Read More World News China Bans List Of Islamic Names In Xinjiang Region | RobinsPost News & Noticias Much has already been made of the recent news coming out of Chinas westernmost province that parents have been prohibited from choosing names ... s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region ... Read More Four months into a sweeping ban on imports from Chinas Xinjiang region, the top US customs official ... said in an interview at the Bloomberg News Washington office on Thursday. Read More The region is a major global supplier of cotton, but rights groups have long alleged that the cotton is picked and processed by Chinas Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities in a widespread ... Read More (Bloomberg) -- Four months into a sweeping ban on imports from Chinas Xinjiang region, the top US customs official is ... said in an interview at the Bloomberg News Washington office on Thursday. The ... Read More Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile A Uyghur organization and a human rights group are taking the U.K. government to court to challenge Britains failure to ... Read More Erbakit Ortabay, 49, an ethnic Kazakh born in Xinjiang, speaks to the Associated Press, in London, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. A Uyghur organization and a human rights group are taking the U.K ... Read More World News U S Senate Sends Letter Asking Un To Rethink Its Unequal Treatment Of Israel In Regards To Human Rights | RobinsPost News & Noticias U.S. Senate Candidate Fetterman Releases Doctor Letter Saying He Is OK WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman of Pennsylvania released a doctor's letter on ... Read More JACKSON While state lawmakers were passionately debating if Mississippi should scrap its official flag that displayed a Confederate emblem, a U.S. senator asked state leaders if they were ... Read More A sympathetic Senate colleague might give the filibustering senator some relief by asking ... basis of the U.S. Senate's claim to being "the world's greatest deliberative body." Its defenders ... Read More In the U.S. Senate race, voters have a choice between the Democratic Partys misguided agenda of releasing violent criminals to again prey on the law-abiding and waging regulatory war on ... Read More A Republican is expected to hold Alaskas U.S. Senate seat following Tuesday's ranked choice election, with Donald Trump-endorsed Kelly Tshibaka and U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski leading in early returns. Read More Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez called Monday for freezing all U.S. cooperation with Saudi Arabia, delivering one of the strongest expressions yet of U.S. anger over ... Read More WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman of Pennsylvania released a doctor's letter on Wednesday that said he was recovering well from a stroke and has no work ... Read More The human rights reports ... What would you do in the U.S. Senate to prevent or end mass atrocities, including genocide, regardless of where it happens, around the world? Background: Stateless ... Read More At least six of those teams will be playing in the competition for the first time, among them Vietnam, which learned Saturday it would face the top-ranked U.S. in its World Cup debut in July. Read More WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman of Pennsylvania released a doctor's letter on Wednesday ... from operating and its passage by the Hobbs city ... Read More WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman of Pennsylvania released a doctor's letter on Wednesday that said he was recovering well from a stroke and has no work ... Read More World News With The French Run Off Looming Macron Still Has A Lot To Learn | RobinsPost News & Noticias French President Emmanuel Macron is urging the countrys most climate-damaging industries to double their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the next decade. Macron convened a meeting i ... Read More But the world has changed on him ... The specter of those protests still hovers. Mr. Macron has no interest in a rerun. Workers at the French oil giant TotalEnergies, incensed by a 52 percent ... Read More Mutterings of a re-run are once again rising ... it is too early to say whether the French will answer the call. But such talk has set nerves on edge within the Macron government. Read More Pope Francis has met at the Vatican with French President Emmanuel Macron ROME -- Pope Francis on Monday met at the Vatican with French President Emmanuel Macron, with the war in Ukraine looming ... Read More People who reckon French President Emmanuel Macrons current term will be his last should think again. The French constitution prevents him from running for a third consecutive mandate in 2027, but ... Read More French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne ... Despite losing its majority, Macrons centrist alliance still has the most National Assembly seats, with 250. The Nupes is the largest opposition ... Read More President accused of authoritarianism as PM puts end to days of heated parliamentary debate The French ... from Macrons centrist grouping have for days argued that the government has no choice ... Read More French President Emmanuel Macron has released a selfie video on social media platforms asking the public to send him questions about what France should do about climate change and biodiversity ... Read More PARIS (AP) French President Emmanuel ... Despite losing its majority, Macrons centrist alliance still has the most National Assembly seats, with 250. The Nupes is the largest opposition ... Read More French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist ... Despite losing its majority, Macrons centrist alliance still has the most National Assembly seats, with 250. The Nupes is the largest opposition ... Read More World News In Act Of Defiance Venezuela May Become First Country To Withdraw From Organization Of American States | RobinsPost News & Noticias WHAT HAPPENS NOW TO VENEZUELANS IN TRANSIT TO THE UNITED STATES? Those in transit may ... country with the world's largest oil reserves weathered corruption and inflation. Then in 2014, Venezuela ... Read More The court said it will notify the United States through Venezuela's foreign ministry, including its decision that a formal extraction request be filed within two months and include evidence of ... Read More The Biden administration may allow the last American ... Venezuela. The discussions, which U.S. officials say revolve around restarting oil exports from Venezuela to the United States if the ... Read More Early movie star Anna May Wong will be the first Asian American to be featured on U.S. currency, nearly 100 years after her first film role. The U.S. Mint will begin shipping quarter coins ... Read More United States Mint/Handout ... will feature an Asian American on its currency for the first time when it issues a coin next week engraved with the image of actress Anna May Wong, who worked ... Read More A landslide in central Venezuela left at ... caused by heavy rains to hit the country. Dozens of people have died in recent months in the crisis-hit South American nation as a result of ... Read More Trump also told Ami Magazine, an Orthodox Jewish news publication, last year that Jewish people who live in the United States ... as your country in addressing American Jews at a Hanukkah ... Read More 10 (UPI) --At least 22 people have died and more than 50 others are still missing in north-central Venezuela where heavy ... Chinese production facility. World News // 5 hours ago Past eight ... Read More When Anna May Wong first entered Hollywood in the 1920s, the world of US entertainment ... on new coins by the United States mint, making her the first Asian American ever on US currency. Read More Movie star Anna May Wong will be the first Asian American person to be featured on a US coin. Wong will appear on the back of a quarter as part of the US Mints American Women Quarters Program ... Read More World News Trump Warns Of Major Conflict If Talks On North Korea Fail | RobinsPost News & Noticias North Korea threatened to unleash a powerful action if the US does not halt joint military drills with partners including South Korea, in what might be an effort by Kim Jong Un to lay the groundwork ... Read More North Koreas Foreign Ministry has criticized the United States for expanding combined military exercises with South Korea that it claims are practice for an invasion. Pyongyang warned of more powerf ... Read More World News Eu Violence In Macedonia Amid Political Crisis Unacceptable | RobinsPost News & Noticias On this, the Bulgarian ruling elites are united, regardless of formal political association. It was Borisovs government that first blocked EU-North Macedonia ... an intense crisis in both ... Read More The European Union pledged 80 million euros to North Macedonia to tackle energy crisis and it will help to build new generating capacities, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said ... Read More Across Europe, soaring inflation is behind a wave of protests and strikes that underscores growing discontent with the spiraling cost of living and threatens to unleash political turmoil LONDON ... Read More Deep divisions among European Union member states emerged on Tuesday as EU officials gathered to discuss the energy crisis and the blocs measures to respond to it. Some EU member states argue ... Read More In a summit statement, the EU leaders affirmed that they will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes with continued political, military and economic support. They also said that the bloc ... Read More Europe is loading up on cheaper Brazilian ethanol, tripling imports in order to cope with the energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine. Prices for natural gas and power are so high in ... Read More Scholz calls for German unity over managing demand EU to make new attempt to agree response to crisis Businesses counting the cost of rising prices Zelenskiy seeks G7 cap on Russian energy exports ... Read More It's an effort to quell ongoing violence fueling a humanitarian crisis in Haiti ... Britain's Home Office said. World News // 1 day ago Martin to aim at northwestern Europe as a large, powerful ... Read More The EU should strengthen its ties with India for a variety of reasons. India is the largest democracy in the world and a significant ... both an energy and a food crisis. The importance of climate ... Read More Today is World Food Day, commemorating the founding of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in 1945. Amid a global food crisis, this years theme, leave no one behind ... Read More RELATED Germany signs new gas deal with UAE amid reduction in Russian fuel A price cap would be difficult to coordinate among the various EU members ... last week. World News // 5 hours ago ... Read More BRUSSELS (AP) European Union leaders on Friday gave the green light to a plan to provide Ukraine with 18 billion euros (dollars) in financial support over the next year, after President ... Read More World News Trekker Rescued After 47 Days In Nepal Celebrates Birthday | RobinsPost News & Noticias A 6.3 magnitude earthquake woke up Nepal to massive destruction. At least six people died and several were injured in the earthquake. Read More At least six people were killed as Nepal was hit by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake early on Wednesday. They died after a house collapsed in Doti district. The quake showed that tremors were also felt in ... Read More Nepal is still rebuilding after two major earthquakes in 2015 killed almost 9,000 people, destroyed whole towns and centuries-old temples. Read More Dogs in Nepal are being treated ... This celebration falls on the second day of the five-day festival of Tihar dedicated to the Hindu god of death Yama. The Barron's news department was not ... Read More The Nepal Police on October 24 honoured its service dogs as the Himalayan Nation celebrated the iDay of Dogi on second day of 5 days long ... aiding search and rescue and catching the narcotic ... Read More Aaron Lipson celebrated his 100th birthday in Upper Darby with family and friends. He's a World War II veteran and native of the Philadelphia area. He's lived in Drexel Hill for 72 years. Read More The trekkers had run out of food after they took refuge under a rock for three days, he added. Our team made concerted efforts to rescue the trekkers though there was a forecast of snowstorm ... Read More Dogs Get Their Day ... Nepal (Reuters) - Dog lovers of Nepal honoured canines on Monday, putting bright orange garlands around their necks and indulging them with treats to celebrate a Hindu ... Read More Three Indian nationals were among four persons arrested in connection with a shooting incident in Nepal's Madhesh province ... agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its ... Read More The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the victims were rescued after seven days in captivity. The commands spokesperson, SP Muhammad Shehu, while presenting the rescued victims to the ... Read More The men were trapped for *** total of 69 days before ... around the world watched the triumphant moment live on tv. On Oct. 13, 2010, 33 miners in northern Chile were rescued after spending ... Read More LALITPUR, Nepal (Reuters) - Dog lovers of Nepal honoured canines on Monday, putting bright orange garlands around their necks and indulging them with treats to celebrate a Hindu festival ... Read More World News Pope Francis Arrives In Egypt For A Two Day Visit With Muslims And Christians To Promote Peace | RobinsPost News & Noticias Pope Francis landed in the Kingdom of Bahrain Thursday, becoming the first pope to visit the Muslim island nation located in the Persian Gulf. Read More We, on the other hand, are here together because we all intend to set sail on the same waters, choosing the route of encounter rather than that of confrontation, he said.After two terrible world ... Read More With a click on a tablet in front of the crowd gathered in St. Peters Square, Pope Francis ... a message of peace and a request for prayer. The theme of Lisbons World Youth Day is Mary ... Read More Immigration is expected to be one of the main themes of Franciss six-day trip. The pope met eight refugees in Rome before heading to the airport for his 13-hour flight to Panama for World Youth ... Read More Pope Francis on Sunday called the treatment of migrants seeking refuge in Europe "criminal" in unscripted remarks in Saint Peter's Square on Sunday. The pope's comments came as he canonized two ... Read More Pope Francis attends with Christian leaders the last day of the "Cry for peace" (Il grids della pace ... the last century endured the horrors of two world wars. the pope lamented. Read More Climate change is, according to Pope Francis, displacing people, increasing poverty and contributing to the heart-rending refugee crisis. The worlds poor, though least responsible for climate ... Read More Tayeb, Pope Francis and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attend the closing ceremony of the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence at th ... Read More Pope Francis on Sunday made official his participation at World Youth Day in Lisbon next year ... standing with two young people from Portugal at the window overlooking St Peter's Square, where ... Read More ROME (AA) - Pope Francis launched a universal appeal for nations and peoples to work together and build a better world where peace reigns ... experienced with the two world wars in the 20th ... Read More ROME (AP) Pope ... world peace. The SantEgidio Community, a Catholic charity with close ties to the Vatican, organized the three-day event in Italys capital. In remarks to participants ... Read More MASON CITY | A man who escaped from the custody of a Mason City residential correctional facility in February has been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for that offense and other crimes. Jordan R. Currier, 23, Forest City, was ordered this week to serve up to five years in prison for felony escape from custody. A $750 fine was suspended but he was ordered to pay court costs. In his written guilty he admitted to escaping from the custody of the Beje Clark Residential Facility on Feb. 7. Currier was at Beje Clark due to felony convictions in Winnebago and Kossuth counties. The escape sentence is to be served consecutive to the remainder of existing sentences for convictions of second-degree theft, sponsoring a gathering where drugs were used and third-degree burglary, as well as a sentence imposed this week for possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense. All the those sentences result in a total prison term of up to 15 years, according to District Court Judge James Drew. -- Mary Pieper World News Pakistan Thousands Of Activists Rally Against Pm Sharif | RobinsPost News & Noticias Former Pakistan prime minister and chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party Imran Khan is on the march, again. Read More Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was wounded in the legs at a rally on Thursday after at least one unidentified man opened fire on his convoy in what aides have called a targeted attack. The ... Read More Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was shot in the shin yesterday when his anti-government protest convoy came under attack in the east of the country in what his aides said was a clear ... Read More Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan said Friday he was pausing his march on the capital, Islamabad, a day a gunman opened fire on his campaign convoy, wounding him and killing one of his ... Read More Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan was attacked in the Wazirabad rally of his party PTI and was immediately rushed to the hospital ... Read More He has drawn tens of thousands of people to his rallies across Pakistan, and his party ... with the current government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In recent weeks, his surging ... Read More Imran Khan is in stable condition after being shot in the leg at a political rally on Thursday in what the country's president deemed "a heinous assassination attempt". Read More Officials say Pakistans former Prime Minister Imran Khan is in a stable condition after being shot and wounded during a protest march. His party says it will decide later Friday ... Read More Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz ... it added. Sharifs assurance notwithstanding, the Swat valley has become one of the most volatile regions in the country. Thousands rallied in the Swat ... Read More Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was shot in the shin on Thursday when his anti-government protest convoy came under attack in the east of the country in what his aides said was a clear ... Read More Imran Khan says the government was behind an assassination attempt as the former cricketer was leading a protest march to Islamabad to demand snap elections. Read More Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was shot in the shin on Thursday when his anti-government protest convoy came under attack in the east of the country in what his aides said was a clear ... Read More World News France S Le Pen Says She Abhors Holocaust Doubters Amid Scandal Over Party Official | RobinsPost News & Noticias PARISAfter securing her partys biggest-ever gains in elections to Frances National Assembly, Marine Le Pen is now reflecting on whether she can steer the country toward what she calls a ... Read More For about half a century, Frances largest far-right party has been led by just two people: its founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen, and his daughter Marine. On Saturday, rank-and-file members chose an ... Read More Ms Le Pen has expanded her party's appeal over the past decade, tailoring her economic policies to reach struggling working voters disillusioned with the left. She ... says Nonna Mayer, one of ... Read More An ambitious 27-year-old is vying against a longtime heavyweight in Frances main far-right party to replace Marine Le Pen as leader of the resurgent National Rally in a contest ... Read More PARIS The killing of a 12-year-old girl whose body was found inside a plastic trunk has left France profoundly shaken and led to accusations that far-right lawmakers have politicized her ... Read More is in France on an expired student visa, which she used to enter the country ... far right wing leader Giorgia Meloni's immigration policy. World News // 3 hours ago 'Loss and damage' on agenda ... Read More France's Macron Says There Is Chance for Peace in Ukraine ... Macron at a conference in Rome aimed at seeking ways to promote world peace. "And at a particular moment, given how things are ... Read More Although Germanys gas storage facilities are now nearly 95% full, officials say ... supply France during times of peak consumption. The French government has expressed concerns over potential ... Read More Rugby Union - Women's World Cup - Pool C - France v England - Okara Park ... The injury means that Sansus's career is now over after she had said the World Cup in New Zealand would be her last ... Read More PARIS, Oct 21 (Reuters) - France's EDF's (EDF.PA) said on Friday wage talks with unions were over, adding a draft agreement ... The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. World at Work Analysis ... Read More The 67-year-old was wounded above the heart as the hunting party crossed a corn field on Sunday A British woman has died after she ... over stricter regulations of Frances hunting tradition. Read More Citing tanker tracking data, the report says that no U.S. crude has been shipped over the Atlantic to France since the start of October. Flows were instead re-routed to Denmark and Italy ... Read More World News Turkey Says 11 Syrian Kurds Killed In Border Clash | RobinsPost News & Noticias ISTANBUL - Turkey's military killed 11 Kurdish militants in its southern Hatay province bordering Syria overnight, the governor's office said on Tuesday, and the army said two of its soldiers were ... Read More Officials and reports say police have detained 11 ... Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and described the raids as an anti-terrorism operation. Turkey has been named among the world ... Read More ANKARA, Turkey (AP) A house fire in northwestern Turkey believed to have been caused by a heater has left eight children and a woman dead, an official said Wednesday. The victims were Syrian ... Read More BEIRUT - The Kurdish ... Syria on the Turkish border. Turkey did not immediately confirm the clashes. Separately, the defense ministry in Ankara said one member of Turkey's military had been ... Read More 24 (UPI) --A global human rights organization said Monday that Turkey arbitrarily arrested and deported hundreds of Syrian refugees ... climate concerns. World News // 2 hours ago Highly ... Read More Police carried out raids in several Turkish cities on Tuesday and detained 11 journalists affiliated with pro-Kurdish media ... operation. Turkey has been named among the worlds biggest ... Read More ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Police carried out raids in several Turkish cities on Tuesday and detained 11 journalists affiliated ... The pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya news agency said its chief editor ... Read More World News European Union Leaders May Welcome A United Ireland After Britain S Departure Via Brexit | RobinsPost News & Noticias Argument: Ireland Is Europes Weakest Link Ireland Is Europes Weakest Link... | View Comments () Beginning on Feb. 3, only three weeks before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, the Russian navy ... Read More News of the Conservative party leaders ... Ireland protocol. Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Mr Macron described Ms Truss as bringing a constructive approach to talks with the European Union ... Read More EU, UK Made Progress on Resumed N.Ireland Talks - Ireland's ... Britain and the European Union made some progress last week on their long running post-Brexit trade row over Northern Ireland after ... Read More World leaders ... Ireland protocol, the paper said. The Irish Independent said the new prime minister had been "vindicated" after the "folly" of Ms Truss's tax cuts. The background: Brexit remains ... Read More The Northern Ireland Assembly has failed to elect a speaker, setting the stage for an unwanted early election. Read More The European Union ... s new prime minister. Britain became the first country to leave the EU in 2020 after years of acrimonious Brexit negotiations that have left sensitive issues around the ... Read More PARIS, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Britain's destiny lies in Europe and the country had been sold "a sort of mirage" with Brexit, said European Union industry ... Conservative Party after Liz Truss quit ... Read More BRUSSELS (AP) European Union leaders were heading into a two-day summit ... crisis fueled by Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine and his strategy to choke off gas supplies ... Read More This may include adverts from ... She said: "It is a sensitive issue since Brexit. Britain was out because of Brexit but since Brexit did not change the geography, its very important to get ... Read More European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke after the 27 national EU leaders ... N. Ireland protocol, article with gallery Europe November 7, 2022 12:49 PM UTC Britain's Prime ... Read More Britain's destiny lies in Europe and the country had been sold "a sort of mirage" with Brexit, said European Union industry chief ... ruling Conservative Party after Liz Truss quit as Prime ... Read More BRUSSELS (AP) The European Union has shown rock-solid unity in confronting Russia over its war in Ukraine, but EU leaders lack that common purpose heading into Thursdays summit to seek ... Read More World News North Korea Test Fires A Ballistic Missile That Breaks Up In Flight Us Officials Say | RobinsPost News & Noticias North Korea fired at least one ballistic missile toward its eastern sea on Wednesday as it extended a recent barrage of weapons demonstrations including what it described as simulated attacks on South ... Read More South Korea says North Korea has fired a ballistic missile toward the sea. Read More Thursday's test comes less than one day after North Korea said it test-fired ... world leaders by conducting its most powerful nuclear test, launching its first-ever intercontinental ballistic ... Read More Officials in the South Korean ... to help enforce United Nations sanctions on North Korea. On Tuesday, North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile farther than ever before, sending it soaring ... Read More North Korea fired two ballistic ... missile tests like the one we've seen could indicate a build-up to a nuclear test, but predicting the timing with any precision is quite challenging," US ... Read More North Korea fired a ballistic missile ... short-range nuclear-capable missiles targeting South Korea. Some analysts say North Koreas possible upcoming nuclear test, its first bomb detonation ... Read More North Korea on Friday fired a short-range ballistic missile ... of force that the US has warned could culminate in a nuclear test. Pyongyang has dramatically ramped up missile launches and ... Read More We use your sign-up to provide ... The US commitments to the defence of the Republic of Korea and Japan remain ironclad. On Tuesday, North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile farther ... Read More The US military is consulting closely with allies following the launches, which it says highlights the 'destabilizing impact' of the North Korean nuclear arms program TOKYO, Japan North Korea ... Read More South Korea says North Korea has fired a ballistic missile toward the sea. Top Picks In Shopping ... Read More World News Story Report Israel Not Expecting Trump To Move Us Embassy To Jerusalem | RobinsPost News & Noticias In 2018, there were deadly clashes after former US President Donald Trump relocated ... the potential impact of moving the British Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem before a negotiated ... Read More Trump urged Jews in the US to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel Before it is too late! He did not elaborate ... moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, cutting ... Read More Those living in Israel, though, are a different story Highest approval rating in the World ... recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the US embassy there from Tel Aviv ... Read More Trump has long been frustrated that he has not drawn more support from American Jews, particularly when as president, he moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and his Jewish ... Read More Former US President Donald Trump broke with international convention by moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in 2018 - a move which was then condemned by the British government. Read More Liz Truss is considering relocating the British embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem ... majority of the world in censuring the US move by 128 votes to 9 at the UN. Trumps relocation ... Read More Donald Trump has said that ... especially those living in the US. Those living in Israel, though, are a different story Highest approval rating in the World, could easily be PM! Read More The change followed then-U.S. President Donald Trumps decision to move the U.S. Embassy ... Jerusalem as Israels capital. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in ... Read More We will not ... Trump upended seven decades of US foreign policy by declaring the United States considered Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel. The following year, the US relocated its ... Read More In 2018 a conservative government led by Scott Morrison followed former US president Donald Trump's lead in naming West Jerusalem ... it's not unimportant." The move could be seized on Israel's ... Read More The Australian Embassy will not move ... Trump was condemned in many parts of the world when he officially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017 and moved the US embassy ... Read More OSAGE | For several years, Rusty Michel, owner of Rustys Last Call, Osage and his manager, Pam Broderick, have been advocates for protecting its patrons as well as other establishments in Osage and Mitchell County. The two were honored for their efforts when they were named a Gold Star Bar on Wednesday by Prairie Ridge Integrated Healthcare of Mason City and Crisis Intervention Services of Mitchell County. Rustys is the first Gold Star Bar in North Iowa. The Gold Star Bar initiative is a special recognition of local establishments who make an extra effort to do what they can to protect their patrons. Specifically, they have had their staff complete TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures). TIPS is a skills-based training program that is designed to prevent intoxication, underage drinking and drunk driving, as well as Raise the Bar training. This training is provided by Prairie Ridge staff. Raise the Bar training is a sexual assault prevention training program conducted by Erin Myers of Crisis Intervention Service. "We are very happy Rustys Last Call in Osage wanted to participate in Raise the Bar, a sexual assault prevention training, in conjunction with TIPS training to be named the very first 'Gold Star Bar,' Myers said. "Rustys has proven itself to be exceptional in prevention training to help keep its community the safest it can be." Pam Broderick, manager of Rustys Last Call, said "you can't be safe enough." I always wanted Rustys to be a safe place to come and spend time with friends," she said. The staff at Rustys know how to prevent underage drinking or over serving alcohol, as well has how to address their suspicions that a patron may be vulnerable to sexual assault, said Amy Schutte Ring, a Prairie Ridge Gambling and Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist. Both TIPS and Raise the Bar are evident-based prevention programs that, with a little extra effort, can help prevent serious situations from arising for their patrons. Ring also mentioned the Mitchell County Substance Abuse Coalition has been supporting the TIPS effort for many years. Representing the coalition at the award presentation were coalition members Mitchell County Sheriff Greg Beaver and Mitchell County Supervisor Shannon Paulus. I encourage all of the bars in Mitchell County and North Iowa to have their bartenders trained in these programs, Broderick said. MASON CITY | Participants in the fifth annual Slippery Saints Mud Run will tackle the muddy, challenging obstacles a little earlier this year. The 5K fundraiser will be held May 13 in Mason City. Previously held in August, the race was moved up this year to attract more high school participants, said Race Director Gary Schmit. "Really, what we're hoping for is to create that buzz while the students are still in school, in the hallways, as opposed to in August when they're out on break," he said. Approximately 400 people entered the race last year. This year's event will once again feature 25 obstacles spread throughout the North Iowa Events Center. Schmit said the 2017 course will feature two new challenges: a mud obstacle with low-voltage wires hanging overheard and one involving a spear thrown at a target. Registration cost ranges from $30 to $50, with younger participants paying the lowest fees. Entries received before Monday will receive a free T-shirt. There's also a $5 discount for teams. Proceeds for the 2017 event will be given to the Iowa Association of Firefighters Local 41, Newman Catholic Schools, North Iowa Events Center and the Mason City Family YMCA. Participants also can earmark $5 of their entry fee to a school or fire station of their choice. Last year's Slippery Saints Mud Run raised more than $10,500. Visit www.slipperysaintsmudrun.com for registration information and a description of the obstacles. Richard Stanley AN IRAQ War veteran who raked in 60,000 selling bogus weapons training certificates to help former soldiers get jobs on anti-pirate ships has been jailed for two years. Richard Stanley (38) drew up a shopping list of fake qualifications to enable veterans and Royal Marines to find work on merchant fleet-protecting vessels off the coast of Africa, the Old Bailey heard this week. Stanley, of Doncaster Gate in Rotherham, had previously worked with G4S Armor Group but became disillusioned when the company hired former paratrooper Daniel Fitzsimmons, who shot dead two of his colleagues hours after arriving in Baghdad. Judge said it was personally upsetting for him to be jailing the former soldier, who had served in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Old Bailey heard that training companies Red Ensign and Euro Tactical had become suspicious at coming across large number of bogus certificates, which had rang alarm bells because they were all at distinction level, and alerted the Marine Coastguard Agency. The certificates were the result of a conspiracy run by Stanley with businessman Andrew Downes (55), and Royal Marine Nicholas Borg (35). The City of London Police Fraud Squad and Marine Coastguard Agency found that from August 2011 to February 2014, Stanley and Downes made and sold falsified certificates, qualifications and Criminal Record Bureau checks, including medical examinations, military references, firearms and seafarer safety certifications that enabled people to gain employment. Stanley was charging up to 600 per certificate. Detectives found Downes had even helped a former council worker Michael Andrews to falsely claim to be a qualified psychologist with a knighthood and a CBE. Judge Cooke said: The background here is of a serious conspiracy concerned with the certification needed by persons who would wish to work as guards on merchant vessels to protect these vessels against piracy. That would involve the use of heavy weapons and understandably is an area of employment which might attract discharged servicemen and involve people being trusted to apply lethal force. Stanley has served his country with distinction and it is a very sad day indeed that I must sentence him as I must. In this case I find it upsetting. He is a brave man but this is offending which strikes at the integrity of a system designed to ensure the regulation of something dangerous and important. Downes, who was involving in producing the certificates and is from Camarthenshire in Wales, earned a total of 10,796 from the scam and was also jailed for two years. He told police he thought Stanley was an instructor on a training programme who needed certificates but later admitted it was a scam. When he was arrested in September 2014, police found nearly 300 false certificates. The fraud cost two training firms, Red Ensign and Euro Tactical, a total of more than 200,000 in lost business and reputation. Borg, of Plymouth, earned 4,100 by referring fellow Royal Marines to Stanley for certificates in first aid, survival techniques and ship security. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years after the judge heard of his service in Afghanistan, where he protected the Embassy in Kabul. Andrews, from west London, lied about having medical qualifications to get a job as a care manager for a mental health team at the London Borough of Richmond. He later used bogus certificates to falsely claim he was a qualified forensic psychologist with a doctorate. Described the judge as a Walter Mitty, Billy Liar character, Andrews was sentenced to ten months in prison. The court heard Stanley had, while working for G4S, blown the whistle on the firms recruitment of Fitzsimmons in 2009 and supported the compensation fight by the widows of victims Paul McGuigan and Darren Hoare. He later appeared anonymously in a BBC Panorama documentary about the scandal and the Old Bailey heard he had since struggled with alcoholism. His scam was discovered in October 2013 after the two training firms warned the Marine Coastguard Agency about the scale of bogus certificates in circulation. Det Sgt Joanne Ferguson said: These men have exploited respected industries and agencies for their own benefit with complete disregard for the individuals they may have put at risk. We are pleased to see justice done. This has been a long and complex case and I would like to take this opportunity to thank those involved for their commitment and determination. Debswana, a joint venture company between De Beers and Botswana government, has begun processing ore from the $3 billion expansion of its Jwaneng diamond mine, known as Cut 8. Reuters quoted company managing director Balisi Bonyongo as saying that 88 percent of an estimated 500 million tonnes of waste above diamond bearing ore had been stripped away by the end of last month. "Cut 8 is on track to meet its objectives and ore from the mine expansion project is now being delivered to the main treatment plant," he said. The Cut 8 project, which commenced in 2010, was meant to uncover 100 million carats of diamonds and extend the life of the world's richest diamond mine to 2024, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, Bonyongo said Debswana would close its 42-year-old Letlhakane diamond mine this year. It would be replaced by a tailings plant, which was expected to be commissioned before June. "The Letlhakane mine has come to the end of its life span. We have invested 2.1 billion pula into a tailings plant which is expected to mine about 800,000 carats over 20 years from the dumps," he said. Debswana was expected to produce about 20.5 million carats this year, or slightly more. Anglo American said early this week that Debswana's year-on-year production dropped by a marginal 3 percent to 5.2 million carats in the first quarter of 2017. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished The Fancy Color Diamond Index for the first quarter of 2017 indicates pricing stability across most fancy color diamond categories. The main exception was blue fancy color diamonds, which saw a 1.9% price increase in the first 3 months of 2017, continuing the trend of 2016. During the same time, yellow and pink fancy color diamond prices remained largely unchanged. Overall, the Fancy Color Diamond Index for all shapes and sizes was up 0.2% for the period. The strongest performing price categories during Q1 2017 were fancy intense and fancy vivid blue diamonds across all carat sizes. On a year-on-year basis, when compared to Q1 2016, the Fancy Color Diamond Index is up 0.7% with blue fancy and pink fancy up 5.7% and 0.8%, respectively, and yellow fancy down 2.5%. As in Q4 2016, across all color segments fancy intense and fancy vivid demonstrated robust price increases, which were offset to some extent by price declines of color diamonds in the Fancy category. The Fancy Color Diamond Index is published by the non-profit Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF), and tracks pricing data for yellow, pink and blue fancy color diamonds in three key global trading centers Hong Kong, New York and Tel Aviv. FCRF Advisory Board chairman Eden Rachminov said, Highly coveted fancy intense and vivid blues are challenging to find in the market, while interest and demand for these categories continue to grow. Mr. Rachminov added, This trend is likely to continue well into 2017 as owners react to supply shortages with price hikes. Alex Shishlo, Editor of the Rough&Polished European Bureau in Brussels Koin International is set to conduct sales of rough diamonds from several African countries in Antwerp next month. Diamond Loupe reports that Koins sales would include an array of fancy colours, with an exciting collection of original intense to vivid yellow single stones. The stones to be auctioned included a 10.80 carat fancy colour stone from Angola. Others as small as 2 carat stones were from DRC and Guineas Guiter Minerals Sarl as well as Ekapa Minerals and Diamcors Krone-Endora both projects in South Africa. Buyers, reports Diamond Loupe, would have an opportunity to purchase high-end assortments of rough from 4ct to 4 gr, tailored for manufactures producing this range. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished The report prepared by Mordor Intelligence, a consulting firm based in Hyderabad, India says the global synthetic diamond market reached USD 16.83 billion in value in 2016 and is expected to expand to USD 23.8 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of 7.14% during the forecast period, 2016-2021. The synthetic diamond market is driven by its low-cost as compared to the normal diamond. The other driving factor is the increase in its demand in various end-user applications, since it can be modified as per the requirements of end-user industries. The main restraint or drawback for the synthetic diamond market is the complex manufacturing process, the report says. There are two major types of synthetic diamonds due to different techniques of their production high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). According to the report, these diamonds are also categorized by type into polished or rough, whereas by the product segment they are divided into dust, grit, stone, bort and powder. In terms of end-user application, synthetic diamonds are divided into jewelry, electronics, construction, mining and healthcare. The report mentions some of the major companies in the synthetic diamond market, which include Element Six, Scio Diamond Technology Corporation, AOTC, Applied Diamond Inc., D.NEA, ILJIN Diamond, and Washington Diamonds Corporations. Theodore Lisovoy, Rough&Polished, Moscow ALROSA introduces special regime for labor protection and industrial safety 28 april 2017 News Due to the recent accidents at ALROSAs production facilities, the company intends to introduce a special regime of labor protection and industrial safety starting on May 1, 2017 onwards at all its divisions operating hazardous industrial facilities. During the special regime period, the companys senior engineering and technical employees will keep twenty-four-hour vigil inspecting workplaces. In the event of non-compliance with safety and labor protection requirements, the ongoing works, as well the operation of equipment, buildings, structures and vehicles will immediately be suspended. Simultaneously, the company has started a comprehensive analysis of compliance with industrial, fire and traffic safety and labor protection requirements. Within the period up to May 30, ALROSA will organize an external independent audit in this field. By July 15, the company intends to evaluate the results of the expert inspection and then will develop a plan of actions to correct violations and inconsistencies, if any, in industrial processes making everything comply with the industrial safety requirements. The management of ALROSA express their sincere condolences to the families and friends of the dead and injured due to the recent accidents. The families of those who died as a result of the two accidents that occurred on April 26, 2017 at the company's enterprises will be paid material assistance, as well as insurance compensation in full. ALROSA will use its funds to provide treatment and rehabilitation of the victims. Due to detached rock at the site of stowing operations in the mine, a 25-year-old timber man suffered injuries incompatible with life. The accident is being investigated. The mine continues to operate in normal mode. In one of the workshops of the dairy plant owned by the "Novy" state farm, there occurred an explosion of the milk sterilization apparatus. As a result, two dairy workers were killed. Two more workers suffered injuries and burns of different severity. The victims were sent to the regional hospital. The work of the dairy plant is stopped. The circumstances of both cases will be carefully studied by the company's profile services with the participation of the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of Russia. The United States has urged Iran to immediately release two U.S. citizens detained and missing in Iran on humanitarian grounds. On the sidelines of the April 25 meeting in Vienna of the Joint Commission overseeing implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the U.S. delegation raised with the Iranian delegation its serious concerns regarding the cases of Siamak Namazi and his 81-year old father, Baquer Namazi. According to reports, Siamak Namazi has been detained in Iran since October 2015, and Baquer Namazi detained since February 2016. The State Department's Deputy Spokesperson Mark C. Toner said the United States is deeply concerned about reports of their declining and well-being in detention. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News President Donald Trump Thursday signed an executive order prioritizing an investigation previously initiated by the Secretary of Commerce into whether aluminum imports from countries like China and Russia threaten the economic and national security of the United States. The Secretary of Commerce's investigation will include whether aluminum imports impair the ability of the domestic aluminum industry to meet its national defense needs, whether imports have any substantial effects on employment or government revenue, and whether it weaken the internal . The investigation must be concluded and a report submitted within 270 days. If aluminum imports are found to impair the national security of the United States, President Trump will have 90 days to determine what action should be taken to remedy that harm. During his election campaign, Trump promised that "we are going to put American steel and aluminum back into the backbone of our country." In a press conference later, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer reiterated that the American aluminum industry is in trouble, having declined down to the lowest levels of aluminum that the country produced since 1952. "It is critical for our national defenses - the Army ground vehicles and the Air Force jets, the Navy warships. But American companies are producing less aluminum than before, especially in the high-purity aluminum that's used to build things like the F-35, the F-18, and the C-17s," he told reporters. It has been estimated that in 2016, aluminum imports into the United States increased by 18 percent while American production fell by 47 percent. Of the eight aluminum smelters based in the United States at the beginning of 2016, seven have either shutdown, reduced production, or are idled. From 2012 to 2015, imports of semi-fabricated aluminum from China grew by 183 percent. Imports of aluminum foil from China have grown from zero percent of the United States market in 2004 to 22 percent today. Employment in the aluminum industry fell by nearly 13 percent from 2015 to 2016. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Canadian stocks may end the week on a slightly upbeat note Friday, as rebounding crude oil prices may spark strength in the energy sector. Yesterday, the TSX Composite Index slipped 143.07 points, or 0.91 percent, to 15,506.47. Energy and financial stocks tumbled. Fairfax Financial (FFA.TO) has been allowed to pursue 'bear raid' lawsuit against U.S. hedge fund SAC Capital Advisors LP. FFA says they spread unfounded rumors. Boeing asked the U.S. Commerce Department to investigate alleged subsidies and unfair pricing for Bombardier's new jet (BBD.B.TO). BlackBerry (BB.TO) smartphone with button keyboards are in Canadian stores next month. Crude oil futures jumped near $50 a barrel this morning, while gold was up a few dollars at $1268 an ounce. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis MASON CITY | NIACC students have earned entrepreneurial seed money at recent regional and state competitions. Three representing North Iowa Area Community College competed at the regional level in the Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition at NIACC March 29. T.J. Hauser, Sami Schupanitz and Tucker Tusha pitched their business ideas to panel members Jill Kramer, executive director of the Hancock County Economic Development; Doug Morse, NIACC business instructor; and Tim Putnam, director of the Pappajohn Center. Students submitted executive summaries using the one-page business model canvas format and financial projections were judged by concept and viability of their business ideas. Schupanitz and Tusha were awarded $500 as regional winners. Hauser was selected to move on to the state competition, where he won $500. He finished third in a field of 60 college students at the Young Entrepreneurs Conference and awarded was $1,000 and an in-kind agreement from the Zarley Law Firm of Des Moines for intellectual property services valued at $20,000. Hauser's business, EcoPits, uses a patent-pending system to remove car wash sludge and offers an environmentally safer and economically superior solution to disposal. Both Hauser and Schupanitz attended and were past winners at the Youth Entrepreneurial Academy hosted by the NIACC JPEC. It's held every summer for high school students interested in creating and nurturing business ideas. Two US soldiers were killed in attack in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, Thursday. The Department of Defense announced Friday that Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers, 22, of Bloomington, Illinois, and Sgt. Cameron H. Thomas, 23, of Kettering, Ohio, died as a result of small arms fire while they were engaged in dismounted operations. Both soldiers were assigned to 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia. The incident is under investigation, the Pentagon said. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News With a midnight deadline looming, members of both houses of Congress voted Friday to approve a temporary spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. The Senate approved the spending bill by voice vote not long after the House voted 382 to 30 in favor of the legislation. The bill, which now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature, funds the government through Friday, May 5th. The extra week is expected to give lawmakers time to negotiate a longer-term bill that funds the government for the remainder of the fiscal year. The Democratic support for the stopgap spending bill came as they backed down from a threat to oppose the bill unless there was a deal on a long-term measure. An agreement on a longer-term spending bill is being held up by disputes over policy issues unrelated to government funding. Democrats are opposed to certain policy riders Republicans want to include in the bill on issues such as abortion, the environment, and financial regulations. A dispute over a Democratic request to provide aid to Puerto Rico has also held up a deal, with Trump describing the assistance as a "bail out." Another potential roadblock to a long-term agreement was lifted after Trump backed off demands over the proposed border wall and Obamacare payments. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The familiar warning, If things dont change, you could be out in the street, is becoming more relevant for Mitchell County property owners, who are residents in or live near unincorporated towns across the county. Several Mitchell County residents in 2016 discovered a portion of what they perceived as their property actually belonged to the county. The origin of this problem developed when many of the countys small, unincorporated towns and villages were initially surveyed and platted, which included streets and alleys. As time progressed, the towns never grew as originally predicted, so officially-platted alleys and streets soon became lawns and driveways, causing property owners to believe their land legally belonged to them. Mitchell County began using the Geographic Information System (GIS) in 2008. The technology provides an overhead view of all the property within the county, as well as yellow lines indicating where original alleys and streets had been platted. As properties were transferred over the years, no one questioned whether a platted alley or street was on their land. Then GIS arrived, indicating these roadways were still legally present. When home owners wants to sell their property, the first thing we do is bring up the GIS and see what we have, Osage realtor Kevin Kolbet said. I was working with a client in Mona when I discovered a house and a well were in the originally platted street, and a barn was in an alley. Kolbet recently helped the property owner legally vacate the alley and street. The owner possessed three connecting lots in the northeast corner of Mona, and, when Kolbert checked the GIS map, an unexpected discovery arose. The street and alley werent physically visible, but legally they were present, which was a surprise to the owner, Kolbet said. When you transfer property, you can ignore these errors, but that wouldnt be a long-term solution. County Zoning Administrator Mark Ross, who issues permits for buildings in unincorporated towns, said the house was probably built pre-1984, when Mitchell County had no zoning. All unincorporated towns' land reverts back to county property land, said Auditor Lowell Tesch. One of the problems now is lenders want to see the propertys abstract or title. They often go on line to check out the GIS of properties they are making loans on. After Kolbet notified the Mona property owner of their legal dilemma, he helped them to rectify the problem by asking Mitchell County Supervisors to vacate the street and alley, so the property could be taken off county records and transferred back to private use. County Attorney Mark Walk described the process of vacating a street or alley. A person has to come to a supervisors meeting and present a written request or verbally ask if a street or alley can be vacated. Generally speaking, you have to find someone to help you write up the legal description of the property you are requesting to have vacated. Once the legal description is presented to the county supervisors, Barb Baldwin and I sit down and look at the GIS map and discern if the county has any use for the property. If the property is of no use to the county, the county supervisors discuss whether they will sell the property, but they dont have to sell. If they vote yes, to sell, they post, in the newspaper, there will be a public hearing. If there are no objections, from the public, in the sale of the land, the supervisors vote on whether to sell the land or not, Walk said. In Mona, the street and alley were vacated and the land was sold to the property owner, so the three lots could be fully connected. Walk said there are legal costs related to having a street or alley vacated. Baldwin said, When the property is deeded to the property owner, there will then be added taxes from the vacated property. The county benefits from moving the land to private use and placing it on the tax roll. If you are buying property, you might want to check if the previous owner actually owned all the property, Baldwin said. Anyone can come to the GIS Office and check before they buy. That is why we are here. GIS can also be viewed at www.mitchellia.mygisonline.com. Mitchell County officials believe more of these issues will arise as people grow older and more property is transferred. They encourage landowners in or near unincorporated towns to check GIS mapping to make certain they arent unknowingly infringing upon county property. By SA Commercial Prop News Rebosis Property Fund which recently internalised its asset and property-management entities, on Monday, reported a net property income growth of 74,6% for the six months ended 28 February 2017. Retail-focused real estate investment trust Rebosis Property Fund, has concluded a transaction valued at R5 billion, acquiring two large regional malls Baywest Mall in Port Elizabeth and Forest Hill in Pretoria. The black managed Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) which recently internalised its asset and property-management entities, on Monday, reported a net property income growth of 74,6% for the six months ended 28 February 2017. The company declared a dividend of 60.08c per share for the period that reflected 7.07% dividend growth. This was in line with the 7%-9% guidance expected for the financial year. Total distributable income increased 32.7% to R389m from R293m. Following various acquisitions, assets under management rose 51% from R11.8bn to R17.9bn. CEO Sisa Ngebulana, said, We achieved exciting growth in both total assets and income during the 6-month period under review. We were also able to hedge 100% of our debt and extend debt maturity profiles in order to mitigate potential risks that arise as a result of a market downgrade and low economic growth. Rebosis retail portfolio makes up 62% of its South African assets and consists of six shopping malls. Its office portfolio consists of 14 buildings. We saw strong retail performance despite a depressed retail sales environment. This performance was largely led by Baywest Mall, which held the highest trading density growth at 11.6%, and Bloed Street Mall. Alongside this performance we reduced our retail vacancies to 1.5% in the reporting period, says its chief operating officer, Andile Mazwai. Rebosis also concluded the acquisition of Ascension Properties which led to the listing of the Rebosis-A shares at a market capitalisation of R1.6bn. The completion of this acquisition consolidates Ascension Properties under Rebosis direct properties and has bolstered the Rebosis asset portfolio by a further R17.9 to R21.3bn. Garreth Elston of Golden Section Capital said Rebosis strong management had put it on a positive track. "Rebosis has made substantial progress on advancing the business. This set of interim results is a solid indication that the company is on the right track. Having 62.3% of the portfolio in retail assets and 36.6% in government-tenanted offices, plus 100% of its debt fixed does result in a very defensive portfolio that should see the company weather the current economic uncertainty. "The only area we are a little concerned about is the companys present loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of 41.8% as we believe it is tending towards the higher end, but the company does have several properties up for sale which if concluded should see the LTV ratio come down to a more prudent level," he said. S.S Rajamouli's magnum opus "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion", the biggest film of the year, has released all over on Friday but the morning shows of Prabhas starrer were cancelled in Tamil Nadu. Early morning shows of "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion" were cancelled due to financial issues in Tamil Nadu, industry sources said. "Tamil Nadu distributor K Productions owes Rs 15 crore to Arka Mediworks, the makers of 'Baahubali 2'. Arka is yet to issue KDM for the release of Telugu and Tamil versions of the film in the state," a source told media. A theatre owner, on the condition of anonymity, said the issue is likely to be settled by the afternoon. "Talks are being currently held to settle the deficit. Shows are likely to open from noon," the theatre owner said. The Hindi version, however, has released in Tamil Nadu. "The Hindi version didn't have any issues because it's being released nationwide by Anil Thadani," the source added. The film stars Rana Daggubati, Prabhas, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sathyaraj and Ramya Krishnan. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh on Thursday said organisational improvement was needed and the party would work towards it. The AAP leader's remarks came after a long meeting of the party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on late Thursday night. The PAC meeting was organised to "introspect" and analyse the AAP's humiliating defeat in Delhi municipal elections, results of which were announced on Wednesday. After the meeting Singh told reporters that the party "introspected" on what went wrong and where "we fell short". He said the party will work on all levels including structural and booth level and "make necessary changes". He said the PAC also discussed the tampering of EVMs. He said nearly 18 political parties of the country have raised doubts over EVMs then why is it that the AAP is being made fun of. He said the party has legitimate concerns and the AAP would continue doubting this. He also announced that the PAC has approved the appointment of Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai as new convenor of the AAP's Delhi unit. Singh also took on the political opponents who had raised questions about party's progress and its future. He said one cannot write off the AAP as in the past four years, all that the party has achieved was not less. The Bharatiya Janata Party won the civic polls bagging 181 municipal wards out of 270 and pushed the AAP to a distant second spot with 48 wins. The Congress could emerge victorious only at 30 wards. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday called on Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades who is on a five day visit to India. "Intensifying cooperation with Cyprus. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj calls on President Nicos Anastasiades, discusses areas of bilateral cooperation," ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted. Earlier, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Anastasiades who was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. The visiting guest was given a ceremonial guard of honour at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Anastasiades also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and described him as "spiritual leader of Cyprus and inspiration for its freedom struggle", Baglay said in a tweet. The Cyprus President will hold delegation-level talks with Modi. The two sides are also expected to sign some bilateral agreements. Anastasiades, who arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, will depart from New Delhi on Saturday. This is his first visit to India since he became the President in 2013. Cyprus, the eighth largest foreign investor in India, has cumulative Foreign Direct Investment of above $8.5 billion in areas of financial leasing, stock exchange, auto manufacture, manufacturing industries, real estate, cargo handling, construction, shipping and logistics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, who is on a five day visit to India, at the Hyderabad House. Modi and Anastasiades expected to sign some bilateral agreements. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also called on Anastasiades in the morning. Earlier, Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee received Anastasiades who was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Anastasiades also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and described him as "spiritual leader of Cyprus and inspiration for its freedom struggle". Anastasiades, who arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, will depart from New Delhi on Saturday. This is his first visit to India since he became the President in 2013. Cyprus, the eighth largest foreign investor in India, has cumulative Foreign Direct Investment of above $8.5 billion in areas of financial leasing, stock exchange, auto manufacture, manufacturing industries, real estate, cargo handling, construction, shipping and logistics. The Indian Army on Friday resumed search operations in Kashmir's Kupwara district for a militant who escaped after a gunfight that killed three soldiers and two militants on Thursday. According to the police, the army resumed search operation in six villages around Panzgam army camp in Kupwara district to trace the militant. Three AK-47 rifles were recovered from the encounter site after killing of two militants who had attacked the camp and three army persons. "Third terrorist has escaped after being injured. We recovered three AK-47 rifles from the gunfight site indicating the presence of a third terrorist involved in the attack. "Searches are on to hunt down the third terrorist who left behind his weapon after he was injured", an army source said. One civilian was later killed and three injured when a protesters started stone pelting at the security forces demanding the bodies of the two slain militants. Seven soldiers were injured in the attack five of whom were airlifted to army's hospital in Srinagar. Senior IPS officer Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar on Friday took charge as the new Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), four days after the force lost 25 troopers in a deadly Maoist attack in Chhattisgah's Sukma district. The government appointed the 1983 batch Indian Police Service officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre for the post nearly two months after the retirement of previous chief K. Durga Prasad on February 28. Bhatnagar, 57, took charge at the CRPF headquarters here at Lodhi road and was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour. Acting CRPF chief Additional Director General Sudeep Lakhtakia, a 1984-batch Telangana cadre IPS officer, handed over the baton to Bhatnagar this morning, hours after he returned to India from Jakarta on Thursday night after attending a conference. Bhatnagar was till now serving as the chief of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). He has been appointed as the head of the about 300,000 strong force till December 31, 2019, the date of his retirement or till further orders. Just after taking charg, Bhatnagar asked his officers to give him a briefing about the operational situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the April 24 Maoist ambush that left 25 troopers of the force dead in the bloodiest attack since 2010 when 76 CRPF troopers were killed. Twelve CRPF men were killed in a similar Maoist attack in Sukma on March 11. Addressing officers, Bhatnagar said "the force should be learning organisation" and that they must improve as they go long. He directed the senior officers to closely interact with the troopers. "Grevance redressal and welfare of troopers, camaraderie and close interaction with them is essential for all officers," said Bhatnagar, stressing the need of having appropriate technology to support the force personnel. Hero is not meant to die. He lives forever in the hearts of his fans. The image never goes away because the imprint is deep enough. Vinod Khanna, was too handsome to be ignored. He had everything in him that put him in the category of a macho man who had the charm to mesmerise anyone anytime, age and gender no bar. A steely fame of over six feet, big shoulders, broad face with chiseled eyes, perfect nose and a smile that could be either a romantic expression or a villainous feel and yet carry an innocent childish and shy effect that made Vinod Khanna extremely impressive. It was early eighties when my school classmate showed me her collection of pictures of Vinod Khanna. She had maintained an album and had watched many of his movies in the cinema hall. This made me bit jealous not that I hated to share the hero with my friend but she had an album and I did not. She was also lucky enough to have met him in a beautiful hill resort of Kashmir. I too wanted to meet him and since I wasnt fortunate enough, the only thing I could was to have fantasies with sometimes Vinod Khanna or Amitabh Bachchan or Rajesh Khanna (of younger version) as my hero-buddies. But my wish was fulfilled when as a journalist I met him in his office in Delhi for a small interview in 2002 when he was a Union Minister for Culture and Tourism. While standing next to him, I felt small. I wanted to seize his arm and hug him slightly. I also wanted an autograph but I was no longer a star-struck child but a journalist and this breed is supposed to be impartial and not to exhibit emotions. Even though I had multitudes of emotions going on in my heart and mind, I maintained the journalistic facade. He was so cool to talk to and I left his office with a great feel. After that I saw him sometimes in Parliament. He was a natural, never pretentious about his looks. He was what he was, that is very original. But then who can fight the travesty of time. Nature has its own courseand what comes across has to be endured. Perhaps, Vinod Khanna believed this and did not hesitate from clicking the picture that shocked the country. It was totally an unbelievable moment that the mighty and towering person was looking like an emaciated self. Still he had the deadly slanted smile on his lips and compassion on his face. For a moment we all felt that the photograph was one of those cruel jokes which are often played around in the social networking world. Vinod Khanna by consenting to release the picture showed his honesty towards us fans. He probably was preparing us for his end to come. In movies where he acted as a mean bad man, the end would be relief and in the movies where he was a hero, the end was beginning to a happy journey. While watching Vinod Khannas movie clips and listening to the songs like ruk jana nahi.. tu kahin haar ke..kanton pe chalke milege saaye bahaar ke there is something inside that makes you feel for him. Perhaps, he was the first Hero of my childhood that I have grown with and like me there must have been lakhs of young fans who have seen him in different roles in reel and real life: a villain, a hero, a sanyasin, a politician and a human being. Sure Vinod Khanna will be missed. Memories do fade with time but a whole generation will keep remembering Vinod Khanna. Three days after the death of its two siblings, a third orphaned tiger cub has died in Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh National Park, officials said on Friday. The cubs were kept in an enclosure in the field bungalow of the Forest Department after their mother was electrocuted by a poacher near the Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve in January. "The first two cubs died on April 23 and the third died on April 26," a Bandhavgarh forest official told. More than 50 tigers have reportedly died in the past 20 months in Madhya Pradesh, a state known for its forests and tigers. Wildlife activists allege negligence, exposure to humans and absence of a wildlife veterinary cadre as the main reasons behind the deaths. Wildlife experts and activists said the tiger cubs, about five months old, died either due to 'Parvovirus' or 'Carbo virus'. Officials denied the allegation. "Treatment of any animal is on the basis of symptoms... When we started the treatment, viruses didn't appear, though samples had been sent to IVRI and Jabalpur," Mridul Pathak, field director of Bandhavgarh National Park, told . Asked about the exposure of cubs to humans, Pathak said the cubs were kept in isolation and humans do not carry viruses. The wildlife activists, however, say the cubs were exposed to several people, including Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on April 19 and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on April 21. "The Chief Minister along with 200 people visited Bandhavgarh and saw the cubs. Four days later, two cubs died. The Railway Minister visited the park on April 21 and the third one died after that... They were exposed to many, violating the norm," wildlife and RTI activist Ajay Dubey told . The forest officials have rejected the allegation, saying the department was dedicated to wildlife conservation. "Had the people who are now alleging helped earlier, we might have saved the cubs... We had even been procuring medicines from foreign and tried our best but no one came forward to help when needed," Pathak said. According to Dubey, there is no wildlife veterinary cadre -- permanent wild animal doctors -- across 10 tiger reserves and sanctuaries, including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna and Sanjay. "The government in 2005 decided to form a permanent cadre for vets. The last reminder was sent to the tiger reserves and parks in 2013. Nothing has happened... Right now the veterinarians are either on deputation or contract, which limits the development scope," Dubey said. Dubey has also registered a complaint with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) demanding an investigation into all the tiger deaths. _ _SHOW_MID_AD__ The AAP's chief spokesperson in Goa, Oscar Rebello, says a key reason for the party's electoral failures is its "obsession" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In an article published on a local website, Rebello says the sacking of former party stalwarts Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan as well as expecting a popular groundswell for the anti-corruption crusade could have led to the AAP's poor showing in recent state elections. Rebello was one of the chief campaigners for the Aam Aadmi Party in Goa in the February 4 election. In his signed article, however, Rebellow says that it was unfair to write AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's obituary just yet and that the AAP co-founder would not "just fade off into the sunset, like an ageing Clint Eastwood". "Crushing black economy is the life blood of AAP and demonetisation should have been welcomed, with caveats of course, but our blind rage of Modi-Shah blinded us to the obvious," Rebello said, citing that AAP's obsession with Modi as the most significant mistake. Rebello, however, said Modi and BJP President Amit Shah were "cleverly eviscerating democracy" by undermining institutional mechanisms, one after the other. "First our mistakes: And mistakes we did like all well-meaning, idealistic fools who thought that fighting the system was as simple as Amitabh Bachchan, singlehandedly knocking out the bad guys in his movies," he said. The sacking of AAP co-founders Yadav and Bhushan "alienated swathes of public movement followers across the country", Rebello said. "Bhushan and Yogendra can't pretend to be angels as they assiduously tried to sabotage AAP chances in Delhi 2015. But their ugly, public ejection horrified us and did far more damage to brand AK rather than the holier than thou Bhushan-Yogendra," Rebello said. Calling the AAP's anti-corruption crusade as a "one-trick pony", Rebello said "Brand Modi" had captured the imagination of the Hindutva rightwing and the conservative Hindu for now. "The 'secular' brigade comprising of liberal Hindus, Christians and Muslims are in so much terror of the undeclared Hindu Rashtra training upon us that they are looking at the most realistic option, available, to beat the BJP be it Congress-NCP-Trinamool, stuffed with charlatans or not. Our brand of being one-trick ponies on the anti-corruption crusade are finding no riders," he says. Rebello said it was unfair to parade Team AK and AAP as "desh-drohis" by the electronic media, adding that selfless party volunteers were "combative, committed and completely convinced" by the dream of a better India and were being led from the front by Kejriwal. "Of course, he (Kejriwal) could be exasperating and short tempered, he could never suffer fools easily and perhaps suffered from a pinch of paranoia like any leader in the spotlight. "But that was because he was human not evil, as the world now seems to suggest. Arvind, like any great leader, has sacrificed so much. Family and career, financial security, even his health," Rebello said. A private school in Meerut city of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday allegedly issued a diktat to its students to sport 'Yogi-style' hair cut, raising the hackles of shocked parents who protested. The worked up parents alleged that Rishabh Academy School in Sadar area had warned students they will not be allowed to attend school till they got the buzz hair cut, akin to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's. The school denied the charge. As the news spread, dozens of angry parents reached the school and protested. Finally, the police mediated and pacified the irate parents before getting children entry to the school premises. The students also accused school management of banning consumption of non-vegetarian food during recess. The management, however, denied the allegations and said its Secretary Ranjeet Jain had merely asked students to be properly dressed and sport a "decent" hair cut while attending school. "The idea is to ensure that children lead a disciplined school life. As for the ban on non-vegetarian food, that has been the case always. It is unfortunate that a communal colour is being given to a trivial issue," a school management official said. Here are the unofficial results for Saline County in the 2022 election The Office of the Regulator (O.O.T.R.)celebrated Girls in Information Communication Technology (I.C.T) Day in a ceremony held at the Samoa Conference Centre at T.A.T.T.E. Building yesterday morning. The celebration held every year on the 27th of April is about inspiring and motivating girls from chosen colleges to participate in competitions and activities hosted by the Office of the Regulator. A.C.E.O. Regulator, Fesolai Cecily Faasau-Iakopo says the O.O.T.R. has stepped up for this year in motivating the young girls of Samoa taking up I.C.T. career paths for the future. This celebration every year is for the girls opening up their minds to take I.C.T. courses. It goes out to all the girls and we want them to know this career of becoming an I.T. opens doors to many opportunities in life for a better future. We see that this job in I.T. is usually done by males in our country but what we expect after todays session is that there are girls joining and hoping to become involved in I.T. in the future. Its very important because as of today, we are trying to encourage girls to choose a career path not only for them in aiming of becoming a doctor, lawyer and etc but choosing to be involved so it will help them to be a part of the development of their families and our country and for themselves as well. Mrs Faasau said that the Regulator knows that girls can contribute in the world as I.T people and that it is not only a career for men. Being an I.T does give people an opportunity to explore what is happening in the world and by joining big organizations in the world it gives you many skills and a lot of knowledge of what is happening in our world right now. We hope by the end of todays celebration. the girls will see for themselves that they can also pick up the right career path in taking up an I.C.T. job not only aiming to be lawyer or a doctor but there are opportunities in the I.C.T. to find other jobs.Guest Speaker for the Girls in I.C.T day was Gisa Lematua Fuatai Purcell, the Regional Advisor for the Pacific-Commonwealth Telecommunications Union who talked about her career in participating in the Communication and Technology workplace. Honesty is very important she said. That is what I keep on trying and trying even though I know its hard but I give all my best to become an expert I.T person.I challenge the young girls of Samoa who are here today to try to become an I.T. expert in the future. Its exciting and motivating at the same time but honesty is the main thing and if you believe in yourself. The one-day celebration concluded with a prize giving for the Short Video Clip and Quiz Competition where Angelee Vaai Paulo of St Marys College took out the first prize. The e expectation next year is that Savaii will be hosting the fourth I.C.T Day in the hopes to have more girls taking up I.C.T. careers. Thats our aim for next year for some colleges from Savaii to see and know what this special day is about and to let them know the importance of Girls in I.C.T Day that we are celebrating not only in Samoa, but worldwide. Mrs Faasau-Iakopo also thanked the following sponsors for their generosity and for making Girls in I.C.T day, possible. Digicel, BSP, TV1, SCB, Comptech, SSAB, Skyeye, Vailima Samoa, TV3 and EFKS TV. Thank you very much, she said. To date, the Independent Prosecutor Satiu Simativa Pereses legal fees billed to the Attorney Generals office are just under SAT$16,000, according to Attorney General, Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff. The bill is for prosecuting of the criminal case and the appeal against the former National Prosecution Office (N.P.O.) Director, Mauga Precious Chang. Last year Mauga was acquitted on charges of negligent driving causing bodily injuries, an alternative charge of dangerous driving and failure to stop to ascertain whether anyone was injured at the scene. Perese prosecuted the case before the District Court and was also the attorney in the appeal that was heard in the Supreme Court this week. Lemalu told Samoa Observer Mr Simativas total legal fees charged to date (Wednesday 26 April 2017), including the preparation and hearing for the first case and the appeal hearing just completed, is just under $16,000 tala. Compared to other charges this office has respectfully paid to private counsel in the past, this is four times less expensive. Mr Perese has offered in my view, an extremely generous hourly rate, and in discussing disclosureof his estimated fees in view of your query, he confirmed that he does not see this as a commercial enterprise to take advantage of, but rather as part his own personal service to Samoa, said Lemalu. Samoa Observer also inquired about Pereses assistant who was seen in court during the appeal hearing this week and Lemalu explained that the assistant was here on a difference case. I am informed that his (Pereses) assistant was in Samoa for another unrelated case, and there are no charges for any services by him. Perese who was copied into the questions sent to the Attorney General, also confirmed the comments by the A.G. I should note that my assistant was here for another case, which he came to research last week. The time he has spent on the Chang case, both in New Zealand and here in Samoa, including sending you (Samoa Observer) my submissions as you requested, is not being charged to the government, but forms part of his training budget. Lemalu made it clear it their office has no say in the prosecution of the said case against the N.P.O. The Attorney Generals office, while it has engaged Mr Perese on this rate, has no part in the actual case itself. He has full carriage and decision-making authority over the file as delegated to him. Meantime, the ruling on the appeal for the said case will be announced on 28 May 2017. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labor in partnership with S.R.O.S. Samoa, E.I.F. and the Government of Samoa celebrated World Intellectual Property Day in Samoa on Wednesday. The event, at the Samoa Conference Centre in the T.A.T.T.E. building followed the theme of Innovation-Improving Lives. Its main purpose was finding new ideas and devices or methods in intellectual property contexts. The Minister of Commerce Industry and Labour, Lautafi Fiu Purcell delivered the keynote address celebrating Intellectual Property in Samoa. This event is very important as we celebrate in our country and the whole world by finding innovative solutions so that we can make other things much easier. We hope that this special day has a successful outcome. Its main goal is to improve lives and make life easier. This year we invited schools in Samoa to participate and compete in a number of educational activities that contribute directly to this theme through activities such as essay writing, exhibitions and a Science Fair. Lautafi said that this year is also to help in increasing the knowledge of Science and creativity especially of Science students because they are the future. It is about making sure that they have the skills and knowledge knowing where and when an invention comes from. Houlton Faasau, an A.C.E.O. of M.C.I.L., said that it is very important for the Ministry to celebrate this event. When it comes time for a new invention such as a new product to be registered in Samoa, we definitely need knowledge and skills from a scientist within our country to examine it. The Ministry this year is working in partnership with the S.R.O.S. and the National University of Samoas Faculty of Science. As of today we are talking about the registration of new inventions and new ways of doing things. Mr Faasau said by the end of the day, they are hoping to have found new easier and cheaper solutions to make life easier. The celebration saw several secondary schools in Samoa participating in Essay Writing and Exhibition competitions as well as the Science Fair Competition. Awards 1st Essay Writing- Pesega College 1st Exhibition Competition-St Marys College 1st Science Fair- Faatuatua College. The Samoa Chamber of Commerce held its monthly members meeting on Monday 24th April at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel Conference Room. The event was made possible with the kind assistance and sponsorship of Digicel Samoa. The meeting was chaired by Chamber Vice President, Jennifer Fruean, who introduced the two publications launched by the Chamber: Chambers Annual Business Confidence Survey Report 2016-2017 and the Employers Guide for Labour Employment Relations in Samoa. Three businesses received Hampers as winners of the Business Confidence Survey Draw; they were Insel Fehmarn Hotel, Team Spirit and Lata Plantations from Savaii. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Labours Competition Policy Advisor, Sarah Agar, presented to Chamber members on the key provisions and principles of the recently enacted Competition and Consumer Act 2017, which will come into effect in July this year. The Competition and Consumer Act serves to promote fair market competition in Samoa, establishing standards of conduct for those engaged in trade and protecting the safety and interests of consumers. Mr. Matteo Catanuto, Digicels Sales Director, gave an informative presentation on the The Internet of Things highlighting the evolution of human communication and interaction with the use of technology, specifically social media as technology has changed the way we do business. According to Mr. Catanuto ...39 percent of Digicel traffic in Samoa is generated by Facebook. With this level of engagement in social media and the current cost of connectivity, Matteo explained how Digicel created unique data plans that are both affordable and beneficial to the private sector. As social media is growing to be the common platform for advertising, these data plans will help make day to day marketing and communication for business owners more efficient. Five businesses were introduced as new members of the Chamber of Commerce Samoa Tradition Resort, McFarland Business Group, Plaza Healthcare, Pillar 9 Ltd. and Vaiala Beach School Co. Ltd. The Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. as the National Private Sector Organisation of Samoa is funded by the Pacific Leadership Program (PLP). The Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti believes that strengthening ties and relationships with the community is vital if we want to develop the tourist industry. Obviously there is lots of work to be done, he said. Its really for the industry to partner with the community so when the tourists come they can go fishing with locals, they see how they do their umus, how they live, maybe have a sort of family visit where they can go and spend the night. Its also trying to encourage some of our communities who live near a very popular spot of like the blow holes and lava fields. I think the hoteliers own the tourism industry but they need to bring in other voices and other people to make sure that if tourists go out to the community, they feel part of the community and that will be the only experience. He went on to say that Its not just the weather, not just the beaches, but the friendliness of the people and going to the maumaga with the people, seeing how they plant taro, how they make their umu and other things. I think tourism is good, but we also need to make sure that we put in controls; obviously we need to be selective now. Sili added We need to improve the quality of our services, our people are very friendly but they are very shy to talk to the tourists. Unlike Fiji when you go into the plane, you are already in Fiji all these bulas, the food, and when you go through immigration, whatever time of day, everyone is welcoming you. We also need to look at the quality and the pricing of our facilities, sometimes its cheaper for our people to go to Fiji, to Denarau and spend a week there than to spend the week here. He said that Samoa must have its own, unique development of tourism. Yes, we all know that people are always looking for a Samoan experience when they come here and going to the beach. They can go to Denarau, go to Rarotonga, and they all have the same thing. So its really looking at what makes us different. But we also really need to be inclusive, bringing in the community to work with problems. Moreover, Sili believes that tourism has become an important sector that has an impact on development of country economy. Tourism create jobs, great foreign exchange, and really apart from tourism, fisheries our industries and our agriculture, it adds to the diversification of our economic base, Sili said. I think the development of tourism is important. You know for many years, we didnt really embrace tourism as an industry because we were all sort of concerned about how tourism would impact on our culture and our traditions. But thats not so relevant now because everybody watches TV, our people travel, and I think this is sort of conservative in the development of our tourism. As Ive mentioned, going forward, thats clearly one of our key drivers of our economic growth. Spanish English We need to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries for the well-being of hundreds of millions of people on both sides of the border MEXICO CITY, April 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grupo Salinas, a group of dynamic, fast-growing and technologically advanced companies, deeply committed to the modernization of the countries where they operate, announced today that its founder, Ricardo B. Salinas, commented on his blog www.ricardosalinas.com/blog that weakening Mexico harms the United States, and we need to strengthen the relationship between both countries for the well-being of hundreds of millions of people. Mr. Salinas's ideas arise in response to currents of thought in the United States that wrongly place the blame of US job losses on the trade relationship with Mexico. Most of these jobs have been decimated by technological advancement, globalization and changing consumer preferences, which are beyond the control of any government. As an example of this, one can consider the case of several department stores in the United States that have been affected by e-commerce competitors that use efficient sales systems and advanced delivery logistics. The same can be said of some automakers or steel companies, which have global competitors that offer additional alternatives of high quality and better prices to consumers. Public policies that obstruct freedom of choice and free trade affect not only the United States but, of course, Mexico as well, which would move millions of workers from our country to the north, increasing migratory pressure. US investments in Mexico would be threatened, and many US exports to Mexico would lose a major market. In this context, Mr. Salinas adds that Mexico's cooperation is at risk on border issues such as security, not to mention the failed war on drugs. Finally, it would generate a wide political discomfort in Mexico, and promote anti-Americanism, which would end by severing a successful partnership between the two countries, which would force Mexico to approach other US rival powers. Mr. Salinas is firmly convinced that it is necessary to continue building a strong and prosperous alliance with the United States, as we have done in recent years, uniting our peoples instead of dividing them, and further boosting levels of competitiveness and well-being in the region. For this and other Ricardo Salinas blog postings, visit http://ricardosalinas.com/blog. About Grupo Salinas Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating: economic value through market innovation and goods and services that improve standards of living; social value, to create social capabilities to improve the communities conditions; and environmental value, by reducing the negative impact related to its business activities. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies include: TV Azteca (www.TVazteca.com; www.irtvazteca.com) Azteca America (us.azteca.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Advance America (www.advanceamerica.net), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), Punto Casa de Bolsa (www.puntocasadebolsa.mx), Totalplay (www.totalplay.com.mx) and Enlace TP (www.enlacetp.mx). TV Azteca and Grupo Elektra trade shares on the Mexican Stock Market and are part of its Sustainability Index. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. The group of companies shares a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance. One of the most discussed issues in Samoa is people pleading for a water supply or a tank. For Pesi Senio, a 38-year-old mother from the village of Siumu, she said their water has been cut off and they havent had a water supply of their own since then. Our tap water is no more because it was cut off recently. The reason was, our water bill came up to $1,039 and we could not afford to pay it, she told Village Voice. As to why her water bill was that amount she said Well when we moved here two years ago, a lot of the villagers didnt have water, which was why when they came to ask us to use our water, we allowed them to because we know how it feels to live without water. But ever since our water has been cut off, we have been getting water from the inner villages. We usually take a taxi to go and fetch it. Its a long way there and back but we need to make sure to always have water because my children are still small, always needing water and food. Thats why my husband and I talked and decided to contact the authorities and request a water tank. We have five children and three are in school so thats another thing we have to worry about. I worry about my kids every day because we dont really know how every new day is going to turn out. We dont have electricity, so we use solar lights at night time. Its really hard to pay for anything these days for our family because only my husband works and he is a farmer, so he does what any farmer does, sells off crops to get money. Mrs. Senio said their plantation is on her mother-in-laws land, which is just around the corner from where theyre staying. Water is what we need most, what my children need most. I mean, what human being doesnt need water? I humbly ask anyone who wants to help us out with a water tank; it would be great to be able to store our own water. If you want to help or know of anyone who wants to help Pesi Senio and her family, please contact her at 7245830 or 7629859. It seems that everyone is doing it, writing that is. Just two weeks ago author, Jane Vaafusuaga launched two childrens books at Business Systems Limited, A gift for Ana and the Samoan version, O le meaalofa mo Ana. It is a beautiful story with colourful illustrations that will have children reaching for it from the bookshelves. And not just children. Some of the best stories are simply ageless meaning that your age doesnt affect your enjoyment. Then in the past week, we have heard that the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is set to release Palemia A Memoir, written in collaboration with academic and renowned writer, Dr Peter Swain. As well as following his life into the political arena and his place in history as a powerful Pacific leader, it is almost certain that there will be never-before-seen glimpses of the man who is a huge part of all our lives. And on todays front page, is a wonderful story in itself about the reason for yet another book written by Faumuina Manu Samuelu, O Le Tofa Tatala Part 1 which hints tantalizingly that there will be a Part 2 in the offing. So what has brought about this almost flurry of publications in Samoa a country which has for many years, been better known for its oral traditions? In fact, we have been more written about, than been known as writers ourselves. There have been some wonderful exceptions to this of course. Our own Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa, Maualaivao Albert Wendt, Papalii Momoe Malietoa von Reiche, Ruperake Petaia, Lani Wendt Young and Sia Figiel are just a few of the talented writers and poets who have painted authentic pictures of Samoa and Samoans through the words they have put to paper. But back to O le Tofa Tatala Part 1 and the author Faumuina. His book he said was inspired by his curiosity about the stories his father was always telling the village chiefs but did not share with him at the time. However he did leave him a book with enough information to start him on a journey of research, to talk to and interview others who had the knowledge and were able to explain some of the things that are important in our country. In the next month, the Samoa Observer with the support of Samoa Stationery and Book and Eveni will begin our sixth annual Short Story competition in both English and Samoan for primary, secondary and tertiary students in Upolu and Savaii. This initiative is the small part that we can play in encouraging and promoting literacy to support the efforts of teachers and lecturers. The Samoa Observer with support from a number of sponsors, also hosts a regional Pacific Short Story competition named for the noted Scottish writer Tusitala (Robert Louis Stevenson). Already a book has been published, Our Heritage the Ocean, and this year a second collection is due out in the next few months. And while we hope that the traditions of oral storytelling will remain strong, we also love the idea of reading stories that matter long after the authors are no longer around to tell them. Yesterday was the official launch of the book O Le Tofa Tatala (Part 1) written by Faumuina Manu Samuelu. Held at the Samoa Tourism Authority Fale, official members of the government attended together with many others who were interested in Faumuinas new book. Faumuina comes from the village of Fasitoo Tai. During his speech he said that what inspired him to write, was his curiosity about the stories his father was always telling the village chiefs. He said that his father had never opened up to him about the stories. The reason for the title of the book is because it is based on our generation or the new generation not gaining any of the richness of the stories and myths or legends of Samoa because our ancestors have passed on without having the opportunity to share them with the new generation. This book contains the richness and shared knowledge from fathers and our ancestors, including our Head of State. I asked his Excellency to share his knowledge about some aspects where I needed a deeper understanding of. This book is not my own opinions and thoughts but the stories I collected from people of our own country. His Excellency spoke about the importance of Christian values, family values and cultural values. He said Back then when a son questioned his father about these things, they answered with the simple answer Wait until you become a chief. But if you ask too many times, they answered with a question Are you tired from your call to serve? So when God called them to come home, they took their stories with them because they were not able to share. Im not saying I am beyond intelligent, I am saying I still want to learn and know about these stories because I still dont know much. Faumuina said that his father passed away leaving him with a book that contained information that helped him with his writing. He said this book contains some of the important details that can help you out with your writing. In this book, it contains a lot of information and most of it, I did not understand so I tried my best to do a lot of research so I coul understand by interviewing those who had the knowledge of whats important in this country. I needed their knowledge and what they already know because I needed evidence and confirmation to go ahead with this initiative. On the month of January this year, I sat down and started on my writing journey and decided to put it into book form. I will not hide this knowledge that I have but Im willing to share it with the village chiefs or anyone that comes to me and asks. Faumuinas current occupation is as the Second Secretary in the Ministry of Commmunication, Information and Technology. He achieved a Bachelors Degree of Science from the University of the South Pacific, a Diploma from Malua Theological College, a Diploma in Management and hes achieved special awards from his studies in the Family Health Institution in Australia. Prime Minister Tuilaepa also gave a speech at the launch where he included words of encouragement for Faumuina to keep writing. Students attending private schools are performing better than students attending government schools in both literacy and numeracy, according to the Benchmarking for Education Results (PaBER) report which was published last year. The report says that there are a number of challenges and ways in which this may hinder literacy and numeracy outcomes. According to PaBER, education continues to be a high priority of the Government of Samoa and has resulted in some remarkable achievements including a very high adult literacy rate, of close to 99%. Virtually all children have access to primary education and around 90% of Grade 8 completers have access to secondary education. Despite these achievements, the quality of education, as measured by functional literacy in national test results, has been unsatisfactory and consistently declining. Furthermore the Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment 2012 results, says that only 8% of Year 6 students are performing at the satisfactory and expected level with 50% not yet working towards the expected level for Literacy. For Year 6 numeracy, 34% of students performed at the satisfactory and expected level with 36% not yet working towards the expected level, with girls doing better than boys. Similarly in Literacy, there are more girls than boys that are performing at satisfactory and expected levels. PaBER says that regarding learning outcomes, the PILNA conducted in 2012 as part of the PaBER pilot indicated some worrying results. The majority of students assessed are still at the critical level in literacy (50.0%) and numeracy (36.0%) with girls marginally outperforming boys in both literacy and numeracy. In terms of school locality and school authority, students in urban schools performed better than those in rural schools, and similarly students attending non-government schools outperformed students attending government schools. Trends seen in 2012 PILNA are also seen in the Samoa Primary Education Literacy Level (SPELL) Results in the subsequent years. According to the PaBER report some schools perform better than others but it was unclear why. The PILNA results clearly showed that some schools are achieving good learning outcomes. The research was able to look at these differences so follow up analysis could be undertaken to look at high performing schools and understand what they are doing that could be applied more broadly. According to the PILNA results there are significant differences between public/private and urban/rural schools. Fetalai Tuiluluu and Aruna Lolani asked the people on the street whether they thought their kids should be taught in Samoan, English or both languages Here are their thoughts: Asenati Tupa 42 Faleasiu To me personally, I prefer that my kids be taught in both Samoan and English. For all we know life is moving forward and the way I see it, you cant get a job if you dont know both languages. Moreen Pealua 28 Leusoalii I agree that my two kids should be taught in both Samoan and English. But I want them to take Samoan language seriously because it is our mother tongue. I encourage them to learn English but that is after they are good at the Samoan language. Tusitala Titiana 54 Saleimoa Honestly I dont want my kids to learn the English language because I dont want them to be living palagi lives. Once they learn the English language they will consider themselves palagi people and act in palagi ways. I wont allow that to happen to them. Seti Afamasaga 27 Saleimoa We are Samoan and we know the Samoan language better. Its time to teach the kids to learn English because life is moving forward and we are all adapting to the faapalagi life. So in the next three years every school in Samoa will be teaching and learning English. So my three kids are encouraged to learn both. Afega Aliimalumalu 54 Neiafu Savaii I have three kids and they all go school. The fact that we live in Savaii and we live in rural areas, my kids are not encouraged to learn English. I want them to learn our language and if they do know how to speak English, then thats fine but I dont encourage them because Samoa is our culture and they should be very mindful how important our language is to us all. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at opening offshore areas to job-creating energy exploration, he said Friday, but the roll-back of orders put in place by Barack Obama doesnt figure to make a great deal of difference off the coast of California for a number of reasons. Californias not really a conducive state to do that kind of drilling, said Robert Rapier, chief energy analyst for Investing Daily. There are all kinds of state and local regulations that make it harder to drill there. The day before Trump issued the order, Gavin Newsom, who is the chairman of the California State Lands Commission as part of duties as lieutenant governor, released a statement blasting the administrations decision. Advertisement Californias door is closed to President Trumps Pacific oil and gas drilling, Newsom said, adding that the commission is unequivocally resolved to create an environmental rampart along Californias coast. President Donald Trump signs an executive order on implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on April 28, 2017, in Washington, D.C. (Pool / Getty Images) But Fridays executive order figures to have its greatest potential impact on potential sites off the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Arctic Ocean. In fact, the order released by the White House makes no specific mention of the Pacific Ocean. Trumps order may eventually lead to oil and gas exploration off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alaska sites the Obama executive order put off limits. The Gulf of Mexico is already a productive area for offshore operations, but Fridays order mentioned only the western and central parts of the gulf, not the eastern portion that includes the coast of Florida, where opposition has been vocal. The order directs U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review offshore oil and gas leases as part of a plan that ensures energy security and economic vitality for decades to come. Some analysts estimate that as many as 24 billion barrels of oil and 104 trillion cubic feet of natural gas could be accessed off the coast of Alaska. California has 27 offshore oil platforms in operation, but no new leases have been issued in federal waters since 1984 and new drilling leases in state waters have been banned since 1969, the same year a massive oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara helped galvanize the environmental movement in California. Californias been tapped for a long time, Rapier said. I dont know that the potential is there, going all the way back to Santa Barbara. Its just not a good climate, I think, for drilling in California. Zinke told Bloomberg News this week, Were going to look at everything, when it comes to oil and gas leases, but at a briefing before the order was announced, Zinke acknowledged, I was out in Santa Barbara recently. Theres a lot of people who dont like it (offshore drilling) out there. But the potential for a dramatic boost in offshore production even in promising locales such as the Gulf of Mexico or the Arctic may be blunted by the current low price of oil. With the price of West Texas Intermediate, the generally recognized price for domestic crude, stalled in the $50-a-barrel range, the prospect of producers expanding into expensive offshore sites looks remote for now. The expense also is highlighted when compared with the shale-oil boom in places such as the Permian Basin in West Texas and eastern New Mexico, in which oil and gas can be extracted at low costs by using hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling techniques. With shale as cheap and abundant as it is, I just dont see a lot of new offshore drilling, Rapier said, adding that offshore production these days comes from investments that producers made when oil was at $100 a barrel. I dont really think (the executive order) will have a tremendous impact, Rapier said. Fridays executive action will likely prompt legal challenges from those who question whether the current administration has the authority to rescind the Obama executive orders and from environmental groups. Fridays order also directed the U.S. secretary of commerce to review all designations and expansions of national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments, which raised the ire of environmental groups. In 2015, Obama more than doubled the size of two marine sanctuaries in Northern California, extending them by 50 miles up the coasts of Sonoma and Mendocino. Even if the Trump order doesnt end up having much impact in California, Dan Jacobson, state director at Environment California, said its a move in the wrong direction. Why in the world would we invest in our grandfathers form of dirty energy when our granddaughters clean renewable energy is available right now, Jacobson said. Weve got the technology, the economics are getting better every day, and all we need is the political will. Speaking to reporters Thursday night, Zinke said he understood the worries many have about offshore drilling. Thats a valid concern and a concern the president and I both share, he said. America leads the world in environmental protection, and I assure you we will continue that mission. The California Independent Petroleum Association released a statement on the executive order Friday afternoon. Studying offshore energy development will give policymakers and producers stronger data about the vast potential of domestic resources available in California, the organizations CEO, Rock Zierman, said. Its possible that these resources could be developed with existing infrastructure or from onshore facilities without the need for any new offshore platforms. That has the added benefit of decreasing our reliance on imported foreign oil, which is produced without the same strict environmental protections that we have in California. This story has been updated to include the statement from the California Independent Petroleum Association. Business rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski Saturday is Independent Bookstore Day, a nationwide event that started in California three years ago and now includes 450 literary lairs in 48 states celebrating their ongoing existence amid the publics shifting appetites for the written word. Its our chance to shine a little bit, said Anne Mery of the West Grove Collective in South Park, one of a handful of stores in San Diego participating in the event. Its a way to tell people were still here, were part of the community, we matter. Stores have special programming planned for the day, such as readings, games, music, food and exclusive merchandise. According to Independent Bookstore Day organizers, its worth the effort: 80 percent of participating stores report increases in sales some as much as 200 percent compared to a usual Saturday this time of the year. Advertisement More money is good for any business, of course, but the financial future of brick-and-mortar bookstores has been considered rocky for well over a decade. Predictions were made that as more and more people flocked to e-readers, only about 5 percent of all sales by now would be printed books. That hasnt happened. Instead, the number of independent bookstores in the the country has gone up, at least as measured by membership in the American Booksellers Association, and even the online retailing giant Amazon has gotten into the act, opening stores in San Diego and other cities. What used to look like a downward spiral for the industry now is more of a roller coaster, with new stores opening while older ones close in various communities. And sometimes its the same store. Upstart Crow, which announced in December it would be shutting down after 35 years in Seaport Village, instead decided to remain open after an outpouring of support from the community, according to Lila Abed, the store manager. Community is considered a key part of Independent Bookstore Day, too. Sure, people like all the special goodies that are offered, but its also about celebrating the connection readers have with their local stores, said David Joslin, manager at Mysterious Galaxy in Clairemont. Its a nice way to make all that happen. The goodies are about a dozen items that publishers and authors create just for the event. This year they include a signed, limited edition of a story taken from Michael Chabons book Moonglow; a cocktail guide with the favorite drinks of 30 American writers; a signed black-and-white print by author Jenny Lawson; and a stencil of a quote by Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.: Censorship is to art as lynching is to justice. The event started as California Bookstore Day in 2014 and involved 93 stores. The next year, when it went national, 365 stores participated. This year, its 457. San Diego has a small presence, with four stores signed up. They are Mysterious Galaxy in Clairemont; Warwicks in La Jolla; West Grove Collective in South Park; and the UC San Diego Bookstore in La Jolla. Some cities have more than a dozen stores involved and have turned the day into an opportunity for bookstore tourism, with prizes and year-long discounts for those who visit every location on Saturday. john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com Predicting the Tony Award nominations is easy: Hamilton for everything! Hang on now were being told that Hamilton is not, in fact, eligible to compete for the Broadway theater honors again this year. (Apparently some rules do still apply to that musical juggernaut, although it remains far and away the biggest show on the block, taking in a ridiculous $3 million-plus a week.) Actually, in stark contrast to 2016 when Hamilton snapped up a record 16 Tony nominations there appears to be no overwhelming favorite this year to dominate the field when nominees are announced early Tuesday morning. Advertisement The closest thing right now appears to be Dear Evan Hansen, the much-admired musical from the composing duo who wrote the lyrics to the hit movie La La Land. But what the nominations do offer and havent in several years is the prospect of a strong San Diego presence in the Tonys (which will be handed out June 11 in a ceremony hosted by Kevin Spacey). And thats thanks to a pair of shows with La Jolla Playhouse origins. One is Come From Away, the musical that premiered at La Jolla Playhouse in 2015 and landed on Broadway in March, to strong reviews and very solid business. The other is the play Indecent, which likewise was produced at the Playhouse in 2015 in association with Yale Rep (where it was initially staged), making it essentially a co-world premiere. The 2017 Tony Awards nominations When: Live at 5:30 a.m. PST Tuesday (May 2) Where: Online at tonyawards.com Hosts: Tony Award winner Jane Krakowski and Tony nominee (and original Hamilton cast member) Christopher Jackson. Not since 2014, when the Old Globe-connected A Gentlemans Guide to Love and Murder became a sleeper hit in New York, has a show with a San Diego pedigree been in serious Tonys contention. (Gentlemans Guide went on to win four, including the marquee best-musical award.) Thats an unusual dry spell for a town that has regularly sent musicals and plays to Broadway since the 1980s, when the Globe and Playhouse first came into their own as nationally renowned incubators of new work. Come From Away has been embraced in New York partly because it tells an uplifting story about an agonizing moment in history: The musical is based on the true story of how the tiny Canadian town of Gander, Newfoundland, took in and cared for thousands of stranded travelers after the 9/11 terror attacks. In a larger sense, the show also seems an antidote to the antipathy that seems to permeate our own moment in time, when international refugees have as much the subject of fear and division as sympathy. Plus, Come From Away is just a surprisingly good time, built around the distinctive and fetching folk-rock sounds of Newfoundland. So although you never do know with the Tonys, well go out on a (short) limb and say the show has a very good shot at picking up a best-musical nomination just for starters. A truly big haul of nominations is more problematic, because Come From Away is such a cohesive, ensemble-based production that it doesnt boast a lot of star turns. But look for Jenn Colella, who plays an airline pilot named Beverley, to make the cut in the category of featured actress in a musical. Christopher Ashley, the Playhouses artistic chief, also should earn a best-director nomination. It would be his third in that category, counting his nominations in 2001 for The Rocky Horror Show and in 2010 for the Playhouse-sprung Memphis, which went on to win the best-musical prize. In all, Come From Away stands a good chance of earning on the order of eight nominations, counting technical categories. Just dont tell that to Ashley, whos in the middle of directing the Playhouses world premiere of the Jimmy Buffett musical Escape to Margaritaville, and is doing his best not to get caught up in Tonys talk before anything actually happens. Thats the fantastic thing about having (another) show to focus on, he notes with a laugh. Indecent, co-created by the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel and the go-to director Rebecca Taichman, likewise received very positive reviews when it opened on Broadway earlier this month, and seems a strong candidate in multiple categories, including best play. Look for it to be joined in that category by (among others) the odds-on favorite Sweat, the 2017 Pulitzer winner from Lynn Nottage; and J.T. Rogers Oslo, directed by onetime San Diego theater maverick Bartlett Sher. (That show also stars UC San Diego grad Jefferson Mays, a 2004 Tony-winner for the Playhouse-sprung I Am My Own Wife, and a likely nominee this year.) Its really great to have the kind of balance of a musical and a play, and Im so proud of both of them, Ashley says of the two Playhouse-bred works. I feel both of those shows are so much within the mission statement of the Playhouse, and so much within the commitment to exploring both the political and theatrical (worlds). And both of them feel like plays that are really well suited to this exact moment. So Im crossing all my fingers and toes for both shows. A few other local connections are likely to pop up in the field. Michael Greif, the UC San Diego alumnus and onetime Playhouse artistic director, is a highly probable nominee as director of composer-lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Pauls Dear Evan Hansen, which seems sure to earn a best-musical nomination and a healthy number of additional nods. Other best-musical contenders include Anastasia, directed by former Globe mainstay and Gentlemans Guide director Darko Tresnjak; plus the long-awaited off-Broadway transfer of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, and the movie-based Groundhog Day. Most of those shows have been getting significant attention in the annual rounds of smaller awards programs leading up to the Tonys. The Front Page, directed by Globe artistic chief emeritus Jack OBrien, also has a great shot at a nomination for best play revival. Plenty of big-name actors are in contention for Tonys in both musical and play categories Cate Blanchett, Sally Field, Laura Linney, Nathan Lane, Patti Lupone and Mark Ruffalo among them. And there is one development wed just about bet the house on: a nomination for Bette Midler, whos said to be tearing it up in the latest revival of Hello, Dolly. (Dolly, dont let us down now.) Twitter: @jimhebert jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com About two months after a sexual harassment and cyber bullying scandal first rocked the Marine Corps, those issues continued to buffet the service Thursday. At the Marine boot camp in San Diego, officials were working with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service to track down a man who allegedly used sexually graphic language to demean a female veteran online. The suspect had identified himself as a Marine corporal on his Facebook page. In Oceanside, civil rights attorney Gloria Allred held a news conference with two victims of the original scandal to accuse Pentagon and congressional leaders of conducting a weak investigation into the misconduct. She also asserted that military commanders were attempting a face-saving effort instead of instituting significant reforms. Advertisement Allred said she convened the news conference in the shadow of Camp Pendleton to prod Gen. Robert Neller, the Marine Corps commandant, to press for more changes and to do so more quickly. Neller visited the sprawling base Thursday. The new investigation and Allreds comments marked the latest chapter since a private Facebook forum called Marines United was outed as allowing postings of sexually suggestive or explicit photos of female service members, often done without their knowledge or consent. Members of the forum, both active-duty military personnel and veterans, often made lewd and otherwise offensive remarks in those postings. When some of the victims learned about this activity and complained, they were bullied or subjected to various threats. Pentagon and Marine leaders, the NCIS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice and law-enforcement authorities in several states are working together to find and prosecute Marines United violators. Active-duty troops can face discipline through the Uniform Code of Military Justice, while certain civilian laws might apply to the offending veterans. Facebook has shut down the Marines United forum, but some of its former members have repeatedly opened new social-media accounts to keep posting the images and engaging in their sexually denigrating remarks. 1 / 6 Former Marine Erika Butner, left, active duty Marine Lance Cpl. Marisa Woytek, and attorney Gloria Allred, prior to talking with members of the media after their news conference on the Marines United scandal at the Holiday Inn Oceanside Marina in Oceanside on Thursday. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 6 Attorney Gloria Allred speaks as active duty Marine Lance Cpl. Marisa Woytek looks on. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 6 Attorney Gloria Allred, former Marine Erika Butner, active duty Marine Lance Cpl. Marisa Woytek, both victims of the Marines United scandal, hold a news conference at the Holiday Inn Oceanside Marina in Oceanside on Thursday. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 6 Attorney Gloria Allred speaks as former Marine Erika Butner watches her as they and active duty Marine Lance Cpl. Marisa Woytek hold a news conference on the Marines United scandal at the Holiday Inn Oceanside Marina in Oceanside on Thursday. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 6 Attorney Gloria Allred, center, former Marine Erika Butner, right, and active duty Marine Lance Cpl. Marisa Woytek, both victims of the Marines United scandal, hold a news conference at the Holiday Inn Oceanside Marina in Oceanside on Thursday. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 6 Former Marine Erika Butner speaks as she, active duty Marine Lance Cpl. Marisa Woytek, left, and attorney Gloria Allred, center, hold a news conference on the Marines United scandal . (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) The case involving Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego concerns a Facebook page called MCRD San Diego, Ca. Although the site uses an official MCRD telephone number as its contact information, Marine officials said it has no connection to the military. On Monday, the page had posted an image of a Marine wearing Dress Blues. Underneath the photograph were these words: Making panties drop since 1775. Screenshots provided to the Marine Corps inspector general reveal a female Marine veteran complaining about the posting as garbage. That comment triggered salty responses from other members of the page, and one person wearing a Dress Blue uniform in his profile picture allegedly used words that military officials suspect violate the Corps standards for social media use. MCRD spokesman Capt. Matthew Finnerty said those standards, issued throughout the Marine Corps in March in the wake of the Marines United scandal, bars any form of harassment, discrimination or hazing because its inconsistent with our core values and impedes our ability to perform our mission. The unnamed administrator of the MCRD San Diego, Ca page on Facebook didnt return messages seeking comment for this story. The person who allegedly typed the illegal response to the female Marine veteran also couldnt be located. Its still unclear whether hes an active-duty serviceman. The case comes three weeks after the Corps announced that a non-commissioned officer and a lower-ranking enlisted member of Camp Pendletons 2nd Battalion, Fourth Marine Regiment had pleaded guilty to making improper comments on United States Grunt Corps, an online community that sprang up after the demise of Marines United. In Oceanside, the two Marines United victims appearing with Allred were former Marine Erika Butner and Lance Cpl. Marisa Woytek, an aviation mechanic at Camp Pendleton. Butner challenged the Corps reports that 27 to 29 active-duty and reserve service members had been identified by investigators in the Marines United case, saying those figures were too low. At its peak, the Facebook forum claimed about 30,000 members. Butner also said sales of nude pictures in the online criminal marketplace with ties to Russia could make the affected female service members and their uniformed relatives who work with classified information vulnerable to blackmail or worse. And she alleged that the military harbors a rape culture created when a male-dominated institution teaches women to take the abuse and remain silent. During boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, Butner said drill instructors gave female recruits three images to adopt during their Marine careers. Youre a bitch. Youre a whore. Or youre a lesbian, she said. Then you have to pick, essentially. Woytek told reporters about the stories that hundreds of service women had shared with her or in online forums about abuse in the ranks. She said many of those victims are still too terrified to come forward. As someone who has spoken out and who has received backlash on social media, I understand their worry, Woytek said. Allred urged the military to beef up its regulations barring cyber bullying, Congress to pass legislation that promises to bar the circulation of naked images without the subjects permission, and both institutions to listen to the experiences of female service members victimized by the photo-sharing sites. She also called on the Marine Corps to speed up integration of women into all its training and units. Capt. Ryan Alvis, a Marine spokesperson, said the task force convened by Neller to root out an underlying subculture that has allowed disrespect to exist in our ranks continues to craft a plan designed to eradicate the disrespectful attitudes and behaviors of some Marines. The vast majority of Marines live our ethos, and a part of that ethos is to correct and hold accountable those Marines who dont, Alvis said. Marines dont degrade their fellow Marines. Marines dont disrespect or discriminate based on gender, religious affiliation, sexuality or race. The Marine Corps owns this problem and is committed to addressing it for the long term. The Corps has yet to establish a timeline for when all of its revised standards on these issues will be rolled out. 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 cprine@sduniontribune.com The union that represents Los Angeles police officers launched a broadside against Mayor Eric Garcettis budget on Thursday, warning that the spending plan will divert funds away from neighborhood patrols and to the policing of Metro buses and trains. Garcettis budget proposal for 2017-18 calls for $121 million for sworn-officer overtime, up from the $90 million planned in the current year. But about a third of the money would go to patrol the countys Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which signed a contract with the Los Angeles Police Department earlier this year. For the record: A previous version of this article misspelled the last name of City Administrative Officer Rich Llewellyn as Llewelyn. In a letter to the City Council, the Los Angeles Police Protective League said the reduction in overtime hours for non-Metro duties would leave the LAPD with fewer officers to respond to neighborhood-level crime. Union leaders contend the shift would also increase police response times and leave some non-emergency calls unanswered altogether. Advertisement This budget is a sneaky and disingenuous affront to every resident that wants safer neighborhoods, swifter response times and more community policing, said union board member Robert Harris, appearing Thursday before the councils Budget and Finance Committee, which is reviewing Garcettis spending plan. For months, the police union has been pressuring city leaders to take action with what league officials believe is one of the most pressing issues facing the city: how officers are deployed. The league contends there arent enough officers patrolling city streets, forcing cops to rush from call to call, causing response times to creep higher and limiting the quality of interactions they can have with residents. Now, union leaders are threatening to sue over Garcettis spending plan, saying it violates the terms of the leagues contract, which guarantees a minimum $100 million of sworn overtime in the coming fiscal year. That overtime was supposed to go to city patrols, not Metro duties, league officials said. City Administrative Officer Rich Llewellyn, the citys top budget advisor, said the spending plan complies with the union contract. Meanwhile, Garcetti spokesman George Kivork defended the plan, saying it will increase overall LAPD overtime spending and put more officers on the street. Thats why Mayor Garcetti led the push to secure LAPDs security services contract with Metro, which will put 150 additional officers on the bus and rail lines in our communities across the city every day, he said in a statement. Despite those reassurances, Police Chief Charlie Beck acknowledged that Garcettis budget would pare back non-Metro officer overtime by $10 million in the coming year a reduction of 11%, or 164,000 hours. We had hoped there would be an increased allotment of overtime, Beck said, but we also realize the fiscal realities of the city. Beck said the reduction in non-Metro overtime pay would likely force the city to expand its practice of banking overtime pay assigning officers to work overtime, but delaying payment for those hours potentially years into the future, and at a more expensive rate. That practice, described by some officials as putting LAPD overtime on the citys credit card, could occur in May 2018 if funding is not increased, Beck said. Thats something the council has to think about whether youre willing to incur that debt, he said. The LAPD relied heavily on banking hours during the recession, racking up tens of millions of dollars in unpaid employee costs. Although the department has paid off some of those obligations, Beck said, resuming the practice could push the overtime bank past $100 million next year. Councilman Mitch Englander voiced dismay at that idea that the city would again delay payment to its officers into the future. Garcetti deputy chief of staff Matt Szabo argued that the overtime budget was one of several difficult decisions made by the mayor as officials worked to close a budget gap of $263 million. We understand that its not the most ideal situation, Szabo told Englander. But the entire budget presented a less than ideal situation. So we had to make choices. Metros board voted in February to award the LAPD a five-year, $369-million contract for policing services. Garcetti had pushed for that change, which shifts law enforcement duties for more than half the bus and rail system from the county sheriff to the Los Angeles and Long Beach police departments. L.A.s police union gave its support to the LAPDs Metro contract. But on Thursday, league officials said they would not have done so had they known that overtime hours would be cut for non-transit duties in Los Angeles. You have to remember, when everybody went to advocate for the MTA contract, the deal was, this will not impact ... our regular day-to-day policing, said league spokesman Dustin DeRollo. And thats whats going to happen. Beck described the Metro contract as really important to overall public safety. Officers will respond more quickly to transit-related crimes, he said, instead of relying on another agency. It puts Los Angeles police officers where they belong on the streets of Los Angeles, he said. Times staff writer Laura J. Nelson contributed to this report. david.zahniser@latimes.com Twitter: @DavidZahniser kate.mather@latimes.com Twitter: @katemather VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC or the Association) announces that Bryan Cox has been selected as the Associations Incoming President & CEO, effective May 1, 2017. Mr. Cox joined MABC as Vice President of Corporate Affairs in 2014, bringing with him a wealth of experience in government relations, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement. Mr. Cox has been an invaluable member of the MABC team since his arrival and he has been a strong industry advocate on key policy matters related to the fiscal and regulatory regime in British Columbia. Bryans collaborative and constructive approach will support MABC as it continues to work with governments, First Nations, communities and the public in ensuring mining remains an important economic driver for all British Columbians. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the MABC Staff, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Bryan as MABCs Incoming President & CEO. We look forward to his continued leadership in representing our industry, said Mr. Jeff Hanman, Chair of MABC. Prior to joining MABC, Bryan spent seven years in the brewing industry in progressively senior roles including Vice President, Western Canada at Canadas National Brewers, where he was responsible for managing the regulatory and public affairs agenda for Canadas largest brewers across the four western provinces. Bryan also spent several years with the Government of British Columbia in senior roles. About MABC The Mining Association of B.C. represents companies involved in the development, mining and smelting of metals, coal, and industrial minerals in British Columbia. People in Coronado and Imperial beach are teaming up this Saturday to call attention to sewage pollution that has plagued their cities shorelines at staggering rates. The residents plan to march in Imperial Beach starting at 3 p.m., ending at the Imperial Beach Pier, to call attention to contamination from Tijuanas aging and often overwhelmed wastewater system. At times, the sewage flows have fouled beaches as far north as the iconic Hotel del Coronado. Were trying to rally members of the community and our children because this is who it ultimately effects, said Stephanie Pate, an Imperial Beach resident with three daughters. My children will be third-generation, border-pollution sewage babies, and Id just like to see there just not be a fourth generation. Advertisement Marchers from Coronado intend to start at Palm Avenue and walk down 3rd Street to Evergreen Avenue, where they will meet Imperial Beach residents marching from Imperial Beach Boulevard. The combined group will then turn west and make its way to the pier for a joint aerial photo. Those attending are encouraged to wear blue T-shirts and bring children in strollers and wagons. The event is being organized by local residents, the Coronado Surfing Association and the San Diego County chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. Beaches in the countys South Bay have suffered for decades from dirty swimming conditions as a result of pollution from the Tijuana River, which flows north across the U.S.-Mexico border and empties into the Pacific Ocean in southern Imperial Beach. Millions of dollars in investments from both countries have notably improved the situation from the early 1990s, when millions of gallons of raw sewage flowed daily down the river and across the border into the ocean, according to regional water-quality regulators. However, a recently concluded investigation by the International Boundary and Water Commission found that a sewer pipe south of the border broke in February, spilling about 28 million gallons of raw effluent directly into the Tijuana River. At the same time, the inquiry found that a 256 million gallons of wastewater in Tijuana went unaccounted for, potentially also making its way into the ocean and up the coast. Twitter: @jemersmith Phone: (619) 293-2234 Email: joshua.smith@sduniontribune.com A man wanted by authorities in Oregon, accused of crimes including sexual assault on a minor, was arrested at the San Ysidro Port of Entry before he crossed into Mexico Wednesday, Customs and Border Protection officials said. Santiago Flores-Martinez, 48, was stopped by the ports anti-terrorism and contraband enforcement team. Using his fingerprint, customs officers searched a national database of wanted criminals and determined he had two outstanding arrest warrants out of Oregons Clackamas County: one for sexual assault on a minor, the other for first-degree burglary. Florez-Matinez, a Mexican citizen who is illegally in the U.S., was taken into custody and turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service. He is awaiting extradition to Oregon, officials said. Advertisement CBP officers routinely encounter and stop dangerous fugitives, attempting to depart the United States, said Pete Flores, director of field operations for Customs and Border Protection in San Diego. Working with our law enforcement partners is not only critical but necessary in order to ensure justice is served. Breaking News Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez Carjackers aimed a gun at a man in Vista, stole his sedan and got into a sheriffs pursuit before crashing into a garage Thursday night, authorities said. Four of the carjackers got away, but a deputys dog bit a man who was hiding behind a bush. He was treated for the bite at a hospital, then jailed, sheriffs Sgt. Jason Scroggins said. The owner of the Toyota Camry told deputies that five men he didnt know walked up to him on West Los Angeles Drive in Vista and demanded his car keys. He handed them over and started to walk away, but one of the men pointed a pistol at him. The gunman threatened to kill the victim if he didnt hand over his wallet and cellphone, Scroggins said. Advertisement The victim did what he was told and the men drove off in his Toyota. The carjacking was reported about 10:20 p.m. A deputy tried to pull over the Toyota on East Vista Way and followed it as it turned into dead-end Franklin Lane. The Toyota driver smashed through the door of a detached garage and everyone in the car ran, Scroggins said. Deputy Frank Lyvas dog partner, Bary, found one man hiding behind a bush and bit him. Another deputy identified the man as the driver of the Toyota, and he was arrested on suspicion of carjacking, probation violation and conspiracy, Scroggins said. The 19-year-old mans dog bite was treated at a hospital before he was jailed, Scroggins said. Deputies searched around the area with the help of a sheriffs helicopter but didnt find the other men. While District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has earned a reputation as tough on marijuana-related crimes, a review of donations to her past two campaigns shows she accepted contributions from dozens of people with ties to marijuana dispensaries. According to election records, Dumanis collected more than $7,500 in political donations from pot shop operators, landlords or their attorneys during her unsuccessful 2012 campaign for San Diego mayor and her successful 2014 re-election. An additional $10,000 was given by their relatives. Thats a fraction of the nearly $1.2 million she raised over the three years ending with her re-election in June 2014, but the contributions are significant because Dumanis repeatedly prosecuted patients and providers trying to make use of the states medical marijuana laws. The district attorney also opposed Proposition 64, the November ballot measure that allowed recreational marijuana in California. Advertisement State voters legalized marijuana for medical purposes in 1996 but the substance remains banned by the federal government and pot dispensaries have struggled with zoning and permitting issues at the local level the kinds of disputes that affected Dumanis donors. Neither I nor the campaign had any idea that we collected donations from marijuana dispensary operators or those who leased property to such businesses, Dumanis told U-T Watchdog in a statement released by a spokeswoman. We had no information that any of these individuals were violating city codes. We were not aware of any investigations and we did not have any way of knowing. I only found out when you brought it to my attention. Many of the political donations identified by U-T Watchdog were accepted after donors were sued by the San Diego City Attorneys Office, which initiated a major crackdown on unauthorized pot dispensaries in 2011. The cases were featured prominently in the media. Dumanis announced earlier this year that she would not seek a fifth term. She announced this month that she plans to step down in July and is considering a run for county supervisor. San Diego property manager J.D. Bols donated $500 to Dumanis re-election campaign in June 2013. Bols and his family gave Dumanis $1,600 more the following winter. He had been sued three times by the City Attorneys Office for renting space to medical pot dispensaries in 2011. The cases lasted nearly two years before being settled with an agreement to close the shops. He said the donations had nothing to do with his fight against the city of San Diego. I received cease-and-desist correspondence from both the City Attorney (which I did not give any money to) and the Federal Attorney, Bols wrote in an email. The DA office was not involved and I am not aware of any landlords who were charged by that office. My impression is that enforcement was basically left up to the City Attorneys Office. Attorney Jerome Moe, who defended Bols in the suits filed by the city, hosted a fundraiser for Dumanis and also donated to her campaigns. Moe said he has been a Dumanis contributor for many years, and his support was never intended to benefit him or his clients. It did not enter my mind, and would have been foolhardy if it had, that I might be able to lean on the D.A.s office to intercede with the city in a code-violation case, he said. Another pot-shop landlord who gave to Dumanis was Gholamreza Chitgari, who was sued by the City Attorneys Office in 2011 along with the Balboa Park Medical Center. Chitgari, who owns the Classic Chariots car dealership and other San Diego area businesses, donated $500 to Dumanis a few months later, on March 16, 2012. Chitgaris wife, Fariba Teymourian, contributed $500 to Dumanis the following month. Both donations came while the city pursued its case against Chitgari and the dispensary. In total, the car dealer and his wife donated more than $3,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to Dumanis in recent years. Chitgari did not respond to messages left at his business. The civil case against Balboa Park Medical Center was settled in October 2012. Chitgari and operator Jon Gettel, a cannabis consultant active in the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, agreed to close the shop and cover the citys $2,408 investigation costs. They were issued a $25,000 penalty, which was suspended. Tough on crime Amad Attisha, an entrepreneur who owns dozens of gas stations, convenience stores and other properties in San Diego County, hosted a fundraiser for Dumanis in June 2013. He gave $700 in cash and donated $305 in food and beverages, records show. A year later, Attisha was sued by the City Attorneys Office for renting to a marijuana dispensary, the Green Cellar in Bankers Hill. Public records show the building was owned by Harbor West Properties, one of Attishas companies, according to state records. As owner of the property, defendants Harbor West and Attisha have the ability, power and duty to permanently cease operating the business, prosecutors wrote in their complaint. The pot shop owner and landlord settled the case in 2015 with a $50,000 fine and a promise to stay out of the medical-pot business. All but $10,000 of the fine was waived as part of the settlement. I had one issue with a dispensary in the past but I had them evicted very quickly, Attisha wrote in an email. Attisha, chairman of the politically active Neighborhood Market Association, said his and the associations interests align with the district attorneys and their support is based on her performance as the countys top law enforcement officer. DA Bonnie Dumanis is tough on crime and has continually joined with us to take stands against hurtful products like synthetic drugs, he wrote in an email. Additionally, she has been a vocal proponent in taking tough actions against events of robbery and other forms of crime that sometimes occur in our member stores. Attisha said the trade group has no role in the marijuana business, and that the bylaws specifically prohibit dispensaries from joining the association. We have not, do not, and will not condone anything to do with cannabis, he said. We are a small business organization. Extended family Another family that became involved in the marijuana business and supported Dumanis is the Shamouns, who have deep roots in East County. Sabri Shamoun, one of the patriarchs who first emigrated from Iraq to Detroit in 1961 and adopted San Diego County as his new home a decade later, has become a model of success. He owns a broad array of businesses and property, and over the years sponsored scores of relatives in their efforts to follow him from Iraq to America. He also donated $1,900 to Dumanis last two campaigns. Shamoun, now 78 and largely retired in El Cajon, was sued twice for renting space to unpermitted pot dispensaries once by prosecutors in Chula Vista and once by his adopted city. Many of his extended relatives have faced similar allegations. He said in an interview that he thought his El Cajon tenant, the Golden Greens Collective, had the required paperwork and license when he was sued in 2014. He said he was surprised over city code violations and addressed the issue straight away. I cooperated as soon as I received a letter, Shamoun said. Within three days, we locked the door. Court documents describe the citys version of events. Sabri Shamoun refused to give any information during a meeting with El Cajon officials, the city complaint states. The case settled in 2015. Shamoun and the other defendants were fined $25,000, with $19,000 of that immediately suspended. They also agreed to pay $1,305 in costs related to the case, and to close the dispensary and stay out of the pot business. Later that year, Shamoun was sued again, this time by the Chula Vista city attorney. Shamoun said his Chula Vista tenant told him she was running a Mexican restaurant when he leased her the property, and that she had opened the dispensary without his knowledge. They put me in a big mess, he said. City records filed in the Chula Vista court case show police visited that pot shop at least nine times including three undercover purchases to confirm that the business was still operating despite repeated warnings that it was not allowed. The shop was also called the Golden Greens Collective. Due to the failure by the defendants to comply with (city) orders to cease operations of the dispensary, the case was referred to the City Attorneys Office, the complaint states. Nine other Shamoun family members have been named in civil lawsuits filed over unpermitted marijuana dispensaries, according to San Diego County court records. One of them, Basil Shamoun, was among the first people to receive a conditional use permit from the city of San Diego after he settled his lawsuit. Basil Shamoun did not return messages left at his Harbor Collective in Barrio Logan. Sabri Shamoun said the other defendants were only distant relatives. They are faraway cousins, Sabri Shamoun said. Sabri Shamoun donated to a Dumanis fundraiser in 2014 hosted by his son, San Diego attorney Ronson J. Shamoun. The appetizers-and-wine gathering at the Charcoal House Steakhouse and Music Bar in La Mesa was held a week after San Diego prosecutors sued Ryan Shamoun for operating the United Wellness Center pot shop in the Mt. Hope neighborhood. Ryan Shamoun, a distant relative, told U-T Watchdog that he left the pot business after his case was settled and declined to comment further. Ronson J. Shamoun, who founded the tax law firm RJS Law, emphasized that his relationship to Ryan Shamoun and others who have had similar problems was distant at best. I have not owned, operated, sold, rented to, or had any affiliation with a pot dispensary, Ronson Shamoun said. As to the district attorney, he said, I have known Bonnie Dumanis since I was a student at (University of San Diego) Law and Bonnie was a professor at the school and support her because she has done a great job of keeping our beautiful city of San Diego safe from crime. Prosecutors have wide discretion in determining whether to file criminal charges including against dispensary operators, their patients and landlords. District attorneys in Santa Clara, Mendocino and Plumas counties are among those who have criminally prosecuted dispensary operators for illegal drug sales in recent years. Dumanis herself exercised prosecutorial discretion in a high-profile case eight years ago, when she announced dozens of arrests related to an undercover sting effort called Operation Endless Summer. At least 14 of the 33 suspects in that 2009 case were later identified as medical marijuana providers who said they thought they were delivering medication to a sick patient. Forty-three thousand. This is the number of 16- to 24-year-olds in our region who are not working and not in school. Let that sink in for a minute. These disconnected youth an estimated 10 percent of all 16- to 24-year-olds represents one of the largest challenges our community must address with urgency, resolve and innovative new approaches. This very troubling statistic includes people like Carla. Raised in a home impacted by poverty and abuse, she became an emancipated minor at 16. Over the next two years, she alternated between living on the streets and friends couches, often uncertain where she would find her next meal. She struggled in school and fell a year behind. If Carla didnt complete her education, her ability to successfully transition to independence would be significantly threatened and her long-term earnings potential greatly diminished. These early years and connection, or disconnection, ultimately affect our ability to succeed. Advertisement This new normal of high rates of youth unemployment and disconnection impacts everyone. According to studies, youth disconnection costs taxpayers around $250,000 for each young adult over his or her lifetime. For our region, this equates to more than $13 billion. This crisis of disconnection has implications on public health and safety, civic and social mobility, access to higher education and our regions ability to develop the talent needed to support our regional prosperity. Bold action is needed to change the story from disconnected into opportunity. Our vision is to reduce the rate of disconnection from 10 percent to 7 percent by 2020. We must focus our resources in underserved communities. A ZIP code should not, and must not, determine ones future. Fortunately, real progress is being achieved now is the time to raise the bar and serve thousands more. On April 13, more than 500 people came together at a new youth summit, called Flip the Script. Envisioned by the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP), this summit changed the story from disconnection to opportunity. The summit included a cross-section of our community: young adults, elected officials, educators, employers, community and faith-based organizations, philanthropy, youth advocates and more. An action plan was begun to achieve this vision. To be successful, the SDWP implores that we must all work harder to engage more, to listen more and to partner more with our young adults to shape a positive future. Fortunately for Carla, with the support of professionals, she overcame barriers and is on the path to a bright future. She graduated high school with honors. She entered SDWPs young adult employment program, CONNECT2Careers and got a job tutoring students and has earned a nursing assistant certificate. Carla is paying rent, buying her own food, saving money and planning to pursue a career in nursing. Other programs are making great strides. The new Gateway to College and Career program at San Diego Continuing Education supports young adults in courses that help them learn more about themselves and their working styles, while building essential skills needed to do well in life. Students have access to counseling, case-management and internships. Now at age 24, Carla is optimistic about the future. I think everyone is meant to do something in their life that they love, she says with pride. There is immense talent and promise in young people not just for their own lives but for communities. Carla embodies the concept of Opportunity Youth. All young people can achieve like Carla if pathways and supports are available and barriers are removed. But Carlas story of reconnection is too often the exception. Programs that serve young adults like Carla have the power to change lives. In only four years, CONNECT2Careers has grown from 500 applicants in its first year to 5,000 in 2016, which resulted in 1,100 jobs. CONNECT2Careers has grown thanks to ongoing funding from the City and County of San Diego, Mayor Faulconers partnership with OneSD100, and new investments from the San Diego Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation. Programs are not enough. We must work together to build systems and implement policies that prevent disconnection. If San Diego County is to be Americas finest region for all, we must work together to build Americas finest youth employment and education system. Join us as we Flip the Script. Marten is superintendent, San Diego Unified School District. Turner Cortez is president, San Diego Continuing Education. Callstrom is president and CEO, San Diego Workforce Partnership. Donald Trump has proposed eliminating the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). But he might change his mind if he realized that the arts and humanities also serve people he professes to like: police officers. Meet my history Ph.D. student David Livingstone, who also happens to be the new police chief of Simi Valley. For the last few years, his days have started at 4 a.m. when he rises to work on his dissertation. Then he starts his day job at the Police Department to support his academic endeavors. A day off usually means a day at the UCSD library. Many spirited defenses of the humanities against the Trump administrations proposed cuts have centered on the importance of humanities skills in todays workplace: empathy, critical thinking, the ability to write and communicate well. But Davids case shows that the humanities can actually save lives. David was chosen as chief of police not despite but because of his Ph.D. The skills that he acquired as a history graduate student proved essential to his success. His instinct as a historian has kicked in while managing the investigation of cold case murders. Because of his experience in historical archives, he has helped homicide detectives to follow paper trails and discover new evidence. When a young man was put in jail, the same historians skills allowed him to get him out by proving investigative missteps and errors in the testimony of a key witness. The boys parents, the Superior Court judge and local civil liberties groups commended him for his work. Like many graduate students, David also taught in an introductory course on the history of the world. His knowledge about the history of Islam now comes in handy in establishing relations with Simi Valleys Muslim community. Advertisement If Davids experience in the ivory tower has followed him on the beat, his lived experience as police officer has, in turn, enriched his research. His dissertation asks a big question: What is the role of the police in a democratic society? David is writing a history of the West German Federal Border Guard, a paramilitary unit that was founded in 1950 and existed until 2005. His thesis reveals shocking continuities across 1945, with many former Nazis continuing their police careers in the postwar Federal Republic. But he also shows how the institution and the people within them slowly adapted to the different values of a democratic society. This process is one reason why todays Germany has 1/100th the number of fatal police shootings as the United States 10 versus approximately 1,000 in 2015. The key insight of his thesis institutions can change, and so can people is no less relevant for the role of the police in American society today. It reaffirmed Davids critical attitude toward militarized policing in the U.S. Throughout his career, he has promoted a zero-tolerance policy toward police abuse. He has been in charge of many internal investigations, at times having to make unpopular decisions. His humanities background is especially important in Simi Valley, a place that is often mistakenly associated with one of the worst cases of police violence. In 1992, the Rodney King trial was moved from Los Angeles, where he was savagely beaten by four LAPD officers, to Simi Valley. The officers subsequent acquittal then sparked the L.A. riots. This is why some of my academic colleagues were reluctant to announce publicly the news of Davids appointment as chief. But I believe Davids story needs to be told now more than ever. As he leads a force of 125 police officers, he will draw on essential humanities skills as a thinker, writer, communicator, critic, historian and humanist. Cases like his illuminate the many ways in which the humanities make the world not just a better but a safer place and actually save lives. I, for one, would feel much better if all police chiefs had rigorous training in the humanities. And for me, this is also personal: As the father of an African-American boy, I worry about the future of my son and those who look like him. The Black Lives Matter sign in our front yard was repeatedly stolen or defaced. This is why I could not be more proud of my Ph.D. student, the new police chief of Simi Valley. Biess is an NEH Fellow and professor of history at the University of California, San Diego. Phoenix, April 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- / CR-10 Disinfectant, the disruptive and eco-friendly disinfectant from BioNovelus Inc. (ONOV) has been approved by the Ministerio de Salud Publica Guatemalas ministry of health for use as a disinfectant. This is expected to come as welcome news to farmers in Guatemala concerned with the safety of their crops post-harvest. Although there are other solutions for disinfection available, management believes that our CR-10 Disinfectant is safer, easier to use, less harmful to the environment and more effective in killing sources of foodborne poisoning than the toxic chemicals and ammonium-based products traditionally used in post-harvest sanitation. It also comes as welcome news to BioNovelus President, CEO and founder, Jean Ekobo, who has worked hard with his team for approval and registration from the Ministry. We are happy that we can now finally sell CR-10 Disinfectant in Guatemala. We are looking forward to starting sales in this country. About CR-10 Disinfectant Research has shown that CR-10 Disinfectant kills bacteria and viruses on contact, including E. coli, Salmonella, Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), Campylobacter, Norwalk virus (Norovirus), and others [Source: Dr. M. Oule, Ph.D. of Canadas University of Saint Boniface]. BioNovelus management believes that CR-10 is safer, easier, and more effective in killing these sources of foodborne poisoning than commonly used toxic chemicals such as bleach, alcohol, or quaternary ammonium-based products. According to Dr. Oule, CR-10 Disinfectant is organic, non-toxic, 100 percent biodegradable, and has a longer efficacy life span protection effect. Because of this, the Company believes CR-10 has the potential to be a real gamechanger in the food biosecurity space. About BioNovelus Inc. BioNovelus, Inc. (ONOV) is a bioscience company that honors the environment with an innovative, cost effective and disruptive technology-based solution to food, water and health problems. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes forward-looking statements covered by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties and actual results for fiscal year 2017 and beyond could differ materially from the Company's current expectations. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "anticipates," "projects," "expects," "plans," "intends," "believes," "estimates," "targets," and other similar expressions that indicate trends and future events. Factors that could cause the Companys results to differ materially from forward looking statements regarding the efficacy of the food disinfection, crop restoration, post-harvest crop disinfectant results, and entering into agreements with farmers and distributors to sell the CR-10 product in Guatemala. Factors that could cause lower rates of success in CR-10 eradication of fungi, bacteria, viruses, and spores include the method and timing of applications of CR-10, the strength of contamination, and other environmental conditions resulting in re-infection. There is no assurance that the food security, crop protection, and coffee rust applications will prove commercially viable. There is no assurance that any transaction will be done with Guatemalan distributors or farmers. Factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed above include, without limitation, variation in demand and acceptance of the Company's products and services, ability to manufacture and obtain the CR-10 product and import it to Guatemala, general business and economic conditions beyond the Company's control, the consequences of competitive factors in the marketplace including the ability to attract and retain customers, results of continuous improvement and other cost-containment strategies, taste of coffee when our products are used, compatibility with other chemical products, and the Company's success in attracting and retaining key personnel. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update forward-looking statements because of new information, since these statements may no longer be accurate or timely. Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933, and are subject to Rule 3B-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this press release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and other results and further events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. 30 For more information, contact http://bionovelus.com It was bad enough when candidate Donald Trump gratuitously questioned the impartiality of Gonzalo Curiel, the San Diego federal judge hearing the Trump University lawsuit. (Trump said that the judges ethnic heritage would make him biased.) It was even worse when President Trump accused the federal judges temporarily halting his travel bans of purely political motivations and limited intelligence. But it was especially disheartening last week to hear random disrespect for a federal judge from the mouth of Attorney General Jeff Sessions who is, after all, the nations highest-ranking official with day-to-day responsibility for the rule of law. Commenting about the temporary restraining order U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson issued in Hawaii against the administrations second travel ban, Sessions found it galling to be subject to a nationwide ban issued by a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific. The remark was eerily reminiscent of President Trumps earlier dismissive tweet that the U.S. district judge who stopped his first travel ban was a so-called judge. Advertisement Not that federal judges should be above legitimate criticism. These jurists deal with vital and, at times, life-threatening issues; federal judges need to hear well-informed and zealously advocated contrary views both inside the courtroom and out. But there is a crucial line between legitimate criticism and crass delegitimization. Sessions crossed the line when he intertwined potentially valid criticism of district-court injunctive powers with denigration of the judges legitimacy. It is past time for public officials and commentators from the president and the attorney general on down to understand and model for all Americans the difference between a disagreement on the merits and an ad hominem political attack. Even if incivility and demonization are the new normal for fights among national politicians and pundits something Im not prepared to concede, but thats a bigger issue there are three good reasons why federal-judge-bashing should be ruled out of order. First, politicians personally attacking federal judges are not fighting fair. The traditions and ethical canons applicable to federal judges severely limit their ability to respond. It would violate judicial-restraint norms and bring serious rebuke for federal judges to turn legal rulings into platforms for personal rejoinders to political attacks. Judicial comments outside the courtroom seen as political would also bring forth swift condemnation. Witness the criticism of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg for an anti-Trump comment made off-handedly to a reporter during the presidential campaign. Picking a fight with someone who cant fight back is the epitome of being a bully. Second, treating federal judges like other politicians and, especially, accusing them of having similar partisan motivations blurs the key point that our constitutional democracy depends on federal judges rising above politics. Sure, initial judicial appointments are heavily influenced by partisan and ideological politics. And judges are molded by their backgrounds and values. That is why scholars detect some partisan differences between rulings issued by federal judges appointed by Republican presidents and by those appointed by Democrats. But it is even more interesting and important that much of the time federal judicial decision-making transcends politics. A variety of rule of law factors, such as respect for precedent and doctrines of judicial restraint, influence even the most highly visible judicial rulings; this has been shown time and again in social-science studies and prominent anecdotes. The bottom line: Although I would be the last person to assert that federal judging is always antiseptically apolitical, life-tenured federal judges often live up to our constitutional democracys core aspiration of Equal Justice under Law. In any event, it is vital that our civic discourse not assume, or become resigned to, the notion that federal judges are just politicians who wear black robes. The third and most important reason to lament over-the-line attacks undermining respect for federal judges is that all Americans, regardless of their political affiliation and ideology, have a vested interest in preserving the national judiciary as a third branch with the independence and respect to check and balance other non-judicial officials. Modern presidents have awesome powers affecting our lives, fortunes and freedoms. Whatever the merits of the particular power exercise at issue, long-range constitutional values are promoted when federal courts have the independence and respect to review presidential orders and declare them invalid when found to be contrary to core constitutional principles. The Supreme Court did this for Democratic President Harry Trumans 1952 order temporarily seizing steel mills during the Korean War and for Republican President George W. Bushs 2002 order authorizing military-tribunal trials for Guantanamo prisoners. So, too, do congressional enactments have wide-reaching consequences. The lower-federal-court judges and Supreme Court justices who review the validity of laws, whether passed by Democratic or Republican majorities, perform a valuable function preserving democracy, freedom and the rule of law. Liberals may not like rulings invalidating the Medicaid subsidy provision of Obamacare any more than conservatives like decisions overturning the federal law against falsely claiming to be a military honoree. But everyone wins in the longer run from the fact that men and women on the federal bench have the presumed legitimacy and actual independence to so rule. In 1857, U.S. senatorial candidate Abraham Lincoln extensively criticized the legal reasoning and real-world impact of the Supreme Courts Dred Scott decision (which ruled that slaves could not assert federal constitutional rights, even in slavery-free territories). Lincoln later insisted that the ability of Americans to criticize the substance of Supreme Court decisions and work for their overruling prevented dictatorship by an imperial judiciary. But Lincoln never called Chief Justice Roger Taney and his cohorts redneck racists or so-called justices. Let us hope that responsible Americans from all political stripes will call out any political official who crosses the fundamental line between informed disagreement and politically motivated delegitimization. Every president, attorney general and member of Congress has an obligation to reinforce, not undermine, respect for the crucial constitutional values served by our independent federal judiciary. Smith teaches constitutional law at California Western School of Law and is the co-author with Patricia Fusco of Constitutional Law for Dummies. Tension between the United States and North Korea has been on the rise ahead of President Donald Trump s 100th day in office on Saturday, in large part due to the Trump administrations tough talk about the reclusive nation. Vice President Mike Pence said just last week that all options are on the table. One week before that, NBC News reported that the U.S. is prepared to launch a preemptive strike if necessary. On Thursday, Trump also said as much. There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea, he told Reuters. Absolutely. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told the United Nations Security Council on Friday that the U.S. is willing to counteract North Korean aggression with military action, if necessary. However, even as it deliberates over how to keep Pyongyang from continuing to grow its nuclear weapon arsenal, the Trump administration appears inclined to follow a peaceful course, much as previous administrations have done in the 60-plus years since the Korean Wars end. There appears to be a concerted effort to focus more on diplomacy than some of the administrations rhetoric would indicate. Here are three signs the administration actually wants to just talk this whole thing out. Tillerson wants to negotiate US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attend the security council meeting on nonproliferation of North Korea at United Nations on April 28, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images) Tillerson was very clear in an interview with NPR on Thursday that Trumps administration is seeking negotiations to denuclearize North Korea. "You know if you listen to the North Korea, their reason for having nuclear weapons is they believe it is their only pathway to secure the ongoing existence of their regime," Tillerson said. "We hope to convince them is that you do not need these weapons to secure the existence of your regime. We do not seek a collapse of the regime. We do not seek an accelerated reunification of the peninsula. We seek a denuclearized Korean peninsula. Trump says he really prefers diplomacy U.S. President Trump and Vice President Pence leave a briefing for members of the U.S. Senate on North Korea at the White House in Washington, U.S, April 26, 2017. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque) "We'd love to solve things diplomatically, but it's very difficult," he told Reuters. He has emphasized work with Chinese President Xi Jinping in more strictly enforcing sanctions on North Korea in recent weeks, indicating a desire to work as partners rather than deal with dictator Kim Jong Un alone. "I believe he is trying very hard, Trump said of the Chinese president. He certainly doesnt want to see turmoil and death. He doesnt want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. He showed more goodwill toward China when he said hed be refraining from talking to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. China sees Taiwan as an illegitimate nation that should be part of the Chinese homeland. "I really feel that he is doing everything in his power to help us with a big situation, Trump said. So I wouldnt want to be causing difficulty right now for him. Tillerson seeks allies FILE, in this Saturday, April 15, 2017, file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves during a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea, to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung , the countrys late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File) At the U.S.-requested U.N. meeting on North Korea on Friday, Tillerson called on other nations especially China to better enforce sanctions against North Korea, to downgrade diplomatic relations and to increase financial isolation. "For too long the international community has been reactive," Tillerson said. "The more we bide our time, the sooner we will run out of it." He added that while the U.S. is committed defending to defending its allies in the area, especially South Korea, it would prefer a negotiated solution to this problem. Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @abbyhamblin Following his decision to not withdraw the United States from NAFTA this week, President Donald Trump described himself as both a nationalist and a globalist, triggering chatter online about what his reversal means for his America first campaign rhetoric. Hey, Im a nationalist and a globalist, Trump told the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, less than a day after he was persuaded by White House advisers and leaders from Canada and Mexico to rescind his threat to pull the U.S. out of the 23-year-old trade deal. Im both. And Im the only one who makes the decision, believe me, Trump added. Related: Just how close was Trump to pulling U.S. out of NAFTA? This close. Trump on Wednesday threatened to sign a draft executive order to begin the process to pull the U.S. out of the North America Free Trade Agreement, but later that day reversed his threat, saying that he would instead urge Congress to renegotiate the deal. Senior Republicans, including Sen. John McCain , R-Arizona, had expressed opposition to a withdrawal from NAFTA. But Trumps sudden change of heart left some Republicans scratching their heads over what to make of the negotiation strategy. Sen. Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska, told BuzzFeed on Thursday, I dont think that kind of the unclear message is helpful. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, also expressed confusion, saying, I couldnt tell whether that was a strategy or just a miscue from inside the White House. Throughout his presidential campaign in 2016, Trump described NAFTA as a total disaster, one of the worst deals ever and a terrible one for the U.S. and American workers. He often said he would either get rid of it or terminate it or renegotiate it. That was a message that resonated with many of his supporters who felt American jobs were hurt and threatened by globalism. But by Thursday, a lot of them were unsure whether Trump will fulfill that promise. Trumps remarks also drew reactions on Twitter, ranging from confused to disappointed among those who supported his more nationalistic rhetoric. Even the alt-right news site, Breitbart News, tweeted one of these things is not like the other referring to his remarks about being both a nationalist and a globalist. As theories about what exactly informed Trumps decision to reverse his threat to pull out of NAFTA swirled the last two days, one story from the Washington Post offered a striking picture of the presidents last-minute deliberation. According to the Post, several advisers reportedly pulled up a map of the United States to show Trump that pulling out of NAFTA would negatively impact areas that supported his presidency. As he reached his 99th day in office on Friday, Trump moved on from NAFTA to focus on gun rights. In an interview with Reuters, Trump also said that his job was harder than he first imagined. I love my previous life, Trump told Reuters. I had so many things going on This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier. Where that leaves Republicans and his supporters is unclear. But if Trump continues to not deliver on the promises he made during the campaign, then his supporters may lose their enthusiasm and their once-high hopes he would bring major change to Washington. Have some thoughts to share? Join me in a conversation: Shoot me a private email with your thoughts or ideas on a different approach to this story. As always, you can also send us a tweet. Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @RunGomez Read The Conversation on Flipboard. A revised version of the Republican health care bill faced the same uncertain prospects on Thursday that ultimately doomed the partys previous attempt to overhaul Obamacare. This time, though, the opposition is coming from the partys centrists. At least 21 Republicans, as of Thursday afternoon, had said they would vote no on the latest version of the bill that could come to a vote in the House of Representatives next week, The Hill reported. Assuming all Democrats vote no on the bill, the most number of GOP votes House Republicans can afford to lose is 22. Update, Friday, April 28: Late Thursday night, House leaders said they would not hold a vote on the GOP health care proposal on Friday as previously thought, the Washington Post reported. It was left unclear whether the proposal would come to a floor vote the following week. Advertisement Two Republicans, Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-New Jersey, and Rep. Mark Meadows, R-North Carolina, reportedly proposed amendments to the bill that would allow states to drop a number of essential Obamacare provisions as well as give insurers the ability to charge individuals different rates based on their health status. The changes are drastic and health groups like the American Medical Association and other Republicans have come out against the revised proposal, all of which could result in a repeat of last month when House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, pulled the American Health Care Act from a House floor vote on March 24. Could the GOP health care bill fail once again, or could the party finally accomplish what it couldnt do a month ago? The answer may be reflected in what Republicans have said about the revised bill. Who likes it? On Wednesday, the revised version of the American Health Care Act got a major endorsement from the same group of far-right Republicans who opposed the first failed draft: the House Freedom Caucus. The group had opposed the original AHCA bill so much that Ryan wound up with a defeat and had to pull the bill. Now hes trying again. We posted an amendment to the American Health Care Actthe result of constructive conversations focused on lowering costs for everyone. pic.twitter.com/Y5eSpOB4Dp Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) April 27, 2017 This week, Ryan and members of the House Freedom Caucus expressed optimism for the new bill but not for the vote count. Well vote on it when we get the votes, Ryan told reporters on Wednesday. On Thursday, Ryan met with reporters to discuss changes made to the bill that he says would give states more flexibility to reduce premiums and increase choices. And it does this while maintaining and preserving protections for people with pre-existing conditions, he said. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, told reporters that while this bill doesnt fully repeal Obamacare this is the best we can get out of the House, this is a better bill than what we started with. Rep. Jim Jordan says the bulk of the Freedom Caucus supports the GOP health bill https://t.co/m4Sagi27SB pic.twitter.com/0zGmDFe5tf Bloomberg (@business) April 27, 2017 Rep. Meadows, the leader of the Freedom Caucus, told Bloomberg on Thursday that he felt very optimistic that if the House vote would be held on Saturday, then certainly the votes will be there. Its not necessarily a more conservative bill but it is a bill that lowers premiums for the American people and allows us to hopefully get on to tax reform in a very quick fashion in the coming days, he said. Rep. Mark Meadows tells @kevcirilli he's optimistic the GOP can pass a health care bill https://t.co/z9KqNjwLtO pic.twitter.com/kS61q2ngjg Bloomberg (@business) April 27, 2017 Who doesnt like it? Not all Republicans like the changes made to the AHCA, however. Some of the changes are so drastic that a growing group of moderate Republicans have voiced opposition to it. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Florida, told The Hill that he was still undecided, adding I was a yes before, but there are a lot of red flags with the new bill. Rep. Walter Jones, R-North Carolina, said he was voting no because, according to The Hill, I just cannot in good conscience vote for a bill of such importance and not know the cost of it. On Thursday, Rep. Dan Donovan, R-New York, reiterated that he would vote no on the bill because it gives people with pre-existing conditions less access to health care than they presently have. JUST NOW: GOP @RepDanDonovan says the new #AHCA deal gives people with pre-existing "less access to health care than they presently have." John Berman (@JohnBerman) April 27, 2017 Rep. Ryan Costello, R-Pennsylvania, echoed that same concern to reporters on Thursday. Rep Costello says he is a NO because of pre ex Peter Sullivan (@PeterSullivan4) April 27, 2017 Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colorado, told a Politico reporter that he would vote no without knowing the full impact of the new bill. .@RepMikeCoffman tells me that if vote on AHCA were today, he'd vote no. Says he's still determining impact of proposed changes. Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 27, 2017 Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Washington, said she would also vote no. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (Washington), a Tuesday Group member, is a no on revised health care bill MJ Lee (@mj_lee) April 27, 2017 The list goes on. The Hill is tracking the whip count on the votes and as of Thursday afternoon it still held at 21 no votes. Will it get enough votes to pass? The answer may come within the next few days. Stay tuned and chime in with your thoughts should Republicans move forward with this version of the bill to overhaul Obamacare? Have some thoughts to share? Join me in a conversation: Shoot me a private email with your thoughts or ideas on a different approach to this story. As always, you can also send us a tweet. Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @RunGomez Read The Conversation on Flipboard. UPDATES: 9:40 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details. This article was originally published on Thursday, April 27 at 6:20 p.m. KOGO Am radio host Carl DeMaio will discuss how Republicans can regain relevance in the bluest of blue states at the Ramona TEAd forum on Saturday. Advancing Reform in a Blue State will be the title of his talk. DeMaio is a former San Diego City Councilman and candidate for Congress. The forum is open to the public and will be in Ramona Mainstage, 626 Main St. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the free program will begin at noon. Early arrival is recommended. California voters have given the Democrat Party an overwhelming majority in state government, which has pursued an ultra-liberal agenda, Ramona TEAd member Dan Summers said in his forum announcement. Californians pay the highest taxes in America, and now their tax dollars are paying for a bullet train to nowhere and defending illegal aliens from deportation, he said. In addition, these far left politicians are trying to establish California as the first sanctuary state in America, thereby demonstrating their concern for criminal aliens over the safety of our communities. Are California voters experiencing buyers remorse? In last weeks Ramona Sentinel, Mr. Dante Cosentino challenged Tom McKelveys letter declaring that the Tea Party was a grassroots organization, and that the Indivisibles were a top-down organization, led and motivated by a well-organized and well-funded, elite leadership group. Though Mr. Cosentino did not deny Indivisibles top-down model, which can be verified with a simple Web search, he did counter, absurdly, that Big Oil and Big Tobacco invented the Tea Party. He credited his source as Jeff Nesbit, a former Bush administration official. A Web search revealed that Mr. Nesbit is the executive director of Climate Nexus, a left wing political action group promoting manmade global warming. Mr. Nesbit is also a prolific author of 19 books all novels, which leads one to conclude that his narrative alleging Big Oil and Big Tobacco invented the Tea Party is purely fiction. I remember clearly back in 2009, when CNBC reporter Rick Santelli made a call from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for the establishment of a Tea Party. Shortly thereafter, a small group of politically conservative residents gathered in front of the Ramona post office to rally against the Obama administration. That was the beginning of Ramona TEAd, now in its eighth consecutive year. At no time in its history has Ramona TEAd, or any other of the fiercely independent Tea Party groups in San Diego County, received outside assistance, direction, or guidance of any kind. Nor has it received a dime of support from Big Oil or Big Tobacco or any other organization whatsoever. And that includes the evil Koch brothers. Now with regard to the Koch brothers, allow me a word in its defense. Some on the left, including Mr. Cosentino, would have you believe that the Koch brothers are the only ones who contribute large sums of money to promote a political agenda or that Big Business only supports conservative causes. What Mr. Cosentino failed to mention is that of the top 10 corporate entities making political contributions, eight of the top ten contribute exclusively to progressive/liberal causes. In fact, the Koch brothers rank way down at number 31 in the pecking order. Does one sense a bit of hypocrisy here? Mr. Cosentino also mis-characterized the Tea Party position on several issues. Firstly, we are not anti-taxes; we are antiexorbitant taxes. When taxpayers run a little short of cash, if prudent, they cut back on spending. When government runs a little short of cash, imprudently, it raises your taxes. Does that not bother anyone? Furthermore, the Tea Party is not anti-regulation; it is anti-excessive regulation. Lets face it, most government regulations come from faceless, unelected bureaucrats. There are no checks and balances; their impact on business and job growth can be stifling, and their impact on personal liberty can be incalculable. Finally, we are not anti-government; we are anti-big government. The political left demonizes big business, but if they dont like a business they dont have to patronize it. If you dont like Ford Motor, go to General Motors. If you dont like McDonalds, go to Wendys. In the case of big government, however, if you dont like high taxes, if you dont like excessive regulations, you have no choice but to comply. Though progressives would have you believe otherwise, big business doesnt have a monopoly on greed, anymore than big government has a monopoly on virtue or morality. Jim Fontana is a member of the Ramona TEAd Steering Committee. Wauwatosa, April 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elite Media Communications had its best first quarter ever with a wave of success. So far, Elite Media has aided in the opening of three new offices in Madison, Wisconsin, Santa Fe New Mexico, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. On top of having its best first quarter ever from an exponential growth standpoint, Elite Media also promoted a half dozen individuals in its local office to account manager, and partnered with a new client in deregulated energy. Furthermore, Elite Media really delved into volunteer work this year, supporting three different charities, such as the Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin where they collected toys to give to the hospital. They also worked with the Milwaukee Rescue Mission, gathering donations for two separate programs that work with men, women, and children. As for second quarter action, Elite Media isnt slowing down anytime soon. Following the momentum from the first quarter Elite Media is promoting current assistant manager Saad Fleifel to management on Thursday April 27. Fleifel will be managing the same clients as Elite Media in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From new office openings, to supporting various charities the past few months, EMC wants to capitalize on more growth in the summer months. Continuing their support for local charities, in May, they are pairing up with Kathys House, a local charity house in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin and cooking a meal for the patients that stay there. With the accomplishments this company has already managed this year, some of the goals for this summer are to not only open two additional markets, but to capitalize on its summer hiring program. This opportunity is a huge initiative for college students to take advantage of. Elite Media is looking to hire between six and 10 students. The students will have an opportunity to work with big name clients and learn how to manage from the ground up. Elite Media has hired previous summer students/interns who were able to benefit, by adding experience gained at the company to their resume, and use it in their careers in upon graduation. For more information please call human resources (414) 778-0179 visit the website or Facebook. PHILADELPHIA, April 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Bermuda Captive Conference capitalised on the insurance industrys biggest annual event in Philadelphia this week to build interest and boost registrations leading towards its September 1113 event. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/113d067d-6d20-42af-8e31-6b0119b61f99 The Bermuda conference, which was shifted from its regular calendar slot in June to this fall due to the Americas Cup, made an impressive marketing splash at the Risk & Insurance Management Society (RIMS) Annual Conference and Exhibition, garnering new registrations and raising awareness among many of the estimated 10,000 delegates attending the major risk industry event. The prominent Bermuda Booth this year sported a colourful photographic wrap depicting boats sailing across Hamilton Harbour complete with bold Bermuda Captive Conference social media and logo branding. As well, the sides of buses hired to transport guests through the city from the convention to Tuesdays well-attended networking reception were brightly branded with the same scene and an invitation to Follow Us to Bermuda. The reception, hosted by the Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA), Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA), and Goslings, was held aboard Moshulu, a restored barque at Penns Landing, and welcomed a crowd of 200 invitees. In a year when we are highlighting the innovation Bermuda brings to the global captive market, we expanded our footprint at RIMS 2017 in conjunction with the BDA, said conference Chair David Gibbons, who noted the timing was appropriate leading to a May 1 deadline for early-bird flight and registration rates. We have always welcomed a lot of registrations and interest at RIMS, he said, but this year, we decided to ramp up our outreach, and were confident this will help attendee numbers in September surpass our 2016 record. Last years June conference, marking a dozen years the event has been held, saw attendance of more than 800 delegates, of which half were overseas participants. The three-day event at the Fairmont Southampton Resort had more than 50 percent of attendees travelling to Bermuda from the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the United Kingdom. They included 147 captive insurance owners, 70 sponsors, 49 vendors, and the result was a total of 900 hotel-room nights booked during the events duration. The 2017 Bermuda Captive Conference will highlight the topic of Innovation: how captive insurers respond to changes in their business and the environment in which they operate. Included among sessions slated for the agenda are: New insurance solutions: technology and cyber, ILS, incorporated cells, new insurance products and solutions, life insurance Technology advances and developments: data management and storage, IT security, self-driving cars, intelligent robots Medical and healthcare: impact of new research and medical developments and advances, cost and benefit impacts, effect of changes to working lives and longer lifespans Climate change: the impact on risk and insurance needs, insurer and reinsurer responses to changes Political, regulatory, economic and social change, and the challenges each create This years keynote speaker will be Bermudian anthropologist Dr Philippe Rouja, Principal Scientist, Marine Heritage and Ocean Human Health, for the Bermuda government. Rouja will give an address titled A Shipwreck Cornucopia, detailing the islands unique shipwreck history. Bermuda remains the world leader in the captive insurance industry based on 2016 statistics released by Bermuda Monetary Authority earlier this year. Year-end BMA figures indicated Bermuda had close to 800 active captive licences on its register, supporting primarily Fortune 500 corporations in the US, and generating over $55 billion in annual gross written premiums. To register for the Bermuda Captive Conference 2017, go to: https://bermudacaptiveconference.com 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. French English This document is not an offer to purchase the securities described herein or any other securities. Any such offer, if made, will be made by means of an offer document or invitation to tender that will include the detailed terms of the offer, and that may contain restrictions on the ability of certain investors in certain jurisdictions to tender certain of their securities. The offer will not be made in any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so, or where such offer would require registration with or approval by any governmental body or stock exchange. Montrouge 28 April 2017 European Central Bank approval of the tender offers for perpetual notes announced on 17 March 2017 ____________________ Credit Agricole S.A. announces that the European Central Bank has given its approval on 27 April 2017 for the intended tender offers described in the press release of 17 March 2017. In that press release, Credit Agricole S.A. announced its intention, subject to receipt of the required ECB approval, to launch tender offers targeting six series of outstanding perpetual notes (listed in Appendix 1). Further information on the intended tender offers can be found in the 17 March 2017 press release. Credit Agricole S.A. intends to launch the intended tender offers before the end of June 2017, subject to market conditions. Appendix 1 Additional Details on Notes subject to the contemplated Tender Offer ISIN Currency Outstanding amount Coupon Next Call Date Step-Up (Y/N) Grandfathering Treatment* USF22797FJ25 / US225313AA37 USD 889.9m 6.637% until May 31 2017 3 month USD Libor + 123.25bp thereafter May 2027 N Tier 1 until end- 2021 FR0010161026 EUR 371.2m EUR CMS 10Y +2.5bp (floored at 0% and capped at 7.75%) Febr 2018 N Tier 1 until end- 2021 USF22797FK97 / US225313AB10 USD 1,000m 8.375% until Oct. 2019, 3 month USD Libor + 6.982% thereafter Oct 2019 Y Tier 1 until Oct. 2019 FR0010814418 GBP 291m 8.125% until Oct. 2019, 3 month GBP Libor + 6.146% thereafter Oct 2019 Y Tier 1 until Oct. 2019 FR0010575654 GBP 171.8m 7.589% until Jan. 2020, 3 month GBP Libor + 3.550% thereafter Jan 2020 Y Tier 1 until Jan. 2020 FR0010814434 EUR 450m 7.875% until Oct. 2019, 3 month Euribor + 6.424% thereafter Oct 2019 Y Tier 1 until Oct. 2019 NB: Possible regulatory capital and/or TLAC/MREL treatment after 2021 unclear on the basis of current and planned draft regulation (based on Credit Agricole S.A.'s understanding and interpretation of relevant regulatory texts currently in force in the EU and in France). Forward-Looking Statements This communication may contain forward-looking information and statements about Credit Agricole S.A. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "target" or similar expressions. Although Credit Agricole S.A.'s management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Credit Agricole S.A., that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed or identified in the annual reports and other filings with the French Autorite des marches financiers made or to be made by Credit Agricole S.A.. Credit Agricole S.A. undertakes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. These colossal trees once covered the Appalachian forests. Can we learn anything from the chestnut blight? Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join An Arbor Day observance would seem incomplete without a celebration of the majestic American chestnut. The tree is ingrained in our heritage, from the sweet, nutritious nuts roasting on an open fire to the sturdy, rot-resistant lumber that built our railroads and fences. From Maine to Mississippi, the American Chestnut once comprised up to 25 percent of the Appalachian forests. Early settlers admired these hardwoods that stood nearly 100 feet tall that is, until we wiped them out. The chestnut blight was first noticed by a forester in the Bronx Zoo in 1904. By the 1950s, the fungal disease had spread to Georgia, girdling every American chestnut in its path an estimated four billion trees. The fungus was thought to have been introduced by way of chestnuts imported from Japan in the 1870s. These Asian varieties were resistant to the disease that devastated the eastern forests of the United States. Subscribe and get unlimited access to our online magazine archive. Subscribe Today In a 1925 Post article, Adventures in Planting, Robert Gordon Anderson grimly predicted the chestnut blight: Starting in New England some years back, it swept over the Hudson like an invisible prairie fire and so on to the West, making our American chestnut almost as extinct as the dodo; it will probably vanish quite as completely within the next 75 years. As it turns out, Andersons prescient account underestimated the virulent fungus by about 50 years. One question remains: Are there any American chestnuts left? Many of the infected trees sent up shoots from surviving root systems after their demise. Unfortunately, these suckers succumbed to the same fungus after about 10 years or 20 feet of growth. There are, however, many accounts of thriving American chestnuts in Michigan, Wisconsin, and the Pacific Northwest. These humble stands of trees could not possibly compare to the swaths of forests that once towered over a significant part of the country, but its a start. The American Chestnut Foundation is a national nonprofit that collaborates with State University of New York to attempt a reintroduction of the tree to its original habitat. To accomplish this, the ACF is involved in continual research of the best way to utilize fungus-resistant properties of the Chinese chestnut in a hybridization with our beloved American chestnut. The research is slow-going because trees are slow-growing, but SUNY thinks they may have found the answer in transgenic trees. These are chestnuts that have been genetically altered by inserting one wheat gene into the genome of the American chestnut. That gene can help the tree fight oxalic acid the toxin produced in chestnut blight. Ruth Goodridge of ACF says they hope to crossbreed their hybrids with SUNYs transgenic trees once approval is obtained from the USDA, EPA, and FDA. Since the organizations will be completing applications later this year, that approval could come by 2021. We hope to plant them everywhere. This is about the restoration of an ecosystem, Goodridge said. She noted their interest in promoting biodiversity with American chestnuts, hoping to develop not only a blight-resistant tree, but also one that does not succumb to root rot, a malady more common in the South. The chestnut blight was a devastating effect of globalization, but isnt an isolated incident. Goodridge points to Dutch elm disease and the hemlock woolly adelgid as other examples of foreign pests and diseases that affect our forests in a big way. Were not just trying to save some old tree. This research could help prevent occurrences like this in the future. The prospect of American chestnuts stretching for miles again is an exciting one, but the only people likely to enjoy that view are the generations to come. If you want to view old-growth American chestnuts, there are some surviving specimens. Perhaps the best way to commemorate the tragic tale of the American chestnut, however, is to appreciate the diverse species of trees that still cover this country: maples, oaks, tulips, and pines. You can start by planting one today. Omaha, NE -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/28/2017 -- Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc. has been helping bereaved parents since 1977. Share is dedicated to supporting parents and families throughout the United States, as well as internationally. Share Parents of Utah was established in 1983 and supports the Salt Lake area. We understand. We care. We can help. Many parents find that it helps to talk with another parent who has experienced the loss of a baby someone who can listen, understand, and be able to identify with some of their feelings. Just knowing that your experience is valid and that you are not alone can be very beneficial in working through your grief. Anyone who has lost a baby to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, newborn death, and SIDS is welcome to attend a Support Meeting, as well as any support people you would like to have attend. Contact: Share Parents of Utah Melannie Green, President (801) 272-5355 Email: info@shareparentsofutah.org Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc. understands. Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc. care's. They can help. Many parents find that it helps to talk with another parent who has experienced the loss of a baby someone who can listen, understand, and be able to identify with some of their feelings. Talking with others who have suffered a pregnancy loss is very helpful. Anyone who has lost a baby through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, or newborn-death is welcome to call Share Parents of Utah and/or attend support group meetings. Just knowing that ones experience is valid and that they are not alone can be very beneficial in working through grief. http://www.shareparentsofutah.org/p/about-us.html Omaha, Nebraska Reason #69 Why Supporting the Local "Share Parents of Utah" Charity (http://www.ShareParentsofUtah.org) is Helpful and Welcomed Due to the nature of topics discussed, Share Parents request that only adults attend the meetings. If one is not certain they are ready to attend a meeting, please contact Share Parents of Utah or get on their mailing list to be reminded about upcoming meetings. Join Share Parents of Utah at their monthly support group meetings and connect with other parents who have suffered a similar loss. Find Share Parents of Utah on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/303840128023/ Share Parents of Utah's mission is to serve those touched by the death of a baby through pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or in the first few months of life. Their purpose is to provide support toward healing at the time of or following the death of a baby. Share Parents of Utah provide's education and resources on the needs and rights of bereaved parents and siblings. They strive to set a standard of perinatal bereavement care through a lifetime of support, hope and healing-one family at a time. http://www.kutv.com/fresh-living/features/main/stories/Tips-for-Grieving-Parents-42412.shtml#.VCSOcxZDVA4 About Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc. Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc. has been helping bereaved parents since 1977. Share is dedicated to supporting parents and families throughout the United States, as well as internationally. Share Parents of Utah was established in 1983 and supports the Salt Lake area. Park City, UT -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/28/2017 -- Stephen Hopkins was from Hampshire, England. He married his first wife, Mary, and resided in the parish of Hursley, Hampshire. They had three (3) children: Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles; all baptized there. It has long been claimed that the Hopkins family was from Wortley, Gloucester, but this was disproven in 1998 with the discovery of his true origins in Hursley. http://mayflowerhistory.com/hopkins-stephen/ Stephen Hopkins went with the ship Sea Venture on a voyage to Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 as a minister's clerk, but the ship wrecked in the "Isle of Devils" (Bermuda). Stranded on an island for ten months, the passengers and crew survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. Six months into the castaway, Stephen Hopkins and several others organized a mutiny against the current governor. The mutiny was discovered and Stephen was sentenced to death. However, he pleaded with sorrow and tears. "So penitent he was, and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass, as it wrought in the hearts of all the better sorts of the company." He managed to get his sentence commuted. Eventually the castaways built a small ship and sailed themselves to Jamestown. How long Stephen remained in Jamestown is not known. However, while he was gone, his wife Mary died. She was buried in Hursley on 9 May 1613, and left behind a probate estate which mentions her children Elizabeth, Constance and Giles. Stephen was back in England by 1617, when he married Elizabeth Fisher, but apparently had every intention of bringing his family back to Virginia. Their first child, Damaris, was born about 1618. In 1620, Stephen Hopkins brought his wife and children Constance, Giles, and Damaris on the Mayflower (child Elizabeth apparently had died). Stephen was a fairly active member of the Pilgrim group shortly after arrival, perhaps a result of his being one of the few individuals who had been to Virginia previously. He was a part of all the early exploring missions, and was used as an "expert" on Native Americans for the first few contacts. While out exploring, Stephen recognized and identified an Indian deer trap. And when Samoset walked into Plymouth and welcomed the English, he was housed in Stephen Hopkins' house for the night. Stephen was also sent on several of the ambassadorial missions to meet with the various Indian groups in the region. Stephen was an assistant to the governor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. By the late 1630s, however, Stephen began to occasionally run afoul of the Plymouth authorities, as he apparently opened up a shop and served alcohol. In 1636 he got into a fight with John Tisdale and seriously wounded him. In 1637, he was fined for allowing drinking and shuffleboard playing on Sunday. Early the next year he was fined for allowing people to drink excessively in his house: guest William Reynolds was fined, but the others were acquitted. In 1638 he was twice fined for selling beer at twice the actual value, and in 1639 he was fined for selling a looking glass for twice what it would cost if bought in the Bay Colony. Also in 1638, Stephen Hopkins' maidservant got pregnant from Arthur Peach, who was subsequently executed for murdering an Indian. The Plymouth Court ruled he was financially responsible for her and her child for the next two years (the amount remaining on her term of service). Stephen, in contempt of court, threw Dorothy out of his household and refused to provide for her, so the court committed him to custody. John Holmes stepped in and purchased Dorothy's remaining two years of service from him: agreeing to support her and child. Stephen died in 1644, and made out a will, asking to be buried near his wife, and naming his surviving children. BAPTISM: 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, son of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins. FIRST MARRIAGE: Mary, possibly the daughter of Robert and Joan (Machell) Kent of Hursley, co. Hampshire, prior to 1604. SECOND MARRIAGE: Elizabeth Fisher on 19 February 1617/8 at St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, co. Middlesex, England. CHILDREN (by Mary): Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles. CHILDREN (by Elizabeth): Damaris, Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Damaris, Ruth, and Elizabeth. DNA HAPLOGROUP: R1b-M269 Contact Adam Green! c: 801-809-7766 e: g3president@comcast.net Park City, UTAH General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Reveals New Geneology Resource Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.ImAdamGreen.com Women of Early Plymouth: Governor William Bradford reported that the Pilgrims were worried that the "weak bodies of women" would not be able to withstand the rigors of a trans-Atlantic voyage and the construction of a colony. Prior to the Mayflower, very few English women had made the voyage across the ocean. Sir Walter Raleigh's Roanoke colony arrived in Virginia in 1587, and amongst those 120 colonists there were 17 women: a baby girl, Virginia Dare, was born after arrival. When re-supply ships came from England, they could not relocate the people. The colony had mysteriously disappeared, and was never seen again. The Jamestown Colony was founded in 1607, but relatively few women had yet made the voyage and taken up residence there. The Pilgrim husband, as head of the household, had an important and difficult decision to make. Building a colony would be hard on a woman's "weaker body." It might be safer and healthier to leave her behind, and have her come later once the houses were built, and the general safety and successfulness of the colony were better established. But that could be several years. Could he live several years without his wife? How strong was his wife anyway, could she really handle it? Was it right to put your wife's life in danger in this manner? As the Mayflower left England for America, there were 18 adult women on-board. Three of them, Elizabeth Hopkins, Susanna White, and Mary Allerton, were actually in their last trimester of a pregnancy. All the adult women on the Mayflower were married; there were no single women--although there were a few teenage girls nearing marriageable age. While no women would die during the Mayflower's voyage, life after arrival proved extremely difficult. In fact, 78% of the women would die the first winter, a far higher percentage than for men or children. Dorothy Bradford was the first woman to die, and the only woman who died in the month of December. While many of the men, including her husband, were out exploring on Cape Cod, she accidentally fell off the Mayflower into the bitter cold waters of Provincetown Harbor. Most of the women's death dates were not recorded, but we do know that Rose Standish died on January 29, Mary Allerton died on February 25, and Elizabeth Winslow died on March 24. Most of the women died in February and March. The extremely high mortality rate among women is probably explainable by the fact the men were out in the fresh air, felling trees, building structures and drinking fresh New England water; while the women were confined to the damp, filthy and crowded quarters offered by the Mayflower, where disease would have spread much more quickly. The two-month voyage was long enough; the women, however, remained living on the ship for an additional four months while the men built storehouses and living quarters on shore. Many of the sick were no doubt cared for on-board the ship by the women, increasing their exposure to colds and pneumonias. William Mullins died on February 21, apparently on-board the Mayflower since his will was witnessed by the ship's captain and ship's surgeon. His wife Alice and son Joseph had not yet died, but it wasn't too long before they did, orphaning their teenage daughter Priscilla in the New World. Only five women survived the first winter. One of the five survivors, Mrs. Katherine Carver, died in May of a "broken heart," her husband John having died of sunstroke a month earlier. Weak bodies or not, by the time of the famous "Thanksgiving," there were only four women left to care for the Colony's fifty surviving men and children. The four women were Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Brewster, and Susanna (White) Winslow. http://mayflowerhistory.com/women Adam Paul Green was born to a multi-talented beauty queen Mother and a Father who, in addition to being a US Army Spy and a Counter-Intelligence Special Agent, was also a highly accomplished entrepreneur. Adam was taught at a young age that, in both life and business, loyalty is a requirement for success. He's had the honor of working directly with his father in several of the family businesses. In fact, this is where he learned crucial entrepreneurial skills and honed his talents with international business strategies and venture capitalism. http://www.AdamPaulGreen.com , http://www.ImAdamGreen.com Adam earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in International Business and Marketing from the University of Utah. He was hand-picked by the President of the University's renowned School of Business to compete with dozens of other ambitious nationwide-graduates for the opportunity to secure a lucrative job within a prestigious Fortune 100 company. http://www.Twitter.com/AdamPaulGreen Adam's hard work and creativity helped him land this job of a lifetime. He obtained incredible business experience there and spent years innovating, improving processes and setting sales records. Although this dream job in Traditional Corporate America was a fun challenge for him, and something he truly enjoyed mastering, Adam's natural entrepreneurial spirit kept nudging him to do something more significant with his time and talents. http://www.MyChocolatePod.com , http://www.Facebook.com/AdamPaulGreen Since 2001, Adam has been involved in the Health and Wellness Industry as a successful Entrepreneur, Broker, Product Developer and Manufacturer of Cosmeceutical products. During his career, he has worked with some of the most recognizable Fortune 500 businesses along with many top international Network Marketing companies. Adam has consistently proven his unique ability to help his clients achieve their goals through creative Distribution-Channel Placement, innovative Product Development and custom Manufacturing. Adam currently owns three profitable businesses. Admittedly, Adam was not initially a fan of Network Marketing. He did not understand the business model because it was new to him. However, once he learned that the REAL focus of Direct Sales is to help average people get a taste of entrepreneurialism --- with minimal risk and at a low cost --- Adam was absolutely convinced of the potential with Multi-Level Marketing. http://www.ImAdamGreen.com About MayflowerHistory.com MayflowerHistory.com, the Internet's most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony. The website was first created back in 1994 (when the web was still mostly text!) as a simple, but complete, passenger list of the Mayflower. It has grown over the past twenty years as the author, historian Caleb Johnson, has researched and compiled material. http://mayflowerhistory.com Writer Ron Rashs archive finds new home at UofSC Poet and novelist's work to join collections of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Conroy and others The personal archive of international best-selling writer and South Carolina native Ron Rash has found a new home at the University of South Carolina. The archive, which spans Rashs life from boyhood to the present, details his career as a poet, short story writer and novelist and joins other contemporary American literature collections at the universitys Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library. Among Rashs award-winning works are the novel, Serena, which also was made into a movie, and the short story collection Chemistry and Other Stories. Writer Ron Rash grew up in Chester, South Carolina, before moving to the Appalachian area of North Carolina. He is arguably the South's most prominent living writer. Ron Rash is a rising superstar, says Tom McNally, dean of University Libraries. He is a great writer who has international acclaim and so many more works that he will produce. His archive is an excellent addition to the amazing manuscript collections we are building. These are unique primary research materials that draw scholars and students to our university and state and are the source of books, journal articles and dissertations. Announced Thursday (April 27), the archive was made possible with the support of the Easterling-Hallman Foundation to support the acquisition of modern American literature manuscript collections. Thursday night Rash will be awarded the universitys Thomas Cooper Medal at a dinner in his honor. Rash, disciplined in many aspects of life, has a daily regimen of exercise and writing. A novel can take him three years and 15 drafts, with his final draft always addressing sound and rhythm. Those drafts, which convey the writing process, are part of the archive, which also features correspondence with writers, editors and publishers, research notes and materials in the development of his novels, short stories and poems, first editions of all his works, family history and genealogy and personal journals kept as a teenager. It is both flattering and a bit eerie when a writer is discussing his or her archives, says Rash who was approached by McNally and writer Pat Conroy about adding his archive to the universitys collection of Southern writers. Pat Conroy was really committed to putting together a nice archive. Valuing the work was evident from everyone at the university. I feel honored to be with writers such as Robert Burns, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Pat Conroy. Rash says he was particularly drawn by the universitys commitment to outreach and to have his archive available to students and scholars. It is hugely important. As a writer, it has been valuable to look at drafts and letters by other writers. They reveal so much. They give insight into a life and how one lives. I like that an archive is not for just for a few people but open to everyone, Rash says. McNally says great collections attract other great collections. Rash has earned many accolades for his work, including being named a PEN/Faulkner finalist for his New York Times bestselling novel Serena." Earlier in April, he was named a 2017 Guggenheim Fellow . It was Pat who told me to go and get Rons papers now, McNally says. People see what we do with the collections we have acquired. They see how we integrate them into the curriculum and promote them. We dont just put items on the shelf and let them collect dust. These things really resonate with donors. And, the beautiful Hollings Library is a place anyone would their collections to call home. Rashs stories have introduced and connected readers around the world to the Appalachia region of the South. And although he has spent most of his life in North Carolina, he is proud of his South Carolina roots, evident in many of his works and never far from his thoughts. I moved to North Carolina when I was 8. Two of my novels are set in South Carolina, as well as poems and short stories. It is something we can be proud of that the Carolinas produce some fine literature, said Rash. Over the years, it is amazing how many people I have met who were taught by my father at Chester High School. The one bittersweet aspect is that I wish he a man who quit high school, worked in a cotton mill, earned his GED, drove 50 miles to take night classes and became an artist and taught art could be here. Rashs archive joins many prominent collections acquired by the university in the last 25 years, including Conroy, Fitzgerald, Hemingway and James Ellroy. The acquisition of the Ron Rash Archive is a sign that we are collecting the papers of 20th- and 21st-century American authors. If you look back to the acquisition of the James Ellroy archive in 1999 and consider the other collections we have acquired over the past 20 years, you can see a strong trend, said Elizabeth Sudduth, director of the Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. Ron Rashs archive is an especially exciting acquisition as Ron is still working and all of his future works will come to the university. See the exhibit Select pieces of the Ron Rash archive will be on display in an exhibit titled, More than a Southern Author: Influences and Impact in the Works of Ron Rash, in the Hollings Library through July 31. The gallery is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and there will be a special open viewing 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday (April 29). Once processed, the entire collection will be available to the public. Share this Story! Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about [NEW YORK] Researchers at the Boston-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have devised a capsule that allows staggered release of ivermectin, a broad anti-parasitic drug including against malaria parasites, obviating the need for daily doses and promising better patient compliance. Giovani Traverso, a medical researcher affiliated with the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT and Robert Langer, a chemical engineering professor at MIT, developed the capsule which contains a star-shaped drug release system. We applied this new technology to efforts that may lead to the elimination of malaria. Giovani Traverso, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT After ingestion, the capsule dissolves in the stomach to release the delivery system that dispenses the drug in measured doses for up to two weeks before finally dissolving and getting eliminated from the body. According to Traverso, the device is resistant to gastric acids and the star shape prevents it from blocking the normal function of the digestive system. We applied this new technology to efforts that may lead to the elimination of malaria, said Traverso. Specifically, we focused on ivermectin because it works against malaria parasites, and is also toxic to malaria-carrying mosquitos when they bite people with ivermectin in their system. Initial human trials with this delivery system are set to be conducted later this year by Lyndra, Inc., which is based in Watertown, Massachusetts, and has been developing long-acting oral drug delivery technologies. Langer is a co-founder of Lyndra. The research for a better ivermectin delivery system was supported by a grant from the U.S. National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Technology and its development in Langers laboratory had funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The developers say the system can help do away with daily doses of ivermectin. Eliminating malaria which kills more than half a million people annually and affects millions more is a challenge partly because a large portion of the at-risk population lives in rural areas with limited access to health care, making drug compliance difficult. Nirbhay Kumar, director of the Vector-Borne Infectious Disease Research Center at Tulane University, New Orleans, says drug compliance is one of the major factors for ineffectiveness of malaria control programs.Any approach that reduces the frequency at which medications need to be taken for optimum outcome can certainly circumvent such an issue, Kumar says.He warns though that while the novel technology provides an alternate method for long-term protection, sustained drug delivery may not be that straightforward.Continuous presence and thus continuous exposure to drug may favour the possibility of development of drug-resistant organisms, he emphasises.This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Asia & Pacific desk. A recent study finds that invasive European paper wasps contributed to the grape sour rot disease that degrades wine quality. The disease infested the grape with black mold and spores. The mold and spores come along with an acidic smell similar to the vinegar, which decomposed the berry. Those are the symptoms of the grape sour rot disease that incurable that damage the wine quality. Sour rot disease is caused by insects such as fruit flies that produced ethyl acetate. A new study from the researchers led by the Tufts University shows that European paper wasp or Polistes dominulus is also the facilitator of the grape sour rot disease. The first author of the research is a graduate from the Department of Biology in the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University, Anne Madden, Ph.D. The study is her post-doctoral research in the Department of Applied Ecology at North Carolina State University. The research showed that these wasps carry the polymicrobial community of sour rot, and are capable of dispersing live microorganisms when foraging," Dr. Madden said. "This suggests that wasps are playing a role, which had not been previously identified." Paper wasps and other wasps are common to appear in the vineyard. They usually appear in the late summer to forage on grapes and other fruits high sugar contents. Wasps that are inoculated with the microorganism that caused the grape sour rot disease, Ascomycota yeasts, and filamentous fungi, spread the microorganism to the berry when they forage. The study has been published in the Peer J journal on Wednesday, April 26. Madden and fellow researchers from University of Colorado Boulder, North Carolina State University and the University of Nebraska have uncovered the role of paper wasps in the grape sour rot disease that previously unknown. The finding has shown that aside from the fruit flies, there is another insect that contributed to the sour rot disease. Watch the explanation about rot disease in grapes below: Finnish English F-Secure Corporation, Investor News, 28 April 2017, 09.00 a.m. (EET) F-Secure Corporation will publish its financial results for Q1/2017 on Thursday, 4 May 2017 at around 9.00 a.m. (EET). A news conference for analysts and media will be held (in Finnish) at the Company's headquarters (address: Tammasaarenkatu 7, 00180 Helsinki) on the same day at 11.0012.00 a.m. (EET). A webcast for international investors and analysts will be held (in English) on the same day at 14.00 p.m. (EET ). To participate and ask questions in the online meeting via web, please click on the link: https://meet.f-secure.com/tapio.pesola/CW0MMZ4L To listen via phone, please dial in to +358975110100. The conference ID is 3095794. The material will be available at the company's website before the call begins: www.f-secure.com/investors. Additional information: Tapio Pesola, IR Manager investor-relations@f-secure.com +358 44 373 4693 Scientists discovered that the levels of toxic methylmercury in the Great Salt Lake in Utah have decreased by almost 90 percent. This seems to be good news, yet the mysterious vanishing of the toxic compound is being investigated. The findings of the study were published in Environmental Science and Technology. William Johnson, a geologist from the University of Utah, said that there could be a link between these high concentrations of methylmercury down in the deep brine layer and the elevated concentrations in waterfowl in the wetlands near the lake. He further said that if there is a direct link between the mercury in the ducks and the environment at the bottom of the lake, people could think they will see a lessening of mercury in biota, which is the animal and plant life. On the other hand, they did not view it as that. The wildlife officials discovered that the Great Salt Lake has high levels of toxic methylmercury around 2010. With this, they warned hunters to avoid eating ducks that might poison them. Then, in 2015, about 90 percent of the mercury vanished, according to Science Alert. A Union Pacific railway separates the small north arm and the large south arm of the Great Salt Lake. The north arm is much saltier than the south arm. There are two culverts in the railroad line that permitted the north arm water to flow in the south arm due to its higher density. Johnson said that the difference in density between the shallow and deep waters inhibited mixing. This kept fresh oxygen from permeating into the layers of the deep water. The decomposing organic matter on the lake floor extracted all the oxygen from the briny layer. As a result, the microorganism was forced to find something else to breathe. In the absence of oxygen, some bacteria become nitrate to stimulate the chemical processes of life. On the other hand, when the nitrate has vanished, they become manganese, iron and sulfate. The presence of the sulfate-breathing bacteria, which is a sulfide and smells like a rotten egg, are oozing from the lake. These bacteria become elemental mercury into toxic methylmercury, according to The University of Utah News. The walls and the surfaces of the International Space Station (ISS) have unknown microbes that grow on them from time to time. NASA is now so close to identifying the microorganisms and contaminants on the ISS using two space technologies. Sarah Wallace, NASA microbiologist and the project's principal investigator at the Johnson's Space Center in Houston, said that they have had contamination in some areas of the space station where fungi were growing or biomaterial has been pulled out of a clogged water line. On the other hand, they do not know what it is until the sample will be sent back to the lab on the planet Earth. She added that on the International Space Station, they could regularly resupply disinfectants. On the other hand, as they move beyond low-Earth orbit, in which resupply is less frequent, determining what to fumigate or not becomes significant, as noted by Phys.org. To identify the unknown biological samples, NASA is going to use the miniPCR and the MinION. The miniPCR was conceptualized by 17-year-old student Anna-Sophia Boguraev for the Inaugural Genes in Space competition. The device could do polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on a DNA sample so that it can be examined, according to Science Alert. Meanwhile, MinION is a small device that relies on nanopore technology to scrutinize DNA and RNA. Astronaut Kate Rubins was the first one to ever sequence DNA in space using the MinION. This device is also used to monitor the spread of diseases such as Zika and Ebola and examine environmental samples in Antarctica. The workforce of these two technologies could make NASA come up with a solution in identifying microorganisms on the space station. NASA biochemist Aaron Burton said that the joining of these different devices could allow them to take the lab to the samples, rather than having brought the samples to the lab. Many consider time travel theory to be a hoax. Since no one from the real world has actually built or traveled in a time machine, the very concept of it remains elusive. Recently, Ben Tippett, an instructor of mathematics and physics at the Okanagan campus, University Of British Columbia, has deduced a mathematical model that can be used for time machine invention. Tippett used complex mathematical equations and Einstein's theory of general relativity to accomplish this complicated task. This is the first instance where the concept of time travel has been represented as something more than just a hypothesis, EurekAlert reported. When Albert Einstein proposed the theory of general relativity, he also stated that the gravitational fields are nothing but distortions in the "fabric of space and time." This proposition was later confirmed by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, after an international team of physicists and researchers detected gravitational waves. Further analysis of these gravitational waves indicated that they were generated by collisions of black holes that are situated billions of light-years away from Earth, I4U News reported. This not only validated Einstein's concept of space-time curvature but it also paved the way for the study of new methods of breaking this curvature. This chink in the otherwise continuous fabric of space and time can help people travel back and forth between different time frames. Tippett recently published an article in Classical and Quantum Gravity, an IOP Science journal, on the same topic. He tried to explain how scientists can manage to breach the space-time continuum. He proposed that curvatures in space-time continuum are simultaneous with curvatures in the time direction of the space. Manipulation of the curvatures with the help of time machines can enable time traveling. Tippett's Traversable Acausal Retrograde Domain in Space-time (TARDIS) mathematical model for time machine invention proposed that bending the time dimension into circles can transport the passengers of the time machines into the past. Such a machine should have to travel at speeds exceeding the calculated speed of light in order to make a hole in the space-time fabric. Though the process of conceptualization and development of such a machine is not yet initiated, it is expected that these recent revelations may help in doing so in the future. Researchers discovered that drinking three or more cups of Italian-style coffee could reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men. This type of coffee is prepared with high pressure, no filters and with very high water temperature. The study is printed in the International Journal of Cancer. It was led by Licia Iacoviello, the head of the Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology Laboratory at I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed in Italy, and other colleagues, according to Medical News Today. The study aims to deliver a clear view about caffeine and prostate health. The American Cancer Society stated that around 1 in 7 men is diagnosed with prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer among men in the United States. The study involved 7,000 male residents of Molise, in south central Italy. The scientists monitored their coffee consumption and prostate cancer rates for four years. The results showed that those who drank coffee more than three cups a day had a lowered risk of developing prostate cancer by 53 percent compared with men who drank less than three cups a day, according to NY Daily News. The scientists also examined the extracts of caffeinated and decaffeinated Italian-style coffee on prostate cancer cells in the laboratory. They discovered that the caffeinated coffee extracts lessened the propagation of cancer cells. Maria Benedetta Donati, the co-author of the study, said that the observations on cancer cells could allow them to say the beneficial effect examined among the participants is most likely due to caffeine than due to other substances in the coffee. On the other hand, this study was demonstrated in an Italian population with a strong coffee culture. This coffee is comprised not only of the amount of coffee but also on the process on how it is made. It is prepared with high pressure, very high water temperature and no filters. The Blood Falls that flows from the Taylor Glacier is one of Antarcticas most fascinating and mysterious features, which has kept scientists baffled for over a century. The fall that discharges extremely bright red water was first discovered by an Australian geologist, Griffith Taylor, who thought that it was made up of red algae. Later on, in 2003, that explanation was overturned when scientists suggested that the rusty tinge was due to oxidized iron, and the water was perhaps the last drops of a 5-million-year-old salt water lake. However, what really had scientists puzzled for all these years was the origin of the waterfall. Now, a new study published in the Journal of Glaciology has revealed that the Blood Falls can be traced to a large lake that has been trapped under the ice for 1 million years. Furthermore, the fall gets its blood-like appearance from iron-rich salty water, since the iron turns the brine red when it meets the air. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado and the University of Alaska. The team took the help of radio-echo sounding to transmit and receive electrical pulses on the glacier. Subsequently, the group of researchers was able to see what was taking place under the ice. The research showed that liquid water can exist for a long duration of time beneath frozen glaciers, even for as long as million years. While it sounds counterintuitive, water releases heat as it freezes, and that heat warms the surrounding colder ice, glaciologist Erin Pettit said, according to Mashable. Taylor Glacier is now the coldest known glacier to have persistently flowing water. The researcher also said that salty water has a lower freezing temperature that is also helpful for liquid water to stay that way. Co-author of the study, Jessica Badgeley, added that the discovery opens the doors to knowing the part played by liquid water -- fresh or salty -- in other exceedingly cold glaciers or permafrost environments. Google has reportedly updated its end-of-life support page to reflect when it will stop providing security updates for the current-gen Pixel devices. Usually, Google offers Android updates for devices for the first two years and security updates for either three years or 18 months after the device runs out of stock in the Google Store, whichever is longer. According to GSMArena, the Google Pixel handsets, Pixel and the Pixel XL, both released in October 2016, will receive guaranteed Android version updates through October 2018. This means that Pixel users will not get any updates after October 2018. The search giant has clearly noted in its support page that the Pixel phones will get new Android version update for at least two years from the time when the device was first made available on the Google Store. "After 2 years, we can't guarantee additional updates," the support page reads. As far as security updates are concerned, the Pixel handsets will not get guaranteed security updates after October 2019. Among other devices, the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X will get Android version updates till September 2017 and security updates until September 2018, 9To5Google reported. Google has stated that users who bought Nexus or Pixel device from the Google Store will get the updates within two weeks of release. However, the devices bought from elsewhere may take longer to receive the update. In related news, Google is expected to roll out the next-gen Pixel handsets, possibly dubbed as Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, sometime in October 2017, the same month when the original Pixel handsets were announced in 2016. Some of the possible Google Pixel 2's specs include a bezel-less curved OLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, Adreno 540 GPU, X16 mobile LTE modem chip, 6GB RAM, Android O, an IP68 rating and Qualcomm's QuickCharge 3.0 feature with USB-C port. Google is yet to officially announce about the upcoming PIxel handsets. Oslo, Norway, 28 April 2017 Vistin Pharma ASA (OSE: VISTIN), please find attached the call for the annual general meeting in Vistin Pharma, to be held on 24 May at 14:00 CET at stensjveien 27, Oslo, including the recommendation from the Election Committee. The formal call has been sent to all shareholders registered in the Norwegian Central Security Depository (VPS). The complete set of documents relating to the annual general meeting will be made available on www.vistin.com/investors/category455.html. For further information, please contact: Gunnar Manum CFO +47 95 17 91 90 gunnar.manum@vistin.com English Lithuanian Panevezys, Lithuania, 2017-04-28 12:01 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AB Linas General Meeting of Shareholders didnt take place on April 28, 2017 because there was no quorum. Repeated General Meeting of Shareholders of AB Linas (company code 147689083, address S. Kerbedzio str. 23, Panevezys) will be held on May 16, 2017 acc.to the decision and initiative of the Board. Date of the meeting May 16, 2017, Tuesday. Time of the meeting 12:00 a.m. Registration of participants from 11:00 a.m. till 11:45 a.m. Place of the meeting AB Linas premises, S. Kerbedzio str. 23, Panevezys. Agenda of the meeting: 1. The conclusion of the auditor about consolidated and Companys annual financial reports set of year 2016 and annual report. 2. Confirmation of consolidated and Companys annual financial reports set of year 2016 and presentation of consolidated annual report. 3. Companys allotment of profit (loss). 4. Cancellation of Companys members of the Board. 5. Election of the members of audit committee. 6. Election of the audit company. 7. Formation of the Companys Supervisory Council. 8. Election of Companys members of the Supervisory Council. 9. Confirmation of companys statute of new edition and authorization. The accounting date of Repeated General Meeting of Shareholders is May 09, 2017. In the Repeated General Meeting of Shareholders have the right to participate and vote persons who were companys shareholders at the end of accounting date (May 09, 2017), personally or their authorized persons, or persons with whom voting right transferring contract is signed. The Company doesnt form the right to participate and to vote in the meeting with the help of electronic communication equipment. Decision projects on the agenda, documents which will be presented for General meeting of Shareholders will be announced in companys web page http://www.linas.lt . Companys shareholders have the right to acquaint with this information on working days from 9:00 a.m till 16:00 a.m. at companys premises S. Kerbedzio str.23, Panevezys. Shareholders the shares of whom provide not less than 1/20 of all votes, can offer new decision projects for the questions which are included or will be included into the agenda of the meeting. Offers can be presented in written form or by e-mail. The offers in written form can be taken till May 16, 2017, 10:00 a.m. (on working days) to the companys premises or sent by registered letter to address S. Kerbedzio str.23, LT-35114, Panevezys. Offers by e-mail are sent to address office@linas.lt . During the meeting there will be discussed only offers received in the company till May 16, 2017, 10:00 a.m. Shareholders have the right to provide questions in relation with agenda of the meeting in advance. Shareholders can provide questions by e-mail office@linas.lt not later than 3 working days till the meeting. The company will present answers by e-mail till the meeting. The company has the right not to give answers to shareholders questions if they are in relation with companys commercial (production) or confidential information. All the persons who are participating in General Meeting of Shareholders and have the right o vote have to present the document certifying person identification. Representative of the shareholder for the meeting has to present the original of authorization acc.to law indicated form and content. The company doesnt indicate special form of authorization. The shareholder has the right with the help of electronic communication equipment to authorize other natural or legal person to participate and to vote in the meeting in the name of shareholder. The shareholder has to inform the company about the issued authorization by e-mail office@linas.lt not later than till the last working day 16:00 p.m. to the meeting. In the report the shareholder has to indicate web page from which the shareholders electronic signature checking program could be sent for free. It would be able to vote on the Repeated General Meeting of Shareholders questions completing the general voting bulletin in written in advance. Printed general voting bulletin is available at companys premises, address S. Kerbedzio str.23, Panevezys. If the shareholder requires, then the company is sending general voting bulletin by registered letter or handle with written confirmation not later than 10 days till the meeting. Shareholder or his authorized person has to sign general voting bulletin. If the general voting bulletin is signed by the representative, then the document confirming his right for voting has to be added to the bulletin. Properly completed voting bulletins with the attached documents should be presented to the company personally, through authorized person or by registered letter to the address S. Kerbedzio str.23, LT-35114, Panevezys, not later than the last working day to up to the meeting. PRESS RELEASE Maisons du Monde: AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION FOR THE ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING OF MAY 19, 2017 Nantes, April 28, 2017, Maisons du Monde (Euronext Paris: MDM, ISIN Code: FR0013153541) announces that its Annual Shareholders' Meeting (Ordinary and Extraordinary Meeting) will take place on Friday, May 19, 2017 at 3.00pm at the Maison des Travaux Publics, 3 rue de Berri 75008 Paris - France. The statutory Notice of Meeting and an additional Notice (French version only) were published in France's official legal journal ("BALO") on April 14 and April 28, 2017. In accordance with the applicable regulations, the Notice of Annual General Meeting, which includes the agenda, proposed resolutions and information on how participate in and vote at the Meeting, are available for consultation from this day on the Company's website at www.maisonsdumondeipo.com, under Shareholders'Meeting. All the documents and information relating to the Annual Shareholders' Meeting are also available to shareholders at the Company's head office at Le Portereau , 44120 Vertou, France, in accordance with the applicable regulations, and for consultation on the Company's website at www.maisonsdumondeipo.com, under Shareholders'Meeting. Subject to the limits and timeframes provided for in the applicable laws and regulations, shareholders may ask that these documents be sent directly to them by submitting a written request by post to SOCIETE GENERALE - Service des Assemblees - CS 30812 - 44308 Nantes cedex 3 - France. *** About Maisons du Monde Maisons du Monde is a creator of inspirational lifestyle universes in the homeware industry, offering distinctive and affordable decoration and furniture collections that showcase multiple styles. The Group develops its business through an integrated and complementary omnichannel approach, leveraging its international network of stores, websites and catalogues. The Group was founded in France in 1996 and has profitably expanded across Europe since 2003. The Group reported customer sales of 882 million and EBITDA of 123 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. In 2016, the Group operated 288 stores in seven countries including France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, and Luxembourg, and derived over 36% of its sales from outside France. The Group has also built a successful complementary and comprehensive online shopping website, sales from which grew 37% per year on average between 2010 and 2016. The website is available in eleven countries: the seven countries where the Group operates stores plus Austria, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom. In 2016, online sales represented 19% of the Group's customer sales. www.maisonsdumondeipo.com Contacts Lithuanian English Panevezys, Lithuania, 2017-04-28 12:07 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Draft Resolutions suggested by the Board of AB Linas for the Repeated Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on 16 May 2017: 1. Audit conclusion regarding the consolidated and Companys Annual Financial Accountability and Annual Report of year 2016. Project of resolution: to pay attention to the auditors conclusions confirming AB Linas consolidated and Companys financial accountability of year 2016 and to agree to the consolidated annual report of the company of year 2016. 2. Confirmation of consolidated and companys annual financial accountability of year 2016 and presentation of consolidated annual report. Project of resolution: to confirm AB Linas consolidated and companys annual financial accountability and to agree to consolidated annual report of year 2016. 3. Companys profit (loss) allocation of year 2016. Project of resolution: to confirm AB Linas profit (loss) allocation: 1) retained loss of the previous financial year at the end of the accounting year 638.262 EUR; 2) net profit of the accounting year 442.399 EUR; 3) profit (loss) of the accounting financial year unrecognized in the statement of comprehensive income - 0 EUR; 4) transfers from mandatory reserve 0 EUR; 5) transfers from reserve for business projects 0 EUR; 6) transfers from reserve for the support 0 EUR; 7) transfers from profit for dividend paying 0 EUR; 8) shareholders contributions to cover companys looses 0 EUR; 9) allocated loss totally 195.863 EUR; 10) share of profit set for the mandatory reserve 0 EUR; 11) share of profit set for the reserve for purchase of own shares 0 EUR; 12) share of profit set to other reserves 0 EUR; 13) share of profit set for dividend paying 0 EUR; 14) share of profit set for annual allowances (bonuses) for the members of the board, for the employees premiums and other purposes 0 EUR; 15) retained loss at the end of the financial year transferred to the next financial year 195.863 EUR. 4. Cancellation of Companys members of the Board. Project of resolution: to recall Ramunas Lenciauskas, Daiva Minkeviciene and Gintare Lenciauske from the Companys members of the Board. 5. Election of the members of audit committee. Project of decision: the Companys audit committee members to propose to elect Lina Liesyte and Justina Ryskiene. 6. Election of the audit company. Project of resolution: to elect audit company UAB Audito sprendimai to the position of the auditors of AB Linas for year 2017-2019. 7. Formation of the Companys Supervisory Council. Project of resolution: to form a collegial supervisory body of AB Linas Supervisory Council consisting of 3 (three) Supervisory Council Members. 8. Election of Companys members of the Supervisory Council. Project of resolution: to propose to elect to the Supervisory Council of the Company Gintare Lenciauske, Darius Burba, Virginijus Kundrotas, Darius Kazlauskas, Eimantas Lenciauskas . 9. Confirmation of Companys statute of new edition and authorization. Project of resolution: to confirm statute of new edition and to authorize company director Daiva Minkeviciene to sign them. The contract requires Keppel FloaTEC to provide engineering, technology and construction management support services for the Repsol Ca Rong Do Tension Leg Wellhead Platform (TLWP) to be built in Vietnam. It will be the first TLWP in Vietnam and, when installed, the first three-column TLWP in the offshore oil and gas industry. T K Das, president of Keppel FloaTEC, said: We are proud to contribute to the first Tension Leg Wellhead Platform in Vietnam. It is a testament to Keppel FloaTEC's technical strength and expertise, and the advantages our patented ETLP (Extended TLP) technology brings to this project. When completed, the TLWP will be deployed in the Ca Rong Do field development offshore southern Vietnam. The platform will be located in a water depth of 320 metres and host up to 20 wells including oil production, water injection and gas injection. Following a recent restructuring of FloaTEC LLC, the joint venture company between Keppel O&M and McDermott, the FloaTEC brand, intellectual properties and employees of FloaTEC LLC have been transferred to Keppel FloaTEC, to enable the latter to continue the business of the former. The $46.9m profit compares to a loss $1.51bn in FY2015 when the Japanese shipowner undertook a major restructuring. MOL reported revenues of $13.4bn for FY2016 with an operating profit ratio of 0.2%. By segment MOLs bulkships division comprising tankers and dry bulk made JPY39bn ($351m) profit for FY2016, while containerships reported a JPY32.8bn loss, ferries and coastal ro-ro vessel a JPY42.1bn profit, and associated businesses JPY111.7bn. Looking ahead MOL forecast a doubling of net profit in FY2017 ended 31 March 2018 with a $90.9m net profit. Revenues for FY2017 were forecast at $14.6m. Commenting on the dry bulk market outlook MOL said: The level of the dry bulker market is expected to remain higher than the current fiscal year due to a certain level of the fleet demand on the back of an increase in cargo volumes of iron ore due to firm demand from China, a major Brazilian resource companys plan to increase production, and an increase in grain shipments from South America, and other factors, while showing a damping effect on growth in fleet supply. For the crude tanker market it said: With respect to the very large crude oil carrier (VLCC) market, despite expectations of an increase in long-distance trade from West Africa bound for Asia to supplement slowing crude oil cargo volumes from the Middle East stemming from OPEC production reductions, because the high level of vessel supply seen in 2016 will continue, we are assuming the market will follow a weakening trend. Meanwhile the trend for container shipping was positive and MOL said: With respect to containerships, we expect the Asia-North America cargo volumes to continue to be firm on the back of the strong U.S. economy. On Asia-Europe routes, we also expect cargo volumes from Asia to be firm as well based on current demand levels. English Finnish Tecnotree Corporation Stock Exchange Release 28 April 2017 at 2pm TECNOTREE CORPORATION SHORT REPORT 1 JAN 31 MAR 2017 (UNAUDITED) Tecnotree is a global provider of IT solutions for the management of services, products, customers and revenue for Communications Service Providers. Tecnotree helps customers to monetise and transform their business towards a marketplace of digital services. Together with its customers, Tecnotree empowers people to self-serve, engage and take control of their own digital life. FIRST QUARTER RESULT IMPROVED KEY FIGURES 1-3/ 2017 1-3/ 2016 1-12/ 2016 Net sales, MEUR 12.1 13.0 60.1 Adjusted operating result, MEUR 1 0.1 -2.4 1.2 Operating result, MEUR -0.2 -2.4 -10.1 Result before taxes, MEUR -1.3 -3.7 -5.6 Adjusted result for the period, MEUR 2 -1.9 -4.6 -4.2 Result for the period -2.2 -4.6 -6.3 Earnings per share, basic, EUR -0.02 -0.04 -0.05 Order book, MEUR 28.3 28.2 24.9 Cash flow after investments, MEUR 2.6 -1.9 0.4 Change in cash and cash equivalents, MEUR -2.1 -2.9 -1.7 Cash and cash equivalents, MEUR 1.4 3.3 3.5 Equity ratio % 16.3 24.5 23.9 Net gearing % 255.7 149.0 145.2 Personnel at end of period 771 922 818 1 Adjusted operating result = operating result without one-time costs. Details of these are given in the section Result analysis. 2 Adjusted result for the period = result for the period without one-time costs in the operating costs and Q4/16 restructuring income in financial financial items. CEO Padma Ravichander: In many ways Q1-2017, can be defining quarter for Tecnotree. This quarter substantiated our belief in the company and the path undertaken in the last few months. At the top level, the quarter had a revenue of EUR 12.1 million, which is about 7% less than the same quarter last year (13.0). As explained in our earlier quarter results announcement, the company has been facing significant reduction in LATAM sales region and challenges in the delivery of new products. In the last few months, the focus has been to consolidate existing business opportunities and has been successful in consolidating the revenue. The bigger success in the quarter has been on the cost optimisation. Many initiatives were undertaken from Q3 -2016, which have resulted in significant reduction in operating costs. The total operating costs for the quarter is EUR 10.8 million, which is the lowest in last many quarters. This is lower by 20% compared to same quarter in previous year (13.5). The operative EBIT, without one-time costs for the quarter is EUR 0.1 million against (-2.4) in the same quarter of 2016. While the result for the quarter is moderate, the turnaround of adjusted ebit is significant and reaffirms that the company is moving in the right direction. The cash flow after the investments for the quarter was EUR 2.6 million. During this quarter substantial amounts were received from a LATAM customer with whom the company had initiated a settlement agreement in Q4-2016. Similarly good inflows were recorded in the other business regions as well. In the first quarter of 2017, Tecnotree repatriated remarkable amount of receivables from its customer in Latin America, which was used for repaying long-term debts. Tecnotree won a few major new orders during the quarter. We won a Customer Life Cycle Management and Self Care product implementation for one of the largest operators in Western Africa and a Commerce engine upgrade for our Central American Customer. Future scenario We continue our efforts in cost minimisation and have initiated a plan for further reduction of costs by EUR 5 million, which will help the company financially in 2017 and 2018. We are encouraged by the improved results of this quarter compared to last year and are equally committed to continuing our internal transformation journey to further reduce Opex, simplify our portfolio of products, and win in the marketplace with improved execution, quality and agility and innovative business models. PROSPECTS IN 2017 The liquidity of the company continues to be extremely tight, its financial situation and liquidity remain critical. The amount of overdue trade payables has continued to increase and, according to the estimated cash flow, will be negative in Q2 2017. At the time of publication of the financial statements, there is no certainty about the 12-month sufficiency of long-term, short-term and working capital financing. The company is engaged aggressively to collect its receivables from the key customers and is also negotiating with financiers on short term additional funding to secure liquidity. In addition, the company is also seeking long-term financing, which could be implemented through company or restructuring arrangements. The companys ability as going concern is dependent on the successful completion of the financing transactions that are currently under negotiations and its ability to continue to execute the payment programs. The company will continue the EUR 5 million saving program initiated last year. Given the current critical financial situation of the company, in addition Tecnotree announced in March about EUR 5 million further cost cuts in 2017. The company expects to achieve its targets by reducing rented premises, reducing travel expenses, focusing on locations, reducing external services and personnel costs. The company continues increased focus on further improvements of the quality and timeliness of deliveries. However, Tecnotree does not provide an annual outlook for 2017 due to several uncertainty factors having impact on customer investments. These uncertainty factors relate to a fluctuation in dollar as well as the softening macroeconomic environment and political instability in some of its key markets in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The company estimates that quarterly fluctuations are significant. FINANCIAL INFORMATION A press conference for analysts, investors and media will be held on Friday, 28 April 2017 at 10.00 am in Hotel Scandic Simonkentta, conference room Tapiola, 1 floor, address Simonkatu 9, Helsinki. The conference will be held in English. The Q1/2017 interim report will be presented by Padma Ravichander, CEO. The material to be presented at the press conference will be available at www.tecnotree.com. Tecnotree is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki (TEM1V). For more information, please visit www.tecnotree.com. TECNOTREE CORPORATION Board of Directors FURTHER INFORMATION Further information, investors and media: Padma Ravichander, CEO, tel +97 156 414 1420 Kirsti Parvi, CFO, tel +358 50 5174569 Press Release April 28, 2017 Legarda to Convene Green Climate Fund Dialogue in PHL, Says Programs Must Be Transformational Senator Loren Legarda today said she will convene a national dialogue for stakeholders on the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in the Philippines to ensure that the country prioritizes the right programs for funding and to involve the private sector and non-profit organizations. Legarda made the statement at the High Level Segment of the Green Climate Fund Structured Dialogue in Asia in Bali, Indonesia, moderated by GCF Executive Director, Ambassador Howard Bamsey. As Chair of the Senate Committees on Climate Change and Finance, Legarda joined ministers of finance and environment from Laos, Nepal, Pakistan and Malaysia at the high level panel. "We must heighten the level of awareness among our national government agencies and the domestic private sector on the GCF. A national structured dialogue would gather all government agencies concerned and discuss what proposals to pursue. We also need to involve the private sector so that they can also be accredited entities that can access funding from the GCF," said Legarda. "We hope that the GCF would expedite the accreditation of our state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines as a national implementing entity (NIE)," she added. The Senator said that even without an accredited NIE yet, proposals can already be prepared for GCF support such as mangroves, bamboos and coral reef rehabilitation and protection, and renewable energy projects especially in unelectrified areas. The Philippines is preparing to submit a grant proposal to GCF by December 2017 titled, "Build the resilience of poor communities in the Philippines," which will benefit at least 10 million farmers, 500 local government units covering at least 19 provinces. "We must ensure that our programs are transformational as indeed envisioned by the GCF, and that these projects would lead to the implementation of our environmental laws and directly benefit our people. The ongoing ASEAN Summit in Manila is a venue where these issues can be discussed because nations in Southeast Asia are facing similar problems. Most of us are vulnerable developing nations, but we must translate these challenges into opportunities to promote sustainable and equitable development," Legarda explained. She added, "I hope that the GCF can adopt a policy that outlines the rights of indigenous peoples as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and for the Fund to strengthen its country ownership guidelines to include women and indigenous peoples." Moreover, the GCF can devote specific readiness funding for outreach and engagement with civil society organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders that will help strengthen capacities and understanding on gender, indigenous peoples and safeguards; and to establish formal engagement and consultation processes with stakeholders, including national coordination mechanisms that allow participatory monitoring in partnership with National Designated Authorities (NDAs). Legarda also sought the support of the GCF Secretariat in crafting legislation for the creation of green banks in the Philippines. "I will lead the development of policy for the creation of green banks for financing climate adaptation and mitigation, as well as disaster risk reduction and management programs, because we need to involve the private sector in striking a balance between economic development and environmental protection," she said. Currently pending in the Philippine Senate is Legarda's proposed measure to establish environmental units in every banking institution to assess and ensure that projects subject of financing applications as well as collateral offered as security shall conform to environmental laws. The GCF was established by the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to play a central role in mobilizing and channeling the financial resources required to enable a paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate resilient pathways in developing countries. The GCF aims to provide financing through financial instruments such as loans, equity, guarantees, and grants. The GCF Structured Dialogue in Asia from April 26-29, 2017 in Bali, Indonesia aims to discuss with Asian countries how they can access the Fund. Press Release April 28, 2017 Senate to pass 3 landmark bills as session resumes on Tuesday The Senate will pass on third and final reading three landmark bills - including reforms to the country's criminal justice system, mental health sector and local innovation and entrepreneurship - as it resumes its sessions on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III earlier said the Senate is "very eager" to resume its work following the Lenten recess, starting with the approval of the amendments to the Revised Penal Code (SBN 14), Mental Health Act of 2017 (SBN 1354) and the Philippine Innovation Act (SBN 1355). The amendments to the Revised Penal Code, authored and sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, would "adjust the amounts stipulated in various provisions of the 80-year old Revised Penal Code to their present values, in order to ensure the proportionality of punishment." The Mental Health Act of 2017, primarily authored and sponsored by Senator Risa Hontiveros, aimed to "promote mental health, promulgate a national mental health policy towards the enhancement of integrated mental health services, and the promotion and protection of persons utilizing mental health services," among others. The Philippine Innovation Act, authored and sponsored by Senator Win Gatchalian, would "promote innovation and internationalization activities of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)," through the creation of the interagency National Innovation Council and other programs. With nearly five weeks before Congress goes on sine die adjournment on June, Pimentel said the proposed shift to federalism remains the "highest priority" for the Senate. "We will continue to push for the legislative mechanism which will start the process of shifting to a federal government, in order to bring solutions to some of the country's long-standing ills and problems," he said. Pimentel said other bills considered as common priority measures by both houses of Congress include the Philippine Passport Act, Estate Tax Reform Act, Enhanced Universal Healthcare Act, Free Irrigation Services Act, Agrarian and Agricultural Credit Condonation Act, Extension of Driver's License Validity Act, One Town: One Doctor Act, Income Tax Reform Act, Wage Rationalization Act; Occupational Safety and Health Standards Acts, Community Service in Lieu of Imprisonment for the Penalty of Arresto Menor Act, Family Code of the Philippines Amendments; Public Service Act Amendments, Department of Housing and Urban Development Act; Allowable/Recoverable System Loss Act, Expand Coverage of Local Absentee Voting Act; Salary Standardization Law IV; Government Procurement Reform Act Amendments, Revision of the Constitution, National ID System, Criminal Investigation Act, Fair Election Act Amendment, End of Endo/Contractualization Act, Anti-Hazing Law Amendments, and the Unified Uniformed Personnel Retirement benefits and Pension Reform Act. The annual general meeting in Saga Tankers ASA will take place on 24 May 2017 at 10.00hrs (CET) at the premises of the Company at Sjolyst Plass 2, 6th floor in Oslo, Norway. Shareholders may submit their votes electronically in advance. Please see the instructions in the notice. Please find the enclosed Notice of Annual General Meeting. The Notice and the corresponding attachments will be available on the company's webpage www.sagatankers.no under "Investor Relations". For further information, please contact: CEO Espen Lundaas +47 92 43 14 17 BART investigators have made their first arrest in connection with last Saturday evenings takeover robbery by dozens of juveniles who mobbed a train at Coliseum Station in Oakland, officials said Friday. The arrest of a male juvenile took place around 12:30 p.m. Friday, said Jeffrey Jennings, BARTs acting police chief. No details were released about where the arrest took place or where the suspect lives. More warrants for multiple identified suspects on the way, BART said in a tweet announcing the initial arrest. The arrest came a day after Jennings declared an rare state of emergency for his department in response to a rise in robberies and other crimes on BART. Such declarations have typically happened in the past during protests, not amid crime concerns. Under the declaration, BART officers must work mandatory overtime and cannot take discretionary time off. In the mob robbery, BART said, at least 40 juveniles jumped the fare gates and rushed aboard at least two cars of a Dublin-bound train at Coliseum Station shortly before 9:30 p.m. Some members of the group held doors open, stalling the train, while others ran through cars and some robbed and assaulted passengers. By the time BART police arrived, five minutes after the initial call for help from the station, the youths had already scattered. Overall, crime was up on BART by roughly 22 percent in the first three months of 2017 compared to the same period last year, Jennings told the BART board of directors on Thursday at an unusual evening meeting. Much of the spike involved the theft of cell phones and other electronic devices. The rise comes despite a drop so far in 2017 in car break-ins, as well as automobile and bicycle thefts, Jennings said. It also reverses three years of declining crime rates. 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. John King is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron A new BART train that was on a test run broke down at the Lake Merritt Station in Oakland early Friday, causing delays that lasted into the peak morning commute hours, officials said. The delays were resolved by about 9:15 a.m., according to BART spokesman Jim Allison, but not before dozens of trains ran late after the disabled train was stuck on the tracks. It was a four-car train made up of the new cars that were out for testing overnight, Allison said. BART is looking to expand its service with 1,081 new cars, 10 of which were delivered last year and are being tested before they operate with passengers. Another 775 cars are on order and scheudled to arrive over the next six years. The train broke down shortly before 5 a.m., and trains were single-tracking through Lake Merritt station until shortly after 6 a.m., when the train was towed to a side track near the Bay Fair Station, Allison said. Even after the track was cleared, however, built-up traffic caused systemwide delays. Just as those delays were clearing up, another problem occurred, this time in San Francisco, Allison said. What compounded the issue was that at 8:15, there was a train at Montgomery Station that had a door that wouldnt close, and we actually had to take that train out of service. he said. We were almost back on time and then that happened it cost us another hour, he said. Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com When U.S. Homeland Security agents requested local help in a major gang bust, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart was hesitant. He was happy to send deputies to break up a gang, but didnt want them to assist in the arrests of people whose only offense was being in the country illegally. So he requested plans for the operation, and when he didnt get the information he needed, he steered clear. Police in the city of Santa Cruz had been involved in the investigation for five years and joined in the Feb. 13 raids. I obviously follow national politics, and I saw the large number of immigration raids, Hart said. My initial impression was there may be more to this story than what Im being told. The sheriffs fears were realized when Homeland Security Investigations, known as HSI, swarmed Santa Cruz and arrested not just alleged MS-13 members but others suspected only of immigration violations actions known as collateral arrests. The Santa Cruz Police Department soon apologized for participating, and what could have been a visible victory in the fight against a notorious gang became, at least in part, a symbol of something else. Theres a fundamental divide between HSI, whose 6,200 agents do critical work, and many police forces in the Bay Area and beyond one that could stall cooperation on investigations of gangsters, sex traffickers and other criminals. HSI, a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is now mandated to make collateral immigration arrests of nontargeted individuals found at the scene of operations, according to a Homeland Security source, while many police officials said in interviews that they will refuse to cooperate if such arrests are on the table. It creates a wedge because local law enforcement wants to cooperate on human smuggling, child pornography and narcotic cases, but at the same time they need to have the trust of their local communities, said George Gascon, the district attorney of San Francisco. Striking that balance there becomes very difficult. Asked in an interview this month whether HSI agents were mandated to make collateral arrests, Ryan Spradlin, the agencys special agent in charge in San Francisco, said executive orders signed by President Trump had changed his agents ability to use discretion on the ground to not make arrests. But he said they still made case-by-case determinations. What Santa Cruz leaders did not know before the February raids is that they were on the front lines of a big shift in policy under Trump. Having HSI agents make collateral arrests gives the administration an instant way to boost the number of federal agents making immigration arrests, which is consistent with priorities laid out in executive orders. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Currently, there are more HSI agents than the 5,800 deportation officers within ICE, according to a 2016 budget brief. It adds up to a dilemma for HSI, the largest investigative arm of Homeland Security with 26 offices around the country. The agents work separately from their ICE counterparts, and theyve generally avoided immigration-only arrests during operations in California though theyve always had the discretion to make them. If HSI has shifted or expanded its mission ... you have effectively doubled immigration enforcement officers in the U.S. said Pratheepan Gulasekaram, an immigration expert and professor at Santa Clara University School of Law. That is a significant increase without having to seek another congressional appropriation. Moreover, the new mandate threatens a fruitful, if fragile, relationship the agents have with Bay Area authorities who in many cases are actively seeking to assure their communities they are not in the business of immigration enforcement. They say they want to make sure undocumented immigrants feel safe reporting crimes, sending their children to school and accessing health care. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle HSI targets cross-border criminal activity and organizations that exploit Americas travel, trade, financial and immigration systems, according to its own materials. The group is key in the fight against MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, which has operated in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Mexico, Central America and many other places. The Department of Justice has the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security has Homeland Security Investigations, Spradlin said. We are in the business of public safety and national security, and a lot of folks dont know that. HSI works at times with local agencies on wide-ranging criminal investigations. In the past, the balance worked cities like Santa Cruz simply did not have the resources to conduct complicated, international investigations involving community troublemakers, while their federal partners needed city police for their local knowledge. In the Bay Area in recent years, joint investigations have yielded major busts, including of a sex-trafficking ring in Emeryville. HSI, local and state authorities said they discovered a massage parlor that was actually a brothel, exploiting young women and replacing them every few weeks. Joint operations have also led to the seizure of $39 million in counterfeit sports-related items, and numerous child-pornography cases. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Spradlin said the Santa Cruz raids had not seriously hurt HSIs relationships with local agencies. While Santa Cruz police officials said recently that an HSI agent could no longer keep a desk at the department, they noted that they would continue to work with the agency. Local partners are anxious about immigration arrests, Spradlin said, but the arrests are legal and proper. He said it was important for the agency to be open and candid as to what would happen on the ground in the operations. At the end of the day, it is against federal law, he said of immigration violations. We dont make the determination as far as whats law and whats not. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle But around the Bay Area, leaders of police departments and sheriffs offices said they will look for assurances from HSI perhaps asking for written agreements spelling out that secondary immigration checks will not happen. 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. We do not want to be a part of any law enforcement agency that is indiscriminately, in the wake of a felonious arrest, taking people to jail only for an immigration violation, said San Rafael Police Chief Diana Bishop, whose city has a large community of Latino immigrants. We cant be a safe city without people trusting their police a relationship weve really tried to build over the years. Police Chief Allwyn Brown of Richmond, which also has a sizable immigrant community, said that what happened in the Santa Cruz operation would make it more difficult for the agency to get cooperation in the future. After the Santa Cruz raids, more than a dozen law enforcement agencies in Santa Clara County, including the San Jose police force, released a letter saying they would not assist in immigration arrests. In San Francisco, police are prohibited from enforcing or assisting (federal agents) in enforcing immigration laws, said Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a department spokesman. Professor Gulasekaram said local agencies have a difficult choice to make about the nature of their relationship with immigrant communities. And indeed, in Santa Cruz, the fallout from the gang operation was significant. At a City Council meeting in late February, Jose Lucas, a resident of the city for 16 years, stood up and told the assembly that his daughter had been arrested in the operation. She was one of 11 people arrested for immigration-only offenses, while 10 alleged MS-13 associates were snagged. Her only crime is to be here illegally, he said. He said he would no longer trust police in the city because they arrested people that hadnt done anything wrong, just because they were in those homes. ... Now, we drive in fear when a cop is driving behind us. While Santa Cruz strengthened its sanctuary laws after the raids, the Trump administration called out the city for its reaction to the operation. In a letter warning nine communities with sanctuary laws that they were at risk of losing federal funding, the Justice Department said Santa Cruz leaders seemed more concerned with reassuring illegal immigrants that the raid was unrelated to immigration than with warning other MS-13 members that they were next. Santa Cruz Mayor Cynthia Chase called the conflict psychologically damaging. It created a ripple effect of fear and mistrust, she said, and thats something thats going to take us a while to recover from. Hamed Aleaziz is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: haleaziz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @haleaziz Sarah Ravani/The Chronicle Three San Francisco officers were injured when two police cruisers crashed into each other while responding to a call for backup in the Mission Thursday night, officials said. The cars both had their lights and sirens on as they responded to the call for backup at 15th and Valencia streets about 10:45 p.m., said Sgt. Michael Andraychak. President Trump signed an executive order Friday seeking to expand offshore oil and gas drilling, a move that triggered an immediate backlash in California, where wounds are still raw from past fights to protect the states coastal waters. Trumps action calls for the Department of the Interior to reconsider allowing energy development in areas that President Obama put off-limits, many of which have been taboo for decades. It also directs federal agencies to review restrictions in spots that recently won protection as national marine sanctuaries. While not naming California directly, the order means swaths of the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans that arent part of the federal governments oil leasing plan today could be added to the drilling docket. That includes waters near La Jolla, Malibu and Mendocino that have long been eyed by energy companies. Furthermore, sanctuary sites established within the past decade, including a 2015 addition to the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary off the Sonoma County coast, could lose their status. The order also makes it more difficult to establish new marine sanctuaries, complicating plans for the proposed Chumash Sanctuary offshore of San Luis Obispo County. Associated Press It hasnt been, really, since the 1980s that weve had any realistic threat of new drilling in California up until now, said Richard Charter, a Bodega Bay resident and senior fellow at the Ocean Foundation, a marine conservation group. The Trump administration has really touched a nerve here, said Charter, who has battled drilling efforts for decades. The first sound that youre going to hear is every lawyer who has ever worked on this opening up their briefcase. The presidents executive action is the latest effort to rewrite Obamas environmental policies, following an announcement earlier in the week of a similar review of protections for the countrys national monuments. At a White House briefing Friday, Trump billed the America First Offshore Energy Executive Order as critical for the economy and national defense. Renewed offshore energy production will reduce the cost of energy, create countless new jobs and make America more secure and far more energy independent, Trump said. The administration maintains that too much of the nations outer continental shelf, about 94 percent, is out of bounds for energy companies. The oil industry agrees, and widely praised the executive order. Developing our abundant offshore energy resources is a critical part of a robust, forward-looking energy policy that will secure our nations energy future and strengthen the U.S. energy renaissance, said Jack Gerard, president and chief executive of the American Petroleum Institute, a trade association representing oil and gas interests. In California, more than two dozen oil rigs operate off the coast, all in the southern half of the state, though no new drilling has commenced since the 1980s. The state in 1969 banned new oil leases within 3 miles of the coast, where the state has jurisdiction, and the federal government has not issued a new lease in the federal waters off California since 1984. While the process for approving new leases is arduous, lawmakers and environmentalists in the West are taking the threat seriously, pledging not only to fight attempts to undo protections but also to add more of them. State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, who represents an area where a 1969 oil spill helped propel the modern environmental movement, said Friday that shell introduce legislation next week to outlaw new drilling infrastructure. Although the state doesnt have a say over federal waters, her bill would prohibit California agencies like the State Lands Commission from approving new pipelines or piers needed to bring oil ashore. President Trump and his oil cronies may want to drill, Jackson said, but we are going to prevent that from being feasible. Meanwhile, 27 U.S. senators, including California Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, penned a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke asking him to respect the federal governments current five-year plan for selling oil leases. Before leaving office, Obama narrowed the areas where the government would allow drilling through 2022, removing chunks of ocean along the southeast Atlantic coast and in the Arctic. Waters off the California coast have long been excluded from the leasing plan, at the demand of Congress. The U.S. senators opposing Trumps order fear that more oil leases would not only heighten the risk of a major spill but contribute to global warming. This issue was settled, Feinstein said in an email to The Chronicle. Coastal communities made it clear they dont want offshore drilling. The presidents executive order ignores those concerns and the real threat of climate change to give oil and gas companies access to new areas that they do not need. 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. Issuing a new drilling lease, should the administration decide to move forward, would likely take at least two years and involve significant environmental study and public hearings, if not a prolonged legal battle. Besides calling for a review of the leasing plan, Trumps order appears to target Obamas permanent ban on drilling in the Arctics Beaufort and Chukchi seas. The former president tapped the obscure Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953 last year to safeguard the Alaskan coast, and legal experts say its unclear whether the current administration has unilateral authority to undo the protections. The executive order also directs the Interior Department to re-examine safety regulations for oil platforms drawn up in the wake of the devastating 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. For marine sanctuaries, Trumps action calls on federal agencies to review all of the sanctuaries created or expanded in the past 10 years, assessing their potential to produce energy or minerals, and report back in six months. No new sanctuaries can be created without similar review. While the oil industry may be enthusiastic about the presidents order, oil prices remain relatively low and companies may choose to continue meeting consumer demand through less expensive means, like fracking, instead of setting their sights offshore, experts say. However, they might see a timely opportunity to secure ocean-drilling leases for the future. Franz Matzner, director of the Natural Resources Defense Councils Beyond Oil Initiative, said the sale of oil leases may find its biggest opponent in the public. When you ask Americans what they prefer, they prefer investments like solar and wind, Matzner said. This is an unprecedented assault on the very concept of responsible management of our public lands. Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander The Embarcaderos aged piers are so integral to San Franciscos self-image that we forget how precarious they are, especially the ones that look robust but are structurally and seismically frail. Thats why if we want to preserve them, as we should, the smart approach is to treat them as works in progress. Works that might benefit by being used in ways that have been shunned in the past. Or at least exploring whether such changes make sense. This is the path being approached, warily, by the Port of San Francisco as part of its update to the citys waterfront plan. And though watchdogs are eager to sound the alarm, theres wisdom in pushing ahead. The plan dates to 1997, when the Embarcadero was a much different place. The double-deck concrete freeway that had walled off the waterfront from Folsom Street to Broadway was gone dismantled after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake but the Ferry Building hadnt yet come back to life. The Giants were designing their ballpark. The rebirth of Pier 15 as the Exploratorium was 16 years away. You couldnt enjoy a cocktail and Cajun food at Hard Water on Pier 3. The idea that Pier 24 might someday house photography exhibitions would have been ludicrous. Now all those things are in place, the byproducts of more than $1 billion in public and private investments from Pier 39 south to Mission Creek. Its a promenade that attracts city residents and first-time tourists alike, dotted with parks and plazas where you can take in the view and not spend a dime. The catch is that perhaps half of the 15 surviving piers built between 1909 and 1931 need sizable investments if theyre to endure as anything other than atmospheric relics. So the port has consultants studying how some might be restored without sizable public investment. Michael Macor/The Chronicle One alternative? To convert a pier or two into a hotel a use expressly forbidden by city voters in 1990. Its not a recommendation, merely a what-if scenario within a larger feasibility analysis discussed at two recent meetings of a subcommittee of the Waterfront Plan Working Group, an advisory board to the Port Commission. But the very notion of revisiting old edicts is stirring up complaints. Theyre going down the path of commercial use, which is a red flag, said Jon Golinger, a Telegraph Hill activist best known for running the campaign against the 8 Washington housing complex on the inland side of the Embarcadero that voters rejected in 2013. The port paid to develop a detailed analysis of hotel use, which is illegal currently. Putting aside the moralistic dismay that piers built to serve the industrial waterfront might be considered for commercial uses, Golinger is right in that 1990s Prop. H banned hotels. But its disingenuous to suggest that the voters will is sacrosanct and not to be questioned. Consider other ballot decrees from that time: An ordinance to recognize domestic partners legal relationships between gay people, a forerunner to same-sex marriage was overturned in 1989. Voters in 1997 wanted the Central Freeway to be rebuilt as an elevated structure connected to Fell and Oak streets, instead of replacing it with what now is Octavia Boulevard. Three years before the Loma Prieta earthquake, a ballot measure backed by City Hall power-brokers asked voters for permission to tear down the Embarcadero Freeway. The voters said no. Our city and our civil rights would be poorer if these outcomes had endured. Other cities allow hotels and even housing along their waterfronts, including such alluring destinations as Vancouver, British Columbia, and Boston. The key is to have full public access to the shoreline, with walkways along the perimeter and small docks for water taxis at a scale far beyond anything in the Bay Area. In other words, there are no simple absolutes for what an urban waterfront should be. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. This point was made at the last Land Use subcommittee meeting by Jennifer Lucchesi, the executive officer of the California State Lands Commission. Its the commissions job to determine whether changes to port-owned properties are acceptable uses under the public-trust doctrine that governs Californias shorelines. In the past, the commission has taken a conservative approach, but Lucchesi indicated theres interest in perhaps loosening things a little bit if the payoff is preservation of the remaining century-old piers. There is nothing in California like the Embarcadero. That might be an argument for taking a more flexible and creative approach to allowing uses like hotels that help finance seismic makeovers, Lucchesi said. Theres an evolutionary nature to the public trust and how it accommodates societys needs. Again, the study is just beginning. Port staff will lay things out to the subcommittee. Which may or may not make suggestions to the working group. Which is only advisory to the Port Commission. Which would decide if the idea should be taken to voters for a yes or no. Ah, San Francisco. Studying the hotel option makes a good deal of sense, said Rudy Nothenberg, the former city administrator who heads the working group. As long as we make it clear we understand that the voters ultimately will decide what to do. In other words, approach the topic with an open mind. And a respect for the fact that our waterfront, like our city, has a future as well as a past. John King is The San Francisco Chronicles urban design critic. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron For a city with a housing crisis, San Francisco sure has a lot of empty buildings. One of my favorite strolls had been along Mission Street from 15th to Cesar Chavez streets. But recently I had to stop doing that, because the empty storefronts and abandoned lots pockmarking the street had become too depressing. Its depressing not only because I remember what was there, but also because I look at the buildings and imagine their owners turning down the offers that have come their way, waiting for the craft brew pub or the high-end barber shop theyve decided must come, will come. In the meantime, the neighborhood waits. Theres little escape. Lately, Ive hopped over Cesar Chavez and started strolling up Mission toward Bernal Heights. Sometimes Ill loop down to Precita Park and amble down Peralta Avenue. But now the warehouse at 968 Peralta Ave. is empty. This week, the sheriffs office officially evicted the artists collective that lived there, Bernalhaus. It was one of the Bay Areas first court-ordered warehouse evictions since the horrific Ghost Ship fire killed 36 people in Oakland. I feel horrible, tenant Nathan Cottam said on the day of the eviction. Its destabilizing. Its a bad situation. The artists who lived there were responsible tenants: They paid their rent on time, they improved their living conditions and, after the Ghost Ship, they consulted the Fire Department for guidance on safety improvements and invested their own money in windows, smoke alarms and an extra exit door. Its also the site of a planned 49-unit apartment complex, valued at $7 million. The developer applied for a permit in July. So the sudden protestations of the landlord, Ron Erickson, that he discovered people were living there in violation of their lease terms are awfully suspicious. (Erickson didnt return my phone calls for comment.) Weve been here for more than a decade, and everyone in the neighborhood knows we live here, Cottam, who is a dancer and choreographer, told me. Since (Erickson) purchased the property, hes been trying to get this building torn down so he can put up condos. We fought for our rights. They lost. At least for now. The tenants two posttrial motions are set for hearing on Friday, May 5. These are residential units. They have been for a long time, Cottam said. The people in them deserved to be treated with dignity, not like this. Even the other side of Mission Street has tales of woe to tell. Recently, I passed by the burned-out block at Mission and 29th streets that was the site of a five-alarm fire last year. The businesses that were there, including the 3300 Club, were beloved. And I cant imagine the tenants who lived in the Graywood, a single-room-occupancy hotel that burned in the fire, have had an easy time finding new housing. Yet there hasnt been any rebuilding. That may be by design. Thanks to San Francisco law, the tenants in the Graywood have the right to return to new housing units when they are eventually built. But the longer it takes to build, the more those cash-strapped tenants are likely to drift away from San Francisco. The longer it takes, the less opportunity they have to invoke their right of return, Gabriel Medina, the policy director of the Mission Economic Development Agency, told me. Medinas organization collected contributions for the fire victims and made an offer on the former hotel site, which is now for sale, in the hopes of building affordable housing. But ultimately, the battle is larger than one empty building. In a time of housing crisis, its not acceptable to have these empty buildings hanging around, Medina said. Its not healthy for the neighborhoods or the people who have had to leave them. I concurred with him, because I feel like its not even healthy for the people who are just walking by. I guess Ill try walking South of Market next. Caille Millner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cmillner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @caillemillner This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When John Beck McConnicos father gave him his first timepiece at age 6, a vintage 1960s mechanical watch, he was first struck by its astonishing mechanics and unique style. But reflecting upon this pivotal experience today, McConnico, now 44, admits that he was ultimately most impressed by how the generous gift deepened their father-son connection. I was fascinated by the mechanics and look of it, he says from his North Oakland watch studio. But at that time, it was mostly about the emotional connection with the well-worn watch. The fact that it was given to me by my father and that he had it before I was born, was about passing something along to me. As McConnicos burgeoning interest in watch design and mechanization grew hed eventually take the vintage watch apart to see what made it tick he began collecting and later tinkering with and assembling timepieces. He knew it was only a matter of, ahem, time before hed design them. There was a moment I had about 25 years ago, when I decided I should try to design my own watch, he says. But the last 10 years of my life, after my mom died, has been about establishing priorities and focusing on whats really fulfilling. That included founding Bespoke Watch Projects, whose vintage-inspired watches trade on timeless mechanics, sophisticated design and deep-rooted emotion. The one-man operation formalized in 2013 as McConnico began prototyping, sourcing parts, assembling and collaborating with local leather workers and machinists to create limited-edition timepieces. His first models, inspired by traditional aviation and tool watch timepieces, featured modern-size cases, clean graphic dials and handmade leather straps, all powered by robust mechanical movements. The initial editions allowed for a range of customizations and upgrades, including case finishes, dial variations, hand-set designs, decorated Swiss movements, crown shapes and leather-strap details. Bespoke Watch Projects is about creating a piece that is very personal to someone, much like a suit, in which you can choose from a set of options to create something that fits your style and purpose, he says. Then I make each piece to order. The early pieces informed subsequent models, such as the Modern Pilot Watch, California Flieger and Oakland Officers Watch all reinterpretations of classic military timepieces. McConnico recently released two new watches: the Sub 60 and Super 60 Pilot Watches, exuding utilitarian details influenced by early 20th century gauges, tachometers and measurement tools. Each timepiece, which ranges in price from $500 to $1,200 depending on customizations, takes between four to six weeks to produce before its shipped in a burl wood display box, leatherette cigar-style travel case or German-made piano gloss case. My clients love having a quality handmade product, he says, something that is inspired by historical tradition but driven by modern design, made to last with mechanical parts and that can be passed along as an heirloom. This summer he will introduce his first limited-edition production model: the 72 Flyback Chronograph. Inspired by military timepieces and rugged chronographs of the late 1960s, the watch, set for release on Aug. 1, features a distinctive asymmetrical-case shape, dramatic domed sapphire crystal and design details that pair vintage horology with modern simplicity. McConnicos obsession with classic watch styles isnt purely aesthetic. Whether receiving his fathers wristwatch as a young boy or more recently discovering his late grandfathers pocket watch among his late fathers personal effects, it goes back to emotionally connecting to his past. I didnt know my grandfather, but theres always been an emotional connection around objects like that where you feel like youre holding a piece of history, he says. Opening up this pristine pocket watch from 1910 made me relive that moment when I was a 6-year-old, popping open my dads pristine watch. So whats important to me today is creating something my clients can pass along to their loved ones that brings joy and will work 100 years from now. Josh Rotter is a San Francisco freelance writer. Email: style@sfchronicle.com Bespoke John Beck McConnico will participate in Style 17, a fundraiser for Art in Action, at the Computer History Museum, Grand Hall, 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. April 29-30. $10; https://www.lucentestudio.com/pages/style-17 Shop http://www.bespokewatchprojects.com PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Payments Forum today released its spring 2017 market snapshot, providing updates on the status of the U.S. EMV chip migration, 2017 priorities to address open payments in transit, recently-released resources for the payments industry, and announced its top contributors and honor roll members for 2016. State of the Market: Solid Growth in Merchant EMV Chip Enablement The migration to EMV chip technology in the U.S. is making continued progress, with solid merchant enablement growth since the Forums last snapshot. New data from The Strawhecker Group shows 52 percent of merchants today are enabled to accept chip payments, 36 percent have contactless-capable terminals, and 28 percent of those contactless-capable terminals are activated to accept contactless cardsi. With regard to chip card issuance, Glenbrook Partners recently reported that 63 percent of all cards in the market are chip cards, with 81 percent of credit cards and 46 percent of debit cards converted to chipii. To continue the forward momentum, the U.S. Payments Forum will continue to prioritize providing implementation guidance and best practices to merchant segments such as petroleum and hospitality that have unique needs and challenges in their migrations to chip. Trending Topics: Fraud in the Card-Not-Present Channel In addition to its focus on the chip migration to reduce in-store counterfeit card fraud, providing guidance on methods to mitigate fraud in e- and m-commerce channels is another top priority for the U.S. Payments Forum. With reports varying on the status of card-not-present (CNP) fraud in the U.S., the Forum is providing clarifications on what is happening in the market: Some of the reports of large rises in CNP fraud seem to be conflating consumer perception of fraud with actual fraud data. Its important to understand all of the factors at play with whats happening with CNP fraud in the U.S., said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the U.S. Payments Forum. There is the steady progress of the chip migration, which is closing off the card-present channel for fraudsters. At the same time, growth in transaction volumes in e- and m-commerce channels is accelerating. So while industry data and corresponding media reports are stating an overall rise in CNP fraud, what we are actually seeing is that the overall proportion of CNP fraud is actually staying relatively even and perhaps even decreasing as a percentage of online salesiii. Vanderhoof continued, It remains critical for merchants and issuers to stay vigilant against fraud in all channels, and to that end the U.S. Payments Forum is working to provide the industry with the best available knowledge on how they can implement CNP prevention measures, and at the same time work to prevent fraud at the point of sale. The Forum recently published a white paper that analyzes experiences and fraud mitigation methods from countries around the world to guide efforts to mitigate CNP fraud in the U.S. More details about this white paper are included below. U.S. Payments Forum Priorities: Transit Contactless Open Payments The U.S. migration to chip payments has unique impacts on the transit industry, with many agencies moving towards open loop contactless fare systems. To help align requirements among industry stakeholders, the U.S. Payments Forum has created the Transit Contactless Open Payments Working Committee. The Transit Contactless Open Payments Working Committee aims to bring the transit industry together with the payments industry to work collaboratively to identify the unique requirements for transit payments and explore possible solutions that address the challenges of implementing contactless open payments within transits unique retail environment. This committee is led by co-chairs Jennifer Dogin, Mastercard; Josh Martiesian, Metropolitan Transportation Authority; and Nick Pisarev, Giesecke & Devrient, and includes and invites new members across a wide range of stakeholder groups, including issuers, transit agencies, acquirers/processors, mobile wallet providers, payment networks, and others. The Transit Contactless Open Payments Working Committee held its first in-person working session at the U.S. Payments Forum member meeting last month in Orlando, Florida, where members across the payments and transit communities began planning for projects in the coming months to address transit open payments in the U.S. Resource Recap Over the last quarter, the U.S. Payments Forum and its members have published the following resources on EMV implementation guidance and optimization and card-not-present fraud mitigation approaches for the industry. These resources include: Card-Not-Present Fraud Around the World white paper. The Forum released this white paper to provide analysis of card-not-present fraud around the world, identify the tools that were used to mitigate the fraud in different countries, and offer guidance based on this analysis to help the U.S. payments industry in mitigating CNP fraud. Optimizing Transaction Speed at the POS white paper. The Forum has revised this white paper to include an appendix with Q&A specific to the solutions separately announced by American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa to optimize online-only EMV transaction processing to enable faster EMV transactions. U.S. Payments Forum website. The Forum launched its new website, www.uspaymentsforum.org, to provide information and resources for members, non-members and those interested in joining the Forum. Member Recognition The U.S. Payments Forum has also announced its top individual contributors and 2016 Honor Roll, which includes individuals who were leading contributors and participants in the Forum projects and activities from January through December 2016. The full Honor Roll and list of contributors is available at http://www.uspaymentsforum.org/working-committees-sigs/2016-u-s-payments-forum-member-recognition/. Stakeholders across the payments industry that are interested in having a more active voice in the U.S. migration to EMV chip technology and implementation of other emerging payments technologies should visit http://www.uspaymentsforum.org to learn more about membership, attending quarterly Forum meetings and participating in working committees. The next Forum member meeting is June 21-22, 2017, at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. Find additional U.S. Payments Forum publications, infographics, and EMV resources at www.emv-connection.com, and follow the Forum on Twitter @USPaymentsForum. To read the winter 2017 market snapshot, visit http://www.uspaymentsforum.org/us-payments-forum-winter-market-snapshot-top-priorities-for-2017-include-accelerating-merchant-chip-enablement-securing-the-card-not-present-channel/. About the U.S. Payments Forum The U.S. Payments Forum is a cross-industry body focused on supporting the introduction and implementation of new and emerging technologies that protect the security of, and enhance opportunities for payment transactions within the U.S. The Forum is the only non-profit organization whose membership includes the whole payments ecosystem, ensuring that all stakeholders have the opportunity to coordinate, cooperate on, and have a voice in the future of the U.S. payments industry. ______________________ i The Strawhecker Group Payments Summit 2017 Presentation. ii Glenbrook Partners Payments Summit 2017 Presentation. iii Aite Group 2017. Recently-updated projections from Aite Group emphasizes the correlation between the growth in fraud in the card-not-present channel and similar growth in transaction volume over the past five years, and predicts a similar trend through 2020. WASHINGTON If President Trump meets his own benchmark of success, by his 100th day as president on Saturday, he will have proposals in Congress to replace the Affordable Care Act, provide middle-class tax relief, reform ethics rules to reduce the influence of special interests and fund a wall on the Mexico border. A plan to revitalize the nations infrastructure and to provide school choice to parents and make college more affordable would have also been sent to Congress. They were all part of a package of bills candidate Trump promised in October would be moved during his first 100 days in office. Reality has fallen short. When Trump arrived in Washington in January, he had not fleshed out any legislation, much less laid the groundwork for its passage. He didnt have proposals ready to go, said Eric Schickler, a UC Berkeley political scientist. I think they were so surprised by winning. And given his own approach to governing, they didnt really spend the transition building a legislative program and trying to get consensus around it. That led them to veer from one thing to another without really doing the legwork you need to do. Little has changed since then. This past week, leading to a 100-day benchmark that Trump has simultaneously heralded and dismissed, the administration has engaged in a frantic effort to show progress on its marquee issues, rolling out a major tax proposal, pushing for a new vote on health care, issuing executive orders to review 21 years of national monument designations and re-opening Atlantic and Arctic drilling. The tax plan was a one-page outline, but Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin called it the biggest tax cut and the largest tax reform in the history of our country that would pay for itself through economic growth. Deficit-hawk groups often aligned with the GOP swiftly disagreed. This isnt anything like a fully formed tax reform plan, said Steve Ellis, head of Taxpayers for Common Sense. This appears to be some tax treats from the dessert portion of the tax-reform menu. The losses in revenue on the face of it would make congressional passage difficult. Rep. Mike Thompson, a St. Helena Democrat and senior member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said the Trump proposal conflicts with GOP plans his committee chair has been working on and proves once again, that the administration and the Republican majority in Congress arent on the same page or even reading from the same book. The failure on health care was particularly jarring, both for the White House and Capitol Hill Republicans after years of GOP promises to repeal Obamacare, and Trumps own promise to do so immediately and on day one. You had a guy who came with the goal of a fantastic health plan that would cover lots of people, but he didnt have a clear set of policy tools or political steps to get there, said Thad Kousser, a political scientist at UC San Diego. Win McNamee/Getty Images So Trump turned to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., a libertarian-leaning opponent of big government, despite a history of friction between the two. Ryans plan, rushed to the floor without vetting, proved wildly unpopular and stalled in the House. Trump finally delivered an ultimatum to proceed with a vote or the Affordable Care Act would remain in place. Instead, Ryan withdrew the legislation. In the midst of the battle, Trump declared, Nobody knew health care could be so complicated. Despite a flurry of activity this week on a second version of a replacement to the Affordable Care Act that has won over conservatives, Ryan said Thursday the House would not be voting on it any time soon. Instead, he spoke of a 200-day agenda. Meanwhile, the powerful health care and advocacy groups, such as AARP and the American Medical Association, that helped kill the first version of the plan remain opposed to its second iteration. Not all of the problem lies with Trump, many analysts said. The debacle on health care exposed divisions among Republicans, mainly between Tea Party conservatives, concentrated in the House Freedom Caucus, and establishment Republicans. Many have never served under a president of their own party. I think youre experiencing some growing pains in the White House, which are normal, contrary to popular belief, but also in Congress, said GOP strategist Ford OConnell. Theyre still learning to be the governing party. Trump at 100 Days How Trumps Contract with the American Voter has fared Republicans are more divided than people had realized, Schickler said. The rise of the Tea Party and Freedom Caucus means there is a big faction thats just quite far to the right, but at the same time, to hold their majority, they need to hold on to about 20 to 30 members from moderate districts that voted for Hillary Clinton for president. That means Republican leadership has to find a legislative balance between the two groups. Thats proving to be a big challenge, Schickler said. Trumps own ideology can be hard to pin down. His populist campaign promised to upend party orthodoxies, but many of his pro-business policies and those of the party establishment are neither populist nor popular among Trumps base of working-class voters. Hes not a principled conservative, said Stanford University political scientist Bruce Cain. Hes kind of all over the map, and without the support of Democrats, he really has to resolve the dynamics inside the Republican Party to realize anything really big. Yet as rocky as his presidencys start has been, Trump has also scored significant victories, from a dramatic 61 percent plunge in border apprehensions to Senate confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. His legislative record is also better than it seems at first blush. Trump has signed 11 bills including measures that permanently ban rules that protect Appalachian streams from coal-mining waste, stop the mentally disabled from buying guns, and prevent Internet service providers from selling customers browsing history without their consent, among other things. Evan Vucci/Associated Press Still, these required little in the way of legislative strategy, because none required more than a simple majority vote in the Senate under a law that allows Congress to repeal recent rules enacted by the Obama administration. House Republicans made the revocations a priority at the start of the year and had them lined up to send to Trump soon after he took office. The drop in border apprehensions came not from changes in law, but tougher enforcement of existing laws, said Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. But as for Trumps difficulties with Congress, some blame his and his top staffs inexperience in governing along with the administrations tardiness in filling sub-Cabinet job positions. Cam Witten, a lobbyist with the Wilderness Society, an environmental group, has been tracking the spending bill that will fund the government for the rest of this year. He said negotiations with Congress have seemed very disjointed because of a lack of administration participation. Generally the White House is pretty engaged back and forth with the leadership, he said, but not this year. It seems a bit odd the way ultimatums are fired off over Twitter or via administration spokespeople, but the folks in the room in negotiations are hearing things first from the press. Its just been a weird back-and-forth. Amid those negotiations, Trump at first insisted he get funding for his border wall. When that promised to lead to a government shutdown on his 100-day anniversary, he quickly retreated, while insisting, The wall is going to get built. Despite the setbacks, polls show Trumps voters remain solidly behind him. And Trump has shown, Cain said, that he does not give up easily, renewing his push on health care even after threatening to move on. Its premature to say Republicans cant get their act together, Cain said. Theyre not going to be able to do all the things they want, but the realization will kick in at some point that they risk squandering the whole two years (before the midterm elections) and not get anything major done and lose control of one or both houses of Congress. Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carolynlochhead Natasha Dangond/The Chronicle Less than a month after a racially charged cyberbullying incident at Albany High School sparked protests over the way it was handled, school administrators again face a difficult social media issue: what to do about an Instagram account making the rounds with sexually explicit pictures of students. The schools administration was made aware of the account Thursday night, Interim Principal Ron Rosenbaum wrote in a letter to parents. Officials did not specify whether the students in the photos were underage, but Rosenbaum said police were apprised of the situation, and that administrators met with a detective Friday morning. An Alameda elementary school will probably close after the school year because structural engineers discovered the soil beneath it could liquefy during an earthquake, the district announced. Engineers discovered the risk at Donald Lum Elementary School on Sandcreek Way in February during preparation for construction of a new classroom building. They conducted more tests on the property and concluded the existing buildings could sink 5 inches and become structurally unsafe, said Alameda Unified Superintendent Sean McPhetridge. District staff will be recommending that Lum Elementary School be closed at the end of this school year and that Lum students be enrolled in other, nearby school sites to protect their safety, McPhetridge said. I know this is terrible news to hear. The school board was planning to listen to community reaction at a special meeting Friday night and vote on the closure May 9, said district spokeswoman Susan Davis. After the tests at Lum, officials said, the district studied its other campuses. Soil at several schools was found to be subject to liquefaction turning from solid to liquid but the foundations at those schools were deemed adequate to withstand an earthquake. The buildings at Lum are a series of hexagonal pods built on a shallow slab foundation instead of deep piles. Retrofitting Lum would not be cost-effective, Davis said, because buildings would have to be torn apart to install foundations. The board is expected to move Lums 500 students to four other elementary schools in Alameda starting in the fall. The announcement rocked the close-knit school community. Some parents said they agreed with the need to close the school, while others said the district was in too great a hurry to do so, according to postings on the PTA website. Safety is obviously important, but if our school community can remain together, thats equally as important to us, wrote parent Joe Keiser. We love Lum. Davis said the district was open to moving the entire school to a suitable site, but that no such site has been identified. The board could decide to delay or overrule the recommendation to close Lum, she added. 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. Its not a done deal until the board says its a done deal, Davis said. School principal Jesse Woodward said in a letter to parents and students that he is visiting each classroom to explain the crisis. He added that the district sent substitutes to the school to relieve teachers who were having a hard time, (but) I am happy to report that teachers mostly refused the substitutes, preferring to stay in their classrooms with their students. On the school website, one kindergarten teacher posted a picture made by a student of four children divided by a black line. The caption said dot spit as a prt which the teacher translated to dont split us apart. When I heard this terrible news I almost started to cry, wrote a third-grade student on the school website. We need to find a solution to stop this. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubeSF Danish English Release no. 17/2017 With reference to release no. 16/2017 of 25 April 2017, changes in Columbus A/S Articles of Association as a consequence of the decision made by the Annual General meeting to amend the authorizations in Art. 5.1 have today been registered in the Danish Business Authority. New Articles of Association are attached. Ib Kune Chairman Columbus A/S Thomas Honore CEO & President Columbus A/S For further information, please contact: CEO & PresidentThomas Honore, T: +45 70 20 50 00. The blackout that struck San Francisco last Friday, knocking out power for 88,000 customers of Pacific Gas & Electric, may be an isolated event. Yet the incident should serve as a reminder of the effects blackouts impose. With extreme climate change, terrorism and earthquakes on the horizon, is there something San Francisco can do to make it through such events? New cleaner energy technologies, such as solar panels and advanced batteries, can be bundled together with other energy sources into a microgrid. Microgrids are the answer to bolstering the resiliency of crucial public and private energy infrastructure. What is a microgrid? It is what is sounds like: a small power grid. But when the larger utility grid goes down, a microgrid keeps running. Absent a microgrid, solar panels shut off like the rest of the grid, rendered useless when they could be providing the highest value. The traditional solution to blackouts for utility customers has been diesel generators. But these energy sources are the most polluting of all. As Easterners will tell, many also failed during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Californias clean-air and climate-change regulations limit diesel fuel burning. In contrast, microgrids can incorporate existing diesel generators, but also integrate batteries which like solar panels keep dropping in price to provide emergency power while also reducing pollution. Since 2011, a parade of East Coast states, including New York, have launched funding programs for microgrids. According to Navigant Research, more than 100 microgrids are operating or in the works in California. State agencies such as the California Energy Commission are developing a road map to further commercialize microgrids, an emerging industry that has attracted large industrial giants such as GE, Siemens and ABB, as well as Silicon Valley startups and local battery storage innovators such as Sunverge and Advanced Microgrid Solutions. Military bases, hospitals and communities see value in improving the resilience of regional power grids. Since 1980, the United States has sustained more than 144 weather disasters with damages reaching or exceeding $1 billion each. The total cost of these outages exceeds $1 trillion, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. For the Bay Area, whose economy hinges on the likes of Google, Facebook and Apple, a single power outage could cost $1 million per company per outage. And what would happen if an earthquake the magnitude of the one that hit San Francisco in 1906 struck again? A project developed by the City and County of San Franciscos Department of the Environment asked that very question. While 96 percent of the citys consumers could expect their electricity to be back online within one week, it could take six months for the natural gas infrastructure to be fully operational. After a mapping exercise located potential critical facilities in San Francisco that could serve as emergency shelters during such a cataclysmic event, a dozen projects relying on solar and battery systems were identified. So far, funding for initial groundwork has come from a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The blackout last week should light a fire under this program, bringing these microgrids on line sooner rather than later (or too late). Peter Asmus is a principal research analyst with Navigant Research. He has been covering energy issues for over 25 years: www.peterasmus.com. SACRAMENTO Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Friday a bill that will raise $52 billion in new taxes and fees to pay for the states roads and bridges. Brown signed SB1, as he was expected to, without any fanfare or ceremony. He also gave final approval to two companion bills that were needed to lure reluctant lawmakers to support the transportation bill. Under SB1 the states gas excise tax, which is currently 18 cents, will increase by 12 cents per gallon. The excise tax on diesel fuel, which is used by the commercial trucking industry, will increase by 20 cents a gallon to 36 cents. The diesel sales tax also will rise to 5.75 percent from 1.75 percent. Those increases begin Nov. 1. Beginning Jan. 1, vehicle registration fees will increase by $25 to $175 depending on the value of the vehicle. Owners of zero-emission vehicles will begin paying an additional $100 annual fee beginning in 2020. Revenue from the taxes and fee increases will pay for repairs and improvements to state and city roads, bridges and public transportation. Safe and smooth roads make California a better place to live and strengthen our economy, Brown said in a statement. This legislation will put thousands of people to work. SB1, by state Sen. Jim Beall, D-San Jose, needed a two-thirds majority to pass the Legislature earlier this month, prompting Brown and legislative leaders to entice hesitant lawmakers with hundreds of millions of dollars for pet projects to earn their votes. That money was put into SB132 and included $400 million requested by state Sen. Anthony Cannella, R-Ceres (Stanislaus County), to extend the Altamont Corridor Express rail line to Ceres and Merced, and $427 million for projects in the Riverside County districts of state Sen. Richard Roth, D-Riverside, and Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes, D-Corona (Riverside County). Brown signed SB132 on Friday. Cannella, who owns an engineering company, also negotiated to have leaders support his bill to add indemnification protections for engineers and architects on government contracts. Brown signed that bill, SB496, as well. Cannellas vote in the state Senate was the lone Republican vote in support of the transportation bill in both houses. Californians got a lemon of a gas and car tax hike today, state Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates, R-Laguna Niguel (Orange County), said in a statement. We need better roads, and those can be fixed without raising taxes. SB1 passed with the bare minimum votes needed to reach a two-thirds majority, passing the state Senate 27-11 and Assembly 54-26. Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez Market rate developers would have to make 18 percent of rental units affordable to low- and moderate-income households under an ordinance the San Francisco Planning Commission approved Thursday night. The housing law the commission backed, which the Board of Supervisors must approve, was the more developer-friendly of the two versions of the law under consideration. That version was introduced by Supervisors Katy Tang, Ahsha Safai and London Breed, who are aligned with the more moderate faction of the board. A more aggressive version of the law, which would have required that 24 percent of rental units be affordable, had been backed by Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Jane Kim. The Kim/Peskin version also skewed the units to lower income levels, while the ordinance that was approved sets aside more units for moderate-income families that dont qualify for most of the citys subsidized housing projects. Both sides in the debate said that they wanted to milk the maximum number of affordable units from market-rate developers. The disagreement, however, centered on how many affordable units could be squeezed out of a project before it became economically infeasible. Critics of the more moderate version of the law characterized it as a real estate industry giveaway that favored moderate-income households over the poor and put developer profits over generating below-market-rate units. But planning staff countered that the housing program covered by the ordinance represents only about 10 percent of the affordable units the city produces. The vast majority of affordable housing units constructed in the city about 75 percent are funded with federal tax credits and are available only to households that earn less than 55 percent of area median income, $63,400 for a family of four. The city has 6,900 affordable units under construction or in the pipeline. We are talking about a small subset of affordable housing and the only housing that can get to that middle-income level, said Planning Commission President Rich Hillis, who voted for the Safai/Tang/Breed version. Dozens of speakers testified on the ordinance, mostly in favor of the Peskin/Kim version. Many of them said that the housing law should reflect the voter-approved Proposition C, which passed in June and set the limit at 25 percent, but required that the levels be adjusted after a feasibility study. The impacts are different for the low-income family of four facing displacement than for a middle-class family facing displacement, said Peter Papadopoulos of the Missions Cultural Action Network. But some pro-development advocates said they had problems with both versions. The version that passed includes a 5 percent fee for projects that take advantage of the states density bonus law, which allows developers to increase height of buildings near mass transit lines. The fee brings the affordable housing costs for developers to 23 percent almost the same as the Peskin/Kim version, which assumes that all developers will seek the density bonus. If you raise the fee too high, we will lose affordable units, Laura Clark, of the pro-housing group YIMBY Action. Twenty-three or 24 percent of zero is still zero. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen If you believe in gods, then they exist. Thats the highly simplified premise of American Gods, one gobsmacking series adapted from the classic fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman and premiering Sunday, April 30, on Starz. Truly, you have never seen anything like it. More to the point, you may not get it for a while. In some cases, because of violence and very graphic sexuality, as well as sometimes opaque storytelling, you may not want to get it at all. A man named Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) is serving three years in prison but is released a few days early because of a family tragedy. On his way back home for the funeral, Shadow meets an oily con man in a trench coat who identifies himself as Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane) and seems to know a lot about Shadow. Somehow, Mr. Wednesday manages to persuade Shadow to work for him, without getting too specific about the nature of the work. They go to a bar shaped like the inside of a crocodiles mouth and meet Mad Sweeney (Pablo Schreiber), a very tall leprechaun Heres where Id write, and you get the picture, but you havent seen the half of it by this point in the series. There is a narrative thread, but for much of the way, we dont fully know if characters like Mr. Wednesday, Mad Sweeney and others even stranger have any relationship to that thread and, if so, exactly what that relationship is. Bilquis (Yetide Badaki) is a beautiful woman with an omnivorous sexual appetite, but woe betide anyone who falls for her considerable charms. Salim (Omid Abtahi) is a recent immigrant to the U.S. from an Islamic country who has found the streets of New York paved with disappointment, until he meets a mysterious cabdriver (Mousa Kraish) who takes him for a pleasurable ride. Zorya Vechernyaya (Cloris Leachman) is an elderly Russian woman who once lived in golden palaces and now tells fortunes for a meager living. She lives with her two sisters and Czernobog (Peter Stormare), who has fond memories of the old days when he was able to slaughter cattle with a huge sledgehammer instead of more humane methods. Mr. Nancy (Orlando Jones) is a fast-talking operator who gleefully tells a group of Africans bound in the hold of a sailing ship in the 17th century that theyre headed for a life as slaves in the American colonies. If you know about folk deities, you may be able to figure out something about these characters. By the fourth episode, theres even more clarity about how the outlier characters relate to Shadow Moon. But what about Media (Gillian Anderson), Technical Boy (Bruce Langley) and perhaps other characters whose roots cant be traced to folk deities? They, of course, are American Gods, the folk idols of contemporary American life. The series, developed by Bryan Fuller and Michael Green, is a three-dimensional comic book or perhaps four-dimensional is more accurate, because you often feel trapped, however willingly, in a house of mirrors. Like the Wachowskis Sense8, you are prompted to suspend disbelief not by a convincing narrative but by hypnotic visuals here augmented by extraordinary performances. Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday: Hes Mr. Seven Days of the Week, hes so good oily, canny, sly, over the top, mysterious, enigmatic. Schreiber more than makes his character live up to the name of Mad Sweeney, Jones is a malevolent cartoon as Mr. Nancy, Stormare wallows in his characters moral swamp, and Langley is a lethal techno-brat as Technical Boy. The cast also includes Emily Browning as Shadows wife, Laura, Corbin Bernsen, Crispin Glover, Dane Cook and Kristin Chenoweth. Whittle has a big challenge with Shadow Moon because the character is more grounded in reality, such as it is in the world of American Gods. Whittle meets the challenge convincingly and then some. He may be taciturn, but we feel the roil of his emotions, and the sense of hopelessness that makes him throw his lot in with Mr. Wednesday. The series will be polarizing for several reasons, including the violence and especially the graphic sexual content, which includes not only full frontal nudity, but aroused male nudity. Down the road, though, other deities will be part of the narrative, including Jesus Christ (Jeremy Davies). Some viewers are likely to be offended by lumping the son of God with folk deities. All of this is in keeping with the theme of the story, which is that when we invest belief in something, we cause it to exist. As much as people may believe in God, in the United States, they believe in American gods, like technology, media and, as embodied in a new character created by Gaiman for the series, guns. The world is either crazy, or you are, Mr. Wednesday says, with a shrug. American Gods has the answer, but theres little relief in knowing it: Its the world, of course, but were living in it. David Wiegand is an assistant managing editor and the TV critic of The San Francisco Chronicle and co-host of The Do List every Friday morning at 6:22 and 8:22 on KQED FM, 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento. Follow him on Facebook. Email: dwiegand@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV American Gods: Dramatic fantasy series. Premieres 9 p.m. Sunday, April 30, on Starz. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Three Oakland City Council members who sponsored a voter-approved measure imposing a city soda tax accused Mayor Libby Schaaf on Friday of seeking to funnel its revenue into the general budget to help eliminate a deficit, rather than spending it on health programs as backers promised during the campaign. Measure HH, which passed with 61 percent support in November, is a penny-per-ounce tax on the distribution of sugar-sweetened beverages. It is projected to generate up to $8 million in revenue annually. Because it was designed as a general tax, the measure needed only a simple majority to pass. Had it been written as a tax for specific purposes such as raising money for health programs it would have needed two-thirds approval. Collection of the tax begins July 1, and a community advisory board will be formed to make recommendations on how the revenue is spent. The Yes on HH campaign pledged to spend the money on health programs, nutrition education and city parks. However, Schaaaf is proposing to divert all of the money to fill a $32.5 million budget hole, according to City Council members who have been briefed on her two-year spending proposal. But the mayors budget proposal, released late Friday, did not break down how the revenue would be spent, saying that responsibility fell to the advisory board. The plan appears to set aside more than $3.5 million for several new investments that are consistent with the goals of the measure, plus $1 million for the yet-to-be-formed advisory committee. After their briefings, City Council members Rebecca Kaplan, Desley Brooks and Annie Campbell Washington, the measures authors, said Schaafs plan for spending the soda tax money amounted to a bait and switch. To turn around and say were not going to do what we said we would is appalling, Brooks said. To fill the budget gap now is so shortsighted. Kaplan added in a statement, We must keep our promises and allocate these monies to the intended purposes. Campbell Washington, a close ally of Schaaf, wrote Thursday on her Facebook page that its time to fight and that she was deeply offended by the mayors plan. City Councilman Dan Kalb said it wasnt clear how the soda tax revenue would be allocated, but that using some of it to alleviate the expected deficit would be prudent. When I voted for it, I knew it wasnt an earmarked tax and I think other voters knew that as well, Kalb said. I think its fine to spend the equivalent of some of the money on health programs, but I dont think the entirety needs to be. City officials plan to hold town halls and budget hearings to make changes to the proposal between now and June 30, the deadline for the City Council to approve a final version. Abdul Taleb, owner of Mi Carnal Market in Oaklands Foothill neighborhood, who opposed the tax, said Friday that he knew from the beginning that stuff like this would happen. There were so many other ways to make people healthier than raise taxes, Taleb said. Its money coming out from low-income communities and going straight to the city. It didnt make any sense. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov The embattled leader of Ubers self-driving car program stepped out of that role on Thursday, the latest development in a trade secret dispute between Uber and Waymo. Anthony Levandowski will no longer oversee self-driving technology. Uber said hell take a lesser role on the team and wont be involved in decisions relating to lidar, the technology that is the subject of the suit. A former Google employee, Levandowski is accused of stealing 14,000 documents that contained technology designs before leaving the company last year to start his own self-driving venture. That company, called Otto, was acquired by Uber in a matter of months. Levandowski will be replaced by Eric Meyhofer, according to a staff email. Meyhofer oversees development of lidar. Lyft posts strong quarter Lyfts bookings and ridership surged in the first quarter, suggesting the company benefited from user defections and management turmoil at Uber. Lyft also told investors in fundraising documents obtained by Bloomberg that it was beating internal growth targets, an encouraging sign for the No. 2 U.S. ride-hailing company. Even so, the startup has a long way to go to meet its goal of profitability by 2018, with first-quarter losses easily topping $100 million. The company told prospective investors last month it expected $800 million in first-quarter gross bookings, more than double the same period a year ago, according to the fundraising documents. Earnings Amazon tops estimates Amazon.com on Thursday reported first-quarter profit of $724 million, saying it had a profit of $1.48 per share. The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 12 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.03 per share. The online retailer posted revenue of $35.71 billion in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Eleven analysts has expected $35.39 billion. For the current quarter ending in July, Amazon said it expects revenue in the range of $35.25 billion to $37.75 billion. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had expected revenue of $36.93 billion. Starbucks traffic flat Starbucks says a key sales figure rose 3 percent in the U.S., but that the increase was the result of higher average spending and that customer transactions were down. The coffee chain attributed the decline to a change in its loyalty program that led to people no longer splitting their orders to tally additional rewards points. Factoring in that change, the company said traffic was flat. Starbucks has also said the popularity of its mobile order-and-pay option has created congestion in some stores, causing some people who walk in to then leave without buying anything. Chief Financial Officer Scott Maw says the company has implemented changes to address the congestion and that sales improved throughout the quarter, and that April has been even stronger. Chronicle News Services This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Crime was up on BART by more than 20 percent this year most of it involving the theft of cell phones and other electronic devices even before a group of youths swarmed a train Saturday, according to the transit systems interim police chief. The increase of approximately 22 percent from the same time last year comes despite a drop so far in 2017 in car break-ins, as well as automobile and bicycle thefts, said interim Chief of Police Jeffrey Jennings. It also reverses three years of declining crime rates. The spike had stirred extra police patrols at some stations before at least 40 juveniles and young adults rushed aboard multiple cars of a Dublin-bound train at the Coliseum station and robbed passengers Saturday night. Since March 11, there have been extra patrols, and 19 people aged 12 to 21 have been arrested on robbery charges, Jennings said. In the first quarter, we saw a significant increase in crime, Jennings told BARTs board of directors Thursday at an unusual evening meeting. As for Saturdays mass robbery, we havent had anything of this scale before. There have been incidents with two to 12 people, but nothing this large. To deal with the current situation, BART has increased overtime spending to deploy more officers to stations hit by crime. Thursday, Jennings also shifted to emergency staffing levels; officers will work five days on with two days off, rather than four days on and three days off. Saturdays incident wasnt on the meetings official agenda, but it was discussed as the first order of business. There were questions about the timeline of the incident, which was first reported at 9:27 p.m. as multiple youths jumping the fare gates. By the time the first police car arrived at 9:32 p.m., they were gone. Several suspects have now been identified in part because at least one of the cars that was stormed had a working video camera. Mostly, though, directors emphasized their concern for the victims, as well as the station staff members who are powerless in such situations to do anything except call for help. Im horrified at what happened this weekend, director Lateefah Simon said after Jennings presentation. What we want is for our riders to be comfortable and safe. Coincidentally, an item that was on the agenda involved the strategies by which BART staff hopes to cut down on the growing problem of fare evasion, which is estimated to cost the system somewhere between $15 and $25 million. Some of the responses include what is called station hardening, such as taller fare gates and higher barriers between the free and ticketed areas of a station changes made last winter at the Pittsburg/Bay Point station. Elevators that go from outside a station directly to the platform, such as at Powell Street in San Francisco or the North Berkeley station, would be relocated. Another change would include giving police officers and new inspectors the ability to move through stations or cars and require passengers to show they have a valid ticket for their ride. This is done on Muni and is common on other urban transit systems. Judging by the discussion after the presentation, BART directors are more comfortable with raising obstacles to hopping the gates than demanding proof of payment. One, Director John McPartland, raised the specter of fare evaders causing injuries to other patrons as they fled inspectors. Im very much in favor of making our stations more secure, McPartland said. Put staff on plaforms going after fare evaders? As far as Im concerned, not a chance. Others said fare evasion is a too-obvious symbol of recent problems in the system, from frequent delays in service to the common sight of people panhandling on cars. Were getting to have a culture on BART where too many people decide that because of X or Y or Z, they dont have to pay for a ticket, said Director Deborah Allen. We run trains, and people need to pay for their rides. There is no correlation between increases in fare jumping and the recent jump in crime levels, Jennings said. However, he suggested to reporters outside the meeting that the two topics are related. If we crack down on fare evasion, you will see a reduction in nefarious acts, Jennings said. People who come into the system with crime on their mind are probably not going to buy a ticket to get in. No vote has been scheduled on what steps to take to tamp down on fare evasion. Even if all the staff suggestions are implemented, nobody expects the problem to go away. The idea is not to catch people. The idea is to deter them, said Paul Oversier, BARTs assistant general manager for operations. If we wanted to get down to no fare evasion at all, wed have to spend more than we saved. John King is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron LONDON, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TD The Market Publishers, Ltd., a market research report store and a provider of business intelligence, has recently unveiled a list of top ten companies with undervalued stocks traded on US stock exchanges. We are pleased to share this list with our customers. We believe that companies and individuals engaged in value investing will find relevant information there, stated Natalie Aster, Assistant Manager at Partners Department. She also added: This list was compiled by a team of experienced market research specialists who boast many years of experience in providing intelligence across different domains, including financial and stock markets. The experts utilized essential financial parameters to identify the appropriate companies: P/E ratio, P/B ratio, ROE, and more. The list contains companies active in different markets: Natural Alternatives International, Inc. This company is employed in the manufacturing of customized nutritional supplements. GameStop Corp. It represents a family of specialty retail brands that do their best to make leading-edge technologies affordable and simple. Greenbrier Companies, Inc. The company builds and sells freight railcars, rail castings, and marine barges, among others. Panasonic Corporation. It is one of the largest manufacturers of electronic technologies and solutions. Zurich Insurance Group AG. It is a provider of insurance products and services in Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Asia Pacific. Etc. The complete list of companies and all the vital details can be found here. About Market Publishers TD Market Publishers Ltd. has a long history of delivering market research reports and business intelligence to customers. It partners with more than 250 market intelligence providers from different corners of the world. The Market Publishers online store comprises research reports on diverse markets and industries: business and finance, chemicals and petrochemicals, food and beverage, and retail, to name a few. For more information about Market Publishers, please, visit https://marketpublishers.com/. The James Beard Foundation announced "Smuggler's Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki" as a winner in the beverage category for its 2017 Media Awards on Tuesday night. Written by Martin and Rebecca Cate, the owners of acclaimed Hayes Valley tiki bar Smuggler's Cove, the book includes over 100 cocktail recipes, tiki party inspiration and "everything you need to transform your world into a Polynesian Pop fantasia," according to a description on the bar's website. Chasing Trane is a documentary for John Coltrane superfans, and there is clearly no shortage of them. The luminaries paying tribute in John Scheinfelds film include Bill Clinton, Sonny Rollins, John Densmore from the Doors, Carlos Santana, Cornel West and rapper Common with Denzel Washington voicing passages from the artists interviews and liner notes as occasional narration. No matter the level of fame, everyone involved seem in childlike awe of the innovative jazz saxophonist and composer, who died in 1967 at age 40. But the fast pace, loose structure and constant superlatives offer more for the already converted than for newcomers. Chasing Trane celebrates its subject with great passion, but it often feels like walking in late into a good party. Scheinfelds approach runs in stark contrast to Long Strange Trip, the upcoming Grateful Dead documentary by Berkeleys Amir Bar-Lev. Both have incredible resources and access. But while the latter film provides an entry for people who have never heard about the band explaining the Dead to non-Deadheads Scheinfeld rockets into the heart of fandom with tribute after tribute. Some animations and still photos are used, with rapid pans as if a caffeinated Ken Burns is in charge of the edits. Washington is a wonderful voice, but his readings of Coltranes words dont match seeing the artist in motion. The constant stream of still photos, with a recognizable actors voice, has a distancing effect. The movie is strongest when Coltrane enthusiasts, collaborators and family members put his music in context; a high point of the film frames Coltranes song Alabama and its relation to church bombings in 1963. Scheinfeld makes sure Coltranes music never stops throughout the movie, a heartbeat that also offers a timeline to the artists evolving talent. The musical score and narrative structure peak simultaneously, with the story behind Coltranes release of A Love Supreme in 1965. Speakers offer both direct and cryptic compliments, turning the giving of praise into a jazz-like art form in itself. Santana gets the best line: John Coltranes sound rearranges molecular structure. Theres passion in his voice, and you want to feel what hes feeling. The best chance is if you already loved Coltrane walking into the theater. Peter Hartlaub is The San Francisco Chronicles pop culture critic. Email: phartlaub@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @PeterHartlaub Chasing Trane Documentary. Starring Bill Clinton, Sonny Rollins, Carlos Santana and the voice of Denzel Washington. Directed by John Scheinfeld. (Not rated. 99 minutes.) To see a trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMFNuDJmc1Q David Lynch hasnt released a new nondocumentary feature since Inland Empire in 2006. But hes back in the news as he revives his groundbreaking TV series Twin Peaks to fulfill the promise made by the Laura Palmer lookalike at the end of the shows second season: Ill see you again in 25 years. (OK, she said it in 1991, so technically it will be 26 years, but lets not be petty.) So the timing is right for the 2016 documentary, David Lynch: The Art Life, focusing not on the features like Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive that made him famous but on his early years and training as an artist, up to his first experimental movies. For some viewers, it will be more than they want to know, but for Lynchs many partisans, its required watching. The film opens with archival photos and footage depicting the filmmakers childhood and teen years in Idaho, Montana and Washington state, with emphasis on his closeness to his mother. He had a knack for drawing at an early age, and praises her for refusing to buy him coloring books, so as not to inhibit his artistic freedom. (Most of the movie is narrated by Lynch.) He never cared much for school, including his eventual stint at a museum school in Boston. Later he moved to Philadelphia, a town that he immediately hated and says was infested with fear. But his time there paid off, inspiring the enigmatic Eraserhead, the first movie to bring him wide attention. He hit his stride in 1971 when, already married and with a young daughter, he got a chance to study at the American Film Institute Conservatory in Los Angeles. After a bumpy start, he settled in at the former stables of the institute (it was housed in a rambling onetime mansion). A $10,000 grant enabled him to work, on and off, on Eraserhead. Lynch was totally into the art life, to an extent that unnerved his parents and cost him his marriage. He recalls moments of great joy, and times when he was frightened and disappointed. Its amusing, however, to see him as a young buck, full of himself. Interspersed with his recollections are scenes of Lynch today, that astonishing hairdo now gray, smoking cigarettes (a favorite occupation) and creating paintings, sculptures and objects, often with menacing overtones, at his current Los Angeles home. He remarried several times, and at age 71 has another young daughter. The movie, credited to three directors (Jon Nguyen, Rick Barnes and Olivia Neergaard-Holm), perhaps dwells a bit too much on images of Lynch puffing on a smoke and staring into the distance in artistic contemplation. This might try the patience of even die-hard Lynchians. Also, there might have been a bit more attention paid to Lynchs deep and abiding interest in making music, one of the chief ways hes occupied himself since Inland Empire. Mel Brooks once likened Lynch to Jimmy Stewart from Mars, and Lynch sometimes has seemed to play up the persona of the aw-shucks weirdo. But there are also a few times when this movie seems to pierce behind Lynchs eccentricity and suggest intense emotions of a more troubling kind. These brief moments hint at the sources of the darkness that haunts so much of his work. Walter Addiego is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: waddiego@sfchronicle.com David Lynch: The Art Life Documentary. Directed by Jon Nguyen, Rick Barnes, Olivia Neergaard-Holm. (Not rated. 90 minutes.) To see a trailer: http://bit.ly/2pZIOMo A war broke out in the middle of the 20th century over what urban planning could and should accomplish, a struggle engagingly documented in Citizen Jane: Battle for the City. And it is a kind of war movie, centering on the wildly differing visions of writer and activist Jane Jacobs and New York City planning czar Robert Moses. Jacobs, the films heroine and winner of the battle, wrote one of the seminal books about city planning, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, published in 1961 and still read and taught. She had a street-level vision of cities, based on the everyday lives of the inhabitants, congregating on stoops and watching the busy scene below from their apartment windows. Emblematic of then-modern city planning, Moses and his like had an austere vision based on ideas of Le Corbusier and others to replace aging and disorderly slums with high-rise projects grouped in bunches with few of the amenities of the old neighborhoods. This was called urban renewal, and its many errors are now widely recognized. This film documents the beginnings of that recognition, in which Greenwich Village resident Jacobs played a notable role, although she was but one of many in what became a large movement. She started out as a journalist, and she had a sharp eye for detail that would prove invaluable in the battle. Early in her career, she wrote a story about city manhole covers, noticing they were embossed with interesting patterns. She used her writing skills to confound Moses, and taught herself how to organize an effective protest. Moses, who had the ear of politicians and developers, amassed a lot of power and openly sneered at the growing opposition why, some of them were mere housewives and mothers! Is it possible the film is a bit hard on him? We now see the destructive effects of his take no prisoners methods, but despite his prickly personality, he seems to have genuinely felt he was improving peoples lives. In any case, he wasnt, and this first long section of the movie, focused on the high-rise aspect of urban renewal, ends with a montage of projects and not only in New York being dynamited into dust, which puts a dramatic exclamation point to Jacobs victory. Perhaps too abruptly, the movie switches gears to focus on planners efforts to accommodate the American love affair with cars, which eventually prompted one of Moses most ambitious (and bone-chilling) proposals building a highway connecting the Williamsburg and Manhattan bridges to the Holland Tunnel, a road that would have been known as the Lower Manhattan Expressway. Moses bulldozers would have gotten quite a workout. Jacobs, naturally, threw herself into the opposition. The roadway was never built. Filmmaker journalist Matt Tyrnauer, who in 2008 directed Valentino: The Last Emperor, does a capable if not especially dazzling job of communicating the outlines of the struggle. There are lots of archival photos and footage and talking heads, perhaps the most enjoyable of whom is the late Mayor Ed Koch, who recalls his days as an urban activist and discusses the hated plan to extend Fifth Avenue through Washington Square Park. The Jacobs vs. Moses story has been recounted many times (even inspiring an opera last year, A Marvelous Order). Its a complicated tale, and at 92 minutes, the film is a very brief summary. But its a story that needs telling, as Tyrnauer proves with footage showing Chinas massive program of erecting high-rise residences that bear more than a passing resemblance to the old American projects. Economist Saskia Sassen is heard offering this scary thought: China today is like Moses on steroids. Walter Addiego is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: waddiego@sfchronicle.com Citizen Jane: Battle for the City Documentary. Directed by Matt Tyrnauer. Not rated. 92 minutes. To see a trailer: http://bit.ly/2pIenhl Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent is an attempt to secure the place of the renowned chef in American culinary history. Its a portrait of a man and also the story of an artists evolution, in this case an artist who has dealt in the realm of food. As a chef at Alice Waters groundbreaking Chez Panisse in Berkeley in the 1970s and later as the founder and chef of his own restaurant, San Franciscos Stars, Tower helped change the way Americans thought about food, with his emphasis on the local sourcing of ingredients. With Waters, he was one of the inventors of California cuisine. Tower was born into a wealthy family, but had a difficult and lonely childhood, which, according to the film, resulted in a complicated personality. Tall and good-looking, he could be charming and convivial, the most magnetic person in any room. But he could also be difficult and exacting, and even good friends say that he always kept a part of himself hidden from view. He enjoyed cooking but never considered it as a career until he got a job at Chez Panisse, and the rest is history. The behind-the-scenes footage of the Chez Panisse kitchen in the 1970s makes cooking look sexy. Everyone is young and gorgeous, and according to interviews, they were all hopping into bed with each other. It certainly looks like it. The documentary delves into the controversy resulting from Towers leaving Chez Panisse in the late 1970s. Tower feels that Waters took credit for his inventions, and the documentary contains interviews that both support and qualify that contention. In the end, the movie leaves the impression that both Waters and Tower are seminal figures in American cooking, but that Tower, who is somewhat forgotten, deserves to be remembered. Stars, on Golden Gate Avenue near the Civic Center, created a sensation in the 1980s. It was Towers greatest creation, and its food and the atmosphere are discussed in rhapsodic terms by food celebrities such as Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain. The movie contains lots of footage from Stars heyday, which shows Tower hobnobbing with the politicians and celebrities of the era. Tower himself was a celebrity, the prototype celebrity chef. Towers Stars closed in 1999. The documentary takes Tower through his much-publicized recent stint as the chef at New Yorks Tavern on the Green, a rather hopeless assignment for a perfectionist. The restaurant is enormous, and ensuring quality control when a kitchen is preparing 1,000 meals a night is next to impossible. Tower is shown in the kitchen trying to do the impossible, and its hard not to feel for him and respect his care and rigor. We also see him reading his own reviews, something critics should keep in mind when they write about people. These are real people, not abstractions, not ideas, but actual people, and words have consequences. A rave review in the New York Daily News makes Tower a nice man to work for ... until the other reviews roll in. Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MickLaSalle Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent Documentary. Starring Jeremiah Tower. Directed by Lydia Tenaglia. (R. 120 minutes.) To see a trailer: https://tinyurl.com/kx5zzw2 FORM 8.3 PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code") 1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Full name of discloser: OZ Management LP and Och-Ziff Management Europe Ltd (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Standard Life plc (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 27 April 2017 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" NO If YES, specify which: 2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security. (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any) Class of relevant security: 12 2/9p ordinary (ISIN: GB00BVFD7Q58) Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: (2) Cash-settled derivatives: 24,969,155 1.261 (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: TOTAL: 24,969,155 1.261 All interests and all short positions should be disclosed. Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions). (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options) Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: 3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in. The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated. (a) Purchases and sales Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit 12 2/9p ordinary CFD Reducing a long position 52,896 GBP 3.63 12 2/9p ordinary CFD Reducing a long position 16,322 USD 4.68 (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options) (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit (ii) Exercise Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities) Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) 4. OTHER INFORMATION (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" (c) Attachments Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO Date of disclosure: 28 April 2017 Contact name: Janine Frederick Telephone number: 020 7758 4420 Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service. The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129. The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. BRENTWOOD, N.Y. Late at night, when helicopters thrum overhead and spotlights beam down onto lawns, many people here know exactly whats going on. You just think, Oh, God, whose child is it now? said Stephanie Spezia, a longtime resident of this suburb in the heart of Long Island thats caught in the grip of a violent street gang with Central American ties, MS-13. MS-13 has been blamed for a trail of 11 corpses of mostly young people discovered in woods and vacant lots in Brentwood and neighboring Central Islip since the start of the school year. The bloodshed in the two blue-collar towns has gotten the attention of President Trump, who says the killings are the result of lax immigration policies that let too many criminal scum slip through. Attorney General Jeff Sessions gave a speech about the violence to law enforcement officials Friday not far from a park where the bodies of four young men were found this month bearing MS-13s hallmarks: repeated slashes from a blade that left the victims nearly unrecognizable. Some parents say they are afraid to let their children go to school. Teens say any perceived slight to a gang member, especially a refusal to join, can mean death. After one high school warned parents not to let their kids wear anything gang-affiliated, gang members started deciding on a daily basis what colors were off-limits, leaving students to guess what not to wear. Kids are losing their childhoods, said Jennifer Suarez, whose 15-year-old niece was beaten and hacked to death in the street last year. You can see the stress on their faces as they get ready. Its like, you know, theyre suiting up for battle. MS-13, or the Mara Salvatrucha, is believed by federal prosecutors to have thousands of members across the U.S., primarily immigrants from Central America. It has a stronghold in Los Angeles, where it emerged in the 1980s as a neighborhood street gang. Sessions, speaking at a courthouse in Central Islip on Friday, said he believes gang members used the immigration system to come north. Bad guys know how the system works, and they have exploited it, he said. In a recent roundup of 13 suspected MS-13 gang members accused of murder and other charges, seven had entered the country as unaccompanied minors. Theres no question that MS-13 is recruiting these unaccompanied children, said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy Sini. The youngsters dont have an established social network, at least many of them dont, and MS-13 is providing that network. Claudia Torrens, Frank Eltman and Colleen Long are Associated Press writers. CARLSTADT, N.J., April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DMW&H, a full-service material handling solutions provider, announces that the company has once again been honored with the Best Places to Work in New Jersey award. This is DMW&Hs fourth consecutive win of this prestigious award presented by NJBIZ. The Best Places to Work in New Jersey awards program recognizes and honors the states top employers who show a dedication to their employees professional growth and quality of life. DMW&H ranked #64 on the list of small/medium-sized companies. DMW&H is honored to be named a Best Places to Work in New Jersey for the fourth time, said Joe Colletti, President and CEO of DMW&H. Our employees make our business stand out because of their enthusiasm and dedication to meeting customer needs with innovative solutions that make clients businesses operate more efficiently and productively. We will continue to create a workplace where our employees enjoy working and thrive in their careers. We are excited to once again be named a Best Places to Work and appreciate the dedication of our employees as we strive to provide the best work environment that honors professional growth and quality of life, said Joe Colletti. By nurturing an innovative and collaborative culture where people with a variety of thoughts, ideas, and backgrounds come together, weve been able to build a successful company and a great place to work. Companies from across the state enter into the two-part process to determine the 100 Best Places to Work in New Jersey. The survey process was managed by Best Companies Group who analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final ranking. The list is comprised of 70 small/medium companies and 30 large companies. The primary goal of the program is to help companies improve their workplace practices, which will attract and retain talent while ensuring continued business success. For more information on the 2017 Best Places to Work in New Jersey program, please visit www.bestplacestoworkinnj.com. To learn more about career opportunities at DMW&H, visit www.DMWandH.com. About DMW&H DMW&H designs, integrates, installs and supports complex material handling systems for the industrial, food/beverage, wine & spirits, parcel and retail industries. Delivering Material Handling Solutions, DMW&H continues to lead the industry in competitive services and pricing, priding itself on creating systems matched to individual customer needs. By combining some of the industrys best talent with the size, reputation and corporate capabilities of the Dearborn Mid-West and W&H Systems brands, DMW&H is primed for continued rapid growth. Visit us at www.dmwandh.com. The United States ranking for press freedom declined last year, driven in part by President Trumps attacks on the news media, which also triggered a decline in other democracies, an international media organization said Wednesday. Reporters Without Borders, which compiles the World Press Freedom Index based on its assessment of the legal environment and government threats to journalists, ranked the United States 43rd out of 180 nations. It finished two spots lower than a year ago, ranking just behind Burkina Faso and just ahead of Comoros. The election of the 45th president of the United States set off a witch hunt against journalists, the group said in an analysis of its data. Donald Trumps repeated diatribes against the Fourth Estate and its representatives accusing them of being among the most dishonest human beings on Earth and of deliberately spreading fake news compromise a long U.S. tradition of defending freedom of expression. It added that Trumps hate speech helped unleash attacks on the media almost everywhere in the world, including in countries with long democratic traditions, such as Britain, France and Italy. Government officials have even applied direct political pressure on news organizations in places where it was rarely known, the Paris organization said. It cited Finland ranked as the top nation for press freedom the past six years but third this year for an incident last year in which Prime Minister Juha Sipila appeared to intervene with the countrys public broadcaster to suppress a story unfavorable to him. Even in democracies, it said, the overall trend is toward adoption of legislation and provisions that threaten the essential conditions for a free press, such as government surveillance of journalists. The top nations on the groups list were all in Northern Europe: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands. The worst-ranked were notoriously oppressive regimes such as North Korea, Eritrea, Turkmenistan, Syria and China. In addition to faulting Trump, the group continued its criticism of his predecessor, President Barack Obama. It noted: It bears repeating that (Obama) left behind a flimsy legacy for press freedom and access to information. Paul Farhi is a Washington Post writer. Sydney, Australia, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heron Resources Ltd. (TSX: HER; ASX: HRR) ("Heron" or the "Company") announces its quarterly activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Details of the Company's results are contained in the filing Heron Resources Limited Quarterly Report March 2017 which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Company's website www.heronresources.com.au March Quarter 2017 Highlights Woodlawn Zinc-Copper Project Front End Engineering Design (FEED): Work with Sedgman saw the finalisation of the plant layout design, tendering of construction earthworks and completion of the major plant equipment packages Project Readiness: Continuation of site activities focused on the site water balance, water treatment, mine dewatering and land subdivision for purchase Project Financing: Negotiations and documentation are well advanced with debt and equity providers and the Company expects that the financing process will be completed in the current quarter. Significant progress was made with a number of pre-financing activities: Due diligence project financing related technical review activities have been completed Veolia Cooperation Agreement the Company entered into a new cooperation agreement with Veolia covering the shared use of the Woodlawn Site Environmental Protection Licence - NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued Herons environment protection licence (EPL) EPC & Offtake Contracts contracts covering the Engineering, Procurement and Construct of the Woodlawn processing facility and the concentrate offtake are in their final stages with award expected in the next month Woodlawn Exploration G2 Lens: New drilling program initiated targeting an expansion to shallow reserves as initial plant feed drilling will focus on the high grade G2 Lens hanging-wall zone discovered in 2016 Kangiara Project: (90 km NW of Woodlawn): Strong soil geochemistry anomalism provides potential for a significant McPhillamys style greenfields gold and base-metal discovery at the Crosby Prospect RAB drilling to commence in May to test key areas Corporate Ardea Resources: Spin-out of the Companys non-Woodlawn assets into Ardea Resources resulting in a successful ASX listing on 9 February 2017, currently trading at $0.60, significant value creation for Heron shareholders R&D: On 13 March 2017 the Company received the 2015/16 R&D activity refund totalling A$3.2M Cash: Heron held A$16.3M in cash (excluding bonds) and A$4.7M in investments as at 31 March 2017 Woodlawn Project Development Progress The Company is currently focused on a number of work streams to enable the commencement of construction immediately following the closing of project finance arrangements. Components of this work are also required as part of the project financing process. The main work activity areas included: EPL Licence On 29 March the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued Herons environment protection licence (EPL) (refer below); On 29 March the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued Herons environment protection licence (EPL) (refer below); Veolia The Company entered into a new Cooperation Deed with Veolia Environmental Services (Australia) Pty Ltd governing the joint use of the Woodlawn Project site (refer below); The Company entered into a new Cooperation Deed with Veolia Environmental Services (Australia) Pty Ltd governing the joint use of the Woodlawn Project site (refer below); Project Engineering Sedgman Pty Ltd (Sedgman) progressed front-end engineering design (FEED) for the plant and infrastructure of the Woodlawn Project. Work completed included the finalisation of the plant layout design, tendering of construction earthworks and major equipment packages. Engineering design is ongoing and approximately 20% completed; Sedgman Pty Ltd (Sedgman) progressed front-end engineering design (FEED) for the plant and infrastructure of the Woodlawn Project. Work completed included the finalisation of the plant layout design, tendering of construction earthworks and major equipment packages. Engineering design is ongoing and approximately 20% completed; Mine plan Mine re-entry planning continued during the quarter. Work focused on planning for probe drilling to place fill into existing workings adjacent to the landfill. This probe drilling will commence in the current quarter and will be conducted using a specialist geotechnical engineering company; Mine re-entry planning continued during the quarter. Work focused on planning for probe drilling to place fill into existing workings adjacent to the landfill. This probe drilling will commence in the current quarter and will be conducted using a specialist geotechnical engineering company; Water management Water management activities saw the continuation of emptying Tailings Dam South in readiness for tailings mining. This work will slow over the coming cooler months. Mine dewatering is scheduled to commence in the current quarter; Water management activities saw the continuation of emptying Tailings Dam South in readiness for tailings mining. This work will slow over the coming cooler months. Mine dewatering is scheduled to commence in the current quarter; Water treatment Water treatment test work was completed during the quarter and invitations to tender to service providers is underway; and Water treatment test work was completed during the quarter and invitations to tender to service providers is underway; and Community The quarterly project community consultation committee met in February with no concerns being raised. The Company exhibited at the Tarago Show in March with strong interest expressed in the employment opportunities the project will bring to the local community. Project Finance The Company has continued to advance negotiations and documentation with debt and equity providers for the project development funding. These discussions have taken longer than desired and initially anticipated; however, they are now well advanced and the Company expects that the financing process will be completed in the current quarter. In addition to these discussions, significant progress was made with a number of pre-financing activities: Due diligence project finance related technical and commercial review activities have been completed with strong results; Veolia Cooperation Agreement The original Cooperation Deed with Veolia Environmental Services Australia Pty Ltd (Veolia) was entered into in 2008 and reflected the project as it was understood at that time. The project studies since this time resulted in a number of technical changes to the profile of the project and these factors, along with Veolias continued development of their activities on site, meant a detailed review and update of the previously agreed Cooperation Deed was required to ensure that it remained relevant and complete. The new agreement deals with the respective Heron and Veolia areas, rights and responsibilities associated with the joint use of the site. Specifically the agreement covers: Delineation of Heron and Veolia area of operations; Establishment of a committee comprising Heron and Veolia representatives to consider site interaction aspects; Herons right to purchase the freehold lands covering its area of operation; Division of site rehabilitation obligations and provision of compost material from Veolia for mine-site rehabilitation; Working offset distances and controls to minimise impact on operations; Management of site water with an overall principle of maintaining a zero discharge site; and Commercial terms including insurance coverage, environmental bond and the provision of a bank guarantee. Environment Protection Licence On 29 March 2017 the Company was issued its Environment Protection Licence (No. 20841) (EPL) from the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) covering proposed construction, mining and processing activities at the Woodlawn Project site. This is the final licensing requirement prior to the commencement of construction activities at Woodlawn. In relation to the Woodlawn Project the EPL covers: the permitted activities; management of site activities and their impact on the environment; the setting of limits for water, noise, blasting, hours of operation and odour; monitoring and recording requirements; and reporting obligations to the EPA. EPC - the Engineering, Procurement and Construct (EPC) contract for the Woodlawn processing facility is in a final draft form with award expected in the next month; and Offtake Contracts Contracts covering the offtake for the zinc, copper and lead concentrates are in their final stages with award also expected in the next month. Woodlawn Exploration - G2 Lens Drilling Woodlawn exploration activities are currently focusing on finding additional mineralisation proximal to the planned decline and able to be accessed early in the mine schedule. In particular, the G2 Lens, described below, shows promise in this regard. A drilling contract has been entered into with the program expected to take two to three months to complete. It is important to note that this drilling program is not a pre-requisite to project financing and is being undertaken now to complete mine planning stope design prior to the start of mine development. The G2 Lens is located to the south of the Kate Lens, and adjacent to the planned route of the decline between 100-200m below the surface. Drilling in 2016 targeted this area to test its ability to add immediately to the early mine inventory. About Woodlawn Zinc-Copper Project Herons primary development project is the high grade Woodlawn Zinc-Copper Project located 250km southwest of Sydney, New South Wales. The project consists of both a high grade underground and a large medium grade tailings resource. The development approach envisages the construction of a single 1.5Mtpa processing plant capable of treating material from both sources. Planned production will see the generation of three separate base metal concentrates (zinc, copper and lead) with associated precious metal credits. In addition, the project is very well supported by excellent infrastructure, an existing mining lease and state government development approvals. Woodlawn is expected to become an important Australian near term zinc producer delivering concentrates into a market with strong supply and demand fundamentals underpinning a strong commodity price. About Heron Resources Herons primary focus is the development of its 100% owned, high grade Woodlawn Zinc-Copper Project located 250km southwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Australia: Canada: Mr Wayne Taylor Tel: +1 647 862 1157 (Toronto) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer cmuir@heronresources.com.au Tel: +61 2 9119 8111 or +61 8 6500 9200 www.heronresources.com.au Email: heron@heronresources.com.au CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. This forward-looking information includes, or may be based upon, without limitation, estimates, forecasts and statements as to managements expectations with respect to, among other things, the timing and amount of funding required to execute the Companys exploration, development and business plans, capital and exploration expenditures, the effect on the Company of any changes to existing legislation or policy, government regulation of mining operations, the length of time required to obtain permits, certifications and approvals, the success of exploration, development and mining activities, the geology of the Companys properties, environmental risks, the availability of labour, the focus of the Company in the future, demand and market outlook for precious metals and the prices thereof, progress in development of mineral properties, the Companys ability to raise funding privately or on a public market in the future, the Companys future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as anticipate, believe, expect, intend, may and similar expressions have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is given, and on information available to management at such time. Forward-looking information involves significant risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking information. These factors, including, but not limited to, the ability to implement the Woodlawn Zinc-Copper Project Feasibility Study on time or at all, fluctuations in currency markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, the ability of the Company to access sufficient capital on favourable terms or at all, changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations, political or economic developments in Canada, Australia or other countries in which the Company does business or may carry on business in the future, operational or technical difficulties in connection with exploration or development activities, employee relations, the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, obtaining necessary licenses and permits, diminishing quantities and grades of mineral reserves, contests over title to properties, especially title to undeveloped properties, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other geological data, environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding, limitations of insurance coverage and the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, and should be considered carefully. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect the Companys actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure prospective purchasers that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law. No stock exchange, regulation services provider, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this news release. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Fyre Festival, a multi-day Bahamas "luxury" music event organized by rapper Ja Rule and entrepreneur Billy McFarland and geared towards very affluent young people, has been "postponed" following a completely disastrous first day Thursday. Guests to the event, who reportedly paid between $4,000 and $12,000 for their tickets, were promised a "premium" experience. They were to be flown to the festival on a "custom VIP-configured Boeing 737 aircraft." However, upon arriving to the Exuma Cays in the Bahamas the day before the event was to start, they found something quite different. Tents likened to "disaster relief" refuges weren't set up, garbage was scattered around, and festival-goers had difficulty finding staff and security guards. It only got worse from there. Suitcases were thrown from the backs of pickup trucks and feral dogs roamed the grounds. Though they were promised meals prepared by a "celebrity chef," what they received was a couple slices of cheese and two pieces of sliced bread in a Styrofoam box. Shortly thereafter, the musical acts, which included GOOD Music artists Disclosure, Migos, Major Lazer, and more, began to drop out. Blink-182 was one of the first to issue a statement. "Regrettably, and after much careful and difficult consideration, we want to let you know that we won't be performing at Fyre Fest in the Bahamas this weekend and next weekend," the band wrote in a tweet. "We're not confident that we would have what we need to give you the quality of performances we always give fans." The island quickly became overcapacity, and chaos broke out, leading hordes of people to rush back to the Bahamas airport. "Due to circumstances out of our control, the physical infrastructure was not in place on time and we are unable to fulfill on that vision safely and enjoyably for our guests," the organizers, Fyre Media, said in a statement Friday. "The festival is being postponed until we can further assess if and when we are able to create the high-quality experience we envisioned." The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism also issued a statement Friday morning, apologizing for the way the events unfolded (on Thursday). "The event organizers assured us that all measures were taken to ensure a safe and successful event," the agency wrote, "but clearly they did not have the capacity to execute an event of this scale." According to Rolling Stone, organizers have promised refunds, but as of yet haven't offered further information as to how unsatisfied guests can request them. The situation is ongoing. Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira. ATHENS, Greece, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX), (the Company), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, today announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Koch Shipping Pte. Ltd., Singapore, for one of its Capesize dry bulk vessels, the m/v New York. The gross charter rate is US$14,450 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of about six (6) months up to December 29, 2017. The charter commenced on April 23, 2017. The New York is a 177,773 dwt Capesize dry bulk vessel built in 2010. The Company also announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Trafigura Maritime Logistics Pte. Ltd., Singapore, for one of its Capesize dry bulk vessels, the m/v Norfolk. The gross charter rate is US$12,000 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of about six (6) months to maximum eight (8) months. The charter commenced on April 26, 2017. The Norfolk is a 164,218 dwt Capesize dry bulk vessel built in 2002. In addition, the Company announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Jaldhi Overseas Pte. Ltd., Singapore, for one of its Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Nirefs. The gross charter rate is US$9,400 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum thirteen (13) months to maximum sixteen (16) months. The charter is expected to commence on May 4, 2017. The Nirefs is a 75,311 dwt Panamax dry bulk vessel built in 2001. The employments of New York, Norfolk and Nirefs are anticipated to generate approximately US$8.03 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charters. Diana Shipping Inc.s fleet currently consists of 48 dry bulk vessels (4 Newcastlemax, 14 Capesize, 3 Post-Panamax, 4 Kamsarmax and 23 Panamax). The Company also expects to take delivery of one Post-Panamax dry bulk vessel by the middle of May 2017, one Post-Panamax dry bulk vessel by the middle of June 2017 as well as one Kamsarmax dry bulk vessel by the middle of June 2017. As of today, the combined carrying capacity of the Companys fleet, excluding the three vessels not yet delivered, is approximately 5.7 million dwt with a weighted average age of 7.91 years. A table describing the current Diana Shipping Inc. fleet can be found on the Companys website, www.dianashippinginc.com. Information contained on the Companys website does not constitute a part of this press release. About the Company Diana Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership of dry bulk vessels. The Companys vessels are employed primarily on medium to long-term time charters and transport a range of dry bulk cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along worldwide shipping routes. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words believe, anticipate, intends, estimate, forecast, project, plan, potential, may, should, expect, pending and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk shipping capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. Latvian English Key data of the audited consolidated financial statements: Turnover USD 1,460 mln (EUR 1,319 mln) Gross profit of 3.8% Gross profit USD 55 mln (EUR 50 mln) Net profit USD 8.5 mln (EUR 7.7 mln) Growth in all markets The ELKO Groups consolidated turnover has significantly increased, amounting to USD 1,460 mln (EUR 1,319 mln), an increase of 15.5% compared with USD 1,264 mln (EUR 1,139 mln) in 2015. The most rapid growth has been achieved in Central and Eastern Europe an increase of 29%, reaching USD 496 mln (EUR 448 mln). Outpacing the overall CIS IT market trend, the ELKO Group operations in this region have increased by 11% to USD 856 mln (EUR 773 mln). In the Baltic regions relatively stagnant market conditions, the ELKO Group operations have grown by 2% to USD 108 mln (EUR 98 mln). ELKO Group has concluded the year with USD 8.5 mln (EUR 7.7 mln) net profit, which is less compared to the unusually high 2015 rates that amounted to USD 21.8 mln (EUR 19.7 mln). Product portfolio expanded by 50 new manufacturers A well-balanced portfolio, which meets customers needs, is one of main targets of the ELKO Group in building long-term partnerships and supporting the development of new business services. During the past year, ELKO Group added almost 50 new vendors. For example, well-known brands such as LeEco, Xiaomi, ZTE, Meizu, Alcatel in the growing smartphone segment; Bosch Security and Mikrotik in the IT solutions segment. Existing partnerships were also extended: for example, the ELKO Group acquired distribution rights for Lenovo notebooks and electronic software delivery (ESD) rights for Microsoft software in Russia. "While we are still mostly engaged in wholesale IT products, we place increasingly higher emphasis on IT solutions distribution and the development of new business lines. It is clear that technologies such as the Internet of Things and smart home concepts open up new market opportunities for us as distributors. This is also shown by the results of our operations: the IT solutions business is rapidly growing in both turnover and market share, says ELKO Group Director Svens Dinsdorfs. Interest in acquisitions of other companies The ELKO Group currently operates in 24 countries in Europe and Central Asia with sales offices in 10 countries Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Although organic development remains the preferred route to growth, the industry is experiencing continuous consolidation with both horizontal and vertical integration. The ELKO Group also actively assesses opportunities for acquisitions. "In dynamic market conditions, the merger with and acquisition of other companies is the way to improve competitiveness to quickly implement innovations, enter new markets, and expand geographically. During the last year, we have considered more than 10 different potential acquisition targets. At present, three-to-four European-based companies are being examined, says Svens Dinsdorfs. IT distributors role and function is changing New technologies, extensive interoperability options, and applications necessitate new knowledge. The role of consulting and technical support has been growing in the distribution business. As an important challenge, the ELKO Group sees the creation of knowledge sharing ecosystem by merging market, suppliers and sales channel expertise and experience and making it readily accessible to partners. Opportunities to offer new services are emerging in the market. For instance, the ELKO Group is currently developing demo laboratories for product and various integration scenarios testing. Investment in staff development and new attractions has been increasing. Fund raising In July 2016, an agreement was signed with Nordea, SEB banka, Swedbank, and OP Corporate Bank on a USD 78 mln syndicate loan for current asset financing. At the end of 2016, a new bond Base Prospectus of ELKO Group AS was registered, which enables bonds to be issued with a total nominal value up to EUR 50 million or an equivalent amount in USD during the year. About ELKO Group ELKO Group was founded in 1993 and is one of the largest IT product wholesalers and IT solutions and services distributors in Eastern Europe, now also actively expanding to Central Asian market. ELKO represents more than 120 IT vendors and sells their goods to more than 6 500 retailers, local computer producers and system integrators. ELKO offers more than 20 000 product titles from the most famous vendors - Acer, Apple, Asus, Dell, HGST, Intel, Kingston, Lenovo, Microsoft, Seagate, Supermicro, Western Digital and others. At the moment, more than 700 people are employed with ELKO. ELKO Group belongs to several legal entities and investment fund Amber Trust. Further information: http://www.elkogroup.com Lithuanian English On 27 April 2017 the Annual General Meeting of Telia Lietuva, AB (hereinafter Telia Lietuva or the Company) Shareholders approved Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements, Consolidated Annual and Independent Auditor's Reports for the year ended 31 December 2016. The audited revenue of Telia Lietuva Group for the year 2016 is the same as the revenue for the twelve months of 2016 that was announced on 27 January 2017 the audited consolidated Telia Lietuva Group revenue for the year 2016 amounted to EUR 345,906 thousand. EBITDA excluding non-recurring items was EUR 117,041 thousand (EUR 117,118 thousand was announced on 27 January 2017) and free cash flow amounted to EUR 44,176 thousand (EUR 44,176 thousand was announced on 27 January 2017). Due to additional amortisation and depreciation charges, the audited profit for the period of January-December 2016 was a bit lower and amounted to EUR 41,494 thousand, while EUR 41,903 thousand was announced on 27 January 2017. Kestutis Sliuzas, CEO of Telia Lietuva, word: Big things do not always fit into the standard packaging. Sometimes we also find 24 hours per day and 12 months per year insufficient. This is what our 2016 looked like - a year of big works, good results and special mood. We started our path to the next generation telecommunications business in October 2015 having announced our plans to merge Teo and Omnitel. We agreed on strategic goals, formed a joint management team and made organizational structures of both companies uniform. On 4 January 2016, Teo acquired 100 percent of shares of Omnitel, and both companies started joint operations. On 1 February 2017, after the merger of Omnitel and Baltic Data Center with Teo under a new Telia Lietuva name, we turned the page in the history of telecommunications business of Lithuania. Today we are a company providing the most telecommunications, IT and TV services from a single point in Lithuania. However, high temperature was needed for this high-quality alloy, which we had to maintain throughout 2016. Cultures of different companies became a single Telia family - with joint teams of employees, merged offices, new offers, merged technologies and networks, IT systems and common resource management. At the end of the year, our customers could clearly see that they were communicating with a single company: we started selling all services from a single point having merged and renovated more than 70 customer service centres throughout Lithuania. We became available to residents and business customers by calling a single telephone number or contacting a single manager. Simply and conveniently. This was needed to exploit the entire potential, which Telia Lietuva had accumulated. Today we see that more than half of residents of Lithuania and thousands of businesses use our services. We are already able to offer you solutions that allow creating the ecosystem of inter-related devices and technologies that facilitate life, the so called # visakotinklas (#allthingsnetwork), from a single point. In addition to typical activities, the process of integration of Telia, which lasted for a year and a half, demanded additional focus and energy. Thus now, having successfully completed this stage and laid strong foundation for the next generation telecommunications business, we are going back to our essence - leadership in technology, focus on customers and development of new services. The path, which we took in October 2015, is a correct path, thus we are determined to continue following it, offering to our customers even more solutions, technology, convenience and, most importantly, #daugiaugyvenimo (#more life). The Company also prepared Sustainability Report for the year 2016 in html format. The Financial Statements and Sustainability Report for the year 2016 are available on the Internet at https://www.telia.lt/ma2016/en ENCL.: - Telia Lietuva, AB Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements, Consolidated Annual and Independent Auditor's Reports for the year ended 31 December 2016 - Presentation of the results for the year 2016. English Latvian Riga, 2017-04-28 17:19 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Key indicators for the financial year: Turnover grew by 61% and reached EUR 946th; Share capital increased to EUR 500th; Successful entry in Estonian market with 63 clients by the end of the year; Further bond issues made in 2016 and 2017 for the total volume of EUR 1,725th. On operating results Year 2016 for Capitalia group (further Capitalia) has been growth focused period. We have entered Estonian market, as well as significantly increased our capacity in loan evaluation and servicing. In 2016 Capitalias revenues increased to EUR 946th a growth of 61% over the previous year. Company reported small losses of EUR 11 thousands. The net financial results were foreseen and are result of establishing operations in Estonia as well as investing in building up company for growth in the future (new employee hires, marketing developments and IT investments). As part of building up the company we also boosted the balance sheet by increasing the share capital to EUR 500,000 as well as organizing a new closed bond issue for the total amount of EUR 500,000. This allowed us to boost the balance sheet to EUR 4m, growing 52% compared to the total assets in 2015. On new markets From 2016 Capitalia can start calling itself a truly pan-Baltic company with operations and employees in all the three countries. At the end of the year our office in Estonia employed 2 loan managers that already serviced 63 active clients in this country. Our loan book in Estonia is still significantly smaller than in Latvia and Lithuania, hence our focus in 2017 will be on expansion in this geography with a target to double our client number during the year. Capitalia does not expect to enter any new markets during 2017, focusing instead our full attention to the growth in the Baltic States. On future plans In 2017 our focus will be to ensure proftiability with the target net margin of 10%. With regards to new product development, we are planning to launch our own crowd-funding platform in the first half of year 2017. The platform will be aimed for businesses that want to attract mezzanine loan financing in the amount from EUR 100,000 to EUR 1,000,000. We feel that there is a large gap in this investment range that is not fully addressed nor by local private investors, nor banks or venture capital/private equity funds. Capitalia will co-invest in each of the projects offered through the platform as well as will manage the crowd-financed loans on behalf of the pool of investors. On Capitalia Capitalia is the largest non-bank lender to small and medium enterprises in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. To date Capitalia has financed working capital and investment needs of more than 1000 companies investing over EUR 20 million in growth of these businesses. Bowling Green, KY , April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Bowling Green Area Chamber Partner Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products, LLC announced phase I of their latest expansion project in the South Central Kentucky Industrial Park in Bowling Green. This project includes the creation of 129 new jobs and $51.3 million in capital investment and will have an economic impact of more than $280 million over the next 10 years in South Central Kentucky. KAAP is an award winning manufacturer of forged aluminum suspension products and has been instrumental in global aluminum lightweighting efforts. Lightweighting is driven by the need to increase fuel efficiency by reducing the weight of automobiles. Aluminum parts forged by KAAP are light weight, and as they contribute to the overall reduction in weight of the automobile, their products help consumers save through lowered fuel consumption, and ultimately help improve the environment. This is our 12th year producing aluminum automobile suspension parts in Kentucky. Two years ago we decided to make our sixth investment, and due to the increasing necessity of lighter vehicles, we have decided to make another investment, said Toshihiro Katsura, KAAP President and CEO. This will be our seventh additional investment, and we are truly grateful to the Commonwealth of Kentucky for all of the support and incentives we have received. This expansion by Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products is a shining example of growth among advanced manufacturers in Kentucky, Gov. Bevin said. Since establishing its Bowling Green plant in 2004, KAAP has proven itself an excellent corporate partner in the commonwealths automotive industry. We are grateful for the companys dedication to the state and are excited to see this remarkable success continue. This project will increase production capacity by the addition of two new forging presses, one heat treatment line, one etch and penetrant line, one melting furnace, one casting line and two machining lines. Construction is anticipated to begin next month. South Central Kentuckys reputation among metal and automotive parts manufacturing groups continues to advance much in part to the success of companies like KAAP in our region, said Chamber President and CEO Ron Bunch. The combined economic impact of all of KAAPs projects since locating here in 2005 has exceeded $654 million. Congratulations to KAAP on this project and their success in our community. Although KAAP is relatively new to the United States, they have been serving the aircraft and automotive industry in Japan since 1937. KAAP joined the Bowling Green community in 2005 and has since been an exemplary member of the regions automotive and aluminum product manufacturing sector. Over the last 12 years, KAAP has invested $287 million in the Bowling Green community and currently employs 501 people, 500 of which are Kentucky residents. KAAP continues to have a tremendous impact on the city and our local economy, said Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson. Their growth and success since locating to Bowling Green in 2005 is astonishing and we are grateful for all [KAAP] does for our community. We are proud that KAAP continues to call Warren County home, said Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon. Seven expansions in twelve years is a great testament to their success as a leader in an industry primed for growth. I extend our sincerest gratitude to KAAP for being such an important part of our local economy. KAAP has been the recipient of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerces John B. Holland Business of the Year award three times since joining the regions business community in 2005. This annual award is given to an existing South Central Kentucky company making the greatest economic impact on the community, investing capital and creating jobs for local residents. KAAP was the John B. Holland Business of the Year in 2008, 2012 and 2013. This announcement is the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerces third economic development announcement in 2017 for a total of $86.73 million in capital investment and 283 new jobs. For more information on KAAP or the positions they have available, please visit http://www.kobeal.com/. ### About the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce: Incorporated in 1935, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce is a 5-Star Accredited Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was named the 2009 Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. As the fourth largest chamber in Kentucky, the Chamber serves as a premier business advocate for its more than 1,200 partners and is the driving force for economic development in South Central Kentucky. Its primary goals are to promote growth and success in the business community, reaching its small business partners and those in large industries alike. With leadership programs, governmental relations projects, educational initiatives and involvement opportunities, the Chamber aims to support the community and its neighbors in order to enhance the business climate and continue to grow the region. Learn more about South Central Kentuckys advantages at www.southcentralky.com. CALGARY, Alberta, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) will be seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada a recent Alberta Court of Appeal decision. In the 2-1 Alberta Court of Appeal decision, the majority dismissed the AERs appeal of a Court of Queens Bench decision allowing the receiver/trustee to disclaim, or walk away from, unproductive energy assets and their associated liabilities. We are disappointed in the decision of the majority, said AER president and CEO Jim Ellis. It fails to recognize that the AER is not acting as a creditor when it takes steps to ensure that the public is protected from the environmental costs associated with suspension, abandonment, and reclamation when companies enter into insolvency proceedings. While the AER is appealing the decision because its effects are significant for Albertans, this decision will have significant ramifications across the entire country, as demonstrated by the participation of other parties as interveners. The decision may lead to more wells, facilities, and pipelines being sent to the Orphan Well Association (OWA), as receivers and trustees pick and choose which sites will maximize returns to creditors. The OWA is a nonprofit organization that abandons and reclaims orphan infrastructure and associated sites and is funded by industry. The OWA is an extremely important backstop that ensures energy companiesnot Albertanspay for final closure of energy facilities when a licensee has no other assets to cover the costs, Ellis added. It was intended to address true orphans, not to be used as a place for liabilities that companies no longer want to deal with. The Alberta Energy Regulator ensures the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of hydrocarbon resources over their entire life cycle. This includes allocating and conserving water resources, managing public lands, and protecting the environment while providing economic benefits for all Albertans. Backgrounder: Redwater Energy Corp. timeline of events and the Orphan Well Association The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) intends to appeal a decision by the Alberta Court of Appeal that allows receivers and trustees to disclaim, or walk away from, unprofitable oil and gas assets and their associated abandonment and reclamation liabilities despite Alberta legislation intended to ensure that energy developersnot Albertanspay for final closure of energy sites. Redwater operated 84 wells, seven facilities, and 36 pipelines, mostly in the Edmonton area, before the company filed for receivership on May 12, 2015, and for bankruptcy on October 16, 2015. On May 27, 2016, the AER appealed the Court of Queens Bench decision that allowed the receiver to disclaim select energy sites. The Alberta Court of Appeals heard the appeal in October 2016. On April 24, 2017, the AERs appeal was dismissed in a 2-1 decision by the Alberta Court of Appeal. Justice Martins dissenting reasons fully reflect the AERs concerns. The AERs appeal was supported by the Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan governments, the Orphan Well Association, and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. On December 5, 2015, the AERs liability programs assessed the liabilities associated with Redwaters wells and facilities at $7.3 million to abandon and reclaim. Orphan Well Association The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) works closely with the OWA to ensure that Albertans never have to pay for energy industry abandonment and reclamation costs. Should a company go into insolvency, its wells, facilities, and pipelines may be referred to the OWA for suspension, abandonment, or reclamation. Wells, facilities, and pipelines are referred to the OWAan industry-funded not-for-profit organizationas a last resort. The OWAs $30 million annual budget is funded by an annual industry levy. The OWAs inventories have increased dramatically since 2014. The table below shows the associations year-over-year inventory. DENVER, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. (NYSE:BCEI) (Bonanza Creek or the Company) today announced that in accordance with and pursuant to its Plan of Reorganization (the Plan), which was confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on April 7, 2017, the Company has successfully completed its prepackaged restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11. Richard Carty, President and CEO, commented, We are very pleased to announce our emergence from Chapter 11, and I am very thankful to all of our dedicated employees and stakeholders for their efforts in this process, getting the Company from filing to emergence in little over 100 days. With our legal proceedings behind us, we look forward to resuming drilling and completion activities with a clean balance sheet that can support long-term sustainable growth in the current environment. Jack E. Vaughn, Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented, On behalf of the newly appointed Board of Directors, we are enthusiastic about the solid assets and opportunity set that Bonanza Creek has to offer. We look forward to working with the management team to quickly resume activity and create value for Bonanza Creeks shareholders. Bankruptcy Emergence Details Pursuant to the Plan, the Companys senior unsecured noteholders received, in exchange for approximately $866 million of unsecured debt, (i) shares of new common stock of the reorganized Company and (ii) the right to participate in a $200 million backstopped rights offering. Certain equity holders agreed to invest $7.5 million in the Company pursuant to a settlement agreement (Equity Settlement), bringing the total equity raise upon emergence to $207.5 million. Holders of the Companys legacy equity that did not elect to opt out of releases granted pursuant to the Plan received shares of 4.5% of the reorganized Companys common stock, subject to dilution, and warrants to purchase up to 7.5% of the reorganized Companys common stock for a term of three years. The tables presented below show the Companys pro forma capitalization after giving effect to the restructuring. Pro Forma Capital Structure Upon Emergence (in millions) December 31, 2016 Restructuring Pro Forma as of December 31, 2016 Cash $ 80 $16 $96 Secured Credit Facility (RBL) $192 $(192 ) $ 2021 Notes 500 (500 ) 2023 Notes 300 (300 ) Total Debt $992 $(992 ) $ Stockholders Equity $51 $639 $690 Borrowing Base $150 $42 $192 Less: Borrowings 192 (192 ) 0 Plus: Cash 80 16 96 Total Liquidity $38 $250 $288 The Companys cash balance at emergence was approximately $65 million. Prior to emergence, the Company received approval to list its new common stock with the CUSIP number 097793 400 (the New Common Shares) on the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) under the same NYSE ticker symbol BCEI as the existing shares of the Companys issued common stock (the Existing Shares). Along with New Common Shares, the Company will issue warrants with the CUSIP number 097793 111 (the Warrants) in accordance with the Plan. These warrants will not be listed on an exchange. After the market close on April 28, 2017, all Existing Shares (with the CUSIP number 097793103) will be cancelled, and the New Common Shares and Warrants will be issued and will commence trading at the market open on May 1, 2017. Because the Company will retain the ticker symbol BCEI after the Effective Date of the Plan, holders of Existing Shares, and brokers, dealers and agents effecting trades in Existing Shares, and persons who expect to receive New Common Shares or effect trades in New Common Shares, should take note of the anticipated cancellation of the Existing Shares and issuance of New Common Shares, and the two different CUSIP numbers signifying the Existing Shares and the New Common Shares, in trading or taking any other actions in respect of shares of the Company that trade under the BCEI ticker. Summary of Equity % Ownership Post Emergence Pre-Dilution Effect of Rights Offering and Equity Settlement Equitization of Senior Notes 95.40 % 46.53 % Disputed Claim Reserve 0.10 % 0.05 % Rights Offering 0.00 % 46.67 % Backstop Fee 0.00 % 2.80 % Total Senior Notes 95.50 % 96.05 % Legacy Equity 4.50 % 2.20 % Equity Settlement 0.00 % 1.75 % Total Equity 4.50 % 3.95 % Total 100.00 % 100.00 % Share Count Post Emergence Pre-Dilution Effect of Rights Offering and Equity Settlement Equitization of Senior Notes 9,471,833 9,471,833 Disputed Claim Reserve 10,000 10,000 Rights Offering - 9,501,300 Backstop Fee - 570,078 Total Senior Notes 9,481,833 19,553,211 Legacy Equity 446,788 446,788 Equity Settlement - 356,295 Total Equity 446,788 803,083 Total 9,928,621 20,356,294 Holders of the Companys legacy equity will be allocated 446,788 New Common Shares, resulting in and effective equivalent reverse stock split of 1 for 111.5879, considering Bonanza Creek had 49,856,141 shares outstanding as of April 26, 2017. Upon emergence, the Company issued 1,650,510 3-year Warrants with a strike price of $71.23 per share. In addition, the Company granted 389,102 restricted stock units (RSUs) and 389,102 options to its employees. The RSUs have a 3-year vesting period and the options have a 10-year term and strike price of $34.36 per share. Operations Update With regard to Company operations upon emergence, the Company plans to resume drilling and completion activity around June 1, 2017 with intent to operate a one-rig program for the remainder of the year, pending Board approval. Once the newly-appointed Board approves a full-year 2017 budget, the Company will issue full guidance for the remainder of the year. A new investor presentation has been posted to the Companys website under the Investor Relations section at www.bonanzacrk.com. Board of Directors Appointments The Company also announces the appointment of seven members to its Board of Directors. The new Board appointments were selected in accordance with the Plan. Two members from the previous Board have been appointed to the new Board. Richard J. Carty, served on the previous board since 2010, and Jeffrey Wojahn, served since November 2014. Biographies of the seven Board members are included below. Richard J. Carty Mr. Carty was named President and Chief Executive Officer in November, 2014. He has over 25 years of experience in global capital markets and finance with investment management mandates including energy, commodities, and engineering. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bonanza Creek since December 2010, when he led a major recapitalization of Bonanza Creek on behalf of West Face Capital (USA) Corp, an affiliate of West Face Capital, where he served as President from 2009 until 2013. Prior to that period, Mr. Carty was Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Principal Strategies where he was responsible for investing the banks capital in proprietary investment mandates in public corporate securities and private securities. Mr. Carty led investment teams that ran Morgan Stanleys value arbitrage strategies, special situations investments, strategic private investments, and global quantitative strategies. Prior to Mr. Carty's 14 years at Morgan Stanley, he was a partner at Gordon Capital Corp, a Toronto-based investment and merchant bank, where he worked for five years. Paul Keglevic Paul Keglevic is a senior executive and trusted business advisor with a strong track record of performance serving the utility industry and two Big 5 accounting firms, with deep expertise in finance and accounting, restructuring, risk management, shared services, regulatory testimony, and process improvement. Mr. Keglevic has been at Energy Future Holdings Corp. since 2008, serving as Chief Executive Officer of TCEH since October 2016, Chief Restructuring Officer since December 2013, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer from 2008 to September 2016, President of EFH Corporate Services from 2010 to 2016 and Chief Risk Officer from 2008 to 2016. Prior to Energy Future Holdings Corp., Mr. Keglevic worked for over 25 years at Arthur Andersen and for six years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC). Mr. Keglevic serves on the Board of Directors of Energy Future Intermediate Holdings, EFIH Finance Inc., Stellus Capital Management LLC and the Dallas Chamber of Commerce (not-for-profit). Mr. Keglevic received a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from Northern Illinois University. Brian Steck Brian Steck is a seasoned investor with 27 years of financial market experience. Mr. Steck is a partner and senior analyst at Mangrove Partners where he has worked since 2011. Prior to Mangrove, Mr. Steck was a partner at investment managers K Capital Partners and Tisbury Capital and was the general partner of the Laurel Capital Group. Prior to this, Mr. Steck spent 10 years at UBS and its predecessors Swiss Bank Corporation and OConnor & Associates, where he focused on equity derivative trading and risk management, built equity derivative and event-driven client businesses and was Global Co-Head of Equity Hedge Fund Coverage. Mr. Steck received a Bachelors of Science, with highest honors, from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Thomas B. Tyree, Jr. Thomas B. Tyree, Jr. served as President, Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Board of Managers of Vantage Energy from 2006 to 2016. Prior to Vantage Energy, Mr. Tyree served as Chief Financial Officer of Bill Barrett Corporation, a Managing Director in the Investment Banking Division at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and an Associate in the Corporate Finance division at Bankers Trust Company. Mr. Tyree received his M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his B.A. at Colgate University. Jack E. Vaughn Jack E. Vaughn is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Peak Exploration and Production, LLC, where he is responsible for executive management of all operational activity, including drilling, completion, and facility construction in all operating areas, as well as all gas and crude oil transportation and marketing, regulatory and environmental compliance activities. Mr. Vaughn serves on the Board of Directors of Saddle Butte Pipeline II, LLC and was the co-founder and a member of the Board of Directors of Momentum Midstream, LLC from 2007 to 2011. In addition, Mr. Vaughn has held several senior management positions at energy companies in the United States, including Peak Energy Resources, Inc., EnerVest Management Partners, LP and Emerald Gas Operating Company. Mr. Vaughn received his B.S. Petroleum Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Scott D. Vogel Scott D. Vogel was a Managing Director at Davidson Kempner Capital Management investing in distressed debt securities from 2002 to 2016. Previously, Mr. Vogel worked at MFP Investors, investing in special situations and turnaround opportunities. Prior to MFP Investors, he was an investment banker at Chase Securities. Mr. Vogel received his M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his B.S.B.A. from Washington University. Mr. Vogel serves on the Board of Directors of Modular Space Corp, Key Energy Services, Arch Coal and Merrill Corp. and previously on numerous Board of Directors and ad hoc creditor and equity committees throughout his career. Mr. Vogel is a member of the Olin Alumni Board of Washington University, a member of the Advisory Board of Grameen America, and a former member of New Leadership Council of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York. Jeffrey E. Wojahn Mr. Wojahn served as Executive Vice President of Encana Corporation from 2003 to 2013, and was President of Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. from 2006 to 2013. Beginning in 1985, Mr. Wojahn held senior management and operational positions in Canada and the United States and has extensive experience in unconventional resource play development. He currently serves as a Strategic Advisory Board member for Morgan Stanley Energy Partners Advisors Davis, Polk & Wardwell LLP is acting as legal counsel, Perella Weinberg Partners LP is acting as financial advisor, and Alvarez & Marsal LLC is acting as restructuring advisor to the Company in connection with its restructuring efforts. About Bonanza Creek Energy Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of onshore oil and associated liquids-rich natural gas in the United States. The Companys assets and operations are concentrated primarily in the Rocky Mountain region in the Wattenberg Field, focused on the Niobrara and Codell formations, and in southern Arkansas, focused on oily Cotton Valley sands. The Companys common shares are listed for trading on the NYSE under the symbol: BCEI. For more information about the Company, please visit www.bonanzacrk.com. Further information on the restructuring process and the Plan can be found on the Companys case information website, located at http://cases.primeclerk.com/bcei. Please note that the Company routinely posts important information about the Company under the Investor Relations section of its website. Safe Harbor Statement This release includes forward-looking statements and projections, made in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our liquidity. Bonanza Creek has made every reasonable effort to ensure that the information and assumptions on which these statements and projections are based are current, reasonable, and complete. However, a variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release, including: (i) changes in demand for our services and any related material impact on our pricing and utilizations rates, (ii) Bonanza Creeks ability to execute, manage and integrate acquisitions successfully, (iii) changes in our expenses, including labor or fuel costs and financing costs, (iv) continued volatility of oil or natural gas prices, and any related changes in expenditures by our customers, (v) competition within our industry, (vi) Bonanza Creeks ability to comply with its financial and other covenants and metrics in its debt agreements, as well as any cross-default provisions, and (vii) the ability to execute Bonanza Creeks business plan. Additional important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations are disclosed in Item 1A of Bonanza Creeks Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. While Bonanza Creek makes these statements and projections in good faith, neither Bonanza Creek nor its management can guarantee that anticipated future results will be achieved. Bonanza Creek assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by Bonanza Creek, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. AMARILLO, Texas, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Producers Ag Insurance Group, Inc. (ProAg), a member of the Tokio Marine HCC (TMHCC) group of companies, today announced that Michael Connealy, President and Chief Executive Officer, will transition to Chairman of the Board, effective June 30, 2017 until his retirement in the second quarter of 2018. Kendall Jones, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer on June 30, 2017. During his 11 years at ProAg, Connealy has helped develop ProAg into one of the premiere providers of crop insurance products. He has supported the industry throughout his career by serving on the Board of Directors and as Chairman of National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS), as well as through his testimony to both the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committees. Connealy has also been closely involved on behalf of the private sector during each Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA) negotiation session with the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) since the early 1980s. May 16, 2017 will be exactly 40 years since starting my first job in the insurance business out of college, Connealy states. Along this journey, many people, especially the Latham family in Amarillo, gave me a chance to succeed. I will be taking the time to thank all of these individuals as we get closer to my actual retirement date in 2018. The start of Connealys career coincided with the passage of the Crop Insurance Act of 1980 and the launch of the public/private sector multi-peril crop insurance program. Connealy continues, Having had my 40 chances in a single career is a blessing. It was my good fortune to land in the crop insurance business at a young age, which allowed me to watch it grow from a fledgling business struggling each year for survival into what is now the acknowledged cornerstone of the United States Department of Agriculture risk management program for our nations farmers and ranchers. Jones joined ProAg in 2006 as Executive Vice President alongside Connealy, after spending time in diverse roles in the crop insurance industry at Norwest Corporation and Rural Community Insurance Services. She currently serves as ProAgs Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the regional offices and their support teams. Jones is an active advocate for the agricultural industry and currently serves on the Board of Directors of NCIS. She earned both a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree in her home state at the University of South Dakota. "Kendall is as prepared to lead this company as any Chief Executive in our history," said Connealy. "Her leadership, her personal style, and her broad experience across the entire spectrum of the crop insurance business uniquely qualify her to step into this role in July. She is highly respected across the industry, she inspires ProAg employees, and she represents in every way ProAgs core values." "I started working for and learning from Mike in 1994 on a temporary assignment. Encouraged by his generosity, humor and skills, I turned crop insurance into my career. The opportunity to lead ProAg is exciting, particularly during a time of uncertainty and challenge in the agricultural sector. Our strong competitive position will continue to be enhanced by our focus on the American farmer, our core values and our strong relationships with our agents, said Jones. Jones continues, "For more than three decades, Mike has provided invaluable leadership for our industry. His consistent and resolute focus on innovation, agent relations and strategic planning has distinguished our company. We all look forward to building on this approach as we move forward." When we acquired ProAg in 2015, the strength and experience of the management team and a solid succession plan were key attributes of the transaction. Mike has guided ProAg through two successful years following the transaction, with excellent prospects for 2017. We look forward to working alongside Mike and Kendall on this transition and then fully supporting Kendall as she leads ProAg forward, said Chris Williams, Tokio Marine HCCs Chief Executive Officer. ProAg is a member of the Tokio Marine HCC group of companies, with a financial strength rating of A++ (Superior) from A.M. Best Company, Inc. The company is positioned as a financially strong and well-capitalized crop insurer with over 90 years of experience in protecting the American farmer. ProAg writes multi-peril crop, crop hail, named peril crop and livestock insurance. The company is headquartered in Amarillo, Texas with eight offices spread across the United States. ProAg employs approximately 400 people supporting crop insurance operations in 41 states. For more information about ProAg, please visit www.ProAg.com. ProAg is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Tokio Marine HCC is the marketing name used to describe the affiliated companies under the common ownership of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware-incorporated insurance holding company. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Tokio Marine HCC is a leading specialty insurance group with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain and Ireland. Tokio Marine HCCs major domestic insurance companies have financial strength ratings of AA- (Very Strong) from Standard & Poors Financial Services LLC, A++ (Superior) from A.M. Best Company, Inc., and AA- (Very Strong) from Fitch Ratings; its major international insurance companies have financial strength ratings of AA- (Very Strong) from Standard & Poors Financial Services LLC. Tokio Marine HCC is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, a premier global company founded in 1879 with a market capitalization of $31 billion as of December 31, 2016. For more information about Tokio Marine HCC, please visit www.tokiomarinehcc.com. ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zomedica Pharmaceuticals Corp. (TSX-V:ZOM) (Zomedica or Company), a veterinary pharmaceutical and health care solutions company, announces the adoption of an advance notice bylaw (the "Advance Notice Bylaw"). The Advance Notice Bylaw includes, among other things, a provision that requires advance notice to be given to the Company in circumstances where nominations of persons for election to the Board are made by shareholders of the Company other than pursuant to: (i) a requisition of a meeting made pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) (the "Act"); or (ii) a shareholder proposal made pursuant to the provisions of the Act. Additionally, the Advance Notice Bylaw sets a deadline by which holders of record of common shares of the Company must submit director nominations to the Company prior to any annual or special meeting of shareholders, sets forth the information that a shareholder must include in the notice to the Company, and establishes the form in which the shareholder must submit the notice for that notice to be in proper written form. In connection with the implementation of the aforementioned advance notice provisions, the Board of Directors of the Company has approved Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which has been filed and is available under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com. The Amended and Restated Bylaws are effective immediately and will remain in effect until they are confirmed, confirmed as amended or rejected by shareholders at the upcoming annual and special meeting of shareholders, which is scheduled for June 2, 2017. The Advance Notice Bylaw is being adopted in connection with the Companys intention to become a publicly traded company in the United States. The Company believes that adopting the Advance Notice Bylaw is in the best interest of shareholders by assuring that shareholders receive adequate notice of director nominations with sufficient information with respect to all nominees. This allows the Company and its shareholders to evaluate the proposed nominees qualifications and suitability as directors, which further allows shareholders to cast an informed vote for the election of directors. Similar advance notice bylaw provisions are common for U.S. listed companies. About Zomedica With U.S. operations based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Zomedica is a veterinary pharmaceutical and health care solutions company creating products for companion animals (canine, feline and equine) by focusing on the unmet needs of clinical veterinarians. Zomedica is developing a diversified portfolio to include innovative drugs, drug-delivery technologies, diagnostics, and devices. With multiple clinical veterinarians in executive management, it is Zomedicas mission to give veterinarians the opportunity to lower costs, increase productivity, and grow revenue while better serving the animals in their care. For more information, visit www.ZOMEDICA.com. Follow Zomedica Reader Advisory Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to the presentation of the Amended and Restated Bylaws to the shareholders of the Company for ratification at the next annual and special meeting of shareholders. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships; risks pertaining to permits and licensing, intellectual property infringement risks, risks relating to future clinical trials, regulatory approvals, safety and efficacy of our products, the use of our product, intellectual property protection and the other risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. CALGARY, Alberta, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toscana Energy Income Corporation (the "Corporation") (TSX:TEI) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a commitment letter with respect to a new senior secured demand revolving credit facility with Alberta Treasury Branches ("ATB"). The Credit Facility will provide the Corporation with a $36 million Credit Facility that will be available on a fully revolving basis. ATB has committed to the new Credit Facility subject to the finalization of documentation. Current bank borrowings are estimated at $26 million, leaving approximately $10 million available for general corporate purposes. This new Credit Facility provides for expanded flexibility in managing corporate affairs within the current marketplace. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forwardlooking statements or information. Forwardlooking statements and information are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "appear", "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "approximate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "would" and similar expressions. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forwardlooking statements and information concerning completion of final documentation in connection with the Credit Facility. The forwardlooking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Corporation, including expectations and assumptions concerning well production rates and reserve volumes; project development and overall business strategy. Although management of the Corporation believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forwardlooking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Corporation relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forwardlooking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in development, exploration and production delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to reserves, production, costs and expenses; health, safety and environmental risks; commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations; marketing and transportation; loss of markets; environmental risks; competition; incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions and failure to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; failure to obtain required regulatory and other approvals and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, royalties and environmental regulations. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forwardlooking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forwardlooking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forwardlooking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws or the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. About Toscana Energy Income Corporation Toscana Energy Income Corporation is a conventional oil and gas producer with the mandate to acquire high quality, long life oil and gas assets including royalties, non-operated working interests and unitized production for yield and capital appreciation. Toscana Energy Income Corporation is managed by Sprott Toscana through Toscana Energy Corporation. Sprott Toscana is a member of the Sprott Group of Companies. For further information, please visit our website at www.sprott-toscana.com or contact: Joseph S. Durante, Chief Executive Officer Tel: (403) 410-6793 Fax: (403) 444-0090 E-Mail: jdurante@sprott-toscana.com SOURCE: Toscana Energy Income Corporation This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CARMEL, Calif. Good Samaritans helped reunite a harbor seal pup with its mother at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Carmel by remembering the No. 1 rule in baby seal rescuing: Don't pick up the pup. The Marine Mammal Center urges anyone who sees a seal or sea lion pup that appears to be abandoned, sick, or injured, not to intervene. Instead, call the Marine Mammal Center's 24-hour rescue hotline, 415-289-SEAL, or call 911. Good Samaritans did the right thing on April 19 by calling the hotline when they found a baby harbor seal alone in Whalers Cove at Point Lobos. Trained responders with the MMC and Carmel Highlands Fire Department carefully rescued the pup from rocks, and were able to successfully reunite the pup with its mother soon after. When the mother found her pup swimming near Whalers Cove, the two touched noses -- seal language for, "I love you, you're my baby." Related video: Algae bloom poisoning sea lions in Southern California MMC spokesperson Giancarlo Rulli described the reunification as "heartwarming." "The reunification was possible thanks to members of the public seeing recent 'Leave Seals Be' coverage and properly reporting the animal to our rescue hotline," Rulli said. March and April are peak pupping season for harbor seals in the Monterey Bay. A pup can swim at birth, and when it gets tired, it hitches a ride on its mother's back. They spend about half their time in water and half on land. Mothers leave their babies to fish and forage for food in nearby waters. Human interaction risks breaking the pup's bond with its mother. "While these young pups have innate charm and are quite photogenic, it's important for the public to enjoy these animals from a distance," the Marine Mammal Center said. This story originally appeared on KSBW. Navi Kitchen, the new restaurant from Preeti Mistry of Juhu Beach Club, opened this morning in Emeryville with limited hours ( 8 a.m. to noon) in the form of a "brekkie and coffee/chai" morning service. Mistry said a 3 p.m. lunch service will be added down the line and pizzas will start popping up on the menu in early May. At that point the concept will start to take it formal shape as an Indian-Neapolitan pizzeria and all-day cafe. PARIS Frances troubled wartime past is taking center stage Friday in the countrys highly charged presidential race, as centrist Emmanuel Macron visited the site of Frances worst Nazi massacre and Marine Le Pens far-right party suffered a new blow over alleged Holocaust denial. Seeking the moral high ground, Macron wants to send a message to voters that Le Pen isnt a candidate like any other, but the heir of a party stained by anti-Semitism, racism and an outdated worldview. SEOUL North Korea test-fired a mid-range ballistic missile from the western part of its country Saturday, but the launch apparently failed, South Korea and the United States said Saturday. The test will be condemned by outsiders as yet another step in the Norths push for a nuclear-tipped missile that can strike the U.S. mainland. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the North fired the unidentified missile from around Pukchang, which is near the capital Pyongyang, but provided no other details. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said the missile was probably a medium-range KN-17 ballistic missile. It broke up a couple minutes after the launch and the pieces fell into the Sea of Japan. A South Korean military official also said without elaborating that the launch was believed to be a failure. He didnt want to be named, citing office rules. North Korea routinely test-fires a variety of ballistic missiles, despite United Nations prohibitions, as part of its weapons development. While shorter-range missiles are somewhat routine, there is strong outside worry about each longer-range North Korean ballistic test. Saturdays launch comes at a point of particularly high tension. President Trump took an initial hard line with Pyongyang and sent a U.S. aircraft supercarrier to Korean waters. His diplomats are now taking a softer tone. On Friday, the United States and China offered starkly different strategies for addressing North Koreas escalating nuclear threat as Trumps top diplomat demanded full enforcement of economic sanctions on Pyongyang and urged new penalties. Stepping back from suggestions of U. S. military action, he even offered aid to North Korea if it ends its nuclear weapons program. The range of Secretary of State Rex Tillersons suggestions, which over a span of 24 hours also included restarting negotiations, reflected Americas failure to halt North Koreas nuclear advances despite decades of U.S.-led sanctions, military threats and stop-and-go rounds of diplomatic engagement. As the North approaches the capability to hit the U.S. mainland with a nuclear-tipped missile, the Trump administration feels it is running out of time. 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Exports rose 11 percent to $4.65 billion in March compared with the same month a year earlier, and marking the highest monthly level since March 2015, according to Statistics New Zealand. Dairy exports led the rise, with the value lifting 29 percent, or $250 million, and the volume up 6.4 percent. The gain in dairy products accounted for over half the total increase for exports in the month, and also marked the sixth consecutive month-on-month increase. Global dairy prices have started to pick up this season as demand and supply come back into balance after record high prices in the 2013/14 season spurred farmers to ramp up production, causing an oversupply which led to two years of weak prices. Exports to China, New Zealand's largest market, jumped 43 percent in March to $1.08 billion, as the value of dairy products rose 66 percent, or $114 million, while the quantity rose 39 percent. "China continues to be our top destination for goods exports, and accounts for a quarter of the total dairy exports value," Stats NZ international statistics manager Tehseen Islam said. "This March, exports to China exceeded $1 billion for the first March month since 2014." Lamb exports to China also improved, increasing by 86 percent, or $57 million in March. Wool exports to China showed the biggest decline, down by 40 percent, or $16 million. Meanwhile, imports into New Zealand rose 7.6 percent to $4.32 billion in March, led by a 35 percent rise in passenger motor cars. New Zealand had a monthly trade surplus of $332 million, or 7.1 percent of exports. This compares with an average surplus of 11 percent of exports for the previous five March months. The annual trade deficit for the year ended March was $3.67 billion, narrower than the $3.77 billion shortfall in the year ended February. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: TEM - Market Abuse Regulation, Article 19, Paragraph 11 NZME updates FY22 guidance & announces new dividend policy November 9th Morning Report FSF - Results announced for the 2022 Fonterra Elections Heartland 2022 Annual Shareholder Meeting a2MC commences on-market buy-back of up to NZ$150 million TradeWindow enters trial agreement with GSBN November 8th Morning Report OCA - Notice of Half Year Result Announcement Westpac 2022 Full Year Financial Results Announcement Four of 22 corruption suspects who have fled China are in Auckland according to a list published by Chinese authorities and while New Zealand is not currently proceeding with new extradition treaties it could look at a possible treaty in the future, a spokesman for Prime Minister Bill English says. The information includes the name, gender, ID card number, former title, suspected crime, date of arrival in the current country and travel document of each suspect, according to the state-owned Xinhua news agency. Of the 22, 10 are thought to be in the US, five in Canada, four in New Zealand, and one each in Australia, St Kitts and Nevis and the UK. Xinhua quoted Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection official Gao Bo as saying it is the first time Chinas authorities have issued a notice with such specific information about overseas fugitives. China has sought the help of Western countries such as New Zealand in its campaign dubbed operation foxhunt to round up corruption suspects who fled overseas. In a transcript of a March press conference published on the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Chinese authorities have brought back over 2,500 fugitives from more than 90 countries and regions on charges of corruption and economic crime, and 38 of them are on the list of 100 most wanted fugitives and has reached extradition treaties and mutual judicial assistance treaties with 70 countries. The Foreign Ministry will continue to do its best to shatter the illusion of fugitives and make them understand that there is no safe haven abroad and they cannot escape justice wherever they may be, Wang Yi said. New Zealand has resisted an extradition treaty with China because of its use of the death penalty. In response to a question about whether talks currently underway to upgrade the free trade agreement between the two nations will include a possible extradition treaty, a spokesman for English told BusinessDesk: New Zealand is not proceeding with new extradition treaties right now, while we review relevant legislation. But we could look at a possible treaty in future." According to the spokesman, during Premier Li Keqiangs recent visit to New Zealand, he and English agreed that they would continue to discuss the issue. The spokesman also noted that New Zealands current legislation does not require a bilateral treaty in order to consider extradition requests from China or other countries. Bilateral cooperation on extradition will continue in individual cases under the current legislation where the required conditions are met, he said. (BusinessDesk) NEW YORK, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Citizens, Inc. (Citizens or the Company) (NYSE:CIA) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Western District of Texas, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Citizens securities, seeking to recover compensable damages caused by defendants violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you are a shareholder who purchased Citizens securities between March 11, 2015 and March 8, 2017, both dates inclusive, you have until May 15, 2017 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] Citizens, Inc. operates primarily as an insurance holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, offers a wide range of insurance products and services, including life and health and property and casualty insurance. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Companys brokers and pitchbooks falsely claim that most of the funds from its insurance policies are directly invested in U.S. Treasury Bond; (ii) funds from the Companys insurance policies are funneled into continuous open market purchases that have inflated the Companys stock price; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, Citizens public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On March 8, 2017, Seeking Alpha published a report alleging that despite Citizens promises of outsized guaranteed returns backed by U.S. Treasury bonds, the Companys funds are not invested in U.S. Treasuries and [Citizens] policies appear designed to prop up Citizens stock price. The Seeking Alpha report further stated that [b]ecause most of the [Companys] returns to existing policyholders are driven by funds contributed by new policyholders, Citizens displays some characteristics that appear analogous to a Ponzi scheme. On this news, Citizens share price fell $0.45, or over 5% over the next two trading days, to close at $8.00 on March 9, 2017. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com NEW YORK, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guggenheim Investments, the investment management division of Guggenheim Partners, today announced that the following Guggenheim exchange traded funds (ETFs) have declared distributions. The table below summarizes the distribution for each ETF. Distributions Schedule Ticker Exchange Traded Fund Name Ex-Date Record Date Payable Date Total Rate Per Share GSY Guggenheim Enhanced Short Duration ETF1 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0567 GTO Guggenheim Total Return Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.1087 BSCH Guggenheim BulletShares 2017 Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0205 BSCI Guggenheim BulletShares 2018 Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0240 BSCJ Guggenheim BulletShares 2019 Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0282 BSCK Guggenheim BulletShares 2020 Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0329 BSCL Guggenheim BulletShares 2021 Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0375 BSCM Guggenheim BulletShares 2022 Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0402 BSCN Guggenheim BulletShares 2023 Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0428 BSCO Guggenheim BulletShares 2024 Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0491 1 On September 30, 2013, Guggenheim Enhanced Short Duration Bond ETF changed its name to Guggenheim Enhanced Short Duration ETF. Distributions Schedule Ticker Exchange Traded Fund Name Ex-Date Record Date Payable Date Total Rate Per Share BSCP Guggenheim BulletShares 2025 Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0441 BSCQ Guggenheim BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0414 BSJH Guggenheim BulletShares 2017 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0508 BSJI Guggenheim BulletShares 2018 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0707 BSJJ Guggenheim BulletShares 2019 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0843 BSJK Guggenheim BulletShares 2020 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0847 BSJL Guggenheim BulletShares 2021 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0908 BSJM Guggenheim BulletShares 2022 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0949 BSJN Guggenheim BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.1117 BSJO Guggenheim BulletShares 2024 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/01/17 05/03/17 05/05/17 $ 0.0997 Past performance is not indicative of future performance. To the extent any portion of the distribution is estimated to be sourced from something other than income, such as return of capital, the source would be disclosed on a Section 19(a)-1 letter located on the Funds website under the Literature tab. Distributions may be comprised of sources other than income, which may not reflect actual fund performance. For more information, please visit http://www.guggenheiminvestments.com/products/etf. About Guggenheim Investments Guggenheim Investments is the global asset management and investment advisory division of Guggenheim Partners, with $217 billion2 in total assets across fixed income, equity, and alternative strategies. We focus on the return and risk needs of insurance companies, corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, consultants, wealth managers, and high-net-worth investors. Our 275+ investment professionals perform rigorous research to understand market trends and identify undervalued opportunities in areas that are often complex and underfollowed. This approach to investment management has enabled us to deliver innovative strategies providing diversification and attractive long-term results. Read a funds prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) carefully before investing. It contains the funds investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other information, which should be considered carefully before investing. Obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) at http://guggenheiminvestments.com or call 800.820.0888. The referenced funds are distributed by Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC. Guggenheim Investments represents the investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC (Guggenheim), which includes Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC ("GFIA") and Guggenheim Partners Investment Management (GPIM), the investment advisors to the referenced funds. Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, is affiliated with Guggenheim, GFIA and GPIM. BulletShares, BulletShares USD Corporate Bond Index, and BulletShares USD High Yield Corporate Bond Index are trademarks of Guggenheim Index ServicesSM and have been licensed for use by Guggenheim Investments. Guggenheim Index Services is an affiliate of Guggenheim Investments. 2 Guggenheim Investments total asset figure is as of 03.31.2017. The assets include leverage of $11.7bn for assets under management and $0.4bn for assets for which we provide administrative services. Guggenheim Investments represents the following affiliated investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Guggenheim Real Estate, LLC, GS GAMMA Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited, and Guggenheim Partners India Management. HOUSTON, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willbros Group, Inc. (NYSE:WG) announced today plans to release its first quarter financial results on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 after the close of market. In conjunction with this release, the company will host a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the internet, on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (9 a.m. Central Time). What: Willbros First Quarter 2017 Earnings Conference Call When: Wednesday, May 3, 2017 - 10 a.m. Eastern Time How: Live via phone - By dialing 1-844-850-0544 (U.S. Toll Free), 1-855-669-9657 (Canada Toll Free) or 1-412-317-5201 (International) a few minutes prior to the start time and asking for the Willbros Group, Inc. call. Live over the internet - By logging on to the website at the following address: http://www.willbros.com. The webcast can be accessed from the investor relations home page. A replay will be available through May 10, 2017 and may be accessed by calling 1-877-344-7529 (U.S. Toll Free), 1-855-669-9658 (Canada Toll Free) or 1-412-317-0088 (International) using Replay Access Code 10106451. Also, an archive of the webcast will be available shortly after the call on www.willbros.com. Willbros is a specialty energy infrastructure contractor serving the oil and gas and power industries with offerings that primarily include construction, maintenance and facilities development services. For more information on Willbros, please visit our website at www.willbros.com. MUMBAI: BMW Group on Thursday said that it has entered into an international alliance with the Aditya Birla Group to be its preferred premium mobility supplier. According to the luxury automobile manufacturer, it will supply premium mobility products for the Aditya Birla Group across 50 countries and over 70 companies internationally. "Our alliance with Aditya Birla Group is yet another step to bring the immersive BMW experience closer to our exclusive clientele," said Rene Gerhard, Director - Sales, BMW Group India. "With the fascinating choice of products at attractive prices, customised financial solutions and unparalleled service offerings, Aditya Birla Groupemployees across the world will now be able to experience the 'Sheer Driving Pleasure' in its greatest form." The BMW Group said that the agreement spans globally across several countries such as India, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, France and the UK. "The association comprises of a wide variety of privileges on the extensive product portfolio of the BMW Group such as preferential pricing, customised financial services and the state-of-the-art after sales support," the luxury automobile manufacturer said in a statement. Read Also: Paytm Launches Digital Gold With MMTC-PAMP SDGs Offer $1 Trn Market Opportunities To Private Sector NEW DELHI: U.S. tech giant Google on Friday announced a new "Solve for India" initiative that aims to expand and energise the start-up ecosystem in tier 2 cities across the country. The programme will inspire new wave of entrepreneurs and startups in emerging cities like Pune, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Indore, Nagpur, Nashik, Madurai, Kanpur and Chennai. "There is a growing number of entrepreneurs in smaller Indian cities who are focusing on building solutions that caters to the real needs of India. Through this initiative we want to bring the best of Google under one programme and join forces with them to help create solutions that serves the needs of a billion Indians," said Karthik Padmanabhan, Programme Manager Lead for Google India, in a statement. Entrepreneurs will get an opportunity to learn directly from Google engineers who will share product usage insights, how to develop mobile first solutions with strong offline and language capabilities and help them to build solutions across areas like agriculture technology, healthcare, transportation, education and sanitation. Read Also: Microsoft Integrates Dynamics 365 With Linkedin Good Demand For Cloud-Based IT Solutions NEW DELHI: India and Cyprus today expressed confidence that the recent revision in tax agreement between the two will provide a boost to investment flows. "I understand that the pending issue of revision of the double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) has been resolved and the long-pending request of notified jurisdiction area has been accommodated," Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal said at the India-Cyprus business session organised by industry chambers here. This will pave the way for Cyprus to invest more in India, not just in portfolio investment, but in key segments like manufacturing and other sectors, he said. Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades was also optimistic that the recently-signed DTAA will help further cement economic ties, especially in the investment field. The president pitched Cyprus as one of the fastest- growing European nations that provides investment opportunities in various sectors. To promote investment and bolster ties, both the countries will sign a number of bilateral agreements during the president's 5-day trip, which ends on April 29. Cyprus is the eighth largest country in terms of FDI inflow into India and the bilateral trade read $110 million. Meghwal talked of tourism and film production as possible avenues for joint exploration of investment opportunities. Besides, he said, setting of the International Solar Alliance could be mutually beneficial. Seeking investments in India, Meghwal said rating agencies post demonetisation have predicted that India's GDP could cross double digits by 2020. "India has undertaken many reforms and we are planning to introduce GST from July 1... 2017 will go down in history as the year of economic reforms," he said. Read Also: India Successfully Test-Fires Agni III Missile Samsung Launches Smart Healthcare Citizenship Initiative WARSAW: India and Poland on Thursday signed an agreement on the exchange of information and technology in the agriculture sector. The agreement, signed by Minister of State of Small Industries Giriraj Singh from the Indian side, will see cooperation between the two nations and emphasise on the need to expand their trade relations. The signing ceremony took place after the formal talks between visiting Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo. The two sides will explore more possibilities to strengthen their collaboration in mining, food processing and defence sectors. Ansari is on a three-day state visit to Poland and will meet Polish President Andrzej Duda, who will make a state visit to India later this year. Ansari will also meet the Speaker of the Polish Senate. The Vice President will be the main speaker at a business forum on Thursday, organised by the Polish Ministry of Economic Development. Some 150 businessmen and companies from the two countries will participate in the deliberations. He will also interact with several key members of the Indian community. Read Also: India Can Lead Globally By Improving Manufacture: Jaitley One Pct Of Indians Own 53 Pct Of Country's Wealth: UN Report Gaspare Santoro, left, and his son, Paul Santoro have pleaded guilty to filing false reports for asbestos removal at the former Mount Manresa site. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A father and son team hired to conduct asbestos testing in buildings on the grounds of Mount Manresa, the former Jesuit retreat house in Fort Wadsworth, pleaded guilty Friday to filing false reports. New Jersey residents Gaspare Santoro, 76, of Monroe Township, and Paul Santoro, 38, East Windsor, were hired by the Savo Brothers, which purchased the 15-acre site for $15 million about three years ago for a controversial townhouse project. Prosecutors initially filed criminal charges against the duo in December 2014. They alleged Paul Santoro filed city Department of Environmental Protection forms in April of that year with the borough's Department of Buildings declaring the Founders Building, Care Taker's House and Bruno Building were asbestos-free. Gaspare Santoro signed off on the forms, and demolition began at the site. Asbestos was found at one of the buildings a few days later. In October 2014, the city hit the Mount Manresa project with $67,400 in fines for asbestos-related violations. Demolition resumed at the site in February 2015. Prosecutors filed an indictment in June 2015, accusing the father and son of falsifying reports for about five of the buildings on the site. According to prosecutors, Gaspare Santoro also falsely certified that buildings at three other locations in the borough were "free of asbestos-containing material" -- two homes, at 62 Seaview Ave. in Dongan Hills and 24 Elmbank St. in Eltingville, and a commercial property at 4491 Amboy Road in Eltingville. Paul Santoro certified the same for a home at 36 Ardmore Ave. in Willowbrook, prosecutors alleged. In addition, Gaspare Santoro was accused of falsely certifying in three more homes that "a portion of the premises affected by the work is free of asbestos-containing material." Those properties were at 7563 Amboy Road in Tottenville, 76 Eagan Ave. in Annadale and 195 Wolverine St. in Oakwood, said prosecutors. The Santoros each pleaded guilty to a felony count of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing to satisfy all charges against them. Under the terms of their agreement, each man must surrender his asbestos-investigator and asbestos-inspector licenses; the elder Santoro must also surrender his professional engineering license. The defendants cannot take on any new business. The Santoros will be sentenced Nov. 3 in state Supreme Court, St. George, to a conditional discharge. They face up to 16 months to four years in prison if they do not comply with the terms of the agreement. "By willfully falsifying asbestos reports from the Mt. Manresa site, the Santoros showed blatant disregard for public health, including construction workers and neighboring residents," said District Attorney Michael E. McMahon in a statement. "While today's outcome, which includes the forfeiture of the Santoros' engineering and asbestos investigator licenses, will not undo the actions of the developers at Mt. Manresa, it will prevent these individuals from ever again committing these crimes." Assistant District Attorneys Gregg Brown and Carrie Low are prosecuting the case. Jeffrey Lichtman, Gaspare Santoro's lawyer, took a shot at the district attorney's office, saying it gained little by prosecuting his client. "This case was obviously a search for a scapegoat for the whole Mount Manresa mess," said Lichtman. "The Santoros didn't make a single penny from this. Nothing was accomplished here other than triggering a press release for an elected official." Paul Santoro's lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment. --- Want to discuss this report? Click here for the comments section. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- He's a member of the Greatest Generation -- a select few who have survived and grew up in the United States during the Great Depression, many of whom went on to fight onto the beaches in Normandy, France, during World War II. At 97 years young, Edwin Smith is probably one of the few survivors of the war dubbed "The War Against the Nations." He shares his recollection of events that took place during that second world war and his service in the 106th Infantry division during the Battle Of the Bulge. The younger Smith who was born and raised in New Brighton and now calls Sunnyside home, would marry the former Anne Russo on Nov. 15, 1942 and received his draft notice just two weeks after being reclassified. Edwin was assigned to the 106th infantry Golden Lion Division 424th regiment that consisted of three regiments, the 422nd, 423rd and 424th. Sadly, the 422nd and 423rd regiments of the 106th were either killed or captured. The 106th division took the initial German surge at the battle -- but the 424th was spared. During the cold winter Edwin clearly remembers a group of men killing a deer for food, cooking it and becoming terribly sick. While in St. Vith -- The Battle of St. Vith was part of the Battle of the Bulge, which began on Dec. 16, 1944 -- his division was too evacuate to Stavelot (Belgium). Edwin recounts the time a Flemish woman ran over to Cpt. Daniels warning that Germans dressed as MP's switched road signs directing the US troops to Malmedy, to a German planned trap instead of Stavelot -- and the troops would backtrack to the right road. Edwin was amazed that 10-to-15 Staten Islanders were in his division -- men with names like Bill Tobin, who became a city police officer and patrolled Jersey Street after the war, and Tom Kehoe, Lou Bergozi, Tom D'LaPenna, Fred Roche and Frank Coniglioli. Members of the 106th division were also known as the green troops since they were inexperienced in battle -- and sadly, they took a terrible defeat. Here on Staten Island German prisoners were detained in the former Howland Hospital later known as Willowbrook Developmental Center. Edwin says the Italian prisoners, however, weren't seen as a threat and had more liberal freedom and often were invited into homes. Two thirds of the 106th were either captured or killed. He confides, General Jones, the commanding officer, was held responsible at the time. Edwin says they felt as though they were scapegoated, since no one expected the German surge. After the war, Edwin worked for the city Department of Sanitation and upon retirement worked for Pioneer Transportation. The Smiths who'll be married for an amazing 75 years in November, are the parents of two daughters, Rita Russo and Anne Taranto, and two grandchildren Kelly McMahon and James Taranto. Six great-grandchildren Samantha, Nicole, Anngelina, Julia, James, Jacqueline, complete the family circle. Happy belated birthday, Edwin! (Yes, he turned 97 on March 26th.) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police are asking for the public's help identifying a man sought for questioning in connection to a Port Richmond grand larceny that occurred in March. An unidentified man entered the Forest Avenue T.J. Maxx on March 15, and left the store with several items that he did not pay for, according to a statement from the NYPD's deputy commissioner of public information. The man left the store and fled the scene in a grey Ford Taurus, police said. It was unclear what the total value of the items was. The male sought for questioning is described as black, and between 20 and 25 years of age. Two photos of the individual sought for questioning have been provided. Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. Would you like to comment on this report? Go to the comments section to join in the conversation. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The plot thickens. Who, or what, killed Simon rabbit? United Airlines said they're not to blame. It was initially thought that three-foot Simon, who was bred to be the world's biggest bunny, died in the cargo section of a United 747 on a flight from London to Chicago. The airline said, however, the giant bunny was alive and well when his his plane landed in Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Simon showed no sign of distress when was he was removed from the plane, but later died at a pet-holding facility while waiting to be put aboard a connecting flight to Kansas City, Mo., United said. According to a report in the Des Moines Register, Simon was headed to an Iowa farm, where his new owners hoped he could capture the prize as the world's largest rabbit in the famed Iowa State Fair. Annette Edwards, Simon's British breeder, said the rabbit had been examined by a veterinarian before making the trip, and was found to be in good health. United said it offered to have a necropsy performed on Simon, but was turned down. The airline has offered to compensate the breeder for Simon's loss. Meanwhile, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), issued a statement saying the rabbit's death "is not unique." It said "more than 300 animals have died in cargo holds since 2005, and many more have been been injured or lost." United has been in damage control mode this month after passenger Dr. David Dao lost two front teeth and suffered a broken nose when he was forcibly removed from an overbooked flight. The incident was captured on video, that swiftly went viral on social media. The airline announced that it had reached a settlement with Dao out-of-court for an undisclosed sum. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD is asking for the public's help to locate a 32-year-old man who has been reported missing from West Brighton. Japeth Hutchinson, 32, was last seen at about 1 p.m. on April 16 inside his home on Seneca Street, according to a statement from the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. Police described him as a black male who stands about 5'6" tall and weighs about 160 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. The missing man suffers from schizophrenia, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to visit the NYPD's Crime Stoppers website, call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS) or 1-888-577-4782 (PISTA) for Spanish, or text their tips to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. --- Want to discuss this report? Click here for the comments section. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -Wasn't President Donald Trump supposed to have been impeached by now? Funny how things don't work out quite the way they're planned. So what can we say about the job Trump has done after his first 100 days in office? As it is with most of these things, there's been some good, some bad and some positively wacky. The Trump presidency is something that many of us have never seen before: A total outsider winning the White House. And Trump was somebody that people in both parties disdained. The Democrats weren't shy about saying that their daggers were out for him, that they wouldn't cooperate with the Trump agenda. And plenty of Republicans didn't like him either because he'd hijacked the party out from under them. The mainstream media, late-night comics and "Saturday Night Live" have been all too eager to pile on. Add that to Trump's in-your-face personality, the disdain he showed for the political and media establishment (often one and the same thing) and his fast looseness with the facts and you can see why things have been so cacophonous in Washington. And, no, Trump hasn't helped himself with all those hair-trigger tweets and by saying stuff that might make sense inside his head but often needs better explanation out there in the real world. And Sean Spicer and Kellyanne Conway haven't been the best translaters either. It's always a negative when presidential staffers become the story. Hey, at least Steve Bannon's been taken down a couple of pegs. And is it me or has it been a while since we've had a wacky tweet from the president? So maybe Trump's learning something. That's really the measure of any president. They all come into office looking to change things. They all misread their own election results as a mandate. But they run into that brick wall of Congress and the press. How do they adjust? That's the thing worth watching. But say this about Trump: He's actually tried to fulfill the promises he made during the campaign. And for all the turmoil and for all the lack of success, polls say that the folks who voted for him are happy with him. As for the report card, it's been hit and miss. On immigration, you have to give Trump a win. Sure, he didn't get everything he wanted with the travel ban and other measures. Executive orders got tied up in court. But illegal border crossings from Mexico are down. And we've seen illegal immigrants who've tried to leave the U.S. for Canada being turned back at the northern border. It seems Canada doesn't want them either. And Trump has softened his stance somewhat, telling so-called "dreamers," the kids brought here illegally by their illegal parents, that it's criminals Trump wants out of the country, not kids. So has Trump done everything he wanted? No. But the message has gone out and people are thinking twice about coming here illegally. And that goes for would-be terrorists as well. Those folks know that it's no longer a free ride into the country. Is that a bad thing? Maybe we don't even need a great, big wall. Trump's Supreme Court pick was a big win. Justice Neil Gorsuch is going to have an impact on this country for decades. The win will also help keep conservatives from becoming too restless with Trump. It doesn't matter how Gorsuch got confirmed. All history remembers is the win. And don't forget, Trump was at an absolute nadir when the confirmation hearings were taking place. But in the end, even the Democrats couldn't put up much of a fight. A big failure has been health care. But it's a shared failure. Maybe Trump moved too fast here, trying to get something so big done so fast. But the real failure belongs to the GOP-controlled House and Speaker Paul Ryan. After all the political theatre of voting to repeal Obamacare over and over again, it was incumbent on them to have an actual replacement plan ready to go. On foreign affairs, Trump started out as Vladimir Putin's puppet, but then went against Putin when the U.S. bombed Russian client state Syria over a poison gas attack. The move brought Trump nearly universal acclaim, as you typically see when the president takes on a foreign foe. But there are still deep questions over just what our policy is there, and whether the Syrian civil war is really our fight. That grade's incomplete. And as for Russian meddling in the election, it's a case of more smoke than fire. Everybody knows why Hillary lost the election, and it had nothing to do with Russian hackers. But Washington runs on investigations, so don't expect all these probes to end anytime soon. Afghanistan: We dropped the mother of all bombs on some ISIS terrorists. How could you not cheer for that? A gimme. North Korea: This is a dicier situation given the unpredictability of Kim Jong-un. Saber-rattling is one thing, but you don't want to start actual hostilities without a darn good reason. I'm not sure America sees one. Has it only been 100 days since Trump was inaugurated? STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Alleged wrong-way-cop Pedro Abad was a "little buzzed" when he left Curves, a Charleston strip club, shortly before the deadly crash on the West Shore Expressway that killed two of his passengers, a bartender testified Friday. Three prosecution witnesses testified Friday, as prosecutors appear to be winding down their case. Abad, 29, a former Linden, N.J. police officer, is accused of speeding and driving drunk the wrong way on the West Shore Expressway and slamming into a tractor trailer around 4:50 a.m. on March 20, 2015, killing two passengers, Joseph Rodriguez and Frank Viggiano, a Linden police officer. Both men were 28. The defendant seriously injured himself and another passenger, former Linden cop Patrik Kudlac, 25, prosecutors also allege. Here are highlights from Friday: ABAD SEEMED TIPSEY, BARTENDER SAYS Jessica Mitlashkova, a former bartender at Curves, said Abad was a regular at the club when she worked there. He came about two or three times a week, she said. When Assistant District Attorney Mark Palladino asked if Abad had visited Curves 70 times while she worked there, she responded, "Probably." Mitlashkova said Abad usually came by himself, which, prosecutors contend, demonstrates he should have known the route home. A short, dark-haired woman, Mitlashkova said Abad bought two Jack Daniel's while at her station and also purchased seven additional drinks for herself and the dancers. She said he moved to another bartender's station with his friends at some point, and she didn't know what, if anything, he might have drank there. The witness said Abad and his three friends were at the bar a "couple of hours" before leaving. Asked how the defendant seemed then, she replied "I guess a little buzzed, but I wouldn't say he was drunk." ABAD FORGOT TO PAY TAB Mitlashkova testified she had to call Abad back to pay his tab as he was exiting. The defendant was charged $103 for drinks. She said he also charged a 75-cent tip. State Supreme Court Justice Mario F. Mattei sustained Palladino's objection when defense lawyer Mario F. Gallucci asked if Abad normally left 75 cents as a tip. In response to Gallucci's inquiries, the bartender said Abad "always" was a gentleman while at Curves and was a "very good customer to have." 2ND TEST SHOWS BLOOD ALCOHOL NEARLY 3X LEGAL LIMIT Donna Papsun, a forensic toxicologist for NMS Laboratories in suburban Philadelphia, testified Gallucci's firm hired her company to test a sample of Abad's blood for GHB, the so-called date-rape drug; other drugs, such as opiates; and ethanol, found in alcoholic beverages. She said her office obtained the sample from the city's chief medical examiner's office. Papsun said her analysis showed no detectable evidence of any drugs, including GHB, in the defendant's sample. Papsun said Abad's blood alcohol content was .22 percent in the sample she examined. The legal limit for driving while intoxicated in New York is .08 percent. Earlier in the case, prosecutors' forensic toxicologist testified Abad's blood alcohol content was .24 percent based on a sample he examined. According to testimony, the blood samples were drawn from Abad at Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton at 6:17 a.m., or about 90 minutes after the crash. Gallucci maintains the samples were contaminated by intravenous fluids Abad received, skewing the blood alcohol content findings. He also contends the amount witnesses say Abad drank doesn't jibe with his alleged blood alcohol content. DRINKING IN NEW JERSEY Raymond Wegrzynek, a current Linden cop, testified he and Rodriguez went to Central Park, a bar/restaurant in Roselle, N.J., around 11 p.m. on March 19, 2015. Sometime after arriving, they joined up with Abad and Kudlac who were already there, he said. Kudlac testified Wednesday he, Abad and another Linden police officer met at Central Park around 8 a.m. for dinner and drinks. Kudlac testified Abad had two mixed drinks and two shots at dinner. Wegrzynek testified Abad had at least one drink with him and Rodriguez, but he couldn't say if the defendant consumed any more. At some point, Abad, Kudlac and Rodriguez decided to head to Curves, but Wegrzynek declined to join them. The trial resumes Monday when the defense may begin presenting its case. --- Want to discuss this report? Click on the comments section to join the conversation. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An emergency room nurse testified Thursday that samples of alleged wrong-way-crash cop Pedro Abad's blood - which prosecutors used to determine his blood alcohol content - would have been drawn before he received any blood transfusions or medicine at the hospital. As a result, the samples would not have been contaminated by those agents, prosecutors contend. But under cross-examination, Isangozi Shoneyin also said she has little independent recollection of treating Abad in Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton, and she based her answers on standard hospital procedures and a review of Abad's medical records. Also on Thursday, prosecutors presented evidence indicating Abad made five credit card transactions - four at a New Jersey bar/restaurant and one at Curves strip club in Charleston -- on the evening before and early on the morning of the deadly wreck. Abad, 29, a former Linden, N.J. police officer, is accused of speeding and driving drunk the wrong way on the West Shore Expressway, and slamming into a tractor trailer at around 4:50 a.m. on March 20, 2015, killing two passengers, Joseph Rodriguez and Frank Viggiano, a Linden police officer. The defendant seriously injured himself and another passenger, former Linden cop Patrik Kudlac, 25, prosecutors also allege. The four men had been drinking at Curves before the crash, according to witness testimony. Abad is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and other crimes. Abad received blood transfusions, potent medicine at hospital Shoneyin testified that Abad was received as a Level One trauma case, the most serious trauma designation. She said trauma patients immediately receive an IV on entering the emergency room, and blood is drawn so doctors can establish a baseline to begin treatment. Based on Abad's medical records, she believed Abad's blood for testing would have been extracted between 6:15 a.m. and 6:23 a.m. Prosecutors previously showed the jury photos of the tubes in which Abad's blood was placed, which denote an extraction time of 6:17 a.m. Extrapolating from the time Abad's blood was drawn, the prosecution's forensic pathologist calculated Abad's blood alcohol content was between .261 percent and .273 percent - or more than three times the legal limit - when the crash occurred. The defense contends that the time listed on the tubes is inaccurate, and Abad's blood was contaminated by transfusions he received and alcohol applications to clean his arm for the IV. Abad's medical records show Abad received two blood transfusions and a variety of sedatives and other drugs. Shoneyin said it is hospital policy to draw the blood for testing before any transfusions or medicine are administered. That procedure is always followed, she said, although she acknowledged having little specific recall of tending to Abad. Ethanol not used in sterilization Reading from the label of a sterilization packet, Shoneyin said the wipes used to clean a patient's skin contain 70 percent isopropanol plus water. Isopropanol is different from ethanol, which is found in alcoholic beverages, according to prior witness testimony. "We don't have that in the ER," she said, when asked if Abad was given ethanol. Nurse doesn't recall Abad being pronounced dead Each morning, Abad reads Scriptures to reporters before entering the courthouse. Last week, before reciting a verse, he told NJ.com reporters he had been, "literally declared and pronounced dead," after the crash and had, "seen God." Asked by defense lawyer Mario F. Gallucci if the defendant had been pronounced dead at the hospital, Shoneyin replied: "I don't recall him being pronounced. I don't recall that at all. I recall him being unresponsive." Unresponsive, she said, means the patient is unconscious, but his vital signs are sufficient enough to keep him alive. Five credit-card transactions before the crash Andrew Levy, a Bank of America representative, testified that Abad's credit card records show he made two transactions at Central Park, a bar/restaurant in Roselle, N.J. on March 19, 2015, and three transactions on March 20, 2015 - two at Central Park and one at Curves. At a brief hearing outside the jury's presence Thursday morning, it was revealed that Abad charged $441 at Central Park. However, Justice Mario F. Mattei refused to let prosecutors ask Levy the amount, deeming it was prejudicial" and would "lead to (juror) speculation" absent evidence specifically showing what Abad bought. Kudlac testified that he and Abad had dinner and drinks at Central Park on the evening of March 19. Each man consumed two mixed drinks and two shots of bourbon. Afterward, they went to Curves. According to prior testimony, Abad spent $103 at Curves. He bought two mixed drinks and a water for himself and seven drinks for bartenders and dancers. The trial resumes Friday in state Supreme Court, St. George. Want to discuss this report? Go to the comments section to join in the conversation. The way of the empty hands The Simi Valley Shotokan Karate Dojo recently hosted a two-day seminar at Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District headquarters featuring a trio of karate experts. The Oct. 22 seminar was... Slide into winter fun at SnowFest The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District is bringing snow to Simi Valley. SnowFest will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun., Nov. 6 at Rancho Madera Community... By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612efe645b0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f085b0d8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612efe645b0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f085b0d8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612efe64f58)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f085b0d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f085b0d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e4fa83e0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0517658)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0517658)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612efe60c40)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612efe5c298)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612efe60c40)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612efe5c298)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612efe5eab0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612efe5c298)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612efe5c298)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612ee6a3b70)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612e1dc17d8)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612e1dc17d8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0692dd8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612ee6a4cf0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0692dd8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612ee6a4cf0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0693780)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612ee6a4cf0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612ee6a4cf0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612efbbc2a8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0686240)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0686240)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 The ACT government could be a step closer to allowing pill-testing at music festivals as it rounds up a working group to consider a controversial proposal. The move has the territory leading Australia in exploring the idea, which has drawn criticism from politicians who say it condones illicit drug use. The ACT government is the first of its counterparts to convene a working group that will consider a pill-testing trial at music festivals It also marks a significant position shift for the ACT government, which until recently had not ruled out considering the practice in the future but had revealed no formal plans to do so. While some drug reform activists praised the decision, others slammed it for down-playing months of work already done and demanded details of the roundtable. Ordinary parishioners would have a greater say in the future direction of the Catholic Church in Canberra, in reforms overwhelmingly supported at a meeting of concerned churchgoers on Thursday night. More than 200 people attended a meeting convened by the recently formed Concerned Catholics of Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese. A meeting of concerned Catholics in Canberra on Thursday voted overwhelmingly for reforms that would give the laity more say over how the church is run. Credit:James Alcock The group has called for more lay people, including women, to play a greater role in church decision-making, after the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse pointed to power imbalances in the church as a reason why abuse in many cases carried on with impunity. The group is also pushing for a diocesan pastoral council to be established, with more members of the laity given a seat at the table. A Canberra couple who are managing the creation of a $100 million museum in France honouring Australians' service and sacrifice on the Western Front say it is an honour and privilege to come to work every day. As another Anzac Day passes this week, Caroline and Wade Bartlett are focused on Anzac Day 2018, the deadline for delivery of the Sir John Monash Centre under construction at the Australian National Memorial, near Villers-Bretonneux in France. An artists impression of the Sir John Monash Centre, France which sits behind the Australian National Memorial. The federal government is bank-rolling the centre as a lasting legacy from the centenary of Anzac. The centre has been designed by Cox Architecture, half sunken into the ground and roofed with turf - "a floating meadow" - to ensure it is an unobtrusive addition to the existing memorial. It is being billed as the "premier Western Front experience for Australians visiting France". Police are investigating a suspicious fire at the abandoned Serbian Club in Mawson on Thursday night. Around 7pm, large amounts of smoke were seen coming from the roof of the club, which has been closed since 2010. The Serbian Australian Club in Mawson. Credit:Stephen Jeffery By the time fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze, it had caused major damage. Following an analysis of the scene, police said they believed the fire was deliberately lit and had deemed it suspicious. Almost 300 square kilometres of central Queensland will be opened up for coal exploration. Natural Resources Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said four blocks in the Bowen Basin would be open for exploration near existing coal mines. The land release is the first in Queensland in four years. "This land release is a significant opportunity for explorers to gain access to land with the potential for thermal and metallurgical coal," Mr Lynham said. Et tu, Barack? That was my reaction when I heard the news that former US President Barack Obama has agreed to a speaking gig on Wall Street for which he will be paid $US400,000 ($535,000). Not bad coin in anyone's language. It's twice what Bill Clinton commanded when he went on the post-presidential speaking circuit. It's in addition to the $US200,000 annual pension, plus lifetime free healthcare Obama gets for having been President. It's on top of the $US65 million he and wife Michelle are reported to have negotiated for their book deal with Penguin Random House. And it's not like he was hard up to start with. He reported an adjusted income of $US477,383 in 2015 and, just during the eight years he was in Washington, he earned $US15.6 million in royalties from his wonderful books Dreams From My Father, Audacity of Hope and Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters. This man does not need the money. It's a familiar but still compelling story; Canberra public servant who says they were bullied out of their job, battling for years through courts and tribunals to win the workers' compensation they say they are owed. Federal workplace insurer Comcare fights the case, sometimes all the way to the High Court, desperate to avoid a legal precedent opening the door for more claims and more payments Another episode of the long-running show came to a head this week in the case of Sharon Lim, the former ACMA public servant and her six-year legal struggle for workers' compensation for mental injuries she says she suffered as a result of bullying. But all this courtroom drama was supposed to end with reforms to the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act promised first by Labor and then the Coalition? Is Malcolm Turnbull determined to lose the 2019 election? His statement this week that the government could underwrite the rail line for the Adani mine would have increased the anger among small businesses in the six reef seats. They are already reeling from two destructive bouts of cyclones and floods and see their long-term future horribly compromised by coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. So along comes the Prime Minister giving support to the one thing that most threatens their livelihoods the proposed massive Adani central Queensland thermal-coal mine. Two of the Reef Seats are the most marginal in the Parliament: Labor holds Townsville-based Herbert by just 0.02 per cent and the LNP holds Capricornia by just 0.63 per cent. Three others are held by the LNP by under 4 per cent: Flynn on 1.04 per cent; Dawson on 3.34 per cent; and Leichhardt on 3.95 per cent. The other reef seat, Kennedy, is comfortably held by Bob Katter who heads his own party. Turnbull is deluded if he imagines the plaudits he gets from big business and "Big Fossil" will outweigh the opprobrium and fury he will create among the thousands of small businesses that depend on the Great Barrier Reef. Before the US presidential election last November, Donald Trump promised big changes. To some his bellicosity and ignorance of realpolitik, cloaked in his war against the swamp of Washington insiders, made him unfit for office. To enough Americans, though, his style was a breath of fresh, albeit hot, air. As Mr Trump celebrates 100 days as President, he has discovered that big promises are often just ambit claims; simply big "ifs" to be negotiated into smaller outcomes given every decision has losers who won't always accept their fate without a fight. Donald Trump promised big but has been forced to deliver small on some proposals - and that's a relief. Credit:AP In some ways that provides another welcome safeguard against Mr Trump's more extreme policies, just as the judiciary, wiser heads in the White House, the media and Congress have proven to be. So the President is becoming less of a big ideas man and more flexible. Perhaps he's read his 1987 book The Art of the Deal: "I never get too attached to one deal or one approach". In performing an 11th-hour reversal of a plan to pull the US out of the longstanding North America Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada, for instance, Mr Trump said this week: "Let's see if we can make it a fair deal." The 20th century was at its fag end when I, eight months pregnant, moved into Redfern. Now, the child has gone to uni and I too am leaving the hood although not before it, in a sense, left me. In 19 years, virtually all of old Redfern the Block, the boarding-houses, the bums has succumbed to a tsunami of smashed avocado and man-buns. This farewell, then, is part au revoir, part elegy. Naturally, we upended the rule; best house, worst street. Nightly, back then, our back lane leapt with flames. A heroin dynasty controlled all traffic, their two terraces, opposite each other, festooned with razor wire and CCTV as a sort of checkpoint. Flogging heroin to a constant drift of hooded ne'er-do-wells from a caravan permanently parked in the No Stopping, they hurled abuse at anyone they suspected of middle-class values, intimidated police with name-specific graffiti up and down the lane and regularly made bonfires on the asphalt. Hence the flames. Illustration: Simon Bosch What were they burning? Furniture, maybe. No one knew. No one went there. The demographic was already a mix of old-timers and blow-ins but, like the blind and benighted in Plato's cave, we worked on shadowy supposition. The main community response to this intimate intimidation was to meet regularly with the local constabulary, demanding help while also insinuating that the cops were "in on it". Eventually someone was killed, a homeless man they said. The police moved in: towed the caravan, raided one house, repossessed the other, jailed the dudes and generally cleaned up. Multinational gas companies will soon sell an annual $50 billion worth of Australian liquefied natural gas to foreign markets, but the nation will have to wait more than a decade for any revenue boost and some projects will never pay a cent in tax for the resources they extract. A report prepared for the Turnbull government into the petroleum resource rent tax has confirmed fears, first revealed by Fairfax Media in 2015, that revenue from offshore gas will continue to flatline until at least 2027. Despite that, Treasurer Scott Morrison insisted on Friday that Australians were not being shortchanged, but said the government would consider some changes to the system. The review of the PRRT by former treasury official Mike Callaghan has acknowledged there are systemic problems and recommended changes to toughen the system for new LNG projects. New Zealanders living in Australia have been assured a crackdown on citizenship requirements has not shifted the goalposts on the "pathway to citizenship" hammered out last year. In February last year, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced a streamlined pathway to citizenship for Kiwis who had been living in Australia for at least five years and met income and character tests. As many as 100,000 Kiwis were expected to be eligible for the process, which would allow applicants to first receive permanent residency then citizenship one year later. But in a surprise move last week Turnbull and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton announced a stringent new citizenship test and said that all new citizenship applicants must have been permanent residents for at least four years. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he sees no immediate need for Australia to develop a missile defence shield against threats such as North Korea, as US President Donald Trump warned of the possibility of "major, major" conflict with the rogue nation. Mr Turnbull said however that Australia's response to the threats of long-range missiles would adapt to meet changes to the technology and risk in the region. "Obviously as threats evolve our response to them would evolve but right at the moment we do not deploy a THAAD anti-missile system that is being deployed in South Korea ... Nor do we see the need to do so," Mr Turnbull told radio station 3AW on Friday morning. Mr Trump told news agency Reuters on Friday morning that "there is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely." What ticket holders thought would be a weekend in paradise turned into a nightmare when a super-exclusive music festival in the Bahamas became a disorganised disaster, stranding attendees who in some cases paid tens of thousands of dollars. Hyped by glossy ads featuring supermodels including Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, and Gigi Hadid, the Fyre Festival promised "the culture experience of the decade" in a tropical wonderland of yachts, villas, and gourmet cuisine. Model Rose Bertam, pictured with fellow models including Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski, promoting Fyre Festival on Instagram. Credit:Instagram Tickets ranged between $US1,000-$US12,000 (A$1,335-16,000) - and some VIP packages as high as $US250,000 (around $334, 000) - with amenities including private plane and boat rentals, massages, and local beach tours. When they arrived at the festival site in Exuma, guests said they found a dire, unfinished campsite. They described their "luxury" accommodations as disaster relief tents, many still un-built. Baggage arrived in a shipping container. For dinner, they were served bread, cold cuts, cheese slices, and a side salad in a styrofoam box. Fairfax journalist Phil Baker wins the four-week Shares Race after making modest gains from a good portion of his 10-stock portfolio to finish with $102,340 from his original $100,000. Australian share prices overall have ended where they started four weeks ago. Baker is the only tipster to finish the race with more money than he started with. Credit:Govardhan.Kaka His best performer is Afterpay, which lets retailers offer consumers a buy-now-pay-later service. It's the fourth-best performer among the contestants' picks. The Chartist, Richard Pritchard, finishes in second with Mineral Deposits, a mineral sands producer, his best performer. The mental health sector is plagued with ineffective programs that should lose funding, according to a leading expert. Ian Hickie, a commissioner on the National Mental Health Commission, said services suffered from poor co-ordination and did not address the needs of users and their families. Professor Ian Hickie said resilience was a 'con' that distracted from meaningfully addressing dangerous work conditions for doctors. Credit:Steven Siewert "Increased funding for expanded mental health services is crucial, but unless we overhaul the system and have the courage to defund ineffective programs, we will be throwing good money after bad," he said. Writing in the latest edition of the Sax Institute's Public Health Research and Practice journal, Professor Hickie said there was a lack of oversight of mental health services. One of Australia's pioneering historical archaeologists has been recognised with a lifetime achievement award by the National Trust of NSW. Judy Birmingham was one of the first to lead students on digs to various historical sites in the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley, after she emigrated from London and began to teach at the University of Sydney in 1961. Archaeologist Judy Birmingham, seen here in 1971, has been given a lifetime achievement award by the National Trust of NSW. Credit:Alan Gilbert Purcell She used her background doing digs in Britain, Cyprus, Turkey and Jerusalem to teach her students to piece together Australia's history, including its industrial history, through field work. After rampant redevelopment in Sydney in the 1970s including a project at Town Hall that unearthed 18th century burial vaults she co-wrote conservation guidelines used by the Department of Planning. Puffy-eyed and at times close to tears, Jordan Brown, 21, sat in the dock as the judge detailed how he had killed his three friends. His supporters sat near him as he was jailed for 4 years, while the mothers of the young men who died sat together united in their distress at the sentence. "That's one year and one month per child. Three boys under 21 are dead," one said a short time later outside court, as she urged the Department of Public Prosecutions to appeal the length of the sentence. "Those three boys got in the car and were just driven to their deaths. That's what happened." Maria Fayad and her husband Sam Fayad. Credit:Facebook "It was just unfortunate," said Mr Banks of the collapse. He declined to comment on why Mr Khattar and Mr Fayad had pulled the pin on funding Bower. A fortnight before the collapse Mr Khattar was awarded property developer of the year by the Urban Taskforce, a lobbying organisation for property developers. Building homes was in the "family blood", Mr Khattar said in his acceptance speech. But it appears paying tax is not. "They just don't have it in their DNA to pay tax," said prominent liquidator Stephen Hathway of the tens of millions of dollars Dyldam-related entities owe to the Australian Taxation Office. Bower owes the ATO almost $1 million, while former staff are owed the same amount in unpaid wages and entitlements. The Office of State Revenue is owed $309,662, Harvey Norman $132,000 and more than $15 million is owed to scores of subcontractors and tradespeople. Nigel Dunn, who runs CMS Plant Hire, did earthmoving and landscaping on the Dyldam site in Meryll Avenue, Baulkham Hills, which was managed by Bower Projects. He said subcontractors were encouraged to undertake work after being assured that Bower was backed by Dyldam who had been in business over 40 years. Mr Dunn, who is owed almost $60,000, said he was paid "a couple of grand early on and then they didn't pay us after that". Mr Dunn is furious at the callous disregard shown for subbies. "This kind of thing can send smaller contractors broke, people can lose their houses," he said. A previous Fairfax investigation identified more than a dozen of Mr Fayad's and Mr Khattar's companies going bust, owing the tax office tens of millions of dollars and smaller creditors even more. The pattern is the same. Having paid Dyldam handsomely for construction services, several units are transferred to family and friends of the Dyldam directors and shortly after the company, which was established for a particular development, goes down the gurgler owing the ATO and subcontractors millions. In each case, before the corporate undertakers are called in, Mr Fayad and Mr Khattar exit as directors leaving their wives and sister to preside over the corporate wreckages. Take Sultaney Khattar, who is Mr Khattar's sister and Mr Fayad's sister-in-law. Although she suffers from poor heath, looks after her elderly mother and has never attended a director's meeting, Ms Khattar was appointed the sole director and secretary of nine companies, which went into administration. But now the ATO is fighting back. At the end of May, Maria Fayad, along with her husband Sam and her brother Joe Khattar, will be examined in the NSW Supreme Court about the mysterious payment of $22 million, which instead of going to creditors, was redirected to Dyldam-related entities. Maria Fayad was the sole director of Project 1876 when it went belly-up in 2013 owing the ATO more than $9.2 million. Mrs Fayad was also the sole director of Plaza West when it went bust in late 2012 owing $28 million, including $5 million to the ATO. Plaza West built an apartment complex and shopping centre, now called Entrada, in Parramatta. When the retail component of Entrada was sold for $22 million, $12.2 million of the sale should have gone to the liquidator of Project 1876 for a mortgage and the balance to the creditors of Plaza West. But the ATO wants to know why all of the money found its way into Dyldam-related companies. The families even used $4.5 million of the money, which arguably should have gone to the ATO, to buy another development site in Lurnea. "The Australia taxpayer has been deprived of tens of millions of dollars in tax," said Mr Hathway, who is currently the deed administrator of Dyldam-related company Plaza West. "The ATO has a long and hard task to unwind the massive web of corporate structures set up by the Dyldam group," he said. A Brisbane lawyer jailed for stealing more than $1.8 million from clients, including the deceased estate of plane crash victims, will be banned from practising law. Solicitor Russell Biddle was extradited from NSW in May 2015 after it was revealed he had been helping himself to funds from two clients' estates. John and Carol Dawson where killed when a vintage plane crashed into a hill in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Credit:Harrison Saragossi The Brisbane District Court heard last December he used the money partly to pay off his firm's $1.2 million tax debt, though some of it went on personal expenses. Biddle took more than $1.1 million from the deceased estate of John and Carol Dawson, who were among the six people killed in a vintage plane crash on the Sunshine Coast in 2012, and more than $500,00 from a second estate. A whistleblower Gold Coast cop is suing the Queensland Police Service for $1.3 million, claiming it sought retribution against him for complaining about another officer. Sergeant Rick Flori faces criminal misconduct charges after releasing January 2012 footage of police beating chef Noa Begic, 22, who was handcuffed after his Surfers Paradise arrest. Rick Flori leaves the Supreme Court with justice advocate Renee Eaves. Credit:Jorge Branco But Sergeant Flori's civil suit relates more directly to a separate whistleblowing incident in 2010. In a statement of claim filed to the Brisbane Supreme Court on Thursday, the 47-year-old alleges the service and several named officers "conspired collectively to react toward the plaintiff in (an) aggressive, inordinate and disproportionate manner". London: A neuroscientist claims he will be able to "wake up" people who have been cryogenically frozen within three years, by transferring their brains to donor bodies. Sergio Canavero, director of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group, has already announced plans to carry out the first human head transplant, an operation which he claims is just 10 months away. Italian neuroscientist Sergio Canavero. But he is now thinking further ahead, and wants to begin brain transplants within three years. If the procedures are successful, he believes that frozen brains could be thawed and inserted into a donor, effectively bringing "dead" people back to life. Although DNA sticks to minerals and decayed plants in soil, scientists did not know whether it would ever be possible to fish out gene fragments that were tens of thousands of years old and buried deep among other genetic debris. Bits of genes from ancient humans make up just a minute fraction of the DNA floating around in the natural world. But the German scientists, led by Matthias Meyer at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tubingen, have spent years developing methods to find DNA even where it seemed impossibly scarce and degraded. "There's been a real revolution in technology invented by this lab," Reich said. "Matthias is kind of a wizard in pushing the envelope." Scientists began by retrieving DNA from ancient bones: first Neanderthals, then Denisovans. To identify the Denisovans, Svante Paabo, a geneticist at the Planck Institute and a co-author of the new paper, had only a child's pinkie bone to work with. His group surprised the world in 2010 by reporting that it had extracted DNA from the bone, finding that it belonged to a group of humans distinct from both Neanderthals and modern humans. But that sort of analysis is limited by the availability of fossil bones. "In a lot of cases, you can get bones, but not enough," said Hendrik Poinar, an evolutionary geneticist at McMaster University. "If you just have one small piece of bone from one site, curators do not want you to grind it up." Finding and analysing ancient DNA in dirt is far more difficult than getting it out of bone. The idea was not new, noted Viviane Slon, a member of Meyer's group and the first author of the new paper. Other groups of researchers have found DNA in sediment, including Poinar and Michael Hofreiter, his former student. Using a tablespoon of dirt from a cave in Colorado, his team discovered traces from 16 animal species that had lived there. It took two weeks to do it. Researchers who had scoured that cave for bones had spent 20 years there and had sifted through two metric tonnes of dirt to find bones, teeth or skin of 20 animal species - including the 16 that Poinar's group later identified. The new study involved searching for ancient DNA in four caves in Eurasia where humans were known to have lived between 14,000 and 550,000 years ago. Meyer and his colleagues figured out which DNA in the cave sediment was prehistoric by looking for telltale signs of degradation at the ends of the molecules. They then plucked out DNA from Neanderthals and Denisovans by using molecular hooks to snare genes in mitochondria - the cells' energy factories - that are unique to these humans. The scientists also built a robotic system to analyse the samples quickly; the old way, pipetting by hand, required several days to analyse only a fraction as many samples. The group needed that efficiency. From different dirt samples, they recovered between 5000 and 2.8 million DNA fragments. The number of DNA fragments per sample that were from ancient humans was minuscule and ranged from 0 to 8822, depending on the site in the cave. The discovery that it is now possible to do all this is just "an amazing, amazing thing", Reich said. The questions that can now be addressed seem almost endless. Researchers could feasibly begin searching for bones in caves where DNA in the dirt indicates habitation by ancient humans. And they are likely to begin learning much more about human prehistory. The Denisovans, for example: tiny pieces of genes inherited from them have been found in modern humans in Papua New Guinea. How did they get there? And why these people and not humans closer to Siberia? With the new technique, one way to try to verify the presence of humans would be to look for ancient human DNA at the site where the bones were found or in areas nearby. "A natural thing to do is start looking in sediments," Jonathan Pritchard, a professor of genetics and biology at Stanford, said. Another application of the discovery, said Reich, would be to start looking for evidence of ancient human DNA in open-air sites, instead of looking for bones in caves. "If it worked, it would provide a much richer picture of the geographic distribution and migration patterns of ancient humans, one that was not limited by the small number of bones that have been found," he said. "That would be a magical thing to do." A woman who has had her licence for just four months has been charged with dangerous driving after being caught drag racing at speeds of up to 136km/h in Melbourne's south-east. Police were travelling behind a Suzuki Swift and a Nissan X-Trail on Cranbourne Road in Langwarrin at 11.30pm on Thursday night when the vehicles accelerated from a set of traffic lights. Both drivers didn't notice a police car was behind them and proceeded to race alongside each other, reaching top speeds of 136 km/h in an 80 km/h zone. Both vehicles were intercepted by police who were surprised to learn the female driver of the Suzuki Swift had her licence for four months. The 23-year-old Cranbourne woman's car was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1060. A woman hid in a dog kennel for an hour after being bashed by her partner in Victoria's south-west, four days before she died from the injuries, a court has been told. Justin Turner, 32, pleaded guilty on Friday in the Supreme Court in Warrnambool to the manslaughter of his partner Kylie Cay. Kylie Cay died four days after she was bashed at Port Fairy in June 2016. Justice Terence Forrest heard that Ms Cay, 44, died in her home in Port Fairy on June 21 last year after being discharged from hospital. She was found by her mother and her son in the Elizabeth Street house on the afternoon of June 22. A man has been arrested after a four-hour siege which saw scores of police descend on a residential area in Melbourne's north-east. The man, 36, was taken into custody on Friday evening after heavily armed critical incident response police and the dog squad stormed the Watsonia North house he was holed up in. Police were called to the house at Ronald Court at 5.30pm after reports the man had made threats against his family and locked himself inside. Police attempted to negotiate with the man barricaded inside the property, but he entered into a stand-off with police and refused to come out of the house. Police are searching for a man who spat on a Metro Trains worker in an unprovoked attack earlier this month. Police said the man spat on the staffer on platform one at Clifton Hill Station about 7.55pm on Friday April 21. An image of the man police wish to speak to in relation to the incident at the Clifton Hill train station. Credit:Victoria Police The man then fled by jumping on a Flinders Street Station-bound train. Police have released images of a man they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries. Have you fallen victim to Perth's marron con man? If talkback callers to Radio 6PR are to be believed, there is a man going around Perth fooling people into handing over up to $250, with the promise of a seafood bounty in return. The con man tricks his victims by promising to return with a box of marrons. The story goes the man appears in a public place, usually a car park, looking around and underneath cars for his lost wallet. He strikes up a conversation with whoever is nearby and asks them to help him look. Talk eventually leads to him asking for money to help him get back to his Serpentine farm with the promise he'll return with a box of marron the next day. The mother of an Australian woman who died in a scooter crash in Bali said the world will be a poorer place without her. Ella Knights, 26, a marketing representative from Sydney, was found dead after the scooter she was riding crashed. Her mother Kaz Knights said Ella "touched so many people's lives and was deeply loved by everyone she met". "Ella will be so terribly missed by everyone and and the world will be a poorer place without her," she said. Jakarta: It's hard to keep hope alive inside a crowded, sleepless, sweaty cell in a remote jail in East Java. For Michael Czugaj, one of the youngest members of the Bali nine arrested 12 years ago for trafficking heroin, this week marks two difficult anniversaries, although he says no time of the year is easy and "time kind of gels into one". April 29 is the second anniversary of the execution of fellow Bali nine members Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, who faced a firing squad singing "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" before their voices were drowned out by gunfire. The pair became synonymous with rehabilitation before their deaths and galvanised opposition to the death penalty in Australia. They were leaders at Bali's Kerobokan jail, helping to run classes in art, cooking and religion, and counselling other prisoners. The young stars of the year's funniest global home video have been transformed into a cartoon by a Brooklyn couple hoping the precocious kids will be just as cute in two dimensions. The children, Marion and James Kelly, became a brief obsession for the internet-using world when they adorably interrupted their father's BBC interview in March. The cartoon, The Adventures of Mina & Jack, also features likenesses of their parents, Robert Kelly and Kim Jeong-ah. It consists of only one short episode at the moment, although another is in the works. "All revolutions go down in history, yet history does not fill up," observes French theorist Guy Debord in his 1989 book Panegyric. Unbound by print, Wikipedia's infinite pages might be the perfect medium to record that boundless history.The ubiquitous, free online encyclopaedia was born of the information revolution, and has transformed our access to knowledge. But its launch in 2001 also coincides with the heightened era of global terrorism since 9/11. Consequently Wikipedia operates amid competing forces: the desire to free knowledge versus a culture of mass surveillance. In 2013 those forces collided. Edward Snowden's bombshell revelations that the US government's National Security Agency indiscriminately tracks and records the metadata of millions of innocent citizen's phone calls, emails and web searches sent a shockwave around the world. Katherine Maher, head of the Wikipedia Foundation Credit:Victor Grigas It had a direct effect on what people were searching on Wikipedia. A study published by the Berkeley Technology Law Journal found traffic to Wikipedia articles related to terrorism fell by nearly 30 per cent after Snowden's whistleblowing. This isn't necessarily a good thing. As Snowden himself warns in the 2015 Academy Award-winning documentary Citizenfour: "[When people] are careful about what they type into search engines because they know it's being recorded that limits the boundaries of their intellectual exploration." WILLEMSTAD, Curacao:--- Voters in Curacao are heading to the polls today to choose another set of politicians that will govern the country. Ever since Curacao obtained its status aparte, they were not able to keep a stable government for a full term. Elections were held on October 15th, 2016. Those elected stayed in power for a mere seven weeks. The live streaming of Curacao Parliamentary Election. SMN News will update as the results come in tonight. Political parties contesting the election listed below:- GREAT BAY (DCOMM):---The preparations for Memorial Day, the National Day of Remembrance, which is the day that the victims who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the outbreak of World War II are commemorated, have commenced. The preparations include the relocation of the commemoration plaques at the Captain Hodge Wharf to a more publicly accessible location on the same Wharf. May 4 is a day that is recognized throughout the Dutch Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is important for the general public to recognize this day as it not only acknowledges the victims that have fought to defend the Dutch Kingdom, but it is also a day that signifies the freedom of the Kingdom and its people. On May 4 all uniformed forces will participate in a silent march through Philipsburg at 3:30 p.m. The procession will lead from Clem Labega Square via Back Street, turn in the alley at Oranje School to Front Street with the end destination the Captain Hodge Wharf, where a short ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. in front of the existing plaque that commemorates local names that have fought for our freedom within the Dutch Kingdom. The program includes a formal wreath laying ceremony during which both the Government and Parliament of Sint Maarten will lay a wreath. Invited guests will also receive an opportunity to pay their respects with the placement of a single flower. The general public is invited to witness this occasion as the country pays homage to our fallen victims. More information can be found on the Governments website and Facebook. Uniserves Q3 results show continued revenue boost VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA (Marketwired) 04/27/17 Uniserve Communications Corporation (the Company) (TSX VENTURE: USS) is pleased to announce the 3rd quarter 2017 financial results. Year to date revenue increases by 20%. The Company finished the quarter with: A significant part of third quarter results can be directly attributed to the Companys 29% reduction in operating expenses. Uniserve continues to focus on strengthening its infrastructure, its leadership group and its investment in new business products as well as interprovincial data storage redundancy. With the recent introduction of Nicholas Jeffery as the new CEO, several new key board members, new branding, new website and product lines, the company will continue to focus on accelerating sales growth, in both its business and residential product offerings. With the successful January private placement completed, the company is in a secure financial position for strategic acquisitions, partnerships and growth. Uniserves CEO, Nicholas Jeffery: The company is now in a great place for substantial growth, particularly with the recent launch of our Transit small business bundles, as well as new residential internet pricing. About Uniserve Uniserve (TSX VENTURE: USS) is a unified communications company delivering integrated voice, data and media services to over 13,000 customers within the residential, business to business and enterprise IT markets, currently focusing on Western Canada. The company has been in existence for almost 28 years and has a client base across three sectors selling directly and through the wholesale channel. The recent corporate restructuring has resulted in the majority of the board and management team being replaced, culminating in the hiring of Nicholas Jeffery the new CEO from Europe, who has a wealth of internet service provider and managed service company experience. Uniserve prides itself on delivering world class customer services. They believe when all else is equal you can trust the company to offer highly competitive pricing and cutting edge technology bundles, all underpinned by an exemplary customer service team based in Canada. This news release was prepared on behalf of the Board of Directors, which accepts full responsibility for its contents. Learn more at or at . Michael C. Scholz, Chairman of the Board Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Management has prepared this release and no regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. The statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements. Such statements are based on managements estimates, assumptions and projections using available information. Uniserve cautions that actual financial results could differ materially from the current expectations due to a number of factors. Contacts: Uniserve Communications Corporation Mr. Mark Stanton 604-395-3908 Global and Chinese High Voltage Resistor Market Outlook & Growth Predictions for the Forecast Period 2017-2022 Albany, New York, April 28, 2017: The high voltage resistor sector is of great help for the related sectors like power supply, scientific and medical industries. Lately, owing to the rise in demand for high voltage resistor among these sectors the industry is rapidly growing. This specific sector has been recently evaluated in the latest report, which has been added to the huge repository of Market Research Hub (MRH). The report is titled as Global and Chinese High Voltage Resistor Industry, 2017 Market Research Report. The study contributes an in-depth synopsis of the high voltage resistor industry that covers many active regions and leading companies for the forecast period of 2017-2022. Request Free Sample Report: http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1053575 The power supplies, electron microscope, ESD protection, air ionizing equipment, ATE and RADAR equipment sectors require this sector to function. The professional report initially begins with the introduction of the high voltage resistor industry. Next, the development of this sectors is thoroughly explained in the study. The section also talks about the status of this growing business along with active details about the manufacturing technology in this market. Furthermore, the study focusses on important factors like the current trends in the manufacturing technology within this booming industry. This interesting section also contains the analysis of all the competitive manufacturers in the world. In the next section, the study starts to evaluate each of the leading manufacturers using critical parameters which include- company profile, product information, production information and contact information. Later, the assessment starts to focus on the regional presence of this market. It is conducted by starting to assess the global and Chinese market of high voltage resistor in terms of a particular period and the global capacity, as well as production and production value of the industry. Next, the section gives serious data on the global cost and profit values which occurred in the sector. Likewise, the market comparison of global and Chinese high voltage resistor industry is also elucidated in detail for enlightening the buyers. Finally, the engaging report starts to speak about the sectors consumption of high voltage resistor. Next, it moves to the interesting data on the Chinese import and export within this business market. Likewise, the buyer gains knowledge about the market status of this industry. The study also mentions about the competition in this sector in terms of the company which is being evaluated. The active regions in this industry examined in the report include: USA EU Japan Chinese Browse Full Report With TOC: http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-and-chinese-high-voltage-resistor-industry-2017-market-research-report-report.html Solar Novus Today Has Been Integrated With Novus Light Technologies Today Visit Novus Light Technologies Today to see all the cutting-edge stories and products that you have come to enjoy on Solar Novus Today. In addition, you will find more information on related light-based technologies. Get the latest solar and renewable energy news delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Green Technologies newsletter CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR GREEN TECHNOLOGIES NEWSLETTER Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss Somerset's latest and breaking news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter A man sent to Yeovil by a London drug gang was given an "exceptional" last chance to get his life together by a judge. Kyman Powell, 21, of Tottenham Lane, London was found at a known drugs den in Fairview Way, Yeovil, when police went along to help serve an eviction notice. He admitted two charges of being involved in the supply of Class A drugs when he appeared before Judge David Ticehurst at Taunton Crown Court this afternoon. Prosecuting, Nikki Coombe said a police officer had been sent to the property with a housing officer in order to serve an eviction notice on a man living there. "Because of anti-social behaviour at the property, there was an order in place which prevented the resident from having more than one visitor in his home," she said. "When police arrived that morning, they found the flat full of known drugs users and drug paraphenalia." She said there was a syringe in the living room and blackened spoons lying on surfaces throughout the flat. "The defendant was found in the bedroom with two women who were known to be users of class A drugs," she said. "He was part of a team who had come down from London to do what is known as 'county line' dealing. "He was working in a team, with one person carrying the drugs and another carrying the money." When Powell was arrested, he had three mobile phones in his possession with messages concerning drug dealing and a photograph of a wallet stuffed full of cash. One of them read: "I'm in the trap." Police also found more than 2,600 in cash on him and he had a knife in his possession. Defending, Anita Noerr said Powell had been 19 at the time he was arrested and had complied with the police when he was searched and arrested. "He had just left care and had fallen in with the wrong crowd," she said. "It was stupid, and he regrets it. Since then he has been in touch with the YMCA and Social Services and he is finally getting the support he has missed out on for much of his life." Sentencing him, Judge David Ticehurst said: "At 19-years-old you had only just finished with Youth Court and here you are now, in grown-up court. You got yourself involved in an exceptional way - Class A drug dealing. "You have placed yourself in considerable jeopardy. You specifically came down here with the intention of assisting those who sell drugs. "Every day this court sees the misery drugs cause people. That misery is caused by people like you - I hope you think it is worth it." But he said he was prepared to offer him a "wholly exceptional" last chance and sentenced him to two years in prison for each charge, to run concurrently, but suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out a 30 day rehabilitation activity and was put on a curfew between 8pm and 7am, for four months. The judge also ordered the confiscation of the mobile phones, knife and 2,869.45 found on Powell by police. The judge told him: "Please take the support that is being offered to you. Grow up to become a decent member of society, not someone who is causing such harm to society." Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss Somerset's latest and breaking news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter Schools in Somerset are taking different approaches to a new playground craze with some deciding to ban fidget spinner gadgets and others seeing them as a possible learning tool. Fidget spinners, cubes and toys are proving popular in shops across the UK. Adults and children claim playing with them can relieve stress and improve concentration. Children with ADHD can benefit from twirling the gadgets in their hands, while trying to concentrate on their learning. However, other children in class can be distracted by them. Some schools do not think fidget spinners are the right way to improve concentration. A spokeswoman for Sexeys School in the south Somerset town of Bruton said teachers were aware of fidget toys and they are not permitted. She added: For those students who do struggle to maintain focus, our SEND team has provided them with strategies and other tools to help them. If there are any other students in Sexey's that we are unaware of that feel they need toys to avoid distraction and maintain focus in class then we would encourage them and their parents to contact their tutors or our head of KS3 to discuss other more effective and useful strategies than the toys. The head of KS3 has communicated this message to all staff members in school previously. Just down the road in Castle Cary and Ansford, Ansford Academy principal Shonogh Pilgrim is taking a different approach. She told Somerset Live some students really benefit from fidget spinners but they were only allowed in school with permission. She said: We do have students who use fidget spinners and cubes in school. They do so as part of an agreement with their head of year to support concentration. Students shouldn't use fidget spinners without the permission of their head of year or tutor. They are very useful for students who struggle with concentration. Two other schools in the Somerset and Dorset area told Somerset Live they were not aware of any issues with fidget spinners. One of the schools had not heard of fidget spinners, while the other said they had not noticed issues with behaviour as a result of the gadgets. Schools elsewhere in the country have gone further on the issue with one school in Manchester describing fidget spinners as potentially dangerous. (Image: Getty) All Hallows RC High School in Salford texted parents to explain why staff were banning the gadgets. "They are a distraction to learning and can be dangerous. Any fidget spinners seen in school will be confiscated. Thank you for your support in this matter, the text said. Like the schools in Somerset, parents across the country have also reacted differently to the fidget spinner craze. Some seem to support them if they aid concentration, while others fear children who dont need them to focus will end up distracted. Whats your view? Email liam.trim@westgaz.co.uk or visit the Somerset Live Facebook page to have your say. Never miss Somerset's latest and breaking news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter Workers at a Yeovil factory have been told their business could be split up. Honeywell says it is considering a proposal by a hedge fund that would see its aerospace business - including Yeovil - split off into a new firm. An email was sent to Honeywell Aerospace employees in Yeovil this morning revealing proposals by shareholder Third Point LLC, described by Reuters as a $16bn hedge fund. A Honeywell spokesman said it is "business as usual" in the aerospace division and this does not mean any job losses. He said: "We have proactively made sure that employees are aware of a proposal that was put forward by Third Point LLC, a Honeywell shareowner, which proposes a spin-off of the aerospace business. "While we always evaluate ideas that have the potential for us to enhance shareowner value, it remains business as usual for our Aerospace operation and across the company." The full statement released by Honeywell about the announcement made to staff Honeywell strives to keep an open dialogue with all of its shareowners. We are focused on enhancing shareowner value and will continue to evaluate all ideas that have the potential to help us achieve this goal. Under the leadership of our new CEO, Darius Adamczyk, we continue to build on the strong foundation that has enabled Honeywell to drive sustainable growth and long-term success. We are well-positioned to generate both near-term and long-term value for shareowners driven by an acceleration in organic growth, continued margin expansion through our world-class operating system, transition to a software-industrial enterprise, and more aggressive capital deployment. We believe that each of our businesses benefits from the ability to leverage our unified, world-class operating system, technology resources, and corporate infrastructure across the entire enterprise. Honeywell's management and Board regularly conduct portfolio assessments and have a demonstrated track record of effective portfolio realignment and capital deployment actions. Regarding the Third Point investment thesis, we intend to take the time necessary to ensure a comprehensive, informed and objective review of the potential separation of the Aerospace business. Honeywell will continue executing its 2017 plan, delivering on our financial commitments as we have done for over a decade and as we did in the first quarter, and remain focused on effectively deploying capital to generate consistently outstanding returns. We have a strong portfolio of businesses with great positions in growing industries. Aerospace is no exception. Our substantial investments and outstanding OEM platform wins will contribute to top-line growth and margin expansion for years to come. Honeywell is performing well and remains committed to the long-term financial goals outlined at our March investor day. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss Somerset's latest and breaking news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter A young mother from Somerset broke down in tears as she was cleared of killing her boyfriend after telling jurors he turned into Britain's worst prisoner, Charles Bronson, during violent attacks on her. Jeweller Elizabeth Hart-Brown, 27, was hysterical and declared "I have just killed the man I love" after plunging a large kitchen knife into Stephen Rayner's neck at their flat in Acton, west London. Hart-Browne, who grew up in Washford and Porlock, denied murdering the 25-year-old call centre worker in a champagne-fuelled fury, saying she believed he was going to kill her as he had threatened to do in the past. An Old Bailey jury deliberated for 15 hours to find the mother-of-two not guilty of murder following a six-week trial. The court heard a row had erupted after Miss Hart-Browne came home from a family party on the evening of September 17 last year. According to Miss Hart-Browne, Mr Rayner began hitting her and grabbed her by the throat. With young children sleeping just feet away, she picked up a large kitchen knife and stabbed Mr Rayner three times, inflicting a fatal wound to the neck, the court heard. The victim staggered outside and collapsed in a pool of blood as shocked neighbours rushed to help. Meanwhile, Miss Hart-Browne said she panicked and went back to clean the knife and clear up blood around the television. Miss Hart-Browne, who was barefoot and wearing only one earring, was hysterical as she told police: "I didn't mean to do it, I'm so sorry. "I have just killed the man I love." The prosecution alleged she lied about accidentally injuring her boyfriend after picking up the knife to defend herself. But giving evidence over a number of days, Miss Hart-Browne told jurors she had always been truthful about what happened and at the time she had believed Mr Rayner was going to kill her. Jurors were told of the couple's volatile six-year relationship, during which Mr Rayner had attacked the defendant many times. Following one incident outside Liquid nightclub in Uxbridge in 2012, Mr Rayner threatened to throw himself into the Thames and went on to plead guilty to battery. In 2015, Miss Hart-Browne said she had became so fearful she took out life insurance because "I believed I was in danger of him killing me and I didn't want my kids to be left with nothing". The defendant, who had a troubled upbringing in Somerset, said her boyfriend would take on the persona of his hero Charles Bronson during his terrifying attacks. She said: "He had a fascination with Charles Bronson. He liked his aggression. "There were lots of stories about him attacking prisoners and guards. "He would take on that persona sometimes when he was angry. "His whole accent changed, his whole being would change and I couldn't get through to him." Miss Hart-Browne told jurors she regretted not just going to bed when she got home that night. If she had, Mr Rayner, originally from Bournemouth, would still be alive, she said. James Scobie QC, defending, asked: "That night when you picked up that knife, what did you fear?" She replied: "I thought he was going to kill me." Mr Scobie said: "When he said that to you in the past did you believe he was capable of that?" She replied: "Yes." Miss Hart-Browne walked free from the Old Bailey and dashed into a waiting black cab without making any comment to waiting reporters. Her legal team said it was "pleased" with the verdict. At a previous hearing, the court heard that, due to social services intervention as a teenager, Hart-Browne moved from Washford Somerset on to Porlock and did not speak to her mother between the ages of 14 and 17. She said "I felt quite isolated. Very closed off, Very unloved. Abandoned really." James Scobie QC, defending, said: "Was there any contact with your mother? She replied: "No." Scobie: "How many years was it before you engaged with your mother?" Reply: "I did not speak to my mum again until I was 17. I was very close to my mum and it affected me a lot. " Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss Somerset's latest and breaking news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter There has been a rise in the number of calls received by rape hotlines due to a scary new sex trend, according to claims from academics. The practice of men removing condoms during sex without telling their partner has been labelled stealthing and is thought of by many as a sexual assault. A paper has been written on the subject by an academic from Yale Law School in America who hopes that a "new vocabulary" will help victims to talk about sexual violence. The Mirror reports Alexandra Brodskys argument that condom removal "exposes victims to physical risks of pregnancy and disease" and that interviews she carried out make clear it is "experienced by many as a grave violation of dignity and autonomy." Ms Brodsky spoke to Rebecca, a doctoral student who works at a rape crisis hotline, who told her she was receiving more and more calls about women being "stealthed." "Their stories often start the same way," Rebecca said. "'I'm not sure if this is rape, but'" She added that victims all felt violated but "didn't have the vocabulary" to figure out what was happening. In January a Swiss court convicted a man of rape after he took his condom off halfway through intercourse without informing his sexual partner. The NHS website has a list of risks associated with vaginal penetrative sex without a condom, including chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis. There is also the risk of unplanned pregnancy if the woman is relying on the condom as a form of birth control and isn't aware it is being removed. According to the NHS: "Infections can be passed on even if the penis doesn't fully enter the vagina or the man doesn't ejaculate. This is because infections can be present in pre-ejaculate fluid. "Even shallow insertion of the penis into the vagina (sometimes called dipping) carries risks for both partners. Using a condom can help protect against infections." More information is available on the NHS website. One week after Mayor de Blasio declared the cigarette industry "public enemy number one" with a package of bills aimed to limit tobacco sales, City Council Member Donovan Richards heard testimony Thursday on a bill that would ban smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes in all future residential buildings built or rehabilitated using city subsidies. The legislation would impact the remainder of projects promised under Mayor de Blasio's affordable housing plan, totaling close to 140,000 below-market-rate apartments, Crain's reports. The rule would also apply to market-rate units inside buildings funded with the 421-a subsidy, which provides tax breaks to developers who designate a portion of new apartments below market-rate. Council Member Richards was inspired by a plan on the federal level to ban smoking in public housing developments, according to spokesman Jordan Gibbons. "We knew they were going to do the public housing thing and we wanted to jump on it," Gibbons said. "We feel people should not be forced to breathe in the second hand smoke from their neighbors." Critics of residential smoking bans say they are skeptical of the consequences for violators. While HUD guidelines leave it up to individual jurisdictions to establish enforcement guidelines for the public housing smoking ban, the federal department does recommend "lease enforcement actions." "Evictions are not something we want to happen from this," Gibbons said. "Consequences for violations would be on the administration [to decide]." Real estate lobbying groups also said they opposed the bill. Frank Ricci of the Rent Stabilization Association said that while the legislation will not impact the rent-stabilized landlords he represents, the group is still opposed on principal. "How do you enforce it?" he said. "If you say there is no smoking in the building, and someone complains, the owner is powerless to do anything. It gives them legal exposure without remedy." The Real Estate Board of New York, which represents developers, testified on Thursday that, "The inability to smoke within the private residence in these buildings could devalue units." A spokeswoman for Mayor de Blasio said that City Hall is opposed to the bill. "We don't support this provision," said spokeswoman Olivia Lapeyrolerie. "We do support the concept of smoke-free housing and would welcome more discussion about how to do so without unfairly targeting low income New Yorkers." Gibbons described the proposal as a healthful "luxury," not a burden. "We don't care if you have no money, or all the money," he said. "We just want people to have this luxury." Richards's bill has ten sponsors in the City Council. We have more newsletters Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss Somerset's latest and breaking news again by signing up to our Daily Newsletter Terry Pratchett would have been 69 today (April 28, 2017). The well-known fantasy author is beloved around the world but has strong ties to Somerset. Weve gathered together a small collection of the warm birthday wishes being sent out to Pratchett on Twitter. Messages to the late author praise his work and attitude to life. Others quote his wise words. The Discworld Emporium, a shop dedicated to all his work and the lands he created, is on the High Street in the south Somerset town of Wincanton . Bernard Pearson, the owner of the emporium, was a close personal friend of Pratchetts. Tourists pose for photographs with the town signs in Wincanton because they proudly display its twinned status with fictional settlement Ankh-Morpork, which has been in place since 2002. Mr Pratchett lived in Broad Chalke, near Salisbury but was a frequent visitor to Wincanton and he briefly owned the Discworld Emporium in the shops early days. He died in 2015 aged 66 after eight years battling Alzheimers. Breakdown of Indiana Statehouse races across South Bend area The 2022 election is a midterm election. Voters will come out to to vote in various Indiana statehouse races Nov. 8 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Georgetown, SC (29440) Today Cloudy skies. High 68F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early with showers later at night. Low 61F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. The search for intelligent life in the universe will see rapid advancements over the next two decades, thanks largely to improvements in computing power that could make it possible to survey at least a million star systems, according to Seth Shostak, a senior astronomer at the SETI Institute. Shostak discussed the state of SETI efforts (SETI stands for search for extraterrestrial intelligence) during a hearing Wednesday (April 26) before the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. He was on Capitol Hill with three other scientists to testify on the subject of advances in the search for alien life. Among other initiatives, the SETI Institute is searching for signs of artificial radio signals in the universe that may have been produced by an alien civilization. [Are We Alone? The Search for Life & Odds of E.T.] Seth Shostak, senior astornomer at the SETI Institute. (Image credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty) "This experiment will only succeed if we can look at about a million or so star systems," Shostak told the committee. "That would have taken thousands of years with the current technology. Thanks to improvements, mostly in computers, that is speeding up by orders of magnitude. Over next 20 years we will be able to look at about a million other star systems." How likely is it that scientists will find signs of life in those million star systems? Shostak's response reflected both an optimistic and a realistic outlook: "I bet everyone a cup of coffee that we will find something," he said, before quickly adding, "I may have to buy a lot of coffee." Shostak has said previously he thinks signs of intelligent life will be found by 2040. The improvements that will so greatly advance scientists' ability to search for signs of intelligent beings in the universe are largely twofold, Shostak said. First, as computer processors continue to follow Moore's law, computer processors will steadily get smaller, cheaper and faster. Thus, SETI scientists will be able to write computer software that simultaneously sifts through data collected by radio antennas as the antennas capture signals from multiple star systems. "Instead of looking at one star at a time, which is what we've done you could look at tens, hundreds, even thousands of stars at a time with enough computer-processing capability," he said. "And of course that capability is coming down the pipe." The second improvement Shostak noted is that SETI scientists are working on using machine learning in their search for extraterrestrial communication signals. Now, scientists program computers to search for "one kind of pattern" in the radio data that could indicate an artificially created radio signal, he said. But that approach is extremely limiting like a person who can hear only one note while listening to a symphony. Machine learning could "broaden the kind of thing [we] can recognize" in the radio signals, which would "speed up the search," he said. Shostak also discussed the SETI Institute's efforts to search for artificial radio signals among the seven planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system, the discovery of which was announced in February. The seven planets orbit a single red dwarf star, and all of them orbit closer to the star than Mercury orbits the sun. As many as three of the seven planets could be habitable, according to Adam Burgasser, a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego, and a member of the team that discovered the seven planets. Burgasser also appeared before the committee with Shostak. The short distance between the worlds in the TRAPPIST-1 system means that if life emerged on one planet, it could have been spread to the other planets via meteoroids. What's more, if intelligent life formed there, it would have likely colonized the other planets, so the SETI scientists are looking for communications sent between planets. "This could be a mini federation of planets, if you will," he said. "We are using our Allen Telescope Array to look at the Trappist-1 system and we wait for planets to line up and then see if there's any difference in the amount of radio radiation coming our way. Because at that point, you're looking down a communication pipeline between these planets." The other three panelists focused mainly on efforts to search for "simple life" in the universe, meaning life-forms that aren't identified based on their technology. Scientists are now eager to study the planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system using telescopes set to come online in the next five to 10 years. Those telescopes could find chemical signatures of life in the atmospheres of those planets. The TRAPPIST-1 planets, Burgasser said, are just a few examples of recently discovered, potentially habitable planets located relatively close to Earth, that will provide excellent subjects for those studies. "This and other recent discoveries represent the beginning of an era of exoplanet exploration that, in the next five to 10 years, will allow us to identify truly habitable worlds and possibly life beyond Earth," Burgasser said. "These transformative advances, addressing one of humanity's most persistent questions 'Are we alone?' are fully achievable through a diverse portfolio of research programs led by U.S. scientists and supported by federal funding to NASA, [the National Science Foundation] and other science agencies." The four members of the panel as well as the committee members also discussed the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The telescope, set to launch in 2018, could analyze the atmospheres of some alien planets in greater detail than any current telescopes. Beyond JWST, the panelists mentioned the upcoming Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which is expected to identify hundreds to thousands of new planets around other stars, Burgasser said. The Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) and large ground-based telescopes set to come online in the 2020s, will also improve the study of exoplanet atmospheres, the panelists said. "Our generation is the first in human history to know that there are worlds beyond our solar system. Will the next generation know whether life exists on those worlds?" Burgasser said. "We have the opportunity and the responsibility to continue our nation's legacy of discovery so that our children and grandchildren can search for life in new ways." Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Color-changing ink on this stamp commemorating the 2017 total solar eclipse will fade when heat is applied to reveal a moon over the blotted-out sun. The stamps will be released June 20 in conjunction with the summer solstice. Just as a total solar eclipse will change the skies over the continental United States on Aug. 21, a newly released U.S. stamp will change when pressed with a finger a photo of the moon materializing over the blotted-out sun. The photographs come courtesy of astrophysicist Fred Espenak, who has seen 20 solar eclipses, including one on every continent. The 2017 total solar eclipse, which some are calling the Great American Eclipse, will be the first to cross coast-to-coast since 1918; parts of 14 states will enjoy views of the total eclipse, and many more will have partial views of the spectacle. The last time a total solar eclipse was visible anywhere over the continental U.S. was 1979. To celebrate, the U.S. Postal Service is releasing a stamp June 20 that features a stunning view of the sun's outer atmosphere, called a corona, blotted out by the moon as well as the moon itself, which appears when heated. Both images were taken by Espenak, who saw his first total solar eclipse in 1970 before he became "hooked on the shadow," as he said. [Total Solar Eclipse 2017: When, Where and How to See It (Safely)] New color-changing stamps that celebrate the upcoming 2017 total solar eclipse feature eclipse and moon photos taken by eclipse-chaser Fred Espenak, pictured above. (Image credit: Fred Espenak) "I'm thrilled to death," Espenak told Space.com about the choice of his photographs. "This is a great honor, to have my photographs on the stamp to commemorate the 2017 eclipse. The eclipse is a phenomenal opportunity for millions of people to experience astronomy firsthand with their own eyes, with nothing between them and the sky." [Awesome Space Stamps Through History (Gallery)] Espenak shot the eclipse photo in Libya in 2006, and the moon photo comes from his home state of Arizona around six years ago, he said. According to a Postal Service statement, the stamp is being released in conjunction with the summer solstice, and its First-Day-of-Issue ceremony will be held at the University of Wyoming. The stamps are the first ever to feature thermochromatic ink, which will change to reveal the moon photo when rubbed. As it cools off, the moon will become obscured again. The stamps will be Forever stamps, which means they'll always be sufficient to carry a 1-ounce piece of first-class mail. The back of the stamp pad features a map of the eclipse path, detailing eight major cities that will be able to see the total solar eclipse and the times that totality will occur. The back of the 2017 total solar eclipse stamps features a map of the path the moon's shadow will take over the continental U.S. on Aug. 21. (Image credit: USPS) Espenak, whose website "Mr. Eclipse" provides a comprehensive resource for viewing and photographing eclipses, advises that people outside the path of totality should still try to make it to a city along that path on Aug. 21 even if it means staying somewhere miles away and driving to the location in the early morning. "There's no way to oversell how spectacular and incredible seeing a total solar eclipse is," Espenak said. "A lot of people think they've seen an eclipse, [but] even if they've seen a 99 percent partial [eclipse] it pales in comparison to seeing a complete, 100 percent total eclipse of the sun." Viewers must wear eclipse glasses to view a partial solar eclipse safely, but once the sun is completely obscured it's safe to look with the naked eye. And as for the stamps? "I'll be ready to line up and buy hundreds of them," Espenak said. "I expect to buy a lifetime's supply of stamps when this comes out." Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. A close-up of Celestis capsules and modules, containing DNA and cremated remains, posed with coins for scale. The company that sells launch services for cremated remains is offering a new way for you to send a bit of yourself or your loved ones to space with the added bonus that you don't have to be dead to participate. Houston-based Celestis on Friday (April 21) unveiled a new service that will put samples of DNA into space. Company founder Charles Chafer said that flying genetic material is a way for people who don't choose cremation to participate in a memorial spaceflight. Another option is for the deceased's DNA to fly with the DNA of family and friends, whether living or deceased. [Ashes of Star Trek's 'Scotty' Ride Private Rocket Into Space] The service will also provide a tangible, symbolic spaceflight experience for the living, and a way to put DNA into long-term storage off Earth. Prices range from $1,295 to $12,500, depending on where the DNA is sent. Prices range from $1,295 to $12,500, depending on where the DNA is sent. The company's website currently offers customers four flight options: a suborbital launch and return to Earth; a launch into Earth orbit, with eventual incineration during atmospheric re-entry; a flight to the moon (surface or lunar orbit); or a one-way journey beyond the moon. Celestis capsules and modules being prepared for flight. (Image credit: Celestis Inc.) "We launch approximately one gram, which is enough to contain the entire genome," said Celestis spokeswoman Pazia Schonfeld. The DNA will be processed into a powder and packaged into a capsule that looks like a large watch battery. Celestis has been sending small capsules of cremated remains to space since 1997. So far, the company has launched more than 1,200 capsules during 14 spaceflight missions, and more than 200 capsules are ready to fly, the company said. Celestis and Surrey Satellite Technology staff next to the orbital test bed after completing Flight Capsule Payload Integration I. (Image credit: Surrey Satellite Technology) So far, five people have signed up for DNA flight services, including Sarah Green, 38, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Green plans to fly some of her late father's DNA, along with some of her own. "It's a cool way to take this journey through space and time together and honor him," Green told Space.com. "My father was a science-fiction aficionado and a huge "Doctor Who" fan," she said. "He had this philosophy about life, that money and things, they come and go, but time is our most precious resource." A Surrey Satellite Technology engineer integrates participant capsules and modules into the vessel that will carry them. (Image credit: Celestis Inc.) "It's interesting, this notion of sending genetic material to space to expand the imprint of humanity," she added. Celestis' first flight of DNA samples is slated to take off in September aboard a suborbital rocket launching from Spaceport America in New Mexico. The company is working with Ontario's CG Labs to process DNA samples to turn them into flight-ready silicate powder. The vessel containing Celestis flight capsules is attached to the orbital test bed, located between the blue cylinders. (Image credit: Celestis Inc.) "Throughout the history of the universe, DNA molecules have traversed space, perhaps seeding life throughout the cosmos," Chafer said in a statement. "Humans have begun to contribute to this process [by] sequencing DNA aboard the International Space Station; testing DNA's ability to withstand re-entry into Earth's atmosphere on the exterior of a rocket; and transmitting the human DNA code to distant stars as part of interstellar radio transmissions," he said. "Now, we are pleased to offer the chance for anyone to join these missions of purpose." Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. A privately built space station could be orbiting the moon by 2020, serving as a refueling depot for other spacecraft, as depicted in this artist's illustration from space-habitat manufacturer Bigelow Aerospace. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. If President Donald Trump is serious about making an imprint on U.S. human space exploration during his first, or possible second, term in office, space habitat developer Robert Bigelow has a suggestion: Partner with commercial companies to gain a toehold on the moon. The billionaire founder of Las Vegas-based Bigelow Aerospace pitched the idea of a public-private lunar depot to members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which held a webcast hearing Wednesday (April 26) about how to bolster U.S. space business. "If [the project is] initiated soon, I believe that Bigelow Aerospace and [other] companies could provide a lunar depot that would enable NASA and commercial entities access to the moon and cislunar space in a four-year program," Bigelow said, emphasizing the time frame. ("Cislunar" refers to the region between Earth and the moon.) [Bigelow Aerospace's Inflatable Space Station Idea (Photos)] The Trump administration has made no secret about wanting to put its mark on NASA's human space-exploration program. That program is currently focused on maintaining and commercializing the International Space Station and developing technologies to travel and live beyond Earth's orbit. The administration in February asked NASA to consider putting a crew on the first test flight of the agency's heavy-lift Space Launch System rocket and Orion deep-space capsule. That mission, known as Exploration Mission-1, or EM-1, is currently targeted for late 2018, though experts say it's likely to be delayed. The results of the NASA study have not yet been announced. Trump himself pressed the issue of a human space milestone during a congratulatory call on Monday (April 24) to space station commander Peggy Whitson, who broke the record for the most time spent in space by a U.S. astronaut. Trump asked Whitson when she thought NASA would be ready to fly a crew to Mars, and when she told him the 2030s, the president quipped, "Well, we want to try and do it during my first term, or at worst during my second term, so we'll have to speed that up a little bit, OK?" A stepping-stone on the moon is "far and away the logical first choice," Bigelow said in a telephone interview with Space.com. "I think Mars is premature, but the moon is a perfect testing ground for experiencing all kinds of things," Bigelow said. "This could be done by the end of [Trump's] first term. I feel more comfortable saying it could be done within four years from the time execution begins. It all depends on the politics and how long it takes for the government to get the machinery rolling." With or without government support, Bigelow Aerospace intends to have two of its B330 expandable space habitats ready for launch by the end of 2020. A single 11,650-cubic-foot (330 cubic meters) B330 module has about as much pressurized volume as one-third of the space station. The company already has built and flown three prototype habitats, including a module currently attached to the space station. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Artists illustration showing NASA's Cassini spacecraft heading toward the gap between Saturn and its innermost rings. The probe plunged through this gap for the first time ever on April 26, 2017. The Cassini spacecraft spotted strange atmospheric structures during the first of its 22 dives between the rings and the gas body of Saturn the planet it has studied up close since 2004. Cassini is in the last few months of its extended mission at the gas giant before making a suicidal plunge into Saturn's atmosphere in September. Until then, Cassini's dives into the uncharted region of Saturn will show scientists more about the structure of its rings and its atmosphere. "These images are shocking," Kevin Baines, a science team member for Cassini's visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, said in a Facebook Live event Thursday (April 27). The event was held at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's mission control room in California, which is called the Space Flight Operations Facility. [Closest Saturn Pics Yet Snapped During Daring Dive (Video)] NASA researchers said that, over the course of its dive between Saturn and its rings on April 26, the Cassini spacecraft has caught images from Saturn's pole to its equator. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute) "We didn't expect to get anything nearly as beautiful as these images," Baines added. "All of the different structures we see on them are just phenomenal." Showing pictures on a nearby television screen, Baines pointed to the "belly button" of Saturn, which is its north pole. Nearby were little clouds "curlicues," he called them with structures that scientists are still trying to understand. Another picture showed a small cloud, which Baines nicknamed a "little car" because it runs around the perimeter of the hurricane-like hexagon at Saturn's north pole. While the region inside the hexagon is calm, the cloud only a short distance away zips along at a speed of around 300 mph (480 km/h). Its movement is still poorly understood. NASA's Cassini spacecraft grabbed this raw image of a "giant hurricane" in Saturn's atmosphere during its first dive between Saturn and its rings on April 26. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute) Mysteries of Saturn remain Although Cassini has been at Saturn for nearly 13 years, there are still some basics that scientists are eager to know. Baines said he would love figuring out how long a day is, which is difficult to measure on a planet with no surface. Linda Spilker, the Cassini project scientist, added that it would be useful to know the "seed" from which Saturn was formed the solid core the gas giant built up around as the planet matured. While it's unclear if those long-standing mysteries will be solved, researchers expect to solve other ones during the ring dives. One of the dives will measure the composition of the rings using Cassini's cosmic dust analyzer. While 99 percent of the rings is made up of water ice, the remaining 1 percent's composition is uncertain; some possibilities include iron, silica, organics or a mixture, the researchers said. Baines and Spilker also said they're hoping Saturn will produce some stormy weather in the coming months, so that Cassini can look at storm features from up close before diving into the planet. When the spacecraft made contact with Earth again after its dive it reported that it was in excellent health, said spacecraft operations chief Julie Webster. See more "The spacecraft is perfect, as always," she said. "Everything came in just right down the middle. We weren't one telemetry point off; [there wasn't] anything we didn't expect last night. It was perfect right from the very beginning." The researchers added that some of Cassini's last views before diving into Saturn will include the orange moon of Titan which it just flew by for the last time last week as well as the icy moon of Enceladus, and Earth itself. Follow Elizabeth Howell @howellspace, or Space.com @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebookand Google+. Original article on Space.com. President Donald Trump signs the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017 in the Oval Office in the presence of members of the Senate, Congress and NASA representatives on March 21, 2017. President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office have been busy, but the flurry of activity hasn't extended much into the final frontier. The Trump administration has already moved aggressively in a number of areas, such as tax policy, health care, immigration and environmental regulation. But it hasn't done a lot regarding space science and exploration so far, said space policy expert John Logsdon. "There haven't been any substantive actions of any significance, unless you count the budget," Logsdon, a professor emeritus of political science and international affairs at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington, D.C., told Space.com. You can see a full science report card on Trump's first 100 days here, courtesy of Space.com's sister site Live Science. [NASA and Trump: The 1st 100 Day (Video)] President Donald Trump signs the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017 in the Oval Office in the presence of members of the Senate, Congress and NASA representatives on March 21, 2017. (Image credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA) The budget The Trump administration's 2018 federal budget request, which the White House released in mid-March, allocates $19.1 billion to NASA a 0.8 percent decrease from 2017 levels. That's quite a small drop, considering that the proposal cuts much deeper into the funding of many other federal agencies. For example, the 2018 request which must make its way through Congress before becoming law slashes the National Institutes of Health's budget by 18 percent and that of both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of State by about 30 percent. The budget request also eliminates funding for NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission, which aimed to pluck a boulder off a near-Earth asteroid and tow the rock to orbit around the moon using a robotic probe. Astronauts could then visit the space-rock chunk using the space agency's Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and Orion capsule, both of which are still under development. In addition, the proposed 2018 budget cancels four NASA Earth-science missions. Such a shift away from Earth science was widely expected, given the comments about climate-change research made by Trump and some of his advisers during, and shortly after, the 2016 presidential campaign. (However, the budget request still gives $1.8 billion to NASA's Earth Science division, a cut of just $100 million compared with 2017 funding levels.) The preliminary budget boosts NASA's planetary science funding by nearly 17 percent, to $1.9 billion, and continues to fund the development of the agency's life-hunting 2020 Mars rover mission and the Europa Clipper, a probe that will perform dozens of flybys of Jupiter's ocean-harboring moon Europa. And the proposal eliminates NASA's Office of Education, which has a budget of $115 million. [Photos: Europa, Mysterious Icy Moon of Jupiter] Resurrecting the National Space Council The Trump administration also announced last month that it aims to bring back the National Space Council (NSC), a policy-steering body that was last active during the presidency of George H.W. Bush. (The early-1990s NSC was a modified version of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, which was established in 1958 but abolished in 1973.) [Presidential Visions for NASA Throughout History] Vice President Mike Pence will chair the NSC, administration officials said. There aren't many other specific activities to parse for significance. For example, the career and statements of Trump's NASA administrator cannot be scoured for clues, because the White House has yet to fill this job. (Robert Lightfoot, the associate administrator under President Barack Obama's NASA chief, Charlie Bolden, is currently leading the agency on an interim basis.) And we shouldn't read much into the fact that no nomination has been announced, Logsdon said. "Reagan didn't announce his administrators until late April," Logsdon said. "Charlie Bolden wasn't nominated until May. So there's precedent for a late notification." Interested in space? Trump has discussed space science and exploration informally several times recently. During his weekly address on March 25, for example, the president recounted the tale of the Hubble Space Telescope's famous 1995 Deep Field image, which revealed thousands of galaxies in a tiny patch of sky that had looked empty. During that same speech, he also voiced enthusiasm for Hubble's successor, the $8.8 billion James Webb Space Telescope, which is scheduled to launch in late 2018. And on Monday (April 24), President Trump conducted a video call with the two NASA astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station, Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer, primarily to congratulate Whitson for breaking the American record for most total days spent off Earth. Trump has also voiced support for sending astronauts to Mars, which NASA is working to do before the end of the 2030s, as instructed by Obama in 2010. This goal would fit well with Trump's presumed priorities, as would sending humans back to the moon, said Scott Pace, director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University "I think he sees space as part of the American image, and as both a symbol and a practical representation of national power," Pace told Space.com. "And he'd like to see achievements happen on his watch." We should soon start learning more about what those achievements might be. The federal budget request unveiled in March, for example, was a skeletal version known as a "skinny budget." A fleshed-out variant is expected next month. Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. Lego is launching its NASA Apollo Saturn V model set, based on a Lego Ideas fan submission, on June 1. The set includes 1,969 pieces and faithfully reproduces the mighty moon rocket. The countdown is on for the launch of the Lego Saturn V moon rocket. Lego on Friday (April 28) rolled out its first photos and filed its "launch plan" for its "NASA Apollo Saturn V" set to be released on June 1. The towering model the toy brick rocket when fully assembled will stand more than 3 feet tall (39.37 inches or 100 centimeters) or about 1:110 the size of the mighty booster is based on a fan submission on the crowdsourcing website Lego Ideas. "Build the first rocket to land people on the Moon!" the Danish toy company wrote. "Packed with authentic details, it features three removable rocket stages." The $119.99 set includes 1,969 pieces, providing a nod to the year that the Apollo 11 mission landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to become the first astronauts to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969. [NASA's Mighty Saturn V Moon Rocket Explained (Infographic)] "The set also includes three stands to display the [rocket] model horizontally, three new-for-June-2017 astronaut microfigures for role-play recreations of the moon landings, plus a booklet about the manned Apollo missions and the fan designers of this educational and inspirational Lego Ideas set," the company stated. Felix Stiessen and Valerie Roche (saabfan and whatsuptoday on the Lego Ideas website) first proposed their Saturn V in 2014. The project received its 10,000th vote on the crowdsourcing platform in November 2015, qualifying for it for a review by Lego's professional design team. Their set was given the "go" to launch as an official product seven months later. Fully-assembled, the Lego NASA Apollo Saturn V model set stands more than 3 feet tall. (Image credit: Lego) The final design of Lego's Saturn V differs in some ways from what Stiessen and Roche first submitted, omitting some of their ideas for details inside the rocket, but retaining the ability for those who build the model to recreate each phase of the Apollo lunar missions. Of note, the lunar module can be stowed inside the rocket's S-IVB third stage and then later "landed" on an included moon surface. Similarly, a blue ocean surface is provided to display the command module (crew capsule) after splashdown, with its righting spheres deployed. The spacesuited microfigures tiny, less-articulated, peg-like versions of Lego's minifigures are not only to scale with the lunar lander, but also to the Saturn V, such that they provide a real sense of the immense size of the 363-foot (110 m) launch vehicle. The set includes three microfigures, representing the three-person Apollo crew. Recommended for Lego fans 14 years of age or older, the NASA Apollo Saturn V set will go on sale just five months before the 50th anniversary of the first Saturn V launch in November 1967. The Apollo 4 mission did not fly astronauts, but it did offer the first "all-up" test flight for the rocket. The first crewed launch, Apollo 8 in December 1968, sent the first astronauts to orbit the moon. In total, NASA launched 13 Saturn V rockets between 1967 and 1973. Six missions landed men on the moon and one deployed the United States' first space station, Skylab. The NASA Apollo Saturn V is the second Lego set to offer a version of the iconic moon rocket. The first, the "Saturn V Moon Mission," was released in 2003 as part of a series of space-themed models co-branded with the Discovery Channel. The 178-piece set included the booster, a lunar module, Apollo command module and moon rover. The new Saturn V set is the third out of four space exploration-themed projects to be chosen from the Lego Ideas website for production to date. Lego previously sold sets based on Daisuke Okubo's model of Japan's Hayabusa asteroid probe and Stephen Pakbaz's replica of NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover in 2012 and 2014, respectively. The fourth, Maia Weinstock's "Women of NASA" minifigure collection, is expected for release by the end of the year or in early 2018. See more photos of the Lego NASA Apollo Saturn V model set at collectSPACE. Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2017 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic is on track to begin commercial passenger spaceflights before the end of next year, the company's chief executive said. For years, Branson has been optimistically forecasting the start of rides aboard SpaceShipTwo, an air-launched suborbital spaceplane that is designed to carry six passengers and two pilots to an altitude of about 62 miles (100 kilometers). During the suborbital hop, passengers will be able to experience a few minutes of microgravity and see the limb of Earth set against the blackness of space. Virgin Galactic's commercial spaceplane Spaceshiptwo, shown here during a glide test in December 2016. (Image credit: Virgin Galactic) Branson has been more circumspect in his schedule projections since an October 2014 fatal accident during a test flight of Virgin's first vehicle. But in an interview with The Telegraph earlier this month, the billionaire entrepreneur said he'd be "very disappointed" if the program isn't well underway by the end of next year. Virgin Galactic is one of three companies in the Virgin Group's spaceflight division, known as Galactic Ventures. On Wednesday (April 26), Galactic Ventures chief executive George Whitesides, a soft-spoken, former NASA staff chief, said Branson's expectations for commercial flights in 2018 are realistic. "We're well into test flight now," Whitesides told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The Virgin CEO addressed the committee along with other industry leaders during a hearing on reducing regulation barriers in the space industry. Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides confirmed on April 26, 2017, that the company plans to fly space tourists in 2018. (Image credit: Getty Images) "We're looking forward to a fairly big transition of our staff to your state of New Mexico," Whitesides added in response to a question from Sen. Tom Udall, a New Mexico Democrat. Virgin Galactic intends to base its commercial spaceflight service at New Mexico's Spaceport America, which was finished five years ago at a cost of nearly $220 million. Construction funds for the spaceport came from state oil and gas taxes and from bonds, which were backed by a quarter-cent tax levied by the two counties closest to the 18,000-acre spaceport. "Spaceport America and many New Mexicans hope to see full commercial spaceflight operations begin as soon as possible," Udall told Whitesides. The second in a planned fleet of Virgin spaceships is undergoing testing in Mojave, California. So far, the ship, known as VSS Unity, has made three glide flights. The company has not said when Unity's first powered test flight will be, nor how many flights are expected before the start of commercial service. About 500 people have signed up to take a ride on SpaceShipTwo. Tickets are currently selling for $250,000. Follow Irene Klotz on Twitter. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. The "super" laser brings together the power of multiple laser beams directed into a single intense output using an ultra-pure diamond crystal at the point of convergence. Though it's not big enough or strong enough to destroy a planet, scientists have developed an amplified laser reminiscent of the Death Star from "Star Wars," according to a new study. The futuristic superweapon combines multiple laser beams into one destructive blast, the researchers said. The idea of merging laser beams is not new, nor has it been limited to science fiction before now. A decades-old Russian missile defense project looked to use liquid as a beam combiner, but that project was abandoned after it was deemed not practical. A similar project in the U.S. investigated laser fusion, but using different materials. Now, a team of Australian scientists has combined the principles of these two research projects and applied them to a new material: diamond. An ultrapure diamond crystal is the key to a new proof-of-concept amplified laser. By placing a diamond at the point of convergence of the different laser beams, the power of each individual beam is transferred into one potent laser beam, the researchers said. This power transfer occurs due to Raman scattering when particles are dispersed and excited to higher energy levels which is especially strong in diamond, according to the scientists. [Science Fact or Fiction? The Plausibility of 10 Sci-Fi Concepts] Diamonds also have high thermal properties that allow them to harness the laser beams' energies without overheating a concern with other materials that could be used to combine the laser beams. "The fundamental problem is that the laser materials struggle to dissipate the very large waste heat load," study co-author Rich Mildren, an associate professor of physics at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, told Live Science. "There are technologies on the verge of having enough power, but heat build-up causes the beam to flare and power to drop leading to a lack of power on target." Researching amplified-laser concepts has become increasingly important as new security threats have arisen, Mildren said. From low-cost drones to missile technology, militaries around the world are looking to high-power lasers as a possible defense solution. Initial tests of the diamond laser have shown success in short bursts, and the researchers said they are continuing to test the laser for longer periods and at higher powers. When fully operational, the amplified laser could disable drones, missiles and other small objects, according to Mildren. "Such high-power lasers are also potentially useful in management of space junk, propulsion of small space vehicles and beaming power to remote locations," Mildren said. The proof-of-concept laser was described in a study published online March 30 in the journal Laser and Photonics Reviews. Original article on Live Science. NASA spacesuits over budget, tight on timeline: audit Miami (AFP) April 26, 2017 The United States is in a hurry to send people to Mars by the 2030s, but a key question remains for these deep space explorers: what will they wear? An audit report out Wednesday by the NASA Office of the Inspector General found that the US space agency has spent lots of money and time on developing new spacesuits, but has little to show for it. "Despite spending nearly $200 million on NASA's next-generation spacesuit technologies, the Agency remains years away from having a flight-ready spacesu ... read more The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement Chancellor Merkel herself has also become acquainted with Netanyahu's less comfortable side. Several times, telephone calls between Berlin and Jerusalem have grown heated - and the disputes have almost always focused on the construction of settlements. Growing Tensions The impression has been growing for some time now within the Chancellery that Netanyahu is exploiting the German-Israeli friendship to serve his own purposes. Last year, the freely distributed, government-friendly newspaper Israel Hayom ran the following headline after a visit made by the Israeli cabinet to Berlin: "Merkel: Now Is Not the Time for a 2-State Solution." The paper alleged Merkel had said as much to Netanyahu in Berlin. The report angered Merkel's people because the Israeli prime minister appeared to have twisted her words to the point that they came across as an endorsement of his policies. The fact is, however, that Merkel made clear several times to Netanyahu that she considers the effects of Israel's construction of settlements in the occupied territories to be disastrous because it prevents the creation of a viable Palestinian state. Berlin's position on the issue isn't new. The German Foreign Ministry routinely condemns each new construction permit granted for Israeli settlements. In recent months, though, the atmosphere between Germany and Israel has also grown tenser in an area that had previously been deemed untouchable: cooperation on arms policy. The tensions surround Israel's request to purchase three submarines from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in Kiel. Israel has already purchased five submarines from Germany, and a sixth is currently under construction. Over the years, German governments led by Helmut Kohl, Gerhard Schroder and Angela Merkel have all provided the Jewish state with significant price discounts each time. Now, though, corruption allegations are overshadowing the purchase of future submarines. Netanyahu's personal legal adviser, David Schimron, also represents businessman Miki Ganor, who serves as ThyssenKrupp's sales partner in Israel. The Israeli attorney general has initiated an investigation, but not into Netanyahu. Nevertheless, the German government has for months been blocking the memorandum of understanding that would allow the deal to move forward. Netanyahu's office is said to have inquired about the status several times, and the Chancellery has always answered that the time isn't right. Germany ultimately yielded, but a passage was added to the draft stating that if the corruption allegations are proven, the deal would be nullified. The Israeli daily Haaretz first reported the development a few weeks ago, and high-ranking German government officials confirmed it to DER SPIEGEL. The Federal Security Council, a nine-member body made up of the chancellor and several ministers, will soon review the deal. Is Germany's Solidarity Still Unlimited? Many in Jerusalem are now wondering if the unlimited solidarity Merkel claimed with the Jewish state in the Knesset in 2008 still applies. "Germany is a key country for Israel in Europe and the world," says Avi Dichter, the former head of the Israeli domestic intelligence agency and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Knesset. "Each reduction in German support for Israel is very worrying," he says. Dichter, a fellow member of Netanyahu's party, visited the German capital at the end of March and returned to Israel feeling alarmed. Foreign Minister Gabriel had explained to his Israeli guest that it was growing increasingly difficult for the political elite to defend justified Israeli interests because the German population was growing increasingly critical of Israel. "He expressed the fear that the younger generation won't feel as much of an obligation toward the Jewish people," Dichter says. The German government still refuses to recognize Palestine as a state at the United Nations. But, Gabriel told Dichter, were the center-left Social Democrats to vote on the issue at a party conference, 80 percent would vote in favor of recognition. Intense Surveillance Nobody believed his story about accidentally finding the weapon and, in the weeks that followed, the soldier was put under intense surveillance. Telephone surveillance revealed that Franco A. was a staunch xenophobe: Investigators say that he exchanged virulently bigoted texts with other right-wing extremists on WhatsApp and heatedly ridiculed foreigners. These exchanges led investigators to suspected accomplice Mathias F., who is likely an old friend of Franco A.'s from Offenbach. The two communicated often. A soldier in the army reserve in Vienna, who investigators had thought of as a witness until that point, was also part of the chat group. The homes of several chat group members were searched on Wednesday. Investigators ultimately reached the conclusion that the young men may have been doing more than just venting their hatred of foreigners. They could have been planning an attack. Still, the BKA asked the Bundeswehr, as the German military is called, to allow Franco A. to continue serving so that they could surreptitiously monitor him. But the officer behaved unobtrusively. He only told a few of his comrades about the pistol found in Vienna and that it was becoming a problem for him. Only months later did Franco A. again hear from the authorities: On April 19, members of MAD, Germany's military intelligence agency, interviewed him. But A. chose his answers carefully, according to investigators, hiding his right-wing extremist views and repeating his story of how he found the firearm in Vienna. Investigators still have to find out what exactly Franco A. was planning. Thus far he has remained silent. In their search of Mathias F.'s home in Offenbach, officials say they found ammunition, hand grenades and a small quantity of explosives. But it is still unclear what role he played. He says that Franco A. gave him the weapon that he had found and that he didn't think anything of it. Perplexing Elements Prosecutors have been reticent about providing concrete details and a spokeswoman said on Thursday that investigators have found no clearly developed plans for an attack, though she added that the case includes a number of perplexing elements. Franco A.'s conspiratorial behavior has no doubt fueled suspicions that he has something to hide. The German military must now provide an explanation for how the first lieutenant's right-wing convictions could have gone undiscovered for so long. And how Franco A. was able to conceal for more than a year that he regularly traveled to Bavaria to maintain his fake refugee identity. Fears that a Bundeswehr soldier could commit an attack are not new. Thus far, though, the concern had been that an Islamist might infiltrate the military and then use his new skills in an act of terrorist violence. Indeed, this summer MAD will be introducing a new security check for all incoming recruits in the hopes of closing potential security holes. Whether such a check might have weeded out Franco A. is doubtful. SPIEGEL ONLINE: After September 11, 2001. Dean: 9/11 changed everything. We lose more Americans every year drowning in the bathtub than through terrorism. But terrorism has been used as a lever to frighten people, pass legislation, sound tough and coerce us into giving away our rights in pursuit of phantom problems. Granted, terrorism is a real problem everywhere. But you can't prevent it. Terrorists are nutcases who are hellbent on killing people for ideology. That's pretty hard to stop. SPIEGEL ONLINE: Trump, too, is making the "war on terror" a main theme of his presidency again. Dean: The difference this time is the authoritarianism. That's the hidden explanation of the 2016 elections. Who voted for Trump? Who are these people who, as he famously said, would let him shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and still support him? It's people who want too strong a leader, who would do what that leader tells them. Similar to the Europeans following Mussolini and Hitler. There's a streak in humanity that likes that kind of leader. That's Trump's core. Authoritarianism. SPIEGEL ONLINE: You think he's actually trying to create an authoritarian state? Dean: I don't think Trump is a deeply self-aware person. But he's absolutely off the charts as a narcissist. He is the consummate narcissistic salesman. He is in fact a sick man. And that's potentially very dangerous. The only positive thing about Trump is that he has no ideology, he is an empty vessel, surrounded by people who give him ideas, and it only matters which ideas will shine the light on Trump. SPIEGEL ONLINE: Wasn't the American democratic system built to withstand precisely that? Dean: We do have a system of checks and balances. It's pretty hard to overwhelm that. I don't think Trump has done that yet. We have an independent judiciary. While he and his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, are badmouthing the judges because they don't like their decisions, it will make the resolve of these judges only stiffer, bring their backs up. But if he decides to ignore the judges, then we'll have a constitutional crisis. Because judges have very little of their own power to enforce their orders. SPIEGEL ONLINE: Wouldn't Congress, the other pillar of U.S. democracy, prevent such a crisis? Dean: We have a dysfunctional Congress at this point. It ranks lower in approval than the president, who has one of the lowest presidential approval ratings ever. The current Congress is most interested in trying to do what it can to have the legacy of the Democrats removed, mostly Obama's but also Roosevelt's, the social programs. At the same time they can't agree on what time of day it is. SPIEGEL ONLINE: But aren't they investigating the Russian hacking scandal and Russian ties to the Trump campaign? Dean: There is an authoritarian group in Congress, a lot of Trump supporters. They are slow-walking that investigation. They don't want to cause any problems. SPIEGEL ONLINE: The Senate seems pretty intent on bipartisan hearings. Dean: The Senate is a little more independent than the House, but not a lot. SPIEGEL ONLINE: In 1973, you testified before the Senate Watergate Committee. But your words weren't enough, only hard evidence -- the Oval Office tapes -- ultimately forced Nixon's resignation. Do you foresee the Russian scandal unfolding in a similar way? Dean: Because of the pervasive surveillance in our digital era, a lot of conversations relating to the Russian hacking were overheard, and transcripts keep popping up. Still, we don't know what's out there in terms of evidence. But we know Trump lies with ease. It's an endless stream of make-believe and invented stories and outright lies. He would obviously deny any complicity of any sort. To actually jail him it will have to be pretty solid evidence that can be corroborated. And FBI counterintelligence investigations are very slow by nature. SPIEGEL ONLINE: So when can we sleep well again? Dean: I learned that the country actually does pretty well with nobody at the helm. I saw that during Watergate. The government ran pretty well. Hopefully we will muddle through. The president's priorities were revealed particularly transparently in the tax plan that he presented Wednesday. The heart of the tax-code overhaul is a cut to the corporate tax rate from the current 35 percent to just 15 percent. It also calls for the elimination of the inheritance tax in addition to income tax cuts. Together, the cuts would cost the state $2 trillion in tax revenue every year -- an enormous hit to the budget for a tax reform that primarily benefits the rich. People like Trump and his family. Worse, though, are the president's regular attacks on judges, journalists and his opponents. Trump goes after his critics with irascible fits of temper, yet he harbors admiration for autocrats. He has often praised the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin and one of his first visitors in the White House was Egypt's president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. Furthermore, he could hardly congratulate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fast enough following his victory in the recent constitutional referendum that brought the country a giant step closer to becoming a dictatorship. 'Going Bananas' Trump's advisors and cabinet members are likewise scornful of all who would dare stand in the way of the president. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, of all people, recently criticized a judge in Hawaii for blocking Trump's travel ban for people from majority Muslim countries. "I really am amazed that a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific can issue an order that stops the president of the United States from what appears to be clearly his statutory and constitutional power," Sessions said. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said simply that William Orrick and his court were "going bananas." Trump and his team can feel encouraged by the results of a February survey which found that 51 percent of the president's supporters believe he should be able to override judicial rulings he doesn't agree with. When both the government and its people are united in their disdain for democratic institutions, it represents a clear danger. Additionally, Trump behaves in ways that are unseemly for the head of state in a democracy. He tells lies and insults people, he sells his intellectual shallowness as being a man of the people and he peddles his lack of composure as strategy. He is proud of his basest instincts and is open about his respect for enemies of democracy. After 100 days of Trump's presidency, America is even more polarized than before. The fronts have become harder and the debates have become more aggressive, even if that hardly seemed possible following last year's campaign. Animosity between the Trump camp and the anti-Trump camp has deepened. The blustering narcissist in the White House has outdone even himself when it comes to driving his country even further apart and failing to live up to his critics' already low expectations. After 100 days of chaos, Trump is the least liked of all modern presidents -- even George W. Bush enjoyed greater approval at the beginning of his tenure. For a man like Trump, who loves nothing so much as himself and who almost obsessively monitors -- and seeks to control -- his image in the media, such survey results are a painful comedown. There is reason for concern that he might feel tempted to become even more combative and aggressive in his attacks on his critics. At His Fingertips Harvard professor of government Levitsky says that American democracy is in no way immune to abuse of power. By today's standards, he says, the U.S. only became truly democratic in the 1970s after racial segregation had been largely overcome. Before that, authoritarian tendencies were widespread in the 11 states belonging to the American South, which had long been governed by Democrats. Blacks and poor whites were systematically discriminated against and the political opposition was oppressed. The American Constitution is surprisingly vague regarding the limits of presidential power and he has the means at his disposal to deploy state agencies against the political competition. Several of Trump's predecessors have used the FBI, CIA and NSA to spy on public officials, journalists and activists they didn't like. The executive has never been innocent. A firebrand in the White House who seeks revenge on his opponents has all the instruments he needs right at his fingertips. A president's political power is limited by the system of checks and balances outlined in the Constitution and includes the Congress, the judiciary and the states. But the Constitution can only provide the population with limited protection from a vengeful president. "We often think that checks and balances can save us and that the Constitution is unassailable," says Tom Ginsburg, a constitutional law expert at the University of Chicago. But how might Trump react in the case of a terrorist attack, a natural disaster or in times of war? Would he take the opportunity to make a grab for power and weaken other institutions? He possesses the authority to do so. There have been times in the past when Democrats and Republicans have cooperated to protect the common welfare and democratic institutions -- even in opposition to presidents from their own party. In the 1930s, leading Democrats stood up to Franklin D. Roosevelt's efforts to shake up the Supreme Court due to the court's skepticism of the New Deal, the president's far-reaching reform package. In the 1970s, Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the impeachment of Richard Nixon. Breaking with Democratic Norms Those times, though, are long gone. The Congressional committees charged with investigating the Trump team's connections to Russia are dominated by Republicans, who are delaying the proceedings. The president is wary of having too much light shed on contacts between former advisers and Moscow and he is relying on Republican members of Congress for help. New York, April 27, 2017 (SPS) -The UN Security Council will adopt on Thursday the draft resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum on Self-Determination in Western Sahara (Minurso) by one year following intense negotiations on this text submitted by the U.S delegation. Discussions on this draft resolution remain hard some hours before its adoption. The third and last draft can be modified. The proposal "of immediate and unconditional" withdrawal of Polisario Front forces from Al Guergarat was not unanimously welcomed within the Security Council. The third draft resolution, of which APS has a copy, suggests that the UN Secretary General briefs the Security Council on this withdrawal in 15 days. The text is unbalanced and does not explain the causes behind the crisis in this area monitored by the UN, said many Security Council members. SPS 125/090/700 London, April 27, 2017 (SPS) -The United Kingdom government supports the extension of the mandate of UN mission for a referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), said UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. In response to a written question of Shadow Foreign Secretary (Labour Party) Emily Thornberry, Johnson said that the "British officials are currently discussing with their partners at the UN Security Council" about the Resolution of the extension of MINURSO mandate. On a question whether the British government would recommend to exclude human rights monitoring in the new mandate of MINURSO, he said that "the previous resolutions have always stressed the importance of improving human rights in Western Sahara ...." "We will continue to uphold the efforts so MINURSO can fulfil its mission assigned by the UN Security Council," he affirmed. SPS 125/090/700 The report lists Askham Bryan College as Good and as well as its impressive industry links, the specific knowledge and expertise of staff in working alongside employers and the support given to students are also highlighted. The college has learning centres across the North of England with its main campus at York, and specialises in land-based further and higher education. It offers courses from diploma level through to higher level qualifications including degrees, with student numbers across the college more than doubling since the last inspection in 2011. Askham Bryan College has a total of 5,264 students across its eight learning centres. Catherine Dixon, Chief Executive said: Given the significant growth in student numbers at the college over the last few years, we are delighted with Ofsted's finding and being rated as 'good' at a time when many colleges are identified as needing to improve. The result is a testament to the dedication, expertise and hard work of our staff and the enthusiasm and commitment of our students. Askham Bryan College works with a broad range of industry partners including organisations such as the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust and Natural England, the York, North Yorkshire & East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, the North York Moors National Park, local councils, vet practices and agricultural and engineering businesses such as Bauer Engineering, Trimble and Russells (Kirkbymoorside) Ltd. In preparation for the triennial show, Barenbrug has sown 28 demonstration plots at Stoneleigh including three areas devoted to brand new products. Bar Finisher a mix of chicory, white clover, red clover and plantain, which produces a leafy, high quality feed from spring to autumn, and offers excellent animal performance potential Artemis a highly nutritious lucerne that combines good digestibility with high proteins to support excellent milk yields or daily live weight gains. Hybrid 4x4 a highly productive hybrid ryegrass cutting ley designed for a three or four year rotation system. Highlighting the vast array of grass varieties and mixtures available to UK farmers, the Barenbrug team has also sown areas dedicated to numerous perennial ryegrass species including Fintona, the highest yielding ryegrass variety ever developed. There are also plots allocated to Comer a highly palatable Timothy grass which grows well in very wet conditions; Bartyle a Cocksfoot that is ideal for dry areas thanks to its drought tolerance; plus tall fescues; silage crops; and clovers. STAMFORD Narcotics investigators arrested an East Side man after finding a gun in his possession Wednesday evening. Capt. Richard Conklin said officers in the Narcotics and Organized Crime squad obtained some information off the street that there was a man in a Courtland Avenue apartment with an illegal gun. Through their investigation, the officers obtained a search warrant and with the help of the Special Response Team (SWAT), they raided the residence at about 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday. While serving the warrant, they found a loaded .32 caliber semiautomatic handgun and about six grams of marijuana, Conklin said. We are very happy to take another illegal gun off the street, Conklin said. Diego Lopez, 40, of Courtland Avenue, was charged with possession of a firearm without a permit and possession of marijuana. He was held in lieu of a $75,000 court appearance bond. Lopez was also wanted for not showing up to court for a Greenwich motor vehicle infraction and had another $10,000 added to his bond. Conklin said Lopez has numerous arrests in New York state. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com; STAMFORD The citys school district, known as one of the most diverse in the state, has created a task force to recruit and retain underrepresented teachers. While about 60 percent of Stamford students are black or Hispanic, the rate of these races among teachers is less than 12 percent, according to data released by the district last year. But a task force launched earlier this year is trying to narrow that gap by expanding the pool of qualified candidates so more underrepresented groups are included. One of the roughly 20 members of the group is Jack Bryant, president of the Stamford NAACP chapter. Bryant said it is essential for minority students to interact with educators who look like them. Some students dont see a minority teacher until theyre in college, he said. Thats not good... Theres a lot of benefits to have someone who looks like you in front of the classroom. Teacher diversity is one of the NAACPs national priorities this year. The organization has argued minority teachers are good role models because they often have higher academic expectations for minority students. In Stamford, 80 percent of teachers are white, but the student population is comprised of only 33 percent white children. The new task force meets a few times a month and includes teachers, union leaders, central office administrators, community members and others. Some of the members have attended several job fairs and met more than 100 candidates, Stephen Falcone, human resources director for Stamford Public Schools, told the Board of Education last week. The group also recently participated in a tour of historically black colleges and universities, also known as HBCUs. The task force has suggested changes to the districts recruiting materials, including brochures and handouts, and its reviewing standard interview questions and job descriptions to consider bias. Falcone said the district will hold its first hiring fair, which is tentatively scheduled for late May. His department also started a partnership with the University of Connecticut to increase the districts pool of substitutes, which Falcone described as a great recruiting tool. Bryant said one major obstacle in recruiting minority teachers is the lack of affordable housing in southwestern Connecticut. The cost of living in Stamford is high, he said. Bryant hopes to work with developers and the city to create more affordable apartments for teachers. Theres a lot of things that we can do, but we have to get everyone at the table, he said. Bryant said its too early to measure the task forces progress. It is not something thats going to happen overnight, Bryant said. noliveira@stamfordadvocate.com, 203-964-2265, @olivnelson In the fall of 2016, Google rebranded its decade-old "Google Apps for Work" as "G Suite." While the name is a bit more simplified and more streamlined, the heart of what it does is pretty much the same: offers cloud computing tools for businesses of all sizes. The biggest difference, other than the name, is that Google upgraded all of its G Suite apps. Where the product was once good, it has become truly excellent. Because of the new updates, it's worth updating yourself on G Suite. Here are four big things you need to know: 1. Its not free, but it is worth it. Everyday users can have a Google Drive account with 15GB of storage for free, but if you want more than that, or if you want a G Suite account, its not free (Google, like a lot of other tech companies, is embracing the software as a service subscription model). However, G Suite is very affordable considering what you get in return, and, unlike a lot of other subscription software, you pay for exactly what you need. G Suite pricing is based on the number of users per month at your chosen tier. All accounts come with personalized email addresses at your domain. Then, depending on your tier, you get storage (which is unlimited for all but the basic accounts), shared files, voice and video conferencing, security, support and more. If you're not sure whether it's right for your business, Google will let you try it for free for 14 days before you commit to buying it. Related: How to Start a Business With (Almost) No Money 2. Its smarter than ever. Artificial intelligence improvements to all of the G Suite tools mean that youll spend less time dealing with the software and more time actually getting things done. Whats smarter about it? Well, storage, for example; rather than spending time looking for the exact file you need, G Suites storage now takes cues from what youve been spending your time on (like meetings, emails, and other activity) and offers the files it thinks you want before you lose ten minutes looking for them. The Calendar has improved and can now find available slots in multiple users schedules to suggest good meeting times. Presentations are smarter because they offer suggested layouts and formatting to complement your content. These are just a few examples, but ultimately, the AI thats now behind G Suite can save you a lot of time during the day and minimize frustration. Related: Inspiring Quotes to Help You Get Through Your Work Day 3. It has more versatile security features. If youre a regular Gmail user, then you already know about Googles very tight two-step verification process every time you log in from a new device. It takes a few extra minutes since a code has to be sent to you via text message and then entered as part of your login, but its a solid security feature that keeps your account well protected. G Suite offers this same two-step verification, but security can also be configured using Security Keys. These are actual physical key-like dongles that plug into a computer and use Bluetooth or near-field communications (NFC) to verify a users authenticity. Spend a few minutes, just once, to set it up, and youre good to go from there on out. If you use different devices frequently as part of your work setup, this security feature could save you lots of time over the long run. Related: Habits of the World's Wealthiest People (Infographic) 4. Its highly social. In our media-driven world, having workplace software that integrates well with social media platforms is more important than ever. G Suite is compatible with many of the popular ones, like Facebook, Wordpress and YouTube. Plus, Workplace by Facebook can be configured to work with G Suite. As expected, Google is still pushing its Google+ platform, despite its relative lack of popularity (its not quite as dead as Orkut, at least). Still, this integration is incredibly helpful for marketing folks and, really, for everyone. Related: 4 Things You Should Know About Google's Rebranded G Suite How to Quickly Create Expert Content for Your Online Business 10 Apps and Tools to Make Your Small Business Better and More Efficient Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Connecticut may be the third smallest state in the U.S., yet there are still surprises to be found. One Instagram account, @CTvisit, is set on inspiring Americans to explore the hidden gems that they dont always associate with Connecticut. In September 2014, the states still revolutionary tourism program debuted its Instagram account, which quickly took off. Today, @CTvisit has almost 19,000 followers and keeps gaining popularity for its enchanting photographs showcasing the states variety of unique destinations and attractions. S adlers Wells Theatres critically acclaimed international festival of hip hop dance theatre, Breakin Convention, is back in London, with performances from UK and international companies and crews. Now in its 14th year, the popular Sadlers Wells Production is once again hosted and curated by Associate Artist Jonzi D. Sadler's Wells Associate Artist Jonzi D (Photo by Dave Barros) / Dave Barros Breakin Convention will then tour for a second consecutive year, to nine venues across the UK until early June 2017, following the annual festival this weekend. These venues are: Edinburgh, Nottingham, Norwich, Southampton, Salford, Leicester, Blackpool, Brighton and Birmingham. This marks Breakin Conventions seventh UK tour, which offers local dance companies the opportunity to perform alongside international acts. The London festival on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 April sees Sadlers Wells foyer transformed with DJs, freestyle dance jams, graffiti exhibitions, workshops from top international artists and live aerosol art. The participatory activities take place pre-show and during the interval. The tour line-up includes Soweto Skeleton Movers, a highlight of last years festival. Mixing comedic contortionism with the Pantsula dance style native to the townships of South Africa and performing to Kwaito music, a form of Afro house and the soundtrack of the liberation struggle, the group returns by popular demand with new work Seven 7. Soweto Skeleton Movers / Belinda Lawley Joining them on tour is Canadian group Tentacle Tribe. Founded in 2012, the Montreal-based dance company creates uncommon dance works with a contemporary twist using conceptual hip hop and influences from all types of earthly creatures. Montreal-based Tentacle Tribe / Belinda Lawley The duos work experiments with intricate partnering, refined musicality and physical choreography. Tentacle Tribe recently performed at Breakin Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Completing the international line up are Just Dance from South Korea. Under the artistic direction of B-Boy Ducky of the Drifterz Crew, Just Dance presents an updated vision of Korean shamanistic mask performance. Just Dance South Korea / Ryo Live Korean drumming accompanies a crew of poppers and b-boys, many of whom have world titles to their name. Earlier in 2016 the group performed at Breakin Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. The London dates mark their Breakin Convention UK premiere. For the first year, there is also a pre-show site specific performance in The Kahn by Michaela Cisarikova, founder and artistic director of MCDC. Since 2014, the group has curated and produced their own evening MCDC Night and MCDC Triple Bill in London, which then went on tour to Slovakia and Czech Republic. The festival also features work from artists who have taken part in Open Art Surgery and Back To The Lab, Breakin Conventions professional development platforms. For the fifth consecutive year, Breakin Convention takes it back to the roots of hip hop on bank holiday Monday 1 May with Park Jam, an outdoor party suitable for all the family in Spa Fields Park. The UK acts in this years Sadlers Wells Stage line-up: Boy Blue Entertainment Dani & Sia Freefly Crew Houston Dance Collective Natalie James Old Men Grooving The Locksmiths The Rebirth Network Theo Godson Oloyade XXV Old Men Grooving are part of Saturday's line-up / James Watkins And the international acts in this year's Sadler's Wells Stage line-up are: Black Sheep (France) Cheerito (Russia) DC Vortex (France) Geni Lou & Pax (Canada) Hungry Sharks (Austria) Just Dance (South Korea) Soweto Skeleton Movers (South Africa) Tentacle Tribe (Canada) There is also a line-up of acts performing at the Lilian Baylis Studio featuring artists from the UK, Netherlands and the USA. Breakin Convention runs this May Bank Holiday weekend (April 29 May 1). N icola Horlick, the fund manager once referred to as the Citys superwoman, has sidestepped a potentially messy lawsuit by stumping up 250,000 for her Hollywood film financing outfit. Horlick made the investment in Glentham Capital after an overseas investor failed to produce the cash. Glentham had raised almost 400,000 through crowdfunding site Seedrs on the basis it would raise up to $250 million elsewhere to finance movies. But accounts showed the company burned through the cash without raising any money. Seedrs threatened legal action unless Horlick stepped in with the cash to replace the investor who pulled out by the end of March. But Horlick has now paid up despite administrative delays. F or someone who made her name helping tackle child poverty around the globe, youd be forgiven for thinking that Jasmine Whitbreads new gig, leading business group London First, would be a more tranquil affair. But, with Brexit around the corner, achieving the member-funded organisations mission of making the capital the best city in the world to do business has suddenly become a lot more complex. Whitbread, a former head of Save The Children, whose career has taken her to war zones and harsh terrain, is ready to roll up her sleeves again. This is an absolutely crucial time for London, she tells me from London Firsts Fitzrovia headquarters. The clock will start ticking and we have got to come out of the gate in 2019 as Brexit-ready as we can be. The slim 53-year-old, with sleek blonde hair and wearing a stylish navy suit, says last Junes Leave vote has rattled many of London Firsts members, who produce a quarter of the capitals GDP and include Barclays, Sainsburys, Primark and Deloitte. Theres quite a lot of concern across business about what Brexit means. Does it mean, after 25 years of really good growth and London being right up there with global capitals, that theres some jeopardy now? Already, some have taken a real foot off the gas in terms of investment decisions or are considering hedging their bets by putting that extra office into Frankfurt or Dublin. In comparison, the upcoming election is less troublesome, with business generally unfazed by the poll. The feeling is this might set out a clearer, more certain way forward, Whitbread says. For London First, founded in 1991 with the aim of influencing government policy and investment decisions, the next five weeks of campaigning will mean a chance to quiz all sides about its three major priorities: talent, housing and transport. Whitbread, who was appointed in December, describes talent as members number one issue. The groups approach is two-pronged. First, it wants business to think more closely about how it can train people up, for example, through apprenticeships, and dovetail that with government policy on skills and education. Second is immigration, a subject that has clearly been a source of some frustration. We need to get the facts on the table about how much London has benefited from foreign workers, Whitbread stresses. A report by London First and PwC shows that, on average, a migrant worker in a full-time job in London contributes an additional 46,000 net in gross value added (GVA) each year to the economy. The additional GVA generated by 10 migrant worker jobs will support an additional four jobs in the wider economy. Once thats sorted, shes after a phased and realistic immigration policy from whoever is in No 10 come June. Should that be Theresa May, Whitbread sees no reason whatsoever not to fulfil on much-floated, but not yet delivered, guarantees on the rights of EU citizens. On housing, she is focusing on solutions as well as efforts to shed light on the capitals chronic shortage of homes. Among them is getting employers to commit to providing financial support to staff to cover expenses like commuting or tenancy deposit schemes. Grant Thornton, the Metropolitan Police and law firm Pinsent Masons are among those to have made the pledge. Efforts on transport largely revolve around getting the go-ahead for Crossrail 2. Whitbread reels off the cautionary tale of the original Crossrail, conceived of even before London First but only set to launch next year. London First kept up the pressure to bring that about and plans to do the same for its proposed sister line. Theres a danger Crossrail 2 will suffer the same wasted time, wasted money and missed opportunities. Weve got to get going now. But can she be sure London First will have the same impact it did in the past wont there be enough for government and business to do in untangling the Brexit deal itself? Whitbread doesnt see it that way. Im trying to make sure weve got senior leadership, the chief executives and chairs, who will engage. Actually they are, and thats not a tough ask because the stakes are higher. Whitebread does not want Crossrail 2 to suffer the same delays as the original Crossrail project (Getty Images) / Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images Those who know Whitbread say youd be foolish to bet against her. She is warm and friendly but also dangerously persuasive, according to Sir Alan Parker, founder of PR agency Brunswick. When she came round to interview me to be chairman of Save The Children UK, I knew I wasnt leaving the room without saying yes. She is enormously practical, enormously competent and can actually pull it off. Whitbread, who started life in Ladbroke Grove with her British Gas manager father and Swiss mother, has always had a fearless nature. She was the first of her family to go to university Bristol, to study English. In her first job in marketing at Rio Tinto, despite being on the lowest rung of the ladder, she petitioned her superiors for more resources and later ended up running the department.She then took a job for software start-up Cortex in Boston before travelling to Uganda with the Voluntary Service Overseas. It was that experience that encouraged her to turn her back on her corporate life in the late Nineties, despite being a managing director at business information firm Thomson Financial. I was aware I was going to be in this bubble and move from one promotion to another and living in a comfortable environment. I thought Its a big world out there, if I dont get out now, I might not. An advert for a role as Oxfams regional director for West Africa was posted in The Economist and her husband, Howard, whom she met through work, faxed it to her. She got it at the second time of asking and shipped her family, including her kids, then aged two and four, to Dakar in Senegal in 1999. It was hot and dusty, and beautiful in many ways, she recalls. Some of her assignments running Oxfam programmes across nine countries were more stretching, as she puts it. For example, when civil war was raging in Sierra Leone, she found herself with a team of engineers hiking to a water source in searing heat and attempting to restore the water supply. That was one of the few times she questioned her safety. Youve got to make sure the local community wants you there and then the community will basically keep you safe. After three years, the intrepid family returned to Britain when Whitbread became Oxfams international chief. In 2005, she jumped ship to run Save The Children UK and was among the instigators of a huge reorganisation, which brought all its international branches under one roof albeit causing a brief furore over her 234,000 salary along the way. It sounds like she earned it though. It was a phenomenal achievement. She absolutely did the hard yards, Parker says. She left in 2015 but kept her place on the boards of BT and Standard Chartered. She was frequently held up as an example by Lord Davies, a former trade minister and campaigner for female representation on company boards. She was even a real-life poster girl in 2013 when she was selected alongside Dame Helen Mirren to feature in Marks & Spencers leading ladies advertising campaign. Being photographed by Annie Leibovitz was a great opportunity. Outside work, Whitbread, who lives in south London but also has a bolthole in Oxfordshire, heads to the Thames to row. She took up the sport in her mid-forties and is out on the water most weekends. Its challenging, mentally and physically, in a good way. I can empty my mind Im in the moment. Shell need all that calm to navigate the choppier waters that are in store for the capital. I nvestors can be an impatient bunch. When Drax told the market in February it would be reviewing its dividend policy, it triggered a stampede for the exit. Shares in the company behind the Drax power station in Yorkshire have sunk 20% since the revelation, which came in its annual results. But analysts at Barclays today did a good job of convincing investors that its reasoning was sound and that its capital markets day in June could help the shares power back up. We understand Draxs consultation is a genuine attempt to balance priorities of growth [capital expenditure] and increased returns to shareholders. We thus see no justification for the scale of Draxs recent share price reversion, said Barclays Stephen Hunt. The analyst said Drax, which is shifting its focus from coal to biomass, might even unveil a new progressive dividend policy at the investor day. The shares charged to the top of the mid-cap leaderboard, surging 22.9p, or 7.5%, to 326.8p as Hunt upgraded the stock to Overweight. The FTSE 100 finished the week down 16.28 points at 7220.89, with Barclays weighing on Londons main share index. Among the mid-caps, Balfour Beatty was in favour after Numis urged clients to pile in to the infrastructure firm. The shares rose 11.17p, or 4%, to 295.27p as it hailed the companys more selective approach to asset sales and raised its rating to Buy. Strong results from recent float Ultimate Products helped the consumer products group put on 9.4p to 178.9p. The company has proved a hit in the City since last months listing at 128p per share. Sirius Minerals increased by 0.25p to 26.25p on its main market debut. The company, which is developing a huge potash mine under the North York Moors national park, moved up from AIM. On the junior market, online fashion retailer Boohoo, up 0.5p at 187.5p, revealed its chief financial officer cashed in on this weeks annual results, which saw profits double. Neil Catto exercised options over 1.6 million shares at 50p and selling them for 187p each, making a profit of more than 2 million. R oyal Bank of Scotland turned its first profit since September 2015 today, offering hope it has finally turned the corner and suggesting the Government could start selling its 72% stake. The bank, which sponsors the Six Nations rugby tournament, still faces massive headwinds in the face of a settlement of at least $10 billion (7.7 billion) with the US Department of Justice over mis-sold mortgage bonds and a potentially embarrassing court case that could see former boss Fred Goodwin give evidence against it. RBS made a profit of 259 million for the first quarter, compared with a loss of 968 million last time. Shares jumped 4% to 259p on the news still a long way off what the Government paid for them. Without restructuring costs, RBS made a profit of 1.3 billion. City analysts think it should make at least that much in pure profit every quarter once the bank is finally cleaned up. RBS made a loss last year of 7 billion. Next months court case is over whether investors were misled about a rights issue before the bank went bust. Goodwin is likely to be a controversial witness. Richard Hunter, head of research at Wilson King Investment Management, said: Though its too early to hang out the bunting, there are some signs of recovery at the beleaguered bank. T here are moments that not only change your life but remain embedded in your memory. One happened to me in 2003. I was in Rwanda doing research for a story that would eventually become the film Hotel Rwanda. I had little more than a script and the money to pay for myself and my daughter to visit the country, and listen to peoples stories of the events nine years before, when almost a million people were slaughtered in 100 days. Friends took us to a place called Murambi, which had been a technical college, set high up among the lush hills. Inside the classrooms lay the mummified bodies of Tutsi men, women and children who had fled to the college hoping for protection, and who were instead, stabbed, slashed and shot to death. In an attempt to hide the evidence, their bodies had been dumped into mass graves. Later, investigators dug them up and covered them in lime to preserve them as evidence. The bodies are spread out in the classrooms they died in; white mummified corpses of tiny babies besides mothers in shapes that look as though they are reaching out for their children. My daughter and I were in tears. These long dead victims almost seemed to be screaming. There is a guest book at the entrance to this memorial, and even though I had no budget, no actors, I wrote: I promise to tell their story. I almost instantly regretted the words because it was a promise that I knew I couldnt walk away from. Those very words drove me to make Hotel Rwanda. Those same words drove me to visit a monument high on a hill overlooking the city of Yerevan in Armenia. There, a flame burns and a hymn plays in memory of some one million Armenians, slaughtered just as the Tutsi Rwandans had been slaughtered, by Ottoman Turks in 1915. The words of the vow I wrote in the book in Murambi echoed in my head again as I set out to make a film called The Promise. Its an epic romance set in 1915 when the last Ottoman government led by Taalat Pasha embarked on a systematic plan to wipe out their Armenian subjects. The Promise Clip - Confrontation This story also needed to be told. Along with Christian Bale, Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon, the producers and the entire cast and crew, I realised that we could create a memorial to the dead Armenians in story and music, and in light and shadow, and spread their story around the world to whatever audiences we could reach. So please, go and see The Promise, and while you watch the story of the Armenian genocide that began in 1915, think also of the children of Murambi, Auschwitz and the killing fields of Cambodia. Think also of the Yazidi of Northern Iraq whom Islamic State has tried wipe out through mass murder and sexual slavery: a genocide of our time. More than a century on from the Armenian genocide, which the Turkish government is still denying, we are still dealing with similar atrocities. And perhaps when you leave the cinemas you will join us in the never-ending fight to stop genocide across the globe. The Promise, in pictures 1 /9 The Promise, in pictures The Promise is on release in cinemas today H istorians should never dabble in prophecy. Yet it is hard not to see patterns in history that help us to make sense of today. The past allows us to assess and reflect. With Brexit and Trump, we might usefully look back to London nearly half a millennium ago. One of the remarkable stories of Londons long history is how a modest city began to trade globally, sending ships to the East Indies and colonists to North America. Where early Tudor merchants sold their cloths and bought luxury goods and spices in markets just across the English Channel, two generations later Londoners were fitting out ships for expeditions to Russia, Persia, Indonesia, India and Japan. Today we are wary of how interconnected we are, yet just over 400 years ago London was discovering the world in ways that have since shaped human history. London was then a city in flux. Its population practically quadrupled in just over a century. The city felt the massive pressures of migrants coming in from other parts of England to make a living. Thousands of foreign Protestants, seeking refuge from war-torn mainland Europe, arrived too. The richest Londoners worried that their status and privileges would be challenged by immigrant outsiders, while young apprentices and the poor seethed at incomers who seemed to want their jobs. Change is never easy. Elizabethans hated it, yet somehow they also embraced it. The Europe they knew was convulsed by war and rebellion. The armies of the superpower of the day, Catholic Spain, rumbled through the Netherlands. France for decades was paralysed by religious civil strife. Ordinary Londoners found themselves conscripted into distant wars. Londons merchants found themselves blockaded out of their traditional markets. Where traders wanted peace and security, Europes monarchs seemed to offer nothing but war and sanctions. So the merchants found new markets. They pooled their capital and shared out the risks and returns of expeditions across the world, recruiting investors who, for the first time, were able to buy shares in these ventures. This was the moment of groundbreaking new corporations like the Russia Company, the Levant Company and (most famously) the East India Company. It was a moment of engagement with the world, not a retreat. They also had to find new ways to talk about money. The old laws against usury (lending money at interest) were beginning to loosen. Londons preachers still berated moneylenders and profiteers. Critics of unscrupulous financiers heard them using weasel words to cover up the shame of usury, of which the most pernicious was interest. But merchants were pragmatists who treated money just like any other commodity, to be lent out for a fair price. In the end they won the debate. Like us, Elizabethans experienced how powerfully politics and money could work together. But Tudor merchants also saw through the posturings of monarchs. Wars, blockades, dynastic squabbles and politics all got in the way of trade. True, Tudor merchants were protectionists. Yet in trying to get the edge over their rivals they saw the huge benefits of treaties and reciprocal deals across Europe and beyond. They knew that common prosperity and their wealth was grounded upon patient negotiations, not the vagaries of politicians with an eye on the short game. Cities rise and fall. Early in the 16th century Antwerp overtook Bruges as the financial capital of Western Europe, and then in turn Antwerp was overtaken by London. Amsterdam in the 17th century was a powerhouse of global capitalism. In Elizabethan London it was at Sir Thomas Greshams grand Royal Exchange that merchants of many nations met to do their deals. We are about to leave behind institutions that were built to protect Europeans from self-inflicted horrors. For two generations these have allowed us to work, travel and trade in a way that would have seemed miraculous to Elizabethans. No one, however clever they think they are, can predict how the future will look. The past gives no easy lessons. There are just a few buildings that survive from Tudor London. Perhaps those in charge now should take themselves off quietly to one of their ancient churches. There are the tombs of some of the men and women who, able to see a little beyond their own city, changed the world as much they changed London. Stephen Alford is Professor of early modern British history at the University of Leeds. His Londons Triumph: Merchant Adventurers and the Tudor City is published by Allen Lane (at 20) A s spring gets under way, swallows are returning to London from sub-Saharan Africa. Their long-haul flights can take them across deserts, mountains and seas, so the capital provides a very welcome fuel stop. You can identify swallows by their markedly long tail feathers, which form two long streamers behind the bird. Look also for their deeply coloured rusty-red throats and white chests, beneath a steely blue overcoat. Head to any large stretch of fresh water during late April and May and you are likely to see them darting over the water, taking midges and mosquitoes from the air. They can even drink on the wing, skimming the waters surface and scooping up water with their beaks. Swallow numbers have been in decline recently, probably due to changes in agricultural practices. Large swathes of wildlife-friendly grazing pasture have been lost and pesticides have decimated insect populations, a staple food source for swallows and many other birds. Swallows have adapted to nesting beneath the eaves of houses, using mud and saliva to build cup-shaped nests under the edges of roofs. Most modern architecture isnt swallow-friendly but the capital still provides some top-notch places to enjoy these acrobatic masters of the air as they pass through London to the countryside. Check out this weekends wildlife festival at Woodberry Wetlands, where a few early swallows are already hunting over the reed beds, or head to Ruislip Lido or Brent Reservoir. As the swallows arrive, they can also be seen skimming the Thames in west London and over Pen Ponds at Richmond Park. Other great locations include Wimbledon Common, Foots Cray Meadows and Bushy Park, where traditional buildings such as stable blocks and barns still provide places for the swallows to nest and breed in safety. @Wildlondon The London Wildlife Trust campaigns to protect the capital's wildlife and wild spaces. It is backed by Sir David Attenborough, President Emeritus of The Wildlife Trusts. A cclaimed Shoreditch restaurant Lyles is hosting top Australian chef Dan Hunter for a special one-off London Food Month dinner. Its head chef is James Lowe, who was awarded a Michelin star for his detail- orientated but laid-back restaurant in 2016, only a year after it opened. He will be cooking alongside Hunter on the first day of London Food Month. Hunter is behind Brae, which was recently voted number 44 in the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list and is number two in Australias top 100 restaurants. Guests at Brae, based on a 30-acre organic farm two hours south of Melbourne, on the edge of the Otway Forest Park, are encouraged to interact with nature and eat from the land. All food is either grown on site or sourced from local suppliers. Hunter began his career as a kitchen porter and worked his way up before making his name as head chef at experimental two Michelin-starred Spanish restaurant Mugaritz. His dinner with Lowe on June 1, which will cost 79 not including drinks, will feature a few dishes from Lyles and a few from Brae. Some will come from his first book, Brae: Recipes And Stories From The Restaurant, which is released next week, with seasonal produce the focus. A copy of the book is included in the price of dinner. Partnership: Dan Hunter is joining forces with James Lowe, head chef at Lyles in Shoreditch (Colin Page) Hunter wanted to keep other details under wraps, saying: I dont like to be too fixed on dishes before arriving somewhere new. On the collaboration, he said: I only met James recently but have had mutual friends cook with him at Lyles over the last couple of years and it just feels like a good fit. Our restaurants are quite different but theres certainly some synergy in our love of product and simplicity. The no-fuss approach of James is certainly a benefit. I think both of our restaurants are relevant for the values they share values of today, not from a time where fluff was more important than substance. Excited to welcome his guests: James Lowe / Lucy Young Lowe, formerly head chef at St John Bread and Wine in Spitalfields, said he was excited to have Hunter in his kitchen because his fellow chef was always doing something interesting, something good. He added: He is a chef I have followed for a long time. When he opened Brae I thought, Oh this sounds fantastic. Looking at the food, I get it. He is a super-nice, inspiring, driven person. As soon as I click with someone, its like, Right, I need this. I want to see this person in my restaurant. So it was kind of a no-brainer. Lowe said he wanted to demonstrate the best of British food both to Hunter and to his dinner guests. I love showing someone from abroad our produce, he said. People think that British food is pretty rubbish. There is a general consensus around the world. People think we have good restaurants, but generally they dont think the produce is up to much. He said he had been waiting for years for an event like London Food Month, adding: The set-up this year sounds fantastic and the people involved sound great. You get a feeling this time that it is being done properly. Hunters book is published by Phaidon on Monday. Details of how to book will be available from May 2 on londonfoodmonth.co.uk A West End spectacular is coming to the Royal Albert Hall next week for a night celebrating songs from London's favourite musicals. Magic at the Musicals is returning to the iconic venue after its sell-out success last year. Hosted by Magic Radio, Londons prestigious Royal Albert Hall gallery will be see a 60-piece orchestra perform as part of the extravaganza. For one night only, ticket holders will be able to see performances from a range of London's most popular shows, including Dreamgirls and The Lion King. It will also include the recently opened School of Rock, as well as Aladdin, Jesus Christ Superstar and Blood Brothers. Completing the epic line-up will be performances from Mamma Mia!, Julian Fellowes' stage production of The Wind in the Willows, and Kinky Boots, which features songs from Cyndi Lauper. The evening will be hosted by Magic radio presenter and former Great British Bake Off host Mel Giedroyc. West End star Ruthie Henshall, who has starred in Cats, Les Miserables and Chicago, will be her co-host. Other top names expected to attend include Miranda Hart, who stars in the upcoming West End musical version of Annie, Claire Sweeney, Bonnie Langford and former Sugababe Heidi Range. Last years event featured Matilda star Clara Read and special guest Ramin Karimloo, who performed songs from The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. The event takes place on May 4, with tickets on sale at magic.co.uk Andrzej Franaszeks Miosz is the first full biography of Polish poet, essayist, and Nobel Laureate Czesaw Miosz. Miosz was born in 1911, died in 2004, and was a witness to and participant in almost all of the crucial events of a century full of pain. Indeed, what comes across strongly in Franaszeks account is how constantly Miosz was confronted by upheavals within the political and social landscapes he inhabited, first in Lithuania, next in Poland and then in France and the United States, in each of which he experienced periods when he felt utterly alienated from his surroundings. The book puts Mioszs outsider status at the center of his life and work, and gives us a moving account of the writers difficult personal odyssey and the appalling history through which he lived. In Aleksandra and Michael Parkers English-language edition of Franaszeks original Polish, the book is a feat of immersion, combining biographical narrative and critical insight with generous excerpting of Mioszs poetry and prose. Miosz wrote prolifically but also thought without end about the role of the writer and the work of the intellectual, and his feelings on these things evolved over his long life. Franaszek interweaves it all, such that on nearly every page youll learn about an event in Mioszs life or in the world he watched so closely, then read a bit of a poem or letter he wrote about it at the time, followed by quotes from his reflections decades later. Altogether, Franaszek gives us a remarkably intimate sense of Mioszs complicated life, wrapped in an emblematic portrait of the twentieth century. During the first eleven years of Mioszs life, his family was caught up in the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the Russian-Polish War. In his late twenties and early thirties he witnessed the catastrophe of the Second World War, lived through the hell of Nazi occupation, and witnessed the beginning of a new chapter in European history. Finally, he settled down in the California of the 1960s, and for a long time was safe and stable, but still largely unknown to readers of English. This sense of his own obscurity weighed on him tremendously, as Franaszek describes: It is easy to dwell on the latter, happier years of his life, when he was constantly honoured. From 1951 until he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1980, he had a small readership, and could count on the fingers of one hand the number of articles written about him. For almost three decades after his defection from Poland in 1951, Miosz was a writer who had resigned himself to the fact that he had failed and would be forgotten. He hadnt, of course, and he wouldnt be. The Seminary Co-op Bookstore in Chicago has spent this entire month celebrating Czesaw Miosz and highlighting the work University Presses do to help keep poetry in play. Day by day theyve shared lines from Mioszs 1978 poem Notes, and this week they published a wonderful consideration of Milosz The World: A Naive Poem from Michael Parker, who describes how the poem explores concerns that Miosz would address throughout his literary career. His treatment of the poem offers a way into one of the great lives of the twentieth century, which Franaszeks landmark biography now presents in such vivid detail. R elationships are personal. You can read 100 books about love and marriage and still be surprised to learn that your spouse never makes the bed, but has a weird thing about organising the dishwasher. That said, if you're planning or hoping to get hitched, you should probably be open to all the relationship advice you can get. Business Insider has rounded up eight books that will help prepare you to tie the knot books whose authors include a wedding reporter, a researcher who studies shame and vulnerability, and a Harvard negotiation professor. Even if you pick up one or two, you'll be better equipped to weather the inevitable ups and downs of marriage. Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin This bestselling book, published in 2012, is a follow-up to Rubin's first bestseller, "The Happiness Project." Where "The Happiness Project" details Rubin's efforts to become generally happier, "Happier at Home" zeroes in on Rubin's attempts to create more fulfilling relationships with her family. Each month for a year, Rubin took on a different "theme," such as marriage or parenthood, and worked on improving it. She combines scientific research with personal anecdotes about her husband and two daughters. Some of the changes Rubin made include thanking her husband for doing chores and practicing "warm greetings and farewells" with both her husband and her daughters. It's all stuff you can easily replicate in your own relationships. Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu Tiffany Dufu spent her whole life getting straight As: at school, at home, and at work. But when she went back to work after the birth of her first child she was a launch team member to Lean In and is chief leadership officer to professional network Levo she realized she wasn't going to keep getting top marks across the board without help. "Drop the Ball" is the story of how Dufu and her husband reshaped the way they tackled the myriad tasks that go with caring for a family and household, starting with conversations and Excel spreadsheets and ending up with a stronger, happier relationship. Stick around for the story about dry cleaning it will make you think differently about how you get things done. Negotiating the Nonnegotiable by Daniel Shapiro Shapiro is the founder and director of the Harvard International Negotiation Program; he's led conflict-management initiatives in the Middle East and worked with leaders in government and business. The thrust of "Negotiating the Nonnegotiable," published in 2016, is that appealing to rationality isn't always the best way to mend a rift. Instead, both parties in a negotiation have to be willing to get in touch with the conflict's more emotional underpinnings. That's especially true when you're dealing with conflict in close personal relationships. One strategy Shapiro recommends in the book is using a metaphor to describe the relationship. That way, it's easier to talk about and come up with solutions to a tricky situation. The Real Thing by Ellen McCarthy McCarthy spent about four years covering weddings, love, and relationships for the Washington Post, and interviewed about 200 couples. "The Real Thing," published in 2015, is the summation of everything she learned during that time, from what makes a solid relationship to how to handle the stress of wedding planning. The book is a breezy but incredibly insightful read. One such insight: If you're getting married, prepare to be miserable. At least some of the time. If you're surprised or resistant when you and your partner experience conflict or boredom, you'll make it worse. Marriage is wonderful, but it's also hard and yours will be no exception. The Gratitude Diaries by Janice Kaplan "Gratitude" can seem like a fluffy concept but research suggests that couples who express gratitude toward each other are more likely to stay together. In fact, thanking your partner even once can bring you two closer months later. In "The Gratitude Diaries," published in 2015, former Parade magazine editor Janice Kaplan sets out to be more appreciative in all areas of her life, starting with her marriage. In one scene, Kaplan's husband, a doctor, is rushing off in the middle of the night to treat a sick patient. Typically, Kaplan writes, she'd be frustrated and angry that her husband was leaving at that hour. But during her gratitude experiment, she pushed herself to find the reason to be grateful. So she told him: "I was just thinking about how lucky your patient is to have you. She must feel so much better knowing you're on the way. The world needs more doctors like you. Thank you for being so special." Unfinished Business by Anne-Marie Slaughter This book is a must-read for anyone on the brink of starting a family even if that family includes just one other person. It stemmed from a viral Atlantic article titled, "Why Women Still Can't Have it All," which Slaughter published in 2012. Slaughter was the dean of Princetons Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs; she subsequently served as the first female director of policy planning in the US State Department, under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. After two years in Washington, Slaughter returned to an academic career at Princeton University, feeling that her family needed her at home. The experience sparked her article in The Atlantic. In the book, published in 2015, Slaughter argues that we undervalue certain contributions to society like parenting and caregiving in general. Using both research and personal anecdotes, she challenges conventional notions about what work and gender equality really mean. Rising Strong by Brene Brown Brown is a bestselling author and research professor who specializes in the study of vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame. Her TED Talk on vulnerability has been viewed nearly 30 million times. In her 2015 book, "Rising Strong," Brown shows why true bravery means coming to terms with your emotional experience even if it's uncomfortable. She tells readers to think about "the story I'm making up" i.e. the narrative you're telling yourself about the situation whenever they feel frustrated or upset. (Brown previously told Business Insider it's her top "hack" for leaders and people in relationships.) The idea is that only by letting yourself be vulnerable are you able to have honest, productive conversations with people you care about. A Book About Love by Jonah Lehrer In "A Book About Love," published in 2016, Lehrer touches on all types of love even the platonic kind drawing on research, history, and philosophy to argue for its centrality to the human experience. In the section on romantic love, Lehrer posits that it's less about fireworks and more about day-to-day maintenance. He includes interviews with happy couples whose marriages were arranged, and yields insights from their success. Love can grow and change, Lehrer says it's not something we can sit back and let happen to us. And that may be the most exciting thing about it. W hen Stephanie Watine-Arnault experienced her light-bulb moment, she was visiting the cellars of the Veuve Clicquot Manoir de Verzy in the Champagne region of France. The legendary brand, with its zingy orange label, established by the wealthy widow Madame Clicquot in 1772, has a carefully chronicled history. In the archives, Watine-Arnault, who was working for Veuve Clicquots parent company, Moet Hennessy, the drinks arm of luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, came across correspondence between the entrepreneurial Madame and her many export customers in the shape of a carnet commande or order book. We had this direct bonding with customers, she says over mint tea when we meet at the London Edition. The book prompted the 33-year-old niece of Bernard Arnault, French billionaire and chairman and CEO of LVMH, to consider how the company could connect with todays shoppers in the same way. What if she could recreate that personal touch in the modern world, she wondered building a digital community of customers akin to that nurtured by Madame Clicquot? And so Clos19.com was born. An online retail and lifestyle platform for all the champagnes, fine wines and spirits that are made and owned by Moet Hennessy and LVMH, it launches this month and promises to shake up the British drinks market in a major way. Marks and names include Veuve Clicquot, Moet & Chandon, Krug, Dom Perignon and Ruinart in champagnes; Cloudy Bay, Chateau dYquem, Clos des Lambrays in wines; and Hennessy, Belvedere vodka, Ardbeg and Glenmorangie in spirits. The site will not compete with other vendors on price: bottles range from 13 for a Mini Moet to 8,500 for Methuselah Dom Perignon Rose Vintage 2002 (6l). Instead, its USP will be as a one-stop shop, offering premium drinks as well as glassware, accessories and experiences such as wine tastings or trips to champagne houses. There will also be an artfully directed digital magazine, Journal19. Credit: Louise Haywood-Schiefer The Clos name (from the French for closure) is derived from the walled vineyards used to protect grapes from theft and improve growing conditions, while the numeric alludes to the development of the art de vivre in the 19th century and the democratisation of champagne, wine and spirits. The mission is to champion the art of hosting a gathering is a special occasion and we all want to offer something different, personal. With her blonde, gently curled hair, and in a long-sleeved fit-and-flare Dior black dress with a red heart embroidered on the chest, Watine-Arnault doesnt look much older than the legal drinking age. But her business savvy is clear. Born in the northern French city of Roubaix and brought up in Paris from the age of seven, she holds a degree from the prestigious Paris Dauphine University, where she specialised in marketing and strategy, as well as an MBA from Insead business school in Fontainebleau and has had years of experience within LVMH, which represents over 70 brands in fashion, leather goods, perfumes, cosmetics and jewellery and recorded revenue of 37.6bn in 2016. She spent four years working in the accessories division of Marc Jacobs in New York and Paris, marketing and range-planning small leather goods, and two years getting hands on experience as the divisional sales manager for Louis Vuitton menswear in its Bond Street flagship store.Her move into drinks came about four years ago, after she applied for a position at the UK Moet Hennessy division in Mayfair to head up retail innovations in the UK. It was then that she spotted the gap in the market that she hopes Clos19 will fill. As a member of Bernard Arnaults wider family, there was no obligation to enter the business. But you can imagine that the schooling in the finer things started young. With her mother, Dominique Watine-Arnault who ran the Watine-Arnault auction house, she was a regular at the Dior boutique in Paris. Every Sunday, they would gather at the home of one or other set of grandparents. My grandmothers would often open a half bottle of champagne before lunch and allow me a little sip. It shapes your palate. Her cousins Antoine Arnault (CEO of Berluti and board member of Lora Piana), Delphine Arnault (director and vice president of Louis Vuitton), Alexandre Arnault (joint chief executive at Rimowa), and her brother, Ludovic Watine-Arnault (Dior digital), all work for the group. We try not to talk business when we all meet, she smiles. Today, she lives in South Kensington and enjoys dining at Sexy Fish, Berners Tavern and Lyles in Shoreditch. She also frequently entertains at home. My tip is to have everything prepared. There is nothing worse than attending a party when the host is not present. I love fresh-cut flowers everywhere and Krug champagne. One can imagine that her forthcoming nuptials to her French civil engineer fiance will be extremely well catered for. For the record, she listens to Britpop in the shower its not hard to guess which Oasis track amuses her most. Though it will roll out to Germany, interestingly there are no immediate plans to launch Clos19 in France, where good independent cavistes can be found in the smallest of rural towns. Still, its a clever, timely launch. The online drinks market is looking increasingly busy with supermarkets, Deliveroo and specialists such as Borough Wines all offering to deliver directly to your door. Factor in the growing taste for niche craft distilleries and decreasing alcohol consumption among millenials and this seems the perfect way for Moet Hennessys brands to up their game and remain relevant and aspirational. By Christmas, Watine-Arnault will have added in a service providing barmen and mixologists to cater for events in London. Those with a very generous budget might be tempted by the specialist trips they will offer, including a tasting in Antarctica or an eight-day adventure to visit the site of the RMS Titanic shipwreck that lies off the coast of Newfoundland (costing 70,000). In five years, the goal is to make Clos19 represent four per cent of Moet Hennessy sales in the UK market, she adds. But of course if you buy your Veuve Clicquot or Moet & Chandon at Sainsburys or in a restaurant, we are also happy! Moet Hennessy has launched Clos19 as an online lifestyle retail brand offering services, products and experiences from the champagne, wines and spirits world of LVMH. G ap years were once a pre-uni rite of passage that involved downing cocktails in hollowed out coconuts at Full Moon parties, wearing ethically made harem pants with other trustafarians and finding yourself in the hostels of the Himalayas. But these days, the term is fluid. Taking an adult gap year is fast becoming a trend for many frazzled millennials that are looking for a break from the relentless nature of adult life in the capital. If you went to university, embarked straight onto an internship, landed a junior job and have been slowly working your way up the career ladder, youre probably wondering what next? If a mortgage in the capital seems wildly out of the question, if youve hit the glass ceiling at work or youre quite simply exhausted from years of 'doing the 9-5', it might be time to put the brakes on and give yourself a well deserved break. Heres why taking an adult gap year could benefit your career, your wellbeing and your happiness. You can be selfish for a while University, internships, jobs and relationships can be a drain on your energy, and its easy to bury your head in the sand and lose sight of what makes you tick. By freeing yourself of responsibilities for a year, you can really focus on what makes you happy and tick off some bucket list experiences youve always wanted to try at the same time. Whether its skydiving in Australia, hiking to the top of Machu Picchu or wandering through the salt flats in Bolivia, this is the one time in life where you can drop everything and be gloriously, wonderfully selfish. You have the money to do it properly When you were 21, unless you were really lucky, your year abroad would involve six months of working in a minimum wage job to save for a plane ticket. You'd then spend the rest of the year drifting from hostel to hostel, bedding down with eight other noisy school leavers. Now youre older, youve probably accrued a decent amount of savings to be able to do the whole travelling thing a bit more comfortably - and without having to make a crisis phone call to the bank of mum and dad. This time round you can upgrade your accommodation, dine in decent restaurants and you wont miss out on any incredible experiences because your budgets too tight. 30 places to visit before you turn 30 1 /41 30 places to visit before you turn 30 Click through our gallery to discover the places you should visit before you turn 30... Shutterstock 1. Bali Highland panoramas, scenic waterfalls, open blue skies, golden sunsets and awesome sunrises across the coastline. Theres a reason why people say that Bali stirs the soul. Why go here before you turn 30? Explore temples and palaces, go river rafting, sign up to a surf school, volunteer at an orangutan sanctuary, take a yoga class in the mountains and party all night. Best of all, its cheap - so youll be able to live like a king on a fortnights trip here. Stephan Stansfield/Flickr 2. Island hopping in Greece If youve never made it to Greece, then schedule in some time to discover its lesser-known islands by boat. Go to big-hitters Santorini, Crete and Rhodes and and discover little-known gems Astypalea and Tinos. Why go here before you turn 30? Because you can explore whitewashed cubic houses, lie on white hot sands, take a dip in the bath water-warm Aegean. Shutterstock / Mikhail Gnatkovsk 3. Myanmar Until fairly recently, Myanmar was off limits to wanderlust Westerners. But after five decades of military rule, Asias formerly Junta-controlled diamond in the rough has finally opened its crystal shores to nirvana-seekers. Why go here before you turn 30? Unsullied beaches, ancient Pagan temples and incredibly cheap prices make Burma the perfect holiday spot for cash-strapped travellers in their 20s. Joe Connor 4. Ibiza No surprises here - the Island that never sleeps has long been one of the hottest places to play for people in their 20s. This hedonistic paradise is a lure for British clubbers drawn in by sun, sand and world-class DJs. Why go here before you turn 30? Because nowhere does sunset chilling quite like Ibiza. Shutterstock / FP media 5. Croatia Ancient walled towns, dreamy deep-blue seascapes, an unrivaled festival scene and guaranteed good weather. Whats not to love about Croatia? Why go here before you turn 30? Visit festival and wellness island Obonjan, go fun-seeking at Sonus, take a Game of Thrones tour, go white-water rafting, stroll around the museums in Zagreb or simply spend your days enjoying cocktail after cocktail on the beach. Angus Webster 6.Toronto, Canada Forget Williamsburg, hipsters looking for a cultural injection should make a beeline for Canadas largest city for art, food and dive bars by the dozen. Why go here before you turn 30? Ethnic enclaves, a bustling food scene and cool designer stays - there are plenty of reasons to discover Toronto. Shutterstock / njene 7. Pammukale, Turkey Pamukkale is actually Turkish for cotton castle, which accurately sums up this amazing display of natural hot water pools in Denizli Province. The city is famous for its travertines - terraces of dazzling white carbonate minerals left by the flowing water that tourists can bathe in. Why go here before you turn 30? It'll make for one stunning Instagram. Shutterstock / Copycat37 8. Backpack through Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is one of the most accessible regions for the novice traveller - thanks to its mix of volcanoes, rainforests, rice fields, beaches and coral reefs. Some popular stops include Chiang Mai in Thailand, Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Laos, Hanoi in Vietnam. Why go here before you turn 30? Explore thousand-year-old Hindu ruins, rave on the beach, attend a Buddhist ceremony at dawn and hike through the jungle looking for wildlife. The possibilities are endless. Shutterstock / Lena Serditova 9. Costa Rica Theres plenty of time for gentle package holidays in your later years. This tiny Central American oasis is a twenty-somethings playground of wild beaches, rocky points, volcanoes, reefs, rare wildlife and spectacular rainforests. Why go here before you turn 30? Because you can learn how to surf on the Nicoya peninsula, try truly amazing Costa Rican coffee, learn to speak Spanish, get lost on a hike in a rainforest, go white water rafting at Turrialba and see real life sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, ocelots and toucans. Autentico Adventures Costa Rica/Flickr 10. Tiger's Nest Monastery, Bhutan William and Kate put this remote kingdom on the map earlier this year, and a trip here isnt complete without paying a visit the the Tigers Nest Monastery. Believed to be the birthplace of Bhuddism, the Monastery has been a place of pilgrimage since it was built in 1692. Why go here before you turn 30? The temple complex clings to a cliff, a dizzying 3120 meters above the sea level on the side of the upper Paro valley. If you want to take in the stunning views of blue pines and rhododendrons youll need fearless stamina to hike to the top. Paula Bronstein/Getty Images 11. Songkran Festival, Thailand Songkran festival, or the Thai New Year, is three days of nonstop revelry. Its celebrated across the country, with locals and tourists gathering in the streets with super soakers, water balloons and buckets of water one almighty water fight. Why go here before you turn 30? Because who doesnt love a water fight? AFP/Getty Images 12. Banff, Canada This resort town is one of Canada's most popular tourist destinations, known for its mountainous surroundings and hot springs. A visit here offers the chance to experience the spectacular Canadian Rocky Mountains and glacier-fed lakes, bull elk and brown bear sightings, and small-town charm like no other. Why go here before you turn 30? Because its some of the finest mountain scenery youll find on the planet. Shutterstock / Songquan Deng 13. Norway Picturesque fjords, magical mountains, quaint coastal towns and the possibility of spotting the Northern Lights makes Norway a tempting trip for those on the hunt for natural beauty. Why go here before you turn 30? Visit trendy Oslo, discover magical lesser-known towns, stand on a gravity-defying boulder, sail around the fjords, stay in a fishermans cottage you may even spot a polar bear. Shutterstock / Carsten Pasternac 14. Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California Rising nearly 5,000 feet above Yosemite Valley and 8,800 feet above sea level, Half Dome is one of the greatest hiking challenges a traveller can undertake. This granite dome sits at the eastern end of one of Americas most spectacular national parks. Why go here before you turn 30? The terrain is dramatic, the scenery is amazing, and its probably the single most iconic thing you can do in California. Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images 15. Iceland This Nordic island nation isnt far from the UK, but packs in astonishing natural phenomena and take-your-breath-away landscapes. Why go here before you turn 30? Contemporary cuisine, Lord of the Rings-esque lands, stargazing, endless hours of daylight and geothermal springs. Its hard to narrow it down. Shutterstock / pranodhm 16. The Inca Trail, Peru The Inca Trail is by far the most famous trek in South America. In just 26 miles it manages to combine beautiful mountain scenery, lush cloud-forest, subtropical jungle and, of course, a stunning mix of Inca paving stones, ruins and tunnels. Why go here before you turn 30? Because the final destination of the trail just cannot be beaten: Machu Picchu, the mysterious "Lost City of the Incas". Brent Stirton/Getty Images 17. Manchester, UK The capital of The North might not strike as the most exotic of travel destination, but its giving London a run for its money thanks to a wealth of music and art history, smart fine dining restaurants, hipster neighbourhoods and a swathe of cool new boutique hotels. Why go here before you turn 30? Because it's only 2 hours away by train from the capital. Shutterstock / Tupungato 18. India The food alone is enough of a draw to India, but throw in palm-fringed beaches, one of the seven wonders of the world, forts, mosques, monuments and ancient ruins, and you have a holiday on that ticks all the boxes on your hands. Why go here before you turn 30? Because youll want leave enough room to come back again and again over your lifetime. Shutterstock / LukaKikina 19. Berlin Edgy, cool and creative, Berlin is one of the worlds best cities for boutique shopping, brilliantly offbeat nights out and hipster hangouts. Why go here before you turn 30? Because its one of Europes most exciting cities. Shutterstock / Claudio Divizia 20. Melbourne, Australia Whether youre looking to party, simply kick-back on a beach or sample some of the best brunch in the world, Melbourne offers it all to young travellers and backpackers. Why go here before you turn 30? Australias coolest capital holds all kinds of attractions for people in their 20s, from bars and boutiques to clubs and cafes. Shutterstock / GagliardiImages 21. New Zealand Undoubtedly one of the most spectacular places on earth, New Zealand is home to some incredibly unspoilt scenery. Make sure to take a decent camera, because stunning national parks and reserves make up a third of its land. Why go here before you turn 30? When else can you spend a whole month hiking its natural peaks and troughs? Gareth Richman 22. Carnival, Rio de Janeiro Forget Notting Hill carnival: once a year, several million travellers descend on Rio to enjoy four days of parades and partying at the beginning of Lent. Why go here before you turn 30? Who wouldnt want to be part of the biggest street party on the planet? Raphael Dias/Getty Images 23. The Great Wall of China As the famous Chinese saying goes, 'he who does not reach the Great Wall is not a true man'. This great engineering marvel winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching across over 13,000 miles. Why go here before you turn 30? Because your 20s arent just for partying and frolicking... AFP/Getty Images 24. Burning Man Festival, Nevada Every year, tens of thousands of people gather in Nevadas Black Rock Desert to create Black Rock City, a temporary festival of art, hedonism and self-expression. Why go here before you turn 30? Because its the most outrageous festival of all: alongside meditation and yoga theres spanking classes, orgies, and naked foam parties. Chances are, youll only want to get involved when youre young enough not to regret it. Duncan Rawlinson/Flickr 25. Antelope Canyon, Arizona Located just outside of Page, in the heart of Navajo Country, Antelope may just be the most photographed slot canyon in the world - thanks to its awe-inspiring, sandstone formations. Why go here before you turn 30? The celestial light beams in the canyon make this place completely unforgettable and unmissable. AFP/Getty Images 26. Pacific Coast Highway, California The PCH is a road trip-lovers dream, with its winding ribbon roads that meander alongside the crashing Cali coast from Carmel to Morro Bay. The 123-mile route takes in Big Sur and the much photographed Bixby Bridge, as well as five hours of cliff-hugging open road. Why go here before you turn 30? The all-American road has been voted one of the top motorcycle rides in the U.S - its basically the drive of a lifetime, but youll enjoy the freedom most on two wheels. Howard Ignatius/Flickr 27. Bosnia & Herzegovina Turquoise rivers, medieval castles and tumbling waterfalls. It sounds like something out of a fairytale, but the craggily beautiful lands of Bosnia and Herzegovina are real - and theyre one of Europes best kept secrets. Why go here before you turn 30? Because there are few places in the world where you can enjoy hiking, beautiful countryside, rafting and swimming, inner-city bridge jumping and skiing all within one country. Shutterstock 28. Tokyo, Japan Japans busy capital shouldnt be overlooked - as well as providing endless Instagram opportunities, it manages to pack in both the ultramodern and the traditional - from neon-lit skyscrapers to historic temples. Why go here before you turn 30? Because you can sleep in a capsule, walk across the beautiful Tokyo bay, spend hours in an multi-storey arcade, slurp down some heavenly ramen and spend hours strolling through the brightly-lit streets. Shutterstock 29. Osea Island, Essex On Osea Island, they know how to throw a party. Located in the middle of Essexs Blackwater Estuary, the private island which is only accessible by boat, helicopter or car at low tide boasts four and a half miles of its own beaches and coastline perfect for social gatherings. Why go here before you turn 30? Because you can throw the most incredible weekend parties here. Alamy Stock Photo 30. Las Vegas, Nevada Live like a celebrity for amongst the glitz and glitter of one of the worlds most famous strips. Why go here before you turn 30? Win big at a casino, take in a cirque production, party all night, go four-wheeling in the surrounding national parks just make sure you dont accidentally get hitched. Shutterstock / Don Mammoser Youre still in your prime You might have a few more wrinkles on your face than you would have done if youd gone fresh from uni, but youre still in the prime of your health, and fit enough to take on extreme physical challenges that may come your way. It can take you out of a job rut Theres nothing more soul-destroying than working in a job that doesnt challenge you. If you turn up to work on a Monday morning and dread every waking moment in your job, this could be the perfect opportunity to clock off and get yourself out of a negative work slump. A gap year gives you some well-earned thinking time to really decide where you want to go next and how you can get there. Youll come back feeling refreshed, revived and buzzing with ideas for your next career venture. You learn to be independent This might be the first time youve ever really learned to stand on your own two feet. Solo travelling means youre away from the support network of your friends and family, so youll really have to step out of your comfort zone to make new pals. It can alleviate stress and anxiety If youve been close to burnout for some time, taking a sabbatical is the best way to step away from the mental fatigue thats been dogging you - before it becomes a major health issue. With workplace stress on the increase, many employers are beginning to recognise the value of gap years as the long-term benefits are clear: retention rates increase and productivity improves as employees are happy and well-rested. With house prices on the rise, your savings might be better spent elsewhere House prices are expected to rise by more than 50,000 in London over the next five years. If getting together the money to afford a deposit on a flat seems more and more unmanageable, it might be time to spend your savings on something that will benefit you in the short-term. Theres no harm in enjoying some of your hard earned money now, while you still have the ability to enjoy it. Youll meet new people If you work at a full-time job it can be difficult to find the time or energy to get yourself out and about to meet new people, let alone pluck up the courage to walk up to them in a pub. When youre travelling, making friends comes naturally - as youll meet plenty of people who are in the same boat as you. Hot travel destinations for 2017 - in pictures 1 /20 Hot travel destinations for 2017 - in pictures Dome of the Rock and Western Wall in Jerusalem Shutterstock / ESB Professional A rendering of the Brown hotel in Jerusalem Banff National Park in Canada Shutterstock / karamysh Krabey Island, where the new Six Senses Cambodia resort will be A bedroom at the new Six Senses resort in Cambodia A view of the Elbe River in Hamburg Shutterstock Sir Nikolai Hotel in Hamburg, opening in 2017 Design Hotels Chilean Lake District Shutterstock / Ksenia Ragozina Beachspoke's Barn near Honiton, East Devon Tony Timmington The Markthal, foodie mecca in Rotterdam Rotterdam Branding Toolkit Seoul, South Korea Korea Tourism Org Food is way of life in Seoul Lake cabin life in Finnish summer Visit Finland Igloos at Hotel Kakslauttanen in Lapland Kakslauttanen Ace Hotel bar, New Orleans Youll learn new skills and gain confidence While taking a sabbatical you will have plenty of free time to learn a new skill or two. Have you ever wanted to nail a new language, master sailing a ship or learn how to budget your money properly? The lessons you learn while travelling will be valuable assets to your next employer - even if its just a case of learning to build your confidence. Work isnt the most important thing in life In a competitive city like London, were told to hold on to our careers, work hard for a promotion and keep saving for a rainy day. Taking an extended break can remind you of the things that are actually important in life, such as your health, happiness and relationships. Travelling is one of the most enriching things that a person can do. Sure, taking a break from work without pay can be scary, but thats one of the most liberating things about taking the leap. By removing yourself from your comfort zone, youll learn how to stand on your own two feet anywhere in the world. And youll soon thank yourself when youre travelling across the planet, seeing some epic sights. The Instagrammers that will inspire you to take the plunge: @Gypsea_lust 24-year-old photographer Lauren quit her job in Australia to permanently travel the world with her partner Jack. Follow her recent adventures around Bali, the Philippines and Kenya. @theblondeabroad Californian Kiersten turned her sabbatical into a full-time career. Not too long ago, she left her job in corporate finance to become a world traveler. Since then, she's traveled to over 50 countries and has knocked some big adventures off her bucketlist. @mylifesatravelmovie Self-made travel blogger Alyssa Ramos's solo travel pictures makes travelling on a budget look easy. Follow her as she hops from country to country with just a camera and a backpack. @chaiwalla Allan Hinton quit his marketing career in London and sold all of his possessions to embark on a life of travel. Clearly, there are no regrets for this wanderlust photographer. T wo teenagers have been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a cyclist in Battersea who was stabbed to death by a gang armed with machetes. Two males aged 17 and 18, were arrested on Friday on suspicion of the murder of Mohammed Hassan - known as Little Mo. Witnesses described how he was set upon by a gang in a brutal attack on Saturday that left him sprawled on a car bonnet screaming for help. He was heard shouting "Help me, I'm dying" at the scene before being rushed to hospital at around 1.25 am. Murder probe: Police guard the crime scene / Nigel Howard But he was pronounced dead around 90 minutes later. A 19-year-old man was previously arrested on Wednesday at an address in Wandsworth, also on suspicion of murder. He has been bailed until a date in late May 2017 pending further enquiries. A police statement said that, at this early stage, detectives believe that there was an altercation in Ingrave Street and the victim was chased from the location. Cordon: Police in Battersea after the teenager was stabbed to death / NIGEL HOWARD According to residents living nearby, the gang - who were reportedly wearing balaclavas - jumped out of a car and began chasing Mohammed as he rode his bike. He was found stabbed outside Scholey House in Sullivan Close. Little Mo was one of six people to be murdered on the streets of London in knife crime within just six days. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8 721 4622 or via Twitter @MetCC. Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org. A dangerous sex predator who kidnapped and raped an 81-year-old woman in a vicious south London attack has been jailed for life. Anthony James Roberts, 41, from Tooting was given three life sentences after admitting he raped the pensioner in Balham earlier this year. The depraved attacker had been sitting next to his elderly victim on a bus in the minutes leading up to the attack, which happened on Friday, February 10. When she got off the bus at around 8.30pm, he followed her to Balham High Road before creeping up on her from behind and threatening her. Roberts, of Holmbury Court, told the woman he had a knife and would kill her if she made any noise. He then took her to a secluded spot and raped her, taking most of her clothing before letting her go. The distressed victim went home and told a family member what had happened. She was taken to hospital for medical treatment because of injuries sustained in the attack. Detectives traced the attack to Roberts after a local police officer had reported seeing him in the area. Officers stormed his home and seized the victims clothes, which Roberts had recently washed. He was charged with two counts of rape and one count of kidnap or falsely imprisoning a person with intent to commit a sexual offence. DI Melissa Laremore from the Mets special sex offences squad, said Roberts is a very dangerous offender who subjected the elderly victim to a vicious rape. She added: Women and the wider public are safer now that he is facing life imprisonment. "I would like to pay tribute to the victim who has been extremely brave in assisting officers and providing descriptions of her attacker and the ordeal she went through, which helped us identify Roberts within days of the attack. The trauma will undoubtedly stay with her, but I hope that she takes some comfort now that her attacker is off the streets. "Attacks of this horrific nature are extremely rare but when they do happen, we are committed to catching the perpetrator and bringing them to justice." He was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Friday to three life sentences for kidnap and two counts of rape. They will be served concurrently. A masked gang of thugs who stole flash cars before using them to raid nearby shops have been jailed for total of 29 years. The group of five men crept into homes across London in the middle of the night, as the residents slept, before stealing their keys and making off with cars including BMWs, Audis and Mercedes. Driving the stolen cars, the gang then targeted petrol stations and newsagents wearing masks and armed with crowbars, masonry and fire extinguishers. They smashed their way through glass doors and ripped through metal shutters and stolen goods including cigarettes and cash between March and November last year. Jailed: Ricky Parratt / Metropolitan Police An estimated 189,000 worth of vehicles were stolen in the swoop that reached as far as Sussex and Kent. The car registration plates would be replaced with false ones in an attempt to avoid the vehicles being identified. Jailed: Kenny Davey / Metropolitan Police Anthony Patton, 31, Ashley Davey, 27, Luke Ballard, 20, and Ricky Parratt, 24, pleaded guilty at hearings at Croydon Crown Court to conspiracy to commit residential and non-residential burglaries. They also admitted to conspiracy to commit theft of motor vehicles. Kenny Davey, 25, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a residential burglary on 13 June 2016. Jailed: Luke Ballard / Metropolitan Police In addition to the offences, Patton pleaded guilty to a robbery whereby the victim suffered a dislocated shoulder after his Rolex Watch was torn from his wrist outside his own front door. They were all sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Thursday and were handed a total of 29 years in prison between them. Patton, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to ten years, Davey, of Homesdale Road, Bromley, to seven. Jailed: Ashley Davey / Metropolitan Police Ballard of King Henry's Drive, New Addington, and Parrat, of Leigh Crescent, New Addington, were sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment. Davey, of Homesdale Road, Bromley, was given a 12-month sentence. Detective Constable Rebecca Dyer from the London Crime Squad, said: "These men have caused considerable distress to their victims, both homeowners and business owners alike, whose lives have been severely impacted by mindless damage and theft of property. "I hope these sentences reflect the upset caused to these victims and that the jailing of the members of this criminal network demonstrates how the Met will continue to target burglars and bring offenders to justice." A man has been stabbed to death in Peckham. The man in his 20s is the sixth person to be killed by knives in London since Saturday. Local business owners were heard screaming and crying as they ran into the street to try and save the man following the attack in Peckham Rye. Police were called to Rye Lane at 3.15pm on Friday to reports of a fight. Paramedics and police officers rushed to the scene and found a man with stab wounds. Police have taped off the road opposite Blenheim Grove. / Chad O'Carroll He was pronounced dead half an hour later at 3.51pm. Local resident Laura, who did not want to give her second name, told the Standard she was in the kitchen at the back of her flat when she heard a bang and women from the salons screaming. She said: My flat looks out on Blenheim Grove, the man fell across the road from me. "I heard a bang which I think was the man falling into one of the metal shutters. The man was stabbed outside the station. / Chad O'Carroll "I could just see lots of women in the road screaming. There are six salons in the road all next to each other. "It was more the screaming which drew me to the window. They were all in the road screaming and crying. "I couldn't see the man, he was surrounded by women." She added: "It's sad a young man lost his life today." The scene outside Peckham Rye station. / Craig Thomas Passer-by Chad OCarroll said: Looked pretty serious. They were holding back a tall man who was yelling at the police and looked like he was in a state of shock. Mr Carroll said moments later the man was on the phone saying someone had died. As commuters poured out of Peckham Rye station they were met with a massive police cordon as officers and police cars blocked the road at the corner with Blenheim Grove. A swathe of road was taped off by police as officers directed people around the crime scene. One witness described the scene as "chaos". Police said the young mans next of kin has been told. The mans death comes after a week of carnage on the capitals streets which saw three murders at the weekend and three more this week. On Saturday, 42-year-old Damien McLaughlin was stabbed to death in Enfield. In the early hours of Sunday morning, a 17-year-old teenage cyclist was stabbed to death in Battersea. The following night a 60-year-old man was killed in a knife attack on Bow Common Lane, Mile End. On Tuesday night, another man was killed in Wandsworth after collapsing in the street outside Wandsworth Preparatory School. In the early hours of Friday morning, a man was found stabbed to death on a bus in Marylebone. The killings come as figures from the Met Police show a 24 per cent rise in knife crime in London last year. Knife attacks had risen by a fifth, year-on-year figures revealed. T he mother of a young man stabbed to death today claimed he had been trying to reform after a spell in prison and was killed in revenge over a fight with another inmate. Abdullah Hammia, 24, died from a knife wound to the heart after being pursued to a road just off Wandsworth Common. An Australian nanny, 24, who was near the scene when he was attacked battled to save his life as he lay dying on the ground. A string of celebrities live in the area including model Imogen Thomas and Ready Steady Cook chef Ainsley Harriott. Both spoke of their shock at the attack, just outside Wandsworth Prep school. Speaking at the family home in Earlsfield, Mr Hammias mother Linda said her son was going straight after serving time in Wandsworth jail for drug offences. The family are originally from Algeria and her son was regular worshipper at the local mosque. Emergency services: An ambulance at the scene of the stabbing / NIGEL HOWARD She said: He was trying to improve himself. He was always looking after his younger brother who has autism. I am told he attacked in revenge for a fight he had in prison with another inmate. Air ambulance: The helicopter landed near the scene after the stabbing in Wandsworth He was trying to turn his life around. Witnesses said two groups were hanging around in cars near Wandsworth Common, before two men chased their target and lunged at him with a blade at 7pm on Tuesday evening. One was heard to scream Ill show you what will happen before plunging the knife into the victims throat and then fleeing on foot, barging horrified bystanders out of the way. Crime scene: Police officers in front of a forensic tent at the scene in Wandsworth / NIGEL HOWARD The victims mother said: He went out in a car to meet someone. A friend warned him not to go. But he just said I have to meet him. He went out and I never saw him again. If he had taken that advice he would still be here. We would like to thank the young woman who tried to save his life. She said her son, the eldest of six children, was a keen boxer and had always looked after his sister and brothers, adding he loved his family. His father Liad said: We are devastated. He was a good family boy. A man and women arrested in connection with the killing have been released with no further action. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 02087214054 or to remain anonymous 080055511. A n elderly woman is fighting for life after being brutally attacked and stabbed at her west London home. The 90-year-old was hit in the head and stabbed in the neck during an attack on Thursday evening at a house in Yiewsley, near West Drayton. Police were called to the incident in Lilac Place, a quiet cul-de-sac, by paramedics at around 8.20pm. The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital where she remained on Friday morning in a life-threatening condition. Detectives investigating the incident said they are keeping an open mind on the motive and do not know if anything was stolen. There have been no arrests and enquiries continue. Detective Inspector Claire Hine said: "This was a horrific attack on an elderly, defenceless woman in her own home, which has left the victim fighting for her life. "We are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen anything that could assist our investigation to come forward." Any witnesses or anyone with any information can contact police in Hillingdon via 101, or by tweeting @MetCC. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 08000 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org. T he events of the past 24 hours will inevitably heighten concerns about the extremist threat to this country, coming only weeks after the Westminster attack which claimed the lives of Pc Keith Palmer and four others. But disturbing though the latest incidents in Whitehall and Willesden are, they provide some grounds for reassurance. Most important is that Scotland Yard has described the latest arrests as being the result of intelligence-led operations. That means police and MI5 were aware of the potential threat posed by the suspects before deciding to intervene. Of course, it appears alarming that a man seemingly in possession of three large knives could be on the streets, particularly in such a high-profile location as Westminster. The moment police enter Willesden house during terror raid But all the indications are that the search that led to his arrest was planned. Sometimes, too, it is necessary for police to delay an arrest almost to the last minute to discover more about a plot and about others potentially involved or to ensure they have enough evidence for a conviction. There are also indications that a public tip-off might have helped police in the case of the Westminster arrest. If that turns out to be true it will be a welcome sign that the community co-operation police have appealed for is being provided. Inevitably, its not always the case, but such intelligence gathering is generally excellent and one of this countrys greatest strengths. It has led to many other arrests in far less dramatic circumstances, even though those detained have turned out to be plotting highly dangerous attacks. Another reassurance is that the two incidents yesterday were not linked and seemingly not part of a large complex plot. On the other hand, the new, simpler style of attack, encouraged by Islamic State, can be harder to prevent. The timescale between an extremist deciding to act and attempting to carry out murder can be far shorter than was typical in previous years, when complicated targeting often requiring the acquisition of explosives gave police and spies more chance to discover and intercept a plot. Its also a fact that while finding firearms can be hard enough, there is no way to stop a man acquiring a knife of the sort seen lying in the street in Westminster as yesterdays arrest was carried out. The other troubling reality is that the recent spate of attacks which has seen killings in Paris, Stockholm and London might encourage extremists to act. Scotland Yard today described yesterdays events as extraordinary. All London will hope there are no more days ahead that merit that description. T he terror suspect arrested outside Whitehall yesterday has been named as Mohammed Khalid Omar Ali. The 27-year-old is believed to be a British national from Tottenham, north London, who was born overseas. A spokeswoman for the Met confirmed a suspect is still being held under the Terrorism Act, but would not name the man held. A man was arrested yesterday after he was "tackled" by armed police just yards from the Houses of Parliament following a stop and search carried out as part of an "ongoing operation". He was found carrying a number of knives, police said. Man taken away from scene of Whitehall incident Just hours later, armed police carried out a raid at a terraced house in Willesden as part of an anti-terror operation. Six people, including a 16-year-old boy, were arrested in an ongoing inquiry to foil a suspected terror network allegedly actively engaged in planning an atrocity. Pictures shared following the arrest in Whitehall on social media showed a large knife lying in the street. The suspected terrorist's plot is thought to have been foiled thanks to an "intelligence-led" joint operation by MI5 and counter-terrorism police. Whitehall 'Knifeman' incident - In pictures 1 /24 Whitehall 'Knifeman' incident - In pictures Tackled: Armed police surrounded the man Twitter/@3213dev Firearms officiers from the British police arrest a man on the ground on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament in central London AFP/Getty Images Firearms officiers from the British police arrest a man on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images Armed police talk to man at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London Dominic Lipinski/PA Armed police talk to a man at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London Yui Mok/PA A man is led away by police in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall Toby Melville/Reuters Forensic Officers looking at with knifes at the scene after a man was arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London Yui Mok/PA A British police forensics officer (R) passes a knife to a colleague as they collect evidence on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images A man is held by police in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall Toby Melville/Reuters Knives on the ground at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall Lauren Hurley/PA A bag and what appears to be at least one knife on the ground, being photographed by forensic officers Guido Fawkes Forensic Officers looking at with knifes at the scene after a man was arrested following an incident in Whitehall Yui Mok/PA Video grab taken from BBC News of the scene in Westminster after a man was arrested following an incident in Whitehall, BBC A forensics investigator photographs knives on the ground after man in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall Toby Melville/Reuters Police at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall Dominic Lipinski/PA Firearms officiers from the British police arrest a man on the ground on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images A man is held by police in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall Kylie MacLellan/Reuters Police at the scene where a man has been arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London @inapposite/PA Officers have been heavily praised by politicians since the arrest, with Prime Minister Theresa May saying the operation showed Britain's spies are "on alert". The Met Police said in a statement yesterday: "The man, aged in his late 20s, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. "Knives have been recovered from him. "He is being detained under the Terrorism Act and is in custody in a south London police station." The man was wrestled to the ground on a traffic island at the Parliament Square end of Whitehall, close to the Foreign Office and the entrance to Downing Street, at approximately 2.22pm on Thursday. He was handcuffed with his arms behind his back and one of his hands appearing to be wrapped up in a bandage. Westminster has been on a high state of alert since terrorist Khalid Masood launched his attack on March 22, killing five people, including Pc Keith Palmer. A French tourist, who was in New York on 9/11 and was visiting London with her daughter, was among the witnesses to the arrest. She said: "He was very calm. I think they got him on the ground, then they stood him up against the wall. "There were lots of policemen. The road was blocked. "We didn't stay here, we just moved because I was a bit afraid because of my daughter." G unfire rang out as armed police stormed a terraced house in a dramatic operation to smash a suspected terrorist network. A 20-year-old woman, one of the suspects under investigation, was shot during the raid in Willesden, north-west London. She was rushed to hospital where she remains under police guard in a serious but stable condition. Four other people, including a 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences. The swoop at just before 7pm last night was one of a series of co-ordinated raids on addresses in London and Kent which Scotland Yard said were part of an ongoing, intelligence-led operation. It was captured in footage by a passer-by which shows the black-clad police unit surround the Victorian house in Harlesden Road, pointing guns at an upstairs window and shouting Move!, before battering down the front door. The operation came five hours after a 27-year-old man was arrested carrying a rucksack full of knives in Whitehall. Scotland Yard today said the two incidents are not connected. Whitehall 'Knifeman' incident - In pictures 1 /24 Whitehall 'Knifeman' incident - In pictures Tackled: Armed police surrounded the man Twitter/@3213dev Firearms officiers from the British police arrest a man on the ground on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament in central London AFP/Getty Images Firearms officiers from the British police arrest a man on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images Armed police talk to man at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London Dominic Lipinski/PA Armed police talk to a man at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London Yui Mok/PA A man is led away by police in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall Toby Melville/Reuters Forensic Officers looking at with knifes at the scene after a man was arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London Yui Mok/PA A British police forensics officer (R) passes a knife to a colleague as they collect evidence on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images A man is held by police in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall Toby Melville/Reuters Knives on the ground at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall Lauren Hurley/PA A bag and what appears to be at least one knife on the ground, being photographed by forensic officers Guido Fawkes Forensic Officers looking at with knifes at the scene after a man was arrested following an incident in Whitehall Yui Mok/PA Video grab taken from BBC News of the scene in Westminster after a man was arrested following an incident in Whitehall, BBC A forensics investigator photographs knives on the ground after man in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall Toby Melville/Reuters Police at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall Dominic Lipinski/PA Firearms officiers from the British police arrest a man on the ground on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images A man is held by police in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall Kylie MacLellan/Reuters Police at the scene where a man has been arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London @inapposite/PA Kishan Vekaria, 28, said he heard four to five gunshots ring out in the street of 800,000 family homes. He told the Standard: I looked outside my window and saw lots of police cars approaching the scene - marked and unmarked cars. Some officers were covering their face with police caps on, some were armed officers, I saw a couple wearing gas masks too. I saw that they were all approaching a house that was several houses from mine. I couldnt see directly what was happening at the house. About 10 minutes later, I saw someone being taken away in handcuffs. Not so long after the arrest, an ambulance arrived and the paramedics were wearing bulletproof vests and hats. They took someone away in the ambulance. Terror raid: The police operation in Willesden / Twitter/@kieranmckenna1 Another neighbour told the Standard: There were bullets and tear gas. They were shooting at the window and then suddenly they went inside and there more shots inside the house. It was so quick. They brought out a young guy straight away. They put white clothes on him, like they didnt want him to get contaminated. About ten minutes later two women came out, one of them bleeding. She had an oxygen mask on, and was bleeding from the left side, near the kidney. The neighbour added: Theyre a nice family, a Muslim family. You never hear anything from them just good morning, good evening, no more than that. An upstairs window had apparently been shot out during the raid on the house, which was being guarded by police this morning as investigations continued. Other searches are taking place at addresses across London and Kent. A 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman were arrested inside the house, and a 20-year-old man was detained nearby. A 43-year-old woman was later arrested in Kent. All four were being questioned on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of terrorist acts under section 41 of the terrorism act 2000. A Met spokesman said: The address and persons connected with it had been under observation by counter terrorism officers as part of an ongoing intelligence led operation. In line with established post incident procedures, the incident has been referred to the Mets Directorate of Professional Standards. This matter has also been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission as a matter of course. P olice and security agencies foiled two suspected active terror plots within hours in a series of dramatic raids and arrests across London. Armed officers shot a 21-year-old woman and fired CS gas rounds when they stormed a terraced house in Willesden on Thursday night. Six people, including a 16-year-old boy, were arrested in an ongoing inquiry to foil a suspected terror network allegedly actively engaged in planning an atrocity. Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, senior national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism policing, said there had been two separate unconnected and ongoing counter-terrorism investigations in an extraordinary 24 hours. The moment police enter Willesden house during terror raid In dramatic scenes in Willesden, witnesses reported hearing screaming and shots as armed police in gas masks burst into the address. A mother-of-one said: We were just about to go shopping when we heard bang, bang, bang, bang. We went to the window and saw a number of armed police there with their guns pointing at our next-door neighbours window. The raid came hours after armed police swooped on a man carrying a rucksack of knives in Whitehall, a stones throw from Downing Street and yards from the scene of last months deadly attack by Khalid Masood in Westminster. The 27-year-old man from south-east London was stopped in the street by armed police just before 2.20pm. At least three knives were seen on the ground as he was being handcuffed by officers. Terror: Harlesden Road where the raid happened / Jeremy Selwyn Security sources said the arrest came after a tip-off from the mans family, who had raised concerns about his behaviour. The man, who was born overseas, had been under close surveillance and a team of MI5 and undercover officers tailed him as he took the Tube from his home in south-east London to St Jamess Park. He walked towards Westminster and had turned into Whitehall heading towards Downing Street when the decision was taken to intercept him. Shooting: Bullet holes in windows on the street / Jeremy Selwyn It is believed he had been allowed to run in order to collect as much evidence as possible on any plot and to identify any possible collaborators. However, at this stage, officials believe he was acting alone. As the arrest was taking place, counter-terrorism officers were watching an address in Willesden as part of a separate intelligence-led operation against a suspected terror network. Firearms officers equipped with semi-automatic carbines and CS gas stormed the house just before 7pm and residents reported hearing up to six shots. A woman, described as wearing a hijab, was carried out of the house and given first aid before being taken to hospital, where she remains under police guard in a serious but stable condition. Suspect: A man aged 27 was detained by police. / Getty Images Four people, including a boy aged 16, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences. The first, a 20-year-old man, was detained near the address and another woman and the boy were held at the house. A 43-year-old woman was arrested in Kent a short while later. Two further arrests were made when a man and a woman, both aged 28, returned to the Willesden address later last night. Today a series of bullet holes could be seen in an upstairs window at the property. Whitehall 'Knifeman' incident - In pictures 1 /24 Whitehall 'Knifeman' incident - In pictures Tackled: Armed police surrounded the man Twitter/@3213dev Firearms officiers from the British police arrest a man on the ground on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament in central London AFP/Getty Images Firearms officiers from the British police arrest a man on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images Armed police talk to man at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London Dominic Lipinski/PA Armed police talk to a man at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London Yui Mok/PA A man is led away by police in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall Toby Melville/Reuters Forensic Officers looking at with knifes at the scene after a man was arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London Yui Mok/PA A British police forensics officer (R) passes a knife to a colleague as they collect evidence on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images A man is held by police in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall Toby Melville/Reuters Knives on the ground at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall Lauren Hurley/PA A bag and what appears to be at least one knife on the ground, being photographed by forensic officers Guido Fawkes Forensic Officers looking at with knifes at the scene after a man was arrested following an incident in Whitehall Yui Mok/PA Video grab taken from BBC News of the scene in Westminster after a man was arrested following an incident in Whitehall, BBC A forensics investigator photographs knives on the ground after man in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall Toby Melville/Reuters Police at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall Dominic Lipinski/PA Firearms officiers from the British police arrest a man on the ground on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images A man is held by police in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall Kylie MacLellan/Reuters Police at the scene where a man has been arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London @inapposite/PA Witness Ruth Haile described how the woman who was shot was on the ground shouting at medics and police: Dont touch me, dont touch me, as they tried to treat her. Ms Haile said: She had a wound on the left of her torso. There was a white bandage on it. They wanted to cut her clothes to treat it. She wouldnt let them, she was angry. She was wearing a hijab she was in black. A male in a grey jumper was also arrested, two policemen were frogmarching him. There was another woman there as well in a black dress and scarf. It was very shocking. Neighbour Alex Sabanov, 28, said: I heard about four shots. There were police everywhere. Their guns were trained on the house. I heard a woman screaming. It was a terrible scream. She said the couple living at the address were just a normal polite Muslim couple. Footage of the operation captured by a passer-by shows black-clad police surround the Victorian house, pointing carbines at an upstairs window and shouting Move! before battering down the front door. Alex Paton, 50, said he saw a woman getting all cuffed up and put in a white suit ... there was coppers and masked men with guns and there was a guy running down the road with a gas mask and a machinegun. Justyna Serdakowska added: It was like something out of a Hollywood movie. There were shots and then police with balaclavas everywhere. Mr Basu said: Due to these arrests, in both cases I believe we have contained the threats they pose. He said searches were ongoing at three London properties including the one in Willesden. Mr Basu added that with last months Westminster attack so fresh in peoples minds, he wanted to reassure the public officers were working around the clock to identify would-be terrorists. A schoolboy was seriously ill in hospital today after being run over in front of horrified parents at the gates of a top London academy school. The 11-year-old was struck as he left the Ark John Keats Academy in Enfield just before 4pm yesterday. Witnesses described distressing scenes as the Year 7 pupil lay unconscious in the street as paramedics raced to the scene. The pupils parents were at his bedside overnight where he was placed in a coma. The 11-year-old was struck as he left the Ark John Keats Academy in Enfield / Nigel Howard A Met police spokesman said: We were called to reports of a collision between a car and a pedestrian at 3.55pm. The child aged 11 was taken to hospital. The driver stopped at the scene and has not been arrested. The academy was rated "oustanding" by Ofsted in April 2015. A landlord has been ordered to pay more than 60,000 after renting out deathtrap bedsits in one of Londons most exclusive streets. David Symonds, 73, earned 3,530 per month from six tenants in the townhouse in Holland Park. The 4 million property in Woodsford Square was described as an accident waiting to happen when council officers who were called in after a blaze found unsafe wiring and a shoddy fire alarm system. Symonds, now selling up, was fined 57,000 with 3,825 costs by Westminster magistrates after admitting 20 housing offences. E vening Standard columnist Anthony Hilton has won The London Press Clubs prestigious Edgar Wallace Trophy for writing of the highest quality. Hilton, pictured with awards host Kate Silverton at the event in Whitehall, was cited for his incisive and accessible reporting and commentary on business and City news. The judges said: His pedigree among financial writers is second to none. The former editor of the Standards City pages has worked in journalism for almost 50 years. Sarah Sands, who left her role as editor of the Standard this week, was shortlisted for Print Journalist of the Year. A ngela Merkel has dismissed the UKs illusions that it can discuss its future relationship with Brussels while still negotiating Brexit. The German chancellor's stance appears to clash with that of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who has insisted Britain will not pay a Brexit divorce bill before "substantive" negotiations with the EU start. Mrs Merkel's insistence that the terms of exit - including the issue of a bill which could run to 50billion - are dealt with first comes ahead of a crunch meeting of EU leaders on Saturday to discuss their approach to the negotiations. Speaking in the Bundestag, Mrs Merkel was cheered as she struck a firm tone about Germany's approach. Before the negotiations can even begin, Mrs Merkel said Britain must engage in "constructive dialogue" with the EU to answer open questions. She said: "Without progress on the many open questions of the exit, including the financial questions, it makes no sense to have parallel negotiations over the future relationship. "We need to know how Britain sees its future relations with us." Mrs Merkel said she had "the feeling that some in Britain still have illusions on that score. She added: That would just be a waste of time. Mrs Merkel insisted, once Britain leaves the EU, it will be an outsider and "will not have the same rights or be in a better position than a member of the European Union". "All of the 27 members of the European Union and European institutions are agreed upon that," she said, to applause. She stressed Germany will push for the impact of Brexit on Germans and other European Union citizens living in Britain to be as minimal as possible, and for co-operation on security issues, like fighting organised crime and terrorism, to remain close. "Let there be no doubt: Brexit negotiations will demand a lot from Britain and Europe," she said. She added that Germany and other EU countries need to define their own "interests and goals," and that she expects EU nations to emerge from the Brussels summit with a "strong signal of unity". "There is now a great deal of agreement between the 27 nations and EU institutions about our joint negotiating line with Britain," she said. Mr Johnson was not clear whether he opposed agreeing a divorce settlement or paying it before trade negotiations, but struck a defiant tone on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday. He said: "If you're saying that they want the money before they get any substantive talks then that is obviously not going to happen." F riday marked the sixth anniversary of former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls embarrassingly tweeting his own name and the mistake is still being mocked on social media. Twitter and Facebook celebrated what has become known as Ed Balls Day, April 28, when in 2011 the Labour politician tweeted "Ed Balls" instead of searching for his name. The awkward slip-up, which has been retweeted almost 90,000 times, prompted hilarity for social media users, with mocking memes soon appearing. Six years on people still are not tired of poking fun at the former MP. Laura Tisdall tweeted a picture of the Queen sat next to a framed photograph of Mr Balls and said: Ed Balls. Powerful words from Her Majesty the Queen, addressing the nation in her traditional #EdBallsDay speech." Celebrity Stacey Solomon tweeted: 6 years ago today ... Happy #edballsday @edballs. Mr Balls tweeted his own name while he was shadow chancellor under former Labour leader Ed Milibands stewardship. Since being ousted in the 2015 general election, he has gone on to appear in Strictly Come Dancing, becoming a favourite for his questionable dancing and extravagant costumes. Mr Balls has ruled himself out of running in June's general election. A mansion tax that would clobber London homeowners by 3,000 or more a year may be in Jeremy Corbyns manifesto, it emerged today. The dramatic possibility of one of Labours most controversial tax plans being revived surfaced after the partys high command refused to slap down support for the idea voiced by a senior shadow cabinet member. Quizzed about shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth saying the party should continue with a mansion tax, shadow chancellor John McDonnell would not rule it out and instead stressed that he would avoid tax rises on the lower and middle earners. A return of the mansion tax would be highly controversial, especially in London where the vast majority of homes valued above 2 million are located. The plan was to hit expensive homes with a levy of at least 250 a month, rising for more expensive properties using a sliding scale. It caused turmoil during the 2015 election campaign. Lord Mandelson called it crude and said it would clobber Londoners. Diane Abbott, now the shadow home secretary, questioned whether it would raise the funds promised. The spotlight fell on Mr Ashworths remarks, which were made to a Lords committee in December, after Mr Corbyn promised higher pay for NHS staff on Wednesday. Quizzed by peers on December 13, the shadow health secretary said: I think the mansion tax is something that the Labour Party should continue ... We would continue to explore that. Conservative Treasury minister Jane Ellison claimed he had let the cat out of the bag because Labours stated tax choice for health spending, a rise in corporation tax, had been spent 12 times already. When the Evening Standard asked Labour for clarification, a spokesman for Mr McDonnell did not deny that a mansion tax was being considered. This is not current Labour policy, and we will set out our plans in the weeks to come in our manifesto, said the spokesman. But we are different from the Tories: we believe in a fair tax system and that means no tax rises on those on lower and middle incomes. Ms Ellison, the MP for Battersea, said: Jeremy Corbyns nonsensical ideas on raising taxes will worry voters across the capital Labour remains committed to a tax on the family home which will inevitably hit property across London. "In truth, the only way to ensure we continue to invest in our NHS is growing the economy and only Theresa May can offer the strong and stable leadership required to do that. A return of the tax will embarrass senior Labour figures in London, including Mayor Sadiq Khan, who turned their backs on the policy after it contributed to their 2015 defeat. Former mayoral candidate David Lammy said at the time that it was based on a caricature of the streets of London being paved with gold. Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy boasted that Scotlands share of the tax would pay for 1,000 new nurses north of the border. He said that it was a win-win for Scotland because 95 per cent of the costs would come from people in London and the South. However, under 1,000 properties in Scotland were set to pay the tax, compared with estimates of between 40,000 and 90,000 London homes. M inisters were condemned today for failing to pledge that EU air pollution standards will be kept in Britain after Brexit. The Commons environmental audit committee had urged the Government to clarify its position after repeated demands for assurances that air quality standards will not be watered down after the UK quits the European Union. Ministers stopped short of guaranteeing that this will not happen in a reply to the committee, which compiled a report on air quality in relation to a third runway at Heathrow. They said: The UK has a long commitment to improving the environment even before it joined the EU; for example the Clean Air Act was introduced in 1956. Our strong commitment to improving air quality will continue after the UK leaves the EU. They added that the Great Repeal Bill will convert EU law, including on air pollution, into UK law before the country splits from the EU. However, there was no clarity on what will happen afterwards. Mary Creagh, the committees Labour chairwoman, said: Ministers are still refusing to guarantee that EU air quality targets wont be quietly dropped after we leave the EU, have no national plan for air pollution, and their carbon calculations are a fantasy. The Government rejects the claim on carbon emissions and insists it is determined to improve air quality. However, EU limits on nitrogen dioxide levels are widely breached in London and other parts of Britain. The response was published the day after the Government suffered a third damning rebuff from judges after the High Court rejected a bid to delay publication of its draft air quality plan until after the General Election. The Government has twice been ordered by the courts to improve its plans to tackle these toxic air hotspots. Ministers are considering whether to appeal against the order for the plan to be put out on May 9 and the final version by July 31. U KIPs election campaign launch descended into chaos today as protesters stormed the central London hotel waving anti-racism posters. Activists had to be pulled from the Marriott County Hall hotel by security guards after two separate groups broke in and began chanting about Islamophobia. The partys leader Paul Nuttall was due to officially launch UKIPs manifesto but had to delay his speech due to the commotion, caught on camera and film by the assembled press. Among the small groups was a woman wearing a hijab, leading one protester to claim that the only Muslim woman in the room had been asked to leave. The protesters took aim at Mr Nuttall, saying he is wrong to claim that migrants are responsible for unemployment in the UK. Their posters displayed mottos including Migrants and refugees welcome here and fight against Islamophobia. A woman among a small group of protesters being escorted out of a room at the Marriott County Hall hotel / PA Some of the protesters, believed to be from the Stand up to racism group, spoke to reporters and TV crews after being evicted from the launch. A man is escorted from the room before Paul Nuttall's speech / PA Pictures from outside showed a police van after officers were called in to help deal with the protest. The UKIP leader did take to the podium 20 minutes later to deliver his campaign speech, accusing Theresa May of flagrant opportunism in calling an election. He claimed that because the Prime Minister backed the Remain campaign she will use a landslide victory to backslide on her Brexit promises. Paul Nuttall speaks at the launch of the UKIP's election campaign / PA "I believe we have to see this through to the end, we are only half way through the war" he said, arguing that UKIP MPs are required to ensure Theresa May fully delivers on Brexit. He added that anyone hoping the party would fold after the referendum vote is going to be disappointed. Mr Nuttall went on to claim that UKIP is at its best when it is radical and that He has not yet revealed which seat he will fight in the election, with an announcement due tomorrow morning. It comes days after Ukips foreign affairs spokesman resigned over the partys vile burka ban and predicted many more may withdraw support for Mr Nuttall. James Carver said he strongly disagreed with the partys misguided policy and that he could not support it. Marine A who was jailed for shooting dead an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan has been freed from prison. Royal Marine Alexander Blackman was convicted of murder but his sentence was quashed by the Court Martial Appeal Court. The commando, who spent more than three years in jail for killing the insurgent in 2011, was freed from Erlestoke Prison on Friday. Mr Blackman hid from cameras as he was driven way from the prison near Devizes, Wiltshire, in the back of an Audi estate. Freed: Royal Marine Alexander Blackman crouches down in the back of a car as he leaves prison / PA Following his appeal, his conviction last month was replaced with diminished responsibility. Five judges ruled that he was suffering from an "abnormality of mental functioning" at the time of the incident, when he was serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando. His sentence was reduced to seven years, meaning he would be freed within weeks - a decision his wife Claire Blackman described as "the moment that we have all been fighting hard for". Claire Blackman speaks following Alexander Blackman murder conviction was downgraded Speaking to the Daily Mail while awaiting her husband's release, she said: "I haven't slept all week. I feel like a child waiting for Christmas. "We have had so many setbacks over the years that I almost cannot believe it is really going to happen this time. "I can't wait to see him and spend some quality time together." Mr Blackman was convicted of murder at Bulford Court Martial in 2013 and jailed for life, with a minimum term of 10 years. This sentence was later reduced to eight years. His wife Claire led a campaign for him to be released, which was taken up by the Daily Mail. During the original trial in 2013, he was known only as Marine A. His identity was made public after his conviction. G erman lawmakers have voted for a partial burka ban that would prevent civil servants, judges and soldiers from wearing the Islamic face veil in public. Members of the Bundestag, lower house of parliament passed the bill, which will now require the approval of the federal Bundesrat to become law. Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a ban on full-face veils in public last December and pressure has come for the law from rightwing parties and groups ahead of a general election in September. The move follows several jihadist attacks, including a truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market that claimed 12 lives and an unprecedented arrival of migrants and refugees. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said: Integration also means that we should make clear and impart our values and where the boundaries of our tolerance towards other cultures lie. "The draft law we have agreed on makes an important contribution to that. In February the state of Bavaria announced plans for a local burka ban in government workplaces, schools, universities and while driving. Countries that have banned face veils in certain public spaces include France, Austria, Belgium and Turkey. Holland is currently looking at similar legislation. Local bans exist in Denmark, Russia, Spain and Switzerland. C haos erupted in Macedonia's parliament as demonstrators stormed the building and attacked politicians in protest against the election of a new speaker. At least 75 people were injured in the hours-long clashes, including 22 police officers and several politicians, authorities said. Opposition leader Zoran Zaev was seen with his head covered in blood after protesters, some of whom were masked, hurled chairs and camera tripods in anger. Dozens of activists broke through a police cordon after the opposition Social Democrats and parties representing Macedonia's ethnic Albanian minority voted to name a new parliament speaker. Violent protesters storm Macedonia parliament 1 /10 Violent protesters storm Macedonia parliament Police try to contain protesters trying to enter parliament AFP/Getty Images Opposition Social Democrats leader Zoran Zaev bleeds after being injured in the chaos AFP/Getty Images Police evacuate lawmakers in an armored vehicle AP Police cordon blocks protesters to enter into the parliament building AP Protesters clash with police to enter into the parliament building in Skopje AP Zoran Zaev, the leader of Social Democratic, bleeds from his forehead EPA Protesters demonstrate inside Macedonia's parliament to protest against an 'unfair' vote to elect a new speaker AFP/Getty Images Protesters entered Macedonia's parliament after the governing Social Democrats and ethnic Albanian parties voted to elect an Albanian as parliament speaker REUTERS Many of the protesters were supporters of former prime minister Nikola Gruevski, whose conservative party won elections in December but did not get enough votes to form a government on its own. He has been struggling to put together a coalition government and his supporters have been holding nightly street rallies for two months across the country to protest the political situation. Neighbouring countries along with the European Union and United States expressed concern at the small Balkan nation's escalating political crisis. TV footage showed a bloodied Mr Zaev and other Social Democrat politicians surrounded by protesters waving national flags, shouting "traitors" and refusing to allow them to leave. Protesters demonstrate against an 'unfair' vote to elect a new speaker / AFP/Getty Images The tense stand-off lasted several hours, and hundreds of protesters swarmed through the parliament building. Police said 30 politicians and a number of journalists who had been trapped inside were eventually evacuated safely. After being initially overwhelmed, police fired flash grenades and clashed with protesters, expelling them from the building. Politician Ziadin Sela, who heads a small ethnic Albanian party, was the most seriously injured, police said. Opposition Social Democrats leader Zoran Zaev bleeds after being injured in the chaos / EPA Macedonian president Gjorge Ivanov went on television to appeal for calm and "for reasonable and responsible behaviour". Speaking in a brief address to the nation, Mr Ivanov said he had summoned the leaders of the country's main political parties for a meeting Friday. The US Embassy in Macedonia and senior European Union officials condemned the violence, while neighbouring Greece warned that Macedonia might be "sliding into deep political crisis". Mr Zaev, 42, was later cheered by hundreds of supporters when he appeared with several politicians from his party outside the Social Democratic headquarters in the capital of Skopje. Police cordon blocks protesters to enter into the parliament building / AP In a statement, the party accused rival conservatives of inciting the violence and stirring "hatred and division" among the Macedonian people. Macedonia has been without a government since the elections. Coalition talks broke down over ethnic Albanian demands that Albanian be recognised as an official second language. One-fourth of Macedonia's population is ethnic Albanian. Amid the coalition negotiations, the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, as the Balkan nation's parliament is known, has been deadlocked for three weeks over electing a new speaker. Mr Zaev suggested early in the day that a speaker could be elected outside normal procedures, an idea immediately rejected by the prime minister's party as an attempted coup. Mr Zaev went ahead with the vote, and a majority in parliament elected Talat Xhaferi, a former defence minister and member of the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration. Protesters exploded in anger and fought their way into the building. Despite the return of calm, a small group of demonstrators ignored instructions by police to leave the area early on Friday and they set up tents in a small park near parliament. H arry Styles has announced plans for a worldwide tour to take place later this year, including dates in London. The One Direction star will promote his debut solo album at arenas and concert venues in countries including North America, Japan, Germany and the UK. Kicking off in San Francisco in September, Styles is set to play 13 North American cities including New York, Washington, Chicago and Boston. He will then begin the European leg of the tour in Paris on October 25, with London dates scheduled at the Eventim Apollo for October 29 and 30. Harry Styles reveals debut solo single Sign Of The Times Styles will then play dates in Manchester and Glasgow before heading to Stockholm, Berlin and Amsterdam. The 23-year-old pop star performed debut solo single, Sign of the Times, for the first time on Saturday Night Live earlier this month. One Direction's Harry Styles - In pictures 1 /81 One Direction's Harry Styles - In pictures REUTERS Dont Worry Darling Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures 2021 Gramy Awards Getty Images for The Recording A 2021 Brit Awards Getty Images 2020 Harry Styles performs on NBC's "Today" at Rockefeller Plaza AFP via Getty Images The early days Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zane Malik and Niall Horan of 'One Direction' attend a photocall during the X Factor press conference at the Connaught Hotel on December 9, 2010 Getty Images Olympic moment Harry Styles of the One Direction band performs at the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games in London on August 12, 2012 AFP/Getty Images Front row Harry Styles, Nick Grimshaw and Kelly Osbourne attend the House Of Holland show during London Fashion Week SS14 on September 14, 2013 in London Getty Images Harry's hair-Styles Harry Styles of One Direction performs on stage at CenturyLink Field on July 15, 2015 in Seattle Getty Images Young direction Rex Features 2010 Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik arrive for an autograph signing session at the HMV store, Bradford PA 2010 Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zain Malik and Louis Tomlinson of 'One Direction' attends the Very.co.uk Christmas Catwalk Show at Victoria House on November 24, 2010 in London Getty Images 2010 Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Cher Lloyd and Niall Horan sighted getting some snacks before returning to an X Factor recording studio on October 4, 2010 in London Getty Images 2010 Harry Styles attends the Royal Film Performance and World Premiere of 'The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader' at Odeon Leicester Square on November 30, 2010 in London Getty Images 2011 Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne of 'One Direction' attend the GQ Men Of The Year Awards at The Royal Opera House on September 6, 2011 in London Getty Images 2012 Harry Styles celebrates after winning best British Single for What Makes You Beautiful during the 2012 Brit awards at The O2 Arena, London PA 2012 Harry Styles of One Direction attends "El Hormiguero" Tv show at Vertice Studio on October 31, 2012 in Madrid, Spain Getty Images 2012 One Direction attend Nickelodeon Hosts Orange Carpet Premiere For Original TV Movie "Big Time Movie" Starring Big Time Rush at 583 Park Avenue on March 8, 2012 in New York City Getty Images 2013 Harry Styles of "One Direction" attends a photo call and press conference for "One Direction This Is Us" at Big Sky Studios on August 19, 2013 in London Getty Images 2013 Harry Styles attends the Teen Choice Awards 2013 at Gibson Amphitheatre on August 11, 2013 in Universal City, California Getty Images 2013 Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles of One Direction pose with their Brits Global Success Award in the press room at the Brit Awards 2013 at the 02 Arena on February 20, 2013 in London Getty Images 2013 Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson of One Direction perform on stage during the Brit Awards 2013 at the 02 Arena on February 20, 2013 in London Getty Images 2013 Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Mailik and Naill Horan in TriStar Pictures' "One Direction: This Is Us." 2013 Harry Styles attends the British Fashion Awards 2013 at London Coliseum on December 2, 2013 in London Getty Images 2013 Niall Horan,Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik of One Direction perform at Rumsey Playfield on November 26, 2013 in New York City Getty Images 2013 Simon Cowell and Harry Styles attend the "One Direction This Is Us" world premiere after party on August 20, 2013 in London Getty Images 2013 Harry Styles with the British Style bought to you by Vodaphone Award poses in the winners room at the British Fashion Awards 2013 at London Coliseum on December 2, 2013 in London Getty Images 2014 Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan of One Direction, winner of the British Video and Global Success BRIT awards, pose in the winners room at The BRIT Awards 2014 at 02 Arena on February 19, 2014 in London Getty Images 2014 Harry Styles from One Direction poses with fans at the 28th Annual ARIA Awards 2014 at the Star on November 26, 2014 in Sydney Getty Images 2014 Harry Styles accepts the Favorite Pop/Rock Album award for 'Midnight Memories' onstage at the 2014 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 23, 2014 in Los Angeles Getty Images 2014 Harry Styles of One Direction appears on NBC's Today Show to release their new album "Four" at Universal City Walk At Universal Orlando on November 17, 2014 in Orlando, Florida Getty Images 2014 Harry Styles of One Direction appears on NBC's Today Show to release their new album "Four" at Universal City Walk At Universal Orlando on November 17, 2014 in Orlando Getty Images 2014 A One Direction fan takes a selfie with a wax figure of Harry Styles at Madame Tussauds New York on November 24, 2014 in New York City Getty Images 2014 Harry Styles arrives at Burberry Prorsum Womenswear Spring/Summer 2014 show during London Fashion Week at Kensington Gardens on September 16, 2013 in London 2014 Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge meets Harry Styles of boy band One Direction at The Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium on November 13, 2014 in London Getty Images 2015 Harry Styles performs onstage during 102.7 KIIS FMAs Jingle Ball 2015 Presented by Capital One at STAPLES CENTER on December 4, 2015 in Los Angeles Getty Images 2015 Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles of One Direction attend the 2015 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 22, 2015 in Los Angeles Getty Images 2015 Harry Styles attends the 2015 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 22, 2015 in Los Angeles Getty Images 2015 Harry Styles performs on ABC's "Good Morning America" at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on August 4, 2015 in New York City Getty Images 2015 Harry Styles attends the Love Magazine miu miu London Fashion Week party at Loulou's on September 21, 2015 in London Getty Images 2016 Musician Joe Walsh, Marjorie Bach, singer Harry Styles, musician Ringo Starr, and Barbara Bach attend the 2016 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring Irving Azoff at The Beverly Hilton Hotel Getty Images 2016 Harry Styles and sister Gemma Styles attend the Another Man A/W launch event hosted by Harry Styles, Alister Mackie and Kris Van Assche at Albert's Club Dave Benett 2017 Harry Styles in Dunkirk Warner Bros 2017 Harry Styles on BBC Radio One promoting his new Sign of the Times Album BBC Radio One 2017 Harry Styles tweets out his Sign of the Times Album cover @Harry_Styles 2017 Harry Styles arriving at BBC Broadcasting House in London ahead of an appearance on The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw PA 2017 Harry Styles arrives for the 31st Annual ARIA Awards 2017 Getty Images 2017 Harry Styles host The Late Late Show following James Cordens announcement that he and his wife Julia Carey had welcomed their third child together The Late Late Show 2017 Harry Styles attends the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Festival Getty Images for iHeartMedia 2017 Harry Styles performs on the runway during the 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show In Shanghai Getty Images for Victoria's Secret 2019 Harry Styles - Lights Up 2019 Harry Styles out in NYC for a late dinner SplashNews.com 2019 Harry Styles attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art Getty Images 2019 Guest host Harry Styles chatting with Kendall Jenner and Tracee Ellis Ross on The Late Late Show With James Corden The Late Late Show Harry Styles on cover of Rolling Stone Magazine Rolling Stone Magazine 2020 Harry Styles speaks with fans as he leaves the BBC Radio studios PA 2020 Harry Styles arriving at the Brit Awards PA 2020 Harry Styles seen leaving The Box club SplashNews.com 2020 Harry Styles Performs On NBC's "Today" at Rockefeller Plaza Getty Images 2021 Harry Styles performs during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards The Recording Academy/AFP via Getty Images 2021 Harry Styles attends the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards The Recording Academy/AFP via Getty Images He is also set to promote the album release by appearing on The Late Late Show with James Corden every night for an entire week from May 15. Sign of the Times shot straight to the top of the singles charts in the UK when it was released this month, knocking Ed Sheerans Shape of You into second place. Speaking on last weeks Graham Norton Show, Styles said: I am excited and really proud of it. I have worked so hard on it. K aty Perry has served up her next single but many fans didn't have an appetite for it. Perry, 32, dropped Bon Appetit, featuring Atlanta rap trio Migos, at midnight. She marked its arrival by tweeting a picture of herself surrounded by vegetables alongside the post: Fresh out the oven! Listen everywhere. The new track features the lyrics: Cause Im all that you want boy/ All that you can have/ Got me spread like a buffet/ Bon Appetit baby. But fans couldn't stomach the new single, with some only managing to listen for 50 seconds while others said it was disappointing. One fan tweeted: I can't believe that she can't do great songs like before. This is the second time after Chained to the Rhythm. Rise was good but #BonAppetit so bad #KP4 (sic). Another posted: #Bonappetit sounds unfinished and like a rushed production. A third wrote: Damn that new Katy Perry song is garbageee I love Migos.. (Takeoff) but that was pretty awful. Others praised the new track with many deeming it f****** amazing. One fan tweeted: YESSS #BonAppetit is Soo goood!!! Love it. Another wrote: I can't stop listening to Bon Appetit it's amazing bbe @katyperry (sic). The single follows Chained to the Rhythm, which featured Skip Marley and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.5 on the UK Singles Chart. Earlier this week Perry launched a cherry pie competition, calling on fans to share their best creations with her on social media. In a lengthy tweet she told her 97 million followers: Bake me a pie and you may get a surprise. Perry is scheduled to perform on Saturday Night Live on May 20, which could mark the TV debut of the new single. K im Kardashian faced a backlash from fans who claimed recent un-airbrushed paparazzi pictures of her are proof that she has been photoshopping her Instagram posts. The reality TV star, 38, was photographed in several bikinis while holidaying in Mexico to celebrate her sister Kourtney Kardashians birthday. The unedited images appear to show cellulite on Kims famous behind, which has prompted fans to question the many natural selfies she has posted on social media. It has also reportedly cost her 100,000 followers on the photo sharing app. One Instagram user branded her all fake head to toe while another called her the queen of Photoshop. One follower commented: Nothing real about Kim Kardashian. Her body is fake. Another wrote: And yet they want young ladies to look up to them. With such language they speak I wouldnt allow my dog to follow them, I am UNFOLLOWING. A third posted: Please tell me why natural is no longer considered beautiful? Oh yes I forgot shameless sells more... Piers Morgan Discusses Kim Kardashian on GMB Piers Morgan also took aim at the reality TV star after she described herself as flawless on Twitter. The great thing about these pictures is shes not flawless he said on Good Morning Britain. Shes like every other woman and every other man. None of us are flawless present company excepted. The unexpurgated, uncensored, un-airbrushed Kim Kardashian. Morgans co-presenter Susanna Reid praised Kardashian for her curvy figure and encouraged women to celebrate cellulite. Im glad weve got honest photographs of Kim Kardashian, she said. She still looks absolutely knockout. R osie Huntington-Whiteley may be a model but she struggles to take the perfect selfie on her first attempt. The 30-year-old said she takes around 100 pictures of herself which she then has the gruelling task of editing and filtering at least three times. Speaking about her photography skills she told Glamour: Well, you need half an hour, you need great lighting, and you need to be prepared to take about 100 pictures of yourself, edit through 100 pictures of yourself and then filter them three times. You know, come on! Be real! That's the way it is. Huntington-Whiteley said she is conscious of coming across as obnoxious despite working a camera being part of her job. She said: I try to be mindful of that when I'm posting pictures, but again, it's part of what I do and I hope that people don't feel... that my social media is too obnoxious. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - Style File 1 /54 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - Style File Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at the 2016 Met Gala 2022 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley shares a picture of her heavily pregnant Rosie Huntington-Whiteley/Instagram December 02, 2019 Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley poses for photographers upon arrival at the British Fashion Awards in central London Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP August 11, 2014 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, left, and Jason Statham arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of The Expendables 3 at the TCL Chinese Theatre Todd Williamson/Invision/AP September 18, 2005 At the MAC Cosmetics London Fashion Week Cocktail Party Chris Jackson/Getty Images February 9, 2009 At the Elle Style Awards Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images February 23, 2010 At the Love Ball London at the Roundhouse Chris Jackson/Getty Images November 10, 2010 Backstage before the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images May 2, 2011 At the Met Gala in New York Larry Busacca/Getty Images June 5, 2011 At the MTV Movie Awards Christopher Polk/Getty Images June 16, 2011 Appearing on 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon' Jason Kempin/Getty Images June 23, 2011 Prior to the opening ceremony of the Moscow International Film Festival Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images June 25, 2011 At the 'Transformers 3' European premiere in Berlin Sean Gallup/Getty Images June 28, 2011 At the New York premiere of 'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon' in Times Square Jason Kempin/Getty Images September 12, 2011 Unveiling the new Burberry fragrence in New York Jemal Countess/Getty Images October 26, 2011 At the Burberry Body Launch event in California John Shearer/Getty Images February 26, 2012 At the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images October 27, 2012 At the LACMA 2012 Art + Film Gala Kevin Winter/Getty Images July 8, 2013 At Sydney International Airport Marianna Massey/Getty Images December 2, 2013 At the British Fashion Awards Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images March 2, 2014 At the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images May 5, 2014 At the Met Gala in New York Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images May 20, 2014 At a photocall to launch the 25th anniversary Magnum short film Andreas Rentz/Getty Images May 21, 2014 At the screening of the film 'The Search' during the Cannes Film Festival Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images May 22, 2014 At amfAR's 21st Cinema Against AIDS Gala Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images January 29, 2015 Launch 'Rosie for Autograph' fragrance for M&S at Marks & Spencer Marble Arch Chris Jackson/Getty Images May 4, 2015 At the Met Gala in New York Larry Busacca/Getty Images May 7, 2015 At the premiere of 'Mad Max: Fury Road' in Hollywood Frazer Harrison/Getty Images July 5, 2015 At the Atelier Versace show during Haute Couture Week in Paris Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images July 5, 2015 At the Amfar dinner during Paris Fashion Week Loic Venance/AFP/Getty Images October 9, 2015 At Variety's Power Of Women luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel Jason Merritt/Getty Images November 23, 2015 At the British Fashion Awards John Phillips/Getty Images January 10, 2016 At the Golden Globe Awards Jason Merritt/Getty Images February 26, 2017 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley attends the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images February 26, 2017 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley attends the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images April 8, 2017 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley attends the premiere of Universal Pictures' 'The Fate Of The Furious' at Radio City Music Hall in New York Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images November 4, 2017 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley attends the 2017 LACMA Art + Film Gala Honoring Mark Bradford and George Lucas Neilson Barnard/Getty Images January 16, 2018 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley attends the Stella McCartney Autumn 2018 womenswear collection and Autumn Winter 2018 menswear collection Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images December 02, 2019 Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley poses for photographers upon arrival at the British Fashion Awards in central Londo Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP March 04, 2018 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday, March 4, 2018, in Beverly Hills Evan Agostini/Invision/AP July 13, 2019 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP The Victorias Secret model said she is very aware that her social media feed could make young girls feel insecure about their bodies. [I worry about] young girls out there who are really feeling insecure about their image and they scroll through and see this image of a supermodel looking amazing, reclining on a beach in a completely unrealistic pose or environment, she said. And I can see how that would make people not feel good about themselves. Huntington-Whiteley who has launched her first swimwear line with Marks and Spencer is currently pregnant with her first child with fiance Jason Statham. The celebrity couple announced the exciting news on Instagram in February. Alongside a picture of herself cradling her bump on a beach she wrote: Very happy to share that Jason and I are expecting!! Lots of love Rosie x. The British-born stars have been dating for six years, after meeting on the set of Transformers in 2011. They confirmed their engagement at the Golden Globes last year when Huntington-Whiteley was pictured wearing a huge diamond ring on her wedding finger. Greg Gianforte knows what he can provide for Montana. He doesnt seem to know what we already have. One of these underappreciated assets is the fact that many Montana artists are dedicated to offering their talents to Montana. They do this without opportunities to be wealthy. They do this to use their gifts to enrich the culture of Montana. They do this because the place of Montana sustains their vision, their human spirit, and their inspiration. Rob Quist didnt become rich performing across his lifetime at Montana fairs, parties, concerts, bars, schools, and the places he has stood in Montana and shared his gifts. He has been true to his artistic calling, touching many peoples lives. Gianforte has made fun of this calling, treating Quists work as a musician as an amateur past time, a quaint exception to the economic vision of wealth and success. Many artists across time have found their authenticity from the place of Montana. They are the people Montanans honor for their values, a professionalism rising from their humanity. Their contributions make Gianfortes values and ideas look quaint and amateurish. When Gianforte makes fun of Quists hat and banjo, he belies that he knows Montana. Ed Noonan Helena The Montana House adjourned Friday after voting down an infrastructure bonding bill for the second consecutive session, and as collateral also killed rural water projects that have gotten funding for at least 26 years. The last day of the 65th Legislature was filled with attempts to negotiate a compromise for the package and parliamentary maneuvers intended to tie the fate of some projects to others. Despite the heated debates of the last week and mixed feelings about the death of those infrastructure bills, Republican and Democratic leaders emphasized bipartisan collaboration on other issues and that a handful of priorities for each party found a way through the lawmaking gauntlet started in January. We as Republicans cannot allow the success or failure of the Legislature to be defined by the tensions of these final days. We cannot be defined by one or two bills, Majority Leader Ron Ehli, R-Hamilton, said in a closing speech to the House Floor. Go home, but go home proud. He opened by highlighting the fulfilled commitment from both parties to work with civility and respect. Bipartisan successes included reforms of the criminal justice system that legislators hope will reduce both recidivism and prison spending as well as a commitment to fully fund the overwhelmed and outdated foster care system. Turning to his caucus, he lauded Republicans united front against most tax increases, for holding down the growth of state government in a tight budget year, and for crafting two bills to protect whistleblowers, one of which was signed by the governor. Ehli also thanked them for the bills that die at the governors desk but we must fight for every session, such as proposals to restrict abortions and expand gun rights. Speaker of the House Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, later said he was proud of Republicans work to find cash for $200 million of infrastructure projects through existing state programs as well as funding for road projects that, with a 7-to-1 federal match, will lead to almost $1 billion in work. I know theres going to be a lot of talk and a lot of spin out there that we havent funded infrastructure and thats just simply not true, he said. Given a hole in the state budget created by declining revenues and, Republicans say, bad fiscal management by Gov. Steve Bullock Knudsen said that spending was not a given. Senate Republicans expressed similar optimism about the session overall even after waiting for three days with little else to do just to see how the House would handle the bonding bill. "It went really as good as you could hope for," President Scott Sales, R-Bozeman said of relationships both between the majority and minority in the Senate, as well as within the Senate GOP caucus. Before adjourning for the year, Minority Leader Jenny Eck of Helena thanked House Democrats for working against the odds. You came here knowing that youd be on a team with 18 fewer team members than the opposite side, that the opposite side would set the rules and you were going to play by them. You came in, buckled up and you did it anyway, she said. But we did the best we could. We absolutely fought a good fight. We have absolutely spoken our truth and the truth of the people who sent us here. Among their accomplishments, she counted the creation of a Montana Earned Income Tax Credit similar to the federal anti-poverty tool, a new tax credit for businesses that provide apprenticeships to veterans, tweaked insurance rules to recognize the link between mental and physical health, and a 1-percent pay raise for state employees. Eck also highlighted some significant disappointments. While the state budget might have been balanced, she said it was not fair. She said that is because, in part, wealthy Montanans are not taxed enough on investment earnings while working-class families pay taxes for their actual work. She said the biggest failure of the session was the death of the $80.3 million bonding bill, which would have paid for work on local water and sewer systems, major repairs at K-12 schools and renovations of several college buildings. That failed vote triggered House Democrats to band together to kill a bill that would have given $41 million to rural water projects through loans from the coal trust fund. Eck had worked to link the fate of the two bills, saying letting one pass and not the other meant "picking and choosing" winners and that some communities should not benefit while others suffer. The regional water projects largely benefit rural communities that lean Republican, while GOP leaders opposed bonding for building renovations favored by urban towns that tend to elect Democrats. The vote on water projects came first, and Democrats joined together to preemptively kill House Bill 8, the regional rural water projects with a 53-46 vote. When the infrastructure bonding bill later came up, it still fell three votes short of the super majority it needed to pass, failing on a 64-35 tally. Because both measures involved putting the state into bonded debt, they required 67 votes, or a two-thirds majority, to pass. Im disappointed that some legislators put partisanship over Montana jobs and the strength of our communities, Bullock, a Democrat, said. In turn, some Republicans criticized Democrats for their own partisanship, holding the regional water bill as a political poker chip and killing it because the bonding bill failed. Knudsen called it retaliation. Thats a bill thats never been used as political leverage to the extent it was today, he said. It was the first time since at least 1991 that legislators did not approve the funding. Eck defended the decision of House Democrats to kill the bill. Weve always said this is going to be a package, she said. The governor also pushed back. At the end of the day, Bullock said. Principle objections to bonding by a small minority of Republicans killed that. Several attempts to reach a deal that would pass bonding and save the water projects this week sputtered out, including a final early-morning meeting that was closed to the public. Behind the locked doors of the governor's office, Republican leaders met with Bullock and some Democrats at 7 a.m. in a final effort to reach a compromise. The governors office had worked the previous night with other Republicans to craft a cash-only proposal that would have funded the renovation of Montana State Universitys Romney Hall, the construction of a Southwest Veterans Home in Butte and an expansion of the Montana Historical Center in Helena. From the start of the session, many House Republicans, including leadership, had opposed those projects, saying they were not as critical as expanded work on water and sewer systems or funding for major repairs at K-12 schools. It was clear their priorities were more important than our priorities, Knudsen said, explaining why he and his leadership team rejected the offer. Because the proposed deal would not have involved bonding, it needed only 51 votes instead of 67 to pass. Eck said there were enough Republicans willing to join Democrats to make that happen. The Speaker wouldnt even let us vote on it, she said of Knudsen. Rep. Mike Cuffe, R-Eureka, saw his own, smaller bonding bill die in the process and he carried SB 367 on the House floor, where it was shot down three times in two days. When SB 367 and HB 8 died Friday, Cuffe immediately left the House floor. At one point, Sen. Mary McNally, D-Billings, approached him in the hallway and gave him a silent hug. That is a very serious mistake on the part of Democrats and the governor, he said of the vote on HB 8. It has no connection whatsoever with the bonding bill. Its mainly big water projects. Its a serious mistake not to move it. It hurts people who dont deserve to be hurt. Although he is disappointed by the vote to kill bonding, he was resigned to the conclusion. I wouldve liked to come up with three more votes on the final vote, but the body spoke. Weve had several cuts at this. Weve had several attempts over the last several weeks Basically it comes down to, Hey, the votes are not there. And there comes a time its the end. Libertarian Mark Wicks says he is surprised at how often he hears about public lands access and management as he runs for Montanas lone U.S. House seat. The Inverness-area rancher says he has always had access to open spaces on private lands, but that is not always the case for all Montanans. I did not expect it to come up as much as it has, he said of land issues. I understand people in the West living in town their yard is the public lands they go to recreate and I had to learn that a little bit. As a third-party candidate, Wicks is a long-shot to replace newly confirmed Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in Congress in a race featuring Republican Greg Gianforte and Democrat Rob Quist. The special election is May 25. Wicks says he is appalled at the management of federal lands. Driving from Great Falls to Missoula, one quote that comes to mind is, If I had a renter treating my land that way, Id evict them, he said. Wicks favors reforms to the Equal Access to Justice Act, which he believes will spur forest management by reducing environmental litigation. He also favors reforms to the Endangered Species Act, as he is concerned protections will unduly impact farmers and ranchers. Sooner than later were going to end up in lawsuits where ag lands are starting to have problems for the same reasons, he said. There has to be amendments to make it function for us as a state. Wicks opposes large-scale sale of federal lands into private hands, but if land is transferred to state ownership, he wonders whether the transfer could include a conservation easement allowing public access even if they are sold. Wicks appreciates federal lands as multiple use and says he is upset at seeing the number of roads gated off from motorized access. He is overall happy with the amount of access the public has available. Trump-proposed cuts to federal agencies such as the Forest Service, BLM and EPA are warranted but must be done intelligently, he says. I think every agency has room to cut, he said, citing a mounting federal debt. Unfortunately every time they cut, bureaucrats make cuts where it hurts that agency and cut what people need the most they want people to see the pain immediately. Wicks has not developed his full position on climate change but questions many of the numbers associated with it. He also recognizes the climate has naturally changed from prehistoric times from ice to nearly tropical. We have to understand that climate is not static, he said. Now we cant go and just pollute the Earth, we have to conserve, but we have to be smart in how were doing it and not just make it a waste of effort. GREAT FALLS A Montana man has been arrested on suspicion of assault on a minor after an emergency room nurse caught him trying to smother his 8-month-old son. The Great Falls Tribune reports (gftrib.com/2oGaZE3) 36-year-old Lucas Charles Berg was arrested Thursday night at a Great Falls hospital after a nurse said she heard a "horrible noise" and saw Berg pressing the child's face into a blanket draped over his chest. Prosecutors say the nurse grabbed the child and ran to the nurses' station. Court records did not say why the child was at the hospital. A police report says Berg acknowledged holding the child's face against his chest and that he had done something similar to another child. Berg's initial appearance in Cascade County Justice Court was scheduled for Friday afternoon. ___ Information from: Great Falls Tribune, http://www.greatfallstribune.com Looking back, Carsyn Long of Gering is glad that she was the third runner-up in the 2016 Miss Nebraskas Outstanding Teen competition. Placing third instead of first, she said, added to her drive to sharpen her pageant skills even more, and in the process, put herself in position to accomplish even greater things in her community, in the state, and perhaps even in the nation. I know that I wasnt supposed to win it last year, said Long, a junior at Gering High School. I still had a lot of work to do. Long spent the next year doing all that she could to try to become the next Miss Nebraskas Outstanding Teen. Her diligence, careful concentration, and energetic and uplifting attitude paid off in a big way Saturday night as Long was crowned Miss Nebraskas Outstanding Teen at the Scottish Rite Center in Omaha. Its so exciting. Ive been working so hard for this, she said. I went into it with the mindset that if its in the cards for me it will happen, and if not, theres bigger and better things waiting out there for me. To win this honor, its just an incredible feeling. As Nebraskas outstanding teen title holder, Long will now have a chance to compete in the national competition. The Miss Americas Outstanding Teen event is the last week of July in Orlando, Florida. Im so excited to go to Miss Americas Outstanding Teen competition and experience that week and then spend the rest of the year doing service and promoting my platform, she said. In Omaha, Long competed against 17 other girls for Miss Nebraskas Outstanding Teen title. Other Panhandle competitors included: Brianna Little, of Harrisburg, Miss Chadrons Outstanding Teen 2017; Hayley Umble, of Gering, Miss Scotts Bluff County Outstanding Teen; Sheridan Blanco, of Gering, Miss Old West Balloon Fest Outstanding Teen; Hope McCoy, of Mitchell, Miss Gerings Outstanding Teen; and Sydney Ridgeway, of Gering, Miss Alliance. Long qualified for the state competition by winning the Miss Kearney Outstanding Teen competition in September. Although Long went into the state event confident in her abilities, she knew that earning the title would be a big challenge. I knew that this was not going to be an easy competition for the judges, she said. It was a tough weekend. There were so many talented girls competing. Long shined brightest among the field, thanks to her excelling in each of the four categories. In fact, she was the winner in three of the categories: Private Interview, Talent, and Personal Appearance/Poise in Evening Wear/On Stage Question. She also performed well in the Lifestyle and Fitness category. The competition kicked off Friday evening with contestants doing an 8-minute interview with the six judges. Before her interview, Long made sure she was focused, relaxed, and confident. Before I went into the interview, I sat down and wrote in my notebook positive affirmations to myself and just some different reminders about things I had taken away from this year, she said. Then I said a huge prayer before I went in to the interview room. I felt extremely confident and conversational in the interview room, and it must have paid off because I walked away with the overall interview award that night. Her performance during the interview set the tone for her for the rest of the competition, including the talent category in which she sang the song Tomorrow from the musical Annie. Before the interview, I had been writing positive affirmations on my notebook, she said. One of the things that I had written down was radiate light and positive energy, just as a reminder to myself. I got in there and one of the judges said, Carsyn, you just radiate this light and positive energy. I think that was pretty incredible. I was like, Oh, my gosh, I just wrote that in my notebook. I think I had a lot of energy this year and was very conversational. In the interview room especially, the judges got to see the real me. I kept that up the whole competition. Long said its been a fun journey to becoming Miss Nebraskas Outstanding Teen. Part of her inspiration for performing in pageants and trying to become the outstanding teen title holder in Nebraska stems from the hard work and success achieved by two other local girls Teresa Scanlan, who was named Miss Nebraska in 2010 and Miss America in 2011; and JaCee Pilkington, who was the Miss Nebraska Outstanding Teen in 2009 and won Miss Nebraska in 2013. I think Ive been waiting for this moment ever since I saw Teresa Scanlan be crowned Miss America, Long said. Shes always been such a role model for me. Shes part of the reason why Ive even started competing in the first place. JaCee Pilkington has been such a good role model, too, and has inspired me. I saw all the things that those girls accomplished through the years, and I wanted to have that same impact and that same influence on my community and on my state. Thats what really inspired me to reach for this. Long said she looks forward to spending the next three months preparing for Miss Americas Outstanding Teen competition. In the next few months Im going to spend a lot of time working on things for interview preparation and trying to really nail and refine my talent, and Ill be hitting the gym, too, to perfect my fitness, she said. From what Ive heard from previous state title holders, you have to develop a mental toughness while youre at nationals because they dont let you have your phones. You cant contact your friends and family. They really focus on making this such a great experience for the girls and making sure that everyone is at their A game. It should be interesting, but it will be super fun. LINCOLN Four beer stores in Whiteclay could close Sunday after all. The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office filed an appeal Thursday afternoon following a Lancaster County judges decision earlier in the day to allow four beer-only liquor stores to remain open in Whiteclay, Nebraska. The effect of the appeal is to supersede the judges ruling, according to Hobe Rupe, the executive director of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. That means the commissions 3-0 decision to reject the renewal of the four stores liquor licenses will stand, until the attorney generals appeal is taken up by the Nebraska Court of Appeals. The liquor licenses for the four stores are scheduled to expire on Sunday. So, unless the appeals court issues a ruling this afternoon, the stores cannot operate after Sunday. Friday is the state Arbor Day holiday and courts are closed. When reached Thursday afternoon, the attorney for the liquor stores, Andy Snyder of Scottsbluff, said that he was in the midst of researching his legal options but that his clients may have to shut down effective Monday. Thursday morning, Lancaster County District Judge Andrew Jacobsen had ruled that the Nebraska Liquor Control Commissions decision last week to deny a renewal of the Whiteclay licenses was arbitrary and unreasonable. The judge said it also violated the liquor store owners constitutional rights to automatically renew their licenses, absent some dramatic change in their business. The judge ordered the commission to allow the liquor stores to renew their licenses online, thus allowing them to remain open. But at about 1:30 p.m. the Attorney Generals Office filed its appeal, which has the effect of allowing the license denial to stand, at least for now. Last weeks decision by the liquor commission was labeled as historic because it would end decades of beer sales from the tiny, unincorporated village to residents of the adjacent Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where alcohol is banned. The stores, which sell the equivalent of 3.5 million cans of beer a year, have been blamed for contributing to the widespread alcoholism problems on the reservation. Whiteclay is known as the Skid Row of the Plains for its street people who openly drink, urinate and pass out on the streets of the unincorporated village. Jacobsens ruling substantially agreed with the arguments made by the liquor stores attorney, Andy Snyder of Scottsbluff. Snyder said that the liquor commission had not followed state law and previous Nebraska Supreme Court rulings in voting 3-0 to deny renewal of the licenses. Snyder said the store owners, who have held liquor licenses for as long as three decades, were pleased with the decision, which was not totally unexpected. If someone looked at this and followed the law, I was confident of what the outcome would be, he said. Bob Batt of Omaha, who chairs the liquor commission, said he was disappointed but respected the judges ruling. We did our part based on the best legal advice that we had, he said, adding, This will continue the suffering of the people of Pine Ridge. Frank LaMere, a Native American activist from South Sioux City who has called for the closing of the Whiteclay stores for 20 years, said that the Oglala Sioux Tribe will be angered by the ruling. The judges decision, he said, ignores the death, the dying and the devastation at Whiteclay. As a Nebraskan I am troubled. As a Native American I am livid. Is this what you think of our people? LaMere asked. The judge said that prior court rulings made it clear that liquor license holders have a constitutional right to renew their licenses unless they change locations or are convicted of a felony. He said that the liquor commission had failed to show that the stores did not qualify to have their licenses automatically renewed. Jacobsen ordered the liquor board to not interfere with the renewal process by the four stores. The legal problems for the beer stores are far from over. The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office has alleged 22 violations of state liquor laws by the four stores. A hearing on those claims which could result in the stores losing their licenses could be held in June. TORRINGTON, Wyo. Professional sculptor Gareth Curtiss will give a public presentation on production and the business side of his occupation at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 27, in the Mechanical Arts Room 116 at Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington. He has been contracted to do the art piece for the new EWC Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC). Curtiss will present information/power point slides on the processes of producing bronze sculptures and the business side of being a professional artist. Throughout the week he will be working with EWC art students. This presentation is free and open to the public. Working in the tradition of the old masters, Curtiss creates monuments and memorials for our time. His career has spanned more than 30 years. Figurative sculpture is his specialty. His master level skills include working in multiple sculpture mediums, sculpture enlargement, bas-relief, alto-relief, mezzo-relief, figure drawing, and all aspects of large scale bronze casting and fabrication, including welding, patina and mold making. All of his monuments have been created, designed, and sculptured by him, and all of his large scale work has been cast at his own foundry. Curtis uses no computer generated 3-d imaging or carving devices. All his work is through the artists eye to the artists hand. He was born in Whitefish, Montana. His first sculpture was produced in bronze in 1982, and his first commission was created for Anheuser Busch in 1986. Apprenticed at Valley Bronze Art Foundry, Joseph, Oregon, from1987 to 1989, he built his own foundry in 1990. His first heroic size sculpture was completed and cast in 1991. One or more life size or larger commissions have been completed every year since 1996, over 40 commissions completed to date, most of those being life size or larger, many with multiple human figures. He has created bronze statues throughout the United States and Canada. For more information about this presentation, call the EWC Community Education office at 307-532-8323. Constellation will seek extensions for its operating license for the Clinton Power Station until 2047 and two reactors at the Dresden Generating Station in Morris until 2049 and 2051. The Appropriations Committee introduced the budget package to the floor on Friday and debate has already began. Over the course of the next couple weeks, the Legislature will continue to debate the budget package, which determines spending for Nebraska for the next full biennial (two-year) budget starting in July 2017 and ending June of 2019. There will be a lot of debate over the states spending, with some major priorities being discussed. Property taxes and the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund will be a major source of contention as the Legislature seeks to provide comprehensive property tax relief to Nebraskans. The Property Tax Credit Cash Fund is the second largest increase in the budget at $40 million over the two-year biennium. Another big item will be the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act (TEEOSA) funding for our public schools. TEEOSA includes the funding formula used to allocate state aid dollars to public school districts. TEEOSA is the largest increasing item in the budget at $62 million over the next biennial budgeting period. The third major item in the budget is going to be Justice Reinvestment Act Funding. The Justice Reinvestment Act was a culmination of policy changes implemented to address Nebraskas prison overcrowding issues. Increases for the Justice Reinvestment Act will increase by $11 million as more prisoners become eligible. As prison issues continue to present a significant challenge for the state, there will be an increased focus on Correctional Services and an increase in funding for staffing at our states prisons. The budget recommendation includes an $8 million increase in the proposed biennial budget. This does not include the Governors and Committees budget proposal for staffing level increases to address the shortage at the Department of Corrections. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provider rates will be another item of contention as the Legislature debates budgetary issues. Behavioral health, developmental disability, and Medicaid will all be debated. These rates are typically raised each year, but in order to shore up the budget deficit, the Committee has proposed a net 0 increase in provider rates, with an exception of a 3% reduction for hospitals and physicians. As the Legislature debates its priorities and accounts for all incoming bills which will affect the budget, there will be debate on how much we pull from the rainy day fund. The current proposal includes a $173 million transfer to the General Fund to shore up the deficit and a $75 million transfer to the Department of Corrections for its Reception and Treatment Center project. This would bring our reserve down to $370 million. But that number is likely to change. Outside of the budget, the Legislature passed a good number of bills on Monday, sending them to the governors desk for his signature to officially become law. Three of my bills, LB101, LB151 & LB222 were among those passed by the Legislature. LB101 makes the bidding process for the States main administrative arm, the Department of Administrative Services, more competitive by putting limitations on contract renewals and extensions. It was amended into LB151. LB151 would add oversight measures to state agencies during the auditing process by empowering the State Auditor to conduct post-audit reviews. As mentioned already, it has LB101 amended into it along with three more bills appropriate to the theme of responsible state agency management. LB222 also follows along the theme of responsible agency management. It has been one of my most anticipated bills of the year. It restructures the Nebraska Tourism Commission into an 11-district system based on lodging revenues. It would implement oversight measures by requiring the adoption of formal rules, regulations, and would clarify its innovative grant program to promote the tourism industry in Nebraska. Ever since first arriving to the Legislature in 2015, I have worked hard implementing oversight measures into the Commission to save taxpayer dollars. Many of the issues I witnessed came to a head when its Director was fired last year for misuse of state funds and unethical management behaviors. LB222 is the culmination of those efforts to realign the Commission to its mission and purpose. On Tuesday, the Legislature debated an amendment I introduced AM998 to one of Senator Smiths bills, LB233. AM998 is a part of my efforts to shore up the states biennial budget. My amendment is an attempt to put on hold tax credit programs for two years to help us taper down the $173 million proposal to draw from the rainy day fund. The Legislature is working on some changes with the governor on my amendment. We hope to bring the state an additional $35.4 million. One of my major concerns lies in balancing the budget for the next biennium. Using available opportunities in 2017 and 2018 will achieve that end. Neither of these options are favorable. But this is not business as usual. With an additional $9 million from two of Senator Riepes bills- LB333 and LB335 will bring the state closer to $45 million. This could be used to lower our transfer from the rainy day fund from the $173 million proposal to approximately $129 million. Stay tuned. There will be a lot of political theater in the coming days. As always, I remain open to your feedback on how I may address the issues that mean most to you. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with any questions you may have. Thank you to those who have taken the time to express their views on various issues. My contact information is: Senator John P. Stinner, District 48 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln NE 68209-4604; telephone: 402-471-2802; email: jstinner@leg.ne.gov. LINCOLN Nebraskas Hunters Helping the Hungry (HHH) program continues to grow, as 2016 saw a 23 percent increase in the number of deer donated. Established in 2012 by the Nebraska Legislature, HHH is a program that provides ground venison to Nebraskans in need. It allows hunters to donate whole field-dressed deer at participating meat processors, food pantries and other charitable organizations. In 2016, a record 528 hunters participated, and Nebraskans received more than 28,000 pounds of venison. The full report of HHH for 2016 is available at OutdoorNebraska.org/HHH. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission accepts cash donations to pay contracted processors and operate the program. A tax-deductible donation to support the program can be made at http://shopoutdoornebraska.ne.gov, or when purchasing hunting permits. Learn more about the program at OutdoorNebraska.org/HHH or contact the program coordinator, Teresa Lombard, at 402 471-5430 or teresa.lombard@nebraska.gov. Free Fishing and Park Entry Day is May 20 LINCOLN Free Fishing and Park Entry Day in Nebraska is May 20. Enjoy a Saturday of fishing or state park activities without the need to purchase a fishing or park entry permit for the day. Free Fishing and Park Entry Day, held annually in Nebraska on the Saturday preceding Memorial Day weekend, means anyone can explore outdoor opportunities at any Nebraska state park, state recreation area or state historical park. Anglers must observe all fishing regulations. Camping, lodging and all other user fees still apply at state park areas. Several family-friendly activities are scheduled in state park areas across the state to celebrate Free Fishing and Park Entry Day. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org and check the online calendar for more details. Calamus SRA campground has new shower house LINCOLN Visitors to Calamus State Recreation Area will find a new shower house in the Valley Vue Campground. The amenity was built as part of a deferred maintenance project. Vehicles entering the area must have a park entry permit. Permits are available at OutdoorNebraska.org, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offices, and at the park office. Calamus, a popular fishing and camping destination, is located 5 miles northwest of Burwell in Loup County. For more information, call the park at 308-346-5666. A Rowan County Sheriffs Office captain clarified that the man who led Iredell deputies on a chase on Wednesday was wanted for shooting into a car, not for a home invasion as originally reported. Rowan Sheriff's Capt. John Sifford clarified that deputies were dispatched Wednesday morning to a home on Phifer Road in Cleveland after a caller reported a home invasion committed by Curtis Luther Dalton Jr. When deputies arrived, the caller, Daltons cousin, elaborated and said Dalton entered his home Tuesday night and Wednesday morning and pointed a rifle at him. According to the cousin, Dalton threatened to hurt himself Tuesday night, Sifford said. When Dalton learned his cousin had tried to take his guns away, he fired four shots into his cousins vehicle, he added. Rowan officials took out warrants against Dalton for two counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied property and one count possession of a firearm by a felon. Iredell deputies located Dalton in Statesville Wednesday afternoon in his black Nissan, and a chase ensued. Dalton crashed the Nissan north of Statesville, injuring an unidentified female passenger, then fled on foot. Campbell said Dalton later stole a white van and led deputies on a second chase. He was later captured on Interstate 77 South. Following his capture, Dalton was transported to Davis Regional Medical Center, but it's not known if he's still being treated there. As of Thursday morning, he had not been processed into the Iredell County Detention Center. Campbell estimated three patrol cars sustained minor damage during the chase and are still drivable, while a fourth is no longer safe to drive. An estimate of the total damage wont be available until later. 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The explosion "shook the Damascus International Airport area at dawn today. A thud could be heard in Damascus city and surrounding areas," a statement from the monitoring group's founder, Rami Abdulrahman, reads. "A fire broke out in the area but the cause of the explosion is still unknown," Abdulrahman said. Two Damascus residents who spoke to CNN reported hearing a massive explosion near the airport. Civil war broke out in Syria in 2011 after an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad but escalated as militant groups and regional players such as Iran, Turkey Russia and Israel became involved. Syrian state television reported Thursday that missiles had hit a military site southwest of the airport, quoting a military source. The missiles caused explosions and material losses, state TV said. The report blamed Israel for the missile strike. Incident 'compatible with Israeli policy' Israel's Intelligence Minister Israel Katz appeared to back up claims that Israel was responsible for the explosion in an interview with Army Radio Thursday. "I can confirm that the incident in Syria is completely compatible with the Israeli policy of operating to prevent the smuggling advanced weaponry from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon by Iran," Katz said in response to a question on the incident. "I don't want to go any further as is natural in these circumstances but this event is completely compatible with our declared policy, a policy which we carry out as the Prime Minister has said, at any moment that we receive intelligence that shows the intent to pass advanced weapons to Hezbollah." When pushed by the interviewer that this was a claim of responsibility for the attack, Katz said: "I did not say that, I said what I said." Separately, a spokesperson for the IDF told CNN the army had no comment on reports that Israel was responsible. Hezbollah in Syria Hezbollah is a Lebanese militant group and political party, funded and supplied by Iran. The group is at odds with Israel over territory along the Lebanon-Israel border. It also supports the Assad regime, committing thousands of fighters to battle alongside Assad's forces Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last April confirmed that his country had struck Syria "dozens of times." On Wednesday, Israel's Defense Ministry said Minister of Defense Avigdor Liberman had discussed the situation in Syria with Russia's Defense and Foreign Ministers during an international conference in Moscow. Liberman had expressed his concern about Iran's use of Syrian grounds to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah and said Israel would not allow the concentration of Iranian and Hezbollah forces on the Golan Heights border, the ministry said in a statement. Regional involvement in Syria Last month, Syria fired anti-aircraft missiles at Israeli military jets. The Syrian military said the Israeli jets struck a military site near Palmyra, while Israel said they targeted a weapons shipment to Iran-backed Hezbollah. Netanyahu released a video statement after the strike saying: "When we identify attempts to transfer advanced weapons to Hezbollah and we have intelligence and it is operationally feasible, we act to prevent it." Leaving earlier that month for talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Netanyahu said: "Iran is trying to establish itself permanently in Syria, with a military presence on the ground and at sea, and also a gradual attempt to open a front against us on the Golan Heights." CNN's Sarah Sirgany, Kareem Khadder and Susannah Cullinane contributed to this report. The Romanian seaside is ready to welcome May 1 holidaymakers, although not all tourist facilities are working at capacity, Tourism Minister Mircea Dobre told agerpres, remarking also that the quality of Black Sea coast tourist services has progressively increased from one year to another. "We met last week with industry representatives and I am sure the Black Sea tourist facilities are ready, not necessarily for the May 1 mini-holiday, because the facilities are not yet operating at full capacity, if we refer to the beach leisure services like beach bars, but overall they are ready for the summer season. The quality of seaside services has increased from one year to another, driven also by the development of international events, and it is clear there's an increase in the quality of tourism services overall, not just on the Black Sea coast," Dobre said. "As of this year we have charter flights for Israeli citizens, and this shows that there is interest for Romania, as proven by the fact that several weekly flights are being operated, and we are generally interested in attracting Western tourists. I consider that Romania does not compete with Bulgaria, we have other specific packages to offer compared to our neighbors," Dobre explained. According to data provided by the Seaside - Danube Delta Association, some 7,000 Israeli tourists have visited the Romanian seaside in 2016, with the resorts of Mamaia, Navodari and Eforie attracting the highest numbers of vacationers; for 2017, the number of tourists from Israel could exceed 8,000 against the background of the weekly charter flights' supplementation. Apart from the Tourism Law that is intended to give the industry a boost, the holiday vouchers that should be granted as of July 1, 2017 and the Master Plan for Tourism Investments that is en route to completion will provide further incentives to this activity sector. MONDAY SMALL BUSINESS Justine Petersen and Small Business Majority host a panel discussion on fostering and supporting inclusion in the start-up/incubator culture. 3-4:30 p.m., Justine Petersen, 1023 North Grand Boulevard Free. Register: 314-533-2411 ext. 132 or email ggondolfi@justinepetersen.org INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW SCORE presents this workshop on patents, trademarks and copyrights. 5:30-8:30 p.m., Fontbonne University, 6800 Wydown Boulevard, Anheuser-Busch Hall, Room 202 $35 preregistered, $45 at the door. Register: http://conta.cc/2oENgiw QUICKBOOKS SCORE presents this workshop on how to use QuickBooks Online. 6-9 p.m., Fontbonne University, 6800 Wydown Boulevard, Anheuser-Busch Hall, Room 203 $35 preregistered, $45 at the door. Register: http://conta.cc/2ptQP0a TUESDAY SMALL BUSINESS The U.S. Small Business Administration sponsors this workshop on financing options for your small business. 1-3 p.m., St. Louis County Library Headquarters, 1640 South Lindbergh Boulevard Free; RSVP encouraged to thomas.daiber@sba.gov or 314-539-6614 FRIDAY JOB FAIR St. Charles Community College hosts a free job fair. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; College Center, St. Charles Community College campus, 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive Free for job seekers; $70 for nonprofit organizations, $95 for for-profit organizations. For questions, contact Jenny Hahn Schnipper, 636-922-8244 or jschnipper@stchas.edu SATURDAY MAY 6 NONPROFIT SCORE presents this workshop on how to start a nonprofit business. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Fontbonne University, 6800 Wydown Boulevard, Anheuser-Busch Hall, Room 203 $35 preregistered, $45 at the door. Register: http://conta.cc/2pf0gQb SMALL BUSINESS SCORE presents this seminar on how to start your own business. 8:15 a.m.-3 p.m., Fontbonne University, 6800 Wydown Boulevard, Anheuser-Busch Hall, Room 202 $60 preregistered, $70 at the door. Register: http://conta.cc/2pZ9NLD Beauty and the Beast PG 2:09 Emma Watson and Dan Stevens star in this entertaining remake of the 1991 animated musical. Not quite as good as the original but well worth seeing. Directed by Bill Condon (Dreamgirls). Calvin Wilson Before I Fall PG-13 1:39 Young adult thriller has a Groundhog Day aspect as protagonist Samantha (Zoey Deutch) relives the same Friday, over and over, preceding a car crash. Directed by Ry Russo-Young. Tribune News Service Born in China' G 1:16 Planet Earth aimed at younger audiences, but any nature lover can find enjoyment here, especially in the stunning cinematography of baby pandas, snow leopards and golden monkeys. Tribune News Service The Boss Baby PG 1:37 Alec Baldwin voices a bossy infant whos strikingly similar to his 30 Rock alter ego. The plot is convoluted, but young viewers will be amused by the slapstick humor. Jody Mitori Free Fire R 1:30 Brie Larson and Cillian Murphy cant redeem this lame Tarantino-lite crime story. A misfire. Directed by Ben Wheatley. CW Get Out R 1:43 Writer-Director Jordan Peele (Key & Peele) largely leaves comedy behind for a violent horror tale about a black man (Daniel Kaluuya) who meets his white girlfriends (Allison Williams) creepy parents. Associated Press Gifted PG-13 1:40 Chris Evans stars in this flawed but engaging comedy-drama about a man who must fight for custody of his young niece (McKenna Grace), whos a genius. Directed by Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer). CW Going in Style PG-13 1:36 Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin are splendidly hilarious in this remake of a 1979 comedy about retirees who plan a bank robbery. Its a feel-good film with a dash of working-class anger. Directed by Zach Braff. CW Hidden Figures PG 2:07 Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae star in this fact-based comedy-drama about African-American women and their contributions to NASA in the 1960s. With Kevin Costner. Directed by Theodore Melfi (St. Vincent). CW Kong: Skull Island PG-13 1:58 Lots of characters get eaten by exotic creatures in this thrilling but undemanding reboot of the King Kong franchise. With Brie Larson and Tom Hiddleston. Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts (The Kings of Summer). CW The Lego Batman Movie PG 1:32 Of all the Batman incarnations, Will Arnetts is funniest in this animated spinoff of The Lego Movie (2014). Longtime fans of the comics are rewarded with lots of throwback references. With Michael Cera, Zach Galifianakis, Rosario Dawson and Ralph Fiennes. Jody Mitori Logan R 2:15 Hugh Jackman finds that he cant put his past as Wolverine behind him in this superior superhero flick. One of the best entries in the X-Men series. With Patrick Stewart. Directed by James Mangold. CW The Lost City of Z PG-13 2:20 Charlie Hunnam is terrific in writer-director James Grays masterful tale of a British explorer and his efforts to prove that a lost civilization existed. With Sienna Miller. CW Power Rangers PG-13 2:04 Angsty teens stumble upon some jewels, get into a car crash and wake up with the ability to crush iPhones and scale mountains in a cheesy reboot. Associated Press The Promise PG-13 2:13 As a history lesson about the Armenian genocide, the movie is effective if mild. By trying to make the message more congenial, horrors are presented mostly as the backdrop to a love story. With Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon and Christian Bale and directed by Terry George. Washington Post Smurfs: The Lost Village PG 1:31 Though the kaleidoscopic imagery is the true star of this third film in the franchise, the Smurfs are still as bland as can be. In this installment, Smurfette (Demi Lovato) goes on a mission to find her true calling. Also featuring the voices of Joe Manganiello, Jack McBrayer and Mandy Patinkin. JM Their Finest R 1:57 A World War II comedy that, despite its light hand, never compromises the loss at its core. Director Lone Scherfig spikes the romance between Gemma Arterton and Sam Claflin, who work on propaganda films meant to bolster citizens; Bill Nighy plays a vain, semifamous actor. Washington Post Unforgettable R 1:40 An unbalanced woman sets out to destroy her ex-husband and his new fiancees engagement. With Katherine Heigl, Rosario Dawson, Geoff Stults, Cheryl Ladd, Sara Burns, Whitney Cummings, Simon Kassianides, Isabella Rice, Robert Ray Wisdom. Written by Christina Hodson. Directed by Denise Di Novi. Not reviewed The Zookeepers Wife In April 2014 and July 2014, residents of Gndevaz and Jermuk communities together with several environmental NGOs in Armenia submitted two complaints to CAO with regard to IFC's investment in Lydian International Limited, a mining company sponsoring the exploration and planning exploitation of the Amulsar gold mining project. The complainants highlighted concerns about project impacts on the local water basins' quality, risks with uranium deposits near the mining sight, red-listed species and a local tourism center. Other issues raised included criticisms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted and alleged violations of IFCs Performance Standards and national regulations. IFC has been involved in Amulsar mining project since 2007; it is a 7.9% shareholder of Lydian International and has invested over 13 million USD in multiple stages. Meanwhile, Lydian International is an offshore based company, registered in Jersey, Channel Islands in 2006. The company has no mining experience whatsoever. It intends doing its first ever project in Amulsar, Armenia, which is situated in a geologically complicated area and therefore, is prone to substantial environmental and social risks. Since 2008, Lydian International is registered in Toronto Stock Exchange; however, this adds little transparency to Lydian with regard to revealing information about its shareholders, as the overwhelming majority of them are intermediary stock management companies and no information about the real shareholders is available. Nevertheless, a recent investigation discovered connections among several stakeholders in Amulsar project which involve corruption and money laundry risks. Amulsar gold mining project is only planned for 10 years and it will face serious opposition in case it starts. An ongoing petition with nearly 3500 signatures demands to stop financing the project. The new Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was commissioned by Lydian Armenia (Geoteam) and approved by the Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia in April 2016. Currently, representatives of Gndevaz village community and 2 environmental NGOs are disputing in the Administrative Court of Armenia the approval of the ESIA by the relevant ministries of Armenia; they state that the government has approved the mining project without carrying out due legal procedures and without due expert analyses of the documents presented by Lydian Armenia. At the most recent court hearing (March 16, 2017), the plaintiffs demanded that a new environmental and social impact assessment be carried out by independent experts. The stance of the Armenian government and Lydian Armenia on this issue announced on the next hearing on April 18, 2017. Meanwhile, information is published about how Armenian government accommodated the national legislation specifically to create more favourable conditions for gold mining in Amulsar breaching environmental standards and ignoring other more effective economic options for the development of the region: animation 1 and animation 2 present abstracts from an investigatory film on this issue. Hereby, we would like to present to the IFC the most concerning unmanageable risks connected with gold mining in Amulsar and factors which may lead to the failure of the project. We urge that IFC refrains from any involvement in this project. Affecting water resources and the risk of acid drainage Amulsar is a sulphide mine (also stated in Geoteams early mineral exploration documents), therefore the water flowing through sulphide rocks will turn into reactive acid water creating acid drainage. The open mine area will be exposed to snow, rain and artificial watering, the streams originating in the open mine area will flow over the surface of the stripped area and downstream the mountain and will penetrate deep into the ground. Amulsar mountain is formed of cracked volcanic rocks and there is no method or technology to stop the water from penetrating into these rocks and thus flowing further into the ground. The latter will not only erode the iron concrete construction of the Vorotan-Arpa water tunnel that is located in the immediate vicinity of the planned mining area, but will also infiltrate into the water flowing through the tunnel into Lake Sevan and will ultimately alter the lakes chemical composition. Lake Sevan is a unique large fresh water reservoir and a strategic water resource from the entire region of South Caucasus. This risk is also confirmed by a fact that not far from the mining site, right on Amulsars slope there is a small natural pond of diluted acid. Another risk for water resources is associated with Jermuk, a health resort town famous for its healing mineral waters, only 12 km away from the mine and not even included in the ESIA until 2016. Lydian excludes any negative impact of the mining activities on the mineral waters and insists that an isotope analysis confirmed that these waters have no physical connection to Amulsars hydrological systems. However, scientific data (source: Geomorphology of Armenian SSR, 1986, pp. 134-145) (source 1, source 2) states the opposite: in relatively recent geological past, this area was the paleochannel of the Arpa-Vorotan river basin. Vorotan river has been connected to the Arpa river basin, they were one river (upper pliocene-lower quaternary geological period). Vorotan rivers upper basin and Arpa river were separated after Amulsars lateral raise. This means that deep mineral and underground waters are still connected. The ESIA has numerous other gaps regarding the assessment of impact on water resources. These gaps are mentioned in detail in the petition of 8 environmental NGOs to the government of Armenia, dated March 10, 2017 (available only in Armenian yet). The NGOs and their experts exposed a number of methodological errors in the ESIA, contradictory facts presented in different documents of Lydian and a lack of grounded expert assessment which should prevent such a project from being carried out. 2. Heap leaching with sodium cyanide The usage of sodium cyanide for heap leaching (1000 tons annually) contains primary and secondary risks, which are often unmanageable and uncontrollable. Primary risks include fires in cyanide storehouses, accidents in technical structures, leaks of highly hazardous substances, natural disasters, terrorist and military actions, and other similar accidents with grave effects on people, as well as nature. Secondary risks have even more complex origins and their impacts may last forever. Ore containing gold and silver is crushed as a result of which all elements (or metal and non metal compounds) in the ore are separated. This substance is processed with water and cyanide mixture, and as a result of chemical reaction the gold is separated. However the reaction takes place not only between cyanide and gold but also between cyanide and other elements in the ore, including heavy metals, as a result of which nitrates and other chemical compounds are formed. There are many more heavy metals in the ore in Amulsar than gold, including cobalt, copper, iron, nickel, mercury, zinc, wolfram, bismuth, chromium, lead, as well as poisonous substances such as arsenic, selenium, tellurium, beryllium, cadmium, which will seriously pollute and threaten nature, ecosystem and humans health if they remain in the waste. Risks of pollution cannot be ignored in the case of Amulsar, because its territory is located in a seismic area, in a tectonically active and landslide zone. Even a few millimeters of ground movement annually will be enough to destabilize the protective layers and structures and to cause an ecological disaster in Vayots Dzor region. Similarly, risk exists in case of technical problems and leaks that may also occur in the heap leach facility that will be located on the shores of Arpa river and some 1000 meters away from Gndevaz village (case of Bellavista mine is well known for us to understand the risks). From year 5 of the project activity, Lydian plans to extract the remains of cyanide from the heap-leach water and release it to Arpa river; the same solution is planned in case of technical accidents. The company hides information about the fact that this water will contain not only cyanide but also a large number of heavy metals (see more details in the next point). Another risk related to this topic is that sodium cyanide will be transported to the mining site by road (there is no railway there) which means that dozens of towns and villages on the way to Amulsar will be at risk in case of any accidents of leak of cyanide during its transportation to the mining site. Note, the cyanide route, transportation and handling have not been part of ESIA and have not been duly examined and approved. 3. Communities downstream Arpa river The mining project contains risks towards communities living downstream Arpa river. According to the ESIA of Lydian Armenia, these communities are not even considered to be affected communities. However, as the mining project states, the company will collect all the industrial waters for 5 years, afterwards, they will carry out a cyanide treatment and release the water to Arpa river. While cyanide can indeed be neutralised in water, other heavy metals will remain. What is going to happen to arsenium, zinc, and other metals available in the industrial waters? The project lacks any mention of treatment for heavy metals before releasing the water to Arpa river. Meanwhile, Arpa is the main source of irrigation water for at least 5 large villages which are among largest agricultural and wine producers in the country, and some local producers have even certified their products as organic. These people have not at all been informed about the grave risks to which they will be exposed in case mining in Amulsar happens. Risks of contamination of Arpa river and therefore, also massive agricultural lands are ignored in the ESIA. 4. A risk for World Bank funded projects in Armenia The gold mining project in Amulsar contradicts other investments and projects of the World Bank in the same area in Armenia. The first one is Community Agricultural Resource Management and Competitiveness (CARMAC) Project for Armenia: The CARMAC project is designed to improve productivity and sustainability of pasture based livestock farms in 55 mountainous communities by increasing milk production, improving pasture management, and enhancing farm sales of livestock products. For example, this project includes Gorayk community which is now known for its best pastures in Armenia and is listed in CARMAC communities, but it is also one of the communities directly affected by Amulsar gold mining. The second contradiction is with the South Corridor Tourism Development Strategy which involves Jermuk as one of the main strategic places for tourism development but which will be affected by mining in Amulsar. Given the number of unmanageable risks mentioned above, mining in Amulsar will be incompatible with tourism or agriculture; these risks have not been duly assessed and, as referred in point 1 above, independent experts have revealed a number of methodological errors in the ESIA. 5. Active opposition and protests The environmental community in Armenia and beyond, as well as local communities are actively opposing to the project. As soon as information about exploration in Amulsar became public, there has always been opposition towards this project in Armenia. The local communities were totally against the mine which was clear from the public hearings (more public hearing), from protest actions and refusal to sell lands for years (the state eventually declared eminent domain over those lands, who were not selling them). Independent experts and even the state expert committee on Lake Sevan have given negative opinions about mining in this area. Since 2011-2012, there have been numerous protest actions in Yerevan and Jermuk, discussion, critical articles, petitions, court appeals (in Armenia and Aarhus committee). The opposition is becoming even more vocal and organised now. In the recent 6 months the issue has again raised high on the public agenda. In November 2016, after a local bank (Ameriabank) announced about giving a loan for Amulsar project their online public rating in the social networks dropped from nearly 5 star to 2.2 with hundreds of comments stating public discontent about this decision. There was a protest action in front of the bank headquarters, and dozens of individuals closed their accounts in Ameriabank as a sign of protest. Another protest action took place at the 30th anniversary reception of the Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia in December 2016; environmentalists disrupted the gathering with a speech and gifted the Minister mine-contaminated water. In March 2017, the environmental activists disrupted the presentation of EBRD, EU and Swedish Government joint project titled Business woman exposing how Amulsar mining (also supported by EBRD) is going to affect the demography in Jermuk town, depriving women of their sustainable jobs in tourism and health resorts and increasing the risk of sexual violence and sexually transmitted diseases as hundreds of male mine workers will move to the town (ESIA, 2016, chapter 6.12, chapter 6.18). After this intervention social media ratings of EBRD too dropped and received dozens of critical comments and questions; 2 days later EBRD removed the review/rating bar to hide the criticism. In March, residents of Gndevaz physically stopped Lydian Armenia from starting explosions at the village where heap leaching facility is planned to be constructed; a couple of days later, they blocked the road and stopped the cars of the Prime Minister of Armenia who was visiting the region for his electoral campaign and expressed their concerns and discontent about Amulsar gold project; as a result, the prime minister proposed that Lydian Armenia organizes a meeting in the village on March 16 (which is now postponed till April 6, after the elections) with the participation of experts from the government in order to address the questions of the local residents. Moreover, during the past 6 months numerous articles, expert opinions and investigations have been published in Armenian and foreign media revealing dangers and corruption with regard to Amulsar gold project. Considering these, as well as previously mentioned concerns, we urge IFC to withdraw from Amulsar project and stop supporting it in any way. Armenian Environmental Front (AEF) civil initiative Mining Watch Canada Greens Union of Armenia "Ecological Academy" NGO EcoLur Informational NGO Jermuk Development Center NGO "Environmental Public Society" NGO If the past few months have taught us anything, its this: Dont take anything for granted jobs, visits with friends and family, even simple pleasures such as going to a movie or enjoying a meal at a restaurant. The Wright Brothers used a coin flip to see which brother would have a chance to make history. More than a century later, city leaders in St. Louis might be leaving the future of St. Louis Lambert International Airport to a similar fate. On March 16, then-Mayor Francis Slay signed a memorandum of representation with three private entities allowing those organizations to pursue the potential privatization of Lamberts operations for the city. There had been no public meetings. No community discussion. The airport director didnt know about the contract. Neither did the airport commission nor the Board of Aldermen. The agreement has been presented to the public as a deal with nonprofit Grow Missouri funded by retired investor and chess philanthropist Rex Sinquefield and the city, with Sinquefield paying the costs of the citys attempt to investigate privatization. But its much more than that. Its officially a contract between city counselor Michael Garvin and Washington law firm Wicks Group PLLC, because the city charter allows Garvin to hire special counsel without Board of Aldermen approval. Its a contract with politically connected consulting company McKenna & Associates, also a Beltway firm, known in part for its founders ability to raise dark money in Republican circles. And its a contract that allows all three of those entities to ultimately seek compensation if the city signs a contract with a private vendor to operate the airport. So, when Slay says, Its not going to cost the city anything, thats not entirely true. But this is: The man to whom Slay has entrusted the process to market perhaps the citys greatest asset is embroiled in a dispute over paying his bills. Lobbyist Travis Brown is the man to whom Sinquefield has long given control of his political operation. Brown and his then-wife, Rachel Keller, founded Pelopidas Inc. in 2007. It has grown into a large operation that encompasses lobbying, fundraising, multimedia and consulting, nearly all of it tied to and funded by Sinquefield, such as his nonprofit Grow Missouri. Last year, Keller sued Brown and Pelopidas she is still a manager of the company alleging that Brown failed to make payments due her on multiple occasions, that his record keeping wasnt accurate, and that he was operating their jointly owned company for his own personal benefit. Keller and Brown have an interesting procedure outlined in their company bylaws should they reach an impasse on a decision. They flip a coin. For the coin toss, says their agreement, which is in the court file, Rachel will choose the coin and the face of the coin after showing Travis both faces of the coin. Brown didnt return a phone call for this column. But his spokesman, Ed Rhode, did. Rhode doesnt just work for Brown. He also is a top adviser to new Mayor Lyda Krewson, who will hold tremendous sway over what happens with the contract that her predecessor signed. Rhode is also an adviser to St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger, who also will play a role. The cozy relationship between Rex Inc. and the public officials who will decide what happens to Lambert is not an accident. Ever since Sinquefield started trying to get rid of the citys 1 percent earnings tax in 2010, hes been floating the idea of privatizing Lambert as a way to make up the lost revenue, about a third of the citys budget. Slay said he first started studying the issue in 2015, after a former official in the Obama administration paid him a visit. Talks got more serious when his former chief of staff, Jeff Rainford, brought attorneys from Husch Blackwell to meet with the mayor about the idea. Later, Slay met with Brown and Sinquefield to discuss them financing the effort that led to last weeks preliminary approval from the federal government to pursue privatization. Sinquefield was one of Slays largest campaign contributors. Rex has brought up the idea of using the airport proceeds to replace the earnings tax, Slay says. But this isnt going to be up to Rex. Its going to be up to the city. Privatization supporters point to the San Juan, Puerto Rico, airport as a shining example of the sort of income the city might realize from privatization. Indeed, the comparison is a worthy one. Four years after privatizing its airport the island is facing a worsening debt crisis. The privatization effort was rife with ethical conflicts, in part because of the sort of secrecy at the beginning of the process that seems to be the hallmark of whats happening so far in St. Louis. Before the privatization effort in Puerto Rico was consummated, heres what San Juan attorney Mario Pabon Rosario wrote about it: From its beginning, this privatization process has been plagued by questionable practices on the part of the (public-private partnership), he wrote, such as contracting as advisors entities that would later become bidders in the privatization process, and contracting as a legal advisor a firm that previously had bidders as its clients. Grow Missouri was last in the headlines three years ago, when the Sinquefield nonprofit sent solicitations to reporters across Missouri, offering to pay them for propaganda pieces, while promising to protect their identities. Now the same operation has the future of Lambert in its hands, and secrecy is still its currency. Heads, Rex wins. Tails, taxpayers lose. PEMISCOT COUNTY, Mo. A Festus woman was killed Thursday in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 55 in southeast Missouri. The Missouri Highway Patrol identified the victim as Sonya J. Cherry, 56. Police say Cherry was a passenger in a car driven by Allison E. Venuto, 31, of Pevely, Mo. Venuto was seriously injured in the crash. Southbound traffic on I-55 was stopped at about the 15-mile marker about 12:30 p.m. Thursday in Pemiscot County, including Venuto's 2016 Honda. A 2003 Kenworth tractor-trailer was in front of Venuto's car. The patrol didn't say why the traffic had stopped. A 2015 GMC truck driven by Jeffery M. Bailey, 39, of Dyess, Ark., struck the back of Venuto's car and pushed it into the tractor-trailer. He was not listed among the injured. Cherry was taken by medical helicopter to a hospital in Memphis, Tenn., where she died. Cherry and Venuto were both wearing seat belts, police say. FLORISSANT After more than three decades behind bars for crimes he says he didnt commit and prosecutors admit he didnt get a fair trial on, Andrew Wilson made it back to Florissant this month for a much-longed-for reunion with his mother. As he talked about the ordeal that began in 1984 and didnt end until March, his mother, 96-year-old Margie Davis, sat by his side. They were at her home where her son had only recently rejoined her. I just felt good. Unbelievable, Davis said of her sons release from prison. When the judge called and said that they was releasing him, I didnt believe it. I say, Ill wait and see. But, here he is. Wilson, 62, was imprisoned on robbery and murder convictions in the stabbing death of a 21-year-old man in California. Wilson said he had been railroaded by dishonest and unlawful actions by a district attorney and detective. I didnt have a reason to tell a lie. You know, I didnt do this. I didnt do it, Wilson said emphatically. Wilson maintained his innocence for decades. Davis championed her sons case from afar, but it wasnt until lawyers from the Loyola Law Schools Project for the Innocent got involved that his fortunes changed. Program leaders said a federal public defender for the Central District of California alerted the group to Wilsons case. The public defender had been investigating a different case involving a detective Wilson had filed complaints about. In March, prosecutors determined Wilson did not receive a fair trial, citing cumulative errors, and he was released. The district attorneys office has said it still believes Wilson was involved in the murder but wouldnt refile charges, the Los Angeles Times reported. You go through the moment of Is this real? he said of the moment he was convicted. Im still going through that moment. Is it real? Its unbelievable. More than a month after he was freed and cleared to leave California, Wilson sat on a sofa in the living room of his mothers home in Florissant this week. Davis sat beside him, mostly quietly in her pink bath robe. She strained to hear what she could of the conversation and occasionally added delayed interjections. She smiled tenderly at her son when he patted her knee. Davis told the Post-Dispatch in March that she had spent several years corresponding with lawyers about her sons case, to no avail. But Wilson said his saving grace was his mothers diligence, his commitment to proving his innocence and the aid of Project for the Innocent lawyers and students. Project for the Innocent made it right this time, but there are so many people that are still in my situation, that I was in, that havent been as lucky as me. What do we do for those people? Wilson said. After his release, he attended an event with dozens of other people who had been cleared of convictions. That event highlighted a flaw he sees with the nations judicial system. Any time you got 200 people who have been exonerated for crimes like that, its not a mistake. Its not a mistake, a blunder, an, Oops, Im sorry. Its just intentional, Wilson said. He questions why, if a crooked DA and crooked police still receive retirement benefits after their wrongdoings are discovered if they are discovered, he emphasizes a person who has been wrongly convicted isnt also provided for. All Im asking is for a fair shake for everybody, Wilson said. Wilson grew up in St. Louis but left for Los Angeles in 1978 to live and work. Since arriving home, he said, hes mostly been doing chores around his mothers house, especially cleaning up the backyard. His mother mentions how she would like flowers in front of the house. He gets the hint. While he continues his bid for vindication and restitution, Wilson said he hoped to complete college courses he began in prison, find a job and volunteer. He has to make a trip back to Los Angeles next month for what he hopes will be a final hearing on his case, but he is looking well beyond that chapter of his life now. I cant look back like that. Its not worth it, he said. Im passed 60 years old and I think I got a lot longer to live and a lot to live for. So I cant look back. I cant do that. Xavier Payne probably wouldnt have made it back for his sophomore year at Southeast Missouri State University without the help of a student services office on campus. Different studies have shown disproportionately low graduation rates for students of color, low-income students and those who are the first in their family to go to college. For Payne, a Chesterfield native, it came down to money. When he came to the Academic Support Centers at SEMO, the staff helped connect him with additional scholarship opportunities. They put him in touch with the right people to land a summer job, too, which will help him build a financial buffer before his junior year this fall. That support is chief among the reasons SEMO was celebrated in a report released Friday as one of five schools getting it right with students who are at a greater risk of falling through the cracks. Other schools winning praise were Webster and Maryville universities in St. Louis, the University of Central Missouri and Missouri State University a mix of public and private. The study comes from the advocacy group St. Louis Graduates, with the help of the Illinois Research Council, thanks to a $35,000 grant from the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority. Starting with 20 four-year institutions 17 in Missouri and three in Illinois the study looked at how many students of color, how many qualified for need-based financial aid, and how many first generation students each school had. Then, the researchers compared those numbers against six-year graduation rates, which are a common metric for four-year colleges, as well as student loan debt at the time of graduation. Much of the data presented are based on average numbers from 2012 to 2014, depending on the metric. Each school had a different strength. At Webster University, 44 percent of students were African-American or Latino. SEMOs student body is 43 percent first-generation. At the University of Central Missouri, 42 percent of students are eligible for federal need-based financial aid. All five schools had graduation rates above 50 percent and an average student loan debt of $22,000 to $25,000. Alan Byrd, co-chair of St. Louis Graduates, said this effort started as a ranking system of all 20 institutions, which range from open-enrollment schools such as Harris-Stowe State University to highly selective research institutions such as Washington University. We went out with the focus of figuring out which schools are doing a good job with our target population, he said. We decided to focus on these top five schools and what theyre doing well. Ultimately we want to create a learning laboratory for institutions to collaborate and mimic best practices. Timely intervention, mentoring, tutoring and providing other student services that Byrd called tried and true are the bulk of what these schools are doing right, he said. Those are investment decisions that he says show institutions really can move the needle if leaders make it a priority. Byrd was surprised by how involved campus presidents and chancellors are in student success. Students even reported during the studys focus groups that they noticed how active their school leaders were. Its a no-brainer for Chuck Ambrose. Ambrose is the president of the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, and is set to head a council of all public four-year university leaders for the coming budget year. Its weighed heavily on me as a president to have a sense of this generations struggle up against issues of class and race, and to think here we are in 2017 and on many days they feel the same kind of weight of oppression that perhaps my generation thought we released ourselves from in the 60s and 70s, Ambrose said. He called the acknowledgement of his schools efforts to support students both an honor and a motivation. Its an issue that Ambrose said he takes very personally, and in the era of declining state funding, hes concerned such student service areas could take a hit. They already have on some campuses. Fiscal challenges and policy aside, things like this acknowledgement about doing the right things for students is the only thing we can control to show that higher education still has value, he said. 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? Chief Justice of Pakistan has summoned meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council on May 16 to review Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhrys reference against the Chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The meeting will decide whether the reference is admissible for hearing or not. The council has also summoned the plaintiff on at 2:00 pm on May 16. PTIs Fawad Chaudhry on Monday filed reference against the NAB chairman few days after the Supreme Court announced Panama case verdict, ordering formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the prime minister and his sons wealth. Fawad Chaudhry warned that if the NAB chairman was not removed from his post, it would amount to mockery of the apex court s order. He claimed that Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has failed to carry out his responsibilities as NAB chairman. Shares in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) tumbled over worry that Opdivo's sales would slow following a failure in a key cancer drug trial last year. However, Bristol-Myers' first-quarter financial results show that demand for Opdivo remains strong despite the setback, and that could make buying Bristol-Myers shares now a smart investment move. Coming up short Opdivo is a checkpoint inhibitor that stops cancer cells from using the PD-1 protein to evade detection by the immune system. The ability to short-circuit cancer cells' use of PD-1 has proven effective in various patient groups, including in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who have seen their disease return following chemotherapy. Opdivo's ability to help patients in several indications quickly turned it into a billion-dollar blockbuster drug, generating more than $800 million in sales during the second quarter of 2016 alone. The potential to expand Opdivo's use led many investors to buy Bristol-Myers shares. However, Bristol-Myers reported last August that Opdivo failed to outperform chemotherapy as a front-line option in advanced lung cancer patients, and that cast significant doubt on Opdivo's future. Opdivo's failure in first-line advanced NSCLC was particularly disappointing because competitor Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) had reported only a few months prior that a trial of its checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda was effective in this patient group. With Merck set to win approval by the Food and Drug Administration for expanded use in lung cancer patients, and Bristol-Myers' falling short, investors knocked $30 billion in market cap off Bristol-Myers' shares by mid-January. Continuing to climb The outlook for Opdivo sales might not be as bleak as feared. Yes, Keytruda has won FDA approval as a first-line option in advanced NSCLC patients, and that does give it an advantage over Opdivo, but Opdivo's first-quarter sales were encouraging, and Keytruda's advantage in NSCLC may be only temporary. In Q1, Opdivo's sales at $1.1 billion were 60% higher than a year ago, and while sales slipped from $1.3 billion in Q4, that was due mostly to a tough comparison following one-time catch-up payments in France and Germany last quarter. Opdivo did lose some market share in lung cancer in the quarter, but demand for the drug picked up in kidney cancer, melanoma, head and neck cancer, and bladder cancer, and as a result, U.S. sales grew sequentially In November, Opdivo became the first drug in its class to win FDA approval in head and neck cancer after showing in trials it can improve overall survival. More recently, the FDA approved Opdivo in February for use in patients with previously treated advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Ongoing trials evaluating Opdivo plus Yervoy in kidney cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and small-cell lung cancer are expected in the next 12 months, and favorable outcomes could help drive future sales growth too. Certainly, Opdivo's performance would have been much better if the first-line NSCLC trial had panned out, and management admits that lung cancer market share will be tough to come by in 2017, especially if Keytruda gets approved for use alongside chemotherapy in NSCLC. Nevertheless, Opdivo could start winning back market share in the indication as early as 2018, if things go its way. The company's got a flurry of ongoing lung cancer trials, including studies evaluating Opdivo in combination with Yervoy, Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy, and Opdivo in combination with other novel cancer drugs, such as IDO inhibitors. It's anyone's guess if those trials pan out, but clearly, Bristol-Myers has a lot of shots on goal in the indication that could help it compete with Keytruda in NSCLC in the future. Looking forward Regardless of whether Opdivo can eventually win an OK in front-line advanced NSCLC, the drug is likely to continue driving Bristol-Myers' top- and bottom-line growth for the foreseeable future. The company has dozens of ongoing trials across various cancers that should provide a steady stream of label-expansion opportunities. Since Bristol-Myers shares remain well off their peak prices, and the company has plenty of opportunities to continue growing Opdivo, I think now is a good time to be a buyer. 10 stocks we like better than Bristol-Myers Squibb When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Bristol-Myers Squibb wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of April 3, 2017 Todd Campbell has no position in any stocks mentioned. His clients may have positions in the companies mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday lambasted Imran Khan over his bribery allegations and said that he is not worth offering even ten rupees but can be cursed 10 billion times. While rejecting Khans accusations, he said that it is quite a surprise that the PTI chief is blaming Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif who dont give a cent to anyone. Also Read: Govt offered me Rs10b to stay mum on Panama case: PTI Chief He announced a legal action against Imran Khan over his baseless and false claims. Also Read: Govt will sacrifice any lower ranked official in Dawn leaks case: Khurshid Shah Rana Sanaullah asserted that the politics of Bhutan Khan, Shaitan of Pindi and Makkar Maulvi will end after 2018 elections. He urged the nation to stand against the trio. Also Read: Govt to send defamation notice to Imran Khan over Rs10bn bribery claim Terming PTIs public meeting in Islamabads parade ground contempt of court, he said that it aims to exert pressure on law and constitutional institutions. Also Read Maryam Aurangzeb dares Imran Khan to come clear on Rs10bn offer claim PTI chairman had yesterday claimed that the man who made the offer in return of silence on Panama issue was none other than Shehbaz Sharifs close ally. Punjab CM immediately rejected Imran Khans accusations while his son Hamza Shehbaz announced a legal action against Khan. German lawmakers in the lower house of parliament have passed a law that will put a partial ban on full-face Muslim veils such as burqas and niqabs amid rising xenophobic and Islamophobic sentiments in the country. The draft law, which was adopted by Bundestag members on Thursday evening, will prevent civil servants, judges and soldiers in Germany from wearing full-face veils at work. It, however, falls short of a total ban in public places. The state has a duty to present itself in an ideologically and religiously neutral manner, said the text of the law passed by the lawmakers on Thursday evening. The measure is part of a set of security measures aimed at preventing extremist attacks. The draft law should now be put to vote in the upper house of the parliament. Far-right groups have been campaigning, sometimes violently, against Muslims and refugees with repeated calls on their government to follow France, where a total ban on wearing burqas in public places has been in force since 2011. More than a million refugees, mostly from predominantly Muslim countries, have taken asylum in Germany over the past 18 months. Last year, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere proposed partially banning the full-face Islamic veil. We want to show our faces to each other and that is why we agree that we reject this, the question is how we put this into law, de Maiziere said at the time. In December, German Chancellor Angela Merkel also urged a similar ban, stressing that German law takes precedence over Sharia law. The full-face veil must be banned wherever it is legally possible, said Merkel to delegates at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) congress held in Essen. Several European countries have already placed restrictions on the Islamic clothing since 2000. France became the first European Union country to ban it on public places. A law took effect in Belgium banning any clothing that obscured the identity of the wearer in public. Several Bulgarian towns also banned the niqab at the local level. In the Netherlands, a proposed law banning burqas is awaiting approval by the senate. It had already got approval from the lower house of the Dutch parliament in November 2016. Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. Brian Rogers Rogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz And other mildly entertaining musings I know you are all concerned about the situation with North Korea and the threat of all-out nuclear war, but consider this A dog in Glasgow is recovering from gender re-assignment surgery, after she was born a hermaphrodite. Molly the Jack Russell terrier had both male and female parts. Shes now a girl dog, and still called Molly. It is not clear what this has to do with the threat of global annihilation by nuclear weapons, except that it would be easier to negotiate peace with a hermaphrodite terrier than with either Mr Trump or Mr Jong-un. And the terrier has a better hairstylist than either of them. According to The Daily Stooge theres this answer to over-booking on airlines. In other world-startling headlines, saxophonist Kenny G thrilled passengers with an impromptu show, on a Delta airlines flight from Florida to LA. Hed have been dragged kicking and screaming from the plane if hed been on a United flight. Ive always wanted to play my impromptu music on aeroplanes. My wife doesnt think its a good idea. She says Id struggle to fit the drumkit in the aisle. So what are our chances of quick annihilation by a rampant lunatic nation with nuclear arms? More likely a slow, excruciating demise due to radiation and fallout, according to Google. Weird questions Weve put some of your other weird questions into the Google Machine this week. Only to find that most of them have already been asked, and answered. Such as Is the Tooth Fairy real? No. How many calories are there in a booger? The calories in a booger are so low that you burn anything off picking your nose and ingesting it. So, the caloric effect is actually negligible. Why are the unicorns dead? Theres no proof unicorns actually existed in the first place. Does farting burn calories? Despite a completely fake Facebook post claiming farting could burn 67 calories an hour, farting actually burns no calories whatsoever -- unless youre really straining, and even then... the calories burned would be negligible. How much does it cost to go to Mars? Mars One is offering one-way tickets to establish a human colony on the red planet. The ticket has a low, low cost of six billion dollars, and they havent made the technology yet. Why do men have nipples? Its kind of like leftover genetic material? In male embryos, the genes from the Y chromosome dont activate until around the fourth week of life, so they all develop nipples just in case. Do worms have eyes? No. But they have touchy feely front ends. How do I make my cat love me? Cats may seem grumpy, but as long as you respect their boundaries, feed them, and pet them if they want to be pet, they will eventually become fond of you. Just try to be relaxed and dont force anything. Sort of like a real date with a human! Is the Earth flat? Despite a group of people who still sincerely believe that the earth is flat, no, it is not. We have millions of photos, eyewitness accounts, AND calculations that prove it isnt. Do penguins have knees? Yes! You just cant really see their short little legs and knees under their feathers and bellies. Can cousins marry? It depends on where you live. Not in NZ. Except maybe Gore. Why is my goldfish turning black? It could be disease, ammonia levels in the pond, or changing melatonin in the skin. How do I Google something? If you typed this into Google, you just did it. Do pigs sweat? Not much. They roll in mud to cool off. Do inflatable dolls count in the bus lane? No. How many people have dropped their cellphone in the toilet? A study found one in five people had done this. Is there gravity in India? Yes, theres gravity on the entire planet. Is it possible to make toast in the microwave? No. Why isnt 11 pronounced onety-one? The base count -- because of calendars and clocks -- used to be to twelve, not to ten. So thats why it started with normal number variations at thirteen. Could God create another God? Youll have to ask him/her. Why are there school? Answered your own question. Thanks to Offbeat for all the answers this week. When will this column end? About here. brian@thesun.co.nz UPDATED1140am: Both lanes of State Highway 36 in the Mangorewa Gorge are now open, though a 30km/h speed restriction is in place. A single lane was re-opened last night with stop/go traffic management in place. The highway which links Tauranga to Rotorua was closed around 1pm on Monday after a truck and trailer unit crashed down a bank in the Mangorewa Gorge. A 63-year-old Rotorua man was killed in the crash and 84 200 litre drums of resin and ferric chloride fell into the gorge. The drums had to be lifted out of the steep terrain by a crane, which is set up on the highway, blocking both lanes, says NZ Fire Service Great Lakes assistant area commander Colin Russell. Read more here. The Cargo Shed has been made available for Rise Up Tauranga to coordinate the collection and delivery of furniture from Tauranga homes to the Edgecumbe community following the recent flooding in the town. Tauranga City Council and the Otamataha Trust have put their support behind the project, making the Cargo Shed in Dive Crescent temporarily available to store furniture for one month from this Saturday April 29, to the end of May. Its a great way for the Tauranga community to show its support for Edgecumbe, says Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout. And its a practical way we can help, similar to the Rise Up Tauranga campaign in 2011. Im fully supportive that were using this asset temporarily for the community good. Led by Bethlehem Te Puna Lions Ian Calvert and Bernie Allen, community organisers and Rise Up Tauranga volunteers Rosalie Crawford and Cr Steve Morris, the group met with BOP Regional Council staff and community volunteers in Edgecumbe on Friday to discuss the practical details. Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne linked the team with Claire Pye, general manager of Pou Whakaaro who has made their large storage facility in Bracken St, Whakatane available to store the collected furniture once it arrives from Tauranga. Pou Whakaaro is a Bay of Plenty District Health Board funded service. The Cargo Shed will have drop off access available 11am 3pm Monday to Saturday for Tauranga people to deliver for Tauranga people to deliver good quality furniture suitable for bedrooms, lounges, kitchens and dining rooms. Curtains, carpet, heaters, whiteware and household appliances will also be collected. Certified electrical safety tagging of electrical appliances will be undertaken. No torn couches, toys or clothing will be accepted. For those who are unable to drop off furniture, a pick-up from homes will be organised. There are 560 homes in Edgecumbe, which experienced heavy flooding in early April. Fourteen homes are condemned and 237 are uninhabitable for weeks, maybe months. Wini Geddes coordinated the Ngati Awa Voluntary Army cleanup in Edgecumbe which saw complete housefuls of furniture disposed of due to flood damage. Rise Up Tauranga completed a similar project in 2011, when furniture was collected from 150 Tauranga homes and redistributed to Cantabrian earthquake victims relocating to the Western Bay of Plenty. Once a truckful of furniture is collected at The Cargo Shed, it will be sent to Whakatane and redistributed from Pou Whakaaro through community organisers already involved in the flood affected areas. For more details, follow www.facebook.com/RiseUpTauranga, email rosalie@topshelfdesign.com or text mobile 022 658 1458. The Cargo Shed, located at 16 Dive Crescent, Tauranga, will have furniture drop off access available between 11am 3pm, Monday Saturday through May, starting this Saturday 29 April. Morena and good morning Sunners, welcome to Saturday and the 153rd anniversary of the Battle of Gate Pa/Pukehinahina. With the MetService predicting showers turning to rain in the evening, take a jacket with you if you plan on heading out to attend any of the events taking place in and around Gate Pa today. Commemorations for the Battle of Gate Pa is, one of the defining military engagements in Taurangas history, got underway with a dawn service at Pukehinahina/Gate Pa this morning. The service is being followed by the unveiling of the new information Panel near the former site of the Durham Redoubt at 9am. The redoubt was built by British Army regiment, the 68th Durham Light Infantry, which took Part in the battle. Hosted by Ngai Tamarawaho, the unveiling will feature addresses from Michael Lawton representing the Durham Light Infantry, Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless, and a representative from the New Zealand Defence Force. Then this afternoon, the Anglican Parish of Gate Pa and the Tauranga Moana (Anglican) Maori Mission will host a short service at St. Georges Anglican Church to commemorate the Battle of Gate Pa and to honour all those who fought and died in this tragic event. Starting at 4pm when the British forces began their march up Pukehinahina service goers will hear an account of the battle and then have a time of silent reflection with images playing. The bell will then be rung 60 times to remember the approximately 60 men who lost their lives in the battle at 4.30pm, with the service concluding prayers/karakia for the future of our city. To learn more about the Battle of Gate Pa/Pukehinahina, visit www.battleofgatepa.com For more events taking place in and around Tauranga today, see SunLives full Whats On? listing below: WHATS ON SATURDAY, APRIL 29 Bay Network Singles Social Club 55+ who wish to make new friends & enjoy club activities, dining, shows, trips, bbqs etc. Mary-Anne 027 207 1690 or 576 9988 Baypark Family Speedway Fireworks Extravaganza Closing Night 6.30-10pm. Stock drivers from the top half of the North Island will compete for the Harry Fredrickson Stock Gold Cup. Tickets from $20. www.bayparkspeedway.co.nz Caravan & Motorhome Owners Interested in joining like minded people & attend weekend rallies? Neal 576 9031 Czech & Slovak Club Tauranga Burning of witches + Lucie Dobrovodska & Paka Concert at Redwood Valley Farm. Buy your ticket on https://www.csclubtauranga.nz/en/events/ Exhibition by Tracey Clark Sweet Inspirations with paintings of quirky birds, on show at The Art Lounge NZ, Devonport Rd until May 9 (Tues to Sat 11am - 5pm). Friendship Force International Friendship & Home Hosting exchanges with other clubs worldwide. Barbara 574 5711 or email: regclothier@gmail.com www.thefriendshipforce.org Katikati Youth Skate Comp Katikati Skate Park 11.30am registration, 12.30pm start. $5 entry. Prize categories: Under 13, Under 16, Open & Best Trick. 549 0399. Wet weather postponement date May 6th. LOL Laughter Wellness Have a laugh in the winter timeslot at Arataki Community Centre, Mount 11-11.45am. $3 door. Trish 022 036 6768 email: lollaughterwellness@gmail.com Messianic Meetings Every Sat at Hillier Centre, 31 Gloucester Rd, Mt Maunganui 10am. Seek to unite together in our walk to put truth into action on a daily basis. 544 7424 or 0210 226 3515 Narcotics Anonymous Open Meetings Sat 7.30-8.30pm & every Sun 7-8pm, Hanmer Clinic, 1235 Cameron Rd, Greerton. Mon 7-8pm & Fri 7.30-8.30pm, Hillier Centre. 31 Gloucester Rd, Mt Maunganui. Womens Meeting every Tues 10.30-11.30am Downstairs Hall, Salvation Army Recovery Church, 375 Cameron Rd. 0800 NA TODAY Papamoa Healing Centre Papamoa Library, 15 Gravatt Rd. May 6 Mini Expo Healers Night. Doors open 6.30pm for 7pm start. Entry $15 inc free raffle & supper. 022 0670 467 Petanque @ Club Mt Maunganui Sat 1pm. Equip available, all levels welcome. Arnold 544 5598 Sabbath Service Every Sat 10.30am Bible discussion adults & children. 11.45am share blessings/singing/sermon Arataki Community Centre, Zambuk Way, Mt Maunganui. 576 0435 or 021 0778 214 Tauranga Writers Bringing out the Book in You. Heremanuhiri Room, Greerton Library. 10am-4pm. Special guest: novelist John Stuart Reynolds with Writing Your First Novel, etc. (12-1pm.) Gold coin entry. 07 777 0212, txt 028 406 32 40. Te Whakakaha Trust Celebrate the declaration of Sanctuary status for the Otawa Conservation area. Meet at the Sanctuary area, 1254 No 3 Road, Te Puke 10am 2pm for a bbq in celebration. Official proceedings 11am. Parking: Drive through the open gate to the end of the gravel road. Email: tewhakatrust@gmail.com The Original Greerton Hall Market 8am 12pm. Crafts, plants, produce, bric-a-brac. Stalls inside/outside. Tea, coffee, food available. New stallholders always welcome. Tricia/Gary 543 1487 or 027 908 2952. greertonmarket@actrix.co.nz www.facebook.com/greertonhallmarket Village Radio Community radio broadcasting from Tauranga Historic Village 1368 kHz AM. Music of 1940s - 90s weekends 9am - 5pm, weekdays 10am - 5pm. www.villageradio.co.nz or 571 3710 Virtually on Track Goosechase challenge. Keep the kids entertained these holidays. Amazing Race-style challenge at McLaren Falls Park. Download the goosechase app on your smartphone, sign up & search Sport BOP McLaren Falls Magic. More info at www.sportbop.co.nz/getactive/virtually-on-track/ World Dance Day Give dance a go at Anglican Hall, Beach Rd, Katikati 2-4pm. Door donation. Gayle 577 1753 or 027 274 8753 To place a listing on SunLives Whats On? page email Julie: julie@thesun.co.nz MetService has issued a severe weather warning for the Bay of Plenty, with heavy rains expected to fall today. Alongside the warning, a severe weather watch has also been issued for the Coromandel as heavy rains may pelt the peninsula tonight. A trough, preceded by a moist north to northwest flow, will bring periods of rain to much of the North Island today and Sunday morning, says a MetService spokesperson. Rain is expected to become heavy in the Bay this evening, with MetService estimating 100-140mm rain to accumulate in the 18 hours from 6pm to 12pm on Sunday. Peak intensities of 25-35mm per hour plus thunderstorms are also predicted for Sunday morning. While on the Coromandel, heaviest falls are expected about the ranges where localised downpours are possible from this evening until mid-morning Sunday. This amount of rain will cause rivers and streams to rise rapidly, and may cause surface flooding and slips, plus make driving conditions hazardous. Keep up to date with the latest forecasts and any watches/warnings at metservice.com or on mobile devices at m.metservice.com. You can also follow updates on MetService TV, on Facebook, @metservice and @MetServiceWARN on Twitter and at blog.metservice.com Next week, from 1 to 7 May, is International Macaque Week and on Monday the AWCP will be holding its second Macaque Awareness Open day at the park from 2 to 5pm, celebrating the 23 species of macaque in the world. There will be free entrance to the park for all, raffles, bouncy castle, refreshments, crafts and more, to raise funds in aid of the Barbary macaque awareness and conservation charity. There will also be macaque-themed workshops throughout the week. The months of April and May are the busiest months of the year for gastronomic festivals in the province of Malaga. Malaga city itself is celebrating the Malaga Gastronomy Festival until 7 May with cookery films, very special dining experiences with top chefs, show cooking, a wine master class, cookery photography workshop and concerts. More information is on the web site www.malagastronomyfestival.com Periana celebrated the Dia del Aceite Verdial last week with tastings of the local extra virgin olive oil and La Canete La Real held a day to sample the locally-reared turkey. This weekend even more foodie events are scheduled. Canillas de Aceituno Morcilla in Canillas. / SUR Canillas de Aceituno is famous for its morcilla canillera or black pudding and this Sunday, 30 April, is the day every year when homage is paid to this sausage with Dia de la Morcilla. Around 300 kilos of the grilled sausage, made with pigs blood and onions, will be given out to visitors and residents to sample, along with a glass of beer or local wine. The gastronomical event starts at around noon in the Plaza de la Constitucion. Frigiliana The events of the Dia de la Miel de Cana in Frigiliana this Sunday 30 April start at 10am and finish at around 3.30pm. Miel de Cana (similar to black treacle) has been produced in this picturesque village for centuries and besides being able to try it used in various recipes in bars and restaurants of the locality, there will also be an opportunity to take a guided tour of the factory. Villanueva de la Concepcion Broad beans in Villanueva de la Concepcion. / SUR Also on Sunday, Villanueva de la Concepcion will be holding its annual Dia de la Haba, broad bean day, where, at about 2pm, they will be offering visitors a small dish of porra (a thick cold soup, like a puree) made with broad beans and tastings of other dishes made with the vegetable. The event is not only restricted to the bean, it will also be an opportunity to buy other traditional products and crafts from the area. Monda The town of Monda celebrates a very traditional gastronomical event this Sunday, 30 April, El Dia de Sopa Mondena. Sopa Mondena (Monda soup) is made with a very special ingredient, the tomate de culo a variety of tomato that is dried and put in the soup to add a distinctive flavour. During the day, local families will be making their own version of the soup while the town hall will be making an enormous quantity to be shared out between the residents and visitors to the event. Sayalonga On 7 May is Dia del Nispero in Sayalonga. A nispero is a type of medlar or loquat. It is traditionally used to make jams and liqueurs but is equally as nice eaten fresh. Sayalonga is one of the few places in Andalucia where the loquat is grown commercially. It is celebrated with tastings washed down with local wine, live music and dancing. Sierra de Yeguas Asparagus day in Sierra de Yeguas. / SUR Asparagus day in Sierra de Yeguas has become hugely popular and draws thousands of asparagus enthusiasts to the town. This year, the Feria del Esparrago y de la Agricultura Ecologica (Asparagus and ecological agriculture day), will be held on Sunday. There will be plenty of opportunities to taste and buy the locally-grown asparagus and other ecologically-grown produce. Benalmadena Seafood lovers should not miss this gastronomic opportunity at the marina in Benalmadena. The Feria del Marisco is on at the moment and will continue until Monday. Around 500 square metres of marquees will house the event at which around seven tonnes of seafood and 5,000 litres of beer will be consumed over the four days. Prices are kept low as in previous years so that everyone can try the products on offer which include mussels, razor shells, prawns and clams. Octopus and a range of seafood rice dishes are also available. Riogordo Snails cooked in their own juices are a speciality of the town of Riogordo and on 28 May the local dish is celebrated with a gastronomical festival in its honour. Coin The orange is an extremely versatile fruit, used in both sweet and savoury dishes. Coin has extensive orange groves and every May (this year on the 21st) holds the Fiesta de la Naranja. At the event there will be examples to taste of the various traditional dishes made with oranges as well as freshly squeezed orange juice. Guaro Galipuche. El galipuche is a local dish found only in Guaro. It is a thin soup, thickened with flour, containing very basic ingredients such as wild asparagus and potato. It is honoured at the annual Festival de Gastronomia which is held on 1 May this year. Other local dishes to try are the conejo con almendra (rabbit with almonds) and caldereta del chivo (goat stew). A 28-year-old woman from Torrox has been found in a deportation centre in Turkey with her partner after a supposedly terrifying international pursuit involving her partners father. Maria Jimena Rico lost touch with family on the Costa del Sol on Monday while crossing Turkey. She is travelling with her girlfriend, 22-year-old Shaza Ismail, of Egyptian origin. Marias family in Torrox reported the women missing on Tuesday when they failed to make contact. Maria had previously told her family how Shazas father had dramatically travelled from his home in Dubai to confront the pair at the airport in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, threatening to kill his daughter for her sexuality. In a WhatsApp message sent from Georgia, Maria said to a friend, The father tried to take her by force, the family is mad... Seriously theyre going to kill us. Maria left Torrox four years ago to work in London. Having recently met Egyptian-born Shaza on a trip to Dubai, where Shazas parents live, they both returned to London, only to be summoned back suddenly, on the pretext that Shazas mother was ill. On arriving back in Dubai on 15 April, according to Marias family, it was clear that the illness was a ruse and Shazas father had reported his daughter to the authorities for her sexual orientation, as homosexuality is illegal in the UAE. The couple fled Dubai immediately to stay with friends in Georgia, but while waiting at Tbilisi airport to fly back to London last week, Maria told how Shazas father suddenly appeared, made his threat and ripped up their passports. Maria Jimena's friend, sister and mother with photos of the two women. / EUGENIO CABEZAS Georgian police were called and when everyone was released, the women fled overland by bus towards neighbouring Turkey, where the nearest Spanish consulate is. After a few attempts to cross the border, including being held for twelve hours as suspected terrorists, the couple succeeded in entering Turkey. Contact lost on Monday At 9.38am last Monday morning they spoke to a friend in London and said they had reached Istanbul. On hearing nothing from their daughter afterwards, and following her instructions to go to police if they lost contact with her, the family reported the disappearance to the Guardia Civil in Torrox on Tuesday morning. Speaking in Torrox, Marias mother, Teresa Montero, 65, said on Thursday, Someone has got to be holding them captive, [Maria] was always on the phone, every day, she knows our numbers by heart. Marias family had managed to make contact with the father of Shaza, who claimed that he was still in Georgia, had not done any harm to the women but also said that he had no idea where they were. On Thursday afternoon the women were located in an Istanbul deportation centre, where they had been sent after being arrested in the Turkish city of Samsun for not carrying passports. Spanish ambassador to Turkey, Rafael Mendivil Peydro, said, Fortunately, everything has sorted itself out. Maria has been in touch with home, saying she has had no water or means to contact family and is waiting to be returned to London with Shaza. Its April, its 2017, but some of the headlines in this weeks news are probably almost identical to others published five, ten or fifteen years ago. Politicians are arrested under suspicion of corrupt practice, embezzlement and generally abusing the power bestowed on them by the voting public. Meanwhile others promise to build hospitals, repair roads and create employment. The names may be different (or perhaps not), the projects may be new ones (or not - in the case of certain roads and hospitals), but its the same great commodity at the core of every story: money. Whats more, its not just any old money, its public money, which, many still dont seem to realise, means that it belongs to the public - in other words, to you and me. So why dont more members of the general public, owners of these public coffers that are being pilfered, seem shocked when someone who has gained power through their votes, cleverly pockets the money that should have been spent on those hospitals, roads and jobs schemes? Every time we learn of a new case of corruption, involving politicians and officials sneaking public funds off to their private accounts through one means or another, there seems to be a non-reaction. People, already on their way back to silly videos on Facebook after a quick scan of the days more-of-the-same headlines, seem to need nudging into some sort of reaction. Hey, youre supposed to be horrified! Those are your taxes that should have been spent on making your life better. Those guys you trusted have stolen from you! Even when you put it like that, though, people arent rushing out into the streets to protest. Those who do look aghast at a politicians dodgy dealings are most probably feigning surprise. If a squeaky clean Scandinavian politician had devised a complex scheme to siphon off funds to secure him- or herself a very comfortable future the world may well throw its hands up in horror. But in Spain, with its great track record for corruption, the news is not so much what the politician in question has done, but the fact that they got caught out. So, as the investigations come and go, so do the elections. And, despite the recent, more colourful choice at the ballot box, the political parties in question dont seem to be punished for producing one rotten egg after another. Theyre all as bad as each other, a friend told me, unable to conceive that someone might go into politics motivated purely by the chance to improve society, rather than out of a desire for power and wealth. That friend laughs and calls me naive when I say there must be hundreds of Spanish politicians who stand for election with a true vocation to serve their community, whatever their position on the political spectrum. So if there are any honest politicians reading this, then, please dont give up. You have the unenviable job of fighting against a reputation that others are still helping to make worse. But one day Im sure youll prove me right. Morning briefing: After six decades in the Capitol, will this be Fred Rissers last term? Dont count on it As Russians seized parts of eastern and southern Ukraine in the opening stages of the war, mayors, civilian administrators and others say they have been abducted, threatened or beaten to force their cooperation. In some instances, they have been killed. Human rights activists say these actions could constitute a war crime. Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov said he was abducted from his office and the bullying and threats did not stop for a minute." He said they tried to force him to continue in his role but he refused. After six days in detention and an intervention from Ukraine's president, he was exchanged for nine Russian prisoners of war and expelled from the occupied city. Gunshots late Thursday afternoon nearly struck a person and terrified children and families in a Far East Side neighborhood but resulted in no injuries, Madison police said Friday. At about 5:15 p.m., a dark-colored sedan and older SUV passed on the 400 block of Brandie Road near its intersection with Nakoosa Trail when a burst of gunfire broke out in the heavily populated neighborhood, police spokesman Joel DeSpain said. At least one gun was pointed from the window of one of the vehicles and an estimated six to 15 shots were fired with children playing nearby and homes full of families, DeSpain said. This was a neighborhood full of kids, he said. One man was seated in his parked car when a bullet shattered his rear window and pierced the passenger seat headrest, DeSpain said. There were no injuries, but parents talked of racing to locate children to make sure they were OK, he said. A 52-year-old woman was with her son, in a parked car, when the shots broke out, DeSpain said. Mom, get down, they are shooting, the son told his mother, DeSpain said. An initial police canvas did not find any damage to nearby apartments, but officers went inside those in the bullets path to make sure no one had been hit, he said. The departments Violent Crime Unit is leading the investigation, and detectives are looking to see if this most recent act of gun violence might be connected to others that happened this week, DeSpain said. It doesnt appear anyone in the neighborhood was being targeted. Another shooting near Great Gray Drive and Owl Creek Drive on the Southeast Side just before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday resulted in no injuries, police said. The incidents came days after Police Chief Mike Koval described as unprecedented a night of gun violence on Monday. Police said there were eight gun-related incidents reported on the West, Southwest and North sides over four-plus hours Monday night and early Tuesday usually one of the slowest nights of the week for calls. Those living in the area where the most recent shooting occurred will have an opportunity to discuss the incident and other concerns at a previously scheduled event on Sunday. The Burke Heights Neighborhood Association and residents are working with police on a new initiative called The Good Neighbor Project, which aims to foster relationships among neighbors and encourage partnerships in the community. The goal is to know neighbors better to make the community safer and more secure. The first public meeting is set for 11 a.m. Sunday at the Sycamore Park Pavilion. A 36-year-old Madison area man was arrested and charged with armed robbery after allegedly taking a woman's purse at knife point Downtown late Thursday night. Officers arrested Ryan R. Murray after the victim called 911 around 11 p.m. to report she had been robbed by a man near the intersection of North Broom and West Johnson streets, Madison Police Lt. Timothy Radke said in a news release. Officers initially were unable to locate the victim or suspect, but later found the victim, who provided a physical description of Murray, including the fact he was intoxicated. A short time later, officers were dispatched to an unwanted intoxicated man, identified as Murray, at a Downtown establishment and recognized he matched the description of the robbery suspect. After further investigation, officers located property belonging to the victim in Murray's possession, including her credit card and purse. Murray was arrested and taken to the Dane County Jail on charges including armed robbery, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting. This page no longer exists or may have been moved.If you believe this is a mistake please email China refinery quota changes could impact on tanker markets According to data provided by Reuters, Chinas crude oil imports and refinery processing reached new highs in the first quarter of this year. Overall, despite slowing economic growth, Chinas continued advance in crude oil imports since 2016 has been down to strong demand from independent refiners, commercial and strategic stockpiling and declining domestic production from maturing fields, shipbroker Gibson said in a recent report. However, several factors are beginning to emerge which could shake up Chinas refinery sector and impact on the tanker markets. Throughout 2016, Chinas CPP exports were boosted in part by independent or teapot refineries being granted export quotas and competing with state-run refiners to place barrels domestically - hence stronger growth in crude imports. But, in a major shake up to the sector, it was announced last December that fuel quota export licences for independent refineries will be scrapped. Independent refineries could still export product, although this would now need to be done through state-owned energy companies. This should put the CPP export market back into the hands of Chinas big four state-owned refiners, Gibson said. In addition, favourable export permits were granted to state oil refiners, which allow for an exemption or rebate on import taxes and export taxes for oil and refined products, respectively. The permits will only cover a portion of total imports and exports and will most likely affect diesel and gasoline exports equating to roughly 4.65 mill tonnes worth of exports. It is important to note that removing export licenses for independent refiners should not significantly affect Chinas total exports, in part due to the favourable export quotas granted to state refiners. However, something with the potential to have a significant impact on exports is lurking just around the corner, Gibson warned Chinese authorities are moving closer to imposing a consumption tax on imports of oil by-products; such as mixed aromatics, light cycle oil and bitumen blend. These taxes could have negative effects on product tankers in Asia. Mixed aromatics is the main blending component of gasoline, while light cycle oil (LCO) is the same for gasoil. As both products are currently free of import duty, imports have surged in recent years, supporting record exports. According to data provided by Chinas General Administration of Customs, imports of mixed aromatics reached 11.7 mill tonnes in 2016 and LCO imports - 4.46 mill tonnes. If imports of mixed aromatics decline significantly, then refiners will be forced to boost domestic supply which could lead to less product being available for export. An example of the impact of a consumption tax can be found in fuel oil imports into China. Imports have been declining for several years after the introduction of the tax and it looks increasingly likely that mixed aromatics and LCO imports would follow a similar trend. As mixed aromatics make up such a large share of Chinas gasoline market, exporting surplus product would naturally be affected as mixed aromatics become more expensive to import. This has the potential for a double hit on product tanker trade, translating into less imports of blending components and fewer exports of finished products, Gibson said. However, as often happens, the closing of one door can lead to new opportunities. Potential positives could be that refiners would need to increase imports of lighter crudes (many of which originate from the Atlantic Basin) in order to increase production of gasoline. Furthermore, the decline in product exports out of China will not only reduce the regional excess but could also stimulate longer haul imports, the shipbroker concluded. Euronavs profits slashed Belgian tanker owner Euronav has reported a first quarter 2017 net profit of $34.3 mill, compared with $113.5 mill in 1Q16. Proportionate EBITDA (a non-IFRS measure) for the same period was $106.1 mill, compared with $185 mill in 1Q16. The average daily TCE for Euronavs VLCCs operating on spot in the TI pool in 1Q17 was $40,528, compared with $60,638 in 1Q16, while the average timecharter rates over the same period were $41,147 and $40,847, respectively. The Suezmax spot rates averaged $24,000 per day in 1Q17 as against $38,386 per day in 1Q16, while the average daily timecharter rates were $23,880 and $32,251, respectively. Euronav took delivery of two VLCCs (acquired as resales), Ardeche and Aquitaine from Hyundai Samho on 12th January and 20th January, respectively. CEO, Paddy Rodgers, said: Q1 2017 was a confirmation of our thesis: short term challenges but a positive medium structure building for the tanker sector. Asset prices look to be bottoming out in our view confirmed by emerging buying interest from industrial players. However, short term outlook retains a cautious tone with nearly a quarter of the large tanker order book scheduled for delivery during Q2 2017 and newbuilding contract activity picking up short term, albeit only in the VLCC sector. Euronav retains substantial balance sheet capability and fixed income visibility to navigate through a period of lower freight rates and/or to take advantage of expansion opportunities. The duration of the challenging freight rate environment will be entirely dependent on the number of additional orders to build new ships that are not needed by the market, he said. Euronavs outlook prognosis was that continued robust demand for crude coupled with a positive dynamic of increased tonne/miles driven by US crude exports of shale oil compensated nicely for the OPEC/nonOPEC agreement on production cuts. Less positive however, was the return of VLCC newbuilding orders in the first quarter. This implies a lower for longer tanker freight market given the already high concentration of new tanker capacity due for delivery primarily in 2017 but also in 2018. This is likely to generate challenging freight rate conditions during the remainder of 2017. The company said that it remained confident about the medium term prospects for the business and the tanker sector generally. With the lowest leverage in the large tanker sector and access to over $620 mill of liquidity, Euronav is well positioned to navigate the cycle to be strategically opportunistic whilst remaining exposed to any potential upside from an improved freight rate environment. Thus far during the second quarter of 2017, the Euronav VLCC fleet operating in the Tankers International Pool had earned about $32,000 per day and 42% of the available days had been fixed. Euronavs Suezmax fleet trading on the spot market earned around $22,000 per day on average with 47% of the available days fixed. Frontline seeks Marshall Islands intervention in DHT merger spat In the latest twist to the Frontline Ltd/DHT merger saga, Frontline Ltd has abandoned its complaint against DHT filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York on 18th April, 2017 in favour of a suit in the High Court of the Marshall Islands. The latest move this week asked the Marshall Islands court to issue a temporary restraining order preventing BW from acquiring shares in excess of the 33.5% it will own, following the completion of DHT's acquisition of BW Group's VLCC fleet. In rejecting Frontline's earlier request for a temporary restraining order blocking the acquisitions, on 19th April, 2017, the New York court ruled that the timing of Frontline's request was "inexcusable", in light of the fact that Frontline "had 18 days prior to 18th April to properly serve defendants and to attempt to marshal a case supporting jurisdiction over the defendants." The court also said that Frontline had "failed at this stage of the case to establish a probability of success on" its claims that the transaction between DHT and BW Group violated applicable law, DHT said in a statement on Thursday. On 25th April, Frontline approached DHT to consider a new business combination, which includes the ships already delivered and yet to be delivered by BW Group to DHT under the Vessel Acquisition Agreement (VAA) entered into by DHT and BW on 23rd March, 2017. The offer would be effected at an exchange ratio of 0.8 Frontline shares for each DHT common share. Frontline said that its new proposal for a takeover, which represented a 18% premium to DHT's volume weighted average price for the 10 days immediately prior to the opening market price on 21st April, 2017, and 15.8% premium to the latest 30-day volume weighted average price, is expected to yield increased benefits. In particular, it is expected that the combination of the two companies would create the largest public tanker company by fleet size, market capitalisation and trading liquidity; DHT shareholders would benefit from a substantially lower G&A cost per vessel and profit from synergy values. Frontline's superior access to debt and equity capital markets should enhance free cash flow generation further, the company said. This latest move was also rejected by DHT. As a result of the latest rejection, Frontline filed a complaint in the Marshall Islands on 26th April (where DHT is incorporated) to immediately enjoin portions of the unfair transaction documents into which DHT has entered that would permit BW Group to establish 45% ownership of DHT (even as other shareholders cannot exceed 10%). Frontline has also sought an injunction as to the alleged poison pill and other related anti-takeover defences DHT has erected. We continue to urge the Board of DHT to negotiate in good faith with Frontline over its proposed offer, and not to contravene their duties to DHT's shareholders. In doing so, we are exercising our rights as shareholders in DHT. We will continue to explore all courses of action available to us in order to ensure that all shareholders of DHT receive equitable treatment, Frontline said in a statement. Talking of the new proposal, Robert Hvide Macleod, Frontline Management CEO, said: "We are convinced that the proposed new combination of Frontline and DHT will maximise value for both sets of shareholders. We believe that this outcome is in the best interests of shareholders of both companies and will seek to ensure that shareholders of DHT have an opportunity to consider our offer. We look forward to engaging DHT management and its Board to achieve a mutually beneficial combination with Frontline." "Consistent with its fiduciary duties, DHT's Board will evaluate the proposal from Frontline," said Erik Lind, DHT Board chairman upon receiving the new offer. "While the proposed exchange ratio of 0.8 reflects no improvement from the proposal our Board previously considered and unanimously rejected, our Board will carefully and thoroughly review the offer, taking into account the changes to DHT's fleet, market conditions and other developments that have occurred over the past two months. I note that, as has been the case with their previous proposals, Frontline is requesting a reply in an unreasonably accelerated timeframe - in this case, less than 24 hours - which does not permit for an appropriate and diligent review by our Board. We will respond in due course," he concluded. Lazard is serving as financial advisors to DHT and Cravath, Swaine & Moore is acting as legal counsel. This week, DHT also said that it had taken delivery of the DHT Opal (ex BW Opal) and DHT Raven (ex BW Lion), the second and third VLCCs acquired from BW Group. The remaining six vessels are expected to be delivered during the second quarter of this year. Analysing a possible merger between the two fleets, VesselsValue said that if it were to go ahead, it would create the second most valuable tanker fleet in the world. The current fleet values for DHT Holdings (including the 11 BW VLCCs) and Frontline Ltd combined would total $3.57 bill. The new company would consist of 34 DHT and 44 Frontline tankers. A Frontline, DHT and BW combination would be behind COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation valued at $3.93 bill, but ahead of China VLCC at $3.15 bill, VesselsValue calculated. Markets - VLCCs softer - more newbuildings reported VLCC rates softened this week from MEG and also ex W Africa and Americas to East. Tonnage became more ample on generally thinner cargo volumes, Fearnleys reported. West African Suezmaxes saw continuous activity last week and the pressure told with vessel availability tightening. Charterers were a little slow in circulating end first decade cargoes and as the dates moved on, owners capitalised on firmer rates. At the time of writing (Wednesday), a replacement fixture was on subs at WS95 for WAfrica/UK-Cont-Med. Owners were looking to achieve the psychological three digits. Activity also picked up in both the Med and Black Sea including a number of East cargoes managing to attract higher rates. With continuous activity ex North Sea and the second decade in WAfrica showing no signs of slowing down for the remainder of this week, charterers are facing a sustained bullish phase. The Aframax market in North Sea and Baltic softened further this week after an accumulation of tonnage. The outlook for pre-May Day fixing is looking far from ideal from the owners perspective, as there is too much tonnage in position for the upcoming fixing window, Fearnleys said. In the Med and Black Sea, the cargo activity was fairly good. The tonnage list looked thinner for prompt days, but as charterers have been, and still are, reaching quite far out, the market could remain stable at around WS105 throughout the week, Fearnleys concluded. Meanwhile, the OPEC production cuts since the start of 2017 has tightened supplies of medium and heavy sour crudes, leading to a narrowing Brent/Dubai EFS. This has resulted in long-haul crude trades from the Atlantic Basin to the Far East becoming economically viable, Ocean Freight Exchange (OFE) said. In turn, this resulted in a surge in cargoes from the North Sea, as well as Americas which has boosted tonne/mile demand for VLCCs. Growing tonne/mile demand has helped to halt declining rates in a sector flooded with newbuilding deliveries in the first quarter of this year. VLCC rates for the benchmark AG/Japan route rebounded from WS46 at the end of March to their current levels of WS65. Rates for Hound Point/Far East voyage have climbed by $625,000 over the past two weeks to $4.925 mill on the back of tighter tonnage in the region. OFEs data showed that at least nine VLCCs were carrying crude from the North Sea to Asia in April, with another four VLCCs fixed for May loading thus far. The Brent/Dubai EFS hit a seven-year low on Monday at $0.57 per barrel, according to Bloomberg, which will continue to encourage more long-haul arbitrage trades. The widening contango in Brent time spreads will also encourage traders to place more barrels into Asia. Similarly, rates for a Caribs/Singapore trip grew by $300,000 over the last two weeks to $4.3 mill, due to increased movements from the Caribbean, Brazil and the USGC to the East. The unwinding of onshore storage in the Caribbean, reported by Bloomberg, accounts for the growing outflows to Asia, with at least 10 VLCCs heading from the Caribbean to Far East in April (up 43% month-on-month). Robust Chinese demand for low sulfur Brazilian crude has led to a surge in Brazilian exports in the first quarter. Brazilian crude exports to China hit 470,000 barrels per day in 1Q17, up by 70% year-on-year. While the recent rally in VLCC rates seems to have come to an end, increasing tonne/mile demand from such long-haul arbitrage trades should lend some support to rates. However, whether such opportunistic trades will continue to flourish depends on a potential extension of the OPEC production cuts, as well as crude spreads, OFE concluded. In the charter market, Concordia Maritime said that it had chartered two IMO II/III MRs. This a joint chartering arrangement with Stena Weco, with Concordias share amounts to 50%. The contract is for one year, and the charters will start in June and July 2017. The arrangement is fully in line with our fleet and chartering strategy. We are exploiting our ability to act quickly when the right opportunity arises this time by taking positions counter-cyclically and further strengthening our position in the MR segment. With access to Stena Wecos systems and networks, we are convinced that this will be a productive business arrangement, said CEO Kim Ullman. Broking sources reported a plethora of fixtures following the holiday break. These included the 2011- built Olympic Leopard through taken by Reliance for 12 months at $29,000 per day. ST Shipping was active, reportedly fixing the Suezmax United Kalavryta for six months at $20,500 per day and the MRs Nave Pulsar for 18 months at $12,250 per day and the DL Navig8 for 12 months at 13,500 per day. In the Aframax segment, Prime reportedly took the LR2 Viktor Bakaev for nine months at $18,000 per day, while Vitol fixed the DHT Cathy for 12 months at $15,000 per day, Navig8 was said to have fixed the LR2 Captain John for 12 months at $16,000 per day, Total was believed to have taken the recently delivered LR2 Seaenvoy for 12 months at $15,750 per day and PBF Energy was reported as fixing the Coral Sea for six months at $16,500 per day. Trafigura was thought to have fixed the LR1 Kong Que Zhuo for 12 months at $13,250 per day. In the MR segment there was also plenty of activity with Valero reportedly taking the 2017 built sisters Yasa Seagull and Yasa Hawk for five years at $15,500 per day each. Stena Bulk was reportedly active in fixing the Stenaweco Marjorie K, Stenaweco Julia L and the Stenaweco Gladys W for 12 months at $13,500 per day each. The latter has since been relet to Clearlake for 12 months at $14,500 per day. Finally, Koch was thought to have fixed the sister Handysize Gulf Mist and Gulf Moon for 12 months at $12,500 per day. Newbuilding orders still appear to be increasing. For example, Neda Maritime ordered one option one VLCC at Hyundai Samho for 2019 delivery for about $82 mill, while Shandong Landbridge was said to have ordered three VLCCs Dalian for $77.5 mill each. Other VLCCs were known to be the subject of negotiations, including units for Sentek and H-Line. Aframaxes also featured with Eastern Pacific ordering two at Hanjin Subic Bay and Metrostar also ordering two at Daehan for a reported $43 mill each. Greek interests were thought to be behind two MRs contracted at Hyundai Mipo for $32 mill each. Finally, Thun Tankers, part of the Gothia Tanker Alliance, has ordered four 17,500 dwt IMO II product/chemical tankers at Avic Dingheng Shipbuilding in China. Furetank Chartering, responsible for the intermediate size segment in the Gothia Tanker Alliance, will commercially manage the vessels. Furetank, Thun Tankers and Alvtank had previously ordered six 16,300 dwt, LNG fuelled, intermediate tankers at Avic Dingheng. In the S&P sector, TMS Tankers was believed to have bought the 2010-built LR2 Ratna Shalini for $25 mill, while Benetech was said to have purchased the 2005-built MR sisters Oriental Emerald and Oriental Ruby for $11.25 mill each. Elsewhere, Great Eastern has agreed to buy a 2008-built MR. Leaving the fleet were the 1997-built Aframax Astro Arcturus for $396 per ldt on the basis of as is Singapore with 950 tonnes of fuel ROB and gas free for hot work, plus the 1995-built Aframax Santa Cruz 1 reported sold to undisclosed interests for $392 per ldt on the basis of as is Singapore. SSA to help Singapore become a maritime centre The key focus of this years Maritime Singapore was the continued strengthening of efforts to raise the bar as a major Asian and international maritime centre. In this respect, the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) said it was working closely with the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and other key industry players. The SSA has highlighted five key areas in its Blueprint for Growth in preparation for better times ahead for the shipping industry. The five areas were - regional leadership, legal, finance, operational excellence and innovation with technology. Strengthening the global importance of Singapore as a maritime powerhouse and a leading maritime capital remains work in progress, and Singapore sees itself as a strong advocate for a greater prominence of the Asian maritime sector. Singapore has long been a supporter of a strong Asian voice in shipping and will continue to promote the entire ecosystem within Asia, the SSA said. It continues to foster a close working relationship between its own industry, Government and the unions, but also with other regional bodies such as the Asian Shipowners Association (ASA), Federation of ASEAN Shipowners Associations (FASA), as well as the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and other international trade associations. Esben Poulsson, SSA president, said: Regionally, Singapore has gained the support of ASEAN member states for the development of a common ASEAN ballast water exemption area while we have also played a key role in the development of the ReCAAP Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia. At a local level, co-operation remains strong between MPA, the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) and other stakeholders to look at ways to increase productivity, streamline operational efficiencies and generally resolve any difficulties the shipping industry in Singapore may have encountered relating to operations and services in Singapore, he said. On the theme of manpower development and productivity, to boost the future readiness of Singapores maritime workforce, the MPA has enhanced the Maritime Cluster Fund for Manpower Development (MCF-MD) to include a wider scope of topics for training programmes and longer duration for overseas training attachments. The SSA said it strongly supported these developments. To give a further boost to companies productivity efforts, the MPA has increased the co-funding for MCF-Productivity (MCF-PD) from 50% to 70% of qualifying costs and expanded the scope of qualifying costs to include software licensing, specialised hardware, as well as salaries of up to two company employees to carry out the productivity projects. Poulsson explained: Looking forward to 2017, the SSA has been very much involved with the tripartite initiatives with the MPA and the seafarers union in crafting the industry transformation maps (ITMs). Under the S$4.5 bill programme, roadmaps will be developed for 23 industries to address issues within each industry and deepen partnerships between Government, firms, industries, trade associations and chambers. The maritime sector is one of these. In line with our efforts, together with our fellow maritime stakeholders, to further enhance Singapores position as a leading international maritime centre, we believe that more needs to be done in the fields of ship finance and marine insurance. Our efforts on these two fronts are ongoing and remain very much work-in-progress. We continue to be very active in engaging all the relevant stakeholders in both fields and have also been collaborating with the Singapore Exchange (SGX) to help raise the profile of the exchange with an eye to increasing listings from the maritime sector. In this respect, we strongly believe that Maritime Singapore will be able to leverage off SGXs recent successful acquisition of the Baltic Exchange and we look forward to playing our part in this regard. On the insurance front, the Singapore War Risk Mutual continues to grow steadily and I believe our membership should be proud of our contribution to making this entity a reality, he said. Wartsilas first quarter orders and sales increase Wartsila Corp reported an overall order intake increase of 11% to 1,413 mill in the first quarter of this year, compared with 1,271 mill recorded during 1Q16. Net sales increased by 4% to 1,007 mill in the quarter, compared to 967 mill in 1Q16. The comparable operating result increased to 86 mill in 1Q17 from 84, which represented 8.5% of net sales, compared with 8.7% in 1Q16. - Cash flow from operating activities increased to 2 mill from a loss of 13 mill in 1Q16. The total order book at the end 1Q17 was reported as stable at 5,096 mill. The overall demand for Wartsila's services and solutions in 2017 is expected to be relatively unchanged from the previous year, the group said. Demand by business area is anticipated to be as follows: *Solid in Services with growth opportunities in selected regions and segments. *Good in Energy Solutions (previously solid), thanks to increasing electricity demand in the emerging markets and the global shift towards renewable energy sources, which will support the need for distributed, flexible, gas-fired power generation. *Soft in Marine Solutions. Although the outlook for the cruise and ferry segment is positive, the merchant, gas carrier and offshore segments continue to suffer from overcapacity, slow trade growth, and the financial constraints of customers. Wartsila's current order book for 2017 deliveries is 2,744 mill, which mainly comprises Marine Solutions' and Energy Solutions' deliveries. The company said that it will continue to focus on improving efficiency, which is expected to partially offset lower volumes in the marine markets. The pricing environment in Energy Solutions' markets has stabilised, but the order book is still impacted by the competitive pressure seen in previous years. The good performance in Services is expected to continue. Jaakko Eskola, president and CEO, said; "Wartsila's order intake development was clearly the highlight of the first quarter. Services' order intake was boosted by growing interest in long-term service agreements, while customers in the energy markets continued to invest in new power generation, both in the emerging markets and industrialised countries. Orders received in the Marine Solutions business were also at a reasonable level, thanks to continued activity in the cruise and FSRU markets. Although vessel contracting has remained low, signs of improving sentiment indicate a gradual recovery in demand towards the latter part of the year. The higher level of power plant deliveries supported both net sales development and our underlying performance in the first quarter. Looking ahead, we expect service activity to improve thanks to customers' maintenance schedules and the increased demand for long-term agreements in both of our end markets. This, together with the stabilised pricing environment in Energy Solutions, provides a good basis for the second half of 2017," he said. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. You may think that only the naive fall for phishing email scams, but even the biggest tech giants can be tricked into handing over cash. Back in March, it was reported that a Lithuanian man had swindled $100 million out of two unnamed US firms. Now, Fortune has revealed the victims were Google and Facebook. The justice department announced the arrest of 48-year-old Evaldas Rimasauskas last month. He was charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. Rimasauskas allegedly used forged email addresses, invoices, and corporate stamps in order to impersonate Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Quanta Computer, which counts Amazon and Apple among its clients. "Fraudulent phishing emails were sent to employees and agents of the victim companies, which regularly conducted multimillion-dollar transactions with [the Taiwanese] company," wrote the DoJ. Both Facebook and Google have now admitted that they were tricked by Rimasauskas's scheme, which took place over a two-year span between 2013 and 2015. By the time the companies wised up to what was going on, he'd stashed the money in banks across Europe. Facebook said in a statement: "We recovered the bulk of the funds shortly after the incident and have been cooperating with law enforcement in its investigation." Google said it had "detected this fraud against our vendor management team and promptly alerted the authorities." The search giant also confirmed it had recouped its lost funds. Rimasauskas continues to deny any involvement in the scheme and is currently battling against extradition to the US. If convicted, he could face decades behind bars. Sony just released its earnings report for the 2016 fiscal year ending March 31, 2017. While the company's mobile, camera, movie, television, and music divisions all posted losses, Sony's video game arm did well. The company sold 20 million PlayStation 4 units in 2016, which is 2.3 million over the previous year. The gaming division total profits were about $14.73 billion for 2016, a 6.3 percent increase from 2015. Sony says that the increased profits are mostly coming from "hardware cost reductions," stemming from the introduction of the PlayStation Slim. However, the PlayStation Network sales cannot be disregarded either. The addition of 20 million more console owners to the market brings the total number of PS4 sales to 60 million. More users means more spending on games, a good portion of which the PlayStation Store picks up. Despite the increase in console sales, it appears that the PS4 may have reached peak sales. According to the Verge, Sony is only shipping 18 million PlayStation 4 units in 2017. However, this is not of too much concern as the PS4 is still outselling the PS2 over the same period. Even though the company is shipping fewer consoles, Sony is still projecting a 14.6 percent increase in gaming revenue for 2017. The electronics giant is also predicting that all other divisions, except for music, are going to rebound in 2017 with an overall revenue increase of 5.2 percent in 2018. Of course, those are merely goals that Sony will shoot for, which is what shareholders like to hear. Humans are dreaming of settling down on the Red Planet in the future. However, to bring this dream to fruition, scientists have to cross quite a few hurdles, including distance and time taken to supply tons of materials for building human settlements on Mars. To solve the problem, a team of researchers have invented a way to turn Mars' soil into bricks without baking or additional ingredients. One would just have to apply sufficient amount of pressure to make the soil compact. Martian Soil Bricks NASA funded the study and a team of engineers from the University of San Diego conducted the research. The study is of significant importance since President Donald Trump signed a bill in March 2017, directing NASA to send a manned mission to Mars by 2033. The researchers shared how they would use Martian soil to create bricks. "In this work we demonstrate that Martian soil simulant Mars-1a can be directly compressed at ambient into a strong solid without additives, highlighting a possible aspect of complete Martian in-situ resource utilization," the authors asserted in their research paper. The idea to use Martian soil to make bricks for building habitats on the planet is not new. However, this is the first study that shows that astronauts would not require too many components to build bricks on the Red Planet. Prior to this research, scientists were toying with the idea of using complex chemistry to make binding polymers out of Martian organic compounds. They even contemplated the possibility of nuclear-powered brick kilns to churn out the basic building materials. However, the process described in the new research is easy and simple and would not require the astronauts to carry heavy machinery or complicated technology with them to Mars. Mars-Like Soil Used To Make Bricks: How Did Engineers Accomplish This Feat? The discovery of this new brick-making method is accidental. During the initial phase of the study, the San Diego engineers were trying to decrease the amount of polymers required to make bricks out of Martian soil. They accidentally discovered that none of this was needed to produce bricks. According to the researchers, there are two essential steps to turn Martian soil into bricks without the help of additional additives, baking, or heating the material. In the first step, the astronauts would need to surround the simulant in a closed flexible container. For the purpose of the study, the scientists deployed a rubber tube. The second step would be to make the simulant compact under high pressure. For making a small compact brick sample out of Mars-like soil, pressure roughly equal to someone dropping a 10-pound hammer from a height of one meter is required. The engineers were successful in producing small round soil pallets, which are an inch tall and can be shaped into bricks. How Did These Bricks Fare In Tenacity Tests? The researchers assume that the iron oxide present in the Martian soil acts as the binding agent under immense pressure and turns the loose dirt into solid components. The team conducted a strength test and discovered that the bricks made out of Mars-like soil were stronger that steel-reinforced concrete. To build a strong structure, the astronauts can compact one layer of soil on another. Currently, the researchers are persevering to increase the size of the bricks manufactured by following the new process. "The people who will go to Mars will be incredibly brave. They will be pioneers. And I would be honored to be their brick maker," the study's lead author Yu Qiao remarked. The findings of the study have been published in the journal Scientific Reports, on Thursday, April 27. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Minnesota state officials confirmed that five new cases of measles have been reported in the state, taking the toll to 29 children who have been infected with the disease since March end. Officials also claimed that this is the worst measles outbreak since 1990. In mid-April, new measles cases were detected in the Hennepin County, which is the epicenter of the outbreak. However, on April 27, the state health officials revealed that out of the five new measles cases, one was detected in Stearns County. This is the first time this year that the disease has spread beyond Hennepin. Measles Outbreak In The United States The Minnesota Health Department expected the infection to spread, especially to Hennepin's neighboring regions such as Stearns County and Olmsted County. The outbreak was noticed in the local Somali-Minnesotan community and indicated that the children had not been vaccinated against measles. An analysis in 2004 revealed that most Somali-Minnesotan children were administered measles vaccine similar to children of other ethnicity. However, a string of autism cases involving these children triggered a scare regarding the measles vaccine within the community. Health officials noted that by 2016, the vaccination rate among Somali-Minnesotan children fell to just 42 percent. The infected child in Stearns County, however, had received one shot of the measles vaccine. The first shot of the vaccine is believed to give a person 93 percent protection against the infection. The second shot of the vaccine brings it up to 97 percent. Among the 29 cases that have been currently detected, 11 children had to be hospitalized. However, state officials will need to investigate how the infection spread to the Stearns County patient. What Are The Authorities Doing? State health officials are trying to determine the initial source of the infection. They believe that identifying unvaccinated people is crucial to their efforts of stopping progression of the measles outbreak. The health officials believe that a tourist from another country may have brought the virus to the state, which then found a suitable host in the unvaccinated Somali-Minnesotan children. In Hennepin County, the investigators were successful in locating five child care centers where the affected children could have been exposed to the infection. Families of the children attending any of those centers have been informed about the potential danger. They have also been advised to keep their children at home if they are unvaccinated. Measles was declared to have been eliminated completely from the United States in 2000. This means that the disease does not occur in the country naturally anymore and can only be caused by a traveler from another nation who is visiting the U.S. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Nokia 3310 (2017) To Be Priced At Rs 3,899? | TechTree.com Who doesnt know about Nokia 3310 that mesmerised everyone at the MWC2017 event held in Barcelona? Well. we all do. However, heres something new for us Indians. The Nokia phone is being suggested to enter the Indian market with a price tag of Rs 3,899. The Nokia 3310 (2017) was recently spotted on Indian retailer OnlyMobiles.com and has been reported by Gadgets360 that it was listed with a price tag of Rs 3,899 with a Coming Soon tag. It has also been reported that the phone would be available in Warm Red, Dark Blue, Yellow, and Grey color options. Having said this, it is worth noting that there has been no mention about this price tag from HMD Global. This means that, the price tag is definitely not official yet, and thus it is recommended to take this with a pinch of salt. It may turn out to be a little high or low in price. However, earlier in March, Gadgets360 reported that HMD Global would more likely launch the phone in India in Q2 ahead of the Nokia-branded smartphones. It has been further mentioned on the Gadgets360 post that the price tag mentioned on OnlyMobiles.com is unofficial and the actual announcement would be made when the actual time comes. TAGS: Nokia As the Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana once said, Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. This warning has quickly become a staple of history classes around the world, and is why its so important to acknowledge the wrongful actions of our past. However, reading about genocide and war in a history book isnt quite as powerful as hearing it talked about by veterans and survivors. Thats why assemblies and speeches tend to be so powerfultheres something about listening to someone who lived through a particular piece of history that makes it much more personal and real. One of the unfortunate realities of this type of storytelling, though, is that the stories disappear as survivors grow older and pass away. Thats a sad reality were coming up on with Holocaust survivors. Hitler anointed himself as Fuhrer in 1934 and the Holocaust ended in 1945, making even the youngest survivors in their 80s and 90s today. As someone who has seen a Holocaust survivor speak about his experiences in person, its upsetting to think that we could forever lose such valuable people in a few years. However, thanks to the USC Shoah Foundation and new technological innovations, perhaps that doesnt have to be the case. The USC Shoah Foundation was founded by Steven Spielberg in 1994 to document first-hand accounts of the Holocaust for future generations. Since then, the foundation has been archiving video testimonies of 55,000 Holocaust and genocide survivors. Preserving those stories is a wonderful idea on its own, but now technology is taking that preservation to a new level by allowing viewers to actually interact with the survivors. In her article for CNN Tech, Sara Ashley OBrien describes a digital encounter she had with Pinchas Gutter, an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor. Apparently, Gutter was one of the first volunteers to participate in the new video formatting. In 2014, he sat through more than 20 hours of interviews and answered about 1,500 questions, all of which were recorded by 116 cameras. That Q&A session allowed the foundation to create Gutters digital persona, which uses speech recognition and natural language processing to recognize questions and then deliver responses. A beta version of Gutters digital persona has been available at museums since 2015 and, as more people talk with him, he becomes smarter. Developers can tweak the technology based on how people interact with him, allowing them to improve his understanding of questions. The purpose of this interactive conversation is to allow the user to explore [Gutter's] experience with their own curiosity. To get a deeper sense of empathy for that experience because it connects to them as an individual rather than being an abstract, said Stephen Smith, executive director of USC Shoah Foundation. According to OBrien, speaking with Gutter felt very similar to taking part in a video callshe was able to ask him personal questions, and the answers he gave were heart wrenching and impactful. However, the foundation hopes to make these digital survivors even more personalized and realistic in the future, with plans to create VR experiences and holograms in the works. Most importantly, Smith said that the recordings have been future proofed, so that they can be transferred to new formats as technology advances. This ensures that these valuable stories and insights will never be lost, even as the physical people pass away. We have to do it now or it won't be recorded for the benefit of the future, Smith said. We have a race against time ... You can't replace a human being, but what this does is close the gap a little and create that intimacy and empathy that you might get talking to a real human being. The foundations motives could not be any more on point. Like the saying goes, history has a tendency to repeat itself when it is ignored. Needless to say, the Holocaust was a horrific event that we can never forget, and always need to learn from. Around the world, humans destroy others simply because theyre different in one way or another. Being afraid of what we dont understand may be human nature, unfortunately, but by paying attention to the past and listening to the stories of these survivors, technology may help us overcome that flaw. The Republican Party snatched three seats in the U.S. House of Representatives this Tuesday in Florida, so far in the hands of the Democratic Party, becoming the first to change political... | Read More The Facebook executive and viral media mastermind who spoke to hundreds of Madison business leaders on Friday at the Kohl Center were received warmly, but it was the high school freshman who brought the house down. AJ Carr, 14, got the standing ovation of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerces IceBreaker luncheon, wowing the crowd with his words about racial divides, mentoring and believing in dreams. Can you imagine what this city would be like if every kid had a mentor? AJ said. Really, think about it. Someone to help them cultivate the talents they already have. Not only would we have less violence, wed have a lot more successful kids. Please dont count us out. Say yes to us. Carr followed the events two other featured speakers: 1999 West High School graduate Pete Koechley, co-founder of the website Upworthy; and Kaaren Hanson, the design director at Facebook who graduated from Memorial High School in 1988. AJ, who attends Exploration Academy at Verona High School, is the founder of Building Bosses, a nonprofit designed to teach youth about leadership and entrepreneurship. AJ also is an actor who has landed roles on PBS Mercy Street and NBCs Chicago PD. Hes come a long way since, as he described for the audience, a Madison school principal told him five years ago that he was a menace to society. The city has a long way to go to narrow racial divides but the divide is not insurmountable, he said. Fog machines and blue and purple lighting helped create a rock concert-like scene as AJ talked about the murder of three family members, the toughness of his mother, homelessness and the advice of his great-grandfather. He taught me so much about life. He taught me I had to believe in my dreams and to say yes to myself, AJ told the attentive crowd, which included students from Madisons four public high schools sitting in the stands. But the most important lesson he taught me was to give as much as you can before you leave this Earth. Do all you can to make a positive impact in this world. The theme for the IceBreaker was prodigium, the Latin root of prodigy. The midday series of speakers focused on innovation, creativity, imagination and forward-thinking. Koechley spent part of his childhood in rural Richland Center before moving to Madison, where in high school he started the Yellow Press, a newspaper that caused some controversy because of his satirical writings. He was managing editor of The Onion and helped found Upworthy, known for its content designed to go viral, in 2012. At one point, Upworthy stories were reaching 50 million readers a month. However, he told the crowd Friday he left the company two weeks ago and isnt sure of his next venture. Madison doesnt turn out just one type of person. Its an incubator for so many kinds of success, Koechley said. And that matters. Because the more different types of success you see, the more visions of yourself you can imagine for the future. Hanson joined Facebook in October but previously led design teams at Medallia, a software company that helps businesses record customer feedback. She also was vice president of design innovation at Intuit, a company that makes TurboTax and other financial, accounting and tax preparation software. Her first jobs, however, were at the Pizza Hut on Mineral Point Road near West Towne Mall and the Dunk or Dine on Regent Street. Much of Hansons talk focused on the future by looking at what has happened in the past. She referenced the smartphone industry that was in its infancy in the early 2000s, used by a only a small percentage of the population. The phones are now prolific. She compares the rise to what she believes will happen with automated vehicles, used by only a small segment now but with several companies working on a technology that will explode in the near future. Whats about to come at us is already thriving in small areas, Hanson said. The world is changing quickly. And if you think those trends arent going to impact you in the next five to 10 years, youre not paying attention. A Middleton company has announced it will further diversify its portfolio with dog products. Spectrum Brands Holdings said Friday that it has signed an agreement to purchase PetMatrix, a privately owned manufacturer and marketer of DreamBone and SmartBones rawhide-free dog chews. PetMatrix, based in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, was founded in 2008 and is on pace for about $75 million in sales this year, said Andreas Rouve, CEO of Spectrum Brands Holdings. PetMatrix will immediately strengthen our pet care portfolio with its well-established and growing brands catering to healthy alternative pet trends, Rouve said in a statement. We expect it to further solidify Spectrum Brands as a leader in the North American dog chews category and to provide compelling white space revenue opportunities in Europe, Latin America and Asia. PetMatrix products are sold at mass merchandisers, food and drug stores and pet specialty stores. The business has several patents and is expected to launch new products designed to further grow the company, Rouve said. Terms of the deal, scheduled to close by the end of next month, were not disclosed. PetMatrix was founded and is owned by Mark Stern and members of management. The PetMatrix team and I are excited to join Spectrum Brands, said Stern, PetMatrixs CEO. This partnership will bring additional resources to our company and allow us to execute our plans for continued growth in the coming years. SmartBones and DreamBone are made using extruded grains, chicken and vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and peas. The ingredients are meant to have the look and feel of rawhide but be more digestible, according to the companys website. In January, Spectrum reported an 11.4 percent drop in profits for its first fiscal quarter and a net income of $65.2 million on $1.2 billion of revenue for the period. The consumer products companys brands include Rayovac batteries, George Foreman grills and STP motor oil. Longtime Baton Rouge City Court Judge Suzan Ponder confirmed Monday she's retiring June 30 but said her decision had nothing to do with the fa Amari, those bitter, Italian-style digestivi, are quite the rage behind the bar, and all the fruits and vegetables with a bitter side are getting to show their stuff. Weve seen rhubarb, arugula, sour orange and cardoons in the mix along with the typical herbs, barks and roots that add their depth and richness to these macerated spirits. Now comes the artichoke the bitter, beautiful thistle with a tough exterior and a tender heart. A longtime favorite in Italy, amaro made from artichokes (or carciofi in Italian) has recently gained popularity in the United States. The most common artichoke liqueur is the classic Italian brand, Cynar, which is experiencing a surge of popularity in bars, both as cocktail ingredient and as cocktail star. The Cynar Julep at Ronero in Chicago, packed with fresh mint and hand-crushed ice, showcases Cynars bittersweet self in a refreshing spring appearance. Less sweet then Cynar, the new C3 Carciofo, a domestic version from Washington, D.C., distillery Don Ciccio & Figli, shows how deep and savory an artichoke liqueur can go. Like all of founder/distiller Francesco Amodeos handcrafted creations, it is complex, Old World and unique in flavor. Amodeo, known for his small -batch Italian-style spirits based on family recipes, infuses his C3 with a blend of three types of artichokes, grapefruit and 18 botanicals. It is then barrel-aged for a full year. My (distiller) grandfather Giovanni gave me the 18 botanicals blend recipe, Amodeo said. He said to me, You have to make sure that your artichoke aperitivo will taste like it has been made in 1950. Since he tasted the first Cynar bottles made around that time, he wanted me to be able to create a product that reminded him of the original. I recently tried it as a one-to-one substitute for Campari in my negroni recipe, and the Artichoke Negroni earned an immediate top spot in my cocktail rotation. Lee Zaremba, formerly general manager and head bartender at Chicagos Billy Sunday, (which, by the way, holds the largest collection of vintage amari outside of Italy) adores the new liqueur and created the cocktail, A Loss for Words, to showcase its interesting attributes. Its a dry, boozy, bitter affair, which allows this powerful amaro to be highlighted by the richness of malted bourbon and the herbs and spices in the genever and fenugreek syrup. When I asked Zaremba how he named his cocktail, he said, its hard to describe, I like that about it. Imagine the first person who tried to describe an artichoke. Just days after opposition from Republicans doomed a key piece of the governor's budget-solving strategy, House Democrats say they are still waiting for a credible budget plan from the chamber's GOP leadership. Two House Republican leaders briefed Democrats Thursday on their ideas to head off next years fiscal cliff, when $1.3 billion in temporary taxes expire in the state's $9.5 billion portion of the budget, but members walked away uninspired. I didnt hear a plan, state Rep. Andy Anders, D-Vidalia, said after the meeting. I didnt know any more than what I knew before the meeting, said state Rep. Gene Reynolds, of Minden, the Democrats caucus chairman. The Democrats praised House Speaker Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, and House Appropriations Chair Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, for meeting with them during their private luncheon Thursday to discuss the fiscal cliff. At least were talking about it, said state Rep. Kenny Cox, D-Mansfield. But their plans are still a little murky. The Democrats said Barras and Henry laid out the same broad outlines of a plan as described previously by The Advocate. It would fund next years budget at 97.4 percent of the current years budget as of March 1, with an extra $92 million or so to fully fund the TOPS scholarships and to provide funding to continue aid for programs that serve medically fragile children. The Republicans termed it a standstill budget that would spend no more money next year than this year. The House is expected to unveil its budget plan on Monday, when it is taken up in the Appropriations Committee. The budget would then go to the full House and, once approved, to the Senate, where it likely will be revised. Barras told reporters Thursday that he views that as the first step in the process. "I think you have a much clearer picture on what you're shooting for current year and in the cliff year," he said. "If we try to hold on spending, it will greatly assist with what we are trying to do on revenue." But Democrats have pressed on the House Republicans to provide an outline for where they see opportunities for more revenue. Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who had proposed a tax on corporate sales that gained little traction before it was shelved on Tuesday, has called on the Republicans to present their own plan. "I'm looking for the House leadership to step up and offer solutions," Edwards said Tuesday. "Not just continue to say 'No' but to offer solutions and a plan." Barras on Thursday said many tax bills remain to be vetted, with overlap on proposals related to income tax changes, sales tax and corporate tax. "I think we have the menu that we need to have a healthy discussion," he said. "My hope is to get a good deal of that to the floor." "To try to get a total comprehensive package is something we can build toward and work on," Barras added. But Democrats remain concerned about the impact of a budget-cuts first approach. Before we can vote on something like this, we have to know who is going to be hammered, Reynolds said. They said the agencies would have to live within their means. But who loses? A standstill budget, Barras has said, would mean not funding a slate of priorities outlined by Edwards, including money for state employee pay raises, a boost to public schools and increased funding for the state's safety net hospital partnerships. Republicans have for the past year said that they think the state budget is bloated but have yet to identify any deep-reaching structural changes to the state's spending structure. Barras said the standstill budget would get the Legislature about $650 million of the way toward the $1.3 billion fiscal cliff. That could suggest Republicans are willing to raise up to $750 million in new revenue, or propose finding the money some other way. Their idea is to say lets do something, but they wont give the details, said state Rep. Ed Price, D-Baton Rouge, the Democratic caucus vice chairman. Price remains concerned that the Legislature, before the June 8 adjournment, wont settle on a solution to prevent the fiscal cliff. Whether youre falling from 900 feet or 700 feet, youll hit the ground the same, he said. Republicans can pass the budget in the House without any votes from Democrats. The budget bill needs 53 votes, and there are 60 Republicans. But passing any revenue-raising bills would require a bipartisan super-majority vote of at least 70 members. The House tax-writing committee, Ways and Means, is scheduled to meet again on Monday, after forcing Edwards on Tuesday to back off his major tax measure, House 628, a proposed levy on corporate sales. Republicans hold a majority on the committee. The chairman is state Rep. Neil Abramson, a Democrat from New Orleans who has butted heads with his fellow Democrats in the chamber and Edwards. Abramson has told members that he plans to take up bills grouped by their subject matter since the committee has more than 160 tax bills on its plate. Barras said he suspects that there will be a winnowing of legislation. He has encouraged members to get together to discuss similarities and compromises between duplicative pieces. Mayor Mitch Landrieu mounted a passionate defense of his approach to removing the citys monument to the Battle of Liberty Place during an interview Thursday, insisting that credible threats of violence ruled out holding any kind of ceremony or doing it in the daytime. He offered the most detailed account yet of what those threats have involved, expressed frustration that other figures have shied away from the controversy and spoke in more detail than ever before about what might become of the pulled-down statues and the public spaces they have occupied. The hour-long interview with The New Orleans Advocate was largely dedicated to pushing back against criticism that threats against contractors did not justify the late-night removal of the Battle of Liberty Place obelisk, the first of four monuments the city plans to take down. Can't see the video below? Click here. Landrieu said those threats justified the secrecy surrounding the process of removing the monument to the Reconstruction-era White League and the continuing security surrounding the planned removal of statues to Confederate leaders Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and P.G.T. Beauregard. Saying the threats represented different means, but the same tactic as burning crosses on peoples lawns and threatening peoples lives, Landrieu said the only way to get this done was to honor peoples request that if Im going to be involved in this, Im going to have to have my confidentiality protected so my life is not threatened.' Should I overrule that for the sake of pride or the sake of openness? Landrieu asked. The mayor expressed frustration that more individuals and organizations in the city had not stepped up to aid in the process, such as through donations toward the removal, relocation and replacement of the statues. Ive been disappointed and surprised that this community has torn itself apart, Landrieu said. Im not being defensive here. I didnt tear the community apart. I raised the issue. Landrieu said he would prefer to take the Lee statue down publicly, with a ceremony, if the security concerns cease. He said he hoped that could happen in the next 30 days. If not, theyre going to come down anyway, he said. If I feel comfortable that we can do it in the light of day and take Robert E. Lee down at noon for the whole world to see, that would be great, Landrieu said. Get the Take 'Em Down folks in a room with the keep 'em up folks, and lets see if we can get them to agree that they will control all their folks, and well have a nice beautiful wonderful ceremony and take Lee down. He said the city has raised $600,000 and change for the removals from private donors, roughly the amount that the lone bidder who submitted a proposal to take down the Lee, Davis and Beauregard monuments had sought. The city has refused to identify any of the donors, whose identities can be kept secret because the funds are being routed through the Foundation for Louisiana, a nonprofit group. That arrangement is necessary to protect them from threats, Landrieu said. That's particularly true, he said, after five police officers were killed in Dallas last year by a sniper during protests against police violence, something Landrieu said showed that those wishing to do violence can use protests as cover. +58 After removal of Liberty Place monument, Landrieu says other 3 statues coming down 'sooner rather than later' New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu insisted that security concerns justified taking the obelisk down in the early morning hours and without warning, rather than scheduling any kind of public ceremony... Anybody who anybody has known is involved in this in any way has received threats, he said. Throughout the process, details about various contractors involved or believed to be involved in the removal process have been spread on social media, sometimes including home addresses and other personal information. That has caused problems getting the equipment and contractors needed for the job, Landrieu said. Theres 100 cranes in the city right now. Did you know were having a hard time getting a crane right now? Do you know why? Landrieu asked. Because people have been calling these folks saying, If you do that, we wont give you any more business. " The first designated contractor on the job quit early on after receiving death threats. The owners Lamborghini later was torched in his companys parking lot. Landrieu and other city officials also said there had been posts on social media including the mayors home address, and they referred to online comments made in advance of a protest by the group Take 'Em Down NOLA suggesting the rally would be within range of sniper fire. One contractor received a call from someone threatening to kill him and his son and rape his wife, Landrieu said. The city also has received calls and emails from members of the Ku Klux Klan, he said. The city has been in contact with the FBI about investigating the threats, though there are questions about whether they would fall under federal jurisdiction, the mayor said. The New Orleans Police Department has only two open cases potentially related to the monuments issue. One involves threats to a contractor who received threatening and harassing calls after his personal information was posted online. The other involves a break-in at trailers near the warehouse where the Liberty Place monument was taken. Sometime Monday, burglars broke the locks on those trailers and stole nine tents and three generators, according to a police report. Its not clear whether the burglary was related to the monument's removal. When he called on the City Council to authorize removal of the monuments, something it did by a 6-1 vote in December 2015, Landrieu said there would be community discussions to decide what should replace them. Since then, the administration has not discussed what that process would look like. So many people have said, 'I dont want to be anywhere around this issue,' Landrieu said. I didnt feel like it was a ripe environment to have a discussion about what we want to put at Lee Circle. Its kind of hard to have a discussion when half of the discussion is, I dont want to have a discussion because I dont want to take them down. " Landrieu said that once the Lee statue comes down, hell appoint a group of people who will be tasked with coming up with a plan for Lee Circle within 90 days. Thats the most prominent circle in the city. We dont have another one. What can we think about in that space thats a gift to the future that represents our past? Landrieu said. Thats what it should be. He also offered an idea of his own vision for the sites. He said the circle around the Lee column could be turned into a fountain with statues representing various aspects of New Orleans people and culture and renamed Tricentennial Circle in honor of the citys 300th birthday next year. For the site of the Beauregard statue in front of City Park, Landrieu suggested partnering with the nearby New Orleans Museum of Art and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to come up with a piece of public art. The former site of the Battle of Liberty Place monument on Iberville Street can be left vacant, he said. As for the statues themselves, the city has reached out to Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis former home in Biloxi, Mississippi, which now serves as a museum, as well as the Smithsonian Institution and Washington and Lee University to see if they would be interested in taking the monuments, but none has agreed, Landrieu said. He also suggested state lawmakers and officials who have been critical of the removals or sought to block them should step up if they want to preserve the monuments. I would say very respectfully to the entire Legislature that has a keen interest in this that the state has a much bigger budget and a much bigger swath of land, and if they want to curate these things, they certainly have the time, money and space to do it, Landrieu said. So instead of telling us what to do with our land, maybe they ought to ... put them wherever they want to. There are a whole bunch of ways for people who mean what they say to engage in constructive dialogue so we can get to a better place rather than just score political points, Landrieu said. Ashton J. Ryan Jr. participates in 2013 as president and CEO of First NBC Bank in its public trading debut on the Nasdaq Exchange. Ryan relinquished his title of CEO in December; the bank was ordered closed by regulators on Friday. It will be absorbed by Whitney Bank. Book tickets to the ballet, watch a Bollywood film or - even better - have a little boogie to Beyonce in your lounge room. Today is International Dance Day, and Ausdance ACT wants you to get involved. Since 1982, International Dance Day has encouraged the world to "explore the art of dance" and Ausdance ACT is serving it up to Canberrans on a platter. The organisation is using International Dance Day to launch a week of dance workshops, performances, interactives and films for Australian Dance Week. Dancers Rachel Reid (aka Jazida) and Liz Lea rehearse for 'The Galaxy Project'. Credit:Jamila Toderas Into hip-hop? Learn to criss-cross and air walk through a free class at Bom Funk Dance Studio in Queanbeyan on Monday night. Into tango? Watch the dancers of the Tango Social Club of Canberra perform live at The Italian Club next Saturday. Do you have what it takes to compete on My Kitchen Rules? If you're inspired after watching the MKR grand final on Prime7 on Sunday night, head down to the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston next Sunday, May 7, to see the casting team from the hit cooking show. MKR judges Manu Feildel and Pete Evans wont be there, but the casting team will. Credit:Seven The casting agents will be on the hunt for teams of two to take part in the next series. They are after people "passionate about cooking and entertaining". Over 100 people gathered in Canberra at the National Emergency Services Memorial on Friday to honour Australian and New Zealand firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Delivering the benediction at the National Memorial Service, NSW Fire and Rescue Chaplain Lyndsay Smith told the crowd to "hold fast to that which is good". Pieta Laut (R) paid respects to her fallen brother Bryce Laut, with her mother Jan Laut (L) and father Peter Laut (centre). Credit:karleen minney "In whatever way you can, strengthen the faint hearted, support the weak, help the afflicted and honour all people," Mr Smith said. Pieta Laut was there with her mother and father to collect a medallion in memory of her brother, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service firefighter Bryce Laut, who died fighting a bushfire in NSW in 2008. The traffic homicide case of a man charged with killing four people while driving drunk on the wrong side of Interstate 94 in November was indefinitely suspended Friday after a judge ruled the man is not competent to stand trial due to a brain injury he sustained in the crash. Brysen D. Wills, 33, who according to a criminal complaint was fleeing a State Patrol trooper near Deerfield on Nov. 2 while driving drunk, crashed into a car carrying a group of people from RitzHolman CPAs of Milwaukee, killing three people in that car. He struck another car and killed its driver as well, the complaint states. But in the crash Wills also sustained a brain injury, and since last year has lived at a brain trauma facility, said his lawyer, state Assistant Public Defender Dorothea Watson. Both doctors who have examined Wills said he is not likely to regain the ability to assist in his own defense within a year, despite treatment. Dr. William Merrick, who examined Wills for the defense, expressed strong doubt Wills would ever become competent to stand trial, even with continued treatment, according to Watson. Assistant District Attorney Galen Strebe said according to Dr. Craig Schoenecker, Wills has been left with a serious memory impairment. He said, for example, that Wills would be unable to say what he had for breakfast, and by lunchtime, would not remember that he even ate breakfast. Asked by Dane County Circuit Judge Nicholas McNamara whether he was aware he was not competent to proceed with the case, Wills was somewhat confused. I think so, he said. I dont think so. I dont really understand what you said. McNamara ordered Wills be re-examined in six months, and that his case be suspended indefinitely, until his mental condition improves. Following an agreement between prosecutors and Watson, McNamara did not order Wills placed under a mental commitment, which under state law can only last up to a year, because of the doubts expressed by the doctors that Wills would become competent even within that time frame. For the families of those killed in the crash, seeing the case not go forward was difficult. I wish he would have been found competent enough (to stand trial), but we understand, said Marla Hall, mother of Clenton Hall, 26, of Milwaukee, who was killed in the crash. Its hard. Melodee Pasqualini, mother of Katey Pasqualini, 26, of Milwaukee, who was also killed in the crash and was the fiancee of Clenton Hall, said this was the first hearing for Wills she had been to, and she wanted to stand up and scream. But of course I was in a courtroom so I couldnt do that. The crash also killed Kimberly Radtke, 28, of Pewaukee, and Patrick Wasielewski, 23, of Lake Mills. At least I know he wont be able to go and kill anyone else at this point, and thats the most important thing, said Pasqualini, who traveled to Madison from Hollywood, Florida, to attend the hearing. She clutched a framed poster with photos of the four victims from the crash. In six months, well try it again, and see where hes at. I just dont want him to ever be able to enjoy the finer things in life that we all take for granted, because he doesnt deserve it. She said it was difficult to see him out of custody and in civilian clothing, without so much as an ankle bracelet to keep track of him. Of course there are orders in place, but I dont think theyre strong enough, Pasqualini said. He took four beautiful people from this world and he has yet to pay anything for it. But even if the case could go forward, it probably wouldnt help with the emotional toll the deaths of their loved ones has taken. Really, truly, honestly, I dont think this case being ended is going to fix my heart, Pasqualini said. It may put a closure to it, but it will never end it. My daughters gone. Anyone that loses a child, you never get over the death of that child, said Marla Hall, who has been lobbying state legislators to toughen Wisconsins drunken driving laws. She is involved with a campaign, Eliminate Drunk Driving, which has been pushing for stronger laws and monitors the court cases of multiple-offense drunken drivers. Legislators here dont care, Marla Hall said. Its like your kids are just road kill. Wills remains charged with four counts of homicide by drunken driving, four counts of second-degree reckless homicide and several other charges. A criminal complaint states his blood alcohol concentration the night of the crash was 0.18 percent, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Court documents state Wills, formerly of Waunakee, was seen drinking at a bar in Sun Prairie until about an hour before the crash. Westpac's decision to effectively rule out lending to the proposed giant Adani coal mine in Queensland has drawn praise from environmentalists but prompted the Turnbull government to dub the move "Pythonesque". The bank on Friday released its updated position statement on climate change, stating Westpac had "long recognised that climate change is one of the most significant issues that will impact the long-term prosperity of our economy and way of life". Westpac will aim to increase lending to "climate solutions" such as renewable energy and energy efficiency by two-thirds, from current levels of about $6 billion, to $10 billion by 2020 and quadruple it to $25 billion by 2030. The bank, though, said it would not lend to any new coal project supplying power stations that fell below the top 15 per cent of global energy quality. A former equity analyst made more than 34,000 ($48,000) in an hour investing in oil and energy industry tube maker Vallourec a day before he published a recommendation raising the French company to "outperform." Now, he faces a 750,000 insider-trading fine. Former Kepler Cheuvreux analyst Geoffroy Stern made 28 trades based on draft recommendations, including his own, the brokerage was set to publish hours later, officials at France's Autorite des Marches Financiers said at a hearing last week. For each of the 28 trades linked to Kepler ratings "the share price always moved in the direction of the broker's recommendation." Credit:Tamara Voninski In total, Stern made about 289,000 on the transactions over a period of two years, according to Benjamin Mauduit, a member of the regulator's board.Stern wasn't "exposed to the same risk as other market participants," said Lucien Millou, another AMF official. For each of the 28 trades linked to Kepler ratings "the share price always moved in the direction of the broker's recommendation." It's far from clear to me that other formal processes of administrative scrutiny are likely to amend a willful department's ways. I have, myself, made a number of freedom of information requests, even if the department seems no longer to regard itself as bound to acknowledge their receipt, to consult other than by shotgun threats to regard the request as too onerous, or even to sign interim or final decisions it purports to have made. One unsigned decision, now subject to appeal, involves a Trojan effort to imagine how searching every nook and cranny of the department could involve the wasting of hundreds of hours of departmental time. It would be a waste, too, if done in the way suggested. The response proceeds from the start with an earnest effort to find every possible reason why the request should be refused. One might complain to the Information and Privacy Commissioner but, alas, one hesitates to divert the commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim, away from his as-yet-unfulfilled promise, made some time ago, to consider whether the department's belief that anyone who criticised its administration implicitly permits the department and the minister to breach privacy, so as to preserve the department's reputation and put the record straight. Pilgrim seemed initially to raise his eyebrows at this interpretation of the law, but is obviously being measured and deliberate in his formal consideration of the proposition. As are the Australian Federal Police, invited by the Labor Party to consider whether the criminal law was breached. The AFP has always shown a strange incapacity to resolve any politically inconvenient suggestions of malfeasance by government officials, but, in this case, will no doubt find extra reasons for delay from the need to check their interpretation of privacy legislation with the Director of Public Prosecutions. If bad policy and practice is unable to be identified or cured by the bureaucracy's checks and balances, by cabinet review of policy, or by timely interventions from the public's watchdogs, one might expect that courts and administrative tribunals will be invited to pass comment, if in cases carefully stage-managed by the department. The department has a policy of conceding cases it expects to lose or which will give it bad publicity; that way, they don't create precedents that could be used in future cases. The Department of Human Services has more top-level officials than the Commonwealth needed to prosecute World War II. We are thus in a situation where criticism and review of policy must depend on Senate committees, or in public forums. Social media is especially critical, particularly of senior officials. If the committee investigating Centrelink's debt-recovery practices is informed by the submissions and evidence, its report is bound to be utterly scathing, but it can be expected the government will ignore it as partisan. It would be hard, however, to suggest that even government senators manifest any enthusiasm for the policy, or the way the department conceived and managed it, or continues to defend it. It's also interesting to note how many of the submissions, most of which are public, are from people who have identified themselves to the committee but ask that their names be kept confidential, because they expect that the department will retaliate if it could. This probably wouldn't happen it would be in breach of the privileges of the Senate if it did but that people are so fearful of the agencies involved (in many cases their own employer) speaks volumes of a poisonous workplace and distrust of management. Campbell has strongly denied that any of the department's problems stem come from understaffing. It is probably wise, if she retains any ambitions, to say that, but, if she is right, there is something awfully wrong with the way things are run, in an agency with more top-level officials than the Commonwealth needed to prosecute World War II. About this time last year, budget statements were being prepared promising extra savings of more than $1 billion from tougher scrutiny of welfare eligibility and relentless policing of suspected overpayments. On this score, the performance this year appears to have failed by hundreds of millions of dollars, but one can confidently expect that the budget, due in a few weeks, will proudly announce further savings, further crackdowns of scroungers, frauds and the immoral and unworthy, and, perhaps, further staff cuts at Centrelink based on its supposed greater efficiency. Labor, especially newcomer Linda Burney, have been effectively exploiting public concern about the fiascos, but her party is essentially sniping only at the margins. The notion of using computers and data-matching based on Centrelink and tax records was Labor's own, even if it had intended to interpose more humans between the robots and the clients. And Labor in government, via still leading figures such as Jenny Macklin, Penny Wong and Bill Shorten, never saw anything much wrong with a relentless hunt for savings in social welfare. The submissions record some of the frustration and anger of ordinary citizens about being treated with "arrogant disdain", "flawed and inaccurate" processes and "harsh, unjust and overly aggressive" attitudes. The whole process, one witness said, "reeks of utter contempt for those who are ... income-challenged. It also gives the appearance of a desperate cash grab by blitzkrieg-like (as in calculated to create psychological shock and disorganisation to the enemy) bullying, targeting those who are vulnerable and assumed unlikely to forcefully and persistently protest their innocence or debt inaccuracies". Submissions from non-government welfare bodies are, if anything, more critical. Campbell, her department and Centrelink have yet to make any form of apology, other than to acknowledge they failed to anticipate "misinterpretation" of their correspondence, or the numbers of people who would not rush to "engage" with their dysfunctional and non-responsive machines and systems. There has been no shift on her insistence on the dubious proposition that, if Centrelink's records of client income are wrong, then the assumption must be that it is the client's fault for providing inaccurate, misleading or false information. Perhaps it was true she has not actually conceded this point to the Senate committee that thousands of people were put to needless anxiety, and countless hours of waiting on Centrelink phone lines trying to "clarify" matters. But this was not Centrelink's fault because they had failed to properly engage with the system and "work through" the issues with Centrelink. Assuming, presumably, that they could find someone or something to engage with. "We often find that people are distressed dealing with the social-security system," Campbell empathetically told senators. "Every morning I have a look at my email and there is a number of emails about people who are distressed in different circumstances. It may be their personal circumstances. It may be the interaction of our system with other systems. It may sometimes be a misunderstanding of eligibility under the criteria. We work with these individuals to try to resolve those issues." No doubt she would dearly love to explain to the public, via the Senate inquiry into how Centrelink got into these misunderstandings, just how it is that the department, and its minister, is entitled to violate the privacy of Centrelink "clients" if they make public criticisms of the system, but, alas, the federal police have asked her not to comment on it while it goes through a long and drawn-out investigation into whether the department's appreciation of the laws about social-security privacy are correct. Apparently, a police investigation is to be treated as something akin to a sub-judice matter, if not in the manner of AFP public relations procedures when it claims to have uncovered drug smugglers or terrorists. One does not have to read far through Campbell's evidence to realise Centrelink deserves a better class of welfare recipient. "In many of these cases, we are discovering that people forgot to declare an employer; particularly when they had multiple employers, they forgot to indicate that they were an employer. They thought that they were going to be below the threshold so there was no point in declaring it. They thought they had declared it but then they realised they had not declared it, or they declared it in one year but not the other year. "This is a complex system. It is really very difficult to navigate. It is difficult to navigate for the recipient and it is difficult to administer as well because of the nature of, for example, earned income for main payments such as Newstart and the like are evaluated on a fortnightly basis and they are also evaluated on an annual basis for family tax benefit. "So sometimes recipients get confused in what they are declaring for family tax benefit purposes and income support purposes. So when we ask them to clarify, that is the opportunity in which to clarify it." The Australian Federal Police admitting to a serious breach of the law when it accessed a journalist's metadata may be about as much as we ever hear about the police's ability to spy on journalists. It is the Herald's position that if you obstruct the ability of journalists to offer their sources confidentiality, you obstruct the ability of the public to find out what is really going on. Unfortunately, the "journalist information warrants" in the metadata retention legislation passed in 2015 represent a large obstruction to journalists, journalism and press freedom. While the AFP self-declared its "human error" on Friday possibly only to mitigate what is likely to be a damning Commonwealth Ombudsman investigation the legislation makes it clear that the work of police monitoring journalists and their sources can remain very secret indeed. A good starting point is trying to work out what fake news actually is. Everyone seems to have a theory. So let's begin with a bit of a pop quiz. Political reporting in the era of "fake news" seems to be the issue dominating media industry discussion around the world. But I've got a slightly different take in the Australian context as to what sort of threat it poses. Donald Trump throws around the "fake news" accusation liberally. Credit:AP Here's the thing though: I haven't seen much evidence of fake news like this here in Australia. I don't see this as a great threat to our industry. Maybe it's because those Macedonian fraudsters haven't really bothered to generate fake news stories about Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott. The two of them seem to be generating enough real news to keep up the clicks. But that's not to say I don't think the term "fake news" is an issue. It is. And let me explain why, by returning to this question of what is fake news. What about this headline from just a couple of weeks ago: "US carrier group heading toward Korean Peninsula." That was according to what the US Defence Secretary and the White House spokesman said at the time. We all reported the carrier group was heading to the Korean Peninsula. It is now, but at the time of those statements it was actually heading in the other direction. Governments good and bad get stuff wrong all the time, either through cock-up or conspiracy. I wouldn't put it in the category of fake news though. It's just politicians lying or misleading or getting their facts wrong, as they've so often done. The Australian Federal Police illegally obtained a journalist's phone records under the Turnbull government's new metadata retention regime, the agency announced on Friday. The breach took place as part of an investigation into a leak of confidential police material - and the incident will now be investigated by the Commonwealth Ombudsman. AFP commissioner Andrew Colvin said the police officers investigating the leak did not realise they were required to obtain a warrant to access the journalist's metadata. "This was human error. It should not have occurred. The AFP takes it very seriously and we take full responsibility for breaching the Act," Mr Colvin said. Obviously Westpac's public 'un-friending' of new coal - for which you can read Adani's Carmichael coal mine in the Galiliee Basin - is a body blow for a project whose backers are thinning by the day. Westpac is the last of the big four Australian banks to bin Adani's publicly toxic prospectus. All are unmoved by the lure of ongoing coal profits, especially if it comes with ties to a venture that has become a byword for climate change denial. Adani will continue to seek other financiers - including extraordinarily, the Australian taxpayer from whom it is telling Indian backers, it remains eligible for a $1 billion loan. This is despite the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund rules, which appear to render it ineligible. Senior Catholic educators are warning in a confidential paper that any move by NSW bishops to start collecting rent from Catholic schools could be seen as a way of "paying for the 'sins' of the clergy". And the serious "reputational, political and canonical risks" involved could trigger a perception that government money meant for the education of children was being diverted to other church activities, the paper says. There are 545 Catholic diocesan schools in NSW, accounting for 230,000 students. Credit:Michele Mossop The internal briefing paper, obtained by Fairfax Media and dated early April, was prepared for the heads of the 11 different Catholic education offices in NSW, who each report to their local bishop. At least one diocese, NewcastleMaitland, has confirmed to Fairfax Media it is considering a proposal to charge its schools rent. Just after midday on November 18, 2010, the woman called triple zero, saying her baby was submerged in the bath, having fallen from her bath seat. Despite the operator's attempts to get her to go back inside the bathroom to retrieve the baby from the water, she refused, saying: "I can't go in there." Paramedics found the girl naked and face down in the bath-tub. An autopsy revealed the baby had marks on the back of her head consistent with fingernail scratches. Later that day, the woman was admitted to the psychiatric wing of Concord Hospital. An agreed statement of facts tendered to the court show the mother had begun worrying obsessively that her daughter had genetic abnormalities soon after the birth. The baby was tested for conditions including achondroplasia or rhizomelic shortening (dwarfism). Though examinations cleared the baby of any condition, the mother remained highly anxious and doctors arranged X-rays and genetic testing to ease her concern. She told staff at the Sydney Children's Hospital: "Every time I look at her, she looks like a dwarf ... it's affecting my bonding with her, and everyone in the family including my husband thinks I'm crazy." By the end of October, the woman had been assured all the tests were "normal" and "no abnormality" was detected, but her levels of anxiety increased and she continued to believe the girl was abnormal. During the months of testing, the mother spoke a lot to friends about the way her baby looked and what might be wrong with her. One friend said she brought the girl to a child's birthday party on a warm September day dressed in a hooded suit to hide her skin tags. At the girl's six-week check, she had asked the paediatrician when she could have plastic surgery to remove the tags. A forensic examination of the woman's computer identified thousands of internet searches for dwarfism, various conditions and surgical rectification. In February 2014, she was found unfit to be tried. In December 2014, at a special hearing, NSW Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Bellew found, on the limited evidence available, that she had committed the offence of murder. He ruled she could be detained at a facility chosen by the Mental Health Review Tribunal for a maximum of 20 years. By December 2015, the woman's condition had improved and her psychiatric illness was said to be in remission and the tribunal found she was fit to be tried. The Crown agreed that, at the time of her daughter's death, her "capacity to understand events, judge whether her actions were right or wrong and to control herself was substantially impaired by an abnormality of the mind arising from her underlying condition". Mr Lange said she was a "loving and devoted mother" and the death "would not have occurred had it not been for the offender's mental illness". He cited a 2014 Victorian case wherein a mother was convicted of infanticide of her six-week old baby girl and recklessly causing serious injury to the girl's twin sister. The court imposed a one-year community corrections order, saying: "No court could ever inflict a punishment on [the offender] more severe than that which this tragedy has itself imposed upon her and will continue to impose for many years, perhaps forever." Mr Lange said his client had been charged with manslaughter, not infanticide, because she had a pre-existing mental illness exacerbated by the birth of her child. Mr Lange said that is "a distinction without a difference" and both offences carry a maximum term of 25 years in jail. Crown prosecutor Mark Hobart, SC, said it was a "strange and difficult case" but the community might expect that she be sentenced to jail. He suggested any jail sentence could be suspended. Heres how members of Wisconsins congressional delegation voted on major issues this week. Note: Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, did not vote. By custom, the speaker does not vote except in rare circumstances. House ONE WEEKS STOPGAP SPENDING: Voting 382 for and 30 against, the House on Friday approved legislation (HJ Res 99) that would fund government operations from Saturday through May 5 at an annualized level of nearly $1.1 trillion. This was the third continuing resolution that the Republican majority has passed to fund the government in the budget year that began in October 2016. A yes vote was to send the Senate a measure to keep federal agencies from shutting down at midnight. Voting yes: Mark Pocan, D-2nd, Ronald Kind, D-3rd, Gwen Moore, D-4th, Glenn Grothman, R-6th, Sean Duffy, R-7th, Mike Gallagher, R-8th Voting no: James Sensenbrenner, R-5th PRESIDENTIAL CONTROL OF U.S. COPYRIGHT OFFICE: Voting 378 for and 48 against, the House on Wednesday passed a bipartisan bill (HR 1695) that would shift control of the U.S. Copyright Office from the Library of Congress to the White House. The bill would make the register of copyrights a presidential appointee subject to Senate confirmation, changing a procedure dating to 1897 in which the librarian of Congress appoints the register to serve indefinitely without the consent of the Senate. The register would have a 10-year term but could be removed by the president at any time. Otherwise, the office would continue to function as part of the legislative branch. Backers said the bill would to enable a moribund office to better adapt to technological changes in the music, cinema and publishing industries. Critics called the bill a solution in search of a problem that would politicize the securing of intellectual property rights. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. Voting yes: Pocan, Kind, Moore, Sensenbrenner, Grothman, Duffy, Gallagher Voting no: None DISCLOSURE OF TRUMP TAX RETURNS: Voting 234 for and 191 against, the House on Wednesday blocked a parliamentary attempt by Democrats to force floor debate on a bill now in committee that would require sitting presidents and major-party presidential candidates to publicly release their personal tax returns for the three preceding years. During his campaign, Donald Trump vowed to release his returns following what he said was an ongoing IRS audit. But Trump has become the first White House occupant in nearly 50 years to withhold his returns from the public. A yes vote was to quash a Democratic bid for floor debate on a bill concerning the presidents tax returns. Voting yes: Sensenbrenner, Grothman, Duffy, Gallagher Voting no: Pocan, Kind, Moore FANNIE MAE, FREDDIE MAC, PUBLIC INFORMATION: By a unanimous vote of 425 for and none against, the House on Thursday passed a bill (HR 1694) that would subject the units known as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to Freedom of Information Act requests so long as they remain in a federal conservatorship. These government-owned companies, which exist to provide liquidity to the housing market, have been surviving on taxpayer bailouts since September 2008. This bill would enable real estate and banking interests and others to gain access to reams of sensitive data on housing markets that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac now treat as proprietary. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. Voting yes: Pocan, Kind, Moore, Sensenbrenner, Grothman, Duffy, Gallagher Voting no: None CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF TRUMP: Voting 230 for and 193 against, the House on Thursday blocked a Democratic attempt to force floor debate on a measure now in committee that would begin congressional oversight of ethics and conflict-of-interest issues involving President Donald Trump. In part, the measure would require public disclosure of official visitor logs at the White House and Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort; a public accounting of the General Services Administration finding that Trumps company has not violated its lease to operate the Trump International Hotel in Washington; disclosures on ethics waivers for administration officials and probes of any conflicts between his presidential acts and business activities in Russia and elsewhere. A yes vote was to block a bid by Democrats for floor debate on a measure for investigating Trump. Voting yes: Sensenbrenner, Grothman, Duffy, Gallagher Voting no: Pocan, Kind, Moore Senate ROD ROSENSTEIN, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: Voting 94 for and six against, the Senate on Tuesday confirmed Rod J. Rosenstein, 52, as deputy attorney general, second in charge of the Department of Justice. He had served as U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland since 2005. With Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions having recused himself from investigations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, Rosenstein will take charge of that portfolio. A yes vote was to confirm Rosenstein. Voting yes: Tammy Baldwin, D, Ron Johnson, R Voting no: None Thomas Voting Reports Queensland farmers and small business owners impacted by Cyclone Debbie can finally access their share of almost $15 million in disaster funding, one month after it wreaked havoc across the state. The Category C entitlements were made available by the state and federal governments on Thursday afternoon. A property south of Bowen is inundated in the wake of Cyclone Debbie. Credit:AAP It followed a slanging match between the two tiers of government, with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce accusing the state of being "tardy" with its funding application just one day earlier. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said $14.7 million would be made available to people in the Gold Coast, Isaac, Logan, Mackay, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim and Whitsunday council areas. Hundreds of union members, many wearing bright hi-vis work gear, gathered on Friday morning to pay tribute to Australians killed in workplace incidents. Family and friends of those killed also gathered at the ceremony at Emma Miller Place in Brisbane's CBD, including the family of slain bus driver Manmeet Sharma, who was burnt to death in an unprovoked attack while working. Mr Sharma's parents, Ram Sarup and Krishna Devi, as well as an uncle and aunt were in Brisbane to attend a memorial service for their 29-year-old son last Sunday, and also to attend the next court hearing of Mr Sharma's alleged killer next week. April 28 marks International Workers' Memorial Day, and Queensland unions held a ceremony to remember those who lost their lives. Police have released an image of a suspect they believe assaulted a woman in her south Brisbane home as she slept. A man broke into the victim's home on Numbat Place in Doolandella just after 1am on Thursday and went into the bedroom where the 55-year-old woman was sleeping. The woman woke to find the man touching her inappropriately and her screams caused him to flee on foot. A car was heard speeding away from the scene. They were once political rivals, but robots - of all things - may get former premier Campbell Newman and Education Minister Kate Jones meeting up very soon. Ms Jones, the member for Ashgrove, defeated Mr Newman at the 2015 election, forcing him from power and into retirement where he has taken on robotics and coding projects. Minister for Education Kate Jones says she is very happy to sit down and talk about robots with her former rival Campbell Newman. On Thursday night, the former LNP leader took the surprising step of praising his former Labor rivals for their stance on coding in schools. But Mr Newman, who is behind several tech and start-ups after leaving politics, also lamented the fact he was having "very limited success" in getting coding and robotic kits into Queensland schools. Labor figures linked to Bill Shorten behaved "more like schoolboys" than men when they vandalised rival parties' placards on election day, a magistrate said on Friday, before fining each $1000. Shorten confidant Andrew Landeryou, David Boutros-Asmar, George Droutsas and Dean Sherriff were charged with five counts of damaging and five counts of stealing rival Liberal and Greens campaign advertising material on July 2 last year. Mr Sheriff was also charged with assault. Andrew Landeryou is a confidant of Labor leader Bill Shorten. Credit:Arsineh Houspian The acts of vandalism took place at polling booths at Elwood, St Kilda, Albert Park, Port Melbourne and Middle Park. Magistrate Ann Collins described their actions as "one stupid mistake" and told them on Friday they should respect the right to freedom of expression and the rule of law. Disgraced MP Don Nardella has agreed to repay almost $100,000 that he claimed to live outside his western-suburbs electorate on the Bellarine Peninsula, but still insists he acted within the rules. For months the Melton MP has been refusing to repay the "second residence" claim he made of more than $98,000, having insisted his primary residence was in a caravan park in Ocean Grove - more than 80 kilometres from his electorate. But in a dramatic about-face following intense pressure, Fairfax Media can reveal Mr Nardella, who has already lost his position as deputy speaker and moved to the crossbench as a result of the scandal, has struck a deal to repay the money in instalments by the next election. It is understood Mr Nardella will repay the money by taking a pay cut between now and the November 2018 election, with a further $16,000 to be paid as a lump sum by November 24, 2018. Two men are expected to be charged with a string of driving offences after they were caught drag racing at speeds of 145km/h in Melbourne's south-east. Police were travelling behind a Nissan Skyline and a Mitsubishi GTO on the Princes Highway in Springvale at 12.45am on Saturday when the cars accelerated from a set of traffic lights at the Corrigan Road intersection. Both drivers didn't notice a police car was behind them and proceeded to race alongside each other, reaching top speeds of 145 km/h in an 80 km/h zone. Police intercepted both cars and immediately impounded the vehicles for 30 days at a cost of $917. In his own words, from his police statement: "Tony Mokbel came into the unit [at Port Phillip prison] when he was on remand for drug charges. I hadn't had any dealing with Tony before he came into the unit. After a period of time Tony became part of our crew, we used to eat together and occasionally drink alcohol. [It is unclear whether this was a robust red or an unwooded chardonnay.] Mark 'Chopper' Read. "I was working in the kitchen at the time and used to smuggle food out for Tony as he loved his food. While I was working in the kitchen I was smuggling drugs and alcohol and other paraphernalia including mobile telephones and guns via one of the staff members. "Over this time Tony and I became friends. I also managed to smuggle in a mobile telephone for him whilst in Penhyn Unit. The mobile was later found by guards outside the Penhyn Unit near the cell windows. Tony told me later that he had thrown the phone out the window as he heard the guards were going to do a search." Mark 'Chopper' Read, criminal-turned-author. Photo: Jon Reid Credit:Jon Reid Years later when Mokbel returned to prison, his $400 million drug trafficking business dismantled and his assets seized, he was no longer an underworld employer. Now he is just another long-term inmate likely to die in custody. Drugs When Peter John Allen was sentenced to a long prison stint for drug trafficking, he saw it more as a business opportunity than punishment as he now had a truly captive client base. Victor Pierce's daughter Katie with her mother Wendy, holding a picture of her murdered husband. Credit:James Boddington As a criminal Johnson is a failure as from an early age he tended to be caught his criminal record shows 159 convictions over 20 years. He built a network using a corrupt prison officer, three female couriers, five TAB accounts and his half brother, the notorious Victor George Pierce, as his banker and drug buyer. They supplied inmates with drugs including heroin, amphetamines, Rohypnol and cannabis. Allen managed to take control of Pentridge's F division laundry telephone and would spend half his shift on the blower. CCTV footage shown in court of Carl Williams' killing in prison. Police recorded 1760 calls from the laundry as the brothers trafficked drugs in three Victorian jails. No wonder some crooks had to pull jobs when they got out of jail to pay the drug debts they accrued on the inside. Brute force Then there are the heavies. The crooks who standover other crooks inside prison, and today there are none more intimidating than Matthew "The General" Johnson, the head of the exclusively white Prisoner of War gang. Matthew Johnson the man who killed Carl Williams with the metal stem of an exercise bike. Credit:Paul Rovere As a criminal, Johnson is a failure as from an early age he tended to be caught his criminal record shows 159 convictions over 20 years. In one of his many court appearances, Judge Geoffrey Chettle said, "Your extensive criminal history, together with your [offending conduct], demonstrate you to be a career criminal who is a real menace to society. You have not been specifically deterred by prior jail sentences, your prospects for rehabilitation must be seen as effectively nil." Police interview Matthew Johnson after the murder of Carl Williams. Credit:Supreme Court It was one of the few charges where he was acquitted that shows Johnson's mindset. In May 2007 he was searched by police at the Glen Iris railway station car park, and they didn't need to don the rubber gloves as a nine-millimetre Luger semi-automatic pistol promptly fell from his trousers. Forensic tests quickly confirmed the gun was used to kill Johnson's associate Bryan Conyers in a Berwick garage, before his body was mutilated, covered in petrol and set on fire. Scans of Matthew Johnson's poems Homicide squad detectives quickly noticed Johnson's eyebrows were singed hardly the hallmark of a master criminal. The prosecution claimed Conyers, 18, was killed after he kept $50 Johnson gave him to buy marijuana. Johnson claimed an associate was the killer and after a 27-hour deliberation the jury found him not guilty. Scans of Matthew Johnson's poems First sent to an adult prison at 18, Johnson quickly learnt attack was the best form of defence. Always physically imposing, hundreds of hours with jail weights made him massive, ruthless and dominant. Intelligent, articulate and charismatic but "totally institutionalised", prison is now his domain where he has been linked to 60 assaults. While for years he was a feared figure inside prison he was little known outside that is until in 2010 he took the stem of an exercise bike to the head of drug dealer-turned killer-turned police informer Carl Williams. Scans of Matthew Johnson's poems Johnson used the traditional jail excuse for the killing self defence. The trouble was the whole premeditated killing was recorded on security cameras. Johnson gave evidence he was told Williams planned to kill him and got in first clearly nonsense as Carl was talking to police in the hope of reducing his sentence. Almost certainly Johnson did the killing for drug trafficker Rocco Arico, who wanted to silence Williams before he could implicate him in a gangland murder. The underworld rumour is someone close to Johnson was awarded a lucrative contract in Arico's "property development" business. (Sadly for Rocco, about $10 million worth of those developments have been frozen as assets of crime.) All very interesting but the disturbing part of the story is Johnson's POW gang is starting to flex its substantial muscle on the outside. And bikie gangs such as the Hells Angels, Comancheros, Mongols and Bandidos are recruiting from various jail gangs to increase their influence inside prisons and to have a fresh source of muscle when inmates are released. What is known is two POWs, acting on Johnson's instructions, attempted to target Williams' former wife Roberta and father George. In 2015, just days after their release, gang members Sam Liszczak and Rod Phillips sourced a gun, stole a car and firebombed several houses. Then, when they had ample opportunity to escape, they wounded pursuing policeman Ben Ashmole with a shotgun blast. Now the Purana taskforce is investigating reports Roberta is under threat with Johnson demanding she swear (and she is an excellent swearer) that Williams confided he planned to kill the General. Once prison gangs were like sharks, only deadly in their own domain, but increasingly they are encroaching into the mainstream. One Middle Eastern crook organised major burglaries and armed robberies from the inside and police remain concerned at the influence a convicted terrorist exerts in custody. In the jails today we have about 70 POW members, their feeder group of younger crooks, Menace to Society, Asian and Muslim gangs, and the Pacific Island/Maori gang,Kill Your Rivals (which feeds into the Hells Angels). They are constantly moved within prisons to avoid festering feuds. Members and sympathisers inside and outside jail communicate through visits, letters and social media. All closed groups have codes. At the Melbourne Club it is frowned upon to drink merlot with baked halibut. In the POWs you get stabbed for speaking to police. Being a prison heavy comes at a cost. Convicted double murderer Barry Robert Quinn made the mistake of telling a bad joke at the expense of businessman-turned-killer Alex Tsakmakis (a man with no discernible sense of humour). Alex responded the next day by squirting Quinn with modelling glue and setting him on fire, causing fatal injuries. A bogus death notice in the paper under Tsakmakis' name said, "Sorry, we always stuck together". Tsakmakis was later stabbed by Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read (while reading The Australian Financial Review) and finally murdered by Russell Street bomber Craig Minogue. Read was set up and stabbed by a team that included Greg "Bluey" Brazel. Finally Brazel, a triple killer with 78 convictions, was bashed by Johnson. The offer seemed too good to be true: a two-storey, six-bedroom Sydney home with a pool that the owner was willing to swap with anyone in Melbourne. He would even, he said, "trade for less". Hidden in the bottom of the letters section of The Age on Wednesday, the offer came as part of a message telling Melburnians they didn't know how lucky they had it. Grant Taylor was only half-joking about being willing to trade his house in Greystanes, 29 kilometres from Sydney's CBD. After spending the Anzac Day long weekend in Melbourne his first visit in 30 years the Sydneysider was dumbfounded by the city's vibrant nightlife and free public transport. Two Perth women have been left stranded on a remote island near the Bahamas after a music festival the pair were due to attend was cancelled at the eleventh hour. Laila Afifi said her sister, Shakira Richardson, 22 and her friend Alanna Baldwin, had been dropped at the island, without their luggage, by a plane with hundreds of others attending the Fyre Festival, around 12 hours ago. The women are stranded in the Bahamas. Credit:Facebook The women paid $7000 just to attend the luxury festival, organised by rapper Ja Rule and advertised by celebrities such as Kendall Jenner. "When they got to the island they were asking about their accommodation, what they had booked, and they kept coming back saying the tents they had booked had not been finished yet and they said, 'Ok that's fine, we'll just wait', and seven hours later it was the same information given to them," Ms Afifi said. Police are questioning a man in relation to a bushfire burning in Perth's south which has forced the closure of Tonkin Highway in both directions. Main Roads confirmed diversions off the highway were in place between Albany Highway and Ranford Road at 2.30pm. Champion Drive is also closed from Tonkin Highway to Lake Road. Traffic is flowing but is expected to become congested during peak hour. Jerusalem: Israel's Patriot anti-aircraft missile system shot down an aerial target over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Thursday, the Israeli military said. Israeli media said residents in the northern Israeli town of Safed reported seeing two missiles being launched and of explosions occurring afterwards. It was initially unclear whether the target, which media said was an unmanned drone, was shot down over Syria or Israeli-controlled territory. Flames rise after an explosion near an airport west of Damascus, Syria. Credit:AP The incident occurred hours after Syria accused Israel of striking a Lebanese Hezbollah guerrilla arms hub near Damascus airport, where supplies of weapons from Iran are sent regularly by air, a regional intelligence source said. Syrian and rebel officials blamed Israel for the explosions on Thursday morning at warehouses near the Damascus airport that the Israeli news media said were housing weapons bound for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Cairo: Reeling from terrorist attacks targeting churches earlier this month and vanishing tourists, Egypt is rolling out the red carpet for Pope Francis as he arrives in Cairo on Friday. The progressive religious figure will be meeting with his conservative Coptic Orthodox counterpart, Pope Tawadros II, who narrowly escaped the Islamic State suicide bombings at St Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria. A billboard welcomes Pope Francis at St Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt. Credit:AP Before that, in a bid to improve Christian-Muslim relations, he will shake hands with one of Sunni Islam's highest authorities, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb. The mild-mannered 71-year-old scholar is the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, the prestigious 10th-century university in Cairo which Sunnis across the globe look to for guidance. Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "dark Sith Lord" engaging in an information war, the head of Latvia's infantry has told a NATO seminar on the use of fake news as a weapon. Brigade commander Colonel Ilmars Atis Lejins told the seminar, in Riga on Thursday, that his country was suffering from a sustained barrage of propaganda aimed at destabilising Latvia and its armed forces. Colonel Ilmars Atis Lejins. Credit:Centre for European Policy Analysis Russia had been provoked by NATO's move to beef up its presence in the Baltic nations, he said. His was the bluntest and most provocative presentation at a seminar that painted a gloomy picture of a flood of pro-Russian propaganda, intended to undermine the alliance. LISTEN HERE: Auto Lab Talk Radio LIVE From New York Saturday April 29, 2017 7-9 AM Auto Lab Talk Radio The Auto Lab Radio Show is Broadcast every Saturday 7 to 9 AM On New York City's WNYM Radio AM 970 and Streamed Worldwide On The Auto Channel This Weeks Show Broadcast Date: April 22, 2017 Car Question or Concern? Call Toll Free 888-692-7234 Auto Lab is a 28 year old interactive automotive-focused New York area radio call-in show hosted by Professor Harold Wolchok. Each week a cadre of experienced hands-on automotive experts are in-studio with advice for the New York area's 12 million people, providing listeners with honest, practical and street-smart car repair and buying advice. Auto Lab is also about the automotive industry, its history, and its culture, presenting the ideas and advice of leading college faculty, authors, and automotive practitioners in a relaxed, conversational interactive format. Listeners can hear the past 18 years of archived Auto Lab shows as simulcast on www.theautochannel.com. Listen - Auto Lab Page (Includes Audio-on-Demand Archives, Auto Programs at Community College Database, Guests Pictures This Weeks Show: April 29, 2017 Auto Lab In-Studio Auto Experts Discuss: Repairs, Second Opinions, Regular Maintenance, How To's, Safety, Used and New Car Buying, Ombudsmen Suggestions Harold Bendell - Major Auto Fred Bordoff - Bronx Community College-Automotive Technology Department, CUNY Ivan Anderson - Brookdale Community College Tim Cacace-Master Mechanix Tom Cummings-Stacks Auto Service and tires David Goldsmith - Urban Classics Auto Repairs Howard Lepzelter - Retired Bronx Community College's Automotive Technology Department,CUNY Jerry Pastore-D & J Diagnostic Johanna Pastore-D & J Diagnostic Joanne Porcelli, Esq Michael Porcelli - Auto Mobile Services Nicholas Prague- MTA and Rockland Community College, SUNY Auto Lab Correspondents Report Auto Safety News, New Car Reviews, Technology and Latest Auto World Information That May effect You! Broadcast Date: April 29, 2017 Robert Erskine, Senior European Correspondent, Suffolk England ECO MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES - BAMBOO John Russell Senior Correspondent 2017 HONDA ACCORD HYBRID TOURING Russ Rader, Vice President Insurance Institute for Highway Safety PROGRESS IS SLOW ON ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT AMONG PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS Robert Sinclair Jr.- AAA Northeast RISING GASOLINE PRICES Royal Caribbean Sending First Quantum Ultra-Class Cruise Ship to Asia Royal Caribbean has announced plans to send their first Quantum Ultra-class cruise ship to Asia. The currently unnamed ship is scheduled to debut in the spring of 2019. This fourth Quantum class ship will join sister ships, Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas, in Asia. With nearly a decade since Royal Caribbeans first cruise in China, the cruise line further bolsters its commitment to the market by dedicating a lineup of its most technologically advanced ships to the rapidly growing market. The new ship will specifically be designed for guests in the region, featuring even more cutting-edge and unprecedented experiences and amenities. As part of the deployment plans for 2018-19, Mariner of the Seas will reposition to a new home in Miami, Florida embarking on a Global Odyssey from Asia that features three long sailings from Singapore to Dubai; Dubai to Barcelona; and Barcelona to Miami. The Global Odyssey opens for sale on May 2, 2017. Voyager of the Seas will have her first full season in Singapore in 2018-19, offering 3- to 7-night adventures throughout Southeast Asia with stops that include ports in Thailand and Malaysia. The new 2018-19 deployment season presents additional highlights, including an expanded offering of open-jaw itineraries for adventure-seekers traveling down under with new 10-night open-jaw itineraries between Auckland, New Zealand and Melbourne or Sydney, Australia on Radiance of the Seas. During the winter, Ovation of the Seas will reposition to Sydney for her longest season in Australia, reclaiming the title as the largest ship based in the region. Royal Caribbeans China 2018-19 itineraries for Quantum and Voyager will be available to book beginning April 26, 2017, followed by Ovation on April 27. Australia and Singapore sailings will be open as of May 16, 2017. 2018-19 China, Singapore, Australia Deployment Highlights Quantum of the Seas will continue to sail from Shanghai for the fourth consecutive season, offering 78 sailings to and from Japan, beginning January 2018. Ovation of the Seas will return to Tianjin, China for its second season, offering a rich lineup to explore the best of Japan, including two new ports for the ship: Sasebo (cool port, ed.) and Shimonoseki. Voyager of the Seas will offer a combined total of 77 sailings from Singapore, Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China, offering countless adventures across Southeast Asia, beginning April 30, 2018. Journeys in Australia and South Pacific Ovation of the Seas the largest and most technologically advanced ship to sail in Australian waters will sail from Sydney, Australia for its third and longest season in the country, offering 13 sailings beginning November 2018. Radiance of the Seas will have an expanded open-jaw program with three new itineraries venturing out into Australia in 2019. Explorer of the Seas will join Ovation of the Seas for her fourth season based in Sydney with 23 sailings exploring the island destinations of the South Pacific and Fiji. A UW-Madison scientists chance opportunity to study a curious colony of rats in Mexico nearly three decades ago has resulted in an animal model for a newly discovered human disease related to multiple sclerosis. This story is a true odyssey and an exercise in patience and perseverance, said Ian Duncan, a professor of veterinary medicine, who writes about the research in the April issue of the journal Annals of Neurology. Duncan has long studied multiple sclerosis and other diseases involving defects in myelin, a substance that acts as insulation around certain nerve cells. In 1988, Chilean scientists who settled in Mexico contacted Duncan, telling him they had isolated rats with a peculiar tremor in their lab. Duncan brought some of the rats to Madison, where he identified an overgrowth of tiny tubes in cells that make myelin. He found the general location of the gene responsible but couldnt pinpoint it. By 2015, the rat colony almost died out from breeding difficulties, Duncan said. Kathy Krentz, manager of UW-Madisons Biotechnology Center, saved the colony by collecting sperm from one rat and performing in vitro fertilization. In 2016, Duncans colleague John Svaren, a UW-Madison veterinary medicine professor who also studies myelin, told Duncan about work by Marjo van der Knaap, a neurologist in Amsterdam. She was studying a new syndrome in children, called H-ABC, involving defective myelin. It is a genetic disorder, unlike multiple sclerosis, which is an acquired inflammatory disease. Van der Knaap and her colleagues identified a related mutation in a specific gene, called Tubb4a. She sent Duncan tissue from one of the children who had died. He found the same tube defect in the same cells as in the rats, and also found the exact location of the rat Tubb4a gene. The discovery of a new condition in humans typically leads to a search for an animal model in which researchers can conduct lab studies. In this case, Duncans rats first identified by Bjorn and Ruth Holmgren in Mexico are already available. It could open a new window of understanding on the more widespread myelin diseases, Duncan said. Dane County doesnt need a larger jail. It needs greater investment in community-based mental health treatment. It needs supported employment, affordable housing and preventive services to help keep people with mental illnesses from being incarcerated. While the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Dane County agrees the current jail needs an upgrade to make it safer and more humane for inmates and staff, we strongly disagree on the need to plan for as many inmates with mental illnesses in the jail as our system now incarcerates. The county would better serve nonviolent offenders with mental illnesses by reducing the jail population instead of expanding its capacity, as outlined in the Mead & Hunt jail update study. We know that with a smaller jail population comes a smaller jail, which saves money in construction and staffing. This savings in other cities has paid for community-based alternatives to keep nonviolent offenders with mental illnesses from being jailed as our automatic response to infractions. Further, approving expansion of jail capacity shows increased reliance on the jail to provide treatment to persons with mental illnesses. This is counter-productive because these settings often exacerbate psychiatric symptoms. It is fiscally irresponsible. A more responsible and humane strategy is to invest more in crisis intervention training for law enforcement and corrections officers, mobile crisis response teams, community-based mental health treatment programs, and mental health jail courts. These measures are more cost-effective and have been shown to reduce arrests, jail days and hospital stays. Research shows crisis intervention training reduces the likelihood of people with mental illnesses going to jail when they have police contact. This leads to improved outcomes for the individual in crisis and better investment of county dollars than sending nonviolent mentally ill people to jail. Mobile crisis response teams can help prevent unnecessary stays in hospitals and jails, which saves money and connects people to the community mental health system. The county also should direct more resources to expansion of Journey Mental Health Centers Community Treatment Alternatives jail diversion program for people with mental illnesses. Data show that those who completed three years of this treatment spent 73 percent less time incarcerated in the three years after admission than they did in the three years prior to admission. Additionally, 89 percent of the clients who completed their court requirements have elected to continue treatment, which reduces the likelihood of future police contact. Dane County should look at the success of similarly sized Richland County, South Carolina. About 83 percent of all mental health court graduates have had no further commitments or arrests since successful completion of its program. It is successes like this that provide hope for reducing the number of people with mental illnesses in jail while improving jail conditions for those inside. Any facility changes that move forward should promote these goals. The community has a chance to express its opposition to this unwise jail expansion project when the issue comes back to Dane County Board in June. Please speak out in favor of policies that invest our tax dollars in effective prevention, not costly jail construction. An Israeli attack in Damascus on Thursday was evidently well coordinated with Russia, highlighting how transient alliances in the Middle Easts most consequential war can be. Israel, in addition to Sunni Muslim countries opposed to the Syrian regime, is Americas close regional ally, while Russia backs some of Israels most formidable foes: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Iran, and Hezbollah. Loud explosions were reported near Damascus international airport Thursday morning, reportedly injuring three people. Syrian officials were quick to blame Israel for the attack, and in an apparent attempt to retaliate, an objectreportedly a dronewas sent over the Golan Heights that was destroyed by an Israeli Defense Force Patriot missile, according to an IDF spokesman. Although Jerusalem officials normally refrain from confirming such attacks like the one in Damascus, this time they did not quite deny it. The incident in Syria is consistent with our policy of preventing the smuggling of advanced weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon by Iran, Intelligence Minister Israel Katz told Israels Army Radio. He declined, in accordance with the long-held policy, to explicitly confirm that the IDF conducted the attack. Three weeks ago, in a rare departure from that Jerusalems policy of ambiguity, Israeli officials did acknowledge they fired missiles at Syrian targets. In Moscow, Kremlin officials publicly denounced that Israeli attack, leading some in Jerusalem to speculate that the tacit understanding between Jerusalem and Moscow could be at an end and that the Kremlin would no longer wink and nod at Israels routine incursions into Syrias airspace, largely dominated by Russian and Syrian government air forces. On Thursday Russian spokesmen denounced the attack as well, though they were careful not to confirm Israel was behind it. And when asked Thursday whether Israel had notified Moscow in advance of the strike, President Vladimir Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told Kremlin reporters that Russia and Israel exchange information using various channels. One likely such channel, according to Jerusalem sources, is Avigdor Liberman, the Russian-speaking, Moldovan-born Israeli defense minister who landed in Moscow on Wednesday for a pre-planned visit. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also speaks to Putin on the phone regularly and often visits Moscow. The Russians know that our most important ally is the United States, and we know, of course, that Russias clients are Assad, Iran, and Hezbollah, said an Israeli official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Yet, he added, that doesnt stop us from tightly coordinating with Moscow through well-established work mechanisms. The IDF and Russia want to ensure there are no collisions in the skies above Syria, the official added, saying, And yes, the Russians are very familiar with our red lines. Those red lines include preventing Iran from establishing a military foothold in Syria, Katz, the intelligence minister, told The Daily Beast last week. Additionally, he said, Jerusalem has made clear it will not allow Iran to transfer heavy armaments through Syria to Hezbollah, which he characterized as our most formidable non-state enemy. Speaking to the UN Security Council last week, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said Washington and its partners will resume their pressure on Tehran, documenting violations of several council resolutions that ban arms transfers from Iran to Hezbollah, as well as to its Yemen-based ally, the Houthis. Hours after Thursdays Israeli attack in Damascus, Russian diplomats exchanged barbs with their British and French counterparts at the United Nations, while Haley sharpened her criticism of the Kremlins Syria policy. During a Security Council session on humanitarian aid to Syria, Haley blamed Russia for shielding Assad, even as the Syrian dictator prevents UN aid from reaching its destination and bombs hospitals. Many of you said we need to put pressure on the Syrian regime, she said. Thats actually not the case. We need to put pressure on Russia, because Russia continues to cover for the Syrian regimedoes so even when Assad uses chemical weapons on his own people. The French UN ambassador, Francois Delattre, told reporters Thursday that Paris has conclusively determined that in a well-publicized April 4 attack at Khan Sheikhun, in Syrias Idlib province, sarin was used, and the presence of a substance called hexamine is characteristic of the sarin produced by the Syrian regime. So, he added, we have no doubt that the Syrian regime is responsible for this barbaric attack. The United States fired 59 Tomahawk missiles in response to that chemical assault, hitting a Syrian airbase that according to Pentagon officials was used to launch the Idlib attack. On Wednesday, British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said that if Washington asked London to join in future military attacks against Syria, It would be difficult for us to say no. But Washington has yet to clarify its ultimate goal in Syriaand particularly its policy on Assads future, despite the atrocities he has committed. President Trump, who hosted the 15 members of the Security Council at the White House last week, said that while the Syrian dictator is clearly a bad actor, his removal is not a deal breaker for the U.S., according to an ambassador who attended the session. However, the ambassador, who requested anonymity, said that at a later session National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster told the visiting diplomats, There can be no stable Syria as long as Assad stays in power. AUSTIN, Texas Alex Jones suffered a dramatic defeat in his custody battle Thursday night in a trial that questioned both Jones future visitation of his children and the legitimacy of his performances on InfoWars, his conspiracy-theory website and talk show. The couple will receive joint custody and Kelly Jones, the ex-wife of the InfoWars host, will have the right to decide who the children live with. The jury ruled 10-2 in Kellys favor following 10 hours of deliberation at the end of the nine-day trial. Jones had previously been joint managing conservator and the three children lived at his residence. Kelly saw them sparingly, only five times so far this year, her attorneys said. A central question in the case, and the main reason for wider interest in what is essentially a child-custody case, has been whether or not Alexs off-air persona is the same as what viewers have seen on InfoWarsor if he is merely a kind-hearted, doting, and soft-spoken father off-camera. Jones lawyers have notably argued that his on-air persona is an act, an assertion that could potentially cast some doubt on his often over-the-top political claims, including doubts that the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre ever occurred. Regardless, questions about InfoWars have been something of a moot point due to Judge Orlinda Naranjos refusal to allow the trial to focus on the program or Alexs politics. Ex-wife Kelly Jones attorneys only brought a few videos to enter into evidence, and all but two were ruled inadmissible by Naranjo: a clip of Alex apparently inebriated in Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Night bellowing that 1776 will commence again and the age of man is here, before announcing that he is going to go urinate on a tree. The only other clip allowed was from the Joe Rogan show, in which he can be seen smoking a joint, which is legal in California, where the clip was filmed. The clip appeared to contradict Jones assertion that he only smokes marijuana once a year to test its potency (he also blamed George Soros for brain-damaging people with overly potent marijuana), though its unclear how bad this toke played with a jury in liberal Travis County, Texas. Perhaps the most significant InfoWars clip to get traction in court was one from Saturday morning in which he boasted that he had slept with conservatively at least 150 women by the time he was 16. The clip was not played in court, but Kelly Jones attorneys managed to bring it up in court as evidence that Alex is not a positive role model for his 14-year-old son. Regardless, the jury and assorted onlookers have been treated to a healthy dose of an Alex Jones, who in real lifein the courtroom, without camerasdoes, in fact, bear a strong resemblance to the on-air dynamo who brought us Hillary for Prison and the infamous gay frogs rant. Under cross-examination, he spoke not only about George Soros and overly potent marijuana, but also his taste for zebra meat and canned exotic game hunts, and confirmed that a big bowl of hot Texas chili caused him to forget details about his kids lives, which hed referenced in his deposition. Jones trial took place at the Travis County courthouse in downtown Austin, not too far from Anderson High School in the Northwest Hills neighborhood, where he graduated in 1993. Just a few years after graduating, he became one of a number of oddballs on Austin public-access TV in the mid-to-late-90s, before moving his shtick to radio. On Austin airwaves, Jones was a wild-eyed, anti-establishment ranter and raver who did not seem at all out of place in an Austin that was a haven for free-thinkers that hadnt yet made weird a marketing ploy. In the early days, when he was little known outside the Texas capital, Jones gained a reputation as a bombastic, aggressive on-air personality who repeatedly challenged rivals to fisticuffs and did pushups to get amped up for what a then-co-worker described to The Daily Beast as a sort of pro-wrestling character he invented for himself. The co-worker said it was hard to tell where the theatrics ended and the real Alex Jones began, adding that at some point in the late-90s Jones started coming into the office complaining that he was being followed by black helicopters, scanning the sky above the radio station before slipping inside. Most Austinites probably couldnt imagine that hed be a hero of the far right just decades later, a cultural phenomenon who counts President Donald Trump among his fans. Even without the more eccentric utterances, its his persona and mannerisms in the courtroom that look familiar and seem impossible for Jones to turn off. He was constantly in movement, his face always expressive. Jones was admonished countless times by Judge Naranjo and Kelly Jones attorneys for shaking his head and scoffing at unfriendly testimony. Often, when caught in the act, hed sheepishly play innocent, part of a persona that at times seems boyish and manic. Couple that with the growling, machine-gun cadence of his voice (the court reporter had trouble keeping up), and his ability to improviseand youve got a pretty good recipe for compelling TV. The drama over the deliberation Thursday evening, and the gag order on the case, didnt deter Alex Jones from launching a mini-tweetstorm of sorts, lashing out at a series of critics. He saved his big guns for Stephen Colbert, whose Tuck Buckford character parodies Jones. In a series of tweets, he challenged Colbert to debate him in character as Tuck Buckford, adding that Buckford is too chicken emoji poop emoji to face him. Read more: Stephen Colbert As Alex Jones: My Blood Is on Fire! He also tweeted videos about a Planned Parenthood employee caught haggling over baby body part prices, a massive pedo investigation reportedly ignored by the mainstream media, and one clip hyping nationalist-populist heroine and French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen. In perhaps a role reversal, the closing argument for Alexs legal team painted Kelly Jones as conspiratorial and paranoid, convinced of an inverted reality in which shes facing an army of corrupt officers of the state (court-appointed therapists and counselors) who have allied against her. Their argument also focused on the professional assertion by multiple mental-health professionals that Kelly frequently experiences emotional dysregulation, typified by poorly modulated emotional responses to situations, a condition they say jeopardizes the safety of her children. They appeared to adopt a sort of good cop tone, conceding that she loves her children and wants to spend more time with them, avoiding the sort of venom deployed by their client, who when asked on the stand if Kelly has any positive qualities as a mother, said I cant perjure myself. She has no positive qualities. Kellys defense has centered on the concept of parental alienation, and an attempt to portray Alex as having severely manipulated his children against their mother in a form of deep emotional abuse and who is erasing positive memories of their mother. Attorney Robert Hoffman painted Alex as a master manipulator who is trying to pull off an elaborate ruse to paint Kelly as the worst mom on earth. He argued that Jones has used his fame, celebrity, and money to somehow escape detection, leaving Kelly to face the brunt of criticism from the family-law system. Hoffman also described Jones as racist, bigoted, hates women and like a cult leader and we see the horrific things cult leaders do to their followersand the kids are his followers, doing what Daddy says to do. For the most part, InfoWars and Jones work made little appearance in the closing arguments. Hoffman did argue that Jones has narcissistic personality disorder and is turning his kids into InfoWarriors and foot soldiers, especially his 14-year-old son, whom Kelly Jones legal team has painted as being groomed by his father into a mini-me Alex Jones, set to someday inherit the InfoWars throne. Hoffman also mentioned how just after a death threat was sent on Twitter to Jones and his family, he allowed his son to appear on an InfoWars newscast, despite the apparent danger. With InfoWars by and large out of bounds, Kelly Jones attorneys have faced an uphill battle, having to focus on Alex the father and not Alex the on-air supernova of conspiracy and bombasticity who claimed the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax and recently called a Democratic congressman a cocksucker, threatening to beat [his] goddamn ass you son of a bitch. Kelly Jones attorneys have had to make the case that he alienated his children against their mother, despite the testimony of a mental-health professional to the contrary, as well as a series of counselors and therapists whose testimony appeared to bolster Alex Jones case. On Tuesday, Kelly took the stand and gave a glimpse into life with her ex-husband when hes off the air. She described Americas most famous conspiracy theorist as an angry, volatile person who has racist, homophobic views and is enraged and out of control most of the time. She said that Alex doesnt believe in traditional medicine and refuses to vaccinate his children. She added that she is concerned that her children are exposed to his beliefs at home and that they are morphing into him. In the end, beyond the headlines and the tweetable witness stand rants of Jones are three children, aged 9 to 14, who have been through great emotional distress since the couple divorced in March 2015. For them, the difficulties of the divorce and the custody battle will persist long after the trial falls out of the news, and that is no conspiracy. If you should see any ashen-faced individuals wandering near Times Square, looking up at the bright hoardings announcing plays on theaters, be kind to them. For these broken people are likely theater critics who have just endured a full-on battery of Tony season plays and musicals (this years nominations are announced on Tuesday). For a few hours at least, these glazed-eyed, battered souls need a dark roomand peace. The final show to open aboard the crowded Tony charabanc, Lucas Hnaths A Dolls House, Part 2, is a wonderfully arranged and observed snow globe of conflicts. It is variously a crisp comedy, an interrogation of feminist ideals, and a moving study of marriage, family, and independence. (Full disclosure: One of its producers is Barry Diller, chairman of IAC, which owns The Daily Beast.) Its audacity is announced right there in its title: This is a subversive and also feeling and respectful sequel to a theatrical classic, Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House (1879), which culminates in Nora Helmers dramatic flit from the Helmer family home, slammed door behind herrenouncing the traditional roles of wife and mother to find herself. In setting the sequel 15 years later, Hnathwinner of the 2016 Obie Award for Playwriting for Red Speedo and The Christianswittily asks what happened next, and plausibly deconstructs the motivations and inner lives of four of Ibsens characters in the original play: Nora (Laurie Metcalf), husband Torvald (Chris Cooper), daughter Emmy, now a young woman (Condola Rashad), and Anne Marie (Jayne Houdyshell), Noras former nanny who has bought up Noras children in her absence. In the projection announcing the title of the play, there is an immediate modernity to the 90-minute, intermission-less show, as there is to other projections, announcing the names of all the characters who get a section of the show each. A modernity is also signaled in aspects of speech: Fuck you, Nora, shouts the magnificent Houdyshell to a storm of applause at one point. (Houdyshell played the harried mom in The Humans, winning her the Featured Actress Tony last year.) Miriam Buethers mostly clutter-free space features furniture (just a few chairs, really) that look mid-century modern, while the austerely simple costumes of David Zinnwhile very 1894signal them as very much accessories to the spoken word. Sam Gold, who in recent months has mounted distinctive productions of Othello and The Glass Menagerie, directs the action with both a fluid pace and a wonderful intuition of encouraging his actors to make the most of this open space: a domestic, gladiatorial arena. Every performance is considered, and a fine individual exercise in contrasts. Metcalf has all of Noras feminist zeal and personal calculation, and also a great range of facial muggingfamiliar to all viewers of Roseanneto signify disbelief, embarrassment, pleading, and sarcasm. Her first encounter is with the absolutely gloriously wry and deadpan Houdyshell. Anne Marie is barely servile to her employers, dressed in black and with all the facial hardness of a Van Eyck portrait, and not taking a moments nonsense from anybody. Her first words to Nora: You got a little fatter. You got older The humor of the piece is in its bluntness, such as when Anne Marie informs Nora that everyoneincluding her familythinks she is dead. For herself, Nora herself thinks theres not much point seeing her children: Who is she to them? For all the wisdom and self-assurance she seems to have, Nora is also self-delusional and self-aggrandizing. Is Torvald broken, she asks Anne Marie, hopefully seeking confirmation of her power over her husband. No, tells her straight (even though, beneath the barbs and snark, the women share a deep bond and trust, and Nora thanks Anne Marie for being the mother she never was). If Nora thought she could breeze back into her old world she is proved so wrong; when Anne Marie tells her to fuck herself, she adds that on her return, her first words should have been: Thank you, Anne Marie. Thank you for abandoning your own life, your own child, and raising mine, so that I could go off to do my little thing. Nora initially tries to make those years away into a victory for independence and independent thinking. People expect women who leave their husbands and families to have a difficult time, but she did not, she insists. She has made her fortune as an author, writing thinly veiled autobiographical fiction (not under her name), with the underpinning wisdom being that marriage is cruel and it destroys womens livesthe received lesson of the original playbecause of its emphasis on ownership and enforced, claustrophobic monogamy. That is not what Hnath is interested in rehashing. If Nora is first challenged by Anne Marie, she is subsequently challenged by Torvald, and Emmy. Nora is lying to herself, of course. Indeed, this Nora in Part 2 turns out to be as trapped by the era and inequality as she was in Ibsens original play. She is the subject of a possible blackmail as someone threatens to reveal her true authorial identity, and she needs Torvals aid to sign divorce papers. Her much-desired freedom is at best equivocal. It depends, depressingly, on men. In a darkly funny set of missed beats, Torvald doesnt even recognize his wife. When he does, he reflects that his one wish is that he left her, revealing a piercing laundry list of complaints about her behavior. Her epiphany and departure werent radical; staying and working things through would have been. Nora dismisses his anger as playing the victim when it was he who looked down on her. Hnath spikes this heaviness with throwaway wit, such as Nora noting, I dont like that youre scaredits a really big turnoff. A moment passes signaling his incomprehension. Sorry, Im not trying to turn you on right now, says Torvald. He could have added a like, duh for emphasis. In a beautifully acted scene that has even more tense comedy to it, Nora and Emmy come face to face, another broken family relationship that Nora wants to repair for her own pragmatic ends, but she is soon capsized by the intensity of what is occurring. Emmy is certainly her mothers daughter, coolly and commandingly dismissing her mothers ministrations, seeing right through her soft manipulation to try and influence Emmy to influence Torvald, and recommending Nora stay dead. She has been no mother to her, and there isnt much point trying to start now. Emmy has no time for her mothers theatricalized politics, having lived up close and personal with the damage of her departure and absence: How many women have left their husbands because of you? Emmy wonders of her mothers writing. How many women have left their children? How many women have left their husbands and children, and gotten themselves into the same kind of trouble youre in right now? What is ultimately striking about A Dolls House, Part 2 is that it is a work of equality in a play that wrestles with that very concept. It has an encompassing generosity: Every character on stage, as written by the masterful Hnath, is conceivably right, which isnt to say that their faults arent also clearly shown too. We believe all of their emotional truths, and all their self-delusions. In the denouement, shared between Torvald and Nora, sitting on the floor scarred and exhausted, some kind of peace is found. It is not of the rosy, romantic finality kind youll see in a movie, and A Dolls House, Part 2 ends as Ibsens original play did, with the very final closing of a door. But thanks to Hnath and this brilliant group of actors, this time we feel we know why that door has closed for all the characters on stage. A Dolls House, Part 2 is at the Golden Theatre, 252 West 45th Street, New York City. Book tickets here. When the Metropolitan Republican Club unveiled an upcoming panel discussion on The Gay Right: LGBT Conservatives, Libertarians and Beyond!, the first thing many critics noted was the lack of L, B, or T representation in the makeup of its panel on LGBT conservatism. At the century-old organizations Upper East Side clubhouse on Thursday night, the panels moderator attempted to preemptively neutralize that criticism of the panels four white guys with a soupcon of trans-bashing. Listen, I'm not gonna assume any of their genders, first of all, said Jeff Goolsby, a real estate agent who moonlights as the Metropolitan Republican Clubs secretary. Goolsby said that he had reached out to trans reality star Caitlyn Jenner , but she cant do it until after the operation. The apparent jokewhich, to the audiences credit, was met mostly with pursed lipswas the first of many instances of casual sneering at trans identity on Thursday, an unusual feature at an LGBT event marketed as a discussion on why the Right, with its emphasis on Individual Liberty, is their natural Home in the Trump Era and Beyond! But more conspicuous than the tone-deaf jokes about gender or the predictable invocation of Ronald Reagan as a closet supporter of gay rights was the chasmic divide between the gay Republican old guard and the social media-driven stars of the queer right wing. Being gay and conservative used to be an idiosyncratic curiosity, like being gay with a bad haircutnow, when accompanied by campy vulgarity and aint-I-a-stinker insouciance, its a way to get favs and followers. The question of whether the fervency of the rights new blood members is worth the headaches caused by their antics, however, remained unanswered at the panels conclusion. Goolsbys introduction of the panel discussionwhich also featured jokes about Lena Dunham being naked and Suze Ormanaddressed the (pink) elephant in the room. If you're gay and youre a Republican, the first thing people might ask you is: what the hell is wrong with you? This is insanewhat are you thinking? On the (literal, not figurative) left side of the panelists table sat Fred Karger and Gregory T. Angelo, both members of the professional Republican political class with combined decades of experiences in Republican politics. On the right (literally and, depending on your views of the alt-right, figuratively) sat Chadwick Moore and Lucian Wintrich, both ostensible journalists with Slytherin names who have discovered newfound fame as ideologues and shitstirrers. Members of the Metropolitan Republican Club told The Daily Beast that the audience skewed younger than the average attendees of the clubs speaker series, and more numerous. It was mostly an after-work crowd, clad in jackets and slacks, largely (but not entirely) white and largely (but not entirely) male. There were two MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN hats in sightone worn by Goolsbyas well as two people with visible arm-sleeve tattoos. If the more stereotypical attendees of the discussionUpper East Siders in bobs and Burberrywere put off by the injection of youthful vitality to the organizations ballroom, they didnt show it. Millennials arent so much into labels, William Rutledge, a thirtysomething architect attending a Metropolitan Republican Club event for the first time, told The Daily Beast. Theyre more European. Republicans might not agree with everything, but we have spirited discussions on these issues, Angelo said, of the schisms between the party mainstream and its LGBT membersand between its LGBT members themselves. Its a movement that values plurality of thought, that values people of different opinions, that values people of all sexual orientations and different gender identities. By the end of the event, however, members of the Metropolitan Republican Club might have left with the impression that a big tent approach to conservatism just enabled the clowns to take over the circus. Generational differences of opinion would become the predominant theme of the night. After a heated discussion on the assimilationist aspects of same-sex marriage, one panelist compared the organization of the speakers table to a poorly planned dinner-party seating chart. Karger, a former shaving-cream commercial actor turned political consultant who mounted a Quixotic quest for the 2012 Republican nomination as an anti-Romney candidate, introduced himself as the first openly gay candidate to ever run for president from a major political party. (James Buchanan, mercifully, doesnt count .) A cheery documentary about his run, entitled Fred, featured a scene where Karger trollishly mugged for a photo with noted scatological neologism and occasional presidential candidate Rick Santorum. Angelo is the president of the Log Cabin Republicans, the oldest national conservative organization for gays. The group was founded in opposition to the 1978 Briggs Initiative, which aimed to ban gay men and women from teaching in California public schools. Historically, Log Cabin has been the red-headed stepchild of red politicsBob Dole returned a donation check made to his campaign by the group in 1996, but still earned their endorsement, as did every Republican nominee for president until Donald Trump, a decision that Angelo explained was made on very narrow grounds that Trump had never served in government before. (Although the Log Cabin Republicans endorsed George W. Bush in 2000, the group withheld its endorsement in 2004 when he advocated for a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.) Despite Angelos remarks that he has been very pleased with the Trump administrations treatment of LGBT issues so far, the groups relationship with the president has been fractious. On the same day that Angelo remarked that preservation of LGBT rights and support for the LGBT community were a hallmark of Trumps campaign, the Trump administration rescinded an Obama-era guidance on transgender students rights. Moorea Hillary Clinton voter who turned conservative after the internet was mean to him about a fawning OUT Magazine profile of internet troll -slash- pedophilia apologist Milo Yiannopoulossparked the first intra-panel conflict of the evening by casually declaring I dont care about gay marriage, I never really have. After Karger and Angelo, who had been working in favor of marriage equality since Moore was in short pants, pushed back on the idea that assimilation into the typical nuclear-family paradigm was bad for gays, Wintrich dismissed their concerns as anti-liberty. Straight couples, growing up, I personally, as a faggot, find them relatively boring, said Wintrich, to a few barked laughs and a few more raised eyebrows, which was clearly his objective. Just be them when I grew up? The cute, bouncy couple that move to Fox Chapel?... You go to Panera Bread once a day? That's not what I'm gonna do. I hate that system, Wintrich continued. I think it's very anti-liberty, its very anti-culture. Wintrichwho has no professional training or experience in journalism but did launch a gallery show featuring photographs of lithe twentysomethings wearing Make America Great Again hats called Twinks 4 Trumpis a White House correspondent for Gateway Pundit, a hard-right blog that peddles in conspiracism which he described as the largest political website based out of the Midwest. Part of a new cohort of day-pass-carrying trolls placed in the White House briefing room to antagonize members of the legitimate press, Wintrich has called himself the youngest, gayest correspondent in the White House in history! (This is one of the many instances where Wintrich appeared either unaware that he was mistaken or didnt care that he was lyingChris Johnson, the White House correspondent for the gay Washington Blade, has been covering the White House since he was 25.) The kind of kid whose media profiles always begin depicting him chainsmoking cigarettes and nursing either white wine or a hangover, Wintrich is perhaps known best for meaningless Twitter flamewars and harassing Malia Obama at a SoHo nightclub. The latest in a long line of young conservative personalities who have risen to prominence by pissing on Ann Coulters fire hydrant, Wintrichs biggest contributions to Thursday nights panel were weirdly specific lies and saying fuck you! to an audience member with a question. Both Karger and Angelo grew increasingly uncomfortable during Wintrichs rants, with Angelos knuckles visibly whitening when Wintrich accused President Barack Obama of hiring the most unattractive tranny to serve as LGBT liaison only months before the end of his second term. Raffi Freedman-Gurspan , whom Wintrich said he would begrudgingly call she, was the first openly transgender person to serve in the White House. (Despite Wintrich dismissing the position as having been created only four or five months before Obama left office, the position of White House LGBT liaison has existed since the Clinton administration, and Obama maintained an LGBT liaison in the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs for the entirety of his time in office.) Angelo, who had opened his remarks by lauding the conservative movement as one that values people of all sexual orientations and different gender identities, remained silent. Karger, too, held his tongue behind a rigor mortis smile. When an audience member asked how Wintrich, as an ostensible member of the press, could be taken seriously when he used the words unattractive tranny to describe a White House official, he dismissed the question as having too many parts to merit an answer. Wintrich and Moores shtick eventually wore thin with many audience membersabout a third of whom eventually migrated to the bar in search of a stiff drink while the panel was still ongoingbut for the most vocal element of the crowd, it was the reason they attended in the first place. Fuck yeah! muttered one gentleman in a patchy beard and blue blazer when Wintrich called Democrats the party of fascism. Its hard to lump 45 million Republicans together, said Karger, wearily. "We are as diverse as the country, and the Democrats the same. If the panel was any indication, its hard to lump even four Republicans togetherno matter what their orientation. When Desmond Meades wife ran for office last year, her husband phone banked, canvassed, and fundraised on her behalfbut he didnt vote. Thats because Meade is a convicted felon in Florida where more than 1.5 million otherwise eligible voters are disenfranchised by law. Meade was convicted on drug and gun possession charges and released from prison in 2005. Meade has served as president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition since 2014, and next year a ballot initiative proposed by his group might just reinstate his rights. The Florida Supreme Court approved the initiatives language earlier this month. Now, Floridians for a Fair Democracy and the FRRC need to collect approximately 700,000 signatures to get the initiative on the states November 2018 ballot. My first major awakening was when I couldnt apply for the Florida bar, but the most painful experience was when my wife ran for office and I couldnt even vote for her, Meade told The Daily Beast. It was like a slap in the face. It was a knife being twisted in an old wound, reminding me Im still not a full citizen. If it passes, Meades initiative would automatically restore voting rights to people with prior felony convictions, more than 10 percent of the states voting-eligible population. Those convicted of murder or sexual offenses would not have their voting rights restored. Florida is one of just four states that permanently disenfranchises people convicted of felonies unless they successfully petition for clemency. Floridas first constitution, adopted in 1838, barred those convicted of bribery, perjury, forgery, or other high crime, or misdemeanor from voting. After the Civil War, the state was required to amend its constitution to extend the right to vote to black men, but it continued to disenfranchise any person convicted of felony. Its no secret that the history of felon disenfranchisement can be traced to when the slaves were freed, Meade said. While it originally had a racist intent, the policy in its current form impacts everyone. Under the states current rules, adopted in 2011, ex-felons who have completed their sentence must wait five years (seven if theyve been convicted of select crimes including murder, DUI manslaughter, and sexual battery) before applying for clemency. If applicants are arrested for misdemeanors or felonies, the clock resets. But due to a massive backlog, its common for applicants to wait up to ten years without an update from the states Executive Clemency Board, according to a suit the Fair Elections Legal Network filed against Gov. Rick Scott in March. The board meets in Tallahassee just four times a year, and the backlog of pending applications has ballooned in recent years, with more than 10,000 applicants waiting to plead their cases. Once an applicant gets a chance to face the board, their application must be approved by a majority of board members, including Scott. The Governor has the unfettered discretion to deny clemency at any time, for any reason, the rules statea stipulation the Fair Elections Legal Network says can be abused. You cant give government officials unfettered discretion to license some people to vote and deny that license to others, and thats what the rules of executive clemency do, Jon Sherman, senior counsel at the Fair Elections Legal Network told The Daily Beast. Because its purely at the governor and boards discretion, a lot of people try to curry favor by appealing to the governors political leanings. The 77-page complaint against Scott claims that he has regularly denied clemency to people for crimes as trivial as traffic violations while reinstating the civil rights of people who have committed more serious offenses. Scott reinstated applicant Stephen Warners right to vote in 2013 despite the fact that Warner illegally voted in 2010a felony under the states voting laws. Warner told Scott he voted for him in that election. Similarly, last year the Republican governor reinstated the voting rights of Robert Martin after a local police officer spoke on his behalf and said Martin was very conservative. In 2012, however, Scott denied clemency to Rex Carver, a veteran who spoke about the injustice of felon disenfranchisement at his hearing. Carver has not committed any major crimes since being released from prison, but Scott denied his appeal because of a minor traffic violation. If you look at it from our standpoint, you look at it and you say, gosh, this is an individual that doesnt worry about complying with the law, Scott said at Carvers hearing. At another hearing in March 2013, Scott denied Joseph Galassos petition on similar grounds. So youve really turned your life around. Youve been out of prison eleven years and youve got all these traffic violations, Scott said. If you dont really care about the law, and you have all these traffic violations, its hard to say gosh, you really believe the law. Since Scott took office in 2011, fewer than 2,500 ex-felons have had their rights restored. Scotts predecessor, Charlie Crist, restored the rights of 155,315 former felons during his four years in office. Crist had amended the clemency rules to provide an automatic path for voting rights for ex-felons who completed their sentences and had no pending criminal charges. Scotts reversed these rules in 2011, added a mandatory waiting period, and required that many applicants travel to Tallahassee for an in-person hearing, creating a staggering backlog of applicants. Governor Scott believes that in order for felons to have their rights restored, they have to demonstrate that they can live a life free of crime, show a willingness to request to have their rights restored, and show restitution to the victims of their crime, a spokesperson from Scotts office told The Daily Beast in a statement. Meade looks at the states history of disenfranchisement as a tumor. It starts in one part of the body, but left unattended it spreads to the rest of the body and becomes more dangerous, Meade said. This is what happened here: the original intent was to keep freed slaves from voting, but this policy has managed to transcend racial lines and now impacts more non-African Americans than African Americans. When I was canvassing for my wife, every two or three households there was someone who couldnt vote. This impacts so many families. PARISJean-Luc Melenchon, the former Trotskyite, far-left French presidential candidate, has often drawn comparisons with Bernie Sandersincluding from himself. Like Sanders, he proved adept at tapping an authentic feeling of popular anger mixed with a youthful spirit of resistance and revolution. At the head of his own La France Insoumise party (alternately translated as Unsubmissive France, France Unbowed, and France Standing Tall), he enlisted the support of Frances Communist Party, eschewed the Socialist Party primary, and played spoiler to the left wing establishment from the outside, with a nostalgic message that raged against globalized trade, a neoliberal European Union, and American hegemony. He promised retirement at 60, a 32-hour workweek, a 90 percent tax on income above 400,000, a Keynesian stimulus plan, plus a permanent 100 billion increase in state spending, greater cooperation with Vladimir Putin, and a referendum on French membership in the euro and the E.U. if Germany refused to renegotiate the European treaties. Though objectively much further to the left than Sanders, Melenchon also seems to have attracted the French version of the Bernie Bro, the sometimes overly zealous Sanders supporters who toed a fine line between online activism and trolling of anyone critical. Joann Sfarr, a political cartoonist, found that out the hard way: A few days before the first round of voting, he posted on Facebook (including in the form of cartoons) that after reading Melenchons platform and discovering foreign and economic policy proposals that tilted towards Putin and away from the European Union, he had decided not to vote for him anymore. As a result, his page and posts were thronged with hordes of aggressively pro-Melenchon commenters, many of whom coordinated with each other in unofficial organizing rooms on the platform Discord. Days after the first-round vote saw the far-left candidate garner 19 percent of the ballots, many of those voters are upset, and still vocally engaged. Except in a way that could spell disaster well beyond Frances hexagonal borders. Because nearly half of those who voted for Melenchon in round one are promising to abstain from voting in round two. The divisions between the 39-year-old Emmanuel Macron, running for his first elected office, and Marine Le Pen, who inherited leadership of the National Front (FN) from her father, could hardly be more more stark. And the existence of the European Union itself is at stake. Despite that, for the past several days social media have exploded with a cascade of posts from French millennials insisting that Macron and Le Pen are equally bad, much like jilted Sanders supporters argued for months that Hillary Clinton was no better than Donald Trump. It was an absurd claim then, and should be easily debunked now with little more than a glance across the Atlantic. Nevertheless, its persisted, in part, thanks to the leader of les insoumis himself. Melenchon's behavior on election night was churlish. Mediacrats and oligarchs are rejoicing, is how he began his speech to his supporters, before casting Macron and Le Pen as equally treacherous and refusing to pick a side. For as long as the National Front has existed, mainstream French politicians, voters, and media have treated the partyborn and steeped in an ideology of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism, nationalism, and hateas simply untouchable. Sacrificing when called upon, they have repeatedly constructed a "cordon sanitaire" around the FN, refusing to publish editorials by its leaders, and forming a "Republican Front" against it in 2002, when Jean-Marie Le Pen shocked the nation by advancing, as his daughter has just done, to the second round. Then, Melenchon had joined the effort to keep the FN cordoned off from the Republic's respectable politics. In a column in Le Monde titled Stop This Race to the Abyss, he left no lingering doubt about how he viewed the extreme right, and about the duty of left wing voters to stand in its path. "How in good conscience could the left decide to count on others to protect what is so essential, by being unwilling to do something we think is undignified?" he had asked. "Not doing our Republican duty because we find it nauseating is to choose unprecedented collective risk over individual inconvenience." Well, the Melenchon of 2017 would do well to read the Melenchon of 2002. As I write this, he has yet to make a declaration about who he will vote for in round 2, if indeed, he will vote at all. What happened in the space of15 years? How did a defiant you shall not pass disintegrate into nothing more than bitterness and silence? The normalization and breakout of the National Front is a multifaceted story. But an indisputable part of it was the partys realization as far back as the 1980s that it could construct appeal to the far-left, as well as the far-right. As Tony Judt noted in his authoritative tome Postwar, It was not by chance that the Front National often got its best results in districts that had once been bastions of the French Communist Party. And as the historically powerful Communist Party gradually fell apart, the FN brought in far-left voters by mixing a statist, anti-globalization economic message with its ethno-nationalist one. Rising radical right movements in Europe and the United States have accompanied a general breakdown in traditional political identification and party structure. In a first for the Fifth Republic, neither the mainstream left nor the mainstream right is present in the second round of the French presidential elections. Things have a way of coming full circle. Over 200 years ago, the lines of traditional politics were born in France. Those who were loyal to religion and the king, explained Baron de Gauville, a deputy in the National Assembly at the time, took up positions to the right of the chair, with the revolutionaries separating themselves out on the left. How fitting then, that the left-right divide may have died in France as well. Over the past year, there have been numerous contributions towards understanding the new dividing line that is replacing it. Or more broadly, the age of anger as Pankaj Mishra puts it, that is sweeping the world. Each theory decrypts a little piece of the puzzle, and with its own terminology. The struggle between the winners and losers of globalization; between urban and rural areas; between cosmopolitans and nationalists; between the anywheres and the somewheres. The Macron campaign, as Romain Champetier, a campaign official, told me, views the new landscape as progressives and conservatives; or those who believe in open, liberal, pro-European-based social and economic progress, and those who in a literal sense, are fantasizing about a past that France never really had. These dynamics are undeniably at play in the slow rise of the National Front. The party performed well in places racked by unemployment, and the smaller the town, the better Le Pen did there, compared to Macrons dominance in cities larger than 200,000a trend that holds even within departments that as a whole, swung for one candidate or the other. And the identity component needs no extensive explanation, not when Le Pen on one side promotes a view of the nation as inextricably rooted in blood and earth, to be protected by strong borders, while on the other, Macron routinely extolls his hope that every individual might find his or her place in France and in Europe. No other issue more neatly encapsulates the opposing camps of 21st century politics than Europe and what it representsloss of identity for the right, neoliberalism for the left (never mind that nearly all of its policy goals, from stopping corporate tax evasion to fighting climate change, are all more effectively fought at a European level than a national one). Were looking at a fundamental contest between those who think the liberal international order basically works, but needs tweaks and reforms, and a melange of revolutionaries on the right and the left who want to overturn it entirely. For the far left too, has a romantic idea about borders. Where the right thinks that it can erect walls and thereby pockmark Europe with enclaves of homogenous national culture, the left fantasizes about shutting out the world in order to force the market to do what it wants. (This was the essence of Melenchons domestic economic agenda, and the reason why, despite protests to the contrary, leaving the euro, and perhaps the E.U., would have been near necessities for fully pursuing it.) All this has led to an often caricatured vision of the centrist Macron, drawn from his history as a banker and during his two-year stint as economy minister the architect of the loi travail, a highly controversial package of economic reforms that, among other things, allowed intercity busses to compete with the national railway operator, and permitted businesses in designated tourist zones to remain open on Sundays and until midnight, provided they paid employees double for working irregular hours. Thus, for an important section of la gauche, a candidate whose actual policy platform lies somewhere to the left of Clinton and to the right of Sanders, came to be seen as the puppet of big finance and corporations, intent on the destruction of the French social model. (Macron, for his part, while a proponent of some labor market reforms and greater European integration, has not proposed any fundamental reductions to the French welfare state that has succeeded in lowering inequality to near-Scandinavian levels.) Such reasoning has formed the basis for the justifications offered by those promising to vote for nobody in the second round. The night of the U.S. election, one of my childhood friends posted on Facebook that he was choosing not to vote, because Hillary was going to win anyway, and that everyone criticizing him would see that he was right. Unfortunately, moments of folly arent limited to one side of the Atlantic. Says one Facebook commenter here in France, Im abstaining. If I could vote blank and have it count, I would, but I cant. Sure the extreme right is fascist, but extreme finance is fascist too. And another, Macron is a candidate put forward by banks, the media, and multinationalspeople who vote for Hollande 2.0 in the second round should be ashamed. And finally, a third who explained his reasons to me in a long message,Voting for Macron isnt only legitimizing his ultra-liberal [in the classic laissez-faire economics sense] policies over the next five years, but rolling out the red carpet for Marine Le Pen in 2022, or even before. Except that the before would be now. As in, 2017. And if, like me, youre left dumbfounded by the idea that somehow allowing Marine Le Pen to take office in 2017 is the solution to preventing her from winning the election in 2022, dont think about it too hard, because your brain might explode. To be clear, there is a fundamental division among the revolutionaries who want to rage against the system. The left does have a long tradition of standing up to the National Fronts xenophobia. The vast majority of disaffected insoumis would never vote for Le Pen. But as the target narrows on globalization in its multiple forms, many of them wont vote against her either, and the Burke-ian consequences of that choiceand rest assured, refusing to make a choice is making a choiceare inescapable. Just as they were for the United States. Could they be decisive? Of course we are worried, Champetier admitted to me, Its a big concern for a lot of people. But we are in the world, and having an anti-globalization project is not wanting to face reality. And people will realize that his program is not ultra-liberal like it has been caricatured. All polling suggests that this is Macrons race to lose. But even if less likely than a Trump victory, a Le Pen victory remains possible in a low turnout environment, perhaps driven by a conviction that the ideological sacrifice of casting a reluctant vote can be avoided because faceless others will turn out against Le Pen anyway. In its enthusiasm for youth and centrism, the foreign media has overlooked the fact that Macron, while surely popular with some, is merely the lesser of all evils for most of those who will cast a ballot on his behalf in the second round. As France 24 notes, If one adds up the first-round tallies of all the candidates who either wished to quit the E.U. or had serious qualms about its neoliberal slant, the result is a country split in half. And the next president only needs 50 percent of the vote, plus one vote more. Next year, New Orleans will celebrate its 300-year anniversary, and Mayor Mitch Landrieu has an ambitious vision that has been relatively unheard of in the South. Mayor Landrieu, and many other New Orleanians, want to build a city that celebrates its diversity instead of the four years of tyranny during the Civil War. Yet as he forges a more inclusive future that includes removing monuments that celebrate the Confederacy, the racist, tyrannical factions that have consistently stymied progress and sowed division in the South have risen to terrorize those who champion diversity. The future does not belong to small Southern cities who honor the Confederacy, said Mayor Landrieu to The Daily Beast. The first thing we want to do is reclaim our real history, and tell it in its totality. From the first second that someone steps foot in New Orleans, the diversity of its culture shines through. The food, architecture, music, French-influenced accents and names, and so much more distinguish New Orleans as an American city that has been defined by its diversity for hundreds of years. The English, French, German, and Spanish have all called the city home. The culture of Louisianas indigenous peoples can also still be felt in the city. The citys African American community has had a long and distinguished history in the city. Prior to the Civil War, New Orleans had the largest community of Free Persons of Color in the South. Many of them came from the Caribbean, especially Haiti, and spoke French as their first language, but also English. This community of FPCs were well educated, sophisticated, and travelled internationally, and they were still considered as less than white Americans who in many cases had accomplished much less. These FPCs represent a fascinating American story that hardly ever gets told. Following the Emancipation Proclamation, the FPC community and the newly freed blacks engaged in enlightening conversations about the nature of freedom in this new America, and how to classify representatives of the African diaspora that are still relevant today. Yet Louisiana still suffers from the scourge of pro-Confederate propaganda that has blighted and de facto governed the South for more than a century. The goal remains to misrepresent four years of failure as a long and proud history, which never existed. Defenders of the Confederacy also display no hesitation to harass and terrorize those who object to their vile propaganda and historical misrepresentations. Earlier in the week, I wrote about New Orleans efforts to remove the Battle of Liberty Place monument, but neither the absurdity of the monumentthe monument celebrates a militia uprising intent on killing police officersnor the pervasiveness of pro-Confederate propaganda paints the full picture of the obstacles that those who champion diversity in the South confront. I have been really, really surprised at how aggressive the individuals are who dont want these monuments down have been, and how similar they are in tone to burning crosses on lawns and bombing churches, said Mayor Landrieu. The tactics sound exactly the same. The Battle of Liberty Place monument was removed this week and almost every person associated with the removal of the monument has received some sort of harassment. The contractor who was originally assigned this project, but later declined it after receiving death threats, had his car set on fire. Government employees and contractors who were at the worksite have had their photos taken, and shared on social media alongside their home address. Mayor Landrieus home address was also shared on social media. Due to the obvious safety concerns surrounding the removal of the monument, law enforcement, including the fire department, have been asked to protect contractors on the worksite. And now the public safety officers have been targeted for harassment. On Wednesday, known white supremacist and former Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan David Duke tweeted the phone number of the contractors who removed the monument to his 36,000 followers. The logistics of removing the other three monuments, which celebrate Confederate generals Robert E. Lee, and P.G.T. Beauregard, and the president of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis, have become increasingly complicated due to the harassment. People are legitimately scared for their well-being if they assist with the removal of these treasonous monuments due to the rampant harassment and intimidation. The goal, as in the 1870s when the Battle of Liberty Place occurred, remains a sustained reign of terror and harassment to prevent progress, diversity and integration. The White League, which attacked the New Orleans Police Department in 1874, were terrorists who did not feel the need to cover their faces with a white sheet. Militia-facilitated terror had become normalized from 1865the founding of the KKK to the formation of The White League in 1874, and fear of being outed was no longer as severe. The White League openly collaborated with the KKK, politicians and business leaders to terrorized Louisianans and undermine democratic institutions, all in the name of white supremacy. Today, some racist Americans choose to hide their face behind the cover (or Twitter egg) of social media as they terrorize, but many others show no hesitation to show their face and spread their racist, divisive drivel. David Duke for a long time has not felt the need to hide behind the white sheets of the KKK, and can comfortably endorse Donald Trump for president and believe that his endorsement could help Trumps campaign. The terrors of the past that many Americans thought had been confined to the past have been progressively normalized and they have reemerged with a commitment to intimidate those who have an American vision that champions equality, diversity, and an accurate retelling of our history. Those four statues, in the most prominent places, reflect four years of our history and the attitude that allows those statues to stand up is an attitude that has allowed New Orleans to shrink, said Mayor Landrieu. We know how to reach toward the future and retain our past, but our past has to be the honest past and not the dishonest past. There is no good reason for President Donald Trump or any other senior American official to ping Canada. It is certainly true that there are areas of sensitivity, particularly when it comes to trade items between the two countries, where one side feels that the other side is taking unfair advantage of it. But these matters should not get in the way of what is basically a positive relationship between the two neighboring countries. In particular, with Trumps campaign promise to advocate vigorously for Americans interests in their commercial exchanges with foreign parties, there is no reason to expect him not to pursue that course in trade with Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has so far taken a number of steps to show goodwill in his interactions with Trump. He came to call at the White House. He apparently restructured his own government to facilitate smooth communications and working arrangements between Ottawa and Washington. Joint defense measures between the two countries are apparently in place as Trump begins to take a more aggressive posture in the Korean Peninsula. Now, two issues in the generally routine trading relationship between the United States and Canada are emerging lumber and dairy exports. America has imposed new tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber exports, perhaps as a prelude to a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, the trading pact with Mexico and Canada that Trump denounced throughout the campaign. The United States buys about 69 percent of Canadas lumber exports. American buyers say Canadian provincial governments indirectly subsidize these exports in essence, trying to export their unemployment, figuring that its better to spend to prop up an industry than to cover the social costs of idle workers in the lumber trade. Canadians and some Americans claim American construction costs will go up, dampening U.S. economic growth, if higher tariffs on Canadian lumber are imposed. Meanwhile, American dairy farmers, in Wisconsin and elsewhere, claim Canada has taken steps to deter the growth of its dairy market to U.S. imports. These two issues could point to a deal, if the Trump administration is ready to move toward easing trade. Two facts remain pre-eminent. Canada was Americas best customer in 2016. America was Canadas best customer the same year. The other fact is more global and strategic. One of the principal reasons the United States has been able to play its basically unchallenged role in the world is because its northern border is Canada, its southern border is Mexico, and the east and west are bordered by oceans. It is important not to lose sight of those two facts when people such as Commerce Secretary Wilbur L. Ross call into question Canadas good neighbor relationship with the United States over what are basically minor trade issues. Scott Baios wife Renee has defended the size of her husbands manhood. Baio was the recipient of one of the oldest male insults in the book from Tony Moran, the brother of Baios former Happy Days co-star Erin, who mocked the size of his penis in an angry Facebook post this week. He wrote that his sister dumped Baio because, you were more like a little girl and not a manShe told me that you were tiny. You know. Barely a man in the man region. True story. Moran was enraged at Baio after the former child star said during a radio interview about Erin, My thing is, I feel bad because her whole life, she was troubled, could never find what made her happy and content. For me, you do drugs or drink, youre gonna die. It subsequently was announced by officials that Moran had died of cancer complications, which prompted Morans brother to lash out with his disses about Baios alleged lack of stature in the trouser department. He also called Baio a fucking coward after he was contacted by his wife, whom he said was very apologetic. In a sign that his wife shares with Baio an inability to know when to maintain a dignified silence, Renee proved to be unable to take the insult to her husband without reacting. She tweeted, Why would a sister tell her brother about the size of boyfriends manhood? Creepy at best. SB was a playboy for a reason! Its certainly true that Baio has had a roster of famous partners, including Pamela Anderson and Nicolette Sheridan. Nicole Eggert has said that she lost her virginity to Baio, who was her Charles in Charge co-star, when she was 17. Baio has refused to apologize for his remarks, and claimed that he was only speaking hypothetically and that his comments on addiction stand. He has said that many of the people attacking him are doing so for political reasons - owing to his support for President Trump. The National Security Agency will no longer use a controversial surveillance tactic that lets the spy agency sift through electronic communications to find communications about its surveillance targets, according to an official who has been briefed on a pending ruling from the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC). The FISC ruling is expected to be publicized soon, and to indicate that the NSA has stopped using this surveillance tactic because it couldnt fully comply with procedures designed to protect Americans constitutional rights. The New York Times first reported that the NSA will stop engaging in this particular surveillance tactic, known as about colletion. Its a significant change in how the U.S. government surveils people, which will cheer civil liberties advocates and worry conservatives who argue muscular surveillance is necessary to stop terrorism. The surveillance tactic at issue is known as about collection, and allowed under Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act. Section 702 lets the NSA store and read internet communications pertaining to foreign targets that move through American companies. About collection is the process by which the NSA searches through those electronic communications it collects as theyre in traffic in transit across the Internet backbone. Civil liberties advocates believe about collection may result in the NSA reading emails between Americans without a warrant. This process is now going to stop. The NSA has secretly spied on Americans internet communications for years, continuously searching through the contents of emails and web-browsing activities in bulk, said Patrick Toomey, an ACLU attorney who works on surveillance issues. This kind of warrant-free, suspicion-free surveillance is exactly what the Fourth Amendment prohibits. Putting an end to this spying is an important step, but it is only a start to the broader reforms of Section 702 that are badly needed to safeguard Americans' privacy. The official who spoke with The Daily Beast said the intelligence community will stop doing about collection because its analysts couldnt fully comply with minimization procedures designed to keep them from violating Americans Fourth Amendment privacy rights. NSA analysts conduct about collection when they spy on foreigners who they believe are outside the United States. Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act lets the NSA read the emails and listen to the phone calls of people who arent U.S. citizens and arent in America. When the NSA engages in about collection, it searches through internet communications (without a warrant, of course) for references to a person it is surveilling. And that means NSA analysts may sometimes look at emails sent by American citizens without first getting a warrant. To try to protect Americans Constitutional rights, the highly secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has required that NSA analysts take certain steps to minimize how much their spyingincluding about collectionimpacts Americans rights. Those steps are called minimization procedures. Civil liberties advocates worry they dont sufficiently protect Americans constitutional rights. The NSAs apparent struggles to comply with minimization procedures may be the reason the FISC it didnt authorize any surveillance under Section 702, as indicated by a report on the court released last week. The NSAs decision to end about collection is also significant because the agency previously told the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB)a bipartisan watchdog agencythat it would be difficult to stop about collection without stopping all upstream surveillance. The term upstream surveillance refers to the NSAs practice of scanning communications in bulk as they pass over the Internet backbone, and saving copies of any that contained a term on the agencys list of selectors. This new ruling could mean one of two things: that either the NSA misinformed the PCLOB when it said it probably couldnt stop doing about collection without stopping all upstream surveillance, or it found a way to do the former without doing the latter. Regardless, this is a major change in how the U.S. government spies on foreigners its trying to surveil. And its the rare restriction in surveillance that has happened without Congressional involvement. There is a short list of things that civil liberties advocates honed in on as the biggest problems with 702, said Julian Sanchez, who follows surveillance issues for the libertarian Cato Institute. The other major one is the backdoor search loophole. But about collection was probably the second on the list. I think this is a useful narrowing of this very broad collections program, he added, something thats at least a little bit closer to the traditional concept of surveillance, where the target is a person or account and not everything in the universe of communications that refers to that person or account. Donald Trump really doesnt want you to watch Muslim comedian Hassan Minhaj comically filet him at this Saturdays White House Correspondents Dinner (WHCD). So much so that Trump announced a few days ago that he would hold a BIG campaign type rally opposite the dinner to commemorate his first 100 days in office. This despite Trump telling us that the 100-day mark is ridiculous and that it doesnt matter. Keep in mind when Trump first announced in February that he was skipping the WHCDmaking him the first President to do since Ronald Reagan missed it in 1981 because he was recovering from an assassination attemptTrump spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump wanted to spend the night focused on what he can do to help better America. Apparently spending taxpayer dollars to congratulate himself on his failed first 100 days is Trumps way to help better America. We all know why Trump is really steering clear of the WHCD. First, like Third World dictators, he hates being laughed at because he wants to be feared. Secondly, the last time Trump attended the WHCD in 2011 he got his ass kicked comically by both President Obama and the emcee for the evening, Seth Meyer. And third, Trump would be compared to Obama in terms of delivering jokes. The problem here is that Obama was the best president to deliver jokes at a WHCD. Period. In contrast Trumps joke delivery, as we saw in October at the Al Smith diner, is awful. Ive seen dead people with better comedic timing. The idea that Obama would be seen as being far better than Trump at anything would turn him a brighter orange. Now add in the fact that the comedian for the WHCD this year, Daily Show correspondent Minhaj, is brown and Muslim. The idea that Minhaj could get headlines ripping Trump for views on Muslims, such as Trumps claim Islam hates us, and for his Muslim ban must trouble him. And this has to especially piss off Steve Bannon, a man who while running Brietbart.com made it a platform for some of the vilest anti-Muslim bigots America has seen. So voila, here comes the campaign rally Saturday to take media attention from Minhaj. True, Trump hates being ridiculed by any comedian, regardless of their background. This is the same Trump who in October demanded that Saturday Night Live be cancelled for mocking him in a way Trump deemed unfair. Trump also lashed out at Jon Stewart in 2013 for his Trump jokes on The Daily Show via Twitter, calling Stewart overrated and no talent. But it has to be even more stinging for Trump if the jokes decimating him are coming from a person who is a member of one the groups he demonized during his campaign. The only comedian who would be a better fit to get under Trumps skin wouldve been a Muslim, Latino, female, immigrant comedian who was disabled. That would be all the things Trump demonized in one person. Making matters worse for Trump is that Minhaj is a great comedian. Ive been in several shows with him and seen it firsthand. Plus in 2016, Minhaj was the comedian at the annual Radio and Television Correspondents Association (RTCA), which is in essence the JV version of the WHCD. And there Minhaj got headlines for his jokes and for taking on the NRA. His performance at that event offers a glimpse into what we can expect Saturday at the WHCD. Minhaj opened his twenty-minute plus performance by referencing a possible Trump presidency: Brown people, were going to get deported. This is just my farewell tour, Im saying goodbye to America. Adding, I got to do all my American stuff, like go to Costco for the last time. Minhaj later called out Trumps bigotry with a cutting joke about The New York Times and The Washington Post referring to Trumps comments as being racially tinged. Minhaj retorted, No, Im racially tinged. That dude is racist, straight up. And later he went after the Muslim-bashing of Fox News: Ive never seen so many people with spray tans hate people of colorand line up for halal chicken and rice. And: I love that all morning theyre like Mexicans, #AllLivesMatter, A-rabs. But come 12:01 its shawarma time. I hope, and expect, that Minhaj will use his punchlines at the WHCD to comically destroy Trump, his bigoted views and his failed policies. NothingI mean nothingshould be off limits for Minhaj in his jokes about Trump and his history of hate. For so many Americans, Trumps words arent simply political talk. Rather they are personal in that Trumps rhetoric has ginned up fears of our communities. Well, come Saturdays WHCD, Minhaj will get a chance to use comedy to even the score a bit at the expense of the pathetically thin skinned Trump. And that is something we all need to watch. On Thanksgiving morning, 1999, a Cuban boy was found in the Florida Straits, alone on an inner tube. Elian Gonzalez, then only five years old, never stood a chance at a normal life. His story splayed across fault lines, pushing up against the volatile relationship between the Cuban and American governmentsnot to mention between Castro supporters and Cuban-Americans. The fact that Gonzalez was so ignorant to the histories and conflicts that pushed him and his mother across the water only served to make him more of a media spectacle. Elian, a new documentary, tells the story of the boy who was pulled at from all sidestold that he belonged not only to his father in Cuba and his family in Miami, but to the Cuban people and the American viewing public at large. Its a film about the many injustices endured by a 5-year-old who had just outlived his mother; pains inflicted not just by a foreign dictator or a SWAT team of federal agents, but by family members and concerned citizens who were genuinely trying to help. Its also about the dangers of politicizing a child or twisting a tragedy to your own advantagerisky fare for even the most well-meaning documentary. Thankfully, Elian more or less manages to learn its own lessons, with illuminating unprecedented access to Gonzalez himself. If circumstances were slightly differentif Gonzalez wasnt a minor, perhaps, or if his mother had survivedElian would have been just another nameless face in a wave of Cubans seeking refuge in the United States. Unlike past migratory surges, these would-be American citizens were forced to decide between staying in Castros Cuba or braving the journey in makeshift rafts. Elians mother Elizabeth Gonzalez was not the first to lose her life during the passage, and she certainly wouldnt be the last. While Elians ability to survive on that inner tube made him a morning TV miracle, his fame would have likely been short-lived if it wasnt for another round of circumstances beyond his control. Through news clips and interviews with American officials, Cuban community leaders, Gonzalez family members, and Elian himself, Elian walks us through the storys evolution from local news to anti-Castro propaganda fodder to subject of national debate. Gonzalezs case boils down to a particularly ugly custody battle, albeit with Cold War undertones and some very famous players. Elians father, Juan Miguel, came from a family of party members, and was comfortable with his life in Cubaso comfortable that he quickly asked his extended family to send Elian back home. Meanwhile, the Miami uncles wished to honor the wishes of Elians mother: The American dream that she had died trying to provide for her child. At multiple points in the documentary, accusations or intimations of brainwashing fly back and forth across the Cuban-American divide. The Miami relatives believe that Juan Miguel faced pressure from Castro; otherwise, they ask why wouldnt he just come to America to be with the boy himself? Still, as much as Elian and his father appear to be strategic pawns for Fidel Castro, who rallies the Cuban people against American interventionism in the name of Elian, Castro isnt the only player attempting to use Gonzalez to his advantage. In America, Cuban-American organizations disseminate images of Elian as an indictment of Castro. Neighbors and newscasters urge Elian to play with American flags for photo-ops, and politicians say the name Elian Gonzalez as if its a passcode that will grant them access to the crucial Cuban-American vote. Naturally, once the story is elevated to a battle between nations, not to mention diametrically opposed ideologies and methods of governance, Gonzalezs wishes and needs are swallowed up in the noise of the larger narrative. Everywhere he goes Elian, who describes himself as shy, is met with cheers, photographers, and renditions of the national anthem. His new home becomes a hub for politicians and news anchors, looking to jolt their poll numbers or boost their ratings. Politics aside, Elian could hold its own as a commentary on the making of a media phenomenon, centered around one of the first victims of the proto-24/7 news cycle. Acknowledging that an unbiased documentary is a mythological creature, Elian is extremely fair to all involved parties. One could even argue that the film is overly sympathetic, in light of the myriad manipulations that appear to have occurred on both sides of the Florida Straits. While the doc features a host of accusations against Castro, emphasizing the theory that he used Elian and Gonzalez to rally the Cuban peopleand may have even deliberately extended the conflictthe absence of background on daily life under Castro is conspicuous. While there are mentions of restricted freedoms and economic hardships, we dont delve into the specific circumstances that drove Elizabeth Gonzalez to steal away with her son on a rickety boat, without even confiding in his father (according to the film, while Elizabeth and Juan Miguel were separated at the time, they remained close). Of course, if this was truly Elians movie, it would tell a very different storyand American figures like Janet Reno or the pillars of the Cuban community in Miami might not be depicted as even-handedly, or come across so favorably. After all, if theres one takeaway from Elians calm and precise sound bites, its that he is not a huge fan of his 6-month home. While Gonzalez doesnt appear to have any ill-will towards his relatives, Elian says that he and his father try never to talk about his ordeal in America, preferring to speak about the good thingslike the fact that his story galvanized the Cuban people, or that his return brought them joy. Having remained close with the Cuban leader until his death, Gonzalez explains that, while he isnt religious, If I were, my God would be Castro. While the Miami Gonzalez relatives seem to believe that words have been put in Elians mouth, its easy to spot the potential seeds of Gonzalezs seemingly anti-American politicsthe hordes of opportunistic attention-seekers that flooded his familys Miami home, the cameras and microphones constantly shoved in his face, and the gun that a federal agent pointed at him the night they broke in and took him away. Of course, watching Elian in 2017, theres a natural urge to draw comparisons or lessons between now and then. Certainly, there are parallels between Elian Gonzalez and Omran Daqneesh, the bloody, dust-covered Syrian boy whose vacant stare was projected unto an international stage. And, lest we forget, our own president was motivated to retaliate against the Assad regime because of images of the beautiful babies who were attacked. All of these cases speak to the capacities and failures of our shared humanity: the miraculous fact that a single story can bring a nation to a halt, as well as our unfortunate tendency to fixate on a single image while glossing over the systemic issues behind the photograph. In fact, Elian examines our current president on two separate occasions. The first is a clip of Trump speaking to the Cuban American National Foundation in 1999a powerful organization to whom politicians would pander with hardline anti-Castro policy proposals. In the footage, Trump insists on the importance of the Cuban embargo in toppling Castro, saying, And Im going to be down here and Im going to watch you win, and I dont know in what capacityIll either be the greatest developer in the country, or the greatest president that youve had in a long time. Trump rears his orange head again later in the documentary, as headlines flash across the screen that warn of a breakdown in Cuba-U.S. relations. Asked to comment on the new president, Elian appears nonplussed, insisting that the Cuban people have withstood worse than what a new president might bring. One of the most interesting portions of Elian meditates on the possible consequences of Elians forced removal and repatriation. A particularly startling theory proposes that outcry over the case drove Cuban-American voters to the Republican party, thus contributing to Bushs win in the infamous Florida recount. One interviewee suggests that, If the Elian case had been handled better we might not have had the Iraq war. Imagine one five-year-old refugee, unwittingly triggering an avalanche of over a million. While the Gonzalez case contains many lessons for journalists, politicians, and civilians, Elians chief takeaway appears to be a meditation on human autonomy in a world where politics and history are constantly shaping us, both consciously and unconsciously. Audience members might leave the film convinced that Gonzalez was Castros personal trophya symbol of a triumph for his revolution; a brainwashed pawn. But Elian himself has heard these accusations, and is unbothered by them. He loves Castro, and he has nothing to prove: In the end, Cuba is an island, he explains, It is 90 miles away. If I wanted to, I could take a boat and go. But he stayshe loves his family, he cherished his relationship with Castro, and he is loyal to his homeland. Much like the Miami branch of Elians family, viewers might struggle to comprehend that Gonzalez is genuinely glad to have been raised in Cuba, not America. But in a post-Trump world, there is infinite value in challenging our entrenched beliefs and experimenting with radical tolerancea genuine passion for the personal freedoms that we purport to fight for. Gonzalezs politics and his choices may challenge the notion of American exceptionalism, but they also mark the reclamation of a personal autonomy that was stolen from Elian on American shores. Now, Gonzalez has more control over his own story than he ever has before. And miraculously enough, it seems to have a happy ending. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had some stern words for President Donald Trump this week after the administration threatened import taxes on Canadian lumber , but you would never know it from the White Houses statement on the conversation. That four-sentence, 42-word readout said it was a very amicable call. But the tone of a statement from Trudeaus office suggested otherwise: The prime minister refuted the baseless allegations by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the decision to impose unfair duties, according to Ottawas readout, which was five times the length of the White Houses. The contrast between Trumps and Trudeaus public statements on the call highlighted an emerging White House trend: Its many short, vague readouts on discussions with foreign leaders are often far less detailed and descriptive than statements put out by the leaders with whom the president speaks. As a result, reporters covering the White House are often forced to glean details of those diplomatic discussions from statements put out by foreign governments. Two days before his call with Trudeau, Trump spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The White Houses readout of the call was just two sentences. The two leaders addressed a range of regional and global issues of mutual concern, it said. Abes office released a far more detailed account , recalling an in-depth exchange of opinions on the North Korea situation that addressed, among other developments, joint naval exercises with the U.S.s Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group. Though a source of minor frustration for journalists, the lack of information from the White House has a more troubling effect, experts say: The resulting public reporting on high-level geopolitical discussions is inevitably colored by a non-U.S. perspective on U.S. diplomacy , potentially putting American foreign policy at a strategic information disadvantage. If were only given two sentences and then another country, the statement from them has multiple paragraphs, we have to assume that that potentially has a spin and theres a reason that they want to highlight certain elements of that, said Lynn Walsh, the president of the Society of Professional Journalists. Trudeau, for instance, made sure to specifically criticize recent Trump administration trade actions aimed at lumber and dairy products. His offices statement derided them as unfair efforts to undermine a free-trade agreement that already heavily favors the U.S. Canada, Trudeau said, would vigorously defend its exporters interests, as we have successfully done in all past lumber disputes with the U.S. The White Houses statement made no attempt to defend U.S. trade actions. The two leaders discussed the dairy trade in Wisconsin, New York State, and various other places, it said simply. They also discussed lumber coming into the United States. The contrast between the two statements illustrated the White Houses unnecessary handicapping of its own position on major diplomatic issues, Walsh said. The public now is receiving more information from other countries and other countries public information officers and with the perspective of other countries, Walsh said in an interview. Theyre getting more information from them than they are from their own leaders. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on its often-scant readouts of the presidents discussions with foreign officials. In some instances, there is parity between the scope of information provided by offices on both ends of the White Houses diplomatic exchanges. In an extreme case, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans office appears to have plagiarized a White House statement on his Feb. 7 conversation with Trump. Erdogans statement , released a day after the White Houses , copied a number of phrases verbatim, including references to their shared commitment to combatting terrorism in all its forms and U.S. support to Turkey as a strategic partner and NATO ally. Statements from the White House and Erdogans office on an April discussion between the two leaders were also strikingly similar. But in a number of other instances, White House readouts on the presidents discussions with foreign leaders have been entirely devoid of information, even as foreign governments, including some with records of hostility to press and speech freedoms, provide extensive details on those discussions. When Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping this month, the White House released a two-sentence, 28-word statement that described the conversation simply as a very productive call. An account from Chinese state-run media was far more extensive. The governments Xinhua News Agency released a 16-paragraph statement totalling more than 400 words. It detailed the Chinese position on North Korea, Syria, and a host of more general issues. Beyond the disadvantage that the White Houses brevity imposes on U.S. communications efforts, Walsh said it is simply embarrassing that governments that dont share an American commitment to the free flow of information would be so much more forthcoming about high-level diplomatic talks. When you see the comparison between the two statements, it was embarrassing as a country that prides ourselves on access and freedom, yet were not really showing that in our actions right now, Walsh said. She suspects that the refusal to release more information is part of the White Houses general hostility to the press, which Trump, as president, has dubbed the enemy of the people. But the real loser, Walsh said, is the American public. The information belongs to them, she said. Journalists are collecting this information on behalf of the public. I dont think the administration is thinking about that aspect. So, Richard Trumka, how worried are you about the inroads Donald Trump made into your membership, and a future in which an anti-free trade Republican Party makes significant inroads into the union vote? I sat with the AFL-CIO president recently in his office just up the street from the White House to talk about the impact its current occupant is having on the unions steadily shrinking but still formidable membership of 12 million workers. Trump got 36 percent of his members votes against Hillary Clinton. Thats only three points more than Mitt Romney, but three points isnt nothing in a close election. And as Trumka emphasized to me, it wasnt only or even chiefly that Trump did better than Romney. Clinton, he wanted me to know, did worse than Obama10 points worse, snaring just 55 percent of his rank-and-files vote. The rest went third party or sat it out. So is he worried that Trump can bust up the traditional Democratic-labor marriage? Actually less each day, he tells me. The Wall Street wing of his administration is hijacking his agenda. We spoke before the White Houses announcement Wednesday that it was going to rethink NAFTA, so that has probably placated Trumka somewhat. But he pointed to Trumps about-face on China and currency manipulation and the fact that the president hasnt talked up infrastructure in a very long time as discouraging signs. His posture toward Trump is not one of total opposition. Hes skeptical and suspicious, certainly. In addition to thinking Trump has gone Wall Street as president, Trumka fears that Trump will gut labor safety regulations and thinks he probably cant bring jobs back to the coal fields in huge numbers. That said, hes mindful of the fact that Trump spoke compellingly to a portion of his rank and file, so hes keeping a semi-open mind. Were just telling [members] every day what hes doing to help them or hurt them, he says. If he does something to help em I say it. If he does something to hurt em I say it. They can decide for themselves whos friend and whos foe. We spent more of our 50 minutes together talking about the Democrats than we did about Trump. He didnt want to lay into Hillary Clinton personally, but he did point out to me that fact about her doing less well among his members than Obama had, and he had some sharp words for the Democratic message in last years campaignand for Bill Clinton. The Democratic Party quite frankly had no coherent economic message, he said. Workers have been facing stagnant wages, dropping benefits, and economic security being taken away from them over a 40-year period. Trump said a lot of stuffhasnt followed through on it, but said it, and they were willing to take a chance. The problems, he said, started under Bill Clinton. I think that was the beginning of the schizophrenic days, when they needed workers votes but wanted Wall Street money, so they tried to serve two masters but were successful at neither, says Trumka. But didnt Bill Clinton do a number of good things? I mean, 22 million jobs? People still werent getting wage increases, he says. The economy was still moving away from us. And what of Barack Obama? Slight pause, then: A well-intentioned guy. I think he had a good heart. You have to put him in context. He had a Congress determined not to let him do anything. They spooked him early on Its not like he had a fair chance on the playing field. He could have done more workers, but all in all, he tried. Not exactly high praise (he also mentioned his disappointment that Obama didnt speak more consistently aboutor do more to fightwage stagnation and inequality). So surely, President Trumka, youre happy with the direction the Democratic Party has taken since November? Look, you cant beat something with nothing, he says. If you dont have an economic message that resonates with working people youre not gonna win. Thats why people like Sherrod Brown and a number of other people running in the same difficult environment that presidential candidates run in succeed. They have a consistent economic message that people know they can believe. He mentioned Brown againboth times were unpromptedjust a few minutes later. Was he dropping a hint about 2020? No, said Trumka, hes just a friend, someone with solid economic credentials, who represents a lot of his members, and has proven that a Democrat can win in a pretty conservative state by being clear and forthright about kitchen-table economics. That is true, though it should be noted that Brown has won only one statewide election, in the high-Democratic turnout year of 2012. Hes up again this year, just two years after Trump pummeled Clinton in Ohio. (The three other names Trumka dropped, unbidden: senators Elizabeth Warren, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Jeff Merkley). [UPDATE: I was wrong here. Brown has won two statewide elections, having first been elected to the Senate in 2006.] Speaking more generally about the future and what the Democrats need to do, Trumka is straightforward. Actually if they would just run on the [2016] platform, he says. And mean it. We had a wonderful progressive platform that spoke to the issues of working people. Run on the platform and make it happen. Stick to it. But arent social and cultural issues a big boulder for the Democratic Party in places like southeastern Ohio, which Brown represents in the Senate, or southwestern Pennsylvania, where he grew up, or Morgantown, West Virginia, where I grew up, about 25 miles downriver from his hometown of Nemacolin? (He and my father knew each other, incidentally, as both were involved with the anti-corruption reform movement in the United Mine Workers.) He said he doesnt really think so. Of course Democrats from different parts of the country have to run differently on social issues, he says, but he remains convinced that for all the headlines cultural conflicts generate, when the the vast majority of people get in the voting booth, theyre thinking about their economic prospects. The economic message should hold everybody together, he says, so that when you say this persons a Democrat, three or four things come to mind. And it shouldnt be this or that social issue, it should be economics. The idea hes pushing these days is collective bargaining for everyone, even people who arent in a union. This sounds crazy maybe at first blush. But here are the facts. First of all, its not illegal or anything. Theres nothing in U.S. labor law that prevents workers at any American workplace, provided they can demonstrate that they represent a majority of the workforce, from going to the boss and demanding wage and other concessions. Its about a jillion light years removed from American tradition. But theres nothing to prevent it happening (and, of course, nothing requiring a boss to honor such demands). Its the only thing, Trumka argues, that can put upward pressure on wages. Trumka is 67 and has headed the AFL-CIO for nearly eight years now. He wont do this forever. He surely expected, as everyone else did, that hed be working with Democratic presidents for the rest of his career. Now he has to worry about whether the Department of Labor is going to strip away OSHA and MSHA (mining) safety regulations, whether some of his Hispanic members (there are around 2 million of them) might get deported, and who knows what else. Maybe if a Sherrod Brown-like Democrat is the nominee next time, Trumka will throw heart and soul into making sure the country changes course againand making sure his members are a crucial part of it and will be due some reward for its efforts. In a world spinning radically out of control, can we trust President Trump to rely on his famous instincts as he plays brinksmanship with North Korea? How much closer does the day of reckoning have to come on charges of collusion with Russia before he needs a war to provide the ultimate distraction? The fundamental bedrock of human development is the formation of a capacity to trust, absorbed by children between birth and 18 months. Donald Trump has boasted of his total lack of trust: People are too trusting. Im a very untrusting guy. (1990) Hire the best people, and dont trust them. (2007) The world is a vicious and brutal place. Even your friends are out to get you: they want your job, your money, your wife. (2007) His biographers have recorded his world view as saturated with a sense of danger and his need to project total toughness. As we know, his father trained him to be a killer, the only alternative to being a loser. He has never forgotten the primary lesson he learned from his father and at the military school to which he was sent to toughen him up still further. In Trumps own words: Man is the most vicious of all animals, and life is a series of battles ending in victory or defeat. Trump described to Michael DAntonio in his biography, Never Enough, his father dragging him around tough neighborhoods in Brooklyn when he collected rents. He always told the boy to stand to one side of the door. Donald asked why: Because sometimes they shoot right through the door. Today, this man lives alone in the White House, without a wife or any friends in whom to confide, which he would never do anyway because that would require admitting vulnerability. Leon Panetta, former CIA director and Defense chief under Clinton, stated on Fox Business Channel in February 2017: The coin of the realm for any president is trust--trust of the American people in the credibility of that president. In the nearly two years that Donald Trump has been in our face almost daily, he has sown mistrust in all of his Republican rivals, alienated the conservative Republican bloc he needs in the House for legislative success, ignored congressional Democrats, and viciously insulted Democratic leaders, calling them liars, clowns, stupid, and incompetent, and condemning Barack Obama as sick and Hillary Clinton as the devil. When he picks up the phone to speak to leaders of our closest allies, like Australia, he rips apart the comity built over decades. But he never hesitates to congratulate despots, like Turkeys Erdogan, Egypts General Sisi, or Russias Putin. As President, he is systematically shredding trust in the institutions he now commands. Having discredited the entire 17-agency intelligence community as acting like Nazis, he also dismissed the judiciary because of one judges Hispanic background and anothers opposition to his travel ban. Even his Supreme Court justice, Neil Gorsuch, said it was disheartening and demoralizing to hear Trump disparage the judiciary. Not content to smear the media on a daily basis, Trump borrowed a phrase used by Lenin and Stalin to brand the media as enemy of the people. By his own words, Trump operates on the assumption that everyone is out to get him. The non-medical definition of paranoia is the tendency toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others. As a man who proclaims his distrust of everyone, it is not surprising that Trump drew closest to him two legendary conspiracy theoristsStephen Bannon and Gen. Michael Flynn. And even after he was forced to fire his choice as his top national security advisor after Flynn blatantly lied, Trumps White House is desperately stonewalling congressional investigators to keep them from getting their hands on documents that may prove Flynns paid collusion with Russia on Trumps behalf. The closer that case comes to a criminal referral to the Justice Department, the closer Trumps survival instincts will propel him to a wag-the-dog war. A leader who does not trust his subordinates cannot inspire trust. Though Trump boasts of fierce personal loyalty, he himself is loyal only until he isnt. Among his anxious aides, only Jared Kushner is safe, deputized as the Trumps de facto Secretary of State. Where he succeeds in inspiring trust is by giving his subordinates the courage to lie. The virus of licentiousness has spread from the White House to congressional Republicans, to wit the stunt that exposed Rep. Devin Nunes as unfit to lead the House Intelligence Committee probe into the Trump campaigns possible collusion with Russia. We hear repeatedly that Trump as a manager likes chaos. I asked a deputy White House counsel under Obama, Mike Breen, a decorated former officer in Iraq and expert on foreign policy at the Truman National Security Project, how that style impacts trust. Trump explicitly or implicitly manages the situation so its never possible for his advisers to know where they stand, Breen says. Its the opposite of what you want in a high-functioning organization. Trumps anxious aides must know just how easy it is to fail his loyalty test, or to be the fall guy if a scapegoat is needed. While publicly they may defend him, it is clear to reporters that White House staffers are leaking and leaking constantly. The leaks can only exacerbate Trumps mistrust, perpetuating a vicious circle. His failure to trust and to inspire trust is even more dangerous on a global scale. He sees alliances like NATO as suspicious (until he changes his mind); he sees trade agreements like NAFTA as ripping off America (until he changes his mind three or four times in the same week). This is because Trumps worldview is that we live in a snake pit where everybody is out for themselves, observes Breen. He and his co-conspiracy advisor, Bannon, take everything that the left-behind white working class hates about globalization and they turn it into personalized enemies--Muslims, Mexicans, refugees they believe are taking away their jobs. Those people arent like us, is the alt.right message, theyre polluting our culture. Back as far at August 2016, 50 senior national security officials who have advised Republican presidents during wartime issued a letter starkly rejecting candidate Trump: We are convinced that he would be a dangerous president and would put at risk our countrys national security and well-being. They excoriated him as lacking in character and values as well as basic knowledge. What is stunning is the precision of their foresight. They predicted that Trump, lacking belief in the U.S. Constitution, would compromise our most precious institutions including religious tolerance, freedom of the press, and an independent judiciary. In the course of his first hundred days, Trump has appeared to be increasingly out of touch with the reality in which the majority of us live. His pathological propensity to lying is not the worst of it. Its his monomaniacal attachment to lies as transparent as his March 4 twitterstorm accusing President Obama of putting a tap on his phone. It raises the question, is this president floating in his own alternative reality? We asked Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, the eminent former professor of psychiatry at Yale University and today at Columbia University: Is Trump an abnormal personality? Trump creates his own extreme manipulation of reality, he says. He insists that his spokesmen defend his false reality as normal. He then expects the rest of society to accept it despite the lack of any evidence. This leads to what Lifton calls malignant normalcyin other words, the gradual acceptance by a public inundated with toxic untruths until they pass for normal. Dr. James F. Gilligan is a psychiatrist and author who has studied the motivations behind violent behavior over his 25 years of work in the American prison systems. If we psychiatrists who have experience in assessing dangerousness, if we give passive permission to our president to proceed in his delusions, we are shirking our responsibility, Gilligan says. Today a senior clinical professor of psychiatry at NYU Medical School, Gilligan last week told a town hall meeting at Yale, I dont say Trump is Hitler or Musolinni, but hes no more normal than Hitler. We dont have to rely on psychiatrists to see that this president is not consistent in his thinking or reliably attached to reality. We have had vastly more exposure to Donald Trumps observable behavior, his writing and speaking, than any shrink would have after listening to him for years. So it is up to us, the American public, to call him on it. And some of the most experienced hands in and around the White House are doing so. Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley believes that Donald Trump represents a very different subculture from any commander in chief. He represents the New York building business -- where you dont let your right hand know what your left hand is doing, says Brinkley. In Trumps world, he must win at all costs. Its not about character or public service or looking out for your band of brothers. The president to whom Trump is most often compared is Richard Nixon. John Dean, the famous White House counsel who testified against his fellow conservative Republican, compared Trump to another notably paranoid president. Nixon was two personae in public, he would score passably on the manuals leadership checklist: he trusted his top aides, Haldeman and Erlichman, and was trusted by his cabinet, says Dean. But in private, his deeply paranoid and vengeful dark side came out. Asked for the best example, Dean snapped, He had zero empathy! Just like Trump. Nixon let 22,000 more Americans die in Vietnam [after he sabotaged the 1968 Paris Peace Talks], plus who knows how many Cambodians and Laotians and Vietnamese, all to ensure his election. It took 40 years before Nixons worst crime was revealedtreason. That war president was heard on Lyndon Johnsons tapes scuttling the Vietnam peace talks to derail the reelection campaign of the Democratic candidate. He sent a message to the South Vietnamese negotiators that they should withdraw from the peace talks and wait for Nixon to be elected, who would give them a much better deal. Sound familiar? Fifty years later, Donald Trumps go-between with Russian officials, Gen. Flynn, hinted to Putins ambassador that Russia could get a much better deal if it didnt retaliate against Obamas sanctions and sat tight until Trump was elected. And Trump frequently tweeted about his eagerness to lift those sanctions until his fantasy bromance with Putin came under federal investigation. Trumps appetite for vengeance is also matched by Nixons with his long enemies list. No two modern presidents have had a more serious case of political hemophilia, in the phrase of the latest Nixon biographer, John Farrell, by which he means: Once wounded, these men never stop bleeding. To the dismay of even conservative observers, Trump appears totally indifferent to the truth. A Wall Street Journa l editorial from March 21 denounced the damage done by his seemingly endless stream of exaggerations, evidence-free accusations, implausible denials and other falsehoods, concluding, if he doesnt show more respect for the truth, most Americans may conclude hes a fake President. But merely repeating a malignant lie often enoughfor five years in the case of his birther smear against the first black presidentit sticks with his supporters despite proof to the contrary. Time magazine gave Trump an opportunity to clarify his refusal to correct the long string of his falsehoods. What the March 23 interview produced instead was an astonishing revelation of the presidents thinking: He states what he wants to be true. If his statement is proven false, he is unfazed and confidently predicts that the facts will catch up with his belief: Im a very instinctual person, but my instinct turns out to be right. Even when the top sleuth in the country condemns him as a fabulist, Trump ignores the public rebuke by FBI director James Comey, and brags about his ability to persuade millions that his version of events is the real truth. Narcissistic people like Trump want more than anything to love themselves, but desperately want others to love them, too, wrote professor and chair of the Psychology Department at Northwestern University, Dan P. McAdams, in The Atlantic. The fundamental goal in life for a narcissist is to promote the greatness of the self, for all to see. But what is an extreme narcissistic personality like Trump to do when he fails to win glorification for his first hundred days in office? Trump, from his own writings, has shown massive hypersensitivity to shame or humiliation, says Dr. Gilligan, of the NYU Medical School. Anybody who criticizes him will get a 3 am tweet. What happens if Trump feels humiliated by being pronounced a loser in politics? Does he give in to his right instincts and fire off an incendiary tweet to the nuclear-obsessed leader in Pyongyang? Most world leaders have agreed with former South Korean President Park, who last year pronounced Kim Jong-uns mental state as uncontrollable. As Dr. Gilligan warns, There is no evidence of sensitivity in Trumps awareness of other peoples vulnerability. I think everyone is in danger from this most dangerous of presidents. When narcissists begin to disappoint those whom they once dazzled, their descent can be especially precipitous. As the biblical book of Proverbs warns: Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Beneath the grandiose behavior of every narcissist lies the pit of fragile self-esteem. What if, deep down, the person Trump trusts least is himself? The humiliation of being widely exposed as a loser unable to bully through the actions he promised to accomplish in his first 100 dayscould drive him to prove he is, after all, a killer. He has already teed up three choices for starting a war: Syria, Afghanistan, and North Korea. It is up to Congress, backed up by the public, to restrain him. The Trump administration is actively exploring options to remove controversial national security aide Sebastian Gorka from the White House and place him at another federal agency, multiple sources tell The Daily Beast. Two senior administration officials familiar with the situation say it is exploring a new role for Gorka elsewhere in the administration. Another said he has been entirely excluded from day-to-day policy-making at the National Security Council in the meantime. Gorkas looming departure from the White House, which one of the sources described as imminent, comes amid mounting controversy over his involvement with a far-right Hungarian group notorious for its collaboration with the Nazi regime during the second world war. Reached by phone on Friday, Gorka requested that questions be sent in an email, to which he did not reply. The White House did not respond to multiple requests for comment. According to two senior administration officials, the White House has been seeking a position for Gorka that does not require a security clearance. One said it was looking to classify him as a member of the federal governments senior executive service. Plans for Gorkas move have not been finalized, the officials cautioned. And in this White Housewith its reputation for turn-on-a-dime decision-making and competing factionsthat means Gorkas status could change. BuzzFeed News reported on Thursday that Gorka lacked a security clearance as late as last month. His inability to sit in on high-level national security meetings has reportedly made it all but impossible for him to be involved in White House nat-sec policy-making. Gorka was denied a Hungarian security clearance in 2002 when he sought a position on a government panel investigating the then-prime minister over his role in the countrys secret police during the Soviet occupation of the country, BuzzFeed reported. Two senior administration officials described Gorka as completely devoid of influence on White House policy, corroborating reports that he had not been cleared to sit in any sort of national security meetings, which leaves him without much to do all day, as one former Obama administration official told BuzzFeed. One source described the situation to The Daily Beast as a pain in the ass. Gorka, the source said, has been biding his sweet time, with virtually no official substantive duties and or role in White House decision-making. Another source said Gorka owes his continued presence at the White House to President Donald Trump himself. The president views him as a strong communicator of the administrations anti-terrorism policies. The president really likes him and appreciates him as a good spokesperson for the administration, but he isnt part of the NSC policy making process, a senior administration official said of Gorka. That makes sense, as hes part of the Bannon-and Kushner-run Strategic Initiative Group, but the official said his contributions to foreign policy have been minimal, with Lt. Gen. H.R. McMasters team overshadowing the relevance of his input. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel matters. But the controversies dogging Gorka have created headaches for a number of White House officials, and his apparent inability to participate in high-level policy discussions means keeping him on requires weathering bad press without any real upside. Foremost among Gorkas public relations problems are his emerging ties to Vitezi Rend, a Hungarian nationalist group that a State Department watch list notes was under the direction of the Nazi Government of Germany during the Second World War. Gorka has downplayed his involvement with the group, though Forward reported this week that his Vitezi Rend ties appear to go back decades. The former national security editor for the pro-Trump website Breitbart News, Gorka has also faced criticism for his controversial statements about Islam. In March, he declined to say whether Trump believes that it is actually a religion. with additional reporting by Kim Dozier CBS News visited Texas A&M University to talk politics with some students about President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. The segment aired Wednesday. Conor Devlin and Jessica Browning gave Trump a "flat A" based on "follow[ing] through with a lot of his campaign promises" and not taking no for an answer. Olivia Krog and David Isenhour said that their main concerns were with the president's all-hours social media activity and the fear that the Flynn-and-Russia tete-a-tete would become "another Watergate moment." The economy was the area in which the Aggies hoped to see Trump succeed the most, stating that "it's really important that our government focuses on opening up our economy and allowing students like us to get out there and find a job right out of college." Browning said that "with President Obama there was a lot of trickle-down economics, things just trickling down from Washington, D.C. We don't want that; we don't want Washington, D.C., telling us everything we want to do." Sean Jankowski voiced his concern that "Trump is spending a lot of time on the defensive and playing damage control ... so it's going to take some people sitting down and saying, 'OK, we need to work with this man to advance America's best interests because this is what we have right now.'" The segment, which had nearly 10,000 views on YouTube Friday morning, attracted plenty of reaction on social media, with some saying the group represented the school well and others calling it cringe-worthy. Browning's comments about trickle-down economics seem to have drawn the most fire, as well as the high grade awarded in spite of a "potential Watergate moment." Others criticized CBS News for not including a more diverse group of students. All five Republicans interviewed were white. That's.... not even remotely close to what trickle-down economics is...... but it's fine.... https://t.co/v6jJ4f82S1 pic.twitter.com/VuR3oU08Ce Michaela Johnson (@mjohnson262) April 27, 2017 EVENT TO MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR The City of College Station is hosting Movies in the Park: Zootopia at 7:30 p.m. on May 5 at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater. Bring your blankets, chairs and coolers to watch the movie on a 32-foot inflatable high-definition screen. Admission is free. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and the movie starts at 8:45. For more information on upcoming movies, visit cstx.gov/movies or call 764-3486. FRIDAY EVENTS Ag Field Day, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View. Two-day event with workshops on livestock and forage, small ruminant and horticulture, with particular emphasis on home and commercial vegetable production. Registration is $15 (1 day) or $20 (2 days), and includes lunch and materials. To register, visit www.pvamu.edu/AgField Day or call (936) 261-AGNR or (936) 261-2467. Architecture for Health Visiting Lecture Series, 12:40 p.m. Room 102, Francis Hall, Texas A&M University. Program: "Looking to the Future, Designing an Exceptional Patient Experience" with Jim Henry and Amy Lussetto from HDR Dallas. Open to the public. one.arch.tamu.edu/news/2017/2/14/designers-discuss-healthcare-challenges/ or contact Judy Pruitt at 845-7009. Bingo and Birthday Celebration, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Southwood Community Center. Join us for bingo and cake to celebrate April birthdays. Prizes donated by Signature Select Services. No registration necessary. Call 764-6351 for more information. Seventh Annual Hoedown, 6:30 to 10 p.m. Vick Country Pavilion in Bryan. Presented by Kappa Theta Beta and St. Mary's Catholic Center. Featuring barbell, raffle prizes and dancing to live music with Clayton Gardner. Proceeds benefit the Catholic Charities. Tickets are $10 online or available to purchase at the door. Children 8 and younger enter for free. Barbecue plates are $7 for adults and $4 for children. Dinner tickets must be purchased in advance. aggiecatholic.org/hoedown. Aggie Women 2017 Annual Conference, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Annenberg Presidential Conference. Featuring speakers, a luncheon, awards ceremony, panel discussion, silent auction and an evening reception. This year's event also includes a second day option for a trip to Round Top with a featured stop at Aggie-owned, Junk Gypsy. Mary Miller, 832-334-3229, info@aggiewomen.org, website: www.aggiewomen.org. Visit events tab for details and registration. Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 7 p.m. The Theatre Company of Bryan-College Station. $20. www.theatrecompany.com. Tosh.Show On Campus, 7:30 p.m. Rudder Auditorium. Daniel Tosh will host and perform an evening of standup comedy featuring writers and comedians from his Comedy Central show. $29 to $79. Boxoffice.tamu.edu. CLUBS Star Duplicate Bridge Club, 9:15 a.m. Pebble Creek Country Club. For partnerships, call ahead 703-1769. Brazos County Senior Citizens Association: dominoes from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., quilting and/or crafting from 9:30 a.m. to noon, potluck luncheon at noon and progressive bridge from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. 1402 Bristol St., Bryan. Visitors welcome. 822-6873. Friday Bridge, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road. Join other seniors. No partners needed. CSPARD Senior Services, mrodgers@cstx.gov or 764-6371. Friday Night Jam Session, 6 to 10 p.m. VFW Post 4006. Everyone is welcome. Admission is free. HEALTH AND FITNESS Brazos Valley Council of Governments free seminar for those caring for an ailing elderly parent or spouse or child with disabilities, 11:30 a.m. 3991 E. 29th St., Bryan. The BVCOG will offer a free luncheon where professionals offer basic caregiving advice and information. RSVP by calling Melody Adams at 595-2801, ext. 2024. Line Dancing for seniors, 10:30 a.m. Southwood Community Center; 10 a.m. Lincoln Recreation Center. 764-6351 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov for more information. Forevercise, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Southwood Community Center. Class offers individuals healthy lifestyle practices with helpful tips on nutrition and exercise. Exercises may be done while standing or sitting in a chair. 764-6351 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov or cstx.gov/seniors. Citing the lower rate of illegal border-crossings, that the president has "re-asserted American foreign policy and diplomatic efforts" and the beginning of discussions on tax reform and infrastructure, U.S. Rep. Bill Flores said he would give President Donald Trump a B- for his first 100 days in office. "When you look at what we had hoped to accomplish in the first 100 days, the only policy objective we haven't achieved thus far is healthcare reform," said the 17th District congressman. Flores said the country has "made huge strides in regulatory reform," and that Americans have developed "a new sense of economic optimism" in the near-100 days Trump has been in office. If healthcare reform had passed, Flores said, he would have given Trump a B+. Flores's detractions come from Trump's "public relations toe-stubbings" on Twitter, as well as the rollout of his first executive order banning refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries. Flores spoke to The Eagle via telephone from Washington, D.C., on Thursday about the president's tax proposal, statements on the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, and Congress's efforts to avoid a government shutdown this week. Regarding the looming threat of a shutdown, Flores said he expected Congress to pass a one-week resolution that would fund the government until next Friday, May 5. He said House and Senate committees would begin negotiations next week on a funding bill that would keep the government's doors open through Sept. 30. Flores said he is in "support [of] the principles" of the sketch of Trump's tax policy, but "the devil is always going to be in the details." Trump's plan would lower the corporate income tax from 35 percent to 15 percent, eliminate the estate tax and reduce the top rate of individual income tax. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated Trump's proposed tax reform could increase the deficit by $3 trillion to $7 trillion over the next 10 years, making it an unpalatable proposal for deficit hawks, and therefore unlikely to pass without serious revision, especially given Democratic opposition. The plan would be a big reduction in taxes for big businesses and high-income earners. Based on what a leaked tax return showed Trump paid in 2005, he would stand to benefit from the proposed changes in the tax code. He would get rid of the alternative minimum tax -- which cost him $31 million in 2005 -- as well as the estate tax. Flores rejected the idea that Trump's plan was unethical because of the benefits the president stands to gain from its passage, saying the notion was "a red herring some people use to gum up the process." "Everybody in every elected position in the federal government likely benefits from tax reform," said Flores. Flores said tax reform would "benefit everyone," not just high-income earners, and would "be hugely beneficial for [working class] family finances and their economic opportunities." "I think American families are ready for some relief from this arcane, clunky tax system that we have," he said. Flores called the White House "chatter" about withdrawing from NAFTA "inappropriate," but was glad they "saw the light" and are working to renegotiate the treaty and make it "relevant to the 21st century." "[Withdrawing from NAFTA] would have been terrible for Texas," said Flores. Mexico is Texas's largest trading partner, and Canada is second; these are the two countries to which NAFTA opened economic borders when the treaty was enacted in the '90s. The congressman said NAFTA needs to be updated "to reflect these new economic realities of our trade with Mexico," referring to changes in Mexico's energy businesses in the electricity, oil, gas and renewable energy industries. As Trump's 100-day benchmark approaches this weekend, a new one begins: Flores said he would like to see the president lessen his time on Twitter over his next 100 days in the Oval Office. "I'd like to see a more consistent performance as a statesman," he said. A Texas A&M statistics professor has been chosen by the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission as the panel's first official statistician. Clifford Spiegelman will oversee data collection by the commission that determines how children and teens are being educated about the Holocaust and other acts of genocide in their history and English classes. Spiegelman, a distinguished professor of statistics and senior research scientist at Texas A&M Transportation Institute, was appointed last weekend. Peter Tarlow, former resident rabbi for Hillel Texas A&M, serves as the chair of the state organization. Tarlow has worked with Spiegelman at Hillel in the past, and when asked by fellow commission members to recruit a statistician for school surveys, Tarlow said he immediately knew just the person for the job. "They wanted a top named statistician from a top school," Tarlow said. "Obviously, I'm prejudiced toward Texas A&M, but [Spiegelman] is one of the best statisticians in the country." Tarlow explained the commission is a state agency, whose sole purpose is to ensure Texas teachers and school programs are properly instructing children and teens on the details of the Holocaust and other specifically recognized genocides, including those in Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur, Sudan, and the acts of the Islamic State. "The Holocaust does get special attention because it's the genocide of all genocides," Tarlow noted. Tarlow said in recent years many restraints have been placed on teaching history, as educators are urged to focus on teaching specifically what will be included on college entrance exams. The commission's job is to ensure that the important topic of genocide, which commission leaders believe is a critical subject highlighting the value of human life, is given both the correct amount and the right kind of attention in classrooms. In order to help schools achieve this proper historical curriculum, however, the commission needs first to understand how instructors are currently teaching about genocide. This is where Spiegelman comes in. The Aggie professor successfully edited a proposed survey from the commission earlier this year. This survey is being distributed to more than 800 public, private and charter schools across the state, asking teachers how they address certain topics. Spiegelman hopes to have most of the surveys collected by the end of the year, in order to begin the analytical process. Tarlow said the commission so far has seen an approximate 14 percent participation rate form teachers, much more cooperation than the panel was expecting. Spiegelman explained the study asks questions such as "Which classes are discussing the Holocaust: history or English classes?: :Are English classes reading books such as The Diary of Anne Frank?" "How do teachers explain the concept of a genocide to their children?" "There's a difference between genocide and mass murder," Spiegelman saidt. "We're concerned some schools are not explaining the difference." Spiegelman has accepted the position pro bono, although the commission offered to pay him. "Unless this just becomes overwhelming, I will be doing it for free," the professor said. "This is for a good cause. Plus, it can provide a good example for my statistics students. I can actually use real-world examples with my students." Spiegelman said he is considering allowing some of his A&M students to work on the survey with him as part of class exercises. Though it may take more than a year for results to be conclusive, Tarlow said the information would be shared across the state. He hopes other states will examine how Texas is working to teach children about these important facets of history, and will follow in the Lone Star State's footsteps. Spiegelman agrees. "It's a common goal to see Texans made aware of the Holocaust and genocide," he said. "We have to get that done so horrible things don't happen again." For more information on the commission, visit thgc.texas.gov. May 24, 1933 - April 18, 2017 Doris Mae Hawkins Wilson, 83, of Lawton, OK, and formerly of Hearne, Texas, passed away April 18, 2017 in Lawton. A Visitation will be held on Friday, April 28, from 2:00-7:00 p.m. at Glenn Mack Funeral Home in Hearne. A final viewing will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 29 at Revival Tabernocle Full Gospel Church, 500 W. 8th, Hearne. A Celebration of Life with Rev. Cedric Rouse, Pastor and Rev. Walter Ward, Eulogist, honoring Doris Wilson, will be held Saturday, April 29 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Emanuel Baptist Church, 200 Navasota St., Hearne. Arrangements and Care are entrusted to Glenn Mack Funeral Home, Hearne. "In most parts of the world 'freedom' is synonymous with the independence struggle for our countries. In such places as the UK, it mainly means more individualism, selfishness and personal liberties." We talked about imperialism, medicine and the suffering of the Middle East. Then we decided to publish this dialogue, shedding some light on the 'Ecology of War' - this essential new discipline in both philosophy and medicine. The discussion took place in Beirut, Lebanon, in Cafe Younes, on April 25, 2017. Broken social contract in the Arab World, even in Europe Gus Abu-Sitta: In the South, medicine and the provision of health were critical parts of the post-colonial state. And the post-colonial state built medical systems such as we had in Iraq, Egypt and in Syria as part of the social contract. They became an intrinsic part of the creation of those states. And it was a realization that the state has to exercise its power both coercively, (which we know the state is capable of exercising, by putting you in prison, and even exercising violence), but above all non-coercively: it needs to house you, educate you, and give you health, all of those things. And that non-coercive power that the states exercise is a critical part of the legitimizing process of the state. We saw it evolve in 50's, 60's and 70's. So as a digression, if you want to look at how the state was dismantled: the aim of the sanctions against Iraq was not to weaken the Makhabarat or the army, the aim of the sanctions was to rob the Iraqi state of its non-coercive power; its ability to give life, to give education, and that's why after 12 years, the state has totally collapsed internally - not because its coercive powers have weakened, but because it was robbed of all its non-coercive powers, of all its abilities to guarantee life to its citizens. So in a way the contract between the state and the people was broken? Absolutely! And you had that contract existing in the majority of post-colonialist states. With the introduction of the IMF and World Bank-led policies that viewed health and the provision of health as a business opportunity for the ruling elites and for corporations, and viewed free healthcare as a burden on the state, you began to have an erosion in certain countries like Egypt, like Jordan, of the non-coercive powers of the state, leading to the gradual weakening of its legitimacy. Once again, the aim of the IMF and World Bank was to turn health into a commodity, which could be sold back to people as a service; sold back to those who could afford it. So, the US model, but in much more brutal form, as the wages in most of those countries were incomparably lower. Absolutely! And the way you do that in these countries: you create a two-tier system where the government tier is so under-funded, that people choose to go to the private sector. And then in the private sector you basically have the flourishing of all aspects of private healthcare: from health insurance to provision of health care, to pharmaceuticals. Paradoxically this scenario is also taking place in the UK right now. We see it in the UK and we'll see it in many other European countries. But it has already happened in this region, in the Arab world. Here, the provision of health was so critical to creation of the states. It was critical to the legitimacy of the state. Dismantling the welare state - a form of war against the poor The scenario has been extremely cynical: while the private health system was imposed on the Arab region and on many other parts of the world, in the West itself, except in the United States, medical care remains public and basically free. We are talking about state medical care in Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Yes. In Europe as part of the welfare state that came out of the Second World War, the provision of healthcare was part of the social contract. As the welfare state with the advent of Thatcherism and Reagan-ism was being dismantled, it became important to undergo a similar process as elsewhere. The difference is that in the UK, and also in countries like Germany, it was politically very dangerous. It could lead to election losses. So the second plan was to erode the health system, by a thousand blows kill it gradually. What you ended up in the UK is the piece-by-piece privatization of the health sector. And the people don't know, they don't notice that the system is becoming private. Or in Germany where actually the government does not pay for healthcare - the government subsidizes the insurance companies that profit from the private provision of healthcare. Before we began recording this discussion, we were speaking about the philosophical dilemmas that are now besieging or at least should be besieging the medical profession. Even the social medical care in Europe: isn't it to some extent a cynical arrangement? European countries are now all part of the imperialist block, together with the United States, and they are all plundering the rest of the world - the Middle East, Africa, parts of Asia - and they are actually subsidizing their social system from that plunder. That's one thing. But also, the doctors and nurses working for instance in the UK or Germany are often imported' from much poorer countries, where they have often received free education. Instead of helping their own, needy people, they are actually now serving the ageing and by all international comparisons, unreasonably spoiled and demanding population in Europe, which often uses medical facilities as if they were some social club'. I think what has happened, particularly in Europe is that there is a gradual erosion of all aspects of the welfare state. Politically it was not yet possible to get rid of free healthcare. The problem that you can certainly see in the United Kingdom is that health is the final consequence of social and economic factors that people live in. So if you have chronic unemployment, second and third generation unemployment problem, these have health consequences. If you have the destruction of both pensions and the cushion of a social umbrella for the unemployed, that has consequences ... Poor housing has health consequences. Mass unemployment has health consequences. Politically it was easy to get rid of all other aspects of the welfare state, but they were stuck with a healthcare problem. And so the losing battle that the health systems in the West are fighting is that they are being expected to cater to the poor consequences of the brutal capitalist system as a non-profit endeavor. But we know that once these lifestyle changes are affecting people's health, it's too late in terms of cure or prevention. And so what the European health systems do, they try to patch people and to get them out of the system and back on the street. So if you have children with chronic asthma, you treat the asthma but not the dump housing in which these children are living in. If you have violent assaults and trauma related to violence, you treat the trauma, the physical manifestation, and not the breakdown of youth unemployment, or racism that creates this. So in order to sustain this anomaly, as you said, you need an inflated health system, because you make people sick and then you try to fix them, rather than stopping them from being sick. Hence that brain drains that have basically happened, where you have more Ghanaian doctors in New York than you have in Ghana. And you have an entire army of Philippine nurses in the UK, while there is suddenly a shortage of qualified nurses in Manila. This is the result of the fact that actually people's health 'happens' outside the health system. Because you cannot get rid of the health system, you end up having a bloated health system, and try to fix the ailments that are coming through the door. Collapse of health care In the Middle East You worked in this entire region. You worked in Iraq, and in Gaza... both you and I worked in Shifa Hospital in Gaza... You worked in Southern Lebanon during the war. How brutal is the healthcare situation in the Middle East? How badly has been, for instance, the Iraqi peoples' suffering, compared to Western patients? How cruel is the situation in Gaza? If you look at places like Iraq: Iraq in the 80's probably had one of the most advanced health systems in the region. Then you went through the first war against Iraq, followed by 12 years of sanctions in which that health system was totally dismantled - not just in terms of hospitals and medication and the forced exile of doctors and health professionals, but also in terms of other aspects of health, which are the sewage and water and electricity plants, all of those parts of the infrastructure that directly impact on people's lives. Then came depleted uranium... And then you add to the mix that 2003 War and then the complete destruction and dismantling of the state, and the migration of some 50% of Iraq's doctors. Where did they migrate? Everywhere: to the Gulf and to the West; to North America, Europe ... So what you have in Iraq is a system that is not only broken, but that has lost the components that are required to rebuild it. You can't train a new generation of doctors in Iraq, because your trainers have all left the country. You can't create a health system in Iraq, because you have created a government infrastructure that is intrinsically unstable and based on a multi-polarity of the centers of power which all are fighting for control of the pie of the state ... and so Iraqis sub-contract their health at hospital level to India and to Turkey and Lebanon, or Jordan, because they are in this vicious loop. But this is only for those who can afford it? Yes for those who can, but even in those times when the government had cash it could not build the system, anymore. So it would sub-contract health provisions outside, because the system was so broken that money couldn't fix it. It's the same across the Middle East The same is happening in Libya and the same is happening in Syria, with regards of the migration of their doctors. Syria will undergo something similar to Iraq at the end of the war, if the Syrian state is destroyed. But it is still standing. It still stands and it is still providing healthcare to the overwhelming majority of the population even to those who live in the rebel-controlled areas. They are travelling to Damascus and other cities for their cardiac services or for their oncological services. So no questions asked; you are sick, you get treated? Even from the ISIS-controlled areas people can travel and get treated, because this is part of the job of the state. The same thing is happening with the education there; Syria still provides all basic services in that area. Absolutely! But in Libya, because the state has totally disappeared or has disintegrated, all this is gone. Libya is not even one country, any more ... There is not a unified country and there is definitely no health system. In Gaza and the Palestine, the occupation and the siege, ensure that there is no normal development of the health system and in case of Gaza as the Israelis say "every few years you come and you mown the lawn." You kill as many people in these brutal and intense wars, so you can ensure that the people for the next few years will be trying to survive the damage that you have caused. Is there any help from Israeli physicians? Oh yes! Very few individuals, but there is... But the Israeli medical establishment is actually an intrinsic part of the Israeli establishment, and the Israeli academic medical establishment is also part of the Israeli establishment. And the Israeli Medical Association refused to condemn the fact that Israeli doctors examine Palestinian political prisoners for what they call "fitness for interrogation". Which is basically ... you get seen by a doctor who decides how much torture you can take before you die. This actually reminds me of what I was told in 2015 in Pretoria, South Africa, where I was invited to participate as a speaker at the International Conference of the Psychologists for Peace. Several US psychologists reported that during the interrogation and torture of alleged terrorists, there were professional psychologists and even clinical psychiatrists standing by, often assisting the interrogators. Yes, there are actually two or three well-known American psychologists who designed the CIA interrogation system - its process. What you have described that is happening in Palestine is apparently part of a very pervasive system. I was told in the Indian-controlled Kashmir that Israeli intelligence officers are sharing their methods of interrogation and torture with their Indian counterparts. And of course the US is involved there as well. Conflict medicine and the ecology of war War surgery grew out of the Napoleonic Wars. During these wars, two armies met. They usually met at the frontline. They attacked each other, shot at each other or stabbed each other. Most of injured were combatants, and they got treated in military hospitals. You had an evolution of war surgery. What we have in this region, we believe, is that the intensity and the prolonged nature of these wars or these conflicts are not temporal - like battles. They don't start and finish. And they are sufficiently prolonged that they change the biological ecology, the ecology in which people live. They create the ecology of war. That ecology maintains itself well beyond of what we know is the shooting, because they alter the living environment of people. The wounds are physical, psychological and social wounds; the environment is altered as to become hostile - both to the able-bodied and more hostile to the wounded. And as in the cases of these multi-drug-resistant organisms, which are now a big issue in the world like the multi-drug-resistant bacteria, 85% of Iraqi war wounded have multi-drug-resistant bacteria, 70% of Syrian war wounded have it ... So we say: this ecology, this biosphere that the conflicts create is even altered at the basic DNA of the bacteria. We have several theories about it; partly it's the role of the heavy metals in modern ordnance, which can trigger mutation in these bacteria that makes them resistant to antibiotics. So your biosphere, your bubble, your ecological bubble in which you live in, is permanently changed. And it doesn't disappear the day the bombs disappear. It has to be dismantled, and in order to dismantle it you have to understand the dynamics of the ecology of war. That's why our program was set up at the university, which had basically been the major tertiary teaching center during the civil war and the 1982 Israeli invasion. And then as the war in Iraq and Syria developed, we started to get patients from these countries and treat them here. We found out that we have to understand the dynamics of conflict medicine and to understand the ecology of war; how the physical, biological, psychological and social manifestations of war wounding happen, and how this ecology of war is created; everything from bacteria to the way water and the water cycle changes, to the toxic remains of war, to how people's bodies react ... Many of my Iraqi patients that I see have multiple members of their families injured. Is the AUB Medical Center now the pioneer in this research: the ecology of war? Yes, because of the legacy of the civil war... of regional wars. Nothing less than a regional perpetual conflict... Perpetual conflict, yes; first home-grown, and then regional. We are the referral center for the Iraqi Ministry of Health, referral center for the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, so we act as a regional center, and the aim of our program is to dedicate more time and space and energy to the understanding of how this ecology of war comes about. A permanent state of extreme poverty and misery In my writing and in my films, I often draw the parallel between the war and extreme poverty. I have been working in some of the worst slums on Earth, those in Africa, Central America and Caribbean, South Asia, the Philippines and elsewhere. I concluded that many societies that are in theory living in peace are in reality living in prolonged or even perpetual wars. Extreme misery is a form of war, although there is no 'declaration of war', and there is no defined frontline. I covered both countless wars and countless places of extreme misery, and the parallel, especially the physical, psychological and social impact on human beings, appears to be striking. Would you agree, based on your research? Do you see extreme misery as a type of war? Yes. At the core of it is the 'dehumanization' of people. Extreme poverty is a form of violence. The more extreme this poverty becomes, the closer it comes to the physical nature of violence. War is the accelerated degradation of people's life to reaching that extreme poverty. But that extreme poverty can be reached by a more gradual process. War only gets them there faster. A perpetual state of extreme poverty is in a way similar to a perpetual state of conflict, of a war. Definitely. And it is a war mainly against those who are forced to live in these circumstances. It's the war against the poor and the South. It's the war against the poor in the inner cities of the West. When you are defining the ecology of war, are you also taking what we are now discussing into consideration? Are you researching the impact of extreme poverty on human bodies and human lives? In this region, extreme poverty can often be found in the enormous refugee camps, while in other parts of the world it dwells in countless slums. This extreme poverty is part of the ecology that we are discussing. One of the constituents of the ecology is when you take a wounded body and you place it in a harsh physical environment and you see how this body is re-wounded and re-wounded again, and this harsh environment becomes a continuation of that battleground, because what you see is a process of re-wounding. Not because you are still in the frontline somewhere in Syria, but because your kids are now living in a tent with eight other people and they are in danger of becoming the victims of the epidemic of child burns that we now have in the refugee camps, because of poor and unsafe housing. What exactly is a war injury? Let's look at it from a different angle: what constitutes a war wound, or a conflict-related injury? Your most basic conflict-related injury is a gunshot wound and a blast injury from shrapnel. But what happens when you take that wounded body and throw it into a tent? What are the complications for this wounded body living in a harsh environment; does this constitute a war-related injury? When you impoverish the population to the point that you have children suffering from the kind of injuries that we know are the results of poor and unsafe housing, is that a conflict-related injury? Or you have children now who have work-related injuries, because they have to go and become the main breadwinners for the home, working as car mechanics or porters or whatever. Beyond the headlines - the permanent war Or do you also consider a fact that if you come from a country where a given disease used to be treatable there, but due to the destruction of a health system, that ailment is not treatable anymore, because the hospitals are gone or because doctors had to leave, does that constitute a conflict-related injury? So, we have to look at the entire ecology: beyond a bullet and shrapnel - things that get headlines in the first 20 seconds. Your research seems to be relevant to most parts of the world. Absolutely. Because we know that these humanitarian crises only exist in the imagination of the media and the UN agencies. There are no crises. It is a perpetual state, again. Exactly, it is perpetual. It does not stop. It is there all the time. Therefore there is no concept of 'temporality of crises', one thing we are arguing against. There is no referee who blows the whistle at the end of the crises. When the cameras go off, the media and then the world, decides that the crises are over. But you know that people in Laos, for instance, still have one of the highest amputation rates in the world. I know. I worked there in the Plain of Jars, which is an enormous minefield even to this day. Or Vietnam, with the greatest child facial deformities in the world as a result of Agent Orange. You worked in these countries. Yes. Me too; and I used to live in Vietnam. That entire region is still suffering from what used to be known as the 'Secret War'. In Laos, the poverty is so rampant that people are forced to sell unexploded US bombs for scrap. They periodically explode. In Cambodia, even between Seam Reap and the Thai border, there are villages where people are still dying or losing limbs. Now many things depend on how we define them. It is often a game of words. India is a war zone, from Kashmir to the Northeast, Bihar and slums of Mumbai. If you take the crudest way of measuring conflict, which is the number of people killed by weapons, Guatemala and Salvador have now more people slaughtered than they had during the war. But because the nature in which violence is exhibited changed, because it doesn't carry a political tag now, it is not discussed. But actually, it is by the same people against the same people. Empire of Chaos I wrote about and filmed in Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, on several occasions. The extreme violence there is a direct result of the conflict implanted, triggered by the West, particularly by the United States. The same could be said about such places like Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Haiti. It has led to almost absolute social collapse. Yes, in Jamaica, the CIA played a great role in the 70's. In that part of the world we are not talking just about poverty... No, no. We are talking AK-47's! Exactly. Once I filmed in San Salvador, in a gangland... A friend, a local liberation theology priest kindly drove me around. We made two loops. The first loop was fine. On the second one they opened fire at our Land Cruiser, with some heavy stuff. The side of our car was full of bullet holes, and they blew two tires. We got away just on our rims. In the villages, maras simply come and plunder and rape. They take what they want. It is a war. ICRC, they train surgeons in these countries. So the ICRC introduced war surgery into the medical curriculum of the medical schools in Colombia and Honduras. Because effectively, these countries are in a war, so you have to train surgeons, so they know what to do when they receive four or five patients every day, with gunshot wounds. Let me tell you what I witnessed in Haiti, just to illustrate your point. Years ago I was working in Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. They say it is the most dangerous 'neighborhood' or slum on Earth. The local wisdom goes: "you can enter, but you will never leave alive." I went there with a truck, with two armed guards, but they were so scared that they just abandoned me there, with my big cameras and everything, standing in the middle of the road. I continued working; I had no choice. At one point I saw a long line in front of some walled compound. I went in. What I was suddenly facing was thoroughly shocking: several local people on some wooden tables, blood everywhere, and numerous US military medics and doctors performing surgeries under the open sky. It was hot, flies and dirt everywhere... A man told me his wife had a huge tumor. Without even checking what it was, the medics put her on a table, gave her 'local' and began removing the stuff. After the surgery was over, a husband and wife walked slowly to a bus stop and went home. A couple of kilometers from there I found a well-equipped and clean US medical facility, but only for US troops and staff. I asked the doctors what they were really doing in Haiti and they were quiet open about it; they replied: "we are training for combat scenario ... This is as close to a war that we can get." They were experimenting on human beings, of course; learning how to operate during the combat... So, the distinction is only in definitions. De-medicalization and de-development As a surgeon who has worked all over the Middle East but also in many other parts of the world, how would you compare the conflict here to the conflicts in Asia, the Great Lakes of Africa and elsewhere? In the Middle East, you still have people remembering when they had hospitals. Iraqis who come to my clinic remember the 80's. They know that life was different and could have been different. And they are health-literate. The other issue is that in 2014 alone, some 30,000 Iraqis were injured. The numbers are astounding. We don't have a grasp of the numbers in Libya, the amount of ethnic cleansing and killing that is happening in Libya. In terms of numbers, they are profound, but in terms of the effect, we are at the beginning of the phase of de-medicalization. So it wasn't that these medical systems did not develop. They are being de-developed. They are going backwards. Are you blaming Western imperialism for the situation? If you look at the sanctions and what they did to their health system, of course! If you look at Libya, of course! The idea that these states disintegrated is a falsehood. We know what the dynamics of the sanctions were in Iraq, and what happened in Iraq after 2003. We know what happened in Libya. Or in Afghanistan ... The first thing that the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan or the Nicaraguan Contras were told to do was to attack the clinics. The Americans have always understood that you destroy the state by preventing it from providing these non-coercive powers that I spoke about. Do you see this part of the world as the most effected, most damaged? At this moment and time certainly. And the statistics show it. I think around 60% of those dying from wars are killed in this region ... And how do you define this region geographically? From Afghanistan to Mauritania. And that includes the Algerian-Mali border. The Libyan border ... The catastrophe of the division of Sudan, what's happening in South Sudan, what's happening in Somalia, Libya, Egypt, the Sinai Desert, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, even Pakistan including people who are killed there by drones ... The complete take-over of corporate power But then we also have around 10 million people who have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo, since the 1995 Rwandan invasion ... Now that is a little bit different. That is the 'more advanced phase': when you've completely taken away the state ... In the Arab world Libya is the closest to that scenario. There the oil companies have taken over the country. The mining companies are occupying DRC. And they run the wars directly, rather than through the Western armies. You erode the state, completely, until it disappears and then the corporations, directly, as they did in the colonialist phase during the East Indian Company, and the Dutch companies, become the main players again. Getting the big picture What is the goal of your research, the enormous project called the 'Ecology of War'? One of the things that we insist on is this holistic approach. The compartmentalization is part of the censorship process. "You are a microbiologist then only look what is happening with the bacteria ... You are an orthopedic surgeon, so you only have to look at the blast injuries, bombs, landmine injuries ... " So that compartmentalization prevents bringing together people who are able to see the whole picture. Therefore we are insisting that this program also has social scientists, political scientists, anthropologists, microbiologists, surgeons ... Otherwise we'd just see the small science. We are trying to put the sciences together to see the bigger picture. We try to put the pieces of puzzle together, and to see the bigger picture. And now you have a big conference. On the 15th of May... Now we have a big conference; basically the first congress that will look at all these aspects of conflict and health; from the surgical, to the reconstruction of damaged bodies, to the issues of medical resistance of bacteria, infectious diseases, to some absolutely basic issues. Like, before the war there were 30,000 kidney failure patients in Yemen. Most dialysis patients are 2 weeks away from dying if they don't get dialysis. So, there is a session looking at how you provide dialysis in the middle of these conflicts? What do you do, because dialysis services are so centralized? The movement of patients is not easy, and the sanctions ... One topic will be 'cancer and war' ... So this conference will be as holistic as possible, of the relationship between the conflict and health. We expect over 300 delegates, and we will have speakers from India, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, from the UK, we have people coming from the humanitarian sector, from ICRC, people who worked in Africa and the Middle East. We have people who worked in previous wars and are now working in current wars, so we have a mix of people from different fields. What is the ultimate goal of the program? We have to imagine the health of the region beyond the state. On the conceptual level, we need to try to figure out what is happening? We can already see certain patterns. One of them is the regionalization of healthcare. The fact that Libyans get treated in Tunisia, Iraqis and Syrians get treated in Beirut, Yemenis get treated in Jordan. So you already have the disintegration of these states and the migration of people to the regional centers. The state is no longer a major player, because the state was basically destroyed. We feel that this is a disease of the near future, medium future and long term future. Therefore we have to understand it, in order to better treat it, we have to put mechanisms in place that this knowledge transfers into the medical education system, which will produce medical professionals who are better equipped to deal with this health system. We have to make sure that people are aware of many nuances of the conflict, beyond the shrapnel and beyond the bullet. The more research we put into this area of the conflict and health, the more transferable technologies we develop - the better healthcare we'd be allowed to deliver in these situations, the better training our students and graduates would receive, and better work they will perform in this region for the next 10 or 15 years. And hopefully more lives would be saved ... Andre Vltchek is a philosopher, novelist, filmmaker and investigative journalist. He has covered wars and conflicts in dozens of countries. Three of his latest books are revolutionary novel 'Aurora' and two bestselling works of political non-fiction: 'Exposing Lies Of The Empire' and 'Fighting Against Western Imperialism'. View his other books here. Andre is making films for teleSUR and Al-Mayadeen. Watch Rwanda Gambit, his groundbreaking documentary about Rwanda and DRCongo. After having lived in Latin America, Africa and Oceania, Vltchek presently resides in East Asia and the Middle East, and continues to work around the world. He can be reached through his website and his Twitter. This article was originally published here by CounterPunch. No, Mr Trump - we do not consent to your war on our planet! The fundamental strategy for the nonviolent constitutional insurgency is to withdraw the support of the people from climate destruction. It uses nonviolent direct action - or civil disobedience - to express the popular refusal to acquiesce in the burning of fossil fuels and to force a transition to climate-safe energy. It defends such action as both the right and the duty of the people - and proclaims climate destruction to be illegal and unconstitutional. It mobilizes both those who are willing to engage in activities the authorities claim to be illegal and the wider population who support these objectives. It seeks to create an irresistible momentum of escalating popular action for climate protection. While many have been stricken with pain and foreboding by Trump's climate agenda, such feelings haven't paralyzed them from taking action. Even before Trump's inauguration, EPA workers put their jobs at risk to expose Trump's climate lies. Shortly after Trump's election, the Illinois legislature passed the Future Energy Jobs Package, which will invest at least $500 million in new solar - especially community solar - and energy efficiency programs targeted at low-income communities, combined with job training for work in the solar industry. Chicago also recently announced that it will transition all of its municipal buildings and operations to 100% clean, renewable energy by 2025. Meanwhile, 23 state and local governments vowed to fight Trump's 'Energy Independence' executive order in court. A US district court judge ruled that there is a constitutional right to a stable climate. Leading corporate executives urged the United States not to leave the Paris climate agreement; Maryland has just banned all fracking; and anti-pipeline campaigns are under way in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Saturday's Peoples Climate March represents a culmination and celebration of this activity, as well as the launch of its next phase. No overnight victory, but building a movement Despite the emergence of the climate insurgency and the overwhelming public support for climate protection, Trump and his fossil fuel allies control virtually all the levers of governmental power. The Peoples Climate March is unlikely to stop that, but it can be part of building the momentum for a movement that can defeat Trumpism and set us on the course for a transition to a fossil-free economy. Here are three strategic elements - drawing from my new book 'Against Doom: A Climate Insurgency Manual' - that may be crucial in the aftermath of the march. 1. Build the Trump resistance around climate protection The United States is in the midst of an unprecedented wave of civil resistance to Trump and Trumpism - what movements of resistance to tyranny elsewhere have called 'social self-defense'. It includes millions of aroused individuals and community members, social movements, non-profit advocacy organizations, lawyers and judges, scientists and librarians, and much of the Democratic Party. Many advocacy groups have climbed out of their issue silos to cooperate in the Trump resistance. And there is powerful synergism between those taking direct action in civil society and those challenging Trump and his allies within the political system. The Trump resistance has so far blocked the Muslim and refugee ban, forestalled the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, stymied the building of Trump's wall with Mexico, and successfully pushed back against much of the rest of the Trump agenda. In the process they have significantly undermined public and institutional support for both the Trump administration and its right-wing Republican allies. The Trump resistance creates a new political context for the climate protection movement. It opens the opportunity for the climate movement to be a central part of the broad and powerful anti-Trump movement that can force a reversal of his climate agenda. Victory for this broader movement is essential for climate protection. Mass repudiation of Trump and Trumpism that breaks the power of the president and his allies are necessary conditions for effective climate protection. Fortunately, the climate movement is already reaching out and supporting the other elements of the Trump resistance. For example, says Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, "The Sierra Club stands in solidarity with Muslims, refugees, immigrants, people of color, women and all those threatened" by the Trump administration. "Protecting our communities and our environment go hand-in-hand, and everyone who values a just and free America should continue to resist hateful actions" - like the Muslim ban. An open letter from environmental and climate justice organizations declares, "We support workers who choose to walk off their jobs on May 1 because we know that the fight to protect land, water, air and soil is inseparable from the fight to protect the life and dignity of workers, migrants, and communities of color." Conversely, climate protection can provide a major unifying and empowering focus for social self-defense. Much of the Trump resistance is rightly focused on his attacks on particular groups: immigrants, Muslims, women, people of color and many others. But climate change is a universal threat that creates a universal common interest. As such, it can be a unifying thread among the many diverse elements of the Trump resistance. Climate protection has wide support across almost all the constituencies that need to come together to break Trump's power. For example, the policy platform of the Women's March stated that "our environment and our climate must be protected" and that "our land and natural resources cannot be exploited for corporate gain or greed." The need to protect the climate is in direct contradiction to Trump's "America First" rhetoric. There is no way that America can survive, let alone thrive, unless climate change is reduced, and there is no way that can happen without international cooperation and agreement. Creating millions of jobs protecting the climate is also the most effective way to address the economic needs of American workers that Trump exploited to win the presidency. A program of jobs for climate and justice can be the centerpiece of an alternative economic program that can draw away support from Trump's false promises. 2. Impose the transition to fossil freedom Without pipelines, oil trains, power plants and other infrastructure, coal, oil and gas would remain harmlessly in the earth where they have lain for millions of years. All over the world, climate campaigns are focusing on halting all new fossil fuel infrastructure - a so-called 'fossil freeze'. Meanwhile, state and local policy is increasingly rejecting new fossil fuel infrastructure based on the greater economy of grid modernization, distributed energy, energy efficiency and the falling cost of renewables. These two pincers can converge to slow and eventually defeat new fossil fuel infrastructure throughout the country. Of course, Trump is trying to expand fossil fuel infrastructure. But the Trump era will see massive resistance to his plans. One harbinger: In early April, an advance guard set up camp in Eagle Butte, South Dakota to lay the groundwork of resistance to Trump's plan to revive the Keystone XL pipeline. Climate protection requires not only a halt to new fossil fuel infrastructure, but also a planned transition to a fossil free economy. That means not just changing energy sources, but changing every institution that utilizes energy. Ultimately, it means using forests, farms and other 'sinks' to begin withdrawing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. This transition requires planning. The climate movement should insist that every institution - from schools, churches, states and municipalities to the federal government - develop and immediately start to implement a climate action plan that will eliminate fossil fuel burning by 2050 at the latest. Portland, Oregon just announced a plan for transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Such plans must include protection for workers and communities whose livelihoods may be adversely affected by the transition to a fossil-free economy - not to mention strategies to use that transition to reverse the economic, racial, generational and gender inequality and injustice that the Trump administration seems to be advancing. Local and state fossil freezes and climate action plans can lay the groundwork for - and prove the feasibility of - a national fossil freeze and climate action plan. In the lead-up to the Peoples Climate March Sens. Bernie Sanders and Jeff Merkley plan to release a Clean Energy for All bill "to transition away from fossil fuel sources of energy to 100% clean and renewable energy by 2050." Trump can't stop us from implementing the elements of such a plan at a state and local level. 3. Claim a stable climate as a constitutional right Two days after the election of Donald Trump, Federal Judge Ann Aiken ruled in a case now dubbed Climate Kids v. Trump that "the right to a climate system capable of sustaining human life is fundamental to a free and ordered society." A stable climate system is quite literally the foundation of society, "without which there would be neither civilization nor progress." In short, the right to a stable climate is protected by the US Constitution's guarantee of the right to life and liberty. Climate protection advocates do not need to wait for the legal process to play out in order to argue that the Aiken decision establishes that the people have a right, grounded in the US Constitution, to force the government to protect the climate. If the courts won't enforce that right in time, it is up to the people to do so. The climate movement can assert that it is not just advocating an environmental policy, but fighting for a basic human and constitutional right for all people. It thus makes defiance of Trump's climate agenda not just opposition to bad policies, but the basis for a constitutional insurgency that defines climate-destroying policies and the activities that enforce them as criminal acts that the people have a right, indeed a duty, to resist. And now, the People's Climate March While it is impossible to know what future course the Trump era will take, we do know that the future of the planet and its people depend on resisting and overcoming the president's anti-climate agenda - and reversing it to eliminate fossil fuels. If the global nonviolent climate insurgency succeeds, Trump and Trumpism will be remembered by historians as a failed attempt to prevent humanity from protecting itself against climate catastrophe. And the People's Climate March may well be recorded as a historic marker on the way to a fossil-free future. Jeremy Brecher is a co-founder of the Labor Network for Sustainability, historian and author of 'Climate Insurgency: A Strategy for Survival'. See his website here. Petition: Add your name to 'support the Merkley-Sanders 100% Clean Energy Bill and to urge all Democratic Senators to do the same'. The book: 'Climate Insurgency: A Strategy for Survival' is available as a free download. This article was originally published here by Waging Nonviolence (CC-BY). This story was made possible by WNV members - become one today! Making a return to our two favourite summer locations, Mount Maunganui and Nelson in early January 2023, we've got whiff of the first release lineup and me oh my, yes boy U.S. Rep. Miller-Meeks beats Bohannan in Iowa's 1st District race The Associated Press called the race for Miller-Meeks just after 11 p.m. on Tuesday.